bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Searching and Clustering Methodologies
Authors: Driscoll Kevin , Thorson Kjerstin
Published: April 2015

People create, consume, and share content online in increasingly complex ways, often including multiple news, entertainment, and social media platforms. This article explores methods for tracing political media content across overlapping communication infrastructures. Using the 2011 Occupy Movement protests and 2013 consumer boycotts as cases, we illustrate methods for creating integrated datasets of political event-related social media content by (1) using fixed URLs to link posts across platforms ( URL-based integration) and (2) using semiautomated text clustering to identify similar posts across social networking services ( thematic integration). These approaches help to reveal biases in the way that we characterize political communication practices that may occur when we focus on a single platform in isolation.
A model for managing the mentally ill fixated person at major events
Authors: Pathé Michele T , Haworth Debbie J , Lowry Timothy J , Webster Danae M , Winterbourne Paul , Mulder Melodie J , Emmerson Brett
Published: April 2015

Objective:

The main risk of serious harm at major public figure gatherings comes not from terrorists or criminal activity but from fixated persons, many of whom have a serious mental illness. This paper reviews a collaborative mental health-police diversionary model for assessing and managing mentally ill individuals who attend major events because of their fixation on a dignitary or some idiosyncratic cause.

Method:

We examine the role of a multidisciplinary fixated threat assessment service during the pre-operational, operational and post-operational phases of major events in Queensland in 2014, including the G20 World Leaders’ Summit. The benefits and challenges of this unique approach are reviewed.

Results:

The royal visit and G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting presented opportunities for the Queensland Fixated Threat Assessment Centre to develop and refine its approach to assessing and managing the threat posed by fixated persons at such events. Based on this experience, we also developed a typology to assist in the assessment of mentally ill people who present at public figure gatherings. In the week prior to the G20 Summit, six fixated people required hospitalisation for acute psychosis. A further 18 cases were identified during the event, one of whom was an involuntary patient whose leave from hospital was revoked as a consequence of his concerning behaviour at one of the G20 venues. There were no other admissions to hospital during the event, but in the remaining cases, where indicated, follow-up was arranged through the treating mental health service or general practitioner. There were no disruptive incidents involving fixated individuals during the G20.

Conclusion:

This novel diversionary model for assessing and intervening with concerning, fixated persons at major events proved effective in mitigating the risk posed by these individuals. It also highlighted the need for police, security and mental health services to consider the fixated in major event planning, for the safety of the event, the public and vulnerable mentally ill, fixated persons.
Risk Factors on Health-Related Quality of Life in Children With Epilepsy
Authors: Liu Xinjie , Han Qizheng
Published: April 2015

The goal of this study was to evaluate how epilepsy affected the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with epilepsy, as well as the risk factors for poor HRQOL. Parents of epileptic children (n = 223) and parents of healthy children (n = 216) were enrolled. The Child Epilepsy Questionnaire–Parental form was given to all parents. Children with epilepsy had significantly lower HRQOL scores for overall QOL and all subscales. Seizure types were not associated with HRQOL, but the age of the child with epilepsy, disease courses and seizure frequency did influence the quality of life. Epilepsy has a severe impact on children’s HRQOL, and age, increased seizure frequency and longer duration of epilepsy are associated with poor HRQOL.
Peer Victimization in Extremely Low Birth Weight Survivors
Authors: Day Kimberly L. , Van Lieshout Ryan J. , Vaillancourt Tracy , Saigal Saroj , Boyle Michael H. , Schmidt Louis A.
Published: April 2015

Background. Extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1000 g) children may be at risk for experiencing peer victimization. We examined retrospectively reported peer victimization in ELBW and control children in the oldest known, prospectively followed, population-based birth cohort of ELBW survivors. Method. We compared levels of verbal and physical peer victimization in ELBW and control children. We also predicted peer victimization in the ELBW sample from child characteristics. Results. ELBW children, especially girls, were at an increased risk for verbal, but not physical victimization. In addition, ELBW children with a higher IQ reported higher levels of verbal victimization, although ELBW females who had a lower body mass index in childhood reported higher levels of physical victimization. Conclusion. Findings highlight the need for parents and clinicians to be aware that ELBW girls, especially those with a lower body mass index in childhood, may be at increased risk of peer victimization, as are ELBW children with a higher IQ.
Application of the Commission’s recommendations: the 2013–2017 Committee 4 programme of work
Authors: Lochard J.
Published: April 2015

