bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Input–output stabilization-based finite-time robust control of disturbed systems using linear matrix inequality approach
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Pang Ruifeng , Ma Kemao
Published: December 2017

In this paper, finite-time robust control problems are considered for a class of uncertain systems subject to exogenous disturbances, and an input–output finite-time stabilization (IO-FTS) method is presented with finite-time boundedness (FTB) constraints. For an uncertain system, a state feedback controller is designed, via linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), to ensure the IO-FTS and FTB of the closed-loop system. By using Lyapunov stability theory, sufficient conditions for IO-FTS and FTB are given. These conditions are expressed as a feasibility problem of a set of LMIs. The direct current motor control problem and roll autopilot design of a skid-to-turn missile are considered for a case study. Simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed method as a promising approach to controlling similar uncertain systems.
Bar Training for Active Bystanders: Evaluation of a Community-Based Bystander Intervention Program
Authors: Powers Ráchael A. , Leili Jennifer
Published: December 2017

Bystander intervention programs are proliferating on college campuses and are slowly gaining momentum as sexual violence prevention programs suitable for the larger community. In particular, bystander intervention programs aimed at bar staff have been developed in a number of locations. This study entails the exploratory evaluation of a community-based bystander program for bar staff. Using a pre–posttest design, this study suggests that evidence surrounding the effectiveness of this program is promising as it decreases rape myths, decreases barriers to intervention, and increases bartenders willingness to intervene. Future research and policy implications are discussed.
Multiple modes of facilitation in a Norwegian creative musicking project
Authors: Viig Tine Grieg
Published: December 2017

In recent decades, the teaching and learning of composition has become an important topic for research in music education. Composition is established as one of the three main areas in the Norwegian curriculum Læreplanverket for Kunnskapsløftet (LK06, 2006), and the importance of creative competencies is being increasingly recognized worldwide, inside and outside formal music education institutions.

A central research topic within the field of music education addresses the issue of how to facilitate and lead creative musicking projects. This article examines a composition workshop in which pupils from several Norwegian municipal schools of music and performing arts participate. The aim of the workshop was to create a new piece of music that would be performed at the end of the project period. An experienced composition workshop leader led the project, and four professional musicians took part. The empirical data for this study consisted of interviews, participant observation and video-recordings. Analyzed from a sociocultural perspective, the findings led to a deeper understanding of the facilitation role, revealing that it consists of multiple modes, such as scaffolding, co-participation and collaboration, as well as management and distribution of cultural tools. These findings are discussed in terms of understanding the complex knowledge and skills needed to facilitate creative musicking practices.
A critical assessment of the impact of the 2000 equality directives on Greece
Authors: Alkiviadou Natalie
Published: December 2017

Greece transposed the 2000 equality directives through Law 3304/2005. This law sets out the definitions of direct and indirect discrimination, designates what conduct should be prohibited, outlines the sanctions that are to be imposed by the judiciary and mandates three equality bodies with the duty of upholding and promoting equal treatment. This article argues that notwithstanding the theoretical significance of this law given that it was the first tool specifically designed to grant legislative protection for the principle of equal treatment, its practical effects are limited.
Happy birthday Mama Winnie! The cultural politics of nostalgic portraits on the Twitter feed of @WinnieMandela
Authors: Iqani Mehita
Published: December 2017

This article examines the Twitter feed of @WinnieMandela (purportedly the official profile of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela), in particular the trend that sees iconic portraits of her being shared by her admirers on meaningful days, such as her birthday. A notable practice on the feed is the regular sharing of historical images of Madikizela-Mandela, tweeted by some of her 69,000 followers, often on her birthday. Juxtaposing these images are current photos tweeted from her own account as well as those shared by fans who meet her and take pictures together. The article presents a visual typology of the narratives of womanly identity that are captured in the historical portraits of Madikizela-Mandela that fans share. The analysis is contextualized within scholarship on gender and politics, the representation of women politicians in the media, and the use of social media by politicians. The article theorizes the fan photo-sharing on Winnie Mandela’s Twitter feed as a process that partially constructs her public image in opposition to negative mainstream media coverage. It concludes by reflecting on what an attachment to nostalgic images of Winnie Mandela mean in the current moment in South African politics, as well in relation to communication on social media.
Analytical investigation of reinforced concrete frames under middle column removal scenario
Authors: Mohajeri Nav Foad , Usefi Nima , Abbasnia Reza
Published: December 2017

