bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Pregnane X Receptor Genetic Polymorphisms on Stable Warfarin Doses
Authors: Moon Jung Yeon , Chang Byung Chul , Lee Kyung Eun , Bang Jun Seok , Gwak Hye Sun
Published: April 2015

Objective:

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a transcriptional regulator of many drug-metabolizing enzymes including cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9. The objective of this study was to assess the possible association between PXR single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and stable warfarin doses.

Methods:

A total of 201 patients with stable warfarin doses from the EwhA-Severance Treatment (EAST) Group of Warfarin were included in this study. The influence of genetic polymorphisms on stable warfarin doses was investigated by genotyping 11 SNPs, that is, vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1 (VKORC1) rs9934438, CYP2C9 rs1057910, CYP4F2 rs2108622, constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) rs2501873, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) rs3212198, and PXR (rs3814055, rs1403526, rs3732357, rs3732360, rs2276707 and rs2472682). Subgroup analysis was conducted on CYP2C9 wild-type homozygote allele (AA) carriers.

Results:

One PXR SNP of rs2472682 (A>C) exhibited significant association with stable warfarin doses in study population and the subgroup; variant homozygote carriers required significantly lower daily doses of warfarin than those carrying wild allele by about 0.8 mg. Approximate 43.7% of overall interindividual variability in warfarin dose requirement was explained by multivariate regression model. VKORC1, CYP2C9, age, CYP4F2, PXR rs2472682, and CAR/HNF4α rs2501873/rs3212198 accounted for 29.6%, 5.9%, 3.7%, 2.3%, 1.3%, and 0.9% of the variability, respectively. PXR SNP of rs2472682 remained a significant factor in CYP2C9 wild-type homozygote carriers based on univariate and multivariate analyses. The combination of CAR/HNF4α/PXR SNPs of rs2501873/rs3212198/rs2472682 showed about 1 mg dose difference between grouped genotypes in study population and subgroup.

Conclusion:

Our results revealed that PXR could be a determinant of stable warfarin doses.
A Seventeen-Year Study of Graduate Student Authorship in Advertising Journals
Authors: Wang Ye , Rodgers Shelly , Wang Zongyuan , Thorson Esther
Published: April 2015

An examination of five leading advertising journals over seventeen years revealed that the number of graduate student authors increased over time. However, there was no increase in the total number of articles with graduate student authors. More than 70 percent of graduate students who authored or co-authored the published research were first, second, or sole author. Long-standing advertising programs had the most graduate student authors but our results revealed new contenders. Institutions worldwide had a slight increase in the number of graduate student authors, but journalism, advertising, and mass communication programs lagged behind business, marketing, management, and economics programs.
Community Economic Status and Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Bangladesh
Authors: VanderEnde Kristin E. , Sibley Lynn M. , Cheong Yuk Fai , Naved Ruchira Tabassum , Yount Kathryn M.
Published: April 2015

In this research, we used a multi-level contextual-effects analysis to disentangle the household- and community-level associations between income and intimate partner violence (IPV) against women in Bangladesh. Our analyses of data from 2,668 women interviewed as part of the World Health Organization (WHO) multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence against women showed that household income was negatively associated with women’s risk of experiencing IPV. Controlling for residence in a low-income household, living in a low-income community was not associated with women’s risk of experiencing IPV. These results support a household-level, not community-level, relationship between income and IPV in Bangladesh.
Learning Process During Risk Detection in Adolescents With ADHD
Authors: Medrano Eliana , Flores-Lázaro Julio C. , Nicolini Humberto
Published: April 2015

Objective: To evaluate and describe the performance during the learning process of risk-detection versus risk-benefit processing in adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. Method: Thirty-five adolescents with ADHD and 26 paired controls participated. The tests applied are Iowa-type children version paradigm and Stroop test. Results: Adolescents with ADHD exhibited lower risk-benefit processing capacity and lower ability to detect risk selections; main findings also indicate that adolescents with ADHD were slower to learn to avoid risk choices. In addition, they also presented a deficient inhibitory control. Conclusion: Results confirm the presence of a deficit in advantageous choice in adolescents with ADHD. By providing a measure of risk choice—and not only a net score—we show that adolescents with ADHD also fail to avoid risk choices. This deficit is mainly because they are slower in learning how to avoid risk choices, and not simply deficient. Literature is scarce concerning studies with Iowa-type paradigms in samples intregated exclusively by adolescents. More research is needed to clarify the nature of these deficiencies.
Association of the Conners’ Kiddie Continuous Performance Test (K-CPT) Performance and Parent-Report Measures of Behavior and Executive Functioning
Authors: Barnard Holly , Rao Roshni , Xu Yingying , Froehlich Tanya , Epstein Jeffery , Lanphear Bruce P. , Yolton Kimberly
Published: April 2015

