bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beneficial Effects of Bushen Formula Combined with Enticavir on Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Suboptimal Response to Enticavir by Regulating B-Cell Differentiation
Authors: Li Man , Zhou Zhen-Hua , Bao Ting , Zhang Xin , Zhu Xiao-Jun , Jin Shu-Gen , Gao Ya-Ting , Sun Xue-Hua , Gao Yue-Qiu
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: To investigate the clinical effects of the combination therapy with Bushen Formula (BSF) plus enticavir (ETV) on chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with suboptimal response to ETV and explore the regulatory mechanisms of BSF on B cells-mediated humoral immunity. Methods: Sixty-four HBeAg-positive CHB patients with suboptimal response to ETV were enrolled, and were randomly assigned into control group (C-Group, placebo combined with ETV for 12 months) or treatment group (T-Group, BSF combined with ETV for 12 months). Serum samples from 57 treatment-naïve CHB patients and 15 healthy controls were collected. Serum HBV DNA levels were evaluated by real-time PCR. Characteristics of peripheral blood B-cell subtypes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Serum HBV markers and B cell-activating factor (BAFF) levels were detected by ELISA. Chinese medicine symptom complex score was evaluated and recorded. Results: After treatment, the rates of patients with a reduction of HBsAg > 0.5 log10 IU/ml or 1.0 log10 IU/ml and the rates of HBeAg clearance in T-Group were all higher than those in C-group, with no significant intergroup difference. Only in T-Group, Chinese medicine symptom complex score and the frequency of total B cells were significantly decreased, and the frequencies of Bm1, CD24+CD27-switched B cells and plasma cells were markedly increased after treatment compared with those before treatment. Compared with healthy controls, serum BAFF levels in treatment-naïve CHB patients were increased, and there was a significant positive correlation between serum BAFF and HBsAg levels. However, serum BAFF levels did not differ after treatment in T-Group and C-Group. Conclusions: The combination therapy with BSF plus ETV promotes the reduction of HBsAg level and the clearance of HBeAg in CHB patients with partial response to ETV through regulating the differentiation of B-cell subsets.
MicroRNA-16 Promotes Ovarian Granulosa Cell Proliferation and Suppresses Apoptosis Through Targeting PDCD4 in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Authors: Fu Xiafei  , He Yuanli , Wang Xuefeng , Peng Dongxian , Chen Xiaoying , Li Xinran , Wan Qing
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: Several miRNAs have been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). However, the biological roles of miR-16 and its molecular mechanisms in PCOS development remain to be elucidated. Methods: qRT-PCR was performed to detect the expression levels of miR-16 and programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4). GCs proliferation, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were examined by MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis. Luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay were applied to confirm the regulatory relationship between miR-16 and PDCD4. Western blot was applied to measure the protein levels of PDCD4, PCNA and caspase-3. ELISA kits were used to determine the serum levels of steroids. Results: miR-16 expression was down-regulated in ovarian cortex tissues and serums of PCOS patients. PDCD4 expression was up-regulated in ovarian cortex tissues of PCOS patients. miR-16 overexpression facilitated cell proliferation, induced cell cycle progression, and inhibited apoptosis in GCs. Moreover, PDCD4 was a direct target of miR-16. Also, enforced expression of PDCD4 abated the effects of miR-16 on GCs growth and apoptosis. Additionally, testosterone resulted in a decrease of miR-16 expression and an increase of PDCD4 expression, thus blocking cell growth and enhanced apoptosis in GCs. Furthermore, miR-16 overexpression alleviated PCOS in vivo by regulating PDCD4. Conclusions: miR-16 promoted ovarian GCs proliferation and inhibited apoptosis through directly targeting PDCD4 in PCOS, contributing to a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of GCs dysregulation and providing a promising target in PCOS.
MicroRNA-29b Regulates the Mitochondria-Dependent Apoptotic Pathway by Targeting Bax in Doxorubicin Cardiotoxicity
Authors: Jing Xibo , Yang Jingxiao , Jiang Lu , Chen Jianghong , Wang Haiyan
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: Myocardial apoptosis plays an important role in doxorubicin (Dox) cardiotoxicity. MicroRNA-29 (miR-29) is suggested to function as an anti-fibrotic factor with potential therapeutic effects on cardiac fibrosis. However, it has not been shown whether there is an association between miR-29b and myocardial apoptosis. Methods: Male Wistar rats were transfected with miR-29b agomir by local delivery to the myocardium prior to Dox treatment. Rat cardiomyocytes were pretreated with miR-29b mimics or inhibitor followed by Dox incubation in vitro. Cardiac function and underlying mechanisms were evaluated by echocardiography, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, real-time PCR, and western blotting. Results: Our results revealed that miR-29b is the only member of the miR-29 family that was significantly downregulated in myocardium from Dox-treated rats. Delivery of miR-29b agomir to myocardium resulted in a marked improvement of cardiac function. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining showed that rescue of miR-29b expression inhibited Dox-induced myocardial apoptosis, concomitantly with increased Bcl-2 expression and decreased Bax expression and caspase-3 activity. In vitro, miR-29b overexpression mitigated, whereas inhibition of miR-29b promoted, Dox-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Mechanistically, miR-29b negatively regulated Bax expression by directly targeting the 3′ untranslated region of Bax. In Dox-treated cardiomyocytes, upregulation of miR-29b resulted in a significant decrease in Bax expression, with an increase in Bcl-2 expression, accompanied by inhibition of mitochondrial membrane depolarization, cytochrome c release, and caspase activation. However, inhibition of miR-29b produced the opposite effects by further augmenting the effects of Dox. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that miR-29b prevents Dox-induced myocardial apoptosis through inhibition of the mitochondria-dependent pathway by directly targeting Bax, suggesting that miR-29b is a potential novel therapeutic target for the treatment of Dox cardiotoxicity.
Direct Targeting of the mTOR (Mammalian Target of Rapamycin) Kinase Improves Endothelial Permeability in Drug-Eluting Stents—Brief Report
Authors: Harari Emanuel , Guo Liang , Smith Samantha L. , Paek Ka Hyun , Fernandez Raquel , Sakamoto Atsushi , Mori Hiroyoshi , Kutyna Matthew D. , Habib Anwer , Torii Sho , Cornelissen Anne , Jinnouchi Hiroyuki , Gupta Anuj , Kolodgie Frank D. , Virmani Renu , Finn Aloke V.
Published: July 2018

