bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine are Associated with Elevated Urinary Angiopoietin-2 Level in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Albuminuria
Authors: He Fang-Fang , Li Hui-Qing , Huang Qing-Xian , Wang Qiu-Yuan , Jiang Hua-Jun , Chen Shan , Su Hua , Zhang Chun , Wang Yu-Mei
Published: April 2017

Background/Aims: We previously showed that urine and serum Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) levels increased significantly with the degree of albuminuria in diabetes patients, but the reasons remain unclear. Consequently we aimed to determine whether there was an association between Ang-2, inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-18) and reactive oxygen species (8-OHdG and SOD) in type 2 diabetes patients with albuminuria. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 113 patients with type 2 diabetes and normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria, or macroalbuminuria and 30 healthy controls. Serum and urine TNF-α, IL-18 and 8-OHdG levels were measured by ELISA. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was determined by spectrophotometry. Results: Serum and urine TNF-α, IL-18 and 8-OHdG levels increased significantly with the degree of albuminuria, and were positively correlated with increased Ang-2. In contrast, SOD activity decreased with the degree of albuminuria and was negatively correlated with Ang-2. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that serum Ang-2 level was independently associated with serum levels of TNF-α (P<0.001), 8-OHdG (P=0.001), and IL-18 (P=0.003). Urinary Ang-2 level was independently associated with urinary TNF-α (P<0.001) and 8-OHdG (P=0.004) levels. Conclusion: TNF-α and 8-OHdG are associated with elevated urinary Angiopoietin-2 levels in type 2 diabetic patients with albuminuria.
Effect of Folic Acid Supplementation on Renal Phenotype and Epigenotype in Early Weanling Intrauterine Growth Retarded Rats
Authors: He Xiaori , Xie Zongde , Dong Qingyi , Li Jian , Li Wen , Chen Pingyang
Published: April 2017

Background/Aims: The objective of this study was to examine the responses of p53 promoter methylation involved in kidney structure and function of early weaning intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) rats to dietary folic acid supplementation. Method: Sprague-Dawley rats were fed isocaloric diets containing either 21% protein diet (normal feed) or 10% protein diet throughout pregnancy and normal feed during lactation. After weaning, Offspring were then fed onto normal feed and normal feed supplemented with 5 mg folic acid/kg feed for a month, this produced 4 dietary groups (maternal diet/ weanling diet): Con, Folic, IUGR and IUGR+Folic. Renal function, renal structure, p53 promoter methylation and protein expression of offspring rats were measured at postnatal 2 months and 3 months. Results: Glomerular volume, blood urea nitrogen, 24 hours urine protein were significantly elevated in IUGR rats compared with Con rats but were decreased by dietary folic acid supplementation. p53 protein expression in IUGR rats were significantly higher than that in Con rats, and p53 promoter methylation status in IUGR rats was reduced significantly compared with Con rats. However, the changes in p53 gene expression and DNA methylation status of IUGR rats were reversed by dietary folic acid supplementation. Conclusions: Our study showed for the first time that folic acid supplementation during early period of life could reverse the abnormality in renal p53 methylation status and protein expression, glomerular volume and renal function of IUGR rats offspring.
Study of the True Clinical Progression of Autosomal Dominant Alport Syndrome in a European Population
Authors: Rosado Consolación , Bueno Elena , Felipe Carmen , Valverde Sebastián , González-Sarmiento Rogelio
Published: April 2017

Background/Aims: Autosomal dominant Alport syndrome represents 5% of all Alport syndrome cases. This entity presents a different clinical expression from the recessive inheritance pattern and the X chromosome-linked pattern, because it is mild and it shows a late onset, which in many cases even goes unnoticed. Methods: We carried out a descriptive observational and retrospective clinical study on 19 patients from 5 families with a clinical diagnosis of autosomal dominant Alport Syndrome, and we analyzed the expression of the symptoms in the different families, comparing the results with what has been described in the literature. Results: Renal involvement appeared at a young age, with a progression towards end-stage chronic kidney disease at a median age of 31 years (20.5-36.5). Hearing involvement also appeared in early stages, at a median age of 28.5 years (7.5-62.5). Also, we observed ocular lenticonus-like injuries, which until now have only been described in other inheritance patterns. Conclusions: Our results suggest that dominant patterns are accompanied by a severe clinical expression that can be superimposed to the recessive and X chromosome-linked patterns, contrary to what has been classically stated. The high phenotypic variability observed in the families lead to the fact that many cases go unnoticed and the severest cases are erroneously diagnosed as recessive, which means that the real prevalence of dominant forms is probably higher than the current 5%.
Upregulation of PAX2 Promotes the Metastasis of Esophageal Cancer through Interleukin-5
Authors: Liu Pengfei , Gao Yi , Huan Jian , Ge Xin , Tang Yiting , Shen Wenhao , Tian Ye , Shen Weidong , Zou Shitao , Zhou Jundong , Zhang Shuyu
Published: April 2017

