bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
You can’t go home again: And other psychoanalytic lessons from crossing a neo-colonial border
Authors: Prasad Ajnesh
Published: September 2013

The purpose of this article is to situate the nexus between reflexivity and fieldwork through autoethnographic analysis. Specifically, drawing on psychoanalytic and postcolonial thought, this article utilizes introspective data from field research conducted in the occupied Palestinian territories to explore how Qalandiya – a neo-colonial militarized border crossing between Jerusalem, Israel and the West Bank’s twin cities of Ramallah and al-Bireh – came to significantly alter the researcher’s conceptions of self and Other. Namely, drawing on first-hand experiences at Qalandiya – reconstructed through monologue style voice recordings, emails with colleagues, telephone conversations, personal diary entries, and memory – this article illuminates the discursive impact the field has upon the researcher’s self. Finally, this article concludes with a discussion of the ontological, the epistemological, and the ethical implications of pursuing research at neo-colonial sites in organization studies.
“Feeling Disorder” as a Comparative and Contingent Process
Authors: Browning Christopher R. , Soller Brian , Gardner Margo , Brooks-Gunn Jeanne
Published: September 2013

We explore the effects of neighborhood social disorder on internalizing symptoms among urban youth by focusing on three questions. First, we ask whether the impact of social disorder on internalizing symptoms results from comparisons with conditions measured locally or across the entire city.  Second, we consider whether neighborhood collective efficacy modifies disorder’s effect on internalizing symptoms. Finally,  we assess whether these effects vary by gender. Analyses of survey data on 2,367 youth from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods indicate that social disorder is positively associated with girls’ internalizing symptoms when measured as a deviation from a neighborhood cluster (NC - two to three census tracts) mean. High collective efficacy within girls’ NCs attenuates disorder effects on their internalizing symptoms. We find no evidence of disorder or collective efficacy effects on boys’ internalizing symptoms.
Fasting of mice: a review
Authors: Jensen TL , Kiersgaard MK , Sørensen DB , Mikkelsen LF
Published: September 2013

Fasting of mice is a common procedure performed in association with many different types of experiments mainly in order to reduce variability in investigatory parameters or to facilitate surgical procedures. However, the effects of fasting not directly related to the investigatory parameters are often ignored. The aim of this review is to present and summarize knowledge about the effects of fasting of mice to facilitate optimization of the fasting procedure for any given study and thereby maximize the scientific outcome and minimize the discomfort for the mice and hence ensure high animal welfare. The results are presented from a number of experimental studies, providing evidence for fasting-induced changes in hormone balance, body weight, metabolism, hepatic enzymes, cardiovascular parameters, body temperature and toxicological responses. A description of relevant normal behaviour and standard physiological parameters is given, concluding that mice are primarily nocturnal and consume two-thirds of their total food intake during the night. It is argued that overnight fasting of mice is not comparable with overnight fasting of humans because the mouse has a nocturnal circadian rhythm and a higher metabolic rate. It is suggested that because many physiological parameters are regulated by circadian rhythms, fasting initiated at different points in the circadian rhythm has different impacts and produces different results.
Bidding behaviors in duopoly electricity markets with aspirant market share goals
Authors: Zhou Zhi , Chan Wai Kin Victor , Chow Joe H.
Published: September 2013

The deregulation and restructuring of electricity markets have created a variety of challenging research problems. In addition, due to the complexity of electricity markets, most of these research problems are not amenable to analytical methods. Agent-based simulation is an approach for simulating and analyzing complex systems with interacting autonomous agents. In this paper, we use an agent-based approach to study the following emergent problem related to electricity market share and competition: what happens if a market participant tries to reach the following two (sometimes conflicting) goals simultaneously, (1) reaching an aspirant market share goal and (2) maximizing profit? More interestingly, what happens if two such participants are competing with each other? The developed agent-based model allows us to examine how the market share goal and profit maximization goal together influence the bidding behaviors of generation companies (i.e. agents) in a day-ahead electricity auction market. It also reveals that conservative market share goals often lead to a collusive behavior and profit maximization. However, if every participant has an aggressive market-share goal, a price war would result. On the other hand, if agents bear unequal market-share goals (e.g. one aggressive and one conservative), one agent will become more profitable than the other. As a result, if both agents want to maximize profit, they will both bid aggressively, resulting in a price war. Therefore, the agent-based model produces results that may explain some real-world pricing outcomes. In addition, to benchmark our agent-based model and to demonstrate the effect of the market-share goal, we develop an analytical model without the market-share goal and compare its results with those from the agent-based model.
Configuration schemes for modeling and simulation as a service federation
Authors: Cayirci Erdal
Published: September 2013

Two types of modeling and simulation as service configuration problems are formally defined and their complexities are analyzed. Optimization and heuristic solutions for these configuration problems are introduced. The important engineering parameters related to the schemes and their scalability are also investigated.
The Body of Christ in Mission: Paul’s Ecclesiology and the Role of the Church in Mission
Authors: Liubinskas Susann
Published: September 2013

