bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An unusual presentation of thyroid cancer
Authors: Burrah Rajaram , Shivakumar Kuppuswamy , Manjunath Suraj , Ramesh Rakesh , Goel Vipin
Published: April 2014

Well-differentiated thyroid cancers can present with nodal metastasis that have undergone cystic degeneration. Rarely, mediastinal nodes may undergo cystic changes and pose a diagnostic dilemma, especially if the primary lesion is occult. We describe the case of a patient who presented with a large mediastinal cystic lesion which turned out to be metastasis from thyroid cancer.
A Few Prolific Liars
Authors: Serota Kim B. , Levine Timothy R.
Published: April 2014

It has been commonplace in the deception literature to assert the pervasive nature of deception in communication practices. Previous studies of lie prevalence find that lying is unusual compared to honest communication. Recent research, and reanalysis of previous studies reporting the frequency of lies, shows that most people are honest most of the time and the majority of lies are told by a few prolific liars. The current article reports a statistical method for distinguishing prolific liars from everyday liars and provides a test of the few prolific liars finding by examining lying behavior in the United Kingdom. Participants ( N = 2,980) were surveyed and asked to report on how often they told both little white lies and big important lies. Not surprisingly, white lies were more common than big lies. Results support and refine previous findings about the distinction between everyday and prolific liars, and implications for theory are discussed.
Choroidal changes after cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Pekel G , Alur İ , Alihanoglu YI , Yagci R , Emrecan B
Published: April 2014

Aim:

Choroid, which is the vascular tissue responsible for blood supply to the outer parts of the retina, might be affected by hemodynamic events. We aimed to reveal choroidal thickness and ocular pulse amplitude changes after cardiopulmonary bypass in which gross hemodynamic alterations occur.

Methods:

Forty-two eyes of 42 patients who underwent heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass were examined in this prospective, cross-sectional case series. The spectral domain optical coherence tomography (Spectralis, Heidelberg, Germany) was used to analyze sub-foveal choroidal thickness. The ocular pulse amplitude, the surrogate of gross choroidal blood flow, was measured with the Pascal dynamic contour tonometer (Pascal DCT, Swiss Microtechnology AG, Port, Switzerland).. The intraocular pressure was also measured with this tonometer. The examinations were performed pre-operatively and post-operatively at the first week and first month.

Results:

The mean age of the patients was 58.8 ± 12.4 years. The mean sub-foveal choroidal thickness and ocular pulse amplitude values did not change statistically significantly after the operations at the follow-up visits (p>0.05). Also, there were no important correlations between cardiopulmonary bypass time and mean sub-foveal choroidal thickness and ocular pulse amplitude changes at the post-operative first week (p>0.05). The intraocular pressure values were decreased markedly at the control visits (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

Sub-foveal choroidal thickness and ocular pulse amplitude are unchanged, while intraocular pressure decreases one week and one month after cardiopulmonary bypass.
Two novel SCN1A mutations identified in families with familial hemiplegic migraine
Authors: Weller Claudia M , Pelzer Nadine , de Vries Boukje , López Mercè Artigas , De Fàbregues Oriol , Pascual Julio , Arroyo María A Ramos , Koelewijn Stephany C , Stam Anine H , Haan Joost , Ferrari Michel D , Terwindt Gisela M , van den Maagdenberg Arn MJM
Published: April 2014

Background

Familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) is a rare monogenic subtype of migraine with aura, characterized by motor auras. The majority of FHM families have mutations in the CACNA1A and ATP1A2 genes; less than 5% of FHM families are explained by mutations in the SCN1A gene. Here we screened two Spanish FHM families for mutations in the FHM genes.

Methods

We assessed the clinical features of both FHM families and performed direct sequencing of all coding exons (and adjacent sequences) of the CACNA1A, ATP1A2, PRRT2 and SCN1A genes.

Results

FHM patients in both families had pure hemiplegic migraine with highly variable severity and frequency of attacks. We identified a novel SCN1A missense mutation p.Ile1498Met in all three tested hemiplegic migraine patients of one family. In the other family, novel SCN1A missense mutation p.Phe1661Leu was identified in six out of eight tested hemiplegic migraine patients. Both mutations affect amino acid residues that either reside in an important functional domain (in the case of Ile1498) or are known to be important for kinetic properties of the NaV1.1 channel (in the case of Phe1661).

