bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of a Small Molecule That Selectively Inhibits ERG-Positive Cancer Cell Growth
Authors: Mohamed Ahmed A. , Xavier Charles P. , Sukumar Gauthaman , Tan Shyh-Han , Ravindranath Lakshmi , Seraj Nishat , Kumar Vineet , Sreenath Taduru , McLeod David G. , Petrovics Gyorgy , Rosner Inger L. , Srivastava Meera , Strovel Jeffrey , Malhotra Sanjay V. , LaRonde Nicole A. , Dobi Albert , Dalgard Clifton L. , Srivastava Shiv
Published: April 2018

Oncogenic activation of the ETS-related gene (ERG) by recurrent gene fusions (predominantly TMPRSS2–ERG) is one of the most validated and prevalent genomic alterations present in early stages of prostate cancer. In this study, we screened small-molecule libraries for inhibition of ERG protein in TMPRSS2–ERG harboring VCaP prostate cancer cells using an In-Cell Western Assay with the highly specific ERG-MAb (9FY). Among a subset of promising candidates, 1-[2-Thiazolylazo]-2-naphthol (NSC139021, hereafter ERGi-USU) was identified and further characterized. ERGi-USU selectively inhibited growth of ERG-positive cancer cell lines with minimal effect on normal prostate or endothelial cells or ERG-negative tumor cell lines. Combination of ERGi-USU with enzalutamide showed additive effects in inhibiting growth of VCaP cells. A screen of kinases revealed that ERGi-USU directly bound the ribosomal biogenesis regulator atypical kinase RIOK2 and induced ribosomal stress signature. In vivo, ERGi-USU treatment inhibited growth of ERG-positive VCaP tumor xenografts with no apparent toxicity. Structure-activity–based derivatives of ERGi-USU recapitulated the ERG-selective activity of the parental compound. Taken together, ERGi-USU acts as a highly selective inhibitor for the growth of ERG-positive cancer cells and has potential for further development of ERG-targeted therapy of prostate cancer and other malignancies.

Significance: A highly selective small-molecule inhibitor of ERG, a critical driver of early stages of prostate cancer, will be imperative for prostate cancer therapy. Cancer Res; 78(13); 3659–71. ©2018 AACR.
Impact of Intensive Versus Standard Blood Pressure Management by Tertiles of Blood Pressure in SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial)
Authors: Shapiro Brian P. , Ambrosius Walter T. , Blackshear Joseph L. , Cushman William C. , Whelton Paul K. , Oparil Suzanne , Beddhu Srinivasan , Dwyer Jamie P. , Gren Lisa H. , Kostis William J. , Lioudis Michael , Pisoni Roberto , Rosendorff Clive , Haley William E.
Published: April 2018

Intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) control improved outcomes in SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial). Our objective was to expand on reported findings by analysis of baseline characteristics, primary outcomes, adverse events, follow-up blood pressure, and medication use differences by baseline SBP (tertile 1 [T1], <132; tertile 2 [T2], 132–145; and tertile 3 [T3], >145 mm Hg). Participants with higher baseline SBP tertile were more often women and older, had higher cardiovascular risk, and lower utilization of antihypertensive medications, statins, and aspirin. Achieved SBP in both treatment arms was slightly higher in T2 and T3 compared with T1 and fewer in the T3 groups achieved SBP targets compared with T1 and T2 groups. The primary composite outcome with intensive versus standard SBP treatment was reduced by 30% in T1, 23% in T2, and 17% in T3 with no evidence of an interaction (
P
=0.77). Event rates were lower in the intensive arm, and there was no evidence that this benefit differed by SBP tertile. There was no difference in the hazard for serious adverse events in any of the 3 tertiles. Medication utilization differed across the SBP tertiles at baseline with a lesser percentage of diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blocker drugs in the higher tertiles—a finding that reversed during the trial. The beneficial effects of intensive SBP lowering were not modified by the level of baseline SBP. Within the parameters of this population, these findings add support for clinicians to treat blood pressure to goal irrespective of baseline SBP.
Persistent Organochlorine Pollutants in Plasma, Blood Pressure, and Hypertension in a Longitudinal Study
Authors: Donat-Vargas Carolina , Åkesson Agneta , Tornevi Andreas , Wennberg Maria , Sommar Johan , Kiviranta Hannu , Rantakokko Panu , Bergdahl Ingvar A.
Published: April 2018

Persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) have shown to be involved in the atherosclerotic process and to cause endothelial cell dysfunction. To assess longitudinally whether plasma concentrations of different POPs were associated with blood pressure and risk of hypertension in middle-aged women and men. Study subjects were 850 participants in the VIP (Västerbotten Intervention Programme) with 2 blood samples and blood pressure measurements, 10 years apart, during 1990 to 2003 (baseline) and during 2000 to 2013 (follow-up). Dioxin-like and nondioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs, NDL-PCBs) and p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) were measured. Associations were assessed using generalized estimating equations. At baseline sampling 49% and at follow-up 64% had hypertension. DL-PCBs and DDE, but not NDL-PCBs or hexachlorobenzene, were associated with hypertension. Only the association for DL-PCBs remained statistically significant after lipid-standardization and adjustment for body mass index and total serum lipids. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratio of hypertension based on repeated measurements were 1.52 (95% confidence interval, 1.08–2.13) for DL-PCBs (third versus first tertile of lipid-standardized POPs). In stratified adjusted analyses, odds ratio for those born after 1950 increased to 3.99 (95% confidence interval, 2.15–7.43), whereas no association was observed among those born earlier. Based on repeated measurements, the accumulated exposure to DL-PCBs and DDE, although less clear for the latter, may disrupt the normal blood pressure levels and increase the odds of hypertension. Moreover, individuals experiencing early-life POP exposure may be at elevated risk of vascular POP effects.
A new species of Malenchus (Nematoda: Tylenchomorpha) with an updated phylogeny of the Tylenchidae
Authors: Qing Xue , Pereira Tiago J. , Slos Dieter , Couvreur Marjolein , Bert Wim
Published: April 2018

The family Tylenchidae is one of most abundant and diverse nematode groups found in soil habitats. In this study, a new species named Malenchus cylindricus sp. n. is described based on light and scanning electron microscopy and molecular data. The new species is characterised by elongate-cylindrical vulva-anus body shape and a narrow annulation. We updated the phylogeny of Tylenchidae by including molecular data for the rare genera Miculenchus and Tenunemellus and by improving the morphological characterisation of the genus Lelenchus. Additionally, we compared the effect of alignment methods on the tree topologies and branch support values. The results suggest that the position of subfamily Ecphyadophorinae within Tylenchidae needs to be further revised. Phylogenies inferred from different sequence-based alignments were relatively more similar (i.e., tree topology and branch support) to one another than to secondary structure-aided methods. Finally, conflicting branch support values can be reconciled by properly selecting the alignment method.
Nososticta impercepta sp. nov. (Odonata: Platycnemididae) from Timor, with a key to the Sundaic species
Authors: SEEHAUSEN MALTE , THEISCHINGER GÜNTHER
Published: April 2018

Nososticta impercepta sp. nov. is described and illustrated (holotype ♂: 28.vi.1911, Niki-Niki [South Central Timor Regency], Timor, Indonesia, C.B. Haniel leg., Coll. Ris, No. 2477; deposited at the Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Frankfurt am Main, Germany). An illustrated key for the species of Nososticta known from the Lesser Sunda Islands is given. The occurrence of N. selysi in Timor is considered to be doubtful. Nososticta emphyla is newly recorded from Sumbawa Island.
Palaearctic Osmia bees of the subgenus Hoplosmia (Megachilidae, Osmiini): biology, taxonomy and key to species
Authors: MÜLLER ANDREAS
Published: April 2018

Hoplosmia, a subgenus of the osmiine bee genus Osmia (Megachilidae), comprises 21 species restricted to the Palaearctic region. Analysis of female pollen loads and field observations indicate that probably all O. (Hoplosmia) species are specialized on Asteraceae except for one pollen generalist species, which exhibits a preference for the pollen of Cistaceae. Among the Asteraceae specialists, differences exist with respect to the three main Asteraceae subfamilies exploited for pollen, with some species exclusively visiting Carduoideae, others exploiting only Asteroideae and Cichorioideae and again others collecting pollen on Asteroideae, Carduoideae and Cichorioideae. All O. (Hoplosmia) species build their brood cells within preexisting cavities: several species exclusively nest in empty snail shells, few species use small cavities in rock and stones and the remaining species colonize linear cavities in dead wood and plant stems or nest in abandoned burrows of other bees and wasps. Chewed leaves serve as material to construct brood cell partitions and nest plug except for two species, which use mud as nest building material. The taxonomic revision of O. (Hoplosmia) revealed the existence of an undescribed species, O. centaureae spec. nov., which occurs in a small area that ranges from the Dead Sea over the Jordan Valley to northernmost Israel. Due to clear morphological gaps and widely disjunct distribution with the nominotypical subspecies, O. pinguis carbo (Zanden 1974) is elevated to species rank. Based on morphology and biology, three species groups are recognized within Hoplosmia. Identification keys for all O. (Hoplosmia) species are given including the hitherto unknown male or female sex of three species.
Modeling the Dynamic Vegetation–Climate System over China Using a Coupled Regional Model
Authors: Shi Ying , Yu Miao , Erfanian Amir , Wang Guiling
Published: April 2018

