bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computer-generated pornography and convergence: Animation and algorithms as new digital desire
Authors: Saunders Rebecca
Published: March 2019

This article is one of the first to consider the digital phenomenon of computer-generated imagery (CGI) pornography, a highly significant site of convergence that combines the technologies, cultures and aesthetics of digital animation, video games and pornographic film. As much of this controversial new content is produced through the hacking of licensed video game franchises, CGI pornography typifies the democratic possibilities of the digital economy. However, this bizarre digital subculture exemplifies too the tension between ludic and labour-intensive digital practises: its production is embedded simultaneously in the anti-productive play of gaming, hacking and pornography, and in the intensive, neo-liberal labour practises associated with free labour and the video game industry. This article explores CGI porn as a specific site of convergence that fundamentally alters the aesthetics and function of digital pornography and relatedly the libidinal subject that is interpolated in this crucial aspect of digital culture. The filmic genre of pornography has a long tradition of producing affective engagement through vicarious access to the material body; its evocations of veracious materiality and presence are only amplified in a digital culture of virtuality and dematerialization. This article analyses how the technological construction of CGI porn is foregrounded in its images and films, highlighting the codes and patterns of the genre and blending them with a stark revelation of the restrictions and capabilities of CGI technology. The article explores how multiple instances of hypermediacy and hypersignification in CGI porn expose and affectively engage with the fact of convergence itself: that is, revealing technological capacities and limitations of digital animation and eroticizing its interpenetration with the films’ diegeses, aesthetics and representations of movement become the central function of this new cultural output. The libidinal focus of this type of digital pornography fundamentally shifts, then, away from the human body and the attempt to gain vicarious imagistic access to it through digital technologies. Instead, the labour of the animator, and the coding and characters they borrow from video game designs, become the libidinal focus of computer-generated pornography. As this new digital phenomenon uncovers and eroticizes the workings of CGI, so it dismantles the veracity and materiality promised by ‘real body’ digital pornography: CGI porn’s stark foregrounding of its technological constructedness clarifies the artificiality of its ‘real body’ counterpart. This article posits, then, an important new site of convergence. Pornography is a central node in the culture, politics and economics of digital technology, and the ways in which its convergence with CGI practises and video game culture has produced not just an entirely new digital phenomenon, but has fundamentally altered digital pornography's conception of the desirous subject and the material body, are crucial.
“We are children like others”: Pathways to mental health and healing for children born of genocidal rape in Rwanda
Authors: Kahn Sarilee , Denov Myriam
Published: March 2019

Despite the well-documented prevalence of rape as a strategy of war, little is known about the specific psychological consequences to children born of conflict-related sexual violence. The results of data analysis of 7 focus groups and 60 in-depth interviews with children born of genocidal rape in Rwanda indicated that they are carrying the trauma of their own stigmatization and marginalization, are burdened with their mothers' trauma, and, we conclude, symbolize unresolved collective trauma for the society. Analysis also reveals that healing for these young adults requires interpersonal and intrapersonal compassion and acceptance, a meaningful connection with a peer group, societal recognition, and empowerment to help contribute to and transform their lives and societies. Each of these pathways to healing—intrapersonal, interpersonal, and social—is contingent upon the other, and none can be considered in isolation. To support this largely invisible population striving to fulfill their potential, opportunities need to be created for self-acceptance and acceptance by mothers, families, and communities; sharing and building emotional and social bonds with their cohort group; formal recognition; official social rituals to validate their experiences and those of the mother–child dyad in the context of culture and community; and for socioeconomic opportunities to enable them to fully participate in building the future of Rwanda.
Truth and procedural fairness in Chinese criminal procedure law
Authors: Shytov Alexander , Duff Peter
Published: March 2019

Chinese criminal procedural law has recently been undergoing rapid transformation. While the search for ‘truth’, embodied in a confession by the accused, has traditionally dominated the criminal process, efforts are now being made to secure more procedural fairness. This is exemplified by the introduction of rules to render inadmissible at trial confessions extorted from suspects by ill treatment. Unsurprisingly, it has proved difficult to shift the mindsets of the players in the criminal justice process. The new rules have not been fully implemented in many respects and there is still confusion over the criteria to be used by the courts in making decisions about inadmissibility. Further, it has proved difficult to enable defence lawyers to play a more active role in defending their clients and to render it normal for witnesses to testify at trial. This handicaps the drive to secure a better balance between the search for truth and procedural fairness in the Chinese criminal trial.
Some Common Lessons from Uncommon FTAs
Authors: Gaurav Kumar , Bharti Nalin
Published: March 2019

The present study endeavours to observe the trade creation and trade diversion effects of three free trade agreements (FTAs) in Asia, namely, India–Japan CEPA (IJCEPA), India–Sri Lanka FTA (ISFTA), and India–Bhutan FTA (IBFTA). The article aims to evaluate three uncommon FTAs that include developing–developed, developing–developing and developing–least developed countries. The objective is to evaluate the effects of these FTAs on exports and draw lessons for both the contracting parties and for other economies to commence FTAs that promote trade liberalization. This paper also aims to debunk the myth that FTAs between developing-least developed countries is not beneficial for the developing or least developed counterpart. The study applies augmented gravity model to capture the trade creation and trade diversion effects. The results confirm that ISFTA and IBFTA have trade creation effect, while in case of IJCEPA, there is trade diversion. These bilateral agreements can open the ways for multilateral trade liberalization in the long-run.

