bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis of Pultruded Glass-Graphite/Epoxy Hybrid Composites at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Barpanda Dev , Mantena P. Raju
Published: July 2017

In this paper the dynamic performance characteristics of pultruded glass-graphite/epoxy hybrid samples at elevated temperatures are presented. In previous research the dynamic mechanical properties of the hybrid composites have been characterized at room temperature but the wide application range of these pultruded products necessitates their characterization at high temperatures and over longer periods. The dynamic mechanical analysis technique has been employed to characterize pultruded glass-graphite/epoxy hybrid composite materials over a wide temperature range. At elevated temperatures, the rate of degradation in flexural modulus and variation in loss factor were found to be dependent on the fiber lay-up sequence. Results indicate that the width of the glass transition zone, an important design criterion, can be effectively broadened by judicious incorporation of the glass fibers. Tests repeated on post-cured pultruded products demonstrate a significant shift in the glass transition temperature towards higher side along with an increase in the onset temperature of glass transition. The frequency multiplexing technique used in conjunction with the time-temperature superposition principle proved to be an effective method for predicting the long-term behavior of these hybrids.
Recycling Concepts for Thermoplastic Composites
Authors: Van Lochem J. H. , Henriksen C. , Lund H. H.
Published: July 2017

Thermoplastic short fibre composite materials are increasingly being used as insulating materials in electricity distribution. Economically they possess good opportunities for material recycling and reuse due to the high virgin price. To investigate the recycling potential of post-consumer components, PPS40%GF and PBT30%GF, representing commonly used insulating materials, have been artificially aged and recycled.

To simulate 10 years of service life, injection moulded tensile bars have been aged in different environments varying temperature, humidity and pH. After accelerated ageing, the ageing state has been characterized by tensile and impact strength, viscoelastic behaviour (DMTA), molecular weight, crystallinity (DSC) and fracture behaviour (SEM). These properties have been compared to virgin material. The aged materials have been recycled by regranulation and compounding with different ratios virgin/aged material and different coupling agents to repair the glass-matrix interface. Injection moulded compounds were characterised by short and long term properties.

Recompounding PBT30%GF with virgin material and no added coupling agents results in a partial recovery of the fibre-matrix adhesion. Based on the first short-term characterisations PBT30%GF seems not very suitable for reuse in primary applications. PPS40% GF seems more suitable for reuse in primary applications after recycling. Although the short-term mechanical properties of the aged batches do not recover after recycling, the fibre-matrix adhesion improves especially when adding coupling agents. Further long-term testing in creep and humid environments during the remaining part of this project will show whether the improved interface properties make recycled materials valuable for reuse in various industrial applications.
Influence of Geometry and end Conditions on Optimal Fundamental Natural Frequencies of Symmetrically Laminated Plates
Authors: Hu Hsuan-Teh , Ho Min-Hea
Published: July 2017

The fundamental natural frequency of rectangular symmetrically laminated plates with a given material system is maximized with respect to fiber orientations by using a sequential linear programming method together with a simple move-limit strategy. Significant influence of plate thickness, aspect ratio, circular cutout and end conditions on the optimal fiber orientations and the associated optimal fundamental natural frequency of fiber-reinforced laminated composite plates has been shown through this investigation.
An Efficient Method to Simulate One-and Two-Dimensional Delamination Growth in Composite Laminates
Authors: Chen D. J. , Chan W. S. , Wang B. P.
Published: July 2017

This paper applies the unit load method to simulate one-and twodimensional delamination growth in composite laminates. A virtual crack closure formulation is incorporated in a finite element program to evaluate the mode-I, mode-II and mode-III strain-energy release rates. Based on the responses of the unit load on the potential cracks, the nodal forces and displacements for the evaluation of strain-energy release rate are solved by a series of linear equations without reanalyzing the finite element model during crack growth. The results show that the use of the unit load method significantly reduces the computational time to simulate the delamination growth in composite laminates.
A Thermo-Micromechanical Theory for Effective Elastic Constants of Composite Materials
Authors: Chao Chen-Ping , Chaturvedi Shive K.
Published: July 2017

A thermo-micromechanical approach is presented to estimate the constitutive response of fiber reinforced composites. The approach is based upon thermodynamic considerations involving Helmholtz and Gibbs free energies and micromechanical considerations involving strain and stress fields associated with the fiber and matrix components. The results obtained for principal elastic constants for polymer and metal matrix composites show good correlation with the available experimental data and with other popular models. The parametric results include cases of fiber anisotropy and relative stiffness variation between fiber and matrix materials.
Design and Analysis of Composite Wraps for Concrete Columns
Authors: Hoppel Christopher P. R. , Bogetti Travis A. , Gillespie John W.
Published: July 2017

