bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing 3D range image measurement density via dynamic Papoulis–Gerchberg algorithm
Authors: Kuzucu Elvan , Öztürk Dilan , Gül Mustafa , Özbay Bengisu , Arisoy A Mansur , Sirin H Onur , Uyanik Ismail
Published: March 2018

As one of the most popular range detection methods, lidar is commonly used in various robotic applications. Although most robotic platforms easily adopt 2D lidar for range sensing, 3D lidar is rarely used in mobile robots, owing to its high cost. Some methods reported in the literature obtain 3D range information by rotating a single 2D lidar device. However, for most of these methods, there is a trade-off between 3D scan frequency and measurement density. Existing methods discussed in the literature for increasing the measurement density in high-frequency lidar have high time complexity and require certain conditions on data distribution. In a previous work, we showed the usability of an image super-resolution method, the Papoulis–Gerchberg (P–G) algorithm, on range data represented in the form of a greyscale image. However, the low convergence rate of the original P–G algorithm impedes its use for online applications. In this study, we advanced the P–G algorithm to drastically reduce the convergence time and improve performance by utilizing previous range images. The proposed algorithm now supports application on a mobile robot with online measurement density enhancement for 3D range images collected by rotating a 2D lidar device around its pitch axis with a high 3D scan frequency. We show illustrative examples for different scenarios to present the effectiveness of the proposed method on a 3D range sensor mounted on a mobile robot.
Predicting event mentions based on a semantic analysis of microblogs for inter-region relationships
Authors: Jang Gwan , Myaeng Sung-Hyon
Published: March 2018

An ability to predict people’s interests in different regions would be valuable to many applications including marketing and policymaking. We posit that social media plays an important role in capturing collective user interests in different regions and their dynamics over time and across regions. Event mentions in microblogs of social media like Twitter not only reflect the people’s interests in different regions but also affect the posting of future messages as the content of microblogs propagates to others through an online social network. Differentiating from the various network analysis techniques that have been developed to capture people’s interests and their propagation patterns, we propose an event mention prediction method that utilises an analysis of inter-region relationships. We first obtain regional user interests for each topic by applying Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to region-specific collections of tweets and then compute pairwise similarities among regions. The resulting similarity-based region network becomes the basis for constructing region groups through Markov Cluster Algorithm, which helps removing noise relationships among regions. We then propose a relatively simple regression technique to predict future event mentions in different regions. We demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the state-of-the-art event prediction method, confirming that the novel method of constructing groups from region-based sub-topic interests indeed contributes to the increase in the prediction accuracy.
Strategy and Structure in a State Industrial Development Corporation
Authors: Venkataramana P , Sarma Sri Ananthanarayana
Published: March 2018

What are the variables determining the organization structure of public sector enterprises in developing countries? Are they different from those of private sector organizations in developed and developing countries? Venkataramana and Sarma attempt to answer these questions by examining in depth the structure of the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (APIDC), which has been set up by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to promote industrial development in the state.

The authors examine how APIDC'S structure has evolved and assess the performance of the organization against the stated objectives. They state that APIDC's structure has so evolved as to subserve the strategic interests of a dominant coalition which relies on political power in decision making.
Maruti Udyog Limited
Authors: Satia J K , Thomas P S
Published: March 2018

Maruti Udyog Ltd. (MUL) was set up in 1980 by the government to produce automobiles. By collaborating with Suzuki Motor Company in 1982, it was hoped that the famed Japanese style of management would catalyze the small and backward car industry and some of the others to which it was linked. Maruti got off to an excellent start by public sector standards. However, by 1985, fiscal, balance of payments, and technology transfer problems began to surface. With current order books winding down by 1990, questions arise as to MUL's mission, its product-market strategies, its pricing policy, and the value of Japanese participation. Questions also arise regarding the coherence, long term stability, and developmental aims of government's policy towards the automobile industry.
Effect of continuous progressive resistance training during hemodialysis on body composition, physical function and quality of life in end-stage renal disease patients: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Rosa Clara Suemi da Costa , Nishimoto Danilo Yuzo , Souza Giovana Damasceno e , Ramirez Ariane Pereira , Carletti Carla Oliveira , Daibem Célio Guilherme Lombardi , Sakkas Giorgos K , Monteiro Henrique Luiz
Published: March 2018

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate the effect of continuous progressive resistance training on body composition, functional capacity and self-reported quality of life in end-stage renal disease patients.

Design:

A randomized controlled trial.

Subjects:

The study included 52 hemodialysis patients (aged 55.7 ± 14.03 years) randomized into exercise (progressive resistance training (PRT), n = 28) or control (CON, n = 24) groups.

Intervention:

Patients randomized into the PRT group received prescribed strength exercises in two sets of 15–20 repetitions, in a repetition maximum training zone regime, thrice a week for 12 weeks, during hemodialysis. Patients randomized into the CON group received a sham-exercise with active mobilization of the arms and legs without load and progression.

