bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A re-audit of the management of gonorrhoea
Authors: Ekanayaka Ratna , Challenor Rachel
Published: January 2016

A re-audit of the management of gonorrhoea was undertaken in 2014. Six out of nine auditable outcomes were met in the second audit (2014) compared with three out of eight in the first audit (2012). The new measures that were introduced following the original audit may have helped to improve outcomes. However, electronic patient records were introduced in December 2012. Documentation was much improved with the use of patient record templates and this has contributed considerably to the improved outcomes.
Wearing a Bicycle Helmet Can Increase Risk Taking and Sensation Seeking in Adults
Authors: Gamble Tim , Walker Ian
Published: January 2016

Humans adapt their risk-taking behavior on the basis of perceptions of safety; this risk-compensation phenomenon is typified by people taking increased risks when using protective equipment. Existing studies have looked at people who know they are using safety equipment and have specifically focused on changes in behaviors for which that equipment might reduce risk. Here, we demonstrated that risk taking increases in people who are not explicitly aware they are wearing protective equipment; furthermore, this happens for behaviors that could not be made safer by that equipment. In a controlled study in which a helmet, compared with a baseball cap, was used as the head mount for an eye tracker, participants scored significantly higher on laboratory measures of both risk taking and sensation seeking. This happened despite there being no risk for the helmet to ameliorate and despite it being introduced purely as an eye tracker. The results suggest that unconscious activation of safety-related concepts primes globally increased risk propensity.
Egyptian Soldiers in Ottoman Campaigns from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Centuries
Authors: Öztürk Temel
Published: January 2016

Despite being annexed by the Ottoman Empire in 1517, Egypt’s military maintained many Mamluk traditions. These continued, though there were some changes, into the early nineteenth century. This article will examine how the Ottoman authorities dealt with the existing special status and how complementary issues of corruption were handled. How effective was Egypt’s contribution to the Ottoman Army? Campaigns from the first half of the eighteenth century provide illustrative examples. Source material for this article comes from the Ottoman Archives and period chronicles.
‘Byng Boys’: A Profile of Senior Commanders of Canadian Combat Units on the Somme, 1916
Authors: Stewart William
Published: January 2016

This study provides a profile of the 107 officers who led Canadian combat units of battalion size or larger on the Somme, in 1916. It demonstrates that Canadian Militia officers dominated the command ranks, but they generally had limited or no formal military training or active service prior to the war. It highlights important differences in the rate of promotion, selection process, and influence of politics between the infantry and technical arms. The study also finds Canadian and Australian battalion commanders shared similar profiles and patterns in comparison to British battalion commanders.
Endogenous thresholds and assurance networks in collective action
Authors: De Jaegher Kris
Published: January 2016

This article treats a multi-player Stag Hunt where each player may have a different threshold (the number of other players that need to act along with the player for benefits of collective action to arise). Players are modeled as solving the strategic-uncertainty problem of whether or not to act, by assuring each other of their willingness to act. We show that in equilibrium there may, but need not, be homophily (players with the same thresholds seek assurance from each other) or a threshold-based social hierarchy (players with high thresholds, or “conservatives,” seek assurance from players with low thresholds, or “radicals,” but not vice versa). Put otherwise, a new strategic-uncertainty problem arises, namely, the problem of who should seek assurance from whom. We propose that players solve this problem by forming core-periphery assurance networks, with a number of players equal to the largest threshold in the core, and the remaining players in the periphery.
Hospice Admission Assessment
Authors: Moon Paul J.
Published: January 2016

Hospice admission assessment is a pivotal encounter for patient/family and hospice representative. For patient/family, the admission is the threshold by which a particular level of care can commence and, symbolically, a certain marker in health status trajectory is reached. For hospice representative, the admission episode is an occasion to inaugurate an ambience that can serve to frame future hospice care experiences for the patient/family. Through a narrative lens, hospice admission assessment can be seen as experiential time and space, where patient’s and family’s stories are mindfully and deliberately witnessed and explored. Through the practice of narrative mining, the hospice representative can better understand others’ offered stories of reality, which will better inform the plan of palliation and hospice care.
LRRK2 at the Crossroad Between Autophagy and Microtubule Trafficking
Authors: Esteves A. Raquel , Cardoso Sandra M.
Published: January 2016

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 ( lrrk2) gene cause inherited Parkinson’s disease (PD), and common variants in lrrk2 are a risk factor for sporadic PD. The neuropathology associated with LRRK2-linked PD is extremely pleomorphic involving inclusions of α-synuclein (SNCA), tau or neither, therefore suggesting that LRRK2 may be central in the pathogenic pathways of PD. This large protein localizes in the cytosol, as well as, in specific membrane domains, including mitochondria and autophagosomes and interacts with a wide range of proteins such as SNCA, tau, α- and β-tubulin. For this reason LRRK2 has been associated with a variety of cellular functions, including autophagy, mitochondrial function/dynamics and microtubule/cytoskeletal dynamics. LRRK2 has been shown to interact with microtubules as well as with mitochondria interfering with their network and dynamics. Moreover, LRRK2 knock-out or mutations affect autophagic efficiency. Here, we review and discuss the literature on how LRRK2 affects mitochondrial function, autophagy, and microtubule dynamics and how this is implicated in the PD etiology.
Remote Ischemic Conditioning
Authors: Kloner Robert A.
Published: January 2016