JEL : F10, F13, F14
Ontological representation–oriented term normalization and standardization of the Research Domain Criteria
Authors: Li Fang , Rao Guozheng , Du Jingcheng , Xiang Yang , Zhang Yaoyun , Selek Salih , Hamilton Jane Elizabeth , Xu Hua , Tao Cui
Published: March 2019

The Research Domain Criteria, launched by the National Institute of Mental Health, is a new dimensional and interdisciplinary research framework for mental disorders. The Research Domain Criteria matrix is its core part. Since an ontology has the strengths of supporting semantic inferencing and automatic data processing, we would like to transform the Research Domain Criteria matrix into an ontological structure. In terms of data normalization, which is the essential part of an ontology representation, the Research Domain Criteria elements (mainly in the Units of Analysis) have some limitations. In this article, we propose a series of solutions to improve data normalization of the Research Domain Criteria elements in the Units of Analysis, including leveraging standard terminologies (i.e. the Unified Medical Language System Metathesaurus), context-combining queries, and domain expertise. The evaluation results show the positive (Yes) percentage is more than 80 percent, indicating our work is favorably received by the mental health professionals, and we have formed a good data foundation for the Research Domain Criteria ontological representation in the future work.
Migration, social policy, and power in historical perspective
Authors: Seeleib-Kaiser Martin
Published: March 2019

Migration and social policy have become fiercely contested issues in Europe and North America. In this article, I highlight how mobility and migration, on one hand, and social policy, on the other hand, have historically been closely interwoven and shaped by power relations. It is argued that European states actively assisted their poor to leave ‘home’ and settle in far-away places. I will elaborate some of the tensions between freedom of movement and the role of social policy in the North German Confederation ( Norddeutscher Bund [NDB]) and the British Empire. Finally, it is argued that many of the current challenges and issues associated with migration and social policy in Europe are historically not unique.
Making sense of large numbers: Biographical projects of young migrants
Authors: Schilling Elisabeth
Published: March 2019

The paper focuses on the laymen’s perception of statistical reports, the discourses emerging around the statistical data and their possible adverse impacts on the educational future of young migrants. It attempts to build a bridge between qualitative and quantitative research in order to investigate how individuals interpret statistics, how they make sense of the numbers and what practices emerge from their dealing with statistical data. It examines how migrant students of German language courses, their teachers and a variety of consultants construct the students’ professional and personal future and how these constructions are influenced by individuals’ understanding of statistical classifications and data.
The German statistical category “migration background”: Historical roots, revisions and shortcomings
Authors: Will Anne-Kathrin
Published: March 2019

The term “migration background” is commonly used in Germany today, but this neologism is only 20 years old. As an official category, it is even much younger. There has been only little research concerning the new population category, which emerged around the turn of the millennium. Thus, the question how the “migration background” could become the central category describing migration related diversity in Germany is not answered yet. This article fills this gap by exploring the context of the emergence of the “migration background” including the history of ethnic categories in German official statistics. It describes the actual definition of a “migration background” which became an official category in 2007 when the German Federal Statistical Office started publishing data regarding “the population with a migration background” based on the microcensus, a 1% household survey with mandatory participation. The central questions are: how national membership is imagined, how is it inscribed in definitions, and what adaptions had to be made over time? To answer these questions, different sources as questionnaires, publications of results of the microcensus and national reports on children and youth are analysed. Using interpretative methods, it is shown how a new taxonomy of the population in Germany was created, how it was influenced by international and national educational research, and to which extent it reshaped the perspectives on newcomers and natives. It is shown that the new category is tightly bound to citizenship and summarizes a number of older ethnic categories, but excludes also immigrated Germans who immigrated shortly after Second World War and from the former German Democratic Republic. Therefore, the label “migration background” is misleading because inherited citizenship and ancestry is in the centre of the definition rather than migration experience.
Friends and authors: Spontaneous co-composing in a writing workshop
Authors: Jaeger Elizabeth
Published: March 2019

