bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LGBT–Heterosexual Differences in Perceptions of Fair Treatment in the Federal Service
Authors: Lewis Gregory B. , Pitts David W.
Published: September 2015

Although we still lack objective data on treatment of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBTs) in the federal service, a huge recent survey of federal employees allows us to compare LGBT and heterosexual employees’ perceptions of the treatment they receive. LGBTs have several reasons for more negative perceptions of their treatment: 70 years of federal policies that explicitly discriminated against LGBTs in large and small ways; sizable minorities who still condemn homosexuality even as public attitudes are increasingly accepting; and continuing pay gaps between comparably educated and experienced gay, bisexual, and transgender (GBT) and heterosexual men in the general economy. We examine differences in satisfaction with pay, performance appraisals, promotions, raises, prohibited personnel practices, commitment to diversity, agency leadership, and relationships with supervisors and co-workers. LGBTs are less satisfied with their treatment across the board.
Lost in space
Authors: Corpataux José , Crevoisier Olivier
Published: September 2015

The increasing power of the financial industry in today’s economies has spatial fundamentals and important spatial consequences. This article examines the relevance of the social studies of finance (SSF), largely inspired by actor network theory (ANT) in this respect. Two critiques are made. First, SSF works are limited to the financial sphere and scarcely consider any connection with the rest of the economy. Second, their conception of space remains embryonic, if not entirely metaphorical. However, to understand and evaluate the effects of the financial industry requires that we take account of its spatial and historical contexts from the outset.
Septic Arthritis After Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Schuster Philipp , Schulz Martin , Immendoerfer Micha , Mayer Philipp , Schlumberger Michael , Richter Joerg
Published: September 2015

Background:

Septic arthritis after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a rare but severe complication. Treatment regimens differ, and optimal management has not been established.

Purpose:

To determine the incidence of postoperative infections after ACL reconstruction, to identify the microbiological spectrum, and to evaluate a standardized graft-retaining treatment protocol consisting of sequential arthroscopic irrigation and debridement (I&D) procedures and antibiotic therapy until C-reactive protein levels are within normal range.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

From January 2004 to June 2014, a total of 7096 consecutive arthroscopic ACL reconstructions were performed at a single institution (5907 primary and 1189 revision reconstructions). Thirty-six cases with postoperative septic arthritis were identified and retrospectively analyzed with regard to incidence, clinical presentation, time to and number of arthroscopic reoperations, and microbiological findings. The follow-up examination consisted of a clinical examination, instrumeted measurement of laxity (KT-1000 arthrometer), classification according to objective and subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores, and radiological evaluation.

Results:

The incidence of septic arthritis was 0.51% (n = 36), with 0.41% (n = 24) in primary and 1.01% (n = 12) in revision reconstructions (odds ratio, 2.5; P = .008). The first I&D was performed a mean (±SD) of 19.6 ± 10.6 days after the index procedure. Eradication was achieved in all patients after a mean of 2.25 ± 1.22 procedures, with graft retention in all but 1 patient (97.2%). The mean duration of antibiotic treatment was 5.4 ± 2.3 weeks (range, 2.1-12.9 weeks) and ≤4 weeks in 13 patients (36%). No recurrence of infections was seen. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (62.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus (21.9%) were the most frequent pathogens. Twenty-nine patients were available for follow-up (80.6%) after a mean 4.7 ± 3.2 years (range, 0.7-11.2 years). Two patients suffered recurrent nontraumatic ACL insufficiency (6.9%), and all others (93.1%) had an intact graft, with a mean KT-1000 arthrometer side-to-side difference of 1.4 ± 0.9 mm. The mean subjective IKDC score was 80.4 ± 11.2. No emergence or deterioration of osteoarthritis related to infections was seen.

Conclusion:

Postoperative septic arthritis is rare but serious after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. Graft retention and good to excellent clinical results can be obtained with an arthroscopic treatment protocol. The duration of antibiotic therapy should be based on the individual course.
Does Shareholder Value Orientation or Financial Market Liberalization Slow Down Korean Real Investment?
Authors: Seo Hwan-Joo , Kim Han Sung , Kim Joonil
Published: September 2015

This study empirically tests whether the growing importance of shareholder value orientation and financial market liberalization can explain the decline in Korean real investment since the Asian financial crisis. First, the results indicate no negative relationship between increased payments to financial markets and the slowdown in Korean real investment. Second, the estimation results do not support the assertion that financial investment earnings crowd out Korean real investment. Third, an increase in the level of uncertainty from financial market liberalization reduces real investment by Korean firms. These results suggest that financial market liberalization explains the slowdown in Korean firm real investment for the 1990-2010 period better than shareholder value orientation does.
Absolute Advantage and International Trade
Authors: Seretis Stergios A. , Tsaliki Persefoni V.
Published: September 2015

