bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Ethics and Targets in Environmental Governance and the Enduring Importance of New Public Management
Authors: Shand Rory
Published: December 2017

This article examines the importance of new public management in environmental governance. In order to explain what makes new public management such a robust framework for environmental governance, the article draws on the key themes of individual and collective responsibility in responding to climate change, examining the role of new public management in response to ecological and environmental change, resource scarcity, focus on global energy sources and politics. The article discusses the role of three aspects of environmental governance in turn: the theoretical understandings relating to individuals and society in response to climate change, the politics of these responses and governance arrangements, and how these are formed by the hastening paucity of certain energy resources. The article then moves on to examine these themes in the context of new public management, arguing that the responses we see to climate change in environmental governance are driven by measurement and targets, as these can be universally set and communicated. This shows the enduring nature of new public management in political and policy responses to the challenges of climate change.

Bradshaw B (2014) Global Energy Dilemmas. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Christensen C and Lægreid P (eds) (2011) The Ashgate Research Companion to New Public Management. Surrey: Ashgate.

Cripps E (2013) Climate Change and the Moral Agent: Individual Duties in an Interdependent World. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Death C (ed.) (2014) Critical Environmental Politics. Abingdon: Routledge.
Assessing carer needs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Farquhar Morag
Published: December 2017

Informal carers play a key role in supporting patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly when disease is advanced. They also enable delivery of healthcare professional advice. There is a well-established impact of the caring role on carers in both the generic and COPD-specific literature. The needs of carers of patients with COPD are both generic to the caring role and disease specific. Healthcare professionals and health systems supporting patients with COPD need to actively identify and support carers. Carer assessment enables unmet needs to be identified and appropriately addressed. Assessments should consider carers’ support needs, their caring capacity and practices, and carers own clinical needs. This narrative review outlines considerations for the assessment process including what should be assessed, who should conduct assessment and what should happen as a result of assessment.
College and Career Readiness of Southeast Asian American College Students in New England
Authors: Uy Phitsamay S. , Kim Sue J. , Khuon Chrisna
Published: December 2017

This study discusses the college and career readiness among full-time Southeast Asian American college students in a 4-year public university in New England. Our study consisted of surveys ( n = 58) and focus groups ( n = 35), of second-generation (born in the United States) or 1.5-generation (immigrated as a youth) college students. While our participants were fairly strong academically, they still struggled to navigate college and many did not feel prepared for careers. We found some variability by majors in the correlation of academic major and career preparedness, and our findings also suggest that Southeast Asian American students shared a number of concerns, such as lack of finances, inconsistent academic advising, and need for more career preparation. Nevertheless, across this heterogeneity, students agreed that peer mentors and effective faculty mentors are invaluable resources and that more such mentors and programs are needed.
Academic Support From Peers as a Predictor of Academic Self-Efficacy Among College Students
Authors: Altermatt Ellen Rydell
Published: December 2017

Prior theory and research indicate that psychosocial contextual factors—including students’ ability to establish and maintain satisfying relationships and interactions with peers—can play an important role in predicting college students’ academic performance and persistence. The current study contributes to this literature by examining the mechanisms by which college students come to feel academically supported by peers and the consequences of these perceptions for college students’ academic self-efficacy. Findings indicate that friends’ responses to college students’ disclosures of everyday academic challenges and successes contribute to more general perceptions of peer academic support. Perceptions of peer academic support are, in turn, a predictor of higher academic self-efficacy. The implications of these findings for programs designed to enhance college students’ academic performance and persistence are discussed.
Using Intrusive Advising to Improve Student Outcomes in Developmental College Courses
Authors: Thomas Nichole G.
Published: December 2017

Using intrusive advising principles and the four Cs framework, the Strong-Start Program was developed and implemented to improve student outcomes in developmental math, reading, and writing courses. An intrusive advising protocol was used to help students recognize, adopt, and engage in the behaviors needed to complete instructor-assigned outside-of-class work. The intervention focused on two aspects of intrusive advising: (a) the objective to increase student academic success and (b) a set of predetermined goals to be accomplished in each academic advising session. The proportion of students who passed Strong-Start supported developmental math courses was significantly ( z = 2.0, p = .02) greater than the proportion who passed Instructor-Matched comparison developmental math courses (49.33% vs. 33.67%), with a percentage difference of 15.66%, a 46.5% increase relative to the comparison group.  The odds ratio ( OR = 1.91, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–3.64) of students passing a Strong-Start supported developmental math course were 1.9 times ( p = .03) that of students in unsupported Instructor-Matched Comparison courses.
Understanding the Relation Between Neighborhoods and Intimate Partner Violence: An Integrative Review
Authors: Voith Laura A.
Published: December 2017

