bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shift of Macrophage Phenotype Due to Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Deficiency Drives Atherosclerotic Calcification
Authors: Fu Yi , Gao Cheng , Liang Ying , Wang Meili , Huang Yaqian , Ma Wei , Li Tuoyi , Jia Yiting , Yu Fang , Zhu Wanlin , Cui Qinghua , Li Yanhui , Xu Qingbo , Wang Xian , Kong Wei
Published: May 2016

Rationale:

Intimal calcification is highly correlated with atherosclerotic plaque burden, but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. We recently reported that cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), a component of vascular extracellular matrix, is an endogenous inhibitor of vascular smooth muscle cell calcification.

Objective:

To investigate whether COMP affects atherosclerotic calcification.

Methods and Results:

ApoE
−/−
COMP
−/−

mice fed with chow diet for 12 months manifested more extensive atherosclerotic calcification in the innominate arteries than did

ApoE
−/−

mice. To investigate which origins of COMP contributed to atherosclerotic calcification, bone marrow transplantation was performed between

ApoE
−/−

and

ApoE
−/−
COMP
−/−

mice. Enhanced calcification was observed in mice transplanted with

ApoE
−/−
COMP
−/−

bone marrow compared with mice transplanted with

ApoE
−/−

bone marrow, indicating that bone marrow–derived COMP may play a critical role in atherosclerotic calcification. Furthermore, microarray profiling of wild-type and

COMP
−/−

macrophages revealed that COMP-deficient macrophages exerted atherogenic and osteogenic characters. Integrin β3 protein was attenuated in

COMP
−/−

macrophages, and overexpression of integrin β3 inhibited the shift of macrophage phenotypes by COMP deficiency. Furthermore, adeno-associated virus 2–integrin β3 infection attenuated atherosclerotic calcification in

ApoE
−/−
COMP
−/−

mice. Mechanistically, COMP bound directly to β-tail domain of integrin β3 via its C-terminus, and blocking of the COMP–integrin β3 association by β-tail domain mimicked the COMP deficiency–induced shift in macrophage phenotypes. Similar to COMP deficiency in mice, transduction of adeno-associated virus 2–β-tail domain enhanced atherosclerotic calcification in

ApoE
−/−

mice.

Conclusions:

These results reveal that COMP deficiency acted via integrin β3 to drive macrophages toward the atherogenic and osteogenic phenotype and thereby aggravate atherosclerotic calcification.
Endothelium-Derived 5-Methoxytryptophan Is a Circulating Anti-Inflammatory Molecule That Blocks Systemic Inflammation
Authors: Wang Yi-Fu , Hsu Yu-Juei , Wu Hsu-Feng , Lee Guan-Lin , Yang Ya-Sung , Wu Jing-Yiing , Yet Shaw-Fang , Wu Kenneth K. , Kuo Cheng-Chin
Published: May 2016

Rationale:

Systemic inflammation has emerged as a key pathophysiological process that induces multiorgan injury and causes serious human diseases. Endothelium is critical in maintaining cellular and inflammatory homeostasis, controlling systemic inflammation, and progression of inflammatory diseases. We postulated that endothelium produces and releases endogenous soluble factors to modulate inflammatory responses and protect against systemic inflammation.

Objective:

To identify endothelial cell–released soluble factors that protect against endothelial barrier dysfunction and systemic inflammation.

Methods and Results:

We found that conditioned medium of endothelial cells inhibited cyclooxgenase-2 and interleukin-6 expression in macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. Analysis of conditioned medium extracts by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry showed the presence of 5-methoxytryptophan (5-MTP), but not other related tryptophan metabolites. Furthermore, endothelial cell–derived 5-MTP suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses and signaling in macrophages and endotoxemic lung tissues. Lipopolysaccharide suppressed 5-MTP level in endothelial cell-conditioned medium and reduced serum 5-MTP level in the murine sepsis model. Intraperitoneal injection of 5-MTP restored serum 5-MTP accompanied by the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced endothelial leakage and suppression of lipopolysaccharide- or cecal ligation and puncture–mediated proinflammatory mediators overexpression. 5-MTP administration rescued lungs from lipopolysaccharide-induced damages and prevented sepsis-related mortality. Importantly, compared with healthy subjects, serum 5-MTP level in septic patients was decreased by 65%, indicating an important clinical relevance.

Conclusions:

We conclude that 5-MTP belongs to a novel class of endothelium-derived protective molecules that defend against endothelial barrier dysfunction and excessive systemic inflammatory responses.
Electrophysiological Effects of Selective Atrial Coronary Artery Occlusion in Humans
Authors: Álvarez-García Jesús , Vives-Borrás Miquel , Gomis Pedro , Ordoñez-Llanos Jordi , Ferrero-Gregori Andreu , Serra-Peñaranda Antoni , Cinca Juan
Published: May 2016

Background—

The arrhythmogenesis of ventricular myocardial ischemia has been extensively studied, but models of atrial ischemia in humans are lacking. This study aimed at describing the electrophysiological alterations induced by acute atrial ischemia secondary to atrial coronary branch occlusion during elective coronary angioplasty.

