bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker use is associated with reduced major adverse cardiovascular events among patients with critical limb ischemia
Authors: Armstrong Ehrin J , Chen Debbie C , Singh Gagan D , Amsterdam Ezra A , Laird John R
Published: April 2015

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are recommended for secondary prevention in peripheral artery disease, but their effectiveness in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) is uncertain. We reviewed 464 patients with CLI who underwent diagnostic angiography or endovascular intervention from 2006–2013 at a multidisciplinary vascular center. ACEI or ARB use was assessed at the time of angiography. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), mortality, and major adverse limb events (MALE) were assessed during three-year follow-up. Propensity weighting was used to adjust for baseline differences between patients taking and not taking ACEIs or ARBs. ACEIs or ARBs were prescribed to 269 (58%) patients. Patients prescribed ACEIs or ARBs had more baseline comorbidities including diabetes and hypertension ( p<0.05). Patients prescribed ACEIs or ARBs had lower three-year unadjusted rates of MACE (40% versus 47%) and mortality (33% versus 43%). After propensity weighting, ACEI or ARB use was associated with significantly lower rates of MACE (hazard ratio [HR] 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58–0.99, p=0.04) and overall mortality (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.53–0.95, p=0.02). There was no significant association between ACEI or ARB use and MALE (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.69–1.35, p=0.2) or major amputation (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.47–1.18, p=0.1). ACEI/ARB use is associated with lower MACE and mortality in patients with CLI, but there was no effect on limb-related outcomes.
Dry sliding wear behavior of SiC and B4C-reinforced AA6351 metal matrix composite produced by stir casting process
Authors: Thirumalai Kumaran S , Uthayakumar M , Aravindan S , Rajesh S
Published: April 2015

In the present study, the influence of Boron Carbide (B4C) particles on the dry sliding wear behavior of aluminum matrix alloy (AA6351) – Silicon Carbide (SiC) composite – produced by the stir casting method is investigated. The wear test is carried out by pin-on-disc apparatus over an applied load range of 20–100 N and sliding velocity ranging from 1 to 5 m/s. The worn surfaces are discussed in detail with the Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) image. The experimental results show that the maximum wear rate of 21.91 × 10−3 mm3/m is achieved for the AA-5 wt. % SiC composite at 100 N load and 2 m/s sliding velocity. However, the inclusion of B4C particles on the composite reduced the wear rate significantly. Thus, the increased wt. % of B4C particles in the composite exhibits a good wear resistance behavior at higher load and sliding velocity conditions.
Tourism development and the backpacker market in Highland Scotland
Authors: Hindle Natalie , Martin Andrew , Nash Robert
Published: April 2015

Backpacking is an emerging market within the tourism sector. Despite its growth limited research has been conducted in Scotland, or even Europe, in relation to this form of travel. Qualitative data were gathered utilising a combination of interviews and focus groups to help achieve the aim of understanding backpackers’ motivations for visiting Scotland. It emerged that the primary push factors were escape and knowledge seeking. Both of which can be related to the optimal arousal theory; those seeking escape as experiencing over stimulation in their normal lives, and those who were seeking knowledge as experiencing under stimulation. Pull factors for visiting Scotland included: Scotland’s scenery, positive word of mouth recommendations, geographic location, genealogy, the English language, job opportunities, outdoor activities and tangible aspects including cultural and natural features. Results suggest that the backpacker market is highly heterogeneous regarding motivations and there is a necessity for more research in this area so that backpackers’ needs are fulfilled which will help facilitate destination loyalty.
To plan or not to plan: The internal conversations of young people leaving care
Authors: Hung Isabelle , Appleton Peter
Published: April 2015

The purpose of this research is to characterise the internal conversations of individual young people in transition from state care, with a goal of supporting practitioners’ approaches to ‘pathway planning’, and contributing to theories of agency in emerging adulthood under conditions of long-term adversity. We used Margaret Archer’s theory of agency, in which internal conversations are regarded as playing a central role in mediating between structure and agency. Archer describes three different modes of (actively agential) internal conversation: communicative reflexivity, autonomous reflexivity and meta-reflexivity; and one mode of passive agency: fractured reflexivity – associated with adverse contextual constraints. In a qualitative design, using Archer’s open-ended interview framework we met nine participants, aged 19–24, varying considerably in outcome, recruited at a specialised service for care leavers in London UK. Analysis of the interview data included an extended phase of individual case analysis. Two participants experienced emerging active agency (however, both experienced elements of fractured reflexivity). Three participants experienced fractured reflexivity, with limited internal conversation, and low planning agency (however, each experienced green shoots of focused internal dialogue). Four participants experienced a survival-oriented mode of internal conversations, a category not found in Archer’s previous work. All four of these participants showed some elements of fractured reflexivity, but narrated rich internal conversations, including accounts of adverse experiences in which self-reliance was seen as having been essential. The majority of participants (across modes) found the idea of planning (beyond day-to-day) anathema.
Integrated visual analysis of patterns in time series and text data - Workflow and application to financial data analysis
Authors: Wanner Franz , Jentner Wolfgang , Schreck Tobias , Stoffel Andreas , Sharalieva Lyubka , Keim Daniel A
Published: April 2015

