bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synflorescence morphology of grasses with reduced terminal inflorescences: a case study of Jouvea (Cynodonteae, Chloridoideae, Poaceae)
Authors: MUCHUT SEBASTIÁN E. , REUTEMANN ANDREA G. , UBERTI-MANASSERO NORA G. , VEGETTI ABELARDO C.
Published: April 2017

Jouvea is a dioecious genus of grasses with two species. Molecular phylogenetic analyses place it in tribe Cynodonteae, closely related to subtribes Hilariinae and Scleropogoninae, and the genera Allolepis and Sohnsia. The staminate inflorescence in Jouvea is an ordinary grass spike of spikelets, but the pistillate inflorescence is represented by a single spikelet which lacks glumes, has a thick and cylindrical rachilla, lemmas forming a tube that enclose the palea and pistil, stigmas protruding from an apical pore of this tube, and does not have lodicules. Within Cynodonteae, inflorescences reduced to a single spikelet also occur in subtribe Monanthochloinae, in which the small number of flowers of the terminal inflorescence is compensated by an increase in the number of lateral floriferous shoots. We here describe the floriferous shoot system (synflorescence) of Jouvea and compare it to other cynodonteae grasses with reduced inflorescences. Jouvea species display a high number of lateral shoots (trophotagma enrichment axes) growing from the medial and distal zones of the synflorescences. These shoots have prophyllar origins and form clusters of lateral inflorescences. The elevated number of trophotagma enrichment axes of Jouvea may be associated with the extreme reduction in the pistillate terminal inflorescence. In addition, the increase in number of spikelets by the development of prophyllar branches is a unique strategy within tribe Cynodonteae.
Stipa ×fallax (Poaceae: Pooideae: Stipeae), a new natural hybrid from Tajikistan, and a new combination in Stipa drobovii
Authors: NOBIS MARCIN , NOWAK ARKADIUSZ , NOBIS AGNIESZKA , NOWAK SYLWIA , ŻABICKA JUSTYNA , ŻABICKI PIOTR
Published: April 2017

Stipa ×fallax nothosp. nov. (Poaceae), from western Pamir Alai Mts (Tajikistan), is described and illustrated. Field observation, numerical analyses of morphology, and pollen grain viability data show that it originated from hybridization between S. drobovii and S. macroglossa subsp. macroglossa, species representing sections Smirnovia and Stipa, respectively. Stipa ×fallax is morphologically close to S. ×alaica and S. ×hissarica, but is distinguished by its shortly pilose lower part of the awn and densely pubescent leaves. Characters distinguishing S. ×fallax from its parental species as well as similar hybrid taxa in section Smirnovia that also grow in Central Asia are presented. The micromorphology of lemmas and leaves of S. ×fallax and its parental species was examined by scanning electron microscopy. We also propose the new combination Stipa drobovii var. iskanderkulica (Tzvelev) M.Nobis & A.Nowak.
The Palaearctic types of Chrysididae (Insecta, Hymenoptera) deposited in the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest
Authors: ROSA PAOLO , VAS ZOLTÁN , XU ZAI-FU
Published: April 2017

A critical and annotated catalogue of the Palaearctic types of chrysidid species, subspecies and varieties deposited in the Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum is given. The lectotype of Hedychrum luculentum Förster, 1853 and the neotype of Chrysis amasina Mocsáry, 1889 are designated. Six new synonyms are proposed: Chrysis varicornis Spinola, 1838 = Chrysis cyanocoelia Mocsáry, 1889, syn. nov.; Hedychridium adventicium Zimmermann, 1962 = Hedychridium jazygicum Móczár, 1964, syn. nov.; Hedychrum cribratum Mocsáry, 1909 = Hedychrum punctigerum Mocsáry, 1909, syn. nov.; Holopyga generosa (Förster, 1853) = Holopyga hortobagyensis Móczár, 1984, syn. nov.; Holopyga turkestanica Mocsáry, 1909 = Holopyga crassepuncta Semenov, 1954, syn. nov.; and Pseudomalus cupratus (Mocsáry, 1889) = Pseudomalus meridianus Strumia, 1996, syn. nov.. One species is revalidated: Holopyga turkestanica Mocsáry, 1909, stat. resurr.. New status is proposed for: Pseudomalus cupratus (Mocsáry, 1889), stat. nov.. New combination is proposed for: Hedychridium amoenum (Mocsáry, 1911), comb. nov.. The reversal of priority is proposed for: Ellampus biaccinctus du Buysson, 1893, nomen protectum, and E. auratus var. gasperinii Mocsáry, 1889, nomen oblitum. New name is proposed for: Chrysis fusca Rosa, nom. nov. pro Chrysis ignita var. infuscata Mocsáry, 1889 nec Brullé, 1846. Pictures of eighty-nine type specimens are also provided.
Freshwater fishes of northern Australia
Authors: PUSEY BRADLEY J. , BURROWS DAMIEN W. , KENNARD MARK J. , PERNA COLTON N. , UNMACK PETER J. , ALLSOP QUENTIN , HAMMER MICHAEL P.
Published: April 2017

