bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Young Jeezy and “The Recession”
Authors: Payne Yasser Arafat
Published: December 2015

This article presents an in-depth case study and qualitative examination of Young Jeezy’s album “ The Recession” to explore to what extent Gangster Rap artists use Hip-Hop as way to respond to structural inequality in economically poor Black communities. Through Young Jeezy’s phenomenological standpoint, much can be understood about the lived experiences of Gangster Rap music and culture as well as more broadly, the perspectives of street-identified Black men. Sites of Resilience Theory and Grounded Theory were employed as method and analysis to examine Young Jeezy’s album “ The Recession.” Analysis reveals “ The Recession” speaks to the challenges of blocked economic and educational opportunity, negative living and health conditions, a corrupt political system, and the insidious ways these forms of structural inequality shape the identity of street-identified Black men. This article calls for social scientists and community professionals who seek to reach Black men in the streets to more deeply understand the phenomenological value of Gangster Rap music.
Female killers and gender politics in contemporary South African crime fiction: Conversations with crime writers Jassy Mackenzie, Angela Makholwa, and Mike Nicol
Authors: Binder Sabine
Published: December 2015

Social analysis is part and parcel of South African crime fiction,1 a genre which has been flourishing since the end of apartheid. Interrogating the country’s high levels of gender-based violence, various South African crime writers explore gender issues in their fiction.2 Critically-acclaimed crime writers Jassy Mackenzie, Angela Makholwa, and Mike Nicol stand out in this field through their creations of instantly memorable female serial killers as protagonists. In the interviews that follow, the three writers discuss the rationales behind their choice of a traditionally masculine role for their female protagonists, how they navigated through ensuing ethical problems and their characters’ potential for uncomfortable reader identification, but also virulent issues of gender in contemporary South African society. They argue that since assertions of power have so long been connected to assertions of masculinity, performing the male role of the killer is a way for their female figures to move to a place of power. Thus, their protagonists’ perpetrating agency enables them to be the equals — if not superiors — of the men they interact with.3 Moreover, it empowers them to act as renegades who contest the dominant power and who are generally in control in an environment which is rife with inequality and where women more often than not are the victims of crime. In this way, besides being a means to explore female perpetrating agency, the figure of the female killer also has the potential to transform the way readers of crime fiction view women.4
Sharing the Stage
Authors: Nichols Jeananne
Published: December 2015

In this autoethnographic study, I identify and critique the ethical dimensions of the research relationship from a narrative inquiry into a transgender student’s experience in school music. Josselson notes that while many scholars have discussed conducting ethical research in theoretical terms, actual dilemmas of practice are seldom written about. The “dilemmas of practice” I encountered include the effort to honor Rie’s privilege to identify herself and determine how she is represented in the work, her “say” in the construction of her story and the purposes to which it used, and, as critical storytelling is not a neutral endeavor, the textual choreography necessary to balance my responsibility as researcher to observe and critique the implications of Rie’s story with her vulnerability in sharing intimate details of her personal journey. By contemplating and detailing the specific ethical dilemmas associated with researching and writing Rie’s story, I illuminate the connections of theory to practice and provide grist for continuing the dialogue on conducting responsible narrative inquiry in the field of music education.
Real-time simulation and performance analysis of multimachine power systems using dSPACE simulator
Authors: Ramya R , Selvi K , Murali K
Published: December 2015

The analysis of the characteristics of multiple machines constituting a power system in real time is of paramount importance. The reported work uses dSPACE, a dynamic simulator, in investigating the characteristics of the said multimachine system. The transient model of the Western System Coordinating Council (WSCC) nine-bus, three-unit system is developed using MATLAB/Simulink. Using real-time interface, the model is executed in the digital signal processor (DSP) of dSPACE hardware. The model is analyzed for its performance against multiple changes in mechanical torque and load variation. The transient behavior of the model upon incidence of a significant network fault and its robustness towards to perturbations in network and system parameters are thoroughly analyzed. The conditions are emulated by usage of the digital signal processor and DS1104 Controller Board.
A Q3-Based Permutation Test for Assessing Local Independence
Authors: Finch W. Holmes , Jeffers Heather
Published: December 2015

Item response theory (IRT) is a powerful statistical methodology used in the analysis of psychological and educational assessments. IRT rests on three fundamental assumptions about the data, including local independence, which means that after accounting for the latent trait(s) being measured, the item responses are independent of one another. Traditionally, this assumption is assessed using Yen’s Q3 statistic. However, Q3 does not have a known sampling distribution, and thus, it is typically used in a descriptive fashion, such that values larger than an arbitrary cut-value (e.g., 0.2) indicate the presence of local dependence. The current study introduces a formal test of the null hypothesis that for a given item pair Q3 is 0, based on permutation test methodology. A small simulation study carried out to assess the Type I error and power rates of the Q3 permutation test found that this new statistic maintains good Type I error control, while also yielding power for detecting local dependence at a rate higher than that associated with the use of the 0.2 cut-value.
Putative hormone with anti-obesogenic and insulin-sensitizing effect
Authors: Sosa Ivan , Grubesic Aron
Published: December 2015

