bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knockdown of MMP12 inhibits the growth and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells
Authors: Lv F-Z , Wang J-L , Wu Y , Chen H-F , Shen X-Y
Published: March 2015

Matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP12) is involved in many pathological processes including cancer. The expression and function of MMP12 in lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the correlation of MMP12 expression with LAC patients and clarify its role in growth and invasion of LAC cells. The expression of MMP12 in human LAC was examined by immunohistochemical assay using a tissue microarray procedure. A loss-of-function experiment was used for observing the effects of lentiviral vector-mediated MMP12 shRNA (shMMP12) on cell growth and invasion in LAC cell lines (A549), indicated by MTT and Transwell assays. We found that the expression of MMP12 protein was significantly increased in LAC tissues compared with that in adjacent non-cancerous tissues (ANCT) (57.69% vs. 32.69%, P = 0.019), and was closely correlated with the pathological stage and lymph node metastasis of LAC patients ( P = 0.01; P = 0.003). Knockdown of MMP12 inhibited proliferation and invasion of LAC cells followed by the downregulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In conclusion, our findings show that high expression of MMP12 is correlated with the pathological stage and tumor metastasis of LAC patients, and knockdown of MMP12 suppresses the development of LAC cells, suggesting that MMP12 may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of LAC.
Carbon nanotubes: Properties, biomedical applications, advantages and risks in patients and occupationally-exposed workers
Authors: Lamberti M , Pedata P , Sannolo N , Porto S , De Rosa A , Caraglia M
Published: March 2015

Since the beginning of the 21st century, carbon-based nanomaterials (CNTs) have been introduced in pharmacy and medicine for drug delivery system in therapeutics. CNTs have proved able to transport a wide range of molecules across membranes and into living cells; therefore, they have attracted great interest in biomedical applications such as advanced imaging, tissue regeneration, and drug or gene delivery. Although there are many data on the advantages in terms of higher efficacy and less adverse effects, several recent findings have reported unexpected toxicities induced by CNTs. The dose, shape, surface chemistry, exposure route, and purity play important roles in these differential toxicities. Mapping these risks as well as understanding their molecular mechanisms is a crucial step in the development of any CNT-containing nanopharmaceuticals. This paper seeks to provide a comprehensive review of all articles published on cellular response to CNTs, underlining their therapeutic applications and possible toxicity in patients and occupationally exposed workers.
The possible role of glutathione-S-transferase activity in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Tesauro M , Nisticò S , Noce A , Tarantino A , Marrone G , Costa A , Rovella V , Di Cola G , Campia U , Lauro D , Cardillo C , Di Daniele N
Published: March 2015

The most common cause of end stage renal disease is diabetic nephropathy. An early diagnosis may allow an intervention to slow down disease progression. Recently, it has been hypothesized that glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity may be a marker of severity of chronic kidney disease. In particular, a lower GST activity is present in healthy subjects compared to patients with nephropathy. In the present review we illustrate the scientific evidence underlying the possible role of GST activity in the development of diabetic nephropathy and we analyze its usefulness as a possible early biomarker of this diabetic complication.
Evolution and functions of stanniocalcins in cancer
Authors: Chu S-J , Zhang J , Zhang R , Lu W-W , Zhu J-S
Published: March 2015

Stanniocalcin (STC), first isolated from the corpuscles of stannius of teleost fishes, was originally known for its regulation on calcium/phosphate transport. Increasing evidence demonstrates that STCs display the important function in some physiological and pathological behaviors such as calcium regulation, oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, angiogenesis, ischemia reperfusion, nerve diseases, etc. Moreover, STCs are implicated in the development and progression of multiple malignancies through promoting cell growth, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and apoptotic escape. Some studies have shown that NF-κB upregulates STC expression, thereby activating the downstream HIF-1/ERK1/2 signaling pathway, enhancing the transcriptional activity of tumor-related factors (MMP-2/9, cyclinD1, Bcl-2, N-cadherin, etc) and contributing to tumorigenesis. Here, this brief review describes recent progress of STCs in mammalians, focused mainly on their critical functions in cancer.
Different levels of Cd45pos leukocytes in the semen of patients with low testicular volume
Authors: La Vignera S , Condorelli RA , Morgia G , Favilla V , Russo GI , Cimino S , Vicari E , Calogero AE
Published: March 2015

