bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Financial Liberalization: Stable Autocracies and Constrained Democracies
Authors: Pond Amy
Published: March 2017

Why do autocratic rulers liberalize financial markets? This article shows how autocrats use financial liberalization for two distinct purposes. First, autocrats may use liberalization to bolster the economy, making revolution less attractive to the political opposition and stabilizing the autocracy. Second, when stabilization of the autocracy is too costly, autocrats may use liberalization to make assets more mobile. Mobility provides elite asset owners with external investment options, which limit redistribution. When redistribution is the main fear associated with democratization, the mobility associated with liberalization makes direct control of political institutions through dictatorship unnecessary. Thus, autocrats use liberalization to stimulate the economy and stabilize their rule or to reduce redistribution in anticipation of democratization. Suharto’s policies in Indonesia and Pinochet’s policies in Chile illustrate these two objectives of financial liberalization.
Daniel’s Four Kingdoms Schema: A History of Re-writing World History
Authors: Breed Brennan W.
Published: March 2017

Twice in the book of Daniel (chs. 2 and 7), a fourfold pattern summarizes the history of the world as a succession of gentile kingdoms that derive their sovereignty from Yhwh. This “four-kingdom schema” has proven to be one of the most influential time structuring devices of the past three millennia. This article uses “schema theory,” a tool developed in the modern discipline of psychology, to analyze the four-kingdoms schema. An overview of the reception history of this schema provides evidence for how and why it continues to function even in contemporary political discourse.
Daniel as an Americanized Apocalypse
Authors: Carey Greg
Published: March 2017

Set in the context of Judean resistance against the Seleucid Empire, Daniel addresses issues such as diaspora, identity, empire, and power. The first biblical apocalypse models how to survive faithfully within a hostile foreign culture, and it voices a full-throated rejection of foreign domination. In contrast, American religious media domesticate Daniel into a morality tale, a fable that promotes personal integrity and trust in God. The Americanized Daniel cannot or will not ask what “empire” means or what it means for believers to inhabit an empire themselves. This essay explores what modern readers can gain by reintroducing categories like “empire” and “resistance” in Daniel.
Three Books of Daniel: Plurality and Fluidity among the Ancient Versions
Authors: Portier-Young Anathea
Published: March 2017

This essay demonstrates that the book of Daniel is not a fixed but fluid text, a collection of traditions that developed over centuries and locations. The three major extant ancient versions of Daniel, represented by the Hebrew/Aramaic Masoretic Text and the “Old Greek” and “Revised Greek” translations, together participate in a complex dance of genres as they move between legend, folk-tale, prayer and song, vision and apocalypse, novella and saint’s life. A greater appreciation of this multiplicity and fluidity complicates our understanding of biblical texts in ways that can enrich interpretation and interfaith dialogue.
The Creative Benefits Scale
Authors: Adams-Price Carolyn E. , Nadorff Danielle K. , Morse Linda W. , Davis Katherine T. , Stearns Melanie A.
Published: March 2017

Long-term participation in creative activities has benefits for middle-aged and older people that may improve their adaptation to later life. We first investigated the factor structure of the Creative Benefits Scale and then used it to construct a model to help explain the connection between generativity and life satisfaction in adults who participated in creative hobbies. Participants included 546 adults between the ages of 40 and 88 (Mean = 58.30 years) who completed measures of life satisfaction, generativity, and the Creative Benefits Scale with its factors of Identity, Calming, Spirituality, and Recognition. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the connection of age with life satisfaction in older adults and to explore the effects of creativity on this relation. The proposed model of life satisfaction, incorporating age, creativity, and generativity, fit the data well, indicating that creativity may help explain the link between the generativity and life satisfaction.
Development and evaluation of a brine mining equipment monitoring and control system using Wireless Sensor Network and fuzzy logic
Authors: He Liu , Yan Cui , Duan Yanqing , Stevan Stankovski , Xiaoshuan Zhang , Jian Zhang
Published: March 2017

The brine mining equipment failure can seriously affect the productivity of the salt lake chemical industry. Traditional monitoring and controlling method mainly depends on manned patrol that is offline and ineffective. With the rapid advancement of information and communication technologies, it is possible to develop more efficient online systems that can automatically monitor and control the mining equipment and to prevent equipment damage from mechanical failure and unexpected interruptions with severe consequences. This paper describes a Wireless Monitoring and feedback fuzzy logic-based Control System (WMCS) for monitoring and controlling the brine well mining equipment. Based on the field investigations and requirement analysis, the WMCS is designed as a Wireless Sensors Network module, a feedback fuzzy logic controller, and a remote communication module together with database platform. The system was deployed in existing brine wells at demonstration area without any physical modification. The system test and evaluation results show that WMCS enables to track equipment performance and collect real-time data from the spot, provides decision support to help workers overhaul the equipment and follows the deployment of fuzzy control in conjunction with remote data logging. It proved that WMCS acts as a tool to improve management efficiency for mining equipment and underground brine resources.
Root and canal morphology of maxillary second molars by cone-beam computed tomography in a native Chinese population
Authors: Wu Daming , Zhang Guangdong , Liang Ruizhen , Zhou Guangchao , Wu Younong , Sun Chao , Fan Wei
Published: March 2017

Objective

To evaluate the root and root canal morphology of the maxillary second molars (MSMs) in a native Chinese population by cone-beam computed tomography.