Composite jackets for concrete columns have potential for renewal of deteriorated structures and improving seismic resistance. Several experimental investigations have demonstrated that composite wraps increase load-carrying capacity and ductility of concrete columns subjected to axial compression. This paper describes a theoretical model to predict the nonlinear stress-strain response of the wrapped columns as a function of geometry and the constitutive behavior of the concrete and column wrap. Model predictions are compared to experimental results. The analytical equations can be used to develop relevant guidelines for optimum reinforcement efficiency as a function of column size and wrap architecture.
Impact Studies in Glass Epoxy Laminates Containing Foam
Authors: Venkatraman S. , Kishore S.
Published: July 2017

E glass epoxy laminates were made by a hand layup process. Laminates containing the central portion having either a 2 layer larger cell sized thicker width or a 3 layer thinner width flexible foam were also fabricated by the same route using a room temperature curing resin. Test coupons were cut from the fabricated laminates and impacted by a pendulum, having facility to load specific values for its mass, on the face of the laminate. Impacts were made by a single mass or a two stage impact operations involving preliminary hits, first by a smaller mass and then by a larger mass. The energy values associated with the process were computed. Macroscopy on failed test coupons was done to identify the dominant mode of failure and correlate the mechanical test data with failure processes. It is seen that foam bearing materials absorb increased impact energy compared to plain laminates and further, the cell-size/interfacial area of the foam plays a significant role in altering the fracture phenomena.
Experimental Analysis of Mold Filling in Compression Resin Transfer Molding
Authors: Wirth Stéphane , Gauvin Raymond
Published: July 2017

Over the years, several modifications of the more standard liquid molding processes such as SRIM and RTM have been proposed. Among them the Compression Resin Transfer Molding (CRTM) presents great interest. In that process, like in RTM, the fiber preform is preplaced in a mold and then a liquid resin is injected. In CRTM however, the mold is kept slightly open during the resin injection. Once the necessary amount of resin is injected, the final closing is done and the resin filled the entire cavity. The main advantage of this technique is to reduce the necessary injection pressure and to ease the molding of parts with high fiber.

In this paper, results are reported for two series of plaque molding experiments. In all cases filling time and pressure distribution in the cavity were recorded. In the first series, vinyl ester resin was injected in a slightly open cavity where a thermoformed glass fiber preform had been placed. In this case, an open gap was present on the top of the preform which eased considerably the filling. The mold was then closed to final part thickness. In this case, the resin injection time was extremely short and most filling and wetting time was elevated to the final closing of the cavity.

In the second set of experiments continuous strand glass fiber mat was used. Because of their nature, the layers of glass mat completely filled in partially closed cavity. As opposed to the previous experiments, in this case, the cavity was closed during the resin injection. The closing time was chosen in such a way that filling and closing occur simultaneously. Since the reinforcement permeability is reduced during injection, the filling rate was much slower at the end. The data gathered with these experiments could also be used to validate the modeling of foamed core parts molding when resin pressure crushes the core.
Active Vibration Control of Intelligent Stiffened Laminates Using Smart Piezoelectric Materials by the Finite Element Method
Authors: Goswami Sanjib , Kant Tarun
Published: July 2017

The advent of high strength and light weight composite materials and newly developed smart materials (piezoelectric materials like polyvinylidene fluoride) have radically changed the concepts of advanced space structures and mechanical systems. Advanced structures with integrated self-monitoring and control capabilities are becoming very important due to the rapid development of intelligent mechanical systems and space structures. Since the structures are distributed and flexible in nature, distributed vibration measurement and active vibration suppression are of importance to their performance. A generalised finite element formulation of a consistent plate model for active vibration control of stiffened laminates integrated with piezoelectric polymer layers acting as distributed sensors and actuators is presented in this study. Total charge developed on the sensor layer is calculated from the direct piezoelectric equations. The equation of motion is discretized with a 9-noded Langrangian quadratic shear deformable isoparametric element. The piezoelectric sensor is not only distributed, but also integrated to the substrate since the output charge and so also the voltage is dependent on the sensor area. Also, the piezoelectric actuator induces the control moments at the ends of the actuators, Therefore, the number, size and location of the sensors and the actuators are very important in the control system design. By selective assembling of the element matrices for each electrode, responses of various sensor/actuator geometries can be investigated. For vibration control in the time domain, Newmark's direct integration method is used in the present investigation.
Delamination Originating from Transverse Crack Tips in Laminates under Mechanical Loadings
Authors: Kondo K. , Yoshida K.
Published: July 2017

A singular finite element method is formulated utilizing the asymptotic solutions for displacements and stresses near the tip of interfacial crack between dissimilar anisotropic materials and the variational principle of a hybrid functional. Laminates with delamination originating from transverse crack tips are analyzed by the singular hybrid element at the delamination tip together with the conventional displacement-based elements around the hybrid element. Numerical results show the efficiency and accuracy of the present singular finite element for the analysis of the stress distributions near the tip of delamination in laminate under plane strain extension, antiplane shear and plane strain bending.
Association of Healthy Habits Beliefs and Mortality in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Mexican Health and Aging Study
Authors: Fernández-Villa Julio M. , Márquez David X. , Sánchez-Garrido Natalia , Pérez-Zepeda Mario U. , González-Lara Mariana
Published: July 2017