The purpose of this paper is to give empirical content to the approach of international trade based on the principle of absolute advantage and to show that differences in productivity may give rise to transfers of value towards the units of capital with an absolute advantage in production. Our approach is based on the classical/Marxian theories of value and competition and it is operationalized using input-output data for the years 1995, 2000, and 2005 of four euro-zone countries (Greece, Spain, Finland, and the Netherlands). The derived results are consistent with the view that productivity differences persist over the years, which is equivalent to saying that the absolute advantage in production does not change into comparative advantage.
Immanent Critique, Enabling Myths, and the Neoliberal Narrative
Authors: Wrenn Mary V.
Published: September 2015

This research aims to untangle and critically assess the core enabling myths of neoliberalism. The first step is to outline in brief the method of immanent critique, how it works, as well as its advantages and possible limits. The next step is to use immanent critique to strip the neoliberal narrative to its core, organizing myths: the myths of privatization, deregulation, and retrenchment of the welfare state.
Strength and deformation characteristics of engineered cementitious composite slabs with different polymer fibres
Authors: Said Shwan H , Razak Hashim A , Othman Ismail
Published: September 2015

This paper presents a study on the compressive and flexural strength of engineered cementitious composite (ECC) cubes and slabs, reinforced with various polymer fibres. The type of fibre, fibre content and aspect ratio were the parameters considered in this study. For all types of fibre, the compressive strength of the ECC decreased as the reinforcing index increased. For the ECC polypropylene fibre (PP) slabs, the first crack strength significantly decreased with an increase in the fibre content. For the ECC polyethylene fibre (PE) slabs, the first crack strength decreased as the reinforcing index increased. For the ECC PE slabs, the usage of PE 1600D fibres showed a substantial increase in flexural strength due to their higher tensile strength and E modulus. The ECC PP slabs behaved like plane concrete due to the zero value of flexural strength, which was attributed to the weak interfacial bonding with the cement matrix, low tensile strength and E modulus of the PP fibres. The highest ductility was observed for the ECC-PE slabs with the highest recorded deflection values; these values achieved many extended multiple cracks and an extensive area under the load–deflection curve indicating high energy absorption capacity.
Symptom Dimensions of Depression and 3-Year Incidence of Dementia
Authors: Lugtenburg Astrid , Zuidersma Marij , Voshaar Richard C. Oude , Schoevers Robert A.
Published: September 2015

Objective:

To evaluate the association between depressive symptom dimensions and incident dementia in a community sample of older persons.

Methods:

Depressive symptoms at baseline and incident dementia at 3-year follow-up were assessed with the Geriatric Mental State (GMS)–Automated Geriatric Examination for Computer Assisted Taxonomy in nondemented persons aged 65 years or older. Exploratory and confirmatory bifactor analysis on the depression items yielded a general depression factor characterized by all GMS items and a cognitive/motivational factor characterized by cognitive and motivational “depressive” symptoms and the absence of depressed mood.

Results:

Ninety-three of 1911 persons had developed dementia at follow-up. The general depression factor increased the risk of dementia after adjustment for covariates (odds ratio [OR]: 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14-1.92), but the cognitive/motivational factor did not (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.75-1.47). However, in 1725 nondepressed older persons, the cognitive/motivational factor significantly predicted dementia after adjustment for covariates (OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.03-2.28) but not anymore after additional adjustment for subjective memory complaints (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 0.94-2.13). The general depression factor did not significantly predict dementia in nondepressed older persons (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 0.80-1.66).

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that the increased risk of dementia associated with depressive symptoms in many previous studies appears to be heterogeneous, that is, it is likely due to different underlying pathways, including a pathway involving depression itself and a pathway in which cognitive and motivational symptoms reflect subjective cognitive complaints, particularly in the absence of depressed mood. These different pathways might warrant a different treatment approach.
How uncertainty about judicial nominees can distort the confirmation process
Authors: Sen Maya , Spaniel William
Published: September 2015

Why are judicial nominees allowed to refuse to answer questions about important issues that could come before the courts? We address this question by examining the information environment surrounding judicial nominations. Using the Supreme Court as our example, we formulate a model that departs from the existing literature by incorporating the fact that the Senate often does not know what type of candidate the President is trying to appoint. Our model shows when the President and Senate are ideologically divergent, low information about nominees’ views results in the Senate occasionally rejecting acceptable nominees. However, when the President and Senate are ideologically close, the President benefits from leaving the process opaque—that is, allowing his nominees to avoid answering tough questions. Thus, even though low information can be costly to both parties, keeping the process nontransparent shields the President from being penalized for selecting more like-minded (and possibly extreme) judges.
A fractal-dimension-based envelope demodulation for rolling element bearing fault feature extraction from vibration signals
Authors: Shi Juanjuan , Liang Ming
Published: September 2015

