bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Semiquantitative Bone Marrow Oedema Score and Fracture Score for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment of the Active Charcot Foot in Diabetes
Authors: Meacock L. , Petrova N. L. , Donaldson Ana , Isaac A. , Briody A. , Ramnarine R. , Edmonds M. E. , Elias D. A.
Published: November 2017

There are no accepted methods to grade bone marrow oedema (BMO) and fracture on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in Charcot osteoarthropathy. The aim was to devise semiquantitative BMO and fracture scores on foot and ankle MRI scans in diabetic patients with active osteoarthropathy and to assess the agreement in using these scores. Three radiologists assessed 45 scans (Siemens Avanto 1.5T, dedicated foot and ankle coil) and scored independently twenty-two bones (proximal phalanges, medial and lateral sesamoids, metatarsals, tarsals, distal tibial plafond, and medial and lateral malleoli) for BMO (0—no oedema, 1—oedema < 50% of bone volume, and 2—oedema > 50% of bone volume) and fracture (0—no fracture, 1—fracture, and 2—collapse/fragmentation). Interobserver agreement and intraobserver agreement were measured using multilevel modelling and intraclass correlation (ICC). The interobserver agreement for the total BMO and fracture scores was very good (ICC = 0.83, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.76, 0.91) and good (ICC = 0.62; 95% CI 0.48, 0.76), respectively. The intraobserver agreement for the total BMO and fracture scores was good (ICC = 0.78, 95% CI 0.6, 0.95) and fair to moderate (ICC = 0.44; 95% CI 0.14, 0.74), respectively. The proposed BMO and fracture scores are reliable and can be used to grade the extent of bone damage in the active Charcot foot.
Primary Esophageal Melanoma with Aberrant CD56 Expression: A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall
Authors: Katerji Hani , Childs John M. , Bratton Laura E. , Peyre Christian G. , Huber Aaron R.
Published: November 2017

Primary esophageal malignant melanoma (MM) is rare and extremely aggressive. For pathologists, it can be challenging to diagnose and differentiate from other poorly differentiated malignant neoplasms in the esophagus. Complicating this fact, MM can have divergent differentiation and express nonmelanocytic immunohistochemical markers including epithelial markers (cytokeratins) and rarely neuroendocrine markers. Lack of awareness of this fact by a pathologist can lead to an erroneous diagnosis and delay treatment for an already aggressive disease. Herein, we report a case of primary esophageal malignant melanoma with aberrant CD56 expression without accompanying synaptophysin or chromogranin expression.
An Approach of Randomness of a Sample Based on Its Weak Ergodic Limit
Authors: Londoño Jaime A.
Published: November 2017

For a Polish Sample Space with a Borel σ-field with a surjective measurable transformation, we define an equivalence relation on sample points according to their ergodic limiting averages. We show that this equivalence relation partitions the subset of sample points on measurable invariant subsets, where each limiting distribution is the unique ergodic probability measure defined on each set. The results obtained suggest some natural objects for the model of a probabilistic time-invariant phenomenon are uniquely ergodic probability spaces. As a consequence of the results gained in this paper, we propose a notion of randomness that is weaker than recent approaches to Schnorr randomness.
Neuroprotective Potential of Gentongping in Rat Model of Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy Targeting PPAR-γPathway
Authors: Sun Wen , Zheng Kang , Liu Bin , Fan Danping , Luo Hui , Qu Xiaoyuan , Li Li , He Xiaojuan , Yi Jianfeng , Lu Cheng
Published: November 2017

Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) is the most general form of spinal degenerative disease and is characterized by pain and numbness of the neck and arm. Gentongping (GTP) granule, as a classical Chinese patent medicine, has been widely used in curing CSR, whereas the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the pharmacological mechanisms of GTP on CSR. The rat model of CSR was induced by spinal cord injury (SCI). Our results showed that GTP could significantly alleviate spontaneous pain as well as ameliorate gait. The HE staining and Western blot results showed that GTP could increase the quantity of motoneuron and enhance the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) in the spinal cord tissues. Meanwhile, immunofluorescence staining analysis indicated that GTP could reduce the expression of TNF-αin the spinal cord tissues. Furthermore, the protein level of Bax was decreased whereas the protein levels of Bcl-2 and NF200 were increased after the GTP treatment. These findings demonstrated that GTP might modulate the PPAR-γpathway by inhibiting the inflammatory response and apoptosis as well as by protecting the cytoskeletal integrity of the spinal cord, ultimately play a neuroprotective role in CSR.
Low Glucose Concentrations Induce a Similar Inflammatory Response in Monocytes from Type 2 Diabetic Patients and Healthy Subjects
Authors: Piarulli Francesco , Sartore Giovanni , Sechi Annalisa , Basso Daniela , Fogar Paola , Greco Eliana , Ragazzi Eugenio , Lapolla Annunziata
Published: November 2017

