bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Tools for Old Problems: Inequality and Educational Opportunity for Ethnic Minority Youth and Parents
Authors: Hill Nancy E. , Jeffries Julia R. , Murray Kathleen P.
Published: October 2017

Fifty years after the Coleman Report delineated deep inequities across race and ethnicity in school contexts and outcomes, American families still navigate largely inequitable educational systems. The Coleman Report—with only slightly veiled surprise—also revealed the deep value African Americans place on education, their strong motivation to succeed, and the high expectations that they have for academic success. This article provides a critical analysis of the policies designed to increase equity in and access to high-quality education. With a special focus on adolescents, we show how these policies are experienced differently by families in ways that sustain inequities across ethnicity, race, and socioeconomic background. We also review research on the experiences of students in schools, arguing that policy attempts to mitigate disparities in educational experiences across race and socioeconomic condition have had little if any effect.
Counting on Context: Cross-Sector Collaborations for Education and the Legacy of James Coleman’s Sociological Vision
Authors: Riehl Carolyn , Lyon Melissa A.
Published: October 2017

Many localities across the United States are pursuing efforts to improve outcomes for children and youth through place-based, cross-sector collaborations among education, business, government, philanthropy, and social services agencies. In this article, we examine these place-based initiatives, investigating how they attempt to ameliorate educational inequity and how they might reflect the broader sociological vision of James S. Coleman. We draw from publicly available information on a set of 182 cross-sector collaborations across the United States and from in-depth case studies of collaborations in Buffalo, New York; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Portland/Multnomah County, Oregon. We find evidence that in some ways, cross-sector collaborations contribute to improving schools, offer interventions and resources to support families and communities, and attempt to revitalize localities with strong norms and social ties to support education and equity. However, these outcomes are not yet fully formed, widespread, or guaranteed to last over time.
When Two Bodies Are (Not) a Problem: Gender and Relationship Status Discrimination in Academic Hiring
Authors: Rivera Lauren A.
Published: October 2017

Junior faculty search committees serve as gatekeepers to the professoriate and play vital roles in shaping the demographic composition of academic departments and disciplines, but how committees select new hires has received minimal scholarly attention. In this article, I highlight one mechanism of gender inequalities in academic hiring: relationship status discrimination. Through a qualitative case study of junior faculty search committees at a large R1 university, I show that committees actively considered women’s—but not men’s—relationship status when selecting hires. Drawing from gendered scripts of career and family that present men’s careers as taking precedence over women’s, committee members assumed that heterosexual women whose partners held academic or high-status jobs were not “movable,” and excluded such women from offers when there were viable male or single female alternatives. Conversely, committees infrequently discussed male applicants’ relationship status and saw all female partners as movable. Consequently, I show that the “two-body problem” is a gendered phenomenon embedded in cultural stereotypes and organizational practices that can disadvantage women in academic hiring. I conclude by discussing the implications of such relationship status discrimination for sociological research on labor market inequalities and faculty diversity.
Playwork in prison as a mechanism to support family health and well-being
Authors: Woodall James , Kinsella Karina
Published: October 2017

Objective:

The health of the prison population is of increasing concern, given the disproportionate rates of ill health in this population. Moreover, the challenges faced by prisoners’ families and their children are also becoming more apparent, with prisoners’ children being more likely than other children to experience mental and emotional health problems and more likely to go to prison themselves. Prison visits are an integral part of institutional structures and are a key way by which families stay in contact and mitigate against the negative effects of family separation. This paper focuses particularly on the impact of prison play visits as an alternative to ‘standard’ visiting procedures.

Design:

Cross-sectional qualitative study.

Setting:

A male prison in Northern England.

Method:

Telephone interviews with six prison visitors who had regularly participated in a play visit, plus a focus group with five prisoners.

Results:

The paper identifies play visits as a useful way to maintain family well-being as they ‘mimic’, albeit temporarily, domestic life. This is reported to be beneficial for future family outcomes and in enabling children to adjust to parental incarceration. Play visits improve levels of intimacy, which is beneficial for the mental and emotional health of both prisoners and their children.

Conclusion:

The paper argues for a more holistic notion of prisoner health that sees family connections as a key part of supporting health and well-being.
Effects of simultaneous compression and one-sided heat flux on the time to failure of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites
Authors: Swanson D , Wolfrum J
Published: October 2017