Methods and Results—

Clinical data, 12-lead ECG, 12-hour Holter recordings, coronary angiography, and serial plasma levels of high-sensitivity troponin T and midregional proatrial natriuretic peptide were prospectively analyzed in 109 patients undergoing elective angioplasty of right or circumflex coronary arteries. Atrial coronary branches were identified and after the procedure patients were allocated into two groups: atrial branch occlusion (ABO, n=17) and atrial branch patency (non-ABO, n=92). In comparison with the non-ABO, patients with ABO showed: (1) higher incidence of periprocedural myocardial infarction (20% versus 53%,
P
=0.01); (2) more frequent intra-atrial conduction delay (19% versus 46%,
P
=0.03); (3) more marked PR segment deviation in the Holter recordings; and (4) higher incidence of atrial tachycardia (15% versus 41%,
P
=0.02) and atrial fibrillation (0% versus 12%,
P
=0.03). After adjustment by a propensity score, ABO was an independent predictor of periprocedural infarction (odds ratio, 3.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–11.6,
P
<0.05) and atrial arrhythmias (odds ratio, 5.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–20.5,
P
=0.02).

Conclusions—

Selective atrial coronary artery occlusion during elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is associated with myocardial ischemic damage, atrial arrhythmias, and intra-atrial conduction delay. Our data suggest that atrial ischemic episodes might be considered as a potential cause of atrial fibrillation in patients with chronic coronary artery disease.
Role of Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress in Glucose Tolerance, Insulin Resistance, and Cardiac Diastolic Dysfunction
Authors: Jeong Euy‐Myoung , Chung Jaehoon , Liu Hong , Go Yeongju , Gladstein Scott , Farzaneh‐Far Afshin , Lewandowski E. Douglas , Dudley Samuel C.
Published: May 2016

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with mitochondrial oxidative stress. We have shown that myocardial oxidative stress leads to diastolic dysfunction in a hypertensive mouse model. Therefore, we hypothesized that diabetes mellitus could cause diastolic dysfunction through mitochondrial oxidative stress and that a mitochondria‐targeted antioxidant (Mito
TEMPO
) could prevent diastolic dysfunction in a diabetic mouse model.

Methods and Results

C57
BL
/6J mice were fed either 60 kcal % fat diet (high‐fat diet [
HFD
]) or normal chow (control) for 8 weeks with or without concurrent Mito
TEMPO
administration, followed by in vivo assessment of diastolic function and ex vivo studies.
HFD
mice developed impaired glucose tolerance compared with the control (serum glucose=495±45 mg/dL versus 236±30 mg/dL at 60 minutes after intraperitoneal glucose injection,
P
<0.05). Myocardial tagged cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed significantly reduced diastolic circumferential strain (Ecc) rate in the
HFD
mice compared with controls (5.0±0.3 1/s versus 7.4±0.5 1/s,
P
<0.05), indicating diastolic dysfunction in the
HFD
mice. Systolic function was comparable in both groups (left ventricular ejection fraction=66.4±1.4% versus 66.7±1.2%,
P
>0.05). Mito
TEMPO
‐treated
HFD
mice showed significant reduction in mitochondria reactive oxygen species,
S
‐glutathionylation of cardiac myosin binding protein C, and diastolic dysfunction, comparable to the control. The fasting insulin levels of Mito
TEMPO
‐treated
HFD
mice were also comparable to the controls (
P
>0.05).

Conclusions

Mito
TEMPO
treatment prevented insulin resistance and diastolic dysfunction, suggesting that mitochondrial oxidative stress may be involved in the pathophysiology of both conditions.
Detection and Predictive Value of Fractional Anisotropy Changes of the Corticospinal Tract in the Acute Phase of a Stroke
Authors: Doughty Christopher , Wang Jasmine , Feng Wuwei , Hackney David , Pani Ethan , Schlaug Gottfried
Published: May 2016

Background and Purpose—

A decrease in fractional anisotropy (FA) of the ipsilesional corticospinal tract (CST) distal to stroke lesions in the subacute (eg, 30 days) and chronic phase has been correlated with poor motor outcomes, but it is unclear whether FA values obtained within the acute stroke phase (here defined as 80 hours after onset) can predict later outcome.

Methods—

Fifty-eight patients underwent an assessment of motor impairment in the acute phase and at 3 months using the upper extremity Fugl-Meyer assessment. FA values, obtained within 80 hours after stroke onset, were determined in 2 regions of interest: cerebral peduncle and a stretch of the CST caudal to each stroke lesion (nearest-5-slices).

Results—

The FA laterality index for the cerebral peduncle-regions of interest was a poor predictor of 3-month outcome (
R
2
=0.044;
P
=0.137), whereas the slope over the FA laterality index of the nearest-5-slices showed a relatively weak but significant prediction (
R
2
=0.11;
P
=0.022) with the affected side having lower FA values. Initial upper extremity Fugl-Meyer (
R
2
=0.69;
P
<0.001) and the weighted CST lesion load (
R
2
=0.71;
P
<0.001) were strong predictors of 3-month outcome. In multivariate analyses, controlling for initial upper extremity Fugl-Meyer, weighted CST lesion load, and days-of-therapy, neither the FA laterality index of the cerebral peduncle nor the slope over the FA laterality index of the nearest-5-slices significantly contributed to the prediction of 86% of the variance in the upper extremity Fugl-Meyer at 3 months.

