bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Cultural Exposure and Message Framing on Oral Health Behavior
Authors: Brick Cameron , McCully Scout N. , Updegraff John A. , Ehret Phillip J. , Areguin Maira A. , Sherman David K.
Published: February 2015

Background. Health messages are more effective when framed to be congruent with recipient characteristics, and health practitioners can strategically choose message features to promote adherence to recommended behaviors. We present exposure to US culture as a moderator of the impact of gain-frame versus loss-frame messages. Since US culture emphasizes individualism and approach orientation, greater cultural exposure was expected to predict improved patient choices and memory for gain-framed messages, whereas individuals with less exposure to US culture would show these advantages for loss-framed messages. Methods. 223 participants viewed a written oral health message in 1 of 3 randomized conditions—gain-frame, loss-frame, or no-message control—and were given 10 flosses. Cultural exposure was measured with the proportions of life spent and parents born in the US. At baseline and 1 week later, participants completed recall tests and reported recent flossing behavior. Results. Message frame and cultural exposure interacted to predict improved patient decisions (increased flossing) and memory maintenance for the health message over 1 week; for example, those with low cultural exposure who saw a loss-frame message flossed more. Incongruent messages led to the same flossing rates as no message. Memory retention did not explain the effect of message congruency on flossing. Limitations. Flossing behavior was self-reported. Cultural exposure may only have practical application in either highly individualistic or collectivistic countries. Conclusions. In health care settings where patients are urged to follow a behavior, asking basic demographic questions could allow medical practitioners to intentionally communicate in terms of gains or losses to improve patient decision making and treatment adherence.
Robot navigation in dense human crowds: Statistical models and experimental studies of human–robot cooperation
Authors: Trautman Pete , Ma Jeremy , Murray Richard M. , Krause Andreas
Published: February 2015

We consider the problem of navigating a mobile robot through dense human crowds. We begin by exploring a fundamental impediment to classical motion planning algorithms called the “freezing robot problem”: once the environment surpasses a certain level of dynamic complexity, the planner decides that all forward paths are unsafe, and the robot freezes in place (or performs unnecessary maneuvers) to avoid collisions. We argue that this problem can be avoided if the robot anticipates human cooperation, and accordingly we develop interacting Gaussian processes, a prediction density that captures cooperative collision avoidance, and a “multiple goal” extension that models the goal-driven nature of human decision making. We validate this model with an empirical study of robot navigation in dense human crowds (488 runs), specifically testing how cooperation models effect navigation performance. The multiple goal interacting Gaussian processes algorithm performs comparably with human teleoperators in crowd densities nearing 0.8 humans/m2, while a state-of-the-art non-cooperative planner exhibits unsafe behavior more than three times as often as the multiple goal extension, and twice as often as the basic interacting Gaussian process approach. Furthermore, a reactive planner based on the widely used dynamic window approach proves insufficient for crowd densities above 0.55 people/m2. We also show that our non-cooperative planner or our reactive planner capture the salient characteristics of nearly any dynamic navigation algorithm. Based on these experimental results and theoretical observations, we conclude that a cooperation model is critical for safe and efficient robot navigation in dense human crowds.
Dynamics-based motion de-blurring for a PZT-driven, compliant camera orientation mechanism
Authors: Kim Michael D. , Ueda Jun
Published: February 2015

This paper proposes a method for removing motion blur from images captured by a fast-moving robot eye. Existing image techniques focused on recovering blurry images due to camera shake with long exposure time. In addition, previous studies relied solely on properties of the images or used external sensors to estimate a blur kernel, or point spread function (PSF). This paper focuses on estimating a latent image from the blur images taken by the robotic camera orientation system. A PZT-driven, compliant camera orientation system was employed to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. Discrete switching commands were given to the robotic system to create a rapid point-to-point motion while suppressing the vibration with a faster response. The blurry images were obtained when the robotic system created a rapid point-to-point motion, like human saccadic motion. This paper proposes a method for estimating the PSF in knowledge of system dynamics and input commands, resulting in a faster estimation. The proposed method was investigated under various motion conditions using the single-degree-of-freedom camera orientation system to verify the effectiveness and was compared with other approaches quantitatively and qualitatively. The experiment results show that overall the performance metric of the proposed method was 27.77% better than conventional methods. The computation time of the proposed method was 50 times faster than that of conventional methods.
Minimal solutions for the multi-camera pose estimation problem
Authors: Lee Gim Hee , Li Bo , Pollefeys Marc , Fraundorfer Friedrich
Published: February 2015

