bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Traditional Chinese Medicine Bionic Tiger Bone Powder for the Treatment of AI‐Associated Musculoskeletal Symptoms
Authors: Li Yifan , Zhang Zhenhua , Cui Feifei , Liu Jialing , Wang Yitong , Jiang Juling , Ma Wenxin , Lu Wenping
Published: February 2017

Background. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are used for adjuvant therapy of breast cancer; however AIMSS (AI‐Associated Musculoskeletal Symptoms) can negatively affect quality of life and compliance. Most patients in China moved to TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) for help. TB (tiger bone) is used to treat bone disease, whose main ingredients are calcium and collagen. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the TB prevented AIMSS in postmenopausal women with ER/PR+ breast cancer. Methods. We conducted a randomized, blind, controlled study of comparing TB versus placebo for 12 weeks in postmenopausal women with breast cancer who have taken AI for less than a month. Patients completed the M‐BPI, VAS, and FACT‐B at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. M‐BPI and VAS were used as the primary outcomes. FACT‐B was used as the secondary outcome. Serum E2 and FSH were tested every 6 weeks. Results. Of 70 evaluable cases, 8 of 35 patients (22.9%) developed new or worsening point symptoms in TB group, compared to 21 of 35 (60%) in placebo group (P < 0.001). We also found differences between 2 groups in average pain (2 to 5.6), worst pain (3.9 to 8), pain interference severity (1.9 to 5.3), stiffness (2.4 to 6.9), and joint symptom interference (1.8 to 5.7), all P < 0.001; similar findings were seen in VAS value (3 to 6.6) at the end of intervention. HRQoL measured by FACT‐B (P < 0.05) was improved. No change of serum estradiol and FSH between two groups. Conclusions. TB appeared to be effective and safe in the prevention of AIMSS. This trial is registered with ChiCTR-IPR-15007081.
Adenosine Receptors as a Biological Pathway for the Anti-Inflammatory and Beneficial Effects of Low Frequency Low Energy Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields
Authors: Varani Katia , Vincenzi Fabrizio , Ravani Annalisa , Pasquini Silvia , Merighi Stefania , Gessi Stefania , Setti Stefania , Cadossi Matteo , Borea Pier Andrea , Cadossi Ruggero
Published: February 2017

Several studies explored the biological effects of low frequency low energy pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on human body reporting different functional changes. Much research activity has focused on the mechanisms of interaction between PEMFs and membrane receptors such as the involvement of adenosine receptors (ARs). In particular, PEMF exposure mediates a significant upregulation ofA2Aand A3ARs expressed in various cells or tissues involving a reduction in most of the proinflammatory cytokines. Of particular interest is the observation that PEMFs, acting as modulators of adenosine, are able to increase the functionality of the endogenous agonist. By reviewing the scientific literature on joint cells, a double role for PEMFs could be hypothesized in vitro by stimulating cell proliferation, colonization of the scaffold, and production of tissue matrix. Another effect could be obtained in vivo after surgical implantation of the construct by favoring the anabolic activities of the implanted cells and surrounding tissues and protecting the construct from the catabolic effects of the inflammatory status. Moreover, a protective involvement of PEMFs on hypoxia damage in neuron-like cells and an anti-inflammatory effect in microglial cells have suggested the hypothesis of a positive impact of this noninvasive biophysical stimulus.
Indirubin Treatment of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Mastitis in a Mouse Model and Activity in Mouse Mammary Epithelial Cells
Authors: Lai Jin-lun , Liu Yu-hui , Peng Yong-chong , Ge Pan , He Chen-fei , Liu Chang , Chen Ying-yu , Guo Ai-zhen , Hu Chang-min
Published: February 2017

Indirubin is a Chinese medicine extracted from indigo and known to be effective for treating chronic myelogenous leukemia, neoplasia, and inflammatory disease. This study evaluated the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of indirubin in a lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced mouse mastitis model. The indirubin mechanism and targets were evaluated in vitro in mouse mammary epithelial cells. In the mouse model, indirubin significantly attenuated the severity of inflammatory lesions, edema, inflammatory hyperemia, milk stasis and local tissue necrosis, and neutrophil infiltration. Indirubin significantly decreased myeloperoxidase activity and downregulated the production of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β(IL-1β), and IL-6 caused by LPS. In vitro, indirubin inhibited LPS-stimulated expression of proinflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. It also downregulated LPS-induced toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression and inhibited phosphorylation of LPS-induced nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB) P65 protein and inhibitor of kappa B. In addition to its effect on the NF-κB signaling pathway, indirubin suppressed the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling by inhibiting phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), P38, and c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). Indirubin improved LPS-induced mouse mastitis by suppressing TLR4 and downstream NF-κB and MAPK pathway inflammatory signals and might be a potential treatment of mastitis and other inflammatory diseases.
Feedforward Nonlinear Control Using Neural Gas Network
Authors: Machón-González Iván , López-García Hilario
Published: February 2017