Objective: The aim of this article is to establish the association between beliefs about healthy habits and mortality in a group of Mexican older adults. Method: This is an 11-year follow-up secondary analysis of the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Results: There was a significant difference ( p < .001) in survival rate between those participants who believed that healthy habits have the potential to improve health compared with those who did not. After adjustment for confounders, Cox regression models showed a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.17 (95% confidence interval [CI] [0.07, 0.38], p < .001) for the group that believed in healthy habits. Discussion: Although the mechanism is not completely clear, according to our results, believing that healthy habits can improve health was associated with lower rates of mortality. Further research should elucidate potential strategies for changing beliefs in older adults with the goal of improving their overall health.
Investigation the mechanical, rheological, and morphological properties of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene blends with different recycling number content
Authors: Hamarat Ibrahim , Kuram Emel , Ozcelik Babur
Published: July 2017

In this study, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymer was exposed to 12 injection cycles to investigate the influence of recycling number on the mechanical, rheological, and morphological properties. Also, binary and ternary blends including different weight percentages and recycling number of virgin–recycled polymers were prepared. A slight decrement was found in the tensile strength values with recycling number. All blends including recycled polymer (binary or ternary) gave lower tensile strength values with respect to 100% virgin polymer. Strain at break value was decreased after twelve times recycling; however, no clear tendency was observed with the presence of different ratios of virgin polymer to recycled polymer. Impact strength of the polymer decreased with recycling number. There was relatively large drop in the third recycling, from 72 kJ/m2 to 38.5 kJ/m2; however, further recycling induced in a slower drop in the impact strength to 32.5 kJ/m2. All blends including recycled material gave lower impact strength values as compared to 100% virgin polymer. It was observed that the melt flow index values increased with the recycling number, a total of 26.53% after twelve times recycling. All blends containing recycled material showed higher melt flow index values as compared to 100% virgin polymer.
A computational and an experimental study on the effect of the chimney height on the thermal characteristics of a solar chimney power plant
Authors: Ayadi Ahmed , Driss Zied , Bouabidi Abdallah , Nasraoui Haithem , bsisa Moubarek , Abid Mohamed Salah
Published: July 2017

The aim of this paper is to highlight the impact of the chimney height on the local characteristics of the air flow within a solar chimney power plant. The solar chimney power plant prototype was numerically and experimentally investigated. The experimental prototype of the solar chimney power plant was built in the National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of Sfax, Tunisia in the North Africa. The prototype is characterized by a collector diameter equal to D = 2750 mm, a collector height equal to h = 50 mm, a chimney height equal to H = 3000 mm, and a chimney diameter equal to d = 160 mm. The air flow has been simulated using the commercial software Ansys Fluent 17.0 and the computational findings have been validated using our experimental results. Computational fluid dynamics findings confirm that the chimney height is very influential on the local characteristics of the solar chimney power plant.
Blood flow through an axisymmetric stenosis
Authors: Pontrelli G
Published: July 2017

This paper studies a steady axisymmetric flow in a constricted rigid tube. A shear-thinning fluid modelling the deformation-dependent viscosity of the blood is proposed. The motion equation is written in vorticity-streamfunction formulation and is solved numerically by a finite difference scheme. The flow pattern with the distributions of pressure and shear stress at the wall are computed. The dependence of the flow on the dimensionless parameters has been investigated and differences from the Newtonian case are discussed.
Illusory Increases in Font Size Improve Letter Recognition
Authors: Lages Martin , Boyle Stephanie C. , Jenkins Rob
Published: July 2017

Visual performance of human observers depends not only on the optics of the eye and early sensory encoding but also on subsequent cortical processing and representations. In two experiments, we demonstrated that motion adaptation can enhance as well as impair visual acuity. Observers who experienced an expanding motion aftereffect exhibited improved letter recognition, whereas observers who experienced a contracting motion aftereffect showed impaired letter recognition. We conclude that illusory enlargement and shrinkage of a visual stimulus can modulate visual acuity.
Crystal balls and calendars: A structural analysis of projected futures
Authors: Jones Travis L , Flaherty Michael G , Rubin Beth A
Published: July 2017

This study examines the temporal structure of projected futures. The sociology of time is an established line of inquiry, but the existing literature lacks empirically grounded description of the cultural and cognitive dimensions of projected futures. When individuals imagine their futures, what is the qualitative nature and temporal structure of their projected futures? In order to address these questions, we used a mixed-methods strategy of interviews and surveys with 126 persons from a small college in North Carolina. We asked the participants to tell us about their futures. The resulting descriptions form a strongly chronological pattern. When asked about the immediate future (i.e., tomorrow or next week), they tersely describe the tasks that must be completed. In their descriptions of the near future (i.e., next month or next year), they begin to anticipate enjoyable experiences. When they describe the intermediate future (i.e., five to ten years from now), their responses are characterized by detailed and optimistic enthusiasm for the possibilities they envision. They pay little or no attention to the distant future.
Effect of population breast screening on breast cancer mortality to 2005 in England and Wales: A nested case-control study within a cohort of one million women
Authors: Johns Louise E , Swerdlow Anthony J , Moss Susan M
Published: July 2017

Objectives

To evaluate the effectiveness of the NHS breast screening programme (NHSBSP) on breast cancer mortality in England and Wales and to compare findings with a cohort analysis of the same underlying population.

