bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bing-Neel Syndrome Case Report: A Previously Undocumented IgG Variant with MRI, PET/CT, and PET/MRI Imaging
Authors: Halperin Daniel , Hallam Simon , Haroon Athar , Butler Tom , Agrawal Samir
Published: April 2016

Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia is the most commonly reported subtype of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL); it is characterised by IgM secretion. Neurological complications are common usually as a result of hyperviscosity. In rare cases, cells can infiltrate the central nervous system; this is known as Bing-Neel syndrome. We report the case of a 57-year-old male with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma of the IgG-subtype with neurological symptoms and the consequent finding of lymphoplasmacytoid cells in his cerebrospinal fluid as well as deposits on MRI and PET-CT imaging. This is the first report of Bing-Neel syndrome in IgG-subtype LPL. We discuss the biological and radiological markers of his disease, including PET imaging, which has been minimal in this area to date.
Railway Wheel Flat Detection Based on Improved Empirical Mode Decomposition
Authors: Li Yifan , Liu Jianxin , Wang Yan
Published: April 2016

This study explores the capacity of the improved empirical mode decomposition (EMD) in railway wheel flat detection. Aiming at the mode mixing problem of EMD, an EMD energy conservation theory and an intrinsic mode function (IMF) superposition theory are presented and derived, respectively. Based on the above two theories, an improved EMD method is further proposed. The advantage of the improved EMD is evaluated by a simulated vibration signal. Then this method is applied to study the axle box vibration response caused by wheel flats, considering the influence of both track irregularity and vehicle running speed on diagnosis results. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by a test rig experiment. Research results demonstrate that the improved EMD can inhibit mode mixing phenomenon and extract the wheel fault characteristic effectively.
CSF ADA Determination in Early Diagnosis of Tuberculous Meningitis in HIV-Infected Patients
Authors: Ghosh Gopal Chandra , Sharma Brijesh , Gupta B. B.
Published: April 2016

Tuberculous and Cryptococcal meningitis are common in HIV patients. A highly specific and sensitive rapid test for diagnosis of Tuberculous meningitis especially in setting of HIV is not available in developing countries where the burden of disease is high. We measured ADA (adenosine deaminase) levels using spectrophotometric method in the CSF of HIV patients with meningitis to differentiate Tuberculous meningitis from meningitis due to other causes. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare ADA values between tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and nontuberculous (non-TB) meningitis patients and a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis curve was drawn from these values. Levels of ADA in the CSF of patients with TBM were significantly higher than those in patients with meningitis due to other causes. CSF ADA level determination with a cut-off value of 6 IU/L was found to be highly specific and fairly sensitive test for the diagnosis of TBM in HIV positive patients.
Torsade de Pointes Triggered by Early Ventricular Escape Beats in a Patient with Complete Atrioventricular Block
Authors: Yildirim Erkan , Bugan Baris , Gormel Suat , Yuksel Uygar Cagdas , Celik Murat , Gokoglan Yalcin , Firtina Serdar , Iscen Sinan , Yalcinkaya Emre , Kucuk Ugur , Kabul Hasan Kutsi
Published: April 2016

Torsade de pointes is an uncommon and malignant form of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and associated with a prolonged QT interval, which may be congenital or acquired. Complete atrioventricular block may cause QT interval prolongation and torsade de pointes. In this paper, we present a case with complete atrioventricular block complicated with frequent episodes of torsade de pointes triggered by early premature ventricular contractions despite normal QT intervals.
Veratri Nigri Rhizoma et Radix (Veratrum nigrum L.) and Its Constituent Jervine Prevent Adipogenesis via Activation of the LKB1‐AMPKα‐ACC Axis In Vivo and In Vitro
Authors: Park Jinbong , Jeon Yong-Deok , Kim Hye-Lin , Kim Dae-Seung , Han Yo-Han , Jung Yunu , Youn Dong-Hyun , Kang JongWook , Yoon Daeyeon , Jeong Mi-Young , Lee Jong-Hyun , Hong Seung-Heon , Lee Junhee , Um Jae-Young
Published: April 2016

This study was performed in order to investigate the antiobese effects of the ethanolic extract of Veratri Nigri Rhizoma et Radix (VN), a herb with limited usage, due to its toxicology. An HPLC analysis identified jervine as a constituent of VN. By an Oil Red O assay and a Real‐Time RT‐PCR assay, VN showed higher antiadipogenic effects than jervine. In high‐fat diet‐ (HFD‐) induced obese C57BL/6J mice, VN administration suppressed body weight gain. The levels of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), CCAAT‐enhancer‐binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), adipocyte fatty‐acid‐binding protein (aP2), adiponectin, resistin, and LIPIN1 were suppressed by VN, while SIRT1 was upregulated. Furthermore, VN activated phosphorylation of the liver kinase B1‐ (LKB1‐) AMP‐activated protein kinase alpha‐ (AMPKα‐) acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) axis. Further investigation of cotreatment of VN with the AMPK agonist AICAR or AMPK inhibitor Compound C showed that VN can activate the phosphorylation of AMPKα in compensation to the inhibition of Compound C. In conclusion, VN shows antiobesity effects in HFD‐induced obese C57BL/6J mice. In 3T3‐L1 adipocytes, VN has antiadipogenic features, which is due to activating the LKB1‐AMPKα‐ACC axis. These results suggest that VN has a potential benefit in preventing obesity.
Influence of Septal Deviation on the Prognosis of Transcanalicular Diode Laser-Assisted Dacryocystorhinostomy
Authors: Raposo Alberto , Piqueras Francisco , García-Purriños Francisco , Martínez-Martinez María Ll. , Lajara Jerónimo
Published: April 2016

