bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Twitter Revolution in the Gulf Countries
Authors: Al-Jenaibi Badreya
Published: March 2016

The use of social media received a lot of ‘buzz’ due to the Arab Spring because of the events that unfurled in the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, among other places. However, although not as dramatic as overthrowing a current regime, the use of social media has been revolutionary in most areas of the Middle East, especially the most conservative societies that have been relatively closed to information that flowed without constraint. Saudi Arabia, for example, now has the largest growing Twitter community of all the nations in the Arabian Gulf. Known for its tight rein on public discourse and the flow of information, even elements of the current regime are opening doors to a new public discourse in large part due to the influence of social media. This project will explore the social media phenomenon that has had such an impact on the relatively closed societies of the Arab world, specifically on how it has changed the nature of public. The researcher used content analysis of four Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) journalist accounts and surveyed online research publications related to the subject from two different library databases that included hundreds of peer-reviewed academic journals. Also, the researcher conducted online keyword searches for information about research publications on the subject. The article concluded that the use of Twitter is shifting the Arab people discourse and opinion in the kingdom because those opinions are being heard instead of censored. Social media is having a major impact on the conservative Saudi, Qatar and UAE societies.
Self-monitoring of composite structures strengthened with prestressed hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer sheets
Authors: Yang Caiqian , Wang Guan , Wang Hongtao , Jiao Youjin , Xia Yefei , Zhang Honglei , Zhang Yufeng , Wu Zhishen
Published: March 2016

A new type of intelligent composite structure is proposed, consisting of reinforced concrete and prestressed hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer sheets. The hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer consists of basalt and carbon fibers. The carbon fibers function as both sensitive and structural materials to improve stiffness of the hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer sheets and provide a self-monitoring function, whereas basalt fibers function only as structural materials to improve their ductility and decrease the cost. A series of experiments were performed to study the mechanical and monitoring performances of the hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer–concrete composite structures. The results show that their mechanical and self-monitoring performances are markedly upgraded through prestressing the hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer sheets. The prestress improves both the strengthening and monitoring performances. Compared with the control beams, the cracking, steel yielding, and peak loads are improved by 44%, 26%, and 36%, respectively. Results reveal that the prestress also upgrades the monitoring sensitivity and stability of the hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer sheets. Since the electrical behavior is closely related to the mechanical behavior of the hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer–concrete composite beams, the strain, cracking, steel yielding, and the debonding and rupture of the hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer sheets can be well identified through the resistance measurement. A built-in health monitoring function is, thus, demonstrated for the intelligent hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer–concrete composite structures.
Melnikov-method-based broadband mechanism and necessary conditions of nonlinear rotating energy harvesting using piezoelectric beam
Authors: Chen Zhongsheng , Guo Bin , Xiong Yeping , Cheng Congcong , Yang Yongmin
Published: March 2016

Nonlinearity can be used to enhance broadband rotating piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting, but how to construct a proper nonlinear rotating harvester is a challenging problem in engineering applications. This article presents a Melnikov-theory-based method to explore broadband mechanism and necessary conditions of nonlinear rotating piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting system. First, a perturbed state-space representation of nonlinear rotating energy harvesting system is built based on its dynamic model. It can be seen that bi-stability of the unperturbed nonlinear system is the physical basis of achieving broadband and low-frequency rotating energy harvesting. Second, the Melnikov function is defined to derive two necessary conditions of homoclinic bifurcation and chaotic motions. Then simulations are performed to identify the key parameters and their effects on the Melnikov conditions, including distance, rotating frequency, and excitations. It can be seen that homoclinic bifurcation and chaotic motions can occur in nonlinear rotating energy harvesting systems under single-frequency and broadband excitations. Finally, the experiments are carried out to validate the two necessary conditions. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can provide important guidelines for optimally designing nonlinear rotating piezoelectric energy harvesters in practice.
Experimental analysis of self-healing cement-based materials incorporating extruded cementitious hollow tubes
Authors: Formia Alessandra , Irico Sara , Bertola Federica , Canonico Fulvio , Antonaci Paola , Pugno Nicola Maria , Tulliani Jean-Marc
Published: March 2016

In this work, new advances concerning the feasibility of extruded cementitious hollow tubes as containing/releasing devices for healing agents and their potential scaling up are presented. Specifically, sodium silicate and potassium silicate were evaluated as healing agents in terms of their ability to diffuse through cracks and of their ability to restore the initial mechanical properties of mortars. Their effect was investigated also in combination with the use of a hydrophobic coating applied to the inner surface of some of the hollow tubes to enhance the release of the healing agents along the crack path. A colorant was added to the sodium/potassium silicate solutions to help highlighting the fracture area covered by the healing agents, thus allowing a qualitative evaluation of the effect of the hydrophobic coating. Finally, image analysis was performed to correlate the mechanical strength/stiffness recovery to the area covered by the healing agent, as well as to the position of the tubes within the samples. On the whole, satisfactory results were obtained as far as restoration of the mechanical properties is concerned: the best performance was displayed when using cementitious hollow tube containing sodium silicate, with maximum values of bending load and stiffness recovery for the system of more than 70% and 50%, respectively.
Division of labor in a swarm of autonomous underwater robots by improved partitioning social inhibition
Authors: Zahadat Payam , Schmickl Thomas
Published: March 2016