Methods

A nested case-control study within a cohort of 959,738 women in England and Wales aged 49–64 who were eligible for routine NHSBSP screening during 1991–2005. Cases who died from breast cancer in 1991–2005 were matched to controls without breast cancer at the case diagnosis date and alive when the case died. Risk of breast cancer mortality associated with intention to screen (ITS) (7047 cases/28,188 controls) and screening attendance (4707 cases/9413 controls) was examined. Bias was minimised in accordance with currently advocated best practice. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using conditional logistic regression. Results were compared with findings from an incidence-based breast cancer mortality cohort analysis.

Results

ITS was associated with a 21% breast cancer mortality reduction (OR = 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71–0.88, P < 0.001). Attendance ≤5 years before diagnosis was associated with a 47% reduction in breast cancer mortality after self-selection correction (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.46–0.62, P < 0.001). Breast cancer mortality reduction associated with ITS was 21% in both the case-control and cohort analyses, but the impact of attendance was marginally greater in the case-control analysis (36% vs. 32%).

Conclusions

Case-control studies designed and analysed according to current best practice guidelines offer an effective means of evaluating population breast screening.
Effects of Drug Pricing on Medication Choice
Authors: Singh Harpreet , Kaur Gursharan
Published: July 2017

Understanding the prescribers’ perception about drug pricing is an important measure for the pharmaceutical companies to address tough business challenges. Pharmaceutical expenditure is now growing faster than other components of healthcare overheads. The higher drug prices and lack of purchasing power acts as a strong barrier in seeking effective medication in India. An attempt has been made in this article to analyze the physicians’ preferences for drug pricing, particularly for drugs prescribed in chronic ailments. Further, this research provides an outcome of physicians’ perception about higher- and lower-priced drugs.
Moral Ambiguity in Narratives Decreases Creative Performance in Highly Creative People
Authors: Morgan Courtney G. , Lewis Robert J.
Published: July 2017

This article seeks to further our understanding of the effects of morality in the media on individual creativity. We present an experiment testing whether morally ambiguous (versus clear) narrative endings can enhance or diminish divergent thinking in a subsequent task. Recently proposed understandings of mass-media entertainment seem to imply moral ambiguity should diminish performance, whereas research on the ‘dark side of creativity’ seems to imply it should enhance performance for highly creative individuals. We elaborate on both views and show results indicating morally ambiguous stories actually decrease creativity (defined in terms of fluency in divergent thinking), at least in the short term, for individuals high on trait creativity. Discussion centres on the multidimensional relationships between media and creativity.
India: Infra-Structure for the Indian Economy Ed. By Vadilal Dagli, Vora, Bombay, 1970. ix, 288p. Rs. 40.
Authors: Agrawal Ram Gopal
Published: July 2017

Economic Planning in India By Asoka Mehta. Young India Publication, New Delhi. 1970. xi, 203p. Rs. 30.
The All Party Conference in Sri Lanka
Authors: Warnapala W.A. Wiswa
Published: July 2017

Sri Lanka's experience differed from that of many of her South Asian neighbours in the post-independence period, particularly in maintaining relative social and political stability. Some of these states faced acute problems of legitimacy in the post-Independence period. The comparative stability which Sri Lanka enjoyed for several decades are disturbed, and the outbreak of communal violence, on an unprecedented scale, in 1983 established a pattern in regard to political violence in Sri Lnaka. Since then, political violence has become a major element- a de-stabilising element- in the Sri Lankan political system, and the growth of political violence, in the last one year, developed into massive proportions threatening the very foundations of society and state.
CUL4A as a marker and potential therapeutic target in multiple myeloma
Authors: Yang Yougang , Wang Shanan , Li Jinghong , Qi Shipeng , Zhang Debing
Published: July 2017

Multiple myeloma is the most common cause of death of hematological malignancy worldwide. Cullin 4A has been proposed as oncogene in several types of human cancer, but the expression and function of cullin 4A in multiple myeloma remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that cullin 4A plays an oncogenic role in multiple myeloma development. The expression of cullin 4A was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in multiple myeloma patients and multiple myeloma cell lines. In addition, silencing of cullin 4A with small interfering RNA was performed in human multiple myeloma cells, and the impact on proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of the multiple myeloma cells was analyzed. We found that the level of cullin 4A in serum samples was significantly upregulated in patients with multiple myeloma compared with healthy control subjects. Knockdown of cullin 4A via small interfering RNA inhibited the proliferation of the multiple myeloma cell lines by delaying cell-cycle progression and increasing apoptosis. cullin 4A downregulation inhibited multiple myeloma cell migration and invasion in vitro. Our results suggested that cullin 4A could be a promising therapy target in multiple myeloma patients.
Retrospective study of fatal pneumonia in racehorses
Authors: Carvallo Francisco R. , Uzal Francisco A. , Diab Santiago S. , Hill Ashley E. , Arthur Rick M.
Published: July 2017