Background/Aims: This study investigated the clinical relevance and biological function of paired box gene 2 (PAX2) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods/Results: Results showed that PAX2 expression was significantly increased in tumor tissues and that its expression correlated with the ESCC stage (P = 0.001), lymph node metastasis (pN, P = 0.019) and lymphatic invasion (P = 0.005) in 120 ESCC tissue specimens by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, PAX2 overexpression resulted in markedly reduced cell proliferation but increased metastasis capacity in ESCC TE-1 and Eca-109 cells. Knockdown of PAX2 expression with a short hairpin RNA confirmed a role in the promotion of metastasis in ESCC cells. mRNA microarray screening revealed that PAX2 overexpression affected multiple genes that function in multiple pathways. Interleukin-5 (IL-5), which was induced by PAX2 and has been shown to promote tumor metastasis, was further studied in greater detail. Two PAX2 binding sites were identified in the IL-5 promoter, and PAX2 was observed to stimulate IL-5 promoter activity and IL-5 expression in esophageal cancer cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) confirmed the direct binding of PAX2 in the IL-5 promoter. The expression of PAX2 mRNA significantly correlated with that of IL-5 in normal esophageal and ESCC tissues. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that PAX2 is overexpressed in esophageal carcinoma and IL-5 is identified as PAX2's effector for metastasis.
Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase-Dependent Amelioration of Diastolic Dysfunction in Rats with Chronic Renocardiac Syndrome
Authors: Bongartz Lennart G. , Soni Siddarth , Cramer Maarten-Jan , Steendijk Paul , Gaillard Carlo A.J.M. , Verhaar Marianne C. , Doevendans Pieter A. , van Veen Toon A. , Joles Jaap A. , Braam Branko
Published: April 2017

We have recently described the chronic renocardiac syndrome (CRCS) in rats with renal failure, cardiac dysfunction and low nitric oxide (NO) availability by combining subtotal nephrectomy and transient low-dose NO synthase (NOS) inhibition. Cardiac gene expression of the neuronal isoform of NOS (nNOS) was induced. Hence, we studied the role of nNOS, in vivo cardiac function and β-adrenergic response in our CRCS model by micromanometer/conductance catheter. Left ventricular (LV) hemodynamics were studied during administration of dobutamine (dobu), the highly specific irreversible inhibitor of nNOS L-VNIO [L-N5-(1-Imino-3-butenyl)-ornithine], or both at steady state and during preload reduction. Rats with CRCS showed LV systolic dysfunction at baseline, together with prolonged diastolic relaxation and rightward shift of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationships. After L-VNIO infusion, diastolic relaxation of CRCS rats further prolonged. The time constant of active relaxation (tau) increased by 25 ± 6% from baseline (p < 0.05), and the maximal rate of pressure decrease was 36 ± 7% slower (p < 0.001). These variables did not change in controls. In our CRCS model, nNOS did not seem to affect systolic dysfunction. In summary, in this model of CRCS, blockade of nNOS further worsens diastolic dysfunction and L-VNIO does not influence inherent contractility and the response to dobu stress.
A New Case of the Rare 10q22.3q23.2 Microdeletion Flanked by Low-Copy Repeats 3/4
Authors: Coelho Molck Miriam , Simioni Milena , Paiva Vieira Társis , Paoli Monteiro Fabíola , Gil-da-Silva-Lopes Vera L.
Published: April 2017

Deletions in the 10q22.3q23.2 region are rare and mediated by 2 low-copy repeats (LCRs 3 and 4). These deletions have already been recognized as the 10q22q23 deletion syndrome. The phenotype associated with this condition is rather uncharacteristic, and most common features are craniofacial dysmorphisms and developmental delay. We describe a boy with craniofacial dysmorphic features, developmental delay, tetralogy of Fallot, hand/foot abnormalities, and recurrent respiratory tract infections. Chromosomal microarray analysis disclosed a 7.8-Mb microdeletion at 10q22.3q23.2, flanked by LCRs 3/4, and an additional 16q12.1 microdeletion of 189 kb. This article reviews the clinical signs of reported cases with similar deletions and compares them with our patient, contributing to a better understanding of genotype-phenotype correlation.
Treatment Outcomes of Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Ethmoid Sinus Treated with Anterior Craniofacial Resection or Chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Ono Takeharu , Tanaka Norimitsu , Umeno Hirohito , Sakata Kiyohiko , Morioka Motohiro , Ohmaru Yoko  , Rikimaru Hideaki , Koga Noriyuki , Kiyokawa Kensuke , Chitose Shun-ichi , Shin Buichiro  , Aso Takeichiro , Etoh Hidehiro , Abe Toshi
Published: April 2017

