bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sensory Activity-Dependent and Sensory Activity-Independent Properties of the Developing Rodent Trigeminal Principal Nucleus
Authors: Lo Fu-Sun , Erzurumlu Reha S.
Published: June 2016

The whisker-sensory trigeminal central pathway of rodents is an established model for studies of activity-dependent neural plasticity. The first relay station of the pathway is the trigeminal principal nucleus (PrV), the ventral part of which receives sensory inputs mainly from the infraorbital branch of the maxillary trigeminal nerve (ION). Whisker-sensory afferents play an important role in the development of the morphological and physiological properties of PrV neurons. In neonates, deafferentation by ION transection leads to the disruption of whisker-related neural patterns (barrelettes) and cell death within a specific time window (critical period), as revealed by morphological studies. Whisker-sensory inputs control synaptic elimination, postsynaptic AMPA receptor trafficking, astrocyte-mediated synaptogenesis, and receptive-field characteristics of PrV cells, without a postnatal critical period. Sensory activity-dependent synaptic plasticity requires the activation of NMDA receptors and involves the participation of glia. However, the basic physiological properties of PrV neurons, such as cell type-specific ion channels, presynaptic terminal function, postsynaptic NMDA receptor subunit composition, and formation of the inhibitory circuitry, are independent of sensory inputs. Therefore, the first relay station of the whisker sensation is largely mature-like and functional at birth. Delineation of activity-dependent and activity-independent features of the postnatal PrV is important for understanding the development and functional characteristics of downstream trigeminal stations in the thalamus and neocortex. This mini review focuses on such features of the developing rodent PrV.
The Possible Role of Toll-Like Receptor 4 in the Pathology of Stroke
Authors: Hakimizadeh Elham , Kazemi Arababadi Mohammad , Shamsizadeh Ali , Roohbakhsh Ali , Allahtavakoli Mohammad
Published: June 2016

Stroke is a prevalent and dangerous health problem, which triggers an intense inflammatory response to Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation. TLRs are the essential components of the response of the innate immunity system, and, therefore, they are one of the key factors involved in recognizing pathogens and internal ligands. Among TLRs, TLR4 significantly participates in the induction of inflammation and brain functions; hence, it has been hypothesized that this molecule is associated with several immune-related brain diseases such as stroke. It has also been proved that animals with TLR4 deficiency have higher protection against ischemia and that the absence of TLR4 reduces neuroinflammation and injuries associated with brain trauma. TLR4 deficiency may play a neuroprotective role in the occurrence of stroke. This article reviews recent information regarding the impact of TLR4 on the pathogenicity of stroke.
Langfristige Wirkung von Psychotherapie bei nichtchronischen Depressionen: Ein systematisches Review von Studien im Vergleich mit Pharmakotherapie
Authors: Voderholzer Ulrich , Barton Barbara
Published: June 2016

Die kurzfristige Wirksamkeit von Psycho- und Pharmakotherapie bei Depressionen, ob als Monotherapie oder in Kombination, ist durch viele Studien gut belegt. Weitaus weniger Belege gibt es jedoch für die langfristige Wirksamkeit ab 1 Jahr nach Akuttherapie dieser Behandlungsformen. Durch eine systematische Suche in den Datenbanken Pubmed und PsychINFO konnten 13 randomisierte kontrollierte Studien (RCTs; Psychotherapie vs. Pharmakotherapie in Kombination oder als Monotherapien) identifiziert werden, bei denen Follow-up-Ergebnisse vorliegen; der entsprechende Follow-up-Zeitraum lag dabei zwischen 13 und 75 Monaten (M = 27,06). Meist kam als psychotherapeutisches Verfahren die kognitive Verhaltenstherapie zum Einsatz. Die Studienlage spricht für eine Überlegenheit der Psychotherapie oder der Kombination aus Psychotherapie und Pharmakotherapie im Vergleich zur Pharmakotherapie mit oder ohne Erhaltungsphase nach der Akutbehandlung bezüglich langfristiger Effekte über die Beendigung der Therapie hinaus. Die Studien sind aufgrund vielfältiger methodischer Faktoren nur begrenzt vergleichbar (z.B. hinsichtlich der Datenselektion zu Patienten mit und ohne Therapieerfolg nach Akuttherapie oder weiterer Behandlungen im Follow-up-Zeitraum). Um besser abgesicherte Aussagen zur langfristigen Wirksamkeit von Psycho- und Pharmakotherapie in der Behandlung der Depression treffen zu können, bedarf es weiterer RCTs mit längeren Follow-up-Zeiträumen.
When Morphology Meets Somatic Mutations: The New Possible Scenario in Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration
Authors: Rossi Esther Diana , Schmitt Fernando
Published: June 2016

