bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Approach to Investigating Congenital Skeletal Abnormalities in Livestock
Authors: Dittmer K. E. , Thompson K. G.
Published: April 2015

Congenital skeletal abnormalities may be genetic, teratogenic, or nutritional in origin; distinguishing among these different causes is essential in the management of the disease but may be challenging. In some cases, teratogenic or nutritional causes of skeletal abnormalities may appear very similar to genetic causes. For example, chondrodysplasia associated with intrauterine zinc or manganese deficiency and mild forms of hereditary chondrodysplasia have very similar clinical features and histologic lesions. Therefore, historical data are essential in any attempt to distinguish genetic and acquired causes of skeletal lesions; as many animals as possible should be examined; and samples should be collected for future analysis, such as genetic testing. Acquired causes of defects often show substantial variation in presentation and may improve with time, while genetic causes frequently have a consistent presentation. If a disease is determined to be of genetic origin, a number of approaches may be used to detect mutations, each with advantages and disadvantages. These approaches include sequencing candidate genes, single-nucleotide polymorphism array with genomewide association studies, and exome or whole genome sequencing. Despite advances in technology and increased cost-effectiveness of these techniques, a good clinical history and description of the pathology and a reliable diagnosis are still key components of any investigation.
Play together, think alike: Shared mental models in expert music improvisers
Authors: Canonne Clément , Aucouturier Jean-Julien
Published: April 2015

When musicians improvise together, they tend to agree beforehand on a common structure (e.g. a jazz standard) which helps them coordinate. However, in the particular case of collective free improvisation (CFI), musicians deliberately avoid having such a referent. How, then, can they coordinate? We propose that CFI musicians who have experience playing together come to share higher-level knowledge, which is not piece-specific but rather task-specific: an implicit mental model of what it is to improvise freely. We tested this hypothesis on a group of 19 expert improvisers from the Parisian CFI community, who had various degrees of experience playing with one another. Drawing from the methodology of team cognition, we used a card-sorting procedure on a set of 25 short improvised sound sequences to elicit and represent each participant’s mental model of the CFI task. We then evaluated the similarity between the participants’ models, and used the measure in a nearest neighbour classification algorithm to retrieve clusters of participants who were known to play together. As hypothesized, we found that the degree of similarity in participants’ mental models predicted their degree of musical familiarity with better-than-random accuracy: musicians who played together tended to ‘think’ about improvised music in the same way.
The influences of brand benefits on brand loyalty: Intermediate mechanisms
Authors: Huang Shyh-Ming , Fang Shyh-Rong , Fang Shih-Chieh , Huang Chao-Chin
Published: April 2015

While the literature often pays particular attention to how brand benefits develop relationship quality, such as trust and satisfaction, this study departs from this approach and demonstrates the mediating roles of brand relationship quality (BRQ) and customer relationship quality (CRQ) in the relationship between brand benefits and brand loyalty in retail service contexts. A total of 524 valid questionnaires from respondents aged between 15 and 24 are analyzed using structural equation modeling. Therefore, this study makes the following contributions to the literature: (1) It demonstrates the importance of both BRQ and CRQ as mediators in the relationship between brand benefits and brand loyalty, and thus deepens the understanding of the process in shaping brand loyalty, particularly in retail service contexts; (2) it elucidates the roles of BRQ and CRQ in establishing brand loyalty in three theoretical frameworks, and thus extends the validity of these theories from a B-B to a B-C context (i.e., retail services).
Intramedullary Tibial Nailing Reduces the Attachment Area and Ultimate Load of the Anterior Medial Meniscal Root
Authors: LaPrade Matthew D. , LaPrade Christopher M. , Hamming Mark G. , Ellman Michael B. , Turnbull Travis Lee , Rasmussen Matthew T. , Wijdicks Coen A. , LaPrade Robert F.
Published: April 2015

Background:

Intramedullary (IM) nailing is the treatment of choice among orthopaedic surgeons for tibial shaft fractures. However, because of the close proximity of the nail’s insertion site to the anterior medial (AM) meniscal root on the tibial plateau, there is increased risk of iatrogenic injury to the meniscal root during nailing.

Purpose:

To quantify the area of the AM meniscal root footprint damaged by IM tibial reaming and determine its subsequent effects on the ultimate failure load in female versus male knees.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Twelve matched pairs (6 male and 6 female pairs; average age, 50.2 years) of human cadaveric knees were randomly assigned to native and reamed groups. In the reamed group, knees were reamed within the “safe zone” according to current guidelines for IM tibial nail insertion (3 mm lateral to the center of the tibial tubercle and adjacent to the anterior margin of the tibial plateau). The attachment areas and ultimate failure load were quantified and compared with paired knees in the native group.

