bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visual processing in migraine
Authors: O'Hare Louise , Hibbard Paul B
Published: November 2015

Background

Migraine is a common neurological condition that often involves differences in visual processing. These sensory processing differences provide important information about the underlying causes of the condition, and for the development of treatments.

Review of psychophysical literature

Psychophysical experiments have shown consistent impairments in contrast sensitivity, orientation acuity, and the perception of global form and motion. They have also established that the addition of task-irrelevant visual noise has a greater effect, and that surround suppression, masking and adaptation are all stronger in migraine.

Theoretical signal processing model

We propose utilising an established model of visual processing, based on signal processing theory, to account for the behavioural differences seen in migraine. This has the advantage of precision and clarity, and generating clear, falsifiable predictions.

Conclusion

Increased effects of noise and differences in excitation and inhibition can account for the differences in migraine visual perception. Consolidating existing research and creating a unified, defined theoretical account is needed to better understand the disorder.
SUNCT syndrome: A cohort of 15 Portuguese patients
Authors: Cação Gonçalo , Correia Fernando Dias , Pereira-Monteiro José
Published: November 2015

Background

In this paper, we describe a cohort of patients with short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT), a rare trigeminal autonomic headache, managed in the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital.

Methods

Patients were identified through review of individual records between January 1, 2008 and June 30, 2014.

Results

Fifteen patients were identified (eight males:seven females), with mean age at onset of 49.7 years, mean number of attacks per day of 7.5 and mean attack duration of 54.6 seconds. Pain was mostly orbital, periorbital or temporal. Cranial autonomic signs/symptoms were universally present; one patient reported ipsilateral epistaxis. Two symptomatic cases were identified and treated surgically. Most patients responded to lamotrigine, one to topiramate and another to eslicarbazepine.

Conclusion

Our case series is among the largest reported, with findings similar to others already published, but the first to report epistaxis during SUNCT attack and response to eslicarbazepine.
Effect of Home-Based Complementary Food Fortification on Prevalence of Anemia Among Infants and Young Children Aged 6 to 23 Months in Poor Rural Regions of China
Authors: Huo Junsheng , Sun Jing , Fang Zheng , Chang Suying , Zhao Liyun , Fu Ping , Wang Jie , Huang Jian , Wang Lijuan , Begin France , Hipgrave David B. , Ma Guansheng
Published: November 2015

Following the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, the Chinese government instituted an infant and young and child nutrition program that included promotion of in-home fortification of complementary food with ying yang bao (YYB), a soy-based powder containing iron, 2.5 mg as iron-EDTA and 5 mg as ferrous fumarate, and other micronutrients. Ying yang bao was provided to participating families in 8 poor rural counties in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces by the Ministry of Health. We assessed hemoglobin levels among infants and young children (IYC) aged 6 to 23 months at baseline in May 2010 (n = 1290) and during follow-up in November 2010 (n = 1142), May 2011 (n = 1118), and November 2011 (n = 1040), using the Hemocue method. Interviewers collected basic demographic information and child feeding practices from the children’s caretakers. Altitude-adjusted hemoglobin level averaged 10.8 g/dL, and total anemia prevalence was 49.5% at baseline. Average hemoglobin was 11.3 g/dL at 6 months, 11.6 g/dL at 12 months, and 11.7 g/dL at 18 months after introduction of YYB. Moderate anemia (hemoglobin: 70-99 g/dL) decreased from 20.3% at baseline to 7.5%, 5.8%, and 7.3% after 6, 12, and 18 months of home fortification, respectively ( P < .001), whereas mild anemia (hemoglobin: 100-110 g/dL) decreased from 29.0% to 16.7%, 18.1%, and 15.4%, respectively ( P < .001). Among infants aged 6 to 23 months, 95% had regularly been fed YYB during the observation period. Regression analysis showed that the duration of YYB consumption and number of sachets consumed per week correlated positively with hemoglobin levels and negatively with anemia rates. Home food fortification with YYB is feasible and effective for nutrition promotion among IYC in high-risk regions of China.
Mechanical influence of tissue culture plates and extracellular matrix on mesenchymal stem cell behavior: A topical review
Authors: Tatullo Marco , Marrelli Massimo , Falisi Giovanni , Rastelli Claudio , Palmieri Francesca , Gargari Marco , Zavan Barbara , Paduano Francesco , Benagiano Vincenzo
Published: November 2015

Tissue engineering applications need a continuous development of new biomaterials able to generate an ideal cell–extracellular matrix interaction. The stem cell fate is regulated by several factors, such as growth factors or transcription factors. The most recent literature has reported several publications able to demonstrate that environmental factors also contribute to the regulation of stem cell behavior, leading to the opinion that the environment plays the major role in the cell differentiation.