This editorial describes benefits and limitations of remote ischemic conditioning. Remote ischemic conditioning was shown to reduce myocardial intact size in at least 4 sizeable clinical trials of acute myocardial infarction. It was not effective in recent studies of cardiac surgery. Reasons for these differences are discussed.
The Potential Role of Catheter-Based Renal Sympathetic Denervation in Chronic and End-Stage Kidney Disease
Authors: Sata Yusuke , Schlaich Markus P.
Published: January 2016

Sympathetic activation is a hallmark of chronic and end-stage renal disease and adversely affects cardiovascular prognosis. Hypertension is present in the vast majority of these patients and plays a key role in the progressive deterioration of renal function and the high rate of cardiovascular events in this patient cohort. Augmentation of renin release, tubular sodium reabsorption, and renal vascular resistance are direct consequences of efferent renal sympathetic nerve stimulation and the major components of neural regulation of renal function. Renal afferent nerve activity directly influences sympathetic outflow to the kidneys and other highly innervated organs involved in blood pressure control via hypothalamic integration. Renal denervation of the kidney has been shown to reduce blood pressure in many experimental models of hypertension. Targeting the renal nerves directly may therefore be specifically useful in patients with chronic and end-stage renal disease. In this review, we will discuss the potential role of catheter-based renal denervation in patients with impaired kidney function and also reflect on the potential impact on other cardiovascular conditions commonly associated with chronic kidney disease such as heart failure and arrhythmias.
Enoxaparin Treatment Followed by Rivaroxaban for the Treatment of Acute Lower Limb Venous Thromboembolism
Authors: Wolosker Nelson , Varella Andrea Y. M. , Fukuda Juliana M. , Teivelis Marcelo , Kuzniec Sergio , Krutman Mariana , Guerra João C. de C. , Ramacciotti Eduardo
Published: January 2016

Rivaroxaban is a target-specific oral anticoagulant approved for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). On its major clinical trials, treatment was initiated directly with a 3-week dose of oral 15 mg twice daily followed by 20 mg every day for at least 3 months. We retrospectively evaluated an initial therapy for confirmed VTE with 1 to 18 days of enoxaparin (1 mg/kg twice daily parenteral) followed by oral rivaroxaban 20 mg every day. Of 49 patients, we found no symptomatic recurrence, no major bleeding, and only 1 clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding. We concluded in this pilot study that it is safe and effective to treat patients with enoxaparin course followed directly by a dose of 20 mg of rivaroxaban.
Achieving Adherence to Evidence-Based Practices
Authors: Everson Jordan , Lee Shoou-Yih Daniel , Adler-Milstein Julia
Published: January 2016

In response to evolving policies and conditions, hospitals have increased health information technology (HIT) adoption and strived to improve hospital–physician integration. While evidence suggests that both HIT and integration confer independent benefits, when combined, they may provide complementary means to achieve high performance or overlap to offset each other’s contribution. We explore this relationship in the context of hospital adherence to evidence-based practices (EBPs). Using the American Hospital Association’s Annual and IT Supplement surveys, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’s Hospital Compare, we estimate the independent relationships and interactions between HIT and hospital–physician integration with respect to EBP adherence. HIT adoption and tight (but not loose) integration are independently associated with greater adherence to EBPs. The interaction between HIT adoption and tight integration is negative, consistent with an offsetting association between HIT adoption and integration in their relationship to EBP adherence. This finding reveals the need to be aware of potential substitutive effects from simultaneous pursuit of multiple approaches to performance improvement.
Ranking Journalism and Mass Communications Programs
Authors: Weber Joseph
Published: January 2016

Rankings of universities and colleges are common and controversial. However, few rankers produce useful lists that assess and compare journalism and mass communications programs. The few currently available involve superficial reputational surveys or are less than transparent about their methodology. To determine potential criteria for a useful ranking, this article reports the results of a survey of administrators and educators in a broad cross-section of such programs. The survey finds broad support among respondents for the idea of ranking and, further, details criteria that respondents said they would find useful in developing a ranked list of programs.
Trust Recovery Following a Double Deviation
Authors: Basso Kenny , Pizzutti Cristiane
Published: January 2016

