bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urban Services on Regional Rail: Local and Network-Based Methodologies for Evaluating New Stations in Toronto
Authors: Nagorsky Becca , Borbridge Richard
Published: June 2018

The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area’s regional GO Rail network is undergoing a substantive upgrade to provide a two-way, all-day, electrified, 15-min service. These investments have led to discussions about the nature of the service and calls to add new stations, particularly within the City of Toronto. This paper explores the methodology used to evaluate specific new station locations in the City of Toronto and beyond, along with a concurrent analysis of the impacts of a package of new stations on the network performance and hierarchy. Both assessments used a multi-faceted business case framework. Travel-time impacts, land use, costs, feasibility, and other factors influenced the recommendation of sites intended to optimize the substantial investment in network infrastructure, and address city-building objectives like encouraging development and providing access to underserved communities. Network analysis points to new stations within the city shifting the traditional three-tier network hierarchy comprised of regional rail, urban rapid transit, and local transit to a hybrid network in which regional rail serves some intermediate functions.
Sports-Related Concussion Occurrence at Various Time Points During High School Athletic Events: Part 2
Authors: Covassin Tracey , Petit Kyle M. , Savage Jennifer L. , Bretzin Abigail C. , Fox Meghan E. , Walker Lauren F. , Gould Daniel
Published: June 2018

Background:

Sports-related concussion (SRC) injury rates, and identifying those athletes at the highest risk, have been a primary research focus. However, no studies have evaluated at which time point during an athletic event athletes are most susceptible to SRCs.

Purpose:

To determine the clinical incidence of SRCs during the start, middle, and end of practice and competition among high school male and female athletes in the state of Michigan.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiological study.

Methods:

There were 110,774 male and 71,945 female student-athletes in grades 9 through 12 (mean time in high school, 2.32 ± 1.1 years) who participated in sponsored athletic activities (13 sports) during the 2015-2016 academic year. An SRC was diagnosed and managed by a medical professional (ie, MD, DO, PA, NP). SRC injuries were reported by certified athletic trainers, athletic administrators, and coaches using the Michigan High School Athletic Association Head Injury Reporting System. Time of SRC was defined as the beginning, middle, or end of practice/competition. Clinical incidence was calculated by dividing the number of SRCs in a time point (eg, beginning) by the total number of participants in a sport per 100 student-athletes (95% CI). Risk ratios were calculated by dividing one time point by another time point.

Results:

There were 4314 SRCs reported, with the highest in football, women’s basketball, and women’s soccer. The total clinical incidence for all sports was 2.36 (95% CI, 2.29-2.43) per 100 student-athletes. The most common time for SRCs was the middle, followed by the end of all events. Athletes had a 4.90 (95% CI, 4.44-5.41) and 1.50 (95% CI, 1.40-1.60) times greater risk during the middle of all events when compared with the beginning and end, respectively. There was a 3.28 (95% CI, 2.96-3.63) times greater risk at the end of all events when compared with the beginning.

Conclusion:

Athletes were at the greatest risk for SRCs at the middle of practice and competition when compared with the beginning and end.

Clinical Relevance:

The current study suggests that medical attention is particularly important during the middle of all athletic events. Intervention measures to limit SRCs may be most beneficial during the middle of athletic events.
Between Situations: Anticipation, Rhythms, and the Theory of Interaction
Authors: Tavory Iddo
Published: June 2018

This article pushes interactionist sociology forward. It does so by drawing out the implications of a simple idea, that to understand the situation—the mise en scene of interactionist theory—we must understand it in relation not only to past-induced habits of thought and action but to future situations anticipated in interaction. Focusing especially on the rhythmic nature of situations, the paper then argues that such a recalibration both unsettles core tenets of interactionism and helps solve some problems in the sociology of culture. As an illustration, it focuses on two such puzzles—the place of disruption in interaction and the relationship between the notion of “boundaries” and of “distinctions” in the sociology of culture.
Positive Culture and Prognosis in Patients With Sepsis: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Molina Fernando , Castaño Pablo , Plaza Maribel , Hincapié Carolina , Maya Wilmar , Cataño Juan Carlos , González Javier , León Alba , Jaimes Fabián
Published: June 2018

Purpose:

To analyze the prognostic role of positive cultures in patients with sepsis.

Methods:

A prospective cohort study in a tertiary referral hospital in Medellín, Colombia. Adults older than 18 years of age with a bacterial infection diagnosis according to Centers for Disease Control criteria and sepsis (evidence of organ dysfunction) were included. A logistic regression model was used to determine the association between positive cultures and hospital mortality, and a Cox regression with a competing risk modeling approach was used to determine the association between positive cultures and hospital stay as well as secondary infections.

Results:

Overall, 408 patients had positive cultures, of which 257 were blood culture, and 153 had negative cultures. Patients with positive cultures had a lower risk of mortality (odds ratio [OR], 0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27-0.68), but this association was not maintained after adjusting for confounding factors (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.31-1.01). No association was found with the hospital stay (adjusted subhazard ratio [SHR], 1.06; 95% CI, 0.83-1.35). There was no association between positive cultures and the presence of secondary infections (adjusted SHR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.58-1.71).

