bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate-Response Element–Binding Protein Mediates the Proangiogenic or Proinflammatory Activity of Gremlin
Authors: Corsini Michela , Moroni Emanuela , Ravelli Cosetta , Andrés Germán , Grillo Elisabetta , Ali Imran H. , Brazil Derek P. , Presta Marco , Mitola Stefania
Published: November 2013

Objective—

Angiogenesis and inflammation are closely related processes. Gremlin is a novel noncanonical vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) ligand that induces a proangiogenic response in endothelial cells (ECs). Here, we investigated the role of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate-response element (CRE)–binding protein (CREB) in mediating the proinflammatory and proangiogenic responses of ECs to gremlin.

Approach and Results—

Gremlin induces a proinflammatory response in ECs, leading to reactive oxygen species and cyclic adenosine monophosphate production and the upregulation of proinflammatory molecules involved in leukocyte extravasation, including chemokine (C-C motif) ligand-2 (Ccl2) and Ccl7, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand-1 (Cxcl1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Accordingly, gremlin induces the VEGFR2-dependent phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and transactivating activity of CREB in ECs. CREB activation mediates the early phases of the angiogenic response to gremlin, including stimulation of EC motility and permeability, and leads to monocyte/macrophage adhesion to ECs and their extravasation. All these effects are inhibited by EC transfection with a dominant-negative CREB mutant or with a CREB-binding protein–CREB interaction inhibitor that competes for CREB/CRE binding. Also, both recombinant gremlin and gremlin-expressing tumor cells induce proinflammatory/proangiogenic responses in vivo that are suppressed by the anti-inflammatory drug hydrocortisone. Similar effects were induced by the canonical VEGFR2 ligand VEGF-A
165
.

Conclusions—

Together, the results underline the tight cross-talk between angiogenesis and inflammation and demonstrate a crucial role of CREB activation in the modulation of the VEGFR2-mediated proinflammatory/proangiogenic response of ECs to gremlin.
Translation of Human Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor-β mRNA Is Controlled by Alternative Splicing Within the 5′ Untranslated Region
Authors: Ellery Paul E.R. , Maroney Susan A. , Martinez Nicholas D. , Wickens Marvin P. , Mast Alan E.
Published: November 2013

Objective—

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) blocks the initiation of coagulation by inhibiting TF-activated factor VII, activated factor X, and early prothrombinase. Humans produce two 3′ splice variants, TFPIα and TFPIβ, which are differentially expressed in endothelial cells and platelets and possess distinct structural features affecting their inhibitory function. TFPI also undergoes alternative splicing of exon 2 within its 5′ untranslated region. The role of exon 2 splicing in translational regulation of human TFPI isoform expression is investigated.

Approach and Results—

Exon 2 splicing occurs in TFPIα and TFPIβ transcripts. Human tissue mRNA analysis uncovered a wide variability of exon 2 expression. Polysome analysis revealed a repressive effect of exon 2 on TFPIβ translation but not on TFPIα. Luciferase reporter assays further exposed strong translational repression of TFPIβ (90%) but not TFPIα. Use of a Morpholino to remove exon 2 from TFPI mRNA increased cell surface expression of endogenous TFPIβ. Exon 2 also repressed luciferase production (80% to 90%) when paired with the β-actin 3′ untranslated region, suggesting that it is a general translational negative element whose effects are overcome by the TFPIα 3′ untranslated region.

Conclusions—

Exon 2 is a molecular switch that prevents translation of TFPIβ. This is the first demonstration of a 5′ untranslated region alternative splicing event that alters translation of isoforms produced via independent 3′ splicing events within the same gene. Therefore, it represents a previously unrecognized mechanism for translational control of protein expression. Differential expression of exon 2 denotes a mechanism to provide temporal and tissue-specific regulation of TFPIβ-mediated anticoagulant activity.
Probabilistic considerations of the growth and detection of delaminations for repeated impact on composites
Authors: Cohen ML , Achenbach JD
Published: November 2013

Repeated impact of foreign bodies on laminated composites may give rise to delamination damage. In this paper, experimental information is employed to formulate a growth law for delamination damage in terms of the impact energy per impact and number of impacts. The growth of regions of delamination is considered a stochastic problem, and hence the growth law is placed in a probabilistic setting by considering the evolution of a probability density function of delamination damage as the number of impacts increases. For a specific number of impacts, this formulation is used to determine the probability of a delamination in a selected range of delamination sizes. The formulation has been extended to include the effect of probability of detection as well as the effect of variable impact energy according to a probability density function. Finally, random variation of impact location is taken into account by the equivalent effect of a discrete probability function for the number of impacts at a fixed location.
Preparation, structure, and properties of the coir fiber/polypropylene composites
Authors: Zaman Haydar U , Beg MDH
Published: November 2013

