bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Availability and Accuracy of Information Regarding Nonprescription Emergency Contraception
Authors: Orr Katherine Kelly , Lemay Virginia A. , Wojtusik Amanda P. , Opydo-Rossoni Margaret , Cohen Lisa B.
Published: January 2015

Background:

Although access to emergency contraception (EC) has increased with nonprescription status and approval of Plan B One-Step without age restrictions, barriers may still remain in patient education. This study assesses product availability and accuracy of information for EC among community pharmacies in Rhode Island, comparing changes from 2009 to 2012.

Methods:

Two female investigators posing as patients seeking EC followed a standardized script over telephone conversations. Investigators assessed EC availability, product use information, and cost at all community (retail) pharmacies in Rhode Island. Data were reported as group results with no identifiers. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to analyze results.

Results:

During spring of 2009 and 2012, 165 and 171 pharmacies were telephoned, respectively. Approximately 90% of pharmacies stocked EC both years. In all, 62% versus 28% ( P < .001) indicated EC should be taken as soon as possible; 82.5% versus 87.7% ( P = .220) provided correct administration information; 67% versus 84% ( P < .001) warned about adverse effects; and 67% versus 53% ( P = .123) provided the correct minimum age for purchase.

Conclusions:

Access to nonprescription EC in Rhode Island is very good. Sites not stocking EC should reassess plans for patients to obtain medication. There is need for reeducation on EC labeling to improve counseling provided over the telephone.
Family Health Histories and Their Impact on Retirement Confidence
Authors: Zick Cathleen D. , Mayer Robert N. , Smith Ken R.
Published: January 2015

Objective: Retirement confidence is a key social barometer. In this article, we examine how personal and parental health histories relate to working-age adults’ feelings of optimism or pessimism about their overall retirement prospects. Method: This study links survey data on retirement planning with information on respondents’ own health histories and those of their parents. The multivariate models control for the respondents’ socio-demographic and economic characteristics along with past retirement planning activities when estimating the relationships between family health histories and retirement confidence. Results: Retirement confidence is inversely related to parental history of cancer and cardiovascular disease but not to personal health history. In contrast, retirement confidence is positively associated with both parents being deceased. Discussion: As members of the public become increasingly aware of how genetics and other family factors affect intergenerational transmission of chronic diseases, it is likely that the link between family health histories and retirement confidence will intensify.
Assessing the potential for cryptotephra studies in Northeastern China
Authors: Zhao Hongli , Hall Valerie A
Published: January 2015

Quaternary tephrochronology and tephrostratigraphy are employed globally for chronological control and site correlation, but the potential for these approaches in Northeastern China has not been fully explored, in spite of this being a volcanically active region. Microscopic and precise electron microprobe geochemical analyses were performed on crypto- or macrotephra layers in maar lake sediments from Sihailongwan, and peat from Gushantun, from the Longgang volcanic field in NE China. Tentative links have been made to volcanism in the Longgang and Changbaishan volcanic fields. From published radiocarbon dating data for Sihailongwan and new AMS dating for the Gushantun tephra layer, crypto-tephrostratigraphy and tephrochronology for the Longgang region have been constructed, and their limitations are assessed.
Effects of alendronate and pamidronate on apoptosis and cell proliferation in cultured primary human gingival fibroblasts
Authors: Soydan SS , Araz K , Senel FV , Yurtcu E , Helvacioglu F , Dagdeviren A , Tekindal MA , Sahin F
Published: January 2015

Data arising from the recent literature directed the researchers to study on the degree and extent of bisphosphonate toxicity on oral mucosa in further detail. The aim of this study is to determine the half maximal inhibitory concentration of pamidronate (PAM) and alendronate (ALN) on human gingival fibroblasts in vitro using 3-[4.5-thiazol-2-yl]-2.5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and to evaluate the effects of both agents on the proliferation and apoptotic indices. Cells used in the study were generated from human gingival specimens and divided into alendronate ( n = 240), PAM ( n = 240), and control groups ( n = 60). Based on the MTT assay results, 10−4, 10−5, 10−6, and 10−7 M concentrations of both drugs were administered and the effects were evaluated for 6, 12, 24, 48, or 72 h periods. An indirect immunofluorescence technique was used to evaluate apoptotic (anti-caspase 3) and proliferation (anti-Ki67) indices. Toxicity of both PAM and ALN was found to be the most potent at 10−4–10−5 M range. The apoptotic index of PAM group was found to be significantly higher than ALN group for all concentrations especially at 24 h incubation time ( p < 0.05). The decrease in the proliferation index was found similar in first 48 h for both drugs; however, after 72 h of incubation decrease in proliferation index in PAM group was found to be significantly higher ( p < 0.05). Micromolar concentrations of not only PAM but also ALN rapidly affect cells generated from human oral gingival tissue by inducing apoptosis together with inhibition of proliferation. Cytotoxic effects of both ALN and PAM on primary human gingival fibroblasts, which cause significant changes in apoptotic and proliferative indices as shown in this in vitro study, suggests that the defective epithelialization of oral mucosa is possibly a major factor on the onset of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw cases.
Naproxen-induced Ca2+ movement and death in MDCK canine renal tubular cells
Authors: Cheng H-H , Chou C-T , Sun T-K , Liang W-Z , Cheng J-S , Chang H-T , Tseng H-W , Kuo C-C , Chen F-A , Kuo D-H , Shieh P , Jan C-R
Published: January 2015