Conclusion:

Positive cultures are not associated with prognosis in patients with sepsis.
Religiosity: Protective or Risk Factor for Posttraumatic Distress Among Adolescents Who Were Exposed to Different Types of Acts of Political Violence
Authors: Sakat Efrat , Schiff Miriam
Published: June 2018

This study examined the potential moderating effects of religiosity on the associations between exposure to acts of political violence and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS) among Jewish adolescents in Israel. In addition, it examined whether self-reported physical and interpersonal exposure to acts of political violence predicts PTS symptoms beyond the objective exposure effects (i.e., the proximity of participants’ place of residence to high-, moderate-, or low-intensity political violence). A representative sample of 2,992 Jewish high school students (Grades 10 and 11) was taken. We used self-reporting to measure the level of religiosity and the Impact of Events Scale–Revised (IES-R) to measure PTS symptoms. Results show that self-reported exposure to acts of political violence adds a significant additional amount of variance to the prediction of PTS symptoms after objective exposure is already included in the regression equation. Religiosity was found as a risk factor for PTS symptoms such that the greater the religiosity of the adolescents, the higher their PTS symptoms. Therefore, prevention interventions should target the vulnerable group of religious Jewish adolescents.
Load disturbance rejection control of a bearingless induction motor based on fractional-order integral sliding mode
Authors: Yang Zebin , Wang Kun , Sun Xiaodong , Ye Xiaoting
Published: June 2018

In order to improve the capability of load disturbance resistance of vector control system for a bearingless induction motor, a control strategy of the bearingless induction motor based on sliding mode speed controller and load torque observer is proposed. The control strategy uses fractional integral of velocity error and designs the nonlinear integral order sliding mode surface, and then a new bearingless induction motor speed control system is constructed. The extended sliding mode observer is designed with the rotor position, rotational speed and load torque as the observation object. The low-pass filter is used to weaken the high-frequency chattering of the sliding mode control to improve the accuracy of the observation, and the load torque observation value is compensated to the fractional-order integral sliding mode speed controller. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed scheme achieves accurate and fast tracking of the load torque, effectively suppresses the chattering and improves the robustness of the system. The control system improves the resistance capacity against load disturbance and has better dynamic performance.
Is the matched extreme case–control design more powerful than the nested case–control design?
Authors: Støer NC , Salim A , Bokenberger K , Karlsson I , Reilly M
Published: June 2018

For time-to-event data, the study sample is commonly selected using the nested case–control design in which controls are selected at the event time of each case. An alternative sampling strategy is to sample all controls at the same (pre-specified) time, which can either be at the last event time or further out in time. Such controls are the long-term survivors and may therefore constitute a more ‘extreme’ comparison group and be more informative than controls from the nested case–control design. We investigate this potential information gain by comparing the power of various ‘extreme’ case–control designs with that of the nested case–control design using simulation studies. We derive an expression for the theoretical average information in a nested and extreme case–control pair for the situation of a single binary exposure. Comparisons reveal that the efficiency of the extreme case–control design increases when the controls are sampled further out in time. In an application to a study of dementia, we identified Apolipoprotein E as a risk factor using a 1:1 extreme case–control design, which provided a hazard ratio estimate with a smaller standard error than that of a 2:1 nested case–control design.
Evaluation of salt content of curry soup containing coconut milk by near infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Cheevitsopon Ekkapong , Sirisomboon Panmanas
Published: June 2018

A feasibility study was performed to assess whether near infrared spectroscopy could evaluate the salt content of curry soup containing coconut milk. The soup samples were from the mixing tank, a water content adjusted tank, the ultra-high temperature pipe, and laminated containers of a food processor plant. In addition, fish sauce adjusted samples made from the same recipe but with increasing or decreasing (±30%, 60%, and 90%) sauce content were prepared. There were 113 samples in total, which were scanned using a Fourier-transform near infrared spectrometer. The prediction models for salt content were established using near infrared spectral data in conjunction with partial least squares regression. Calibration models developed using all of the samples were validated using leave-one-out cross validation and test set validation. The unadjusted sample models were validated using test set validation. The results showed that both validation methods for the calibration models using all of the samples provided similar model performance where the r2, root mean square error of calibration/root mean square error of prediction, and residual predictive deviation were 0.956, 0.065%, and 4.77 for cross validation and 0.954, 0.064%, and 4.64 for the test set, respectively. However, the salt unadjusted sample model showed better performance where the r2, RMSEP, and RPD were respectively 0.963, 0.043%, and 5.23, indicating that excellent models can be developed to determine the salt content of curry soup containing coconut milk for any applications, including quality assurance.
Grey zones and triangulation of the employment relationship in globalisation
Authors: Dieuaide Patrick
Published: June 2018

