bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased DNA double-strand breaks and enhanced apoptosis in patients with lupus nephritis
Authors: Souliotis V L , Sfikakis P P
Published: December 2014

Objective

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) lead to mutations, genomic instability and apoptotic death, whereas accumulation of apoptotic cells results in excessive autoantigen presentation and autoantibody formation. We aimed to measure DSB levels in lupus nephritis, a severe complication of the prototypic systemic autoimmune disease.

Methods

The intrinsic DNA damage and the apoptosis induction/DSB levels were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of six patients and 10 healthy controls following exposure to genotoxic agents (melphalan, cisplatin) ex vivo. DSBs were assessed using immunofluorescence quantification of γH2AX foci and comet assay.

Results

Intrinsic DNA damage was increased in lupus versus control cells in both assays (Olive Tail Moment units of 15.8 ± 2.3 versus 3.0 ± 1.4 in comet, p < 0.01; % γH2AX-positive cells: 13.6 ± 1.8 versus 4.6 ± 0.9, p < 0.01, respectively). Melphalan or cisplatin doses as low as 9.9 ± 4.8 or 29.8 ± 8.3 µg/ml, respectively, were sufficient to induce apoptosis in lupus cells; control cells required doses of 32.3 ± 7.7 and 67.7 ± 5.5 µg/ml, respectively. Drug-induced DSB levels were increased in lupus versus control cells, with the area under the curve (AUC) for melphalan-induced DSBs being 3050 ± 610 (% γH2AX-positive staining cells) × (drug dose) in patients and 1580 ± 350 in controls ( p < 0.05); the corresponding values for cisplatin-induced AUC were 13900 ± 1800 for lupus and 4500 ± 750 for controls ( p < 0.01). Interestingly, within either lupus patients or controls examined, the accumulation of DSBs correlated with apoptosis degrees (all p < 0.01). Results in lupus cells were not associated with individual disease activity level or treatment modalities at the time of the study.

Conclusion

These findings suggest a novel mechanism by which increased accumulation of DSBs may render cells more sensitive to apoptosis, thus contributing to the induction of systemic autoimmunity.
Vascular- and pregnancy-related outcomes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with positive antiphospholipid profile and thrombocytopenia
Authors: Haddad A , Gladman D D , Ibañez D , Urowitz M B
Published: December 2014

This study aimed to investigate whether patients with lupus and a positive antiphospholipid profile with thrombocytopenia are at a higher risk for obstetric complications or thrombotic events than patients without thrombocytopenia. We conducted a case-control study matched 3:1 by sex, age of systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosis, age at study start, disease duration and length of follow-up time. Time to first event following study start was compared using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests and it was not statistically significant. In this study setting and population, thrombocytopenia was not associated with a higher risk for obstetrical complications or thrombotic events.
Hand function and performance of daily activities in systemic lupus erythematosus: a clinical study
Authors: Malcus Johnsson P , Sandqvist G , Nilsson J-Å , Bengtsson A A , Sturfelt G , Nived O
Published: December 2014

This clinical study was performed to investigate hand problems in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in comparison with healthy controls, and to explore problems in the performance of daily activities related to these hand problems, in order to objectify findings from a previous mail survey. We also investigated whether a simple hand test could detect hand problems in SLE. All individuals, 71 with SLE and 71 healthy controls, were examined for manifestations in body structures and body functions of the hands with a study-specific protocol. The simple hand test was performed by all the individuals and the arthritis impact measurement scale (AIMS 2) questionnaire was completed by the SLE individuals. In the SLE group, 58% had some kind of difficulty in the simple hand test, compared with 8% in the control group. Fifty percent of the SLE individuals experienced problems in performing daily activities due to hand deficits. Pain in the hands, reduced strength and dexterity, Raynaud’s phenomenon and trigger finger were the most prominent body functions affecting the performance of daily activities. Deficits in hand function are common in SLE and affect the performance of daily activities. The simple hand test may be a useful tool in detecting hand problems.
Evaluation and perceived results of moral case deliberation
Authors: Janssens Rien MJPA , van Zadelhoff Ezra , van Loo Ger , Widdershoven Guy AM , Molewijk Bert AC
Published: December 2014

Background:

Moral case deliberation is increasingly becoming part of various Dutch healthcare organizations. Although some evaluation studies of moral case deliberation have been carried out, research into the results of moral case deliberation within aged care is scarce.

Research questions:

How did participants evaluate moral case deliberation? What has moral case deliberation brought to them? What has moral case deliberation contributed to care practice? Should moral case deliberation be further implemented and, if so, how?

Research design:

Quantitative analysis of a questionnaire study among participants of moral case deliberation, both caregivers and team leaders. Qualitative analysis of written answers to open questions, interview study and focus group meetings among caregivers and team leaders.

Participants and research context:

Caregivers and team leaders in a large organization for aged care in the Netherlands. A total of 61 moral case deliberation sessions, carried out on 16 care locations belonging to the organization, were evaluated and perceived results were assessed.

