bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Turbulent Kinetic Energy Assessed by Multipoint 4-Dimensional Flow Magnetic Resonance Imaging Provides Additional Information Relative to Echocardiography for the Determination of Aortic Stenosis Severity
Authors: Binter Christian , Gotschy Alexander , Sündermann Simon H. , Frank Michelle , Tanner Felix C. , Lüscher Thomas F. , Manka Robert , Kozerke Sebastian
Published: June 2017

Background—

Turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), assessed by 4-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging, is a measure of energy loss in disturbed flow as it occurs, for instance, in aortic stenosis (AS). This work investigates the additional information provided by quantifying TKE for the assessment of AS severity in comparison to clinical echocardiographic measures.

Methods and Results—

Fifty-one patients with AS (67±15 years, 20 female) and 10 healthy age-matched controls (69±5 years, 5 female) were prospectively enrolled to undergo multipoint 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging. Patients were split into 2 groups (severe and mild/moderate AS) according to their echocardiographic mean pressure gradient. TKE values were integrated over the aortic arch to obtain peak TKE. Integrating over systole yielded total TKE
sys
and by normalizing for stroke volume, normalized TKE
sys
was obtained. Mean pressure gradient and TKE correlated only weakly (
R
2
=0.26 for peak TKE and
R
2
=0.32 for normalized TKE
sys
) in the entire study population including control subjects, while no significant correlation was observed in the AS patient group. In the patient population with dilated ascending aorta, both peak TKE and total TKE
sys
were significantly elevated (
P
<0.01), whereas mean pressure gradient was significantly lower (
P
<0.05). Patients with bicuspid aortic valves also showed significantly increased TKE metrics (
P
<0.01), although no significant difference was found for mean pressure gradient.

Conclusions—

Elevated TKE levels imply higher energy losses associated with bicuspid aortic valves and dilated ascending aortic geometries that are not assessable by current echocardiographic measures. These findings indicate that TKE may provide complementary information to echocardiography, helping to distinguish within the heterogeneous population of patients with moderate to severe AS.
Comparing Outcomes of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Among Large Teaching and Urban Hospitals in China and the United States
Authors: Zheng Zhe , Zhang Heng , Yuan Xin , Rao Chenfei , Zhao Yan , Wang Yun , Normand Sharon-Lise , Krumholz Harlan M. , Hu Shengshou
Published: June 2017

Background—

Coronary artery disease is prevalent in China, with concomitant increases in the volume of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The present study aims to compare CABG-related outcomes between China and the United States among large teaching and urban hospitals.

Methods and Results—

Observational analysis of patients aged ≥18 years, discharged from acute-care, large teaching and urban hospitals in China and the United States after hospitalization for an isolated CABG surgery. Data were obtained from the Chinese Cardiac Surgery Registry in China and the National Inpatient Sample in the United States. Analysis was stratified by 2 periods: 2007, 2008, and 2010; and 2011 to 2013 periods. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and the secondary outcome was length of stay. The sample included 51 408 patients: 32 040 from 77 hospitals in the China-CABG group and 19 368 from 303 hospitals in the US-CABG group. In the 2007 to 2008, 2010 period and for all-age and aged ≥65 years, the China-CABG group had higher mortality than the US-CABG group (1.91% versus 1.58%,
P
=0.059; and 3.12% versus 2.20%,
P
=0.004) and significantly higher age-, sex-, and comorbidity-adjusted odds of death (odds ratio, 1.58; 95% confidential interval, 1.22–2.04; and odds ratio, 1.73; 95% confidential interval, 1.24–2.40). There were no significant mortality differences in the 2011 to 2013 period. For preoperative, postoperative, and total hospital stay, respectively, the median (interquartile range) length of stay across the entire study period between China-CABG and US-CABG groups were 9 (8) versus 1 (3), 9 (6) versus 6 (3), and 20 (12) versus 7 (5) days (all
P
<0.001). This difference did not change significantly over time.

Conclusions—

In 2011 to 2013, there was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality among patients who underwent an isolated CABG surgery in large teaching and urban hospitals in China and the United States. The longer length of stay in China may represent an opportunity for improvement.
Identification and Functional Characterization of Hypoxia-Induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Regulating lncRNA (HypERlnc) in Pericytes
Authors: Bischoff Florian C. , Werner Astrid , John David , Boeckel Jes-Niels , Melissari Maria-Theodora , Grote Phillip , Glaser Simone F. , Demolli Shemsi , Uchida Shizuka , Michalik Katharina M. , Meder Benjamin , Katus Hugo A. , Haas Jan , Chen Wei , Pullamsetti Soni S. , Seeger Werner , Zeiher Andreas M. , Dimmeler Stefanie , Zehendner Christoph M.
Published: June 2017

Rationale:

Pericytes are essential for vessel maturation and endothelial barrier function. Long noncoding RNAs regulate many cellular functions, but their role in pericyte biology remains unexplored.