The interaction between mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and extracellular environment has been widely described, and it has a crucial role in regulating the cell phenotype. In our laboratory (Tecnologica Research Institute, Crotone, Italy), we have recently studied how several physical factors influence the distribution and the morphology of MSCs isolated from dental pulp, and how they are able to regulate stem cell differentiation. Mechanical and geometrical factors are only a small part of the environmental factors able to influence stem cell behavior, however, this influence should be properly known: in fact, this assumption must be clearly considered during those studies involving MSCs; furthermore, these interactions should be considered as an important bias that involves an high number of studies on the MSCs, since in worldwide laboratories the scientists mostly use tissue culture plates for their experiments.
Simulation of lightning strike damage in carbon nanotube doped CFRP composites
Authors: Soykasap Omer , Karakaya Sukru , Colakoglu Mehmet
Published: November 2015

This study focuses on understanding the damage behavior caused by the lightning strike of carbon nanotube (CNT) doped carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites. Quasi isotropic CFRP laminated composite plates used in aerospace structures are modeled to investigate behavior of lightning strike damage. Abaqus finite element program is used in the analysis to study the effect of different waveforms and peak currents. First coupled electrical and thermal analysis is carried out using multi-physics, the results of which are verified with the experimental data obtained in open literature. In the next step, it is assumed that CNTs in different weight percentage are added to resin and the electrical properties of the CFRP plate are updated to run coupled thermal electrical analysis. The results show that the damage area in each ply and the depth of the damage are not linear under the effect of either different waveforms or maximum strike currents. When the weight percentage of CNT doped into the resin increases, the damage region substantially decreases because the electrical conductivity through the thickness of the plate plays significant role for the lightning strike damage.
Aging in Place of Vulnerable Older Adults: Person–Environment Fit Perspective
Authors: Park Sojung , Han Yoonsun , Kim BoRin , Dunkle Ruth E.
Published: November 2015

Based on the premise that the experience of aging in place is different for vulnerable subgroups of older adults compared with less vulnerable subgroups, we focus on low-income older adults as a vulnerable subgroup and senior housing as an alternative to a conventional, private home environment. Using the 2008 and 2010 waves of the Health Retirement Study, regression models determined the impact of person–environment (P-E) fit between poverty status and residence in senior housing on self-rated health. Consistent with the environmental docility hypothesis, findings show that, among low-income individuals, the supportive environment of senior housing plays a pronounced compensating role and may be a key to successful adaptation in aging. As the first research effort to empirically demonstrate the positive health effects of senior housing among socioeconomically vulnerable elders, our findings provide a much-needed theoretical and practical underpinning for policy-making efforts regarding vulnerable elders.
Social Network Analysis of 50 Years of International Collaboration in the Research of Educational Technology
Authors: Guo Shesen , Zhang Ganzhou , Guo Yufei
Published: November 2015

The definition of the field of educational technology has evolved over 50 years. New inventions and economic globalization increasingly facilitate people’s communication for exchange of ideas and collaboration. This work attempts to describe international research collaboration in educational technology for the past 50 years. This article intends to offer an objective and quantitative description through social network analysis. The structure and evolutionary model for the international collaboration network in educational technology is proposed. Economic and geographical factors related to collaboration are analyzed, and the relationship between the number of author origins of ^an article and the times cited of the article received is discussed.
Open Sim and Sloodle Integration for Preservice Foreign Language Teachers’ Continuing Professional Development
Authors: Pellas Nikolaos , Boumpa Anna
Published: November 2015

A considerable interest in using three-dimensional multi-user virtual worlds for different educational disciplines has been widely observed. Despite the potential benefits of this technology, many questions still remain open, as far as the design of appropriate activities in well-defined instructional design frameworks and their effectiveness on learning gain, according to preservice foreign language teachers’ interactions. In this study, the results of three activities are presented, including foreign language teachers’ continuing professional development by blending Sloodle and Open Sim in order to develop and to learn practically basic concepts that are related to information technology literacy. Three learning activities of different classes were designed and carried out by 135 ( n = 135) preservice foreign language teachers’ continuing professional development, using CoI presence indicators (cognitive presence, teaching presence, and social presence) as constructs of a theoretical framework, first to develop a constructivist instructional design approach and second to develop low-cost virtual learning environments. During all activities, one group of pretest or posttest design was used, and results indicated noteworthy improvement to learning outcomes, particularly to preservice teachers with low initial performance. The average preservice foreign language teacher’s questionnaire score was increased from 42.3/100 to 66.1/100. The study findings proved no significant variation between the preservice teachers’ learning outcomes based on their different roles and their secondary education curriculum (i.e., school stream). Lastly, a persistent pattern of high learning gain was identified, regardless of the activity’s class and learning goals which were held in Sloodle and Open Sim.
Microspheres of carboxymethyl chitosan, sodium alginate and collagen for a novel hemostatic in vitro study
Authors: Shi Xinyi , Fang Qiang , Ding Miao , Wu Jing , Ye Fei , Lv Zhengbing , Jin Jia
Published: November 2015