Conclusions

We identified two mutations in families with FHM. SCN1A mutations are an infrequent but important cause of FHM. Genetic testing is indicated in families when no mutations are found in other FHM genes.
Performance, Return to Competition, and Reinjury After Tommy John Surgery in Major League Baseball Pitchers
Authors: Makhni Eric C. , Lee Randall W. , Morrow Zachary S. , Gualtieri Anthony P. , Gorroochurn Prakash , Ahmad Christopher S.
Published: April 2014

Background:

Pitching performance metrics, durability, and reinjury after Tommy John surgery in professional baseball players have not been well described.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to determine the likelihood of return to professional competition, reinjury rate, and change in performance after Tommy John surgery in Major League Baseball pitchers. The hypothesis was that performance metrics and durability will decline after surgery.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Publicly available records were accessed to generate a list of all Major League Baseball pitchers from 1999 to 2011 who had undergone ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction at any point in their careers; those with multiple reconstructive procedures were excluded. Return to active (≥1 game) or established (≥10 games) competition and/or placement on the disabled list was documented for each player. Among established players, pitching performance was compared pre- and postoperatively, as well as with age-matched control pitchers.

Results:

Of 147 pitchers included, 80% returned to pitch in at least 1 Major League Baseball game. Only 67% of established pitchers returned to the same level of competition postoperatively, and 57% of established players returned to the disabled list because of injuries to the throwing arm. Finally, performance declined across several metrics after surgery compared with preinjury levels, such as earned run average, batting average against, walks plus hits per inning pitched, percentage of pitches thrown in the strike zone, innings pitched, percentage fastballs thrown, and average fastball velocity ( P < .05 for all). However, these declines were not statistically different from similar declines found in age-matched controls who did not undergo Tommy John surgery.

Conclusion:

Return to the disabled list after Tommy John surgery is common among professional pitchers (>50%), and performance declines across several major metrics after surgery. Patients undergoing Tommy John surgery should be counseled appropriately regarding the likelihood of return to preinjury levels of competition and performance.
Long-term Outcomes After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in Competitive Baseball Players
Authors: Osbahr Daryl C. , Cain E. Lyle , Raines B. Todd , Fortenbaugh Dave , Dugas Jeffrey R. , Andrews James R.
Published: April 2014

Background:

Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCLR) has afforded baseball players with excellent results; however, previous studies have described only short-term outcomes.

Purpose:

To evaluate long-term outcomes after UCLR in baseball players.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

All UCLRs performed on competitive baseball players with a minimum 10-year follow-up were identified. Surgical data were collected prospectively and patients were surveyed by telephone follow-up, during which scoring systems were used to assess baseball career and post–baseball career outcomes.

Results:

Of 313 patients, 256 (82%) were contacted at an average of 12.6 years; 83% of these baseball players (90% pitchers) were able to return to the same or higher level of competition in less than 1 year, but results varied according to preoperative level of play. Baseball career longevity was 3.6 years in general and 2.9 years at the same or higher level of play, but major and minor league players returned for longer than did collegiate and high school players after surgery ( P < .001). Baseball retirement typically occurred for reasons other than elbow problems (86%). Many players had shoulder problems (34%) or surgery (25%) during their baseball career, and these occurrences most often resulted in retirement attributable to shoulder problems ( P < .001). For post–baseball career outcomes, 92% of patients were able to throw without pain, and 98% were still able to participate in throwing at least on a recreational level. The 10-year minimum follow-up scores (mean ± standard deviation) for the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), DASH work module, and DASH sports module were 0.80 ± 4.43, 1.10 ± 6.90, and 2.88 ± 11.91, respectively. Overall, 93% of patients were satisfied, with few reports of persistent elbow pain (3%) or limitation of function (5%).

Conclusion:

Long-term follow-up of UCLRs in baseball players indicates that most patients were satisfied, with few reports of persistent elbow pain or limitation of function. During their baseball career, most of these athletes were able to return to the same or higher level of competition in less than 1 year, with acceptable career longevity and retirement typically for reasons other than the elbow. According to a standardized disability and outcome scale, patients also had excellent results after UCLR during daily, work, and sporting activities.
Effect of particle size, coupling agent and DDGS additions on Paulownia wood polypropylene composites
Authors: Tisserat Brent , Reifschneider Louis , Grewell David , Srinivasan Gowrishanker
Published: April 2014

Studies aimed at improving the tensile, flexural, impact, thermal, and physical characteristics of wood–plastic composites composed of Paulownia wood flour derived from 36-month-old trees blended with polypropylene were conducted. Composites of 25% and 40% w/w of Paulownia wood were produced by twin-screw compounding and injection molding. Composites containing 0–10% by weight of maleated polypropylene were evaluated and an optimum maleated polypropylene concentration determined, i.e., 5%. The particle size distribution of Paulownia wood filler is shown to have an effect on the tensile and flexural properties of the composites. Novel combination composites of dried distiller’s grain with solubles mixed with Paulownia wood (up to 40% w/w) were produced and their properties evaluated. Depending on the composite tested, soaking composites for 872 h alters mechanical properties and causes weight gain.
Studies on water absorption behaviour of bamboo–epoxy composite filled with cenosphere
Authors: Jena Hemalata , Pradhan Arun Kumar , Pandit Mihir Kumar
Published: April 2014

