bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fresh Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation for Isolated Patellar Cartilage Injury
Authors: Gracitelli Guilherme C. , Meric Gokhan , Pulido Pamela A. , Görtz Simon , De Young Allison J. , Bugbee William D.
Published: January 2015

Background:

The treatment of patellofemoral cartilage injuries can be challenging. Osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation has been used as a treatment option for a range of cartilage disorders.

Purpose:

To evaluate functional outcomes and survivorship of the grafts among patients who underwent OCA for patellar cartilage injuries.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

An institutional review board–approved OCA database was used to identify 27 patients (28 knees) who underwent isolated OCA transplantation of the patella between 1983 and 2010. All patients had a minimum 2-year follow-up. The mean age of the patients was 33.7 years (range, 14-64 years); 54% were female. Twenty-six (92.9%) knees had previous surgery (mean, 3.2 procedures; range, 1-10 procedures). The mean allograft area was 10.1 cm2 (range, 4.0-18.0 cm2). Patients returned for clinical evaluation or were contacted via telephone for follow-up. The number and type of reoperations were assessed. Any reoperation resulting in removal of the allograft was considered a failure of the OCA transplantation. Patients were evaluated pre- and postoperatively using the modified Merle d’Aubigné-Postel (18-point) scale, the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) pain, function, and total scores, and the Knee Society function (KS-F) score. Patient satisfaction was assessed at latest follow-up.

Results:

Seventeen of the 28 knees (60.7%) had further surgery after the OCA transplantation; 8 of the 28 knees (28.6%) were considered OCA failures (4 conversions to total knee arthroplasty, 2 conversions to patellofemoral knee arthroplasty, 1 revision OCA, 1 patellectomy). Patellar allografting survivorship was 78.1% at 5 and 10 years and 55.8% at 15 years. Among the 20 knees (71.4%) with grafts in situ, the mean follow-up duration was 9.7 years (range, 1.8-30.1 years). Pain and function improved from the preoperative visit to latest follow-up, and 89% of patients were extremely satisfied or satisfied with the results of the OCA transplantation.

Conclusion:

OCA transplantation was successful as a salvage treatment procedure for cartilage injuries of the patella.
Association Between Ball-Handling Versus Defending Actions and Acute Noncontact Lower Extremity Injuries in High School Basketball and Soccer
Authors: Monfort Scott M. , Comstock R. Dawn , Collins Christy L. , Onate James A. , Best Thomas M. , Chaudhari Ajit M.W.
Published: January 2015

Background:

High school–sponsored athletic programs currently provide more than 7.7 million students in the United States with health and societal benefits, but they also inherently increase the risk of students sustaining a sports injury. Understanding risk factors that predict injuries in sports is an essential first step to addressing the problem in this population.

Purpose:

To determine the role of offensive versus defensive actions in noncontact lower extremity injury rates in high school basketball and soccer in both boys’ and girls’ sports.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiological study.

Methods:

Noncontact lower extremity injury data were collected from academic years 2005-2006 through 2011-2012 for boys’ and girls’ basketball and soccer through the surveillance tool High School RIO (reporting information online). The injuries in this subset of the database occurred over a total of 6.4 million athlete-exposures.

Results:

Significant differences in overall lower extremity injury rates were found when comparing ball-handling and defending actions in basketball (rate ratio [RR], 1.36; 95% CI, 1.08-1.73; P = .009), but no appreciable difference was observed in soccer (RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.70-1.12; P = .31). Female participants had higher injury rates than did males for both ball-handling and defending actions for both sports ( P < .05). Only girls’ soccer showed significant differences in the odds ratio (OR) of defending to ball-handling injury rates between competition and practice (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.01-3.48; P = .047).

Conclusion:

The injury rate differences observed in this study between offensive and defensive actions suggest that investigating potential differences between sport-specific tasks may provide a more complete understanding of injury mechanisms.
Quantifying capital goods for biological treatment of organic waste
Authors: Brogaard Line K , Petersen Per H , Nielsen Peter D , Christensen Thomas H
Published: January 2015

Materials and energy used for construction of anaerobic digestion (AD) and windrow composting plants were quantified in detail. The two technologies were quantified in collaboration with consultants and producers of the parts used to construct the plants. The composting plants were quantified based on the different sizes for the three different types of waste (garden and park waste, food waste and sludge from wastewater treatment) in amounts of 10,000 or 50,000 tonnes per year. The AD plant was quantified for a capacity of 80,000 tonnes per year. Concrete and steel for the tanks were the main materials for the AD plant. For the composting plants, gravel and concrete slabs for the pavement were used in large amounts. To frame the quantification, environmental impact assessments (EIAs) showed that the steel used for tanks at the AD plant and the concrete slabs at the composting plants made the highest contribution to Global Warming. The total impact on Global Warming from the capital goods compared to the operation reported in the literature on the AD plant showed an insignificant contribution of 1–2%. For the composting plants, the capital goods accounted for 10–22% of the total impact on Global Warming from composting.
Antimicrobial activity of hyperbranched polymers: Synthesis, characterization, and activity assay study
Authors: Kanai Tapan , Thirumoolan D , Mohanram R , Vetrivel K , Basha K Anver
Published: January 2015

