bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract PL03-03: The LKB1-AMPK pathway coordinates metabolic reprogramming with growth control
Authors: Shaw Reuben J.
Published: January 2014

The serine/threonine kinase LKB1 is a tumor suppressor gene mutated in the familial cancer condition Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), as well as in 30% of sporadic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). One of the critical substrates of LKB1 is the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK is a highly conserved sensor of cellular energy status found in all eukaryotic cells that restores metabolic homeostasis following stress. Thus LKB1 is a unique energy-state sensitive regulator of growth and metabolic reprogramming via its effects on AMPK. Our laboratory has performed a three-pronged screen to identify novel substrates of AMPK that may mediate its effects on metabolism and growth control. These studies have led to the identification of components of the mTOR signaling pathway (raptor, TSC2), the autophagy pathway (ULK1), and transcriptional regulators of metabolism (Srebp1, HDAC4/5/7) all as direct substrates of AMPK. Collectively, these studies uncovered novel conserved effectors of LKB1 and AMPK that mediate their role as a metabolic checkpoint coordinating cell growth with energy status. The connection of AMPK to tumor suppression has also led many to examine whether compounds that normally serve to activate AMPK, may in fact exhibit anti-cancer activities. Notably, the most widely used type 2 diabetes therapeutic in the US and worldwide, metformin, is a mitochondrial OXPHOS inhibitor which activates AMPK. We have therefore examined the potential anti-cancer effects of metformin and its more potent analog phenformin, in the context of genetically engineered mouse models of lung cancer. Whereas cells containing an intact LKB1-AMPK pathway respond to this metabolic stress by undergoing growth arrest, cells lacking LKB1 are unable to sense the damage and continue to divide ultimately undergoing apoptosis. Thus we examined whether this class of compounds may show selective therapeutic efficacy in preclinical trials in Kras-dependent lung cancer mouse models with loss of LKB1 as compared to those bearing loss of p53.

Citation Format: Reuben J. Shaw. The LKB1-AMPK pathway coordinates metabolic reprogramming with growth control. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr PL03-03.
Dissociable Neuroanatomical Correlates of Subsecond and Suprasecond Time Perception
Authors: Hayashi Masamichi J. , Kantele Moona , Walsh Vincent , Carlson Synnöve , Kanai Ryota
Published: January 2014

The ability to estimate durations varies across individuals. Although previous studies have reported that individual differences in perceptual skills and cognitive capacities are reflected in brain structures, it remains unknown whether timing abilities are also reflected in the brain anatomy. Here, we show that individual differences in the ability to estimate subsecond and suprasecond durations correlate with gray matter (GM) volume in different parts of cortical and subcortical areas. Better ability to discriminate subsecond durations was associated with a larger GM volume in the bilateral anterior cerebellum, whereas better performance in estimating the suprasecond range was associated with a smaller GM volume in the inferior parietal lobule. These results indicate that regional GM volume is predictive of an individual's timing abilities. These morphological results support the notion that subsecond durations are processed in the motor system, whereas suprasecond durations are processed in the parietal cortex by utilizing the capacity of attention and working memory to keep track of time.
Demographic Diversity and District-Level Party Systems
Authors: Potter Joshua D.
Published: January 2014

Scholars of electoral politics have long argued that the size of a party system is jointly determined by social diversity and district magnitude. However, no clear consensus exists regarding the best operationalization of the diversity of a society. Furthermore, the relationship between diversity and electoral rules, on one hand, and the effective number of parties, on the other hand, has never been tested at the level of the electoral district in a cross-national comparative context. This article aims to fill both holes and introduces the concept of cross-district diversity. I argue that the extent of cross-district diversity in a country exerts a substantial qualifying impact on the relationship between district-level diversity and the effective number of parties. Support for this finding emerges from a multilevel regression analysis that includes thousands of electoral districts in a diverse set of 29 democracies.
Displaying Contextual Information Reduces the Costs of Imperfect Decision Automation in Rapid Retasking of ISR Assets
Authors: Rovira Ericka , Cross Austin , Leitch Evan , Bonaceto Craig
Published: January 2014

Objective:

The impact of a decision support tool designed to embed contextual mission factors was investigated. Contextual information may enable operators to infer the appropriateness of data underlying the automation’s algorithm.

Background:

Research has shown the costs of imperfect automation are more detrimental than perfectly reliable automation when operators are provided with decision support tools. Operators may trust and rely on the automation more appropriately if they understand the automation’s algorithm. The need to develop decision support tools that are understandable to the operator provides the rationale for the current experiment.

Method:

A total of 17 participants performed a simulated rapid retasking of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets task with manual, decision automation, or contextual decision automation differing in two levels of task demand: low or high. Automation reliability was set at 80%, resulting in participants experiencing a mixture of reliable and automation failure trials. Dependent variables included ISR coverage and response time of replanning routes.

Results:

Reliable automation significantly improved ISR coverage when compared with manual performance. Although performance suffered under imperfect automation, contextual decision automation helped to reduce some of the decrements in performance.

Conclusion:

Contextual information helps overcome the costs of imperfect decision automation.