It was confirmed that bone morphogenetic protein-9 (BMP-9), like insulin, improves glycemia in diabetic mice and regulates glucose metabolism in hepatocytes, which is why it is proposed as a candidate for the hepatic insulin-sensitizing substance (HISS). Regarding the fact that BMP-9 has a signaling pathway similar to other BMPs as well as insulin, it is expected that BMP-9 would also have certain effects on the liver. In our 2011 hypothesis, we aimed towards BMP-9 as a possible “hepatic insulin-sensitizing substance” (HISS) and in this article, we provide further evidence, derived from existing studies, suggesting that this putative hormone might in fact be none other than BMP-9.
Is Verbal Interaction Coding A Reliable Pretesting Technique?
Authors: Palmieri Marco
Published: December 2015

The study, reported in this article, shows that the connection between the interviewer’s and/or interviewee’s behaviors, which deviate from the ideal course of standardization, and the interpretative distortions due to badly formulated questions is weak. The behaviorist theoretical thesis, which supports the methodological structure of the verbal interaction coding, has to be revised. To diagnose the questions which make the interpretative problems more frequent in interview, social researcher cannot limit himself/herself to detecting and encoding verbal behaviors. His/her goal is to evaluate the suitability of the interviewer’s and/or interviewee’s behaviors with respect to the meanings mutually exchanged during the interview. This is the way to follow for modifying the verbal interaction coding.
Factory Girls After the Factory
Authors: Chuang Julia
Published: December 2015

Many scholars of gender and migration assume that migration increases women’s household bargaining power, but this article argues that migration recreates and relies on patriarchal expectations that women return to household domestic labor. It draws on 16 months of ethnographic fieldwork with migrant factory women in China’s export processing zones as well as one migrant-sending community in China. Based on this fieldwork, I argue that despite young women’s desires to continue migrating for factory jobs, older generations perpetuate gendered views of female migration as licentious and risky, in opposition to a dominant paradigm of proper femininity that relegates young women to household labor. They do this because migration creates an intergenerational dependence in migrant origin sites. Older women, unemployable in factories and deprived of state welfare support at home, rely on wage remittances from high-earning migrant sons and sons-in-law for subsistence. To ensure they receive remittances, they encourage daughters to marry higher-earning migrant men, then pressure these daughters to cease migrating in order to perform household domestic labor in support of migrant husbands. This finding reflects constraints on the opportunities that migration delivers to women: Not all women can migrate, and those who cannot must vie for control over migrant remittances.
New Conversations in Islamic and Christian Political Thought
Authors: al-Akiti Afifi , Hordern Joshua
Published: December 2015

The focus of this project, New Conversations in Islamic and Christian Political Thought, concerns the ‘pre-modern’ or ‘long’ traditions of political thought in Islam and Christianity. The renaissance in Christian political thought since World War II has not yet witnessed a sustained engagement with Islamic political thought. Meanwhile, the interface of religion and political life has increasingly become a major focus of academic and public discourse. By exploring the varied traditions of Islam and Christianity, this project seeks to retrieve and develop wisdom in political understanding with a view to enriching this discourse.
Integrated dynamic cell formation with operator assignment and inter-cell layout problems: A mathematical model
Authors: Sadeghi Saeed , Forghani Mohammad Ali , Seidi Masoud
Published: December 2015

Designing a cellular manufacturing system involves four major decisions: cell formation, cellular layout, operator assignment and cellular scheduling which should be considered, simultaneously. This article presents a new mathematical model to solve the cell formation, operator assignment and inter-cell layout problems, concurrently. The objectives of proposed model are minimization of inter–intra cell part movements, machine relocation cost and operator-related issues including hiring, firing, training and salary costs. Two numerical examples in both small and large sizes are optimally solved by the Lingo software to verify and validate the proposed mathematical model. Also, a sensitivity analysis is performed to analyze the behavior of operators in different production periods.
Family policy in comparative perspective: The concepts and measurement of familization and defamilization
Authors: Lohmann Henning , Zagel Hannah
Published: December 2015

Family policy is not easily conceptualized or measured in comparative research. Previous approaches are highly diverse and have yielded mixed empirical results in terms of placing countries’ family policy profiles in the international landscape and mapping their trajectories. This article reviews the long-standing discussion of the familization and defamilization concepts popular in comparative research, derives a conceptual framework and provides an in-depth discussion of current empirical approaches. It tackles the lacking consensus on how familization and defamilization are measured, arguing that interventions in gender-specific and intergenerational dependencies are the key dimensions and that measurement at policy level is best suited to capture within- and cross-country variation in family policy. Using data on 21 European countries, the article proposes measures that acknowledge the different dimensions of familization and defamilization. The proposed indicators prove to be useful for mapping a range of European countries’ family policy constellations but are bound by data restrictions. Therefore, the article makes a strong claim for improving the availability of internationally comparable family policy data.
Christian Goddess Spirituality and Thealogy
Authors: Beavis Mary Ann
Published: December 2015

