bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Age on Serum Concentrations of Cardiac Troponin I
Authors: Herman Eugene H. , Knapton Alan , Liu Yongmin , Lipshultz Steven E. , Estis Joel , Todd John , Woodward Ruth A. , Cochran Thomas , Zhang Jun , Poirier Miriam C.
Published: October 2013

Cardiac troponins serve as serum biomarkers of myocardial injury. The current study examined the influence of age on serum concentrations of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). An ultrasensitive immunoassay was used to monitor cTnI concentrations in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and Erythrocebus patas monkeys of different ages. The mean cTnI concentrations were highest in 10-day-old rats compared to 25-, 40-, and 80-day-old SD rats. Cardiomyocyte remodeling was apparent in hearts from 10-day-old SD rats as evident by hypercellularity, irregularly shaped nuclei, and moderate numbers of myocytes undergoing mitosis and apoptosis. The mean concentration of cTnI in 5 newborn monkeys was considerably higher than that of three 1-year-old monkeys. Evidence of cardiomyocyte remodeling was also observed in these newborn hearts (loss of myofibrils and cytoplasmic vacuolation). Commercial animal serum samples were also analyzed. The concentrations of cTnI detected in fetal equine and porcine serum were considerably higher than that found in adult equine and porcine serum samples Likewise, fetal bovine serum had higher cTnI concentrations (>2,400 pg/ml) than did adult caprine and laprine samples (2.5–2.7 pg/ml). The present study found age-related differences in cTnI concentrations, with higher levels occurring at younger ages. This effect was consistent across several animal species.
Diet, Genes, and Microbes
Authors: Birt Diane F. , Phillips Gregory J.
Published: October 2013

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States, and generally, as countries climb the economic ladder, their rates of colon cancer increase. Colon cancer was an early disease where key genetic mutations were identified as important in disease progression, and there is considerable interest in determining whether specific mutations sensitize the colon to cancer prevention strategies. Epidemiological studies have revealed that fiber- and vegetable-rich diets and physical activity are associated with reduced rates of colon cancer, while consumption of red and processed meat, or alcoholic beverages, and overconsumption as reflected in obesity are associated with increased rates. Animal studies have probed these effects and suggested directions for further refinement of diet in colon cancer prevention. Recently a central role for the microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract in colon cancer development is being probed, and it is hypothesized that the microbes may integrate diet and host genetics in the etiology of the disease. This review provides background on dietary, genetic, and microbial impacts on colon cancer and describes an ongoing project using rodent models to assess the ability of digestion-resistant starch in the integration of these factors with the goal of furthering colon cancer prevention.
Review of Commonly Used Clinical Pathology Parameters for General Gastrointestinal Disease with Emphasis on Small Animals
Authors: Steiner Jörg M.
Published: October 2013

A wide variety of markers are available to assess the function and pathology of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This review describes some of these markers with special emphasis given to markers used in dogs and cats. Small intestinal disease can be confirmed and localized by the measurement of serum concentrations of folate and cobalamin. Fecal α1-proteinase inhibitor concentration can increase in individuals with excessive GI protein loss. A wide variety of inflammatory markers are available for a variety of species that can be used to assess the inflammatory activity of various types of inflammatory cells in the GI tract, although most of these markers assess neutrophilic inflammation, such as neutrophil elastase, calprotectin, or S100A12. N-methylhistamine can serve as a marker of mast cell infiltration. Markers for lymphocytic or eosinophilic inflammation are currently under investigation. Exocrine pancreatic function can be assessed by measurement of serum concentrations of pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI) and trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI). Serum PLI concentration is increased in individuals with pancreatitis and has been shown to be highly specific for exocrine pancreatic function and sensitive for pancreatitis. Serum TLI concentration is severely decreased in individuals with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.
Treatment Outcomes of Injection Laryngoplasty Using Cross‐Linked Porcine Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid
Authors: Wen Ming‐Hsun , Cheng Po‐Wen , Liao Li‐Jen , Chou Hsu‐Wen , Wang Chi‐Te
Published: October 2013

Objective

To investigate the treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of injection laryngoplasty (IL) using cross‐linked porcine collagen (PC) and hyaluronic acid (HA) in unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP).

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

A tertiary teaching hospital.

Subjects and Methods

This study reviewed 60 consecutive patients with UVFP who underwent IL with PC (n = 33) or HA (n = 27). Objective evaluations included maximal phonation time (MPT) and 10‐item voice handicap index (VHI‐10). Kaplan‐Meier method was applied to evaluate the subjective treatment outcomes according to the patients’ self‐assessment of symptom recurrence via chart review for the follow‐up period of 15 months. Log‐rank tests were applied to evaluate the association between clinical factors and subjective treatment outcomes.