Application:

Designers may mitigate some of the performance decrements experienced with imperfect automation by providing operators with interfaces that display contextual information, that is, the state of factors that affect the reliability of the automation’s recommendation.
The Conflict Trap Revisited
Authors: Kibris Arzu
Published: January 2014

This article analyzes the association between civil conflicts and educational achievement by studying the Turkish case. It combines the 2005 university entrance exam scores of more than 1.6 million students and a newly constructed data set on the casualties of the Turkish–Kurdish conflict to study the association between the conflict and educational achievement of Turkish students. The results reveal a significant negative association. Combined with the already well-established positive links between education and various measures of socioeconomic development like economic growth, social equality, and public health, the results in this article demonstrate that education is one of the channels through which civil conflicts damage the well-being of societies thereby creating the conditions that perpetuate them.
Inhibitory Effects of PLAP-1/asporin on Periodontal Ligament Cells
Authors: Kajikawa T. , Yamada S. , Tauchi T. , Awata T. , Yamaba S. , Fujihara C. , Murakami S.
Published: January 2014

PLAP-1/asporin is an extracellular matrix protein that is predominantly expressed in the human periodontal ligament (PDL) and has an aspartic acid (D) repeat polymorphism in its N-terminal region. In this study, we hypothesized that the D repeat polymorphism of PLAP-1/asporin may affect the physiological functions of periodontal ligaments. We established periodontal ligament cell lines transfected with the D13- or D14-PLAP-1 gene. Alkaline phosphatase staining and alizarin red staining revealed that the cytodifferentiation of the D14-PLAP-1-expressing PDL cells was more repressed compared with that of the D13-PLAP-1-expressing cells. Furthermore, the D14-PLAP-1-expressing cells inhibited BMP-2-induced cytodifferentiation more strongly than did the D13-PLAP-1-expressing cells. Western blotting analysis and luciferase assay revealed that D14-PLAP-1 suppressed BMP-2 signal transduction more efficiently than did D13-PLAP-1, and co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated the stronger affinity of the D14-PLAP-1 protein to BMP-2 compared with the D13-PLAP-1 protein. Analysis of these data suggests that the D repeat polymorphism of PLAP-1/asporin has a significant influence on the functions of PDL cells.
Oropharyngeal Carcinoma in Young Adults: An Alarming National Trend
Authors: Gayar Omar H. , Ruterbusch Julie J. , Elshaikh Mohamed , Cote Michele , Ghanem Tamer , Hall Francis , Siddiqui Farzan
Published: January 2014

Objectives

To assess the incidence, treatment methods, and outcomes of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in patients younger than 45 years.

Study Design

Retrospective population based.

Setting

Surveillance Epidemiology End Results (SEER) 9 database.

Subjects and Methods

The SEER 9 database was queried from 1973 to 2009 for OPSCC patients <45 years of age.

Results

There were 1603 patients with OPSCC younger than 45 years. The incidence in patients between 36 and 44 years increased from 0.79 to 1.39 (per 100,000). In the same time period, there was an increase in the rate from 0.20 to 0.42 in whites and a decrease in the rate in African American (AA) patients from 0.67 to 0.32. The proportion of grade III/IV tumors also steadily increased from 28% in 1973 to 1979 to 43% in 2000 to 2009 (P <. 0001). Surgery alone was performed in 220 patients (13.72%) and in combination with radiation therapy in 734 patients (45.79%). Five‐year survival for the study cohort is 54%. Compared with white patients, AA patients had worse survival (P <. 0001). Patients who had surgery, either alone (localized stage patients) or in combination with radiation, had the highest 5‐year survival followed by those who had radiation.

Conclusions

There was an increase in OPSCC in the study patients within the past 4 decades, particularly in those aged 36 to 44 years. Interestingly, the incidence in whites increased and in AA patients it decreased. It is important to note that most of these patients were treated with surgery, either alone or with radiation therapy. The rising incidence within recent decades is thought to be related to human papillomavirus transmission and changes in sexual practices.
Integrated approaches to domestic violence? An exploration of the role of the victim and Women’s Safety Work in cognitive-behavioural programmes
Authors: Bullock Karen
Published: January 2014

This article examines the role of the victim and, more specifically, the nature of Women’s Safety Work within cognitive-behavioural programmes designed to address the attitudes and behaviour of men with convictions for violence against their partners. It is an increasingly important part of probation practice. The article draws on an empirical study conducted in 10 probation areas across England and Wales. It identifies, and critically examines, the factors which shape working with victims of domestic violence. These include the challenge of engaging partners and ex-partners with Women’s Safety Work; the ‘contested’ nature of work with women; and facets of risk management. This article is written with a practitioner focus in mind and implications for practice are discussed.
The Needs and Provision Complexity Scale: a first psychometric analysis using multicentre data
Authors: Siegert Richard J , Jackson Diana M , Turner-Stokes Lynne
Published: January 2014

Objective:

A psychometric evaluation of the Needs and Provision Complexity Scale (NPCS).

