bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Scale to Assess Science Activity Videos (SASAV): The Study of Validity and Reliability
Authors: Kara Yilmaz , Bakirci Hasan
Published: December 2017

The purpose of the study was to develop an assessment scale for science activity videos that can be used to determine qualified science activity videos that can fulfill the objectives of activity based science education, help teachers to evaluate any science activity videos and decide whether to include into science learning process. The subjects for the study comprised a group of 47 science teacher candidates who were at their junior year in state university. In scope of a must course, each science teacher candidates were assigned an objective from K12 science curricula. Then, they were expected to seek for a science activity that can be conducted and recorded in form of 3-5 minutes long science activity video. The teacher candidates were asked to evaluate science activity videos developed by themselves for their classes, schools, and individual use through a scale to assess science activity videos. Science teacher candidates were given three weeks to complete the evaluation form, after which time they were returned to the researchers for assessment. The data from the scale were analyzed through descriptive and item analysis in terms of frequency, reliability and factor routines. The body of the scale covers 20 evaluation criteria in four major categories as technical features, narrator features, activity process, and security issues. The developed evaluation scale for science activity videos will provide a useful logical framework to help educators and/or trainers to identify adequate science activities in point of quality for their instructional purposes.
Displacement Propagation in Fibrous Networks Due to Local Contraction
Authors: Grimmer Peter , Notbohm Jacob
Published: December 2017

The extracellular matrix provides macroscale structure to tissues and microscale guidance for cell contraction, adhesion, and migration. The matrix is composed of a network of fibers, which each deform by stretching, bending, and buckling. Whereas the mechanics has been well characterized in uniform shear and extension, the response to more general loading conditions remains less clear, because the associated displacement fields cannot be predicted a priori. Studies simulating contraction, such as due to a cell, have observed displacements that propagate over a long range, suggesting mechanisms such as reorientation of fibers toward directions of tensile force and nonlinearity due to buckling of fibers under compression. It remains unclear which of these two mechanisms produces the long-range displacements and how properties like fiber bending stiffness and fiber length affect the displacement field. Here, we simulate contraction of an inclusion within a fibrous network and fit the resulting radial displacements to ur ∼ r−n where the power n quantifies the decay of displacements over distance, and a value of n less than that predicted by classical linear elasticity indicates displacements that propagate over a long range. We observed displacements to propagate over a longer range for greater contraction of the inclusion, for networks having longer fibers, and for networks with lower fiber bending stiffness. Contraction of the inclusion also caused fibers to reorient into the radial direction, but, surprisingly, the reorientation was minimally affected by bending stiffness. We conclude that both reorientation and nonlinearity are responsible for the long-range displacements.
Draft Genome Sequence of Loktanella cinnabarina Strain XM1 Isolated from Coastal Surface Water
Authors: Ma Ruijie , Wang Jianjun , Wang Qiong , Ma Zhaofeng , Li Jia , Chen Liqi
Published: December 2017

We report here the draft genome sequence of
Loktanella cinnabarina
strain XM1, which was isolated from coastal surface water and shared 99.43% 16S rRNA gene sequence identity with the deep-sea bacterium
L. cinnabarina
LL-001
T
. The estimated genome size of strain XM1 is 3,782,785 bp, with a G+C content of 67.9%.
Stable Signal Peptides and the Response to Secretion Stress in
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Craney Arryn , Romesberg Floyd E.
Published: December 2017

Protein secretion is essential, but how it is managed is poorly understood. In bacteria, most secreted proteins require release from the outer surface of the cytoplasmic membrane by type I signal peptidase (SPase), which cleaves the mature protein from its membrane-bound N-terminal signal peptide. As the first step that occurs outside the protected cytoplasmic environment and because insufficient activity can rapidly result in the toxic accumulation of preproteins, the activity of SPase is expected to be closely monitored and perhaps supplemented when insufficient. Indeed, we previously demonstrated that inhibition of SPase in
Staphylococcus aureus
results in derepression of the
ayrRABC
operon, which encodes an alternate mechanism to release proteins. However, in this case, the proteins are released with partially intact signal peptides, with the exception of IsaA, which is released with a virtually intact signal peptide. Here we show that mutation of AyrA [
ayrA
(R233K)] results in constitutive derepression of
ayrRABC
and that mutation of IsaA’s signal peptide [
isaA
(K2Q)] results in hyperderepression upon SPase inhibition, which also requires AyrA. Further studies demonstrate that the inducing signal for
ayrRABC
derepression is accumulation of a subset of preproteins with signal peptides that are stable toward further processing and that the signal is critically amplified by the K2Q mutation and relayed to AyrR by AyrA. These results elucidate the mechanism by which
S. aureus
monitors and responds to secretion stress. The presence of
ayrRA
in other bacteria suggests that it may represent a general strategy linking membrane stress to appropriate transcriptional responses.

