bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Different Types of Sedentary Activities and Their Association With Perceived Health and Wellness Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults
Authors: O’Neill Carley , Dogra Shilpa
Published: May 2016

Purpose:

To assess the association between a variety of sedentary activities and self-reported wellness outcomes to provide a comprehensive perspective for future development of sedentary guidelines for middle-aged and older adults.

Design:

Cross-sectional population study.

Setting:

Canadian Community Health Survey (Healthy Aging Cycle, 2008–2009).

Subjects:

Middle-aged (45–60 years; n = 8161) and older adults (60 years and older; n = 9128) were used for analysis.

Measures:

Self-reported perceived health, sense of belonging to community, mood disorder, and satisfaction with life were used as outcomes. Sedentary activities were playing bingo, computer use, doing crosswords/puzzles, handicrafts, listening to radio/music, playing a musical instrument, reading, visiting others, and watching TV.

Analysis:

Chi-squares, t-tests and multivariable logistic regressions.

Results:

Among respondents not diagnosed with a mood disorder, positive associations were noted for crosswords/puzzles in older adults (odds ratio [OR]: 1.39, confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.91) and listening to radio/music or playing an instrument in middle-aged adults (OR: 1.43, CI: 1.16–1.75; OR: 2.14, CI: 1.17–3.81). Satisfaction with life was positively associated with computer use in middle-aged (OR: 1.53, CI: 1.07–2.20) and older adults (OR: 1.42, CI: 1.09–1.84). Sense of belonging was consistently positively associated with sedentary activities.

Conclusion:

Several sedentary activities were found to be positively associated with self-reported measures of psychosocial wellness in middle-aged and older adults. These findings identify potential opportunities for sedentary time interventions and dual-task physical activity promotion.
Randomized Clinical Trial of the Women’s Lifestyle Physical Activity Program for African-American Women
Authors: Wilbur JoEllen , Miller Arlene Michaels , Fogg Louis , McDevitt Judith , Castro Cynthia M. , Schoeny Michael E. , Buchholz Susan W. , Braun Lynne T. , Ingram Diana M. , Volgman Annabelle S. , Dancy Barbara L.
Published: May 2016

Purpose:

To compare the effects of a physical activity (PA) intervention of group meetings versus group meetings supplemented by personal calls or automated calls on the adoption and maintenance of PA and on weight stability among African-American women.

Design:

Randomized clinical trial with three conditions randomly assigned across six sites.

Setting:

Health settings in predominately African-American communities.

Subjects:

There were 288 women, aged 40 to 65, without major signs/symptoms of pulmonary/cardiovascular disease.

Intervention:

Six group meetings delivered over 48 weeks with either 11 personal motivational calls, 11 automated motivational messages, or no calls between meetings.

Measures:

Measures included PA (questionnaires, accelerometer, aerobic fitness), weight, and body composition at baseline, 24 weeks, and 48 weeks.

Analysis:

Analysis of variance and mixed models.

Results:

Retention was 90% at 48 weeks. Adherence to PA increased significantly ( p < .001) for questionnaire ( d = .56, 128 min/wk), accelerometer ( d = .37, 830 steps/d), and aerobic fitness ( d = .41, 7 steps/2 min) at 24 weeks and was maintained at 48 weeks ( p < .001), with no differences across conditions. Weight and body composition showed no significant changes over the course of the study.

Conclusion:

Group meetings are a powerful intervention for increasing PA and preventing weight gain and may not need to be supplemented with telephone calls, which add costs and complexity.
Using the curriculum vitae in leadership research
Authors: Bawazeer Wazerah , Gunter Helen M
Published: May 2016

Professional biography research with those who hold formal positions in educational organizations is an established approach to researching leaders, leading and leadership. A key focus is on the oral account of a life story, and this can include family and wider life experiences. What is less of a feature is how the respondent codifies their professional biography through the curriculum vitae (CV) as a record of key achievements. In this article we report on the use of the CV in a project that focuses on the professional biographies of women who hold senior positions in higher education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We identify how and why the CV is a productive methodological tool, and how the field can add this to its repertoire of data collection methods.
Preparation and property of epoxy resins-penetrated aligned carbon nanotube bundle hybrid microcapsules for self-healing polymers
Authors: Zhang Yi , Yuan Li , Su Yanli , Gu Aijuan , Wu Shenmei , Liang Guozheng
Published: May 2016