The time to failure of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites is investigated during simultaneous compression and one-sided thermal degradation from a constant heat flux. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the rate of thermal degradation and mechanical property loss from fire exposure by observing the time to failure during simultaneous compression loading. A custom compression test fixture is designed and validated for use under thermomechanical loading. Testing is conducted on CFRP samples of varying thicknesses and quasi-isotropic layups. Test conditions are adjusted for a range of heat fluxes and compressive loads. Test parameters are isolated to observe individual impacts on time to failure. In each case, decreasing exponential trends are observed. High heat fluxes and high compressive loads result in shorter failure times. Temperature profiles are created based on heat flux exposure time and the position through the material thickness in order to determine failure criteria for thermomechanical loading. An empirical model is created to extrapolate and predict failure times using a stretched exponential function, based on mechanical preload, heat flux, and material thickness.
Dynamic effects of a single fiber break in unidirectional glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites: Effects of matrix plasticity
Authors: Ganesh Raja , Sockalingam Subramani , Gillespie John W
Published: October 2017

In a unidirectional composite under static tensile loading, breaking of a fiber is shown to be a locally dynamic process, leading to stress concentrations in the matrix and neighboring fibers and debonding of the interface, which can propagate at high speed over long distances. In our previous work, a fiber break within a two-dimensional fiber array embedded in elastic epoxy matrix (with cohesive interface) was modeled to quantify the effects of these dynamic stresses. The results indicated that the elastic limit of the polymer matrix can be exceeded. In this study, the effects of matrix plasticity on dynamic stress concentrations due to a single fiber break are investigated. For the range of matrix yield stresses considered, the dynamic stress concentrations are significantly higher than corresponding values predicted by a quasi-static model with a pre-broken fiber. Based on the ratio of shear yield strength of the matrix and mode II peak traction of the interface cohesive law, two distinct regimes of damage are shown to exist. Only matrix yielding occurs when this ratio is less than 1.0, while both interfacial debonding and matrix yielding occur when it is greater than 1.0. At higher fiber break strengths, where the elastic matrix model predicts unstable interfacial debonding, reduction in matrix yield strength leads to a transition to stable debonding and arrest. Reducing the matrix yield strength also leads to a lowering of the peak dynamic stress concentrations in adjacent fibers, while spreading the stress concentrations over a larger volume of the composite microstructure.
The Paradigm Shift in Psychotherapy: Implications for the DSM
Authors: Elkins David N.
Published: October 2017

The thesis of this article is that understanding the current paradigm shift in psychotherapy, which is the movement from a medical to a nonmedical view of psychotherapy, can provide perspective and guidance as authors critique the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM) and explore alternative ways to describe patterns of emotional distress. After defining the paradigm shift, the article presents four implications of the shift for the DSM. The article’s conclusion emphasizes the importance of developing and publishing a nonmedical system to describe patterns of emotional distress as an alternative to the DSM and other medical diagnostic systems.
Mechanisms of property ownership change and social change in inner-city Warsaw (Poland)
Authors: Górczyńska Magdalena
Published: October 2017

Taking a production-side approach, the article discusses how property restitution and privatisation have created rent and value gaps, and influenced social change in the inner city of Warsaw (Poland). Specifically, a rent gap (resulting from restitution) and a value gap (created by low-cost privatisation) are hypothesised to have produced different ownership structures in pre-war residential buildings, with different implications for social change. These effects are assumed to be modulated by three factors: legal constraints, availability of private capital and changing residential preferences. The main findings show that the national legislation and municipal regulations with respect to low cost privatisation created the value gap and favoured intergenerational property transfer and lower residential mobility. The value gap has been eliminated by the changes in municipal regulations. Second, a lack of private capital was a key element in disinvestment in the 1990s, and private developers have since become key actors in shaping the housing offer and have triggered intensive gentrification. Third, residential choices often follow family reasons (inheritance of a unit), and are loosely coupled with a ‘back to the city’ movement. The contemporary choices of many newcomers are still embedded in opportunities created by earlier privatisation. Finally, former municipal tenants in restituted buildings come under pressure from new, private owners to leave their homes. Paradoxically, restitution, seen as a mechanism for social justice, has led to social injustice. Overall, it appears that both privatisation and restitution have fuelled problems of affordability, and led to the exclusion of lower-income households from the housing market.
Crime, insecurity and corruption: Considering the growth of urban private security
Authors: Garmany Jeff , Galdeano Ana Paula
Published: October 2017

We call into question the growing presence of private security companies (PSCs) in cities throughout the world. Though PSCs have grown enormously in recent decades, there exist few academic analyses to consider their broad-reaching effects. Researchers still have much to understand about the relationships between PSCs and changing patterns of urban development, governance and public security. PSCs are prevalent in both the Global North and South, yet their presence is perhaps most intense in emerging countries, where social inequality is high and public security is tenuous. As such, in this article we draw on specific examples from the city of São Paulo, Brazil, where demand is soaring for private security and PSCs operate in complicated networks between the state, private capital and organised crime. Our analysis draws attention to the paradoxes of urban private security, beginning with the fact that public insecurity is in fact good for PSC business. By reflecting on existing published resources – and making connections across several disciplines – our goals in this article are threefold: (1) to highlight the need for more research on PSCs in urban settings; (2) to draw attention to the ways private security is changing urban space, and; (3) to suggest that the growth of PSCs, rather than being representative of increased public security, may in some cases coincide with rising levels of urban crime and insecurity.
A bilateral control scheme for vehicle steer-by-wire system with road feel and steering controller design
Authors: Zheng Hongyu , Hu Jinghuan , Liu Yahui
Published: October 2017