IMPORTANCE
Bacteria interact with their environment by secreting proteins that perform a myriad of functions, and the final step is the release of the mature protein from the cell surface via the activity of type I signal peptidase (SPase). While the bacterial response to many stresses is understood in some detail, almost nothing is known about how cells respond to secretion stress, such as insufficient SPase activity, which would eventually result in cell death. We previously demonstrated that the inhibition of SPase in
Staphylococcus aureus
results in the derepression of the
ayrRABC
operon, which can functionally replace SPase, but which is normally repressed by AyrR. We now demonstrate that the inducing signal for derepression is accumulation of a subset of preproteins with signal peptides that are stable to further processing and that the signal is relayed to AyrR via AyrA.
A Data Mining Approach to Assess Privacy Risk in Human Mobility Data
Authors: Pellungrini Roberto , Pappalardo Luca , Pratesi Francesca , Monreale Anna
Published: December 2017

Human mobility data are an important proxy to understand human mobility dynamics, develop analytical services, and design mathematical models for simulation and what-if analysis. Unfortunately mobility data are very sensitive since they may enable the re-identification of individuals in a database. Existing frameworks for privacy risk assessment provide data providers with tools to control and mitigate privacy risks, but they suffer two main shortcomings: (i) they have a high computational complexity; (ii) the privacy risk must be recomputed every time new data records become available and for every selection of individuals, geographic areas, or time windows. In this article, we propose a fast and flexible approach to estimate privacy risk in human mobility data. The idea is to train classifiers to capture the relation between individual mobility patterns and the level of privacy risk of individuals. We show the effectiveness of our approach by an extensive experiment on real-world GPS data in two urban areas and investigate the relations between human mobility patterns and the privacy risk of individuals.
ZAP-70 in Signaling, Biology, and Disease
Authors: Au-Yeung Byron B. , Shah Neel H. , Shen Lin , Weiss Arthur
Published: December 2017

T cells possess an array of functional capabilities important for host defense against pathogens and tumors. T cell effector functions require the T cell antigen receptor (TCR). The TCR has no intrinsic enzymatic activity, and thus signal transduction from the receptor relies on additional signaling molecules. One such molecule is the cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase ZAP-70, which associates with the TCR complex and is required for initiating the canonical biochemical signal pathways downstream of the TCR. In this article, we describe recent structure-based insights into the regulation and substrate specificity of ZAP-70, and then we review novel methods for determining the role of ZAP-70 catalytic activity–dependent and –independent signals in developing and mature T cells. Lastly, we discuss the disease states in mouse models and humans, which range from immunodeficiency to autoimmunity, that are caused by mutations in ZAP-70.
Selection and Characterization of Potential Baker’s Yeast from Indigenous Resources of Nepal
Authors: Karki Tika B. , Timilsina Parash Mani , Yadav Archana , Pandey Gyanu Raj , Joshi Yogesh , Bhujel Sahansila , Adhikari Rojina , Neupane Katyayanee
Published: December 2017

The study aims to isolate the yeast strains that could be used effectively as baker’s yeast and compare them with the commercial baker’s yeast available in the market of Nepal. A total of 10 samples including locally available sources like fruits, Murcha, and a local tree “Dar” were collected from different localities of Bhaktapur, Kavre, and Syangja districts of Nepal, respectively. Following enrichment and fermentation of the samples, 26 yeast strains were isolated using selective medium Wallerstein Laboratory Nutrient Agar. From the differential tests which included morphological and microscopic observation and physiological and biochemical characterization such as nitrate reduction and lactose utilization tests, 8 strains were selected as possibleSaccharomycesstrain. The selected strains were further assessed for their efficient leavening ability by tests such as ethanol tolerance, osmotolerance, invertase test, and stress exclusion test. The three most potent strains ENG, MUR3B, and SUG1 isolated from grape, Murcha, and sugarcane, respectively, were used in the fermentation and baking of dough. These strains also carried a possibility of being used as industrial baker’s yeast.
Effects of Physical Activity on Motor Skills and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zeng Nan , Ayyub Mohammad , Sun Haichun , Wen Xu , Xiang Ping , Gao Zan
Published: December 2017

Objective. This study synthesized literature concerning casual evidence of effects of various physical activity programs on motor skills and cognitive development in typically developed preschool children.Methods. Electronic databases were searched through July 2017. Peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effectiveness of physical activity on motor skills and cognitive development in healthy young children (4–6 years) were screened.Results. A total of 15 RCTs were included. Of the 10 studies assessing the effects of physical activity on motor skills, eight (80%) reported significant improvements in motor performance and one observed mixed findings, but one failed to promote any beneficial outcomes. Of the five studies investigating the influence of physical activity on cognitive development, four (80%) showed significant and positive changes in language learning, academic achievement, attention, and working memory. Notably, one indicated no significant improvements were observed after the intervention.Conclusions. Findings support causal evidence of effects of physical activity on both motor skills and cognitive development in preschool children. Given the shortage of available studies, future research with large representative samples is warranted to explore the relationships between physical activity and cognitive domains as well as strengthen and confirm the dose-response evidence in early childhood.
Antecedents and Consequences of Therapeutic Communication in Iranian Nursing Students: A Qualitative Research
Authors: Abdolrahimi Mahbobeh , Ghiyasvandian Shahrzad , Zakerimoghadam Masoumeh , Ebadi Abbas
Published: December 2017

