bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grandfatherhood: Shifting Masculinities in Later Life
Authors: Mann Robin , Tarrant Anna , Leeson George W
Published: March 2015

Drawing on qualitative interview data, this article examines how grandfatherhood relates to the assertion and transformation of masculinities in later life. Recent attention to ageing and masculinities has identified how older men are challenged to succeed in maintaining connections to hegemonic masculinity in light of altered family and life circumstances. We consider men’s engagement with grandfatherhood as a means for so doing, illustrating how men make sense of the role through continuity with hegemonic masculinity. While grandfathers describe emotionally intimate and affectionate relationships with their grandchildren, their accounts reflect desires to re-affirm previous connections to masculinities. Attention to the way individualised masculinities are re-negotiated in later life can help to explain how men are making sense of the new family opportunities that arise from being a grandparent. Such an analysis of grandfatherhood, we argue, also offers significant critique of hegemonic masculinity and its distinction to non-hegemonic masculinities intersected by old age.
Virtue ethics – an old answer to a new dilemma? Part 2. The case for inclusive virtue ethics
Authors: Misselbrook David
Published: March 2015

Summary

While Principlism is a widely accepted consensus statement for ethics, the moral theory that underpins it faces serious challenges. This two-part paper proposes a version of virtue theory as a more grounded system of moral analysis. Part 2 examines the role of basic moral theory as the foundation to ethics and suggests how virtue theory can be used as a central framework for ethics while being inclusive of insights from deontology and consequentialism.
Time to Move On? When Entity Theorists Perform Better Than Incremental Theorists
Authors: Park Daeun , Kim Sara
Published: March 2015

Previous research has shown that when confronted with failure, individuals with a fixed view of intelligence (entity theorists) perform worse on subsequent tasks than those with a malleable view of intelligence (incremental theorists). This study finds that entity theorists perform worse than incremental theorists only when they believe that a subsequent task measures the same ability as the task they previously failed. However, when individuals believe that the subsequent task measures an ability unrelated to the ability needed for the initial failed task, incremental theorists perform worse than entity theorists. Across five studies, we show that entity theorists are more likely to choose a different-ability task as a second task and perform better than incremental theorists on that task. We also examine the role of thoughts about previous failure in the performance differences.
Exploring the Spanish youth audience’s interpretation of loving relationships
Authors: Aran-Ramspott Sue , Medina-Bravo Pilar , Rodrigo-Alsina Miquel
Published: March 2015

This study examines the extent to which Spanish youth audiences appropriate television fiction and engage in the acceptance and construction of loving stereotypes. It specifically looks at how they identify different kinds of loving relationships. It also explores the intertextual and extratextual interactions they establish in their interpretations. The methodology undertaken is the focus group, and the sample is university students from four different faculties and universities in Spain. The series chosen as a corpus are two from the United States and one from Spain. Interpretive differences and similarities were studied according to the gender and education of the subjects. Finally, a reflection is made on how youth audiences interact in terms of gender and sexual identity markers in the representations of the loving relationships in the series studied.
Vestibular Schwannoma Excision in Sporadic versus Neurofibromatosis Type 2 Populations
Authors: Mahboubi Hossein , Maducdoc Marlon M. , Yau Amy Y. , Ziai Kasra , Ghavami Yaser , Badran Karam W. , Al‐Thobaiti Majid , Brandon Bryan , Djalilian Hamid R.
Published: March 2015

Objective

To understand the differences in characteristics of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and sporadic patients with surgically excised vestibular schwannomas in the state of California.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional.

Setting, Subjects, and Methods

The records of all patients who underwent vestibular schwannoma excision between 1997 and 2011 were extracted from the California Hospital Inpatient Discharge Databases (CHIDD). NF2 cases were identified using ICD‐9‐CM diagnosis code 237.72, neurofibromatosis, type 2. All other cases were recoded as sporadic. Trends in total number and population‐adjusted rates (per 1 million California residents) of surgery, demographics, hospital case volume, state of residency, complications, length of stay, total charges, expected source of payment, and disposition were examined.

Results

Vestibular schwannoma (VS) excision was performed on 7017 patients, of which 464 patients (6.6%) had NF2. The population‐adjusted surgery rate declined from 11.8 to 6.2 (P <. 001) for sporadic cases and from 0.3 to 0.2 (P =. 01) for NF2 cases over the study period. NF2 was associated with younger age (mean, 32.9 vs 51.3), higher rate of other complications (8.8% vs 4.4%) and facial nerve complications (32.3% vs 16.8%), higher total charges (median $70,106 vs $46,395), longer stay (median 5 vs 4), and high volume hospitals (80.4% vs 48.8%) (all P <. 001).

