bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The super sickling haemoglobin HbS‐Oman: a study of red cell sickling, K+ permeability and associations with disease severity in patients heterozygous for HbA and HbS‐Oman (HbA/S‐Oman genotype)
Authors: Al Balushi Halima W. M. , Wali Yasser , Al Awadi Maha , Al‐Subhi Taimoora , Rees David C. , Brewin John N. , Hannemann Anke , Gibson John S.
Published: July 2017

Studying different sickle cell genotypes may throw light on the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease (SCD). Here, the clinical profile, red cell sickling and K+ permeability in 29 SCD patients (15 patients with severe disease and 14 with a milder form) of HbA/S‐Oman genotype were analysed. The super sickling nature of this Hb variant was confirmed. The red cell membrane permeability to K+ was markedly abnormal with elevated activities of Psickle, Gardos channel and KCl cotransporter (KCC). Results were consistent with Ca2+ entry and Mg2+ loss via Psickle stimulating Gardos channel and KCC activities. The abnormal red cell behaviour was similar to that in the commonest genotype of SCD, HbSS, in which the level of mutated Hb is considerably higher. Although activities of all three K+ transporters also correlated with the level of HbS‐Oman, there was no association between transport phenotype and disease severity. The super sickling behaviour of HbS‐Oman may obviate the need for solute loss and red cell dehydration to encourage Hb polymerisation, required in other SCD genotypes. Disease severity was reduced by concurrent α thalassaemia, as observed in other SCD genotypes, and represents an obvious genetic marker for prognostic tests of severity in young SCD patients of the HbA/S‐Oman genotype.
Family Context Moderates the Association of Maternal Postpartum Depression and Stability of Infant Temperament
Authors: Parade Stephanie H. , Armstrong Laura M. , Dickstein Susan , Seifer Ronald
Published: July 2017

Maternal postpartum depression, maternal sensitivity, and family functioning were examined as predictors of the stability of observed infant temperament over the first 30 months of life (N = 147 families). Eight observations at 8, 15, and 30 months postpartum were used to assess infant temperament. Structured clinical interviews were used to assess maternal depression, and observational assessments were used to assess family functioning and maternal sensitivity. Family context moderated the effect of maternal depression on change in infant temperament. Maternal depression was associated with change in infant temperament when maternal sensitivity was low but not when maternal sensitivity was high. Family functioning similarly moderated these links. Results underscore the centrality of the family context in shaping child behavior over time.
Occurrence of signs of osteoarthritis/arthrosis in the temporomandibular joint on panoramic radiographs in Swedish women
Authors: Bäck Karin , Ahlqwist Margareta , Hakeberg Magnus , Dahlström Lars
Published: July 2017

Objectives

To determine the prevalence and incidence of radiographic signs of osteoarthritis/osteoarthrosis (OA) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) among middle‐aged and older women.

Methods

Data were collected from ongoing representative, longitudinal and repeated cross‐sectional studies in Gothenburg, Sweden. Panoramic radiographs (PAN) have been taken regularly since 1968. The cohorts were systematically selected from the female population at the ages of 38, 50, 62 and 74. Condylar alterations indicative of OA (flattening/osteophyte/erosion) were evaluated in a total of 5234 PANs by one examiner under standardized conditions. Intra‐examiner reliability was good. Sensitivity was poor, and specificity was acceptable in relation to computed tomography.

Results

The prevalence of signs of OA in the TMJ was 18% on panoramic radiographs at the age of 38, gradually increasing with age. At the age of 62, the prevalence was 38%, and it was stable around 45% in the older age groups. The highest incidence rate of OA was between the ages of 55 and 65. Bilateral OA was uncommon. Flattening was the most prominent finding.

Conclusion

The prevalence of signs of OA in the TMJ, including remodeling, evaluated on panoramic radiographs in representative cohorts of women, increases substantially with age. Around one in every five middle‐aged women and almost every second woman of older ages can be expected to have some radiographic alteration in the TMJ. The highest proportion with new findings of OA is to be found among older middle‐aged women.
Contractile actin belt and mesh structures provide the opposite dependence of epithelial stiffness on the spontaneous curvature of constituent cells
Authors: Okuda Satoru , Unoki Katsuyuki , Eiraku Mototsugu , Tsubota Ken‐ichi
Published: July 2017

Actomyosin generates contractile forces within cells, which have a crucial role in determining the macroscopic mechanical properties of epithelial tissues. Importantly, actin cytoskeleton, which propagates actomyosin contractile forces, forms several characteristic structures in a 3D intracellular space, such as a circumferential actin belt lining adherence junctions and an actin mesh beneath the apical membrane. However, little is known about how epithelial mechanical property depends on the intracellular contractile structures. We performed computational simulations using a 3D vertex model, and demonstrated the longitudinal tensile test of an epithelial tube, whose inside and outside are defined as the apical and basal surfaces, respectively. As a result, these subcellular structures provide the contrary dependence of epithelial stiffness and fracture force on the spontaneous curvature of constituent cells; the epithelial stiffness increases with increasing the spontaneous curvature in the case of belt, meanwhile it decreases in the case of mesh. This qualitative difference emerges from the different anisotropic deformability of apical cell surfaces; while belt preserves isotropic apical cell shapes, mesh does not. Moreover, the difference in the anisotropic deformability determines the frequency of cell rearrangements, which in turn effectively decrease the tube stiffness. These results illustrate the importance of the intracellular contractile structures, which may be regulated to optimize mechanical functions of individual epithelial tissues.
Association of adenylate cyclase‐associated protein 1 with coronary artery disease
Authors: Munjas Jelena , Sopić Miron , Spasojević‐Kalimanovska Vesna , Kalimanovska‐Oštrić Dimitra , Anđelković Kristina , Jelić‐Ivanović Zorana
Published: July 2017

