bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Situ and Radar Observations of the Low Reflectivity Ribbon in Supercells during VORTEX2
Authors: Griffin Casey B. , Weiss Christopher C. , Reinhart Anthony E. , Snyder Jeffrey C. , Bluestein Howard B. , Wurman Joshua , Kosiba Karen A.
Published: December 2017

During the second Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX2) field campaign, mobile radars observed a previously undocumented feature: the low-reflectivity ribbon (LRR). The LRR was characterized by reduced reflectivity ZH and differential reflectivity ZDR through a narrow region extending from the intersection of the hook and forward-flank regions of supercells. This study synthesizes kinematic and polarimetric radar observations with in situ measurements taken by the “StickNet” observing network. StickNet data have been used to establish that the LRR is associated with a localized minimum in pseudoequivalent potential temperature Pronounced drops in are observed by nine separate probes in three different supercell thunderstorms. Both single- and dual-Doppler analyses are used to examine the two- and three-dimensional structures of the winds within the LRR, revealing that the LRR is associated with cyclonic vertical vorticity aloft. Polarimetric radar observations are used to study the hydrometeor characteristics and the processes that cause those hydrometers to be present. Special consideration is given to the analysis of the vertical distribution of traditional and polarimetric variables, as well as the evolution of the kinematic fields retrieved by dual-Doppler analysis. The combination of thermodynamic, kinematic, and inferred microphysical observations supports a hypothesis that the LRR comprises sparse, large hail.
Breaking the Wall: Emotions and Projective Agency Under Extreme Poverty
Authors: Martin de Holan Pablo , Willi Alberto , Fernández Pablo D.
Published: December 2017

In this inductive, exploratory study, we explore how emotions affect the agency of vulnerable persons and their engagement in social innovation to challenge oppressive institutional constraints. By presenting the in-depth case of a successful entrepreneur from a shantytown, we show how emotions affect the construction of a self that contributes to the reproduction of social order rather than change, and how effective interventions can break the cycle of poverty and hopelessness that is dominant among excluded people. We find that this process is fragile and contingent on the presence of known strangers—that is, a web of actors that contributes not only resources but also emotional engagement that helps the emergence and development of low-power actors’ projectivity. We identify mechanisms for and provide a model of the development and emergence of the projective self that is necessary to engage in future-oriented agency.
Inadequacy of self-assessment of vision, and fitness to drive
Authors: Garfield John
Published: December 2017

The author, a retired neurosurgeon then aged 81, describes his own right upper quadrantic homonymous visual field defect which did not impair any normal daily activities. His own occupation allowed him to recognise the defect. It is unlikely that such a defect would have been noticed by other elderly persons. The field defect shown by perimetry (illustrated) debarred him from driving. Self-assessment of visual acuity, and especially fields, is inadequate when applying for renewal of a driving licence. Effective steps to prevent such licensing and the damage that may follow are discussed.
Understanding the Mind of a Student with Autism in Music Class
Authors: Hourigan Ryan M. , Hammel Alice M.
Published: December 2017

This article offers a unique look into the cognitive processes of students with autism spectrum disorder in music classrooms. Concepts include theory of mind, weak central coherence, executive function, joint attention, and social attention. Behavior implications are also examined. Specific examples of support tools for the music classroom are provided.
Steps to Designing Authentic Assessments for Students with Disabilities in Music Classes
Authors: VanWeelden Kimberly , Heath-Reynolds Julia
Published: December 2017

Classroom assessments are an opportunity to monitor student learning and in turn inform instructional decisions. Assessments also provide opportunities for students to participate in authentic music-making experiences. Using classroom music-making experiences as assessments may be particularly suitable for students with disabilities. Due to the nature of their disabilities, these students may not be able to participate in more formal types of assessments. This article includes information on authentic classroom assessments, typical accommodations used in administering tests for students with disabilities, and examples of alternative grade books that can be used in the music classroom.
“I Dream a World”: Inclusivity in Choral Music Education
Authors: Fuelberth Rhonda , Todd Christy
Published: December 2017

This article explores how choral music educators can facilitate access to meaningful music experiences for all students in their schools. In a changing landscape that honors equity and diversity, music education environments must also change to align with these values. To provide the optimal environment for successful inclusive practice, choral music educators should evaluate barriers to access in terms of scheduling, reconsider current curricular offerings, and imagine new solutions that support music learning for all students. Instead of structuring choral programs around traditional choral concerts and adjudications, directors can use the 2014 Music Standards and the framework of Universal Design for Learning to drive classroom content and acquire the flexibility needed to build inclusive classrooms.
Exploring Pedagogical Foundations of Existing Virtual Reality Educational Applications: A Content Analysis Study
Authors: Johnston Elizabeth , Olivas Gerald , Steele Patricia , Smith Cassandra , Bailey Liston
Published: December 2017