This article discusses the changes in employment relationships under globalisation and, more specifically, the phenomenon of triangulation and the attendant proliferation of employment grey zones. The first section sets out a framework for analysis of the conditions governing the organisation and exercise of power by employers in such situations by reviewing two types of relationship: an agency relationship and a relationship of intervention. Drawing on fieldwork and a number of case studies, the second part examines how human resources managers in large corporations use their powers of discretion in these situations. The third part analyses this particular form of regulation with regard to the nature of the subordinate relationship of employees to their employers. We show that the existence of employment grey zones reflects not so much a watering down of that subordinate relationship as a shift towards new values and new means of expression.
Facilitated Learning Groups: an initiative to enhance psychiatric training in South Australia
Authors: Asan Alvin , Gill Shane
Published: June 2018

Objectives:

Facilitated Learning Groups (FLGs) were introduced by the South Australian Psychiatry Branch Training Committee in 2016 to provide support for trainees. These incorporated Balint group principles but also had roles that extended beyond a traditional Balint group. This paper reports an evaluation of these groups after their first 12 months.

Methods:

An evaluation form was sent to all trainee participants, seeking quantitative and qualitative feedback about their experience.

Results:

The majority of trainees found the FLGs to be beneficial. A thematic analysis of the written feedback revealed several key benefits for the participants, including having access to a senior psychiatrist who was outside of training and supervision, mixing with trainees across years and regions, and the capacity to discuss difficult work environments.

Conclusions:

A forum for trainees to develop reflective practice and discuss challenging issues, which is not involved in their assessment, was experienced positively by the majority of participants and should be considered for wider adoption across Australia and New Zealand.
CHOICES-TEEN: Reducing Substance-Exposed Pregnancy and HIV Among Juvenile Justice Adolescent Females
Authors: Parrish Danielle E. , von Sternberg Kirk , Benjamins Laura J. , Duron Jacquelynn , Velasquez Mary
Published: June 2018

Objective:

The feasibility and acceptability of CHOICES-TEEN—a three-session intervention to reduce overlapping risks of alcohol-exposed pregnancy (AEP), tobacco-exposed pregnancy (TEP), and HIV—was assessed among females in the juvenile justice system.

Method:

Females aged 14–17 years on community probation in Houston, TX, were eligible if presenting with aforementioned health risks. Outcome measures—obtained at 1- and 3-months postbaseline—included the Timeline Followback, Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8, session completion/checklists, Working Alliance Inventory–Short, and open-ended questions. Twenty-two participants enrolled (82% Hispanic/Latina; mean age = 16).

Results:

The results suggest strong acceptability and feasibility with high client satisfaction and client/therapist ratings, 91% session completion, and positive open-ended responses. All youth were at risk at baseline, with the following proportions at reduced risk at follow-up: AEP (90% at 1 month, 71.4% at 3 months), TEP (77% of smokers [ n = 17] at reduced risk at 1 month, 50% at 3 months), and HIV (52.4% at 1 month, 28.6% at 3 months).
Premaxillary Setback With Posterior Vomerine Ostectomy: Outcomes of Single-Stage Repair of Complete Bilateral Cleft Lip With a Severely Protruding Premaxilla
Authors: Almas Fernando , Cote Valerie , Ramly Elie P. , Kantar Rami S. , Hamdan Usama
Published: June 2018

Objective:

Evaluating the safety and outcomes of premaxillary setback with posterior vomerine ostectomy in single-stage repair of complete bilateral cleft lip (CBCL) with severe premaxillary protrusion.

Design:

Retrospective case series.

Setting:

Multiple outreach surgical sites.

Patients/Participants:

From 2012 to 2016, 41 patients with CBCL and severe premaxillary protrusion underwent posterior vomerine premaxillary setback (PVPS) by a single surgeon in Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru. Patients 4 months to 18 years old undergoing primary or revision CBCL surgery were eligible for inclusion in the study. Patients with diagnosed syndromes were excluded.

Interventions:

Posterior vomerine premaxillary setback.

Main Outcome Measures:

Postoperative complications and postoperative aesthetic outcomes.

Results:

The mean age at surgery was 3.7 ± 3.8 years, with an average follow-up time of 17.0 ± 13.9 months. Patients underwent their procedures in Brazil (71%), Ecuador (22%), and Peru (7%). The majority of patients were aged 2 years or less (56%), were males (54%), had undergone prior surgery (56%), and had not undergone preoperative surgical orthopedics (95%). None of the patients developed major complications. All patients were able to undergo PVPS with concomitant required procedures and had good aesthetic outcomes.

Conclusions:

Few reports have evaluated single-stage CBCL repair or revision with severe premaxillary protrusion using PVPS. Our study shows that this technique is safe and results in good aesthetic outcomes. Further follow-up with anthropometric patient data is needed to evaluate long-term postoperative outcomes.
Anal Cancer Prevention Perspectives Among Foreign-Born Latino HIV-Infected Gay and Bisexual Men
Authors: Koskan Alexis M. , Fernandez-Pineda Madeline
Published: June 2018

