bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Experiences of Patients With Advanced Head and Neck Cancer With a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube
Authors: Kwong Janna P. Y. , Stokes Edith J. , Posluns Elaine C. , Fitch Margaret I. , McAndrew Alison , Vandenbussche Katherine A.
Published: May 2014

Background: While the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube has become an established part of the management regimen for patients with head and neck cancer (HNCA) with impaired nutrition and functional status, limited research has explored the impact and experiences of living with a PEG tube from the patient's perspective. This qualitative study serves as a follow‐up investigation undertaken to describe the experiences of patients with advanced HNCA living with a PEG tube. Materials and Methods: Eligible patients from convenience sampling were invited to participate until data saturation was reached. In‐depth interviews were conducted with consenting participants. Qualitative descriptive design guided the content analysis of the interview transcripts. Results: Of the 49 patients invited, a total of 15 participants' interviews were transcribed and analyzed. Each interview was 15–90 minutes in length. Four of 22 content codes were chosen to describe the overarching ideas of the progressive experience of a patient's journey from the initial decision‐making process around tube insertion through to its removal. Difficulty swallowing and weight loss emerged as primary factors for PEG tube insertion, and all participants became accustomed to living with the tube. Resuming a complete oral diet was a gradual transition. All participants recognized the value of the tube, and most acknowledged its necessity for their survival. Conclusions: Results describe the overall PEG tube experience as a dichotomy. While there were issues with the PEG tube, all participants found the tube to be beneficial. This study provides invaluable insight from a practice perspective.
3‐in‐1 vs 2‐in‐1 Parenteral Nutrition in Adults
Authors: Slattery Eoin , Rumore Martha M. , Douglas Janine S. , Seres David S.
Published: May 2014

Parenteral nutrition (PN) provides a means of nourishment for patients in whom oral or enteral nutrition is not possible or practical. Initial formulations consisted of carbohydrates (dextrose), amino acids, vitamins, trace minerals, electrolytes, and water. A stable intravenous fat emulsion (IVFE) permitted the combination of all 3 macronutrients in the same admixture (3‐in‐1 or total nutrient admixture [TNA]). Many institutions have adopted these TNAs as the standard formulation. Others, due to a variety of concerns (including historical concerns regarding stability), continue to administer PN as a formulation of dextrose and amino acids (2‐in‐1) with separate IVFE infusions. The aim of this article is to review the literature regarding the use of TNA vs 2‐in‐1 formulations. The published data were critically analyzed, and a preferred strategy was suggested based on an interpretation of the data. Concerns surrounding the safety of 2‐in‐1 vs 3‐in‐1 PN formulations can be grouped with respect to those regarding infections, emulsion instability (“cracking”), and precipitant formation. These concerns are largely historical and would seem to be no longer relevant to adult PN formulations. We believe that the available (limited) data support the safe transition to the 3‐in‐1 formulation as the standard of care in adult PN.
Developing an Evidence Base for Violent and Disablist Hate Crime in Britain
Authors: Emerson Eric , Roulstone Alan
Published: May 2014

In the context of there being little robust U.K. data on disabled people’s exposure to violent crime and hate crime, we examined self-reported rates of exposure over the preceding 12 months to violent crime, hate crime, and disablist hate crime in a newly established survey, the U.K.’s Life Opportunities Survey. Information was collected from a nationally representative sample of 37,513 British adults (age 16 or older). Results indicated that (a) disabled adults were significantly more likely to have been exposed over the previous 12 months to violent crime (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [2.08, 2.61]) and hate crime (adjusted OR = 2.58, 95% CI = [2.17, 3.07]) than their non-disabled peers, (b) the differential risk of exposure to violent crime was particularly elevated among disabled adults with mental health problems (adjusted OR = 6.26, 95% CI = [5.01, 7.82]), (c) the differential risk of exposure to hate crime was particularly elevated among disabled adults with mental health problems (adjusted OR = 10.70, 95% CI = [7.91, 14.47]) or cognitive impairments (adjusted OR = 6.66, 95% CI = [3.95, 11.22]), and (d) these effects were strongly moderated by poverty status with no increase in differential risk of exposure for disabled adults among more wealthy respondents.
A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Interventions to Prevent and Respond to Violence Against Persons With Disabilities
Authors: Mikton Christopher , Maguire Holly , Shakespeare Tom
Published: May 2014

Persons with disabilities make up some 15% of the world’s population and are at higher risk of violence. Yet there is currently no systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions to prevent violence against them. Thus the aim of this review was to systematically search for, appraise the quality of, and synthesize the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions to prevent and mitigate the consequences of all the main forms of interpersonal violence against people with all types of disabilities. The method used consisted of searches of eleven electronic databases, hand searches of three journals, scanning of reference lists of review articles, contact with experts, appraisal of risk of bias using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies, and narrative synthesis of results. This resulted in 736 titles being identified, 10 of which met the inclusion criteria and 6 and 2 addressed people with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities, respectively. Only one was from a low- and middle-income country. All studies received a weak rating on the quality assessment tool and none could be considered effective after taking risk of bias into account. In sum, the current evidence base offers little guidance to policy makers, program commissioners, and persons with disabilities for selecting interventions. More and higher quality research is required, particularly from low- and middle-income countries and on other forms of disability such as physical impairments, sensory impairments, and mental health conditions.
Study on physical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(thiophene amide)–silica–titania-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotube-based nanofiber composites
Authors: Kausar Ayesha
Published: May 2014