Stemming in part from the lack of theory, predictors of the relationship between neighborhoods and intimate partner violence (IPV) are underidentified. Furthermore, few mediation studies exist that inductively build and deductively confirm theoretical frameworks. This article provides an integrative review of the literature, aiming to enhance the field’s understanding of predictors and potential mechanisms that drive this relationship, using a combined theoretical model to guide the analysis. The integrative review was conducted using Whittemore and Knafl’s systematic method for integrative reviews with articles published between 1995 and 2015. Findings indicate that macro-, exo-, and mesolevel predictors and mediators in the proposed model have modest empirical support; however, a number of concepts at each ecological level have yet to be fully researched. Results of this review suggest that a well-defined and integrative theoretical framework will enhance the current understanding of ecological research into IPV. Additionally, a comprehensive ecological approach to IPV intervention is likely to be more effective than employing solely an individual-level approach. Intervention implications are discussed.
The Impacts of Sexual Media Exposure on Adolescent and Emerging Adults’ Dating and Sexual Violence Attitudes and Behaviors: A Critical Review of the Literature
Authors: Rodenhizer Kara Anne E. , Edwards Katie M.
Published: December 2017

Dating violence (DV) and sexual violence (SV) are widespread problems among adolescents and emerging adults. A growing body of literature demonstrates that exposure to sexually explicit media (SEM) and sexually violent media (SVM) may be risk factors for DV and SV. The purpose of this article is to provide a systematic and comprehensive literature review on the impact of exposure to SEM and SVM on DV and SV attitudes and behaviors. A total of 43 studies utilizing adolescent and emerging adult samples were reviewed, and collectively the findings suggest that (1) exposure to SEM and SVM is positively related to DV and SV myths and more accepting attitudes toward DV and SV; (2) exposure to SEM and SVM is positively related to actual and anticipated DV and SV victimization, perpetration, and bystander nonintervention; (3) SEM and SVM more strongly impact men’s DV and SV attitudes and behaviors than women’s DV and SV attitudes and behaviors; and (4) preexisting attitudes related to DV and SV and media preferences moderate the relationship between SEM and SVM exposure and DV and SV attitudes and behaviors. Future studies should strive to employ longitudinal and experimental designs, more closely examine the mediators and moderators of SEM and SVM exposure on DV and SV outcomes, focus on the impacts of SEM and SVM that extend beyond men’s use of violence against women, and examine the extent to which media literacy programs could be used independently or in conjunction with existing DV and SV prevention programs to enhance effectiveness of these programming efforts.
Trauma Intervention in Sub-Saharan African Children: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Katsonga-Phiri Tiamo , Grant Kathryn E. , Brown Molly
Published: December 2017

Sub-Saharan Africa is a part of the world that is highly affected by a large number of atrocities, causing a myriad of financial, physical health, and mental health consequences. Yet, unfortunately, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), this is also the part of the world that is least served by mental health services. In response, the WHO has created mandates to increase mental health resources and capacity in all countries. Researchers have taken on the work of introducing and adapting treatments in various sub-Saharan African countries with an aim to create sustainable, evidence-based treatment in a part of the world with high need. The current qualitative systematic review of the literature examines 20 articles that report on research conducted in sub-Saharan African countries with children who have suffered different types of traumas. This review answers questions concerning the types of treatments used, the people administering the treatments, the measures they take to adapt these treatments, and the types of outcomes that are seen. Overall, the majority of treatments being used are shown to be effective with the associated populations.
Sentiment and Stock Returns
Authors: Payne Brian C. , Tresl Jiri , Friesen Geoffrey C.
Published: December 2017

This study documents the effect of the Super Bowl on the stock returns of firms that are geographically associated with the competing teams. We find significant upward return drift in the 9 trading days leading up to the Super Bowl, a pattern consistent with investors trading in anticipation of the game itself. The “anticipatory behavior” among investors leads to widespread pregame returns, which is not documented in prior studies. These pre-event abnormal returns are positive and statistically and economically significant for all firms, and the size of pre-event returns varies according to each team’s favored status. In addition, firms associated with the winning team exhibit significant positive return drift over the 10-day period after their win. Firms associated with the losing team exhibit moderate downward drift. Our findings are strongest among the smallest quintile of firms and are robust to various risk adjustments and using a matched sample control group. The collective findings suggest that only by standing on the sideline will investors avoid winning around the Super Bowl.
An Application of Contest Success Functions for Draws on European Soccer
Authors: Yildizparlak Anil
Published: December 2017