Using the Regional Climate Model (RegCM) coupled with the Community Land Model (CLM) including modules of carbon–nitrogen cycling (CN) and vegetation dynamics (DV), this study evaluates the performance of the model with different capacity of representing vegetation processes in simulating the present-day climate over China based on three 21-yr simulations driven with boundary conditions from the ERA-Interim reanalysis data during 1989–2009. For each plant functional type (PFT), the plant pheonology, density, and fractional coverage in RegCM-CLM are all prescribed as static from year to year; RegCM-CLM-CN prescribes static fractional coverage but predicts plant phenology and density, and RegCM-CLM-CN-DV predicts plant phenology, density, and fractional coverage. Compared against the observational data, all three simulations reproduce the present-day climate well, including the wind fields, temperature and precipitation seasonal cycles, extremes, and interannual variabilities. Relative to RegCM-CLM, both RegCM-CLM-CN and RegCM-CLM-CN-DV perform better in simulating the interannual variability of temperature and spatial distribution of mean precipitation, but produce larger biases in the mean temperature field. RegCM-CLM-CN overestimates leaf area index (LAI), which enhances the cold biases and alleviates the dry biases found in RegCM-CLM. RegCM-CLM-CN-DV underestimates vegetation cover and/or stature, and hence overestimates surface albedo, which enhances the wintertime cold and dry biases found in RegM-CLM. During summer, RegCM-CLM-CN-DV overestimates LAI in south and east China, which enhances the cold biases through increased evaporative cooling; in the west where evaporation is low, the albedo effect of the underestimated vegetation cover is still dominant, leading to enhanced cold biases relative to RegCM-CLM.
The Psychotic Part of the Personality: Bion’S Expeditions into Unmapped Mental Life
Authors: Bergstein Avner
Published: April 2018

The psychotic part of the personality is seen as a multidimensional mental realm that is fully comprehensible only through intuition and tolerance of approximations, transience, and the notion of infinity. It is suggested that a major differentiating factor between the psychotic and nonpsychotic parts of the personality is the capacity to tolerate the infinite complexity of the human mind. With the use of mathematical concepts, Bion tries to describe the state of mind required of the analyst who endeavors to tread on psychotic territories of the personality. Bion is in effect trying to describe the intensity, violence, and fortitude of the transformation of the emotional experience generated by the psychotic as opposed to the nonpsychotic part of personality. Viewed from this vertex, transference is the path by which the unrepressed and unrepresentable unconscious can evolve and express itself. It is the function by which the individual can live through for the first time aspects of his mental life that have never been experienced. This is illustrated with a number of clinical vignettes highlighting different aspects of our capacity to get in touch with this nonsensuous realm of the psychoanalytic encounter.
Colecalciferol Initiation Post Minimal Trauma Fracture
Authors: Nguyen Van T. , Etty-Leal Mary G. , Hua Jean T.
Published: April 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of patients admitted to a major tertiary teaching hospital in Australia aged 50 years and older with a confirmed neck of femur or vertebral minimal trauma fracture, who are commenced on colecalciferol supplementation by discharge, and to describe the doses prescribed. Methods: A subanalysis of a retrospective audit of electronic medical files for patients admitted with a minimal trauma fracture of the hip or vertebra between January 1, 2016, and June 30, 2016, was conducted. Results: A total of 406 patients were screened and 64 patients were included in the audit. In this subanalysis of these 64 patients eligible for inclusion, 38 were not on any vitamin or mineral supplementation at admission. Of these, 26 patients (68.4%) had their serum colecalciferol levels measured, and 21 patients (55.2%) overall were initiated on colecalciferol. Conclusion: Over half of patients with a minimal trauma fracture were commenced on colecalciferol therapy, but a noteworthy proportion of patients remain untreated. Patients with colecalciferol levels are more likely to be initiated on therapy compared with those of whom levels were not taken during admission. This is a missed opportunity for intervention that may place patients at a higher risk of subsequent fracture; therefore, effective strategies should be implemented to address this treatment gap in the future.
Exploring the self-care practice of social workers in Slovakia: How do they fare?
Authors: Miller J Jay , Poklembova Zuzana , Grise-Owens Erlene , Bowman Abagail
Published: April 2018

Increasingly, social workers recognize the importance of self-care to practice. However, research examining self-care among social workers is nominal. Of particular paucity are works that explore self-care in international contexts. This exploratory study examined self-care among social workers ( N = 200) in Slovakia. Findings indicate that participants engaged in moderate levels of self-care. Moreover, data indicated significant differences in self-care by health status, and number of weekly hours worked was a significant predictor of self-care. After a review of literature, this article explicates findings, identifies discussion points, and concludes by identifying implications for social work education, research, and practice.
Sex, Race, and Place
Authors: Boggess Lyndsay N. , Powers Ráchael A. , Chamberlain Alyssa W.
Published: April 2018

Objectives:

We draw upon theories of social disorganization, strain, and subculture of violence to examine how sex and race/ethnicity intersect to inform nonlethal violent offending at the macrolevel.

Methods:

Using neighborhood-level incidents, we examine (1) the structural correlates of male and female nonlethal violence and (2) whether ecological conditions have variable impacts on the prevalence of White, Black, and Latino male and female offenses above and beyond differential exposure to disadvantage. We use multivariate negative binomial regression within a structural equation modeling framework which allows for the examination of the same set of indicator variables on more than one dependent variable simultaneously while accounting for covariance between the dependent variables.

Results:

We find few significant differences in the salience of disadvantage on female and male violence across race and ethnicity although some differences emerge for White men and women. Structural factors are largely sex invariant within race and ethnicity.

