bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Women and sanitation: Urban reality experiences of government programmes, NGOs and CBOs
Authors: Khosla Renu
Published: August 2017

Between 20-40 million persons in urban areas are without access to a toilet. Of these, two thirds are women and children. High on the list of urgent priorities in urban poor communities are toilets, whose absence is known to exacerbate health and nutritional burden of the poor, and increase susceptibility to abuse. Municipal solutions to toilet needs are invariably big community toilet complexes. This paper discusses problems of big toilets versus smaller alternatives, building a case for household toilets and networking poor households/communities to city systems using examples from some best practices in the country. Sanitation needs require a whole city perspective with the objective of reaching all poor in a city, especially the un-reached. No problem of sanitation can however be resolved without people's involvement. UBSP demonstrated a strategy for community organisation that enabled people to dialogue with city governments. Adopting the strategy under PEEP, women's associations are being armed with information to negotiate for their rights. People's participation ensures sustainable and cost effective alternatives based on their life strategies. Some recommendations at the end of the chapter are aimed at addressing the challenge of urban sanitation in an effort at creating a Sanitation Suraksha Chakra, that envelopes the entire city.
Integrated management of water resources in the National Capital Region-Delhi
Authors: Banerjee Ashis
Published: August 2017

Competing demands between various sectors of water users such as agriculture, industry, urban and domestic use have put enormous pressure on the fresh water availability in India. Some investigations have shown that the per capita availability of water has gone down drastically in the last few decades. Yet, there is a little evidence to show that measures are being drawn up either to augment fresh water resources or to manage existing resource equitably. The reasons usually cited for the decline of water availability are deforestation, intensive water use in agriculture, growing population etc. Remedies must therefore be addressed to all these issues. However, there is an urgent need to look at the opportunities available in a country which is said to have had a riverine civilization and one which has the blessings of intensive precipitation during the monsoon months. Thus, on the one hand there are enormous possibilities available in rationalising water use in the agriculture sector, recycling water for industrial use and harnessing monsoon precipitation through water harvesting on a very large scale.

It is also necessary to look at some of the policy aspects, legal aspects and financial aspects of water management. For instance, it needs to be asked whether official policy of conjunctive use of surface and ground water is being followed adequately. Also it needs to be asked whether, given that water is a State subject, there is adequate coordination among the States in order to facilitate optimalities in water use. In this context, it may be useful to re-evaluate all the existing inter-State water agreements which were drawn up several decades ago. Further, it needs to be investigated whether the moneys being spent on different aspects of water management such as inter-basin transfers, dam and canal construction, ground water management etc. are being done in a manner that is economically justifiable. Simultaneously, the existing fiscal mechanism in relation to water use should also be reexamined to see the future scope of making water use economically viable.
Issues and options for sustainable development of water resource and use in India
Authors: Bathla Seema , Mukherjee Mamta
Published: August 2017

The paper highlights and raises concern over issue of over-exploitation of groundwater resources in India, arising due to stress induced by growth in population and economic activity. The role of market and non-market interventions is analyzed to achieve a sustainable development of water resources, in particular groundwater resources. It is emphasized that the existing energy pricing structure portrays groundwater more as a social good and undermines the real economic value that needs to be attached to it. In view of the market and policy failures in overcoming the phenomenon of water scarcity, the role of institutions is reviewed in detail. Since efforts at the international level as initiated by the World Commission on Environment and Development, the UN Conference and the National Water Policy are largely in the nature of involving stakeholders in the conservation of water resources, the paper highlights the importance of evolving an appropriate participatory model of water resource management. The paper finally explores possible areas of research.
Soil quality audit for resource conservation in Indian agriculture
Authors: Raman K. V. , Raman Saroja
Published: August 2017

Indian agricultural enterprise is one of the largest in terms of human capital and area of operation. It covers approximately 144 mha arable land, more than 60% of the population, and accounts for 40 % of the GDP. Hence its role in overall economic ecological and social development is very critical. Indian agricultural scene is a mix of traditional, low input, subsistence agriculture by the resource-poor farmer and science-based, high-input intensive farming by the rich farmers. Both of them have a share in the impairment of the environment.

Because pockets of very high input cultivation are still limited, the pollution due to agricultural waste, excess fertilizers and pesticides are still not as wide-spread and alarming as they are in the west. Soil loss and degradation is the most serious environmental concern generated by the harsh geographical features of the country and by agricultural enterprises, both exacerbated by over-straining animal and human population. Almost 70% of the geographical area is prone to water and wind erosion and other stresses. 5334 million tonnes of soil is eroded annually and 5.3-8.4 million tonnes of the plant nutrients are lost. If this trend continues, one-third of the arable land is likely to be lost. For the fragile and slopy lands, soil conservation measures are being taken up on an extensive scale through water shed approach. These, however, have not been very effective or friendly for over 78% of the small and marginal farmers.

