bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcome of Premature Rupture of Membranes  A Study of 120 Cases in Dhaka Medical College Hospital
Authors: Begum Afrina , Ghani Tabassum , Paul Subinoy Krishna , Hussain Taufiqua , Noorjahan - , Begum Noorjahan
Published: September 2017

Introduction: Premature rupture of membrane or PROM means when membrane ruptures before the onset of labour at a gestational age less than 37 completed weeks. In Bangladesh, every year, around 28,000 women die due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Nonscientific intervention in PROM made at various levels intensify the pregnancy complications several times, thereby leading many more deaths of foetus and newborn. Aetiology of PROM is largely unknown. The possible causes are either reduction of membrane strength or an increase in intrauterine pressure or both. Proper diagnostic facilities, proper monitoring and standard protocol in the management can improve the maternal and fetal outcome.Aim and objective: The aim of the study was to observe the incidence, type and maternal and fetal outcome of PROM.Materials and Method: A prospective case control analytical study was carried out at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka from May 2000 to December2000. Total 120 patients were selected for this study among them 60 patients as case (Group A) and 60 patients were taken as control (Group B). Both primi and multigravida with Pregnancy more than 28 weeks with intact membrane as control and spontaneous rupture of membrane taken as case. High- risk patients such as hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, APH, cardiac disease, previous H/O caesarean section were excluded from the study. After taking proper history, speculum examination, some diagnostic investigations were carried out. Findings were recorded in predesigned questionnaire and statistical analysis were done using computerized software SPSS for Windows. A P value < 0.05 was taken as significant.Results: In our study maternal complications were significantly higher in Group A patients (Chi-square test: X2 = 6.263, df= 1, P< 0.05). Number of premature babies in PROM patients (25%) was significantly higher than control group. Perinatal morbidity was found higher in PROM (36.66%) compared to control group (31.66%). Most common morbidity was neonatal jaundice in PROM patients (13.33%) compared to babies of control group (8.33%).Conclusion: This study focused on certain risk factors in relation to PROM which can be preventable and reduce incidence and improvement of maternal and fetal outcome.J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 25, No.2, October, 2016, Page 82-86
A 43 Years Old Lady with Silent Pheochromocytomaÿa Case Report
Authors: Paul Nandita , Saha Tarun Kumar , Barman Tushar Kanti , Das Anupam , Bhuyian Rokozzaman , Siddiqua Sadia Sajmin
Published: September 2017

Improvements in imaging studies have resulted in an increase in incidentally discovered adrenal tumors. The adrenal incidentaloma was found in at least 2% on abdominal CT imaging and pheochromocytoma was reported to be about 5.1 to 6.55% among these patients. Here we report a case of silent pheochromocytoma presented as an incidentally discovered adrenal mass on abdominal sonogram. In our case patient had no apparent symptom and sign of pheochromocytoma except mild hypertention . Incidental findings in USG reveal retroperitoneal mass located in right adrenal gland. Finally CT scan of abdomen confirmed adrenal mass. Surgical excision the right adrenal gland was performed with pathological report as a benign pheochromocytoma. Majority of incidentally discovered adrenal masses are non hypersecretory benign adenomas; but a hormone screening evaluation is necessary to reveal cases with clinically unsuspected hypersecretory nature. For prevention of possible lethal outcome, patients with silent pheochromocytoma scheduled to undergo surgery should be treated according to the hemodynamic parameters.J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 25, No.2, October, 2016, Page 129-132
Chronic Fever with Severe Weakness - A Case Report
Authors: Akther Rabeya , Jesmin Humayra
Published: September 2017

Adult onset Stills disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology and pathogenesis that presents in 5 to 10% of patients as fever of unknown origin (FUO) accompanied by systemic manifestations. We report an interesting case of a 63-year-old Bangladeshi male who presented with one-month duration of FUO along with, severe weakness, oral thrush, high WBC count, low RBC count and low hemoglobin concentration. After extensive workup, potential differential diagnoses were ruled out and the patient was diagnosed with AOSD based on the Yamaguchi criteria. The case history, incidence, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, differential diagnoses, diagnostic workup, treatment modalities, and prognosis of AOSD are discussed in this case report.J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 25, No.2, October, 2016, Page 142-147
Investigating User Identification in Remote Patient Monitoring Devices
Authors: Ondiege Brian , Clarke Malcolm
Published: September 2017