Conclusion

The surgery rates for vestibular schwannoma excision for both sporadic and NF2 patients have declined, but the decline is more prominent for sporadic cases. NF2 patients tend to be younger and have a longer hospitalization and possibly higher corresponding hospital charges compared to patients with sporadic VS.
Chordomas at High Prevalence in the Captive Population of the Endangered Perdido Key Beach Mouse (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis)
Authors: Taylor K. R. , Garner M. M. , Russell K. , Epperson E. D. , Grodi H. A. , Roff S. R. , Dumonceaux G. A. , Struthers J. D. , Dark M. J. , Abbott J. R.
Published: March 2015

The Perdido Key beach mouse ( Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis) is a critically endangered subspecies of the oldfield mouse. The captive population, currently maintained by 3 Florida zoos, is entirely derived from just 3 wild-caught ancestor mice. Necropsy and histopathology revealed chordoma of the vertebral column in 38 of 88 (43%) mice. The tumors were locally expansile and invasive masses of large physaliferous (vacuolated) cells with small, round, hyperchromatic nuclei, similar to the “classic” form of chordomas described in humans. Primary tumors rarely contained small amounts of bone and cartilaginous matrix, characteristic of the “chondroid” form. Neoplastic cells contained abundant granules positive by the periodic acid–Schiff reaction. Brachyury and cytokeratin AE1/AE3 were detected in neoplastic cells by immunohistochemistry, but uncoupling protein 1 was not identified. Primary tumors occurred along the entire vertebral column—cervical, 5 of 38 (13%); thoracic, 16 (42%); lumbar, 13 (34%); and sacral, 10 (26%)—and 10 (26%) mice had multiple primary masses. Metastases to the lungs were noted in 13 of the 38 (34%) mice. Mice diagnosed with chordomas postmortem ranged from 424 to 2170 days old, with a mean of 1399 days. The prevalence of chordoma was not significantly different between males ( n = 23 of 50; 46%) and females ( n = 15 of 38; 39%).
Clinical and Electroencephalographic (EEG) Features Associated With Refractoriness in Benign Childhood Epilepsy With Centrotemporal Spikes
Authors: Xiao Fenglai , An Dongmei , Chen Sihan , Ren Jiechuan , Zhou Dong
Published: March 2015

The aim of this study is to identify clinical or electroencephalographic (EEG) features associated with refractoriness to the initial antiepileptic drug in typical benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes. A total of 87 children with typical benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes were retrospectively reviewed in the analyses. The patients were subdivided into 2 groups: patients whose seizures were controlled with monotherapy and patients requiring 2 medications. Sixty-three children achieved seizure freedom with monotherapy, whereas 24 received 2 medications for seizure control. Diffusing foci at the follow-up EEG and delayed treatment (duration >1 year) are 2 main risk factors associated with more refractory cases ( P < .001). Delayed diagnosis (37.1%) and nonadherence to treatment (57.2%) contributed to delayed treatment. Our findings suggested that diffusing foci on EEG and delayed treatment are associated with more frequent seizures and refractoriness in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes. Diagnostic delays and nonadherence hindered timely care, which may represent opportunities for improved intervention.
Multiday Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Causes Clinically Insignificant Changes in Childhood Dystonia
Authors: Bhanpuri Nasir H. , Bertucco Matteo , Young Scott J. , Lee Annie A. , Sanger Terence D.
Published: March 2015

Abnormal motor cortex activity is common in dystonia. Cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation may alter cortical activity by decreasing excitability while anodal stimulation may increase motor learning. Previous results showed that a single session of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation can improve symptoms in childhood dystonia. Here we performed a 5-day, sham-controlled, double-blind, crossover study, where we measured tracking and muscle overflow in a myocontrol-based task. We applied cathodal and anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (2 mA, 9 minutes per day). For cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (7 participants), 3 subjects showed improvements whereas 2 showed worsening in overflow or tracking error. The effect size was small (about 1% of maximum voluntary contraction) and not clinically meaningful. For anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (6 participants), none showed improvement, whereas 5 showed worsening. Thus, multiday cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation reduced symptoms in some children but not to a clinically meaningful extent, whereas anodal transcranial direct current stimulation worsened symptoms. Our results do not support transcranial direct current stimulation as clinically viable for treating childhood dystonia.
Fighting Against Disuse of the Masticatory System in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: van Bruggen H. Willemijn , van den Engel-Hoek Lenie , Steenks Michel H. , van der Bilt Andries , Bronkhorst Ewald M. , Creugers Nico H. J. , de Groot Imelda J. M. , Kalaykova Stanimira I.
Published: March 2015

Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients report masticatory problems. The aim was to determine the efficacy of mastication training in Duchenne muscular dystrophy using chewing gum for 4 weeks. In all, 17 patients and 17 healthy age-matched males participated. The masticatory performance was assessed using a mixing ability test and measuring anterior bite force before, shortly after and 1 month after the training. In the patient group the masticatory performance improved and remained after 1-month follow-up, no significant changes in anterior maximum bite force was observed after mastication training. In the healthy subject the bite force increased and remained at the 1-month follow-up; no significant differences in masticatory performance were observed. Mastication training by using sugar-free chewing gum in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients improved their masticatory performance. Since bite force did not improve, the working mechanism of the improvement in chewing may relate to changes of the neuromuscular function and coordination, resulting in improvement of skills in performing mastication.
Dental pulp tissue engineering with bFGF-incorporated silk fibroin scaffolds
Authors: Yang Jing-wen , Zhang Yu-feng , Sun Zhe-yi , Song Guang-tai , Chen Zhi
Published: March 2015