This study aims to assess the proinflammatory interleukin 1β (IL‐1β) and anti‐inflammatory IL‐10 production by monocytes from 38 patients with type 2 diabetes and 31 controls in different glucose concentrations. Monocytes were incubated in low (2.5 mmol/L)‐, normal (5.0 mmol/L)‐, and high (20 mmol/L)‐glucose conditions in the presence and absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Monocytes from both patients and controls only produced a significant increase in IL‐1β in low‐glucose conditions (p < 0.01), and this phenomenon was amplified in the presence of LPS, while it was not seen in normal‐ or high‐glucose conditions, not even in the presence of LPS stimulation. There was no increase in IL‐10 production by monocytes from either diabetic patients or controls using whatever glucose concentrations, except when treated with LPS in normal‐glucose conditions. These findings seem to suggest that low‐glucose conditions induce an inflammatory response in monocytes in all individuals, as an intrinsic capacity of this cell line. On the other hand, monocytes only retain their anti‐inflammatory ability in response to known inflammatory stimuli such as LPS, under normal‐glucose concentrations. In conclusion, human monocytes express an inflammatory pattern in low‐glucose conditions in vitro. This response could contribute to explaining the higher cardiovascular risk induced by hypoglycemia in diabetic patients.
An Overview of the Biological Effects of Some Mediterranean Essential Oils on Human Health
Authors: Elshafie Hazem S. , Camele Ippolito
Published: November 2017

Essential oils (EOs), extracted from aromatic plants, are interesting natural products and represent an important part of the traditional pharmacopeia. The use of some EOs as alternative antimicrobial and pharmaceutical agents has attracted considerable interest recently. Most of the EOs and their single constituents have been reported to inhibit several phytopathogens, human pathogens, and insects as well as their effective uses in food and pharmaceutical industries. The current review discussed the chemical composition and bioactivity of some important EOs extracted from some Mediterranean plants and their principal bioactive single constituents. Information has been furnished on the mechanisms, mode of actions, and factors affecting the bioactivity of some single constituents from different Mediterranean plant EOs. The current review gives an insight into some common plant EOs belonging to Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Rutaceae, and Verbenaceae families commonly growing in Mediterranean region. Further information has been provided about the medical uses of some EOs for several human diseases covering the pharmacological effects (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic). The antimicrobial effects have been also considered in the current review. Although plant EOs are considered promising natural alternatives for many chemical drugs, they still need more specific research for wide application especially in food and pharmaceutical industries.
Activation of NLRP3 Inflammasome by Advanced Glycation End Products Promotes Pancreatic Islet Damage
Authors: Kong Xiang , Lu Ai-Ling , Yao Xin-Ming , Hua Qiang , Li Xiao-Yong , Qin Li , Zhang Hong-Mei , Meng Guang-Xun , Su Qing
Published: November 2017

Accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) contributes to ageing and age‐related diseases, especially type 2 diabetes. The NLRP3 inflammasome, as a vital component of the innate immune system, is implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. However, the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in AGE‐induced pancreatic islet damage remains largely unclear. Results showed that administration of AGEs (120 mg/kg for 6 weeks) in C57BL/6J mice induced an abnormal response to glucose (as measured by glucose tolerance and insulin release), pancreatic β‐cell ultrastructural lesion, and cell death. These effects were associated with an excessive superoxide anion level, significant increased protein expression levels for NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2), thioredoxin‐interacting protein (TXNIP), NLRP3, and cleaved IL‐1β, enhanced caspase‐1 activity, and a significant increase in the levels of TXNIP–NLRP3 protein interaction. Ablation of the NLRP3 inflammasome or treatment with antioxidant N‐acetyl‐cysteine (NAC) clearly ameliorated these effects. In conclusion, our results reveal a possible mechanism for AGE‐induced pancreatic islet damage upon NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
The Role of Oxidative Stress in Decreased Acetylcholinesterase Activity at the Neuromuscular Junction of the Diaphragm during Sepsis
Authors: Liu Hua , Wu Jin , Yao Jun-yan , Wang Hong , Li Shi-tong
Published: November 2017

Our recent study demonstrated that acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of the diaphragm decreased during sepsis. However, the mechanisms were not clearly identified. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the decreased AChE activity was related to oxidative stress by observing AChE activity in different grades of sepsis induced by caecal ligation and puncture (CLP). At 24 h after surgery, an assay of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and protein carbonyls, as well as the myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activity, was conducted. AChE activity was measured by biochemical and histological detection. AChE and CAT activity in the diaphragm decreased, while the contents of TBARS and protein carbonyls, the activity of MPO and SOD, and the SOD/CAT ratios increased. The above changes were much more significant in the mid‐grade septic group than in the low‐grade septic group. The colour of the AChE activity staining at the NMJ gradually lightened from the sham surgery group to the mid‐grade septic group. AChE activity was significantly negatively correlated with the levels of TBARS and protein carbonyls. We consider that oxidative stress might be responsible for decreased AChE activity in the diaphragms of rats induced with sepsis.
The Efficacy of a Haptic-Enhanced Virtual Reality System for Precision Grasp Acquisition in Stroke Rehabilitation
Authors: Yeh Shih-Ching , Lee Si-Huei , Chan Rai-Chi , Wu Yi , Zheng Li-Rong , Flynn Sheryl
Published: November 2017

