bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Familial Factors, Cognitive Vulnerabilities, and Stressful Events Related to Depressive Symptoms in Latino Adolescents
Authors: Young Cara C.
Published: April 2016

This study examined familial factors unique to Latino adolescents within a cognitive vulnerability stress framework, in which negative patterns of thinking contribute to the development of depressive symptoms following stressful life events. Participants were Latino adolescents ( N = 90), 12 to 18 years old. Almost half (~48%) reported elevated depressive symptoms. The final regression model explained 67% of the prevalence of depressive symptoms; stressful life events (including family conflict) and a ruminative response style emerged as unique predictors. Additional sociocultural factors contributing to the model’s explanatory power were familism, family cohesion, and perceived discrimination. Rumination and stressful life events should be considered targets for depression prevention and early intervention programs with Latino youth. Such programs would benefit from cultural modifications that encourage family cohesion and a sense of familism.
The effect of angular misalignment on the stiffness characteristics of tapered roller bearings
Authors: Tong Van-Canh , Hong Seong-Wook
Published: April 2016

The effect of angular misalignment between inner and outer raceways on the stiffness characteristics of tapered roller bearings (TRBs) is investigated. A computational procedure is introduced to solve the equations of TRB in the presence of angular misalignment. A dynamic analysis of a spindle supported by TRBs is also performed to investigate the natural frequency behavior by the stiffness variation due to angular misalignment. An extensive simulation demonstrates the effect of angular misalignment on the TRB characteristics such as roller–raceway contact loads, radial and axial displacements, and induced moment load. Computational results show that angular misalignment alters TRB stiffness characteristics and results in the splitting of the spindle natural frequencies by inducing anisotropic behavior of the TRBs. The proposed model and computational procedure are effective in estimating TRB characteristics and thus would aid in selecting TRBs or determining TRB loading conditions in practical applications.
Patients fifty years and older attending two sexually transmitted disease clinics in Baltimore, Maryland
Authors: Tuddenham Susan A , Page Kathleen R , Chaulk Patrick , Lobe Erika B , Ghanem Khalil G
Published: April 2016

Many individuals remain sexually active into their eighth decade. Surveillance data suggest that rates of sexually transmitted infections in older patients are increasing. We compared demographics, risk behaviors, and predictors of acute infections in patients 50 years and older versus younger patients attending sexually transmitted disease clinics in Baltimore, Maryland. This was a retrospective study from a large electronic database of visits to two urban sexually transmitted disease clinics between 2005 and 2010. Proportions were compared using the Chi square test. Logistic regression was used to assess predictors of acute sexually transmitted infections in older versus younger groups. It was found that patients over 50 were more likely than younger patients to report never using condoms (32.6% [CI 0.31–0.34] versus 24.1% [CI 0.23–0.25]). The overall prevalence of acute sexually transmitted infections was 18.1% (CI 0.17–0.19) in older and 25.8% (CI 0.25–0.27) in younger patients. Older women were more likely to be diagnosed with trichomoniasis (21.5% [CI 18.6–24.5] versus 13.1% [CI 11.5–14.8]). Black race was predictive of having an acute sexually transmitted infections in younger men (OR 2.2 [CI 1.47–3.35]) and women (OR 2.7 [CI 1.34–5.30]) but not in older men (OR 1.2 [CI 0.79–1.73]) or women (OR 1.2 [CI 0.43–3.15]). Older age was associated with a decreased risk of acute STI diagnosis in younger men and older women only, while having had sex for money or drugs in the past month was predictive only in younger women. Reporting symptoms and increasing numbers of sexual partners in the last six months was predictive of acute sexually transmitted infection diagnosis in all age groups. Older patients seeking care at sexually transmitted disease clinics engage in important risk behaviors. Race, a factor predictive of acute sexually transmitted infections in younger patients is not a significant predictor of sexually transmitted infections in older persons.
Development of variable camber wing with morphing leading and trailing sections using corrugated structures
Authors: Takahashi Hiroki , Yokozeki Tomohiro , Hirano Yoshiyasu
Published: April 2016

This article describes the development of variable camber morphing wing, which is mainly composed of corrugated structures. The morphing wing with both leading edge and trailing edge morphing sections is proposed and the prototype model is designed by consideration of finite element structural analysis with actuation mechanisms and aerodynamic analysis. Through wind tunnel experiment with the manufactured prototype model, smooth actuation without harmful deformation under 20 m/s airflow is demonstrated. The observed deformation shape is well correlated with simulated shape by analysis. Thereby, the feasibility of the present morphing wing mechanism and design process are verified.
Efficacy of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy With Chinese ADHD Children
Authors: Leung Cynthia , Tsang Sandra , Ng Gene S. H. , Choi S. Y.
Published: April 2016

Purpose:

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) in Chinese children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or ADHD features.