The epoxy resins-penetrated aligned carbon nanotube bundle (ACNTsB) hybrid system (epoxy@ACNTsB) was prepared by soaking ACNTsB in the acetone solution of epoxy resins. Epoxy@ACNTsB was encapsulated in aqueous solution containing an amine curing agent to prepare hybrid microcapsules (MCs). The structure and morphology of MCs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electronic microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and laser scanning confocal microscopy. The thermal properties of MCs were carried out by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The solvent resistance of MCs in acetone was also investigated. The results show that MCs exhibit high initial decomposition of temperatures (266°C). The content of epoxy resin in MCs is about 74% and the polymer film thickness of MCs is from 1 to 2 μm. MCs show high thermal and chemical stability below 200°C and excellent solvent resistance. MCs embedded in cyanate ester (CE) resins can significantly toughen the matrix. The fracture MCs can release the epoxy resins under heating condition, and the released epoxy resins can react with the reactive –OCN group/triazine rings in the CE matrix to rebond the crack surfaces. When the temperature schedule of 100°C/1 h + 200°C/2 h is applied, 10–15 wt% MCs can recover from 82.7% to 99.8% of the original fracture toughness of CE matrix.
Workspace analysis and verification of cable-driven parallel mechanism for wind tunnel test
Authors: Wang Xiaoguang , Hu Yunbo , Lin Qi
Published: May 2016

Cable-driven parallel mechanism is a special kind of parallel robot in which traditional rigid links are replaced by actuated cables. This provides a new suspension method for wind tunnel test, in which an aircraft model is driven by a number of parallel cables to fulfil 6-DOF motion. The workspace of such a cable robot is limited due to the geometrical and unilateral force constraints, the investigation of which is important for applications requiring large flight space. This paper focuses on the workspace analysis and verification of a redundant constraint 6-DOF cable-driven parallel suspension system. Based on the system motion and dynamic equations, the geometrical interference (either intersection between two cables or between a cable and the aircraft) and cable tension restraint conditions are constructed and analyzed. The hyperplane vector projection strategy is used to solve the aircraft’s orientation and position workspace. Moreover, software ADAMS is used to check the workspace, and experiments are done on the prototype, which adopts a camera to monitor the actual motion space. In addition, the system construction is designed by using a built-in six-component balance to measure the aerodynamic force. The results of simulation and tests show a good consistency, which means that the restraint conditions and workspace solution strategy are valid and can be used to provide guidance for the cable-driven parallel suspension system’s application in wind tunnel tests.
Using Computer-Assisted Instruction to Build Math Fact Fluency
Authors: Hawkins Renee O. , Collins Tai , Hernan Colleen , Flowers Emily
Published: May 2016

Research findings support the use of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) as a curriculum supplement for improving math skills, including math fact fluency. There are a number of websites and mobile applications (i.e., apps) designed to build students’ math fact fluency, but the options can become overwhelming. This article provides implementation guidelines to help teachers plan for CAI, including criteria for selecting a program and recommendations for monitoring student progress. In addition, free resources for CAI are discussed.
Outside the Battlefield
Authors: Ogutcu-Fu Sema Hande
Published: May 2016

What increases warring parties’ ability to reach a negotiated settlement? In this study, I answer this question by examining the political environment a government and rebel group leadership internally encounter during a peace process. I disaggregate in-group dynamics of governments and rebels into their respective political elements that either grant autonomy or create constraints for resolution, namely, their constituencies and elites. I argue that willingness to end fighting does not always translate into the ability to make concessions. Although battlefield-related indicators may increase the likelihood of negotiations, it is internal cohesion that increases combatants’ credibility as bargaining partners and improves the likelihood of settlement. To test these arguments, I introduce original data on negotiations for internal conflict-dyad-years between 1980 and 2005. Findings using two-stage censored probit models demonstrate that war-weariness increases willingness for negotiations whereas internal consensus creates opportunity for settlement.
Characteristics evaluation of gas film in the aerostatic thrust bearing within rarefied effect
Authors: Chen Dongju , Zhou Shuai , Han Jihong , Fan Jinwei , Cheng Qiang
Published: May 2016

The characteristic of gas film is a key factor in the performance of the aerostatic bearing. Because the gas film flow is in the slip regime, influence of the rarefied effect is significant. The modified Reynolds equation suitable for compressible gas in the rarefied effect is deduced through introducing the flow factor in the rarefied effect to the Reynolds equation. Pressure distribution, capacity, and stiffness of the gas film under the rarefied effect are analyzed. With the increase of gas pressure, the gas film capacity and stiffness of bearing would also increase. However, the greater the gas supply pressure, the more intense the gas film vibration, so it was important to select a reasonable gas supply pressure for achieving the optimal gas film characteristic. Finally, the gas rarefied effect is verified by the experiment indirectly, which agreed well with the analytical results and provided a theoretical guidance for the machining accuracy of the machine tool.
Can ICT in biology courses improve AD/HD students’ achievement?
Authors: Vassilopoulou Antonia , Mavrikaki Evangelia
Published: May 2016