Vibration analysis has been extensively used as an effective tool for bearing condition monitoring. The vibration signal collected from a defective bearing is, however, a mixture of several signal components including the fault feature (i.e. fault-induced impulses), periodic interferences from other mechanical/electrical components, and background noise. The incipient impulses which excite as well as modulate the resonance frequency of the system are easily masked by compounded effects of periodic interferences and noise, making it challenging to do a reliable fault diagnosis. As such, this paper proposes an envelope demodulation method termed short time fractal dimension (STFD) transform for fault feature extraction from such vibration signal mixture. STFD transform calculation related issues are first addressed. Then, by STFD, the original signal can be quickly transformed into a STFD representation, where the envelope of fault-induced impulses becomes more pronounced whereas interferences are partly weakened due to their morphological appearance differences. It has been found that the lower the interference frequency, the less effect the interference has on STFD representations. When interference frequency keeps increasing, more effects on STFD representations will be resulted. Such effects can be reduced by the proposed kurtosis-based peak search algorithm (KPSA). Therefore, bearing fault signature is kept and interferences are further weakened in the STFD-KPSA representation. The proposed method has been favourably compared with two widely used enveloping methods, i.e. multi-morphological analysis and energy operator, in terms of extracting impulse envelopes from vibration signals obscured by multiple interferences. Its performance has also been examined using both simulated and experimental data.
Cellulitis-like symptoms manifested by bone metastasis of lung cancer in a patient living with human immunodeficiency virus
Authors: Kashima Jumpei , Okuma Yusuke , Watanabe Kageaki , Ajisawa Atushi , Hishima Tsunekazu
Published: September 2015

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients are at a high risk of cancer compared with the general population. As the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has increased, non-AIDS-defining cancers have also increased in the past decade. A 61-year-old man with HIV infection on ART developed a painful, erythematous and oedematous lower left leg and an associated fever. He was initially treated with antibiotics for cellulitis but there was no improvement, which warranted further investigation. A translucent lesion was found by X-ray imaging and bone scintigraphy showed bone metastasis from a primary adenocarcinoma of the lung, documented by chest computed tomography and an axillary lymph node biopsy. The patient died three months after the diagnosis despite undergoing chemotherapy. This case demonstrates that physicians should consider metastatic malignancies as a differential diagnoses for diverse skin changes in HIV-infected patients.
When Threat Is Near, Get Out of Here
Authors: Löw Andreas , Weymar Mathias , Hamm Alfons O.
Published: September 2015

When detecting a threat, humans and other animals engage in defensive behaviors and supporting physiological adjustments that vary with threat imminence and potential response options. In the present study, we shed light on the dynamics of defensive behaviors and associated physiological adjustments in humans using multiple psychophysiological and brain measures. When participants were exposed to a dynamically approaching, uncontrollable threat, attentive freezing was augmented, as indicated by an increase in skin conductance, fear bradycardia, and potentiation of the startle reflex. In contrast, when participants had the opportunity to actively avoid the approaching threat, attention switched to response preparation, as indicated by an inhibition of the startle magnitude and by a sharp drop of the probe-elicited P3 component of the evoked brain potentials. These new findings on the dynamics of defensive behaviors form an important intersection between animal and human research and have important implications for understanding fear and anxiety-related disorders.
The Extravert Advantage
Authors: Duffy Korrina A. , Chartrand Tanya L.
Published: September 2015

Extraverts are better than introverts at building rapport, but it remains unknown what they do behaviorally to better connect with other individuals. We hypothesized that extraverts mimic more than introverts as a way to build rapport; however, we predicted that this social skillfulness of extraverts emerges only when they are motivated to affiliate. In Study 1, we found that extraversion predicted increased mimicry when an affiliation goal was present, but not when an affiliation goal was absent. In Study 2, we found that mimicry mediates the relationship between extraversion and rapport, but only when an affiliation goal is present. Our findings are the first to identify a behavior that extraverts engage in that helps them build rapport. Furthermore, our studies show that this skillfulness of extraverts emerges only when they are motivated to affiliate, providing evidence in favor of the reward-sensitivity-as-core model of extraversion over the sociability-as-core model of extraversion.
A CFD-based throughflow method with an explicit body force model and an adaptive formulation for the S2 streamsurface
Authors: Pacciani Roberto , Rubechini Filippo , Marconcini Michele , Arnone Andrea , Cecchi Stefano , Daccà Federico
Published: September 2015

The paper describes the development and validation of a novel CFD-based throughflow model. It is based on the axisymmetric Euler equations with tangential blockage and body forces and inherits its numerical scheme from state-of-the-art CFD solver (TRAF code), including real-gas capabilities. A crucial aspect of the numerical procedure is represented by an adaptive approach for the meridional flow surface, which employs a new time-dependent equation to accommodate incidence and deviation effects, and which allows the explicit calculation of the blade body force. A realistic distribution of entropy along the streamlines is proposed in order to compute dissipative forces on the basis of a distributed loss model. The throughflow code is applied to the investigation of the NASA rotor 67 transonic fan and of a four stage low-pressure steam turbine at design conditions. The performance of the method is evaluated by comparing predicted operating characteristics and spanwise distributions of flow quantities with the results of CFD, steady, viscous calculations and experimental data.
Predictors of intestinal pseudo-obstruction in systemic lupus erythematosus complicated by digestive manifestations: data from a Southern China lupus cohort
Authors: Huang Q , Lai W , Yuan C , Shen S , Cui D , Zhao J , Lin J , Ren H , Yang M
Published: September 2015

Objective

To determine factors that may predict intestinal pseudo-obstruction (IpsO) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients complicated by digestive manifestations.

