bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Weberian legacy: Re-reading Reinhard Bendix’s Intellectual Portrait of Max Weber
Authors: Caldwell Raymond
Published: March 2016

Published more than 50 years ago, Reinhard Bendix’s classic monograph Max Weber: An Intellectual Portrait (1960) exercised an important influence on the early reception of Weber’s work in America. With the recent resurgence of interest in defining what constitutes ‘the Weberian legacy’, Bendix’s work has taken on renewed significance in understanding why the reception process of translation, adaptation and assimilation in America produced conflicting interpretations of Weber’s fragmented legacy. In the Intellectual Portrait, Bendix sought to provide a synthetic overview of Weber’s oeuvre as a whole, effectively rebalancing the earlier interpretative focus on The Protestant Ethic and the studies of the world religions by giving equal weight to the analytical treatise of Economy and Society, which includes studies of economics, religion, politics, power, law and the state. In doing so, Bendix challenged Talcott Parsons’ powerful alternative theoretical reading and helped extricate Weber’s historical sociology from the claims of functionalism and modernisation theory. Despite this success, Bendix’s Intellectual Portrait still exists under the shadow of Parsons’ interpretative legacy, and his reading of Weber is often criticised or misrepresented, even by his admirers. For some, he was an ‘instrumental Weberian’ who exaggerated Weber’s work on conflict and power, while for others he was a representative of ‘cultural Weberianism’ who focused on the autonomy of intellectual ideas and religious worldviews. In practice, Bendix, like Weber, can be adapted and assimilated into both readings. This essay reappraises the Intellectual Portrait as an important chapter in the intellectual history of Weber scholarship and interpretation. It seeks to re-evaluate Bendix as a Weber interpreter, as well as honour his status as a ‘Weberian’: a scholar who sought to reinterpret Weber’s comparative historical sociology of the West from the viewpoint of multiple modernities. While Bendix deserves this re-evaluation, the essay concludes by suggesting a genealogical counterhistory that questions the narrative retelling of the emergence of ‘the Weberian legacy’ as a progressive or cumulative process leading to an internally coherent or broadly consistent research programme, method, perspective, paradigm or tradition.
Elite and ethical: The defensive distinctions of middle-class bicycling in Bangalore, India
Authors: Anantharaman Manisha
Published: March 2016

This article applies social practice theory to study the emergence of sustainable consumption practices like bicycling among the new middle classes of Bangalore, India. I argue that expansions of bicycling practices are dependent on the construction of defensive distinctions, which I define as distinctions that draw equally on lifestyle-based and ethics-based discourses to normalize bicycling among Bangalore’s middle classes. With their environmental discourses and signage, middle-class cyclists make claims to being ethical actors and ecological citizens concerned about global environments. Their high-end bicycles and special gear enable them to maintain their social status in personal and professional circles, despite adopting what is an essentialized and stigmatized mobility practice in a social context where personal automobiles are a dominant symbol of respectability and propertied citizenship. These defensive distinctions are anchored in communities that facilitate social learning, skill-building, and the creation of collective identities. I highlight the importance of considering the role of ethical discourses in consolidating “low-status” social practices among “high-status” class fractions and discuss the implications of promoting sustainable consumption through the othering of the poor. By applying a social practice analytic to study middle-class bicycling practices, this article makes a significant contribution to the growing literature that investigates the applicability of practice-based approaches to environmental behaviors and sustainable consumption in a novel context.
The hunting industry: Exploring the marriage of consumerism, sport hunting, and commercial entertainment
Authors: McGuigan Lee
Published: March 2016

This article makes a case for the inclusion of sport hunting in studies of consumer culture. This argument is advanced through an analysis of “the hunting industry” in North America. The hunting industry comprises a vast commercial network, exemplified by specialty retailers and advertiser-supported media involved in the marketing of hunting-related merchandise. The analysis contrasts environmental and cultural conservation, on the one hand, with consumerism and commercial media, on the other. These themes are situated historically and theoretically and then examined empirically by focusing on cable television channels devoted to hunting and on Cabela’s, an international retail chain that sells branded hunting and fishing equipment and sponsors media productions. Based on consideration of these venues, including a description of Cabela’s stores, which are renowned for their size and spectacular attractions, it is argued that a commercial industry built around hunting manifests contradictions between conservationism and consumerism. Connections between hunting culture and other aspects of consumer culture – such as food systems, environmental concerns, self-reliance, and authenticity – are also elaborated.
Reporting Sexual Victimization During Incarceration: Using Ecological Theory as a Framework to Inform and Guide Future Research
Authors: Kubiak Sheryl Pimlott , Brenner Hannah , Bybee Deborah , Campbell Rebecca , Fedock Gina
Published: March 2016