In this paper, a distributed algorithm for adaptive task allocation and adaptable partitioning of a swarm into different work-groups is proposed and used in a swarm of underwater robots. The algorithm is based on local interactions of agents and is inspired by honeybee age-polyethism. It is adaptive to changes in the swarm size (workforce) and relative demands (workload) for different tasks and it limits the number of switchings of agents between different tasks enabling specialization of agents. The preliminary version of the algorithm was introduced previously. Here a fully decentralized version of the algorithm is proposed that improves the previous version by removing the need for global information. The algorithm is successfully implemented in swarms of physically-embodied underwater robots while the swarm size and the demands for the tasks change over the course of the experiments.
Mediastinal Gray Zone Lymphoma
Authors: Verma Anuj , Shet Tanuja , Epari Sridhar , Gupta Manjudevi , Gujral Sumeet , Khanna Nehal , Laskar Siddhartha , Sengar Manju , Arora Brijesh , Menon Hari , Banavali Shripad
Published: March 2016

Aim. To identify aggressively behaving classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) of mediastinum and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) and to classify them as mediastinal gray zone lymphoma(MGZL) and to define a minimum immunopanel for the diagnosis of MGZL. Materials and Methods. Ninety-two mediastinal B-cell lymphomas were reviewed with a wide immunopanel and were classified as CHL, PMBCL, or MGZL. CHL with an expression of 3 or 4 transcription factors performed worse, and hence the CHL with ≥3 transcription factors were classified as MGZL-CHL. In PMBCL, the cases with a weak or negative CD20 and positive CD15 as well as those cases showing cyclin E positivity with a negative or focal LCA and any one of the transcription factors were classified as MGZL-PMBCL. Results. The MGZL cases expanded from 9 to 28 cases after using an extended immunopanel. CHL and PMBCL had a disease-free survival rate of 86.8% and 69.2% and an overall survival rate of 97.4% and 80.8%, respectively. MGZL-CHL and MGZL-PMBCL had a disease-free survival rate of 33% and 40% and an overall survival rate of 66.7% and 60%, respectively. Conclusion. Thus, the MGZL may be a wider category than we think and hence the use of a wide immunopanel is recommended to identify the aggressively behaving mediastinal B-cell lymphomas.
Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, Mental Health, and Education Providers’ Conceptualizations of Trauma-Informed Practice
Authors: Donisch Katelyn , Bray Chris , Gewirtz Abigail
Published: March 2016

This study systematically examined child-service providers’ conceptualizations of trauma-informed practice (TIP) across service systems, including child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health, and education. Eleven focus groups and nine individual interviews were conducted, totaling 126 child-service providers. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data with interrater reliability analyses indicating near perfect agreement between coders. Qualitative analysis revealed that child-service providers identified traumatic stress as an important common theme among children and families served as well as the interest in TIP in their service systems. At the same time, child-service providers generally felt knowledgeable about what they define TIP to be, although they articulated wide variations in the degree to which they are taught skills and strategies to respond to their traumatized clients. The results of this study suggest a need for a common lexicon and metric with which to advance TIP within and across child-service systems.
Advances in the diagnosis of acute aortic syndromes: Role of imaging techniques
Authors: Ciccone Marco Matteo , Dentamaro Ilaria , Masi Filippo , Carbonara Santa , Ricci Gabriella
Published: March 2016

Aortic diseases include a wide range of pathological conditions: aortic aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, acute aortic syndromes, atherosclerotic and inflammatory conditions, genetic diseases and congenital anomalies. Acute aortic syndromes have acute onset and may be life-threatening. They include aortic dissection, intramural haematoma, penetrating aortic ulcer and traumatic aortic injury. Pain is the common denominator to all acute aortic syndromes. Pain occurs regardless of age, gender and other associated clinical conditions. In this review, we deal with the main findings in the clinical setting and the most recent indications for diagnostic imaging, which are aimed to start an appropriate treatment and improve the short- and long-term prognosis of these patients.
Development of diaphragm connector elements for three-dimensional nonlinear dynamic analysis of precast concrete structures
Authors: Zhang Dichuan , Fleischman Robert , Naito Clay J , Zhang Zhi
Published: March 2016

Diaphragm connector elements were developed for three-dimensional finite element models of precast concrete structures used in nonlinear time history analyses. The use of discrete elements for the diaphragm connectors permits the direct evaluation of local force and deformation demands, information needed in calibrating design factors for a new diaphragm seismic design methodology. This article describes the element formulation. The connector elements consist of assemblages of standard elements readily available in most finite element software libraries. The connector element calibration is based on full-scale testing of common precast diaphragm connectors. In these tests, the connector exhibited hysteretic pinching, stiffness/strength degradation, and slip mechanisms. The diaphragm connector elements were constructed to capture these behaviors to an accuracy sufficient for establishing viable design factors, while still appropriate for insertion into large degree-of-freedom models. The models are validated against the results of simulation-driven tests for critical precast diaphragm joints and a half-scale shake table test.
Political rumoring on Twitter during the 2012 US presidential election: Rumor diffusion and correction
Authors: Shin Jieun , Jian Lian , Driscoll Kevin , Bar François
Published: March 2016