This article reports on the preliminary findings of a research project on the phenomenon of the blending of Christianity and Goddess Spirituality1 (‘Christian Goddess Spirituality’), with particular reference to the beliefs and values of practitioners. The contours of a grassroots Christian Thealogy (‘reflection on the female divine’) are sketched by drawing from the transcripts of over 100 interviews with women who self-identify as blending Christianity and Goddess Spirituality.
Thérèse mon amour: Julia Kristeva’s St. Teresa of Avila
Authors: Coles Elizabeth
Published: December 2015

This essay reads Julia Kristeva’s ‘novel-essay’ on St. Teresa of Avila, Thérèse mon amour (2008b), as a form of relationship to literature we can also see suggested, though not theorized, in Kristeva’s critical thought. Thérèse mon amour performs feats of interpretation and intimacy with St. Teresa’s writing that rehearse key tenets of her theology, but that also revive and re-open questions at the heart of Kristeva’s theoretical matrix, questions of narcissism and love, metaphor and language. The essay traces these questions in Kristeva’s oeuvre, proposing that Thérèse mon amour exposes unexpected affinities between a Kristevan ethics of relationship and the radical dilemma of faith in St. Teresa. The two are united, I suggest, by the fraught project of writing love.
Experience, Authority, and Social Critique: A Comparison of Margaret Farley and John Dewey
Authors: Dunn Shannon
Published: December 2015

The category of experience has constituted an important point for reflection in moral philosophy and theology, particularly among feminist and liberationist circles. The appeal to experience as an authoritative source has been met with criticism by those who understand the term to connote either radical interiority, on the one hand, or an uncritical foundation for truth claims, on the other. This essay argues that the respective works of classical pragmatist, John Dewey, and Catholic feminist theologian, Margaret Farley, provide a compelling alternative to these characterizations of experience, which can help scholars in ethics and theology to better articulate the relationship of individual and social experience, as well as the ways by which people use experience to give legitimacy to moral practices.
Schleiermacher’s Transcendental Reasoning: Toward a Feminist Affirmation of Divine Personhood
Authors: Poe Shelli M.
Published: December 2015

I suggest that it is beneficial for Christian feminist theologians to affirm divine personhood on the basis of the revelation of God in the person of Jesus Christ. Doing so allows feminist theologians to connect the doctrines of God and Christ within systematic theologies. Moreover, by affirming divine personhood in concert with an extension of Friedrich Schleiermacher’s transcendental reasoning about redemption, feminists could contribute to the disruption of sexist ecclesial belief and practice. I examine Schleiermacher’s account and rejection of Nazareanism, Manicheanism, Pelagianism, and Docetism, inferring from them four marks of personhood as conditions for the possibility of redemption. These include the communicability of difference, material activity, differentiated relationality, and discerning attention with circumscribed ineffability. In this way, I link feminist anthropologies with Christologically regulated soteriological claims vis-à-vis the doctrine of God.
Learning From the Adoption of MOOCs in Two International Branch Campuses in the UAE
Authors: Annabi Carrie Amani , Muller Marlene
Published: December 2015

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are free global courses, available on the Internet to unlimited numbers of learners. MOOCs have grown in popularity over the past 5 years and have been perceived as either a threat to traditional higher education (HE) or an innovation that augments learning. This research assesses 20 lecturers’ perceptions of whether MOOCs are seen as innovative learning platforms within international branch campuses (IBCs) given that MOOCs offer virtual global education. Rogers’ diffusion of innovation (DoI) theory suggested that successful diffusion originates from developed social systems; hence, the theory is used to explore MOOC adoption within the United Arab Emirates. This study was validated by a focus group of 10 lecturers. Results indicated that MOOCs were viewed as innovative; however, adoption among lecturers is low. This study contributes to research by questioning whether lecturers can address the national needs of technology-driven students within current internationalized HE.
Characteristics of Child Maltreatment and Adolescent Marijuana Use
Authors: Dubowitz Howard , Thompson Richard , Arria Amelia M. , English Diana , Metzger Richard , Kotch Jonathan B.
Published: December 2015

There has been increasing acceptance of marijuana use in the United States in recent years, and rates among adolescents have risen. At the same time, marijuana use during adolescence has been linked to an array of health and social problems. Maltreated children are at risk for marijuana use, but the relationships among characteristics of maltreatment and marijuana use are unclear. In this article, we examine how the type and the extent of maltreatment are related to the level of adolescent marijuana use. Data analyses were conducted on a subsample of maltreated adolescents ( n = 702) from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect project. Approximately half the sample had used marijuana, and maltreatment was associated with its use. Multivariate regression models showed that being male, extensive maltreatment, and peer marijuana use were associated with heavy use of marijuana. These findings suggest the importance of comprehensively assessing children’s maltreatment experiences and their peers’ drug use to help prevent or address possible marijuana use in these high-risk adolescents.
A novel spectral formulation for transversely isotropic magneto-elasticity
Authors: Shariff M.H.B.M. , Bustamante Roger , Hossain Mokarram , Steinmann Paul
Published: December 2015