Conclusions—

FA reductions of the CST can be detected near the ischemic lesion in the acute stroke phase, but offer minimal predictive value to motor outcomes at 3 months.
Clinical Significance of Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery Vascular Hyperintensities in Borderzone Infarcts
Authors: Kim Si Eun , Lee Byung In , Kim Sung Eun , Shin Kyong Jin , Park JinSe , Park Kang Min , Kim Hyung Chan , Lee Joonwon , Baek Hye Jin , Jin Sung-cheol , Ha Sam Yeol
Published: May 2016

Background and Purpose—

Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vascular hyperintensities (FVHs) are seen in some cases with cerebral hemodynamic impairment and collateral flow. Because the worst outcomes of patients with borderzone infarcts were mainly correlated with impaired hemodynamics, the presence of FVH might provide another clue for predicting the prognosis of patients with borderzone infarcts.

Methods—

We reviewed 1377 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke. Cortical borderzone (CBZ) and internal borderzone infarcts were selected based on diffusion-weighted imaging. FVHs were defined as tubular- or serpentine-shaped hyperintensities in the subarachnoid space. We investigated the clinical significance of FVHs in borderzone-infarcted patients.

Results—

Among 87 patients with borderzone infarcts, the presence of FVH was observed in 30 (34.5%). We identified 62 patients with CBZ infarcts and 25 patients with internal borderzone infarcts. In the cases with CBZ infarcts, the initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores and the portions of nonfavorable outcome at 3 months in the FVH(+) group were significantly higher than in the FVH(−) group (
P
<0.05 and
P
<0.001, respectively). Unlike the cases with CBZ infarcts, there were no significant differences of these clinical features between the FVH(+) group and the FVH(−) group in the patients with internal borderzone infarcts.

Conclusions—

The findings of FVH are associated with relatively severe clinical presentation and nonfavorable prognosis in patients with CBZ infarcts, but not in patients with internal borderzone infarcts. The presence of FVH may help to identify CBZ-infarcted patients who require close observation and hemodynamic control.
First-Ever Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack Incidence and 30-Day Case-Fatality Rates in a Population-Based Study in Argentina
Authors: Bahit M. Cecilia , Coppola Mariano L. , Riccio Patricia M. , Cipriano Lauren E. , Roth Gregory A. , Lopes Renato D. , Feigin Valery L. , Borrego Guerrero Brenda , De Martino Maximiliano , Díaz Alejandro , Ferrante Daniel , Funaro Fernando , Lavados Pablo , Lewin M. Laura , López Daniel H. , Macarrone Patricia , Marciello Rafael , Marino Diego , Martens Cecilia , Martínez Paula , Odriozola Guillermo , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Saposnik Gustavo , Silva Damián , Suasnabar Ramón , Truelsen Thomas , Uzcudun Araceli , Viviani Carlos A. , Sposato Luciano A.
Published: May 2016

Background and Purpose—

Epidemiological data about stroke are scarce in low- and middle-income Latin-American countries. We investigated annual incidence of first-ever stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) and 30-day case-fatality rates in a population-based setting in Tandil, Argentina.

Methods—

We prospectively identified all first-ever stroke and TIA cases from overlapping sources between January 5, 2013, and April 30, 2015, in Tandil, Argentina. We calculated crude and standardized incidence rates. We estimated 30-day case-fatality rates.

Results—

We identified 334 first-ever strokes and 108 TIAs. Age-standardized incidence rate per 100 000 for Segi’s World population was 76.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 67.8–85.9) for first-ever stroke and 25.1 (95% CI, 20.2–30.7) for first-ever TIA, 56.1 (95% CI, 48.8–64.2) for ischemic stroke, 13.5 (95% CI, 9.9–17.9) for intracerebral hemorrhage, and 4.9 (95% CI, 2.7–8.1) for subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke incidence was slightly higher for men (87.8; 95% CI, 74.6–102.6) than for women (73.2; 95% CI, 61.7–86.1) when standardized for the Argentinean population. Thirty-day case-fatality rate was 14.7% (95% CI, 10.8–19.5) for ischemic stroke, 24.1% (95% CI, 14.2–36.6) for intracerebral hemorrhage, and 1.9% (95% CI, 0.4–5.8) for TIA.

Conclusions—

This study provides the first prospective population-based stroke and TIA incidence and case-fatality estimate in Argentina. First-ever stroke incidence was lower than that reported in previous Latin-American studies, but first-ever TIA incidence was higher. Thirty-day case-fatality rates were similar to those of other population-based Latin-American studies.
Multivariate Bias Correction of Climate Model Output: Matching Marginal Distributions and Intervariable Dependence Structure
Authors: Cannon Alex J.
Published: May 2016

