bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of a Unique Amyloid Sequence in AA Amyloidosis of a Pig Associated With Streptococcus Suis Infection
Authors: Kamiie J. , Sugahara G. , Yoshimoto S. , Aihara N. , Mineshige T. , Uetsuka K. , Shirota K.
Published: August 2016

Here we report a pig with amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis associated with Streptococcus suis infection and identification of a unique amyloid sequence in the amyloid deposits in the tissue. Tissues from the 180-day-old underdeveloped pig contained foci of necrosis and suppurative inflammation associated with S. suis infection. Congo red stain, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy revealed intense AA deposition in the spleen and renal glomeruli. Mass spectrometric analysis of amyloid material extracted from the spleen showed serum AA 2 (SAA2) peptide as well as a unique peptide sequence previously reported in a pig with AA amyloidosis. The common detection of the unique amyloid sequence in the current and past cases of AA amyloidosis in pigs suggests that this amyloid sequence might play a key role in the development of porcine AA amyloidosis. An in vitro fibrillation assay demonstrated that the unique AA peptide formed typically rigid, long amyloid fibrils (10 nm wide) and the N-terminus peptide of SAA2 formed zigzagged, short fibers (7 nm wide). Moreover, the SAA2 peptide formed long, rigid amyloid fibrils in the presence of sonicated amyloid fibrils formed by the unique AA peptide. These findings indicate that the N-terminus of SAA2 as well as the AA peptide mediate the development of AA amyloidosis in pigs via cross-seeding polymerization.
Effect of elasto-plastic material behaviour on determination of residual stress profiles using the hole drilling method
Authors: Chupakhin Sergey , Kashaev Nikolai , Huber Norbert
Published: August 2016

The hole drilling method is a well-known technique for the determination of non-uniform residual stress profiles by measuring relaxation distortions caused by the presence of the hole. The integral method, an inverse calculation technique on which the hole drilling method is based, assumes linear elastic material behaviour and is therefore limited to the measurement of residual stresses below 60% of the yield strength. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of elastic–plastic material behaviour on the determined non-uniform residual stress profile when the residual stresses exceed the given 60% limit. To this end, compressive residual stress profiles, as they are typically induced by laser shock peening, are investigated using finite element simulations followed by an analysis with the integral method. The obtained results from the analysis are compared to the applied residual stress profiles. An evaluation of the deviation between these two profiles provides detailed insight into the expected error as a function of hole drilling depth and the ratio of residual stress magnitude to yield strength. As an additional benefit of the presented approach, it also provides an indication of the range of depth at which the non-uniform residual stress profile should be corrected to reduce measurement error.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in the Knee Before and After Long-Distance Running—Documentation of Irreversible Structural Damage? A Systematic Review
Authors: Hoessly Menduri L. , Wildi Lukas M.
Published: August 2016

Background:

Various studies have investigated structural knee changes after running, with conflicting results.

Purpose:

To perform a systematic review of acute changes in knee structures as detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after running and assess the reversibility of these changes.

Study Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

A systematic literature search in Medline, Cochrane, Embase, and Scopus was performed. Articles that fulfilled predefined inclusion criteria were included and systematically reviewed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement.

Results:

A total of 19 studies were included in this review. All studies performed standard knee MRI; 6 studies additionally performed T1ρ and T2 mapping. Sixteen studies assessed cartilage or meniscal morphological changes. Ten found no significant morphological changes after running. Six studies showed significant changes at the first follow-up. Six performed a second follow-up. Five showed no change compared with baseline and the first follow-up, and 1 showed a significant recovery compared with the first follow-up and no significant difference compared with baseline. Five of the 6 studies performing T1ρ and T2 mapping found significant changes in T2 and T1ρ values at the first follow-up. Three performed a second follow-up. Two found a significant recovery of T2 but no recovery of T1ρ. One study did not find a significant change compared with baseline. Ten studies assessed the patellar tendon, ligaments, synovial fluid, or subchondral bone. Changes at the first follow-up were not significant. A second follow-up was performed in 5 studies. All studies discovered recovery from the first follow-up.

Conclusion:

These data suggest that healthy athletes who have no risk factors for degenerative joint disease may present fleeting quantitative alterations after running. No irreversible, qualitative harmful effects seemed to occur, with the exception of persistent T1ρ elevation representing a proteoglycan depletion. Whether T1ρ changes need more than 3 months to recover or represent permanent structural damage remains to be investigated.
Running and Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Timmins Kate A. , Leech Richard D. , Batt Mark E. , Edwards Kimberley L.
Published: August 2016

Background:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic condition characterized by pain, impaired function, and reduced quality of life. A number of risk factors for knee OA have been identified, such as obesity, occupation, and injury. The association between knee OA and physical activity or particular sports such as running is less clear. Previous reviews, and the evidence that informs them, present contradictory or inconclusive findings.