Ethical considerations:

Participants gave informed consent and anonymity was guaranteed. In the Netherlands, the law does not prescribe independent ethical review by an Institutional Review Board for this kind of research among healthcare professionals.

Findings:

Moral case deliberation was evaluated positively by the participants. Content and atmosphere of moral case deliberation received high scores, while organizational issues regarding the moral case deliberation sessions scored lower and merit further attention. Respondents indicated that moral case deliberation has the potential to contribute to care practice as relationships among team members improve, more openness is experienced and more understanding for different perspectives is fostered. If moral case deliberation is to be successfully implemented, top-down approaches should go hand in hand with bottom-up approaches.

Conclusion:

The relevance of moral case deliberation for care practice received wide acknowledgement from the respondents. It can contribute to the team’s cohesion as mutual understanding for one another’s views is fostered. If implemented well, moral case deliberation has the potential to improve care, according to the respondents.
The Aesthetic Knowledge Problem of Problem-Solving With Design Thinking
Authors: Stephens John Paul , Boland Brodie J.
Published: December 2014

In this essay, we examine how aesthetic knowledge defines design thinking and also poses a challenge for many organizational systems. Design thinking is one problem-solving approach that addresses problems where multiple and conflicting interests must be met by perceiving the holistic quality of the interconnections across such interests. However, there has not been a clear declaration of what is at the core of design thinking. The direct engagement of the bodily senses in design-thinking methods points to the importance of aesthetic knowledge for problem definition and solution generation. Organizational systems, however, often occlude the role of the body at work, and therefore of aesthetic knowledge. Drawing on structurationist theory, we make suggestions for how organizational systems might adapt to more effectively generate and use aesthetic knowledge and tackle increasingly complex problems.
Searching for Relevance
Authors: Ivy Julia , Larty Joanne , Jack Sarah
Published: December 2014

This study investigates the practice of NGO (nongovernment organizations)–donor relationships in a geographically isolated community in Alaska and explores the role of social capital in NGO sustainability. We employ the following parameters to apply social capital concepts to the needs of practitioners: study design centered on variables that are relevant for practitioners, nonlinear production of knowledge, attention to specifics of the context within which agents operate, and transfer of knowledge through the practitioners’ frame of reference. This study reveals that NGOs’ bonding social ties are of primary importance for assuring active donor commitment, while bridging ties serve to secure continuing commitment and support from passive donors. The structural, relational, emotional, and behavioral social capital dimensions shape both bonding and bridging ties, though they differ in their nature. Active donor commitment is increased by strengthening and extending the circle of bonding ties.
Improving Visual Communication of Science Through the Incorporation of Graphic Design Theories and Practices Into Science Communication
Authors: Rodríguez Estrada Fabiola Cristina , Davis Lloyd Spencer
Published: December 2014

Visual culture is becoming an increasingly prominent part of our cultural identity in the 21st century. Consequently, images have become an important tool with which to communicate science. We identify two impediments to science communicators using visual elements effectively: (1) visual material is typically treated as an add-on instead of being an integrated part of the whole and (2) there is a lack of identifying target audiences and refining visual elements for them specifically. We argue that science communicators can become more effective visual communicators if they incorporate elements of theory and practice from the discipline of design.
What Would It Take? Stakeholders’ Views and Preferences for Implementing a Health Care Manager Program in Community Mental Health Clinics Under Health Care Reform
Authors: Cabassa Leopoldo J. , Gomes Arminda P. , Lewis-Fernández Roberto
Published: December 2014

Health care manager interventions can improve the physical health of people with serious mental illness (SMI). In this study, we used concepts from the theory of diffusion of innovations, the consolidated framework for implementation research and a taxonomy of implementation strategies to examine stakeholders’ recommendations for implementing a health care manager intervention in public mental health clinics serving Hispanics with SMI. A purposive sample of 20 stakeholders was recruited from mental health agencies, primary care clinics, and consumer advocacy organizations. We presented participants a vignette describing a health care manager intervention and used semistructured qualitative interviews to examine their views and recommendations for implementing this program. Interviews were recorded, professionally transcribed, and content analyzed. We found that a blend of implementation strategies that demonstrates local relative advantage, addresses cost concerns, and enhances compatibility to organizations and the client population is critical for moving health care manager interventions into practice.
Trends in State Regulation of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants, 2001 to 2010
Authors: Gadbois Emily A. , Miller Edward Alan , Tyler Denise , Intrator Orna
Published: December 2014

