bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Inland Eyewall Reintensification of Typhoon Fanapi (2010) Documented from an Observational Perspective Using Multiple-Doppler Radar and Surface Measurements
Authors: Liou Yu-Chieng , Chen Wang Tai-Chi , Huang Pei-Yu
Published: October 2015

This study documents observational changes in the eyewall of Typhoon Fanapi (2010) after landfall in Taiwan. The observations indicate that Fanapi’s eye and eyewall disappeared on the eastern side of Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range (CMR) after landfall, but reemerged on the western side of CMR. The cyclonic circulation, increasing wind speed, a low-level low pressure and high temperature zone, the associated updrafts and downdrafts, and surface pressure and rainfall measurements all support the existence of a reintensified eyewall. The storm slowed down during the redeveloping stage, thus prolonging the rainfall duration over Taiwan.

On the western side of CMR a northwest–southeast-oriented rainband formed at an earlier stage, possibly due to the large-scale interaction between Fanapi’s remnant flow and the environment. However, the subsequent reintensification might be attributed to the interaction between the circulation and topography. This is supported by the finding that adjacent to CMR, strong wind develops vertically from lower levels, indicating that the reintensification appears to be initiated through a bottom-up process. A vorticity budget analysis shows that at lower layers the stretching mechanism plays a leading role in increasing positive vorticity, followed by the contributions from tilting and horizontal advection. The horizontal advection plays a comparable role to the vertical advection in increasing low- to midlevel vorticity. The vertical advection aloft is responsible for transporting the vorticity upward. Finally, this research provides a relatively rare documentation of the vortical hot towers (VHTs) over terrain using ground-based radars, in contrast to most previous studies focusing on maritime VHTs using simulations or aircraft measurements.
The Arms Industry Lobby in Europe
Authors: Calvo Rufanges Jordi
Published: October 2015

Arms companies in European Union play an important role in the definition of security and defense policies, but not related to their knowledge but because of their economical interests. Military lobbies, which are part of the military-industrial complex, are created to influence security and defense in European institutions. Some of these lobbies are mostly composed of members from arms companies. Military lobbies have an effect on the European Union by promoting military responses to security and defense challenges.
Advocacy for Whom? Influence for What? Abuse of Discursive Power in International NGO Online Campaigns
Authors: Fernández-Aballí Ana
Published: October 2015

In this article, I propose a methodological framework to analyze international NGO advocacy campaigns to examine the use or abuse of their discursive power, which in itself could then lead to reflect on the use or abuse of power in their practice. The methodology is based on a reconceptualization of critical discourse analysis, where I propose an epistemological approach according to Freirean understanding of power, cultural, and dialogic structures on one hand, and a methodological approach, which introduces Arnold and Amy Mindell’s concept of deep democracy as awareness of diversity, rank, and privilege in discursive interactions. I examine the case of Amnesty International, and results yield an urgent need to question the identity that lies behind the existence of transnational NGOs in themselves.
A Tale of Two Legacies
Authors: Jackson P. R.
Published: October 2015

The career development of Blacks has been neglected in literature for years. The focus on the Black family business and how this dynamic creates family career legacies, which are perpetuated through generations, adds to this body of literature. In the collection of career stories from members of two Black family businesses, this article sought to understand how Blacks made meaning of the events that influenced their career decisions, constructing these events into their involvement in the business and thereby maintaining their family career legacy. Through narrative analysis, findings indicated family career legacies were created through specific career opportunities available as a result of being Black and a desire to discontinue struggle and career hardships for future generations.
French Politics of Relief and International Aid: France, UNRRA and the Rescue of European Displaced Persons in Postwar Germany, 1945–47
Authors: Humbert Laure
Published: October 2015

This article examines the history of French relief and assistance to Displaced Persons between 1945 and 1947 and the role of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) in the French zone of occupation in Germany's South West. For French planners and humanitarian workers, the problem of ‘non repatriable’ DPs was much more than a humanitarian problem and was bound up with issues of domestic reconstruction, policies of occupation, culture and identity as much as the provision of medical aid and relief. Overall, by bringing together issues that have been kept separate in the historiography, this article illuminates the role of distinctive diplomatic strategies, economic requirements and cultural differences in shaping understandings and practices of refugee humanitarianism in the aftermath of the Second World War. It uncovers, in particular, the way relief was understood by the French as a vehicle for pursuing international leadership and as a means of restoring national prestige following years of defeat and foreign occupation.
A Relational Approach to Suffering: A Reappraisal of Suffering in the Helping Relationship
Authors: Gibson Jonathan
Published: October 2015