Respiratory diseases have a major impact on racehorses in training and are often cited as the second most common reason of horses failing to perform. Cases were submitted by the California Horse Racing Board to the California Animal Health and Food Safety laboratory for postmortem examination between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2014. We determined the demographics of racehorses with fatal pneumonia, characterized the pathologic findings in animals with a postmortem diagnosis of respiratory infection, and determined the most significant pathogens associated with lower respiratory tract disease. We analyzed autopsy reports from 83 horses with a diagnosis of pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, and/or pleuropneumonia. The most common presentation was pleuropneumonia (71% of cases), with extensive areas of lytic necrosis and abscesses of the pulmonary parenchyma. Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus, a normal mucosal commensal of the upper respiratory tract of healthy horses, was the most commonly isolated organism (72% of cases), either in pure culture or accompanied by other aerobic or anaerobic bacteria. Its presence in the pulmonary parenchyma is associated with severe and extensive damage to the lung. Furthermore, this agent has zoonotic potential, which stresses the importance of early detection and proper management of cases of pneumonia in racehorses.
Evaluating Social Work Field Instruction: Rotations Versus Year-Long Placements
Authors: Cuzzi Lawrence , Holden Gary , Chernack Peter , Rutter Steve , Rosenberg Gary
Published: July 2017

A replication of a previously reported fieldwork evaluation study is presented. The study involved a comparison of a typical, year-long fieldwork placement composed of three distinct rotations, each approximately 10 weeks in length. The sample included 23 social work students in a large, urban, public hospital. Changes in students' general sense of self-efficacy, self-efficacy regarding specific professional activities, and perceptions of both their ideal and actual work environment were assessed. In general, results very similar to the original study were observed. There were ho significant intergroup differences and virtually no changes in students' general sense of self-efficacy. There were no significant intergroup differences in student's self-efficacy regarding hospital social work, but for the group as a whole, there were significant increases over the course of the academic year. The trend was for rotation students to view the work environment more positively.
Nuclear Inclusions and Pseudoinclusions: Friends or Foes of the Surgical Pathologist?
Authors: Ip Yiu-Tung , Dias Filho Marco Antonio , Chan John K. C.
Published: July 2017

Abnormal substances in the nuclei that can be observed by light microscopy are often broadly referred to as nuclear inclusions. Although their recognition in the appropriate clinicopathological settings can aid in the diagnosis of some disease entities and tumor types, they can also be a source of error. There are 2 morphologically distinct types of inclusions with different mechanisms of formation and diagnostic significance, including bona fide nuclear inclusions and nuclear pseudoinclusions. Bona fide nuclear inclusions result from accumulation in the nuclei of viral particles, cytoplasmic materials (such as surfactant, immunoglobulin, and glycogen), biotin, nuclear lamins, or polyglutamine. Some of them are diagnostically helpful, such as surfactant inclusion, which can support the pulmonary origin of an adenocarcinoma, whereas others may be misleading, such as biotin inclusion, which can be mistaken for herpes infection. Nuclear pseudoinclusions, which represent invaginations of cytoplasm into the nucleus, are delimited by the nuclear membrane. Although not totally specific, they are particularly common in papillary thyroid carcinoma, meningioma, and usual ductal hyperplasia of the breast and hence may aid in the diagnosis of these entities. Nuclear pseudo-pseudoinclusions, which are artefactual bubbles in the nuclei that mimic nuclear pseudoinclusions or clear nuclei, can lead to misdiagnosis of follicular adenoma or hyperplastic nodule as papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Angiolipoma of the Female Breast: Clinicomorphological Correlation of 52 Cases
Authors: Kryvenko Oleksandr N. , Chitale Dhananjay A. , VanEgmond Eve M. , Gupta Nilesh S. , Schultz Daniel , Lee Min W.
Published: July 2017