This study explores understanding of primary and secondary prevention of anal cancer among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected foreign-born Latino gay and bisexual men (GBM). Between August 2015 and December 2016, researchers conducted 33 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with HIV-infected foreign-born Latino GBM. Interview questions sought to determine participants’ knowledge and perceived barriers and facilitators to primary and secondary prevention of anal cancer. Researchers analyzed interview transcripts using a qualitative content analysis approach. For primary prevention, men reported a lack of knowledge about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. However, for secondary prevention, roughly 60% of participants had previously screened for anal dysplasia via anal Papanicolaou (Pap) smear. However, participants reported willingness to screen, and provider recommendation was the most common screening facilitator. Men reported stigma related to their HIV status, sexual orientation, and anal Pap smear procedures as anal cancer screening barriers. Participants reported willingness to use a self-screening anal Pap smear test if it was commercially available. Health providers continue to be the leading source of health information. Therefore, provider recommendation for HPV vaccination and anal cancer screening among age-eligible foreign-born Latino HIV-infected GBM is critical. More work is needed to destigmatize HIV and sexual orientation to influence positive health behaviors among this population. Future intervention research could test the effects of provider-led interventions and also media campaigns aimed at influencing HPV vaccine uptake and anal cancer screening among this population.
An investigation on interior noise reduction using 2D locally resonant phononic crystal with point defect on car ceiling
Authors: Wu Xudong , Zhang Minghai , Zuo Shuguang , Huang Haidong , Wu Hao
Published: June 2018

Interior noise, as one of the indicators of automotive NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) performance, has been associated with an increasing importance in ride comfort evaluation. This paper presents a new method of interior noise reduction based on phononic crystal theory. Considering the lightweight requirement, the car ceiling plate is divided into nine regions to determine where the phononic oscillators should be mounted. By leveraging the acoustic contribution analysis of each region, the phononic crystal is arranged in the region that contributes the most to interior noise, bringing out the best attenuation effect in its bandgap. However, it is noted that at certain frequencies, the vibration of the ceiling plate or other body plates, which exhibits negative contribution to interior noise, should not be attenuated due to their beneficial effects. Thus in this paper, a point defect is employed for the design of a two-dimensional (2D) phononic crystal structure to preserve the negative contribution part of the plate’s vibration at specific frequencies. The validity of the proposed method in interior noise reduction is verified by simulation. Moreover, the error analysis is implemented and an optimization scheme is proposed.
Effects of absorption placement on sound field of a rectangular room: A statistical approach
Authors: Lau Siu-Kit , Powell Eric A
Published: June 2018

Room resonances create dramatic fluctuations in the distribution of sound pressure throughout the listening region of a room. Previous studies indicate that the addition of sound absorbing material decreases room resonances and shifts its modal characteristics. The present study proposes an approach which qualifies the effects that the additional absorption in a listening room may have on the sound fields and the frequency responses. Finite element analysis was employed for modelling the low-frequency responses of a room. The study analyses frequency responses at various listening positions involving different amounts and different placement of sound absorbents on room surfaces by observing standard deviation for linearity across a chosen frequency range. Two-dimensional sound field plots at listening height were also used to examine the spatial changes of room resonances caused by the additional absorption. The present study applied a modified statistical approach to evaluate both the sound field and the frequency responses of a room. The results were then applied to re-evaluate the effects of the absorbers location on the listening region through the proposed approach.
Less Bang for Your Buck? How Social Capital Constrains the Effectiveness of Social Welfare Spending
Authors: Compton Mallory E.
Published: June 2018

Rising economic insecurity in recent decades has focused attention on the importance of social welfare programs in managing household financial stability. Some governments are more effective than others in managing this outcome, and informal social institutions help explain why. Social capital is expected to shape economic security through multiple mechanisms, but whether the effect is to magnify or mitigate volatility is an open question. Part of the answer has to do with how social capital interacts with policy implementation, and whether it conditions the effectiveness of government spending. Evidence from the U.S. states from 1986 to 2010 fails to support a benevolent social capital thesis—not only is social capital associated withgreatereconomic insecurity, there is no evidence that it improves social welfare effectiveness. However, greater spending on some social programs can mitigate the adverse impact of social capital on economic security.
States Testing the Legal Limits: The Effect of Electoral Competition on the Constitutionality of State Statutes
Authors: Black Bryan M. , Shay Laine P.
Published: June 2018

When the U.S. Supreme Court decides to exercise judicial review on a law passed by a democratically elected institution, it can have a profound and critical impact on public policy. Furthermore, recent research shows that the Court more frequently declares state statutes unconstitutional than federal statutes. However, only a limited number of studies have extensively explored this political phenomenon. One aspect of a state that has not been considered in connection with the Supreme Court's use of judicial review over state legislation is the electoral environment in which the laws are produced. We argue that because electoral competition affects the legislative output from a state, it could also influence the likelihood that a state has a statute invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court. When examining all states between 1971 and 2010, we find evidence in support of our theoretical expectation. Specifically, we find that an increase in electoral competition corresponds to an increased likelihood that a state has a statute invalidated by the Supreme Court. This finding contributes to our understanding of the Supreme Court's use of judicial review, and it also suggests that electoral pressure can incentivize states to craft unconstitutional public policy.
Multimodal Neuroimaging: Basic Concepts and Classification of Neuropsychiatric Diseases
Authors: Tulay Emine Elif , Metin Barış , Tarhan Nevzat , Arıkan Mehmet Kemal
Published: June 2018