The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of CD45pos leukocytes in the semen samples of infertile patients with low testicular volume (TV) compared to subjects with normal TV. The testis was considered normal in size when it had a volume between 15 and 25 cm3, low–normal with a volume between 10 and 12 cm3 and hypotrophic when the volume was <10 cm3. The patients with low testicular volume (<10 cm3) showed significantly higher concentrations of CD45pos leukocytes compared to other groups ( P <0.05). The correlation analysis showed the presence of a positive linear relationship between CD45pos leukocytes and the percentage of immature germ elements (r = 0.88; P <0.05) and between CD45pos leukocytes and the percentage of spermatozoa with phosphatidylserine externalisation (r = 0.90; P <0.05) as well as a negative linear relationship between the percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology and the seminal CD45pos leukocyte concentrations ( r = −0.75; P <0.05). The results of this study showed that patients with low testicular volume (<10 cm3) have significantly increased CD45pos leukocyte concentrations associated with increased percentages of immature germ elements, spermatozoa with signs of early apoptosis and spermatozoa with abnormal morphology.
Dimerisation increases the immunogenicity of recombinant Parj1/Parj2 allergens
Authors: Barletta B , Butteroni C , Bonura A , Bondi ML , Colombo P , Di Felice G
Published: March 2015

Purified recombinant Parj1 and Parj2 allergens bind an IgE repertoire common to the Parietaria species, allowing their use as marker molecules for diagnosis and therapy of allergic disease induced by the Urticaceae family. Preclinical studies on the in vivo immunogenicity of recombinant Parj1, Parj2 and their isoforms indicated differential capacity to induce IgG1 antibody responses, as indication of potential clinical use. A recombinant hetero-dimeric hybrid derivative (PjED), encompassing the shorter Parj1 isoform (Parj1.0201) and Parj2 allergen, was characterised. In vivo immunisation with PjED induces IgG1 antibodies capable of binding all the isoforms of Parietaria major allergens, overcoming the poor immunogenicity of single monomeric allergens. This feature makes PjED a promising candidate molecule to be further characterised for clinical applications in the treatment of Parietaria allergy.
Modeling and optimization of friction materials based on genetic programming and experimental frictional data
Authors: Khazaei Ali , Shojaei Akbar
Published: March 2015

A genetic programming technique was employed to develop empirical models for predicting specific wear rate and coefficient of friction on brake friction materials. The models consist of independent variables representing the volume fraction of the ingredients. The average absolute relative error for specific wear rate and coefficient of friction were found to be 1.93% and 1.92%, respectively. The models were also verified by the experimental data used for further control of the formulation. Utilizing Tornado plots, the models were found to be able to properly demonstrate the role of the ingredients on overall tribological performance of the brake friction materials. Moreover, a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II method was utilized to optimize the formulation of the brake friction materials in terms of braking performance and final cost of the materials.
Effects of tool parameters on cutting force in orthogonal machining of T700/LT03A unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer laminates
Authors: An Qinglong , Ming Weiwei , Cai Xiaojiang , Chen Ming
Published: March 2015

In the present work, orthogonal cutting tests were conducted on unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer laminates to get the basis for the design of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer special cutting tools. Uncoated and diamond-coated carbide cutting tools were investigated in the experiments. Rake angle, clearance angle and rounded edge radius were evaluated in terms of cutting forces under cutting speed range of 100–300 m/min. Experimental results showed that diamond-coated tools were more suitable for cutting 700/LT03A unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer compared with uncoated carbide tools under high-speed cutting conditions. The optimal tool angles were 25 ° of rake angle and 15 ° of clearance angle for cutting T700/LT03A unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer by reducing the cutting forces. Also, the optimal cutting edge radius rɛ was selected as 15 µm with the cutting depth ac = 20 µm.
Identity-based political inequality and protest: The dynamic relationship between political power and protest in the Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Bodnaruk Jazayeri Karen
Published: March 2015

In this study, I evaluate the effect of identity-based political inequalities on the probability of nonviolent and violent resistance in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). During the Arab Spring, many states with higher levels of ethnic and religious political inequalities experienced lengthy resistance movements and violence, while states with lower levels of political inequalities largely experienced less volatility. I find support for my expectations using data spanning 1960–2011. Not only do results suggest that in MENA states with higher levels of identity-based political inequalities experience more conflict, but results from a global analysis suggest that this relationship is particularly robust within MENA. Sub-Saharan Africa is also conflict prone; however, the onset of nonviolent and violent movements is lower than MENA.
Association Between Depressive Symptoms, Multiple Dimensions of Depression, and Elder Abuse
Authors: Roepke-Buehler Susan K. , Simon Melissa , Dong XinQi
Published: March 2015

Objective: Depression is conceptualized as both a risk factor for and a consequence of elder abuse; however, current research is equivocal. This study examined associations between elder abuse and dimensions of depressive symptoms in older adults. Method: Participants were 10,419 older adults enrolled in theChicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP), a population-based study of older adults. Regression was used to determine the relationships between depressive symptoms, depression dimensions, and abuse variables. Results: Depressive symptoms were consistently associated with elder abuse. Participants in the highest tertile of depressive symptoms were twice as likely to have confirmed abuse with a perpetrator (odds ratio = 2.07, 95% confidence interval = [1.21, 3.52], p = .008). Elder abuse subtypes and depression dimensions were differentially associated. Discussion: These findings highlight the importance of routine depression screening in older adults as a component of abuse prevention and intervention. They also provide profiles of depressive symptoms that may more accurately characterize risk for specific types of abuse.
A Summary Score for the Framingham Heart Study Neuropsychological Battery
Authors: Downer Brian , Fardo David W. , Schmitt Frederick A.
Published: March 2015