In this article, we describe a workflow and tool that allows a flexible formation of hypotheses about text features and their combinations, which are significantly connected in time to quantitative phenomena observed in stock data. To support such an analysis, we combine the analysis steps of frequent quantitative and text-oriented data using an existing a priori method. First, based on heuristics, we extract interesting intervals and patterns in large time series data. The visual analysis supports the analyst in exploring parameter combinations and their results. The identified time series patterns are then input for the second analysis step, in which all identified intervals of interest are analyzed for frequent patterns co-occurring with financial news. An a priori method supports the discovery of such sequential temporal patterns. Then, various text features such as the degree of sentence nesting, noun phrase complexity, and the vocabulary richness, are extracted from the news items to obtain meta-patterns. Meta-patterns are defined by a specific combination of text features which significantly differ from the text features of the remaining news data. Our approach combines a portfolio of visualization and analysis techniques, including time, cluster, and sequence visualization and analysis functionality. We provide a case study and an evaluation on financial data where we identify important future work. The workflow could be generalized to other application domains such as data analysis of smart grids, cyber physical systems, or the security of critical infrastructure, where the data consist of a combination of quantitative and textual time series data.
The Role of First-Semester GPA in Predicting Graduation Rates of Underrepresented Students
Authors: Gershenfeld Susan , Ward Hood Denice , Zhan Min
Published: April 2015

Academic performance is a primary predictor of college graduation, yet few studies have examined one of the earliest indicators of academic performance—first-semester grade point average (GPA). Given the considerable public and private investment in ensuring access for underrepresented students, a focus on the role of first-semester GPA for these students is particularly important. This is a study of 1,947 students at a public, flagship university in the Midwest who were enrolled between 2005 and 2006 in targeted access program(s) that offered scholarship and support services. A set of logistic regression models indicate low first-semester GPA is a statistically significant factor in explaining why underrepresented students do not graduate within the 6-year time frame. In addition to students on academic probation (GPA below 2.0 on a 4.0 scale), this includes students with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.33. Independent effects of race and scholarship/support programs are also assessed. Policy and practice implications are discussed.
Adjustment to College in an Urban Commuter Setting
Authors: Melendez Mickey C.
Published: April 2015

College student adjustment, success, and retention have been a focus of college administrators and student development professionals for decades. However, national college retention and graduation statistics are typically focused on traditional, residential, full-time, college populations. The purpose of the current study was to examine more closely the impact of race/ethnicity, gender, and athletic participation on the adjustment to college of 162 college freshman attending a diverse urban commuter institution. The Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ) was employed to test the impact of the three independent variables (race/ethnicity, gender, athletic participation) on the four SACQ subscales (dependent variables). Findings revealed significant Pearson correlations and multivariate analysis of variance main effects among the variables of gender and athletic participation on certain SACQ subscales. More specifically, multivariate analysis of variance main effect findings were revealed for the variables of gender on the academic adjustment and institution attachment subscales of the SACQ and for athletic participation on the social adjustment subscale of the SACQ. Implications of these findings for student services and athletics programming are discussed.
Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches
Authors: Lewis Sarah
Published: April 2015

Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design provides an overview of the five main traditions of qualitative research. The author explains the uniqueness of each approach and its applicability to different types of inquiry. Illustrative examples from public health and social science fields are provided. The book details study design, question development, data collection and analysis, and summarizing and interpreting results, and how the research process differs according to each approach. This resource can serve as a useful guide for public health practitioners and graduate-level students interested in the theory and practice of rigorous qualitative research.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cognitive Decline
Authors: White Nicole D.
Published: April 2015

The brain is a lipid-rich organ and thus it is reasonable to question the role of fatty acids in normal brain function, including cognition. The purpose of this article is to examine our current knowledge on the relationship between omega-3 fatty acids (ω3FA) and cognitive function and explore the therapeutic implications of ω3FA in the prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment. Published cross-sectional and prospective observational research, though not fully consistent, predominantly support the role of ω3FA in decreasing the risk of cognitive decline. However, to date, the results from randomized controlled trials have been predominantly null, with the exception of supplementation in individuals with mild cognitive impairment. Whether lack of evidence is a result of insufficient study design or absence of actual benefit warrants further clinical research. Given the low side effect profile, high accessibility, and relatively low cost, it is reasonable to recommend, at minimum, the dietary intake of ω3FA or supplementation of fish oil in alignment with the 2010 Department of Health and Human Services Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Rethinking environmental leadership: The social construction of leaders and leadership in discourses of ecological crisis, development, and conservation
Authors: Case Peter , Evans Louisa S , Fabinyi Michael , Cohen Philippa J , Hicks Christina C , Prideaux Murray , Mills David J
Published: April 2015