Results:

Intra-articular reaming within the “safe zone” for IM tibial nail insertion did not significantly decrease the AM root attachment area or ultimate failure load in male specimens, as only 2 of the 6 knees were damaged by reaming. In contrast, all 6 of the AM roots in the female knees were damaged by reaming, and on average, reaming decreased the female AM root attachment area by 19% and significantly decreased ultimate failure load by 37% ( P = .028). There was a strong negative correlation ( R2 = 0.77) between reamed tunnel–AM root overlap area and medial-lateral width in female but not in male knees.

Conclusion:

Standard reaming for an IM tibial nail induced significant damage to the AM meniscal root in smaller, female specimens, whereas larger, male specimens were not affected.

Clinical Relevance:

These findings may suggest that improvements in current guidelines and surgical techniques are warranted to prevent iatrogenic injury to the AM meniscal root during intramedullary reaming for tibial shaft fractures in females and in smaller patients.
Gellner, science and globalization
Authors: Schroeder Ralph
Published: April 2015

Cognition, or scientific knowledge, is the fulcrum of Gellner’s philosophy of history. Science, for Gellner, is central to understanding the rise of the West and also to his defence of Enlightenment rationality against postmodernism and other forms of relativism. This way of thinking has recently been challenged, first, by global historians who locate the ‘great divergence’ in the 19th century rather than earlier, and second, by those who assign to the Enlightenment a pernicious role and argue that rationality and scientific knowledge are inextricably bound to particular social contexts, for good or ill. Gellner’s ideas can be defended against these challenges, but this requires, first, distinguishing between rationality and science and, second, tracing the course of science and technology outside of the West. Once this defence is in place, Gellner’s ideas about the relation between cognition on one side and production and coercion can also be re-examined: here, too, his account requires revision since the idea that rationality ‘trumps’ the other two orders needs to be specified on the ground: in everyday life, for example, scientific knowledge is rather remote, and so often does not supersede other social dynamics. This also relates to other tensions in the relation between science, technology and everyday life: as Gellner noted, technology yields rubber as well as iron cages, but consumer technologies are now in some respects on a path towards unsustainable growth. Separating this problem from cognition is a further task. These refinements to Gellner’s ideas provide a basis for rethinking the connection he makes between liberalism and modern cognition.
Study on detecting leachate leakage of municipal solid waste landfill site
Authors: Liu Jiangang , Cao Xianxian , Ai Yingbo , Zhou Dongdong , Han Qiting
Published: April 2015

The article studies the detection of the leakage passage of leachate in a waste landfill dam. The leachate of waste landfill has its own features, like high conductivity, high chroma and an increasing temperature, also, the horizontal flow velocity of groundwater on the leakage site increases. This article proposes a comprehensive tracing method to identify the leakage site of an impermeable membrane by using these features. This method has been applied to determine two leakage sites of the Yahu municipal solid waste landfill site in Pingshan District, Shenzhen, China, which shows that there are two leachate leakage passages in the waste landfill dam A between NZK-2 and NZK-3, and between NZK-6 and NZK-7.
Achievement Goal Questionnaire
Authors: Xiao Jing , Bai Yu , He Yini , McWhinnie Chad M. , Ling Yu , Smith Hannah , Huebner E. Scott
Published: April 2015

The aim of this study was to test the gender invariance of the Chinese version of the Achievement Goal Questionnaire (AGQ-C) utilizing a sample of 1,115 Chinese university students. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis supported the configural, metric, and scalar invariance of the AGQ-C across genders. Analyses also revealed that the latent factor means were different in male and female students.
The Effect of Transition Planning Participation and Goal-Setting on College Enrollment Among Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Wei Xin , Wagner Mary , Hudson Laura , Yu Jennifer W. , Javitz Harold
Published: April 2015

This study used propensity score techniques to assess the relationship between transition planning participation and goal-setting and college enrollment among youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Using data from Waves 1 through 5 of the National Longitudinal Transition Study–2, this study found that 2- or 4-year college enrollment rates were significantly higher among youth with ASDs who participated in transition planning and those who had a primary transition goal of college enrollment. Educational implications are discussed.
Young Men Who Have Sex With Men’s Experiences With Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Kubicek Katrina , McNeeley Miles , Collins Shardae
Published: April 2015

Research estimating the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among men who have sex with men (MSM) and other sexual minority populations is limited. However, existing research indicates rates similar to heterosexual women. This mixed-methods study was designed to inform intervention development and provides a description of the types of IPV experienced by young MSM (YMSM) within their dating and intimate relationships. Data collected include 101 surveys with YMSM aged 18 to 25 and 26 semi-structured qualitative interviews. YMSM experienced high levels of psychological aggression, physical assault, and sexual coercion both as victims and perpetrators. The study also found that there were high rates of mutual perpetration, young men reporting being both victim and perpetrator of partner violence. Qualitative data provide context and descriptions of these incidents to provide more information about the circumstances and perceptions of these incidents. The findings indicate that interventions should be multifaceted and include schools, communities, and families to address anger management, conflict resolution, and communication skills within young men’s relationships.
A Technique for Bronchoscopic Intubation During High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy
Authors: Berlin David , Singh Inderjit , Barjaktarevic Igor , Friedman Oren
Published: April 2015

