bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Triptans use and overuse: A pharmacoepidemiology study from the French health insurance system database covering 4.1 million people
Authors: Braunstein David , Donnet Anne , Pradel Vincent , Sciortino Vincent , Allaria-Lapierre Véronique , Lantéri-Minet Michel , Micallef Joëlle
Published: February 2015

Introduction

The objective of this study was to estimate and to characterize the actual patterns of triptan use and overuse in France using a drug reimbursement database.

Methods

We included all people covered by the French General Health Insurance System (GHIS) from the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur (PACA) and Corsica administrative areas who had at least one dispensed dose of triptans between May 2010 and December 2011. All dispensed doses of triptans, migraine prophylactic treatment and psychotropic medications were extracted from the GHIS database. Triptan overuse was defined as triptan use >20 defined daily doses (DDD) per month on a regular basis for more than three consecutive months. Risk of overuse was assessed using logistic regression adjusted for gender and age.

Results

We included 99,540 patients who had at least one prescription of a triptan over the 20 months of the study. Among them, 2243 patients (2.3%) were identified as overusers and received 20.2% of the total DDD prescribed. Twelve percent of overusers and 6.9% of non-overusers were aged more than 65 years (OR: 1.81). Overusers did not have a greater number of prescribers and pharmacists than non-overusers. They were more frequently prescribed a prophylactic medication for migraine treatment (56.8% vs 35.9%, OR: 2.36), benzodiazepines (69.9% vs 54.7%, OR: 1.93) and antidepressants (49.4% vs 30.2%, OR: 2.33).

Conclusions

This work suggests that triptan overuse may be due to insufficient prescriber awareness of appropriate prescribing. The off-label prescription of triptans among the elderly necessitates investigating their cardiovascular risk profile in this sub-group.
De l’attitude implicite et de sa mesure : fondements et pratiques en comportement du consommateur
Authors: Ackermann Claire-Lise , Mathieu Jean-Pierre
Published: February 2015

L’attitude implicite influence automatiquement nos jugements sans que nous en ayons conscience. Cet article se propose de présenter le concept d’attitude implicite et son principal outil de mesure, le Test d’Association Implicite, ainsi que leur intérêt pour l’étude des comportements de consommation.
Injectable microspheres for extended delivery of bioactive insulin and salicylic acid
Authors: Yu Weiling , Bien-Aime Stephan , Li Jingsong , Zhang Linna , McCormack E Siobhan , Goldberg Itzhak D , Narayan Prakash , Uhrich Kathryn E
Published: February 2015

Developing methods for insulin delivery continues to be of great translational research interest as insulin remains one of the most effective and commonly used treatments for diabetes. Bolus insulin injection at frequent intervals or insulin-loaded pumps used to treat diabetic patients have drawbacks including highly uneven kinetics, low patient compliance, enhanced chances of infections and disease transmission, and device fouling. This study evaluates the in vivo effects of insulin-loaded, salicylate-based, biocompatible, biodegradable polymeric microspheres that gradually release salicylic acid and insulin simultaneously. The study is predicated on the knowledge that such a continuous delivery system can release insulin over an extended period of time and overcome the aforementioned issues. Additionally, salicylic acid reduces insulin resistance in type-2 diabetic patients. In this work, we observed that insulin and salicylic acid were detected in serum over an extended period of time (at least 12 h and 4 days, respectively), and mice receiving insulin-loaded microspheres had a blood glucose reduction time frame ⩾12 times that of bolus insulin administration.
Help-Seeking After Domestic Violence
Authors: Rasool Shahana
Published: February 2015

Limited knowledge is available on the conditions that contribute to women’s help-seeking after domestic violence in South Africa. Qualitative research conducted with 17 abused women in shelters in South Africa indicate that the best interests of children are influential both in women’s decisions to stay in abusive relationships and to seek help. The personal decisions of women to seek help are influenced by powerful social discourses on the best interests of the child. Policy and practice that advocate for the best interests of the child need to prioritize the safety of both mothers and their children in domestic violence situations.
Evaluation of Inhaled Dornase Alfa Administration in Non-Cystic Fibrosis Patients at a Tertiary Academic Medical Center
Authors: Torbic Heather , Hacobian Gaspar
Published: February 2015

Purpose:

The use of dornase alfa in a non-cystic fibrosis population has been proposed to help improve atelectasis and secretions. Data evaluating dornase alfa in a non-cystic fibrosis population are limited, and the prescribing practices at a tertiary academic medical center are unknown.

Methods:

Adult patients ≥18 years of age were included if they received inhaled dornase alfa. Patients were excluded if they had cystic fibrosis. Data collected included demographic data, dornase alfa prescribing patterns, concomitant inhaled therapy, blood gas data, and documented efficacy and safety data.