Neuroimaging techniques are widely used in neuroscience to visualize neural activity, to improve our understanding of brain mechanisms, and to identify biomarkers—especially for psychiatric diseases; however, each neuroimaging technique has several limitations. These limitations led to the development of multimodal neuroimaging (MN), which combines data obtained from multiple neuroimaging techniques, such as electroencephalography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and yields more detailed information about brain dynamics. There are several types of MN, including visual inspection, data integration, and data fusion. This literature review aimed to provide a brief summary and basic information about MN techniques (data fusion approaches in particular) and classification approaches. Data fusion approaches are generally categorized as asymmetric and symmetric. The present review focused exclusively on studies based on symmetric data fusion methods (data-driven methods), such as independent component analysis and principal component analysis. Machine learning techniques have recently been introduced for use in identifying diseases and biomarkers of disease. The machine learning technique most widely used by neuroscientists is classification—especially support vector machine classification. Several studies differentiated patients with psychiatric diseases and healthy controls with using combined datasets. The common conclusion among these studies is that the prediction of diseases increases when combining data via MN techniques; however, there remain a few challenges associated with MN, such as sample size. Perhaps in the future N-way fusion can be used to combine multiple neuroimaging techniques or nonimaging predictors (eg, cognitive ability) to overcome the limitations of MN.
Automatic Cartilage Segmentation for Delayed Gadolinium-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Hip Joint Cartilage: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Hesper Tobias , Bittersohl Bernd , Schleich Christoph , Hosalkar Harish , Krauspe Rüdiger , Krekel Peter , Zilkens Christoph
Published: June 2018

Objective

Automatic segmentation for biochemical cartilage evaluation holds promise for an efficient and reader-independent analysis. This pilot study aims to investigate the feasibility and to compare delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) hip joint assessment with manual segmentation of acetabular and femoral head cartilage and dGEMRIC hip joint assessment using automatic surface and volume processing software at 3 Tesla.

Design

Three-dimensional (3D) dGEMRIC data sets of 6 patients with hip-related pathology were assessed (1) manually including multiplanar image reformatting and regions of interest (ROI) analysis and (2) automated by using a combined surface and volume processing software. For both techniques, T1Gd values were obtained in acetabular and femoral head cartilage at 7 regions (anterior, anterior-superior, superior-anterior, superior, superior-posterior, posterior-superior, and posterior) in central and peripheral portions. Correlation between both techniques was calculated utilizing Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.

Results

A high correlation between both techniques was observed for acetabular (ρ = 0.897; P < 0.001) and femoral head (ρ = 0.894; P < 0.001) cartilage in all analyzed regions of the hip joint (ρ between 0.755 and 0.955; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Automatic cartilage segmentation with dGEMRIC assessment for hip joint cartilage evaluation seems feasible providing high to excellent correlation with manually performed ROI analysis. This technique is feasible for an objective, reader-independant and reliable assessment of biochemical cartilage status.
A Policy Analysis of Mandatory Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screening in the Trucking Industry
Authors: Kirkendoll Kenya D. , Heaton Karen
Published: June 2018

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic condition characterized by occlusion of the upper airway during sleep resulting in daytime sleepiness. Drivers with OSA are at a two- to sevenfold increase in risk of motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). Approximately, 13% to 28% of commercial motor vehicle drivers (CMVDs) are thought to have OSA. Obstructive sleep apnea is a significant issue in the transportation industry. Currently, The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) does not mandate OSA screening. Federal regulations only specify that CMVDs be free of “respiratory dysfunction” that would impair driving. Untreated OSA is a public safety concern. The purpose of this article is to use Bardach’s eightfold policy analysis approach to examine policy options related to OSA screening in the trucking industry.
Cities, institutional entrepreneurship and the emergence of new environmental policies: The organizing of waste prevention in the City of Gothenburg, Sweden
Authors: Zapata Patrik , Zapata Campos María José
Published: June 2018

Informed by institutional entrepreneurship theory and based on the case of waste prevention projects in the City of Göteborg, this paper examines the role of cities in shaping new environmental policies. Structured by the research question, ‘How do cities shape novel environmental policies and practices?’, the paper illustrates how cities become agents of environmental change and institutional entrepreneurship through mobilizing and recombining resources (i.e. human, financial, and spatial), rationales (by reframing symbols, challenging taboos, and transforming waste socio-materialities), and relations (via internal and external collaboration and by creating new institutional arrangements, roles, and expectations). Emerging environmental policies, such as waste prevention, represent the structuring of an incipient environmental policy field. This new generation of environmental policies expands the scope of the public sector (the so-called publicness), reshapes the public/private distinction, and challenges taboos such as the intrusion of publicness into privateness.
Interpretation of formation permeability and pressure responses from wireline formation testing with consideration of interlayers
Authors: Yang Min , Yang Daoyong , Chen Andrew
Published: June 2018