Soil Quality, a holistic concept encompassing productivity, environmental quality, and human and animal health, has been developed recently for validating and auditing sustainable agriculture. Several physical, chemical and biological indicators like pH, EC, nutrient status, infiltration rate, soil structure, soil organic carbon etc. have been identified as indicators for measuring soil quality. This approach can be initiated in some places in India to monitor the negative impacts of certain currently prevailing agricultural practices, and facilitate sustainable agriculture through alternate farming protocols. Locale specific, farmer-friendly and conducive packages should be evolved monitored and evaluated in collaboration with the small farmer so that soil resources are conserved or upgraded for future generations.
Displacement, development and large dams
Authors: Dharmadhikary Shripad
Published: August 2017

Most struggles about large dams, though their genesis may have been in the direct impact on the people, have ultimately challenged the very necessity of these projects. These struggles have questioned the public purpose of the large dams, their viability, the cost/benefit ratio-and ultimately their very justification. Thus, before even the issue of rehabilitation or environmental mitigation can be seen, these struggles have asked whether the displacement is JUSTIFIED. Only if it can be justified, then the question arises about the resettlement, about the resettlement plan, policy, its adequacy and its feasibility. The same would apply for the environmental impacts.

Further, the struggles have challenged the current methodology of determining the public purpose of the project and have called for a far more participatory and democratic way of doing so. This would include the right to information, right to question, and ultimately the rights of the local and affected people to have a significant say in the management of their resources.

Thus, the dam struggles are fighting for, and working towards not just the problems of the displaced people or environment, but a vision of an alternative development paradigm and an alternative politics itself.

At the larger level, this effectively means that such struggles are calling for, fighting for an alternative politics, and a radical restructuring of the existing socio-political system.
Rehabilitation in Tehri Dam: An evaluation
Authors: Sinha B. K. , Pokhriyal H. C.
Published: August 2017

In the whole debate of ecological suitability of Tehri Dam, the rehabilitation aspect has been found ignored. Keeping in view of the significance of complete rehabilitation and resettlement of the oustees, the overall rehabilitation process including rural and urban population is analysed in the present paper. In total, 125 villages will be fully or partially submerged affecting more than one lakh population. More than twenty thousand urban populations will also be rehabilitated. It is expected that around 6000 cores of rupees (at 1993 price level) will be spent. Out of which 13% will be spent on the rehabilitation of the oustees. On the basis of the available information, it is found that only 33% of the rural families and 66% of the urban households have actually received the compensation or taken the possession of the land in the new sites. Non availability of land to the rest of the oustee households has been identified as the peculiar dimension of the rehabilitation process.

The resettled households in Dehradun and Haridwar districts are facing the problem of geographic continuity, land owner shiprights and absence of institutional mechanism like panchayati raj institutions in the new settlements. The absence of non-farm employment and non-accessibility to the common property resources are the critical problems, including the availability of drinking water, irrigation, primary health and education, which can be observed seen in the rehabilitation sites. The resettlers are unable to adjust with the new environment including a high level of dependency on the market forces for each and every requirement.

The partially submerged population is also facing peculiar problems. They will only be given cash compensation without any other compensatory measures. The ‘upstream cost and down stream benefits syndrome’ is strikingly visible in the rehabilitation process. In the urban resettlement process various issues Iike-the validity of survey, classification of urban households and cut off dates are relevant to mention. The positive externalities of the old Tehri town were completely missing in the new urban rehabilitation site. As a whole it can be tentatively said that the process of rehabilitation has been loosely coordinated and badly implemented. The issues of upstream cost, accessibility to common property resources and customary rights are the neglected aspects in the process. The re-organisation of the institutional frame work and granting land ownership rights to the resettlers and quality of the basic amenities are the other inevitable requirements need proper assessment and implementation. The present process of rehabilitation is largely non-participatory and non transparent, which can only be solved through radical measures. These measures are unlikely to be initiated in the present set of Tehri dam administration.
Sustainable livelihoods: The central issue of human security and sustainable development
Authors: Khosla Ashok
Published: August 2017