A contest success function (success function) maps the level of efforts into winning and losing probabilities in contest theory. We aim to assess the empirical performance of success functions for draws and analyze the differences between European soccer leagues in terms of home bias, return on talent (ROT), and talent inequality. We use a data set with 10,569 matches acquired manually from transfermarkt.co.uk containing club-based average market values of the lineup of teams for each match played through 12 seasons from 7 major European soccer leagues. The results are obtained estimating the parameters of the success functions with a general maximum-likelihood method, and the hypotheses suggested by success functions are controlled with a probit regression. Two of the success functions outperform one conclusively. The difference in the performance between these two groups results from the contrast in the main determinant of the success function in allocating the probability of a draw. The high-performing success functions take difference in aggregate talent levels as the main determinant in drawing, while the other takes the aggregate talent as the main determinant. The results also show that there are major differences across leagues in terms of ROT, home bias, and talent inequality, despite the similarities in economic environment and the homogeneity in the rules of the game imposed across leagues. Our analysis sheds light on the contributions and implications of microeconomic theory to model sports and presents the differing characteristics of the European soccer leagues that impact match results significantly.
The Determinants of the TV Demand for Soccer: Empirical Evidence on Italian Serie A for the Period 2008-2015
Authors: Caruso Raul , Addesa Francesco , Di Domizio Marco
Published: December 2017

This article investigates the determinants of the TV audience for Italian soccer in seven Serie A seasons (2008-2009 to 2014-2015). Italian viewers have committed behavior and that outcome uncertainty does not have an impact on the TV audience. When choosing whether to watch a match involving teams other than their favorite team, Italian consumers are attracted by both the aggregate quantity of talent and the matches involving teams at the top of the table. An increase in the TV demand is driven by an enhancement in the performance of the top clubs and in the quality of the entertainment.
Fabrication of thermo-regulating hexadecane-polyurethane core-shell composite nanofibrous mat as advanced technical layer: Effect of coaxial nozzle geometry
Authors: Rahimi Massoumeh , Mokhtari Javad
Published: December 2017

Hexadecane-polyurethane core-shell nanoweb with thermo-regulating property has potential application in technical textiles such as protective clothing. However, there are challenges in preparation of hexadecane-polyurethane core-shell nanofibers due to non-conductivity of hexadecane as well as its low viscosity. The geometry of coaxial nozzle is one of the most important process parameters which plays vital role in the formation of core-shell structured materials such as hexadecane-polyurethane nanofibers. To study the effect of coaxial nozzle geometry on success level of forming core-shell structures, coaxial nozzles with different lengths of inner nozzles were applied. Core-shell structure with suitable phase separation was formed as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The presence of both materials (polyurethane and hexadecane) in the nanofibrous mats was established by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Thermal properties of the nanowebs were studied using differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis. The results showed that the coaxial nozzle geometry had a significant influence on producing the core-shell structured hexadecane-polyurethane nanofibers. After obtaining core-shell structure by optimizing coaxial nozzle geometry, the core content of nanofibers was increased from 13% to 33% by adding surfactant to the core material. These results showed that the core-shell structured nanofibers with high loading of hexadecane in their core could be obtained by modifying process and materials in co-electrospinning method.
Experimental investigation and theoretical analysis of tear propagation of GQ-6 airship envelope
Authors: Wang Fengxin , Chen Yonglin , Liu Guangzhong , Guo Zhengming , Fu Gongyi
Published: December 2017

This paper reports the central tearing properties of a new airship envelope fabric, GQ-6, from experimental investigation and theoretical analysis. First, the effects of the load ratio, the initial crack length, and the crack orientation on the tearing mechanical properties of such material were evaluated. The experimental results revealed that the mechanical properties of GQ-6 decrease with the increase of initial crack length. Two fracture modes were observed, e.g. either along the warp or the weft yarns directions, which depend on crack orientation and load ratio. Oriented crack can be represented by non-oriented crack with crack equivalent length under biaxial condition. The toughness KIC for the fabric was determined based on experimental results, as well as critical energy release rate GIC. A comparison of the mechanical behaviors of this textile under uniaxial and biaxial tensile condition is also presented. The allowable crack length for GQ-6 envelope fabric during working condition is estimated.
Submicron surface roughening of aliphatic polyamide 6,6 fabric through low temperature plasma and its effect on interfacial bonding in rubber composite
Authors: Periyasamy Siddhan , G Krishna Prasad , ASM Raja , Patil Prashant G
Published: December 2017