Purpose:

This systematic review aimed to determine the association between running and the development of knee OA.

Study Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods:

Four electronic databases were searched, along with citations in eligible articles and reviews and the contents of recent journal issues. Two reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts using prespecified eligibility criteria. Full-text articles were also independently assessed for eligibility. Eligible studies were those in which running or running-related sports (eg, triathlon or orienteering) were assessed as a risk factor for the onset or progression of knee OA in adults. Relevant outcomes included (1) diagnosis of knee OA, (2) radiographic markers of knee OA, (3) knee joint surgery for OA, (4) knee pain, and (5) knee-associated disability. Risk of bias was judged by use of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed with case-control studies investigating arthroplasty.

Results:

After de-duplication, the search returned 1322 records. Of these, 153 full-text articles were assessed; 25 were eligible, describing 15 studies: 11 cohort (6 retrospective) and 4 case-control studies. Findings of studies with a diagnostic OA outcome were mixed. Some radiographic differences were observed in runners, but only at baseline within some subgroups. Meta-analysis suggested a protective effect of running against surgery due to OA: pooled odds ratio 0.46 (95% CI, 0.30-0.71). The I2was 0% (95% CI, 0%-73%). Evidence relating to symptomatic outcomes was sparse and inconclusive.

Conclusion:

With this evidence, it is not possible to determine the role of running in knee OA. Moderate- to low-quality evidence suggests no association with OA diagnosis, a positive association with OA diagnosis, and a negative association with knee OA surgery. Conflicting results may reflect methodological heterogeneity. More evidence from well-designed, prospective studies is needed to clarify the contradictions.
Performance and Injury Characteristics of Pitchers Entering the Major League Baseball Draft After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Wymore Lucas , Chin Paul , Geary Christopher , Carolan Gregory , Keefe Daniel , Hoenecke Heinz , Fronek Jan
Published: August 2016

Background:

Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction (UCLR) has been studied and shown to be a successful procedure for returning overhead athletes to sport. Many studies of Major League Baseball (MLB) players have shown high levels of return to play with successful statistical performance. No study has followed professional advancement of drafted pitchers who underwent UCLR as amateurs when compared with drafted pitchers who did not undergo the procedure before selection in the MLB draft.

Hypothesis:

There would be no difference in professional advancement, statistical performance, or injury rate between the UCLR and control groups.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Thirty-eight pitchers with a UCLR as an amateur and 114 controls were identified in the MLB draft between 2006 and 2010. Highest level of professional baseball achieved was collected from all players, as well as statistical performance metrics including velocity, wins, earned run average (ERA), and walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP). Additional data on future injuries were analyzed for days on the disabled list (DL), risk of being placed on the DL, and DL assignment for elbow injury.

Results:

Thirteen of 38 UCLR pitchers reached the major league level (34.2%) compared with 29 of 114 (25.4%) control pitchers, which was not statically significant ( P = .295). The UCLR and control groups were similar for average velocity, peak velocity, innings pitched, games, games started, innings per game, ERA, WHIP, wins, losses, saves, batters faced, and innings pitched per year, as well as hits, runs, home runs allowed, strikeouts, batters walked, and batters struck per inning. The UCLR group had a significantly increased rate of DL assignment when compared with controls (86.8% vs 64.0%; P = .008); however, days on DL (152.8 vs 135.6; P = .723) and DL assignment for elbow injury (45.5% vs 43.8%; P = .877) were similar.

Conclusion:

There was no difference in the rate of professional advancement among pitchers drafted by the MLB who had undergone UCLR as amateurs compared with controls. Both groups had similar statistical performance. Pitchers in the UCLR group had an increased risk of DL assignment but no increase in the number of days on DL or risk of DL placement for elbow injury.
The Health Disparities of Same-sex Cohabitors at the Intersection of Race-ethnicity and Gender
Authors: Liu Hui , Reczek Corinne , Mindes Samuel C. H. , Shen Shannon
Published: August 2016

We work from a minority stress perspective to theorize health disparities across union status at the intersection of sexual minority status, race-ethnicity, and gender. We use pooled data from the Integrated National Health Interview Surveys (1997–2014) to assess a wide range of health outcomes, including self-rated physical health, psychological distress, and health behaviors. Results suggest that same-sex cohabitors face substantial health disadvantages relative to different-sex married individuals, with little variation by race-ethnicity and gender. Fewer health differences are found for same-sex cohabitors in comparison with both different-sex cohabitors and unpartnered singles, although greater variation by gender and race-ethnicity is found across these comparisons. This study highlights the importance of integrating intersectionality and minority stress theories to guide future research examining sexual minority health disparities. Results suggest that the sexual minority health disadvantage, as well as the potential health boost of same-sex marriage, may depend on the intersection of race-ethnicity and gender.
Mobbing and Its Impact on Interpersonal Relationships at the Workplace
Authors: da Silva João Ana Lúcia , Saldanha Portelada António Fernando
Published: August 2016