Background

Adenylate cyclase‐associated protein 1 (CAP1) is a recently identified receptor for human resistin. As resistin has been related to CAD development and progression and CAP1 has never been evaluated in CAD, the aim of this study was to determine its peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) mRNA in patients with CAD, and resistin plasma concentration, PBMCs resistin and CD36 mRNA, considering resistiǹs ability to stimulate CD36 expression in vitro.

Materials and methods

This case–controlled study included 27 healthy subjects (CG) and 66 patients requiring coronary angiography. Of the latter, 42 had nonsignificant CAD whereas 24 had significant CAD. Circulating resistin was measured by ELISA; PBMCs CAP1, resistin and CD36 mRNA were determined by real‐time PCR.

Results

Patients with significant as well as patients with nonsignificant CAD had significantly higher resistin concentrations compared to the CG (P < 0·001; P = 0·003). Resistin mRNA did not show significant difference between the investigated groups. CAP1 and CD36 mRNA were significantly higher in significant CAD (P < 0·001; P < 0·001, respectively) and nonsignificant CAD (P < 0·001; P < 0·001, respectively) compared to the CG; significant CAD showed significantly higher CD36 mRNA (P = 0·040) compared to the nonsignificant CAD group. Multiple linear regression analysis identified Tg and CD36 mRNA as independent predictors of CAP1 (R2 = 0·402; adjR2 = 0·376).

Conclusion

Significant up‐regulation of PBMCs CAP1, CD36 mRNA and plasma resistin found in significant CAD, as well as in nonsignificant CAD compared to CG, indicates that resistin could be able to exert its effects stronger on cells with up‐regulated CAP1 mRNA thus contributing atherosclerosis development.
Potential avenues for exercise to activate episodic memory‐related pathways: a narrative review
Authors: Loprinzi Paul D. , Edwards Meghan K. , Frith Emily
Published: July 2017

Memory function plays an important role in activities of daily living, and consequently, quality and quantity of life. In this narrative review, we discuss the anatomical components of episodic memory, including the structure of the hippocampus and the routes of communication to and from this structure. We also highlight cellular traces of memory, such as the engram cell and pathway. To provide etiological insight, the biological mechanisms of episodic memory are discussed, including factors subserving memory encoding (e.g., cognitive attention, neuroelectrical indices), consolidation (i.e., synaptic and brain systems level), and retrieval (e.g., availability of cues, context‐dependent, state‐dependent, and cognitive processing). Central to this manuscript, we highlight how exercise may influence each of these aforementioned parameters (e.g., exercise‐induced hippocampal growth, synaptic plasticity, and cue retrieval) and then discuss the implications of these findings to enhance and preserve memory function. Collectively, this narrative review briefly summarizes potential mechanisms of episodic memory, and how exercise may activate these mechanistic pathways.
Gradual changes in range size accompany long‐term trends in species richness
Authors: Batt Ryan D. , Morley James W. , Selden Rebecca L. , Tingley Morgan W. , Pinsky Malin L.
Published: July 2017

Species richness has long been used as an indicator of ecosystem functioning and health. Global richness is declining, but it is unclear whether sub‐global trends differ. Regional trends are especially understudied, with most focused on island regions where richness is strongly impacted by novel colonisations. We addressed this knowledge gap by testing for multi‐decade trends in species richness in nine open marine regions around North America (197 region‐years) while accounting for imperfect observations and grounding our findings in species‐level range dynamics. We found positive richness trends in eight of nine regions, four of which were statistically significant. Species' range sizes generally contracted pre‐extinction and expanded post‐colonisation, but the ranges of transient species expanded over the long‐term, slowly increasing their regional retention and driving increasing richness. These results provide more evidence that sub‐global richness trends are stable or increasing, and highlight the utility of range size for understanding richness dynamics.
Glycemia in Acute Stroke II study: a call to improve post‐stroke hyperglycemia management in clinical practice
Authors: Fuentes B. , Sanz‐Cuesta B. E. , Gutiérrez‐Fernández M. , Martínez‐Sánchez P. , Lisbona A. , Madero‐Jarabo R. , Delgado‐Mederos R. , Gállego‐Cullere J. , Rodríguez‐Yáñez M. , Martínez‐Zabaleta M. , Freijo M. , Alonso de Leciñana M. , Portilla J. C. , Gil‐Núñez A. , Díez‐Tejedor E. ,   Glycemia in Acute Stroke II investigators for the Stroke Project of the Spanish Cerebrovascular Diseases Study Group
Published: July 2017

Background and purpose

The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of conventional glucose management, which aimed to maintain glucose levels <155 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L), on glucose control and the outcomes of patients with acute ischaemic stroke (IS) in a clinical practice setting.