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is one of the most frequently occurring disorders in school children, and information and communication technology (ICT) in education is one of the tools that is lately considered as helpful for the education of some children with disorders. This research is a case study – using mixed-methods – of the contribution of an ICT-based biology course for the improvement of school achievement of an AD/HD student. Interviews and observations using two independent observers were the research tools for the collection of data, whose analysis revealed that the AD/HD student preferred the ICT lesson, during which all three characteristics of the syndrome became less intense and he was more focused on the educational procedure in comparison with other times. The AD/HD student became more positive toward the biology course and he better understood the biology concepts.
Analysis of austenitic stainless steels (AISI 303 and AISI 316Ti) regarding crack driving forces and creep responses
Authors: Vukelic G , Brnic J
Published: May 2016

Two types of austenitic stainless steels, AISI 303 and AISI 316Ti, were investigated experimentally and numerically in this paper in order to determine some of the material characteristics important for material selection in engineering design process. Ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and modulus of elasticity for room and selected elevated temperatures have been experimentally obtained. Improved heat resistance of AISI 316Ti can be noticed when comparing yield and tensile strength values of mentioned materials. Also, a comparison of material creep responses for selected temperatures and stress levels is presented. It can be noticed that at the same relative stress level AISI 303 exhibits higher strain percentage than AISI 316Ti. Also, as the temperature rises, AISI 316Ti holds stable strain percentage growth when compared to AISI 303. In addition, a numerical procedure of determining crack driving force is performed using J-integral as a measure. Obtained J values are plotted versus specimen crack growth size (Δ a) for different specimen geometries ( a/W) and for different specimen types. Higher resulting values of J-integral for AISI 303 than AISI 316Ti can be noted. Although this procedure differs from experimental analysis, results can be useful as fracture parameter in fracture toughness assessment.
Representing a divided place: the artistic-military practice of Mladen Miljanović
Authors: Riding James
Published: May 2016

This essay on the work of the Bosnian artist Mladen Miljanović, born in Zenica, Yugoslavia, in 1981, is wrought around an account of the divided place in which his art is mobilised. Following a short military term, Miljanović enrolled at the Academy of Arts, in Banja Luka, where he still lives. A potent opposition to a divisive ethno-nationalist politics ever-present in the post-conflict, post-socialist, transition era of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Miljanović deploys what he calls an artistic-military practice. Incorporating cartographic and military surveying techniques learnt at a reserve officer military school, Miljanović deconstructs his own soldierly past and interrogates, through his artistic-military practice, an ethno-nationalist militarised Bosnia-Herzegovina. I focus in the main here on the artist’s recent attempt to represent post-conflict Bosnia-Herzegovina at the 55th Biennale di Venezia, a granite triptych entitled, The Garden of Delights.
Evaluation of a BGO-Based PET System for Single-Cell Tracking Performance by Simulation and Phantom Studies
Authors: Ouyang Yu , Kim Tae Jin , Pratx Guillem
Published: May 2016

A recent method based on positron emission was reported for tracking moving point sources using the Inveon PET system. However, the effect of scanner background noise was not further explored. Here, we evaluate tracking with the Genisys4, a bismuth germanate-based PET system, which has no significant intrinsic background and may be better suited to tracking lower and/or faster activity sources. Position-dependent sensitivity of the Genisys4 was simulated in Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission (GATE) using a static 18F point source. Trajectories of helically moving point sources with varying activity and rotation speed were reconstructed from list-mode data as described previously. Simulations showed that the Inveon’s ability to track sources within 2 mm of localization error is limited to objects with a velocity-to-activity ratio < 0.13 mm/decay, compared to < 0.29 mm/decay for the Genisys4. Tracking with the Genisys4 was then validated using a physical phantom of helically moving [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose-in-oil droplets (< 0.24 mm diameter, 139-296 Bq), yielding < 1 mm localization error under the tested conditions, with good agreement between simulated sensitivity and measured activity (Pearson correlation R = .64, P << .05 in a representative example). We have investigated the tracking performance with the Genisys4, and results suggest the feasibility of tracking low activity, point source-like objects with this system.
Inefficient constitutive inhibition of P2X3 receptors by brain natriuretic peptide system contributes to sensitization of trigeminal sensory neurons in a genetic mouse model of familial hemiplegic migraine
Authors: Marchenkova Anna , Vilotti Sandra , Ntamati Niels , van den Maagdenberg Arn MJM , Nistri Andrea
Published: May 2016

Background

On trigeminal ganglion neurons, pain-sensing P2X3 receptors are constitutively inhibited by brain natriuretic peptide via its natriuretic peptide receptor-A. This inhibition is associated with increased P2X3 serine phosphorylation and receptor redistribution to non-lipid raft membrane compartments. The natriuretic peptide receptor-A antagonist anantin reverses these effects. We studied whether P2X3 inhibition is dysfunctional in a genetic familial hemiplegic migraine type-1 model produced by introduction of the human pathogenic R192Q missense mutation into the mouse CACNA1A gene (knock-in phenotype). This model faithfully replicates several properties of familial hemiplegic migraine type-1, with gain-of-function of CaV2.1 Ca2+ channels, raised levels of the algogenic peptide calcitonin gene-related peptide, and enhanced activity of P2X3 receptors in trigeminal ganglia.