Mobbing is characterized by the repetition, over a long period of time, of hostile behavior and unethical conduct carried out by a hierarchical superior or co-worker, against someone’s physic and mental integrity, endangering one’s job or disturbing the work environment. This current investigative study intends to assess the existence, frequency, and intensity of mobbing within the Portuguese nurse population, as well as its impact on their well-being and interpersonal relationships. The study carried out was quantitative, correlational, and cross-sectional. A questionnaire was used as the form to collect data. The questionnaire was sent out to 11 institutions in Portugal which were chosen at random, and it was also made available on a website for whoever wished to respond. The sample was composed of 3,227 nurses from various health institutions in Portugal. From the results obtained it was observed that on average each nurse undergoes 11 aggression conducts in their main place of work. The types of aggression suffered with greater intensity by the victims are communication blockage and being discredited at work. The predominant types of mobbing are the horizontal and the descending type. Nurses suspected the following motivations for those who had perpetrated mobbing against them: envy or jealous, not yielding or having been influenced by blackmail, not being subservient and being innovative, or entrepreneurial in the new work methods or perspectives. Almost half of the victims claim to have had health problems as a result of having suffered mobbing in their workplace.
Longitudinal Risks for Domestic Violence
Authors: Iratzoqui Amaia , Watts Stephen J.
Published: August 2016

Much research has examined the connections between victimization experiences in the family during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. However, research that frames these different victimization experiences across the life course as part of a broader, longitudinal risk for experiencing domestic violence on the part of the individual, particularly within a theoretically driven model, is lacking. The current study uses data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), a nationally representative sample of American adolescents, to examine how child abuse connects to victimization by dating partners during adolescence and victimization by romantic and marital partners during adulthood, and whether dating victimization mediates the relationship between child abuse and intimate partner victimization in adulthood. Results suggest that this is indeed the case, with child abuse having a direct effect on adolescent dating victimization and a direct and indirect effect on adult intimate partner victimization. Implications of the findings for theory and policy are discussed.
Stalking Victimization and Substance Use in College Dating Relationships: An Exploratory Analysis
Authors: Strauss Catherine V. , Haynes Ellen E. , Cornelius Tara L. , Shorey Ryan C.
Published: August 2016

Traditionally, most dating violence research has focused on physical aggression and has left stalking behaviors largely unexamined, despite evidence that stalking of an intimate partner occurs with high frequency. Moreover, the extent to which stalking victimization has the same negative mental health consequences as other forms of dating violence is unclear. Thus, using a sample of male and female undergraduate students in current dating relationships ( N = 357), the association between stalking victimization and alcohol and drug use was explored. Results indicated that for both men and women, stalking victimization from a dating partner was related to alcohol and drug use, even after controlling for age, gender, length of dating relationship, and physical aggression victimization. These preliminary findings suggest that stalking victimization is associated with deleterious consequences; thus, additional research is needed to better understand the longitudinal, long-term consequences of stalking victimization. Additional implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Flexible Funding as a Promising Strategy to Prevent Homelessness for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Sullivan Cris M. , Bomsta Heather D. , Hacskaylo Margaret A.
Published: August 2016

The complex interrelationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and housing instability has been well established. Being the victim of IPV is a leading cause of homelessness for women, and once someone is homeless, their lives often spiral downward quickly. While some IPV survivors require extensive and possibly long-term assistance to achieve safe and stable housing (especially if they are contending with multiple complex issues), others could avoid homelessness if provided with immediate, individualized, and flexible assistance. For these survivors, whose housing has been otherwise stable but who face homelessness because of a crisis related to IPV, a brief intervention that includes flexible funding can restore a family’s equilibrium and prevent the devastating repercussions associated with homelessness. A longitudinal evaluation of a flexible funding program in Washington, D.C., found that this brief, relatively inexpensive intervention may increase housing stability—94% of clients were housed 6 months after funding was received. Implications for both research and practice are discussed.
Epigenetic Effects of PTSD Remediation in Veterans Using Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Church Dawson , Yount Garret , Rachlin Kenneth , Fox Louis , Nelms Jerrod
Published: August 2016

Purpose:

To assess the feasibility of measuring changes in gene expression associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment using emotional freedom techniques (EFT).

Design:

Participants were randomized into an EFT group receiving EFT and treatment as usual (TAU) throughout a 10-week intervention period and a group receiving only TAU during the intervention period and then receiving EFT.