Poly(cyanurateamine) and poly(triacrylatetrimine) hyperbranched polymers were synthesized for the first time by adopting Michael addition reaction. These polymers were obtained by reacting diethylenetriamine (A2) with 2,4,6-triallylcyanurate (B3) and trimethylolpropane triacrylate (B3), respectively, at room temperature. The polymers were characterized by spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier transform infrared, 1H-, and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity of hyperbranched polymers was studied against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli, Bacillus firmus, Bacillus subtilis MTCC 2423, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Micrococcus sp., and Acinetobacter beijerinckii. Both poly(cyanurateamine) and poly(triacrylatetrimine) show good antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria compared to gram-negative bacteria. Interestingly, poly(triacrylatetrimine) is better resistant to promising antibiotics and antiseptics bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens in comparison with poly(cyanurateamine).
Loss of Body Fat and Associated Decrease in Leptin in Early Lactation Are Related to Shorter Duration of Postpartum Anovulation in Healthy US Women
Authors: Domer Mary Colleen , Beerman Kathy A. , Ahmadzadeh Amin , Dasgupta Nairanjana , Williams Janet E. , McGuire Mark A. , McGuire Michelle K.
Published: January 2015

Background:

The mechanisms regulating postpartum anovulation (PPA) are not well understood, although poor nutritional status and “intense” breastfeeding behaviors are associated with longer durations.

Objectives:

This study was designed primarily to investigate the hypothesis that higher body fat and leptin concentrations are related to shorter PPA in healthy, lactating US women. Nutrient intake, breastfeeding behaviors, prolactin, and insulin levels were also evaluated.

Methods:

Fasting serum was collected during the third trimester of pregnancy, at 2 and 4 weeks postpartum, and every 4 weeks until the occurrence of the first postpartum menses. Body composition and breastfeeding behaviors were assessed at the same times postpartum. Women (n = 13) were categorized based on initial percentage body fat and timing of first postpartum menses.

Results:

There were no consistent relationships between body composition, leptin, or breastfeeding behaviors and duration of PPA. However, there was an interaction ( P = .005) between ovulation group and time on adiposity; earlier ovulating women had less percentage body fat in early lactation than did later ovulating women. There was also an interaction ( P = .1) between ovulation group and time postpartum on leptin, such that leptin concentrations tended to be greater in later than earlier ovulating groups beginning at 12 weeks postpartum.

Conclusion:

In summary, although baseline percentage body fat and leptin were not related to duration of PPA, fertility returned earlier in women who lost greater percentage body fat during the early postpartum period.
Analytical and experimental study on the sliding contact of the sealing ring in the wet clutch
Authors: Gong Ran , Zhou Chao , Che Huajun , Zhu Maotao , Xu Xiaoming
Published: January 2015

Sealing rings in the wet clutch of heavy vehicles are vulnerable and weak. A key issue in designing and applying sealing rings is predicting the state of the seal contact quickly and accurately. A mixed-lubrication model of the sealing ring is developed on the basis of the load-sharing concept. A theoretical model is proposed to estimate the hydrodynamic and asperity contact behaviour of the sealing ring. The friction coefficients are calculated and compared under different operating conditions. The results cover the entire lubrication regime, including full-film lubrication, mixed lubrication and boundary lubrication. Experiments are conducted on a special test rig for sealing rings. General agreement is observed between the experiments and the simulations. The proposed method is simple but realistic and significantly improves the simulation efficiency. Designing the sealing ring quickly and accurately benefits the transmission system of heavy vehicles.
Warm forging of magnesium AZ80 alloy for the control arm in an automobile
Authors: Yoon Jonghun , Lee Sang-ik
Published: January 2015

With the growing environmental concerns surrounding transportation machines, magnesium alloy, which has an excellent specific strength, good vibration damping and a high electromagnetic shielding capability, is increasingly being used in automobile body parts in order to reduce the carbon emissions and to increase the energy efficiency through a reduction in the mass. However, forming techniques with magnesium alloy at room temperature pose considerable difficulty owing to its strong plastic anisotropy of tension and compression. In this study, a control arm, which is a complex-shaped part in the suspension system of a vehicle, was warm forged with Mg–8 mass % Al–0.5 mass % Zn (AZ80) alloy to reduce the mass. To validate the applicability of the magnesium alloy control arm in the automobile, its microstructure and its mechanical properties were analysed.
Using deconstructing Developmental Psychology to read child migrants to South Africa
Authors: Palmary Ingrid , Mahati Stanford
Published: January 2015