In this paper, we propose a novel formulation to solve the pose estimation problem of a calibrated multi-camera system. The non-central rays that pass through the 3D world points and multi-camera system are elegantly represented as Plücker lines. This allows us to solve for the depth of the points along the Plücker lines with a minimal set of three-point correspondences. We show that the minimal solution for the depth of the points along the Plücker lines is an eight-degree polynomial that gives up to eight real solutions. The coordinates of the 3D world points in the multi-camera frame are computed from the known depths. Consequently, the pose of the multi-camera system, i.e. the rigid transformation between the world and multi-camera frames can be obtained from absolute orientation. We also derive a closed-form minimal solution for the absolute orientation. This removes the need for the computationally expensive singular value decompositions during the evaluations of the possible solutions for the depths. We identify the correct solution and do robust estimation with RANSAC. Finally, the solution is further refined by including all the inlier correspondences in a nonlinear refinement step. We verify our approach by showing comparisons with other existing approaches and results from large-scale real-world datasets.
Compliance in parallel to actuators for improving stability of robotic hands during grasping and manipulation
Authors: Niehues Taylor D. , Rao Prashant , Deshpande Ashish D.
Published: February 2015

Humans exploit the inherent biomechanical compliance in their fingers to achieve stability and dexterity during many manipulation tasks. The compliance is a result of muscles and tendons (series compliance) and flexible joints (parallel compliance). While the effects of series compliance have been studied in many robotic systems, research on the effects of joint compliance arranged in parallel with the actuators is limited. In this paper, we first demonstrate, through mathematical modeling, that introducing parallel compliance improves stability and robustness in the presence of time delay in a generic robotic joint. We also provide guidelines to balance the benefits of added stability with the increased actuator load when implementing parallel compliance in robotic joints. The result is experimentally validated on a one-degree-of-freedom tendon-driven joint. We build upon this result to design two 2-DOF tendon-driven fingers with parallel compliance, and develop an impedance control law for object manipulation with the fingers. The experimental results demonstrate, for the first time, the advantages of introducing parallel compliance in robotic hands during dexterous manipulation tasks, specifically in achieving smoother trajectory tracking, improved stability, and robustness to impacts.
Motion primitives and 3D path planning for fast flight through a forest
Authors: Paranjape Aditya A. , Meier Kevin C. , Shi Xichen , Chung Soon-Jo , Hutchinson Seth
Published: February 2015

This paper presents two families of motion primitives for enabling fast, agile flight through a dense obstacle field. The first family of primitives consists of a time-delay dependent 3D circular path between two points in space and the control inputs required to fly the path. In particular, the control inputs are calculated using algebraic equations which depend on the flight parameters and the location of the waypoint. Moreover, the transition between successive maneuver states, where each state is defined by a unique combination of constant control inputs, is modeled rigorously as an instantaneous switch between the two maneuver states following a time delay which is directly related to the agility of the robotic aircraft. The second family consists of aggressive turn-around (ATA) maneuvers which the robot uses to retreat from impenetrable pockets of obstacles. The ATA maneuver consists of an orchestrated sequence of three sets of constant control inputs. The duration of the first segment is used to optimize the ATA for the spatial constraints imposed by the turning volume. The motion primitives are validated experimentally and implemented in a simulated receding horizon control (RHC)-based motion planner. The paper concludes with inverse-design pointers derived from the primitives.
Taking the Good Life to the Institution
Authors: Barnao Mary , Ward Tony , Casey Sharon
Published: February 2015

Previous literature has highlighted a number of concerns about forensic care and rehabilitation by those who use the services. The Good Lives Model (GLM) is a strength-based, humanistic approach to offender rehabilitation that has been largely overlooked by forensic mental health practitioners. This study explored the impact of a brief GLM program on forensic service users’ perceptions of rehabilitation, both within and beyond therapeutic programs, using a thematically linked, multiple-case study research design. Pre–post comparisons of participants’ perceptions of rehabilitation suggested three different outcomes: definite change, subtle change, and no change. Possible factors associated with participants’ divergent experiences included level of exposure to the GLM, readiness to change, and practitioners’ adherence to the GLM and experience with the model. The importance of attending to the wider system for successful implementation of this innovative approach is highlighted.
A new relationship between grain size and fall (settling) velocity in air
Authors: Farrell Eugene J. , Sherman Douglas J.
Published: February 2015

The fall velocity of natural sand grains is a fundamental attribute of sediment transport in fluid environments where particles may become partially or fully suspended. Several formulae have been proposed to calculate the fall velocity of particles in air, but there is considerable uncertainty about which is the most accurate or appropriate for a given set of environmental conditions. Five experiments that reported observations of fall velocity of different types of particles in air are described, evaluated, and compared. The experiment data were quality-controlled using four criteria: (1) particles had to have sufficient drop heights to attain their terminal fall velocity; (2) particles had to be in the range of sand sizes; (3) data identified as being problematic by the original authors were removed; and (4) particles comprise natural, irregular shaped sediments. The quality-controlled data were aggregated and analyzed using linear regression to obtain a relationship between grain size ( d, in mm) and fall velocity ( w0, in ms-1): [Formula: see text]. This is a statistically strong relationship with a coefficient of determination of 0.89 ( p < 0.001). This relationship can be regarded as a universal fall velocity model for natural, sand-sized particles falling through a static column of air. In terms of predictive analyses, our heuristic method outperforms alternative formulae and yields a better fit to the experimental data over the full range of sand sizes.
Temporal retinal nerve fibre layer thinning in cluster headache patients detected by optical coherence tomography
Authors: Ewering Carina , Haşal Nazmiye , Alten Florian , Clemens Christoph R , Eter Nicole , Oberwahrenbrock Timm , Kadas Ella M , Zimmermann Hanna , Brandt Alexander U , Osada Nani , Paul Friedemann , Marziniak Martin
Published: February 2015