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, and virtual reality- (VR-) based stroke rehabilitation is effective in increasing motivation and the functional performance. Although much of the functional reach and grasp capabilities of the upper extremities were regained, the pinch movement remains impaired following stroke. In this study, we developed a haptic-enhanced VR system to simulate haptic pinch tasks to assist the recovery of upper-extremity fine motor function. We recruited 16 adults with stroke to verify the efficacy of this new VR system. Each patient received 30 min VR training sessions 3 times per week for 8 weeks. Outcome measures, Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), Test Evaluant les Membres superieurs des Personnes Agees (TEMPA), Wolf motor function test (WMFT), Box and Block test (BBT), and Jamar grip dynamometer, showed statistically significant progress from pretest to posttest and follow-up, indicating that the proposed system effectively promoted fine motor recovery of function. Additionally, our evidence suggests that this system was also effective under certain challenging conditions such as being in the chronic stroke phase or a coside of lesion and dominant hand (nondominant hand impaired). System usability assessment indicated that the participants strongly intended to continue using this VR-based system in rehabilitation.
Extracellular Vesicles from Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Accelerate Migration and Activate AKT Pathway in Human Keratinocytes and Fibroblasts Independently of miR-205 Activity
Authors: Ferreira Andrea da Fonseca , Cunha Pricila da Silva , Carregal Virgínia Mendes , Silva Priscila de Cássia da , Miranda Marcelo Coutinho de , Kunrath-Lima Marianna , de Melo Mariane Izabella Abreu , Faraco Camila Cristina Fraga , Barbosa Joana Lobato , Frezard Frédéric , Resende Vivian , Rodrigues Michele Angela , Goes Alfredo Miranda de , Gomes Dawidson Assis
Published: November 2017

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are promising tools in cell therapy. They secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) that carry different classes of molecules that can promote skin repair, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Skin wound healing is a complex process that requires the activity of several signaling pathways and cell types, including keratinocytes and fibroblasts. In this study, we explored whether adipose tissue MSC-derived EVs could accelerate migration and proliferation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, activate the AKT pathway, and promote wound healing in vivo. Furthermore, we evaluated if EV effects are miR-205 dependent. We found that MSC EVs had an average diameter of 135 nm. Keratinocytes and fibroblasts exposed to EVs exhibited higher levels of proliferation, migration, and AKT activation. Topical administration of EVs accelerated skin wound closure. Knockdown of miR-205 decreased AKT phosphorylation in fibroblasts and keratinocytes, whereas migration was decreased only in keratinocytes. Moreover, knockdown of miR-205 failed to inhibit AKT phosphorylation in fibroblasts and keratinocytes exposed to EVs. About the mechanism of EV effects, we found that incubation with EVs prevented inhibition of AKT activation by miR-205 knockdown, suggesting that EVs activate AKT independently of miR-205. In conclusion, we demonstrated that EVs are a promising tool for wound healing.
iTRAQ-Based Proteomic Analysis of Neonatal Kidney from Offspring of Protein Restricted Rats Reveals Abnormalities in Intraflagellar Transport Proteins
Authors: Liu Xiaomei , Wang Jun , Gao Linlin , Liu Hao , Liu Caixia
Published: November 2017

Background: It is well recognized that adverse events in utero can impair fetal development and lead to the development of kidney injury and hypertension in adulthood. We previously reported a lower kidney index, glomeruli number, and decreased glomerular filtration rate in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) offspring induced by maternal protein malnutrition. To explore the molecular mechanisms linking impaired fetal growth to renal diseases, we investigated differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the IUGR neonatal kidneys by isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) analysis. Methods: We induced IUGR through maternal protein malnutrition. Neonatal kidneys were collected; the protein was extracted; pooled before iTRAQ labeling, and subjected to mass spectrometric analysis. Mass spectrometry results were then further confirmed by assessing five representative proteins in individual specimens with quantitative PCR (qPCR), immunohistochemical (IHC) and / or western blot analysis. Results: A total of 367DEPs (263 up-regulated, 104 down-regulated.) with a threshold of a 1.2-fold change and a P value ≤ 0.05 between IUGR kidneys and control kidneys were identified. Further bioinformatics analysis revealed that these proteins play important roles in oxidative phosphorylation, purine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, RNA small body, spliceosome assembly and intraflagellar transport (IFT). IFT family proteins (IFT80, 88,144) and PKD2 were shown to be up-regulated in IUGR kidneys, confirmed by western blotting, IHC and Q-PCR. Epigenetic modulating factors SET and MYND domain containing 3 (SMYD3), a histone-lysine N-methyltransferase, and H3K4me3 level were also remarkably enhanced in IUGR neonatal kidneys. Conclusions: This first comprehensive analysis of the neonatal kidney proteome reveals new insights in nephridial development, and may make a valuable contribution towards the identification of the pathological mechanisms involved in the developmental origins of adult disease.
Effect of Febuxostat on Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Subjects With Hyperuricemia and Hypertension: A Phase 2 Randomized Placebo‐Controlled Study
Authors: Gunawardhana Lhanoo , McLean Lachy , Punzi Henry A. , Hunt Barbara , Palmer Robert N. , Whelton Andrew , Feig Daniel I.
Published: November 2017

Background

Hyperuricemia is associated with hypertension, with elevated serum uric acid levels postulated to have a causal role in the development of hypertension. Consequently, serum uric acid reduction may help lower blood pressure (
BP
). A Phase 2, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial was conducted to assess the potential
BP
‐lowering effects of the xanthine oxidase inhibitor febuxostat in subjects with hypertension and hyperuricemia (serum uric acid ≥0.42 mmol/L [≥7.0 mg/dL]).