A simplified theoretical model is developed in the present study in order to predict the general behavior and resistance of reinforced concrete frames under column removal scenarios. The proposed model defines the load–deflection response of the middle joint above the removed column based on a four-stage procedure: classical beam mechanism stage, arching stage, transient stage, and catenary stage. A comprehensive evaluation study using two validation approaches is performed in order to investigate the reliability of the introduced model. For validation of theoretical model, the results of a comprehensive finite element method and experimental data were utilized and the results were compared with the theoretical model. The results demonstrated that the proposed theoretical procedure can establish a reliable foundation for progressive collapse assessment of reinforced concrete frame structures. The proposed model can also predict behavior of symmetrical frames, and this was validated by good agreement between finite element results and the results of the proposed numerical model.
Does Institutional Quality Matter for Firm Performance? Evidence from India
Authors: S.N. Rajesh Raj , Sen Kunal
Published: December 2017

How does institutional quality affect firm performance? We examine the effect of various measures of institutions on firm productivity, using a rich micro level data on manufacturing enterprises in India drawn from the Enterprise Surveys of the World Bank. Our results suggest that bureaucratic corruption negatively influences firm productivity. In contrast, other institutional variables seem to have less influence on firm performance. This suggests that the focus of the Indian government needs to be redirected to address the corrupt practices at various levels rather than focusing just on improving the measures of doing business.
Does Trade Liberalization Improve Trade Balance in Pakistan?
Authors: Khan Muhammad Arshad , Jaffri Atif Ali , Abbas Faisal , Haider Azad
Published: December 2017

This article examines the impact of trade liberalization, that is, reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers on trade balance, in Pakistan over the period 1982–2013. The results reveal that reduction of average effective tariff rate improves trade balance in the short run, while lowering of non-tariff barriers deteriorates trade balance in the long run as well as in the short run. The analysis also suggests that depreciation of real effective exchange rate and foreign income causes an improvement in the trade balance, whereas domestic income deteriorates it. The negative association between the reduction in non-tariff barriers and trade balance worsens sustainability of current account of the balance of payments in Pakistan.
Traumatic brain injuries in mixed martial arts: A systematic review
Authors: Lockwood Joel , Frape Liam , Lin Steve , Ackery Alun
Published: December 2017

Introduction

Mixed martial arts is an emerging combat sport that is gaining popularity worldwide. We systematically reviewed the literature regarding the prevalence, severity and risk factors of head injuries sustained in mixed martial arts activities.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive systematic review of Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, EBM Reviews, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science from 1990 to 2016 for studies of any design that reported associations of acute or chronic head injuries in persons participating in mixed martial arts activities.

Results

The initial database search yielded a total 472 citations, including 264 unique citations after duplications were removed. A total of 18 articles, primarily of observational data, showed ‘technical knockouts’ and ‘knockouts’ are prevalent in this sport (range: 28.3–46.2% of all matches) with other studies showing the lifetime average of 6.2 technical knockouts or knockouts in a career. Studies used inconsistent reporting methods for concussion, and no information regarding long-term follow-up was available.

Conclusion

Mixed martial arts fighting may be associated with repetitive head injuries and potential long-term neurological consequences; however, data on this topic are poor. Larger studies and stringent medical oversight are needed to improve the management and understanding of mixed martial arts head injuries, with implementation of harm reduction strategies and/or rule modifications to prevent long-term neurological sequelae. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO – CRD42014010019.
The uncertain first-time voter: Effects of political media exposure on young citizens’ formation of vote choice in a digital media environment
Authors: Ohme Jakob , de Vreese Claes H. , Albaek Erik
Published: December 2017

The digital media environment changes the way citizens receive political information, also during an election campaign. Particularly first-time voters increasingly use social media platforms as news sources. Yet, it is less clear how accessing political information in such a unique social setting affects these cohorts’ decision-making processes during an election campaign, compared to experienced voters. We compare effects of these two groups’ political information exposure on their vote choice certainty during the 2015 Danish national election. We furthermore test how the relation between exposure and certainty can be mediated by active campaign participation. An 11-wave national panel study was conducted, using a smartphone-based assessment of citizens’ ( n = 1108) media exposure and vote choice certainty across the campaign period. Results suggest that first-time voters’ social media exposure is responsible for their increase in certainty as the campaign progresses, while this effect is absent for experienced voters.
Narrative and interpretation on Twitter: Reading tweets by telling stories
Authors: Sadler Neil
Published: December 2017

Existing research on communication on Twitter has largely ignored the question of how users make sense of the fragmentary tweets with which they are presented. Focusing on the use of Twitter for political reporting in post-revolutionary Egypt, this article argues that the production of mental stories provides readers with a mechanism for interpreting the meaning of individual tweets in terms of their relationships to other material. Drawing on contemporary narratology, it argues that Twitter exhibits key elements of narrativity, but that a creative reading process is nonetheless required to transform this incipient narrativity into coherent, sense-making mental narratives. This foregrounding of the reader’s creative role makes stories on Twitter highly fluid and dynamic. Through reference to classic critical theory, I propose that this nonetheless represents an evolution rather than a radical break from earlier forms of narrative reception, which in many cases demanded similarly creative reading practices.
How to use Max Weber’s ideal type in sociological analysis
Authors: Swedberg Richard
Published: December 2017