In the present study, poly(thiophene amide) (PTA) was prepared from 1,3-phenylenediamine, 2,4-diaminophenol, and 2,5-thiophenedicarbonyl. Thermally and mechanically stable poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based nanocomposites have been produced through the reinforcement of electrospun PTA-silica–titania-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT-PTA-Si-Ti)-based nanofiber. MWCNT was initially modified to prepare 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (ICTOS)-grafted MWCNT via a sol–gel route using 3-isocyanatopropyl-triethoxysilane and titanium(iv) butoxide. The titania–silica network was developed and linked to MWCNT via hydrolysis and condensation. Afterward, the above-prepared ICTOS-grafted MWCNT was electrospun with aramid solution. The electrospun MWCNT-PTA-Si-Ti nanofibers (0.1–1 wt%) were then reinforced in PMMA matrix. Tensile strength and modulus of PMMA/MWCNT-PTA-Si-Ti 0.1 were 42.1 MPa and 8 GPa, which were increased to 44.2 MPa and 15 GPa in PMMA/MWCNT-PTA-Si-Ti 1. Thermal decomposition temperature at 10% weight loss of these PMMA/MWCNT-PTA-Si-Ti 0.1-1 hybrids was in the range of 532–578°C. The glass transition temperature as determined from the maxima of tan δ data using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis showed an increase with the filler loading and was maximum (313°C) for the composite with 1 wt% MWCNT-PTA-Si-Ti nanofibers.
Asymmetric membranes prepared with trifluoromethylphenylated poly(ether ether ketone) for gas separation
Authors: Yu Yunwu , Liu Siyuan , Wang Yan , Zhang Haibo , Li Xiaobai , Jiang Zhenhua , Liu Baijun
Published: May 2014

A series of asymmetric membranes based on a trifluoromethylphenylated poly(ether ether ketone) (CF3-PEEK) were prepared using a dry–wet phase inversion method. To obtain the asymmetric membranes with defect-free skin, the type and concentration of internal nonsolvent and the evaporation time were carefully investigated. The cross-section of membranes was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The gas separation performance of asymmetric membranes was tested in terms of gas permeabilities and selectivities for helium, carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and nitrogen by the constant volume method. It was found that the permeabilities of asymmetric membranes were obviously higher than that of CF3-PEEK dense membrane. The membranes in series 2 showed higher permeability for each gas while the separability for gas pair CO2/O2 increased from 3.78 to about 6 comparing with that of the dense membrane.
Condylomata acuminata within perianal fistulae tracts: report of two cases
Authors: Panidis Stavros , Paramythiotis Daniel , Papadopoulos Vasileios N , Michalopoulos Antonios
Published: May 2014

The commonest sights of appearance of condylomata acuminata are in the genital and anal regions. Herein we present two cases of condylomata within perianal fistulae tracts, resulting in recurrence in one case and a malignant-like tumour in the second. To our knowledge, these are the first cases reported in the literature.
The activation logic in national sickness absence policies: Comparing the Netherlands, Denmark and Ireland
Authors: Vossen Emmie , van Gestel Nicolette
Published: May 2014

We compare sickness absence policies in the Netherlands, Denmark and Ireland, examining whether and how the institutional logic of ‘activation’ that is paramount in Europe is understood and given shape in each country. They differ in their support for the underlying ideas of ‘activation’, and especially vary in the design of their governance systems, as can be seen in the allocation of responsibilities, the description of return-to-work routines and the use of regulative instruments. We contribute to institutional theory by demonstrating the important but often neglected role of national governance systems in the macro–micro linkage between institutional logics and organizational and individual behaviour. Since sickness absence is a major cause of workforce inactivity, the practical relevance of this study is the comparative reflection on recent policy developments to improve sickness absence management.
The state as a ‘socially responsible customer’? Public procurement between market-making and market-embedding
Authors: Jaehrling Karen
Published: May 2014

Job quality in the contracted-out public services is still influenced by the public authorities. As customers buying goods and services from private providers, they become with employer and employee representatives a more or less visible ‘third party’ in the determination of employment conditions. This article explores collective actors’ strategies and negotiations in this triangular configuration. It develops an analytical framework, based on a discussion of recent legislative trends, then presents empirical findings from two recent comparative projects. These suggest that the extent to which public procurement can help to ensure decent work depends very much on the interaction with sectoral and national employment regimes; it requires complementary institutions to turn public procurement into a ‘market-embedding’ tool.
Fully non-parametric receiver operating characteristic curve estimation for random-effects meta-analysis
Authors: Martínez-Camblor Pablo
Published: May 2014