Objective: To calculate three summary scores of the Framingham Heart Study neuropsychological battery and determine which score best differentiates between subjects classified as having normal cognition, test-based impaired learning and memory, test-based multidomain impairment, and dementia. Method: The final sample included 2,503 participants. Three summary scores were assessed: (a) composite score that provided equal weight to each subtest, (b) composite score that provided equal weight to each cognitive domain assessed by the neuropsychological battery, and (c) abbreviated score comprised of subtests for learning and memory. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to determine which summary score best differentiated between the four cognitive states. Results: The summary score that provided equal weight to each subtest best differentiated between the four cognitive states. Discussion: A summary score that provides equal weight to each subtest is an efficient way to utilize all of the cognitive data collected by a neuropsychological battery.
Preparation and characterization of polysulfone/ammonia-functionalized graphene oxide composite membrane material
Authors: Ionita Mariana , Pandele Andreea Madalina , Crica Livia Elena , Obreja Alexandru Cosmin
Published: March 2015

The study highlights the first use of ammonia-functionalized graphene oxide (GO-NH2) as an additive to enhance the features of polysulfone (PSF) matrix. Composite membrane materials with different ratios of GO-NH2 (0.25, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 wt%) were obtained by phase inversion method. Subsequently structural and morphological characteristics were investigated by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Lastly, mechanical and thermogravimetric studies were performed in order to establish whether GO-NH2 addition influenced PSF/GO-NH2 composite material performance. Raman spectroscopy, XRD, and TEM revealed evenly dispersed GO-NH2 within PSF/GO-NH2 composite membrane material forming exfoliated structures for lower concentration of GO-NH2. An enhancement in both mechanical and thermal characteristics was attained. The decomposition temperature at which the mass loss is 3%, of the composite membrane material with 1 wt% GO-NH2 was increased with 7°C. Conversely, an increase in Young’s modulus from 246 MPa to 285 MPa was achieved with the addition of 1 wt% GO-NH2 within the PSF matrix.
Near superhydrophobic-fluorinated THV fiber-like structures and fibers prepared by electrospinning
Authors: Ok Salim , Furquan Sarfaraz Ahmed , Khan Zafarullah , Dogan A. Umran
Published: March 2015

In the fluoropolymers family, one of the newest members is the terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride (THV). There are scarce data on THV, and therefore it is necessary to study different properties of THV. In the current research, the detailed surface morphology and water wettability of electrospun microfibers prepared from THV/ethyl acetate solutions in the pure state and with the addition of Wyoming-type low-magnesium montmorillonite are discussed. The morphology of the terpolymer microfibers changes as a function of the polymer solution concentration. For the same polymer concentration, changing the applied voltage in microfiber formation does not alter the morphology. The addition of hydrophilic montmorillonite into the THV solution does not modify the rougher hydrophobic nature and morphology of the final electrospun fiber surfaces. Water contact angle measurements show that both in the pure state and in the mixture of montmorillonite, THV electrospun microfibers exhibit “near superhydrophobic” characteristics with contact angles as high as 145°.
Accuracy analysis of a multi-closed-loop deployable mechanism
Authors: Yang Yi , Luo Jun , Zhang Wuxiang , Xie Shaorong , Sun Yu , Li Hengyu
Published: March 2015

The multi-closed-loop deployable mechanism generates distortion which is caused by the deviation of each rod after being assembled as a result of manufacturing error, which leads to the degradation of the antenna performance or excess of the given envelope. The multi-closed-loop deployable mechanisms consist of many closed loops and have complicated topology structure and loop constraints coupling. The positioning accuracy analysis of such mechanism is more difficult than the open-chain mechanisms or the single-loop mechanisms. In order to solve this problem, first, based on the minimum of elastic deformation energy, the distortion analysis model is constructed. Second, the sensitivity of the mechanism distortion to the individual rod deviation is investigated by examining the Lagrange multipliers. By means of this model, the allowable tolerance of multi-closed-loop deployable mechanism is discussed and calculated. Last but not least, the above method and model are applied to the four-closed-loop deployable mechanism to solve the problems of its distortion, sensitivity, and tolerance in both fully deployed and folded configurations. It is demonstrated in this paper that the model and method proposed are well accommodated to the accuracy analysis of such mechanisms. The achievement of the research will help reduce the difficulties of the assembling and manufacturing of the multi-closed-loop deployable mechanisms.
A comprehensive prediction model for vehicle/track/soil dynamic response due to wheel flats
Authors: Alexandrou Georgios , Kouroussis Georges , Verlinden Olivier
Published: March 2015