Although double deviation (i.e., unsatisfactory service recovery) is an acknowledged phenomenon in the field of marketing, little attention has been devoted to determining what actions firms can take to restore consumer trust in the wake of such an event. Across four experimental studies of different populations and service sectors, we show that double deviation intensifies the trust violation generated by the initial service failure and that recovery from double deviations requires fundamentally different strategies than recovery from single deviations. Our results suggest that financial compensation is not an especially effective strategy for double deviations compared to the effectiveness of apologies and promises that the problem will not occur in the future. However, it is important for firms to match the type of double deviation to the recovery strategy, with apologies being more effective for integrity violations and promises being more effective for competence violations.
Emigration and the diffusion of political Salafism
Authors: Karakoç Ekrem , Köse Talha , Özcan Mesut
Published: January 2016

This study investigates the impact of emigration on the political behavior of citizens in Egypt. In particular, it argues that emigrants’ family members are more likely to vote for Salafi parties for several reasons, including the transfer of religious remittances by Egyptian emigrants to the Gulf and the influence of transnational Salafi networks. In order to test our argument, we conducted an original public opinion survey with around 1100 individuals between January 12, 2012 and January 25, 2012, just after the Egyptian parliamentary election. We find that individuals with family members who had emigrated to the Gulf voted heavily for Islamist parties, particularly the Freedom and Justice Party and the Nour Party. Further analysis shows that there is no statistical difference between individuals with and without emigrant family members in voting for the Muslim Brotherhood, while the Nour’s popularity among voters with emigrant family members is substantial and statistically significant. In particular, we find that the strongest support for the Nour came from individuals whose family members had immigrated to Saudi Arabia, whereas those whose family members had immigrated to other countries, including other Gulf countries, do not differ significantly from non-emigrant family members in their party preferences.
Integrating key competences in school physical education programmes
Authors: Lleixà Teresa , González-Arévalo Carles , Braz-Vieira Marcelo
Published: January 2016

In 2006, the European Union published its recommendations on competences for lifelong learning. Since then, key competences have been integrated into the official curriculum in Spain. The objectives of the present study are: a) to describe the strategies used most frequently by physical education teachers to incorporate key competences in their programmes; and b) to identify the profiles of teachers and schools that promote the inclusion of key competences in their physical education programmes. Data were collected via a questionnaire administered to a sample of 2051 physical education teachers in primary and secondary schools in Spain.

The results show that while teachers include key competences in their programmes, they do not usually do so explicitly. The competences most frequently included are: social and citizenship skills; autonomy and personal initiative; learning to learn; and knowledge of, and interaction with, the physical world. To develop these competences, lesson plans often aim to integrate knowledge, skills and attitudes, apply problem-solving approaches, and foster the transfer of learning to everyday life. The lack of interdisciplinarity emerges as a negative aspect. Factors favouring the inclusion of competences are the provision of competence-based training for teachers and the presence of a coordination system for dealing with competences in the school. The conclusion drawn is that merely including key competences in the official curriculum is not enough; reinforcement and correction of all the aspects mentioned are essential to ensure that adequate attention is paid to competences in physical education programmes.
Effects of pre-cracking on small punch creep testing of a vacuum plasma-sprayed CoNiCrAlY coating
Authors: Chen H , Hyde TH , Voisey KT , McCartney DG
Published: January 2016

This paper presents the results of small punch creep testing (SPCT) of a vacuum plasma-sprayed (VPS) CoNiCrAlY coating (Co – 31.7%, Ni – 20.8%, Cr – 8.1%, Al – 0.5%, Y, all in wt%) carried out at 750 ℃. Coating cross-sections, after initial heat treatment, after sample clamping in the test rig prior to testing and after SPCT, were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A dual phase structure consisting of a fcc γ-Ni matrix and a bcc β-NiAl secondary phase was found to exist. A large number of partially melted powder particles, with a semi-continuous β layer surrounding most of the partially melted particles, were found in the coating. Pre-cracking was observed to occur around the partially melted particles after sample clamping was applied in the test rig prior to testing. This was due to the inherent brittleness of the β layer around those particles. Very short failure times were obtained from the SPCT of the specific VPS CoNiCrAlY coatings, due to the pre-existing cracks formed during sample clamping.
A social semiotic analysis of instructional images across academic disciplines
Authors: Wilson Amy Alexandra , Landon-Hays Melanie
Published: January 2016

Framed in theories of social semiotics, this descriptive multiple case study examined the images used by six middle-school teachers during one school year as they each taught two different subject areas: earth science, language arts, mathematics, and/or social studies. Using Kress and Van Leeuwen’s visual grammar to analyze these images, this study identified discipline-specific patterns in how 1,132 images realized assumptions in regards to the ideational and interpersonal metafunctions of communication. A content analysis suggested discipline-specific differences in the presumed social distance between the content of the images and the students, as well as discipline-specific differences in assumptions about the subjectivity of knowledge. Instructional implications are suggested, such as encouraging students to critique the assumptions in images and selecting a wider array of image types in each discipline.
The use of horizontal sky illuminance to classify the CIE Standard General Skies
Authors: Alshaibani KA
Published: January 2016