Nonlinear systems control is a main issue in control theory. Many developed applications suffer from a mathematical foundation not as general as the theory of linear systems. This paper proposes a control strategy of nonlinear systems with unknown dynamics by means of a set of local linear models obtained by a supervised neural gas network. The proposed approach takes advantage of the neural gas feature by which the algorithm yields a very robust clustering procedure. The direct model of the plant constitutes a piece-wise linear approximation of the nonlinear system and each neuron represents a local linear model for which a linear controller is designed. The neural gas model works as an observer and a controller at the same time. A state feedback control is implemented by estimation of the state variables based on the local transfer function that was provided by the local linear model. The gradient vectors obtained by the supervised neural gas algorithm provide a robust procedure for feedforward nonlinear control, that is, supposing the inexistence of disturbances.
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Presenting as Bradycardia
Authors: Codsi Elisabeth , Rose Carl H. , Tweet Marysia S. , Hayes Sharonne N. , Best Patricia J. M. , Blauwet Lori A.
Published: February 2017

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a disease that typically affects young otherwise healthy women. As PPCM is associated with significant mortality, timely diagnosis is necessary to ensure appropriate care. To our knowledge, this represents the first reported case of PPCM presenting as symptomatic bradycardia. We describe the patient’s clinical presentation and relevant findings and review the potential etiology and ramifications of bradycardia in patients with PPCM.
Influence of the Porosity of the TiO2 Film on the Performance of the Perovskite Solar Cell
Authors: Sun Xiaodan , Xu Jia , Xiao Li , Chen Jing , Zhang Bing , Yao Jianxi , Dai Songyuan
Published: February 2017

The structure of mesoporous TiO2 (mp-TiO2) films is crucial to the performance of mesoporous perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, we fabricated highly porous mp-TiO2 films by doping polystyrene (PS) spheres in TiO2 paste. The composition of the perovskite films was effectively improved by modifying the mass fraction of the PS spheres in the TiO2 paste. Due to the high porosity of the mp-TiO2 film, PbI2 and CH3NH3I could sufficiently infiltrate into the network of the mp-TiO2 film, which ensured a more complete transformation to CH3NH3PbI3. The surface morphology of the mp-TiO2 film and the photoelectric performance of the perovskite solar cells were investigated. The results showed that an increase in the porosity of the mp-TiO2 film resulted in an improvement in the performance of the PSCs. The best device with the optimized mass fraction of 1.0 wt% PS in TiO2 paste exhibited an efficiency of 12.69%, which is 25% higher than the efficiency of the PSCs without PS spheres.
ArmAssist Robotic System versus Matched Conventional Therapy for Poststroke Upper Limb Rehabilitation: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Tomić Tijana J. Dimkić , Savić Andrej M. , Vidaković Aleksandra S. , Rodić Sindi Z. , Isaković Milica S. , Rodríguez-de-Pablo Cristina , Keller Thierry , Konstantinović Ljubica M.
Published: February 2017

The ArmAssist is a simple low-cost robotic system for upper limb motor training that combines known benefits of repetitive task-oriented training, greater intensity of practice, and less dependence on therapist assistance. The aim of this preliminary study was to compare the efficacy of ArmAssist (AA) robotic training against matched conventional arm training in subacute stroke subjects with moderate-to-severe upper limb impairment. Twenty-six subjects were enrolled within 3 months of stroke and randomly assigned to the AA group or Control group (n=13each). Both groups were trained 5 days per week for 3 weeks. The primary outcome measure was Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) motor score, and the secondary outcomes were Wolf Motor Function Test-Functional Ability Scale (WMFT-FAS) and Barthel index (BI). The AA group, in comparison to the Control group, showed significantly greater increases in FMA-UE score (18.0 ± 9.4 versus 7.5 ± 5.5,p=0.002) and WMFT-FAS score (14.1 ± 7.9 versus 6.7 ± 7.8,p=0.025) after 3 weeks of treatment, whereas the increase in BI was not significant (21.2 ± 24.8 versus 13.1 ± 10.7,p=0.292). There were no adverse events. We conclude that arm training using the AA robotic device is safe and able to reduce motor deficits more effectively than matched conventional arm training in subacute phase of stroke. The study has been registered at the ClinicalTrials.gov, ID:NCT02729649.
Influence of IL-18 and IL-10 Polymorphisms on Tacrolimus Elimination in Chinese Lung Transplant Patients
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqing , Xu Jiandong , Fan Junwei , Zhang Tao , Li Yuping , Xie Boxiong , Zhang Wei , Lin Shengtao , Ye Ling , Liu Yuan , Jiang Gening
Published: February 2017