Univariate bias correction algorithms, such as quantile mapping, are used to address systematic biases in climate model output. Intervariable dependence structure (e.g., between different quantities like temperature and precipitation or between sites) is typically ignored, which can have an impact on subsequent calculations that depend on multiple climate variables. A novel multivariate bias correction (MBC) algorithm is introduced as a multidimensional analog of univariate quantile mapping. Two variants are presented. MBCp and MBCr respectively correct Pearson correlation and Spearman rank correlation dependence structure, with marginal distributions in both constrained to match observed distributions via quantile mapping. MBC is demonstrated on two case studies: 1) bivariate bias correction of monthly temperature and precipitation output from a large ensemble of climate models and 2) multivariate correction of vertical humidity and wind profiles, including subsequent calculation of vertically integrated water vapor transport and detection of atmospheric rivers. The energy distance is recommended as an omnibus measure of performance for model selection. As expected, substantial improvements in performance relative to quantile mapping are found in each case. For reference, characteristics of the MBC algorithm are compared against existing bivariate and multivariate bias correction techniques. MBC performs competitively and fills a role as a flexible, general purpose multivariate bias correction algorithm.
Seasonal and Local Solar Time Variation of the Meridional Wind at 95 km from Observations of the 11.072-GHz Ozone Line and the 557.7-nm Oxygen Line
Authors: Rogers Alan E. E. , Erickson Philip J. , Goncharenko Larisa P. , Alam Omar B. , Noto John , Kerr Robert B. , Kapali Sudha
Published: May 2016

Ground-based spectrometers have been deployed to measure the concentration, velocity, and temperature of ozone in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT), using low-cost satellite television electronics to observe the 11.072-GHz line of ozone. The ozone line was observed at an altitude near 95 km at 38°N, 71°W using three spectrometers located at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Haystack Observatory (Westford, Massachusetts), Chelmsford High School (Chelmsford, Massachusetts), and Union College (Schenectady, New York), each pointed south at 8° elevation. Observations from 2009 through 2014 were used to derive the nightly averaged seasonal variation of the 95-km altitude meridional wind velocity, as well as the seasonally averaged variation of the meridional wind with local solar time. The results indicate a seasonal trend in which the winds at 95 km are directed southward at about 10 m s−1 in the summer of the Northern Hemisphere and northward at about 10 m s−1 in the winter. Nighttime data from −5 to +5 local solar time show a gradual transition of the meridional wind velocity from about −20 to 20 m s−1. These variations correlate well with nighttime wind measurements using 557.7-nm optical airglow observations from the Millstone Hill high-resolution Fábry–Perot interferometer (FPI) in Westford.
Weather Effects on Social Movements: Evidence from Washington, D.C., and New York City, 1960–95
Authors: Zhang Tony Huiquan
Published: May 2016

Scholars have been taking the impact of weather on social movements for granted for some time, despite a lack of supporting empirical evidence. This paper takes the topic more seriously, analyzing more than 7000 social movement events and 36 years of weather records in Washington, D.C., and New York City (1960–95). Here, “good weather” is defined as midrange temperature and little to no precipitation. This paper uses negative binomial regression models to predict the number of social movements per day and finds social movements are more likely to happen on good days than bad, with seasonal patterns controlled for. Results from logistic regression models indicate violence occurs more frequently at social movement events when it is warmer. Most interestingly, the effect of weather is more salient when there are more political opportunities and resources available. This paper discusses the implications and suggests future research on weather and social movement studies.
Hammurabi’s Code: A primary datum in the conjoined professions of medicine and law
Authors: Pearn John
Published: May 2016

The history of our current law dates from Palaeolithic times. The first written laws were codified by the rulers of Mesopotamian kingdoms, from the beginning of the second millennium B.C.E. This history, and those of the medico-legal specialties in particular, trace their origins to Hammurabi’s Code. Hammurabi ( ruled 1792–1750 B.C.E.) was the sixth King of the First Dynasty of ancient Babylon, today an archaeological site in modern-day Iraq. Hammurabi’s Laws (c.1760 B.C.E.), inscribed on at least one diorite stele, were set up in public places in Babylon, towards the end of the King’s 43-year reign. Comprising almost 300 specific laws, with judicial punishment for transgressions, Hammurabi’s Code reflects his role both as a guardian of the vulnerable and as a protector of the weak and powerless. Just as medical papyri from ancient Egypt (e.g. the Edwin Smith papyrus c.1600 B.C.E.) are regarded as the origins of western medicine, so Hammurabi is the pioneer of “medical” laws as these have evolved to their sophisticated state today.
Noticing Future Me
Authors: Macrae C. Neil , Mitchell Jason P. , McNamara Diana L. , Golubickis Marius , Andreou Konstantina , Møller Sarah , Peytcheva Katrin , Falben Johanna K. , Christian Brittany M.
Published: May 2016

People drastically overestimate how often others attend to them or notice their unusual features, a phenomenon termed the spotlight effect. Despite the prevalence of this egocentric bias, little is known about how to reduce the tendency to see oneself as the object of others’ attention. Here, we tested the hypothesis that a basic property of mental imagery—the visual perspective from which an event is viewed—may alleviate a future-oriented variant of the spotlight effect. The results of three experiments supported this prediction. Experiment 1 revealed a reduction in egocentric spotlighting when participants imagined an event in the far compared with near future. Experiments 2 and 3 demonstrated reduced spotlighting and feelings of embarrassment when participants viewed an impending event from a third-person (vs. first-person) vantage point. Simple changes in one’s visual perspective may be sufficient to diminish the illusion of personal salience.
A nuclear cyberia: interfacing science, culture and ‘e-thnography’ of an Indian township’s social media
Authors: Kaur Raminder
Published: May 2016

