bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
White Teacher, Know Thyself: Improving Anti-Racist Praxis Through Racial Identity Development
Authors: Utt Jamie , Tochluk Shelly
Published: May 2016

This article asserts that White teachers in urban schools must turn their racialized focus away from implied deficits of students of Color in the “achievement gap” frame and toward the impact their racial identities have on their craft. Through empirical analysis of White teachers’ experiences, the article suggests six areas of self-work for developing positive, anti-racist White racial identities, an integral component in culturally responsive teaching. The authors draw upon Zeus Leonardo’s “third space” of navigating Whiteness and Janet Helms’s racial identity development framework to offer practical suggestions for building more anti-racist and effective pedagogy.
Teaching for “Real”: Reconciling Explicit Literacy Instruction With Inclusive Pedagogy in a Fourth-Grade Urban Classroom
Authors: Naraian Srikala
Published: May 2016

Increasing evidence of the re-segregation of students of color within special education suggests that the constructivist-explicit instruction debate may still be relevant for urban educators. While inclusive educators advocate learner-centered constructivist methods for supporting students with disabilities, mainstream special educators equally promote explicit instructional processes. This article describes the literacy instruction of two teachers who drew on both explicit pedagogy and constructivist approaches to student learning. They reconciled these oppositional frameworks through their focus on “real” reading outcomes for their students. I argue that the teachers’ deeper commitments rendered their eclectic approach a form of inclusive pedagogy.
“I Was Just Trying to Make It”: Examining Urban Black Males’ Sense of Belonging, Schooling Experiences, and Academic Success
Authors: Brooms Derrick R.
Published: May 2016

This qualitative study investigated the schooling experiences of 20 young Black men who graduated from Douglass Academy, an all-boys public charter secondary school in a large urban city. Specifically, I explore how these students construct meaning from their school experiences and their efforts for academic success. The students articulated two critical components of their school experience that positively shaped their achievement and success: (a) school culture and (b) relationships. The student narratives provide a frame for promoting positive school culture that increases the sense of belonging, educational experiences, and academic aspirations of African American male students.
“I Was Very Impressed”: Responses of Surprise to Students of Color Engaged in Youth Participatory Action Research
Authors: Bertrand Melanie
Published: May 2016

This article explores decision makers’ responses of surprise or amazement to Students of Color engaged in youth participatory action research (YPAR). To address this topic, I draw upon data collected from a yearlong qualitative study of a YPAR group, applying the theoretical aspects of critical discourse analysis. The findings indicate that the decision makers in the sample expressed surprise at three aspects of YPAR: the students’ (a) capacity as researchers, (b) professionalism, and (c) motivation. These responses—termed “the discourse of surprise”—may have constrained the transformative potential of the students’ research.
Racial Identity, Self-Esteem, and the Impostor Phenomenon Among African American College Students
Authors: Lige Quiera M. , Peteet Bridgette J. , Brown Carrie M.
Published: May 2016

The Impostor Phenomenon (IP) is marked by an individual’s persistent perception of incompetency despite contrary evidence. The presence of IP has been found to negatively affect many college students, but literature on IP among African American college students, specifically, is limited. Previous literature has emphasized a positive association between racial identity and self-esteem for African Americans, and an inverse association between self-esteem and IP among non-African American samples. However, few studies have examined these variables in African American undergraduate samples. Objectives: The current study examined the relationships between racial identity, self-esteem, and IP among African American undergraduate students. It was hypothesized that self-esteem would mediate the relationship between racial identity and IP. Method: The participants were 112 (74% female) self-identified African American undergraduate students who completed an online survey. Results: Mediation testing via bootstrapping revealed support for the hypothesis—self-esteem mediated the relationship between racial identity and IP. Conclusion: University initiatives should focus on creating inclusive environments that foster racial identity development and self-esteem for African Americans to reduce experiences of IP.
Accuracy and efficiency analysis of a road traffic noise propagation calculation method based on beam tracing
Authors: Wang Haibo , Yu Zhi , Cai Ming
Published: May 2016

The development and implementation of a traffic noise propagation calculation method based on beam tracing subordinated to spatial subdivision is presented to simulate noise attenuation in three-dimensional space. In the method, complex scenes constituted by road, different buildings and thin sound barrier and all noise propagation modes including direct, reflected, diffracted and composite are considered. The paper analyses the accuracy and efficiency of the method from the perspectives of subdivision precise of obstacles and road, beam thresholds and re-subdivision of sound barrier areas. The results presented by tendencies chart and formulas indicate that a meticulous subdivision and threshold settings lead to more accurate but less efficient method. Results of experiment and case study show the error to be no more than 0.3 dB when the building subdivision precisions (0.5 m), road subdivision precision (2 m) and thresholds (a length threshold of 500 m, three reflections and one diffraction) are set appropriately. Re-subdivision of sound barriers is presented to handle the trade-off between accuracy and efficiency caused by discrepancies in the geometric dimensions. In the case study, re-subdivision mitigates the trade-off between accuracy and efficiency, with almost the same accuracy by spending only approximately 1/10 of the time. A building subdivision precision of 1 m, a road subdivision precision of 2 m, a 500 m beam length, 3–5 reflections and a single diffraction are recommended for the method.
Purpose, Partnership, and Integration: Insights from Teacher Education for Ministerial/Mission Training
Authors: Woolnough Brian E.
Published: May 2016