This study points to the analysis of the morphological features suggestive of somatic mutations, mostly the BRAFV600E mutation, on cytological samples of thyroid carcinomas. According to the literature, the application of ancillary techniques on cytology comes in handy as a challenging aid in ruling out a malignant outcome on both conventional and liquid-based cytological preparations. However, the evaluation of somatic mutations, including BRAFV600E, usually performed by DNA techniques, may have some limitations in a worldwide diffusion. In this perspective, few authors emphasized the morphological search for BRAFV600E mutations harbored in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and characterized by specific architectural and cellular findings (i.e. eosinophilic cells defined as ‘plump cells' and sickle-shaped nuclei). Hence, the detection of eosinophilic cytoplasm of mutated PTC cells seems to suggest the possible involvement of the ‘Warburg effect' pioneering the ability of cancer cells to convert glucose into lactic acid. The recent yields of immunohistochemical expression of monocarboxylate transporters in mutated PTCs may suggest the accumulation of lactate in these plump cells. Equally importantly, the detection of these morphological findings using fine-needle aspiration cytology may be helpful in triaging thyroid lesions and limiting costs. Additionally, it may lead to the stratification of the malignant risk and personalized management in cases with multifocal lesions.
Inhibitory Effect of Apigenin on Losartan Metabolism and CYP2C9 Activity in vitro
Authors: Wang Zhe , Gong Yun , Zeng Da-li , Chen Lian-guo , Lin Gao-tong , Huang Cheng-ke , Sun Wei , Chen Meng-Chun , Hu Guo-xin , Chen Rui-jie
Published: June 2016

Background: CYP2C9 is one of the most important phase I drug-metabolizing enzymes in liver. The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of apigenin on the metabolism of losartan and human CYP2C9 and rat CYP2C11 activity in vitro. Methods: Different concentrations of apigenin were added to a 100 mmol/l Tris-HCl reaction mixture containing 2 pmol/ml recombinant human CYP2C9.1, 0.25 mg/ml human liver microsomes or 0.5 mg/ml rat liver microsomes to determine the half maximal inhibition or a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) on the metabolism of losartan. In addition, diclofenac used as CYP2C9 substrate was performed to determine the effects of apigenin on CYP2C9. Results: The results showed that apigenin has the inhibitory effect on the metabolism of losartan in vitro, the IC50 was 7.61, 4.10 and 11.07 μmol/l on recombinant CYP2C9 microsomes, human liver microsomes and rat liver microsomes, respectively. Meanwhile, apigenin's mode of action on human CYP2C9 activity was competitive for the substrate diclofenac. In contrast to its potent inhibition of CYP2C9 in humans (9.51 μmol/l), apigenin had lesser effects on CYP2C11 in rat (IC50 = 15.51 μmol/l). Conclusion: The observations imply that apigenin has the inhibitory effect on the metabolism of losartan and CYP2C9 activity in vitro. More attention should be paid as to when losartan should be administrated combined with apigenin.
Added Value of Vessel Wall Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Differentiation of Moyamoya Vasculopathies in a Non-Asian Cohort
Authors: Mossa-Basha Mahmud , de Havenon Adam , Becker Kyra J. , Hallam Danial K. , Levitt Michael R. , Cohen Wendy A. , Hippe Daniel S. , Alexander Matthew D. , Tirschwell David L. , Hatsukami Thomas , Amlie-Lefond Catherine , Yuan Chun
Published: June 2016

Background and Purpose—

Although studies have evaluated the differential imaging of moyamoya disease and atherosclerosis, none have investigated the added value of vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study evaluates the added diagnostic value of vessel wall MRI in differentiating moyamoya disease, atherosclerotic-moyamoya syndrome (A-MMS), and vasculitic-MMS (V-MMS) with a multicontrast protocol.

Methods—

We retrospectively reviewed the carotid artery territories of patients with clinically defined vasculopathies (moyamoya disease, atherosclerosis, and vasculitis) and steno-occlusive intracranial carotid disease. Two neuroradiologists, blinded to clinical data reviewed the luminal imaging of each carotid, evaluating collateral extent and making a presumed diagnosis with diagnostic confidence. After 3 weeks, the 2 readers reviewed the luminal imaging+vessel wall MRI for the presence, pattern and intensity of postcontrast enhancement, T2 signal characteristics, pattern of involvement, and presumed diagnosis and confidence.

Results—

Ten A-MMS, 3 V-MMS, and 8 moyamoya disease cases with 38 affected carotid segments were included. There was significant improvement in diagnostic accuracy with luminal imaging+vessel wall MRI when compared with luminal imaging (87% versus 32%,
P
<0.001). The most common vessel wall MRI findings for moyamoya disease were nonenhancing, nonremodeling lesions without T2 heterogeneity; for A-MMS eccentric, remodeling, and T2 heterogeneous lesions with mild/moderate and homogeneous/heterogeneous enhancement; and for V-MMS concentric lesions with homogeneous, moderate enhancement. Inter-reader agreement was moderate to substantial for all vessel wall MRI characteristics (κ=0.46–0.86) and fair for collateral grading (κ=0.35). There was 11% inter-reader agreement for diagnosis on luminal imaging when compared with 82% for luminal imaging+vessel wall MRI (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

Vessel wall MRI can significantly improve the differentiation of moyamoya vasculopathies when combined with traditional imaging techniques.
A Friend Being Good and One’s Own in Nicomachean Ethics 9.9
Authors: Perälä Mika
Published: June 2016