Social media can be a double-edged sword for political misinformation, either a conduit propagating false rumors through a large population or an effective tool to challenge misinformation. To understand this phenomenon, we tracked a comprehensive collection of political rumors on Twitter during the 2012 US presidential election campaign, analyzing a large set of rumor tweets ( n = 330,538). We found that Twitter helped rumor spreaders circulate false information within homophilous follower networks, but seldom functioned as a self-correcting marketplace of ideas. Rumor spreaders formed strong partisan structures in which core groups of users selectively transmitted negative rumors about opposing candidates. Yet, rumor rejecters neither formed a sizable community nor exhibited a partisan structure. While in general rumors resisted debunking by professional fact-checking sites (e.g. Snopes), this was less true of rumors originating with satirical sources.
The real Schur decomposition estimates Lyapunov characteristic exponents with multiplicity greater than one
Authors: Masarati Pierangelo , Tamer Aykut
Published: March 2016

Lyapunov characteristic exponents are indicators of the nature and of the stability properties of solutions of differential equations. The estimation of Lyapunov exponents of algebraic multiplicity greater than 1 is troublesome. In this work, we intuitively derive an interpretation of higher multiplicity Lyapunov exponents in forms that occur in simple linear time invariant problems of engineering relevance. We propose a method to determine them from the real Schur decomposition of the state transition matrix of the linear, nonautonomous problem associated with the fiducial trajectory. So far, no practical way has been found to formulate the method as an algorithm capable of mitigating over- or underflow in the numerical computation of the state transition matrix. However, this interesting approach in some practical cases is shown to provide quicker convergence than usual methods like the discrete QR and the continuous QR and Singular Value Decomposition (SVD)methods when Lyapunov exponents with multiplicity greater than one are present.
The hidden battle that shaped the history of sociology: Arnold van Gennep contra Emile Durkheim
Authors: Thomassen Bjørn
Published: March 2016

This article engages the so far neglected intellectual dispute between Emile Durkheim and Arnold van Gennep. It revisits the most salient points of van Gennep’s critique of Durkheim’s sociology, especially as relates to the study of religion. In this context, the article also discusses the possible influence of van Gennep’s work on Marcel Mauss. The article ends by indicating why a revisitation of van Gennep’s critique of Durkheim might matter for contemporary sociology.
Decoding the Disciplines: An Approach to Scientific Thinking
Authors: Pinnow Eleni
Published: March 2016

The Decoding the Disciplines methodology aims to teach students to think like experts in discipline-specific tasks. The central aspect of the methodology is to identify a bottleneck in the course content: a particular topic that a substantial number of students struggle to master. The current study compared the efficacy of standard lecture and readings (Control) to the Decoding the Disciplines methodology in teaching Introductory Psychology students about the scientific process. Relative to the Control group ( N = 45), students taught using the Decoding the Disciplines methodology ( N = 46) created better hypotheses and operational definitions and correctly identified more variables. These results suggest that using the Decoding the Discipline methodology may facilitate student learning about scientific inquiry.
Possible Worlds
Authors: Schulte Christopher M.
Published: March 2016

The author of this essay activates Bronwyn Davies’s conceptualization of listening as usual and listening emergently, along with Deleuze’s imaginary for ontology, as a means to enter into composition with children’s being and becoming in drawing. In doing so, the author argues for a concept and practice of listening that resonates with the entangled and complicated existence it has in our lives, an existence that is, like drawing, a truly precarious and teetering materiality.
Functional characterization of a mouse model for central post-stroke pain
Authors: Gritsch Simon , Bali Kiran Kumar , Kuner Rohini , Vardeh Daniel
Published: March 2016

Background

Stroke patients often suffer from a central neuropathic pain syndrome called central post-stroke pain. This syndrome is characterized by evoked pain hypersensitivity as well as spontaneous, on-going pain in the body area affected by the stroke. Clinical evidence strongly suggests a dysfunction in central pain pathways as an important pathophysiological factor in the development of central post-stroke pain, but the exact underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. To elucidate the underlying pathophysiology of central post-stroke pain, we generated a mouse model that is based on a unilateral stereotactic lesion of the thalamic ventral posterolateral nucleus, which typically causes central post-stroke pain in humans.