Objective: To explore the relationship between the Conners’ Kiddie Continuous Performance Test (K-CPT) performance and parent-report measures of child behavior and executive functioning, and clarify the role of sex in K-CPT performance in preschoolers. Method: Mothers and children recruited to the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment Study with complete 5-year assessment data relevant to the analyses were included ( N = 127). We examined the association between K-CPT scores and Behavior Assessment System for Children–Second Edition (BASC-2) and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) scores, with covariate adjustment. Results: We found no significant associations between K-CPT, BASC-2, and BRIEF scores in the full sample. In sex-stratified analyses, we found unusually fast reaction time on K-CPT was related to executive control difficulties in girls, whereas unusually slow reaction time was related to the same difficulties in boys. Omission errors were associated with executive difficulties only in boys. Conclusion: The K-CPT may prove to be a useful indicator for early onset of executive control difficulties in preschool-aged children.
Personalized Strategies to Activate and Empower Patients in Health Care and Reduce Health Disparities
Authors: Chen Jie , Mullins C. Daniel , Novak Priscilla , Thomas Stephen B.
Published: April 2015

Designing culturally sensitive personalized interventions is essential to sustain patients’ involvement in their treatment and encourage patients to take an active role in their own health and health care. We consider patient activation and empowerment as a cyclical process defined through patient accumulation of knowledge, confidence, and self-determination for their own health and health care. We propose a patient-centered, multilevel activation and empowerment framework (individual-, health care professional-, community-, and health care delivery system-level) to inform the development of culturally informed personalized patient activation and empowerment (P-PAE) interventions to improve population health and reduce racial and ethnic disparities. We discuss relevant Affordable Care Act payment and delivery policy reforms and how they affect patient activation and empowerment. Such policies include Accountable Care Organizations and value-based purchasing, patient-centered medical homes, and the community health benefit. Challenges and possible solutions to implementing the P-PAE are discussed. Comprehensive and longitudinal data sets with consistent P-PAE measures are needed to conduct comparative effectiveness analyses to evaluate the optimal P-PAE model. We believe the P-PAE model is timely and sustainable and will be critical to engaging patients in their treatment, developing patients’ abilities to manage their health, helping patients express concerns and preferences regarding treatment, empowering patients to ask questions about treatment options, and building up strategic patient–provider partnerships through shared decision making.
Beyond burned bras and purple dungarees: Feminist orientations within working women’s networks
Authors: Avdelidou-Fischer Nicole , Kirton Gill
Published: April 2015

Is there a feminist ideological undertone when women choose to organise separately, or are their motivations purely instrumental? While this question has been addressed by numerous researchers, most studies are mono-national; most extrapolate meaning from different types of networks/groups, and most do not carry out close examination of network members’ orientations. This article explores varieties of orientations to feminism among members of four networks for business and professional women in the UK and Germany. The findings suggest that even within a single network, members’ feminist orientations can vary, and can be different from the publicly/officially declared organisational position.
Design and analysis of aerostatic spindle with high load characteristics for large ultra-precision drum lathe
Authors: Wu Dongxu , Wang Bo , Luo Xichun , Qiao Zheng
Published: April 2015

Aerostatic spindles offer low heat generation and high rotation accuracy, which make them an ideal choice for ultra-precision drum lathe, where extremely high motional accuracy and thermal stability are required. However, the limitations such as insufficient load capacity and stiffness have restricted their permissible application range and make them not suitable for large ultra-precision machine tools including drum lathe. In order to improve the load capacity and stiffness, this paper presents a high load capacity aerostatic spindle with pocketed orifice-type restrictors. Fluent is adopted and three-dimensional simulation models of aerostatic spindle with orifice and feeding pocket are set up to analyze the load characteristics. The simulation results show that this restrictor can enhance the throttling effect of orifice and suppress the pressure drop away from the orifice. Moreover, for aerostatic journal bearing, when eccentricity ratio is in the range of 0.2–0.3 and gas supply pressure is 0.6 MPa, carrying capacity and stiffness can reach up to 9499.4 N and 2813.1 N/μm. Finally, a group of loading experiments are carried out which prove that the novel three-dimensional simulation method is feasible and accurate to calculate the load characteristics of aerostatic spindles.
A week in the life of lung cancer survivors: Daily reports of stress, worry, mood, and symptoms
Authors: Aronson Keith R , Wagstaff David A , Farace Elana , Muscat Joshua , Belani Chandra , Almokadem Salah , Fossum Thyra
Published: April 2015

This study examined the day-to-day lives of early stage lung cancer survivors who were discharged from treatment between 2 and 24 months prior to the study. Lung cancer survivors were called on eight consecutive nights and completed an interview about their daily experiences. Repeated measures, multilevel analysis of the phone interview data was conducted. Survivors reported few daily stressor exposures or somatic symptoms. Daily moods were generally positive, and survivors reported living quite independently. Lung cancer survivors did not report experiencing health-related worry on a daily basis. The findings from this study create a much more positive picture of lung cancer survivorship relative to prior studies.
Development and validation of the Eating Maturity Questionnaire: Preliminary findings
Authors: Potocka Adrianna , Najder Anna
Published: April 2015

