bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening for Acute
I
Kr
Block Is Insufficient to Detect Torsades de Pointes Liability
Authors: Yang Tao , Chun Young Wook , Stroud Dina M. , Mosley Jonathan D. , Knollmann Bjorn C. , Hong Charles , Roden Dan M.
Published: June 2014

Background—

New drugs are routinely screened for
I
Kr
blocking properties thought to predict QT prolonging and arrhythmogenic liability. However, recent data suggest that chronic (hours) drug exposure to phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors used in cancer can prolong QT by inhibiting potassium currents and increasing late sodium current (
I
Na-L
) in cardiomyocytes. We tested the extent to which
I
Kr
blockers with known QT liability generate arrhythmias through this pathway.

Methods and Results—

Acute exposure to dofetilide, an
I
Kr
blocker without other recognized electropharmacologic actions, produced no change in ion currents or action potentials in adult mouse cardiomyocytes, which lack
I
Kr
. By contrast, 2 to 48 hours of exposure to the drug generated arrhythmogenic afterdepolarizations and ≥15-fold increases in
I
Na-L
. Including phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate, a downstream effector for the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway, in the pipette inhibited these effects.
I
Na-L
was also increased, and inhibitable by phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate, with hours of dofetilide exposure in human-induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes and in Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with
SCN5A
, encoding sodium current. Cardiomyocytes from dofetilide-treated mice similarly demonstrated increased
I
Na-L
and afterdepolarizations. Other agents with variable
I
Kr
-blocking potencies and arrhythmia liability produced a range of effects on
I
Na-L
, from marked increases (E-4031,
d
-sotalol, thioridazine, and erythromycin) to little or no effect (haloperidol, moxifloxacin, and verapamil).

Conclusions—

Some but not all drugs designated as arrhythmogenic
I
Kr
blockers can generate arrhythmias by augmenting
I
Na-L
through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway. These data identify a potential mechanism for individual susceptibility to proarrhythmia and highlight the need for a new paradigm to screen drugs for QT prolonging and arrhythmogenic liability.
Risk Factors Associated With Cerebrovascular Recurrence in Symptomatic Carotid Disease: A Comparative Study of Carotid Plaque Morphology, Microemboli Assessment and the European Carotid Surgery Trial Risk Model
Authors: Altaf Nishath , Kandiyil Neghal , Hosseini Akram , Mehta Rajnikant , MacSweeney Shane , Auer Dorothee
Published: June 2014

Background

The European Carotid Surgery Trial (
ECST
) risk model is a validated tool for predicting cerebrovascular risk in patients with symptomatic carotid disease. Carotid plaque hemorrhage as detected by
MRI
(
MRIPH
) and microembolic signals (
MES
) detected by transcranial Doppler (
TCD
) are 2 emerging modalities in assessing instability of the carotid plaque. The aim of this study was to assess the strength of association of
MES
and
MRIPH
with cerebrovascular recurrence in patients with symptomatic carotid artery disease in comparison with the
ECST
risk prediction model.

Methods and Results

One hundred and thirty‐four prospectively recruited patients (mean [
SD
]: age 72 [9.8] years, 33% female) with symptomatic severe (50% to 99%) carotid stenosis underwent preoperative
TCD
,
MRI
of the carotid arteries to assess
MES
,
PH,
and the
ECST
risk model. Patients were followed up until carotid endarterectomy, recurrent cerebral event, death, or study end. Event‐free survival analysis was done using backward conditional Cox regression analysis.

Of the 123 patients who had both
TCD
and
MRI
, 82 (66.7%) demonstrated
PH
and 46 (37.4%) had
MES
. 37 (30.1%) cerebrovascular events (21 transient ischemic attacks, 6 amaurosis fugax, and 10 strokes) were observed. Both carotid
PH
(
HR
=8.68; 95%
CI
2.66 to 28.40,
P
<0.001) as well as
MES
(
HR
=3.28; 95%
CI
1.68 to 6.42,
P
=0.001) were associated with cerebrovascular event recurrence. Combining
MES
and
MRIPH
improved the strength of association (
HR
=0.74, 95%
CI
0.65 to 0.83;
P
<0.001). The
ECST
risk model was not associated with recurrence (
HR
=0.86; 95%
CI
0.45 to 1.65;
P
=0.65).

Conclusions

The presence of carotid plaque hemorrhage is better associated with recurrent cerebrovascular events in patients with symptomatic severe carotid stenosis than the presence of microembolic signals; combining
MES
and
MRIPH
, further improves the association while the
ECST
risk score was insignificant.
Postextrasystolic Blood Pressure Potentiation Predicts Poor Outcome of Cardiac Patients
Authors: Sinnecker Daniel , Dirschinger Ralf J. , Barthel Petra , Müller Alexander , Morley‐Davies Adrian , Hapfelmeier Alexander , Dommasch Michael , Huster Katharina M. , Hasenfuss Gerd , Laugwitz Karl‐Ludwig , Malik Marek , Schmidt Georg
Published: June 2014

Background

Postextrasystolic blood pressure potentiation (PESP), the pulse wave augmentation after an extrasystolic beat, is typically enhanced in heart failure (HF) patients. This study prospectively tested the association of PESP and mortality in cardiac patients.