We retrospectively analyzed 14 patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of ethmoid sinus (LASCC-ES) for the feasibility of anterior craniofacial resection (ACFR). Ethmoid cancer treatment comprised alternating chemoradiotherapy (ALCRT; n = 1), concomitant radiotherapy and intra-arterial cisplatin (RADPLAT; n = 4) and ACFR (n = 9). The 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of patients were 47.6 and 39.6%, respectively. The 3-year local control (LC) rates of chemoradiotherapy (CRT; ALCRT and RADPLAT) (n = 5) and ACFR (n = 9) groups were 0 and 66.7% (p = 0.012), respectively. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate of the CRT and ACFR groups were 0 and 55.6% (p = 0.018), respectively. The 3-year OS rate of the CRT and ACFR groups were 0 and 76.2% (p = 0.005), respectively. Postoperative pathological examinations confirmed positive margins in 3 (33%) of 9 cases. The 3-year LC and PFS rates of cases (n = 3) with positive surgical margins were significantly poorer than those of cases (n = 6) with negative surgical margins. Although ACFR for LASCC-ES is a feasible treatment, cases with positive surgical margins were more prone to local relapse. Therefore, surgical safety margins should be thoroughly assessed.
(–)-Epicatechin Suppresses Angiotensin II-induced Cardiac Hypertrophy via the Activation of the SP1/SIRT1 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Dong Zeng-xiang , Wan Lin , Wang Ren-jun , Shi Yuan-qi , Liu Guang-zhong , Zheng Si-jia , Hou Hui-ling , Han Wei , Hai Xin
Published: April 2017

Background/Aims: Flavonol (–)-epicatechin (EPI) is present in high amounts in cocoa and tea products, and has been shown to exert beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. However, the precise mechanism of EPI on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy has not yet been determined. In this study, we examined whether EPI could inhibit cardiac hypertrophy. Methods: We utilised cultured neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes and mice for immunofluorescence, immunochemistry, qRT-PCR, and western blot analyses. Results: 1µM EPI significantly inhibited 1µM angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced increase of cardiomyocyte size, as well as the mRNA and protein levels of ANP, BNP and β-MHC in vitro. The effects of EPI were accompanied with an up-regulation of SP1 and SIRT1, and were abolished by SP1 inhibition. Up-regulation of SP1 could block Ang II-induced increase in cardiomyocyte size, as well as the mRNA and protein levels of ANP, BNP and β-MHC, and increase the protein levels of SIRT1 in vitro. Moreover, 1 mg/kg body weight/day EPI significantly inhibited mouse cardiac hypertrophy induced by Ang II, which could be eliminated by SP1 inhibition in vivo. Conclusion: Our data indicated that EPI inhibited AngII-induced cardiac hypertrophy by activating the SP1/SIRT1 signaling pathway.
Optical Mapping Approaches on Muscleblind‐Like Compound Knockout Mice for Understanding Mechanistic Insights Into Ventricular Arrhythmias in Myotonic Dystrophy
Authors: Chou Chung‐Chuan , Chang Po‐Cheng , Wei Yi‐Chia , Lee Kuang‐Yung
Published: April 2017

Background

Cardiac arrhythmias are common causes of death in patients with myotonic dystrophy (dystrophia myotonica [
DM
]). Evidence shows that atrial tachyarrhythmia is an independent risk factor for sudden death; however, the relationship is unclear.

Methods and Results

Control wild‐type (

Mbnl1
+/+
; Mbnl2
+/+

) and
DM
mutant (

Mbnl1
−/−
; Mbnl2
+/−

) mice were generated by crossing double heterozygous knockout (

Mbnl1
+/−
; Mbnl2
+/−

) mice. In vivo electrophysiological study and optical mapping technique were performed to investigate mechanisms of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Transmission electron microscopy scanning was performed for myocardium ultrastructural analysis.
DM
mutant mice were more vulnerable to anesthesia medications and program electrical pacing: 2 of 12 mice had sudden apnea and cardiac arrest during premedication of general anesthesia; 9 of the remaining 10 had atrial tachycardia and/or atrioventricular block, but none of the wild‐type mice had spontaneous arrhythmias; and 9 of 10 mice had pacing‐induced ventricular tachyarrhythmias, but only 1 of 14 of the wild‐type mice. Optical mapping studies revealed prolonged action potential duration, slower conduction velocity, and steeper conduction velocity restitution curves in the
DM
mutant mice than in the wild‐type group. Spatially discordant alternans was more easily inducible in
DM
mutant than wild‐type mice. Transmission electron microscopy showed disarranged myofibrils with enlarged vacuole‐occupying mitochondria in the
DM
mutant group.

Conclusions

This
DM
mutant mouse model presented with clinical myofibril ultrastructural abnormality and cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial tachyarrhythmias, atrioventricular block, and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Optical mapping studies revealed prolonged action potential duration and slow conduction velocity in the
DM
mice, leading to vulnerability of spatially discordant alternans and
ventricular arrhythmia
induction to pacing.
Honey and Venom
Authors: Allington Richard
Published: April 2017

This article explores the implementation of Gregory’s distinction for preaching to the young and the old in the Regula Pastoralis in the context of the papacy’s expanding relations with Christians across the Late Antique and Early Medieval world. Much has been written about whether Gregory’s pontificate was part of the end of the Late Antique period or the beginning of the Early Medieval era. The implementation of these preaching prescriptions in Gregory’s letters demonstrates that the Regula Pastoralis can serve as a new tool for examining this debate and reveals how the method prescribed by Gregory for caring for the young and the old shaped how he approached the papacy’s relations with different communities.
Peddlers of Paradise
Authors: Laferrière Anik
Published: April 2017