The clinical translation of regenerative endodontics demands further development of suitable scaffolds. Here, we assessed the possibility of using silk fibroin scaffold for pulp regeneration with dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in ectopic root canal transplantation model. Porous silk fibroin scaffolds were fabricated using freeze-drying technique (with or without bFGF incorporation), and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. DPSCs were isolated, characterized, seeded onto scaffolds, and inserted into the tooth root fragments. Cell viability and morphology were tested in the 3D model in vitro using CCK8 assay and SEM. Furthermore, the ectopic transplantation model was used to verify the generation of pulp-like tissue in DPSCs seeded silk fibroin scaffold with bFGF, as examined by histological analysis. DPSCs seeded in silk fibroin scaffold survived, exhibited cytoplasmic elongation in scaffolds at least 4 weeks in culture. bFGF promoted DPSCs viability in tooth fragments/scaffolds (TSS) between 7 and 28 days. Pulp-like tissue was generated in the bFGF-incorporated TSS with DPSCs. Histologically, the generated tissue was shown to be with well vascularity, have new matrix deposition and dentin-like tissue formation, and consist of both the transplanted and host-derived cells. Collectively, these data support the use of bFGF-incorporated silk fibroin scaffold as a highly promising scaffold candidate for future treatment concepts in regenerative endodontics to save teeth.
A simple and robust method for pre-wetting poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid microspheres
Authors: Wright Bernice , Parmar Nina , Bozec Laurent , Aguayo Sebastian D , Day Richard M
Published: March 2015

Poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid microspheres are amenable to a number of biomedical procedures that support delivery of cells, drugs, peptides or genes. Hydrophilisation or wetting of poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid are an important pre-requisites for attachment of cells and can be achieved via exposure to plasma oxygen or nitrogen, surface hydrolysis with NaOH or chloric acid, immersion in ethanol and water, or prolonged incubation in phosphate buffered saline or cell culture medium. The aim of this study is to develop a simple method for wetting poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid microspheres for cell delivery applications. A one-step ethanol immersion process that involved addition of serum-supplemented medium and ethanol to PLGA microspheres over 30 min–24 h is described in the present study. This protocol presents a more efficient methodology than conventional two-step wetting procedures. Attachment of human skeletal myoblasts to poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid microspheres was dependent on extent of wetting, changes in surface topography mediated by ethanol pre-wetting and serum protein adsorption. Ethanol, at 70% (v/v) and 100%, facilitated similar levels of wetting. Wetting with 35% (v/v) ethanol was only achieved after 24 h. Pre-wetting (over 3 h) with 70% (v/v) ethanol allowed significantly greater ( p ≤ 0.01) serum protein adsorption to microspheres than wetting with 35% (v/v) ethanol. On serum protein-loaded microspheres, greater numbers of myoblasts attached to constructs wetted with 70% ethanol than those partially wetted with 35% (v/v) ethanol. Microspheres treated with 70% (v/v) ethanol presented a more rugose surface than those treated with 35% (v/v) ethanol, indicating that more efficient myoblast adhesion to the former may be at least partially attributed to differences in surface structure. We conclude that our novel protocol for pre-wetting poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid microspheres that incorporates biochemical and structural features into this biomaterial can facilitate myoblast delivery for use in clinical settings.
Does the Inclusion of Non-Internet Households in a Web Panel Reduce Coverage Bias?
Authors: Eckman Stephanie
Published: March 2015

The LISS online panel has made extra efforts to recruit and retain households that were not regular users of the Internet into the study. Households were provided with computers and/or Internet when necessary. Including these cases made the panel more representative of the Dutch population, by bringing in respondents who were more likely to be older, to live in single-person homes, and to have migration backgrounds. This article replicates five published articles that used LISS data and explores how the conclusions in these articles would have been different had the LISS panel not included the non-Internet households. There are strong demographic differences between the Internet and non-Internet households, and estimates of means would in many cases be biased if these households had not been included. However, across the five replicated studies, few of the published model estimates are substantively affected by the inclusion of these households in the LISS sample.
Effects of suction-injection-combination (SIC) on transient free-convective-radiative flow in a vertical porous channel
Authors: Kumar Jha Basant , Iro Chibuike , Bakut Joseph Sylvester
Published: March 2015

The effect of suction/injection on transient free-convective flow bounded by two infinite vertical parallel porous plates in the presence of thermal radiation is investigated numerically as well as analytically. The transient mathematical model has been solved using the implicit finite difference method while the steady state version of the physical situation has been solved using perturbation method. During the course of numerical computation, an excellent agreement was found between transient solution at large value of time and steady state solution. In addition, it was found that the time required to reach steady state is directly proportional to the Prandtl number of the working fluid for fixed values of other controlling parameters.
Income Inequality and Status Seeking
Authors: Walasek Lukasz , Brown Gordon D. A.
Published: March 2015