Naproxen is an anti-inflammatory drug that affects cellular calcium ion (Ca2+) homeostasis and viability in different cells. This study explored the effect of naproxen on [Ca2+]i and viability in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK) canine renal tubular cells. At concentrations between 50 μM and 300 μM, naproxen induced [Ca2+]i rises in a concentration-dependent manner. This Ca2+ signal was reduced partly when extracellular Ca2+ was removed. The Ca2+ signal was inhibited by a Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine but not by store-operated Ca2+ channel inhibitors (econazole and SKF96365), a protein kinase C (PKC) activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, and a PKC inhibitor GF109203X. In Ca2+-free medium, pretreatment with 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone or thapsigargin, an inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pumps, partly inhibited naproxen-induced Ca2+ signal. Inhibition of phospholipase C with U73122 did not alter naproxen-evoked [Ca2+]i rises. At concentrations between 15 μM and 30 μM, naproxen killed cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was not reversed by prechelating cytosolic Ca2+ with the acetoxymethyl ester of 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane- N, N, N′, N′-tetraacetic acid acetoxymethyl. Annexin V/propidium iodide staining data suggest that naproxen induced apoptosis. Together, in MDCK renal tubular cells, naproxen induced [Ca2+]i rises by inducing Ca2+ release from multiple stores that included the endoplasmic reticulum and Ca2+ entry via nifedipine-sensitive Ca2+ channels. Naproxen induced cell death that involved apoptosis.
On estimating and testing associations between random coefficients from multivariate generalized linear mixed models of longitudinal outcomes
Authors: Mikulich-Gilbertson Susan K , Wagner Brandie D , Riggs Paula D , Zerbe Gary O
Published: January 2015

Different types of outcomes (e.g. binary, count, continuous) can be simultaneously modeled with multivariate generalized linear mixed models by assuming: (1) same or different link functions, (2) same or different conditional distributions, and (3) conditional independence given random subject effects. Others have used this approach for determining simple associations between subject-specific parameters (e.g. correlations between slopes). We demonstrate how more complex associations (e.g. partial regression coefficients between slopes adjusting for intercepts, time lags of maximum correlation) can be estimated. Reparameterizing the model to directly estimate coefficients allows us to compare standard errors based on the inverse of the Hessian matrix with more usual standard errors approximated by the delta method; a mathematical proof demonstrates their equivalence when the gradient vector approaches zero. Reparameterization also allows us to evaluate significance of coefficients with likelihood ratio tests and to compare this approach with more usual Wald-type t-tests and Fisher’s z transformations. Simulations indicate that the delta method and inverse Hessian standard errors are nearly equivalent and consistently overestimate the true standard error. Only the likelihood ratio test based on the reparameterized model has an acceptable type I error rate and is therefore recommended for testing associations between stochastic parameters. Online supplementary materials include our medical data example, annotated code, and simulation details.
Migration Experiences of Foreign Educated Nurses
Authors: Moyce Sally , Lash Rebecca , de Leon Siantz Mary Lou
Published: January 2015

Purpose: Global nurse migration has a recognized impact on host and source countries, but the lived experience of foreign educated nurses is an important aspect of the success of this migration. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to understand the lived migration and acculturation experiences of foreign educated nurses. Design: A systematic review of the literature, based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, was conducted. Primary research articles or secondary analyses were selected based on keyword and citation-based searches ( n = 44). Findings: Nurses’ experiences included migration and licensing barriers, difficulty with communication, racism and discrimination, skill underutilization, acculturation, and the role of the family. Conclusions: Barriers encountered in host countries may impede acculturation and successful nursing practice, resulting in circular migration and poor patient safety outcomes. Implications for Practice: Social support systems and cultural orientation programs can mitigate the impacts of social isolation and racism. Addressing common barriers can help minimize deskilling and allow safe and effective transitions to host countries.
The compensation technique of tensile force effect on the electro-mechanical impedance method for structural health monitoring
Authors: Yang Jingwen , Zhu Hongping , Wang Dansheng , Ai Demi
Published: January 2015