Aims. The influence of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) polymorphisms on tacrolimus pharmacokinetics had been described in liver and kidney transplantation. The expression of cytokines varied in different kinds of transplantation. The influence of IL-10 and IL-18 genetic polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetic parameters of tacrolimus remains unclear in lung transplantation. Methods. 51 lung transplant patients at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital were included. IL-18 polymorphisms (rs5744247 and rs1946518), IL-10 polymorphisms (rs1800896, rs1800872, and rs3021097), and CYP3A5 rs776746 were genotyped. Dose-adjusted trough blood concentrations (C/D ratio, mg/kg body weight) in lung transplant patients during the first 4 postoperative weeks were calculated. Results. IL-18 rs5744247 allele C and rs1946518 allele A were associated with fast tacrolimus metabolism. Combined analysis showed that the numbers of low IL-18 mRNA expression alleles had positive correlation with tacrolimus C/D ratios in lung transplant recipients. The influence of IL-18 polymorphisms on tacrolimus C/D ratios was observed in CYP3A5 expresser recipients, but not in CYP3A5 nonexpresser recipients. No clinical significance of tacrolimus C/D ratios difference of IL-10 polymorphisms was found in our data. Conclusions. IL-18 polymorphisms may influence tacrolimus elimination in lung transplantation patients.
Stability Study of Algerian Nigella sativa Seeds Stored under Different Conditions
Authors: Ahamad Bustamam Muhammad Safwan , Hadithon Kamarul Arifin , Mediani Ahmed , Abas Faridah , Rukayadi Yaya , Lajis Nordin , Shaari Khozirah , Safinar Ismail Intan
Published: February 2017

In a study to determine the stability of the main volatile constituents of Nigella sativa seeds stored under several conditions, eight storage conditions were established, based on the ecological abiotic effects of air, heat, and light. Six replicates each were prepared and analyzed with Headspace-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HS-GC-MS) for three time points at the initial (1st day (0)), 14th (1), and 28th (2) day of storage. A targeted multivariate analysis of Principal Component Analysis revealed that the stability of the main volatile constituents of the whole seeds was better than that of the ground seeds. Exposed seeds, whole or ground, were observed to experience higher decrement of the volatile composition. These ecofactors of air, heat, and light are suggested to be directly responsible for the loss of volatiles in N. sativa seeds, particularly of the ground seeds.
Development of a Patient-Specific Finite Element Model for Predicting Implant Failure in Pelvic Ring Fracture Fixation
Authors: Shim Vickie , Höch Andreas , Grunert Ronny , Peldschus Steffen , Böhme Jörg
Published: February 2017

Introduction. The main purpose of this study is to develop an efficient technique for generating FE models of pelvic ring fractures that is capable of predicting possible failure regions of osteosynthesis with acceptable accuracy. Methods. Patient-specific FE models of two patients with osteoporotic pelvic fractures were generated. A validated FE model of an uninjured pelvis from our previous study was used as a master model. Then, fracture morphologies and implant positions defined by a trauma surgeon in the preoperative CT were manually introduced as 3D splines to the master model. Four loading cases were used as boundary conditions. Regions of high stresses in the models were compared with actual locations of implant breakages and loosening identified from follow-up X-rays. Results. Model predictions and the actual clinical outcomes matched well. For Patient A, zones of increased tension and maximum stress coincided well with the actual locations of implant loosening. For Patient B, the model predicted accurately the loosening of the implant in the anterior region. Conclusion. Since a significant reduction in time and labour was achieved in our mesh generation technique, it can be considered as a viable option to be implemented as a part of the clinical routine to aid presurgical planning and postsurgical management of pelvic ring fracture patients.
An Enhanced Grey Wolf Optimization Based Feature Selection Wrapped Kernel Extreme Learning Machine for Medical Diagnosis
Authors: Li Qiang , Chen Huiling , Huang Hui , Zhao Xuehua , Cai ZhenNao , Tong Changfei , Liu Wenbin , Tian Xin
Published: February 2017

In this study, a new predictive framework is proposed by integrating an improved grey wolf optimization (IGWO) and kernel extreme learning machine (KELM), termed as IGWO-KELM, for medical diagnosis. The proposed IGWO feature selection approach is used for the purpose of finding the optimal feature subset for medical data. In the proposed approach, genetic algorithm (GA) was firstly adopted to generate the diversified initial positions, and then grey wolf optimization (GWO) was used to update the current positions of population in the discrete searching space, thus getting the optimal feature subset for the better classification purpose based on KELM. The proposed approach is compared against the original GA and GWO on the two common disease diagnosis problems in terms of a set of performance metrics, including classification accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, G-mean, F-measure, and the size of selected features. The simulation results have proven the superiority of the proposed method over the other two competitive counterparts.
Emerging Role of MicroRNAs as Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers in Gastrointestinal Cancers
Authors: Shigeyasu Kunitoshi , Toden Shusuke , Zumwalt Timothy J. , Okugawa Yoshinaga , Goel Ajay
Published: February 2017

Cancer has emerged as a leading cause of mortality worldwide, claiming more than 8 million lives annually. Gastrointestinal cancers account for about 35% of these mortalities. Recent advances in diagnostic and treatment strategies have reduced mortality among patients with gastrointestinal cancer, yet a significant number of patients still develop late-stage cancer, where treatment options are inadequate. Emerging interests in “liquid biopsies” have encouraged investigators to identify and develop clinically relevant noninvasive genomic and epigenomic signatures that can be exploited as biomarkers capable of detecting premalignant and early-stage cancers. In this context, microRNAs (miRNA), which are small, noncoding RNAs that are frequently dysregulated in cancers, have emerged as promising entities for such diagnostic purposes. Even though the future looks promising, current approaches for detecting miRNAs in blood and other biofluids remain inadequate. This review summarizes existing efforts to exploit circulating miRNAs as cancer biomarkers and evaluates their potential and challenges as liquid biopsy–based biomarkers for gastrointestinal cancers. Clin Cancer Res; 23(10); 2391–9. ©2017 AACR.
Musashi RNA-Binding Proteins as Cancer Drivers and Novel Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Kudinov Alexander E. , Karanicolas John , Golemis Erica A. , Boumber Yanis
Published: February 2017

