bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A feasibility and pilot trial of computerised cognitive behaviour therapy for depression in adolescents: lessons learned from planning and conducting a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Tindall Lucy , Varley Danielle , Wright Barry 
Published: September 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to focus upon the challenges faced by a research team when conducting a computerised cognitive behaviour therapy (CCBT) trial for adolescents with low mood/depression and how solutions were sought to eliminate these difficulties in future child and adolescent mental health clinical research.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors have presented a number of problems faced by the research team when conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) concerning adolescents with low mood/depression.

Findings
From examining the problems faced by the research team, the authors have provided key pieces of advice for prospective adolescent mental health RCTs. This advice includes developing clear project plans, setting strategies to encourage and maintain study information in the community and support recruitment, and keeping your organisation appraised of study needs and network and involve governance departments, IT and finance departments in these discussions early.

Originality/value
RCTs, particularly those focusing on child and adolescent mental health, can face a number of difficulties throughout its stages of completion (from protocol development to follow-up analysis). Studies involving the use of technologies add a layer of complexity to this. This review will be of value to researchers aiming to run a high-quality RCT concerning child and adolescent mental health.
A new admission system model for teacher colleges
Authors: Katz Sara , Frish Yehiel 
Published: September 2016

Purpose
Aspects of intellectual competence would not be sufficient for quality teaching that requires a mix of intellectual and personal qualities. The purpose of this paper was to elicit personal attributes of teachers’ college applicants.

Design/methodology/approach
This qualitative case study consisted of 99 participants aged 20-24 years of average socio-economic and achievement backgrounds. The authors constructed five qualitative tools, in addition to the two existing standardized exams. Using techniques of the grounded theory, the authors sorted and synthesized the data through three-phase coding.

Findings
The authors elicited a general concept map of attributes, from which a personal attribute profile for each participant emerged. This model makes fine differentiations between individuals, providing a personal attribute profile pool of applicants useful for any admission committee and for empowering students’ strengths during studies.

Research limitations/implications
A solid database of non-cognitive attributes opens the door to further research, which will take into consideration multiple variables, such as student knowledge, beliefs and aptitudes.

Practical implications
Training teachers to apply research methodology into practice and limiting the length of tools make the mission possible, interesting and useful. Figuring out how to collect valid measures of such data about large numbers of college students would be a major challenge.

Social implications
As teachers occupy a central position in the educational enterprise, they become guardians of the country’s collective socio-cultural legacy. In the current context of teacher shortages, the authors offer a model that has the potential of improving recruitment of applicants for teaching and raising teacher quality.

Originality/value
No previous attempt that uses qualitative methodology for this purpose was found.
The influence of class size upon numeracy and literacy performance
Authors: Watson Kevin , Handal Boris , Maher Marguerite 
Published: September 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to investigate the influences of calendar year, year level, gender and language background other than English (LBOTE) on student achievement in literacy and numeracy relative to class size.

Design/methodology/approach
Data for this study were collected over five years (2008-2012) as test results from the Australian National Assessment Plan in Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) in Years 3 and 5 from over 100 Sydney primary schools.

Findings
It was found that the most important factors influencing academic performance in literacy and numeracy were, in descending order: gender, LBOTE, the calendar year in which the test was conducted, followed by class size. All variables were significantly associated with NAPLAN performance, but effect size estimates for class size were close to zero.

Originality/value
The results of this study support other studies suggesting that factors other than class size are more important in influencing academic performance.
Predictors of academic success in web-based courses: age, GPA, and instruction mode
Authors: Vella Elizabeth J. , Turesky Elizabeth F. , Hebert Jenni 
Published: September 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to use a heutagogical approach to determine whether students enrolled in blended courses achieve higher grades relative to those enrolled in completely online courses, in addition to identifying demographic predictors of academic success in college courses involving Web-based modes of instruction.

Design/methodology/approach
Mixed models regression evaluated predictors of grade in terms of age, gender, instruction mode, graduate vs undergraduate status and full-time vs part-time load across 2,174 students (M = 27.6, SD = 9.54 years) enrolled in Web-based courses for a single term at a mid-sized public university in the northeastern USA.

Findings
In accordance with expectations, a significant main effect indicated higher grades among students enrolled in blended relative to completely online courses. Other predictors of academic success in Web-based courses included older age, female gender, graduate student status and part-time academic load. An interaction between age and gender on grade indicated the difference in performance between men and women diminished among older compared to younger students. Another interaction between age and instruction mode on successful course completion indicated a higher probability of success in blended courses among older students relative to their younger counterparts.

Research limitations/implications
This study is limited by its cross-sectional design of large scope, which is incapable of addressing differences in online instructional styles and student motivation factors.