Meta-analyses, broadly defined as the quantitative review and synthesis of the results of related but independent comparable studies, allow to know the state of the art of one considered topic. Since the amount of available bibliography has enhanced in almost all fields and, specifically, in biomedical research, its popularity has drastically increased during the last decades. In particular, different methodologies have been developed in order to perform meta-analytic studies of diagnostic tests for both fixed- and random-effects models. From a parametric point of view, these techniques often compute a bivariate estimation for the sensitivity and the specificity by using only one threshold per included study. Frequently, an overall receiver operating characteristic curve based on a bivariate normal distribution is also provided. In this work, the author deals with the problem of estimating an overall receiver operating characteristic curve from a fully non-parametric approach when the data come from a meta-analysis study i.e. only certain information about the diagnostic capacity is available. Both fixed- and random-effects models are considered. In addition, the proposed methodology lets to use the information of all cut-off points available (not only one of them) in the selected original studies. The performance of the method is explored through Monte Carlo simulations. The observed results suggest that the proposed estimator is better than the reference one when the reported information is related to a threshold based on the Youden index and when information for two or more points are provided. Real data illustrations are included.
The Concentric Circles of South Africa’s Foreign Policy under Jacob Zuma
Authors: Landsberg Chris
Published: May 2014

South Africa’s foreign policy could be viewed as a set of concentric circles which define the Republic’s international priorities. In an attempt to bring coherence and predictability to them, the Zuma government has tried to learn from its predecessor, the Mbeki government (1999–2008), by putting emphasis on key international relations and concerns, and the idea was suggested that these different layers reinforced each other.

According to stated policy, pursuit of the national interests lay at the heart of the Republic’s international strategies and came to be regarded as the new glue that holds it together, albeit it is four years into Zuma’s government and the ‘national interest’ remains poorly developed and in need of expansion and implementation. A set of wider foreign policy concentric circles informs foreign policy, championed as ‘Pursuing African Advancement and Enhanced Cooperation’. This agenda was to be pursued under a series of sub-goals or sub-categories, for our purposes concentric circles, namely (a) closing the gap between domestic and foreign policy; (b) continued prioritisation of the African continent—the Mbeki government called it African Agenda, or Africa first policy; (c) strengthening South–South relations; (d) strategic relations with strategic formations for the North; (e) participating in the global system of governance and (f) strengthening political and economic relations. While these six pillars were clearly developed on paper, and self-standing, how they all relate to the epicentre of the national interest and overlap one another is not so clear. More serious effort is needed on the part of government to close this lacuna, and the idea of coherence between them should not be assumed if there is to be consistency between them and the stated annulus of national interest.
Book Review: Siddiqi, Farhan Hanif, 2010. The Politics of Ethnicity in Pakistan: The Baloch, Sindhi and Mohajir Movements
Authors: Ranjan Amit
Published: May 2014

Siddiqi, Farhan Hanif. The Politics of Ethnicity in Pakistan: The Baloch, Sindhi and Mohajir Movements (London and New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis, 2010). Pp. 150. Price $137.75. ISBN 978-0-415-68614-3.
Book Review: Patrikarakos, David, 2012. Nuclear Iran: The Birth of an Atomic State
Authors: Gaffar Md. Abdul
Published: May 2014

Patrikarakos, David, Nuclear Iran: The Birth of an Atomic State (London and New York: I.B. Tauris, 2012), Pp. 340, Price ₹ 1,503.
Self-inflicted burn injuries in the Australian context
Authors: Wood Rebecca
Published: May 2014

Objective:

The primary objective was to calculate the number of self-inflicted burn injuries of all admissions in an Australian hospital burns unit. The secondary objectives included examining the demographic profile, length of stay and co-morbidity of mental illness in these cases compared with the total admissions to the burns unit.

Methods:

A retrospective study of medical records was conducted at a tertiary burns unit over a 5-year period.

Results:

A total of 33 self-inflicted burn injury cases were identified which represented 2.2% of all burns unit admissions. These patients were 70% male, the average age was 36.1 years and 11 were born overseas, which was similar to the profile of all admissions. Twenty-four (73%) patients were diagnosed with a mental illness, compared with 14% for all admissions. The average length of stay was 52 days, compared with the burns unit average of 12 days.