Human suffering is a salient theme in psychology, but the construct itself remains undefined and opaque. Suffering, in psychology literature, is often difficult to tease apart from pathology. It is often assumed to be inherently bad, thus the emphasis on alleviating the suffering through various therapeutic and medicinal techniques. There is a wealth of literature, however, which indicates that people grow through the experience of suffering. Therefore, suffering, although painful, may prove to be beneficial to the sufferer in the end. I hope to provide a theoretical outline of how a radical relational approach in therapy may not only afford a unique understanding of suffering that may be unavailable from other therapeutic orientations but also influence the therapist’s response to the sufferer in a transformative and healing way.
Providing security or protecting interests? Government interventions in violent communal conflicts in Africa
Authors: Elfversson Emma
Published: October 2015

What factors drive governments’ decisions to intervene in local conflicts within their borders? Communal conflict – that is, organized violence between non-state groups that are mobilized along a shared communal identity – kills thousands each year and severely impacts local livelihoods, at times threatening to spread and affect entire regions. Given the state’s assumed monopoly over the legitimate use of force, we should expect the concerned governments to be critical actors of the overall effort to restore peace in cases of local communal conflict, but empirical evidence indicates that central states tend to only intervene in some cases but not in others. This phenomenon has so far been understudied and the variations in states’ efforts to manage these conflicts remain unexplained. This article presents the first quantitative study of state intervention in communal conflicts. Building on existing scholarly work, I argue that state intervention is explained by a combination of strategic interests and state capacity, and that interests related to ethnic constituencies and land control play an important part in explaining governments’ strategies. These propositions find support in a statistical analysis covering sub-Saharan Africa from 1989 to 2010.
Triangulating horizontal inequality
Authors: Cederman Lars-Erik , Weidmann Nils B , Bormann Nils-Christian
Published: October 2015

Does economic inequality cause civil war? Deviating from individualist measures of inequality such as the Gini coefficient, recent studies have found a statistical link between group-level inequalities and conflict onset. Yet, this connection remains controversial, not least because of the difficulties associated with conceptualizing and measuring group-level differences in development. In an effort to overcome weaknesses afflicting specific methods of measurement, we introduce a new composite indicator that exploits the strengths of three sources of data. The first step of our method combines geocoded data from the G-Econ project with night lights emissions data from satellites. In a second step, we bring together the combined spatial values with survey estimates in order to arrive at an improved measure of group-level inequality that is both more accurate and more robust than any one of the component measures. We evaluate the effect of the combined indicator and its components on the onset of civil violence. As expected, the combined index yields stronger results as more information becomes available, thus confirming the initial hypothesis that horizontal economic inequality does drive conflict in the case of groups that are relatively poor compared to the country average. Furthermore, these findings appear to be considerably more robust than those relying on a single data source.
Why Can Package Tours Hurt Tourists? Evidence from China’s Tourism Demand in Hong Kong
Authors: Chen Yong , Schuckert Markus , Song Haiyan , Chon Kaye
Published: October 2015

The package tour market is information intensive in nature. Its complex informational structure is generally inaccessible to tourists, whose purchase behavior might be affected by the extent to which they can access such information. This study shows that package tours can result in low tourist satisfaction and deter tourists’ behavioral intention over time despite the fact that package tours are financially advantageous. An analysis of data based on China’s outbound tourism demand in Hong Kong from 1993 to 2013 shows that tourist satisfaction can be explained by the market share of inclusive package tours. This suggests that the decline in the market share of package tours leads to an increase in tourist satisfaction. As the amount of information in the market increases as a result of accumulated travel experience, package tours are replaced by independent tours or entirely new packages, or by travel to a new destination.
Perceptions of employability among London’s low-paid: ‘Self-determination’ or ethnicity?
Authors: Croucher Richard , Ramakrishnan Sumeetra , Rizov Marian , Benzinger Diana
Published: October 2015

This article investigates how ethnicity, gender and other characteristics affect low-paid workers’ perceptions of their employability in London’s labour market, examining self-efficacy, ethnic and dual labour market theories. The authors find that perceptions vary considerably, both between genders and ethnicities and in the extent to which they are ‘justified’ by human capital attributes. Optimism varies between genders and ethnic groups but individuals’ perceptions vary to an even greater extent within genders and ethnic groups. Hence, individual-level ‘self-determination’ explanations of these perceptions appear to have greatest explanatory power in this specific context, although ethnic theories also have utility.
I Wish My Parents Would Stop Arguing! The Impact of Interparental Conflict on Young Adults
Authors: Keeports Christine R. , Pittman Laura D.
Published: October 2015

Research shows that interparental conflict is positively associated with internalizing behaviors in children and adolescents, but few have considered these associations among young adults. This study uses the cognitive-contextual framework to explore whether appraisals of threat and self-blame explain the expected associations between interparental conflict and internalizing symptoms in a sample of young adults. Perceptions of interparental conflict, appraisals of threat and self-blame, and two aspects of internalizing symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety) were measured in 255 undergraduates (ages 18-21) at two Midwestern universities. Parallel mediation models demonstrated an indirect pathway through threat to depressive symptoms. In contrast, the indirect pathway through self-blame was supported when predicting anxiety. The importance of considering interparental conflict and its psychological consequences during young adulthood is discussed.
Bilateral Symmetrical Idiopathic Necrotizing Encephalopathy
Authors: De Jonghe Sandra , Abbott David , Vinken Petra , Moesen Esther , Feyen Bianca , Lammens Lieve , Vynckier An , De Lahunta Alexander
Published: October 2015

