bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Working with uncertainty: A grounded theory study of health-care professionals’ experiences of working with children and adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome
Authors: Marks Megan R , Huws Jaci C , Whitehead Liz
Published: May 2015

This grounded theory study explores conceptualisations of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis from semi-structured interviews with 10 health-care professionals working with children and adolescents. The findings suggest that a lack of a clear empirical understanding of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis leads to ‘working with uncertainty’, whereby health-care professionals utilise previous experiences to make sense of the condition and inform their clinical practice. How health-care professionals make sense of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis may influence the labels given to young people and the interventions they receive. The findings provide insight into a currently understudied area, and highlight potential avenues for further research and clinical practice.
Effect of perceived stress on depression of Chinese “Ant Tribe” and the moderating role of dispositional optimism
Authors: Liu Bo , Pu Jun , Hou Hanpo
Published: May 2015

This study examines the moderating role of dispositional optimism on the relationship between perceived stress and depression of the Chinese “Ant Tribe.” A total of 427 participants from an Ant Tribe community completed the measures of perceived stress, optimism, and depression. The structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis showed that dispositional optimism moderated the association between perceived stress and depression. The Ant Tribe with high perceived stress reported higher scores in depression than those with low perceived stress at low dispositional optimism level. However, the impact of perceived stress on depression was insignificant in the high dispositional optimism group.
Empirical population and public health ethics: A review and critical analysis to advance robust empirical-normative inquiry
Authors: Knight Rod
Published: May 2015

The field of population and public health ethics (PPHE) has yet to fully embrace the generation of evidence as an important project. This article reviews the philosophical debates related to the ‘empirical turn’ in clinical bioethics, and critically analyses how PPHE has and can engage with the philosophical implications of generating empirical data within the task of normative inquiry. A set of five conceptual and theoretical issues pertaining to population health that are unresolved and could potentially benefit from empirical PPHE approaches to normative inquiry are discussed. Each issue differs from traditional empirical bioethical approaches, in that they emphasize (1) concerns related to the population, (2) ‘upstream’ policy-relevant health interventions – within and outside of the health care system and (3) the prevention of illness and disease. Within each theoretical issue, a conceptual example from population and public health approaches to HIV prevention and health promotion is interrogated. Based on the review and critical analysis, this article concludes that empirical-normative approaches to population and public health ethics would be most usefully pursued as an iterative project (rather than as a linear project), in which the normative informs the empirical questions to be asked and new empirical evidence constantly directs conceptualizations of what constitutes morally robust public health practices. Finally, a conceptualization of an empirical population and public health ethics is advanced in order to open up new interdisciplinary ‘spaces’, in which empirical and normative approaches to ethical inquiry are transparently (and ethically) integrated.
Moisture transport through asymmetric porous membranes with finger-like holes for indoor humidity control: A lattice Boltzmann simulation approach
Authors: Zhang Li-Zhi , Cai Rong-Rong , Xu Jian-Chang
Published: May 2015

Asymmetric porous membranes with finger-like holes are one sort of promising membrane materials for indoor humidity control. Moisture transport in these materials is the key factor influencing humidity control performance. To overcome the difficulties in modelling meso-scale mass transfer in these materials, a lattice Boltzmann simulation (LBM) methodology has been proposed to model the pore-scale gas flow and mass transfer in the asymmetric membranes with finger-like holes. A typical membrane is classified into three sub-layers: a porous support layer, a layer with finger holes, and a denser skin layer. Simulated annealing technique was used in our study to reconstruct the calculating domain. Then fluid flow and mass transfer in the membrane were predicted with LBM, and permeability and effective diffusivity were evaluated. The existence of finger holes in the matrix could dramatically enhance the overall mass transfer in the membranes. Besides, the inhomogeneity in membrane structures would make the macro-scale lumped parameter prediction of membrane performance questionable. Our findings show differences in comparison to previous macro-scale multi-layer analysis. The dominant resistance is in the skin layer. There should be a change in emphasis for membrane optimization with a focus on the skin layer rather than the porous layer.
Who was first on Facebook? Determinants of early adoption among adolescents
Authors: Hofstra Bas , Corten Rense , van Tubergen Frank
Published: May 2015

We study what determines whether someone is an early Facebook adopter in a context in which Facebook is still relatively new compared to a far more popular Dutch social networking site (SNS) (Hyves). We use representative survey data of 4363 adolescents aged 14–15 years. First, adolescents who participate in more leisure activities, who have more digital resources, and who have more friends who are SNS members are more likely to be SNS members. Second, we hypothesize and show that for adopting communication technology that highly fluctuates in popularity and is highly time-dependent, individuals are more likely to be early Facebook adopters when the number of their friends who are Facebook members increases. Finally, non-native adolescents are also more likely to be early Facebook adopters.
Estimation of road friction coefficient using extended Kalman filter, recursive least square, and neural network
Authors: Zareian Arash , Azadi Shahram , Kazemi Reza
Published: May 2015