The present study aims to produce submicron surface roughening of aliphatic polyamide 6,6 (nylon 6,6) fabric using dielectric barrier discharge-based atmospheric low temperature plasma for improving the adhesion bonding with rubber. The plasma treatment was done in the time ranging from 15 s to 300 s. Formation of surface roughness on the fabric due to plasma treatment and the associated chemical changes were studied through high-resolution scanning electron microscope, geometrical surface roughness by Kawabata evaluation system surface tester, contact angle measurements and Fourier transform infrared in Attenuated total reflectance mode. Scanning electron microscope micrographs revealed the presence of submicron roughness on the nylon 6,6 fibre surface with pores of around 100 nm (0.1 µm) for the optimum treatment time of 180 s above which the pore merging effect dominated resulting in the net low surface roughness. Geometrical roughness (SMD) results were also well in agreement with the scanning electron microscope results for the roughening and the optimum effect of the plasma treatment. The control and plasma treated nylon 6,6 samples were used as reinforcements for rubber composite. The peel strength of the rubber composite, which is a measure of interfacial bonding, increased to 150% as the maximum for the optimum plasma treatment time of 180 s. Intense rubber deposits over the 180 s plasma treated samples were observed while only a few deposits of rubber were observed on the control fabric when their interfaces were examined through scanning electron microscope after peeling test.
A comparative analysis on tensile strength of dry and moisture absorbed hybrid kenaf/glass polymer composites
Authors: Praveen Kumar A , Nalla Mohamed M
Published: December 2017

Economic and environmental concerns lead the researchers toward development of sustainable and renewable materials of which reinforced composites are part of. The abundantly available natural fibers have attracted the researchers to study their performance as reinforcements and feasibility for making automobile components. The performance of composite materials is mainly assessed through their mechanical properties. However, natural fibers to date were mainly used as reinforcements to create bulk composite components with reduced cost rather than improved mechanical performances. Among the methods available for improving mechanical properties of the natural fiber composites, combined mercerization treatment, hybridization, and incorporation of fly ash fillers in the matrix are the best solutions. Therefore, the objective of this research is to evaluate the tensile properties of hybrid kenaf/glass composites with and without fly ash particulate filler as per ASTM standards. Moisture absorption behavior and its effect on the tensile properties of hybrid composites are also investigated. The results revealed that the addition of 10wt % fly ash particles with natural fiber composites increased the tensile strength of composites while hybridization with glass fibers reduced the water absorption properties.
Effects of Kevlar volume fraction and fabric structures on the mechanical properties of 3D orthogonal woven ramie/Kevlar reinforced poly (lactic acid) composites
Authors: Yang Jianxia , Guo Yitong , Yao Lan , Ni Qingqing , Qiu Yiping
Published: December 2017

The proposed 3D orthogonal woven ramie/Kevlar reinforced poly (lactic acid) composite in this paper is a new type composite in which the 3D orthogonal structure has great advantages of high impact and delamination resistance due to the Z yarns and the hybridization of natural and manmade fibers provides not only partial environment friendly benefit but also efficient compensation for the relatively low mechanical properties from pure natural fibers. Eight types of the aforementioned composites were designed and fabricated. The results showed that as the volume fraction of Kevlar was increased, the tensile properties showed increasing trends, while the flexural properties were predominantly dependent on the fabric structures, especially, the weft yarns properties in the first and second layers from the upper and bottom surfaces. Furthermore, the impact strength was enhanced as the volume fraction of Kevlar increased to 5.5% and leveled off when Kevlar yarns continuously increased.
Protease immobilization on cellulose monoacetate/chitosan-blended nanofibers
Authors: Demirkan Elif , Avci Tuba , Aykut Yakup
Published: December 2017

Chitosan-blended cellulose monoacetate nanofibers were prepared through electrospinning process. Neat nanofibers and their sodium hydroxide-treated analogs were used as support surfaces for protease immobilization via physical adsorption method. Morphologies of the nanofibers were observed with a scanning electron microscopy. Chemical analyses were conducted with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analyses were carried out with differential scanning calorimeter and thermogravimetric analyzer. Immobilized enzyme activities were measured by using casein substrate. In order to test the stability of immobilized enzymes, the tests were repeated until the immobilized enzyme activity was leveled off. The results reveal that well uniform cellulose monoacetate/chitosan nanofibers were obtained, and nanofiber structures are transformed from rounded to more flattened morphology after enzyme activation test. Glutaraldehyde activation has positive effect on sodium hydroxide-treated samples, and the highest immobilization yield as about 83% was observed for glutaraldehyde-treated cellulose monoacetate/chitosan samples. Sodium hydroxide treatment before glutaraldehyde activation shows the best results for protease immobilization on cellulose monoacetate and cellulose monoacetate/chitosan nanofibers. Operational stability increases after sodium hydroxide treatment and glutaraldehyde activation. Glutaraldehyde activation effectively increased the cycle number after sodium hydroxide treatment and about 20% of enzyme activity was still retained after seven cycles at cellulose monoacetate/chitosan samples. This percentage is higher at pure cellulose monoacetate nanofibers than cellulose monoacetate/chitosan nanofibers and measured around 33.5%.
Party Differences in Support for Government Spending, 1973-2014
Authors: Oldendick Robert W. , Hendren Lindsey Brooke
Published: December 2017