To develop biocompatible composite microspheres for novel hemostatic use, we designed and prepared a novel biomaterial, composite microspheres consisting of carboxymethyl chitosan, sodium alginate, and collagen (CSCM). The ultra-structure of CSCM was investigated by scanning electron microscopy assay. In hemostatic function experiment, it was found that CSCM could facilitate platelet adherence, platelet aggregation, and platelet activation in vitro. Besides, the maximum swelling of CSCM submerged in PBS for 50 min was over 300% of that exhibited by commercial hemostatic compound microporous polysaccharide haemostatic powder (CMPHP). In addition, CSCM exhibited good biodegradability and non-cytotoxicity. These results demonstrated that CSCM may be useful in platelet plug formation, and this study would provide important information for further research on hemostasis experiment in vivo.
Measuring the Tangible Fear of Heterosexist Violence
Authors: Fox Christopher , Asquith Nicole L.
Published: November 2015

Fear of crime (FoC) has dominated the political landscape over the last 20 years, with many crime policy developments during this period linked not to actual experiences of violence but to the fear of victimization. Fear of crime studies, in most cases, are conducted with populations that have only a passing, mediated knowledge of crime victimization. The research discussed in this article, in contrast, considers the impact of FoC with a highly victimized community, and establishes psychometric testing to validate an instrument to measure the impact of that fear ( Fear of Heterosexism Scale [ FoHS]). If FoC is related to experiences of crime as the existing research suggests, then victims of heterosexist prejudice, discrimination, and/or violence would be more likely to fear such incidents in the future. It was also predicted that participants who concealed their sexual and/or gender identity and had lower levels of social connectedness would experience higher levels of fear. The findings highlight the importance of contextual factors in FoH, and identify the critical roles that disclosure and social connectedness play in ameliorating the damaging effects of heterosexist victimization.
Composite materials based on low-density polyethylene loaded with date pits
Authors: Marzouk Wiem , Bettaieb Fedia , Khiari Ramzi , Majdoub Hatem
Published: November 2015

This work is devoted to investigate the available agricultural Tunisian waste: the date pits as reinforcing filler for thermoplastic matrix. The chemical composition of this reinforcing filler is found to be comparable to nonwood plants: its content comprises of 13% of extractibles, 22% of lignin, and 61% of holocellulose. Then, the lignocellulosic filler was used to prepare different composites films using Brabender mixing device. A series of composite film was established by different loadings of the date pits waste with 10–50% of the filler in 10% as an interval. The ensuing composites materials were then characterized by several techniques such as the morphology of the composites, which was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The thermal properties of prepared materials were studied using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Finally, the mechanical and water absorption properties were involved. The obtained results indicated that date pits–based particles enhanced the thermomechanical properties of the thermoplastic matrix and demonstrated that this available lignocellulosic biomass can be considered to be a promising filler material.
Citizen-Driven International Networks and Globalization of Social Movements on Twitter
Authors: Zhu Qinfeng
Published: November 2015

Social media offer an avenue for the formation of citizen-driven global networks that are vital to mobilizing international support and curating global public discourse in social movements. This study looks into the global flow of information and communication about Hong Kong's Occupy Central Movement with a focus on the country/territory-level international network that emerged on Twitter. Drawing on the world systems theory and the literature on social movement, it examines whether the globalization of a local social movement via social media is circumscribed by the existing order of the world system (i.e., from the developed core countries/territories to the developing peripheral). It focuses its analysis on the network structure and the predictors of countries/territories’ centrality in the network. Findings of the social network analysis show that the structure of the international network still follows the existing order of the world system to a large extent. It is further supported by the result of the multivariate analysis that national income, a widely used benchmark for determining a country/territory's position in the world economy, is significantly and substantially related to centrality. However, national income does not have the largest predicting power. Instead, a country/territory's level of political grievances is found to be the strongest predictor. In addition, countries/territories with high Internet penetration rates tend to have high-centrality scores, and yet the effect size is smaller than the other predictors.
Current Controversies With Recent Cholesterol Treatment Guidelines
Authors: Phillips Elizabeth , Saseen Joseph J.
Published: November 2015