This paper presents an appropriate method for estimating road friction coefficient. The method uses measured values from wheel angular velocity and yaw rate sensors of a vehicle so that it could estimate the road friction coefficient. The estimation process is done in three steps: first, vehicle lateral and longitudinal velocities along with yaw rate value are identified by an extended Kalman filter observer when lateral acceleration and yaw rate values are subjected to process and measurement noises, respectively. Then, lateral and longitudinal tire forces are estimated using a recursive least square algorithm so that to be used in a neural network designed based on well-known Magic Formula tire model. In the final stage, using a multilayer perceptron neural network and estimated values of the previous stages, the road friction coefficient is estimated. Finally, the set of estimators is evaluated using 14 degrees of freedom full vehicle dynamic model and the obtained results are compared with their actual values of vehicle model for two different maneuvers of vehicle.
Multibody analysis of whirl flutter stability on a tiltrotor wind tunnel model
Authors: Krüger Wolf R
Published: May 2015

Tiltrotor aircraft are equipped with large rotors, usually driven by heavy engines in nacelles located at the tip of the wings. This combination of large rotors and high masses on wings which form a relatively elastic support makes whirl flutter a critical phenomenon for the design of the aircraft and its performance. In this article, a multibody-based simulation model of a tiltrotor wind tunnel model is presented, combining a mixed finite element/multibody representation of the support, a detailed kinematic model of the rotor hub and a strip-wise definition of air loads on the blades. Investigations on the effect of parameter changes and non-linearities on the calculation of the aeroelastic stability boundary are executed. The selected operational points are taken from wind tunnel experiments performed by a consortium of partners in the course of the European ADYN project. The regarded wind tunnel model is a half model of a tiltrotor wing, simplified for the use in whirl flutter investigations. The rotor is four-bladed; the rotor hub is of a gimbal type. Structural dynamics properties of the model are known from detailed experimental investigations. Numerical analyses of the dynamic behaviour of the model are performed in the frequency and in the time domain. Results show considerable differences for linear and non-linear models. This paper describes the simulation approach, the model setup and the comparison of the data with selected experimental results.
Optimization of A-TIG welding of duplex stainless steel alloy 2205 based on response surface methodology and experimental validation
Authors: Korra Nanda Naik , Vasudevan M , Balasubramanian KR
Published: May 2015

In the present work, optimum A-TIG welding process parameters have been determined using the design of experiments approach to achieve the desired depth of penetration (DOP) during welding of duplex stainless steel (DSS) alloy 2205. The design matrix for welding experiments was generated using the central composite design of response surface methodology. Bead-on-plate welds were made on 10 mm thick DSS alloy 2205 plates to generate data and to study the influence of process parameters on DOP. ANOVA analysis was carried out to determine the significance of the process parameters. Current was found to be a significant parameter influencing DOP. A second-order response surface model was developed to predict the response for the set of given input process parameters. Then, numerical and graphical optimization was performed to obtain the maximum DOP using desirability approach. Validation of the model showed good agreement between the predicted and actual values of DOP.
‘New Zealand passport holder’ versus ‘New Zealander’? The marginalization of ethnic minorities in the news – A New Zealand case study
Authors: Smith Philippa K
Published: May 2015

This article uses critical discourse analysis to investigate audience criticism of the news media’s marginalization of ethnic minority members in New Zealand through the use of the words ‘New Zealand passport holder’. Following my presentation of a case study where a group of readers objected to these words being used to describe a New Zealander with Kurdish origins, I examine the meaning and use of this descriptor at a time of increased diversity. Analysing a selection of news stories from the beginning of the new millennium, I consider aspects of journalistic practice (namely, news values and the sourcing of information), as well as the wider sociocultural context in which the articles were embedded. I argue that the media, rather than creating prejudice by using ‘New Zealand passport holder’, reproduced and legitimated the political and public discourse of elite groups that disassociated immigrant groups from mainstream New Zealanders. I conclude by emphasizing the ongoing need for journalist training to include an understanding of how the reproduction of the language and discourse of elite groups in news stories can have a negative effect on the representation of minorities.
The production of a newspaper interview: Following the story at the business desk of a Dutch daily
Authors: Velthuis Olav
Published: May 2015

Based on 4 years of work experience in a newsroom, this article analyses in detail how news interviews are produced at the business desk of a Dutch daily newspaper. It focuses on the power dynamics, multiple social interactions and reciprocal exchanges which govern its production. The main case is an interview conducted with the president of the European Central Bank. Decomposing the production process in three stages (arranging an interview, conducting and publishing it), the article ‘follows the story’ from the beginning to end. In particular, it shows how the power balance between journalist and source shifts during the production process, how the outcome of the interview is governed by a range of relations other than the one between interviewer and interviewee and how conflicts over interview authorization are solved and social ties reproduced through opportunistic reciprocity between the journalist and his source.
Motherhood and mental distress: Personal stories of mothers who have been admitted for mental health treatment
Authors: Klausen Rita K , Karlsson Marie , Haugsgjerd Svein , Lorem Geir Fagerjord
Published: May 2015