Steer-by-wire (SBW) system replaces the mechanical linkages in a conventional steering system with electronic actuators. However, such a steering system has problems regarding how to harmonize angle and torque close loop control strategy whilst guaranteeing SBW system stability. Towards this problem, a bilateral control scheme is proposed for SBW system with steering and road feel feedback control. A new torque and angle feedback deviation type bilateral control scheme is designed based on the analysis of several typical bilateral control schemes. In this bilateral control scheme, it only needs to measure steering wheel angle, steering wheel torque, pinion angle and steering motor torque, whilst it does not need to estimate tire and road force, neither to deploy complicated and expensive sensors or devices. The Llewellyn stability criterion and wave variable control are used to analyze the influencing factors of the stability of the SBW system and to control the stability respectively. The transparency of the SBW system is analyzed based on the impedance theory. In order to improve vehicle handling, the road feel feedback torque is designed by using a compensation controller. The bilateral control scheme and compensation controllers are implemented and their performance is experimentally validated using test vehicle. Test results demonstrate the efficiency and effect of the proposed algorithm.
Linguistic Complexity and Second Language Advertising Audiences: Is There a Case for Linguistic Exclusion?
Authors: Yeboah-Banin Abena A. , Fosu Modestus , Tsegah Marian
Published: October 2017

In many Anglophone developing countries, the language of most public service advertising is English, a language that is second rather than primary for audiences. Set in a dual-language context where English exists alongside several local languages, as means of interaction, this means that audiences must engage with messages in a language not necessarily preferred for conversation. In addition, messages are often carried on radio, a transient medium where meaning can be lost in the temporality of messages. This increases the task on audiences for processing messages, as the ability to understand most advertisements becomes contingent on their attainment of formal education. While this highlights the critical role of the English language in determining the effectiveness of public service advertisements among second language audiences, it remains understudied in media/communication scholarship. Using a textual analysis of two public service advertising campaigns in Ghana, the study unpacks the English used and examines the implications for audience comprehension.
Egyptian or Nubian? Dry-Stone Architecture at Wadi el-Hudi, Wadi es-Sebua, and the Eastern Desert
Authors: Liszka Kate
Published: October 2017

When building in dry-stone, Nubians and Egyptians used different techniques to construct walls. Wadi es-Sebua has been used as a type-site for C-Group Nubian settlements. Its exterior wall exhibits courses of stones laid at an angle, a technique I associate with Nubians. The Egyptian fortified mining settlements at Wadi el-Hudi, el-Hisnein, and Dihmit use dry-stone architecture, similar to the architecture at Wadi es-Sebua. Texts and pottery support that many Nubians also worked for contemporary Egyptian mining expeditions in the Eastern Desert during the early Middle Kingdom. I suggest that Nubian workforces carried out much of the architectural construction of these fortified settlements using their own traditional building techniques, but following an Egyptian design, and I argue that the so-called ‘loopholes’ found in these exterior walls were not for military defence, but rather were windows. These construction techniques point to a latent Nubian agency within the operation of Egyptian mining settlements.
Calf Muscle Performance Deficits Remain 7 Years After an Achilles Tendon Rupture
Authors: Brorsson Annelie , Grävare Silbernagel Karin , Olsson Nicklas , Nilsson Helander Katarina
Published: October 2017

Background:

Optimizing calf muscle performance seems to play an important role in minimizing impairments and symptoms after an Achilles tendon rupture (ATR). The literature lacks long-term follow-up studies after ATR that describe calf muscle performance over time.

Purpose:

The primary aim was to evaluate calf muscle performance and patient-reported outcomes at a mean of 7 years after ATR in patients included in a prospective, randomized controlled trial. A secondary aim was to evaluate whether improvement in calf muscle performance continued after the 2-year follow-up.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

Sixty-six subjects (13 women, 53 men) with a mean age of 50 years (SD, 8.5 years) were evaluated at a mean of 7 years (SD, 1 year) years after their ATR. Thirty-four subjects had surgical treatment and 32 had nonsurgical treatment. Patient-reported outcomes were evaluated with Achilles tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS) and Physical Activity Scale (PAS). Calf muscle performance was evaluated with single-leg standing heel-rise test, concentric strength power heel-rise test, and single-legged hop for distance. Limb Symmetry Index (LSI = injured side/healthy side × 100) was calculated for side-to-side differences.

