bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Collective identities, empty signifiers and solvable secrets
Authors: Giesen Bernhard , Seyfert Robert
Published: March 2015

In modern societies collective identity is both an empty signifier and a sacred center: even as its existence is taken for granted, what is or should be is subject to a host of different and often conflicting interpretations. However, the narratives and representations of collective identity are in no way undermined by these public debates; these signifiers are seen rather as a problem that is in principle amenable to solution, as something that ought to be (re)solved. In fact, the empty signifiers of collective identity are constructed as solvable secrets precisely and primarily in public speech, open debate and perpetual critique. This article identifies the public and private modes of dealing with empty signifiers – through collective traumatic repressions, private resentments, public discourses adhering to argumentation ethics, and individual fabulations.
Danish nationwide registers for public health and health-related research
Authors: Erlangsen Annette , Fedyszyn Izabela
Published: March 2015

Aims: The Nordic countries have a strong tradition of using nationwide social and health registers for research purposes. The aim of the current paper is to provide an overview of the Danish population-based registers in public health and health-related research, and to discuss their strengths and limitations. Methods: Danish registers on somatic and psychiatric hospital contacts as well as care provided by general practitioners were reviewed. The availability of demographic, individual-level variables of relevance for health-related research was summarized. Results: Since 1968, every person living in Denmark has a unique identifier. This identifier is listed in Danish registers enabling linkage of information from a range of registers on an individual level. The nationwide coverage of all patient contacts at somatic and psychiatric hospitals, consultations with general practitioners, purchases of prescribed medications, and a complete follow-up with respect to causes of death support public health studies surveying trends of prevalence and incidence. Historical data on psychiatric and somatic hospitalizations since 1969 and 1977, respectively, allow an in-depth assessment of the burden of disease and time trends. Demographic characteristics of individuals and family units, together with information on education, employment, income, place of residence and migration, are provided by social registers. Conclusions: Register data are fully representative of the entire population with no loss to follow-up. Nationwide coverage also ensures a large sample to investigate events and conditions with low base rates. Clinical observations are limited and often only available for select patient populations. However, the opportunities available for public health research through linkage of register data with the increasing number of nationwide clinical databases, bio-banks and surveys entail promising perspectives for future research.
Specific factors influencing information system/information and communication technology sourcing strategies in healthcare facilities
Authors: Potančok Martin , Voříšek Jiří
Published: March 2015

Healthcare facilities use a number of information system/information and communication technologies. Each healthcare facility faces a need to choose sourcing strategies most suitable to ensure provision of information system/information and communication technology services, processes and resources. Currently, it is possible to observe an expansion of sourcing possibilities in healthcare informatics, which creates new requirements for sourcing strategies. Thus, the aim of this article is to identify factors influencing information system/information and communication technology sourcing strategies in healthcare facilities. The identification was based on qualitative research, namely, a case study. This study provides a set of internal and external factors with their impact levels. The findings also show that not enough attention is paid to these factors during decision-making.
The impact of copyright permissions culture on the US visual arts community: The consequences of fear of fair use
Authors: Aufderheide Patricia , Milosevic Tijana , Bello Bryan
Published: March 2015

As digital opportunities emerge in the visual arts—to produce multimedia art and digital scholarship, publish online, and hold online museum exhibitions—old copyright frustrations have worsened in a field where getting permissions is routine. A national survey of 2828 visual arts professionals, combined with 100 in-depth interviews of visual arts practitioners throughout the United States, explored how visual arts professionals use the US copyright doctrine of fair use. Results showed widespread lack of confidence and misconceptions about fair use; resulting exaggerated risk assessment; personal and social relations within the community that deter reliance on fair use; and consequent delays, deformations, and failure to execute mission.
Mitigating murder: The construction of blame in true and false confessions
Authors: Lowrey Belen V , Ray Sara
Published: March 2015

Confessions are central to criminal investigations. Although an increasing amount of attention is being drawn to the phenomenon of false confessions the majority of research focuses on psychological factors of false confessions. This study instead uses narrative analysis to examine the language of true and false confession narratives, with a focus on how evaluative devices convey degrees of guilt and blame. Justifications and deflection of blame were found to characterize true confessions, while false confessions did not place a primacy on these elements. Furthermore, the actual events of the crime were highly evaluated in true confessions, while false confessions left these events unevaluated. Although generalizability of these findings should be treated with caution, meaningful differences between true and false confessions occur at the level of discourse which may assist investigators in uncovering motives, key events, and the confessor’s state of mind, and may help guide interrogators’ questioning patterns.
Unmasking Title IX on its 40th birthday: The operation of women’s voices, women’s spaces, and sporting mythnarratives in the commemorative coverage of Title IX
Authors: Roessner Amber , Whiteside Erin
Published: March 2015