Methods

Cone-beam computed tomography images of 2412 MSMs from 1294 Chinese patients were analyzed to determine the number and morphology of the roots, the root canal morphology, the bilateral symmetry, and the correlations of these parameters with sex and age.

Results

The percentage of fused roots increased with age, while the percentage of fused roots in women was higher than that in men. The percentage of second mesiobuccal (MB2) canals in MSMs with three separate roots was higher in men than women. Patients aged 31 to 40 years showed a higher prevalence of MB2 canals, while those aged ≥51 years showed the lowest prevalence of MB2 canals among both men and women. There was a significant difference in bilateral symmetry of MSMs between men and women.

Conclusion

Root fusion of MSMs increased with age, while the root canal morphology was more complex in patients of intermediate ages.
Impact of breast cancer awareness month on detection of breast cancer in a private hospital
Authors: Karabay Onder , Hasbahceci Mustafa , Kadioglu Huseyin
Published: March 2017

Objective

Breast cancer awareness month increases public awareness in association with increased rates of screening and new diagnoses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of breast cancer awareness month on primary diagnosis of breast cancer.

Methods

Asymptomatic women with the intention of breast cancer screening were included. The non-BCAM (Breast cancer awareness month) group were screened from February to September 2016 and the BCAM group during October 2016. Ultrasound and mammography were performed in all women and in those aged ≥ 40 years, respectively. A BIRADS (Breast Imaging Reporting And Data Systems) score of ≥4 and solid palpable masses without features suggestive of malignancy and/or the physician’s preference were regarded as indications for histopathological analysis. Requirement for histopathological analysis and detection of breast cancer were identified as the main variables.

Results

There were 198 women with a mean age of 49.3 ± 9.5 years. Sixty-nine and 129 women were in the non-BCAM and BCAM groups, respectively. Percutaneous biopsy was performed in seven (10.1%) and three patients (2.3%) in the non-BCAM and BCAM groups, respectively ( P = 0.035). Pathological examinations were benign.

Conclusion

Although public awareness campaigns lead to increased rates of screening, they may lose their impact on detecting breast cancer because of widespread use of routine screening programs.
Do mothers with high sodium levels in their breast milk have high depression and anxiety scores?
Authors: Serim Demirgoren Burcu , Ozbek Aylin , Ormen Murat , Kavurma Canem , Ozer Esra , Aydın Adem
Published: March 2017

Objective

This study aimed to assess the possible association of high breast milk sodium levels with postpartum depression and anxiety.

Methods

A total of 150 mothers and their healthy, exclusively breastfed newborns aged 8 to 15 days were recruited. Mothers were asked to complete scales for evaluation of postnatal depression and anxiety following an interview for consent and sociodemographic data collection. Breast milk samples were obtained to measure sodium and potassium (K) levels.

Results

Forty-nine mothers had higher than expected breast milk Na concentrations and a high Na/K ratio. These mothers scored significantly higher on the scales of postnatal depression and state anxiety ( P = 0.018 and P = 0.048, respectively).

Conclusions

This study shows that compared to normal breast milk Na levels and Na/K ratio, high breast milk Na and high Na/K ratio, with possible serious consequences in infants, are associated with maternal depressive and anxious symptoms in the postpartum period.
Pathology of Aging in NOD scid gamma Female Mice
Authors: Santagostino Sara F. , Arbona Rodolfo J. Ricart , Nashat Melissa A. , White Julie R. , Monette Sebastien
Published: March 2017

In the past decade, NOD.Cg- Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG, NOD scid gamma) mice have become a model of choice in several areas of biomedical research; however, comprehensive data on their spontaneous age-related pathology are not currently available in the literature. The prevalence of spontaneous morbidity affecting aged NSG female breeders enrolled in a parasitology study was documented with classification of neoplastic and non-neoplastic (inflammatory, metabolic, degenerative) lesions. Malignant mammary neoplasms were most commonly diagnosed, often accompanied by pulmonary metastases, while a low frequency of lymphoma and histiocytic sarcoma was documented. The major inflammatory conditions were suppurative pleuropneumonia and bronchopneumonia with abscess formation, from which Pasteurella pneumotropica was commonly isolated, followed by otitis media. Both inflammatory and degenerative lesions of the genital tract were identified, along with neoplasms such as endometrial yolk sac carcinomas and granulosa cell tumors. Novel conditions identified included renal tubular degeneration and necrosis associated with 2 concurrent types of intranuclear inclusions, focal or multifocal hyperostosis of the skull, and neuroendocrine tumors of the mesometrium. The majority of degenerative lesions that affected the genital tract, endocrine, and skeletal systems did not represent the actual underlying cause of death but rather were considered incidental findings. This study indicates that both inflammatory and neoplastic conditions contribute to morbidity and mortality in experimentally manipulated aged female NSG mice.
Diagnostic Accuracy and Confidence in the Clinical Detection of Cognitive Impairment in Early-Stage Parkinson Disease
Authors: Wyman-Chick Kathryn A. , Martin Phillip K. , Barrett Matthew J. , Manning Carol A. , Sperling Scott A.
Published: March 2017

Background/Aims:

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is present in up to 34% of patients with early-stage Parkinson disease (PD); however, it is difficult to detect subtle impairment without objective cognitive testing.