Results:

Seven years after ATR, the injured side showed decreased values in all calf muscle performance tests ( P < .001-.012). Significant improvement in calf muscle performance did not continue after the 2-year follow-up. Heel-rise height increased significantly ( P = .002) between the 1-year (10.8 cm) and the 7-year (11.5 cm) follow-up assessments. The median ATRS was 96 (of a possible score of 100) and the median PAS was 4 (of a possible score of 6), indicating minor patient-reported symptoms and fairly high physical activity. No significant differences were found in calf muscle performance or patient-reported outcomes between the treatment groups except for the LSI for heel-rise repetitions.

Conclusion:

Continued deficits in calf muscle endurance and strength remained 7 years after ATR. No continued improvement in calf muscle performance occurred after the 2-year follow-up except for heel-rise height.
Are complex game models empirically relevant?
Authors: Langlois Catherine C.
Published: October 2017

This essay on the empirical relevance of game theoretic models in International Relations is developed in three parts. First it reviews Allan and Dupont’s arguments for a tradeoff between model complexity and empirical robustness. Second, it re-conceptualizes model complexity and shifts the discussion of a tradeoff between between empirics and model complexity by considering the empirical relevance rather than the empirical robustness of a model. Finally it assesses the link between empirical relevance and complexity with reference to models in the crisis bargaining and the war and bargaining literatures.
Gender, Race, Class, and Health
Authors: Dyson Yarneccia Danielle , Davis Sarita Kaya , Counts-Spriggs Margaret , Smith-Bankhead Neena
Published: October 2017

This study explores the intersection of race, class, and gender on substance abuse treatment and human immunodeficiency virus risk among 12 incarcerated black women by integrating the Health Belief Model with Black Feminist Theory. The findings suggest that the culture and context of substance abuse not only influenced the women’s perception of susceptibility of risk and severity of risk but, perhaps more importantly, the perceived benefit of the intervention on their life circumstances. These findings have implications for the conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation of substance abuse treatment, HIV prevention education, and prison reentry programs targeting Black women.
Moving In and Out of Welfare and Work: The Influence of Regional Socioeconomic Circumstances on Economic Disconnection Among Low-Income Single Mothers
Authors: Kwon Jinwoo , Hetling Andrea
Published: October 2017

An increasing proportion of low-income single mothers are experiencing periods of economic disconnection, defined as receiving no cash income from welfare or work. Most research on disconnection has focused on personal attributes as risk factors for experiencing disconnection at a static point in time. This study adopts a dynamic perspective and broadens the existing set of determinants by adding regional socioeconomic characteristics to explain changes in status. Results from multivariate survival analyses demonstrate that residence in a disadvantaged county is associated with an increased risk of becoming disconnected. State-level policies, as opposed to county socioeconomic characteristics, have stronger influences on movements out of disconnection. The findings from the analyses provide a base for policy discussions about helping this vulnerable population.
Some of the physical and mechanical properties of composites made from Tetra Pak™/LDPE
Authors: Ebadi Masoud , Farsi Mohammad , Narchin Parvaneh
Published: October 2017

This study investigated the effect of milk packet waste (Tetra Pak™) and maleic anhydride–grafted polyethylene (MAPE) on the physical and mechanical properties of wood–plastic composites. Tetra Pak was used in four levels (0, 10, 20, and 30%) and MAPE was applied in two levels (0 and 3%). The morphology of the samples was characterized using the scanning electron microscope technique. The results showed that adding Tetra Pak and MAPE to samples increased the flexural strength and modulus of elasticity and reduced 24-h water absorption and thickness swelling. The results were also confirmed by electron microscopy images.
The Justified Body: Hauerwas, Luther and the Christian Life
Authors: Nickel Justin
Published: October 2017

Stanley Hauerwas and others argue that Luther’s understanding of justification denies the theological and ethical significance of the body. Indeed, the inner, spiritual person is the one who experiences God’s grace in the gospel, while the outer, physical (read: bodily) person continues to live under law and therefore coercion and condemnation. While not denying that Luther can be so read, I argue that there is another side of Luther, one that recognizes the body’s importance for Christian life. I make this argument through a close reading of Luther’s reflections on Adam and Eve’s Fall in his Lectures on Genesis (1545) and the sacramental theology in ‘Against the Heavenly Prophets’. For this Luther, disconnection from our bodies is not a sign of justification but rather the sin from which justification saves us. Accordingly, justification results in a return to embodied creatureliness as the way we receive and live our justification.
A new higher-order locking-free beam element based on the absolute nodal coordinate formulation
Authors: Yu Haidong , Zhao Chunzhang , Zheng Bin , Wang Hao
Published: October 2017

