bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
College Admissions and Academic Ethic
Authors: Wooten Melissa E.
Published: April 2014

This study investigates how the college readiness of participants in a compensatory program designed to facilitate interest in science and engineering was determined. Archival data were used to qualitatively analyze the performance reports of 205 student participants during the compensatory program’s first 5 years. Findings indicate participants were evaluated favorably for maintaining a positive disposition toward coursework regardless of their actual numeric scores. Consequently, many participants, whose numeric scores made them less viable candidates, were recommended for admission to college. Because 95% of the students participating in the program were African American, this article highlights how context-specific evaluation can reduce biases encountered by this population when colleges rely on traditional measures of achievement to determine college readiness.
Relationships Between Commuting and Social Capital Among Men and Women in Southern Sweden
Authors: Mattisson Kristoffer , Håkansson Carita , Jakobsson Kristina
Published: April 2014

The societal need for a mobile workforce increases time spent commuting and thus also the total workday. How this affects individual well-being and social life is, however, surprisingly little known. We investigated the relation between commuting time and mode, and social participation and general trust in other people as measures of social capital, using data from public health surveys conducted in 2004 and 2008 in Scania, Sweden: in all, 21,088 persons ages 18 to 65 and working at least 30 hr per week. Commuting by car was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of low social participation and low general trust compared with active commuting, and the association increased with the duration of commuting time. In contrast, public commuting was not significantly associated with decreased social capital measures except among long-duration commuters, who reported lower social participation. The overall pattern was similar for men and for women.
Low temperature effect on single and repeated impact behavior of woven glass-epoxy composite plates
Authors: Icten Bulent Murat
Published: April 2014

This study deals with the determination of the response of woven glass-epoxy composites to the single and repeated impact loading at room temperature and at −50℃. Single impacts were performed at various energies up to perforation took place and the characteristics such as contact force, contact duration, deflection, and absorbed energy were obtained. In addition, some low energy values were selected for the repeated impact tests. The maximum contact force and absorbed energy versus repeat numbers were given. It was found that temperature is extremely important for determining the response of the composite subjected to single and repeated impact loadings.
Guidance Matters
Authors: Carpenter Bradley W. , Diem Sarah
Published: April 2014

Despite the federal government’s historical effort to ensure educational equity via policies targeting issues critical to U.S. urban cities, a transformation has taken place in the discourses shaping educational policy solutions. While policies targeting educational equity have not completely vanquished, they have been largely re-written by discourses of efficiency and accountability. Informed by Hajer’s notion of policy vocabularies, this article highlights how the written inscription of equity-related discourses within documents used to guide leadership preparation may shape the ways in which programs consider the construction of curricula focused on issues related to equity.
Superstar or Scholar? African American Male Youths’ Perceptions of Opportunity in a Time of Change
Authors: Conchas Gilberto Q. , Lin Alex R. , Oseguera Leticia , Drake Sean J.
Published: April 2014

Through a Multiple Marginality Framework, this exploratory case study highlights how African American male youth in an urban high school setting perceive the opportunity structure during the historic election of the first African American President. Youth optimism generated by Obama’s election gives students a sense of hope despite the persistent inequality they face in inner-city communities and schools. Findings suggest that the pervasive influence of both structural and cultural factors—such as poverty, racial ideology, racial tracking in schools, and street socialization—help explain students’ aspirations and constrained expectations to pursue professional athletics. The implications of this study call for a reemphasis on the relevancy of school and community factors and influences in improving the perceptions of opportunity for African American males.
If You Want It, You Can Get It Right Here
Authors: Lavin Melissa F.
Published: April 2014

There is a burgeoning body of sociological literature that focuses on strip clubs and the club actors therein; most notably, strippers. Most of this scholarly work has emphasized interactions between strippers and customers, the deployment of stigma management strategies in order to neutralize deviantizing interactions and identities, gender performances and hierarchies, power, inequality and social control, and socialization processes associated with becoming dancers. While scholars have paid some attention to drugs and alcohol in the locale, they have paid little attention to how drug and alcohol use relates to the spatial organization and material culture of the strip club, the relationship between stigma and where club actors use illicit drugs, and how using certain drugs contributes to discreditable identities of already stigmatized workers. By centralizing accounts of setting actors through interviewing to supplement my complete participant fieldworker role, I build ideas about context-specific drug and alcohol use, power, and the ecology of drugs.
Networked technologies as emotional resources? Exploring emerging emotional cultures on social network sites such as Facebook and Hi5: a trans-cultural study
Authors: Köhl Margarita Marie , Götzenbrucker Gerit
Published: April 2014

This trans-cultural study deals with the question whether social network sites (SNS)may be considered ‘third places’, where young people find an unrestricted space for self-expression and reflection apart from formal environments (such as universities) and parental control, as well as whether the perception and adoption of such services varies among different cultural communities. To assess these questions, group discussions, qualitative interviews ( n = 25) and an online survey ( n = 757) were conducted in Thailand and Austria. While all of the respondents use SNS for lifelogging – storing and sharing life experience – the perception of emotional third-place qualities of SNS varies among young people living in Thailand and Austria. The findings show that some effects related to emotional aspects of technology usage might result from the stage of diffusion of technology, while aspects of emotional experience and expression might be influenced by cultural models.
Automatic identification of light stop words for Persian information retrieval systems
Authors: Sadeghi Mohammad , Vegas Jesús
Published: April 2014