Main outcome measure:

Body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), strength using handgrip dynamometry (HGS), repeated sit-to-stand test (STT), 6-minute walk test, flexibility and the SF-36 questionnaire (quality of life (QoL)) were assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks.

Results:

Leg lean mass ( P = 0.04, effect size (ES) of 0.56), bone mineral content ( P = 0.02, ES of 0.65), leg strength in STT repetitions ( P = 0.01, ES of 0.66) and flexibility ( P < 0.01, ES of 1.03) were significantly improved in the PRT group compared to the CON group. Walking capacity, HGS and QoL were not different between the groups.

Conclusion:

12 weeks of PRT with a repetition maximum training zone regime provided significant load to increase leg lean mass and STT performance as well as bone mineral content, compared to the CON, which continued to deteriorate. There was lack of efficacy on walking test, HGS and QoL.
Association of neurologist care with headache expenditures: A population-based, longitudinal analysis
Authors: Ney John P , Sico Jason J , Klein Brad C , Magliocco Brandon , Callaghan Brian C , Esper Gregory J
Published: March 2018

Objective

To assess the association of neurologist ambulatory care with healthcare utilization and expenditure in headache.

Methods

This was a longitudinal cohort study from two-year duration panel data, pooled from 2002–2013, of adult respondents identified with diagnostic codes for headache in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Those with a neurologist ambulatory care visit in year one of panel participation were compared with those who did not for the change in annual aggregate direct headache-related health care costs from year one to year two of panel participation, inflated to 2015 US dollars. Results were adjusted via multiple linear regression for demographic and clinical variables, utilizing survey variables for accurate estimates and standard errors.

Results

Eight hundred and eighty-seven respondents were included, with 23.3% (207/887) seeing a neurologist in year one. The neurologist group had higher year-one mean headache-related expenditures ($3032 vs. $1636), but nearly equal mean year-two expenditures compared to controls ($1900 vs. $1929). Adjusted association between neurologist care and difference in mean annual expenditures from year two to year one was −$1579 (95% CI −$2468, −$690, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Among headache sufferers, particularly those with higher headache-related healthcare expenditures, neurologist care is associated with a significant reduction in costs over two years.
Descriptive Epidemiology of the MOON Shoulder Instability Cohort
Authors: Kraeutler Matthew J. , McCarty Eric C. , Belk John W. , Wolf Brian R. , Hettrich Carolyn M. , Ortiz Shannon F. ,   MOON Shoulder Instability Group, Bravman Jonathan T. , Baumgarten Keith M. , Bishop Julie Y. , Bollier Matthew J. , Brophy Robert H. , Carey James L. , Carpenter James E. , Cox Charlie L. , Feeley Brian T. , Grant John A. , Jones Grant L. , Kuhn John E. , Kelly John D. , Ma C. Benjamin , Marx Robert G. , Miller Bruce S. , Sennett Brian J. , Smith Matthew V. , Wright Rick W. , Zhang Alan L.
Published: March 2018

Background:

Shoulder instability is a common diagnosis among patients undergoing shoulder surgery.

Purpose:

To perform a descriptive analysis of patients undergoing surgery for shoulder instability through a large multicenter consortium.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

All patients undergoing surgery for shoulder instability who were enrolled in the MOON Shoulder Instability Study were included. Baseline demographics included age, sex, body mass index, and race. Baseline patient-reported outcomes (PROs) included the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Shoulder Activity Score, Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI), 36-Item Health Survey (RAND-36), and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE). The preoperative physician examination included active range of motion (ROM) and strength testing. Preoperative imaging assessments with plain radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography were also included and analyzed.

Results:

Twenty-six surgeons had enrolled 863 patients (709 male, 154 female) across 10 clinical sites. The mean age for the cohort was 24 years (range, 12-63 years). Male patients represented 82% of the cohort. The primary direction of instability was anterior for both male (74%) and female (73%) patients. Football (24%) and basketball (13%) were the most common sports in which the primary shoulder injury occurred. No clinically significant differences were found in preoperative ROM between the affected and unaffected sides for any measurement taken. Preoperative MRI scans were obtained in 798 patients (92%). An anterior labral tear was the most common injury found on preoperative MRI, seen in 66% of patients, followed by a Hill-Sachs lesion in 41%. Poor PRO scores were recorded preoperatively (mean: ASES, 72.4; WOSI, 43.3; SANE, 46.6).