Results:

Seventy-six orders for dornase alfa therapy were included in the analysis. Of the patients, 18% had asthma and 19% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Seventy-seven percent of the patients received concomitant inhaled therapy. Eighty-three percent of orders were for 2.5 mg of dornase alfa twice daily. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) number of doses received per patient was 6 (4-13) with a median (IQR) duration of 3 (2-7) days. After inhaled dornase alfa administration, 11% of patients were able to cough productively. No safety issues related to inhaled dornase alfa therapy were noted.

Conclusions:

Inhaled dornase alfa is commonly prescribed to improve atelectasis and secretions in a non-cystic fibrosis patient population at a tertiary academic medical center.
A dynamic feature–based operation planning method for 2.5-axis numerical control machining of complex structural parts
Authors: Liu Xu , Li Yingguang , Tang Limin
Published: February 2015

This article presents an operation planning method based on a dynamic feature concept for 2.5-axis numerical control machining of complex aerospace structural parts. A dynamic feature consists of information about the machining effects on the feature between various operations carried out during production. To get the information about the machining effects of a machining operation, non-machining configuration spaces are constructed by detecting the intersection regions within the offset machining boundaries. Each non-machining configuration space refers to the machining effect (either an overcut or undercut). In the proposed operation planning method, dynamic features based on a preliminary process plan are first established. Then, an iterative procedure for adjusting the preliminary machining operations is put forward using updated dynamic feature information with various machining effects transitions and validity constraints during different operations. The method is tested using an aircraft structural part in a feature-based numerical control programming system called FBM_NUAA, which has been used in a large aerospace manufacturing company.
Modeling and multi-response optimization of milling characteristics based on Taguchi and gray relational analysis
Authors: Sarıkaya Murat , Yılmaz Volkan , Dilipak Hakan
Published: February 2015

This article focuses on experimental investigation and effective approach to optimize the milling characteristics with mono and multiple response outputs such as vibration signals, cutting force, and surface roughness. To achieve this goal, experiments were designed based on Taguchi’s L18 (21 × 33) orthogonal array. During the milling of AISI 1050 steel, process performance indicators such as vibration signals (RMS), cutting force (Fx), and surface roughness (Ra) were measured. The effect of process parameters such as depth of cut, feed rate, cutting speed, and number of insert on RMS, Fx, and Ra were investigated and parameters were simultaneously optimized by taking into consideration the multi-response outputs using Taguchi-based gray relational analysis. Taguchi’s signal-to-noise ratio was employed to obtain the best combination with smaller-the-better and larger-the-better approaches for mono- and multi-optimization, respectively. Analysis of variance was conducted to determine the importance of process parameters on responses. Mathematical models were created, namely, RMSpre, Rapre, and Fxpre, using regression analysis. According to the multi-response optimization results, which were obtained from the largest signal-to-noise ratio of the gray relational grade, it was found out that the optimum combination was depth of cut of 1 mm, feed rate of 0.05 mm/rev, cutting speed of 308 m/min, and number of insert of 1 to minimize simultaneously RMS, Fx, and Ra. It was obtained that the percentage improvement in gray relational grade with the multiple responses is 42.9%. It is clearly shown that the performance indicators are significantly improved using this approach in milling of AISI 1050 steel. Moreover, analysis of variance for gray relational grade proved that the feed rate is the most influential factor as the minimization of all responses is concurrently considered.
Analytical modeling of a cyclorotor in hovering state
Authors: Leger Jakson A , Páscoa José C , Xisto Carlos M
Published: February 2015

In the paper it is proposed and described in detail a mathematical model that is able to assist in the design of cycloidal rotors. The method is formulated on a semi-empirical way including unsteady aerodynamic effects that are based on first principles. It is able to predict the overall generated thrust and the power required by the operation of the cycloidal rotor. The model also includes a kinematic package that can provide an instantaneous design and animation of the cycloidal rotor under different regimes of operation. For validation it was addressed three different rotor configurations where it was varied several rotor parameters, namely: pitch amplitude; pitching axis location; blade chord; airfoil thickness; phase angle of eccentricity. It was shown that the proposed model is able to provide a good estimation of thrust and power when compared with the experimental data from these different sources, showing that the semi-empirical approach could be applied in a more general way.
Maternal Passive Smoking During Pregnancy and Age of Menarche in Daughters
Authors: Zhang Bolin , Shi Huijing , Wang Qun , Zhang Zhe , Li Mengna
Published: February 2015

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and determinants of passive smoking in pregnancy and to examine its association with an earlier age of menarche in offspring. This retrospective study enrolled 751 students 8 to 20 years old in Shanghai selected by stratified cluster sampling. Data were obtained through structured self-administered questionnaires and physical examinations. It was found that daughters with maternal tobacco exposure experienced relatively earlier menarche and had shorter cycle lengths, although both findings were not statistically significant. The unadjusted odds ratio for prenatal tobacco smoke exposure on the relatively earlier onset of menarche was 1.84 (95% confidence interval = 1.05-3.22) compared with no exposure, and the associations remained statistically significant after adjusting for birth weight, birth length, maternal age of menarche, and present height and weight. In conclusion, our study provides limited evidence supporting the hypothesis that maternal passive smoking during pregnancy leads to an earlier age of menarche of daughters.
Online Stigma Resistance in the Pro-Ana Community
Authors: Yeshua-Katz Daphna
Published: February 2015