Setting:

A community clinic and a research institute in California.

Participants:

Sixteen veterans with clinical levels of PTSD symptoms.

Intervention:

Ten hour-long sessions of EFT.

Measures:

Messenger RNA levels for a focused panel of 93 genes related to PTSD. The Symptom Assessment 45 questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Insomnia Severity Scale, SF-12v2 for physical impairments, and Rivermead Postconcussion Symptoms Questionnaire.

Analysis:

Pre-, posttreatment, and follow-up mean scores on questionnaires were assessed using repeated measures 1-way analysis of variance. A Student t test and post hoc analyses were performed on gene expression data.

Results:

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms declined significantly in the EFT group (−53%, P < .0001). Participants maintained their gains on follow-up. Significant differential expression of 6 genes was found ( P < .05) when comparing the expression levels before and after the intervention period in participants receiving EFT.

Conclusion:

Study results identify candidate gene expression correlates of successful PTSD treatment, providing guidelines for the design of further studies aimed at exploring the epigenetic effects of EFT.
The Mediation Effects of Career Exploration on the Relationship Between Trait Anxiety and Career Indecision
Authors: Park Kira , Woo Sungbum , Park Kibok , Kyea Jina , Yang Eunjoo
Published: August 2016

This study investigated trait anxiety, career exploration behaviors, and career indecision. Using longitudinal data, career exploration behavior was examined as a mediator in the relationship between trait anxiety and career indecision. Five hundred and one Korean college students completed online questionnaires at three different time points with a 6-month interval. Results showed significant mediation effects of career exploration behaviors. Specifically, a higher level of trait anxiety was associated with a lower level of initial career exploration, yet anxiety increased career exploration behaviors over time. Additionally, an increase in career exploration behaviors predicted a decrease in career indecision. The results suggest that the role of trait anxiety in career exploration and decision-making may change over time. While trait anxiety is related to less exploration and more difficulty in decision-making from a cross-sectional perspective, it may facilitate career exploration and, ultimately, career decision-making from a longitudinal perspective.
The Effectiveness of Strategies for Coping With Career Indecision
Authors: Lipshits-Braziler Yuliya , Tatar Moshe , Gati Itamar
Published: August 2016

The present research investigated which strategies Israeli young adults ( N = 254) use to cope with their career indecision and the perceived effectiveness of these strategies. Their perceptions of the effectiveness of coping strategies were compared to the respective judgments of career counselors ( N = 36). The similarity between the young adults’ and the career counselors’ perceptions ( r = .98) suggests that young adults have a fairly accurate judgment of the effectiveness of various coping strategies. However, career counselors perceived emotional help-seeking as a more effective strategy and helplessness and submission as less effective strategies than did young adults (| d| > 0.89). The results also show that Productive coping strategies, although perceived as effective by the young adults, were actually used less by them, whereas Nonproductive coping strategies, although perceived as ineffective, were used more. The counseling implications of the finding that the Nonproductive coping strategies but not the productive ones predict career decision-making difficulties are discussed.
Drug-Induced Vitamin B12 Deficiency: A Focus on Proton Pump Inhibitors and Histamine-2 Antagonists
Authors: Linder Lauren , Tamboue Cynthia , Clements Jennifer N.
Published: August 2016

Objective:

To review primary literature of gastric acid suppressive agents and vitamin B12 deficiency.

Data Synthesis:

From the published articles, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are associated with a higher risk of inducing vitamin B12 deficiency than histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs). Literature suggests that there is an increased risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency in patients who are exposed to extended durations of therapy with PPIs. There are, however, some conflicting data in elderly patients suggesting that the PPI use for more than 3 years does not increase the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. No evidence was found to support the extended use of H2RA monotherapy causing vitamin B12 deficiency. The inconsistency of results reported could be due to the differing patient populations studied, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) and elderly patients. Overall, the lack of consistent evidence shows the need for more research in this area.

Conclusion:

To investigate the clinical significance of vitamin B12 deficiency caused by acid suppression with PPIs and H2RAs, longer prospective studies are needed. These studies should focus on patient-centered outcomes to accurately determine the extended usage of PPI and H2RA and the true effects on vitamin B12 deficiency.
Can Philanthropy Be Taught?
Authors: McDougle Lindsey , McDonald Danielle , Li Huafang , McIntyre Miller Whitney , Xu Chengxin
Published: August 2016

