bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Teacher's Role in Character Education
Authors: Lickona Thomas
Published: December 2017

A comprehensive model of classroom character education is described in terms of nine components: the teacher as caregiver, model, and mentor; creating a caring classroom environment; moral discipline; creating a democratic classroom environment; teaching values through the curriculum; cooperative learning; the conscience of the craft; ethical reflection; and teaching conflict resolution. The article concludes with a critical examination of three different approaches for dealing with controversial issues such as abortion.
The Missing Link's Missing Link
Authors: Ryan Kevin
Published: December 2017

If educational reform is to succeed, the twin goals of intellectual and moral development must be championed in every classroom in America. This paper calls not only for the restoration of character education in the public schools but also for the preparation of character educators—teachers ready to forge enduring habits of the heart and of the mind. It details the attributes of successful character educators and offers suggestions about ways in which teacher education programs can prepare teachers for their work as character educators.
Encountering Socrates in the Apology
Authors: Tucker James
Published: December 2017

Socrates' defense of his life and work as recounted in Plato's Apology is an ideal work for moving young people to consider their moral responsibilities to themselves and others. When read as a biography of Socrates, it invites reflection on the importance of character formation and encourages the belief that we can make of ourselves the kind of persons we would like to be.
Education and Plato's Parable of the Cave
Authors: Losin Peter
Published: December 2017

Plato's image of the cave in Republic Book VII is offered as “an analogy for the human condition—for our education or lack of it.” He tells us explicitly how to unpack some of its details: the cave is the region accessible to sight or perception; the world outside and above the cave is the intelligible region accessible not to perception but to reasoning; the upward journey out of the cave into daylight is the soul's ascent to the intelligible realm. The educator's task is a matter of turning souls around rather than introducing “knowledge into a soul which doesn't have it.” Such reorienting of souls has affective or desiderative dimensions as well as cognitive ones. Early education in mousikê and gymnastikê rechannels desire, wakes up the spirited part of the child's nature and enables it to work together with reason, imbuing the soul with that order and grace necessary for later cognitive development. Book VII outlines a curriculum to free the soul of the things that turn its sight downward and to reorient it towards the truth. Its outlines are Pythagorean, but it is Plato who most compellingly established the curriculum that still forms the basis for much liberal arts education.
Education and the Arts in Plato's Republic
Authors: Blankenship J. David
Published: December 2017

The education in ‘music’ described in Books II-III of the Republic combines the content and the manner of presentation of stories so that moral substance and formal beauty work together to inculcate the opinions and virtues required in the children who are to become guardians of the ideal city. The principles which underlie this section constitute a theory of the role of the arts in moral education that can be applied in others contexts. Plato's view of how such education works depends upon his view of the way in which imitation affects the soul, and can be understood thoroughly only after the parts of the soul have been distinguished and the epistemological and ontological groundwork has been laid for a full discussion of imitation. These requirements having been met in the course of Books IV through IX, Plato returns to imitation in Book X, using painting as a foil to mount ontological, epistemological, and psychological criticisms of imitative poetry, now focussing upon its effect on adults, not children. His attack tacitly exempts the kind of imitations exemplified by Socrates' own frequent image making and by the philosophical poetry of the Republic itself. Socrates imagines, but rejects, a certain defense of popular poetry, the very one which Aristotle developed in his doctrine of ‘catharsis.’ But that defense rests upon views of practical knowledge and of the psychological resources of the average person that Plato would be unlikely to have accepted.
Teaching the West and the World from the Massachusetts Framework
Authors: Gagnon Paul
Published: December 2017

This article summarizes how teachers may implement the Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework as they design and teach courses in Western civilization and world history. It discusses the integration of history, geography, and the social sciences, together with suggested approaches to common problems such as the balance between Western and world studies, selection of main topics and questions, professional development, student assessment, and challenges teachers may confront.
Special Education: Justice, Tolerance, and Beneficence as Duty1
Authors: Fain Gerald S.
Published: December 2017

This article establishes the moral basis for special education as it concerns the duties of justice, toleration, and beneficence. The same fundamental moral principles apply to children with disabilities as to others, but the context here is public education with particular interest in the educational achievement of each child. Special education relies on justice, toleration and beneficence as it seeks the equal treatment of equals. The moral motives for special education are in the liberal democratic ideals of self-determination of every citizen and justice for all. Rights of liberty and justice can be secured, at least imperfectly, by law and regulation. But a civil and humane society needs more than law, more than justice, and more than toleration. It depends also on other civic virtues including respect for and commitment to beneficence.
Physical Education and Special Education—Likely Partners?
Authors: Stein Julian U.
Published: December 2017