Methods and Results

Subjects (n=121) were randomized 1:1 to febuxostat 80 mg once daily or to placebo. The primary end point was change from baseline to Week 6 in 24‐hour mean ambulatory systolic
BP
(
SBP
). Additional end points included the following: change from baseline to Week 3 in 24‐hour mean
SBP
and changes from baseline to Weeks 3 and 6 in 24‐hour mean ambulatory diastolic
BP
, serum uric acid, mean daytime and nighttime ambulatory
SBP
/diastolic
BP
, and clinic
SBP
/diastolic
BP
. For the overall study population, there were no significant differences between febuxostat and placebo for changes from baseline to Weeks 3 or 6 in ambulatory, daytime or nighttime, or clinic
SBP
or diastolic
BP
. However, in a preplanned subgroup analysis, there was a significant decrease in
SBP
from baseline to Week 6 in subjects with normal renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥90 mL/min) treated with febuxostat versus placebo; least squares mean difference, −6.7; 95% confidence interval −13.3 to −0.0;
P
=0.049.

Conclusions

This study suggests that febuxostat may lower
BP
in hyperuricemic patients with hypertension and normal renal function; further studies should be conducted to confirm this finding.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier:
NCT
01496469.
Real‐Time Ventricular Fibrillation Amplitude‐Spectral Area Analysis to Guide Timing of Shock Delivery Improves Defibrillation Efficacy During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Swine
Authors: Aiello Salvatore , Perez Michelle , Cogan Chad , Baetiong Alvin , Miller Steven A. , Radhakrishnan Jeejabai , Kaufman Christopher L. , Gazmuri Raúl J.
Published: November 2017

Background

The ventricular fibrillation amplitude spectral area (AMSA) predicts whether an electrical shock could terminate ventricular fibrillation and prompt return of spontaneous circulation. We hypothesized that AMSA can guide more precise timing for effective shock delivery during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Methods and Results

Three shock delivery protocols were compared in 12 pigs each after electrically induced ventricular fibrillation, with the duration of untreated ventricular fibrillation evenly stratified into 6, 9, and 12 minutes: AMSA‐Driven (AD), guided by an AMSA algorithm; Guidelines‐Driven (GD), according to cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines; and Guidelines‐Driven/AMSA‐Enabled (GDAE), as per GD but allowing earlier shocks upon exceeding an AMSA threshold. Shocks delivered using the AD, GD, and GDAE protocols were 21, 40, and 62, with GDAE delivering only 2 AMSA‐enabled shocks. The corresponding 240‐minute survival was 8/12, 6/12, and 2/12 (log‐rank test,
P
=0.035) with AD exceeding GDAE (
P
=0.026). The time to first shock (seconds) was (median [Q1–Q3]) 272 (161–356), 124 (124–125), and 125 (124–125) (
P
<0.001) with AD exceeding GD and GDAE (
P
<0.05); the average coronary perfusion pressure before first shock (mm Hg) was 16 (9–30), 10 (6–12), and 3 (−1 to 9) (
P
=0.002) with AD exceeding GDAE (
P
<0.05); and AMSA preceding the first shock (mV·Hz, mean±SD) was 13.3±2.2, 9.0±1.6, and 8.6±2.0 (
P
<0.001) with AD exceeding GD and GDAE (
P
<0.001). The AD protocol delivered fewer unsuccessful shocks (ie, less shock burden) yielding less postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction and higher 240‐minute survival.

Conclusions

The AD protocol improved the time precision for shock delivery, resulting in less shock burden and less postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction, potentially improving survival compared with time‐fixed, guidelines‐driven, shock delivery protocols.
Preference of host distributional pattern of Lagenophrys patina Stokes, 1887 (Ciliophora, Peritrichia, Lagenophryidae) on Mexican Hyalella azteca (Saussure, 1858) (Amphipoda) from two lakes in Mexico
Authors: Mayén-Estrada R. , Macip-Ríos R. , Hermoso-Salazar M. , Romero-Niembro V.
Published: November 2017

Two Hyalella azteca (Saussure, 1858) populations were studied to statistically determine if their symbiont Lagenophrys patina Stokes, 1887 preferred to attach to body regions and/or appendages. The distribution pattern of the epibiont was investigated according to host size and period of the year, based on abundance and prevalence of L. patina in Xochimilco Lake and Cuitzeo Lake, Mexico. In both cases, a greater abundance of L. patina was found on coxal plates, followed by the pereiopods and, for the population of Cuitzeo Lake, the distributional pattern demonstrated a positive association between host size, period of the year, and abundance of the lagenophryids.
Description d’une nouvelle espèce de Armadillidium Brandt, 1833 (Isopoda, Oniscidea) de Tunisie
Authors: Hamaied S. , Charfi-Cheikhrouha F.
Published: November 2017

Les principales caractéristiques morphologiques de la nouvelle espèce Armadillidium ichkeuli n. sp. sont le céphalon pourvu de deux lignes, post-scutellaire et frontale, l’endopodite de l’uropode un peu plus court que l’exopodite et le telson et le bord sternal de l’ischiopodite du péréiopode VII légèrement incurvé avec une plaque saillante implantée transversalement. Cette espèce, à distribution géographique limitée au Nord Est de la Tunisie, est particulièrement abondante au Parc National Ichkeul. Vivant dans des matorraux dominés par Pistacia lentiscus, cette espèce est cantonnée aux étages bioclimatiques sub-humide et humide.
ECG of the month
Authors: Richley Dave
Published: November 2017