As society’s storytellers, journalists often draw upon a standard set of archetypal forms to convey all of the day’s news to their readers. This study considers the practice of commemorative sports journalism, in particular how (and by whom) the stories surrounding Title IX’s 40th anniversary were constructed at two of the nation’s leading sports news outlets. Drawing from a combination of narrative and critical discourse analysis grounded in hegemonic theory, we contend that ESPN and Sports Illustrated shifted away from the traditional battle-of-the-sexes narrative; the end result was a celebratory women-centric model, one that offered progressive ways of understanding Title IX but sometimes fell prey to flaws associated with what White has called the ‘content of the form’.
The influence of differential evaporation on the structure of a three-component biofuel spray
Authors: Keller Peter , Knorsch Tobias , Wensing Michael , Hasse Christian
Published: March 2015

A high-pressure spray injected under gasoline engine conditions in a constant volume chamber is studied in detail using a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics approach. Both single-component and ternary mixture (n-alkane and alcohols) spray results are compared with the experimental data from shadowgraphy, Schlieren imaging and phase-Doppler anemometry. Activity coefficient models are used to cover non-ideal thermodynamic effects occurring when mixtures of structurally dissimilar components such as alcohols and n-alkanes are considered. Here, the non-random, two-liquid and universal quasi-chemical functional group activity coefficients methods are applied. A ternary mixture composed of ethanol, n-butanol and n-hexane representing the research octane number (RON 95) of gasoline is considered and investigated in detail. To illustrate the non-ideal mixture effects, first the binary mixtures ethanol/n-butanol, n-butanol/n-hexane and ethanol/n-hexane are studied as subsets of the ternary mixture using a zero-dimensional single-droplet evaporation solver. Introducing a differential evaporation factor for multicomponent mixtures, the mixture segregation is characterized. Additionally, a separation factor indicating which component depletes first (volatility) is presented for both binary and ternary mixtures. The zero-dimensional results are then correlated with the three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulation results. Looking at the vapor–liquid equilibria of the different binary mixtures, the non-ideal effects are identified. The evaporation behavior of the binary mixtures is compared with the ternary mixtures in terms of droplet lifetimes, temperature and mixture decomposition, where the latter is characterized with the differential evaporation factor and separation factor. These results are afterwards compared with the three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulations, which are validated against the experimental data for single-component sprays regarding the liquid and vapor penetration depths. Finally, in the ternary mixture, n-butanol is replaced with iso-octane, the most widely used gasoline surrogate, to illustrate the differential evaporation behavior for a mixture with a higher alkane content than the ternary mixture used for the experiments. Strong non-ideal effects causing significant changes in the vapor composition are presented, as well as changes in the characterization factors, differential evaporation factor and the separation factor, respectively. These results are compared with the single-droplet simulations.
Demos before Democracy: Ideas of nation and society in Adam Smith
Authors: Hearn Jonathan
Published: March 2015

What did Adam Smith understand by the term ‘nation’ in The Wealth of Nations? This article uses this relatively simple question as a way of exploring the roots of current debates about the concept of the nation, prevalent in the study of nationalism. I argue that contending senses, ethnic versus civic, cultural versus political, can be traced back to the formation of the modern concept in the eighteenth century, and that its current ambiguity, or multivocality, is also attributable to that original context. Basic here is the idea that the modern concept arose out of a general crisis, or at least destabilisation, of moral and political authority in that period. I argue that Smith’s use of the word ‘nation’ was fairly conventional for the time, but that without fully intending to, his arguments for ‘natural order’ laid groundwork for imaginings of self-governing peoples, able to thrive without traditional or unified loci of authority. Smith’s theories of emergent social order in the domains of morality and economy were also responses to the weakening of traditional authority, and crucial in the formation of modern concepts of society, which have been inextricably bound up with the idea of the nation-state.
Pharmacodynamic effects of C-domain-specific ACE inhibitors on the renin-angiotensin system in myocardial infarcted rats
Authors: Sharp Sarah , Poglitsch Marko , Zilla Peter , Davies Neil H , Sturrock Edward D
Published: March 2015

Introduction:

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a dynamic network that plays a critical role in blood pressure regulation and fluid and electrolyte homeostasis. Modulators of the RAS, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, are widely used to treat hypertension, heart failure and myocardial infarction.

Methods:

The effect of ACE inhibitors (lisinopril and C-domain-selective LisW-S) on the constituent peptides of the RAS following myocardial infarction was examined in rats. Ten angiotensin peptides were analysed using a sensitive LC-MS/MS-based assay to examine both the circulating and equilibrium levels of these peptides.

Results:

Administration of lisinopril or LisW-S caused a significant decrease in Ang 1–8/Ang 1–10 ratios as determined by circulating and equilibrium peptide level analysis. Furthermore, Ang 1–7 levels were elevated by both ACE inhibitors, but only lisinopril decreased the Ang 1–5/Ang 1–7 ratio. This indicates LisW-S C-domain specificity as Ang 1–5 is generated by hydrolysis of Ang 1–7 by the N-domain. Further corroboration of LisW-S C-domain specificity is that only lisinopril increased the circulating levels of the N-domain ACE substrate Ac-SDKP.