Aberrant gene expression that drives human cancer can arise from epigenetic dysregulation. Although much attention has focused on altered activity of transcription factors and chromatin-modulating proteins, proteins that act posttranscriptionally can potently affect expression of oncogenic signaling proteins. The RNA-binding proteins (RBP) Musashi-1 (MSI1) and Musashi-2 (MSI2) are emerging as regulators of multiple critical biological processes relevant to cancer initiation, progression, and drug resistance. Following identification of Musashi as a regulator of progenitor cell identity in Drosophila, the human Musashi proteins were initially linked to control of maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells, then stem cell compartments for additional cell types. More recently, the Musashi proteins were found to be overexpressed and prognostic of outcome in numerous cancer types, including colorectal, lung, and pancreatic cancers; glioblastoma; and several leukemias. MSI1 and MSI2 bind and regulate the mRNA stability and translation of proteins operating in essential oncogenic signaling pathways, including NUMB/Notch, PTEN/mTOR, TGFβ/SMAD3, MYC, cMET, and others. On the basis of these activities, MSI proteins maintain cancer stem cell populations and regulate cancer invasion, metastasis, and development of more aggressive cancer phenotypes, including drug resistance. Although RBPs are viewed as difficult therapeutic targets, initial efforts to develop MSI-specific inhibitors are promising, and RNA interference–based approaches to inhibiting these proteins have had promising outcomes in preclinical studies. In the interim, understanding the function of these translational regulators may yield insight into the relationship between mRNA expression and protein expression in tumors, guiding tumor-profiling analysis. This review provides a current overview of Musashi as a cancer driver and novel therapeutic target. Clin Cancer Res; 23(9); 2143–53. ©2017 AACR.
Trade Liberalization and the Aggregate Matching Function in India
Authors: Lee Woong
Published: February 2017

This paper investigates the link between trade liberalization and the job-matching process in India by estimating an aggregate matching function by incorporating trade openness as a proxy for trade liberalization. Monthly data are drawn from the National Employment Service's Employment Exchange, India's only public employment service. The results show that trade liberalization leads to a decline in the number of new hires. This implies the exacerbation of matching efficiency, described by an outward shift of the Beveridge curve. This finding is in accordance with a widely held public view that trade liberalization increases unemployment. Therefore, the Indian government should continue carrying out structural reforms for the Indian economy to deal with the inefficiencies in the labor market due to external liberalization.
Managing Economic Stability under Volatile Capital Flows: East Asia Perspectives
Authors: Sussangkarn Chalongphob
Published: February 2017

The extent of financial globalization and volatilities of short-term capital flows create many challenges for policies of individual economies as well as challenges to global and regional mechanisms that should provide effective safety nets for countries to maintain financial stability. To maintain economic stability, countries—particularly emerging market economies—need to make use of appropriate policy tools, including monetary and exchange rate policy, reserves accumulation, and, when needed, capital control and macro-prudential measures. In addition, liquidity support mechanisms, whether bilateral, global, or regional can make a crucial difference in times of stress. Bilateral arrangements are by nature political so may not be reliable for many countries. Global (IMF) and East Asian regional arrangements (Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization) still do not have effective designs that will make them attractive to countries in the region. Recommendations are put forward on how these facilities can be modified to make them more attractive and effective.
What Is the Cyber Offense-Defense Balance? Conceptions, Causes, and Assessment
Authors: Slayton Rebecca
Published: February 2017

Most scholars and policymakers claim that cyberspace favors the offense; a minority of scholars disagree. Sweeping claims about the offense-defense balance in cyberspace are misguided because the balance can be assessed only with respect to specific organizational skills and technologies. The balance is defined in dyadic terms, that is, the value less the costs of offensive operations and the value less the costs of defensive operations. The costs of cyber operations are shaped primarily by the organizational skills needed to create and manage complex information technology efficiently. The current success of offense results primarily from poor defensive management and the relatively simpler goals of offense; it can be very costly to exert precise physical effects using cyberweapons. An empirical analysis shows that the Stuxnet cyberattacks on Iran's nuclear facilities very likely cost the offense much more than the defense. The perceived benefits of both the Stuxnet offense and defense, moreover, were likely two orders of magnitude greater than the perceived costs, making it unlikely that decisionmakers focused on costs.
Strategies of Nuclear Proliferation: How States Pursue the Bomb
Authors: Narang Vipin
Published: February 2017