This study investigates the activities of the Austin Friars in England in the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries regarding the sale of expurgatory services. Through an analysis of their letters of confraternity and indulgences, this study argues that around the end of the fifteenth century, the Austin Friars experienced a change in attitude in the sale of their religious services. They exponentially increased their efforts in selling indulgences and letters of confraternity and in advertising their popular Scala Coeli services, an attitude that reached its zenith in 1516 when Pope Leo X licensed the Austin Friars to sell and promote a lucrative plenary indulgence. This change has significant consequences for considerations of the actions of English Augustinian reformers in the sixteenth century, primarily Robert Barnes, whose criticisms of clerical wealth are put into relief when examined within this monastic context.
Reconstruction in A Two-Person World May Be More About The Present Than The Past: Freud and The Wolf Man, an Illustration
Authors: Gottlieb Richard M.
Published: April 2017

The psychoanalytic process of reconstruction has yet to be examined from the perspective of today’s two-person psychologies. Earlier writers on the subject have implicated the analyst and his emotional involvement as influences that may distort the valid recovery of memories, while others have written that the transference and the reconstructed past are interdependent. By contrast with both views, it is suggested here that the reconstructed product itself may reflect the transference-countertransference engagement of the dyad: in some instances, and to some extent in all instances, the scene or story of the presumed past will be a version of the current analytic relationship. In certain cases consideration of the conscious and unconscious emotional entanglements of the dyad will reveal that the reconstruction says more about the analytic present than about the past. Freud’s Wolf Man case provides a good illustration of this point. While a broad consensus exists that its famous primal scene reconstruction cannot be veridical, it has most often been dismissed as distorted by Freud’s theoretical commitments. A closer examination of the relationship between Freud and Pankejeff reveals that the reconstruction is an accurate rendering of warded-off aspects of the dyad’s way of being together. The potential clinical utility of adopting this perspective is that it encourages the analyst to reflect on his clinical reconstructions, interrogating them for clues to otherwise elusive aspects of the current clinical relationship.
Preparing social pedagogues to use regional components in the education/rearing process in comprehensive schools (using the example of Zhezkazgan-Ulytau region)
Authors: Kurmanayeva Gulmira , Kurmanayeva Dina , Asipova Nurbubu , Kassymbekova Nurilya , Aristanbekova Zhumagul
Published: April 2017

Kazakhstani higher education reforms are focused on changing and reframing the content of education and the primary forms and methods of teaching. The authors consider the education of social pedagogues in academic, language, and sociocultural environments. This research is aimed at introducing a regional component to the education/rearing process in comprehensive schools (using the example of Zhezkazgan-Ulytau region). This issue is solved by developing and implementing a regional component in the content of the education/rearing process that reflects regional specifics and actualizes sociocultural factors.
Experimental and finite element analysis of in-plane shear properties of a carbon non-crimp fabrics at macroscopic scale
Authors: Deghboudj Samir , Boukhedena Wafia , Satha Hamid
Published: April 2017

Shear deformation of composite reinforcement is the most significant and important mechanism of material characterization. So, in-plane shear properties of composite reinforcement are important parameters for determining application and use of this category of materials. The bias extension test is frequently employed to investigate the in-plane shear behavior of composites fabrics with a length equal to or greater than twice its width. In the first part of this work, bias extension tests on non-crimp fabrics have been conducted. Force and displacement were measured and registered. From obtained data, shear angles and normalized shear forces were theoretically determined. The second part was a finite element analysis of the same test based on hypo elastic model at macroscopic scale. The software ABAQUS/Explicit was used to carry out the finite element analysis in the work.
Commentary on Zirkel: Judicial Rulings Specific to FBAs or BIPs Under the IDEA and Corollary State Laws—An Update
Authors: Horner Robert H. , Yell Mitchell L.
Published: April 2017

The authors discuss the journal article by Perry Zirkel on legal action in regard to functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and behavior intervention plans (BIPs). They contend that the Zirkel article opens larger questions that will be central to ongoing discussions at the national, state, district, school, and family levels. Such issues include the role of legal standards to guide quality education, specifically special education; the response of families, communities, and school personnel to problem behaviors; and a focus on the development of a full set of accommodations that result in academic, social, and physical growth rather than just FBA and BIPs.
Knowledge-production in journalism: Translation, mediation and authorship in Brazil
Authors: Undurraga Tomás
Published: April 2017