Conclusion:

LisW-S is able to effectively block ACE in vivo by C-domain-selective inhibition. The LC-MS/MS-based assay allows the evaluation of the pharmacologic impact of RAS inhibitors in different pathophysiological conditions.
Angiotensin II type 2 receptor signaling affects dopamine levels in the brain and prevents binge eating disorder
Authors: Nakaoka Hirotomo , Mogi Masaki , Kan-no Harumi , Tsukuda Kana , Ohshima Kousei , Wang Xiao-Li , Chisaka Toshiyuki , Bai Hui-Yu , Shan Bao-Shuai , Kukida Masayoshi , Iwanami Jun , Horiuchi Masatsugu
Published: March 2015

Introduction:

Binge eating disorder (BED) is associated with dopaminergic activation as food reward, resulting in metabolism-related disorders. Stimulation of angiotensin type 2 (AT2) receptor is reported to inhibit dopamine synthesis. We investigated the possible roles of AT2 receptor-mediated dopamine regulation in the pathogenesis of BED.

Materials and methods:

Male C57BL/6 mice, type 2 diabetic (KKAy) mice and AT2 receptor-null (AT2KO) mice at eight weeks old were treated with AT2 receptor agonist, compound 21 (C21) or saline for two weeks. Mice were subjected to fasting for two days followed by re-feeding for seven days.

Results:

Treatment with C21 attenuated the rebound proportion of body weight, food intake and water intake in KKAy mice, but not in C57BL/6 and AT2KO mice. Dopamine concentration in the striatum was further increased by fasting in KKAy and AT2KO mice. Administration of C21 significantly attenuated this fasting-induced increase in dopamine level only in KKAy mice. Dopamine receptor D1, D2 expression in the substantia nigra were markedly lower in KKAy mice compared with C57BL/6 mice, while administration of C21 increased their expression in KKAy mice.

Conclusions:

Our study suggests that AT2 receptor stimulation may be a new therapeutic approach to improve eating disorder associated with dopamine resistance.
‘Predistribution’, property-owning democracy and land value taxation
Authors: Kerr Gavin
Published: March 2015

The term ‘predistribution’ draws attention to the need for policies and institutions that are designed to improve the position of the least advantaged members of society by generating a fairer distribution of opportunities and benefits from the operation of the free market system, with less reliance on redistributive tax-and-transfer mechanisms. Although the idea of progressive predistribution has only recently begun to attract the attention of politicians and commentators in the mainstream media, there is an older and more philosophically grounded predistributive approach that goes back to the idea of the property-owning democracy (POD) proposed by Economist James Meade and further developed by liberal political philosopher John Rawls. In this article, I argue that neither the Meadeian/Rawlsian POD model, nor the more recent analysis of the idea of progressive predistribution, provide a clear and convincing account of the distinction between predistributive and redistributive mechanisms. I then argue that a more promising account of this distinction is provided by the idea of the socialization of economic rent through taxation of the rental value of land, and that there are good reasons to think that a shift in the burden of taxation away from production and employment and on to the rental value of land might turn out to be both more genuinely predistributive and more effectively progressive than other possible predistributive mechanisms that have recently been proposed, most notably the aggressive taxation of private inheritances as a means to broaden the distribution of privately owned capital and productive property.
Does political community require public reason? On Lister’s defence of political liberalism
Authors: Billingham Paul
Published: March 2015

Andrew Lister’s Public Reason and Political Community is an important new contribution to the debate over political liberalism. In this article, I critically evaluate some of the central arguments of the book in order to assess the current state of public reason liberalism. I pursue two main objections to Lister’s work. First, Lister’s justification for public reason, which appeals to the value of civic friendship, fails to show why public reason liberalism should be preferred to an alternative democratic theory that does not include public reason restrictions. Second, there are several important ambiguities and tensions within Lister’s view that he does not adequately resolve. His approach to them often takes public reason liberalism in directions that many of its advocates will reject. More work thus remains to be done by public reason liberals both to show why public reason restrictions are necessary and to resolve these tensions in a more satisfactory way.
Interactive and iterative visual clustering
Authors: Boudjeloud-Assala Lydia , Pinheiro Philippe , Blansché Alexandre , Tamisier Thomas , Otjacques Benoît
Published: March 2015