Methods

SLE patients with digestive manifestations ( n = 135) were followed at Southern Medical University affiliated Nanfang Hospital from 2000 until 2013. Demographic variables, clinical features, and laboratory data were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to establish factors that predispose to IpsO in these patients.

Results

At the end of the study period, 32 (23.7%) patients had developed IpsO. Mortality (9 patients) was infrequent and the cause of death was unrelated to IpsO. Independent predictors of IpsO in SLE were ureterectasia, anti-U1 RNP+, peritonitis, and low C3 levels.

Conclusions

Regular abdominal X-ray examinations are recommended in SLE patients with ureterectasia, anti-U1 RNP+, peritonitis, or low C3 levels, as early diagnosis and therapy may prevent unnecessary surgical intervention and improve the disease course.
Caspase-1 is required for maintenance of marginal zone B cells in pristane-induced lupus
Authors: Morse M D , Clark K L , Cascalho M , Kahlenberg J M
Published: September 2015

Objective

Caspase-1 is required for nephritis and robust autoantibody development in the pristane model of murine lupus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the immune response and to study the splenic B and T cell populations in wild-type (WT) and caspase-1 -/- mice following pristane injection in order to develop an understanding of why absence of caspase-1 is protective in pristane-induced lupus.

Methods

Immunization responses to NP-Ficoll and NP-ovalbumin were assessed in WT and caspase-1 -/- mice. In vitro IgM and IgG responses to R848 were measured by ELISA. Serum IgM anti-dsDNA and IL-1β were also measured by ELISA. B and T cell populations 2 weeks and 6 months following pristane injection were measured by flow cytometry in WT and caspase-1 -/- mice.

Results

Caspase-1 -/- mice generate equivalent IgG responses to NP-Ficoll and NP-ova antigens when compared to wild-type mice. Additionally, they secrete IgM and IgG in response to TLR7 activation. Pristane injected WT and caspase-1 -/- mice generate robust IgM anti-dsDNA responses. Caspase-1 -/- mice have a significant reduction in marginal zone B cell populations compared to WT 6 months after pristane exposure whereas T cell responses are intact in these mice.

Conclusions

Caspase-1 -/- mice have intact immune responses but do not develop an expanded marginal zone B cell population in response to pristane-induced lupus. This may be one explanation for reduced IgG autoantibody production in these mice.
Suicidal drug overdose in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, a nationwide population-based case-control study
Authors: Tang K T , Lin C H , Chen H H , Chen Y H , Chen D Y
Published: September 2015

Objective

A four-fold increase of suicide mortality has been demonstrated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Prior studies showed that the most common method of suicide attempts in SLE patients involves drug overdose. Therefore, we conducted a nationwide population-based case-control study to elucidate factors associated with drug overdose as suicide attempt in SLE patients.

Methods

This study was based on the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. We identified all SLE patients from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2010. Patients who had suicidal drug overdose (SDO) were selected as cases while age- and gender-matched patients who did not have SDO were selected as controls.

Results

The incidence rate of SDO in SLE patients was 291 cases per 100,000 person-years, higher than that in the general population (160 cases per 100,000 person-years). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, we observed that SDO was associated with psychiatric disorders such as depressive disorders (odds ratio: 8.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.60–12.48) and insomnia (odds ratio: 2.71, 95% CI: 1.73–4.25), and lower monthly income (odds ratios: 2.74 to 3.50) in SLE patients.

Conclusion

SDO is associated with psychiatric disorders such as depressive disorders and insomnia, and lower monthly income in SLE patients.
Polypyrrole-based amperometric cation sensor with tunable sensitivity
Authors: Venugopal Vinithra , Sundaresan Vishnu Baba
Published: September 2015