This article describes the development of the Eating Maturity Questionnaire, a self-reported measurement of eating maturity that initiates and gives direction to human eating behaviors. The Eating Maturity Questionnaire was designed to study individuals’ biological and psychosocial motives for eating. The Eating Maturity Questionnaire is a 21-item tool with satisfactory psychometric values (Cronbach’s α coefficients between 0.83 and 0.88) consisting of two subscales: Rational Eating and Psychosocial Maturity. Eating Maturity Questionnaire results may be used to design programs that target eating behaviors and body mass modification.
Caregivers’ interest in using smokeless tobacco products: Novel methods that may reduce children’s exposure to secondhand smoke
Authors: Wagener Theodore L , Tackett Alayna P , Borrelli Belinda
Published: April 2015

The study examined caregivers’ interest in using potentially reduced exposure tobacco products for smoking cessation, reduction, and to help them not smoke in places such as around their child, as all three methods would potentially lead to reduced secondhand smoke exposure for their children. A sample of 136 caregivers completed carbon monoxide testing to assess smoking status and a brief survey. Few caregivers had ever used potentially reduced exposure tobacco products (<1%), but a majority were interested in trying them as means of smoking reduction (54%), to quit/stay quit from smoking (51%), and to help them not smoke around their child or in the home (55%). Caregivers less motivated to quit smoking and with no home smoking ban were more interested in using potentially reduced exposure tobacco products to help them quit/stay quit from smoking ( p < .05).
Granting wishes of seriously ill children: Effects on parents’ well-being
Authors: Chaves Covadonga , Hervas Gonzalo , Vazquez Carmelo
Published: April 2015

We investigated whether a positive intervention (i.e. granting a wish) in children with a chronic illness could promote positive psychological responses in their parents. Hospitalized children were randomly assigned to either the wish group or to a waiting-list control group. Mothers and fathers’ responses ( N = 86 and 38, respectively) were studied. Parents from the wish group showed higher levels of positive emotions and beliefs in a benevolent world than the control group. Mothers from the wish group reported higher benefit finding, gratitude, and love than those in the control group. Given that the child’s illness inevitably affects their parents, it is important to promote studies that include parents’ well-being dimensions.
Collective action from a distance: Distance shapes how people view victims of injustice and decreases willingness to engage in collective action
Authors: Glasford Demis E. , Caraballo Krystle Lynn
Published: April 2015

The present research examines whether distance affects not only how people view victims of injustice, but also group members’ willingness to engage in collective action. Across two experiments, examining both spatial (Experiment 1) and temporal (Experiment 2) distance, distant victims were seen as less familiar and more likely to be viewed at a relatively more superordinate level of identity (less in terms of subgroup identity) compared to near victims. In addition, participants were less willing to engage in collective action on behalf of distant victims, relative to near victims. Across studies, decreased collective action on behalf of distant victims, relative to near victims, was explained by the tendency to view victims in a more abstract way—as less familiar (Experiment 2) and at a more superordinate level (Experiments 1 and 2). Across both studies, results also demonstrated that participants were less willing to engage in collective action on behalf of out-group targets, relative to in-group targets, which was explained by perceptions of familiarity (Experiment 2). Implications for collective action and more broadly social change are discussed.
The effect of intergroup contact on secondary group attitudes and social dominance orientation
Authors: Shook Natalie J. , Hopkins Patricia D. , Koech Jasmine M.
Published: April 2015

The current study tested the extent to which intergroup contact reduces social dominance orientation (SDO), producing secondary transfer effects. Participants were first-year undergraduate students randomly assigned to live with either a same-race roommate or a roommate of a different race in university housing. Participants completed a feeling thermometer and a measure of SDO at the beginning and end of the fall semester. Participants in interracial rooms reported lower levels of SDO and more positive attitudes toward secondary groups (i.e., racial/ethnic groups other than their roommates’ group) than participants in same-race rooms at the end of the semester. Those in interracial rooms exhibited a significant change in SDO levels and attitudes across time, whereas those in same-race rooms exhibited no change. Furthermore, SDO fully mediated the effect of intergroup contact on attitudes toward secondary groups. These findings provide causal evidence of secondary transfer effects and indicate SDO as an underlying mechanism.
Controlling combustion with negative valve overlap in a gasoline–diesel dual-fuel compression ignition engine
Authors: Kuzuoka Kohei , Kondo Takashi , Kudo Hirotsugu , Taniguchi Hiroyoshi , Chishima Hiroshi , Hashimoto Kohtaro
Published: April 2015