The CIE Standard General Skies defines the luminance distribution of skies into 15 types, from overcast sky to clear sky. Finding the frequency distributions of such skies is not a simple task, for two reasons. The first is the need for accurate luminance measurements over a long period of time. Such data are not available in many regions around the world. The second is the difficulty in obtaining accurate readings for the zenith luminance in low latitude climates. This paper presents a method in which the horizontal sky illuminance can be used to classify sky type.
Cost-effectiveness of an insertable cardiac monitor to detect atrial fibrillation in patients with cryptogenic stroke
Authors: Diamantopoulos Alex , Sawyer Laura M. , Lip Gregory YH , Witte Klaus K , Reynolds Matthew R , Fauchier Laurent , Thijs Vincent , Brown Ben , Quiroz Angulo Maria E , Diener Hans-Christoph
Published: January 2016

Background and aims

Documentation of atrial fibrillation is required to initiate oral anticoagulation therapy for recurrent stroke prevention. Atrial fibrillation often goes undetected with traditional electrocardiogram monitoring techniques. We evaluated whether atrial fibrillation detection using continuous long-term monitoring with an insertable cardiac monitor is cost-effective for preventing recurrent stroke in patients with cryptogenic stroke, in comparison to the standard of care.

Methods

A lifetime Markov model was developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of insertable cardiac monitors from a UK National Health Service perspective using data from the randomized CRYSTAL-AF trial and other published literature. We also conducted scenario analyses (CHADS2 score) and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. All costs and benefits were discounted at 3.5%.

Results

Monitoring cryptogenic stroke patients with an insertable cardiac monitor was associated with fewer recurrent strokes and increased quality-adjusted life years compared to the standard of care (7.37 vs 7.22). Stroke-related costs were reduced in insertable cardiac monitor patients, but overall costs remained higher than the standard of care (£19,631 vs £17,045). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was £17,175 per quality-adjusted life years gained, compared to standard of care in the base-case scenario, which is below established quality-adjusted life years willingness-to-pay thresholds. When warfarin replaced non-vitamin-K oral anticoagulants as the main anticoagulation therapy, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was £13,296 per quality-adjusted life years gained.

Conclusion

Insertable cardiac monitors are a cost-effective diagnostic tool for the prevention of recurrent stroke in patients with cryptogenic stroke. The cost-effectiveness results have relevance for the UK and across value-based healthcare systems that assess costs relative to outcomes.
Core Competencies of the Certified Pediatric Doctor of Chiropractic
Authors: Hewitt Elise , Hestbaek Lise , Pohlman Katherine A.
Published: January 2016

An outline of the minimum core competencies expected from a certified pediatric doctor of chiropractic was developed using a Delphi consensus process. The initial set of seed statements and substatements was modeled on competency documents used by organizations that oversee chiropractic and medical education. These statements were distributed to the Delphi panel, reaching consensus when 80% of the panelists approved each segment. The panel consisted of 23 specialists in chiropractic pediatrics (14 females) from across the broad spectrum of the chiropractic profession. Sixty-one percent of panelists had postgraduate pediatric certifications or degrees, 39% had additional graduate degrees, and 74% were faculty at a chiropractic institution and/or in a postgraduate pediatrics program. The panel were initially given 10 statements with related substatements formulated by the study’s steering committee. On all 3 rounds of the Delphi process the panelists reached consensus; however, multiple rounds occurred to incorporate the valuable qualitative feedback received.
Detecting Between-Groups Heteroscedasticity in Moderated Multiple Regression With a Continuous Predictor and a Categorical Moderator
Authors: Rosopa Patrick J. , Schroeder Amber N. , Doll Jessica L.
Published: January 2016

Moderated multiple regression (MMR) is frequently used to test moderation hypotheses in the behavioral and social sciences. In MMR with a categorical moderator, between-groups heteroscedasticity is not uncommon and can inflate Type I error rates or reduce statistical power. Compared with research on remedial procedures that can mitigate the effects of this violated assumption, less research attention has focused on statistical procedures that can be used to detect between-groups heteroscedasticity. In the current article, we briefly review such procedures. Then, using Monte Carlo methods, we compare the performance of various procedures that can be used to detect between-groups heteroscedasticity in MMR with a categorical moderator, including a heuristic method and a variant of a procedure suggested by O’Brien. Of the various procedures, the heuristic method had the greatest statistical power at the expense of inflated Type I error rates. Otherwise, assuming that the normality assumption has not been violated, Bartlett’s test generally had the greatest statistical power when direct pairing occurs (i.e., when the group with the largest sample size has the largest error variance). In contrast, O’Brien’s procedure tended to have the greatest power when there was indirect pairing (i.e., when the group with the largest sample size has the smallest error variance). We conclude with recommendations for researchers and practitioners in the behavioral and social sciences.
Retention in Online Courses
Authors: Bawa Papia
Published: January 2016