Main measure:

The NPCS is designed to evaluate both needs for health and social support (NPCS-Needs) and services provided to meet those needs (NPCS-Gets).

Design:

A consecutive cohort of patients were recruited from nine specialist neurorehabilitation units in London.

Subjects:

Four hundred and twenty-eight patients were assessed at discharge (63.1% males; mean age 49 years) of whom 73.6% had acquired brain injury (49.5% stroke/subarachnoid, 14.7% traumatic brain injury, 9.3% ‘other acquired brain injury’), 8.9% spinal cord injury, 6.1% peripheral neuropathy, 4.9% progressive neurological and 6.3% other neurological conditions.

Results:

The NPCS-Needs was completed by the clinical team at discharge and 212 patients reported NPCS-Gets after six months. NPCS-Gets repeatability was tested in a subsample ( n = 60). Factor analysis identified two principal domains (‘Health and personal care’ and ‘Social care and support’) accounting for 66% of variance, and suggested a large general factor underpinning the NPCS. Internal consistency was high (alpha = 0.94) and repeatability acceptable. Intraclass coefficients for domain scores were healthcare 0.67 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48–0.80); personal care 0.83 (0.73–0.90); rehabilitation 0.65 (0.45–0.78); social/family support 0.66 (0.46–0.79) and environment 0.84 (0.74–0.90). Linear-weighted kappas for item-by-item agreement ranged from 0.42 to 0.83. Concurrent validity was demonstrated through correlations with measures of dependency and community integration.

Conclusions:

Notwithstanding a 50% response rate after six months, the NPCS has good internal consistency, a robust two-factor structure, acceptable test–retest reliability and initial evidence of concurrent validity.
Does Infantile Abduction Deficit Indicate Duane Retraction Syndrome Until Disproven?
Authors: Kim Jae Hyoung , Hwang Jeong-Min
Published: January 2014

Duane retraction syndrome consists of abduction deficit and palpebral fissure narrowing, upshoots, or downshoots on adduction. Infants with abduction deficit should be considered to have Duane retraction syndrome until disproven, because congenital abducens nerve palsy is extremely rare. The abducens nerve on the affected side is absent in type 1 Duane retraction syndrome and in some type 3 patients. The authors present a 7-month-old girl who showed limitation of abduction simulating Duane retraction syndrome. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed atrophic lateral rectus and present abducens nerve. This report is important because this case showed that congenital abducens nerve palsy exists, although it is extremely rare, and high-resolution MRI could be pivotal for the differentiation of Duane retraction syndrome and congenital abducens nerve palsy in infancy.
Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome for Children
Authors: Siu Angela F. Y. , Zhou Ya
Published: January 2014

The present study evaluated the utility of the Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome for Children for discerning differences in executive functioning between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children and normal controls and examined its associations with real-life executive function as rated by parent reports on the Dysexecutive Questionnaire for Children. Sixty-three children diagnosed with ADHD and 60 normal healthy peers were recruited for this study. All participants completed the Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome for Children, while their parents completed the Dysexecutive Questionnaire for Children. Results revealed that the ADHD group exhibited significantly poorer performance than the controls on 3 subtests of the Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome for Children (ie, Playing Cards Test, Water Test, and Zoo Map Test 2), as well as on the total Dysexecutive Questionnaire for Children. Significant correlation was found between the total Dysexecutive Questionnaire for Children and the 6-Part Test. Findings suggested that some subtests of the Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome for Children were particularly useful for detecting real-life executive dysfunction in ADHD. Yet, further studies are needed to provide extended validity data.
Relationship between Use of Labor Pain Medications and Delayed Onset of Lactation
Authors: Lind Jennifer N. , Perrine Cria G. , Li Ruowei
Published: January 2014

Background:

Despite estimates that 83% of mothers in the United States receive labor pain medications, little research has been done on how use of these medications affect onset of lactation.

Objective:

To investigate whether use of labor pain medications is associated with delayed onset of lactation (DOL).

Methods:

We analyzed data from the 2005-2007 Infant Feeding Practices Study II, a longitudinal study of women from late pregnancy through the entire first year after birth (n = 2366). In multivariable logistic regression analyses, we assessed the relationship between mothers’ use of labor pain medication/method and DOL (milk coming in > 3 days after delivery).

Results:

Overall, 23.4% of women in our sample experienced DOL. Compared with women who delivered vaginally and received no labor pain medication, women who received labor pain medications had a higher odds of experiencing DOL: vaginal with spinal/epidural only (aOR 2.05; 95% CI, 1.43-2.95), vaginal with spinal/epidural plus another medication (aOR 1.79; 95% CI, 1.16-2.76), vaginal with other labor pain medications only ([not spinal/epidural]; aOR 1.84; 95% CI, 1.14-2.98), planned cesarean section with spinal/epidural only (aOR 2.13; 95% CI, 1.39-3.27), planned cesarean with spinal/epidural plus another medication (aOR 2.67; 95% CI, 1.35-5.29), emergency cesarean with spinal/epidural only (aOR 2.17; 95% CI, 1.34-3.51), and emergency cesarean with spinal/epidural plus another medication (aOR 3.03; 95% CI, 1.77-5.18).