Results

Objective outcome measurements revealed significantly improved MPT and VHI‐10 at 1, 3, and 6 months posttreatment, with nonsignificant differences between the PC and HA groups. Subjective treatment outcomes also revealed a nonsignificant difference between the 2 groups. The median symptom‐free durations were 10.9 and 14.4 months for the PC and HA groups, respectively. Subsequent analyses failed to identify prognostic significance of sex, time to treatment, etiology, side, injection approaches, and the presence of aspiration. No significant adverse effects occurred during the follow‐up period.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated comparable subjective and objective improvements following IL using PC or HA in patients with UVFP. No significant prognostic factor of IL was discovered in the present research. Porcine collagen and HA as medium duration materials might play a role in the future of IL.
‘Natural Heritage’ and Colonial Legacies: India in the Nineteenth Century
Authors: Damodaran Vinita
Published: October 2013

The article examines the ways in which the British imperial context, ideologies relating to national heritage—both cultural and natural—were not just extended but developed in a colonial context, and how they have been subsequently redefined and reconstituted in the post-colonial era. From a nineteenth-century romantic antiquarianism drawn to the ruins of a lost civilization, we can see the growth in status of scientific disciplines of archaeology and palaeontology and natural history in the colonies, and an equivalent diffusion of heritage legislation from the Indian subcontinent to East and Southern Africa and even to metropolitan Britain by men like Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, whose interest in monumental architecture led him to protect the Taj Mahal and later to take these interests to Britain where he was instrumental in helping to formulate the ancient monuments’ consolidation and amendment Act in 1913.
The ‘Nation’ and the ‘Other’: A Study in Difference
Authors: Gooptu Sarvani
Published: October 2013

The transition from patriotism and sense of community to the creation of the distinct political community in early twentieth century was through an imaginative interpretation of history in the writing of Dwijendralal Roy (1863–1913), a poet, dramatist and composer of Bengal. Imagination through creative ‘use’ of history had been directed to underline the location of time and space of an emotive community. By this, one could retrieve, criticize and create this emotion through time and space, its definitiveness continuously shifting, evolving, through family, country and community. In the process of creating a nation the notion of the ‘other’ was necessary. This other with all its cultural connotations was found in the stereotypes of ‘Muslim’ and ‘Islam’ in opposition to ‘Rajput’ and ‘Hindu’. It is through these oppositional levels and the interplay of these oppositions that a new nation state could be formed. The notion of Muslim rule as the external enemy was created whose historical function was to provide the occasion for a heroic battle in which virtue could be highlighted. Even within this tradition of writing Dwijendralal brought in a strong note of moderation. There is neither a very powerful tendency to praise everything ‘Hindu’, nor look down upon Islam, which sometimes created apparent contradiction. Where there is valourization of the Rajputs in the ‘Rajputs plays’ it has been placed in the context of the Mughals as the ‘other’. But in the study of the Mughals in the ‘Mughal plays’ there is a concentration on the family and kinship. Both the types are set in about the same time frame yet the values stressed on are different. An analysis of Dwijendralal’s ‘historical’ plays brings into focus an attempt at rewriting history to transcend history as a discipline with its boundaries of time and space, intertwining facts and imagination, through real and created characters to establish the need for a universal ethos.
The 1930 Civil Disobedience Movement in Peshawar Valley from the Pashtoon Perspective
Authors: Shah Sayed Wiqar Ali
Published: October 2013

Like other parts of India, the civil disobedience movement was also launched in North–West Frontier Province (Khyber–Pakhtoonkhwa), although initially with little success. The local Congress sought help from the Khudai Khidmatgars, the most popular socio-political organization of the province; 23 April 1930 saw the worst kind of massacre in Peshawar, followed by other parts of the Province. During the civil disobedience, the colonial administration tried all kinds of draconian methods to suppress the movement but in vain. The purpose of the present research is to investigate and analyze the civil disobedience and its impact in the Peshawar Valley, hitherto neglected by the scholars and thereby help provide a new and deeper understanding of the whole scenario. In a much broader context and in a wider perspective, however, the present study will encompass the following main issues: (a) Indian Muslims and the civil disobedience movement launched by Congress under Mahatma Gandhi; (b) the Frontier Congress and its failure in mobilization of people to support civil disobedience; (c) the altruistic leadership of Abdul Ghaffar Khan and the Khudai Khidmatgars’ tangible support within the masses; (d) the atrocities of the colonial administration and the predicament of the local population; (e) adherence to non-violence, a unique phenomenon for the Pashtoons; (f) the interplay of the religion and politics; (g) the complexity of the Khudai Khidmatgar–Congress relations; and, (h) the role of charismatic leadership. The present research will be focusing on these and other similar crucial issues previously undervalued.
Book Review: Objects of Translation: Material Culture and Medieval ‘Hindu-Muslim’ Encounter
Authors: Ali Daud
Published: October 2013

Finbarr B. Flood, Objects of Translation: Material Culture and Medieval ‘Hindu-Muslim’ Encounter, University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2009, pp. xv, 366; 180 b&w figs, $45.
Book Review: Atlas Historique De l’Inde, Du VIe siecle av. J.-C. au XXIe siecle
Authors: Sharma Yogesh
Published: October 2013