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants can alleviate some of the primary care shortage facing the United States, but their scope-of-practice is limited by state regulation. This study reports both cross-sectional and longitudinal trends in state scope-of-practice regulations for nurse practitioners and physician assistants over a 10-year period. Regulations from 2001 to 2010 were compiled and described with respect to entry-to-practice standards, physician involvement in treatment/diagnosis, prescriptive authority, and controlled substances. Findings indicate that most states loosened regulations, granting greater autonomy to nurse practitioners and physician assistants, particularly with respect to prescriptive authority and physician involvement in treatment and diagnosis. Many states also increased barriers to entry, requiring high levels of education before entering practice. Knowledge of state trends in nurse practitioner and physician assistant regulation should inform current efforts to standardize scope-of-practice nationally.
What’s in a Name? Evaluating the Effects of the “Sex Offender” Label on Public Opinions and Beliefs
Authors: Harris Andrew J. , Socia Kelly M.
Published: December 2014

Particularly over the past two decades, the terms sex offender and juvenile sex offender (JSO) have attained increasingly common usage in media and public policy discourse. Although often applied as factual descriptors, the labels may evoke strong subconscious associations with a population commonly presumed to be compulsive, at high risk of re-offense, and resistant to rehabilitation. Such associations, in turn, may exert considerable impact on expressions of support for certain policies as well as public beliefs and opinions about adults and youth who have perpetrated sexual offenses. The current study systematically evaluated the impact of the “sex offender” and “JSO” labels through series of items administered to a nationally stratified and matched sample from across the United States. The study employed an experimental design, in which one group of participants ( n = 498) ranked their levels of agreement with a series of statements utilizing these labels, and a control group ( n = 502) responded to a matched set of statements substituting the labels with more neutral descriptive language. Findings support the hypothesis that use of the “sex offender” label strengthens public support for policies directed at those who have perpetrated sexual crimes, including public Internet disclosure, residency restrictions, and social networking bans. The “JSO” label is demonstrated to produce particularly robust effects, enhancing support for policies that subject youth to public Internet notification and affecting beliefs about youths’ propensity to re-offend as adults. Implications for public policy, media communication, and research are explored and discussed.
The use of the teleparallelism connection in continuum mechanics
Authors: Delphenich DH
Published: December 2014

The geometry of parallelizable manifolds – that is, teleparallelism − is summarized in the language of local frame fields. Some problems in continuum mechanics that relate to the couple stresses that are produced in the bending and twisting of prismatic beams and wires are then discussed. It is then shown that by going to a higher dimensional analogue of the geometry that one uses for one-dimensional deformable objects, one is basically using the methods of teleparallelism in the context of the Cosserat approach to deformable bodies.
Advances in the Care of Adults With Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Nasr Viviane G. , Kussman Barry D.
Published: December 2014

The significant decline in mortality among children and adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD) is associated with an increasing prevalence of CHD in adults, particularly those with moderate to severe defects. As a significant percentage of adolescents and young adults are lost to follow-up in the transition from pediatric to adult care, they may present for elective procedures with substantial CHD-associated morbidity. In addition to the specific cardiac defect, the procedures performed, and the current pathophysiological status, several factors should be considered when managing the adult with CHD. These include the type of setting (adult vs pediatric institution); surgeon (pediatric vs adult cardiac surgeon); coexisting diseases associated with CHD, such as coronary artery disease, hepatic dysfunction, renal dysfunction, cerebrovascular accidents, myopathy, and coagulation disorders; acquired diseases of aging; pregnancy; and psychosocial functioning. The current status of the management of common and important congenital cardiac defects is also described.
The electoral performance of Latin American traditional parties, 1978–2006
Authors: Wills-Otero Laura
Published: December 2014

This article explains variation in the electoral trajectories of Latin American traditional parties since transitions to democratic governments in the late 20th century until the first half of the 2000s, when democracies were already consolidated. This article addresses the question of why some parties suffer more than others under challenging contextual conditions, or why some parties are able to weather difficult external environments, e.g. economic crises, institutional reforms or political scandals, while others fail. This study argues that the internal organization of parties matters: it affects their ability to react and survive, especially in contexts of environmental change. Variation in parties’ internal characteristics explains different outcomes in their electoral performance. An empirical analysis of 48 traditional parties over almost three decades (1978–2006) provides support for this argument.
The social media overture of the pan-European Stop-ACTA protest
Authors: Mercea Dan , Funk Andreas
Published: December 2014

As the latest instalments of protest from the Arab Spring to Occupy and beyond are digested in scholarly work, they point to a scalable, informal structure that develops as an impermanent framework for performing coordinational tasks formerly associated with collective organizations. Whilst a substitution of this nature appears a distinct possibility with social media, the participatory dynamics at the heart of such connective action remain largely uncharted. This article scrutinizes the scope for the participatory development of motivations and resources to undertake collective action. For this purpose, it reviews an empirical study of public Facebook and Twitter communication associated with the pan-European protest against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. Ensuing results point to a rational, resource-oriented mode of communication figuring prominently on both platforms. Moreover, the time distribution of motivational and resource-driven talk confounds earlier claims about patterns of social media usage in collective action. Finally, despite their smaller number, motivational posts had a higher impact than resource-oriented talk on both platforms – an apparent sign of their particularly positive reception.
Measurement, analysis and modeling of centrifugal compressor flow for low pressure ratios
Authors: Leufvén Oskar , Eriksson Lars
Published: December 2014