Conclusion:

Mothers who received labor pain medications were more likely to report DOL, regardless of delivery method. This information could help inform clinical decisions regarding labor/delivery.
Social Cognitive Predictors of Academic Interests and Goals in South Korean Engineering Students
Authors: Kim Min Sun , Seo Young Seok
Published: January 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the applicability of social cognitive career theory (SCCT) in a cross-cultural setting by examining the relationships between the social cognitive variables of South Korean engineering students and their engineering interests and major choice goals across university type and gender. Participants ( N = 660) completed measures of academic self-efficacy, coping self-efficacy, outcome expectations, engineering interests, contextual supports and barriers, and major choice goals. The results of the study revealed that the SCCT interest and major choice model offered an adequate overall fit to the full sample. The findings also indicated that the SCCT interest and choice model provided an acceptable fit to the data across university type and gender. The implications of the findings on practice for counseling South Korean engineering college students are discussed.
Black stone – a natural remedy for premature ejaculation and performance enhancement, or maybe not?
Authors: Bush Carly , O’Farrell Nigel
Published: January 2014

We describe the use of a non-prescribed aid (Black stone) for premature ejaculation that resulted in a chemical burn on the penis with an appearance similar to severe balanitis.
Drug Cost Containment
Authors: Sharma Sangeeta , Gupta Meena
Published: January 2014

In the absence of a well implemented Drug Policy, paucities in access, affordability, efficiency, quality and effectiveness of health services and limited resources continue to handicap the functioning of the health system. Higher accessibility and quality is taken to be synonymous with higher costs. The main objective of the study was to study the impact of a drug policy on availability of essential drugs and cost containment in a tertiary care hospital from 1996 through 2007. The interventions consisted of selection of list of essential drugs and procurement through centralized pooled system in 1996–1997, followed by setting up of Drugs & Therapeutic Committee (1997). Average drug expenditure increased slightly from 3.63 per cent to 5.16 per cent while there was 6-fold rise in hospital patient attendance. Drug expenditure reduced by 47 per cent, without any compromise on key drug availability which increased to 94.6 per cent. Despite high expenditure on key drugs (75.89 per cent) mean availability was 67.48 per cent but after intervention with the same expenditure (77.68 per cent) it increased to 95.28 per cent. Number of drugs out-of-stock decreased from 27.57 per cent to 19.57 per cent of minor duration only and no stock out of vital drugs. ABC analysis revealed 3.33 drugs only in category A consuming 74 per cent budget which increased markedly to 9.63 drugs consuming 79.53 per cent budget after intervention along with reversal of previous trend of non-essential among top 10 drugs where only vital drugs represented top 10 drugs.

The present study showed cost-containment accompanied by increased availability of essential drugs is possible and optimizes the value of limited government funds and thereby empower and support government in making basic medicines available to all. Managerial interventions such as limited list of essential drugs, efficient procurement, through Drugs and Therapeutic Committee (DTCs) have a vital role in improving day-to-day care of patients and can serve as an effective strategy in curtailing inappropriate drug use, reducing drug expenditures and serve to increased availability and accessibility to essential medicines thus optimizing the value of limited government funds.
Patient Satisfaction and Consumer Behavioural Intentions
Authors: Murti Arjun , Deshpande Aashish , Srivastava Namita
Published: January 2014

As health care services get more competitive, health care practitioners and academic researchers are increasingly interested in exploring how patients perceive quality before building up their satisfaction levels and generating behavioural intentions. Hospitals today are increasingly realizing the need to focus on service quality as a measure to improve their competitive position. Customer based determinants and perceptions of service quality therefore play an important role when choosing a hospital. In this article we examine and measure the quality of services and its outcomes (patient’s satisfaction and behavioural intentions) provided by private hospitals in Bhopal city of central India. The study resulted in the development of a comprehensive scale for measuring service quality, patient satisfaction and behavioural intentions in the health care scenario. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the proposed relationships. The results establish the direct influence of service quality on behavioural intentions, and the mediating role of customer satisfaction on influencing behavioural intentions. Service quality and patient satisfaction are found to be strong drivers of behavioural intentions in the context of health care services in India. This study analyzes the suitability of service quality to improve customer satisfaction and in the process positively impacts behavioural intentions in the health care setting.
A new Australian online and phone mental health support service for young people living with cancer
Authors: Patterson Pandora , McDonald Fiona EJ , Orchard Peter
Published: January 2014

Objective:

The purpose of CanTeen’s E-Mental Health Service for Young People Living With Cancer (YPLWC) is to meet the unique psychosocial needs of young people (12–24 years) in Australia impacted by cancer (either as a patient or family member of someone with cancer).