The article’s aims are twofold – to investigate the potentials and limitations of online ethnography and to delineate the discursive dynamics of Indian technoscientific cultures as evident on a nuclear township’s online social network site. Technoscientific cultures of the south cannot be simply seen through a postcolonial lens in terms of north–south tensions over the global political economy or merely through a developmentalist paradigm. There are more complex and illuminating territories with which to appreciate such cultures through the eyes of their protagonists. I note that while Weberian trends towards bureaucratisation are discernible among Indian nuclear technocrats, there is also a considerable counter-narrative in which there is a ‘reconstitution of the cultural’ that demonstrates a strong proclivity towards reinventing particular strains of religio-cultural discourse. I illustrate these dynamics by providing an ‘e-thnography’ of the material posted on the social network site set up in 2010 by scientists who live in a nuclear township in Mumbai. In so doing, I diverge from liberal human-centric understandings of the context of media technologies to consider critical junctures where the subject interfaces with informational technologies in such a manner that notions of the centred and corporeal self dissipate, but traces of his or her embodied self remain.
A Longitudinal Analysis of Site of Death: The Effects of Continuous Enrollment in Medicare Advantage Versus Conventional Medicare
Authors: Chen Elizabeth Edmiston , Miller Edward Alan
Published: May 2016

This study assessed the odds of dying in hospital associated with enrollment in Medicare Advantage (M-A) versus conventional Medicare Fee-for-Service (M-FFS). Data were derived from the 2008 and 2010 waves of the Health and Retirement Study ( n = 1,030). The sample consisted of elderly Medicare beneficiaries who died in 2008–2010 (34% died in hospital, and 66% died at home, in long-term senior care, a hospice facility, or other setting). Logistic regression estimated the odds of dying in hospital for those continuously enrolled in M-A from 2008 until death compared to those continuously enrolled in M-FFS and those switching between the two plans. Results indicate that decedents continuously enrolled in M-A had 43% lower odds of dying in hospital compared to those continuously enrolled in M-FFS. Financial incentives in M-A contracts may reduce the odds of dying in hospital.
Longitudinal changes in emerging adults’ attachment preferences for their mother, father, friends, and romantic partner
Authors: Umemura Tomo , Lacinová Lenka , Macek Petr , Kunnen E. Saskia
Published: May 2016

Only a few studies have longitudinally explored to whom emerging adults prefer to turn to seek closeness, comfort, and security (called “attachment preferences”), and previous studies on attachment preferences in emerging adults have focused only on the beginning of romantic relationships but not on the end of relationships. Czech emerging adults ( M = 21.47; SD = 1.48) completed the questionnaire of attachment preferences at two time points, Wave 1 (Summer 2013) and Wave 2 (Summer 2014). Latent difference score analyses revealed that emerging adults who were not in a romantic relationship in Wave 1 but started a romantic relationship between the two waves ( n = 97) and those who had a romantic partner in both waves ( n = 379) were both more likely to increase their attachment preference for the romantic partner and decrease their preference for friends, whereas those who did not start a relationship ( n = 185) were not. Emerging adults who were in a romantic relationship in Wave 1 but were not in Wave 2 ( n = 69) decreased their preference for the partner and increased their preference for friends. In all the groups, attachment preferences for the mother, for the father, or for the family did not change. Multiple regression analyses further revealed that for those who had a romantic partner in both waves, their length of romantic relationship was associated with changes in attachment preferences for romantic partners and for friends.
Family Matters
Authors: Spees Lisa , Perreira Krista M. , Fuligni Andrew
Published: May 2016

As primary agents of socialization, families and schools can powerfully shape the academic adaptation of youth. Using data from the Social Identification and Academic Adaptation studies, we compare the family and school environments of Latino high school seniors living in a new destination, North Carolina, with those living in an established destination, Los Angeles. We then evaluate how family and school environments influence their educational aspirations, expectations, and performance. We find that parents’ achievement expectations promote Latino youths’ academic success, while perceived future family obligations inhibit them. Additionally, we find that schools remain essential in promoting Latino immigrant youths’ achievement by providing a supportive and safe learning environment. Discrimination in schools and the broader community is associated with lower educational expectations and aspirations but not lower academic performance.
Cities as nuclei of sustainability?
Authors: Rybski Diego , Reusser Dominik E , Winz Anna-Lena , Fichtner Christina , Sterzel Till , Kropp Jürgen P
Published: May 2016

We have assembled CO2 emission figures from collections of urban GHG emission estimates published in peer-reviewed journals or reports from research institutes and non-governmental organizations. Analyzing the scaling with population size, we find that the exponent is development dependent with a transition from super- to sub-linear scaling. From the climate change mitigation point of view, the results suggest that urbanization is desirable in developed countries. Further, we compare this analysis with a second scaling relation, namely the fundamental allometry between city population and area, and propose that density might be a decisive quantity too. Last, we derive the theoretical country-wide urban emissions by integration and obtain a dependence on the size of the largest city.
Dissimilation in the second language acquisition of Mandarin Chinese tones
Authors: Zhang Hang
Published: May 2016