In this article, the external axial tension applied on structure was considered in electro-mechanical impedance method. An experiment was performed to study the effect of external axial force on the electro-mechanical impedance–based structural health monitoring. The axial tensions were applied on both healthy and damaged steel beam pasted by surface-bonded piezoelectric transducers. The study results showed that the electrical admittance (the inverse of impedance) curves had an obvious tendency of decline with the increase in tension; thus, this effect would mislead the judgment of health status. Then, the artificial neural network based on radial basis function was introduced to compensate the effect of tension on EMI method. Numerical examples showed that artificial neural network method can prevent the root mean square deviation index from changing with increase in tension. An additional experiment was performed to verify the artificial neural network method. The same conclusion as the first experiment was obtained. The reasonable experiment result demonstrated that artificial neural network method has its generality for application.
On the optimization of piezoelectric vibration energy harvester
Authors: Deng Licheng , Wen Quan , Jiang Senlin , Zhao Xingqiang , She Yin
Published: January 2015

Piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting has attracted increasing attention in the last decade, and one of the major challenges is concerning the design of these harvesters. Most researchers optimize the piezoelectric vibration energy harvester at constant excitation acceleration. However, in practical applications, the allowable stress of the cantilevered piezoelectric vibration energy harvester limits the maximum displacement of the cantilever. Thus, both the maximum displacement of the cantilever and the excitation acceleration should be considered when the piezoelectric vibration energy harvester is optimized. In this article, the damping ratio and electromechanical coefficient are optimized for maximum power output. The results show that the electromechanical conversion efficiency is not more than 50%. The results also show that the piezoelectric vibration energy harvester with low damping ratio does not always have high power output, which challenges previous literature suggestion that lower damping ratio tends to higher power output. And the analysis of the electromechanical coefficient shows that the power output decreases beyond an optimal electromechanical coefficient, which is consistent with the previous findings.
Primary Care Appointment Availability and Preventive Care Utilization
Authors: Saloner Brendan , Polsky Daniel , Friedman Ari , Rhodes Karin
Published: January 2015

Insurance expansions under the Affordable Care Act raise concerns about primary care access in communities with large numbers of newly insured. We linked individual-level, cross-sectional data on adult preventive care utilization from the 2011-2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to novel county-level measures of primary care appointment availability collected from an experimental audit study conducted in 10 states in 2012 to 2013 and other county-level health service and demographic measures. In multivariate regressions, we found higher county-level appointment availability for privately insured adults was associated with significantly lower preventive care utilization among adults likely to have private insurance. Estimates were attenuated after controlling for county-level uninsurance, poverty, and unemployment. By contrast, greater availability of Medicaid appointments was associated with higher, but not statistically significant, preventive care utilization for likely Medicaid enrollees. Our study highlights that the relationship between preventive care utilization and primary care access in small areas likely differs by insurance status.
The Man I Once Knew
Authors: Saban Karen L. , Mathews Herbert L. , Collins Eileen G. , Hogan Nancy S. , Tell Dina , Bryant Fred B. , Pape Theresa Louise Bender , Griffin Joan M. , Janusek Linda Witek
Published: January 2015

Grief, although traditionally conceptualized as a bereavement-related reaction, is also experienced by significant others in response to the profound cognitive and personality changes associated with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a loved one. Grief associated with the death of a loved one is related to increases in proinflammatory cytokines, yet it is not clear whether this is the case for grief experienced by individuals caring for a significant other with TBI. The purpose of this cross-sectional, exploratory study was to examine grief and its association with a proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), in wives/partners caring for veterans with TBI. Participants completed written measures of grief, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms and provided morning saliva samples for TNF-α analysis. Participants reported levels of grief comparable to those reported in studies evaluating individuals grieving the death of a loved one. Path analysis revealed that grief was not associated with TNF-α; however, participants reporting high levels of blame/anger, a subscale of the grief scale, had higher levels of TNF-α. In addition, both grief and blame/anger were related to increased perceived stress and depressive symptoms; however, path analysis demonstrated that perceived stress and depressive symptoms did not mediate the influence of blame/anger on TNF-α. These findings suggest that blame/anger associated with grief may be related to the elevations in TNF-α exhibited by individuals caring for a loved one with TBI.
Using Q-methodology to Better Understand Student Learning Styles
Authors: Hall R. Trevor
Published: January 2015

This article presents the results of a study using Q-methodology to identify and compare different learning styles between video production and media studies undergraduate courses. Three groups emerged from the video production course compared to four groups from a previous study. These two sets of groups were compared. Results demonstrate distinctions and similarities between the different learning styles that emerged from the two types of courses. The article concludes that the use of Q-methodology can deepen understanding of students’ learning preferences and improve instruction through more balanced and learner-focused curricular approaches.
News Editors Evaluate Journalism Courses and Graduate Employability
Authors: Cullen Trevor
Published: January 2015

This research project used face-to-face interviews with news editors in Perth, Western Australia, to evaluate journalism courses and student employability in five Perth-based universities that teach journalism. The editors work in print, online, broadcast and television. All of them employ journalism graduates. The project aims to assess whether the journalism programmes provide graduates with the skill set prospective employers seek. Editors are uniquely placed as they employ journalism graduates as interns, or as full-time employees when they complete their studies, and they know what attributes and skills will help journalism graduates to succeed. The editors, for the most part, agreed that there was a key role for universities in Western Australia to provide both an educational background and skills-based training for graduates contemplating a career in journalism and early career journalists. There was, however, some disagreement as to the precise content of an ideal university-based journalism programme.
Investigation of velocity slip effect on steady state characteristics of finite hydrostatic double-layered porous oil journal bearing
Authors: Kumar M Phani , Samanta P , Murmu Naresh Chandra
Published: January 2015