Conclusions:

Despite expectations that disadvantage would have differential effects across sex and race/ethnicity, we uncover only minor differences. This suggests that structural effects are more invariant than variant across subgroups and highlights the importance of investigating both similarities and differences when examining neighborhood structure, intersectionality, and criminal behavior.
Engaging diverse stakeholders to strengthen policy
Authors: Stosich Elizabeth Leisy , Bae Soung
Published: April 2018

The Every Student Succeeds Act gives states greater flexibility in designing educational policy, but questions remain about whether and how states will use this opportunity to design truly innovative new policies to support higher levels of student learning. The authors describe how educational leaders in four states — California, Iowa, New Hampshire, and Vermont — worked collaboratively with diverse stakeholders to design ambitious and forward-looking educational policies prior to the passage of ESSA. Policy makers in all four states described engaging in an extensive process of stakeholder engagement, which influenced policy design and fostered support for implementation.
The opt-out movement and the power of parents
Authors: Kirylo James D.
Published: April 2018

Largely led by parents of school-age children from around the country, the opt-out movement has gained momentum in resisting the overuse of standardized testing. The author, a teacher educator, former K-12 teacher, and parent, argues that the opt-out movement is raising awareness regarding standardized testing and opening the door toward policy changes.
Big money and its influence on K-12 education: An interview with Sarah Reckhow
Authors: Heller Rafael
Published: April 2018

Kappan’s editor talks with Michigan State University’s Sarah Reckhow about her research into the ways wealthy private philanthropies have influenced K-12 education in recent years. As Reckhow explains, not only have Gates, Broad, Walton, and other big foundations spent unprecedented amounts of money to support their favored reform strategies — such as expanding the charter school sector, raising academic standards, and evaluating teachers’ effectiveness — but they’ve maximized their influence by coordinating their messages, funneling their money to specific states and districts, pushing for changes in state and federal policy, and (most recently) contributing to local school board candidates.
Gearing up for FAST grading and reporting
Authors: O’Connor Ken , Jung Lee Ann , Reeves Douglas
Published: April 2018

The authors posit that the traditional grading system involving points and percentages is not the best way to prepare students to be the self-directed, independent learners they need to be. A better system would produce grades that are FAST (fair, accurate, specific, timely). To bring about these changes, school leaders need not create full agreement about new models but should, instead, create circumstances that make action more likely.
Comparing passenger flow and time schedule data to analyse High-Speed Railways and urban networks in China
Authors: Yang Haoran , Dijst Martin , Witte Patrick , van Ginkel Hans , Wang Jiao’e
Published: April 2018

China’s High-Speed Railways (HSR) network is the biggest in the world, transporting large numbers of passengers by high-speed trains through urban networks. Little is known about the analytical meaning of the use of two types of flow data, namely, time schedule (transportation mode flow) and passenger flow data, to characterise the configuration of urban networks regarding the potential spatial effects of HSR networks on urban networks. In this article, we compare HSR passenger flow data with time schedule data from 2013 in China within the same analytical framework. The findings show great differences in the strength of cities and links generated using the two different types of flow data. These differences can be explained largely by the socio-economic attributes of the cities involved, such as tertiary employment, GDP per capita, the cities’ topological properties (closeness centrality) in HSR networks and institutional factors (hub status), especially for the difference in link strength. The strength of first-tier cities in China with high socio-economic performance and the HSR links connecting core cites and major cities within respective regions tends to be underestimated when using time schedule flows compared with passenger flows. When analysing the spatial structure of HSR and urban networks by means of flows, it is important for urban geographers and transportation planners to consider the meaning of the different types of data with the analytical results.
Renovating the Refounding
Authors: Newswander Chad B. , Boden Daniel , Newswander Lynita K.
Published: April 2018

Manifestos are bold and declarative, often seeking to challenge contemporary norms. This was true of the Blacksburg Manifesto, which critically argued that the field of public administration was resting on an unstable foundation. Instead of merely serving the role of critic, the authors of the refounding project laid a new foundation that could house a critical aspect of government: administration. Despite their successes, their answers have become dated. The field has changed, requiring a renovation. In seeking to revise the Manifesto, we update the project to make it more relevant for 21st-century governing.
Uterine Paramesonephric Cysts in Sprague-Dawley Rats from National Toxicology Program Studies
Authors: Jackson-Humbles Daven N. , Seely John Curtis , Herbert Ronald A. , Malarkey David E. , McIntyre Barry S. , Foster Paul M. , Dixon Darlene
Published: April 2018

Congenital uterine wall cysts arising from paramesonephric (Müllerian) and mesonephric (Wolffian) ducts are typically incidental findings in most species. We used immunohistochemistry to characterize and determine the origin of uterine cysts in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats from multigeneration studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program. Subserosal uterine cysts were observed in 20 of the 2,400 SD rats evaluated in five studies, and 10 cysts were characterized for this study. Single cysts were unilocular, fluid-filled, and occurred throughout the uterus. Microscopically, all cysts had a well-developed smooth muscle wall, lined by flattened to cuboidal, sometimes ciliated, epithelium that stained intensely positive for cytokeratin 18 and paired box protein 8 (PAX8). Most cyst epithelia displayed weak to moderate positivity for progesterone receptor (PR) and/or estrogen receptor α (ER-α), as well as were negative for GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3). Cyst lumens contained basophilic flocculent material. The cysts appeared to be developmental anomalies arising from paramesonephric tissue based on positive PAX8 and ER-α and/or PR staining. Additionally, 70% of the cysts lacked GATA3 expression. Taken together, the subserosal uterine cysts observed in adult rats in these studies most likely arose from the paramesonephric duct.
Muslim women and gender based violence in India and the UK
Authors: Chantler Khatidja , Gangoli Geetanjali , Thiara Ravi K.
Published: April 2018

