bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Precipitation Analysis and Estimation of Precipitation Concentration Index Using Three Support Vector Machine Methods
Authors: Gocic Milan , Shamshirband Shahaboddin , Razak Zaidi , Petković Dalibor , Ch Sudheer , Trajkovic Slavisa
Published: April 2016

The monthly precipitation data from 29 stations in Serbia during the period of 1946–2012 were considered. Precipitation trends were calculated using linear regression method. Three CLINO periods (1961–1990, 1971–2000, and 1981–2010) in three subregions were analysed. The CLINO 1981–2010 period had a significant increasing trend. Spatial pattern of the precipitation concentration index (PCI) was presented. For the purpose of PCI prediction, three Support Vector Machine (SVM) models, namely, SVM coupled with the discrete wavelet transform (SVM-Wavelet), the firefly algorithm (SVM-FFA), and using the radial basis function (SVM-RBF), were developed and used. The estimation and prediction results of these models were compared with each other using three statistical indicators, that is, root mean square error, coefficient of determination, and coefficient of efficiency. The experimental results showed that an improvement in predictive accuracy and capability of generalization can be achieved by the SVM-Wavelet approach. Moreover, the results indicated the proposed SVM-Wavelet model can adequately predict the PCI.
Berberine Inhibition of Fibrogenesis in a Rat Model of Liver Fibrosis and in Hepatic Stellate Cells
Authors: Wang Ning , Xu Qihe , Tan Hor Yue , Hong Ming , Li Sha , Yuen Man-Fung , Feng Yibin
Published: April 2016

Aim. To examine the effect of berberine (BBR) on liver fibrosis and its possible mechanisms through direct effects on hepatic stellate cells (HSC). Methods. The antifibrotic effect of BBR was determined in a rat model of bile duct ligation‐ (BDL‐) induced liver fibrosis. Multiple cellular and molecular approaches were introduced to examine the effects of BBR on HSC. Results. BBR potently inhibited hepatic fibrosis induced by BDL in rats. It exhibited cytotoxicity to activated HSC at doses nontoxic to hepatocytes. High doses of BBR induced apoptosis of activated HSC, which was mediated by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and Bcl‐2/Bax imbalance. Low doses of BBR suppressed activation of HSC as evidenced by the inhibition of α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) expression and cell motility. BBR did not affect Smad2/3 phosphorylation but significantly activated 5′ AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) signalling, which was responsible for the transcriptional inhibition by BBR of profibrogenic factors α‐SMA and collagen in HSC. Conclusion. BBR is a promising agent for treating liver fibrosis through multiple mechanisms, at least partially by directly targeting HSC and by inhibiting the AMPK pathway. Its value as an antifibrotic drug in patients with liver disease deserves further investigation.
Serological and Molecular Evidence of Q Fever in Domestic Ruminants in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Md. Arifur , Alam Md. Mahbub , Islam Md. Aminul , Bhuiyan A. K. Fazlul Haque , Rahman A. K. M. Anisur
Published: April 2016

The objective of this study was to know the herd and animal level prevalence of Q fever in domestic ruminants in some selected districts in Bangladesh. Randomly collected 111 bulk milk and 94 sera samples of cattle, sheep, and goats were tested by indirect ELISA (iELISA). DNA extracted from 23 aborted fetal membranes was analyzed by real time (rt) PCR. The positive cut-off value of iELISA in bulk milk and individual animal sera was ≥30% and ≥40%, respectively. The overall herd level prevalence of Q fever in dairy cattle was 15.6%. The prevalence of Q fever in dairy cattle was significantly higher in Sirajganj in comparison to Satkhira District (P<0.01). The overall seroprevalence of Q fever in domestic ruminants was 5.06%. Although statistically insignificant, the seroprevalence of Q fever was relatively higher in sheep (9.52%) in comparison to goats (3.33%) and cattle (3.57%). Out of 23 aborted fetal membranes, only one sheep placenta was positive in rt PCR. Q fever is present in all of the three important species of domestic ruminants in Bangladesh. It may have some role in sheep abortion as the seroprevalence is relatively higher and also one sheep placenta is rt PCR positive.
Self-Managing Postoperative Pain with the Use of a Novel, Interactive Device: A Proof of Concept Study
Authors: Mordecai Luke , Leung Frances H. L. , Carvalho Clarissa Y. M. , Reddi Danielle , Lees Martin , Cone Stephen , Fox Zoe , Williams Amanda C. de C. , Brandner Brigitta
Published: April 2016