With the development of new lines and the increase of traffic on existing lines, the problem caused by railway-induced ground vibrations is becoming bigger and bigger. The present paper focuses on wheel flat modelling in prediction schemes which determine railway-induced ground vibrations and which have applications to urban tramways. A comprehensive flat spot model is developed and included in an existing vehicle/track model taking into account Hertz's contact law. The associated non-linear stiffness is calculated in a pre-processing step by solving the three-dimensional wheel/rail contact problem. A two-step approach for predicting ground vibrations, developed by the authors, is then applied, including the track/soil interaction through a foundation model and the ground wave propagation by means of a fully three-dimensional finite element model. Predicted results are presented, based on the T2006 tram and on the railway site of Haren (Belgium). A specific analysis is proposed for studying the vehicle dynamics on flexible tracks, and for calculating the effect provided by the wheel flat impact on the rail heads. Results related to the contact force between the wheel with a flat spot and the rail are presented. A series of periodic impacts are generated when the flat spot comes into contact with the rail head with magnitude depending on the track flexibility at the contact point. The key conclusions are discussed, based on the sensitivity analysis of the flat spot size and the train speed. Both parameters affect the critical speed of the vehicle/track system, defined as the speed where loss of contact occurs. The ground vibration levels were found to increase with speed and decrease with distance.
Cooperative attitude tracking control for multiple spacecraft using vector measurements
Authors: Zheng Zhong , Song Shen-Min
Published: March 2015

We investigate the cooperative attitude tracking control problem of multiple spacecraft in this paper, and propose novel control schemes using vector measurements. The nonlinear dynamics describing the attitude tracking control of formation are considered, and rotation matrix is adopted to avoid singularity and non-uniqueness. The cooperative attitude tracking controllers are proposed by using time-varying sliding mode control method and vector measurement results. The information of vector measurements can be obtained by using star trackers or Earth-horizon sensors. Especially, the proposed control algorithm is proven to be robust to external disturbance torque, measurement uncertainty, and time delays in communication links. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control schemes for cooperative attitude tracking.
Annual to millennial record of sediment delivery to US Virgin Island coastal environments
Authors: Brooks Gregg R , Larson Rebekka A , Devine Barry , Schwing Patrick T
Published: March 2015

Over 100 sediment cores were collected from US Virgin Island coastal marine and salt pond environments to document the record of sediment delivery to the coastal system on annual to millennial time scales, and the extent to which human activities have influenced sedimentation patterns. Cores were analyzed for sedimentology, geochronology (210Pb, 137Cs, 7Be and 14C), and high-resolution elemental composition (scanning x-ray fluorescence (XRF) and laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS)). The centennial–millennial record reveals the natural transition from terrestrial to marine ~6–4 kya in response to the Holocene sea-level rise. Coastal salt pond cores record initial pond development as coral growth between island headlands cut off and isolated existing marine embayments ~2 kya. The decadal–centennial record is dominated by human activities, primarily road construction, manifested as a ~10× increase in sediment accumulation rate where development is heavy, a ~2.5× increase where development is moderate, and no detectable increase in undeveloped areas. Annual millimeter- to centimeter-scale laminae in salt pond cores represent individual depositional ‘events’. Light-colored, Ca- and Sr-rich sands represent marine overwash deposits that in some cases can be tied to tropical cyclones. Dark-colored Al-, Fe-, Ti-, Si-rich sandy muds represent island runoff when rainfall rates exceed a threshold of ~1.2 cm/day. Organic-rich layers represent microbial mat growth between depositional ‘events’. Marine overwash and rainfall/runoff layers fluctuate on an annual–decadal scale during the historical period, but show much more variability over the previous ~1400 years, suggesting sediment source(s), depositional processes, and/or driving mechanisms have not remained constant during at least the late Holocene.
A J2–J3 approach in plastic and damage description of ductile materials
Authors: Cortese Luca , Coppola Tommaso , Campanelli Flavia , Broggiato Giovanni B
Published: March 2015

This paper illustrates a methodology to improve the description of the plastic behavior and the fracture prediction for ductile materials under complex loading conditions. To this purpose, a plasticity model and a damage estimation model are proposed. The former, differently from the classic J2 plasticity theory, takes into account the effect of the third deviatoric invariant on the plastic flow. The latter assumes that damage accumulation is governed by both stress triaxiality and deviatoric parameters, and takes advantage of the new plasticity formulation. The two models rely on the same theoretical foundation, where a specific function is invoked to describe the subsequent yield surfaces and the damage accumulation up to fracture. Both have been implemented into a commercial finite element code via user subroutines.

