bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Staurosporine suppresses survival of HepG2 cancer cells through Omi/HtrA2-mediated inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway
Authors: Ding Youming , Wang Bin , Chen Xiaoyan , Zhou Yu , Ge Jianhui
Published: March 2017

Staurosporine, which is an inhibitor of a broad spectrum of protein kinases, has shown cytotoxicity on several human cancer cells. However, the underlying mechanism is not well understood. In this study, we examined whether and how this compound has an inhibitory action on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway in vitro using HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. Cell viability and apoptosis were determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase–mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, respectively. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assay and co-immunoprecipitation were performed to detect protein–protein interactions. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to silence the expression of targeted protein. We found that staurosporine significantly decreased cell viability and increased cell apoptosis in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in HepG2 cancer cells, along with the decreased expressions of PDK1 protein and Akt phosphorylation. Staurosporine was also found to enhance Omi/HtrA2 release from mitochondria. Furthermore, Omi/HtrA2 directly bound to PDK1. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of Omi/HtrA2 restored protein levels of PDK1 and protected HepG2 cancer cells from staurosporine-induced cell death. In addition, staurosporine was found to activate autophagy. However, inhibition of autophagy exacerbated cell death under concomitant treatment with staurosporine. Taken together, our results indicate that staurosporine induced cytotoxicity response by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway through Omi/HtrA2-mediated PDK1 degradation, and the process provides a novel mechanism by which staurosporine produces its therapeutic effects.
Identification of differentially expressed circular RNAs in human colorectal cancer
Authors: Zhang Peili , Zuo Zhigui , Shang Wenjing , Wu Aihua , Bi Ruichun , Wu Jianbo , Li Shaotang , Sun Xuecheng , Jiang Lei
Published: March 2017

Circular RNA, a class of non-coding RNA, is a new group of RNAs and is related to tumorigenesis. Circular RNAs are suggested to be ideal candidate biomarkers with potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications. However, little is known about their expression in human colorectal cancer. In our study, differentially expressed circular RNAs were detected using circular RNA array in paired tumor and adjacent non-tumorous tissues from six colorectal cancer patients. Expression levels of selected circular RNAs (hsa_circRNA_103809 and hsa_circRNA_104700) were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction in 170 paired colorectal cancer samples for validation. Statistical analyses were conducted to investigate the association between hsa_circRNA_103809 and hsa_circRNA_104700 expression levels and respective patient clinicopathological features. Receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed to evaluate the diagnostic values. Our results indicated that there were 125 downregulated and 76 upregulated circular RNAs in colorectal cancer tissues compared with normal tissues. We also first demonstrated that the expression levels of hsa_circRNA_103809 ( p < 0.0001) and hsa_circRNA_104700 ( p = 0.0003) were significantly lower in colorectal cancer than in normal tissues. The expression level of hsa_circRNA_103809 was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis ( p = 0.021) and tumor-node-metastasis stage ( p = 0.011), and the expression level of hsa_circRNA_104700 was significantly correlated with distal metastasis ( p = 0.036). The area under receiver operating characteristic curves of hsa_circRNA_103809 and hsa_circRNA_104700 were 0.699 ( p < 0.0001) and 0.616 ( p < 0.0001), respectively. In conclusion, these results suggest that hsa_circRNA_103809 and hsa_circRNA_104700 may be potentially involved in the development of colorectal cancer and serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
LAMP3 expression correlated with poor clinical outcome in human ovarian cancer
Authors: Wang Di , Cao Xuemin , Zhang Yuquan , Liu Yuanlin , Yao Chan , Ge Wenliang , Xu Yunzhao
Published: March 2017

Lysosome-associated membrane protein 3 belongs to the lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein family, which is associated with lymph node, metastasis, poor overall survival, and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Epithelial ovarian cancer is one of the most deadly global female gynecologic malignant tumors. Its clinical outcome is poor and most epithelial ovarian cancer patients tend to relapse because of drug resistance. However, lysosome-associated membrane protein 3 expression in epithelial ovarian cancer and its relationship between clinicopathologic factors remain poorly understood. To clarify the prognostic implications of lysosome-associated membrane protein 3 in epithelial ovarian cancer, we analyzed both messenger RNA and protein levels of lysosome-associated membrane protein 3 in ovarian carcinomas. Polymerase chain reaction results showed higher expression of lysosome-associated membrane protein 3 messenger RNA in epithelial ovarian cancer than in noncancerous tissues. Immunohistochemical results showed that high lysosome-associated membrane protein 3 cytoplasmic expression was significantly related to tumor grade ( p = 0.038), lymph node metastasis ( p = 0.049), metastasis ( p < 0.001), level of CA125 ( p = 0.030), and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) ( p < 0.001). High lysosome-associated membrane protein 3 nuclear expression was significantly associated with tumor grade ( p = 0.046), tumor single or double (representative whether the tumor involving one or both ovaries) ( p = 0.016), metastasis ( p < 0.001), and FIGO stage ( p < 0.001). Survival analysis indicated that high lysosome-associated membrane protein 3 cytoplasmic expression (hazard ratio: 4.632, 95% confidence interval: 2.421–8.864; p < 0.001), patients’ age (hazard ratio: 1.729, 95% confidence interval: 1.027–2.911; p = 0.039), and FIGO stage (hazard ratio: 2.049, 95% confidence interval: 1.113–3.774; p = 0.021) were significantly correlated with poor survival outcome of epithelial ovarian cancer patients.
Downregulation of transcription factor GATA4 sensitizes human hepatoblastoma cells to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis
Authors: Soini Tea , Pihlajoki Marjut , Kyrönlahti Antti , Andersson Leif C , Wilson David B , Heikinheimo Markku
Published: March 2017

