bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Co-Opting Respectability
Authors: Dabel Jane E. , Jenrich Marissa
Published: November 2015

This article argues that ordinary black women were profoundly committed to respectability during and following the Civil War. This devotion to respectability can be seen in three key areas as these women sought to keep orderly homes, demonstrated a commitment to lawfulness, and worked to attain economic independence. Far from being the sole domain of the middle class, African American women from all backgrounds were strongly attached to respectability during this period because it provided them with a code of behavior that would not only improve their own lives but would also presumably force whites to see them as equals. Although this adherence to respectability never brought widespread social acceptance from whites, black women’s commitment to respectability resonated with the ambitions of a large proportion of black New Yorkers from varying class backgrounds. In addition to embracing the behaviors of respectability in their daily lives, it is also clear that many African American women engaged in forms of anti-discrimination protest rooted in respectability. In particular, women’s commitment to financial independence undergirded their efforts to seek economic restitution. In this article, we explore the ways in which ordinary black women fought for economic redress, and we examine the responses of local and federal officials to their claims. As black women demonstrated their commitment to respectability by demanding the compensation they were promised, government officials often tried harder to repress them. These negotiations between ordinary black women and government officials demonstrate how black women fought against racism and structural inequality at a time of increasing discrimination in the country’s largest urban center.
Technology and society as embedded: an alternative framework for information and communication technology and development
Authors: Boeri Natascia
Published: November 2015

An emerging topic in the development field is how information and communication technology (ICT) can be used for economic and social development. The general approach relies on technological determinism, whereby the discussion revolves around how and to what extent will ICT support development. It assumes the benefits of ICT as inherent. This approach ignores that ICT is created and experienced within a socially divisive and complex space. A more critical and sociological analysis is needed for development studies to better understand the implications of ICT initiatives. In this article, I argue that Saskia Sassen’s analytical framework of technology and society as embedded avoids this technological determinism and allows social theorists to account for social and material aspects of ICT. To support this alternative framework, I present a case study of a rural ICT initiative in Gujarat, India, and discuss how this re-conceptualization reveals more nuanced understanding of ICT and society. Based on interviews and field research, I find that technology creates new social understandings for the rural ICT users, but also that society shapes the technology to make it inaccessible for them.
Institutions, transport infrastructure governance, and planning: lessons from the corporatization of port authorities in East Asia
Authors: Tongzon Jose L , Ng Adolf KY , Shou Eva C
Published: November 2015

Substantial research posits that institutions do matter in port development, resulting in path-dependent reform process. However, issues remain unaddressed, notably on how and why institutions matter during such process under diversified developmental phases and geographical settings. This paper investigates, based on the experience of two major ports in East Asia, in what ways and to what extent political institutions have shaped the process of change, the main sources of path dependency, the conditions under which path disruption can occur, and how existing institutional legacies can contribute to differentiated outcomes. The focus is not only about institutional structure, but also the behavior and policies that institutions produce in such reforms. By doing so, it contributes to the progress and refinements of institutional theories, as well as theorizing the impacts of institutions in reforming the governance and planning systems of transport infrastructures.
How much is enough? Involving occupational experts in setting standards on a specific-purpose language test for health professionals
Authors: Pill John , McNamara Tim
Published: November 2015

This paper considers how to establish the minimum required level of professionally relevant oral communication ability in the medium of English for health practitioners with English as an additional language (EAL) to gain admission to practice in jurisdictions where English is the dominant language. A theoretical concern is the construct of clinical communicative competence and its separability (or not) from other aspects of professional competence, while a methodological question examines the technical difficulty of determining a defensible minimum standard. The paper reports on a standard-setting study to set a minimum standard of professionally relevant oral competence for three health professions – medicine, nursing, and physiotherapy – as measured by the speaking sub-test of the Occupational English Test, a profession-specific test of clinically related communicative competence. While clinical educators determined the standard, it is to be implemented by raters trained as teachers of EAL; therefore, the commensurability of the views of each group is a central issue. This also relates to where the limits of authenticity lie in the context of testing language for specific purposes: to represent the views of domain experts, a sufficient alignment of their views with scores given by the raters of test performances is vital. The paper considers the construct of clinical communicative competence and describes the standard-setting study, which used the analytical judgement method. The method proved successful in capturing sufficiently consistent judgements to define defensible standards. Findings also indicate that raters can act as proxies for occupational experts, although it remains unclear whether the views of performances held by these two groups are directly comparable. The new minimum standards represented by the cut scores were found to be somewhat harsher than those in current use, particularly in medicine.
Partnerships Among Lebanese Nonprofit Organizations: Assessing the Impact on Human Resource Capacity
Authors: AbouAssi Khaldoun , Jo Suyeon
Published: November 2015

This article investigates the impacts of partnerships on three aspects of nonprofits’ human resources capacity—paid staff, volunteers, and the professional development of staff of nonprofit organizations. Analysis of the seemingly unrelated regressions (SUR) suggests that partnerships may yield some human capacity improvements, that is, increasing the number of staff and opportunities for their professional development. The number of volunteers is not affected by partnerships but rather by other financial resources. The main implication of this research is that partnerships should be formed on the basis of their comparative advantages and focused on identifying suitable partners and cultivating these relations rather than collaborating with more organizations.
Relationship between Chinese adjective descriptors of personality and emotional symptoms in young Chinese patients with bipolar disorders
Authors: Yu Enyan , Li Huihui , Fan Hongying , Gao Qianqian , Tan Yunfei , Lou Junyao , Zhang Jie , Wang Wei
Published: November 2015

Objective

To investigate whether personality traits are related to emotional symptoms (mania, hypomania, and depression) in Chinese patients with bipolar disorders.