In recent years, colleges and universities have begun investing significant resources into an innovative pedagogy known as experiential philanthropy. The pedagogy is considered to be a form of service-learning. It is defined as a learning approach that provides students with opportunities to study social problems and nonprofit organizations and then make decisions about investing funds in them. Experiential philanthropy is intended to integrate academic learning with community engagement by teaching students not only about the practice of philanthropy but also how to evaluate philanthropic responses to social issues. Despite this intent, there has been scant evidence demonstrating that this type of pedagogic instruction has quantifiable impacts on students’ learning or their personal development. Therefore, this study explores learning and development outcomes associated with experiential philanthropy and examines the efficacy of experiential philanthropy as a pedagogic strategy within higher education. Essentially, we seek to answer the question, Can philanthropy be taught?
The Relationship of Nonprofits’ Financial Health to Program Outcomes: Empirical Evidence From Nonprofit Arts Organizations
Authors: Kim Mirae
Published: August 2016

Financial measures are routinely used as a proxy for nonprofit organizations’ capacity to serve, but the link between financial indicators and program outcomes has been largely unexamined. This study examines empirically whether, and to what extent, financial measures predict program success. The analysis draws on a unique data set from the Cultural Data Project (2004-2012) that covers nearly 5,000 nonprofit arts and cultural organizations. The empirical results confirm that financial attributes are indeed linked to program outcomes. Yet, some of the factors that contribute to financial stability and efficiency have no or negative relationships with program outcomes; this finding suggests that some efforts to maintain financial strength may be made at the expense of program performance. This study also draws attention to the inconsistent way revenue diversification is being measured and calls attention to the value in focusing on the primary funding mechanism of a nonprofit organization.
Qualitative evaluation of the design variables of a teaching intervention to expose accounting students to pervasive skills
Authors: Viviers Herman Albertus
Published: August 2016

The primary objective of this article is to evaluate the design variables of a newly developed teaching intervention, ‘The Amazing Tax Race’. It comprises a race against time in which accounting students participate within teams in multiple tax-related activities so that they are exposed to pervasive skills. The findings provide information to accounting educators on the effectiveness of the design variables considered in the development of teaching initiatives aimed at pervasive skills development. The evaluation was conducted by means of a qualitative analysis of focus group transcripts gathered from interviews held with accounting students who participated in the teaching intervention hosted at a South African university accredited by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. Overall, the design variables applied were found to contribute positively to pervasive skills development. The format of the intervention could serve to overcome the challenge of accommodating large student groups. The author also notes limitations and makes recommendations for designing future teaching interventions.
Numerical investigation on the weight, speed, and installation location effects on fuel tank separation trajectory
Authors: Dehghan Mahnaz , Davari Ali Reza , Dehghan Manshadi Mojtaba
Published: August 2016

A numerical survey coupled with six degree-of-freedom flight simulation have been undertaken to study the fuel tank separation trajectory, released from a trainer airplane. Two different spanwise release points for the tank, near and farther from the fuselage under the starboard wing with full and empty fuel were considered. The studies were performed at two free stream Mach numbers of 0.23 and 0.42 at zero angle of attack. Dynamic unstructured tetrahedral mesh approach combined with spring-based smoothing and local remeshing was applied with an implicit, second-order upwind accurate Euler solver. A six degree-of-freedom routine using a fourth-order multi-point time integration scheme was coupled with the flow solver to update the payload trajectory information at each time step. According to the results, the payload installed farther from the fuselage falls down with a higher forward velocity than that located closer, once released from the wing. The spanwise installation point was also found to have a strong impact on the pitch attitude of the released payload. The payload weight has been shown to play a vital role in longitudinal-lateral coupling behavior and the associated moments on the released payload.
A motion compensation method for bi-plane robot-assisted internal fixation surgery of a femur neck fracture
Authors: Song Jian , Ding Hui , Han Wei , Wang Junqiang , Wang Guangzhi
Published: August 2016

Bi-plane robots have been widely applied in clinical use to place cannulated screws for internal fixation surgery of femur neck fractures, which is performed precisely and automatically using two online fluoroscopic images. However, the setup procedure of the bi-plane robot is empirical, and physicians usually have to re-run the setup procedure, exposing the patient to high doses of radiation in clinical applications. In this article, a motion compensation method is proposed by a novel use of the binocular vision principle to improve the bi-plane robot setup using two doses of radiation within 2 min. The entry point, exit point, and angle errors of the three-dimensional trajectory reconstruction are 1.23 ± 0.39 mm, 1.49 ± 0.49 mm, and 0.33° ± 0.23°, respectively. The motion compensation method significantly reduces the dose of radiation and the operation time of the setup procedure and has acceptable accuracy.
Backward Semantic Inhibition in Toddlers
Authors: Chow Janette , Aimola Davies Anne M. , Fuentes Luis J. , Plunkett Kim
Published: August 2016