Hepatoblastoma, the most common type of pediatric liver cancer, is treated with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. An essential drug in the treatment of hepatoblastoma is doxorubicin, which in high doses is cardiotoxic. This adverse effect is due to downregulation of cardiac expression of transcription factor GATA4, leading in turn to diminished levels of anti-apoptotic BCL2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) protein family members. GATA4 is also expressed in early fetal liver, but absent from normal postnatal hepatocytes. However, GATA4 is highly expressed in hepatoblastoma tissue. In this study, we assessed the role of GATA4 in doxorubicin-induced apoptosis of hepatoblastoma cells. Herein, we demonstrate that doxorubicin decreases GATA4 expression and alters the expression pattern of BCL2 family members, most profoundly that of BCL2 and BAK, in the HUH6 hepatoblastoma cell line. Silencing of GATA4 by siRNA prior to doxorubicin treatment sensitizes HUH6 cells to the apoptotic effect of this drug by further shifting the balance of BCL2 family members to the pro-apoptotic direction. Specifically, expression levels of anti-apoptotic BCL2 were decreased and pro-apoptotic BID were increased after GATA4 silencing. On the whole, our results indicate that since high endogenous levels of transcription factor GATA4 likely protect hepatoblastoma cells from doxorubicin-induced apoptosis, these cells can be rendered more sensitive to the drug by downregulation of GATA4.
Differential expression of ten-eleven translocation genes in endometrial cancers
Authors: Ciesielski Piotr , Jóźwiak Paweł , Wójcik-Krowiranda Katarzyna , Forma Ewa , Cwonda Łukasz , Szczepaniec Sylwia , Bieńkiewicz Andrzej , Bryś Magdalena , Krześlak Anna
Published: March 2017

Ten-eleven translocation proteins are α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases involved in the conversion of 5-methylcytosines (5-mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), 5-formylcytosine, and 5-carboxylcytosine that play a significant role in DNA demethylation. Deregulation of TET genes expression and changes in the level of 5-hmC are thought to be associated with the onset and progression of several types of cancer, but there are no such data related to endometrial cancer. The aim of the work was to investigate the messenger RNA expression levels of TET1, TET2, and TET3 in relation to clinicopathological characteristics of endometrial cancer as well as the correlation between expression of TET genes and the level of 5-hmC/5-mC. The prognostic significance of TETs expression for overall survival was established. We found that TET1 and TET2 messenger RNA expression was lower and TET3 was higher in cancers compared to normal tissues. Positive correlation between 5-hmC and the relative expression of TET1 and TET2 was found, but no correlation was observed in the case of TET3. Decreased expression of TET1 and TET2 was significantly associated with increased lymph node metastasis and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage. Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated that low TET1 expression predicted poor overall survival (p = 0.038). Multivariate analysis identified the TET1 expression in endometrial cancer as an independent prognostic factor. Our results suggest that decreased expression of TET1 correlates with tumor progression and may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker in endometrial cancer.
Salinomycin: A new paradigm in cancer therapy
Authors: Dewangan Jayant , Srivastava Sonal , Rath Srikanta Kumar
Published: March 2017

The primary hurdle in the treatment of cancer is acquisition of resistance by the tumor cells toward multiple drugs and selectively targeting the cancer stem cells. This problem was overcome by the chemotherapeutic property of recently discovered drug salinomycin. Exact mechanism of action of salinomycin is not yet known, but there are multiple pathways by which salinomycin inhibits tumor growth. Salinomycin decreases the expression of adenosine triphosphate–binding cassette transporter in multidrug resistance cells and interferes with Akt signaling pathway, Wnt/β-catenin, Hedgehog, and Notch pathways of cancer progression. Salinomycin selectively targets cancer stem cells. The potential of salinomycin to eliminate both cancer stem cells and therapy-resistant cancer cells may characterize the compound as a novel and an efficient chemotherapeutic drug.
Impact of microRNA dynamics on cancer hallmarks: An oral cancer scenario
Authors: Manasa VG , Kannan S
Published: March 2017