Classical invariants, despite most of them having unclear physical interpretation and not having experimental advantages, have been extensively used in modeling nonlinear magneto-elastic materials. In this paper, a new set of spectral invariants, which have some advantages over classical invariants, is proposed to model the behavior of transversely isotropic nonlinear magneto-elastic bodies. The novel spectral invariant formulation, which is shown to be more general, is used to analytically solve some simple magneto-mechanical boundary value problems. With the aid of the proposed spectral invariants it is possible to study, in a much simpler manner, the effect of different types of deformations on the response of the magneto-elastic material.
The phenomenon of the phantom place: Archaeology and ships
Authors: Papadopoulou Chryssanthi
Published: December 2015

This article presents ‘the phenomenon of the phantom place’ and its occurrences. This phenomenon finds its equivalent in Merleau-Ponty’s analysis of the phantom limb, and manifests itself when a past place acquires such representational value in absentia that determines our perception of the present, tangible place. To demonstrate its occurrences and assess its importance, archaeological writing and practices are examined. First, through an examination of archaeological texts on shipwrecks, it is shown how the excavation site can be perceived as a spatiotemporal fusion of material remains (presences) and the absent functional place (the phantom) these represent. Second, the value of phantom places is shown through the investigation of a (re)constructed place; specifically a trireme. The latter case study demonstrates how the experience of places replicating past spatialities is largely affected by the obsolete functions these places served in the past. The case studies employed centre around a single spatiality, the ship. This phenomenon, however, is neither restricted to archaeologists nor specific places; it is integral to the way we perceive place.
Arthur Hacker’s Syrinx (1892): Paint, classics and the culture of rape
Authors: Nichols Kate
Published: December 2015

Representations of rape and sexual violence abound in Victorian painting, but art historical analysis of this phenomenon has been scarce. This article uses Arthur Hacker’s 1892 painting Syrinx to examine late nineteenth-century approaches and responses to visually representing rape. How did the representation of rape relate to the newly respectable aesthetic category of the artistic nude? Syrinx depicts a standing unclothed young woman attempting to cover her body with reeds, subject matter derived from Book I of Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The painting has been on public display in Manchester Art Gallery since 1893. This article examines how a rape narrative from antiquity was remade as part of the public culture of Victorian Britain, examining the aesthetic, material, literary, legal, medical and museum contexts in which its meanings were produced. It also considers how the representation of rape in this Victorian painting continues to be rethought in Manchester Art Gallery today.
Pathways of stakeholders’ relations and frames in collaborative planning practices: A framework to analyse relating and framing dynamics
Authors: Vandenbussche Lieselot , Edelenbos Jurian , Eshuis Jasper
Published: December 2015

It is widely acknowledged that stakeholders’ relations are critical in collaborative planning. Hence, literature in this field has elaborated on the communicative and relational conditions that facilitate collaborative planning processes. Less attention has been paid to the dynamics of stakeholders’ relations and to how these influence planning processes. Analytical tools to systematically study stakeholders’ relating dynamics in collaborative planning processes are underdeveloped. Drawing on Baxter and Montgomery’s relational dialectics approach, we introduce an analytical framework to study stakeholders’ relating dynamics in collaborative planning and the way these interact with framing dynamics. We exemplify the core concepts of our framework with illustrations based on running case study research.
King’s College London Student Clinical Ethics Committee case discussion: A family requests that their grandmother, who does not speak English, is not informed of her terminal diagnosis
Authors: Johnston Carolyn , Baty Michael , Liu Sky
Published: December 2015

Members of the Student Clinical Ethics Committee discussed the ethical and legal issues arising in a case referred for consideration – the family of a very elderly non-English speaking Asian lady did not want her to be informed that she had incurable lymphoma. The case study summarises the reflections of the Committee and focusses on: the role of cultural norms in healthcare decision making; the extent to which the views of the family about what is best for the patient should be respected, whether the patient should have been informed of her terminal diagnosis and the role of the clinician in navigating complex family dynamics.
Communicating Effectively About Clinical Trials With African American Communities
Authors: Tanner Andrea , Bergeron Caroline D. , Zheng Yue , Friedman Daniela B. , Kim Sei-Hill , Foster Caroline B.
Published: December 2015