Media scholars often use concepts from Goffman’s dramaturgical approach to study online communities of stigmatized individuals as “backstages,” spaces where members take refuge from social disapproval. In this study, I extend this view through an examination of in-depth interviews with bloggers from the “pro-ana” community, an online community for people with eating disorders. To explore how this community uses an online environment that is both anonymous and public, I fuse Goffman’s ideas about identity performance and stigma with more recent theories about boundary maintenance. In-depth interviews with “pro-ana” bloggers reveal that to protect this virtual group and resist stigmas associated both with their illness and with their online presence, they construct their own norms and rules in the online realm, and discipline and eject members deemed to be out-group.
Preliminary Testing of a Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Jackson Leanne K. , Deng Jie , Ridner Sheila H. , Gilbert Jill , Dietrich Mary S. , Murphy Barbara A.
Published: February 2015

Objective:

We describe development and preliminary testing of Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey—Recurrent/Metastatic (VHNSS-RM) to assess residual symptoms, tumor-related symptoms, and side effects from therapy.

Methods:

Items were identified through patient and provider interviews. Card sort selected high-yield and high-impact items. The VHNSS-RM was administered to 50 patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer (RMHNC).

Results:

The VHNSS-RM includes 12 unique symptoms (diet change, tongue movement affecting speech/swallowing, face/neck swelling, neck/jaw cramping, bad breath, drooling, wound drainage/pain/odor, nasal congestion/drainage, eyes watering, face/tongue/ear/scalp numbness, headaches, and confusion) and 7 unique psychosocial issues (burden to family/friends, lost independence, fear, embarrassment, mood swings, stress, and boredom).

Conclusions:

The VHNSS-RM contains 35 physical and 12 psychosocial issues. The VHNSS-RM is feasible and not overly burdensome. Nineteen unique items may improve palliation to patients with RMHNC.
Pediatric Euthanasia and Palliative Care Can Work Together
Authors: Hanson Stephen S.
Published: February 2015

Since the Netherlands produced the Groningen protocol describing the methods to be used for pediatric euthanasia and Belgium passed laws authorizing euthanasia for children who consent to it, the issue of pediatric euthanasia has become a relevant topic to discuss. Most rejections of pediatric euthanasia fall into 1 or more of 3 categories, each of which has problems. This article shows how several recent arguments against pediatric euthanasia fail to prove that pediatric euthanasia is unacceptable. It does not follow from this that the practice is permissible but rather that if one is to reject such a practice, stronger arguments will need to be made, especially in countries where adult euthanasia or assisted suicide is already permitted.
The Influence of Centralization and Extent of Cross-Functional Team Usage on Senior Managers’ Risk-Related Perceptions
Authors: Rau Devaki , Haerem Thorvald , Fredericks Elisa
Published: February 2015

Despite the importance of managing risk taking in organizations, we know relatively little about how organizational design influences the risk-related perceptions of key organizational decision makers such as senior managers. This study examines how two basic organizational design variables—the extent to which organizations use cross-functional teams (CFTs) and the centralization of decision-making authority—interact to influence senior managers’ perceptions of the extent to which risk taking is supported within their organizations, in a new product development context. Regression results from a survey of 102 senior managers of various organizations in the United States and Norway find that extent of CFT use positively influences senior managers’ perceptions of organizational support for risk taking at low to moderate levels of decision-making authority. At high levels of senior manager authority, risk-related perceptions are not only more positive but also largely independent of the extent of CFT use.
Risk of Fracture and the Concomitant Use of Bisphosphonates With Osteoporosis-Inducing Medications
Authors: Nyandege Abner N. , Slattum Patricia W. , Harpe Spencer E.
Published: February 2015

Objective: To review the literature on the concomitant use of bisphosphonates and medications that can influence bone metabolism and potentially attenuate bisphosphonate antifracture efficacy. Data Sources: MEDLINE and CINAHL were searched for articles published in English through December 2014 using the following terms: bisphosphonates, bone density conservation agents, acid-suppressive therapy, levothyroxine, thiazolidinediones (TZDs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), bone fractures. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Studies were included if they reported results of concomitant use of any listed medications with bisphosphonates and risk of fractures and focused on women. Articles that focused generally on the use of one of the listed medications and fractures without explicitly examining the potential antifracture efficacy or attenuation of bisphosphonates were excluded. Data Synthesis: A total of 6 relevant studies were identified. Four epidemiological studies reported a statistically significant dose-dependent increase in the risk of fractures when bisphosphonates and acid-suppressive drugs were used together. One post hoc analysis of clinical trial data suggested no attenuation of the antifracture effects of bisphosphonates when used concomitantly with acid-suppressive therapy. One study involving bisphosphonates and SSRIs noted a statistically significant association between fracture risk and SSRI use. No study examining TZDs or levothyroxine with bisphosphonates was identified. Conclusions: Existing research suggests potential attenuation of bisphosphonate antifracture efficacy among patients taking acid-suppressive medications. Based on their pharmacological actions, TZDs, SSRIs, and levothyroxine have similar implications. The paucity of evidence in the literature associating the attenuation of bisphosphonate antifracture efficacy when combined with other medications suggests that further investigation is needed.
Safe Zone for Placement of Talar Screws When Fusing the Ankle With an Anterior Plating System
Authors: Haskell Andrew , Dedini Russell , Dini Monara
Published: February 2015