Coir fiber–reinforced polypropylene-based unidirectional composites were prepared by compression molding. Mechanical properties like tensile strength, tensile modulus and impact strength of the resulting composites were found to be increasing with increase in the loading of coir fibers, reached an optimum and thereafter decreased with further increase in fiber loading. Based on fiber loading, 30 wt% fiber-reinforced composites had the optimum set of mechanical properties. After alkali treatment of coir fiber, tetramethoxy orthosilicate treatment was conducted to promote adhesion between coir fiber and polypropylene matrix. Treatment of the coir fiber with tetramethoxy orthosilicate after the alkali pre-treatment enhanced the mechanical properties and water desorption of the resultant composites, resulting from the improved adhesion between the coir fiber and polypropylene matrix. These results were also confirmed by the scanning electron microscope observations of tensile fracture surfaces of coir fiber/polypropylene composites. The interfacial shear strength of the composites was also measured using a single-fiber fragmentation test and a microbond test.
Development of novel polysaccharide derived hybrid microcellular biocomposite and evaluation of cytotoxicity
Authors: Ghosh Subrata B , Bandyopadhyay-Ghosh Sanchita , Sain Mohini M
Published: November 2013

Polysaccharide has become one of the most promising resources to substitute synthetic plastics because of its wide abundance, renewability, low cost and near-zero carbon footprint. In this work, a novel polysaccharide-derived biopolymer has been investigated as a potential candidate in developing hybrid biocomposite foam. Through the study of microcellular morphology and thermal degradation behaviour, an optimised processing methodology was identified. A synergistic technique of ball milling of modified biopolymer granules and two-step foam processing resulted in achieving reduced particle sizes, narrower particle size distribution and improved dispersion of biopolymer, which in turn resulted in enhanced microcellular morphology within the hybrid biocomposite foam. Considering the renewed interest for such bio-based materials and their potential use as reinforcements and fillers, a much needed study was undertaken to assess its health safety in terms of in vitro biocompatibility and cytotoxicity. The results from the studies indicated that modified biopolymer did not pose any health safety risks and were non-cytotoxic.
Effect of SiO2 amount on microstructures and tensile properties of alumina short fiber-reinforced composites by low-pressure infiltration method
Authors: Lee Moonhee , Choi Yongbum , Matsugi Kazuhiro , Sasaki Gen , Kelimu Tulugan
Published: November 2013

The tensile properties of two types of alumina (Al2O3 and Al2O3–SiO2) and short fiber-reinforced A366 alloy composite created by low-pressure infiltration have been studied. The applied pressure and temperature of molten alloy are 0.4 MPa and 1073 K, respectively. The composite containing 10 vol.% of fiber preform was sectioned and the microstructure was observed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Tensile properties of Al2O3 fiber-reinforced A366 alloy composites were investigated, in conjunction with investigation of effects of amounts of SiO2 sol added as binder to fabricated preform and effects of changed chemical composition of Al2O3 fiber. The composite with SiO2 sol of 8 mass% has higher relative density in comparison with composite with SiO2 sol of 2 mass%. SiO2 sol raised the relative density of composite by the reaction with aluminum. In addition, the ultimate tensile strength of composite which has Al2O3 fiber-reinforced A366 alloy composite containing SiO2 sol of 8 mass% was approximately 20% higher than that of Al2O3–SiO2 fiber-reinforced A366 alloy composite containing SiO2 sol of 8 mass%.
Empirically Based Profiles of the Early Literacy Skills of Children With Language Impairment in Early Childhood Special Education
Authors: Justice Laura , Logan Jessica , Kaderavek Joan , Schmitt Mary Beth , Tompkins Virginia , Bartlett Christopher
Published: November 2013

The purpose of this study was to empirically determine whether specific profiles characterize preschool-aged children with language impairment (LI) with respect to their early literacy skills (print awareness, name-writing ability, phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge); the primary interest was to determine if one or more profiles suggested vulnerability for future reading problems. Participants were 218 children enrolled in early childhood special education classrooms, 95% of whom received speech-language services. Children were administered an assessment of early literacy skills in the fall of the academic year. Based on results of latent profile analysis, four distinct literacy profiles were identified, with the single largest profile (55% of children) representing children with generally poor literacy skills across all areas examined. Children in the two low-risk categories had higher oral language skills than those in the high-risk and moderate-risk profiles. Across three of the four early literacy measures, children with language as their primary disability had higher scores than those with LI concomitant with other disabilities. These findings indicate that there are specific profiles of early literacy skills among children with LI, with about one half of children exhibiting a profile indicating potential susceptibility for future reading problems.
Evidence-Based Processes in an Era of Recovery
Authors: Anthony William A. , Mizock Lauren
Published: November 2013