Objective—

Drug-eluting stents eluting canonical mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) inhibitors are widely used to treat coronary artery disease but accelerate the development of atherosclerosis within the stent (neoatherosclerosis)—a leading cause of late stent failure. We recently showed that canonical mTOR inhibitors bind FKBP12.6 (12.6-kDa FK506–binding protein 12), displace it from calcium release channels, resulting in activation of PKCα (protein kinase Cα) and dissociation of p-120-catenin (p120) from VE-CAD (vascular endothelial cadherin; promoting endothelial barrier dysfunction [EBD]). However, the relevance of these findings to drug-eluting stents remains unknown. Newer generation direct mTOR kinase inhibitors do not bind FKBP12.6 and offer the potential of improving endothelial barrier function while maintaining antirestenotic efficacy, but their actual effects are unknown. We examined the effects of 2 different pharmacological targeting strategies—canonical mTOR inhibitor everolimus and mTOR kinase inhibitors Torin-2—on EBD after stenting.

Approach and Results—

Using the rabbit model of stenting and a combination of Evans blue dye, confocal and scanning electron microscopy studies, everolimus-eluting stents resulted in long-term EBD compared with bare metal stents. EBD was mitigated by using stents that eluted mTOR kinase inhibitors (Torin-2–eluting stent). At 60 days after stent placement, everolimus-eluting stents demonstrated large areas of Evans blue dye staining and evidence of p120 VE-CAD dissociation consistent with EBD. These findings were absent in bare metal stents and significantly attenuated in Torin-2–eluting stent. As proof of concept of the role of EBD in neoatherosclerosis, 100 days after stenting, animals were fed an enriched cholesterol diet for an additional 30 days. Everolimus-eluting stents demonstrated significantly more macrophage infiltration (consistent with neoatherosclerosis) compared with both bare metal stents and Torin-2–eluting stent.

Conclusions—

Our results pinpoint interactions between FKBP12.6 and canonical mTOR inhibitors as a major cause of vascular permeability and neoatherosclerosis, which can be overcome by using mTOR kinase inhibitors. Our study suggests further refinement of molecular targeting of the mTOR complex may be a promising strategy (Graphic Abstract).
Visual Selection of the Future Reach Path in Obstacle Avoidance
Authors: Baldauf Daniel
Published: July 2018

In two EEG experiments, we studied the role of visual attention during the preparation of manual movements around an obstacle. Participants performed rapid hand movements to a goal position avoiding a central obstacle either on the left or right side, depending on the pitch of the acoustical go signal. We used a dot probe paradigm to analyze the deployment of spatial attention in the visual field during the motor preparation. Briefly after the go signal but still before the hand movement actually started, a visual transient was flashed either on the planned pathway of the hand (congruent trials) or on the opposite, movement-irrelevant side (incongruent trials). The P1/N1 components that were evoked by the onset of the dot probe were enhanced in congruent trials where the visual transient was presented on the planned path of the hand. The results indicate that, during movement preparation, attention is allocated selectively to the planned trajectory the hand is going to take around the obstacle.
Preserved Object Weight Processing after Bilateral Lateral Occipital Complex Lesions
Authors: Buckingham Gavin , Holler Desiree , Michelakakis Elizabeth E. , Snow Jacqueline C.
Published: July 2018