Results

Behavioral analysis showed that the sensory changes in our model are comparable to the sensory abnormalities observed in patients suffering from central post-stroke pain. Surprisingly, pharmacological inhibition of spinal and peripheral key components of the pain system had no effect on the induction or maintenance of the evoked hypersensitivity observed in our model. In contrast, microinjection of lidocaine into the thalamic lesion completely reversed injury-induced hypersensitivity.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the evoked hypersensitivity observed in central post-stroke pain is causally linked to on-going neuronal activity in the lateral thalamus.
Connexin 43 contributes to ectopic orofacial pain following inferior alveolar nerve injury
Authors: Kaji Kaori , Shinoda Masamichi , Honda Kuniya , Unno Syumpei , Shimizu Noriyoshi , Iwata Koichi
Published: March 2016

Background

Clinically, it is well known that injury of mandibular nerve fiber induces persistent ectopic pain which can spread to a wide area of the orofacial region innervated by the uninjured trigeminal nerve branches. However, the exact mechanism of such persistent ectopic orofacial pain is not still known. The present study was undertaken to determine the role of connexin 43 in the trigeminal ganglion on mechanical hypersensitivity in rat whisker pad skin induced by inferior alveolar nerve injury. Here, we examined changes in orofacial mechanical sensitivity following inferior alveolar nerve injury. Furthermore, changes in connexin 43 expression in the trigeminal ganglion and its localization in the trigeminal ganglion were also examined. In addition, we investigated the functional significance of connexin 43 in relation to mechanical allodynia by using a selective gap junction blocker (Gap27).

Results

Long-lasting mechanical allodynia in the whisker pad skin and the upper eyelid skin, and activation of satellite glial cells in the trigeminal ganglion, were induced after inferior alveolar nerve injury. Connexin 43 was expressed in the activated satellite glial cells encircling trigeminal ganglion neurons innervating the whisker pad skin, and the connexin 43 protein expression was significantly increased after inferior alveolar nerve injury. Administration of Gap27 in the trigeminal ganglion significantly reduced satellite glial cell activation and mechanical hypersensitivity in the whisker pad skin. Moreover, the marked activation of satellite glial cells encircling trigeminal ganglion neurons innervating the whisker pad skin following inferior alveolar nerve injury implies that the satellite glial cell activation exerts a major influence on the excitability of nociceptive trigeminal ganglion neurons.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that the propagation of satellite glial cell activation throughout the trigeminal ganglion via gap junctions, which are composed of connexin 43, plays a pivotal role in ectopic mechanical hypersensitivity in whisker pad skin following inferior alveolar nerve injury.
Crosstalk between astrocytic CXCL12 and microglial CXCR4 contributes to the development of neuropathic pain
Authors: Luo Xin , Tai Wai L , Sun Liting , Pan Zhiqiang , Xia Zhengyuan , Chung Sookja K , Cheung Chi Wai
Published: March 2016

Background

Chemokine axis chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 12/C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCL12/CXCR4) is an emerging pain modulator, but mechanisms for its involvement in neuropathic pain remain unclear. Here, we aimed to study whether CXCL12/CXCR4 axis modulated the development of neuropathic pain via glial mechanisms. In this study, two mouse models of neuropathic pain, namely partial sciatic nerve ligation (pSNL) model and chronic post-ischemia pain (CPIP) model, were used.

Results

In the dorsal horn of L3–L5 segment of spinal cord, CXCL12 and CXCR4 were expressed in both astrocyte and microglia in normal mice. In the pSNL or CPIP model, the expression level of CXCL12 in the ipsilateral L3–L5 segment of mice spinal cord was increased in an astrocyte-dependent manner on post-operative day (POD) 3. Intrathecal administration of CXCL12 with AMD3100 (CXCR4 antagonist) or minocycline (microglia activation inhibitor), but not fluorocitrate (astrocyte activation inhibitor), reversed CXCL12-indued mechanical allodynia in naïve mice. In these models, AMD3100 and AMD3465 (CXCR4 antagonist), administered daily from 1 h before surgery and up to POD 3, attenuated the development of mechanical allodynia. Moreover, AMD3100 administered daily from 1 h before surgery and up to POD 3 downregulated mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1β, and interleukin 6 in the ipsilateral L3–L5 segment of spinal cord in the pSNL and CPIP models on POD 3.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the crosstalk between astrocytic CXCL12 and microglial CXCR4 in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain using pSNL and CPIP models. Our results offer insights for the future research on CXCL12/CXCR4 axis and neuropathic pain therapy.
Mentally tough athletes are more aware of unsupportive coaching behaviours: Perceptions of coach behaviour, motivational climate, and mental toughness in sport
Authors: Nicholls Adam R , Morley Dave , Perry John L
Published: March 2016

In this study, we tested an a priori model that included coach behaviour, motivational climate, and mental toughness among 290 athletes. Structural equation modelling demonstrated that supportive coach behaviours were related to a task-involving climate, and that task-involving climates positively associated with mental toughness. The path between supportive coach behaviours and mental toughness was insignificant. When task-involving climate was taken into account, however, supportive coach behaviours were positively associated with task-involving climates, which in turn was positively associated with mental toughness. This study illustrates the importance of coach behaviour in relation to shaping the motivational climate, which in turn may impact on the development of mental toughness among athletes.
Meningitis and encephalitis
Authors: Short Matthew
Published: March 2016