Methods:

This study adopted a randomized controlled trial design without blinding. Participants were randomized into either the intervention group ( n = 32) and offered PCIT by trained PCIT practitioners or the waitlist control group ( n = 32) and offered PCIT after the intervention group had completed treatment. Parent participants were requested to complete questionnaires on their children’s behavior and their parental stress. PCIT practitioners observed parent–child interactions according to a coding system.

Results:

Analysis was by intention to treat. The results indicated a significant decrease in child behavior and attention problems, parental stress, and negative parenting practices and an increase in positive parenting practices in the intervention group at postintervention ( p ≤ .002 in all cases).

Conclusion:

This study provided promising evidence on the effectiveness of PCIT in Chinese children with ADHD or ADHD features.
Psychometric Properties of the Patients’ Satisfaction Instrument FAMCARE-P13 in a Palliative Care Unit
Authors: Parpa Efi , Galanopoulou Natasa , Tsilika Eleni , Galanos Antonis , Mystakidou Kyriaki
Published: April 2016

Purpose:

To investigate the psychometric properties of the Greek 13-item measure of patients’ satisfaction (FAMCARE-P13) in palliative care setting.

Methods:

A hundred patients completed the FAMCARE-P13. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) have been conducted. Two factors’ solution was revealed from CFA. The questionnaire was administered to an initial validation sample and then for test–retest in a sample of 40 patients 3 days later. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale measuring global self-esteem has been also used as a gold standard for construct validity. Subscale and known groups validity have also been tested for FAMCARE-P13s’ validity.

Results:

A reduced 13-item version of our measure (FAMCARE-P13) possessed 2-factor structure with high reliability. Patient satisfaction was correlated with physical distress, communication and relationship with health-care providers, and caregiver satisfaction.

Conclusions:

We recommend the use of the Greek FAMCARE-P13 to assess care satisfaction of patients with advanced-stage cancer.
Are Inflammatory Biomarkers Increased in Varicose Vein Blood?
Authors: Lattimer Christopher R. , Kalodiki Evi , Geroulakos George , Hoppensteadt Debra , Fareed Jawed
Published: April 2016

Objectives:

To test for the presence of inflammatory biomarkers in blood taken from varicose veins versus antecubital blood of the same patient and compare this to levels in healthy controls.

Methods:

Using a multiplex biochip array method (Randox, United Kingdom), the interleukins (ILs) IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10; vascular endothelial growth factor; interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor α ; monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1); and epidermal growth factor were measured in citrated plasma samples drawn from the arms and legs of 24 patients with varicose veins and 24 controls.

Results:

Expressed as median (interquartile range) in pg/mL, leg samples from patients with varicose veins had significantly higher levels of IL-8 and MCP-1 compared to their own arm samples (IL-8: local 2.3 [1.71-3.3] vs systemic 2.3 [1.62-2.98], P = .023; MCP-1: local 114.42 [84.29-139.05] vs systemic 103.56 [79.75-126.42], P < .0005). This was not observed in the control group. Leg samples from both patients with varicose vein and controls had higher levels of IL-6 compared to their own arm samples (patients: local 1.67 [0.82-4.48] vs systemic 1.24 [0.58-3.26], P = .002; controls: local 1.23 [0.83-1.7] vs systemic 1.03 [1.7-1.52], P = .005). No significant differences were detected with the other biomarkers.

Conclusions:

Blood drawn from the site of varicose veins appears to have significantly increased concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 when compared to the same patient’s arm blood. This supports the hypothesis that inflammation is activated from the tissues drained by the varicose veins.
Size-dependent resonance frequencies of longitudinal vibration of a nonlocal Love nanobar with a tip nanoparticle
Authors: Li Xian-Fang , Tang Guo-Jin , Shen Zhi-Bin , Lee Kang Yong
Published: April 2016

Axial free vibration of a nanobar carrying a nanoparticle is studied based on the nonlocal elasticity theory and Love’s assumption. By considering inertia of radial motion during longitudinal vibration, a governing equation for a nanobar–mass oscillation system is derived via Hamilton’s principle. An exact frequency equation is obtained and an approximate simple expression for the fundamental-mode resonance frequency is given. The size effect of the resonance frequencies is elucidated. The classical Love bar theory and the nonlocal bar theory can be recovered from two special cases by setting the nonlocal parameter and Poisson’s ratio to zero, respectively. Numerical examples are given to show the influence of the nonlocal scaling parameter and attached mass on the resonance frequencies and frequency shifts. Identification formulas for estimating the mass of an attached nanoparticle and predicting the nonlocal parameter are established through the frequency change.
Does the Nature of the Interaction Matter? Understanding Customer Channel Choice for Purchases and Communications
Authors: Polo Yolanda , Sese F. Javier
Published: April 2016