Methods

This was a multicenter, prospective cohort study of patients with acute IS. Patients were classified into four groups based on their initial 48‐h capillary glucose levels and the administration of and response to corrective treatment: (i) untreated and maximum glucose levels <155 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L) within the first 48 h; (ii) treated and good responders [glucose levels persistently <155 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L)]; (iii) treated and non‐responders [any glucose values ≥155 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L) during the 24 h after the start of corrective treatment]; and (iv) untreated with any glucose value ≥155 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L). The primary outcome was death or dependence at 3 months (blinded rater).

Results

A total of 213 patients were included. Ninety‐seven (45.5%) patients developed glucose levels ≥155 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L), 69 (71.1%) underwent corrective treatment and 31 patients underwent no corrective treatment at the physician's discretion [28 of whom had isolated values ≥155 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L)]. Only 11 (16%) patients responded to conventional treatment, whereas 58 (84%) patients were non‐responsive. Non‐responders showed a twofold higher risk of death or dependence at 3 months (odds ratio, 2.472; 95% confidence interval, 1.096–5.576; P = 0.029).

Conclusions

Lack of response to conventional treatment for glucose management in acute IS is frequent and associated with poor outcomes.
Nondestructive characterization of thermal damages and its interactions in carbon fibre composite panels
Authors: Haridas A. , Song C. , Chan K. , Murukeshan V.M.
Published: July 2017

Driven by high strength‐to‐weight ratios and advanced design flexibility, the application of composite structures in the aerospace industry is growing exponentially. A low thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient give an edge when it comes to applications requiring stringent thermal loads, especially in aircraft engines. It is thus necessary to characterize, qualitatively and quantitatively, the behaviour of composite structures under harsh thermal loads for their certification. In this paper, characterization of multiple heat damages on 30 × 30 cm2 composite panels (16 layers, 00 unidirectional, and carbon fibre composite panel) is carried out by using visual inspection, ultrasound (a‐ and c‐scans), and shearography. It has been observed that shearography, being a fast and noncontact technique, offers multiple advantages for sizing thermal damages. Primarily, it could be applied as a technique for a quick and effective inspection of composites, in turn, increasing the productivity of the quality assurance cycle.
In‐phase and out‐of‐phase thermomechanical fatigue behavior of 4Cr5MoSiV1 hot work die steel cycling from 400 °C to 700 °C
Authors: Zuo Pengpeng , Wu Xiaochun , Zeng Yan , He Xijuan
Published: July 2017

The hysteresis loops, stress and strain behavior, lifetime behavior and fracture characteristic of 4Cr5MoSiV1 hot work die steel at a wide range of mechanical strain amplitudes (from 0.5% to 1.3%) during the in‐phase (IP) and out‐of‐phase (OP) thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) tests cycling from 400 °C to 700 °C under full reverse strain‐controlled condition were investigated. Stress‐mechanical strain hysteresis loops of 4Cr5MoSiV1 steel are asymmetric, and stress reduction appears at high‐temperature half cycles owing to a decrease in strength with increasing temperature. 4Cr5MoSiV1 steel always exhibits continuous cyclic softening for both types of TMF tests, and the cyclic softening rate is larger in OP loading condition. OP TMF life of 4Cr5MoSiV1 steel is approximately 60% of IP TMF life at the same mechanical strain amplitude and maximum temperature. Lifetime determined and predicted in both types of TMF tests is adequately described by the Ostergren model. Fracture surfaces under IP TMF loading display the striation and tear ridge, showing quasi‐cleavage characteristics, and the cracks are less but longer. However, fracture surfaces under OP TMF loading mainly display the striation and dimple characteristics, and the cracks are more and shorter.
Fatigue crack propagation behavior of RC beams strengthened with CFRP under cyclic bending loads
Authors: Li Dongyang , Huang Peiyan , Guo Xinyan , Zheng Xiaohong , Lin Jiaxiang , Chen Zhanbiao
Published: July 2017

A fatigue crack propagation equation of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with a new type carbon fiber reinforced polymer was proposed in this paper on the basis of experimental and numerical methods. Fatigue crack propagation tests were performed to obtain the crack propagation rate of the strengthened RC beams. Digital image correlation method was used to capture the fatigue crack pattern. Finite element model of RC beam strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymer was established to determinate J‐integral of a main crack considering material nonlinearities and degradation of material properties under cyclic loading. Paris law with a parameter of J‐integral was developed on the basis of the fatigue tests and finite element analysis. This law was preliminarily verified, which can be applied for prediction of fatigue lives of the strengthened RC beams.
Determination of cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes in personal care products by gas chromatography
Authors: Brothers H. M. , Boehmer T. , Campbell R. A. , Dorn S. , Kerbleski J. J. , Lewis S. , Mund C. , Pero D. , Saito K. , Wieser M. , Zoller W.
Published: July 2017

Objective

Organosiloxanes are prevalent in personal care products (PCPs) due to the desired properties they impart in the usage and application of such products. However, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) has recently published restriction proposals on the amount of two cyclic siloxanes, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and decamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D5), allowed in wash off products such as shampoos and conditioners which are discharged down the drain during consumer use. This legislation will require that reliable analytical methods are available for manufacturers and government agencies to use in documenting compliance with the restrictions. This article proposes a simple analytical method to enable accurate measurement of these compounds down to the circa 0.1 weight per cent level in PCPs.