Despite increasing enrollment percentages from earlier years, online courses continue to show receding student retention rates. To reduce attrition and ensure continual growth in online courses, it is important to continue to review current and updated literature to understand the changing behaviors of online learners and faculty in the 21st century and examine how they fit together as a cohesive educational unit. This article reviews literature to ascertain critical reasons for high attrition rates in online classes, as well as explore solutions to boost retention rates. This will help create a starting point and foundation for a more, in-depth research and analysis of retention issues in online courses. Examining these issues is critical to contemporary learning environments.
Sociosexuality, Morningness–Eveningness, and Sleep Duration
Authors: Randler Christoph , Jankowski Konrad S. , Rahafar Arash , Díaz-Morales Juan Francisco
Published: January 2016

Morningness–eveningness is the preference for different times of day for activity and sleep. Here, we addressed the effects of sleep behavior and morningness–eveningness on sociosexuality. Three hundred students ( M age = 22.75 years, with 95% between 18 and 28) participated online, answering questions about morningness–eveningness (rMEQ [Reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire]), midpoint of sleep on free days (MSF), sleep duration, and the Sociosexuality Orientation Inventory–Revised (SOI-R). The SOI-R contains three subscales, Behavior, Attitude, and Desire. Evening orientation and short sleep duration were related to a higher total SOI-R and to the three subscales. Based on the linear models, the strongest effect on sociosexuality was produced by gender (27% explained variance) while age accounted for 6% of variance. Nonadditive variance explained by sleep–wake behavior was 7% (MSF), 4% (sleep duration), and 4% (rMEQ scores; 3% rMEQ-based typology). Older age was related to less-restricted sociosexuality, and men were less restricted than women in Attitude and Desire. Sleep duration and rMEQ scores were associated with Attitude and Desire; but only MSF was significantly related to Behavior. The data show that sleep–wake variables are associated with sociosexuality, with evening orientation and shorter sleep duration being related to a less-restricted sociosexuality.
¿Confías en mí? The Impact of Latino Parent Characteristics on Discussions With Their Adolescent About Sexual Health and Pregnancy Prevention
Authors: Martinez Lourdes M. , Orpinas Pamela
Published: January 2016

The purpose of the study ¿Confías en mi? (Do You Trust Me?) was to identify three characteristics—expertise, trustworthiness, and accessibility—of Latino parent–adolescent communication. We examined how these characteristics may influence communication about romantic relationships and sexual risk reduction strategies (i.e., abstinence, contraception). A total of 21 parent–adolescent dyads ( N = 42) completed a brief demographics survey and a set of scales to obtain quantitative measures related to parental characteristics that may influence the adolescent’s perception of parental advice. An in-depth, semi-structured interview was then conducted with each parent, followed by the adolescent. Findings demonstrate that parents talk to their children, but overall conversations are not specific or comprehensive enough to support adolescents’ informed decision making about sexual health or building positive romantic relationships. Community organizations such as churches, schools, and medical settings can support families by providing brief seminars that not only provide technical information about sexual health but also allow parents to practice how to initiate communication about sex and how to gauge their child’s receptivity to discuss the topic further. Recommendations include encouraging parents to actively engage their adolescent in shared communication over time, respond to questions openly and accurately, and demonstrate concern in the teen’s life happenings.
Parental Attachment and Love Language as Determinants of Resilience Among Graduating University Students
Authors: Maximo Sally I. , Carranza Jennifer S.
Published: January 2016

The influence of parental attachment and love language on the resilience of graduating university students was studied in a Philippine setting. Using the survey method ( N = 843), it was found that a secure attachment and receiving love from parents result in higher resilience. The parental love languages quality time, words of affirmation, and acts of service significantly contributed to resilience. These are love languages that provide emotional, motivational, and practical resources that build resilience. While quality time contributed the most to resilience, a secure attachment is most especially required of fathers whereas words of affirmation and physical touch are needed from mothers. Sons need quality time from their fathers and the physical touch of their mothers. Daughters benefit from quality time with mothers alongside a secure attachment and words of affirmation from their fathers. This study emphasizes the parental factors of attachment and love as external resources of resilience. The research highlights the quality of parent–child relationship experience that would support the resilience of young adults. Results also point to the advantage of having loving parents and a secure parental attachment.
Aging and the Socioeconomic Life of Older Adults in India
Authors: Bakshi Sanjeev , Pathak Prasanta
Published: January 2016