Willingness to support funding for government programs, particularly social programs, has been a key difference between Democrats and Republicans since the New Deal era. In recent years, considerable research has pointed to increasing differences between partisans. The current research uses General Social Survey data from 1973 to 2014 to examine the extent to which differences between Democrats and Republicans on spending issues have increased over time, have been consistent across domains, or have fluctuated differentially during this period. The results demonstrate that while Democrats and Republicans have distinct and opposing views on questions of government spending, partisan differences in support for spending are not uniform across issue areas, with larger differences on social welfare issues than on issues that are seen as redistributive, but not entitlements. The changes in liberalism that have occurred among partisans on these issues vary across domains and fluctuate at various points during this 40-year period.
An Experiment in Second Person Writing: Notes on a Partial Jewish Identity
Authors: Borchard Kurt
Published: December 2017

Jewish people are a unique minority group identified through a religious belief system, a culture, and supposed biological traits. I describe myself here as a partial Jew, indicating my unique status parallels the identities of mixed race individuals who feel some other minority group members see them as like themselves but marginally or partially so, at times creating a double marginalization. Through my marginal identity, I encounter prejudice and discrimination from non-Jews and Jews alike. Taking cues from Claudia Rankine, I write examples of everyday identification, prejudice, and discrimination in the second person, in a style unique to sociology. I note my silences, responses, and thoughts about those encounters. I consider whether these everyday encounters constitute microaggressions, and what, then, I am, and you are, left with.
Autoethnography as Decolonization, Decolonizing Autoethnography: Resisting to Build Our Homes
Authors: Dutta Mohan J.
Published: December 2017

In this conclusion essay, I weave together the different voices in this special issue to voice the role of autoethnography as a method for radicalizing knowledge production as decolonial academic-activist solidarities. Theorizing the body of the academic as the site for intervention into the authoritarian-neoliberal regimes of knowledge production, I imagine the ways in which the account of the personal disrupts the colonizing tropes that are reproduced by postcolonial cultural studies, offering home as a site for voicing resistance.
Safety of Combined Treatment With Monoclonal Antibodies and Viscum album L Preparations
Authors: Schad Friedemann , Axtner Jan , Kröz Matthias , Matthes Harald , Steele Megan L.
Published: December 2017

Combination strategies involving chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are commonly used in attempts to produce better clinical outcomes. This practice has led to new and ongoing toxicities that may lead to reductions in dose or noncompliance, limiting the effectiveness of treatment. Viscum album L (VA) preparations are widely used in Europe as additive therapy and have been associated with reduced chemotherapy-related adverse reactions and increased health-related quality of life. Concomitant VA therapy might also reduce toxicity related to mAb. This retrospective study investigated the safety of combined treatment with VA and mAb in cancer patients. A total of 43 patients had combined therapy (474 exposures); 12 had VA without mAb (129 exposures), and 8 had mAb without VA (68 exposures). Most patients (89.3%) received concomitant chemotherapy or supportive therapies. A total of 34 patients (60.7%) experienced 142 adverse events (AEs). Leucopenia (14.1% of all events), acneiform rash (8.5%), and stomatitis (6.3%) occurred most frequently. Longitudinal logistic regression analysis suggested a nearly 5 times higher odds of experiencing an AE following treatment with mAb compared with mAb plus VA (95% CI = 1.53-16.14). Our results, together with theoretical consideration of potential botanical-drug interactions, suggest that combined treatment with VA and mAb is safe.
Physical Activity During and After Adjuvant Treatment for Breast Cancer: An Integrative Review of Women’s Experiences
Authors: Browall Maria , Mijwel Sara , Rundqvist Helen , Wengström Yvonne
Published: December 2017

Background: In oncology, physical activity (PA) is recognized to improve psychological and physiological functions. Motivating women with breast cancer to sustain a physically active lifestyle is important for promoting positive health after diagnosis. To review and synthesize what is known about how women with breast cancer experience supervised and unsupervised PA during and after adjuvant treatment. PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched, yielding 994 citations. The final review included 17 articles published between 2004 and 2014 in English. The CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme) instrument was used to appraise quality. Results: Exercise is experienced as a positive element with multiple benefits. However, maintaining a physically active lifestyle during and after chemotherapy is sometimes challenging. Reported benefits of PA include feeling empowered, and improving and reclaiming health. Facilitators to PA comprised exercising with peers and skilled instructors. Barriers included social factors and lack of information. Conclusions: Findings highlight the importance of incorporating PA programs from a patient experience perspective as routine treatment. Health care professionals play a crucial “gateway” role in providing information on implementation and benefits of PA. Providing support and educated advice about how to safely start or continue regular PA to minimize symptoms, reduce morbidity, and increase well-being during or after treatment is vital for women with breast cancer. Implications for Practice: Health care professionals need increased knowledge of the breast cancer patients’ perspectives on facilitators and barriers to PA during and after treatment, in order to provide sufficient support for women to stay physically active during a breast cancer illness.
The Effect of Undaria pinnatifida Fucoidan on the Pharmacokinetics of Letrozole and Tamoxifen in Patients With Breast Cancer
Authors: Tocaciu Shreya , Oliver Lesley J. , Lowenthal Ray M. , Peterson Gregory M. , Patel Rahul , Shastri Madhur , McGuinness Georgia , Olesen Inger , Fitton J. Helen
Published: December 2017