Conclusion:

The MOON Shoulder Instability Study has enrolled the largest cohort of patients undergoing shoulder stabilization to date. Anterior instability is most common among shoulder instability patients, and most patients undergoing shoulder stabilization are in their early 20s or younger. The results of this study provide important epidemiological information for patients undergoing shoulder stabilization surgery.
Multicommunicating in Meetings: Effects of Locus, Topic Relatedness, and Meeting Medium
Authors: Cameron Ann-Frances , Barki Henri , Ortiz de Guinea Ana , Coulon Thibaut , Moshki Hanieh
Published: March 2018

While meetings are a frequently used management tool, they also tend to be costly and less effective than desired. Multicommunication in meetings (Meeting MC)—being simultaneously engaged both in an organizational meeting and in one or more technology-mediated secondary conversations—has become increasingly prevalent and can affect meeting outcomes. Based on Goffman’s dramaturgical lens, media synchronicity, and compartmentalization, the present study examines how the outcomes of engaging in Meeting MC are affected by three key factors: Locus (the location of the people with whom one engages in a second conversation), Meeting Medium (the technology used to conduct a meeting), and Topic Relatedness (whether the topics being discussed in a meeting are related to the second conversation). Analyses of survey data suggest that how these three factors and their interactions affect meetings when Meeting MC occurs vary depending on whether a meeting is face-to-face (FTF) or technology-mediated.
Regenerative braking algorithm for the electric vehicle with a seamless two-speed transmission
Authors: Zhou Zhou , Huang Miaohua
Published: March 2018

Better energy efficiency can be acquired by an appropriate shift operation during the regenerative braking process. In this work, an electric vehicle equipped with a two-speed automated transmission was used as the target vehicle. The transmission consists of two-stage planetary gear sets, a helical gear set, and two brakes. A hierarchical algorithm is presented for the electric vehicle. The upper-level algorithm was synthesized to assign braking force among regenerative braking, friction braking, front axle braking, and rear axle braking. Based on the motor external characteristic and ECE-R13 regulations, the work designed the dynamic distribution strategy for maximum use of regenerative braking. In the medium-level algorithm, the motor speed, efficiency characteristics, and assigned regenerative braking torque from upper-level algorithm were used to analyze the optimal shift points for improving regenerative efficiency. Then, a shift points table was drawn. In the lower-level algorithm, the linear control for the transmission was given to ensure seamless and smooth shifting. Finally, hardware-in-loop simulations were carried out. The results show that the proposed algorithm can improve performance in energy efficiency in the experimental braking events.
Deep learning–based traffic sign recognition for unmanned autonomous vehicles
Authors: Zang Di , Wei Zhihua , Bao Maomao , Cheng Jiujun , Zhang Dongdong , Tang Keshuang , Li Xin
Published: March 2018

Being one of the key techniques for unmanned autonomous vehicle, traffic sign recognition is applied to assist autopilot. Colors are very important clues to identify traffic signs; however, color-based methods suffer performance degradation in the case of light variation. Convolutional neural network, as one of the deep learning methods, is able to hierarchically learn high-level features from the raw input. It has been proved that convolutional neural network–based approaches outperform the color-based ones. At present, inputs of convolutional neural networks are processed either as gray images or as three independent color channels; the learned color features are still not enough to represent traffic signs. Apart from colors, temporal constraint is also crucial to recognize video-based traffic signs. The characteristics of traffic signs in the time domain require further exploration. Quaternion numbers are able to encode multi-dimensional information, and they have been employed to describe color images. In this article, we are inspired to present a quaternion convolutional neural network–based approach to recognize traffic signs by fusing spatial and temporal features in a single framework. Experimental results illustrate that the proposed method can yield correct recognition results and obtain better performance when compared with the state-of-the-art work.
Resistance of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Populations to Deltamethrin, Permethrin, and Temephos in Cambodia
Authors: Boyer Sébastien , Lopes Sergio , Prasetyo Didot , Hustedt John , Sarady Ay Sao , Doum Dyna , Yean Sony , Peng Borin , Bunleng Sam , Leang Rithea , Fontenille Didier , Hii Jeffrey
Published: March 2018

Dengue fever is a major public health concern, including 185,000 annual cases in Cambodia. Aedes aegypti is the primary vector for dengue transmission and is targeted with insecticide treatments. This study characterized the insecticide resistance status of Ae aegypti from rural and urban locations. The susceptibility to temephos, permethrin, and deltamethrin of Ae aegypti was evaluated in accordance with World Health Organization instructions. All the field populations showed lower mortality rate to temephos compared with the sensitive strain with resistance ratio 50 (RR50) varying from 3.3 to 33.78 and RR90 from 4.2 to 47 compared with the sensitive strain, demonstrating a generalized resistance of larvae to the temephos in Cambodia. Ae aegypti adult populations were highly resistant to permethrin regardless of province or rural/urban classification with an average mortality of 0.02%. Seven of the 8 field populations showed resistance to deltamethrin. These results are alarming for dengue vector control, as widespread resistance may compromise the entomological impact of larval control operations. Innovative vector control tools are needed to replace ineffective pesticides in Cambodia.
Impacts of the School Context on Victimization in a Sample of Chinese Adolescents: A Multilevel Approach
Authors: Zhao Ruohui
Published: March 2018