Methods and Results

Consecutive patients (n=941; mean age, 61 years; 19% female) presenting with acute myocardial infarction were enrolled between May 2000 and March 2005 and followed up until August 2010. The main study outcome was 5‐year all‐cause mortality. Patients underwent noninvasive 30‐minute recordings of ECG and continuous blood pressure. PESP presence was based on the ratio between the first postectopic pulse wave amplitude and the mean of the subsequent 9 pulse wave amplitudes. A ratio above 1 was prospectively defined as PESP present. Ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) suitable for PESP quantification were present in recordings of 220 patients. PESP was present in 62 of these patients. Patients without suitable VPCs were classified as PESP absent.

During the follow‐up, 72 patients died. Among the 220 patients in whom PESP was measurable, 27 died. Under univariable analysis, PESP was a significant predictor of death (
P
<0.001) as were GRACE score (
P
<0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (
P
<0.001), and the number of recorded VPCs (
P
<0.001). Under multivariable analysis, PESP (
P
<0.001), GRACE score (
P
<0.001), and LVEF (
P
=0.001) were independently associated with outcome. The combination of PESP presence and LVEF ≤35% identified a subgroup of patients with a particularly high mortality of 46.7%. Separate validation reproduced the finding in an unrelated population of 146 HF patients.

Conclusions

PESP, which likely reflects abnormalities of myocardial calcium cycling, predicts the mortality risk in postinfarction patients.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL:
ClinicalTrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00196274.
Abnormal Center–Periphery Gradient in Spatial Attention in Simultanagnosia
Authors: Balslev Daniela , Odoj Bartholomaeus , Rennig Johannes , Karnath Hans-Otto
Published: June 2014

Patients suffering from simultanagnosia cannot perceive more than one object at a time. The underlying mechanism is incompletely understood. One hypothesis is that simultanagnosia reflects “tunnel vision,” a constricted attention window around gaze, which precludes the grouping of individual objects. Although this idea has a long history in neuropsychology, the question whether the patients indeed have an abnormal attention gradient around the gaze has so far not been addressed. Here we tested this hypothesis in two simultanagnosia patients with bilateral parieto-occipital lesions and two control groups, with and without brain damage. We assessed the participants' ability to discriminate letters presented briefly at fixation with and without a peripheral distractor or in the visual periphery, with or without a foveal distractor. A constricted span of attention around gaze would predict an increased susceptibility to foveated versus peripheral distractors. Contrary to this prediction and unlike both control groups, the patients' ability to discriminate the target decreased more in the presence of peripheral compared with foveated distractors. Thus, the attentional spotlight in simultanagnosia does not fall on foveated objects as previously assumed, but rather abnormally highlights the periphery. Furthermore, we found the same center–periphery gradient in the patients' ability to recognize multiple objects. They detected multiple, but not single objects more accurately in the periphery than at fixation. These results suggest that an abnormal allocation of attention around the gaze can disrupt the grouping of individual objects into an integrated visual scene.
Aerobic Fitness Predicts Relational Memory but Not Item Memory Performance in Healthy Young Adults
Authors: Baym Carol L. , Khan Naiman A. , Pence Ari , Raine Lauren B. , Hillman Charles H. , Cohen Neal J.
Published: June 2014

Health factors such as an active lifestyle and aerobic fitness have long been linked to decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and other adverse health outcomes. Only more recently have researchers begun to investigate the relationship between aerobic fitness and memory function. Based on recent findings in behavioral and cognitive neuroscience showing that the hippocampus might be especially sensitive to the effects of exercise and fitness, the current study assessed hippocampal-dependent relational memory and non-hippocampal-dependent item memory in young adults across a range of aerobic fitness levels. Aerobic fitness was assessed using a graded exercise test to measure oxygen consumption during maximal exercise (VO2max), and relational and item memory were assessed using behavioral and eye movement measures. Behavioral results indicated that aerobic fitness was positively correlated with relational memory performance but not item memory performance, suggesting that the beneficial effects of aerobic fitness selectively affect hippocampal function and not that of the surrounding medial temporal lobe cortex. Eye movement results further supported the specificity of this fitness effect to hippocampal function, in that aerobic fitness predicted disproportionate preferential viewing of previously studied relational associations but not of previously viewed items. Potential mechanisms underlying this pattern of results, including neurogenesis, are discussed.
Quantifying Geographical Determinants of Large-Scale Distributions of Linguistic Features
Authors: Hammarström Harald , Güldemann Tom
Published: June 2014