Clinical trial (CT) participation is low among African Americans (AAs). To better communicate with AAs about the importance of CTs, the purpose of this study was to explore the communication sources and perceived effective communication channels and strategies through which the general public, AAs, and White individuals receive CT information. A quantitative telephone survey was conducted with AAs and Whites in one Southern state ( N = 511). The measures assessed CT sources of information, perceived effectiveness of communication channels and strategies, CT understanding, and CT participation. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were used to compare responses overall and by race. AAs reported being exposed to more CT information than Whites. AAs received CT information most often through television, social media, and doctors compared to Whites. Perceived effectiveness of communication strategies and channels varied by race. AAs preferred simple and easy-to-understand CT information distributed through faith-based organizations. Whites preferred to receive CT information through a trustworthy source (e.g., doctor). There were no significant differences between AAs and Whites in their perceived effectiveness of media sources (e.g., Internet). Recommendations are provided to help health promotion practitioners and CT recruiters tailor information and communicate it effectively to potential AA and White CT participants.
Connecting and Collaborating
Authors: Mungia Rahma , Buchberg Meredith , Hayes Holly , Dolan Colleen , Reyes Stephanie , Rankin Kathleen , Oates Thomas ,   National Dental PBRN Collaborative Group
Published: December 2015

Purpose. This article illustrates the process by which the Southwest Region of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network ( www.NationalDentalPBRN.org ) fosters collaboration among practitioners and researchers in study concept development through protocol development groups (PODs). The Southwest Region begins this process by engaging PODs, which comprise dentists, hygienists, and/or academic faculty who share research interests related to improving dental care. Method. The PODs use the Tuckman four-stage model of group development (forming, storming, norming, and performing) to develop study concepts. This well-structured model encourages engagement among group members and enables quality discussion through organized sessions. This model provides milestones for the group’s progression and for the members’ interactions. The Southwest Region Directors play a crucial role in guiding and directing the development of PODs by aligning the members’ research interests with the goals of the National Network. Results. POD engagement using Tuckman’s stages has been successful in developing study concepts for submission to the National Network. Between 2012 and 2014, the Southwest Region has developed 14 PODs from 275 research ideas. Five of these study concepts have been submitted to the National Network for approval, including the Novel Tobacco Products POD, which showcases the applicability of Tuckman’s model. Conclusion. Overall, the POD concept is a collaborative effort that brings together practitioners and academicians through shared research interests and capitalizes on participants’ expertise and experiences. The Southwest Region will continue to develop PODs to foster new ideas for future studies in the Network.
Predicting Successful Mathematics Remediation Among Latina/o Students
Authors: Crisp Gloria , Reyes Nicole Alia Salis , Doran Erin
Published: December 2015

This study examines Latina/o students’ remedial math needs and outcomes. Data were drawn from a national sample of Latina/o students. Hierarchical generalized linear modeling techniques were used to predict three successful remediation outcomes. Results highlight the importance of providing financial aid and academic support to Latina/o students, especially those who have the highest remediation needs. Findings also have direct implications for policy and practice by providing a means for targeting students who are at greatest risk.
A note on promoting positive emergence and managing negative emergence in systems of systems
Authors: Zeigler Bernard P
Published: December 2015

“Emergence” is a descriptive term that is gaining currency for a set of phenomena that are becoming increasingly important to understand scientifically. Recently, several works have used the context of socio-technical systems of systems to serve as a germane abstraction for characterizing emergence. In this note, we formulate conditions as a tri-layer architecture required for promoting the emergence of desired behaviors in a system of systems and managing unintended undesired effects.
Choosing Among Multiple Achievement Measures
Authors: Dickinson Emily R. , Adelson Jill L.
Published: December 2015

Practitioners and researchers interested in understanding student achievement, its predictors, and how it relates to other student outcomes are likely unaware of how the source information about achievement may offer subtly different pictures. This study applies multitrait–multimethod (MTMM) confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) within a structural equation modeling (SEM) framework to student achievement data to demonstrate empirically how commonly used measures of student achievement may reflect different information about student performance. Using student population-level data from a single state, this study presents a robust demonstration of the similarities and differences among three commonly used achievement measures—American College Testing (ACT) scores, state test scores, and grade point average (GPA). Results show that state assessment scores and ACT scores measured a similar achievement construct, whereas student grades reflected less of the achievement construct and a higher level of method effects. Possible sources of the similarities and differences among different achievement measures are discussed, along with implications for measurement among gifted students.
Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cell and Growth Factor Delivery on Cartilage Repair in a Mini-Pig Model
Authors: Fisher Matthew B. , Belkin Nicole S. , Milby Andrew H. , Henning Elizabeth A. , Söegaard Nicole , Kim Minwook , Pfeifer Christian , Saxena Vishal , Dodge George R. , Burdick Jason A. , Schaer Thomas P. , Steinberg David R. , Mauck Robert L.
Published: December 2015

Objective

We have recently shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) embedded in a hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel and exposed to chondrogenic factors (transforming growth factor–β3 [TGF-β3]) produce a cartilage-like tissue in vitro. The current objective was to determine if these same factors could be combined immediately prior to implantation to induce a superior healing response in vivo relative to the hydrogel alone.