Based on a multi-site ethnography of two influential newspapers in Brazil, this article examines how Brazilian journalists mediate knowledge claims made by experts, policy makers and the lay public. It asks whether and how these journalists experience themselves as knowledge-makers. More specifically, it argues that Brazilian journalists index their production of knowledge in reference to four main characteristics: depth, authorship, influence, and expertise. Journalists tend to consider newsmaking a contribution to knowledge when: (1) they have the resources to do proper investigative reporting (depth); (2) they are able to help define the public agenda through their reporting and to express their opinion (authorship); (3) they have impact on the polity, the economy or other fields they cover (influence) and (4) their journalistic knowledge is recognized by readers and by specialists (expertise). In practice, however, there are multiple obstacles that make Brazilian journalists hesitant about their contribution to knowledge, including intensified working conditions, the lack of plurality within the mainstream presses, and their informal methods for dealing with knowledge claims from other fields. This research reveals that Brazilian journalists have different understandings of the nature of knowledge in journalism. These understandings cluster around two distinct poles: an expert notion of knowledge associated with disciplinary boundaries, and a distinct conception associated with journalists’ capacity to mediate between jurisdictions. When journalists’ production is assessed from the former point of view, the informality of their methods is seen as undermining their knowledge credentials. By contrast, when journalists’ contribution is assessed from the latter point of view, their ‘interactional expertise’ comes to the fore.
White nationalism, armed culture and state violence in the age of Donald Trump
Authors: Giroux Henry A.
Published: April 2017

With the election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States, the discourse of an authoritarianism and the echoes of a fascist past have moved from the margins to the center of American politics. A culture of war buttressed by the forces of white supremacy and militarization has been unleashed in a series of policies designed to return the United States to a history in which the public sphere was largely white and Christian, and the economy and the state were governed by a ruling corporate elite. Militarization and a war culture have become normalized in the United States and this article explores the ways in which a neo-fascism has emerged that furthers war not only abroad but also at home, especially with regards to the ongoing assaults waged by the state against Muslims, immigrants, women’s reproductive rights, and poor minorities of class and color. Against the rise of neo--fascism, this article advances the idea that education is central to any viable notion of politics, that progressives need to develop a more unified notion of the political in order to overcome the splintering nature of single issue movements, and that it is important to develop a broad-based social and political formation based on the promise of a radical democracy to come.
Evaluating the Effect of Virtual Reality Temporal Bone Simulation on Mastoidectomy Performance: A Meta‐analysis
Authors: Lui Justin T. , Hoy Monica Y.
Published: April 2017

Background

The increasing prevalence of virtual reality simulation in temporal bone surgery warrants an investigation to assess training effectiveness.

Objectives

To determine if temporal bone simulator use improves mastoidectomy performance.

Data Sources

Ovid Medline, Embase, and PubMed databases were systematically searched per the PRISMA guidelines.

Review Methods

Inclusion criteria were peer‐reviewed publications that utilized quantitative data of mastoidectomy performance following the use of a temporal bone simulator. The search was restricted to human studies published in English. Studies were excluded if they were in non‐peer‐reviewed format, were descriptive in nature, or failed to provide surgical performance outcomes. Meta‐analysis calculations were then performed.

Results

A meta‐analysis based on the random‐effects model revealed an improvement in overall mastoidectomy performance following training on the temporal bone simulator. A standardized mean difference of 0.87 (95% CI, 0.38‐1.35) was generated in the setting of a heterogeneous study population (I2 = 64.3%, P <. 006).

Conclusion

In the context of a diverse population of virtual reality simulation temporal bone surgery studies, meta‐analysis calculations demonstrate an improvement in trainee mastoidectomy performance with virtual simulation training.
Thalidomide for Epistaxis in Patients with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Fang Jia , Chen Xiaomeng , Zhu Bijun , Ye Haibo , Zhang Weitian , Guan Jian , Su Kaiming
Published: April 2017

To evaluate the effectiveness of thalidomide for epistaxis in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), 7 HHT patients with recurrent epistaxis were treated with thalidomide at an initial dose of 50 mg/d, gradually increasing to 100 mg/d if needed. The Epistaxis Severity Score (ESS) was used to evaluate the treatment effects. Patients reported that epistaxis improved 1 to 3 weeks after starting thalidomide. The mean ESS before treatment, at the end of treatment, and 3 months after stopping treatment was 5.03 ± 2.05, 0.90 ± 0.84 (P =. 003), and 1.98 ± 1.33 (P =. 006), respectively. Four patients reported mild to moderate side effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, nausea, and peripheral neuropathy. Two patients stopped the treatment because of adverse effects. Those results showed that thalidomide may be a treatment choice for recurrent epistaxis in HHT patients, although the side effects should be considered. Further study should focus on guidelines for dosing and course and investigate how to reduce the adverse effects.
Cerebral hemodynamic assessment and neuroimaging across the lifespan in sickle cell disease
Authors: Jordan Lori C , DeBaun Michael R
Published: April 2017