Northern Australia is biologically diverse and of national and global conservation signicance. Its ancient landscape contains the world’s largest area of savannah ecosystem in good ecological condition and its rivers are largely free-flowing. Agriculture, previously confined largely to open range-land grazing, is set to expand in extent and to focus much more on irrigated cropping and horticulture. Demands on the water resources of the region are thus, inevitably increasing. Reliable information is required to guide and inform development and help plan for a sustainable future for the region which includes healthy rivers that contain diverse fish assemblages. Based on a range of information sources, including the outcomes of recent and extensive new field surveys, this study maps the distribution of the 111 freshwater fishes (excluding elasmobranches) and 42 estuarine vagrants recorded from freshwater habitats of the region. We classify the habitat use and migratory biology of each species. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the diversity and distribution of fishes of the region within a standardised nomenclatural framework. In addition, we summarise the outcomes of recent phylogeographic and phylogenetic research using molecular technologies to identify where issues of taxonomy may need further scrutiny. The study provides an informed basis for further research on the spatial arrangement of biodiversity and its relationship to environmental factors (e.g. hydrology), conservation planning and phylogentic variation within individual taxa.
Pyriform Aperture Stenosis: A Novel Approach to Stenting
Authors: Smith Aaron , Kull Amanda , Thottam Prasad , Sheyn Anthony
Published: April 2017

Objectives:

Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis (CNPAS) is one of several causes of neonatal respiratory distress. Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis can be diagnosed by clinical presentation and evaluated by computed tomography for degree of stenosis. Surgical management of indicated cases involves drillout of pyriform aperture with placement of stents. The following case presents a novel approach to choice of stent in these patients.

Case Presentation:

We report the case of an infant diagnosed with CNPAS who underwent surgical correction at 9 days of life, with placement of mometasone fuorate stents.

Discussion:

Although relatively uncommon, CNPAS is a type of airway obstruction that causes cyclic cyanosis and failure to thrive in affected infants. If uncorrected medically, surgical interventions can successfully restore patency of the nasal cavity. While traditional stents can result in undesired complications, the use of mometasone fuorate stents presents an alternative without the typically associated risks.

Conclusion:

The use of mometasone fuorate stents may be a helpful option for otolaryngologists looking for the potential to avoid restenosis, plugging, and nasal alar necrosis in patients undergoing surgical treatment of CNPAS.
Preoperative Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy Improves the Surgical Approach to Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Huntley Colin , Chou David , Doghramji Karl , Boon Maurits
Published: April 2017

Objective:

Drug induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) allows for preoperative evaluation of the specific site and character of upper airway obstruction in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We aim to assess the impact DISE has on customizing the surgical plan and evaluate its role in surgical success.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing surgery for OSA. We compared those patients undergoing preoperative DISE to those that did not to assess procedures performed and surgical outcomes.

Results:

We found 87 patients undergoing surgery for OSA who had postoperative polysomnogram results. Of the group undergoing preoperative DISE, 8% had multilevel surgery. This compared to 59.5% in those not undergoing DISE ( p = .0004). The success rate of patients who had preoperative DISE was 86% compared to 51.4% in those who did not have preoperative DISE ( p < .001). We found no difference in age, gender, preoperative apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen nadir, Epworth sleepiness scale score (ESS), body mass index (BMI) and postoperative oxygen nadir, ESS, or BMI in the DISE and no DISE cohorts.

Conclusion:

The addition of DISE to our preoperative workup has contributed to a decreased rate of multilevel surgery and increased rate of surgical success through identification of the individual patient’s OSA architecture and customization of the surgical plan.
African American Obese Women’s Perspectives Regarding Barriers to the Utilization of Bariatric Surgery: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Moore Darren D. , Chandler Taylor , Holland T. Janay , Davis-Smith Y. Monique , King Ericka N.
Published: April 2017

The purpose of the study was to explore how obese African American women conceptualize and construct meaning around obesity and bariatric surgery. The authors specifically focused on gaining insight regarding present barriers which may prevent African American women from considering weight loss surgery as a possible option. Utilizing phenomenology as methodological approach, 14 African American obese women, based on body mass index, participated in 30- to 60-minute semistructured interviews regarding their perceptions of bariatric surgery as a treatment intervention for weight reduction. In the study, three themes emerged, which included (a) the meaning of obesity and bariatric surgery, (b) issues in communication, and (c) barriers to bariatric surgery utilization. In the article, the authors discuss clinical implications for African American women and for the medical community, as well as offer recommendations for future research.
Effect of side die pressure and adaptive die temperature control in press forming of U-beam using carbon fiber-reinforced PA6 sheets
Authors: Tatsuno Daichi , Yoneyama Takeshi , Kawamoto Kiichirou , Okamoto Masayuki
Published: April 2017