Premixed charge compression ignition technology for diesel engines has been attracting increasing interest in recent years because of its ability to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. At the same time, homogeneous charge compression ignition technology for gasoline engines also has been expected for high thermal efficiency and reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions. However, both methods have common challenges, such as limited part-load operation and ignition timing control. Additionally, under very low load conditions, thermal efficiency decreases due to the difficulty of providing steady combustion. In this study, a dual-fuel method has been applied to control the ignition timing and combustion duration. As a high ignitability fuel, diesel fuel was supplied to the direct injector, and as an inhibitor, gasoline was supplied to the port injector. Under very low load conditions, negative valve overlap and multiple fuel injection were applied. Diesel fuel injected during the negative valve overlap duration oxidised partially in the high-temperature environment with oxygen-contained exhaust gas of the previous cycle. The oxidation reaction of fuel during the main compression stroke was inhibited by the products from these reactions that occurred during negative valve overlap. Thus, it was possible to control the timing of the heat release immediately after top dead centre. As a consequence, high controllability of combustion and high thermal efficiency at low loads were achieved through independent control of the ratio of diesel fuel injected at negative valve overlap and the fractions of the two fuels.
Facebook as a tool for learning purposes: Analysis of the determinants leading to improved students’ learning
Authors: Nkhoma Mathews , Cong Hiep Pham , Au Bill , Lam Tri , Richardson Joan , Smith Ross , El-Den Jamal
Published: April 2015

The study described in this article aims to investigate the use of out-of-class communication between students and instructors using Facebook as a means of interaction for learning. How often/how much students use such an online social network and the clarification as to the reasons for online communication are the two exogenous variables used to measure the perceptions that students have about the impact of online social networking on their learning. How students perceive the quality of the content of student–instructor interaction on Facebook is treated as a mediating variable in the research model. How students perceive their performance is used as a proxy for their learning outcomes and is treated as the endogenous variable. A questionnaire was developed and used, and the analysis of the data gathered from the questionnaire was conducted using a measurement model and a structural model. The results of the study revealed that how often/how much students use an online social network and the reasons that they give for using online communication have a significant positive impact on how they perceive the quality of the content of student–instructor interaction on Facebook. In addition, the results demonstrated that the use of Facebook has a negative impact when it comes to the students’ perceptions of the quality of the content of student–instructor interaction on their perceived performance.
On the effective visualisation of dynamic attribute cascades
Authors: Archambault Daniel , Purchase Helen C.
Published: April 2015

Cascades appear in many applications, including biological graphs and social media analysis. In a cascade, a dynamic attribute propagates through a graph, following its edges. We present the results of a formal user study that tests the effectiveness of different types of cascade visualisations on node-link diagrams for the task of judging cascade spread. Overall, we found that a small multiples presentation was significantly faster than animation with no significant difference in terms of error rate. Participants generally preferred animation over small multiples and a hierarchical layout to a force-directed layout. Considering each presentation method separately, when comparing force-directed layouts to hierarchical layouts, hierarchical layouts were found to be significantly faster for both presentation methods and significantly more accurate for animation. Representing the history of the cascade had no significant effect. Thus, for our task, this experiment supports the use of a small multiples interface with hierarchically drawn graphs for the visualisation of cascades. This work is important because without these empirical results, designers of dynamic multivariate visualisations (in many applications) would base their design decisions on intuition with little empirical support as to whether these decisions enhance usability.
Understanding alliance evolution and termination: Adjustment costs and the economics of resource value
Authors: Madhok Anoop , Keyhani Mohammad , Bossink Bart
Published: April 2015

Alliances have been studied extensively in the past and various arguments have been suggested to explain their evolution and eventual termination. We argue that one important explanation of alliance termination has remained overlooked, one where the mechanism revolves around resource value and is independent of any mismanagement, opportunism, lack of trust, interpretive misunderstanding, or perceptions of inequity. In this explanation, we recognize explicitly that resources undergo transformation through an alliance, and this transformation reveals new previously imperfectly predicted costs to remain in the alliance as well as new opportunities outside the alliance. We apply the concepts of direct and indirect adjustment costs and inter-temporal economies of scope to explain these phenomena and demonstrate that, depending on the particular structure of incentive asymmetry between the two firms after alliance formation, the new circumstances may motivate a revised cost/profit sharing arrangement, a change in ownership of alliance resources, or a complete dissolution of the alliance. Some determinants of adjustment costs are explored in detail, covering resource characteristics, resource combination characteristics, and environment characteristics. Based on the economics of resource value, our argument has implications not just for alliance evolution and termination but also provides a distinct lens to explain the evolution of firm boundaries and the manner of transition of alliances into acquisitions.
“Toothbrush” the Feet
Authors: Vounotrypidis Periklis , Pappas Periklis , Vrangalas Vasilios , Pehlivanidis Anthimos
Published: April 2015