Meningitis and encephalitis are medical emergencies that can be difficult to recognise. Although rare, they carry considerable mortality and morbidity, particularly when diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Both are notifiable diseases. This article will summarise the best practice approach to assessment and management in primary care.
A whole health economy approach to reducing MRSA bacteraemia incidence in diabetic foot ulcer patients
Authors: Branton Fiona , Cathcart Elaine , Bellamy Elaine
Published: March 2016

Introduction:

Ulceration of the foot is a common problem among diabetic patients. Infection is a major risk in diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) and many of these are caused by Staphylococcus aureus, in particular meticillin-resistant strains (MRSA). The control and management of MRSA remains a significant challenge and all healthcare organisations in England are required to meet Zero Tolerance Objectives for cases of MRSA bacteraemia (MRSAB). This paper describes a collaborative approach across the health economy to investigate factors contributing to the acquisition of MRSA and MRSAB among DFU patients and make improvements to care to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.

Methods:

A collaborative approach between acute and community healthcare providers and commissioners was used to conduct Root Cause Analysis and drive improvement to prevent MRSA transmission in DFU patients.

Results:

Screening of all DFU patients was initiated after 6 MRSAB were found to be associated with in DFU. In total 15 patients with the same MRSA antibiogram were identified. Following the implementation of actions focused on isolation, wound management, screening and cleaning no further cases were identified.

Conclusion:

This outbreak has demonstrated the value of cross-sector collaboration in investigating HCAI in patients with DFU, improving patient care and reducing the risk of MRSA transmission in these vulnerable patents.
Ready to Embrace Genetically Modified Wines? The Role of Knowledge Exposure and Intrinsic Wine Attributes
Authors: Lu Lu , Rahman Imran , Chi Christina Geng-Qing
Published: March 2016

This study examines whether knowledge exposure and supreme wine attributes such as appearance, aroma, taste, and hangover avoidance influence consumers’ quality evaluation and purchase intentions of genetically modified (GM) wines. We conducted two experimental studies in two different settings involving a total of 321 subjects. Results indicate that educating consumers with knowledge on GM wines efficiently reduces the fear caused by GM identity. Importantly, the desirable organoleptic and functional performances of GM wines not only reduce consumers’ concerns with GM products but also enable GM wines to surpass conventional options that are less salient in these performances. Specifically, consumers would choose a GM wine over traditional options if the GM wine has a superior appearance and the ability to eliminate a hangover. Furthermore, consumers express equal acceptance of GM wines and traditional counterparts when there are no differences in aroma and taste. This research delivers significant implications for wine marketing through examining a timely and controversial subject matter.
Airline Passenger Loyalty
Authors: Etemad-Sajadi Reza , Way Sean A. , Bohrer Laura
Published: March 2016

The current study contributes to the extant literature by illustrating that airlines can enhance passenger (customer) satisfaction and loyalty by focusing on the enhancement of those aspects of the pre-flight and in-flight service experience over which they have direct control. The results indicate that airline passenger perceived pre-flight service quality and perceived in-flight service quality are distinct aspects of airline service quality that have independent and positive direct effects on airline passenger satisfaction. Moreover, perceived pre-flight service quality had a substantive, positive impact on airline passenger loyalty. Our findings illustrate the importance of airline pre-flight service quality and highlight the focal role that customer perceptions of pre-experience service quality (e.g., pre-experience communication, procedures, and interactions) play in the enhancement of customer satisfaction and fostering customer loyalty.
Who Would Jesus Bomb? The Republican Jesus Meme and the Fracturing of Ideology
Authors: Duerringer Christopher M.
Published: March 2016

This project joins a growing conversation about the cultural significance of memes (and Internet memes in particular), offering a critical analysis of Republican Jesus—one popular image macro that mocks contemporary American conservatism—in order to illustrate the rhetorical potential of these putatively harmless do-it yourself (DIY) creations. Ultimately, I argue that Republican Jesus offers a critique of contemporary conservatism that creates “perspective by incongruity” and, thereby, creates a space for ideological struggle.
Reevaluation of the Influence of Appearance and Reflected Appraisals for Mixed-Race Identity
Authors: Sims Jennifer Patrice
Published: March 2016

Developed from Cooley’s looking-glass self, the theory of reflected appraisals is frequently used to explain how appearance influences the racial identity development of mixed-race people. However, postulating that racial identity develops via the internalization of the perception of what race one thinks others assume him or her to be rests on the assumption that others consistently perceive the individual in the same manner. Although true for many people, the appearance of mixed-race people is often ambiguous and changeable and is perceived differently depending on context, which results in mixed-race people’s being ascribed to, and interacted with as if a member of, a variety of different races and ethnicities. This fact illuminates a gap in our knowledge of how appearance influences racial identity absent consistent perception by others. Drawing on 30 interviews with mixed-race adults from a variety of racial backgrounds in the United States and United Kingdom, the author examines not only the particular experiences with differential racial perception that mixed-race people have but also the mechanisms by which appearance influences identity when one experiences varying perceptions from others. This work ultimately extends the theory of reflected appraisals by advancing the idea that, under certain conditions, identity can form from experiences being consistently inconsistently perceived when that consistent inconsistency itself functions as a reflected appraisal of a particular identity.
A Photo Elicitation Study on Chronically Ill Adolescents’ Identity Constructions During Transition
Authors: Hanghøj Signe , Boisen Kirsten A. , Schmiegelow Kjeld , Hølge-Hazelton Bibi
Published: March 2016