New virtual reality (VR) applications for education appear frequently in the marketplace but rarely contain explicit pedagogies. The research objective of this study was to identify and categorize principles and practices of pedagogy that are evident but not articulated in selected VR applications for education. Analysis of public content for the VR applications showed most were experiential while others were categorized as discovery learning, constructivism, situated cognition, direct instruction, or unclassified approaches. Educators and VR designers could use explicit pedagogical frameworks to support faculty development, construct extended, and congruent curricular options that stimulate reflections, build insights, and insure innovative and measurable outcomes.
Preparing Psychology Majors to Enter the Workforce
Authors: Appleby Drew C.
Published: December 2017

Undergraduate psychology programs have not always provided the same level of support for their job-seeking students than they have for those preparing to become psychologists. This is a particularly unfortunate situation because, according to the American Psychological Association's Center for Workforce Studies (American Psychological Association, 2017), only 13% of the 3.4 million people in the United States who have earned a bachelor's degree in psychology have gone on to earn a higher psychology degree. The first part of this article uses quotations from seven national reports on the psychology curriculum to identify the genesis and gradual amelioration of this unfortunate situation. The remainder of this article focuses on strategies that psychology faculty can use to help their job-seeking students successfully accomplish Goal 5: Professional Development of the APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major. These strategies include referring advisees to professionally trained advisors and becoming aware of careers in which baccalaureate-level psychology majors have entered or can prepare to enter and the sets of knowledge, skills, and characteristics important for success in these careers.
Using the Internet to Facilitate Career Choices in Psychology-Related Fields
Authors: Golding Jonathan M. , Lippert Anne M. , Malik Sarah E.
Published: December 2017

Career planning for psychology majors has broadened to include a diverse array of opportunities (e.g., medicine, law, education, government, and military). The Internet has made it possible for students to learn about and quickly obtain information regarding these new career options. This article describes various career resources on the Internet and highlights which websites might be best for students with a clear career direction, as well as those for students who are unclear about what the future holds. The websites described include large sites not affiliated with a college, university, or professional organization. Other websites described are affiliated with a(n) (a) psychology department, (b) department of the federal government, (c) for-profit company or nonprofit organization, (d) professional organization, and (e) online career management site.
The narrative psychology of love lives
Authors: Dunlop William L. , Hanley Grace E. , McCoy Tara P.
Published: December 2017

Narrative identity is an internal and evolving story about the self. Individual differences in narrative identity have been found to correspond with several important constructs (e.g., well-being, health behaviors). Here, we examined the nature and correlates of participants’ love life narrative identities. In Study 1, participants provided autobiographical narratives from their love lives and rated their personality traits and authenticity within the romantic domain. In Study 2, participants again provided narratives from their love lives and completed measures assessing their attachment tendencies and relationship contingent self-esteem. Narratives were coded for agency, communion, redemptive imagery, contaminated imagery, affective tone, and integrative complexity. Across our studies, the communion and positive tone in participants’ love life narratives was associated with certain traits, authenticity, attachment tendencies, and relationship contingent self-esteem. These results suggest that love life narrative identity represents a promising construct in the study of functioning within the romantic domain.
Facilitating In Vivo Articular Cartilage Repair by Tissue-Engineered Cartilage Grafts Produced From Auricular Chondrocytes
Authors: Wong Chin-Chean , Chen Chih-Hwa , Chiu Li-Hsuan , Tsuang Yang-Hwei , Bai Meng-Yi , Chung Ren-Jei , Lin Yun-Ho , Hsieh Fon-Jou , Chen You-Tzung , Yang Tsung-Lin
Published: December 2017

Background:

Insufficient cell numbers still present a challenge for articular cartilage repair. Converting heterotopic auricular chondrocytes by extracellular matrix may be the solution.

Hypothesis:

Specific extracellular matrix may convert the phenotype of auricular chondrocytes toward articular cartilage for repair.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

For in vitro study, rabbit auricular chondrocytes were cultured in monolayer for several passages until reaching status of dedifferentiation. Later, they were transferred to chondrogenic type II collagen (Col II)–coated plates for further cell conversion. Articular chondrogenic profiles, such as glycosaminoglycan deposition, articular chondrogenic gene, and protein expression, were evaluated after 14-day cultivation. Furthermore, 3-dimensional constructs were fabricated using Col II hydrogel-associated auricular chondrocytes, and their histological and biomechanical properties were analyzed. For in vivo study, focal osteochondral defects were created in the rabbit knee joints, and auricular Col II constructs were implanted for repair.

Results:

The auricular chondrocytes converted by a 2-step protocol expressed specific profiles of chondrogenic molecules associated with articular chondrocytes. The histological and biomechanical features of converted auricular chondrocytes became similar to those of articular chondrocytes when cultivated with Col II 3-dimensional scaffolds. In an in vivo animal model of osteochondral defects, the treated group (auricular Col II) showed better cartilage repair than did the control groups (sham, auricular cells, and Col II). Histological analyses revealed that cartilage repair was achieved in the treated groups with abundant type II collagen and glycosaminoglycans syntheses rather than elastin expression.