Chronic wounds develop when the sequence of healing events are disrupted, usually in patients with underlying diseases such as diabetes mellitus, venous insufficiency, peripheral artery disease, and neuropathies and they affect most often the lower extremities. We present a 68-year-old woman with plantar ulceration, lasting for approximately 18 months, resistant to healing with conventional therapy and various modalities we used. The patient had a long history of seronegative enteropathic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, secondary fibrillar amyloidosis, multiplex neuropathy, and small vessel vasculitis, the latter being the trigger event for the ulceration of her right foot. Before the decision for a final surgical intervention, we implemented a mechanical periodic stimulus using a soft toothbrush, which resulted in the gradual and complete healing of the ulcer within a period of 6 weeks. Patient’s history and previous treatments are presented along with the procedures that led to the healing of the chronic wound. This report supports the idea that periodic mechanical stimulus is of great importance for the healing process and this could be the mechanism of action of some other methods that have been described in the medical literature.
Examining Undocumented Latino/a Student Interactions With Faculty and Institutional Agents
Authors: Stebleton Michael J. , Aleixo Marina B.
Published: April 2015

This study explored the experiences of nine undocumented Latino/a students and their perception of interactions with faculty and institutional agents at a predominantly White institution (PWI). Using Charmaz as a lens to analyze individual student interviews, three main findings resulted: sharing one’s story, encountering barriers to full participation, and experiencing significant interactions. Students described numerous obstacles that prevented them from developing validating relationships with faculty and institutional agents, primarily due to their undocumented status.
Handheld Devices and Video Modeling to Enhance the Learning of Self-Help Skills in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Campbell Joseph E. , Morgan Michele , Barnett Veronica , Spreat Scott
Published: April 2015

The viewing of videos is a much-studied intervention to teach self-help, social, and vocational skills. Many of the studies to date looked at video modeling using televisions, computers, and other large screens. This study looked at the use of video modeling on portable handheld devices to teach hand washing to three adolescent students with an autism spectrum disorder. Three students participated in this 4-week study conducted by occupational therapists. Baseline data were obtained for the first student for 1 week, the second for 2 weeks, and the third for 3 weeks; videos were introduced when the participants each finished the baseline phase. Given the cognitive and motor needs of the participants, the occupational therapist set the player so that the participants only had to press the play button to start the video playing. The participants were able to hold the players and view at distances that were most appropriate for their individual needs and preferences. The results suggest that video modeling on a handheld device improves the acquisition of self-help skills.
Effectiveness of the Size Matters Handwriting Program
Authors: Pfeiffer Beth , Rai Gillian , Murray Tammy , Brusilovskiy Eugene
Published: April 2015

The purpose of the research was to study changes in handwriting legibility among kindergarten, first- and second-grade students in response to the Size Matters curricular-based handwriting program. A two-group pre–post-test design was implemented at two public schools with half of the classrooms assigned to receive the Size Matters program and the other continuing to receive standard instruction. All participants completed two standardized handwriting measures at pre-test and after 40 instructional sessions were completed with the classes receiving the handwriting program. Results identified significant changes in legibility in the handwriting intervention group for all three grades when compared with the standard instruction group. The results of this study support the use of a curricular-embedded handwriting program and provide the foundation for future research examining the impact of handwriting legibility on learning outcomes.
Predictive Factors of Household Task Participation in Brazilian Children and Adolescents
Authors: de França Drummond Adriana , Gomes Ana Maria Rabelo , Coster Wendy J. , Mancini Marisa Cotta
Published: April 2015

Home environment is an important setting for child participation. This study investigated the participation of Brazilian children and adolescents in household self-care (SC) and family-care (FC) tasks. Interviews were conducted with 109 caregivers of children and adolescents ages 6 to 14 years residing in Belo Horizonte (Brazil). Multiple regression models revealed that a greater number of FC tasks were performed by children and adolescents ( R2 = .23) from families who did not have a housekeeper and those in which the mothers did not work outside of the home; children and adolescents from this subgroup also received less assistance from the caregivers ( R2 = .21) and showed greater independence in task performance ( R2 = .20). On average, Brazilian children and adolescents participate in about half of the SC and 25% the FC household tasks. Factors related to family structure and child’s age were associated with task performance, caregiver assistance, and child and adolescent independence in household tasks.
Language Discordance and Patient-Centered Care in Occupational Therapy
Authors: Martinez Jenny , Leland Natalie
Published: April 2015

The accumulative burden of a growing non-English speaking minority population and health disparities in the United States demonstrate the urgency of examining occupational therapy practices and defining care that is timely, effective, safe, and patient-centered. In this context, we investigate an occupational therapy episode of care from the perspectives of patient, caregiver, and primary occupational therapy care provider. Treatment sessions were observed and one-on-one semistructured interviews were conducted with the participants. Several themes describing areas of concern in communication and care delivery emerged, including expectations for care, the therapy relationship, professional identity, and pragmatic constraints. The use of untrained interpreters compromised treatment effectiveness and safety. This case highlights potential areas of concern in therapy when working with a diverse patient population. Abundant opportunities exist for occupational therapy to situate itself as an equitable, responsive, valuable, and essential service.
Distinguished Scholar Invited Essay
Authors: Wright Thomas A.
Published: April 2015