Object interaction requires knowledge of the weight of an object, as well as its shape. The lateral occipital complex (LOC), an area within the ventral visual pathway, is well known to be critically involved in processing visual shape information. Recently, however, LOC has also been implicated in coding object weight before grasping—a result that is surprising because weight is a nonvisual object property that is more relevant for motor interaction than visual perception. Here, we examined the causal role of LOC in perceiving heaviness and in determining appropriate fingertip forces during object lifting. We studied perceptions of heaviness and lifting behavior in a neuropsychological patient (M.C.) who has large bilateral occipitotemporal lesions that include LOC. We compared the patient's performance to a group of 18 neurologically healthy age-matched controls. Participants were asked to lift and report the perceived heaviness of a set of equally weighted spherical objects of various sizes—stimuli which typically induce the size–weight illusion, in which the smaller objects feel heavier than the larger objects despite having identical mass. Despite her ventral stream lesions, M.C. experienced a robust size–weight illusion induced by visual cues to object volume, and the magnitude of the illusion in M.C. was comparable to age-matched controls. Similarly, M.C. evinced predictive fingertip force scaling to visual size cues during her initial lifts of the objects that were well within the normal range. These single-case neuropsychological findings suggest that LOC is unlikely to play a causal role in computing object weight.
Taxonomy of the genus Labronema Thorne, 1939 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Dorylaimidae) with redescription of its type species, L. ferox Thorne, 1939
Authors: Peña-Santiago Reyes
Published: July 2018

Labronema feroxis redescribed on the basis of two females and four males from the USA. It is characterised by its 2.90-4.45 mm long body, lip region offset by deep constriction, 31-39 μm broad and slightly sucker-like with distinctly protruding perioral liplets, odontostyle 34-37 μm long with aperture occupying 37-42% its length, neck 673-883 μm long, pharyngeal expansion occupying 48-52% of total neck length, female genital system didelphic-amphidelphic, uterus long and complex, including an intermediatepars musculosa, vulva longitudinal (V = 51-54), caudal region short and rounded (27-39 μm, c = 93-135,), spicules 76-89 μm long, and 20-25 nearly contiguous ventromedian supplements with an hiatus. Previous information about the species is analysed and discussed in the light of the present redescription. A new name,Labronemella zulliniisp. n., is proposed for the two females from Nepal described by Zullini in 1973. This new characterisation ofL. feroxlays the foundations to study the taxonomy of the genus in more detail.
Gibberellin reduces the susceptibility of rice, Oryza sativa, to the migratory nematode Hirschmanniella oryzae
Authors: Bauters Lander , Hossain Mohammod , Nahar Kamrun , Gheysen Godelieve
Published: July 2018

Upon pathogen attack, the plant defence response is mediated by a set of connected signal transduction pathways, guided by several classes of plant hormones. In this study, experiments were conducted to observe the role of the plant hormone gibberellic acid in the response of rice to infection by the migratory root-rot nematode Hirschmanniella oryzae. Foliar treatments with gibberellic acid showed a negative effect on H. oryzae infection in the roots. Analyses of mutant rice lines impaired in the production or signalling of gibberellic acid confirmed the effect of the plant hormone on H. oryzae infection. Taken together, the results clearly indicate that gibberellic acid has a positive effect on the capability of the rice plant to fend off an infection by the migratory nematode H. oryzae.
Contribution to the pollen morphology of Tragopogon (Asteraceae) in Turkey
Authors: GÜLTEPE MUTLU , MAKBUL SERDAR , OKUR SEDA , COŞKUNÇELEBİ KAMİL
Published: July 2018

The pollen morphology of 25 Tragopogon L. taxa (including four subspecies and four varieties) distributed in Turkey was studied under light and scanning electron microscopy. It was observed that pollen grains of the examined Tragopogon taxa are suboblate and oblate-spheroidal in shape, and 3-zonocolpororate with fifteen lacunae. The lenghts of the polar axes and equatorial axes range from 31.57 to 40.35 µm and 35.32 to 44.65 µm, respectively. Numerical analyses show that the length of equatorial axis and the pore length are the most valuable characters among nineteen palynological traits for separating the examined taxa. The general palynological characteristics of the examined taxa allow some taxonomical evaluations for the genus. However, the results of cluster and principal component analyses did not support the division of the genus at any subgeneric level; neither did the ligule colour, as reported in the literature.
A new Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from the Shan Hills and the biogeography of Bent-toed Geckos from eastern Myanmar
Authors: GRISMER L. LEE , WOOD PERRY L. JR. , THURA MYINT KYAW , QUAH EVAN S. H. , GRISMER MARTA S. , MURDOCH MATTHEW L. , ESPINOZA ROBERT E. , LIN AUNG
Published: July 2018

A phylogenetic taxonomic analysis indicates that a newly discovered population of Cyrtodactylus from the vicinity of Ywangan Town in the Shan Hills, Shan State, Myanmar is a new species (C. ywanganensis sp. nov.) and the earliest diverging member of the linnwayensis group within the previously defined Indochinese clade. The DIVALIKE+J model of a BioGeoBEARS biogeographic analysis indicates that the Indochinese clade evolved in the Shan Hills and Salween Basin of eastern Myanmar and dispersed into Indochina on at least three separate occasions from 18.6–13.4 mya. Once there, uplift of the Tenasserim Mountains and Thai Highlands created the intermedius group, the oldhami group, and C. tigroides of western and southern Thailand which form sister lineages to the linnwayensis group, yathepyanensis group, and the sinyineensis group, respectively, of eastern Myanmar. Diverging lineages within the Indochinese clade highlight the importance of the Thai Highlands and Tenasserim Mountains in that group’s evolution and speciation. The discovery of C. ywanganensis sp. nov. in karstic habitats in the Shan Hills continues to underscore the unrealized karst-associated herpetological diversity of this vast, relatively unexplored, upland region and the need for additional field studies.
Privacy Attitudes and Concerns in the Digital Lives of Older Adults: Westin’s Privacy Attitude Typology Revisited
Authors: Elueze Isioma , Quan-Haase Anabel
Published: July 2018