Many theological institutions, seminaries and bible schools1 are reconsidering the appropriateness of their training procedures for future ministerial practitioners in contemporary society, partly for extrinsic practical and financial reasons and partly for more intrinsic reasons – reviewing how suitable their training actually is for the future church leaders in ministry and mission. Such questions are being asked in the UK and around the world. The author spent much of his professional life in education and teacher training where similar questions have been asked over the past decades, and notes very close parallels between training for school teaching and training for mission and the ministry. This paper considers the insights that have come through the development of teacher education and asks parallel questions which should be addressed by those reshaping theological and mission education. It concludes with some clear recommendations, showing how lessons learnt in teacher education could be applied to theological and mission training.
Influence of Playing a Prolonged Tennis Match on Shoulder Internal Range of Motion
Authors: Martin Caroline , Kulpa Richard , Ezanno Felix , Delamarche Paul , Bideau Benoit
Published: May 2016

Background:

Shoulder range of motion (ROM) deficits have been identified as an injury risk factor among tennis players. It is well known that shoulder internal rotation deficit increases with age and years of play, but there is a lack of knowledge regarding the influence of a prolonged tennis match on shoulder ROM.

Purpose:

To examine changes in shoulder ROM during a prolonged tennis match.

Study Design:

Descriptive laboratory study.

Methods:

Shoulder passive internal and external rotation ROM were measured on 8 male tennis players before, every 30 minutes during, and just after a 3-hour tennis match. Total ROM was calculated as the combination of shoulder internal and external rotations. Ball velocity on the serve was measured with a radar gun before, at midmatch, and just after the match.

Results:

Decreases in shoulder internal rotation (–20.8°; P = .005), total ROM (–24.6°; P = .001), and serve velocity (–1.8 m/s; P = .002) were observed at the end of the match. No statistically significant difference was observed for shoulder external rotation after the match ( P = .460).

Conclusion:

Passive shoulder internal rotation and total ROM are significantly decreased during a 3-hour tennis match.

Clinical Relevance:

The results show that a prolonged tennis match play can modify values of shoulder ROM.
Influence of coumarin and some coumarin derivatives on serum lipid profiles in carbontetrachloride-exposed rats
Authors: Taşdemir Ezel , Atmaca Mukadder , Yıldırım Yaşar , Bilgin Hakkı Murat , Demirtaş Berjan , Obay Basra Deniz , Kelle Mustafa , Oflazoğlu Hüda Diken
Published: May 2016

In the present study, coumarin and some coumarin derivatives (esculetin, scoparone, and 4-methylumbelliferone) were investigated for their lipid-lowering effect in rats. Male Sprague–Dawley rats (150–200 g) were divided into six groups and each group comprised of five rats. Hepatic injury-dependent hyperlipidemia was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, 1.25 ml/kg). Coumarin and coumarin derivatives esculetin (35 mg/kg), scoparone (35 mg/kg), 4-methylumbelliferone (35 mg/kg), or coumarin (30 mg/kg) were administered to experimental groups at 12-h intervals. Animals received the derivatives esculetin, scoparone or 4-methylumbelliferone prior to the administration of a single toxic dose of CCl4. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels significantly increased in CCl4-treated group ( p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, and p < 0.05, respectively), while levels of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) decreased ( p < 0.01). 4-Methylumbelliferone had no recovery effects on serum TC levels, however, significantly prevented CCl4-induced hyperlipidemia by reducing TG and VLDL-C levels ( p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively). In addition, coumarin had no recovery effect on any of the serum lipid parameters against CCl4-induced hyperlipidemia. Among the coumarin derivatives only esculetin and scoparone significantly prevented serum HDL-C in CCl4-induced dyslipidemia. The results from this study indicate that the chemical structure of coumarins plays an important role on the regulation of serum lipid profiles.
A measure of association for ordered categorical data in population-based studies
Authors: Nelson Kerrie P , Edwards Don
Published: May 2016

Ordinal classification scales are commonly used to define a patient’s disease status in screening and diagnostic tests such as mammography. Challenges arise in agreement studies when evaluating the association between many raters’ classifications of patients’ disease or health status when an ordered categorical scale is used. In this paper, we describe a population-based approach and chance-corrected measure of association to evaluate the strength of relationship between multiple raters’ ordinal classifications where any number of raters can be accommodated. In contrast to Shrout and Fleiss’ intraclass correlation coefficient, the proposed measure of association is invariant with respect to changes in disease prevalence. We demonstrate how unique characteristics of individual raters can be explored using random effects. Simulation studies are conducted to demonstrate the properties of the proposed method under varying assumptions. The methods are applied to two large-scale agreement studies of breast cancer screening and prostate cancer severity.
Alas, Nitrate didn’t Wait, but does it Really Matter?
Authors: Kumar Ramesh
Published: May 2016