Purpose.The objective of the present study is to determine whether the success rate in transcanalicular diode laser-assisted dacryocystorhinostomy (TCL DCR) is influenced by the variant septal deviation (SD).Methods.Patients were divided into two groups: one including operated lacrimal pathways (LP) with no anatomical nasosinusal variants and the other group of LP with SD. This study began on January 1, 2008, and ended on December 31, 2010, at Morales Meseguer Hospital. Variables were compared by means of ANOVA and a logistic regression model (LOGIT).Results.Out of the 159 LP operated on, 102 had no nasosinusal anatomic variant, but 39 LP were associated with SD. The first group evidenced a success rate of 67.64%, while the second group evidenced a success rate of 66.7%.Conclusion.We found no significant statistical differences between the success rates in the two groups (with SD and no anatomical variants). So we could avoid previous or concomitant septoplasty in some cases (mild and moderate SD).
Subconjunctival Injection of Viscoelastic Material for Leaking Sclerotomy in Transconjunctival Sutureless Vitrectomy
Authors: Lee Chung Hyun , Joe Soo Geun , Yang Sung Jae
Published: April 2016

Aim.To evaluate the effectiveness of subconjunctivally injected viscoelastic material (VEM) for the self-sealing of leaking sclerotomy in transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV).Methods. This was a prospective interventional series. Subconjunctival injection of VEM was performed in eyes showing leaking sclerotomy at the end of TSV in selected cases. This procedure was performed in 24 consecutive eyes from 24 patients scheduled for 23- or 25-gauge TSV with phacoemulsification for various vitreoretinal diseases combined with cataracts.Results.Among the 24 eyes, 13 cases were scheduled for 23-gauge TSV, while 11 cases were scheduled for 25-gauge TSV. The average number of injection sites per eye was1.7±0.9in the 23-gauge cases and1.5±0.7in the 25-gauge cases. Leakage was most commonly observed at the vitrector site of the sclerotomy, while little leakage was observed at the illuminator site. There were no cases of postoperative hypotony.Conclusion.Subconjunctival injection of VEM was simple and effective for the self-sealing of leaking sclerotomy after TSV in selected cases.
Oncogenic Mutation of AIMP2/p38 Inhibits Its Tumor-Suppressive Interaction with Smurf2
Authors: Kim Dae Gyu , Lee Jin Young , Lee Ji-Hyun , Cho Ha Yeon , Kang Beom Sik , Jang Song-Yee , Kim Myung Hee , Guo Min , Han Jung Min , Kim Seong-Jin , Kim Sunghoon
Published: April 2016

AIMP2/p38 is a multifunctional tumor suppressor that normally resides in the cytosol as a scaffold protein of the multi-tRNA synthetase complex (MSC). One of the tumor-suppressive functions of AIMP2 is to facilitate ubiquitin-mediated degradation of FUSE-binding protein (FBP, FUBP1), a transcriptional activator of c-Myc. However, the mechanism by which AIMP2 functions within this pathway and its significance in tumorigenesis are uncertain. Here, we report that Smurf2 is responsible for AIMP2-mediated ubiquitination of FBP, and a mutation in AIMP2 that inhibited its nuclear interaction with Smurf2 enhanced cellular transformation and tumorigenesis in vivo. Treatment of HeLa cells with TGFβ resulted in the phosphorylation of AIMP2 on S156, a residue that is exposed on the embedded GST domain of AIMP2. We further found that phospho-AIMP2 dissociated from the MSC and translocated to the nucleus, where it bound to Smurf2, enhancing ubiquitination of FBP. AIMP2 also inhibited nuclear export of Smurf2 to sustain TGFβ signaling. Collectively, these findings present a novel tumor-suppressive interaction between AIMP2 and Smurf2 and suggest that the disruption of this interaction can lead to oncogenic transformation. Cancer Res; 76(11); 3422–36. ©2016 AACR.
The Placenta as an Organ and a Source of Stem Cells and Extracellular Matrix: A Review
Authors: Lobo Sonja E. , Leonel Luciano César P.C. , Miranda Carla M.F.C. , Coelho Talya M. , Ferreira Guilherme A.S. , Mess Andrea , Abrão Mauricio S. , Miglino Maria Angelica
Published: April 2016

The placenta is a temporal, dynamic and diverse organ with important immunological features that facilitate embryonic and fetal development and survival, notwithstanding the fact that several aspects of its formation and function closely resemble tumor progression. Placentation in mammals is commonly used to characterize the evolution of species, including insights into human evolution. Although most placentas are discarded after birth, they are a high-yield source for the isolation of stem/progenitor cells and are rich in extracellular matrix (ECM), representing an important resource for regenerative medicine purposes. Interactions among cells, ECM and bioactive molecules regulate tissue and organ generation and comprise the foundation of tissue engineering. In the present article, differences among several mammalian species regarding the placental types and classifications, phenotypes and potency of placenta-derived stem/progenitor cells, placental ECM components and current placental ECM applications were reviewed to highlight their potential clinical and biomedical relevance.
Efficacy and safety of protein C concentrate to treat purpura fulminans and thromboembolic events in severe congenital protein C deficiency
Authors: Manco-Johnson Marilyn , Bomgaars Lisa , Palascak Joseph , Shapiro Amy , Geil John , Fritsch Sandor , Pavlova Borislava , Gelmont David
Published: April 2016