MicroRNAs are endogenous small noncoding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression at posttranscriptional level. The discovery of microRNAs has identified a new layer of gene regulation mechanisms, which play a pivotal role in development as well as in various cellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, cell growth, and cell death. Deregulated microRNA expression favors acquisition of cancer hallmark traits as well as transforms the tumor microenvironment, leading to tumor development and progression. Many recent studies have revealed altered expression of microRNAs in oral carcinoma with several microRNAs shown to have key biological role in tumorigenesis functioning either as tumor suppressors or as tumor promoters. MicroRNA expression levels correlate with clinicopathological variables and have a diagnostic and prognostic value in oral carcinoma. For these reasons, microRNA has been a hot topic in oral cancer research for the last few years. In this review, we attempt to summarize the present understanding of microRNA deregulation in oral carcinoma, their role in acquiring cancer hallmarks, and their potential diagnostic and prognostic value for oral cancer management.
Glycolysis-related protein expression in thyroid cancer
Authors: Nahm Ji Hae , Kim Hye Min , Koo Ja Seung
Published: March 2017

We aimed to demonstrate the differences in the expression of glucose metabolism–related proteins according to the thyroid cancer subtypes and investigate the implications of these differences. A total of 566 thyroid cancer patients, including 342 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma, 112 cases of follicular carcinoma, 70 cases of medullary carcinoma, 23 cases of poorly differentiated carcinoma, 19 cases of anaplastic carcinoma, and 152 cases of follicular adenoma, were enrolled in the study. Immunohistochemical staining for glucose transporter 1, hexokinase II, carbonic anhydrase IX, and monocarbonylate transporter 4 was performed, and the relationship between immunoreactivity and clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed. Glucose transporter 1 and tumoral monocarbonylate transporter 4 expression levels were shown to be the highest in anaplastic carcinoma, and medullary carcinoma showed the highest carbonic anhydrase IX and lowest hexokinase II levels compared with other subtypes. Stromal expression of monocarbonylate transporter 4 was observed in papillary thyroid carcinoma and anaplastic carcinoma samples. Conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma tumors expressed higher levels of glucose transporter 1, and tumoral and stromal monocarbonylate transporter 4, than the follicular variant, which showed a higher expression of carbonic anhydrase IX. Papillary thyroid carcinoma samples with BRAF V600E mutation were shown to have higher glucose transporter 1, hexokinase II, carbonic anhydrase IX, and tumoral monocarbonylate transporter 4 expression levels. Univariate analysis showed that papillary thyroid carcinoma cases with glucose transporter 1 positivity had shorter overall survival, patients with medullary carcinoma and hexokinase II positivity were shown to have a shorter disease-free survival and overall survival, and tumoral monocarbonylate transporter 4 positivity was associated with shorter overall survival compared with papillary thyroid carcinoma patients with negativity for each marker. Disease-free survival and overall survival of patients with poorly differentiated carcinoma were shown to be significantly decreased when glucose transporter 1 and tumoral monocarbonylate transporter 4 are expressed. We demonstrated that the expression levels of glycolysis-related proteins differ between thyroid cancer subtypes and are correlated with poorer prognosis, depending on the subtype.
Epigenetic perturbation driving asleep telomerase reverse transcriptase: Possible therapeutic avenues in carcinoma
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Nilednu Pritish , Kumar Azad , Sharma Nilesh Kumar
Published: March 2017

In the last decade, implications of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), a component of ribonucleoprotein telomerase in aging, senescence, and stem cell are highly evident. Besides, the activation of hTERT is also being documented several cancer types including carcinoma. The awakening of telomerase during carcinoma initiation and development is being seen with different perspectives including genetic and epigenetic tools and events. In view of several tumor progenitors genes (also referred as epigenetic mediators), telomerase is placed as key enzyme to achieve the carcinoma phenotype and sustain during the progression. It is true that swaying of telomerase in carcinoma could be facilitated with dedicated set of epigenetic modulators and modifiers players. These epigenetic alterations are heritable, potentially reversible, and seen as the epigenetic signature of carcinoma. Several papers converge to suggest that DNA methylation, histone modification, and small non-coding RNAs are the widely appreciated epigenetic changes towards hTERT modulation. In this review, we summarize the contribution of epigenetic factors in the telomerase activation and discuss potential avenues to achieve therapeutic intervention in carcinoma.
Specific tumor-derived CCL2 mediated by pyruvate kinase M2 in colorectal cancer cells contributes to macrophage recruitment in tumor microenvironment
Authors: Zou Kejian , Wang Yaodong , Hu Yan , Zheng Liansheng , Xu Wanfu , Li Guoxin
Published: March 2017