Leadership is heralded as being critical to addressing the “crisis of governance” facing the Earth's natural systems. While political, economic, and corporate discourses of leadership have been widely and critically interrogated, narratives of environmental leadership remain relatively neglected in the academic literature. The aims of this paper are twofold. First, to highlight the centrality and importance of environmental science's construction and mobilization of leadership discourse. Second, to offer a critical analysis of environmental sciences' deployment of leadership theory and constructs. The authors build on a review of leadership research in environmental science that reveals how leadership is conceptualized and analyzed in this field of study. It is argued that environmental leadership research reflects rather narrow framings of leadership. An analytical typology proposed by Keith Grint is employed to demonstrate how any singular framing of environmental leadership as person, position, process, result, or purpose is problematic and needs to be supplanted by a pluralistic view. The paper concludes by highlighting key areas for improvement in environmental leadership research, with emphasis on how a political ecology of environmental crisis narratives contributes to a more critical body of research on leadership in environmental science.
Authentic leading as relational accountability: Facing up to the conflicting expectations of media leaders
Authors: Painter-Morland Mollie , Deslandes Ghislain
Published: April 2015

This research is focused on understanding the ethical implications of conflicting expectations faced by leaders in the media industries. Though the “blended leadership” approach proposed by Collinson and Collinson discusses the existence of these conflicting expectations, we argue that work remains to be done on how this impacts leaders’ authenticity and accountability. Can leaders who respond to these varied demands still consider themselves authentic and accountable to a broad range of stakeholders? As our analysis of data gathered through an empirical study in Europe and the USA shows, the pursuit of profit does not always sit comfortably with the insistence on journalistic integrity, and decisiveness does not always foster openness toward experimentation. We explore the literature on authentic leadership to argue that its references to relational transparency make it difficult to deal with the “blended” nature of leadership reality. In response, we propose that relational accountability could be a more appropriate way to remain authentic despite conflicting demands.
Combining reliability attributes to maintenance policies to improve high-voltage oil circuit breaker performances in the case of competing risks
Authors: Iberraken Fairouz , Medjoudj Rafik , Medjoudj Rabah , Aissani Djamil
Published: April 2015

This article deals with reliability attributes combined with preventive maintenance actions to improve the performances of a high-voltage oil circuit breaker. These attributes are examined using technical and organizational measures on the downstream feeder and the aim is to reduce the number of switching off due to failures; however, the maintenance actions are operated on the high-voltage oil circuit breaker to reduce the degradation velocity. The competing risks are highlighted by degradation process effects due to the continuous use of the device and by the shock process due to solicitations when a short-circuit occurs in the downstream feeder. From theoretical point of view, this article shows the modelling process to express the state probabilities and the dynamic reliability changing. From the practical point of view, it shows the ability to implement under MATLAB software package the theoretical models constructed firmly. The obtained results show that the effects of shocks are more significant than those due to degradation process and the high-voltage oil circuit breaker performances are more affected by the downstream reliability changing than by the preventive maintenance actions. Finally, this work has highlighted a global way to investigate protection device performances and has shown the attributes of reliability not only to ensure a high quality of service to power customer but also how to preserve the integrity of a critical device in the power system.
Patients with biopsy-proven nephrosclerosis and moderately impaired renal function have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease: 15 years’ experience in a single, kidney disease center
Authors: Suzuki Hiromichi , Kobayashi Kazuhio , Ishida Yuji , Kikuta Tomohiro , Inoue Tsutomu , Hamada Ukihiro , Okada Hirokazu
Published: April 2015

Background:

Nephrosclerosis progresses slowly to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in only a small percentage of patients. However, because hypertension and nephrosclerosis are normally found simultaneously, nephrosclerosis is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). In turn, the onset of CVD may progress to further renal impairment.

Aim:

To evaluate clinical outcomes and the association between nephrosclerosis and CVD in the long term.

Design:

Prospective study

Methods:

We prospectively assessed 35 patients (male/female: 19/16) with nephrosclerosis aged >30 years at disease onset, attending the Kidney Disease Center, Saitama Medical University, in a single teaching hospital center between 1995 and 2014. Nephrosclerosis was diagnosed in accordance with the criteria outlined in the World Health Organization (WHO) monograph of renal diseases. All patients were followed by means of registries for 10 years to record subsequent events, if any.

Outcomes:

The primary study outcome was correlating the occurrence of CVD, defined as a composite of cardiovascular deaths, nonfatal and fatal myocardial infarction, and stroke, with the development of ESRD or death.

Results:

The mean age of patients at the time of biopsy was 54.8 ± 12.7 years (range 33–72 years). Of these patients, seven were affected by nonfatal CVD and two died due to CVD. Only one patient developed ESRD during the follow-up period. Using Kaplan–Meier analysis, risk factors for the primary study outcome were estimated to include an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2, systolic blood pressure > 130 mmHg and proteinuria > 1 g/g creatinine. Univariate analysis was used for the assessment of the relative risk for the primary study endpoint of several covariates: age, systolic blood pressure, eGFR and proteinuria at time of renal biopsy. eGFR was found to be the strongest factor determining an event-free period [relative risk (RR) =1.931, p = 0.014].