Committee 4 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) is responsible for developing principles, recommendations, and guidance on the protection of people against radiation exposure, and to consider their practical application in all exposure situations. Currently, the Committee’s efforts are focused on the completion of a series of future ICRP publications on the implementation of its 2007 Recommendations to the various existing exposure situations. A report on protection against radon exposure was published recently (ICRP Publication 126), and two documents on protection against cosmic radiation in aviation, and naturally occurring radioactive material are under development. The programme of work for the forthcoming 2013–2017 period comprises the update of ICRP Publication 109 on protection of people in emergency exposure situations, and the update of ICRP Publication 111 on protection of people living in long-term contaminated areas after a nuclear accident, as well as the development of a future ICRP publication on the ethics of radiological protection. It also includes the preparation of task groups on the application of the Commission’s recommendations for contaminated sites from past activities and for surface and near-surface disposal of radioactive waste. Another important task for Committee 4 will be to develop a reflection on the tolerability of risk from radiation.
Indulgent Parenting and Life Satisfaction of College Students: Examination of Eating, Weight, and Body Image
Authors: Coccia Catherine , Darling Carol A.
Published: April 2015

A cross-sectional design based on social cognitive theory was used to examine the association between mother and daughter perceptions of parental indulgence and family health discussions as they influenced eating motivations, health outcomes, and life satisfaction of college females. Results indicated that daughters perceived greater overall indulgence and overnurturance than mothers. Indulgence had both positive and negative associations with daughters’ life satisfaction. Daughters’ perceptions of parental overnurturance and giving too much had the greatest total effects on life satisfaction. Even as daughters began to transition away from their parents, mothers still played an integral role in their health behaviors and outcomes. Additional research was recommended, along with practice recommendations for family and health professionals.
The Music of the Spheres
Authors: Nerone John
Published: April 2015

The article critiques Jeffery Alexander’s book The Civil Sphere. It argues that Alexander’s approach should be augmented by incorporating insights from journalism studies, particularly indexing and Bourdieu’s analysis of the journalistic field, and by paying closer attention to the play of hegemony in the case studies Alexander provides to exemplify the proper working of the civil sphere. It closes by suggesting that Habermasian approaches may provide more useful norms for media professionals and activists.
Incredibly Good Performance
Authors: James Oliver , Van Ryzin Gregg G.
Published: April 2015

Initiatives to boost public trust of government often rely on better reporting of the efforts and accomplishments of government agencies. But if citizens disbelieve the performance reports of agencies, especially information about good performance, then these initiatives may be do little to enhance trust. We ask the following questions: Do citizens find performance information from government agencies to be credible, or do they trust more in independent sources? Do they believe some agencies more than others? And does credibility of the agency itself as a source depend on the level of performance that is being reported? To address these questions, we designed an experiment to test the credibility of a customer satisfaction index for two U.S. federal agencies, with random allocation of the specific agency (one politically less attractive, the other more so), the source of the index (the federal agency itself or an independent rating firm), as well as the level of performance reported in the index. Results from an online sample of nearly 600 U.S. adults show that credibility is lower for the politically less attractive agency and that citizens are especially doubtful about good performance reported by the government agency itself (as opposed to the independent rating firm). These results suggest that independent sources can boost credibility when reporting good news about government performance.
Core crosslinked H-type poly(methacrylic acid)-block-hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene-block-poly(methacrylic acid) four-armed star block copolymer micelles for intercellular drug release
Authors: Xu Jing-Wen , Xu Feng , Luo Yan-Ling
Published: April 2015

H-type four-armed star block copolymers with hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene as hydrophobic sections and poly(methacrylic acid) as hydrophilic fragments were synthesized through atom transform radical polymerization and the follow-up acidolysis, named PMAA2- b-HTPB- b-PMAA2. The core crosslinking reaction was conducted by ultraviolet light irradiation. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared, size exclusion chromatography, and thermal gravimetric analysis were adopted to confirm the chemical structure of the resulting copolymers. The effect of the ultraviolet light crosslinking on the physicochemical properties of the block copolymer micelles was investigated by fluorescent spectrometry, ultraviolet transmittance, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscope measurements. The results showed that the crosslinking resulted in formation of the stable copolymer micelles and change in the physicochemical parameters, for example, lower critical micelle concentration and smaller micellar size than the uncrosslinked one. Drug loading and in vitro drug release disclosed that the crosslinked copolymer micelles had enhanced drug loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency, less drug leakage, and thus smaller harm to the normal cells but better therapy effect than the uncrosslinked counterpart by the aid of the pH-induced paclitaxel release. The copolymer micelles exhibited pH-dependent cytotoxicity, and therefore, they might be a promising drug target release carrier in biomedical applications.
A combined rotational mold for manufacturing a functional liver system
Authors: Wang Xiaohong , Huang Yuanwen , Liu Chang
Published: April 2015

A combined rotational mold system for liver manufacturing was prepared. The combined rotational mold system was composed of a branched internal mold, a basement mold, and a series of external molds with increasing diameters. Semi-spindle constructs, consisting of multiple cell types, such as adipose-derived stem cells and hepatocytes encapsulated in a fibrin hydrogel, were created by sequentially sandwiching cell-laden fibrin hydrogels between the combined rotational mold system based on the Weissenberg effect of non-Newtonian fluid. A spindle liver lobe precursor was constructed, with a multi-scale vascular network including arteries, veins, and capillaries, by integrating the two semi-spindle constructs together and coating the spindle construct with a layer of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide acid) solution. The spindle liver lobe precursor was characterized by a series of in vivo experiments. This first report is the preparation of a functioning complex organ, such as the liver, that was produced using an inexpensive, simple, and effective method.
Conceptualizing Telehealth in Nursing Practice
Authors: Nagel Daniel A. , Penner Jamie L.
Published: April 2015