Background. Pain is commonly experienced following surgical procedures. Suboptimal management is multifactorial.Objectives. The primary objective was to assess whether patients used a device (Navimed) to self-report pain over and above a normal baseline of observations. Secondary outcome measures included comparison of pain scores and patient use of and feedback on the device.Methods. In a prospective randomized controlled trial, elective gynaecological surgery patients received standard postoperative pain care or standard care plus the Navimed, which allowed them to self-report pain and offered interactive self-help options.Results. 52 female patients, 26 in each of device and standard groups, did not differ in the frequency of nurse-documented pain scores or mean pain scores provided to nurses. The device group additionally reported pain on the device (means 18.50 versus 11.90 pain ratings per day,t(32)=2.75,p<0.001) that was significantly worse than reported to nurses but retrospectively rated significantly less anxiety. 80% of patients found the device useful.Discussion and Conclusion. This study demonstrates that patients used the Navimed to report pain and to help manage it. Further work is required to investigate the difference in pain scores reported and to develop more sophisticated software.
Cancer Mortality Risks from Long-term Exposure to Ambient Fine Particle
Authors: Wong Chit Ming , Tsang Hilda , Lai Hak Kan , Thomas G. Neil , Lam Kin Bong , Chan King Pan , Zheng Qishi , Ayres Jon G. , Lee Siu Yin , Lam Tai Hing , Thach Thuan Quoc
Published: April 2016

Background: Few studies have assessed long-term effects of particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) on mortality for causes of cancer other than the lung; we assessed the effects on multiple causes. In Hong Kong, most people live and work in urban or suburban areas with high-rise buildings. This facilitates the estimation of PM2.5 exposure of individuals, taking into account the height of residence above ground level for assessment of the long-term health effects with sufficient statistical power.

Methods: We recruited 66,820 persons who were ≥65 in 1998 to 2001 and followed up for mortality outcomes until 2011. Annual concentrations of PM at their residential addresses were estimated using PM2.5 concentrations measured at fixed-site monitors, horizontal–vertical locations, and satellite data. We used Cox regression model to assess the HR of mortality for cancer per 10 μg/m3 increase of PM2.5.

Results: PM2.5 was associated with increased risk of mortality for all causes of cancer [HR, 1.22 (95% CI, 1.11–1.34)] and for specific cause of cancer in upper digestive tract [1.42 (1.06–1.89)], digestive accessory organs [1.35 (1.06–1.71)] in all subjects; breast [1.80 (1.26–2.55)] in females; and lung [1.36 (1.05–1.77)] in males.

Conclusions: Long-term exposures to PM2.5 are associated with elevated risks of cancer in various organs.

Impact: This study is particularly timely in China, where compelling evidence is needed to support the pollution control policy to ameliorate the health damages associated with economic growth. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(5); 839–45. ©2016 AACR.
Mueller Matrix of Specular Reflection Using an Aluminum Grating Surface with Oxide Nanofilm
Authors: Qiu Jun , Ran Dongfang , Liu Linhua , Hsu Pei-feng
Published: April 2016

The accurate nondestructive and real-time determination of the critical dimensions of oxide nanofilms on periodic nanostructures has potential applications in nanofabrication techniques. Mueller ellipsometry is fast, accurate, nondestructive, and can be used in the ambient air. This study used the elements of a Mueller matrix of specular reflection, which is based on a Mueller ellipsometry method, to evaluate the thickness of an oxide nanofilm on an aluminum grating surface. By using non-traditional rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA), we decomposed the Mueller matrix to obtain the relationship between the evaluated polarization properties of reflected light and the dimensions of oxide nanofilms on aluminum grating surfaces. We also quantitatively analyzed the Mueller matrix elements’ variation due to the thicknesses of top, sidewall, and bottom oxides. We consider these oxide films are naturally formed and of nonuniform thickness on grating structures. The results show that the elements of Mueller matrix shift with the increasing of the uniform thickness of oxide at a fixed wavelength. Moreover, as oxide nanofilms on grating structures are nonuniform, the impact of the thickness of side wall oxide on the Mueller matrix elements is more obvious than that of top and bottom oxides at the relative larger incidence wavelength range. The finding of this work may facilitate the nondestructive and real-time measurement of the thickness of oxide nanofilms on metal gratings where the metal is easily oxidized.
Patterns of Childhood Steroid-Sensitive and Steroid-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome in Saudi Children
Authors: Alharthi Abdulla A.
Published: April 2016

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is one of the most common causes of chronic kidney disease in children. Mostly, NS is controlled by steroids. In spite of this, 10% to 20% of the patients have steroid resistant NS (SRNS), and the rest have steroid sensitive NS (SSNS). Eighty-seven children with NS (66 SSNS; 21SRNS) were retrospectively studied within the past 10 years in Taif region of Saudi Arabia. Regarding outcome, 66 (76%) patient responded to the steroid therapy, while 21 (24%) patients characterize as SRNS. Out of 66 SSNS, 25 children revealed complete remission, 26 were diagnosed as steroid dependent, and 15 were identified as frequent relapses. Among 21 SRNS biopsied patients, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was the most common histological patterns of NS followed by the membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis pattern, which is significantly different from other studies performed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Out of 21 SRNS patients, 13 developed chronic kidney disease, 4 got end-stage renal disease, and 4 patients died.
A Gandhian answer to the threat of communism? Sarvodaya and postcolonial nationalism in India
Authors: Sherman Taylor C.
Published: April 2016