Adolescence is an important phase of life with increasing independence and identity development, and a vulnerable period of life for chronically ill adolescents with a high occurrence of insufficient treatment adherence. We conducted four photo elicitation focus group interviews with 14 adolescents (12-20 years) with juvenile idiopathic arthritis to investigate identity constructions during transition. Using a discourse analysis approach, six identity types were identified distributed on normal and marginal identities, which were lived either at home (home arena) or outside home with peers (out arena). Most participants positioned themselves as normal in the out arena and as ill in the home arena. Few participants positioned themselves as ill in an out arena, and they described how peers perceived this as a marginal and skewed behavior. This study contributes to a better understanding of why it can be extremely difficult to live with a chronic illness during adolescence.
Thrombocytopenia is associated with a dysregulated host response in critically ill sepsis patients
Authors: Claushuis Theodora A. M. , van Vught Lonneke A. , Scicluna Brendon P. , Wiewel Maryse A. , Klein Klouwenberg Peter M. C. , Hoogendijk Arie J. , Ong David S. Y. , Cremer Olaf L. , Horn Janneke , Franitza Marek , Toliat Mohammad R. , Nürnberg Peter , Zwinderman Aeilko H. , Bonten Marc J. , Schultz Marcus J. , van der Poll Tom
Published: March 2016

Key Points

Thrombocytopenia on intensive care unit admission is independently associated with increased mortality in patients with sepsis. Thrombocytopenia is associated with a more disturbed host response in critically ill patients with sepsis independent of disease severity.
FastPop: a rapid principal component derived method to infer intercontinental ancestry using genetic data
Authors: Li Yafang , Byun Jinyoung , Cai Guoshuai , Xiao Xiangjun , Han Younghun , Cornelis Olivier , Dinulos James E. , Dennis Joe , Easton Douglas , Gorlov Ivan , Seldin Michael F. , Amos Christopher I.
Published: March 2016

Background

Identifying subpopulations within a study and inferring intercontinental ancestry of the samples are important steps in genome wide association studies. Two software packages are widely used in analysis of substructure: Structure and Eigenstrat. Structure assigns each individual to a population by using a Bayesian method with multiple tuning parameters. It requires considerable computational time when dealing with thousands of samples and lacks the ability to create scores that could be used as covariates. Eigenstrat uses a principal component analysis method to model all sources of sampling variation. However, it does not readily provide information directly relevant to ancestral origin; the eigenvectors generated by Eigenstrat are sample specific and thus cannot be generalized to other individuals.

Results

We developed FastPop, an efficient R package that fills the gap between Structure and Eigenstrat. It can: 1, generate PCA scores that identify ancestral origins and can be used for multiple studies; 2, infer ancestry information for data arising from two or more intercontinental origins. We demonstrate the use of FastPop using 2318 SNP markers selected from the genome based on high variability among European, Asian and West African (African) populations. We conducted an analysis of 505 Hapmap samples with European, African or Asian ancestry along with 19661 additional samples of unknown ancestry. The results from FastPop are highly consistent with those obtained by Structure across the 19661 samples we studied. The correlations of the results between FastPop and Structure are 0.99, 0.97 and 0.99 for European, African and Asian ancestry scores, respectively. Compared with Structure, FastPop is more efficient as it finished ancestry inference for 19661 samples in 16 min compared with 21–24 h required by Structure. FastPop also provided scores based on SNP weights so the scores of reference population can be applied to other studies provided the same set of markers are used. We also present application of the method for studying four continental populations (European, Asian, African, and Native American).

Conclusions

We developed an algorithm that can infer ancestries on data involving two or more intercontinental origins. It is efficient for analyzing large datasets. Additionally the PCA derived scores can be applied to multiple data sets to ensure the same ancestry analysis is applied to all studies.
The modified S-iteration process for nonexpansive mappings in $\operatorname{CAT}(\kappa)$ spaces
Authors: Suparatulatorn Raweerote , Cholamjiak Prasit
Published: March 2016

We establish Δ-convergence results of a sequence generated by the modified S-iteration process for two nonexpansive mappings in complete $\operatorname {CAT}(\kappa)$
CAT
(
κ
)
spaces. Some numerical examples are also provided to compare with the Ishikawa-type iteration process. Our main result extends the corresponding results in the literature.
Characterization of neutrophil function in Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome
Authors: Roberts Helen , White Phillipa , Dias Irundika , McKaig Sarah , Veeramachaneni Ratna , Thakker Nalin , Grant Melissa , Chapple Iain
Published: March 2016

