bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Immersed multilayer biodegradable ureteral stent with reformed biodegradation: An in vitro experiment
Authors: Yang Ganggang , Xie Hua , Huang Yichen , Lv Yiqing , Zhang Mingqing , Shang Yafeng , Zhou Junmei , Wang Liping , Wang Jin-Ye , Chen Fang 
Published: March 2017

Objective The aim of this study was to develop a novel immersed multilayer biodegradable ureteral stent with reformed biodegradation and evaluate it in vitro. Methods Poly(glycolic-co-lactic acid) (PGLA), microsphere zein and BaSO4 were employed to produce a multilayer biodegradable stent using immersion technology. Tests of the biodegradable stents and conventional control stents were conducted in human urine in vitro to evaluate the biodegradable properties. The biocompatibility was assessed by the morphology and proliferation of urine-derived cells cultured with extracted media from the biodegradable stent and a latex material positive control. Results An immersed multilayer biodegradable stent was successfully produced. It began to degrade in week 2 and was fully degraded by week 4. The mass loss ratio in the first 2 weeks was low (approximately 10.0% at 1 week, 20.0% at 2 weeks) and increased after 3 weeks (approximately 70%) to the end of testing. During the first 2 weeks, the radial compression load performances of the biodegradable stents were better than those of the control stents with statistically significant differences ( p = 0.00, p = 0.01) and the tensile strengths were lower in the biodegradable stents than those in the control stents throughout the experiment. SEM showed that the stents degraded layer by layer from the outer to the inner wall. The influences on the cells of extracted medium from the biodegradable stents were morphologically slight and lower than 10% in relative growth rates. Conclusions This preliminary study demonstrates that the immersed multilayer biodegradable ureteral stent has good radial compression and biocompatible performance and can be degraded in vitro within 4 weeks in a moderate manner.
Hormonal and Neuromuscular Responses to Breastfeeding: A Pilot Study
Authors: Neu Madalynn , Pan Zhaoxing , Haight Ashley , Fehringer Karen , Maluf Katrina 
Published: March 2017

Objectives:Difficult breastfeeding in the first weeks after birth may result in muscle tension in infants and activation of the maternal hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Our primary objective was to examine the feasibility of collecting neuroendocrine markers of maternal HPA axis and SNS activation (salivary cortisol and α-amylase [sAA]) and electromyographic (EMG) markers of infant distress during feeding in the first 2 weeks after birth. We also examined the relationships of these indices to each other and to mother–infant interactive behaviors during feeding.Methods:We recruited mothers in the postpartum unit of a teaching hospital and observed a feeding in the dyad’s home. Cortisol and sAA were sampled before feeding, 10 min into feeding, at feeding end, and 20 min after feeding. Infant muscle activity was recorded continuously with an EMG data logger. We used the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale to measure mother–infant interaction.Results:The 20 mothers reported no disruption to breastfeeding and no change in infant behavior due to collection measures. Mean cortisol levels decreased significantly; there was no significant change in sAA levels. Relationships were found between interactive behavior and trends in neuroendocrine biomarkers. Longer bursts of infant muscle activity were associated with higher levels of maternal cortisol during feeding but not mother–infant interactive behaviors.Conclusions:Maternal salivary biomarkers and their association with feeding behaviors can be a useful tool for clinical longitudinal research beginning soon after birth. Infant EMG data may be useful for assessing maternal arousal.
Intergenerational Transmission of Poverty in Finland in the 1990S
Authors: Airio Ilpo , Moisio Pasi , Niemelä Mikko 
Published: March 2017

The focus of this study is to investigate whether there are links between social mobility and poverty from the viewpoint of the intergenerational transmission of poverty. The context for the study is the economic crisis of the early 1990s in Finland. The study seeks answers to questions such as whether there were changes in the intergenerational transmission of poverty during the first half of the 1990s and whether the intergenerational transmission of poverty is different among men and women. In addition, the study seeks to determine whether the intergenerational transmission of poverty is different among those coming from poor and non-poor family backgrounds in the period 1990 – 1995. The data are derived from the 1970–1995 Longitudinal Census Data File of Statistics Finland. The panel, gathered every fifth year, is a register-based dataset, containing information on around 700 000 Finns. The 1960 birth cohort, who were 10 years old in 1970, and consequently 30 years old in 1990, was selected as the basis for the analysis. The results of the study indicate that poverty shows clear signs of intergenerational transmission in Finland: those coming from a poor family background have around twice as high a risk of poverty in young adulthood compared to those from a non-poor family background. However, the transmission of poverty did not change during the depression: those coming from a poor family background had the same risk of poverty before and after the depression. In addition, intergenerational transmission of poverty was quite similar among men and women.
The Flip Side of the Coin: The Consequences of the European Budgetary Projections on the Adequacy of Social Security Pensions
Authors: Dekkers Gijs , Buslei Hermann , Cozzolino Maria , Desmet Raphael , Geyer Johannes , Hofmann Dirk , Raitano Michele , Steiner Viktor , Tanda Paola , Tedeschi Simone , Verschueren Frédéric 
Published: March 2017