It is well established that income inequality is associated with lower societal well-being, but the psychosocial causes of this relationship are poorly understood. A social-rank hypothesis predicts that members of unequal societies are likely to devote more of their resources to status-seeking behaviors such as acquiring positional goods. We used Google Correlate to find search terms that correlated with our measure of income inequality, and we controlled for income and other socioeconomic factors. We found that of the 40 search terms used more frequently in states with greater income inequality, more than 70% were classified as referring to status goods (e.g., designer brands, expensive jewelry, and luxury clothing). In contrast, 0% of the 40 search terms used more frequently in states with less income inequality were classified as referring to status goods. Finally, we showed how residual-based analysis offers a new methodology for using Google Correlate to provide insights into societal attitudes and motivations while avoiding confounds and high risks of spurious correlations.
Hydrogen sulfide ameliorates cardiovascular dysfunction induced by cecal ligation and puncture in rats
Authors: Abdelrahman RS , El-Awady MS , Nader MA , Ammar EM
Published: March 2015

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenously produced gaseous messenger that participates in regulation of cardiovascular functions. This study evaluates the possible protective effect of H2S in cardiovascular dysfunction induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in rats. After 24 h of induction of CLP, heart rate (HR), mortality, cardiac and inflammation biomarkers (creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) isozyme, cardiac troponin I (cTnI), C-reactive protein (CRP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)), in vitro vascular reactivity, histopathological examination, and oxidative biomarkers (malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) were determined. CLP induced elevations in HR, mortality, serum CK-MB, cTnI, CRP, and LDH, in addition to impaired aortic contraction to potassium chloride and phenylephrine and relaxation to acetylcholine without affecting sodium nitroprusside responses. Moreover, CLP increased cardiac and aortic MDA and decreased SOD, without affecting GSH and caused a marked subserosal and interstitial inflammation in endocardium. Sodium hydrosulfide, but not the irreversible inhibitor of H2S synthesis dl-propargyl glycine, protected against CLP-induced changes in HR, mortality, cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers, oxidative stress, and myocardium histopathological changes without affecting vascular dysfunction. Our results confirm that H2S can attenuate CLP-induced cardiac, but not vascular, dysfunction possibly through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
The level and distribution of heavy metals and changes in oxidative stress indices in humans from Lahore district, Pakistan
Authors: Bibi M , Hashmi MZ , Malik RN
Published: March 2015

Human biomonitoring is a well-recognized tool for estimating the exposure of humans to environmental pollutants. However, heavy metals’ pollution from anthropogenic origin is a cause for concern because of its potential accumulation in the environment and living organisms, leading to long-term toxic effects. This study was aimed to assess the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in human biological samples (urine, whole blood, hair, and nails) and antioxidant response in blood samples from 48 individuals exposed to heavy metals and to compare them with different age classes and sites. The results indicated that there were metal-specific differences in concentration in exposure groups among the studied sites. The concentration of heavy metals in blood samples showed the following order : Pb > Cd > Ni > Co > Cr. In urine samples, the order was Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Co > Cd; in nails samples, the order was Pb > Ni > Cr > Co > Cd > Mn; and in hair samples, the trend was Pb > Ni > Cr > Mn > Cd > Co. A significant ( p > 0.05) decrease in antioxidants enzymes activity was observed with increase in heavy metals concentrations. This is the first study reporting biological evidence of altered toxic metals’ concentration in humans in Lahore, Pakistan, due to environmental exposure. Further research, including risk analysis studies, food chain contamination, and epidemiological and clinical investigations, are needed to assess optimal levels for dietary exposure in the study area and associated adverse health outcomes.
Noninferiority studies with multiple reference treatments
Authors: Li-Ching Huang , Miin-Jye Wen , Hung Cheung Siu , Shing Kwong Koon
Published: March 2015

The increasing popularity of noninferiority trials reflects the ongoing efforts to replace existing treatments (reference treatments) with new treatments (experimental treatments) that retain a substantial fraction of the effect of the reference treatments. The adoption of any new treatment has to be vindicated by a demonstration of benefits that outweigh a possible clinically insignificant reduction in the reference treatment efficacy. Statistical methods have been developed to analyze data collected from noninferiority trials. However, these methods focus on cases with only one reference treatment. In this paper, we provide the statistical inferential procedures for situations with multiple reference treatments. The computation of the corresponding critical values for simultaneous testings of noninferiority of several new treatments to multiple reference treatments in the presence of a placebo is provided. Furthermore, for a prespecified level of test power, a technique to determine the optimal sample size before the onset of a noninferiority trial is derived. A clinical example is given to illustrate our proposed procedure.
Media sources, credibility, and perceptions of science: Learning about how people learn about science
Authors: Takahashi Bruno , Tandoc Edson C.
Published: March 2015