Severe congenital protein C (PC) deficiency (SCPCD) is associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), purpura fulminans (PF), and vascular thromboembolic events (TE), often leading to organ failure and death. PC replacement therapy offers a safe, effective treatment for thromboembolic complications of SCPCD and secondary prophylaxis for recurrent DIC, PF, and TEs. A prospective, multi-centre, open-label, phase 2/3 study was conducted to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of protein C concentrate for treatment of PF and acute TEs. Fifteen enrolled patients with SCPCD received protein C concentrate; 11 received treatment for acute TEs (PF, 18 events; PF and other coumarin-related vascular thromboembolic events [coumarin-induced skin necrosis; CISN], 1 event; venous thrombosis, 5 events). Predefined efficacy criteria for treatment of acute TEs were compared with a historical control arm (i. e. patients receiving conventional therapy without protein C replacement). PF/CISN was demonstrated by pre-defined primary and secondary efficacy ratings. Primary ratings of protein C concentrate–treated episodes were significantly higher (p=0.0032) than in the historical control. For 19 PF/CISN episodes in 11 patients, 94.7 % of treatments were rated effective and 5.3 % effective with complications (not related to protein C concentrate). In a secondary efficacy rating, all treatments were rated effective (68.4 % excellent; 21.1 % good; 10.5 % fair). For 5/24 vascular thrombosis episodes, 80 % of treatments were rated excellent and 20 % were rated good. No treatment-related adverse events or serious adverse events occurred. In conclusion, protein C concentrate provides an efficacious, safe treatment for PF, CISN, and other TEs in SCPCD patients.
O uso de digressões em textos orais
Authors: Tesch Leila Maria
Published: April 2016

A digressão ocorre numa ação momentânea de suspensão de um tópico, sendo introduzido um novo e de maior interesse naquele instante, seguido da reintrodução do tópico original. Segundo Dascal e Katriel (1979), há três tipos de digressões: 1) baseadas no enunciado; 2) baseadas na interação; e em 3) sequências inseridas. O presente trabalho pretende investigar o uso desses três tipos em textos orais produzidos por falantes capixabas, retirados de entrevistas tipicamente labovianas do banco de dados do PortVix. O objetivo desta pesquisa é observar em que medida, ao empregar tal estratégia, a interação recebe uma espécie de reorientação de seu sentido. A análise qualitativa dos dados demonstrou que a digressão é uma estratégia conversacional muito utilizada pelo falante e que, apesar de apresentar caráter suspensivo e flutuante, deve ser considerada como um evento coerente, intervindo de forma decisiva na instauração, condução e manutenção da organização textual e interacional do evento comunicativo.
Neural Correlates of Predictive Saccades
Authors: Lee Stephen M. , Peltsch Alicia , Kilmade Maureen , Brien Donald C. , Coe Brian C. , Johnsrude Ingrid S. , Munoz Douglas P.
Published: April 2016

Every day we generate motor responses that are timed with external cues. This phenomenon of sensorimotor synchronization has been simplified and studied extensively using finger tapping sequences that are executed in synchrony with auditory stimuli. The predictive saccade paradigm closely resembles the finger tapping task. In this paradigm, participants follow a visual target that “steps” between two fixed locations on a visual screen at predictable ISIs. Eventually, the time from target appearance to saccade initiation (i.e., saccadic RT) becomes predictive with values nearing 0 msec. Unlike the finger tapping literature, neural control of predictive behavior described within the eye movement literature has not been well established and is inconsistent, especially between neuroimaging and patient lesion studies. To resolve these discrepancies, we used fMRI to investigate the neural correlates of predictive saccades by contrasting brain areas involved with behavior generated from the predictive saccade task with behavior generated from a reactive saccade task (saccades are generated toward targets that are unpredictably timed). We observed striking differences in neural recruitment between reactive and predictive conditions: Reactive saccades recruited oculomotor structures, as predicted, whereas predictive saccades recruited brain structures that support timing in motor responses, such as the crus I of the cerebellum, and structures commonly associated with the default mode network. Therefore, our results were more consistent with those found in the finger tapping literature.
When art meets taxonomy: identity of Erythrina laeta (Fabaceae)
Authors: GUACCHIO EMANUELE DEL , CENNAMO PAOLA , TORRES MARIO VÁZQUEZ , MENALE BRUNO
Published: April 2016

The unresolved name Erythrina laeta Dehnh. is neotypified by a water-colour kept in the Botanical Garden of Naples (Italy). The Dehnhardt’s name resulted to be a heterotypic synonym of E. americana. The nomenclatural types of the names and their synonyms are discussed, and the names E. enneandra DC. and E. fulgens Loisel. are lectotypified by two pictures.
An annotated checklist of Platypodinae and Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from Iran
Authors: BEAVER ROGER A. , GHAHARI HASSAN , SANGUANSUB SUNISA
Published: April 2016