This article presents a novel technique to quantify the kinetics of faradaic response in polypyrrole (doped with dodecylbenzenesulfonate) (PPy(DBS)) and its application in developing a cation sensor. This technique is based on the analysis of the impedance/admittance transfer function of PPy(DBS) and the representation of its reduction chronoameprometric response using system poles and residues. The results presented in this paper demonstrate that the pole of the transfer function is an intrinsic quantity and the residue corresponding to the system pole is an extrinsic quantity. The residue of the system pole for a redox-step potential is dependent on the concentration of cations and is observed to have linear dependence on electrolyte concentration ( R2 > 0.9). Thus, the residues can be used to accurately estimate the concentration of cations in an electrolyte solution and enables the use of PPy(DBS) as a high-precision cation sensor. The experimental investigation supporting this analysis demonstrates that the sensitivity of residue to concentration can be varied by equilibrating PPy(DBS) a priori in the cation containing solution of known concentration and by varying the morphology of PPy(DBS).
The Mutual Influence of Therapy Group Members’ Hope and Depressive Symptoms
Authors: Kivlighan D. Martin , Paquin Jill D. , Hsu Yu-Kuang K. , Wang Lin-Feng
Published: September 2015

The current study sought to further explore the theoretical model of mutual influence among therapy group members, which postulates that group members influence one another and that this influence is a key component of group treatments. However, a recent finding suggested that group members’ adjusted posttreatment outcomes were not significantly related. The current study reexamined mutual influence by testing this relationship in a markedly different sample on two outcome variables, depression and hopelessness. The data consisted of 78 HIV+ men participating in six therapy groups in a Taiwanese correctional facility. Contrary to our hypothesis, the relationship between an individual group member’s posttreatment depression and the aggregated depression scores of the other group members was not significant. As hypothesized, the relationship between an individual group member’s posttreatment hope and the aggregated sense of hope of the other group members was significant.
Reading About the Power of Music
Authors: Cardany Audrey Berger
Published: September 2015

In this article, I review two books that address the power of music for the individual and group. Both books address the benefits of making, learning, and listening to music during times of conflict. The first brief review is David McPhail’s picture book Mole Music. The second is Children of the Stone: The Power of Music in a Hard Land, Sandy Tolan’s nonfiction account of how music functions in the lives of those who live in the Middle East. The fictional picture book highlights the ideal of music directly prompting peace, while Tolan’s story of Ramzi Aburedwan’s transformation from a Palestinian boy throwing stones at Israeli soldiers to musician and activist demonstrates the complexity of a concerted and purposeful effort to promote peace through music. Each book provides an opportunity to engage students at the secondary level in discussions of how music functions in their lives and others.
Stress analysis of an unsymmetric composite plate with variance of oval-shaped cutout
Authors: Dave Jatin M , Sharma Dharmendra S , Chauhan Mihir M
Published: September 2015

The complex variable method is used to obtain a solution for stress distribution around cutout of oval shape (and its variance) in an infinite plate having un-symmetric material properties with respect to mid plane. The mapping function used is for an oval shape but, using a different shape and size, a constant oval shape of different size as well as shapes such as a circle, ellipse, square, rectangle and eye are obtained. The stress functions are explicitly solved by incorporating the condition of single-valuedness of the out-of-plane displacement and the Schwarz formula along the hole boundary. The effects of the geometry, stacking sequence, material properties and loading angle on stresses and moments around a hole are studied. Some of the results are compared with existing literature and found to be in close agreement.
Effect of intramuscular methadone on pharmacokinetic data and thermal and mechanical nociceptive thresholds in the cat
Authors: Slingsby Louisa S , Sear John W , Taylor Polly M , Murrell Joanna C
Published: September 2015

Objectives

The aim of the study was to assess simultaneous pharmacokinetics and thermal and mechanical antinociception after intramuscular methadone (0.6 mg/kg) in 10 cats.

Methods

Thermal and mechanical threshold (TT and MT, respectively) testing and blood collection were conducted at baseline and up to 24 h after administration. Methadone plasma concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by a non-compartmental method. TT and MT were analysed using ANOVA ( P <0.05). Time of maximum plasma concentration (Tmax), time of onset of antinociception and time of reaching cut-out threshold (TT 55°C; MT 30 Newtons [N]) were determined.

Results

TT and MT increased above baseline from 20–240 mins and 5–40 mins, respectively, after intramuscular (IM) administration ( P <0.005). Mean maximum delta T (measured as TT minus baseline threshold) was 7.9°C (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.3–11.6) at 60 mins and mean maximum delta F (measured as MT minus baseline threshold) was 4.2 (95% CI 1.6–6.7) N at 45 mins. IM methadone concentration–time data decreased curvilinearly, and gave a clearance estimate of mean 9.1 ml/kg/min (range 5.2–15.7) with median Tmax at 20 mins (range 5–360 mins).