The study attempts to approach aging in India from three perspectives, namely, the well-being of an aging individual, the aging household, and the aging population. The aspects, namely, work, financial dependence, integration, empowerment, and elder abuse are studied and their relation to age, gender, and marital status is investigated. The data sets pertaining to the National Sample Surveys for the reference periods 1986-1987, 1995-1996, and 2004 are primarily utilized for the purpose. The data sets from Building Knowledge Base on Population Ageing in India Survey, 2011, are also utilized for information on elder abuse. The results show that the older males are more likely to participate in household activities when compared with the older females. The married older adults are also more likely to participate in household activities when compared with their widowed counterparts. In a similar way, gender and marital status are found to be associated with empowerment of older adults. The working older adults, those who possess property and/or assets are more likely to be financially independent. Furthermore, the older females and the financially dependent older adults are more likely to face abuses of different kinds. Households are classified into three different types. Type I households have no older adults, Type II households have older adults and other younger members, and Type III households have older adults only. Results show that Type III households are found to be relatively more deprived and report higher average monthly expenditure when compared with other types of households.
Understanding Death Penalty Support and Opposition Among Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Students
Authors: Sethuraju Raj , Sole Jason , Oliver Brian E.
Published: January 2016

Although a sizable number of studies have gathered information from college students regarding their varying degrees of support for capital punishment, few have explored the underlying rationales behind these students’ death penalty support or opposition. In addition, although criminal justice majors have frequently been used as study participants, little research has sought to explore if law enforcement majors are different in manners for supporting or opposing capital punishment than other criminal justice majors. In the current study, a survey designed to measure reasons for support or opposition to capital punishment was administered to a convenience sample of 135 criminal justice and law enforcement majors at a mid-size Midwestern university. The results indicated that law enforcement majors were not significantly different from criminal justice majors on measures of support or opposition to capital punishment. There were, however, some notable differences found related to the academic standing of the students.
From Basic Instincts to Art Performance
Authors: Đerić Gordana , Tournois Laurent
Published: January 2016

Both science and the arts have largely disregarded cookery in their quests for the sublime and the beautiful; this article seeks to explicate why cookery has been excluded as a subject of analytical and aesthetic interest. By reexamining the particular sacredness attached to culture over time, this article outlines how processes of mastering spirit and knowledge go beyond physiology and physical senses (i.e., taste and smell). Fundamental causes for the decline of an established value order, which also gradually shifted the status of cookery, are identified. The development of food-related art and wisdom is considered in the context of the end of the cult of culture in its commonsense usage. This essay approaches food and the art of its preparation as an epistemological, aesthetic question, as well as an example for illustrating the decomposition of one value system and the foundation of another; it also details the new opportunities this transformation creates.
Is Kindergarten the New First Grade?
Authors: Bassok Daphna , Latham Scott , Rorem Anna
Published: January 2016

Recent accounts suggest that accountability pressures have trickled down into the early elementary grades and that kindergarten today is characterized by a heightened focus on academic skills and a reduction in opportunities for play. This paper compares public school kindergarten classrooms between 1998 and 2010 using two large, nationally representative data sets. We show substantial changes in each of the five dimensions considered: kindergarten teachers’ beliefs about school readiness, time spent on academic and nonacademic content, classroom organization, pedagogical approach, and use of standardized assessments. Kindergarten teachers in the later period held far higher academic expectations for children both prior to kindergarten entry and during the kindergarten year. They devoted more time to advanced literacy and math content, teacher-directed instruction, and assessment and substantially less time to art, music, science, and child-selected activities.
Modeling autosomal dominant optic atrophy using induced pluripotent stem cells and identifying potential therapeutic targets
Authors: Chen Jing , Riazifar Hamidreza , Guan Min-Xin , Huang Taosheng
Published: January 2016

Background

Many retinal degenerative diseases are caused by the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Autosomal dominant optic atrophy is the most common hereditary optic atrophy disease and is characterized by central vision loss and degeneration of RGCs. Currently, there is no effective treatment for this group of diseases. However, stem cell therapy holds great potential for replacing lost RGCs of patients. Compared with embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be derived from adult somatic cells, and they are associated with fewer ethical concerns and are less prone to immune rejection. In addition, patient-derived iPSCs may provide us with a cellular model for studying the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic agents for optic atrophy.

Methods

In this study, iPSCs were obtained from patients carrying anOPA1mutation (OPA1+/−-iPSC) that were diagnosed with optic atrophy. These iPSCs were differentiated into putative RGCs, which were subsequently characterized by using RGC-specific expression markers BRN3a and ISLET-1.

Results

MutantOPA1+/−-iPSCs exhibited significantly more apoptosis and were unable to efficiently differentiate into RGCs. However, with the addition of neural induction medium, Noggin, or estrogen,OPA1+/−-iPSC differentiation into RGCs was promoted.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that apoptosis mediated byOPA1mutations plays an important role in the pathogenesis of optic atrophy, and both noggin and β-estrogen may represent potential therapeutic agents forOPA1-related optic atrophy.
Iterative algorithm for a family of split equilibrium problems and fixed point problems in Hilbert spaces with applications
Authors: Wang Shenghua , Gong Xiaoying , Abdou Afrah AN , Cho Yeol Je
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we propose an iterative algorithm and, by using the proposed algorithm, prove some strong convergence theorems for finding a common element of the set of solutions of a finite family of split equilibrium problems and the set of common fixed points of a countable family of nonexpansive mappings in Hilbert spaces. An example is given to illustrate the main result of this paper. As an application, we construct an algorithm to solve an optimization problem.
A new iterative algorithm for the sum of infinite m-accretive mappings and infinite $\mu_{i}$-inversely strongly accretive mappings and its applications to integro-differential systems
Authors: Wei Li , Agarwal Ravi P
Published: January 2016