Conclusion:

The study confirmed the feasibility of applying heterotopic chondrocytes for cartilage repair via extracellular matrix–induced cell conversion.

Clinical Relevance:

This study proposes a feasible methodology to convert heterotopic auricular chondrocytes for articular cartilage repair, which may serve as potential alternative sources for cartilage repair.
A probe into causes of non-citation based on survey data
Authors: Hu Zewen , Wu Yishan
Published: December 2017

Empirical analysis results concerning the possible causes of non-citation may help increase the potential of researchers’ work to be cited. After complete literature retrieval from the Web of Science, Google Scholar and Scopus databases, we find that very few studies focus on the empirical analysis of causes of non-citation. In this article, we conduct a survey of the possible causes for citation or non-citation based on a questionnaire. We then perform a statistical analysis to identify the major causes of non-citation in combination with the analysis of the data collected through the survey. Most respondents to our questionnaire identified seven major points (‘research hotspots and novel topics of content’, ‘research topics similar to my work’, ‘high quality of content’, ‘reasonable self-citation’, ‘highlighted title’, ‘prestigious authors’, and ‘academic tastes and interests similar to mine’) that facilitate easy citation of one’s papers. They also pointed out that the vast difference between their current and former research directions is the primary reason for their previously uncited papers. They feel that texts that include notes, comments and letters to editors are rarely cited, and the same is true for papers that are too short or too lengthy. In comparison, it is easier for reviews, articles, or papers of intermediate length to be cited.
Modelling of real solar radiation spatial distribution as a tool for solar energy cadastre in the cities
Authors: Pietras-Szewczyk Małgorzata , Szewczyk Leszek
Published: December 2017

The increasing needs of energy and decreasing traditional energy sources are becoming one of the biggest issues of our civilization. The provision of stable energy supply is a matter of state security. The energy consumption keeps growing especially in big cities. Therefore, it became reasonable to produce energy directly in cities. To optimize the use of the solar energy in the city areas, a fundamental issue is to find and estimate the amount of solar radiations at a specified location by using available tools and data. The main goal of this work is to demonstrate the potential of the r.sun model, a component of GRASS software, in calculating real solar radiation for the selected location. The work starts with demonstrating the effect of cloud cover for the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface and the usage of GIS software and Ogimet website in the spatial analysis of real solar radiation distribution. For this purpose, data concerning cloud cover for selected locations were analysed. The study is based on the synoptic data obtained from Ogimet. Average daily cloud cover totals and long-term values were calculated. Apart from the cloud cover data, a significant variable, the Linke turbidity factor, describing the weakening of solar radiation due to the presence of aerosols and water vapour in the atmosphere, was taken into consideration. The obtained results were used to develop a map of real solar radiation distribution for a part of Wrocław. The results obtained by that model with the acquired data by the local meteorological station show compatibility.
Acceptance of altmetrics by LIS scholars: An exploratory study
Authors: Aharony Noa , Bar-Ilan Judit , Julien Heidi , Benyamin-Kahana Michal , Cooper Tzipi
Published: December 2017

A survey of iSchool and Library and Information Science American Library Association accredited school heads explored their use and opinions about academic social media platforms. Results show that ResearchGate is the venue of choice, although respondents do not believe maintaining a profile on academic social media platforms influences academic careers. Respondents do see the value of academic social media sites to enhance visibility and reputation. These data are complemented with an analysis of the visibility on academic/professional social media platforms of this group. The altmetric indicators derived from the data were compared to traditional bibliometric indicators.
Nonlinearity between Infrastructure Inequality and Growth
Authors: Simon Nisha S. , Natarajan P.
Published: December 2017

Infrastructure, through its direct and indirect effects, has a bearing on growth, equity and overall development of a country. Widening inequality has significant implications for growth and macroeconomic stability leading to suboptimal use of human resources and concentration of decision-making in the hands of a few. This article discusses the relationship between growth and infrastructure inequality in India since the 1990s. Tracing three dimensions of infrastructure inequality over time, this study tests the existence of its nonlinear relationship with growth. Empirical estimates reject the inverted U-shaped and U-shaped patterns between disparity in infrastructure and economic growth. Accelerated decline in infrastructure inequality is depicted with growth in India across infrastructure sectors of transport, energy and communication. Policymakers need to sustain efforts to eradicate infrastructure disparity by following a growth-oriented approach.