With the increase in the number of people having a chronic disease, there is an increase in households having more than a single person suffering from the same chronic illness. One problem of monitoring such patients in their own home is that current devices have a limitation in the number of people who can use a single device. This study investigates the use of Near Field Communication (NFC) for identification in a multi-user environment. Methods: A mixed-method qualitative and quantitative approach was adopted, including focus groups, observations and a field trial. Data were collected in three phases. In Phase 1, five focus groups were conducted with patients to determine their beliefs, concerns and issues with using identification in remote patient monitoring devices. In Phase 2, participants were given a blood pressure monitor modified to include an NFC reader to enable identification. The modified device was given to patients living as a couple in the same household and both suffering from hypertension. Both patients used the device for a period of two weeks to observe their acceptance of the technology and determine their experience of usage. A total of 40 (20 couples) patients participated in the trial. Non-adherence to the full monitoring regimen was low and was mainly due to usability issues or commitments taking them away from the home and thus unable to take readings. After the trial period participants were invited to discuss their experiences with the technology in a focus group discussion (Phase 3), a total of five focus groups were conducted. Focus group discussions with the patients revealed that most participants liked using the system and were not apprehensive towards Healthcare Information Technology (HIT). The participants also had suggestions for improvements that could be made to the modified blood pressure monitor (such as, rechargeable in place batteries, integrate the components, easier to use cuff, and increased sensitivity of the NFC reader) that might improve the overall experience of the proposed technology and its acceptance. Conclusion: The study proposes a new framework, the Senior Patient Technology Acceptance Model (SPTAM) that offers an understanding of the needs of the elderly towards technology use and the factors that influence its acceptance. SPTAM emphasises that involving the patient in the early stages of development can lead to a more user-centred technology and help in identifying any underlying issues at an early stage, thus avoiding adding features which patients do not need. The findings from this empirical research can be used as recommendations to improve current RPM devices, save the NHS costs, inform standardization groups.
Mining Novel Candidate Imprinted Genes Using Genome-Wide Methylation Screening and Literature Review
Authors: Bonaldi Adriano , Kashiwabara André , Araújo Érica S.de , Pereira Lygia V. , Paschoal Alexandre R. , Andozia Mayra B. , Villela Darine , Rivas Maria P. , Suemoto Claudia K. , Pasqualucci Carlos A. , Grinberg Lea T. , Brentani Helena , Maria-Engler Silvya S. , Carraro Dirce M. , Vianna-Morgante Angela M. , Rosenberg Carla , Vasques Luciana R. , Krepischi Ana
Published: September 2017

Large-scale transcriptome and methylome data analyses obtained by high-throughput technologies have been enabling the identification of novel imprinted genes. We investigated genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in multiple human tissues, using a high-resolution microarray to uncover hemimethylated CpGs located in promoters overlapping CpG islands, aiming to identify novel candidate imprinted genes. Using our approach, we recovered ~30% of the known human imprinted genes, and a further 168 candidates were identified, 61 of which with at least three hemimethylated CpGs shared by more than two tissue types. Thirty-four of these candidate genes are members of the protocadherin cluster on 5q31.3; in mice, protocadherin genes have non-imprinted random monoallelic expression, which might also be the case in humans. Among the remaining 27 genes, ZNF331 was recently validated as an imprinted gene, and six of them have been reported as candidates, supporting our prediction. Five candidates (CCDC166, ARC, PLEC, TONSL, and VPS28) map to 8q24.3, and might constitute a novel imprinted cluster. Additionally, we performed a comprehensive compilation of known human and mice imprinted genes from literature and databases, and a comparison among high-throughput imprinting studies in humans. The screening for hemimethylated CpGs shared by multiple human tissues, together with the extensive review, appears to be a useful approach to reveal candidate imprinted genes.
Controlled Shrinkage of Expanded Glass Particles in Metal Syntactic Foams
Authors: Al-Sahlani Kadhim , Taherishargh Mehdi , Kisi Erich , Fiedler Thomas
Published: September 2017

Metal matrix syntactic foams have been fabricated via counter-gravity infiltration of a packed bed of recycled expanded glass particles (EG) with A356 aluminum alloy. Particle shrinkage was studied and has been utilized to increase the particles’ strength and tailor the mechanical properties of the expanded glass/metal syntactic foam (EG-MSF). The crushing strength of particles could be doubled by shrinking them for 20 min at 700 °C. Owing to the low density of EG (0.20–0.26 g/cm3), the resulting foam exhibits a low density (1.03–1.19 g/cm3) that increases slightly due to particle shrinkage. Chemical and physical analyses of EG particles and the resulting foams were conducted. Furthermore, metal syntactic foam samples were tested in uni-axial compression tests. The stress-strain curves obtained exhibit three distinct regions: elastic deformation followed by a stress plateau and densification commencing at 70–80% macroscopic strain. Particle shrinkage increased the mechanical strength of the foam samples and their average plateau stress increased from 15.5 MPa to 26.7 MPa.
A Review of the Carbon Footprint of Cu and Zn Production from Primary and Secondary Sources
Authors: Ekman Nilsson Anna , Macias Aragonés Marta , Arroyo Torralvo Fatima , Dunon Vincent , Angel Hanna , Komnitsas Konstantinos , Willquist Karin
Published: September 2017

Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) with their unique properties are central for economic growth, quality of life, and the creation of new jobs. The base-metal producing sector is, however, under growing public pressure in respect to energy and water requirements and needs to meet several challenges, including increased demand and lower ore grades, which are generally associated with larger resource use. The development of technologies for metal production from secondary sources is often motivated by increased sustainability, and this paper aims to provide further insights about one specific aspect of sustainability—namely, climate change. The paper presents a review of carbon footprints (CF) for Cu and Zn produced from primary and secondary raw materials by analyzing data taken from scientific literature and the Ecoinvent database. Comparisons are carried out based on the source of data selected as a reference case. The data available in the literature indicate that secondary production of Cu and Zn has the potential to be more beneficial compared to primary production regarding the impact on climate change. However, the technologies used today for the production of both metals from secondary sources are still immature, and more research on this topic is needed. The general variation of data suggests that the standardization of a comparison is needed when assessing the environmental benefits of production in line with the principles of waste valorization, the zero waste approach, and circular economy.
Retention of Antibacterial Activity in Geranium Plasma Polymer Thin Films
Authors: Al-Jumaili Ahmed , Bazaka Kateryna , Jacob Mohan
Published: September 2017

Bacterial colonisation of biomedical devices demands novel antibacterial coatings. Plasma-enabled treatment is an established technique for selective modification of physicochemical characteristics of the surface and deposition of polymer thin films. We investigated the retention of inherent antibacterial activity in geranium based plasma polymer thin films. Attachment and biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli was significantly reduced on the surfaces of samples fabricated at 10 W radio frequency (RF) power, compared to that of control or films fabricated at higher input power. This was attributed to lower contact angle and retention of original chemical functionality in the polymer films fabricated under low input power conditions. The topography of all surfaces was uniform and smooth, with surface roughness of 0.18 and 0.69 nm for films fabricated at 10 W and 100 W, respectively. Hardness and elastic modules of films increased with input power. Independent of input power, films were optically transparent within the visible wavelength range, with the main absorption at ~290 nm and optical band gap of ~3.6 eV. These results suggest that geranium extract-derived polymers may potentially be used as antibacterial coatings for contact lenses.
Farmers’ Awareness of Ecosystem Services and the Associated Policy Implications
Authors: Xun Fangfang , Hu Yecui , Lv Ling , Tong Jinhui
Published: September 2017

This study analyzes the primary factors influencing farmers’ awareness of ecosystem services. This study, through questionnaires, conducts research on farmers’ awareness of and demand for ecosystem service functions. The research encapsulates 156 households from 21 groups of villagers in the Guangxi Karst Ecological Immigration District in China. The results of the factors influencing farmers’ awareness of ecosystem services, analyzed using a regression model, show that: (1) Farmers are concerned with ecosystem service functions that directly benefit them; however, they do not sufficiently understand the ecosystem’s ecological security maintenance or cultural landscape functions; (2) Farmers’ awareness of ecosystem service functions is not consistent with their corresponding demand, including the ecosystem’s leisure and entertainment, social security, disaster prevention and water purification services; (3) Education level, land area cultivated by the household, proportion of the household’s income from agriculture and immigration status directly affect farmers’ awareness of ecosystem services; (4) Farmers’ personal characteristics, family characteristics and subjective attitudes have different effects on the level of ecological service cognition. Understanding farmers’ awareness of ecosystem services, and the influencing factors can help policymakers and development managers plan local development and policies, and enable harmonious development of the human-earth system in immigration regions of China.
Long-Term Effects of Payments for Environmental Services: Combining Insights from Communication and Economics
Authors: Kerr John , Lapinski Maria , Liu Rain , Zhao Jinhua
Published: September 2017

Interdisciplinary analytical perspectives can bring important insights to address complex sustainability problems. In this paper we present and apply a model that integrates perspectives from economics and communication sciences to address the question of what happens to pro-environmental behavior after the introduction and then the withdrawal of payment for environmental services (PES). In particular, we discuss the effects of financial incentives on social norms and the effects of norms on subsequent behavior after incentives have ended. This is important because the dominant literature on PES lacks a sophisticated understanding of social norms and fails to address what will happen to behavior once payments end. That literature addresses the potential problem that payments can crowd out or possibly crowd in intrinsic sources of motivation for pro-social behavior, but it lacks the sophisticated understanding of social norms that has the potential to help explain and address this phenomenon. We summarize experimental evidence based on our model showing that introducing a financial incentive for behavior change can change social norms around that behavior. These norms, in turn, can continue to influence behavior even after incentives have ended. PES programs can address this situation by actively evoking existing social norms in favor of conservation.
Combined Coagulation and Ultrafiltration Process to Counteract Increasing NOM in Brown Surface Water
Authors: Keucken Alexander , Heinicke Gerald , Persson Kenneth , Köhler Stephan
Published: September 2017