Arundhati Virmani, Atlas Historique De l’Inde, Du VIe siecle av. J.-C. au XXIe siecle, Editions Autrement, Paris, 2012, pp. 96, £ 15.21
Book Review: Punjab Reconsidered: History, Culture and Practice
Authors: Snehi Yogesh
Published: October 2013

Anshu Malhotra and Farina Mir, eds, Punjab Reconsidered: History, Culture and Practice, OUP, New Delhi, 2012, pp. i-lviii, 1-462, ₹ 695.
International conflict, sexual violence and asylum policy: Merseyside as a case study
Authors: Canning Victoria
Published: October 2013

This article outlines key findings from an exploration of conflict related sexual violence support for women seeking asylum in Merseyside. It highlights major international and national advances in gendered legislation and policy in terms of response to escalations in violence against women fleeing conflict, but questions the level of priority these are given or how effective they are. Drawing on interviews with local organizations, an oral history with a rape survivor, and activist work in the local area, this article determines structural gaps in support and asylum review that have major impacts on the mental, emotional and social well-being of women, with wider impacts on asylum groups more generally. Ultimately, it argues that the impacts of sexual violence during, and beyond, conflict are profound, but not adequately recognized or considered during the asylum application process in the UK or in some cases, in localized communities and organizations.
The Echo Effect
Authors: Kulesza Wojciech , Dolinski Dariusz , Huisman Avia , Majewski Robert
Published: October 2013

Research on the chameleon effect has demonstrated that social benefits, such as liking, safety, rapport, affiliation, and cohesion can be evoked through nonverbal imitation (e.g., body language and mannerisms). Herein, we introduce the echo effect, a less researched phenomenon of verbal mimicry, in a real-world setting. Study participants, 330 currency exchange office customers, were assigned into one of three experimental and two control conditions. Careful attention to research design produced results that address issues raised in the mimicry literature and more clearly define the boundaries of verbal mimicry. The results demonstrate that while repetition of words is important in increasing an individual’s tendency to perform prosocial behaviors, the order in which they are repeated back is not; verbal mimicry is more powerful mechanism than dialogue; and, for nonmimicry control conditions, no response produces the same result as a brief response.
Beyond H&E
Authors: Maes R. K. , Langohr I. M. , Wise A. G. , Smedley R. C. , Thaiwong T. , Kiupel M.
Published: October 2013

Veterinary pathology of infectious, particularly viral, and neoplastic diseases has advanced significantly with the advent of newer molecular methodologies that can detect nucleic acid of infectious agents within microscopic lesions, differentiate neoplastic from nonneoplastic cells, or determine the suitability of a targeted therapy by detecting specific mutations in certain cancers. Polymerase chain reaction–based amplification of DNA or RNA and in situ hybridization are currently the most commonly used methods for nucleic acid detection. In contrast, the main methodology used for protein detection within microscopic lesions is immunohistochemistry. Other methods that allow for analysis of nucleic acids within a particular cell type or individual cells, such as laser capture microdissection, are also available in some laboratories. This review gives an overview of the factors that influence the accurate analysis of nucleic acids in formalin-fixed tissues, as well as of different approaches to detect such targets.
Transtibial Versus Independent Drilling Techniques for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Riboh Jonathan C. , Hasselblad Vic , Godin Jonathan A. , Mather Richard C.
Published: October 2013

Background:

While numerous cadaveric, in vivo, and clinical studies have compared transtibial and independent drilling of femoral tunnels during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, there is no evidence-based consensus on which technique affords the best outcome.

Hypothesis:

There is no difference in clinical outcome between transtibial and independent drilling of femoral tunnels.

Study Design:

Systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Methods:

Cadaveric, in vivo, and clinical studies comparing transtibial and independent drilling techniques were systematically identified. A qualitative synthesis of nonrandomized studies and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were performed. In addition, a meta-regression analysis of RCTs that did not directly compare drilling techniques was performed.

Results:

A total of 49 studies were included in the qualitative review, and 15 were included in the meta-analysis; 22 studies were included in the meta-regression. In biomechanical studies, independent drilling placed the center of the femoral tunnel closer to the center of the femoral footprint (mean difference, 2.69 mm; 95% CI, 0.46-4.92; P < .00001). Independent drilling reduced anterior tibial translation with the Lachman examination (mean difference, 2.2 mm; 95% CI, 0.34-4.07; P = .02), 134 N of anterior load (mean difference, 1 mm; 95% CI, 0.29-1.71; P = .006), and simulated pivot shift (mean difference, 3.36 mm; 95% CI, 1.88-4.85; P < .00001). The meta-analysis showed improved Lysholm scores with independent drilling (mean difference, −0.62 points; 95% CI, −1.09 to −0.55; P = .009), although the clinical relevance of this small difference is questionable. There were no significant differences in International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) objective scores or Tegner scores between groups. With the meta-regression, there were no significant differences in failure rates or IKDC objective scores.