This paper reconsiders Aristotle’s arguments inNicomachean Ethics9.9 concerning the claim that a virtuous friend is naturally desirable. The paper demonstrates that a virtuous friend, according to Aristotle, is naturally desirable not only because he is good, but also because he is one’s own. Although the two are different ways of being desirable, the paper shows that Aristotle takes being one’s own to consist in a distinctive kind of being good. This enables him to extend the grounds of virtue-friendship beyond the good character narrowly conceived, and thus explain why a friend is preferable to other virtuous people.
“Ihr habt die Blasphemie gehört!ˮ (Mk 14:64)
Authors: Theobald Michael
Published: June 2016

Which were the reasons for Sanhedrin in Jerusalem to work towards Jesus’ death? The article discusses the methodical difficulties of answering this question, taking into account the literary features of the passion narratives. It expounds the thesis that Jesus was accused of being a pseudo-prophet – his feature being “presumption” (zadôn) (Deut 17:12f.; 18:20, 22f.; Num 15:30). Texts found in Qumran referring to Deuteronomy (4Q 375 frg. 1; 11QT etc.) include this crime punished with a death sentence. Jesus being accused of blasphemy due to confessing to be Messiah is definitively secondary.
Luke as Tradent and Hermeneut
Authors: Moessner David P.
Published: June 2016

Far from indicating that “Luke” had to investigate all the traditions before he could write them up as an historian, παρηκολουθηκότι in Luke 1:3 means almost the opposite. Luke is already credentialed to write because, having entered into Christian tradition as tradent and interpreter from some time in the past, he is fully qualified to write “as one who has a thoroughly informed familiarity with all the events from the top.” This study represents the most comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the possible meanings of παρακολουθέω in the classical and Greco-Roman periods based on an extensive sweep of all the many senses and referents in lsj and bdag. Τhe perfect participle placards one trained in a tradition and not the judicious labors of an historian’s research.
How to Make Good Kids with Books: Post-Soviet Parenting and the Commodification of Children’s Literature
Authors: Rogova Anastasia
Published: June 2016

This article examines the place of children’s books in parenting strategies in Russian families. It approaches children’s books and their circulation in post-socialist Russia as one of the cultural sites where social distinction and gender are negotiated and articulated. It argues, in particular, that the importance of children’s books in post-Soviet parenting is related to a perceived insecurity of one’s social status and aspirations for a higher, or more secure, social position for themselves and their children. Genealogically, this importance draws on the Soviet-era understanding of books as a universal cultural value equally available to every Soviet citizen, but in this post-Soviet context, this idea is internalized and appropriated by the urban middle class as a means of creating and supporting social distinction.
English as North Germanic
Authors: Faarlund Jan Terje , Emonds Joseph E.
Published: June 2016

The present article is a summary of the book English: The Language of the Vikings by Joseph E. Emonds and Jan Terje Faarlund. The major claim of the book and of this article is that there are lexical and, above all, syntactic arguments in favor of considering Middle and Modern English as descending from the North Germanic language spoken by the Scandinavian population in the East and North of England prior to the Norman Conquest, rather than from the West Germanic Old English.
Source of Concern or Room for Experimentation?
Authors: van Schagen Esther
Published: June 2016

State actors increasingly involve private parties in the development of binding alternative regulation in private law. This involvement may be welcomed as an exercise of parties’ rights, but private parties may simultaneously limit other parties’ rights.

Consequently, state actors have sought to control the influence of private parties particularly in the German legal order, where the constitutional principle of private autonomy is interpreted so as to require the protection of weaker private parties from Fremdbestimmung (hetero-determination) coming from structurally much more powerful private parties. In comparison, while Dutch law generally recognizes principles of private autonomy and the need to protect parties from heterodetermination (‘heteronomie’), so far this has not permeated the Dutch discussion on alternative regulation. The idea of hetero-determination may serve as a starting point for a more active and consistent approach towards the development and limitation of alternative regulation in the Dutch legal order.
Intra-Family Torts: From Immunity to Special Rules in Criminal and Civil Law
Authors: Patti Salvatore Lucio
Published: June 2016

This article examines the development of the rules concerning criminal and civil law against family violence. It analyses the social changes and legal evolution from a mutual immunity of spouses to a widespread legal protection of victims of domestic violence. It aims to depict the tendencies towards the application of general tort law in civil law cases and towards special rules providing more and specific protection within criminal law. In this context the article also critically considers the latest international, European and Italian legislation.
A taxonomic revision of Mexican and Central American Symplocos (Symplocaceae)
Authors: KELLY LAWRENCE M. , ALMEDA FRANK , FRITSCH PETER W.
Published: June 2016