Despite preoxygenation, critical hypoxemia can occur during intubation. We describe a technique of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen support during bronchoscopic intubation
Thermal and electrical heating treatments of conductive acrylonitrile butadiene/butyl rubber blends
Authors: Redhwan Abdulkareem A , El-Gamal AA , Khairy SA , Hassan HH
Published: April 2015

Blend of acrylonitrile butadiene/isoprene-isobutene rubber (NBR/IIR) with different compositions was prepared. Scanning electron microscopic observations confirmed the compatibilization of bromo isoprene-isobutene rubber on NBR/IIR blend. Each rubber blend was loaded with different ratios of N-326 (high-abrasion furnace (HAF)): N-774 (semi-reinforcing furnace) carbon blacks. Current–voltage curves, joule electrical heating, and temperature-dependent electrical conductivity of the prepared blends were measured. The electrical and thermal properties of the blends were enhanced upon the increase of N-326 (HAF) content.
A Proactive Innovation for Health Care Transformation
Authors: Erickson Helen Lorraine , Erickson Margaret Elizabeth , Southard Mary Elaine , Brekke Mary E. , Sandor M. Kay , Natschke Mary
Published: April 2015

A cohort of holistic nurses, recognizing opportunities inherent in health care transformation, organized and worked together from 2009 to 2012. The goal was to hold space for holistic nursing by developing a health and wellness coaching role and certification program for holistic nurses. The intent was to ensure that holistic nurses could work to the fullest of their ability within the evolving health care system, and others could discover the merit of holistic nursing as they explored the possibilities of nurse coaching. Challenges emerged that required the cohort plan strategies that would hold the space for nursing while also moving toward the intended goal. As they worked, this cohort demonstrated leadership skills, knowledge, values, and attitudes of holistic nursing that provide an example for others who follow in the wake of health care transformation. The American Holistic Credentialing Corporation’s perspective of the events that unfolded and of the related decisions made by the coalition provides a record of the evolution of holistic nursing.
Acupuncture as a Treatment Option in Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder–Related Tinnitus in War Veterans
Authors: Arhin Afua O. , Gallop Kelly , Mann Judith , Cannon Sheila , Tran Kimberly , Wang Mei-Chuan
Published: April 2015

Although close associations between tinnitus and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among war veterans has been documented, there is limited research that explores evidence-based, efficacious interventions to treat the condition in this particular population. This article presents a case of three war veterans with PTSD symptoms who received a series of acupuncture treatments for tinnitus with positive outcomes. Even though the article presents cases of only three veterans and was based on self-reports, there were very clear trends on how veterans with tinnitus symptoms responded to acupuncture treatments. Information generated from this case presentation is a good starting place in exploring evidence-based approaches in treating tinnitus symptoms in war veterans with PTSD.
Folk Explanations of Behavior
Authors: Spunt Robert P. , Adolphs Ralph
Published: April 2015

People typically explain others’ behaviors by attributing them to the beliefs and motives of an unobservable mind. Although such attributional inferences are critical for understanding the social world, it is unclear whether they rely on processes distinct from those used to understand the nonsocial world. In the present study, we used functional MRI to identify brain regions associated with making attributions about social and nonsocial situations. Attributions in both domains activated a common set of brain regions, and individual differences in the domain-specific recruitment of one of these regions—the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC)—correlated with attributional accuracy in each domain. Overall, however, the DMPFC showed greater activation for attributions about social than about nonsocial situations, and this selective response to the social domain was greatest in participants who reported the highest levels of social expertise. We conclude that folk explanations of behavior are an expert use of a domain-general cognitive ability.
Physical Experience Enhances Science Learning
Authors: Kontra Carly , Lyons Daniel J. , Fischer Susan M. , Beilock Sian L.
Published: April 2015

Three laboratory experiments involving students’ behavior and brain imaging and one randomized field experiment in a college physics class explored the importance of physical experience in science learning. We reasoned that students’ understanding of science concepts such as torque and angular momentum is aided by activation of sensorimotor brain systems that add kinetic detail and meaning to students’ thinking. We tested whether physical experience with angular momentum increases involvement of sensorimotor brain systems during students’ subsequent reasoning and whether this involvement aids their understanding. The physical experience, a brief exposure to forces associated with angular momentum, significantly improved quiz scores. Moreover, improved performance was explained by activation of sensorimotor brain regions when students later reasoned about angular momentum. This finding specifies a mechanism underlying the value of physical experience in science education and leads the way for classroom practices in which experience with the physical world is an integral part of learning.
Money Earlier or Later? Simple Heuristics Explain Intertemporal Choices Better Than Delay Discounting Does
Authors: Marzilli Ericson Keith M. , White John Myles , Laibson David , Cohen Jonathan D.
Published: April 2015