The authors analyzed 52 cases of female breast angiolipoma (AL). Age distribution was 25 to 80 years of age (56.81 ± 12.78). Most cases showed vascularity below 50%, and 14 cases had vascularity >50%. Cellular and low-vascularity ALs had different clinical and radiological presentations. The mean size was 7.00 ± 3.62 mm for cellular ALs and 19.61 ± 7.58 mm for low-vascularity ALs. In any paucicellular area, the authors could identify a cluster of at least 3 interconnected vessels. The endothelium was mostly flat with uniform, hyperchromatic nuclei, and mitoses and nucleoli were absent. Fibrin thrombi in proliferating capillaries were noted in 96% of cases. Low-vascularity AL can be reliably distinguished on needle core biopsy from other lipomatous and vascular tumors of the breast. Tortuosity and proliferation of capillaries with at least 3 interconnected capillary channels in 1 focus with associated fibrin thrombi constitute a very strong clue for the diagnosis of AL on a breast needle core biopsy. Definite diagnosis of cellular AL is not always feasible because of rare cases with mitotic activity and cellular atypia. Excision is often recommended for cellular AL.
Nasopharyngeal Extranodal NK/T-Cell Lymphoma, Nasal Type: Retrospective Study of 18 Consecutive Cases in Guangzhou, China
Authors: Huang Yu-Hua , Wu Qiu-Liang , Zong Yong-Sheng , Feng Yan-Fen , Hou Jing-Hui
Published: July 2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and clinicopathologic features of nasopharyngeal extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (NKTCL), as well as DNA sequence variation of Epstein—Barr virus (EBV) in neoplastic cells harboring in NKTCLs from Guangzhou district. Materials and methods: The clinical data of 18 unselected consecutive nasopharyngeal NKTCLs in one institution were reviewed retrospectively. Immunohistochemical staining and EBV-encoded RNAs (EBERs) in situ hybridization were applied. DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nested PCR, and sequencing for analyzing the C-terminal and N-terminal regions of LMP1 gene as well as BamHI F fragment of EBV were applied in 16 available samples. Results: NKTCLs accounted for 69.2% (18/26) of nasopharyngeal T- and NK-cell lineage non-Hodgkin lymphomas. In all, 10 out of 18 patients (55.56%) had cervical lymph node(s) involvement. The serum anti-EBV antibody level was elevated (VCA-IgA titer ≥1:40) in 6 of 12 available patients. Two major immunophenotypic subtypes, namely, TIA-1+/EBERs+/CD56+ (10 cases) and TIA-1+/EBERs+/CD56- (8 cases) could be recognized. Genotyping analysis revealed that 10 out of 13 cases (76.9%) of NKTCL were harbored with del-LMP1 [del-LMP1 (Gly335) variant 7 cases, del-LMP1 (Asp335) variant 3 cases]. XhoI-loss was shown in 8/11 cases (72.73%). BamHI “f” variant of Bam F fragment was shown only in 4/14 cases (28.57%).The most common combination was del-LMP1 (Gly335)/ XhoI-loss/F (6/9, 66.7%). Conclusions: The majority of nasopharyngeal T- and NK-cell lymphomas are NKTCL in Guangzhou district. The patients often have involvement of cervical lymph node(s) and an elevated level of serum anti-EBV antibodies. The CD56 expression rate seems lower than that found in sinonasal NKTCL. The most common EBV variant harboring in nasopharyngeal NKTCL seems somewhat different from that harboring in nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Guangzhou.
Early Rejection of Human Cardiac Allografts Is a Risk Factor for Multiple Rejection Episodes
Authors: Salom Ruth N. , Irlicht Robbie , Esmore Don , Hancock Wayne W.
Published: July 2017

To determine the risk factors associated with development of acute cardiac allograft rejection during the first 3 months after transplant, data from 1,552 endomyocardial biopsies from 122 cardiac transplant recipients receiving their first graft were analyzed. An association (P< .0001) between the onset of a first rejection episode and the frequency of rejection episodes in the first 90 days was established. Our findings suggest that patients presenting with an early onset of first cardiac allograft rejection episode are at risk for multiple rejection episodes and should therefore be more closely monitored. Int J Surg Pathol 3(I):9-16, 1995
Malignant Mixed Müllerian Tumor of the Peritoneum
Authors: Chen Karl T. K.
Published: July 2017

This clinicopathologic study of three patients with malignant mixed Müllerian tumor of the peritoneum and review of the literature shows that this tumor is relatively rare and has a grim prognosis. It can be differentiated from other biphasic neoplasms that may involve the female peritoneum primarily or secondarily. Differential diagnostic criteria are proposed for distinguishing this tumor from a biphasic malignant mesothelioma. Int J Surg Pathol 3(3) :155-162, 1996
Intraductal Carcinoma (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) of the Breast Analysis of Pathologic Findings of 85 Pure Intraductal Carcinomas
Authors: Moriya Takuya , Silverberg Steven G.
Published: July 2017

Eighty-five lesions of pure, noninvasive intraductal carcinoma were analyzed by histologic subtypes. The comedo subtype, defined by a solid growth pattern, high nuclear grade, and central necrosis, accounted for only seven lesions (8.2%). Solid, micropapillary, or cribriform patterns with central necrosis comprised 16 cases (18.8%), micropapillary 19 (22.4%), and cribriform 22 (25.9%). The comedo subtype showed several features different from the other subtypes. They occurred in younger patients and had higher numbers of duct profiles with carcinoma and larger tumor diameters. The intensities of lobular cancerization and periductal stromal chronic inflammation were also marked in the comedo lesions. Two of three comedo lesions examined by flow cytometry showed aneuploidy. Three of five tumors with nipple involvement contained at least some comedo-type duct profiles. These findings indicate greater potential aggressiveness of the comedo subtype. In contrast, the micropapillary and cribriform subtypes had fewer involved duct profiles, lower nuclear grade, and less mitotic activity. Microcalcification identified histologically, multifocality, and multicentricity were present in 54.1, 74.1, and 13.8%, respectively, of all lesions examined, and there were no differences between subtypes. Thus, the operative treatment of the comedo subtype (based on spread of disease within the breast) may not need to be more extensive than for other types of intraductal carcinoma. Central necrosis may prove to be of considerably less importance than nuclear grade in future evaluations of intraductal carcinoma.
Sclerosing Hemangioma: A Case With Neuroendocrine Differentiation
Authors: Schloo Betsy L. , Gu Jiang , Mahapatro Darshana , Pietra Giuseppe G.
Published: July 2017

