bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Item Response Theory Methods With the Brazilian Temperament Scale for Students
Authors: Primi Ricardo , Wechsler Solange Muglia , de Cassia Nakano Tatiana , Oakland Thomas , Guzzo Raquel Souza Lobo
Published: April 2014

The development and validation of the Brazilian Temperament Scale for Students (BTSS) are examined through the use of data from 1,258 children and adolescents, ages 10 through 21 ( M = 15.0, SD = 2.1, 56% females). Three psychometric properties of BTSS are reported: its internal structure (e.g., validity), its reliability, and cut points to best distinguish between the bipolar styles for each of the scale’s four constructs (extroversion–introversion, practical–imaginative, thinking–feeling, and organized–flexible styles). Rasch analyses were used to estimate item intensity and students latent score parameters. The use of construct maps to help establish norms is described. The results of exploratory factor analysis using varimax rotation confirm the four scales’ intended bipolar factors are composed of items that theoretically represent the desired constructs. The confirmatory factor analysis for a four-factor structure generally displays good fit indexes. Infit and outfit values reach acceptable ranges (i.e., from 0.68 to 1.32). Results are interpreted using cut points.
Predicting Behavior Assessment System for Children–Second Edition Self-Report of Personality Child Form Results Using the Behavioral and Emotional Screening System Student Form
Authors: Kiperman Sarah , Black Mary S. , McGill Tia M. , Harrell-Williams Leigh M. , Kamphaus Randy W.
Published: April 2014

This study assesses the ability of a brief screening form, the Behavioral and Emotional Screening System–Student Form (BESS-SF), to predict scores on the much longer form from which it was derived: the Behavior Assessment System for Children–Second Edition Self-Report of Personality–Child Form (BASC-2-SRP-C). The present study replicates a former study included in the BESS manual with an entirely new sample. Participants included 252 students from a large, urban, Southwestern U.S. city school district in the third through fifth grades. The sample’s ethnic majority was Hispanic (81.7%). Results revealed high specificity and negative predictive values between the screener and omnibus form, suggesting a child who identifies as not “at-risk” on the BESS-SF will likely identify as not “at-risk” on the BASC-2-SRP-C domains. These results effectively replicate the previous findings with a new sample of largely Hispanic (Latino/a) students from a large urban school district.
Non-dimensional correlations on flame height and axial temperature profile of a buoyant turbulent line-source jet fire plume
Authors: Zhang Xiaochun , Hu Longhua , Zhang Xiaolei , Yang Lizhong , Wang Shuangfeng
Published: April 2014

This article investigates flame height and axial temperature profile of a buoyant turbulent line-source jet fire plume. Previous correlations have been mainly for axi-symmetrical fire sources or linear pool-type (no initial momentum) fire sources. Experiments were carried out for this study using a 3 mm (width) × 95 mm (length) line-source nozzle with propane as the fuel. Flame heights and axial temperature profiles were measured for different heat release rates. It was found that the flame heights can be well correlated by flame Froude number with a 2/3 power function based on scaling analysis. A global non-dimensional four-regions correlation (continuous flame region, intermittent flame region, line-plume region, and axi-symmetric-plume region) is proposed to characterize the axial temperature profile of a line-source jet fire plume.
Mapping the Literature
Authors: Dallara Alexis , Meret Anca , Saroyan John
Published: April 2014

Objectives of this review were to examine definitions and background of palliative care, as well as address whether there is an increased need for palliative care education among neurologists. The review also explores what literature exists regarding palliative care within general neurology and child neurology. A literature review was conducted examining use of palliative care within child neurology. More than 100 articles and textbooks were retrieved and reviewed. Expert guidelines stress the importance of expertise in palliative care among neurologists. Subspecialties written about in child neurology include that of peripheral nervous system disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders. Adult and child neurology patients have a great need for improved palliative care services, as they frequently develop cumulative physical and cognitive disabilities over time and cope with decreasing quality of life before reaching the terminal stage of their illness.
Early-Onset Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Type 1 With Some Atypical Features
Authors: Dorobek Małgorzata , van der Maarel Silvère M. , Lemmers Richard J. L. F. , Ryniewicz Barbara , Kabzińska Dagmara , Frants Rune R. , Gawel Malgorzata , Walecki Jerzy , Hausmanowa-Petrusewicz Irena
Published: April 2014

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy cases with facial weakness before the age of 5 and signs of shoulder weakness by the age of 10 are defined as early onset. Contraction of the D4Z4 repeat on chromosome 4q35 is causally related to facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1, and the residual size of the D4Z4 repeat shows a roughly inverse correlation with the severity of the disease. Contraction of the D4Z4 repeat on chromosome 4q35 is believed to induce a local change in chromatin structure and consequent transcriptional deregulation of 4qter genes. We present early-onset cases in the Polish population that amounted to 21% of our total population with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. More than 27% of them presented with severe phenotypes (wheelchair dependency). The residual D4Z4 repeat sizes ranged from 1 to 4 units. In addition, even within early-onset facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 phenotypes, some cases had uncommon features (head drop, early disabling contractures, progressive ptosis, and respiratory insufficiency and cardiomyopathy).
Childhoods under canvas: Campgrounds as spaces of resistance to protective parenting
Authors: Freeman Claire , Kearns Robin
Published: April 2014