There is a growing literature on teenage and young adult users’ attitudes toward and concerns about online privacy, yet little is known about older adults and their unique experiences. As older adults join the digital world in growing numbers, we need to gain a better understanding of how they experience and navigate online privacy. This article fills this research gap by examining 40 in-depth interviews with older adults (65+ years) living in East York, Toronto. We found Westin’s typology to be a useful starting point for understanding privacy attitudes and concerns in this demographic. We expand Westin’s typology and distinguish five categories: fundamentalist, intense pragmatist, relaxed pragmatist, marginally concerned, and cynical expert. We find that older adults are not a homogenous group composed of privacy fundamentalists; rather, there is considerable variability in terms of their privacy attitudes, with only 13% being fundamentalists. We also identify a group of cynical experts who believe that online privacy breaches are inevitable. A large number of older adults are marginally concerned, as they see their online participation as limited and harmless. Older adults were also grouped as either intense or relaxed pragmatists. We find that some privacy concerns are shared by older adults across several categories, the most common being spam, unauthorized access to personal information, and information misuse. We discuss theoretical implications based on the findings for our understanding of privacy in the context of older adults’ digital lives and discuss implications for offering training appropriate for enhancing privacy literacy in this age group.
Revisiting the Crime Control Benefits of Voluntary Organizations: Organizational Presence, Organizational Capacity, and Crime Rates in Los Angeles Neighborhoods
Authors: Wo James C.
Published: July 2018

This study examines the independent effects that the number of voluntary organizations and the total amount of income they possess have on neighborhood crime, over time. Drawing upon a sample of Los Angeles census blocks from 2000 to 2010, I utilize fixed-effects negative binomial regression to estimate crime models. The number of voluntary organizations and the total amount of income they possess in the focal block, respectively, are not related to most crime types the following year. Yet, both aspects of voluntary organizations exhibit crime-reducing influences when accounting for their broader spatial impact, and controlling for numerous factors that have been shown to be associated with crime rates. The implications for communities and crime research are discussed.
Adaptive optimal fault-tolerant control scheme for a class of strict-feedback nonlinear systems
Authors: Dai Jiao , Liu Chunsheng , Sun Jingliang
Published: July 2018

An active optimal fault-tolerant control (FTC) scheme for a class of nonlinear systems in strict-feedback form in the presence of partial loss of actuator effectiveness faults is proposed, using backstepping design technique and adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) algorithm to compensate the effects of failure. The proposed FTC scheme consists of feedforward controller that achieve the objective of fault-tolerant and feedback optimal controller, which can guarantee the performance index function is minimized. Since fault estimation and control law parameters are updated online, the control system has an adaptive failure compensation capability so as to reconfigure the control law in real time in response to failure indications. Based on Lyapunov stability theory, the whole closed-loop system is guaranteed to be ultimately uniformly bounded. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by simulation.
Transient Loneliness and the Perceived Provision and Receipt of Capitalization Support Within Event-Disclosure Interactions
Authors: Arpin Sarah N. , Mohr Cynthia D.
Published: July 2018

Research affirms that loneliness is a distressing experience with social-perceptual and behavioral consequences. Yet, little is known about consequences of transient loneliness, particularly within social interactions. The current study builds on reaffiliation motive and evolutionary models of state loneliness to investigate the effects of experimentally manipulated loneliness on individual and interaction partner perceptions during an event-sharing interaction, within 97 female dyads. Actor–partner interdependence mediation analyses revealed indirect effects for induction group (high vs. low loneliness) on positive affect, enjoyment, responsiveness, and partner positive affect, via induced state loneliness. Furthermore, state loneliness influenced actor and partner provision of responsiveness, via perceived responsiveness. Results reveal interpersonal consequences of transient loneliness, offering preliminary insight into conditions through which state perceptions of isolation may interfere with engagement in positive social interactions. Furthermore, implications for previously theorized evolutionary models of state loneliness and the reaffiliation motive are discussed.
SGSG: Semantic graph-based storyline generation in Twitter
Authors: Dehghani Nazanin , Asadpour Masoud
Published: July 2018