Evidence-based practice initiatives pertaining to helping people recover from severe mental illnesses have designated certain practices as evidence-based (e.g., supported employment, intensive case management) due to their ability to generate positive outcomes in randomized trials. These practices are often described mostly in terms of their program structures, such as staffing or caseload size. However, evidence-based practice initiatives would benefit from deliberately integrating the factors in the helping process that can occur within each program, and which other mental health research has shown to foster change and growth (i.e., relationship variables, skill teaching strategies, hope-engendering techniques). This article overviews the research underlying those evidence-based helping processes that have often been overlooked in the study of evidence-based practices with respect to interventions for people with severe mental illnesses. Implications for policy and rehabilitation counseling are addressed to expand the evidence base to include evidence-based processes for rehabilitation counseling and research.
State Unemployment Rates and Vocational Rehabilitation Outcomes
Authors: Chan Jacob Yuichung , Wang Chia-Chiang , Ditchman Nicole , Kim Jeong Han , Pete Joseph , Chan Fong , Dries Bradley
Published: November 2013

General labor market condition is an important contextual factor influencing employment opportunities and outcomes for people with disabilities and is particularly significant given the recent economic recession. Yet, longstanding data analytic strategies have focused only on individual predictors rather than the dynamic interaction among individual level and organizational/environmental level variables, such as considering the role of labor market conditions. This study used the Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report (RSA-911) data for fiscal years 2005 and 2009 to represent two distinct time periods, one before and one during the U.S. economic recession, respectively. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine the relationship between state unemployment rate and its interaction with personal factors influencing the employment outcomes of people with disabilities receiving state vocational rehabilitation services. Results found negligible between-state differences, but state unemployment rates were found to moderate the relationships between some demographic variables and successful competitive employment vocational rehabilitation (VR) case closure. Specifically, the significance and magnitude of those effect sizes varied by general economic context. These findings call attention for the need to consider the role of contextual variables, such as state unemployment rates, and their impact on the predictive strength of specific demographic and disability variables on employment outcomes for people with disabilities.
The Uyo Trauma Registry–developed for sustainable audit of trauma care and cause in Nigeria
Authors: Nottidge Timothy E , Dim Maduakonam , Udoinyang Clement I , Udoh Isaac A
Published: November 2013

The Cape Town Trauma Registry (CTTR) was developed as a minimum data set for low-resource settings and was applied in a southern Nigerian tertiary hospital. Based on the outcome of the study, the CTTR was modified to produce the Uyo Trauma Registry. Using the CTTR, data was obtained prospectively from injured patients who presented to the Accident and Emergency Department of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital over a 7 week period in June and July 2012. The final data set was determined based on the ease of capture of each item and its relative importance to injury surveillance. The goal for satisfactory data capture was chosen as ≥80%. The Uyo Trauma Registry has 19 patient-variable items and may be the first locally relevant hospital based injury surveillance tool in Nigeria. The Uyo Trauma Registry has provided the resource constrained setting in Nigeria with a simplified tool in order to sustainably obtain trauma data and thus engage in objective locally relevant efforts at injury prevention and improved care of the injured patient.
Comments on ‘Novel multidrug therapy for disseminated rhinosporidiosis, refractory to dapsone – case report’
Authors: Bhat Vadisha
Published: November 2013

Disseminated rhinosporidiosis can be successfully treated with multidrug therapy. Orally administered drugs can take longer to reach the affected areas in the presence of haemorrhage, oedema and inflammation. Wherever possible, surgical excision followed by drug therapy would be more effective.
Violations of Assumptions in School-Based Single-Case Data
Authors: Solomon Benjamin George
Published: November 2013

A wide variety of effect sizes (ESs) has been used in the single-case design literature. Several researchers have “stress tested” these ESs by subjecting them to various degrees of problem data (e.g., autocorrelation, slope), resulting in the conditions by which different ESs can be considered valid. However, on the back end, few researchers have considered how prevalent and severe these problems are in extant data and as a result, how concerned applied researchers should be. The current study extracted and aggregated indicators of violations of normality and independence across four domains of educational study. Significant violations were found in total and across fields, including low levels of autocorrelation and moderate levels of absolute trend. These violations affect the selection and interpretation of ESs at the individual study level and for meta-analysis. Implications and recommendations are discussed.
An Investigation of Interpersonal Ties in Interorganizational Exchanges in Emerging Markets
Authors: Huang Ying , Luo Yadong , Liu Yi , Yang Qian
Published: November 2013

This study examines personal ties between boundary-spanning personnel in interorganizational exchanges in emerging markets. Drawing on social embeddedness theory and boundary spanning theory, we propose that strong ties between boundary spanners may benefit exchange parties in their interorganizational relationships through two heightened boundary-spanning behaviors—information processing and external representation. The results from 225 manufacturer–distributor dyads in China indicate that interpersonal ties at the higher levels (between top executives) and at the lower levels (between salespersons and individual buyers) are both positively associated with relationship quality of the buyer–supplier relationship through dyadic boundary-spanning behaviors. Between two levels of interpersonal ties, ties at the lower levels exhibit a stronger association with relationship quality than do ties at the higher levels. Furthermore, the positive effects of interpersonal ties on conflict resolution and cooperation are amplified when both levels of ties are strong in the focal relationship.
Race and the Use of Local Initiatives in American Cities
Authors: Filla Jackie A. , DeLong Deborah F.
Published: November 2013