The beam elements based on the absolute nodal coordinate formulation are widely used in large deformation and large rotation problems. Some of them lead to shear and Poisson locking problems when the continuum mechanics method is employed to deduce the generalized elastic force of the element. To circumvent these locking problems, a new higher-order beam element is proposed that may capture the warping and non-uniform stretching distribution of the cross-section by introducing the trapezoidal cross-section deformation mode and increasing the order of interpolation polynomials in transverse direction. The curvature vectors are chosen as the nodal coordinates of the new element that improve the continuity condition at the element interface. Static and dynamic analyses are conducted to investigate the performance of the new element. Poisson locking phenomena may be eliminated effectively for the new element even when Poisson’s ratio is greater than zero. Meanwhile, the distortion deformation of the cross-section may be described directly. The new element has a better convergence performance compared with the spatial absolute nodal coordinate formulation beam element for that shear locking issue is eliminated. The results also show that the new element fulfills energy conservation and may be applied to the dynamics of both straight and initial curved structures with large deformation.
Parallel non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II for optimal part deposition orientation in additive manufacturing based on functional features
Authors: Huang Renkai , Dai Ning , Li Dawei , Cheng Xiaosheng , Liu Hao , Sun Dengguang
Published: October 2017

Surface finish, especially the surface finish of functional features, and build time are two important concerns in additive manufacturing. A suitable part deposition orientation can enhance the surface quality of functional features and reduce the build time. This article proposes a novel method to obtain an optimum part deposition orientation for industrial-grade 3D printing based on fused deposition modeling process by considering two objective functions at a time, namely adaptive feature roughness (the weighted sum of all feature roughnesses) and build time. First, mesh segmentation and level classification of features are carried out. Then, models for evaluation of adaptive feature roughness and build time are established. Finally, a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II based on Compute Unified Device Architecture is used to obtain the Pareto-optimal set. The feasible of the algorithm is evaluated on several examples. Results demonstrate that the proposed parallel algorithm obtains a limiting solution that enhances the surface quality of functional features significantly and reduces average running time by 94.8% compared with the traditional genetic algorithm.
Dynamics and optimization of a new double-axle flexible bogie for high-speed trains
Authors: Savoskin AN , Akishin AA , Yurchenko D
Published: October 2017

This paper is focused on the discussion of a new double-axle flexible bogie for high-speed trains. The main feature of the flexible bogie is that it consists of two sub-bogies connected with diagonal links. Moreover, an elastic connection between the carriage and both wheelsets is introduced. These features, which help to increase the flexibility of the bogie while passing tracks with a low radius of curvature, are numerically studied in this paper. The results demonstrate the huge potential of the bogie and its ability to travel without significant oscillations at a speed of 432 km/h. Numerical optimization of the bogie’s parameters is performed in order to maximize ride comfort.
State-of-the-art robotic devices for ankle rehabilitation: Mechanism and control review
Authors: Hussain Shahid , Jamwal Prashant K , Ghayesh Mergen H
Published: October 2017

There is an increasing research interest in exploring use of robotic devices for the physical therapy of patients suffering from stroke and spinal cord injuries. Rehabilitation of patients suffering from ankle joint dysfunctions such as drop foot is vital and therefore has called for the development of newer robotic devices. Several robotic orthoses and parallel ankle robots have been developed during the last two decades to augment the conventional ankle physical therapy of patients. A comprehensive review of these robotic ankle rehabilitation devices is presented in this article. Recent developments in the mechanism design, actuation and control are discussed. The study encompasses robotic devices for treadmill and over-ground training as well as platform-based parallel ankle robots. Control strategies for these robotic devices are deliberated in detail with an emphasis on the assist-as-needed training strategies. Experimental evaluations of the mechanism designs and various control strategies of these robotic ankle rehabilitation devices are also presented.
Tracing and explaining securitization: Social mechanisms, process tracing and the securitization of irregular migration
Authors: Robinson Corey
Published: October 2017

This article offers a process-mechanism explanation of securitization. To make the case for a process-mechanism account more concrete, I use interpretivist process tracing to explain the crisis episode of the Sun Sea, a Thai cargo ship carrying Sri Lankan asylum-seekers, and the securitization of irregular migration in Canada. Drawing on interviews and grey literature, the article shows how securitization was possible and under what conditions, and argues that ideational dispositions of security organizations induced state officials toward a security interpretation of the the Sun Sea. The article aims to demonstrate that process-mechanism explanations represent a compelling methodological alternative with which to trace and explain securitization. The article sees itself as part of a broader refinement of a sociological variant of securitization theory. It seeks to examine and enhance the contribution that this ‘post-Copenhagen’ approach – its core assumptions and theoretical framework – makes to the analysis of securitization.
The Theory and Practice of Identities: South vs. Central Asia (with special emphasis upon India and Kazakhstan)
Authors: Rudenko Yelena I.
Published: October 2017