Conclusions:

This online platform will provide the primary site where all YPLWC can find information, connect with others going through a similar experience, express their feelings, utilise tools for support and access professional psychosocial support services that will meet their individual needs. The overall outcome of the service will be to ensure that the YPLWC visiting the site experience optimal psychological wellbeing. Ultimately, the service’s value will be in improving the lives of young people who engage with it and the follow-on effect that this will have on their families and communities in the long-term.
Eating Behavior and BMI in Adolescent Survivors of Brain Tumor and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Hansen Jennifer A. , Stancel Heather H. , Klesges Lisa M. , Tyc Vida L. , Hinds Pamela S. , Wu Shengjie , Hudson Melissa M. , Kahalley Lisa S.
Published: January 2014

Objectives: Elevated body mass index (BMI) has been reported in pediatric cancer survivors. It is unclear whether this is related to altered energy intake (via disordered eating), decreased energy expenditure (via limited exercise), or treatment-related direct/indirect changes. The aims of this study are to describe the occurrence of overweight and obesity, exercise frequency, and the extent of disordered eating patterns in this sample of survivors, and to examine relationships among BMI, eating patterns, exercise frequency, and demographic and disease and treatment-related variables to identify those survivors most at risk for overweight/obesity. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 98 cancer survivors (50 acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL], 48 brain tumor [BT]), aged 12 to 17 years and ≥12 months posttreatment from a large pediatric oncology hospital. Survivors completed health behavior measures assessing disordered eating patterns and physical activity. Clinical variables were obtained through medical record review. Univariate analyses were conducted to make comparisons on health behaviors by diagnosis, gender, treatment history, and BMI category. Results: Fifty-two percent of ALL survivors and 41.7% of BT survivors were classified as overweight/obese. Overweight/obesity status was associated with higher cognitive restraint (odds ratio = 1.0; 95% confidence interval = 1.0-1.1). Only 12% of ALL survivors and 8.3% of BT survivors met Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for physical activity. Males reported more physical activity, t(96) = 2.2, P < .05. Conclusions: Overweight/obese survivors may attempt to purposefully restrict their food intake and rely less on physiological cues to regulate consumption. Survivors should be screened at follow-up for weight-related concerns.
Parent-Implemented Social-Pragmatic Communication Intervention
Authors: Meadan Hedda , Angell Maureen E. , Stoner Julia B. , Daczewitz Marcus E.
Published: January 2014

This pilot study investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of a home-based parent training and coaching program on the use of naturalistic and visual teaching strategies by parents of children (aged 2–5 years) with Down syndrome to promote and enhance these children’s social-pragmatic communication skills. Five parent interventionist–child dyads participated. A single-case multiple-baseline design demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of the parent training and coaching program on parents’ correct use of naturalistic and visual teaching strategies. Findings suggest that parents and children benefited from the intervention. Parents learned the new teaching strategies, implemented them with high fidelity, and were satisfied with intervention procedures and outcomes. In addition, parents reported improvement in their children’s social-pragmatic communication skills. Implications for practice and future research are described.
ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism (rs1799752) modifies the renoprotective effect of renin-angiotensin system blockade in patients with IgA nephropathy
Authors: Teranishi Junya , Yamamoto Ryohei , Nagasawa Yasuyuki , Shoji Tatsuya , Iwatani Hirotsugu , Okada Noriyuki , Moriyama Toshiki , Yamauchi Atsushi , Tsubakihara Yoshiharu , Imai Enyu , Rakugi Hiromi , Isaka Yoshitaka
Published: January 2014

Introduction:

Little is known about genetic predictors that modify the renoprotective effect of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade in IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

Materials and methods:

The present multicenter retrospective observational study examined effect modification between RAS blockade and three RAS-related gene polymorphisms in 237 IgAN patients, including ACE I/D (rs1799752), AT1R A1166C (rs5186) and AGT T704C (rs699).

Results:

During 9.9 ± 4.2 years of observation, 63 patients progressed to a 50% increase in serum creatinine level. Only ACE I/D predicted the outcome ( ACE DD vs ID/II, hazard ratio 1.86 (95% confidence interval 1.03, 3.33)) and modified the renoprotective effect of RAS blockade ( p for interaction between ACE DD and RAS blockade = 0.087). RAS blockade suppressed progression in ACE DD patients but not in ID/II patients ( ACE ID/II with RAS blockade as a reference; ID/II without RAS blockade 1.45 (0.72, 2.92); DD without RAS blockade 3.06 (1.39, 6.73); DD with RAS blockade 1.51 (0.54, 4.19)), which was ascertained in a model with the outcome of slope of estimated glomerular filtration rate ( p = 0.045 for interaction).