Background

The exact pathophysiology of cluster headache (CH) is still not fully clarified. Various studies confirmed changes in ocular blood flow during CH attacks. Furthermore, vasoconstricting medication influences blood supply to the eye. We investigated the retina of CH patients for structural retinal alterations with optical coherence tomography (OCT), and how these changes correlate to headache characteristics, oxygen use and impaired visual function.

Methods

Spectral domain OCT of 107 CH patients – 67 episodic, 35 chronic, five former chronic sufferers – were compared to OCT from 65 healthy individuals. Visual function tests with Sloan charts and a substantial ophthalmologic examination were engaged.

Results

Reduction of temporal and temporal-inferior retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness was found in both eyes for CH patients with a predominant thinning on the headache side in the temporal-inferior area. Chronic CH patients revealed thinning of the macula compared to episodic suffers and healthy individuals. Bilateral thinning of temporal RNFL was also found in users of 100% oxygen compared to non-users and healthy controls. Visual function did not differ between patients and controls.

Discussion

Our OCT findings show a systemic effect causing temporal retinal thinning in both eyes of CH patients possibly due to attack-inherent or medication-induced frequent bilateral vessel diameter changes. The temporal retina with its thinly myelinated parvo-cellular axons and its more susceptible vessels for the vasoconstricting influence of oxygen inhalation seems to be predisposed for tissue damage-causing processes related to CH.
The Epidemiology and Health Care Burden of Tennis Elbow
Authors: Sanders Thomas L. , Maradit Kremers Hilal , Bryan Andrew J. , Ransom Jeanine E. , Smith Jay , Morrey Bernard F.
Published: February 2015

Background:

Lateral elbow tendinosis (epicondylitis) is a common condition both in primary care and specialty clinics.

Purpose:

To evaluate the natural history (ie, incidence, recurrence, and progression to surgery) of lateral elbow tendinosis in a large population.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

The study population comprised a population-based incidence cohort of patients with new-onset lateral elbow tendinosis between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2012. The medical records of a 10% random sample (n = 576) were reviewed to ascertain information on patient and disease characteristics, treatment modalities, recurrence, and progression to surgery. Age- and sex-specific incidence rates were calculated and adjusted to the 2010 US population.

Results:

The age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence of lateral elbow tendinosis decreased significantly over time from 4.5 per 1000 people in 2000 to 2.4 per 1000 in 2012 ( P < .001). The recurrence rate within 2 years was 8.5% and remained constant over time. The proportion of surgically treated cases within 2 years of diagnosis tripled over time, from 1.1% during the 2000-2002 time period to 3.2% after 2009 ( P < .00001). About 1 in 10 patients with persistent symptoms at 6 months required surgery.

Conclusion:

The decrease in incidence of lateral elbow tendinosis may represent changes in diagnosis patterns or a true decrease in disease incidence. Natural history data can be used to help guide patients and providers in determining the most appropriate course at a given time in the disease process. The study data suggest that patients without resolution after 6 months of onset may have a prolonged disease course and may need surgical intervention.
Mental Health Literacy and Help-Giving Responses in Irish Adolescents
Authors: Byrne Sadhbh , Swords Lorraine , Nixon Elizabeth
Published: February 2015

This study assessed mental health literacy in Irish adolescents ( N = 187), and explored participants’ help-giving responses toward hypothetical depressed peers. Participants read five vignettes, each describing an adolescent experiencing a life difficulty; two of the characters met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., DSM-IV) criteria for depression. The majority of participants could not identify depression or potential suicidality, but felt concerned for the depressed characters’ well-being. Most participants stated they would provide help if they were the depressed characters’ friends. Correct identification of depression did not influence the type of help offered. A significant proportion of participants did not mention engaging an adult’s assistance, and assessing for suicidality was not mentioned by any participant. Gender differences were found in mental health literacy and the type of responses offered. Education that emphasizes the importance of informing an adult and assessing for suicidal risk is recommended.
Violence Against Widows in Nepal
Authors: Sabri Bushra , Sabarwal Shrutika , Decker Michele R. , Shrestha Abina , Sharma Kunda , Thapa Lily , Surkan Pamela J.
Published: February 2015