We have developed a workflow to interpret formation permeability in a hydrocarbon reservoir with consideration of interlayers by numerically simulating the measured pump-out flow and pressure responses from wireline formation testing (WFT). With the field data obtained from a dual packer tool in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, we have developed and validated a high-resolution numerical model to simulate the fluid-sampling process together with transient pressure. History matching has been performed with field data to assess the effective thickness and then interpret the permeability for each flow unit. In addition to generating eight cases under various configurations of laminated layers, we use pressure buildup derivatives obtained from packers and observation probes as a diagnosis tool to examine the effect of the interlayer on WFT measurements. Oil-based mud-filtrate invasion affects the early-time behavior of pressure transients because of the associated changes in fluid viscosity and compositions. Low vertical permeability can behave as a vertical barrier for the flow in a WFT tool, indicating the difference contrast in permeability between individual flow units. As for the field case, effective water horizontal permeabilities for tests 1 and 2 are 14.0 and 10.6 mD, respectively. Low vertical permeability results in a distortion in the derivatives, particularly during the transition between flow regimes. In a laminated reservoir, a radial flow regime will develop when the radial length of interlayer is greater than the vertical formation interval and when the complete circular shape of interlayer is formed. It is recommended that any observation probe be positioned in or below the interlayer to accurately define the vertical communication of interlayers and its configuration. If dual packers and observation probes are located in the same zone, their pressure responses exhibit the same flow regimes; otherwise, different pressure responses can be developed in the observation probes when a partially sealing interlayer exists.
Predictors of Survival in Adrenocortical Carcinoma: An Analysis From the National Cancer Database
Authors: Tella Sri Harsha , Kommalapati Anuhya , Yaturu Subhashini , Kebebew Electron
Published: June 2018

Context

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is rare; knowledge about prognostic factors and survival outcomes is limited.

Objective

To describe predictors of survival and overall survival (OS) outcomes.

Design and Patients

Retrospective analysis of data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2004 to 2015 on 3185 patients with pathologically confirmed ACC.

Main Outcome Measures

Baseline description, survival outcomes, and predictors of survival were evaluated in patients with ACC.

Results

Median age at ACC diagnosis was 55 (range: 18 to 90) years; did not differ significantly by sex or stage of the disease at diagnosis. On multivariate analysis, increasing age, higher Charlson-Deyo comorbidity index score, high tumor grade, and no surgical therapy (all P < 0.0001); and stage IV disease (P = 0.002) and lymphadenectomy during surgery (P = 0.02) were associated with poor prognosis. Patients with stage I-III disease treated with surgical resection had significantly better median OS (63 vs 8 months; P < 0.001). In stage IV disease, better median OS occurred in patients treated with surgery (19 vs 6 months; P < 0.001), and postsurgical radiation (29 vs 10 months; P < 0.001) or chemotherapy (22 vs 13 months; P = 0.004).

Conclusion

OS varied with increasing age, higher comorbidity index, grade, and stage of ACC at presentation. There was improved survival with surgical resection of primary tumor, irrespective of disease stage; postsurgical chemotherapy or radiation was of benefit only in stage IV disease.
A novel live-cell imaging system reveals a reversible hydrostatic pressure impact on cell-cycle progression
Authors: Brooker Holly R. , Gyamfi Irene A. , Wieckowska Agnieszka , Brooks Nicholas J. , Mulvihill Daniel P. , Geeves Michael A.
Published: June 2018

Life is dependent upon the ability of a cell to rapidly respond to changes in the environment. Small perturbations in local environments change the ability of molecules to interact and, hence, communicate. Hydrostatic pressure provides a rapid non-invasive, fully reversible method for modulating affinities between molecules both in vivo and in vitro. We have developed a simple fluorescence imaging chamber that allows intracellular protein dynamics and molecular events to be followed at pressures <200 bar in living cells. By using yeast, we investigated the impact of hydrostatic pressure upon cell growth and cell-cycle progression. While 100 bar has no effect upon viability, it induces a delay in chromosome segregation, resulting in the accumulation of long undivided cells that are also bent, consistent with disruption of the cytoskeletons. This delay is independent of stress signalling and induces synchronisation of cell-cycle progression. Equivalent effects were observed in Candida albicans, with pressure inducing a reversible cell-cycle delay and hyphal growth. We present a simple novel non-invasive fluorescence microscopy-based approach to transiently impact molecular dynamics in order to visualise, dissect and study signalling pathways and cellular processes in living cells.
Sensory neuronal sensitisation occurs through HMGB-1–RAGE and TRPV1 in high-glucose conditions
Authors: Bestall Samuel M. , Hulse Richard P. , Blackley Zoe , Swift Matthew , Ved Nikita , Paton Kenneth , Beazley-Long Nicholas , Bates David O. , Donaldson Lucy F.
Published: June 2018