In the recent past the work on large-scale linguistic distributions across the globe has intensified considerably. Work on macro-areal relationships in Africa (Güldemann, 2010) suggests that the shape of convergence areas may be determined by climatic factors and geophysical features such as mountains, water bodies, coastlines, etc. Worldwide data is now available for geophysical features as well as linguistic features, including numeral systems and basic constituent order. We explore the possibility that the shape of areal aggregations of individual features in these two linguistic domains correlates with Köppen-Geiger climate zones. Furthermore, we test the hypothesis that the shape of such areal feature aggregations is determined by the contour of adjacent geophysical features like mountain ranges or coastlines. In these first basic tests, we do not find clear evidence that either Köppen-Geiger climate zones or the contours of geophysical features are major predictors for the linguistic data at hand.
Three new species of the subfamily Cladonotinae (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) from Thailand
Authors: Storozhenko Sergey Yu. , Dawwrueng Pattarawich
Published: June 2014

The pygmy grasshopper subfamily Cladonotinae and genera Epitettix Hancock, 1907, Pseudepitettix Zheng, 1995 and Tuberfemurus Zheng, 1992 are firstly recorded from Thailand. Three new species, namely Epitettixobtusus obtusus sp. nov. from provinces Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Mai, Pseudepitettix pimkarnae sp. nov. from province Saraburi and Tuberfemurus kanokwanae sp. nov. from province Saraburi, are described.
Moving Narcissus
Authors: Hepper Erica G. , Hart Claire M. , Sedikides Constantine
Published: May 2014

Empathy plays a critical role in fostering and maintaining social relations. Narcissists lack empathy, and this may account for their interpersonal failures. But why do narcissists lack empathy? Are they incapable, or is change possible? Three studies addressed this question. Study 1 showed that the link between narcissism and low empathy generalizes to a specific target person presented in a vignette. The effect was driven by maladaptive narcissistic components (i.e., entitlement, exploitativeness, exhibitionism). Study 2 examined the effect of perspective-taking (vs. control) instructions on self-reported responses to a video. Study 3 examined the effect of the same manipulation on autonomic arousal (heart rate [HR]) during an audio-recording. Perspective-taking ameliorated negative links between maladaptive narcissism and both self-reported empathy and HR. That is, narcissists can be moved by another’s suffering, if they take that person’s perspective. The findings demonstrate that narcissists’ low empathy does not reflect inability, implying potential for intervention.
Physicians' Perceptions Regarding the Detection and Management of Malnutrition in Canadian Hospitals
Authors: Duerksen Donald R. , Keller Heather H. , Vesnaver Elisabeth , Allard Johane P. , Bernier Paule , Gramlich Leah , Payette Hélène , Laporte Manon , Jeejeebhoy Khursheed
Published: June 2014

Objectives: Since malnutrition is common in Canadian hospitals, physicians frequently encounter patients with significantly impaired nutrition status. The objective of this study was to determine physician attitudes and perceptions regarding the detection and management of malnutrition in Canadian hospitals. Materials and Methods: A survey based on a previously developed questionnaire that focused on guidelines for nutrition support of hospitalized patients was completed by Canadian physicians working on wards in the 18 hospitals participating in the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force study. Data were analyzed descriptively and according to ward (medical vs surgical) and hospital type (academic vs community). Results: The survey was completed by 428 of the 1220 physicians who were provided with a questionnaire and asked to participate (response rate 35%). While physicians believe that nutrition assessment should be performed at admission (364/419 [87%]), during hospitalization (363/421 [86%]), and at discharge (327/418 [78%]), most felt that this was not being done on a regular basis (admission, 140/423 [33%]; during hospitalization, 175/423 [41%]; at discharge, 121/424 [29%]). Similarly there was a gap between what was perceived to be the ideal management of hospital‐related malnutrition and current practices. Physicians felt that the team's nutrition education and use of dietetic resources could be increased, and although their nutrition knowledge was limited, they felt that hospital‐associated malnutrition was very relevant to the care they provided. Conclusions: A multidisciplinary team is needed to address hospital malnutrition, and educational strategies that target physicians are needed to promote better detection and management throughout the hospital stay.
The pharmacokinetic profile, tolerability and safety of the iodinated, non-ionic, dimeric contrast medium Iosimenol 340 injection in healthy human subjects
Authors: Meurer Karoline , Kelsch Bettina , Hogstrom Barry
Published: June 2014

Background

Iosimenol 340 injection is a new isotonic iodinated contrast medium for X-ray angiography.

Purpose

To investigate the pharmacokinetics and biotransformation, tolerability, and safety of Iosimenol 340 in healthy human subjects.

Material and Methods

Twenty-four subjects were enrolled and randomized to receive either Iosimenol 340 (0.5, 1.5 or 3.0 mL/kg) or placebo (0.9% saline). In each dosing group, six subjects received Iosimenol 340 and two subjects received placebo. Safety was assessed by physical examination, vital signs, electrocardiography, and laboratory tests. Adverse events were recorded throughout the study up to 14 days after dosing. Blood samples were collected from 10 min before until 48 h after the start of dosing and urine samples were collected from 15 min before until 96 h after the start of dosing. Iosimenol was quantified in plasma and urine by measuring iodine concentrations with X-ray fluorescence. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to assess iosimenol biotransformation.

Results

Mean half-lives (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) of iosimenol were 0.17 ± 0.08 h (10.2 ± 4.8 min) and 2.01 ± 0.32 h for distribution and terminal elimination phases, respectively. The apparent volume of distribution was 0.27 ± 0.05 L/kg, indicating distribution to the extracellular fluid volume. Iosimenol was excreted within 24 h without any sign of metabolic transformation. Thirty-two adverse events were observed in 14 subjects. All were mild or moderate, and were transient in nature.