Increasingly nurses use various telehealth technologies to deliver health care services; however, there has been a lag in research and generation of empirical knowledge to support nursing practice in this expanding field. One challenge to generating knowledge is a gap in development of a comprehensive conceptual model or theoretical framework to illustrate relationships of concepts and phenomena inherent to adoption of a broad range of telehealth technologies to holistic nursing practice. A review of the literature revealed eight published conceptual models, theoretical frameworks, or similar entities applicable to nursing practice. Many of these models focus exclusively on use of telephones and four were generated from qualitative studies, but none comprehensively reflect complexities of bridging nursing process and elements of nursing practice into use of telehealth. The purpose of this article is to present a review of existing conceptual models and frameworks, discuss predominant themes and features of these models, and present a comprehensive conceptual model for telehealth nursing practice synthesized from this literature for consideration and further development. This conceptual model illustrates characteristics of, and relationships between, dimensions of telehealth practice to guide research and knowledge development in provision of holistic person-centered care delivery to individuals by nurses through telehealth technologies.
Determining Family Needs on an Oncology Hospital Unit Using Interview, Art, and Survey
Authors: Catlin Anita , Ford Marilee , Maloney Carrie
Published: April 2015

A movement worldwide, and specifically new to our hospital, is the implementation of Patient- and Family-Centered Care. We were unsure, however, what the needs were of our patients’ families. This triangulated study, on a 28-bed oncology unit, studied family members at the bedside. We asked family members what their needs were in a three-step process (open-ended interview, use of the Draw a Bridge art therapy technique, and the Family Inventory of Needs survey). Nineteen interviews revealed needs for physical comfort, emotional support, cultural sensitivity, recognition of help provided by family members and improved pain management. Art therapy revealed the stress of caregiving and helped to uncover unmet needs for interviewers to explore. The FIN identified that care at home after discharge was a major worry. Knowledge of family members’ needs while a loved one is in the hospital allows for planning and provision of modalities to assist them in their caregiving.
Passion or Dollars?
Authors: Smith Jeff
Published: April 2015

Evidence regarding the influence of campaign donations and lobbying efforts on legislative behavior is mixed. Much research—not to mention conventional wisdom—suggests that well-funded interest groups exploit their resource advantage by making campaign contributions and deploying lobbyists to gain informational advantages and influence legislation. Using contribution data, information about interest group support for legislation, and a rare data set—constituent contacts to six state legislative offices—this paper examines how interest group donations and constituent activism influence outcomes. Although the amount of money contributed by groups supporting or opposing a bill did not affect its prospects, constituent contacts had a substantial impact. Political expenditures by business firms appear primarily to sustain an entrenched class of lobbyists and consultants.
Operative Treatment for Fourth Curly Toe Deformity in Adults
Authors: Choi Jun Young , Park Hyun Joo , Suh Jin Soo
Published: April 2015

Background:

Curly toe deformity, a relatively common condition, occurs because of contracture of the flexor digitorum longus and flexor digitorum brevis. Numerous operative techniques have been introduced for treatment. However, there are no reports on fixed, longstanding deformity in adults.

Methods:

Data on 32 toes in 24 consecutive patients treated from 2003 to 2013 who underwent dorsolateral closing wedge-shaped resection arthroplasty for fourth curly toe deformity with a minimum 1-year follow-up were reviewed retrospectively. The mean follow-up period was 49 months. All patients presented preoperatively with a fixed deformity, underriding the adjacent toe. Combined surgeries were performed in 17 cases.

Results:

Of 32 toes, fixed deformity presented more frequently at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, and resection at the PIP joint level was performed in 19 cases as opposed to 13 at the distal interphalangeal joint. The mean corrections of varus inclination and shortening were 31 ± 16 degrees and 3.1 ± 2.1 mm, respectively. American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society scores significantly improved from 50 ± 2 preoperatively to 89 ± 8 at the final follow-up. There was 1 case of recurrence, floating toe deformity following pin tract infection in 1 case, and floating toe deformity without infection in 1 case.