It is an axiom of early postcolonial Indian history that Nehru and his statist conception of nationalism and of economic development dominated the political and economic life of India. As such, scholars have assumed, Gandhian ideas, especially radically non-statist answers to the problems of development, lost influence in this period. This article explores Gandhian economic thinking, in the form of the Bhoodan Movement and three of the thinkers on sarvodaya economics in the 1950s: Vinoba Bhave, K.G. Mashruwala and J.C. Kumarappa. It goes on to demonstrate the complex relationship that these men and their ideas had with Nehru and various levels of the Indian state. It argues that the non-statist ideas remained important in the development of the postcolonial Indian nationalism.
Book Review: Anne Feldhaus with Ramdas Atkar and Rajaram Zagade, eds. and trans. Say to the Sun, “Don’t Rise,” and to the Moon, “Don’t Set”: Two Oral Narratives from the Countryside of Maharashtra
Authors: Novetzke Christian Lee
Published: April 2016

Anne Feldhaus with Ramdas Atkar and Rajaram Zagade, eds. and trans. Say to the Sun, “Don’t Rise,” and to the Moon, “Don’t Set”: Two Oral Narratives from the Countryside of Maharashtra, New York and New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014, p. 613.
Book Review: Faisal Devji, Muslim Zion: Pakistan as a Political Idea
Authors: Ahmed Hilal
Published: April 2016

Faisal Devji, Muslim Zion: Pakistan as a Political Idea, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2013, p. 278.
Book Review: Iqbal Singh Sevea, The Political Philosophy of Muhammad Iqbal
Authors: Devji Faisal
Published: April 2016

Iqbal Singh Sevea, The Political Philosophy of Muhammad Iqbal, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012, p. 234.
Book Review: Filippo Osella and Caroline Osella, eds, Islamic Reform in South Asia
Authors: Sevea Iqbal
Published: April 2016

Filippo Osella and Caroline Osella, eds, Islamic Reform in South Asia, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2013, p. 535.
Book Review: Partha Chatterjee, Tapati Guha-Thakurta and Bodhisattva Kar eds, New Cultural Histories of India: Materiality and Practices
Authors: Banerjee Prathama
Published: April 2016

Partha Chatterjee, Tapati Guha-Thakurta and Bodhisattva Kar eds, New Cultural Histories of India: Materiality and Practices, Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014, p. 480.
Book Review: Steven Wilkinson, Army and Nation
Authors: Marston Daniel
Published: April 2016

Steven Wilkinson, Army and Nation, Ranikhet: Permanent Black, 2014, p. 295.
Book Review: Upinder Singh and Parul Pandya Dhar, eds, Asian Encounters: Exploring Connected Histories
Authors: Wagoner Phillip B.
Published: April 2016

Upinder Singh and Parul Pandya Dhar, eds, Asian Encounters: Exploring Connected Histories, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014, p. 235.
Industrial policies at a time of liberalization: the internationalization of European transport enterprises
Authors: Di Giulio Marco
Published: April 2016

For more than three decades, European institutions have been committed to opening up the markets of public services, which were traditionally managed under monopolistic arrangements within each member state. The internationalization of firms previously operating in this sector is a phenomenon that will reshape the relationships between national governments and national industry. The creation of a comparative advantage in these markets is thus emerging as a crucial issue within each national political economy. While many scholars have emphasized the role of mercantilist strategies as the most prominent strategy for the creation of national champions, others have suggested that market-building and the pursuit of industrial goals may be self-reinforcing. Adopting a firm-level analysis of the EU market for public transport, this article adds empirical evidence to the debate on the relationship between regulation and industrial policy.

Points for practitioners

This article describes the evolution of 13 European firms operating in the fields of infrastructure management and public transport services. It tries to assess the linkage between national policy styles and concrete policy outcomes at the sectorial level. Three kinds of practitioners may benefit from the knowledge of these case studies. (1) Policy-makers might have a wider understanding of the impact of regulation on firms’ strategies and the potential trade-offs related to this connection. (2) Managers might benefit from a deeper knowledge of the different national approaches to regulatory issues. (3) Stakeholders might increase their awareness of the complex mechanisms operating behind privatization processes.
The Islamic perspective on social work: A conceptual framework
Authors: Ragab Ibrahim A
Published: April 2016

For social workers in the Muslim world, authentization of social work implied the integration of Islamic religious knowledge with current practice theories. But the latter, still clinging to a 19th-century positivist/empiricist epistemology, hampered the inclusion of religious concepts in professional practice. In time, however, certain theoretical breakthroughs (Sorokin’s integralism, Maslow’s transpersonal psychology, the Islamization of knowledge movement, and the spirituality in social work movement) helped overcome that barrier. This article describes the formative development of the conceptual framework of the Islamic perspective on social work, benefiting from insights gleaned from these revolutionary theoretical advances. This article then suggests systematic procedures to guide both social work research and practice based on that framework.
What’s Wrong with Militant Democracy?
Authors: Invernizzi Accetti Carlo , Zuckerman Ian
Published: April 2016