Design

Trochlear chondral defects were created in Yucatan mini-pigs (6 months old). Treatment groups included an HA hydrogel alone and hydrogels containing allogeneic MSCs, TGF-β3, or both. Six weeks after surgery, micro-computed tomography was used to quantitatively assess defect fill and subchondral bone remodeling. The quality of cartilage repair was assessed using the ICRS-II histological scoring system and immunohistochemistry for type II collagen.

Results

Treatment with TGF-β3 led to a marked increase in positive staining for collagen type II within defects ( P < 0.05), while delivery of MSCs did not ( P > 0.05). Neither condition had an impact on other histological semiquantitative scores ( P > 0.05), and inclusion of MSCs led to significantly less defect fill ( P < 0.05). For all measurements, no synergistic interaction was found between TGF-β3 and MSC treatment when they were delivered together ( P > 0.05).

Conclusions

At this early healing time point, treatment with TGF-β3 promoted the formation of collagen type II within the defect, while allogeneic MSCs had little benefit. Combination of TGF-β3 and MSCs at the time of surgery did not produce a synergistic effect. An in vitro precultured construct made of these components may be required to enhance in vivo repair in this model system.
The convergence of mobile and social media: Affordances and constraints of mobile networked communication for health workers in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Pimmer Christoph , Tulenko Kate
Published: December 2015

The increasing convergence of mobile and social media is highly transformational because it is shifting the dominant form of digital communication from bilateral towards mobile and networked communication among distributed interactants. This paper explores the affordances and constraints of this dynamics for global health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In these settings, research and practice have focused on one- or two-way communication designs and on approaches that position health workers as passive actors. To extend current views, three domains of mobile social media usage are theorized: (a) sociocognitive learning; (b) Sociocultural professional participation; and (c) Concertive peer and multistakeholder control. The theoretical discussion is illustrated with empirical examples from a nonsystematic literature review to account for the wide and interdisciplinary problem space. In the second part of this analysis, suggestions are discussed regarding how to anchor and facilitate mobile social media spaces within existing institutional structures. Finally, this paper argues that leveraging the affordances of mobile social-media-based communication requires the consideration of several constraints and challenges, including the economics of participation, privacy and surveillance, regulation and information quality, equal sociocultural participation, and technical competencies and professionalism.
The Socioeconomic Implications among People Living with HIV/AIDS in Sudan: Challenges and Coping Strategies
Authors: Ismail Salwa M. , Kari Fatimah , Kamarulzaman Adeeba
Published: December 2015

To determine the socioeconomic impacts among HIV-infected persons in Sudan and examine whether there are significant variations in coping strategies between infected men and women, a primary survey was conducted among infected persons (n = 555). Discriminant function was used to analyze the data. We found significant variation in the coping strategies (<.001). HIV/AIDS impacts were more critical for women. Infected people have 3 alternatives in coping with the changes in their income and expenditure, that is, borrow, utilize savings, or sell assets. Policy makers should consider economic information in planning health care to mitigate the impacts and remove the gender gap.
Pattern, Determinants, and Impact of HIV Spending on Care and Treatment in 38 High-Burden Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Granich Reuben , Gupta Somya , Montaner Julio , Williams Brian , Zuniga José M.
Published: December 2015

Achieving the 90-90-90 targets by 2020 requires increased focus, resources, and efficiency to provide earlier access to antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Methods:

We used 2009 to 2013 National AIDS Spending Assessment data to assess HIV care and treatment spending in 38 high-burden, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Results:

In 2013, 23 of the 38 high-burden countries spent less than 50% of total HIV spending on care and treatment. HIV spending on ART per people living with HIV (PLHIV; adjusted) averaged US$299 (US$32-US$2463). During 2009 to 2013, a 10% increase in average spending on care and treatment per PLHIV was associated with an increase in ART coverage of 2.4% and a decrease in estimated AIDS-related death rate of 2.4 per 1000 PLHIV.

Discussion:

HIV spending in high-burden LMICs does not consistently reflect the new science around the preventative and clinical benefits of earlier HIV diagnosis and ART initiation.
Professional Care for Unwanted Same-Sex Attraction: What does the Research Say?
Authors: Sutton Philip M.
Published: December 2015

In recent years, national and international medical and mental-health associations typically have emphasized the potential harmfulness of professional care for unwanted same-sex attraction (SSA or homosexuality) and behavior. State legislatures in the US and legislative bodies in other countries either have passed or are considering passing laws which would penalize professionals who provide professional care for unwanted SSA—to minors and/or adults—including the loss of the license to practice. This paper was written as a response to the present situation in the UK. The paper reviews the universal ethics of all medical and mental-health professionals to avoid harm and do good (non-maleficence/non-malfeasance and beneficence); discusses the documented potential for harm when using every mental-health treatment for every presenting problem; clarifies steps taken by the Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity (Alliance), its clinical and research divisions, the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality Institute (NARTH Institute) and its international division, the International Federation for Therapeutic Choice (IFTC), to promote ethical professional care for unwanted SSA; clarifies the injustice and presumed ideological biases of the medical and mental-health associations’ warning about the potential for harm for psychotherapy only for unwanted SSA and not all psychotherapy approaches; and documents that the research purporting to show this harmfulness, in the research authors own words, does not do so. Recommendations to promote scientific integrity in the conduct and reporting of relevant research are offered.