Conclusions:

Patients with nephrosclerosis are at high risk of CVD when they have moderately advanced renal impairment.
Automaticity, mindfulness, and self-control as predictors of dangerous texting behavior
Authors: Panek Elliot T. , Bayer Joseph B. , Dal Cin Sonya , Campbell Scott W.
Published: April 2015

The problems of distracted driving and distracted pedestrian accidents have attracted the attention of public health officials, transportation and psychology researchers, and communication scholars. Though public safety campaigns intended to curb dangerous texting behaviors have been implemented, relatively little is known about the psychological processes involved in these behaviors. Our study integrates emerging research on automatic behavior, self-control, and mindfulness in an attempt to explain why many individuals believe that such behavior is dangerous but engage in it anyway. Our survey study ( N = 925) of college students ( n = 313) and adults ( n = 612) revealed that texting automaticity, trait self-control, and the “acting with awareness” facet of trait mindfulness were all uniquely predictive of texting while driving as well as texting while walking. Further, we observe that texting automaticity is more strongly related to the frequency of texting while walking than driving. Together, the findings synthesize disparate strands of research on cognition and media use and demonstrate the importance of distinguishing among types of consciousness to understanding mobile communication behavior.
Direct effects of Facio-Oral Tract Therapy® on swallowing frequency of non-tracheotomised patients with acute neurogenic dysphagia
Authors: Konradi Jürgen , Lerch Annekatrin , Cataldo Marilena , Kerz Thomas
Published: April 2015

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to investigate the direct effect of Facio-Oral Tract Therapy® on swallowing frequency of non-tracheotomised patients with acute neurogenic dysphagia.

Methods:

Within a pre-, post-/during and follow-up study design, 19 non-tracheotomised dysphagic patients were included consecutively and treated according to three specific preselected Facio-Oral Tract Therapy stimulation techniques.

Results:

The primary outcome was the direct effect of the three different Facio-Oral Tract Therapy stimulation techniques on the number of swallows. We found a significant effect of Facio-Oral Tract Therapy on swallowing frequency as compared to baseline with an increase by 65.63% and medium effect size of D = 0.62. No significant difference could be demonstrated when comparing baseline to follow-up.

Conclusion:

For the first time, this positive therapy effect could be demonstrated on a population of non-tracheotomised patients. Facio-Oral Tract Therapy seems to be an appropriate means for improving effectiveness and safety of swallowing. Since improvement was not long lasting, it appears to be reasonable to apply therapy frequently during the day with the plausible result of minimising the amount of aspirated saliva and thereby reducing the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Further studies may consider choosing a randomised controlled trial design to demonstrate that change in swallow frequency is related to the target intervention only.
Drawing as children’s language: Contributions of psychology to the enrichment of research methodologies applied to child consumers
Authors: Ezan Pascale , Gollety Mathilde , Hémar-Nicolas Valérie
Published: April 2015

On the basis of knowledge acquired in psychology, this work aims to reflect on the sources of graphic language and how this language can be mobilized in research on child consumers. It provides a methodological framework and legitimizes the use of graphic language by suggesting three ways of structuring data collection (guided drawing, oriented drawing, free drawing) and two techniques for analyzing the corpus according to the research objectives.
Cancer Diagnosis and Mental Health among Older White Adults
Authors: Schafer Markus H. , Koltai Jonathan
Published: April 2015

Cancer is a life-changing condition for many American seniors, and a growing body of literature is assessing the mental health implications of living with the disease. This article builds from the well-known buffering hypothesis with insights from recent cancer research to investigate whether social networks moderate the association between cancer and mental health for older men and women. Analyses use two waves of survey data (2005-2006 and 2011) from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (N = 1,367), enabling us to track new diagnoses of cancer and network dynamics over time. Consistent with a stress-buffering pattern, larger and growing networks were associated with lower rates of depressive symptomology among women survivors relative to those with small and shrinking networks. There was little evidence that emotional closeness to network members or density moderated the mental health consequences of cancer among men or women.
Rumination and Worry in Daily Life
Authors: Kircanski Katharina , Thompson Renee J. , Sorenson James E. , Sherdell Lindsey , Gotlib Ian H.
Published: April 2015

Rumination and worry, two forms of perseverative thinking, hold promise as core processes that transect depressive and anxiety disorders. Whereas previous studies have been limited to the laboratory or to single diagnoses, we used an experience sampling methodology to assess and validate rumination and worry as transdiagnostic phenomena in the daily lives of individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and co-occurring MDD-GAD. Clinical and healthy control participants carried a handheld electronic device for one week. Eight times per day they reported on their current levels of rumination and worry and their theoretically postulated features: thought unpleasantness, repetitiveness, abstractness, uncontrollability, temporal orientation, and content, and overall senses of certainty and control. Both rumination and worry emerged as transdiagnostic processes that cut across MDD, GAD, and MDD-GAD. Furthermore, most psychological theories concerning rumination and worry strongly mapped onto participants’ reports, providing the first naturalistic validation of these constructs.
Boundary Restriction for Negative Emotional Images Is an Example of Memory Amplification
Authors: Takarangi Melanie K. T. , Oulton Jacinta M. , Green Deanne M. , Strange Deryn
Published: April 2015