Three steel alloys have been tested under very different stress states: tensile tests on smooth and round notched bars, plane strain tests, torsion tests, and combined tension–torsion tests on hollow and solid cylindrical bars have been executed. For the last ones, several tension—torsion-loading ratios have been applied. These kinds of tests allow to explore a wide domain of the governing parameters for both models.

The experimental results from tensile and torsion tests are used to calibrate the proposed plasticity model and the damage model; combined tests are used for validation purposes.

The experimental–numerical comparison of global quantities made by using a standard plasticity approach confirms the need for a more accurate plastic description in the large strain range. The proposed plasticity model is able to provide a very good match until fracture for all tests available. Moreover, the damage model has the potential to take into account the experimental evidence, predicting the fracture initiation accurately. In particular, its validation by using tension–torsion tests shows to be really significant.
Perceptions of the Sex Trade in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Smith Molly , Muftić Lisa R. , Deljkić Irma , Grubb Jonathan A.
Published: March 2015

Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken a prohibitionist stance when it comes to the commercial sex trade. In the last decade, legislation has been passed outlawing the solicitation, procurement, and enticement of prostitution. Yet, the country continues to be criticized by the international community for failing to adequately address the sex trade within the country, which is cited as a contributing factor in the country’s delayed accession into the European Union. Furthermore, little is known regarding how criminal justice (CJ) practitioners (current and future) view the sex trade, including their support for current legislation prohibiting prostitution. This is an important line of inquiry as prior research indicates practitioner behavior may be influenced by attitudinal beliefs. As such, this study set out to evaluate practitioners’ support for various CJ responses to the sex trade (e.g., legalization of prostitution, the arrest, imprisonment, and/or deportation of various actors within the sex trade) as well as uncover what factors are related to this support, including professional experience and/or participant sex. Bivariate and logistic regression results primarily indicate differences between the groups with regard to their attitudes toward prostitution and misperceptions of human trafficking. Implications from these findings as well as limitations and suggestions for further research are discussed.
Heparin Reexposure in Patients With a History of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Dhakal Prajwal , Giri Smith , Pathak Ranjan , Bhatt Vijaya Raj
Published: March 2015

Objectives:

Patients with a history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), who require subsequent anticoagulation, have limited options. Rechallenge with unfractionated heparin (UFH) has been reported but may be associated with a risk of recurrence of HIT. The objective of this study was to determine the safety of heparin reexposure in patients with a history of HIT.

Methods:

Using several search terms, all cases of heparin reexposure in patients with HIT indexed in MEDLINE (English language only) by June 2014 were reviewed. The bibliography of each relevant article was searched for additional reports. In cases of multiple reexposures, each reexposure was identified as a separate instance of reexposure during analysis.

Results:

A total of 136 patients with a history of HIT had 141 instances of heparin reexposure. Cardiac (76%) and vascular surgeries (11%) were the most common indications. Antiplatelet factor 4/heparin antibodies were positive in 63% of evaluable cases before reexposure. Preexposure plasma exchange (11%) and postexposure nonheparin anticoagulants (63%) were frequently utilized. Complications with heparin reexposure included recurrence of HIT (2.1%, 95% confidence interval 0.73%-6.07%) and bleeding (2.1%).

Conclusion:

Intraoperative heparin reexposure in patients with a history of HIT has a small risk of developing HIT recurrence. The use of preexposure plasma exchange in patients with positive antiplatelet factor 4/heparin antibody and postexposure nonheparin anticoagulants arguably may have reduced the risk of recurrence of HIT.
Being Green Against the Wind? The Moderating Effect of Munificence on Acquiring Environmental Competitive Advantages
Authors: Martinez-del-Rio Javier , Antolin-Lopez Raquel , Cespedes-Lorente Jose J.
Published: March 2015

We analyze the effect of munificence on the development of a proactive environmental strategy (PES) and firm performance. In addition, we examine the moderating role of perceived munificence on the association between innovation capabilities and PES and between PES and firm performance. These relationships are tested in a sample consisting in 263 Spanish agricultural firms operating in three different geographical clusters. Our results broadly support our hypotheses and suggest that although perceived munificence favors the development of a PES, it is in hostile environments where PES generates competitive advantages.
Being Good When Not Doing Well
Authors: Panwar Rajat , Nybakk Erlend , Pinkse Jonatan , Hansen Eric
Published: March 2015

How firms behave under conditions of decline and resource constraints has not been considered in the corporate sustainability literature. This leaves unanswered the question how much we should rely on firms’ sustainability-oriented voluntary initiatives at a time when the global economy continues to be weak and firms face persistent threats of decline. In addressing this question, we first argue that the effect of a decline would be different for peripheral and core initiatives. Using data gathered from 478 small firms representing multiple manufacturing sectors in the United States through a survey, we empirically demonstrate that a decline in a firm’s financial performance is associated with a higher decline of peripheral initiatives than of core initiatives. We further found that a decline in peripheral initiatives was even greater when a firm operated in a relatively dynamic context. Contextual dynamism, however, did not affect decline in core initiatives.
Clarifying the Meaning of Sustainable Business
Authors: Dyllick Thomas , Muff Katrin
Published: March 2015