In recent years, particular attention has been paid to nursing students’ therapeutic communication (TC) with patients, due to a strong emphasis on patient-centered education in the Iranian healthcare reform. However, various studies have highlighted the poor communication of future nurses. Therefore, researchers have used qualitative methodology to shed light on the antecedents and consequences of nursing students’ TC and promote it. We carried out a conventional content analysis using semistructured interviews with a purposefully selected sample of 18 participants, including nursing instructors, students, and patients in hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. “Communication readiness,” “predisposing factors,” and “continuity of care” were identified as the three major themes. “Communication readiness” consisted of “physical readiness,” “academic readiness,” and “developmental readiness.” “Predisposing factors” included “contextual factors” and “educational condition.” “Continuity of care” included “patient satisfaction” and “improving nursing student’s motivation to communicate with patients.” “Communication readiness” and “predisposing factors” constitute the antecedents of nursing student’s TC with patients, and “continuity of care” is considered as its consequence. More attention needs to be paid by the regulators to TC instruction in both theoretical and clinical educational curriculum. Furthermore, all nurses must be informed about the importance of TC in promoting patient outcomes and quality of care.
Lignin-Carbohydrate Complexes Based Spherical Biocarriers: Preparation, Characterization, and Biocompatibility
Authors: Zhao Houkuan , Li Jinling , Wang Peng , Zeng Shaoqiong , Xie Yimin
Published: December 2017

Spherical biocarriers were prepared with lignin-carbohydrate complexes isolated from ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) xylem. The specific surface and average pore size of the biocarriers were 17.15 m2 g−1 and 21.59 nm, respectively. The carriers were stable in solution at pH 4.0~9.5. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum indicated that the spherical carrier was composed of lignin and polysaccharides and had a typical lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) structure. The contents of galactose, lignin, and total sugar were 3.30%, 23.9%, and 64.62%, respectively, making the spherical biocarriers have good physical strength and compatible with hepatocytes. It was observed using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that liver cells adhered to the spherical biocarriers during culture. Cell counting indicated that the proliferation of liver cells in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group. The albumin secretion (ALB) value and glucose consumption of the human hepatocytes were increased by 51.7% and 38.6%, respectively, by the fourth day when cultivated on the biocarriers. The results indicate that ginkgo LCC is very biocompatible and shows promise for the use as a biomaterial in the culture of human hepatocytes.
Numerical Analysis of Impact Loading of Adhesive Joints
Authors: Komorek Andrzej , Godzimirski Jan , Pietras Agata
Published: December 2017

Due to small repeatability of results of impact strength of adhesive joints, particularly those performed on different test machines, the authors were inspired to conduct experimental and numerical research in this field. The investigation used the Block Shear Test. The authors compared impact strength of samples which were loaded in a normative and nonnormative manner and also the dependence in impact strength with regard to the distance between the impactor’s edge and the surface of the bonded joint. The numerical calculations were carried out in the program Ansys, using the Explicit Dynamics module. The authors proposed a way of modelling the impactor of the pendulum hammer. It was found that a change in the direction of applying the load to the sample and rotating the loaded sample piece in relation to the edge of the impactor results in a significant change in the Max Principal Stresses. Numerical investigations show that lower values of Max Principal Stresses occur in joints which are characterized by larger impact strength, determined experimentally. It was also noted that moving away the edge of the impactor from the surface of the adhesive joint increases normal stresses perpendicular to the surface of the joint.
Surfactant Incorporated Co Nanoparticles Polymer Composites with Uniform Dispersion and Double Percolation
Authors: Hussain Tajamal , Ahmad Mirza Nadeem , Nawaz Aneela , Mujahid Adnan , Bashir Farrukh , Mustafa Ghulam
Published: December 2017

Series of Cobalt nanoparticles incorporated polymethylmethacrylate composites in the presence and absence of dodecyl-benzene-sulphonic acid (DBSA-CoNPs/PMMA and CoNPs/PMMA, resp.) were synthesized by solution mixing methodology. UV-visible and FTIR techniques were used to confirm the formation of nanocomposite. UV-visible spectra of the composites showed the incorporation of filler particles in the polymer matrix. On the other hand, FTIR spectra indicated the physical interaction between the two phases of the composite. Moreover, the electrical nature of the composites was studied by plotting graphs between electrical conductivity (measured using LCR meter at 100 kHz) and contents of the filler particles as introduced in the polymer matrix. An increase in electrical conductivity was first observed with increasing filler concentration up to the critical percolation threshold value (0.5% for DBSA-CoNPs/PMMA and 1% for CoNPs/PMMA), which then dropped upon further increments in the filler content. However, at higher concentrations, a second jump in the conductivity was observed in case of DBSA-CoNPs/PMMA composites.
The Café Wall Illusion: Local and Global Perception from Multiple Scales to Multiscale
Authors: Nematzadeh Nasim , Powers David M. W.
Published: December 2017