Methods

Patients with bipolar I and II disorders, and healthy volunteers, were assessed using the Chinese Adjective Descriptors of Personality (CADP) questionnaire, Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), Hypomanic Checklist (HCL-32), and Plutchik–van Praag Depression Inventory (PVP).

Results

Seventy-three patients with bipolar I disorder, 35 with bipolar II disorder and 216 healthy controls were included. Bipolar I and II groups scored significantly higher on MDQ, HCL-32 and PVP scales than controls; the bipolar II group scored lower on the MDQ, but higher on the HCL-32 and PVP than bipolar I. In the bipolar I group, the CADP Intelligent trait (β, 0.25) predicted MDQ; Intelligent (β, −0.24), Agreeable (β, 0.22) and Emotional (β, 0.34) traits predicted PVP. In the bipolar II group, Intelligent (β, 0.22), Agreeable (β, −0.24) and Unsocial (β, 0.31) traits predicted MDQ; Intelligent (β, −0.20), Agreeable (β, −0.31) and Emotional (β, −0.26) traits predicted HCL-32.

Conclusions

Four out of five Chinese personality traits were associated with emotional symptoms in patients with bipolar I or II disorder, but displayed different associations depending on disorder type.
Epidemiology of Elbow Dislocations in High School Athletes
Authors: Dizdarevic Ismar , Low Sara , Currie Dustin W. , Comstock R. Dawn , Hammoud Sommer , Atanda Alfred
Published: November 2015

Background:

The elbow is the second most commonly dislocated major joint in the general population. Previous studies that focused on emergency department populations indicate that such injuries occur most frequently among adolescent athletes.

Purpose:

To describe the epidemiological rates and patterns of sports-related elbow dislocations in high school athletes.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

Sports-related injury data for the 2005-2006 through 2013-2014 academic years from a national convenience sample of high schools participating in the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study (High School Reporting Information Online [RIO]) were analyzed.

Results:

Certified athletic trainers participating in High School RIO reported 115 of 1246 (9.2%) elbow injuries as elbow dislocations. A total of 30,415,179 athlete exposures (AEs) were reported during the study period, resulting in a dislocation rate of 0.38 per 100,000 AEs. The majority of the dislocations resulted from boys’ wrestling (46.1%) and football (37.4%). Elbow dislocation rates were higher in competition than in practice. Also, 91.3% of dislocations occurred in boys’ sports. Among both boys (60.4%) and girls (88.9%), the majority of injuries occurred during varsity sports activities. Contact with another person was the most common injury mechanism (46.9%), followed by contact with the playing surface (46.0%). Dislocations more commonly resulted in removal from play for more than 3 weeks (23.4% vs 6.9%, respectively) or medical disqualification (36.9% vs 7.0%, respectively) compared with other elbow injuries. Dislocations were also more likely to result in surgical treatment than other elbow injuries (13.6% vs 4.7%, respectively).

Conclusion:

In high school athletes, elbow dislocations result in longer removal from play and are more likely to require surgical treatment than nondislocation-associated elbow injuries. Rates and patterns of elbow dislocations vary by sport. In high-risk sports, focused sport-specific prevention strategies may help to decrease the rates and severity of elbow dislocation injuries.
Sex Differences in Self-Reported Hip Function Up to 2 Years After Arthroscopic Surgery for Femoroacetabular Impingement
Authors: Joseph Roody , Pan Xueliang , Cenkus Kathleen , Brown Lindsey , Ellis Thomas , Di Stasi Stephanie
Published: November 2015

Background:

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a significant cause of disability in young adults. Hip arthroscopic surgery restores bony congruence and improves function in the majority of patients, but recent evidence indicates that women may experience worse pre- and postoperative function than men.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to identify whether self-reported hip function differed between men and women with symptomatic FAI. The hypothesis was that mean self-reported hip function scores would improve after arthroscopic surgery but that women would report poorer function than men both before and up to 2 years after arthroscopic surgery.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

A total of 229 patients (68.4% women; mean [±SD] age, 31.6 ± 10.8 years; mean [±SD] body mass index, 26.8 ± 11.9 kg/m2) underwent hip arthroscopic surgery for unilateral symptomatic FAI. All eligible and consenting patients with radiologically and clinically confirmed FAI completed the International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33) and the Hip Outcome Score activities of daily living subscale (HOS-ADL) before hip arthroscopic surgery and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after arthroscopic surgery. A linear mixed model for repeated measures was used to test for differences in self-reported hip function between men and women over the study period ( P ≤ .05).