Development of colorectal cancer has been considered as a result of imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory intestinal microenvironment accompanied by macrophage recruitment. Despite macrophages are implicated in remodeling tumor microenvironment, the mechanism of macrophage recruitment is not fully elucidated yet. In this study, we reported clinical association of highly expressed pyruvate kinase M2 in colorectal cancer with macrophage attraction. The conditioned medium from Caco-2 and HT-29 cells with depleted pyruvate kinase M2 dramatically reduced macrophage recruitment, which is reversed by addition of, a critical chemotaxis factor to macrophage migration, rCCL2. Silencing of endogenous pyruvate kinase M2 markedly decreased CCL2 expression and secretion by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Endogenous pyruvate kinase M2 interacted with p65 and mediated nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway and mainly regulated phosphorylation of Ser276 on p65 nuclear factor-κB. In addition, inhibition of macrophage recruitment caused by pyruvate kinase M2 silencing was rescued by ectopic expression of p65. Interestingly, pyruvate kinase M2 highly expressed in colorectal cancer tissue, which is correction with macrophage distribution. Taken together, we revealed a novel mechanism of pyruvate kinase M2 in promoting colorectal cancer progression by recruitment of macrophages through p65 nuclear factor-κB–mediated expression of CCL2.
“Turned into the Women’s Journal”: Representation of sportswomen in Hungary’s sports magazine
Authors: Antunovic Dunja
Published: March 2017

Over the last few decades, scholars have dedicated much attention to the coverage of sportswomen in the media. However, few of these studies are situated within the Central Eastern European context. In this study, I analyze the textual and visual coverage of sportswomen in the Hungarian monthly sports magazine Presztízs Sport and examine the ways in which Hungarian national identity is articulated through discourses of sport, athletic competence, and womanhood. This sports magazine reflects some of the global patterns in the representation of sportswomen, but also distinguishes athletes based on the sport’s historical success in Hungary. Further, it positions the családanya, the “family-mother” as a gender ideal that transcends other representation categories. The maternal athletic body affirms conservative values and contributes to the aspirations of nation-building through both reproduction and elite sporting success.
Dowry-related domestic violence and complex posttraumatic stress disorder: a case report
Authors: O’Connor Manjula
Published: March 2017

Objectives:

This paper draws attention to the mental health impact of coercive practice of dowry demands, associated with domestic violence (DV) in an immigrant woman.

Methods:

This study was based on a case report and selective literature review.

Results:

This case history illustrates the serious mental health impacts of repeated emotional and physical trauma inflicted by a husband who was dissatisfied with his wife’s dowry. Bio-psycho-social / cultural aspects of mental health treatments needed to be augmented with attention to safety, advocacy, and access to support networks.

Conclusions:

Cultural factors are important determinants of mental illness. Psychiatrists need to be aware of DV and dowry when treating immigrant women.
Stability of glomerular and tubular renal injury biomarkers in canine urine after 4 years of storage
Authors: Defauw Pieter , Meyer Evelyne , Duchateau Luc , Schoeman Johan P. , Van de Maele Isabel , Daminet Sylvie
Published: March 2017

Urine biomarkers are sensitive indicators of early-stage renal injury, consequently, research in this area is expanding in both human and veterinary medicine. However, studies investigating the impact of preanalytical factors, such as storage conditions, on urine biomarker concentrations are largely lacking in veterinary medicine. Therefore, we evaluated the stability of several renal injury biomarkers in canine urine after storage for 4 y at −72°C. Urine samples were collected from 26 dogs: 18 dogs with babesiosis and 8 healthy dogs. Concentrations of urine immunoglobulin G (uIgG), urine C-reactive protein (uCRP), and urine retinol-binding protein (uRBP) were measured, using validated commercial immunoassays, at the start of the study and 4 y later. To investigate the effect of long-term storage, absolute and relative differences between both measurements were compared. Additionally, dogs with babesiosis were compared with the healthy controls at both time points. Storage caused significant absolute and relative decreases in concentrations of all 3 biomarkers. Significant differences between dogs with babesiosis and healthy dogs were found in uIgG and uRBP at both times; however, the difference in uCRP between both groups lost significance after storage. Because the main goal of these urine biomarkers is to detect early-stage renal injury, the statistically significant decrease in their concentrations will be clinically relevant when a mild degree of renal injury is present. Our data indicate that the investigated urine biomarkers show significant decay after 4 y of storage at −72°C, adversely affecting their diagnostic utility.
African American Faculty in Social Work Schools
Authors: Huggins-Hoyt Kimberly Y.
Published: March 2017

Purpose:

This study assessed the research productivity of African American faculty in the top 25 ranked schools of social work cited in the 2012 U.S. News and World Report.

Method:

Four citation metrics ( h-index, g-index, age-weighted citation rate, and per author age-weighted citation rate) were examined.

Results:

Scholar rankings per h-index changed when ranked by other metrics revealing more uniqueness beyond the impact of their scholarship.