There is a need for qualitative studies on motherhood and mental distress. Many mothers have a diagnosis of mental illness, and their motherhood exists in constant tension with their distress. This paper focuses on 10 mothers’ stories about motherhood in relation to being admitted as mental health service users in three different Norwegian community mental health centers. The study has a narrative approach, and through a thematic analysis of personal stories, we emphasize how the 10 women make sense of their experiences of admittance to mental health services in relation to dominant Discourses of good motherhood. Themes identified were: (1) being able to put oneself in the child’s shoes; (2) the emotional impact of being admitted; (3) being open with the children about the admission; and (4) being an emotionally available and present mother. Based on the results of our analysis, we suggest the mothers experienced their distress as a natural reaction to life strains over time, and that they relate to the admissions as interruptions. This underlines the necessity of a more holistic approach, with a support system that focuses on both personal and social aspects of motherhood and mental distress.
Justice in immigration
Authors: Miller David
Published: May 2015

Legitimate states have a general right to control their borders and decide who to admit as future citizens. Such decisions, however, are constrained by principles of justice. But which principles? To answer this we have to analyse the multifaceted relationships that may hold between states and prospective immigrants, distinguishing on the one hand between those who are either inside or outside the state’s territory, and on the other between refugees, economic migrants and ‘particularity claimants’. The claims of refugees, stemming from their human rights, are powerful though limited in scope: they hold against eligible states generally rather than the specific one to which they apply for asylum. Economic migrants cannot claim a right to be admitted as such, but only a right to have legitimate selection criteria applied to them. Particularity claimants, such as those seeking redress for harms inflicted on them or reward for the services they have rendered to the state, must show why awarding a right to enter is the appropriate response to their claims. Finally, does justice enable us to establish admission priorities between these different categories of migrants?
Surveys as cultural artefacts: Applying the International Self-Report Delinquency Study to Latin American adolescents
Authors: Rodríguez Juan Antonio , Pérez-Santiago Neelie , Birkbeck Christopher
Published: May 2015

Survey instruments are often watermarked with the language, thought patterns, experience and expectations of their designers’ cultural world. This creates some evident challenges when using surveys in international research projects (for example, in finding equivalent terms in translation), but also some less evident ones deriving from potentially hidden local variations in social experience, values and cognition. Using examples from the International Self-Report Delinquency Study, this article identifies several potential challenges to measurement that arise when an instrument designed with the youth of industrialized democracies in mind is presented to adolescents in a Latin American country (Venezuela). Some strategies for addressing these challenges are outlined.
Wnt5a attenuates hypoxia-induced pulmonary arteriolar remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy in mice
Authors: Jin Yuling , Wang Wang , Chai Sanbao , Liu Jie , Yang Ting , Wang Jun
Published: May 2015

Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH), which is characterized by pulmonary arteriolar remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy, is still a life-threatening disease with the current treatment strategies. The underlying molecular mechanisms of HPH remain unclear. Our previously published study showed that Wnt5a, one of the ligands in the Wnt family, was critically involved in the inhibition of hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation by downregulation of β-catenin/cyclin D1 in vitro. In this study, we investigated the possible functions and mechanisms of Wnt5a in HPH in vivo. Recombinant mouse Wnt5a (rmWnt5a) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was administered to male C57/BL6 mice weekly from the first day to the end of the two or four weeks after exposed to hypoxia (10% O2). Hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension was associated with a marked increase in β-catenin/cyclin D1 expression in lungs. Right ventricular systolic pressure and right ventricular hypertrophy index were reduced in animals treated with rmWnt5a compared with PBS. Histology showed less pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy in the group treated with rmWnt5a than with PBS. Treatment with rmWnt5a resulted in a concomitant reduction in β-catenin/cyclin D1 levels in lungs. These data demonstrate that Wnt5a exerts its beneficial effects on HPH by regulating pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy in a manner that is associated with reduction in β-catenin/cyclin D1 signaling. A therapy targeting the β-catenin/cyclin D1 signaling pathway might be a potential strategy for HPH treatment.
Biliary and duodenal drainage for reducing the radiotoxic risk of antineoplastic 131I-hypericin in rat models
Authors: Li Yue , Jiang Cuihua , Jiang Xiao , Sun Ziping , Cona Marlein Miranda , Liu Wei , Zhang Jian , Ni Yicheng
Published: May 2015