Attention switching is a crucial ability required in everyday life, from toddlerhood to adulthood. In adults, shifting attention from one word (e.g., dog) to another (e.g., sea) results in backward semantic inhibition, that is, the inhibition of the initial word ( dog). In this study, we used the preferential-looking paradigm to examine whether attention switching is accompanied by backward semantic inhibition in toddlers. We found that 24-month-olds can indeed refocus their attention to a new item by selectively inhibiting attention to the old item. The consequence of backward inhibition is that subsequent attention to a word semantically related to the old item is impaired. These findings have important implications for understanding the underlying mechanism of backward semantic inhibition and the development of lexical-semantic inhibition in early childhood.
Not knowing, emancipatory catastrophism and metamorphosis: Embracing the spirit of Ulrich Beck
Authors: Mythen Gabe , Walklate Sandra
Published: August 2016

Embracing the spirit of his observation that ‘what was ruled out beforehand as inconceivable is taking place’, this article urges a re-engagement with Ulrich Beck’s work within security studies. In so doing, the article falls into three parts. First, we provide necessary contextual orientation, discussing the magnitude of Beck’s contribution to understandings of risk and security in the social sciences. Second, we discuss the importance of comprehending Beck’s unique methodological approach in order to appreciate the more specific resonances of his work. Third, we endorse the theoretical novelty of Beck’s work, demonstrating the ways in which the tools that he devised might be put to use and extended in future. To this end, we focus on three interconnected conceptual devices developed by Beck in the latter stages of his career: nichtwissen, emancipatory catastrophism and metamorphosis. We conclude by emphasizing the vital need to grasp the practical as well as the academic ambitions that underpinned Beck’s projective style of social theory.
Test of a Dignity Model in patients with heart failure
Authors: Bagheri Hossein , Yaghmaei Farideh , Ashktorab Tahereh , Zayeri Farid
Published: August 2016

Background:

Identifying, maintenance, and promotion of dignity in different patients of various cultures is an ethical responsibility of healthcare workers.

Research questions:

This study was conducted to investigate factors related to dignity in patients with heart failure and test the validity of Dignity Model.

Design:

The study had a descriptive-correlational design, and data collection was carried out by means of four specific questionnaires.

Participants and context:

A total of 130 in-patients from cardiac wards in hospitals affiliated with Tehran and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences participated.

Ethical consideration:

This study was approved by the Research Committee of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.

Findings:

Significant correlation showed the following: between illness related worries with dignity conserving repertoire score, between illness related worries with social dignity, between illness related worries with dignity conserving repertoire score, and between social dignity with dignity score. Goodness Fit Index and Comparative Fit Index were calculated greater than 0.9.

Discussion:

This study affirms the importance of careful evaluation of individual patients to determine their needs related to dignity.

Conclusion:

According to the results, the necessity of using appropriate tools to assess various aspects of patients’ dignity by clinical healthcare staff and design activities with particular focus on the main factors affecting dignity such as illness related worries and social dignity is recommended. Attention to this issue in everyday clinical practice can facilitate health professionals/nurses to potentially improve their patients’ dignity, develop quality of care and treatment, and improve patients’ satisfaction.
Practices employed by South African healthcare providers to obtain consent for treatment from children
Authors: Bester Michelle , Havenga Yolanda , Ligthelm Zea
Published: August 2016

Background:

The ability to consent promotes children’s access to health services. Healthcare providers should assess and arrive at a clinical judgement about the child’s maturity and mental capacity to obtain valid consent.

Research objective:

The objective of the study was to determine practices employed by South African healthcare providers to obtain consent for treatment from children.

Research design:

A qualitative, explorative, descriptive research design was used and the study was contextual.

Participants and research context:

In all, 24 healthcare providers (professional nurses and medical practitioners) were purposively sampled from a hospital and primary health clinics. Semi-structured interviews were used.

Ethical consideration:

Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board and gatekeepers. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant.

Findings:

Healthcare providers’ current practices in obtaining consent from children revealed inconsistency in implementation as well as the yardstick used to determine children’s mental capacity. Building trust with children, sharing information and assessment were interlinked in obtaining consent.

Discussion:

The inconsistent practice has implications for children’s access to healthcare services.

Conclusion:

Inconsistent practices in the implementation of consent laws have the potential to violate children’s rights to bodily and psychological integrity, access to health services and having their opinions heard and be taken into consideration. Through uncovering the current perceptions and practices and a literature review, guidelines intended for use by the Department of Health could be developed.
Iranian nurses’ experience of “being a wrongdoer”: A phenomenological study
Authors: Mohsenpour Mohaddeseh , Hosseini MohammadAli , Abbaszadeh Abbas , Shahboulaghi Farahnaz Mohammadi , Khankeh HamidReza
Published: August 2016

Background:

Patient safety, which is a patient’s right, can be threatened by nursing errors. Furthermore, nurses’ feeling of “being a wrongdoer” in response to nursing errors can influence the quality of care they deliver.