Managing the increasing number and complexity of customer-initiated interactions across multiple channels consistently and effectively has become a key priority for marketing academics and practitioners. To achieve this, it is imperative that marketers understand how and why customers choose the available channels. In this study, we distinguish between two types of interactions, purchases and communications, and argue that the nature of these interactions influences the way customers behave in the presence of multiple channels. Drawing upon perceived risk research, this study develops an integrated conceptual framework that provides a theoretical understanding of customer channel choice for these interactions. The framework is tested empirically in financial services and the results reveal that channel choices significantly differ for purchases and communications. Channel choices for purchases are more inertial and more strongly affected by attitudes (i.e., relationship quality) than for communications. At the same time, preference for a personal touch in channel choice is more pronounced for purchases than for communications, and marketing activities are more effective at driving channel choice for communications. These results offer some recommendations for managing interactions across channels more effectively. For example, the use of personal channels is advised for managing high-risk interactions (i.e., purchases), while for low-risk interactions (i.e., communications), firms can use marketing activities to migrate customers to cheaper channels.
Retrospective comparison of negative pressure wound therapy and silver-coated foam dressings in open-wound treatment in cats
Authors: Nolff Mirja Christine , Fehr Michael , Reese Sven , Meyer-Lindenberg Andrea E
Published: April 2016

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for the treatment of complicated wounds in cats.

Methods

Twenty cats undergoing open-wound treatment in two clinics were classed according to treatment method: NPWT (group A, n = 10) and polyurethane foam dressing (group B, n = 10). Pairs of patients from each group were matched based on wound conformation, localisation and underlying cause. Cats from both groups were compared in terms of duration of previous treatment, time to closure and complications.

Results

Signalment, duration of previous treatment, antibiotic and antiseptic treatment, and bacterial status were comparable between groups. Total time to wound closure was significantly shorter ( P = 0.046, strong effect size; Cohen d = 0.8) in group A (25.8 days, range 11.0–57.0 days) compared with group B (39.5 days, range 28.0–75.0 days). NPWT-treated wounds suffered fewer complications and became septic less frequently during treatment compared with wounds treated with a foam dressing. The progression of fat tissue necrosis was particularly well controlled under NPWT, resulting in fewer deaths due to this condition in this group. However, although a strong effect of NPWT on the progression of infection, fever and sepsis was detected (Cramer-V 0.5), this difference was not significant.

Conclusions and relevance

This study demonstrated that time to healing was considerably shorter, and complication rate lower, in NPWT-treated animals compared with foam dressing-treated cats. In particular, the effective management of infection by NPWT emphasises the value of NPWT in the treatment of cats suffering from infected wounds.
Understanding the health of lorry drivers in context: A critical discourse analysis
Authors: Caddick Nick , Varela-Mato Veronica , Nimmo Myra A , Clemes Stacey , Yates Tom , King James A
Published: April 2016

This article moves beyond previous attempts to understand health problems in the lives of professional lorry drivers by placing the study of drivers’ health in a wider social and cultural context. A combination of methods including focus groups, interviews and observations were used to collect data from a group of 24 lorry drivers working at a large transport company in the United Kingdom. Employing a critical discourse analysis, we identified the dominant discourses and subject positions shaping the formation of drivers’ health and lifestyle choices. This analysis was systematically combined with an exploration of the gendered ways in which an almost exclusively male workforce talked about health. Findings revealed that drivers were constituted within a neoliberal economic discourse, which is reflective of the broader social structure, and which partly restricted drivers’ opportunities for healthy living. Concurrently, drivers adopted the subject position of ‘average man’ as a way of defending their personal and masculine status in regards to health and to justify jettisoning approaches to healthy living that were deemed too extreme or irrational in the face of the constraints of their working lives. Suggestions for driver health promotion include refocusing on the social and cultural – rather than individual – underpinnings of driver health issues and a move away from moralistic approaches to health promotion.
Narrative abilities of preschool bilingual Norwegian-Russian children
Authors: Rodina Yulia
Published: April 2016

Aim and objectives/purpose/research questions:

The study aims at conducting a comprehensive examination of the initial stages of narrative development in both languages of typically developing Norwegian-Russian simultaneous bilinguals. The objective of the study was to investigate whether narrative structure (macrostructure) and narrative productivity (microstructure) are language-dependent abilities (cf. The Linguistic Interdependence Hypothesis) and to explore language exposure effects on the narrative composites.

Design/methodology/approach:

The Multilingual Assessment Instrument for Narratives was used to assess narrative comprehension and production in preschool Norwegian-Russian children ( N = 16, M = 4;6) as well as in Norwegian- ( N = 16, M = 4;5) and Russian monolinguals ( N = 16, M = 4;5).

Data and analysis:

Multiple regression and correlation analysis was conducted to establish the relationship between the narrative macro- and microstructure in bilinguals and through the bilingual–monolingual comparison. In addition, more detailed quantitative and qualitative analysis at each level was performed. Individual bilingual children’s data were also considered.

Findings/conclusions:

Overall the comparison of the narrative macro- and microstructure in the two languages of bilinguals supports the Linguistic Interdependence Hypothesis. Norwegian-Russian children’s ability to compose and especially understand a story is equally developed in both languages. Exposure effects revealing the superiority of Norwegian, the majority language, are found primarily for microstructure measures. The complete picture is achieved through the bilingual–monolingual comparison, which suggests that narrative abilities in the minority language are sensitive to the amount of exposure and their acquisition can be vulnerable.