This paper deals with the evaluation of water absorption properties of natural fibre composites consisting of bamboo fibre as reinforcement, epoxy as matrix and cenosphere as particulate filler at different environmental conditions. Hand lay-up technique is used to fabricate the composites with varying number of layers of bamboo fibre and cenosphere filler content. Water absorption kinetics of the composites is presented in this paper. It is observed that the rate of water absorption depends on the fibre content as well as filler content. Addition of filler in the layered bamboo–epoxy composite decreases the moisture absorption capacity and maximum reduction is observed to be 21% and 32% for distilled and sea water conditions, respectively, in seven-layered composite with 3.0 wt% filler.
Using Narrative Analysis to Identify Patterns of Internet Influence on the Identity Development of Same-Sex Attracted Youth
Authors: Kuper Laura E. , Mustanski Brian S.
Published: April 2014

For same-sex attracted youth (SSAY), the Internet affords a unique combination of opportunity, risk, and benefit. The present study provides a narrative analysis of four diverse SSAY’s experiences (ages 18-20 years), selected from a larger sample ( N = 32) to highlight variation in (a) frequency of Internet use ( extensive, incidental) and (b) impact of Internet use ( pivotal, missed opportunity) during identity development. Presenting narratives individually, we depict how variations in frequency and impact of Internet use interact with the content, tone, and overall form of these youths’ identity development narratives. We also explore the individual and contextual factors (e.g., family relationships, peer norms) and characteristics of the Internet (e.g., increased anonymity) that appear to relate to these SSAY’s Internet use.
The Emotional Experiences of Early First Intercourse
Authors: Symons Katrien , Vermeersch Hans , Van Houtte Mieke
Published: April 2014

The experience of the first intercourse at an early age is a well-established sexual risk behavior as it is related to adverse physical and mental health outcomes. However, the diversity within the group of early starters as well as the actual processes that make early first-time intercourse (potentially) more harmful remain understudied. The goal of this research is to understand the mechanisms that make an early experience of the first intercourse either more or less emotionally harmful. Therefore, a combination of quantitative and qualitative data are used. The quantitative data stem from a population survey (ages 14-35 years; N = 705); the qualitative data were gathered by in-depth interviews among 24 young people (ages 16-18 years) with an early first-time intercourse (at age 14 years or younger). Quantitative analyses show that the age at first-time intercourse is positively related to the feeling of readiness. For the male respondents only, it is also positively related to the general experience of the first intercourse. For female respondents, the age at the first intercourse is only related to the general experience of it in interaction with the age difference with the first partner. Qualitative analyses show that much variation goes behind these statistical regularities. Successful early starters can be differentiated from problematic early starters based on relationship characteristics, the preceding sexual trajectory, and the preceding sexual decision making. Practical implications are described, and recommendations for further research are made.
Adaptation of the Participant Role Scale (PRS) in a Spanish Youth Sample
Authors: Lucas-Molina Beatriz , Williamson Ariel A. , Pulido Rosa , Calderón Sonsoles
Published: April 2014

In recent years, bullying research has transitioned from investigating the characteristics of the bully–victim dyad to examining bullying as a group-level process, in which the majority of children play some kind of role. This study used a shortened adaptation of the Participant Role Scale (PRS) to identify these roles in a representative sample of 2,050 Spanish children aged 8 to 13 years. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed three different roles, indicating that the adapted scale remains a reliable way to distinguish the Bully, Defender, and Outsider roles. In addition, measurement invariance of the adapted scale was examined to analyze possible gender differences among the roles. Peer status was assessed separately by gender through two sociometric procedures: the nominations-based method and the ratings-based method. Across genders, children in the Bully role were more often rated as rejected, whereas Defenders were more popular. Results suggest that although the PRS can reveal several different peer roles in the bullying process, a more clear distinction between bullying roles (i.e., Bully, Assistant, and Reinforcer) could better inform strategies for bullying interventions.
More Work for Mother
Authors: Mackendrick Norah
Published: April 2014

Environmental chemicals (e.g., lead, pesticides, flame retardants) accumulate in all human bodies and have the potential to affect the health of men and women, adults, and children. This article advances “precautionary consumption”—the effort to mediate personal exposure to environmental chemicals through vigilant consumption—as a new empirical site for understanding the intersections between maternal embodiment and contemporary motherhood as a consumer project. Using in-depth interviews, I explore how a group of 25 mothers employ precautionary consumption to mediate their children’s exposure to chemicals found in food, consumer products, and the home. Most of the mothers in the study situate their children’s chemical “burdens” within their own bodies and undertake the labor of precautionary consumption as part of a larger and commodity-based motherhood project. In actively expanding the sphere of responsible motherhood to include managing children’s body burdens, these mothers navigate multiple and overlapping contexts that hold women accountable for children’s futures and value the agency of the proactive consumer. Yet, as the sphere of responsible mothering expands, women without financial resources, time, and family stability are pushed to the margins of normative motherhood.
Experimental investigation of the production of sleepers from concrete that contains blast furnace slag
Authors: Zakeri Jabbar Ali , Esmaeili Morteza , Mosayebi Seyed Ali , Sayadi Omid
Published: April 2014