Physical education continues to be the only curricular area included as a defined part of special education. Although this merger has remained viable for over 26 years, physical education and special education have not always been compatible partners. These relationships are discussed from historical perspectives. Other areas explored include physical education defined; LRE examples of early activities to prepare students for the real world; physical education IEPs; physical education at each school level, elementary through senior high school; inclusion, what it is and what it is not; effects of class size, teacher attitudes, and infusion in professional preparation programs; sport opportunities; implications and applications of deliberations and recommendations from the 1996 3rd Paralympic Congress; and the 4-As for quality programs—accessibility, accommodations, advocacy, and attitude.
The Jewish Ethical Tradition in the Modern University
Authors: Novak David
Published: December 2017

Here proposed is an interpretation of pluralism and multiculturalism that separates these concepts from the notion of relativism. David Novak sees multiculturalism as a promising context for exploring human nature and discovering or affirming certain truths about it. He asserts that the inclusion of formerly excluded cultural traditions such as Judaism in the universities of North America has been been a give-and-take enterprise, benefiting both tradition and university.

The Jewish ethical tradition was absent from medieval universities, as were Jews themselves—universities had their beginnings as theological seminaries in a totally Christian society and culture. Only with the rise of the nation-state and the modern secularized university was there any attention to Judaism, usually treated as part of someone else's history, e.g., “Ancient Middle East.” It wasn't until the 1960s that the advent of multiculturalism led to an opening for Jewish Studies. The author believes that the best hope for university and society is the move toward interculturalism, which he sees happening in Canada. The intercultural society is one in which a moral consensus might be reached “by rational discussion of the approaches of a variety of cultures.”
Pluralism in Education and Education in Pluralism
Authors: Jaki Stanley L.
Published: December 2017

The physicist and historian and philosopher of science Stanley L. Jaki first notes that the word “pluralism” has become a euphemism or Trojan horse for relativism. Valid, sound pluralism ought to entail an education in the plurality of subject matters and a respect and understanding for their separate, irreducible integrities and also their rational relatedness to one another. A non-relativist epistemology of universal validity and scope underlies and relates all the great bodies of knowledge and learning—the natural sciences, the social sciences, the humanities, religion and theology, and philosophy itself. Unfortunately the term “pluralism” as now commonly used has confused or obscured this fundamental understanding, the invaluable legacy of rational thought since Plato. The misunderstanding of Einstein's conception of relativity is particularly damaging but typical of the misuse of modern scientific ideas by thinkers in other fields; Einstein's idea of relativity is unfortunately named, as it has nothing to do with epistemological or moral relativism, for neither of which it provides any warrant. All the subsets of rationality—the plurality of subject matters—comprise the universal set of rationality itself, a fact that Plato well understood and that needs to be understood today—perhaps now more than ever. Education need to safeguard and develop the invaluable common-sense human intuitions of the true and good as universal realities.
Rewiring the History and Social Studies Classroom: Needs, Frameworks, Dangers, and Proposals
Authors: Bass Randy , Rosenzweig Roy
Published: December 2017

Exaggerated predictions of boom and doom are giving way to the more sober process of assessing where computers, networks, digital media are and aren't useful. Selective appropriation of technology has already begun in the teaching of history (and social studies generally). Four questions should guide this process of selection and application: What we are trying to accomplish? What approaches will work best? Are there dangers that we need to avoid as we selectively appropriate new technology into the history classroom? How can we encourage and support the adoption and development of the best practices? Based on a careful examination of these questions, the article concludes with six recommendations for future efforts.
Social Media Usage and Incarcerated Women: A Pilot Study
Authors: Perkins Julie , Rand April , Sheaffer Allison
Published: December 2017

The purpose of this pilot study was to explore social media usage among incarcerated women in a modified therapeutic community. An author-developed social media questionnaire was administered to 89 incarcerated women. Participants reported high levels of social media usage, and many had used social media to engage in criminal behavior. Although most of the women identified seeing pictures of friends actively using substances on social media as a trigger for relapse, they still planned to reactive their social media accounts upon release. The role and power of social media in these women’s lives must be understood and planned for in prison-based treatment programs.
A bi-objective model for vessel emergency maintenance under a condition-based maintenance strategy
Authors: Zhao Jinlou , Yang Liqian
Published: December 2017