Results:

There were no significant time × sex interactions for either the HOS-ADL ( P = .12) or iHOT-33 ( P = .64), but both measures showed significant improvements between the preoperative time point and each of the 4 follow-up points ( P < .0001); however, self-reported hip function did not improve between 6 and 24 months after arthroscopic surgery ( P ≥ .11). Post hoc independent t tests indicated that women reported poorer hip function than did men before surgery ( P ≤ .003) both on the HOS-ADL (mean ± standard error of the mean [SEM], 67.4 ± 1.9 [men] vs 60.5 ± 1.3 [women]) and iHOT-33 (mean ± SEM, 38.0 ± 1.9 [men] vs 30.9 ± 1.3 [women]); scores were not different between sexes at any other time point.

Conclusion:

These findings indicate improvements in self-reported hip function in patients with FAI, regardless of sex, until 6 months after hip arthroscopic surgery. Although women reported poorer preoperative function than did men, the differences were not significant 2 years after surgery.
Biowaste separate collection and composting in a Small Island Developing State: The case study of São Tomé and Principe, West Africa
Authors: Vaz João M , Ferreira José S , Dias-Ferreira Celia
Published: November 2015

São Tomé and Principe archipelago in West Africa is a Small Island Developing State facing acute waste management problems. This article describes the implementation of selective collection of biowaste combined with composting in São Tomé, as a case-study of an innovative action in the framework of a Small Island Developing State. Collection was designed to gather 225 t y–1, targeting non-domestic biowaste producers, namely local businesses, municipal markets and municipal green waste. A municipal composting plant was built using basic facilities and windrow composting. The total investment amounted to €50,000, mainly supported by external aid. Biowaste producers reacted very positively, source segregating enthusiastically. Irregular service – collection collapsed each time the old vehicle was repaired – together with political disengagement and unmotivated work force were the major constrains. Biowaste was intermittently delivered to the composting plant and yielded 2 t of compost from July to December 2013 and 10 t during 2014. Compost was sold as organic fertiliser to a touristic resource, to small farmers and to gardeners, at a market price slightly below production costs, meaning the process is not economically sustainable without support. Nevertheless, biowaste is one of the few waste fractions (other than glass) that can be turned into a product that has both market value and a real demand, showing the enormous potential of composting source-separated biowaste in this part of the world.
Psychometric Properties of the Social and Emotional Health Survey With a Small Sample of Academically At-Risk Adolescents
Authors: Renshaw Tyler L.
Published: November 2015

The present study examines the psychometric properties of the Social and Emotional Health Survey (SEHS), which is a 32-item self-report behavior rating scale for assessing youths’ social–emotional competencies, with a small sample ( N = 77) of academically at-risk students attending a limited-residency charter school. This study is the first to explore the technical adequacy of the SEHS with a concentrated sample of at-risk youth in an alternative school context, located in a different geographic locale compared with the SEHS’s original development samples. Findings indicate that the SEHS composite scales were internally reliable and demonstrated internal convergent validity with each other as well as external discriminant validity with indicators of teacher-reported internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Results also indicate that several of the SEHS’s subscales had poor internal reliability in the present sample, and thus the usefulness of the subscales for applied purposes seems questionable. Limitations of the present study and implications for future research and practice are discussed.
The Effects of Virtual Communities on Group Identity in Classroom Management
Authors: Ho Tu-Kuang , Lin Yu-Tzeng
Published: November 2015

Group identity is a critical component in developing effective classroom management. While there have been numerous studies on group identity, they have primarily focused on its effects on the physical classroom entity. Advances in information technology, however, have enabled the creation of virtual communities, which have become a vital channel of communication in classroom management, though there are few systematic collations that explore the effects of virtual communities on classroom management. This study integrates social capital theory and social exchange theory into an integrated research model that examines a Facebook-based virtual classroom community, with an emphasis on group identity formation during social capital exchange via computer-mediated communication. A total of 344 valid questionnaires were obtained and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results of this study found that the fair and reciprocal exchange of social capital generates affective commitment and emotional support among members maintaining or enhancing the development of social network relations and facilitating the formation of group identity. Finally, this study’s theoretical and practical implications for classroom group management are presented.
Modeling and numerical analysis of multi-bolt elastic interaction with bolt stress relaxation
Authors: Wang Y-Q , Wu J-K , Liu H-B , Xu S-T
Published: November 2015