Camping is an important activity for many New Zealand families, with half reporting to be regular campers or intending to camp. We explore the role of camping in the lives of 69 families undertaking this activity at five campgrounds over summer in the South Island of New Zealand. We argue that campgrounds are places that encourage children’s freedom, sense of adventure and experience of outdoor activities. The social capital evident in campgrounds enables families to adopt a less pressured and ‘hands-off’ parenting style which acts as an antidote to the pressured safety consciousness that prevails in their usual daily lives.
Atomic oxygen resistance of polyimide/silicon hybrid thin films with different compositions and architectures
Authors: Lei Xingfeng , Yao Pan , Qiao Mingtao , Sun Wanlu , Zhang Hepeng , Zhang Qiuyu
Published: April 2014

Silicon (Si)-containing polyimides (PIs) with superior atomic oxygen (AO) resistance are promising materials for space applications. Here, in this study, we present the synthesis and characterization of eight Si-containing PI thin films and evaluate their AO durability. The resulting PI films exhibited high thermal stability and preferable AO resistance but showed slightly reduced mechanical performance relative to pristine PI. The highest optical transparency at 550 nm was observed for PI/octaaminopropylsilsesquioxane, while the lowest value was observed for PI/silica (SiO2) hybrids. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopic study suggested that the topmost surface of PI was degraded at the early stage and an SiO2 inert protective layer was finally formed on the surface of hybrid films after AO exposure. It is found that Si-containing units of higher oxidation states and with higher Si/O molar ratio are favorable to improve the AO resistance. Dispersion of Si at molecular level contributes to improving anti-AO property as well as optical transparency of the prepared films. The characterization of scanning electron microscopy indicated a continuous SiO2 protective layer was crucial to prevent AO from eroding the bulk matrix.
Development and characterization of novel organic–inorganic hybrid sol–gel films
Authors: Duraibabu D. , Ganeshbabu T. , Saravanan P. , Kumar S. Ananda
Published: April 2014

Organic–inorganic hybrid films were fabricated by reacting 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane with 4,4′-diaminodiphenylether by hydrolysis and condensation reaction with acid catalysis. The chemical bonding between the organic and inorganic phases provides reinforcement to the films, and tetraethoxysilane was added in such a way that silica contents varied from 1 wt% to 3 wt% in the films. Structural characterization of the hybrid films was performed using Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques. The thermal properties studied using thermogravimetric analysis, indicate an improved thermal stability for the films according to the percentage concentration of silica present in them. The water absorption was also found to be reduced for the films with increased silica content. The surface morphology was investigated by means of x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopic techniques. The films transparency and homogeneity seem to have been affected severely when the silica content kept on increasing and ultimately led to opaqueness in film.
Synthesis and properties of comb-shaped poly(arylene ether)
Authors: Zhang Xiaofei , Wang Yan , Zhang Zhenpeng , Yao Hongyan , Pang Jinhui
Published: April 2014

A novel comb-shaped fluorinated poly(arylene ether) (cs-FPAE) was prepared from a difluoride monomer, 4-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)diphenyl ether, with commercial 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphenol by nucleophilic polycondensation reaction. The number-average molecular weight and polydispersities of cs-FPAE were in the range of 11,000–25,000 and 1.9–2.5, respectively. The refractive index (1.4667–1.5644) and birefringence (0.005–0.02 at 1550 nm wavelength) of spin-coated polymer films were determined using the prism-coupling method.
Improved mechanical and crystallization characteristics of polymer nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nanotube oxidized via wet mechanochemical method
Authors: Pandey Priyanka , Mohanty Smita , Nayak Sanjay Kumar
Published: April 2014

In the present study, a novel approach of wet mechanochemical oxidation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been established in order to improve the uniformity in nanodispersion of the CNTs. This approach was found to be more efficient for CNT oxidation as compared to the acid oxidation method as observed from the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and titrometric analyses. From the x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopic analyses, it was also noticed that the damage to the surface of CNTs caused by acid can be prevented using wet mechanochemical process for oxidation. The transmission electron microscopic micrographs also revealed lesser degree of entanglement of the CNT fibrils. The polymer nanocomposites reinforced with wet mechanochemically oxidized CNT (McCNT) revealed considerably higher mechanical properties as compared to that of acid-oxidized CNTs. Also, the much higher uniformity in dispersion and nucleating effect of the McCNT was observed from the Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry analysis, respectively.
Mechanism of damage generation during drilling of carbon/epoxy composites and titanium alloy stacks
Authors: Wang Ben , Gao Hang , Cao Bo , Zhuang Yuan , Zhao Zhe
Published: April 2014