Necrosis targeting radiopharmaceutical 131I-hypericin (131I-Hyp) has been studied for the therapy of solid malignancies. However, serious side effects may be caused by its unwanted radioactivity after being metabolized by the liver and excreted via bile in the digestive tract. Thus the aim of this study was to investigate two kinds of bile draining for reducing them. Thirty-eight normal rats were intravenously injected with 131I-Hyp, 24 of which were subjected to the common bile duct (CBD) drainage for gamma counting of collected bile and tissues during 1–6, 7–12, 13–18, and 19–24 h ( n = 6 each group), 12 of which were divided into two groups ( n = 6 each group) for comparison of the drainage efficiency between CBD catheterization and duodenum intubation by collecting their bile at the first 4 h. Afterwards the 12 rats together with the last two rats which were not drained were scanned via single-photon emission computerized tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) to check the differences. The images showed that almost no intestinal radioactivity can be found in those 12 drained rats while discernible radioactivity in the two undrained rats. The results also indicated that the most of the radioactivity was excreted from the bile within the first 12 h, accounting to 92% within 24 h. The radioactive metabolites in the small and large intestines peaked at 12 h and 18 h, respectively. No differences were found in those two ways of drainages. Thus bile drainage is highly recommended for the patients who were treated by 131I-Hyp if human being and rats have a similar excretion pattern. This strategy can be clinically achieved by using a nasobiliary or nasoduodenal drainage catheter.
Interleukin-10 gene-carrying bifidobacteria ameliorate murine ulcerative colitis by regulating regulatory T cell/T helper 17 cell pathway
Authors: Zhang Dingguo , Wei Cheng , Yao Jun , Cai Xiaoyan , Wang Lisheng
Published: May 2015

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease suggested to be closely related to the imbalance of regulatory T cell/T helper 17 cell (Treg/Th17) signaling. Previously, we constructed an interleukin-10 (IL-10) expression vector, BL-hIL-10, and proved that it ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced intestinal inflammation in mice. In this study, we further explored the mechanisms underlying BL-hIL-10 treatment from the Treg/Th17 imbalance perspective. Our results showed that the oral administration of BL-hIL-10 reduced the UC inflammation in mice significantly, which was assessed by disease activity index, spleen index, and pathological changes in colon tissue. Moreover, the mice after BL-hIL-10 treatment had increased proportion of Treg cells while Th17 cells decreased greatly, leading to the reconstruction of Treg/Th17 balance. Furthermore, the Th17 cell-secreted factors, such as IL-6, IL-17, and IL-23, were reduced, but the Treg-related factors, IL-10 and Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), were elevated accordingly. Finally, Western blot confirmed the inhibition of nuclear hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and cytoplasmic mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in intestinal tissues. In conclusion, oral administration of BL-hIL-10 can alleviate the inflammation responses of UC in murine model through the restoration of Treg/Th17 imbalance, which might be at least partially due to the inhibition of hypoxia–mTOR–HIF-1α–Th17 axis as well as IL-6–STAT3–HIF-1α–Th17 pathway.
Inosine and hypoxanthine as novel biomarkers for cardiac ischemia: From bench to point-of-care
Authors: Farthing Don E , Farthing Christine A , Xi Lei
Published: May 2015

Cardiac ischemia associated with acute coronary syndrome and myocardial infarction is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the world. A rapid detection of the ischemic events is critically important for achieving timely diagnosis, treatment and improving the patient's survival and functional recovery. This minireview provides an overview on the current biomarker research for detection of acute cardiac ischemia. We primarily focus on inosine and hypoxanthine, two by-products of ATP catabolism. Based on our published findings of elevated plasma concentrations of inosine/hypoxanthine in animal laboratory and clinical settings, since 2006 we have originally proposed that these two purine molecules can be used as rapid and sensitive biomarkers for acute cardiac ischemia at its very early onset (within 15 min), hours prior to the release of heart tissue necrosis biomarkers such as cardiac troponins. We further developed a chemiluminescence technology, one of the most affordable and sensitive analytical techniques, and we were able to reproducibly quantify and differentiate total hypoxanthine concentrations in the plasma samples from healthy individuals versus patients suffering from ischemic heart disease. Additional rigorous clinical studies are needed to validate the plasma inosine/hypoxanthine concentrations, in conjunction with other current cardiac biomarkers, for a better revelation of their diagnostic potentials for early detection of acute cardiac ischemia.
Utilization of TALEN and CRISPR/Cas9 technologies for gene targeting and modification
Authors: Pu Jiali , Frescas David , Zhang Baorong , Feng Jian
Published: May 2015

The capability to modify the genome precisely and efficiently offers an extremely useful tool for biomedical research. Recent developments in genome editing technologies such as transcription activator-like effector nuclease and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats system have made genome modification available for a number of organisms with relative ease. Here, we introduce these genome editing techniques, compare and contrast each technical approach and discuss their potential to study the underlying mechanisms of human disease using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells.
Advanced glycation end-products and insulin signaling in granulosa cells
Authors: Diamanti-Kandarakis Evanthia , Chatzigeorgiou Antonios , Papageorgiou Efstathia , Koundouras Dimitrios , Koutsilieris Michael
Published: May 2015