We provide an annotated checklist of species of bark and ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Platypodinae and Scolytinae) recorded from Iran, with information on distribution, host trees, biology and taxonomy. Two species of Platypodinae and 79 species of Scolytinae are recorded. Hypothenemus crudiae (Panzer, 1791), Scolytus koenigi Schevyrew, 1890 and Xyleborus monographus Fabricius, 1792 are recorded for the first time from Iran. Previous records of three further species are considered dubious and require confirmation.
Revision of Plumarius Philippi 1873 (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea, Plumariidae) from Argentina north of Patagonia, with description of eighteen new species
Authors: DIEZ PATRICIA A. , ROIG-ALSINA ARTURO
Published: April 2016

Twenty six species of Plumarius from Argentina north of Patagonia are revised. Eighteen new species: Plumarius politus sp. nov., P. sarophorus sp. nov., P. globulosus sp. nov., P. angulatus sp. nov., P. noa sp. nov., P. divergens sp. nov., P. malaris sp. nov., P. gracilior sp. nov., P. riojanus sp. nov., P. exophthalmus sp. nov., P. planatus sp. nov., P. albinervis sp. nov., P. truncatus sp. nov., P. mikrommatus sp. nov., P. obscurus sp. nov., P. gracilis sp. nov., P. fidalgoi sp. nov., and P. ocellulatus sp. nov. are described and illustrated. A new record for known species as well as a key to 26 known species in the region is given. A redescription of P. tumidulus Papp, 2000, which is the first record of the family Plumariidae from Uruguay, is done.
Reappraisal of the two axiid genera Manaxius Kensley, 2003 and Calaxidium Sakai, 2014, and description of a new species of Calaxius Sakai & de Saint Laurent, 1989 from French Polynesia, Southwest Pacific
(Crustacea: Decapoda: Axiidea)
Authors: KOMAI TOMOYUKI
Published: April 2016

Discovery of an undescribed species of axiid shrimp from French Polynesia, Southwest Pacific, led the author to assess the taxonomic status of the two nominal genera, Manaxius Kensley, 2003 and Calaxidium Sakai, 2014. As a result, these two genera are synonymized under Calaxius Sakai & de Saint Laurent, 1989, because there are no significant differences in generic characters among the three taxa. An emended generic diagnosis of Calaxius is presented. The new species, Calaxius poupini, is morphologically similar to C. euophthalmus (De Man, 1905), C. izuensis Komai, 2011, C. kensleyi Clark, Galil & Poore, 2007, C. mimasensis (Sakai, 1967), C. pailoloensis (Rathbun, 1906) and C. sibogae (De Man, 1925), but the poorly developed armature on the ventral margin of each cheliped merus distinguishes the new species from the other six allied species. Some points of taxonomic confusion relating to Calaxius are clarified.
A study of the genus Protosticta Selys, 1855, with descriptions of four new species from Vietnam (Odonata: Platystictidae)
Authors: PHAN QUOC TOAN , KOMPIER TOM
Published: April 2016

The genus Protosticta Selys, 1855 from Vietnam is revised. Four new species, P. ngoai spec. nov., P. socculus spec. nov., P. pseudocuriosa spec. nov., and P. spinosa spec. nov. are described; detailed morphological structures of four species P. beaumonti Wilson, 1997 (dark form), P. caroli van Tol, 2008, P. grandis Asahina, 1995, and P. satoi Asahina, 1997, are provided. P. beaumonti is newly recorded for Vietnam. The female of P. caroli is described for the first time. P. linnaei van Tol, 2008, is also listed here, based on the original description and visual inspection of the type specimens. The occurrence of P. khaosoidaoensis Asahina, 1984, in Vietnam is reviewed and rejected. A total of nine Protosticta species have now been recorded for Vietnam.
A new species of Lamelligomphus Fraser, 1922 (Odonata: Gomphidae) from southern Yunnan, China
Authors: ZHANG HAO-MIAO , YANG GUO-HUI , CAI QING-HUA
Published: April 2016

Lamelligomphus annakarlorum sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected from southern Yunnan Province, China (holotype male: Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, 21°57’59’’N, 101°12’37’’E, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China). All type specimens of the new species have been deposited in the Collection of Aquatic Animals, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. It is compared with Lamelligomphus camelus (Martin, 1904), which shares some similar characters.
The Turbulent Circulation of a Snowball Earth Ocean
Authors: Jansen Malte F.
Published: April 2016

Theoretical arguments are developed to derive general properties of the ocean circulation in a “snowball” world, and the predictions are confirmed in a series of idealized numerical simulations. As suggested previously, a turbulent flow is driven by geothermal heating at the seafloor, which is balanced by a similar heat loss through the ice sheet above. It is argued that the expected horizontal inhomogeneities in these heat fluxes are sufficient to generate baroclinic instability, which drives geostrophic turbulence. Turbulent eddies then transport heat upward and poleward along isolines of constant density, thereby maintaining a statically stable stratification, contrary to previous findings from numerical models that do not adequately resolve the geostrophic turbulence. The kinetic energy of the turbulent flow is expected to be controlled by a balance between the potential energy input by the diabatic forcing and frictional dissipation in the bottom boundary layer. The resulting characteristic flow speed is estimated to be on the order of 1 cm s−1, which is in agreement with previous numerical simulations. Eddy diffusivities are estimated to be on the order of 100 m2 s−1, which is smaller than in the present-day ocean but probably within one order of magnitude. Because of the weak forcing, the resulting gradients of temperature and salinity would be much smaller than in the present-day ocean, with global-scale potential temperature variations on the order of 0.1 K, again in agreement with previous numerical simulations. The presented theoretical arguments may also be relevant to other planetary bodies with an ice-covered ocean.
Access to Fluoridated Water and Adult Dental Caries
Authors: Peres M.A. , Peres K.G. , Barbato P.R. , Höfelmann D.A.
Published: April 2016