Heuristic models have been proposed for many domains involving choice. We conducted an out-of-sample, cross-validated comparison of heuristic models of intertemporal choice (which can account for many of the known intertemporal choice anomalies) and discounting models. Heuristic models outperformed traditional utility-discounting models, including models of exponential and hyperbolic discounting. The best-performing models predicted choices by using a weighted average of absolute differences and relative percentage differences of the attributes of the goods in a choice set. We concluded that heuristic models explain time-money trade-off choices in experiments better than do utility-discounting models.
Effects of endothelin and nitric oxide on cardiac muscle functions in experimental septic shock model
Authors: Ozer EK , Iskit AB
Published: April 2015

We aimed to investigate the possible roles of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin on the changes of cardiac muscle function in both hyper- and hypodynamic septic shock periods. Cecal ligation and puncture was performed in 50 Wistar albino rats to induce septic shock. Changes in atrium and right ventricle papillary muscle contractions, atrium beat rate, adrenergic and cholinergic responses in these tissues were evaluated in vitro. Atrium beat rate increased in hypodynamic period ( p < 0.001) that was reversed by bosentan ( p < 0.001) and NG-nitro-l-arginine methylester (l-NAME; p < 0.05). Atrium contractions decreased in both hyper- and hypodynamic periods ( p < 0.001) that were partially ameliorated by bosentan in both periods ( p < 0.01) and only in hypodynamic period by l-NAME ( p < 0.001). l-NAME increased papillary muscle contractions in both periods ( p < 0.01), but bosentan increased it only in hyperdynamic period ( p < 0.01). Bosentan and l-NAME increased potency of isoproterenol on atrium beat rate in both periods and increased carbachol potency on atrium beat rate and atrium contraction amplitude only in hypodynamic period. Bosentan increased atrium contraction response to isoproterenol in hypodynamic period ( p < 0.05). Papillary muscle contraction response to isoproterenol increased in hypodynamic period ( p < 0.05). l-NAME increased papillary muscle contraction response to carbachol in both periods ( p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively). These results show that NO and endothelin may play a role in positive inotropic and negative chronotropic effects for atrium in septic shock. Bosentan and l-NAME may change potency and efficacy of isoproterenol and carbachol via upregulation of adrenergic and cholinergic receptors and/or through post receptor factors.
Construction of joint confidence regions for the optimal true class fractions of Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) surfaces and manifolds
Authors: Bantis Leonidas E , Nakas Christos T , Reiser Benjamin , Myall Daniel , Dalrymple-Alford John C
Published: April 2015

The three-class approach is used for progressive disorders when clinicians and researchers want to diagnose or classify subjects as members of one of three ordered categories based on a continuous diagnostic marker. The decision thresholds or optimal cut-off points required for this classification are often chosen to maximize the generalized Youden index (Nakas et al., Stat Med 2013; 32: 995–1003). The effectiveness of these chosen cut-off points can be evaluated by estimating their corresponding true class fractions and their associated confidence regions. Recently, in the two-class case, parametric and non-parametric methods were investigated for the construction of confidence regions for the pair of the Youden-index-based optimal sensitivity and specificity fractions that can take into account the correlation introduced between sensitivity and specificity when the optimal cut-off point is estimated from the data (Bantis et al., Biomet 2014; 70: 212–223). A parametric approach based on the Box–Cox transformation to normality often works well while for markers having more complex distributions a non-parametric procedure using logspline density estimation can be used instead. The true class fractions that correspond to the optimal cut-off points estimated by the generalized Youden index are correlated similarly to the two-class case. In this article, we generalize these methods to the three- and to the general k-class case which involves the classification of subjects into three or more ordered categories, where ROC surface or ROC manifold methodology, respectively, is typically employed for the evaluation of the discriminatory capacity of a diagnostic marker. We obtain three- and multi-dimensional joint confidence regions for the optimal true class fractions. We illustrate this with an application to the Trail Making Test Part A that has been used to characterize cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
A permutation test to analyse systematic bias and random measurement errors of medical devices via boosting location and scale models
Authors: Mayr Andreas , Schmid Matthias , Pfahlberg Annette , Uter Wolfgang , Gefeller Olaf
Published: April 2015

Measurement errors of medico-technical devices can be separated into systematic bias and random error. We propose a new method to address both simultaneously via generalized additive models for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS) in combination with permutation tests. More precisely, we extend a recently proposed boosting algorithm for GAMLSS to provide a test procedure to analyse potential device effects on the measurements. We carried out a large-scale simulation study to provide empirical evidence that our method is able to identify possible sources of systematic bias as well as random error under different conditions. Finally, we apply our approach to compare measurements of skin pigmentation from two different devices in an epidemiological study.
London 2012 (Re)calling: Youth memories and Olympic ‘legacy’ ether in the hinterland
Authors: Kohe Geoffery Z
Published: April 2015