Knowledge about science and technology has become increasingly important in this age of digital information overload. It is also becoming increasingly important to understand what contributes to scientific learning, including information sources and trust in those sources. In this study, we develop and test a multivariate model to explain scientific knowledge based on past theories on learning from the news from the fields of political communication, sociology, and media psychology. We focus on the impact of sources—by platform, such as television and online, and by expertise, such as scientists and the media—in understanding what predicts scientific knowledge. The results show that interest in science not only directly predicts knowledge but also has indirect effects on knowledge through its effects on Internet use, confidence in the press, and perception of scientists. In addition, distrust on the news sources is an important pathway to learning about science.
Determinants of Customer Switching towards Mobile Number Portability
Authors: Chadha Suresh K. , Bhandari Namita
Published: March 2015

Customer churn is haunting Indian mobile telecom services in a big way. Mobile number portability has further aggravated this problem for mobile telecommunication companies, although it has rightly empowered the subscribers of these services. Telecom sector is a very capital-intensive sector, so a customer’s stay with a cellular services operator effects its earning. The efforts are being made to predict and model the customer churn towards telecom services, so as to maximize customer lifetime value for the company. Before making predictions of customer switching behaviour, it is imperative to understand those variables which determine customer’s loyalties towards a mobile service’s vendor. So this study provides an exploratory analysis of the factors which become reasons for discontinuing services of a cellular operator. The results have identified factors like: network, tariffs, technology, advertising, rewards programme and external factors which lead to switching of a mobile services operator.
Modeling and optimal design for static shape control of smart reflector using simulated annealing algorithm
Authors: Wang Zhi , Cao Yuyan , Zhao Yongzhi , Wang Zhichen
Published: March 2015

This article presents a finite element formulation for static shape control and optimal design of smart reflector with distributed piezoelectric actuators. The finite element model is developed based on the higher-order shear deformation theory where the displacement field in the model accounts for a parabolic distribution of the shear strain, and the shear correction factor is not involved. The Hamilton variational principle is used to formulate the governing equation of the system. A four-node element with seven mechanical degrees of freedom for each node and one electrical potential degree of freedom for each piezoelectric actuator element is used in the finite element formulation. The optimization model for finding the optimal control voltages is derived, and the control voltages can be determined using Lagrange multipliers. The optimal design of actuator locations using simulated annealing algorithm is also investigated. Finally, numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the present model and optimization scheme. The obtained results show that the use of piezoelectric actuators for static shape control of smart reflector can greatly improve the root mean square error, and the optimal location of actuators can be determined effectively using simulated annealing algorithm.
Development of a linear damper working with magnetorheological shear thickening fluids
Authors: Yang Jian , Sun Shuaishuai , Li Weihua , Du Haiping , Alici Gursel , Nakano Masami
Published: March 2015

Magnetorheological shear thickening fluid is a smart material that exhibits both magnetorheological and shear thickening effects. This study focuses on the design and development of a novel magnetorheological shear thickening fluid–based linear damper. First, micron-sized carbonyl iron particles, at a 20% and 80% weight fraction, were immersed among the shear thickening fluid base and thoroughly mixed under a high shear condition to produce the magnetorheological shear thickening fluid. Then, a monotube damper with a bypass was designed and fabricated. The testing results using an MTS machine show that the influence of incorporating shear thickening fluid allows the 20% magnetorheological shear thickening fluid–filled damper to work in different dynamic loading velocities with the stiffness and damping changed, while, simultaneously, the dynamics of the damper depend on the variations in the magnetic field. The measured responses of the 20% magnetorheological shear thickening fluid–filled damper prove that the dampers have both the MR effect and shear thickening effect. In contrast, the 80% magnetorheological shear thickening fluid–filled damper behaves more like a conventional magnetorheological fluid–filled damper because its shear thickening effect is restrained and the MR effect becomes more obvious with higher iron volume.
Implementing Multicultural Ethics
Authors: Hendricks C. Bret , Bradley Loretta J. , Robertson Derek L.
Published: March 2015

This article addresses the need for family counselors to examine the application of new constructs to counseling ethics training. The authors believe that current ethics training is deficient in integrating high-level cognitive decision models and multicultural constructs. The authors challenge family counselors to expand their cultural perspectives in ethical decision making and cease ethics training that is inadequate to meet the needs of a diverse society.
Films at Sundance 2015 Feature Research Controversies
Authors: Valenti JoAnn M.
Published: March 2015

This year’s Sundance Film Festival showcased a number of films about science. Two of them, including the Sloan Award winner, are based on notorious historical cases of human subjects research gone awry. Two others use fiction to present visions for humanity’s possible future.
A case of recurrent pancytopenia in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia on maintenance chemotherapy and concomitant methyltetrahydrofolate reductase and thiopurine S-methyltransferase mutation - review of literature
Authors: Keung Yi-Kong , Keung Lap-Woon , Hong-Lung Hu Eddie
Published: March 2015