The central issue of sustainable national development is the creation of sustainable livelihoods. Some IS million jobs have to be created every year to close the un-employment gap in India by the year 2015. Conventional industrialisation is important to maintain competitiveness in a globalising economy but it can hardly create one or two million jobs a year. Employment in agriculture is also reaching a plateau. Thus 10 million additional jobs will have to be created, off-farm and outside conventional industry, every year. Only mini and micro industries are capable of creating this many jobs. To create these jobs without further destroying the environment or the resource base, and in the process generating the goods and services needed by local people, totally new types of jobs of technology and different types of enterprises will be needed from those that exist today. Developing these will, in turn, need new approaches to the innovation and delivery. This paper describes the role of the independent sector in creating large number of Sustainable Livelihoods.
The Dynamics of Women’s Empowerment: A Critical Appraisal
Authors: Sharma Subhash
Published: August 2017

First, we attempt to critically identify gender issues of disempowerment, especially social perceptions of the status of women regarding marriage, sexual relationship and family formation. Second, the article deals with women’s exploitation in different forms and arenas. Third, we will briefly taken an overview and critique the government’s national policy on women’s empowerment. We will also illustrate and look into major central government schemes for women in India. Finally, we will suggest some policy recommendations for the holistic and critical empowerment of women.
Expanding life span and contracting ‘Social Span’: Implications for welfare
Authors: Singh R.R.
Published: August 2017

In one of the publications of the United Nations, five basic elements viz, independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment, and dignity have been recognized to be essential for improving the quality of life of aged. Urbanization and advances in technology have changed the social structure, thus restricting the social span. Present institutional care and other welfare services do not appear to be adequate in fulfilling the basic requirements. An integrated age care planner is required to look in to the economic, psychological, social and environmental aspects of the problems.
Menopause: A fresh look at the much misunderstood phenomenon
Authors: Prakash Indira Jai
Published: August 2017

Menopause in women is a significant biological marker of ageing that has several psychosocial connotations. Earlier efforts to understand the effect of menopause on physiology and psychology of women were shaped more by popular myths, societal stereotypes and medical opinion. Research in this field has moved from uncritical reliance on medical views of menopause to more women-oriented studies. There is also an active movement to ‘demedicalize’ and ‘ ‘demystify’ menopause and encourage women to examine their feelings and experiences. This article traces the historical views and evaluates the current findings regarding the effect of menopause of women's health, well-being, and sexuality.
Aging and agricultural practices: Robeson County, North Carolina
Authors: McDonald Juliana
Published: August 2017

Aging is a significant influence on how farmers shape agricultural practices but is inadequately discussed in agricultural literature. Farmers all over the world in both developed and developing countries are aging. This paper presents preliminary results from a study which examines how farmers change their agricultural practices as they get older. This issue is of importance because there are fewer and older farmers in the world and their decisions directly influence the world's food supply. By understanding how farmers respond to getting older we can better address the needs of older farmers, to help younger farmers continue to farm and inform those who work with farmers in various organizations and services.
Rural credit in a tribal area: A study of its adequacy and suitability
Authors: Dayal Harishwar
Published: August 2017

Credit happens to be an important input for promoting growth and equity in the rural sector of the economy. The present paper discusses the adequacy and suitability of institutional credit in the rural areas of a tribal region of Bihar. Besides discussing the historical development of institutional sources supplying credit in the rural areas, it also highlights the magnitude, form and purpose of institutional credit available in the rural areas of the region. The paper concludes that the institution supply of credit is not only inadequate but is also highly unsuitable as it does not suit the attitude and temperament of the people living in this area.
Dynamics of tribal market in Jharkhand region
Authors: Pandey Nilesh
Published: August 2017

Tribal markets occupy an important place in the tribal socio-economic system. The present paper is based on a study on the dynamics of tribal market in the Jharkhand region of Bihar. This is basically an anthropological study of tribal market as a social phenomenon. It points out that the tribal weekly markets, in spite of the changes which have occured, continues not only as a centre of redistribution of economic resources but also as a centre of social and political activities. It is also acting as a centre for exploitation of tribals.
People's participation in alleviation of poverty: A study from tribal area
Authors: Sahay Binay Kumar
Published: August 2017

A lot of money has been pumped-in to pull the Rural-Tribal-Poor above the poverty-line and to bring them into the mainstream of development process. Different studies prove that the effort as only ‘syphon’ instead of dropped-down in favour of the rural-tribal-poor, to change their pattern of life.

In fact, the willingness of the tribal-poor to improve their condition of living has perhaps failed to bring about the desired pace of sustainable growth in the absence of the critical factor i.e. “The spontaneous participation.”

The Rainfed Farming Project (RFP) emphasized for shifting the approach of top-down towards the decentralised bottom-up approach through ‘Participatory Approach of Development’. With a view to encourage the rural-poor to develop their own plan, some fundamental considerations have been envisaged to have sustainability of technology and recycling of generated resources along with provision of minimal subsidy instead of highly subsidies approach of government departments.