This article extends Optimality Theoretic studies to the research on second language tone phonology. Specifically, this work analyses the acquisition of identical tone sequences in Mandarin Chinese by adult speakers of three non-tonal languages: English, Japanese and Korean. This study finds that the learners prefer not to use identical lexical tones on adjacent syllables, especially the contour tone sequences. It is argued that the Obligatory Contour Principle (OCP) was playing a role in shaping the second language Chinese tonal phonology even though it was not learned from these speakers’ native languages, nor found widely applied in the target language. The acquisition order of tone pairs suggests an interacting effect of the OCP and the Tonal Markedness Scale. This study presents a constraint-based analysis and proposes a four-stage path of OCP sub-constraint re-ranking to account for the error patterns found in the phonological experiment.
Brain oxygen saturation assessment in neonates using T2-prepared blood imaging of oxygen saturation and near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Alderliesten Thomas , De Vis Jill B , Lemmers Petra MA , Hendrikse Jeroen , Groenendaal Floris , van Bel Frank , Benders Manon JNL , Petersen Esben T
Published: May 2016

Although near-infrared spectroscopy is increasingly being used to monitor cerebral oxygenation in neonates, it has a limited penetration depth. The T2-prepared Blood Imaging of Oxygen Saturation (T2-BIOS) magnetic resonance sequence provides an oxygen saturation estimate on a voxel-by-voxel basis, without needing a respiratory calibration experiment. In 15 neonates, oxygen saturation measured by T2-prepared blood imaging of oxygen saturation and near-infrared spectroscopy were compared. In addition, these measures were compared to cerebral blood flow and venous oxygen saturation in the sagittal sinus. A strong linear relation was found between the oxygen saturation measured by magnetic resonance imaging and the oxygen saturation measured by near-infrared spectroscopy ( R2 = 0.64, p < 0.001). Strong linear correlations were found between near-infrared spectroscopy oxygen saturation, and magnetic resonance imaging measures of frontal cerebral blood flow, whole brain cerebral blood flow and venous oxygen saturation in the sagittal sinus ( R2 = 0.71, 0.50, 0.65; p < 0.01). The oxygen saturation obtained by T2-prepared blood imaging of oxygen saturation correlated with venous oxygen saturation in the sagittal sinus ( R2 = 0.49, p = 0.023), but no significant correlations could be demonstrated with frontal and whole brain cerebral blood flow. These results suggest that measuring oxygen saturation by T2-prepared blood imaging of oxygen saturation is feasible, even in neonates. Strong correlations between the various methods work as a cross validation for near-infrared spectroscopy and T2-prepared blood imaging of oxygen saturation, confirming the validity of using of these techniques for determining cerebral oxygenation.
‘To Tell the Truth’: Locating Authenticity in J. B. Priestley’s English Journey
Authors: Miles Neil
Published: May 2016

This article offers a re-reading of J. B. Priestley’s English Journey (1934), focusing on ways in which the book deploys shifting notions of authenticity in response to a background of economic and social upheaval and a burgeoning mass culture. I suggest ways in which Priestley’s text transgresses those generic categories from which it might otherwise be seen to emerge, engaging contemporary history and culture by means that extend beyond the delimiting constraints such categories imply. Ultimately, I argue that the version of authenticity present within English Journey emerges from a multi-faceted vision of the good, which is discernible only at the intersection of competing visions of the nation and its people and is one which, crucially, can be accommodated within modernity.
Relaxation of contact pressure and self-loosening in dynamic bolted joints
Authors: Stephen JT , Marshall MB , Lewis R
Published: May 2016

Bolted joints are widely used in a variety of engineering applications where they are dynamically loaded with frequencies of vibration spread over a wide spectrum with the same general effects. When under dynamic loading, bolted joints can become loose due to a loss in clamping pressure in the joints. This vibrational loosening sometimes can cause serious problems, and in some cases can lead to fatal consequences if it remains undetected. Non-intrusive ultrasonic and image processing techniques were simultaneously used to investigate the relaxation of contact pressure and loosening of bolted joints subjected to cyclic shear loading. Three critical areas, the contact interface of the bolted component, the bolt length and the rotation of the bolt head, were monitored during loosening of the joints. The results show that loosening of bolted joints can be grouped into three stages: very rapid, rapid, and gradual loosening. The earliest stage of the loosening of bolted joints is characterised by cyclic strain ratcheting–loosening of the bolted joint during vibration without rotation of the bolt head. The higher the rate of relaxation at this early stage, the lower is the resistance of the bolted joint to vibration-induced loosening. Both the dynamic shear load and an additional constant shear load in another direction were observed to affect the rate of loosening, and at this early stage, a rise in the magnitude of the additional constant shear load increases the rate of loosening. Furthermore, the contact pressure distribution affects the rate of loosening at the bolted joint interface, as loosening increases away from area of high contact pressure.
Detecting asymptomatic Trichomonas vaginalis in females using the BD ProbeTec™ Trichomonas vaginalis Qx nucleic acid amplification test
Authors: Lord Emily , Newnham Tana , Dorrell Lucy , Jesuthasan Gerald , Clarke Lorraine , Jeffery Katie , Sherrard Jackie
Published: May 2016

Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) rates in women are increasing and many are asymptomatic. Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are becoming the ‘gold standard’ for diagnosis. We aimed to establish our asymptomatic TV rates by testing all women attending Oxfordshire’s Sexual Health service, regardless of symptoms, using the BD ProbeTec™ TV Qx NAATs (BDQx). During BDQx’s verification process, the sensitivity and specificity were calculated using results of 220 endocervical samples from symptomatic women, compared with culture. BDQx was subsequently implemented and prospectively evaluated over 6 months in female attendees. Wet mount microscopy was also performed in symptomatics. Demographic and clinical characteristics of those diagnosed were analysed. From 220 samples tested by BDQx and culture: 5 were positive on both and one solely using BDQx, giving a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 99.53%, respectively. In the prospective cohort, of 5775 BDQx tests, 33 (0.57%) were positive. 11/33 (33%) patients were asymptomatic. All patients diagnosed had risk factors: age >25 years (85%), residence in a deprived area (79%) and black ethnicity (21%). Despite BDQx being highly sensitive and specific, with our low TV prevalence universal screening may not be justified. Targeted screening using local demographic data merits further investigation.
Early-Childhood Social Reticence Predicts Brain Function in Preadolescent Youths During Distinct Forms of Peer Evaluation
Authors: Jarcho Johanna M. , Davis Megan M. , Shechner Tomer , Degnan Kathryn A. , Henderson Heather A. , Stoddard Joel , Fox Nathan A. , Leibenluft Ellen , Pine Daniel S. , Nelson Eric E.
Published: May 2016

Social reticence is expressed as shy, anxiously avoidant behavior in early childhood. With development, overt signs of social reticence may diminish but could still manifest themselves in neural responses to peers. We obtained measures of social reticence across 2 to 7 years of age. At age 11, preadolescents previously characterized as high ( n = 30) or low ( n = 23) in social reticence completed a novel functional-MRI-based peer-interaction task that quantifies neural responses to the anticipation and receipt of distinct forms of social evaluation. High (but not low) social reticence in early childhood predicted greater activity in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and left and right insula, brain regions implicated in processing salience and distress, when participants anticipated unpredictable compared with predictable feedback. High social reticence was also associated with negative functional connectivity between insula and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, a region commonly implicated in affect regulation. Finally, among participants with high social reticence, negative evaluation was associated with increased amygdala activity, but only during feedback from unpredictable peers.
Why Popper can’t resolve the debate over global warming: Problems with the uses of philosophy of science in the media and public framing of the science of global warming
Authors: Mercer David
Published: May 2016

A notable feature in the public framing of debates involving the science of Anthropogenic Global Warming are appeals to uncritical ‘positivist’ images of the ideal scientific method. Versions of Sir Karl Popper’s philosophy of falsification appear most frequently, featuring in many Web sites and broader media. This use of pop philosophy of science forms part of strategies used by critics, mainly from conservative political backgrounds, to manufacture doubt, by setting unrealistic standards for sound science, in the veracity of science of Anthropogenic Global Warming. It will be shown, nevertheless, that prominent supporters of Anthropogenic Global Warming science also often use similar references to Popper to support their claims. It will also be suggested that this pattern reflects longer traditions of the use of Popperian philosophy of science in controversial settings, particularly in the United States, where appeals to the authority of science to legitimize policy have been most common. It will be concluded that studies of the science of Anthropogenic Global Warming debate would benefit from taking greater interest in questions raised by un-reflexive and politically expedient public understanding(s) of the philosophy of science of both critics and supporters of the science of Anthropogenic Global Warming.
Differentials in Information Technology Professional Category and Turnover Propensity: A Study
Authors: Chakrabarti Subhendu , Guha Sumana
Published: May 2016

Any loss of potential human resource would undoubtedly be a great loss to the organization. Information technology (IT) sector is one of the most important service sectors both globally as well as in India. Being highly labour intensive, the problem of employee turnover appears to be serious to the IT companies towards achieving or maintaining competitive advantages. This study tries to explore the factors responsible for the turnover propensity of the managerial and technical IT professionals. A theoretical framework on employee turnover as well as logistic regression models for the managerial and technical categories of IT employees has been built. Based on primary survey, the study revealed that irrespective of category, age and gender, the attraction of ‘higher salary’ (HS), ‘higher company-brand-name’ (HCBN) and ‘higher portfolio’ (HP), in chronological order, became the important factors for leaving a company, especially among younger employees. Employees’ attitude towards life and work also plays an important role in the turnover decision. Attraction of ‘higher salary’ and ‘higher portfolio’ appears to have the strongest effect on turnover propensity among the managerial and technical category of employees, respectively.
A simple method to characterize the impedance of pyroelectric materials at ultra-low frequencies
Authors: Shaheen Murtadha A , Erturun Ugur , Campbell Brandon , Mossi Karla
Published: May 2016

The purpose of this work is to demonstrate a new simple stand-alone method of characterizing the impedance of a pyroelectric cell. This method utilizes a pyroelectric single pole low-pass filter technique. Utilizing the properties of a pyroelectric single pole low-pass filter technique, a known input voltage is applied and using simple equations, capacitance Cp and resistance Rp at a frequency range of 1 mHz to 1 Hz can be calculated. For verification purposes, an LCR meter and an impedance analyzer were exploited at 10 and 100 Hz, respectively. Results showed that Rp values for two materials, lead zirconate titanate-5A and polyvinylidene difluoride, were within 8%, and Cp values were within 7.5%. In addition, to verify the importance of the impedance values in energy harvesting applications, output power was measured with varying impedance values. The optimal load resistances for polyvinylidene difluoride and lead zirconate titanate-5A were consistent with the measured pyroelectric impedance at the particular heat range with 10.9% and 1.4%, respectively. The pyroelectric single pole low-pass filter method presented here demonstrates that for pyroelectric materials the impedance depends on two major factors: (1) average working temperature and (2) the heating rate. Neglecting these two factors can result in inefficient and unpredictable behavior of pyroelectric materials when used in energy harvesting applications.
Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Group Intervention on Acculturation
Authors: Pan Jia-Yan , Ng Petrus , Young Daniel Kim-Wan , Caroline Schoepf
Published: May 2016

Objective:

This study examined the effectiveness of group cognitive behavioral intervention (CBI) in improving mental health and promoting postmigration growth for Mainland university students in Hong Kong.