Originality/value
The current study offers newfound evidence that students enrolled in Web-based college courses may benefit from a blended instructional format, a finding that may be particularly evident among older students.
Community‐level plant palatability increases with elevation as insect herbivore abundance declines
Authors: Descombes Patrice , Marchon Jérémy , Pradervand Jean‐Nicolas , Bilat Julia , Guisan Antoine , Rasmann Sergio , Pellissier Loïc 
Published: September 2016

Summary

Plants protect themselves against herbivore attacks through a myriad of physical structures and toxic secondary metabolites. Together with abiotic factors, herbivores are expected to modulate plant defence strategies within plant assemblages. Because the abundance of insect herbivore decreases in colder environments, the palatability of plants in communities at higher elevation should shift in response to both abiotic and biotic factors.

We inventoried grasshopper communities to document changes in herbivore abundance along elevation gradients and quantified associated shifts in plant palatability. We measured plant palatability by measuring the growth of Spodoptera littoralis generalist caterpillars fed with the leaves of 172 plant species. We related plant palatability to leaf traits and elevation at the species and community levels.

In congruence with the decrease in grasshopper abundance with elevation, we found that the mean palatability level of plant communities increases with elevation. In addition, plant palatability was negatively associated with the community‐weighted mean of leaf dry matter content. At the species level, plants with high carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio were less palatable, while we found no effect of species mean elevation on plant palatability.

Synthesis. Our results suggest that plant communities at higher elevation are composed of species that are generally more palatable for insect herbivores. Shift in plant palatability with elevation may thus be the outcome of a relaxation of the in situ herbivore pressure and changes in abiotic conditions.
Emergency Department Visits Following Joint Replacement Surgery in an Era of Mandatory Bundled Payments
Authors: Nedza Susan M. , Fry Donald E. , DesHarnais Susan , Spencer Eric , Yep Patrick 
Published: September 2016

AbstractObjectivesThe Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is actively testing bundled payments models. This study sought to identify relevant details for 90‐day postdischarge emergency department (ED) visits of Medicare beneficiaries following total joint replacement (TJR) surgery meeting eligibility for a CMS bundled payment program.MethodsThe CMS research identifiable file for the State of Texas for 2011–2012 was used to identify patients who underwent TJR. Qualifying inpatient claims were linked to 90‐day postdischarge ED claims. The claims associated with live discharge were divided into three cohorts: elective total hip replacement (THR), emergent (THR), and total knee replacement. The frequency, distribution, diagnoses, and disposition for these ED visits were identified and stratified by timing within the postdischarge period as well as discharge diagnosis. Visits were correlated with age, sex, joint replaced, and fracture.ResultsThere were 50,838 TJR surgeries in Texas in 2011–2012 that would have been eligible for inclusion in the CMS defined CJR program. A total of 12,747 ED visits by 9,299 patients occurred in the 90‐day postdischarge period. Visits to the ED by patients 85 and older predominated in the case of THR performed secondary to a hip fracture. Patients 65–74 years predominated in both elective surgery categories. There were 2,370 ED visits within 90 days of 10,786 elective THRs, of which 55.5% were discharged home, 34.6% were hospitalized or transferred, and 6.9% were admitted to observation. Of the 3,438 ED visits among 8,475 emergent hip replacement cases, 22.4% were discharged home, 50.2% were hospitalized or transferred, and 5.3% were admitted to observation. Of the 6,939 visits among 31,387 knee replacement cases, 61.9% were discharged home, 30.6% were readmitted or transferred, and 7.1% were admitted to observation. The discharge diagnoses varied by volume and timing in the postdischarge period. The most prevalent diagnoses across groups included injury/trauma, physiologic decompensation, cardiopulmonary events, and infection.ConclusionsED services are frequent for Medicare TJR bundle‐eligible patients within the postdischarge period. ED utilization, discharge diagnosis and disposition varied by age, and elective and emergent surgeries. The ED is an important site for identifying and managing postoperative adverse outcomes.
Politics and Administration
Authors: Ting Michael M. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis article develops a theory of the administration and effectiveness of government programs. In the model, a bureaucrat chooses a mechanism for assigning a good to clients with uncertain qualifications. The mechanism applies a costly means test to verify the client's eligibility. A politician exercises oversight by limiting the bureaucrat's testing resources and the number of clients to be served. The model predicts the incidence of common administrative pathologies, including inefficient and politicized distribution of resources, inflexibility, program errors, and backlogs. When the politician favors marginally qualified clients, per capita spending is low and error rates are high. When the politician favors highly qualified clients, per capita spending is higher and error rates are lower. In the latter case, the bureaucrat may also use discriminatory testing, which allows the politician to target favored clients. Such targeted programs increase budgets and reduce backlogs, but they also increase error rates.
Testicular function during puberty and young adulthood in patients with Klinefelter's syndrome with and without spermatozoa in seminal fluid
Authors: Rohayem J. , Nieschlag E. , Zitzmann M. , Kliesch S. 
Published: September 2016