Several guidelines and expert recommendations have been published recently regarding the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines recommend a drastic paradigm change in the treatment of cholesterol where treatment, based on level of cardiovascular risk, is based around using a fixed statin intensity therapy. This approach is endorsed by the American Diabetes Association. However, recommendations by the National Lipid Association (NLA) consist of the traditional approach of titrating therapy to achieve patient-specific lipoprotein targets. Despite the differences in overall approaches, the use of statin therapy as the cornerstone of treatment to reduce risk of cardiovascular events in at risk patients is a strong common theme. Clinicians should be aware of these differences, as they represent controversies with the overall treatment of ASCVD risk. Additional controversies related to the treatment of patients with ASCVD risk pertain to the role of nonstatin drugs and approaches to managing side effects. These topics are reviewed within this article and discuss implications for patient care.
Dynamics of a motorized spindle supported on water-lubricated bearings
Authors: Feng Huihui , Jiang Shuyun
Published: November 2015

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the dynamic performances of a motorized spindle supported on water-lubricated bearings. A modified transfer matrix method considering both of the translational and tilting dynamic coefficients of the bearings is established. The turbulent Reynolds equation is adopted and numerically solved by the perturbation method and the finite difference method, and the dynamic characteristics of the water-lubricated journal bearings are obtained; the effects of the eccentricity ratio, tilting angle, and the rotational speed on the dynamic coefficients of the water-lubricated journal bearings are analyzed. The critical speed, the dynamic stiffness of spindle nose, and unbalance response of the motorized spindle are investigated. Finally, a comparative study of rotor dynamic behaviors between the 32- and the eight-coefficient bearing models is conducted. The numerical predictions obtained by the 32-coefficient bearing models correlate well with the experimental values available in the literature.
Analyzing the transition from single- to double-track railway lines with nonlinear regression analysis
Authors: Sogin Samuel L , Lai Yung-Cheng (Rex) , Dick C Tyler , Barkan Christopher PL
Published: November 2015

The demand for freight rail transportation in North America is anticipated to substantially increase in the foreseeable future. Additionally, government agencies seek to increase the speed and frequency of passenger trains operating on certain freight lines, further adding to demand for new railway capacity. The majority of the North American mainline railway network is single track with passing sidings for meets and passes. Expanding the infrastructure by constructing additional track is necessary to maintain network fluidity under increased rail traffic. The additional track can be constructed in phases over time, resulting in hybrid track configurations during the transition from purely single track to a double-track route. To plan this phased approach, there is a need to understand the incremental capacity benefit as a single-track route transitions to a two-main-track route in the context of shared passenger and freight train operations. Consequently, in this study, the Rail Traffic Controller software is used to simulate various hybrid track configurations. The simulations consider different operating conditions to capture the interaction between traffic volume, traffic composition and speed differences between train types. A nonlinear regression model is then developed to quantify the incremental capacity benefit of double-track construction through exponential delay–volume relationships. Adding sections of double track reduces train delay linearly under constant volume. This linear delay reduction yields a convex increase in capacity as double track is installed. These results allow railway practitioners to make more-informed decisions on the optimal strategy for incremental railway capacity upgrades.
Analysis and design of a novel low-noise rail
Authors: Zhao Caiyou , Wang Ping
Published: November 2015

The design and construction of a complex damping layer for rails is presented in this paper. A numerical procedure for the calculation of the loss factor of a compound track model using this treatment was developed. Through this procedure, guidelines on the selection of the optimal material and configuration among the commercially available and technologically feasible options were formulated. A vinyl ester resin-interpenetrating polymer network was chosen as the viscoelastic material for the damping layer, polyurethane epoxy resin as the material for the extra layer, and 3Cr13Mo steel as the material for the constraining layer. This study culminated in the construction of a prototype and the evaluation of its performance in the laboratory. Laboratory measurements on track demonstrated that the proposed damping approach can effectively mitigate rail vibration and noise radiation over the frequency range between 12.5 and 4000 Hz. The glue developed in this work was found to be highly reliable and efficient in reducing noise.
Effect of calcium/sodium ion exchange on the osmotic properties and structure of polyelectrolyte gels
Authors: Horkay Ferenc , Basser Peter J , Hecht Anne-Marie , Geissler Erik
Published: November 2015

We discuss the main findings of a long-term research program exploring the consequences of sodium/calcium ion exchange on the macroscopic osmotic and elastic properties, and the microscopic structure of representative synthetic polyelectrolyte (sodium polyacrylate, (polyacrylic acid)) and biopolymer gels (DNA). A common feature of these gels is that above a threshold calcium ion concentration, they exhibit a reversible volume phase transition. At the macroscopic level, the concentration dependence of the osmotic pressure shows that calcium ions influence primarily the third-order interaction term in the Flory–Huggins model of polymer solutions. Mechanical tests reveal that the elastic modulus is practically unaffected by the presence of calcium ions, indicating that ion bridging does not create permanent cross-links. At the microscopic level, small-angle neutron scattering shows that polyacrylic acid and DNA gels exhibit qualitatively similar structural features in spite of important differences (e.g. chain flexibility and chemical composition) between the two polymers. The main effect of calcium ions is that the neutron scattering intensity increases due to the decrease in the osmotic modulus. At the level of the counterion cloud around dissolved macroions, anomalous small-angle X-ray scattering measurements made on DNA indicate that divalent ions form a cylindrical sheath enveloping the chain, but they are not localized. Small-angle neutron scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering provide complementary information on the structure and interactions in polymer solutions and gels.
Double-network hydrogel and its potential biomedical application: A review
Authors: Nonoyama Takayuki , Gong Jian Ping
Published: November 2015