Methods:

Data were obtained from the Parkinson Progression Marker Initiative. All 341 participants were administered the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and a brief neuropsychological battery. Participants were classified as PD-MCI if MoCA was <26 or if they scored ≥1 standard deviation below the normative mean in 2 or more domains, based upon established criteria. The sensitivity/specificity for the clinical detection of PD-MCI was determined.

Results:

Overall accuracy for clinical detection of PD-MCI was 67.4%. Although clinical determination was highly specific (96.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92-0.98), sensitivity was poor (32.0%; 95% CI: 0.25-0.40).

Conclusion:

Identifying MCI in early-stage PD based on clinical interview alone appears to be insufficient. The inclusion of objective cognitive tests allowing for normative sample comparisons is needed to increase the detection of cognitive impairment in this population.
Obesity-associated digestive cancers: A review of mechanisms and interventions
Authors: Zheng Jiachen , Zhao Ming , Li Jiahui , Lou Guoying , Yuan Yanyan , Bu Shizhong , Xi Yang
Published: March 2017

The prevalence of obesity has steadily increased over the past few decades. Previous studies suggest that obesity is an oncogenic factor and that over 20% of all cancers are obesity-related. Among such cancers, digestive system malignancies (including esophageal adenocarcinomas, colorectal cancers, and cancers of the gastric cardia, liver, and pancreas) are reported most frequently. While the 5-year survival rates of cancers of the breast and prostate are 90%, that rate is only 45% for digestive cancers. In this review, the mechanisms of obesity-associated digestive cancers are discussed, with an emphasis on obesity-related gene mutations, insulin and insulin-like growth factor signaling pathways, chronic inflammation, and altered adipokine levels. Evidence that these factors often function interdependently rather than independently in carcinogenesis is presented. Recommended interventions that may reduce the burden of obesity-associated digestive cancers, such as participation in physical activity, diet modulation, and calorie restriction, are also described.
Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, temsirolimus and torin 1, attenuate stemness-associated properties and expression of mesenchymal markers promoted by phorbol-myristate-acetate and oncostatin-M in glioblastoma cells
Authors: Chandrika Goparaju , Natesh Kumar , Ranade Deepak , Chugh Ashish , Shastry Padma
Published: March 2017

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway is crucial for tumor survival, proliferation, and progression, making it an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. In glioblastoma, activated mammalian target of rapamycin promotes invasive phenotype and correlates with poor patient survival. A wide range of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors are currently being evaluated for cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative activity in various tumor types but are not explored sufficiently for controlling tumor invasion and recurrence. We recently reported that mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors—rapamycin, temsirolimus, torin 1, and PP242—suppressed invasion and migration promoted by tumor necrosis factor-alpha and phorbol-myristate-acetate in glioblastoma cells. As aggressive invasion and migration of tumors are associated with mesenchymal and stem-like cell properties, this study aimed to examine the effect of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors on these features in glioblastoma cells. We demonstrate that temsirolimus and torin 1 effectively reduced the constitutive as well as phorbol-myristate-acetate/oncostatin-M-induced expression of mesenchymal markers (fibronectin, vimentin, and YKL40) and neural stem cell markers (Sox2, Oct4, nestin, and mushashi1). The inhibitors significantly abrogated the neurosphere-forming capacity induced by phorbol-myristate-acetate and oncostatin-M. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the drugs dephosphorylated signal transducer and activator transcription factor 3, a major regulator of mesenchymal and neural stem cell markers implicating the role of signal transducer and activator transcription factor 3 in the inhibitory action of these drugs. The findings demonstrate the potential of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors as “stemness-inhibiting drugs” and a promising therapeutic approach to target glioma stem cells.
Prostate-specific membrane antigen–directed nanoparticle targeting for extreme nearfield ablation of prostate cancer cells
Authors: Lee Seung S , Roche Philip JR , Giannopoulos Paresa N , Mitmaker Elliot J , Tamilia Michael , Paliouras Miltiadis , Trifiro Mark A
Published: March 2017