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that between 149,200 and 209,400 incidents of sexual victimization occur annually in prisons and jails. However, very few individuals experiencing sexual victimization during incarceration report these incidents to correctional authorities. Federal-level policy recommendations derived from the Prison Rape Elimination Act suggest mechanisms for improving reporting as well as standards for the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of prison-based sexual victimization. Despite these policy recommendations, sexual assault persists in prisons and jails, with only 8% of prisoners who experience sexual assault reporting their victimization. This review focuses on gaps in the existing research about what factors influence whether adult victims in incarcerated systems will report that they have been sexually assaulted. Using ecological theory to guide this review, various levels of social ecology are incorporated, illuminating a variety of factors influencing the reporting of sexual victimization during incarceration. These factors include the role of individual-level behavior, assault characteristics, the unique aspects and processes of the prison system, and the social stigma that surrounds individuals involved in the criminal/legal system. This review concludes with recommendations for future research, policy, and practice, informed by an ecological conceptualization of reporting.
Interviewer Gender Effect on Acquiescent Response Style in 11 Asian Countries and Societies
Authors: Liu Mingnan , Wang Yichen
Published: March 2016

Although there is a large body of literature on interviewer gender effect, there are still two areas that merit further research. First, very limited attention has been paid to non-Western settings. Second, previous research has focused on responses to a limited number of survey questions and ignored other broader response behaviors. In this study, we use the Asian Barometer Study data to examine the gender effect on acquiescent response style for 53 agree/disagree questions asked in 11 Asian countries and societies. In general, we find that in six countries/societies, male interviewers elicited more acquiescent responses than female interviewers. We also discover that the interviewer gender effect is similar for male and female interviewees.
The New Empiricism of the Fractal Fold
Authors: de Freitas Elizabeth
Published: March 2016

A new configuration of social science is emerging in these digital times, as we tap into new kinds of data that trouble conventions regarding what constitutes the unit of analysis, and question the extent to which these data are owned or even correlated to a definitive organic and individuated subject customarily referred to as “human.” These methodological shifts demand a more careful consideration of the historical lineage of empiricism and its relation to the history of science more generally. In this article, I track the historical mutations of monadology, an ontology well suited to empiricism in these digital times. Both Gilles Deleuze and Bruno Latour ascribe to variants of monadology in their proposals for a new empiricism, drawing extensively on the work of Gabriel Tarde (1843-1904), a French sociologist, judge, and author of the audacious post-humanist 1895 text Sociology and Monadology. In this article, I discuss how monadology helps us rethink research methods in these digital times. I argue that a fractal monadology re-assembles the fold with the digital, the continuous with the discrete, and ultimately offers a philosophical foundation for contemporary social science research.
An Ontology of a Backflip
Authors: Jackson Alecia Youngblood
Published: March 2016

I use the Deleuze and Guattari geo-philosophical “Plateau 11. 1837: Of the Refrain” to map the conditions of the emergence of a particular territorial refrain: a backflip. Using a research encounter that involved a cheerleading dance, I position the backflip as a refrain that draws from the rhythms of various milieus to mark a territory. I follow the backflip along a line of flight to describe its ontological force of creation and newness.
Persistent Family Stress in the Course of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for a 7-Year-Old Girl With Social Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Babinski Dara E. , Nene Neel V.
Published: March 2016

This case study describes the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for a 7-year-old girl, “Lauren,” who was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD) and was experiencing significant family stress. Manualized CBT was conducted and substantial reductions in SAD symptoms and impairment were demonstrated. Given additional difficulties remaining in the home setting, booster sessions were continued following manualized treatment to target Lauren’s functioning at home. These follow-up sessions were associated with maintained functioning, and only minimal additional benefits emerged. This case study calls attention to the importance of considering family stress in individual CBT for children with SAD, as well as the difficulties associated with addressing family stress in CBT for SAD. Existing treatments do not routinely address family stress in the context of child SAD, despite the potential to enhance CBT outcomes for children with SAD.
Self-Consent for HIV Prevention Research Involving Sexual and Gender Minority Youth
Authors: Fisher Celia B. , Arbeit Miriam R. , Dumont Melissa S. , Macapagal Kathryn , Mustanski Brian
Published: March 2016

This project examined the attitudes of sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) toward guardian permission for a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence trial and their preparedness to provide informed, rational, and voluntary self-consent. Sixty sexually active SGMY (ages 14-17) participated in online survey and asynchronous focus group questions after watching a video describing a PrEP adherence study. Youth responses highlighted guardian permission as a significant barrier to research participation, especially for those not “out” to families. Youth demonstrated understanding of research benefits, medical side effects, confidentiality risks, and random assignment and felt comfortable asking questions and declining participation. Reasoning about participation indicated consideration of health risks and benefits, personal sexual behavior, ability to take pills every day, logistics, and post-trial access to PrEP. Results demonstrate youth’s ability to self-consent to age- and population-appropriate procedures, and underscore the value of empirical studies for informing institutional review board (IRB) protections of SGMY research participants.
Prevalence and distribution of endodontic treatments and apical periodontitis in an Italian population sample
Authors: Dolci M , Migliau G , Besharat ZM , Besharat LK , Gallottini L
Published: March 2016