Increasingly stringent emission legislation combined with consumer performance demands has driven the development of downsized engines with complex turbocharger arrangements. To handle the complexity, model-based methods have become a standard tool, and these methods need models that are capable of describing all operating modes of the systems. The models should also be easily parametrized and enable extrapolation. Both single- and multi-stage turbo systems can operate with a pressure drop over their compressors, both stationary and transient. The focus here is to develop models that can describe centrifugal compressors that operate in both normal region and restriction region from standstill to maximum speed. The modeling results rely on an analysis of 305 automotive compressor maps, whereof five contain measured restriction operation and two contain measured standstill characteristic. A standstill compressor is shown to choke at a pressure ratio of approximately 0.5, and the corresponding choking corrected mass flow being approximately 50% of the compressor maximum flow capacity. Both choking pressure ratio and flow are then shown to increase with corrected speed, and the choking pressure ratio is shown to occur at pressure ratios larger than unity for higher speeds. Simple empirical models are proposed and shown to be able to describe high flow and pressure ratios down to choking conditions well. A novel compressor flow model is proposed and validated to capture the high flow asymptote well, for speeds from standstill up to maximum.
Impact of rail pressure and biodiesel fueling on the particulate morphology and soot nanostructures from a common-rail turbocharged direct injection diesel engine
Authors: Ye Peng , Sun Chenxi , Lapuerta Magin , Agudelo John , Vander Wal Randy , Boehman Andre L , Toops Todd J , Daw Stuart
Published: December 2014

An investigation of the impact of rail pressure and biodiesel fueling on exhaust particulate agglomerate morphology and primary particle (soot) nanostructure was conducted with a common-rail turbocharged direct injection diesel engine. The engine was operated at steady state on a dynamometer running at moderate speed with both low (30%) and medium–high (60%) fixed loads, and exhaust particulate was sampled for analysis. The fuels used were ultra-low sulfur diesel and its 20% v/v blends with soybean methyl ester biodiesel. Fuel injection occurred in a single event around top dead center at three different injection pressures. Exhaust particulate samples were characterized with transmission electronic microscopy imaging, scanning mobility particle sizing, thermogravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Particulate morphology and oxidative reactivity were found to vary significantly with both rail pressure and biodiesel blend level. Higher biodiesel content led to an increase in the primary particle size and oxidative reactivity but had no impact on nanoscale disorder in the as-received samples. For particulates generated with higher injection pressures, the initial oxidative reactivity increased, but there was no detectable correlation with primary particle size or nanoscale disorder.
PIV examination of spray-enhanced swirl flow for combustion stabilization in a spray-guided stratified-charge direct-injection spark-ignition engine
Authors: Zeng Wei , Sjöberg Magnus , Reuss David L
Published: December 2014

Practical implementation of spray-guided stratified-charge direct-injection spark-ignition engines can be inhibited by combustion instability, in particular the occurrence of misfire and partial burns. Performance testing in an all-metal spray-guided stratified-charge direct-injection spark-ignition engine shows that increasing the engine speed from 1000 to 2000 r/min can cause a deterioration of the combustion stability for operation without intake-generated swirl. Introducing swirl to the in-cylinder air charge motion maintains combustion stability while the speed is increased. To gain understanding how swirl reduces cycle-to-cycle variability of the flow, two-dimensional Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements were made in a horizontal swirl plane near the top of the piston bowl and in a central vertical tumble plane. Tests with and without injection were conducted at 1000 and 2000 r/min for operation both with and without swirl. The results demonstrate that the swirl creates flow patterns in each cycle that are more similar to the ensemble-averaged cycle, and with decreased variability. Furthermore, the fuel injection causes a redistribution of angular momentum resulting from spray–swirl interaction. The gas-phase swirl flow is redistributed by the spray to create a very repeatable vortex with enhanced angular momentum close to the spray centerline. This decreases the cycle-to-cycle variability of the flow patterns. Quantified changes in the stability of the flow patterns with swirl and engine speed are consistent with the combustion-instability trends.
Expectile and quantile regression—David and Goliath?
Authors: Waltrup Linda Schulze , Sobotka Fabian , Kneib Thomas , Kauermann Göran
Published: December 2014

Recent interest in modern regression modelling has focused on extending available (mean) regression models by describing more general properties of the response distribution. An alternative approach is quantile regression where regression effects on the conditional quantile function of the response are assumed. While quantile regression can be seen as a generalization of median regression, expectiles as alternative are a generalized form of mean regression.