JEL: C38, H54, I3, O18, O47, R11
Fatal graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in a patient recently exposed to nivolumab
Authors: Jiménez-Ubieto Ana , Rodriguez Antonia , Martinez Sánchez Pilar , Gómez Adolfo , Rodriguez Yolanda , Carreño-Tarragona Gonzalo , Martinez-López Joaquín , Grande Carlos
Published: December 2017

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and checkpoint blockade therapy are immune-based salvage therapies for Hodgkin’s lymphoma; however, the use of programmed death 1 blocking agents in the allogeneic stem cell transplantation setting could augment the incidence of steroid refractory graft-versus-host disease. Few studies suggest that that nivolumab is safe in patients previously treated with an allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Likewise, there are very limited data on the use of nivolumab before allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Here, we report a case of fatal graft-versus-host disease in a patient who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation 26 days after the last administration of nivolumab. Careful monitoring and close clinical assessment of atypical presentation for graft-versus-host disease in these patients, interval of time from nivolumab administration to allogeneic stem cell transplantation, drug dosage adjustments or more effective allo prophilaxys should been evaluated in prospective clinical trial.
Tocilizumab for the management of immune mediated adverse events secondary to PD-1 blockade
Authors: Stroud Chipman RG , Hegde Aparna , Cherry Cynthia , Naqash Abdul R , Sharma Nitika , Addepalli Srikala , Cherukuri Sulochana , Parent Teresa , Hardin Jessica , Walker Paul
Published: December 2017

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are poised to revolutionize the management of a growing number of malignancies. Unfortunately, the management of steroid-refractory immune mediated adverse events is based on a paucity of randomized data and limited to single center experiences. Our initial experience with the IL-6 receptor antagonist tocilizumab showed clinical improvement in a wide variety of irAEs. As a result, we adopted the use of tocilizumab for the management of steroid refractory irAEs.

Methods

The character and clinical course of irAEs were abstracted from the medical record and analyzed. The dose of tocilizumab was 4 mg/kg given IV over one hour. C-reactive protein was drawn at first nivolumab infusion and at q two weeks (and with irAEs) thereafter. Clinical improvement was defined as either: documentation of resolution of symptoms or hospital discharge within seven days.

Results

Of the initial 87 patients that were treated with nivolumab, 34 required tocilizumab (39.1%). All patients were on corticosteroids. The majority (88.2%) were lung cancer patients. The index grade 3/4 irAE was pneumonitis in 35.3%, serum sickness/SIRS in 35.3%, cerebritis in 14.7% and one case each of hypophysitis, colitis, pancreatitis, hepatitis and immune mediated coagulopathy. Median time between first nivolumab and initiation of tocilizumab was 76 days (range 1–429). There was a statistically significant increase in C-reactive protein from a median of 23 mg/L (range 0.1–238.5) at baseline to 109.3 mg/L (21.5–350.4) at the time of index irAE, followed by a decrease to 19.2 mg/L (0.25–149) after tocilizumab ( p < 0.00001). Clinical improvement was noted in 27/34 patients (79.4%). Some patients (52.9%) required a single dose, while 38.2% required two, 8.8% required three and 1 patient required four doses. Twenty-seven doses were given in the inpatient setting (49.1%). Median time to discharge was four days (range 1–27). Seventy-four percent of patients were discharged home. For the 53 doses of tocilizumab that were delivered when infliximab was an option, there was a cost savings of $141,048.72 (WAC) during the 18 month study period.

Conclusions

Tocilizumab may be a therapeutic option for the management of steroid refractory irAEs secondary to immune checkpoint blockade. However, randomized trials are needed to better elucidate the relative efficacy and safety of these agents.
Characterization of collaborative practice agreements held by hematopoietic stem cell transplant pharmacists
Authors: Bryk Amy , Koontz Susannah , Mayor JoAl , Betcher Jeffrey , Tombleson Rebecca , Bookout Ryan , Saunders Ila M
Published: December 2017

Background

Current workforce shortages within the hematopoietic stem cell transplant field necessitate capitalizing on the role of oncology-trained pharmacists. Working within an agreed-upon protocol, pharmacists are able to expand patient care delivery through optimal medication therapy management.

Methods

An electronic survey was developed by the Advocacy & Policy Working Committee of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Pharmacy Special Interest Group and distributed to pharmacists involved in the care of hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients. The primary objective was to assess the current state of collaborative practice agreements in the hematopoietic stem cell transplant setting.

Results

Forty-eight responses representing 41 institutions were returned. Respondents were mostly female (67%) and practiced in the adult setting (83%). Reponses represented a range of practice experience in hematopoietic stem cell transplant with the majority of the hematopoietic stem cell transplant positions (83%) funded by the department of pharmacy at an academic medical center. Of the 48 responses, 22 (46%) respondents reported having collaborative practice agreements in place; 10 (21%) respondents did not currently have collaborative practice agreements, but were planning to implement them; and 16 (33%) respondents did not have collaborative practice agreements at their institution. Clinical activities performed under a collaborative practice agreement included medication selection and dosing modifications, therapeutic drug monitoring, supportive care management, and management of comorbid conditions and chronic diseases. The most commonly cited barrier to establishing collaborative practice agreements was the inability to secure reimbursement for services provided. No respondents reported a negative impact on job satisfaction.