The Ageing Working Group (AWG) assesses the long-term sustainability of public finances by presenting a set of public expenditure projections for all Member States, including projections on pensions. These projections are based on demographic forecasts and agreed assumptions on key economic variables. The adequacy and sustainability of pensions are, however, two sides of the same coin and a full assessment of pensions therefore requires integration. This paper applies the dynamic micro-simulation model MIDAS to assess the consequences of the AWG projections and assumptions on the future adequacy of public pensions in Belgium, Germany and Italy. A comparison of the simulation results suggests that the impact of the parametric pension reform in Belgium and Germany and the systemic reform in Italy on (re) distribution and the risk of low-income go in the same direction, but that the magnitudes differ. Indeed, the impact is stronger in Italy than in Belgium and Germany. In the latter especially, important changes safeguarding the sustainability of the pension system seem to have had a relatively small impact on the risk of low-income among pension benefit recipients in particular.
If You Pay Peanuts …: A Laboratory Experiment on Reward Schemes in Employment Service Contracting
Authors: van de Meerendonk Arthur , Onderstal Sander 
Published: March 2017

The design of tenders and contracts is a crucial factor in the success or failure of the contracting-out of reintegration services. In a laboratory experiment with professionals from private reintegration service providers, we tested two tender designs. In the first design, the government announces a predetermined amount that will be paid for each employment outcome. Participants then bid an amount of money that they are prepared to pay to operate the contract. This auction resembles contracting in the Australian Job Network and the British Employment Zones. The second design is the lowest-reward auction. In this auction, the participants bid a reward. The lowest bid wins the contract, and the reward is then paid for each unit of effort. The lowest-reward auction is similar to the current tendering practice in the Netherlands. We find that an auction with a fixed reward per placement is more efficient, yields more effort from the winner, and results in higher welfare than an auction in which bidders compete on the basis of the reward per placement. We derive this conclusion from both our theoretical analysis and data from our laboratory experiment with professional bidders.
Gender Equalising and Gender Neutral Policies and Their Pitfalls: A Typology of the Gender Dimensions of Social Policies
Authors: Frericks Patricia 
Published: March 2017

The restructuring of modern capitalist welfare states is characterised by the tendency to individualise social protection. This article develops a simple and conceptually sound typology to analyse and classify these reforms and measures with regard to their effects on women's financial well-being. It distinguishes between policy measures that aim to improve women's financial situations, policies that reduce women's benefits and ‘gender neutral’ policies. For distinguishing between policies that have a positive or negative effect on women's (own) financial situation, I introduce three sets of criteria. The direct elimination of negative discriminatory constraints can work out positively for women. On the other hand, if the conditions that originally motivated the establishment of positive discrimination remain, the elimination of earlier forms of (positive) discrimination can bring unexpected hardship. Therefore, their abolition is often is phased in over quite long periods of time. Other policies that offer new opportunities may benefit certain specific groups of women. However, for a majority of women, they entail a proportional reduction in their entitlements.
Parental Benefits in the Coordination Regulation: (Where) Do They Fit in? The Swedish Example
Authors: Holm Emma 
Published: March 2017

In this article the issue of coordination of parental benefits in cross-border situations, with the Swedish example in focus, is analysed. There are no specific provisions in the Coordination Regulations concerning these benefits. At the national level, parental benefits can be a mix between individual, income-related benefits (similar to maternity/paternity benefits) and family-oriented, residence-based family benefits. The classification of a benefit is of importance in solving issues like aggregation of insurance periods, exportability and the overlapping of benefits, and the result may differ depending on which classification is made. The situation of the family members may also be affected. Sweden has had particular problems relating to the coordination of parental benefits, which can be partly explained by the fact that Swedish parental benefit has been classified as a family benefit for the purposes of the Coordination Regulations. The problems of coordination have been raised in cases referred to the CJEU and in recent developments in national law. The Swedish example is also used in this article to raise some general questions in the area of maternity/paternity benefits and family benefits.
Pension Rights and Entitlement Conversion (‘Invaren’): Lessons from a Dutch Perspective with Regard to the Implications of the EU Charter
Authors: Van Meerten Hans , Borsjé Pascal 
Published: March 2017