Methods

Although gas chromatography methods are reported in the literature for quantitation of D4 and D5 in several matrices including PCPs, the potential for generation of false positives due to contamination, co‐elution and in situ generation of cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMS) is always present and needs to be controlled. This report demonstrates the applicability of using a combination of emulsion break, liquid–liquid extraction and silylation sample preparation followed by GC‐FID analysis as a suitable means of analysing PCPs for specific cVMS.

Results

The reliability and limitations of such methodology were demonstrated through several round‐robin studies conducted in the laboratories of a consortium of silicone manufacturers. In addition, this report presents examples of false positives encountered during development of the method and presents a comparative analysis between this method and a published QuEChERS sample preparation procedure to illustrate the potential for generation of false positives when an inappropriate approach is applied to determination of cVMS in personal care products.

Conclusion

This report demonstrates that an approach to determine cVMS levels in personal care products is to perform an emulsion break on the sample, isolate the non‐polar phase from the emulsion break and treat with a silylation reagent to abate potential in situ formation of cyclics during the course of GC‐FID analysis. Round‐robin studies conducted in laboratories representing multiple siloxane manufacturers demonstrated the reliability of the GC‐FID method when measuring cVMS in PCPs down to circa 0.1%.
Differences in the daily activity of patients with diabetic foot ulcers compared to controls in their free‐living environments
Authors: Sheahan Helen , Canning Kimberley , Refausse Nishka , Kinnear Ewan M , Jorgensen Greg , Walsh James R , Lazzarini Peter A
Published: July 2017

The aims of our study were to investigate multiple daily activity outcomes in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) compared to diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and diabetes (DM) controls in their free‐living environments. We examined daily activity outcomes of 30 patients with DFU, 23 DPN and 20 DM. All patients wore a validated multi‐sensor device for > 5 days (>22 hours per day) to measure their daily activity outcomes: steps, energy expenditure (kJ), average metabolic equivalent tasks (METs), physical activity (>3·0 METs) duration and energy expenditure, lying duration, sleep duration and sleep quality. We found that DFU patients recorded fewer median (interquartile ranges, IQR) daily steps [2154 (1621–4324)] than DPN [3660 (2742–7705)] and DM [5102 (4011–7408)] controls (P < 0·05). In contrast, DFU patients recorded more mean ± SD daily energy expenditure (kJ) (13 006 ± 3559) than DPN (11 085 ± 1876) and DM (11 491 ± 1559) controls (P < 0·05). We found no other differences in daily activity outcomes (P > 0·1). We conclude that DFU patients typically take fewer steps but expend more energy during their normal daily activity than DPN and DM controls. We hypothesise that the increased energy expenditure for DFU patients may be due to wound healing or an inefficient gait strategy. Further investigations into this energy imbalance in DFU patients may improve healing in future.
Reduced dosing and liability in methadone maintenance treatment by targeting oestrogen signal for morphine addiction
Authors: Chiang Yao‐Chang , Wang Ruey‐Yun , Huang Chieh‐Liang , Chen Shue‐Hwa , Ho Wen‐Jing , Lane Hsien‐Yuan , Ho Ing‐Kang , Yang Hwei‐Ting , Ma Wen‐Lung
Published: July 2017

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is the major tapering therapy for morphine addictive patients. There have gender differences reported in response to MMT. This study discovered that the estrogen‐response element single nucleotide polymorphism (ERE‐SNP; rs16974799, C/T) of cytochrome 2B6 gene (cyp2b6; methadone catabolic enzyme) responded differently to MMT dosing. Oestradiol was associated with high MMT dosing, high enantiomer (R‐ or S‐) of 2‐ethylidene‐1,5‐dimethyl‐3,3‐dipheny‐pyrrolidine (EDDP; methadone metabolite) to methadone ratio and increased drug‐seeking behaviour, implicating oestradiol‐CYP‐EDDP/methadone axis decreasing MMT efficacy. In mouse model, oestrogen mitigates methadone antinociceptive response, facilitates methadone catabolism and up‐regulates methadone‐associated metabolizing enzymes. Oestrogen also ablates chronic methadone administration‐induced rewarding response. Mechanism dissection revealed the CC genotype of CYP2B6‐ERE‐SNP exerts higher ERE sequence alignment score, higher estrogenic response as compared to TT genotype. At last, preclinical study via targeting estrogen signal that tamoxifen (TMX; selective estrogen receptor modulator, SERM) could facilitate the tolerance phase rewarding response of methadone. Strikingly, TMX also reduces tapering/abstinence phases methadone liability in mice. In conclusion, this study demonstrates altering methadone metabolism through targeting estrogen signals might be able to free morphine addictive patients from the addiction of opioid replacement therapy. Therefore, the add‐on therapy clinical trial introducing SERM in MMT regimen is suggested.
Social capital in Japan: What characteristics do public health nurses see in their communities?
Authors: Honda Hikaru , Kawaharada Mariko , Shindo Yukari , Tanaka Rie , Nakajima Ayaka , Nimura Yuki
Published: July 2017

Aim

A concept of social capital that accounts for a community's cultural background and incorporates social capital into public health nursing practice are needed. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of social capital in the context of public health nursing in Japan.