Conclusion:

While there are biomechanical data suggesting improved knee stability and more anatomic graft placement with independent drilling, no significant clinical differences were found between the 2 techniques.

Clinical Relevance:

The current evidence shows that transtibial and independent drilling techniques have equivalent clinical outcomes at short-term to midterm follow-up. The long-term effects of subtle differences in tunnel position and postoperative knee kinematics should be further studied in dedicated, prospective cohort and randomized studies.
A Randomized Controlled Trial with Bright Light and Melatonin for the Treatment of Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder
Authors: Wilhelmsen-Langeland Ane , Saxvig Ingvild W. , Pallesen Ståle , Nordhus Inger-Hilde , Vedaa Øystein , Lundervold Astri J. , Bjorvatn Bjørn
Published: October 2013

Delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD) is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder. Patients with DSPD have problems initiating sleep if they go to bed at a conventional time, and they often have problems waking at desired times. If they rise early in the morning, they usually experience severe sleepiness during morning hours. In the present study, we investigated the short- and long-term effects on measures of subjective and objective sleepiness and cognitive function of bright light and melatonin treatment alongside gradually advanced rise times in adolescents and young adults. Four treatment conditions were used in the short-term intervention (2 weeks): dim light (placebo) + placebo capsule, bright light + placebo capsule, dim light (placebo) + melatonin capsule, and bright light + melatonin capsule. This was followed by a long-term intervention (3 months) including 2 conditions: no treatment and combined bright light + melatonin treatment. Effects of treatment on sleepiness and fatigue were the primary outcome measures, and effects on cognitive function were secondary outcome measures. On a gradual advancement of the rise time schedule, all treatment conditions (bright light, melatonin, combination, and placebo) were almost equally effective in improving subjective daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and cognitive function in the 2-week study. The 2-week intervention showed no effect on objective sleepiness. Long-term treatment increased some of the positive effects seen after 2 weeks. The combined bright light and melatonin treatment improved subjective daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and cognitive function in the 3-month study. The no-treatment group returned to baseline values on most variables. In conclusion, a gradual advancement of rise times seems to produce positive effects on subjective sleepiness, fatigue, and cognitive performance during short-term treatment of patients with DSPD. However, the benefits from gradually advanced rise times seem to wear off, suggesting that the continuation of bright light and melatonin treatment is beneficial to maintain positive effects over time.
Modeling Interindividual Differences in Spontaneous Internal Desynchrony Patterns
Authors: Gleit Rebecca D. , Diniz Behn Cecilia G. , Booth Victoria
Published: October 2013

A physiologically based mathematical model of a putative sleep-wake regulatory network is used to investigate the transition from typical human sleep patterns to spontaneous internal desynchrony behavior observed under temporal isolation conditions. The model sleep-wake regulatory network describes the neurotransmitter-mediated interactions among brainstem and hypothalamic neuronal populations that participate in the transitions between wake, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and non-REM (NREM) sleep. Physiologically based interactions among these sleep-wake centers and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), whose activity is driven by an established circadian oscillator model, mediate circadian modulation of sleep-wake behavior. When the sleep-wake and circadian rhythms are synchronized, the model simulates stereotypically normal human sleep-wake behavior within the limits of individual variation, including typical NREM-REM cycling across the night. When effects of temporal isolation are simulated by increasing the period of the sleep-wake cycle, the model replicates spontaneous internal desynchrony with the appropriate dependence of multiple features of REM sleep on circadian phase. In temporal isolation experiments, subjects have exhibited different desynchronized sleep-wake behaviors. Our model can generate similar ranges of desynchronized behaviors by variations in the period of the sleep-wake cycle and the strength of interactions between the SCN and the sleep-wake centers. Analysis of the model suggests that similar mechanisms underlie several different desynchronized behaviors and that the phenomenon of phase trapping may be dependent on SCN modulation of REM sleep-promoting centers. These results provide predictions for physiologically plausible mechanisms underlying interindividual variations in sleep-wake behavior observed during temporal isolation experiments.
Genipin as a sporicidal agent for the treatment of cortical bone allografts
Authors: Reich Michael S , Kishore Vipuil , Iglesias Rodrigo , Akkus Ozan
Published: October 2013

Introduction

Microbial bioburden in bone allografts can be reduced by gamma radiation; however, the radiation compromises collagen and increases the risk of graft failure. Genipin is an agent that may reduce bioburden by chemical crosslinking without causing mechanical detriment or cytotoxicity.

Methods

To evaluate genipin’s ability to penetrate cortical bone while maintaining sporicidal activity, Bacillus subtilis spore strips were isolated between slices of bovine femoral cortical bone and immersed in genipin solutions for up to one week; spore viability was assessed with media-based assays. The mechanical effects of genipin treatment were assessed by performing three-point bending tests on genipin-treated cortical beams. Cytotoxicity studies were conducted by evaluating the adhesion and proliferation of murine MC3T3-E1 (P21) preosteoblasts on cortical bone slices which were treated with genipin and rinsed to different extents.