Objective:

Here, we investigate the effect of hypoxia-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress regulating long noncoding RNAs (HypERlnc, also known as ENSG00000262454) on pericyte function in vitro and its regulation in human heart failure and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Methods and Results:

RNA sequencing in human primary pericytes identified hypoxia-regulated long noncoding RNAs, including HypERlnc. Silencing of HypERlnc decreased cell viability and proliferation and resulted in pericyte dedifferentiation, which went along with increased endothelial permeability in cocultures consisting of human primary pericyte and human coronary microvascular endothelial cells. Consistently, Cas9-based transcriptional activation of HypERlnc was associated with increased expression of pericyte marker genes. Moreover, HypERlnc knockdown reduced endothelial-pericyte recruitment in Matrigel assays (
P
<0.05). Mechanistically, transcription factor reporter arrays demonstrated that endoplasmic reticulum stress-related transcription factors were prominently activated by HypERlnc knockdown, which was confirmed via immunoblotting for the endoplasmic reticulum stress markers IRE1α (
P
<0.001), ATF6 (
P
<0.01), and soluble BiP (
P
<0.001). Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and gene ontology pathway analyses of RNA sequencing experiments after HypERlnc knockdown indicate a role in cardiovascular disease states. Indeed, HypERlnc expression was significantly reduced in human cardiac tissue from patients with heart failure (
P
<0.05; n=19) compared with controls. In addition, HypERlnc expression significantly correlated with pericyte markers in human lungs derived from patients diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and from donor lungs (n=14).

Conclusions:

Here, we show that HypERlnc regulates human pericyte function and the endoplasmic reticulum stress response. In addition, RNA sequencing analyses in conjunction with reduced expression of HypERlnc in heart failure and correlation with pericyte markers in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension indicate a role of HypERlnc in human cardiopulmonary disease.
Thymosin Beta‐4 Is Elevated in Women With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Drum Chester L. , Tan Warren K. Y. , Chan Siew‐Pang , Pakkiri Leroy S. , Chong Jenny P. C. , Liew Oi‐Wah , Ng Tze‐Pin , Ling Lieng‐Hsi , Sim David , Leong Kui‐Toh G. , Yeo Daniel P. S. , Ong Hean‐Yee , Jaufeerally Fazlur , Wong Raymond C. C. , Chai Ping , Low Adrian F. , Davidsson Pia , Liljeblad Mathias , Söderling Ann‐Sofi , Gan Li‐Ming , Bhat Ratan V. , Purnamawati Kristy , Lam Carolyn S. P. , Richards A. Mark
Published: June 2017

Background

Thymosin beta‐4 (
TB
4) is an X‐linked gene product with cardioprotective properties. Little is known about plasma concentration of
TB
4 in heart failure (
HF
), and its relationship with other cardiovascular biomarkers. We sought to evaluate circulating
TB
4 in
HF
patients with preserved (
HF
p
EF
) or reduced (
HF
r
EF
) ejection fraction compared to non‐
HF
controls.

Methods and Results

TB
4 was measured using a liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry assay in age‐ and sex‐matched
HF
p
EF
(n=219),
HF
r
EF
(n=219) patients, and controls (n=219) from a prospective nationwide study. Additionally, a 92‐marker multiplex proximity extension assay was measured to identify biomarker covariates. Compared with controls, plasma
TB
4 was elevated in
HF
p
EF
(985 [421–1723] ng/mL versus 1401 [720–2379] ng/mL,
P
<0.001), but not in
HF
r
EF
(1106 [556–1955] ng/mL,
P
=0.642). Stratifying by sex, only women (1623 [1040–2625] ng/mL versus 942 [386–1891] ng/mL,
P
<0.001), but not men (1238.5 [586–1967] ng/mL versus 1004 [451–1538] ng/mL,
P
=1.0), had significantly elevated
TB
4 in the setting of
HF
p
EF
. Adjusted for New York Heart Association class, N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide, age, and myocardial infarction, hazard ratio to all‐cause mortality is significantly higher in women with elevated
TB
4 (1.668,
P
=0.036), but not in men (0.791,
P
=0.456) with
HF
.
TB
4 is strongly correlated with a cluster of 7 markers from the proximity extension assay panel, which are either X‐linked, regulated by sex hormones, or involved with
NF
‐κB signaling.

Conclusions

We show that plasma
TB
4 is elevated in women with
HF
p
EF
and has prognostic information. Because
TB
4 can preserve EF in animal studies of cardiac injury, the relation of endogenous, circulating
TB
4 to X chromosome biology and differential outcomes in female heart disease warrants further study.
The Nature and Care of the Whole Man: Francis Bacon and Some Late Renaissance Contexts
Authors: Corneanu Sorana
Published: June 2017

In the early seventeenth century Francis Bacon called for the institution of a distinct field of theoretical and practical knowledge that would deal with the tight interrelationship between the mind and the body of man, which he dubbed “the inquirie tovching hvmane natvre entyre” (Advancement of Learning, Book II). According to Bacon, such knowledge was already in existence, but unfortunately scattered in medical and religious texts. As a remedy, he proposed an integrated and autonomous account that would constitute “one general science concerning the Nature and State of Man” (De augmentis scientiarum, Book IV). Such an account would concern itself with both the nature of the bond (vinculum) between mind and body (ibid.) and with the medical-religious care of man in his entirety. My purpose here is to identify a number of late Renaissance contexts that flagged a comparable type of preoccupation with the nature and care of the ‘whole man’ from a perspective that similarly strove to combine philosophy, medicine and theology.
Custom and Habit in Physiology and the Science of Human Nature in the British Enlightenment
Authors: Wright John P.
Published: June 2017