Multi-bolt joint distributed around the connecting members are generally adopted to meet the high-performance assembly requirements in aerospace, energy and power industries. However, the initial preload could be low due to non-optimized preload sequence and bolt stress relaxation, especially at elevated temperature. Thus, it is necessary to take elastic interaction and bolt stress relaxation into account before jointing. In this article, a general multi-bolt elastic interaction with bolt stress relaxation is modelled analytically. First, the multi-bolt joint is characterized by ‘spring-node’ model and elastic interaction stiffness. Second, the bolt residual preload can be estimated according to linear superposition of elastic interaction and bolt stress relaxation under the condition of node displacement equilibrium. Further, the influence of preloading sequence and bolt stress relaxation on residual preload distribution was numerically analyzed using a typical circular ring with 8-bolt joint. Two bolts’ preloading sequences were planned, star sequence and counterclockwise sequence, respectively. The bolt creep simulation time was set as 10 h using the power-model at intermediate temperature. From comparison, the predicted results using the developed model were consistent with the FE simulations both with and without bolt stress relaxation.
Clinical Outcomes Associated With a Collaborative Pharmacist-Endocrinologist Diabetes Intense Medical Management “Tune Up” Clinic in Complex Patients
Authors: Morello Candis M. , Christopher Melissa L. D. , Ortega Linda , Khoan John , Rotunno Taylor , Edelman Steven V. , Henry Robert R. , Hirsch Jan D.
Published: November 2015

Background: No previous studies exist examining the impact of a short-term pharmacist-endocrinologist collaborative practice model on glycemic control in complex patients. Objective: Evaluate outcomes associated with a PharmD-Endocrinologist Diabetes Intense Medical Management (DIMM) “tune up” clinic for complex patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 99 patients referred to DIMM clinic versus a comparator group of 56 primary care provider (PCP) patients meeting the same criteria (adult type 2 diabetes patients, glycosylated hemoglobin [A1C] ≥ 8%, follow-up visit within 6 months) in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. DIMM clinic used a short-term model that coupled personalized clinical care with real-time, patient-specific diabetes education during two to four 60-minute visits over 6 months. PCP patients received usual care. Primary outcome was mean A1C change after 6 months. Secondary measures included fasting blood glucose, lipids, blood pressure, weight, body mass index, and percentage of patients meeting goals. Results: Patients in each group had an average of 8 and were taking 12 to 14 medications daily. Mean A1C (%) improvement in DIMM group was significantly greater at 6 months (−2.4 [SD = 2.1] vs −0.8 [SD = 1.7]; P < 0.001), than PCP group. Percentage meeting A1C goal levels (<7%, <8%, and <9%) was significantly greater at 3 and 6 months compared with baseline in the DIMM group ( P < 0.001) versus (only <8%) at 3 and 6 months compared with baseline in PCP group. Conclusions: The DIMM clinic “tune up” model demonstrates a successful collaborative practice which helped complex diabetes patients achieve glycemic control in a 6-month period.
JAK2/STAT3 Pathway Mediates Protection of Metallothionein Against Doxorubicin-Induced Cytotoxicity in Mouse Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Rong Jing , Li Lizhong , Jing Li , Fang Haiqin , Peng Shuangqing
Published: November 2015

Doxorubicin (Dox) is one of the most important anticancer agents; however, its clinical application is limited by its severe cardiotoxicity. In our previous study, we found that the gene expression levels of the Janus-activated kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) pathway were different between MT−/− cardiomyocytes and MT+/+ cardiomyocytes when they were treated with Dox. Thus, this study was intended to investigate the role of JAK2/STAT3 pathway in metallothionein (MT) protection of Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. Tyrphostin AG490 (α-cyano-(3,4-dihydroxy)-N-benzylcinnamide) is a synthetic protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor which at first has been considered as a specific JAK2 inhibitor and can inhibit the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. In the present study, AG490 was used to assess the role of JAK2/STAT3 in MT protection against Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. The AG490 can attenuate the MT protection by increasing lactate dehydrogenase and the number of apoptotic cells. Interestingly, pretreated with AG490, MT−/− cardiomyocytes were more sensitive than MT+/+ to Dox-induced cytotoxicity as measured by reactive oxygen species generation, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonylation. Metallothionein 1 and MT-2 messenger RNA were upregulated by Dox, and AG490 decreased the protein expression of MT-1 and MT-2. After Dox treatment, the protein expression of p-Jak2 and p-Stat3 levels was significantly increased in MT+/+ cardiomyocytes, suggesting that the JAK2/STAT3 pathway was partially involved in MT protection against Dox-induced cardiotoxicity.
It’s contagious: Rethinking a metaphor dialogically
Authors: Warren Zachary J , Power Séamus A
Published: November 2015

“Contagion” appears frequently in peer-reviewed articles and in popular media to explain the spread of ideas, feelings, and behaviors. In the context of social science, however, we argue that this metaphor leads to magical thinking and should be described as a simile, rather than a metaphor. We review literature on “social contagion” using the dialogical paradigm and conclude that peer-reviewed claims tend to correspond with imagined realities from epidemiology rather than social science, including assumptions of passive and linear microbial spread, as well as pathology. We explore case studies on the spread of laughter, riot behavior, and “mass psychogenic illness,” and find that social contagion involves social meanings negotiated at the level of persons and groups that are uncharacteristic to the spread of diseases. Dialogism is presented as a correction to the epidemiological paradigm.
Second language influence on first language motion event encoding and categorization in Spanish-speaking children learning L2 English
Authors: Aveledo Fraibet , Athanasopoulos Panos
Published: November 2015