Generally, quantiles provide a natural interpretation even beyond the 0.5 quantile, the median. A comparable simple interpretation is not available for expectiles beyond the 0.5 expectile, the mean. Nonetheless, expectiles have some interesting properties, some of which are discussed in this article. We contrast the two approaches and show how to get quantiles from a fine grid of expectiles. We compare such quantiles from expectiles with direct quantile estimates regarding efficiency. We also look at regression problems where both quantile and expectile curves have the undesirable property that neighbouring curves may cross each other. We propose a modified method to estimate non-crossing expectile curves based on splines. In an application, we look at the expected shortfall, a risk measure used in finance, which requires both expectiles and quantiles for estimation and which can be calculated easily with the proposed methods in the article.
The Central Institutions of Youth Justice: Government Bureaucracy and the Importance of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales
Authors: Souhami Anna
Published: December 2014

The government’s recent ‘bonfire of the quangos’ put at issue the future of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB). Drawing on research with YJB staff, ministers and civil servants, this article argues a central body like the YJB is crucial for youth justice. The institutions of government bureaucracy are an important part of the penal field in which policy is produced. An ‘arm’s length’ body outside the civil service allows central decision making to be directed by expertise and child-centred principles. However, the same features that make the YJB important also make it both high risk for ministers and difficult to defend.
Racial and Ethnic Diversity of the U.S. National Nurse Workforce 1988–2013
Authors: Xue Ying , Brewer Carol
Published: December 2014

The objective of this article is to examine the racial and ethnic diversity profile of the nurse workforce over time and by geographic region. We conducted survey analysis using the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses from 1988 to 2008, and further supplemented our trend analysis using published findings from the 2013 National Workforce Survey of Registered Nurses. The gap in racial/ethnic minority representation between the RN workforce and the population has been persistent and has widened over time. This diversity gap is primarily due to underrepresentation of Hispanics and Blacks in the RN workforce, which varied across states and regions, with the largest gaps occurring for Hispanics in the South and West and for Blacks in the South. Greater levels of sustained and targeted support to increase nurse workforce diversity are needed and should be geared not only to specific underrepresented groups but also to the regions and states with the greatest needs.
Gaining Independent Prescriptive Practice: One State’s Experience in Adoption of the APRN Consensus Model
Authors: Madler Billie Jo , Kalanek Constance B. , Rising Cheryl
Published: December 2014

Nurses are increasingly encouraged to be active participants in health policy. This article provides an exemplar of how nurse practitioners (NPs) in one state, North Dakota, used strategic policy actions to obtain independent prescriptive privileges. Consistent and clear communication among NPs and with key stakeholders, including legislators, contributed to a positive policy outcome. North Dakota nurse leaders in this initiative have shared their experiences with a variety of audiences including other state boards of nursing and NP organizations in states such as New York, South Dakota, and Louisiana. In addition, a webinar sponsored by the Center to Champion Nursing in America at AARP featured several of the North Dakota NP leaders, who shared their reflections of this experience and the strategies they used. Regulatory environments and public policies will continue to significantly influence the future of all nurses. This case study of one state can be useful to NPs and other nurses seeking meaningful policy change through laws or regulations with regard to scope of practice or other health policy issues.
Efficacy of Antioxidants as a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in Combination With the Chemotherapeutic Agent Doxorubicin
Authors: Sheu Ming-Thau , Jhan Hua-Jing , Hsieh Chien-Ming , Wang Chien-Ju , Ho Hsiu-O
Published: December 2014

Introduction. Although doxorubicin (Dox)-induced cardiac toxicity and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD)–induced hand-foot syndrome (HFS) were reported to be correlated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, there is no effective preventive treatment at present. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether antioxidants—resveratrol (RSVL), tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside (THSG), curcumin, and the ethanolic extract of Antrodia cinnamomea (EEAC)—have the ability to reduce Dox-induced ROS and have a synergistic anticancer effect with Dox that could prevent those side effects and enhance the efficacy of cancer treatment. Methods. 3T3 normal cells were used as a model to evaluate the effects of these antioxidants in reducing ROS accumulation. Furthermore, the synergistic anticancer effect of antioxidants with Dox on the MCF-7 breast cancer model was also evaluated. Results. Pretreatment of cells with RSVL, curcumin, and EEAC increased the cell antioxidant ability by improving the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), prevented or limited intracellular damage, and ameliorated the harmful effects of ROS. Additionally, RSVL, curcumin, and EEAC had synergistic effects with Dox against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Conclusion. RSVL, curcumin, and EEAC have the potential to be clinically applied to prevent cardiac toxicity and HFS and enhance the anticancer efficiency of Dox.
Impact of Comorbidities on Prostate Cancer Stage at Diagnosis in Florida
Authors: Xiao Hong , Tan Fei , Goovaerts Pierre , Adunlin Georges , Ali Askal Ayalew , Gwede Clement K. , Huang Youjie
Published: December 2014