Results

Genipin successfully penetrated cortical bone slices and sterilized B. subtilis populations after 48 hours ( p > 0.05) and one week ( p < 0.05). Genipin-treated cortical beams demonstrated dose-dependent increases in yield strain ( p = 0.02) and resilience ( p < 0.01), whereas other mechanical properties were not affected by genipin treatment. Seeding cells onto inadequately rinsed genipin-treated bones proved cytotoxic. However, with adequate post-treatment rinsing of the residual genipin, cell adhesion and proliferation was comparable to phosphate-buffered saline-treated controls (no genipin).

Conclusions

Genipin solutions can sterilize bacterial spore populations entrapped within the continuum of bone tissue while preserving mechanical properties of bone and allowing cell adhesion and proliferation. Provided that antimicrobial effects seen with bacterial spores extend broadly to all microbial and viral species, genipin holds strong potential for bone allograft sterilization.
Assessing the Reliability and Validity of the Chinese Sexual Assault Symptom Scale (C-SASS)
Authors: Wang Chang-Hwai , Lee Jin-Chuan , Yuan Yu-Hsi
Published: October 2013

The purpose of this research is to establish and verify the psychometric and structural properties of the self-report Chinese Sexual Assault Symptom Scale (C-SASS) to assess the trauma experienced by Chinese victims of sexual assault. An earlier version of the C-SASS was constructed using a modified list of the same trauma symptoms administered to an American sample and used to develop and validate the Sexual Assault Symptom Scale II (SASS II). The rationale of this study is to revise the earlier version of the C-SASS, using a larger and more representative sample and more robust statistical analysis than in earlier research, to permit a more thorough examination of the instrument and further confirm the dimensions of sexual assault trauma in Chinese victims of rape. In this study, a sample of 418 victims from northern Taiwan was collected to confirm the reliability and validity of the C-SASS. Exploratory factor analysis yielded five common factors: Safety Fears, Self-Blame, Health Fears, Anger and Emotional Lability, and Fears About the Criminal Justice System. Further tests of the validity and composite reliability of the C-SASS were provided by the structural equation modeling (SEM). The results indicated that the C-SASS was a brief, valid, and reliable instrument for assessing sexual assault trauma among Chinese victims in Taiwan. The scale can be used to evaluate victims in sexual assault treatment centers around Taiwan, as well as to capture the characteristics of sexual assault trauma among Chinese victims.
Knowing a Sexual Assault Victim or Perpetrator
Authors: Sorenson Susan B. , Joshi Manisha , Sivitz Elizabeth
Published: October 2013

Rape awareness and prevention programs are common on college campuses and a potentially useful way to reach large numbers of young adults. One largely unexamined potential mediator or moderator of program effectiveness is the personal knowledge of student audiences. In this study, we assess the prevalence of knowing a victim and, notably, a perpetrator of sexual assault. A stratified random sample of 2,400 undergraduates was recruited for an online survey about sexual assault. A total of 53.5% participated and yielded a sample representative of the student body. Sixteen questions were modified from the Sexual Experiences Survey to assess whether participants knew a victim of any one of eight types of sexual assault. Findings indicate that students begin college with considerable personal knowledge of sexual assault victimization and perpetration. Nearly two thirds (64.5%) reported that they know one or more women who were a victim of any one of eight types of sexual assault, and over half (52.4%) reported that they know one or more men who perpetrated any of the types of sexual assault. Most students reported knowing victims and perpetrators of multiple types of assault. Knowledge varied substantially by gender and ethnicity. Students’ preexisting personal knowledge should be included in assessments of program effectiveness and, ideally, in program design.
Pharmacists’ Roles in Post-September 11th Disasters
Authors: Ford Heath , von Waldner Trina , Perri Matthew
Published: October 2013

Purpose:

To characterize the roles pharmacists have assumed in disasters and clarify the types of roles and disasters that may be less well-documented in the pharmacy literature.

Methods:

This research examines how balanced or equally proportioned role categories are in the pharmacy literature, whether pharmacy journals differ in the proportion of role categories reported, and whether journals significantly differ in the proportion of reported chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN), and natural disasters. Data coding was performed solely by the lead author using Concordance (Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts), a Web-based content analysis software, and Minitab® (version 15; Minitab, Inc; State College, Pennsylvania) for descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Pharmacy journals publishing at least 2 articles about pharmacist disaster roles from September 11, 2001 to September 30, 2011 were used in the study and were available electronically.

Results:

Chi-square analyses reveal significant differences in the weighted counts of roles, roles categorized by journal, and CBRN disasters categorized by journal.