Background:

Ankle fusions fixed with anterior plates use fluoroscopic guidance to direct screws toward the subtalar joint. Special imaging views that visualize the subtalar joint are difficult to use and can be unreliable. This study evaluated whether a single lateral ankle view would provide adequate information to judge whether a screw penetrated the subtalar joint and identified strategies that would improve this technique.

Methods:

In 5 cadaveric ankles fixed with anterior plates, talar screws were placed up to the subtalar joint without penetration using lateral fluoroscopy to guide screw length. After dissection, the true distance from the screw tip to subchondral surface was measured. In addition, 4 readers measured the perceived distance from screw tip to subchondral surface using direct lateral, 10 degrees cephalad tilt lateral, and 10 degrees caudal tilt lateral fluoroscopic images on 2 separate occasions.

Results:

Nineteen (63%) of 30 screws penetrated the subchondral bone, and screw length determined using fluoroscopy was significantly longer than screw length measured directly (29.4 ± 5.5 mm vs 27.3 ± 8.5 mm, P = .014). Measurement of screw tip to bone distance demonstrated a high level of within-reader (kappa = .871, P < .001) and between-reader agreement (kappa = .807, P < .001), but poor specificity of determining screw penetration (0.50, χ2 = 22.1, P < .001) and poor correlation between radiographically measured and actual distances between screw tip and bone margin ( r = .35, P < .001). Tilting the c-arm 10 degrees cephalad and directing screws toward the posterior facet improved the ability to detect screw penetration and directing screws toward the middle facet diminished it ( P < .05). A safe zone of screw placement was defined by region.

Conclusion:

Use of a lateral fluoroscopic image to guide talar screw placement may lead to an unacceptably high rate of subtalar joint penetration.

Clinical Relevance:

Understanding the limitations of lateral fluoroscopy when using anterior ankle fusion plates may minimize screw penetration into the subtalar joint and diminish development of subtalar arthropathy.
The Relation Between Atherosclerosis and the Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio
Authors: Balta Sevket , Celik Turgay , Mikhailidis Dimitri P. , Ozturk Cengiz , Demirkol Sait , Aparci Mustafa , Iyisoy Atila
Published: February 2015

Inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of vascular disease. In this review, we consider the associations between the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR; an indicator of inflammation) and vascular disease and its associated risk factors. The NLR has received attention due to its role as an independent prognostic factor for coronary artery disease. The NLR can also be affected by atherosclerotic risk factors, such as hypercholesterolemia, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and hypertension. Importantly, it can predict mortality in cardiovascular diseases. There are also reports of a positive correlation between the NLR and commonly used inflammatory markers. Inflammation is important not only in pathophysiology but also clinical outcomes of many diseases. The NLR is a widely available, easily derived, and reproducible marker of inflammation. Unlike many other inflammatory markers, the NLR is inexpensive and readily available and it provides additional risk stratification beyond conventional risk scores.
Measuring Sprawl
Authors: Laidley Thomas
Published: February 2015

Sprawl is a popular subject in the urban literature, yet conceptualization and measurement have proven elusive. Projects which focus either on empirical advances in the quantification of urban form or related phenomena like travel behavior are rarely conversant, leading to a fundamental disconnect between operationalizing the concept and modeling its effects. Here, I build on previous work in developing a new index of sprawl and examine changes in urban morphology at the metropolitan level in the United States from 2000 to 2010. I then illustrate face validity by outlining suggestive relationships between the index and associated environmental and housing outcomes, while comparing it with other commonly used measures. I find that sprawl continues into the twenty-first century, and that this proposed measure demonstrates initial face validity with respect to key environmental and housing outcomes. I conclude with a discussion of the results and suggestions for future research.
Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pet cats in Norway and risk factors for seropositivity
Authors: Sævik Bente Kristin , Krontveit Randi Ingebjørg , Eggen Kristine P , Malmberg Nina , Thoresen Stein I , Prestrud Kristin W
Published: February 2015

Objectives

The aims of the study were to estimate Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pet cats in Norway and to evaluate risk factors for seropositivity. Additionally, serum biochemistry and haematological variables for T gondii seropositive and seronegative cats were compared.

Methods

A convenience sample of surplus sera submitted to the Central Laboratory, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, was collected. The samples were from healthy cats and cats with a variety of diseases. Analyses for IgG antibodies to T gondii were performed with a commercial direct agglutination test, with 1:40 as the threshold value. For risk factor analysis a logistic regression model of the relationship between predictors and the outcome was applied.