Composite/metal stacks are widely used in aerospace structures. To study the mechanism of damage generation during drilling of carbon/epoxy composites and titanium alloy stacks, both traditional drilling and orbital drilling were used. Because the cutting parameters of the two drilling processes were different from each other, an appropriate comparing method was proposed based on the analysis of kinematics of orbital drilling and traditional drilling. The results show that high cutting temperature is the main reason for the damage generation during drilling of composite/titanium stacks. Cutting heat generated during machining of titanium alloy conducts to the composites and leads to the increase of composite temperature. High cutting temperature induces the degradation of carbon/epoxy composite properties, which results in the generation of damage during machining of composites. The cutting force in axial direction during orbital drilling is generally as high as that during traditional drilling. However, the temperature during orbital drilling is 36.3% less than that during traditional drilling. High cutting temperature and continuous chip generated during traditional drilling cause the high hole-wall roughness of titanium alloy. The lower temperature during orbital drilling is responsible for the machining quality of orbital drilling being higher than that of traditional drilling.
Thermal error prediction method for spindles in machine tools based on a hybrid model
Authors: Xiang Sitong , Lu Hongxing , Yang Jianguo
Published: April 2014

Thermal error is one of the major sources of machining inaccuracy. It becomes the dominant source of error and therefore should be predicted and compensated for. This article proposes a vector-angle-cosine hybrid model for thermal error prediction. The model combines the advantages of different constituent models and makes full use of the original measurement results. A multivariable linear regression model, a natural exponential model, and the finite element method are chosen as the three constituent models, and their advantages and disadvantages are demonstrated in detail. The combination weights of the three constituent models are determined by maximizing the cosine value of the angle between the vector-angle-cosine prediction vector and the actual thermal error vector. Experiments on spindle thermal errors are conducted to build and validate the proposed model. The performance comparison between the vector-angle-cosine hybrid model and the three constituent models indicates that the former has better accuracy and robustness under different working conditions. Some actual machining tests are conducted pre- and post compensation, and results show that the size errors are decreased by 60%.
Simulating the aerodynamic characteristics of the Land Speed Record vehicle BLOODHOUND SSC
Authors: Evans Ben , Rose Chris
Published: April 2014

This paper describes the application of a parallel finite-volume compressible Navier–Stokes computational fluid dynamics solver to the complex aerodynamic problem of a land-based supersonic vehicle, BLOODHOUND SSC. This is a complex aerodynamic problem because of the supersonic rolling ground, the rotating wheels and the shock waves in close proximity to the ground. The computational fluid dynamics system is used to develop a mature vehicle design from the initial concept stage, and the major aerodynamic design changes are identified. The paper’s focus, however, is on the predicted aerodynamic behaviour of the finalised (frozen) design which is currently being manufactured. The paper presents a summary of the data bank of predicted aerodynamic behaviours that will be used as the benchmark for vehicle testing and computational fluid dynamics validation throughout 2015 and 2016 in an attempt to achieve a Land Speed Record of 1000 mile/h (approximately Mach 1.3). The computational fluid dynamics predictions indicate that the current design has a benign lift distribution across the whole Mach range of interest and a sufficiently low drag coefficient to achieve this objective. It also indicates that the fin is sized appropriately to achieve the static margin requirements for directional stability. The paper concludes by presenting the impact of feeding the detailed computational fluid dynamics predictions into the overall vehicle performance model together with recommendations for further computational fluid dynamics study.
Elastic body impact on sandwich panels at low and intermediate velocity
Authors: Kralovec Christoph , Schagerl Martin , Schröder Kai-Uwe
Published: April 2014

This paper investigates the dynamics and failure modes during the impact of an elastic body on a sandwich structure by means of non-linear finite element analysis. The main motivation for the study is the accidental impact of a human body on the interior sandwich structure of a civil aircraft during a crash situation. The considered model is a rectangular simply supported sandwich plate that is loaded dynamically by the centric impact of a spherical body with varying stiffness. In principle, the impactor stiffness has a significant influence on the contact forces between impactor and sandwich structure, and consequently, leads to a change in the impactor deceleration and re-acceleration as well as a change in the contact duration. However, the deformation of a “softer” impactor causes a smoother load introduction. Thus, two questions arise: can the altered stress distribution change the initial failure mode of the sandwich structure? And how are the deformations and deceleration and accelerations of the elastic impactor influenced? As, particularly, the latter question is crucial to human safety in crash situations, the inertia loads exerted on the elastic impactor are evaluated in detail by standard injury criteria.
Self-centering dual-mobility total hip systems: Prediction of relative movements and realignment of different intermediate components
Authors: Fabry Christian , Woernle Christoph , Bader Rainer
Published: April 2014