Methods

The study interviewed 11 veteran public health nurses from five municipalities across Japan and undertook a qualitative research analysis. A digital voice recorder was used to collect qualitative data by using a background data sheet and semistructured interviews. Trustworthiness in interpreting the data was ensured by conducting 13 additional interviews with residents and collating the two sets of results.

Results

All the participants were female: 10 were veterans with ≥15 years’ experience. Nine worked in management. The methods yielded six categories: (i) the richness of the interactions among the residents; (ii) the community residents who showed concern for those in need; (iii) community civic activities; (iv) the residents’ willingness to contribute to the community; (v) the health promotion volunteers who work alongside the public health nurses; and (vi) an enriched community environment.

Conclusion

The results contribute to an understanding of social capital in the context of public health nursing activities and further research on social capital. It also is discussed how social capital can be incorporated into public health nursing activities in the future.
Study of the surfactant role in latex–aerogel systems by scanning transmission electron microscopy on aqueous suspensions
Authors: PERRET A. , FORAY G. , MASENELLI‐VARLOT K. , MAIRE E. , YRIEIX B.
Published: July 2017

For insulation applications, boards thinner than 2 cm are under design with specific thermal conductivities lower than 15 mW m−1 K−1. This requires binding slightly hydrophobic aerogels which are highly nanoporous granular materials. To reach this step and ensure insulation board durability at the building scale, it is compulsory to design, characterise and analyse the microstructure at the nanoscale. It is indeed necessary to understand how the solid material is formed from a liquid suspension. This issue is addressed in this paper through wet‐STEM experiments carried out in an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM). Latex–surfactant binary blends and latex–surfactant–aerogel ternary systems are studied, with two different surfactants of very different chemical structures. Image analysis is used to distinguish the different components and get quantitative morphological parameters which describe the sample architecture. The evolution of such morphological parameters during water evaporation permits a good understanding of the role of the surfactant.
Consequences of brain tumour resection on emotion recognition
Authors: Mattavelli Giulia , Pisoni Alberto , Casarotti Alessandra , Comi Alessandro , Sera Giada , Riva Marco , Bizzi Alberto , Rossi Marco , Bello Lorenzo , Papagno Costanza
Published: July 2017

Emotion processing impairments are common in patients undergoing brain surgery for fronto‐temporal tumour resection, with potential consequences on social interactions. However, evidence is controversial concerning side and site of lesions causing such deficits. This study investigates visual and auditory emotion recognition in brain tumour patients with the aim of clarifying which lesion sites are related to impairments in emotion processing from different modalities. Thirty‐four patients were evaluated, before and after surgery, on facial expression and emotional prosody recognition; voxel‐based lesion–symptom mapping (VLSM) analyses were performed on patients’ post‐surgery MRI images. Results showed that patients’ performance decreased after surgery in both visual and auditory modalities, but, in general, recovered 3 months after surgery. In facial expression recognition, left brain‐damaged patients showed greater post‐surgery deterioration than right brain‐damaged ones, whose performance specifically decreased for sadness and fear. VLSM analysis revealed two segregated areas in the left hemisphere accounting for post‐surgery scores for happy (fronto‐temporo‐insular region) and surprised (middle frontal gyrus and inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus) facial expressions. Our findings demonstrate that surgical removal of tumours in the fronto‐temporal region produces impairment in facial emotion recognition with an overall recovery at 3 months, suggesting a partially different representation of positive and negative emotions in the left and right hemispheres for visually – but not auditory – presented emotions; moreover, we show that deficits in specific expression recognition are associated with discrete lesion locations.
A luta continua– black queer visibilities and philosophies of hospitality in a South African rural town
Authors: Deumert Ana , Mabandla Nkululeko
Published: July 2017

In 1996, the inclusion of sexual orientation in the anti‐discrimination clause of South Africa's post‐apartheid constitution alignedLGBT+ rights with the larger struggle against oppression and inequality. In this paper we focus on a small, rural town in the Eastern Cape, a town we call Forestville. How areLGBT+ identities made visible in this town? How do residents respond to the diverse sexualities they encounter? How do they talk about diversity (sexual and otherwise)? The data was collected in the context of a long‐term ethnographic project, which looks at responses to diversity in non‐metropolitan settings. Reconstructing local philosophies of hospitality and looking at affective‐discursive practice, we argue that social life in Forestville shows traces of what Derrida () calls ‘absolute hospitality’. There is a sense of welcome and inclusivity, but, unlike in Derrida's conception, this hospitality is deeply embedded in the speech act of asking, indeed in curiosity. At the same time, hospitality remains fragile; it is always on the border of exclusion and judgment. The article explores Mignolo's () idea of ‘critical border thinking’ as a core episteme for Southern theory and puts academic philosophy and everyday knowledges into dialogue with one another.
Homonationalist discourse as a politics of pragmatic resistance in Singapore's Pink Dot movement: Towards a southern praxis
Authors: Lazar Michelle M.
Published: July 2017