While sustainability management is becoming more widespread among major companies, the impact of their activities does not reflect in studies monitoring the state of the planet. What results from this is a “big disconnect.” With this article, we address two main questions: “How can business make an effective contribution to addressing the sustainability challenges we are facing?” and “When is business truly sustainable?” In a time when more and more corporations claim to manage sustainably, we need to distinguish between those companies that contribute effectively to sustainability and those that do not. We provide an answer by clarifying the meaning of business sustainability. We review established approaches and develop a typology of business sustainability with a focus on effective contributions for sustainable development. This typology ranges from Business Sustainability 1.0 (Refined Shareholder Value Management) to Business Sustainability 2.0 (Managing for the Triple Bottom Line) and to Business Sustainability 3.0 (True Sustainability).
New Ways of Being a Man
Authors: Lomas Tim , Cartwright Tina , Edginton Trudi , Ridge Damien
Published: March 2015

Connell’s concept of hegemonic masculinity is often reduced to a singular construct, consisting of “toxic” traits viewed as detrimental to well-being. However, the concept allows for variation in hegemony, including the possibility of forms more conducive to well-being. Through in-depth interviews with thirty male meditators in the United Kingdom, we explored the social dimensions of meditation practice to examine its potential implications for well-being. Most participants became involved with “communities of practice” centered on meditation that promoted new local hegemonies, and these included ideals experienced as conducive to well-being, like abstinence. However, social processes associated with hegemony, like hierarchy and marginalization, were not overturned. Moreover, participants faced challenges enacting new practices in relation to the broader system of hegemonic masculinity—outside these communities—reporting censure. Our findings are cautionary for professionals seeking to encourage well-being behaviors: that is, there is potential for adaptation in men, yet complex social processes influence this change.
A review of the mechanical properties of beetle elytra and development of the biomimetic honeycomb plates
Authors: He Chenglin , Zu Qiao , Chen Jinxiang , Noori Mohammad N
Published: March 2015

This paper reviews the mechanical properties of beetle elytra. (1) The elytra has a lightweight border frame structure and has an optimal design, which includes variable cross-sections suitable for different positions and enables the required moment of inertia needed for flight. (2) Due to the non-equiangular, laminated structure of the elytra, there are two types of tensile fracture morphologies: fiber breakage and residual bridging. This study demonstrates the anisotropy and the effectiveness of the elytra’s tensile strength by analyzing the orientations of the fibers. (3) The trabecular structure can be used to efficiently improve the peel resistance of the laminated composites, and its three-dimensional strengthening mechanisms have been clarified. (4) A mystery contained in the beetle elytron structures and its biological meanings are revealed, and a biomimetic application example is given. Based on the above points, possible directions for future work are also indicated in this paper.
Nonverbal behavior and corrective feedback in nine ESL university-level classrooms
Authors: Wang Weiqing , Loewen Shawn
Published: March 2015

Nonverbal behavior is an area of recent interest in second language acquisition (SLA). Some researchers have found that teachers’ nonverbal behavior plays a role in second language (L2) learners’ learning. Furthermore, corrective feedback during L2 interaction can also be facilitative of L2 development; however, little is known about how nonverbal behavior accompanies teachers’ corrective feedback. The current study investigated teachers’ nonverbal behavior in corrective feedback during 48 observations (about 65 hours of recordings) of nine classrooms for English as a second language (ESL). The results indicated that teachers used a variety of nonverbal behavior in their corrective feedback, including hand gestures (specifically iconics, metaphorics, deictics, and beats), head movements, affect displays, kinetographs, and emblems. Specific nonverbal behaviors that commonly occurred in the observations were nodding, head shaking, pointing at an artifact, and pointing at a person.
Should a feminist dance tango? Some reflections on the experience and politics of passion1
Authors: Davis Kathy
Published: March 2015

Tango, of all popular dances, would seem to be the most extreme embodiment of traditional notions of gender difference. It not only draws on hierarchical differences between the sexes, but also generates a ‘politics of passion’ which transforms Argentineans into the exotic ‘Other’ for consumption by Europeans and North Americans in search of the passion they are missing at home. In this article, I offer a modest provocation in the direction of scholarship that places politics before experience by questioning whether passion can be explained solely through the discourses of feminism or postcolonialism. Instead I will show why we, as critical feminist scholars, need to pay more attention to the experience of passion, whether we are analysing a passion for tango or any other bodily activity that is intensely pleasurable, addictively desired, but also unsettling, disruptive, and – last but not least – politically incorrect.
The seduction of feminist theory
Authors: Holliday-Karre Erin Amann
Published: March 2015