Conclusion:

We introduced dorsolateral closing wedge-shaped resection arthroplasty as a simple, effective, and powerful option for treating fixed, longstanding fourth curly toe deformity in adults.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, retrospective case series.
Effect of journal out-of-roundness on stability of a symmetric hydrodynamic journal bearing system. Part 1: Theoretical analysis
Authors: Xu Wubin , Ogrodnik Peter J , Li Bing , Zhang Hongxian , Gao Shanghan
Published: April 2015

The study examines the effect of journal out-of-roundness on the dynamic performance of rotating machines supported by oil film bearings. A general model of a symmetric hydrodynamic journal bearing system allowing for journal out-of-roundness is presented. The results show that the journal out-of-roundness influences the oil film thickness and further influences the dynamic characteristics of the system. The journal out-of-roundness may incur an additional vibration component when the system operates. The amplitude of this vibration component is dependent upon the magnitude of the journal out-of-roundness, while the frequency of which is an integral multiple of the synchronous vibration frequency, depending upon the profile of journal out-of-roundness. Although journal out-of-roundness may increase overall system stability, when dimensionless out-of-roundness is below 0.2, there is little effect; between 0.2 and 0.4, stability is improved but vibration levels are high. When the dimensionless journal out-of-roundness is larger than 0.5, the theoretical analysis shows much uncertainty on the system stability and the boundary of oil film instability is not very clear, this needs further examination from both theoretical and experimental evidences. The system designer should balance between the stability and the vibration level at the design stage.
Evaluation of the contact strength and durability of plain bearings with different types of shaft lobing
Authors: Chernets Myron
Published: April 2015

The generalized cumulative model of wear is employed to solve the tribocontact problem for plain bearings where journals have small lobing (ovality, trilobing, tetralobing). The case of mixed-area contact interaction between the shaft and bush is examined. The study investigates the effect of lobing both on variations in the maximum contact pressures during a full revolution of the shaft and on bearing durability. Regularities concerning this effect are determined. It was found that lobing causes a significant increase in the contact pressures depending on the extent of shaft out-of-roundedness and type of lobing. Specifically, ovality increases the bearing durability by 1.32 times; compared to the durability of a bearing with a circular section shaft, trilobing increases the bearing durability by 1.25 times, whereas tetralobing decreases the bearing durability even by 1.2 times.
Reskilled and ‘Running Ahead’: Teachers in an international school talk about their work
Authors: Bailey Lucy
Published: April 2015

This article reports on a study of the professional identity of expatriate teachers working in an international school in Malaysia. It examines the practical, cultural and professional challenges they experienced as they transitioned to an international school setting. Their experiences of curricular, organisational and cultural change are explored, and the impact of these on their professional identity is analysed. Also explored is the importance of a professional community with shared norms to maintaining a continued identity in the face of change.
Home and away: An inquiry into home-based and overseas teacher perceptions regarding international schools
Authors: Hrycak John
Published: April 2015

The world of international schools is expanding, fuelled in part by globalisation and the ease with which employees can relocate across the globe as they seek new employment opportunities. As these mobile families relocate overseas, international schools provide an education for their children which may offer a curriculum based on a common and transferable syllabus, similar to one they experienced at home. The research on which this article is based presents a picture not only of teaching in the United Kingdom and overseas, but also of teachers’ perceptions, views and expectations regarding international teaching. It offers comparisons between what teachers at home believe is happening, and the reality as perceived by those with overseas experience. The study explores this internationally nomadic workforce, and observes the growth in international schools which, in turn, has further increased the demand for the international teacher. The findings show that the majority of home teachers in the study are aware of the international opportunities available to teachers. The results also show similarities in responses from home and overseas teachers. This research furthermore reveals that there exists a continually growing market, which provides teachers with increased choice about where to teach, live and progress their career.
Niila Myaamia (I Am Miami)
Authors: Mosley-Howard G. Susan , Baldwin Daryl , Ironstrack George , Rousmaniere Kate , Burke Bobbe
Published: April 2015

Some Native American college students, like many college students, engage in a complex process of identity formation that involves discovering their culture. This ongoing identity formation process impacts various aspects of their lives including academic achievement and sense of belonging. This study examined the process of one cohort of Native American college students, Myaamia Tribe (Miami Nation), as they matriculated through a predominantly White institution that shares their tribal name. Results suggest that identity is influenced through a series of courses designed to provide deeper learning about tribal culture and language. The relational bonds to other tribal students and the cultural knowledge that emerged from the series of culture courses not only influenced identity development but also contributed to academic retention and success.
Social Networking Web Sites as a Tool for Student Transitions
Authors: Nalbone David P. , Kovach Ronald J. , Fish Jessica N. , McCoy Kelsey M. , Jones Kathryn E. , Wright Hillary Rawlings
Published: April 2015

The current study investigated the potential role that social networking Web sites (e.g., Facebook) played in creating both actual and virtual learning communities within the first-year seminar. Researchers conducted a 2-year longitudinal study to assess whether students who were connected within a university-founded virtual network persisted in greater numbers, transitioned more smoothly, and rated overall university satisfaction higher than those in a control group. Results indicated that Facebook led to small, but significant, changes in students’ desire to work with others, adjustment to college, and satisfaction with their institutions. Administrative uses for social networking in student transitions, persistence, and satisfaction are also proposed.
Continuous High-Frequency Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus Improves Cell Survival and Functional Recovery Following Dopaminergic Cell Transplantation in Rodents
Authors: Furlanetti Luciano L. , Cordeiro Joacir Graciolli , Cordeiro Karina Kohn , García Joanna A. , Winkler Christian , Lepski Guilherme A. , Coenen Volker A. , Nikkhah Guido , Döbrössy Máté D.
Published: April 2015