In this article, we consider how we can use the text Deconstructing Developmental Psychology to read child migration to South Africa. We argue that this text offers a useful analytic method for critical reflections on child migrants in South Africa for several reasons. First, it allows us to shift the focus away from children as a taken for granted object of analysis to a focus on the historical and contextual emergence of developmental psychology as a discipline and, more importantly for this paper, the nature of the child that has been produced through this disciplinary establishment. Second, it offers critical reflections on the exclusions created by this dominant discourse of the child which we elaborate. In particular, we make an argument for why a text that reflects primarily on the Anglo/US developmental psychology should be useful in the contemporary South African context. As an illustration, we give examples from ethnographic research that the authors conducted in two borderlands – the South Africa/Mozambican border and the South Africa/Lesotho border. We use this example to show first how the migrant child that is imagined in South African law is a fantasy of the western child imagined in international child rights regimes. We contrast this production of the child with the everyday experiences of child migrants at the border. In particular, the assumption that the family is the natural place for children and the state is only involved with children whose families neglect these responsibilities is rendered nonsensical for children living in borderlands where the state shapes their otherwise everyday practices and activities. We argue that Deconstructing Developmental Psychology in its study of the study of childhood helps us understand the ways in which childhood has been shaped and constructed across time and space.
Holocene summer temperature reconstruction from sedimentary chlorophyll content, with treatment of age uncertainties, Kurupa Lake, Arctic Alaska
Authors: Boldt Brandon R , Kaufman Darrell S , McKay Nicholas P , Briner Jason P
Published: January 2015

Quantitative records of pre-industrial temperature changes are fundamental for understanding long-term natural climate variability. We used visible reflectance spectroscopy to measure chlorophyll content (and its derivatives) in a sediment core from Kurupa Lake, north-central Brooks Range, Alaska, to reconstruct summer temperature and the number of annual non-freezing days over the past 5.7 ka. A calibration-in-time approach was used to convert downcore changes in chlorophyll content to the climate variables, and an ensemble approach was used to integrate age and calibration uncertainties. The strongest correlation ( rmedian = 0.69, pmedian = 0.02, RMSEP = 1.9°C) is for summer (June through September) temperature using the 20th Century Reanalysis Project dataset. The chlorophyll-inferred 3-year-mean summer temperature shows that the warmest century (3.0–2.9 ka BP) was about 3.0°C (90% range of the ensemble members = 2.3–4.0°C) higher and that the coldest century (1.4–1.3 ka BP) was about 5.5°C lower (90% range = −7.6°C to −5.0°C) than during the reference period (AD 1961–1990). Century-to-century temperature changes over the past 5.7 ka at Kurupa Lake have been large (90% range = −2.8°C to 3.1°C shifts in centennial mean), including the shift between the 19th and 20th centuries, which was above the 90th percentile of temperature changes across all representations of the reconstruction. In contrast to most Northern Hemisphere temperature reconstructions, Kurupa Lake shows no overall millennial-scale cooling trend. We suggest that increased summer duration (by 4.3 days during the last 6 ka) along with no long-term increase in sea-ice cover over the adjacent Chukchi Sea counter-balanced the influence of decreased insolation intensity on the aquatic productivity in Kurupa Lake.
Using multi-proxy palaeoecology to test a relict status of refugial populations of calcareous-fen species in the Western Carpathians
Authors: Hájková Petra , Horsák Michal , Hájek Michal , Jankovská Vlasta , Jamrichová Eva , Moutelíková Jitka
Published: January 2015

The distribution pattern of relict and specialised species in calcareous fens was revealed to be non-stochastic, with ancient fens harbouring more of these species than younger ones. This phenomenon could be caused by long-lasting in situ survivals over millennia, but direct palaeoecological evidence is lacking. We addressed the question whether at least some ancient calcareous fens indeed retained open-fen patches throughout the Holocene, using a palaeoecological approach involving proxies with different taphonomies (pollen, vascular plants, bryophytes, molluscs). We identified three old fens in the Western Carpathians, where several postglacial relict species have recently been found, and we reconstructed their histories with respect to sedimentary processes, vegetation structure and dynamics of relict species. The development at all the sites started with a (semi)-open fen community dominated by sedges and brown mosses. The site with the highest recent number of relict species was reconstructed to harbour open patches continually since the late Glacial to the present, including the middle Holocene when open-fen patches were restricted. By contrast, at the site with the lowest recent number of relict species, a large sedimentary hiatus suggested peat mineralisation or erosion that prevented the survival of light-demanding species. At all the sites, characteristic snails of European Glacial periods occurred during fen initiation, but disappeared around the early/middle Holocene transition. The probability of a relict species being present in a modern fen community increases with fen age, but it also depends on the continual existence of open-fen patches and peat accumulation throughout the middle Holocene.
OSL dating of the massive landslide-damming event in the Jishixia Gorge, on the upper Yellow River, NE Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhang Yuzhu , Huang Chun Chang , Pang Jiangli , Zhou Yali , Shang Ruiqing , Zhou Qiang , Guo Yongqiang , Liu Tao , Hu Guiming
Published: January 2015