When sailing on the open seas, far from onshore dockyards, if a crucial part of the ship’s machinery fails, the ship will experience a costly event that carries a high risk of seriously affecting ship operations. If the ship receives warning of an impending defect, then it can try to sail to a dockyard and simultaneously order the spare parts needed to fix the problem. In this paper, we define this type of maintenance situation as ‘vessel emergency maintenance’. It is a complex problem, due to uncertainties with both the machinery condition development and spare parts delivery. To solve this problem, our paper proposes a bi-objective model under a condition-based maintenance strategy, with the aim of simultaneously minimizing maintenance costs and maximizing ship reliability. Maintenance costs include four things: (1) fuel consumption costs; (2) renting extra vessels; (3) shipping delay penalty costs; and (4) spare parts inventory costs. Ship reliability is represented by the reliability of the ship’s main engine, and can be described through a stochastic process. To solve this bi-objective model, we employ a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) to generate the Pareto optimal front of the two objectives. A numerical experiment is presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model. The results indicate that the proposed model can provide emergency maintenance decision support for ship operators while they are sailing at sea.
Synthesis and characterization of a dyeable bio-based polyurethane/branched poly(ethylene imine) interpenetrating polymer network with enhanced wet fastness
Authors: Chung Jae Woo , Park Ji Hwan , Choi Hyung-Min , Oh Kyung Wha
Published: December 2017

Bio-based polyurethane is synthesized from biodegradable polycaprolactone, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and 1,4-butanediol. The bio-based polyurethane is blended with branched polyethyleneimine by a solution casting method and further treated with glutaraldehyde. From nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, leaching tests and contact angle measurements, it was found that a semi-interpenetrating polymer network structure is induced by the glutaraldehyde treatment of the bio-based polyurethane/branched polyethyleneimine blend film, which resulting from the crosslinking of branched polyethyleneimine by imine bonds formed from the amine-aldehyde reaction between branched polyethyleneimine and glutaraldehyde. In addition, the glass transition temperature, Young’s modulus and the shape retention results show that the mechanical strength of bio-based polyurethane, which is weakened by the plasticizing effect of branched polyethyleneimine, is restored by the formation of the semi-interpenetrating network structure. We found that the bio-based polyurethane/branched polyethyleneimine with a semi-interpenetrating network shows a much higher affinity for Acid Red 4 than bio-based polyurethane, and the wet fastness of dye is significantly improved by the formation of the semi-interpenetrating network.
Clinicopathologic features of solid pseudopapillary pancreatic neoplasms in an Eastern Caribbean population
Authors: Cawich Shamir O , Ledesma Zulema , Sampath Lian , Sandy Sherisse
Published: December 2017

Pancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) are uncommon lesions across the globe. Their incidence is unknown in the Caribbean. This retrospective study sought to document the clinicopathologic features of pancreatic SPNs in an Eastern Caribbean population. We examined data from the hospital records of all patients with SPN in Trinidad and Tobago, finding 11 cases over five years, equating to an incidence of 0.17 cases per 100,000 population per year. The lesions occurred in girls and young women at a mean age of 25 years, with a propensity for those of Afro-Caribbean descent. Poor prognostic factors (histologic invasion of the capsule, lymphovascular invasion, spindle cells, anaplastic cells and/or excessive mitotic figures) were present in 82% at the time of diagnosis. These tumours are uncommon in our population, and since most have poor prognostic features at diagnosis, we advocate an aggressive surgical approach.
Beyond disciplinary boundaries: speaking back to critical knowledges, liberation, and community
Authors: Sonn Christopher C , Arcidiacono Caterina , Dutta Urmitapa , Kiguwa Peace , Kloos Bret , Maldonado Torres Nelson
Published: December 2017

This article explores critical directions for forging new disciplinary traditions within community psychology, as discussed by a panel at the conclusion of the 6th International Conference on Community Psychology (ICCP 2016). The conference itself was constructed as an enactment of a decolonizing approach, looking at the entire globalized system from the African continent and centring knowledges produced by Africans and the diaspora. Several panellists were invited to offer their reflections on the emerging discussions, and absences or silences they observed at the conference, as well as how community research and action can develop a research and teaching programme that is liberatory. Panellists’ comments pointed to the importance of the decolonization project globally and the implications of decoloniality for community research and action. The challenge for community research and action is to build alliances and networks across space and time, and with various social movements. The discipline needs to centre and draw out the voices of those who have been excluded, to retrieve and reclaim ways of knowing, being, and doing because these are key to tackling the coloniality of power and to forging new ways of doing ethical and just community research and action.
Psychology and humanism in the democratic South African imagination
Authors: Seedat Mohamed
Published: December 2017

Attentive to a psychology underlying South Africa’s democratic imaginations, I describe how Nelson Mandela’s intervention at a critical moment of conflict management, along with mechanisms such as at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Moral Regeneration Movement, invoked and enacted a humanising ethos. Centred on the ideas of restraint, empathy, emotional proximity, witnessing, and fluid generative subjectivities, the humanising ethos was awakened to support the process of reconciliation, social justice, and the making of inclusive and socially just communities. Inspired by a decolonial attitude, and in part successfully enacted in support of the country’s liberal democratic ideals, the elaboration of this psychology has been limited by ongoing socio-economic disparities and a ruling psychology that naturalises extractive relations.
Notes on decolonizing psychology: from one Special Issue to another
Authors: Adams Glenn , Gómez Ordóñez Luis , Kurtiş Tuğçe , Molina Ludwin E , Dobles Ignacio
Published: December 2017