In this study, the die cushion of a mechanical servo press was innovatively used to apply a side pressure to the die during the press forming of a U-beam from stampable sheets, and the die temperature was controlled by a heat-and-cool oil system. The side die pressure, which was independent of the press pressure, was applied through the vertical sides of the U-beam by using the servo die cushion to slide the side wall of the die. The die temperature control system was used to heat the die slightly below the melting point of the resin in the stampable sheets, maintain the temperature of the sheets at the beginning of the press forming, and rapidly cool the sheets immediately after the forming. As targeted, the temperature control enabled sufficient deformation of the sheets, adequate removal of voids, and shortening of the processing time. The servo die cushion of the press machine was also confirmed to be effective for applying the side die pressure during the forming.
Are We Preparing or Training Teachers? Developing Professional Judgment in and Beyond Teacher Preparation Programs
Authors: Scales Roya Q. , Wolsey Thomas DeVere , Lenski Susan , Smetana Linda , Yoder Karen K. , Dobler Elizabeth , Grisham Dana L. , Young Janet R.
Published: April 2017

This three phase longitudinal multiple-case study, framed by positioning theory, investigated how four novice teachers learned to use professional judgment in their literacy instruction. Data sources from coursework, student teaching, and novice teaching were included. Interviews, observations, researchers’ observational notes, and school and classroom demographics were compiled and analyzed to create case reports. Findings indicated while they differed in their use of professional judgment as novice teachers, participants learned this skill in student teaching rather than in coursework, which caused us to question whether teacher preparation programs are preparing teachers to use professional judgment or training them for technical compliance.
Persistent Activist Communication in Occupy Gezi
Authors: Mercea Dan , Karatas Duygu , Bastos Marco T
Published: April 2017

We revisit the notion of activist persistence against the backdrop of protest communication on Twitter. We take an event-based approach and examine Occupy Gezi, a series of protests that occurred in Turkey in the early summer of 2013. By cross-referencing survey data with longitudinal Twitter data and in-depth interviews, we investigate the relationship between biographical availability, relational and organisational ties, and social and personal costs to persistent activism online and on location. Contrary to expectations, we find no clear-cut relationship between those factors and sustained commitment to participation in the occupation. We show that persistent activist communication did not feed into enduring organisational structures despite the continuous online activity observed during and beyond the peak of the Gezi occupation. The article concludes with reflections on the organisational ramifications of persistent communication and its significance in a political context posing high risks to participation in dissident politics.
The pillar of metropolitan greatness: The long making of archeological objects in Paris (1711–2001)
Authors: Van Damme Stéphane
Published: April 2017

Over three centuries after the 1711 discovery in the choir of Notre-Dame in Paris of a square-section stone bas-relief (the Pillar of the Boatmen) with depictions of several deities, both Gaulish and Roman, the blocks comprising it were analyzed as a symbol of Parisian power, if not autonomy, vis-à-vis the Roman Empire. Variously considered as local, national, or imperial representations, the blocks were a constant object of admiration, interrogation, and speculation among antiquarians of the Republic of Letters. They were also boundary objects – products of the emergence of a Parisian archeology dated from 1711. If this science reflected the tensions and ambiguities of a local regime of knowledge situated in a national context, it also helped to coordinate archeological work between different institutions and actors. This paper would like to assess the specific role played by the Pillar of the Boatmen as a fetish object in this process. To what extent could an archeological artifact influence this reshaping of urban representation, this change of scales? By following the three-century career of the pillar’s blocks as composite objects, which some have identified as merely stones or a column, it is possible to understand the multiple dimensions that defined the object as archeological – as an artifact that contributed to the relocating of the historical city center – and the multiple approaches that transform existing remains into knowledgeable objects.
Barriers to Later Retirement for Men: Physical Challenges of Work and Increases in the Full Retirement Age
Authors: McLaughlin Joanne Song , Neumark David
Published: April 2017

Policy changes intended to delay retirements of older workers and extend their work lives may run up against barriers owing to rising physical challenges of work as people age. We examine whether physical challenges at work influence employment transitions of older male workers in the age range for which public policy is trying to extend work lives and whether older male workers are able to mitigate these challenges while still remaining employed. The evidence indicates that physical challenges pose a barrier to extending work lives, although some older male workers with physically demanding jobs are able to mitigate these demands—either at new jobs or with the same employer. Our findings suggest that greater accommodation of physical challenges faced by older workers would likely increase the success of policies intended to induce later retirement.
The ‘Cumberbatch’Hamlet (2)
Authors: Elliott Aidan
Published: April 2017

One of the many notable aspects of Lyndsey Turner’s production of Hamlet (Barbican Theatre, London, 5 August to 31 October 2015) was the way in which the text was cut and reordered. This article looks in detail at where these cuts fell, which events (and/or lines) were transposed, and what effect the changes had on the narrative. It also argues that Turner’s editorial choices have something in common with the types of changes made by directors of Shakespeare on film over the past 25 years and asks whether this might be the beginning of a trend in theatrical adaptations of the plays.
Nurse-Led Self-Management Educational Intervention Improves Symptoms of Patients With Functional Constipation
Authors: Shen Qiong , Zhu Hongqin , Jiang Guixiang , Liu Xueqin
Published: April 2017