Dave Richley presents an ECG for you to analyse
A straight path to a sense of achievement
Authors: Duggan Carly-Ann
Published: November 2017

Orthodontic dental nurse Carly-Ann Duggan shares her journey
Norms of staff responses to falls in residential care
Authors: Scott-Thomas Jeanette , Graham Yitka , Ling Jonathan , Barrigan Marie , Hayes Catherine
Published: November 2017

The aim of the current research was to review the first-line response to patient falls in the independent care sector in North East England. The authors used an online questionnaire via ‘Survey Monkey’ software package, and a convenience sample of 24 of 32 independent care sector homes from South Tyneside, representing a 75% response rate. Policies and guidelines for falls were investigated and the findings highlight the disparate responses to incidences in care-home settings. Despite 96% having a policy on falls, only 80% included an assessment of possible injury or harm and 13% included no direct guidance for staff when residents fall. The most common action was to ring emergency services to move patients, even in the absence of physical injury. There was considerable ambiguity around the assessment of injuries and whose responsibility this was, particularly in falls with potentially non-visible injuries. Ambiguity was also present in the management of falls, where there was overlap between accident and falls policies. The current research highlights the need for policy standardisation. There is a potential fiscal impact on emergency ambulance services when they are contacted as the first-line response for falls regardless of the occurrence of injury. This has implications on staff education and the strategic planning of emergency ambulance services. Further consideration on the suitability of falls policies is urgently required.
Is now the winter of our discontent? Exploring seasonal pressure on the NHS
Authors: Quaile Alistair
Published: November 2017

Winter is near and the media shall soon begin its yearly forewarnings of undue strain that the season brings upon the NHS. In this news feature, Alistair Quaile examines whether these warnings are genuine or mere hyperbole, and considers the causes of winter pressure, as well as what the NHS can do to combat these seasonal demands.
Out of Syria: A process drama in mathematics with change of roles and perspectives
Authors: Allern Tor-Helge , Drageset Ove Gunnar
Published: November 2017

In this article, we examine the possibility of changing communication patterns in teaching mathematics through the use of process drama, based on a research project themed on the refugee catastrophe in Syria. In the process drama, we applied change of perspective: the students had different roles, such as refugees, traffickers and the Italian coastguard, and they investigated some selected role types or categories in these situations (the authority, the curious one, the sceptic and the mediator). We found that change of roles and perspective may have different effects on the students, but that it can contribute to more student activity and in-depth learning. For teaching mathematics, we revealed the potential for more student activity through bigger attention to questions, explanations and argumentation, and found that the learning process was stimulated by change of perspective and the use of role categories.
Relief or reiteration? Performing and transforming pain
Authors: Murphy Aurora
Published: November 2017

This article asks which approaches are the most effective when making ‘performances of pain’ – performances that not only represent pain, but also transform it. I bring together three performances of pain from around the world: Backyard Games, which is based on a rape in Israel; Thetha Ngikhulume, which tells stories from victims and perpetrators of apartheid in South Africa; and Fagaala, which represents the genocide in Rwanda. According to critics and even the artists themselves, each performance fails in its quest to transform pain. Rather than transforming pain, critical interpretations of these works show that they either reinforce or undermine painful events. Through examining performances that are considered to have failed, I wish to highlight the factors that make works successful in their transformation of pain. An analysis of the critical interpretations of these works shows that performances of pain are more likely to foster transformation when they foreground the experiences of victims and show these victims as creating an existence beyond pain. In order for performances to transform pain, this pain must not be overlooked, but rather allowed to evolve into hope and triumph.
Theatre and participation: Towards a holistic notion of participation
Authors: Afolabi Taiwo
Published: November 2017

Participation is central to and essentialized in theatre and interactive arts. While scholars have articulated the importance of participation in arts, participation has also been considered a foundational principle in development discourse, and it is largely external. Beyond the notion of participation as an external force, which I term a verb-oriented notion of participation, is the noun-oriented notion of participation, which is innate and organically induced from within an individual and a group or community (collective). In this article, I discuss a dual notion of participation and a relational interaction between these notions, which can lead to a holistic insight on participation. Using a case study that deals with managing conflict and bullying in a secondary drama classroom, an applied theatre project among refugees in Australia, I explore how this holistic insight into participation can influence how participation is framed and conceptualized in any applied theatre project. I argue that participation has been framed using a onesided, verb-oriented approach, and I propose a holistic notion of participation as a tool to rethink, reposition, reconceptualize and re-evaluate participation in applied theatre practice.
A political-ethical approach to disability in a Zimbabwean Theatre for Development context
Authors: Chivandikwa Nehemiah
Published: November 2017