Results

In knock-in neurons, anantin did not affect P2X3 receptor activity, membrane distribution, or serine phosphorylation level, implying ineffective inhibition by the constitutive brain natriuretic peptide/natriuretic peptide receptor-A pathway. However, expression and functional properties of this pathway remained intact together with its ability to downregulate TRPV1 channels. Reversing the familial hemiplegic migraine type-1 phenotype with the CaV2.1-specific antagonist, ω-agatoxin IVA restored P2X3 activity to wild-type level and enabled the potentiating effects of anantin again. After blocking calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors, P2X3 receptors exhibited wild-type properties and were again potentiated by anantin.

Conclusions

P2X3 receptors on mouse trigeminal ganglion neurons are subjected to contrasting modulation by inhibitory brain natriuretic peptide and facilitatory calcitonin gene-related peptide that both operate via complex intracellular signaling. In the familial hemiplegic migraine type-1 migraine model, the action of calcitonin gene-related peptide appears to prevail over brain natriuretic peptide, thus suggesting that peripheral inhibition of P2X3 receptors becomes insufficient and contributes to trigeminal pain sensitization.
Interleukin-1β overproduction is a common cause for neuropathic pain, memory deficit, and depression following peripheral nerve injury in rodents
Authors: Gui Wen-Shan , Wei Xiao , Mai Chun-Lin , Murugan Madhuvika , Wu Long-Jun , Xin Wen-Jun , Zhou Li-Jun , Liu Xian-Guo
Published: May 2016

Background

Chronic pain is often accompanied by short-term memory deficit and depression. Currently, it is believed that short-term memory deficit and depression are consequences of chronic pain. Here, we test the hypothesis that the symptoms might be caused by overproduction of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) in the injured nerve independent of neuropathic pain following spared nerve injury in rats and mice.

Results

Mechanical allodynia, a behavioral sign of neuropathic pain, was not correlated with short-term memory deficit and depressive behavior in spared nerve injury rats. Spared nerve injury upregulated IL-1β in the injured sciatic nerve, plasma, and the regions in central nervous system closely associated with pain, memory and emotion, including spinal dorsal horn, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and amygdala. Importantly, the spared nerve injury-induced memory deficits, depressive, and pain behaviors were substantially prevented by peri-sciatic administration of IL-1β neutralizing antibody in rats or deletion of IL-1 receptor type 1 in mice. Furthermore, the behavioral abnormalities induced by spared nerve injury were mimicked in naïve rats by repetitive intravenous injection of re combinant rat IL-1β (rrIL-1β) at a pathological concentration as determined from spared nerve injury rats. In addition, microglia were activated by both spared nerve injury and intravenous injection of rrIL-1β and the effect of spared nerve injury was substantially reversed by peri-sciatic administration of anti-IL-1β.

Conclusions

Neuropathic pain was not necessary for the development of cognitive and emotional disorders, while the overproduction of IL-1β in the injured sciatic nerve following peripheral nerve injury may be a common mechanism underlying the generation of neuropathic pain, memory deficit, and depression.
A Cross-Species Comparative Approach to Positive Emotion Disturbance
Authors: Gruber June , Bekoff Marc
Published: May 2016

Recent discoveries stress the importance of studying positive emotion disturbances (PED) yet there remains little empirical work or integrative conceptual framework in this domain. We suggest that an ideally suited opportunity to advance the study of PED is to consider a cross-species evolutionary framework. We apply this framework—drawing from principles of stabilizing selection—to recent empirical findings in humans and nonhumans suggesting how positive emotion and associated play behaviors may lead to detrimental outcomes. This cross-species approach suggests a potential paradigm shift in the way psychologists and evolutionary biologists approach positive emotion functioning, opening the possibility for new conceptual opportunities and interdisciplinary dialogues and research.
Current Emotion Research in English Linguistics: Words for Emotions in the History of English
Authors: Tissari Heli
Published: May 2016

The aim of this article is to give a general idea of how meanings of single emotion words, and configurations between words, change historically, reflecting changes in people’s understanding of emotions. The article provides a selective overview of linguistic research on the histories of a number of English words for emotions. It focuses on changes in the words emotion and mood as well as analyzing terms for the specific emotions of anger, fear, happiness, joy, love, pride, respect, and sorrow. This article also suggests that it is possible to use linguistic data in order to recover some “psychological” information about emotions, such as information on people’s responses to them.
Computational investigation of insect-based flapping wings for micro air vehicle applications
Authors: Lankford James , Mayo David , Chopra Inderjit
Published: May 2016