Conclusion

Iosimenol was not metabolized, had a distribution volume corresponding to the extracellular space, and was rapidly excreted through the kidneys by glomerular filtration. The area under the plasma concentration curve and the peak plasma concentration was proportional to dose, while clearance was independent of dose. Iosimenol 340 was well tolerated.
The Prevalence and Psychological Costs of Household Violence by Family Members Against Women With Disabilities in Cambodia
Authors: Astbury Jill , Walji Fareen
Published: May 2014

Women with disabilities (WWDs) are at triple jeopardy due to the combined risks associated with gender, disability, and violence. Not only are WWDs marginalized socially but the violence against them in their own homes is largely neglected in domestic violence research. Evidence from developing countries is particularly sparse. A cross-sectional survey conducted in Cambodia found rates of violence by household members besides intimate partners were significantly higher among WWDs than non-disabled women. This violence engendered increased levels of psychological distress and higher rates of physical injury but low rates of disclosure to health workers and other formal sources of potential support. Community-based strategies are recommended to radically change social and cultural attitudes, beliefs, and responses to WWDs who are victims of household violence to reduce negative social reactions toward them and to make it safer for them to disclose and receive psychosocial, legal, and other necessary support for this underreported type of violence.
The dawn of detachment
Authors: Kilminster Richard
Published: May 2014

This article draws on Elias’s observations on the origins of political economy and sociology as well as his theory of involvement and detachment to supplement standard accounts of the history of sociology. It shows how, in the 1840s, sociology bifurcated into two tracks. Track I was the highly ‘involved’ partisan track associated with Marx and Engels and track II was the relatively ‘detached’, non-partisan track pursued by Saint-Simon, Comte, Lorenz von Stein and others. These two tracks continue to shape contemporary sociology as basic orientations. The polarization of class conflict predicted in Marx’s theory is contrasted with the class interdependence model in Lorenz von Stein, in particular. Elias’s work is understood as a synthesis of later developments in track II in which he strongly reaffirmed the historical separation of sociology from philosophy. Elias’s work is presented as a central theory of society and as a promising alternative to the prevailing practice of theoretical eclecticism in sociology.
Silane cross-linked proton electrolyte membranes based on branched sulphonated poly(ether ether ketone)s with high sulphonation degree for direct methanol fuel cells
Authors: Li Ye , Wang Xitao , Xie Min , Liang Yuan , Liu Xincai , Wang Ce
Published: May 2014

In this study, the silane cross-linked membranes based on branched sulphonated poly(ether ether ketone)s (BSPEEK) with a high sulphonation degree of 1.2 have been successfully prepared for direct methanol fuel cells. 3-Mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) was grafted onto the BSPEEK backbone via the thiol–ene click reaction between propenyl and thiol groups. The expected silane cross-linked structure within the membrane was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and solubility test. The silane cross-linked membranes displayed excellent chemical stability and improved mechanical property. Furthermore, the water uptake and methanol permeability of the membranes decreased with the increasing proportion of MPTMS. The dense membrane structure formed by Si–O–Si cross-linking made a great contribution to the improvement of the membrane’s properties. Therefore, the as-prepared membranes may be potential proton electrolyte membrane for fuel cells.
Systemic lupus erythematosus impairs memory cognitive tests not affected by depression
Authors: Calderón J , Flores P , Babul M , Aguirre JM , Slachevsky A , Padilla O , Scoriels L , Henríquez C , Cárcamo C , Bravo-Zehnder M , González A , Massardo L
Published: May 2014

Objective

Our aim was to assess the contribution of depression to cognitive impairment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

Clinical features, education, age, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were evaluated in 82 patients with SLE and 22 healthy controls, all Chilean women. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB eclipseTM) assessing attention, spatial memory, and learning and executive function domains was applied. Cognitive deficit definition: a cut-off for definite impairment was defined as a score below -2 standard deviations in at least one outcome measure in two or more domains. ANCOVA with stepwise selection evaluated influences of health status (SLE or control), age, education, and HADS depression and anxiety scores on cognitive outcomes. To avoid overfitting, a shrinkage method was performed. Also, adjusted p-values for multiple comparisons were obtained.

Results

Cognitive deficit affected 16 (20%) patients, and no controls ( p = 0.039). Median HADS depression score in SLE patients was 6 (range 0–19) and in controls was 0 (0–19), p < 0.001). ANCOVA and shrinkage models showed that worse cognitive performance in sustained attention and spatial working memory tests was explained by the presence of SLE but not depression, whereas depression only affected a measure of executive function (I/ED Stages completed).