Studies show cross-linguistic differences in motion event encoding, such that English speakers preferentially encode manner of motion more than Spanish speakers, who preferentially encode path of motion. Focusing on native Spanish speaking children (aged 5;00–9;00) learning L2 English, we studied path and manner verb preferences during descriptions of motion stimuli, and tested the linguistic relativity hypothesis by investigating categorization preferences in a non-verbal similarity judgement task of motion clip triads. Results revealed L2 influence on L1 motion event encoding, such that bilinguals used more manner verbs and fewer path verbs in their L1, under the influence of English. We found no effects of linguistic structure on non-verbal similarity judgements, and demonstrate for the first time effects of L2 on L1 lexicalization in child L2 learners in the domain of motion events. This pattern of verbal behaviour supports theories of bilingual semantic representation that postulate a merged lexico-semantic system in early bilinguals.
A new test for determining the mechanical and fracture behavior of materials in sheet-bulk metal forming
Authors: Silva CMA , Silva MB , Alves LM , Martins PAF
Published: November 2015

This paper presents a new experimental test for determining the stress–strain curve and the fracture toughness of sheets to be used in sheet-bulk metal forming (SBMF) applications. The test is based on the utilization of double-notched specimens loaded in shear and combines the plane stress loading conditions of sheet metal forming with the three-dimensional plastic flow conditions of bulk metal forming, which are commonly found in SBMF processes. The methodology to obtain the stress–strain curve involves calculation of the shear stresses and strains along the two symmetric plastic shear zones of the test specimens up to point where cracks start to propagate along the ligaments that connect each pair of opposite notches. The determination of fracture toughness involves characterization of the evolution of load with displacement for a number of test cases performed with specimens having different ligaments between the two symmetric opposite notches. The work is performed on aluminium alloy EN AW 5754 H111 sheets with 5 mm thickness and the results obtained by means of the new proposed test are compared against those from conventional mechanical and fracture characterization tests.
Design and Performance of a Low-Cost Telemetric Laparoscopic Tactile Grasper
Authors: Schostek Sebastian , Zimmermann Melanie , Schurr Marc O. , Prosst Ruediger L.
Published: November 2015

Tactile feedback is completely lost in laparoscopic surgery, which would provide information about tissue compliance, texture, structural features, and foreign bodies. We developed a system with artificial tactile feedback for laparoscopic surgery that consists of a telemetric tactile laparoscopic grasper, a remote PC with customized software, and a commercial video-mixer. A standard, nonsensorized laparoscopic grasper was customized to allow the integration of a tactile sensor and its electronics. The tactile sensor and the electronics module were designed to be detachable from the instrument. These parts are lightweight and wireless, thus not impeding the use of the device as surgical instrument. The remaining system components used to generate visualization of the tactile data do not influence the workflow in the operating room. The overall system design of the described instrumentation allows for easy implementation in an operating room environment. The fabrication of the tactile sensor is relatively easy and the production costs are low. With this telemetric laparoscopic grasper instrument, systematic preclinical studies can be performed in which surgeons execute surgical tasks that are derived from clinical reality. The experience gained from these investigations could then be used to define the requirements for any further development of artificial tactile feedback systems.
Anti-HIV-1 activity determined by β-galactosidase activity in the multinuclear activation of an indicator assay is comparable with that by a conventional focus counting method
Authors: Miyamoto Fusako , Kawaji Kumi , Oishi Shinya , Fujii Nobutaka , Kaku Mitsuo , Kodama Eiichi N
Published: November 2015

Background

Direct comparison of enzymatic and original blue cell-counting detections with the multinuclear activation of an indicator (MAGI) cells, so far, remains to be performed in parallel. Although inhibitors for reverse transcription solely inhibit the reverse transcription step, those for HIV-1 entry block syncytium formation of HIV-1-infected MAGI cells in addition to the entry (dual inhibition). It raises a concern that reduction of enzymatic activity is artificially influenced by syncytium-blocking activity of inhibitors for entry.

Methods

The MAGI cells with a syncytium inducible strain, HIV-1IIIB, were used for anti-HIV activity determination both with conventional counting with X-Gal staining and measurement of chlorophenol red β-d-galactopyranoside conversion with a plate reader.

Results

Infectivity of HIV-1 in the MAGI cells was highly correlated with both methods. In microscopic observation, small blue cells with single or a couple of nuclei were dominantly observed in the presence of inhibitors for entry, but not in the presence of those for reverse transcription. Actual anti-HIV-1 activities were comparable or moderately sensitive in the chlorophenol red β-d-galactopyranoside method.