A taxonomic revision of the Mexican and Central American members of Symplocos is presented. Thirty two species are recognized for the region. Two of the species belong to Symplocos sect. Hopea, and 30 are members of S. sect. Symplocos series Symplocos. The species of S. ser. Symplocos are easily distinguished from those of S. sect. Hopea by their connate petals that are adnate to the androecium distinctly beyond the base (versus connate and adnate at the base only), and filaments that are tangentially flattened in cross section and apically constricted (versus terete and not apically constricted). Of the 32 recognized species, ten are endemic to Mexico, 13 are endemic to Central America, two are shared between Central America and South America, seven are shared between Mexico and Central America, and one is shared among Mexico, Central America, and Cuba. One new species, S. nigridentata, is described from Mexico, and lectotypifications or neotypifications are provided for S. coccinea, S. coccinea var. hirta, S. costaricana, S. hartwegii, S. hartwegii var. opaca, S. limoncillo, S. prionophylla, S. pycnantha, S. schiedeana, S. serrulata, S. speciosa, and S. tomentosa. The revision includes keys, full synonymy, descriptions, illustrations for those species not already illustrated elsewhere, distribution maps and assignment of conservation status for all species, and a complete list of exsiccatae.
A new species of Crocus (Iridaceae) from southern Albania (SW Balkan Peninsula)
Authors: MILJKOVIĆ MILICA , RANĐELOVIĆ VLADIMIR , HARPKE DÖRTE
Published: June 2016

A new Crocus species (Iridaceae) for southern Albania, Crocus novicii sp. nov. (Iridaceae), is described and illustrated. We here provide diagnostic morphological characteristics, results of molecular analyses, detailed descriptions and illustrations of this new species and compare it with its relatives C. jablanicensis, C. cvijicii and C. veluchensis. Our molecular analysis is based on two chloroplast (matK–trnK, rps16–trnQ) and three nuclear markers (nrETS, nrITS, TOPO6B exon3–exon6) and includes representatives of all related species (C. cvijicii, C. dalmaticus, C. jablanicensis, C. rujanensis, C. sieberi subsp. atticus, and C. veluchensis). Morphologically, C. novicii can be distinguished from its relatives by its white flower with lilac coloring at the base of the perigone and its higher number of leaves (> 3). Although it is morphologically close to C. jablanicensis, molecular analysis has revealed a close affiliation to C. veluchensis. Crocus novicii is diploid with 2n = 20 chromosomes. The new species is named after the Serbian botanist Novica Ranđelović to honor his important work on the genus Crocus on the Balkan Peninsula.
Four new species of Meligethes Stephens from China and additional data on other species of the genus (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae)
Authors: LIU MEIKE , YANG XINGKE , HUANG MIN , JELÍNEK JOSEF , AUDISIO PAOLO
Published: June 2016

Four new species of Meligethes Stephens, 1830, M. (s.str.) macrofemoratus (Shaanxi, Ningxia), M. (s.str.) yak (NW Sichuan), M. (s.str.) auropilosus (Tibet) and M. (Odontogethes) aurorugosus (Tibet) spp. nov., are described and illustrated from China. Diagnostic characters distinguishing these new species from closely related taxa are discussed. The previously unknown male of Meligethes (s.str.) aureolineatus Audisio, Sabatelli & Jelínek, 2015 from Sichuan and the previously unknown female of M. (Odontogethes) scrobescens Chen, Lin, Huang & Yang, 2015 from Sichuan are also described. Additional data are also presented on the geographic distribution and life history of other Chinese Meligethes species.
The water mite genus Gretacarus K.O. Viets, 1978 from Australia (Acari: Hydrachnidia, Mideopsidae: Gretacarinae), with the description of three new species
Authors: SMIT HARRY
Published: June 2016

Three new species of the genus Gretacarus K.O. Viets, 1984 are described from Australia, G. gereckei n. sp., G. occidentalis n. sp. and G. yorkensis n. sp.. Moreover, many new records are given for other members of the genus.
Two new species of genus Hydrosmittia Ferrington & Sæther (Diptera: Chironomidae) from China
Authors: ZHANG RUILEI , LIU WENBIN , FERRINGTON LEONARD C. JR , WANG XINHUA
Published: June 2016

The genus Hydrosmittia from China is reviewed. Two new species H. continalinea sp. n. and H. sipinata sp. n. are described and illustrated based on male imagines. Key to known male imagines of genus Hydrosmittia worldwide is provided.
New cockroach species of the genus Panchlora Burmeister (Blaberidae, Panchlorinae) from Ecuador
Authors: VIDLIČKA ĽUBOMÍR
Published: June 2016

The genus Panchlora includes 49 species, but only 45 are widely distributed in Central and South America. Most of them are green. The new species herein described presents an ornamental coloration markedly different of all until now described species. Panchlora kozaneki sp. n. is similar to Panchlora pulchella Burmeister, 1838. The number of species known from Ecuador is increased to eight.
Does Social Media Influence Conflict? Evidence from the 2012 Gaza Conflict
Authors: Zeitzoff Thomas
Published: June 2016

How does international public support via social media influence conflict dynamics? To answer this question, I construct a unique, extremely disaggregated data set drawn from social media sources to examine the behavior of Israel and Hamas during the 2012 Gaza Conflict. The data set contains conflict actions and international audience behavior at the hourly level for the full 179 hours of the conflict. Notably, I also include popular support for each side from international audiences on social media. I employ a Bayesian structural vector autoregression to measure how Israel’s and Hamas’s actions respond to shifts in international public support. The main finding is that shifts in public support reduce conflict intensity, particularly for Israel. This effect is greater than the effect of the key international actors—United States, Egypt, and United Nations. The results provide an important insight into how information technology is changing the role of international audiences in conflict.
Cycling the city, re-imagining the city: Envisioning urban sustainability transitions in Thailand
Authors: Sengers Frans
Published: June 2016