The increased jump distance against dislocation and the large range of motion due to the enlarged effective head diameter substantiate the use of dual-mobility systems in cases of total hip joint instability. For this type of total hip endoprostheses, an eccentric design of the outer bearing is assumed in order to provide a force-dependent self-centering mechanism and an improved joint stability against dislocation. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative movements and realignment of different intermediate components during various motion cycles as a result of the eccentric design. We established a validated mathematical model for eccentric dual-mobility systems, which allowed a comparison of relative movements, self-centering torque and overall frictional torque during four different activities in order to analyze their motion behavior in everyday life. In addition, the impact of different radial clearances on the dynamic performance of the self-centering mechanism was investigated. According to torque patterns and the validation experiment, the main articulation of eccentric dual-mobility systems was limited to the smaller inner bearing for the most daily life activities, i.e. the eccentric intermediate component remained in its current position and only with changing activity did the intermediate component realign clearly. However, an inappropriate dimensioning of the radial clearance could lead to a permanent realignment of the intermediate component during the motion cycles. In general, the self-centering mechanism of the intermediate component seems to have no negative influence on relative movements and wear propagation of dual-mobility cup systems if the clearance and eccentricity are appropriately dimensioned.
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles induce cytotoxicity and reduce mitotic index in human amniotic fluid-derived cells
Authors: Acar MS , Bulut ZB , Ateş A , Nami B , Koçak N , Yıldız B
Published: April 2014

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) are commonly used materials present in many consumables for which most people are exposed to. The biological hazards of the NPs on human health have been demonstrated previously. In this study, we aimed to assess the cytotoxicity potency of TiO2 NPs on the primary human amniotic fluid cells. The cells derived from amniotic fluid were treated with different dosages of TiO2 NPs for some periods. Cell adhesion status was assessed using a light microscopic observation. Cell proliferation and cell death rates were determined using trypan blue staining and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Also, mitotic index was determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization with chromosome 8 centromer-specific DNA probe. Disrupted cell adhesion, decreased proliferation, and increased mortality rates were detected in the cells that were treated with TiO2 NPs depending on the dosage ( p < 0.001). Also, reduced mitotic index was determined in the cells depending on the time and TiO2 dosage when compared with the controls ( p < 0.0001). These results showed that TiO2 NPs have high cytotoxicity for amniotic fluid-derived cells. Therefore, different products containing TiO2 NPs should be used with care, especially for pregnant women.
High prolactin levels are independently associated with damage accrual in systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Ugarte-Gil MF , Gamboa-Cárdenas RV , Zevallos F , Medina M , Cucho-Venegas JM , Perich-Campos RA , Alfaro-Lozano JL , Rodriguez-Bellido Z , Alarcón GS , Pastor-Asurza CA
Published: April 2014

Objective: to determine whether prolactin levels are independently associated with disease damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Methods: these cross-sectional analyses were conducted in SLE patient members of the Almenara Lupus Cohort who were seen between January 2012 and June 2013. Disease damage was ascertained with the System Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology (SLICC/ACR) damage index (SDI). Prolactin was measured in ng/ml. The association between prolactin levels and the SDI (total and its domains) was evaluated using Spearman's correlation. Subsequently, adjusted Poisson regression models were performed to evaluate these associations. Results: 160 patients were included. 147 (91.9%) were female; their median age at diagnosis was 33.4 (interquartile range (IQR): 26.0–44.3) years; their disease duration was 5.5 (IQR: 2.6–9.7) years. The median prolactin value was 16.8 (IQR: 11.8–24.5) ng/ml. After adjusting for confounders in the Poisson regression model the estimated rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for each 10 ng/ml increment of prolactin were 1.13 (95% CI 1.60–1.20, p < 0.001) for the total SDI score, 1.15 (1.03–1.28, p = 0.003) for the renal domain and 1.41 (1.11–1.79, p = 0.003) for the cardiac/peripheral vascular domains. Conclusions: there was a positive association between prolactin levels and the SDI (overall and its renal and cardiac/peripheral vascular domains), independently of other well-known risk factors.
The Effect of Lower Limb Cast Immobilization on Calf Muscle Pump Function
Authors: Hickey Ben A. , Morgan Amy , Pugh Neil , Perera Anthony
Published: April 2014

Background:

We have investigated the role of the calf muscle pump in casted patients. An audit of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in casted patients showed that the thrombosis occurred in the casted leg; this has not been previously assessed. We postulated that local factors play a major role, and we set out to assess the calf muscle pump in casted patients and to determine whether this can be optimized despite below-knee cast immobilization.

Methods:

We measured the flow in the popliteal vein using a validated method of Doppler ultrasound measurement of peak velocity with and without a below-knee plaster cast.

Results:

We demonstrated that a simple strategy of toe and ankle exercises can maintain venous return despite below-knee cast immobilization.

Conclusion:

This is the first study to examine the effect of the calf muscle pump in the presence of a plaster cast. Major muscle groups such as the flexor hallucis longus and gastrocsoleus extend beyond the field of control of the cast and can still be recruited.