Frequent natural hazards cause huge damage to human life and society in the mountainous regions along the eastern rim of the Tibetan Plateau. A massive landslide damming event has been reported in the Jishixia Gorge on the upper Yellow River as it emerges from the NE Tibetan Plateau. It was speculated that a breach of the dammed lake might have resulted in a super flood disaster that ruined the major Neolithic settlement at Lajia (4.20–3.95 ka BP) within the Guanting Basin that is located in the downstream. However, our detailed investigations along the Jishixia Gorge and Guanting Basin indicate that the dammed lake became shallower and desiccated gradually rather than breaching suddenly. The Yellow River has cut into the dammed lake deposits forming well-exposed profiles on the riverbanks. The dammed lake deposits are considered to provide an accurate natural record of the life-span of the dammed lake. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating was carried out on a series of eight samples taken from the profile. The OSL ages of the dammed lake deposits fall within the range of 8.25 ± 0.39 to 5.65 ± 0.21 ka at the Yisiri site about 2.5 km upstream of the landslide dam. These results indicate that the massive landslide damming event and the corresponding dammed lake occurred at 8.25 ka in the early Holocene. The dammed lake existed for about 2600 years and desiccated gradually and disappeared at 5.65 ka because the landslide dam was dissected slowly by the Yellow River. This means that the landslide dammed lake on the Yellow River disappeared about 1700 years before the Neolithic settlement at Lajia became ruins. The landslide damming event in the Jishixia Gorge is not related to the prehistorical catastrophic disasters that overcame the Lajia settlement within the Guanting Basin.
Micro-blogging practices in Canadian public libraries: A national snapshot
Authors: Cavanagh Mary F.
Published: January 2015

This paper reports the first phase of a study examining Canada’s public library sector’s micro-blogging practices. Results of a national survey of public library ( n=71) Twitter practices and an analysis of Twitter followers from one library are presented. Five themes are proposed as a future research agenda: community size and population density; managing the public library’s Twitter voice; the potential for controversy; the library as the community’s daily digest; and the network effects of community building. As the first national study, a contribution is made to advancing research on micro-blogging from the public library’s distinct institutional perspective.
Systemic lupus erythematosus is not a risk factor for poor outcomes after total hip and total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Shah U H , Mandl L A , Mertelsmann-Voss C , Lee Y Y , Alexiades M M , Figgie M P , Goodman S M
Published: January 2015

Objectives

Historically, arthroplasty in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients has been less successful than for patients with osteoarthritis (OA). It is not known if SLE remains an independent risk factor for poor arthroplasty outcomes or if other factors, such as avascular necrosis (AVN), continue to play a role.

Methods

A case-control study using data from a single-institution arthroplasty registry compared SLE total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with OA controls matched by age, gender and presence of AVN. Baseline, two-year administrative and self-report data, and diagnosis leading to arthroplasty were evaluated.

Results

A total of 54 primary SLE THA and 45 primary SLE TKA were identified from May 2007 through June 2011. AVN was present in 32% of SLE THA and no TKA. SLE THA had worse preoperative WOMAC pain (42.5 vs. 52.7; p = 0.01) and function (38.8 vs. 48.0; p = 0.05) compared with OA. However, at two years there was no difference in WOMAC pain (91.1 vs. 92.1; p = 0.77) or WOMAC function (86.4 vs. 90.8; p = 0.28). SLE TKA were similar to OA in both preoperative pain (42.6 vs. 48.4; p = 0.14) and function (42.1 vs. 46.8; p = 0.30) and two-year pain (85.7 vs. 88.6; p = 0.50) and function (83.7 vs. 85.1; p = 0.23). Compared to OA, SLE THA and TKA patients had more renal failure (14% vs. 1%; p = 0.007) and hypertension (52% vs. 29%; p = 0.009). In a multivariate linear regression, SLE was not predictive of either poor pain or poor function.

Conclusions

While SLE patients have more comorbidities than OA, and SLE THA have worse preoperative pain and function compared with OA controls, SLE was not an independent risk factor for poor short-term pain or function after either hip or knee arthroplasty.
Media Discourse on the Social Acceptability of Fecal Transplants
Authors: Chuong Kim H. , O’Doherty Kieran C. , Secko David M.
Published: January 2015

Advances in human microbiome research have generated considerable interest in elucidating the role of bacteria in health and the application of microbial ecosystem therapies and probiotics. Fecal transplants involve the introduction of gut microbes from a healthy donor’s stool to the patient and have been documented as effective for treating Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) and some other gastrointestinal disorders. However, the treatment has encountered regulatory hurdles preventing widespread uptake. We examined dominant representations of fecal transplants in Canadian media and found that fecal transplants are often represented as being inherently disgusting or distasteful (the “ick factor”). This “ick factor” is used to construct different messages about the treatment’s social acceptability and legitimacy. We conclude that an over-emphasis on the “ick factor” constrains public discourse from a more nuanced discussion of the social challenges, scientific concerns, and regulatory issues surrounding the treatment.
HIV Treatment for Alcohol and Non-Injection Drug Users in El Salvador
Authors: Dickson-Gomez Julia , Bodnar Gloria , Petroll Andy , Johnson Kali , Glasman Laura
Published: January 2015