This study was undertaken to investigate for the first time the distribution and prevalence of apical periodontitis and its determinants in an Italian population. A total of 312 participants (191 women, 121 men) received free clinical examination and full-mouth digital X-ray. Data regarding the oral health status of the patients were collected such as the reason for the visit and the incidence of lesions. We examined 8101 teeth, 6.59% of which had been submitted to endodontic treatment and 15.02% of which were lower molars. Lower molars were reported missing more frequently, in detail 16.24%. Moreover 3.89% of the lower molars had developed an apical lesion, whereas only 0.08% of the lower incisors. Periapical lesions were present in 0.29% of not endodontically treated teeth, while in endodontically treated teeth lesions were present in 17.04%. Additionally, 15.65% of the endodontically treated teeth showed incongruous (long or short) seals. A prevalence of women (61.21%) over men (38.78%) was reported indicating that women attend to their oral health more. Endodontic treatment success and failure in over- or under-filled teeth was evaluated with success being verified in 97% of appropriately treated teeth; the success rate decreases in inappropriately treated teeth (by 72.73% in over-filled and 77.71% under-filled teeth). The prevalence of teeth with periapical lesions amounted to 1.35%. Finally, endodontically treated teeth with periapical lesions amounted to 17.04%. Successful treatment can be achieved when disease is intercepted at an early stage while prevention still remains better than cure.
Swipe out Stroke: Feasibility and efficacy of using a smart-phone based mobile application to improve compliance with weight loss in obese minority stroke patients and their carers
Authors: Ifejika Nneka Lotea , Noser Elizabeth Anne , Grotta James C , Savitz Sean I
Published: March 2016

Rationale

Swipe out Stroke (SOS) examines the use of a smartphone-based mobile application to reduce obesity in high-risk minority stroke patients. At record-high levels in the United States, obesity disproportionately affects minorities and is highly correlated with cerebrovascular disease. Unfortunately, structured weight loss programs are expensive, and compliance significantly decreases upon program completion. Mobile health (mHealth) technology is an innovative, cost-effective way to bridge this gap. Minorities spend over 4.5 billion dollars annually on consumer electronics, making studies that utilize mHealth applications ideal for health promotion and disease prevention.

Aims and design

SOS is a prospective, randomized-controlled trial with open blinded endpoint comparing an mHealth based dietary intervention to usual care to facilitate weight reduction. Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke survivors and their carers are recruited from the acute care service of a Houston-based comprehensive stroke center. A neurorehabilitation physician or vascular neurologist meets with participants during the index hospitalization, a baseline clinic visit, followed by visits at 1, 3, and 6 month intervals. The SOS Team focuses on feasible modifications to the Southern dietary pattern (fried foods, fatty foods, added fats, eggs, processed meats, such as bacon and ham, organ meats (e.g., liver), and sweetened drinks) and caloric restriction to facilitate a 5% reduction in total body weight. Practical barriers to adherence are addressed, such as access to transportation, financial limitations, and depression.

Study outcomes

The primary dependent measure is a reduction of total body weight. Secondary outcomes include systolic blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and Factor VIII.

Conclusion

SOS will determine whether a Phase III effectiveness trial of a smartphone-based mobile application to address obesity-related health disparities is warranted throughout the Southeastern United States (Stroke Belt).
Morphological classification of penetrating artery pontine infarcts and association with risk factors and prognosis: The SPS3 trial
Authors: Wilson Laura K , Pearce Lesly A , Arauz Antonio , Anderson David C , Tapia Jorge , Bazan Carlos , Benavente Oscar R , Field Thalia S
Published: March 2016

Background

Pontine infarcts are common and often attributed to small vessel disease (“small deep infarcts”) or basilar branch atherosclerosis (“wedge shaped”). A well-described morphological differentiation using magnetic resonance images has not been reported. Furthermore, whether risk factors and outcomes differ by morphology, or whether infarct morphology should guide secondary prevention strategy, is not well characterized.

Methods

All participants in the Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes Study with magnetic resonance imaging -proven pontine infarcts were included. Infarcts were classified as well-circumscribed small deep (small deep infarct, i.e. lacunar), paramedian, atypical paramedian, or other based on diffusion-weighted imaging, T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, and T1-magnetic resonance images. Inter-rater reliability was high (90% agreement, Cohen’s kappa = 0.84). Clinical and radiologic features independently associated with small deep infarct versus paramedian infarcts were identified (multivariable logistic regression). Differences in stroke risk and death were assessed using Cox proportional hazards.

Results

Of the 3020 patients enrolled, 644 had pontine infarcts; 619 images were available: 302(49%) small deep infarct, 245 (40%) paramedian wedge, 35 (6%) atypical paramedian, and 37 (6%) other. Among vascular risk factors, only smoking (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.3) was independently associated with small deep infarct versus paramedian infarcts; on neuroimaging, old lacunes on T1/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (OR 1.8, 1.3–2.6) and intracranial stenosis (any location) ≥50% (OR 0.62, 0.41–0.96). Small deep infarct versus paramedian was not predictive of either recurrent stroke or death, and there was no interaction with assigned treatment.