Urban sustainability transitions are journeys of transformative socio-technical change to set course for an envisioned future city. These journeys start out in the minds of change agents as vague conceptual images inspired by far-flung ideals, which are then further substantiated and articulated as ‘urban imaginaries’ – shared understandings of what constitutes a desirable future city. The conceptual contribution of this paper lies in demonstrating the power of the urban imaginaries notion to studying the process of envisioning in the context of sustainability transitions. By following a number of prolific Thai cycling campaigners through the streets of several cities in Thailand – focusing on the urban imaginaries they articulate – this paper shows how urban sustainability transitions are envisioned from the bike saddle, how these imaginaries are mobilised to empower cycling and how a seemingly disparate set of urban development pathways converge around technological artefacts and material infrastructure.
Life Satisfaction and Psychological Well-Being of Older Adults With Cancer Experience
Authors: Heo Jinmoo , Chun Sanghee , Lee Sunwoo , Kim Junhyoung
Published: June 2016

Promoting health and well-being among individuals of advancing age is a significant issue due to increased incidence of cancer among older adults. This study demonstrates the benefits of expecting positive outcomes and participating in volunteer activities among older adults with cancer. We used a nationally representative sample of 2,670 individuals who have experienced cancer from the 2008 wave of the Health and Retirement Study. We constructed a structural equation model to explore the associations of optimism, volunteerism, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being. The level of optimism was a significant predictor of volunteerism, which in turn affected life satisfaction and psychological well-being. The level of engagement in volunteer activities was found to have significant path coefficients toward both life satisfaction and psychological well-being. Our study provides evidence that older adults who have experienced cancer and maintained a positive outlook on their lives and engaged in personally meaningful activities tended to experience psychological well-being and life satisfaction.
Experimental study in pulmonary artery sealing with a vessel-sealing device
Authors: Yamada Tetsu , Sowa Terumasa , Bando Toru , Date Hiroshi
Published: June 2016

Background

The development of vessel-sealing devices will facilitate safety in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Our objective was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of sealing pulmonary arteries with the Enseal tissue-sealing device.

Methods

Pulmonary arteries from beagle dogs (mean body weight 13.1 kg, range 10.5–15.4 kg) were divided into 3 groups according to the in-vivo sealing method used (Enseal, ligation, and proximal ligation plus distal Enseal) and extracted to evaluate the pressure tolerance up to 75 mm Hg at the sealed end. A left lower lobectomy was performed to evaluate chronic-phase durability of the sealed stumps in a survival model. Two or three branches of the pulmonary arteries in each dog were allocated to each of the 3 groups. After the scheduled survival period, the pulmonary arteries were sampled.

Results

Pressure tolerance at the sealed end was evaluated in 91 pulmonary artery sections. All sealed ends showed pressure tolerance >75 mm Hg. A left lower lobectomy was performed in 13 dogs in which 35 pulmonary artery sections had been allocated into the 3 groups. No sealing failure was found, and pathological findings showed healing and persistent hemostasis at all sealed ends of the pulmonary arteries after 2 and 4 weeks of the survival period.

Conclusions

Pulmonary arteries sealed in vivo with the Enseal device showed pressure tolerance >75 mm Hg in the acute phase, and persistent hemostasis after 2 or 4 weeks. Pulmonary artery sealing with the Enseal device is feasible and safe in thoracic surgery settings.
Information security – The people issue
Authors: Budzak Danny
Published: June 2016

This article examines the information security issues raised by the involvement of people with information systems. The article first sets out the threats to information systems and the risks associated with information systems, before addressing the mitigation of those threats through managing roles, responsibilities, relationships and training.
Randomized controlled trial of web-based multimodal therapy for children with acquired brain injury to improve gross motor capacity and performance
Authors: Baque Emmah , Barber Lee , Sakzewski Leanne , Boyd Roslyn N
Published: June 2016

Objective:

To compare efficacy of a web-based multimodal training programme, ‘Move it to improve it’ (MitiiTM), to usual care on gross motor capacity and performance for children with an acquired brain injury.

Design:

Randomized waitlist controlled trial.

Setting:

Home environment.

Participants:

A total of 60 independently ambulant children (30 in each group), minimum 12 months post-acquired brain injury were recruited and randomly allocated to receive either 20 weeks of MitiiTM training (30 minutes/day, six days/week, total 60 hours) immediately, or waitlisted (usual care control group) for 20 weeks. A total of 58 children completed baseline assessments (32 males; age 11 years 11 months ± 2 years 6 months; Gross Motor Function Classification System equivalent I = 29, II = 29).

Intervention:

The MitiiTM program comprised of gross motor, upper limb and visual perception/cognitive activities.

Main measures:

The primary outcome was 30-second, repetition maximum functional strength tests for the lower limb (sit-to-stand, step-ups, half-kneel to stand). Secondary outcomes were the 6-minute walk test, High-level Mobility Assessment Tool, Timed Up and Go Test and habitual physical activity as captured by four-day accelerometry.