This article proposes a critique of “militant democracy,” defined as the legal restriction of democratic freedoms for the purpose of insulating democratic regimes from the threat of being overthrown by legal means. The argument we advance is that this conceptual framework is inadequate for addressing the problem it is meant to solve, since restricting the freedom of its supposed “enemies” may make democracy more prone to authoritarian abuse, rather than less, in the long run. To demonstrate this, we first turn to the theory of militant democracy, both in its earliest articulations by Karl Loewenstein and Carl Schmitt, and in the more recent theoretical literature on this topic. In the second part, we show that the inherent arbitrariness of militant democracy has been reflected in a concrete expansion in the range of targets to which the logic of militant democracy has been applied: from fascism during the inter-war years, to communism during the Cold War, up to several forms of religious practice in the present day.
Neighbourhood income inequality and property crime
Authors: Metz Neil , Burdina Mariya
Published: April 2016

This paper examines the relationship between income inequality and property crime using Census block group data from three US cities: Nashville, TN, Portland, OR and Tucson, AZ. This paper is one of very few to examine this relationship at such a fine geographic level, which is typically less than one square mile in size. We find that income inequality across block groups plays a key role in determining the level of property crime. As the income gap with one’s poorest neighbouring block group widens, the level of property crime in the richer block group increases. Also, the poorest block group in an area tends to experience less property crime, holding all else constant.
Men buying sex. Differences between urban and rural areas in the UK
Authors: Della Giusta Marina , Di Tommaso Maria Laura , Jewell Sarah Louise
Published: April 2016

We build on both our theoretical and empirical work on modelling the demand for paid sex (Della Giusta et al., 2009a, 2009b) and examine the demand for paid sex, considering the effects of risky behaviours and attitudes to relationships and to women on demand. We find that those who declare to have purchased sex have both different socio-demographics (older, with fewer children, more educated but with lower professional status), and different sexual and risky behaviours as well as attitudes to relationships. As expected in the light of findings in the literature (well summarised in a 2004 Urban Studies special issue and in more recent literature) a clear city effect in the sample, mostly driven by London, which goes beyond the attitudes captured in the survey and thus combines a mixture of factors related to the supply of paid sex and unobserved characteristics of city-dwelling respondents.
A new modified super-twisting algorithm with double closed-loop feedback regulation
Authors: Yang Yi , Qin Shiyin
Published: April 2016

In order to improve the convergence of a sliding variable in super-twisting algorithm (STA), two linear correction terms are added to the classical STA to form a structure of double closed-loop feedback. The new regulation mechanism can accelerate the sliding variable approaching the sliding surface and simultaneously limit knotty overshoot. A series of simulation results indicate the new modified STA can shorten the settling time of the sliding variable effectively and provide stronger robustness. Moreover, the position tracking test results on DC servo system validate the advantageous performance of the modified STA proposed in this paper.
Learning to balance an NAO robot using reinforcement learning with symbolic inverse kinematic
Authors: Tutsoy Onder , Erol Barkana Duygun , Colak Sule
Published: April 2016

An autonomous humanoid robot (HR) with learning and control algorithms is able to balance itself during sitting down, standing up, walking and running operations, as humans do. In this study, reinforcement learning (RL) with a complete symbolic inverse kinematic (IK) solution is developed to balance the full lower body of a three-dimensional (3D) NAO HR which has 12 degrees of freedom. The IK solution converts the lower body trajectories, which are learned by RL, into reference positions for the joints of the NAO robot. This reduces the dimensionality of the learning and control problems since the IK integrated with the RL eliminates the need to use whole HR states. The IK solution in 3D space takes into account not only the legs but also the full lower body; hence, it is possible to incorporate the effect of the foot and hip lengths on the IK solution. The accuracy and capability of following real joint states are evaluated in the simulation environment. MapleSim is used to model the full lower body, and the developed RL is combined with this model by utilizing Modelica and Maple software properties. The results of the simulation show that the value function is maximized, temporal difference error is reduced to zero, the lower body is stabilized at the upright, and the convergence speed of the RL is improved with use of the symbolic IK solution.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in palliative care: A prospective study of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus prevalence in a hospital-based palliative care unit
Authors: Schmalz Oliver , Strapatsas Tobias , Alefelder Christof , Grebe Scott Oliver
Published: April 2016

Background:

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a common organism in hospitals worldwide and is associated with morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about the prevalence in palliative care patients. Furthermore, there is no standardized screening protocol or treatment for patients for whom therapy concentrates on symptom control.

Aim:

Examining the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in palliative care patients as well as the level of morbidity and mortality.

Design:

We performed a prospective study where methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening was undertaken in 296 consecutive patients within 48 h after admission to our palliative care unit. Medical history was taken, clinical examination was performed, and the Karnofsky Performance Scale and Palliative Prognostic Score were determined. Prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was compared to data of general hospital patients.