In this article, we describe a special thematic section on the topic of “Decolonizing Psychological Science” that we have edited for the Journal of Social and Political Psychology. Three approaches to decolonization were evident in contributions to the ongoing project. In the indigenous resistance approach, researchers draw upon local knowledge to modify “standard” practice and produce psychologies that are more responsive to local realities. In the accompaniment approach, “global expert” researchers from hegemonic centers travel to marginalized communities to work alongside local inhabitants in struggles for social justice. In the denaturalization approach, researchers draw upon local knowledge and experience of marginalized communities as an epistemic resource to resist the coloniality of knowledge and being in hegemonic psychology. The task of decolonization requires more than the production of local psychologies attuned to the conditions of particular communities. In addition, it requires decolonial versions of global psychology that are conducive to the wellness of all humanity beyond a dominant Eurocentric subset.
Advances in School-Based Interventions for Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Anderson Cynthia M. , Smith Tristram , Wilczynski Susan M.
Published: December 2017

As the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder has increased, so too has research on interventions to address core and associated features of autism. Although many methodologically rigorous studies on interventions have been reported, their relevance to educators is somewaht unclear. For example, only about 32% of evidence-based strategies identifed in these reviews were conducted in k-12 settings. Current literature also is limited in that, although many studies show that interventions can improve the communication and social interaction skills of individuals with autism, most of this work has been conducted with pre-school children; questions remain about the generality of these findings to school-aged children. Further, there are relatively few studies demonstrating effective interventions for restricted and repetitive behavior and much of this work was conducted in clinical settings. There is a need for studies documenting effective interventions that are feasible in school settings. The purpose of this special issue is two-fold. First, to highlight the need for school-based research with students with autism and second to highlight recent work delineating intervention strategies found to be effective in school settings.
Perceptions of Women Investors in Relation to Stock Market
Authors: Maini Neeraj
Published: December 2017

Investors are the major source of providing risk capital and therefore are considered as the soul of capital market. A package of reforms consisting of measures to liberalize, regulate and develop the securities market to improve market efficiency, enhance transparency, prevent unfair trade practices and bring the Indian market up to international standards has been in implementation since the 1990s. Over the years, a number of checks have been set up to protect investors, enhance their confidence and to avoid systematic failure of the market. As the economy is developing, the mindset of people is also changing at a very fast pace. Over a period of time, there has been a change in the economic status of women. Financial planning is becoming imperative for women now. The Indian capital market also makes initiative steps to motivate women investors in stock market. This shows a gradual increase and interest of women investors to participate in trade practices and also show their success in the investment. No doubt India’s security market has transformed itself into a major global market but the task is however only partly done. The woman investor is still not aware or confident of investing opportunities in the markets. Therefore, the present study has been conducted to analyse the perceptions of women investors regarding development and operations of stock market. The study is based on primary data collected through the random sample of 500 women investors of Punjab and Chandigarh spread over five major cities. The study found that majority of respondents agreed to the perceptions formed. Results also showed that education did affect the agreement level but working status could not alter the agreement level of women investors regarding the perceptions.
Bank Risk Factors and Changing Risk Exposures in the Pre- and Post-financial Crisis Periods: An Empirical Study for India
Authors: Sehgal Sanjay , Agrawal Tarunika Jain
Published: December 2017

In this study, we measure and analyse the time-varying nature of risk exposures for the Indian banking industry using weekly bank-level data from 23 October 2004 to 1 August 2014. We extend the literature by studying credit, equity, interest rate and exchange rate risks following a more comprehensive framework. The study finds evidence that the risk exposures are time varying in nature and differ across banks with different characteristics. Equity risk and credit risk increase post the global financial crisis (GFC) while interest rate and exchange rate risk gets reduced. The capital market has a favourable view of small-sized, well-capitalized, well-diversified private sector banks. Furthermore, the results also show that asset size and ownership structure offer relevant information for differentiating banks regarding their riskiness. Large banks have more equity risk exposure; public sector banks have higher credit risks while private sector banks have greater interest rates and exchange rate risk exposure. The study offers valuable insights for the regulators, supervisors, policymakers, banking industry, bank managers, investors and academia. The main contribution is a better understanding of sources of banks’ risks and needs to enhance the supervisory process in the Basel framework.
Voting in the Eurovision Song Contest
Authors: Stockemer Daniel , Blais André , Kostelka Filip , Chhim Chris
Published: December 2017