Steady state characteristics of finite hydrostatic double layer porous oil journal bearing are investigated theoretically by incorporating tangential velocity slip at the porous-film interface given by Beavers–Joseph. The governing equations for flow in the porous medium and modified Reynolds equation in the film region are solved simultaneously using finite difference method. The effects of slip and design variables such as feeding parameter, bearing number, eccentricity ratio, slenderness ratio, and anisotropy of permeability have been investigated on bearing performance characteristics like load-carrying capacity, attitude angle, friction variable, and volume flowrate. The results are depicted in the form of graphs that can be utilized during design.
Alcohol use among university students: Considering a positive deviance approach
Authors: Tucker Maryanne , Harris Gregory E
Published: January 2015

Harmful alcohol consumption among university students continues to be a significant issue. This study examined whether variables identified in the positive deviance literature would predict responsible alcohol consumption among university students. Surveyed students were categorized into three groups: abstainers, responsible drinkers and binge drinkers. Multinomial logistic regression modelling was significant ( χ2 = 274.49, degrees of freedom = 24, p < .001), with several variables predicting group membership. While the model classification accuracy rate (i.e. 71.2%) exceeded the proportional by chance accuracy rate (i.e. 38.4%), providing further support for the model, the model itself best predicted binge drinker membership over the other two groups.
The creation and validation of a listening vocabulary levels test
Authors: McLean Stuart , Kramer Brandon , Beglar David
Published: January 2015

An important gap in the field of second language vocabulary assessment concerns the lack of validated tests measuring aural vocabulary knowledge. The primary purpose of this study is to introduce and provide preliminary validity evidence for the Listening Vocabulary Levels Test (LVLT), which has been designed as a diagnostic tool to measure knowledge of the first five 1000-word frequency levels and the Academic Word List (AWL). Quantitative analyses based on the Rasch model utilized several aspects of Messick’s validation framework. The findings indicated that (1) the items showed sufficient spread of difficulty, (2) the majority of the items displayed good fit to the Rasch model, (3) items and persons generally performed as predicted by a priori hypotheses, (4) the LVLT correlated with Parts 1 and 2 of the TOEIC listening test at .54, (5) the items displayed a high degree of unidimensionality, (6) the items showed a strong degree of measurement invariance with disattenuated Pearson correlations of .97 and .98 for person measures estimated with different sets of items, and (7) carelessness and guessing exerted only minor influences on test scores. Follow-up interviews and qualitative analyses indicated that the LVLT measures the intended construct of aural vocabulary knowledge, the format is easily understood, and the test has high face validity. This test fills an important gap in the field of second language vocabulary assessment by providing teachers and researchers with a way to assess aural vocabulary knowledge.
Heavy metal figurations
Authors: Sinclair Gary , Dolan Paddy
Published: January 2015

Drawing from Eliasian figurational theory and data obtained in Ireland during a 3-year participant observation of both the live and online spaces of the scene, we argue that control, both individual and social, plays a vital part in shaping heavy metal figurations. We focus on the role of the subcultural code in integrating participants into the scene, enabling the enactment of cathartic rituals, and its importance in signifying hierarchy and the distribution of subcultural capital. In particular, we place emphasis on bodily forms of control and emotional self-steering and we consider how the management of aggression in heavy metal subculture is indicative of wider civilizing processes. Such findings are considered within the context of previous consumer culture theory research that has called for studies that incorporate broader socio-historical perspectives.
Customer experience within retail environments
Authors: Yakhlef Ali
Published: January 2015

Although the literature on customer experience within retail environments spontaneously invokes the sensuous, affective and emotional aspects of experience, the body – which is the locus of these – is conspicuous by its absence. In these terms, researchers have relied on a theory of mind. This article seeks to suggest an embodied, spatial approach to customer experience, arguing that it is thanks to the body that we sense the environment, and that likewise, it is thanks to the environment that we can sense and experience our body. The reciprocity between body and world implies an inter-corporeality that extends or retracts the spatiality of the body as a result of its motility. This article emphasizes the bodily, spatial character of customer experience, concluding with implications and suggestions for future studies.
Re-imagining spaces, collectivity, and the political dimension of contemporary art
Authors: Peters Clorinde
Published: January 2015