Stop word identification is one of the most important tasks for many text processing applications such as information retrieval. Stop words occur too frequently in documents in a collection and do not contribute significantly to determining the context or information about the documents. These words are worthless as index terms and should be removed during indexing as well as before querying by an information retrieval system. In this paper, we propose an automatic aggregated methodology based on term frequency, normalized inverse document frequency and information model to extract the light stop words from Persian text. We define a ‘light stop word’ as a stop word that has few letters and is not a compound word. In the Persian language, a complete stop word list can be derived by combining the light stop words. The evaluation results, using a standard corpus, show a good percentage of coincidence between the Persian and English stop words and a significant improvement in the number of index terms. Specifically, the first 32 Persian light stop words have a great impact on the index size reduction and the set of stop words can reduce the number of index terms by about 27%.
Assessing learners’ writing skills in a SLA study: Validating the rating process across tasks, scales and languages
Authors: Huhta Ari , Alanen Riikka , Tarnanen Mirja , Martin Maisa , Hirvelä Tuija
Published: April 2014

There is still relatively little research on how well the CEFR and similar holistic scales work when they are used to rate L2 texts. Using both multifaceted Rasch analyses and qualitative data from rater comments and interviews, the ratings obtained by using a CEFR-based writing scale and the Finnish National Core Curriculum scale for L2 writing were examined to validate the rating process used in the study of the linguistic basis of the CEFR in L2 Finnish and English. More specifically, we explored the quality of the ratings and the rating scales across different tasks and across the two languages. As the task is an integral part of the data-gathering procedure, the relationship of task peformance across the scales and languages was also examined. We believe the kinds of analyses reported here are also relevant to other SLA studies that use rating scales in their data-gathering process.
Venture capitalist and entrepreneur knowledge of new venture internationalization: A review of knowledge components
Authors: Park Sarah , LiPuma Joseph A , Prange Christiane
Published: April 2014

This article offers a review of conceptual and empirical research on knowledge components during the process of new venture internationalization. A framework is developed to illustrate different knowledge components that constitute ‘international knowledge’. We focus specifically upon the interface between entrepreneur and venture capitalist knowledge respectively. Propositions are developed in relation to these knowledge components; based on our framework and the related propositions, suggestions for future research activities are outlined. Finally, we offer insights for managers and investors in the development of their internationalization strategy.
Higher prevalence of migraine in essential tremor: A case–control study
Authors: Hu Yueqing , Tang Wenjing , Liu Ruozhuo , Dong Zhao , Chen Xiaoyan , Pan Meiyan , Yu Shengyuan
Published: April 2014

Background

The existence of an association between migraine and essential tremor has long been controversial. The prevalence of migraine in essential tremor patients was surveyed to explore the association between the two diseases.

Methods

A case–control clinical study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of migraine in 150 consecutive essential tremor patients and in 150 matched controls without tremor. Detailed information about essential tremor and migraine was obtained using a structured questionnaire at a face-to-face interview. Moreover, a functional variant of the dopamine receptor D3 gene (Ser9Gly, rs6280) was studied in 46 essential tremor patients with and without migraine using direct sequencing analysis.

Results

The prevalence of lifetime migraine in essential tremor patients was significantly higher than that in controls (22.0% vs. 12.7%; p = 0.035; odds ratio = 1.95; 95% confidence interval = 1.05–3.60). No significant difference was found in the migraine features between the essential tremor and control groups and most tremor characteristics were no different in essential tremor patients with and without migraine. A higher male prevalence of essential tremor patients without migraine was observed. Moreover, 44 of 46 (95.7%) essential tremor patients had the dopamine receptor D3 Ser9Gly variant, but no significant difference was found in the frequencies of the variant between essential tremor patients with and without migraine (87.5% vs. 100.0%; p = 0.22).

Conclusion

Our data suggest that essential tremor patients have a higher risk of lifetime migraine than do controls and the dopamine receptor D3 Ser9Gly variant may be lower in essential tremor with migraine than the general essential tremor patients.
Major and Minor League Baseball Hamstring Injuries
Authors: Ahmad Christopher S. , Dick Randall W. , Snell Edward , Kenney Nick D. , Curriero Frank C. , Pollack Keshia , Albright John P. , Mandelbaum Bert R.
Published: April 2014

Background:

Hamstring strains are a recognized cause of disability for athletes in many sports, but no study exists that reports the incidence and circumstances surrounding these injuries in professional baseball.

Hypothesis:

Professional baseball players have a high incidence of hamstring strains, and these injuries are influenced by multiple factors including history of hamstring injury, time period within the season, and activity of base running.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiologic study.