Conclusions

The results of this survey provide the pharmacy community with a robust understanding of the current landscape of hematopoietic stem cell transplant pharmacy collaborative practice agreements.
Incremental Clinical Utility of ADHD Assessment Measures With Latino Families
Authors: Grace Margaret , Kapke Theresa L. , Castro Al , Gerdes Alyson C.
Published: December 2017

Objective: This study examined the incremental clinical utility of parent and teacher reports of ADHD symptomatology and functional impairment in Latino youth, as well as parent and teacher agreement with the final clinical judgment on a diagnostic structured interview. Method: Participants included 70 Latino youth (47 males, 23 females; M age = 8.13 years, SD = 2.51 years) and their parents and teachers; 60 participants were diagnosed with ADHD. Correlations, percent agreement, kappas, and regressions were utilized. Results: Results demonstrated that teachers agreed with the final clinical judgment more often than did parents. Results additionally demonstrated that functional impairment did not statistically significantly improve diagnostic models already including ADHD symptoms; follow-up analyses were run and are discussed. Finally, results demonstrated that teacher reports statistically significantly improved diagnostic models already including parent reports. Conclusion: The current findings suggest the importance of including both parent and teacher reports of both ADHD symptomatology and functional impairment when assessing ADHD in Latino youth.
The psychosocial needs of refugee children and youth and best practices for filling these needs: A systematic review
Authors: Nakeyar Cisse , Esses Victoria , Reid Graham J
Published: December 2017

Conflict across the globe has displaced over 16.1 million refugees, with approximately half under the age of 18. Despite the number of young refugees, there is a dearth of research reporting on the needs of refugee children and youth. The purpose of this systematic review is to begin to fill this gap by summarizing what we know about the needs of refugee children and youth (5–18 years old). Eighteen manuscripts met the study inclusion criteria. In these studies, the identified needs of refugee children and youth were primarily in the domains of social support, security, culture, and education. Several strategies were identified as facilitating their integration, such as mentorship programs. The current review can help inform future integration programs designed for refugee children and youth. Supporting the integration of refugee children and youth, and their families, promotes positive outcomes and is beneficial for both refugees and members of host communities.
Demographic variation in the injury patterns of adult cyclists admitted to a large US healthcare network: A five-year review
Authors: Williams Shanna E , Nelson Rachel , Kashif Reema , Goff Tyler , Simon Laura , Janse Melissa
Published: December 2017

Background

Despite considerable health and environmental benefits, cycling is also associated with a risk of injury. Yet, variation in the patterns of cycling trauma which manifests by gender, age, and race/ethnicity is ill-defined. This retrospective study aims to characterize injury patterns in different demographic groups of bicyclists admitted to the Greenville Health System in South Carolina.

Patients and methods

In this IRB-approved, retrospective study, five years of patient data (2010–2014) were gathered from seven emergency departments associated with the Greenville Health System. A total of 155 adult patients hospitalized for bicycle-related trauma were examined in terms of demographics (age, gender, and race) and injury. Injuries were categorized by type, region, and severity. Non-parametric tests were performed to study the effect of demographic characteristics on injury presentation.

Results

Spinal cord ( p = 0.003) and internal organ injuries ( p = 0.000) were significantly more common in men. External body injuries were also more prevalent and severe in men ( p = 0.05), while injury to the extremities and pelvic region was more common and severe in women ( p = 0.02). Herniations ( p = 0.028), internal organ injuries ( p = 0.000), and abrasions ( p = 0.04) occurred more often in White cyclists. This group was also more likely to be wearing a helmet at the time of accident ( p = 0.00). Finally, while hematomas were more prevalent in older adults (≥55 years) cyclists ( p = 0.01), this population was also more also likely to wear a helmet than young adults (18–34 years) cyclists ( p = 0.025).

Conclusion

Demographic differences exist in the types and severity of cycling trauma. These differences should be considered during the identification and management of bicycle-related trauma.
Citizen, consumer, citimer: The interplay of market and political identities within contemporary football fan cultures
Authors: Numerato Dino , Giulianotti Richard
Published: December 2017