In this paper I show how what came to be known as “the double law of habit,” first formulated by Joseph Butler in a discussion of moral psychology in 1736, was taken up and developed by medical physiologists William Porterfield, Robert Whytt, and William Cullen as they disputed fundamental questions regarding the influence of the mind on the body, the possibility of unconscious mental processes, and the nature and extent of voluntary action. The paper shows, on a particular topic, the overlap between eighteenth-century philosophical writings on the science of human nature on the one hand, and medical writings and lectures in physiology on the other. Other early modern writers discussed in the paper include René Descartes, Herman Boerhaave and David Hume.
Models of Organic Organization in Montpellier Vitalism
Authors: Wolfe Charles T.
Published: June 2017

The species of vitalism discussed here is a malleable construct, often with a poisonous reputation (but one which I want to rehabilitate), hovering in between the realms of the philosophy of biology, the history of medicine, and the scientific background of the Radical Enlightenment (case in point, the influence of vitalist medicine on Diderot). This is a more vital vitalism, or at least a more ‘biologistic,’ ‘embodied,’ medicalized vitalism. I distinguish between what I would call ‘substantival’ and ‘functional’ forms of vitalism, as applied to the eighteenth century. Substantival vitalism presupposes the existence of something like a (substantive) vital force which either plays a causal role in the natural world as studied by scientific means, or remains a kind of hovering, extra-causal entity. Functional vitalism tends to operate “post facto,” from the existence of living bodies to the desire to find explanatory models that will do justice to their uniquely ‘vital’ properties in a way that fully mechanistic models (such as Cartesian mechanism) cannot. I discuss some representative figures of the Montpellier school as being functional rather than substantival vitalists, particularly as regards the models of organic organization which they develop, and make some suggestions as to how these relate to the then-nascent science of biology.
Are Introspective Beliefs about One’s Own Visual Experiences Immediate?
Authors: Barz Wolfgang
Published: June 2017

The aim of this paper is to show that introspective beliefs about one’s own current visual experiences are not immediate in the sense that what justifies them does not include other beliefs that the subject in question might possess. The argument will take the following course. First, the author explains the notions of immediacy and truth-sufficiency as they are used here. Second, the author suggests a test to determine whether a given belief lacks immediacy. Third, the author applies this test to a standard case of formation of an introspective belief about one’s own current visual experiences and concludes that the belief in question is neither immediate nor truth-sufficient. Fourth, the author rebuts several objections that might be raised against the argument.
The American Revolution on the Periphery of Empires: Don Bernardo de Gálvez & the Spanish-American Alliance, 1763–1783
Authors: Ritter Luke
Published: June 2017

It was something of an embarrassment to the founding generation of the United States that freedom had been won with the aid of English America’s two arch enemies, France and Spain. The Spanish Empire in America was clearly at odds with the revolutionary cause. Not only had it stood as a traditional enemy, but it adhered tightly to monarchy and Roman Catholicism – which together amounted to probably the worst evil an American Patriot could imagine, second only (at the moment) to British tyranny. The Spanish American campaign against the British from 1776 to 1783 did not at all reflect a shared democratic political identity or solidarity with the English American rebels. Even so, Bernardo de Galvez’s Spanish campaign in the Southeast is a quintessential American story. This essay argues that new Enlightenment ideas about government were birthed within the Spanish imperial system and did not necessarily entail American independence, that the American environment bred unprecedented social cooperation between diverse peoples, and finally that Galvez was successful in Louisiana precisely because he adopted Enlightenment ideals of governance such as transparence and tolerance.
The Influence of Book Blogs on the Buying Decisions of German Readers
Authors: Sutton Kim Maya , Paulfeuerborn Ina
Published: June 2017

In October 2014, over 200 million blogs were registered on the platform Tumblr alone. In 2015, hundreds of book blogs in the blogosphere concentrated on literature and published reviews, cover designs, direct insights from publishers, author interviews, and competitions. Based on the research question ‘Do literature blogs have an influence on the buying decisions of readers?’ quantitative research was carried out in Germany at the beginning of 2016. The focus of the research was book blogs targeting readers of light fiction. A survey was sent to online portals, such as Lovelybooks, and thereby distributed to readers. Literature bloggers were also asked to participate by forwarding the survey to their followers. The survey gives insight into readers’ motivation to visit literature blogs. Furthermore, it highlights what kind of information readers want to find on such blogs, and how blogs can influence readers’ buying behaviour. The findings of the survey are compared with a model for buying decisions. The findings will be helpful for publishers, self-publishers, book trade, and bloggers. The most obvious limitation of the survey is the geographic limitation to Germany and its book market; however, the survey could easily be translated and extended to include other markets.
Description of five new species of the genus Stigmaeus Koch (Acari: Raphignathoidea: Stigmaeidae) from Turkey
Authors: DOĞAN SİBEL , DOĞAN SALİH , ERMAN ORHAN
Published: June 2017