Conclusion

Depression has a limited role in cognitive impairment in SLE. Impairments in sustained attention and spatial working memory are distinctly influenced by yet-unknown disease-intrinsic factors.
Two Languages in Mind
Authors: Kroll Judith F. , Bobb Susan C. , Hoshino Noriko
Published: June 2014

A series of discoveries in the past two decades has changed the way we think about bilingualism and its implications for language and cognition. One is that both of the bilingual’s languages are always active. The parallel activation of the two languages is thought to give rise to competition that imposes demands on the bilingual to control the language not in use to achieve fluency in the target language. The second is that there are consequences of bilingualism that affect the native as well as the second language: The native language changes in response to second-language use. The third is that the consequences of bilingualism are not limited to language but appear to reflect a reorganization of brain networks that hold implications for the ways in which bilinguals negotiate cognitive competition more generally. The focus of recent research on bilingualism has been to understand the relations among these discoveries and their implications for language, cognition, and the brain across the life span.
The Importance of Ignoring
Authors: Payne Lisa , Sekuler Robert
Published: June 2014

Selective attention is often thought to entail an enhancement of some task-relevant stimulus or attribute. We discuss the perspective that ignoring irrelevant, distracting information plays a complementary role in information processing. Cortical oscillations within the alpha (8–14 Hz) frequency band have emerged as a marker of sensory suppression. This suppression is linked to selective attention for visual, auditory, somatic, and verbal stimuli. Inhibiting processing of irrelevant input makes responses more accurate and timely. It also helps protect material held in short-term memory against disruption. Furthermore, this selective process keeps irrelevant information from distorting the fidelity of memories. Memory is only as good as the perceptual representations on which it is based and on whose maintenance it depends. Modulation of alpha oscillations can be exploited as an active, purposeful mechanism to help people pay attention and remember the things that matter.
Motivations, Death Anxiety, and Empathy in Hospice Volunteers in France
Authors: Garbay Meriem , Gay Marie-Claire , Claxton-Oldfield Stephen
Published: May 2014

This study examined the motivations for volunteering of hospice volunteers in France. In addition, their levels of death anxiety and empathy were measured and compared with those of French non-hospice volunteers and non-volunteers. Three questionnaires—the Inventory of Motivations for Hospice Palliative Care Volunteerism (IMHPCV),1 the Templer/McMordie Death Anxiety Scale2, and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index3—were sent via an Internet link to 2 hospice volunteer associations and to non-hospice volunteers and non-volunteers (only the hospice volunteers received the IMHPCV). Altruistic motives had the most influence on the respondents’ decision to become a hospice volunteer. French hospice volunteers scored significantly lower on 3 categories of motives on the IMHPCV compared to a sample of Canadian hospice palliative care volunteers (study 2),1 suggesting that cultural differences may be involved. No significant differences were found in levels of death anxiety or empathy between the 3 groups of respondents of the study.
Life as the Middle Child
Authors: Teagarden James M. , Zabel Robert H. , Kaff Marilyn S.
Published: May 2014

As part of an ongoing oral history project, a conversation was held with Dr. Mary Margaret Kerr on the past, present, and possible future of the field of providing services to children with emotional-behavioral disorders. Dr. Wood stresses the increasing importance of providing an interdisciplinary approach to meet the needs for children or, as she put it, to be a “middle child” in one’s profession.
The Athlete and the Spectator Inside the Man
Authors: Apostolou Menelaos
Published: May 2014

Athletic contests constitute an important aspect of human affairs. However, the evolutionary origins of athletic behavior, that is, behavior which is associated with participating in and watching athletic contests, are rather obscure, as they do not seem to contribute directly to increasing survival or reproductive success. This article argues that athletic behavior has been shaped in ancestral times jointly by intrasexual selection forces, where men look for potential allies, and intersexual selection forces, where men look for spouses for their female relatives. On the basis of this evolutionary framework, a number of hypotheses are derived: First, men are more interested than women in taking part in and watching sports. In addition, men are more interested than women in taking part in and watching competitive sports than non-competitive sports, and are more interested in team sports than individual sports. Finally, men and women differ in their motives for participating in sports, while the sex differences in athletic behavior between men and women are consistent across different cultures. Evidence from a sample composed of 37 different countries provides support for all hypotheses.
Mechanics of kinking in fiber-reinforced composites under compressive loading
Authors: Davidson Paul , Waas Anthony M
Published: May 2014

A novel approach to analyze kink banding failure in fiber reinforced composites is presented in this paper. By considering a single fiber–matrix unit cell and utilizing a fiber deformation representation that can simultaneously account for instability due to increasing fiber amplitude and fiber rotation, a sequence of events that lead to the formation of a kink band is elucidated. It is shown that peak compressive strength does not necessarily correspond to the onset of yielding (non-linearity) in the matrix and is dictated by the interaction between matrix non-linearity and initial fiber misalignment. Predictions of compressive strength and kink band formation, utilizing the new model, are found to be in good agreement with reported experimental data and associated higher-order finite element analysis.
Improving Dementia Health Literacy Using the FLOW Mnemonic
Authors: Noble James M. , Hedmann Monique G. , Williams Olajide
Published: June 2014