Results:

In total, 281 patients were included in the study having a mean age of 69.7 years (standard deviation = 12.9 years) and an average Karnofsky Performance Scale between 30% and 40%. The mean length of stay was 9.7 days (standard deviation = 7.6 days). A total of 24 patients were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus positive on the first swab. Median number of swabs was 2. All patients with a negative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus swab upon admission remained Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus negative in all subsequent swabs.

Conclusion:

Our study suggests that the prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among patients in an in-hospital palliative care unit is much higher than in other patient populations.
Healthcare staff ’s experience in providing end-of-life care to children: A mixed-method review
Authors: McConnell Tracey , Scott David , Porter Sam
Published: April 2016

Background:

Staff who provide end-of-life care to children not only have to deal with their own sense of loss but also that of bereaved families. There is a dearth of knowledge on how they cope with these challenges.

Aim:

The aim of this review is to explore the experiences of healthcare professionals who provide end-of-life care to children in order to inform the development of interventions to support them, thereby improving the quality of paediatric care for both children and their families.

Data sources:

Searches included CINAHL, MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, PsychINFO and The Cochrane Library in June 2015, with no date restrictions. Additional literature was uncovered from searching reference lists of relevant studies, along with contacting experts in the field of paediatric palliative care.

Design:

This was a systematic mixed studies review. Study selection, appraisal and data extraction were conducted by two independent researchers. Integrative thematic analysis was used to synthesise the data.

Results:

The 16 qualitative, 6 quantitative and 8 mixed-method studies identified included healthcare professionals in a range of settings. Key themes identified rewards and challenges of providing end-of-life care to children, the impact on staff’s personal and professional lives, coping strategies and key approaches to help support staff in their role.

Conclusion:

Education focusing on the unique challenges of providing end-of-life care to children and the importance of self-care, along with timely multidisciplinary debriefing, are key strategies for improving healthcare staff’s experiences, and as such the quality of care they provide.
Automating the Horae: Boundary-work in the age of computers
Authors: Reyes-Galindo Luis
Published: April 2016

This article describes the intense software filtering that has allowed the arXiv e-print repository to sort and process large numbers of submissions with minimal human intervention, making it one of the most important and influential cases of open access repositories to date. This article narrates arXiv’s transformation, using sophisticated sorting/filtering algorithms to decrease human workload, from a small mailing list used by a few hundred researchers to a site that processes thousands of papers per month. However, there are significant negative consequences for authors who have been filtered out of arXiv’s main categories. There is thus a continued need to check and balance arXiv’s boundaries, based on the essential tension between stability and innovation.
Activities people with cognitive deficits want to continue mastering – A scoping study
Authors: Lindqvist Eva , Persson Vasiliou Annika , Gomersall Timothy , Astelle Arlene , Mihailidis Alex , Sixsmith Andrew , Nygård Louise
Published: April 2016

Introduction

To date, potential difficulties that people with cognitive deficits meet in everyday life are relatively well known, but in which activities mastery is desired, and why, is less researched. The aim of this study was to develop deeper knowledge about activities that people with cognitive deficits want to continue mastering in everyday life and the reasons why these activities were desired.

Method

In the frame of a scoping study, articles were gathered and charted. Sixteen qualitative studies were selected as meeting the aim of the study and analyzed with a descriptive-interpretative method.

Findings

The analysis of the studies showed that the desired activities conveyed social values or independence, supported significant roles, diminished negative influence on other people, and increased health and safety. Linkages, in the form of dependencies between the desired activities, were also identified.

Conclusion

When planning for interventions for facilitating everyday activities, for example with technology, it is beneficial to consider both safety and values that are more closely related to meaningfulness and wellbeing. Most difficult activities were identified as hindering outdoor activities, and targeting those activities might be most valuable for enabling active everyday lives for this group.
Difficulty in eye drop administration for people with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Adamson Elizabeth , Kendall Garth
Published: April 2016

Introduction

Many people require eye drops administered daily, yet many do not instil them as prescribed. This can be due to physical difficulty managing the delivery device yet little research has focused on this.

Methods

Participants from ophthalmology and rheumatology clinics at hospitals within two regions in Scotland ( n = 206) were recruited and asked to complete a questionnaire about eye drop use and difficulties they experienced. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the independent relationship between key explanatory variables and the major outcome variable, which was difficulty in administration.

Findings

It was found that 62% of people who attended a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinic reported difficulty instilling eye drops and that they were four and a half times more likely to have difficulty than people who attended an ophthalmology clinic. A greater proportion of women and younger people attended the RA clinics than the ophthalmology clinics; however, the reasons given for having difficulty and the level of adherence did not differ between the two groups.