Results

One hundred and ninety-six of 478 cats were seropositive for T gondii, and the estimated seroprevalence in the study sample was 41.0% (95% confidence interval 36.6–45.4). Compared with domestic cats, pedigree cats had reduced risk for Toxoplasma seropositivity (odds ratio [OR] 0.42). Males had increased risk (OR 1.63) compared with females. The effect of age was highly significant, and an increase in the cats’ age across the interquartile range (IQR; 52–160 months/4–13 years of age) doubled the risk of Toxoplasma seropositivity (OR 2.11). The risk for Toxoplasma seropositivity among cats living in Oslo was significantly reduced (OR 0.51) when compared with the rest of Norway.

Conclusions and relevance

Pet cats in Norway appear to be commonly exposed to T gondii. Signalment and geographical region influenced the odds of Toxoplasma seropositivity, whereas health status did not.
A community-based study of the relationship between somatic and psychological distress in Hong Kong
Authors: Lee Sing , Leung Candi MC , Kwok Kathleen PS , Lam Ng King
Published: February 2015

Although the predominantly somatic presentation of distress has been used to explain low rates of emotional illnesses and health service use in Chinese communities, this concept of somatization has not been examined by concurrently studying the profile of somatically and psychologically distressed Chinese individuals. A random population-based sample of 3014 adults underwent a structured telephone interview that examined their sociodemographic characteristics, somatic distress (Patient Health Questionnaire-15, PHQ-15), non-specific psychological distress (Kessler Scale-6, K6), health service use, and functional impairment. Four groups of individuals identified by PHQ-15 and K6 cut-off scores were compared. Results showed that PHQ-15 and K6 scores were positively correlated. The large majority of respondents (85.9%) reported both somatic and psychological distress. The proportions of Low Distress Group, Somatically Distressed Group, Psychologically Distressed Group, and Mixed Distress Group were 69.2%, 5.0%, 15.8%, and 10.0%, respectively. Specific age range, male gender, greater family income, higher education level, and retirement were associated with decreased odds of somatic and/or psychological distress. Although psychological distress best predicted impairment, somatic distress best predicted health service use. Mixed distress predicted most impairment and health service use. Thus, psychological distress and somatic distress commonly coexist across Chinese sociodemographic groups. This speaks against the conventional notion of somatization and is consistent with recent findings of a higher prevalence of emotional illnesses in Chinese people. That psychologically distressed individuals are more impaired but less inclined to seek help than somatically distressed individuals may partly explain low levels of help-seeking for mental disorders found in epidemiological studies.
The voices heard and the voices silenced: recruitment processes in qualitative interview studies
Authors: Kristensen Guro Korsnes , Ravn Malin Noem
Published: February 2015

This article addresses methodological questions concerning recruitment processes in research using qualitative interviews. The authors suggest that, as an active part of the research process, recruitment influences research results in sometimes unforeseen manners. They argue that recruitment processes should be better attended to – not least in research positioned within the epistemological landscapes of knowledge production and transparent reflexivity. The article draws on six studies in which qualitative interviews of ‘lay people’ were used as the sole or main source of data. Drawing on their own experiences, the authors discuss the ways in which research topics, pre-defined sample, mediators, and the researchers’ positionality and situatedness affect the recruitment of different interviewees, and, hence, also the knowledge researchers are able to produce.
Interactive visual knowledge discovery from data-based temporal decision support system
Authors: Ltifi Hela , Ben Mohamed Emna , ben Ayed Mounir
Published: February 2015

The article aims to present a generic interactive visual analytics solution that provides temporal decision support using knowledge discovery from data modules together with interactive visual representations. It bases its design decisions on classification of visual representation techniques according to the criteria of temporal data type, periodicity, and dimensionality. The design proposal is applied to an existing medical knowledge discovery from data–based decision support system aiming at assisting physicians in the fight against nosocomial infections in the intensive care units. Our solution is fully implemented and evaluated.
Class divided: Global pressures, domestic pulls and a fractured education policy in India
Authors: Tukdeo Shivali
Published: February 2015

Interdisciplinary scholarship in recent years has begun to pay attention to the state (re) formation in India under neoliberal conditions. The particularities of this transformation have arisen from the points of re-imagination of the relationship between the post-colonial state and global capital. Working through the contradictions and conflicts embedded in the social life of policy, this paper examines two policy initiatives: the Right to Education (RTE) Act (2009) and the Foreign Institutions Entry, Operations and Regulation Bill (2010). The overlaps, differences and tensions around the two policies allow for a perspective that understands the changing role of education in the transformation of the state.
Who gets left behind? The fate of the unrepresented in the wake of US–India higher education partnerships
Authors: Baily Supriya
Published: February 2015