How do states pursue nuclear weapons? Why do they select particular strategies to develop them, and how do these choices affect the international community's ability to prevent nuclear proliferation? The bulk of the proliferation literature focuses on why states want nuclear weapons. The question of how they pursue them, however, has largely been ignored. This question is important because how states try to acquire nuclear weapons—their strategies of nuclear proliferation—affects their likelihood of success and thus the character of the nuclear landscape. Four strategies of proliferation are available to states: hedging, sprinting, hiding, and sheltered pursuit. Nuclear acquisition theory explains why a proliferator might select one strategy over the others at a given time. Empirical codings from the universe of nuclear pursuers, combined with a detailed plausibility probe of India's long march to acquiring nuclear weapons—including novel details—establish the analytical power of the theory. Different strategies of proliferation offer different opportunities and vulnerabilities for nuclear proliferation and nonproliferation, with significant implications for international security.
Intellectual Perseverance
Authors: Battaly Heather
Published: February 2017

This essay offers a working analysis of the trait of intellectual perseverance. It argues that intellectual perseverance is a disposition to overcome obstacles, so as to continue to perform intellectual actions, in pursuit of one’s intellectual goals. The trait of intellectual perseverance is not always an intellectual virtue. This essay provides a pluralist analysis of what makes it an intellectual virtue, when it is one. Along the way, it argues that the virtue of intellectual perseverance can be contrasted with both a vice of deficiency (capitulation) and a vice of excess (recalcitrance). It also suggests that the virtues of intellectual courage and intellectual self-control are types of intellectual perseverance. The essay ends with several open questions about the virtue of intellectual perseverance. My hope is that this essay will stimulate further interest in, and analysis of, this important intellectual trait.
What Kind of Is-Ought Gap is There and What Kind Ought There Be?
Authors: Magnus P.D. , Mandle Jon
Published: February 2017

Some philosophers think that there is a gap between is and ought which necessarily makes normative enquiry a different kind of thing than empirical science. This position gains support from our ability to explicate our inferential practices in a way that makes it impermissible to move from descriptive premises to a normative conclusion. But we can also explicate them in a way that allows such moves. So there is no categorical answer as to whether there is or is not a gap. The question of an is-ought gap is a practical and strategic matter rather than a logical one, and it may properly be answered in different ways for different questions or at different times.
Moral Perception without (Prior) Moral Knowledge
Authors: Werner Preston J.
Published: February 2017

Proponents of impure moral perception claim that, while there are perceptual moral experiences, these experiences epistemically depend on a priori moral knowledge. Proponents of pure moral perception claim that moral experiences can justify independently of substantive a priori moral knowledge. Some philosophers, most notably David Faraci (2015), have argued that the pure view is mistaken, since moral perception requires previous moral background knowledge, and such knowledge could not itself be perceptual. I defend pure moral perception against this objection. I consider two ways to understand the notion of “background knowledge” that is crucial to the objection. On a (stronger) reading, the claim that background knowledge is necessary for moral perception is likely false. On a second and weaker reading, the claim is true, but the background knowledge in question could be perceptual, and thus compatible with pure moral perception. Thus, the objection fails.
The Tsar’s Two Bodies
Authors: Keenan Edward L. , Martin Russell E.
Published: February 2017

Originally delivered as a lecture at Columbia University in the fall of 1974, this classic text has circulated among Professor Edward L. Keenan’s students and colleagues for decades, but has never been published. The lecture draws upon the author’s textual work, including his then recently published book challenging the provenance of the Correspondence attributed to Tsar Ivan IV and Prince Andrei Kurbskii, to explore how his conclusions about this and other texts impinge on the received historiographical traditions about power, dynasty, and the life and reign of Ivan IV “the Terrible.” The lecture employs the model developed by Ernst Kantorowicz in his The King’s Two Bodies to understand the biographical details of Ivan IV, including the results of the autopsy of Ivan’s remains. The lecture provides an early, yet penetrating glimpse into the thinking of one of the most influential historians of Russia in the sixteenth century and of the reign of Ivan the Terrible.
An Immigrant Paradox? Contextual Attainment and Intergenerational Educational Mobility
Authors: Feliciano Cynthia , Lanuza Yader R.
Published: February 2017

Numerous studies have revealed a seemingly paradoxical pattern in which, despite cultural differences, unfamiliarity with the educational system, and possible language difficulties, children of immigrants outperform their peers with native-born parents in the U.S. educational system. We problematize the notion of an immigrant paradox in education by broadening our conceptualization of social class background, and introducing the concept of contextual attainment to capture the geographic and historical contexts in which education is completed. Analyzing nationally representative longitudinal survey data combined with international educational data, we show that, for immigrant parents, contextual attainments vary between and within countries of origin and often diverge from post-migration socioeconomic statuses. Parental contextual attainment helps explain why, net of standard family socioeconomic status measures, most groups of immigrants’ children complete more years of schooling than do White Americans with native-born parents. Moreover, considering parental contextual attainment leads to a rethinking of intergenerational educational mobility patterns for adults with immigrant parents. We argue that contextual attainment captures the noneconomic benefits of higher class background that help explain how intergenerational educational inequalities are reproduced.
Hydatid Cyst of the Heart
Authors: Noaman Haitham , Rawaf Salman , Majeed Azeem , Salmasi Abdul-Majeed
Published: February 2017