Five new species of Stigmaeidae (Acariformes: Raphignathoidea) from Harşit Valley and Örümcek Forests (Turkey) are described: Stigmaeus communis sp. nov., S. fimus sp. nov., S. harsitensis sp. nov., S. longiclipeatus sp. nov., and S. pseudoparmatus sp. nov.
Revision of the complex of Echeta trinotata Reich, 1933: description of two new species (Lepidoptera: Erebiidae: Arctiinae)
Authors: LAGUERRE MICHEL
Published: June 2017

Following a large survey of the Neotropical Arctiinae using the DNA barcodes technique (COI gene sequencing), Echeta trinotata Reich, 1933 was found to be in fact a complex of three cryptic highly genetically divergent species. The two new species are described as Echeta apatela sp. nov. from the foothills of the Andean Cordillera and Echeta rhodoptera sp. nov. from the Guianas shield, whereas the true Echeta trinotata is distributed along the lower Amazon from Manaus to Belém. Images of adults, male genitalia, genetic distance tree and distribution map are provided for the whole species group.
A new species of Protonemura Kempny, 1898 (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) from the French and Swiss Jura Mountains
Authors: REDING JEAN-PAUL G. , BOLARD AUDREY , VINÇON GILLES
Published: June 2017

A new species of Protonemura Kempny, 1898, P. jurassica sp. n., endemic to the Jura Mountains of France and Switzerland, is described from both adults and nymphs. Information on the distribution, ecological preferences and conservation status of this new species is also provided.
A second species of the genus Blythia Theobald, 1868 (Squamata: Colubridae) from Mizoram, India
Authors: VOGEL GERNOT , LALREMSANGA HMAR TLAWMTE , VANLALHRIMA VANLALHRIMA
Published: June 2017

A second species of the genus Blythia Theobald, 1868, Blythia hmuifang sp. nov., is described on the basis of four specimens originating from Mizoram, India. It differs from Blythia reticulata, the other known species in the genus, by having fewer ventral scales (114–117 vs. 129–149), by having fewer subcaudal scales in males (20–21 vs. 22–32), by the greater proportion of tail length/total length (0.109–0.116 vs. 0.075–0.098), by the colour of the venter (bright orange-red in smaller specimens, cream in the largest specimen vs. black in all ages) and the colouration of the supralabials (lower half pale vs. dark), plus other smaller differences in the colouration and the hemipenis. The distribution of Blythia reticulata is discussed. Morphological data of eight recently collected specimens from Mizoram are given and compared to other populations.
Juveniles on Trial: Mode of Conviction and the Adult Court Sentencing of Transferred Juveniles
Authors: Lehmann Peter S. , Chiricos Ted , Bales William D.
Published: June 2017

Several studies have compared the criminal court sentences given to transferred juveniles with those given to adults, but this research has reported inconsistent findings. In addition, some research has found that mode of conviction can interact with offenders’ characteristics, resulting in stronger or weaker effects of these factors among defendants convicted at trials. The current study explores the direct effects of juvenile status on sentence severity and whether these effects are conditioned by mode of conviction. Examination of data from Florida circuit courts ( N = 1,107,233) shows that transferred juveniles are less likely to be incarcerated than adults but are given longer incarceration sentences. Interaction analyses reveal that these disparities are weaker among trial cases than among plea cases.
Do Ecological Effects on Recidivism Vary by Gender, Race, or Housing Type?
Authors: McNeeley Susan
Published: June 2017

Several studies show that recidivism is influenced by the context of neighborhoods in which offenders live after leaving prison. However, the research on this topic is mixed, with many studies finding inconsistent or null neighborhood effects. This study addresses this inconsistency by examining whether neighborhoods affect recidivism differently based on offenders’ housing situation or personal characteristics (i.e., gender, race). The results of the multilevel logistic regression analyses show that neighborhood characteristics were significantly related to rearrest among minority offenders but not White offenders, and among offenders living in private residential housing but not those living in community-based facilities. These results help to explain the mixed findings in the literature and highlight the complexity of the relationship between neighborhood context and recidivism.
Do Weapons Facilitate Adolescent Delinquency? An Examination of Weapon Carrying and Delinquency Among Adolescents
Authors: Emmert Amanda D. , Hall Gina Penly , Lizotte Alan J.
Published: June 2017

This article examines whether weapon carrying influences the frequency and variety of violent, property, and drug delinquency adolescents commit through fixed-effects analyses of data from the Rochester Youth Development Study (RYDS). We conclude that weapon carrying contributes to violent, substance, and property delinquency, and delinquent behaviors learned during weapon carrying continue to affect substance and property delinquency long after carrying has ceased.
Can Disaster Risk Education Reduce the Impacts of Recurring Disasters on Developing Societies?
Authors: Baytiyeh Hoda
Published: June 2017