Research objectives:

To explore the meaning of Iranian nurses’ experience of “being a wrongdoer.”

Research design:

A phenomenological approach was used to explore nurses’ lived experiences. Nurses were recruited purposively to take part in semistructured interviews, and the data collected from these interviews were analyzed using Van Manen’s thematic analysis.

Participants and research context:

Eight nurses working in three private or governmental hospitals in Tehran, Iran.

Ethical consideration:

The research design was approved in each participating hospital, and all interviews were carried out at a predetermined time in a private place.

Findings:

Five themes were extracted from the data: “wandering in unpleasant feelings” (with two subthemes: “unpleasant physical feelings” and “unpleasant emotions”), “wandering in the conscience court” (with three subthemes: “being the accused,” “being the victim,” and “being the judge”), “being arrested in time,” “time for change” (with three subthemes: “promoting accountability,” “promoting learning,” and “strengthening supportive relationships”), and “spiritual exercise.”

Discussion:

Some of our results are supported by the model of self-reconciliation and the recovery trajectory of “second victims” theory.

Conclusion:

The meaning of “being a wrongdoer” has positive and negative aspects. Feelings of wandering provide nurses the opportunity to reflect on and re-embrace the professional and moral responsibility of nursing. Nursing managers can convert their “defeats” into a prelude to learning, increase their accountability, and improve the quality of nursing care.
Study of the Relationship among the Factors of Brand Equity: A Study on Fast-food Brands
Authors: Singh Pankaj Kumar , Pattanayak J. K.
Published: August 2016

This study aims at examining the practicality and application of customer-based brand equity model based on Aaker’s well-known conceptual framework of brand equity. The study employed structural equation modelling to investigate the relationship existing between dimensions of brand equity and the brand equity itself. It specifically measures the way in which consumers’ perceptions of the dimensions of brand equity affect the overall brand equity evaluation. Data were collected from Indian youth who visited Dominos restaurants (Dhanbad, Jharkhand). The finding shows that brand association (BA) is an important dimension affecting positively the brand equity in fast-food brands. The present study has some implications as managers associated with fast-food industry have to maintain or strengthen their efforts upon the BA dimension.
Selecting Regional Postponement Centre Using PESTLE-AHP-TOPSIS Methodology: A Case Study in a Pharmaceutical Company
Authors: Oey Elia , Nitihardjo Evelyn Carolina
Published: August 2016

Supply network planning can be considered as one of the key elements to an effective supply chain management. Decision on where and in which form a company should hold its inventory can give not only cost competitiveness but also responsiveness to customer requirement. This research is based on a case study of a multinational pharmaceutical company with international suppliers and a presence in several countries. The company has a few regional supply factories (affiliates or third parties), including one in Indonesia, serving its Asia-Pacific market. Pharmaceutical products involve many stock keeping units (SKUs) in different packaging formats even though they share the same ingredients. To enhance its supply network, the company is evaluating the option of a regional postponement centre which would serve as a consolidation and repacking facility to direct the demand of similar products from several markets to its supply nodes. This research project evaluates in which country the regional postponement facility should be best located. The research uses a combination of PESTLE-AHP-TOPSIS methodology. The criteria and sub-criteria are derived using PESTLE methodology, while the ranking and analysis is done using AHP-TOPSIS. The final result shows that Singapore is the most suitable location for the company’s regional postponement centre.
The Impact of Neighborhood Status on Imprisonment for Firearm Offenses
Authors: Williams Joshua H. , Rosenfeld Richard
Published: August 2016

Burgeoning research on criminal case processing has revealed persistent effects of the race and ethnicity of defendants on case outcomes up to and including imprisonment. But prior studies have devoted relatively little attention to how the characteristics of the communities in which crimes are committed affect imprisonment and antecedent legal outcomes such as bail amount and pretrial detention. Guided by the group threat and focal concerns perspectives, the current study examines the impact of community racial and socioeconomic composition on the likelihood that African American male defendants are sentenced to prison rather than probation for firearm offenses in a large Midwestern city. We find that defendants arrested in neighborhoods with higher proportions of non-poor residents received higher bail and, in turn, spent more time in jail and were more likely to be sentenced to prison than those arrested in lower status neighborhoods. We find no significant effect of neighborhood racial composition on bail, pretrial confinement, or imprisonment. We recommend that the community context of crime receive high priority in future research on the impact of extralegal factors on imprisonment.
Training Anchoring and Representativeness Bias Mitigation Through a Digital Game
Authors: Lee Yu-Hao , Dunbar Norah E. , Miller Claude H. , Lane Brianna L. , Jensen Matthew L. , Bessarabova Elena , Burgoon Judee K. , Adame Bradley J. , Valacich Joseph J. , Adame Elissa A. , Bostwick Eryn , Piercy Cameron W. , Elizondo Javier , Wilson Scott N.
Published: August 2016

Objective. Humans systematically make poor decisions because of cognitive biases. Can digital games train people to avoid cognitive biases? The goal of this study is to investigate the affordance of different educational media in training people about cognitive biases and to mitigate cognitive biases within their decision-making processes.