Widows are a vulnerable population in Nepal. This study examined Nepalese widows’ experiences of violence, their coping strategies, and barriers faced in seeking help. Study participants were recruited from Women for Human Rights, an NGO in Nepal. A stratified purposive sampling approach was used to select 51 widows and 5 staff members for in-depth interviews. Twenty-seven women who experienced violence were included in this analysis. Data were analyzed and synthesized using a thematic analysis procedure. Widows reported a range of violent experiences perpetrated by family and community members that spanned psychological, physical, and sexual abuse. Women dealt with abusive experiences using both adaptive (e.g., attempting to move ahead, seeking social support, using verbal confrontation) and maladaptive coping strategies (e.g., suicidal thoughts or self-medication). However, they faced barriers to seeking help such as insensitivity of the police, perceived discrimination, and general lack of awareness of widows’ problems and needs. Findings highlight the need for interventions across the individual, family, community, and policy levels. Avenues for intervention include creating awareness about widows’ issues and addressing cultural beliefs affecting widows’ lives. Furthermore, efforts should focus on empowering widows, promoting healthy coping, and addressing their individual needs.
Facilitating a Whole-Life Approach to Career Development
Authors: Litano Michael L. , Major Debra A.
Published: February 2015

This article focuses on the “whole-life” approach to career development. A review of the ways in which career paths have been conceptualized over time demonstrates that increasing consideration has been given to nonwork factors (i.e., personal life and family life) in defining careers. The whole-life perspective on career development acknowledges that employees are striving for opportunities for professional development as well as individualized work–life balance, which changes over the life course. Although the careers literature has emphasized interorganizational mobility as the primary mechanism for achieving these goals, whole-life career development can also be achieved within a single organization when organizational leadership is willing to address employees’ work–family needs. This article addresses how leaders across organizational levels, including executive-level leaders and first-line supervisors, can foster whole-life career development. In addition to beneficial outcomes for employees, potential competitive advantages for organizations implementing the whole-life approach to career development are discussed.
What is policy failure? A primer to help navigate the maze
Authors: McConnell Allan
Published: February 2015

The discipline of public policy has struggled to come to terms with how we may conceive of ‘policy failure’. It tends to assume either that failure is self-evident or that it can be assessed by means of examining the gap between government goals and outcomes. Often, there are multiple caveats that seem too difficult to address – particularly the role of perceptions, which in turn are often dependent on whether or not the policy is supported. This ground-breaking article builds on and refines existing literature. It turns on its head the multiple methodological challenges surrounding what constitutes policy failure (such as competing goals and variance over time) and suggests that such seemingly impenetrable challenges actually help illuminate our understanding. In doing so, it argues that once we conceive of studying policy failure as ‘art and craft’, we are better placed to navigate the messy realpolitik of types and degrees of failure, as well as ambiguities and tensions between them. The groundwork for doing so is based on a working definition of failure, namely that a policy fails, even if it is successful in some minimal respects, if it does not fundamentally achieve the goals that proponents set out to achieve, and opposition is great and/or support is virtually non-existent.
Circulating CXCR5+CD4+helper T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus patients share phenotypic properties with germinal center follicular helper T cells and promote antibody production
Authors: Zhang X , Lindwall E , Gauthier C , Lyman J , Spencer N , Alarakhia A , Fraser A , Ing S , Chen M , Webb-Detiege T , Zakem J , Davis W , Choi Y Sung , Quinet R
Published: February 2015

Objective

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies. Recently, a specific highly activated T helper cell subset, follicular helper T (Tfh) cell, has emerged as a key immunoregulator of germinal center (GC) formation and high-affinity antibody production. To identify the pathophysiological role of Tfh cells in SLE patients, we compared the phenotypic and functional properties of circulating Tfh-like cells in lupus patients to GC-Tfh cells, and correlated the percentage of Tfh-like cells with autoantibody production and SLE disease activity.

Methods

Peripheral blood was collected from 29 lupus patients and 25 healthy controls. Tonsils were obtained surgically from non-SLE controls and used as a source of GC-Tfh cells. Tfh cells were defined by their signature surface markers (CXCR5, ICOS, CD57, PD-1 and BTLA) via flow cytometry. IL-21 expression levels from Tfh cells were measured by real-time PCR and intracellular staining. The function of Tfh cells was carried out by co-culture of Tfh cells and autologous B cells in vitro. IgG in the culture supernatant was detected by ELISA.

Results

The frequency of circulating Tfh-like cells was significantly increased in SLE patients compared to healthy controls ( p < 0.05). The Tfh-like cells not only display similar phenotypes and signature cytokines with GC-Tfh cells, but also are capable of driving B cells to differentiate into IgG-secreting plasma cells in vitro. In addition, the frequency of Tfh-like cells correlated positively with the percentage of circulating plasmablasts, levels of serum anti-dsDNA antibodies and ANA.