Although the impacts of the school context on victimization in adolescents are well researched in Western societies, empirical testing of the contextual impacts are lacking in China. The present study examines both violent and property victimization in adolescents in the Chinese setting from a lifestyle/routine activity perspective using a multilevel approach. These data are collected from a sample of 3,628 high school students in a southern city of China. The results of a hierarchical logistic regression model reveal that school contextual variables including school type, level of bonding to school, and school history are significant predictors of violent victimization while student-staff ratio is significant in predicting property victimization in adolescents. At the student level, a higher level of perceived school disorder and delinquency with friends is related with higher odds of both violent and property victimizations; bonding to parents and schools tends to reduce the odds of both violent and property victimizations, net of demographic factors. The results lend support to lifestyle/routine activity theories. Implications of the findings are highlighted in the section “Discussion and Conclusion.”
Performance evaluation and comparison of a serial–parallel hybrid multichamber piezoelectric pump
Authors: Zhang Zhonghua , Chen Song , Wang Shuyun , Kan Junwu , Wen Jianming , Yang Can
Published: March 2018

To improve the output capability of piezoelectric pumps, researchers have made an attempt to combine multiple single-chamber pumps either in series or in parallel. In this article, a serial–parallel hybrid multichamber piezoelectric pump is presented. The novel serial–parallel hybrid multichamber piezoelectric pump structure is characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of serial/parallel forms through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous modes of piezoelectric actuators. Moreover, the pump can be operated in multiple working modes to obtain the desired chamber volume and number through different serial–parallel configurations. The performance characteristics of the pump with various serial–parallel hybrid combinations were experimentally investigated and evaluated using a quintuple-chamber pump at 90 V with a frequency range of 60–400 Hz. Experimental results showed that the characteristics in terms of flow rate and backpressure changed significantly with different serial–parallel modes. Nevertheless, the backpressure presented very similar characteristics for the serial–parallel hybrid multichamber piezoelectric pump with the same number of in-phase parallel actuators. Meanwhile, the frequency-dependent flow rate characteristics were approximately similar for those pumps with symmetric serial–parallel combinations. It was found that the flow rate and backpressure mainly depended on the actuation frequency and serial–parallel modes, respectively. Compared with the quintuple-chamber pump with full out-of-phase actuators, the maximum powers of the serial–parallel hybrid multichamber piezoelectric pump with two, three, four, and five in-phase actuators were decreased by 21.1%, 51.4%, 77.7%, and 94.4%, respectively.
Neighborhood Satisfaction: A Study of a Low-Income Urban Community
Authors: Ciorici Patricia , Dantzler Prentiss
Published: March 2018

This article discusses the findings from a study on neighborhood satisfaction conducted within the North Camden neighborhood context. Using data from the 2011 North Camden Resident Satisfaction Survey, the study examined the subjective measures of neighborhood-level characteristics to identify the determinants of neighborhood satisfaction. A binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the quality of social networks, neighborhood physical conditions, neighborhood safety, and quality of public services are positively associated with neighborhood satisfaction. Surprisingly, the analysis showed that the extent of social networks and access to transportation have an inverse relationship with the satisfaction of residents with their neighborhood. The article discusses these findings and the way in which the results can inform practitioners about policies and programs that need to be developed and implemented to improve neighborhood satisfaction and, ultimately, individual and community well-being.
The Emergence of “Solidarity Recycling” in Brazil: Structural Convergences and Strategic Actions in Interconnected Fields
Authors: Candido Silvio Eduardo Alvarez , Soulé Fernanda Veríssimo , Sacomano Neto Mário
Published: March 2018

The relatively good recycling performance in Brazil is associated to material recovery chains involving a huge number of informal waste collectors. Over the past decades, social activists have supported grassroots recycling cooperatives and these organizations have spread around the country becoming consecrated in the National solid waste policy as a legitimate form to organize recycling. This article analyses the emergence of “solidarity recycling” in Brazil, addressing the cultural and political relations and processes that have led to its legitimation. Cross-fertilizing Bourdieu’s sociological approach and the strategic action fields perspective, a qualitative, retrospective, and longitudinal study was conducted using secondary and primary data from various sources. Evidence shows that the emergence of solidarity recycling has resulted from both structural convergences and strategic actions unfolding across multiple fields, indicating the complementarity of the used approaches and the importance of accounting for the interconnection of arenas.
Coinheritance of 2 New Potentially Damaging Heterozygous COL7A1 Variants in a Family With Autosomal Dominant Epidermolysis Bullosa Pruriginosa
Authors: Hale Gordon I , Cohen Marta C , Quarrell Oliver W , McGrath John A , Messenger Andrew G
Published: March 2018

Epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa (EBP) is a rare subtype of EB which is characterized by intense pruritus with blistering and nodular or lichenoid lesions most prominent on the lower extremities. It is caused by variants in COL7A1 which encodes for type VII collagen. There is wide phenotypic and genotypic variability between affected individuals. We report 2 potentially pathogenic variants in COL7A1 occurring on the same allele in a family with EBP and autosomal dominant inheritance. Late-onset EBP and incomplete penetrance may lead to delayed presentation in affected family members with the same variants. The broad phenotypic variability seen in EBP suggests that further genotypic and environmental factors may influence presentation. Genetic and histopathological diagnosis is essential, given the considerable overlap with clinically similar presentations such as hypertrophic lichen planus.
Digital Gaming and Young People’s Friendships: A Mixed Methods Study of Time Use and Gaming in School
Authors: Eklund Lina , Roman Sara
Published: March 2018

In this mixed methods study, we investigate the impact of digital gaming on school social life among young people (17–19 year old) by combining over-time data investigating friendships as they form, with subjective experiences of friendships. We draw on one full cohort of Swedish pupils surveyed on three occasions during their first year in upper-secondary school ( n = 115) and one interview sample of 10 game users.

Results indicate that how much time young people spend on gaming is not a significant factor for friendship formation in the studied sample. Moreover, high-use did not make game users socially isolated or less popular in school. We discuss how young people adhere to ideals of responsible leisure in order to become adults; practising time-management strategies to make place for time-consuming leisure while not letting it impact personal relationships.
Pain upon inserting a peripheral intravenous catheter: Size does not matter
Authors: van Loon Fredericus HJ , Puijn Lisette APM , van Aarle Wesly H , Dierick-van Daele Angelique TM , Bouwman Arthur RA
Published: March 2018

Background:

Approximately 1.2 billion peripheral intravenous catheters are inserted across the world annually. It is known that intravenous cannulation may be a painful procedure, which affects cognitive abilities by increasing anxiety and discomfort.

Aim:

We hypothesized that inserting a smaller sized peripheral intravenous catheter has a lower level of pain sensation compared to a larger sized catheter.

Methods:

This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted between May and October 2016, in which surgical patients, aged 18 years or older, were eligible to participate. Experienced anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists routinely obtained peripheral intravenous access according to the standards of care. The primary outcome was pain (verbal numeric rating scale, 0–10) upon intravenous cannulation.

Results:

A total of 1063 patients were included and they were divided into four groups: group 1, 22 gauge (N = 29); group 2, 20 gauge (N = 447); group 3, 18 gauge (N = 531); and group 4, sized over 18 gauge (N = 56). Inserting an 18-gauged peripheral intravenous catheter resulted in the lowest pain score (3.2 ± 2.0). As a result of the multivariate linear analysis, five factors were significantly associated with pain upon inserting a peripheral intravenous catheter (sex, American Society of Anesthesiology classification, a patients risk profile on the A-DIVA scale, site of cannulation on the extremity, and whether or not the attempt was successful); however, the size of the inserted peripheral intravenous catheter had no significant relation to the primary outcome.

Conclusion:

Inserting a smaller sized peripheral intravenous catheter did not result in a lower pain sensation. Moreover, to prevent pain upon inserting a peripheral intravenous catheter, an unsuccessful attempt must be avoided.
Guest Editorial—Special Collection Topic: Statistical Systems Theory in Cancer Modeling, Diagnosis, and Therapy
Authors: Dougherty Edward R , Boulesteix Anne-Laure , Dalton Lori A , Zhang Michelle
Published: March 2018

Aims and Scope:

Cancer is a systems disease involving mutations and altered regulation. This supplement treats cancer research as it pertains to 3 systems issues of an inherently statistical nature: regulatory modeling and information processing, diagnostic classification, and therapeutic intervention and control. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) multiscale modeling, gene/protein transcriptional regulation, dynamical systems, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling, compensatory regulation, feedback, apoptotic and proliferative control, copy number-expression interaction, integration of different feature types, error estimation, and reproducibility. We are especially interested in how the above issues relate to the extremely high-dimensional data sets and small- to moderate-sized data sets typically involved in cancer research, for instance, their effect on statistical power, inference accuracy, and multiple comparisons.
Wrapping Glial Morphogenesis and Signaling Control the Timing and Pattern of Neuronal Differentiation in the Drosophila Lamina
Authors: Rossi Anthony M , Fernandes Vilaiwan M
Published: March 2018