This article examines how the marginality of Muslim communities in India and the UK intersects with gender based violence (GBV) in Muslim communities. We briefly outline the socio-economic positioning of Muslims and then move on to (i) discuss communalism in India and radicalisation in the UK and (ii) consider personal laws in India and the call to Sharia law in the UK to elucidate the ways in which these wider policies, legislation and discourses impact on Muslim women experiencing GBV in both contexts. We conclude that there is a continuum between state responses and community responses, and personal and criminal law in entrenching GBV at a structural and interpersonal level in both India and the UK and that the current socio-political context further limits public spaces available to Muslim women to access support for GBV.
The effects of spiritual care on quality of life and spiritual well-being among patients with terminal illness: A systematic review
Authors: Chen Jingyi , Lin Yazhu , Yan Jie , Wu Yong , Hu Rong
Published: April 2018

Background:

Terminal illness not only causes physical suffering but also spiritual distress. Spiritual care has been widely implemented by healthcare professionals to assist patients coping with spiritual distress. However, the effects of spiritual care need to be clear.

Aim:

To evaluate the effects of spiritual care on quality of life and spiritual well-being among patients with terminal illness.

Design:

Systematic review according to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidance.

Data sources:

A comprehensive search was conducted in nine electronic databases from date of inception to May 2017. Hand searches of the bibliographies of relevant articles were also performed. The studies were independently reviewed by two investigators who scored them for methodological quality using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool.

Results:

No statistical pooling of outcomes was performed and a narrative summary was chosen to describe the included studies. A total of 19 studies with 1548 participants were identified in the systematic review, corresponding to seven kinds of interventions. The risk of bias for these studies were all rated as moderate. A majority of studies indicated that spiritual care had a potential beneficial effect on quality of life and spiritual well-being among patients with terminal illness.

Conclusion:

It is suggested that healthcare professionals integrate spiritual care with usual care in palliative care. When providing spiritual care, healthcare professionals should take into consideration patients’ spiritual needs, preference, and cultural background. More multicenter and disciplinary studies with rigorous designs are needed in the future.
Adaptation to Transition: Meaning of Menarche for Female Adolescents in South Korea
Authors: Kwon Jin-Sook , Park Sihyun
Published: April 2018

Menarche is one of the most important transitions for women. Perceptions of menarche play an important role in this transition process and appear to be influenced strongly by culture. The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of menarche among female adolescents in South Korea. Fifty-three female students’ essays and drawings representing their own perceptions of menarche were qualitatively analyzed. Five themes emerged from the data: something unfamiliar, lack of welcome, reaching maturity, pain and discomfort in my body, and changes in my daily life. When we quantitatively compared the themes, fifth-grade students and students who had not yet experienced menarche tended to focus more on the theme of reaching maturity, whereas students who had experienced menarche regardless of grade tended to focus on the theme of pain and discomfort in my body.
The Fair Process Effect in the Classroom: Reducing the Influence of Grades on Student Evaluations of Teachers
Authors: Tripp Thomas M. , Jiang Lixin , Olson Kristine , Graso Maja
Published: April 2018

Research findings tend to confirm anecdotal observations that instructors’ teaching evaluations are influenced by students’ grades, making some instructors feel pressured to reduce the academic rigor of their course in an attempt to get higher evaluations. To reduce this pressure, the current study tested whether distributive justice may explain the relationship between grades and student evaluation of teaching (SET) and how the fair process effect may moderate the relationship between distributive justice perceptions regarding grades and SET. Relying on the extant literature of procedural justice, we hypothesized that when students perceive no fair process that determines their grades, then: (a) the relationship between distributive justice perceptions and SET will be stronger and (b) the indirect effect of grades on SET via distributive justice perceptions will be stronger. Conversely, under conditions of strong fair process perceptions, these relationships will be attenuated. Using a survey of undergraduates’ perceptions of course fairness, we found support for our proposed hypotheses. We discuss the implications of our findings for higher education faculty.
Proverbs of Nonprofit Financial Management
Authors: Mitchell George E. , Calabrese Thad D.
Published: April 2018