The participation of these tribal-poor in the development process created confidence and led them to build up a platform to plan for their own development.
Present status of traditional system of governance among the tribes of Bihar
Authors: Sharan Ramesh , Singh Prabhat K. , Sahu Suresh P.
Published: August 2017

Tribals in general have a traditional system of governance which continue still date in one form or the other. The present paper discusses the state of traditional system of governance amongst the major tribal groups in the Jharkhand Region of Bihar. The paper gives an outline of the functioning of the traditional system of governance in the area. It discusses effectiveness of system, participation of people including women, the opinions of tribals, non-tribals and the leaders of this system regarding effectiveness and the functioning of the system.
Examining longitudinal relationship among effort reward imbalance, coping strategies and academic burnout in Korean middle school students
Authors: Kim Boyoung , Kim Eunjoo , Lee Sang Min
Published: August 2017

The present study examined the longitudinal relationship between effort-reward imbalance as a stressor and academic burnout as a strain. The study also examined the moderation effect of coping strategies, a problem-focused coping and an emotion-focused coping, in the relationship between effort-reward imbalance as a stressor and middle school students’ academic burnout as a strain using multi-group latent growth modeling (LGM) analysis. The results indicated a significant relationship between the initial status of effort-reward imbalance and the initial status of academic burnout. The results also indicated a significant relationship between the change rate of effort-reward imbalance and that of academic burnout. In addition, problem-focused coping strategies had a moderation effect on the relationship between effort-reward imbalance and academic burnout longitudinally. However, the emotion-focused coping strategy did not have a moderation effect. The authors discuss specific findings and practical implications for teachers and school psychologists.
Thinking About Cognitive Function: Perceptions of Cognitive Changes in People With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Cuevas Heather E. , Stuifbergen Alexa K. , Brown Sharon A. , Rock Jamie L.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is 2-fold: (1) to explore how people with diabetes view diabetes-related cognitive problems and (2) to examine participants’ ideas on a cognitive rehabilitation intervention to adapt it for persons diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods

A qualitative descriptive study based on narrative interviews was conducted with adults (n = 10) with T2DM. The interview data were analyzed using content analysis.

Results

The interviews reflected 4 major themes: search for advice regarding cognitive complaints, cognitive symptoms, impact of perceived cognitive dysfunction on diabetes self-management, and maintenance of cognitive health. Specific areas of interest for an intervention included the following: understanding how cognitive function relates to diabetes, dealing with cognitive barriers to self-management, and learning how to incorporate a “brain healthy” lifestyle into daily activities.

Conclusions

Findings showed that perceived cognitive impairment impacted self-management and suggested that cognitive rehabilitation interventions have potential utility for people with T2DM. Existing successful interventions can be tailored to meet the needs of those whose diabetes self-management is impacted by cognitive problems.
A hand up or a slap down? Criminalising benefit claimants in Britain via strategies of surveillance, sanctions and deterrence
Authors: Fletcher Del Roy , Wright Sharon
Published: August 2017

British policy-makers have increasingly sought to intensify and extend welfare conditionality. A distinctly more punitive turn was taken in 2012 to re-orientate the whole social security and employment services system to combine harsh sanctions with minimal mandatory support in order to prioritise moving individuals ‘off benefit and into work’ with the primary aim of reducing costs. This article questions the extent to which these changes can be explained by Wacquant’s (2009) theory of the ‘centaur state’ (a neoliberal head on an authoritarian body), which sees poverty criminalised via the advance of workfare. We present evidence of an authoritarian approach to unemployment, involving dramatic use of strategies of surveillance (via new paternalist tools like the Claimant Commitment and the Universal Jobmatch panopticon), sanction and deterrence. This shift has replaced job match support with mandatory digital self-help, coercion and punishment. In relation to Work Programme providers, there is a contrasting liberal approach permitting high discretion in service design. This article makes a significant original contribution to the field by demonstrating that Wacquant’s analysis of ‘workfare’ is broadly applicable to the British case and its reliance on a centralised model of state action is truer in the British case than the US. However, we establish that the character of British reform is somewhat different: less ‘new’ (challenging the time-tethered interpretation that welfare reform is a uniquely neoliberal product of late modernity) and more broadly applied to ‘core’ workers, including working-class white men with earned entitlement, rather than peripheral workers.
The Science of Listening in Bioacoustics Research: Sensing the Animals' Sounds
Authors: Vallee Mickey
Published: August 2017