Pharmacogenetics is a study of how genetic variation of an individual affects the drug response. We report a case of recurrent pancytopenia resulting from maintenance chemotherapy in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia and two pharmacogenetic mutations, namely, methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase C677T homozygous mutation and thiopurine methyltransferase mutation.
Raising Capital
Authors: Walker Lisa L. , Eller Jackie L.
Published: March 2015

We examine both gay and straight men’s constructions of masculinity using 358 self-descriptive dating profiles from Match.com of “men seeking men” and “men seeking women” in eight southern US metropolitan areas. In addition to the men’s specific references to gender and gendered performances, we discuss three broad topics of the men’s self-descriptions including personality, leisure, and work. This analysis reveals the ideal characteristics these men used to construct their own masculine identities and masculinity in relation to femininity. Although examples of conformity and nonconformity existed across both gay and straight men, we found that gay men constructed their own identities in keeping with the codes of historically heteronormative masculinities as fluently, and sometimes more so, than straight men. We explore the most prominent nuances between gay and straight men’s paths to claiming “masculine capital,” straight men’s greater leeway to temporarily distance themselves from masculine dominance, and the influence of hierarchies within masculinity on straight and gay men’s constructions of femininity.
Effects of out-of-contact lubricant channeling on friction and film thickness in starved elastohydrodynamic lubrication point contacts
Authors: Ali Fadi , Křupka Ivan , Hartl Martin
Published: March 2015

This study presents experimental results on the effect of out-of-contact lubricant channeling on the tribological performance of nonconformal contacts under starved lubrication. Channeling of lubricant was carried out by adding a slider with a limited slot for scraping the displaced lubricant on one of mating surfaces (ball). Thus, the scraped lubricant is forced to flow back into the depleted track through the limited slot resulting in robust replenishment. The measurements have been conducted using optical tribometer (ball-on-disc) equipped with a digital camera and torque sensor. The effect of lubricant channeling was compared to the original contact condition by means of measuring friction and film thickness. The results show that the out-of-contact lubricant channeling leads to a significant enhancement of film thickness and friction reduction under starved conditions. Indeed, the starved elastohydrodynamic lubrication contacts transformed to the fully flooded regime after introducing the flow reconditioning. Moreover, the film thickness decay over time, which is common with starved elastohydrodynamic lubrication contacts, has not been observed in the case of lubricant channeling. However, the beneficial effect of lubricant channeling diminishes as the original contact condition tends to the fully flooded regime. The results of this study can be easily implemented in practical applications such as radial and thrust rolling-element bearings.
The use of equivalent estimation designs in tribological studies
Authors: Bochterle Martin , Gauchel Wolfgang , Lorentz Benoit
Published: March 2015

Tribological experiments in which friction is examined as a function of multiple factors often involve some factors whose levels are harder to change than others. For example, changing the temperature in a test setup usually is more time consuming than changing the sliding speed or the contact pressure. In such cases, it is preferable to rearrange the runs in the experiment in a way that minimizes the number of changes of the factor levels that are hard to change. This restricts the randomisation of the experiment and leads to a split-plot structure. A new class of split-plot designs called equivalent estimation designs has properties which seem to be well suited for use in tribological studies. This paper compares the performance of these designs to two commonly used designs (a completely randomised three level factorial design and a one-factor-at-a-time experiment) in a tribological example study. The results show that using equivalent estimation designs in tribology can deliver results that are similar to those of conventional designs while requiring just a fraction of their effort.
Corticospinal tract integrity is related to primary motor cortex thinning in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis
Authors: Bergsland Niels , Laganà Maria Marcella , Tavazzi Eleonora , Caffini Matteo , Tortorella Paola , Baglio Francesca , Baselli Giuseppe , Rovaris Marco
Published: March 2015

Background:

The relationship between white matter injury and cortical atrophy development in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) remains unclear.

Objectives:

To investigate the associations between corticospinal tract integrity and cortical morphology measures of the primary motor cortex in RRMS patients and healthy controls.

Methods:

51 RRMS patients and 30 healthy controls underwent MRI examination for cortical reconstruction and assessment of corticospinal tract integrity. Partial correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were used to investigate the associations of focal and normal appearing white matter (NAWM) injury of the corticospinal tract with thickness and surface area measures of the primary motor cortex. Relationships between MRI measures and clinical disability as assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale and disease duration were also investigated.

Results:

In patients only, decreased cortical thickness was related to increased corticospinal tract NAWM mean, axial and radial diffusivities in addition to corticospinal tract lesion volume. The final multiple linear regression model for PMC thickness retained only NAWM axial diffusivity as a significant predictor (adjusted R2= 0.270, p= 0.001). Clinical measures were associated with NAWM corticospinal tract integrity measures.