Children and adults with sickle cell anemia (SCA) have a higher risk of strokes compared to age- and race-matched peers. Velocity in the middle cerebral or distal internal carotid artery as measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasound is a recognized method to identify children but not adults with SCA at high-risk for first stroke. For both children and adults with SCA that have had a stroke, no methods clearly identify individuals at highest risk of recurrent strokes or an initial silent stroke, the most common neurological injury. Methods to assess cerebral hemodynamics in SCA have been utilized for decades but often required radiotracers making them not feasible for screening and longitudinal follow-up. MRI approaches that do not require exogenous contrast have been introduced and are appealing in both clinical and research scenarios. Improved neuroimaging strategies hold promise for identifying individuals with SCA at increased risk of initial and recurrent infarcts, justifying more aggressive risk-based therapy. We review the epidemiology of stroke in SCA, the impact of strokes, stroke mechanisms, and potential imaging strategies including regional and global oxygen extraction fraction, cerebral blood flow, and vessel wall imaging to identify individuals at high-risk of stroke.
No Longer Welcome
Authors: Healy Lynne M.
Published: April 2017

The implications of the new regime of harsher migration and refugee policies are explored and viewed in historical context. Fear of terrorism is cited as the reason for current proposals for exclusion of migrants from Muslim-majority countries, but this fear is tainted by political manipulation and exaggeration. Social workers face a number of challenges raised by the new policies. Roles for social work include advocacy at all levels from direct service provision to national policy advocacy, the responsibility to advocate for truth and combat demagoguery, and most importantly, to uphold ethical codes that prohibit the violation of migrants’ confidentiality.
School Personnel’s Bystander Action in Situations of Dating Violence, Sexual Violence, and Sexual Harassment Among High School Teens: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Edwards Katie M. , Rodenhizer Kara Anne , Eckstein Robert P.
Published: April 2017

We examined school personnel’s engagement in bystander action in situations of teen dating violence (DV), sexual violence (SV), and sexual harassment (SH). We conducted focus groups with 22 school personnel from three high schools in New Hampshire. School personnel identified their own barriers to intervening in situations of teen DV, SV, and SH (e.g., not having the time or ability to intervene). School personnel also discussed the ways in which they intervened before (e.g., talking with teens about healthy relationships), during (e.g., breaking up fights between dating partners) and after (e.g., comforting victims) instances of teen DV, SV, and SH. These data can be used to support the development of bystander training for school personnel as one component of comprehensive DV, SV, and SH prevention for teens. In addition, these data provide information that can be used to develop measures that assess school personnel bystander action barriers and behaviors in instances of teen DV, SV, and SH.
Façade, Fashion and Fornication: Exploring the Embodiment of Self in Chinese Consumer Culture
Authors: Fowler Aubrey , Fowler Jie Gao
Published: April 2017

China possesses a growing and powerful consumer culture that is largely made up of urban youth born since 1980. These children, for the most part, have been considerably impacted by two public policies implemented in the reform era after Mao’s death in 1976: the one-child policy and the open-door policy. These two policies have altered this generation’s cultural footprint within the culturally constituted world of China in ways that researchers are coming to realize. In this article, we explore public policy impacts on youth consumer culture as it relates to the body and attempt to provide a path for consumer researchers and international marketing researchers moving forward in their understanding of China and its young consumers.
Student sorting and implications for grade inflation
Authors: Herron Michael C , Markovich Zachary D
Published: April 2017

There is a sizable literature on higher education, both in the United States and beyond, that draws attention to the phenomenon known as grade inflation. We offer an interpretation of grade inflation that turns on the choices students have over academic departments, and we argue that patterns in grades cannot be considered in isolation from the incentives that students have to sort themselves strategically across departments. Our argument draws on a game-theoretic model in which students of varying abilities face a choice between enrolling in a department whose grades are inflated and thus ability-concealing versus enrolling in a department whose grades are ability-revealing. In equilibrium, all grades are high. Nonetheless, what appears to be grade inflation is a result of the fact that the ability-revealing department in our model attracts highly talented students seeking to distinguish themselves from students of lesser ability, who avoid said department because enrolling in it is costly. Our formalization shows how student sorting can confound grades, and it implies that a full understanding of university’s grade distribution requires knowing which departments in the university are ability-concealing and which, in contrast, are ability-revealing.
A concept-ontology-based model for resource conflict and task scheduling in concurrent engineering
Authors: Li Kai , Zhao Ke , Li Sha
Published: April 2017

The competitions among manufacturing include development style, method, and procedure. Product design is a kind of high-level thinking activity which has the characteristics of multi-object and without explicit operator. While concurrent engineering can realize product development mode transformation, due to the complexity of concurrent engineering, designer cannot distinguish ontology connotation from denotation. So, it will inevitably encounter various conflicts during collaborative work, such as time conflict, function conflict, quality conflict, and fund conflict. Based on concept view, this article studies the distinguishability of concept ontology. The conceptual level reasons of conflict are analyzed, and standardized descriptions to resource organization and resource utilization are also given. Then, task decomposition, scheduling, and conflict resolution model are presented with constraints of time, resource, and task. Finally, design structure matrix is used to represent concurrent task structure and optimized by row–column transformation. The model is demonstrated with an example from motorcycle engine design, and the results demonstrate that the proposed model is feasible and will help for conflict resolution and task scheduling in concurrent engineering.
An examination of evaluation users’ preferences for program- and actor-oriented theories of change
Authors: Ofek Yuval
Published: April 2017