Results:

Groups were equivalent at baseline on demographic and clinical measures. The MitiiTM group demonstrated significantly greater improvements on combined score of functional strength tests (mean difference 10.19 repetitions; 95% confidence interval, 3.26–17.11; p = 0.006) compared with the control group. There were no other between-group differences on secondary outcomes.

Conclusion:

Although the MitiiTM programme demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the functional strength tests of the lower limb, results did not exceed the minimum detectable change and cannot be considered clinically relevant for children with an acquired brain injury.

Clinical Trial Registration:

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registration Number, ANZCTR12613000403730.
Lateralized exanthem mimicking figurate inflammatory dermatosis of infancy after methimazole therapy
Authors: Arrigo T , Cutroneo PM , Vaccaro M , Impollonia D , Squadrito V , Mecchio A , Salpietro C , Altavilla D
Published: June 2016

We reported a case of an 11-year-old girl admitted to our hospital for goiter, tachycardia, sweating, and visible and palpable thyroid. Thyroid function tests revealed a low thyrotropin level (<0.004 mIU/L) and elevated free thyroxine level (3.4 ng/ dL) diagnosed with Graves’ disease and treated with methimazole. This anti-thyroid drug is recommended as first-line treatment in children with Graves’ disease because it produces minor adverse effects with respect to propylthiouracil. She developed a lateralized exanthem mimicking figurate inflammatory dermatosis of infancy after methimazole therapy. The symptoms resolved after discontinuation of methimazole and treatment with an antihistamine and a corticosteroid. Furthermore, the treatment was changed to propylthiouracil without any adverse effects. According to current literature this is the first case of cutaneous figurate erythema related to methimazole, different from other well-known reactions such as skin eruption or urticaria.
Filtering Essays by Means of a Software Tool
Authors: Seifried Eva , Lenhard Wolfgang , Spinath Birgit
Published: June 2016

Writing essays and receiving feedback can be useful for fostering students’ learning and motivation. When faced with large class sizes, it is desirable to identify students who might particularly benefit from feedback. In this article, we tested the potential of Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) for identifying poor essays. A total of 14 teaching assistants evaluated a sample of N = 60 German essays. Using the human graders’ evaluations as the standard of comparison, more of the poor essays were correctly identified by LSA than by random sampling (i.e., selecting essays by chance). By contrast, selection by text length did not perform better than random sampling. When three different teaching assistants evaluated another sample of N = 94 essays, the results largely replicated those found in the first sample. We conclude that LSA can help university teachers to identify poorly performing students. Additional analyses were computed to investigate the potential of combining the methods in different ways.
Mental Health Screening in Juvenile Justice Settings: Evaluating the Utility of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument, Version 2
Authors: Shulman Elizabeth P. , Bechtold Jordan , Kelly Erin L. , Cauffman Elizabeth
Published: June 2016

Allocating limited mental health resources is a challenge for juvenile justice facilities. We evaluated the clinical utility of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument, Version 2 (MAYSI-2)—an instrument designed to aid in this process—in three subsamples of justice-involved youth (ages 14-17): detained girls ( n = 69), detained boys ( n = 130), and incarcerated boys ( n = 373). For perspective, we compared its performance (in the incarcerated subsample) to that of the Youth Self-Report (YSR), a more widely-used screen. The MAYSI-2 subscales were moderately useful for detecting relevant diagnoses, and differences were observed across samples. However, as a general mental health screen, the MAYSI-2 performed well (and comparably to the YSR), correctly classifying 66% to 75% of youth. When used to differentiate youth with any and without any disorder, both instruments were effective. Given the MAYSI-2’s practical advantages over the YSR (lower cost, easier administration), it may be a better option for juvenile facilities.
Attachment, Career-Choice Pessimism, and Intrinsic Motivation as Predictors of College Students’ Career Adaptability
Authors: Shin Yun-Jeong , Lee Ji-Yeon
Published: June 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the cross-cultural validity of the effects of attachment, career-choice pessimism, and intrinsic motivation on career adaptability (CA) in American ( n = 198) and Korean ( n = 294) college students. We hypothesized that the association between attachment and CA is sequentially mediated by career-choice pessimism and intrinsic motivation in both samples, and the results supported the hypothesized multilevel model. These results have important implications for practice to promote CA for college students across cultures by providing evidence for cross-cultural validation of factors influencing on CA.
Revenue efficiency in higher education institutions under imperfect competition
Authors: Johnes Geraint , Ruggiero John
Published: June 2016

A number of studies have considered the evaluation of efficiency in higher education institutions. In this paper, we focus on the issue of revenue efficiency, in particular ascertaining the extent to which, given output prices, producers choose the revenue maximising vector of outputs. We then relax the price taking assumption to consider the case in which the market for some outputs is characterised by monopolistic competition. We evaluate efficiencies for English institutions of higher education for the academic year 2012–13 and find considerable variation across institutions in revenue efficiency. The relaxation of the price-taking assumption leads to relatively small changes, in either direction, to the estimated revenue efficiency scores. A number of issues surrounding the modelling process are raised and discussed, including the determination of the demand function for each type of output and the selection of inputs and outputs to be used in the model.
Usability evaluation of the digital anger thermometer app
Authors: Mattson Donald C
Published: June 2016