Conclusions:

While the percentage of self-inflicted burn cases of all burns unit admissions was low, these cases have a greater burden of care due to their longer admission time and higher frequency of co-morbid mental illness. This finding supports the need for close involvement of consultation liaison psychiatry teams within a burns unit.
The Use of Emergency Medication Kits in Community Palliative Care
Authors: Bullen Tracey , Rosenberg John P. , Smith Bradley , Maher Kate
Published: May 2014

Improving symptom management for palliative care patients has obvious benefits for patients and advantages for the clinicians, as workload demands and work-related stress can be reduced when the emergent symptoms of patients are managed in a timely manner. The use of emergency medication kits (EMKs) can provide such timely symptom relief. The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey of a local service to examine views on medication management before and after the implementation of an EMK and to conduct a nationwide prevalence survey examining the use of EMKs in Australia. Most respondents from community palliative care services indicated that EMKs were not being supplied to palliative care patients but believed such an intervention could improve patient care.
Telemedicine as a Tool to Provide Family Conferences and Palliative Care Consultations in Critically Ill Patients at Rural Health Care Institutions
Authors: Menon Prema R. , Stapleton Renee D. , McVeigh Ursula , Rabinowitz Terry
Published: May 2014

Background:

Many critically ill patients who transfer from rural hospitals to tertiary care centers (TCCs) have poor prognoses, and family members are unable to discuss patient prognosis and goals of care with TCC providers until after transfer.

Aim:

Our TCC conducted teleconferences prior to transfer to facilitate early family discussions.

Design/Setting:

We conducted a retrospective review of these telemedicine family conferences among critically ill patients requested for transfer which occurred from December 2008 to December 2009 at our TCC. Outcomes for each patient and detailed descriptions of the conference content were obtained. We also assessed limitations and attitudes and satisfaction with this intervention among clinicians.

Results:

During the 12-month period, 12 telemedicine consultations were performed. Of these patients, 10 (83%) died in the 30 days following the request for transfer. After the telemedicine consultation, 8 (67%) patients were transferred to our TCC from their respective hospitals, while 4 (33%) patients continued care at their regional hospital and did not transfer. Of the patients who transferred to TCC, 7 (88% of those transferred) returned to their community after a stay at the TCC.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates that palliative care consultations can be provided via telemedicine for critically ill patients and that adequate preparation and technical expertise are essential. Although this study is limited by the nature of the retrospective review, it is evident that more research is needed to further assess its applicability, utility, and acceptability.
Vasopressin Associated With an Increase in Return of Spontaneous Circulation in Acidotic Cardiopulmonary Arrest Patients
Authors: Turner DeAnna W. , Attridge Rebecca L. , Hughes Darrel W.
Published: May 2014

Background: During respiratory and metabolic acidosis, the vasoconstrictive effects of epinephrine may be blunted, whereas the response to vasopressin remains unchanged. The impact of this effect during advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) remains unclear. Objective: Determine if vasopressin therapy in combination with epinephrine was associated with improved outcomes in patients with cardiac arrest compared to epinephrine alone. The primary outcome was difference in rate of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Secondary outcomes included evaluation of rates of ROSC for patients with an initial pH <7.2 and by initial pulseless rhythm. Methods: Single-center, retrospective review conducted from July 2010 to July 2012. Patients ≥18 years of age with documented cardiac arrest requiring ACLS and vasopressor therapy were included. Results: A total of 101 patients met inclusion criteria. There was no difference in rate of ROSC (56% vs 60%, P = 0.68) or survival to hospital discharge (9% vs 5%, P = 0.46) between patients who received vasopressin in combination with epinephrine (n = 43) compared to epinephrine alone (n = 58). Subgroup analysis of ROSC in patients with an arterial pH of <7.2 (n = 35) showed an increased rate of ROSC (63% vs 37%, P = 0.01) in the vasopressin plus epinephrine group versus the epinephrine alone group, respectively. Subgroup analysis by initial cardiac rhythm showed no difference in rate of ROSC. Conclusions: Vasopressin in combination with epinephrine demonstrated improved ROSC in cardiac arrest patients with initial arterial pH <7.2 compared with epinephrine alone, without improving survival to hospital discharge.
Procedural Signaling, Party Loyalty, and Traceability in the U.S. House of Representatives
Authors: Carson Jamie L. , Crespin Michael H. , Madonna Anthony J.
Published: May 2014

In this article, we take advantage of a new source of data providing updates from the Majority Leader’s Office that signal the leadership’s positions on floor votes. We offer a more nuanced explanation of voting in the U.S. House as our findings suggest that not all procedural votes are created equal. While the most liberal members of the party vote with the leadership on procedural votes at high rates and nearly 100 percent of the time when signaled by the majority leader, moderate members are significantly less likely to support the party and are not responsive to these signals.
Can Couples Find a Silver Lining Amid the Dark Cloud of ME/CFS
Authors: Lingard Robyn J. , Court John
Published: May 2014

Sustaining a long-term committed couple relationship is often challenging. When the dark cloud of chronic illness descends upon a couple, remaining together can become even more daunting—or so it is commonly assumed. Current literature is highlighting a silver lining phenomenon known as positive reframing or benefit finding as a reaction to the dark cloud of chronic illness. These studies focus upon the experience of the individual, yet little research has been conducted into the experience of couple relationships. A study was conducted to research whether some couples experience an unexpected positivity when one partner has myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). ME/CFS is a debilitating and mysterious disease of the immune, endocrine, and central nervous systems. Positivity was measured by the Silver Lining Questionnaire for Couples and explored further in an interview. Understanding how some couples experience this phenomenon can build resilient relationships and reduce the severity of symptoms for sufferers.
The Big Reframe
Authors: O’Brien Elizabeth R. , Young Mark E.
Published: May 2014