This article proposes a semi-interactive system for visual data exploration using an iterative clustering that combines an automatic approach with an interactive one. We propose a framework to improve the interactivity between the user and the data analysis process, allowing him or her to participate actively in the iterative clustering tasks using a two-dimensional projection. Defining a cluster by its seed (center) and its limit, the proposed approach allows the user to modify the automated values or to define new seeds and the associated cluster limit himself or herself. The user can perform the clustering according to his or her visual perception manually and can also choose to let the automated approach find optimal seeds and then interact with the process to iterate the clustering process according to his or her visual perception and domain knowledge. Most of the evaluation criteria for clustering evaluate the complete clustering and not each cluster separately. In this article, we propose to adapt evaluation criteria to single clusters, allowing the users to evaluate their own clusters and perform the clustering iteratively until satisfaction. To evaluate our proposed approach, we conduct a user evaluation, where the users are asked to perform clustering interactively according to their visual perception and with the semi-interactive one. We also compare the obtained results with those of automated clustering. The quantitative results have shown that the cooperative approach can improve the clustering results in terms of accuracy.
Modelling and simulation of a marine propulsion power plant with seawater desulphurisation scrubber
Authors: Georgopoulou Chariklia A , Dimopoulos George G , Kakalis Nikolaos MP
Published: March 2015

Exhaust gas scrubber is one of the options to comply with the new regulations for sulphur emissions in the shipping industry. This article presents a model-based approach to assess the energy and environmental performance effects from the installation of a seawater flue gas desulphurisation scrubber on a marine two-stroke diesel engine propulsion plant. A mathematical model was built that describes the governing physical and chemical behaviour of the integrated machinery system. The model was used to examine the impact of main scrubber design characteristics on the engine fuel consumption under different engine loads. The results indicate that the desulphurisation system causes an increase in the engine fuel consumption, for constant power output. This is due to the increased back-pressure to the turbocharging system caused by the pressure drops in the desulphurisation system. This effect can be partly mitigated by the installation of forced-draft fans after the desulphurisation system limiting the negative impact on the overall system efficiency to half of its initial value.
The Pocketable Electronic Devices in Radiation Oncology (PEDRO) Project
Authors: De Bari Berardino , Franco Pierfrancesco , Niyazi Maximilian , Cornetto Andrea Peruzzo , Qvortrup Camilla , Martin Arturo Navarro , Cacicedo Jon , Fernandez Gonçalo , Louro Luís Vasco , Lestrade Laëtitia , Ciammella Patrizia , Greto Daniela , Checkrine Tarik , Youssef Elkholti , Filippi Andrea Riccardo , Poulsen Laurids Østergaard , Alongi Filippo
Published: March 2015

Purpose:

To analyze the impact of mobile electronic devices (MEDs) and apps in the daily clinical activity of young radiation or clinical oncologists in 5 Western European countries (Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Denmark).

Methods:

A web-based questionnaire was sent to 462 young (≤40 years) members of the national radiation or clinical oncology associations of the countries involved in the study. The 15 items investigated diffusion of MEDs (smartphones and/or tablets), their impact on daily clinical activity, and the differences perceived by participants along time.

Results:

A total of 386 (83.5%) of the 462 correctly filled questionnaires were statistically evaluated. Up to 65% of respondents declared to use an electronic device during their clinical activity. Conversely, 72% considered low to moderate impact of smartphones/tables on their daily practice. The daily use significantly increased from 2009 to 2012: users reporting a use ≥6 times/d raised from 5% to 39.9%. Professional needs fulfillment was declared by less than 68% of respondents and compliance to apps indications by 66%. Significant differences were seen among the countries, in particular concerning the feeling of usefulness of MEDs in the daily clinical life. The perception of the need of a comprehensive Web site containing a variety of applications (apps) for clinical use significantly differed among countries in 2009, while it was comparable in 2012.

Conclusions:

This survey showed a large diffusion of MEDs in young professionals working in radiation oncology. Looking at these data, it is important to verify the consistency of information found within apps, in order to avoid potential errors eventually detrimental for patients. “Quality assurance” criteria should be specifically developed for medical apps and a comprehensive Web site gathering all reliable applications and tools might be useful for daily clinical practice.
Kinetic Models for Predicting Cervical Cancer Response to Radiation Therapy on Individual Basis Using Tumor Regression Measured In Vivo With Volumetric Imaging
Authors: Belfatto Antonella , Riboldi Marco , Ciardo Delia , Cattani Federica , Cecconi Agnese , Lazzari Roberta , Jereczek-Fossa Barbara Alicja , Orecchia Roberto , Baroni Guido , Cerveri Pietro
Published: March 2015