Bioacoustics is an interdisciplinary field bridging biological and acoustic sciences, which uses sound technologies to record, preserve, and analyse large datasets of animal communications. But it is also a world, made of the meanings created through inter- and intra-species communication. This article empirically explores a variety of bioacoustics research, including interviews with researchers, as part of a broader qualitative study, in order to theorize the expanding sense and sensation of a global biosphere and sonic data. By giving a sustained and detailed account of the science of bioacoustics, particularly how its modes of measurement allow for a new way of understanding what is involved in the de-centred modes of hearing that re-centre acts of listening and, by extension, the nature of the relation between researcher and researched, the article contributes to methodological discussions regarding the longstanding questions of how researchers and scientists are implicated in the knowledge and objects they collectively produce.
Minocycline as an adjunct for treatment-resistant depressive symptoms: A pilot randomised placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Husain Muhammad I , Chaudhry Imran B , Husain Nusrat , Khoso Ameer B , Rahman Raza R , Hamirani Munir M , Hodsoll John , Qurashi Inti , Deakin John FW , Young Allan H
Published: August 2017

Background:

Evidence suggests that anti-inflammatory medication may be effective in the treatment of depressive symptoms. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether minocycline added to treatment as usual (TAU) for 3 months in patients with treatment-resistant depression will lead to an improvement in depressive symptoms.

Methods:

Multi-site, 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot trial of minocycline added to TAU for patients suffering from DSM-5 major depressive disorder, whose current episode has failed to respond to at least two antidepressants. The primary outcome measure was mean change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) scores from baseline to week 12. Secondary measures were the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) and EuroQoL (EQ-5D) quality-of-life questionnaire. Side-effect checklists were also used. Minocycline was started at 100 mg once daily (OD) and increased to 200 mg after 2 weeks.

Results:

A total of 41 participants were randomised, with 21 in the minocycline group and 20 in the placebo group. A large decrease in HAMD scores was observed in the minocycline group compared to the placebo group (standardised effect size (ES) –1.21, p < 0.001). CGI scores in the minocycline group also showed a large improvement compared with placebo (odds ratio (OR): 17.6, p < 0.001). PHQ-9, GAD-7 and EQ-5D total showed more moderate improvements (ES ~ 0.4–0.5).

Conclusion:

The findings indicate that adjunctive minocycline leads to improvement in symptoms of treatment-resistant depression. However, our findings require replication in a larger sample.

Trial Registration:

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02263872, registered October 2014.
Anti-inflammatory treatments for mood disorders: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Husain Muhammad I , Strawbridge Rebecca , Stokes Paul RA , Young Allan H
Published: August 2017

Background:

Recent studies suggest that anti-inflammatory medication may play a role in the treatment of mood disorders.

Aims:

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.

Method:

The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, EMBASE, PsychINFO and Clinicaltrials.gov were searched from inception until 15 April 2017 for completed and on-going randomized controlled trials of anti-inflammatory agents for major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Data from randomized controlled trials assessing the antidepressant and anti-manic effect of adjunctive mechanistically diverse anti-inflammatory agents were pooled to determine standard mean differences (SMDs) compared with placebo and/or treatment as usual.

Results:

Patients receiving anti-inflammatory agents showed lower post-treatment depressive symptom scores compared with those receiving placebo with a standard mean difference of −0.71 (six randomized controlled trials, n=214, 95% CI −1.24 to −0.17, p=0.009). Anti-inflammatory treatment was found to reduce post-treatment manic symptom scores with a standard mean difference of −0.72 (three randomized controlled trials, n=96, 95% CI −1.31 to −0.13, p=0.02). Anti-inflammatories did not show a statistically significant improvement in the secondary outcome measure (change in symptom scores from baseline to outcome).

Conclusions:

Further high quality trials are needed before making recommendations for the routine clinical use of anti-inflammatories in the treatment of mood disorders.
Gray matter structural networks are associated with cardiovascular risk factors in healthy older adults
Authors: Kharabian Masouleh Shahrzad , Beyer Frauke , Lampe Leonie , Loeffler Markus , Luck Tobias , Riedel-Heller Steffi G , Schroeter Matthias L , Stumvoll Michael , Villringer Arno , Witte A Veronica
Published: August 2017