Conclusions

Antiviral activities of inhibitors for entry obtained from both enzymatic and counting methods appear to be comparable, even in infection of a highly syncytia inducible HIV-1IIIB strain.
“The Islamic State is not Islamic:” Terrorism, Sovereignty and Declarations of Unbelief
Authors: McCarthy Caleb D
Published: November 2015

This article examines the Islamic concept of takfīr (the declaration that one is not a Muslim) as it is used in secular-pluralistic contexts, within a larger delegitimizing discourse against terrorism. I argue that this takfīr as deployed by “liberal” Muslims, functions to legitimate the state’s use of coercive force. Furthermore, the secular state may in turn draw upon these discourses to co-opt the right to determine authentic Muslim identity. However, in doing so the state is forced to enter into a religiously discursive space. Takfīr notably becomes the site of contention over secular state sovereignty for determining the value of life, where religious individuals both challenge and affirm this sovereignty. This reveals the dynamics in the relationship between secular conceptions of sovereignty and religion, as it pertains to the justification of violence.
Local audit: How tightly should we police antibiotic prescribing for urinary tract infection and how should we modify national policy?
Authors: Brair Amallia , Toozs-Hobson Philip , Gray Jim
Published: November 2015

Objective

In 2010, our hospital, in line with National guidance, changed advice on antibiotic prescribing for UTI to reduce use of cephalosporins in favour of penicillins. We hypothesized that this change in policy would have no impact on the pattern of antibiotic resistance of the organisms causing UTI.

Study design

Audit review of all urine samples sent to BWH from 2009 to 2013 and positive cultures showing Enterobacteriaceae were then tested for antibiotic susceptibility.

Results

There has been an increase in the resistance of both Co-amoxiclav and Ciprofloxacin since 2009. Co-amoxiclav and trimethoprim now have similar resistance rates. Ciprofloxacin resistance has risen fairly quickly in the last four years from 1% to 8%. Resistance to nitrofurantoin has remained low. Gentamicin resistance remained stable and very low, second best to meroponem.

Impact

The results have been fed back to commissioners and internally and are being used as part of the guideline updating process.

Conclusions

Hospital protocols for treating infections should be reviewed and updated based on accurate local data. These data should be used for formulating regional specific protocols. Our results suggest that meroponem and ciprofloxacin should be reserved for microbiologically proven resistance to other antibiotics.
The Management and Control of Chronic Physical and Mental Disorders Among Older Adults in the United States
Authors: Piane GinaMarie
Published: November 2015

Objectives: Explores significant differences in types of mental health facilities accessed by and services received by elderly in the United States as compared with the total population, how frequently chronic disease management needs are met, and variance by state. Methods: Secondary analysis of the National Mental Health Services Survey (N-MHSS), 2010, of 15,562 facilities in the United States comparing the type of mental health services used by the elderly to the general population. Results: The highest proportion of patients 65 and older in residential treatment was in General Hospitals (17% were elderly) and by the Veteran’s Affairs (VA; 15% were elderly). Discussion: General Hospitals and the VA system need to prepare for the increase in the number of patients with mental illnesses and diminished capacity who are simultaneously being treated for chronic conditions. Coordinated care of patients with these comorbidities is needed.
Tomographic imaging of surface waves: A case study from the Phoenix Mine, Battle Mountain, Nevada
Authors: Rector J. W. , Pfeiffe J. , Hodges S. , Kingman J. , Sprott E.
Published: November 2015

Conventional surface-wave analyses for estimating shallow-seismic properties typically use 2D geometries. A new geometry uses tomographic imaging of surface waves to reconstruct surface-wave velocity and attenuation profiles in three dimensions. Sources and receivers are deployed around a border encompassing an area on the earth's surface. The surface wave is assumed to propagate along a simple ray between source and receiver that attenuates with depth as a function of frequency. Using conventional raypath-tomography techniques, surface-wave velocity and attenuation tomograms can be generated as a function of frequency and then used to estimate shear-wave velocity and attenuation versus depth using standard surface-wave inversion techniques. The methodology is described in a field study designed to image old mine workings. Velocity and attenuation tomograms exhibit anomalous areas that correspond to known voids.
Reviews
Authors: Bartel David , Taylor Patrick , Green William R. , Rüger Andreas
Published: November 2015

Fluid-induced Seismicity, by Serge A. Shapiro, ISBN 978-0-521-88457-0, 2015, Cambridge University Press, 276 p., $120 (e-book available). The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes, second edition, edited by H. Sigurdsson, B. Houghton, S. McNutt, H. Rymer, and J. Stix, ISBN 978-01-2385-938-9, 2015, Elsevier, 1456 p., $161.50. Elements of Petroleum Geology, third edition, by Richard C. Selley and Stephen A. Sonnenberg, ISBN 978-0-12-386031-6, 2014, Elsevier, 526 p., US$115. Understanding Seismic Anisotropy in Exploration and Exploitation, second edition, by Leon Thomsen, ISBN 978-1-56080-326-3, 2014, SEG, 238 p., US$58, US$45 (member price).
Barriers to a Career Focus in Cancer Prevention: A Report and Initial Recommendations From the American Society of Clinical Oncology Cancer Prevention Workforce Pipeline Work Group
Authors: Fabian Carol J. , Meyskens Frank L. , Bajorin Dean F. , George Thomas J. , Jeter Joanne M. , Khan Shakila , Tyne Courtney A. , William William N.
Published: November 2015

Purpose

To assist in determining barriers to an oncology career incorporating cancer prevention, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Cancer Prevention Workforce Pipeline Work Group sponsored surveys of training program directors and oncology fellows.