In the mid-1980s, researchers began to study writers working in collaboration. Much of this research attended to what might be termed side-by-side composing: authors working on their own individual pieces and discussing them with others as needed. Others have studied co-composing—that is, multiple authors crafting a single text—describing the various aspects of these collaborations and their constraints and affordances. Nevertheless, few of these researchers have examined settings in which children spontaneously undertake co-composing. The study described here is a case analysis of a group of third-grade boys who chose to work together to write a superhero story over a period of six weeks. Mobilizing Bakhtin’s construct of heteroglossic discourse, the study explores interactions among the authors and aspects of their final product. Classroom observations, audio-recordings of co-composing sessions and student interviews, as well as the finished text served as the triangulated data for the study. Analysis showed that both the students’ interaction and the text that resulted from it was multi-voiced in nature. I argue here for a Writing Workshop model that foregrounds student choice and agency, rather than asserting that procedures are the primary drivers of success. In the context described here, such a model allowed students in this classroom to follow their own interests and work with peers who were supportive of those interests.
A penalized approach to covariate selection through quantile regression coefficient models
Authors: Sottile Gianluca , Frumento Paolo , Chiodi Marcello , Bottai Matteo
Published: March 2019

The coefficients of a quantile regression model are one-to-one functions of the order of the quantile. In standard quantile regression (QR), different quantiles are estimated one at a time. Another possibility is to model the coefficient functions parametrically, an approach that is referred to as quantile regression coefficients modeling (QRCM). Compared with standard QR, the QRCM approach facilitates estimation, inference and interpretation of the results, and generates more efficient estimators. We designed a penalized method that can address the selection of covariates in this particular modelling framework. Unlike standard penalized quantile regression estimators, in which model selection is quantile-specific, our approach permits using information on all quantiles simultaneously. We describe the estimator, provide simulation results and analyse the data that motivated the present article. The proposed approach is implemented in the qrcmNP package in R.
Experimental and computational study of tones occurring with a coaxial nozzle
Authors: Zaman KBMQ , Milanovic I , Fagan AF , Miller CJ
Published: March 2019

The source of audible tones occurring with a coaxial nozzle is explored experimentally as well as computationally. The hardware is comprised of an inner and an outer nozzle, without a center-body, that are held together by a set of four struts. With increasing jet Mach number ( Mj), first a tone occurred at about 2550 Hz around Mj = 0.06. At higher Mj, a tone at 5200 Hz dominated the noise spectra. The corresponding non-dimensional frequency, based on the effective thickness of the inner nozzle lip and jet exit velocity, turned out to be about 0.2, a value characteristic of Karman vortex shedding. Thus, vortex shedding from the inner nozzle lip could be linked to the tones. From a comparison of acoustic wavelengths and nozzle dimensions, as well as locations of the pressure nodes and anti-nodes from the computational results, it was inferred that the vortex shedding excited one-quarter-wave resonances within the divergent sections of the nozzle. Such resonances in the inner and the outer nozzles produced the higher and the lower frequency tones, respectively.
Investigation of vibration data-based human load monitoring system
Authors: Sadhu Ayan , Dunphy Kyle , Zerpa Carlos
Published: March 2019

Structural design of flexible footbridges requires a thorough understanding of pedestrian-induced vibration such that their dynamic behavior is accurately predicted. Human-induced vibration creates complicated ground reaction forces that contribute to human–structure interaction in the footbridges. It, therefore, becomes a significant challenge to the bridge designers to accurately estimate the moving pedestrian load on the footbridges during the design phase. This article examines the issues of human–structure interaction in slender pedestrian bridges and aims to analyze the walking pattern of the pedestrian from human-induced vibration data of the bridge. A wavelet-based time–frequency decomposition technique is adopted to extract the walking pattern of the pedestrian followed by time-series analysis of the walking pattern to develop a statistical model of pedestrian-induced vibration. Full-scale testing is conducted on a footbridge to validate the proposed technique under a wide range of pedestrian excitation. An experimental study is conducted to demonstrate the proposed method using the pedestrian’s walking on a force plate monitored by video cameras and vibration sensors. Identified walking patterns are then compared with the actual walking patterns measured by motion sensors attached to the test subject.
Telecommunications Companies as Digital Broadcasters: The Importance of Net Neutrality in Competitive Markets
Authors: Meese James
Published: March 2019

This article examines the recent phenomenon of telecommunications companies distributing screen content over-the-top (OTT). It begins by localizing this international trend through an Australian case study and exploring how this process manifests in a relatively competitive telecommunications market. The article reveals that telecommunications companies going OTT contributes to increasing concentration among Australian Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and also raises a series of consumer issues. I go on to argue that the ownership or provision of telecommunications infrastructure must be separated from content distribution and that net neutrality needs to be embedded as a central media policy concern, even in markets with a relatively strong level of competition. However, the article also notes that such policies do not address the long-term profitability of telecommunications companies that are not already vertically integrated, a problem that future research needs to address.
Cedric Herring’s Lasting Legacy
Authors: Horton Hayward Derrick , Henderson Loren
Published: March 2019

Remembering the scholarly legacy of Cedric Herring.
The Corner, the Canopy, and the Iconic Ghetto
Authors: McCabe Janice
Published: March 2019