Conclusions

Pontine infarcts can be reliably classified based on morphology using clinical magnetic resonance images. Few risk factors differed between small deep infarct and paramedian infarcts with no differences in recurrent stroke or mortality. There was no difference in response to different antiplatelet or blood pressure treatment strategies between these two groups.

Registration

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/NCT00059306 .
Management of common infections in pregnancy
Authors: Parker Hazel , Auckland Cressida
Published: March 2016

Pregnant women are peculiarly vulnerable to infections – the mechanism for this is multi-factorial and includes immune tolerance to the fetus (and placenta) itself, and maternal physiological changes, such as urinary stasis and reduced lung reserve. Some infections are more severe in pregnancy, such as malaria, influenza, hepatitis E and measles. Other infections place the fetus and/or newborn infant at particular risk, such as herpes simplex virus, varicella, listeria and toxoplasmosis. This unique status is recognised by the NHS in the many infection prevention initiatives available to pregnant women: free NHS dental care, the infectious diseases in pregnancy screening programme (for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and syphilis infection), the vaccination programme, and in the general advice provided by midwives and their healthcare teams. In this article, we aim to cover issues that we, as pharmacists and microbiologists, are commonly asked about regarding pregnant women, including: antibiotic safety, management of common genitourinary infections, immunisation, rash exposures and rashes.
Bronchiectasis
Authors: Austin Keziah , Borrowman Jessica , Davies Gary
Published: March 2016

Bronchiectasis is defined as an irreversible dilatation and thickening of the airways, leading to chronic cough, sputum production, recurrent infections and bacterial colonisation. It is a common condition, thought to affect 1 in 1000 individuals. Due to the wide range of potential differential diagnoses for the patient presenting with chronic cough, bronchiectasis is not always considered by GPs. As such, this article aims to outline the causes (and therefore the patients at risk), presentation, investigation and community treatment of bronchiectasis, as well as how to recognise and manage the patient with an acute exacerbation presenting in primary care. It will also briefly describe complications and prognosis of bronchiectasis, in order that communication with the patient with this chronic condition can be optimised. The majority of this article will focus on the management of bronchiectasis in adults.
A cross-sectional survey of the acceptability of data collection processes for validation of a European point prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use
Authors: Price Lesley , Reilly Jacqui , Godwin Jon , Cairns Shona , Hopkins Susan , Cookson Barry , Malcolm William , Hughes Gareth , Lyytikäinen Outi , Coignard Bruno , Hansen Sonja
Published: March 2016

Background:

Statistical measurements alone are insufficient to ensure robust data for point prevalence surveys (PPS) of healthcare-associated infections (HAI). Data quality is determined by the type of data, data collection methods and available resources. Data collectors’ views regarding the acceptability of data collection process for validation studies are also important to consider.

Aim:

To explore data collectors’ views on the acceptability of data collection processes used for a European validation PPS of HAI and antimicrobial use (AMU).

Methods:

An anonymous online survey was conducted with 67 data collectors from 10 European countries involved in the study.

Findings:

Twenty-five (64.1%) participants viewed AMU data collection as easy/quite easy whereas only five (12.8%) thought HAI data collection was easy/quite easy. Six (17%) participants indicated that incentives and 21 (56.8%) that disincentives were possibly/definitely present for reporting cases of HAI. Engagement of staff was not thought to have adversely affected data collection as only one (2.6%) and five (15.4%) participants thought involvement of hospital PPS teams and administration was low/very low, respectively.

Discussion:

Participants believed the approaches used were appropriate but that more training was required prior to data collection, some case definitions should be reviewed and the number of variables reduced.
Aspects of Hyperglycemia Contribution to Arterial Stiffness and Cardiovascular Complications in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Gordin Daniel , Groop Per-Henrik
Published: March 2016

Controlling the blood glucose level is of outmost importance for the prevention of the micro- and macrovascular diabetic complications observed in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Although the pathogenesis behind the complex cascade of complications is far from solved, one possible mechanism could be a negative effect of glucose on the arteries resulting in a stiffening of the arteries and ultimately in vascular complications. Intriguingly, patients with T1D have been shown to suffer from premature arterial aging compared to nondiabetic subjects—an association that is even more evident in the presence of diabetic complications such as diabetic nephropathy. Arterial stiffness has in several patient populations been shown to independently predict cardiovascular disease. However, interventional studies aimed at attenuating arterial stiffness to reduce cardiovascular disease in T1D are yet to come. Moreover, most of the data on pharmacological treatments of arterial stiffening are directed toward pathophysiological pathways other than hyperglycemia. Interestingly, the sodium-glucose transport-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin was recently shown to reduce both blood pressure and arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes. Whether, these effects can also be replicated in patients with T1D is an intriguing question. Tight metabolic and antihypertensive control are still of central importance for the prevention and the treatment of diabetic complications. However, the need for a noninvasive intermediate marker to identify at risk patients for aggressive treatment is evident. One such tool might be arterial stiffness linking diabetes to increased cardiovascular risk. Future research efforts exploring large-scale databases will play a key role in the identification of other clinically useful markers.
An evaluation of a cognitive educational program tailored for young women with mental illness: A qualitative interview study
Authors: Leksell Janeth , Billing Ewa
Published: March 2016