Methods:

For the 2011 season, injury data were prospectively collected for every Major League Baseball (MLB) major and minor league team and recorded in the MLB’s Injury Surveillance System. Data collected for this study included date of injury, activity in which the player was engaged at the time of injury, and time loss. Injury rates were reported in injuries per athlete-exposure (A-E). Athlete-exposures were defined as the average number of players on a team who were participating in a game multiplied by the number of games.

Results:

In the major leagues, 50 hamstring strains were reported for an injury rate (IR) of 0.7 per 1000 A-Es and averaged 24 days missed. In the minor leagues, 218 hamstring strains were reported for an IR of 0.7 per 1000 A-Es and averaged 27 days missed. Base running, specifically running to first base, was the top activity for sustaining a hamstring strain in both major and minor leagues, associated with almost two-thirds of hamstring strains. Approximately two-thirds of these injuries in both the major and minor leagues resulted in more than 7 days of time loss. Approximately 25% of these injuries kept the player out for 1 month or longer. History of a previous hamstring strain in the prior year, 2010, was found in 20% of the major league players and 8% of the minor league players. In the major leagues, the month of May had a statistically significant higher frequency of hamstring injuries than any other month in the season ( P = .0153).

Conclusion:

Hamstring strains are a considerable cause of disability in professional baseball and are affected by history of hamstring strain, seasonal timing, and running to first base.
Initiation of Breastfeeding and Factors Associated with Prelacteal Feeds in Central Nepal
Authors: Karkee Rajendra , Lee Andy H. , Khanal Vishnu , Binns Colin W.
Published: April 2014

Background:

Prelacteal feeds and delayed initiation of breastfeeding may lead to undernutrition of the infant but are still prevalent in many countries.

Objective:

A prospective cohort community-based study was conducted in central Nepal to ascertain the rate of early breastfeeding initiation and factors associated with the introduction of prelacteal feeds.

Methods:

Breastfeeding information was collected from 639 women who recently gave birth in the Kaski district of central Nepal. Backward stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with the use of prelacteal feeds.

Results:

The incidence of prelacteal feeds was 9.1%, with infant formula being the most common prelacteal food. Approximately 67% and 90% of mothers breastfed within 1 hour and 4 hours of delivery, respectively. Women who reside in urban areas (odds ratio [OR] = 2.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35-5.39), first-time mothers (OR = 2.15; 95% CI, 1.15-4.02), and those who underwent cesarean section (OR = 10.10; 95% CI, 5.47-18.67) were more likely to give prelacteal feeds to their infants.

Conclusion:

The early initiation of breastfeeding with colostrum as the first feed was common in the study area. The introduction of prelacteal feeds was associated with urban residency, first-time motherhood, and cesarean delivery.
Tensile and bending properties of biaxial weft-knitted and cross-ply thermoplastic composites
Authors: Demircan Ozgur , Ashibe Shinsuke , Kosui Tatsuya , Nakai Asami
Published: April 2014

In this study, within the scope of experiments, two kinds of biaxial weft-knitted (BWK) fabrics with aramid (AR) and polyamide 66 (PA66) stitch fibers were used as reinforcement systems to fabricate thermoplastic composites with PA66 resin yarn. Then final composite became BWK with AR stitch yarn and cross-ply. The mechanical properties of composites were investigated by conducting tensile and three-point bending tests on specimens. In all specimens, PA66 was commingled with AR yarn. AR was used as reinforcement. In preliminary studies, AR unidirectional composites with AR/PA66 commingled fibers and with various twisting angles were produced and appropriate twisting angle was found by conducting tensile and three-point bending impact tests on specimens. Because of the higher volume fraction of the cross-ply composites, tensile and three-point bending properties of the cross-ply composite structures had higher than the BWK composites with the AR stitch yarn.
Inflammation and Coagulation as Mediators in the Relationships Between Religious Attendance and Functional Limitations in Older Adults
Authors: Hybels Celia F. , George Linda K. , Blazer Dan G. , Pieper Carl F. , Cohen Harvey J. , Koenig Harold G.
Published: April 2014

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine inflammation and coagulation, which are positively linked to disability and inversely linked to increased religious attendance, as mediators in the cross-sectional relationships between religious attendance and functional status. Method: Frequency of attendance and limitations in basic activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities (IADLs), and mobility were assessed in 1,423 elders. Results: More frequent attendance was associated with fewer ADL, IADL, and mobility limitations, and with lower levels of inflammation and coagulation including interleukin-6, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule, and D-dimer. Inflammation and coagulation partially mediated the associations between attendance and function. Eight percent of the effect of attendance on ADL ( p = .014), 5% of the effect on IADL ( p = .003), and 8% of the effect on mobility ( p = .001) limitations were due to inflammation and coagulation. Discussion: Relationships between attendance and function may be due in part to lower levels of inflammation and coagulation among elders who attend services.
Basic characterization and investigation of a fluorinated terpolymer in pure state and in mixtures with kaolinite at solid interphases of thin films prepared by facile solution cast and nonsolvent methods
Authors: Ok Salim , Sadaf Shamaila , Walder Lorenz
Published: April 2014