Clinical Relevance:

We recommend that all patients treated with a below-knee cast be given a program of exercises that can be comfortably performed with the cast; this could provide a useful, inexpensive, and safe thromboprophylaxis strategy acting at the site of greatest risk and targeting a major cause of VTE.
Total Ankle Arthroplasty Accuracy and Reproducibility Using Preoperative CT Scan-Derived, Patient-Specific Guides
Authors: Berlet Gregory C. , Penner Murray J. , Lancianese Sarah , Stemniski Paul M. , Obert Richard M.
Published: April 2014

Background:

Preoperative navigation has provided many potential benefits for total knee arthroplasty, including patient-specific alignment, repeatable implant placement, and decreased operative time. For the first time, this technology was applied to total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). This study evaluated repeatability of tibia and talus patient-specific guide placement and deviation between the preoperative plan and actual implant placement.

Methods:

Routine ankle CT scans were acquired of 15 cadaveric lower extremity limbs, converted into 3D solid models, and imported into a computer-assisted design assembly. Anatomic landmarks defining tibia/talus alignment were established and used to perform a virtual TAA. Commercially available implant components were placed to mimic traditional cases. An operative guide referencing the cadaver-specific anatomy was engineered to define the resection planes necessary to re-create virtual placement of traditional tibia and talus implants in the postoperative position. Board-certified TAA orthopaedic surgeons with no prior preoperative navigation experience placed the operative guides onto the bones based on tactile and visual feedback. Guide placement was repeated 4 times to determine variability. Final implant position was recorded with an infrared probe, confirmed with CT scans, and compared to the preoperative plan. Average deviations between planned and actual guide placement were determined for all rotational and translational degrees of freedom (DOF). In addition, implant component location was measured radiographically.

Results:

Intraobserver tibia and talus guide variation between all trials was 0.26 ± 0.18 degrees and 0.36 ± 0.25 degrees in flexion/extension, 0.61 ± 0.58 and 0.53 ± 0.53 in varus/valgus, and 0.79 ± 0.38 degrees and 1.15 ± 0.77 degrees in internal/external rotation, respectively. Average variation between preoperative and postoperative implant placement was less than 2 degrees and 1.4 mm in all specimens tested.

Conclusion:

Preliminary data suggest that preoperative navigation and custom operative guides result in reliable and reproducible placement of TAA implants and patient-specific ankle alignment. Deviation of final implant placement from the preoperative plan was less than 2 degrees in all angular DOF, providing greater accuracy than the ±3 degrees determined in other implant system studies using traditional instrumentation and computer navigation.

Clinical Relevance:

We have further demonstrated that final implant position is successfully guided by these patient-specific guides, with reproducibility of tibial component placement falling within 2 degrees of the intended target. This level of reproducibility suggests a promise for this technology, and it is hoped this level of accuracy will become the benchmark for the next generation of total ankle arthroplasty.
On the robust stabilizability of unstable systems with feedback delay by finite spectrum assignment
Authors: Molnar Tamas G , Insperger Tamas
Published: April 2014

An application of the finite spectrum assignment (FSA) control technique is presented for unstable systems with feedback delay. The FSA controller predicts the actual state of the system over the delay period using an internal model of the real system. If the internal model is perfectly accurate then the feedback delay can be compensated. However, parameter mismatches of the internal model or implementation inaccuracies of the control law may result in an unstable control process. In this paper, the stabilizability of an undamped second-order system is analyzed for different system and delay parameter mismatches. Theoretical stability and robustness to implementation inaccuracies of the control law are discussed. It is shown that, for small parameter uncertainties, the FSA controller allows stabilization for significantly larger feedback delays than conventional delayed proportional-derivative-acceleration controllers do.
The Path From Passivity Toward Entrepreneurship
Authors: Alexandrescu Filip , Martinát Stanislav , Klusáček Petr , Bartke Stephan
Published: April 2014

Europeanization research dealing with the environmental transition in Eastern Europe has focused on the roles of state actors in adopting European regulations. Less well understood are the framings and roles of public administration actors when European Union regulations do not prescribe specific institutional changes. This article offers a micro perspective on the framings and roles of such actors in several cases of brownfield regeneration. Actors can play a proactive role, thereby fostering change, or they can play a moderately active or a passive role. We identify three moments—defining brownfield problems, mobilizing networks, and leading by example—which together define an entrepreneurial path. Along this path, actors can evolve from passivity toward entrepreneurship, but stasis and regression are also possible. Using qualitative data from the project TIMBRE (Tailored Improvement of Brownfield Regeneration in Europe), we illustrate different moments along this path for public sector actors in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania.
They Lift My Spirit Up
Authors: Jackson LeRon C. , Hanson Laura C. , Hayes Michelle , Green Melissa , Peacock Stacie , Corbie-Smith Giselle
Published: April 2014