The integrative model of couples counseling begins with a specific technique called identifying an interactive definition of the problem. This technique involves specific steps that clinicians can use to reduce blame, unite the couple under a common definition of the problem, and develop a reframe to enhance commitment and engender hope. The authors include an illustrative case study.
A Starring Role for Microglia in Brain Sex Differences
Authors: Lenz Kathryn M. , McCarthy Margaret M.
Published: May 2014

Microglia, the resident innate immune cells in the brain, have long been understood to be crucial to maintenance in the nervous system, by clearing debris, monitoring for infiltration of infectious agents, and mediating the brain’s inflammatory and repair response to traumatic injury, stroke, or neurodegeneration. A wave of new research has shown that microglia are also active players in many basic processes in the healthy brain, including cell proliferation, synaptic connectivity, and physiology. Microglia, both in their capacity as phagocytic cells and via secretion of many neuroactive molecules, including cytokines and growth factors, play a central role in early brain development, including sexual differentiation of the brain. In this review, we present the vast roles microglia play in normal brain development and how perturbations in the normal neuroimmune environment during development may contribute to the etiology of brain-based disorders. There are notable differences between microglia and neuroimmune signaling in the male and female brain throughout the life span, and these differences may contribute to the vast differences in the incidence of neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders between males and females.
Adverse Childhood Experiences in the Lives of Male Sex Offenders
Authors: Levenson Jill S. , Willis Gwenda M. , Prescott David S.
Published: May 2014

This study explored the prevalence of childhood trauma in a sample of male sexual offenders ( N = 679) using the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) scale. Compared with males in the general population, sex offenders had more than 3 times the odds of child sexual abuse (CSA), nearly twice the odds of physical abuse, 13 times the odds of verbal abuse, and more than 4 times the odds of emotional neglect and coming from a broken home. Less than 16% endorsed zero ACEs and nearly half endorsed four or more. Multiple maltreatments often co-occurred with other types of household dysfunction, suggesting that many sex offenders were raised within a disordered social environment. Higher ACE scores were associated with higher risk scores. By enhancing our understanding of the frequency and correlates of early adverse experiences, we can better devise trauma-informed interventions that respond to the clinical needs of sex offender clients.
Applying Stakeholder Theory in Sustainability Management
Authors: Hörisch Jacob , Freeman R. Edward , Schaltegger Stefan
Published: May 2014

This essay examines links, similarities, and dissimilarities between stakeholder theory and sustainability management. Based on the analysis a conceptual framework is developed to increase the applicability and the application of stakeholder theory in sustainability management. Concluding from the analysis, we identify three challenges of managing stakeholder relationships for sustainability: strengthening the particular sustainability interests of stakeholders, creating mutual sustainability interests based on these particular interest, and empowering stakeholders to act as intermediaries for nature and sustainable development. To address these challenges three interrelated mechanisms are suggested: education, regulation, and sustainability-based value creation for stakeholders.
Embodied Actors, Sociability and the Limits of Reflexivity
Authors: Crossley Nick
Published: May 2014

This is a brief response to Loïc Wacquant’s article, ‘ Homines in extremis’. The response makes four contributions. First, I consider some of the reasons for the confusion surrounding the habitus concept, arguing that this confusion may be lessened (without any obvious loss) if we revert to ‘habit’ or ‘disposition’. Second, I argue that, irrespective of these terminological quibbles, it is vital that we do not conflate ‘habitus’ and ‘embodied actor’ as some accounts do. There is more to the embodied actor than her habits and she can only have habits because this is so. Third, I begin to explore the point of view offered by ‘carnal ethnography’ and call for further clarification of that point of view. Finally, I note that Wacquant’s ethnography has the effect of rendering certain of Bourdieu’s ideas in a more concrete manner and foregrounding sociability, which the latter is sometimes inclined to ignore. This, I suggest, is a positive development.
‘Habitus in Extremis’: From Embodied Culture to Bio-Cultural Development
Authors: Downey Greg
Published: May 2014

Loïc Wacquant argues for a radicalization of the habitus concept provided by Pierre Bourdieu, suggesting that habitus is a site and mode for conducting research, not simply an explanatory or theoretical mechanism. Taking seriously this call to examine skills and communities of practice through apprenticeship, however, requires that the theoretical account of habitus be subject to empirical testing. Moreover, enquiry into communities of practice, especially the subtle psychological, behavioural and even neurological consequences of skill acquisition, means that claims about the habitus can be scrutinized by fields such as psychology, neurology and even human biology. Habitus as a truly open path of inquiry will demand, not wholly novel concepts, but a recognition of when claims about practice are simultaneously testable, and falsifiable, by other forms of empirical enquiry, including the human sciences.
The Pugilist and the Cosmologist: Response to Loïc Wacquant’s ‘Homines in extremis’
Authors: Mialet Hélène
Published: May 2014