Conclusion:

ACE I/D predicted the IgAN progression and the renoprotective effect of RAS blockade in IgAN patients whereas neither AT1R A1166C nor AGT T704C did.
Picturizing narrative innovation: a bird’s eye view of hypervisualized intertextuality in Stephen Kelman’s Pigeon English
Authors: Pandey Anjali
Published: January 2014

Via the use of ‘seeing’ strategies (pictographization) rather than just ‘telling’ strategies (textualization), Booker-prize shortlister, Stephen Kelman, in Pigeon English, successfully synergizes multimodality to inscribe and create a dual trope of active and passive visuality – of both ‘seeing’, and of being ‘watched’. Kelman’s intertextual strategies of narrative construction, while obviously simple and overt in their taxonomic variety, including, for example, Adaptation, Retro, Appropriation, Parody, Pastiche and Simulation (according to D’Angelo’s ‘rhetoric of intertextuality’, 2010), also function in subtly complex ways, inevitably entailing a covert, discoursed, hybridized, triumvirate of re-coded, textographic strategies including, but not limited to, multimodal-genre mixing, multisensory visual Englishization, and picturized meaning. The author argues that Pigeon English encapsulates an innovative polychromatic, 21st-century literary vision which is ultimately multisensory: visualized, auralized, and textualized.
Representing Chairman Mao: a social-semiotic analysis of two statues on a Red Tour
Authors: Bowcher Wendy L , Yameng Liang Jennifer
Published: January 2014

This article presents an analysis of two entirely different statues of Chairman Mao: the first, a full figure statue completed in 1993, and the other, an immense bust completed in 2009. Both statues were sites included on a ‘Red Tour’ in which one of the authors participated in March 2011. It is assumed that the tour organizers consider both of the statues worthy of visiting, and of fulfilling the aims of a Red Tour. These aims, according to the accompanying tour book, are broadly: to educate people about the history of the communist party, to remind citizens of the foundations of the current China, to instil national pride, and to provide a spiritual and enlightening experience (Guolong Lvxingshe, 2011, our translation). The analysis in this article primarily utilizes O’Toole’s framework in The Language of Displayed Art (1994, 2011) for analyzing sculpture, and provides insights into how each statue represents Chairman Mao by first analyzing its features, and then interpreting these features against the socio-political context of the Red Tour, and in doing so, enhancing our understanding of the social semiotic nature of public memorials. In the interpretation of the features of the statues, comparisons and contrasts are made between the meanings construed by each representation.
An Exploration of Sexual Victimization and Academic Performance Among College Women
Authors: Jordan Carol E. , Combs Jessica L. , Smith Gregory T.
Published: January 2014

The literature has documented the widespread nature of sexual assault victimization among college women. While the aftermath of violence against university women has also received focus, that is, documenting trauma-related sequelae; risk factors; reporting patterns; and legal interventions, the impact on academic performance has not received adequate attention in the literature. The primary purpose of this study was to explore the association of rape and sexual assault with academic performance among college women. Its specific aims included the following: to compare high school and college sexual assault experiences with collegiate grade point averages (GPAs) at key points in time; to examine any differences in GPA by type of sexual assault; to urge researchers studying retention and persistence patterns or sexual assault among college students to ensure that the relationship between the two is included in research designs; and to recommend that academic institutions expand programming on retention to include rape and sexual assault among the risk factors associated with a lack of persistence.
European minority language media and journalism: Framing their marginal reality
Authors: Zabaleta Iñaki , Ferré-Pavia Carme , Gutierrez Arantza , Fernandez Itxaso , Xamardo Nikolas
Published: January 2014

This study explores the traditional media systems (press, radio and TV), the distribution and number of full-time journalists and the relative weight of those variables with reference to the speaking population in 10 European minority languages with at least a minimum press and/or broadcasting system, at the end of the first decade of the new millennium. The 10 communities that represent the often invisible reality of minority language Europe are Basque, Catalan, Galician, Corsican, Breton, Frisian, Irish, Welsh, Scottish-Gaelic and Sámi. The unit of analysis is the linguistic community. Presumably, it is the first systematic and comparative analysis focused on European minority language media.
Introduction of a Pediatric Neurology Hospitalist Service With Continuous Electroencephalography Monitoring at a Children’s Hospital
Authors: Overby Philip J. , Beal Jules C. , Yozawitz Elissa G. , Moshé Solomon L.
Published: January 2014

Hospitalists, specializing in inpatient medicine, are increasingly being utilized in the hospital setting to improve efficiency, decrease costs and length of stay, and potentially improve outcomes. With these goals in mind and with the purpose of addressing the specific needs of patients on the inpatient pediatric neurology service, we established a pediatric neurohospitalist service in 2009. The primary purpose of this article is to describe the structure and the rationale for a pediatric neurohospitalist service with continuous electroencephalography at a pediatric teaching hospital and to discuss the categories of disease seen by the inpatient neurology service.
Sex: the new postcode lottery
Authors: Kalejaiye O , Parsons BA , Pearcy R
Published: January 2014

Background:

A list of all the Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England, Scotland and Wales was obtained from the websites of National Health Service (NHS) choices’, NHS Scotland and NHS Wales.

Methods:

Each PCT’s website was visited to find the email address for their Freedom of Information (FOI) department. FOI requests were made to each PCT asking questions regarding their criteria for funding and the number of requests made and implants funded in the previous 12 months.

Results:

A total of 129 PCTs were emailed with a 95% response rate. Thirty-one per cent of the PCTs that replied funded penile prostheses and 22% did not. A further 45% of PCTs would fund under exceptional circumstances, but only 20% of these had any clinical criteria on which to base their decision making. Twenty-three per cent of clinical criteria used were based on guidelines. Non-funding PCTs were spread in patches throughout the country, but the West Midlands stood out as a particularly black spot. On reviewing PCTs that had received requests for funding in the preceding 12 months, 46% did not fund any of the requests, 17% funded 50% or less and 37% funded all the requests received. Of the PCTs funding under exceptional circumstances, only 37% actually funded any of the requests received.