This article examines the influence of constituent demographics on the frequency and success of local initiative contests. We find that local initiatives are more common and more successful in cities with higher levels of white racial prevalence, but that racial diversity replaces these effects as racially homogenous cities will qualify and pass more initiatives. We also find that racial diversity interacts with population size as the most qualified initiatives occur in larger racially homogenous cities. These findings contribute to our understanding of how modern racial relations in American cities may impact the growing prevalence of direct democracy in municipal politics.
The Costs of Cooperation
Authors: Carr Jered B. , Hawkins Christopher V.
Published: November 2013

Service collaborations often must confront risks arising from problems of coordination, division, and defection. U.S. scholars have focused on understanding the efficacy of three general strategies to reducing these risks. First, the use of adaptive and restrictive contracts to reduce the risks from service characteristics has received a lot of attention. Second, scholars have studied how the use of different institutional arrangements reduces the risks of collaborative service provision. Third, attention has been devoted to understanding how the social networks of administrators and elected officials mitigate risk in sharing services. This article concludes with suggestions for future research on this topic.
The mediation of distant suffering: an empirical contribution beyond television news texts
Authors: Scott Martin
Published: November 2013

This article draws on the results of a large-scale audience study to examine how audiences respond to mediated encounters with distant suffering on UK television. The research involved two phases of focus groups separated by a two-month diary study. Research participants’ mediated experiences of distant suffering were generally characterised by indifference and solitary enjoyment, with respect to distant and dehumanised distant others. However, the results also signal that, in various ways, non-news factual television programming offers spectators a more proximate, active and complex mediated experience of distant suffering than television news.
Murine Models of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Authors: DeVoss Jason , Diehl Lauri
Published: November 2013

Animal models of human disease are a critical tool in both basic research and drug development. The results of preclinical efficacy studies often inform progression of therapeutic candidates through the drug development pipeline; however, the extent to which results in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) models predict human drug response is an ongoing concern. This review discusses how murine models are currently being used in IBD research. We focus on the considerations and caveats for commonly used models in preclinical efficacy studies and discuss the value of models that utilize specific pathogenic pathways of interest rather than model all aspects of human disease.
An Integrative Approach to Apprehend Desistance
Authors: F.-Dufour Isabelle , Brassard Renée , Martel Joane
Published: November 2013

The process underlying desistance is still a strong subject of debate. This article seeks to introduce several core concepts of Archer’s morphogenic approach to study how people desist from crime. At first, it discusses the primary existing theories of desistance. Then, this article demonstrates the usefulness of this approach by presenting empirical evidence drawn from semistructured interviews collected with 29 men who desisted from crime in an eastern province of Canada. The study demonstrates how this alternative approach allows for the consolidation of existing knowledge on desistance. Then implication of these findings for both theory and practice are discussed.
Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness
Authors: Liket Kellie C. , Maas Karen
Published: November 2013

In the face of increased accountability pressures, nonprofits are searching for ways to demonstrate their effectiveness. Because meaningful tools to evaluate effectiveness are largely absent, financial ratios are still the main indicators used to approximate it. However, there is an extensive body of literature on determinants of nonprofit effectiveness. In this study, we test the extent to which these assertions in the literature align with practitioner views. To increase the practical value of our comparative exercise, we create a self-assessment survey on the basis of the practices that find support in both academia and practice. This provides managers with a tool to assess the extent to which the identified practices are present in their organizations and with suggestions, which might lead to improvements in their effectiveness. Intermediaries can use the tool to provide better information to donors. Funders can use it in their selection of grantees, and capacity-building efforts.
A self-decoupled three-axis force sensor for measuring the wheel force
Authors: Lin Guoyu , Pang Han , Zhang Weigong , Wang Dong , Feng Lihang
Published: November 2013