Whereas the field of public administration has benefited from periods of critical reflection and reform aimed at reexamining the field’s traditional management paradigms, the related field of nonprofit management has generally lacked such an analogously explicit and sustained research program to reevaluate its own conventional wisdoms. Meanwhile, accumulated findings from the last several decades of nonprofit management research have problematized many traditional assumptions and practices in nonprofit management, specifically regarding the soundness of nomothetic management theory, the unintended negative consequences of certain management norms, and underlying assumptions about the nature and purpose of nonprofit management. This article critically reexamines four well-known “proverbs” of nonprofit financial management—minimize overhead, diversify revenues, be lean, and avoid debt—to demonstrate the need for a critical and reflective research program that takes stock and reconsiders the field’s foundational principles and assumptions. Implications are derived for scholars and practitioners, as well as for information intermediaries that evaluate nonprofits based on financial information.
Admittance control for physical human–robot interaction
Authors: Keemink Arvid QL , van der Kooij Herman , Stienen Arno HA
Published: April 2018

This paper presents an overview of admittance control as a method of physical interaction control between machines and humans. We present an admittance controller framework and elaborate control scheme that can be used for controller design and development. Within this framework, we analyze the influence of feed-forward control, post-sensor inertia compensation, force signal filtering, additional phase lead on the motion reference, internal robot flexibility, which also relates to series elastic control, motion loop bandwidth, and the addition of virtual damping on the stability, passivity, and performance of minimal inertia rendering admittance control. We present seven design guidelines for achieving high-performance admittance controlled devices that can render low inertia, while aspiring coupled stability and proper disturbance rejection.
Assessment of Properties of Lateritic Gravel with a View to Enhancing Sustainable Use: A Case Study
Authors: Otto Andrew , Tumwesige Robert , Endale Alemayehu Ayele
Published: April 2018

A number of authors have reported several properties of laterite that are not exhibited by other kinds of weathered tropical soils. Most of these properties are attributed to the presence of hydrated oxides of iron and aluminum. The combination of hydrated oxides is referred to as sesquioxides. It has been reported that the strength of soils that contain sesquioxides, such as laterite, increases due to development of self-cementation that occurs on repeated cycles of soaking and drying. The primary objective of this study was to explore the behavior of lateritic gravel under various conditions to develop methods for more beneficial and sustainable use. The scope of this study was a laboratory-based assessment of lateritic gravel obtained from a major source that supplies many construction sites in Kampala City, Uganda. The strength of the gravel was assessed on soaking after initial drying, after stabilization with lime, on drying after initial soaking, and after repeated cycles of soaking and drying. The results showed that for this particular lateritic gravel, the strength was highest when stabilized with lime. The strength development after cycles of soaking and drying was negligible; in fact, there was a reduction in strength. However, at moisture content below its optimum moisture content, the strength developed by the gravel was sufficient for use as base course or sub-base at various traffic levels provided certain measures are taken. Thus, repeated cycles of soaking and drying for this lateritic gravel may in fact be detrimental in the short term.
Factors Influencing the Prevalence of Animal Cruelty During Adolescence
Authors: Connor M. , Currie C. , Lawrence A. B.
Published: April 2018

Adolescents’ interactions with animals are of increasing interest and their beneficial developmental outcomes are well known. However, negative interactions such as perpetrating cruelty toward animals during childhood and adolescence have been related with child abuse, domestic violence, and later interpersonal violence. Cruelty toward animals by adolescents has been reported predominately in criminal and clinical samples, and links have been made between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence. However, studies often lack a clear definition of animal cruelty and the animal involved. The present study addresses methodological shortcomings by providing a clear definition of the cruelty acts and the animals involved and the time frame within which cruelty acts have been taken place. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of animal cruelty of 979 British adolescents (419 male, 497 female, Mage = 15.1 ± 1.57 years) by means of a survey questionnaire administered in school. Animal cruelty was investigated encompassing deliberate and nondeliberate cruelty acts, a clear definition of the target animals was included and a time frame was provided. Furthermore, acceptability of animal cruelty, engaging in antisocial behavior, and family affluence were investigated. Results show high reliabilities for the measures applied. Exploratory factor analysis reveals different types of animal cruelty. Gender differences were observed for deliberate and accidental cruelty acts, with boys reporting higher levels than girls. Younger adolescents reported higher accidental cruelty acts than older ones. Acceptance of animal cruelty played a significant role in predicting animal cruelty, together with antisocial behaviors and place of living. The present study shows for the first time the importance of distinguishing between different types of animal cruelty and defining the animals involved.
Surviving the Storm: Factors Determining Party Survival in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Deegan-Krause Kevin , Haughton Tim
Published: April 2018

This article is part of the special cluster titled Parties and Democratic Linkage in Post-Communist Europe, guest edited by Lori Thorlakson, and will be published in the August 2018 issue of EEPS

Political parties in Central and Eastern Europe come and go quite rapidly, giving the region a reputation for electoral chaos, but amid the change, some parties survive for many electoral cycles. A brief examination of the party systems in the region shows a high rate of party collapse but also indicates the robustness of certain parties in the face of crisis. Closer comparisons of the collapsed and surviving parties indicates a significant role for three factors: organization on the ground, a clear position on an enduring issue dimension, and ability to change party leadership. The finding is particularly important for explaining the dynamics of Central and East European party systems because the same characteristics that contribute to longevity are found in lower levels among new parties in the region. Only a small subset of new parties have made choices that would contribute to long-term survival, and such cases are largely confined to those with strong ties to previous long-surviving parties.
Effects of Dicloxacillin on Warfarin Dose in Patients With a Left Ventricular Assist Device
Authors: Buhlinger Kaitlyn M. , Hollis Ian B.
Published: April 2018