Engendering interest and support among young people was a key strategy for the organisers of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Part of the approach entailed promoting the event as a context and inspirational catalyst to propel young people’s proclivities toward, and enduring participation in, sport and physical activity. Although a variety of participatory platforms were entertained, the discipline of physical education remained a favoured space in which enduring Olympic imperatives could be amalgamated with government policy objectives. In this paper data are presented taken from the initial three years of a longitudinal study on young people’s engagement with the London 2012 Olympic Games, sport, physical activity and physical education within the UK’s West Midlands region. Memory scholarship is brought together with Olympic critiques, legacy debates, youth work and discussions about physical education to conceptualise participants’ anticipations and recollections of the London 2012 Olympic Games as a triptych of narrative fragments: each provides insights regarding youth experiences and the remnants of Olympic ether in the country’s hinterland. The paper offers a means subsequently to think differently about how we might play with the qualitative sociological/historiographical moments (experiences, voices, accounts, stories, etc.) that we capture in and through our work.
Israel and a sports boycott: Antisemitic? Anti-Zionist?
Authors: Dart Jon
Published: April 2015

The paper identifies and summarises the debates that surround the place of Israel in international sport and assesses how that place is increasingly being contested. The long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine has begun to manifest in the world of sport with the paper sketching the debates of those calling for, and those opposed to, sport sanctions/boycott of Israel until the ‘Palestinian Question’ is resolved. Five related tasks are addressed: first, to summarise the call for sanctions/boycott emanating from the Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanctions movement. The second is to explore how this call is establishing itself in the world of sport. The responses of those opposed to any form of sanction/boycott are then considered. The confusion that surrounds the term antisemitism is addressed and the relationship between (anti-) Zionism and antisemitism unpacked. The discussion concludes with an assessment of the claim made by the Israeli state, and its supporters, that any action against the country’s participation in international sport would be an act of antisemitism. Offering a timely, integrated summary of the heated debates that surround the Israel/Palestine conflict, the paper contributes to a wider discussion on the relationship between sport and politics.
The Wisdom of Tacit Knowing-in-Action and Mission Command
Authors: Moilanen Jon H.
Published: April 2015

Adult learners regularly confront complex and dynamic challenges in moments of crisis that require self-efficacy of intuition and immediate decision. Such “snap decision-making” requires highly developed critical thinking skills to effectively operate in the midst of chaos. This decisiveness is particularly challenging in the military profession of arms and professions such as emergency management and health care. Lifelong learning demands creative thinking to shape experiences, develop expertise, and demonstrate personal confidence. This case study encourages continued research of intuition in decision-making by professional practitioners who regularly make decisions in moments of crisis. An after-action review process can elicit perceptions of tacit prompts that compel action. What would happen if the adult learner could apply wisdom of personal intuition—tacit knowing-in-action—to make improved decisions in moments of crisis? The potential for improved professional competence in crisis incidents is profound. This article promotes a concept for continued exploration of tacit knowing-in-action wisdom and research-to-practice of intuition in adult education.
Supporting Student Veteran Transition to College and Academic Success
Authors: Kirchner Michael J.
Published: April 2015

Veterans enrolled in college face unique challenges compared with those of traditional students. Their experiences and perspectives, coupled with battling stereotypes and entering an unstructured college setting, contribute toward what can be a difficult transition. Student veteran organizations, veteran resource centers, veteran-specific orientations, and faculty training are relatively new approaches used by universities and have not been well-researched or reported. Educators need to be aware of the currently offered services and prepared to establish a safe environment for student veterans in their classrooms. By acknowledging student veterans and understanding how to support them in the classroom, education providers may be less concerned about the veteran stereotypes that persist today. This article provides adult educators with an overview of student veterans and their transition into college, offers suggestions to ease veterans’ adjustment to the classroom, and provides research opportunities for faculty to further advance higher education’s understanding of student veterans.
Elastomer with magneto- and electrorheological properties
Authors: Borin Dmitry Yu , Stepanov Gennady V
Published: April 2015

In this study we introduce an elastic composite, which has been manufactured using a fine carbonyl iron powder coated with a polymeric dielectric shell and dispersed in a silicone elastomer in a way as it is typically done manufacturing magnetorheological elastomers. Due to the used filler such a material possesses the capability of exhibiting magneto- and electrorheological effects. Our experiments have shown that the application of the magnetic field to the composite results in the magnetorheological effect, which becomes stronger in the case of the additional application of an electric field.
The Association of Job Variables With Job Involvement, Job Satisfaction, and Organizational Commitment Among Indian Police Officers
Authors: Lambert Eric G. , Qureshi Hanif , Hogan Nancy L. , Klahm Charles , Smith Brad , Frank James
Published: April 2015