Background. Dementia health literacy is low among the public and likely poses a significant barrier to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) symptom recognition and treatment, particularly among minority populations already facing higher AD burden. We evaluated the pilot phase of a novel AD health education program, Old SCHOOL (Seniors Can Have Optimal Aging and Ongoing Longevity) Hip-Hop (OSHH), which is designed to enable children to be AD health educational conduits in the home (“child-mediated health communication”). Method. OSHH applied our stroke-validated model of engaging, dynamic, and age- and culturally appropriate curriculum delivered to elementary school-age children (fourth/fifth grades, ages 9-11 years). We assessed AD knowledge among the children at baseline, immediately following the intervention (1-hour program delivered daily over 3 consecutive days), and 3 months later. For key AD symptoms, we developed the FLOW mnemonic ( forget, lose, overlook, write/wander); students were additionally taught action plans for recognized symptoms. Results. Seventy-five students completed baseline assessments, and 68 completed posttesting. AD symptoms in FLOW were not well known at baseline (individually ranging from 16% to 71% correct) but were highly learned after 3 days (89% to 98% correct) and retained well after 3 months (80% to 95% correct, p ≤ .01 for all comparisons vs. baseline). AD localization, including its effect on memory and the hippocampus, was also highly learned and retained ( p < .001). Eighteen students (24%) reported having a close friend/family member with AD. Conclusions. This study suggests our hip-hop health education model may be an effective method to improve AD health literacy.
The path-dependent design of international organizations: Federalism in the World Health Organization
Authors: Hanrieder Tine
Published: May 2014

The article puts forward a historical institutionalist account of how international organizations are ‘designed.’ I argue that deliberate institutional design is circumscribed by path-dependent power dynamics within international organizations. Power-driven path dependence is used to explain that organizations lock in and reinforce historical privileges of international organization subunits. Early winners in the international organization lock in their privileges with the support of member-state allies, and reap increasing returns from their positions over rounds of reform. They thereby amplify features of international organization design that reformers would otherwise change later on. The argument is illustrated with a historical case study of the World Health Organization’s unique federal design, which grants the regional offices near autonomy from headquarter oversight. Vocal criticisms of the World Health Organization’s regionalization and repeated centralization attempts notwithstanding, the powers of the regions have increased over time. The case study retraces the path-dependent struggles over the World Health Organization’s federal design since its creation in the 1940s. While the literature on international organizations tends to reserve inertia and path dependence for constructivist analysis, this article offers a rationalist account of inertia in international institutions.
Organized crime and group-based ideology: The association between masculine honor and collective opposition against criminal organizations
Authors: Travaglino Giovanni A. , Abrams Dominic , Randsley de Moura Georgina , Russo Giuseppina
Published: May 2014

What is the role of culture in establishing young people’s pathways into gang membership? Italian criminal organizations (COs) exhibit adherence to codes of honor and masculinity, important values in the context where they originated. Here it is proposed that the embedding of these values at an individual level may lessen young people’s group-based opposition to such organizations, and indirectly, create a space in which such organizations can persist and recruit. In a study of young Southern Italians ( N = 176; Mage = 16.17), we found that those who endorsed ideological beliefs related to the honorableness of male violence reported lower intentions to engage in antimafia activities. Consistent with the hypothesized mechanisms, this relationship was mediated by more positive attitudes toward COs, and lower reported vicarious shame in relation to the activities of COs. Directions for future research and implications for research on gangs are discussed.
Moving From Idea to Action
Authors: Lindqvist Anna-Karin , Mikaelsson Katarina , Westerberg Mats , Gard Gunvor , Kostenius Catrine
Published: May 2014

Background. Physical activity provides fundamental health benefits for children and youth. The aim of the study was to explore the possibility of conducting an empowerment-inspired intervention and examine the impact of the intervention in promoting moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among adolescents. Method. A nonrandomized trial with a concurrent control group was carried out. Physical activity data were collected before and after the intervention with daily questions by short message service. Self-efficacy, social support, and attitude were also measured before and after the intervention since they were possible mediators. Results. The intervention was created by the students, the researchers, and the teachers using an empowerment-based approach. Students in the intervention group (n = 21) increased their MVPA on average by 4.9 (SD = 28.9) minutes per day, and students in the control group (n = 25) reduced their MVPA on average by 25.4 (SD = 23.0) minutes per day (p = .000). Conclusions. The intervention might have contributed to a promotion of physical activity among students in the intervention group. The most valuable contribution this study provides is the knowledge that it is possible to develop and conduct an empowerment-inspired intervention to promote adolescent physical activity.
Bad for Business? The Effects of Hooliganism on English Professional Football Clubs
Authors: Jewell R. Todd , Simmons Rob , Szymanski Stefan
Published: May 2014

Football hooliganism, defined as episodes of crowd trouble inside and outside football stadiums on match days, is commonly perceived to have adverse effects on the sport. We are especially interested in the effects of football-related fan violence on a club’s potential for generating revenues. In this article, we measure hooliganism by arrests for football-related offenses. We analyze two distinct periods in the history of hooliganism in the English Football League: an early period, during which hooliganism was a fundamental social problem (seasons from 1984-1985 to 1994-1995), and a more recent period, in which hooliganism has been less prevalent (2001-2002 to 2009-2010). In the early period, we find evidence of an adverse effect of arrests on football club revenues for English League clubs. This effect disappears in the more recent period, showing that hooliganism, while still present but at lower levels, no longer has adverse effects on club finances. Our results support a hypothesis that recent “gentrification” has reduced hooliganism and thereby has had a positive influence on revenue generation.
Ligand exchange on gold nanoparticles for drug delivery and enhanced therapeutic index evaluated in acute myeloid leukemia models
Authors: Egusa Shunji , Ebrahem Quteba , Mahfouz Reda Z , Saunthararajah Yogen
Published: May 2014