In this study, a computational fluid dynamics analysis was performed on bio-inspired micro aerial vehicle scale rigid flapping wings. The computational fluid dynamics analysis used a compressible unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes solver with low-Mach number preconditioning to study the complex, highly vortical, three-dimensional flow of low aspect ratio flapping wings at micro aerial vehicle-scale Reynolds numbers. The wing was flapped at a constant 5 Hz flap frequency at a mean chord reference Reynolds number of 25,000. The flapping and pitching kinematics were set to match those of a previous experimental study resulting in a constant flap stroke of 107° at translational pitching angles of 40°, 50°, and 60°. The force and flowfield measurements of the previous flapping-wing experiment were used for the validation of the 3D computational fluid dynamics model. The objectives of this effort were to understand the unsteady aerodynamic mechanisms and their relation to force production and aerodynamic efficiency on a rigid wing undergoing an insect-type flapping motion with passive pitching kinematics. Overall, the computational fluid dynamics results showed good agreement with the measured experimental force data. Additionally, the computational fluid dynamics simulation was able to adequately predict the process of leading edge vortex formation and shedding observed during experimentation. A vorticity summation approach used to calculate the strength of the leading edge vortex from the experimental measurements and from the computational fluid dynamics predicted flowfields showed comparable results. The computational fluid dynamics results were utilized to further analyze the differences in the flowfield and leading edge vortex formation for the three pitch angles tested as well as the instantaneous aerodynamic loads and aerodynamic power.
Physical Therapy Protocol After Hip Arthroscopy
Authors: Domb Benjamin G. , Sgroi Terrance A. , VanDevender Jeremy C.
Published: May 2016

Context:

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) was first described by Ganz in 2003 and is a significant cause of decreased function and mobility. Femoroacetabular impingement must be treated in an individualized, goal-oriented, stepwise fashion. This protocol was developed with biomechanical considerations of soft tissue and bony structures surrounding the hip joint.

Evidence Acquisition:

The PubMed database was searched for scientific and review articles from the years 2000 to 2015 utilizing the search terms: hip rehabilitation, femoroacetabular impingement, and arthroscopy.

Study Design:

Clinical review.

Level of Evidence:

Level 5.

Results:

Five hundred ninety-five of 738 patients were available for follow-up showing improvement from preoperative to 2-year follow-up of 61.29 to 82.02 for modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), 62.79 to 83.04 for Hip Outcome Score–Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL), 40.96 to 70.07 for Hip Outcome Score–Sport-Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS), and 57.97 to 80.41 for Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS); visual analog scale (VAS) scores decreased from 5.86 preoperatively to 2.94 postoperatively.

Conclusion:

Following a structured, criteria-based program, appropriate patients undergoing hip arthroscopy may achieve excellent outcomes and return to full independent activities of daily living as well as sport.
A qualitative analysis of patients’ reasons for choosing neobladder or ileal conduit after cystectomy for bladder cancer
Authors: Osborne Lisa A , Dixon Catherine , Edwards Darren J , Begum Rahima , Younis Ayman , Lucas Malcolm , Reed Phil
Published: May 2016

Objective:

Choice of reconstruction following bladder removal is often between neobladder or ileal conduit diversion. Identifying patient concerns about this little understood choice should provide better understanding of factors important in making surgical decisions. The current study used a qualitative technique to identify patient concerns and values influencing patient choice of bladder reconstruction following radical cystectomy.

Subjects and Methods:

Thirty-two patients (neobladder: 11 male, 6 female; ileal conduit: 9 male, 6 female) participated in semi-structured interviews conducted at a Hospital Clinical Research Unit, and their responses were analysed by content analysis.

Results:

Many procedure and lifestyle factors were secondary to survival considerations. Most patients adapted to reconstruction. Patients chose neobladder because of perceptions of normality and less-restricted activities (including sex life), or chose ileal conduit because of perceived simplicity of this operation, or the fear of urinary incontinence, and extra ‘work’ for the patient involved in having a neobladder. Male and female reasons were consistent with one another, except that body image was a greater issue for females in choosing neobladder.

Conclusion:

Pre-existing concerns influenced the choice that patients made between undergoing illeal conduit or neobladder reconstruction after removal of their bladder. These findings are a step towards developing a tool to aid joint decision making when planning exenterative and reconstructive surgery for bladder cancer.
Integrated care pathways—A strategy towards better care coordination in municipalities? A qualitative study
Authors: Skrove Guri Kaurstad , Bachmann Kari , Aarseth Turid
Published: May 2016

Introduction

One of the main strategies in the Coordination Reform in Norway is implementing integrated care pathways. Most studies on integrated care pathways are conducted in hospital settings or across the hospital–primary care continuum. There are few studies on how such pathways are experienced in primary care. We have conducted a formative evaluation in a primary care setting. The research questions are “What assessments and understanding of integrated care pathways exist in primary care?” “To what extent do integrated care pathways appear as a suitable strategy to handle care coordination challenges from a primary care point of view?”