The debate among New Testament scholars regarding the question of whether or not Paul assigns a mission mandate to the church as a body has reached a veritable impasse. This article argues that the exclusive focus on the issue of a Pauline ecclesiological mission mandate has resulted in an attenuated reading of the apostle’s epistles that fails to consider whether his understanding of the church precludes the necessity for such a directive. Rather, the author avers that Paul’s metaphor of the church as the body of Christ, as it is used in Rom 12:4–8;1 Cor 12:12–30; Eph 1:22–23; 4:4–16, and Col 1:18; 2:18–19, functions to hold the centripetal (attractive) and centrifugal (outward-directed) roles of the church together in a way that makes it unnecessary for the apostle to frame a mission mandate to the church as his interpreters envision it; that is, as something akin to the “Great Commission.” Moreover, this particular and pervasive metaphor highlights the dialectical tension in Paul’s ecclesiology between the essential unity of the body of Christ and the diverse spiritual gifts among its members, which makes it problematic to view the individual and the church as polarized entities. Accordingly, the task of mission includes not only the exercise of the gift of evangelism, but also those charisma aimed at bringing individual members of the body to spiritual maturity which, in turn, is evidenced in winsome ethical holiness and loving, godly relationships. In other words, for Paul, evangelism and discipleship are inextricably linked.
Natural gender, phonological cues and the default grammatical gender in French children
Authors: Boloh Yves , Ibernon Laure
Published: September 2013

According to a dominant thesis, nominal endings are the privileged cues French children use to determine new nouns’ gender subclass. Children will rely on phonology even in cases of discordance with natural gender. Two elicited production studies involving more than 250 4- to 17-year-olds showed that while French children did not base their gender attribution choices on natural gender, they did not base them on phonology either: the masculine was the dominant choice. These results thus provide additional support to the ‘masculine as default’ view of French nouns’ gender acquisition proposed by the authors in an earlier study. The present article considers how the developmental conditions of children’s initial computations might bias their tallies towards a higher type frequency for masculine nouns, which could contribute to launching this gender as the default.
Aggressive Forms and Functions on School Playgrounds
Authors: Frey Karin S. , Newman Jodi Burrus , Onyewuenyi Adaurennaya C.
Published: September 2013

Coders used real-time focal-child sampling methods to observe the playground behavior and victimization experiences of 600 third to sixth grade youth. Person-centered analyses yielded three profiles that specified aggressive function (reactive, proactive) and form (direct, indirect), and conformed to social-information-processing functional classifications of proactive, reactive, and pervasive aggressors. Consistent with social information processing models, direct reactors and pervasive aggressors evidenced poor self-regulation (argumentative, seldom agreeable), and pervasives were drawn to dominance-linked activity. The form and function of experienced victimization generally corresponded to the form and function of aggression typical of each profile. Indirect proactors were agreeable but heavily involved as perpetrators, facilitators, and victims of indirect aggression. Developmental differences in victimization, rough play, agreeable behavior, and bystander reinforcement of aggression suggest greater fluidity in social roles prior to adolescence. Possible links from rough play and bystander behavior to victimization are considered. Issues regarding the theoretical status of well-regulated retaliation are discussed.
Failure of Respiratory Defenses in the Pathogenesis of Bacterial Pneumonia of Cattle
Authors: Caswell J. L.
Published: September 2013

The respiratory system is well defended against inhaled bacteria by a dynamic system of interacting layers, including mucociliary clearance, host defense factors including antimicrobial peptides in the epithelial lining fluid, proinflammatory responses of the respiratory epithelium, resident alveolar macrophages, and recruited neutrophils and monocytes. Nevertheless, these manifold defenses are susceptible to failure as a result of stress, glucocorticoids, viral infections, abrupt exposure to cold air, and poor air quality. When some of these defenses fail, the lung can be colonized by bacterial pathogens that are equipped to evade the remaining defenses, resulting in the development of pneumonia. This review considers the mechanisms by which these predisposing factors compromise the defenses of the lung, with a focus on the development of bacterial pneumonia in cattle and supplemented with advances based on mouse models and the study of human disease. Deepening our understanding of how the respiratory defenses fail is expected to lead to interventions that restore these dynamic immune responses and prevent disease.
Examining the Validity and Reliability of the ABC-6 in Underserved Older Adults
Authors: Skipper Antonius , Ellis Rebecca
Published: September 2013

Losing confidence in the ability to maintain balance can be more debilitating than a fall; therefore, the accurate measurement of balance confidence is critical. The purpose of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the ABC-6, a shortened version of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC), among underserved older adults. The final sample included 251 older adults ( M age = 71.2 years, SD = 8.9; 72.1% African Americans, 62.5% low-income, 61% low-education). Participants completed assessments of multiple falls risk factors, physical activity, and balance confidence. The ABC-6 had excellent internal consistency reliability, substantial intraclass correlations, and significant moderate to large correlations with physical activity, mobility, balance, and total falls risk. It also demonstrated the ability to discriminate between fallers and nonfallers, and it was a significant predictor of total falls risk. The ABC-6 was a valid and reliable measure of balance confidence among underserved older adults.
Determinants of Longer Job Tenure Among Home Care Aides
Authors: Butler Sandra S. , Brennan-Ing Mark , Wardamasky Sara , Ashley Alison
Published: September 2013