Geometrical illusions are a subclass of optical illusions in which the geometrical characteristics of patterns in particular orientations and angles are distorted and misperceived as a result of low-to-high-level retinal/cortical processing. Modelling the detection of tilt in these illusions, and its strength, is a challenging task and leads to the development of techniques that explain important features of human perception. We present here a predictive and quantitative approach for modelling foveal and peripheral vision for the induced tilt in the Café Wall illusion, in which parallel mortar lines between shifted rows of black and white tiles appear to converge and diverge. Difference of Gaussians is used to define a bioderived filtering model for the responses of retinal simple cells to the stimulus, while an analytical processing pipeline is developed to quantify the angle of tilt in the model and develop confidence intervals around them. Several sampling sizes and aspect ratios are explored to model variant foveal views, and a variety of pattern configurations are tested to model variant Gestalt views. The analysis of our model across this range of test configurations presents a precisely quantified comparison contrasting local tilt detection in the foveal sample sets with pattern-wide Gestalt tilt.
Enhancing Exercise Responsiveness across Prediabetes Phenotypes by Targeting Insulin Sensitivity with Nutrition
Authors: Gaitan Julian M. , Weltman Arthur , Malin Steven K.
Published: December 2017

Exercise is a cornerstone therapy for chronic diseases related to multiorgan insulin resistance. However, not all individuals show the anticipated improvement in insulin sensitivity following exercise and these individuals are considered exercise resistant. Caloric restriction is an approach to enhance the effect of exercise on increasing peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity, as replenishing expended calories blunts these benefits. Alternatively, restricting carbohydrate intake, independent of energy balance, following exercise provides an additive effect on peripheral insulin sensitivity when compared to refeeding carbohydrate. Although carbohydrate composition modulates insulin sensitivity, few have studied effects of low glycemic index or whole-grain diets following exercise across prediabetes phenotypes on insulin sensitivity. Herein, we propose the novel hypothesis that the combination of individualized nutrition therapy and exercise should be based on the clinical pathology of prediabetes to overcome exercise resistance and improve responsiveness in people at risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Kallikrein Cleaves C3 and Activates Complement
Authors: Irmscher Sarah , Döring Nadia , Halder Luke D. , Jo Emeraldo A.H. , Kopka Isabell , Dunker Christine , Jacobsen Ilse D. , Luo Shanshan , Slevogt Hortense , Lorkowski Stefan , Beyersdorf Niklas , Zipfel Peter F. , Skerka Christine
Published: December 2017

The human plasma contact system is an immune surveillance system activated by the negatively charged surfaces of bacteria and fungi and includes the kallikrein-kinin, the coagulation, and the fibrinolytic systems. Previous work shows that the contact system also activates complement, and that plasma enzymes like kallikrein, plasmin, thrombin, and FXII are involved in the activation process. Here, we show for the first time that kallikrein cleaves the central complement component C3 directly to yield active components C3b and C3a. The cleavage site within C3 is identical to that recognized by the C3 convertase. Also, kallikrein-generated C3b forms C3 convertases, which trigger the C3 amplification loop. Since kallikrein also cleaves factor B to yield Bb and Ba, kallikrein alone can trigger complement activation. Kallikrein-generated C3 convertases are inhibited by factor H; thus, the kallikrein activation pathway merges with the amplification loop of the alternative pathway. Taken together, these data suggest that activation of the contact system locally enhances complement activation on cell surfaces. The human pathogenic microbe Candida albicans activates the contact system in normal human serum. However, C. albicans immediately recruits factor H to the surface, thereby evading the alternative and likely kallikrein-mediated complement pathways.
Afrotropes: A Conversation with Huey Copeland and Krista Thompson
Authors: Dickerman Leah , Joselit David , Nixon Mignon
Published: December 2017

Huey Copeland and Krista Thompson speak with several October editors about afrotropes, recurrent visual forms that have emerged within and become central to the formation of African diasporic culture and identity. Copeland and Thompson argue that ultimately such forms are transformed and deformed in response to the specific social, political, and institutional conditions that inform the experiences of black people as well as changing perceptions of blackness.
All mod cons ?
Authors: Roberts Graham H.
Published: December 2017