The sclerosing hemangioma is a rare benign tumor whose histogenesis continues to be controversial. Since the initial description by Liebow and Hubbell in 1956, theories on the cell of origin have included endothelial, alveolar pneumocyte, mesothelial, and epithelial. The tumor is generally solitary, with a female predominance. The patient, a 51-year-old woman, presented with a left hilar mass, grossly, a solid 3 to 4 cm nodule. Histologically, classic features of sclerosing hemangioma were found with solid areas composed of polygonal cells. Also noted were foamy histiocytes and regions of dense sclerosis. Immunohistochemical studies were performed. High and low molecular weight cytokeratin and carcinoembryonic antigen were nonconclusive. Ultrastructural analysis revealed tumor cells that were uniform with few cytoplasmic organelles and cell membranes closely interlocked that were connected by small adhering-type junctions. Thus, the cells were not found to be typically epithelial, endothelial, nor mesothelial; however, a few intracytoplasmic dense core granules were noted, suggesting neuroendocrine origin. Subsequent immunostaining for neuron specific enolase was positive. Vasoactive intestinal peptide, substance P, calcitonin gene related peptide, and bombesin were detected in the cytoplasm of different cell populations with varying intensities, which supported the ultrastructural analysis findings of neuroendocrine features. The findings suggest that sclerosing hemangioma may be of neuroendocrine origin and is capable of producing a number of bioactive peptides.
Graft Product for Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation Enhances Thrombin Generation and Expresses Procoagulant Microparticles and Tissue Factor
Authors: Sidibe Fatoumata , Spanoudaki Anastasia , Vanneaux Valerie , Mbemba Elisabeth , Larghero Jerome , Van Dreden Patrick , Lotz Jean-Pierre , Elalamy Ismail , Larsen Annette K. , Gerotziafas Grigoris T.
Published: July 2017

The beneficial effect of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) may be compromised by acute vascular complications related to hypercoagulability. We studied the impact of graft product on thrombin generation of normal plasma and the expression of tissue factor (TF) and procoagulant platelet-derived procoagulant microparticles (Pd-MPs) in samples of graft products. Graft products from 10 patients eligible for APBSCT were mixed with platelet-poor plasma (PPP) or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from healthy volunteers and assessed for in vitro thrombin generation. In control experiments, thrombin generation was assessed in (1) PPP and PRP without any exogenous TF and/or procoagulant phospholipids, (2) PPP with the addition of TF (5 pM) and procoagulant phospholipids (4 μM), (3) in PRP with the addition of TF (5 pM). Graft products were assessed with Western blot assay for TF expression, with a specific clotting assay for TF activity and with flow cytometry assay for Pd-MPs. The graft product enhanced thrombin generation and its procoagulant activity was related to the presence of Pd-MPs and TF. The concentration of Pd-MPs in the graft product was characterized by a significant interindividual variability. The present study reveals the need for a thorough quality control of the graft products regarding their procoagulant potential.
Black Father Involvement in Gifted Education
Authors: Grantham Tarek C. , Henfield Malik S.
Published: July 2017

Black fathers are important advocates in addressing the underrepresentation of Black students in gifted programs, as well as the achievement gaps between Black and White students. Black fathers increasingly understand the important role that Black mothers have traditionally played in supporting their gifted children’s school experiences. As a result, many are learning to value and embrace their fatherly role in nurturing their child’s academic potential by establishing and cultivating relationships with gifted education teachers. Improving Black father and gifted education teacher partnerships requires examining assumptions about Black father involvement and acknowledging the shift in Black family images inspired by President Obama and the First [Black] Family. What are stereotypical views of Black men that undermine their motivation to become involved with schools or that hinder teachers’ desire to work with Black men? What resources and support exist for gifted education teachers to engage Black fathers in the education of their children? In this article, the authors address these questions and related issues. Furthermore, they also share personal and professional insights to encourage teachers to understand and initiate Black father involvement through the lens of engagement, accessibility, and responsibility.
Avenues to Professional Learning Online
Authors: Little Catherine A. , Housand Brian C.
Published: July 2017