This article describes a macroscopic mathematical modeling approach to capture the interplay between solid tumor evolution and cell damage during radiotherapy. Volume regression profiles of 15 patients with uterine cervical cancer were reconstructed from serial cone-beam computed tomography data sets, acquired for image-guided radiotherapy, and used for model parameter learning by means of a genetic-based optimization. Patients, diagnosed with either squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma, underwent different treatment modalities (image-guided radiotherapy and image-guided chemo-radiotherapy). The mean volume at the beginning of radiotherapy and the end of radiotherapy was on average 23.7 cm3 (range: 12.7-44.4 cm3) and 8.6 cm3 (range: 3.6-17.1 cm3), respectively. Two different tumor dynamics were taken into account in the model: the viable (active) and the necrotic cancer cells. However, according to the results of a preliminary volume regression analysis, we assumed a short dead cell resolving time and the model was simplified to the active tumor volume. Model learning was performed both on the complete patient cohort (cohort-based model learning) and on each single patient (patient-specific model learning). The fitting results (mean error: ∼16% and ∼6% for the cohort-based model and patient-specific model, respectively) highlighted the model ability to quantitatively reproduce tumor regression. Volume prediction errors of about 18% on average were obtained using cohort-based model computed on all but 1 patient at a time (leave-one-out technique). Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed and the data uncertainty effects evaluated by simulating an average volume perturbation of about 1.5 cm3 obtaining an error increase within 0.2%. In conclusion, we showed that simple time-continuous models can represent tumor regression curves both on a patient cohort and patient-specific basis; this discloses the opportunity in the future to exploit such models to predict how changes in the treatment schedule (number of fractions, doses, intervals among fractions) might affect the tumor regression on an individual basis.
Targeting Accuracy of Image-Guided Radiosurgery for Intracranial Lesions
Authors: Huang Yimei , Zhao Bo , Chetty Indrin J. , Brown Stephen , Gordon James , Wen Ning
Published: March 2015

Purpose:

To evaluate the overall positioning accuracy of image-guided intracranial radiosurgery across multiple linear accelerator platforms.

Methods:

A computed tomography scan with a slice thickness of 1.0 mm was acquired of an anthropomorphic head phantom in a BrainLAB U-frame mask. The phantom was embedded with three 5-mm diameter tungsten ball bearings, simulating a central, a left, and an anterior cranial lesion. The ball bearings were positioned to radiation isocenter under ExacTrac X-ray or cone-beam computed tomography image guidance on 3 Linacs: (1) ExacTrac X-ray localization on a Novalis Tx; (2) cone-beam computed tomography localization on the Novalis Tx; (3) cone-beam computed tomography localization on a TrueBeam; and (4) cone-beam computed tomography localization on an Edge. Each ball bearing was positioned 5 times to the radiation isocenter with different initial setup error following the 4 image guidance procedures on the 3 Linacs, and the mean (µ) and one standard deviation (σ) of the residual error were compared.

Results:

Averaged overall 3 ball bearing locations, the vector length of the residual setup error in mm (µ ± σ) was 0.6 ± 0.2, 1.0 ± 0.5, 0.2 ± 0.1, and 0.3 ± 0.1 on ExacTrac X-ray localization on a Novalis Tx, cone-beam computed tomography localization on the Novalis Tx, cone-beam computed tomography localization on a TrueBeam, and cone-beam computed tomography localization on an Edge, with their range in mm being 0.4 to 1.1, 0.4 to 1.9, 0.1 to 0.5, and 0.2 to 0.6, respectively. The congruence between imaging and radiation isocenters in mm was 0.6 ± 0.1, 0.7 ± 0.1, 0.3 ± 0.1, and 0.2 ± 0.1, for the 4 systems, respectively.

Conclusions:

Targeting accuracy comparable to frame-based stereotactic radiosurgery can be achieved with image-guided intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery treatment.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell–Conditioned Medium Improves the Proliferation and Migration of Keratinocytes in a Diabetes-Like Microenvironment
Authors: Li Meirong , Zhao Yali , Hao Haojie , Dai Hanren , Han Qingwang , Tong Chuan , Liu Jiejie , Han Weidong , Fu Xiaobing
Published: March 2015

The impairment of wound healing in diabetic patients is an important clinical problem. Proper keratinocyte migration and proliferation are the crucial steps during reepithelialization, and these steps may be impaired in diabetes mellitus (DM) due to hyperglycemia and chronic inflammation in wound site. In this study, we explored the effects of diabetes-like microenvironment with high glucose (HG) and intense inflammation on the migration and proliferation of keratinocytes in vitro. We found that the migration and proliferation of rat keratinocytes were reduced with HG and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation via Erk signaling pathway in a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent manner. Nevertheless, mesenchymal stem cell–conditioned medium (MSC-CM) counteracts the effects of HG and LPS. Treatment of rat keratinocyte with MSC-CM decreased HG- and/or LPS-induced ROS overproduction. Furthermore, MSC-CM reversed the downregulation of phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and Erk 1/2, which was induced by HG and/or LPS without affecting total levels. Our results may provide a possible mechanism for delayed wound healing in DM and provide a foundation to develop MSC-CM as an alternative therapeutic strategy to ameliorate the poor wound-healing conditions.
Hypoxia Regulates the Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Through Enhanced Autophagy
Authors: Liu Jiejie , Hao Haojie , Huang Hong , Tong Chuan , Ti Dongdong , Dong Liang , Chen Deyun , Zhao Yali , Liu Huiling , Han Weidong , Fu Xiaobing
Published: March 2015

Bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs)have great therapeutic potential for the repair of diabetic lower-limb ischemia because of their proangiogenic properties. However, cells transplanted into an ischemic environment have reduced cell survival rates and impaired angiogenic capacity in vivo. We explored hypoxia pretreatment as a method to promote BM-MSC survival by inducing autophagy. Our results showed that hypoxic pretreatment has no effect on the phenotype or differentiation capacity of BM-MSCs; however, hypoxia increased viability and reduced apoptosis in cells treated with lipopolysaccharide. Immunofluorescence and western blot results showed that hypoxia pretreatment enhances cell autophagy mediated by elevated expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). The AMPK/mTOR (adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling pathway was also activated in BM-MSCs during hypoxia-enhanced autophagy. It is important to note that hypoxia pretreatment in BM-MSCs significantly enhanced cell survival and promoted angiogenesis in the lower limb of ischemic diabetic rats. In conclusion, hypoxia pretreatment enhances survival in BM-MSCs, promoting angiogenesis by increasing autophagy and significantly decreasing apoptosis. Therefore, modulation of autophagy with hypoxic pretreatment may provide a novel strategy to improve MSC-based therapies.
Healing Rate and Autoimmune Safety of Full-Thickness Wounds Treated With Fish Skin Acellular Dermal Matrix Versus Porcine Small-Intestine Submucosa
Authors: Baldursson Baldur Tumi , Kjartansson Hilmar , Konrádsdóttir Fífa , Gudnason Palmar , Sigurjonsson Gudmundur F. , Lund Sigrún Helga
Published: March 2015

A novel product, the fish skin acellular dermal matrix (ADM) has recently been introduced into the family of biological materials for the treatment of wounds. Hitherto, these products have been produced from the organs of livestock. A noninferiority test was used to compare the effect of fish skin ADM against porcine small-intestine submucosa extracellular matrix in the healing of 162 full-thickness 4-mm wounds on the forearm of 81 volunteers. The fish skin product was noninferior at the primary end point, healing at 28 days. Furthermore, the wounds treated with fish skin acellular matrix healed significantly faster. These results might give the fish skin ADM an advantage because of its environmental neutrality when compared with livestock-derived products. The study results on these acute full-thickness wounds might apply for diabetic foot ulcers and other chronic full-thickness wounds, and the shorter healing time for the fish skin–treated group could influence treatment decisions. To test the autoimmune reactivity of the fish skin, the participants were tested with the following ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) tests: RF, ANA, ENA, anti ds-DNA, ANCA, anti-CCP, and anticollagen I and II. These showed no reactivity. The results demonstrate the claims of safety and efficacy of fish skin ADM for wound care.
Raising the Bar for Hispanic Serving Institutions
Authors: Contreras Frances , Contreras Gilbert J.
Published: March 2015

Hispanic serving institutions (HSIs) in California have the potential to play a key role in raising Latino college completion rates. However, while HSIs provide access to higher education for Latinos, student success, persistence, and completion rates remain low. This study utilized the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and the California Community College Data Mart to examine student outcomes at 2-year and 4-year HSIs in California. Among the key findings, the majority of HSIs show lower college completion rates between Latino students and their peers despite promising persistence rates and college units earned. The findings suggest that traditional models of success may be less relevant for Latino students in predicting college success and 4-year degree completion. Finally, this study introduces new approaches for HSIs to consider in their data collection, reporting, and analytical processes to better serve Latino students and increase college success and completion.
Latinas/os in Community College Developmental Education
Authors: Acevedo-Gil Nancy , Santos Ryan E. , Alonso LLuliana , Solorzano Daniel G.
Published: March 2015

This qualitative study examines the experiences of Latinas/os in community college English and math developmental education courses. Critical race theory in education and the theory of validation serve as guiding frameworks. The authors find that institutional agents provide academic validation by emphasizing high expectations, focusing on social identities, and improving academic skills. The authors conclude by conceptualizing a critical race validating pedagogy to implement among students who place in community college developmental education courses.
Antimicrobial Efficacy of a Historical High-Frequency Plasma Apparatus in Comparison With 2 Modern, Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Devices
Authors: Daeschlein Georg , Napp Matthias , von Podewils Sebastian , Scholz Sebastian , Arnold Andreas , Emmert Steffen , Haase Hermann , Napp Judith , Spitzmueller Romy , Gümbel Denis , Jünger Michael
Published: March 2015