The main problem that is addressed in this article is how to use Max Weber’s concept of the ideal type in concrete sociological research. The ideal type was invented by Weber more than a century ago, but has rarely been used in empirical research. One reason for this is that Weber was not very clear on what is meant by an ideal type. Another is that students of Weber’s work have not been very interested in presenting the ideal type in such a way that it can be used. Instead, it has been surrounded by an air of difficulty and unresolved theoretical questions, something that has made the average social scientist confused and unable to use Weber’s concept in his or her own research. In this article, it is argued that despite existing difficulties, we know enough today about the ideal type to use it effectively. A practical guide for how to construct as well as use an ideal type is provided. As a background to this argument, the development of the ideal type in Weber’s work is presented, drawing on a suggestion by Alfred Schutz that Weber originally designed this concept with history in mind, but then switched to sociology.
Survival sex and trafficked women: The politics of re-presenting and speaking about others in anti-oppressive qualitative research
Authors: Hardesty Melissa , Gunn Alana J
Published: December 2017

Qualitative research grounded in a social constructionist epistemology troubles the assumption, integral in positivist research, that a researcher can be neutral and apolitical. In fact, many scholars are drawn to constructionist epistemologies because they situate the research process as a site of ontological resistance and social change. This essay explores the politics of voice and representation in anti-oppressive qualitative research. Using an example from one author’s research on stigma management among formerly incarcerated women, and the particularly pernicious stigma women faced if they had engaged in sex work, we detail the benefits and pitfalls of either re-presenting research participants in their exact words or changing participants’ words, a process we refer to as re-languaging. Drawing upon philosophical and social scientific scholarship on the “crisis of representation” in qualitative research and recent scholarship and news articles about human sex trafficking, we underscore the powerful political effects of language. We argue that researchers’ choices about language are neither inherently liberatory nor oppressive, but they are always political. We call for a more reflexive scholarly dialog on voice in qualitative social work research and press scholars to explicitly engage the question of whom and what we represent when we claim to represent marginalized others.
A novel distribution regression approach for data loss compensation in structural health monitoring
Authors: Chen Zhicheng , Bao Yuequan , Li Hui , Spencer Billie F
Published: December 2017

Structural health monitoring has arisen as an important tool for managing and maintaining civil infrastructure. A critical problem for all structural health monitoring systems is data loss or data corruption due to sensor failure or other malfunctions, which bring into question in subsequent structural health monitoring data analysis and decision-making. Probability density functions play a very important role in many applications for structural health monitoring. This article focuses on data loss compensation for probability density function estimation in structural health monitoring using imputation methods. Different from common data, continuous probability density functions belong to functional data; the conventional distribution-to-distribution regression technique has significant potential in missing probability density function imputation; however, extrapolation and directly borrowing shape information from the covariate probability density function are the main challenges. Inspired by the warping transformation of distributions in the field of functional data analysis, a new distribution regression approach for imputing missing correlated probability density functions is proposed in this article. The warping transformation for distributions is a mapping operation used to transform one probability density function to another by deforming the original probability density function with a warping function. The shape mapping between probability density functions can be characterized well by warping functions. Given a covariate probability density function, the warping function is first estimated by a kernel regression model; then, the estimated warping function is used to transform the covariate probability density function and obtain an imputation for the missing probability density function. To address issues with poor performance when the covariate probability density function is contaminated, a hybrid approach is proposed that fuses the imputations obtained by the warping transformation approach with the conventional distribution-to-distribution regression approach. Experiments based on field monitoring data are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach. The corresponding results indicate that the proposed approach can outperform the conventional method, especially in extrapolation. The proposed approach shows good potential to provide more reliable estimation of distributions of missing structural health monitoring data.
Assessing Challenges in Low-Income Families to Inform a Life Skills–Based Obesity Intervention
Authors: Bhushan Nivedita , Vu Maihan , Teal Randall , Carda-Auten Jessica , Ward Dianne , Erinosho Temitope
Published: December 2017

Background. This article describes the formative research undertaken to explore challenges of low-income parents of 3-to 5-year-olds to inform a parent-focused life skills–based intervention to prevent obesity in preschool-aged children. Method. A total of 40 parents completed surveys, 30 parents participated in focus groups, and 5 community stakeholders participated in individual interviews. In each data mode, participants were asked to prioritize a list of challenges centered on parenting, family care, and self-care. Survey data were analyzed descriptively using SAS, while focus groups and interviews were analyzed for emerging themes using ATLAS.ti. Results. Parents reported needing strategies for managing children’s behavior around picky eating, limits/boundaries, tantrums, and routines. Challenges with child behavior management were compounded by parents’ inability to find affordable fun family activities outside the home and difficulties in communicating childrearing expectations to coparents/relatives who assisted with child care. Added to these were other competing priorities (e.g., financial) that led to the neglect of self, including the inability to find “me” time, build relationships, and care for one’s health. Conclusions. Interventions that address parenting, family care and self-care challenges of low-income parents may enhance resilience and support positive changes that can promote healthy development in children, including obesity prevention.
Determination of Stent Frame Displacement After Endovascular Aneurysm Sealing
Authors: van Veen Ruben , van Noort Kim , Schuurmann Richte C. L. , Wille Jan , Slump Cornelis H. , de Vries Jean-Paul P. M.
Published: December 2017