The impacts of recurring disasters on vulnerable urban societies have been tragic in terms of destruction and fatalities. However, disaster risk education that promotes risk mitigation and disaster preparedness has been shown to be effective in minimizing the impacts of recurring disasters on urban societies. Although the recent integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) into school curricula in developing countries has improved public awareness about hazards and potential disaster risks, its effectiveness in reducing the impacts of future disasters remains uncertain. This article stresses the potential role of disaster prevention education and argues that, even after substantial effort, significant financial, cultural, and technical barriers remain to integrating DRR into school curricula. This critique provides detailed examples that shed light on both the achievements and the challenges that hinder the integration of disaster risk education into school curricula, focusing on the case study of DRR education in Lebanon.
“This Is Your Worth”: Is the Catholic School Advantage in Urban Catholic Schools’ College Culture Disappearing in a Neoliberal Era?
Authors: Rodriguez Paul J. , Briscoe Felecia
Published: June 2017

This ethnographic study of an urban Catholic high school examines its college culture, particular in regard to the Catholic School Advantage (CSA). We collected and critically analyzed multiple forms of data (archival, interviews, observations) at St. Peters High School (SPH) and its adjoining parish. We found a caring and holistic approach to teaching that is integral to the CSA. However, in regard to the college-going habitus, we found that neoliberal values had largely displaced earlier Catholic social values that related to the CSA. Thus, the college-going habitus was dominated by neoliberal economic values (including the worth of individual students and SPH) but largely silent about the social, academic, or spiritual values of students or institutions of higher education. We conclude that such a college-going habitus is likely not only to result in students’ high rate of college enrollment but also to jeopardize their ability to remain enrolled until they graduate.
Intrecci linguistici. Lingue e dialetti italiani tra i giovani italoamericani nella grande area di New York
Authors: Serra Rosemary
Published: June 2017

Da quando furono introdotti dai primi immigrati che si insediarono sul suolo americano, la lingua e i dialetti italiani negli Stati Uniti si sono continuamente trasformati. Sui comportamenti linguistici degli emigrati italiani all’estero incisero fattori di natura sociale, culturale, geografica ed economica, nonché le diverse ondate migratorie. In particolare, nelle comunità italoamericane, la lingua e i dialetti italiani andarono a comporre un continuum linguistico che si accompagnò all’inglese secondo combinazioni diverse e con un variegato ventaglio di forme.

Questo saggio si propone di ripercorrere le tappe che hanno segnato questi cambiamenti, analizzando alcune ricerche svolte a partire dagli anni Ottanta nonché i dati della condizione in cui versa attualmente la lingua italiana negli Stati Uniti. Vengono, inoltre, presentati i risultati legati all’uso della lingua e dei dialetti, frutto di una survey condotta nel 2013 su un campione di giovani italoamericani residenti nella grande area di New York. Nonostante le differenze tra le diverse generazioni d’immigrazione dei giovani partecipanti allo studio, emerge come vi sia, soprattutto nelle nuove generazioni di italoamericani, una tendenza alla ripresa di interesse verso la lingua delle origini e i dialetti, espressa anche attraverso la volontà di trasmetterla ai propri figli.
Economic Pessimism and Racial Discrimination in Brazil
Authors: Mitchell-Walthour Gladys
Published: June 2017

When studying Black politics, Brazil is an important country to consider because of its large Afro-descended population, its history of slavery, and persistent racial and economic inequality. In this article, I examine the role perceptions of racial discrimination play on the economic well-being of the Black Afro-Brazilian population. I test the hypothesis that, as Afro-Brazilians’ perceptions of racial discrimination increase, the more likely it is they will hold a pessimistic view of their economic situation. I rely on 2010 national data to conduct an ordered logit regression analysis which shows that Black and Brown Brazilians who have experienced racial discrimination are more likely to be pessimistic about their economic situation when compared with Blacks and Browns who have not experienced racial discrimination. In addition, ordered logit regression analysis demonstrates that respondents who admit experiencing racial discrimination are more likely to be women, identify as preto, and have more education.
A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies of Mathematics Difficulty
Authors: Nelson Gena , Powell Sarah R.
Published: June 2017

Some students may be diagnosed with a learning disability in mathematics or dyscalculia, whereas other students may demonstrate below-grade-level mathematics performance without a disability diagnosis. In the literature, researchers often identify students in both groups as experiencing math difficulty. To understand the performance of students with math difficulty, we examined 35 studies that reported longitudinal results of mathematics achievement (i.e., mathematics performance measured across at least a 12-month span). Our primary goal was to conduct a systematic review of these studies and to understand whether the growth of students with math difficulty was comparable or stagnant when compared with that of students without math difficulty. We also analyzed whether identification of math difficulty was predictive of mathematics achievement in later grades and whether a diagnosis of math difficulty was stable across grade levels. Results indicate that students with math difficulty demonstrate growth on mathematics measures, but this growth still leads to lower performance than that of students without math difficulty. Identification of math difficulty is strongly related to math performance in subsequent grades, and this diagnosis is often stable. Collectively, this literature indicates that students with math difficulty continue to struggle with mathematics in later grades.
Suicidal self-stabbing: A report of 12 cases from Crete, Greece
Authors: Kranioti Elena F. , Kastanaki Anastasia E. , Nathena Despoina , Papadomanolakis Antonis
Published: June 2017