Conclusions and relevance

IM data followed classical disposition and elimination in all cats. Plasma concentrations after IM administration were associated with an antinociceptive effect, including negative hysteresis. These data can be used for devising dosing schedules for methadone in clinical feline practice.
Human rights pragmatism: Belief, inquiry, and action
Authors: Dancy Geoff
Published: September 2015

Human rights scholars and activists have often been criticized for being “principled” rather than “pragmatic” actors in international politics. Rarely, though, is such criticism accompanied by a discussion of what pragmatism means, or what pragmatic action looks like. This article conceptually traces and defines three aspects of pragmatism — philosophical, methodological, and political — that might be applied to the global human rights discourse. The article then outlines how these aspects can help resolve debates over human rights beliefs, scientific inquiry, and political action. I argue, first, that critics of human rights do not adequately develop the concept of human rights pragmatism, and then I make the case using examples that human rights discourse already lends itself toward a pragmatic train of thought. The implication of this analysis is that the “pragmatist” critique of human rights actors is, at minimum, unfounded and, at maximum, a mask for more pessimistic anti-rights positions.
Soft power and identity: Russia, Ukraine and the ‘Russian world(s)’
Authors: Feklyunina Valentina
Published: September 2015

What is soft power, and how can we analyse it empirically? The article proposes a social constructivist take on soft power by anchoring it to the concept of collective identity, and by suggesting a set of criteria that can be used to assess whether soft power is present in a relationship between two or more states. It argues that soft power is generated through continuous renegotiation of collective identity. We can assess the weight of a state’s soft power vis-a-vis another state by investigating the extent to which the discursively constructed collective identity projected by the first state is accepted or rejected by different audiences in the second state, and by examining the ability of these audiences to affect the process of foreign policy decision-making. To illustrate this approach, the article applies it to an analysis of Russia’s relationship with Ukraine prior to the 2014 crisis. In the late 2000s–early 2010s, Russia’s dominant identity was increasingly associated with the idea of a ‘Russian world’ — an imagined community based on the markers of the Russian language, the Russian culture and the common glorious past. Despite a significant increase in Moscow’s public diplomacy activities in Ukraine around that time, those efforts did not and could not fundamentally transform the psychological milieu in Moscow’s relationship with Kyiv because the projected identity was inherently incompatible with one of the main identity discourses in Ukraine and was only partially compatible with another.
Use of short messaging services to assess depressive symptoms among refugees in South Africa: Implications for social services providing mental health care in resource-poor settings
Authors: Tomita Andrew , Kandolo Ka Muzombo , Susser Ezra , Burns Jonathan K
Published: September 2015

Introduction

Few studies in developing nations have assessed the use of short messaging services (SMS) to identify psychological challenges in refugee populations. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of SMS-based methods to screen for depression risk among refugees in South Africa attending mental health services, and to compare its reliability and acceptability with face-to-face consultation.

Methods

Of the 153 refugees enrolled at baseline, 135 were available for follow-up assessments in our cohort study. Depression symptomatology was assessed using the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) instrument.

Results

Nearly everyone possessed a mobile phone and utilized SMS. Furthermore, low incomplete item response in QIDS and high perceived ease of interacting via SMS with service providers supported the feasibility of this method. There was a fair level of reliability between face-to-face and SMS-based screening methods, but no significant difference in preference rating between the two methods.

Conclusion

Despite potential implementation barriers (network delay/phone theft), depression screening using SMS may be viable for refugee mental health services in low-resource settings.
Comparing methods for assessing receptive language skills in minimally verbal children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Plesa Skwerer Daniela , Jordan Samantha E , Brukilacchio Briana H , Tager-Flusberg Helen
Published: September 2015

This research addresses the challenges of assessing receptive language abilities in minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder by comparing several adapted measurement tools: a standardized direct assessment of receptive vocabulary (i.e. Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-4); caregiver report measures including scores on the Vineland-II Communication domain and a vocabulary questionnaire consisting of a list of words ranging from simple, developmentally early, to more advanced words expected to be understood by at least some older children and adolescents; an eye-tracking test of word comprehension, using a word–image pair matching paradigm similar to that often used in studies of infant language acquisition; and a computerized assessment using a touch screen for directly measuring word comprehension with the same stimuli used in the eye-tracking experiment. Results of this multiple-method approach revealed significant heterogeneity in receptive language abilities across participants and across assessment methods. Our findings underscore the need to find individualized approaches for capturing the potential for language comprehension of minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder who remain otherwise untestable, using several types of assessment that may include methods based on eye-tracking or touch-screen responding.
L1 regularization approach to structural damage detection using frequency data
Authors: Zhou Xiao-Qing , Xia Yong , Weng Shun
Published: September 2015

Structural damage often occurs only at several locations that exhibit stiffness reduction at sparse elements out of the large total number of elements in the entire structure. The conventional vibration-based damage detection methods employ a so-called l2 regularization approach in model updating. This generally leads to the damaged elements distributed to numerous elements, which does not represent the actual case. A new l1 regularization approach is developed to detect structural damage using the first few frequency data. The technique is based on the sparse recovery theory that a sparse vector can be successfully recovered using a small number of measurement data. One advantage of using frequency data is that the first few frequencies can be measured more accurately and conveniently than mode shapes and other modal properties. A cantilever beam is utilized to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Only the first six modal frequencies are required to detect two damaged elements among 90 finite beam elements, which cannot be achieved using the conventional damage detection approach. The effects of measurement number, damage severity, number of damage, and noise level on damage detection results are also studied through a numerical example. The advantage of the new regularization approach over the conventional one is finally interpreted.
Playgroups as sites for parental education
Authors: McLean Karen , Edwards Susan , Evangelou Maria , Skouteris Helen , Harrison Linda J , Hemphill Sheryl A , Sullivan Peter , Lambert Pamela
Published: September 2015