Lay summary

There has been a lot of controversy about the potential harmfulness of professional care for unwanted same-sex attraction and behavior (SSA or homosexuality). This paper reviews the ethics of all medical and mental health professionals to avoid harm and do good; discusses the known potential for harm when using any mental health treatment for any problem; clarifies steps taken to promote ethical professional care for unwanted SSA; notes the injustice and possible biases of those who warn about the potential for harm of psychotherapy for unwanted SSA; and documents that the research said to show this harmfulness, in the research authors′ own words, does not do so.
Deltex1 is inhibited by the Notch–Hairy/E(Spl) signaling pathway and induces neuronal and glial differentiation
Authors: Cheng Yi-Chuan , Huang Yin-Cheng , Yeh Tu-Hsueh , Shih Hung-Yu , Lin Ching-Yu , Lin Sheng-Jia , Chiu Ching-Chi , Huang Ching-Wen , Jiang Yun-Jin
Published: December 2015

Background

Notch signaling has been conserved throughout evolution and plays a fundamental role in various neural developmental processes and the pathogenesis of several human cancers and genetic disorders. However, how Notch signaling regulates various cellular processes remains unclear. Although Deltex proteins have been identified as cytoplasmic downstream elements of the Notch signaling pathway, few studies have been reported on their physiological role.

Results

We isolated zebrafish deltex1 (dtx1) and showed that this gene is primarily transcribed in the developing nervous system, and its spatiotemporal expression pattern suggests a role in neural differentiation. The transcription of dtx1 was suppressed by the direct binding of the Notch downstream transcription factors Her2 and Her8a. Overexpressing the complete coding sequence of Dtx1 was necessary for inducing neuronal and glial differentiation. By contrast, disrupting Dtx1 expression by using a Dtx1 construct without the RING finger domain reduced neuronal and glial differentiation. This effect was phenocopied by the knockdown of endogenous Dtx1 expression by using morpholinos, demonstrating the essential function of the RING finger domain and confirming the knockdown specificity. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were unaltered in Dtx1-overexpressed and -deficient zebrafish embryos. Examination of the expression of her2 and her8a in embryos with altered Dtx1 expression showed that Dxt1-induced neuronal differentiation did not require a regulatory effect on the Notch–Hairy/E(Spl) pathway. However, both Dtx1 and Notch activation induced glial differentiation, and Dtx1 and Notch activation negatively inhibited each other in a reciprocal manner, which achieves a proper balance for the expression of Dtx1 and Notch to facilitate glial differentiation. We further confirmed that the Dtx1–Notch–Hairy/E(Spl) cascade was sufficient to induce neuronal and glial differentiation by concomitant injection of an active form of Notch with dtx1, which rescued the neuronogenic and gliogenic defects caused by the activation of Notch signaling.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that Dtx1 is regulated by Notch–Hairy/E(Spl) signaling and is a major factor specifically regulating neural differentiation. Thus, our results provide new insights into the mediation of neural development by the Notch signaling pathway.
Efficient differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to arterial and venous endothelial cells under feeder- and serum-free conditions
Authors: Sriram Gopu , Tan Jia Yong , Islam Intekhab , Rufaihah Abdul Jalil , Cao Tong
Published: December 2015

Background

Heterogeneity of endothelial cells (ECs) is a hallmark of the vascular system which may impact the development and management of vascular disorders. Despite the tremendous progress in differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) towards endothelial lineage, differentiation into arterial and venous endothelial phenotypes remains elusive. Additionally, current differentiation strategies are hampered by inefficiency, lack of reproducibility, and use of animal-derived products.

Methods

To direct the differentiation of hESCs to endothelial subtypes, H1- and H9-hESCs were seeded on human plasma fibronectin and differentiated under chemically defined conditions by sequential modulation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathways for 5 days. Following the initial differentiation, the endothelial progenitor cells (CD34+CD31+cells) were sorted and terminally differentiated under serum-free conditions to arterial and venous ECs. The transcriptome and secretome profiles of the two distinct populations of hESC-derived arterial and venous ECs were characterized. Furthermore, the safety and functionality of these cells upon in vivo transplantation were characterized.

