bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does non-invasive brain stimulation modify hand dexterity? Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: O'Brien Anthony Terrence , Torrealba Acosta Gabriel , Huerta Rodrigo , Thibaut Aurore
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Dexterity is described as coordinated hand and finger movement for precision tasks. It is essential for day-to-day activities like computer use, writing or buttoning a shirt. Integrity of brain motor networks is crucial to properly execute these fine hand tasks. When these networks are damaged, interventions to enhance recovery are frequently accompanied by unwanted side effects or limited in their effect. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) are postulated to target affected motor areas and improve hand motor function with few side effects. However, the results across studies vary, and the current literature does not allow us to draw clear conclusions on the use of NIBS to promote hand function recovery. Therefore, we developed a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of different NIBS technologies on dexterity in diverse populations. This study will potentially help future evidence-based research and guidelines that use these NIBS technologies for recovering hand dexterity.

Methods and analysis

This protocol will compare the effects of active versus sham NIBS on precise hand activity. Records will be obtained by searching relevant databases. Included articles will be randomised clinical trials in adults, testing the therapeutic effects of NIBS on continuous dexterity data. Records will be studied for risk of bias. Narrative and quantitative synthesis will be done.

Ethics and dissemination

No private health information is included; the study is not interventional. Ethical approval is not required. The results will be reported in a peer-review journal.

Registration details

PROSPERO International prospective register of systematic reviews registration number: CRD42016043809.
Model-based methods for case definitions from administrative health data: application to rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Kroeker Kristine , Widdifield Jessica , Muthukumarana Saman , Jiang Depeng , Lix Lisa M
Published: June 2017

Objective

This research proposes a model-based method to facilitate the selection of disease case definitions from validation studies for administrative health data. The method is demonstrated for a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) validation study.

Study design and setting

Data were from 148 definitions to ascertain cases of RA in hospital, physician and prescription medication administrative data. We considered: (A) separate univariate models for sensitivity and specificity, (B) univariate model for Youden’s summary index and (C) bivariate (ie, joint) mixed-effects model for sensitivity and specificity. Model covariates included the number of diagnoses in physician, hospital and emergency department records, physician diagnosis observation time, duration of time between physician diagnoses and number of RA-related prescription medication records.

Results

The most common case definition attributes were: 1+ hospital diagnosis (65%), 2+ physician diagnoses (43%), 1+ specialist physician diagnosis (51%) and 2+ years of physician diagnosis observation time (27%). Statistically significant improvements in sensitivity and/or specificity for separate univariate models were associated with (all p values <0.01): 2+ and 3+ physician diagnoses, unlimited physician diagnosis observation time, 1+ specialist physician diagnosis and 1+ RA-related prescription medication records (65+ years only). The bivariate model produced similar results. Youden’s index was associated with these same case definition criteria, except for the length of the physician diagnosis observation time.

Conclusion

A model-based method provides valuable empirical evidence to aid in selecting a definition(s) for ascertaining diagnosed disease cases from administrative health data. The choice between univariate and bivariate models depends on the goals of the validation study and number of case definitions.
Association between human herpesvirus infections and dementia or mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Warren-Gash Charlotte , Forbes Harriet , Breuer Judith , Hayward Andrew C , Mavrodaris Angelique , Ridha Basil H , Rossor Martin , Thomas Sara L , Smeeth Liam
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Persisting neurotropic viruses are proposed to increase the risk of dementia, but evidence of association from robust, adequately powered population studies is lacking. This is essential to inform clinical trials of targeted preventive interventions.

Methods and analysis

We will carry out a comprehensive systematic review of published and grey literature of the association between infection with, reactivation of, vaccination against or treatment of any of the eight human herpesviruses and dementia or mild cognitive impairment. We will search the Cochrane Library, Embase, Global Health, Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, clinical trials registers, the New York Academy of Medicine Grey Literature Report, Electronic Theses Online Service through the British Library and the ISI Conference Proceedings Citation Index for randomised controlled trials, cohort, case–control, case crossover or self-controlled case series studies reported in any language up to January 2017. Titles, abstracts and full-text screening will be conducted by two researchers independently. Data will be extracted systematically from eligible studies using a piloted template. We will assess risk of bias of individual studies in line with the Cochrane Collaboration tool. We will conduct a narrative synthesis, grouping studies by exposure and outcome definitions, and will describe any differences by population subgroups and dementia subtypes. We will consider performing meta-analyses if there are adequate numbers of sufficiently homogeneous studies. The overall quality of cumulative evidence will be assessed using selected Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations criteria.

Ethics and dissemination

As this is a review of existing studies, no ethical approval is required. Results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication and at national and international conferences. We anticipate the review will clarify the current extent and quality of evidence for a link between herpesviruses and dementia, identify gaps and inform the direction of future research.