Originality and significance/implications:

The study provides new evidence on bilinguals’ narrative abilities in a previously unstudied language combination. The new evidence contributes to better understanding of the initial stages of narrative development in typically developing simultaneous bilinguals and establishing the norms for the relevant abilities. Importantly, the study highlights the importance of examining language data in both languages of a bilingual child.
Adventures in love, risk and romance: Navigating post-traditional social relations on Indian dating shows
Authors: Lewis Tania
Published: April 2016

In recent years, Indian TV screens have seen a proliferation of reality shows focused on romance and dating. This essay examines a range of dating formats arguing that such shows offer rich insights into the ways in which contemporary Indian media culture is negotiating and promoting models of gendered individualism and ‘enterprising’ modes of selfhood. Drawing upon data from a study funded by the Australian Research Council on lifestyle and reality TV in South East Asia, our analysis focuses on the complex relationship between the ideals of aspirational modernity and choice-based selfhood promoted by these shows and the realities of ongoing gendered social and economic inequities and the continued cultural potency of religious and familial notions of duty.
How group processes influence, maintain, and overcome health disparities
Authors: Stone Jeff , Kwan Virginia S. Y.
Published: April 2016

This special issue of Group Processes and Intergroup Relations presents new theory and research on how group processes influence, maintain, and overcome health disparities. We present eight papers that document the causes and consequences of health disparities from the perspective of stigmatized and disadvantaged groups, health care providers, and during the course of interaction between patients and providers. Several papers describe interventions and other factors that have the potential to reduce differences in health and well-being. We hope the research in this collection inspires more investigators to consider how their work on group processes and intergroup relations can address, and help to eliminate, disparities in health outcomes for the disadvantaged.
Knowledge management through two virtual communities of practice (Endobloc and Pneumobloc)
Authors: Lara Beatriz , Cañas Francesca , Vidal Antonieta , Nadal Núria , Rius Ferran , Paredes Eugeni , Hernández Marta , Maravall Francisco J , Franch-Nadal Josep , Barbé Ferran , Mauricio Dídac
Published: April 2016

We developed two virtual communities of practice (Endobloc and Pneumobloc) to increase the interaction between general practitioners and nurses in primary care and hospital endocrinologists and pulmonologists. They were designed and developed using an existing web 2.0-based virtual network belonging to the local National Health System, and we quantitatively assessed the usefulness through the participation and use during the first 24 months after the launch in 2010. A total of 26,372 visits (47% Endobloc’s visits) and 2351 contributions (Endobloc’s contribution 38.9%) to both virtual communities of practice were registered during the first 24 months. The most popular sections were the e-Blog and the e-Consultations section in both virtual communities of practice, but some differences in the pattern of use in other sections were observed. Activity on the virtual communities of practice occurred throughout the day including weekends and holiday periods. We showed that virtual communities of practice are feasible under real-life clinical practice.
Identifying the readiness of patients in implementing telemedicine in northern Louisiana for an oncology practice
Authors: Gurupur Varadraj , Shettian Kruparaj , Xu Peixin , Hines Scott , Desselles Mitzi , Dhawan Manish , Wan Thomas TH , Raffenaud Amanda , Anderson Lindsey
Published: April 2016

This study identified the readiness factors that may create challenges in the use of telemedicine among patients in northern Louisiana with cancer. To identify these readiness factors, the team of investigators developed 19 survey questions that were provided to the patients or to their caregivers. The team collected responses from 147 respondents from rural and urban residential backgrounds. These responses were used to identify the individuals’ readiness for utilising telemedicine through factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha reliability test, analysis of variance and ordinary least squares regression. The analysis results indicated that the favourable factor (positive readiness item) had a mean value of 3.47, whereas the unfavourable factor (negative readiness item) had a mean value of 2.76. Cronbach’s alpha reliability test provided an alpha value of 0.79. Overall, our study indicated a positive attitude towards the use of telemedicine in northern Louisiana.
Interrogating participation across disciplinary boundaries: Lessons from political philosophy, cultural studies, art, and education
Authors: Literat Ioana
Published: April 2016

In view of the prominence of online media and their role in enabling new patterns of activity and engagement, the concept of participation has become an increasingly ubiquitous buzzword across a wide variety of disciplines. However, the specifics of its scope and applications are insufficiently interrogated. This article traces the use of the term, participation, across four domains—political philosophy, cultural studies, art, and education—discussing core assumptions about what constitutes meaningful participation in each instance. In particular, for each of these fields of inquiry, attention will be paid to (a) the definition and key debates around participation, (b) the degrees of meaningful participation, and (c) the strengths of each of these perspectives, particularly in terms of opportunities for productive cross-pollination among these disciplines.
‘Gods in World of Warcraft exist’: Religious reflexivity and the quest for meaning in online computer games
Authors: Schaap Julian , Aupers Stef
Published: April 2016