The Eurovision Song Contest is not only the largest song contest worldwide but also probably the world’s largest election for a non-political office. In this article, we are interested in the voting behaviour of Eurovision viewers. Do they vote sincerely, strategically according to rational choice assumptions (i.e. for the song they believe will be the likely winner) or for another song? Using data from a large-scale survey carried out in Europe, we find interesting voting patterns with regard to these questions. Roughly one-fourth of the survey participants would vote for either their preferred song or for the song they think will win. However, the percentage of strategic voters is lower (11%). In contrast, many individuals (i.e. 36% of participants) would vote for another song, one that is neither their preferred song, the likely winner, nor a rational choice. The reasoning behind these remaining votes may include neighbourhood voting, ethnic voting, and voting for one’s favourite European country.
Unpacking a citizen self-tracking device: Smartness and idiocy in the accumulation of cycling mobility data
Authors: Tironi Martín , Valderrama Matías
Published: December 2017

Based on the Smart Cities imaginary, the bottom-up project Stgo2020 created a self-tracking device known as Rastreador Urbano de Bicicletas (or Urban Bicycle Tracker) to record the daily trips of cyclists in Santiago de Chile and use the data gathered to help government officials make better and data-driven decisions on cycling infrastructure planning. In this article, we examine the iterative design of this technology as well as its introduction into the everyday practices of cyclists. We argue that efforts to quantify the ordinary experience of cycling were overwhelmed and interrupted by an ecology of breakdowns, everyday contingencies, forgetfulness, and re-interpretations in the assemblage of devices, data, humans, and bicycles. These breakdowns generated incoherent or absurd bits of information that we call them as “idiotic data” based on recent conceptualizations of the character of the idiot. Significant displacements were provoked by these idiotic data, forcing the engineer behind the device to control and purify the sample by design and algorithms, waning the civic nature of the project at the same time. The case shows how new ways of knowing the urban space by smart devices should be not separated from the emergence of idiotic data, putting into question the versions of citizen participation and smartness at stakes.
Students’ perceptual quality standards for judging knowledge quality: Development and validation of a perceived e-learning knowledge quality scale
Authors: Waheed Mehwish , Kaur Kiran
Published: December 2017

This study examines the factors contributing towards eLearning knowledge quality based on students’ perspective and presents a 5-dimensional scale to evaluate knowledge quality (KQ). It is an extension of our previously published research which had proposed a novel conceptual KQ model. In this paper, we attempt to quantify knowledge quality (KQ), as opposed to adapting data quality (DQ) and information quality (IQ) measurement tools. A qualitative-quantitative sequential mixed-method design was used for the instrument validation. Data was collected at two levels, undergraduate and postgraduate respectively. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the 5 dimensional second-order perceived eLearning KQ model – comprising of 33 sub-dimensions. The scale is inclusive of five key dimensions (Intrinsic KQ, Contextual KQ, Representational KQ, Accessible KQ, and Actionable KQ) as measures of quality of knowledge gained from eLearning content. The proposed dimensions are the benchmarks that provide insight to educators and administrators in developing and enhancing e-learning content.
Impact of temperature on the Narcotrend Index during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in children with sevoflurane anesthesia
Authors: Dennhardt Nils , Beck Christiane , Boethig Dietmar , Heiderich Sebastian , Horke Alexander , Tiedge Sebastian , Boehne Martin , Sümpelmann Robert
Published: December 2017

Background:

During cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in children, anesthesia maintained by sevoflurane administered via the oxygenator is increasingly common. Anesthetic uptake and requirement may be influenced by the non-physiological conditions during hypothermic CPB. Narcotrend-processed EEG monitoring may, therefore, be useful to guide the administration of sevoflurane during this phase.

Objective:

The objective of this prospective, clinical, observational study was to assess the correlation between body temperature, Narcotrend Index (NI) and administered sevoflurane in children during CPB.

Methods:

Forty-four children aged 0 to 10 years undergoing hypothermic cardiac surgery were studied. On bypass, anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane administered via the oxygenator of the heart-lung machine. Nasopharyngeal temperature, NI and minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane were recorded in intervals of 10 minutes. Expiratory gas was sampled from the oxygenator’s sole expiratory port via a separate connecting line and the MAC was measured by the agent analyzer of the anesthesia machine.

Results:

Raw (r = 0.74) and corrected (r = 0.73) r-values show that narcosis depth (as indicated by NI) can primarily be explained by the interaction of MAC and temperature. The analysis of variance (without the interaction term) confirms the significant and independent association of both factors, MAC (p<0.004, 95%CI: 0.19 to 0.46) and temperature (p<0.0001, 95%CI: 0.68 to 0.78), with the NI. During hypothermia, sevoflurane had been reduced significantly (r = 0.41, p<0.0001, 95%CI: 0.33 to 0.48).