In this work, both basic characterization and solution cast thin films of a fluorinated terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), hexafluoropropylene (HFP), and vinylidene fluoride (VDF), known as THV, are studied. Thermal analysis of the terpolymer depicted a broad melting temperature, and thermal degradation started at 170 K above the melting temperature. Solution fluorine 19 nuclear magnetic resonance results revealed that THV 221G has higher TFE content than those of HFP and VDF. Increase in water contact angle is observed in thin films prepared from THV in pure state by the more specific nonsolvent preparation technique. By the same specific method, a similar increase is seen in thin films prepared from mixtures of polymer and kaolinite. Upon mixing the terpolymer of THV with hydrophilic kaolinite, a natural mineral, it is still possible to obtain rough and hydrophobic surfaces. The highest contact angle was obtained upon using the facile nonsolvent approach. Further, preparing the thin films with the addition of the hydrophilic mineral did not change the hydrophobic character of the films.
Influence of interference fit size on hole deformation and residual stress in hi-lock bolt insertion
Authors: Jiang Jiefeng , Bi Yunbo , Dong Huiyue , Ke Yinglin , Fan Xintian , Du Kunpeng
Published: April 2014

The interference fit can improve the fatigue performance of mechanical joints and is widely used in aircraft assembly. In this paper, specimens of lap plates and several interference fit sizes were designed, and then the interference fit hi-lock bolt insertion was carried out in an experimental test. Using the commercial finite element software ABAQUS, a two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element model was established to simulate the bolt insertion process. The finite element model was validated by comparison of experimental results and finite element prediction for insertion force and protuberance height. After the interference fitted bolt insertion, the changing characteristics of the non-uniform hole expansion and protuberance were presented with increases in interference fit size. Under low level of interference fit, the tensile hoop stress was produced mainly on the hole wall, and changed into compressive hoop stress when interference fit size is larger. The maximum tensile hoop stress point on faying surfaces went away from the hole wall with interference fit size increasing.
Shear force–based method and application for real-time monitoring of moving vehicle weights on bridges
Authors: Helmi Karim , Taylor Todd , Ansari Farhad
Published: April 2014

A new approach for monitoring the weight of trucks in motion using the bridge response is introduced in this article. The proposed technique is based on the use of strain rosettes for acquisition of shear strains near bridge supports. Bridge weigh-in-motion monitoring using shear force is a new approach that differs from the prevailing techniques based on the measurement of flexural strains. Formulations are introduced using the shear force response of the bridge in the computation of gross vehicle weights. The method requires truck speeds, influence lines, and shear force responses for the computation of gross vehicle weight. All these are acquired by two sets of rosette sensors attached in series on the webs of bridge girders. An experimental program was designed to evaluate the response of the proposed approach in real-time monitoring of moving truck weights. This was accomplished by instrumentation and load testing of a two-span prestressed concrete box girder bridge by a calibrated truck. Field test results are presented and compared with the actual weight of the calibrated truck.
Experiencing Wellness Within Illness
Authors: Doran Natasha J.
Published: April 2014

In this article I explore how mindfulness-based techniques affect perceptions and management of back pain and discuss these findings in relation to embodiment theory and liminality. Sixteen volunteers attending Breathworks for persistent back pain took part in this study. The theme of “embodied awareness” formed the core category, as all participants reported a change in their experience of pain. Such embodied changes are described in relation to five subthemes: unpacking the pain experience, changing relationship to pain, letting go of the label, self-compassion and acceptance, and wellness within illness. Learning to respond rather than react, and living moment by moment enabled participants to replace a cycle of suffering with one of acceptance. Rather than fearing pain, participants found ways to move through it and live with it. Although some expressed finding a sense of wellness despite ongoing pain, all participants reported greater acceptance and a better quality of life.
Pain Management for Persons Living With HIV Disease
Authors: Alexander Carla S. , Pappas Gregory , Henley Yvonne , Kangalawe Angela Kaiza , Oyebola Folaju Olusegun , Obiefune Michael , Nwene Ejike , Stanis-Ezeobi Winifred , Enejoh Victor , Nwizu Chidi , Nwandu Anthea Nwandu , Memiah Peter , Etienne-Mesubi Martine , Oni Babatunji , Amoroso Anthony , Redfield Robert R.
Published: April 2014

Context:

Pain management (PM) has not been routinely incorporated into HIV/AIDS care and treatment in resource-constrained settings.

Objectives:

We describe training for multidisciplinary teams tasked with integrating care management into HIV clinics to address pain for persons living with HIV in Nigeria.

Methods:

Education on PM was provided to mixed-disciplinary teams including didactic and iterative sessions following home and hospital visits. Participants identified challenges and performed group problem solving.

Results:

HIV trainers identified barriers to introducing PM reflecting views of the patient, providers, culture, and the health environment. Implementation strategies included (1) building upon existing relationships; (2) preliminary advocacy; (3) attention to staff needs; and (4) structured data review.