Cultural and civilisational stratum of existence of South and Central Asian regions and separate states associated with the numerous manifestations of identity (ethnic, confessional, linguistic, etc.) appears an important component of their political, social and economic being at the internal and external levels. At the same time, in the countries of these two regions, there are elements of both similarities and differences in the identity-related sphere that allows performing a look-through comparative-contrasting analysis of their complexes of identities on the basis of correspondence/incongruity to various theories, as well as of actual practice of their materialisation. In this regard, it is viable to discuss issues such as the identity theories in applications to the realities of South and Central Asia, the exposure on and specifics of implementation/non-implementation of the conflict potential of identities in both regions and the transfiguration of identities under the influence of mutual migrations. Immediate positive experience and best practises of implementing the identity policy in the two regions with particular emphasis upon India and Kazakhstan also deserve special attention.
Nitroglycerin for IV Infusion
Authors: Ward John W. , Sandler Alan I. , Tucker Stuart V.
Published: October 2017

The use and mechanisms of action of intravenous nitroglycerin (NTG) are briefly described. Various aspects of the preparation and quality control of IV NTG solutions are discussed and details for preparing a 0.1 percent NTG solution are presented. Several refinements and comparisons between existing methods for the assay and pyrogen testing of NTG solutions are explored. The testing of intravenous NTG preparation for visual clarity is commented upon.
A Bibliography for Selected Pharmacokinetic Topics
Authors: Cocchetto David M. , Wargin William A.
Published: October 2017

A bibliography for selected topics in pharmacokinetics has been assembled in order to aid in rapidly gathering original scientific papers which illustrate fundamental pharmacokinetic principles important to pharmacists, pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, pharmaceutical science graduate students, and several other health professionals. Portions of this bibliography have comprised part of the syllabus for basic and clinical pharmacokinetics graduate-level courses and for independent study projects.
Asymptomatic Theophylline Overdose
Authors: Snodgrass Wayne , Sawyer Dennis , Conner Christopher S. , Rumack Barry H. , Peterson Robert G. , Sullivan John B.
Published: October 2017

A case of severe theophylline overdose is described in which clinical signs of toxicity initially were minimal despite extremely high serum drug levels. Hemodialysis was performed because of the risk of seizures and cardiac arrhythmias. The predialysis, dialysis, and postdialysis half-lives were 13.1, 4.3, and 6.7 hours, respectively. Corresponding total body clearance values were 23.8, 72.5, and 46.3 ml/kg/h. The patient showed apparent saturation kinetics of theophylline clearance at high serum levels. Hemodialysis is effective for enhancing the removal of theophylline.
Chemoprophylaxis of Recurrent Otitis Media Using Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole
Authors: Gaskins John D. , Holt Robert J. , Kyong Catherine U. , Weart C. Wayne , Ward James
Published: October 2017

This study was undertaken during the late fall, winter, and early spring months to determine the efficacy of daily trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) administration in the prevention of recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) in a specific high-risk pediatric population. Twenty-one ambulatory patients, 10 in the study group and 11 in the control group, were selected from a medical university clinic and a local private practice. The study group receiving prophylactic therapy for six months suffered no recurrences, as compared with eight children suffering one recurrence each in the control group that was treated only acutely. The results were significant at p <0.005 with df = 1, determined by the Fischer's exact test and the chi-square method using Yates's correction factor. These data indicated that a mean dose of TMP/SMX 6.8/34 mg/kg/d divided into twice daily doses and given for six months was safe and effective in controlling RAOM infections in a high-risk pediatric population.
Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibition. A Study in the Use of X-ray Crystallography, Molecular Graphics, and Quantitative Structure-Activity Relations in Drug Design
Authors: Hansch Corwin
Published: October 2017

Substituent constants and regression analyses are used to formulate quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) for the inhibition by 4,6-diamino-1,2-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-1-(3-X-phenyl)- s-triazines of purified dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from L. casei cells, bovine liver, and murine leukemia cells (L5178Y). The QSAR for the activity of the triazines on purified DHFR is compared with the QSAR for their action on L. casei cell culture and murine L5178Y cell culture. The QSAR for action on purified DHFR is similar to that on wild type cells; however, the QSAR for these cells differs remarkably from QSAR for both types of cells that are resistant to methotrexate (MTX).