Since the mid-1990s, many developing countries have introduced and expanded the availability of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) to persons living with HIV (PLH). However, AIDS-related mortality continues to be high particularly among drug users. In this article, we present results from in-depth interviews with 13 HIV medical providers and 29 crack cocaine and alcohol using PLH in El Salvador. Providers endorsed negative attitudes toward substance using PLH and warned PLH that combining cART with drugs and alcohol would damage their livers and kidneys resulting in death. Upon diagnosis, PLH received little information about HIV treatment and many suffered depression and escalated their drug use. PLH reported suspending cART when they drank or used drugs because of providers’ warnings. Substance using PLH were given few strategies and resources to quit using drugs. Messages from medical providers discourage drug users from initiating or adhering to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and may contribute to treatment abandonment.
Talent Development as a Framework for Gifted Education
Authors: Olszewski-Kubilius Paula , Thomson Dana
Published: January 2015

When used informally, talent development refers to the deliberate cultivation of ability or giftedness in a specific domain. However, recent discussions have used talent development to refer to a particular framework for viewing giftedness and the education of gifted children. In this article, the authors will present their views on the meaning of talent development, its distinguishing and defining features, how these compare with more traditional views on giftedness, and the implications of a talent development perspective for educational practice.
Journalism Meets Interaction Design
Authors: Angus Daniel , Doherty Skye
Published: January 2015

As the media industry moves to a post-industrial model, there is a need for journalists—current and future—to have a deeper understanding of the ways that technology impacts their work and how best to produce journalism for mobile and networked devices. This article examines a teaching initiative designed to introduce journalism students to elements of social and mobile technology theory and design practice. Using feedback gained from peers, students, and industry professionals, the initiative was deemed successful; however, we outline several recommendations for improvement.
The Welsh NHS Redress arrangements – Are they putting things right for Welsh patients?
Authors: Rosser Mari
Published: January 2015

Mari Rosser examines the operation of the National Health Service (Concerns, Complaints and Redress Arrangements) (Wales) Regulations 2011. She comments on the intention behind the National Health Service Redress measure passed by the Welsh Government in 2008 and reviews how successful this has been in delivering an effective complaint handling process. She highlights the areas where she considers that the process is not working as it should be.
Understanding marketing strategies with particular reference to small- and medium-sized hotel businesses in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Ahmad Syed Zamberi , Saber Hussein
Published: January 2015

This study attempts to empirically investigate the marketing practices of the small- and medium-sized hotels in the United Arab Emirates, which has not been extensively researched in the context of the accommodation sector in Arab region. Findings from the survey and semi-structured interviews with owners–operators of small- and medium-sized hotels revealed that, to remain competitive in the hotel businesses, small- and medium-sized hotels owners–operators undertaken various marketing practices in terms of positioning, product, price setting, and promotional strategies. The research reported in this paper seeks to make a contribution to the understanding of marketing strategies in small- and medium-sized hotels specifically and, more generally, to the area of small- and medium-sized enterprises or entrepreneurial marketing.
Participatory action approach for client-centered health insurance
Authors: Fenenga Christine J , Nketiah-Amponsah Edward , Bailey Ajay , Hutter Inge
Published: January 2015

This methodological paper systematically describes the steps towards exploring client-perceived barriers to enroll in the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana. To respond to the stagnating enrollment rate and to provide evidence-based information for developing policy and practice, the request for this study was made by the insurance authority. We adopted a Participatory Action Approach (PAA) and employed a linked trajectory of qualitative and quantitative methods to inquire deeply into clients’ motives and assumptions, and the root causes of these barriers, while transferring learning among multiple stakeholders in the system: the client, the healthcare provider, and the insurer. Data were collected in 2011 and 2012 among clients in their local communities in two regions in Ghana. Clients were participants in the research, expressing and sharing their emic perspectives and commonly shared opinions with the other stakeholders. This paper explores the contribution of the PAA to healthcare and health insurance studies. We claim that the PAA is a necessary approach for the study of a complex situation such as the health insurance context in Ghana as well as for the facilitation of learning and democratic decision-making. Making multidisciplinary stakeholders, including clients, part of the research contributes to finding solutions that are acceptable to different stakeholders. Our study contributes to PAA methodology knowledge and provides new insights on combining qualitative and quantitative research methods. We propose this as a model to be used within action research that can also be applied in other contexts outside of Africa.
The Interviewer Wore a Flower in Her Hair
Authors: Stefan Jordy , Jacob Céline , Guéguen Nicolas
Published: January 2015