This article describes the occurrence of a bilaterally symmetrical encephalopathy in Sprague-Dawley rats, which occurred over the period 2005 to 2012 in our laboratory in both untreated control rats and rats treated with different pharmacologically active compounds. The acute brain lesions consisted of degeneration/necrosis in the ventral areas of the brain mostly with little inflammatory response; in the more rare chronic cases there were numerous lipid-laden macrophages. The areas most consistently affected were the crus cerebri, the ventral midbrain, the pyramids, and the internal capsule. Other areas less frequently affected were the mammillary bodies, the fimbria, the olfactory tubercles, the optic tracts, and the ventral hippocampus. All available data, including clinical signs, gross pathology, clinical pathology, diet, breeding, and housing were collected and are presented. Our investigations did not elucidate the pathogenesis of the lesions, although the infarction-type changes are suggestive of a vascular etiology. To our knowledge, this particular lesion with its consistent distribution pattern has not been reported in the rat literature and its publication is therefore important to the toxicological pathology community, because an unbalanced group distribution in a toxicology study could potentially confound the safety assessment of a compound.
THC and endocannabinoids differentially regulate neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in the subchronic PCP model of schizophrenia
Authors: Aguilar David D , Giuffrida Andrea , Lodge Daniel J
Published: October 2015

Cannabis use has been associated with an increased risk to develop schizophrenia as well as symptom exacerbation in patients. In contrast, clinical studies have revealed an inverse relationship between the cerebrospinal fluid levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide and symptom severity, suggesting a therapeutic potential for endocannabinoid-enhancing drugs. Indeed, preclinical studies have shown that these drugs can reverse distinct behavioral deficits in a rodent model of schizophrenia. The mechanisms underlying the differences between exogenous and endogenous cannabinoid administration are currently unknown. Using the phencyclidine (PCP) rat model of schizophrenia, we compared the effects on neuronal activity of systematic administration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with the fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor URB597. Specifically, we found that the inhibitory response in the prefrontal cortex to THC administration was absent in PCP-treated rats. In contrast, an augmented response to endocannabinoid upregulation was observed in the prefrontal cortex of PCP-treated rats. Interestingly, differential effects were also observed at the neuronal population level, as endocannabinoid upregulation induced opposite effects on coordinated activity when compared with THC. Such information is important for understanding why marijuana and synthetic cannabinoid use may be contraindicated in schizophrenia patients while endocannabinoid enhancement may provide a novel therapeutic approach.
Anger Regulation and Social Acceptance in Early Adolescence
Authors: Perry-Parrish Carisa , Webb Lindsey , Zeman Janice , Spencer Sarah , Malone Celeste , Borowski Sarah , Reynolds Elizabeth , Hankinson Jessica , Specht Matt , Ostrander Rick
Published: October 2015

Anger regulation among adolescents is important to investigate given theoretical and empirical support for its critical association with peer relationships. This study examined two aspects of anger regulation (i.e., inhibition, dysregulation) using self-report and peer-nominations and their associations with social acceptance among 163 Black and White adolescents ([Formula: see text] = 13.87 years). We explored gender and ethnicity differences in anger regulation predicting peer acceptance. Self-reports and peer-nominations of anger regulation were significantly correlated. Within-gender ethnicity differences in anger regulation were found: White girls reported higher levels of anger inhibition than Black girls, and Black girls reported higher levels of anger dysregulation than White girls. For all adolescents, self-reports and nominations of anger inhibition were associated with higher levels of social acceptance, whereas nominations of anger dysregulation predicted lower social acceptance. The results indicate the importance of considering gender and ethnicity in adolescents’ anger management within peer contexts.
“I Am a Different Man Now”—Sex Offenders in Circles of Support and Accountability: A Prospective Study
Authors: Höing Mechtild , Vogelvang Bas , Bogaerts Stefan
Published: October 2015

In Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA), a group of trained and supervised volunteers support a sex offender (core member in a circle), with the aim of supporting the core member’s transitions toward full desistance. A prospective, multi-method design was used to explore psychological and social transitions in core members. Data were collected at the start of their circle, after 6 months, and after 12 months. Qualitative data were collected in semi-structured interviews with 17 core members and a total of 29 professionals, and analyzed with Kwalitan, a computer-assisted program for qualitative data analysis. Quantitative data were assessed with self-report questionnaires for sex offenders. Mean differences between t0, t1, and t2 were tested with repeated-measures ANOVAs. Qualitative results indicated improvements in reflective skills, openness, and problem-solving skills, as well as social skills, agency, and self-regulation. Quantitative results documented improvements in emotion regulation and internal locus of control, and positive trends in self-esteem and coping skills. Due to the small sample size, our results must be interpreted with caution. Core members as well as professionals reported a unique contribution of circles to their process, but this claim needs further confirmation.
The modulatory effect of anandamide on nitroglycerin-induced sensitization in the trigeminal system of the rat
Authors: Nagy-Grócz Gábor , Tar Lilla , Bohár Zsuzsanna , Fejes-Szabó Annamária , Laborc Klaudia Flóra , Spekker Eleonóra , Vécsei László , Párdutz Árpád
Published: October 2015

Background

One of the human and animal models of migraine is the systemic administration of the nitric oxide donor (NO) nitroglycerin (NTG). NO can provoke migraine-like attacks in migraineurs and initiates a self-amplifying process in the trigeminal system, probably leading to central sensitization. Recent studies suggest that the endocannabinoid system is involved in nociceptive signal processing and cannabinoid receptor (CB) agonists are able to attenuate nociception in animal models of pain.

Aim

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the modulatory effects of a CB agonist anandamide (AEA) on the NTG-induced expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and kynurenine aminotransferase-II (KAT-II) in the upper cervical spinal cord (C1–C2) of the rat, where most of the trigeminal nociceptive afferents convey.

Methods

A half hour before and one hour after NTG (10 mg/kg) or placebo injection, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats ( n = 44) were treated with AEA (2 × 5 mg/kg). Four hours after placebo/NTG injection, the animals were perfused and the cervical spinal cords were removed for immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.

Results and conclusion

Our results show that NTG is able to increase TRPV1, nNOS, NF-κB and COX-2 and decrease KAT-II expression in the C1–C2 segments. On the other hand, we have found that AEA modulates the NTG-induced changes, thus it influences the activation and central sensitization process in the trigeminal system, probably via CBs.
Effect of Multiple Clock Gene Ablations on the Circadian Period Length and Temperature Compensation in Mammalian Cells
Authors: Tsuchiya Yoshiki , Umemura Yasuhiro , Minami Yoichi , Koike Nobuya , Hosokawa Toshihiro , Hara Masayuki , Ito Hiroshi , Inokawa Hitoshi , Yagita Kazuhiro
Published: October 2015

Most organisms have cell-autonomous circadian clocks to coordinate their activity and physiology according to 24-h environmental changes. Despite recent progress in circadian studies, it is not fully understood how the period length and the robustness of mammalian circadian rhythms are determined. In this study, we established a series of mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines with single or multiplex clock gene ablations using the CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing method. ESC-based in vitro circadian clock formation assay shows that the CRISPR-mediated clock gene disruption not only reproduces the intrinsic circadian molecular rhythms of previously reported mice tissues and cells lacking clock genes but also reveals that complexed mutations, such as CKIδm/m: CKIε+/m: Cry2m/m mutants, exhibit an additively lengthened circadian period. By using these mutant cells, we also investigated the relation between period length alteration and temperature compensation. Although CKIδ-deficient cells slightly affected the temperature insensitivity of period length, we demonstrated that the temperature compensation property is largely maintained in all mutants. These results show that the ESC-based assay system could offer a more systematic and comprehensive approach to the genotype-chronotype analysis of the intracellular circadian clockwork in mammals.
Facile preparation of gold nanoparticles-decorated poly(o-phenylenediamine) hollow microspheres and their application for the detection of dopamine
Authors: Li Wei , Li Dahong , Xiao He , He Beihai
Published: October 2015

Gold (Au) nanoparticles-decorated poly( o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD@Au) hollow microspheres were successfully synthesized by a simple two-step process without any other templates or additives. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra were performed to characterize the resulting samples. The results confirmed that the obtained PoPD@Au microspheres had a perfect hollow structure and revealed that there is an interaction between PoPD hollow microspheres and Au nanoparticles. Plausible explanation for the formation of PoPD@Au hollow microspheres has been elaborated. Furthermore, PoPD@Au hollow microspheres were immobilized onto the surface of a glassy carbon electrode and applied to construct a sensor. Cyclic voltammogram experiments indicated that the proposed sensor method had good sensitivity, stability, and repeatability.
The influence of metallic shell deformation on the contact mechanics of a ceramic-on-ceramic total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Qiu Changdong , Wang Ling , Li Dichen , Jin Zhongmin
Published: October 2015