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) may interfere with insulin intracellular signaling and glucose transport in human granulosa cells, potentially affecting ovarian function, follicular growth, linked with diminished fertility. The potential interaction of AGEs with insulin signaling pathways and glucose transport was investigated in human granulosa KGN cells. KGN cells were cultured with variable concentrations of human glycated albumin (HGA, 50–200 µg/mL) or insulin (100 ng/mL). Combined treatments of KGN cells with insulin (100 ng/mL) and HGA (200 µg/mL) were also performed. p-AKT levels and glucose transporter type 4 (Glut-4) translocation analysis were performed by Western blot. Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-specific signaling was checked by using the PI3K-inhibitor, LY294002. p-AKT levels were significantly increased following insulin treatment compared to basal levels or HGA exposure. This insulin-mediated AKT-phosphorylation was PI3K-specific and it was inhibited after combined treatment of insulin and HGA. Furthermore, Glut-4 translocation from the cytoplasm to the membrane compartments of KGN cells was remarkably reduced after the combined treatment of insulin and HGA. The present findings support that AGEs interfere with insulin signaling in granulosa cells and prevent Glut-4 membrane translocation suggesting that intra ovarian AGEs accumulation, from endogenous or exogenous sources, may contribute to the pathophysiology of states characterized with anovulation and insulin resistance such as polycystic ovary syndrome.
Budesonide inhalation ameliorates endotoxin-induced lung injury in rabbits
Authors: Gao Wei , Ju Nanying
Published: May 2015

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious clinical problem that has a 30–50% mortality rate. Budesonide has been used to reduce lung injury. This study aims to investigate the effects of nebulized budesonide on endotoxin-induced ARDS in a rabbit model. Twenty-four rabbits were randomized into three groups. Rabbits in the control and budesonide groups were injected with endotoxin. Thereafter, budesonide or saline was instilled, ventilated for four hours, and recovered spontaneous respiratory. Peak pressure, compliance, and PaO2/FiO2 were monitored for 4 h. After seven days, PaO2/FiO2 ratios were measured. Wet-to-dry weight ratios, total protein, neutrophil elastase, white blood cells, and percentage of neutrophils in BALF were evaluated. TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-10 in BALF were detected. Lung histopathologic injury and seven-day survival rate of the three groups were recorded. Peak pressure was downregulated, but compliance and PaO2/FiO2 were upregulated by budesonide. PaO2/FiO2 ratios significantly increased due to budesonide. Wet-to-dry weight ratios, total protein, neutrophil elastase, white blood cells and percentage of neutrophils in BALF decreased in the budesonide group. TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8 levels decreased in BALF, while IL-10 levels increased in the budesonide group. Lung injuries were reduced and survival rate was upregulated by budesonide. Budesonide effectively ameliorated respiratory function, attenuated endotoxin-induced lung injury, and improved the seven-day survival rate.
Top 10% Admissions in the Borderlands
Authors: Rodríguez Cristóbal
Published: May 2015

This study focuses on Texas Borderland students admitted through the Texas Top 10% admissions policy, which assumes that Top 10% students are college ready for any public university and provides Top 10% high school graduates automatic admission to any 4-year public university in Texas. Using descriptive and inferential statistics, results indicated significant differences between top-tier and Borderland Universities in access and success by ethnicity, gender, family income, and college generation status.
Prospective Childhood Risk Factors for Gang Involvement Among North American Indigenous Adolescents
Authors: Hautala Dane S. , J. Sittner Kelley , Whitbeck Les B.
Published: May 2015

The purpose of the study was to examine prospective childhood risk factors for gang involvement across the course of adolescence among a large 8-year longitudinal sample of 646 Indigenous (i.e., American Indian and Canadian First Nations) youth residing on reservation/reserve land in the Midwest of the United States and Canada. Risk factors at the first wave of the study (ages 10–12) were used to predict gang involvement (i.e., gang membership and initiation) in subsequent waves (ages 11–18). A total of 6.7% of the participants reported gang membership and 9.1% reported gang initiation during the study. Risk factors were distributed across developmental domains (e.g., family, school, peer, and individual) with those in the early delinquency domain having the strongest and most consistent effects. Moreover, the results indicate that the cumulative number of risk factors in childhood increases the probability of subsequent gang involvement. Culturally relevant implications and prevention/intervention strategies are discussed.
Armed Kids, Armed Adults? Weapon Carrying From Adolescence to Adulthood
Authors: Wallace Lacey N.
Published: May 2015

While much existing research has examined either juvenile or adult weapon carrying, this study assesses whether carrying a weapon to school as a juvenile is predictive of bringing a handgun to school or work in adulthood. Data are drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Results show a decline in weapon carrying behavior over time. However, youth who report school weapon carrying in adolescence are much more likely to report carrying a handgun to school or work in adulthood. Findings also demonstrate that victimization, rather than offending behavior, is predictive of adulthood handgun carrying at school and work.
Effects of Psychological Capital on Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Authors: Krasikova Dina V. , Lester Paul B. , Harms P. D.
Published: May 2015