Discussion:

While the h-index metric is a valuable measure of scholarly impact to assist tenure and promotion decisions, it should be considered with other metrics that reveal the overall character of individual scholarship. As the overall research culture of social work broadens, future research calls for an expanded knowledge based on measuring both impact and uniqueness of scholarship to assist faculty, especially minority scholars, in successfully negotiating and overcoming barriers and challenges.
Rhetorical Narratives of Black Entrepreneurs
Authors: Jones Natasha N.
Published: March 2017

Using cultural empowerment as a conceptual framework, this study emphasizes the interrelated role of culture, rhetorical agency, and empowerment in discursive analysis and communicative practice. Twelve black business owners were interviewed using a narrative inquiry approach. Thematic analysis revealed that these entrepreneurs enacted rhetorical agency in ways that work within oppressive systems and resisted damaging dominate discourses about black businesses. By highlighting the rhetorical narratives of black entrepreneurs, this study also addresses the need for a more culturally sensitive approach in business, professional, and organizational communication.
Perceived Benefits of Service Learning: A Comparison of Collegiate Recreation Concentrations
Authors: Fisher Eden E. , Sharp Ryan L. , Bradley Michael J.
Published: March 2017

Service learning is becoming a more utilized method of instruction in collegiate settings, and holds the potential to provide a deeper, more transferable meaning of course material for students. The purpose of this research was to examine if therapeutic recreation (TR) concentration students perceived service learning to be more personally and academically beneficial than non-TR concentrations in a collegiate recreation program. Undergraduate and graduate students in a recreation program at a regional, American university were asked to complete a survey in a class with a service learning component. A total of 307 surveys were completed, for a response rate of 76%. Results showed that the TR students perceived service learning as more personally and academically beneficial than the non-TR concentrations. Due to the scant amount of research available related to cognitive and affective effects of service learning on collegiate recreation students, this study will help bridge the gap between academia and the recreation workforce. The results of this study support future implementation of service learning at the collegiate level, specifically in recreation-related academic departments, and highlights possible discrepancies between TR and non-TR concentrations in the effectiveness of service learning on personal and academic outcomes.
A new fatigue damage accumulation model considering loading history and loading sequence based on damage equivalence
Authors: Si-Jian Lin , Wei Long , Da-Qing Tian , Jun-Bi Liao
Published: March 2017

In this study, a new nonlinear fatigue damage accumulation model is proposed to consider the effects of loading history and loading sequence under multi-level stress loading based on the Miner–Palmgren rule and S-N curve. By using damage equivalence, the new model is simplified and another form of the model is given. This model improves the application of the traditional Miner–Palmgren rule, by considering not only the loading sequence effect but also the loading history effect. The methods for calculating the degree of safety of specimens and cumulative damage of low-amplitude loads are also presented. Applicability of the new model is validated by predicting the fatigue life of 16Mn and 45 steel specimens under two-level stress loading. Further validation is carried out for the case of 41Cr4 and Aluminum alloys 6082 T6 under multi-level stress loading, and the strengthening and damaging effect of low-amplitude loads is considered. Comparing with the Miner–Palmgren rule and some new models, this new model gives more accurate and reliable prediction.
The Bayesian stance: Equations for ‘as-if’ sensorimotor agency
Authors: McGregor Simon
Published: March 2017

The verb ‘to do’ plays a vital part in our understanding of the world, and it goes hand-in-hand with words such as active, action and agent. But the physical sciences describe only mechanical happenings, not acts. Their theoretical language is, in essence, a strict mathematical formalism applied to the description of variables (usually quantitative ones) that can – at least in principle – be measured by mechanical instruments. In such a language, what is the definition of an agent? Of an act? In contrast to previous approaches, which attempt to discriminate between agent and non-agent systems, we pursue a more Dennettian approach that attempts only to characterise the explanatory logic of intentional (agentive) interpretations of a physical system; we wish to do so purely in terms of the formal relations that hold between variables in a dynamical system or stochastic process. Our approach is straightforward: we use Pearl’s causal formalism to identify physical variables at the causal boundary between ‘agent’ and ‘environment’, and identify these with variables in Bayesian decision theory; this provides a rigorous bridge between mathematical models of physics and mathematical models of rational decision-making.
Action, Judgment, and Imagination in Hannah Arendt’s Thought
Authors: Tyner Andrew H.
Published: March 2017

This article presents a conception of imagination that emerges from Hannah Arendt’s writings on action, judgment, and responsibility. Imagination, for Arendt, is central to the processes of action and judgment, as it enables political actors and spectators to imagine a new world that could look differently from the world that exists. Importantly, though, this imagined world needs to bear some resemblance to the world that actually exists to avoid losing touch with reality and factual truth. The loss of reality and factual truth risks judgments that are inattentive and actions that are destructive and tyrannical. Imagination must be bounded, for Arendt, to ensure that action and judgment remain tied to reality. The article first offers this novel interpretation of Arendtian imagination before discussing its relationship to contemporary research on political participation, moral conviction, and attitude certainty.
Taxometric Analysis of the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia: Further Evidence That Alexithymia Is a Dimensional Construct
Authors: Keefer Kateryna V. , Taylor Graeme J. , Parker James D. A. , Bagby R. Michael
Published: March 2017