This article analyzes the nitrate film fire that took place at the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) in 2003 by locating it in the larger schema of nitrate film fires from across the world. It takes stock of the losses incurred in the fire, and the State’s response to the incident, to observe that despite the best of intentions of the people working at the institution, the losses were perhaps eventually inevitable owing to three reasons: the NFAI’s less-than-ideal working through the years, the idiosyncratic functioning of the Indian bureaucratic machinery, and the nitrate film reel’s ephemerality. Dis-cussing the global fetishization of the nitrate film reel as an artifact in and by itself, it observes how for various reasons, the same never became true for the NFAI and India; and analyzing the trends in Indian film scholarship so far, especially on silent cinema, it argues that the losses were less consequential for Indian film historiography than might have been expected, for the Indian film scholar has long moved beyond the nitrate film reel as the “basic source material” toward the writing of imaginative social and cultural histories achieved through mobilizing a host of ancillary sources.
St George Acute Care Team: the local variant of crisis resolution model of care
Authors: Cupina Denise D , Wand Anne P F , Phelan Emma , Atkin Rona
Published: May 2016

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to describe functioning and clinical activities of the St George Acute Care Team and how it compares to the typical crisis resolution model of care.

Methods:

Descriptive data including demographics, sources of referral, type of clinical intervention, length of stay, diagnoses and outcomes were collected from records of all patients who were discharged from the team during a 10 week period.

Results:

There were 677 referrals. The team’s functions consisted of post-discharge follow-up (31%), triage and intake (30%), case management support (23%) and acute community based assessment and treatment (16%). The average length of stay was 5 days. The majority of patients were diagnosed with a mood (23%) or a psychotic (25%) disorder. Points of contrast to other reported crisis resolution teams include shorter length of stay, relatively less focus on direct clinical assessment and more telephone follow-up and triage.

Conclusion:

St George Acute Care Team provides a variety of clinical activities. The focus has shifted away from the original model of crisis resolution care to meet local and governmental requirements.
A new mixed method for nonlinear fuzzy free vibration analysis of nanobeams on nonlinear elastic foundation
Authors: Vosoughi AR , Nikoo MR
Published: May 2016

A new mixed method for nonlinear fuzzy free vibration analysis of nanobeams on nonlinear elastic foundation is introduced. The governing equations are derived based on the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) in conjunction with the von-Kármán’s assumptions and the Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity theory. The differential quadrature method (DQM) is employed to discretize the governing equations and the related boundary conditions. The direct displacement control iterative method is used to solve the discretized system of equations. The fuzzy transformation method (FTM) is coupled with the solution to incorporate effects of different uncertainties such as the small scale effect parameter, nonlinear elastic foundation parameters and vibration amplitude of the nanobeam. Applicability, rapid rate of convergence and high accuracy of the presented method are shown and significant effects of the nonlinearity on the response of nanobeams are investigated via solving some examples.
Active control of hybrid electric vehicle launch vibration in pure electric mode
Authors: Guo Rong , Wang Meng-jia
Published: May 2016

Sudden torque changes and torque fluctuations caused by a traction motor in HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) can result in a driveline oscillation. This paper focuses on the HEV launch vibration in pure electric mode while only the electric motor is generating output torque. A relevant mathematical model has been built based on the working principle. According to the model, the torsional vibration characteristics of the electric propulsion system have been analyzed. Two active control methods, feed-forward control (FFC) and pole placement (PP) have been applied to suppress the HEV launch vibration. However, such longitudinal vibration may still be perceived by passengers, though they can attenuate the vibration to some extent. Therefore another method, wave superposition control strategy (WSCS), has been proposed to suppress the vibration more effectively. In order to prove the control effectiveness of WSCS, all these three active control methods have been applied in simulation for a comprehensive comparison of the vibration suppression effect. Simulation results demonstrate that compared with FFC and PP, WSCS minimizes the overshoot of wheel angular acceleration (WAA) most and doesn’t have much effect on the system response quickness, which can be regarded as the most effective control method.
Viscoelastic granular dampers under low-amplitude vibration
Authors: Darabi B , Rongong JA , Zhang T
Published: May 2016

This paper considers dampers comprising collections of viscoelastic particles that are subjected to vibrations whose amplitude is such that slip between particles is negligible. Energy dissipation occurs primarily by viscoelastic processes within each particle and is maximized when standing waves are set up in the granular medium. In this work, the medium is represented as an equivalent viscoelastic solid and predictions of performance employ models constructed using standard finite element software. Two numerical approaches are considered: one uses the Direct Frequency Response and the other uses standard modal analysis in conjunction with analytical expressions for energy dissipation based on the wave equation. The performance of these prediction techniques is compared with measured behavior from experiments on a box-shaped structure and a hollow composite tube assembly. The computational efficiency of the modal technique allowed a brief investigation of the effects of uncertainties in the actual nature of the granular arrangement. Results show that both prediction methods give a reasonable level of accuracy. Differences between predicted and measured behavior are shown to be of the same order as the uncertainty in the prediction itself. For the systems considered, it is shown that the methods are appropriate for acceleration amplitudes up to almost that of gravity.
Daily exposure to negative campaign messages decreases same-sex couples’ psychological and relational well-being
Authors: Frost David M. , Fingerhut Adam W.
Published: May 2016