Conclusion

The number of people newly diagnosed with RA is increasing worldwide, particularly among women, and many need eye drops. Experiencing difficulty instilling them is therefore a significant international health issue.
Descriptions of vestibular migraine and Menière’s disease in Greek and Chinese antiquity
Authors: Huppert Doreen , Brandt Thomas
Published: April 2016

Background

Vestibular migraine and Menière’s disease are two types of episodic vertigo syndromes that were already observed in Greek and Chinese antiquity. Descriptions first appeared in the work of the classical Greek physician Aretaeus of Cappadocia, who lived in the 2nd century AD, and in Huangdi Neijing, a seminal medical source in the Chinese Medical Classics, written between the 2nd century BC and the 2nd century AD.

Aim

The aim of this paper is to search in Aretaeus’ book De causis et signis acutorum et chronicorum morborum and in Huangdi Neijing for descriptions of vertigo co-occurring with headache or ear symptoms that resemble current classifications of vestibular migraine or Menière’s disease.

Results

Aretaeus describes a syndrome combining headache, vertigo, visual disturbance, oculomotor phenomena, and nausea that resembles the symptoms of vestibular migraine. In the Chinese book Huangdi Neijing the Yellow Thearch mentions the co-occurrence of episodic dizziness and a ringing noise of the ears that recalls an attack of Menière’s disease.

Conclusions

The descriptions of these two conditions in Greek and Chinese antiquity are similar to the vertigo syndromes currently classified as vestibular migraine and Menière’s disease. In clinical practice it may be difficult to clearly differentiate between them, and they may also co-occur.
Reliability, Validity, and Injury Predictive Value of the Functional Movement Screen: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Bonazza Nicholas A. , Smuin Dallas , Onks Cayce A. , Silvis Matthew L. , Dhawan Aman
Published: April 2016

Background:

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is utilized by professional and collegiate sports teams and the military for the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries.

Hypothesis:

The FMS demonstrates good interrater and intrarater reliability and validity and has predictive value for musculoskeletal injuries.

Study Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods:

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using a computerized search of the electronic databases MEDLINE and ScienceDirect in adherence with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Extracted relevant data from each included study were recorded on a standardized form. The Cochran Q statistic was utilized to evaluate study heterogeneity. Pooled quantitative synthesis was performed to measure the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for interrater and intrarater reliability, along with 95% CIs, and odds ratios with 95% CIs for the injury predictive value for a score of ≤14.

Results:

Eleven studies for reliability, 5 studies for validity, and 9 studies for the injury predictive value were identified that met inclusion and exclusion criteria; of these, 6 studies for reliability and 9 studies for the injury predictive value were pooled for quantitative synthesis. The ICC for intrarater reliability was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.69-0.92) and for interrater reliability was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.70-0.92). The odds of sustaining an injury were 2.74 times with an FMS score of ≤14 (95% CI, 1.70-4.43). Studies for validity demonstrated flaws in both internal and external validity of the FMS.

Conclusion:

The FMS has excellent interrater and intrarater reliability. Participants with composite scores of ≤14 had a significantly higher likelihood of an injury compared with those with higher scores, demonstrating the injury predictive value of the test. Significant concerns remain regarding the validity of the FMS.
Probiotics Reduce the Risk of Antibiotic‐Associated Diarrhea in Adults (18–64 Years) but Not the Elderly (>65 Years)
Authors: Jafarnejad Sadegh , Shab‐Bidar Sakineh , Speakman John R. , Parastui Karim , Daneshi‐Maskooni Milad , Djafarian Kurosh
Published: April 2016

Background: Antibiotic‐associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common problem in adults and elderly patients due to the widespread use of antibiotics in this population. Multiple previous systematic reviews have demonstrated an association between specific probiotics and decrease of AAD, especially in children. As there is no specific analysis concerning the elderly patients, we decided to focus on adults, especially elderly people. Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature regarding the use of probiotics in the treatment of AAD in adults (18–64 years old) and elderly subjects (≥65 years old). We identified 436 articles that met the search criteria. Thirty randomized controlled trials met the predefined inclusion criteria and were included in the meta‐analysis. Results: There was considerable heterogeneity among the trials (P < .001); thus, subgroup analyses were performed. The meta‐analysis resulted in a pooled relative risk (RR) of AAD of 0.69 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.62–0.76) in a fixed effects model and 0.58 (95% CI: 0.48–0.71) in a random effects model, as compared with placebo. The positive association between intake of probiotic and reduced risk of AAD was observed in adults (RR, 0.47; 95% CI: 0.4–0.56). In contrast, in elderly patients, there was no positive effect (RR, 0.94; 95% CI: 0.76–1.15) of probiotic use and AAD. Conclusion: In summary, the results emerging from our meta‐analysis suggested that adjunct probiotic administration is associated with a reduced risk of AAD in adults but not in elderly people.
Perception of the Threat of Terrorism
Authors: Cohen-Louck Keren
Published: April 2016

