bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Elastic and Plastic Behaviors in Steel Plate Based on Eddy Current Technique Using a Portable Impedance Analyzer
Authors: Fanlin Meng , Xiucheng Liu , Heyun Wang , Cunfu He , Bin Wu
Published: December 2017

A portable impedance analyzer (PIA) was developed based on a TiePie-HS3 device to provide the comparable impedance measurement accuracy of the Agilent 4294a impedance analyzer in the frequency range of 0~250 kHz. Then the PIA was applied to monitor the tensile stress-induced variation of the eddy current sensor’s impedance in a medium-carbon steel sample. A model of equivalent magnetic field induced by the elastic stress and the number of pinning sites indicated that the inductance of the eddy current loop firstly increased with the increase in the tensile stress and then decreased at the yield point of the material. The experimental results testified that the variation of impedance amplitude, the variation of phase angle, and the shift of two featured frequencies demonstrated opposite variation trends before and after the yield point, as predicated by the model. A new parameter, which combined the impedance variation information of the selected two frequencies, was found to exhibit nearly monotonous dependency on the tensile stress in elastic and plastic stages. The new parameter together with the developed portable impedance analyzer provided the solution to identify the elastic and plastic behaviors in ferromagnetic materials in practical applications with an eddy current technique.
Development and Application of Integrated Aerodynamic Protuberant Foil Journal and Thrust Bearing in Turboexpander
Authors: Lai Tianwei , Guo Yu , Wang Wei , Wang Yu , Hou Yu
Published: December 2017

Foil bearing provides compliant support and moderate Coulomb friction for rotor-bearing system, which is conducive to stability and reliability of high speed rotating machinery. In this paper, both hydrodynamic lubricated foil journal and foil thrust bearings are applied in a 150 m3·h−1 turboexpander for air separation. In the bearings, protuberant foil is chosen as the supporting subfoil due to its merits of easy fabrication and assembly. Static loading and deflection of the bearings are tested, respectively, before integration into the turboexpander. Afterwards, the loading and deflection curves of the journal and thrust bearings are polynomial fitted using least-square method. Then, performance tests are carried out on the rotor-bearing system, including transient speed-up, high speed, and speed-down processes. In the tests, the turboexpander supported by the hydrodynamic foil bearings operates smoothly with repeatability. Maximal rotor speed of the turboexpander reaches 52000 rpm with hydrodynamic lubricated protuberant foil bearings.
The Root Aqueous Extract of Entada africana Guill. et Perr. (Mimosaceae) Inhibits Implant Growth, Alleviates Dysmenorrhea, and Restores Ovarian Dynamic in a Rat Model of Endometriosis
Authors: Mvondo Marie Alfrede , Minko Essono Stéphane , Bomba Tatsinkou Francis Désiré , Ateba Sylvin Benjamin , Njamen Dieudonné
Published: December 2017

Entada africana (Mimosaceae) was reported to have analgesic and antioxidant properties. The present study is aimed at investigating the effects of the root aqueous extract of Entada africana (EA) on an experimental model of endometriosis. The study was performed in rats orally treated with EA at doses of 127.5, 255, and 510 mg/kg. Microgynon® 30 served as the reference substance. Estradiol valerate and oxytocin were used to induce dysmenorrhea. Endometrial implant levels of catalase and malondialdehyde (MDA) allowed estimating tissue oxidative status. Ovarian dynamic and rat sexual behavior were assessed through histological analysis of ovaries, uterus, and vagina. EA decreased dysmenorrhea at tested doses following a 7‐day treatment (p < 0.001). Endometrial implant volume decreased following the three treatment periods (p < 0.05). Catalase activity (p < 0.001) and MDA level (p < 0.01) increased only following a 3‐day treatment. EA also increased antral follicles, reduced luteinized unruptured follicle number (p < 0.001), and induced animals to be in the estrus phase. In conclusion, EA prevented the progress of endometriosis, reduced dysmenorrhea, promoted ovarian follicle growth, prevented anovulation, and stimulated the special period of rat sexual desire. These results suggest that Entada africana could be a promising alternative option for the treatment of endometriosis.
Design of a Compact Broadband 90° Waveguide Twist Based on Double-Corner-Cut Square Slots
Authors: Wu Jun-mo , Zhou Dong-fang , Lei Xue , Gao Jun , Hu Hao-ming
Published: December 2017