Subthalamic nucleus (STN) high-frequency stimulation (HFS) is a routine treatment in Parkinson’s disease (PD), with confirmed long-term benefits. An alternative, but still experimental, treatment is cell replacement and restorative therapy based on transplanted dopaminergic neurons. The current experiment evaluated the potential synergy between neuromodulation and grafting by studying the effect of continuous STN-HFS on the survival, integration, and functional efficacy of ventral mesencephalic dopaminergic precursors transplanted into a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine medial forebrain bundle lesioned rodent PD model. One group received continuous HFS of the ipsilateral STN starting a week prior to intrastriatal dopaminergic neuron transplantation, whereas the sham-stimulated group did not receive STN-HFS but only dopaminergic grafts. A control group was neither lesioned nor transplanted. Over the following 7 weeks, the animals were probed on a series of behavioral tasks to evaluate possible graft and/or stimulation-induced functional effects. Behavioral and histological data suggest that STN-HFS significantly increased graft cell survival, graft–host integration, and functional recovery. These findings might open an unexplored road toward combining neuromodulative and neuroregenerative strategies to treat severe neurologic conditions.
Imagined Constitutionality: Rethinking Democratic Citizenship with the Aid of Fiction Theory
Authors: Tans Olaf
Published: April 2015

Seeing that political communities are often believed to have an imaginary constitutional basis, this article raises the question how we – citizens of those communities – relate to this imaginary basis, and to the legitimacy it claims. As the answers already given tend to focus on the instrumental, here it is argued that insights from fiction theory can be used to shed new light on the mechanisms involved in our ability to adhere to the idea of there being an original (normative) foundation of the state. Drawing from Johan Huizinga and other play-oriented thinkers, the constitutional fiction is reconstructed as a social situation in which the existence and hegemony of a foundational normative framework is pretended to be the case. It is argued that our ability to adhere to this public form of pretense stems from the capacity to have separate spheres of consciousness: one to go along in the enacted world, and one to generate our own personal response to it. In the interaction between these two spheres of consciousness we develop our normative commitments and collective identity, while ascribing them to an imaginary constitution.
Submucosal invasion and risk of lymph node invasion in early Barrett's cancer: potential impact of different classification systems on patient management
Authors: Fotis Dimitrios , Doukas Michael , Wijnhoven Bas PL , Didden Paul , Biermann Katharina , Bruno Marco J , Koch Arjun D
Published: April 2015

Background

Due to the high mortality and morbidity rates of esophagectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is increasingly used for the curative treatment of early low risk Barrett's adenocarcinoma.

Objective

This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the prevalence of lymph node metastases (LNM) in submucosal (T1b) esophageal adenocarcinomas (EAC) in relation to the absolute depth of submucosal tumor invasion and demonstrate the efficacy of EMR for low risk (well and moderately differentiated without lymphovascular invasion) EAC with sm1 invasion (submucosal invasion ≤500 µm) according to the Paris classification.

Methods

The pathology reports of patients undergoing endoscopic resection and surgery from January 1994 until December 2013 at one center were reviewed and 54 patients with submucosal invasion were included. LNM were evaluated in surgical specimens and by follow up examinations in case of EMR.

Results

No LNM were observed in 10 patients with sm1 adenocarcinomas that underwent endoscopic resection. Three of them underwent supplementary endoscopic eradication therapy with a median follow up of 27 months for patients with sm1 tumors. In the surgical series two patients (29%) with sm1 invasion according to the pragmatic classification (subdivision of the submucosa into three equal thirds), staged as sm2–3 in the Paris classification, had LNM. The rate of LNM for surgical patients with low risk sm1 tumors was 10% according to the pragmatic classification and 0% according to Paris classification.

Conclusion

Different classifications of the tumor invasion depth lead to different LNM risks and treatment strategies for sm1 adenocarcinomas. Patients with low risk sm1 adenocarcinomas appear to be suitable candidates for EMR.
Efficacy and safety of laparo‐endoscopic resections of colorectal neoplasia: A systematic review
Authors: Arezzo Alberto , Passera Roberto , Migliore Marco , Cirocchi Roberto , Galloro Giuseppe , Manta Raffaele , Morino Mario
Published: April 2015

Objective

The purpose of this review is to assess the efficacy and safety of laparo‐endoscopic local resections for colorectal lesions not suitable for endoscopic resection.

Summary background data

The combined laparo‐endoscopic approach has been proposed for large colorectal lesions unsuitable for endoscopic resection, in order to reduce morbidity of common laparoscopic resection. However, data on the efficacy and safety of laparo‐endoscopic local resections are still controversial.