Conclusion:

Despite guidelines on the management of erectile dysfunction, there remains variability in access to penile prosthesis surgery. The West Midlands and the Southeast (excluding London) are the worst places to live with regards to access to prostheses; Scotland and Wales appear to be the best. Guidelines are rarely used in decision making. Funding remains an important factor in determining who receives potentially life-changing treatment for erectile dysfunction refractory to all other management options. A patient’s address and personal wealth appear to have a larger impact than guidelines.
Non-parametric effects on pore formation during resistance spot welding of magnesium alloy
Authors: Qiu R. , Wang N. , Shi H. , Zhang K. , Satonaka S.
Published: January 2014

The effects of faying surface condition, pre-existing pores in base material and cover plate on the pore formation during resistance spot welding of magnesium alloy were investigated. The results reveal that the hydrogen rejection and the pre-existing pores in base material have little effect on the pore formation, and that the larger pore formation is mainly caused by shrinkage strain during resistance spot welding of magnesium alloy.
Quality assessment for resistance spot welding based on binary image of electrode displacement signal and probabilistic neural network
Authors: Zhang H. J. , Wang F. J. , Gao W. G. , Hou Y. Y.
Published: January 2014

To improve the efficiency of acquiring monitored features and present a reliable quality assessment method for resistance spot welding, a novel method for converting the electrode displacement signal into binary image is proposed. The probabilistic neural network is adopted to provide a probabilistic viewpoint and a deterministic classification result of weld quality when the image characteristic of displacement signal is selected as monitored features. Test results of the classifier demonstrate that it is feasible and reliable to utilise binary image of the displacement signal to evaluate weld quality. The method reserves weld quality information as much as possible and it avoids complex algorithm for extracting and selecting monitored features. At the same time, when there are small samples, the classifier can identify good or bad weld rapidly and accurately even though the weld is from abnormal welding process, such as expulsion, current shunting and small edge distance condition.
Solidification behaviour of laser welded type 21Cr–6Ni–9Mn stainless steel
Authors: Tate S. B. , Liu S.
Published: January 2014

The solidification mode and microstructures were characterised for various processing parameters for laser welding 21Cr–6Ni–9Mn stainless steel. Two heats with varying nitrogen content showed both primary ferrite and primary austenite solidification. Weld ferrite content varied from 1 to 11 vol.-%, and decreased as travel speed increased. Base metal nitrogen content affected both solidification mode and weld ferrite content. Nitrogen loss from the weld pool was found to range from 10 to 45%, and decreased with increasing travel speed. Solidification mode was dependent on both chemical composition and processing parameters. The solidification mode shifted from primary ferrite to primary austenite as travel speed increased due to increased undercooling. Solidification mode varied within welds with constant nitrogen content, and the change in solidification mode was attributed to changes in undercooling along the weld cross-section. It is proposed that the variation of solidification mode with undercooling is affected by both the solidification rate and thermal gradient.
Development of γ-fibre recrystallisation texture in medium–chromium ferritic stainless steels
Authors: Gao F. , Liu Z.-Y. , Liu H.-T. , Zhang S.-M. , Dong A.-M. , Hao Yan-Sen , Wang Guo-Dong
Published: January 2014

The texture development and γ-fibre recrystallisation texture formation mechanism of ferritic stainless steels under different rolling processes were investigated. It was shown that the surface texture development was absolutely different from the centre texture development. In conventional rolled band, strong α-fibre was formed at the centre layer and it was weakened after hot band annealing; after cold rolling, the centre texture was characterised by sharp α-fibre and weak γ-fibre with a peak at {111}<110>, and non-uniform γ-fibre recrystallisation texture was developed. By contrast, in warm rolled band, the centre texture consisted of weakened α-fibre and sharpened γ-fibre, and {111}<112> became the prominent component after hot band annealing. The α-fibre and γ-fibre with a peak at {111}<112> were intensified at the centre texture after cold rolling, resulting in the formation of uniform γ-fibre recrystallisation texture. It was indicated that the formation mechanism of γ-fibre recrystallisation texture was closely dependent on hot rolling process.
Fracture toughness–Charpy impact test–Rockwell hardness regression based model for 51CrV4 spring steel
Authors: Senčič B. , Šolić S. , Leskovšek V.
Published: January 2014

Charpy V-notch (CVN) impact test values are widely used in toughness specifications for spring steels, even though the fracturing energy is not directly related to the spring's design. Both standard and non-standard methods for determining KIc are expensive and time consuming. In this paper, based on the results of experimental studies on spring steel grade 51CrV4, we have tried to find an expression so as to determine the fracture toughness from a computation based on the test results of the CVN and the Rockwell C hardness. This would be a much more economical and faster way to evaluate the fracture toughness of spring steels.
In situ synthesis of Ti3Al matrix in SiC fibre reinforced composites
Authors: Qu H. T. , Ren X. P. , Hou H. L. , Zhao B.
Published: January 2014