Prospero registration number

CRD42017054684.
A study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of an interactive web-based intervention: CancerCope
Authors: Chambers Suzanne K , Ritterband Lee , Thorndike Frances , Nielsen Lisa , Aitken Joanne F , Clutton Samantha , Scuffham Paul , Youl Philippa , Morris Bronwyn , Baade Peter , Dunn Jeffrey
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Approximately 35% of patients with cancer experience clinically significant distress, and unmet psychological supportive care needs are prevalent. This study describes the protocol for a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to assess the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of an internet-based psychological intervention for distressed patients with cancer.

Methods and analysis

In phase I, the intervention was developed on an interactive web platform and pilot tested for acceptability using a qualitative methodology with 21 patients with cancer. Phase II is an RCT underway with patients with or at risk of elevated psychological distress comparing: (1) static patient education website with (2) individualised web-delivered cognitive behavioural intervention (CancerCope). Participants were recruited through the Queensland Cancer Registry and Cancer Council Helpline and met the following inclusion criteria: (1) recently diagnosed with cancer; (2) able to read and speak English; (3) no previous history of head injury, dementia or psychiatric illness; (4) no other concurrent cancer; (5) phone and internet access; (5) scored ≥4 on the Distress Thermometer. Participants are assessed at four time points: baseline/recruitment and 2, 6 and 12 months after recruitment and intervention commencement. Of the 163 participants recruited, 50% met caseness for distress. The area of highest unmet supportive care needs were psychological followed by physical and daily living needs. Primary outcomes are psychological and cancer-specific distress and unmet psychological supportive care needs. Secondary outcomes are positive adjustment, quality of life and cost-effectiveness.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was obtained from the Griffith University Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval: PSY/70/13/HREC) and the Metro South Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/13/QPAH/601). All participants provide informed consent prior to taking part in the study. Once completed, this study will provide recommendations about the efficacy of web-based cognitive behavioural interventions to facilitate better psychosocial adjustment for people with cancer.

Trial registration number

ANZCTR (ACTRN12613001026718).
Feasibility study of a randomised controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of using a humanoid robot to improve the social skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (Kaspar RCT): a study protocol
Authors: Mengoni Silvana E , Irvine Karen , Thakur Deepshikha , Barton Garry , Dautenhahn Kerstin , Guldberg Karen , Robins Ben , Wellsted David , Sharma Shivani
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Interventions using robot-assisted therapy may be beneficial for the social skills development of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are lacking. The present research aims to assess the feasibility of conducting an RCT evaluating the effectiveness of a social skills intervention using Kinesics and Synchronisation in Personal Assistant Robotics (Kaspar) with children with ASD.

Methods and analysis

Forty children will be recruited. Inclusion criteria are the following: aged 5–10 years, confirmed ASD diagnosis, IQ over 70, English-language comprehension, a carer who can complete questionnaires in English and no current participation in a private social communication intervention. Children will be randomised to receive an intervention with a therapist and Kaspar, or with the therapist only. They will receive two familiarisation sessions and six treatment sessions for 8 weeks. They will be assessed at baseline, and at 10 and 22 weeks after baseline. The primary outcome of this study is to evaluate whether the predetermined feasibility criteria for a full-scale trial are met. The potential primary outcome measures for a full-scale trial are the Social Communication Questionnaire and the Social Skills Improvement System. We will conduct a preliminary economic analysis. After the study has ended, a sample of 20 participants and their families will be invited to participate in semistructured interviews to explore the feasibility and acceptability of the study’s methods and intervention.

Ethics and dissemination

Parents/carers will provide informed consent, and children will give assent, where appropriate. Care will be taken to avoid pressure or coercion to participate. Aftercare is available from the recruiting NHS Trust, and a phased withdrawal protocol will be followed if children become excessively attached to the robot. The results of the study will be disseminated to academic audiences and non-academic stakeholders, for example, families of children with ASD, support groups, clinicians and charities.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN14156001); Pre-results.
Immune-mediated effects targeting hepatitis C virus in a syngeneic replicon cell transplantation mouse model
Authors: Levander Sepideh , Holmström Fredrik , Frelin Lars , Ahlén Gustaf , Rupp Daniel , Long Gang , Bartenschlager Ralf , Sällberg Matti
Published: June 2017

Objective

HCV is characterised by its ability to establish chronic infection in hepatocytes and to replicate in the presence of an inflammation. We mimicked this situation in vivo in immune-competent mice by syngeneic transplantation of HCV replicon-containing mouse hepatoma cells.

Design

A total of 5 million H-2b positive Hep56.1D cells, carrying a subgenomic genotype (gt) 2a replicon (HCV replicon cells) or stably expressing comparable levels of the HCV NS3/4A protease/helicase complex (NS3/4A hepatoma cells), were injected subcutaneously into syngeneic H-2b-restricted mice. Kinetics of tumour growth, HCV RNA replication levels and HCV-specific immune responses were monitored. For immune monitoring, new H-2b-restricted cytotoxic T cell epitopes within the gt2a NS3/4A region were mapped. Immune mice were generated by DNA-based vaccination.