Conclusion:

Implementing PM in Nigerian HIV clinics requires recognition of cultural beliefs.
End-of-Life Issues in UK Medical Schools
Authors: Dickinson George E. , Paul Elizabeth S.
Published: April 2014

Objective:

A descriptive study to determine the current status of end-of-life (EOL) issues in UK medical schools.

Methods:

A brief questionnaire was mailed to the 31 medical schools in the United Kingdom in the spring of 2013. Data analysis consisted of frequency distributions.

Results:

All schools offered some exposure to the topic of dying, death and bereavement, and palliative care, although the orientation had increased somewhat from an earlier study in 2000. The palliative medicine specialist and the nurse specialist in palliative care are the most consistent members of the team. Most schools have hospice participation, with time spent with a hospice patient increasing over the period.

Discussion:

Data suggest that UK medical schools have addressed EOL issues. These findings should have significance for medical schools considering changes in their EOL offerings.
Romantic Jealousy From the Perspectives of Bowen’s Concept of Differentiation and Gender Differences
Authors: Lans Omer , Mosek Atalia , Yagil Yaron
Published: April 2014

This study explores whether differentiation of the self, a concept suggested by Bowen, can explain and predict the tendency for romantic jealousy. It also looks into gender differences in the expressions and reactions to romantic jealousy. Data were gathered from married couples (242 participants), utilizing self-report questionnaires that measure emotional, cognitive, and behavioral expressions of jealousy, evaluate the respondent’s level of differentiation, and collect background data. The findings show that participants with lower levels of differentiation reported higher levels of jealousy. Women reported higher levels of emotional arousal, had a stronger cognitive tendency to interpret a variety of situations as arousing jealousy, and were inclined to invest more in attempting to preserve the couple relationship. Implications of these findings for future research and practice of clinical couple therapy are discussed.
Collage as Analysis
Authors: Holbrook Teri , Pourchier Nicole M.
Published: April 2014

In this article, the authors take up the question of what they do when they do analysis in post-qualitative research contexts. Working as a/r/tographers who see their artist/researcher/teacher practices as simultaneous and non-hierarchical, they use theory, writing, and collaging to think beyond work produced by “positivist, scientific storytellers.” Art-making within inquiry becomes a rigorous articulation process through which sense (rather than meaning) is tentatively fabricated. The article includes a three-part assemblage that conveys how the authors articulate thought through pieced fragments of data in ongoing movements of hoarding, mustering, and folding, the aim of which is not to conclude with answers but to pause, gather energy, and invite comments until questions spur them on again.
Testing the degradation effects of three reagents on various antineoplastic compounds
Authors: Gohma Hiroshi , Inoue Yoshio , Asano Mika , Sugiura Shin-Ichi
Published: April 2014

Objective

Studies for decontamination of antineoplastic compounds have been conducted for decades. Nevertheless, recent studies indicate the contamination of work place in hospitals, and the exposure of workers. In this study, to develop an effective cleaning method for contaminated environments, the degradation efficacies of antineoplastic compounds by reagents were evaluated.

Methods

The degradation efficacies of various combinations of three reagents (sodium hypochlorite, sodium thiosulfate, and sodium hydroxide) were evaluated with four antineoplastic compounds (cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, cisplatin, and carboplatin). The residues of antineoplastic compounds were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography.

Results

Of the three reagents, sodium hypochlorite was the most effective to all antineoplastic compounds used in this study. Although sodium hypochlorite degraded 86.6% of cyclophosphamide, it degraded other three antineoplastic compounds completely. The combination with sodium hypochlorite and sodium thiosulfate degraded only 3.3% of cyclophosphamide, since sodium thiosulfate inhibited the degradation ability of sodium hypochlorite. Similarly, the combinations used in all three reagents failed to degrade cyclophosphamide.

Conclusion

Although three of four antineoplastic compounds were degraded successfully, any combinations of three reagents could not degrade cyclophosphamide completely. However, the addition of sodium thiosulfate which inhibits the corrosion of metal by sodium hypochlorite is essential for daily cleaning. Therefore, the evaluation of reaction time before the addition of sodium thiosulfate may be required. We will continue to investigate the reagents for degradation.
Aflatoxin B1-Induced Reproductive Toxicity in Male Rats
Authors: Supriya Ch. , Girish B. P. , Reddy P. Sreenivasula
Published: April 2014

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), one of the most common mycotoxins found in human foods, is principally hepatotoxic; however, it also affects reproduction. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the reproductive toxic effects and possible mechanism of action of AFB1 in rats. Male Wistar rats were injected intramuscularly with doses of 10, 20, or 50 µg AFB1/kg body weight on alternate days from 45 to 100 days of age. Significant reductions in body weights, relative weights of reproductive organs, daily sperm production, epididymal sperm count, viable sperm, motile sperm, and hypoosmotic swelling-tail coiled sperm were observed. Significant decreases in testicular steroidogenic enzymes and serum testosterone levels were also observed indicating decreased steroidogenesis. In silico docking studies illustrated AFB1 binds with steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein thereby affecting the transport of cholesterol into mitochondria resulting in decreased steroidogenesis.
The Moderating Effect of Organizational Environment on Post-IPO Corporate Governance Changes and Firm Performance Relationship
Authors: Atinc Guclu , Ocal Yasemin
Published: April 2014