Total hip arthroplasty of ceramic-on-ceramic bearing combinations is increasingly used clinically. The majority of these implants are used with cementless fixation that a metal-backing shell is press-fitted into the pelvic bone. This usually results in the deformation of the metallic shell, which may also influence the ceramic liner deformation and consequently the contact mechanics between the liner and the femoral head under loading. The explicit dynamic finite element method was applied to model the implantation of a cementless ceramic-on-ceramic with a titanium shell and subsequently to investigate the effect of the metallic shell deformation on the contact mechanics. A total of three impacts were found to be necessary to seat the titanium alloy shell into the pelvic bone cavity with a 1 mm diameter interference and a 1.3 kg impactor at 4500 mm s−1 velocity. The maximum deformation of the metallic shell was found to be 160 µm in the antero-superior and postero-inferior direction and 97 µm in the antero-inferior and postero-superior direction after the press-fit. The corresponding values were slightly reduced to 67 and 45 µm after the ceramic liner was inserted and then modified to 74 and 43 µm under loading, respectively. The maximum deformation and the maximum principal stress of the ceramic liner were 31 µm and 144 MPa (tensile stress), respectively, after it was inserted into the shell and further increased to 52 µm and 245 MPa under loading. This research highlights the importance of the press-fit of the metallic shell on the contact mechanics of the ceramic liner for ceramic-on-ceramic total hip arthroplasties and potential clinical performances.
Comparison of doxycycline with azithromycin in treatment of pharyngeal chlamydia infection
Authors: Manavi K , Hettiarachchi N , Hodson J
Published: October 2015

Recent data suggest that azithromycin may not be as effective as doxycycline in eradication of genital chlamydial infection. The aim of this study was to compare the eradication rate of pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis infection after treatment with azithromycin 1 g stat with that of doxycycline 100 mg twice a day for seven days. A prospective open-label observational study was conducted on patients with pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis diagnosed at Whittall Street Clinic, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham, UK, between July 2012 and July 2013. We confirmed eradication of pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis with a negative test of cure. We treated all our patients with azithromycin 1 g stat until February 2013. At that stage, we offered doxycycline to patients with pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis. A total of 398 patients (52 men, 346 women) were diagnosed with pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis during the study period. Of the 172 patients included in the final analysis, 78 were treated with azithromycin and 64 with doxycycline. Treatment failure was identified among 8/78 (10%) patients treated with azithromycin and 1/64 (2%) treated with doxycycline (absolute difference: 8 percentage points, 95% CI: 0–17%, p = 0.041). In our study, doxycycline 100 mg twice a day for seven days was associated with less treatment failure of oropharyngeal chlamydia compared with azithromycin 1 g stat. Future randomised studies should investigate whether patients with pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis should be followed up with a test of cure when treated with azithromycin, or be treated with doxycycline.
To lead without governing in the knowledge society: The enlightened despotism in European techno-corporative discourse
Authors: Maniglio Francesco
Published: October 2015

Over the last few decades, the process of governing in the European Union (EU) has come to mean a whole series of activities conducted by social, political, and administrative actors, which guide, direct, control, and administrate society. The relationship between these actors in the governmental process is not hierarchical, but polycentric and mutually dependent. Therefore, the techno-corporatism alliance is formed by an epistemic community along with the industrial and financial lobbies. It organizes society around its own projection of a differential unit, thereby affirming its position of leadership and power – a differential unit which, in an ideologically broader definition, expresses itself and inevitably takes place throughout and within this language. First, this implies thinking of the techno-corporative discourse not in its apparent ethereal nature, but as a social practice of the legitimation of a mediated political direction that has intervened in the conception, construction, and approval of public policies over these last few decades. Even though this discourse contributes to the delineation of a certain social form, this does not suggest that it cannot contrast with it, or even exceed it because this form itself is contradictory. Second, the longitudinal analysis (2000–2010) of the techno-corporative discourse allows us to relate and articulate different discourses (critical, subordinated, and dissident discourses) which have affected the programs and projects of the European governance in the direction of society, thereby constructing a hegemonic vision in order to obtain general consent.
Anecdotes to the life and times of Sir Richard Owen (1804–1892) in Lancaster
Authors: Wessels Q , Taylor AM
Published: October 2015

Sir Richard Owen, a Lancastrian, was a prominent biologist, comparative anatomist, geologist, palaeontologist and known for coining the term dinosaur. His expertise in anatomical dissection proved to be one of his biggest assets and aided his career progression at the Royal College of Surgeons and the Zoological Society. Owen’s apprenticeship in Lancaster helped him to gain expertise in anatomy and anatomical dissection. The authors aim to provide some novel contextual background to his childhood in Lancaster, his affection for his hometown and his contribution to Lancaster’s sanitary reform. The latter aspect of his scientific accomplishments is typically overlooked.
Effect of Intravenous (IV) Assistive Device (VeinViewer) on IV Access Attempts, Procedural Time, and Patient and Nurse Satisfaction
Authors: Ramer Lois , Hunt Pauline , Ortega Erin , Knowlton Jessica , Briggs Raymond , Hirokawa Shinichi
Published: October 2015