The digital anger thermometer is a prototype for a mobile application (app) for use with adults in anger management treatment. The digital anger thermometer incorporates standards of software development in addition to anger management resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The digital anger thermometer underwent a usability study conducted by five expert reviewers. The results indicate that it is easy to learn, efficient, and ergonomically sound. However, it does not offer support features or user-error tolerance. The digital anger thermometer prototype requires additional usability studies and comparative research in order for it to become an actual mental health app.
Gender studies as a multi-centred field? Centres and peripheries in academic gender research
Authors: Wöhrer Veronika
Published: June 2016

In this article I analyse prominent textbooks, encyclopedias and journals in the field of women’s and gender studies and ask where the authors and concepts presented in these texts and sites of publication come from in terms of geographic location. This is inspired by the question: to what extent can gender studies be described as a ‘multi-centered’ field (Connell, 2011) and can gender studies take into account feminist concepts of knowledge production which favour the involvement of the greatest possible diversity of authors (Longino, 1990; Harding, 1991)? The analyses presented here show that being located at a North American or Western European institution still seems to be a crucial factor in authors being published and referred to – both in Western academic centres and in other regions. It seems that there is still a long way to go before various local gender studies communities can communicate on a more egalitarian footing.
Experimental and computational investigation of soot production from a premixed compression ignition engine using a load extension injection
Authors: Kavuri Chaitanya , Tiry Mike , Paz Jordan , Kokjohn Sage L
Published: June 2016

Low temperature, highly premixed compression ignition strategies have proven to produce high efficiency and low soot emissions, but struggle to reach high loads within normal operating constraints. Recent research has suggested that a mixed mode combustion strategy using a premixed main heat release followed by a mixing controlled load extension injection can retain the part-load thermal efficiency and emissions reduction potential of premixed compression ignition strategies, while enabling high load operation. However, soot emissions under this type of mixed mode combustion strategy have been shown to be problematic. This work investigates soot formation and mitigation methods using a combination of detailed engine experiments and computational fluid dynamics modeling. A premixed compression ignition combustion event was achieved using a premixed charge of gasoline and n-heptane to control combustion phasing, and a load extension injection of gasoline was added near top dead center. The experiments showed negligible engine out soot under the premixed compression ignition operating conditions (i.e. without the load extension injection). When the load extension injection was added, soot increased by several orders of magnitude. Detailed experiments were used to isolate the effects of injection timing, injection pressure, charge conditions (e.g. air–fuel ratio), and fuel type. Computational fluid dynamics modeling considering polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon chemistry up to pyrene was then used to explain the experimentally observed soot trends. As expected, the soot emission results showed a strong impact of oxygen concentration and injection pressure for injection timings near top dead center; however, as the load extension injection event was delayed beyond the end of the premixed compression ignition heat release, the soot formation decreased and became independent of oxygen concentration. At these conditions, the computational fluid dynamics modeling showed that soot formation is dependent solely on temperature. The results identify a pathway to enable premixed compression ignition load extension, while minimizing soot emissions.
Central banking and inequalities
Authors: Fontan Clément , Claveau François , Dietsch Peter
Published: June 2016

What is the relation between monetary policy and inequalities in income and wealth? This question has received insufficient attention, especially in light of the unconventional policies introduced since the 2008 financial crisis. The article analyzes three ways in which the concern central banks show for inequalities in their official statements remains incomplete and underdeveloped. First, central banks tend to care about inequality for instrumental reasons only. When they do assign intrinsic value to containing inequalities, they shy away from trade-offs with the standard objectives of monetary policy that such a position entails. Second, central banks play down the causal impact monetary policy has on inequalities. When they do acknowledge it, they defend their actions by claiming that it is an unintended side effect, that it is temporary, and/or that any alternative policy would fare even worse. The article appeals to the doctrine of double effect to criticize these arguments. Third, even if one accepts that inequalities should be contained and that today’s monetary policies exacerbate them, is it both desirable and feasible to make containing inequalities part of the mandate of central banks? The article analyzes and rejects three attempts on the part of central banks to answer this question negatively.
The road behind and the journey ahead: Travels in epistemology
Authors: Chenoweth Lesley
Published: June 2016

This paper offers an account of my own epistemological journey over four decades of social work practice and research. It traces the journey from my early years as a practitioner working from an approach largely grounded in what we called practice wisdom, to my current situation as a professor of social work, undertaking research and guiding students on their own research and practice journeys.