Janice McCabe interviews Elijah Anderson.
Empiricism and Its Fallacies
Authors: Burawoy Michael
Published: March 2019

The scholar most associated with "public sociology" responds to steven lubet’s prosecutorial approach and argues that, if looking for falsehoods is the point of empiricist ethnography, looking for falsifications is the point of theory-driven ethnography.
Sexist Cheap Shots
Authors: Gonalons-Pons Pilar , Ronen Shelly
Published: March 2019

Pilar Gonalons-Pons and Shelly Ronen on Cheap Sex.
Eradicating Wealth Inequality Includes Achieving Equal Pay
Authors: Heydemann Sarah David , Johnson Andrea
Published: March 2019

Sarah David Heydemann and Andrea Johnson on the Paycheck Fairness Act.
Affirmative Action Is Still an Effective and Necessary Tool
Authors: Wellons Tonia
Published: March 2019

Tonia Wellons on affirmative action.
A Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology Can Transform Mental Health Research
Authors: Conway Christopher C. , Forbes Miriam K. , Forbush Kelsie T. , Fried Eiko I. , Hallquist Michael N. , Kotov Roman , Mullins-Sweatt Stephanie N. , Shackman Alexander J. , Skodol Andrew E. , South Susan C. , Sunderland Matthew , Waszczuk Monika A. , Zald David H. , Afzali Mohammad H. , Bornovalova Marina A. , Carragher Natacha , Docherty Anna R. , Jonas Katherine G. , Krueger Robert F. , Patalay Praveetha , Pincus Aaron L. , Tackett Jennifer L. , Reininghaus Ulrich , Waldman Irwin D. , Wright Aidan G. C. , Zimmermann Johannes , Bach Bo , Bagby R. Michael , Chmielewski Michael , Cicero David C. , Clark Lee Anna , Dalgleish Tim , DeYoung Colin G. , Hopwood Christopher J. , Ivanova Masha Y. , Latzman Robert D. , Patrick Christopher J. , Ruggero Camilo J. , Samuel Douglas B. , Watson David , Eaton Nicholas R.
Published: March 2019

For more than a century, research on psychopathology has focused on categorical diagnoses. Although this work has produced major discoveries, growing evidence points to the superiority of a dimensional approach to the science of mental illness. Here we outline one such dimensional system—the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP)—that is based on empirical patterns of co-occurrence among psychological symptoms. We highlight key ways in which this framework can advance mental-health research, and we provide some heuristics for using HiTOP to test theories of psychopathology. We then review emerging evidence that supports the value of a hierarchical, dimensional model of mental illness across diverse research areas in psychological science. These new data suggest that the HiTOP system has the potential to accelerate and improve research on mental-health problems as well as efforts to more effectively assess, prevent, and treat mental illness.
Genetic Contributions to Loneliness and Their Relevance to the Evolutionary Theory of Loneliness
Authors: Spithoven A. W. M. , Cacioppo S. , Goossens L. , Cacioppo J. T.
Published: March 2019

Loneliness is a negative and distressing emotional state that arises from a discrepancy between one’s desired and achieved levels of social connectedness. The evolutionary theory of loneliness (ETL) posits that experiencing loneliness is an inherited adaptation that signals that salutary social relations are endangered or damaged and prompts people to reconnect to significant others. The basic tenets of the ETL has led researchers to examine the genetic underpinnings of loneliness. The current review provides an updated overview of genetic studies on loneliness and discusses the importance of genetic research for the ETL. The most recent studies suggest that the many genes that contribute to a small degree to differences in loneliness partially overlap with genes that contribute to neuroticism, but not with depression. In addition, the genetic studies discussed in this review show that genes are unlikely to have a direct effect on loneliness. Instead, environmental factors determine in a dynamic fashion how genes that contribute to loneliness are expressed. Future research on epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, can further elucidate the dynamic interplay between genes and the environment and how this interplay contributes to loneliness.
Neurological determination of death in isolated brainstem lesions: A case report to highlight the issues involved
Authors: Manara Alex , Varelas Panayiotis , Smith Martin
Published: March 2019

The neurological determination of death in patients with isolated brainstem lesions or by disruption of the posterior cerebral circulation is uncommon and many intensivists may never see such a case in their career. It is also the only major difference between the “whole brain” and “brain stem” formulations for the neurological determination of death. We present a case of a patient with infarction of the structures supplied by the posterior cerebral circulation in whom death was diagnosed using neurological criteria, to illustrate the issues involved. We also suggest that international consensus may be achieved if ancillary tests, such as CT angiography, are made mandatory in this situation o demonstrate loss of blood flow in the anterior cerebral circulation as well the posterior circulation.
Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation and Eculizumab: Atypical treatments for typical haemolytic uraemic syndrome
Authors: Kelham Matthew D , Gleeson Liam , Alcalde Inma , Spiritoso Rosalba , Proudfoot Alastair G , Scully Marie
Published: March 2019