Background. Today, highly sophisticated devices deliver cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) with a multitude of bioactive properties, opening the window to a new medical field: plasma medicine. Different techniques to create the optimal plasma device for different medical indications are currently being explored. However, even a 100 years ago, CAPP was briefly used in the related form of high-frequency therapy. The objective of our study was to compare historic with modern techniques regarding antimicrobial efficacy. Methods. First, 26 different clinical isolates of relevant wound pathogens were treated in vitro with a historic violet wand (VW) and 2 modern plasma sources (kINPen 09 and dielectric barrier discharge [DBD]) and the obtained inhibition areas (IAs) were compared. Second, a biofilm model was used to compare biofilm inactivation by VW, DBD, ethanol, and polyhexanide treatment. Results. DBD with the largest electrode produced the largest IAs. VW showed results similar to 2 different modes of the kINPen 09. IAs of VW were enlargeable by attaching a larger electrode. Against biofilms, VW was less effective than DBD but more effective than ethanol 70% and polyhexanide. Conclusion. The proven antimicrobial efficacy of VW may encourage the development of new, potent plasma devices based on the very simple and inexpensive technique of the historic high-frequency apparatus.
Exploring the Use of Special Housing Units by Men Released From New York Correctional Facilities
Authors: Valera Pamela , Kates-Benman Cheryl L.
Published: March 2015

This small, mixed-methods study sought to understand the use of special housing units among formerly incarcerated men. In the present study, 110 participants were placed in solitary confinement, ranging from ≤30 days to 20 years, with a mean of 2 years ( SD = 2.55). These men ranged in age from 35 to 67 years, with a mean age of 46 years. Years of incarceration ranged from less than 30 days to 34 years; the mean number of years incarcerated was 4 ( SD = 6.39). Of the 110 participants, qualitative interviews were conducted with 30 men to explore their experiences during time spent in solitary. The qualitative themes that emerged from the study were getting special housing units might be used for punishment, getting used to solitary, and getting solitary might mean peace of mind. Personalized reentry plans for men placed in special housing units facilities are urgently needed.
Schooling’s ‘contribution’ to contemporary violent conflict: Review of theoretical ideas and case studies in the field of education and conflict
Authors: Matsumoto Mitsuko
Published: March 2015

Some argue that the field of study of ‘education and conflict’ has yet to be solidified since its emergence in the 1990s, partly due to the weak theory base. This article reviews the literature on the ‘contribution’ of schooling in contemporary violent conflict, via three strands of theoretical ideas, to demonstrate the validities and limitations of the current theoretical ideas available in the field. The article shows that the literature is skewed toward cases of ethnic conflicts and limited to theoretical ideas that fail to explain the complexities of contemporary conflicts captured by the case studies. It also shows the still insufficient engagement of the literature in the field with the dynamics and the root causes of contemporary conflict that have been demonstrated by scholars across social sciences.
The Genetics of Loneliness
Authors: Goossens Luc , van Roekel Eeske , Verhagen Maaike , Cacioppo John T. , Cacioppo Stephanie , Maes Marlies , Boomsma Dorret I.
Published: March 2015

As a complex trait, loneliness is likely to be influenced by the interplay of numerous genetic and environmental factors. Studies in behavioral genetics indicate that loneliness has a sizable degree of heritability. Candidate-gene and gene-expression studies have pointed to several genes related to neurotransmitters and the immune system. The notion that these genes are related to loneliness is compatible with the basic tenets of the evolutionary theory of loneliness. Research on gene-environment interactions indicates that social-environmental factors (e.g., low social support) may have a more pronounced effect and lead to higher levels of loneliness if individuals carry the sensitive variant of these candidate genes. Currently, there is no extant research on loneliness based on genome-wide association studies, gene-environment-interaction studies, or studies in epigenetics. Such studies would allow researchers to identify networks of genes that contribute to loneliness. The contribution of genetics to loneliness research will become stronger when genome-wide genetics and epigenetics are integrated and used along with well-established methods in psychology to analyze the complex process of gene-environment interplay.
Beyond Good and Evil
Authors: Martin Alia , Olson Kristina R.
Published: March 2015

Researchers have proposed different accounts of the development of prosocial behavior in children. Some have argued that behaviors like helping and sharing must be learned and reinforced; others propose that children have an initially indiscriminate prosocial drive that declines and becomes more selective with age; and yet others contend that even children’s earliest prosocial behaviors share some strategic motivations with the prosociality of adults (e.g., reputation enhancement, social affiliation). We review empirical and observational research on children’s helping and sharing behaviors in the first 5 years of life, focusing on factors that have been found to influence these behaviors and on what these findings suggest about children’s prosocial motivations. We use the adult prosociality literature to highlight parallels and gaps in the literature on the development of prosocial behavior. We address how the evidence reviewed bears on central questions in the developmental psychology literature and propose that children’s prosocial behaviors may be driven by multiple motivations not easily captured by the idea of intrinsic or extrinsic motivation and may be selective quite early in life.
Loneliness Across the Life Span
Authors: Qualter Pamela , Vanhalst Janne , Harris Rebecca , Van Roekel Eeske , Lodder Gerine , Bangee Munirah , Maes Marlies , Verhagen Maaike
Published: March 2015