In a neoliberal moment of cultural production marked by commodification and the dominance of economic values, it is necessary to investigate the cultural, social, and aesthetic value of art. By examining Herbert Marcuse’s aesthetic dimension, this article seeks to locate the political and pedagogic potential both in the aesthetics and in the social contextualization of art. There are several historical methods of subverting the market and of art-making that resonate politically, although a more contemporary phenomenon of forming new collective processes demarcates new spaces of resistance and alternative forms of sociality and creativity in light of neoliberal cultural forces and the pressures of individualization.
Evaluation of the effect of bending on the resonance frequency of inset-fed rectangular textile patch antenna
Authors: Sanjari Hamid Reza , Merati Ali Akbar , Hosseini Varkiyani S Mohammad , Tavakoli Ahad
Published: January 2015

This paper presents a study on the bending behavior of rectangular textile patch antennas including analytical modeling, full wave simulations, and experimental measurements. In the proposed analytical model, the textile patch antenna was treated as a laminated composite beam. Therefore, after locating the position of neutral axis considering the tensile modulus and the dimensions of each layer, the classic cylindrical cavity model was modified to predict the relation between resonance frequency and bending curvature, taking into account the patch’s elongation. Since the presented interdisciplinary analytical approach is associated with a set of simplifying assumptions, a full wave model was also utilized to study this effect. All the simulations were performed in two modes; patches with fixed and elongated dimensions. Finally the results of both models were compared with the experimental measurements and the effects of bending on the resonance frequency of textile patch antennas were discussed in more detail. The obtained results showed that some parameters including the direction of bending, substrate thickness, and mechanical properties of antenna’s components can alter the textile patch antenna’s behavior under bent conditions.
Analysis and simulation of badminton shuttlecock flight through parameter identification of a slow-speed serve shot
Authors: Lin CSH , Chua CK , Yeo JH
Published: January 2015

An experimental method to obtain flight parameters from the trajectory of a badminton shuttlecock is described. This methodology is able to identify the aerodynamic parameters and simulate the various flight trajectories of a badminton shuttlecock. Two shuttlecocks were evaluated – a feather shuttlecock and a prototype synthetic shuttlecock. The four flight modes of the feather shuttlecocks were captured experimentally through an array of high-speed cameras. Flight parameters were identified from the serve shot of the feather shuttlecock to simulate the net shot, smash and clear flight path. The simulated trajectories were evaluated against the experimental trajectories to validate the proposed methodology. While slight deviation was observed, the simulated trajectories follow closely to the experimental result. Serve-shot trajectory data were then recorded for the prototype synthetic shuttlecock for parameter identification and trajectory simulation. The results showed significant variation in the clear and smash shots due to insufficient drag on the prototype. The net shot showed good agreement with the feather shuttlecock. This phenomenon is discussed. The work conducted is useful for evaluating early-stage prototypes which may not be sufficiently durable to sustain a clear-shot or smash-shot test.
News, Agenda Building, and Intelligence Agencies
Authors: Bakir Vian
Published: January 2015

Reflecting on Edward Snowden’s whistle-blowing revelations regarding indiscriminate online and telephone surveillance and social media manipulation by signals intelligence agencies, especially in the United States and the United Kingdom, this article highlights the hitherto limited nature of public knowledge of, and internationally uneven concern regarding, intelligence agencies’ contemporary techniques of communications surveillance and manipulative agenda building. While noting that the interdisciplinary field of intelligence studies has started to theorize intelligence agencies’ agenda-building activities, also observable is a remarkable lacuna from the discipline of Journalism, Media, and Communications. A systematic review of all research articles (up until December 2014) from the archives of sixteen journals in the discipline of Journalism, Media, and Communications confirms this lack of attention. Only 0.1 percent of the discipline’s articles are centrally on the field of the press, intelligence agencies, and agenda-building processes, even when these are broadly defined. Patterns within this tiny field are delineated, comprising intelligence agencies’ techniques of, and success in, manipulating different agenda-building nodes involving the press, journalists’ practices and challenges in dealing with intelligence, the public’s role in press-related agenda building on intelligence issues, and methodological patterns and issues in examining this field. The systematic review contextualizes and situates the six research articles comprising this Special Issue.
Building virtual teams: experiential learning using emerging technologies
Authors: Hu Haihong
Published: January 2015

Currently, virtual teams are being used exponentially in higher education and business because of the development of technologies and globalization. These teams have become an essential approach for collaborative learning as well as task completion. Team learning, especially in an online format, can be challenging due to lack of effective training, communication and assessment measures. This article will introduce strategies, including adding a module on team processes, using Google applications for communication, and evaluating collaborative learning processes in addition to the products. These strategies were found instrumental in cultivating virtual teams through this case study of an online graduate course, and they can be valuable to online learning instructional designers or instructors who are interested in applying virtual teams in experiential instructional process.
A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Feasibility Study Evaluating Individualized Homeopathy in Managing Pain of Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Koley Munmun , Saha Subhranil , Ghosh Shubhamoy
Published: January 2015