An inadequate supply of direct care workers and a high turnover rate in the workforce has resulted in a “care gap” in our long-term care system. As people are increasingly choosing community-based care, retention of home care workers is particularly important. The mixed-method study described herein explored determinants of longer job tenure for home care aides ( n = 261). Study participants were followed for 18 months, completing two mail surveys and one telephone interview each. Predictors of longer job tenure included older age, living rurally, lower physical function, higher wages, a greater sense of autonomy on the job, and less frequent feelings of personal accomplishment. Thematic analysis of telephone interviews revealed long-term stayers to be less concerned about low wages and inconsistent hours than those who left their jobs within a year; both groups of workers reported high levels of job satisfaction. Policy implications of study findings are discussed.
What Community Characteristics Help or Hinder Rural Communities in Becoming Age-Friendly? Perspectives From a Canadian Prairie Province
Authors: Spina John , Menec Verena H.
Published: September 2013

Age-friendly initiatives are increasingly promoted as a policy solution to healthy aging, The primary objective of this article was to examine older adults’ and key stakeholders’ perceptions of the factors that either help or hinder a community from becoming age-friendly in the context of rural Manitoba, a Canadian prairie province. Twenty-four older adults and 17 key informants completed a qualitative interview. The findings show that contextual factors including size, location, demographic composition, ability to secure investments, and leadership influence rural communities’ ability to become age-friendly. Government must consider the challenges these communities face in becoming more age-friendly and develop strategies to support communities.
Chemoprotective effect of Vernonia amygdalina Del. (Astereacea) against 2-acetylaminofluorene-induced hepatotoxicity in rats
Authors: Adesanoye Omolola A , Adekunle Abiodun E , Adewale Olusola B , Mbagwu Abraham E , Delima Adetutu A , Adefegha Stephen A , Molehin Olorunfemi R , Farombi Ebenezer O
Published: September 2013

Natural products possessing antioxidant properties play a very crucial role in ameliorating deleterious effects of reactive oxygen species. This study investigated the chemoprotective properties of methanolic extract of Vernonia amygdalina (MEVA) in an experimental model of hepatic oxidative damage induced by 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF). Rats were divided into six groups. Groups 1 and 2 received saline and dimethyl sulfoxide, respectively, and served as controls. Group 3 received MEVA at a dose of 250 mg/kg, while groups 5 and 6 were pretreated for 14 days with MEVA at 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg doses before coadministration with 2-AAF at 100 mg/kg for another 7 days. 2-AAF was administered to group 4 for the last 7 days. Animals were killed 24 h after the last administration of 2-AAF. 2-AAF significantly ( p < 0.05) induced marked hepatic damage as revealed by increased activities of serum enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and γ-glutamyl transferase and bilirubin concentration. 2-AAF also elicited decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione- S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase, depletion of reduced glutathione, and increase in malondialdehyde levels. The activities of glucose-6-phosphatase and 5′-nucleotidase were also depleted. MEVA at 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg significantly ( p < 0.05) ameliorated the oxidative damage, functional impairments, and histopathological changes associated with 2-AAF toxicity by reducing the activities of serum enzymes, upregulating the antioxidant defense enzymes and glutathione with decrease in malondialdehyde level. In this study, the revealed ameliorative and hepatoprotective effects of MEVA against 2-AAF-induced toxicity may be due to its antioxidant and free-radical scavenging activities, thus suggesting its usefulness as a possible chemoprophylactic agent.
Effects of antioxidants on drugs used against testicular cancer-induced alterations in metastasis-associated protein 1 signaling in the rat testis
Authors: Kilarkaje Narayana , Al-Bader Maie
Published: September 2013

Metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) is involved in tumor growth and metastasis of cancers. Being a component of nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylase complex, the protein is also associated with DNA damage response pathway. Since the protein is involved in cancer pathology, we first investigated the effects of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) on MTA1 signaling in the testis. Second, since the antioxidants (AOs) have protective effects, we further investigated whether or not an AO cocktail modulates the effects of the drugs. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats ( N = 4) were treated either with saline, or AO (α-tocopherol, l-ascorbic acid, zinc, and selenium), or therapeutic dose levels of etoposide (15 mg/kg) and cisplatin (3 mg/kg) from day 1–4 of the week and B (1.5 mg/kg) on the second day of the week, or BEP + AO. The real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that MTA1 and MTA1s (short form) gene expression was downregulated in AO (100% and 100%), BEP (86% and 71%), and BEP + AO (97% and 93%) groups. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry results showed that unnormalized MTA1 protein expression was upregulated in AO (38%) and BEP + AO (34%) groups; however, the MTA1/β-actin ratio was upregulated in all treated groups (21, 19, and 15%, respectively). In conclusion, the results indicate that both BEP and AO suppress MTA1 and MTA1s transcription, which may render the germ cells to be more prone to apoptosis. However, upregulation of MTA1 protein expression may be related to induced DNA damage. Modulation of MTA1 signaling is a novel mechanism of action of BEP and AO, which may be useful in developing newer anticancer drugs.
Effect of grapefruit juice on amiodarone induced nephrotoxicity in albino rats
Authors: Sakr Saber A , El-Gamal Ezz M
Published: September 2013