Double-network hydrogels are one of the most promising candidates as artificial soft supporting tissues owing to their excellent mechanical performance, water storage capability, and biocompatibility. A double-network hydrogel consists of two contrasting polymer networks: rigid and brittle first network and soft and ductile second network. To satisfy this double-network requirement, polyelectrolyte and neutral polymer are suitable as the first and the second networks, respectively. Combination of these two networks gives rise to extraordinarily tough double-network hydrogel as a result of substantial internal fracture of the brittle first network at large deformation, which contributes to the energy dissipation. Therefore, the first network serves as the sacrificial bonds to toughen the material. The double-network principle is universal and many kinds of double-network hydrogels composed of various chemical species have been developed. Moreover, a molecular stent technology has been developed to synthesize the double-network hydrogels using neutral polymer network as the brittle first network. The sulfonic double-network hydrogel was found to induce spontaneous hyaline cartilage regeneration in vivo.
Kinetics of aqueous lubrication in the hydrophilic hydrogel Gemini interface
Authors: Dunn Alison C , Pitenis Angela A , Urueña Juan M , Schulze Kyle D , Angelini Thomas E , Sawyer W Gregory
Published: November 2015

The exquisite sliding interfaces in the human body share the common feature of hydrated dilute polymer mesh networks. These networks, especially when they constitute a sliding interface such as the pre-corneal tear film on the ocular interface, are described by the molecular weight of the polymer chains and a characteristic size of a minimum structural unit, the mesh size, ξ. In a Gemini interface where hydrophilic hydrogels are slid against each other, the aqueous lubrication behavior has been shown to be a function of sliding velocity, introducing a sliding timescale competing against the time scales of polymer fluctuation and relaxation at the surface. In this work, we examine two recent studies and postulate that when the Gemini interface slips faster than the single-chain relaxation time, chains must relax, suppressing the amplitude of the polymer chain thermal fluctuations.
Swelling and mechanical properties of physically crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels
Authors: Suzuki Atsushi , Sasaki Saori
Published: November 2015

Physically crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) gels are versatile biomaterials due to their excellent biocompatibility. In the past decades, physically crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl alcohol)-based hydrogels have been extensively studied for biomedical applications. However, these materials have not yet been implemented due to their mechanical strength. Physically crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) gels consist of a swollen amorphous network of poly(vinyl alcohol) physically crosslinked by microcrystallites. Although the mechanical properties can be improved to some extent by controlling the distribution of microcrystallites on the nano- and micro-scales, enhancing the mechanical properties while maintaining high water content remains very difficult. It may be technologically impossible to significantly improve the mechanical properties while keeping the gel’s high water absorbance ability using conventional fabrication methods. Physical and chemical understandings of the swelling and mechanical properties of physically crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) gels are considered here; some promising strategies for their practical applications are presented. This review focuses more on the recent studies on swelling and mechanical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels, prepared using only poly(vinyl alcohol) and pure water with no other chemicals, as potential biomedical materials.
Identification of gene expression signature for cigarette smoke exposure response—from man to mouse
Authors: Martin F , Talikka M , Hoeng J , Peitsch MC
Published: November 2015

Gene expression profiling data can be used in toxicology to assess both the level and impact of toxicant exposure, aligned with a vision of 21st century toxicology. Here, we present a whole blood-derived gene signature that can distinguish current smokers from either nonsmokers or former smokers with high specificity and sensitivity. Such a signature that can be measured in a surrogate tissue (whole blood) may help in monitoring smoking exposure as well as discontinuation of exposure when the primarily impacted tissue (e.g., lung) is not readily accessible. The signature consisted of LRRN3, SASH1, PALLD, RGL1, TNFRSF17, CDKN1C, IGJ, RRM2, ID3, SERPING1, and FUCA1. Several members of this signature have been previously described in the context of smoking. The signature translated well across species and could distinguish mice that were exposed to cigarette smoke from ones exposed to air only or had been withdrawn from cigarette smoke exposure. Finally, the small signature of only 11 genes could be converted into a polymerase chain reaction-based assay that could serve as a marker to monitor compliance with a smoking abstinence protocol.
Hazards identified and the need for health risk assessment in the South African mining industry
Authors: Utembe W , Faustman EM , Matatiele P , Gulumian M
Published: November 2015