In our paper we propose a typology of the different ways in which the theme of consumption and the consumer society is treated in contemporary Russian literature. Some writers, of whom Oksana Robski is perhaps the best known, view consumption as something entirely positive, as a way for an individual (and especially a woman) to affirm their social identity. Others, such as Sergei Minaev and Viktor Pelevin, directly attack consumerism for the manner in which it has produced a spiritual void in Russian society today. A third group of writers, such as Zakhar Prilepin and Dmitry Bykov, criticise consumerism indirectly, by showing characters who are more or less violently opposed to the new society. Finally, novelists such as Ol’ga Slavnikova, Vladimir Sorokin and Mikhail Elizarov, do not evoke consumerism explicitly, but instead use metaphor to evoke the absence of basic human values in the new market economy. In today’s Russia, consumption has become the focus of a bitter struggle between different views of human nature, of society, and perhaps most importantly, of Russian identity itself. Nowhere is this struggle more clearly portrayed than in the pages of contemporary Russian literature.
South Korea’s Claim to Dokdo
Authors: Lee Hee Eun
Published: December 2017

Dokdo are tiny islets located in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) that have been the source of a longstanding conflict between Korea and Japan. Japan argues that the islets, referred to as Takeshima by Japan, were terra nullius when it incorporated them in 1905 during the Russo-Japanese War. However, South Korea claims that previous Korean kingdoms had sovereignty over the islets as evidenced through numerous historical records and maps. South Korea asserts original title over Dokdo noting that Japan’s incorporation of the islets and eventual annexation of the entire Korean peninsula was illegal. This article summarizes the major points South Korea has publicly raised in asserting its claim to Dokdo noting that South Korea’s claim to Dokdo is framed from the perspective of the historical injustice of Japanese imperialism and that Dokdo was the first Korean territory taken by Japan in its expansion into Asia in the early 20th century.
Forecasting maize yield using ARIMA-Genetic Algorithm approach
Authors: Rathod Santosha , Singh KN , Arya Prawin , Ray Mrinmoy , Mukherjee Anirban , Sinha Kanchan , Kumar Prakash , Shekhawat Ravindra Singh
Published: December 2017

Maize is widely cultivated throughout the world and has highest production among all the cereals. India is the sixth largest producer of maize in the world, contributing 2% of global production and accounting for 9% of the total food grain production in the country. Based on increasing growth rates of poultry, livestock, fish, and milling industries, the demand for maize is expected to increase from the current level of 17 to 45 million tons by 2030. To understand the growing pattern and economics of crop production, it is necessary to predict crop yield using statistical models and geographic information system soil mapping and the impacts of insect and pest damage. In this study, the focus was to forecast maize yield in India using an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model and genetic algorithm (GA) approach. GA simulates the evolution of living organisms, where the fittest individual dominates the weaker ones by mimicking the biological mechanism of evolution, such as selection, crossover, and mutation. GA has successfully been applied to solve optimization problems. The study reveals that implementation of GA in ARIMA enhances the prediction accuracy of the model.
Shrinking metropolitan area: Costly homeownership and slow spatial shrinkage
Authors: Suzuki Masatomo , Asami Yasushi
Published: December 2017

With a simple model of land use and market arbitrage, this paper investigates the impact of population decline – when existing homeowners compete to attract a small number of new residents – on homeownership and land use. We show that, if a strictly positive cost is required for ownership abandonment, selling used houses is impossible in the periphery, while leasing is possible. We also show that only long-life-quality houses, which require a larger initial investment and sustain greater utility for longer than conventional ones, attract new residents to the periphery. Social welfare may decrease, because the government has to maintain the slowly shrinking, less densely inhabited urban area.
Balint work and the creation of medical knowledge
Authors: Muench John
Published: December 2017

Michael Balint’s pioneering work in primary care was not simply the application of psychodynamic theory to the complex problems and relationships encountered by clinicians. Rather, Balint’s work was part of a wider conversation in Western epistemology that had already begun to break down the enlightenment rationalist agenda. Since the time of Descartes, we sought to find certain truth through decontextualizing and abstracting problems, and through separation of the observer from the thing observed, with a focus on finding universal timeless laws that could be generalized. By the mid-1950s, it was clear that this agenda was insufficient to answer important questions about what it means to be human and to live a healthy and happy life. Balint’s experiment was a return to a method of knowledge creation that is case based, narrative, local, timely, particular, and especially considers specific contexts for finding solutions to problems. For current healthcare reform efforts to be effective, we must include Balint's focus on the context of the doctor, patient, and their relationship, as well as development of practical wisdom (i.e. Aristotelian phronesis) that we know in medicine as professional judgment. The case study method of the Balint group is one of the few and best formal methods to teach and practice this way of knowing.
Role of silane concentration on the structural characteristics and properties of epoxy-/silane-modified montmorillonite clay nanocomposites
Authors: Ryu Sung Hun , Reddy M Jeevan Kumar , Shanmugharaj AM
Published: December 2017