The study of character is a legitimate and beneficial topic for organizational analysis. Through the lens of character and character-based leadership, and incorporating the 3-H (“head,” “heart,” and “hands”) approach to knowledge generation and dissemination, my reflections are provided to engage the Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies readership on how character can be used to provide our students as well as ourselves with a more meaningful business education experience.
Boy Crisis? Sex Differences in Self-Injurious Behaviors and the Effects of Gender Role Conflicts Among College Students in China
Authors: Chao Qiuling , Yang Xueyan , Luo Cheng
Published: April 2015

In Western research, self-injurious behaviors are commonly viewed as “feminine” behavior. In this present study, using the data from a survey administered to 960 first- and second-year students in Xi’an Jiaotong University in China, the self-injurious behaviors among college students are analyzed by sex. The results reported that the average prevalence of self-injurious behaviors among male students is 35.2%, higher than the 20.4% observed among female students ( p < .1), and the average frequency of severe self-injurious behaviors among male students is 0.4, higher than the 0.18 reported among female students ( p < .05). Gender role conflicts and verbal violence are strongly associated with male students’ self-injurious behaviors, whereas gender role conflicts and verbal, visual, and sexual violence are strongly associated with female students’ self-injurious behaviors. This suggests that self-injurious behaviors among college students in China constitute, to some extent, a boy crisis that can be well explained by gender role conflicts. In addition, verbal violence leads to self-injurious behaviors among both male and female students, whereas visual and sexual violence lead to self-injurious behaviors only among female students.
The Sovereign Claims from Within: The Rhetorical Displacement of Sovereign Bodies in Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl
Authors: Burgess Sarah
Published: April 2015

This article considers the impact of Ernst Kantorowicz’s The King’s Two Bodies for understanding how claims of sovereignty are authorized and legitimated in a secular age devoid of the divine grace that underwrites the sovereignty of the king in medieval times. Through a reading of Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, 133 S.Ct. 2552 (2013), a case concerning the custody of a child of Cherokee descent, it demonstrates that sovereign bodies are constituted, (dis)placed, and recognized through an appeal to biopolitical logics. This insight is important as it invites a form of rhetorical critique that might account for the conditions in which sovereign claims fashion the terms of political community.
Systemic therapy in stage IV pancreatic cancer: a population-based analysis using the National Cancer Data Base
Authors: Khanal Nabin , Upadhyay Smrity , Dahal Sumit , Bhatt Vijaya Raj , Silberstein Peter T.
Published: April 2015

Background:

Pancreatic cancer accounts for approximately 7% of all cancer deaths. More than half of all pancreatic cancers are stage IV at diagnosis, where systemic chemotherapy is used with the goal of life prolongation as well as palliation. The patient characteristics and health system factors that drive the use of systemic therapy are unknown.

Method:

This is a retrospective study of stage IV pancreatic cancer patients ( n = 140,210) diagnosed between 2000 and 2011 in the NCDB. NCDB contains approximately 70% of new cancer diagnosis from more than 1500 accredited cancer programs in the United States and Puerto Rico. Chi-squared test was used to determine any differences in characteristics of patients who did or did not receive systemic therapy.

Results:

Our study demonstrated that only 49.1% of stage IV pancreatic cancer patients received systemic therapy. The use of systemic therapy is significantly lower in female, African American/Hispanic, patients older than 40 years, those without insurance or with Medicare and Medicaid, higher Charlson Comorbidity Score, poor economic and educational status and in nonacademic centers.

Conclusions:

This is the largest study to evaluate the determinants of systemic therapy use in stage IV pancreatic cancer. The use of systemic therapy was significantly lower in patients older than 40 years, lower educational status, nonprivate insurance and with higher Charlson Comorbidity Scores. In addition, the use of systemic therapy was lower with female sex, African Americans/Hispanic, and lower socio-economic status. Understanding the barriers in the use of systemic therapy as well as appropriate utilization of systemic therapy can both optimize cancer care.
Effects of denosumab on bone density, mass and strength in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis
Authors: Törring Ove
Published: April 2015

Denosumab is a human monoclonal antibody which specifically blocks receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand and is a very potent antiresorptive drug. Its efficacy in reducing the risk of vertebral, hip and nonskeletal fracture has been proven in a large prospective, randomized multicenter study of 7808 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis [Fracture Reduction Evaluation of Denosumab in Osteoporosis Every 6 Months (FREEDOM) trial]. Denosumab causes somewhat greater increases in bone mineral density (BMD) than the class of bisphosphonate antiresorptives. Denosumab also causes an increase in bone mass and bone strength in the spine, ultradistal and diaphysis of the radius, proximal tibia and the hip. Recently long-term treatment with denosumab has been shown to cause a continued almost linear increase in total hip and femoral neck BMD beyond 3 years up to 8 years. In this respect, denosumab seems to differ from the bisphosphonate group in which the rate of improvement of BMD diminishes and for some drugs becomes negative after 3–4 years when the process of secondary mineralization flattens out. This unique property of an antiresorptive drug points towards mechanisms of action which differ from the bisphosphonate group. Both types of antiresorptives decrease cortical porosity but contrary to bisphosphonates the reduction in cortical porosity continues with denosumab which, in addition, also seems to cause a slight continuous modeling-based formation of new bone despite suppression of bone remodeling. The net effect is an increase in cortical thickening and bone mass, and increased strength of cortical bone. This may contribute substantially to the significant further reduction of the nonvertebral fracture risk which was found in the long-term denosumab arm of the FREEDOM extension trial during years 4–7.
Advances and challenges in the management of complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathies
Authors: Davin Jean-Claude , van de Kar Nicole C. A. J.
Published: April 2015