Various regions of the developing brain coordinate their construction so that the correct types and numbers of cells are generated to build a functional network. We previously discovered that wrapping glia in the Drosophila visual system are essential for coordinating retinal and lamina development. We showed that wrapping glia, which ensheath photoreceptor axons, respond to an epidermal growth factor cue from photoreceptors by secreting insulins. Wrapping glial insulins activate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway downstream of insulin receptor in lamina precursors to induce neuronal differentiation. The signaling relay via wrapping glia introduces a delay that allows the lamina to assemble the correct stoichiometry and physical alignment of precursors before differentiating and imposes a stereotyped spatiotemporal pattern that is relevant for specifying the individual lamina neuron fates. Here, we further describe how wrapping glia morphogenesis correlates with the timing of lamina neuron differentiation by 2-photon live imaging. We also show that although MAPK activity in lamina precursors drives neuronal differentiation, the upstream receptor driving MAPK activation in lamina precursors and the ligand secreted by wrapping glia to trigger it differentially affect lamina neuron differentiation. These results highlight differences in MAPK signaling properties and confirm that communication between photoreceptors, wrapping glia, and lamina precursors must be precisely controlled to build a complex neural network.
Apelin, the Devil Inside Brain Tumors
Authors: Harford-Wright Elizabeth , Gavard Julie
Published: March 2018

Glioblastoma multiforme are mortifying brain tumors that contain a subpopulation of tumor cells with stem-like properties, termed as glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs). These GSCs constitute an autonomous reservoir of aberrant cells able to initiate, maintain, and repopulate the tumor mass. A new therapeutic strategy would consist of targeting the GSC population. The GSCs are situated in perivascular niches, closely associated with brain microvascular endothelial cells thereby involved in bidirectional molecular and cellular interactions. In this scenario, the endothelium not only supplies oxygen and necessary nutrients but also seeds a protective microenvironment for tumor growth. Although GSC fate, plasticity, and survival are regulated by external cues emanating from endothelial cells, the nature of such angiocrine signals remains unknown. Our laboratory conclusively demonstrated that brain endothelial cells positively control the expansion of GSCs.1 Notably, we found that GSCs are addicted to the hormonal peptide apelin (APLN) secreted by surrounding endothelial cells, and identified the APLN/APLNR nexus as a promising druggable network in glioblastoma.
Recurrent Pleural Effusion as a Result of Bilateral Renal Artery Stenosis. Does Renal Revascularization Help?
Authors: Abugroun Ashraf , Gonzalez Marion , Vilchez Daniel
Published: March 2018

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is the leading cause of secondary hypertension. Renal artery stenosis can result in various cardiopulmonary complications mostly through activation of neurohormonal pathways that result in fluid overload and systemic hypertension. We herein describe a 72-year-old man with recurrent rapidly accumulating transudative pleural effusion in a patient with severe bilateral RAS. Patient pleural effusion resolved following stent placement with revascularization of the left renal artery despite absence of improvement of renal function. Patient renal function continued to decline and ultimately treated with fixed hemodialysis.
Intraoperative Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Training: Efficient Teaching Techniques—A New Method
Authors: Sandhaus Henya , Chen Philip G
Published: March 2018

Introduction:

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery is a complex procedure used by otorhinolaryngologists to treat a host of nasal sinus pathologies. Due to the involved nasal anatomy and the nature of the procedure, teaching residents to use an endoscope is challenging. Simulation labs have been helpful but intraoperative instruction can still present difficulty in communication between resident and attending physicians during the teaching process. The purpose of this is to hypothesize a method of teaching intraoperatively that can be used supplemental to or independently of virtual reality teaching.

Method:

Literature review to determine current intraoperative verbal teaching methods used by surgeons was performed. Review was also performed on the effects of simulation techniques in preparing residents for the operating room. Although this was not a systematic review including statistical analysis, a gap was found in the literature on how residents can be efficiently taught intraoperatively to navigate an endoscope while maintaining patient safety. A novel and inexpensive method has been devised as a possible teaching method.

Conclusions:

Extensive literature is not available in intraoperative teaching techniques. It is therefore uncertain whether such a method has been used before. Further study, possibly in the form of surveys and intraoperative trials, must be done to determine the effectiveness of this mechanism.
Filiform Verrucous Sarcoidosis of the Face: A Warty Report
Authors: Hudson Andrew D. , Klimas Natasha K. , Stetson Cloyce L.
Published: March 2018

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory condition of unknown etiology. Variability in the cutaneous features of sarcoidosis is profound, and its protean manifestations affirm the condition’s designation as one of dermatology’s “great mimics.” Cutaneous phenotypes of sarcoidosis include but are by no means limited to ichthyosiform, alopecic, erythrodermic, angiolupoid, and verrucous variants. Verrucous sarcoidosis is an exceedingly rare manifestation, and previous reports of this phenotype are limited to 15 cases. Most cases in the extant literature presented on the extremities, with clinical features mimicking that of a common wart, or as verrucous crateriform nodules, ulcers, or cutaneous horns. Only 4 previous reports of facial verrucous sarcoidosis exist in the literature, and to our knowledge, no prior cases have demonstrated filiform lesion morphology. Here we present a case of filiform verrucous sarcoidosis in an otherwise healthy, middle-aged African American man, devoid of internal organ involvement and limited to the face, histopathologically confirmed by the presence of characteristic granulomata devoid of lymphocytic infiltrates.
Health psychology in autobiography: Three Canadian critical narratives
Authors: Stam Henderikus J , Murray Michael , Lubek Ian
Published: March 2018