As programs and policies have grown in complexity, theory of change evaluation approaches and methods have become increasingly popular. While the academic literature often adheres to program-oriented theories of change, it is gradually being exposed to actor-oriented theories of change, which aim to enhance the flexibility of evaluations in order to adapt to growing complexity. Aside from the methodological considerations of when to use which approach, it is generally accepted that to increase their influence, evaluation approaches and methods should be suited both to the evaluated program and the preferences of intended users. But do we really know what approaches intended users prefer? Using a simulation-based survey and interviews with 148 public-sector employees in Israel, this article aims to provide an initial answer to this question. The results suggest that there is room to reconsider current perceptions of what intended users think. The findings have implications for the types of theories of change evaluators can suggest to intended users, with the ultimate goal of increasing the influence of evaluations.
Differences in resilience between ‘traditional’ and ‘non-traditional’ university students
Authors: Chung Ethel , Turnbull Deborah , Chur-Hansen Anna
Published: April 2017

Resilience is related to students’ well-being and academic success. While challenges associated with students who are from historically underrepresented backgrounds (i.e. ‘non-traditional students’) have been frequently reported, their resilience has received lesser attention. The primary purpose of this study was to compare levels of resilience between ‘traditional’ and ‘non-traditional’ students. First year students participated in an online mental health survey which included a standardised measure of resilience, demographic questions and an item exploring students’ own perception of being ‘non-traditional’. The results showed that students who considered themselves to be ‘non-traditional’ in life aspects, including age, employment and parenting responsibility, had significantly higher resilience compared to self-identified ‘traditional students’. However, resilience levels of students who deemed themselves to be ‘non-traditional’ in other domains (e.g. household income, cultural background) did not differ significantly from ‘traditional’ students. The findings show that life experiences commonly affiliated with being a mature-aged student, including work and being a carer, may contribute to higher resilience. Implications in relation to practice and future research were discussed.
Using case method to enrich students’ learning outcomes
Authors: Nkhoma Mathews , Sriratanaviriyakul Narumon , Quang Huy Le
Published: April 2017

There is a need to examine the effect of using discussion cases to enrich students’ learning outcomes. A research framework was created to study this multidimensional relationship, via the instruments of interactivity, students’ time devotion and students’ engagement in order to find which factors could improve learning outcomes, including positive group interaction and individual learning performance. The findings from three cohorts of undergraduate students of the same course indicated that interactivity with peers and with the lecturers during the case discussion in classes improved emotional engagement, which in turn positively influenced positive group interaction and individual learning performance. The study also found that students’ emotional engagement was a significant factor in enriching outcomes. Although there was a lack of direct impact of interactivity on learning outcomes, there were many reasons attributed to it. The time that students devoted to the task, as a result of interactivity with the lecturer, was a significant predictor of emotional academic engagement, but it did not predict desirable learning outcomes.
Perspectives on teaching: Conceptions of teaching and epistemological beliefs of university academics and students in different domains
Authors: Päuler-Kuppinger Lena , Jucks Regina
Published: April 2017

This study examines how academics and students from different disciplines perceive teaching and knowledge acquisition. University academics and students from both hard and soft disciplines completed the Domain-specific Epistemological Beliefs Questionnaire and the Approaches to Teaching Inventory. Results showed that academics held more student-/learning-centred and less teacher-/content-centred conceptions about teaching than students. Furthermore, prior findings on different beliefs about knowledge and teaching in different academic domains were confirmed for the entire sample. Finally, less sophisticated epistemological beliefs were associated positively with an information-transmission/teacher-centred and negatively with a student-/learning-centred view of good teaching. The findings are discussed against the background of effective teaching and the professionalization of university academics.
Testing Labor Market Efficiency Across Position Groups in the NFL
Authors: Roach Michael A.
Published: April 2017

This article proposes a new metric to proxy for the incidence of player absences faced by National Football League teams based on the percentage of team payroll resources that are inactive over the course of a season. This variable significantly predicts team performance. Calculating this measure for individual position groups allows me to test for differences in the marginal impact of salary resources across these groups. Results indicate that resources dedicated to offense, in particular to offensive linemen and starting quarterbacks, have the highest marginal impact on team performance. This suggests a market inefficiency where these players were relatively underpaid.
Research on the control and coordination of four-wheel independent driving/steering electric vehicle
Authors: Jin Lisheng , Gao Linlin , Jiang Yuying , Chen Mei , Zheng Yi , Li Keyong
Published: April 2017

A four-wheel-independent-driving and four-wheel-independent-steering control and coordination system is proposed by combining a four-wheel-independent-steering control system and a four-wheel-independent-driving control system. The four-wheel-independent-steering control system includes a linear quadratic regulator controller that calculates four-wheel steering angles and a fuzzy logic parameter adjustor that adjusts the linear quadratic regulator control parameters based on the vehicle steering states. The four-wheel-independent-driving control system consists of three parts: a proportional–integral–derivative controller for tracking the desired vehicle speed, a sliding mode control controller, and its corresponding torque distributor for power-assisted steering. It is particularly necessary to point out that the sliding mode control controller only works when the activation condition is satisfied and the torque distribution strategy is developed on the basis of the four-wheel-independent-steering control system. Simulation studies have been conducted to evaluate the proposed system. The results show that the proposed system can improve handling stability of four-wheel-independent-driving–four-wheel-independent-steering vehicle effectively and have a strong robustness for driving on a mu-split road.
Is There an Association Between the “Critical Shoulder Angle” and Clinical Outcome After Rotator Cuff Repair?
Authors: Kirsch Jacob M. , Nathani Amit , Robbins Christopher B. , Gagnier Joel J. , Bedi Asheesh , Miller Bruce S.
Published: April 2017