Almost all biological therapeutic interventions cannot overcome neoplastic heterogeneity. Physical ablation therapy is immune to tumor heterogeneity, but nearby tissue damage is the limiting factor in delivering lethal doses. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes offer a number of unique properties: chemical stability, photonic properties including efficient light absorption, thermal conductivity, and extensive surface area availability for covalent chemical ligation. When combined together with a targeting moiety such as an antibody or small molecule, one can deliver highly localized temperature increases and cause extensive cellular damage. We have functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes by conjugating an antibody against prostate-specific membrane antigen. In our in vitro studies using prostate-specific membrane antigen–positive LNCaP prostate cancer cells, we have effectively demonstrated cell ablation of >80% with a single 30-s exposure to a 2.7-W, 532-nm laser for the first time without bulk heating. We also confirmed the specificity and selectivity of prostate-specific membrane antigen targeting by assessing prostate-specific membrane antigen–null PC3 cell lines under the same conditions (<10% cell ablation). This suggests that we can achieve an extreme nearfield cell ablation effect, thus restricting potential tissue damage when transferred to in vivo clinical applications. Developing this new platform will introduce novel approaches toward current therapeutic modalities and will usher in a new age of effective cancer treatment squarely addressing tumoral heterogeneity.
Intracellular calcium promotes radioresistance of non–small cell lung cancer A549 cells through activating Akt signaling
Authors: Wang Yiling , He Jiantao , Zhang Shenghui , Yang Qingbo
Published: March 2017

Radiotherapy is a major therapeutic approach in non–small cell lung cancer but is restricted by radioresistance. Although Akt signaling promotes radioresistance in non–small cell lung cancer, it is not well understood how Akt signaling is activated. Since intracellular calcium (Ca2+) could activate Akt in A549 cells, we investigated the relationship between intracellular calcium (Ca2+) and Akt signaling in radioresistant A549 cells by establishing radioresistant non–small cell lung cancer A549 cells. The radioresistant cell line A549 was generated by dose-gradient irradiation of the parental A549 cells. The cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis were, respectively, assessed using the cell counting kit-8, EdU labeling, and flow cytometry analysis. The phosphorylation of Akt was evaluated by Western blotting, and the intracellular Ca2+ concentration was assessed by Fluo 4-AM. The radioresistant A549 cells displayed mesenchymal morphology. After additional irradiation, the radioresistant A549 cells showed decreased cell viability and proliferation but increased apoptosis. Moreover, the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and the phosphorylation level on the Akt473 site in radioresistant A549 cells were higher than those in original cells, whereas the percentage of apoptosis in radioresistant A549 cells was less. All these results could be reversed by verapamil. In conclusion, our study found that intracellular Ca2+ could promote radioresistance of non–small cell lung cancer cells through phosphorylating of Akt on the 473 site, which contributes to a better understanding on the non–small cell lung cancer radioresistance, and may provide a new target for radioresistance management.
Antibiotic resistance patterns of bacteria isolated from indwelling Foley catheters following tube cystostomy in goats with obstructive urolithiasis
Authors: Chigerwe Munashe , Mavangira Vengai , Byrne Barbara A. , Angelos John A.
Published: March 2017

Tube cystostomy is a surgical method used for managing obstructive urolithiasis and involves placement of a Foley catheter into the urinary bladder. We identified and evaluated the antibiotic resistance patterns of bacteria isolated from indwelling Foley catheters following tube cystostomy in goats with obstructive urolithiasis. Urine samples collected over a 10-y period from catheter tips at the time of removal were submitted for bacteriologic culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Resistance patterns to antibiotics, trends in the resistance patterns over the study period, and the probability of a bacterial isolate being resistant as a function of the identity of the isolate and antibiotic tested were determined. A total of 103 urine samples from 103 male goats with obstructive urolithiasis managed surgically with tube cystostomy were included in the study. Aerococcus (36.9%) and Enterococcus (30.1%) were isolated most frequently. The susceptibility patterns of all bacteria isolated did not change over the study period ( p > 0.05). Proportions of isolates resistant to 1, 2, and ≥3 antibiotics were 36.9%, 18.5%, and 23.3%, respectively. Thus, 41.8% of bacterial isolates were resistant to 2 or more antibiotics tested. The probability of Aerococcus spp., Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates to be resistant to ampicillin, ceftiofur, erythromycin, penicillin, or tetracycline ranged from 0.59 to 0.76.
Wheel nominal rolling radius difference on hunting stability of railway vehicle system under a speed-dependent nonlinear creep model
Authors: Cheng Yung-Chang , Wu Po-Hsien
Published: March 2017