A 19-year-old female with no medical history presented with bloody diarrhoea. Investigations revealed an acute kidney injury, thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic haemolysis. A diagnosis of haemolytic uraemic syndrome secondary to Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli 055 was confirmed and supportive therapy commenced in the intensive therapy unit. On day 11 of her admission, she rapidly deteriorated with evidence of refractory cardiogenic shock and neurological involvement, both features associated with a poor prognosis. Cross-specialty collaboration prompted a trial of veno-arterial extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation and Eculizumab, a complement inhibitor normally reserved for atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome, as a bridge to organ recovery. To our knowledge, herein we present the first adult patient with haemolytic uraemic syndrome induced cardiogenic shock successfully supported to cardiac recovery with extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation. The potential role for Eculizumab in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli/typical haemolytic uraemic syndrome is also discussed.
Fingerstick Precision and Total Error of a Point-of-Care HbA1c Test
Authors: Arnold William D. , Kupfer Kenneth , Hvidsten Swensen Monica , Fortner Kyle S. , Bays Harold E. , Davis Mathew , Klaff Leslie J. , San George Richard C.
Published: March 2019

Background:

Point-of-care (POC) HbA1c tests hold the promise of reducing the rates of undiagnosed diabetes, provided they exhibit acceptable analytical performance. The precision and total error of the POC (Afinion™ HbA1c Dx) test were investigated using whole blood samples obtained by fingerstick and venipuncture.

Methods:

Fingerstick samples spanning the assay range were collected from 61 subjects at three representative POC sites. At each site, six fingerstick samples were obtained from each subject and tested on the POC test across two (Afinion AS100) instruments. Repeatability, between-operator, and between-instrument components of variance were calculated using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Four venous samples (low, threshold, medium, and high HbA1c) were measured in duplicate across three instruments using three reagent lots, twice per day over 20-days. Repeatability, between-run, between-day, between-lot, and between-instrument components of variance were calculated. These fingerstick and venous blood results, combined with estimates of imprecision and bias from a prior investigation, allowed for the calculation of the total coefficient of variation (CV) and total error of the POC test using fingerstick and venous whole blood samples.

Results:

The total imprecision ranged from 1.30% to 2.03% CV using fingerstick samples and from 1.31% to 1.64% CV using venous samples. The total error ranged from 2.87% to 4.75% using fingerstick samples and from 2.93% to 3.80% using venous samples.

Conclusions:

The POC test evaluated here is precise across its measuring range using both fingerstick and venous whole blood. The calculated total error of the test is well under the accepted quality requirement of ≤6%.
Impact of CGM on the Management of Hypoglycemia Problems: Overview and Secondary Analysis of the HypoDE Study
Authors: Hermanns Norbert , Heinemann Lutz , Freckmann Guido , Waldenmaier Delia , Ehrmann Dominic
Published: March 2019

Hypoglycemia remains the limiting factor of near-normal glucose control in people with diabetes using insulin therapy. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) may be able to avoid hypoglycemia and support the management of hypoglycemia problems in clinical care. Real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) systems provide alerts if certain predetermined hypo- or hyperglycemic thresholds are exceeded. The combination of rtCGM systems with insulin pumps allows insulin delivery to be suspended if glucose falls below certain predefined thresholds. This might also support avoidance of hypoglycemia. More sophisticated closed-loop systems allow a semiautomatic insulin dosage, which also have the potential for the prevention of hypoglycemia. In this overview, we discuss and illustrate (1) the efficacy of CGM for intervention in people with hypoglycemia problems and for the avoidance of biochemical as well as clinical hypoglycemia; (2) the potential of CGM technology for the identification of people with diabetes who are at risk for hypoglycemia problems; and (3) the implications of the current state of the art for future research regarding CGM and hypoglycemia. As an example, how rtCGM data can facilitate identification of people with diabetes and an elevated risk of hypoglycemia, a secondary analysis of the HypoDE data is presented. We conclude that CGM technology can assist in the reliable identification of people with diabetes who are at risk for hypoglycemia problems, is a powerful intervention for the avoidance of mild as well as severe hypoglycemia, and can also stimulate research on the course of hypoglycemia problems.
Proof of Concept Study to Assess the Influence of Oxygen Partial Pressure in Capillary Blood on SMBG Measurements
Authors: Baumstark Annette , Pleus Stefan , Jendrike Nina , Liebing Christina , Hinzmann Rolf , Haug Cornelia , Freckmann Guido
Published: March 2019

Background:

Measurement results provided by blood glucose monitoring systems (BGMS) can be affected by various influencing factors. For some BGMS using glucose oxidase (GOx)-based test strips, one of these factors is the oxygen partial pressure (pO2) of the applied blood sample. Because assessing the potential influence of pO2 when measuring capillary blood samples is not straight-forward, we performed a proof of concept study.