Sleepers play an important role in determining the performance of rail tracks. The level of this importance can be gauged by noting the large number of sleepers that are located on railway tracks (1700 sleepers per kilometer of main line track). Reducing the life cycle costs of railway sleepers, as a result of decreasing construction, maintenance and operation costs, can have a significant economic effect on the cost of operating track. In this regard, the use of novel materials to construct high-strength sleepers is of considerable interest. Blast furnace slag, especially iron slag, can be crushed and used as an aggregate in the concrete used to produce sleepers. In the present study, slag and limestone sand was used to create a slag-containing concrete that was subsequently used to produce sleepers. The results of laboratory tests on slag-containing concrete showed a 46% increase in compressive strength compared with non-slag-containing concrete. The ratio of tensile to compressive strengths of all the slag-containing concrete samples varied between 0.06 and 0.087, which is comparable to the range of 0.1 to 0.15 for non-slag-containing concrete. Negative moment tests performed on sleepers manufactured from slag-containing concrete required a 30% increase in the vertical load to initiate the first crack compared with a sleeper produced from non-slag-containing concrete. These preliminary results suggest that a new generation of high-strength sleepers can be created; the long-term efficiency of this type of sleeper will need to be confirmed by durability tests and practical use.
Silk and collagen scaffolds for tendon reconstruction
Authors: Kwon Soon-Yong , Chung Jin-Wha , Park Hee-Jung , Jiang Yuan-Yuan , Park Jung-Keug , Seo Young-Kwon
Published: April 2014

In this study, silk thread ( Bombyx mori) was braided to a tube-like shape and sericin was removed from the silk tube. Thereafter, collagen/chondroitin-6-sulfate solution was poured into the silk tube, and the lyophilization process was performed. To assess the inflammatory response in vivo, raw silk and sericin-free silk tubes were implanted in the subcutaneous layer of mice. After 10 days of in vivo implantation, mild inflammatory responses were observed around the sericin-free silk tubes, and severe inflammation with the presence of neutrophils and macrophages was observed around the raw silk tubes. At 24 weeks post implantation, the regenerated tendon had a thick, cylindrical, grayish fibrous structure and a shiny white appearance, similar to that of the native tendon in the rabbit model of tendon defect. The average tensile strength of the native tendons was 220 ± 20 N, whereas the average tensile strength of the regenerated tendons was 167 ± 30 N and the diameter of the regenerated tendon (3 ± 0.2 mm) was similar to that of the native tendons (4 ± 0.3 mm). Histologically, the regenerated tendon resembled the native tendon, and all the regenerated tissues showed organized bundles of crimped fibers. Masson trichrome staining was performed for detecting collagen synthesis, and it showed that the artificial tendon was replaced by new collagen fibers and extracellular matrix. However, the regenerated tendon showed fibrosis to a certain degree. In conclusion, the artificial tendon, comprising a braided silk tube and lyophilized collagen sponge, was optimal for tendon reconstruction. Thus, this study showed an improved regeneration of neo-tendon tissues, which have the structure and tensile strength of the native tendon, with the use of the combination of collagen and silk scaffold.
Failure analysis of the cement mantle in total hip arthroplasty with an efficient probabilistic method
Authors: Kaymaz Irfan , Bayrak Ozgu , Karsan Orhan , Celik Ayhan , Alsaran Akgun
Published: April 2014

Accurate prediction of long-term behaviour of cemented hip implants is very important not only for patient comfort but also for elimination of any revision operation due to failure of implants. Therefore, a more realistic computer model was generated and then used for both deterministic and probabilistic analyses of the hip implant in this study. The deterministic failure analysis was carried out for the most common failure states of the cement mantle. On the other hand, most of the design parameters of the cemented hip are inherently uncertain quantities. Therefore, the probabilistic failure analysis was also carried out considering the fatigue failure of the cement mantle since it is the most critical failure state. However, the probabilistic analysis generally requires large amount of time; thus, a response surface method proposed in this study was used to reduce the computation time for the analysis of the cemented hip implant. The results demonstrate that using an efficient probabilistic approach can significantly reduce the computation time for the failure probability of the cement from several hours to minutes. The results also show that even the deterministic failure analyses do not indicate any failure of the cement mantle with high safety factors, the probabilistic analysis predicts the failure probability of the cement mantle as 8%, which must be considered during the evaluation of the success of the cemented hip implants.
Genetic Relations Among Procrastination, Impulsivity, and Goal-Management Ability
Authors: Gustavson Daniel E. , Miyake Akira , Hewitt John K. , Friedman Naomi P.
Published: April 2014