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of self-management educational intervention on the symptoms of patients with functional constipation. From January 2014 to April 2015, 66 patients with functional constipation were randomly assigned into intervention group receiving intensive educational interventions and control group receiving routine nursing care. The constipation score of all clinical symptoms (Bristol stool form scale, defecation interval, incomplete evacuation, evacuatory difficulty) at 1 month postdischarge were all significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (all, p < .05). At 1 month postdischarge, the intervention group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with good health habits (reasonable diet, regular exercise, good defecation habits, proper use of laxatives) as compared with the control group (all, p < .05). These data suggest educational intervention can effectively improve constipation symptoms and compliance with treatment of patients, and lead to the development of good health habits.
Computer‐Aided Design and 3‐Dimensional Printing for Costal Cartilage Simulation of Airway Graft Carving
Authors: Ha Jennifer F. , Morrison Robert J. , Green Glenn E. , Zopf David A.
Published: April 2017

Autologous cartilage grafting during open airway reconstruction is a complex skill instrumental to the success of the operation. Most trainees lack adequate opportunities to develop proficiency in this skill. We hypothesized that 3‐dimensional (3D) printing and computer‐aided design can be used to create a high‐fidelity simulator for developing skills carving costal cartilage grafts for airway reconstruction. The rapid manufacturing and low cost of the simulator allow deployment in locations lacking expert instructors or cadaveric dissection, such as medical missions and Third World countries. In this blinded, prospective observational study, resident trainees completed a physical simulator exercise using a 3D‐printed costal cartilage grafting tool. Participant assessment was performed using a Likert scale questionnaire, and airway grafts were assessed by a blinded expert surgeon. Most participants found this to be a very relevant training tool and highly rated the level of realism of the simulation tool.
Coherent Raman Scattering Microscopy for Evaluation of Head and Neck Carcinoma
Authors: Hoesli Rebecca C. , Orringer Daniel A. , McHugh Jonathan B. , Spector Matthew E.
Published: April 2017

Objective

We aim to describe a novel, label‐free, real‐time imaging technique, coherent Raman scattering (CRS) microscopy, for histopathological evaluation of head and neck cancer. We evaluated the ability of CRS microscopy to delineate between tumor and nonneoplastic tissue in tissue samples from patients with head and neck cancer.

Study Design

Prospective case series.

Setting

Tertiary care medical center.

Subjects and Methods

Patients eligible were surgical candidates with biopsy‐proven, previously untreated head and neck carcinoma and were consented preoperatively for participation in this study. Tissue was collected from 50 patients, and after confirmation of tumor and normal specimens by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), there were 42 tumor samples and 42 normal adjacent controls.

Results

There were 42 confirmed carcinoma specimens on H&E, and CRS microscopy identified 37 as carcinoma. Of the 42 normal specimens, CRS microscopy identified 40 as normal. This resulted in a sensitivity of 88.1% and specificity of 95.2% in distinguishing between neoplastic and nonneoplastic images.

Conclusion

CRS microscopy is a unique label‐free imaging technique that can provide rapid, high‐resolution images and can accurately determine the presence of head and neck carcinoma. This holds potential for implementation into standard practice, allowing frozen margin evaluation even at institutions without a histopathology laboratory.
Vitamin D status and cardiometabolic risk factors across latitudinal gradient in Iranian adults: National food and nutrition surveillance
Authors: Nikooyeh Bahareh , Abdollahi Zahra , Hajifaraji Majid , Alavi-majd Hamid , Salehi Forouzan , Yarparvar Amir Hossein , Neyestani Tirang R
Published: April 2017

Background:

This study aimed to evaluate the vitamin D status in an adult population across latitudinal gradient and to investigate its possible associations with certain cardiometabolic risk factors.

Methods:

A total of 1406 healthy subjects aged 19-60 years were randomly selected from six regions of Iran across latitudinal gradient from 29° N to 37.5° N. Anthropometric and biochemical assessments were performed. The combination of high body mass index (>25 kg/m2), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (< 40 mg/dl in males and < 50 mg/dl in females) and high triglycerides (> 150 mg/dl) was defined as cardiometabolic risk factors.

Results:

The mean concentration of serum 25-hydroxycalciferol (25(OH)D) was 26.8±17.7 nmol/l. There were no significant differences in the mean serum 25(OH)D levels among different latitudes. Undesirable vitamin D status (deficiency and insufficiency) was found in 90.7% of the subjects. After adjustment for age and gender, the association between weight status and serum 25(OH)D was significant ( p< 0.04, odds ratio:1.49; confidence interval: 1.01-2.19). The prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors among the subjects with serum 25(OH)D less than 27.5 nmol/l was significantly higher than those with serum calcidiol concentrations above 27.5 nmol/l (13.3% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.033).