To examine the association of major types of comorbidity with late-stage prostate cancer, a random sample of 11,083 men diagnosed with prostate cancer during 2002-2007 was taken from the Florida Cancer Data System. Individual-level covariates included demographics, primary insurance payer, and comorbidity following the Elixhauser Index. Socioeconomic variables were extracted from Census 2000 data and merged to the individual level data. Provider-to-case ratio at county level was alsocomputed. Multilevel logistic regression was used to assess associations between these factors and late-stage diagnosis of prostate cancer. Higher odds of late-stage diagnosis was significantly related to presence of comorbidities, being unmarried, current smoker, uninsured, and diagnosed in not-for-profit hospitals. The study reported that the presence of certain comorbidities, specifically 10 out of the 45, was associated with late-stage prostate cancer diagnosis. Eight out of 10 significant comorbid conditions were associated with greater risk of being diagnosed at late-stage prostate cancer. On the other hand, men who had chronic pulmonary disease, and solid tumor without metastasis, were less likely to be diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer. Late-stage diagnosis was associated with comorbidity, which is often associated with increased health care utilization. The association of comorbidity with late-stage prostate cancer diagnosis suggests that individuals with significant comorbidity should be offered routine screening for prostate cancer rather than focusing only on managing symptomatic health problems.
Smoking Cessation
Authors: Moreno Jennette P. , Johnston Craig A.
Published: December 2014

Smoking prevalence rates have substantially decreased among both adults and adolescents in the past 15 years. The decreasing rates are largely because of the effectiveness of tobacco control initiatives, including bans on smoking, increases in tobacco taxes, and behavioral interventions; yet a minority of people continue to smoke. It is possible that these individuals may be more resistant than others to smoking cessation interventions. As a result, it is important to intervene systematically. Brief advice offered in a primary care setting is well established as an effective strategy to promote smoking cessation. Barriers to providing smoking cessation in a primary care setting are discussed, and methods to enhance these efforts through consistent screening for tobacco use, use of motivational techniques, brief follow-up after quit attempts, and use of pharmacotherapy are provided.
Exploring the attitudes and knowledge of support workers towards individuals with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Golding Natalie S , Rose John
Published: December 2014

Background:

The aim of this study is to explore support workers’ attitudes and knowledge towards individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs) to see whether a new attitude scale needs to be developed.

Method:

Support workers from a charitable organization located in the West Midlands in the United Kingdom participated in one of four focus groups conducted in late 2013. Thematic analysis was then conducted which identified the emergent themes from the focus groups.

Results:

Five themes emerged from the analysis, namely, discrimination of people with IDs, attitude change, impacts of integration, their role as a carer and the impact of training. Only one theme, ‘the impacts of integration’, is clearly represented in current attitude scales; ‘their role as a carer’ and ‘discrimination of people with IDs’ are partially represented.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that current attitude scales do not accurately measure the attitudes of support workers; therefore, a modified attitude scale could be developed to incorporate findings from this study.
A community support program for children with autism and their typically developing siblings
Authors: Kryzak Lauren A , Cengher Mirela , Feeley Kathleen M , Fienup Daniel M , Jones Emily A
Published: December 2014

Siblings are a critical part of lifelong support for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). But siblings face their own social–emotional adjustment needs. These needs may be addressed through programs that include support groups specifically for the siblings. This study examined the effects of a community program on typical siblings’ depression, anxiety, ASD knowledge, and peer network as well as reciprocal interactions between the typical sibling and sibling with ASD. The program provided a sibling support group, a skills intervention for children with ASD, and an inclusive recreation time. Siblings reported significant decreases in depression and physiological anxiety and improvements in their peer network. Autism knowledge increased but only approached significance. Direct observations revealed improvement in reciprocal interactions by most children that did not reach statistical significance. Parents, typical siblings, and interventionists indicated positive reactions to the program and its goals and outcomes. Findings are discussed in terms of the need to continue to explore interventions for siblings of children with ASD.
‘It’s my life’
Authors: Björnsdóttir Kristín , Stefánsdóttir Guðrún V , Stefánsdóttir Ástríður
Published: December 2014

This article discusses autonomy in the lives of adults with intellectual disabilities. The article draws on inclusive research in Iceland with 25 women and 16 men and employs ideas of relational autonomy from the perspectives of the Nordic relational approach to disability. In this article, we examine autonomy in relation to private life, that is, homes and daily activities. The article demonstrates how practices have improved with time and seem less paternalistic. However, the article also demonstrates that the assistance people with intellectual disabilities receive in their homes often has institutional qualities, and they are often met with belittling perspectives from staff and family members. Furthermore, many did not have access to important information needed to develop individual autonomy and independence, including making their own choices. The research findings suggest that people with intellectual disabilities can with appropriate support develop individual autonomy and make their own choices.
Media coverage of human rights in China
Authors: Krumbein Frédéric
Published: December 2014