Results

HCV replicon and NS3/4A hepatoma cells generated solid tumours in vivo. Similar to what is seen in human HCV infection did HCV RNA replicate in the presence of inflammation. NS3/4A-specific CD8+ T cells seemed to transiently reduce HCV RNA levels. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were required for protection against tumour growth. Vaccine-induced NS3/4A(gt2a)-specific T cells protected against HCV replicon tumours in wild-type, but not in HCV NS3/4A(gt1a)-transgenic mice with dysfunctional HCV-specific T cells. Importantly, as in human HCV infection, HCV replicon cells neither primed nor boosted a strong NS3/4A-specific T cell response.

Conclusion

Syngeneic transplantation of mouse HCV replicon cells into immune-competent animals mirrors many in vivo events in humans. This system is versatile and can be applied to any genetically modified H-2b-restricted mouse strain.
Ultraluminous X-Ray Sources
Authors: Kaaret Philip , Feng Hua , Roberts Timothy P.
Published: June 2017

We review observations of ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs). X-ray spectroscopic and timing studies of ULXs suggest a new accretion state distinct from those seen in Galactic stellar-mass black hole binaries. The detection of coherent pulsations indicates the presence of neutron-star accretors in three ULXs and therefore apparently super-Eddington luminosities. Optical and X-ray line profiles of ULXs and the properties of associated radio and optical nebulae suggest that ULXs produce powerful outflows, also indicative of super-Eddington accretion. We discuss models of super-Eddington accretion and their relationship to the observed behaviors of ULXs. We review the evidence for intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) in ULXs. We consider the implications of ULXs for super-Eddington accretion in active galactic nuclei, heating of the early Universe, and the origin of the black hole binary recently detected via gravitational waves.
Interplay Between Innate Immunity and the Plant Microbiota
Authors: Hacquard Stéphane , Spaepen Stijn , Garrido-Oter Ruben , Schulze-Lefert Paul
Published: June 2017

The innate immune system of plants recognizes microbial pathogens and terminates their growth. However, recent findings suggest that at least one layer of this system is also engaged in cooperative plant-microbe interactions and influences host colonization by beneficial microbial communities. This immune layer involves sensing of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that initiate quantitative immune responses to control host-microbial load, whereas diversification of MAMPs and PRRs emerges as a mechanism that locally sculpts microbial assemblages in plant populations. This suggests a more complex microbial management role of the innate immune system for controlled accommodation of beneficial microbes and in pathogen elimination. The finding that similar molecular strategies are deployed by symbionts and pathogens to dampen immune responses is consistent with this hypothesis but implies different selective pressures on the immune system due to contrasting outcomes on plant fitness. The reciprocal interplay between microbiota and the immune system likely plays a critical role in shaping beneficial plant-microbiota combinations and maintaining microbial homeostasis.
Engineered Expression of Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies Against Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Ahmad Maham , Ahmed Osama M. , Schnepp Bruce , Johnson Philip R.
Published: June 2017

This review discusses recent progress made in developing a vaccine and novel treatments for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It highlights the shortcomings of the RV144 vaccination trial [ALVAC-HIV (vCP1521) and AIDSVAX B/E] and the current standard of care and proposes that engineered expression of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV-1 could overcome these shortcomings. Current developments in three major lines of research on HIV prevention and treatment using bNAbs are reviewed: firstly, the use of sequential immunogens to activate B cells to express bNAbs; secondly, the delivery of novel and extremely potent bNAbs through passive administration; and finally, the use of gene transfer using adeno-associated viral vectors to deliver bNAbs.
New World Arenavirus Biology
Authors: Sarute Nicolás , Ross Susan R.
Published: June 2017

Hemorrhagic fevers caused by viruses were identified in the late 1950s in South America. These viruses have existed in their hosts, the New World rodents, for millions of years. Their emergence as infectious agents in humans coincided with changes in the environment and farming practices that caused explosions in their host rodent populations. Zoonosis into humans likely occurs because the pathogenic New World arenaviruses use human transferrin receptor 1 to enter cells. The mortality rate after infection with these viruses is high, but the mechanism by which disease is induced is still not clear. Possibilities include direct effects of cellular infection or the induction of high levels of cytokines by infected sentinel cells of the immune system, leading to endothelia and thrombocyte dysfunction and neurological disease. Here we provide a review of the ecology and molecular and cellular biology of New World arenaviruses, as well as a discussion of the current animal models of infection. The development of animal models, coupled with an improved understanding of the infection pathway and host response, should lead to the discovery of new drugs for treating infections.
MCAM Mediates Chemoresistance in Small-Cell Lung Cancer via the PI3K/AKT/SOX2 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Tripathi Satyendra C. , Fahrmann Johannes F. , Celiktas Muge , Aguilar Mitzi , Marini Kieren D. , Jolly Mohit K. , Katayama Hiroyuki , Wang Hong , Murage Eunice N. , Dennison Jennifer B. , Watkins D. Neil , Levine Herbert , Ostrin Edwin J. , Taguchi Ayumu , Hanash Samir M.
Published: June 2017