Conclusion:

Undesirable vitamin D status is highly prevalent among Iranian adults of both sexes irrespective of latitude and even in sunny regions. The occurrence of cardiometabolic risk factors was significantly higher in those subjects with circulating calcidiol concentrations below 27.5 nmol/l.
Highly ordered polyaniline as an efficient dye remover
Authors: Chakraborty Pinki , Kothari Aman , Nagarajan Rajamani
Published: April 2017

Polyaniline was synthesized by the chemical oxidative polymerization procedure at room temperature employing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as oxidant and ferrous chloride (FeCl2·2H2O) and vanadyl sulphate (VOSO4·H2O) as co-catalysts, respectively. The obtained polymers were characterized by high resolution powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman, UV–Visible, photoluminescence spectroscopy, thermogravimetric Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques. Ordered arrangement indicative of semi-crystalline nature of polyaniline was evidenced from the presence of intense reflection at d = 13.72 Å in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern followed by two lesser intense peaks at 4.61 and 3.47 Å. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopic results indicated the polyaniline to be emeraldine salt form. Fibrous morphology was observed in scanning electron microscope images. Nearly 93% of Methyl Orange dye was adsorbed in 30 min by the ordered polyaniline at room temperature. No significant difference in the crystallinity and/or ordering was noticed in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern after dye adsorption. The correlation between the ordered structure of polyaniline and its higher adsorption property derived in the current study has the potential to fabricate devices consisting polyaniline to detect dye molecules.
Providing Quantitative Information and a Nudge to Undergo Stool Testing in a Colorectal Cancer Screening Decision Aid: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Schwartz Peter H. , Perkins Susan M. , Schmidt Karen K. , Muriello Paul F. , Althouse Sandra , Rawl Susan M.
Published: April 2017

Background. Guidelines recommend that patient decision aids should provide quantitative information about probabilities of potential outcomes, but the impact of this information is unknown. Behavioral economics suggests that patients confused by quantitative information could benefit from a “nudge” towards one option. We conducted a pilot randomized trial to estimate the effect sizes of presenting quantitative information and a nudge. Methods. Primary care patients (n = 213) eligible for colorectal cancer screening viewed basic screening information and were randomized to view (a) quantitative information (quantitative module), (b) a nudge towards stool testing with the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) (nudge module), (c) neither a nor b, or (d) both a and b. Outcome measures were perceived colorectal cancer risk, screening intent, preferred test, and decision conflict, measured before and after viewing the decision aid, and screening behavior at 6 months. Results. Patients viewing the quantitative module were more likely to be screened than those who did not ( P = 0.012). Patients viewing the nudge module had a greater increase in perceived colorectal cancer risk than those who did not ( P = 0.041). Those viewing the quantitative module had a smaller increase in perceived risk than those who did not ( P = 0.046), and the effect was moderated by numeracy. Among patients with high numeracy who did not view the nudge module, those who viewed the quantitative module had a greater increase in intent to undergo FIT ( P = 0.028) than did those who did not. Limitations. The limitations of this study were the limited sample size and single healthcare system. Conclusions. Adding quantitative information to a decision aid increased uptake of colorectal cancer screening, while adding a nudge to undergo FIT did not increase uptake. Further research on quantitative information in decision aids is warranted.
Back to the inverted-U for music preference: A review of the literature
Authors: Chmiel Anthony , Schubert Emery
Published: April 2017

This study investigated the inverted-U model of preference for music as a function of collative variables (especially familiarity and complexity) over the last 115 years. The results of 57 studies on music preference were categorized according to their patterns of preference. Fifty of the 57 studies (87.7%) were categorized as compatible with an overarching (segmented) inverted-U model, while the results of five studies (8.8%) were interpreted as mixed, showing both compatible and incompatible results. Two studies (3.5%) were categorized as completely incompatible with the model. In contrast to authors who describe the model as defunct, this review has observed that studies producing results compatible with the inverted-U are still prevalent. We propose that while there may be inconsistencies with Berlyne’s psychobiological theory from a scientific, arousal-based standpoint, the inverted-U model is able to explain a considerable amount of data. Rather, it seems that research interests have moved elsewhere, but caution is urged in asserting denial or dismissal of the relationship in music preference research.
Supplying protection: The United Nations and public support for humanitarian intervention
Authors: Wallace Geoffrey PR
Published: April 2017

This paper examines the role of the constellation of interveners, along with the approval of international institutions like the United Nations, on public support for military interventions to protect civilians during war. Concerns over burden sharing and free riding have figured prominently in recent debates over the provision, or lack thereof, of humanitarian interventions. An experiment embedded in a survey of a representative sample of the US public shows that citizens are influenced less by the extent of material contributions from other countries than by whether the United Nations sanctions the mission. Further analysis indicates that the United Nations functions as a legitimating device that can help overcome collective action problems, rather than through alternative approaches emphasizing the signaling of information or ensuring greater military resources. The findings have implications for research on the role of international institutions and the domestic politics of support for the use of force.
Masculine Gender Ideologies, Intimate Partner Violence, and Alcohol Use Increase Risk for Genital Tract Infections Among Men
Authors: Tsuyuki Kiyomi , Donta Balaiah , Dasgupta Anindita , Fleming Paul J. , Ghule Mohan , Madhusudana Battala , Nair Saritha , Silverman Jay G. , Saggurti Niranjan , Raj Anita
Published: April 2017