This study presents the hunting stability of a railway vehicle system in a speed-dependent nonlinear creep model with varying wheel conicity and nominal rolling radius. Integrating Kalker’s linear theory, Hertz contact theory, and the heuristic nonlinear creep model, the speed-dependent nonlinear creep model, including the semi-axis lengths and nonconstant creep coefficients with the varying vehicle speed, is investigated. Modeling and dynamic analysis are performed in the 28 degrees-of-freedom railway vehicle system. Lyapunov’s indirect method is used to calculate critical hunting speed of a railway vehicle system. The effects of suspension system parameters, various wheel conicities, and nominal rolling radii on the hunting stability are illustrated and compared. Critical hunting speeds calculated for the original design wheel are consistently better than those obtained from worn wheels with differences in wheel conicity and wheel rolling radius. Notably, critical hunting speeds calculated for a softer stiffness and damping decrease as wheel nominal rolling radius difference increases. Furthermore, the critical hunting speed calculated by the harder stiffness and damping increase as wheel nominal rolling radius difference increases. Analysis of hunting stability further shows that vehicle running speed must be considered when the wheel nominal rolling radius is less than the origin design wheel radius. Therefore, the effects of various wheel nominal rolling radius differences on hunting stability is an important research issue.
Coaches’ Implementation of the USA Football “Heads Up Football” Educational Program
Authors: Kerr Zachary Y. , Kroshus Emily , Lee Joseph G. L. , Yeargin Susan W. , Dompier Thomas P.
Published: March 2017

An integral part of the Heads Up Football (HUF) educational program is the Player Safety Coach (PSC), who is responsible for teaching other coaches within a youth football league about safer blocking/tackling and injury prevention. This study examines the association between youth football coaches’ interactions with the PSC (i.e., attending the PSC clinic at the beginning of the season and seeing the PSC on-field during practices) and their subsequent implementation of the HUF educational program. Data were collected via online questionnaire completed by 1,316 youth football coaches from HUF leagues. Data were analyzed with frequencies and logistic regression. Nearly half of coaches (44.8%) did not attend the PSC clinic; 25.9% reported not seeing their league’s PSC on the field on a regular basis. The lack of PSC on-site presence was significantly associated with worse implementation for “concussion recognition and response,” “heat preparedness and hydration,” and “sudden cardiac event preparedness.” PSC clinic attendance was not associated with implementation. Opportunities exist for improvement in the HUF educational program as there appears to be inconsistent implementation. Further research is warranted to understand how to optimize the role of the PSC in the youth sports context.
Cancer Epidemiology: A Survey of Modifiable Risk Factors for Prevention and Survivorship
Authors: Arem Hannah , Loftfield Erikka
Published: March 2017

Approximately 40% of men and women in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. There have been dramatic developments in our understanding of cancer development and progression in recent decades, leading to improvements in screening and treatment, and in turn greater numbers of survivors living longer after diagnosis. Epidemiologic evidence of lifestyle-related factors and cancer risk and survival has been explored extensively in the published literature, with recommendations for cancer prevention and control and strategies for implementation evolving over time. This review summarizes the burden of cancer, general measurement issues in cancer epidemiology, and the current state of the science in specific lifestyle-related risk factors and cancer. It is estimated that one third to one half of cancers could be prevented by healthier lifestyle choices.
Propaganda leaflets and Cold War frames during the Korean War
Authors: Hong Seong Choul
Published: March 2017

In the history of world wars, the Korean War (1950–1953) was not a forgotten war but the apogee of a propaganda war. By analyzing the contents of propaganda leaflets distributed during the Korean War, this study explored which frames were dominantly employed. The resulting findings were that the frames of ‘demoralization’ (25.7%) and ‘encouraging surrender’ (24.4%) were the most frequently used during the overall war period. Furthermore, the dominant frames varied depending upon the target audiences and language used. In terms of functional frames, the leaflet messages corresponded to definition and causal interpretation (22.8%), moral judgement (26.2%) and solution (49.9%). Interestingly, Chinese and North Korean leaflets preferred the imperialist frame to the Cold War frame even though the US and South Korean leaflets more heavily used the Cold War frame when they referred to foreign troops. Moreover, thematic frames (91.4%) were more widely used than episodic frames (8.6%) in the samples.
Toward a humanistic model in health communication
Authors: Werder Olaf
Published: March 2017

Since the key to effective health communication lies in its ability to communicate well, some of its core problems are those that relate to the sharing of meaning between communicators. In elaborating on these problems, this paper offers two key propositions: one, health communication has to pass through the filter of a particular world view that creates a discrepancy between expected and actual message reception and response. Two, the assumption of a rational human actor made implicitly by most health psychological models is a contestable issue, as many times message recipients do not follow a cognitive judgment process. The phenomenon of resisting health messages by reasonable people asks the question whether we ought to rethink our adherence to a particular vision of human health as many times the adverse reaction to behaviour modification occurs as the result of a particular dialogical or discursive situation. At the same time, most motivational decisions in people’s daily routines are automatic and use a concept known as self-identity to give stability to their behaviour patterns. Finally, health communication as part of organised government practices adheres to predominant value perspectives within health promotion practice that affect the manner in which health issues become problematised. This paper proposes a humanistic model that aims to pay attention to the intricacies of human communication by addressing all of the above problems in turn. It interprets the sharing of meaning element in human communication and addresses the question of how the idea of health is created through discourse. As such, it offers a complementary and constructive paradigm and set of approaches to understand health, its meanings and communication.
Using sustainability as a collaboration magnet to encourage multi-sector collaborations for health
Authors: Khayatzadeh-Mahani Akram , Labonté Ronald , Ruckert Arne , de Leeuw Evelyne
Published: March 2017