SummaryPatients with Klinefelter's syndrome experience progressive testicular degeneration resulting in impaired endocrine function and azoospermia. What proportion of adolescents develop testosterone deficiency during puberty and how many have spermatozoa in their semen is unclear to date. We aimed to investigate testicular function during puberty and young adulthood in patients with Klinefelter's syndrome and to assess testosterone effects in target tissues. The clinical data of 281 patients with non‐mosaic Klinefelter's syndrome aged 10–25 years without previous testosterone replacement were reviewed. In late pubertal adolescents, semen analyses were evaluated, and testicular volumes, hormone and haemoglobin (Hb) levels, the number of CAG repeats and final height data were compared to those of 233 age‐matched controls with pubertal gynaecomastia. Spontaneous pubertal virilisation to Tanner stages IV–V occurred. Serum T levels ≥10 nmol/L were reached in 62% of patients with Klinefelter's syndrome and in 85% of controls at ages 15–25 (TKFS: 12.2 ± 5.4 vs. TC: 16.6 ± 7.2 nmol/L). LHKFS levels were elevated >10 U/L in 84%, and normal in all controls (LHKFS: 18.6 ± 12.2 vs. LHC: 3.5 ± 1.6 U/L). In nine of 130 (7%) adolescents with Klinefelter's syndrome, spermatozoa (oligozoospermia) were found in semen; all had T levels >7 nmol/L and eight of nine had LH levels ≤18 U/L, while their hormone levels, number of CAG repeats and testicular volumes were not different from those of adolescents with azoospermia. Controls had normal sperm concentrations in 73% (46/63). Semen volumesKFS were normal in 55% vs. 78% in controls; HbKFS was normal in 89% (HbC: 97%). Mean final heightKFS was 185 ± 8 cm vs. 181 ± 7 cm in controls. Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism develops during early puberty in adolescents with Klinefelter's syndrome and remains compensated in over 60% during ages 15–25, with sufficient testosterone secretion for spontaneous accomplishment of pubertal development. Spermatozoa in semen are rare and associated with T levels >7 nmol/L. Parameters reflecting androgen deficiency in target tissues may help to optimise timing of testosterone substitution, which should preferably not be initiated before fertility status has been clarified.
Quantile Association for Bivariate Survival Data
Authors: Li Ruosha , Cheng Yu , Chen Qingxia , Fine Jason 
Published: September 2016

SummaryBivariate survival data arise frequently in familial association studies of chronic disease onset, as well as in clinical trials and observational studies with multiple time to event endpoints. The association between two event times is often scientifically important. In this article, we examine the association via a novel quantile association measure, which describes the dynamic association as a function of the quantile levels. The quantile association measure is free of marginal distributions, allowing direct evaluation of the underlying association pattern at different locations of the event times. We propose a nonparametric estimator for quantile association, as well as a semiparametric estimator that is superior in smoothness and efficiency. The proposed methods possess desirable asymptotic properties including uniform consistency and root-n convergence. They demonstrate satisfactory numerical performances under a range of dependence structures. An application of our methods suggests interesting association patterns between time to myocardial infarction and time to stroke in an atherosclerosis study.
Report of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland/British Society of Gastroenterology Colorectal Polyp Working Group: the development of a complex colorectal polyp minimum dataset
Authors: Chattree A. , Barbour J. A. , Thomas‐Gibson S. , Bhandari P. , Saunders B. P. , Veitch A. M. , Anderson J. , Rembacken B. J. , Loughrey M. B. , Pullan R. , Garrett W. V. , Lewis G. , Dolwani S. , Rutter M. D. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAimThe management of large non‐pedunculated colorectal polyps (LNPCPs) is complex, with widespread variation in management and outcome, even amongst experienced clinicians. Variations in the assessment and decision‐making processes are likely to be a major factor in this variability. The creation of a standardized minimum dataset to aid decision‐making may therefore result in improved clinical management.MethodAn official working group of 13 multidisciplinary specialists was appointed by the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) and the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) to develop a minimum dataset on LNPCPs. The literature review used to structure the ACPGBI/BSG guidelines for the management of LNPCPs was used by a steering subcommittee to identify various parameters pertaining to the decision‐making processes in the assessment and management of LNPCPs. A modified Delphi consensus process was then used for voting on proposed parameters over multiple voting rounds with at least 80% agreement defined as consensus. The minimum dataset was used in a pilot process to ensure rigidity and usability.ResultsA 23‐parameter minimum dataset with parameters relating to patient and lesion factors, including six parameters relating to image retrieval, was formulated over four rounds of voting with two pilot processes to test rigidity and usability.ConclusionThis paper describes the development of the first reported evidence‐based and expert consensus minimum dataset for the management of LNPCPs. It is anticipated that this dataset will allow comprehensive and standardized lesion assessment to improve decision‐making in the assessment and management of LNPCPs.
Integrating Social Network Effects in the Share‐Of‐Choice Problem
Authors: Gunnec Dilek , Raghavan S. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTAccounting for social network effects in marketing strategies has become an important issue. Taking a step back, we seek to incorporate and analyze social network effects on new product development and then propose a model to engineer product diffusion over a social network. We build upon the share‐of‐choice (SOC) problem, which is a strategic combinatorial optimization problem used commonly as one of the methods to analyze conjoint analysis data by marketers in order to identify a product with largest market share, and show how to incorporate social network effects in the SOC problem. We construct a genetic algorithm to solve this computationally challenging (NP‐Hard) problem and show that ignoring social network effects in the design phase results in a significantly lower market share for a product. In this setting, we introduce the secondary operational problem of determining the least expensive way of influencing individuals and strengthening product diffusion over a social network. This secondary problem is of independent interest, as it addresses contagion models and the issue of intervening in diffusion over a social network, which are of significant interest in marketing and epidemiological settings.
Clinical progress in the diagnosis of thoracolumbar problems in horses
Authors: Burns G. , Dart A. , Jeffcott L. 
Published: September 2016