In the present work, sodium montmorillonite (MMT) was modified with varying concentrations of (3-amino propyl) triethoxy silane (APS) using water as the dispersing medium. Successful grafting of APS was corroborated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies of silane-modified clay revealed that the average d-spacing values increase at low silane concentration with the almost constant values at higher silane concentration. Total grafting yield of APS calculated using differential thermogravimetric results revealed that grafting yield decreases with increasing silane concentration. Epoxy-based MMT clay nanocomposites were prepared with different loading amounts of pristine (PM0.0) and silylated clay (SM4.4), and its influence on the mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and water uptake properties of the nanocomposites was investigated. The degree of intercalation of pristine or modified clay in the epoxy matrix estimated by XRD experiments exhibits a clear diffraction peak corresponding to the interlayer spacing d001 of 14.8–28 Å. Characterizations of mechanical properties revealed that Young’s modulus and tensile strength increase with increasing concentration of the modified clay, while the fracture toughness shows a maximum at 6 wt% of clay. From the results of dynamic mechanical analysis, it was observed that the nanocomposites filled with silylated clay display higher storage modulus mainly at temperatures above the glass transition temperature. The equilibrium water uptake was reduced significantly on loading 6 wt% of pristine MMT, and this effect is more pronounced on loading silanized MMT in the nanocomposites when compared to the neat epoxy system.
Esophageal Dysmotility in Patients following Total Laryngectomy
Authors: Zhang Teng , Maclean Julia , Szczesniak Michal , Bertrand Paul P. , Quon Harry , Tsang Raymond K. , Wu Peter I. , Graham Peter , Cook Ian J.
Published: December 2017

Objectives

Dysphagia is common in total laryngectomees, with some symptoms suggesting esophageal dysmotility. Tracheoesophageal (TE) phonation requires effective esophagopharyngeal air passage. Hence, esophageal dysmotility may affect deglutition or TE phonation. This study aimed to determine (1) the characteristics of esophageal dysmotility in laryngectomees, (2) whether clinical history is sensitive in detecting esophageal dysmotility, and (3) the relationship between esophageal dysmotility and TE prosthesis dysfunction.

Study Design

Multidisciplinary cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Tertiary academic hospital.

Subjects and Methods

For 31 participants undergone total laryngectomy 1 to 12 years prior, clinical histories were taken by a gastroenterologist and a speech pathologist experienced in managing dysphagia. Esophageal high‐resolution manometry was performed and analyzed using Chicago Classification v3.0.

Results

Interpretable manometric studies were obtained in 23 (1 normal manometry). Esophageal dysmotility patterns included achalasia, esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction, diffuse esophageal spasm, and other major (30%) and minor (50%) peristaltic disorders. The sensitivity of predicting any esophageal dysmotility was 28%, but it is noteworthy that patients with achalasia and diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) were predicted. Two of 4 participants with TE puncture leakage had poor esophageal clearance. Of 20 TE speakers, 12 had voice problems, no correlation between poor voice, and any dysmotility pattern.

Conclusions

Peristaltic and lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction are common in laryngectomees. Clinical history, while not predictive of minor motor abnormalities, predicted correctly cases with treatable spastic motor disorders. Dysmotility was not associated with poor phonation, although TE puncture leakage might be linked to poor esophageal clearance. Esophageal dysmotility should be considered in the laryngectomees with persisting dysphagia or leaking TE puncture.
An Interview with Frédéric Lebaron on the Genesis and Principles of Bourdieusian Sociology: The Real Is (Still) Relational
Authors: Schmitz Andreas
Published: December 2017

This interview comprises different key aspects of Pierre Bourdieu’s work. Amongst others, the following topics are treated: the development of Frédéric Lebaron’s collaboration with Bourdieu, the political and ideological conditions prevailing at the time of Bourdieu’s early works and during the phase of his establishment, the epistemological foundations of Bourdieu’s relationism, the relationship to other modern paradigms such as Fligstein’s and McAdam’s field theory, Hedström’s analytical sociology, discourse analysis, network analysis, and a debate on relationalism, causality, and rationality within the architecture of Bourdieu’s theory.
How is palliative care understood in the context of dementia? Results from a massive open online course
Authors: McInerney Fran , Doherty Kathleen , Bindoff Aidan , Robinson Andrew , Vickers James
Published: December 2017

Background:

A palliative approach to the care of people with dementia has been advocated, albeit from an emergent evidence base. The person-centred philosophy of palliative care resonates with the often lengthy trajectory and heavy symptom burden of this terminal condition.

Aim:

To explore participants’ understanding of the concept of palliative care in the context of dementia. The participant population took an online course in dementia.

Design:

The participant population took a massive open online course on ‘Understanding Dementia’ and posted answers to the question: ‘palliative care means …’ We extracted these postings and analysed them via the dual methods of topic modelling analysis and thematic analysis.

Setting/participants:

A total of 1330 participants from three recent iterations of the Understanding Dementia Massive Open Online Course consented to their posts being used. Participants included those caring formally or informally for someone living with dementia as well as those with a general interest in dementia

Results:

Participants were found to have a general awareness of palliative care, but saw it primarily as terminal care, focused around the event of death and specialist in nature. Comfort was equated with pain management only. Respondents rarely overtly linked palliative care to dementia.