Conclusion

The accumulated circulating Tfh-like cells in lupus patients share phenotypic and functional properties with GC-Tfh cells. Tfh-like cells may serve as perpetuators in the pathogenesis of SLE by enhancing the self-reactive B cell clones to further differentiate into auto antibody-producing plasmablasts, and ultimately cause autoimmunity.
Predictive accuracy of novel risk factors and markers: A simulation study of the sensitivity of different performance measures for the Cox proportional hazards regression model
Authors: Austin Peter C , Pencinca Michael J , Steyerberg Ewout W
Published: February 2015

Predicting outcomes that occur over time is important in clinical, population health, and health services research. We compared changes in different measures of performance when a novel risk factor or marker was added to an existing Cox proportional hazards regression model. We performed Monte Carlo simulations for common measures of performance: concordance indices ( c, including various extensions to survival outcomes), Royston’s D index, R2-type measures, and Chambless’ adaptation of the integrated discrimination improvement to survival outcomes. We found that the increase in performance due to the inclusion of a risk factor tended to decrease as the performance of the reference model increased. Moreover, the increase in performance increased as the hazard ratio or the prevalence of a binary risk factor increased. Finally, for the concordance indices and R2-type measures, the absolute increase in predictive accuracy due to the inclusion of a risk factor was greater when the observed event rate was higher (low censoring). Amongst the different concordance indices, Chambless and Diao’s c-statistic exhibited the greatest increase in predictive accuracy when a novel risk factor was added to an existing model. Amongst the different R2-type measures, O’Quigley et al.’s modification of Nagelkerke’s R2 index and Kent and O’Quigley’s [Formula: see text] displayed the greatest sensitivity to the addition of a novel risk factor or marker. These methods were then applied to a cohort of 8635 patients hospitalized with heart failure to examine the added benefit of a point-based scoring system for predicting mortality after initial adjustment with patient age alone.
Impact of Maternal Household Decision-Making Autonomy on Child Nutritional Status in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Md. Mosfequr , Saima Umme , Goni Md. Abdul
Published: February 2015

This study examines the relationship between maternal household decision-making autonomy and children’s nutritional status using data from 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. The analyses are restricted to 2056 currently married, nonpregnant women aged 15 to 49 years who had at least 1 birth 5 years preceding the survey. Theoretically relevant predictors of children’s nutritional status including maternal autonomy are analyzed to identify factors significantly associated with children’s nutritional status using stepwise logistic regression. Results indicate that 34.8% children are stunted, 16.1% are wasted, and 45.9% children are underweight. Children whose mothers participated in making all household decisions are 15%, 16%, and 32% significantly less likely to be stunted (odds ratio = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.67-0.98), underweight (odds ratio = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.70-0.98), and wasted (odds ratio = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.52-0.90), respectively, than mothers who did not participate in making any decision. Increasing maternal decision-making autonomy may reduce the prevalence of malnourished children as well as contribute to have a healthier future generation.
Crisis, continuity and learning: The institutional origins of subprime management at the Federal Reserve
Authors: Aquanno Scott M
Published: February 2015

This article examines the nature of the US central bank’s relationship to financial markets amidst recent arguments that the subprime crisis marked a paradigmatic shift in the Federal Reserve’s approach to financial management. It applies the concepts of institutional capacity and institutional learning from neo-institutionalist scholarship on policy development to examine the Federal Reserve’s response and reaction to various financial failures following 1970. On this basis the paper argues that the Federal Reserve’s response to the 2008 crisis drew on the institutional learning it garnered in previous periods.
Post-crisis approaches to state intervention: New developmentalism or industrial policy as usual?
Authors: Szalavetz Andrea
Published: February 2015

The 2008 global crisis seems to have departed radically from the prevailing neoliberal ideology and practice concerning states’ minimal involvement in the economy. This article is an essay on and a literature review of the post-crisis features of ‘industrial policy’-type state interventions. In particular, whether crisis-era interventions have given way to neoliberal governments’ more explicit stance on industrial policy in the aftermath of the crisis, is investigated. The changes that had taken place in the global context of state interventions by the time of the outbreak of the crisis are surveyed, and it is argued that crisis did not provoke any ‘return to the state’. Rather, ongoing approaches to industrial policy were reinforced, or the crisis has simply brought states’ prevailing practices to the fore. The observed modest convergence between neoliberal and developmental states’ industrial policy practices has been bi-directional, driven by neoliberal states’ inclination to devising formal strategies and conversely, by emerging economies’ becoming more familiar with intervention practices allowed by international organizations. Common global challenges, and increased global interconnectedness have also been powerful drivers of convergence.
Managing bipolar II disorder: some personal perspectives
Authors: Parker Gordon
Published: February 2015

Objective:

The aim is to overview a personal model for managing bipolar II disorder.

Method:

The model describes the author’s personal approach and observes the relative lack of an evidence base.