Mental illness is a growing problem in numerous industrialized countries. Young women in particular report problems such as anxiety, worry and depression. The aim of this study was to evaluate a cognitive educational program offered to young women with mental illness by listening to how they discussed their own social skills and capability to obtain work or education. Five women in the age range of 18–26 years, who had been unemployed for at least four months, diagnosed as suffering from mental illness, and who also participated in a cognitive educational program were interviewed. The text from the interviews was analyzed using content analysis. The analysis resulted in the construction of the following theme: ‘Being together in an inspiring educational program supports the women’s own ability to devise a holistic life puzzle’ . The participants’ answers were grouped into the following categories: ‘Perceptions of the educational program’ and ‘Social network’ with four subcategories. Being together with others in the same situation would appear to support the women’s own abilities, especially in an environment characterized by strict routines and nearness. These findings indicate the need to develop interventions for young women with mental illness which encourage spaces for collective support.
Home healthcare nurses’ experiences of being on stand by as a first responder in a ‘While Waiting For the Ambulance’ assignment
Authors: Svensson Anders , Fridlund Bengt , Wångmar Erik , Elmqvist Carina
Published: March 2016

The aim of the study is to describe experiences of the ‘While Waiting for the Ambulance’ (WWFA) assignment, as described by home healthcare nurses (HHCNs). Since the early 1990s, municipal resources in Sweden, preferably firefighters, have been dispatched on WWFA. In order to further assist the local residents on an island in the southwest of Sweden, HHCNs have recently begun accompanying firefighters on WWFA. A reflective lifeworld approach was used for data analysis including in-depth interviews with eight HHCNs. When WWFA was established, the HHCNs experienced lack of clarity in where their responsibilities start and end. A split role is described, and there is a paradox in that the responders are meant to collaborate toward saving lives, when the assignment itself has a lack of collaborative structure. Ethical dilemmas and inner emotional worries led to the nurses expressing a need for support before, during and after WWFA.
Pathways to Financing College
Authors: McCabe Janice , Jackson Brandon A.
Published: March 2016

Researchers have investigated many aspects of college financing. Yet, we know little about the processes involved—that is, the details of students’ understandings and experiences, intersectional differences by race and first-generation-student background, and changes over students’ college careers. Based on students’ narratives, this article addresses these gaps in the literature by developing the concept of pathways to financing college to capture race- and class-based inequalities in the financial, cultural, and social capital students draw on as they navigate college costs and how these resources change over time. We find four pathways: (1) white students whose parents attended college relied on their parents’ financial and cultural capital; (2) white first-generation students initially received financial help from parents, but these resources ran out, leaving a burden on students in the later years of college; (3) black students whose parents attended college pieced together capital from multiple sources, including social capital from parents’ networks; and (4) black and Latina/o first-generation students shouldered the burden themselves. Our qualitative, intersectional, and longitudinal approach sheds new light on the social reproduction of inequalities by documenting inconsistencies in financial, cultural, and social capital provided by parents and counselors throughout students’ college careers and how students lacking such resources often muddle through alone.
A dynamic intron retention program in the mammalian megakaryocyte and erythrocyte lineages
Authors: Edwards Christopher R. , Ritchie William , Wong Justin J.-L. , Schmitz Ulf , Middleton Robert , An Xiuli , Mohandas Narla , Rasko John E. J. , Blobel Gerd A.
Published: March 2016

Key Points

Dynamic intron retention programs exist in the murine megakaryocyte and erythroid and human erythroid lineages. Intron retention inversely correlates with expression levels of a large set of transcripts.
Mesenchymal stem cells and cutaneous wound healing: novel methods to increase cell delivery and therapeutic efficacy
Authors: Lee Dylan E. , Ayoub Nagi , Agrawal Devendra K.
Published: March 2016