This study evaluated the effectiveness of VeinViewer for peripheral vascular accessing a pediatric hematology oncology clinic. After obtaining consent, 53 patients were randomly assigned to either the VeinViewer group (n = 27) or standard methods group (n = 26). Data on number of attempts, procedural time, access complications, and patient and nurse satisfaction were collected. Patients randomized to the VeinViewer group required significantly less time to access a vein as compared with the standard methods group ( P ≤ .05). Additionally, these patients rated nurses as having significantly more skill than nurses who did not use VeinViewer ( P ≤ .05) and assigned significantly higher scores for “overall experience”( P ≤ .05). Responses by nurses using VeinViewer overall saw the device in a positive light.
Mesonephric Adenocarcinoma of the Uterine Corpus
Authors: Kim Sung Sun , Nam Jong Hee , Kim Ga-Eon , Choi Yoo Duk , Choi Chan , Park Chang Soo
Published: October 2015

Mesonephric adenocarcinoma is a rare tumor type that is usually found in areas where the Wolffian duct was present during the fetal period. We report a case of mesonephric adenocarcinoma of the uterine corpus in a 66-year-old woman who presented with vaginal bleeding. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 2.7-cm-sized irregular thickening and enhancement of the uterine body. The diagnosis following endometrial curettage biopsy was endometrioid adenocarcinoma, and the patient underwent a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The tumor was composed of small tubular and ductal components, and a retiform appearance was also observed in the deeper areas. The tumor cells were immunopositive for cytokeratin, vimentin, CD10 with a luminal staining pattern, PAX2, and PAX8, and immunonegative for estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor, which was consistent with tumor of mesonephric origin. Mesonephric neoplasms reveal relatively low-grade nuclear feature, characteristic immunoprofiles (immunonegative for ER and PR, and immunopositive for CD10, PAX2, PAX8, and GATA3), and unique tumor location (myometrium), whereas Müllerian neoplasms such as endometrial adenocarcinoma show various morphology, immunopositivity for ER and PR, and primarily endometrial location. As described above, an integration of the clinical features, morphologic characteristics, and immunohistochemical profiles is needed to make a diagnosis.
Primary Intracranial Myoepithelial Neoplasm
Authors: Choy Bonnie , Pytel Peter
Published: October 2015

Myoepithelial neoplasms were originally described in the salivary glands but their spectrum has been expanding with reports in other locations, including soft tissue. Intracranial cases are exceptionally rare outside the sellar region where they are assumed to be arising from Rathke pouch rests. Two cases of pediatric intracranial myoepithelial neoplasm in the interhemispheric fissure and the right cerebral hemisphere are reported here. Imaging studies suggest that the second case was associated with cerebrospinal fluid dissemination. Both cases showed typical variation in morphology and immunophenotype between more epithelioid and more mesenchymal features. The differential diagnosis at this particular anatomic location includes meningioma, which can show some overlap in immunophenotype since both tumors express EMA as well as GLUT1. One case was positive for EWSR1 rearrangement by fluorescence in situ hybridization. One patient is disease free at last follow-up while the other succumbed to the disease within days illustrating the clinical spectrum of these tumors.
Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Thrombocytopenia: Risk Factors, Treatment, and Outcome
Authors: Baelum Jens Kristian , Moe Espen Ellingsen , Nybo Mads , Vinholt Pernille Just
Published: October 2015

Background:

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent and potentially lethal condition. Venous thrombi are mainly constituted of fibrin and red blood cells, but platelets also play an important role in VTE formation. Information about VTE in patients with thrombocytopenia is, however, missing.

Objectives:

To identify VTE risk factors and describe treatment and outcome (bleeding episodes and mortality) in patients with thrombocytopenia.

Patients/Methods:

Patients with thrombocytopenia (platelet count <100 × 109/L) admitted to Odense University Hospital, Denmark, between April 2000 and April 2012 were included. Fifty cases had experienced VTE. Controls without VTE were matched 3:1 with cases on sex and hospital department. Medical records were examined, and data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression.

Results:

In multivariate analysis, platelet count <50 × 109/L (odds ratio [OR] 0.22, P < .05) and chronic liver disease (OR 0.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01-0.58) reduced the risk of VTE. Surgery (OR 6.44, 95% CI 1.37-30.20) and previous thromboembolism (OR 6.16, 95% CI 1.21-31.41) were associated with an increased VTE risk. Ninety-two percent of cases were treated with anticoagulants. There was no difference in bleeding incidence between cases and controls.