Method:

Influence of pO2 was investigated for two GOx-based BGMS (BGMS A and B). Measurement results of the GOx-based BGMS were compared with measurement results from a pO2-independent BGMS (BGMS C). A total of 119 samples from 60 subjects were measured, twice with BGMS C, then 6 times each with BGMS A and BGMS B or vice versa, and again twice with BGMS C. Immediately afterward, pO2 was determined. Linear regression analysis based on relative differences between results from BGMS A or BGMS B and results from BGMS C was performed to estimate the degree of pO2 influence.

Results:

The relative bias between the lowest and highest pO2 values differed by 14.3% for BGMS A, indicating a pO2 influence that might be clinically relevant, and by 9.7% for BGMS B, indicating that pO2 influence may be too small to be reliably detected because of the BGMS’ imprecision.

Conclusions:

This proof of concept study showed that with the procedures used, a potentially clinically relevant influence of pO2 in capillary blood samples on GOx-based BGMS could be detected. Further larger-scale studies are needed to verify this influence.
Gene Expression Profile Is Different between Intact and Enzymatically Digested Equine Articular Cartilage
Authors: Lepage Sarah I. M. , Sharma Rishi , Dukoff David , Stalker Leanne , LaMarre Jon , Koch Thomas G.
Published: March 2019

Objectives:

RNA isolation is necessary for the evaluation of gene expression. Due to the nature of its extracellular matrix, RNA isolation from articular hyaline cartilage is difficult and thus the tissue is commonly enzymatically digested in order to extract RNA from the obtained chondrocytes. We hypothesized that the digestion process affects the expression levels of common cartilage-associated genes.

Design:

Expression of cartilage-associated genes was compared between intact cartilage and digested chondrocytes from weight bearing and non-weight bearing regions of the equine fetlock joint.

Results:

The gene expression of SOX9, COL1A2, COL2A1, ACAN, and COLX were analyzed. Digested cartilage showed a significant decrease in the expression of COL1A2, COL2A1, and ACAN compared to intact cartilage in both joint regions, and an increase in COLX expression in non-weight bearing cartilage only.

Conclusions:

Enzymatic digestion of cartilage significantly impacts gene expression profile. We conclude that while RNA isolation from intact cartilage is more technically difficult, determination of gene expression should be conducted on intact cartilage if true representation of the in vivo processes is sought.
MiR‐4319 suppresses colorectal cancer progression by targeting ABTB1
Authors: Huang Longchang , Zhang Ye , Li Zengyao , Zhao Xiaoqian , Xi Zhong , Chen Hang , Shi Haoze , Xin Taojian , Shen Renhui , Wang Tong
Published: March 2019

Background

Colorectal cancer is one of the highly malignant cancers with a poor prognosis. The exact mechanism of colorectal cancer progression is not completely known. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) were suggested to participate in the regulation of multiple cancer development, including colorectal cancer.

Methods

MiR‐4319 expression in colorectal cancer patient samples was detected by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. MiR‐4319 was knocked down in the colorectal cancer cells by siRNA transfection to study the role of miR‐4319 in the cell cycle and proliferation of colorectal cancer cells.

Results

MiR‐4319 expression was found to be inverse correlated with survival in colorectal cancer patients. Overexpression of miR‐4319 markedly reduced the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells and altered cell cycle distribution. A further experiment showed that ABTB1 is the target gene of miR‐4319. MiR‐4319 was regulated by PLZF.

Conclusion

Our studies indicated that reduced expression of miR‐4319 was correlated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients; miR‐4319 also suppressed colorectal cancer cell proliferation by targeting ABTB1. ABTB1 might become an excellent therapeutic target for colorectal cancer treatment.
Supra-Annular Mitral Implantation of Melody Valve: Minimizing Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction
Authors: Stephens Elizabeth H. , Tannous Paul , Nugent Alan W. , Hauck Amanda L. , Forbess Joseph M.
Published: March 2019

Utilization of the Melody valve for mitral valve replacement has been previously reported; however, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction is a frequent concern. In this report, a technique for supra-annular placement of the Melody valve in the mitral position is described which will minimize the risk of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.
Rastelli Operation for D-Transposition of the Great Arteries, Ventricular Septal Defect, and Pulmonary Stenosis
Authors: Huang Evelyn S. , Herrmann Jeremy L. , Rodefeld Mark D. , Turrentine Mark W. , Brown John W.
Published: March 2019

Objectives:

Our preferred approach for the surgical treatment of patients with D-transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, and pulmonary stenosis has been the Rastelli operation. We herein evaluate our 30-year experience with this procedure.

Methods:

Clinical records for patients who underwent the Rastelli operation between 1988 and 2017 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Primary outcomes included freedom from death or cardiac transplantation and freedom from conduit reintervention.