Conclusion:

Perfusionists and anesthetists should be aware of the results of processed electroencephalograph (EEG) monitoring during CPB. Sevoflurane requirements differ inter-individually; they may decrease during cooling and increase during rewarming. Therefore, it seems reasonable to include the results of processed EEG monitoring when administering sevoflurane during CPB in children, but further studies are necessary to confirm this thesis.
The invisible, the alien and the marginal: Social and cultural constructions of male rape in voluntary agencies
Authors: Javaid Aliraza
Published: December 2017

Drawing on a Foucauldian approach and on interview data including male rape counsellors, therapists and voluntary agency caseworkers ( N=70), the author attempts to make sense of the different ways in which male rape is constructed in order to better understand how it is considered and responded to in current English society. The qualitative data herein, which were collected through semi-structured interviews and qualitative questionnaires, are theoretically and conceptually informed. The author argues that male rape is socially and culturally constructed in voluntary agencies in England and shaped by discourse, power and knowledge. For example, discourse on male rape is constructed and reconstructed through social and power relations, and through social interactions between voluntary agency practitioners and male rape victims, accompanied by the attendant social structures and social practices. The implication of these arguments is that the voluntary agency practitioners think about and respond to male rape victims in an inconsistent, unpredictable and variable way, meaning that the practitioners are reliant on different discourses and cultural myths about male rape when providing support and services for male rape victims.
Evaluation of the coronary flow by the coronary clearance time in patients with cardiac syndrome X
Authors: Yildirim Erkan , Yuksel Uygar Cagdas , Celik Murat , Bugan Baris , Gungor Mutlu , Gokoglan Yalcin , Koklu Mustafa , Gormel Suat , Yasar Salim , Barcin Cem
Published: December 2017

Objective

The vessels involved in the microcirculation are too small to be visualized by conventional angiography and no tools are currently available that can directly evaluate the coronary microcirculation. This study evaluated the coronary clearance frame count (CCFC) in patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX).

Methods

The retrospective study enrolled patients with angina, who had a positive nuclear imaging test and normal coronary angiography; and a control group consisting of patients who underwent an angiogram to exclude coronary artery disease. Thrombosis in myocardial infarction frame count (TFC) and CCFC for each coronary artery (left anterior descending coronary artery [LAD], circumflex coronary artery [CFX] and right coronary artery [RCA]) were calculated offline.

Results

A total of 71 patients with CSX and 61 control patients were enrolled in the study. No significant differences were found between the two groups regarding the baseline demographic and clinical variables. The TFC of LAD, CFX and RCA were similar between the two groups. The mean CCFC-LAD, CCFC-CFX and CCFC-RCA were significantly longer in the CSX group compared with the control group.

Conclusion

CCFC is a simple, quantitative and highly reproducible method that might be used as a marker of coronary microvascular dysfunction.
From ships to robots: The social relations of sensing the world ocean
Authors: Lehman Jessica
Published: December 2017

The dominant practices of physical oceanography have recently shifted from being based on ship-based ocean sampling and sensing to being based on remote and robotic sensing using satellites, drifting floats and remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles. What are the implications of this change for the social relations of oceanographic science? This paper contributes to efforts to address this question, pursuing a situated view of ocean sensing technologies so as to contextualize and analyze new representations of the sea, and interactions between individual scientists, technologies and the ocean. By taking a broad view on oceanography through a 50-year shift from ship-based to remote and robotic sensing, I show the ways in which new technologies may provide an opportunity to fight what Oreskes has called ‘ideologies of scientific heroism’. In particular, new sensing relations may emphasize the contributions of women and scientists from less well-funded institutions, as well as the ways in which oceanographic knowledge is always partial and dependent on interactions between nonhuman animals, technologies, and different humans. Thus, I argue that remote and robotic sensing technologies do not simply create more abstracted relations between scientists and the sea, but also may provide opportunities for more equitable scientific practice and refigured sensing relations.
Cluster headache and middle meningeal artery dural arteriovenous fistulas: A case report
Authors: Chang Yu-Han , Luo Chao-Bao , Wang Shuu-Jiun , Chen Shih-Pin
Published: December 2017

Background

Of the multiple etiologies identified for symptomatic cluster headache, vascular origin is common; however, there are no known reports of arteriovenous (AV) fistulas. Here we report a case with typical presentation of cluster headache, which might be associated with middle meningeal AV fistulas.

Case report

The subject is a 49-year-old man with a 7-year history of episodic left-side cluster headache, consistent with the criteria in the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition, beta version (ICHD-3β). Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) demonstrated dural arteriovenous fistulas at the left posterior fossa, which is supplied mainly by the left middle meningeal artery. After endovascular balloon-assisted embolization, his symptoms have disappeared without relapse for 1.5 years.