In this study, we investigated the possible moderating effects of environmental dynamism, environmental complexity, and environmental munificence on the relationships between changes in top management teams and board of directors and firm performance in the case of young entrepreneurial firms. The results showed that the three dimensions of environment do not moderate the relationship between the rate of change in top management teams and firm performance. On the other hand, the negative relationship between the rate of change in board of directors and firm performance is exacerbated by environmental complexity and munificence. The implications of these findings are discussed in the article.
“It all comes down to the leadership”
Authors: Barr Jenny , Saltmarsh Sue
Published: April 2014

Parent-school engagement is widely understood to be an important factor in children’s school experience and educational outcomes. However, there is considerable variation in the ways that schools manage their relationships with parents, as well as variation in what parents themselves view as important for engagement with their children’s schooling. In a qualitative study conducted with parents in urban, outer metropolitan, regional and rural areas of the Australian state of New South Wales, we found that parents considered the attitudes, communication and leadership practices of school principals to play a crucial role in fostering and maintaining relationships between parents and schools. These findings suggest that despite policy rhetorics positioning schools and parents as ‘partners’ in the educational equation, parents are more likely to be engaged with schools where the principal is perceived as welcoming and supportive of their involvement, and less likely to be engaged where the principal is perceived as inaccessible, dismissive or disinterested in supporting their involvement.
Kinin B1 receptor regulates interactions between neutrophils and endothelial cells by modulating the levels of Mac-1, LFA-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1
Authors: Figueroa Carlos D , Matus Carola E , Pavicic Francisca , Sarmiento Jose , Hidalgo Maria A , Burgos Rafael A , Gonzalez Carlos B , Bhoola Kanti D , Ehrenfeld Pamela
Published: April 2014

Kinins are pro-inflammatory peptides that mimic the cardinal features of inflammation. We examined the concept that expression levels of endothelial intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and neutrophil integrins Mac-1 and LFA-1 are modulated by the kinin B1 receptor (B1R) agonist, Lys-des[Arg9]bradykinin (LDBK). Stimulation of endothelial cells with LDBK increased the levels of ICAM-1 mRNA transcripts/protein, and also of E-selectin and platelet endothelial adhesion molecule-1. ICAM-1 levels increased in a magnitude comparable with that produced by TNF-α. This stimulatory effect was reduced when endothelial cells, which had been previously transfected with a B1R small interfering RNA, were stimulated with LDBK, under comparable conditions. Similarly, LDBK produced a significant increase in protein levels of LFA-1 and Mac-1 integrins in human neutrophils, an effect that was reversed by pretreatment of cells with 10 µg/ml cycloheximide or a B1R antagonist. Functional experiments performed with post-confluent monolayers of endothelial cells stimulated with LDBK and neutrophils primed with TNF-α, and vice versa, resulted in enhanced adhesiveness between both cells. Neutralizing Abs to ICAM-1 and Mac-1 reduced the adhesion between them. Our results indicate that kinin B1R is a novel modulator that promotes adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells, critically enhancing the movement of neutrophils from the circulation to sites of inflammation.
The potential for macitentan, a new dual endothelin receptor antagonist, in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Steriade Alexandru , Seferian Andrei , Jaïs Xavier , Savale Laurent , Jutant Etienne-Marie , Parent Florence , Sitbon Olivier , Humbert Marc , Simonneau Gerald , Montani David
Published: April 2014

In recent years in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) represent a well-established class of therapeutic agents with clear beneficial effects. Macitentan (Opsumit®), a dual ERA optimized for efficacy and safety, is the newest drug in the class. Macitentan presents a number of key beneficial characteristics, including increased in vivo preclinical efficacy versus existing ERAs, resulting from sustained receptor binding and physicochemical properties that allow enhanced tissue penetration. The clinical pharmacokinetics studies also indicated a low predilection of macitentan for drug–drug interactions. In the SERAPHIN trial, a phase III long-term study of PAH, macitentan significantly reduced morbidity and mortality by 45% versus placebo, providing sustained long-term improvements in exercise capacity. No association was found between changes in exercise capacity and long-term clinical outcomes, but improved cardiopulmonary hemodynamics were recorded in macitentan-treated patients irrespective of baseline background PAH therapy or World Health Organization functional class. Based on these favorable data, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the 10 mg/day dose in late 2013 and the same process has recently been concluded by the European Medicines Agency.
Bicolumnar 90-90 Plating of Low-Energy Distal Humeral Fractures in the Elderly Patient
Authors: Leigey Daniel F. , Farrell Dana J. , Siska Peter A. , Tarkin Ivan S.
Published: April 2014