Method. A between-subject experiment was conducted to compare a digital game, a traditional slideshow, and a combined condition in mitigating two types of cognitive biases: anchoring bias and representativeness bias. We measured both immediate effects and delayed effects after four weeks.

Results. The digital game and slideshow conditions were effective in mitigating cognitive biases immediately after the training, but the effects decayed after four weeks. By providing the basic knowledge through the slideshow, then allowing learners to practice bias-mitigation techniques in the digital game, the combined condition was most effective at mitigating the cognitive biases both immediately and after four weeks.
Ceftaroline as Salvage Monotherapy for Persistent MRSA Bacteremia
Authors: Burnett Yvonne J. , Echevarria Kelly , Traugott Kristi A.
Published: August 2016

Objective: To summarize published data regarding the use of ceftaroline as salvage monotherapy for persistent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia. Data Sources: PubMed (January 1980-June 2016) was searched using combinations of the search terms methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, bacteremia, ceftaroline, refractory, and persistent. Supplemental references were generated through review of identified literature citations. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Available English-language, full-text articles pertaining to the use of ceftaroline for persistent MRSA bacteremia (MRSAB) were included. Data Synthesis: The PubMed search yielded 23 articles for evaluation. There are no randomized controlled trials to date—only case series and reports. Four retrospective case series detailing the use of ceftaroline as monotherapy for persistent MRSAB were included. Most patients received at least 4 days of an appropriate anti-MRSA antimicrobial prior to ceftaroline and were able to clear bacteremia within 3 days. The most common rationales for ceftaroline use were progression of disease or nonresponse to current therapy. Higher off-label dosing of ceftaroline is often utilized to achieve optimal pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters. Adverse events are not well described due to lack of follow-up; however, neutropenia has been associated with prolonged use. Conclusions: Treatment options for persistent MRSAB remain few and far between. Ceftaroline is an effective agent for the salvage treatment of MRSAB. Off-label doses up to 600 mg every 8 hours are often used to achieve optimal pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters. Because of lack of follow-up in these reports, the incidence of adverse effects of prolonged use of ceftaroline is not well defined.
Effect of Chemical Thromboprophylaxis on the Rate of Venous Thromboembolism After Treatment of Foot and Ankle Fractures
Authors: Zheng Xin , Li Dong-Ya , Wangyang Yufan , Zhang Xing-Chen , Guo Kai-Jin , Zhao Feng-Chao , Pang Yong , Chen Yi-Xin
Published: August 2016

Background:

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a well-documented complication in patients with lower limb fractures, but management guidelines for its prevention in isolated foot and ankle fracture patients are conflicting. The aim of this study was to conduct a multicenter, prospective cohort study to define the prevalence of VTE in patients with isolated foot and ankle fractures and determine whether routine prophylaxis is necessary in these patients.

Methods:

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, consecutive patients in 3 hospitals who met our criteria were enrolled. After randomization, patients received either thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin units (LMWH group) or placebo (placebo group) for a period of 2 weeks. All patients underwent routine ultrasonography 1 day preoperatively, 1 week postoperatively, and 1 month postoperatively. Demographic parameters were then collected and compared.

Results:

Of the 814 patients who met our criteria, 19 patients (2.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0%-31.9%) were found to have objectively confirmed VTE, but none of the patients were symptomatic. Of the 411 patients in the LMWH group, 2 developed VTEs preoperatively and 4 postoperatively; of the 403 patients in the placebo group, 5 developed VTEs preoperatively and 8 postoperatively. The overall incidence of asymptomatic postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was 0.98% (95% CI 0%-20.3%) in the LMWH group and 2.01% (95% CI 0%-29.5%) in the placebo group without significant difference. Advanced age (odds ratio [OR] 1.050, 95% CI 1.014-1.088, P = .007) and high body mass index (OR 1.201, 95% CI 1.034-1.395, P = .016) were identified as risk factors in predicting occurrence of DVT. No fatal pulmonary emboli or major bleeding complication occurred in either group.

Conclusion:

Routine anticoagulant prophylaxis was not found to be necessary for patients with foot and ankle fractures, although further investigation with a properly powered study design is required to definitively determine which foot and ankle patients are best served by anticoagulation and which ones are not.

Level of Evidence:

Level II, prospective comparative study.