We investigated whether boundary restriction—misremembering proximity to traumatic stimuli—is a form of memory amplification and whether reexperiencing trauma plays a role in boundary restriction errors. In four experiments, subjects viewed a series of traumatic photographs. Later, subjects identified the photographs they originally saw among distracters that could be identical, close-up, or wide-angled versions of the same photographs. Subjects also completed measures of mood, analogue PTSD symptoms, phenomenological experience of intrusions, and processing style. Across experiments, subjects were more likely to incorrectly remember the photographs as having extended boundaries: boundary extension. Despite this tendency, the extent to which subjects reexperienced traumatic aspects of the photographs predicted how often they incorrectly remembered the photographs as having narrower boundaries: boundary restriction. Our data suggest that although boundary extension is more common, boundary restriction is related to individual differences in coping mechanisms posttrauma. These results have theoretical implications for understanding how people remember trauma.
Proximal Hamstring Repair Strength
Authors: Harvey Margaret Ann , Singh Hardeep , Obopilwe Elifho , Charette Ryan , Miller Suzanne
Published: April 2015

Background:

Proximal hamstring repair for complete ruptures has become a common treatment. There is no consensus in the literature about postoperative rehabilitation protocols following proximal hamstring repair. Some protocols describe bracing to prevent hip flexion or knee extension while others describe no immobilization. There are currently no biomechanical studies evaluating proximal hamstring repairs; nor are there any studies evaluating the effect of different hip flexion angles on these repairs.

Hypothesis:

As hip flexion increases from 0° to 90°, there will be a greater gap with cyclical loading.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Proximal hamstring insertions were detached from the ischial tuberosity in 24 cadavers and were repaired with 3 single-loaded suture anchors in the hamstring footprint with a Krakow suture technique. Cyclic loading from 10 to 125 N at 1 Hz was then performed for 0°, 45°, and 90° of hip flexion for 1500 cycles. Gap formation, stiffness, yield load, ultimate load, and energy to ultimate load were compared between groups using paired t tests.

Results:

Cyclic loading demonstrated the least amount of gap formation ( P < .05) at 0° of hip flexion (2.39 mm) and most at 90° of hip flexion (4.19 mm). There was no significant difference in ultimate load between hip flexion angles (326, 309, and 338 N at 0°, 45°, and 90°, respectively). The most common mode of failure occurred with knot/suture failure (n = 17).

Conclusion:

Increasing hip flexion from 0° to 90° increases the displacement across proximal hamstring repairs. Postoperative bracing that limits hip flexion should be considered.

Clinical Relevance:

Repetitive motion involving hip flexion after a proximal hamstring repair may cause compromise of the repair.
Modeling and experimental analysis of squeeze flow of sealant during hot bar sealing and methods of preventing squeeze-out
Authors: Morris Barry A , Scherer Jonathan M
Published: April 2015

Excessive pressure and temperature during hot bar sealing of flexible packaging films can result in seal failure due to squeezing out of the sealant from the seal area. A model is developed that shows the amount of squeeze-out increases with increasing seal bar pressure, seal temperature (by lowering the viscosity of the sealant), sealing dwell time, film thickness, and decreasing seal bar width. Validation experiments qualitatively agree with the model predictions. Both the model and experimental results show that the rheology of the sealant plays a significant role in preventing squeeze-out; high viscosity at low shear rates favor less squeeze-out. The work shows that under normal sealing conditions, squeeze-out is not substantial. Avoiding excessive temperature or pressure is critical to minimizing squeeze out to ensure good sealing performance.
Synthesis, structural characterization, and tensile properties of fructose functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes/chitosan nanocomposite films
Authors: Mallakpour Shadpour , Madani Maryam
Published: April 2015

In this study, novel nanocomposite films of chitosan with fructose modified multi-walled carbon nanotube were prepared by solution casting technique. The fructose modified multi-walled carbon nanotube and the resulting bionanocomposite films were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The transmission electron microscopy showed that the presence of the functional moieties helped to improve the dispersion and compatibility of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the chitosan matrix. The tensile strength of bionanocomposite films was increased from 32 MPa for the pure chitosan film up to 62.96 MPa for the nanocomposite with 7 wt% addition of fructose modified multi-walled carbon nanotube.
Characterisation of cold sprayed Al5056/SiCp coating: effect of SiC particle size
Authors: Yang T. , Yu M. , Chen H. , Li W. Y. , Liao H. L.
Published: April 2015