Background: Although the use of complementary and alternative medicines is widespread in cancer patients, clinical evidence of their benefits is sparse. Furthermore, while they are often assumed to be safe with regard to concurrent use of anticancer therapies, few studies have been carried out to investigate possible interactions. Fucoidans are a group of sulfated carbohydrates, derived from marine brown algae, which have long been used as dietary supplements due to their reported medicinal properties, including anticancer activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of co-administration of fucoidan, derived from Undaria pinnatifida, on the pharmacokinetics of 2 commonly used hormonal therapies, letrozole and tamoxifen, in patients with breast cancer. Methods: This was an open label non-crossover study in patients with active malignancy taking letrozole or tamoxifen (n = 10 for each group). Patients took oral fucoidan, given in the form of Maritech extract, for a 3-week period (500 mg twice daily). Trough plasma concentrations of letrozole, tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and endoxifen were measured using HPLC-CAD (high-performance liquid chromatography charged aerosol detector), at baseline and after concomitant administration with fucoidan. Results: No significant changes in steady-state plasma concentrations of letrozole, tamoxifen, or tamoxifen metabolites were detected after co-administration with fucoidan. In addition, no adverse effects of fucoidan were reported, and toxicity monitoring showed no significant differences in all parameters measured over the study period. Conclusions: Administration of Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan had no significant effect on the steady-state trough concentrations of letrozole or tamoxifen and was well tolerated. These results suggest that fucoidan in the studied form and dosage could be taken concomitantly with letrozole and tamoxifen without the risk of clinically significant interactions.
The Relationship Between Health-Related Quality of Life and Survival in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated With Korean Medicine
Authors: Park Sora , Eo Wankyu , Lee Sookyung
Published: December 2017

Objectives. This study aimed to identify the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measured by the Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy–General (FACT-G) and survival in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. Methods. The clinical characteristics and FACT-G scores were retrospectively reviewed in mCRC patients who visited the Cancer Center of Korean Medicine. The overall survival (OS) was calculated and compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed based on clinical characteristics and FACT-G scores. To identify significant differences in answer frequency, χ2 tests and Fisher’s exact tests were used. Results. A total of 58 patients were reviewed. The proportion of patients who had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group–Performance Status ≥ 2 was 43.1%, multiple distant metastatic sites was 77.6%, liver metastases was 43.1%, been previously treated was 89.7%, and received more than the second-line chemotherapy was 75.5%. The mean total FACT-G score was 65.3 (median 65.6). The median OS was 7 months. There was no significant difference in OS between the 2 groups divided by the median values of FACT-G total and subscores. In univariate analyses, functional well-being (FWB) score had a significant impact on survival. In multivariate analyses, presence of liver metastasis, FACT-G total score, and FWB score were significant prognostic predictors of survival. No statistically different answer frequency was observed for any question regarding FWB. Conclusions. This study found that FACT-G total and FWB scores were potential prognostic factors for predicting OS in relapsed or refractory mCRC patients treated with Korean Medicine.
Assessing the Correlation Between Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Advanced Lung Cancer
Authors: Bade Brett C. , Brooks Mary C. , Nietert Sloan B. , Ulmer Ansley , Thomas D. David , Nietert Paul J. , Scott JoAnn B. , Silvestri Gerard A.
Published: December 2017

Background and objective. Increasing physical activity (PA) is safe and beneficial in lung cancer (LC) patients. Advanced-stage LC patients are under-studied and have worse symptoms and quality of life (QoL). We evaluated the feasibility of monitoring step count in advanced LC as well as potential correlations between PA and QoL. Methods. This is a prospective, observational study of 39 consecutive patients with advanced-stage LC. Daily step count over 1 week (via Fitbit Zip), QoL, dyspnea, and depression scores were collected. Spearman rank testing was used to assess correlations. Correlation coefficients (ρ) >0.3 or <−0.3 (more and less correlated, respectively) were considered potentially clinically significant. Results. Most (83%) of the patients were interested in participating, and 67% of those enrolled were adherent with the device. Of those using the device (n = 30), the average daily step count was 4877 (range = 504-12 118) steps/d. Higher average daily step count correlated with higher QoL (ρ = 0.46), physical (ρ = 0.61), role (ρ = 0.48), and emotional functioning (ρ = 0.40) scores as well as lower depression (ρ = −0.40), dyspnea (ρ = −0.54), and pain (ρ = −0.37) scores. Conclusion. Remote PA monitoring (Fitbit Zip) is feasible in advanced-stage LC patients. Interest in participating in this PA study was high with comparable adherence to other PA studies. In those utilizing the device, higher step count correlates with higher QoL as well as lower dyspnea, pain, and depression scores. PA monitoring with wearable devices in advanced-stage LC deserves further study.
Carnosine Inhibits the Proliferation of Human Cervical Gland Carcinoma Cells Through Inhibiting Both Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Glycolysis Pathways and Retarding Cell Cycle Progression
Authors: Bao Yun , Ding Saidan , Cheng Jiaoyan , Liu Yuan , Wang Bingyu , Xu Huijuan , Shen Yao , Lyu Jianxin
Published: December 2017