Conclusions:

Primary motor cortex thinning in RRMS is related to alterations in connected white matter and is best explained by decreased NAWM integrity.
Revealing and re-valuing cultural intermediaries in the ‘real’ creative city: Insights from a diary-keeping exercise
Authors: Perry Beth , Smith Karen , Warren Saskia
Published: March 2015

From critics and cultural commentators to professionals who mediate between production and consumption for economic gain, the term ‘cultural intermediaries’ has been variously interpreted over recent decades. Often framed as self-interested entrepreneurs seeking to maximise economic value the wider set of political, social and moral motivations of cultural workers have been often overlooked.Drawing on a diary-keeping exercise with 20 cultural workers in Greater Manchester and Birmingham in 2013, we suggest that a ‘third’ wave of studies of cultural intermediaries is needed, which emphasises socially engaged practices and non-economic values. The study reveals a field of cultural work which mediates between professionalised and everyday cultural ecologies, one which is often invisible and undervalued. Combining methodological insights into diary-keeping as a reflexive exercise, the study suggests that we should reclaim and re-value the term ‘cultural intermediary’ to make visible this socially grounded cultural work, particularly in the current era of austerity and cuts to the arts in England.
Clean combustion enabling with ethanol on a dual-fuel compression ignition engine
Authors: Han Xiaoye , Zheng Ming , Tjong Jimi
Published: March 2015

In this work, ethanol is applied as the main energy source (up to 95%) on a high compression ratio (18.2:1) diesel engine for improvements in engine efficiency and exhaust emissions, especially at high engine loads. The intake port injection is applied for ethanol fuel delivery along with directly injected diesel pilots as the ignition source. In order to investigate the impact of ethanol on diesel engines operating in the dual-fuel mode, systematic engine experiments are carried out to study the combustion process, engine emissions, and fuel efficiency. The test results indicate that at medium engine loads (8–10 bar indicated mean effective pressure), the increasing use of ethanol offers substantially enhanced homogeneity of the cylinder charge and leads to a greater extent of premixed burning; as a result, the smoke emissions reduce drastically compared to those of the diesel baseline tests. However, the increasing use of ethanol generally results in higher incomplete combustion products. The near-top dead center injected diesel pilots are effective to control the ignition timing and combustion phasing, which provides desirable combustion controllability. At high engine loads, the clean combustion is enabled through the optimization of the engine intake pressure, exhaust gas recirculation, and the fuel ratio to achieve NOx emissions < 0.2 g/kW h and smoke emissions < 0.01 g/kW h. The load capability of the engine operating on ethanol as the primary energy source is demonstrated up to the engine full load (19.5 bar indicated mean effective pressure) with low NOx (0.2–0.7 g/kW h) and smoke ( <1 FSN) emissions.
The dilemma of the dilemma: Getting education issues out of their dilemmas
Authors: Fahim Mansoor , Parsazadeh Hossein
Published: March 2015

This study seeks to introduce a new lens through which applied linguistics might be better conceived of. Importantly enough, this lens has already found itself in a good many disciplines, but it can hardly ever be seen in language teaching. To this end, this paper has taken a stance akin to that of Larsen-Freeman, when for the first time chaos/complexity was introduced into second language acquisition. Thus, after reasoning the usefulness and meaningfulness of social dilemmas in applied linguistics, different conundrums in applied linguistics are viewed from a social dilemmas’ lens, particularly through that of prisoner’s dilemma. Importantly, instead of putting forward some answers to the dilemmas in applied linguistics, the study focuses on what exactly the problems are. Therefore, this very new lens gives us the chance to dissect the problems clearly, and subsequently some insights might be gained.
Potential Benefits from Heating the High-Dose rtPA Boluses Used in Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Acute/Subacute Lower Limb Ischemia
Authors: Tsetis Dimitrios K. , Katsamouris Asterios N. , Giannoukas Athanasios D. , Hatzidakis Adam A. , Kostas Theodoros , Chamalakis Konstantinos , Ioannou Christos , Gourtsoyiannis Nicholas C.
Published: March 2015

Purpose:

To explore the potential benefits from heating recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) before catheter-directed thrombolysis in patients with lower-limb ischemia of <30 days' duration.

Methods:

Over a 2-year period, 34 patients (26 men; mean age 63.5 years, range 39–80) with 10 iliac and 24 infrainguinal arterial occlusions (5 embolic and 29 thrombotic) were treated with two 5-mg boluses of rtPA injected into the proximal clot, followed by 2 additional 5-mg boluses of rtPA. In the first 18 patients (group A), room temperature rtPA was administered, whereas in the last 16 patients (group B), the rtPA boluses were heated to 38°C for 30 minutes before injection. Residual thrombus was treated with a continuous infusion of 2.5 mg/h of rtPA for 4 hours then at a reduced dose (1 mg/h).

Results:

Successful thrombolysis was achieved in 28 (82%) arteries. Unmasked lesions were treated with balloon angioplasty/stenting in 17 cases and with surgery in 4. One fatal retroperitoneal hematoma occurred in group A. Heating the rtPA did not significantly alter the outcome of thrombolysis. However, a statistically significant reduction in the total rtPA dose was observed in group B (24.28 mg versus 27.9 mg in group A, p = 0.05), as well as quicker lysis (2 hours, 42 minutes versus 6 hours, 12 minutes in group A, p = 0.001). There was no statistical difference in the amputation-free survival at 30 days between the groups.