This article examines how football, sport and other cultural fields are characterized by complex interrelations between ‘citizen’ and ‘consumer’ identities. Our analysis centres specifically on critically examining and developing the concept of ‘citimer’ (citizen-consumer) with respect to activist supporter groups within European professional men’s football. First, to establish the structural and cultural context for our analysis, we argue that the emergence of citizen-consumer identities in football has been driven by five underlying processes: globalization, commodification, securitization, mediatization and postmodernization. Critical football fan movements have responded to these changes through greater reflexivization and politicization. Second, drawing on the broad academic literature, we develop the concept of the citizen-consumer (or ‘citimer’) and introduce its relevance to football. Third, to provide a more nuanced understanding of the citizen-consumer, we explore how this ‘citimer’ identity is constructed in two ways: ‘from below’ (by fan groups themselves at everyday level) and ‘from above’ (by clubs, governing bodies, media and other powerful forces within the football system). In both instances, we find that the citizen and consumer aspects of the citimer identity are interrelated in complex ways. Fourth, we conclude by highlighting the political reflexivity of citimers and areas for future research. Our analysis draws on extensive data collection: with football supporters and officials in the Czech Republic, England and Italy and at the wider European level, and through access to diverse primary and secondary documents (e.g. policy papers, fanzines and online forums). Our findings may be applied to examine citimer identities, practices and social relations not just within football and sport but in many other cultural fields, such as art, communication, drama, fashion, film and music.
Philosophy in basic education: Towards the strengthening of the foundations of Philippine education
Authors: Marquez Leander
Published: December 2017

For the most part, in the Philippines, Philosophy is taught as one of the general education courses in colleges and universities, and usually focuses on fields such as philosophy of man, ethics, or logic. In light of the recent developments in the government’s K to 12 Program, Philosophy will now be taught at the senior high school level. However, I believe that this is not enough. In order for Filipinos to evolve into critical thinkers, Philosophy should be introduced as a staple part of the basic education curriculum as early as elementary school. In this paper, I will argue that Philosophy should be taught to students at an early age in the Philippines for three reasons: 1) the study of Philosophy greatly enhances a student’s critical thinking skills; 2) it opens the person to ideas outside his/her socio-cultural and religious milieu; and 3) it prepares the individual to be a more critical and analytical member of society. Finally, I will argue that it is in the nation’s best interest to incorporate Philosophy into the country’s basic education program since it can significantly help in nation-building.
The internationalisation of early childhood education: Case study from selected kindergartens in Bandung, Indonesia
Authors: Adriany Vina
Published: December 2017

For the past 20 years, early childhood education has undergone changes that have resulted from an alteration in Indonesian socio-political situations. One of the changes has resulted in the emergence of the internationalisation of early childhood education in Indonesia. This paper unpacks the complexity of the process. Three teachers from three different kindergartens in Bandung, Indonesia were selected to participate in this study. Drawing from postcolonial theories, the findings of the study illuminate the extent to which international schooling perpetuates the legacy of colonialisation, while at the same time sustaining the legacy of neo-liberal policy. However, the findings also suggest that the schools have become a hybrid space where global and local values are interacting and negotiating with one another.
Reluctance of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in its early stages and their families to participate in a partnership-based self-management trial: A search for explanation
Authors: Jónsdóttir Helga , Ingadóttir Thorbjörg Sóley
Published: December 2017

Recruitment, the process of accessing, screening, selecting and retaining participants for research remains a challenge. In a randomized controlled trial, partnership-based self-management intervention for patients who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in its initial stages, and their families, a theoretical framework developed for patients with an advanced COPD and their families was modified and implemented in a primary care context. In contrast to recruitment to the original study where 4% decline participation, in this study 25% of the potential patients declined participation. Although participants were encouraged to bring a family member, only 25% of them did so. The main reason for not being accompanied by a family member was that patients did not want anybody accompany them. Those who had quit smoking were more often accompanied by a family member compared to those who smoked. Reviewing the literature, the most compelling explanations for non-participation are shame and self-blame due to smoking, and that potential participants may not have envisioned any benefits from participating since they might not have realized that they had COPD. An alternative recruitment process needs to embrace the situation that potential participants find themselves in and which takes account of the issues at stake.
Focal MRI-Guided Salvage High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy in Patients With Radiorecurrent Prostate Cancer
Authors: Maenhout Metha , Peters Max , van Vulpen Marco , Moerland Marinus A. , Meijer Richard P. , van den Bosch Maurice A. A. J. , Nguyen Paul L. , Frank Steven J. , van der Voort van Zyp Jochem R. N.
Published: December 2017

Introduction:

Whole-gland salvage treatment of radiorecurrent prostate cancer has a high rate of severe toxicity. The standard of care in case of a biochemical recurrence is androgen deprivation treatment, which is associated with morbidity and negative effects on quality of life. A salvage treatment with acceptable toxicity might postpone the start of androgen deprivation treatment, might have a positive influence on the patients’ quality of life, and might even be curative. Here, toxicity and biochemical outcome are described after magnetic resonance imaging–guided focal salvage high-dose-rate brachytherapy in patients with radiorecurrent prostate cancer.