While recent ‘big data' analyses discovered structural brain networks that alter with age and relate to cognitive decline, identifying modifiable factors that prevent these changes remains a major challenge. We therefore aimed to determine the effects of common cardiovascular risk factors on vulnerable gray matter (GM) networks in a large and well-characterized population-based cohort. In 616 healthy elderly (258 women, 60–80 years) of the LIFE-Adult-Study, we assessed the effects of obesity, smoking, blood pressure, markers of glucose and lipid metabolism as well as physical activity on major GM-networks derived using linked independent component analysis. Age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, white matter hyperintensities, education and depression were considered as confounders. Results showed that smoking, higher blood pressure, and higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were independently associated with lower GM volume and thickness in GM-networks that covered most areas of the neocortex. Higher waist-to-hip ratio was independently associated with lower GM volume in a network of multimodal regions that correlated negatively with age and memory performance. In this large cross-sectional study, we found selective negative associations of smoking, higher blood pressure, higher glucose, and visceral obesity with structural covariance networks, suggesting that reducing these factors could help to delay late-life trajectories of GM aging.
Type 2 endoleaks in endovascular aortic repair: cone beam CT and automatic vessel detection to guide the embolization
Authors: Ierardi Anna Maria , Pesapane Filippo , Rivolta Nicola , Fumarola Enrico Maria , Angileri Salvatore Alessio , Piacentino Filippo , Carrafiello Gianpaolo
Published: August 2017

Background

Dual-phase cone beam computed tomography (DP-CBCT) and automatic vessel detection (AVD) software are helpful tools for detecting arteries before planned endovascular interventions.

Purpose

To evaluate the usefulness of DP-CBCT and AVD software in guiding the trans-arterial embolization (TAE) of challenging T2 lumbar endoleaks (T2-L-EL).

Material and Methods

Ten patients with T2-L-EL were included in this study. The accuracy of DP-CBCT and the AVD software was defined by the ability to detect the endoleak and arterial feeding vessel, respectively. Technical success was defined as the correct positioning of the microcatheter using AVD software and the successful embolization of the endoleak. Clinical success was defined as the absence of recurrent endoleaks during follow-up and the stability of the sac diameter for persistent endoleaks. The total volume of iodinated contrast medium, overall procedure time, mean procedural radiation dose, and mean fluoroscopy time were recorded.

Results

The EL was detected by DP-CBCT in all patients. The AVD software identified the feeding arterial branch in all cases. In one patient, the nidus of the endoleak was not reached due to the small caliber of the feeding artery, even though the software had clearly identified the vessel route. The mean contrast volume was 109 mL, the mean overall procedural time was 74.3 min. The mean procedural radiation dose was 140.97 Gy cm2, and the mean fluoroscopy time was 29.8 min.

Conclusion

The use of DP-CBCT and the AVD software is feasible and may facilitate successful embolization in challenging occult T2-L-EL with complex vasculature.
Comparison of hamstring and patellar tendon grafts in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A prospective randomized study
Authors: Stańczak Katarzyna , Zielińska Marzenna , Synder Marek , Domżalski Marcin , Polguj Michał , Sibiński Marcin
Published: August 2017

Objective

This prospective randomized study was performed to compare the outcomes of two operative methods of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction based on either bone–patellar tendon–bone (BTB) grafts or hamstring tendon (HT) grafts.

Methods

Among 100 patients, 96 completed the full follow-up period and were included in the final analysis (48 in the BTB group and 48 in the HT group). The patients were evaluated preoperatively and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after ACL reconstruction. The Kujala score, Tegner score, and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) were among the parameters used to evaluate the patients.

Results

Both groups were comparable in terms of sex, age, and body mass index. None of the analyzed scores were significantly different between the BTB and HT groups at either the initial or last visit. Both groups demonstrated improvement at the 12-year follow-up according to the Kujala score and most categories of the KOOS. The Tegner activity level score showed significant improvement in the HT but not BTB group.

Conclusion

Patients undergoing ACL reconstruction with BTB and HT grafts show comparable improvement in functional results after 1 year of rehabilitation.
Use of methylene blue in the prevention of recurrent intra-abdominal postoperative adhesions
Authors: Neagoe Octavian C. , Ionica Mihaela , Mazilu Octavian
Published: August 2017

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of methylene blue in preventing recurrent symptomatic postoperative adhesions.

Methods

Patients with a history of >2 surgeries for intra-abdominal adhesion-related complications were selected for this study. Adhesiolysis surgery was subsequently performed using administration of 1% methylene blue. The follow-up period was 28.5 ± 11.1 months.

Results

Data were available from 20 patients (seven men and 13 women) whose mean ± SD age was 51.2 ± 11.4 years. Adhesions took longer to become symptomatic after the first abdominal surgery when the initial pathology was malignant compared with benign. However, the recurrence of adhesions after a previous adhesiolysis surgery had a similar time onset regardless of the initial disease. Following adhesiolysis surgery with methylene blue, the majority of patients did not present with symptoms associated with adhesion complications (i.e., chronic abdominal pain, bowel obstruction) for the length of the follow-up period.