Results:

Key ‘macro’ and treatment component approaches are overviewed.

Conclusions:

It is suggested that bipolar II disorder is categorically distinct from bipolar I, in lacking any psychotic features during contrasting mood states and thus allowing that its management should not necessarily extrapolate strategies used to manage bipolar I disorder. If valid, in addition to there being less of a need to prescribe antipsychotic drugs, the differing mood stabilizers may have quite differing gradients of efficacy across the bipolar I and II disorders.
Faith-Based Mental Health Interventions With African Americans
Authors: Hays Krystal , Aranda Maria P.
Published: February 2015

Faith-based interventions have emerged culturally sensitive way to address mental health issues among African Americans. This systematic review explores the scope and efficacy of faith-based mental health intervention outcomes among African Americans. Extracted data included the study population, setting, study design, intervention, adaptations, outcome measures, data analysis, and results. Methodological quality and sociocultural adaptations were also examined. The literature search identified 627 articles from 9 targeted databases. Five studies met inclusion criteria for this review. All five studies reported improvement in mental health outcomes and most studies sought to increase knowledge of mental health issues. Intervention settings, outcomes of interest, age groups, and attention to sociocultural modifications varied greatly. This review highlights a gap in the literature regarding African Americans and faith-based interventions. We discuss the potential for collaboration between social work professionals and clergy and the need to make faith-based interventions more accessible.
Introducing Evidence Through Research “Push”
Authors: Morden Andrew , Ong Bie Nio , Brooks Lauren , Jinks Clare , Porcheret Mark , Edwards John J. , Dziedzic Krysia S.
Published: February 2015

A multitude of factors can influence the uptake and implementation of complex interventions in health care. A plethora of theories and frameworks recognize the need to establish relationships, understand organizational dynamics, address context and contingency, and engage key decision makers. Less attention is paid to how theories that emphasize relational contexts can actually be deployed to guide the implementation of an intervention. The purpose of the article is to demonstrate the potential role of qualitative research aligned with theory to inform complex interventions. We detail a study underpinned by theory and qualitative research that (a) ensured key actors made sense of the complex intervention at the earliest stage of adoption and (b) aided initial engagement with the intervention. We conclude that using theoretical approaches aligned with qualitative research can provide insights into the context and dynamics of health care settings that in turn can be used to aid intervention implementation.
“Blaming the Flowers for Wilting”
Authors: Harris Roma , Wathen C. Nadine , MacGregor Jennifer C. D. , Dennhardt Silke , Naimi Anthony , Ellis Kathleen S.
Published: February 2015

Amid growing concern about the graying population, an emerging theme in public health discourse is that of “successful aging.” In this article, we use a governmentality lens to analyze a Canadian health promotion video, titled “Make Health Last: What Will Your Last 10 Years Look Like?” and viewers’ responses to its message. The video presents starkly different scenarios of the last decade of life, conveying a neo-liberal rationality in which health in old age is positioned as a matter of individual choice. Our analysis suggests that while viewers generally support the video’s message of personal responsibility for health, some are uneasy about implied claims that age-related illness can be prevented by choosing to be healthy. We argue that the video’s simplistic messaging about health in later life raises disturbing questions about health promotion campaigns that deny the “normal” aging body and blame the elderly for “deciding” not to remain youthful and healthy.
Career Transitions of Student Veterans
Authors: Ghosh Arpita , Fouad Nadya A.
Published: February 2015

As a result of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, colleges and universities across the United States are experiencing an increase in student veteran enrollment. There is limited information about student veterans making career choices, as it relates to their transition to college. This study examined what factors of career transitions (e.g., confidence, independence, support, control, and readiness) were predicted by career adaptability (e.g., control, concern, confidence, and curiosity) and occupational engagement within a developmental framework. Although career adaptabilities and occupational engagement did not predict the confidence and support aspects of career transitions, they did predict readiness. This suggests that if military service students are able to manage the idea of occupational transitions from military to college and willing to engage in specific occupational tasks, they may be ready to participate in career planning activities. Further theoretical and practical implications for researchers, clinicians, and university staff and administrations are also discussed.
Experiences and Views of the Discharge Planning Process Among Swedish District Nurses and Home Care Organizers
Authors: Nordmark Sofi , Zingmark Karin , Lindberg Inger
Published: February 2015

Discharge planning is an important care process, but deficits in planning are common. The aim of this study was to explore district nurses’ (DNs) and home care organizers’ (HCOs) experiences and views of the workflow during the discharge planning process (DPP). Demands, workload, time, collaboration, and engagement, together with knowledge and professional confidence, are factors that influence workflow and outcome of the DPP for DNs and HCOs. Strengths and obstacles at the organization, group, and individual levels affect the workflow during the discharge planning. Knowledge of these strengths and obstacles should help care providers in their practice as well as help management and politicians become more aware of prerequisites needed to achieve a safe and efficient workflow for securing the patient’s discharge.
Racial (In)variance, Disadvantage, and Lethal Violence
Authors: Berthelot Emily R. , Brown Timothy C. , Thomas Shaun A. , Burgason Kyle A.
Published: February 2015