Purpose: To describe and validate a new methodology for visualizing and quantifying 3-dimensional (3D) displacement of the stent frames of the Nellix endosystem after endovascular aneurysm sealing (EVAS). Methods: The 3D positions of the stent frames were registered to 5 fixed anatomical landmarks on the post-EVAS computed tomography (CT) scans, facilitating comparison of the position and shape of the stent frames between consecutive follow-up scans. Displacement of the proximal and distal ends of the stent frames, the entire stent frame trajectories, as well as changes in distance between the stent frames were determined for 6 patients with >5-mm displacement and 6 patients with <5-mm displacement at 1-year follow-up. The measurements were performed by 2 independent observers; the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine interobserver variability. Results: Three types of displacement were identified: displacement of the proximal and/or distal end of the stent frames, lateral displacement of one or both stent frames, and stent frame buckling. The ICC ranged from good (0.750) to excellent (0.958). No endoleak or migration was detected in the 12 patients on conventional CT angiography at 1 year. However, of the 6 patients with >5-mm displacement on the 1-year CT as determined by the new methodology, 2 went on to develop a type Ia endoleak in longer follow-up, and displacement progressed to >15 mm for 2 other patients. No endoleak or progressive displacement was appreciated for the patients with <5-mm displacement. Conclusion: The sac anchoring principle of the Nellix endosystem may result in several types of displacement that have not been observed during surveillance of regular endovascular aneurysm repairs. The presented methodology allows precise 3D determination of the Nellix endosystems and can detect subtle displacement better than standard CT angiography. Displacement >5 mm on the 1-year CT scans reconstructed with the new methodology may forecast impaired sealing and anchoring of the Nellix endosystem.
Laser Atherectomy Combined With Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty Is Associated With Improved 1-Year Outcomes for Treatment of Femoropopliteal In-Stent Restenosis
Authors: Kokkinidis Damianos G. , Hossain Prio , Jawaid Omar , Alvandi Bejan , Foley T. Raymond , Singh Gagan D. , Waldo Stephen W. , Laird John R. , Armstrong Ehrin J.
Published: December 2017

Purpose: To examine whether laser atherectomy combined with drug-coated balloons (laser + DCB) can improve the outcomes of femoropopliteal (FP) in-stent restenosis (ISR). Methods: A dual-center retrospective study was conducted of 112 consecutive patients (mean age 70.3±10.6 years; 86 men) with Tosaka class II (n=29; diffuse stenosis) or III (n=83; occlusion) FP-ISR lesions. Sixty-two patients (mean age 68.5±10 years; 51 men) underwent laser + DCB while the other 50 patients (mean age 72.5±10.8 years; 35 men) had laser atherectomy plus balloon angioplasty (laser + BA). Critical limb ischemia was the indication in 33% of the interventions. The average lesion length was 247 mm. A Cox regression hazard model was developed to examine the association between laser + DCB vs laser + BA; the results are presented as the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). One-year target lesion revascularization (TLR) and reocclusion were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Overall procedure success was 98% and was similar between groups. Bailout stenting was less often required in the laser + DCB group (31.7% vs 58%, p=0.006). The combination of laser + DCB was associated with improved 12-month estimates for freedom from TLR (72.5% vs 50.5%, p=0.043) and freedom from reocclusion (86.7% vs 56.9%, p=0.003). Among patients with Tosaka III FP-ISR, combination therapy with laser + DCB was also associated with increased freedom from reocclusion (87.1% vs 57.1%, p=0. 028). On multivariable analysis, treatment with laser + DCB was associated with a significantly reduced risk of reocclusion (HR 0.08, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.38; p=0.002). Conclusion: When used for treatment of complex FP-ISR lesions, DCB angioplasty combined with laser atherectomy is associated with significantly reduced 1-year TLR and reocclusion rates.
Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome With a Novel Missense COL3A1 Mutation Present With Pulmonary Complications and Iliac Arterial Dissection
Authors: Gu Guangchao , Yang Hang , Cui Lijia , Fu Yuanyuan , Li Fangda , Zhou Zhou , Zheng Yuehong
Published: December 2017

Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) is a life-threatening connective tissue disorder due to its high tendency of arterial and organ rupture. Pulmonary complications in vEDS are rare. We present a young male patient with vEDS who developed severe pulmonary complications and severe rupture of the iliac artery at different stages of his life. Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome was diagnosed based on clinical manifestations and confirmed by the identification of COL3A1 gene mutation. Due to high bleeding tendency and weak cardiopulmonary capacity, conservative treatment was taken for him. To our knowledge, this is the first report of vEDS case in which the patient developed both pulmonary complications and dissection of large arteries. Our report emphasizes the importance of considering vEDS when an adolescent develops unexplained pulmonary cysts with fragility of lung tissues. Genetic counseling and close monitoring should be performed for earlier diagnosis and prevention of severe complications of large arteries. The typical presentations of vEDS were also discussed by means of a review of case reports on vEDS with pulmonary complications.
Quantifying the Center of Elbow Rotation: Implications for Medial Collateral Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Graham Kraig S. , Golla Sara , Gehrmann Sebastian V. , Kaufmann Robert A.
Published: December 2017

Background: Medial collateral ligament (MCL) reconstruction of the elbow mandates precise characterization of where the centerline of elbow rotation projects onto the medial epicondyle (ME). A muscle-splitting approach allows the flexor-pronator muscles to remain attached to the ME and facilitates visualization of the MCL remnant, the sublime tubercle, and the ulnohumeral joint line. Knowledge of where the centerline of rotation intersects the ME relative to the ulnohumeral joint line may assist the surgeon during placement of the proximal drill hole. Methods: Models were created from the computed tomography scans of 29 normal elbows. The centerline of rotation, center of the trochlea, sublime tubercle, and ulnohumeral joint line were identified. Measurements were taken from the ulnohumeral joint line to the center of the trochlea and to the centerline of rotation in the sagittal view and along the course of the MCL. Results: The centerline of rotation intersected the ME in a consistent location. With the elbow flexed 90°, the trochlea center and the centerline of rotation are essentially in line with each other. There are significant differences between the distances from the ulnohumeral joint line to the center of the trochlea and to the centerline of rotation in both the sagittal view and along the course of the MCL. Conclusions: The centerline of rotation is located 14.31 mm (1.70) from the ulnohumeral joint line in the sagittal view and 16.54 mm (2.09) from the ulnohumeral joint line along the course of the MCL.
Oxidative Stress And Prolidase Enzyme Activity In The Pathogenesis Of Primary Varicose Veins
Authors: Akar İlker , İnce İlker , Aslan Cemal , Benli İsmail , Demir Osman , Altındeger Nuray , Dogan Abdullah , Ceber Mehmet
Published: December 2017

Objectives

Vascular endothelial dysfunction leads to the emerging of free oxygen radicals, deficiency of antioxidant system, forming of oxidative stress, inflammatory processes and release of proinflammatory cytokines. These things play big role in the development of primary varicose veins. Prolidase has been reported as an indicator of oxidative stress in diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, non-ulcerous dyspepsia, osteoporosis, polycystic over syndrome and many other diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the oxidative stress at venous insufficiency and to provide preliminary knowledge about the role of prolidase enzyme in varicose vein formation.

Methods

Ninety patients aged between 22 and 80 (47.35 ± 17.69) were included in the study and divided into 3 groups. Group1(n:30)(Serum control group): Patients without venous insufficiency. Group 2(n:30)(Tissue control group(healthy vein group): Patients underwent coronary artery bypass surgery (the remaining portion of great saphenous vein used as coronary artery bypass graft used as normal tissue) . Group 3(n:30)(Varicose vein group): Patients underwent varicose vein surgery (varicose vein and serum of these patients were used for study). Total Oxidant Status (TOS), Total Antioxidant Status (TAS), Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) and Prolidase enzyme levels were detected in tissue and serum samples.

Results

No significant changes were detected between three groups’ serum samples in oxidative stress parameters and in the prolidase enzyme activity. The tissue TOS and OSI were higher in varicose vein group according to normal vein group and this was found statistically significant. And TAC levels in varicose vein group were significantly lower than normal vein group. Prolidase enzyme activity in varicose vein group was found higher according to normal vein group.

Conclusion

Oxidative stress plays a role at the development of primary varicose veins at biochemical level. Prolidase enzyme related with oxidative stress may play an important role in the pathogenesis of primary varicose veins.
Examining prior experiences and career attainment of FBS football head coaches
Authors: Tracy Daniel R , Johnson James E , Giannoulakis Chrysostomos , Blom Lindsey , Judge Lawrence W
Published: December 2017