Discussion

We suggest that middle meningeal arteriovenous fistulas should be considered as a potential differential diagnosis of secondary cluster headache, even when the initial clinical manifestations and treatment response are typical for primary cluster headache.
Bud-sex, Dude-sex, and Heteroflexible Men: The Relationship between Straight Identification and Social Attitudes in a Nationally Representative Sample of Men with Same-sex Attractions or Sexual Practices
Authors: Silva Tony J. , Whaley Rachel Bridges
Published: December 2017

We examine the relationship between straight identification and nonsexual social factors among men who are attracted to men and/or have had two or more male sexual partners. All data come from the 2011–2013 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), a nationally representative sample of Americans aged 15 to 44. We estimate that 7.4 percent of men, aged 15 to 44, are in this population, and that 52.4 percent identify as straight, demonstrating sexual diversity within heterosexuality and identity diversity among men with same-sex practices and/or attractions. Weighted logistic regression indicates that conservative attitudes about child rearing and gays/lesbians are associated with increased likelihood of straight identification. Latino and black men are not significantly more likely to identify as straight than white men. While impossible to determine causality, when put in dialogue with related qualitative studies, the results suggest that for men with same-sex sexuality, attitudes about sexuality and child rearing may affect the meaning-making processes that influence heterosexual identification.
Localized delivery of chemokine for in vitro manipulation of hepatocellular carcinoma cell behaviors during the epithelial–mesenchymal transition
Authors: Liu Xi-Qiu , Tang Rui-Zhi
Published: December 2017

Hepatocellular carcinoma develops within an altered mechanical and biochemical environment. The chemokine C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 12 plays an important role in tumor cell metastasis during the process of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Here, we successfully engineered a biomimetic matrix made up of polyelectrolyte films with appropriate stiffness, which could present C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 12 in an immobilized status in a spatially controlled manner. The adsorbed amounts of C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 12 could be precisely adjusted over a large range from 27 ng/cm2 to 2.6 µg/cm2. Immobilized C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 12 induced an obvious increase in hepatocellular carcinoma cell adhesion, spreading, and migration in a dose-dependent manner. The phenomenon was associated with proportion changes of three phenotypes of cell morphology (round, polygonal, and elongated) and higher concentrations of immobilized C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 12 led to the rising number of elongated cells along with up-regulation of the mesenchymal markers, as a critical step in epithelial–mesenchymal transition. CD44 and integrin αvβ3 revealed the spatial coincidence in three cell phenotypes. Immobilized C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 12-induced ERK phosphorylation also exhibited dose-dependent manner. Our results highlight that an engineered matrix to locally deliver chemokine exhibits the potential to manipulate important cellular responses (including adhesion, spreading, migration, morphology, distribution of surface receptors, and signaling pathways) in the epithelial–mesenchymal transition process during hepatocellular carcinoma development.
A simplified linear model and breakup characteristics of power-law sheet formed by a doublet impinging injector
Authors: Deng Han-Yu , Zhuo Chang-fei , Feng Feng
Published: December 2017

Instability of impinging sheet is analyzed for power-law fluid by solving dispersion equations deduced based on a simplified linear model under anti-symmetric and symmetric disturbances in present work. An impinging atomization platform is established, and experiments for gelled power-law simulant are accomplished. A comparative analysis between experimental and linear results is conducted. Relative conclusions indicate that anti-symmetric disturbance is superior to symmetric disturbance in instability of the sheet. Increasing sheet velocity or decreasing sheet thickness can accelerate instability, but the disturbance of sheet is suppressed by promoting consistency and flow index. Experimental impinging sheets are divided into four modes and their distributions are also identified. Besides, spray angle increases, but breakup length and dominant wavelength decrease with increasing jet velocity and impinging angle. By comparison, experimental breakup lengths of 75° impinging angle relatively accord with theoretical ones. Theoretical breakup lengths are lower than experiments at lower sheet velocity but have an opposite trend at higher sheet velocity when impinging angle is 90°. As to dominant wavelengths, linear analysis shows an acceptable overestimation compared to experiment. In spite of some discrepancies, linear analysis developed at present can be used to predict the breakup characteristics of gelled power-law sheet.
Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection among asymptomatic men who have sex with men in Bangkok, Thailand
Authors: Pattanasin Sarika , Dunne Eileen F , Wasinrapee Punneeporn , Tongtoyai Jaray , Chonwattana Wannee , Sriporn Anuwat , Luechai Pikunchai , Mock Philip A , Chitwarakorn Anupong , Holtz Timothy H , Curlin Marcel E
Published: December 2017