Complement activation plays a major role in several renal pathophysiological conditions. The three pathways of complement lead to C3 activation, followed by the formation of the anaphylatoxin C5a and the terminal membrane attack complex (MAC) in blood and at complement activating surfaces, lead to a cascade of events responsible for inflammation and for the induction of cell lysis. In case of ongoing uncontrolled complement activation, endothelial cells activation takes place, leading to events in which at the end thrombotic microangiopathy can occur. Atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a thrombotic microangiopathy characterized by excessive complement activation on the surface of the microcirculation. It is a severe, rare disease which leads to end-stage renal failure (ESRF) and/or to death in more than 50% of patients without treatment. In the first decade of the second millennium, huge progress in understanding the aetiology of this disease was made, which paved the way to better treatment. First, protocols of plasma therapy for treatment, prevention of relapses and for renal transplantation in those patients were set up. Secondly, in some severe cases, combined kidney and liver transplantation was reported. Finally, at the end of this decade, the era of complement inhibitors, as anti-C5 monoclonal antibody (anti-C5 mAb) began. The past five years have seen growing evidence of the favourable effect of anti-C5 mAb in aHUS which has made this drug the first-line treatment in this disease. The possible complication of meningococcal infection needs appropriate vaccination before its use. Unfortunately, the worldwide use of anti-C5 mAb is limited by its very high price. In the future, extension of indications for anti-C5 mAb use, the elaboration of generics and of mAbs directed towards other complement factors of the terminal pathway of the complement system might succeed in reducing the cost of this new valuable therapeutic approach and render it available worldwide for patients from all social classes.
Optimizing the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor in the management of patients with Crohn’s disease
Authors: Nguyen Douglas L. , Flores Sarah , Sassi Kareem , Bechtold Matthew L. , Nguyen Emily T. , Parekh Nimisha K.
Published: April 2015

Since the approval of the first anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy in late 1998, the treatment for Crohn’s disease (CD) has been revolutionized. Anti-TNF therapy has been consistently shown in numerous clinical trials to be effective for patients with more aggressive perianal, internal penetrating, and fistulizing CD. However, the loss of clinical remission is frequent and only one-third of patients remain in clinical remission at 1 year. The pharmacokinetics of anti-TNF is highly variable among patients and could be influenced by many factors including serum albumin, gender, body weight, systemic inflammation and route of administration. The main factor impacting anti-TNF pharmacokinetics and efficacy is the development of immunogenicity where antidrug antibodies accelerate anti-TNF drug clearance. In this review paper, we evaluate the role of combination therapy with anti-TNF drugs and immunomodulators, the role of therapeutic drug monitoring, and strategies to recapture loss of clinical response in order to improve both short- and long-term outcomes in CD patients.
A randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the sensitivity of the CRCDS Mini-Sim to the next-day residual effects of zopiclone
Authors: Simen Arthur A. , Gargano Cynthia , Cha Jang-Ho , Drexel Melissa , Bautmans An , Heirman Ingeborg , Laethem Tine , Hochadel Thomas , Gheyle Lien , Bleys Kim , Beals Chan , Stoch Aubrey , Kay Gary G. , Struyk Arie
Published: April 2015

Objectives:

We sought to validate Cognitive Research Corporation’s Driving Simulator (CRCDS Mini-Sim) for studies of drug safety with respect to driving ability.

Methods:

A total of 30 healthy subjects were randomized to receive placebo or 7.5 mg zopiclone, a hypnotic known to impair driving, in random order during the 2 treatment periods of a 2 period crossover design.

Results:

Evening administration of 7.5 mg zopiclone increased next-day standard deviation of lateral lane position (SDLP) by 2.62 cm on average compared with evening administration of placebo, and caused significant effects on symmetry analysis. The magnitude of the change in SDLP is highly similar to changes previously observed using on-the-road driving methods.

Conclusions:

Further validation of the CRCDS Mini-Sim is warranted to develop this platform for drug safety studies.
Injury Types and Incidence Rates in Precollegiate Female Gymnasts
Authors: Saluan Paul , Styron Joseph , Ackley J. Freeland , Prinzbach Arianna , Billow Damien
Published: April 2015

Background:

With childhood sports opportunities continuing to increase at an enormous rate along with participation starting at younger ages, the number of female participants in sports has increased in paramount fashion over the past few decades. A review of the current literature reveals a very small number of studies (<30) that document specific injuries suffered by competitive female gymnasts.