Papillon-Lefévre syndrome is a rare, inherited, autosomal-recessive disease, characterized by palmoplantar keratosis and severe prepubertal periodontitis, leading to premature loss of all teeth. Papillon-Lefévre syndrome is caused by a mutation in the cathepsin C gene, resulting in complete loss of activity and subsequent failure to activate immune response proteins. Periodontitis in Papillon-Lefévre syndrome is thought to arise from failure to eliminate periodontal pathogens as a result of cathepsin C deficiency, although mechanistic pathways remain to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to characterize comprehensively neutrophil function in Papillon-Lefévre syndrome. Peripheral blood neutrophils were isolated from 5 patients with Papillon-Lefévre syndrome, alongside matched healthy control subjects. For directional chemotactic accuracy, neutrophils were exposed to the chemoattractants MIP-1α and fMLP and tracked by real-time videomicroscopy. Reactive oxygen species generation was measured by chemiluminescence. Neutrophil extracellular trap formation was assayed fluorometrically, and proinflammatory cytokine release was measured following overnight culture of neutrophils with relevant stimuli. Neutrophil serine protease deficiencies resulted in a reduced ability of neutrophils to chemotax efficiently and an inability to generate neutrophil extracellular traps. Neutrophil extracellular trap-bound proteins were also absent in Papillon-Lefévre syndrome, and Papillon-Lefévre syndrome neutrophils released higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines in unstimulated and stimulated conditions, and plasma cytokines were elevated. Notably, neutrophil chemoattractants MIP-1α and CXCL8 were elevated in Papillon-Lefévre syndrome neutrophils, as was reactive oxygen species formation. We propose that relentless recruitment and accumulation of hyperactive/reactive neutrophils (cytokines, reactive oxygen species) with increased tissue transit times into periodontal tissues, alongside a reduced antimicrobial capacity, create a locally destructive chronic inflammatory cycle in Papillon-Lefévre syndrome.
Implementation of a Lung Cancer Nurse Navigator Enhances Patient Care and Delivery of Systemic Therapy at the British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver
Authors: Zibrik Kelly , Laskin Janessa , Ho Cheryl
Published: March 2016

Purpose:

A nurse navigator (NN) pilot project for patients with lung cancer was implemented in British Columbia, a publicly funded health-care system. The purpose was to improve referral practices, timelines, and availability of molecular testing for patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods:

Patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC referred to the BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, in 2011 and 2014, pre- and post-implementation of an NN, were included. Referral patterns, systemic therapy, radiotherapy (XRT) timelines, and molecular testing practices were compared.

Results:

The study included 408 patients: 212 in 2011 and 196 in 2014. Medical oncology (MO) end points comparing 2011 data with 2014 findings revealed that referral rates remained stable, and the proportion of patients who received systemic therapy increased from 57% to 69% (P = .05). Time from referral to MO consult was 18 days in 2011 versus 15.5 days in 2014 (P = .11); referral to systemic treatment was reduced from 48 to 38 days (P = .016). Comparison of molecular testing showed time between referral and the epidermal growth factor (EGFR) result was reduced from 34 days in 2011 to 20 days in 2014 (P < .001); rates of testing increased from 62% to 91%, respectively (P < .001); and EGFR mutation-positive rates were 19% versus 26%, respectively (P = .26). The radiation oncology (RO) end point results were as follows: 87% of patients were referred for RO consults in 2011 versus 80% in 2014 (P = .05), and the same proportion of patients received XRT (91% v 87%, respectively). Time from referral to RO consult decreased from 10 days in 2011 to 8 days in 2014 (P = .005); and referral to XRT in 2011 and 2014 was 18 days versus 11.5 days, respectively (P < .001).

Conclusion:

Implementation of an NN was associated with reduced wait times and increased molecular testing, improving appropriate delivery of first-line targeted therapy. NN involvement facilitates correct allocation of physician and clinical resources.
A Clinician’s Approach to Double-Hit Lymphoma: Identification, Evaluation, and Management
Authors: Staton Ashley D. , Cohen Jonathon B.
Published: March 2016

Double-hit lymphomas have concurrent rearrangements of CMYC and BCL2 or occasionally BCL6. Although double-hit lymphomas are a part of the mature B-cell lymphoma lineage, they have an aggressive clinical course that is complicated by an extremely poor response to standard therapy for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Overall survival is short for many patients with double-hit lymphomas, which reinforces the importance of identifying appropriate therapies for these patients. Fortunately, recent reports have demonstrated improved outcomes with the use of intensive induction therapies. This article discusses the biology, therapeutic considerations, treatment opinions, possible role of autologous stem-cell transplant, and need for ongoing clinical trials for this subgroup of patients with lymphoma.
Work Habits Are Valid Components of Evaluations of Anesthesia Residents Based on Faculty Anesthesiologists’ Daily Written Comments About Residents
Authors: Dexter Franklin , Masursky Danielle , Szeluga Debra , Hindman Bradley J.
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND:

In our department, faculty anesthesiologists routinely evaluate the resident physicians with whom they worked in an operative setting the day before, providing numerical scores to questions. The faculty can also enter a written comment if so desired. Because residents’ work habits are important to anesthesiology program directors, and work habits can improve with feedback, we hypothesized that faculty comments would include the theme of the anesthesia resident’s work habits.