We report positivity rates of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infection at each anatomic site among asymptomatic men who have sex with men (MSM). We calculated the number needed to screen (NNS) to detect CT and NG infection at each anatomic site. From 2006 to 2010, we enrolled Thai MSM, age ≥ 18 years into the Bangkok MSM Cohort Study. Participants underwent physical examination and had rectal, urethral, and pharyngeal screening for CT and NG infection using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). Of 1744 enrollees, 1696 (97.2%) had no symptoms of CT and NG infection. The positivity rates of CT and NG infection at any site were 14.3% (rectum, urethra, pharynx) and 6.4% (rectum, urethra), respectively. The NNS to detect rectal CT and rectal NG infections was 10 and 16, respectively (p < 0.05). For urethral infection, the NNS of CT was lower than the NNS of NG (22, 121: p < 0.05). The lowest NNS found for rectal CT infection was in HIV-infected MSM (6, 5–8). Asymptomatic CT and NG infection were common among MSM in Bangkok, Thailand and frequently detected in the rectum. In setting where screening in all specimens using NAAT is not feasible, rectal screening should be a priority.
A Long-Run Product Diversification Growth Model for Small Business Management
Authors: Webster Frederick A.
Published: December 2017

A long-run approach to the implementation of a product diversification program is presented. The model specifies that small supply- or production-oriented firms desiring growth through product diversification consider a particular program to include initial adoption of supply-oriented product imitation, new product development, vertical acquisition, and then horizontal acquisition, and in that order, so that the supply position is firmly entrenched. Then to bring about balance, excess supply stress is reduced by proceeding with demand-oriented diversification strategies (defined in the model) until a firm and lasting base is provided for future operations.
An Analysis of Small Business Administration's Surety Bond Guarantee Program
Authors: Gadhia Lalit , Tawil Jack J.
Published: December 2017

This paper reviews the performance of the Surety Bond Guarantee Program of the Small Business Administration in terms of its impact on small and minority contractors, Federal, state and local government construction costs, employment, and the cost to the taxpayer. With a formalized model, it identifies conditions under which sureties have an incentive to use the program to bond conventionally bondable contractors, and demonstrates how SBA can alter variables within its control to remove these conditions, taking into account the trade-off between discouraging bondable and encouraging unbondable contractors’ participation in the program.
Venture Capital Management: A Survey of Attitudes towards Selection Criteria
Authors: Kryzanowski Lawrence , Giraldeau Roger
Published: December 2017

In the literature, a number of factors such as high risk, high expected return, the lack of alternate traditional sources of capital and other non-financial factors (e.g., management) have been identified as being important in the evaluation of venture capital proposals. The major objective of this paper was to determine primarily through a questionnaire survey how Canadian and U.S. venture capitalists implement these criteria in the evaluation of proposals (asset selection), Interesting results were obtained on the diversification and composition of portfolios held, on the selection criteria employed and on the riskiness, underlying physical security and duration of the investments evaluated.
The Family Owned Business: Capital Funding
Authors: Dailey Robert C. , Reuschling Thomas E. , Demong Richard F.
Published: December 2017

Family owned corporations face unique constraints in their external business environments. One particularly critical external interface exists with sources of capital funding. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages which exist in this interface for family enterprises. Based on interviews with 25 family corporation executives, the study concludes that family firms have the advantages of financial privacy, flexibility, and personalized relationships with local bankers. Disadvantages are also identified. This study concludes by offering the family corporation executive some general guidelines regarding financial management, going public, and corporate survival.
Decision Theory: Its Value in the Small Business
Authors: Curry David , Brown Keith
Published: December 2017

Decision theory analysis and a more conventional managerial approach were used in parallel to help solve a retailer's product-line problem. This paper evaluates both methods, comparing their costs and benefits in light of actual sales results. Decision theory was clearly a more consistent information processor but tended to obscure some important qualitative issues. Conventional techniques thus provided behavioral insights about factors contributing to product demand, while decision theory revitalized management's approach to certain fundamental issues in problem-solving.
Characteristics and Role Demands of Entrepreneurship
Authors: Timmons Jeffry A.
Published: December 2017

In the past decade interest in teaching and research on entrepreneurship has grown dramatically. More than one hundred universities now offer new venture creation and entrepreneurship courses that did not previously. Since 1973 we have seen nearly a dozen new books designed for college courses on the subject, the birth of the American Journal of Small Business, an International Symposium on Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (ISEED) and the emergence of numerous other activities, such as the Academy of Management Entrepreneurship Interest Group.

A continuing area of research and practical interest is the personality and make-up of the entrepreneur: who are they? what are they like? how do they differ? This article attempts to summarize much of the research done on the personal characteristics and role demands of entrepreneurship.
Owner Advances: The Debt — Equity Dilemma
Authors: Boyer Patricia A.
Published: December 2017

It is common practice for owners of small business to make advances to the firm with the intent that these advances be considered debt. However, the Courts have carefully scrutinized these types of arrangements when bad debts are claimed and have frequently judged them to be equity investments.

The intent of this article is to present characteristics which will infer favorably toward a debt determination. These factors are discussed in relationship to the court cases which lend their support.