Background. Active social and spiritual support for persons with cancer and other serious illnesses has been shown to improve psychological adjustment to illness and quality of life. Objective. To evaluate a community-based support team intervention within the African American community using stakeholder interviews. Methods. Support team members were recruited from African American churches, community organizations, and the social network of individuals with serious illness. Support teams provided practical, emotional, and spiritual care for persons with cancer and other serious illness. The intervention was evaluated using semistructured interviews with 47 stakeholders including those with serious illness, support team volunteers, clergy, and medical providers. Results. Stakeholders report multiple benefits to participation in the support team; themes included provision of emotional and spiritual support, extension of support to patients’ family, and support complementary to medical care. Reported barriers to participation were grouped thematically as desiring to maintain a sense of independence and normalcy; limitations of volunteers were also discussed as a barrier to this model of supportive care. Conclusions. This qualitative evaluation provides initial evidence that a support team intervention helped meet the emotional and spiritual needs of African American persons with cancer or other serious illness. Volunteer support teams merit further study as a way to improve quality of life for persons facing serious illness.
High performance in silico virtual drug screening on many-core processors
Authors: McIntosh-Smith Simon , Price James , Sessions Richard B , Ibarra Amaurys A
Published: April 2014

Drug screening is an important part of the drug development pipeline for the pharmaceutical industry. Traditional, lab-based methods are increasingly being augmented with computational methods, ranging from simple molecular similarity searches through more complex pharmacophore matching to more computationally intensive approaches, such as molecular docking. The latter simulates the binding of drug molecules to their targets, typically protein molecules. In this work, we describe BUDE, the Bristol University Docking Engine, which has been ported to the OpenCL industry standard parallel programming language in order to exploit the performance of modern many-core processors. Our highly optimized OpenCL implementation of BUDE sustains 1.43 TFLOP/s on a single Nvidia GTX 680 GPU, or 46% of peak performance. BUDE also exploits OpenCL to deliver effective performance portability across a broad spectrum of different computer architectures from different vendors, including GPUs from Nvidia and AMD, Intel’s Xeon Phi and multi-core CPUs with SIMD instruction sets.
Spectral analysis of femoral artery blood flow waveforms of conscious domestic cats
Authors: dos Reis Gisele FM , Nogueira Rodrigo B , Silva Adriana C , Oberlender Guilherme , Muzzi Ruthnéa AL , Mantovani Matheus M
Published: April 2014

The qualitative and quantitative aspects of femoral artery blood flow waveform spectra were evaluated in 15 male and 15 female Persian and mixed breed domestic cats ( Felis catus), which were healthy and not sedated, using duplex Doppler ultrasonography (DDU). Spectral Doppler demonstrated a biphasic characteristic in 16 (53.34%) of the animals evaluated, and a triphasic characteristic in the 14 (46.66%) remaining animals. The systolic blood pressure and heart rate values were within the normal range for the species. The quantitative parameters evaluated, based on the spectral Doppler, were as follows: systolic velocity peak (SVP), recent diastolic velocity peak (RDVP), end diastolic velocity peak (EDVP), mean velocity (MV), integral velocity time (ITV), artery diameter (AD), femoral flow volume (FFV), pulsatility index (PI), resistive index (RI), systolic peak acceleration time (AT) and deceleration time (DT). The respective mean values were: 36.41 ± 7.33 cm/s, 4.69 ± 0.90 cm/s, 10.74 ± 2.74 cm/s, 23.06 ± 4.86 cm/s, 3.91 ± 1.05 cm, 0.17 ± 0.04 cm, 0.11 ± 0.08 cm3, 3.85 ± 0.19, 1.40 ± 0.20, 39.84 ± 7.38 ms, and 114.0 ± 22.15 ms. No significant differences were found between males and females. The analyses carried out on the femoral artery flow spectrum obtained by DDU showed that it is easy to use and highly tolerated in non-sedated, healthy cats. It appears that DDU may be a useful diagnostic technique, but further studies are needed to evaluate how it compares with invasive telemetric methodology or high-definition oscillometric waveform analytic techniques.
Partial urorectal septum malformation sequence in a kitten with disorder of sexual development
Authors: Reynolds Brice S , Pain Amélie , Meynaud-Collard Patricia , Nowacka-Woszuk Joanna , Szczerbal Izabela , Switonski Marek , Chastant-Maillard Sylvie
Published: April 2014

A 2-month-old kitten exhibited simultaneously an imperforate anus, hypospadias, rectourethral fistula and genital dysgenesis (penis restricted to the glans, absence of prepuce and bifid scrotum). Surgical correction consisted of separation of the urinary and digestive tracts, perineal urethrostomy and connection of the rectum to the newly made anal opening. Pathological examination of the testes, conventionally removed at 9 months of age, showed no mature spermatozoa and underdevelopment of germ and Leydig cells. In humans, the absence of an anal opening in association with abnormal sexual development defines the urorectal septum malformation sequence. Here, we describe the first case of this syndrome in a kitten with a normal male karyotype (38,XY) and a normal coding sequence for the SRY gene. Both the rectourethral fistula and observed genital abnormalities might have been induced by a disturbance in the hedgehog signalling pathway. However, although four polymorphic sites were identified by DHH gene sequencing, none cosegregated with the malformation.
Exploring managerial talk through metaphor: An opportunity to bridge rigour and relevance?
Authors: Latusek Dominika , Vlaar Paul WL
Published: April 2014