The conclusion from these analyses is that cells resistant to MTX protect themselves from this highly hydrophilic drug by developing a hydrophobic barrier. Our understanding of DHFR interaction with drugs is rapidly increasing via QSAR, and X-ray crystallography, combined with the new molecular graphics of Langridge's group, promises to expedite the process. The value of three-dimensional color graphics is discussed, with the aid of color stereo views of L. casei and E. coli DHFR.
Cardiac Arrhythmias after Phenylpropanolamine Ingestion
Authors: Clark John E. , Simon Wayne A.
Published: October 2017

Physicians and pharmacists should be alerted to the potential adverse effects of phenylpropanolamine-containing products, which may include exaggerated hypertensive effects, arrhythmias (premature ventricular and atrial contractions together with paroxysmal ventricular or atrial tachycardia), psychotic reactions, and neurologic effects (grand mal seizures and intracerebral hemorrhage). A case of paroxysmal atrial tachycardia in a woman, after the ingestion of diet pills containing phenylpropanolamine and caffeine is reported.
The Effect of Sulindac on Lithium Therapy
Authors: Furnell Malcolm M. , Davies Joy
Published: October 2017

Serum lithium levels are known to rise dramatically during concurrent administration with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). A lithium-sparing effect of the NSAID sulindac is reported here. Two cases are presented in which sulindac antirheumatic therapy was commenced during stabilized lithium treatment for recurrent endogenous depression. Elevation of serum lithium levels due to sulindac was not seen. Serum lithium levels paradoxically dropped below the recognized therapeutic range shortly after sulindac introduction, subsequently returning to baseline levels without overall loss of therapeutic control. It is suggested that these two drugs may be used together when control of arthritic symptoms is necessary for patients taking lithium. However, no change should be made to lithium dosage during the drop phase, to avoid marked fluctuations in serum lithium levels. Conflicting evidence in the current literature highlights the need for more investigation into this lithium-sparing effect of sulindac.
Cimetidine-Induced Eosinophilia
Authors: Tishler M. , Abramov A.L.
Published: October 2017

Many adverse reactions have been reported in the literature as a result of Cimetidine use. Generally they have involved the gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. We present a case of cimetidine-induced eosinophilia, and discuss the possible mechanisms of hematologic toxicity.
Measurement of Tobramycin Concentrations in Saliva
Authors: Hendeles Leslie , Hill Malcolm , Iafrate R. Peter
Published: October 2017

Paired serum and saliva specimens were obtained from 16 patients and three volunteers who had received tobramycin. In addition, saliva was collected from ten controls who had not taken any drugs in the previous week. Tobramycin concentrations were measured in duplicate by the Emit assay modified to obtain precise results at concentrations >0.25 μg/ml. The drug was undetectable in 32 of 34 saliva specimens and only trace amounts were present in the other two, even though corresponding steady-state serum concentrations were ≥4.0 μg/ml for 29 of 34 specimens. Tobramycin values were zero for all ten saliva specimens from controls. These results probably can be extrapolated to other aminoglycoside antibiotics since most are hydrophilic and ionized at physiologic pH, which disfavors penetration into saliva. We conclude that saliva cannot be used as a noninvasive indirect method of measuring aminoglycoside serum concentrations to guide dosage adjustments.
Evaluation of Appropriateness and Interpretation of Serum Theophylline Assays
Authors: Sargenti Christine , Zelman Lawrence , Beauclair Therese , Garrard Elwyn , Boehm Ralph
Published: October 2017

A drug utilization review of serum theophylline assays was undertaken to: (1) evaluate the prescriben' usage and interpretation of serum theophylline levels (STLs), and (2) calculate the cost of inappropriate assays.

Criteria for appropriate use and interpretation were defined by an audit committee and approved by the chief medical resident. STLs were evaluated on medicine patients for a one-month period. Results of 102 levels ordered showed that 47 percent were inappropriate. The reasons cited most often for inappropriateness were: (1) previously-known STLs with no reason to expect a change in subsequent levels (26 percent); and (2) STLs drawn prior to steady state (12 percent). None of the levels evaluated had a request entered for the sampling time to be recorded. STLs were interpreted with the same degree of accuracy regardless of whether they were ordered appropriately.

Results from this study suggest significant cost savings can be realized if physicians' ordering habits are corrected.
Estimation of Renal Creatinine Clearance in Patients with Unstable Serum Creatinine Concentrations: Comparison of Multiple Methods
Authors: Chow Moses Sing Sum , Schweizer Robert
Published: October 2017

The accuracy of different methods of calculating 24-hour creatinine clearance in patients with unstable renal function was compared using simulated data (based on a one-compartment pharmacokinetic model), as well as data from postrenal transplant patients. When creatinine clearance was calculated from the urinary creatinine excretion and a serum creatinine concentration, the use of the midpoint serum creatinine concentration produced the lowest degree of error. Therefore, this method is recommended for routine clinical determination of creatinine clearance in such patients. When the urinary creatinine excretion was unknown, an iteration method produced the lowest degree of error among four methods, and therefore is recommended to estimate creatinine clearance in such patients.
Drug Information Roots: The Influence of Education and Training on the Philosophy and Activities of Hospital-and Pharmacy School-Based Drug Information Services
Authors: Lyon Ronald A. , Rosman Allen W. , Pearson Robert E.
Published: October 2017