Systematic reviews have found no evidence to support a benefit of water fluoridation (WF) to prevent dental caries in adult populations. The aim of this natural experiment was to investigate whether lifetime access to fluoridated water is associated with dental caries experience among adults from Florianópolis, Brazil. The data originated from a population-based cohort study ( EpiFloripa Adult) initiated in 2009 ( n = 1,720) when participants were aged 20 to 59 years. The second wave was carried out in 2012 ( n = 1,140) and included a dental examination and a face-to-face questionnaire. Participants residing at the same address since the age of 7 y or before were included in the primary analyses. Sensitivity analyses were also performed. WF was implemented in the city in 2 different periods of time: 1982 (60% of the population) and 1996. Dental caries was assessed by the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index. A combination of residential status, participant’s age, and year of implementation of WF permitted the creation of participants’ lifetime access to fluoridated water: >75%, 50% to 75%, and <50% of a participant’s lifetime. Covariates included sex, age, socioeconomic mobility, educational attainment, income, pattern of dental attendance, and smoking. Participants who accessed fluoridate water <50% of their lifetime presented a higher mean rate ratio of DMFT (1.39; 95% CI, 1.05–1.84) compared with those living >75% of their lifetime with residential access to fluoridated water. Participants living between 50% and 75% and <50% of their lives in fluoridated areas presented a decayed and filled teeth mean ratio of 1.34 (95% CI, 1.02–1.75) and 1.47 (95% CI, 1.05–2.04) higher than those with residential access to fluoridated water >75% of their lifetime, respectively. Longer residential lifetime access to fluoridated water was associated with less dental caries even in a context of multiple exposures to fluoride.
The impact of team familiarity and surgical experience on operative efficiency: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Maruthappu Mahiben , Duclos Antoine , Zhou Charlie D , Lipsitz Stuart R , Wright John , Orgill Dennis , Carty Matthew J
Published: April 2016

Summary

Objectives

The independent impact of individual surgical experience and team familiarity on surgical performance has been widely studied; however, the interplay of these factors and their relative, quantified, contributions to performance is poorly understood. We determined the impact of team familiarity and surgeon, and cumulative team experience on operative efficiency in total knee replacement.

Design

Retrospective analysis of all total knee replacements conducted at the host institution in 1996–2009. Multivariate generalised-estimating-equation regression models were used to adjust for patient risk and clustering.

Setting

Tertiary care academic hospital.

Participants

All patients undergoing TKR at the host institution in 1996–2009.

Main outcome measure

Operative efficiency.

Results

A total of 4276 total knee replacements were completed by 1163 different surgical teams. The median experience level was 17.6 years for consultant surgeons and 3.7 years for trainee surgeons. After patient-risk adjustment, consultant surgical experience ( p < 0.0001), trainee surgical experience ( p < 0.05), cumulative team operative experience ( p < 0.0001) and team familiarity ( p < 0.0001) were associated with significant reductions in operative time. Surgical experience and team familiarity demonstrated concave and linear relationships with operative time, respectively. For a consultant surgeon, the expected reduction in operative time after 25 years in practice was 51 min, compared to a 21-min reduction over the span of 40 collaborations with the same team members.

Conclusions

Surgical experience and team familiarity display important and distinct relationships with operative time in total knee replacement. Appreciation of this interplay may serve to guide implementation and allocation of procedure-specific quality improvement strategies in surgery.
Diabetes Transition Care From an Inpatient to Outpatient Setting in a Veteran Population
Authors: Brumm Susan , Theisen Kathleen , Falciglia Mercedes
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to evaluate a diabetes transition care program in a population of veterans with diabetes by calculating 30-day readmission rates and assessing glycemic control.

Methods

Hospitalized patients with poorly controlled diabetes were identified to participate in the diabetes transition care program. The program included follow-up through a postdischarge telephone call by the diabetes educator, with an opportunity for a face-to-face clinic visit. A retrospective before-and-after study design was used. Analysis included calculating the readmission rate and the pre- and postintervention A1C rates to evaluate the intervention.

Results

Of the 40 participants, 100% completed the intervention. All 40 participants received a postdischarge telephone call as follow-up, with 20% presenting for a face-to-face visit. The 30-day readmission rate for the cohort was 10%, in comparison to 14.3% for patients who did not receive the intervention but were otherwise comparable. For those who had repeat A1C measurements conducted 2 to 8 months after time of enrollment in the program (n = 33), average A1C declined −2.2%, from 11.3% (100 mmol/mol) to 9.1% (76 mmol/mol).