The World Health Organization Commission on Social Determinants of Health (SDH) places great emphasis on the role of multi-sector collaboration in addressing SDH. Despite this emphasis on this need, there is surprisingly little evidence for this to advance health equity goals. One way to encourage more successful multi-sector collaborations is anchoring SDH discourse around ‘sustainability’, subordinating within it the ethical and empirical importance of ‘levelling up’. Sustainability, in contrast to health equity, has recently proved to be an effective collaboration magnet. The recent adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides an opportunity for novel ways of ideationally re-framing SDH discussions through the notion of sustainability. The 2030 Agenda for the SDGs calls for greater policy coherence across sectors to advance on the goals and targets. The expectation is that diverse sectors are more likely and willing to collaborate with each other around the SDGs, the core idea of which is ‘sustainability’.
Navigating Long-Term Care
Authors: Holt James D.
Published: March 2017

Americans over age 65 constitute a larger percentage of the population each year: from 14% in 2010 (40 million elderly) to possibly 20% in 2030 (70 million elderly). In 2015, an estimated 66 million people provided care to the ill, disabled, and elderly in the United States. In 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 15 million Americans used some form of long-term care: adult day care, home health, nursing home, or hospice. In all, 13% of people over 85 years old, compared with 1% of those ages 65 to 74, live in nursing homes in the United States. Transitions of care, among these various levels of care, are common: Nursing home to hospital transfer, one of the best-studied transitions, occurs in more than 25% of nursing home residents per year. This article follows one patient through several levels of care.
An Experiential Learning Exercise in Food-Borne Illness Outbreak Investigations: Bridging Education and Experience
Authors: Barrett Erika , Barnes Stephen , Pogreba-Brown Kristen
Published: March 2017

Conducting engaging experiential learning exercises is an exceptional strategy for teaching multidisciplinary teams of public health students. The objective of this article is to present an experiential student-driven exercise through a simulated food-borne outbreak. Through this process, students gain an understanding of the steps of an outbreak investigation, Incident Command Systems; identify and calculate appropriate measures of association; develop a questionnaire; and refine their communication techniques. This exercise is also unique in that it was codesigned by graduate teaching assistants who had previously taken the course. These targeted learning objectives created for students, and by students, allow for the development of peer-based training and also serve as a learning experience for student alumni. The authors provide all the needed teaching materials to provide an easy-to-follow guide for others to conduct similar exercises with their students.
Dissolution kinetics of Amazonian metakaolin in hydrochloric acid
Authors: Lima Paula E.A. , Angélica Rômulo S. , Neves Roberto F.
Published: March 2017

The kinetics of dissolution of Amazonian metakaolin in hydrochloric acid (HCl) was studied using the ‘Shrinking Core Model’ for spherical and ‘flat plate’ particles of constant size. The Amazonian kaolin was calcined at 700°C for 2 h. The calcined samples (metakaolins) were leached in an HCl solution with 5% excess at 70, 80 and 95 ± 3°C for 3 h. Samples were collected every 15 min and subjected to Al analysis by the EDTA titrimetric method. Experimental data showed that the spherical morphology produced a better fit with respect to the regression coefficients. The activation energy of the reaction was 90.6 kJ/mol. The chemical process is a first-order leaching reaction. The results of the present study are consistent with those from previous research on this topic, which used HCl with an excess of >90%.
Mineralogical, physical and chemical investigation of compacted Kunigel V1 bentonite in contact with a steel heater in the ABM test package 1 experiment, Äspö laboratory, Sweden
Authors: Sasamoto H. , Isogai T. , Kikuchi H. , Satoh H. , Svensson D.
Published: March 2017

In many countries, compacted bentonite is a candidate engineering barrier material for safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste. The Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB) set up anin situexperiment (the ABM project) to compare the stability of different bentonites under the conditions of exposure to an iron source and to elevated temperature (up to 130°C) at the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory, Sweden. Results for the Japanese bentonite (Kunigel V1) are summarized in the present study.

Mineralogical investigation using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) suggested no transformation of smectite or neoformed clay phases. However, a distinct change in exchangeable cations of smectite was indicated (i.e.from Na type to Fe type and/or Ca type) in the bentonite in the vicinity of the steel heater.