The paper begins with a vignette from a research field trip in the early 2000s – mid point in my journey and then takes a more chronological turn exploring disability research and the theme of voice and activism in research. Finally, I offer some reflections on the journey itself, what has influenced and guided my own learning, the challenges and the insights.
Empowering nurses through action research for developing a new nursing handover program in a pediatric ward in Iran
Authors: Sarvestani Raheleh S , Moattari Marzieh , Nasrabadi Alireza N , Momennasab Marzieh , Yektatalab Shahrzad , Jafari Abdosaleh
Published: June 2016

This study aimed at developing a new nursing handover program in pediatric wards in Iran through action research. Nursing handover is the handover of patient information among nurses between shifts. The participants, including 12 nurses, 2 assistants, a head nurse, and academic researchers as facilitators, worked through two cycles of reflection and action for change over a period of 20 months from 2012 to 2014. The data were collected and analyzed using the concurrent mixed method. Reflection on actions in two cycles resulted in designing and implementing action plans for change, learning in both participants and facilitators, and improvement in nurses' satisfaction with the new nursing handover program. Furthermore, the quantitative data showed a significant decrease in time and cost of nursing handover. This study resulted in the participants' deep understanding about the principles of nursing handover in real world, applicable knowledge through action for change, and reflection on it. Finally, the nurses could establish the foundation of sustainable nursing handover successfully.
The Function to Serve: A Social-Justice-Oriented Investigation of Community College Mission Statements
Authors: Andrade Luis M. , Lundberg Carol A.
Published: June 2016

This study investigated the ways that mission statements from 70 Hispanic-serving community colleges communicated their commitment to their Hispanic-serving function. Reference specifically to the Hispanic-serving function was absent, but references to culture and access were relatively common. Findings describe the ways culture and access were used in the mission statements. The article suggests more explicit reference to the Hispanic-serving nature of the institution in materials readily available to the public.
The Taboo of Retirement for Diocesan Catholic Priests
Authors: Kane Michael N.
Published: June 2016

This paper considers Catholic priests in the USA and their freedom to retire, the constraints that may restrain them from retirement, and the financial and psychological variables that impact them in ministry and in future retirement. Implications for pastoral care and counseling are considered.
QEEG and LORETA in Teenagers With Conduct Disorder and Psychopathic Traits
Authors: Calzada-Reyes Ana , Alvarez-Amador Alfredo , Galán-García Lídice , Valdés-Sosa Mitchell
Published: June 2016

Background. Few studies have investigated the impact of the psychopathic traits on the EEG of teenagers with conduct disorder (CD). To date, there is no other research studying low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) technique using quantitative EEG (QEEG) analysis in adolescents with CD and psychopathic traits. Objective. To find electrophysiological differences specifically related to the psychopathic traits. The current investigation compares the QEEG and the current source density measures between adolescents with CD and psychopathic traits and adolescents with CD without psychopathic traits. Methods. The resting EEG activity and LORETA for the EEG fast spectral bands were evaluated in 42 teenagers with CD, 25 with and 17 without psychopathic traits according to the Antisocial Process Screening Device. All adolescents were assessed using the DSM-IV-TR criteria. The EEG visual inspection characteristics and the use of frequency domain quantitative analysis techniques (narrow band spectral parameters) are described. Results. QEEG analysis showed a pattern of beta activity excess on the bilateral frontal-temporal regions and decreases of alpha band power on the left central-temporal and right frontal-central-temporal regions in the psychopathic traits group. Current source density calculated at 17.18 Hz showed an increase within fronto-temporo-striatal regions in the psychopathic relative to the nonpsychopathic traits group. Conclusions. These findings indicate that QEEG analysis and techniques of source localization may reveal differences in brain electrical activity among teenagers with CD and psychopathic traits, which was not obvious to visual inspection. Taken together, these results suggest that abnormalities in a fronto-temporo-striatal network play a relevant role in the neurobiological basis of psychopathic behavior.
Cooperative conflict detection and resolution of civil unmanned aerial vehicles in metropolis
Authors: Yang Jian , Yin Dong , Niu Yifeng , Zhu Lei
Published: June 2016

Unmanned air vehicles have recently attracted attention of many researchers because of their potential civil applications. A systematic integration of unmanned air vehicles in non-segregated airspace is required that allows safe operation of unmanned air vehicles along with other manned aircrafts. One of the critical issues is conflict detection and resolution. This article proposes to solve unmanned air vehicles’ conflict detection and resolution problem in metropolis airspace. First, the structure of metropolis airspace in the coming future is studied, and the airspace conflict problem between different unmanned air vehicles is analyzed by velocity obstacle theory. Second, a conflict detection and resolution framework in metropolis is proposed, and factors that have influences on conflict-free solutions are discussed. Third, the multi-unmanned air vehicle conflict resolution problem is formalized as a nonlinear optimization problem with the aim of minimizing overall conflict resolution consumption. The safe separation constraint is further discussed to improve the computation efficiency. When the speeds of conflict-involved unmanned air vehicles are equal, the nonlinear safe separation constraint is transformed into linear constraints. The problem is solved by mixed integer convex programming. When unmanned air vehicles are with unequal speeds, we propose to solve the nonlinear optimization problem by stochastic parallel gradient descent–based method. Our approaches are demonstrated in computational examples.
When is a REC not a REC? When it is a gatekeeper
Authors: Emmerich Nathan
Published: June 2016

This essay responds to an article, ‘Variation in university research ethics review’, published in this issue. It argues that the authors of that paper do not fully distinguish the usual function of university research ethics committees (RECs) from that of a gatekeeper. The latter term more accurately describes the task they happen to have asked them to fulfil in the course of conducting some empirical research. Whilst they are not alone in making it, the result of this conflation is that the reflections they offer are misguided. In this short comment I briefly discuss the distinction between a REC and a gatekeeper, and indicate how it impacts on the proposals sketched by Vadeboncoeur et al.