The death of Jean Baudrillard in 2007 brought about a resurgence of feminist scholarship on his work. But in all recent feminist scholarship on Baudrillard, save for Victoria Grace’s Baudrillard’s Challenge: A Feminist Reading (2000), feminists focus on Baudrillard’s later theory of simulation, forestalling any reconsideration of his earlier text Seduction (1979). In this article I argue that a theory of seduction facilitates the unveiling of a hitherto unnoticed strain of feminist writing that proposes an ongoing challenge to masculine power and politics. This strategy of seduction is one that can be traced through a history of modern feminism, from Joan Rivière’s concept of ‘womanliness’ in ‘Womanliness as Masquerade’ to Hélène Cixous’s écriture féminine in ‘The Laugh of the Medusa’ to Virginia Woolf’s ‘mulberry tree’ in Three Guineas.
Discovering a hidden privilege: Ethnography in multiracial organizations as an outsider within
Authors: Flores Glenda M.
Published: March 2015

In this article I use an ‘outsider within’ epistemology to conduct a reflexive analysis of the impact of researcher characteristics on gathering data in multiracial organizations. The reported research elucidates that the intersection of race, gender, class background, age and occupational prestige influenced the ethnographer's social interactions with respondents in the teaching profession. With examples selected principally from two years of ethnographic fieldwork in two predominantly racial/ethnic minority multiracial schools in Southern California, I identify a hidden privilege for Latina professionals. I contend that unlike white or male privilege, which are granted consciously and unconsciously, the hidden privilege is fleeting, and works only when verbally revealed in occupations held in lower prestige.
Pixilated partnerships, overcoming obstacles in qualitative interviews via Skype: a research note
Authors: Seitz Sally
Published: March 2015

This research note discusses the effectiveness of using video internet technologies, like Skype, for qualitative interviews. Skype may present some challenges for interviewing, including dropped calls and pauses, inaudible segments, inability to read body language and nonverbal cues, and loss of intimacy compared to traditional in-person interviews. Based on reflections from 45 university student researchers, the following short paper details how to overcome such obstacles and to create a successful research partnership between the researcher and participant. Strategies include confirming a stable internet connection, finding a quiet room without distractions, slowing down and clarifying talk, being open to repeating answers and questions, and paying close attention to facial expressions.
‘A Tale of Two Programs’: Interrogating ‘open(closed)ness’ and ‘cultural diversity’ through critical observations of two Japanese University English language programs
Authors: Toh Glenn
Published: March 2015

Japan is known to be a country that manicures its socio-cultural borders. In this article I will examine discourses regarding openness, closedness and cultural diversity in relation to policies and practices that draw heavily on mythologies of English language as an inroad to greater openness and diversity. To do this I will examine two English language programs at two different Japanese universities where I have worked as an English teacher. My analysis will be done within a larger backdrop of discourses, histories and epistemologies depicting: (1) Japan as a monolingual and monocultural nation where cultural diversity has been systemically and strategically resisted ( Befu, 2001 ; Lee, 2006 ); (2) contestations over claims, meanings, renditions and suppressions of internationalization and cultural diversity in contemporary Japan; and (3) current practices surrounding English teaching, recent changes at policy level enabling content courses to be taught in English, and their implications for understandings of cultural diversity given the plurality of cultures and canons identifiable with English. Through critical observations of English as a Foreign Language and English as a Lingua Franca programs, I will demonstrate how different epistemological assumptions and ideological agendas behind the programs influence understandings, renditions and enactments of what I call open(closed)ness and cultural diversity. I will also observe how subtleties, inconsistences and incongruities related to such open(closed)ness can in turn exert a wash back effect on policy decisions.
The Role of Marital Status in Physical Activity Among African American and White Men
Authors: Porch Tichelle C. , Bell Caryn N. , Bowie Janice V. , Usher Therri , Kelly Elizabeth A. , LaVeist Thomas A. , Thorpe Roland J.
Published: March 2015

Racial differences in physical activity among men are well documented; however, little is known about the impact of marital status on this relationship. Data from the National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2006 was used to determine whether the association of race and physical activity among men varied by marital status. Marital status was divided into two categories: married and unmarried. Physical activity was determined by the number of minutes per week a respondent engaged in household/yard work, moderate and vigorous activity, or transportation (bicycling and walking) over the past 30 days. The sample included 7,131 African American (29%) and White(71%) men aged 18 years and older. All models were estimated using logistic regression. Because the interaction term of race and marital status was statistically significant ( p < .001), the relationship between race, physical activity, and marital status was examined using a variable that reflects the different levels of the interaction term. After adjusting for age, income, education, weight status, smoking status, and self-rated health, African American married men had lower odds (odds ratio = 0.53, 95% confidence interval = [0.46-0.61], p < .001) of meeting federal physical activity guidelines compared with White married men. Possible dissimilarities in financial and social responsibilities may contribute to the racial differences observed in physical activity among African American and White married men.
Lifestyle exercises for bone health and health-related quality of life among premenopausal women: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Babatunde Opeyemi , Forsyth Jacky
Published: March 2015