In light of the tense and ongoing security situation in Israel, one important issue that needs to be analyzed and understood is the perception of terrorism threats. Most studies focused mainly on the psychological implications of terrorist acts; this study examines the complexity of the manner in which the individual perceives the threat of terrorism. In all, 40 Israeli adults (22 women and 18 men) were interviewed using semistructured in-depth interviews. Qualitative analysis indicates that the components of the perception of terrorism that construct the evaluation and subjective perception of the participants are as follows: (a) perception of control, which is a feeling of loss of control and helplessness due to uncertainty, inability to predict threats, and the vagueness of the threat; (b) perception of vulnerability to the threat, such as a feeling of vulnerability to and potential victimization by terrorism; and (c) perception of fear of terrorism that includes responses of fear, anxiety, feeling of danger, and emotional distress. In addition, gender differences were found in the analysis. The findings of this study help gain a better understanding as to how people perceive the threat of terrorism. The findings also enable an understanding of the complexity of living under ongoing terrorism threats and may assist in understanding how citizens cope with and adjust to this threat.
Cyberbullying Awareness for Mitigating Consequences in Higher Education
Authors: Elçi Alev , Seçkin Zeliha
Published: April 2016

Technology has many positive effects on education, but negative effects also exist. One of the negative effects is cyberbullying spreading out of school boundaries to the social networks. The increasing popularity of social media among youngsters engenders cyberbullies who exploit the virtual environment besides the usual emails. This distresses the students and adversely affects their families, teachers, and others around them. Although research studies mainly concentrate on prior education, there seems to be a need to investigate the situation in higher education. This study focuses on students studying technology and related disciplines, who are hence likely to be well connected with cyberspace, and explores their awareness about cyberbullying. The findings reveal that female students have significantly less awareness than males. This study will help address some gender issues in cyberbullying.
Continuation Rate of Atypical Antipsychotics After Discharge When Initiated in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Farrokh Salia , Castle Amber C. , Heavner Mojdeh , Pisani Margaret A.
Published: April 2016

Purpose:

The frequency with which atypical antipsychotics initiated in the intensive care unit (ICU) is unknown. While there is lack of evidence to support the exact duration of treatment, antipsychotics should not be continued chronically for agitation and psychosis related to critical illness. The objective of this study was to determine whether atypical antipsychotics initiated in the ICU at a large tertiary academic medical center were continued after hospital discharge. Safety outcomes were also assessed.

Materials:

A total of 1023 patients who received atypical antipsychotics during ICU stay were identified. Patients were assessed in a pseudo-randomized fashion until a sample of 191 patients was reached. After review of the exclusion criteria, the final study population was 100 patients. When antipsychotics were discontinued, progress notes were reviewed to identify the reason for discontinuation. Safety outcomes were assessed based on physician documentation in the medical charts.

Results:

Atypical antipsychotics were continued in 23% of patients. Atypical antipsychotics were discontinued in 1 patient due to QTc prolongation.

Conclusions:

Atypical antipsychotics initiated in the ICU are frequently continued after hospital discharge. Given the known risks associated with extended therapy, initiatives are needed to prevent inappropriate continuation.
Quantifying the Cost of Disability Transitions in Medicare
Authors: Dai Mingliang , Roberto Pamela , Tom Sarah , Gentry Emma , Stuart Bruce
Published: April 2016

Objective: To investigate the impact of disability transitions on annual Medicare Part A and B cost. Method: We analyzed 6,385 community-dwelling beneficiaries who were continuously enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare Part A and B from 2008 to 2009. We estimated adjusted effects of disability transitions on Medicare cost using a generalized linear model. Results: Transitions to more severe disability states were associated with significantly higher average annual Medicare cost ranging from US$2,639 to US$5,405. Lower spending levels were observed for beneficiaries with improvements in functioning. Beneficiaries who transitioned from severe to moderate activities of daily living (ADLs) disability cost significantly less (−US$6,045) than those who remained severely disabled. Discussion: Interventions aimed at preventing disability progression and efforts to restore functional capacity are promising strategies for containing costs and generating savings for Medicare. Future research is needed to assess the longer term impact of disability in association with the progression of chronic conditions.
Explaining cross-regional policy variation in public sector reform: Institutions and change actors in the health sector in Spain
Authors: Gallego Raquel , Barbieri Nicolás , González Sheila
Published: April 2016

How can we explain cross-regional policy variation? That is, how can we understand different policy outcomes within similar institutional and organizational settings? Scholars have recently reflected on the new institutionalist explanatory pitfall involved in assuming a causality link between institutional factors and policy outcomes and argue that such link needs to rely on evidence from policy variables. On this line, recent contributions have built a causal model that links types of institutional change to types of actors' roles and strategies, within particular contextual and organizational scenarios that favor or hinder their emergence. This paper pursues this explanatory interest by applying this model to the analysis of how decision-making by two regional governments in Spain has led to different institutional and policy change outcomes in the same policy sector, namely, public management reform in healthcare. This study confirms the explanatory relevance of the model's key variables, but provides evidence of how some of them may be reinterpreted to provide a dynamic explanation of their influence on the process and outcome of institutional and policy change.
Sigmoidal mixed models for longitudinal data
Authors: Capuano Ana W , Wilson Robert S , Leurgans Sue E , Dawson Jeffrey D , Bennett David A , Hedeker Donald
Published: April 2016