Methods

An Embase search of papers published during the period 1985–2014 was performed. Published studies that evaluated laparo‐endoscopic resections for colorectal lesions were assessed using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses) recommendations by two authors. Forest plots on primary (per‐lesion rate of further surgery, including surgery for complications and surgery for oncologic radical treatment) and secondary outcomes were produced based on fixed and random effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I 2 statistic. Risk for within‐study bias was ascertained with QUADAS (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies) system.

Results

A total of 11 studies provided data on 707 lesions treated with a combined laparo‐endoscopic approach. A variety of techniques were reported. The overall per‐lesion rate of further surgery was 9.5%, while per‐lesion rate of further surgery for oncologic treatment was 7.9%, per‐lesion rate of further surgery for complications treatment was 3.5%, incidence of adenocarcinoma was 10.5%, incidence of overall complications was 7.9%, incidence of conversion to open surgery 4.3% and incidence of recurrence was 5.4%.

Conclusions

Despite laparo‐endoscopic approach ensures limited invasiveness, it is affected by a consistent rate of complications and oncologic inadequacy that often requires further surgical treatment.
Follow-up imaging in the first two years after nephrectomy for T1 RCC: Over-use or necessary care?
Authors: Joshi Shreyas S , Sohn William S , Sun Daniel , Clark Peter E , Barocas Daniel A , Resnick Matthew J , Cookson Michael S , Smith Joseph A , Chang Sam S
Published: April 2015

Objective:

We sought to study patterns of imaging for follow-up after surgery for stage T1 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) at a single institution. We hypothesised that there would be significant variation in the use of surveillance imaging.

Methods and materials:

We evaluated the two-year follow-up of 317 consecutive patients undergoing radical or partial nephrectomy who were found to have pT1 RCC. Follow-up imaging data were collected. Surgical characteristics and tumour pathology data were analysed via a Poisson regression model to evaluate the incidence rate ratio for frequency of imaging based on each variable. Logistic regression was used to evaluate factors correlated with concordance with current imaging guidelines.

Results:

A total of 1016 imaging exams were performed after surgery on 268 patients. These studies identified four tumour recurrences: two local and two lung. The overall recurrence rate was 1.49%. Three recurrences were found within a two-year postoperative window, and one was recorded on the patient’s last clinic note after two years. Of 66 imaging exams with findings suspicious for recurrence, 62 were found to be false positives. All statistical analyses on a subgroup of 162 patients with full two-year follow-up failed to demonstrate any correlation between clinicopathologic variables and the frequency of abdominal imaging or concordance with current imaging guidelines.

Conclusions:

Frequent follow-up imaging studies were obtained despite a low recurrence rate. There was a high rate of false-positive findings on routine exams. No clinicopathologic criteria were identified that were correlated with increased imaging frequency.
Attachment to Sports Conferences
Authors: Spinda John S. W. , Wann Daniel L. , Hardin Robin
Published: April 2015

This study examined points of attachment (POA), or how sports fans experience multiple types of identification beyond team allegiance (e.g., identification with players, coaches, levels of sport, the sport itself, and university/region) at different levels of fandom. More specifically, high school, collegiate (i.e., National Collegiate Athletic Association), and professional (i.e., National Football League) football fans ( N = 698) were asked to respond to items that have been associated with six POA in previous studies, as well as items that tested a new point of attachment to conference/division of a fan's favorite team. A confirmatory factor analysis indicated that this revised seven-factor, 21-item points of attachment index demonstrated adequate overall fit. Our findings also indicated that multiple POA differed significantly among high school, collegiate, and professional football fans. Theoretical implications, future research, and limitations are also discussed.
Generative Concern and Environmentalism
Authors: Jia Fanli , Alisat Susan , Soucie Kendall , Pratt Michael
Published: April 2015

In a mixed-methods longitudinal study, we examined the relationship between Erikson’s construct of generativity, measured at ages 23 and 26, and environmentalism at age 32. Over a hundred Canadian youth completed a questionnaire that measured generative concerns. Environmentalism was assessed by questionnaires on involvement, identity, and attitudes, as well as through narratives about personal experiences with the environment. Narratives were coded for meaning, vividness, and impact of environmentalism. Stronger generative concern in emerging adulthood positively predicted environmentalism after controlling for liberal political orientation and benevolence values. Qualitative analyses of the environmental narrative of participants high in generative concerns revealed three themes that highlight the developmental process that ties generative concerns to environmentalism: (1) wanting to feel more empowered to help the environment, (2) the role of having children as a focus for crystallizing environmentalism, and (3) the passing on of specific family traditions from earlier generations. Environmentalism thus may be one important domain of expression for generative care in youth.
“If I Pay, I Have a Say!”
Authors: Lowe Katie , Dotterer Aryn M. , Francisco Jacquelyn
Published: April 2015