This article examines the manifestations and practical dynamics and implications of a political-ethical approach in Theatre for Development (TfD) in Zimbabwe. Drawing from a TfD project that I facilitated with students with disabilities, I argue that nondisabled TfD facilitators need to engage in intensive encounters with participants in order to promote inclusive reflexivity and vulnerability. Such an approach may create multiple centres of power that can engender a radical approach to disability politics. The article acknowledges power-related risks and unintended outcomes of a political-ethical approach. I suggest that such negative implications may be minimized if facilitators adopt dynamic and multiple functions that can balance between ‘protecting’ participants and promoting radicalized dissent in disability research and artistic practice.
Rekindling the kampong spirit: Fostering a sense of belonging through community theatre in Singapore
Authors: Lazaroo Natalie
Published: November 2017

When Singapore embarked on its high-rise public housing scheme post World War II, citizens often bemoaned the loss of the ‘kampong spirit’, a colloquial term describing the sense of community felt while living in villages. More than 50 years on, the kampong spirit continues to inform Singapore’s nation-building plans. This article considers a community theatre project in Singapore aimed at reigniting the kampong spirit among residents from low-income neighbourhoods. The theatre project, which relied primarily on Boal’s (1974) Theatre of the Oppressed, sought to initiate conversations within the community in order to foster greater agency among residents. Examining the work through relevant frameworks on belonging revealed how the project enabled the community to build and maintain connections beyond the immediate space of the theatre performances, thereby deepening the emotional and affective dimensions of belonging. Belonging becomes a force of agency when cultural citizenship is activated, and the community participants become agents for change.
Assessing Spanish-speaking immigrant parents’ perceptions of climate at a New Language Immersion School: A critical analysis using “Thinking with Theory”
Authors: Aguayo David , Dorner Lisa M.
Published: November 2017

Parent involvement in schools is often developed through one-way, deficit-oriented relationships, where information flows from schools to families and parents are perceived to lack some capacity or knowledge. However, little is known about the conditions facing Spanish-speaking families at Spanish language immersion schools, which presumably might employ fewer deficit perspectives due to the language and culture focus of their educational model. In turn, this study asked: How does school climate discourse shape Spanish-speaking parents’ abilities to engage at a Spanish immersion elementary school (SIES)? Do parents enact relational power at SIES, and if so, how? Data analysis centered on school climate surveys completed by 19 Spanish-speaking mothers. Framed by Ecologies of Parental Engagement (EPE) and Foucault’s concepts of power, the study ultimately examined not only parent perceptions, but also the research project and its own deficit-driven norms. Findings include: While parents reported trusting the school and teachers, many felt discouraged in SIES’s climate. Some blamed their level of involvement on their own (lack of) language or ability. Analyses also explore how the language immersion school and design of the research project—despite good intentions—were not bridging the gap between hegemonic English-speaking society and Spanish-speaking families. The discussion then considers the implications for school climate, parent engagement policies, and research at diverse multilingual schools.
Discursive contestations and pluriversal futures: A decolonial analysis of educational policies in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Aydarova Elena
Published: November 2017

Most research on global transformations in education has focused on the actions of political and economic elites. As a result, attempts to contest and subvert globally circulated policies at subnational levels have received less attention. To address this gap, this study focuses on discursive contestations around educational reforms in the United Arab Emirates. Drawing on the theoretical framework of decoloniality (Mignolo, 2011), I explore how Western interventions into educational policies are justified by dominant discourses and challenged by their opponents through public media in the United Arab Emirates. Even though alternative discourses provide constructions of education useful for charting the trajectories of pluriversal futures, the struggle between different voices resolves in favor of global “best” practices. This happens not because they are more rational or universal, but because the voices of dissent are disconnected and fragmented. The significance of this paper lies in employing decolonial lens in the analysis of globally circulated policies and in attending to the voices that become marginalized in the implementation of global reforms.
Pengaruh Tinggi Patahan Jalan dan Kecepatan Kendaraan Terhadap Potensi Cedera Tulang Belakang Pada Pengendara Sepeda Motor
Authors: Iskandar Norman , R. Ikhsan Muhammad
Published: November 2017

Cedera tulang belakang (spinal cord injury) adalah kondisi medis yang sering dialami terutama oleh pengendara kendaraan bermotor roda dua. Cedera ini terjadi akibat adanya beban hantaman pada stuktur tulang belakang, maupun berupa pembebanan yang berulang dan fluktuatif. Penyebab kondisi ini pada pengendara sepeda motor bisa berasal dari gaya dan posisi mengemudi, dapat juga disebabkan oleh kondisi eksternal berupa adanya patahan jalan dan tingkat kecepatan. Jurnal ini dibuat untuk mencari tahu bagaimana pengaruh tinggi patahan jalan dan kecepatan sepeda motor terhadap risiko cedera tulang belakang melalui seberapa besar gaya reaksi dan beban yang ditimbulkan pada kondisi mengemudi tersebut. Hasil yang didapat adalah adanya gaya sebesar 452 N hingga 611.84 N. Dengan struktur tulang belakang yang mampu menahan gaya 650 N hingga 6431 N tergantung faktor kesehatan tulang. Juga, kemungkinan adanya kegagalan lelah akibat pembebanan berulang dan terus-menerus meningkatkan risiko bahaya terjadinya cedera tulang belakang.
Analisa Efisiensi Isentropik dan Exergy Destruction Pada Turbin Uap Sistem Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Gas dan Uap
Authors: Yohana Eflita , Romadhon Revki
Published: November 2017