Carnosine has been demonstrated to play an antitumorigenic role in certain types of cancer. However, its underlying mechanism is unclear. In this study, the roles of carnosine in cell proliferation and its underlying mechanism were investigated in the cultured human cervical gland carcinoma cells HeLa and cervical squamous carcinoma cells SiHa. The results showed that carnosine exerted a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HeLa cells, whereas its inhibitory action on the proliferation of SiHa cells was much weaker. Carnosine decreased the ATP content through inhibiting both mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis pathways in cultured HeLa cells but not SiHa cells. Carnosine reduced the activities of isocitrate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase in TCA (tricarboxylic acid) cycle and the activities of mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I, II, III, and IV in HeLa cells but not SiHa cells. Carnosine also decreased the mRNA and protein expression levels of ClpP, which plays a key role in maintaining the mitochondrial function in HeLa cells. In addition, carnosine induced G1 arrest by inhibiting the G1-S phase transition in both HeLa and SiHa cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that carnosine has a strong inhibitory action on the proliferation of human cervical gland carcinoma cells rather than cervical squamous carcinoma cells. Mitochondrial bioenergetics and glycolysis pathways and cell cycle may be involved in the carnosine action on the cell proliferation in cultured human cervical gland carcinoma cells HeLa.
Bone Mineral Density, Balance Performance, Balance Self-Efficacy, and Falls in Breast Cancer Survivors With and Without Qigong Training: An Observational Study
Authors: Fong Shirley S. M. , Choi Anna W. M. , Luk W. S. , Yam Timothy T. T. , Leung Joyce C. Y. , Chung Joanne W. Y.
Published: December 2017

Purpose: A deterioration in bone strength and balance performance after breast cancer treatment can result in injurious falls. Therefore, interventions need to be developed to improve the bone strength and balance ability of breast cancer survivors. This cross-sectional exploratory study aimed to compare the bone mineral density (BMD), balance performance, balance self-efficacy, and number of falls between breast cancer survivors who practiced qigong, breast cancer survivors who did not practice qigong, and healthy individuals. Methods: The study included 40 breast cancer survivors with more than 3 months of qigong experience, 17 breast cancer survivors with no qigong experience, and 36 healthy controls. All the participants underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans to measure their lumbar spine, total hip, femoral neck, and total radius BMDs. The participants also underwent a timed one-leg stand test to measure their single-leg standing balance. The participants’ balance self-efficacy was assessed using the activities-specific balance confidence scale, and the number of falls experienced by each participant was assessed in a face-to-face interview. Results: The lumbar spine, total hip, femoral neck, and total radius BMDs were similar between the 3 groups ( P > .05). The breast cancer-qigong group outperformed the breast cancer-control group by 27.3% when they performed the one-leg stand test on a foam surface ( P = .025), and they also had a higher balance self-efficacy score ( P = .006). Nevertheless, the numbers of falls were comparable between the 3 groups ( P > .05). Conclusion: Qigong may be a suitable exercise for improving the balance performance and balance self-efficacy of breast cancer survivors.
Constructing the 32-item Fitness-to-Drive Screening Measure
Authors: Medhizadah Shabnam , Classen Sherrilene , Johnson Andrew M.
Published: December 2017

The Fitness-to-Drive Screening Measure© (FTDS) enables proxies to identify at-risk older drivers via 54 driving-related items, but may be too lengthy for widespread uptake. We reduced the number of items in the FTDS and validated the shorter measure, using 200 caregiver responses. Exploratory factor analysis and classical test theory techniques were used to determine the most interpretable factor model and the minimum number of items to be used for predicting fitness to drive. The extent to which the shorter FTDS predicted the results of the 54-item FTDS was evaluated through correlational analysis. A three-factor model best represented the empirical data. Classical test theory techniques lead to the development of the 32-item FTDS. The 32-item FTDS was highly correlated ( r = .99, p = .05) with the FTDS. The 32-item FTDS may provide raters with a faster and more efficient way to identify at-risk older drivers.
Gendered Opportunity and School-Based Victimization
Authors: Peterson Samuel , Lasky Nicole V. , Fisher Bonnie S. , Wilcox Pamela
Published: December 2017