The present paper studied the effect of SiC particle size on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al5056/SiCp composite coatings. A wide powder size range varying from 2 to 67 μm assured the differences in the particle velocity and kinetic energy of the used SiC powders. Simulation results show that the velocity of SiC particle decreases with the increase of the particle size, while the kinetic energy greatly increases with the increase of particle size. The experimental microstructure observations show that the SiC content in the coatings decreases with the decrease of the SiC particle size under the bow shock effect due to the inferior kinetic energy. The microhardness of all the composite coatings is higher than that of the pure Al5056 coating, and the SiC powder in the coating could play a double face effect on the cohesion strength of the coatings.
FlnA binding to PACSIN2 F-BAR domain regulates membrane tubulation in megakaryocytes and platelets
Authors: Begonja Antonija Jurak , Pluthero Fred G. , Suphamungmee Worawit , Giannini Silvia , Christensen Hilary , Leung Richard , Lo Richard W. , Nakamura Fumihiko , Lehman William , Plomann Markus , Hoffmeister Karin M. , Kahr Walter H. A. , Hartwig John H. , Falet Hervé
Published: April 2015

Key Points

The F-BAR protein PACSIN2 associates with the initiating demarcation membrane system in megakaryocytes. FlnA binding to the PACSIN2 F-BAR domain regulates membrane tubulation in megakaryocytes, platelets, and in vitro.
Validation of two predictive models for survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Sitbon Olivier , Benza Raymond L. , Badesch David B. , Barst Robyn J. , Elliott C. Gregory , Gressin Virginie , Lemarié Jean-Christophe , Miller Dave P. , Muros-Le Rouzic Erwan , Simonneau Gérald , Frost Adaani E. , Farber Harrison W. , Humbert Marc , McGoon Michael D.
Published: April 2015

The French Pulmonary Hypertension Network (FPHN) registry and the Registry to Evaluate Early And Long-term Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Disease Management (REVEAL) have developed predictive models for survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In this collaboration, we assess the external validity (or generalisability) of the FPHN ItinérAIR-HTAP predictive equation and the REVEAL risk score calculator.

Validation cohorts approximated the eligibility criteria defined for each model. The REVEAL cohort comprised 292 treatment-naïve, adult patients diagnosed <1 year prior to enrolment with idiopathic, familial or anorexigen-induced PAH. The FPHN cohort comprised 1737 patients with group 1 PAH.

Application of FPHN parameters to REVEAL and REVEAL risk scores to FPHN demonstrated estimated hazard ratios that were consistent between studies and had high probabilities of concordance (hazard ratios of 0.72, 95% CI 0.64–0.80, and 0.73, 95% CI 0.70–0.77, respectively).

The REVEAL risk score calculator and FPHN ItinérAIR-HTAP predictive equation showed good discrimination and calibration for prediction of survival in the FPHN and REVEAL cohorts, respectively, suggesting prognostic generalisability in geographically different PAH populations. Once prospectively validated, these may become valuable tools in clinical practice.
The relationship between asthma and suicidal behaviours: a systematic literature review
Authors: Barker Emma , Kõlves Kairi , De Leo Diego
Published: April 2015

Asthma is a highly prevalent chronic condition worldwide, and is particularly common in younger people compared to other chronic conditions. Asthma can result in a number of symptoms that are detrimental to the quality of life of sufferers. The aim of the present systematic literature review was to analyse the existing literature on the relationship between asthma and fatal and nonfatal suicidal behaviours.

Articles were retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest and Web of Knowledge. We searched for the terms (suicid* OR self-harm) AND (asthma* OR “bronchial hyperreactivity”) published in English-language peer-reviewed journals between 1990 and December 2014. Original research papers providing empirical evidence about the potential link between asthma and suicidal behaviours were included.

The initial search identified 746 articles. Specific limiting criteria reduced the number of articles to the 19 articles that were finally included in the systematic review.

The review found a potential link between asthma and suicide mortality, ideation and attempts across the age groups. Limitations of the review include the restriction to English-language papers published within the chosen time period, the limited number of papers involving suicide mortality, and the fact that the majority of papers originated from the USA.
The genetic basis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Kropski Jonathan A. , Blackwell Timothy S. , Loyd James E.
Published: April 2015

Throughout the past decade, there have been substantial advances in understanding the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Recently, several large genome-wide association and linkage studies have identified common genetic variants in more than a dozen loci that appear to contribute to IPF risk. In addition, family-based studies have led to the identification of rare genetic variants in genes related to surfactant function and telomere biology, and mechanistic studies suggest pathophysiological derangements associated with these rare genetic variants are also found in sporadic cases of IPF. Current evidence suggests that rather than existing as distinct syndromes, sporadic and familial cases of IPF (familial interstitial pneumonia) probably reflect a continuum of genetic risk. Rapidly evolving bioinformatic and molecular biology techniques, combined with next-generation sequencing technologies, hold great promise for developing a comprehensive, integrated approach to defining the fundamental molecular mechanisms that underlie IPF pathogenesis.
Sleeping on animal fur is related to asthma outcomes in later childhood
Authors: Tischer Christina , Standl Marie , Lehmann Irina , Schaaf Beate , von Berg Andrea , Heinrich Joachim
Published: April 2015

Animal furs might represent a “proxy” for high and diverse microbial exposures within a critical time window of immune development. We assessed whether sleeping on animal fur shortly after birth is associated with asthma and atopy up to the age of 10 years.