METHODS:

We analyzed all 6692 faculty comments from January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2015. We quantified use of the theme of Dannefer et al.’s work habit scale, specifically the words and phrases in the scale, and synonyms to the words.

RESULTS:

Approximately half (50.7% [lower 99.99% confidence limit, 48.4%]) of faculty comments contained the theme of work habits. Multiple sensitivity analyses were performed excluding individual faculty, residents, and words. The lower confidence limits for comments containing the theme were each >42.7%.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although faculty anesthesiologists completed (numerical) questions based on the American College of Graduate Medical Education competencies to evaluate residents, an important percentage of written comments included the theme of work habits. The implication is that the theme has validity as one component of the routine evaluation of anesthesia residents.
On the Origin of Chinese Tonal Prosody: Argumentation from a Case Study of Shen Yue's Poems
Authors: Zhang Hongming
Published: March 2016

Shen Yue 沈約 (441–513) is widely believed to have created the poetic metrical theory of si sheng ba bing 四聲八病 (four tones and eight defects) and divided the four tones into ping 平 (level tone) and ze 仄 (oblique tone) categories, thus forming the binary contrast prosodic system in Chinese regulated-style verse. Victor Mair and Tsu-lin Mei have further argued that the rules of the “eight defects” and the concept of ping-ze contrast were designed by Shen Yue under the influence of Sanskrit prosodic theory. The most challenging puzzle that remains for scholars in the field is to understand why Shen Yue and the other Six dynasties poets failed to follow their own prosodic theory in their composition practices. The rise of regulated-style verse in the history of Chinese literature still remains something of a mystery. Through a case study of Shen Yue's poems, this essay aims to solve the puzzle by exploring: (1) the nature of poetic prosody, (2) tonal prosodic patterns in Chinese regulated verse, (3) problems with the Sanskrit origins hypothesis of Chinese tonal prosody, and (4) the pathways of Chinese poetic metricalization from the Six dynasties (222–589) to the Tang dynasty (618–907).
Emerging Indications for Fractionated Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
Authors: McTyre Emory , Helis Corbin A. , Farris Michael , Wilkins Lisa , Sloan Darrell , Hinson William H. , Bourland J. Daniel , Dezarn William A. , Munley Michael T. , Watabe Kounosuke , Xing Fei , Laxton Adrian W. , Tatter Stephen B. , Chan Michael D.
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND: Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) allows for the treatment of intracranial tumors with a high degree of dose conformality and precision. There are, however, certain situations wherein the dose conformality of GKRS is desired, but single-session treatment is contraindicated. In these situations, a traditional pin-based GKRS head frame cannot be used, because it precludes fractionated treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience in treating patients with fractionated GKRS using a relocatable, noninvasive immobilization system.

METHODS: Patients were considered candidates for fractionated GKRS if they had 1 or more of the following indications: a benign tumor >10 cc in volume or abutting the optic pathway, a vestibular schwannoma with the intent of hearing preservation, or a tumor previously irradiated with single-fraction GKRS. The immobilization device used for all patients was the Extend system (Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion, Elekta, Kungstensgatan, Stockholm).

RESULTS: We identified 34 patients treated with fractionated GKRS between August 2013 and February 2015. There were a total of 37 tumors treated including 15 meningiomas, 11 pituitary adenomas, 6 brain metastases, 4 vestibular schwannomas, and 1 hemangioma. At last follow-up, all 21 patients treated for perioptic tumors had stable or improved vision and all 4 patients treated for vestibular schwannoma maintained serviceable hearing. No severe adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSION: Fractionated GKRS was well tolerated in the treatment of large meningiomas, perioptic tumors, vestibular schwannomas with intent of hearing preservation, and reirradiation of previously treated tumors.
Mesial Extratemporal Lobe Epilepsy: Clinical Features and Surgical Strategies
Authors: Theys Tom , Minotti Lorella , Tassi Laura , Lo Russo Giorgio , Benabid Alim-Louis , Kahane Philippe , Chabardès Stephan
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND: Extratemporal lobe epilepsy surgery remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Scalp electroencephalography (EEG) correlates, clinical semiology, and imaging findings are often ambiguous or difficult to interpret, necessitating the need for invasive recordings. This is particularly true for those extratemporal lobe epilepsy cases in which seizures develop from the midline.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the clinical features and surgical strategies in mesial extratemporal lobe epilepsy.

METHODS: A retrospective study reviewing clinical and surgical characteristics was conducted in 30 patients who underwent epilepsy surgery in mesial extratemporal areas at our institution between 1991 and 2011.

RESULTS: Although the location of the epileptogenic zone was associated with specific seizure types, semiology proved to be heterogeneous. Although scalp EEG was of good lateralizing value, it was poor for localizing the epileptogenic zone, necessitating a frequent need for invasive electroencephalographic recordings.

CONCLUSION: Surgical resections in mesial extratemporal regions were found to be safe and resulted in satisfactory seizure outcomes.