Luthans, Youssef, Sweetman, and Harms proposed a holistic approach to psychological capital that involves examining psychological capital and its effects across multiple life domains, including work, relationships, and health. This article focuses on the effects of psychological capital on objective health outcomes. Using data from a sample of 1,889 U.S. Army soldiers, we demonstrate that soldiers with higher levels of psychological capital prior to deployment were less likely to receive diagnoses for mental health problems and substance abuse postdeployment. In addition, the effects of psychological capital on mental health diagnoses were mediated by soldiers’ overall health perceptions.
Retracting Soft Tissue in Minimally Invasive Hip Arthroplasty Using a Robotic Arm
Authors: Putzer David , Klug Sebastian , Haselbacher Matthias , Mayr Eckart , Nogler Michael
Published: May 2015

Background. All surgical procedures in orthopedics involve the retraction of soft tissue. In this study, the performance of 3 assistants holding the medial retractor during minimally invasive hip arthroplasty was compared with a semiactive retractor holder in a cadaver setup. Methods. A total of 40 measurements on 3 cadavers were carried out with each subject (3 human, 1 robot) measuring each cadaver 10 times. The retractor was equipped with a sensor array on both sides, to measure variations of the retracting pressures over a 2-minute interval. Results. The semiactive retractor holder showed an almost constant performance compared with the test subjects. There was no significant reduction of the applied pressure and almost no variation during the 2-minute interval and across all measurements. Conclusions. The performance of the semiactive retractor holder was more stable than that of a human assistant, making it suitable for intraoperative usage.
A Qualitative Study of African American/Black MSM’s Experiences of Participating in a Substance Use and Sexual Risk Reduction Intervention
Authors: Buttram Mance E. , Kurtz Steven P.
Published: May 2015

The majority of new HIV infections in the United States are among men who have sex with men (MSM), and African American/Black MSM are especially affected. Employing a grounded theory approach, this study presents qualitative data from 21 African American/Black MSM who participated in a substance use and sexual risk reduction intervention trial (Project ROOM [men Reaching Out to Other Men]) in South Florida. African American/Black MSM from Project ROOM reduced their substance use and sexual risk behaviors at a faster rate than other men in the study. The present study examines how the experiences of participation in Project ROOM influenced the behavior change among African American/Black MSM. In-depth interviews indicate that study assessments enhanced African American/Black men’s mindfulness and self-realization of behaviors leading to behavior modification and changes in social relationships. Furthermore, these findings suggest that interventions tailored to the social environment of HIV transmission and substance use behaviors are key to reducing risk behaviors among this population.
Discrimination in Health Care: Correlates of Health Care Discrimination Among Black Males
Authors: Parker Lauren J. , Hunte Haslyn , Ohmit Anita
Published: May 2015

Using data from the Indiana Black Men’s Health Study ( N = 455), a community-based sample of adult Black men, the primary aim of this study was to explore factors of health care discrimination, and to examine if such reports differed by age and the frequency of race thoughts. Approximately one in four men reported experiencing discrimination in the health care setting. Results from the multivariable logistic regression models suggested that frequent race thoughts (odds ratio [ OR]: 1.89, p < .05), not having health insurance ( OR: 1.80, p < .05), and increased depressive symptomology ( OR: 1.06, p < .01) were positively associated with reports of health care discrimination. A multiplicative interaction coefficient of age and frequency of race thoughts was included to determine if health care discrimination differed by age and frequency of race thoughts ( OR: 1.03, p = .08). Results from the predicted probability plot suggested that the likelihood of experiencing health care discrimination decreases with age ( OR: 0.97, p < .05). In particular, results suggested that between the ages of 33 and 53 years, Black men who experienced frequent race thoughts were more likely to report experiences of discrimination in the health care setting than men of the same age that did not experience frequent race thoughts. These results highlight the need for empirical work to better understand the experiences of Black men, a group less likely to utilize health care services than most adult groups within the health care setting.
Diabetes Self-Management Behaviors, Medical Care, Glycemic Control, and Self-Rated Health in U.S. Men by Race/Ethnicity
Authors: Vaccaro Joan A. , Anderson Kelitha , Huffman Fatma G.
Published: May 2015