In this article, we elucidate that exploring managerial talk through the lens of metaphor might offer an opportunity to bridge the often acclaimed gap between rigour and relevance in management research and education. Building on an interpretative research approach and a qualitative field study among managers from the Netherlands, Poland and the United States, we reveal that managers view their day-to-day interactions in relationships with suppliers and clients as if they perform acts, play games and fight battles. These findings corroborate extant research, but they also show that combining (a) the use of metaphor as an analytical tool with (b) a focus on managers’ perceptions of their own and others’ micro-level behaviours offers substantial potential for synthesising theory with practice. More specifically, we argue that the layered nature of metaphors – on a primary level helping us imbue meaning to raw observations, and on a theoretical level drawing our attention to potentially interesting constructs – propels confrontation and symbiosis between research and practice. Simultaneously, a focus on micro-level behaviours enhances recognisability for practitioners, while facilitating the emergence of fine-mazed patterns underlying emerging constructs on a theoretical level.
Flesh in voice: The no-touch embodiment of transnational customer service workers
Authors: Mirchandani Kiran
Published: April 2014

Telephone-based customer service work is often conceptualized as disembodied. Automatic dialing systems direct callers through menu-driven options, and eventually to a distant customer service worker. Interactions are scripted, and workers have little job discretion to deal with out-of-the-box customer requests. Yet, although the bodies of call center workers and their customers do not come into contact, this article considers whether their interactions are in fact disembodied. Based on interviews with transnational customer service workers in India, I argue that bodies matter in remote customer service interactions. Part of the job of a customer service worker is the transmission of bodies through voice. This involves making sense of how ideal workers are embodied in callers’ eyes and using their voices to emulate these imagined ideal workers. I argue that exploring the embodiment of ‘voice workers’ extends analyses of embodiment to date, which have focused primarily on whole bodies in physical contact with others. The findings presented here highlight the importance of interpellation—specifically the work of ‘reading bodies’ which is a significant part of service work, especially work which crosses national borders. Bodies are ‘read’ based on social and historical contexts within which people are immersed and these contexts are influenced by social stratification, state policies, and colonial histories.
The three sociological types of consumer work
Authors: Dujarier Marie-Anne
Published: April 2014

This article deals with the productive activities carried out by consumers, supervised by the suppliers for their profit, in the market economy. There is abundant managerial literature on this topic. A corpus of marketing texts shows that putting consumers to work is a specific aim of those responsible for organizing work in companies. Sociological studies followed, but in unsystematic and sectorized ways. This article analyses consumer activity itself, using the concepts and tools of the sociology of work. The four aspects of consumer activity are described: the way it is prescribed and organized, the actual work done, the output, and the meaning it has for those who carry it out. With this theoretical frame and an empirical survey, I identify three ways in which the consumer is put to work: in addition to the forms of work that have already been clearly identified, that is, self-service and collaborative coproduction, which I discuss here, I consider “organizational work.”
From legalist to Dirty Harry: Police recruits’ attitudes towards non-legalistic police practice
Authors: Fekjær Silje Bringsrud , Petersson Otto , Thomassen Gunnar
Published: April 2014

This study provides a test of the presumption that police recruits with a diverse background, undertaking comparatively long academic training, will refrain from non-legalistic practices. This is tested by longitudinal survey data, covering two cohorts of Swedish police recruits. The results show stable support for the legalistic perspective during academy training. However, during on-the-job training, the recruits become more positive towards non-legalistic practices. This reorientation takes place quite irrespective of the type of duty to which they are assigned. Additionally, neither the recruits’ nor their parents’ level of education seems to matter. There is some effect of age and gender: young male recruits are somewhat more prone to adopt Dirty Harry-inspired measures – that is, achieving essential ends by tarnished means.
Children’s experiences of contact with imprisoned parents: A comparison between four European countries
Authors: Sharratt Kathryn
Published: April 2014

Across the European Union an increasing number of children are experiencing parental imprisonment and the adverse emotional, behavioural and social outcomes that it entails. Separation owing to imprisonment also places strain on parent–child relationships, with children reporting feelings of abandonment and alienation, and difficulties communicating with their imprisoned parent. This paper presents findings from interviews with a total of 135 families in the UK, Germany, Romania and Sweden. There were noticeable country differences in the practical and financial barriers to maintaining contact and the suitability of prison visiting environments. This had important implications for children’s emotional health and the extent to which contact was conducive to supporting parent–child relationships.
Featured Article: Interactions of surface-expressed TLR-4 and endosomal TLR-9 accelerate lupus progression in anti-dsDNA antibody transgenic mice
Authors: Lee Tai-Ping , Huang Jason C , Liu Chi-Jui , Chen Hsiu-Jung , Chen Yih-Horng , Tsai Yi-Ting , Yang Winnie , Sun Kuang-Hui
Published: April 2014

The hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the presence of high levels of anti-double-stranded DNA autoantibody (anti-dsDNA) in sera. In addition, pathogen infections coincide frequently with the occurrence of lupus. Our study was designed to investigate the contribution of anti-dsDNA, extracellular and intracellular Toll-like receptors (TLRs), a family of pattern-recognition receptors for sensing invading pathogens, in the pathogenesis of lupus. Although cell surface-expressed TLR4 may promote lupus progression, intracellular nucleic acid-sensing TLR9 plays either stimulatory or protective roles in different murine lupus models. To examine the role of TLR4, TLR9, and anti-dsDNA in SLE, we generated transgenic mice carrying anti-dsDNA antibody transgene and challenged the mice with TLR4- and TLR9-agonists, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG ODN1826 and 2216), respectively. Splenocytes from these mice were found to secrete higher levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and anti-dsDNA when treated with a combination of TLR4 and TLR9 agonists (LPS + CpG). In addition, the transgenic mice were intraperitoneally administered with CpG or combined CpG and LPS to determine whether extracellular TLR4 and intracellular TLR9 activations could affect lupus progression in vivo. It was found that serum levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies and interferon-alpha were higher in CpG + LPS-treated transgenic mice than those in non-transgenic mice. Besides, elevated levels of proteinuria, blood urine nitrogen, and immune complex depositions in kidney were found in treated transgenic mice. Anti-dsDNA and simultaneous activation of surface-expressed TLR4 and endosomal TLR9 are crucial to promote the lupus progression.
Obesity and asthma: Pathophysiology and implications for diagnosis and management in primary care
Authors: Mohanan Sveta , Tapp Hazel , McWilliams Andrew , Dulin Michael
Published: April 2014

The effects of obesity on asthma diagnosis, control, and exacerbation severity are increasingly recognized; however, the underlying pathophysiology of this association is poorly understood. Mainstream clinical practice has yet to adopt aggressive management of obesity as a modifiable risk factor in asthma care, as is the case with a risk factor like tobacco or allergen exposure. This review summarizes existing data that support the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the association between obesity and asthma, as well as the current and future state of treatment for the obese patient with asthma. Our review suggests that evidence of chronic inflammatory response linking obesity and asthma indicates a need to address obesity during asthma management, possibly using patient-centered approaches such as shared decision making. There is a need for research to better understand the mechanisms of asthma in the obese patient and to develop new therapies specifically targeted to this unique patient population.
Diabetes increases pancreatic fibrosis during chronic inflammation
Authors: Zechner Dietmar , Knapp Niklas , Bobrowski Alexej , Radecke Tobias , Genz Berit , Vollmar Brigitte
Published: April 2014

Diabetes and fibrosis can be concurrent processes in several diseases such as cystic fibrosis or chronic pancreatitis. To evaluate whether diabetes can influence fibrosis and thus aggravate the pathological process, the progression of chronic pancreatitis was assessed in diabetic and non diabetic mice. For this purpose, insulin producing beta-cells in C57Bl/6 J mice were selectively impaired by administration of streptozotocin. Chronic pancreatitis was then induced by repetitive administration of cerulein in normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic mice. Diabetes caused enhanced collagen I deposition within three weeks of the onset of chronic pancreatitis and increased the proliferation of interstitial cells. This was accompanied by an increased number of interlobular fibroblasts, which expressed S100A4 (fibroblast-specific protein-1) and stimulation of α-smooth muscle actin expression of pancreatic stellate cells. In addition, the observed aggravation of chronic pancreatitis by diabetes also led to a significantly enhanced atrophy of the pancreas, increased infiltration of inflammatory chloracetate esterase positive cells and enhanced acinar cell death. We conclude that diabetes has a detrimental influence on the progression of chronic pancreatitis by aggravating fibrosis, inflammation and pancreatic atrophy.
Human enteroids as an ex-vivo model of host–pathogen interactions in the gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Foulke-Abel Jennifer , In Julie , Kovbasnjuk Olga , Zachos Nicholas C , Ettayebi Khalil , Blutt Sarah E , Hyser Joseph M , Zeng Xi-Lei , Crawford Sue E , Broughman James R , Estes Mary K , Donowitz Mark
Published: April 2014

Currently, 9 out of 10 experimental drugs fail in clinical studies. This has caused a 40% plunge in the number of drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 2005. It has been suggested that the mechanistic differences between human diseases modeled in animals (mostly rodents) and the pathophysiology of human diseases might be one of the critical factors that contribute to drug failure in clinical trials. Rapid progress in the field of human stem cell technology has allowed the in-vitro recreation of human tissue that should complement and expand upon the limitations of cell and animal models currently used to study human diseases and drug toxicity. Recent success in the identification and isolation of human intestinal epithelial stem cells (Lgr5+) from the small intestine and colon has led to culture of functional intestinal epithelial units termed organoids or enteroids. Intestinal enteroids are comprised of all four types of normal epithelial cells and develop a crypt–villus differentiation axis. They demonstrate major intestinal physiologic functions, including Na+ absorption and Cl− secretion. This review discusses the recent progress in establishing human enteroids as a model of infectious diarrheal diseases such as cholera, rotavirus, and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, and use of the enteroids to determine ways to correct the diarrhea-induced ion transport abnormalities via drug therapy.