Cystic hydatid disease is responsible for the loss of 1 to 3 million disability-adjusted life years every year. Infestation of the heart, though rare, can result in serious complications if left untreated. We retrospectively collected information on 19 patients with cardiac hydatid cyst admitted at the Center for Cardiac Surgery of Ibn Al-Bitar Hospital in Baghdad from July 2007 to July 2011 who were either in need of a cardiac surgery for treating hydatid cysts or presented with emergency conditions. Nine (47%) patients presented with left-sided heart failure and mitral valve dysfunction, 5 (26%) patients had hydatid cysts in the pericardium, 3 (16%) patients had hydatid cyst in the right ventricle and presented with right-sided heart failure, and 2 (11%) patients who presented with cardiac arrhythmias had infestation in the interventricular septum. Removal of cysts following open-heart surgery was successful and was followed by the use of mebendazole or albendazole for 5 years. We conclude that cardiac hydatid cyst that leads to various cardiac symptoms can be successfully managed and should be considered as a diagnostic possibility in patients with cardiac symptoms in endemic areas.
Quartz-Enhanced Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (QEPAS) Detection of the ν7 Band of Ethylene at Low Pressure with CO2 Interference Analysis
Authors: Wang Zhen , Geng Jian , Ren Wei
Published: February 2017

Ethylene (C2H4) was detected using quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) at 10.5 µm with a continuous wave, distributed-feedback quantum cascade laser as the light source. The QEPAS sensor was operated at low pressures (≤200 torr) to eliminate the cross-talk spectral interference between C2H4 and CO2, a major interfering species in practical applications. The sensor was calibrated to show a good linear response to C2H4 concentration and the Allan deviation analysis demonstrated a minimum detection limit of 8 ppb at an integration time of 90 s. Although no spectral overlap between C2H4 and CO2 was confirmed at the pressure ≤200 torr by the direct absorption measurement using a 28-m multipass cell, we observed the apparent influence of the CO2 addition to the C2H4/N2 mixture on the photoacoustic signal of C2H4. An energy transfer model involving the vibration–vibration (VV) and vibration–translation (VT) transitions in the C2H4–CO2–N2 system was constructed to interpret the experimental data. Additionally, the vibrational relaxation times of C2H4 were obtained based on the QEPAS technique and the energy transfer model, which were in good agreement with the previous studies.
Cortisol Levels in Children With Diabetic Ketoacidosis Associated With New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Williams Kristen M. , Fazzio Pamela , Oberfield Sharon E. , Gallagher Mary P. , Aranoff Gaya S.
Published: February 2017

There is little data documenting cortisol levels in children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), despite the fact that untreated adrenal insufficiency (AI) could worsen the outcome of DKA. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed serum cortisol levels in 28 children with DKA and new onset type 1 diabetes mellitus evaluated at our center over a 5-year period. Average duration of diabetes-related symptoms was positively associated with age ( P = .002), and significantly lower hemoglobin A1c levels were observed in the youngest children. The mean cortisol level was 40.9 µg/dL, with a range of 7.8 to 119 µg/dL. Cortisol levels were found to be inversely associated with serum pH ( P = .007). There was no difference in the clinical outcome of the 4 patients who had cortisol levels less than 18 µg/dL. Overall, we did not find clinical or laboratory evidence of diminished cortisol reserve; however, the possibility of AI must be kept in mind when treating children with DKA.
Preschool Gifted Education
Authors: Kettler Todd , Oveross Mattie E. , Salman Rania C.
Published: February 2017

This descriptive study investigated the challenges related to implementing gifted education services in preschool centers. Participants were 254 licensed preschool center directors in a southern state. Participants completed a researcher-created survey including both selected response items and constructed response items to examine the perceived challenges of providing preschool gifted education services. Ninety-five percent of the preschool center directors had no formal policies or practices for gifted education, and 86% of the center directors had provided no gifted education training to staff. Using qualitative techniques of constant comparative analysis, substantive and theoretical categories yielded seven verifiable themes related to perceived challenges of gifted education in preschool centers: (a) finding and retaining a trained and qualified staff; (b) balancing time, space, and money constraints; (c) implementing gifted education practices; (d) overcoming oppositional beliefs; (e) acquiring educational resources; (f) outside factors; and (g) finding information and guidance. Results of this study imply that preschool educators have misunderstandings about gifted education in early childhood, and model policies and practices for recognizing and serving gifted children in preschool settings may be needed.
Critical race theory–social constructivist bricolage: A health-promoting schools research methodology
Authors: Nyika Lawrence , Murray-Orr Anne
Published: February 2017

While the current literature recognises the capacity of diverse methodologies to provide informative understandings of health-promoting schools (HPS), there is a paucity of examples to show how different research strategies can be used. We address this knowledge gap by examining the significance of a critical race theory–social constructivist bricolage or hybrid methodology for advancing understanding of the HPS frameworks. A critical race theory–social constructivist bricolage can provide a credible stance from which to study HPS, particularly in relation to people of colour. However, because the framework only weakly addresses the more practical aspects of the research process, we conclude by considering the role of action research as a complementary research approach.
Subaltern Modernity: Kerala, the Eastern Theatre of Resistance in the Global South
Authors: Raman K Ravi
Published: February 2017