Three Canadian colleagues in health psychology recount their careers in a field of research and practice whose birth they witnessed and whose developments they have critiqued. By placing the development of health psychology in Canada in a context that is both institutional and personal, Stam, Murray, and Lubek raise a series of questions about health psychology and its propagation. While uniquely Canadian their professional careers were affected by international colleagues as well as others—patients and community members—whose views shaped their perspectives. This article is a plea for the continuing development of critical voices in health psychology.
Project reach: Piloting a risk-tailored smoking cessation intervention for lung screening
Authors: Lennes Inga T , Luberto Christina M , Carr Alaina L , Hall Daniel L , Strauss Nicole M , Ponzani Colin , Park Elyse R
Published: March 2018

The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a telephone-based smoking cessation intervention for lung screening patients. Participants ( N = 39) were enrolled in a single-arm pilot study of a four-session telephone-based intervention. Self-report measures were completed at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Participants were long-term smokers; 62 percent were not motivated to quit. Twenty-three percent attempted quitting, 29 percent decreased their smoking, and 11 percent reported abstinence. Confidence increased ( p < .001) and there were trends toward increased importance ( p = .09) and comparative disease risk ( p = .02). This intervention was acceptable and associated with improvements in smoking-related beliefs and behaviors.
Aging With Down Syndrome: The Dual Diagnosis: Alzheimer’s Disease and Down Syndrome
Authors: Cipriani Gabriele , Danti Sabrina , Carlesi Cecilia , Di Fiorino Mario
Published: March 2018

Background:

People with Down syndrome (DS) enjoy a longer life expectancy now than they ever have before and are therefore at greater risk of developing conditions associated with aging, including dementia.

Objectives:

To explore the phenomenon of dementia in DS.

Methods:

Medline and Google Scholar searches were conducted for relevant articles, chapters, and books published until 2017. Search terms included Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive impairment, dementia, DS, and trisomy 21. Publications found through this indexed search were reviewed for further references.

Results and Conclusions:

Virtually, all subject aged 35 to 40 show key neuropathologic changes characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, but only a part of them show clinical signs of dementia, usually around the age of 50 years. Early signs of dementia in people with DS may be different from those experienced by the general population. Failure to recognize this can delay diagnosis and subsequent interventions.
Postsurgical Treatment of Split Skin Graft Donor Sites in Dermatological Departments
Authors: Jansen Philipp , Stoffels Ingo , Klode Joachim , Jockenhöfer Finja , Augustin Matthias , Schadendorf Dirk , Dissemond Joachim
Published: March 2018

The surgical removal of split skin grafts (SSGs) leads to superficial wounds that can be covered with different wound dressings. Currently, international guidelines that recommend a standard treatment of the donor sites are not yet established. We developed a questionnaire to evaluate the treatment of SSG donor sites and sent it to all dermatological departments in Germany. Altogether 78 of the 115 contacted departments in Germany participated in our cross-sectional trial. Our analysis reveals that multiple wound dressings with different frequencies of replacement are used. On an average, complete reepithelialization of the donor site takes 14-21 days. Foams and coated gauzes are used in 73% of all surgical procedures for postsurgical treatment of SSG donor sites. Still, neither a significant faster reepithelialization nor a lower rate of wound healing disorders can be assigned to any of the wound dressings. The results of our study indicate that a large number of wound care products and treatment strategies are currently applied on SSG donor sites in dermatological departments in Germany. The selection of the wound dressing is not based on scientific data but rather on the experience of individual experts.
From Empowerment to Multilevel Creativity: The Role of Employee Self-Perceived Status and Feedback-Seeking Climate
Authors: Li Ran , Wang Hui , Huang Mingpeng
Published: March 2018