A new three-step iterative algorithm for approximating the zero point of the sum of an infinite family of m-accretive mappings and an infinite family of $\mu_{i}$

μ
i

-inversely strongly accretive mappings in a real q-uniformly smooth and uniformly convex Banach space is presented. The computational error in each step is being considered. A strong convergence theorem is proved by means of some new techniques, which extend the corresponding work by some authors. The relationship between the zero point of the sum of an infinite family of m-accretive mappings and an infinite family of $\mu_{i}$

μ
i

-inversely strongly accretive mappings and the solution of one kind variational inequalities is investigated. As an application, an integro-differential system is exemplified, from which we construct an infinite family of m-accretive mappings and an infinite family of $\mu_{i}$

μ
i

-inversely strongly accretive mappings. Moreover, the iterative sequence of the solution of the integro-differential systems is obtained.
Whole exome sequencing identifies novel candidate genes that modify chronic obstructive pulmonary disease susceptibility
Authors: Bruse Shannon , Moreau Michael , Bromberg Yana , Jang Jun-Ho , Wang Nan , Ha Hongseok , Picchi Maria , Lin Yong , Langley Raymond J. , Qualls Clifford , Klesney-Tait Julia , Zabner Joseph , Leng Shuguang , Mao Jenny , Belinsky Steven A. , Xing Jinchuan , Nyunoya Toru
Published: January 2016

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by an irreversible airflow limitation in response to inhalation of noxious stimuli, such as cigarette smoke. However, only 15–20 % smokers manifest COPD, suggesting a role for genetic predisposition. Although genome-wide association studies have identified common genetic variants that are associated with susceptibility to COPD, effect sizes of the identified variants are modest, as is the total heritability accounted for by these variants. In this study, an extreme phenotype exome sequencing study was combined with in vitro modeling to identify COPD candidate genes.

Results

We performed whole exome sequencing of 62 highly susceptible smokers and 30 exceptionally resistant smokers to identify rare variants that may contribute to disease risk or resistance to COPD. This was a cross-sectional case-control study without therapeutic intervention or longitudinal follow-up information. We identified candidate genes based on rare variant analyses and evaluated exonic variants to pinpoint individual genes whose function was computationally established to be significantly different between susceptible and resistant smokers. Top scoring candidate genes from these analyses were further filtered by requiring that each gene be expressed in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs). A total of 81 candidate genes were thus selected for in vitro functional testing in cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-exposed HBECs. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated gene silencing experiments, we showed that silencing of several candidate genes augmented CSE-induced cytotoxicity in vitro.

Conclusions

Our integrative analysis through both genetic and functional approaches identified two candidate genes (TACC2 and MYO1E) that augment cigarette smoke (CS)-induced cytotoxicity and, potentially, COPD susceptibility.
Foraging at wastewater treatment works affects brown adipose tissue fatty acid profiles in banana bats
Authors: Hill Kate , van Aswegen Sunet , Schoeman M. Corrie , Claassens Sarina , Jansen van Rensburg Peet , Naidoo Samantha , Vosloo Dalene
Published: January 2016

In this study we tested the hypothesis that the decrease in habitat quality at wastewater treatment works (WWTW), such as limited prey diversity and exposure to the toxic cocktail of pollutants, affect fatty acid profiles of interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBrAT) in bats. Further, the antioxidant capacity of oxidative tissues such as pectoral and cardiac muscle may not be adequate to protect those tissues against reactive molecules resulting from polyunsaturated fatty acid auto-oxidation in the WWTW bats. Bats were sampled at two urban WWTW, and two unpolluted reference sites in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Brown adipose tissue (BrAT) mass was lower in WWTW bats than in reference site bats. We found lower levels of saturated phospholipid fatty acids and higher levels of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids in WWTW bats than in reference site bats, while C18 desaturation and n-6 to n-3 ratios were higher in the WWTW bats. This was not associated with high lipid peroxidation levels in pectoral and cardiac muscle. Combined, these results indicate that WWTW bats rely on iBrAT as an energy source, and opportunistic foraging on abundant, pollutant-tolerant prey may change fatty acid profiles in their tissue, with possible effects on mitochondrial functioning, torpor and energy usage.
Biosignature for airway inflammation in a house dust mite-challenged murine model of allergic asthma
Authors: Piyadasa Hadeesha , Altieri Anthony , Basu Sujata , Schwartz Jacquie , Halayko Andrew J. , Mookherjee Neeloffer
Published: January 2016