In engaging with the debate on modernity, this article constructs the notion of a ‘subaltern modernity’ as a process of epistemological – spatial/temporal/agential – coalescence constituting a transverse solidarity politics. This is empirically informed by the narratives of the livelihood-environmental resistance launched by subalterns in the Indian state of Kerala, known for its twin legacies – of communist government and social development – which have proved to be a direct challenge to the state/corporate-led developmentalism in the region. The article thus attempts to contribute to the debate on modernity more from the perspective of resisting subjects and agents, with their particular subjective experience and understandings of science and reasoning. However, their resistance generates transformative events of universal relevance and thereby global issues of epistemology. As such, the article develops a theory of knowledge that takes subaltern resistance itself as modernity.
Civil Rights Gone Wrong
Authors: Thomas Lynnell L.
Published: February 2017

On May 14, 2014, three white Boston city councilors refused to vote to approve a resolution honoring the sixtieth anniversary of Brown v. the Board of Education because, as one remarked, “I didn’t want to get into a debate regarding forced busing in Boston.” Against the recent national proliferation of celebrations of civil rights milestones and legislation, the controversy surrounding the fortieth anniversary of the court decision that mandated busing to desegregate Boston public schools speaks volumes about the historical memory of Boston’s civil rights movement. Two highly acclaimed contemporary works of children’s literature set during or inspired by Boston’s desegregation busing plan reflect and respond to the ongoing battle over the history and memory of Boston’s civil rights movement and its enduring racial legacy: Busing Brewster, an illustrated children’s book for young readers, written by Richard Michelson and illustrated by R. G. Roth; and Gold Dust, a middle-grade novel for adolescents by Chris Lynch. Both works offer representations of an overtly racist past, produced in a historical moment when prevailing ideologies of color blindness and postracialism suggest not only that racism is passé, but that any attempt to redress past racism that takes race into account is itself racist and unjust. Busing Brewster and Gold Dust offer equivocal reflections on urban decline and racial transformations at the turn of the twenty-first century. Both works have as much to tell us about the historical memory of Boston’s desegregation efforts as they do about contemporary understandings of race and social justice.
Evaluation of a proper cutoff value on quantitative dual-energy perfusion CT for the assessment of acute pulmonary thromboembolism
Authors: Kunihiro Yoshie , Okada Munemasa , Matsunaga Naofumi
Published: February 2017

Background

The cutoff value for assessing the severity of acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) using relative volumetric evaluations of dual-energy perfusion computed tomography (DEpCT) is unclear.

Purpose

To determine the proper cutoff value for determining the severity of PTE using DEpCT volumetry.

Material and Methods

A total of 185 patients with venous thromboembolism were included in this study, of whom 61 were diagnosed with acute PTE. DEpCT images were three-dimensionally reconstructed at the following attenuation ranges: 1–2 HU (V2), 1–10 HU (V10), and 1–120 HU (V120). The ratios of low perfusion areas associated with each threshold range per V120 were also calculated, and the relative ratios were expressed as %V2 to %V10. These values were compared with factors indicating the severity of PTE, including the pulmonary arterial pressure, heart rate, CT angiographic obstruction index (CTOI), and right/left ventricular diameter ratio (RV/LV).

Results

The area under the curve (AUC) of %V2 was highest (0.783) among these values (95% confidence interval, 0.710–0.856) based on the presence of IPCs. The %V2 showed moderate correlations with CTOI (r = 0.36, P = 0.005) and RV/LV (r = 0.36, P = 0.004) in the patients with acute PTE.

Conclusion

Volumetric evaluations of DEpCT images using the lowest attenuation threshold range (1–2 HU) exhibit the best correlation with factors suggesting the severity of acute PTE.
Biomechanical Comparison of Anterolateral Procedures Combined With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Inderhaug Eivind , Stephen Joanna M. , Williams Andy , Amis Andrew A.
Published: February 2017

Background:

Anterolateral soft tissue structures of the knee have a role in controlling anterolateral rotational laxity, and they may be damaged at the time of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures.

Purpose:

To compare the kinematic effects of anterolateral operative procedures in combination with intra-articular ACL reconstruction for combined ACL plus anterolateral–injured knees.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Twelve cadaveric knees were tested in a 6 degrees of freedom rig using an optical tracking system to record the kinematics through 0° to 90° of knee flexion with no load, anterior drawer, internal rotation, and combined loading. Testing was first performed in ACL-intact, ACL-deficient, and combined ACL plus anterolateral–injured (distal deep insertions of the iliotibial band and the anterolateral ligament [ALL] and capsule cut) states. Thereafter, ACL reconstruction was performed alone and in combination with the following: modified MacIntosh tenodesis, modified Lemaire tenodesis passed both superficial and deep to the lateral collateral ligament, and ALL reconstruction. Anterolateral grafts were fixed at 30° of knee flexion with both 20 and 40 N of tension. Statistical analysis used repeated-measures analyses of variance and paired t tests with Bonferroni adjustments.