Results

Sequential modulation of hESCs with GSK-3 inhibitor, bFGF, BMP4 and VEGF resulted in stages reminiscent of primitive streak, early mesoderm/lateral plate mesoderm, and endothelial progenitors under feeder- and serum-free conditions. Furthermore, these endothelial progenitors demonstrated differentiation potential to almost pure populations of arterial and venous endothelial phenotypes under serum-free conditions. Specifically, the endothelial progenitors differentiated to venous ECs in the absence of VEGF, and to arterial phenotype under low concentrations of VEGF. Additionally, these hESC-derived arterial and venous ECs showed distinct molecular and functional profiles in vitro. Furthermore, these hESC-derived arterial and venous ECs were nontumorigenic and were functional in terms of forming perfused microvascular channels upon subcutaneous implantation in the mouse.

Conclusions

We report a simple, rapid, and efficient protocol for directed differentiation of hESCs into endothelial progenitor cells capable of differentiation to arterial and venous ECs under feeder-free and serum-free conditions. This could offer a human platform to study arterial–venous specification for various applications related to drug discovery, disease modeling and regenerative medicine in the future.
A comparative study on the convergence rate of some iteration methods involving contractive mappings
Authors: Fathollahi Shahin , Ghiura Adrian , Postolache Mihai , Rezapour Shahram
Published: December 2015

We compare the rate of convergence for some iteration methods for contractions. We conclude that the coefficients involved in these methods have an important role to play in determining the speed of the convergence. By using Matlab software, we provide numerical examples to illustrate the results. Also, we compare mathematical and computer-calculating insights in the examples to explain the reason of the existence of the old difference between the points of view.
Integrated EpCAM‐independent subtraction enrichment and iFISH strategies to detect and classify disseminated and circulating tumors cells
Authors: Lin Peter Ping
Published: December 2015

Application of tumor cell surface adhesion molecule EpCAM‐dependent antibody capture, and intracellular cytokeratins (CKs)‐dependent immunostaining strategies to detect disseminated or circulating tumor cells (DTCs or CTCs), is limited by highly heterogeneous and dynamic expression or absence of EpCAM and/or CKs in CTCs and DTCs, particularly in their capturing and identifying CTCs/DTCs shed from diverse types of solid tumor, thus being biased and restricted to the only both EpCAM and CK positive cancer cells. Moreover, heterogeneity of chromosome and tumor biomarker of CTCs/DTCs cannot be co‐examined by conventional CK/EpCAM‐dependent techniques. Accordingly, a novel integrated cellular and molecular approach of EpCAM‐independent subtraction enrichment (SE) and immunostaining‐FISH (iFISH®) has recently been successfully developed. SE‐iFISH® is able to effectively enrich, comprehensively identify and characterize both large and small size non‐hematopoietic heteroploid CTCs, DTCs and circulating tumor microemboli in various biofluid specimens of either cancer patients or patient‐derived‐xenograft mice. Obtained tumor cells, free of anti‐EpCAM perturbing and hypotonic damage, are eligible for primary tumor cell culture as well as a series of downstream analyses. Highly heterogeneous CTCs and DTCs could be classified into subtypes by in situ phenotyping protein expression of various tumor biomarkers and karyotyping of chromosome aneuploidy performed by iFISH®. Each CTC subtype may correlate with distinct clinical significance in terms of tumor metastasis, relapse, therapeutic drug sensitivity or resistance, respectively.
Foot burns and diabetes: a retrospective study
Authors: Lawrence E. , Li F.
Published: December 2015

Background

Diabetes in conjunction with a foot burn can compound the challenges in wound healing; however, the impact of diabetes on outcomes of patients with foot burns has not been examined.

Methods

A retrospective notes audit was conducted at the Concord Hospital Burns Unit for patients with foot burns who were admitted from 1st January 2012 to 31st December 2013. Data were collected for 15 subjects with foot burns and diabetes and 18 subjects with foot burns and no diabetes as a control group. Subjects were matched for percentage total body surface area of burns.

Results

The mean inpatient and total lengths of stay for the diabetic group were 21.27 days and 64.80 days, which were significantly longer (P = 0.090 and P = 0.054) than the 9.61 days and 30.56 days in the control, based on a significance level of 0.10. The diabetic group was significantly older (P = 0.001), at 56.60 years versus 39.44 years in the control. Significantly (P = 0.033) more patients with diabetes were not working (n = 12/15 or 80.00 % versus n = 7/18 or 38.89 %) compared to the control. The diabetic group had higher rates of regrafting (n = 3/15 or 20.00 % versus n = 1/18 or 5.55 %) than the control and significantly (P = 0.013) more amputations (n = 5/15 or 33.33 % versus n = 0 or 0.00 %) compared to the control. Fewer patients with diabetes were prescribed pressure garments (n = 2/15 or 13.33 % versus n = 9/18 or 50.00 %), which was significant (P = 0.034). The increased age of patients in the diabetic group correlates with results from other studies. Healing time may be reflected by total length of stay, which was more than double for patients with diabetes, increasing demand and cost of inpatient and outpatient services.

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of recognizing the potential for poorer outcomes for patients with diabetes and indicates the need for more burn prevention education and promotion in this ‘at risk’ patient group.