Pink Dot SG is a non‐profit social movement launched by LGBTQ Singaporeans to rally support for Singapore's LGBTQ community. Every year, since its inception in 2009, it organises a free‐to‐all public event, which attracts increasingly larger crowds. In this article, I undertake a critical multimodal analysis of one of its official promotional videos, in order to show how a discourse of homonormative nationalism, or homonationalism, is constructed within it. Although from a radical queer perspective especially of the North, homonationalism is construed as problematic in that it leaves heteronormativity unchallenged and appears to be depoliticised, in the case of the Pink Dot movement, I argue, the discourse works tactically as a form of ‘doing’ a politics of pragmatic resistance within an illiberal sociopolitical context. Therefore, although it appears assimilationist and complicit with wider heteronormative and state structures, from the perspective of a southern praxis it can be re‐conceptualised as a contextualised form of resistance that demonstrates the resilience, creativity and agency of a queer subaltern constituency in Singapore.
Seeing from the South: Discourse, gender and sexuality from southern perspectives
Authors: Milani Tommaso M. , Lazar Michelle M.
Published: July 2017

This article frames the Special Issue on ‘Discourse, Gender and Sexuality from the Global South’. It does so by providing an overview of the notion of the South in the social sciences and the humanities. We engage, in particular, with current theoretical discussions around a set of concepts and approaches that have been labelled ‘southern theories’, ‘theories from the south’, or ‘southern epistemologies’. Against this backdrop, we explain why southern perspectives are needed in the study of discourse, gender and sexuality, and sociolinguistics more broadly. We then offer a reflection on our (and our contributors’) ‘loci of enunciation’ (Bhabha ), before concluding with a summary of the articles in this Special Issue and their relations to the points raised in this introduction.
The Integration of Law into Global Business Solutions: The Rise, Transformation, and Potential Future of the Big Four Accountancy Networks in the Global Legal Services Market
Authors: Wilkins David B. , Esteban Ferrer Maria J.
Published: July 2017

Using a unique data set comprised of original research of both the corporate Web sites of the Big Four—PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, and EY—and their affiliated law firms, as well as archival material from the legal and accountancy press, this article documents the rise and transformation of the Big Four legal service lines since the enactment of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. Moreover, it demonstrates that there are good reasons to believe that these sophisticated players will be even more successful in penetrating the corporate legal services market in the decades to come, as that market increasingly matures in a direction that favors the integration of law into a wider category of business solutions that these globally integrated multidisciplinary practices now champion. We conclude with some preliminary observations about the implications of the reemergence of the Big Four legal networks for the legal profession.
The Perception‐Action Model: Counting Computational Mechanisms
Authors: Grünbaum Thor
Published: July 2017

Milner and Goodale's Two Visual Systems Hypothesis (TVSH) is regarded as common ground in recent discussions of visual consciousness. A central part of TVSH is a functional model of vision and action (a functional perception‐action model, PAM for short). In this paper, I provide a brief overview of these current discussions and argue that there is ambiguity between a strong and a weak version of PAM. I argue that, given a standard way of individuating computational mechanisms, the available evidence cannot be used to distinguish between these versions. This not only has consequences for philosophical theories of the role of visual consciousness but also for the role of experimental evidence in model testing in cognitive neuroscience.
Clinical evaluation of β‐tubulin real‐time PCR for rapid diagnosis of dermatophytosis, a comparison with mycological methods
Authors: Motamedi Marjan , Mirhendi Hossein , Zomorodian Kamiar , Khodadadi Hossein , Kharazi Mahboobeh , Ghasemi Zeinab , Shidfar Mohammad Reza , Makimura Koichi
Published: July 2017

Following our previous report on evaluation of the beta tubulin real‐time PCR for detection of dermatophytosis, this study aimed to compare the real‐time PCR assay with conventional methods for the clinical assessment of its diagnostic performance. Samples from a total of 853 patients with suspected dermatophyte lesions were subjected to direct examination (all samples), culture (499 samples) and real‐time PCR (all samples). Fungal DNA was extracted directly from clinical samples using a conical steel bullet, followed by purification with a commercial kit and subjected to the Taq‐Man probe‐based real‐time PCR. The study showed that among the 499 specimens for which all three methods were used, 156 (31.2%), 128 (25.6%) and 205 (41.0%) were found to be positive by direct microscopy, culture and real‐time PCR respectively. Real‐time PCR significantly increased the detection rate of dermatophytes compared with microscopy (288 vs 229) with 87% concordance between the two methods. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the real‐time PCR was 87.5%, 85%, 66.5% and 95.2% respectively. Although real‐time PCR performed better on skin than on nail samples, it should not yet fully replace conventional diagnosis.
An effective field screening method for flood tolerance in soybean
Authors: Wu Chengjun , Zeng Ailan , Chen Pengyin , Florez‐Palacios Liliana , Hummer Wade , Mokua Jane , Klepadlo Mariola , Yan Long , MA Qibin , Cheng Yanbo
Published: July 2017