Purpose:

To retrospectively evaluate the incidence of various injuries and injury rates for different gymnast levels among young precollegiate female gymnasts over a 21-year period, from 1985 to 2005.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiological study.

Methods:

This institutional review board–approved study retrospectively evaluated young, precollegiate female gymnasts over a 21-year period. Gymnasts were stratified into 1 of 4 competition levels based on the number of hours spent training. In addition to the frequency of injuries and hours trained, data collected on each gymnast included the following: age at the time of injury, body part injured, laterality of the injury, and diagnosis.

Results:

Over the 21-year period, 3681 new injuries were evaluated by a single physician. The injury incidence (2.155 per 1000 exposure hours) was slightly lower when compared with previously reported injury rates. There were 1,452,574 total exposure hours documented from training facility records. The injury rate per 1000 exposure hours was 2.859 for elite, 2.820 for high-level, 1.667 for intermediate, and 0.687 for novice gymnasts. The lower extremity was injured more often than the upper extremity (60.9% compared with 22.6% of total injuries). This difference was statistically significant across all levels.

Conclusion:

The injury incidence in this study was 2.155 per 1000 exposure hours. This was slightly lower when compared with previously reported injury rates. Although those studies only lasted 3 years or less, the injury rates can be directly compared because they are reported as injuries per 1000 training hours.

Clinical Relevance:

With the variability in data available and limited studies reported, a conclusive analysis is needed because of the long-term effects of injury seen on gymnasts, such as early degenerative disorders, cost of injury treatment, and reduction of well-being. In our 21-year study, we found the incidence of injury was slightly lower than that shown in prior shorter studies. In addition, we were able to evaluate specific injuries seen in this population over that time period. Also, this extended study revealed the longitudinal nature of a series of injuries over a period of time that has not been seen in other studies, thus giving insight into the effects of increased gymnastics in the young, female, adolescent population, which could be potentially used in guidelines for gymnasts in the future.
Reported Sports Participation, Race, Sex, Ethnicity, and Obesity in US Adolescents From NHANES Physical Activity (PAQ_D)
Authors: Turner Robert W. , Perrin Eliana M. , Coyne-Beasley Tamera , Peterson Camilla J. , Skinner Asheley C.
Published: April 2015

Objective. To understand the relationships between participation in different types of leisure time sport activity and adolescent obesity, and how those relationships might differ based on race, gender, and household income. Methods. Data consisted of 6667 students that took part in the 1999 to 2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The authors used adjusted Wald tests to examine differences in the prevalence of obesity (body mass index >95th percentile for age and sex) by sport for boys and girls separately. Results. Among adolescent youth age 12 to 19 years, 16.6% of male leisure time sport participants and 15.3% of female sport participants were obese, compared with 23.6% for male nonathlete participant-in-other-activities and 17.0% obesity rate for female nonathlete/participant-in-other-activities. For both males and females, reported participation in leisure time sports decreased between middle school and high school, and this reduction was associated with higher body mass index.
Pore size effect on cell response via plasma electrolytic oxidation
Authors: Shin K. R. , Kim Y. S. , Jeong J. H. , Ko Y. G. , Shin D. H.
Published: April 2015

Using a plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process, this study investigated how the pore size of the coating surface influences the growth of osteoblast cells and their morphology in pure titanium. With this aim, PEO coatings were applied using four different electric and electrolyte conditions to vary the mean pore sizes of the coatings from ∼2 to ∼5 μm. In vitro examinations showed that the osteoblast cells on the surface of the coating with ∼2 μm pores had grown healthily with good attachment by multiple pseudopodia connections; cells were highly proliferated, compared to those of other samples. In addition, the coating with ∼2 μm pores showed the highest cell viability among the samples.
Wear and corrosion resistant properties of electrodeposited Ni composite coating containing Al2O3–TiO2 composite powder
Authors: Aruna S. T. , Srinivas G.
Published: April 2015

Electrodeposited Ni composite coatings containing ceramic particles have been widely investigated due to their improved mechanical, wear and corrosion resistant properties over plain nickel coatings. The application of one of the most widely studied plasma spray powder, Al2O3–13 wt-%TiO2, has not been explored in electrodeposited nickel composites. In the present study, Ni/Al2O3–13 wt-%TiO2 coatings have been electrodeposited using physically mixed commercial Al2O3 and TiO2 powders. The microhardness, wear and corrosion resistant properties of the coatings have been investigated. It was found that the area fraction of particles incorporated in the nickel matrix was very high at lower current density, and the corresponding composite coating exhibited a maximum microhardness (∼580 HK). Interestingly, corrosion resistance of Ni/Al2O3–13 wt-%TiO2 composite coating was similar to that reported for Ni/TiO2. The wear behaviour of Ni/Al2O3–13 wt-%TiO2 coating was in between Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/TiO2 coatings and thus exhibited a synergistic effect of the properties of Al2O3 and TiO2 powders.