Existing analyses of human rights coverage by the media rarely explain why some human rights violations make headlines while others do not. The objective of this study is to examine how human rights in China are covered in three Chinese and US newspapers, and which factors influence the coverage. The Sino-American relationship and human rights discourses in the countries of origin of the newspapers are important factors explaining the selective nature of the newspaper’s reporting.
Memory or postmemory? Documentaries directed by Uruguay’s second generation
Authors: Tadeo Fuica Beatriz
Published: December 2014

This article brings together writings on film, memory and Latin American studies to analyse two documentaries directed by members of the second generation of the recent Uruguayan dictatorship (1973–1985): Secretos de Lucha ( Secrets of the Struggle, Maiana Bidegain, 2007) and DF Destino Final ( Final Destination, Mateo Gutiérrez, 2008). It also offers an account of the Uruguayan democratic transition and current discussions on the contribution of film to the remembrance of the past. Dictatorships took over other countries of the Southern Cone – Argentina (1976–1983) and Chile (1973–1990) – and several first-person documentaries, made by second-generation artists, have engaged with these events. There has been a tendency to explore these productions applying Marianne Hirsch’s concept of ‘postmemory’, originally coined in the context of the Holocaust. This article builds critically on this work to illustrate the strengths and limitations of this concept in the context of the dictatorships of the Southern Cone.
Occupational illness
Authors: Thornton Simon , Thornton Robert
Published: December 2014

According to the World Health Organisation, an occupational illness is any disease contracted primarily as a result of an exposure to risk factors arising from work activity. Only 34% of the UK workforce is estimated to have dedicated occupational health service cover compared with 90% in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Finland. GPs in the UK see and treat the vast majority of occupational illness, thus a basic understanding of the impact of occupational illness, along with their causes and management is essential.
Pilot Study of Cartilage Repair in the Knee Joint with Multiply Incised Chondral Allograft
Authors: Bardos Tamas , Vancsodi Jozsef , Farkas Boglarka , Fazekas Adam , Nagy Szilvia Anett , Bogner Peter , Vermes Csaba , Than Peter
Published: December 2014

Background

Focal cartilage lesions in the knee joint have limited capacity to heal. Current animal experiments show that incisions of the deep zone of a cartilage allograft allow acceptable integration for the graft.

Questions/Purposes

We performed this clinical study to determine (1) if the multiply incised cartilage graft is surgically applicable for focal cartilage lesions, (2) whether this allograft has a potential to integrate to the repair site, and (3) if patients show clinical improvement.

Patients and Methods

Seven patients with 8 chondral lesions were enrolled into the study. Symptomatic lesions between 2 and 8 cm2 were accepted. Additional injuries were allowed but were addressed simultaneously. Grafts were tailored to match and the deep zone of the cartilage was multiply incised to augment the basal integration before securing in place. Rigorous postoperative physiotherapy followed. At 12 and 24 months the patients’ satisfaction were measured and serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 6 patients.

Results

Following the implantations no adverse reaction occurred. MRI evaluation postoperatively showed the graft in place in 5 out of 6 patients. In 1 patient, MRI suggested partial delamination at 1 year and graft degeneration at 2 years. Short Form–36 health survey and the Lysholm knee score demonstrated a significant improvement in the first year; however, by 2 years there was a noticeable drop in the scores. Conclusions. Multiply incised pure chondral allograft used for cartilage repair appears to be a relatively safe method. Further studies are necessary to assess its potential in cartilage repair before its clinical use.
Anticancer Potential and Mechanism of Action of Mango Ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) Supercritical CO2 Extract in Human Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Ramachandran Cheppail , Lollett Ivonne V. , Escalon Enrique , Quirin Karl-Werner , Melnick Steven J.
Published: December 2014

Mango ginger ( Curcuma amada Roxb.) is among the less-investigated species of Curcuma for anticancer properties. We have investigated the anticancer potential and the mechanism of action of a supercritical CO2 extract of mango ginger (CA) in the U-87MG human glioblastoma cell line. CA demonstrated higher cytotoxicity than temozolomide, etoposide, curcumin, and turmeric force with IC50, IC75, and IC90 values of 4.92 μg/mL, 12.87 μg/mL, and 21.30 μg/mL, respectively. Inhibitory concentration values of CA for normal embryonic mouse hypothalamus cell line (mHypoE-N1) is significantly higher than glioblastoma cell line, indicating the specificity of CA against brain tumor cells. CompuSyn analysis indicates that CA acts synergistically with temozolomide and etoposide for the cytotoxicity with combination index values of <1. CA treatment also induces apoptosis in glioblastoma cells in a dose-dependent manner and downregulates genes associated with apoptosis, cell proliferation, telomerase activity, oncogenesis, and drug resistance in glioblastoma cells.
Duplicate Publication and Related Problems in the Pediatrics Literature
Authors: Haworth Rebecca , Anderson Katherine , Hong Paul
Published: December 2014