Flooding is an abiotic stress that causes considerable reductions in crop growth and yield worldwide. Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) cultivars are generally sensitive to flooding stress. The objective of this study was to develop an effective flooding tolerance screening method in the field. A total of 40 soybean genotypes were evaluated for flooding tolerance at V5 and R1 growth stages. At each stage, genotypes were exposed to different durations of flooding stress (3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days). Plant foliar damage score (FDS) and plant survival rate (PSR) were used as the indicators of flooding tolerance. Soybeans were more sensitive to flooding at R1 growth stage than V5 growth stage. Length of flooding duration accounted for the variance of FDS and PSR. Soybean genotypes exposed to a 3‐day flooding in either V5 or R1 growth stage, did not show obvious foliar damage, while genotypes exposed to a 12‐ or 15‐day flooding showed significant foliar damage and plant death. The optimum flooding duration to screen for flooding tolerance in the field was determined to be 9 and 6 days for V5 and R1 growth stages, respectively, as distinguishable responses to flooding allowed genotypes to be classified as either being flooding tolerant or flooding sensitive. High correlation between FDS and PSR (.99, p < .0001) was observed. Similarly, FDS and PSR were highly correlated with grain yield (.95 and .95, p < .0001). The field screening method for flooding tolerance developed in our study will be favourable for selection of soybean flooding‐tolerant germplasm.
In vivo knockdown of antisense non‐coding mitochondrial RNAs by a lentiviral‐encoded shRNA inhibits melanoma tumor growth and lung colonization
Authors: Varas‐Godoy Manuel , Lladser Alvaro , Farfan Nicole , Villota Claudio , Villegas Jaime , Tapia Julio C. , Burzio Luis O. , Burzio Veronica A. , Valenzuela Pablo D. T.
Published: July 2017

The family of non‐coding mitochondrial RNAs (ncmtRNA) is differentially expressed according to proliferative status. Normal proliferating cells express sense (SncmtRNA) and antisense ncmtRNAs (ASncmtRNAs), whereas tumor cells express SncmtRNA and downregulate ASncmtRNAs. Knockdown of ASncmtRNAs with oligonucleotides induces apoptotic cell death of tumor cells, leaving normal cells unaffected, suggesting a potential application for developing a novel cancer therapy. In this study, we knocked down the ASncmtRNAs in melanoma cell lines with a lentiviral‐encoded shRNA approach. Transduction with lentiviral constructs targeted to the ASncmtRNAs induced apoptosis in murine B16F10 and human A375 melanoma cells in vitro and significantly retarded B16F10 primary tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, the treatment drastically reduced the number of lung metastatic foci in a tail vein injection assay, compared to controls. These results provide additional proof of concept to the knockdown of ncmtRNAs for cancer therapy and validate lentiviral–shRNA vectors for gene therapy.
Prediction of Comprehensive Thermal Error of a Preloaded Ball Screw on a Gantry Milling Machine
Authors: Liu Kuo , Liu Haibo , Li Te , Wang Yongqing , Sun Mingjia , Wu Yuliang
Published: July 2017

The conception of the comprehensive thermal error of servo axes is given. Thermal characteristics of a preloaded ball screw on a gantry milling machine is investigated, and the error and temperature data are obtained. The comprehensive thermal error is divided into two parts: thermal expansion error ((TEE) in the stroke range) and thermal drift error ((TDE) of origin). The thermal mechanism and thermal error variation of preloaded ball screw are expounded. Based on the generation, conduction, and convection theory of heat, the thermal field models of screw caused by friction of screw-nut pairs and bearing blocks are derived. The prediction for TEE is presented based on thermal fields of multiheat sources. Besides, the factors influencing TDE are analyzed, and the model of TDE is established based on the least square method. The predicted thermal field of the screw is analyzed. The simulation and experimental results indicate that high accuracy stability can be obtained using the proposed model. Moreover, high accuracy stability can still be achieved even if the moving state of servo axis changes randomly, the screw is preloaded, and the thermal deformation process is complex. Strong robustness of the model is verified.
Evaluating the Potential for Remote In-Process Monitoring of Tool
Wear in Friction Stir Welding of Stainless Steel
Authors: Gibson Brian T. , Tang Wei , Peterson Artie G. , Feng Zhili , Frederick Gregory J.
Published: July 2017

A wear characterization study was performed to determine the useful lifetime of polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) tooling for the friction stir welding (FSW) of stainless steel samples in support of a nuclear repair welding research and development program. In situ and ex situ laser profilometry were utilized as primary methods of monitoring tool geometry degradation, and volumetric defects were detected through both nondestructive and destructive techniques, as repeated welds of a standard sample configuration were produced. These combined methods of characterization allowed for the successful correlation of defect formation with tool condition. Additionally, the spectral content of weld forces was examined to search for indications of evolving material flow conditions, caused by significant tool wear, that would result in the formation of defects; this analysis established the basis for a system that would automatically detect these conditions. To demonstrate this type of system, an artificial neural network was trained and evaluated, and a 95.2% classification rate of defined defect states in validation was achieved. This performance constituted a successful demonstration of in-process monitoring of tool wear and weld quality in FSW of a high melting temperature, high hardness material, with implications for remote monitoring capabilities in the specific application of nuclear repair welding.
Ring-Based Stiffening Flexure Applied as a Load Cell With High Resolution and Large Force Range
Authors: Kluger Jocelyn M. , Slocum Alexander H. , Sapsis Themistoklis P.
Published: July 2017