Despite favorable responses to initial therapy, small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) relapse occurs within a year and exhibits resistance to multiple drugs. Because of limited accessibility of patient tissues for research purposes, SCLC patient-derived xenografts (PDX) have provided the best opportunity to address this limitation. Here, we sought to identify novel mechanisms involved in SCLC chemoresistance. Through in-depth proteomic profiling, we identified MCAM as a markedly upregulated surface receptor in chemoresistant SCLC cell lines and in chemoresistant PDX compared with matched treatment-naïve tumors. MCAM depletion in chemoresistant cells reduced cell proliferation and reduced the IC50 inhibitory concentration of chemotherapeutic drugs in vitro. This MCAM-mediated sensitization to chemotherapy occurred via SOX2-dependent upregulation of mitochondrial 37S ribosomal protein 1/ATP-binding cassette subfamily C member 1 (MRP1/ABCC1) and the PI3/AKT pathway. Metabolomic profiling revealed that MCAM modulated lactate production in chemoresistant cells that exhibit a distinct metabolic phenotype characterized by low oxidative phosphorylation. Our results suggest that MCAM may serve as a novel therapeutic target to overcome chemoresistance in SCLC. Cancer Res; 77(16); 4414–25. ©2017 AACR.
Combined BTK and PI3Kδ Inhibition with Acalabrutinib and ACP-319 Improves Survival and Tumor Control in CLL Mouse Model
Authors: Niemann Carsten U. , Mora-Jensen Helena I. , Dadashian Eman L. , Krantz Fanny , Covey Todd , Chen Shih-Shih , Chiorazzi Nicholas , Izumi Raquel , Ulrich Roger , Lannutti Brian J. , Wiestner Adrian , Herman Sarah E.M.
Published: June 2017

Purpose: Targeting the B-cell receptor (BCR) pathway with inhibitors of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) and PI3Kδ is highly effective for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, deep remissions are uncommon, and drug resistance with single-agent therapy can occur. In vitro studies support the effectiveness of combing PI3Kδ and BTK inhibitors.

Experimental Design: As CLL proliferation and survival depends on the microenvironment, we used murine models to assess the efficacy of the BTK inhibitor acalabrutinib combined with the PI3Kδ inhibitor ACP-319 in vivo. We compared single-agent with combination therapy in TCL1-192 cell–injected mice, a model of aggressive CLL.

Results: We found significantly larger reductions in tumor burden in the peripheral blood and spleen of combination-treated mice. Although single-agent therapy improved survival compared with control mice by a few days, combination therapy extended survival by over 2 weeks compared with either single agent. The combination reduced tumor proliferation, NF-κB signaling, and expression of BCL-xL and MCL-1 more potently than single-agent therapy.

Conclusions: The combination of acalabrutinib and ACP-319 was superior to single-agent treatment in a murine CLL model, warranting further investigation of this combination in clinical studies. Clin Cancer Res; 23(19); 5814–23. ©2017 AACR.
T-cell Receptors for Clinical Therapy: In Vitro Assessment of Toxicity Risk
Authors: Kunert Andre , Obenaus Matthias , Lamers Cor H.J. , Blankenstein Thomas , Debets Reno
Published: June 2017

Adoptive therapy with T-cell receptor (TCR)–engineered T cells has shown promising results in the treatment of patients with tumors, and the number of TCRs amenable for clinical testing is expanding rapidly. Notably, adoptive therapy with T cells is challenged by treatment-related side effects, which calls for cautious selection of target antigens and TCRs that goes beyond their mere ability to induce high T-cell reactivity. Here, we propose a sequence of in vitro assays to improve selection of TCRs and exemplify risk assessments of on-target as well as off-target toxicities using TCRs directed against cancer germline antigens. The proposed panel of assays covers parameters considered key to safety, such as expression of target antigen in healthy tissues, determination of a TCR's recognition motif toward its cognate peptide, and a TCR's cross-reactivity toward noncognate peptides. Clin Cancer Res; 23(20); 6012–20. ©2017 AACR.
Islam and Female Migrant Domestic Workers in Qatar
Authors: Syed Jawad
Published: June 2017

This paper offers an Islamic perspective on the issues of female migrants, mainly in domestic work, and the Islamic ethics that pertain to their contemporary circumstances in Qatar. It uses intersectionality theory to argue that multiple identity categories of migration, ethnicity and class are important along with gender to better analyse power relations and discrimination facing female migrant domestic workers. It refers to Islamic egalitarian and humanitarian teachings as an ethical framework for legislative and cultural reforms. The paper also offers some real-life examples to illustrate the issues and challenges facing migrant domestic workers in Qatar. In the end, some recommendations and implications are offered.
Gulf Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis
Authors: Hanafi Sari
Published: June 2017