Alexithymia is a clinically relevant personality construct characterized by difficulties identifying and describing feelings, externally oriented thinking, and impoverished imaginal processes. Previous taxometric investigations provided evidence that alexithymia is best conceptualized as a continuous dimension rather than a discrete type, at least when assessed with the self-report 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. The aim of the current study was to test the categorical versus dimensional structure of alexithymia using the recently developed Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia. Three nonredundant taxometric procedures (MAXCOV, MAMBAC, and L-Mode) were performed on the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia subscale scores from a multinational sample of 842 adults. All taxometric procedures produced unambiguously dimensional solutions, providing further evidence that the core alexithymia features are continuously distributed in the population. Discussion focuses on the theoretical, assessment, and clinical implications of these findings for the alexithymia construct.
A novel approach for the design and analysis of nonlinear dampers for automotive suspensions
Authors: Pazooki Alireza , Goodarzi Avesta , Khajepour Amir , Soltani Amir , Porlier Claude
Published: March 2017

This paper proposes an analytical technique for frequency analysis and the design of nonlinear dampers to further improve ride dynamics performance of vehicle suspensions over a wide range of excitation frequencies. Using the energy balance method (EBM), the proposed methodology estimates the equivalent linear damping coefficient of any nonlinear passive damper whose force is a general function of the damper’s relative displacement and relative velocity. Knowing the equivalent linear damping coefficient makes it possible to perform a frequency analysis of the suspension ride performance with any nonlinear damper. Some specific criteria are defined to design the desired form of equivalent linear damping coefficient which provides a high/small damping ratio at low-/high-frequency excitations, so the corresponding nonlinear damping force required to obtain improved ride performance of the suspension using a 1-degree-of-freedom quarter car model is also defined. A sensitivity analysis is then performed to provide a design guideline. The results show that the dependency of the equivalent damping coefficient either relative to the velocity of the suspension (velocity-dependent damper) or the relative displacement of the suspension (position-dependent damper) could provide a variable damping ratio leading to better vibration isolation over the excitation frequency. A noticeable ride dynamic performance can be reached over the entire range of the excitation frequency by designing a nonlinear damper such that its equivalent linear damping ratio becomes a desired function of both its relative displacement and relative velocity (position-velocity-dependent damper).
Mental Health Service Provision in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Rathod Shanaya , Pinninti Narsimha , Irfan Muhammed , Gorczynski Paul , Rathod Pranay , Gega Lina , Naeem Farooq
Published: March 2017

This article discusses the provision of mental health services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with a view to understanding the cultural dynamics–how the challenges they pose can be addressed and the opportunities harnessed in specific cultural contexts. The article highlights the need for prioritisation of mental health services by incorporating local population and cultural needs. This can be achieved only through political will and strengthened legislation, improved resource allocation and strategic organisation, integrated packages of care underpinned by professional communication and training, and involvement of patients, informal carers, and the wider community in a therapeutic capacity.
The Waltzian ordering principle and international change: A two-dimensional model
Authors: Griffiths Ryan D.
Published: March 2017

In his work on structural realism, Kenneth Waltz developed a theory of international order that is admired for its parsimony but criticized for its simplicity. Using his ordering principle as a foundation, I critique and extend his theory by constructing a model of international order with two dimensions: one of political centralization and the other of segmentary/functional differentiation. The resulting map locates different configurations of order and highlights four ideal-types: mechanical anarchy, organic hierarchy, mechanical hierarchy and organic anarchy. I then use the two-dimensional map and related ideal-types to outline two different processes of international change — a classical path and a modern path — that were invisible in the Waltzian model. This article is thus a contribution to the developing literature on conceptualizing different forms of international order and the dynamics of international change.
Participants’ physical activity levels and evaluations of a school sport programme in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Hanrahan Stephanie , Rynne Steven , Beckman Emma , Rossi Tony
Published: March 2017

In its contemporary form, sport for development has been positioned as an important part of strategic policy for a variety of governmental and sporting organisations. One area that has been targeted by governments and a variety of sporting partners has been the impact of sport on non-communicable diseases (NCDs, sometimes colloquially referred to as ‘lifestyle diseases’ such as obesity). However, relatively little evidence exists for the impact of sport programmes on the reduction of NCDs and future health burden. This study sought to examine the physical activity levels of school-aged children in Papua New Guinea (PNG) during their participation in a targeted sport programme operating during school hours. Data collection methods employed were physical activity recall and pedometer counts, as well as perceptions, intentions, and knowledge of participants. Children in this study were found to have lower physical activity levels during the after-school period than has been reported in the literature for children in other countries. Overall, children were active during the sport programme, completing 1179 steps on average (which constitutes 10% of the suggested daily values for children of a similar age). No profound differences were observed in either the qualitative or quantitative data across different schools, regions, or genders. The responses from children regarding the sport programme were notably positive.
A systematic review of satisfaction with teledermatology
Authors: Mounessa Jessica S , Chapman Stephanie , Braunberger Taylor , Qin Rosie , Lipoff Jules B , Dellavalle Robert P , Dunnick Cory A
Published: March 2017

Background

The two most commonly used modalities of teledermatology (TD) are store-and-forward (SF) and live–interactive (LI) TD. Existing studies have not compared these tools with respect to patient and provider satisfaction.