Studies have shown that restaurant waitresses with hair ornamentation receive higher tips than waitresses without ornaments. However, the effect of such ornamentation on other behaviors has never been explored. In this study, the effect of a female interviewer’s hair ornamentation on compliance with a survey request was examined. Male and female passersby walking alone in the street were asked to participate in a short survey on their food consumption by a female interviewer wearing hair ornamentation (a real flower or a barrette with a synthetic red rose decoration) or not. Findings revealed that both types of hair ornamentation were associated with higher compliance with the survey request than in the no-ornamentation condition.
Pathomechanisms of Atrophy in Insular Cortex in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Moon Yeonsil , Moon Won-Jin , Han Seol-Heui
Published: January 2015

The insular cortex is associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms, changes in cardiovascular and autonomic control, and mortality in Alzheimer’s dementia. However, the insular cortex does not provide information on the contribution of the other cortices to cognitive decline. We hypothesized that the factors that affect to atrophy in insular cortex are different from other cortical regions. A total of 42 patients with probable Alzheimer’s dementia were included in the analyses. The manual drawing of regions of interest was used to detect insular cortex located in the deep gray matter and to avoid coatrophy. Covariates, which could affect to the atrophy of the cerebral cortex, were selected based on previous studies. Any of the demographic factors, vascular risk factors, and the severity scales of dementia was not associated with any insular volume ratio. We suggest that the pathomechanisms of atrophy in insular cortex are different from those of other cortex regions in Alzheimer’s disease.
Perspectives of induced pluripotent stem cells for cardiovascular system regeneration
Authors: Csöbönyeiová Mária , Polák Štefan , Danišovič L’uboš
Published: January 2015

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for basic research and regenerative medicine. They offer the same advantages as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and moreover new perspectives for personalized medicine. iPSCs can be generated from adult somatic tissues by over-expression of a few defined transcription factors, including Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-myc. For regenerative medicine in particular, the technology provides great hope for patients with incurable diseases or potentially fatal disorders such as heart failure. The endogenous regenerative potentials of adult hearts are extremely limited and insufficient to compensate for myocardial loss occurring after myocardial infarction. Recent discoveries have demonstrated that iPSCs have the potential to significantly advance future cardiovascular regenerative therapies. Moreover, iPSCs can be generated from somatic cells of patients with genetic basis for their disease. This human iPSC derivates offer tremendous potential for new disease models. This paper reviews current applications of iPSCs in cardiovascular regenerative medicine and discusses progress in modeling cardiovascular diseases using iPSCs-derived cardiac cells.
Modulation of Sonic hedgehog signaling and WW domain containing oxidoreductase WOX1 expression enhances radiosensitivity of human glioblastoma cells
Authors: Chiang Ming-Fu , Chen Hsin-Hong , Chi Chih-Wen , Sze Chun-I , Hsu Ming-Ling , Shieh Hui-Ru , Lin Chin-Ping , Tsai Jo-Ting , Chen Yu-Jen
Published: January 2015

WW domain containing oxidoreductase, designated WWOX, FOR or WOX1, is a known pro-apoptotic factor when ectopically expressed in various types of cancer cells, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The activation of sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling, especially paracrine Shh secretion in response to radiation, is associated with impairing the effective irradiation of cancer cells. Here, we examined the role of Shh signaling and WOX1 overexpression in the radiosensitivity of human GBM cells. Our results showed that ionizing irradiation (IR) increased the cytoplasmic Shh and nuclear Gli-1 content in GBM U373MG and U87MG cells. GBM cells with exogenous Shh treatment exhibited similar results. Pretreatment with Shh peptides protected U373MG and U87MG cells against IR in a dose-dependent manner. Cyclopamine, a Hedgehog/Smoothened (SMO) inhibitor, reversed the protective effect of Shh in U87MG cells. Cyclopamine increased Shh plus IR-induced H2AX, a marker of DNA double-strand breaks, in these cells. To verify the role of Shh signaling in the radiosensitivity of GBM cells, we tested the effect of the Gli family zinc finger 1 (Gli-1) inhibitor zerumbone and found that it could sensitize GBM cells to IR. We next examined the role of WOX1 in radiosensitivity. Overexpression of WOX1 enhanced the radiosensitivity of U87MG (possessing wild type p53 or WTp53) but not U373MG (harboring mutant p53 or MTp53) cells. Pretreatment with Shh peptides protected both WOX1-overexpressed U373MG and U87MG cells against IR and increased the cytoplasmic Shh and nuclear Gli-1 content. Zerumbone enhanced the radiosensitivity of WOX1-overexpressed U373MG and U87MG cells. In conclusion, overexpression of WOX1 preferentially sensitized human GBM cells possessing wild type p53 to radiation therapy. Blocking of Shh signaling may enhance radiosensitivity independently of the expression of p53 and WOX1. The crosstalk between Shh signaling and WOX1 expression in human glioblastoma warrants further investigation.
WWOX, the chromosomal fragile site FRA16D spanning gene: Its role in metabolism and contribution to cancer
Authors: Richards Robert I , Choo Amanda , Lee Cheng Shoou , Dayan Sonia , O’Keefe Louise
Published: January 2015