This paper applies linear elastic theory and Castigliano's first theorem to design nonlinear (stiffening) flexures used as load cells with both large force range and large resolution. Low stiffness at small forces causes high sensitivity, while high stiffness at large forces prevents over-straining. With a standard 0.1 μm deflection sensor, the nonlinear load cell may detect 1% changes in force over five orders of force magnitude. In comparison, a traditional linear load cell functions over only three orders of magnitude. We physically implement the nonlinear flexure as a ring that increasingly contacts rigid surfaces with carefully chosen curvatures as more force is applied. We analytically describe the load cell performance as a function of its geometry. We describe methods for manufacturing the flexure from a monolithic part or multiple parts. We experimentally verify the theory for two load cells with different parameters.
Automated Synthesis of Passive Dynamic Brachiating Robots Using a Simulation-Driven Graph Grammar Method
Authors: Stöckli Fritz , Shea Kristina
Published: July 2017

Passive dynamic systems have the advantage over conventional robotic systems that they do not require actuators and control. Brachiating, in particular, involves the swinging motion of an animal from one branch to the next. Such systems are usually designed manually by human designers and often are bio-inspired. However, a computational design approach has the capability to search vast design spaces and find solutions that go beyond those possible by manual design. This paper addresses the automated design of passive dynamic systems by introducing a graph grammar-based method that integrates dynamic simulation to evaluate and evolve configurations. In particular, the method is shown to find different, new solutions to the problem of the design of two-dimensional passive, dynamic, continuous contact, brachiating robots. The presented graph grammar rules preserve symmetry among robot topologies. A separation of parametric multi-objective optimization and topologic synthesis is proposed, considering four objectives: number of successful swings, deviation from cyclic motion, required space, and number of bodies. The results show that multiple solutions with varying complexity are found that trade-off cyclic motion and the space required. Compared to research on automated design synthesis of actuated and controlled robotic systems, this paper contributes a new method for passive dynamic systems that integrates dynamic simulation.
Understanding Design Decisions Under Competition Using Games With Information Acquisition and a Behavioral Experiment
Authors: Panchal Jitesh H. , Sha Zhenghui , Kannan Karthik N.
Published: July 2017

The primary motivation in this paper is to understand decision-making in design under competition from both prescriptive and descriptive perspectives. Engineering design is often carried out under competition from other designers or firms, where each competitor invests effort with the hope of getting a contract, attracting customers, or winning a prize. One such scenario of design under competition is crowdsourcing where designers compete for monetary prizes. Within existing literature, such competitive scenarios have been studied using models from contest theory, which are based on assumptions of rationality and equilibrium. Although these models are general enough for different types of contests, they do not address the unique characteristics of design decision-making, e.g., strategies related to the design process, the sequential nature of design decisions, the evolution of strategies, and heterogeneity among designers. In this paper, we address these gaps by developing an analytical model for design under competition, and using it in conjunction with a behavioral experiment to gain insights about how individuals actually make decisions in such scenarios. The contributions of the paper are two-fold. First, a game-theoretic model is presented for sequential design decisions considering the decisions made by other players. Second, an approach for synergistic integration of analytical models with data from behavioral experiments is presented. The proposed approach provides insights such as shift in participants' strategies from exploration to exploitation as they acquire more information, and how they develop beliefs about the quality of their opponents' solutions.
A Proximally-Adjustable Variable Length Intramedullary Nail: Ex Vivo Quasi-Static and Cyclic Loading Evaluation
Authors: Hedgeland Mark J. , Martin Clark Alexander , Ciani Mario J. , Michalek Arthur J. , Kuxhaus Laurel
Published: July 2017

An adjustable-length intramedullary (IM) nail may reduce both complications secondary to fracture fixation and manufacturing costs. We hypothesized that our novel nail would have suitable mechanical performance. To test this hypothesis, we manufactured three prototypes and evaluated them in quasi-static axial compression and torsion and quasi-static four-point bending. Prototypes were dynamically evaluated in both cyclic axial loading and four-point bending and torsion-to-failure. The prototypes exceeded expectations; they were comparable in both quasi-static axial stiffness (1.41 ± 0.37 N/m in cervine tibiae and 2.30 ± 0.63 in cadaver tibiae) and torsional stiffness (1.05 ± 0.26 N·m/deg in cervine tibiae) to currently used nails. The quasi-static four-point bending stiffness was 80.11 ± 09.360, greater than reported for currently used nails. A length-variance analysis indicates that moderate changes in length do not unacceptably alter bone-implant axial stiffness. After 103,000 cycles of axial loading, the prototype failed at the locking screws, comparable to locking screw failures seen clinically. The prototypes survived 1,000,000 cycles of four-point bend cyclic loading, as indicated by a consistent phase angle throughout cyclic loading. The torsion-to-failure test suggests that the prototype has adequate resistance to applied torques that might occur during the healing process. Together, these results suggest that our novel IM nail performs sufficiently well to merit further development. If brought to market, this adjustable-length IM nail could reduce both patient complications and healthcare costs.