Conclusions

The use of methylene blue during adhesiolysis surgery appears to reduce the recurrence of adhesion-related symptoms, suggesting a beneficial effect in the prevention of adhesion formation.
Effects of external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) on laser evoked cortical potentials (LEP): A pilot study in migraine patients and controls
Authors: Vecchio Eleonora , Gentile Eleonora , Franco Giovanni , Ricci Katia , de Tommaso Marina
Published: August 2017

Background

Transcutaneous external supraorbital nerve stimulation has emerged as a treatment option for primary headache disorders, though its action mechanism is still unclear.

Study aim

In this randomized, sham-controlled pilot study we aimed to test the effects of a single external transcutaneous nerve stimulation session on pain perception and cortical responses induced by painful laser stimuli delivered to the right forehead and the right hand in a cohort of migraine without aura patients and healthy controls.

Methods

Seventeen migraine without aura patients and 21 age- and sex-matched controls were selected and randomly assigned to a real or sham external transcutaneous nerve stimulation single stimulation session. The external transcutaneous nerve stimulation was delivered with a self-adhesive electrode placed on the forehead and generating a 60 Hz pulse at 16 mA intensity for 20 minutes. For sham stimulation, we used 2 mA intensity. Laser evoked responses were recorded from 21 scalp electrodes in basal condition (T0), during external transcutaneous nerve stimulation and sham stimulation (T1), and immediately after these (T2). The laser evoked responses were analyzed by LORETA software.

Results

The real external transcutaneous nerve stimulation reduced the trigeminal N2P2 amplitude in migraine and control groups significantly in respect to placebo. The real stimulation was associated with lower activity in the anterior cingulate cortex under trigeminal laser stimuli. The pattern of LEP-reduced habituation was reverted by real and sham transcutaneous stimulation in migraine patients.

Conclusions

The present results could suggest that the external transcutaneous nerve stimulation may interfere with the threshold and the extent of trigeminal system activation, with a mechanism of potential utility in the resolution and prevention of migraine attacks.
Cytocompatibility and biologic characteristics of synthetic scaffold materials of rabbit acellular vascular matrix combining with human-like collagen I
Authors: Liu Xuqian , Wang Jie , Dong Fusheng , Song Peng , Tian Songbo , Li Hexiang , Hou Yali
Published: August 2017

Scaffold material provides a three-dimensional growing environment for seed cells in the research field of tissue engineering. In the present study, rabbit arterial blood vessel cells were chemically removed with trypsin and Triton X-100 to prepare rabbit acellular vascular matrix scaffold material. Observation by He&Masson staining revealed that no cellular components or nuclei existed in the vascular intima and media after decellularization. Human-like collagen I was combined with acellular vascular matrix by freeze-drying to prepare an acellular vascular matrix-0.25% human-like collagen I scaffold to compensate for the extracellular matrix loss during the decellularization process. We next performed a series of experiments to test the water absorbing quality, biomechanics, pressure resistance, cytotoxicity, and ultra-micro structure of the acellular vascular matrix composite material and natural rabbit artery and found that the acellular vascular matrix-0.25% human-like collagen I material behaved similarly to natural rabbit artery. In conclusion, the acellular vascular matrix-0.25% human-like collagen I composite material provides a new approach and lays the foundation for novel scaffold material research into tissue engineering of blood vessels.
Characterizing Sexual Violence in Intimate Relationships: An Examination of Blame Attributions and Rape Acknowledgment
Authors: Jaffe Anna E. , Steel Anne L. , DiLillo David , Messman-Moore Terri L. , Gratz Kim L.
Published: August 2017

Rape by an intimate partner frequently involves a precedence of sexual consent between victim and perpetrator, often does not include the use of physical force, and may not fit societal definitions of rape. Given these unique characteristics, women who are assaulted by an intimate partner may be less likely to acknowledge the experience as a rape. In turn, they might make fewer blame attributions toward themselves and their perpetrators than victims of rape by a nonpartner. Consistent with these expectations, results from 208 community women reporting rape in adulthood revealed the presence of indirect effects of perpetrator type (nonpartner vs. intimate partner) on both behavioral self-blame and perpetrator blame through rape acknowledgment, even when controlling for both victim substance use at the time of the assault and coercion severity. Compared with women who experienced a rape by a nonpartner, women who experienced rape in the context of a marital or dating relationship were less likely to blame themselves or the perpetrator for the assault, in part because they were less likely to label their experience as a rape. Overall, these findings highlight the unique nature of intimate partner rape and provide further information about the relatively underresearched area of sexual violence in intimate relationships.
Picture Perfect? The Role of Instagram in Issue Agenda Setting During the 2016 Presidential Primary Campaign
Authors: Towner Terri L. , Muñoz Caroline Lego
Published: August 2017