Sharp-force trauma is a popular cause of homicide and suicide in many countries. Characterisation of the injuries between the two is crucial for a differential diagnosis. The current paper reviews 12 self-inflicted sharp-force trauma deaths from the island of Crete in Greece. Forensic reports between 1999 and 2015 were collated, and we studied the number and location of injuries, the demographic characteristics of the deceased, the sharp object and the medical history of the deceased. One third of the cases where the forensic reports were available (3/10) involved multiple injuries, and one case involved a combination of stabbing and hanging. Most injuries involved a kitchen knife. Ninety-two per cent (11/12) of the victims involved male Greek nationals aged >50 years. The type and location of injuries were not found to be specific to suicide alone. Thus, death-scene investigation remains crucial to the differential diagnosis between suicide and homicide. This is the first report on self-inflicted sharp-force fatalities in Greece.
Less Evil Than You: Bounded Self-Righteousness in Character Inferences, Emotional Reactions, and Behavioral Extremes
Authors: Klein Nadav , Epley Nicholas
Published: June 2017

Recent research suggests that self-righteousness is bounded, arising more reliably in evaluations of immoral actions than in evaluations of moral actions. Here, we test four implications of this asymmetry in self-righteousness and the mechanism explaining it. We find that people are less likely to make negative character inferences from their own unethical behavior than from others’ unethical behavior (Experiment 1), believe they would feel worse after an unethical action than others (Experiment 2), and believe they are less capable of extreme unethical behavior than others (Experiment 3). We observe weaker self–other differences in evaluations of ethical actions. This occurs partly because people base evaluations of themselves on their own moral intentions, leading to predictable individual differences. People more likely to ascribe cynical motives to their own behavior exhibit a smaller asymmetry in self-righteousness (Experiment 4). Self-righteousness seems better characterized as feeling “less evil than thou” than feeling “holier than thou.”
Quality of Life Trajectories of Older Adults Living in Senior Housing
Authors: Roberts Amy Restorick , Adams Kathryn Betts
Published: June 2017

Quality of life (QoL) in the face of declining health, mobility, and social losses is a central issue for older adults. Our study examined changes in QoL over time for older adults residing in independent senior housing within continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) and estimated how residents’ social engagement during their first year influenced QoL over the next 4 years. Data were drawn from a 5-year panel study of 267 older adults who moved into senior housing within four CCRCs. Although initial QoL varied between individuals, QoL declined for the group over time. One component of early social engagement—participating in a greater number of formal social activities organized by the CCRC—significantly slowed the rate of decline in QoL. Findings suggest that senior housing residents may benefit from early participation in organized social and leisure activities soon after move-in to forestall declines in QoL over the long term.
The Politics of Everyday
Authors: Courpasson David
Published: June 2017

Stealing, doing something unauthorized, occupying places, feeling silly and on the edge… how can we account for these practices that make the everyday? Why would the notion of everyday be interesting for understanding people’s experiences at work? How can we make sense of the myriad of disconnected actions, gestures and encounters that make the everyday? This essay takes its inspiration from Henri Lefebvre and Michel de Certeau’s specific investigations of everyday life to draw a picture of current workplaces; it aims to capture some particulars of symbolic and material life at work, as well as some representations of lived experiences that are shared by people at work. We defend a dialectical view of the everyday by showing the link between forces of alienation and forces of emancipation. We draw from interviews to suggest the extraordinary influence of the ordinary actions over our lives.
Introduction to the Special Issue: The Day-to-Day Lives of Cultures and Communities
Authors: Weeks John , Ailon Galit , Brannen Mary Yoko
Published: June 2017

In a sense, the study of everyday life epitomizes the challenges and opportunities of ethnography. The papers in this Special Issue show how the close examination of the day-to-day lives of people in idiosyncratic settings can shed light on universal questions, complicate the elegant narratives we tell ourselves about what we know, enrich our theories, and expand our sphere of empathy. Although the study of everyday life can be traced back at least as far back as the turn of the 20th century, reaching its apogee after the middle of the century, especially in the writings of Erving Goffman and Harold Garfinkel, it remains as uncommon as its object is commonplace. That is because it is easy to overlook the importance of what is happening when ‘nothing’ is happening and difficult to uncover what is significant about ‘the dust of social activity’. We argue—and the papers that follow show—that the details of the day-to-day can not only be unexpectedly interesting in their specifics but also a source of general theoretical insights about communities, organizations, and teams: their continuity, change and contradictions. What the papers have in common (with each other and with Goffman’s work) is an attention to the work that people do every day to sustain their particular self-image in the face of ongoing, mundane challenges of various sorts to the ways they like to think of and present their world and their place within it. This work to maintain the edges of meaning hides in plain sight and occupies us constantly, whether we are part of a public organization, a religious organization, a profit-seeking organization, a profit-resisting organization, an organization-less organization, or we are students of organizations marking the unremarkable.
Does diathermy smoke contaminate processed salvaged blood in cardiac surgery?
Authors: Hulme Katherine R. , van den Burg Jon
Published: June 2017

Introduction:

A cell salvage device is used in cardiac surgery with the aim of reducing allogeneic blood transfusion. Suction of blood from the operating field used for the device is often accompanied by diathermy smoke. There is limited published research to know if this blood is then contaminated with clinically significant levels of harmful chemicals from this smoke. Postoperative cardiac surgery patients are already physiologically vulnerable, making the optimization of salvaged blood worth considering.