Amiodarone is a potent antiarrhythmic drug that is used to treat ventricular and supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. The present work studied the effect of amiodarone on the kidney of albino rats and the possible ameliorative role of grapefruit juice. Administration of amiodarone by gastric intubation (18 mg/kg body weight (b.w.), daily for 5 weeks) caused many histological alterations including intertubular leucocytic infiltrations, degeneration of the renal tubules, and atrophy of the glomeruli. Amiodarone caused marked elevation in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. Histochemical examination of the renal tubules revealed depletion of glycogen and total proteins. Besides, animals administered with amiodarone showed an increase of apoptotic bands as detected by gel electrophoresis. Treating animals with amiodarone and grapefruit juice (27 ml/kg b.w.) caused an improvement in histological and histochemical appearance of the kidney together with decrease of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. Moreover, the apoptosis was decreased. It is concluded from the obtained results that grapefruit juice ameliorates the nephrotoxicity of amiodarone in albino rats and this may be due to the potent antioxidant effects of its components.
Dimethyl dimethoxy biphenyl dicarboxylate attenuates hepatic and metabolic alterations in high fructose-fed rats
Authors: Morsy Mohamed A , Ibrahim Mohamed A , Abd-Elghany Manal I
Published: September 2013

High fructose consumption is currently linked to metabolic disorders including insulin resistance and dyslipidemia as well as hepatic steatosis. Dimethyl dimethoxy biphenyl dicarboxylate (DDB) is a hepatoprotectant with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study therefore is to evaluate the effect of DDB on high fructose-induced metabolic disturbances and hepatic steatosis in a rat model. Male Wistar rats were allocated into three groups: control, fructose-fed (10% in drinking water and 10% in diet), and fructose-fed DDB (300 mg/kg, orally)-treated groups. Rats were fed a high-fructose diet for 6 weeks, while DDB was administered for an additional 2 weeks. High-fructose consumption elevated serum glucose and insulin levels and impaired oral glucose tolerance test, revealing insulin resistance. It also increased serum triglycerides and alanine aminotransferase as well as visceral fat content and decreased serum high-density lipoprotein. Additionally, histopathological examination revealed that high fructose intake induced hepatic steatosis. These alterations were associated with increased serum uric acid as well as hepatic content of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide (NO) in addition to overexpression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). DDB administration significantly ameliorated the high fructose-induced hepatic and metabolic alterations. In conclusion, DDB ameliorates high fructose-induced metabolic disorders and hepatic steatosis in rats. Such protection is, at least in part, due to the inhibition of lipid peroxidation, decrease in iNOS overexpression, and reduction of elevated uric acid.
Free radical scavenging activity in in vitro-derived tissues of Eruca sativa
Authors: Abbasi Bilal Haider , Ali Jawad , Ali Mohammad , Zia Muhammad , Bokhari Saleem A , Khan Mubarak Ali
Published: September 2013

Feasible regeneration protocol for economically important plant Eruca sativa was established and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity of regenerated tissues was evaluated and compared with plant material collected from the wild. Leaf portions inoculated onto Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium responded to all plant growth regulators exploited. Optimum callus production was achieved on a combination of 2.0 mg l−1 6-benzyladenine (BA) + 1.0 mg l−1 α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and the lowest response was recorded for 0.5 mg l−1 gibberellic acid (GA3) + 1.0 mg l−1 NAA. The callus was subcultured on similar composition/concentrations of plant growth regulators after 4 weeks of culture time. A 5.0 mg l−1 6-BA + 1.0 mg l−1 NAA produced optimum percentage shoot organogenesis after 4 weeks of subculturing. However, optimum number of shoots per explant was recorded for moderate concentrations (1.0 and 2.0 mg l−1) of kinetin. Incorporation of NAA into MS medium-containing GA3 also produced a feasible number of shoots/explant. Similar mean shoot length was recorded for 2.0 mg l−1 kinetin + 1.0 mg l−1 NAA and optimum concentrations (2.0, 5.0, and 10.0 mg l−1) of GA3 + 1.0 mg l−1 NAA. In vitro generated shoots were shifted to MS medium augmented with indole acetic acid (IAA) for rooting after 4 weeks of subculturing. Moderate concentrations (5.0 mg l−1) of IAA produced feasible rooting. Investigation of radical scavenging activity showed that callus possesses higher levels of radical scavengers than other plant tissues tested. Phenolics and glucosides are reported to be active components of Eruca sativa phytochemistry.
Variations of IGHMBP2 Gene Was Not the Major Cause of Han Chinese Patients With Non-5q-Spinal Muscular Atrophies
Authors: Lin Xiang , Zhang Qi-Jie , He Jin , Lin Min-Ting , Murong Shen-Xing , Wang Ning , Chen Wan-Jin
Published: September 2013

Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1), a notably common form of non-5q-spinal muscular atrophy, can be confused with infantile spinal muscular atrophy and is characterized by the early onset of diaphragmatic palsy and predominantly distal muscle weakness. The defective gene, immunoglobulin mu-binding protein 2 ( IGHMBP2), is located on chromosome 11q13-q21. In this study, we screened the IGHMBP2 gene in 53 unrelated Han Chinese non-5q-spinal muscular atrophy patients and 100 healthy controls. Two novel mutations (c.711+1G>C and c.1817G>A) and 5 nucleotide polymorphisms (c.57T>C, c.1554C>T, c.1914G>A, c.2080C>T, and c.2270G>C) were identified. However, only 1 patient harbored the compound heterozygous mutations (c.711+1G>C, c.1817G>A). Furthermore, the homozygous c.2636C>A (p.T879 K) variation, which has been included as a mutation in the Human Gene Mutation Database, was found both in patients and healthy individuals. In conclusion, the IGHMBP2 gene was not found to be a major causative gene linked to Han Chinese non-5q-spinal muscular atrophy patients.
Genital self-mutilation in a suicide attempt: a rare sequela of a hypochondriacal delusion of infection with HIV
Authors: Mishra Kshirod K , Reddy Srikanth , Khairkar Praveen
Published: September 2013

Genital self-mutilation is mostly seen among psychotic, affective and gender identity disorder(s). We present here a rare case report of such genital self-mutilation in a person with a hypochondriacal delusion of infection with HIV precipitated by erroneous and anxiety-provoking miscommunication during HIV testing. Such cases remind us of the need for systematic and appropriate pre-test and post-test HIV counseling, to help prevent such outcomes.
Other People as Means to a Safe End
Authors: Golkar Armita , Selbing Ida , Flygare Oskar , Öhman Arne , Olsson Andreas
Published: September 2013

Information about what is dangerous and safe in the environment is often transferred from other individuals through social forms of learning, such as observation. Past research has focused on the observational, or vicarious, acquisition of fears, but little is known about how social information can promote safety learning. To address this issue, we studied the effects of vicarious-extinction learning on the recovery of conditioned fear. Compared with a standard extinction procedure, vicarious extinction promoted better extinction and effectively blocked the return of previously learned fear. We confirmed that these effects could not be attributed to the presence of a learning model per se but were specifically driven by the model’s experience of safety. Our results confirm that vicarious and direct emotional learning share important characteristics but that social-safety information promotes superior down-regulation of learned fear. These findings have implications for emotional learning, social-affective processes, and clinical practice.
Behavioral Confirmation of Everyday Sadism
Authors: Buckels Erin E. , Jones Daniel N. , Paulhus Delroy L.
Published: September 2013

Past research on socially aversive personalities has focused on subclinical psychopathy, subclinical narcissism, and Machiavellianism—the “Dark Triad” of personality. In the research reported here, we evaluated whether an everyday form of sadism should be added to that list. Acts of apparent cruelty were captured using two laboratory procedures, and we showed that such behavior could be predicted with two measures of sadistic personality. Study 1 featured a bug-killing paradigm. As expected, sadists volunteered to kill bugs at greater rates than did nonsadists. Study 2 examined willingness to harm an innocent victim. When aggression was easy, sadism and Dark Triad measures predicted unprovoked aggression. However, only sadists were willing to work for the opportunity to hurt an innocent person. In both studies, sadism emerged as an independent predictor of behavior reflecting an appetite for cruelty. Together, these findings support the construct validity of everyday sadism and its incorporation into a new “Dark Tetrad” of personality.
Internationalizing Higher Education in Singapore
Authors: Daquila Teofilo C.
Published: September 2013

The internationalization of higher education has become an important policy and research agenda. At the national level, different countries have responded differently with some countries becoming more open than others. At the local level, universities have also reacted differently with some becoming more liberal and innovative than others. Thus, this paper aims, first, to examine the rationale and policies of the Singapore government in internationalizing its higher education, and, second, to determine the corresponding institutional responses of Singapore educational institutions particularly at the university level. The findings show that government policies have been designed, implemented, reviewed, and adjusted to promote student values and attributes, including intercultural awareness and engagement, competitive edge, and global citizenship, through an internationalized curriculum; to meet the country’s manpower and population requirements; and to promote Singapore as an international hub for education. Singapore universities, in particular the National University of Singapore (NUS), have implemented their programs and activities to promote internationalization at home and abroad. Singapore will continue to internationalize its higher education as national borders become more open and as universities become more competitive and innovative.
Modal electromechanical optimization of cantilevered piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters by geometric variation
Authors: Xiong Xingyu , Oyadiji S Olutunde
Published: September 2013