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) (also known as multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells) possess the capacity for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation, and their ability to enhance cutaneous wound healing has been well characterized. Acting via paracrine interactions, MSCs accelerate wound closure, increase angiogenesis, promote resolution of wound inflammation, favorably regulate extracellular matrix remodeling, and encourage regeneration of skin with normal architecture and function. A number of studies have employed novel methods to amplify the delivery and efficacy of MSCs. Non-traditional sources of MSCs, including Wharton’s jelly and medical waste material, have shown efficacy comparable to that of traditional sources, such as bone marrow and adipose tissue. The potential of alternative methods to both introduce MSCs into wounds and increase migration of MSCs into wound areas has also been demonstrated. Taking advantage of the associations between MSCs with M2 macrophages and microRNA, methods to enhance the immunomodulatory capacity of MSCs have shown success. New measures to enhance angiogenic capabilities have also exhibited effectiveness, often demonstrated by increased levels of proangiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor. Finally, hypoxia has been shown to have strong wound-healing potential in terms of increasing MSC efficacy. We have critically reviewed the results of the novel studies that show promise for the continued development of MSC-based wound-healing therapies and provide direction for continued research in this field.
Linesearch algorithms for split equilibrium problems and nonexpansive mappings
Authors: Dinh Bui Van , Son Dang Xuan , Jiao Liguo , Kim Do Sang
Published: March 2016

In this paper, we first propose a weak convergence algorithm, called the linesearch algorithm, for solving a split equilibrium problem and nonexpansive mapping (SEPNM) in real Hilbert spaces, in which the first bifunction is pseudomonotone with respect to its solution set, the second bifunction is monotone, and fixed point mappings are nonexpansive. In this algorithm, we combine the extragradient method incorporated with the Armijo linesearch rule for solving equilibrium problems and the Mann method for finding a fixed point of an nonexpansive mapping. We then combine the proposed algorithm with hybrid cutting technique to get a strong convergence algorithm for SEPNM. Special cases of these algorithms are also given.
Defensin gene variation and HIV/AIDS: a comprehensive perspective needed
Authors: Mehlotra Rajeev K , Zimmerman Peter A , Weinberg Aaron
Published: March 2016

Both α- and β-defensins have anti–human immunodeficiency virus activity. These defensins achieve human immunodeficiency virus inhibition through a variety of mechanisms, including direct binding with virions, binding to and modulation of host cell-surface receptors with disruption of intracellular signaling, and functioning as chemokines or cytokines to augment and alter adaptive immune responses. Polymorphisms in the defensin genes have been associated with susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus infection and disease progression. However, the roles that these defensins and their genetic polymorphisms have in influencing human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome outcomes are not straightforward and, at times, appear contradictory. Differences in populations, study designs, and techniques for genotyping defensin gene polymorphisms may have contributed to this lack of clarity. In addition, a comprehensive approach, where both subfamilies of defensins and their all-inclusive genetic polymorphism profiles are analyzed, is lacking. Such an approach may reveal whether the human immunodeficiency virus inhibitory activities of α- and β-defensins are based on parallel or divergent mechanisms and may provide further insights into how the genetic predisposition for susceptibility or resistance to human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is orchestrated between these molecules.
ReCAP: Pattern of Duplicate Presentations at National Hematology-Oncology Meetings: Influence of the Pharmaceutical Industry
Authors: Ramchandren Radhakrishnan , Schiffer Charles A. , Ramchandren Radhakrishnan , Schiffer Charles A.
Published: March 2016

CONTEXT AND QUESTION ASKED:

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meetings are two of the largest conferences in the fields of hematology and oncology. These meetings are attended by physicians, researchers, pharmaceutical industry colleagues, and representatives from the media and business sectors. The intention of both societies, as stated in their submission guidelines, is to accept abstracts that have not previously been presented. These policies are presumably in place to minimize redundancy and, due to time and space constraints, allow the largest number of researchers to present their findings. Hence, we asked, are there duplicative presentations at these two large meetings, and if so, how often do they occur?

METHODS—WHAT WE DID:

To date, however, the success of the societies in eliminating duplication has not been carefully analyzed. In addition, the motivations behind re-presentation have not been evaluated objectively. Therefore, we conducted a review of 327 malignant hematology (non-transplantation) abstracts presented at ASCO 2010 and compared them with prior and subsequent ASCO and ASH meetings to evaluate the incidence of duplicate presentations and their relationship to funding sources over a 2 year time frame.

RESULTS—WHAT WE FOUND:

Our analysis indicated that 31% of accepted abstracts were duplicated during the 2-year time frame, with those indicating pharmaceutical support three times more likely to be duplicated ( Figure 1 ).

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE & LIMITATIONS OF DATA:

These findings suggest that a substantial number of duplicative abstracts are re-presented, with a disproportionate number having pharma sponsorship. The motivations for duplication are varied but may include an influence of pharma marketing strategies. Although these results are limited by our search strategy and to this 2-year time frame, the results were similar when we analyzed ASH and ASCO 2014 leukemia abstracts. These findings demonstrate the need for a more effective abstract selection system and that further study of the role of marketing in large meetings such as ASCO and ASH would be appropriate. [Figure: see text]
ReCAP: Identifying Severe Adverse Event Clusters Using the National Cancer Institute’s Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events
Authors: Zhong Xiaobo , Lim Emerson A. , Hershman Dawn L. , Moinpour Carol M. , Unger Joseph , Lee Shing M. , Zhong Xiaobo , Lim Emerson A. , Hershman Dawn L. , Moinpour Carol M. , Unger Joseph , Lee Shing M.
Published: March 2016

CONTEXT & QUESTION ASKED:

Exploring the relationship among adverse events is important because those that arise from a common mechanism are amenable to a common intervention, which can improve symptom management, quality of life, and treatment adherence. To date, symptom cluster studies have used patient-reported data, which are not always available in clinical trials. In this study, we proposed using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) to identify adverse event clusters because the CTCAE are collected as standard practice and can therefore be used when patient-reported outcomes are unavailable. Hence, is it feasible to identify severe adverse events clusters from data captured using the CTCAE in clinical trials?