Conclusions:

Several known VTE risk factors also seems to apply in patients with thrombocytopenia. Also, patients with thrombocytopenia may be VTE risk stratified based on platelet count and comorbidities. Finally, patients having thrombocytopenia with VTE seem to be safely treated with anticoagulants without increased occurrence of bleeding.
Investigation of damage effect on the effective dynamic mechanical properties of an adhesive in linear and nonlinear response regimes
Authors: Pazand Kamran , Nobari Ali S
Published: October 2015

In this paper, the effect of damage on the effective dynamic Young's and shear moduli of a viscoelastic adhesive is investigated, in both linear and nonlinear regions of adhesive behavior. The investigation method is based on the measurement of the nonlinear Frequency Response Function (FRF) of adhesive bonded structure and inverse eigen sensitivity identification technique. Several single-lap joint specimens are manufactured in healthy and damaged configurations and their linear and nonlinear FRFs are then measured, using the Optimum Equivalent Linear FRF (OELF) concept. The measured FRFs are then used to extract linear and nonlinear bending and shear modes of the bonded structure. The modes of healthy and damaged structures are further used for identifying of Young's and shear moduli at different frequencies. The results show that, for both linear and nonlinear regions, damages as small as 5% in the adhesive joint can be detected by the proposed technique, through their effects on the identified effective mechanical properties.
A Hyperresponsive HPA Axis May Confer Resilience Against Persistent Paclitaxel-Induced Mechanical Hypersensitivity
Authors: Kozachik Sharon L. , Page Gayle G.
Published: October 2015

Paclitaxel (PAC) treatment is associated with persistent, debilitating neuropathic pain that affects the hands and feet. Female sex and biological stress responsivity are risk factors for persistent pain, but it is unclear whether these important biologically based factors confer risk for PAC-induced neuropathic pain. To determine the relative contributions of sex and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA)-axis stress responsivity to PAC-induced mechanical hypersensitivity, we employed a PAC protocol consisting of three, 2-week cycles of every-other-day doses of PAC 1 mg/kg versus saline (Week 1) and recovery (Week 2), totaling 42 days, in mature male and female Fischer 344, Lewis, and Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, known to differ in HPA axis stress responsivity. Mechanical sensitivity was operationalized using von Frey filaments, per the up–down method. Among PAC-injected rats, SD rats exhibited significantly greater mechanical hypersensitivity relative to accumulative PAC doses compared to Fischer 344 rats. Lewis rats were not significantly different in mechanical hypersensitivity from SD or Fischer 344 rats. At the end of the protocol, PAC-injected SD rats exhibited profound mechanical hypersensitivity, whereas the PAC-injected Fischer 344 rats appeared relatively resilient to the long-term effects of PAC and exhibited mechanical sensitivity that was not statistically different from their saline-injected counterparts. Sex differences were mixed and noted only early in the PAC protocol. Moderate HPA axis stress responsivity may confer additional risk for the painful effects of PAC. If these findings hold in humans, clinicians may be better able to identify persons who may be at increased risks for developing neuropathic pain during PAC therapy.
Playing by “the connected ear”: An empirical study of adolescents learning to play a pop song using Internet-accessed resources
Authors: Wallerstedt Cecilia , Pramling Niklas
Published: October 2015

Learning to play a song from Internet-accessed resources such as YouTube and various forms of notation challenges our understanding of what it means to learn to “play by ear”. Against this background, this article reports an empirical study of 18-year-old students in a music class trying to learn to play a song together from Internet-accessed resources in the form of notation and a sound file. The students were followed with a video camera during three consecutive lessons. The theoretical perspective is sociocultural psychology and its concepts of cultural tools and semiotic mediation (i.e., how tools such as notation provide certain perspectives on phenomena, in this case a popular song). How this novel kind of notation was used, edited and communicated is analyzed in terms of its nature and functions in this learning practice. The result indicates that the notation was primarily used to communicate (instruct and coordinate actions among the participants) about the horizontal (temporal) aspects of the song. Although the notation lacked many of the features that the students asked for and was partly incorrect, it functioned as a central mediating tool in these activities. The analysis highlights the role of the teacher in this kind of activity and what musical features the student needs to be supported in learning.
Pipe dreams, ideals and transformation in music education: Lessons from the field
Authors: Heuser Frank
Published: October 2015

The purpose of this article is to use the lens of the author’s teaching experience to examine the complexities and understand the difficulties involved in transforming instructional practices in secondary schools in the USA. The study is an autoethnography, which is a research approach that examines personal experiences to understand how beliefs are shaped and thereby allow us to interpret our work and the world in a meaningful manner. The paper reviews concerns that critics have expressed regarding the difficulties of reforming large ensemble music instruction in secondary schools. The author’s experiences in attempting to transform his own practice suggest that unexamined underlying values, axioms and power relationships inhibit meaningful change and reform in public school music education. Lessons from testing reform-based ideas by actually working with students and teachers in secondary settings provide insights into the intransient nature of school music practice. The article concludes with suggestions as to how reform and transformation might be realized.
The Movember campaign: Impact on referral patterns and diagnosis of prostate cancer
Authors: Thomsen Frederik B. , Mikkelsen Marta K. , Hansen Rikke B. , Brasso Klaus
Published: October 2015