This article will focus on how the Gulf, state and society, reacted to the Syrian crisis and the role of religious leaders in Gulf area and beyond in addressing when a Muslim should opt for migration as a response to the deterioration of their living conditions and how should behave in the host society. After examining statistics that contradict the Gulf’s official declarations concerning the number of Syrian refugees hosted by their countries, I will review briefly the debates in favor and against receiving Syrian refugees in the Gulf societies through conventional and social media. Finally, through the analysis of fatwas issued since 2011, I will argue that the landscape of religious scripts provides contradictory messages about migration, modes of migrant’s incorporation and hospitality. Some of these messages call upon Muslims to receive refugees in distress while others are either silent or discouraging refugees to go to non-Muslim countries.
La sfida di Anna (Tb 2,11–14)
Authors: Toloni Giancarlo
Published: June 2017

In Tb 1,11–14 the words that Hannah says to her husband resemble in many aspects those of Job’s wife (Job 2,9). That of Hannah is the defiance of a lively faith, attentive to people and to the situations of life, more that in complying with the law, in the rites and works of justice. This was the primitive sense of her words; in fact, the author of Tobit constructed her portrait on the original archetype of Job’s wife, that can be seen in Old Greek (og) and in his addiction in v. 9a–e, by contaminating them. So, here she urges Job to cry out to God his hopelessness for so unfair a trial, and to seek in him a living interlocutor, no longer resigning himself to the events. A reworking of Hannah’s image is totally positive in vv. 11–13: there it’s reinterpreted in the light of the new portrait of Job’s wife, reworked with misogynist accents by Jewish tradition and incorporated in the mt and in the ecclesiastical Greek of the lxx, where her words, rather than an exhortation, they are a curse against Yhwh, responsible for Job’s suffering. In Tobit, however, it is just an ideological reading, that is a reworking of the meaning of Hannah’s words (v. 14), as sometimes the tradition did, assimilating her role to that of Job’s wife in the mt and lxx.
The Most Beautiful Body: The Physical Dimension in Martyrdom Narratives
Authors: Denaro Roberta
Published: June 2017

Within the vast bibliography devoted to martyrdom in Islam the issue of the martyr’s corporeity has received comparatively little attention.

This article focuses on the exceptional features medieval texts ascribed to martyrs’ bodies, especially after their death on the battlefield. It examines a set of topoi through which Islamic religious literature differentiated these martyrs from other dead, using a sublimate and extraordinary corporeity as a sign of their spiritual excellence. Finally, the article takes into account some extreme developments of this attitude, well-represented in a ḥadīṯ (collected in Ibn al-Mubārak’s Kitāb al-ǧihād) stating that the martyr will be given a new, most beautiful, body immediately after death.

In the conclusion the article raises the question of the relevance of these themes to contemporary representations of martyrdom where images of martyrs’ bodies play a central role in the quest for legitimacy of religious, national or political communities.
A Case of Religious Architecture in Elymais: The Tetrastyle Temple of Bard-e Neshandeh
Authors: Salaris Davide
Published: June 2017

This study provides a new approach and interpretation of a remote Elymaean tetrastyle temple found in the course of excavations conducted at the sacred terraces of Bard-e Neshandeh in the mid-19th century. Perched on the heights of the Zagros mountains in the current province of Khuzestan (sw Iran), the shrine on the lower terrace reflects an innovative synthesis of structural elements engaging both Mesopotamian and Iranian templates and it occupies a special place in the records of temple architecture of the Iranian world before the Sasanid conquest. According to this investigation, a re-evaluation of the tetrastyle temple is proposed in order that it will yield new insights and progress of understanding on the cultic monumental apparatus in Hellenistic and Parthian Elymais.1
Una collezione dimenticata: le porcellane orientali della marchesa Vittoria Toschi Mosca
Authors: Visconti Chiara
Published: June 2017

The eight hundred Chinese and Japanese ceramics, donated to the city of Pesaro by Vittoria Toschi Mosca and now housed in the Musei Civici, are little known and have remained in storage for more than sixty years despite being one of the largest collection of export porcelain in Italy. This paper introduces an ongoing research project into their history and heralds their study and publication.
A 17th-Century Circassian Village in the Shape of al-Manṣūr’s Baġdād
Authors: Fontana Maria Vittoria
Published: June 2017

A drawing made by the French traveller Jean Baptiste Tavernier during his journey in the Levant in 1632 illustrates a round Circassian village that, in terms of its shape as well as other important devices, shows features already recognisable in the presumed plan of the 9th-century Baġdād. Although the size and functions of the two sites are so different a sort of continuity of a model can be observed, also probably under the weight of magic and religious rituals.
Placing Assimilation Theory: Mexican Immigrants in Urban and Rural America
Authors: García Angela S. , Schmalzbauer Leah
Published: June 2017