The wheel force transducer is an important device in the automotive testing field which can measure the force or torque applied to the wheel. Because existing wheel force transducers are almost commercial products, they are too expensive and technical information about them has not been made public; this slows down the development of the wheel force transducer to a certain extent. Accordingly a three-axis wheel force transducer is presented in this paper which is self-decoupled without calculating the decoupling matrix in theory. Its elastic body has a spoke structure with eight elastic beams, which means that it is easy to fabricate. This paper first introduces the overall elastic body structure of the proposed wheel force transducer. Then the strain gauge arrangement, the principle of strain measurement, the connection modes of the bridge circuits and the rotation decoupling principle for Fx and Fz are analysed, and the self-decoupled characteristics are depicted in detail. Finally, to verify the validity of the designed wheel force transducer, three kinds of experiment are carried out. In the static experiments the static performance and the self-decoupled characteristics of the wheel force transducer are verified; in the dynamic tests, a vehicle dynamics test system is adopted to verify the accuracy of the wheel force transducer in the dynamic environment; in road tests, the sensor is installed in the vehicle to verify whether the output of the proposed wheel force transducer can reflect the variation in the force applied to the wheel in practical applications. The results shows the following: first, the maximum non-linearity error, the maximum hysteresis error and the maximum repeatability error of the proposed wheel force transducer are 0.9% of the full scale, 1.1% of the full scale and 0.5% of the full scale respectively; second, the static coupling rate is about 0.08%, which means that the designed wheel force transducer is self-decoupled in theory; third, the proposed wheel force transducer can measure Fx, Fz and My effectively in real applications.
Assessment of the Impact of a Workplace Intervention to Reduce Prolonged Occupational Sitting Time
Authors: Cooley Dean , Pedersen Scott , Mainsbridge Casey
Published: November 2013

We aim to provide a better picture of the outcomes associated with implementing a nonpurposeful, physical activity, e-health intervention in a professional workplace. There is a need for health professionals to evaluate physical-activity-based workplace health interventions with a full range of measures. Using a social ecological model as a basis, we identify a range of subjective outcomes from 15 interviews of a cross section of participants. We document that not only did participants report a range of positive outcomes across multiple systems of influence, but they experienced some negative outcomes because of disruption to work flow and a changing of work habit. We conclude that using subjective evaluations provides a comprehensive picture of the factors that influence judgments of the efficacy of a workplace health intervention.
A new formulation to study in-plane vibration of curved carbon nanotubes conveying viscous fluid
Authors: Karami Hanieh , Farid Mehrdad
Published: November 2013

Shortly after the discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the existence of differently shaped CNTs other than straight ones was predicted theoretically. Recently photomicrographic images show that CNTs are not actually straight but have significant curvature. This aspect was mostly neglected in previous studies on CNTs’ dynamic behavior. In this paper a new formulation governing the in-plane motion of curved CNTs conveying viscous fluid is derived to study their in-plane free vibration. In this formulation the fluid is considered to be viscous and the size effects of nanotubes are also taken into consideration through nonlocal elasticity theory. In this study CNT is modeled as a hollow cylindrical tube and the moving fluid inside is modeled as a plug flow characterized by its mass density, viscosity, and mean velocity. The new formulation is used to study the vibration and instability characteristics of curved and wavy carbon nanotubes. Using finite element analysis it is shown that the nonlocal parameter, the viscosity of fluid, and also the curvature have considerable effects on the natural frequency and critical flow velocity of carbon nanotubes. Also the effect of boundary conditions on natural frequency and critical flow velocity is studied.
Proportional-integral-derivative control of rigid rotor-active magnetic bearing system via eigenvalue assignment for decoupled translational and conical modes
Authors: Jeon Han-Wook , Lee Chong-Won
Published: November 2013

Proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control has been widely adopted for stable and reliable operation of rigid rotors supported by a pair of active magnetic bearing systems. Conventional centralized PID control methods manipulate the feedback gains in prescribed forms until they achieve the desired control performance. In this study, an eigenvalue assignment for decoupled translational and conical modes is proposed in the complex domain to yield a unique PID controller in a closed form, preserving the isotropic bearing characteristics. The eigenvalue assignment necessitates the constraints required for decoupling of the translational and conical whirl motions from the complex equation of motion written in the center of gravity coordinates of the rigid rotor. The complex equation of motion integrates the rigid rotor and electro-magnetic control force models defined in two different coordinate systems by utilizing complex coordinate transformation relations. A flywheel energy storage system is taken as a simulation example in order to demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed eigenvalue assignment. The simulation results show that the eigenvalue assignment algorithm is superior to conventional control methods at systematically ensuring sufficient stability margins for the lightly-damped and unstable conical modes.
Do 5-Year-Old Children Perform Dual-Task Coordination Better Than AD Patients?
Authors: Sebastian Maria Victoria , Hernández-Gil Laura
Published: November 2013

Objective: A cross-sectional study was carried out to examine the pattern of changes in the capacity to coordinate attention between two simultaneously performed tasks in a group of 570 volunteers, from 5 to 17 years old. Method: The results revealed that the ability to coordinate attention increases with age, reaching adult values by age 15 years. Also, these results were compared with the performance in the same dual task of healthy elderly and Alzheimer disease (AD) patients found in a previous study. Results: The analysis indicated that AD patients showed a lower dual-tasking capacity than 5-year-old children, whereas the elderly presented a significantly higher ability than 5-year-old children and no significant differences with respect to young adults. Conclusion: These findings may suggest the presence of a working memory system’s mechanism that enables the division of attention, which is strengthened by the maturation of prefrontal cortex, and impaired in AD.
Tweeting #Palestine: Twitter and the mediation of Palestine
Authors: Siapera Eugenia
Published: November 2013