Conclusions:

Data suggest that pharmacists may be prepared to respond to hurricanes and biological and chemical disasters in pharmaceutical supply and patient management roles. Future research should highlight efforts to prepare health systems for the effects of nuclear, radiological, and chemical disasters.
Nursing Perception of the Impact of Automated Dispensing Cabinets on Patient Safety and Ergonomics in a Teaching Health Care Center
Authors: Rochais Élise , Atkinson Suzanne , Guilbeault Mélanie , Bussières Jean-François
Published: October 2013

Purpose:

To evaluate how nursing staff felt about the impact of automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) on the safe delivery of health care and workplace ergonomics. To identify the main issues involved in the use of this technology and to describe the corrective measures implemented.

Methods:

Cross-sectional descriptive study with quantitative and qualitative components. A questionnaire that consisted of 33 statements about ADC was distributed from May 24 to June 3, 2011.

Results:

A total of 172 (46%) of 375 nurses completed the questionnaire. Nursing staff considered the introduction of ADC made their work easier (level of agreement of 90%), helped to safely provide patients with care (91%), and helped to reduce medication incidents/accidents (81%). Nursing staff was particularly satisfied by the narcotic drugs management with the ADCs. Nursing staff were not satisfied with the additional delays in the preparation and administration of a medication dose and the inability to prevent a medication from being administered when stopped on the medication administration record (48%).

Conclusion:

The nursing staff members were satisfied with the use of ADC and believed it made their work easier, promoted safe patient care, and were perceived to reduce medication incidents/accidents.
Numerical investigations of size effects on residual states of friction stir weld
Authors: Zhang Zhengwei , Zhang Zhao , Zhang Hongwu
Published: October 2013

Sequentially coupled thermo-mechanical model based on finite element method is used for simulation of friction stir welding. The relationship between the rotational speed and the heat input power is investigated. By comparison to experimental data in published literatures, the model is validated. Results indicate that the longitudinal bending curvature is increased with the decrease in the weld width. But longitudinal bending curvature is hardly changed with the variations in the weld length. A formula is established for the prediction of the maximum residual distortion.
Numerical modeling and experimental validation of curvilinear laser bending of magnesium alloy sheets
Authors: Kant Ravi , Joshi Shrikrishna N
Published: October 2013

Laser bending is an innovative technique to obtain the required bend-angle and sheet metal curvature by means of laser beam irradiation with controlled laser parameters. In this work, a numerical investigation on curvilinear laser bending of magnesium M1A aoy sheets has been carried out. Three-dimensional sequential transient thermomechanical numerical model is developed by using finite element method. The model has been validated by comparing the predicted results with those obtained in the experiments. The curvilinear laser bending process is studied in terms of temperature distribution, stress–strain distribution, bend angle and displacement at the edges. The results showed that the bend angle increases with increase in scanning path curvature. It is observed that the displacement at various edges and final shape of the worksheet are affected by the scanning path curvature. The results will be useful in adjustment and alignment processes and the generation of complex shapes using lasers.
Transmission backlash of precise cable drive system
Authors: Lu Yafei , Fan Dapeng
Published: October 2013

Precise cable drive has been developed as an alternative transmission element to gears, belts and pulleys, chains and sprockets in electro-optical tracking system. The analytical method is developed to predict the transmission backlash of precise cable drive to enable designers to better assess the precision performance in the design study phase. Slip angle of precise cable drive is studied, and the effect of the rotational velocity and inertia of cable on the force equilibrium of contact region is considered. The deformation of cable in slip region and free region is calculated respectively and theoretical formulation of transmission backlash for precise cable drive system is carried out. Parametric sensitivity is investigated to evaluate the relationship between the transmission backlash and precise cable drive parameters including preload tension, load tension, friction coefficient, center distance and output drum radius. Experimental setup is built and the transmission backlash is tested. Effect of preload tension on the transmission backlash is tested. Results show that the experimental value and the theoretical curve of the transmission backlash fit well, which validates the theoretical method developed in this article.
Bartlett’s concept of schema in reconstruction
Authors: Wagoner Brady
Published: October 2013

The concept of schema was advanced by Frederic Bartlett to provide the basis for a radical temporal alternative to traditional spatial storage theories of memory. Bartlett took remembering out of the head and situated it at the enfolding relation between organism and environment. Through an activity of “turning around upon schemata,” humans can create ruptures in their seamless flow of activity in an environment and take active control over mind and behavior. This paper contextualizes Bartlett’s concept of schema within broader theoretical developments of his time, examines its temporal dimensions in relation to embodied action and memory “reconstruction,” shows how these temporal dynamics are later abandoned by early cognitive “schema” theories which revert to the metaphor of storage, and explores strategies by which we might fruitfully bring schema back into psychology as an embodied, dynamic, temporal, holistic, and social concept.
Changes in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase 55 kDa gamma expression and subcellular localization may be caspase 6 dependent in paraquat-induced SH-SY5Y apoptosis
Authors: Zhou Y , Li F , Tian X , Wang B , Ding M , Pang H
Published: October 2013