Results:

Forty-seven patients met inclusion criteria. Mean follow-up was 11.7 ± 6.8 years. Forty-three (91.5%) patients received a palliative systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt and/or atrial septostomy prior to the Rastelli procedure. Five (10.6%) patients required ventricular septal defect enlargement at the time of the Rastelli procedure. The overall mean right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduit size was 17.0 mm. Mortalities included one early and three late deaths. Freedom from death or cardiac transplantation was 93% and 84% at 5 and 25 years, respectively. Seven patients required pacemaker placement, two immediately postoperatively and five late. Freedom from conduit replacement was 85% and 25% at 5 and 15 years, respectively. Seven (14.9%) patients required a second conduit intervention. Forty-one (87.2%) patients were New York Heart Association class I or II at the most recent follow-up.

Conclusions:

The Rastelli operation for D-transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, and pulmonary stenosis offers excellent mid- to long-term survival. The need for conduit replacement remains the most common indication for reintervention, and further study of the optimal choice of conduit will be useful.
Repair of Anomalous Right Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery Using the Modified Trapdoor Technique
Authors: Ganta Srujan , Vanderploeg Megan , Kavarana Minoo
Published: March 2019

Background:

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) is rare. Unique anatomical characteristics observed include tethering secondary to the extensive collateral vessels, severe native coronary tortuosity, and massive dilation of the coronary arteries. This requires specific technical consideration to ensure safe translocation.

Methods:

A single-center retrospective review of six patients with ARCAPA was performed. Echocardiographic and computerized tomography scan data were analyzed for anatomical and functional cardiac characteristics. Operative techniques were analyzed, which reflected an evolution toward a modified-trapdoor technique.

Results:

Five children presented with asymptomatic murmurs and one adult patient with unstable angina. All patients underwent successful surgical correction. The modified trapdoor technique provided the most ideal geometry for coronary transfer secondary to its anatomical characteristics. Two patients had coronary button transfers above the sinotubular junction using vertical stab incisions, one had the button implanted after excising part of the aortic wall, and last three patients had modified trapdoor incisions. Mean cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp times were 170 ± 27 minutes and 99.5 ± 29 minutes respectively. The average hospital stay was five days and there were no mortalities.

Conclusions:

Anomalous right coronary from the pulmonary artery’s unique anatomical characteristics require a coronary transfer technique different from that performed in aortic root replacement. In some respects, our modified technique resembles coronary transfers used in difficult arterial switch operations. The use of a modified trapdoor incision simplifies coronary transfer and may minimize coronary kinking and subsequent complications related to coronary transfer.
The Congenital Heart Technical Skill Study: Rationale and Design
Authors: Anderson Brett R. , Kumar S. Ram , Gottlieb-Sen Danielle , Liava’a Matthew H. , Hill Kevin D. , Jacobs Jeffrey P. , Moga Francis X. , Overman David M. , Newburger Jane W. , Glied Sherry A. , Bacha Emile A. ,   on behalf of the Congenital Heart Technical Skill Study
Published: March 2019

Background:

We report the rationale and design for a peer-evaluation protocol of attending congenital heart surgeon technical skill using direct video observation.

Methods:

All surgeons contributing data to The Society of Thoracic Surgeons—Congenital Heart Surgery Database (STS-CHSD) are invited to submit videos of themselves operating, to rate peers, or both. Surgeons may submit Norwood procedures, complete atrioventricular canal repairs, and/or arterial switch operations. A HIPPA-compliant website allows secure transmission/evaluation. Videos are anonymously rated using a modified Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills score. Ratings are linked to five years of contemporaneous outcome data from the STS-CHSD and surgeon questionnaires. The primary outcome is a composite for major morbidity/mortality.

Results:

Two hundred seventy-six surgeons from 113 centers are eligible for participation: 83 (30%) surgeons from 53 (45%) centers have agreed to participate, with recruitment ongoing. These surgeons vary considerably in years of experience and outcomes. Participants, both early and late in their careers, describe the process as “very rewarding” and “less time consuming than anticipated.” An initial subset of 10 videos demonstrated excellent interrater reliability (interclass correlation = 0.85).

Conclusions:

This study proposes to evaluate the technical skills of attending pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons by video observation and peer-review. It is notable that over a quarter of congenital heart surgeons, across a range of experiences, from almost half of United States centers have already agreed to participate. This study also creates a mechanism for peer feedback; we hypothesize that feedback could yield broad and meaningful quality improvement.
The Superior Cavopulmonary Connection: History and Current Perspectives
Authors: Herrmann Jeremy L. , Brown John W.
Published: March 2019