Men, particularly minorities, have higher rates of diabetes as compared with their counterparts. Ongoing diabetes self-management education and support by specialists are essential components to prevent the risk of complications such as kidney disease, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological impairments. Diabetes self-management behaviors, in particular, as diet and physical activity, have been associated with glycemic control in the literature. Recommended medical care for diabetes may differ by race/ethnicity. This study examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2007 to 2010 for men with diabetes ( N = 646) from four racial/ethnic groups: Mexican Americans, other Hispanics, non-Hispanic Blacks, and non-Hispanic Whites. Men with adequate dietary fiber intake had higher odds of glycemic control (odds ratio = 4.31, confidence interval [1.82, 10.20]), independent of race/ethnicity. There were racial/ethnic differences in reporting seeing a diabetes specialist. Non-Hispanic Blacks had the highest odds of reporting ever seeing a diabetes specialist (84.9%) followed by White non-Hispanics (74.7%), whereas Hispanics reported the lowest proportions (55.2% Mexican Americans and 62.1% other Hispanics). Men seeing a diabetes specialist had the lowest odds of glycemic control (odds ratio = 0.54, confidence interval [0.30, 0.96]). The results of this study suggest that diabetes education counseling may be selectively given to patients who are not in glycemic control. These findings indicate the need for examining referral systems and quality of diabetes care. Future studies should assess the effectiveness of patient-centered medical care provided by a diabetes specialist with consideration of sociodemographics, in particular, race/ethnicity and gender.
Management of isolated calf vein thrombosis in cancer patients
Authors: Brahmandam Anand S , Brownson Kirstyn , Skrip Laura , Parker Terri , Indes Jeffrey , Sarac Timur , Dardik Alan , Chaar Cassius Iyad Ochoa
Published: May 2015

The treatment of isolated calf vein thrombosis remains widely debated. This study highlights the characteristics of isolated calf vein thrombosis in cancer patients and compares to isolated calf vein thrombosis in patients without history of cancer. Between July 2013 and April 2014, a retrospective chart review of consecutive patients with isolated calf vein thrombosis was performed recording patient risk factors, ultrasound characteristics of the thrombus, treatment modalities, long-term recurrence of venous-thromboembolism, incidence of bleeding, and mortality. Of 131 patients with isolated calf vein thrombosis, 53 (40.1%) had history of cancer. Isolated calf vein thrombosis occurred at an older age in cancer patients (66.7 vs 58.5 years, p = 0.004). The anatomical characteristics of isolated calf vein thrombosis on ultrasound were comparable in both groups. Isolated calf vein thrombosis in cancer patients was less likely to be treated with anticoagulation (60.4% vs 80.8%, p = 0.018). However, a trend towards higher incidence of bleeding after initiation of anticoagulation for isolated calf vein thrombosis in cancer patients (11.3% vs 6.4%, p = 0.351) was noted. Mortality in cancer patients was higher (37.7% vs 9.00%, p < 0.001) but was unrelated to isolated calf vein thrombosis or its treatment. In conclusion, the risks of bleeding seem to exceed the benefits of anticoagulation in approximately 50% of cancer patients with isolated calf vein thrombosis. The management of isolated calf vein thrombosis does not seem to impact the survival of cancer patients.
Kinetics of endothelialization of the multilayer flow modulator and single-layer arterial stents
Authors: Sultan Sherif , Kavanagh Edel P , Bonneau Michel , Kang Chantal , Alves Antoine , Hynes Niamh M
Published: May 2015

The multilayer flow modulator (MFM; Cardiatis, Isnes, Belgium) is a self-expandable mesh of braided cobalt alloy wires, used for treatment of aortic and peripheral aneurysms. To further improve our understanding of this novel technology, the endothelialization kinetics of the MFM was investigated and compared with those of two marketed single-layer stents. Five porcine animal models were used in which a total of 19 stents were implanted in the iliac and carotid arteries between one and five weeks before sacrifice. All 19 stents were successfully delivered. For all devices, nonsignificant signs of inflammation or thrombosis were noted, and there was no evidence of local intolerance. The MFM developed a thin layer of endothelial cells earlier and was associated with less neointimal development than the two single-layer stents. A differing phenomenon of integration was also revealed and hypothesized as endothelialization from adhesion of circulating endothelial progenitor cells, as well as adhesion from the arterial wall, and also by the differences in trauma exposed to the arterial wall.
Electron microscopy study of a vascular prosthesis destructed in vivo reveals fractures in Dacron fibers
Authors: Woźniak Witold , Olszewski Wojciech , Górski Grzegorz
Published: May 2015

The genuine destruction of a synthetic prosthesis wall, as a late complication of vascular surgery, is extremely rare. We report a case of a 64-year-old male who had his 12-year-old femoropopliteal synthetic graft explanted due to two large pseudoaneurysms in the middle section of the graft. Microscopic evaluation demonstrated the areas of focal thinning along the entire prosthesis wall, with “foreign body” type reaction in the adjacent connective tissue. Transmission electron microscopy showed longitudinal fractures of Dacron fibers interposed with cellular structures, suggesting that destruction must have taken place significantly earlier. The problems of limited graft durability and graft surveillance are discussed.
The Anzac myth and the shaping of contemporary Australian war reportage
Authors: Ubayasiri Kasun
Published: May 2015