Assimilation theory typically conceptualizes native whites in metropolitan areas as the mainstream reference group to which immigrants’ adaptation is compared. Yet the majority of the U.S. population will soon be made up of ethnoracial minorities. The rise of new immigrant destinations has contributed to this demographic change in rural areas, in addition to already-diverse cities. In this article, we argue that assimilation is experienced in reference to the demographic populations within urban and rural destinations as well as the physical geography of these places. We analyze and compare the experiences of rural Mexicans who immigrated to urban Southern California and rural Montana, demonstrating the ways in which documentation status in the United States and the rurality of immigrants’ communities of origin in Mexico shape assimilation in these two destinations.
“Perfectly Positioned”: The Blurring of Urban, Suburban, and Rural Boundaries in a Southern Community
Authors: Garner Betsie
Published: June 2017

In this article, I draw on ethnographic fieldwork and formal interviews from a community study in Rockdale County, Georgia, to illustrate the social construction of place-based identity within the rural-urban interface. Given decades of growth and expansion in metro Atlanta, Rockdale has become an object lesson of the boundary shifting and crossing typical of places located along the rural-urban fringe. A sustained pattern of demographic and ecological change in Rockdale has resulted in a lack of consensus about how to imagine the community’s location on the rural-urban continuum. I show how symbolic and social boundaries between urbanity and rurality are blurred within the community as residents draw on local resources to construct alternatively urban, suburban, and rural identities. Additionally, I illustrate how local boosters take advantage of this blurriness to portray Rockdale County as a “perfectly positioned” community and how community members disregard the official rural-urban boundaries of governments or scholars and instead invest their own imagined boundaries with significant meaning.
Medication Regimen Complexity and Low Adherence in Older Community-Dwelling Adults With Substantiated Self-Neglect
Authors: Abada Sharon , Clark Leslie E. , Sinha Arup K. , Xia Rui , Pace-Murphy Kathleen , Flores Renee J , Burnett Jason
Published: June 2017

Objective: Determine whether medication regimen complexity predicts medication adherence levels in a sample of community-dwelling adults 65 years and older with Adult Protective Services–substantiated self-neglect. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data ( N = 31 participants) from a pilot intervention to increase medication adherence among the target group was performed. The Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) and the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8)™ were the primary independent and dependent measures, respectively. A multivariable linear regression analysis, adjusting for potential confounders, was conducted to estimate the association between complexity and adherence. Results: Regimen complexity was high (mean MRCI = 19.6) and adherence was low (mean MMAS = 5.1). Even after controlling for confounders, increased complexity was significantly associated with lower adherence. Discussion: Older community-dwelling adults who self-neglect have complex medication regimens that contribute to low medication adherence. Medication regimen complexity may be a modifiable contributor to low adherence that can be targeted by future interventions to reduce self-neglect and its consequences.
Patterns of Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Survivors’ Help-Seeking
Authors: Cho Hyunkag , Shamrova Dasha , Han Jae-Bum , Levchenko Polina
Published: June 2017

Intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors often do not seek critically needed help. A good understanding of the relationship between the pattern of violence and help-seeking is critical to developing adequate services for the survivors, as well as for reaching out to those who do not seek help. This study used the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey to examine how IPV survivor’s help-seeking varies, depending on the characteristics of the survivors and the pattern of victimization. Logistic regression analyses were conducted, with the survivors’ help-seeking and use of formal or informal help as the dependent variables. The study results show that women are the primary victims of IPV, that the pattern of victimization is associated with both whether survivors seek help or not, and which help sources they utilize, if any. IPV consequences are also associated with survivors’ help-seeking, as are demographic factors such as age, gender, race, and immigration status.
Decline in Literacy and Incident AD Dementia Among Community-Dwelling Older Persons
Authors: Yu Lei , Wilson Robert S. , Han S. Duke , Leurgans Sue , Bennett David A. , Boyle Patricia A.
Published: June 2017

Objective: To quantify longitudinal change in financial and health literacy and examine the associations of declining literacy with incident Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Method: Data came from 799 participants of an ongoing cohort study. Literacy was measured using a battery of 32 questions. Clinical diagnoses were made annually following uniform structured procedures. The associations of declining literacy with incident AD dementia and MCI were tested using a joint model for longitudinal and time-to-event data. Results: We observed an overall decline in total literacy score over up to 6 years of follow-up ( p < .001). Faster decline in literacy was associated with higher risks for incident AD dementia (hazard ratio = 4.526, 95% confidence interval = [2.993, 6.843], p < .001) and incident MCI (hazard ratio = 2.971, 95% confidence interval = [1.509, 5.849], p = .002). Discussion: Declining literacy among community-dwelling older persons predicts adverse cognitive outcomes and serves as an early indicator of impending dementia.
Gay and grey: participatory action research in Hong Kong
Authors: Kong Travis SK
Published: June 2017