Methods:

Ten patients who had cardiac surgery using a cell salvage device from a single institution had samples taken from the processed blood just prior to transfusion. Samples were tested for carbon monoxide (CO), cyanide and benzene. Results were compared to preoperative co-oximetry results and normal adult laboratory reference ranges. Demographic data about the patients was collected, including the type of operation, gender, age, body mass index, smoking status and amount of salvaged blood collected and processed.

Results:

Primary surgery was coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in three patients, mitral valve repair or replacement in three patients and one each of aortic valve replacement (AVR)/CABG, AVR/plication of the aorta, CABG/external wrapping of the aorta and valve-sparing root replacement. None were smokers. Neither the blood CO level prior to surgery nor in the processed salvaged blood was above the normal limit of 2% for non-smokers. There was no processed blood benzene found. Cyanide levels in the processed blood ranged from 1.8 to 44.1 μmol/l (where <8 μmol/l is considered within the normal adult laboratory limit).

Conclusion:

Despite the obvious limitations of the current study, it shows that cyanide levels can be found many times the normal level in processed salvaged blood. Whilst the total dose of cyanide is small, the potential impact may be clinically significant due to cyanide’s effect on mitochondrial metabolism in the heart and brain.
Myocardial infarction risk and antipsychotics use revisited: a meta-analysis of 10 observational studies
Authors: Huang Kai-Lin , Fang Ching-Ju , Hsu Chien-Chi , Wu Shu-I , Juang Jimmy JM , Stewart Robert
Published: June 2017

Objective:

Associations between antipsychotic agent (AP) use and myocardial infarction (MI) risk have been inconsistent and remain controversial. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis of observational studies to address this knowledge gap.

Method:

Detailed electronic database searches were performed to identify reports of observational studies that evaluated the association between AP use and the risk of MI. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using random or fixed-effects models.

Results:

In total, four case-control studies, two case-crossover studies, one case-case time control study, three cohort studies, and one self-controlled case series were included. The pooled OR (95% confidence interval (CI)) between any AP use and MI risk was 1.55 (1.33–1.79) compared with non-use: 1.39 (1.06–1.82) for atypical AP use and 1.57 (1.29–1.91) for typical AP use. Subgroup analyses indicated that male gender, schizophrenia diagnosis, and AP exposure periods ≤60 days were associated with higher risk of MI.

Conclusion:

Current evidence, based on 10 observational studies, suggested that AP use might be a potential risk factor of MI. However, we cannot conclude at this time due to significant heterogeneity among studies. We suggest that, instead of not using APs in fear of MI risk, careful cardiovascular monitoring before and during AP treatment in high-risk patients is needed. Additional high-quality prospective studies are required to evaluate the association between APs and the risk of MI.
A Cross-Cultural Exploration of Imagination as a Process-Based Concept
Authors: Feng Zhe , Logan Shelby , Cupchik Gerald , Ritterfeld Ute , Gaffin Dennis
Published: June 2017

The present study explores imagination in a cross-cultural context through an original 25-item questionnaire. A cross-national sample of 940 respondents included 336 participants from North America, 309 from Germany, and 295 from mainland China. Imagination is shown to be a process-based concept consisting of a number of components (factors) rather than a single, reified faculty. A principal component factor analysis yielded a five-factor model including expressive imagination, openness to variations, instrumental imagination, past/future mindedness, and conventionality (in descending order of importance). The central factor, expressive imagination, reflects the intrinsically motivated creation and reception of narratives in everyday life and childhood imaginary worlds. Significant regional differences were found for all five factors. Cultural and social contributors to the study results were discussed.
Maternal engagement with music up to nine months post-birth: Findings from a cross-sectional study in England
Authors: Fancourt Daisy , Perkins Rosie
Published: June 2017

There is significant evidence of the benefits of music for babies and emerging evidence that music may also benefit mothers’ wellbeing. However, there is a lack of current data documenting maternal engagement with music in England. This cross-sectional survey study used descriptive and inferential statistics to examine how 473 mothers living in England engaged with music between 1–9 months post-birth, and regression models to examine demographic and musical predictors of this engagement. Findings indicate that the most frequently reported musical activities were daily listening to music (71%) and daily singing to babies (59%). Patterns of musical engagement differ by infant age, with mothers of 4–9 month-old babies reporting more frequent singing and music class attendance compared with mothers of 1–3 month-old babies. Mothers with previous or recent experience of music were more likely to engage in other musical activities, but musical engagement did not appear to be explained by socio-economic factors including years in education, marital status or household income. Findings could support practitioners in designing music activities for mothers, in particular highlighting the need for supporting mothers with very young infants, with little or no previous musical experience or with more than one child.
Variability in DIBELS Next Progress Monitoring Measures for Students at Risk for Reading Difficulties
Authors: O’Keeffe Breda V. , Bundock Kaitlin , Kladis Kristin L. , Yan Rui , Nelson Kat
Published: June 2017