Membrane hybrid processes—coagulation coupled with ultrafiltration (UF)—have become a common method to comply with the legal, chemical, and microbiological requirements for drinking water. The main advantages of integrating coagulation with membrane filtration are the enhanced removal of natural organic matter (NOM) and reduced membrane fouling. With in-line coagulation, coagulants are patched into the feed stream directly prior to the membrane process, without removing the coagulated solids. Compared with conventional coagulation/sedimentation, in-line coagulation/membrane reduces the treatment time and footprint. Coagulant dosing could be challenging in raw water of varying quality; however, with relatively stable specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA), dosing can be controlled. Recent studies indicate that UV absorbance correlates well with humic substances (HS), the major fraction to be removed during coagulation. This paper describes and evaluates a 30-month UF pilot trial on the surface water of Lake Neden (Sweden), providing drinking water to 60,000 residents. In this study, automatic coagulant dosing based on online measurement was successfully applied. Online sensor data were used to identify the current optimal aluminium coagulation conditions (0.5–0.7 mg L−1) and the potential boundaries (0.9–1.2 mg L−1) for efficient future (2040) NOM removal. The potential increase in NOM could affect the Al dose and drinking water quality significantly within 20 years, should the current trends in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) prevail. UV absorbance, the freshness index, and liquid chromatography-organic carbon detection (LC-OCD) measurements were used to optimise the process. Careful cross-calibration of raw and filtered samples is recommended when using online sensor data for process optimisation, even in low-turbidity water (formazin nephelometric unit (FNU) < 5).
ClC5 Decreases the Sensitivity of Multiple Myeloma Cells to Bortezomib via Promoting Prosurvival Autophagy
Authors: Zhang Huimin , Pang Yuhui , Ma Chuanbao , Li Jianying , Wang Huaquan , Shao Zonghong
Published: September 2017

Resistance to bortezomib (BZ) is the major problem that largely limits its clinical application in multiple myeloma treatment. In the current study, we investigated whether ClC5, a member of the chloride channel family, is involved in this process. The MTT assay showed that BZ treatment decreased cell viability in three multiple myeloma cell lines (ARH77, U266, and SKO-007), with IC50values of 2.83, 4.37, and 1.91 nM, respectively. Moreover, BZ increased the conversion of LC3B-I to LC3B-II and expressions of beclin-1 and ATG5, concomitantly with a decreased p62 expression. Pharmacological inhibition of autophagy with 3-MA facilitated cell death in response to BZ treatment. Additionally, BZ increased ClC5 protein expression in ARH77, U266, and SKO-007 cells. Knockdown of ClC5 with small interfering RNA sensitized cells to BZ treatment, and upregulation of ClC5 induced chemoresistance to BZ. Furthermore, ClC5 downregulation promoted BZ-induced LC3B-I to LC3B-II conversion and beclin-1 expression, whereas overexpression of ClC5 showed the opposite results in ARH77 cells. Finally, BZ induced dephosphorylation of AKT and mTOR, which was significantly attenuated by ClC5 inhibition. However, ClC5 upregulation further enhanced AKT and mTOR dephosphorylation induced by BZ. Our study demonstrates that ClC5 induces chemoresistance of multiple myeloma cells to BZ via increasing prosurvival autophagy by inhibiting the AKTmTOR pathway. These data suggest that ClC5 may play a critical role in future multiple myeloma treatment strategies.
Social And Environmental Sustainability In Large-scale Coastal Zones: Taking An Issue-based Approach To The Implementation Of The Prince William Sound Sustainable Human Use Framework
Authors: Blahna Dale J. , Poe Aaron , Brown Courtney , Ryan Clare M. , Gimblett H. Randy
Published: September 2017

Following the grounding of the Exxon Valdez in 1989, a sustainable human use framework (human use framework) for Prince William Sound (PWS), AK was developed by the Chugach National Forest after concerns emerged about the social and environmental impacts of expanding human use due to
cleanup activities and increased recreation visitation. A practical, issue-based process was used to develop an implementation strategy for integrating the complex social and ecological data contained in the human use framework and for making specific management and monitoring recommendations.
The issue-based process is more of a bottom-up approach to planning compared to typical top-down planning approaches that seek to impose or replicate system-wide environmental conditions as criteria for selecting management and monitoring practices. The implementation strategy includes management
guidance for protecting "keystone" recreation experiences while simultaneously protecting social and ecological values of PWS. It also includes practical social and ecological monitoring recommendations that can be used to inform an adaptive management strategy for continued management of
sustainable human uses. The issue-based process serves as a model for other coastal zone areas struggling to balance increasing human use and recreation with conservation and environmental protection goals.
Spin-dependent transport and functional design in organic ferromagnetic devices
Authors: Hu Guichao , Xie Shijie , Wang Chuankui , Timm Carsten
Published: September 2017

Organic ferromagnets are intriguing materials in that they combine ferromagnetic and organic properties. Although challenges in their synthesis still remain, the development of organic spintronics has triggered strong interest in high-performance organic ferromagnetic devices. This review first introduces our theory for spin-dependent electron transport through organic ferromagnetic devices, which combines an extended Su–Schrieffer–Heeger model with the Green’s function method. The effects of the intrinsic interactions in the organic ferromagnets, including strong electron–lattice interaction and spin–spin correlation between π-electrons and radicals, are highlighted. Several interesting functional designs of organic ferromagnetic devices are discussed, specifically the concepts of a spin filter, multi-state magnetoresistance, and spin-current rectification. The mechanism of each phenomenon is explained by transmission and orbital analysis. These works show that organic ferromagnets are promising components for spintronic devices that deserve to be designed and examined in future experiments.
GeV Detection of HESS J0632+057
Authors: Li Jian , Torres Diego F. , Cheng K.-S. , Wilhelmi Emma de Oña , Kretschmar Peter , Hou Xian , Takata Jumpei
Published: September 2017