Materials and Methods:

Seventeen patients with pathologically proven locally recurrent prostate cancer were treated with focal high-dose-rate brachytherapy in a single 19-Gy fraction using magnetic resonance imaging for treatment guidance. Primary radiotherapy consisted of external beam radiotherapy or low-dose-rate brachytherapy. Tumors were delineated with Ga-68–prostate-specific membrane antigen or F18-choline positron emission tomography in combination with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging. All patients had a prostate-specific antigen level of less than 10 ng/mL at the time of recurrence and a prostate-specific antigen doubling time of ≥12 months. Toxicity was measured by using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.

Results:

Eight of 17 patients had follow-up interval of at least 1 year. At a median follow-up interval of 10 months (range 3-40 months), 1 patient experienced a biochemical recurrence according to the Phoenix criteria, and prostate-specific membrane antigen testing revealed that this was due to a distant nodal metastasis. One patient had a grade 3 urethral stricture at 2 years after treatment.

Conclusion:

Focal salvage high-dose-rate brachytherapy in patients with radiorecurrent prostate cancer showed grade 3 toxicity in 1 of 17 patients and a distant nodal metastasis in another patient. Whether this treatment option leads to cure in a subset of patients or whether it can successfully postpone androgen deprivation treatment needs further investigation.
Foods, Dietary Patterns and Occupational Class and Leukocyte Telomere Length in the Male Population
Authors: Karimi Behrooz , Nabizadeh Ramin , Yunesian Masud , Mehdipour Parvin , Rastkari Noushin , Aghaie Afsaneh
Published: December 2017

Telomeres contain TTAGGG repetitive sequences and are located at the end of human chromosomes. Telomere dysfunction is associated with some age-related and chronic diseases, but its relationship with foods, dietary patterns, and occupational class in the young male population is not yet known. In this cross-sectional study, 300 healthy men, residents of Tehran, aged 25–40 years were enrolled from January to December 2016. We employed a cross-sectional study of 300 healthy people, residents of Tehran, aged 25-40 years. A food frequency questionnaire was used to obtain food intakes of all participants and converted into actual food intake (g/day). The principal components analysis was used to determine dietary patterns and other demographic characteristics. Leukocyte telomere length (TL) was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to measure number of telomere repeat copy number (T) to the relative number of 36B4 copies (S) (T/S ratio). T/S in office-workers, waste recyclers, and other workers were 1.22 ± 0.4, 1.08 ± 0.3, and 1.094 ± 0.34, respectively. The results of multivariate linear regression adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), and smoking were showed that whole grains (β = 0.02; p = .05), refined grains, fruits and vegetables, fish and dairy products were associated with an increase in log-T/S, but consumption of nuts and seeds (β = −0.00072; p = .06), meats (β = −0.00043; p = .9), produced meats (β = −0.00238; p = .03), oils and solid fats (β = −0.00146; p = .03) had a negative relationship with log-T/S in all studied occupational classes. A positive relationship was reported between the healthy (β = 0.017; p = .2) and traditional dietary pattern (β = 0.012; p = .4) with log-T/S, but western pattern identified negative relationship (β = −0.004; p = .7). Adherence to a healthy (with consumption whole grains, refined grains, dairy, and cereals) and then traditional pattern with increased consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, fish and dairy products are necessary to prevent TL destruction in all studied occupational classes.
Aboriginal crime at the cultural interface in Central Australia
Authors: Folds Ralph
Published: December 2017

Very high levels of Australian Aboriginal offending, incarceration and recidivism have been analysed almost exclusively in terms of the classic association between crime rates and low socioeconomic status, poor education, unemployment and alcohol and substance abuse. This article draws on participatory research with Central Australian Aboriginal prisoners and former prisoners and their families to provide understandings of the difficulties both societies experience at the justice interface. It is argued that conflicting cultural precepts underpinning Australian Aboriginal and Western ideas of justice are significant in explaining the high rates of offending in Central Australia.
Response to Heijung et al.
Authors: Gaffney Owen , Steffen Will
Published: December 2017

Heijung et al. provide a useful discussion of our recent paper, the Anthropocene equation (Gaffney and Steffen, 2017), and they agree with paper’s conclusions. Much of the scientific and public discourse around the Anthropocene focuses on Anthropogenic influence that will be visible in the sedimentary record. This risks downplaying the scale of Anthropogenic influence on the rate of change of the Earth System. This influence is often articulated as statements such as ‘humans are a prime driver of change on Earth’ or ‘Humans are now a geological force’. While these statements are true, they are also open to misinterpretation. The Anthropocene equation is an attempt to provide a less equivocal statement about the Anthropocene in relation to the current rate of change of the Earth System.
Determinants of Infrastructure and Its Financing
Authors: Cerra Valerie , Cuevas Alfredo , Goes Carlos , Karpowicz Izabela , Matheson Troy , Samake Issouf , Vtyurina Svetlana
Published: December 2017