Twitter is a popular microblogging service that has become a great medium for exploring emerging events and breaking news. Unfortunately, the explosive rate of information entering Twitter makes the users experience information overload. Since a great deal of tweets revolve around news events, summarising the storyline of these events can be advantageous to users, allowing them to conveniently access relevant and key information scattered over numerous tweets and, consequently, draw concise conclusions. A storyline shows the evolution of a story through time and sketches the correlations among its significant events. In this article, we propose a novel framework for generating a storyline of news events from a social point of view. Utilising powerful concepts from graph theory, we identify the significant events, summarise them and generate a coherent storyline of their evolution with reasonable computational cost for large datasets. Our approach models a storyline as a directed tree of socially salient events evolving over time in which nodes represent main events and edges capture the semantic relations between related events. We evaluate our proposed method against human-generated storylines, as well as the previous state-of-the-art storyline generation algorithm, on two large-scale datasets, one consisting of English tweets and the other one consisting of Persian tweets. We find that the results of our method are superior to the previous best algorithm and can be comparable with human-generated storylines.
Back to the future? The long view of probation and sentencing
Authors: Raynor Peter
Published: July 2018

This article reviews the history of the probation service’s contribution to sentencing and revisits the changing theories and understandings that have influenced this role at different times. Through most of its history probation was seen as an alternative to punishment and required the consent of the probationer. Since the 1990s these fundamental assumptions have been changing, and the article explores some of the social and political context of these changes. It argues (with the help of John Augustus, Charles Dickens and others) that the probation service’s input of social information into sentencing has been a contribution to social justice, but recent changes in the reporting role have made this much more difficult. Finally, some suggestions are made about how probation’s traditional input into sentencing might be restored.
Birth status and adult attachment
Authors: Gillath Omri , Casebier Jessica , Canterberry Melanie , Karantzas Gery
Published: July 2018

Numerous studies have investigated the effects of having an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy on parents. Less is known about the long-term effects of unwanted or unplanned pregnancy on the child and his or her personality. Here we examined in one correlational study and three experiments the associations between birth status (being unwanted, unplanned, or neither) and adult attachment. In general, being unwanted, and to a lesser extent unplanned, was associated with attachment insecurity. Priming thoughts about being an unwanted baby resulted in decreased state attachment security and increased state attachment insecurity. These findings suggest that birth status and knowledge about it play a role not only in parents’ but also in children’s lives—affecting their attachment and mental representation into adulthood.
The impact of local commissioning on victim services in England and Wales: An empirical study
Authors: Simmonds Lesley
Published: July 2018

This paper follows on from earlier work in which I discussed the potential impacts of the local commissioning of victim services by Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales. The introduction of this elected role and the devolution of responsibility to local PCCs was said to raise a range of issues for both victims and the voluntary sector, given that agencies within this sector are major providers of support for those affected by crime. Before 2014 the approach to the funding of victim services was not particularly of concern, save for questions being asked in the ‘audit culture’ of the early 2000s, around the extent to which the government-funded agency Victim Support could be said to be providing ‘value for money’. However, these concerns gained momentum with the incoming Coalition government of 2010, and by 2014 local commissioning by PCCs had been implemented. This meant the previous mixed economy of victim services provision via the largely centrally funded organisation ‘Victim Support’ as a ‘national victims’ service’, and an array of smaller and more financially independent victim agencies who had to bid for pots of funding much more competitively, has given way to the political appeal of a free market for all. In order then to explore the reality of this shift, a piece of empirical research was undertaken with voluntary-sector agencies in the far southwest of England. Essentially the research provides evidence that the issues raised in my earlier work have indeed come to fruition.
Location of Warehouses and Environmental Justice
Authors: Yuan Quan
Published: July 2018

Warehousing activities generate substantial environmental externalities that affect surrounding neighborhoods. Using data from the Los Angeles region, this study tests the relationship between the spatial distribution of warehouses and neighborhoods with different demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. The results show that warehouses are disproportionately located in both low-income and medium-income minority neighborhoods. The distribution of warehousing facilities and activities is highly related to the percentage of minorities as expected, but its relationship with household income is nonetheless mixed. In the Los Angeles region, low-income neighborhoods are not always attractive to warehouse developers because they are not convenient for warehousing development.
What Do Proofreaders of Student Writing Do to a Master’s Essay? Differing Interventions, Worrying Findings
Authors: Harwood Nigel
Published: July 2018

There has been much interest recently in researching the changes editors, supervisors, and other language brokers make to the writing of L2 researchers who are attempting to publish in English. However, studies focused on the presubmission proofreading of students’ university essays are rarer. In this study of student proofreading, 14 UK university proofreaders all proofread the same authentic, low-quality master’s essay written by an L2 speaker of English to enable a comparison of interventions. Proofreaders explained their interventions by means of a talk aloud while proofreading and at a post-proofreading interview. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data reveals evidence of widely differing practices and beliefs, with the number of interventions ranging from 113 to 472. Some proofreaders intervened at the level of content, making lengthy suggestions to improve the writer’s essay structure and argumentation, while others were reluctant to do more than focus on the language. Disturbingly, some proofreaders introduced errors into the text while leaving the writer’s errors uncorrected. I conclude that the results are cause for deep concern for universities striving to formulate ethical proofreading policies.
Simulated Individualized Education Program Meetings: Valuable Pedagogy Within a Preservice Special Educator Program
Authors: Mueller Tracy Gershwin , Massafra Aimee , Robinson Jason , Peterson Lori
Published: July 2018