Objective

To systematically review all published studies of patient and provider satisfaction with SF and LI TD.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched for studies on provider or patient satisfaction with SF or LI TD between January 2000 and June 2016.

Results

Forty eligible studies were identified: 32 with SF TD, 10 with LI TD, and 2 evaluating both. With SF TD, 96% of studies assessing patient satisfaction and 82% of studies assessing provider satisfaction demonstrated satisfaction ( n = 24 and 17, respectively). With LI TD, 89% of studies assessing patient satisfaction and all studies assessing provider satisfaction revealed satisfaction (n = 9 and 6, respectively).

Conclusion

Patients and providers are satisfied with both SF and LI TD. Studies assessing satisfaction with LI have not been conducted in recent years, and have only been conducted in limited geographic patient populations. Further research assessing satisfaction with TD will help address any dissatisfaction with its uses and allow for increased support and funding of future programmes.
Enablers and barriers to using two-way information technology in the management of adults with diabetes: A descriptive systematic review
Authors: Macdonald Emma M , Perrin Byron M , Kingsley Michael IC
Published: March 2017

Background

This systematic review aimed to explore the enablers and barriers faced by adults with diabetes using two-way information communication technologies to support diabetes self-management.

Methods

Relevant literature was obtained from five databases using search strategies combining four major constructs: adults with diabetes, biomedical technology, communication technology and patient utilisation.

Results

Of 8430 unique articles identified, 48 were included for review. Risk of bias was assessed using either the Newcastle–Ottowa or Cochrane risk of bias assessment tools. Seventy-one percent of studies were of cohort design with the majority of studies assessed at high or unclear risk of bias. Consistently identified barriers included poorly designed interfaces requiring manual data entry and systems that lacked functionalities valued by patients. Commonly cited enablers included access to reliable technology, highly automated data entry and transmission, graphical display of data with immediate feedback, and supportive health care professionals and family members.

Conclusions

People with diabetes face a number of potentially modifiable barriers in using technology to support their diabetes management. In order to address these barriers, end users should be consulted in the design process and consideration given to theories of technology adoption to inform design and implementation. Systems should be designed to solve clinical or behavioural problems that are identified by patients as priorities. Technology should be as automated, streamlined, mobile, low cost and integrated as possible in order to limit the burden of usage for the patient and maximise clinical usefulness.
Definition of specific comfort parameters, indoor environmental and architectural quality: Evaluated by Danish single-family homeowners
Authors: Mortensen Andrea , Heiselberg Per , Knudstrup Mary-Ann
Published: March 2017

In the coming years, the European building sector faces a large challenge in reducing the energy consumption and CO2 emission. To reach these targets private homeowners must participate by renovating their buildings, but various barriers prevent them from conducting extensive energy renovations. Studies have, nonetheless, shown that improvements in indoor environment, comfort and architecture can motivate the Danish homeowners. This paper examines which elements of respective indoor environment and comfort the homeowners would find essential, and which level of architectural changes they would prefer for renovation. The presented results were derived from a survey conducted in January 2012 where 883 homeowners completed a questionnaire about energy renovation, indoor environment, comfort and architecture. For good indoor environment and comfort ‘stable temperature at a comfortable level’, ‘good and plenty daylight’, ‘the ability to open windows and get fresh air inside’, ‘optimal lay-out’ and ‘no draught’ were found to be most crucial. Preferably, the architecture should undergo some changes, but the original style of the house should be respected. The homeowners’ stage in their life cycle (life-cycle situation) is the key element to consider when motivating them to perform an energy renovation since this stage can affect their motivation.
Active physiological conservative management in traumatic spinal cord injuries – an evidence-based approach
Authors: El Masri W , Kumar Naveen
Published: March 2017

The management of the traumatic spinal cord injury remains controversial. Guttmann demonstrated that with simultaneous attention to all medical and non-medical effects of the spinal cord injury, a significant number of patients recovered motor and sensory functions to ambulate and the majority were pain-free following conservative management. Active physiological conservative management of the spinal injury requires simultaneous scrupulous care of the injured spine together with; the multisystem neurogenic effects of the spinal cord injury on the respiratory, cardiovascular, urinary, gastrointestinal, dermatological, sexual and reproductive functions; the management of the associated psychological effects of paralysis from the early hours or days of injury as well as; the physical rehabilitation and modification of the environment. To date, there is no evidence to suggest that the surgical decompression and/or stabilisation of the neurologically impaired spinal cord injury patient is advantageous. This article considers the debates and evidence of surgical management including the effects of timing of the surgical decompression. Also addressed are the factors influencing decisions on management, prognostic indicators of recovery and natural history of complete and incomplete cord injuries. Traumatic biomechanical instability of the spine, physiological instability of the spinal cord, traumatic spinal canal encroachment and traumatic cord compression are also discussed. Early mobilisation, indications for surgery at the RJAH and economic considerations of spinal cord injuries are presented. The ultimate goals of the active physiological conservative management are to ensure maximum neurological recovery and independence, a pain-free and flexible spine, safe and convenient functioning of the various systems of the body with minimal inconvenience to patients and the prevention of complications.
The evolution of national care pathways in spinal cord injury management
Authors: Osman Aheed , Kumar Naveen , Chowdhury JR
Published: March 2017