SUMMARY ANSWER:

Six severe adverse events clusters were identified in patients with advanced prostate cancer. Identifying adverse events clusters using CTCAE data from clinical trials is feasible.

METHODS:

A variable-based hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted using the CTCAE data captured from 323 patients who experienced at least one grade 3 or higher adverse event in an advanced prostate cancer randomized clinical trial conducted by SWOG (S9916).

BIAS, CONFOUNDING FACTOR(S), DRAWBACKS:

The difficulty of using adverse event data from clinical trials is that often not all adverse events are recorded. In our study, only the highest severity grade for each adverse event type was recorded, and only grade 3 or higher adverse events were captured reliably. Moreover, in contrast to previous publications on symptom cluster that used patient-reported outcomes, the CTCAE is clinician reported and may not accurately reflect the presence of patient symptoms and the severity of these symptoms.

REAL-LIFE IMPLICATIONS:

Capturing adverse events using the CTCAE, which is standard practice in all clinical trials, can be used to understand the relationships among adverse events and to identify adverse events clusters when patient-reported outcomes are unavailable. [Figure: see text]
American Society of Clinical Oncology Policy Statement on Clinical Pathways in Oncology
Authors: Zon Robin T. , Frame James N. , Neuss Michael N. , Page Ray D. , Wollins Dana S. , Stranne Steven , Bosserman Linda D.
Published: March 2016

The use of clinical pathways in oncology care is increasingly important to patients and oncology providers as a tool for enhancing both quality and value. However, with increasing adoption of pathways into oncology practice, concerns have been raised by ASCO members and other stakeholders. These include the process being used for pathway development, the administrative burdens on oncology practices of reporting on pathway adherence, and understanding the true impact of pathway use on patient health outcomes. To address these concerns, ASCO’s Board of Directors established a Task Force on Clinical Pathways, charged with articulating a set of recommendations to improve the development of oncology pathways and processes, allowing the demonstration of pathway concordance in a manner that promotes evidence-based, high-value care respecting input from patients, payers, and providers. These recommendations have been approved and adopted by ASCO’s Board of Directors on August 12, 2015, and are presented herein.
Continuous Popliteal Sciatic Blocks: Does Varying Perineural Catheter Location Relative to the Sciatic Bifurcation Influence Block Effects? A Dual-Center, Randomized, Subject-Masked, Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Monahan Amanda M. , Madison Sarah J. , Loland Vanessa J. , Sztain Jacklynn F. , Bishop Michael L. , Sandhu NavParkash S. , Bellars Richard H. , Khatibi Bahareh , Schwartz Alexandra K. , Ahmed Sonya S. , Donohue Michael C. , Nomura Scott T. , Wen Cindy H. , Ilfeld Brian M.
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND:

Multiple studies have demonstrated that, for single-injection popliteal sciatic nerve blocks, block characteristics are dependent upon local anesthetic injection relative to the sciatic nerve bifurcation. In contrast, this relation remains unexamined for continuous popliteal sciatic nerve blocks. We, therefore, tested the hypothesis that postoperative analgesia is improved with the perineural catheter tip at the level of the bifurcation compared with 5 cm proximal to the bifurcation.

METHODS:

Preoperatively, subjects having moderately painful foot or ankle surgery were randomly assigned to receive an ultrasound-guided subepimyseal perineural catheter inserted either at or 5 cm proximal to the sciatic nerve bifurcation. Subjects received a single injection of mepivacaine 1.5% either via the insertion needle preoperatively or the perineural catheter postoperatively, followed by an infusion of ropivacaine 0.2% (6 mL/h basal, 4 mL bolus, and 30-min lockout) for the study duration. The primary end point was the average pain measured on a numeric rating scale (0–10) in the 3 hours before a data collection telephone call the morning after surgery.