Methods:

Thirty-six Mainland students with mild-to-moderate levels of psychological distress have completed a 8-session CBI group. Various mental health measures have been administered at the pre-, post-, and 3-month follow-up tests.

Results:

The levels of psychological distress, acculturative stress, and negative emotions and negative thoughts of the participants were significantly reduced, while their positive emotions and postmigration growth were significantly increased upon completion of the CBI group. The positive effects were maintained at 3-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

CBI group appears to be an effective intervention approach for improving the mental health and promoting postmigration growth for Mainland university students in Hong Kong. Implications for social work practices when engaging with Chinese international students were provided.
Incidence, Characteristics, and Implications of Seizures in Patients With Glioblastoma
Authors: Shin John Y. , Kizilbash Sani H. , Robinson Steven , Uhm Joon H. , Jatoi Aminah
Published: May 2016

Background:

Seizures in patients with glioblastoma are associated with worse quality of life. However, their incidence, clinical characteristics, and prognostic implications are less well characterized.

Objective:

This study was undertaken to provide a contemporary experience along with benchmark data relevant to the above in patients with glioblastoma. It also sought to reexplore improved survival with seizures, as observed by others.

Methods:

In this single-institution study, patients with glioblastoma from 2010 through 2014 had their medical records reviewed in detail.

Results:

Among 122 patients, 58 (48%) had a seizure history. Of these, 67% had more than 1, 41% had generalized seizures, and most received antiseizure medication (most commonly levetiracetam). The median survival for patients with seizures was 1.66 years and 0.87 years for those without (hazard ratio for risk of death with seizures: 0.72; 95% confidence interval: 0.43, 1.21; P = .22 by the log-rank test).

Conclusion:

Seizures are common in patients with glioblastoma and, in contrast to earlier reports, are not associated with a statistically significant improvement in survival.
The Dualism of Contemporary Traditional Governance and the State
Authors: Holzinger Katharina , Kern Florian G. , Kromrey Daniela
Published: May 2016

In many parts of the world, people live in “dual polities”: they are governed by the state and organize collective decision making within their ethnic community according to traditional rules. We examine the substantial body of works on the traditional–state dualism, focusing on the internal organization of traditional polities, their interaction with the state, and the political consequences of the dualism. We find the descriptions of the internal organization of traditional polities scattered and lacking comparative perspective. The literature on the interaction provides a good starting point for theorizing the strategic role of traditional leaders as intermediaries, but large potentials for inference remain underexploited. Studies on the consequences of “dual polities” for democracy, conflict, and development are promising in their explanatory endeavor, but they do not yet allow for robust conclusions. We therefore propose an institutionalist research agenda addressing the need for theory and for systematic data collection and explanatory approaches.
New Effect Sizes for Tests of Categorical Moderation and Differential Prediction
Authors: Nye Christopher D. , Sackett Paul R.
Published: May 2016

Moderator hypotheses involving categorical variables are prevalent in organizational and psychological research. Despite their importance, current methods of identifying and interpreting these moderation effects have several limitations that may result in misleading conclusions about their implications. This issue has been particularly salient in the literature on differential prediction where recent research has suggested that these limitations have had a significant impact on past research. To help address these issues, we propose several new effect size indices that provide additional information about categorical moderation analyses. The advantages of these indices are then illustrated in two large databases of respondents by examining categorical moderation in the prediction of psychological well-being and the extent of differential prediction in a large sample of job incumbents.
Level of education and multiple sclerosis risk over a 50-year period: Registry-based sibling study
Authors: Bjørnevik Kjetil , Riise Trond , Benjaminsen Espen , Celius Elisabeth G , Dahl Ole P , Kampman Margitta T , Løken-Amsrud Kristin I , Midgard Rune , Myhr Kjell-Morten , Torkildsen Øivind , Vatne Anita , Grytten Nina
Published: May 2016

Background:

The conflicting results from studies on socioeconomic status (SES) and multiple sclerosis (MS) risk might be due to a change in the distribution of environmental exposures over time or to methodological limitations in previous research.

Objective:

To examine the association between SES and MS risk during 50 years.

Methods:

We included patients registered in Norwegian MS registries and prevalence studies born between 1930 and 1979, and identified their siblings and parents using the Norwegian Population Registry. Information on education was retrieved from the National Education Registry, categorized into four levels (primary, secondary, undergraduate and graduate) and compared in patients and siblings using conditional logistic regression.

Results:

A total of 4494 MS patients and 9193 of their siblings were included in the analyses. Level of education was inversely associated with MS risk ( p trend < 0.001) with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.73 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.59–0.90) when comparing the highest and lowest levels. The effect estimates did not vary markedly between participants born before or after the median year of birth (1958), but we observed a significant effect modification by parental education ( p = 0.047).

Conclusion:

Level of education was inversely associated with MS risk, and the estimates were similar in the earliest and latest birth cohorts.