There is widespread international interest in parental education as a means of promoting educational equality through improving educational outcomes for young children. The research in this area suggests an association between the home learning environment and children’s educational outcomes and highlights the importance of parental education for supporting young children’s learning through play. This article reviews the international literature around parental education initiatives (or ‘interventions’) in early childhood and then considers playgroups as potential sites for parental education. The article identifies the universal features of playgroups that make these sites appealing for the implementation of parental education initiatives and discusses the complexities associated with the design of interventions aimed at meeting the diverse needs of parents attending playgroups. It concludes by providing a case for community playgroups as cultural contexts, to be considered sites for parental education through curriculum aimed at supporting parents to actively engage in their children’s learning and development through play.
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist-mediated attenuation of cardiac fibrosis
Authors: Gaspari Tracey , Brdar Melita , Lee Huey Wen , Spizzo Iresha , Hu Yunshan , Widdop Robert E , Simpson Richard W , Dear Anthony E
Published: September 2015

Background:

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists may have a role in modulation of cardiac fibrosis. Our study aimed to determine the effect of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist liraglutide in obesity, hypertension and age-induced murine models of cardiac fibrosis and identify associated molecular mechanisms.

Methods:

C57Bl/6J mice on a high-fat diet and C57Bl/6J mice on a normal chow diet treated with angiotensin II were used to induce obesity and hypertension-mediated cardiac fibrosis, respectively. C57Bl/6J mice 20 months old were used to study age-induced cardiac fibrosis. Liraglutide treatment of 30 µg/kg/day–300 µg/kg s.c. twice daily was administered for 4 weeks.

Results:

Liraglutide treatment attenuated obesity, hypertension and age-induced increases in interstitial cardiac fibrosis and expression of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers.

Conclusions:

These observations identify a potential role for liraglutide in the prevention of cardiac fibrosis and identify molecular mechanisms associated with these effects.
Patriotism on the internet: Journalists’ behavior and user comments
Authors: Ginosar Avshalom , Konovalov Igor
Published: September 2015

While a patriotic tendency in traditional journalism has been intensively investigated, there is much less evidence and fewer analyses of the phenomenon regarding online journalism. In this research, three main indicators of patriotic journalism are addressed: adopting governmental framing, expressing solidarity with the community, and ignoring the enemy’s narratives and positions. These indicators are investigated while analyzing online coverage of a confrontation between Israel and Hamas. A total of 192 online news items on three Israeli news websites were analyzed, in addition to 8344 user comments. The findings reveal that journalists behaved in a patriotic manner like their counterparts from the traditional media. However, users thought it was not patriotic enough. The authors argue that while patriotic behavior in traditional journalism has been often considered as deviant from the traditional objective model of journalism, in the online interactive environment, patriotic coverage of national conflicts might be seen as a natural part of the journalistic work.
Monoclonal antibody therapies for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: differentiating mechanisms and clinical outcomes
Authors: Lycke Jan
Published: September 2015

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) target immune cells or other molecules involved in pathogenic pathways with extraordinary specificity. Natalizumab and alemtuzumab are the only two currently approved mAbs for the treatment of MS, having demonstrated significant reduction in clinical and magnetic resonance imaging disease activity and disability in clinical studies. Ocrelizumab and daclizumab are in the late stages of phase III trials, and several other mAbs are in the early stages of clinical evaluation. mAbs have distinct structural characteristics (e.g. chimeric, humanized, fully human) and unique targets (e.g. blocking interactions, induction of signal transduction by receptor binding, complement-dependent cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity) conferring different mechanisms of action in MS. Because of these differences, mAbs for MS do not constitute a single treatment class; each must be considered individually when selecting appropriate therapy. Furthermore, in reviewing the data from clinical studies of mAbs, attention should be drawn to use of different comparators (e.g. placebo or interferon β-1a) and study designs. Each mAb treatment has a unique administration schedule. In the decision to select the appropriate treatment for each individual MS patient, careful review of the benefits relative to risks of mAbs is balanced against the risk of development of MS-associated disability.
Immune profiling in human breast cancer using high-sensitivity detection and analysis techniques
Authors: Coventry Brendon J , Weightman Michael J , Bradley John , Skinner John M
Published: September 2015

Objectives

Evaluation of immune profiles in human breast cancer using high-sensitivity detection and analysis methods.

Design

Cohort comparative analysis studies of breast tissue.