Conclusions

Diabetes-specific transition of care for those with complex psychiatric, medical, and social needs was feasible, with good outcomes in hospital readmission rates and glycemic control, when executed by an adult nurse practitioner who was the inpatient diabetes educator.
Both sides now: Toward the dual customer approach under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act in the United States
Authors: Holland Brian
Published: April 2016

The U.S. Congress passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act in 2014. Some constituencies may view the new law as a radical departure from earlier approaches to human capital development at a national level. Yet the workforce investment system under Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is premised upon a dual customer approach to serve labor demand (employers) and labor supply (job seekers) concurrently. With the rhetoric about the jobs and skills debate, it is easy to take for granted what is at stake behind supply- and demand-driven approaches within a workforce system. This paper’s review is intended to revisit the characteristics and clarify the roles of the two customers in workforce policy in the United States, identify potential concerns of one customer’s dominance, and suggest some ways to complement this balancing act. As a result of this analysis, one can potentially see both sides of the vision behind an integrated workforce development system.
The Role of Managerial Fit in Determining Organizational Performance: An Empirical Assessment of Presidents in U.S. Higher Education
Authors: Rutherford Amanda
Published: April 2016

The question of managerial fit—the congruence between a manager and his or her environment—has become widely debated by policymakers, practitioners, and scholars from a number of fields as the occurrence of non-internal management hires has increased across many types of organizations. Although many assume that higher levels of fit in an organization will generate better performance, others argue that misfits are better suited at leading organizations as motivated change agents. In this study, a measure of person–organization fit is created using original cross-sectional time-series data on U.S. university presidents from 1993 to 2009. Findings indicate that maximizing fit is not always ideal and that fit has a nonlinear relationship with organizational performance such that some fit is healthy but high fit can be detrimental for student performance measures.
The altered right frontoparietal network functional connectivity in migraine and the modulation effect of treatment
Authors: Li Zhengjie , Lan Lei , Zeng Fang , Makris Nikos , Hwang Jiwon , Guo Taipin , Wu Feng , Gao Yujie , Dong Mingkai , Liu Mailan , Yang Jie , Li Ying , Gong Qiyong , Sun Sharon , Liang Fanrong , Kong Jian
Published: April 2016

Aims

This study aims to investigate the resting-state functional connectivity (rs-fc) of the right frontoparietal network (rFPN) between migraineurs and healthy controls (HCs) in order to determine how the rFPN rs-fc can be modulated by effective treatment.

Methods

One hundred patients and 46 matched HCs were recruited. Migraineurs were randomized to verum acupuncture, sham acupuncture, and waiting list groups. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected before and after longitudinal treatments. Independent component analysis was applied in the data analysis.

Results

We found that migraineurs showed decreased rs-fc between the rFPN and bilateral precuneus compared with HCs. After treatments (real and sham), rFPN rs-fc with the precuneus was significantly reduced. This reduction was associated with headache intensity relief. In order to explore the role of the precuneus in acupuncture modulation, we performed a seed-based rs-fc analysis using the precuneus as a seed and found that the precuneus rs-fc with the bilateral rostral anterior cingulate cortex/medial prefrontal cortex, ventral striatum, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was significantly enhanced after treatment.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that migraineurs are associated with abnormal rFPN rs-fc. An effective treatment, such as acupuncture, may relieve symptoms by strengthening the cognitive adaptation/coping process. Elucidation of the adaptation/coping mechanisms may open up a new window for migraine management.
A Qualitative Analysis of Barriers and Facilitators to Optimal Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Practices in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Burns Jennifer , Emerson Jillian A. , Amundson Kimberly , Doocy Shannon , Caulfield Laura E. , Klemm Rolf D. W.
Published: April 2016

Background:

Suboptimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices are determinants of poor child nutritional status. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, few children are fed according to international guidelines; this combined with endemic poverty and food insecurity have contributed to the high prevalence of child undernutrition.

Objective:

To characterize IYCF practices and barriers and enablers to optimal child feeding in South Kivu.

Methods:

Focus group discussions, structured and in-depth interviews with women of reproductive age, mothers of children <2 years, and health workers were conducted in 2012 as part of formative research for the US Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Jenga Jamaa II multiyear assistance program.

Results:

Although breastfeeding was prevalent, few mothers engaged in optimal feeding practices. Barriers included poverty, high work burden, lack of decision-making power in the household, and perceived milk insufficiency. Health provider guidance and mothers’ motivation to breastfeed and feed nutrient-dense foods emerged as facilitators to optimal practices.

Conclusions:

Structural factors, especially long hours working in agricultural fields, impeded mothers’ ability to feed their children optimally. Interventions to address child nutrition and improve IYCF practices should take into account these factors, in addition to food access, nutrition education, and behavior change.
Reshaping Social Identity: A Qualitative Report on Experiences in an Interracial Median Group
Authors: Vice Hilary , Gildenhuys Assie
Published: April 2016

A median group convened in Johannesburg, South Africa, is described as offering its members multiple opportunities to reshape their social identities and engage in a process of social learning. The group was one component of a course in group work. Group analytic theory positioned the work within a context that was characterized by transition and social trauma. A richly diverse group composition, which reflected many dimensions of the interracial macro-society, was an important aspect of the group. The group was researched using a qualitative, multi-method research design, utilizing participant observation, in-depth interviews and focus groups. These different approaches gave access to the group members’ subjective experiences and meaning-making strategies. The researcher’s engagement with the research process and her own social reshaping emerged as an important dimension of the research. In conclusion, some thoughts on working in an interracial median group in a transformational society are offered.
Field and Ecology
Authors: Liu Sida , Emirbayer Mustafa
Published: April 2016