The promotion of US–Indian higher education partnerships affects those students who are most marginalized. This article explores the development, implementation, and reception of such partnerships to meet the needs of students who remain on the borders of educational access in India. This article addresses the ways higher education policies systematically universalize the marginalization of certain students, explores the impact of how policies of partnerships will address the needs of such students, and seeks to explore how administrators in higher education institutions see the growth of such partnerships shifting the status quo of privilege and power. Through the evaluation of policy papers, historical documents, media reports, survey data and informal conversations with stakeholders, the findings will address the underlying consequences and effects on higher education policy development in India. This article seeks to deconstruct the directions such relationships might take and consider the impact on students who remain on the periphery of higher education in India.
Inner Alchemy
Authors: Burrows Leigh
Published: February 2015

This article reports on face-to-face and online qualitative research conducted with 25 teachers from 8 schools in Australia that explored their experience of mindfulness and reflection in relation to a self-identified relational dilemma with a student, colleague, or parent who was causing them concern at work. The aim of this study was to find out whether teachers’ practice of mindfulness led to increased insight into their dilemma through helping them to be more self-aware and conscious both of their behavior and of their own innate inner wisdom. In the majority of cases, by the end of the 6-week project, the dilemma was no longer experienced as a dilemma or the teachers’ relationship with it had changed. There is a need to conduct more research with a longer time frame to explore the potential of mindfulness and reflection to contribute to sustained personal, professional, and institutional renewal and transformation in education.
Lighten Up
Authors: Cohen Rajal G. , Gurfinkel Victor S. , Kwak Elizabeth , Warden Amelia C. , Horak Fay B.
Published: February 2015

Background. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with stooped postural alignment, increased postural sway, and reduced mobility. The Alexander Technique (AT) is a mindfulness-based approach to improving posture and mobility by reducing muscular interference while maintaining upward intentions. Evidence suggests that AT can reduce disability associated with PD, but a mechanism for this effect has not yet been established. Objective. We investigated whether AT-based instructions reduce axial rigidity and increase upright postural alignment, and whether these instructions have different effects on postural alignment, axial rigidity, postural sway, and mobility than effort-based instructions regarding posture. Method. Twenty subjects with PD practiced 2 sets of instructions and then attempted to implement both approaches (as well as a relaxed control condition) during quiet standing and step initiation. The “Lighten Up” instructions relied on AT principles of reducing excess tension while encouraging length. The “Pull Up” instructions relied on popular concepts of effortful posture correction. We measured kinematics, resistance to axial rotation, and ground reaction forces. Results. Both sets of experimental instructions led to increases in upright postural alignment relative to the control condition. Only the Lighten Up instructions led to reduced postural sway, reduced axial postural tone, greater modifiability of tone, and a smoother center of pressure trajectory during step initiation, possibly indicating greater movement efficiency. Conclusion. Mindful movement approaches such as AT may benefit balance and mobility in subjects with PD by acutely facilitating increased upright postural alignment while decreasing rigidity.
Social Media in Television News
Authors: Gearhart Sherice , Kang Seok
Published: February 2015

This study employs the heuristic-systematic model to assess the influences of Twitter and Facebook comments compared to man-on-the-street interviews on audiences’ evaluations of news journalism. Comments from social network sites (SNSs) also varied in their use of appropriate grammatical form and internet lingo. Using a 2 × 3 × 2 between-subjects experimental design, participants responded on journalistic quality and credibility after watching a television news segment with different comment types. Results revealed that SNS comments, as heuristic cues, played a substantial role in affecting audiences’ evaluation of the news. Specifically, results found that Twitter comments received the highest perceptions of journalistic quality, especially when featured in hard news stories. Stories featuring SNS comments using internet lingo were received more favorably than those using normal language. The results suggest that Twitter comments possess journalistic value.
“I Want to Help” versus “I Am Just Mad”
Authors: Liu Stephanie Qing , Mattila Anna S.
Published: February 2015

This study investigates the joint effects of affective commitment, feedback valence, and feedback use on customers’ willingness to give feedback following a service failure. Our findings reveal that customers who have high levels of affective commitment to a service firm exhibit both a strong motivation to help a firm improve its business and a great need to maintain positive relationships with the firm’s frontline employees. Therefore, affectively committed customers are more willing to help the firm by lodging complaints when such feedback is not used for employee evaluation purposes. In addition, driven by their strong motivation to help the firm, affectively committed customers are more willing to offer constructive suggestions than their counterparts with low levels of emotional attachment.
Centralized globalization: The Holy See and human mobility since World War II
Authors: Turina Isacco
Published: February 2015

Through an examination of the official teaching of the Church I show how the increased mobility of large masses of Catholics since World War II has led to continuing efforts by the Holy See to follow and, to a certain extent, to control these fluxes of people. In turn, global human mobility has had an influence on institutional structures and on the self-understanding of the Church. While this evolution has contributed to the globalization of the Catholic Church, the trend towards centralization of power in Rome has hindered the development of more inclusive and democratic reforms and the participation of local churches in the decision-making process.
Finnish Health Care Professionals’ Views of Patients Who Experience Family Violence
Authors: Koistinen Inka , Holma Juha
Published: February 2015