Fragility fractures of the distal humerus in elderly patients, especially the low transcondylar fracture pattern, can be difficult to optimally manage. Although the fractures are typically low energy resulting in either extra-articular or simple intra-articular patterns, gaining fixation into the distal fragments can be difficult with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) using traditional 90-90 or parallel plating techniques. Anatomy preserving reconstruction with ORIF is preferred over total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) if possible. In this study, 15 patients were managed with a bicolumnar 90-90 plating construct as a novel method of enhancing distal fixation in these fractures. Fourteen patients went on to radiographic union at an average of 77 days after surgery with an average arc of motion of 105°. One patient was lost to follow-up. Bicolumnar 90-90 plating of distal humerus fractures in elderly patients may represent a viable alternative to traditional ORIF or TEA.
Targeted mutagenesis using CRISPR/Cas system in medaka
Authors: Ansai Satoshi , Kinoshita Masato
Published: April 2014

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) system-based RNA-guided endonuclease (RGEN) has recently emerged as a simple and efficient tool for targeted genome editing. In this study, we showed successful targeted mutagenesis using RGENs in medaka, Oryzias latipes. Somatic and heritable mutations were induced with high efficiency at the targeted genomic sequence on the DJ-1 gene in embryos that had been injected with the single guide RNA (sgRNA) transcribed by a T7 promoter and capped RNA encoding a Cas9 nuclease. The sgRNAs that were designed for the target genomic sequences without the 5′ end of GG required by the T7 promoter induced the targeted mutations. This suggests that the RGEN can target any sequence adjacent to an NGG protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequence, which occurs once every 8 bp. The off-target alterations at 2 genomic loci harboring double mismatches in the 18-bp targeting sequences were induced in the RGEN-injected embryos. However, we also found that the off-target effects could be reduced by lower dosages of sgRNA. Taken together, our results suggest that CRISPR/Cas-mediated RGENs may be an efficient and flexible tool for genome editing in medaka.
Protein tyrosine phosphatase PTPN9 regulates erythroid cell development through STAT3 dephosphorylation in zebrafish
Authors: Bu Ye , Su Fuqin , Wang Xu , Gao Hai , Lei Lei , Chang Nannan , Wu Qing , Hu Keping , Zhu Xiaojun , Chang Zhijie , Meng Kun , Xiong Jing-Wei
Published: April 2014

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) such as SHP-1, SHP-2 and CD45 are involved in hematopoiesis, but the function of many PTPs is not well characterized in vivo. Here we have identified Ptpn9a, an ortholog of human PTPN9, as a crucial regulator of erythroid cell development in zebrafish embryos. ptpn9a, but not ptpn9b, was expressed in the posterior lateral plate mesoderm and intermediate cell mass, two primitive hematopoietic sites during zebrafish embryogenesis. Morpholino-mediated knockdown of ptpn9a depleted erythrocytes by inhibiting erythroid cell maturation without affecting erythroid proliferation and apoptosis. Consistently, both dominant-negative PTPN9C515S and PTPN9 siRNA inhibited erythroid differentiation in human K562 cells. Mechanistically, depletion of PTPN9 in zebrafish embryos in vivo or K562 cells in vitro increased phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3), and the hyper-phosphorylated STAT3 entrapped and prevented GATA1 and ZBP-89 from regulating erythroid gene expression. These findings imply that PTPN9 plays an important role in erythropoiesis by disrupting an inhibitory complex of pSTAT3, GATA1 and ZBP-89, providing new cellular and molecular insights of ptpn9a into developmental hematopoiesis.
Vancomycin iontophoresis of allograft bone
Authors: Edmondson M. C. , Day R. , Wood D.
Published: April 2014

Objectives

The most concerning infection of allografts and operative procedures is methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and no current iontophoresed antibiotics effectively combat this microbe. It was initially hypothesised that iontophoresis of vancomycin through bone would not be effective due to its large molecular size and lack of charge. The aim of this study was to determine whether this was a viable procedure and to find the optimum conditions for its use.

Methods

An iontophoresis cell was set up with varying concentrations of Vancomycin within the medulla of a section of sheep tibia, sealed from an external saline solution. The cell was run for varying times, Vancomycin concentrations and voltages, to gain information on optimisation of conditions for impregnating the graft. Each graft was then sectioned and dust ground from the exposed surface. The dust was serially washed to extract the Vancomycin and concentrations measured and plotted for all variables tested.

Results

Vancomycin was successfully delivered and impregnated to the graft using the iontophoresis technique. The first order fit to the whole data set gave a significant result (p = 0.0233), with a significant concentration (p = 0.02774) component. The time component was the next most significant (p = 0.0597), but did not exceed the 95% confidence level.