Conclusions:

In patients with acute or subacute lower limb ischemia treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis, heating the rtPA results in faster lysis with a considerable reduction in the total dose of the lytic agent.
Open versus Endovascular Repair of Para-Anastomotic Aneurysms in Patients Who Were Morphological Candidates for Endovascular Treatment
Authors: Gawenda Michael , Zaehringer Markus , Brunkwall Jan
Published: March 2015

Purpose:

To compare the outcomes of open versus endovascular repair of para-anastomotic aneurysms (PAA) in the aortic and iliac arteries in a cohort of patients who fulfilled morphological criteria for endovascular repair.

Methods:

A retrospective review of 31 consecutive patients with PAA treated between 1985 and 2002 identified 26 (84%) patients who would have been candidates for endovascular repair based on preoperative computed tomography and angiography. Of these 26 patients, 10 (9 men; median age 65 years, range 60–75) underwent endovascular repair; the remaining 16 patients (14 men; median age 61.5 years, range 49–78) had open repair. The baseline data and outcome measures were compared between the treatment groups.

Results:

The patient groups were well matched for age, sex, weight, risk factors, comorbidities, aneurysm length, and elapsed time from initial graft placement. Both groups had technically successful PAA repairs; however, median blood loss (300 versus 1000 mL; p = 0.05) and procedural time (100 versus 215 minutes; p<0.001) were significantly reduced in the endovascular group. Median transfusion volume was significantly greater (1000 versus 0 mL; p = 0.01) in the surgically treated patients. The median stay in ICU was similar (18 versus 24 hours in the surgical cohort). Length of stay was significantly shorter in the endovascular group: 7.5 versus 17.0 days (p = 0.001) after the repair and 11 versus 22 days (p = 0.01) for overall hospitalization. One (10%) patient in the endovascular group died from a myocardial infarction on the third postoperative day. In the open group, there were 3 (19%) procedure-related deaths.

Conclusions:

Patients with PAA who were endograft candidates but who were treated with open repair experienced more morbidity and had more complications than patients treated with stent-grafts. If long-term follow-up demonstrates durable results, stent-graft repair may become the therapy of choice in PAAs.
A Rapid-Exchange Monorail Stent System for Salvage of Failing Femoropopliteal Bypass Grafts
Authors: Jahnke Thomas , Brossmann Joachim , Walluscheck Knut , Heller Martin , Müller-Hülsbeck Stefan
Published: March 2015

Purpose:

To analyze the safety and effectiveness of a new monorail stent system for the treatment of failing femoropopliteal bypass grafts.

Technique:

Acute distal occlusions or stenoses of femoropopliteal bypass grafts were treated with balloon-expandable stents (13 or 18-mm diameter) pre-mounted on a monorail balloon catheter system. The delivery system was assessed subjectively for (1) compatibility with the sheath, (2) lesion crossing potential, (3) radiopacity, (4) flexibility of the catheter, (5) adequacy of stent expansion, and (5) balloon refolding. In 8 failing bypass grafts with distal lesions, the delivery system successfully deployed the stent at the desired location. Sheath compatibility, catheter flexibility, lesion crossing, and stent expansion were rated “excellent” by all examiners for the 18-mm device. Radiopacity of the mounted stent was graded “good” before and during positioning, but only “sufficient” following expansion. For this type of lesion, the investigators rated the overall performance of the device superior to conventional “over-the-wire” systems.

Conclusions:

The monorail balloon-expandable stent delivery system provides rapid introduction of the device over the guidewire, and its low profile facilitates the use of small sheaths to minimize access-site complications.
Calcification and Proteoglycan Accumulation following Balloon Angioplasty and Stenting
Authors: Caldwell Rebecca Anne , Ainsworth Stephen Daniel , Langan Eugene Michael , Sullivan Timothy Michael , LaBerge Martine
Published: March 2015

Purpose:

To examine in a porcine model if a correlation exists between calcification and the hyperplastic response of arteries to balloon angioplasty and stenting.

Methods:

Eleven Sinclair miniature swine on an atherogenic diet underwent balloon angioplasty or endovascular stenting in nondiseased external iliac arteries using standard procedures. Ninety days postoperatively, the animals were euthanized, and histological sections of the dilated, stented, and control arteries were examined for evidence of calcification and increased proteoglycan accumulation.

Results:

An increase in proteoglycan accumulation and the loss of integrity of the internal elastic lamina were observed in both the dilated and stented arteries. Diffuse calcification was seen in the media/neomedia of both groups, and large calcium salt deposits were observed in the dilated arteries at the site of the internal elastic lamina and near the stent struts in stented arteries.

Conclusions:

Internal elastic lamina loss of integrity appears to be related to an increase in proteoglycans through the formation of a neointima, and the arterial hyperplastic response to balloon angioplasty and stenting seems to lead to calcification.