Past empirical research has indicated that workplace factors affect the work attitudes of police officers. Police officers ( N = 827) were surveyed in two districts (Sonipat and Rohtak) in the State of Haryana in the Republic of India. Ordinary least squares regression analysis was used to test the effects of job variables (i.e., job autonomy, job variety, training, and supervision) on job attitudes (i.e., job involvement, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment). Results indicate that variety, training, and supervision had positive associations with involvement, satisfaction, and commitment. Job autonomy had no association with job satisfaction or organizational commitment and had a negative association with job involvement.
Significance of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)-C and VEGF-D in the Progression of Cutaneous Melanoma
Authors: Špirić Zorica , Eri Živka , Erić Mirela
Published: April 2015

Introduction. Induction of tumor lymphangiogenesis by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and VEGF-D promotes metastasis in many human cancers. Aim. The aim of this study was to examine the role of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis in patients with cutaneous melanoma. Materials and Methods. Fifty-four melanoma specimens (18 with lymph node metastasis, 36 nonmetastatic) were investigated by immunostaining for VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and for lymphatic endothelial marker D2-40. VEGF-C and VEGF-D expression was assessed as a percentage and intensity of stained tumor cells, tumor-associated macrophages and fibroblasts. The quantification of lymphangiogenesis was conducted by computer-assisted morphometric analysis. Results. The expressions of both VEGF-C and VEGF-D in tumor cells were significantly higher in lymph node metastatic melanomas compared with nonmetastatic melanomas ( P = .015 VEGF-C; P = .005 VEGF-D). There was no statistically significant difference between metastatic and nonmetastatic melanomas regarding the expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in macrophages and fibroblasts. Metastatic melanomas showed a significantly higher intratumoral and peritumoral lymphatic vessel density (LVD) compared with nonmetastatic melanomas ( P = .000 intratumoral, P = .000 peritumoral). Melanomas with VEGF-C positive tumor cells showed a significantly higher intratumoral and peritumoral LVD compared with VEGF-C negative tumor cells group of melanomas ( P = .006 intratumoral, P = .010 peritumoral). VEGF-C expression in macrophages, fibroblasts, as well as VEGF-D expression in tumor cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts, showed no correlation with the intratumoral and peritumoral LVD. Conclusions. Our findings show the significance of VEGF-C in tumor cells in the induction of intratumoral and peritumoral lymphangiogenesis. This study suggests that both VEGF-C and VEGF-D in tumor cells promote lymph node metastasis, and that the immunohistochemical analysis of expression can be a useful tool for predicting clinical behavior of cutaneous melanoma.
Malignant Transformation of Pelvic Endometriosis
Authors: Jaiman Sunil , Pochiraju Manjula , Gundabattula Sirisha Rao , Surampudi Kameswari , Narayana Rao Dama Venkata Lakshmi , Kandikattu Sreekanth
Published: April 2015

Endometriosis affects 4% to 13% of all women of reproductive age although its true incidence is unknown. The ability of endometriosis to transform into malignancy, first described by Sampson in 1925, is a rare occurrence affecting 1% of lesions with ovary being the primary site in 79%. The authors describe 3 premenopausal women without risk factors for malignancy presenting with ovarian and/or extraovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma. All of them demonstrated features of pre-/coexisting endometriosis but malignancy was preoperatively suspected in only 1 instance. Postsurgical follow-up of the cases did not document any recurrence. The propensity for malignant conversion occurring in women 10 to 20 years younger vis-a-vis those affected by de novo ovarian cancer, destruction of the endometriotic foci, and underreporting vindicate close follow-up and scrutiny of women with endometriosis and ovarian endometriomas.
Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor With Rhabdomyosarcomatous and Glandular Elements
Authors: Thway Khin , Hamarneh Wael , Miah Aisha B. , Fisher Cyril
Published: April 2015

Divergent differentiation occurs in a subset of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST), but differentiation toward epithelial elements is unusual. MPNST with both heterologous rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation (malignant Triton tumor), and glandular epithelial differentiation is exceedingly rare, with only 11 cases reported since 1973, and only 1 with histologically proven metastasis. We describe a case occurring in the mediastinum (between the ascending aorta and the main pulmonary artery) of a 40-year-old man with neurofibromatosis type-1. Despite treatment, the tumor metastasized to the right frontal lobe 16 months after diagnosis. Histologically, the primary neoplasm comprised cellular fascicles of atypical spindle cells, with discrete foci of well-formed or more primitive glandular epithelial structures, while the metastases comprised spindle cell sarcoma, including rhabdomyosarcoma, without epithelial elements. We review and discuss the literature on these little characterized neoplasms, including histology and clinical features, adding to the spectrum of documented cases of divergent epithelial differentiation in Triton tumor.
The Emotional and Personality-Related Career Decision-Making Difficulties Questionnaire—Validation of the Chinese Version
Authors: Hou Zhi-Jin , Li Xu , Liu Yi-Ling , Gati Itamar
Published: April 2015