The design studies of cantilevered piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters have been focused on the optimization of the power output of rectangular cantilevered beam vibration energy harvesters. However, without clarifying the influences of the modal electromechanical coupling and mechanical behaviour clearly, the power outputs cannot be adequately optimized. In this article, a distributed parameter electromechanical model is used to predict the power output with resistive loads, and the parameters are derived using the finite element method. First, a parametric study is presented to investigate the effects of the two factors on the volumetric power of cantilevered vibration energy harvesters. Then, an optimization strategy is implemented to investigate the modal electromechanical coupling coefficient and mass ratio separately using geometric parameter study. Mass ratio represents the influences of modal mechanical behaviour on the power density directly. The findings indicate that the convergent and divergent tapered cantilevered and rectangular cantilevered beam designs with partial coverage of piezoelectric layer are able to generate higher electromechanical coupling coefficient than conventional rectangular cantilevered designs with full coverage. Besides, using convergent tapered cantilevered designs can actually decrease the power density significantly. Both using divergent tapered cantilevered structures and attaching reasonable extra masses with varied locations on vibration energy harvesters can generate larger power density.
The Lived Experience of Mothers of Multiple Children With Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Kimura Miyako , Yamazaki Yoshihiko
Published: September 2013

In this study, we explored the lived experience of Japanese mothers who have delivered multiple children with intellectual disabilities (ID), using interpretative phenomenological analysis. We identified three superordinate themes and seven subordinate themes from the narrative data collected from 10 participants. The superordinate themes were: abandoned hope for having an ordinary family, accumulating physical and mental fatigue, and searching for positive experiences in parenting multiple children with disabilities. How they perceived the birth of children with disabilities for the second time differed depending on the disability types; specifically, whether they detected the disabilities early or not. Encountering the disability in another child overwhelmed mothers, especially when the disabilities were diagnosed after several years with or without suspicion; they struggled to accept the fact. Despite mothers facing extreme difficulties in parenting multiple children with disabilities, they tried to alter the negative perceptions and find an optimistic way of living.
How Mothers Talk About Placement of Their Child With Autism Outside the Home
Authors: Corman Michael K.
Published: September 2013

In this article I use insights offered by the poststructural shift and linguistic turn in social scientific inquiry, specifically discourse analysis, to explore mothers’ talk about the placement of their child with autism outside of the home. By viewing mothers’ talk as data, I bring to light the discourses and interpretive practices that mothers drew on to organize their talk of placement. In doing so, I provide insights into how mothers gave meaning to processes of placement while also expanding on commonsensical discursive notions of “good” mothering, caregiving, and family. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Recent Advances in Palliative Cancer Care at a Regional Hospital in Japan
Authors: Terui Takeshi , Koike Kazuhiko , Hirayama Yasuo , Kusakabe Toshiro , Ono Kaoru , Mihara Hiroyoshi , Kobayashi Kenji , Takahashi Yuji , Nakajima Nobuhisa , Kato Junji , Ishitani Kunihiko
Published: September 2013

More than 30 years have passed since the introduction of the concept of palliative care in cancer care in Japan. However, the majority of the estimated three million cancer patients in Japan do not receive palliative care. Higashi Sapporo Hospital was established in 1983 as a hospital specialized in cancer care. The palliative care unit of our hospital currently consists of 58 beds. Our hospital is one of the largest hospitals in Japan in terms of the number of palliative care beds. On admission to our hospital, all patients are evaluated for palliative care by a multi-disciplinary team and some patients who undergo anticancer therapy receive palliative care when necessary. There are about 65 patients on average (28.3%) who are receiving only palliative care. In 2011, 793 patients died of cancer while admitted at our hospital. This number of cancer deaths accounted for 15% of the 5,324 cancer deaths in Sapporo City in the same year. Our hospital has played an active role according to the philosophy that “palliative cancer care is part of cancer medical care”. We here report the current status of the contribution of our hospital to overcoming problems in palliative care and cancer care in Japan.
Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline Balls) for the Treatment of Constipation
Authors: Tavares Candice Noelle , Kimbrel Jason M. , Protus Bridget McCrate , Grauer Phyllis A.
Published: September 2013

Constipation is a common symptom at end of life, impacting patient outcomes and healthcare costs. Hospice and palliative care professionals often use practices based on anecdotal evidence. One such intervention is an oral preparation of petroleum jelly (OPJ), referred to as “Vaseline balls.” This survey was designed to collect information regarding healthcare practitioners' knowledge and attitudes toward the use of OPJ for the management of constipation in hospice and palliative care. An online survey was distributed to physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and pharmacists who work with hospice and palliative care patients. A total of 67% (n=237/353) of responders reported being familiar with the use of OPJ. Results indicate there is a need for further clinical research on the use of OPJ to guide practice.
The Ligurian High-School Educational Project on Palliative Care
Authors: Beccaro Monica , Gollo Giorgia , Giordano Monica , Igazzini Jessica , Servente Valentina , Vignali Stefano , Costantini Massimo , Leo Silvia Di
Published: September 2013