This article examines how a research project transformed into participatory action research (PAR) whose outcome was a self-help group for older (60+) gay men in Hong Kong. The overall process witnessed a change in the level of participation by both the researcher and researched, as well as the social transformation of the participants and production of knowledge on Chinese homosexuality. Most importantly, the morph into PAR can be seen as a process whereby the participants took control and felt empowered. By bridging the gap between queer studies and PAR, this research rethinks three power issues embedded in the research process: the power relation between researcher and researched, that between participants and the major form of oppression in queer lives, i.e. heteronormativity, and the knowledge–power relation in the formulation of Chinese homosexuality.
Communicating Terror: Mediatization and Ritualization
Authors: Cui Xi , Rothenbuhler Eric
Published: June 2017

In this essay, we explicate the internal logic of contemporary terrorist acts and our society’s responses, to denaturalize the label and meanings we give to “terrorism.” We argue that contemporary terrorism communicates intimidation, fear, and anxiety through the ritualization and mediatization of terrorist attacks. Mediatization refers to the strategic coercion of imperative media coverage of the attacks, and ritualization refers to the focus on sacred life structures in both terrorist attacks and remedial responses. In combining ritualization and mediatization, terrorism aims to introduce maximal chaos through unexpected disruption of the sacred and taken-for-granted in everyday life in the community of the attack and wherever media coverage can reach. The fear and anxiety induced by disrupted life rhythms, including normal media flows, and the compelling footage of the disruption lead to ritualized reactions which both restore and transform the social order beyond the moment of the attack.
Wide-Awake Anesthesia in the In-Office Procedure Room: Lessons Learned
Authors: Van Demark Robert E. , Becker Hillary A. , Anderson Matthew C. , Smith Vanessa J. S.
Published: June 2017

Background: Wide-awake local anesthesia and no tourniquet (WALANT) has become more popular in hand surgery. Without a tourniquet, there is no need for preoperative testing or sedation. The use of lidocaine with epinephrine has allowed a larger variety of cases to be done safely in an outpatient setting instead of the hospital. “Minor field sterility,” which uses fewer drapes and tools to accomplish the same procedures, is a concept that is also gaining recognition. Methods: Investigation of hand surgeons performing a majority of cases using WALANT and minor field sterility was the beginning of seeing its potential at our institution. Administration was concerned about patient safety, cost-effectiveness, and patient satisfaction of the proposed changes. Analysis of our institution to determine location of these procedures was also imperative to using WALANT. Results: An in-office procedure room was built to allow for WALANT and minor field sterility. The requirements and logistics of developing an in-office procedure room for wide-awake surgery are reviewed in this article. Conclusions: The concurrent use of WALANT and minor field sterility has created a hand surgery practice that is cost-effective for the patient and the facility and resulted in excellent patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Minimum 20 Year Follow-Up of Semi-Constrained Total Ankle Arthroplasty
Authors: Hartog Taylor Den , Carlson Samuel , Alvine Greg , Alvine Frank , Hartog Bryan Den , Callaghan John
Published: June 2017

Category:

Ankle Arthritis

Introduction/Purpose:

With the introduction of newer generations of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) constructs, the incidence of TAA in the United States has been increasing. While TAA has emerged as an alternative to ankle arthrodesis for the management of end-stage ankle arthritis, long-term data evaluating clinical outcomes and the survivorship of ankle prostheses is lacking. The purpose of this study was to report the clinical outcomes and radiographic survivorship of a second-generation, semi-constrained titanium and cobalt-chromium total ankle prosthesis at minimum twenty-year follow-up in order to provide a benchmark comparison for future generations of TAA design.

Methods:

132 total ankle replacements in 126 patients were performed by a single surgeon between July 1984 and October 1994. Follow-up evaluation consisted of determining revision status, completion of the validated ankle osteoarthritis scale, a short questionnaire, and a review of the available radiographs. All radiographs were evaluated for evidence of progressive radiolucent lines, osteolysis and component subsidence.

Results:

At minimum twenty-year follow-up, 37 patients were alive, 89 were deceased, and 5 were lost to follow-up. For living patients, average clinical follow up was 25.3 years. Average radiographic follow-up was 21.4 years. Over the minimum 20 year follow-up, 29 ankles were revised (23%). For living patients, 13 ankles were revised (35%).

Conclusion:

Twenty-three percent of all patients and 35% of living patients required a revision over the minimum 20 year follow up interval. 65% of living patients have retained their prosthesis and 75% of the entire cohort are still functioning with their original ankle replacement or died with the original ankle replacement in place. This study should provide a benchmark for newer designs when they obtain this length of follow-up.
12-HETrE inhibits platelet reactivity and thrombosis in part through the prostacyclin receptor
Authors: Tourdot Benjamin E. , Adili Reheman , Isingizwe Zitha R. , Ebrahem Meral , Freedman J. Cody , Holman Theodore R. , Holinstat Michael
Published: June 2017

Key Points

The antiplatelet effects of 12-HETrE in humans and mice are partly dependent on IP in vitro. The antithrombotic effects of 12-HETrE are partially dependent on IP in vivo in mice.
Rethinking self-reported measure in subjective evaluation of assistive technology
Authors: Hossain Gahangir
Published: June 2017