In ‘secular’ Western societies, religious topics permeate media texts of books, films, series and games and such texts even inform several religious-spiritual movements. Critically expanding on theories about ‘fiction-based religion’, ‘invented religion’ or ‘hyper-real religion’, this article studies if, how and why players of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft reflect on religious narratives in the game world and what influence it has on their personal perspective on religion. Based on interviews with 22 international players, three forms of ‘religious reflexivity’ are distinguished: (1) religious performance, an acting out of offline experiences with religion through online role-playing; (2) religious relativism, a shift from dogmatic atheism to a tolerant attitude towards religion; and (3) religious quests, an increased interest in religion and active ‘bricolage’ of online religion and official religion to create personal systems of meaning. Online games, it is concluded, can serve as laboratories where youngsters freely experiment with religion outside the established churches.
Social CEOs: The effects of CEOs’ communication styles and parasocial interaction on social networking sites
Authors: Tsai Wan-Hsiu Sunny , Men Linjuan Rita
Published: April 2016

As one of the first empirical analyses focusing on corporate executive officers’ (CEOs) communication style on social media and its impacts, the study aims to advance the theoretical understanding of CEO sociability and the mechanism underneath its effects on the broader public relations outcome of organization–public relationship and public advocacy. Through a quantitative survey with 332 social media users who have followed corporate CEOs on social media, this study illuminated how CEOs’ responsive and assertive communications induce the CEOs’ followers to perceive the corporate leaders as amicable role models and caring friends, which in turn improve their trust of, satisfaction with, and advocacy for the company. Hence, the findings highlight the pivotal role of CEOs as chief engagement officer in developing meaningful interpersonal interactions and relationships with today’s digital savvy publics.
Kinematic and three-dimensional dynamic modeling of a biped robot
Authors: Hashemi E , Khajepour A
Published: April 2016

This article focuses on inverse kinematic formulation and dynamic modeling of the Nao biped robot's lower body, accompanied by verification with the joints' angles as experimental data. Dynamic modeling in two different planes is discussed and joint angles for the given positions, nominal conditions, and trajectory computations are simulated and graphically illustrated. A new approach for development of the inverse dynamics on the aforementioned robot's lower body is proposed in this paper, analytically studied, and compared with MSC Adams for two various scenarios of fixed supporting leg and ground contact implementation.
Thermal and dynamic mechanical analysis of hybrid jute/sisal fibre reinforced epoxy composite
Authors: Gupta MK
Published: April 2016

The aim of the present study is to investigate the dynamic mechanical and thermal properties of hybrid jute/sisal fibre reinforced epoxy composites. The hybrid composites were prepared by hand layup technique having total fibre loading of 30% by weight with different weight ratios of jute and sisal fibres. Dynamic mechanical properties such as storage modulus ([Formula: see text]), loss modulus ([Formula: see text]) and damping ([Formula: see text]) were investigated in the temperature range of 30–200 ℃. The thermal stability of the prepared composites was studied using thermogravimetric analysis. Other thermal properties such as glass transition temperature ( Tg), crystallization temperature ( Tc) and decomposition temperature ( Td) were also obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. The results indicated a positive effect of hybridization in terms of increase in dynamic mechanical and thermal properties. Storage modulus, loss modulus and Tg were found to be higher for hybrid composite having a higher percentage of jute fibres.
Hyve-3D and the 3D Cursor: Architectural co-design with freedom in Virtual Reality
Authors: Dorta Tomás , Kinayoglu Gokce , Hoffmann Michael
Published: April 2016

Hybrid Virtual Environment 3D (Hyve-3D) is a system that allows architectural co-design inside Virtual Reality by a new model of interaction through a 3D cursor. It augments the concept of the cursor to better interact with three-dimensional virtual spaces, rethinking it as a drawing/control plane and viewpoints inside the virtual world. Handheld tablets intuitively manipulate 3D cursors. Users can simultaneously access their individual complementary views on the tablets as personal windows into the shared immersive display. They can concurrently sketch in three dimensions, transform, and manipulate three-dimensional objects using the tablets as tangible props and collectively navigate the scene using the tablet as a 3D trackpad. The system implementation and co-design assessments of different settings are presented.
Early myocardial impairment in type 1 diabetes patients without known heart disease assessed with tissue Doppler echocardiography: The Thousand & 1 study
Authors: Jensen Magnus Thorsten , Sogaard Peter , Andersen Henrik Ullits , Gustafsson Ida , Bech Jan , Hansen Thomas Fritz , Theilade Simone , Almdal Thomas , Rossing Peter , Jensen Jan Skov
Published: April 2016

Purpose:

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of mortality in type 1 diabetes; patients with albuminuria are at greatest risk. We investigated myocardial function and premature myocardial impairment in type 1 diabetes patients with and without albuminuria compared to controls.