The present work deals with in situ synthesis of Ti3Al matrix in SiC fibre reinforced composites. In this process, the matrix coated fibres were prepared through magnetron sputtering by using inexpensive titanium and aluminium, and then Ti3Al matrix could be obtained by in situ synthesis in the subsequent hot isostatic pressing. The results indicated that the fibre volume fraction of the composites could reach 68 using physical vapour deposition, and the microstructure of in situ formed Ti3Al matrix was fine equiaxed grain. Furthermore, the preparation process of SiC fibre reinforced Ti3Al matrix composites was simplified which had a potential for cost reduction.
Effect of thermal cycling induced phosphorus grain boundary segregation on embrittlement of welding heat affected zones in 2·25Cr–1Mo steel
Authors: Song S-H. , Zheng L.
Published: January 2014

Phosphorus induced embrittlement of welding heat affected zones (HAZs) in a 2·25Cr–1Mo steel was examined by measuring the ductile to brittle transition temperature (DBTT) of the HAZs simulated with a peak temperature of 1320°C at different welding heat inputs. At the same heat input, the DBTTs of the HAZs in the P doped samples were apparently higher than those in the undoped samples and phosphorus grain boundary segregation was mainly responsible for the DBTT increase. A critical welding heat input was found to be between 36 and 100 kJ cm−1, being close to 60 kJ cm−1, at which the maximum segregation of phosphorus could be produced during the corresponding thermal cycling, leading to the maximum DBTT difference between the P doped and undoped samples.
Rapid determination for fatigue parameters of AZ31B magnesium alloy based on evolution of temperature under high cyclic fatigue
Authors: Zhang H. X. , Guo S. F. , Yan Z. F. , Liu X. Q. , Wu G. H. , Pei F. F. , Wang W. X. , Wang K.
Published: January 2014

Based on the infrared thermography method, experiments are carried out to investigate the evolution of temperature field of the extruded AZ31B magnesium alloy specimens under high cyclic fatigue load. The experimental results show that the superficial temperature of specimen under cyclic fatigue load changes with the number of cycles. According to the characteristics of surface temperature change, we propose a formula to calculate the residual fatigue life using energy approach. The proposed formula to assess the fatigue parameters (fatigue limit, residual fatigue life, fatigue life and S–N curve) achieves good results for AZ31B magnesium alloy. Furthermore, the fatigue limits (Δ σeSN = 90·3 MPa) derived from the traditional method through 107 cycles were compared with the values predicted by the infrared thermographic method (Δ σeTM = 87·3 MPa) and the energy approach (Δ σeΦ = 86·2 MPa), and the comparison results of percentage differences are 3·3 and 4·5 respectively.
Study of fatigue properties of forged BT25 titanium alloy based on fractographic and quantitative microstructural analysis
Authors: Wang Y. , Zeng W. D. , Ma X. , Zhou J. H. , Wang X. Y. , Wang T.
Published: January 2014

The high cycle fatigue (HCF) properties of forged BT25 titanium alloy was examined by fractographic and quantitative microstructural analysis. Two different height reductions (50 and 80) were applied to the isothermal compression of BT25 alloy with initial lamellar microstructure. Fatigue limits obtained through up and down method were 440 and 450 MPa respectively. Microstructural analysis showed that the globularisation volume fraction of the two microstructures (MA represents the microstructure of the alloy with the height reduction of 50, while MB is used for 80) were 62·72 and 84·13 respectively. There was more lamellar α in which Feret ratio was greater than 3·5 remained in MA, 16·96. Hence, a larger globularisation volume fraction is more beneficial for resistance to fatigue failure. The fracture surfaces of the failed testing specimens were examined and the fatigue crack initiation mechanisms were discussed. Cracks initiated in grains by means of constituting extrusions through combined glide and dislocation annihilation in slip bands, while those initiating along the α/ β phase interface arose from discordant deformation of α and β phases with different Young's modulus.
Influence of current density and electrolyte concentration on DC PEO titania coatings
Authors: Khan R. H. U. , Yerokhin A. L. , Li X. , Dong H. , Matthews A.
Published: January 2014

Titania films, 5–9 μm in thickness, were produced on commercial purity titanium by a direct current (DC) plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process using 5 to 20 A dm−2 current densities in 5 to 15 g L−1 trisodium orthophosphate electrolytes. Phase analyses (composition and crystallite size) were carried out using X-ray diffraction and TEM techniques. Residual stresses associated with one of the crystalline coating phases (anatase) were evaluated using the X-ray diffraction Sin2ψ method. SEM and TEM techniques were utilised to study the cross-section and surface morphologies and nanofeatures of the PEO titania coatings. Variations in the proportions of anatase and rutile phases, surface morphologies, coating thicknesses and associated internal stresses are correlated with the current density and electrolyte concentration used during the DC PEO process on titanium. Direct and shear stresses in the anatase are found in the range −70 to −331 and −17 to −167 MPa respectively.