Measurements of hydraulic conductivity and swelling properties suggest that no significant changes occurred in the bentonite even in the vicinity of the steel heater. This is attributed to the limited portion of the bentonite affected by the iron–bentonite interactions and the incomplete ion-exchange reactions. The methylene blue cation exchange capacity and the determination of the exchangeable cations showed that the lateral distribution for these parameters was constant. However, the total exchangeable cation population has changed significantly compared to the initial sample.
Foundation News
Authors: Farley Isaac , Brown Marilyn K.
Published: March 2017

Connecting members to the world of applied geophysics is one of SEG's core missions. To help members and nonmembers gain the knowledge and expertise needed to remain competitive in the geosciences industry, SEG continues to expand and strengthen its reach in the online realm through innovative programs and offerings. Two of these offerings — the SEG Wiki and SEG on Demand — are at the forefront, and both have created passionate audiences who embrace the need for these vital online tools.
Introduction to this special section: Offshore technology and applications/OTC
Authors: Dev Ashwani , Menyoli Elive , Foster Douglas J.
Published: March 2017

This special section of The Leading Edge focuses on offshore geophysical applications. Its publication is aligned with the annual Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), which has taken place in Houston, Texas, since 1969 and which this year takes place 1–4 May at NRG Park in Houston. OTC is a popular and well-attended conference, largely focused on drilling and drilling equipment. Over the years, the OTC/SEG partnership has grown through cross-organization support and sponsorship. SEG is one of the sponsoring societies for OTC events. Every year, OTC facilitates various geoscience sessions through the support and efforts of the SEG-OTC technical committee. OTC and SEG appreciate the efforts of all individuals serving on the technical committee, headed by Alex Martinez and Brian Brookshire and advised by Charles Knobloch and Lance Cole, who make sure that the geoscience technical sessions become a success. OTC 2017 program details and registration and event information are available at http://2017.otcnet.org .
Frequency of DNA repair gene mutations in localized and metastatic prostate cancer.
Authors: Dall'Era Marc , Glass Allison , Lara Primo , Hartmaier Ryan , deVere White Ralph , McPherson John
Published: March 2017

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Background: DNA repair gene mutations are important molecular alterations in prostate cancer pathogenesis. Germline mutations in DNA repair genes, particularly BRCA2, were recently recognized as associated with metastatic prostate cancer and may also be particularly sensitive to platinum based chemotherapy and PARP inhibitor therapy. We sought to characterize alterations in DNA repair pathway genes in both primary and metastatic prostate tumors. Methods: We studied the distribution of DNA repair gene mutations in 936 prostate cancers harvested from localized and metastatic tumors. Tumor DNA underwent hybrid capture for all coding exons of 395 cancer-related genes plus select introns from 19 or 31 genes frequently rearranged in cancer and sequenced to a median exon coverage depth of >500x using Illumina sequencing and were analyzed for base substitutions/insertions, copy number alterations and rearrangements. We utilized two described lists of genes involved in DNA repair : our own in-house list of 74 (UCD) and a list of 20 DNA repair genes associated with cancer predisposition syndromes utilized in a recent publication by Pritchard et al. We further stratified the frequency of mutations by tissue site (prostate versus metastases). Results: We identified 228/936 unique samples with at least one likely functional mutation in a DNA repair gene (24.4%). Mutations were identified in 20.1% of prostate tumors (13% UCD, 18.4% Pritchard et al.) and in 18.8% of bone metastases. The highest rates of DNA repair mutations were found in visceral metastases including brain, pelvis and liver, higher than either prostate tissue or bone sites (p=<0.01). The most commonly (≥1% of samples) mutated genes in the DNA repair pathways are: BRCA2 (11.43%), ATM (5.77%), MSH6 (2.46%), MSH2 (2.14%), ATR (1.60%), MLH1 (1.28%), and BRCA1(1.18%). Conclusions: DNA repair gene mutations are more common in metastatic than localized prostate tumors. Visceral metastases appear enriched for these mutations compared with localized tumors or bone metastases. Genomic profiling may identify prostate cancers potentially sensitive to platinum-based chemotherapy or PARP inhibition.
A circulating miRNA signature to help prognosticate at prostate cancer diagnosis.
Authors: Sita-Lumsden Ailsa Roberg , Leach Damien , Zivi Andrea , Waxman Jonathan , Winkler Mathias , Bevan Charlotte
Published: March 2017