Methods

Separate surveys with parallel questions were administered to training program directors at their fall 2013 retreat and to oncology fellows as part of their February 2014 in-training examination survey. Forty-seven (67%) of 70 training directors and 1,306 (80%) of 1,634 oncology fellows taking the in-training examination survey answered questions.

Results

Training directors estimated that ≤ 10% of fellows starting an academic career or entering private practice would have a career focus in cancer prevention. Only 15% of fellows indicated they would likely be interested in cancer prevention as a career focus, although only 12% thought prevention was unimportant relative to treatment. Top fellow-listed barriers to an academic career were difficulty in obtaining funding and lower compensation. Additional barriers to an academic career with a prevention focus included unclear career model, lack of clinical mentors, lack of clinical training opportunities, and concerns about reimbursement.

Conclusion

Reluctance to incorporate cancer prevention into an oncology career seems to stem from lack of mentors and exposure during training, unclear career path, and uncertainty regarding reimbursement. Suggested approaches to begin to remedy this problem include: 1) more ASCO-led and other prevention educational resources for fellows, training directors, and practicing oncologists; 2) an increase in funded training and clinical research opportunities, including reintroduction of the R25T award; 3) an increase in the prevention content of accrediting examinations for clinical oncologists; and 4) interaction with policymakers to broaden the scope and depth of reimbursement for prevention counseling and intervention services.
Activation of AMPK Stimulates Neurotensin Secretion in Neuroendocrine Cells
Authors: Li Jing , Song Jun , Weiss Heidi L. , Weiss Todd , Townsend Courtney M. , Evers B. Mark
Published: November 2015

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a critical fuel-sensing enzyme, regulates the metabolic effects of various hormones. Neurotensin (NT) is a 13-amino acid peptide predominantly localized in enteroendocrine cells of the small bowel and released by fat ingestion. Increased fasting plasma levels of pro-NT (a stable NT precursor fragment produced in equimolar amounts relative to NT) are associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality; however, the mechanisms regulating NT release are not fully defined. We previously reported that inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) increases NT secretion and gene expression through activation of the MEK/ERK pathway. Here, we show that activation of AMPK increases NT secretion from endocrine cell lines (BON and QGP-1) and isolated mouse crypt cells enriched for NT-positive cells. In addition, plasma levels of NT increase in mice treated with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside, a pharmacologic AMPK activator. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of AMPKα decrease, whereas overexpression of the subunit significantly enhances, NT secretion from BON cells treated with AMPK activators or oleic acid. Similarly, small interfering RNA knockdown of the upstream AMPK kinases, liver kinase B1 and Ca2+ calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2, also attenuate NT release and AMPK phosphorylation. Moreover, AMPK activation increases NT secretion through inhibition of mTORC1 signaling. Together, our findings show that AMPK activation enhances NT release through inhibition of mTORC1 signaling, thus demonstrating an important cross talk regulation for NT secretion.
EMX1 regulates NRP1-mediated wiring of the mouse anterior cingulate cortex
Authors: Lim Jonathan W. C. , Donahoo Amber-Lee S. , Bunt Jens , Edwards Timothy J. , Fenlon Laura R. , Liu Ying , Zhou Jing , Moldrich Randal X. , Piper Michael , Gobius Ilan , Bailey Timothy L. , Wray Naomi R. , Kessaris Nicoletta , Poo Mu-Ming , Rubenstein John L. R. , Richards Linda J.
Published: November 2015

Transcription factors act during cortical development as master regulatory genes that specify cortical arealization and cellular identities. Although numerous transcription factors have been identified as being crucial for cortical development, little is known about their downstream targets and how they mediate the emergence of specific neuronal connections via selective axon guidance. The EMX transcription factors are essential for early patterning of the cerebral cortex, but whether EMX1 mediates interhemispheric connectivity by controlling corpus callosum formation remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that in mice on the C57Bl/6 background EMX1 plays an essential role in the midline crossing of an axonal subpopulation of the corpus callosum derived from the anterior cingulate cortex. In the absence of EMX1, cingulate axons display reduced expression of the axon guidance receptor NRP1 and form aberrant axonal bundles within the rostral corpus callosum. EMX1 also functions as a transcriptional activator of Nrp1 expression in vitro, and overexpression of this protein in Emx1 knockout mice rescues the midline-crossing phenotype. These findings reveal a novel role for the EMX1 transcription factor in establishing cortical connectivity by regulating the interhemispheric wiring of a subpopulation of neurons within the mouse anterior cingulate cortex.
ß-Catenin signaling regulates temporally discrete phases of anterior taste bud development
Authors: Thirumangalathu Shoba , Barlow Linda A.
Published: November 2015