The aim of this study was to examine the beliefs health care personnel have about patients who experience family violence. This was done by analyzing the positions constructed for such patients using content analysis. The data comprise six focus groups conducted with physicians, nurses, social workers, and psychologists working in a maternity unit, a psychiatric ward, and an emergency department. The research team collected the data in 2006 in Finland. Three main positions were constructed for these patients: as a “victim,” with the classic characteristics of such; as a person damaged or disturbed in such a way that his or her victimization has become hidden behind secondary symptoms; and, as responsible for ending the violence and thus as an active contributor to and supporter of the violence. The results support the notion that health care personnel often have stereotypical beliefs about people experiencing family violence. It would be important to educate personnel about the dynamics of family violence.
Analyzing Factors Influencing Teaching as a Career Choice Using Structural Equation Modeling
Authors: Padhy Budhinath , Emo Kenneth , Djira Gemechis , Deokar Amit
Published: February 2015

The purpose of the study is to analyze factors influencing students’ perceptions of teaching as a career choice using structural equation modeling with the goal of shaping a teacher education recruitment program. In this study, 458 students from a Midwestern university in the United States responded to an online survey about career-related factors they value, their expectation that teaching would offer those factors, and any social-influence factors that might encourage them to choose a teaching career. The effect of 10 exogenous motivation variables (value-environment, value-intrinsic, value-extrinsic, value-altruistic, expectancy-environment, expectancy-intrinsic, expectancy-extrinsic, social-media-education, social-prior-experience, and social-suggestions) on choosing a teaching career was examined. Results of our analysis showed that the factors related to expectancy-environment, expectancy-intrinsic, social-media-education, social-prior-experience, and social-suggestions were found to be significant, whereas value-related factors and expectancy-extrinsic factors were found to be insignificant.
Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Early
Authors: Zhang Wenjing , Chen Jingqi , Liu Fengfeng
Published: February 2015

This study is aimed to examine preschool teachers’ knowledge of, attitudes about, and training related to child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention in Beijing, China. Two hundred and forty-five preschool teachers were administered the 16-item questionnaire that contained questions on CSA prevention knowledge, attitudes, and teacher training. Results showed that Chinese preschool teachers had limited knowledge on CSA prevention ( M = 4.86, SD = 2.12). Less than 5% of the teachers ever attended CSA prevention training programs. Preschool teachers’ training on CSA prevention was the significant factor for their knowledge and attitudes. To help protect children against sexual abuse, there is an urgent need to develop appropriate prevention training programs for preschool teachers in China.
Epilepsia Partialis Continua as Presenting Manifestation of AIDS
Authors: Ramanujam Bhargavi , Dash Deepa , Dabla Surekha , Tripathi Manjari , Srivastava M. V. Padma
Published: February 2015

Seizures, most commonly generalized tonic–clonic, are common in known human immune deficiency virus (HIV) sero-positive patients, and they usually have a focal lesion on brain imaging. However, it is very unusual to see a patient with no premorbid illness presenting with epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) and then being detected HIV seropositive with an Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)-defining illness. We report the case of a teenaged boy with no past significant history or known high-risk behavior who presented with recurrent focal seizures of 5 days’ duration, EPC, and encephalopathy. His electroencephalogram showed periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDS), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed abnormal signal changes in the right parieto-occipital cortex and thalamus, both as yet unreported in cytomegalovirus (CMV) encephalitis, which was diagnosed by the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis.
Conical islands of TiO2 nanotube arrays in the photoelectrode of dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Kim Woong-Rae , Park Hun , Choi Won-Youl
Published: February 2015

Ti conical island structures were fabricated using photolithography and the reactive ion etching method. The resulting conical island structures were anodized in ethylene glycol solution containing 0.25 wt% NH4F and 2 vol% H2O, and conical islands composed of TiO2 nanotubes were successfully formed on the Ti foils. The conical islands composed of TiO2 nanotubes were employed in photoelectrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). DSC photoelectrodes based on planar Ti structures covered with TiO2 nanotubes were also fabricated as a reference. The short-circuit current (J
sc) and efficiency of DSCs based on the conical island structures were higher than those of the reference samples. The efficiency of DSCs based on the conical island structures reached up to 1.866%. From electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and open-circuit voltage (V
oc) decay measurements, DSCs based on the conical island structures exhibited a lower charge transfer resistance at the counter cathode and a longer electron lifetime at the interface of the photoelectrode and electrolyte compared to the reference samples. The conical island structure was very effective at improving performances of DSCs based on TiO2 nanotubes.
Influence of post-annealing on the off current of MoS2 field-effect transistors
Authors: Namgung Seok Daniel , Yang Suk , Park Kyung , Cho Ah-Jin , Kim Hojoong , Kwon Jang-Yeon
Published: February 2015