This article offers a theoretical comparison between field and ecology, as developed by Pierre Bourdieu and the Chicago School of sociology. While field theory and ecological theory share similar conceptualizations of actors, positions, and relations, and while they converge in their views on structural isomorphism, temporality, and social psychology, they are quite different on several other scores: power and inequality, endogeneity, heterogeneity, metaphorical sources, and abstraction. With a fine-grained comparison of the two approaches, this article provides the basis for a continuous dialogue among social theorists and empirical researchers regarding the nature of social space, its structural and processual composition, and how it changes over time.
Defining the State from within
Authors: Mayrl Damon , Quinn Sarah
Published: April 2016

A growing literature posits the importance of boundaries in structuring social systems. Yet sociologists have not adequately theorized one of the most fraught and consequential sites of boundary-making in contemporary life: the delineation of the official edges of the government—and, consequently, of state from society. This article addresses that gap by theorizing the mechanisms of state boundary formation. In so doing, we extend culturalist theories of the state by providing a more specific model of how the state-society boundary is produced. Further, we contribute to institutionalist accounts of politics by highlighting boundary-work during policy creation as a crucial site of political struggle, one with causal implications insofar as it illuminates a process that determines fine-grained distinctions in policy forms.
Czechoslovak seafarers before 1989: Living on the edge of freedom
Authors: Krátká Lenka
Published: April 2016

From two perspectives, the author presents a topic of maritime business-running in Czechoslovakia before 1989. Firstly, she discusses a brief history of the Czechoslovak Ocean Shipping Company in the period between 1959 and 1989. Secondly, the company’s history is complemented by life stories (memories) of former Czechoslovakian seafarers. The second part of the study is based on oral history interviews with seafarers, and it concentrates on their ‘double lives’: the first life they had lived with their families in a communist state behind strictly guarded borders; and the second life they had lived at sea, on ships, abroad, and in relative freedom, but without their families.
Matthew Fontaine Maury: Reformer
Authors: Stack Margaret
Published: April 2016

Although he was better known as a scientist than a reformer, Matthew Fontaine Maury’s influence as the latter was hardly negligible. Maury argued for institutional expansion and reform during a period of agitation and stagnation for the American navy. Published in Richmond’s Southern Literary Messenger between 1840 and 1841, Maury’s five ‘Scraps from the Lucky Bag’ agitated for wide-ranging reforms aimed at tackling the numerous inefficiencies and inadequacies of the navy. His proposed reforms served multiple purposes. Naval reform was, for Maury, a matter of necessity, and advocating for it permitted him to challenge the limited role that the navy occupied in 1840. It also served as a way for Maury to address the anxieties of the antebellum South’s maritime interests and make the case for real protection of Southern coastal waters. Lastly, Maury’s plan of reform was based in and allowed a re-imagination of the navy as the modern, powerful arm of an ambitious national project. This article considers Maury’s ‘Scraps from the Lucky Bag’ as both advocacy for naval reform and a specific vision of both the South and the nation. Situating Maury within American anxieties over expansion and international interference, this article argues that Maury leveraged, or attempted to leverage, those anxieties to achieve his goal of reform. Maury’s advocacy for naval reform was not only an argument for a larger, more technologically advanced and better organized force, but also for the territorial and maritime expansion of the United States. For Maury, these projects were fundamentally linked. A reconsideration of Maury’s efforts towards naval reform opens a window on the conflicting visions and anxieties of American expansion, both national and sectional, as well as the configuration of the American navy in the mid-19th century.
Matthew Fontaine Maury: Scientist
Authors: Hardy Penelope K
Published: April 2016

While US naval officer Matthew Fontaine Maury is frequently celebrated by naval historians, historians of science have treated him more poorly. He is often portrayed as an uneducated amateur who jumped to conclusions about the oceans based on slim evidence and biblical reasoning, and who missed the opportunity provided by the founding of the US Naval Observatory to place American scientists on a competitive footing with their European counterparts. Consigning Maury to the category of disappointing amateur, however, misses the opportunities his case presents to better understand the historical milieu in which he worked, as well as his enduring contributions to the scientific exploration of the deep ocean. This article reconsiders Maury as scientist, siting the origins of his poor historical reputation in arguments over the professionalization of science and of the navy. His reputation also suffered after his departure from Washington, DC, for the Confederacy at the beginning of the American Civil War. The article examines his participation in a practice of science flavoured by its location in the nation’s capital, where science required as much attention to lobbying and leveraged connections as to the calibration of instruments. In this context, Maury was a serious scientist who embraced the task of doing science in the public interest, and he participated in an ongoing effort to further the USA’s ability to be competitive on the world stage, whether that stage was dressed for scientific achievement or commerce. Maury sought authority for his claims with a strong sense of the geopolitics of geophysics. Re-examining Maury as scientist provides a window onto a pattern of scientific practice in Washington, DC, in the middle of the 19th century whose echoes propagated through the rest of that century and into the 20th.
Using strain gradient elasticity in conjunction with Gurtin–Murdoch theory for modeling the coupled effects of surface and size phenomena on the instability of narrow nano-switch
Authors: Keivani Maryam , Koochi Ali , Kanani Abolfazl , Mardaneh Mohammad R , Sedighi Hamid M , Abadyan Mohamadreza
Published: April 2016