Throughout history, the rights of stigmatized minority group members have been subject to popular debate and voter referenda. The impact of the resulting devaluing social discourse on the well-being of minority group members remains unknown. For example, exposure to the discourse leading up to decisions on same-sex marriage may have negative consequences for sexual minority individuals and same-sex couples. We examined the impact of exposure to same-sex marriage campaign messages (e.g., commercials, billboards, yard signs) on the psychological and relational well-being of couples living in the four states that had same-sex marriage voter initiatives in the 2012 general election. Sixty-two same-sex couples ( N = 124) completed a baseline survey and 10 daily diary reports during the month before the election. Daily exposure to negative campaign messages was associated with increased negative affect and decreased positive affect and relationship satisfaction. These associations persisted controlling for baseline levels of depression and daily fluctuations in general stress among both members of the couple. Exposure to a devaluing social discourse regarding the rights of same-sex couples represents a unique form of social stress resulting in negative consequences for the psychological and relational well-being of same-sex couples. Thus, the health of same-sex couples may be of particular concern in contexts where marriage policy decisions are pending and the subject of popular debate.
Damage detection in wind turbine blades by using operational modal analysis
Authors: Lorenzo Emilio Di , Petrone Giuseppe , Manzato Simone , Peeters Bart , Desmet Wim , Marulo Francesco
Published: May 2016

In this paper a vibration-based approach to identify a crack in a wind turbine blade is described and demonstrated numerically and experimentally.

Operational modal analysis has been performed before and after a buckling test, and vibration data, gathered from some accelerometers placed along the blade, was used to monitor the integrity of the structure, since the modal parameters are directly influenced by the physical properties of the structures. Additionally a numerical prediction has been done both with a full-scale model and with a one-dimensional model. The results show that this approach is able to estimate successfully the presence of damage and a good numerical and experimental correlation has been found. Finally, some considerations regarding the rotation of the blade in the undamaged and damaged cases have been done.
Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Citrus iyo Hort. ex Tanaka Pericarp Inhibits Growth and Induces Apoptosis Through Abrogation of STAT3 Regulated Gene Products in Human Prostate Cancer Xenograft Mouse Model
Authors: Kim Chulwon , Lee Il Ho , Hyun Ho Bong , Kim Jong-Chan , Gyawali Rajendra , Lee Seok-Geun , Lee Junhee , Kim Sung-Hoon , Shim Bum Sang , Cho Somi K. , Ahn Kwang Seok
Published: May 2016

Activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is well known to play a major role in the cell growth, survival, proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis of various cancer cells. Most of the citrus species offer large quantities of phytochemicals that have beneficial effects attributed to their chemical components. Our study was carried out to evaluate the anticancer effects of the pericarp of Iyokan ( Citrus iyo Hort. ex Tanaka), locally known as yeagam in Korea, through modulation of the STAT3 signaling pathway in both tumor cells and a nude mice model. The effect of supercritical extracts of yeagam peel (SEYG) on STAT3 activation, associated protein kinases, STAT3-regulated gene products, cellular proliferation, and apoptosis was examined. The in vivo effect of SEYG on the growth of DU145 human prostate xenograft tumors in athymic nu/nu male mice was also investigated. We found SEYG exerted substantial inhibitory effect on STAT3 activation in human prostate cancer DU145 cells as compared to other tumor cells analyzed. SEYG inhibited proliferation and downregulated the expression of various STAT3-regulated gene products such as bcl-2, bcl-xL, survivin, IAP-1/2, cyclin D1, cyclin E, COX-2, VEGF, and MMP-9. This correlated with an increase in apoptosis as indicated by an increase in the expression of p53 and p21 proteins, the sub-G1 arrest, and caspase-3-induced PARP cleavage. When administered intraperitoneally, SEYG reduced the growth of DU145 human prostate xenograft tumors through downmodulation of STAT3 activation in athymic nu/nu male mice. Overall, these results suggest that SEYG extract has the potential source of STAT3 inhibitors that may have a potential in chemoprevention of human prostate cancer cells.
Importance of Different Grades of Abdominal Obesity on Testosterone Level, Erectile Dysfunction, and Clinical Coincidence
Authors: Fillo Juraj , Levcikova Michaela , Ondrusova Martina , Breza Jan , Labas Peter
Published: May 2016