The development of the superior cavopulmonary connection is a rich illustration of international influences in congenital cardiac surgery. The bidirectional Glenn and hemi-Fontan procedures have improved survival as both definitive and staged functional single ventricle palliation. The optimal timing of the second-stage superior cavopulmonary procedures varies by center but for low- and intermediate-risk patients, this may be within three to six months after the Norwood procedure. The list of risk factors continues to grow but the most frequently cited factors include atrioventricular valve regurgitation, decreased ventricular function, need for reintervention, and failure to attain nutritional and growth goals. Ongoing prospective, multi-institutional studies, particularly those fostered internationally by the World Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery and other associations, will hopefully provide further clarification of the complex management issues related to patients with functional single ventricle physiology.
Palliation of Functionally Single Ventricle Patients in Sub-Saharan Africa—Is It Justifiable?
Authors: Edwin Frank
Published: March 2019

Resource constraints in many sub-Saharan African countries undermine efforts to provide the full spectrum of pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery. Palliation of the child born with functionally single ventricle is the lowest priority for policymakers when viewed from the perspective of cost-effectiveness. This commentary focuses on the relative importance of different criteria that policymakers and the general public consider important in setting health-care priorities as it relates to palliation of the patient with functionally single ventricle in sub-Saharan Africa. It argues the position that cost-effectiveness analysis tends to exclude those with high cost-to-treat illness, and decisions made on that basis alone are not acceptable to the general population on whose behalf those decisions are made.
The Evidence-Based School Counseling Conference: Contexts for Creating Change
Authors: Zyromski Brett , Dimmitt Carey
Published: March 2019

This special edition of Professional School Counseling presents some of the key proceedings from the sixth annual Evidence-Based School Counseling Conference (EBSCC). The EBSCC exists to provide professional development around effective school counseling program components and interventions, especially related to evidence-based practices and other cutting-edge innovations in school counseling. We offer a brief history of the EBSCC, a definition of evidence-based school counseling, and an overview of the contents of this special issue. Future directions for evidence-based school counseling conclude the article.
College/Career Success Skills: Helping Students Experience Postsecondary Success
Authors: Villares Elizabeth , Brigman Greg
Published: March 2019

An essential component of the school counselor’s role is to provide support for all students to be college and career ready. This article provides an overview of the College/Career Success Skills (CCSS) program developed to help students successfully transition to postsecondary settings. The CCSS intervention teaches students’ critical skills in the areas of content knowledge, transition knowledge and skills, learning skills and techniques, and cognitive strategies known to boost college and career success.
Review on conducting polymer/nanodiamond nanocomposites: Essences and functional performance
Authors: Kausar Ayesha
Published: March 2019

Conducting polymer technology doped with nanodiamond particles enhances processability, tractability, electrical, mechanical, electrochemical, optical, thermal, and other essential physical properties. This review outlines some major conducting polymer/nanodiamond nanocomposites advances obtained with major conjugated polymers such as: polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, and polythiophene derivatives. Moreover, this article concisely and inclusively discusses how important conducting polymer nanocomposites are for supercapacitor, actuator, solar cell, corrosion protection, and biomedical fields. Finally, challenges and perspectives are deliberated for viable future high performance materials.
Xenon-129 MRI detects ventilation deficits in paediatric stem cell transplant patients unable to perform spirometry
Authors: Walkup Laura L. , Myers Kasiani , El-Bietar Javier , Nelson Adam , Willmering Matthew M. , Grimley Michael , Davies Stella M. , Towe Christopher , Woods Jason C.
Published: March 2019

Background

Early detection of pulmonary morbidity following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains an important challenge for intervention, primarily due to the insensitivity of spirometry to early change, and in paediatrics, patient compliance provides additional challenges. Regional lung ventilation abnormalities in paediatric HSCT patients were quantified using hyperpolarised xenon-129 (129Xe) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compared to spirometry.

Methods

Medically stable, paediatric allogeneic HSCT patients (n=23, ages 6–16 years) underwent an outpatient MRI scan where regional ventilation was quantified with a breath-hold of hyperpolarised129Xe gas. Ventilation deficits, regions of the lung that ventilate poorly due to obstruction, were quantified as a ventilation defect percentage (VDP) and compared to forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio, and forced expiratory flow at 25–75% of FVC (FEF25–75%) from spirometry using linear regression.

Results

The mean±sd129Xe VDP was 10.5±9.4% (range 2.6–41.4%).129Xe VDP correlated with FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio and FEF25–75%(p≤0.02 for all comparisons). Ventilation deficits were detected in patients with normal spirometry (i.e.FEV1>80%), supporting the sensitivity of129Xe MRI to early obstruction reported in other pulmonary conditions. Seven (30%) patients could not perform spirometry, yet ventilation deficits were observed in five of these patients, detecting abnormalities that otherwise may have gone undetected and untreated until advanced.

Conclusion

Lung ventilation deficits were detected using hyperpolarised129Xe gas MRI in asymptomatic paediatric HSCT patients and in a subgroup who were unable to perform reliable spirometry.129Xe MRI provides a reliable imaging-based assessment of pulmonary involvement in this potentially difficult to diagnose paediatric population.