This article discusses issues regarding ‘conversion’, in particular the transformation of second pillar pension rights and entitlements. It considers the different European law regimes that are an influence on conversion, namely EU law and the law regarding the European Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter ECHR). The central question here is: would the outcome be different when conversion is tested under EU law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (hereinafter ‘the Charter’) rather than under ECHR law? The answer seems to be ‘yes’. This article demonstrates that EU law and the Charter may offer the pensioner different and possibly more extensive protection, inter alia, against governmental measures than the ECHR. EU law may also have a direct horizontal effect, i.e. the article might be invoked directly against a pension fund. In addition, the test of fundamental rights in the Charter and the ECHR may have entirely different outcomes. More generally, an alleged breach of Article 17 of the Charter must also be reviewed in the light of the EU's economic and social objectives. These objectives are not, as such, part of the ECHR. It is difficult to predict whether a claim, based on Article 17 by an individual against a Member State and/or a relevant pension fund would be successful. Infringement of pension entitlements has not yet been tested against the Charter.
Comprehensive Sickness Insurance as a Condition for EU Citizens' Residence in other Member States: A Need for Reform?
Authors: Sokol Tomislav 
Published: March 2017

Free movement of persons is one of the fundamental freedoms of European integration. It is protected by EU primary law, especially by the TFEU and its provisions on citizen's rights and free movement of workers within the Union. The described freedom is not absolute, however. One of the crucial limitations consists of the economically nonactive EU citizens and their family members having to obtain comprehensive sickness insurance cover in the host Member States in order to enjoy the right of residence for more than three months in those states. The aim of the paper is to analyse the legal framework of the UK, Ireland, Slovenia and Croatia and their implementation of the EU Residence Directive's comprehensive sickness insurance condition for the right of residence in EU Member States and determine whether certain changes to the Residence Directive are needed in order to obtain a clearer regulation of EU citizens' rights in cross-border situations. The analysis has shown that the national autonomy may result in various interpretations, depending on the type of the social security health system the country in question employs. Different interpretations have highlighted the need for a clearer EU-level regulation, to increase clarity and legal certainty for migrants.
Valuing feedback: an evaluation of a National Health Service programme to support compassionate care practice through hearing and responding to feedback
Authors: Smith S , Gentleman M , Conway Linda , Sloan Sue 
Published: March 2017

There is an emergent recognition in healthcare that people need to be at the heart of services, and experiences of care matter; these should therefore be recognised and enhance practice. The aims of this research were to evaluate an NHS development programme, Valuing Feedback. The programme focused on supporting compassionate care practice by enabling NHS staff to listen, learn and respond to feedback enabling the development of practice. Findings identified that participants had a heightened awareness of the power and importance of feedback to support practice change. An enhanced understanding of using the feedback tools, Emotional Touchpoints and Envision Cards, was evident and working with these tools during the programme supported local implementation. Participants identified learning and changes to their practice resulting from feedback, specifically development in their own practice and service change. Participants identified that listening to positive and negative feedback based on emotional experience involved being brave. There was a requirement to be open and listen to criticism. Participants highlighted that feedback activities require support, as they need time to plan, undertake, reflect upon and initiate development. Conclusions from this research highlight the value of feedback focused on emotions and understanding experiences of patients, relatives and staff. Such feedback impacted on practice. Opportunities where NHS staff shared and learned from feedback were highly valued. It is necessary to consider how the activity of feedback can be effectively supported, enabling staff, their teams and organisations to prioritise feedback activity and develop compassionate care practice for patients, relatives and staff.
Community pharmacists’ perspectives of online health-related information: A qualitative insight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Authors: See Wan Ong , Hassali Mohamed Azmi , Saleem Fahad 
Published: March 2017