Background:

Variations in scapular morphology have been associated with the development of atraumatic rotator cuff tears (RCTs). The critical shoulder angle (CSA) accounts for both glenoid inclination and lateral extension of the acromion. The impact of the CSA on outcomes after rotator cuff repair (RCR) has not been investigated previously.

Hypothesis:

Our hypothesis was that individuals with smaller CSAs will have better patient-reported outcome scores over time compared with those with larger CSAs. Theoretically, a smaller CSA minimizes the biomechanical forces favoring superior translation of the humeral head, which may be advantageous after RCR. This is the first study to examine the relationship between the CSA and clinical outcomes after RCR.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

Fifty-three patients (mean age, 61 years) with atraumatic full-thickness RCTs who underwent arthroscopic RCR were prospectively evaluated. Demographic data as well as the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain were prospectively collected at various time points up to 24 months postoperatively. Statistical analysis included longitudinal multilevel regression modeling to investigate the association between the CSA and the WORC, ASES, and VAS scores.

Results:

The overall clinical outcome, as measured by the WORC, ASES, and VAS, improved significantly ( P < .0001). Controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics, a multilevel regression analysis demonstrated that the CSA was not a significant independent predictor for change in WORC ( P = .581), ASES ( P = .458), or VAS ( P = .859) scores at 24 months after arthroscopic RCR. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability for CSA measurements resulted in interclass correlation coefficients of 0.986 and 0.982, respectively ( P < .001), indicating excellent agreement.

Conclusion:

The CSA did not appear to be a significant predictor of patient-reported outcomes after arthroscopic repair of atraumatic full-thickness RCTs.
Reducing Annual Hospital and Registered Nurse Staff Turnover—A 10-Element Onboarding Program Intervention
Authors: Kurnat-Thoma Emma , Ganger Mary , Peterson Kelly , Channell Lesley
Published: April 2017

Employee turnover is a key metric and performance indicator when evaluating the fiscal and operational effectiveness of any health-care facility. This article outlines a turnover analysis and onboarding program performance improvement initiative used by a 187-bed community hospital in the Washington DC metropolitan area to reduce staff turnover. Using an evidence-based approach, we evaluated facility staffing statistics, exit survey data, research literature, and industry exemplars. We identified presence of severe turnover for hospital and nursing staff employed less than one year (new hires), with 2009–2012 annual new-hire losses ranging from 28.8% to 49.6%. Exit survey data identified only 50% to 62% of new employees who felt that: hospital orientation provided necessary information for successful employment; they had people to go to with concerns; and they had a realistic understanding of their job. Therefore, a 10-element program intervention was designed to strengthen and standardize the new employee onboarding process. Program elements focused heavily on retooled onboarding communications, including frequent new-hire interactions with managers and regular support from assigned high-performing colleagues. Post program implementation, overall annual hospital turnover decreased from 18.2% to 11.9% and new-hire turnover losses decreased from 39.1% to 18.4.%, which was statistically significant between measurement periods (Wilcoxon signed ranks test, Z = −2.06, p = .04). Implementing a standardized onboarding format that was specifically tailored to support new-hire employees allowed our hospital to rapidly reverse unsustainable turnover increases. The successful reduction in hospital and nurse turnover we achieved was rooted in multidisciplinary engagement of institutional stakeholders, managerial collaboration across departments, and strong support from executive hospital leadership.
Scenic landscapes, visual accessibility and premium values in a single family housing market: A spatial hedonic approach
Authors: Mittal Jay , Byahut Sweta
Published: April 2017

This article uses a hedonic modelling approach to assess the implicit willingness to pay for the visual accessibility of voluntarily protected, privately owned, scenic lands based on single family houses. These lands are perpetually protected to preserve natural, historic, and scenic characteristics. The capitalized house premium was captured using a visual accessibility variable, which was a combined weighted measure of ‘view’ and ‘proximity,’ referred to here as the Gravity Inspired Visibility Index. Both global ( adjusted R 2 = 0.52, AICc = 29,828) and geographically weighted regression models ( adjusted R 2 = 0.59, AICc = 29,729) estimated the price effect but the geographically weighted regression model outperformed the global model. The results from the geographically weighted regression model indicated an average 3.4% price premium on the mean value of homes in the study area. The paper offers a useful framework for evaluating the effect of land protection for planning and real estate purposes. It also offers useful insights for conservation agencies, local governments, professional planners, and real estate professionals for prioritizing land sites with scenic views.