LISAplus participants (n=2441) from Munich and Leipzig, Germany, were included in the analysis. Animal fur exposure, cofactors and health outcomes were obtained periodically up to 10 years of age by parental questionnaires. Information on specific IgE to aeroallergens was available at 10 years. Cytokine-producing peripheral T-cells were assessed in a subgroup of children at 2 and 3 years. Confounder-adjusted associations were evaluated using logistic regression analyses.

Sleeping on animal fur was very common (55%). In adjusted logistic regression analyses, sleeping on animal fur was inversely associated with recurrent early wheezing at 4 years (adjusted OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61–0.93) and current asthma at 6 years (adjusted OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.31–1.01). Furthermore, sleeping on animal fur during the first 3 months of life was significantly associated with a persistently stimulated interferon-γ response until the age of 3 years.

Animal fur could be an effective measure of creating environments associated with higher microbial exposure.
A randomised trial of lung sealantversusmedical therapy for advanced emphysema
Authors: Come Carolyn E. , Kramer Mordechai R. , Dransfield Mark T. , Abu-Hijleh Muhanned , Berkowitz David , Bezzi Michela , Bhatt Surya P. , Boyd Michael B. , Cases Enrique , Chen Alexander C. , Cooper Christopher B. , Flandes Javier , Gildea Thomas , Gotfried Mark , Hogarth D. Kyle , Kolandaivelu Kumaran , Leeds William , Liesching Timothy , Marchetti Nathaniel , Marquette Charles , Mularski Richard A. , Pinto-Plata Victor M. , Pritchett Michael A. , Rafeq Samaan , Rubio Edmundo R. , Slebos Dirk-Jan , Stratakos Grigoris , Sy Alexander , Tsai Larry W. , Wahidi Momen , Walsh John , Wells J. Michael , Whitten Patrick E. , Yusen Roger , Zulueta Javier J. , Criner Gerard J. , Washko George R.
Published: April 2015

Uncontrolled pilot studies demonstrated promising results of endoscopic lung volume reduction using emphysematous lung sealant (ELS) in patients with advanced, upper lobe predominant emphysema. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ELS in a randomised controlled setting.

Patients were randomised to ELS plus medical treatment or medical treatment alone. Despite early termination for business reasons and inability to assess the primary 12-month end-point, 95 out of 300 patients were successfully randomised, providing sufficient data for 3- and 6-month analysis.

57 patients (34 treatment and 23 control) had efficacy results at 3 months; 34 (21 treatment and 13 control) at 6 months. In the treatment group, 3-month lung function, dyspnoea, and quality of life improved significantly from baseline when compared to control. Improvements persisted at 6 months with >50% of treated patients experiencing clinically important improvements, including some whose lung function improved by >100%. 44% of treated patients experienced adverse events requiring hospitalisation (2.5-fold more than control, p=0.01), with two deaths in the treated cohort. Treatment responders tended to be those experiencing respiratory adverse events.

Despite early termination, results show that minimally invasive ELS may be efficacious, yet significant risks (probably inflammatory) limit its current utility.
Management of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in clinical practice: the INSIGHTS-IPF registry
Authors: Behr Jürgen , Kreuter Michael , Hoeper Marius M. , Wirtz Hubert , Klotsche Jens , Koschel Dirk , Andreas Stefan , Claussen Martin , Grohé Christian , Wilkens Henrike , Randerath Winfried , Skowasch Dirk , Meyer F. Joachim , Kirschner Joachim , Gläser Sven , Herth Felix J.F. , Welte Tobias , Huber Rudolf Maria , Neurohr Claus , Schwaiblmair Martin , Kohlhäufl Martin , Höffken Gert , Held Matthias , Koch Andrea , Bahmer Thomas , Pittrow David
Published: April 2015

After introduction of the new international guidelines on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in 2011, we investigated clinical management practices for patients with IPF according to physicians' diagnoses.

A prospective, multicenter, noninterventional study with comprehensive quality measures including on-site source data verification was performed in Germany.

502 consecutive patients (171 newly diagnosed, 331 prevalent; mean±sdage 68.7±9.4 years, 77.9% males) with a mean disease duration of 2.3±3.5 years were enrolled. IPF diagnosis was based on clinical assessments and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in 90.2%, and on surgical lung biopsy combined with histology in 34.1% (lavage in 61.8%). The median 6-min walk distance was 320 m (mean 268±200 m). The mean forced vital capacity was 72±20% pred and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide was 35±15% pred. No drugs were administered in 17.9%, oral steroids in 23.7%,N-acetylcysteine in 33.7%, pirfenidone in 44.2% and other drugs in 4.6% of patients. Only 2.8% of the cohort was listed for lung transplantation.