HESS J0632+057 is the only gamma-ray binary that has been detected at TeV energies, but not at GeV energies yet. Based on nearly nine years of Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) Pass 8 data, we report here on a deep search for the gamma-ray emission from HESS J0632+057 in the 0.1–300 GeV energy range. We find a previously unknown gamma-ray source, Fermi J0632.6+0548, spatially coincident with HESS J0632+057. The measured flux of Fermi J0632.6+0548 is consistent with the previous flux upper limit on HESS J0632+057 and shows variability that can be related to the HESS J0632+057 orbital phase. We propose that Fermi J0632.6+0548 is the GeV counterpart of HESS J0632+057. Considering the Very High Energy spectrum of HESS J0632+057, a possible spectral turnover above 10 GeV may exist in Fermi J0632.6+0548, as appears to be common in other established gamma-ray binaries.
Evidence of a Bottom-heavy Initial Mass Function in Massive Early-type Galaxies from Near-infrared Metal Lines*
Authors: Lagattuta David J. , Mould Jeremy R. , Forbes Duncan A. , Monson Andrew J. , Pastorello Nicola , Persson S. Eric
Published: September 2017

We present new evidence for a variable stellar initial mass function (IMF) in massive early-type galaxies, using high-resolution, near-infrared spectroscopy from the Folded-port InfraRed Echellette spectrograph (FIRE) on the Magellan Baade Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. In this pilot study, we observe several gravity-sensitive metal lines between 1.1 and 1.3 μm in eight highly luminous (

) nearby galaxies. Thanks to the broad wavelength coverage of FIRE, we are also able to observe the Ca ii triplet feature, which helps with our analysis. After measuring the equivalent widths (EWs) of these lines, we notice mild to moderate trends between EW and central velocity dispersion (σ), with some species (K i, Na i, Mn i) showing a positive EW–σ correlation and others (Mg i, Ca ii, Fe i) a negative one. To minimize the effects of metallicity, we measure the ratio R = [EW(K i)/EW(Mg i)], finding a significant systematic increase in this ratio with respect to σ. We then probe for variations in the IMF by comparing the measured line ratios to the values expected in several IMF models. Overall, we find that low-mass galaxies (

km s−1) favor a Chabrier IMF, while high-mass galaxies (

km s−1) are better described with a steeper (dwarf-rich) IMF slope. While we note that our galaxy sample is small and may suffer from selection effects, these initial results are still promising. A larger sample of galaxies will therefore provide an even clearer picture of IMF trends in this regime.
Current and Future Constraints on Primordial Magnetic Fields
Authors: Sutton Dylan R. , Feng Chang , Reichardt Christian L.
Published: September 2017

We present new limits on the amplitude of potential primordial magnetic fields (PMFs) using temperature and polarization measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) from Planck, the BICEP2/Keck Array, Polarbear, and SPTpol. We reduce twofold the 95% confidence upper limit on the CMB anisotropy power due to a nearly scale-invariant PMF, with an allowed B-mode power at ℓ = 1500 of

D

ℓ
=
1500

BB

<
0.071

μ

K

2

for Planck versus

D

ℓ
=
1500

BB

<
0.034

μ

K

2

for the combined data set. We also forecast the expected limits from soon-to-deploy CMB experiments (like SPT-3G, Adv. ACTpol, or the Simons Array) and the proposed CMB-S4 experiment. Future CMB experiments should dramatically reduce the current uncertainties by one order of magnitude for the near-term experiments and two orders of magnitude for the CMB-S4 experiment. The constraints from CMB-S4 have the potential to rule out much of the parameter space for PMFs.
A Multiwavelength Study of Flaring Activity in the High-energy Peaked BL Lac Object 1ES 1959+650 During 2015–2016
Authors: Kaur Navpreet , Chandra S. , Baliyan Kiran S , Sameer  , Ganesh S.
Published: September 2017

We present the results from a multiwavelength study of the flaring activity in the high-energy peaked BL Lac object 1ES 1959+650 during 2015 January–2016 June. The source underwent two major outbursts, during 2015 March and 2015 October, across the whole electromagnetic spectrum (EMS). We used data from Fermi-LAT and Swift-XRT/UVOT, and optical data from Mt. Abu InfraRed Observatory and Steward Observatory to look for possible correlations between the emissions at different energies and the nature of the variability during the flaring state. During the 2015 October outburst, the nightly averaged V-band brightest magnitude, 14.45(0.03), and faintest magnitude, 14.45(0.03), were recorded. Apart from long-term flares, rapid and short-term variabilities were noticed at all energies. Our study suggests that the flaring activities at all frequencies, with diverse flare durations and time lags, are correlated. The magnetic field strength is estimated to be 4 G using the synchrotron-cooling timescale (2.3 hr), and the upper limits on the sizes of both emission regions, γ-ray and optical, are estimated to be of the order of 1016 cm. The quasi-simultaneous flux enhancements in 15 GHz and VHE γ-ray emissions indicate a fresh injection of plasma into the jet, which interacts with a standing submillimeter core, resulting in co-spatial emissions across the EMS. The synchrotron peak shifts to higher frequency in the spectral energy distribution while the γ-ray spectra softens during the flaring. The shape of the inverse-Compton spectra indicates a change in the particle energy distribution pre- and post-flare.
On the Structure of the AGN Torus through the Fraction of Optically Selected Type 1 AGNs
Authors: Khim Honggeun , Yi Sukyoung K.
Published: September 2017