This article is concerned with the relationship between social media and Palestinian politics, focusing specifically on #Palestine. The theoretical background is that of mediation, which understands the relationship as a dialectical one, in which producers/users and contents are part of an ongoing cycle, feeding into, and consequently changing each other. In empirical terms, this article collected and analysed 7557 tweets with the hashtag Palestine. The findings and analysis suggest that the mediation of #Palestine involves the co-construction of a subjective, positioned and emotionally charged #Palestine by a multitude of users, but who are quite similar in their ideological positioning vis-a-vis Palestine. Further, this mediation involves a redistribution of power over the representation of #Palestine from mainstream media that focus on ‘hard’ news to activist, positioned, experience-based and affective news and other content on Palestine.
The impact of classroom settings on students’ seat-selection and academic performance
Authors: Haghighi Mohammad Moslemi , Jusan Mahmud Bin Mohd
Published: November 2013

Lack of proper architectural factors based on students’ viewpoint has created various unpleasant situations within the academic environment. The purpose of this inquiry is to investigate how classroom physical setting impacts learners’ seat-selection to enhance their performance according to gender; furthermore, path model was generated to verify the influence of achievement motivation and architectural features on learners’ performance. A quantitative method was employed to achieve learners’ requirements from 370 public high school students in Shiraz, Iran. Based on cluster sampling, 165 girls and 205 boys were selected from thirteen high schools. The first questionnaire comprised five-point Likert-type scales evaluating classroom architectural items in traditional row and column seating arrangement. A second student evaluation was carried out through achievement motivation survey. The results indicated that semi-flexible features such as a subscale of Direct-Architectural elements could influence student performance in boys group during their seat-selection. According to Indirect-Architectural elements, visual factor and aural factor were emphasized as effective features on learners’ performance in terms of seating given by boy and girl students, respectively. Consequently, the effect of achievement motivation and Direct-Architectural elements on learner performance was approved by the fitness indices of path model and Indirect-Architectural elements acted as a mediator factor.
A computational fluid dynamics study on the effects of computer fan on indoor airflow and indoor air quality in breathing zone
Authors: Zhuang Rui Ning , Li Xiangdong , Tu Jiyuan
Published: November 2013

Although desktop computers have been considered in many computational fluid dynamics (CFD) indoor simulations, they were usually simplified as hot boxes. A real desktop computer, however, is not only a heat source but also a momentum source due to the jet airflow generated by the computer case fan. The airflow induced by a desktop case fan could have the same order of magnitude as the ventilation rate of the whole room, and thus is expected to have significant influence upon the indoor airflow field and distribution of contaminants. Obviously, the simplification of desktop computer into a hot box does not sufficiently stand for the actual situation. In this study, a CFD model of a typical office room was built and simulations were conducted to investigate the airflow field and volatile organic compounds (VOC) distribution under two scenarios: (1) computer as a ‘hot box’ without a fan and (2) a more realistic computer model with an operating case fan. The comparison of CFD results yielded from these two scenarios demonstrated that the role of computer fan is very important in terms of airflow field and contaminant distribution and should be included in CFD office simulations for the purpose of improved reliability.
No ordinary ethics
Authors: Lempert Michael
Published: November 2013

‘Ordinary ethics’ suggests that everyday discursive interaction – interaction mediated by actual language use – has tacit ethical dimensions. This line of inquiry is productive for the anthropology of ethics and has the potential to reframe long-standing language-based research on everything from conversational turn-taking to politeness displays, but what does it mean to speak of discursive practice as a locus for ethical life? To what extent is the ethical inscribed in the ground-rules of interaction, or conditioned from below (e.g. biologically-based cooperative predispositions) or from without (e.g. culturally-institutionalized moralities)? The presumption that ethics is immanent in practice continues to distract from the problem of how to narrate, and theorize, the entanglements of discourse and ethics.
The subject that is not one: On the ethics of mysticism
Authors: Faubion James D
Published: November 2013