A Football Bowl Subdivision college head coach position is desired in the American football coaching profession due to associated financial benefits, social network improvements, and prestige. The rise of an individual from player, to assistant coach, and eventually head coach, is primarily understood anecdotally. This empirical evaluation of head coaching attainment provided insight into the career progression of these important sport leaders. The purpose of this study was to assess prior experiences (e.g., playing and assistant coaching) of first-time Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football head coaches hired from 1998–1999 to 2013–2014 (n = 200). Data were collected to determine if the quantity of playing and coaching experiences indicated variance within or predictability for career attainment. The five experiential categories investigated were: Playing Experience, Coaching Experience, Affiliation, Coaching Success, and Descriptive Variables. Several significant predictors among the coaching variables emerged, including coaching experience, affiliation, and past coaching success. Playing experience variables were found to be largely non-significant, suggesting that career attainment of college football coaches does not hinge on playing experience.
Teaching about war today: An analysis of curriculum resources produced for New Zealand’s commemoration of the First World War
Authors: Mutch Carol , Cameron-Lewis Vanessa
Published: December 2017

This study investigated New Zealand teaching resources produced for the 100th anniversary of the First World War. The purpose was to explore how the war was viewed today by examining what was being presented to children and young people. We analysed hard copy and online resources that were specifically prepared or suggested for the anniversary. Our study revealed that the myth of the Anzac landing at Gallipoli as marking the start of Australia and New Zealand’s separation from Britain was alive and well. So, too, was the legend of the Anzac soldier as brave, stoic, resourceful and heroic. What was of particular interest, however, was that over the course of the centennial commemorations, the tone of the rhetoric moved from one of adulation to a more critical stance as a wider variety of perspectives on the war and its consequences began to appear to challenge the orthodox story of New Zealand’s role in the war. This article concludes by discussing what might be behind this upsurge in interest in the First World War before making recommendations on teaching about the war, or indeed other contested issues, in ways that acknowledge significant events yet hold unchallenged assumptions up to scrutiny.
Subcutaneous interferon β-1a three times weekly and the natural evolution of gadolinium-enhancing lesions into chronic black holes in relapsing and progressive multiple sclerosis: Analysis of PRISMS and SPECTRIMS trials
Authors: Traboulsee A , Li DKB , Tam R , Zhao G , Riddehough A , Fang J , Dangond F , Kappos L ,   on behalf of the PRISMS and SPECTRIMS Working Groups
Published: December 2017

Background

Evolution of gadolinium-enhancing lesions into chronic black holes (CBH) may be reduced by interferon (IFN) therapy.

Objective

The objective of this paper is to assess the effect of IFN β-1a and placebo on CBH evolution and disability in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), as well as CBH evolution in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS).

Methods

A post hoc, exploratory analysis of patients with RRMS and SPMS with monthly MRI scans (months –1 to 9) from two separate placebo-controlled clinical trials of IFN β-1a was conducted.

Results

In RRMS patients, the risk of ≥1 evolved CBH was lower for IFN β-1a versus placebo (odds ratio 0.42; p = 0.024); volume of newly evolved CBH was numerically reduced. A numerically higher proportion of patients with ≥1 evolving CBH vs no evolving CBH had confirmed three-month disability progression (four-year rate 55.8% vs 43.1%, respectively). Proportion of lesions evolving into CBH (patient level: 34.7% vs 12.6%, p < 0.0001; lesion level: 28.8% vs 11.0%, p < 0.0001) and evolved CBH volume (median 33.5 mm3 (Quartile 1, 0.0; Quartile 3, 173.4) vs 0.0 mm3 (0.0; 52.4); p = 0.0008) was higher for SPMS than RRMS patients treated with IFN β-1a.

Conclusion

In RRMS, IFN β-1a significantly decreased the proportion of new T1 Gd+ lesions evolving into CBH and the risk of developing a CBH. In patients with SPMS, more lesions develop to CBH, indicating reduced repair capacity, and the natural history of lesion development appears to be unaffected by IFN β-1a treatment.
Optimization of prostate MRI acquisition and post-processing protocol: a pictorial review with access to acquisition protocols
Authors: Jambor Ivan
Published: December 2017

The aim of this review article is to provide insight into the optimization of 1.5-Testla (T) and 3-T prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An approach for optimization of data quantification, especially diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), is provided. Benefits and limitations of various pulse sequences are discussed. Importable MRI protocols and access to imaging datasets is provided. Careful optimization of prostate MR acquisition protocol allows the acquisition of high-quality prostate MRI using clinical 1.5-T/3-T MR scanners with an overall acquisition time < 15 min.
Dual Therapy Appears Superior to Monotherapy for Low-Income Individuals With Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Vaughan Elizabeth M. , Johnston Craig A. , Hyman David J. , Hernandez Daphne C. , Hemmige Vagish , Foreyt John P.
Published: December 2017