The use of online methods for professional development activities is on the rise, with more schools exploring creative ways of providing teacher learning opportunities. Online professional development offers a promising direction for providing increased learning opportunities, promoting professional collaboration, and supporting teacher facility with technology resources. In gifted education, online activities may present effective ways of connecting gifted education professionals across multiple schools and districts and providing professional learning experiences in gifted education for colleagues in general education. In this article, the authors discuss key features of professional development and considerations for applying them in an online learning context. The authors emphasize the importance of coherence with the curriculum, active engagement, sustained attention, and administrative support. They then discuss five avenues or approaches for implementing online professional development, representing a range of interactive elements and opportunities for blending live and online components. Within each avenue presented, the authors share specific resources that would support implementation in the professional learning context.
Journeys Toward Textual Relevance: Male Readers of Color and the Significance of Malcolm X and Harry Potter
Authors: Sciurba Katie
Published: July 2017

This article combines interview data from a group of boys of color at an urban single-sex school and content analysis of The Autobiography of Malcolm X and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to demonstrate the complexities of readers’ responses to literature. Textual relevance, or the ability to construct personal meaning from literature, emerged in two principal forms: (a) empathetic textual relevance (a mirror approach) and (b) sympathetic textual relevance (a window approach). In addition, textual relevance took shape in forms beyond mirrors or windows. In building upon theories of intersectionality and reader response, I argue that acknowledging the multi-dimensionality of readers’ identities and their meaning-making processes can pave the way for youth empowerment. As such, this work aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of students’ experiences as readers and to enhance literacy practices designed to promote equity.
Executive functioning in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients without cognitive impairment: A task-switching protocol
Authors: Migliore Simone , Curcio Giuseppe , Couyoumdjian Alessandro , Ghazaryan Anna , Landi Doriana , Moffa Filomena , Quintiliani Livia , Squitieri Ferdinando , Palmieri Maria Giuseppina , Filippi Maria Maddalena , Vernieri Fabrizio
Published: July 2017

Background:

Cognitive dysfunction affects 40%–65% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, most often affecting information processing speed and working memory, mediated by the pre-frontal cortex (PFC).

Objective:

Our study aimed to investigate PFC functioning through a task-switching protocol in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients without cognitive impairment.

Methods:

A total of 24 RRMS patients and 25 controls were enrolled. Two different tasks were performed in rapid and random succession, so that the task was either changed from one trial to the next one (switch trials) or repeated (repetition trials). Switch trials are usually slower than repetitions, causing a so-called switch cost (SC).

Results:

Patients had worse performance than controls only in the switch trials, as indicated by increased SC and reaction times. Moreover, patients showed a reduced ability to reconfigure the task-set for the execution of a new task and to disengage from the previous one.

Conclusion:

Our results showed a primary deficit in executive control processes involved in the task-switching performance in RRMS patients without cognitive impairment. This deficit may depend on the functional impairment of the PFC, which is essential to adjust behaviour rapidly and flexibly in response to environmental changes, representing one of the most sophisticated human abilities.
Fire Resistance of Concrete Filled Steel Tubular Columns
Authors: Han Lin-Hai
Published: July 2017

The Finite element method is applied for the calculation of temperature fields in concrete filled steel tubes under fire. A theoretical model that calculates the deformations and strength of a column subjected to fire and its fire resistance is described in this paper. A comparison between results calculated using this model and the results of tests shows good agreement. Based on the theoretical model, the influences of the changing strengths of the materials, diameter, steel ratio and slenderness ratio on the fire resistance are discussed.
Designing play for dark times
Authors: Yamada-Rice Dylan
Published: July 2017

This article reports on a knowledge-exchange network project that had the core aim of informing the development of a video game for hospitalized children. In order to do this, it brought together hospital play specialists, academics and representatives from the digital games industry to co-produce knowledge that could be used in the future production of such a product. The project came about in relation to having identified a lack of research about and actual physical-digital games designed specifically for children living in adverse (‘dark’) times. This is despite the fact that there is a substantial body of research that has shown how play is beneficial for helping children make sense of what is happening to them, and thus results in better mental, emotional and physical well-being. The article describes a selection of the knowledge-exchange presentations and activities that were used throughout the project. Specifically, these activities used art-and-design-based methods as a means of knowing through making. The methods are discussed in relation to how they generated knowledge that responded to the objectives of the project. These were, firstly, to allow children to express emotions about their illness and/or being in hospital; secondly, to offer information on the hospital experience; and, finally, to develop a design that could cross physical and digital platforms with a space for open-ended child-directed play. As the overarching intention of the project was to generate knowledge across the stakeholders, the project ended by materializing the core findings from the project into a paper prototype of a game on which a hypothetical digital-physical version could be based.
Ill-posed problems with counts, the composite link model and penalized likelihood
Authors: Eilers Paul HC
Published: July 2017

Certain data sets with distributions or counts can be interpreted as indirect observations of latent distributions or (time) series of counts. The structure of such data matches elegantly with the composite link model (CLM). The parameters can be estimated with iteratively re-weighted linear regression. Unfortunately, the estimating equations generally are singular or severely ill-conditioned. An effective solution is to impose smoothness on the solution, by penalizing the likelihood with a roughness measure. The optimal smoothing parameter is found efficiently by minimizing Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC). Several applications are presented.