Conclusions

Iontophoresis is an effective method for delivering Vancomycin to allograft bone. The concentrations of the vancomycin solution affected the bone concentration, but results were highly variable. Further study should be done on the effectiveness of delivering different antibiotics using this method. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2014;3:101–7.
Conceito moderno da "doença de Duplay"
Authors: Souza J. P. Marcondes de
Published: April 2014

O autor procura demonstrar que o termo "periartrite", criado por Duplay, é impróprio, já que esta condição, em geral, constitui parte apenas de lesões que, na sua maioria, são bem diferenciadas. Depois de breve apanhado anátomo-fisiológico, divide as lesões do ombro em: 1) tendinite do supra-espinhoso e bursite subdeltóidea; 2) rotura do ten dão do supra-espinhoso; 3) afecções do tendão longo do bíceps; 4) formação periarticular de aderências; "ombro congelado". A respeito de cada um dêsses grupos faz considerações de ordem etiopatológica, clínica e terapêutica, realçando, nesta última parte, a importância da novocainização, da prova da anestesia, da exploração cirúrgica pela via transacromial e dos exercícios pendulares cuidadosamente realizados sob direta orientação do médico.
Evolução favorável de um caso de cisticercose cerebral observado durante 10 anos
Authors: Pupo Paulo Pinto , Reis J. Baptista dos
Published: April 2014

O caso apresentado refere-se a uma paciente, observada ininterruptamente desde os 5 anos até aos 14 anos de idade, cuja moléstia evoluiu para a cura clínica completa. O quadro inicial caracterizou-se pelo aparecimento de crises convulsivas de tipo bravais-jacksoniano reiteradas, em menina anteriormente sadia, que havia sido portadora de tênia. A radiografia do crânio foi normal, porém o exame do liqüido cefalorraqueano revelou hipercitose, com presença de eosinófilos em algumas amostras, aumento das proteínas e, mais particularmente, das globulinas, além de positividade da reação de fixação de complemento para cisticercos, possibilitando assim o diagnóstico etiológico. O curso clínico foi acompanhado cuidadosamente com exames clínicos e do líquor cada 6 meses. Foram feitos tratamento geral anticonvulsivante (hidantoinatos e barbitúricos) e terapêutica visando em particular os cisticercos (extrato etéreo de feto macho na dose diária de 1 g, na freqüência de 10 dias por mês, durante um ano, além de ionizações transcerebrais com iodeto de potássio). O desaparecimento das crises fêz-se logo no segundo ano de evolução, com ligeira recidiva em 1948, e os exames do líquor mostraram decréscimo progressivo da pleocitose, normalização das proteínas, negativação da reação de fixação de comple- mento para cisticercos. Por último, a radiografia do crânio, que inicialmente era normal, mostrou quatro cisticercos calcificados. 0 eletrencefa!o-grama, feito em 1953, não evidenciou qualquer foco lesional cerebral con-vulsiógeno ativo. A evolução somática e mental da paciente foi ótima, tornando-se hoje uma moça inteligente, boa estudante, perfeitamente bem integrada no ambiente familiar e social em que vive.
Novas (re)configurações no Ministério da Educação: entre o fio de Ariadne e a mortalha de Penélope
Authors: Bezerra Giovani Ferreira , Araujo Doracina Aparecida de Castro
Published: April 2014

A publicação do decreto n. 7.690, de 2 de março de 2012, incita o revigoramento do debate sobre as políticas públicas no cenário educacional brasileiro, precipuamente quanto à inclusão escolar de pessoas com deficiência, ao sinalizar para um novo arranjo no Ministério da Educação (MEC). No atual contexto, extingue-se a Secretaria de Educação Especial (SEESP) e suas atribuições são remanejadas para a pasta mosaica da Secretaria de Educação Continuada, Alfabetização, Diversidade e Inclusão (SECADI). Compreender o impacto de tal reestruturação ministerial sobre a continuidade do projeto inclusivista em nosso país é, pois, o objetivo central deste trabalho, que para tanto recupera notas históricas e metáforas gregas, na tentativa de desvelar, levantando-se posicionamentos axiológicos sobre o tema, as contradições imbricadas nesse processo de (re)configuração política do MEC.
Biovolume de cianobactérias e algas de reservatórios tropicais do Brasil com diferentes estados tróficos
Authors: Fonseca Bárbara Medeiros , Ferragut Carla , Tucci Andréa , Crossetti Luciane Oliveira , Ferrari Fernanda , Bicudo Denise de Campos , Sant'Anna Célia Leite , Bicudo Carlos Eduardo de Mattos
Published: April 2014

O presente estudo visou apresentar o biovolume de cianobactérias e algas fitoplanctônicas e perifíticas de reservatórios com diferentes estados tróficos do Parque Estadual das Fontes do Ipiranga, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. O estudo inclui uma proposta para determinação do biovolume de formas coloniais de Cyanobacteria como, por exemplo, Microcystis e Sphaerocavum. A lista de biovolume auxiliará os estudos sobre ecologia de algas, permitindo a aplicação dessa informação em trabalhos nessa área de estudo, além de servir de modelo comparativo em outros ecossistemas de região tropical. A lista inclui o biovolume de 568 táxons, incluindo informações sobre suas respectivas classes taxonômicas, máxima dimensão linear e razão superfície/volume.