Masculine gender ideologies are thought to underlie alcohol use, intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, and sexual risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We extend on studies in the Indian context by examining the roles of masculine gender ideologies, alcohol use, and IPV on three outcomes of HIV risk (condom use, genital tract infection [GTI] symptoms, and GTI diagnosis). We applied logistic regression models to cross-sectional data of men and their wives in rural Maharashtra, India ( n = 1,080 couples). We found that men with less masculine gender ideologies demonstrated greater odds of condom use (i.e., lower odds no condom use, odds ratio [OR] = 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.93, 0.98]). IPV perpetration was associated with increased odds of reporting ≥1 GTI symptom (adjusted OR [AOR] = 1.56, 95% CI = [1.07, 2.26]) and decreased GTI diagnosis (AOR = 0.28, 95% CI = [0.08, 0.97]). Moderate alcohol consumption was associated with increased odds of reporting ≥1 GTI symptom (AOR = 1.51, 95% CI = [1.01, 2.25]). Our findings have direct implications for men’s and women’s health in rural India, including targeted GTI diagnosis and treatment, integrated violence prevention in STI clinics, and targeted intervention on masculine gender ideologies.
Does Charity Begin at Home or Overseas?
Authors: Knowles Stephen , Sullivan Trudy
Published: April 2017

We conducted a field experiment to find out whether a sample of the New Zealand general public preferred to give money to World Vision, an international development charity, or the Salvation Army, a local charity helping families in need. The majority of participants revealed a preference for giving to the local charity, rather than the international development charity. Participants were given the option of commenting on why they chose the charity they did, and we analyze these responses. We also analyze whether participants’ individual characteristics are correlated with the choice of charity.
Hydrophilic porous polyimide/β-cyclodextrin composite membranes with enhanced gas separation performance and low dielectric constant
Authors: Liu Zehan , Pang Long , Li Qing , Zhang Shulai , Li Jing , Tong Hao , Xu Zushun , Yi Chang-feng
Published: April 2017

A series of co-polyimide (PI)/modified β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) composites were successfully fabricated from anhydride-terminated PI and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane-modified β-CD (β-ACD). Co-PI was prepared from 4,4′-oxydianiline, 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride, and 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride by chemical imidization. Different amounts of β-ACD (0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%) were introduced into co-PI via strong covalent interactions between the terminal anhydride and amino groups. The structures and properties of the composites were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic thermomechanical analysis, mechanical properties tests, and contact angle tests. The results showed that β-ACD was successfully grafted on the PI segment. The composite films showed good thermal stability, glass transition temperatures between 244°C and 254°C, and 10% weight loss at temperatures of 514°C–545°C and 506°C–538°C in nitrogen and air atmosphere, respectively. They also exhibited excellent mechanical properties with tensile strength, tensile modulus, and elongation at break values of 78–111 MPa, 1.14–2.05 GPa, and 8–17%, respectively. All of these values were maximized at a β-ACD content of 1 wt%. The water uptake of the composites films was more than 1%, indicating that the addition of β-ACD can enhance the water absorption of PI films. All of these composite films are porous, and the contact angle indicated that the addition of β-ACD increased the hydrophilicity of the composite film. When the β-ACD doping content reached 7 wt%, the contact angle reached a minimum of 63°. All of the membranes were thermally annealed at 300°C for 1 h, after which gas adsorption tests showed that the composite films have enhanced CO2/CH4 selectivity, which can reach 12.7 (308 K).
Poly(ionic liquid)-based polyurethanes having imidazolium, ammonium, morpholinium or pyrrolidinium cations
Authors: Morozova Sofia M , Shaplov Alexander S , Lozinskaya Elena I , Vlasov Petr S , Sardon Haritz , Mecerreyes David , Vygodskii Yakov S
Published: April 2017

The synthesis of cationic polyelectrolytes based on condensation-derived backbone is rarely performed due to the difficulty obtaining of the respective ionic monomers in high purity. Despite such an approach is favorable as it results in ionic polymers with well-defined chemical structure and ionic group distribution. In this work two efficient methods are presented for the synthesis of ionic diols in high purity, namely the technique with pyranyl protection of OH-groups and the direct quaternization of tertiary amine alcohols. Applying these methods five novel ionic diols bearing various cations, namely, 1,1-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)pyrrolidin-1-ium bromide, 4,4-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)morpholin-4-ium bromide, N, N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-methylethanammonium, 1,1′-(pentane-1,5-diyl)bis(1-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyrrolidin-1-ium) dibromide, and 3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-(5-(3-(3-hydroxypropyl)-1H-imidazol-3-ium-1-yl)pentyl)-1H-imidazol-3-ium dibromide, were synthesized in high purity and high yields. The tin(II) mediated solution polycondensation of ionic diols with commercial hexamethylene diisocyanate or 4,4′-methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) resulted in a series of ionic, high molecular weight ( Mw = 2.3 × 104 −8.0 × 104) polyurethanes (PUs). The influence of various reaction parameters including reaction temperature and time, catalyst concentration and solvent nature upon PUs molecular weight was investigated. After the exchange of bromide to (CF3SO2)2N- anion the obtained poly(ionic liquid)s exhibit high thermal stability with onset mass loss above 225°C and demonstrate glass transition temperatures in the wide range from −22°C to 76°C depending on the nature of ionic diol used. Ionic PUs present excellent solubility in most organic solvents and are capable to form tough, flexible films with tensile strength up to 29.7 MPa.
Post-mortem in the Victorian asylum: practice, purpose and findings at the Littlemore County Lunatic Asylum, 1886–7
Authors: Cullen Lynsey T
Published: April 2017