The purpose of the present study was to examine the internal consistency and test–retest reliability, the internal structure, and construct validity of the Chinese version of the Emotional and Personality-Related Career Difficulties questionnaire ( EPCD). Based on a sample of 540 Chinese university students, high-reliability coefficients for the overall scale (α = .93), the three clusters (.78, .85, and .93), and adequate reliability for its 11 difficulty categories (range from .64 to .85) were observed. The 2-week test–retest reliabilities of the overall scale, three clusters, and 11 difficulty categories were also adequate (ranging from .61 to .94). Confirmatory factor analysis of the original theoretical model (11 difficulty categories loaded on three major clusters and then one general factor) demonstrated acceptable model fit after deleting three small-loading items. The pattern of associations between the clusters of the EPCD and the Trait Anxiety Scale, the Career Decision Scale, and the Vocational Identity Scale supported its construct validity. The discussion of the use of EPCD in China and suggestions for future research are proposed.
Reading Comprehension Interventions for Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Solis Michael , El Zein Farah , Vaughn Sharon , McCulley Lisa V. , Falcomata Terry S.
Published: April 2015

We conducted two separate but related single-case studies using alternating treatment designs to investigate the effects of two single-component reading interventions: question development and anaphoric cueing. In each study, we compared a typical intervention approach (Study 1, question development; Study 2, anaphoric cueing) with an alternate approach that included the addition of applied behavior analysis (ABA) techniques. The treatments that included ABA techniques were designed to improve the performance of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) on curriculum-based measures (CBM) of reading and on-task behavior measures during the reading tasks. The ABA techniques included the use of visual supports, a token economy, and the use of readings based on the perseverative interests of students. Four students in Grades 3 to 5 identified with ASD participated—two students in each study. Study 1 evaluated the relative effects of question development plus ABA compared with question development on CBM reading probes and an on-task behavior measure for two students. Study 2 evaluated the relative effects of anaphoric cueing plus ABA compared with anaphoric cueing on CBM reading probes and an on-task behavior measure for two students. The results indicated that the treatments that included ABA techniques were more effective than treatments that did not include ABA. These data support the use of ABA techniques for the enhancement of question development and anaphoric cueing as a means to improve reading comprehension and on-task behavior for students with ASD.
Using Video Models to Teach Students With Disabilities to Play the Wii
Authors: Sherrow Lauren A. , Spriggs Amy D. , Knight Victoria F.
Published: April 2015

This study investigated effects of video modeling (VM) when teaching recreation and leisure skills to three high school students with moderate intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. Results, evaluated via a multiple probe across participants design, indicated that VM was effective for teaching all students to play the Wii. Students were able to maintain high levels of accuracy in follow-up probes. Study limitations and implications for future research are discussed.
The ABC for Studying the Too-Much-of-a-Good-Thing Effect
Authors: Busse Christian , Mahlendorf Matthias D. , Bode Christoph
Published: April 2015

The too-much-of-a-good-thing (TMGT) effect occurs when an initially positive relation between an antecedent and a desirable outcome variable turns negative when the underlying ordinarily beneficial antecedent is taken too far, such that the overall relation becomes nonmonotonic. The presence of the TMGT effect incites serious concerns about the validity of linearly specified empirical models. Recent research posited that the TMGT effect is omnipresent, due to an overarching meta-theoretical principle. Drawing on the competitive mediation approach, the authors of the present study suggest an antecedent-benefit-cost (ABC) framework that explains the TMGT effect as a frequent but not omnipresent issue in empirical research and integrates a variety of linear and nonlinear relationships. The ABC framework clarifies important conceptual and empirical issues surrounding the TMGT effect and facilitates the choice between linear and curvilinear models. To avoid serious methodological pitfalls, future studies with desirable outcome variables such as, for example, task performance, job performance, firm performance, satisfaction, team innovation, leadership effectiveness, or individual creativity should consider the ABC framework.
Sound, materiality and embodiment challenges for the concept of ‘musical expertise’ in the age of digital mediatization
Authors: Lepa Steffen , Hoklas Anne-Kathrin , Egermann Hauke , Weinzierl Stefan
Published: April 2015

Within academic music research, ‘musical expertise’ is often employed as a ‘moderator variable’ when conducting empirical studies on music listening. Prevalent conceptualizations typically conceive of it as a bundle of cognitive skills acquired through formal musical education. By implicitly drawing on the paradigm of the Western classical live concert, this ignores that for most people nowadays, the term ‘music’ refers to electro-acoustically generated sound waves rendered by audio or multimedia electronic devices. Hence, our article tries to challenge the traditional musicologist’s view by drawing on empirical findings from three more recent music-related research lines that explicitly include the question of media playback technologies. We conclude by suggesting a revised musical expertise concept that extends from the traditional dimensions and also incorporates expertise gained through ecological perception, material practice and embodied listening experiences in the everyday. Altogether, our contribution shall draw attention to growing convergences between musicology and media and communications research.
The expert and the machine
Authors: Meyer Eric T
Published: April 2015