Cancer chemotherapy is typically toxic. This problem could be addressed by using differences between cancer and normal cells for controlled delivery of drugs to cancer cells. One such difference is the ubiquitously elevated glutathione expression in cancer cells. We report a simple and versatile synthesis of water-soluble gold nanoparticles passivated with amine-containing molecules, which allow for controlled drug release via ligand exchange with bio-available glutathione. Taking methotrexate-passivated gold nanoparticles (Au:MTX) as an example, drug delivery and controlled release via glutathione-mediated ligand exchange was evaluated. Furthermore, the possibility of using Au:MTX to improve therapeutic index in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) models was examined in vitro and in vivo. Au:MTX exhibited cancer selectivity in vitro. Au:MTX had an elevated potency toward an AML cell line THP-1 in a dosage range of 1–5 nM, and therefore an enhanced delivery of drug, whereas normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) growth was minimally affected by Au:MTX and MTX treatments within the same range of dosage. In vivo efficacy and safety of Au:MTX was evaluated in a murine xenotransplant model of primary human AML. Au:MTX treatment, compared to control groups including MTX-only and Au nanoparticle-only treatments, produced better leukemia suppression without added toxicity, indicating an enhanced therapeutic index.
Act-Belong-Commit
Authors: Donovan Robert J. , Anwar-McHenry Julia
Published: June 2014

Lifestyle medicine has generally focused on behaviors related to improving physical health and preventing physical illnesses, with little attention to behaviors related to mental health. This reflects the far greater concern in health systems around the globe for physical health over mental health. The Act-Belong-Commit campaign is the first major attempt to provide a lifestyle framework for promoting mental health that can be applied at a population level, within specific settings, and in the clinic. This article describes the campaign and offers clinicians a guide to implementing the campaign in their practice.
Research ethics and journalism in the academy: Identifying and resolving a conflict of culture
Authors: Beasley Carolyn , Walker Lyndon
Published: June 2014

The difficulty faced by research ethics committees in evaluating ethical conduct in journalism can be considered a recent conundrum. Journalistic investigation has traditionally been seen as residing outside the need for ethics clearances owing to debates around its status as research and to the reluctance of journalism practitioners to subject their investigations to committee evaluation. The inclusion of creative industries in revamped definitions of research, however, means that if journalistic inquiry is to be tallied under national research reward schemes, it must be ethically accountable. This article interrogates the difficulties caused by a conflict of cultures between ethics committees and journalism research and poses a number of possible resolutions. It aims to function as an exploration of key thinking in the field, thus acting as a frame for further development of case-specific examples of the issues raised.
The interplay of politics, economics and culture in news framing of Middle East wars
Authors: Melki Jad
Published: May 2014

A significant part of a modern war entails the struggle over news frames to influence public opinion. Studying these news frames in a comparative international context may offer insights into the factors behind frame construction. The 2006 Lebanon–Israel war offers a well-defined case for such comparative study. This study examined how mainstream Arab, Israeli and US television networks framed the conflict. It found strong regional framing trends explained as an outcome of the interplay of political, economic and cultural factors that confined each network’s journalistic practices. The trends revealed a strong correlation between Israeli and US news framing, with some exceptions, and a division between two Arab media camps, both of which generally offered framing supportive of Hezbollah.
Presumed Testicular Rupture During a College Baseball Game
Authors: Freehill Michael T. , Gorbachinsky Ilya , Lavender John D. , Davis Ronald L. , Mannava Sandeep
Published: May 2014

Scrotal rupture during athletic competition is considered a rare occurrence; however, blunt trauma to the scrotum is relatively common. Protective athletic cups are strongly recommended for both children and adults engaging in contact sports as they likely limit the amount of serious injury to the scrotal contents. Nonetheless, should the on-field assessment by the athletic trainer, coach, or team physician indicate that the athlete has increased pain, ecchymosis, swelling, and tenderness to palpation after blunt trauma, testicular rupture should be suspected and prompt ultrasound and urologic assessment should be undertaken, as early operative intervention is necessary for testicular preservation. This report reviews testicular trauma during athletic competition.
Lunar Helium-3 Fuel for Nuclear Fusion
Authors: Simko Thomas , Gray Matthew
Published: June 2014