Purpose:

Growing evidence supports engagement in physical exercise throughout life for optimal bone health. However, promotion of physical exercise among premenopausal women presents significant challenges, which are yet to be addressed in the design of many bone-health exercise regimes. As a deviation from traditional, facility-based, supervised, long-duration and intense exercise regimes, the efficacy of short-duration, practical, lifestyle physical exercises for improving bone health and quality of life was examined.

Methods:

Premenopausal women ( N = 96, mean age 22.25 ± 3.5 years; mean BMI 23.43 ± 3.5 kg/m2) participated in a 6-month randomised trial of lifestyle physical exercises for the intervention group and sham exercises for the control group. The participants’ scores on the outcome measure SF-36 was accessed pre- and post-intervention and compared with general population norms according to the SF-36 scoring manual. Paired t-tests were used to examine changes within trial arms from baseline to post-intervention, while analysis of covariance was performed to examine the effect of the lifestyle exercise programme on quality of life of premenopausal women.

Results:

Compared to 51% at baseline, 63% of the participants were either at or above the general population norm for general health, and the percentage of participants who were below the population health norm for mental health was reduced from 46% at baseline to 38% post-exercise intervention. Comparable improvements in quality of life were found in both trial arms post-participation in the bone-health promotion programme.

Conclusions:

Bone-health exercises, when implemented as easily adoptable, lifestyle physical activity, may also enhance the quality of life of premenopausal women. Hence, a practical lifestyle approach to exercise may offer a much-needed public health strategy for bone-health promotion among women.
Ankle Impingement Caused by an Intra-articular Plica
Authors: Rosenbaum Andrew J. , Positano Rock G. , Positano Rock C. J. , Dines Joshua S.
Published: March 2015

Entrapment of soft tissues in the anterolateral gutter of the ankle can cause impingement. When symptomatic, patients complain of chronic ankle pain exacerbated with dorsiflexion. Symptoms of instability and a history of recurring ankle sprains are common findings. Plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging may assist clinicians in identifying associated pathology. We present 2 cases of ankle impingement occurring in the setting of equivocal examination and imaging findings. In both cases, arthroscopy revealed a likely congenital, intra-articular plica.

Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV: Case Study
Five Characteristics of Youth Unemployment in Europe
Authors: O’Reilly Jacqueline , Eichhorst Werner , Gábos András , Hadjivassiliou Kari , Lain David , Leschke Janine , McGuinness Seamus , Kureková Lucia Mýtna , Nazio Tiziana , Ortlieb Renate , Russell Helen , Villa Paola
Published: March 2015

Current levels of youth unemployment need to be understood in the context of increased labor market flexibility, an expansion of higher education, youth migration, and family legacies of long-term unemployment. Compared with previous recessions, European-wide policies and investments have significantly increased with attempts to support national policies. By mapping these developments and debates, we illustrate the different factors shaping the future of European labor markets. We argue that understanding youth unemployment requires a holistic approach that combines an analysis of changes in the economic sphere around labor market flexibility, skills attainment, and employer demand, as well as understanding the impact of family legacies affecting increasingly polarized trajectories for young people today. The success of EU policy initiatives and investments will be shaped by the ability of national actors to implement these effectively.
Spatial Analysis of Vulnerability to Flooding in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria
Authors: Akukwe Thecla I. , Ogbodo Chinedu
Published: March 2015

This study analyzed the vulnerability to flooding in Port Harcourt metropolis, Nigeria, by creating vulnerability indices and comparing these indices across the 13 zones that make up Port Harcourt metropolis. The integrated vulnerability assessment approach using indicators was adopted. The indicators were grouped into adaptive capacity, sensitivity, and exposure based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change definition of vulnerability. The data on these indicators were obtained from fieldwork, questionnaire, and map measurements. Principal component analysis was performed to obtain the first component scores which were used to weight the variables before calculating the vulnerability indices of the 13 zones. The vulnerability indices results show that Mgbuosimiri (Zone K) is relatively the most vulnerable, whereas the least vulnerable is Eligbolo (Zone D). Cluster analysis was used to group the different vulnerability indices to produce a vulnerability map showing the spatial pattern of the different flood vulnerability levels (i.e., very high, high, low, and very low vulnerability levels). The spatial pattern of the vulnerability levels increases toward the north west, south west, south, and north east, and decreases toward the central of Port Harcourt. However, the vulnerability map can be used for the reduction of damage potential by integrating its outputs into spatial planning and emergency planning.