While comprehensive researches have been conducted on modeling the electromechanical stability of wide-enough beam-plate nano-switches, few researchers have focused on modeling the electromechanical instability of narrow-width nano-switches. For such systems, considering the coupled effects of surface stresses and size dependency of material characteristics is crucial as well as applying appropriate force models. In this paper, Gurtin–Murdoch surface theory incorporating with strain gradient elasticity is employed to study the pull-in instability of narrow-width beam-type nano-switch with small width to height ratio. The model accounts for the force corrections, i.e. the impact of finite dimensions on the fringing field, Casimir attraction and van der Waals force. Furthermore, a modified gas damping model has been incorporated in the governing equation. The nonlinear governing equation was solved using analytical Rayleigh–Ritz method. The influences of the above-mentioned corrections on the static and dynamic pull-in parameters, phase planes and stability threshold of the switch are demonstrated. The modified model is compared with conventional parallel beam-plate models in the literature.
Measuring Intuition
Authors: Lufityanto Galang , Donkin Chris , Pearson Joel
Published: April 2016

The long-held popular notion of intuition has garnered much attention both academically and popularly. Although most people agree that there is such a phenomenon as intuition, involving emotionally charged, rapid, unconscious processes, little compelling evidence supports this notion. Here, we introduce a technique in which subliminal emotional information is presented to subjects while they make fully conscious sensory decisions. Our behavioral and physiological data, along with evidence-accumulator models, show that nonconscious emotional information can boost accuracy and confidence in a concurrent emotion-free decision task, while also speeding up response times. Moreover, these effects were contingent on the specific predictive arrangement of the nonconscious emotional valence and motion direction in the decisional stimulus. A model that simultaneously accumulates evidence from both physiological skin conductance and conscious decisional information provides an accurate description of the data. These findings support the notion that nonconscious emotions can bias concurrent nonemotional behavior—a process of intuition.
Introduction to the Special Issue on the Intersections of Race, Gender, and Class in the Wake of a National Crisis
Authors: Watkins Daphne C. , Patton Desmond U. , Miller Reuben J.
Published: April 2016

This introduction to the special issue will ground our understanding of the current state of Black boys and men in America, nearly 2 years after the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Each of these articles represents the voices of scholars whose influences add clarity to the experiences and aftermath of traumatic events that threaten the safety and well-being of Black boys and men. Collectively, these articles showcase various research methods; address individual, family, and community issues; and demonstrate how race, gender, and class influence how the assorted levels of society interact with Black males. This special issue is an important contribution to raising awareness of and enacting social change for Black boys and men in our nation.
A Prospective Comparison Study of Heart Rate Variability During Menses in Young Women With Dysmenorrhea
Authors: Wang Yu-Jen , Wang Yi-Zen , Yeh Mei-Ling
Published: April 2016

Background:

Numerous studies have demonstrated autonomic abnormalities in various pain conditions. However, few have investigated heart rate variability (HRV) in young women with primary dysmenorrhea, and the conclusions have been inconsistent. More evidence is required to confirm the reported trend for consistent fluctuation of HRV parameters in dysmenorrhea.

Purpose:

The study’s aim was to determine whether significant differences exist between young women with and without dysmenorrhea for heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and HRV parameters during menses.

Design:

A prospective comparison design with repeated measures was used.

Setting and participants:

Sixty-six women aged 18–25 with dysmenorrhea and 54 eumenorrheic women were recruited from a university in northern Taiwan.

Methods:

High-frequency and low-frequency HRV parameters (HF and LF), LF/HF ratio, BP, and HR were measured daily between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. from Day 1 to Day 6 during menses. The generalized estimating equation was used to analyze the effects of group, time, and Group × Time interaction on these variables.

Results:

HF values were significantly lower in the dysmenorrhea than in the eumenorrhea group, but there were no differences in BP, HR, LF, or LF/HF ratio.

Conclusion:

Reduced HF values reflect reduced parasympathetic activity and autonomic instability in young women with dysmenorrhea. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to examine autonomic regulation in menstrual pain of varying intensities associated with dysmenorrhea-related symptoms and to clarify the causal relationship between dysmenorrhea and HRV fluctuations.
The craft of interviewing in realist evaluation
Authors: Manzano Ana
Published: April 2016

Pawson and Tilley suggest a unique strategy for conducting qualitative interviews within realist evaluation studies. Theories are placed before the interviewee for them to comment on with a view to providing refinement. The subject matter of the interview is the researcher’s theory and interviewees confirm, falsify, and refine this theory. This relationship – described as a teacher–learner cycle – is integral to realist evaluations. This article provides an overview of how interview techniques have been applied in realist evaluations in the last decade as well as suggesting two guiding principles. The first one relates to the design of realist studies and the second one explains how to ask questions like a realist, and proposes three different phases in realist interviews: theory gleaning, theory refining and theory consolidation. The article aims to contribute to a growing understanding of the practical and epistemological challenges presented by primary data collection in realist evaluation.