IPF patients were diagnosed in line with the new guidelines. They had more severe disease than those enrolled in recent randomised controlled trials. In addition to HRCT, the frequency of lung biopsies was surprisingly high. Treatment patterns varied substantially.
Effects of quitting cannabis on respiratory symptoms
Authors: Hancox Robert J. , Shin Hayden H. , Gray Andrew R. , Poulton Richie , Sears Malcolm R.
Published: April 2015

Smoking cannabis is associated with symptoms of bronchitis. Little is known about the persistence of symptoms after stopping cannabis use. We assessed associations between changes in cannabis use and respiratory symptoms in a population-based cohort of 1037 young adults.

Participants were asked about cannabis and tobacco use at ages 18, 21, 26, 32 and 38 years. Symptoms of morning cough, sputum production, wheeze, dyspnoea on exertion and asthma diagnoses were ascertained at the same ages. Frequent cannabis use was defined as ≥52 occasions over the previous year. Associations between frequent cannabis use and respiratory symptoms were analysed using generalised estimating equations with adjustments for tobacco smoking, asthma, sex and age.

Frequent cannabis use was associated with morning cough (OR 1.97, p<0.001), sputum production (OR 2.31, p<0.001) and wheeze (OR 1.55, p<0.001). Reducing or quitting cannabis use was associated with reductions in the prevalence of cough, sputum and wheeze to levels similar to nonusers.

Frequent cannabis use is associated with symptoms of bronchitis in young adults. Reducing cannabis use often leads to a resolution of these symptoms.
2D inversion-based interpretation of logging-while-drilling thermal-neutron and gamma-ray time decays
Authors: Ortega Edwin , Torres-Verdín Carlos , Preeg William E.
Published: April 2015

Identification and petrophysical evaluation of thinly bedded formations with borehole resistivity measurements can be problematic due to the large volume of investigation of the measurements. Logging-while-drilling (LWD) Sigma logs can overcome this difficulty because Sigma measurements have a smaller volume of investigation. Sigma is the macroscopic absorption nuclear cross section of a material that quantifies the material’s ability to absorb thermal neutrons. The contrast in Sigma between salty formation water and hydrocarbons makes Sigma logs useful for resistivity-independent estimation of water saturation. We assumed LWD Sigma measurements acquired with one near thermal-neutron detector (near), one short-spaced gamma-ray detector (SSn), and one long-spaced gamma-ray detector (LSn). Separation of multidetector Sigma logs may indicate the presence of mud-filtrate invasion in the case of thick formations. However, Sigma measurements acquired in thinly bedded formations are affected not only by invasion, but also by shoulder beds such that the separation between logs with different radial lengths of investigation will not necessarily be due to mud-filtrate invasion. We have developed an inversion-based interpretation method of LWD Sigma measurements to estimate 2D formation properties with reduced invasion and shoulder-bed effects. We tested this method with two synthetic and two field cases. Results indicated that the 2D inversion-based interpretation method improved the calculation of water saturation from Sigma logs sustaining environmental and geometric effects. Conventional interpretation of Sigma logs can lead to overestimation of water saturation by as much as 50% resulting from shoulder-bed effects in uninvaded formations and by as much as 100% in depth zones simultaneously affected by invasion, shoulder beds, and well deviation.
Traveltime tomography of a dense wide-angle profile across Orphan Basin
Authors: Watremez Louise , Helen Lau K. W. , Nedimović Mladen R. , Louden Keith E.
Published: April 2015

We used first arrivals and Moho reflections from the 500-km-long Orphan Basin Wide-Angle Velocity Experiment (OBWAVE) profile with 3–5-km instrument spacing to construct a traveltime tomography section and to delineate the Moho discontinuity across the Orphan Basin. The Orphan Basin is a failed rift located offshore Newfoundland, Canada, showing thinned continental crust over an unusually wide region. We observed (1) a zone of extreme crustal thinning ([Formula: see text]-thick crust) with no evidence for mantle serpentinization, (2) basement morphology exhibiting tilted blocks linked to the crustal thinning, and (3) a thicker central crustal segment that is probably related to prerift structural inheritance. Comparison with the adjacent Jeanne d’Arc Basin to the southeast suggested the presence of a decoupling zone between the two basins accommodating the difference in extension rates. There was a good correlation between the tomographic velocities and the reflection structure derived from a coincident seismic reflection profile except in an area in which the reflection seismic data suggested the presence of a deep sedimentary basin. The velocity model computed in this work indicated that this area consists of prerift basement rather than Jurassic or older sediments. Tomographic models computed by varying the density of the recording instrument array gave insight into the relationship among the target size, the instrument spacing needed to resolve it, and the velocity model uncertainty. These results may help guide the design of future wide-angle reflection and refraction surveys across rifted structures.