Conclusions:

A general lack of palliative care literacy, particularly with respect to dementia, was demonstrated by participants. Implications for dementia care consumers seeking palliative care and support include recognition of the likely lack of awareness of the relevance of palliative care to dementia. Future research could access online participants more directly about their understandings/experiences of the relationship between palliative care and dementia.
Acute and chronic changes in brain activity with deep brain stimulation for refractory depression
Authors: Conen Silke , Matthews Julian C , Patel Nikunj K , Anton-Rodriguez José , Talbot Peter S
Published: December 2017

Deep brain stimulation is a potential option for patients with treatment-refractory depression. Deep brain stimulation benefits have been reported when targeting either the subgenual cingulate or ventral anterior capsule/nucleus accumbens. However, not all patients respond and optimum stimulation-site is uncertain. We compared deep brain stimulation of the subgenual cingulate and ventral anterior capsule/nucleus accumbens separately and combined in the same seven treatment-refractory depression patients, and investigated regional cerebral blood flow changes associated with acute and chronic deep brain stimulation. Deep brain stimulation-response was defined as reduction in Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale score from baseline of ≥50%, and remission as a Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale score ≤8. Changes in regional cerebral blood flow were assessed using [15O]water positron emission tomography. Remitters had higher relative regional cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex at baseline and all subsequent time-points compared to non-remitters and non-responders, with prefrontal cortex regional cerebral blood flow generally increasing with chronic deep brain stimulation. These effects were consistent regardless of stimulation-site. Overall, no significant regional cerebral blood flow changes were apparent when deep brain stimulation was acutely interrupted. Deep brain stimulation improved treatment-refractory depression severity in the majority of patients, with consistent changes in local and distant brain regions regardless of target stimulation. Remission of depression was reached in patients with higher baseline prefrontal regional cerebral blood flow. Because of the small sample size these results are preliminary and further evaluation is necessary to determine whether prefrontal cortex regional cerebral blood flow could be a predictive biomarker of treatment response.
Association between vitamin D, oestradiol and interferon-gamma in female patients with inactive systemic lupus erythematosus: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Kokic Visnja , Martinovic Kaliterna Dusanka , Radic Mislav , Tandara Leida , Perkovic Dijana
Published: December 2017

Objectives

To investigate possible associations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3), oestradiol (E2) and IFN-gamma (IFNγ) in female patients with inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

Female patients with inactive SLE and age-matched healthy controls were recruited into this cross-sectional study. Serum concentrations of 25(OH)D3, E2 and IFNγ were measured by radioimmunoassay with gamma-counters and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

36 patients and 37 controls were enrolled. In patients with SLE, the concentration of 25(OH)D3 was lower and E2 was higher compared with controls. In vitamin D deficient (i.e., 25(OH)D3≤20 ng/ml) patients, IFNγ was 150% higher compared with patients with 25(OH)D3>20 ng/ml and controls. The concentration of E2 was higher in all patients compared with controls independently of the vitamin D level. A difference was found between patients and controls in the correlation of 25(OH)D3 with E2 and a positive correlation was found between E2 and IFNγ in all participants.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that E2 may have a strong modulating effect on vitamin D function which is significant only at low concentration of E2.
Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation for the acute treatment of episodic and chronic cluster headache: A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled ACT2 study
Authors: Goadsby Peter J , de Coo Ilse F , Silver Nicholas , Tyagi Alok , Ahmed Fayyaz , Gaul Charly , Jensen Rigmor H , Diener Hans-Christoph , Solbach Kasia , Straube Andreas , Liebler Eric , Marin Juana CA , Ferrari Michel D
Published: December 2017

Background

Clinical observations and results from recent studies support the use of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) for treating cluster headache (CH) attacks. This study compared nVNS with a sham device for acute treatment in patients with episodic or chronic CH (eCH, cCH).

Methods

After completing a 1-week run-in period, subjects were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive nVNS or sham therapy during a 2-week double-blind period. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of all treated attacks that achieved pain-free status within 15 minutes after treatment initiation, without rescue treatment.

Results

The Full Analysis Set comprised 48 nVNS-treated (14 eCH, 34 cCH) and 44 sham-treated (13 eCH, 31 cCH) subjects. For the primary endpoint, nVNS (14%) and sham (12%) treatments were not significantly different for the total cohort. In the eCH subgroup, nVNS (48%) was superior to sham (6%; p < 0.01). No significant differences between nVNS (5%) and sham (13%) were seen in the cCH subgroup.