Setting

Human hospital and laboratory healthcare facilities.

Participants

Women over 18 years.

Main outcome measures

Evaluation of the comparative immunophenotype of human breast carcinoma and normal breast tissues.

Results

Leukocyte density and specific subgroups of lymphocytes and macrophages were generally higher in breast cancers compared to normal breast tissues. CD3, CD4, CD45RO, CD45RA(2H4), CD45 and HLA Class II (on TIL) were significantly expressed on breast tumour tissues compared with normal tissues ( p < .01). Some 30% of T-cells were γδ-TCR positive, but the majority were αβ-TCR in type. CD19 (B-cell), CD14 (FMC32 and 33) and HLA Class I levels (epithelial and TIL) showed no significant differences. IL-2α receptor expression was low or absent on most TIL.

Conclusions

High-sensitivity and image analysis techniques permitted accurate characterisation of the TIL infiltrate for immune profiling. Breast carcinoma showed predominance of CD4 T-cells of mainly memory phenotype. Normal breast tissues showed low leukocyte infiltration. Further correlation of these findings with clinical outcome, including survival, is proceeding with encouraging results.
Detection of cortical lesions in multiple sclerosis: A new imaging approach
Authors: Patel Kevin R , Luo Jie , Alvarez Enrique , Piccio Laura , Schmidt Robert E , Yablonskiy Dmitriy A , Cross Anne H
Published: September 2015

Cortical lesions occur early in multiple sclerosis (MS) and are thought to have clinical implications. Conventional MRI is insensitive to cortical pathology. Investigational imaging modalities show improved but incomplete cortical lesion detection and are time and resource intensive. Gradient echo plural contrast imaging (GEPCI) is sensitive to MS white matter pathology and can be performed on standard MRI scanners. Here we used GEPCI to examine autopsied MS frontal brain tissues. Two cortical MS lesions were visually distinguished from surrounding tissue by GEPCI and immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, these lesions were quantitatively differentiated from healthy tissue using GEPCI-derived metrics.
Assimilation paths of immigrant children: Asian Indians and Filipinos compared
Authors: Qian Zhenchao , Shah Priyank
Published: September 2015

Modes of accommodation and adaptation may influence minority immigrants’ assimilation outcomes. Using census data from 1980, 1990, and 2000, we follow the Asian Indians and Filipinos who were 0–19 years old in 1980 and immigrated to the US in the 1970s. We apply cohort analysis to compare their educational attainment when they became 20–39 years old in 2000 with that of their parents in 1980 and 1990. Educational attainment, on average, was lower among Filipino immigrant children than among their parents but higher among Asian Indian immigrant children than among their parents. We then explore differences in educational attainment and intermarriage patterns between Asian Indians and Filipinos. Asian Indians were much more likely to complete college, but far less likely to marry whites than Filipinos. These findings offer the basis for the discussion of different paths of assimilation among middle-class immigrants.
The Experiences of Israeli Early Childhood Educators Working With Children of Ethiopian Background
Authors: Firstater Esther , Sigad Laura I. , Frankel Tanya
Published: September 2015

This study offers an in-depth examination of the experiences of early childhood educators, focusing on their work with Ethiopian immigrant children and their families. We aim to describe and analyze the teachers’ insider views vis-à-vis the challenges faced by these children and their parents in the Israeli preschool system. Using narrative methodology, the analysis of findings is based upon 20 stories written by 10 early childhood educators. It reveals that for these teachers, the chief struggle is their relationship with the parents of their Ethiopian pupils, one characterized by difficulties, frustrations, and burdens. The engagement with parents of Ethiopian children exhibited a range of possibilities: from the expression of patronizing, hierarchical viewpoints, to a search for ad hoc ways of coping with a persistent cultural gap, to the attainment of genuine, successful partnerships. Lack of sufficient knowledge and understanding of the unique cultural attributes of the Ethiopian community appears to be the basis for the teachers’ view of the parents as lacking faith in them and in the educational system as a whole. In addition, suggestions are made about implications for educational practice and for policies that might assist teachers in ameliorating these challenges via the development of, and professional training in, skills which help coping with the problems and dilemmas unique to the multicultural classroom.
Understanding the Disposition of Urban Planning Students Toward Social Justice and Equity Themes
Authors: Harris Kirk E.
Published: September 2015

This research surveys how graduate level urban planning students think about social justice and equity issues and how academic instruction in urban planning affects the disposition of students toward these issues and themes in the context of their development as urban planning professionals. Although the quantitative findings did not demonstrate that the graduate curriculum and instruction had any appreciable impact on student understanding and navigation of equity and social justice themes, qualitative evidence did suggest that students are understanding and care about issues related to social justice and equity and were interested in incorporating those issues into their professional practice. This research also suggests that graduate academic instruction may fall short in supporting students with the useful integration of social justice and equity issues into their professional practice.