RESULTS:

The average numeric rating scale of subjects with a catheter inserted at the sciatic nerve bifurcation (n = 64) was a median (10th, 25th to 75th, and 90th quartiles) of 3.0 (0.0, 2.4–5.0, and 7.0) vs 2.0 (0.0, 1.0–4.0, and 5.0) for subjects with a catheter inserted proximal to the bifurcation (n = 64; P = 0.008). Similarly, maximum pain scores were greater in the group at the bifurcation: 6.0 (3.0, 4.4–8.0, and 9.0) vs 5.0 (0.0, 3.0–8.0, and 10.0) (P = 0.019). Differences between the groups for catheter insertion time, opioid rescue dose, degree of numbness in the foot/toes, catheter dislodgement, and fluid leakage did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS:

For continuous popliteal sciatic nerve blocks, a catheter inserted 5 cm proximal to the sciatic nerve bifurcation provides superior postoperative analgesia in subjects having moderately painful foot or ankle surgery compared with catheters located at the bifurcation. This is in marked contrast with single-injection popliteal sciatic nerve blocks for which benefits are afforded to local anesthetic injection distal, rather than proximal, to the bifurcation.
A Discussion of the Principles for the Combination of “Feet” In the Pentasyllabic Shi Genre
Authors: Minli Zhao , Ridgway Benjamin
Published: March 2016

China's earliest poetic genres formed in direct relationship with music, and pentasyllabic shi poetry is no exception. This was a new poetic genre that formed after tetrasyllabic poetry and the sao style associated with the Chuci 楚辭 (Lyrics of Chu), and it represented a breakthrough in the formal development of Chinese poetic genres. The lines of shi poetry are made up of a “balanced foot” and an “unbalanced foot,” with the balanced foot in the front and the unbalanced foot following behind. Pentasyllabic shi poetry flourished during the Han dynasty, and its development was driven forward by the exploration of the musical and rhythmic properties of the Chinese language in poetic form. Given that Chinese classical poetry was born from music, the sound and rhythm of poetry are of great importance. Chinese is a monosyllabic language in which each graph has just one syllable. Ideally, a line of poetry must maintain two properties: first, to express the semantic meaning of each single monosyllabic word and, second, to allow for the free combination of monosyllabic words. Pentasyllabic shi poetry is a form precisely suited to fulfill these two conditions. In the initial stage of its development, poets focused primarily on the balance in the foot of each line and the balance within poetic lines. Later they focused increasingly on balance in the combination of monosyllabic words and in the parallel arrangement of lines in couplets. The fact that pentasyllabic shi poetry ultimately moved toward greater tonal regulation similarly is due in large part to greater attention to the role of musical rhythm.
Amoebic encephalitis: case report and literature review of neuroimaging findings
Authors: Lukies Matthew William , Watanabe Yoshiyuki , Maeda Tetsuo , Kusakabe Shinsuke , Arita Hideyuki , Tomiyama Noriyuki
Published: March 2016

We present a fatal case of amoebic encephalitis due to Acanthamoeba spp. in an immunosuppressed male. Amoebic encephalitis can be a diagnostic challenge as clinical features are non-specific and imaging findings resemble other more common diagnoses such as tumours, haemorrhage or encephalitis from other causes. Here, we present the diagnostic imaging findings in this case and review the reported imaging findings in other cases throughout the literature.
Advances of gene therapy for primary immunodeficiencies
Authors: Candotti Fabio
Published: March 2016

In the recent past, the gene therapy field has witnessed a remarkable series of successes, many of which have involved primary immunodeficiency diseases, such as X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency, adenosine deaminase deficiency, chronic granulomatous disease, and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. While such progress has widened the choice of therapeutic options in some specific cases of primary immunodeficiency, much remains to be done to extend the geographical availability of such an advanced approach and to increase the number of diseases that can be targeted. At the same time, emerging technologies are stimulating intensive investigations that may lead to the application of precise genetic editing as the next form of gene therapy for these and other human genetic diseases.
Dexmedetomidine or medetomidine: which should veterinary surgeons select?
Authors: Bennett Rachel C , Restitutti Flavia
Published: March 2016

Medetomidine, an alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist, is a racemic mixture of two optical stereoisomers: dexmedetomidine (the active enantiomer) and levomedetomidine. Both medetomidine and dexmedetomidine are authorised for use in cats and dogs in the UK. Dexmedetomidine may offer some therapeutic benefits when compared with the racemic mixture. This article reviews some of the current literature on these two drugs, to assess whether dexmedetomidine should be used in preference to medetomidine. Studies have compared the efficacy of the active enantiomer with the racemate in dogs and cats. In dogs, at doses considered to be equipotent, the sedative scores and analgesic effects could not be distinguished following intravenous administration. Following intramuscular (IM) administration, medetomidine was faster in onset and the magnitude of effect was also greater than that obtained with dexmedetomidine. In cats, IM medetomidine had a tendency to produce higher sedation scores and a greater level of analgesia. When administered as part of the ‘cat quad’ protocol for castration, there were no significant differences in sedative effects, but cats receiving dexmedetomidine were able to stand earlier. Atipamezole was equally effective in reversal of dexmedetomidine and medetomidine. Duration of action is shorter following administration of dexmedetomidine. Differences in efficacy are dependent on the route of administration. This information may be useful to clinicians when choosing which one of these drugs to use clinically.