Dalam usaha meningkatkan efektivitas kerja yang dihasilkan dari sebuah pembangkit listrik, perlu adanya analisa untuk mengetahui besarnya kerja aktual dan ideal dari turbin. Efisiensi merupakan perbandingan kerja aktual yang dihasilkan dan kerja ideal dari turbin. Melalui analisa efisiensi ini dapat diketahui sebuah turbin masih beroperasi secara maksimal berdasarkan kerja aktual yang dihasilkan. Dosa Ion, Petrilean dan Codrut dari University of Petrosani telah melakukan penelitian mengenai efisiensi isentropic turbin. Semakin turun nilai efisiensi turbin maka kerja aktual yang dihasilkan juga akan berkurang. Analisa dilakukan pada turbin uap Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Gas dan Uap melalui perhitungan kerja turbin berdasarkan temperatur dan tekanan yang masuk dan keluar turbin. Selain itu analisa ini juga menghitung nilai exergy yang hilang setelah melalui turbin. Data temperatur dan tekanan yang diperoleh telah tercatat melalui layanan sistem operasi interface. Dari hasil perhitungan diketahui nilai efisiensi isentropik aktual sebesar 82,04% dengan fraksi uap 0,92 dan efisiensi isentropik ideal sebesar 100% dengan fraksi uap 0,82. Nilai kehilangan exergy dari turbin uap sebesar 6,95 MW dan panas yang hilang sebesar 0,6 MW. Semakin rendah nilai fraksi uap maka akan semakin besar efisiensi isentropik ideal yang dihasilkan. Dengan adanya penghitungan ini dapat dilakukan perawatan pada turbin uap sehingga turbin dapat menghasilkan kerja yang lebih optimal
Desain dan Simulasi Frame dan Bodi Kendaraan Konsep Urban Menggunakan Software CAD
Authors: Mukhtar Agus , Setyoadi Yuris , Burhanuddin Aan
Published: November 2017

Mobil urban adalah mobil yang mesin dan dimensinya didesain untuk jalan raya di kota besar karena jalanan di kota besar karena biasanya padat dan macet. Mobil mungil ini bisa dipakai untuk menghemat bahan bakar minyak (BBM) karena memang konsumsinya tidak sebesar mobil jenis lain [1]. Salah satu hal yang perlu diperhatikan dari mobil urban adalah segi kekuatan dari rangka/frame yang menerima beban oleh beberapa komponen diantaranya, pengemudi, mesin penggerak, body dan baterai. Simulasi beban statik casis dan simulasi aerodinamis dari bodi kendaraan dilakukan dengan menggunakan software Solidworks yang dilakukan pada rangka dengan dari baja kontruksi jenis Al 6061 dan body fiber. Hasil analisis dan simulasi, displacement maksimal beban bodi pada casis sebesar 3,77 mm dan von Mises Stresses beban bodi pada casis sebesar 2,17 N/mm2. Displacement maksimal beban penumpang pada casis sebesar 4,42 mm dan von Mises Stresses beban bodi pada casis sebesar 0,32 N/mm2. Flow simulation pada kecepatan angin 11.12 m/s diperoleh gambar tekanan, dimana terdapat tekanan yang tinggi pada bagian ujung depan bodi dengan nilai tekanan maksimal yang terdapat pada color bar adalah sebesar 101.561,12 Pa
Desain dan Optimasi Injection Mold dengan Sistem Slider pada Produk Hardcase Handphone
Authors: Hidayat Muhammad Firdaus , Budiyantoro Cahyo , Rahman Muhammad Budi Nur
Published: November 2017

Peningkatan penggunaan handphone pada era digital saat ini, berdampak pada peningkatan penggunaan pelindung handphone. Hardcase merupakan jenis pelindung handphone dengan bahan material plastik dan proses pembentukan menggunakan metode injection molding. Metode tersebut membutuhkan mold (cetakan) sebagai tempat untuk membentuk/menghasilkan sebuah produk. Dari latar belakang peningkatan penggunaan handphone, maka dibutuhkan perancangan mold untuk menghasilkan produk pelindung handphone berbahan plastik dengan jenis hardcase, sebagai solusi untuk menyediakan aksesoris berupa pelindung handphone pada para pengguna handphone. Pada perancangan hardcase, material yang digunakan pada produk yaitu polycarbonate iupilon GS2010MPH, konstruksi pada pembentukan hardcase menggunakan sistem slider dengan mekanisme angular pin. Software yang digunakan untuk perancangan mold, yaitu catia v5r21 dan software simulasi produk menggunakan autodesk moldflow insight 2016. Simulasi yang dilakukan, yaitu fill dan cooling, masing-masing dibandingkan untuk mendapatkan hasil yang optimal serta dapat diterapkan pada perancangan mold hardcase. Hasil perbandingan dan analisa dari moldflow insight yang dilakukan didapat, fill time yaitu 0,9630 s dengan clamping force 326,2 ton. Kemudian sistem cooling mengunakan tipe seri dengan hasil simulasi Circuit coolant temperature, yaitu 25,63 0C dan hasil simulasi deflection, all effects:deflection, yaitu  0,1411 mm dan hasil simulasi circuit heat removal efficiency, yaitu 1. Hasil perhitungan yang dilakukan pada konstruksi desain mold, dinyatakan aman karena nilai tegangan yang terjadi dibawah tegangan bahan material. Dari hasil perancangan desain dan simulasi, maka mesin yang digunakan yaitu Beston 4500.
Quality assessment of compost prepared with municipal solid waste
Authors: Jodar J. R. , Ramos N. , Carreira J. A. , Pacheco R. , Fernández-Hernández A.
Published: November 2017