Although mining plays a prominent role in the economy of South Africa, it is associated with many chemical hazards. Exposure to dust from mining can lead to many pathological effects depending on mineralogical composition, size, shape and levels and duration of exposure. Mining and processing of minerals also result in occupational exposure to toxic substances such as platinum, chromium, vanadium, manganese, mercury, cyanide and diesel particulate. South Africa has set occupational exposure limits (OELs) for some hazards, but mine workers are still at a risk. Since the hazard posed by a mineral depends on its physiochemical properties, it is recommended that South Africa should not simply adopt OELs from other countries but rather set her own standards based on local toxicity studies. The limits should take into account the issue of mixtures to which workers could be exposed as well as the health status of the workers. The mining industry is also a source of contamination of the environment, due inter alia to the large areas of tailings dams and dumps left behind. Therefore, there is need to develop guidelines for safe land-uses of contaminated lands after mine closure.
Evidence-based causation in toxicology
Authors: James RC , Britt JK , Halmes NC , Guzelian PS
Published: November 2015

We introduced Evidence-based Toxicology (EBT) in 2005 to address the disparities that exist between the various Weight-of-Evidence (WOE) methods typically applied in the regulatory hazard decision-making arena and urged toxicologists to adopt the evidence-based guidelines long-utilized in medicine (i.e., Evidence-Based Medicine or EBM). This review of the activities leading to the adoption of evidence-based methods and EBT during the last decade demonstrates how fundamental concepts that form EBT, such as the use of systematic reviews to capture and consider all available information, are improving toxicological evaluations performed by various groups and agencies. We reiterate how the EBT framework, a process that provides a method for performing human chemical causation analyses in an objective, transparent and reproducible manner, differs significantly from past and current regulatory WOE approaches. We also discuss why the uncertainties associated with regulatory WOE schemes lead to a definition of the term “risk” that contains unquantifiable uncertainties not present in this term as it is used in epidemiology and medicine. We believe this distinctly different meaning of “risk” should be clearly conveyed to those not familiar with this difference (e.g., the lay public), when theoretical/nomologic risks associated with chemical-induced toxicities are presented outside of regulatory and related scientific parlance.
A snapshot of biologic drug development
Authors: Andrews L , Ralston S , Blomme E , Barnhart K
Published: November 2015

Since the approval of insulin as the first recombinant therapeutic protein, the prominence of biologic therapies in drug development has grown significantly. Many modalities beyond traditional biologics are now being developed or explored for various indications with significant unmet medical needs. From early traditional replacement proteins to more recent, highly engineered antibodies, oligonucleotides, fusion proteins, and gene constructs, biologic agents have delivered life-changing therapies, despite often having scientifically and technically challenging development programs. This brief review outlines some of the major biotherapeutic classes and identifies the advantages and challenges with the development of these products.
The chemical, genetic and immunological basis of idiosyncratic drug–induced liver injury
Authors: Tailor A , Faulkner L , Naisbitt DJ , Park BK
Published: November 2015

Idiosyncratic drug reactions can be extremely severe and are not accounted for by the regular pharmacology of a drug. Thus, the mechanism of idiosyncratic drug–induced liver injury (iDILI), a phenomenon that occurs with many drugs including β-lactams, anti-tuberculosis drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, has been difficult to determine and remains a pressing issue for patients and drug companies. Evidence has shown that iDILI is multifactorial and multifaceted, which suggests that multiple cellular mechanisms may be involved. However, a common initiating event has been proposed to be the formation of reactive drug metabolites and covalently bound adducts. Although the fate of these metabolites are unclear, recent evidence has shown a possible link between iDILI and the adaptive immune system. This review highlights the role of reactive metabolites, the recent genetic innovations which have provided molecular targets for iDILI, and the current literature which suggests an immunological basis for iDILI.
Regulatory risk assessments
Authors: Snodin DJ
Published: November 2015

A critical evaluation of several recent regulatory risk assessments has been undertaken. These relate to propyl paraben (as a food additive, cosmetic ingredient or pharmaceutical excipient), cobalt (in terms of a safety-based limit for pharmaceuticals) and the cancer Threshold of Toxicological Concern as applied to food contaminants and pharmaceutical impurities. In all cases, a number of concerns can be raised regarding the reliability of the current assessments, some examples being absence of data audits, use of single-dose and/or non-good laboratory practice studies to determine safety metrics, use of a biased data set and questionable methodology and lack of consistency with precedents and regulatory guidance. Drawing on these findings, a set of recommendations is provided to reduce uncertainty and improve the quality and robustness of future regulatory risk assessments.
Climate change on Twitter: Content, media ecology and information sharing behaviour
Authors: Veltri Giuseppe A. , Atanasova Dimitrinka
Published: November 2015