Many potential causes for painful diabetic neuropathy have been proposed including actions of cytokines and growth factors. High mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) is a RAGE (also known as AGER) agonist whose levels are increased in diabetes and that contributes to pain by modulating peripheral inflammatory responses. HMGB1 enhances nociceptive behaviour in naïve animals through an unknown mechanism. We tested the hypothesis that HMGB1 causes pain through direct neuronal activation of RAGE and alteration of nociceptive neuronal responsiveness. HMGB1 and RAGE expression were increased in skin and primary sensory (dorsal root ganglion, DRG) neurons of diabetic rats at times when pain behaviour was enhanced. Agonist-evoked TRPV1-mediated Ca2+ responses increased in cultured DRG neurons from diabetic rats and in neurons from naïve rats exposed to high glucose concentrations. HMGB1-mediated increases in TRPV1-evoked Ca2+ responses in DRG neurons were RAGE- and PKC-dependent, and this was blocked by co-administration of the growth factor splice variant VEGF-A165b. Pain behaviour and the DRG RAGE expression increases were blocked by VEGF-A165b treatment of diabetic rats in vivo. Hence, we conclude that HMGB1–RAGE activation sensitises DRG neurons in vitro, and that VEGF-A165b blocks HMGB-1–RAGE DRG activation, which may contribute to its analgesic properties in vivo.
p38δ MAPK regulates aggresome biogenesis by phosphorylating SQSTM1 in response to proteasomal stress
Authors: Zhang Chenliang , Gao Ju , Li Mengen , Deng Yongkang , Jiang Changan
Published: June 2018

Aggresome formation is a major strategy to enable cells to cope with proteasomal stress. Misfolded proteins are assembled into micro-aggregates and transported to the microtubule organizing center (MTOC) to form perinuclear aggresomes before their degradation through autophagy. So far, multiple factors have been identified as the activators of micro-aggregate formation, but much less is known about the regulatory mechanisms of their transport. Here, we report that proteasomal stress leads to the activation of p38 MAPK family members. Two of them, p38γ (MAPK12) and p38δ (MAPK13), are dispensable for micro-aggregate formation but are required for their targeting to the MTOC. Interestingly, p38δ promotes micro-aggregate transport by phosphorylating SQSTM1, a major scaffold protein that assembles soluble ubiquitylated proteins into micro-aggregates. Expression of the phospho-mimetic mutant of SQSTM1 in p38δ-knockout cells completely rescued their aggresome formation defects and enhanced their resistance to proteasomal stress to wild-type levels. This study reveals p38δ-mediated SQSTM1 phosphorylation as a critical signal for the targeting of micro-aggregates to the MTOC and provides direct evidence for the survival advantages associated with aggresome formation in cells under proteasomal stress.
Depressed Physical Performance Outlasts Hormonal Disturbances after Military Training
Authors: HAMARSLAND HÅVARD , PAULSEN GØRAN , SOLBERG PAUL A. , SLAATHAUG OLE GUNNAR , RAASTAD TRULS
Published: June 2018

Introduction

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an arduous 1-wk military course on measures of physical performance, body composition, and blood biomarkers.

Methods

Participants were apprentices in an annual selection course for the Norwegian Special Forces. Fifteen soldiers (23 ± 4 yr, 1.81 ± 0.06 m, 78 ± 7 kg) completed a hell week consisting of rigorous activity only interspersed by 2 to 3 h of sleep per day. Testing was conducted before and 0, 1, 3, 7, and 14 d after the hell week. Physical performance was measured as muscle strength and jump performance. Body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance and blood samples were collected and analyzed for hormones, creatine kinase, and C-reactive protein.

Results

Body mass was reduced by 5.3 ± 1.9 kg during the hell week and returned to baseline within 1 wk. Fat mass was reduced by 2.1 ± 1.7 kg and muscle mass by 1.9 ± 0.9 kg. Muscle strength in leg press and bench press was reduced by 20% ± 9% and 9% ± 7%, respectively, and both were approximately 10% lower than baseline after 1 wk of recovery. Jump-height was reduced by 28% ± 13% and was still 14% ± 5% below baseline after 2 wk of recovery. Testosterone was reduced by 70% ± 12% and recovered gradually within a week. Cortisol was increased by 154% ± 74% and did not fully recover during the next week. Insulin-like growth factor 1 was reduced by 51% ± 10% and triiodothyronine and thyroxine by 12% to 30%, all recovered within a week.

Conclusions

One-week arduous military exercise resulted in reductions in body mass and performance, as well as considerable hormonal disturbances. Our most important observation was that whereas the hormonal systems was normalized within 1 wk of rest and proper nutrition, lower body strength and jump performance were still depressed after 2 wk.
An Investigation of Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation in Adolescent Concussion
Authors: MOIR M. ERIN , BALESTRINI CHRISTOPHER S. , ABBOTT KOLTEN C. , KLASSEN STEPHEN A. , FISCHER LISA K. , FRASER DOUGLAS D. , SHOEMAKER J. KEVIN
Published: June 2018

Purpose

Although cerebrovascular impairments are believed to contribute to concussion symptoms, little information exists regarding brain vasomotor control in adolescent concussion, particularly autoregulatory control that forms a fundamental response mechanism during changes in blood pressure. This research tested the hypothesis that adolescent concussion is marked by impaired dynamic cerebral autoregulation.