Opportunity theory suggests that adolescents’ risks for school-based theft and assault victimization are related to low self-control and school-based routine activities, such as playing sports, joining extracurricular clubs, and engaging in unsupervised activities. Peer research indicates that friends’ characteristics may also create opportunities for victimization. Additional research supports that gender moderates the effects that lifestyles and friends have on victimization. We integrate these lines of inquiry by exploring how gender moderates the relationship among low self-control, routine activities, friends’ characteristics, and school-based victimization using a sample of 10th-grade public school students who participated in the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002. Using structural equation models, our results suggest that friends’ characteristics tend to matter more for females across both types of victimization. Other gendered effects exist—indicating that the effects of certain friends’ characteristics vary by gender according to the extent to which they influence participation in school misconduct.
School Strictness and Disproportionate Minority Contact
Authors: “Trey” Marchbanks Miner P. , Peguero Anthony A. , Varela Kay S. , Blake Jamilia J. , Eason John Major
Published: December 2017

There are racial and ethnic disparities associated with school discipline practices and juvenile justice contact. In addition, research suggests that stricter school discipline practices and disproportionate minority contact for minority youth are relatively more prevalent in urban areas. What remains unknown, however, is the relationship between race and ethnicity, school discipline practices, and juvenile justice referrals across urban, rural, and suburban schools. Therefore, this study draws from the Texas Education Agency’s Public Education Information Management System to investigate the relationship between school discipline practices and juvenile justice contact with a focus on racial and ethnic disparities in urban, rural, and suburban schools. Findings indicate that both stringent and lenient school discipline practices have effects on juvenile justice referrals as well as racial and ethnic disparities across distinct school locations; however, there are important and distinctive nuances that are presented and examined.
Fear of Crime at School
Authors: Connell Nadine M.
Published: December 2017

Research on students’ perceptions of fear in school settings has proliferated, specifically as recent school shootings and the media blitz surrounding these events contribute to student and administrator concern. Inquiries into the topic suggest that many of the security protocols utilized by schools, such as target hardening approaches, may have a negative impact on student experiences and increase fear. However, in light of the massive social change experienced by today’s students, through the form of both high-profile school shootings and increased security after 9/11, more recent data are needed to better understand what drives student perceptions. This study explores the role of individual- and school-level predictors of perceptions of student safety. Results suggest that students who are aware of more security measures report higher odds of feeling safe at school. Differences also exist by gender and age. Implications for school security protocols and future research are discussed.
Peer Victimization and Dating Violence Among LGBTQ Youth
Authors: Espelage Dorothy L. , Merrin Gabriel J. , Hatchel Tyler
Published: December 2017

This study examined the moderating role of school violence and peer victimization on the association between sexual orientation and mental health. The sample consisted of 11,794 high school students ( Mage = 16, SD = 1.23; female assigned at birth = 51%; 1.8% identified as transgender) across 23 schools. Participants completed a self-report survey that assessed sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender identity, victimization experiences (e.g., peer and dating), perceptions of school violence and crime, as well as anxiety and suicidality. Multilevel analyses indicated that lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, and transgender (LGBTQ) individuals with lower rates of victimization had significantly lower rates of suicidality compared to LGBTQ individuals with higher rates of victimization. LGBTQ individuals in schools with high student perceptions of school violence and crime had higher suicidality than their non-LGBTQ counterparts. LGBTQ youth in schools with lower school violence and crime levels had lower rates of suicidality than their non-LGBTQ counterparts. Interventions need to consider multiple forms of victimization and school environment as potential risk and protective factors for LGBTQ youth.
Deterring Teen Bullying
Authors: Patchin Justin W. , Hinduja Sameer
Published: December 2017

While decades of criminological research have returned mixed results when it comes to deterrence theory, deterrence-informed policies continue to proliferate unabated. Specific to bullying among adolescents, many U.S. states have recently passed new laws – or updated old ones – increasing potential punishment for youth who abuse others. Police are becoming involved in bullying incidents more than ever before, and schools across the country are implementing new policies and procedures as a result of statewide mandates to crack down on the problem. Parents, too, are being pressured to respond to bullying or risk being prosecuted themselves. To assess whether youth are actually being deterred by these methods and messages, data were collected from approximately 1,000 students from two middle schools on their perceptions of punishment from various sources, as well as their bullying and cyberbullying participation. Results suggest that students are deterred more by the threat of punishment from their parents and the school, and least deterred by the threat of punishment from the police.