Two-dimensional materials have recently been spotlighted, due to their unique properties in comparison with conventional bulk and thin-film materials. Among those materials, MoS2 is one of the promising candidates for the active layer of electronic devices because it shows high electron mobility and pristine band gap. In this paper, we focus on the evolution of the electrical property of the MoS2 field-effect transistor (FET) as a function of post-annealing temperature. The results indicate that the off current drastically decreased at 200°C and increased at 400°C while other factors, such as the mobility and threshold voltage, show little variation. We consider that the decreasing off current comes from the rearrangement of the MoS2 film and the elimination of the surface residue. Then, the increasing off current was caused by the change of the material's composition and adsorption of H2O and O2.
Preclinical evaluation of cyclin dependent kinase 11 and casein kinase 2 survival kinases as RNA interference targets for triple negative breast cancer therapy
Authors: Kren Betsy T , Unger Gretchen M , Abedin Md J , Vogel Rachel I , Henzler Christine M , Ahmed Khalil , Trembley Janeen H
Published: February 2015

Introduction

Targeted therapies for aggressive breast cancers like triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) are needed. The use of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to disable expression of survival genes provides a tool for killing these cancer cells. Cyclin dependent kinase 11 (CDK11) is a survival protein kinase that regulates RNA transcription, splicing and mitosis. Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a survival protein kinase that suppresses cancer cell death. Eliminating the expression of these genes has potential therapeutic utility for breast cancer.

Methods

Expression levels of CDK11 and CK2 mRNAs and associated proteins were examined in breast cancer cell lines and tissue arrays. RNA expression levels of CDC2L1, CDC2L2, CCNL1, CCNL2, CSNK2A1, CSNK2A2, and CSNK2B genes in breast cancer subtypes were analyzed. Effects following transfection of siRNAs against CDK11 and CK2 in cultured cells were examined by viability and clonal survival assays and by RNA and protein measures. Uptake of tenfibgen (TBG) nanocapsules by TNBC cells was analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. TBG nanocapsules delivered siRNAs targeting CDK11 or CK2 in mice carrying TNBC xenograft tumors. Transcript cleavage and response parameters were evaluated.

Results

We found strong CDK11 and CK2 mRNA and protein expression in most human breast cancer cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of TNBC patient tissues showed 100% of tumors stained positive for CDK11 with high nuclear intensity compared to normal tissue. The Cancer Genome Atlas analysis comparing basal to other breast cancer subtypes and to normal breast revealed statistically significant differences. Down-regulation of CDK11 and/or CK2 in breast cancer cells caused significant loss of cell viability and clonal survival, reduced relevant mRNA and protein expression, and induced cell death changes. TBG nanocapsules were taken up by TNBC cells both in culture and in xenograft tumors. Treatment with TBG- siRNA to CDK11 or TBG- siRNA to CK2αα’ nanocapsules induced appropriate cleavage of CDK11 and CK2α transcripts in TNBC tumors, and caused MDA-MB-231 tumor reduction, loss of proliferation, and decreased expression of targeted genes.

Conclusions

CDK11 and CK2 expression are individually essential for breast cancer cell survival, including TNBC. These genes serve as promising new targets for therapeutic development in breast cancer.
T-cell metabolism in autoimmune disease
Authors: Yang Zhen , Matteson Eric L , Goronzy Jörg J , Weyand Cornelia M
Published: February 2015

Cancer cells have long been known to fuel their pathogenic growth habits by sustaining a high glycolytic flux, first described almost 90 years ago as the so-called Warburg effect. Immune cells utilize a similar strategy to generate the energy carriers and metabolic intermediates they need to produce biomass and inflammatory mediators. Resting lymphocytes generate energy through oxidative phosphorylation and breakdown of fatty acids, and upon activation rapidly switch to aerobic glycolysis and low tricarboxylic acid flux. T cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a disease-specific metabolic signature that may explain, at least in part, why they are dysfunctional. RA T cells are characterized by low adenosine triphosphate and lactate levels and increased availability of the cellular reductant NADPH. This anti-Warburg effect results from insufficient activity of the glycolytic enzyme phosphofructokinase and differentiates the metabolic status in RA T cells from those in cancer cells. Excess production of reactive oxygen species and a defect in lipid metabolism characterizes metabolic conditions in SLE T cells. Owing to increased production of the glycosphingolipids lactosylceramide, globotriaosylceramide and monosialotetrahexosylganglioside, SLE T cells change membrane raft formation and fail to phosphorylate pERK, yet hyperproliferate. Borrowing from cancer metabolomics, the metabolic modifications occurring in autoimmune disease are probably heterogeneous and context dependent. Variations of glucose, amino acid and lipid metabolism in different disease states may provide opportunities to develop biomarkers and exploit metabolic pathways as therapeutic targets.
Reviewer acknowledgement 2014
Authors: Seikaly Hadi , Wright Erin
Published: February 2015

Contributing reviewers

The Editors of Journal of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery would like to thank all our reviewers who have contributed to the journal in Volume 43 (2014).