Previous research has revealed a moderate and positive correlation between procrastination and impulsivity. However, little is known about why these two constructs are related. In the present study, we used behavior-genetics methodology to test three predictions derived from an evolutionary account that postulates that procrastination arose as a by-product of impulsivity: (a) Procrastination is heritable, (b) the two traits share considerable genetic variation, and (c) goal-management ability is an important component of this shared variation. These predictions were confirmed. First, both procrastination and impulsivity were moderately heritable (46% and 49%, respectively). Second, although the two traits were separable at the phenotypic level ( r = .65), they were not separable at the genetic level ( rgenetic = 1.0). Finally, variation in goal-management ability accounted for much of this shared genetic variation. These results suggest that procrastination and impulsivity are linked primarily through genetic influences on the ability to use high-priority goals to effectively regulate actions.
What can recent replication failures tell us about the theoretical commitments of psychology?
Authors: Klein Stanley B.
Published: April 2014

I suggest that the recent, highly visible, and often heated debate over failures to replicate results in the social sciences reveals more than the need for greater attention to the pragmatics and value of empirical falsification. It is also a symptom of a serious issue—the under-developed state of theory in many areas of psychology. While I focus on the phenomenon of “social priming”—since it figures centrally in current debate—it is not the only area of psychological inquiry to which my critique applies. I first discuss some of the key issues in the “social priming” debate and then attempt to show that many of the problems thus far identified are traceable to a lack of specificity of theory. Finally, I hint at the possibility that adherence to the materialist tenets of modern psychological theory may have a limiting effect on our full appreciation of the phenomena under scrutiny.
Serum anti-lipocalin 2 IgG is a novel biomarker in the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Li YN , Hu FL , Dai YJ , Li R , Ma XX , Du Y , Feng M , Jia Y , Zhang CF , Zhu L , Ascherman DP , Li ZG
Published: April 2014

Background

Previous work suggests that lipocalin 2 is involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and that this novel antigen could serve as a high-quality renal biomarker of acute kidney injury in SLE. However, serum lipocalin 2 antibody levels remain unclear. We have therefore undertaken this study to assess the level of serum IgG antibody against lipocalin 2 in different disease states and to evaluate the diagnostic value of this potential biomarker in SLE.

Methods

Serum levels of anti-lipocalin IgG antibodies were measured by ELISA in 103 SLE patients, 93 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, 29 primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) patients, 13 systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, and 91 healthy controls. Diagnostic properties of anti-lipocalin IgG were determined by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

The level of serum anti-lipocalin IgG in patients with SLE was significantly higher than in patients with RA, pSS, SSc, or healthy controls ( p < 0.05), effectively distinguishing SLE from other conditions with high sensitivity and specificity (49.5% and 90.7%, respectively). In ROC curve analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) is 0.783, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) extending from 0.729 to 0.839. Anti-lipocalin antibodies were present in 48.1% of anti-Sm-negative SLE patients, and also occurred in SLE patients lacking anti-dsDNA (52%) or anti-nucleosome antibodies (46.3%) antibodies. Finally, SLE patients with positive anti-lipocalin IgG possessed higher levels of IgA and CRP than the negative group ( p < 0.05), clearly demonstrating a positive correlation between anti-lipocalin IgG and these laboratory parameters.

Conclusions

Anti-lipocalin 2 IgG is a promising biomarker for the diagnosis of SLE, particularly when obtained in conjunction with anti-Sm, anti-dsDNA, and anti-nucleosome antibody levels.
Myopericarditis with predominantly right ventricular involvement with normal B-type natriuretic peptide and cardiac tamponade as the initial manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Manautou Luis , Jerjes-Sanchez Carlos , Meraz Manuel , Perez-Garcia Luis F , Diaz-Cid Antonio , Peña-Almaguer Erasmo de la , Avila Cesar , Sanchez Luis
Published: April 2014

A previously healthy young man presented with a 12-hour history of sudden dyspnea and severe chest pain at rest. Initial findings of physical examination, electrocardiogram and chest radiography showed typical pericarditis and clinical instability. Echocardiogram revealed small pericardial effusion with right ventricle dilatation. The patient was admitted in the ICU; a new echocardiogram revealed moderate pericardial effusion and diagnosis of pericarditis complicated with acute cardiac tamponade was established. The patient transiently improved after pericardial window. In the following hours, the diagnosis of myocarditis with predominantly right ventricular involvement (MPRVI) with severe right heart failure was supported by clinical, chest radiography and echocardiogram data, despite normal B-type natriuretic peptide. On day 2, cardiac troponin I detection was observed. By day 3, B-type natriuretic peptide in the range of ventricular dysfunction was identified. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance findings supported the diagnosis of MPRVI. A systematic MEDLINE/PubMed from 1993 to 2013 does not identify any cases of MPRVI related to systemic lupus erythematosus. Simultaneous acute MPRVI with normal B-type natriuretic peptide and acute cardiac tamponade heralding the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, to the best of our knowledge, has not been previously described.
Three-dimensional free vibration of multi-layered piezoelectric plates through approximate and exact analyses
Authors: Messina Arcangelo , Carrera Erasmo
Published: April 2014