Employees’ perception of their intrateam status plays an important role in the leader–member interaction process. Combining relational fairness theory and status theory, the present study reveals how leadership empowerment behavior (LEB) affects employee and team creativity. Specifically, we propose that LEB may increase employee creativity by elevating employee self-perceived status and enhance team creativity through fostering a feedback-seeking climate in the team. Moreover, we propose that, at the team level, team status conflict moderates the relationship between LEB and feedback-seeking climate such that LEB is only positively related to feedback-seeking climate when status conflict is low but not when it is high. We further propose that team feedback-seeking climate also mediates the interactive effect of LEB and status conflict on team creativity. Results based on data collected from a sample of 84 teams with 392 employees supported our hypotheses. We also discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings and propose future research directions.
Unplanned Reoperation After Surgery for Scapholunate Interosseous Ligament Insufficiency: A Retrospective Review of 316 Patients
Authors: van Leeuwen Wouter F. , Menendez Mariano E. , Gaspar Michael P. , Jacoby Sidney M. , Osterman A. Lee , Chen Neal
Published: March 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with unplanned reoperation after surgery for scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL) insufficiency. Methods: Using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes from 3 hand surgery centers across 2 metropolitan areas, we identified 316 patients undergoing surgery for SLIL insufficiency from 2000 to 2014. Medical records were manually reviewed to collect data on factors that might be associated with unplanned reoperation, including age, sex, tobacco use, occupation, acuity of treatment, and reconstruction method. Results: Thirty-eight patients (12%) had an unplanned reoperation; most of them (65%) were a secondary reconstruction or salvage procedure (eg, 6 proximal row carpectomies, 9 revision reconstruction, and 10 partial carpal arthrodeses), while 5 (13%) were for unplanned screw removal. The median time between the index and second surgery was 16 months (range, 2-97 months). The type of index procedure was not associated with reoperation. The only factor associated with reoperation was cigarette smoking, and this association persisted when looking specifically at reoperations for revision or salvage. Conclusions: Patients should be counseled that smoking is associated with reoperation after SLIL surgery. Smoking cessation or decreasing nicotine usage may be beneficial prior to surgery. With the numbers available, there was no association between surgical technique and reoperation.
Gamma Low-Dose-Rate Ionizing Radiation Stimulates Adaptive Functional and Molecular Response in Human Aortic Endothelial Cells in a Threshold-, Dose-, and Dose Rate–Dependent Manner
Authors: Vieira Dias Juliana , Gloaguen Celine , Kereselidze Dimitri , Manens Line , Tack Karine , Ebrahimian Teni G
Published: March 2018

A central question in radiation protection research is whether low-dose and low-dose-rate (LDR) exposures to ionizing radiation play a role in progression of cardiovascular disease. The response of endothelial cells to different LDR exposures may help estimate risk of cardiovascular disease by providing the biological mechanism involved. We investigated the effect of chronic LDR radiation on functional and molecular responses of human aorta endothelial cells (HAoECs). Human aorta endothelial cells were continuously irradiated at LDR (6 mGy/h) for 15 days and analyzed at time points when the cumulative dose reached 0.05, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 Gy. The same doses were administered acutely at high-dose rate (HDR; 1 Gy/min). The threshold for the loss of angiogenic capacity for both LDR and HDR radiations was between 0.5 and 1.0 Gy. At 2.0 Gy, angiogenic capacity returned to normal only for HAoEC exposed to LDR radiation, associated with increased expression of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory genes. Pre-LDR, but not pre-HDR, radiation, followed by a single acute 2.0 Gy challenge dose sustained the expression of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory genes and stimulated angiogenesis. Our results suggest that dose rate is important in cellular response and that a radioadaptive response is involved for a 2.0 Gy dose at LDR.
Gender and Race Differences in Faculty Assessment of Tenure Clarity: The Influence of Departmental Relationships and Practices
Authors: Lisnic Rodica , Zajicek Anna , Morimoto Shauna
Published: March 2018

The authors look at how the intersection of gender and race influences pretenure faculty members’ perceptions of the clarity of tenure expectations. The authors also seek to identify potential predictors (assessment of mentoring, relationships with peers, feedback on progress toward tenure, and of fairness in tenure decision making and evaluation) of perceptions of tenure clarity for four intersectionally defined groups, including historically underrepresented minority women (URMW). The authors use an intersectional perspective and the gendered and racialized organizations’ theoretical lens to interpret the results. The data set comes from the Harvard University Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education survey of tenure-track faculty job satisfaction (2011 and 2012). Bivariate results reveal no significant differences in URMW’s perceptions of tenure clarity compared with all other faculty members. However, findings show that compared with white men (WM), URMW are less satisfied with the relationships with peers and with the fairness in the evaluation of their work. Moreover, they are also less likely to agree that mentoring is effective, that tenure decisions are fair, and that messages about tenure are consistent. The multivariate results indicate that the proposed explanatory model does not explain URMW’s perceptions of clarity of tenure expectations as well as it explains white women’s and WM’s perceptions of clarity of tenure expectations.
It’s Capital! Understanding Latina/o Presence in Higher Education
Authors: Ayala María Isabel , Contreras Sheila Marie
Published: March 2018

Latina/o educational differentials have been studied predominantly from a deficit standpoint that emphasizes a lack of cultural capital. More recently, researchers began to reject this deficit perspective, foregrounding instead the cultural capital that enables Latina/o students to succeed academically. The very idea that Latina/o students possess cultural capital is new to higher education, which has historically undervalued Latina/o student experience and community history. Cultural capital, however, plays a crucial role in Latina/o student academic achievement. The authors’ study of junior- and senior-level Latina/o students attending a primarily White four-year research university in the Midwest examines Latina/o community cultural wealth, particularly with regard to navigating the academy. The authors also suggest institutional changes to develop policies that address Latina/o student presence from a capital rather than a deficit perspective.