This article presents a study of the content, use of sources and information sharing about climate change analysing over 60,000 tweets collected using a random week sample. We discuss the potential for studying Twitter as a communicative space that is rich in different types of information and presents both new challenges and opportunities. Our analysis combines automatic thematic analysis, semantic network analysis and text classification according to psychological process categories. We also consider the media ecology of tweets and the external web links that users shared. In terms of content, the network of topics uncovered presents a multidimensional discourse that accounts for complex causal links between climate change and its consequences. The media ecology analysis revealed a narrow set of sources with a major role played by traditional media and that emotionally arousing text was more likely to be shared.
‘oride lesgo eckshun’: Spelling foregrounding in the experimental poetry of E. E. Cummings
Authors: María Gómez-Jiménez Eva
Published: November 2015

Unconventional linguistic features in E. E. Cummings’ poetic style have long been a focus of study. Linguists have researched this aspect of this poet’s technique mainly in connection to grammar, lexis and morphology; however, few approaches have looked at graphology in depth and even fewer at spelling. The present paper addresses this by analysing the use of lettering in E. E. Cummings’ experimental poetry. More concretely, two research questions are posed here: Which foregrounding devices are involved in E. E. Cummings’ unconventional use of spelling? And also, which effects are achieved by means of this particular use of lettering? To answer these questions, I first selected a group of 66 experimental poems displaying features of misspelling. After identifying and classifying the devices employed by Cummings for spelling foregrounding, I determined the meaning implications and functions produced through those misspellings. The research on these poems reveals that substitution, transposition, insertion and omission are the four basic patterns that permit such an unconventional use, and that this practice allows Cummings to reproduce linguistic varieties, create plays on words, control the reading process, indicate interruptions and create iconic effects.
I will proclaim myself what I am: Corpus stylistics and the language of Shakespeare’s soliloquies
Authors: Murphy Sean
Published: November 2015

This article reports on a corpus stylistic study of the language of soliloquies in Shakespeare’s plays. Literary corpus stylistics can use corpus linguistic methods to test claims made by literary critics and identify hitherto unnoticed features. Existing literary studies of soliloquies tend to define and classify them, to trace the history of the form or to offer literary appreciation; yet they pay surprisingly little attention to the language which characterises soliloquies. By creating a soliloquy corpus and a dialogue corpus from 37 Shakespeare plays, and comparing the former against the latter using WordSmith Tools, I identify key language forms in soliloquies. Using an analytical framework broadly based on Halliday’s ideational, interpersonal and textual metafunctions of language, I interpret my results and relate them, where possible, to literary critical interpretations. I also compare comedy, history and tragedy soliloquy corpora. My main findings show the following linguistic features to be characteristic of soliloquies in general: words relating to mental states and the body; pragmatic noise; linking adverbials and first-person pronouns. Characteristic forms in comedy, history and tragedy emphasise love, the monarch and the supernatural respectively. The empirical evidence presented here shows that Shakespeare regularly exploited certain language forms in soliloquies to represent expressions of doubt, resolve, introspection and strong emotion, among others. These forms not only add depth to characterisation, aid plot development and provide performance cues for actors, but may also conform to certain audience expectations.
Hydroxyurea in Pediatric Patients With Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Rees Allison L.
Published: November 2015

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited disorder in which sickled red blood cells occlude the small vessels of the body, reducing oxygen delivery to tissues and ultimately negatively affecting many of the body’s major organs. Hydroxyurea has proven beneficial in the treatment of SCD and prevention of disease-related complications. The 2014 guidelines put forth by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommend hydroxyurea treatment in infants 9 months and older, children, and adolescents with SCD-SS or SCD-Sβ0 thalassemia regardless of clinical severity. This is a change from the 2002 guidelines in which hydroxyurea was recommended for adolescents and children with SCD-SS or SCD-Sβ0 thalassemia with frequent episodes of pain, a history of acute chest syndrome, severe and symptomatic anemia or other severe vaso-occlusive events. Nurses play a critical role in working with patients and families to provide education, guidance, and support to improve compliance to mitigate the long-term effects of SCD.
Nurse-Led Programs to Facilitate Enrollment to Children’s Oncology Group Cancer Control Trials
Authors: Haugen Maureen , Kelly Katherine Patterson , Leonard Marcia , Mills Denise , Sung Lillian , Mowbray Catriona , Landier Wendy
Published: November 2015