This article examines the purpose of the post-mortem in the late Victorian asylum and discusses what the findings reveal about contemporary understanding of mental health. By examining the practice at the Littlemore Asylum of Oxford, the definition of the asylum post-mortem will be questioned and issues of consent and ownership of the dead body explored. It will be argued that the purpose of the examination was partly to appease the demands of the Commissioners in Lunacy, to protect the asylum against accusations of malpractice, and to appease the resident assistant medical officer’s own morbid curiosity. The examinations would therefore be better defined as dissections. This article will challenge understanding of institutional death, the legal processes required for dissection, and mental healthcare.
The influence of occupational chronic lead exposure on the levels of selected pro-inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic factors
Authors: Machoń-Grecka A , Dobrakowski M , Boroń M , Lisowska G , Kasperczyk A , Kasperczyk S
Published: April 2017

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of occupational exposure to lead on the blood levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and selected factors that influence angiogenesis. The study population was divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 56 male workers chronically exposed to lead. The second group (control) was comprised of 24 male administrative workers. The serum levels of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were significantly higher in the group of workers chronically exposed to lead compared to control values by 38%, 68%, and 57%, respectively. Similarly, the values of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) and fibroblast growth factor-basic (FGF-basic) were higher by 19% and 63%, respectively. In the group of workers chronically exposed to lead, there were positive correlations between the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and angiogenic factors (VEGF, FGF-basic, sVEGFR-1, and soluble angiopoietin receptor). In the control group, there were no correlations between the levels of the abovementioned parameters. Results of the present study indicate that chronic occupational lead exposure promotes inflammatory processes via induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, modulates angiogenesis, and elicits interdependencies between the immune response and angiogenic factors.
Global Spread of Pharmaceutical Patent Protection: Micro Evidence from the International Equivalents of Drug Patents in Japan
Authors: Okada Yoshimi , Nagaoka Sadao
Published: April 2017

We investigate the global spread of pharmaceutical patent protection as acquired by firms, based on a novel global patent database for all significant medical drugs, including biologics, introduced in Japan. It gives us the propensity of filing and grant rate for each country for patents granted in Japan. The major findings of the study are as following. Both the filing propensity to and the grant rate of major Asian countries approached those of the OECD economies by the early 2000s for chemical substance inventions. However, substantial heterogeneity with respect to other drug inventions still exists, specifically, crystal, use, formulation or combination, suggesting significant future room for international harmonization of patent granting standards. We found clear evidence of policy impact on the spread of protection for the two largest non-OECD economies. The amendments to Patent Laws in China in 1993 had an immediate and significant impact on patent filing propensity to China (30 percentage points increase), before accession to the WTO in late 2001. Furthermore, India’s ‘mailbox application system’ had a substantial effect as filing propensity reached 80 per cent of the number of corresponding European patent applications around year 2000, prior to implementing the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights for drug patents in 2005.

Subject classification codes: O34, O38, K29
Book Review: V. Sharma. 2016. Farm Workers of Punjab
Authors: Khurana M.R.
Published: April 2017

V. Sharma. 2016. Farm Workers of Punjab. New Delhi: LG Publishers Distributors, pp. 230, ₹595. ISBN- 976-93-83723-10-2
Drug Resistance in Newly Presenting and Previously Treated Tuberculosis Patients in Guangxi Province, People’s Republic of China
Authors: Luo Dan , Zhao Jinming , Lin Mei , Liu Feiying , Huang Shuhai , Zhang Yingkun , Huang Minying , Li Juan , Zhou Yang , Lan Rushu , Zhao Yanlin
Published: April 2017

Drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains are a major threat to the control of tuberculosis (TB), but the prevalence of drug-resistant TB is still unknown in the southern ethnic region of China. A cluster-randomized sampling method was used to include the study population. Isolates were tested for resistance to 6 antituberculosis drugs, and genotyped to identify Beijing strains. Overall, 11.3% (139/1229) of new cases and 33.0% (126/382) of retreated cases had drug-resistant tuberculosis. Multiple previous TB treatment episodes and multiple treatment interruptions were risk factors for both drug-resistant and multidrug-resistant TB among retreated cases. A total of 53.2% of the patients were infected with a Beijing strain of M tuberculosis. Infection with a Beijing strain was significantly associated with drug resistance among new cases (odds ratio, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.01-2.07). Novel strategies to rapid diagnosis and effective treatment are urgently needed to prevent the development of drug resistance.
“It Would Be Easier If She’d Died”: Young People With Parents With Dementia Articulating Inadmissible Stories
Authors: Hall Mel , Sikes Pat
Published: April 2017