The neurotoxin paraquat (PQ) causes apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons in mammalian cell culture and animal models, mimicking an important pathological feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway is critical for several major survival signals in central nervous system neurons. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase 55 kDa gamma ( p55PIK) is a regulatory subunit of PI3Ks with important roles in cell proliferation, antiapoptosis, and cell cycle progression. However, p55PIK involvement in mechanisms regarding progression and maintenance of neurodegenerative diseases is largely undetermined. We used PQ-induced apoptosis in human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells to investigate the association between p55PIK expression levels, subcellular location, and apoptosis. p55PIK expression was reduced in SH-SY5Y cells and p55PIK messenger RNA and protein expression levels were decreased after PQ treatment. Apoptosis induced by PQ was associated with caspase activation and decreased p55PIK expression. Restoration of p55PIK expression was observed after coincubation with a caspase inhibitor. Overexpressed full-length p55PIK in SH-SY5Y and human embryonic kidney 293 cells showed specific distribution in the nucleus and was cleaved in vitro by recombinant caspase 6 (C6), but not C3 and C7. A p55PIK construct lacking 24 N-terminal amino acids (N24) was tested for the presence of a potential C6-recognizable sequence and was found to express its proteins outside the nucleus. The results suggest that p55PIK may be involved in PQ-induced apoptosis signal transduction and that N24 is crucial for p55PIK subcellular localization. Thus, p55PIK could be a substrate of activated C6 during apoptosis, leading to loss of original biological functions and redistribution to disturb cell cycle progression.
In vivo comet assay of a novel galacto-oligosaccharide in rats
Authors: Narumi K , Takasawa H , Ohyama W , Kaneko K
Published: October 2013

A novel galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) manufactured by a two-step enzyme reaction of lactose was examined in a comet assay for its potential to induce DNA damage in vivo by estimating the DNA fragmentation level in the cellular nuclei of the glandular stomach, colon, and peripheral blood. GOS was orally administered at doses of 0 (vehicle alone), 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day to five male Crl: CD(Sprague Dawley) rats per group three times (48, 24, and 3 h before the animals were terminated). The specimens were prepared in accordance with the standard protocol (version 14.2) of the “International Validation of the In Vivo Rodent Alkaline Comet Assay for the Detection of Genotoxic Carcinogens” organized by the Japanese Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods. No significant differences in the percentage of DNA in the tail were observed between the GOS-treated groups and vehicle controls in any of the organs evaluated. Additionally, no GOS-related clinical signs or effects on body weight were seen. Based on these results, the comet assay of GOS in the glandular stomach, colon, and peripheral blood using rats was judged negative. Therefore, it is concluded that GOS did not induce DNA damage in vivo under the conditions employed in this study.
Cross-section analyses of attitudes towards science and nature from the International Social Survey Programme 1993, 2000, and 2010 surveys
Authors: Reyes Joseph Anthony L.
Published: October 2013

This paper explores public attitudes towards science and nature in twelve countries using data from the International Social Survey Programme environment modules of 1993, 2000, and 2010. Analysis of attitude items indicates technocentric and pessimistic dimensions broadly related to the Dominant Social Paradigm and New Environmental Paradigm. A bi-axial dimension scale is utilized to classify respondents among four environmental knowledge orientations. Discernible and significant patterns are found among countries and their populations. Relationships with other substantial variables in the surveys are discussed and findings show that the majority of industrialized countries are clustered in the rational ecologist categorization with respondents possessing stronger ecological consciousness and optimism towards the role of modern institutions, science, and technology in solving environmental problems.
The Silenced Citizens of Russia
Authors: Kondakov Alexander
Published: October 2013

This article draws attention to how citizenship, informed by heteronormativity, is represented in politics, judiciary and public social practices in Russia. I argue that the observed discursive reality affects construction of heteronormative citizenship that restricts full inclusion of lesbians and gay men via silencing. The ideas of the article are taken from literature on citizenship and two empirical research studies that I conducted in 2010 and 2011–2012. The first is dedicated to the uncovering of discursive effects of political argumentation in Russia. The second study centres on the accounts of lesbians and gay men themselves regarding their citizenship rights. Both studies give rise to concerns about Soviet legacy in contemporary Russian debates on homosexuality. This idea is supported by an analysis of that historical context that may be grasped from empirical studies of the Soviet.
A dynamic model that links skill acquisition with self-determination in instrumental music lessons
Authors: Küpers Elisa , van Dijk Marijn , McPherson Gary , van Geert Paul
Published: October 2013