The aim of the current study was to investigate the influence of different grades of abdominal obesity (AO) on the prevalence of testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS), erectile dysfunction (ED), and metabolic syndrome (MetS). In a cross-sectional descriptive study, a total of 216 males underwent a complete urological, internal, and hormonal evaluation. Males were divided according to waist circumference into five groups: less than 94 cm (Grade [G] 0), 94 to 101 cm (G1), 102 to 109 cm (G2), 110 to 119 cm (G3), and more than 120 cm (G4). Incidence of ED, TDS, and MetS was compared in these groups and in participants without AO. Some degree of ED was identified in 74.7% of males with AO. In G1, there were 61% of males with ED, in G2 68%, in G3 83%, and in G4 87%. A strong correlation between testosterone (TST) level and AO was identified. Ninety-eight out of 198 (49.5%) males with AO and 1/18 (5.5%) males without AO had TDS. There were significant differences between individual groups. In the group of males with AO G4 (more than 120 cm), 87.1% had TDS. MetS was diagnosed in 105/198 (53.0%) males with AO, but in G4, 83.9% of males with AO had MetS. Males older than 40 years of age with AO have a higher incidence of ED, TDS, and MetS. Dividing males into five groups according to waist circumference seems to be reasonable. With growing AO, there were significantly more males with ED, TDS, and MetS.
Trust in interprofessional collaboration
Authors: Gregory Paul A. M. , Austin Zubin
Published: May 2016

Background:

Trust is integral to effective interprofessional collaboration. There has been scant literature characterizing how trust between practitioners is formed, maintained or lost. The objective of this study was to characterize the cognitive model of trust that exists between pharmacists and family physicians working in collaborative primary care settings.

Methods:

Pharmacists and family physicians who work collaboratively in primary care were participants in this study. Family health teams were excluded from this study because of the distinct nature of these settings. Through a snowball convenience sampling method, a total of 11 pharmacists and 8 family physicians were recruited. A semistructured interview guide was used to guide discussion around trust, relationships and collaboration. Constant-comparative coding was used to identify themes emerging from these data.

Results:

Pharmacists and family physicians demonstrate different cognitive models of trust in primary care collaboration. For pharmacists, trust appears to be conferred on physicians based on title, degree, status and positional authority. For family physicians, trust appears to be earned based on competency and performance. These differences may lead to interprofessional tension when expectations of reciprocal trust are not met.

Conclusions:

Further work in characterizing how trust is developed in interprofessional relationships is needed to support effective team formation and functioning.
Downregulation of Cdh1 signalling in spinal dorsal horn contributes to the maintenance of mechanical allodynia after nerve injury in rats
Authors: Hu Rong , Li Li , Li Dajia , Tan Wei , Wan Li , Zhu Chang , Zhang Yue , Zhang Chuanhan , Yao Wenlong
Published: May 2016

Background

Anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) and its co-activator Cdh1 are important ubiquitin-ligases in proliferating cells and terminally differentiated neurons. In recent years, APC/C-Cdh1 has been reported as an important complex contributing to synaptic development and transmission. Interestingly, cortical APC/C-Cdh1 is found to play a critical role in the maintenance of neuropathic pain, but it is not clear whether APC/C-Cdh1 in spinal dorsal cord is involved in molecular mechanisms of neuropathic pain conditions.

Results

Immunostaining showed that Cdh1 was mainly distributed in dorsal horn neurons of the spinal cord in rats. Its expression was downregulated in the ipsilateral dorsal horn at 14 days after spared nerve injury. Rescued expression of Cdh1 in spinal cord by intrathecal administration of recombinant lentivirus encoding Cdh1 (Lenti-Cdh1-GFP) significantly attenuated spared nerve injury-induced mechanical allodynia. Furthermore, rescued expression of spinal Cdh1 significantly reduced surface membrane expression of GluR1, but increased the expression of GluR1-related erythropoietin-producing human hepatocellular receptor A4 and its ligand EphrinA1 in dorsal horn of spared nerve injury-treated animals.

Conclusions

This study indicates that a downregulation of Cdh1 expression in spinal dorsal horn is involved in molecular mechanisms underlying the maintenance of neuropathic pain. Upregulation of spinal Cdh1 may be a promising approach to treat neuropathic pain.
Meaningful support for lesbian and bisexual women navigating reproductive cancer care in Canada: An exploratory study
Authors: Legere Laura E , MacDonnell Judith A
Published: May 2016

Health inequities for sexual minorities are well documented, but there is a gap in nursing research addressing the specific experiences faced by lesbian and bisexual women with reproductive cancers. This critical feminist study explored interactions between sexual minority women with reproductive cancers and their health care providers and how these interactions enable and create barriers to meaningful support. Purposeful convenience sampling was used to recruit lesbian and bisexual reproductive cancer survivors from Ontario, Canada and providers who have cared for this population. Five lesbian and one bisexual woman who were reproductive cancer survivors participated, as well as one registered nurse who was not a survivor but who has cared for sexual minority women with reproductive cancers. Face-to-face interviews were conducted and conventional content analysis was used to analyze the data. The authors report on findings related to meaningful support, interactions with providers and organisational environments. Narratives showed that an understanding of gender norms influenced women’s perceptions of supportive and inclusive care, such as the acknowledgment of social supports and barriers to supportive care that included disclosure of sexual orientation. There are implications for nursing education and policy change to enhance inclusive interactions and environments for diverse sexual minority women with reproductive cancers.
Renin–angiotensin system inhibitors in patients with coronary artery disease who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Xiao-Dong Zhuang , Fei-Fei Li , Zhan-Peng Wen , Xin-Xue Liao , Zhi-Min Du
Published: May 2016

The percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure has become one of the pivotal options in the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). Although the PCI procedure has rapidly developed in China, some concerns including in-stent restenosis and dissatisfactory long-term prognosis remain unsolved. Large-scale randomized controlled clinical trials indicate that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) can reduce all-cause mortality and recurrent cardiac events in patients with CAD. ACEIs/ARBs are recommended as a fundamental treatment in the secondary prevention of CAD and reduce in-stent restenosis after PCI. This review focuses on the role of ACEIs/ARBs in improving long-term prognosis and reducing in-stent restenosis.
Correlation of objectively measured light exposure and serum vitamin D in men aged over 60 years
Authors: Fields Alison J , Linnville Steven E , Hoyt Robert E
Published: May 2016

Diminished vitamin D is common among older individuals. Sunlight contributes more to vitamin D synthesis than diet or supplementation. This study examined associations between objectively measured light exposure, vitamin D serum levels, and bone biomarkers in 100 men aged over 60 years. Light exposure was measured in lux via Actigraph monitors for 1 week. Significantly, greater levels of vitamin D were observed in participants with higher light exposure. Seasonal differences in lux were also noted. Significant differences in bone markers were not found. Objective measurement of light exposure is an inexpensive, simple, and effective way to address vitamin D deficiency.
Defending Alignment
Authors: Schwarz Stephan
Published: May 2016

After the rise to power of the German National Socialist Party (January 30, 1933), German academia soon realized that a requirement for “muddling through” was to avoid the stigma of being regarded as “politically unreliable,” thus to appear aligned and loyal to the state policies. The focus is here on the physics community. A rhetoric of alignment developed with the objective to justify collaboration as a rational and morally justified strategy. In the early post-war years, the rhetoric was reoriented to deny any involvement (other than as resistance) systematically using a conceptual framework foreshadowing the principles of Cognitive Dissonance Reduction (CDR) and the related framework of Rhetorical (Informal) Fallacies. This affinity is here studied with reference to statements from the period.
Plotting the Course of Well-Being
Authors: Wilby Frances , Stryker Carol DuMond , Hyde Denise , Ransom Sandy
Published: May 2016

Persons above age 80 comprise the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population, and it is estimated that one in four will need long-term care due to increased disabilities and illness. A major concern for residents, families, and providers is to ensure care that “allows the resident to maintain or attain their highest practicable physical, mental and psychosocial well-being.” The challenge is measuring a subjective concept such as well-being. The Eden Alternative is a current initiative aimed at improving the quality of life and well-being of long-term care residents. The initiative consists of providing long-term care environments that emphasize person-directed decision making and well-being. The purpose of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Eden Alternative Well-Being Assessment Tool (EAWBAT). There are three assessment tools designed to measure the well-being of elders (residents), family members of residents, and employees working in the long-term care environments. The sample consisted of 237 residents, 430 employees, and 134 family members from seven Eden Alternative organizations throughout the United States. Factor analysis was completed to identify the underlying structure in these data for elders, employees, and families. Reliability statistics were computed for each scale. Reliability statistics ranged from .876 (employee assessment tool) to .949 (family assessment tool), indicating the potential of the EAWBAT to measure the well-being of residents residing in long-term care environments, employees supporting them, and their family members.
‘Mangaldeep’: Spreading Fragrance in India
Authors: Sarmah Bijoylaxmi , Rahman Zillur
Published: May 2016

This case highlights Indian Tobacco Corporation (ITC)’s journey from being a pure leaf tobacco selling company to a reputed conglomerate with popular brands in diversified areas. ITC’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability activities taking a turning point with the company taking an immense interest in integrating societal problems in its company’s policies and strategies. These transformations can be seen in almost all the business divisions of ITC. Mangaldeep division, an incense stick division is not an exception to this change. However, the authors are trying to analyze the activities of ITC–Mangaldeep Business unit from different perspectives such as CSR, sustainability and shared value initiatives. Considering the resource constraint and the demand to meet the societal needs, it will be quite interesting to know how both these two challenges are met by a conglomerate like ITC simultaneously in the days to come. The case uses both primary and secondary sources of information to develop this teaching case.
Dalit Parties and the Dilemmas of Democratization in Tamil Nadu
Authors: Gorringe Hugo
Published: May 2016

In 1999, the largest Dalit movement organization in Tamil Nadu abandoned a decade-long boycott of elections and entered party politics as the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (Liberation Panther Party, VCK). The focus of this article will be on the processes of institutionalization both into political institutions and into socio-cultural ways of doing politics. It will chart both how the party has changed as a result of entering formal politics, and the ways in which it has managed to change the institutions it entered. Looking at institutionalization in this way problematizes the usual focus on a party’s electoral success or failure and compels us to analyze their political performance within its specific context. I show how institutionalization in Tamil Nadu has taken particular forms which have some benefits for VCK supporters, while also creating a rift between the party and its core support.
The Experience of Depression
Authors: Weitkamp Katharina , Klein Eva , Midgley Nick
Published: May 2016