The ratio in number between unobscured (type 1) and obscured (type 2) active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is often used to explore the structure of the torus in the unified scheme for AGNs. Oh et al. (2015) investigated the type 1 AGN fraction on two-dimensional space in terms of black hole mass (

M

BH

) and bolometric luminosity (

L

bol

) and found that the fraction changes depending on both

M

BH

and

L

bol

, forming a ridge-shaped distribution. In this study, based on the up-to-date type 1 AGN catalog of Oh et al. (2015), we examine how the trend of the type 1 AGN fraction in the

M

BH

–

L

bol

plane is affected by the different methods used to derive

M

BH

and

L

bol

, and suggest an analytic model to explain the observations. We use galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 in the redshift range

0.01
≤
z
≤
0.2

. In estimating

L

bol

, we employ two different methods using

[
O

III
]

and/or

[
O

I
]

emission lines, and find that the

L

bol

values obtained from the two methods agree well. We consider the

M

BH

–

σ

*

relation, the

M

BH

–L
bulge relation, and the single-epoch Hα-based

M

BH

estimate in calculating

M

BH

. We find that the trends of the type 1 AGN fraction with respect to

M

BH

and

L

bol

are similar for the different methods of deriving

L

bol

but different when using different methods to derive

M

BH

. We present a model based on the clumpy-torus scheme that reproduces the ridge-shaped distribution of the fraction parallel to the iso-Eddington ratio lines.
Centrifugal Extension of Retinal Atrophy in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Tears Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Capuano Vittorio , Farci Roberta , Miere Alexandra , Amoroso Francesca , Bandello Francesco , Souied Eric H. , Querques Giuseppe
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the progression of retinal atrophy in patients with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tears secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

In this retrospective case series, patients were analyzed at two high-volume referral centers. The extension of the areas without RPE was analyzed yearly from baseline to last examination through fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging using Region Finder (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany).

RESULTS:

Sixteen eyes of 14 patients were included in the study. Mean follow-up was 70.11 months ± 15.5 months. The average area of atrophy was 6.89 mm
2
± 5.4 mm
2
at baseline and 9.21 mm
2
± 7.7 mm
2
at the last visit (
P
< .0001). This accounts for a progression of 0.36 mm
2
± 0.46 mm
2
/year. In all cases, FAF revealed centrifugal extension of retinal atrophy.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this series, the area of retinal atrophy enlarged over time. Atrophy enlargement is characterized by centrifugal extension from the base of the tear.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2017;48:705–710.]
Switching Anti-VEGF Drugs in the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Banaee Touka , Ashraf Mohammed , Conti Felipe F. , Singh Rishi P.
Published: September 2017

Since their introduction in the late 2000s, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents have become the first-line choice for center-involved diabetic macular edema (DME). Even with its proven effectiveness, there are still cases that do not respond satisfactorily. In those cases, a treatment option is to change to another anti-VEGF drug. In this paper, the authors review studies on switching between different anti-VEGF drugs in the treatment of persistent DME. An extensive bibliographic review was done using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. Fourteen studies published from March 2010 to April 2017 reporting switching from anti-VEGF drugs in DME treatment were included. All reported good anatomical results after conversion; however, visual acuity outcomes showed great variability between publications. Therefore, switching to other anti-VEGFs in patients with DME not responding to previous anti-VEGF therapy may be an option, but the results are still not well-known due to a lack of randomized clinical trials.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2017;48:748–754.]
“What Am I Doing Here?”
Authors: Dariotis Wei Ming , Daus-Magbual Arlene , Yoo Grace J.
Published: September 2017

Creating and maintaining meaningful, educational, and culturally engaging service learning partnerships between Asian American studies programs and Asian American community-based organizations (CBOs) is both challenging and rewarding. The Asian American Studies Department at San Francisco State University was founded in partnership with both student organizations and community-based organizations, and has sought to maintain the promise to bring university resources and knowledge into the community, while bringing community resources and wisdom into the university through a variety of campus-community partnerships. This study reviews that history in order to contextualize current relationships and practices within institutionally structured community service-learning (CSL) designated courses. A survey of students, community organization partners, and faculty engaged with Asian American service-learning in the San Francisco Bay Area reveals the benefits and challenges of culturally engaged service-learning, suggestions for best practices, and future directions.
Guiding School-Based Service-Learning With Youth Participatory Action Research
Authors: Bocci Melissa Cochrane
Published: September 2017