Music education researchers have sought to clarify two fundamental issues. The first concerns ‘the extent to which musical progress is sequenced and orderly, and why some children’s progress appears to be effortless in contrast to others who struggle’ (McPherson, 2005, p. 5). The second concerns how successful learners are able to acquire the resilience needed to ‘bounce back’ despite stresses and distractions which impact on motivation and a desire to continue learning (West & Rostvall, 2003; Costa-Giomi, Flowers, & Sasaki, 2005). This article aims to contribute to research on these issues in the context of instrumental music lessons, by presenting a dynamic model linking skills acquisition (from the perspective of scaffolding theory) and self-determination theory. We argue that musical development is a transactional, dynamic process in which the scaffolding of the music student’s skills and self-determination are deeply intertwined. Within this conception, teacher-student interactions are conceptualized at the micro- and macro-level time scales, and are viewed as mutually connected. We conclude by discussing the ways in which this model can guide future research.
Validation of a Patient-Centered, Culturally Sensitive, Clinic Environment Inventory Using a National Sample of Adult Patients
Authors: Tucker Carolyn M. , Roncoroni Julia , Marsiske Michael , Nghiem Khanh N. , Wall Whitney
Published: October 2013

The purpose of this study was to determine the factor structure, internal consistency reliability, and validity of the Tucker Culturally Sensitive Health Care Clinic Environment Inventory–Patient Form (T-CSHCCEI-PF), a novel instrument designed to assess an aspect of health care often ignored in health care quality research: the cultural sensitivity of health care center policies and environment as perceived by adult, racially/ethnically diverse patients. Using ratings on this inventory by a culturally diverse national sample of adult patients ( N = 1,639) from 67 health care sites across the United States, a confirmatory factor analysis of the T-CSHCCEI-PF was conducted, and its reliability and validity were determined. The T-CSHCCEI-PF was shown to be a reliable and valid inventory for culturally diverse patients to provide feedback to the administrators at their health care centers regarding the degree to which these centers have characteristics that are reflective of patient-centered culturally sensitive health care.
Music Activities for Lemonade in Winter
Authors: Berger Cardany Audrey
Published: October 2013

Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money is a children’s book about math; however, when sharing it in the music classroom, street cries and clapping games emerge. Jenkins’ and Karas’ book provides a springboard to lessons addressing several music elements, including form, tempo, and rhythm, as well as cultural connections. Related general music activities for students in Grade 3 and older are described.
How People With Serious Mental Illness Seek Help After Leaving Jail
Authors: Blank Wilson Amy
Published: October 2013

In this study, I examined how people with serious mental illness defined and prioritized their service needs when released from jail and how these service priorities shaped the sequencing of help-seeking activities after their release. Data included ethnographic observations and interviews with the staff and clients of a mental health reentry program and responses to an open-ended questionnaire that was given to the program’s clients ( N = 115). Sixty-three percent of the clients identified housing and 35% identified financial assistance as one of their two most important service needs, whereas only 12% selected treatment services. These service priorities reflect a hierarchy in help-seeking activities postrelease in which clients’ access to treatment services was predicated on their ability to first find sustainable economic and material support. I conclude that reentry programs need to have the resources required to meet both the basic and treatment needs of people with serious mental illness leaving jail.
The Evolution of the Communities of Practice Approach
Authors: Omidvar Omid , Kislov Roman
Published: October 2013

Since its introduction by Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger in Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation in 1991, the concept of communities of practice has been widely adopted by researchers and practitioners in different fields. This has been accompanied by continuous expansion and development of the theory behind the concept. In this interview, Professor Etienne Wenger-Trayner discusses the evolution of the theory of communities of practice in his own work over the past two decades. He talks about the origins of communities of practice as a theoretical approach, identifies three phases through which this theory has evolved, and reflects on his professional trajectory as a theorist and consultant. Using his career as an example, Wenger-Trayner elaborates on the notion of knowledgeability as a relationship individuals establish with respect to a landscape of practice that makes them recognizable as legitimate actors in complex social systems.
The Effect of Coping Knowledge on Emergency Preparedness in Elementary School Students
Authors: Kim Shin-Jeong , Kang So-Ra , Lee Seung-Hee , Kang Kyung-Ah
Published: October 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of coping knowledge for emergency preparedness in Korean elementary school students. A school-based coping education program was provided seven times to 271 fourth- and fifth-grade students in two urban schools by researchers with the school nurses. The Process Model of Stress and Coping and Self-Care Deficit Theory were the theoretical frameworks used to guide this research. The Coping Knowledge for Emergency Situations Questionnaire, developed by the authors, was used to gather data. In the coping education group, there was statistically significant improvement in the coping knowledge ( t = 4.589, p < .001) from that of the control group ( n = 270). The results highlight the importance of emergency preparedness for elementary school students and the need to develop educational programs for various emergency situations.
Social Recommendation, Source Credibility, and Recency
Authors: Xu Qian
Published: October 2013

A 2 (number of diggs: a few, many) × 2 (source credibility: low, high) × 2 (recency: more recent, less recent) between-subjects experiment was conducted to explore how three news cues individually and interactively affected perception of credibility, newsworthiness, click likelihood, and sharing behavioral intentions toward the news feed on a social bookmarking website. The findings indicated that social recommendation in the form of number of diggs was the primary factor to influence perceived news credibility and click likelihood. The influence of source credibility was dependent upon the effect of other cues. There was also a cue-cumulation effect of source credibility and recency on perceived newsworthiness.