Most people have experienced loneliness and have been able to overcome it to reconnect with other people. In the current review, we provide a life-span perspective on one component of the evolutionary theory of loneliness—a component we refer to as the reaffiliation motive (RAM). The RAM represents the motivation to reconnect with others that is triggered by perceived social isolation. Loneliness is often a transient experience because the RAM leads to reconnection, but sometimes this motivation can fail, leading to prolonged loneliness. We review evidence of how aspects of the RAM change across development and how these aspects can fail for different reasons across the life span. We conclude with a discussion of age-appropriate interventions that may help to alleviate prolonged loneliness.
Learning Versus Performance
Authors: Soderstrom Nicholas C. , Bjork Robert A.
Published: March 2015

The primary goal of instruction should be to facilitate long-term learning—that is, to create relatively permanent changes in comprehension, understanding, and skills of the types that will support long-term retention and transfer. During the instruction or training process, however, what we can observe and measure is performance, which is often an unreliable index of whether the relatively long-term changes that constitute learning have taken place. The time-honored distinction between learning and performance dates back decades, spurred by early animal and motor-skills research that revealed that learning can occur even when no discernible changes in performance are observed. More recently, the converse has also been shown—specifically, that improvements in performance can fail to yield significant learning—and, in fact, that certain manipulations can have opposite effects on learning and performance. We review the extant literature in the motor- and verbal-learning domains that necessitates the distinction between learning and performance. In addition, we examine research in metacognition that suggests that people often mistakenly interpret their performance during acquisition as a reliable guide to long-term learning. These and other considerations suggest that the learning–performance distinction is critical and has vast practical and theoretical implications.
Perceiving Political Polarization in the United States
Authors: Westfall Jacob , Van Boven Leaf , Chambers John R. , Judd Charles M.
Published: March 2015

An important component of political polarization in the United States is the degree to which ordinary people perceive political polarization. We used over 30 years of national survey data from the American National Election Study to examine how the public perceives political polarization between the Democratic and Republican parties and between Democratic and Republican presidential candidates. People in the United States consistently overestimate polarization between the attitudes of Democrats and Republicans. People who perceive the greatest political polarization are most likely to report having been politically active, including voting, trying to sway others’ political beliefs, and making campaign contributions. We present a 3-factor framework to understand ordinary people’s perceptions of political polarization. We suggest that people perceive greater political polarization when they (a) estimate the attitudes of those categorized as being in the “opposing group”; (b) identify strongly as either Democrat or Republican; and (c) hold relatively extreme partisan attitudes—particularly when those partisan attitudes align with their own partisan political identity. These patterns of polarization perception occur among both Democrats and Republicans.
Loneliness
Authors: Cacioppo Stephanie , Grippo Angela J. , London Sarah , Goossens Luc , Cacioppo John T.
Published: March 2015

In 1978, when the Task Panel report to the U.S. President’s Commission on Mental Health emphasized the importance of improving health care and easing the pain of those suffering from emotional distress syndromes including loneliness, few anticipated that this issue would still need to be addressed 40 years later. In 2011, a meta-analysis on the efficacy of treatments to reduce loneliness identified a need for well-controlled randomized clinical trials focusing on the rehabilitation of maladaptive social cognition. We review assessments of loneliness and build on this meta-analysis to discuss the efficacy of various treatments for loneliness. With the advances made over the past 5 years in the identification of the psychobiological and pharmaceutical mechanisms associated with loneliness and maladaptive social cognition, there is increasing evidence for the potential efficacy of integrated interventions that combine (social) cognitive behavioral therapy with short-term adjunctive pharmacological treatments.
Remaining useful life estimation under degradation and shock damage
Authors: Wang Hai-Kun , Li Yan-Feng , Liu Yu , Yang Yuan-Jian , Huang Hong-Zhong
Published: March 2015

This article presents a prognostic approach to estimate remaining useful life for systems subjected to dependent competing failure processes. In the literature, shock damage is the damage to a soft failure process caused by a shock process. However, how the degradation process causes damage to a hard failure process has not been well studied. In this article, the degradation damage is modeled as the damage to a hard failure process from a degradation process. Degradation and shock processes, as “elemental processes,” result in failures via either a soft failure or a hard failure process, namely, “compound processes.” Instead of leading to a direct failure, elemental processes construct compound processes: the soft failure process consists of a degradation process and shock damage, and the hard failure process consists of a shock process and degradation damage. In this way, the damage in this article especially represents the effect of an elemental process on other compound processes. Furthermore, a particle filter is applied based on the established model for system statement estimation and on-line prediction of remaining useful life distribution with and without measurement noise in prognostics. Finally, a numerical example is presented with sensitivity analysis.