Few homeopathic complexes seemed to produce significant effects in osteoarthritis; still, individualized homeopathy remained untested. We evaluated the feasibility of conducting an efficacy trial of individualized homeopathy in osteoarthritis. A prospective, parallel-arm, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study was conducted from January to October 2014 involving 60 patients (homeopathy, n = 30; placebo, n = 30) who were suffering from acute painful episodes of knee osteoarthritis and visiting the outpatient clinic of Mahesh Bhattacharyya Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal, India. Statistically significant reduction was achieved in 3 visual analog scales (measuring pain, stiffness, and loss of function) and Osteoarthritis Research Society International scores in both groups over 2 weeks ( P < .05); however, group differences were not significant ( P > .05). Overall, homeopathy did not appear to be superior to placebo; still, further rigorous evaluation in this design involving a larger sample size seems feasible in future. Trial registration: Clinical Trials Registry, India (CTRI/2014/05/004589).
Doing or Undoing Gender? An Explorative Study of Gender, Activities, and Well-being among People with Mental Illness Attending Day Centers in Sweden
Authors: Eklund Lisa , Eklund Mona
Published: January 2015

This study explores gender, activity, and well-being among people with mental illness attending day centers in Sweden. Based on survey data of 215 attendees, this study applies the concepts of doing gender and regulatory regimes to analyze the relationship between being involved in gendered activities and well-being. The results show that while both male and female participants are involved in gender-neutral activities, men are less likely to engage in women-dominated (WD) activities while women are more prone to engage in men-dominated (MD) activities. Moreover, women involved in MD activities show a positive correlation with well-being, while the same does not hold for men engaging in WD activities. The study concludes that both women and men are “undoing” gender but that women also tend to “re-do” gender, suggesting that gendered regulatory regimes are more permissive to diversified feminist subjectivities than masculine subjectivities.
MERIT40 deficiency expands hematopoietic stem cell pools by regulating thrombopoietin receptor signaling
Authors: Rozenova Krasimira , Jiang Jing , Donaghy Ryan , Aressy Bernadette , Greenberg Roger A. , Tong Wei
Published: January 2015

Key Points

MERIT40-deficient mice harbor an expanded HSC pool with increased quiescence, enhanced self-renewal, and reconstitution potential. MERIT40 negatively controls HSC homeostasis through regulating the Tpo/Mpl pathway.
The biology and treatment of plasmablastic lymphoma
Authors: Castillo Jorge J. , Bibas Michele , Miranda Roberto N.
Published: January 2015

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is an aggressive lymphoma commonly associated with HIV infection. However, PBL can also be seen in patients with other immunodeficiencies as well as in immunocompetent individuals. Because of its distinct clinical and pathological features, such as lack of expression of CD20, plasmablastic morphology, and clinical course characterized by early relapses and subsequent chemotherapy resistance, PBL can represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for pathologists and clinicians alike. Despite the recent advances in the therapy of HIV-associated and aggressive lymphomas, patients with PBL for the most part have poor outcomes. The objectives of this review are to summarize the current knowledge on the epidemiology, biology, clinical and pathological characteristics, differential diagnosis, therapy, prognostic factors, outcomes, and potential novel therapeutic approaches in patients with PBL and also to increase the awareness toward PBL in the medical community.
Unilateral acute maculopathy associated with adult onset hand, foot and mouth disease: case report and review of literature
Authors: Agrawal Rupesh , Bhan Kanchan , Balaggan Kam , Lee Richard WJ , Pavesio Carlos E , Addison Peter KF
Published: January 2015

Background

Acute maculopathy is a rare condition of unknown aetiology and Coxsackie virus is known to be associated with this macular chorioretinitis.

Findings

We report a case of acute unilateral maculopathy in a 35-year-old woman with concurrent hand foot and mouth disease. Furthermore, we display multimodal imaging (colour fundus photographs, autofluorescence, spectral domain ocular coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography) charting the course of the disease. The source of the virus was thought to be the patient's child. Empirical treatment with oral corticosteroids was commenced and the inflammation resolved, leaving a residual macular scar.

Conclusions

We present this case combined with the review of literature of adult onset Coxsackie-virus-associated retinitis. This case reiterates the fact that Coxsackie virus is an uncommon but important consideration in the differential diagnosis of chorioretinitis and posterior uveitis with atypical retinopathy.
Platelet mitochondrial dysfunction in critically ill patients: comparison between sepsis and cardiogenic shock
Authors: Protti Alessandro , Fortunato Francesco , Artoni Andrea , Lecchi Anna , Motta Giovanna , Mistraletti Giovanni , Novembrino Cristina , Comi Giacomo Pietro , Gattinoni Luciano
Published: January 2015

Introduction

Platelet mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes (that produce energy) are variably inhibited during human sepsis. Whether these changes occur even during other acute critical illness or are associated with impaired platelet aggregation and secretion (that consume energy) is not known. The aims of this study were firstly to compare platelet mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes activity between patients with sepsis and those with cardiogenic shock, and secondly to study the relationship between platelet mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes activity and platelet responsiveness to (exogenous) agonists in patients with sepsis.