This article presents two models that have the aim of analysing three-dimensional freely vibrating plates made of an arbitrary combination of structural and/or piezoelectric layers. The first model is derived from a displacement-based variational statement, and it investigates the possibility of approaching exact three-dimensional results at any degree of accuracy. This model has been developed as if the plates were virtually made of a single layer, and it is herein referred to as the approximate analysis model. The second model is based on solving the set of three-dimensional linear equations coupling the relevant mechanical and electric quantities, and it therefore provides exact results. The latter model is derived from the transfer-matrix technique which, having shown numerical instability in the multiphysics problem being dealt with, was then successfully modified to provide exact and reliable results. Excellent agreement has been obtained between the models, and this shows how the exact approach here designed is stably able to overcome ill conditioning problems, while the first model, having been validated by the exact results, could be applied to effectively investigate multiphysics problems for general boundary conditions, and for cross- and/or angle-ply laminates, at any level of required accuracy.
Decisions and Caregiving
Authors: Conner Norma E. , Chase Susan K.
Published: April 2014

This focus group study describes end-of-life caregiving and decision making among blacks from the perspective of the informal caregivers and decision makers. The Behavioral Model of Health Services Use framed the study. Five focus groups with a total of 53 informal caregivers/decision makers were conducted. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used for the data analysis. Findings are presented under the themes of end of life caregiving and decision making roles, dynamics and process, and beliefs and values. The common thread of care giving and decision-making within relationship and six subthemes were identified. Findings also suggest the need for support and inclusion of designated informal caregivers and decision-makers in the advance care planning process early in the disease trajectory.
A Bridge Over Troubled Water
Authors: Gerhardt Megan W. , Brown Kenneth G. , Dysvik Anders
Published: April 2014

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of concern regarding the gap between academic research and the ongoing daily practice of running businesses. In this article, we interview an individual who successfully made the transition not only from practice to research, but from military service to corporate life and then to academics. Professor Earl Walker is a retired U.S. Army Colonel who commanded armor units in Vietnam, worked as a corporate executive, and then transitioned into academic teaching and later academic administration. Over the course of his academic career, he has served as the dean of three business schools. In the interview, Walker describes his perceptions of the practice–research gap, revealing that it is in some ways smaller and other ways larger than others believe it to be.
Explaining Variations in the Subnational Implementation of Global Agreements: The Case of Ecuador and the Convention on Biological Diversity
Authors: Gagnon-Légaré Ariane , Prestre Philippe Le
Published: April 2014

We conducted case studies in Ecuador to assess subnational governments’ implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and to identify factors linked with successful implementation. We anticipated resources to be the main limiting factor, yet the record of implementation is not as closely tied to the availability of financial and human resources as might be expected in a developing country. Governments, in diverse sociopolitical and economic contexts, do have alternatives to implement multilateral environmental agreements. The type of development leaders promote and the priority they grant to environmental issues determine the use of available resources. We also observed the significant role played by local, national, and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and funding agencies in circulating biodiversity messages and spurring the elaboration of policies as well as on the ground projects. This picture would suggest to enhance awareness-raising trainings and to explore further the role of collaboration between governments and NGOs at local scales.
Municipalities, Politics, and Climate Change: An Example of the Process of Institutionalizing an Environmental Agenda Within Local Government
Authors: Pasquini Lorena , Shearing Clifford
Published: April 2014

Political issues can influence the delivery of services and other goals, such as environmental sustainability, within municipalities. However, the influence of political factors on the institutionalization of environmental issues within municipalities has not been examined. We investigate these issues using a case study of a South African municipality that has made considerable progress in institutionalizing environmental issues (particularly climate change related) in the last decade, despite a change in political leadership. The presence of the following factors promoted the institutionalization of environmental governance: (a) political champions; (b) networks between the municipality and other organizations and dense networks within the municipality; and (c) benefits for the municipality from environmental actions. Political issues can enable the process of institutionalization (e.g., by stimulating innovation through political party competition) and also hinder it through political instability (which disrupts patterns in champions and networks) and clientelism (which can cause environmental projects to be discontinued).
Will Talking About It Make It Worse? Facilitating Family Conversations in the Context of Chronic and Life-Shortening Illness
Authors: Imber-Black Evan
Published: April 2014