This article investigates Loïc Wacquant’s suggestion that ‘thinking is a deeply corporeal activity’ by showing how theoretical activities mobilize different bodies in practice, in both the natural and social sciences. It argues that knowledge is about exchanges of properties between different entities or bodies by drawing a parallel here between the sociologist (Loïc Wacquant) becoming his object of study and scientists becoming the objects they study. It also examines the reverse movement; that is, we have to invent devices to escape the hic et nunc of the body to project ourselves into other times and spaces. The article concludes by questioning Wacquant’s conception of ‘scientific knowledge’ by tracing a number of dichotomies present in his work: mind/body, subject/object, theory/practice. An alternative conception of the knowing subject is then formulated, one that is neither a transcendental subject nor a ‘socialized body’; I call this the distributed centered subject.
Putting Habitus in its Place: Rejoinder to the Symposium
Authors: Wacquant Loïc
Published: May 2014

In this response to my critics, I amplify the conceptual clarification and methodological stipulation of habitus begun in ‘Homines in extremis’ to help us move from a sociology of the body as socially construc- ted object to a sociology from the body as socially construc -ting vector of knowledge, power, and practice. The specification of habitus by membership in collectives, attachment to institutions, and analytic purpose makes it a flexible multi-scalar notion with which to construct the epistemic individual and account for both reproduction and change, conformity and creativity, as well as self-revision. For this, we must reject theological interpretations that rigidly lock habitus into Bourdieu’s framework; avoid conflating the formal properties of the notion with its concrete features in specific settings and cases; and distinguish between the rhetorical invocation of his concepts (‘speaking Bourdieuese’) and their effective deployment in the construction of the empirical object. As embodied and embedded capacity, habitus brings temporality, depth, and desire to the analytic epicenter. It reminds us that the social world is not transparent, open-ended, and instantaneous, but endowed with gravity, opacity, and asymmetry. Treating the sentient and skilled organism as fount of both social intelligence and sociological acumen can help historical social science connect with enactive psychology and recover the carnality of action that conventional accounts of social life routinely erase.
Clinical and socioeconomic factors associated with unrecognized peripheral artery disease
Authors: Chang Peter , Nead Kevin T , Olin Jeffrey W , Cooke John P , Leeper Nicholas J
Published: May 2014

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a highly prevalent condition that frequently goes undetected and untreated. Socioeconomic factors associated with unrecognized PAD are not known. The ankle–brachial index (ABI) was calculated in 1656 study participants undergoing non-emergent coronary angiography with PAD defined as an ABI <0.9. Subjects were followed for mortality and cardiovascular outcomes. Compared to those without PAD, those with unrecognized PAD at enrollment were older, had higher rates of cardiovascular comorbidities, and had higher major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) ( p<0.03 for all). Among those enrolling without a reported history of PAD, there was a higher prevalence of PAD with decreasing income ( p=0.004), education level ( p<0.001), social isolation ( p=0.027) and depression ( p=0.034); 50% of these individuals reported symptoms suggestive of claudication. In conclusion, the prevalence of unrecognized PAD is high amongst a cohort of high-risk individuals referred for coronary angiography. A profile of lower socioeconomic status is associated with unrecognized PAD. These subjects will report symptoms suggestive of claudication and impaired walking ability when directly queried.
Intra-regional FDI and Economic Integration in South Asia
Authors: Athukorala Prema-chandra
Published: May 2014

This article examines trends and patterns of intra-regional foreign direct investment (FDI) in South Asia, with a focus on the potential for integrating production processes among countries in the region through further trade and investment policy reforms. The empirical evidence pieced together from scattered sources suggests that horizontal (market seeking) FDI has continued to dominate South Asian intra-regional FDI, with a significant shift in recent years in favour of services sector activities. Vertical (efficiency seeking) FDI in the region has remained confined to a few product lines, predominately garments, and also a few industries in which the availability of specific natural resources plays an important role in the site selection decisions of firms. In other industries, including electronics and electrical goods in which global production sharing is heavily concentrated, there is no evidence of notable cross-border operations by regional firms.
Estimating the Impact of the India–ASEAN Free Trade Agreement on Indian Industries
Authors: Bhattacharyya Ranajoy , Mandal Avijit
Published: May 2014

This study shows that intermediate goods will be more affected (both adversely and favourably) than final goods due to ASEAN–India FTA. Other interesting conclusions include tariffs do not matter at all for a major part of the industries and for them the agreement has no significance. In fact, some of the most debated commodities fall in this category. For them though tariff rates have steadily increased over time, so has imports imparting a wrong sign to the tariff elasticity which means that reasons other than tariffs determine their imports and there is no point in putting them in the sensitive or exclusion list.
Investigation into the benefits of reduced oil flows in internal combustion engines
Authors: Burke Richard D , Brace Chris J , Stark Roland , Pegg Ian
Published: May 2014