Previous research on curriculum-based measurement of oral reading fluency (CBM ORF) found high levels of variability around the estimates of students’ fluency; however, little research has studied the issue of variability specifically with well-designed passage sets and a sample of students who scored below benchmark for the purpose of progress monitoring. We examined the variability in oral reading fluency score slopes due to passage and student characteristics using DIBELS Next progress monitoring passages over 4 weeks using a hierarchical linear growth model. Participants included second-, third-, and fourth-grade students identified as at risk for reading difficulties. The results showed an average growth rate of approximately 1 correctly read word per minute per week, with considerably lower variability than shown in previous research with less controlled passage sets and/or higher performing student samples. Implications for practice are discussed, including procedural recommendations for administrators and teachers.
Left Heart Decompression in Acute Complicated Myocardial Infarction During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Authors: Lee Seok In , Lee So Young , Choi Chang Hyu , Park Kook Yang , Park Chul-Hyun
Published: June 2017

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can progress to cardiogenic shock and mechanical complications. When extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is applied to a patient with AMI with cardiogenic shock and mechanical complications, left ventricular (LV) decompression is an important recovery factor because LV dilation increases myocardial wall stress and oxygen consumption. The authors present the case of a 72-year-old man with AMI and LV dilation who developed cardiogenic shock and papillary muscle rupture and who was treated successfully by ECMO with a left atrial venting.
Establishment of novel meniscal scaffold structures using polyglycolic and poly-l-lactic acids
Authors: Murakami Tomohiko , Otsuki Shuhei , Nakagawa Kosuke , Okamoto Yoshinori , Inoue Tae , Sakamoto Yuki , Sato Hideki , Neo Masashi
Published: June 2017

The purpose of this study was to evaluate various types of meniscus scaffolds that mimic the meniscus structure, and to establish a novel cell-free meniscus scaffold with polyglycolic acid or poly-l-lactic acid. Four types of scaffolds were implanted into Japanese white rabbits: poly-l-lactic acid sponge poly-l-lactic acid, PGA-coated PLLA sponge, PGA lamination, and film-coated PGA lamination. Samples were harvested at 8 and 12 weeks after implantation, and a compression stress test was performed. The meniscus size and Ishida scores were evaluated for regenerated tissue. Immunohistochemistry was analyzed by anti-type I, II and X collagen antibodies to investigate the structure of the regenerated tissue, and by anti-iNOS antibody to investigate the inflammatory tissue of the meniscus. The cell nuclei of lymphocytes and foreign body multinucleated giant cells were counted in hematoxylin and eosin staining. Modified Mankin scores for cartilage degeneration were used for assessment after Safranin-O/Fast Green staining. The biomechanical test showed that l- and film-coated PGA lamination exhibited greater strength than s- and PGA-coated PLLA sponge. At 12 weeks, the size of meniscus and the Ishida score in implanted film-coated PGA lamination were improved significantly compared with the defect groups. The type II collagen staining intensity in the PGA lamination lamination is significantly higher than the defect at eight weeks. The staining intensity of iNOS and number of lymphocytes significantly increased in sponge poly-l-lactic acid at eight weeks, and increased in p-PLLA at 12 weeks. Foreign body multinucleated giant cells in implantation groups appeared, especially at eight weeks. The Mankin score for film-coated PGA lamination was significantly lower than for the defect at 12 weeks. Novel meniscal scaffolds especially PGA should possess not only biological but also biomechanical functions. In conclusions, film-coated PGA lamination was the beneficial property for meniscus scaffold from the points of better biomechanical function, good regeneration, and less inflammation with chondroprotective effects.
The Effect of Hypervigilance on the Relationship Between Sexual Victimization and Gait
Authors: Fulham Lindsay , Book Angela S. , Blais Julie , Ritchie Mary B. , Gauthier Nathalie Y. , Costello Kimberly
Published: June 2017

Two studies investigated the relationship between hypervigilance, vulnerable gait cues, and a history of sexual victimization. In Study 1 ( N = 130), gait was coded for traits relating to vulnerability where half of the sample was unaware of being videotaped (Unaware condition) and the other half was aware (Aware condition) to induce hypervigilance (between-subjects design). Gait was associated with a history of victimization, but only in the Unaware condition. A mediation analysis found that perceived impact of victimization mediated the association between victimization and vulnerable gait. In Study 2, female university students ( N = 62) were measured on their victimization history and hypervigilance. Walking styles of participants were coded for the presence of vulnerability cues in both an Unaware and Aware condition (within-subjects design). A regression analysis revealed an association between hypervigilance and a reduced change in walking style between the two conditions. More notably, hypervigilance was found to moderate the relationship between sexual victimization and vulnerable gait but not violent victimization and vulnerable gait. These results suggest that hypervigilance may be an adaptive response that reduces perceived vulnerability in sexually victimized women.