Research about Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting outcomes indicates special educators are unprepared and uncertain about practices designed to encourage meaningful IEP team participation. In response to these challenges, we crafted a simulated IEP (SIEP) project for preservice special education teachers as part of their licensure program. Using research-based simulation guidelines, preservice special education teachers were required to prepare, participate, and debrief with IEP team member volunteers and professors about the process. To evaluate the social validity of the SIEP project, we conducted qualitative interviews with 60 graduates of the program. Findings revealed five major themes that highlight value in the experience, including (a) valuable preparation for the future, (b) practical application of educational theory, (c) a safe space to learn and make mistakes, (d) real-world practice collaborating as a team, and (e) an opportunity to gain meaningful feedback. Following the presentation of themes, we discuss implications for practice and future research.
Thermal oxidation of PEPA-terminated polyimide
Authors: Li Xiaochen , Miyauchi Masahiko , González Carlos , Nutt Steven
Published: July 2018

The thermal oxidative stability of a 4-phenylethynyl phthalic anhydride (PEPA) endcapped polyimide (PI) was investigated. A surface reaction layer formed due to oxidization during thermal aging and grew in thickness with increasing aging time. Analysis of the surface layer revealed a partial loss of aromatic ring, ether linkage, and imide linkage in the aged polymer. The partial loss of the imide linkage and ether linkage in the surface layer was corroborated by the observed release of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide reaction products. The oxidized layer exhibited discoloration and an increase in glass transition temperature. The surface discoloration was attributed to the formation of the conjugated unsaturated or aromatic carbonyl groups and/or the charge transfer complex. Interior regions of the oxidized samples were largely unaffected, except for a more compact molecular configuration. Compared with aging at high temperatures (288°C, 316°C), aging at 204°C produced similar chemical changes in the cured polymer, albeit with a low degradation rate. The oxidative stability of the imide polymer surpassed that of conventional nadic-endcapped PIs due to the greater intrinsic thermal stability of the PEPA endcap. The unusual oxidative stability of the PI, combined with superior mechanical properties, warrant consideration as a composite matrix for future applications in high-temperature service conditions.
Flight dynamics and parametric modeling of a 2-DOF lab aircraft
Authors: Khan Yasir Mahmood , Ahmad Sarvat M , Ali Mohsin , Khan Masroor
Published: July 2018

This paper presents two degrees-of-freedom (2-DOF) modeling of a lab aircraft extending corresponding author’s previous work on 1-DOF. The yaw motion is an additional DOF introduced along with the earlier work on pitch plane alone. The test-rig is designed, developed, instrumented, and interfaced with PC employing data acquisition card and real-time visualization software. Detailed mathematical models from first principles are developed incorporating important stability and control derivatives. The theoretical models are iteratively improved and validated through experimentation. The comparison reveals close agreement between math models and experimental ones. The developed high-fidelity models are to be employed for closed-loop control design and evaluation of system performance.
Hydrogen Sulfide Protects Human Cardiac Fibroblasts Against H2O2-induced Injury Through Regulating Autophagy-Related Proteins
Authors: Feng Ao , Ling Chen , Xin-duo Lin , Bing Wu , San-wu Wu , Yu Zhan , Yu-lan Huang , You-en Zhang
Published: July 2018

Autophagy, an intracellular bulk degradation process of proteins and organelles, can be induced by myocardial ischemia in the heart. However, the causative role of autophagy in the survival of human cardiac fibroblasts and the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Oxidative stress can induce autophagy in cultured cells upon hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) exposure. Because hydrogen sulfide (H2S) regulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis, we hypothesize that H2S may have a cardioprotective function. To examine our hypothesis, we investigated the regulation of autophagy by the H2S donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), using a cell model of human cardiac fibroblasts from adult ventricles (HCF-av) that suffered from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by H2O2. In the present study, we found that the apoptosis and autophagy were induced along with ER stress by H2O2 in the primary cultured HCF-av cells. In contrast, H2S suppressed HCF-av cell apoptosis and autophagic flux, in part directly by inhibiting ROS production and preserving mitochondrial functions.
Entrepreneurial Potential and Higher Education System in India
Authors: Mukesh H.V. , Rao Abhishek S. , Rajasekharan Pillai K.
Published: July 2018

Entrepreneurship education enhances the entrepreneurial potential of students, leading them to take up an entrepreneurial career. But, in India, a vast majority of youths with latent entrepreneurial potential are passing out of colleges without the needed basic entrepreneurial skills. The inconsistency towards entrepreneurship development policy is hurting the economy as a whole. The study analyses entrepreneurial potential of students and entrepreneurship education in the higher education system. It also examines whether there exists an alignment among them using the data triangulation method. The findings signify that entrepreneurial potential of students is on the upper side, and entrepreneurship education in higher education system is below average. The outcome of this study highlights the increasing need to focus on entrepreneurship education in higher education.
A Guide to Multisite Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Jenkins Emily K. , Slemon Allie , Haines-Saah Rebecca J. , Oliffe John
Published: July 2018