Guided by developmental and sociological frameworks, the present study investigated two interrelated research questions, namely, (a) is helicopter parenting (HP) a unidimensional or multidimensional construct and (b) is parental payment of college education associated with freshmen’s reports of HP? Participants (58% female) included 190 first-semester freshmen (70% Caucasian) who completed a survey with items on parenting (proportion of parental payment for college education, HP behaviors). Results indicated HP was a singular form of overinvolvement and that most freshmen reported low levels of HP. As hypothesized, parental payment of college education was positively associated with HP, and this association was strongest among freshmen without a scholarship. Challenges to the popularized perception that most parents of college students are overinvolved, and implications regarding educational expenses linking parents and emerging adults in the college context are discussed.
Cultural Bias in Testing
Authors: Kruse Adam J.
Published: April 2015

The findings and discussions related to cultural bias in testing have in no way been unanimous. However, the considerations of this area of inquiry may possess meaningful implications for educators of any subject. In this review of literature, I describe the issues, research, and arguments surrounding cultural bias in testing and discuss implications for the field of music education. A working description of cultural bias in testing for the purpose of this article involves the notions of (a) significantly different results for definable subgroups from apparently similar ability levels and (b) issues with the fair and equitable interpretation and use of test results. Applications of general education scholarship to music education settings include investigations and perceptions of cultural bias as well as suggestions for improved fairness consisting of addressing group differences, offering diverse ways to perform, discouraging misuse, and accommodating for differences.
Modified Ham test for atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome
Authors: Gavriilaki Eleni , Yuan Xuan , Ye Zhaohui , Ambinder Alexander J. , Shanbhag Satish P. , Streiff Michael B. , Kickler Thomas S. , Moliterno Alison R. , Sperati C. John , Brodsky Robert A.
Published: April 2015

Key Points

GPI-anchor–deficient cell lines are more vulnerable to complement C5b-9 deposition and cell killing from aHUS serum. PIGA-null reagent cell lines can be used to rapidly and reliably distinguish aHUS from other thrombotic microangiopathies.
Predictions for optimal mitigation of paracrine inhibitory signalling in haemopoietic stem cell cultures
Authors: Berry Joseph D , Godara Pankaj , Liovic Petar , Haylock David N
Published: April 2015

Introduction

Recent studies in the literature have highlighted the critical role played by cell signalling in determining haemopoietic stem cell (HSC) fate within ex vivo culture systems. Stimulatory signals can enhance proliferation and promote differentiation, whilst inhibitory signals can significantly limit culture output.

Methods

Numerical models of various mitigation strategies are presented and applied to determine effectiveness of these strategies toward mitigation of paracrine inhibitory signalling inherent in these culture systems. The strategies assessed include mixing, media-exchange, fed-batch and perfusion.

Results

The models predict that significant spatial concentration gradients exist in typical cell cultures, with important consequences for subsequent cell expansion. Media exchange is shown to be the most effective mitigation strategy, but remains labour intensive and difficult to scale-up for large culture systems. The fed-batch strategy is only effective at very small Peclet number, and its effect is diminished as the cell culture volume grows. Conversely, mixing is effective at high Peclet number, and ineffective at low Peclet number. The models predict that cell expansion in fed-batch cultures becomes independent of increasing dilution rate, consistent with experimental results previously reported in the literature. In contrast, the models predict that increasing the flow rate in perfused cultures will lead to increased cell expansion, indicating the suitability of perfusion for use as an automated, tunable strategy. The effect of initial cell seeding density is also investigated, with the model showing that perfusion outperforms dilution for all densities considered.

Conclusions

The models predict that the impact of inhibitory signalling in HSC cultures can be mitigated against using media manipulation strategies, with the optimal strategy dependent upon the protein diffusion time-scale relative to the media manipulation time-scale. The key messages from this study can be applied to any complex cell culture scenario where cell-cell interactions and paracrine signalling networks impact upon cell fate and cell expansion.
Equine allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells elicit antibody responses in vivo
Authors: Pezzanite Lynn M , Fortier Lisa A , Antczak Douglas F , Cassano Jennifer M , Brosnahan Margaret M , Miller Donald , Schnabel Lauren V
Published: April 2015

Introduction

This study tested the hypothesis that Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) incompatible equine mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) would induce cytotoxic antibodies to donor MHC antigens in recipient horses after intradermal injection. No studies to date have explored recipient antibody responses to allogeneic donor MSC transplantation in the horse. This information is critical because the horse is a valuable species for assessing the safety and efficacy of MSC treatment prior to human clinical application.

Methods

Six MHC heterozygote horses were identified as non-ELA-A2 haplotype by microsatellite typing and used as allogeneic MHC-mismatched MSC recipients. MHC homozygote horses of known ELA-A2 haplotype were used as MSC and peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL) donors. One MHC homozygote horse of the ELA-A2 haplotype was the recipient of ELA-A2 donor MSCs as an MHC-matched control. Donor MSCs, which were previously isolated and immunophenotyped, were thawed and culture expanded to achieve between 30x106 and 50x106 cells for intradermal injection into the recipient’s neck. Recipient serum was collected and tested for the presence of anti-donor antibodies prior to MSC injection and every 7 days after MSC injection for the duration of the 8-week study using the standard two-stage lymphocyte microcytotoxicity dye-exclusion test. In addition to anti-ELA-A2 antibodies, recipient serum was examined for the presence of cross-reactive antibodies including anti-ELA-A3 and anti-RBC antibodies.