Methods

A total of 72 qualitative interviews with chief municipal executives and healthcare management from 36 municipalities in one county of Norway were conducted.

Results

Even though integrated care pathways were promoted as a strategy to accommodate the intentions of the Coordination Reform, the concept is perceived as diffuse and ambiguous among informants in our study. Only one of four municipalities reported use of integrated care pathways.

Discussion

Our empirical findings show that municipal management is skeptical and negatively minded to disease-specific integrated care pathways. However, they are positive towards patient-centered care pathways which are flexible, adaptable to individual needs and local conditions. We found that there is no golden strategy for handling challenges in care coordination in primary care. On the contrary, what our informants find as “appropriate” strategies vary and change, but the complexity in problem solving could never be reduced to enforce standardized diagnose-specific integrated care pathways.
Aid and democracy promotion in Asia
Authors: Tan Bann Seng
Published: May 2016

Can foreign aid be used to promote democracy in Asia? Because liberalization is costly for the autocratic recipients, they can be expected to resist donor pressure to reform politically. The recipients who have the strategic and commercial attributes that donors value should have an easier time getting aid offers and hence leverage against donors who seek liberalization. By contrast, the recipients who lack such attributes have less leverage. This group of “secondary” recipients can be nudged towards political liberalization. I test this argument using foreign aid from AidData and regime-type information from Polity IV. The evidence bares out the argument even after correcting for the threat of reverse causality. I conclude with policy prescriptions for effective aid allocation.
The development of political science in Korea
Authors: Kang Won Taek
Published: May 2016

Korea's political science has been initiated and developed under the influence of the United States. It is related to the intention of the US to build a liberal democratic state in the southern part of the Korean peninsula against the Soviet Union-styled communism. However, as the bitter experience of the Korean War created a very narrow ideological space in Korean politics, there were considerable ideological constraints. Moreover, the authoritarian military regime, often took advantage of anti-communism ideology as a cause to justify their rules. All these served as a set of constraints imposed on the study of political science. Korea's political scientists tried to respond to the political demands of the day despite the politically oppressive atmosphere. Democratization and the end of the Cold War provided political scientists a very favorable condition. Political scientists did not need to fear about visible and invisible obstacles on their research any longer. That is, a ‘normal’ situation has finally come to Korea's political studies. Under such political circumstances, political science could widen its scope. Studies of politics became more institutionalized and diversified. Political science in post-democratization era deals with not only political institutions, political processes, and political ideology, but also newly emerging political phenomena such as Internet politics, immigration, ethnic minorities, welfare reform, globalization and social harmony, etc. Based on such academic achievement, it is time that Korea's political science has the task to make theoretical contributions to outside world from the Korea's own experiences.
Rashomon in North Korea? Comparing Northeast Asian approaches
Authors: Solingen Etel
Published: May 2016

The DPRK’s progressive nuclearization has evoked different responses in its Northeast Asian neighbors. A comparison across Japan, South Korea, and China offers a useful arena for addressing important debates in comparative and international politics. The three states differ with regards to their political systems and classical power disparities. The article distills general trends in their approach in light of—and sometimes in spite of—these differences. First, notwithstanding differences in regime type, there has been a shared secular trend away from positive inducements. Second, the precise mix of inducements differed significantly across all three cases in tandem with their domestic constraints and levels of political polarization. Third, classical neorealist drivers of international behavior have been rather secondary for explaining approaches to the DPRK’s nuclearization. Finally, the panoply of strategies spanning the positive and negative spectrum has failed to deliver desired objectives. This outcome highlights the centrality of the domestic regime type of target states to the effectiveness of inducements.
Is Interarterial Course a Requisite for Ischemia in Anomalous Origin of Coronary Arteries?
Authors: Madan Nitin , Lorber Richard , Nento Daniel , Mumtaz Muhammad , Singh Harinder R.
Published: May 2016

Anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery from the noncoronary sinus (LCANS) is a rare variant of anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery that is not characterized by an interarterial course. Despite the absence of an interarterial course, there are rare reports of LCANS presenting with sudden death, life-threatening arrhythmia, exercise-induced myocardial ischemia, premature ventricular contractions, and syncope. We report a patient with LCANS presenting with acute myocardial infarction who recovered completely with emergent surgical unroofing of the coronary artery.
Dissecting Antisocial Behavior
Authors: Baskin-Sommers Arielle R.
Published: May 2016