The aims of multisite qualitative research, originally developed within the case study tradition, are to produce findings that are reflective of context, while also holding broader applicability across settings. Such knowledge is ideal for informing health and social interventions by overcoming the limitations of research developed through methodological approaches that either “strip” context, or that hold relevance for a site-specific group or population. Yet, despite the potential benefits of multisite qualitative research, there is a paucity of analytical guidance to support researchers in achieving these yields. In this article, we present an analytical approach for conducting multisite qualitative analysis (MSQA) across various methodologies to maximize the potential of qualitative research, enhance rigor, and support the development of interventions that are tailored to the populations that they are intended to serve.
Functional Status in Older Intensive Care Unit Survivors
Authors: Tang Hsin-Ju , Tang Hsin-Yi (Jean) , Chang Chia-Ming , Su Pei-Fang , Chen Ching-Huey
Published: July 2018

Older ICU survivors are often challenged with clusters of geriatric syndromes and functional decline. The purpose of this study was (a) to assess patterns of geriatric syndromes and functional status from admission to 6 months post discharge and (b) to examine the predictors of longitudinal functional status. This is a prospective cohort study. Demographic information, clinical variables, geriatric syndromes, and functional status were collected longitudinally. A total of 192 medical ICU older adult survivors were included in the analysis. Factors associated with reductions in functional status over 6 months were (a) institutionalized prior to hospitalization, (b) pressure sore before admission, (c) existing delirium, (d) impaired mobility at baseline, (e) increased APACHE II score upon ICU admission, and (f) use of mechanical ventilation during the ICU stay. Importantly, overweight was the only factor that was associated with increased functional level over 6 months.
“Family Is Who They Say They Are”a: Examining the Effects of Cancer on the Romantic Partners of Adolescents and Young Adults
Authors: Moules Nancy J. , Laing Catherine M. , Estefan Andrew , Schulte Fiona , Guilcher Gregory M. T.
Published: July 2018

In this article, we discuss a study we conducted to examine the effects of cancer on romantic partners (i.e., boyfriends and girlfriends, social/romantic/intimate partners) of adolescents and young adults experiencing, or who have experienced, cancer. In this hermeneutic study, we interviewed partners who were involved with an adolescent/young adult with cancer, a cancer survivor who was in a relationship during his treatment, and two healthcare professionals who have worked with these couples and witnessed many other situations of impact, effect, and repercussion. Out of this study, we suggest that partners are affected in many ways that can vary from estrangement, to termination of the relationship, to premature decisions about remaining in the relationship, to family disregard of the partner, and to disregard of the family due to influence of, or relationship with, the partner. We discuss these findings within the context of the larger picture of the psychosocial relational impact of cancer on members beyond those in the immediate and biological family.
Sluggish Cognitive Tempo in Adults Referred for an ADHD Evaluation: A Psychometric Analysis of Self- and Collateral Report
Authors: Lunsford-Avery Jessica R. , Kollins Scott H. , Mitchell John T.
Published: July 2018

Objective: Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) symptoms uniquely contribute to psychiatric and functional outcomes in child samples; however, the psychometric properties of SCT measures among adult outpatients are unknown. Method: Adults ( n = 124) presenting for an ADHD evaluation provided self- and collateral report of SCT symptoms. Results: The SCT scale had good internal consistency and yielded three factors across raters: Slow/Daydreamy, Sleepy/Sluggish, and Low Initiation/Persistence. SCT scores exhibited convergent validity with ADHD symptoms across raters. Individuals with ADHD received higher SCT ratings than those without ADHD via collateral report, a pattern that was similar when comorbidity was considered. SCT was associated with poorer functioning after accounting for ADHD symptoms with some differential effects based on reporting source. Conclusion: Findings support the internal consistency and validity of a three-factor SCT scale among adult outpatients. Differential results between self- and collateral report demonstrate the importance of multiple reporters of SCT in clinical settings.
Mobile Palliative Care Consultation Service (PCCS): Overview of Hospice and Palliative Care Evaluation (HOPE) Data on In-Patients With End-Stage Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, and Noncancer, Nonneurological Disease From 4 PCCS Centers in Germany in 2013
Authors: Basedow-Rajwich Birgit , Montag Thomas , Duckert Andreas , Schulz Christian , Rajwich Gennadij , Kleiter Ingo , Koehler Jürgen , Lindena Gabriele
Published: July 2018

Context:

During the last decade, numerous in-patient Palliative Care Consultation Service (PCCS) units were established throughout Germany.

Objective:

To provide an epidemiological overview on a whole year cohort of palliative patients in terms of demography, complaints, and therapy on admission to PCCS and the impact of PCCS treatment, and identify differences and similarities in different palliative patient subgroups.

Methods:

Chi-square, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis followed by Games-Howell analysis of HOspice and Palliative care Evaluation (HOPE 2013) data on 4 PCCS centers and in total 919 patients, with solid tumors (237), metastatic cancer (397), leukemia and lymphoma (99), neurological (109, mostly multiple sclerosis [MS]), and noncancer, nonneurological disease (NCNND, 77).