House dust mite (HDM) challenge is commonly used in murine models of allergic asthma for preclinical pathophysiological studies. However, few studies define objective readouts or biomarkers in this model. In this study we characterized immune responses and defined molecular markers that are specifically altered after HDM challenge. In this murine model, we used repeated HDM challenge for two weeks which induced hallmarks of allergic asthma seen in humans, including airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) and elevated levels of circulating total and HDM-specific IgE and IgG1. Kinetic studies showed that at least 24 h after last HDM challenge results in significant AHR along with eosinophil infiltration in the lungs. Histologic assessment of lung revealed increased epithelial thickness and goblet cell hyperplasia, in the absence of airway wall collagen deposition, suggesting ongoing tissue repair concomitant with acute allergic lung inflammation. Thus, this model may be suitable to delineate airway inflammation processes that precede airway remodeling and development of fixed airway obstruction. We observed that a panel of cytokines e.g. IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, KC, TNF-α, IL-13, IL-33, MDC and TARC were elevated in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar fluid, indicating local lung inflammation. However, levels of these cytokines remained unchanged in serum, reflecting lack of systemic inflammation in this model. Based on these findings, we further monitored the expression of 84 selected genes in lung tissues by quantitative real-time PCR array, and identified 31 mRNAs that were significantly up-regulated in lung tissue from HDM-challenged mice. These included genes associated with human asthma (e.g. clca3, ear11, il-13, il-13ra2, il-10, il-21, arg1 and chia1) and leukocyte recruitment in the lungs (e.g. ccl11, ccl12 and ccl24). This study describes a biosignature to enable broad and systematic interrogation of molecular mechanisms and intervention strategies for airway inflammation pertinent to allergic asthma that precedes and possibly potentiates airway remodeling and fibrosis.
METACASPASE9 modulates autophagy to confine cell death to the target cells during Arabidopsis vascular xylem differentiation
Authors: Escamez Sacha , André Domenique , Zhang Bo , Bollhöner Benjamin , Pesquet Edouard , Tuominen Hannele
Published: January 2016

We uncovered that the level of autophagy in plant cells undergoing programmed cell death determines the fate of the surrounding cells. Our approach consisted of using Arabidopsis thaliana cell cultures capable of differentiating into two different cell types: vascular tracheary elements (TEs) that undergo programmed cell death (PCD) and protoplast autolysis, and parenchymatic non-TEs that remain alive. The TE cell type displayed higher levels of autophagy when expression of the TE-specific METACASPASE9 (MC9) was reduced using RNAi (MC9-RNAi). Misregulation of autophagy in the MC9-RNAi TEs coincided with ectopic death of the non-TEs, implying the existence of an autophagy-dependent intercellular signalling from within the TEs towards the non-TEs. Viability of the non-TEs was restored when AUTOPHAGY2 (ATG2) was downregulated specifically in MC9-RNAi TEs, demonstrating the importance of autophagy in the spatial confinement of cell death. Our results suggest that other eukaryotic cells undergoing PCD might also need to tightly regulate their level of autophagy to avoid detrimental consequences for the surrounding cells.
New fractional integral inequalities associated with pathway operator
Authors: Daiya Jitendra , Ram Jeta , Saxena R. K.
Published: January 2016

This paper deals with the derivation of certain integral inequalities involving fractional integral operators of Chebyshev type by an application of the pathway fractional integral operator. The results obtained are of general character and provide extension of results given by Belarbi and Dahmani.
The provision of total hip replacement for displaced intracapsular hip fractures
Authors:   Collaborative Orthopaedic Research Network
Published: January 2016

Introduction

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) currently recommends the use of total hip replacement (THR) for displaced intracapsular hip fractures in patients who meet certain mobility, cognitive and health criteria.

Methods

A multicentre prospective audit was conducted within a defined geographic region to assess current practice and variation in provision of THR for displaced intracapsular hip fractures.

Results

A total of 879 patients with hip fractures, admitted to 8 acute trauma units, were included in this study. Of 462 patients with displaced intracapsular hip fractures, 169 fulfilled the NICE criteria for THR. THR was performed for only 49 of (29%) the eligible patients. There was significant variation in THR provision between the eight units (0% to 50% THR usage, p<0.001). There were statistically significant differences in age, ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) grade, abbreviated mental test score and walking ability prior to the injury between patients who underwent fixation, THR or hemiarthroplasty (all p≤0.05). There was a significantly increased chance of not undergoing THR if a patient was older than 77 years (median age for the THR eligible cohort; relative risk [RR]: 7.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.8–22.0, p<0.001). There was also a trend for this with patients who were ASA grade 3 compared with ASA grade 1 or 2 (RR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.0–7.3, p=0.06). The surgeons gave multifactorial reasons for not performing THR in eligible patients.

Conclusions

There is significant variation in the provision of THR for eligible hip fracture patients, which is influenced by both patient demographics and the unit to which a patient is admitted.