This study was aimed at developing and piloting a school-based intervention on severe illness-induced bereavement through a project focused on spreading knowledge of palliative care among high school students (phases 0-II Medical Research Council Framework). The intervention entailed the screening of a topic-related movie and a classroom meeting. Eight classes from 2 high schools participated, and a before–after evaluation was used to assess intervention feasibility and impact. Valid questionnaires, including 2 open-ended questions focusing on bereavement and strategies for coping with loss, were filled in by 89% (before) and 84% (after) of the 159 students. In the after evaluation, content analysis on the “strategies” question showed that answers concerning closeness and sharing were reported more frequently. Positive feedback was collected as regards the overall experience.
Learning to Deal Constructively With Troubled Conscience Related to Care Providers’ Perceptions of Not Providing Sufficient Activities for Residents
Authors: Ericson-Lidman Eva , Strandberg Gunilla
Published: September 2013

The aim of this study was to illuminate an intervention process to assist care providers in municipal care of older people to constructively deal with their troubled conscience generated from their perceived shortcomings about not providing sufficient activities for residents. The study design was grounded in participatory action research. Twelve care providers and their manager participated in intervention sessions. Content analysis was used to analyze the transcriptions. By sharing their experiences with each other, care providers became aware of, and confirmed in one another, what types of activities were meaningful for residents and actions were taken to provide such activities. The importance of being attentive and relying on residents’ responses, that is, providing person-centered activities, was found to be satisfying to residents and eased the care providers’ troubled conscience. An enlightened conscience can be an important asset, which may prevent ill-health and improve quality of care.
Can We “Regain” Truth and Objectivity? A Reply to Baillie and Meckler
Authors: Ryan Phil
Published: September 2013

James Baillie and Mark Meckler’s (B&M) “Truth and Objectivity Regained” misconstrues the author’s previous argument. More surprisingly, they also fail to distinguish their own earlier arguments from their current views. This Reply seeks to clear up the confusion. It challenges B&M’s claims concerning the “function” of beliefs and statements, and defends the view that objectivity is a matter of degree, depending upon the reasonableness of a statement’s background conditions.
Endosalpingiosis in Axillary Lymph Nodes Simulating Metastatic Breast Carcinoma
Authors: Salehi Amir H. , Omeroglu Gulbeyaz , Kanber Yonca , Omeroglu Atilla
Published: September 2013

Intraoperative assessment of sentinel lymph nodes at time of surgical excision of primary breast carcinoma is a crucial step in the determination of cancer extent and the need for further axillary dissection. Benign epithelial inclusions in axillary lymph nodes can mimic metastatic carcinoma and are a well-known pitfall during examination of these nodes in frozen or permanent sections. Most often, these inclusions consists of heterotopic mammary glands and are familiar to the practicing pathologist. Here, however, we present a rare case of endosalpingiosis in the axillary lymph nodes of a breast cancer patient and describe our experience and effort to characterize the lesion. Simulating a metastatic focus of invasive ductal carcinoma, the glandular inclusions lacked myoepithelial cells and failed to stain with myoepithelial markers. However, consistent with a Mullerian origin, the inclusions demonstrated strong staining with PAX-8 and WT-1. Although endosalpingiotic inclusions are not uncommonly encountered in subdiaphragmatic lymph nodes, they are an extremely rare finding above the diaphragm. Pathologists must be aware of these lesions and their ability to imitate metastatic gland-forming carcinoma during frozen section or permanent examination of axillary lymph nodes.
Histopathological Changes in the Gastrointestinal Tract Due to Drugs
Authors: De Petris Giovanni , Gatius Caldero Sonia , Chen Longwen , Xiao Shu-Yuan , Dhungel Bal M. , Wendel Spizcka Amy J. , Lam-Himlin Dora
Published: September 2013

Abnormalities of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract due to drugs (AGIDs) are numerous and have significant impact. The aim of this narrative review is to help the practicing surgical pathologist recognize selected AGIDs. The adverse drug effects presented were chosen with an emphasis on recent and significant pathological and clinical contributions. The selection was based on a thorough review of the PUBMED-based literature and on the authors’ opinions and experience. In the first part of the review, diagnostic abnormalities due to crystals (eg, iron, biphosphonates, nonsystemic drugs), mitosis arresting drugs (colchicine, taxanes), and biological agents, especially ipilimumab, are discussed. Some AGIDs’ histopathologic features can be easily recognized. It is however the clinical correlation that in many cases of AGIDs will provide the necessary support for a drug effect diagnosis. The identification of AGIDs requires heightened awareness of the medical team in which close collaboration of pathologists and clinicians cannot be overemphasized.
Evaluation Factors of Pulmonary Embolism Severity and Prognosis
Authors: Tong ChunRan , Zhang ZhongHe
Published: September 2013