Any anthropological approach to ethics that gives a central place to subjects and the positions they might occupy is obliged sooner or later to address an apparent paradox, instances of which are widespread. They occur in those many ethical systems that valorize a condition that can hardly be characterized without equivocation: the subject that is not one. We commonly think of such a (non-)subject as a mystic. A useful starting point in coming to terms with the mystic rests in the distinctive place in which he or she typically stands in relation to any given ethical domain – a place decidedly not at the center, at the axial conjunction that the ethical Everyperson occupies. Victor Turner’s treatment of liminality provides a useful analytical precedent, but it does not of itself adequately clarify either the specific ethical difference or the specific ethical function of mysticism as such. Crucial to both is the mystic’s generation in practice of what turns out to be a very real paradox of self-reference, the thinking and acting out of the proposition that ‘this ethics is not an ethics’. The upshot is that the mystic as (non-)subject confronts the ethical system in which or by which he or she resides with its logical and its social incompleteness. No wonder, then, that mystics are rarely beloved of ethical absolutists, whose absolutism – by their very being, and whether or not wittingly – they call into question. No wonder, on the other hand, that moral-ethical liberals so often find them beyond the pale. The ethical paradox of the mystic is insuperable – but all the more socioculturally significant in being so.
Knowledge and the politics of culture: An example from New Zealand’s higher education policy and practice
Authors: Rata Elizabeth
Published: November 2013

This paper examines how, and with what effect, the policies and practices of the Maori Tertiary Education Framework enact the legislative requirement that New Zealand universities acknowledge the Treaty of Waitangi. The existence of these policies is explained in terms of elite emergence within the retribalizing context of New Zealand’s cultural politics. A culturalist discourse justifies the bounded nature of the two socio-political entities – the revived tribes and the government – and creates privileging brokerage mechanisms within which the elite emerges as a result of its representative function. Two of these mechanisms are the production of indigenous knowledge and controls over research. The claim that indigenous knowledge is an ideology in support of the tribal elite is justified by theorizing a fundamental difference between disciplinary knowledge and social knowledge (i.e. culture). Accordingly, the inclusion of indigenous epistemology and methodologies into the university compromises academic freedom by institutionalizing cultural politics in the university.
Beyond class: The many facets of Gramsci’s theory of intellectuals
Authors: Olsaretti Alessandro
Published: November 2013

Gramsci’s theory of intellectuals is widely cited but rarely closely studied. This article makes a case for a rereading of this theory. This is both desirable and necessary because, as the article shows, it is a more nuanced and yet also encompassing theory than recognized in current scholarship on the sociology of intellectuals, and it actually has much to contribute to a comprehensive modern sociology of intellectuals. This is chiefly by the way it took class into account while transcending it. Far from being limited to a description of intellectuals as class-bound, Gramsci’s theory in fact also saw intellectuals as class-less and a class-in-themselves. It also took into account intrinsic qualities of intellectual production and can contribute to questions in subaltern studies and the study of counter-hegemony.
Constructing a “democratic” dreamworld: Carnival cruise ships and an aesthetic of optimism
Authors: Kolberg Stephanie
Published: November 2013

The democratization of leisure cruising via Carnival Cruise Lines, from an elite option for the wealthy to an increasingly popular mass-market vacation for all, demonstrates the desire for an aesthetic of pleasure and accessibility that meshes particularly well with late 20th-century myths of classlessness in the United States, and with constructs of American national identity that favor and uplift notions of non-pretentiousness, playfulness, and inclusiveness. Utilizing historical overview, the critical analysis of promotional literature and other company-generated materials, and participant observation, I argue that Carnival cruise ships embody an aesthetic of overflowing juxtaposition and freneticism that seeks to symbolically annihilate class differences and redistribute power by enacting neoliberal fantasies of freedom, access, and democracy as enacted in the marketplace. Carnival cruise ships can be seen as representing a desire for collectivity and community in the face of splintering marketplaces and increased segmentation.
Sophie’s story: writing missing journeys
Authors: Parr Hester , Stevenson Olivia
Published: November 2013

‘Sophie’s story’ is a creative rendition of an interview narrative gathered in a research project on missing people. The paper explains why Sophie’s story was written and details the wider intention to provide new narrative resources for police officer training, families of missing people and returned missing people. We contextualize this cultural intervention with an argument about the transformative potential of writing trauma stories. It is suggested that trauma stories produce difficult and unknown affects, but ones that may provide new ways of talking about unspeakable events. Sophie’s story is thus presented as a hopeful cultural geography in process, and one that seeks to help rewrite existing social scripts about missing people.
Automatic recognition of hull transverse sections and rapid finite element modelling for cargo hold longitudinal structures
Authors: Lin Wei , Zhu Gongquan , Tang Youhong , Zhao Chengbi , Liu Xu , Wang Chuan , Qiu Ang
Published: November 2013

For rapid modelling of ship structure and sharing of product data for a computer-integrated manufacturing system in shipbuilding, this research proposes a data exchange method between two-dimensional drawings and three-dimensional finite element models. The report of the research is followed by appropriately planning the structure of the extracted data based on the Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data. A set of rules for two-dimensional feature recognition is established, and then the method for the extraction of graphic and non-graphic design information from two-dimensional drawings of transverse sections is presented. An algorithm for rapid modelling of the longitudinal hull structure is proposed, based on data extracted from the transverse sections. This algorithm bypasses the geometric modelling stage required in traditional manual modelling, exclusively making use of the extracted information. The proposal also enriches data exchange, greatly reduces human error in modelling and consequently improves the accuracy of the finite element modelling for the shipbuilding industry.
Unseen Battles
Authors: Morris E. Ellen , Smith Julia C. , Farooqui Sharjeel Yonus , Surís Alina M.
Published: November 2013