There is a lack of research in health psychology on the subjective experience of adolescents with mental health disorders. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of depression and the journey into therapy of young people (YP) diagnosed with depression. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with six YP (5 female, aged 15–19). Interviews were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The following four key themes were identified: “Suffering is experienced as overwhelming,” “An experience of loneliness and isolation,” “Struggling to understand the suffering,” and “Therapy as a last resort.” Reasons for a delay in accessing treatment were not knowing what is “normal,” the feeling that they have to deal with it by themselves, and/or the lack of a caring adult who supports the YP in getting help. The findings suggest the ongoing importance of reducing stigma and promoting mental health education for YP as well as parents, school staff, and health professionals.
Numerical and experimental analysis of heat sealing of multi-layered laminate films used in lithium polymer battery packaging
Authors: Jang Jun Hwan , Ahn Sang Ho
Published: May 2016

The packaging of a lithium polymer secondary battery involves a wrapping process of an aluminum/polymer laminate film that uses heat sealing. Heat sealing time and sealing block width are important variables in creating packaging requirements for optimal battery performance and safety. In this study, a heat transfer analysis is performed using finite element method to investigate the temperature distribution of the sealing block over the course of the heat sealing process. Heat sealing time and sealing block width were the variables of interest for the heat transfer simulation in order to identify optimal manufacturing conditions. Through the analysis, we successfully identified a minimum heat sealing time less than 3 s and 1.5 mm width of the sealing block that optimizes both the rate of battery production and lithium polymer battery capacity. To validate the quality of heat sealing properties, visual inspection and restrained packaging tests were performed.
BLVRB redox mutation defines heme degradation in a metabolic pathway of enhanced thrombopoiesis in humans
Authors: Wu Song , Li Zongdong , Gnatenko Dmitri V. , Zhang Beibei , Zhao Lu , Malone Lisa E. , Markova Nedialka , Mantle Timothy J. , Nesbitt Natasha M. , Bahou Wadie F.
Published: May 2016

Key Points

A biliverdin IXβ reductase redox coupling mutation with associated ROS dysregulation has been identified in thrombocytosis cohorts. Defective BLVRB enzymatic activity involving heme degradation pathway alters metabolic consequences of hematopoietic lineage fate.
A comprehensive database of high-throughput sequencing-based RNA secondary structure probing data (Structure Surfer)
Authors: Berkowitz Nathan D. , Silverman Ian M. , Childress Daniel M. , Kazan Hilal , Wang Li-San , Gregory Brian D.
Published: May 2016

Background

RNA molecules fold into complex three-dimensional shapes, guided by the pattern of hydrogen bonding between nucleotides. This pattern of base pairing, known as RNA secondary structure, is critical to their cellular function. Recently several diverse methods have been developed to assay RNA secondary structure on a transcriptome-wide scale using high-throughput sequencing. Each approach has its own strengths and caveats, however there is no widely available tool for visualizing and comparing the results from these varied methods.

Methods

To address this, we have developed Structure Surfer, a database and visualization tool for inspecting RNA secondary structure in six transcriptome-wide data sets from human and mouse (http://tesla.pcbi.upenn.edu/strucuturesurfer/). The data sets were generated using four different high-throughput sequencing based methods. Each one was analyzed with a scoring pipeline specific to its experimental design. Users of Structure Surfer have the ability to query individual loci as well as detect trends across multiple sites.

Results

Here, we describe the included data sets and their differences. We illustrate the database’s function by examining known structural elements and we explore example use cases in which combined data is used to detect structural trends.

Conclusions

In total, Structure Surfer provides an easy-to-use database and visualization interface for allowing users to interrogate the currently available transcriptome-wide RNA secondary structure information for mammals.
Randomized Phase II Study of Trabectedin and Doxorubicin Compared With Doxorubicin Alone as First-Line Treatment in Patients With Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A Spanish Group for Research on Sarcoma Study
Authors: Martin-Broto Javier , Pousa Antonio López , de las Peñas Ramón , García del Muro Xavier , Gutierrez Antonio , Martinez-Trufero Javier , Cruz Josefina , Alvarez Rosa , Cubedo Ricardo , Redondo Andrés , Maurel Joan , Carrasco Juan A. , López-Martin José A. , Sala Ángeles , Meana José Andrés , Ramos Rafael , Martinez-Serra Jordi , Lopez-Guerrero José A. , Sevilla Isabel , Balaña Carmen , Vaz Ángeles , De Juan Ana , Alemany Regina , Poveda Andrés
Published: May 2016

Purpose

Doxorubicin and trabectedin are considered active drugs in soft tissue sarcoma (STS). The combination of both drugs was hypothesized to be advantageous and safe on the basis of preclinical evidence and a previous phase I trial, respectively. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcome of trabectedin plus doxorubicin with doxorubicin as first-line treatment of advanced STS patients.