Youth Participatory Action Research offers service-learning practitioners a critical framework for guiding their projects, particularly those engaging diverse or marginalized communities. A YPAR-guided service-learning project is youth-led, centers and affirms youth identities, examines problems and takes actions on structural and personal levels, and bases those actions on original, youth-conducted research. As such, YPAR-guided service-learning explicitly promotes youth empowerment and positive identity development, which can result in increased academic engagement and motivation, making such projects a strong option for attending to the opportunity gaps marginalized students often face in their school systems.
Social Ecology of Engaged Learning
Authors: Arches Joan , Hung Chi-kan Richard , Patel Archana
Published: September 2017

This chapter presents a community-university partnership model of service-learning with urban, low income, middle school youth of color focused on promoting agency and efficacy through an All Star Anti-violence Youth Summit. The summit combined basketball and small group activities to define, analyze, and address the issue of gun violence in the community. The approach is intergenerational and intercultural, and was implemented through a semester long Civic Engagement service-learning class. The diverse group of students at a large, urban, public University applied the concepts of critical service-learning, British Social Action, positive youth development, and civic engagement.
Refugee Families and Undergraduate Nursing Service-Learning
Authors: Dunlap Ruby K. , Morse Emily A.
Published: September 2017

This chapter describes a service-learning partnership between two refugee resettlement agencies and a school of nursing. The partnership has successfully completed its goals of both service and learning over many semesters to the present. This community-based learning opportunity has entailed a variety of health interventions with refugee families while the learning has involved essential competencies of cross-cultural nursing, insights into social determinants of health, and developing confidence in being able to problem solve in a complex mix of health, social systems, poverty, language, and cultural barriers. In addition, assignments connected with this community engagement have encouraged students to develop an awareness of global health issues while intervening locally with their assigned refugee family, thus thinking and acting globally. The authors will discuss lessons learned from this long-term relationship and suggested directions for future work.
Empowering Undergraduate Students Through Community-Based Research
Authors: Punti Gemma , Chandiramani Nitya V. , Steffens Chelsea Maria
Published: September 2017

Community-based research (CBR) is a powerful pedagogical tool for actively engaging and empowering undergraduate students in their research endeavors. This chapter explores how CBR facilitated undergraduate researchers' transformative learning and the development of their civic skills when collaborating with alternative schools. Using the undergraduate researchers' reflections, focus group interviews, and a survey, this case study reveals how developing relationships with young, underserved community members was essential in changing their perspectives regarding the educational system and themselves. Furthermore, the undergraduate researchers' obstacles in collaborating with the community and within their team cohorts became critical sources of civic learning. The challenges of working with various partners fostered their capacity to navigate ambiguity, develop flexibility, and determine which experiences to communicate to community partners. CBR compelled the undergraduate researchers to maneuver through the unforeseen challenges of real life collaborations.
“If Not Me, Then Who?”
Authors: Ethridge Elizabeth Ann , Lake Vickie E. , Beisly Amber H.
Published: September 2017

Research has indicated that teachers typically do not view themselves as advocates for many reasons such as fear of personal and professional risk (Peters & Reid, 2009). Participants include both preservice teachers and graduates of an early childhood teacher education program. This chapter addresses how the program utilized intentional assignments and group and individual scaffolding as preservice teachers moved from experiencing service learning to pure advocacy. Through a mixed methods study, preservice teachers began to see themselves as agents of change with increased confidence and sense of power. These transformations continued as graduates of the program reported they were still engaging in advocacy.
Advocacy and Risk
Authors: Thomas Ursula
Published: September 2017

This case is centered on the term advocacy, the act of speaking on behalf of someone else. In this particular case, the author has chosen to highlight how an advocate is chosen based on perceived characteristics. The author has chosen to unpack the term positionality, which is defined as “The creation of the opposites by an arbitrary point of view”. However, it is the author's goal in this unpacking of positionality to surface chards of what a preservice teacher and professor perceive themselves to be to each other in terms of needs and wants.
Effectively Managing Bias in Teacher Preparation
Authors: Johnson Natasha N.
Published: September 2017

This is the call for teacher preparation programs to actively incorporate an emphasis on social justice education and the development of teachers committed to creating equitable schools. Education in today's multicultural, pluralistic society must be actively concentrated on and successful at creating more just and unbiased schools for underserved students. Similar to Ladson-Billings' argument for a redefining of ‘good teaching,' there must be a redefinition of that which constitutes social justice teaching. It is the role of today's teacher preparation programs to equip teachers with the essential skills necessary to develop students, manage bias, and create a culture of equity for all. Particularly as it relates to the education, understanding, cultivation, and development of all students in the K-12 school system, a required component of every teacher preparation program must be an increased focus on teaching that is comprehensive, socially just, and impartial.
Teacher Education Advocacy for Multiple Perspectives and Culturally Sensitive Teaching
Authors: Tripp Lucretia Octavia , Love Angela , Thomas Chippewa M. , Russell Jared
Published: September 2017