Adequate infrastructure is a critical input for growth and development in all countries, and especially in emerging and developing countries. This article 1 1 The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management. examines the factors that have underpinned the stock of infrastructure across countries, including in Latin America and the Caribbean. We find that public finance and private sector participation both contribute to improving the stock of infrastructure. The impact of public finance depends on how capital investment is financed to meet the government’s budget constraint. Total domestic finance of infrastructure depends, in turn, on domestic financial depth and links to the rest of the world through trade and foreign investment.
Establishing and characterizing patient-derived xenografts using pre-chemotherapy percutaneous biopsy and post-chemotherapy surgical samples from a prospective neoadjuvant breast cancer study
Authors: Yu Jia , Qin Bo , Moyer Ann M. , Sinnwell Jason P. , Thompson Kevin J. , Copland John A. , Marlow Laura A. , Miller James L. , Yin Ping , Gao Bowen , Minter-Dykhouse Katherine , Tang Xiaojia , McLaughlin Sarah A. , Moreno-Aspitia Alvaro , Schweitzer Anthony , Lu Yan , Hubbard Jason , Northfelt Donald W. , Gray Richard J. , Hunt Katie , Conners Amy L. , Suman Vera J. , Kalari Krishna R. , Ingle James N. , Lou Zhenkun , Visscher Daniel W. , Weinshilboum Richard , Boughey Judy C. , Goetz Matthew P. , Wang Liewei
Published: December 2017

Background

Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) are increasingly used in cancer research as a tool to inform cancer biology and drug response. Most available breast cancer PDXs have been generated in the metastatic setting. However, in the setting of operable breast cancer, PDX models both sensitive and resistant to chemotherapy are needed for drug development and prospective data are lacking regarding the clinical and molecular characteristics associated with PDX take rate in this setting.

Methods

TheBreast Cancer Genome GuidedTherapy Study(BEAUTY) is a prospective neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) trial of stage I-III breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant weekly taxane+/-trastuzumab followed by anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Using percutaneous tumor biopsies (PTB), we established and characterized PDXs from both primary (untreated) and residual (treated) tumors. Tumor take rate was defined as percent of patients with the development of at least one stably transplantable (passed at least for four generations) xenograft that was pathologically confirmed as breast cancer.

Results

Baseline PTB samples from 113 women were implanted with an overall take rate of 27.4% (31/113). By clinical subtype, the take rate was 51.3% (20/39) in triple negative (TN) breast cancer, 26.5% (9/34) in HER2+, 5.0% (2/40) in luminal B and 0% (0/3) in luminal A. The take rate for those with pCR did not differ from those with residual disease in TN (p = 0.999) and HER2+ (p = 0.2401) tumors. The xenografts from 28 of these 31 patients were such that at least one of the xenografts generated had the same molecular subtype as the patient. Among the 35 patients with residual tumor after NAC adequate for implantation, the take rate was 17.1%. PDX response to paclitaxel mirrored the patients’ clinical response in all eight PDX tested.

Conclusions

The generation of PDX models both sensitive and resistant to standard NAC is feasible and these models exhibit similar biological and drug response characteristics as the patients’ primary tumors. Taken together, these models may be useful for biomarker discovery and future drug development.
Customer satisfaction of Vietnam Airline domestic service quality
Authors: Ha Nam Khanh Giao
Published: December 2017

The paper examines the relation between Vietnam Airline domestic service quality and customer satisfaction by gathering opinions from 402 passengers employing the Skytrax scale with some modification along with Cronbach’s alpha, exploratory factor analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Results show that Vietnam Airline domestic service quality can be measured by the following six determinants in order of decreasing importance: (1) boarding/deplaning/baggage, (2) check-in, (3) in-flight services, (4) reservation, (5) aircraft, and (6) flight crew. All of them have directly proportional effects to customer satisfaction. The paper also offers some suggestions to improve the service quality, thereby enhancing the customer satisfaction.
Effects of stress or infection on rat behavior show robust reversals due to environmental disturbance
Authors: Abdulai-Saiku Samira , Hegde Akshaya , Vyas Ajai , Mitra Rupshi
Published: December 2017

Background: The behavior of animals is intricately linked to the environment; a relationship that is often studied in laboratory conditions by using environmental perturbations to study biological mechanisms underlying the behavioral change. 

Methods: This study pertains to two such well-studied and well-replicated perturbations, i.e., stress-induced anxiogenesis and Toxoplasma-induced loss of innate fear. Here, we demonstrate that behavioral outcomes of these experimental manipulations are contingent upon the ambient quality of the wider environment where animal facilities are situated.

Results: During late 2014 and early 2015, a building construction project started adjacent to our animal facility. During this phase, we observed that maternal separation stress caused anxiolysis, rather than historically observed anxiogenesis, in laboratory rats. We also found that Toxoplasma infection caused an increase, rather than historically observed decrease, in innate aversion to predator odors in rats.

Conclusion: These observations suggest that effects of stress and Toxoplasma are dependent on variables in the environment that often go unreported in the published literature.