Methods

This was a prospective, observational, case–control study. Platelets were isolated from venous blood of 16 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock (free from antiplatelet drugs) and 16 others with cardiogenic shock, within 48 hours from admission to Intensive Care. Platelet mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes activity was measured with spectrophotometry and expressed relative to citrate synthase activity, a marker of mitochondrial density. Platelet aggregation and secretion in response to adenosine di-phosphate (ADP), collagen, U46619 and thrombin receptor activating peptide were measured with lumiaggregometry only in patients with sepsis. In total, 16 healthy volunteers acted as controls for both spectrophotometry and lumiaggregometry.

Results

Platelets of patients with sepsis or cardiogenic shock similarly had lower mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase (NADH) (P < 0.001), complex I (P = 0.006), complex I and III (P < 0.001) and complex IV (P < 0.001) activity than those of controls. Platelets of patients with sepsis were generally hypo-responsive to exogenous agonists, both in terms of maximal aggregation (P < 0.001) and secretion (P < 0.05). Lower mitochondrial NADH (R20.36;P < 0.001), complex I (R20.38;P < 0.001), complex I and III (R20.27;P = 0.002) and complex IV (R20.43;P < 0.001) activity was associated with lower first wave of aggregation with ADP.

Conclusions

Several platelet mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes are similarly inhibited during human sepsis and cardiogenic shock. In patients with sepsis, mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with general platelet hypo-responsiveness to exogenous agonists.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govNCT00541827. Registered 8 October 2007.
Propofol, midazolam, vancomycin and cyclosporine therapeutic drug monitoring in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuits primed with whole human blood
Authors: Lemaitre Florian , Hasni Nesrine , Leprince Pascal , Corvol Emmanuel , Belhabib Ghassen , Fillâtre Pierre , Luyt Charles-Edouard , Leven Cyril , Farinotti Robert , Fernandez Christine , Combes Alain
Published: January 2015

Introduction

As a result of drug sequestration and increased volume of distribution, the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) procedure might lead to a decrease in drug concentrations during a patient’s treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate sedative, antibiotic and immunosuppressive drug loss in ECMO circuit using ex-vivo and in-vitro experiments.

Methods

Blood concentrations of propofol, midazolam, cyclosporine and vancomycin were measured in an ex-vivo ECMO circuit primed with whole human blood, and compared to controls stored in polypropylene tubes. In vitro experiments were also conducted to further explore the role of temperature, oxygen exposure and polyvinylchloride surfaces on propofol loss in the ECMO circuit.

Results

Propofol concentration decreased rapidly; 70% of its baseline concentration was lost after only 30 minutes, and only 11% remained after five hours (P <0.001 for the comparison with control polypropylene tube propofol concentration). Further experiments demonstrated that oxygen exposure and contact with polyvinylchloride tubing were respectively responsible for 70% and 85% of propofol loss after 45 minutes. Midazolam concentration also rapidly decreased in the ECMO circuit, with only 54% and 11% of baseline concentration being detected at 30 minutes and 24 hours respectively (P = 0.01 versus control). Alternatively, cyclosporine concentration remained stable for the five first hours, then decreased to 78% and 73% of the baseline value after 24 hours and 48 hours, (P = 0.35 versus control). Lastly, vancomycin concentration remained stable in the ECMO circuit for the 48-hour experimental protocol.

Conclusions

We observed important losses of propofol and midazolam, while cyclosporine concentration decreased slowly and moderately, and vancomycin concentration remained unchanged in the ex-vivo ECMO circuit primed with whole human blood. These data might help intensive care unit physicians planning clinical trials with a final objective to better adapt doses of these drugs while treating critically ill ECMO patients.
Cytotoxic activity of triazole-containing alkyl β-D-glucopyranosides on a human T-cell leukemia cell line
Authors: Oldham Edward Davis , Nunes Larissa M , Varela-Ramirez Armando , Rankin Stephen E , Knutson Barbara L , Aguilera Renato J , Lehmler Hans-Joachim
Published: January 2015

Background

Simple glycoside surfactants represent a class of chemicals that are produced from renewable raw materials. They are considered to be environmentally safe and, therefore, are increasingly used as pharmaceuticals, detergents, and personal care products. Although they display low to moderate toxicity in cells in culture, the underlying mechanisms of surfactant-mediated cytotoxicity are poorly investigated.

Results

We synthesized a series of triazole-linked (fluoro)alkyl β-glucopyranosides using the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne reaction, one of many popular “click” reactions that enable efficient preparation of structurally diverse compounds, and investigate the toxicity of this novel class of surfactant in the Jurkat cell line. Similar to other carbohydrate surfactants, the cytotoxicity of the triazole-linked alkyl β-glucopyranosides was low, with IC50 values decreasing from 1198 to 24 μM as the hydrophobic tail length increased from 8 to 16 carbons. The two alkyl β-glucopyranosides with the longest hydrophobic tails caused apoptosis by mechanisms involving mitochondrial depolarization and caspase-3 activation.