While there is increasing attention on sexual violence in the military, the focus has been primarily on women. There is very little information regarding the effects of and treatment for men who experience military sexual trauma (MST). The aim of this article is to consolidate the known information about men with MST including prevalence rates, factors that affect those rates, gender differences, medical and psychiatric sequelae, and finally a review of two experimental studies. Implications for future research, practice, and policy are also discussed.
Comparison of an Intensive Pharmacist-Managed Telephone Clinic With Standard of Care for Tobacco Cessation in a Veteran Population
Authors: Chen Timothy , Kazerooni Rashid , Vannort Erin M. , Nguyen Khanh , Nguyen Stacey , Harris Jessica , Bounthavong Mark
Published: November 2013

Purpose. To evaluate the effectiveness of the Pharmacist-Managed Telephone Tobacco Cessation Clinic (PMTTCC) compared to the standard of care (SOC) at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. Method. A retrospective cohort study was performed investigating the proportion of veterans who quit smoking at 6 months while enrolled in the PMTTCC. Chart review was performed using the Veterans Affairs Computerized Patient Record System. The PMTTCC group included patients who had received medication and counseling from the tobacco cessation pharmacists. The cohort was compared to a matched SOC group who did not receive counseling, only tobacco cessation medication therapy through a primary care provider. The primary outcome for this study was patient-reported tobacco cessation at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were abstinence at 1 and 3 months. Results. A total of 1,006 patients were included in the analysis, 503 patients from the PMTTCC and 503 patients from SOC. The overall study population was 54 years old on average, 92.5% male, 70.0% Caucasian, 45.5% with history of psychiatric conditions, and had an average smoking history of 33-pack years. Patients in the PMTTCC group had statistically significant improvements in abstinence at 6 months versus the SOC group (81/503, 16.1% vs. 48/503, 9.5%; p < .0001). Quitters were older on average versus non-quitters (56.03 vs. 53.65 years; p = .01). Conclusion. Patients enrolled in the PMTTCC had improved tobacco abstinence rates at 6 months compared to SOC. Although the study was not designed to test for causality, the results lend support for using intensive tobacco cessation management in veteran population.
Scutellaria Barbata D Don Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Growth via Suppression of Multiple Signaling Pathways
Authors: Lin Jiumao , Chen Youqin , Cai Qiaoyan , Wei Lihui , Zhan Youzhi , Shen Aling , Sferra Thomas J. , Peng Jun
Published: November 2013

The pathogenic mechanisms underlying cancer development are complex and heterogeneous, involving multiple cellular signaling transduction pathways that usually function redundantly. In addition, crosstalk between these pathways generates a complicated and robust signaling network that is regulated by compensatory mechanisms. Given the complexity of cancer pathogenesis and progression, many of the currently used antitumor agents, which typically target a single intracellular pathway, might not always be effective on complex tumor systems. Moreover, long-term use of these agents often generates drug resistance and toxicity against normal cells. Therefore, the development of novel anticancer chemotherapies is urgently needed. Scutellaria barbata D Don (SB) is a medicinal herb that has long been used in China to treat various types of cancer. We previously reported that the ethanol extract of SB (EESB) is able to induce colon cancer cell apoptosis, inhibit cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis via modulation of several pathways, including Hedgehog, Akt, and p53. To further elucidate the precise mechanisms of SB’s antitumor activity, using a colorectal cancer (CRC) mouse xenograft model in the present study, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy and molecular mechanisms of EESB against tumor growth. We found that EESB reduced tumor volume and tumor weight but had no effect on body weight gain in CRC mice, demonstrating that EESB could inhibit colon cancer growth in vivo without apparent adverse effect. In addition, EESB treatment could significantly suppress the activation of several CRC-related pathways, including STAT3, Erk, and p38 signalings in tumor tissues, and alter the expression of multiple critical target genes such as Bcl-2, Bax, Cyclin D1, CDK4, and p21. These molecular effects lead to the induction of cancer cell apoptosis and inhibition of cell proliferation. Our findings demonstrate that SB possesses a broad range of antitumor activities because of its ability to affect multiple intracellular targets.
Gated Communities for the Rich and the Poor
Authors: Dinzey-Flores Zaire Zenit
Published: November 2013

Sociologist Zaire Zenit Dinzey-Flores discusses how the concentration of class and racial privilege in gated communities takes place alongside the spatial concentration and confinement of the poor. She argues that gates help sort and segregate people, physically and symbolically distinguish communities, and cement inequality.