In the U.K. context where the emphasis is (quite rightly) on living well with dementia, on positivity and enabling approaches, it can be difficult for researchers to investigate and report negative experiences. Failing to re-present perceptions and experiences as they are lived, however, does a serious disservice to the research endeavor and can prevent policy and service development and positive change. In this article, we present some stories told by participants in an Alzheimer’s Society (United Kingdom) Funded project uniquely investigating the perceptions and experiences of children and young people who have a parent with dementia. Sometimes the stories were not easy to hear, especially when they challenged dominant master narratives around dementia. We discuss our view that when the young people we spoke with told us how things were for them, we were ethically bound to respect and disseminate their accounts.
The Ventricular Assist Device in the Life of the Child: A Phenomenological Pediatric Study
Authors: van Manen Michael A.
Published: April 2017

What is it like for a child to live with an artificial heart? The use of some medical therapies in children requires developmental considerations, is associated with psychosocial consequences, and calls for ethical sensitivities. A critical case is the ventricular assist device (VAD), a mechanical pump used to support the functioning of a failing heart. As a pediatric therapy, the device can be used as a temporary solution for poor heart function, a bridge to transplantation or recovery, or as a destination therapy. While the mechanical-technical operation of the VAD is well understood, the clinical-technical aspects of young people living with this device are largely unexplored. Drawing on interviews of school-aged children, the aim of this phenomenological study is to explore how a VAD may structure or condition a child’s meaningful experience of their world outside the hospital. The driveline of an implanted VAD is the peripheral attachment, extruding through the skin to connect the controller-power supply. The materiality of the device may be interruptive, restrictive, and disturbing to the psycho-physical being and sense of self-identity of the child as a child. And while a child equipped with a VAD is not necessarily conspicuous among other children, the child may experience the device as an exposing presence, while living with the worry of a caregiver who takes on the role not simply of parent but of watchful health professional. A phenomenological understanding of the VAD should assist parents and caregiving health professionals knowing how to deal with specific issues arising in the life of the VAD child.
Axonal Regulation of Central Nervous System Myelination: Structure and Function
Authors: Klingseisen Anna , Lyons David A.
Published: April 2017

Approximately half of the human brain consists of myelinated axons. Central nervous system (CNS) myelin is made by oligodendrocytes and is essential for nervous system formation, health, and function. Once thought simply as a static insulator that facilitated rapid impulse conduction, myelin is now known to be made and remodeled in to adult life. Oligodendrocytes have a remarkable capacity to differentiate by default, but many aspects of their development can be influenced by axons. However, how axons and oligodendrocytes interact and cooperate to regulate myelination in the CNS remains unclear. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of how such interactions generate the complexity of myelination known to exist in vivo. We highlight intriguing results that indicate that the cross-sectional size of an axon alone may regulate myelination to a surprising degree. We also review new studies, which have highlighted diversity in the myelination of axons of different neuronal subtypes and circuits, and structure-function relationships, which suggest that myelinated axons can be exquisitely fine-tuned to mediate precise conduction needs. We also discuss recent advances in our understanding of how neuronal activity regulates CNS myelination, and aim to provide an integrated overview of how axon-oligodendrocyte interactions sculpt neuronal circuit structure and function.
Ischemic Conditioning in Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Veighey Kristin , MacAllister Raymond
Published: April 2017

Ischemia–reperfusion injury is a composite of the injury sustained during a period of reduced or absent blood flow to a tissue or organ and the additional insult sustained on reperfusion, which limits the amount of tissue that can be salvaged. Ischemia–reperfusion injury is the predominant insult during kidney transplantation, contributing to graft dysfunction, increased rates of acute rejection, and reduced rejection-free graft survival. In this review, we discuss the potential therapeutic benefits of a cost-effective and low-risk intervention, ischemic preconditioning, and its potential for improving kidney function following transplantation.
Comparing Cross-National Coverage of Genetically Modified Organisms: A Community Structure Approach
Authors: Pollock John C. , Peitz Krysti , Watson Elizabeth , Esposito Cara , Nichilo Phil , Etheridge James , Morgan Melissa , Hart-McGonigle Taylor
Published: April 2017

A community structure analysis compared cross-national coverage of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) with variations in national-level demographics from 19 newspapers worldwide, yielding combined article “prominence” and “direction” “Media Vector” newspaper scores emphasizing either “favorable” (42%) or “unfavorable” (58%) coverage of GMOs. Regression analysis revealed “poverty level” (24.2% of variance) and “percent of agricultural land” (4.7%) totaled 28.9% of the variance, confirming that “vulnerability” indicators are associated with favorable media coverage of GMOs. Contrary to conventional “guard dog” assumptions that media mirror elite interests, systematic research on demographics and GMO coverage reveals that media can mirror the interests of society’s most “vulnerable.”