This research is a race-specific analysis of homicide victimization risk in the United States. It contributes to the literature by examining risk factors at multiple levels using data from the National Health Interview Survey, National Death Index, and Census. The direct association between community resource deprivation and victimization is racially invariant. For Blacks, however, low income increases victimization risk and this association is exacerbated in disadvantaged communities, whereas income tends to have a protective effect across levels of aggregate resource deprivation among Whites. This suggests racial variance in how community characteristics moderate the association between family income and homicide victimization risk.
Association of Transcobalamin II (TCN2) and Transcobalamin II-Receptor (TCblR) Genetic Variations With Cobalamin Deficiency Parameters in Elderly Women
Authors: Kurnat-Thoma Emma L. , Pangilinan Faith , Matteini Amy M. , Wong Bob , Pepper Ginette A. , Stabler Sally P. , Guralnik Jack M. , Brody Lawrence C.
Published: February 2015

Cobalamin (vitamin B12) deficiency is a subtle progressive clinical disorder, affecting nearly 1 in 5 individuals > 60 years old. This deficiency is produced by age-related decreases in nutrient absorption, medications that interfere with vitamin B12 absorption, and other comorbidities. Clinical heterogeneity confounds symptom detection for elderly adults, as deficiency sequelae range from mild fatigue and weakness to debilitating megaloblastic anemia and permanent neuropathic injury. A better understanding of genetic factors that contribute to cobalamin deficiency in the elderly would allow for targeted nursing care and preventive interventions. We tested for associations of common variants in genes involved in cobalamin transport and homeostasis with metabolic indicators of cobalamin deficiency (homocysteine and methylmalonic acid) as well as hematologic, neurologic, and functional performance features of cobalamin deficiency in 789 participants of the Women’s Health and Aging Studies. Although not significant when corrected for multiple testing, eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in two genes, transcobalamin II ( TCN2) and the transcobalamin II-receptor ( TCblR), were found to influence several clinical traits of cobalamin deficiency. The three most significant findings were the identified associations involving missense coding SNPs, namely, TCblR G220R (rs2336573) with serum cobalamin, TCN2 S348F (rs9621049) with homocysteine, and TCN2 P259R (rs1801198) with red blood cell mean corpuscular volume. These SNPs may modify the phenotype in older adults who are more likely to develop symptoms of vitamin B12 malabsorption.
Communicating Ebola through social media and electronic news media outlets: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Househ Mowafa
Published: February 2015

Social media and electronic news media activity are an important source of information for the general public. Yet, there is a dearth of research exploring the use of Twitter and electronic news outlets during significant worldly events such as the recent Ebola Virus scare. The purpose of this article is to investigate the use of Twitter and electronic news media outlets in communicating Ebola Virus information. A cross-sectional survey of Twitter data and Google News Trend data from 30 September till 29 October, 2014 was conducted. Between 30 September and 29 October, there were approximately 26 million tweets (25,925,152) that contained the word Ebola. The highest number of correlated activity for Twitter and electronic news outlets occurred on 16 October 2014. Other important peaks in Twitter data occurred on 1 October, 6 October, 8 October, and 12 October, 2014. The main influencers of the Twitter feeds were news media outlets. The study reveals a relationship between electronic news media publishing and Twitter activity around significant events such as Ebola. Healthcare organizations should take advantage of the relationship between electronic news media and trending events on social media sites such as Twitter and should work on developing social media campaigns in co-operation with leading electronic news media outlets (e.g. CNN, Yahoo, Reuters) that can have an influence on social media activity.
Evaluation of mechanical and tribological properties of bamboo–glass hybrid fiber reinforced polymer composite
Authors: Latha P Sneha , Rao M Venkateswara , Kumar VV Kiran , Raghavendra G , Ojha S , inala Ramu
Published: February 2015

Effect of stacking sequence of mechanical and tribological properties woven bamboo–glass fabric reinforced polymer hybrid composites has been investigated experimentally. Laminate samples were fabricated by hand layup technique in a mold and cured under light pressure at room temperature for 48 h. All the laminates were made with a total of four plies, by varying the number and position of glass layers so as to obtain five different stacking sequences. One group of all bamboo laminate was also fabricated for comparison purpose. Specimen preparation and testing were carried out as per ASTM standards. The results indicated that the properties of bamboo composite can be significantly improved by incorporation of glass fiber in polymer composite. The layer sequence has greater effect on mechanical and tribological properties of hybrid composite.
Intervention of Multi-Modal Activities for Older Adults With Dementia Translation to Rural Communities
Authors: La Rue Asenath , Felten Kristen , Turkstra Lyn
Published: February 2015