Background: The Internet is a resource used by health professionals as well as the public to access health information. Within this context, little is reported on community pharmacists’ (CPs’) perceptions of online health-related information. The objective of this study was to explore the attitudes of Malaysian CPs towards online health-related information. Methods: A qualitative research method was adopted with face-to-face interviews, using a semi-structured interview guide. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit a convenient sample of CPs who were practising in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analysed by the research team using a thematic content analysis framework. Results: Eleven CPs participated in the study. Participants reported that online health-related information was accessible, useful, fast, and in some respects, the Internet is a unique source of information. It was reported that there was a need to establish websites for trusted information. CPs also reported that training was needed in Internet searching and website evaluation skills. Most information accessed by CPs related to drugs and diseases and to knowledge-based information. Barriers to efficacy of Internet usage were related to the reliability and volume of information available on the Internet. Conclusion: Frequent use of online health-related information among CPs was reported. Many CPs supported the use of the Internet for health-related information but certain reservations were also reported. An analysis of the reasons for information seeking and barriers suggests that a wider range of influences on health information seeking should be investigated.
The Internal Market and the Future of Labour Law in Europe: Insights from the Nordic Countries
Authors: Nyström Birgitta 
Published: March 2017

EU law has influenced the Nordic labour law systems considerably. Although, an overall feeling that this has not caused many problems, some matters have been considered problematic. The problems concerns mainly two areas: Collective agreements and the labour market parties' freedom, and the question about social dumping. The author argues that the growing amount of EU legislation has reduced the labour market parties' freedom, and that the Laval case and its followers have challenged the Nordic labour law systems and traditions. Further, the author questions if the ongoing harmonization within the European Union not is downwards when it comes to the labour market and social standards.
The Crisis and National Labour Law Reforms
Authors: Clauwaert Stefan , Schömann Isabelle 
Published: March 2017

This paper1 maps the labour law reforms in various European countries either triggered by the crisis or introduced using the crisis – falsely – as an excuse. Such reforms generally render existing labour law provisions more flexible and loosen minimum standards, shifting the emphasis to soft law (deregulation). In some countries it consists only of piecemeal although significant deregulatory measures, while in others it involves far-reaching overhauls of the whole labour code. Furthermore, in several countries fundamental changes are being made to industrial relations structures and processes which might jeopardise social dialogue and collective bargaining there. The authors critically address this large-scale deregulation of labour law currently taking place, in particular the lack of democratic foundations underlying the reforms and their negative impact on fundamental social rights and workers' protection.
Factors Associated With Missed Appointments at an Academic Pain Treatment Center: A Prospective Year-Long Longitudinal Study
Authors: Odonkor Charles A. , Christiansen Sandy , Chen Yian , Sathiyakumar Asmitha , Chaudhry Hira , Cinquegrana Denise , Lange Jessica , He Cathy , Cohen Steven P. 
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND:
Interventional pain treatment centers represent an integral part of interdisciplinary care. Barriers to effective treatment include access to care and financial issues related to pain clinic operations. To address these challenges, specialty clinics have taken steps to identify and remedy missed clinic appointments. However, no prospective study has sought to identify factors associated with pain clinic “no-shows.”

METHODS:
We performed a prospective, longitudinal year-long study in an inner-city, academic pain clinic in which patients scheduled for office visits and procedures were categorized as to whether they showed up or did not show up for their scheduled appointment without cancelling the day before. Twenty demographic (age, employment status), clinical (eg, diagnosis, duration of pain), and environmental (season, time and day of appointment) variables were assessed for their association with missing an appointment. The logistic regression model predicting no-shows was internally validated with crossvalidation and bootstrapping methods. A predictive nomogram was developed to display effect size of predictors for no-shows.

RESULTS:
No-show data were collected on 5134 patients out of 5209 total appointments for a capture rate of 98.6%. The overall no-show rate was 24.6% and was higher in individuals who were young (<65 years), single, of ethnic minority background, received Medicare/Medicaid, had a primary diagnosis of low back pain or headaches, were seen on a day with rain or snow or for an initial consult, and had at least 1 previous pain provider. Model discrimination (area under curve) was 0.738 (99% confidence interval, 0.70–0.85). A minimum threshold of 350 points on the nomogram predicted greater than 55% risk of no-shows.

CONCLUSIONS:
We found a high no-show rate, which was associated with predictable and unpredictable (eg, snow) factors. Steps to reduce the no-show rate are discussed. To maximize access to care, operation managers should consider a regression model that accounts for patient-level risk of predictable no-shows. Knowing the patient level, no-show rate can potentially help to optimize the schedule programming by staggering low- versus high-probability no-shows.