In this essay, the role of human expertise in the face of technological advance is discussed. There are many examples of technology that have become sufficiently advanced that the previous need to develop expert-level skills before being able to perform at a high level is either vastly reduced or eliminated. For instance, digital cameras can create sharp, beautiful photos with essentially zero technical skill, and high-definition video recordings are available on smartphones and iPads. The question is not only whether these technologies eliminate the need for expertise (thus substituting engineering for expertise) but also if in doing so they foster the development of new types of creative expertise (such as an ability to use photography as part of a social media strategy, for instance). The article concludes by arguing that machines contribute to an increasingly capable constellation of people and machines, which together allow more people to develop their talents into expressions of creative expertise.
Expertise
Authors: Bassett Caroline , Fotopoulou Aristea , Howland Kate
Published: April 2015

This article explores the stakes of digital transformation through a consideration of digital expertise. Expertise is investigated as it operates in everyday situations – drawing on empirical research undertaken in Brighton, UK, as part of the Communities and Cultures Network+ project. It is also deployed as a heuristic for inquiry into questions of use and the policy of use and investigated in relation to questions of automation that provoke reconsideration of the role of humans and machines in circuits of expertise. This latter necessitates reconsideration of how expertise can be theorized, and this is developed through an account that insists on the importance of both the material and the circulating imaginary for understanding the operations of digital expertise. Drawing these together to develop a new understanding of the economy of digital expertise, inspiration is finally drawn from earlier attempts to develop new models of technological expertise in the context of public science, undertaken with the specific intent of contributing to furthering the democratization of knowledge. In this article too, expertise is invoked albeit in a rather different way as constituting the grounds for the development of a political demand. The article closes with a question concerning the stakes of a demand for digital expertise.
Expertise as gender performativity and corporeal craftsmanship
Authors: Toft-Nielsen Claus , Nørgård Rikke Toft
Published: April 2015

This article is an attempt to rethink the assumptions and presumptions made about work on expertise and gameplay in an effort to tease out how such assumptions and presumptions are not only implicated in our analyses to date, but also misleading with regard to what we would see if we had a different framework for viewing. Our starting point here is that expertise is not a measurable and fixed capacity but rather relational, something produced within a techno-social system, where technology, gender, corporeality and identity intersect in complex multilayered ways, conditioned by the social contexts of use and the corporeal–locomotive expressions of craftsmanship technicity. In this article, we show how different methodological lenses and conceptual frameworks can be used to highlight different but interconnected aspects of the performance of expertise with regard to gaming.
The expertise of digital fandom as a ‘community of practice’
Authors: Hills Matt
Published: April 2015

It has been assumed that Web 2.0 has democratized participatory culture, challenging the significance of ‘expertise’ via ‘collective intelligence’ (Jenkins, 2006). However, fan-cultural logics of expertise remain stratified in relation to ‘communities of practice’ (Wenger, 1998) where fandom-specific wikis transform pop-cultural narratives into databases of information (Booth, 2010: 105). Such fan-generated content also challenges separations of database and narrative (Bassett, 2007: 178). Focusing on Doctor Who fandom, I consider the ‘epistemological economy’ (Hastie, 2007) of Who fans’ expertise. It has been argued that fans can be ‘industry driven’ or members of communities with histories of expertise (Busse and Gray, 2014: 431). However, this industry/community binary is problematic, and instead, I argue that Doctor Who fan expertise has become part of a ‘nexus of multimembership’ (Wenger, 1998: 159) – placed in an uneasy position between the ‘official’ knowledge of showrunner fans and unofficial fan practices of re-narrating/archiving.
Digital housekeepers and domestic expertise in the networked home
Authors: Kennedy Jenny , Nansen Bjorn , Arnold Michael , Wilken Rowan , Gibbs Martin
Published: April 2015

This article examines the distribution of expertise in the performance of ‘digital housekeeping’ required to maintain a networked home. It considers the labours required to maintain a networked home, the forms of digital expertise that are available and valued in digital housekeeping, and ways in which expertise is gendered in distribution amongst household members. As part of this discussion, we consider how digital housekeeping implicitly situates technology work within the home in the role of the ‘housekeeper’, a term that is complicated by gendered sensitivities. Digital housework, like other forms of domestic labour, contributes to identity and self-worth. The concept of housework also affords visibility of the digital housekeeper’s enrolment in the project of maintaining the household. This article therefore asks, what is at stake in the gendered distribution of digital housekeeping?