Methods:

This study included a cross-sectional survey of 1093 type 1 diabetes patients from Steno Diabetes Center and 200 healthy controls. Conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiographic measurements were analysed in multivariable models in normoalbuminuria ( n = 760), microalbuminuria ( n = 227) and macroalbuminuria ( n = 106). Investigators were blinded to degree of albuminuria.

Results:

For the type 1 diabetes patients, mean age was 49.6 years, 53% were men and mean diabetes duration was 25.5 years. In multivariable models systolic velocity s′ did not differ between type 1 diabetes patients with normoalbuminuria and controls (β-coefficient [95% confidence interval]: −0.17 [−0.41; 0.08], p = 0.19), but was impaired between controls and microalbuminuria (−0.53 [−0.84; −0.23], p = 0.001) and macroalbuminuria (−0.59 [−0.96; −0.22], p = 0.002). Diastolic measurements ( e′, a′, e′/ a′, and E/ e′) were all significantly impaired in type 1 diabetes, for example, e′/ a′: normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria versus controls: −0.38 [−0.52; −0.23], p < 0.001; −0.49 [−0.67; −0.32], p < 0.001; and −0.81 [−1.03; −0.59], p < 0.001. In age-related analyses, myocardial impairment occurred prematurely in type 1 diabetes compared to controls (e.g. E/ e′ = 8; 9.2 years [normoalbuminuria], 17.3 years [microalbuminuria] and 41.4 years [macroalbuminuria] prematurely, respectively).

Conclusion:

In type 1 diabetes patients with albuminuria, both systolic and diastolic functions are impaired, whereas in patients without albuminuria only diastolic function is affected. Myocardial impairment is detectable many years prematurely in type 1 diabetes, especially in patients with albuminuria.
Absence of the Effect of Pretransplant Body Mass Index on Post Kidney Transplant Outcomes
Authors: Tremblay Simon , Kaiser Tiffany E. , Alloway Rita R. , Woodle E. Steve , Diwan Tayyab S.
Published: April 2016

Context:

Obesity has been reported as risk factor for reduced posttransplant graft and patient survival and increased delayed graft function (DGF).

Objective:

The purpose of this work is to analyze the effect of body mass index (BMI) on defined transplant outcomes in patients transplanted under defined guidelines in a kidney transplant program.

Design:

Review of a prospectively collected database in renal transplant recipients receiving rabbit antithymocyte globulin induction, mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, and early corticosteroid withdrawal between 2001 and 2011.

Setting:

This review was conducted in a single abdominal transplant program in the United States.

Main Outcome Measures:

Primary outcome was death-censored graft survival categorized by posttransplant body mass groups. Secondary outcomes included DGF as well as patient survival.

Results:

Four hundred sixty seven patients were identified. No difference was observed in graft survival or DGF between BMI groups. One-year, death-censored graft survival and patient survival rates ranged from 97.5% to 100% and 96.6% to 100%, respectively. Delayed graft function was uncommon across all BMI groups, ranging from 5.3% to 9.1%, with the lowest incidence in patients with a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2. Biopsy-proven acute rejection rates at 1 year were similar across all groups (10.1%-14%) as were estimated glomerular filtration rates were at 1, 3, and 5 years.

Conclusion:

Our results do not show an effect of BMI on posttransplant outcomes, suggesting that relaxation of BMI criteria may be warranted for recipient selection.
Brief Behavioral Activation for Adolescent Depression
Authors: Pass Laura , Whitney Hannah , Reynolds Shirley
Published: April 2016

Given the long-term negative outcomes associated with depression in adolescence, there is a pressing need to develop brief, evidence-based treatments that are accessible to more young people experiencing low mood. Behavioral Activation (BA) is an effective treatment for adult depression; however, little research has focused on the use of BA with depressed adolescents, particularly with briefer forms of BA. In this article, we outline an adaptation of brief Behavioral Activation Treatment of Depression (BATD) designed for adolescents and delivered in eight sessions (Brief BA). This case example illustrates how a structured, brief intervention was useful for a depressed young person with a number of complicating and risk factors.
Diagnosis, Incidence, and Clinical Implications of Perioperative Myocardial Injury in Vascular Surgery
Authors: Thomas Kate N. , Cotter James D. , Williams Michael J. A. , van Rij André M.
Published: April 2016

Introduction:

Routine measurement of cardiac biomarkers such as troponin T (TnT) is recommended perioperatively, especially in high-risk vascular surgery. Long-term prognosis is worse even in those with nonspecific perioperative myocardial injury. However, a clear understanding of these biomarker profiles and how they should affect patient management is lacking.

Methods:

We examined the perioperative profile of high-sensitivity TnT (hsTnT) release in 85 patients undergoing elective major vascular surgery. Plasma hsTnT was measured preoperatively, at 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively, and then every 24 hours for a maximum of 5 days. Significant elevations in hsTnT with/without clinical indicators of ischemia were used to diagnose myocardial infarction or injury.

Results:

A high incidence of myocardial injury was evident (46% had elevated hsTnT); only 5% were associated with myocardial infarction, and 41% were due to myocardial injury.