Linear mixed models are widely used to analyze longitudinal cognitive data. Often, however, the trajectory of cognitive function is nonlinear. For example, some participants may experience cognitive decline that accelerates as death approaches. Polynomial regression and piecewise linear models are common approaches used to characterize nonlinear trajectories, although both have assumptions that may not correspond with the actual trajectories. An alternative is to use a flexible sigmoidal mixed model based on the logistic family of curves. We describe a general class of such a model, which has up to five parameters, representing (1) final level, (2) rate of decline, (3) midpoint of decline, (4) initial level before decline, and (5) asymmetry. Focusing on a four-parameter symmetric sub-class of the model, with random effects on two of the parameters, we demonstrate that a likelihood approach to fitting this model produces accurate estimates of mean levels across time, even in the case of model misspecification. We also illustrate the method on deceased participants who had completed at least 5 years of annual cognitive testing and annual assessment of body mass. We show that departures from a stable body can modify the trajectory curves and anticipate cognitive decline.
Stakeholders’ rationales for representing uncertainties of biotechnological research
Authors: Post Senja , Maier Michaela
Published: April 2016

Although various stakeholders are involved in public communication about science and technology, research so far has focused on scientists, journalists, and the public. Based on representative telephone surveys of the spokespersons of 55 German companies, 31 government agencies, 43 public interest groups, as well as 105 scientists, we investigated actors’ intentions to point out the scientific uncertainty of biotechnological research in their public communications. The different groups of actors’ intentions to mention uncertain aspects of biotechnological research in public are guided by different rationales. Scientists and company representatives’ intentions to point out uncertainty are strengthened by their hope to promote biotechnological research and weakened by their fear to increase public criticism. Public interest groups’ intentions are strengthened by their hope to increase public criticism and are weakened by their fear to promote biotechnological research. Representatives of government agencies are predominantly influenced by their will to do justice to their organizations’ interests.
Managing patients who are ultra-rapid metabolisers of antidepressant medications
Authors: Parker Gordon
Published: April 2016

Objective:

The objective of this study was to increase recognition of ultra-rapid metabolising status as a cause of treatment-resistant depression and consider management options.

Conclusions:

The incidence of ultra-rapid metabolising status is not rare in patients who fail to report improvement with antidepressant medication. Two broad options are available for identifying ultra-metabolising status. While there are several management options available to the clinician, combination therapy is likely of low utility while there are risks associated with mega-prescribing. As the literature is limited, clinician observations about alternate strategies would be welcomed.
Personalized and Depersonalized Responses to Leaders’ Fair Treatment: Status Judgments and Leader–Member Exchange as Mediating Mechanisms
Authors: Al-Atwi Amer Ali
Published: April 2016

By extracting insights from leader–member exchange (LMX) theory and social identity theory, this study predicted that a leader’s interactional justice is associated with followers’ multifoci identification by personalized and depersonalized mediating mechanisms. Specifically, we hypothesized that a leader’s interactional justice affects (a) followers’ relational identification via the LMX as a personalized response and (b) followers’ work-group identification via status judgments (pride and respect) as a depersonalized response. The study’s constructs were measured on three separate occasions over an interval of 4 months, using data from a sample of 322 employees at a large public university. As predicted, we found that (a) LMX mediates the relationship between interactional justice and relational identification and (b) status judgments (pride and respect) mediate the relationships between interactional justice and work-group identification. Theoretical and practical implications for these findings are discussed.
Brain Neuromodulation Techniques
Authors: Lewis Philip M. , Thomson Richard H. , Rosenfeld Jeffrey V. , Fitzgerald Paul B.
Published: April 2016

The modulation of brain function via the application of weak direct current was first observed directly in the early 19th century. In the past 3 decades, transcranial magnetic stimulation and deep brain stimulation have undergone clinical translation, offering alternatives to pharmacological treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Further development of novel neuromodulation techniques employing ultrasound, micro-scale magnetic fields and optogenetics is being propelled by a rapidly improving understanding of the clinical and experimental applications of artificially stimulating or depressing brain activity in human health and disease. With the current rapid growth in neuromodulation technologies and applications, it is timely to review the genesis of the field and the current state of the art in this area.
The Significance of the Late Na+ Current for Arrhythmia Induction and the Therapeutic Antiarrhythmic Potential of Ranolazine
Authors: Mason Fleur E. , Sossalla Samuel
Published: April 2016

The purpose of this article is to review the basis of arrhythmogenesis, the functional and clinical role of the late Na current, and its therapeutic inhibition. Under pathological conditions such as ischemia and heart failure this current is abnormally enhanced and influences cellular electrophysiology as a proarrhythmic substrate in myocardial pathology. Ranolazine the only approved late Na current blocker has been demonstrated to produce antiarrhythmic effects in the atria and the ventricle. We summarize recent experimental and clinical studies of ranolazine and other experimental late Na current blockers and discuss the significance of the available data.