Instagram emerged as a pivotal campaign tool in the 2016 presidential campaign. This study examines the agenda-setting effects between the presidential primary candidates’ Instagram posts and articles published in the mainstream newspapers during the primary period. A reciprocal relationship between Democratic and Republican candidates’ Instagram posts and newspaper articles is expected. A content analysis of issues recorded daily issue frequencies in each medium which were then examined using a time-series analysis. Results offer evidence of a relationship between Democratic and Republican candidates’ Instagram posts and newspapers on some of the top issues in the primary campaign. However, the findings also reveal that candidate Instagram posts independently predicted newspapers’ issue agendas on certain issues with no reverse effects.
Music Everywhere: Setting a Digital Music Trap
Authors: Arditi David
Published: August 2017

Before the digital era, music consumption was limited to purchasing LPs, tapes and CDs, or attending concerts. With digitization and mobile technologies in tow, the consumption of music exploded. Music is now literally everywhere—but none of it is actually free. Our consumption of it on television and cable, through games on our computers and our phones, through subscriptions or sites with built-in never-ending streams of advertising always has a price. Music is everywhere, but how did this happen? How has digital distribution and production changed the recording industry? What are the consequences of ubiquitous music? In this article, I argue that the digital music trap is an outgrowth of digital capitalism that commodifies our everyday existence.
Discursive scaling: Moral stability and neoliberal dominance in the narratives of transnational migrant women
Authors: Catedral Lydia
Published: August 2017

In this article I apply the notion of scaling as agentive discursive practice to analyze the construction of moral positionings by migrant women. I draw from semi-structured interviews with Uzbek women in the United States and use discourse analytic methods to focus on the relationship between linguistic choices and existing power structures. I show that although these women are caught between multiple moral orders, by linking behaviors associated with these orders to different time–space configurations and different scopes of generalizability, they are able to justify their choices and highlight the stability of their own morality. I further demonstrate that while these acts of scaling are agentive, they may also be used to reinforce rather than dismantle existing hierarchies, pointing to the need for further investigation of the relationship between agency, discourse and power in contemporary globalization.
Organizational factors and knowledge management applications to user-centred services in federal university libraries in Nigeria
Authors: Ugwu Cyprian I. , Onyancha Omwoyo Bosire
Published: August 2017

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between organizational factors and knowledge management applications to user-centred services in federal university libraries in Nigeria. The population of the study consisted of 26 federal university libraries in Nigeria with 450 professional librarians. A questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. This research instrument was pretested for reliability using Cronbach alpha procedure. A total of 450 copies of the questionnaires were distributed to the respondents. Of these, 350 questionnaires were completed and returned, thereby accounting for a response rate of approximately 78%. Descriptive and inferential analyses of data were achieved using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed that knowledge management applications were more focused on knowledge identification and acquisition than on knowledge creation and dissemination. The findings also revealed that top management leadership and collaboration were the strongest of the organizational factors, and they correlated significantly with knowledge management applications to user-centred services. Other factors such as human resources policy and compensation schemes had both low and non-significant correlation with knowledge management applications. Both top management leadership and collaboration had significant relationships with knowledge management applications. It is, therefore, recommended that a knowledge management strategic action plan be developed for the federal university libraries in Nigeria.
Understanding systemic lupus erythematosus patients' desired outcomes and their perceptions of the risks and benefits of using corticosteroids
Authors: Ng X , dosReis S , Beardsley R , Magder L , Mullins C D , Petri M
Published: August 2017

Introduction

The use of corticosteroids in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients requires difficult trade-offs between efficacy and risk of toxicity. This qualitative study examined SLE patients' most desired outcomes and their concerns with corticosteroid use in SLE treatment.

Methods

SLE patients with current/past experience with using corticosteroids were recruited from the clinics at the Johns Hopkins Lupus Center and the University of Maryland Medical Center. Five in-depth interviews ( N = 5) and four focus groups ( N = 15) were conducted during which discussions were transcribed and analyzed based on a grounded theory approach.

Results

We identified five major themes describing SLE patients' most desired outcomes: reduction in flares, maintenance of normal activities, minimization of treatment side effects, prevention of future organ damage, and finding a cure. Further, SLE patients reported these primary concerns with the adverse effects of corticosteroids: weight gain, organ damage (particularly bone-related damage), mood swings/irritability, sleep disturbances, and dental issues. Patients appeared to be more concerned with adverse effects that immediately affected their day-to-day lives.

Conclusion

Knowledge gained during this study better informs how patients view the benefits and risks of corticosteroids. This can facilitate discussions between physicians and patients as they work together to determine the appropriate use of corticosteroids.