A Language-Enriched Exercise Plus Socialization (LEEPS) Program for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD) was implemented in rural Wisconsin communities. Patterned after a university-based research intervention, 1 the LEEPS protocol entailed ongoing weekly to biweekly sessions with a trained volunteer and an individual with dementia, with exercise and language stimulation sessions interspersed with social or volunteer outings. Of 64 persons with ADRD who enrolled, 29 completed an initial follow-up assessment at an average of 10.65 months, and 8 completed a second follow-up at an average of 20.55 months. Results generally show stability in cognition, mood, and physical performance. Improvement was noted at the initial retest on 1 of the 3 physical fitness measures (arm curls; t = 2.61, P = .015), but self-rated quality of life declined slightly from baseline to the first retest ( t = −2.09, P = .048). Change in the Mini-Mental State Examination at the first and second follow-ups (mean = +0.18 and −1.0, respectively) was negligible. The maintenance of function observed with LEEPS is an encouraging outcome, given the progressive nature of ADRD, but controlled investigations are needed to establish the efficacy of LEEPS. Barriers to implementation of an intensive activities-focused intervention in rural communities are discussed.
Worries About Getting Alzheimer’s
Authors: Cutler Stephen J.
Published: February 2015

The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is projected to grow dramatically, but efforts to treat its progression have been unsuccessful. Fear of AD among older persons is greater than fear of cancer, and lingering worries about developing AD can be detrimental to well-being. Yet, much remains to be known about such worries and their precursors. This study, based on data from the Health and Retirement Survey, examines correlates of worry. Results of multivariate analyses show the following to be independent and significant correlates: present memory ratings, perceived changes in memory, personal familiarity with AD, belief that being a first-degree relative of someone with AD heightens the chance of developing AD, and age. Interaction analyses show that memory ratings and perceived changes in memory functioning are associated with worry regardless of personal familiarity. These findings will enable practitioners to identify patients and clients at risk of being worried about getting AD.
Using Consensus Building Procedures With Expert Raters to Establish Comparison Scores of Behavior for Direct Behavior Rating
Authors: Jaffery Rose , Johnson Austin H. , Bowler Mark C. , Riley-Tillman T. Chris , Chafouleas Sandra M. , Harrison Sayward E.
Published: February 2015

To date, rater accuracy when using Direct Behavior Rating (DBR) has been evaluated by comparing DBR-derived data to scores yielded through systematic direct observation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an alternative method for establishing comparison scores using expert-completed DBR alongside best practices in consensus building exercises, to evaluate the accuracy of ratings. Standard procedures for obtaining expert data were established and implemented across two sites. Agreement indices and comparison scores were derived. Findings indicate that the expert consensus building sessions resulted in high agreement between expert raters, lending support for this alternative method for identifying comparison scores for behavioral data.
Developing Skills in Digital Contexts
Authors: Checa-Romero Mirian
Published: February 2015

The use of commercial video games in combination with other media can provide opportunities to learn skills related to critical thinking, digital literacy, and media production. These media tools offer opportunities for users to participate in the new emerging forms of participatory culture. By means of an ethnographic study carried out in a Spanish primary school, this article presents an analysis of the skills that can be developed through the use of the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire video game and movie and how education professionals can use them at school in order to change the way students learn. The results show how students can develop their critical capacity by comparing these two media, and that this enables them to develop processes geared to digital literacy at the same as it helps them become producers through the creation and publication of blogs.
Racial Differences in Diffusion of Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer
Authors: Cobran Ewan K. , Chen Ronald C. , Overman Robert , Meyer Anne-Marie , Kuo Tzy-Mey , O’Brien Jonathon , Sturmer Til , Sheets Nathan C. , Goldin Gregg H. , Penn Dolly C. , Godley Paul A. , Carpenter William R.
Published: February 2015

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), an innovative treatment option for prostate cancer, has rapidly diffused over the past decade. To inform our understanding of racial disparities in prostate cancer treatment and outcomes, this study compared diffusion of IMRT in African American (AA) and Caucasian American (CA) prostate cancer patients during the early years of IMRT diffusion using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)–Medicare linked database. A retrospective cohort of 947 AA and 10,028 CA patients diagnosed with localized prostate cancer from 2002 through 2006, who were treated with either IMRT or non-IMRT as primary treatment within 1 year of diagnoses was constructed. Logistic regression was used to examine potential differences in diffusion of IMRT in AA and CA patients, while adjusting for socioeconomic and clinical covariates. A significantly smaller proportion of AA compared with CA patients received IMRT for localized prostate cancer (45% vs. 53%, p < .0001). Racial differences were apparent in multivariable analysis though did not achieve statistical significance, as time and factors associated with race (socioeconomic, geographic, and tumor related factors) explained the preponderance of variance in use of IMRT. Further research examining improved access to innovative cancer treatment and technologies is essential to reducing racial disparities in cancer care.