This article explores secrecy and openness in the context of chronic and life-shortening illness. Illustrated by clinical work with families at the Center for Families and Health at the Ackerman Institute for the Family, I examine the impact of secrecy on family relationships, including the serious relational price of silence, the danger to physical and emotional well-being, and the formation of triangles. Through the stories of four families, I demonstrate ways to facilitate greater openness when illness pertains. The benefits to families of being able to speak with candor and authenticity are shown. The article concludes with a range of questions to guide the clinician.
Are Consumers Satisfied With Medicare Home Health
Authors: Cabin William , Siman Michael L.
Published: April 2014

This study is the first to examine how home health agency ownership and other determinants affect patient satisfaction with Medicare home health agency care. For the first time, data residing in three separate Medicare databases have been integrated for analysis. Multiple linear regression was used with independent variables that measure seven categories of home health agency characteristics and services: ownership type, costs, cost-related ratios, revenue, quality, years certified, and visits. Results show five variables statistically significant in a model predicting home health agency patient satisfaction; the two largest contributors are total home health costs and years of agency certification. The study gives policymakers and home health agencies insights into the key determinants of patient satisfaction and demonstrates the value of integrating multiple Medicare databases.
Alcohol Abuse in Older Adults
Authors: Alpert Patricia T.
Published: April 2014

Alcohol abuse among older adults is known as the hidden epidemic as the number of individuals who suffer from dependency and abuse has about doubled in the last decade. Because baby boomers were more liberal substance users during the 1960s and 1970s, experts anticipate the epidemic will increase even further by 2020. Definition of abuse and screening as a preventive measure to identify alcohol abuse in older adults are explored.
Defining and Measuring Corporate Sustainability
Authors: Montiel Ivan , Delgado-Ceballos Javier
Published: April 2014

This literature review article aims to bring a better understanding to the field of corporate sustainability (CS) as studied by management scholars. The first part of this review quantifies the amount of research devoted to CS and related topics such as corporate social responsibility, corporate social performance, environmental strategies and environmental performance from 1995 through 2013. The authors then summarize the different definitions, organizational theories, and measures that have been adopted by management scholars working in the CS field in both academic and practitioner management journals. The results show that the CS field is still evolving and different approaches to define, theorize, and measure CS have been used. Differences are also found between the literature that targets scholars versus the one targeting practitioners. The authors also provide a set of recommendations on how to advance the CS field.
Identifying the Effect of Immigration on Homicide Rates in U.S. Cities
Authors: Schnapp Patrick
Published: April 2014

Studies of the effect of immigration on homicide in U.S. cities have reported mostly null or negative results. These studies suffer from a failure to weight by population size and the lack of a credible identification strategy. Using data from the Census and the Uniform Crime Reports, 146 U.S. cities in the year 2000 are analyzed using weighted instrumental variables (IV) regressions to overcome these limitations. Estimates are insignificant, and none suggest a substantial negative effect of immigration on homicide, a finding that is replicated with 1990 data. Model comparisons indicate that conventional specifications exaggerate the beneficial effect of immigration somewhat.
Predicting Health Care Utilization Among Latinos
Authors: De Jesus Maria , Xiao Chenyang
Published: April 2014

There are two competing research explanations to account for Latinos’ underutilization of health services relative to non-Latino Whites in the United States. One hypothesis examines the impact of health locus of control (HLOC) beliefs, while the other focuses on the role of access factors on health care use. To date, the relative strength of HLOC beliefs in explaining Latinos’ use of health care services in the context of access factors is inconclusive. This study, therefore, tests and compares both explanations. We analyzed data from the 2007 Pew Hispanic Healthcare Survey, a nationally representative survey of 4,013 Latino adults. HLOC beliefs had a statistically significant but weak impact on health care use after accounting for access factors. Having continuous health insurance coverage and a usual place of care to go when sick or in need of health advice were much more influential in predicting health care use than HLOC beliefs. This study suggests that disparities in health care service use among Latinos are much more an issue of access than it is an issue of HLOC beliefs. Implications for public health research and intervention efforts that aim to reduce health disparities in health care use are discussed.
Mechanisms of α-Mangostin-Induced Antinociception in a Rodent Model
Authors: Sani Mohd. Hijaz Mohd. , Taher Muhammad , Susanti Deny , Kek Teh Lay , Salleh Mohd. Zaki , Zakaria Zainul Amiruddin
Published: April 2014

Objective:

Elucidate the antinociceptive mechanisms of α-mangostin isolated from Garcinia malaccensis Linn.