Patients with a durable, continuous flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) require anticoagulation with warfarin to prevent thromboembolic events. Driveline infections (DLIs) are a common CF-LVAD complication. A common pathogen implicated in DLI is oxacillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (OSSA), which is effectively treated by oral dicloxacillin. Previous published experiences have observed a significant drug interaction between dicloxacillin and warfarin resulting in decreased international normalized ratio (INR) and increased warfarin dosing requirements. We sought to analyze the effect of dicloxacillin on INR and warfarin dose when used for DLI in our CF-LVAD program. Five of 106 patients having received an CF-LVAD at our institution met the inclusion criteria for this case series. These patients required a mean 51.8% (standard deviation of 29.8%) weekly warfarin dose increase to restore INR to the therapeutic range after the addition of dicloxacillin. Three of the five patients subsequently had their dicloxacillin discontinued, with a mean decrease in weekly warfarin dose of 30.6% (standard deviation of 19.1%). In our experience, when coalesced with prior published reports, an empiric warfarin dose increase of 25% to 33% is reasonable upon initiation of dicloxacillin and an empiric warfarin dose reduction of 10% to 15% is recommended upon discontinuation of dicloxacillin. Close INR follow-up is warranted during and after dicloxacillin treatment.
Workplace Variation in Fatherhood Wage Premiums: Do Formalization and Performance Pay Matter?
Authors: Fuller Sylvia , Cooke Lynn Prince
Published: April 2018

Parenthood contributes substantially to broader gender wage inequality. The intensification of gendered divisions of paid and unpaid work after the birth of a child create unequal constraints and expectations such that, all else equal, mothers earn less than childless women, but fathers earn a wage premium. The fatherhood wage premium, however, varies substantially among men. Analyses of linked workplace-employee data from Canada reveal how organizational context conditions educational, occupational and family-status variation in fatherhood premiums. More formal employment relations (collective bargaining and human resource departments) reduce both overall fatherhood premiums and group differences in them, while performance pay systems (merit and incentive pay) have mixed effects. Shifting entrenched gendered divisions of household labour is thus not the only pathway to minimizing fathers’ wage advantage.
An Enriched Environment Ameliorates Oxidative Stress and Olfactory Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease with α-Synucleinopathy
Authors: Wi Soohyun , Lee Jang Woo , Kim MinGi , Park Chang-Hwan , Cho Sung-Rae
Published: April 2018

Parkinson’s disease (PD) features nonmotor symptoms such as olfactory dysfunction referred to as hyposmia, an initial sign of disease progression. Metabolic dysfunction can contribute to neurodegenerative diseases, and various xenobiotics and endogenous compounds are also involved in the pathogenesis of PD. Although aerobic exercise was found to induce preservation or improvement in olfactory function in PD patients in a recent study, the exact underlying mechanism for this effect is not clear. We aimed to investigate the influence of an enriched environment (EE) on olfactory dysfunction especially via metabolic pathways related to detoxification enzymes. Eight-month-old transgenic (Tg) PD mice that overexpress human A53T α-synuclein (α-syn) were randomly allocated to an EE or standard conditions for 2 mo. The buried food test showed that EE group had significantly improved olfactory function compared to the control group. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time quantitative PCR showed that expression of the detoxification enzymes–– cytochrome P450 family 1 subfamily A member 2, paraoxonase 1, alcohol dehydrogenase 1, UDP glucuronosyltransferase family 2 member A1 complex locus, aldehyde oxidase homolog 2, and aldehyde glutathione peroxidase 6––was significantly increased in the olfactory bulb (OB) of the PD control group, but these enzymes were normalized in the EE group. Immunohistochemical staining of the OB showed that oxidative stress and nitrated α-syn were significantly increased in the control group but decreased in the EE group. In conclusion, we suggest that exposure to an EE decreases both oxidative stress and nitrated α-syn, resulting in normalized detoxification enzymes and amelioration of olfactory dysfunction.
Global near infrared spectroscopy models to predict wood chemical properties of Eucalyptus
Authors: Hodge Gary R , Acosta Juan Jose , Unda Faride , Woodbridge William C , Mansfield Shawn D
Published: April 2018