108

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. Around 80% of PCas are diagnosed as early, localised stage yet a subset of these will metastasise and eventually prove fatal. Management decisions are based on risk stratification systems. However, these systems are not able to clearly distinguish indolent from aggressive PCa’s and as a result many patients with indolent cancers may be over treated. Circulating microRNAs (miRNA) may be an easily accessible, suitable biomarker to distinguish true indolent from clinically significant early prostate cancers (PCa) thus reducing overtreatments. Methods: Blood samples from 24 men with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH, n = 8), localised PCa (n = 8) or metastatic PCa (n = 8) were collected at time of diagnosis. All men had intact prostates and were naïve to any endocrine or other cancer therapy. A platform of circulating miRNAs were analysed in serum using Abcam Firefly technology. Data collected were independently verified using real-time qPCR (Exiqon). The miRNAs identified as being significantly different between groups were then analysed in a published dataset. Results: Serum levels of seven of the miRs examined were significantly different in patients with prostate cancer compared to control across both platforms (miR-10b, miR-125b, miR-210, miR-21, miR-378a, miR-483 and miR93 all with P values < 0.005). A further four miRNAs could differentiate between the benign and metastatic cohorts (miR-126 P = 0.008, miR-150 P = 0.05, miR375 P = 0.007). Kaplein-Meier analysis further identified that the serum levels of four miRNAs showed significant association with survival rates (miR-21 P = 0.032, miR-126 P = 0.032, miR-150 P = 0.032, miR-93 P = 0.019). On examination in a cohort of 280 men from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), four miRs from the cohort had significantly different expression in patients who eventually relapsed (miR-21 P = 0.048, miR-375 P = 0.021, miR-210 P = 0.0003, miR-93 P = 0.008) Conclusions: Our circulating miRNA based signature could be used to stratify men at prostate cancer diagnosis and help identify those who are likely to harbour micro metastases and would benefit more from an early radical treatment. The data is being validated in larger cohorts.
Feasibility of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in elderly patients: Comparative analysis of the perisurgical/oncological outcomes with younger patients.
Authors: Miura Noriyoshi , Arai Osuke , Watanabe Ryuta , Sawada Yuichiro , Asai Seiji , Noda Terutaka , Fukumoto Tetsuya , Yanahihara Yutaka , Miyauchi Yuki , Kikugawa Tadahiko , Saika Takashi , Nakajima Hirochika , Edamura Kohei , Ebara Shin
Published: March 2017

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Background: Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has become one of standard treatments for localized prostate cancer. However, a feasibility of RARP in high elderly patients has not been clear yet. We performed a comparative analysis of peri-surgical / oncological outcomes for younger and elder patients underwent RARP. Methods: We reviewed and compared our 631 consecutive patients who underwent RARP from 9/2012 to 6/2016 for peri-surgical outcomes, including surgical times, blood loss, complications, pathological findings, continence recovery, and oncological outcomes stratified by age less than 75 and over 75 years. Results: In our cohort, 555 men were age less than 75 and 76 men were ≥75. Preoperative parameters (age, PSA, Gleason score) were similar in both younger and high elder groups. Operative time (median: 180 vs. 180 minutes) and estimated blood loss were similar in both groups. One of elder patients (1.4%) needed transfusion. Peri/post-operative complications over grade 3 were 0.9% in younger group and 1.4% in elder group. No case needed intra-operative open conversion. Surgical positive margin rates in organ-confined (pT2) disease were also similar (13.4%, younger vs. 17.9%, elder). Continence at 3 months was 73% in elder patients as opposed to 77% in younger patients. Biochemical recurrences in short follow-up period (median 11.1 vs. 11.0 months) were observed 7.9% in elder patients as opposed 8.3% in younger patients. Conclusions: In our study, although urinary continence recovery in high elderly patients might show a short delay, RARP in high elderly patients was relatively safe and yielded good oncologic results. RARP is feasible even in elderly patients.
The impact of Gleason pattern 4 ratio on recurrence following radical prostatectomy in Japanese patients with prostate cancer.
Authors: Kato Masashi
Published: March 2017

114

Background: The 2014 International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) classified the Gleason grade into five groups and the Gleason score (GS) 7 was divided into groups 2 (GS3+4) and 3 (GS4+3). The ISUP recommended recording the Gleason pattern (GP) 4 ratio. However, no data are available on Japanese patients, and no studies have reported any difference between GS3+3 and a part of GS3+4. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the GP 4 ratio on recurrence following radical prostatectomy in Japanese patients with prostate cancer and revealed the equivalent between GS3+3 and part of GS3+4. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 1,000 patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy at the author’s affiliated hospitals between 2005 and 2013. All prostatectomy specimen slides were reviewed by a single genitourinary pathologist according to ISUP 2014. Recurrence following radical prostatectomy was defined according to American Urological Association guidelines. The endpoint was defined as an increase in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. Results: Median patient age was 67 years (range, 42–77 years). Median serum PSA level was 6.8 ng/mL (range, 0.4–82 ng/mL). Median follow-up period was 59 months (range, 0.2–134 months). PSA progression was observed in 13.9% of pT2, 39.5% of pT3a, and 59.5% of pT3b. There were 164 group 1 cases (GS6), 484 group 2 (GS3+4), 212 group 3 (GS4+3), 39 group 4 (GS8), and 95 group 5 (GS9–10) cases. PSA progression-free survival was significantly different among the five groups (log rank; P = 0.0001). A significant difference was observed among the four groups with regard to the proportion by which the GP4 ratio increased (P = 0.0001) when groups 2 and 3 were divided by the GP4 ratio ( < 20%, 236 cases; 20–50%, 240 cases; 51–80%, 188 cases; and 81–100%, 17 cases). On the other hand, no difference was detected between GS3+3 and GS3+4 (GS4 < 20%) (P = 0.481). Conclusions: An increase in the GP4 ratio was correlated with PSA progression following radical prostatectomy in Japanese patients with prostate cancer. In addition, no difference was observed between GS3+3 and GS3+4 (GP4 < 20%), and GS3+4 (GP4 < 20%) patients may be an indication for active surveillance.