Results:

A mostly uniform block of 3 cancer subgroups in terms of demographics, admission complaints, and initial pharmacological treatment diverged from the neurologic/MS disease subgroup. The “intermediate,” NCNND subgroup coalesced with the cancer or the neurologic/MS subgroups in part of the demographics, complaint, and drug parameters. Tetraparesis, requirement for nursing, and help with daily living were more, and pain, dyspnea, weakness, appetite loss, and fatigue were less frequent in neurologic patients compared with the cancer subgroups. Neurologic patients also showed more common use of coanalgetics and antidepressives, less opiates and nonopiate analgetics, corticosteroids, and antiemetics and antacids. NCNND patients had a particularly high rate of disorientation (48%) and death during PCCS (39%). In the 3 cancer subgroups, dyspnea, weakness, appetite loss, and anxiolytic use were less frequent in solid tumor patients. Palliative Care Consultation Service treatment was associated with reduction in symptom severity independent of subgroup entity. All listed differences were significant at P < .05 level.

Conclusion:

Despite divergence in demographics, symptoms, and medication, the data underline general usefulness of PCCS care in all end-stage patients and not only the cancer subgroups. Nevertheless, the strong differences revealed in the current study also underscore the need for a carefully tuned, disease-specific therapeutic approach to these subgroups of palliative patients.
The influence of consumerism on Spanish physical education teachers
Authors: Varea Valeria , González-Calvo Gustavo , Alcalá David Hortigüela
Published: July 2018

Consumer culture and neoliberalism have significantly influenced contemporary globalised, Western(ised) and highly visual societies. These influences have also infiltrated physical education settings, contributing to market-driven surveillance of physical education teachers’ physical appearance. This paper examines the reflections of a group of physical education teachers working at the primary and secondary levels in Spain concerning subjectivities of bodies and professional practices. It draws on semi-structured interview data and the Foucauldian concepts of Panopticon and surveillance to explore the ways in which the participants were influenced by the market and neoliberalism. The results of the study invite us to reflect on how images and messages from media may promote certain expectations for physical education teachers concerning physical appearance, dress and sports supplements consumption. The findings have implications for teacher education and the preparation of physical education teachers to resist dominant discourses promoted by the media.
Process tracing and congruence analysis to support theory-based impact evaluation
Authors: Wauters Benedict , Beach Derek
Published: July 2018

Theory-based impact evaluations have been put forward increasingly as an alternative for counterfactual impact evaluations. However, this raises questions regarding the foundations of drawing causal inference on the basis of such approaches. Case study methods such as QCA (Quantitative Comparative Analysis), process tracing and congruence analysis are emerging as a way to match the methodological rigor of counterfactuals. While QCA relies on multiple cases, process tracing and congruence analysis are methods that claim to be able to draw causal inference within a single case. In this article, a completed theory-based impact evaluation of a European Social Fund intervention is used as a foundation to demonstrate and discuss the differences between process tracing and congruence analysis and their relative (dis)advantages.
Graffiti as a site for cultural literacies in Zimbabwean urban high schools
Authors: Mangeya Hugh
Published: July 2018

It is widely believed that education is a socially situated cultural process. Generally, schools are regarded as the key educational institutions. However, education can be formal, non-formal and informal, based on media-driven communicative settings. These types coalesce within formal institutions of learning. This study focuses on the transmission of cultural knowledge in informal spaces such as the bathroom. It argues that graffiti is a medium that offers students a unique communicative dynamic enabling an open engagement with issues they would otherwise not do elsewhere. It facilitates the transmission of vital cultural knowledge/literacy whose length and breadth cannot be adequately exhausted by the formal school curriculum alone. Bathroom interactions, therefore, bring a different dynamic to cultural education in learning institutions. Sexuality, hygiene and decency, among others, are negotiated from a strictly student perspective. A trip to the bathroom therefore marks a crucial transition from formal to informal education, and back.
Increasing the perceived malleability of gender bias using a modified Video Intervention for Diversity in STEM (VIDS)
Authors: Hennes Erin P. , Pietri Evava S. , Moss-Racusin Corinne A. , Mason Katherine A. , Dovidio John F. , Brescoll Victoria L. , H. Bailey April , Handelsman Jo
Published: July 2018

Scholars are increasingly responding to calls for interventions to address persistent gender disparities in the sciences. Yet, interventions that emphasize the pervasiveness of bias may inadvertently damage efficacy to confront sexism by creating the perception that bias is immutable. We examined this possibility in the context of a successful bias literacy program, Video Interventions for Diversity in STEM (VIDS; Moss-Racusin et al., in press). In two studies with working adults from the general public ( N = 343) and science faculty ( N = 149), we modified VIDS by developing a module (UNITE) that offers tools for addressing bias and promotes the mindset that bias is malleable. VIDS alone was sufficient to increase awareness of bias, reduce sexism, and improve bias identification. However, UNITE buffered against perceptions that bias is immutable and restored self-efficacy to address bias. We conclude that interventions must aim not only to increase bias literacy but also offer concrete tools and avoid implying that these problems are insurmountable.