The sense of taste is mediated by multicellular taste buds located within taste papillae on the tongue. In mice, individual taste buds reside in fungiform papillae, which develop at mid-gestation as epithelial placodes in the anterior tongue. Taste placodes comprise taste bud precursor cells, which express the secreted factor Sonic hedgehog (Shh), and give rise to taste bud cells that differentiate around birth. We showed previously that epithelial activation of β-catenin is the primary inductive signal for taste placode formation, followed by taste papilla morphogenesis and taste bud differentiation, but the degree to which these later elements were direct or indirect consequences of ß-catenin signaling was not explored. Here we define discrete temporospatial functions of β-catenin in fungiform taste bud development. Specifically we show that early epithelial activation of ß-catenin, before taste placodes form, diverts lingual epithelial cells from a taste bud fate. By contrast, ß-catenin activation a day later within Shh+ placodes, expands taste bud precursors directly, but enlarges papillae indirectly. Further, placodal activation of ß-catenin drives precocious differentiation of Type I glial-like taste cells, but not other taste cell types. Later activation of β-catenin within Shh+ precursors during papilla morphogenesis also expands taste bud precursors and accelerates Type I cell differentiation, but papilla size is no longer enhanced. Finally, although Shh regulates taste placode patterning, we find it is dispensable for the accelerated Type I cell differentiation induced by ß-catenin.
TAG-1 deficiency results in olfactory dysfunction due to impaired migration of mitral cells
Authors: George Bastakis G. , Maria Savvaki , Antonis Stamatakis , Marina Vidaki , Domna Karagogeos
Published: November 2015

The olfactory system provides mammals with the abilities to investigate, communicate and interact with their environment. These functions are achieved through a finely organized circuit starting from the nasal cavity, passing through the olfactory bulb, ending in various cortical areas. We show that the absence of transient axonal glycoprotein-1 (TAG-1/ Contactin-2) in mice results in a significant and selective defect in the number of the main projection neurons in the olfactory bulb, namely the mitral cells. A subpopulation of these projection neurons is reduced in deficient mice due to impaired migration. We demonstrate that the detected alterations in the number of mitral cells are well correlated with diminished odor discrimination ability and social long-term memory formation. Reduced neuronal activation in the olfactory bulb and the corresponding olfactory cortex suggest that TAG-1 is crucial for the olfactory circuit formation in mice. Our results underpin the significance of a numerical defect in the mitral cell layer in the processing and integration of odorant information and subsequently in animal behavior.
Venous-derived angioblasts generate organ-specific vessels during embryonic development
Authors: Hen Gideon , Nicenboim Julian , Mayseless Oded , Asaf Lihee , Shin Masahiro , Busolin Giorgia , Hofi Roy , Almog Gabriella , Tiso Natascia , Lawson Nathan D. , Yaniv Karina
Published: November 2015

Formation and remodeling of vascular beds are complex processes orchestrated by multiple signaling pathways. While it is well accepted that vessels of a particular organ display specific features that enable them to fulfill distinct functions, the embryonic origins of tissue-specific vessels, as well as the molecular mechanisms regulating their formation, are poorly understood. The subintestinal plexus of the zebrafish embryo comprises vessels that vascularize the gut, liver and pancreas, and as such represents an ideal model to investigate the early steps of organ-specific vessel formation. Here we show that both arterial and venous components of the subintestinal plexus originate from a pool of specialized angioblasts residing in the floor of the Posterior Cardinal Vein (PCV). Using live imaging of zebrafish embryos, in combination with photoconvertable transgenic reporters, we demonstrate that these angioblasts undergo two phases of migration and differentiation. Initially, a subintestinal vein (SIV) forms and expands ventrally through a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-dependent step of collective migration. Concomitantly, a VEGF-dependent shift in the directionality of migration, coupled to the upregulation of arterial markers is observed, which culminates with the generation of the supraintestinal artery (SIA). Altogether our results establish the zebrafish subintestinal plexus as an advantageous model for the study of organ-specific vessel development, and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms controlling its formation. More broadly, our findings suggest that PCV-specialized angioblasts contribute not only to the formation of the early trunk vasculature, but also to the establishment of late forming-, tissue specific vascular beds.
The murine cytomegalovirus immunoevasin gp40 binds MHC class I molecules to retain them in the early secretory pathway
Authors: Janßen Linda , Ramnarayan Venkat Raman , Aboelmagd Mohamed , Iliopoulou Maro , Hein Zeynep , Majoul Irina , Fritzsche Susanne , Halenius Anne , Springer Sebastian
Published: November 2015

In the presence of the murine cytomegalovirus (mCMV) gp40 (m152) protein, murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules do not reach the cell surface but are retained in an early compartment of the secretory pathway. We find that gp40 does not impair the folding or high-affinity peptide binding of the class I molecules but binds to them, leading to their retention in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) and the cis-Golgi, most likely by retrieval from the cis-Golgi to the ER. We identify a sequence in gp40 that is required for both its own retention in the early secretory pathway and for that of class I molecules.