Methods

Nineteen concussed adolescents (15 ± 2 yr, 13 females) and 18 healthy controls (15 ± 2 yr, 9 females) completed two sit-to-stand trials. Brachial artery blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity in the right middle cerebral artery were measured continuously. Dynamic rate of regulation was calculated as the rate of change in cerebrovascular resistance relative to the change in arterial blood pressure. The concussed adolescents were followed through their rehabilitation for up to 12 wk.

Results

At the first visit, the concussed adolescents demonstrated reduced rate of regulation compared with the healthy controls (0.12 ± 0.04 vs 0.19 ± 0.06 s−1,P≤ 0.001). At the concussed adolescents final visit, after symptom resolution, the rate of regulation improved to levels that were not different from the healthy controls (n= 9; 0.15 ± 0.08 vs 0.19 ± 0.06 s−1,P= 0.06). Two distinct groups were observed at the final visit with some individuals experiencing recovery of dynamic cerebral autoregulation and others showing no marked change from the initial visit.

Conclusion

Adolescents demonstrate an impairment in dynamic cerebral autoregulation after concussion that improves along with clinical symptoms in some individuals and remains impaired in others despite symptom resolution.
Peripheral vision: abdominal pathology missed outside the centre of gaze
Authors: Ivan Catalin Vasile , Mullineux Joseph H , Shah Vikas , Verma Ratan , Rajesh Arumugam , Stephenson James A
Published: June 2018

Radiology misses have been the subject of much debate on both sides of the Atlantic in recent years. There is now greater focus in trying to reduce radiology errors by continuous education and changing the working environment to try and protect the radiologist, and ultimately the patient from potential harm. Duty of candour is a relevant and sensitive area. Developing robust validated reporting pathways within the healthcare structure is very important so as to encourage a “learning from discrepancies” culture and to put the patient and their families at the center of reporting and acknowledging errors in radiology. Having reflected in our daily practice and while writing this pictorial review, we have concluded that during reporting MRI scans, routine assessment of the localizer images, focusing outside the area of interest and having a more structured approach to image interrogation are key actions which may help reduce the number of omissions. We present a myriad of cases where pathology was “missed” outside the center of gaze in relation to the abdomen or outside the abdomen on abdominal MRI, and suggest key high yield sequence related review areas to minimize the chance of missing potentially significant pathology.
Del desconocimiento a la vulnerabilidad jurídica: análisis de la protección efectiva de los derechos de los consumidores en la costa Caribe colombiana
Authors: Arrieta Flórez Rosaura , Marún Uparela Katleen Paola , Sayas Contreras Rafaela
Published: June 2018

El presente artículo muestra el resultado de un análisis efectuado a las barreras de la protección efectiva de los derechos del consumidor en el caribe colombiano, desde el marco de competencias creado por la Ley 1480 de 2011 y su aplicación en la región. Este análisis se utilizó como insumo para sugerir medidas que permitan aumentar el nivel de protección de los derechos de los consumidores en las ciudades de Cartagena, Santa Marta y Sincelejo.En este contexto se encontró que la promoción en los territorios de los derechos por parte de las instituciones que hacen parte de la Red Nacional de Protección al Consumidor adquiere un papel preponderante frente a la protección de los mismos, por esta razón se muestran en este artículo las principales consecuencias de una promoción deficiente en la ruta de acceso y  garantía de los derechos del consumidor, utilizando como categoría de análisis la vulnerabilidad jurídica.
Efeitos vinculantes e “erga omnes” em declaração incidental de inconstitucionalidade: mutação constitucional do art. 52, X da Constituição? | Binding and “erga omnes” effects in Incidental Declaration of Unconstitutionality: constitucional mutation of article 52, X of the Brazilian Constitution
Authors: De Carvalho João Victor Carloni , Da Costa Yvete Flávio
Published: June 2018

As Constituições, em que pese trazerem sentido de estabilidade, não são imutáveis. Como processo de alteração constitucional formal, tem-se as revisões e reformas, responsáveis por readaptar o texto originário constitucional a uma nova realidade social, política, cultural, ou até mesmo jurídica do Estado. Além desses métodos, possível também a alteração informal do texto constitucional, ou seja, sem sua alteração literal, extrair-se um novo significado em consonância com todo o sistema constitucional e, também, com uma nova realidade vivenciada pela sociedade. No presente trabalho, busca-se uma análise acerca da possível mutação constitucional do art. 52, X da CRFB/88, há muito preconizada pelos constitucionalistas Gilmar Mendes e Lúcio Bittencourt, mas que ganhou relevo com a decisão do STF no último semestre. Num primeiro momento, investigaremos o que é uma mutação constitucional e se há limites para sua existência. A seguir, um estudo acerca da eficácia das decisões em sede de controle difuso de constitucionalidade se faz necessário, pois o art. 52, X, aliado ao entendimento doutrinário dominante, dispõe ser necessária resolução editada pelo Senado para que sejam conferidos efeitos vinculantes e erga omnes a essas decisões. Por último, será feita a análise dos dois importantes julgamentos a respeito do tema para então discorrer se houve ou não mutação, ou ainda, se se trata de uma mutação constitucional ou, possivelmente, inconstitucional.