One way that helps maintain the sustainability of agro-ecosystems land is the application of compost from municipal solid waste as fertilizer, because it can recover the nutrients contained in them, minimizing the negative impact on the environment. Composting as a method for preparing organic fertilizers and amendments is economically and ecologically sound and may well represent an acceptable solution for disposing of municipal solid waste. In the present work, the quality of compost is studied made from municipal solid waste; the content of mineral nutrients: potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, manganese, cupper, iron, nickel, chromium and lead has been investigated. The objective was to evaluate the changes in mineral nutrient concentration during the composting process. The compost was prepared in a pilot-plant using the turning-pile system. Temperature was used as a monitoring parameter to follow the composting progress, which underwent the typical trend of municipal solid waste composting mixtures. The results showed a similar evolution on the content of mineral nutrients of the mixture of municipal solid waste. This evolution originated in a mature compost (end sample) with an adequate content of mineral elements and physical-chemical characteristics for its use in agriculture. So, the use of compost of municipal solid waste represents an important tool for fertilization requirements for its use in agriculture.
Influence of addition of calcium sulfate dihydrate on drying of autoclaved aerated concrete
Authors: Małaszkiewicz Dorota , Chojnowski Jacek
Published: November 2017

The quality of the autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) strongly depends on the chemical composition of the raw materials, as well as on the process of the hydrothermal reaction during autoclaving. Performance parameters depend on material structure: fine micron-scale matrix porosity generated by the packing of thin tobermorite plates and coarse aeration pores arising from the foaming of wet mix. In this study the binder varied in calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4⋅2H2O) content. Five series of AAC specimens were produced, with gypsum content 0; 0.55; 1.15; 2.3 and 3.5% of dry mass respectively. AAC units were produced in UNIPOL technology. The study presents experimental results of AAC moisture stabilization. The initial moisture content was determined directly after autoclaving. Slower drying process was observed for samples containing over 2% of gypsum. Whereas other performance parameters, compressive and tensile strength, as well as water absorption and capillary rise, were significantly better comparing to the reference AAC samples.
Who are President Trump’s Allies in the House of Representatives?
Authors: Clarke Andrew J. , Jenkins Jeffery A.
Published: November 2017

We conduct a preliminary analysis of the first 200 days of the Donald Trump presidency, to determine who his principal allies in the US House have been. We build our analysis around three groups of Republicans, based on caucus affiliations: members of the Republican Main Street Partnership (RMSP), the Republican Study Committee (RSC), and the House Freedom Caucus (HFC). We find that House Republicans, regardless off caucus membership, broadly support President Trump and largely shared in the his electoral success. Yet, we also uncover suggestive evidence that the HFC is maneuvering into a position of influence with President Trump. Freedom Caucus members are more closely tied to his electoral performance than members of other conservative groups, and they appear to receive more time with the President relative to a comparable group of House Republicans. While these results are interesting, they are also initial and more time is needed to assess how President Trump builds a winning coalition with Republican House members.
Variations of tree ring width and chemical composition of wood of pine growing in the area nearby chemical factories
Authors: Sensuła Barbara , Wilczyński Sławomir , Monin Laurence , Allan Mohammed , Pazdur Anna , Fagel Nathalie
Published: November 2017

This study reports the variation of tree-ring widths and annual variation of concentration of metals (Na, Mg, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb) in pine growing nearby chemical factories. The conifers (Pinus silvestris L.) investigated in this study covered the time span from 1920s to 2010 AD. Tree-ring widths were measured, dated and rechecked using the COFECHA. Radial trace-element profiles were determined by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. The combined usage of tree ring width and chemical composition of wood provides historic records of anthropogenic impact on the environment and allows identifying the behavior adaptation of trees to the pollution. Data of pine tree cores collected from the sites nearby chemical factories show increasing levels of pollution linked to the increasing of industrial activities in Poland and subsequent dust fallout around the site. This study evidences that tree rings can be used as archives of past environmental contamination.
Climatic signals in tree-ring width and stable isotopes composition of Pinus sylvestris L. Growing in the industrialized area nearby Kędzierzyn-Koźle
Authors: Sensuła Barbara , Wilczyński Sławomir
Published: November 2017

The main aims of these studies were dendrochronological and mass spectrometric analysis of the impact of climate on tree rings width and stable isotopes composition in pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). The conifers were growing in the vicinity of chemical and nitrogen factories in Kędzierzyn-Koźle (Poland) in the period of time from 1920s to 2012 AD. The combined usage of tree ring width and isotopic composition data provides historic records of the environment changes. These data allows identifying the behavior adaptation of pine growing under pollution stress to climate changes. The incremental rhythm of the studied pine populations was not identical, probably due to their different sensitivities to some climatic factors. This study evidences that the isotopic records in tree-rings α-cellulose may be sensitive bio-indicators of the way that the components of air and water may be changed by the trees in response to the climate changes and anthropogenic effects. The water use efficiency may be strongly correlated with variability of the surface temperature that may be due to increase of CO2 emission.