The WWOX gene spans the common chromosomal fragile site FRA16D that is located within a massive (780 kb) intron. The WWOX gene is very long, at 1.1 Mb, which may contribute to the very low abundance of the full-length 1.4 kb mRNA. Alternative splicing also accounts for a variety of aberrant transcripts, most of which are devoid of C-terminal sequences required for WWOX to act as an oxidoreductase. The mouse WWOX gene also spans a chromosomal fragile site implying some sort of functional relationship that confers a selective advantage. The encoded protein domains of WWOX are conserved through evolution (between humans and Drosophila melanogaster) and include WW domains, an NAD -binding site, short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase enzyme and nuclear compartmentalization signals. This homology has enabled functional analyses in D. melanogaster that demonstrate roles for WWOX in reactive oxygen species regulation and metabolism. Indeed the human WWOX gene is also responsive to altered metabolism. Cancer cells typically exhibit altered metabolism (Warburg effect). Many cancers exhibit FRA16D DNA instability that results in aberrant WWOX expression and is associated with poor prognosis for these cancers. It is therefore thought that aberrant WWOX expression contributes to the altered metabolism in cancer. In addition, others have found that a specific (low-expression) allele of WWOX genotype contributes to cancer predisposition.
WWOX, large common fragile site genes, and cancer
Authors: Gao Ge , Smith David I
Published: January 2015

WWOX is a gene that spans an extremely large chromosomal region. It is derived from within chromosomal band 16q23.2 which is a region with frequent deletions and other alterations in a variety of different cancers. This chromosomal band also contains the FRA16D common fragile site (CFS). CFSs are chromosomal regions found in all individuals which are highly unstable. WWOX has also been demonstrated to function as a tumor suppressor that is involved in the development of many cancers. Two other highly unstable CFSs, FRA3B (3p14.2) and FRA6E (6q26), also span extremely large genes, FHIT and PARK2, respectively, and these two genes are also found to be important tumor suppressors. There are a number of interesting similarities between these three large CFS genes. In spite of the fact that they are derived from some of the most unstable chromosomal regions in the genome, they are found to be highly evolutionarily conserved and the chromosomal region spanning the mouse homologs of both WWOX and FHIT are also CFSs in mice. Many of the other CFSs also span extremely large genes and many of these are very attractive tumor suppressor candidates. WWOX is therefore a member of a very interesting family of very large CFS genes.
Hemodynamics and right-ventricle functional characteristics of a swine carotid artery-jugular vein shunt model of pulmonary arterial hypertension: An 18-month experimental study
Authors: Wu Ji , Luo Xiaoju , Huang Yuanyuan , He Yun , Li Zhixian
Published: January 2015

The continuous changes in pulmonary hemodynamic properties and right ventricular (RV) function in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have not been fully characterized in large animal model of PAH induced by a carotid artery–jugular vein shunt. A minipig model of PAH was induced by a surgical anastomosis between the left common carotid artery and the left jugular vein. The model was validated by catheter examination and pathologic analyses, and the hemodynamic features and right-ventricle functional characteristics of the model were continuously observed by Doppler echocardiography. Of the 45 minipigs who received the surgery, 27 survived and were validated as models of PAH, reflected by mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥25 mmHg, and typical pathologic changes of pulmonary arterial remodeling and RV fibrosis. Non-invasive indices of pulmonary hemodynamics (pulmonary artery accelerating time and its ratio to RV ventricular ejection time) were temporarily increased, then reduced later, similar to changes in tricuspid annular displacement. The Tei index of the RV was elevated, indicating a progressive impairment in RV function. Surgical anastomosis between carotid artery and jugular vein in a minipig is effective to establish PAH, and non-invasive hemodynamic and right-ventricle functional indices measured by Doppler echocardiography may be used as early indicators of PAH.
Featured Article: Dexamethasone and rosiglitazone are sufficient and necessary for producing functional adipocytes from mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Contador David , Ezquer Fernando , Espinosa Maximiliano , Arango-Rodriguez Martha , Puebla Carlos , Sobrevia Luis , Conget Paulette
Published: January 2015

The final product of adipogenesis is a functional adipocyte. This mature cell acquires the necessary machinery for lipid metabolism, loses its proliferation potential, increases its insulin sensitivity, and secretes adipokines. Multipotent mesechymal stromal cells have been recognized as a source of adipocytes both in vivo and in vitro. The in vitro adipogenic differentiation of human MSC (hMSC) has been induced up to now by using a complex stimulus which includes dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, indomethacin, and insulin (a classical cocktail) and evaluated according to morphological changes. The present work was aimed at demonstrating that the simultaneous activation of dexamethasone’s canonical signaling pathways, through the glucocorticoid receptor and CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins ( C/EBPs) and rosiglitazone through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ( PPAR-gamma) is sufficient yet necessary for inducing hMSC adipogenic differentiation. It was also ascertained that hMSC exposed just to dexamethasone and rosiglitazone (D&R) differentiated into cells which accumulated neutral lipid droplets, expressed C/EBP-alpha, PPAR-gamma, aP2, lipoprotein lipase, acyl-CoA synthetase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, adiponectin, and leptin genes but did not proliferate. Glucose uptake was dose dependent on insulin stimulus and high levels of adipokines were secreted (i.e. displaying not only the morphology but also expressing mature adipocytes’ specific genes and functional characteristics). This work has demonstrated that (i) the activating C/EBPs and PPAR-gamma signaling pathways were sufficient to induce adipogenic differentiation from hMSC, (ii) D&R producing functional adipocytes from hMSC, (iii) D&R induce adipogenic differentiation from mammalian MSC (including those which are refractory to classical adipogenic differentiation stimuli). D&R would thus seem to be a useful tool for MSC characterization, studying adipogenesis pathways and producing functional adipocytes.
Regulation of cell signaling and apoptosis by tumor suppressor WWOX
Authors: Lo Jui-Yen , Chou Ying-Tsen , Lai Feng-Jie , Hsu Li-Jin
Published: January 2015