Aims: The aims of the present study were to investigate referral patterns and the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) before and after the Movember campaign was initiated in Denmark. Methods: All men ( n=2817) referred to the Department of Urology at Frederiksberg Hospital with suspicion of having PCa in the period 1 January 2007–31 January 2014 were identified. Based on the referral date, patients were categorised as pre-Movember (1 January 2007–31 January 2011) and Movember (1 February 2011–31 January 2014), respectively. Annual referral-rates/100.000 inhabitants were calculated and compared with rate-ratio (RR) tests. Results: The median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) at referral dropped significantly from 9.8 ng/mL in 2007–2011 to 7.9 ng/mL in 2011–2014, p < 0.001. The incidence rate of men referred with suspicion of PCa increased from 134/100.000 in the pre-Movember period to 168/100.000 in the Movember period (RR 1.25 [95% CI 1.16–1.35]). In contrast to what we anticipated, there was no increase in referral in the months following the campaign. The incidence rates of men diagnosed with PCa and low-risk PCa were similar in the Movember period and the pre-Movember period (PCa: RR 1.08 [0.97–1.21]; low-risk PCa: RR 1.29 [0.98–1.73]). Conclusions: After the initiation of the Movember campaign a significant decline in the PSA level at referral and an increase in the number of patients referred under suspicion of PCa was observed; however, only minor differences in referral patterns and PCa diagnosis were detected. The results indicate that the Movember campaign had a limited immediate effect on referral, however, it may have contributed to an increased awareness of PCa.
Assessment of eHealth capabilities and utilization in residential care settings
Authors: Towne Samuel D , Lee Shinduk , Li Yajuan , Smith Matthew Lee
Published: October 2015

The US National Survey of Residential Care Facilities was used to conduct cross-sectional analyses of residential care facilities (n = 2302). Most residential care facilities lacked computerized capabilities for one or more of these capabilities in 2010. Lacking computerized systems supporting electronic health information exchange with pharmacies was associated with non-chain affiliation (p < .05). Lacking electronic health information exchange with physicians was associated with being a small-sized facility (vs large) (p < .05). Lacking computerized capabilities for discharge/transfer summaries was associated with for-profit status (p < .05) and small-sized facilities (p < .05). Lacking computerized capabilities for medical provider information was associated with non-chain affiliation (p < .05), small- or medium-sized facilities (p < .05), and for-profit status (p < .05). Lack of electronic health record was associated with non-chain affiliation (p < .05), small- or medium-sized facilities (p < .05), for-profit status (p < .05), and location in urban areas (p < .05). eHealth disparities exist across residential care facilities. As the older adult population continues to grow, resources must be in place to provide an integrated system of care across multiple settings.
Curriculum counter-strokes and strokes: Swimming in non-existent epistemological rivers
Authors: Janson Elizabeth E , Paraskeva João M
Published: October 2015

In this article, we examine how Boaventura de Sousa Santos' Epistemologies of the South speaks to a needed dialogue on US educational and curriculum policy in which capitalism and colonialism produce youth and teachers as nonbeings -- another insidious form of nonexistence. We analyze (a) the construction of the dichotomy of Western and non-Western in the context of abyssal thinking and educational policy; (b) the complexities of epistemicides and coloniality in US schools as related to educational reform movements. This analysis reflects the need to struggle for social and cognitive justice and to use the democratic imagination to engage in a praxis for a world of social equality and justice.
Psychological Aspects of the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ayer Lynsay , Venkatesh Brinda , Stewart Robert , Mandel Daniel , Stein Bradley , Schoenbaum Michael
Published: October 2015

Despite ongoing local and international peace efforts, the Jews, Arabs, and other residents of Israel and the Palestinian territories (i.e., the West Bank and Gaza) have endured decades of political, social, and physical upheaval, with periodic eruptions of violence. It has been theorized that the psychological impact of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict extends beyond the bounds of psychiatric disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Exposure to the ongoing conflict may lead to changes in the way Israelis and Palestinians think, feel, and act; while these changes may not meet the thresholds of PTSD or depression, they nonetheless could have a strong public health impact. It is unclear whether existing studies have found associations between exposure to the conflict and nonclinical psychological outcomes. We conducted a systematic review to synthesize the empirical research on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and its psychological consequences. As a whole, the body of literature we reviewed suggests that exposure to regional political conflict and violence may have detrimental effects on psychological well-being and that these effects likely extend beyond the psychiatric disorders and symptoms most commonly studied. We found evidence that exposure to the conflict informs not only the way Israelis and Palestinians think, feel, and act but also their attitudes toward different religious and ethnic groups and their degree of support for peace or war. We also found that Palestinians may be at particularly high risk of experiencing psychological distress as a result of the conflict, though more research is needed to determine the extent to which this is due to socioeconomic stress. Our review suggests the need for more studies on the nonclinical psychological aspects of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict as well as for longitudinal studies on the impact of the conflict on both Israelis and Palestinians.