Australia’s World War I veterans, particularly the Anzacs of Gallipoli, are a quintessential part of Australia’s cultural imagining. Mythologised by the war correspondents of the time, refined and embellished by generations of politicians and myth makers and stripped of their shortcomings and human foibles through repeated renditions, the diggers of the ‘Great War’ continue to define duty and courage in contemporary Australian society. This article focuses on contemporary media coverage of two controversial wars – Afghanistan and Iraq – and how the news media tasked with recording those wars subscribed willingly to the politically charged ‘digger’ trope, which effectively served both to shield soldiers from any political fallout and to perpetuate the myth itself.
The Dixie Chicks 2001–2003: The dissonances of gender and genre in war culture
Authors: Griffiths Christian
Published: May 2015

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the US, the ideological undercurrents of America’s popular music culture were brought into sharp focus, with the music of the pop ‘mainstream’ revealed as being largely consistent with liberal stances, and the broadly defined ‘country’ genre as more naturally aligned to conservative views. Several critical discussions of this ideological divide have focused on the case of the Dixie Chicks, a country group who controversially declared their liberalism by opposing US foreign policy in the weeks preceding the 2003 invasion of Iraq. However, such studies have tended to dismiss the group’s repertoire in this period (which centres on their 2002 album Home) as securely conventional in its lyrical themes, and therefore as either implicitly conservative, or else apolitical. The author counters this view by arguing that the group’s use of the conventional ‘feminine’ themes of country music, which include images of motherhood, marriage and domesticity, provides an aesthetic framework for their enacting an ideological critique of country music from within. He also argues that the group’s use of these themes positions their repertoire within Kartomi’s ethnographic model of ‘war music’ genres, which observes a similar distinction between male and female repertoires. He concludes that the Dixie Chicks’ critique of genre may therefore be extended to country music’s explicit support of US foreign policy at this time, and ultimately demonstrates that apparently ‘apolitical’ songs may be interpreted as expressing positive political stances by their critical contexts.
Age-dependent therapeutic effects of liver X receptor-α activation in murine polymicrobial sepsis
Authors: Botez Gabriela , Piraino Giovanna , Hake Paul W , Ledford John R , O’Connor Michael , Cook James A , Zingarelli Basilia
Published: May 2015

The severity of sepsis is significantly affected by advanced age; however, age-dependent molecular mechanisms of this susceptibility are unknown. Nuclear liver X receptor-α (LXRα) is a regulator of lipid metabolism with associated anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we investigated the role of LXRα in age-dependent lung injury and outcome of sepsis. Male C57BL/6, LXRα-deficient (LXRα−/−) and wild type (WT) (LXRα+/+) mice of different ages were subjected to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). In pharmacological studies, treatment with the LXRα ligand T0901317 reduced lung neutrophil infiltration in C57BL/6 mice aged from 1 to 8 mo when compared with vehicle-treated animals subjected to CLP. The LXRα ligand improved survival in young mice (2–3 mo old) but did not affect survival or neutrophil infiltration in mature adult mice (11–13 mo old). Immunoblotting revealed an age-dependent decrease of lung LXRα levels. Young LXRα−/− mice (2–3 mo old) exhibited earlier mortality than age-matched WT mice after CLP. Lung damage and neutrophil infiltration, lung activation of the pro-inflammatory NF-κB and plasma IL-6 levels were higher in LXRα−/− mice 18 h after CLP compared with LXRα+/+ mice. This study suggests that the anti-inflammatory properties of LXRα in sepsis are age-dependent and severely compromised in mature adult animals.
The supreme emergency of war: a critique of Walzer
Authors: Neu Michael
Published: May 2015

This is a critique of the way in which Michael Walzer applies the concept of supreme emergencies in war. It aims to show that Walzer is mistaken in reserving this concept, as well as the associated notion of dirty hands, for situations in which political communities, in a desperate struggle for survival, cannot help but kill innocents intentionally, rather than merely with foresight. If moral agents have moral reasons to proceed in a way which will foreseeably result in innocent people being killed, they are already facing a supreme emergency; the killing does not need to be intentional in some narrower sense for that to be the case. This article stays agnostic on whether or not war can be morally justified in principle, and also on whether or not a dirty hands conception of war is ultimately defensible. It merely argues that if there are supreme emergencies as Walzer describes them, then situations in which war can justifiably be waged are, and ought to be, such emergencies.
Consequentialism, war, and national defense
Authors: Shaw William H
Published: May 2015

What, if anything, grounds the right of national defense? This essay explicates and defends a consequentialist answer to that question. After explaining the relevance and importance of this project, I clarify the meaning of consequentialism and explain how consequentialists understand and justify rights, including the right of national defense. International law enshrines that right. After explaining why it is correct to do so and why that right should be upheld, I examine some issues that this right leaves unsettled and probe its moral limits. I then reply to several objections to a consequentialist approach to national defense, pursuing in particular the criticism that consequentialists cannot justify the Allies’ having taken up defensive arms against the Axis powers in World War II.