With the increasing diversity in U.S. classrooms, the need for teachers who are culturally sensitive is critical (Marx & Moss, 2011). While elementary and early child-hood pre-service teachers have multiple opportunities throughout the teacher education program to work with diverse learners in schools and communities, they do not have much international experience. The Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education program at a southeastern university have undergraduate and graduate certification programs in which performance assessment is emphasized. The purpose of this chapter is to show how exposing teacher candidates, especially undergraduate pre-service teachers to self-reflection through observation and teaching in an international study abroad program, can enhance the knowledge base of preservice teachers' perceptions about another culture and thus show new ways of thinking, questioning and possibly changing their attitudes towards those with backgrounds that are different from their own.
Unveilings Through Transformative Pedagogy
Authors: Coffey Shannon Marie
Published: September 2017

The following theoretical, reflexive investigation traces founding American sociologist, Civil Rights activist, and educator Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois' intellectual evolution from his initial propositions provided within “The Talented Tenth” into what Du Boisian intellectual Reiland Rabaka terms the “Guiding Hundredth.” Whereas Du Bois is typically seen as only advocating for a liberal arts education, his revised paradigm really sought access to both liberal arts and vocational training curricula. He especially wanted youth to have viable options for pursing either. The primary author provides reflexive insights into how the course of this investigation shaped her own understanding of her relationship to academia, her advocacy for underrepresented students, and her commitment to pursue secondary licensure and a Master's degree in education within a formal teacher preparation program. The investigation furthered her social justice-oriented commitment to strive for equity working toward the realization of Du Bois' emancipatory, transformative educational paradigm.
Studying the African American Narrative in English Composition Classes
Authors: Fender Paula
Published: September 2017

This piece explores the history of rhetoric that can be placed in the context of contemporary college classrooms. Though US colleges explore and teach the fundamentals of rhetoric from a Greek perspective, this piece explains the oratory heritage of Africa, where rhetoric began (Diop, 2008; Hilliard, Williams, & Damali, 1987; Jackson II & Richardson, 2003; Semmes, 1992). Contemporary college classrooms can remediate their practices of teaching rhetoric by exploring it through the lens of Egyptian's ancient rhetorical traditions. African American (AA) students maintain their oral traditions through storytelling and contemporary religious rhetoric. Scholars presented in this piece will show that the oral rhetorical traditions of ancient Africa, African American spirituality, and AA linguistic patterns can help teachers of AA students in the contemporary classroom. It will also examine the narratives of critical race theory, social justice, and opportunity as they relate to students in educational settings.
Branding in 2025
Authors: Segler Kay G.
Published: September 2017

This chapter develops a view on brand management in the year ‘2025'. Author proposed three main levers of change: technology, society, and customer behavior. These levers influence the “corporate system” in which companies and other organizations operate. Author further proposed ten suggestions which could employ for brand management in 2025. These are: 1. Development of stronger brand messages, 2. Importance of sound, movement, and animation in branding, 3. Continuous evolution of brands, 4. Sub-brands as a key to emotionalize customer perception, 5. Need to interact more with stakeholders, 6. Creation of ‘permission to use and own' a product, 7. Alignment of individual product/company brands with umbrella brand 8. Globalization of brands, 9. Need to keep B2C business along with B2B business, 10. Investment into branding by B2B companies.
Consumer-Brand Relations
Authors: Garg Ruchi , Chikkara Ritu , Suman Himanshu , Pande Shashan , Sharan Rahul , Panda Tapan Kumar
Published: September 2017

This research adapted Stemberg's (2003) triangular theory of hate to explore consumer brand relationships. Authors discussed that the protean character of Consumer brand relations (CBRs) in negative way has not been explored by prior conceptualizations in consumer research. The study conceptual scheme, in conformity with Stemberg's theory, was centred on the view that three psychological processes such as motivation, cognition, and emotion interact in several combinations to govern the nature of consumers' relations with brands. Authors' conceptualized eight kinds of CBRs by considering every combination of the three underlying psychological components. Authors have adopted the scale of hate from interpersonal relationship literature and tested it in context of consumer brand relationship. The managerial and theoretical implications, limitations, and future research directions are discussed in detail.
The Emotional Branding Process
Authors: Acharya Manaswini
Published: September 2017

This chapter aims to provide insights into the various facets of building brands with the use of emotions. Today, technology is playing an intrusive but imperative role in our lives and has made it fast paced. This leaves people with little time to decide on the products and services they want to buy. It is tending to a decision based more on learning about the attributes of the product from a utility perspective alone. The part where customers feel about products and services and then pay attention to attributes, irrespective of they being high-involvement or low-involvement products is slowly reducing. Purchase decisions are being taken more by the head than by the heart. The necessity to consider building strong brands as an essential strategy in order to succeed in an ever-growing highly competitive environment has taken significant proportions today. Customer experience management has been adopted as the process for establishing brands using emotions.