The objective of this project was to assess influences of past and present educational and training experiences on the development of drug information services. A questionnaire was used to collect information concerning the respondent's location, educational background, and relationship to others in the field. Next, demographic characteristics of the service were collected. The final section had respondent's rank 26 activities for both current scope of activities and the individual's philosophy of practice. Respondent's were asked to prioritize each activity according to contribution, directly or indirectly, to patient care. This study did not identify a major potential source of educational or training influence. However, despite the apparent lack of a major educational or training influence on the profession there is evidence to suggest that such influences can affect the scope of activities within services or the philosophy of practice of individuals. The differences in rankings commonly observed for the scope of activities support the observation of lack of equivalence in earlier studies.
Central Nervous System Toxicity Associated with Concurrent Use of Triazolam and Cimetidine
Authors: Britton Mark L. , Waller Elaine S.
Published: October 2017

A 49-year-old woman treated with cimetidine 300 mg tid for more than 18 months for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome experienced lethargy, dizziness, ataxia, and auditory and visual hallucinations after receiving triazolam 0.375 mg hs for sleep. Triazolam plasma concentrations were measured, and a triazolam elimination half-life was calculated to be approximately 8 hours (reported range 1.7–3 h). Cimetidine has been reported to decrease the apparent oral clearance of triazolam, resulting in increased triazolam plasma concentrations with the potential for exaggerated triazolam pharmacologic effects. Cimetidine may have been responsible for the unusually large elimination half-life in this patient. Until the mechanisms and clinical significance of this potential drug interaction are determined, clinicians should use the combination of triazolam and cimetidine with caution.
Bacteroides Fragilis: Current Susceptibilities, Mechanisms of Drug Resistance, and Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy
Authors: Cuchural George J. , Tally Francis P.
Published: October 2017

The Bacteroides fragilis group of organisms includes the most clinically important anaerobic bacteria. Optimal therapy of infections in which these organisms are involved includes adequate and timely surgical drainage of all collections, debridement of necrotic tissue, optimal nutritional support, and administration of appropriate empiric antibiotics to cover both the aerobic and anaerobic bacterial components of these mixed infections. Special attention must be paid to the B. fragilis group because of its high rate of resistance to many of the commonly used antibiotics. Of the currently available beta-lactam antibiotics, piperacillin has the lowest rate of resistance. Successful antimicrobial agents include clindamycin, chloramphenicol, and metronidazole plus an aminoglycoside. Piperacillin, cefoxitin, and moxalactam can be used with an aminoglycoside or alone if no resistant organisms are revealed on culture and susceptibility testing. Beta-lactam-based regimens are potentially less toxic and may be less costly than those that contain one or more non-beta-lactam antibiotics.
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Susceptibility in a University Hospital: Recognition and Treatment
Authors: Rotschafer John C. , Shikuma Lois R.
Published: October 2017

Pseudomonas aeruginosa continues to be a leading cause of nosocomial bacteremia and other serious, often life-threatening infections. The incidence of P. aeruginosa infection appears to be increasing. The resilience of Pseudomonas in the hospital environment, its endogenous virulence factors, and its current level of resistance to antimicrobials make it a formidable
Therapeutic Decision-Making: A Model for Formulary Evaluation
Authors: Sesin G. Paul
Published: October 2017

A systematic approach of evaluating medications for a hospital formulary is discussed. The hospital formulary is a program of objective evaluation, selection, and use of medicinal agents in the hospital. In light of the ever-increasing numbers of new and/or improved therapeutic agents, formulary decisions must be made with an eye to the future. Therefore, it appears that the best means of choosing a medication for formulary addition, both clinically and economically, is to choose an agent based on its clinical indication(s). Examples of such indications are presented. Selecting formulary agents by indication rather than by simple drug cost or pharmacologic class should ensure the most effective utilization of therapeutic agents and hopefully a diminution of overall costs.
Leuprolide: A Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analog for the Palliative Treatment of Prostatic Cancer
Authors: Wojciechowski Norbert J. , Carter Charles A. , Skoutakis Vasilios A. , Bess David T. , Falbe William J. , Mickle Timothy R.
Published: October 2017

Leuprolide is the first member of the class of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist analog to be released in the U.S. The pharmacology of leuprolide is complex and not yet completely defined. This agonist analog is more potent than natural GnRH and appears to be capable of occupying pituitary GnRH receptors. This results in a “down regulation” of the receptors' activity and gonadotropin release, ultimately decreasing serum testosterone levels to those seen following castration. Leuprolide has been found effective in the palliative treatment of advanced cases of prostatic cancer and is not associated with the cardiovascular and thromboembolic toxicity seen with conventional diethylstilbestrol therapy. Leuprolide is administered by daily subcutaneous injections and has been generally well tolerated. The most common adverse effects are hot flashes and a possible flare-up of prostatic carcinoma symptoms on initial dosing. As clinical experience grows in the use of GnRH agonist analog, GnRH will assume a greater role in the treatment of metastatic prostatic cancer.