SummaryIt is well known that a painful back can be responsible for loss of performance in horses. Veterinary examination of the sore back used to be limited to manual palpation with diagnosis confirmed empirically by response to treatment. Today, due to advances in imaging, there are multiple methods for evaluating the pathology of the horse's thoracolumbar (TL) spine. Radiography, ultrasonography, nuclear scintigraphy, thermography and algometry all play a part in developing a better understanding of equineTLproblems. Despite this progress, definitive diagnosis can still be problematic. There is a lack of objectivity in understanding the implications of the pathology detected and its effect on the horse. It is difficult to determine the degree of pain experienced by individual horses and how that interferes with their performance and welfare. This paper emphasises the importance of a systematic clinical examination to identify the presence of pain that can be supported by recognition of pathology using a range of diagnostic aids. These will also be reviewed to assist the clinician in understanding the tools available to evaluate a horse with a sore back.
On the specification of extract, transform, and load patterns behavior: A domain‐specific language approach
Authors: Oliveira Bruno , Belo Orlando 
Published: September 2016

AbstractDuring the last few years, many research efforts have been done to improve the design of extract, transform, and load (ETL) models systems. Still, ETL systems are considered very time‐consuming, error‐prone, and complex involving several participants from different knowledge domains. The ETL processes are one of the most important components of a data warehousing system that are strongly influenced by the complexity of business requirements, their changing and evolution. These aspects influence not only the structure of the data warehouse itself but also the structures of the data sources involved with. To minimize the negative impact of such variables, we propose the use of ETL patterns to build specific ETL packages. In this paper, we formalize this approach using the BPMN for modeling more conceptual ETL workflows, mapping them to real execution primitives through the use of a domain‐specific language that allows for the generation of specific instances that can be executed in an ETL commercial tool.
Deployment‐Related Benefit Finding and Postdeployment Marital Satisfaction in Military Couples
Authors: Renshaw Keith D. , Campbell Sarah B. 
Published: September 2016

Extensive research has evaluated potential negative effects of military deployments on romantic relationships. Comparatively few studies have examined potential positive effects of such deployments. In stressful situations, benefit finding (BF) has been found to be linked with better functioning on both individual and interpersonal levels. This study reports on deployment‐related BF in a sample of 67 male service members (SMs) who deployed at least once since 9/11/2001 and their wives. Couples completed measures of marital satisfaction at baseline (an average of 1 year postdeployment) and follow‐up 4–6 months later. At follow‐up, SMs also provided data on symptoms of posttraumatic stress, and both partners provided reports of deployment‐related BF. Multivariate path analysis controlling for SMs' PTSD symptom severity revealed that wives' BF was positively associated with increases in SMs' relationship satisfaction. These findings suggest that wives' responses to deployment may be more influential than SMs' responses to deployment on military couples' relationships. This pattern indicates that support for spouses during deployments is essential; furthermore, such support should include an emphasis on trying to facilitate personal growth in spouses.