The progress made over the past 50 years in disease-directed clinical trials has significantly increased cure rates for children and adolescents with cancer. The Children’s Oncology Group (COG) is now conducting more studies that emphasize improving quality of life for young people with cancer. These types of clinical trials are classified as cancer control (CCL) studies by the National Cancer Institute and require different resources and approaches to facilitate adequate accrual and implementation at COG institutions. Several COG institutions that had previously experienced problems with low accruals to CCL trials have successfully implemented local nursing leadership for these types of studies. Successful models of nurses as institutional leaders and “champions” of CCL trials are described.
Impact of Team (Dis)satisfaction and Psychological Safety on Performance Evaluation Biases
Authors: Behfar Kristin J. , Friedman Ray , Oh Se Hyung
Published: November 2015

Research on self-serving bias in teams has focused on bias after teams receive feedback. Many teams, however, work for extended periods of time before receiving feedback. This article proposes that team members exhibit biases prior to receiving feedback, depending on the level of team satisfaction. The results of two studies, one scenario study and one field study, demonstrate that members of unsatisfied teams make more self-serving claims about their contribution toward the team’s task. This bias, however, is eliminated in teams with strong psychological safety norms that make team members’ contributions more salient to one another. A surprising result, in our sample of ongoing teams, was that the most highly satisfied teams also demonstrated an other-centric bias—assigning more credit to other team members than to themselves.
Finding Motivation
Authors: Strekalova Yulia A.
Published: November 2015

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that has no manifestations for carriers but is terminal for those diagnosed with it. CF is identified through newborn screening (NBS) tests, and most families have no knowledge about CF before their contact with a NBS program. Acknowledging the Internet as a popular health information source, this study examined information exchange about CF in online community forums. This article, guided by self-determination theory, aimed at providing understanding of psychological needs and motivation for health information seeking and active communication about CF. Through online communication with other families who share similar experience, caregivers of newborns diagnosed with CF sought and received support for their competence, autonomy, and relatedness needs during the initial CF testing and diagnosis reconciliation process. Online communities play an important role in the information seeking related to CF diagnosis and could become active partners in strategic knowledge dissemination efforts.
“Live It to Understand It”
Authors: Nicholas David B. , Zwaigenbaum Lonnie , Ing Stanley , MacCulloch Radha , Roberts Wendy , McKeever Patricia , McMorris Carly A.
Published: November 2015

Mothers of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) variably experience challenges in their caregiving role. This ethnographic study examined the caregiving experiences of mothers of a young person with ASD (aged ≤25 years). Semistructured interviews were conducted with 85 mothers across three Canadian regions. A follow-up subsample of 10 mothers took part in participant observation sessions in the home and/or other environments within the community. Analysis yielded themes that depicted the following: redefining child and family aspirations, forging a shifted identity, and the need to “live it” to understand mothering a young person with ASD. Supports and services were perceived to be required but often insufficient to meet the needs. Findings identify a range of challenges, lessons learned, and a reconfigured sense of mothering. An emerging model of mothering a child with ASD is presented. Implications for practice, policy, and research are offered.
Family and Friend Influence on Urban-Dwelling American Indian Adolescent Girl’s Sexual Risk Behavior
Authors: Saftner Melissa A.
Published: November 2015

Previous research with American Indian (AI) adolescent sexual risk behavior primarily focused on reservation-dwelling youth despite 70% of AIs living off Native lands. Using grounded theory methodology, I sampled 20 adolescent AI girls via talking circles and interviews to explore the perceptions of AI adolescent girls living in an urban, Midwest area about the influence of family and friends on their sexual behavior. Similar to research with other racial groups, participants cited their family and friends as a major influence. Five unique themes emerged related to family and friend influence. Urban-dwelling AI girls rely on their female family members and peers for information related to sex and receive varying messages from their networks of family and friends, which often overlap. AI youth have unique family groups yet have some similarities to other ethnic groups with regard to family and friend relationships that may allow for enhanced intervention development.
Generational Growing Pains as Resistance to Feminine Gendering of Organization? An Archival Analysis of Human Resource Management Discourses
Authors: Lucas Kristen , D’Enbeau Suzy , Heiden Erica P.
Published: November 2015

Guided by a feminist communicology of organization framework, we examine generational growing pains by analyzing discourses appearing in HR Magazine at three different points in time, which approximately mark the midpoint of Baby Boomers’, Gen Xers’, and Millennials’ initial entry into the workplace. We reconstruct historically situated gendered discourses that encapsulate key concerns expressed by human resource management professionals as they dealt with younger generations of workers: Personnel Man as Father Knows Best (1970), Human Resource Specialist as Loyalty Builder (1990), and Talent Manager as Nurturer (2010). We propose that frustrations expressed by older generations about Millennials may not be because Millennials are necessarily more demanding than their predecessors, but instead because their expectations reflect and effect gendered changes of organizing.