Patients and Methods

In this open-label randomized phase II trial, the main end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Trabectedin 1.1 mg/m2 in a 3-hour infusion plus doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 as the experimental arm and doxorubicin 75 mg/m2 as the control arm were administered for up to six cycles. Translational research was planned to correlate the expression of apoptotic and DNA repair genes with clinical outcome.

Results

In 115 randomly assigned patients, the median PFS was 5.5 months in the control arm and 5.7 months in the experimental arm (hazard ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.79 to 1.71; P = .45) in the intent-to-treat analysis. The trial was stopped for futility after the interim analysis, because the results in the experimental arm showed the risk reduction for the main end point to be < 9.64%. The proportion of patients with grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia, asthenia, and liver toxicity was significantly higher in the experimental arm. FAS and p53 were shown to be prognostic factors for PFS (7.0 months if FAS+ and p53−; 3.4 months if FAS+/p53+ or FAS−/p53−; and 0.7 months if FAS− and p53+; P < .001) and for overall survival.

Conclusion

Trabectedin plus doxorubicin did not show superiority over doxorubicin alone as first-line treatment of advanced STS. The prognostic role of apoptotic key genes, FAS and p53, was shown to be robust enough to continue this research line.
Validation of a Prediction Tool for Chemotherapy Toxicity in Older Adults With Cancer
Authors: Hurria Arti , Mohile Supriya , Gajra Ajeet , Klepin Heidi , Muss Hyman , Chapman Andrew , Feng Tao , Smith David , Sun Can-Lan , De Glas Nienke , Cohen Harvey Jay , Katheria Vani , Doan Caroline , Zavala Laura , Levi Abrahm , Akiba Chie , Tew William P.
Published: May 2016

Purpose

Older adults are at increased risk for chemotherapy toxicity, and standard oncology assessment measures cannot identify those at risk. A predictive model for chemotherapy toxicity was developed (N = 500) that consisted of geriatric assessment questions and other clinical variables. This study aims to externally validate this model in an independent cohort (N = 250).

Patients and Methods

Patients age ≥ 65 years with a solid tumor, fluent in English, and who were scheduled to receive a new chemotherapy regimen were recruited from eight institutions. Risk of chemotherapy toxicity was calculated (low, medium, or high risk) on the basis of the prediction model before the start of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy-related toxicity was captured (grade 3 [hospitalization indicated], grade 4 [life threatening], and grade 5 [treatment-related death]). Validation of the prediction model was performed by calculating the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve.

Results

The study sample (N = 250) had a mean age of 73 years (range, 65 to 94 [standard deviation, 5.8]). More than one half of patients (58%) experienced grade ≥ 3 toxicity. Risk of toxicity increased with increasing risk score (36.7% low, 62.4% medium, 70.2% high risk; P < .001). The area under the curve of the receiver-operating characteristic curve was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.58 to 0.71), which was not statistically different from the development cohort (0.72; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.77; P = .09). There was no association between Karnofsky Performance Status and chemotherapy toxicity (P = .25).

Conclusion

This study externally validated a chemotherapy toxicity predictive model for older adults with cancer. This predictive model should be considered when discussing the risks and benefits of chemotherapy with older adults.
The Role of Hypothalamic NF-κB Signaling in the Response of the HPT-Axis to Acute Inflammation in Female Mice
Authors: de Vries E. M. , Nagel S. , Haenold R. , Sundaram S. M. , Pfrieger F. W. , Fliers E. , Heuer H. , Boelen A.
Published: May 2016

A large proportion of critically ill patients have alterations in the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, collectively known as the nonthyroidal illness syndrome. Nonthyroidal illness syndrome is characterized by low serum thyroid hormone (TH) concentrations accompanied by a suppressed central component of the HPT axis and persistent low serum TSH. In hypothalamic tanycytes, the expression of type 2 deiodinase (D2) is increased in several animal models of inflammation. Because D2 is a major source of T3 in the brain, this response is thought to suppress TRH expression in the paraventricular nucleus via increased local bioavailability of T3. The inflammatory pathway component RelA (the p65 subunit of nuclear factor-κB) can bind the Dio2 promoter and increases D2 expression after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in vitro. We aimed to determine whether RelA signaling in tanycytes is essential for the LPS-induced D2 increase in vivo by conditional elimination of RelA in tanycytes of mice (RelAASTKO). Dio2 and Trh mRNA expression were assessed by quantitative in situ hybridization 8 or 24 hours after saline or LPS injection. At the same time points, we measured pituitary Tshβ mRNA expression and serum T3 and T4 concentrations. In RelAASTKO mice the LPS-induced increase in Dio2 and decrease in Trh mRNA levels in the hypothalamus were reduced compared with the wild-type littermates, whereas the drop in pituitary Tshβ expression and in serum TH concentrations persisted. In conclusion, RelA is essential for the LPS-induced hypothalamic D2 increase and TRH decrease. The central changes in the HPT axis are, however, not required for the down-regulation of Tshβ expression and serum TH concentrations.