Conclusions

Triazole-linked, glucose-based surfactants 4a-g and other carbohydrate surfactants may cause apoptosis, and not necrosis, at low micromolar concentrations via induction of the intrinsic apoptotic cascade; however, additional studies are needed to fully explore the molecular mechanisms of their toxicity.
A concise synthesis of Fingolimod: an orally available drug for treating multiple sclerosis
Authors: Yan Ning , Chen Kai , Bai Xinfa , Bi Lei , Yao Lei
Published: January 2015

A concise route for the synthesis of Fingolimod is reported. Starting from n-octylbenzene and 3-nitropropionic acid, a sequence of reactions consisting of Friedel-Crafts acylation, reduction, and double Henry reaction, followed by hydrogenation were applied to prepare Fingolimod with a yield of 31%, and an overall atom economy of 82.7%.
An iterative enhanced super-resolution system with edge-dominated interpolation and adaptive enhancements
Authors: Lin Chi-Kun , Wu Yi-Hsien , Yang Jar-Ferr , Liu Bin-Da
Published: January 2015

For super-resolution (4K × 2K) displays, super-resolution technologies, which can upsample videos to higher resolution and achieve better visual quality, become more and more important currently. In this paper, an iterative enhanced super-resolution (IESR) system which is based on two-pass edge-dominated interpolation, adaptive enhancement, and adaptive dithering techniques is proposed. The two-pass edge-dominated interpolation with a simple and regular kernel can sharpen visual quality while the adaptive enhancement can provide high-frequency perfection and the adaptive dithering conveys naturalization enhancement such that the proposed IESR system achieves better peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and exhibits better visual quality. Experimental results indicate that the proposed IESR system, which improves PSNR up to 28.748 dB and promotes structural similarity index measurement (SSIM) up to 0.917611 in averages, is better than the other existing methods. Simulations also exhibit that the proposed IESR system acquires lower computational complexity than the methods which achieve similar visual quality.
Evaluation of nonlinear filtering for radar data tracking
Authors: Liu Yanan , Wang Sese , Sun Zhuo , Shen Jihong
Published: January 2015

Radar tracking plays an important role in the area of early warning and detection system, whose precision is closely connected with filtering algorithm. With the development of noise jamming technology in radar echo signal, linear filtering becomes more and more difficult to satisfy the demands of radar tracking, while nonlinear filtering can solve problems such as non-Gaussian noises. There exist a lot of nonlinear filtering algorithms at present, owning their particular characteristics. With this in mind, we provide a comprehensive overview of different nonlinear filtering algorithms in radar tracking, including basic ideas and concrete steps of them. For a more clear presentation, we also make comparisons of them from all sides. Through the analyses of different nonlinear data filters, we find that the unscented Kalman data filter (UKF) can achieve better performance than others. Therefore, we will simulate and show the performance of UKF, and performance of the extended Kalman data filter (EKF) under the same condition will be taken as comparison, whose accuracy was not ideal for radar tracking data filtering.
A proof of the Mazur-Orlicz theorem via the Markov-Kakutani common fixed point theorem, and vice versa
Authors: Przebieracz Barbara
Published: January 2015

In this paper, we present a new proof of the Mazur-Orlicz theorem, which uses the Markov-Kakutani common fixed point theorem, and a new proof of the Markov-Kakutani common fixed point theorem, which uses the Mazur-Orlicz theorem.
Regularized gradient-projection methods for the constrained convex minimization problem and the zero points of maximal monotone operator
Authors: Tian Ming , Jiao Si-Wen
Published: January 2015

In this paper, based on the viscosity approximation method and the regularized gradient-projection algorithm, we find a common element of the solution set of a constrained convex minimization problem and the set of zero points of the maximal monotone operator problem. In particular, the set of zero points of the maximal monotone operator problem can be transformed into the equilibrium problem. Under suitable conditions, new strong convergence theorems are obtained, which are useful in nonlinear analysis and optimization. As an application, we apply our algorithm to solving the split feasibility problem and the constrained convex minimization problem in Hilbert spaces.
Fixed point results for set-contractions on metric spaces with a directed graph
Authors: Abbas Mujahid , Alfuraidan Monther Rashed , Khan Abdul Rahim , Nazir Talat
Published: January 2015

In this paper, we establish the existence of fixed points for set-valued mappings satisfying certain graph contractions with set-valued domain endowed with a graph. These results unify, generalize, and complement various known comparable results in the literature.
Approximation of common solutions for variational inequalities and fixed point of strict pseudo-contractions in q-uniformly smooth Banach spaces
Authors: Nazari Esmaeil , Askari Saeid , Ramezani Mehdi
Published: January 2015

In the present paper, we introduce a general iterative algorithm for finding a common element of the set of common fixed points of an infinite family of strict pseudo-contractions and the set of solutions of the variational inequalities for finite family of strongly accretive mappings in a q-uniformly smooth Banach space. Furthermore, we prove strong convergence of the iterative sequence under suitable conditions. Our results generalize some recent results.