The engine lubrication system is a vital element for engine health but causes a parasitic load on the engine which increases the fuel consumption: this load can be reduced by matching the oil flow to lubricating requirements using a variable displacement oil pump. In a first stage, two variable displacement oil pumps were installed on a 2.4-L diesel engine; experiments over the New European Drive cycle showed reductions in fuel consumption of up to 3.4% and up to 5.8% over the urban phase of the cycle. A variable displacement oil pump was subsequently installed on an instrumented engine capturing over 100 metal and fluid temperatures within the engine structure. This showed that reducing oil flows resulted in lower oil temperature by up to 4 °C during cold-start New European Drive cycle but hotter cylinder liner temperatures by up to 6 °C. The higher cylinder wall temperatures caused an increase of 3% in oxides of nitrogen emissions but a reduction of 3%−5% in carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions. Finally, an energy flow analysis showed that the variable displacement oil pump can reduce oil pump energy consumption by 160 kJ (32%) but that this led to a 400-kJ reduction in friction and accessory work. These findings highlight the need for a system-level rather than a component-level approach to engine lubrication design to capture key thermal interactions.
Reconsidering regional rock art styles: Exploring cultural and relational understandings in northern Australia’s Gulf country
Authors: Brady Liam M. , Bradley John J.
Published: May 2014

Archaeologists have frequently employed formal style-based approaches to identify regional rock art styles as a means to learning about social organization, territoriality, boundaries and interaction/communication. However, less attention has been devoted to interrogating the relational and cultural understandings of the motifs and sites subsumed under these broad regional style labels. In this article we focus on the complex social and cultural relationships tied to rock art at a regional level from northern Australia’s Gulf country to explore the association between a regional rock art style – the ‘Gulf style’ – and local Indigenous understandings of rock art. We argue that images from the southwest Gulf country are more than part of a regional rock art style – they are a part of an important network of ontological and epistemological encounters, which extends far beyond the rock wall in which they are encountered and into the realm of kinship, ceremony and Indigenous philosophical systems.
The Trauma of Uncertainty
Authors: Wusik Michael F. , Jones Russell T.
Published: May 2014

In the presented case, “Daryl” experienced 12 hr of uncertainty regarding the safety of a friend before learning the friend was killed during the April 16th shootings at Virginia Tech. Treatment began 4 years following the shootings. Daryl has two previous premature terminations, was treatment resistant, and at high risk for dropping out. Prolonged exposure (PE) was postponed for nine sessions while comprehensive assessment and psychoeducation occurred. PE took place over 15 sessions, with follow-ups occurring at 3, 6, and 12 months following treatment. During PE, a second shooting and accompanying deteriorating sleep led to brief pauses and modification of treatment. Daryl showed marked reduction of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms throughout the course of treatment, resulting in complete remission of PTSD at the end of formal treatment as he maintained gains during follow-ups. The case study demonstrates the usefulness of symptom monitoring, specific modifications used within treatment, and the importance of assessing for preparedness for treatment.
Techniques and assays for the study of angiogenesis
Authors: Irvin Michael W , Zijlstra Andries , Wikswo John P , Pozzi Ambra
Published: May 2014

The importance of studying angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, is underscored by its involvement in both normal physiology, such as embryonic growth and wound healing, and pathologies, such as diabetes and cancer. Treatments targeting the molecular drive of angiogenesis have been developed, but many of the molecular mechanisms that mediate vascularization, as well as how these mechanisms can be targeted in therapy, remain poorly understood. The limited capacity to quantify angiogenesis properly curtails our molecular understanding and development of new drugs and therapies. Although there are a number of assays for angiogenesis, many of them strip away its important components and/or limit control of the variables that direct this highly cooperative and complex process. Here we review assays commonly used in endothelial cell biology and describe the progress toward development of a physiologically realistic platform that will enable a better understanding of the molecular and physical mechanisms that govern angiogenesis.
Impact of diet-induced obesity in male mouse reproductive system: The role of advanced glycation end product–receptor for advanced glycation end product axis
Authors: Moschonas Dimitrios P , Piperi Christina , Korkolopoulou Penelope , Levidou Georgia , Kavantzas Nikolaos , Trigka Eleni-Andriana , Vlachos Ioannis , Arapostathi Christina , Perrea Despina , Mitropoulos Dionysios , Diamanti-Kandarakis Evanthia , Papavassiliou Athanasios G
Published: May 2014