Human fragile WWOX gene encodes a tumor suppressor WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (named WWOX, FOR, or WOX1). Functional suppression of WWOX prevents apoptotic cell death induced by a variety of stress stimuli, such as tumor necrosis factor, UV radiation, and chemotherapeutic drug treatment. Loss of WWOX gene expression due to gene deletions, loss of heterozygosity, chromosomal translocations, or epigenetic silencing is frequently observed in human malignant cancer cells. Acquisition of chemoresistance in squamous cell carcinoma, osteosarcoma, and breast cancer cells is associated with WWOX deficiency. WWOX protein physically interacts with many signaling molecules and exerts its regulatory effects on gene transcription and protein stability and subcellular localization to control cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, autophagy, and metabolism. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which WWOX regulates cellular functions and stress responses. A potential scenario is that activation of WWOX by anticancer drugs is needed to overcome chemoresistance and trigger cancer cell death, suggesting that WWOX can be regarded as a prognostic marker and a candidate molecule for targeted cancer therapies.
The Perceptions and Experiences of School Management Teams and Teachers of the Management of Physical Resources in Public Schools
Authors: Mestry Raj , Bodalina Kishan
Published: January 2015

The effective management of physical resources significantly impacts on the quality of teaching and learning in schools. The procurement, utilization and maintenance of physical resources through organized structures, well-designed policies and rigid processes are critical for quality education. According to the South African Schools Act 1996, a governing body is responsible for managing the school’s finances and physical assets. However, most school governing bodies seriously lack essential knowledge and skills to manage both, the finances as well as physical resources effectively, resulting in poor learner performance and low educational outcomes. We administered a structured questionnaire to investigate the management teams and teachers’ perceptions and experiences of the management of physical resources in schools. Findings revealed that many governing bodies lack the necessary financial skills to develop practical budgets and procure physical resources economically for their schools. They are unable to set-up systematic structures and stringent processes, and this has caused wasteful expenditure for schools, and the failure of teachers to maintain and productively use physical resources. Their function to constantly monitor and evaluate the procurement and maintenance of physical resources is seriously lacking. Governors who are proficient will experience very little difficulty in managing the school’s physical resources effectively.
Theorizing Headteacher Socialization from a Role Boundary Perspective
Authors: Cottrell Matthew , James Chris
Published: January 2015

The experience of headteacher socialization has been described as challenging and often traumatic for new headteachers. The research reported in this article provides a theoretical explanation of that experience by analysing the socialization of new primary school headteachers in England from a role boundary perspective. The role boundary is the delineation between a set of practices – a role-as-practice – which are commensurate with a role-as-position and those practices that are not. Six newly appointed primary school headteachers were interviewed periodically during their first three years in post to explore their experiences. A seventh newly appointed headteacher kept a written log of his experiences during that period. From the data, 22 narratives of critical socializing incidents were developed and interpreted from a role boundary perspective. During headteacher socialization, the new headteacher and those in the school and in its wider context seek to establish and position their respective role boundaries. Role boundary interactions have the purpose of establishing the legitimacy of practices and may be immediate; intense; lead to conflict and have a high affective content. The research confirms the role boundary concept as a theoretical and methodological tool of heuristic and analytical value in understanding and explaining headteacher socialization.
Internationalization and Culture in Higher Education
Authors: Lumby Jacky , Foskett Nick
Published: January 2015

Internationalization has attained great significance in Higher Education, driven by both educational philosophy and commercial imperatives. Cultural change is implied as both a related process and as a goal. The article considers the multifaceted ways in which culture might be conceived and linked to different orientations to internationalization. The metaphor of ecology is used to highlight the dilemmas faced by leaders attempting to use cultural exchange as a market product while they may be simultaneously eroding the distinctiveness of cultures on which such a strategy relies. The short termism of humans in general and business in particular is argued to militate against action to protect cultural assets other than one’s own. The article suggests considered and careful leadership of internationalization, preserving distinctiveness and promoting equality among cultures is in the long term commercial interest of universities, as well as offering individual and societal benefits.