Conclusions:

This study emphasizes the high incidence of perioperative myocardial injury and stress in vascular surgery as revealed by the use of the robust and very sensitive biomarker of myocardial damage, hsTnT. The high availability and swift development of increasingly sensitive assays allow detection of abnormal elevated hsTnT levels in a higher proportion of the population. Consequent challenges are the reduced specificity to separate acute events as well as to deduce the prognostic value of elevations due to confusing criteria; this is especially the case in a patient group with multiple comorbidities that affect hsTnT levels chronically.
Reading Level and Comprehension of Research Consent Forms
Authors: Foe Gabriella , Larson Elaine L.
Published: April 2016

Consent forms continue to be at a higher reading level than the recommended sixth to eighth grade, making it difficult for participants to comprehend information before enrolling in research. To assess and address the extent of the problem regarding the level of literacy of consent forms and update previously published reports, we conducted an integrative literature review of English language research published between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2013; 35 descriptive and eight intervention studies met inclusion criteria. Results confirmed that developing forms at eighth-grade level was attainable though not practiced. It was found that risks of participation was the section most poorly understood. There was also a lack of consensus regarding the most effective method to increase comprehension. Further research using standardized tools is needed to determine the best approach for improving consent forms and processes.
Navigating the Murky Waters of Conflict of Interest
Authors: Zonia Susan C.
Published: April 2016

On August 23, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the Final Rule on conflict of interest. The purpose of the rule was to provide a clear framework for federally funded studies to identify, reduce, avoid, and/or manage researchers’ external commercial relationships that could appear to impact the design, conduct, or reporting of research. Since the issuance of the final rule, colleges and universities have been tasked with closely monitoring external commercial relations of faculty to ensure that potential biases in research are minimized. The monitoring has become an even greater challenge as federal dollars for research decline, along with colleges and universities’ ability to internally fund research. External commercial relations, including faculty start-up companies, are often an easy go-to source for funding to continue research and development. In such cases, sources of funding vary from crowdfunding to commercial incubator or innovation project start-up funds. There have been many lessons learned since implementation. This article will site some common examples encountered at one university of commercial relationships that have the potential to affect human subject research. Every industry tie to academically based research must be closely reviewed to ensure appropriate interactions between researchers and sponsors. Equally imperative is to build a collaborative relationship with faculty and conflict of interest administrators. Transparency and partnership are key to developing workable management plans. Even when there is the presence of a significant financial interest, much can be done to protect human subjects as well as the integrity of the research. Independent oversight, prohibiting the principal investigator (PI) from recruiting patients, limiting access to data, replication of results, review of annual progress reports, informing patients of potential financial gain, and so forth, are just a few of the safeguards we can put into place to reduce potential bias and inform and protect human subjects. Just like we need to be creative in identifying new ways of approaching research problems, we need to be creative in how we approach and manage academic and industry relationships. This creativity has the potential to benefit researchers who are exploring new frontiers, patients who may enjoy increased health, and companies with successful products on the market. Caution should be taken when generalizing to other institutions as resources available to manage will vary across organizations.
Design of a fuzzy model that integrates hygiene, safety, and environment systems for the assessment of the overall risk of machines
Authors: Bounit Ahmed , Irhirane Elhassan , Bourquia Nawal , Benmoussa Rachid
Published: April 2016

The hygiene, safety, and environment risk assessment is becoming a major challenge for companies in the area of security. It constitutes a precondition in the definition of the strategy to be adopted. The vagueness, uncertainty of input parameters, disputes over opinions between decision-makers, and the absence of integrated models of overall hygiene, safety, and environment risk assessment constitute a handicap in the assessment of risks’ acceptability. In this article, we propose an integrated model based on fuzzy logic to assess the overall hygiene, safety, and environment risk of machines. This model allows to organize the machines into hierarchy, to put in order management systems according to priority of each machine, and to classify the actions to be implemented by priority within each system. The proposed model is performed in a fuzzy logic toolbox of MATLAB using Mamdani algorithm. A case study is carried out in the Mineral Waters of Oulmes company in order to test the proposed model. A comparison shows that the proposed model offers more accurate, precise, and best results than those of classical methods.
Vascular ageing and interventions: lessons and learnings
Authors: Williams Bryan
Published: April 2016

This review discusses the relationship between elevated blood pressure, hypertension, arterial stiffness and hence vascular ageing. This is a complex process and the majority of treatments target the consequences of this, rather than the pathophysiology of ageing itself. This is because preventing vascular ageing from occurring is complex and would require very early intervention and lifelong treatment. The process of arteriosclerosis is known to result from reversible and irreversible functional components, and, together, these are responsible for the increased systolic and decreased diastolic blood pressure seen with advancing age. Indeed, hypertension develops as it becomes more difficult for the heart to drive blood flow around the body, as a result of poor ventricular coupling and increased arterial stiffness. Elevated blood pressure is therefore a clinical manifestation of ageing that continues to increase with advancing years, and is also linked with an increased risk of cardiac, cerebrovascular and chronic kidney disease. These manifestations arise due to changing haemodynamics associated with ageing, and therefore treatments that reduce the development of these conditions or delay their progression have the potential to improve patient outcomes. This may be possible with existing therapies as well as new treatments currently under investigation.
Theoretical investigation of the particle response to an acoustic field
Authors: Achury Javier , Polifke Wolfgang
Published: April 2016