Background: There are variable recommendations regarding initiating monotherapy or dual therapy in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D). Clear initial strategies are of particular importance in underserved settings where access to care and financial burdens are significant barriers. Objectives: To provide descriptive data of metabolic outcomes to therapy regimens for low-income individuals with newly diagnosed T2D placed on oral hypoglycemic agents (OAs). Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of low-income individuals with newly diagnosed T2D initiated on OAs. We provided descriptive data and then evaluated the effects of OA regimens (ie, mono-, dual-, transition [from mono to dual or vice versa] therapy) on hemoglobin A1c (A1c) (baseline to 12 months). Results: A total of 309 patients were included in the study. At 12 months, the mean decrease in A1c for the entire sample was −2.36% (9.37% to 7.01%). Patients prescribed dual therapy had a greater change of A1c compared to those taking monotherapy with metformin (−1.11%, P < .01). Patients who transitioned therapies did not differ in change of A1c compared to monotherapy. Conclusion: Initiation of dual therapy was superior to metformin monotherapy or transitioning therapies and may be preferred for low-income individuals with newly diagnosed T2D.
Factors associated with the achievement of cervical smears by general practitioners
Authors: Rochoy Michaël , Raginel Thibaut , Favre Jonathan , Soueres Estelle , Messaadi Nassir , Deken Valérie , Duhamel Alain , Berkhout Christophe
Published: December 2017

Objective

Reliable data about general practitioners performing pap-tests are insufficient. A claim code for the achievement of pap-smears exists in France, but its use by general practitioners is not known. The main purpose of this study was to highlight independent factors associated with the achievement of pap-smears by the general practitioner (GP). We carried out a descriptive and analytic epidemiologic study in 347 GPs and their 244,889 patients, registered at the Health Care Insurance Fund of Flanders. The European Deprivation Index (EDI) in the area of GP’s surgeries was specified. All GPs were questioned by telephone about their performance of pap-tests. The claim database of the insurance fund was analyzed to describe characteristics of GPs.

Results

The answer rate among questioned GPs was 98.8%. Pap-smears were performed in their surgeries by 182 GPs (53.1%). Among males, 45.7% performed pap-smears versus 78.4% of the female (adjusted odds-ratio = 4.5, p < 0.001). The mean rate of screened women in the target population was 44% when GPs were performing smears versus 42% when they were not (adjusted odds-ratio = 1.04, p = 0.03). Only 19.5% of GPs used the claim code. The number of patients, and the EDI were not associated with pap-smears.

Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02749110 (April 22, 2016)
Seismic-scale dependence of the effective bulk modulus of pore fluid upon water saturation
Authors: Wollner Uri , Dvorkin Jack
Published: December 2017

We apply a rock-physics model established from fine-scale data (well or laboratory) to the seismically derived elastic variables (the impedances and bulk density) to arrive at the seismic-scale total porosity, clay content, and water saturation. These three outputs are defined as the volume-averaged porosity, clay content, and porosity-weighted water saturation, respectively. To use the rock-physics model, we need to know how to relate the bulk modulus of the pore fluid to water saturation in the presence of hydrocarbons. At the wellbore-measurement scale, this relation is typically the saturation-weighted harmonic average of the bulk moduli of the water and hydrocarbon. The question posed here is what this relation is at the seismic scale. The method of solution is based on the wellbore-scale data. Specifically, we seek the seismic-scale bulk modulus of the pore fluid that, if used in the rock-physics model, will yield the Backus-upscaled elastic constants at the well from the above-defined seismic-scale petrophysical variables. The answer depends on the vertical distribution of all these variables. By using examples of synthetic and real wells and assuming the lack of hydraulic communication between adjacent rock bodies, we find that this relation trends toward the arithmetic average of the individual bulk moduli of the pore-fluid phases. In fact, it falls in between the arithmetic average and the linear combination of 0.75 arithmetic and 0.25 harmonic averages. We also develop an approximate analytical solution under the assumption of weak elastic and porosity contrasts and for medium-to-high porosity sediment that indicates that the seismic-scale bulk modulus of the pore fluid is close to the arithmetic average of those in the individual layers.
What is seismic sedimentology? A tutorial
Authors: Zeng Hongliu
Published: December 2017

I have developed an alternative narrative of seismic sedimentology from a geologist’s perspective. Seismic sedimentology is a high-resolution supplement for traditional, low-resolution seismic stratigraphy, reflecting the fact that seismic responds to sedimentary bodies differently at low and high resolution. Seismic stratigraphy is a model-driven method that follows the principles of field geology and the well-based study of subsurface sedimentology, and it assumes that seismic reflections can duplicate geologic correlations. Seismic sedimentology is a more data-driven approach based on the understanding of how a seismic signal responds to thin-bedded depositional elements in the context of stratigraphy, which is a function of thickness, lithology-impedance model, wavelet phase, and frequency. Seismic sedimentology is focused on mapping seismic litho-geomorphologic facies, by joint investigation of seismic lithology and seismic geomorphology. In such an investigation, seismic lithology and seismic geomorphology are complementary, making more complete use of seismic information, and they can be more powerful in determining the sedimentary environment and reservoir quality. To reduce the knowledge gap between sedimentary geologists and seismic geophysicists, sedimentologists have to learn and master geophysical principles and techniques. To begin with, a simplified four-step workflow is recommended, which can be summarized as select-adjust-decompose-blend.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Authors: von Mehren Margaret , Joensuu Heikki
Published: December 2017