Nuclear fusion of helium-3 (3He) can be used to generate electrical power with little or no radioactive waste and no carbon emissions. Some forty-four tons of this fuel could meet the electricity needs of the United States for a year. Although rare on Earth, an estimated one million tons of 3He has collected on the surface of the moon. While it would cost approximately US$17 billion to develop a mine producing one ton of 3He per year, such an operation is commercially viable over the medium term given the estimated value of that ton of fuel: US$3.7 billion. This article outlines the technical and economic issues related to 3He and its extraction, and it presents a novel approach to estimating the worth of the fuel. The potential of 3He as a future energy source is set in the context of global energy forecasts and international efforts to investigate lunar 3He resources—including a recent Chinese mission.
SMEs’ Purchasing Habits
Authors: Ozmen Emre S. , Öner M. Atilla , Khosrowshahi Farzad , Underwood Jason
Published: May 2014

Although micro companies overpower the small and medium enterprise (SME) segment, generalizations are often with medium size companies, and therefore, there are many unknowns, especially when it comes to its buying behavior. Conformist studies and industry practices assume SMEs to be “normative” or “conservative” buyers; however, this hypothesis is untested. This article aims to scrutinize the reality, and proposes a unified model that rejects pre-containerization in buying behavior typologies, as well as selectiveness in terms of audience type, whether it is corporate, SME, or consumer. While replacing researchers’ perceptions with the audience’s, the model yields actual knowledge that can lead to audience’s beliefs in lieu of the opposite, which is used to mislead stakeholders. The study shows that SMEs also buy like individuals and spend in a similar way to consumers’, including not only “normative” and “conservative” but also “negligent” and “impulse” zones. From the research-implications perspective, future studies by behaviorists can explore why SMEs purchase in this way. Marketers may benefit from the finding that SMEs buy like individuals. In addition, SMEs may want to be conscious of their purchasing habits, and—utilizing the newly introduced “risk score” frontier—policymakers should assess the consequences of these habits at the macro level.
An Evaluation of Risk Factors Related to Employment Outcomes for Youth With Disabilities
Authors: Sima Adam P. , Wehman Paul H. , Chan Fong , West Michael D. , Leucking Richard G.
Published: May 2014

This study explores non-modifiable risk factors associated with poor post-school competitive employment outcomes for students with disabilities. A classification tree analysis was used with a sample of 2,900 students who were in the second National Longitudinal Transition Study–2 (NLTS2) up to 6 years following school exit to identify groups of youth with poor employment outcomes based on characteristics that are unable to be modified through an intervention. Post-school employment was related to the disability characteristics of the student (disability type, ability to understand what is being said, general health status), family characteristics (yearly income, community setting), and youth characteristics (race).The classification tree analysis identified four groups of students who were at greatest risk for poor outcomes. Future research will be directed toward modifiable variables that mitigate risks for those groups that may potentially lead to school- and home-based interventions.
Blood spotlight on Langerhans cell histiocytosis
Authors: Delprat Christine , Aricò Maurizio
Published: June 2014

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease affecting people of any age, with widely variable clinical manifestations and different outcomes. The precise chain of events driving lesional granuloma formation has remained elusive for many years. There is evidence for inherited predisposition to and derangement of apoptosis and inflammation in lesional dendritic cells. Recently somatic BRAFV600E mutation in myeloid precursor dendritic cells was associated with the more aggressive form of the disease, although the same mutation in a more differentiated dendritic cell might drive a less aggressive disease. Whether this picture convincingly put LCH in the field of myeloid neoplasm remains to be determined. Altogether, these findings suggest that future therapeutic strategy might incorporate a screening of this genetic mutation for high-risk patients potentially suitable for target therapy.
The feeding practices and structure questionnaire: construction and initial validation in a sample of Australian first-time mothers and their 2-year olds
Authors: Jansen Elena , Mallan Kimberley M , Nicholson Jan M , Daniels Lynne A
Published: June 2014

Background

Early feeding practices lay the foundation for children’s eating habits and weight gain. Questionnaires are available to assess parental feeding but overlapping and inconsistent items, subscales and terminology limit conceptual clarity and between study comparisons. Our aim was to consolidate a range of existing items into a parsimonious and conceptually robust questionnaire for assessing feeding practices with very young children (<3 years).

Methods

Data were from 462 mothers and children (age 21–27 months) from the NOURISH trial. Items from five questionnaires and two study-specific items were submitted toa prioriitem selection, allocation and verification, before theoretically-derived factors were tested using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Construct validity of the new factors was examined by correlating these with child eating behaviours and weight.

Results

Following expert review 10 factors were specified. Of these, 9 factors (40 items) showed acceptable model fit and internal reliability (Cronbach’s α: 0.61-0.89). Four factors reflected non-responsive feeding practices: ‘Distrust in Appetite’, ‘Reward for Behaviour’, ‘Reward for Eating’, and ‘Persuasive Feeding’. Five factors reflected structure of the meal environment and limits: ‘Structured Meal Setting’, ‘Structured Meal Timing’, ‘Family Meal Setting’, ‘Overt Restriction’ and ‘Covert Restriction’. Feeding practices generally showed the expected pattern of associations with child eating behaviours but none with weight.

Conclusion

The Feeding Practices and Structure Questionnaire (FPSQ) provides a new reliable and valid measure of parental feeding practices, specifically maternal responsiveness to children’s hunger/satiety signals facilitated by routine and structure in feeding. Further validation in more diverse samples is required.