Objective. The aim of this study was to ( a) determine the rate of redundant publication in the pediatrics literature and ( b) to characterize these articles. Methods. Index articles in JAMA Pediatrics, Pediatrics, and the Journal of Pediatrics from 2010 were identified using PubMed. Possible redundant material from 2008 to 2012 were searched using the authors’ names. Suspected duplicates were categorized into “duplicate publication” or “salami-slicing” (part of the index article repeated or continued). Results. Of the 1838 index articles, 39 (2.1%) were found to have some form of redundancy. Specifically, 45 articles were identified as salami-sliced, which corresponded to the 39 index articles. Fifteen salami-sliced articles did not reference the corresponding index article, 2 vaguely referenced the index article, and 28 had clear references to the respective index article. Conclusion. Salami-slicing was a common practice. Salami-slicing may be acceptable in certain cases but authors should clearly reference the index article.
Ovarian Torsion in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Rudser Annalisa , Rudser Kyle , Patterson Richard J. , VanderVelden Heidi , Reid Samuel
Published: December 2014

Objectives. To examine associated clinical features and evaluate published criteria regarding volumetric diagnosis of ovarian torsion (OT). Methods. Retrospective case–control study of patients presenting to an emergency department who underwent pelvic imaging for acute abdominal or pelvic pain. Cases were found to have OT at surgery. Controls received clinical diagnosis of either acute pelvic pain or ovarian cyst. Results. The sensitivity for OT using a cutoff AV of <20 mL was 50% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 35% to 65%); specificity was 29% (95% CI = 15% to 43%). The sensitivity for OT using a cutoff AV of >75 mL was 18% (95% CI = 7% to 30%); specificity was 93% (95% CI = 85% to 100%). The ratio of affected-side to unaffected-side AV of >15 had a sensitivity of 16% (95% CI = 5% to 27%); specificity was 98% (95% CI = 93% to 100%). Conclusions. The published criteria regarding the volumetric diagnosis of OT were inadequately sensitive for detecting OT. However, an affected-side AV >75 mL and an AV ratio >15 were reasonably specific.
Seismos: A column on the history and culture of geophysics and science in general
Authors: Liner Christopher L.
Published: December 2014

This year, I serve as President of SEG, and I am beginning to see that things are going to be busy, but the “Seismos” column in The Leading Edge is mentioned by a surprising number of geophysicists I meet around the world. It would not do to have a whole year go by without “Seismos,” so I will be using flashbacks — ideas and information I have shared with a few people but not with the worldwide TLE readership.
SEG/SPE/ARMA Injection-induced Seismicity Workshop
Authors: Maxwell Shawn
Published: December 2014

In September 2014, a fascinating technical workshop was held in the picturesque setting of Banff, Alberta, Canada, on injection-induced seismicity. The workshop brought together industry and technical experts to discuss the increasingly important topic of induced seismicity associated with various injections during oil and gas activities. The event was cosponsored by SEG, SPE, and the American Rock Mechanics Association as a follow-up to a meeting on the same topic in Broomfield, Colorado, in September 2012.
The Leading Edge app: Available now
Authors: Farley Isaac
Published: December 2014

In November 2014, the last time you heard from me, I began this column by triumphantly proclaiming “it [Seismic Data Analysis in the SEG Wiki] is here!” Although I want to celebrate the arrival of the new The Leading Edge mobile application, or app, on smartphones and tablets, can I begin two consecutive “State of the Net” columns with the same sentence? And what happens in March when I'm ready to announce our next enhancement?
Professional Development
Authors: Smith Sara E. , Trumbore Mallory
Published: December 2014

SEG Professional Development provides individuals with resources for successful academic and professional careers in geophysics. Students and professionals alike can attend talks on current topics from notable speakers through the Distinguished Lecture, Honorary Lecture, and Distinguished Instructor Short Course programs; earn continuing-education units and gain insight into the latest topics by attending Continuing Education courses; increase their knowledge from the comfort of their own home or office with SEG On Demand; and access recordings of technical sessions from past SEG meetings.
The Clean Energy-Growth Nexus with CO2 Emissions and Technological Innovation in Norway and New Zealand
Authors: Fei Qin , Rasiah Rajah , Shen Leow Jia
Published: December 2014

This study revisits the energy-growth nexus by incorporating the effect of clean energy, CO2 emissions and technological innovation within the research background of Norway and New Zealand over the period from 1971 to 2010. The result of the autoregressive distributed lag model indicates that there is long-run equilibrium among clean energy, economic growth, CO2 emissions and technological innovation for both countries. The result of the Granger causality test suggests that the use of clean energy does assuage CO2 emissions at the expense of economic growth. As the majority of countries are supposed to participate in the pace of environmental protection, examining Norway and New Zealand provides readers an insight of the double edge effect of clean energy on CO2 emissions and economic growth. It is worth to mention that the endogenous growth theory plays an effective role in the energy-growth nexus. To optimize the benefits of clean energy use, Norway and New Zealand should pay attention to their research and development processes.