Results:

ACL reconstruction alone failed to restore native knee kinematics in combined ACL plus anterolateral–injured knees ( P < .05 for all). All combined reconstructions with 20 N of tension, except for ALL reconstruction ( P = .002-.01), restored anterior translation. With 40 N of tension, the superficial Lemaire and MacIntosh procedures overconstrained the anterior laxity in deep flexion. Only the deep Lemaire and MacIntosh procedures—with 20 N of tension—restored rotational kinematics to the intact state ( P > .05 for all), while the ALL underconstrained and the superficial Lemaire overconstrained internal rotation. The same procedures with 40 N of tension led to similar findings.

Conclusion:

In a combined ACL plus anterolateral–injured knee, ACL reconstruction alone failed to restore intact knee kinematics. The addition of either the deep Lemaire or MacIntosh tenodesis tensioned with 20 N, however, restored native knee kinematics.

Clinical Relevance:

The current study indicates that unaddressed anterolateral injuries, in the presence of an ACL deficiency, result in abnormal knee kinematics that is not restored if only treated with intra-articular ACL reconstruction. Both the modified MacIntosh and modified deep Lemaire tenodeses (with 20 N of tension) restored native knee kinematics at time zero.
The influence of an extended music curriculum at school on academic self-concept in 9- to 11-year-old children
Authors: Degé Franziska , Schwarzer Gudrun
Published: February 2017

Cognitive transfer effects of music lessons on several cognitive abilities such as IQ (Schellenberg, 2004) or language skills (Moreno et al., 2009) have been reported. Beyond that, also conative transfer effects (i.e., motivational aspects like perseverance) of music lessons have been revealed. One such conative transfer has been found for academic self-concept (Degé, Wehrum, Stark, & Schwarzer, 2014). Self-concept describes the evaluations a person holds about him/herself. However, this study was correlational. Hence, it remains unclear whether music lessons influence academic self-concept or whether academic self-concept influences the likelihood of taking music lessons. To sort out the matter of causality, we investigated the influence of an extended music curriculum (EMC) at school on academic self-concept longitudinally. We compared the academic self-concept of children between 9 and 11 years of age before they started the EMC and after a year of EMC and compared it to the academic self-concept of children not attending EMC. We tested 30 children (11 male). Thirteen of them participated in the EMC and 17 did not participate. We measured academic self-concept and confounding variables such as gender, age, socioeconomic status, organized nonmusical out-of-school activities, IQ, musical aptitude, and motivation. Children with and without EMC did not differ in confounding variables except for nonmusical out-of-school activities. Hence, the amount of nonmusical out-of-school activities was controlled in further analyses. We found an influence of EMC on academic self-concept. Children attending EMC reported significantly higher academic self-concepts after a year of participation than children not attending EMC.
Climate Change and Public Health
Authors: Ciesielski Timothy
Published: February 2017

It is clear that the public health community is concerned about the human health impacts of climate change, but are we inadvertently underestimating the scope of the problem and obfuscating potentially useful interventions by using a narrow intellectual frame in our discussions with policy makers? If we take a more holistic approach, we see that the public health impacts of climate change are only one subset of the enormous public health impacts of fossil fuel burning. This broader perspective can provide a more accurate and comprehensive assessment that is more useful for decision making in public policy settings.
Inflammatory Microenvironment Persists After Bone Healing in Intra-articular Ankle Fractures
Authors: Adams Samuel B. , Leimer Elizabeth M. , Setton Lori A. , Bell Richard D. , Easley Mark E. , Huebner Janet L. , Stabler Thomas V. , Kraus Virginia B. , Olson Steven A. , Nettles Dana L.
Published: February 2017

Background:

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is responsible for the majority of cases of ankle arthritis. While acute and end-stage intra-articular inflammation has previously been described, the state of the joint between fracture healing and end-stage PTOA remains undefined. This study characterized synovial fluid (SF) composition of ankles after bone healing of an intra-articular fracture to identify factors that may contribute to the development of PTOA.

Methods:

Of an original 21 patients whose SF was characterized acutely following intra-articular ankle fractures, 7 returned for planned hardware (syndesmotic screw) removal after bone healing (approximately 6 months) and consented to a second bilateral SF collection. SF concentrations of 15 cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and 2 markers each of cartilage catabolism (CTXII and glycosaminoglycan) and hemarthrosis (biliverdin and bilirubin) were compared for previously fractured and contralateral, uninjured ankles from the same patient. Analysis was also performed to determine the effect of the number of fracture lines and involvement of soft tissue on SF composition.

Results:

Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-3 were significantly elevated in the SF from healed ankles compared to matched contralateral uninjured ankles at approximately 6 months after fracture. There were no differences in markers of cartilage catabolism or hemarthrosis. Only IL-1α was affected by the number of fracture lines while differences were not detected for other analytes or with respect to the involvment of soft tissue.

Conclusions:

Sustained intra-articular inflammation, even after complete bone healing, was suggested by elevations of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8). In addition, elevated concentrations of MMPs were also noted and were consistent with a persistent inflammatory environment. This study suggests new evidence of persistent intra-articular inflammation after intra-articular ankle fracture healing and suggests potential mediators for PTOA development.

Clinical Relevance:

This work may be relevant to the clinical diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic osteoarthritis.