Management of pulmonary embolism (PE) is still unclear. We summarized 16 kinds of evaluation factors of PE severity and prognosis, and we analyzed the single and joint value for short-term and long-term prognosis. Among them, biomarkers such as brain natriuretic peptide or N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide, troponin, and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein are the best indicators of PE severity and short-term prognosis. They might replace imaging detections in evaluating PE severity. But the positive predictive value of all the biomarkers is low, and we need to improve each value through joint detection. The PE severity index and simplified PE severity index are more suitable for evaluating the overall risk and long-term prognosis. They could be used as complements of indicators of the PE severity, especially in identifying low-risk group. Integrated risk stratification and strategies of management should be established based on the 2 aspects mentioned previously.
Lack of Impact of Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 Gene Exon 1 Polymorphism on Susceptibility to or Clinical Course of Egyptian Childhood Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Authors: Radwan Eman Roshdy , Goda Rania L. M.
Published: September 2013

Dysfunctional T-lymphocyte immunity plays an important role in the pathophysiology of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 ( CTLA-4)—a surface marker expressed on T regulatory cells and activated T lymphocytes—is a negative modulator of T-cell responses. Polymorphisms of the CTLA-4 may alter the level of antigen expression and hence may influence immune regulation. The study aimed to evaluate the possible contribution of CTLA-4 exon 1 49 A>G polymorphism to the pathogenesis of ITP and its relation to age of disease onset, clinical course, and response to therapy. Genotyping of CTLA-4 exon 1 49 A>G was performed in 100 pediatric patients with ITP and 259 healthy individuals by polymerase chain reaction–restricted fragment length polymorphism. No significant differences existed in genotype or allele distributions between patients and controls for the studied polymorphism. Comparable genotypes and allele frequencies were obtained between the 2 groups after their stratification by age of disease onset, clinical course, or response to therapy. In conclusion, CTLA-4 exon 1 49 A>G polymorphism is not associated with susceptibility to ITP in the Egyptian population; neither it affects the clinical picture of the disease.
A Two-Dimensional Model for the Study of Interpersonal Attraction
Authors: Montoya R. Matthew , Horton Robert S.
Published: September 2013

We describe a model for understanding interpersonal attraction in which attraction can be understood as a product of the initial evaluations we make about others. The model posits that targets are evaluated on two basic dimensions, capacity and willingness, such that affective and behavioral attraction result from evaluations of (a) a target’s capacity to facilitate the perceiver’s goals/needs and (b) a target’s potential willingness to facilitate those goals/needs. The plausibility of the two-dimensional model of attraction is evaluated vis-à-vis the extant literature on various attraction phenomena including the reciprocity of liking effect, pratfall effect, matching hypothesis, arousal effects, and similarity effect. We conclude that considerable evidence across a wide range of phenomena supports the idea that interpersonal attraction is principally determined by inferences about the target’s capacity and willingness.
Preparation and characterization of properties of nanographite-based cutting fluid for machining operations
Authors: Amrita M , Srikant RR , Sitaramaraju AV , Prasad MMS , Krishna P Vamsi
Published: September 2013

Soluble oils are the most popularly used oils in metal-cutting industry. However, the regular application strategy, flood cooling, involves the problem related to its disposal. Hence, mist application can be seen as an alternative procedure. Since less amount of cutting fluid is used, its capacity to carry away heat and provide adequate lubrication is limited. Therefore, the heat carrying and lubricating abilities of soluble oil need to be enhanced. Graphite has better lubricating and cooling properties, and hence inclusion of graphite nano particles in cutting fluid may help in formulating a better coolant in machining operation. This paper consists of two parts. The first part consists of preparation of nano cutting fluid by different methods followed by their stability evaluation, and second part consists of characterization of the basic properties of nano cutting fluid.
Disease-activity-free status in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis treated with daclizumab high-yield process in the SELECT study
Authors: Havrdova Eva , Giovannoni Gavin , Stefoski Dusan , Forster Samantha , Umans Kimberly , Mehta Lahar , Greenberg Steven , Elkins Jacob
Published: September 2013

Background:

Daclizumab high-yield process (DAC HYP) is a humanized anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody that inhibits high-affinity interleukin-2 receptor signaling.

Objective:

The objective of this paper is to assess the proportion of DAC HYP- versus placebo-treated patients who were free from disease activity.

Methods:

SELECT was a randomized, double-blind, multicenter study of DAC HYP 150 mg or 300 mg, or placebo, administered subcutaneously every four weeks for 52 weeks. In this post-hoc analysis of the SELECT trial, ‘disease-activity free’ was defined as completion through week 52 without relapses or confirmed three-month disability progression (clinical), with no new/newly enlarging T2-hyperintense lesions and no new gadolinium-enhancing lesions at the week 52 scan (radiological). Primary analyses were based on logistic regression controlling for baseline characteristics.

Results:

More DAC HYP-treated (39%, n = 156) versus placebo-treated patients (11%, n = 22) were disease-activity free (odds ratio (95% confidence interval), 6.18 (3.71–10.32); p < 0.0001). Furthermore, 77% and 48% of DAC HYP-treated patients were free from clinical or radiological disease activity, respectively, compared with 60% and 18% of placebo-treated patients.

Conclusion:

At one year, DAC HYP resulted in a meaningful increase in the proportion of relapsing–remitting MS patients who were disease-activity free versus placebo.