Methods:

Male mice/rats ( n = 6/group) were used in this between-group study. To determine α-mangostin’s antinociceptive profile, animals were given α-mangostin orally (3, 30, or 100 mg/kg) 60 min before the start of the abdominal constriction or formalin tests. In the hot plate test, the noxious stimulus was applied before and 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 210 min after treatment with test solutions. Positive controls received 100 mg/kg acetylsalicylic acid (ASA; oral) or 5 mg/kg morphine (intraperitoneal injection) for the abdominal constriction and hot plate tests, respectively, and either ASA or morphine for the formalin test. Negative controls received vehicle only. To explore α-mangostin’s mechanisms of action, we performed (i) the hot plate test with naloxone (5 mg/kg) pretreatment to verify involvement of opioid receptors; (ii) the abdominal constriction test with 20 mg/kg l-arginine, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl esters (l-NAME), methylene blue (MB), l-arginine plus l-NAME, or l-arginine plus MB or 10 mg/kg glibenclamide pretreatment to verify involvement of the l-arginine/nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and K+-ATP pathways; and (iii) the paw-licking test using capsaicin (1.6 μg capsaicin/paw), glutamate (10 μmol glutamate/paw), or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; 0.05 µg/paw) to verify involvement of vanilloid receptors, the glutamatergic system, and protein kinase C (PKC).

Results:

α-mangostin significantly inhibited nociception ( p < .05) in all models. Only naloxone, l-arginine, methylene blue, PMA, and glibenclamide affected α-mangostin antinociception significantly ( p < .05).

Conclusion:

α-mangostin exhibits peripheral and central antinociception through modulation of opioid and vanilloid receptors, the glutamatergic system, and the l-arginine/NO/cGMP/PKC/K+-ATP pathways.
No homosexuals in Star Wars? BioWare, ‘gamer’ identity, and the politics of privilege in a convergence culture
Authors: Condis Megan
Published: April 2014

Fan studies scholar Henry Jenkins lays out a blueprint for participatory culture that highlights its potential for more democratic, more inclusive mediascapes, asserting that corporate media producers have an economic incentive to listen to the suggestions and demands made by its fans. This article questions who is able to lay claim to titles like ‘fan’ or ‘gamer’, how those titles are being contested along gendered, racialized, sexualized, and classed lines, what happens when new groups lay claim to those titles, and how some fans are reacting to the loss of their privileged relationships with content producers. I look at fan responses to North American game developer BioWare’s decision to diversify games like Star Wars: The Old Republic and Dragon Age II by adding the option to play as a gay male character. I discovered that what was often framed by fans as a desire to prevent politics from leaking into gaming and ruining its unique attractions manifested as the maintenance of a heterocentric construction of the gamer identity.
Research note: The historiographical challenges of exploring Second World–Third World alliances in the international women’s movement
Authors: Ghodsee Kristen
Published: April 2014

Throughout the United Nations (UN) Decade for Women, world governments met three times in Mexico City (1975), Copenhagen (1980), and Nairobi (1985) to discuss the status of the world’s women and produce conference documents that would serve as transnational road maps for improving women’s rights. Throughout the Decade, a coalition of women from the socialist bloc countries and women in the so-called nonaligned countries often joined together to isolate and antagonize Western feminists. These ‘Second World’–‘Third World’ coalitions perhaps shaped the political outcomes of the three women’s conferences, but today the history of the UN Decade is often written with an air of Western triumphalism, as if it was exclusively women from North America and Western Europe who championed women’s rights on the international stage. This research note specifically explores the transnational socialist solidarity networks that were forged between the Committee of the Bulgarian Women’s Movement (CBWM) and women from Zambian United National Independence Party (UNIP) Women’s League between 1975 and 1985. It discusses the theoretical and logistical challenges of doing research to fill in these glaring historiographical gaps.
When totems beget clans: The brand symbol as the defining marker of brand communities
Authors: Stratton Greg , Northcote Jeremy
Published: April 2014

The veneration of brands as part of “brand communities” reflects the expansion of consumerism in advanced capitalism. But what is it about brand communities that set them apart from other community types? It is argued that brand communities differ from other types of communities in one important respect – the community is a secondary, rather than primary, effect of brand community association. In other words, the brand as symbol precedes the emergence of the brand community, rather than the symbol being employed (in a totemic fashion) to represent a pre-existing community as in other types of community. This realization opens the way for understanding the specific dynamics that characterize brand communities, particularly in their relationship with the corporate entities that legally own brands and market the branded products, and also with wider social trends where the brand comes to possess an iconic, mythic significance. It will be argued that, contrary to the recent trend in the brand community literature to view all manner of brand-oriented group activities as examples of brand communities, there are specific features that set brand communities apart from other types of community configurations. As a consequence, some of the examples put forward by analysts as brand communities might have brand community aspects, but are in fact primarily other types of community formations, such as subcultures and hobby groups. It is suggested that brand communities be viewed as a part of a continuum, with some groups according with the ideal type of brand community more than others. This is not merely important for classification purposes, but is important analytically, as it is contended that brand communities have a unique set of dynamics that sets them aside from other types of community formations.