In this paper, the problem of a particle subjected to an acoustic field is addressed theoretically. Once the fundamental equation of motion is obtained, two nonlinearities are identified: one related to the drag law and one associated with the excitation. In order to face the nonlinearities, two cases are constructed: the first corresponds to the parametric numerical solution of a particle with nonlinear drag in an oscillating flow field (infinite wavelength) and the second refers to the particle submitted to an acoustic standing wave (finite wavelength). For the latter, an approximated analytical solution is formulated. The system is linearized around an equilibrium point and the parameters of the equation are grouped in three nondimensional numbers: the Stokes number ( St), the acoustic Mach number ( Ma), and the densities ratio ( γ). Conditions of parametric resonance in the particle response are deduced for this system by means of the analytical method here proposed, based on Hill’s determinants. Comparison with numerical solutions of the linearized and nonlinearized equations close to an equilibrium point corroborates the analysis for different combinations of parameters.
Dynamic data-driven prediction of instability in a swirl-stabilized combustor
Authors: Sarkar Soumalya , Chakravarthy Satyanarayanan R , Ramanan Vikram , Ray Asok
Published: April 2016

Combustion instability poses a negative impact on the performance and structural durability of both land-based and aircraft gas turbine engines, and early detection of combustion instabilities is of paramount importance not only for performance monitoring and fault diagnosis, but also for initiating efficient decision and control of such engines. Combustion instability is, in general, characterized by self-sustained growth of large-amplitude pressure tones that are caused by a positive feedback arising from complex coupling of localized hydrodynamic perturbations, heat energy release, and acoustics of the combustor. This paper proposes a fast dynamic data-driven method for detecting early onsets of thermo-acoustic instabilities, where the underlying algorithms are built upon the concepts of symbolic time series analysis (STSA) via generalization of D-Markov machine construction. The proposed method captures the spatiotemporal co-dependence among time series from heterogeneous sensors (e.g. pressure and chemiluminescence) to generate an information-theoretic precursor, which is uniformly applicable across multiple operating regimes of the combustion process. The proposed method is experimentally validated on the time-series data, generated from a laboratory-scale swirl-stabilized combustor, while inducing thermo-acoustic instabilities for various protocols (e.g. increasing Reynolds number ( Re) at a constant fuel flow rate and reducing equivalence ratio at a constant air flow rate) at varying air-fuel premixing levels. The underlying algorithms are developed based on D-Markov entropy rates, and the resulting instability precursor measure is rigorously compared with the state-of-the-art techniques in terms of its performance of instability prediction, computational complexity, and robustness to sensor noise.
Management of Acute Hypertensive Response in Patients With Ischemic Stroke
Authors: AlSibai Ahmad , Qureshi Adnan I.
Published: April 2016

High blood pressure (BP) >140/90 mm Hg is seen in 75% of patients with acute ischemic stroke and in 80% of patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhages and is independently associated with poor functional outcome. While BP reduction in patients with chronic hypertension remains one of the most important factors in primary and secondary stroke prevention, the proper management strategy for acute hypertensive response within the first 72 hours of acute ischemic stroke has been a matter of debate. Recent guidelines recommend clinical trials to ascertain whether antihypertensive therapy in the acute phase of stroke is beneficial. This review summarizes the current data on acute hypertensive response or elevated BP management during the first 72 hours after an acute ischemic stroke. Based on the potential deleterious effect of lowering BP observed in some clinical trials in patients with acute ischemic stroke and because of the lack of convincing evidence to support acute BP lowering in those situations, aggressive BP reduction in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke is currently not recommended. While the early use of angiotensin receptor antagonists may help reduce cardiovascular events, this benefit is not necessarily related to BP reduction.
How group discussions create strong attitudes and strong partisans
Authors: Levendusky Matthew S. , Druckman James N. , McLain Audrey
Published: April 2016

Group discussions matter in politics—they affect individuals’ attitudes as well as their political participation. But how do discussions influence the strength of attitudes? This is a question that has received scant attention, despite its relevance to both empirical and normative theories of democracy. We argue that group discussion generates strong attitudes via psychological elaboration. For many, this is a positive outcome. But we also show that discussion has a downside. Specifically, homogenous group discussions—which are the norm—strengthen partisan identities, which can increase partisan bias and motivated reasoning. Using an original experiment, we find strong support for our predictions. Our results, then, underline a tension in the political effects of group discussion: while it produces normatively desirable strong attitudes, it also creates more entrenched and potentially biased partisans.