Conclusions

Combing both eCH and cCH patients, nVNS was no different to sham. For the treatment of CH attacks, nVNS was superior to sham therapy in eCH but not in cCH. These results confirm and extend previous findings regarding the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of nVNS for the acute treatment of eCH.
Hostile and Benevolent Sexism and College Women’s STEM Outcomes
Authors: Kuchynka Sophie L. , Salomon Kristen , Bosson Jennifer K. , El-Hout Mona , Kiebel Elizabeth , Cooperman Claudia , Toomey Ryan
Published: December 2017

We examined associations of perceived ambivalent sexism with women’s outcomes in university Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses as a function of their STEM identity. Women ( N = 592) who varied in STEM identification reported on their personal experiences with benevolent and hostile sexism and indicated their STEM major intentions, STEM self-efficacy, and STEM grade point average (GPA). Women perceived more benevolent sexism (i.e., protective paternalism and complementary gender differentiation) than hostile sexism in STEM courses, and their STEM identity moderated the associations between sexism and STEM outcomes. Among weakly-identified (but not strongly-identified) women, protective paternalism predicted lower STEM major intentions, STEM self-efficacy, and STEM GPA; hostile sexism predicted lower STEM GPA. Male STEM students ( N = 163) reported more protective paternalism attitudes than hostile sexism attitudes, suggesting that women’s perceptions were not without warrant. We discuss implications of these results for understanding women’s underrepresentation in STEM and advise STEM educators to avoid well-intended, but paternalistic, messages that convey negative stereotypes about women’s STEM competence.
The Acceptance of Myths About Intimate Partner Violence Against Women (AMIVAW) Scale
Authors: Megías Jesús L. , Toro-García Virginia , Carretero-Dios Hugo
Published: December 2017

The measures available for assessing the acceptance of myths about intimate partner violence against women (AMIVAW) are characterized either by a lack of sufficient psychometric support or by being based on unclear theoretical propositions. In this article, we present a 15-item self-report scale: the Acceptance of Myths About Intimate Partner Violence Against Women (AMIVAW) Scale. We examined the reliability and validity of the scores of the Spanish and English versions of this scale across six different samples ( N = 1,650) consisting of adult participants from Spain and the United States. Scores on both versions demonstrated high reliability. Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a one-dimensional structure. Invariance tests across genders demonstrated that the scale was invariant at the configural, metric, and scalar levels. The scale was also invariant at the configural level across countries. The AMIVAW scores were independent of social desirability, positively correlated with sexism and other scales used to measure attitudes toward abuse or sexual aggression, and negatively correlated with feminist ideologies. Finally, by using fictitious scenarios of intimate partner violence against women, we observed that participants with higher AMIVAW scores placed more of the blame on the victim and less responsibility on the perpetrator than those with lower AMIVAW scores. Taken together, the results provide strong validity evidence for the AMIVAW Scale. The AMIVAW Scale is a useful instrument to analyze the functions of myths in maintaining intimate partner violence against women. It is also a relevant tool for practitioners involved in programs to prevent and eradicate this form of violence.
Persistent Pain: Nursing Perspectives
Authors: Carroll Karen
Published: December 2017

Pain has diligently been regarded by scholars of different disciplines, and yet the experience of pain for patients and families can be minimized and relegated to a more perfunctory place. Pain, particularly persistent pain, warrants attention and to not fully attend to pain betrays and does not honor human dignity warranted by patients and families cared for within nursing and the larger healthcare community.
Low-income women’s right to sanitation services in city public spaces: a study of waste picker women in Pune
Authors: Joshi Nupur
Published: December 2017

While considerable existing literature has focused on the lack of sanitation services in informal settlements, this paper argues for the need for well-maintained sanitation services in city public spaces. Specifically, the paper describes the impact of a lack of sanitation facilities in public spaces and its linkages to waste picker women’s sense of safety and security. Drawing on the experiences of waste picker women residing in an informal settlement in Pune, it focuses on women’s everyday improvisations and negotiations to cope with the unavailability or inaccessibility of sanitation facilities while they traverse the city, picking and segregating waste, and the impact on their income, health and psychological well-being. The findings show that the policy discourse on sanitation needs to be expanded beyond a focus on informal settlements to include a public sanitation component.
Analyses of Complaints, Investigations of Allegations, and Deficiency Citations in United States Nursing Homes
Authors: Hansen Kevin E. , Hyer Kathryn , Holup Amanda A. , Smith Kelly M. , Small Brent J.
Published: December 2017

Quality of care in nursing homes has been evaluated from varying perspectives, but few studies analyze complaints made to surveyors. This study analyzed complaints, investigations, and citations for nursing homes nationwide. Using the complaint and survey data sets, analyses match nursing home complaints with findings of investigations conducted. Results showed the average complaint rate was 13.3 complaints per 100 residents and that 43.2% of complaint allegations were substantiated, with complaints about care and services provided being the most prevalent. Variability was noted among the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regions and, on average, 47.5% of facilities had five or more complaints in a given year. While additional research could evaluate the effect of complaint investigations on nursing home quality, results indicated that complaints and subsequent investigations provide further information regarding quality for residents. Results also suggest improvements in the training for surveyors and more consistency across Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services survey regions.