Antisocial behavior is a heterogeneous construct. The adverse consequences of the behaviors and diagnoses related to this construct produce great burden for the perpetrators, victims, family members, and for society at-large. The articles presented in this special series build on decades of research aimed at identifying various factors across neural, genetic, and environmental levels that contribute to antisocial behavior. However, there are several methodological issues plaguing this research and it often fails to address the specificity of certain factors for subtypes of antisocial behavior. Furthermore, most research on antisocial behavior does not provide a good sense of how combinations of factors produce specific behaviors or how these underlying factors achieve a level of durability (e.g., adaptive constancy) that continually promotes chronic antisocial behavior. The articles in this series take an important step toward disaggregating factors and individuals to develop appropriate assessment techniques, characterizations, intervention strategies, and prevention programs.
Democracy, Governance and Political Parties in India: An Introduction
Authors: Suri K.C. , Elliott Carolyn , Hundt David
Published: May 2016

The party political domain of India is replete with a large number of parties representing the tapestry of the Indian society. Many of them are based in specific regions and states, built around social and linguistic identities. While this enhanced the representative character of the parties, it also contributed to varied patterns of political competition and unstable governments. The two major national parties—the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party—becoming ready and willing to form coalitions heralded an era of coalition governments both at the centre and states, enabling parties to increase their power and their pay-offs. Parties across the political spectrum have tended to converge on macroeconomic policy, but continue to diverge on social policies and larger issues that confront India, such as nation building and secularism. Chronic lack of internal democracy coupled with the rise of political corruption and clientelist practices are matters of serious concern. A broader view of governance, resisting temptations to concentrate power and pursue personal enrichment would enable parties to deliver policies for a better, more just society.
Politics as Business: An Analysis of the Political Parties in Contemporary India
Authors: Sarangi Prakash
Published: May 2016

This article is an attempt to analyze the nature of transformation in the Indian political parties and to rethink their role in the contemporary times. That parties are motivated to ‘serve’ the people and inspired to ‘win’ elections is well documented. However, there are counter-examples of parties serving people at a price or being equally powerful even while losing elections. Forming or sustaining a party seems to be a survival strategy for political activists. Politics has become a business-like preoccupation. The recent climate of competition has led to the emergence of sizable rent-seeking professional leaders. They calculate the returns on the political and economic investments made, which is not confined to a zero-sum game of winning elections. There are pay-offs even when one loses an election. Being in politics, a party activist has a distinct identity that could reap dividends in the form of prestige, status and accessibility. These could be converted to pecuniary benefits. Parties look like business firms in a political market.
Mass Politics and Institutional Restraint: Political Parties and the Election Commission of India
Authors: Katju Manjari
Published: May 2016

This article looks at the working of institutional relationships in Indian politics. It explores the interaction between Indian political parties and the Election Commission of India to highlight the dynamics of political praxis and institutional restraint, and while doing so endorses the view that institutional regulation is a vital part of a free and fair democratic exercise. It also argues that the institutional ‘logic of appropriateness’ is being transformed at a time of greater participation in political competition in India: the number of candidates contesting the polls has grown phenomenally, as has the number of people coming out to vote. In this context, regulation and restraint have assumed an importance essential for responsible political practice and the institutionalization of the multiparty system itself.
Encapsulation without Integration? Electoral Democracy and the Ambivalent Moderation of Hindu Nationalism in India
Authors: Mitra Subrata K.
Published: May 2016

Has the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in power in India’s central government following its massive mandate in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, become a normal member of India’s party family, or does it remain the quintessential outsider, whose electoral success is seen as a threat to India’s liberal, democratic and secular ethos? This article applies the Downsian median voter argument to analyze this puzzle. A comparison with the gradual moderation of Europe’s Christian Democratic parties helps generate four enabling conditions that account for the moderation of extremist parties in electoral democracies. Taking these conditions into account, the article explains why the BJP, while fully integrated within the electoral system of India, is nevertheless seen by India’s mainstream parties and bulk of the media and civil society groups as an outsider to the democratic political system, and why the BJP’s ambivalent moderation is likely to endure, at least in the short run.
Toward the Next Generation of U.S. National Longitudinal Surveys
Authors: Gamoran Adam
Published: May 2016

In fall 2013, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) hosted a group of researchers to provide input into its program of longitudinal surveys. Organized by the National Academy of Education with a grant from the Institute of Education Sciences, the Workshop to Examine Current and Potential Uses of NCES Longitudinal Surveys by the Education Research Community addressed issues of new designs, new measures, persisting issues, and technologies that could introduce new approaches. Findings from the workshop have appeared in AERA Open and on the National Academy of Education’s website and have been discussed at the American Educational Research Association annual meeting. This paper provides a background to the workshop, highlights key findings, and discusses the responses of NCES to researcher input in the context of constraints that limit NCES’s ability to introduce change. These issues deserve widespread attention in light of the importance of NCES longitudinal surveys as a resource for education research.
Conceptualizing Pornographication
Authors: Tyler Meagan , Quek Kaye
Published: May 2016