Self-reporting is used as a subjective measure of usability study of technology solutions. In assistive technology research, more than often the ‘a coordinator’ directly assist the ‘subject’ in the scoring process. This makes the rating process slower and also introduces bias, such as, ‘Forer effect’ and/or ‘Hawthorne’ effect. To address these issues we propose to use technology mediated interaction between the ‘subject’ and ‘the coordinator’ in evaluating assistive technology solutions. The goal is to combine both the qualitative and quantitative scores to create a relatively unbiased rating system. Empirical studies were performed on two different datasets in order to illustrate the utility of the proposed approach. It was observed that, the proposed hybrid rating is relatively unbiased for usability study.
Anticancer activity of drug-loaded calcium phosphate nanocomposites against human osteosarcoma
Authors: Son Kyoung Dan , Kim Young-Jin
Published: June 2017

Background

Calcium phosphate (CaP) based nanoparticles are considered to be ideal drug carriers for delivery of anticancer drugs because of their excellent biocompatibility and pH responsiveness. However, CaP nanoparticles have the problems of limited drug load capacity, initial burst release, and short-term release. Thus, we prepared the CaP nanocomposites containing anticancer drug such as caffeic acid (CA-NP), chlorogenic acid (CG-NP), or cisplatin (CP-NP) in the presence of alginate as a polymer template to control the release rate of drugs.

Results

The drug-loaded CaP nanocomposites exhibited spherical shape with a size of under 100 nm and the size of nanocomposites was hardly affected by the addition of drug. UV-visible spectroscopic analysis confirmed the insertion of drug into the CaP nanocomposites. These nanocomposites showed an initial burst release of drug, followed by a prolonged release, in which the release profile of drugs was depended on the solution pH. In addition, the drug-loaded CaP nanocomposites revealed anticancer activity on human osteosarcoma in a manner dependent on concentration of drugs and time.

Conclusions

The drug-loaded CaP nanocomposites can contribute to the development of a new generation of controlled drug release carriers for chemotherapy of cancers.
In situ measurement of velocity-stress sensitivity using crosswell continuous active-source seismic monitoring
Authors: Marchesini Pierpaolo , Ajo-Franklin Jonathan B. , Daley Thomas M.
Published: June 2017

The ability to characterize time-varying reservoir properties, such as the state of stress, has fundamental implications in subsurface engineering, relevant to geologic sequestration of [Formula: see text]. Stress variation, here in the form of changes in pore fluid pressure, is one factor known to affect seismic velocity. Induced variations in velocity have been used in seismic studies to determine and monitor changes in the stress state. Previous studies conducted to determine velocity-stress sensitivity at reservoir conditions rely primarily on laboratory measurements of core samples or theoretical relationships. We have developed a novel field-scale experiment designed to study the in situ relationship between pore-fluid pressure and seismic velocity using a crosswell continuous active-source seismic monitoring (CASSM) system. At the Cranfield, Mississippi, [Formula: see text] sequestration field site, we actively monitored seismic response for five days with a temporal resolution of 5 min; the target was a 26 m thick injection zone at approximately 3.2 km depth in a fluvial sandstone formation (lower Tuscaloosa Formation). The variation of pore fluid pressure was obtained during discrete events of fluid withdrawal from one of the two wells and monitored with downhole pressure sensors. The results indicate a correlation between decreasing CASSM time delay (i.e., velocity change for a raypath in the reservoir) and periods of reduced fluid pore pressure. The correlation is interpreted as the velocity-stress sensitivity measured in the reservoir. This observation is consistent with published laboratory studies documenting a velocity ([Formula: see text]) increase with an effective stress increase. A traveltime change ([Formula: see text]) of 0.036 ms is measured as the consequence of a change in pressure of approximately 2.55 MPa ([Formula: see text]). For [Formula: see text] total traveltime, the velocity-stress sensitivity is [Formula: see text]. The overall results suggest that CASSM measurements represent a valid technique for in situ determination of velocity-stress sensitivity in field-scale monitoring studies.
Re-evaluating value in faith-based social action
Authors: Dinham Adam
Published: June 2017

This article reports on a project to explore the application of a mainstream community evaluation tool in faith-based settings. The project made two key findings. The first concerns a distinction between instrumental evaluative processes on the one hand and values-based ones on the other, in which these faith-based settings emphasised evaluation that is reflective in ways that connect to deep solidarity and relationships, seen as rooted in their faith. The second concerns the question of whether the faith dimension adds anything distinctive, and whether it ought to be visible. This potentially challenges wider sociological debates about a public sphere in which faith is discussed only in terms of what Habermas calls ‘public reasons’ (ie, non-religious terms). The article concludes that evaluation in faith-based settings is valued when it is connected to reflection, and the process could be used to make visible the faith dimension in pursuit of transparency and accountability.