Obesity represents a route to broad physiological dysfunction affecting major organs including male urogenital system. Hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and oxidative stress associated with obesity augment the formation of reactive metabolic by-products, namely advanced glycation end products (AGEs), leading to increased tissue deposition and damage. The exogenous intake and the endogenous accumulation of AGEs contribute to metabolic and reproductive abnormalities in both women and men. The present study assessed the effects of a diet high in saturated fatty acids (SAFA) on the lipid and metabolic profile (AGE levels, oxidative stress) as well as pathogenic (AGE, receptor for AGEs [RAGE] expression, apoptosis) and morphometric parameters of male reproductive system in vivo. Effects of switching to a diet rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) or equal in the proportion MUFA to SAFA were further investigated. SAFA-fed animals were characterized by increased serum lipid concentrations ( p < .05) compared to controls, but AGEs and peroxide levels were not significantly different across the different experimental groups. Elevated AGE deposition was detected for the first time in germ cells with a higher staining intensity in animals on the SAFA diet, compared to MUFA or MUFA–SAFA-fed animals or the control samples ( p = .018). In Leydig cells, AGE localization was higher in the entire cohort of high-fat-fed animals compared to controls ( p < .05). High-fat-fed mice displayed enhanced apoptosis compared to controls ( p < .005). Furthermore, prostatic tissue demonstrated reduction in epithelial folding, an effect which was significantly reversed after MUFA diet administration. Our findings provide the basis for further investigation of AGE–RAGE axis in testicular and prostatic disturbances associated with diet-induced obesity. Simple dietetic intervention has beneficial effects on metabolic dysfunction of reproductive system before overt manifestations, indicating glycation as a promising therapeutic target.
Protective effects of melittin on tumor necrosis factor-α induced hepatic damage through suppression of apoptotic pathway and nuclear factor-kappa B activation
Authors: Park Ji-Hyun , Lee Woo-Ram , Kim Hyun-Soo , Han Sang-Mi , Chang Young-Chae , Park Kwan-Kyu
Published: May 2014

Melittin, a major polypeptide in honeybee venom, have been used to treat inflammatory disease. Various studies have demonstrated the anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of bee venom and melittin. However, the precise mechanism of melittin in liver disease is not yet known. Apoptosis contributes to liver inflammation and fibrosis. Knowledge of the apoptotic mechanisms is important to develop new and effective therapies for treatment of cirrhosis. In the present study, we investigated the anti-apoptotic effect of melittin on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α/actinomycin (Act) D-induced apoptosis in hepatocytes. Our results show significant protection from DNA damage by melittin treatment compared with corresponding TNF-α/Act D-treated hepatocytes without melittin. Melittin inhibited TNF-α/Act D-induced activation of the caspase, bcl-2 family of proteins and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP)-1. Our results also indicate that melittin decreased nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) by degradation of phosphorylation of IκB kinase (p-IKK) and NF-κB DNA binding activity in TNF-α/Act D-treated hepatocytes. These results suggest that melittin possesses a potent suppressive effect on apoptotic responses in TNF-α/Act D-treated hepatocytes via the NF-κB pathway.
A single low dose of cadmium exposure induces benign prostate hyperplasia like condition in rat: A novel benign prostate hyperplasia rodent model
Authors: Prajapati Akhilesh , Rao Akshay , Patel Jhanvi , Gupta Sharad , Gupta Sarita
Published: May 2014

Abnormal prostate growth is the most prevalent pathological sign in aged human males, as reflected by high incidence of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. In spite of the high prevalence, the etiology and pathophysiology of BPH is unclear due to the lack of any established rodent model for study. It has been demonstrated that the cadmium (Cd) mimics the activity of androgen or estrogen by interacting with the steroid hormone receptors in the prostate and elicits BPH, but the specific receptor which binds to Cd is still unknown. Our lab studies with BPH patients highlighted a strong co-relation between smokings with increased Cd content. Changes in the maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) level further supports that Cd can induce BPH like condition. Therefore, the present study was aimed to induce BPH like condition in rats by Cd administration. The dose of cadmium was standardized in an age- and time-dependent manner, which was further examined by prostate weight, histology, and PAP levels that elucidated the pathogenesis of BPH. Further to understand the molecular basis, steroid hormone receptor antagonist experiment was performed. Gene expression and immunohistochemistry data suggest that Cd induces hyperplasia like condition by activating the androgen receptor and estrogen receptor-α and suppresses the action of estrogen receptor-β. The experimental model used here is a cost effective, less time consuming and potentially valuable tool for investigating the respective functions of epithelial and stromal hormone receptors. The applicability of this model would be helpful in understanding the pathogenesis of BPH and its progression.
Sociocultural Factors Influencing HIV Disclosure Among Men in South Africa
Authors: Iwelunmor Juliet , Sofolahan-Oladeinde Yewande , Airhihenbuwa Collins O.
Published: May 2014

In South Africa, more than 2 million people living with HIV are men aged 15 years and older, and heterosexual intercourse remains the predominant mode of HIV transmission. Knowledge of the sociocultural factors that influence men’s decisions about whether, when, or how to disclose seropositive status remains incompletely understood. Using the PEN-3 cultural model as a guide, this study explored the sociocultural factors influencing HIV disclosure among men in South Africa. Four focus group discussions with 27 participants were used to determine the perceptions, enabling and nurturing factors that influence how men chose to reveal or conceal knowledge of their seropositive status. The results revealed that notions of male identity in the South African context, family, and community factors contribute to disclosure and nondisclosure of seropositive status among men living with HIV/AIDS. Future interventions should work to address these factors, as they are necessary with supporting disclosure among men living with HIV.