The mainstreaming of pornography, often referred to as pornographication, pornification, or porn-chic, has become a topic of considerable academic and popular interest. In the last 15 years, an expanding academic literature has documented and begun to analyze the increasing consumption and normalization of pornography as well as pornographic imagery. More recently, there has also been a growing concern among policymakers and commentators in the mainstream media about trends labeled “sexualization” and, in particular, the potential consequences of these trends for children. This article begins by sketching out the academic origins of “pornographication” and related terms before considering the different ways that prominent authors have conceptualized them. Recent literature on sexualization is then outlined, with a focus on understanding this in the context of discussions around pornographication. Using a number of examples from key academic texts, and from prominent print media outlets in Australia, we argue that there is a lack of conceptual clarity about pornographication and that pornographication is often conflated with sexualization. We suggest that the lack of clarity in existing literature creates two key issues for feminist analysis: (1) it obscures the role of the pornography industry in the processes of pornographication and (2) it deflects discussion away from the potential harms of the normalization of pornography and pornographic imagery for adult women. It is, therefore, important to clarify and separate the terminology of pornographication and sexualization in order to further critical feminist analyses of these cultural trends.
Patterns of expression of factor VIII and von Willebrand factor by endothelial cell subsets in vivo
Authors: Pan Junliang , Dinh Thanh Theresa , Rajaraman Anusha , Lee Mike , Scholz Alexander , Czupalla Cathrin J. , Kiefel Helena , Zhu Li , Xia Lijun , Morser John , Jiang Haiyan , Santambrogio Laura , Butcher Eugene C.
Published: May 2016

Key Points

Subsets of ECs, including lymphatic and fenestrated ECs, but not conventional blood capillary ECs, synthesize FVIII. von Willebrand factor and FVIII are coexpressed in postcapillary high endothelial venules but not in most other ECs.
Transbronchial needle aspiration in peripheral pulmonary lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mondoni Michele , Sotgiu Giovanni , Bonifazi Martina , Dore Simone , Parazzini Elena Maria , Carlucci Paolo , Gasparini Stefano , Centanni Stefano
Published: May 2016

Fluoroscopy-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) has long been used in the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs), although its diagnostic performance varies considerably.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the accuracy of TBNA in the diagnosis of PPLs, comparing its diagnostic yield with transbronchial biopsy (TBB) and assessing the main predictors of a successful aspirate.

In 18 studies, the overall TBNA yield was 0.53 (95% CI 0.44–0.61). TBNA showed a higher accuracy when directly compared to TBB (0.60 (95% CI 0.49–0.71)versus0.45 (95% CI 0.37–0.54)). The subgroup analyses documented a higher TBNA yield when the computed tomography (CT) bronchus sign was present (0.70 (95% CI 0.63–0.77)versus0.51 (95% CI 0.38–0.64)), when rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) was performed (0.62 (95% CI 0.43–0.79)versus0.51 (95% CI 0.42–0.60)), in the case of malignant lesions (0.55 (95% CI 0.44–0.66)versus0.17 (95% CI 0.11–0.24)) and for lesions >3 cm (0.81 (95% CI 0.73–0.87)versus0.55 (95% CI 0.47–0.63)).

Conventional TBNA is a useful sampling technique for the diagnosis of PPL, with a higher diagnostic yield than TBB. The presence of CT bronchus sign, an underlying malignant process, lesion size >3 cm and ROSE employment are predictors of a higher yield.
Hiatal hernia on thoracic computed tomography in pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Tossier Céline , Dupin Clairelyne , Plantier Laurent , Leger Julie , Flament Thomas , Favelle Olivier , Lecomte Thierry , Diot Patrice , Marchand-Adam Sylvain
Published: May 2016

Gastro-oesophageal reflux has long been suspected of implication in the genesis and progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We hypothesised that hiatal hernia may be more frequent in IPF than in other interstitial lung disease (ILD), and that hiatal hernia may be associated with more severe clinical characteristics in IPF.

We retrospectively compared the prevalence of hiatal hernia on computed tomographic (CT) scans in 79 patients with IPF and 103 patients with other ILD (17 scleroderma, 54 other connective tissue diseases and 32 chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis). In the IPF group, we compared the clinical, biological, functional, CT scan characteristics and mortality of patients with hiatal hernia (n=42) and without hiatal hernia (n=37).

The prevalence of hiatal hernia on CT scan at IPF diagnosis was 53%, similar to ILD associated with scleroderma, but significantly higher than in the two other ILD groups. The size of the hiatal hernia was not linked to either fibrosis CT scan scores, or reduction in lung function in any group. Mortality from respiratory causes was significantly higher among IPF patients with hiatal hernia than among those without hiatal hernia (p=0.009).

Hiatal hernia might have a specific role in IPF genesis, possibly due to pathological gastro-oesophageal reflux.