GI stromal tumors (GISTs) are neoplasms with a varying malignancy potential ranging from virtually indolent tumors to rapidly progressing cancers. GISTs occur throughout the intestinal tract, and most harbor an activating mutation in either KIT or platelet-derived growth factor A ( PDGFRA). Diagnosis is made using immunohistochemistry, but molecular testing with mutation analysis is paramount for selection of appropriate therapy. Most small GISTs are cured with surgery. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy has led to substantial improvements in survival, both for patients with localized GIST and those with advanced disease. Adjuvant therapy with imatinib benefits patients with a high risk of recurrence, with studies suggesting most benefit with at least 3 years of therapy. Neoadjuvant imatinib therapy should be considered for patients requiring extensive surgery, aiming at shrinking the tumor to allow organ preservation and less extensive surgery. The following three TKIs have been approved for the management of advanced disease: imatinib, sunitinib, and regorafenib; imatinib is usually the best tolerated of the three and the standard first-line treatment. TKIs benefit the majority of patients with advanced GIST but have no or limited efficacy in patients with the PDGFRA D842V mutation or patients with GIST lacking KIT and PDGFRA mutations. Surgery, the mainstay of primary tumor management, also plays a role in the advanced disease setting for selected patients, as do some other approaches such as palliative radiation therapy. Research continues to identify novel therapies, in particular effective agents to treat TKI-refractory disease.
Pathologic Angiogenesis of Malignant Vascular Sarcomas: Implications for Treatment
Authors: Khan Jalal A. , Maki Robert G. , Ravi Vinod
Published: December 2017

Angiosarcoma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, and Kaposi sarcoma are classified according to the line of differentiation that these neoplastic cells most closely resemble: the endothelial cell. Although these malignant vascular sarcomas demonstrate immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features typical of this lineage, they vary dramatically in presentation and behavior, reflecting oncologic mechanisms unique to each. Antineoplastic therapies offer significant benefit, but because of the rarity of these cancers, novel therapies are slow to develop, and treatment options for these cancers remain limited. Antiangiogenic approaches that have shown benefit in other malignancies have not fully realized their promise in vascular tumors, suggesting that these tumors do not depend entirely on either angiogenic growth factors or on neighboring endothelia that are affected by these agents. Nonetheless, translational studies have begun to unravel these distinct pathologies, identifying novel translocation products, targets of oncogenic virulence factors, and genomic mutations that hijack angiogenic signaling and drive malignant growth. Concurrently, an elaborate and highly regulated model of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis involving vascular endothelial growth factor–receptor tyrosine kinase and TGF-β and Notch pathways has emerged that informs treatment of these tumors as well as cancer in general. This review summarizes the literature on malignant vascular sarcomas in the context of current models of angiogenesis and, in light of recent clinical trial data, could help clinician-scientists generate novel therapeutic approaches.
Synovial Sarcoma: Current Concepts and Future Perspectives
Authors: Stacchiotti Silvia , Van Tine Brian Andrew
Published: December 2017

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare sarcoma driven by a translocation between SS18 and SSX 1, 2, or 4. With approximately 800 to 1,000 cases a year in the United States, it most commonly affects young adults between the ages of 15 and 30 years. The resultant tumors are either monophasic (pure sarcomas), biphasic (a combination or epithelioid and sarcomatous components), or poorly differentiated. The hybrid transcription factor SS18:SSX alters SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling and global methylation patterns that may allow for future therapeutic opportunities. In this review, we focus on the pharmacologic management of SS, both in the curative setting, where the standard approach is wide surgical excision combined with radiotherapy and/or (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy as appropriate, and in the palliative setting. In advanced disease, chemotherapy with anthracyclines and/or ifosfamide, trabectedin, or pazopanib has been demonstrated to be more active compared with other soft tissue sarcomas. In addition, a better understanding of the molecular and immunologic characteristics of SS has allowed for the identification of new potential targets and the development of novel biology-driven therapies that are all at different stages of testing. There include targeted agents, immunotherapy, and metabolic therapies. Because the impact of these strategies for improving SS outcome is still limited, current and future research is strongly needed to better understand the tumor biology, to identify predictive biomarkers, and to improve the outcomes for patients with SS.
Soft Tissue and Uterine Leiomyosarcoma
Authors: George Suzanne , Serrano César , Hensley Martee L. , Ray-Coquard Isabelle
Published: December 2017

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is one of the most common subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma in adults and can occur in almost any part of the body. Uterine leiomyosarcoma is the most common subtype of uterine sarcoma. Increased awareness of this unique histology has allowed for the development of drugs that are specific to LMS and has begun to shed light on the similarities and possible unique aspects of soft tissue and uterine LMS. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the epidemiology, diagnosis, genomics, and treatment options for LMS.