Spinal cord injury service delivery in the UK has improved over the years. The modern concept of Spinal Cord Injury care commenced after the Second World War. Patients started to live longer after the improvement in the medical and nursing care which was delivered in Spinal Cord Injury Centres across the country. In the last five years, spinal cord injury care has seen major advances. The Spinal Cord Injury Strategy Board was established in 2010 which led to the development of the Spinal Injury Pathway, the Spinal Injury National database and the creation of the clinical reference group for Spinal Cord Injury. This led to improvement in the care of evidence-based management.
Cyborg activism: Exploring the reconfigurations of democratic subjectivity in Anonymous
Authors: Asenbaum Hans
Published: March 2017

This article develops the concept of cyborg activism as novel configuration of democratic subjectivity in the Information Age by exploring the online collectivity Anonymous as a prototype. By fusing elements of human/machine and organic/digital, the cyborg disrupts modern logics of binary thinking. Cyborg activism emerges as the reconfiguration of equality/hierarchy, reason/emotion and nihilism/idealism. Anonymous demonstrates how through the use of contingent and ephemeral digital personae hierarchies in cyborg activism prove more volatile than in face-to-face settings. Emotions appear as an essential part of a politics of passion, which enables pursuing laughter and joy, expressing anger and experiencing empowerment as part of a reasoned, strategic politics. Anonymous’ political content reconfigures nihilist sentiments, frustration and political disenchantment, on one hand, with idealist world views, on the other. This enables the cohabitation and partial integration of a great diversity of political claims rooted in various ideologies.
Feeling and spirit: developing an indigenous wairua approach to research
Authors: Barnes Helen Moewaka , Gunn Te Raina , Barnes Angela Moewaka , Muriwai Emerald , Wetherell Margaret , McCreanor Timothy
Published: March 2017

Wairua, a Maori (indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand) concept, somewhat restrictively translated as spirit or spirituality, resonates with many indigenous peoples globally. While spirit is recognised as an important human dimension, the denigration of non-western spiritual understandings means that indigenous peoples often choose to remain silent. Transferring these concerns to research approaches, we edit our voices, with a view to what we think will count as knowledge and what we choose to share with academic audiences. This article discusses the challenges we face when we enter into conversations about wairua and how this might be approached in research. With reference to emerging social science innovations in affect and emotion, the article draws on audio visual recordings of people’s experiences of significant national days in Aotearoa New Zealand. Issues of analysis and representation are explored, along with the potential of these methods to explicate feelings, emotions and spirit.
Young Adults’ Concerns and Coping Strategies Related to their Interactions with their Grandparents and Great-Grandparents with Dementia
Authors: Miron Anca M , Thompson Ashley E , McFadden Susan H , Ebert Alexandria R
Published: March 2017

Young adults’ concerns and coping strategies related to their face-to-face interactions with their grandparents/great-grandparents with dementia were explored through the lens of a solidarity-conflict conceptual framework. Participants indicated concerns about their inability to maintain the relational connection, not knowing what to say or how to behave, their lack of perspective-taking skills and emotion-regulation strategies, interacting with an ever-changing other, as well as concerns about other co-participants in the interaction. Participants’ coping strategies were driven by two interaction motives: maintaining solidarity (e.g., desire to maintain and improve the interaction with the grandparent by seeking the other’s company, loving the other, and maintaining the other’s personhood) and dealing with conflict (e.g., dealing with self-focused concerns about lack of skills and knowledge by engaging in substitute avenues for communication and down-regulating negative affect). Implications for improving interactions between young adults and their grandparents/great-grandparents with dementia are discussed.
Visualizing fuzzy sets using opacity-varying freeform diagrams
Authors: Zhu Lifeng , Xia Weiwei , Liu Jia , Song Aiguo
Published: March 2017

As an extension of classical sets, fuzzy sets allow their containing elements to have continuous membership, which broadens its applications in various domains. In order to visualize the uncertain owner–member relationship, we design an intuitive diagram to visualize fuzzy sets. The diagram has a freeform boundary, which allows a clear layout of the data. In addition, the opacity of the diagram reveals the uncertainty of the membership. Physical simulation and bi-harmonic interpolation are introduced to generate the proposed diagram. We test our method with different fuzzy sets. The results show that our method is efficient to generate intuitive visualization of fuzzy sets.