Results

All MHC-mismatched recipient horses produced anti-ELA-A2 antibodies following injection of ELA-A2 MSCs and developed a wheal at the injection site that persisted for the duration of the experiment. Anti-ELA-A2 antibody responses were varied both in terms of strength and timing. Four recipient horses had high-titered anti-ELA-A2 antibody responses resulting in greater than 80% donor PBL death in the microcytotoxicity assays and one of these horses also developed antibodies that cross-reacted when tested on lymphocyte targets from a horse with an unrelated MHC type.

Conclusions

Allogeneic MSCs are capable of eliciting antibody responses in vivo that can be strong and also cross-reactive with MHC types other than that of the donor. Such responses could limit the effectiveness of repeated allogeneic MSC use in a single horse, and could also result in untoward inflammatory responses in recipients.
The prion protein regulates beta-amyloid-mediated self-renewal of neural stem cells in vitro
Authors: Collins Steven J , Tumpach Carolin , Li Qiao-Xin , Lewis Victoria , Ryan Timothy M , Roberts Blaine , Drew Simon C , Lawson Victoria A , Haigh Cathryn L
Published: April 2015

The beta-amyloid (Aβ) peptide and the Aβ-oligomer receptor, prion protein (PrP), both influence neurogenesis. Using in vitro murine neural stem cells (NSCs), we investigated whether Aβ and PrP interact to modify neurogenesis. Aβ imparted PrP-dependent changes on NSC self-renewal, with PrP-ablated and wild-type NSCs displaying increased and decreased cell growth, respectively. In contrast, differentiation of Aβ-treated NSCs into mature cells was unaffected by PrP expression. Such marked PrP-dependent differences in NSC growth responses to Aβ provides further evidence of biologically significant interactions between these two factors and an important new insight into regulation of NSC self-renewal in vivo.
Approximating common fixed points of semigroups in metric spaces
Authors: Bin Dehaish Buthinah A , Khamsi Mohamed A
Published: April 2015

In this paper, we investigate the common fixed points set of nonexpansive semigroups of nonlinear mappings $\{T_{t}\}_{t \geq0}$

{

T
t

}

t
≥
0

, i.e., a family such that $T_{0}(x)=x$

T
0

(
x
)
=
x
, $T_{s+t}=T_{s}(T_{t}(x))$

T

s
+
t

=

T
s

(

T
t

(
x
)
)
, where the domain is a metric space $(M,d)$
(
M
,
d
)
. In particular we prove that under suitable conditions, the common fixed points set is the same as the common fixed points set of two mappings from the family. Then we use the modified Mann iteration process to approximate such common fixed points.
On multivalued weakly Picard operators in partial Hausdorff metric spaces
Authors: Jleli Mohamed , Nashine Hemant Kumar , Samet Bessem , Vetro Calogero
Published: April 2015

We discuss multivalued weakly Picard operators on partial Hausdorff metric spaces. First, we obtain Kikkawa-Suzuki type fixed point theorems for a new type of generalized contractive conditions. Then, we prove data dependence of a fixed points set theorem. Finally, we present sufficient conditions for well-posedness of a fixed point problem. Our results generalize, complement and extend classical theorems in metric and partial metric spaces.
Multi-dimensional coincidence point theorems for weakly compatible mappings with the $CLR_{g}$-property in (fuzzy) metric spaces
Authors: Martínez-Moreno J , Roldán A , Roldán C , Cho Yeol Je
Published: April 2015

In this paper, we extend the concepts of the $E.A$
E
.
A
-property and the $CLR_{g}$
C
L

R
g

-property in fuzzy metric spaces to the setting of multi-dimensional fuzzy metric spaces and show the existence of multi-dimensional coincidence point and fixed point theorems for weakly compatible mappings with the $E.A$
E
.
A
-property and the $CLR_{g}$
C
L

R
g

-property.
A new diagnostic vestibular evoked response
Authors: Dastgheib Zeinab A , Lithgow Brian , Blakley Brian , Moussavi Zahra
Published: April 2015

Objective

To describe the development of a new clinically applicable method for assessing vestibular function in humans with particular application in Meniere's disease.

Study design

Sophisticated signal-processing techniques were applied to data from human subject undergoing tilts stimulating the otolith organs and semicircular canals. The most sensitive representatives of vestibular function were extracted as “features”.

Methods

After careful consideration of expected response features, Electrovestibulography, a modified electrocochleography, recordings were performed on fourteen Meniere's patients and sixteen healthy controls undergoing controlled tilts. The data were subjected to multiple signal processing techniques to determine which “features” were most predictive of vestibular responses.

Results

Linear discriminant analysis and fractal dimension may allow data from a single tilt to be used to adequately characterize the vestibular system.

Conclusion

Objective, physiologic assessment of vestibular function may become realistic with application of modern signal processing techniques.