Global near infrared spectroscopy models (multiple-species, multiple-sites) were developed to predict chemical properties of Eucalyptus wood. The sample data set included 186 samples from four data sets (five species) originating from six countries: Eucalyptus urophylla from Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, and South Africa; Eucalyptus dunnii from Uruguay; Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus nitens from Chile; and Eucalyptus grandis from Colombia. The 186 samples were all preselected from larger collections of 400 to nearly 1800 samples to represent the range of chemical and spectral variation in each data set. The chemical traits modeled were total lignin, insoluble lignin, soluble lignin, syringyl–guaiacyl ratio (S/G), glucose, xylose, galactose, arabinose, and mannose. Single-species models and global multiple-species models were developed for each chemical constituent. For the global model, the R2cv for total lignin, insoluble lignin and syringyl–guaiacyl ratio were 0.95, 0.96, and 0.86, respectively. An alternate expression of the syringyl–guaiacyl relationship (S/(S+G)) resulted in better near infrared calibrations (e.g., for the global model, R2cv = 0.95). The global models for sugar content were also very good, but were slightly inferior to those for the lignin related traits, with R2cv = 0.74 for glucose, 0.89 for xylose, and from 0.72 to 0.91 for the minor sugars. To investigate the utility of the global models to predict chemical traits for species not included in the calibration, three-species calibrations were used to predict each trait in a fourth species data set. The prediction fit statistics ranged from excellent to poor depending on the species and trait, but in general the predictions would be at least moderately useful for most species-trait combinations. For some species-trait combinations with poor initial predictions from the global model, the inclusion of 10 samples from the “new” species into the calibration global model improved the fit statistics substantially. The global calibrations will be useful in tree breeding programs to rank species, families, and clones for important wood chemical traits.
Changing Nature of the Value Premium in the Indian Stock Market
Authors: Harshita  , Singh Shveta , Yadav Surendra S.
Published: April 2018

The article aims to test whether the nature of value premium has changed over time in the Indian stock market. Contrary to the existing literature on the Indian market, the analysis suggests that post the global crisis, the value premium has nearly ceased to exist. Using price-to-book (P/B) ratio as the proxy, the findings are robust to employing capital asset pricing model (CAPM) and the Fama and French three-factor (FF) model, and five alternative measures of returns: equal-weighted (whole and trimmed sample) and value-weighted (whole, trimmed and winsorized sample). Chow test suggests that the model parameters have changed over time. While the decrease in premium has been discovered for other countries, there was no such study in the Indian context. This is the first attempt of its kind. The findings have important implications for academia and investors.
India–Africa Oil Partnership in the New Millennium
Authors: Gurjar Sankalp
Published: April 2018

The nature of relationship between India–Africa has been simultaneously asymmetric as well as complementary. It is reflected in Indo-African oil relationship. In this oil relationship, India and Africa gain and loose at different period of time depending on the global oil prices. Higher oil prices put India at a disadvantageous position, whereas lower oil prices are not beneficial for oil producing and exporting states of Africa. Over the years, India has built oil ties, among others, with Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan and Angola. By and large, Indo-African oil relations have witnessed a steady progress and gradual expansion in the new millennium. India’s quest for oil in Africa faces difficult challenge from China. In all likelihood, India’s rising oil demand and quest to diversify oil basket, geographically, will further strengthen the India–Africa oil relations.
Book review: Parthiban Muniandy. Politics of the Temporary: An Ethnography of Migrant Life in Urban Malaysia
Authors: Singh Neeta S.
Published: April 2018

Parthiban Muniandy. Politics of the Temporary: An Ethnography of Migrant Life in Urban Malaysia. Petaling Jaya, Malaysia: Strategic Information and Research Development Centre. ISBN: 978-967-0630-48-9
Who Fills Institutional Voids? Entrepreneurs’ Utilization of Political and Family Ties in Emerging Markets
Authors: Ge Jianhua , Carney Michael , Kellermanns Franz
Published: April 2018

How do entrepreneurs fill institutional voids that prevail in emerging markets? By incorporating insights from both the political and family embeddedness perspectives, we argue that both political ties and family ties can compensate for gaps in the institutional infrastructure of emerging markets. Specifically, we propose and examine the partial substitutability of family ties for political ties as a means of filling institutional voids. Our empirical work based on Chinese private enterprises strongly supports this argument. We also find that the effective utilization of family ties is contingent on both family members’ motivation (willingness to use resources for the firm) and entrepreneurs’ mobilization (authority in the family to mobilize family members). This study bridges the literature on political ties and family ties to understand their respective costs and benefits and therefore advances our understanding of entrepreneurs’ networking strategies in emerging markets.
Fear of Recurrence in Turkish Breast Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Şengün İnan Figen , Üstün Besti
Published: April 2018

Purpose: Fear of recurrence (FOR) of cancer is a distressing symptom and can negatively affect breast cancer survivors’ quality of life and psychological well-being. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore Turkish breast cancer survivors’ experiences related to FOR. Design: The data were collected through semistructured interviews, which were conducted with 12 breast cancer survivors. Results: The data were categorized into four themes: the quality of fear, triggers, effects on life, and coping. FOR survivors’ lives in multiple aspects, and the women found it difficult to manage their fear. Implications: Nurses should be aware of FOR in survivors during follow-up care. In addition, it is essential to consider the impact of FOR on life, and survivors should be referred to appropriate resources and support services.
Measuring Teachers’ Intervention Fidelity
Authors: King-Sears Margaret E. , Walker Jennifer D. , Barry Colleen
Published: April 2018

School personnel implementing interventions new or unfamiliar to them need to know how to implement the intervention with fidelity. A five-step process is described that can be used to design and implement fidelity procedures with teachers using new or unfamiliar interventions.