A new compact broadband waveguide twist by double-corner-cut square slots is presented. In particular, the proposed module is made from two substrate layers and three copper cladding layers, which can be used as the waveguide twist and broadband filter. A double-corner-cut square slot is etched on each metal layer with relative rotation. It is found that the optimized module can provide the bandwidths of no less than 6.1% at the 10-dB return-loss level or 4.3% at the 20-dB level with a minimum length of 0.07 waveguide width.
Insulin Resistance and Its Association with Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Children
Authors: Cho Jinkyung , Hong Haeryun , Park Soohyun , Kim Shinuk , Kang Hyunsik
Published: December 2017

Background. This study investigated the association between insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children. Methods. A cross-sectional study involving 1036 healthy children aged between 7 and 13 years was conducted. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated as an index of IR. Participants were classified according to the HOMA-IR quartiles. Results. Incremental, linear trends were found in age (p<0.001), body mass index (BMI) (p<0.001), body fat (p<0.001), waist circumference (p<0.001), resting blood pressures (BP) (p<0.001), triglycerides (TG) (p<0.001), total cholesterol (TC) (p<0.001), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (p<0.001), FBG (p<0.001), and insulin (<0.001) according to incremental HOMA-IR categories (from the 1st to 4th quartile). Compared with children in the 1st HOMA-IR quartile, children in the 4th HOMA-IR quartile had significantly higher odd ratios (ORs) of abnormalities in systolic (p=0.051) and diastolic BP (p=0.005), FBG (p<0.001), TG (p<0.001), TC (p=0.016), and HDL-C (p=0.006) even after adjustments for age, gender, BMI, and body fat percentage. Children in the 3rd HOMA-IR quartile had significant abnormalities in FBG (p<0.001), TG (p=0.001), and HDL-C (p=0.010) even after adjustments for the covariates. Conclusion. The current findings suggest that IR is significantly associated with the clustering of MetS risk factors in children in Korea.
The Involvement of Notch1-RBP-Jk/Msx2 Signaling Pathway in Aortic Calcification of Diabetic Nephropathy Rats
Authors: Gong Caipan , Li Li , Qin Chunmei , Wu Weihua , Liu Qi , Li Ying , Gan Linwang , Ou Santao
Published: December 2017

Background. This study explored the changes in expression of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) markers and osteogenic markers, as well as the involvement of Notch1-RBP-Jk/Msx2 pathway in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy (DN) with vascular calcification. Methods. A rat model of DN with concomitant vascular calcification was created by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin followed by administration of vitamin D3 and nicotine. Biochemical analysis and histological examination of aortic tissue were performed. VSMC markers and osteogenic markers as well as target molecules in Notch1-RBP-Jk/Msx2 were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analysis. Results. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels were significantly increased in model rats as compared to that in normal controls. Diabetic rats with vascular calcification exhibited mineral deposits in aortic intima-media accompanied by decreased expression of VSMC markers and increased expression of osteogenic markers. Notch1, RBP-Jk, Msx2, Jagged1, and N1-ICD were barely expressed in the aortic wall of normal rats. In contrast, these were significantly increased in the model group at all time points (8, 12, and 16 weeks), as compared to that in the normal rats. Conclusion. Activation of the Notch1-RBP-Jk/Msx2 signaling pathway may be involved in the development and progression of vascular calcification in DN.
Pathogenicity and Whole Genome Sequence Analysis of a Pseudorabies Virus Strain FJ-2012 Isolated from Fujian, Southern China
Authors: Wu Xue-min , Chen Qiu-yong , Chen Ru-jing , Che Yong-liang , Wang Long-bai , Wang Chen-yan , Yan Shan , Liu Yu-tao , Xiu Jin-sheng , Zhou Lun-jiang
Published: December 2017

The outbreaks of pseudorabies have been frequently reported in Bartha-K61-vaccinated farms in China since 2011. To study the pathogenicity and evolution of the circulating pseudorabies viruses in Fujian Province, mainland China, we isolated and sequenced the whole genome of a wild-type pseudorabies virus strain named “FJ-2012.” We then conducted a few downstream bioinformatics analyses including phylogenetic analysis and pathogenic analysis and used the virus to infect 6 pseudorabies virus-free piglets. FJ-2012-infected piglets developed symptoms like high body temperature and central nervous system disorders and had high mortality rate. In addition, we identified typical micropathological changes such as multiple gross lesions in infected piglets through pathological analysis and conclude that the FJ-2012 genome is significantly different from known pseudorabies viruses, in which insertions, deletions, and substitutions are observed in multiple immune and virulence genes. In summary, this study shed lights on the molecular basis of the prevalence and pathology of the pseudorabies virus strain FJ-2012. The genome of FJ-2012 could be used as a reference to study the evolution of pseudorabies viruses, which is critical to the vaccine development of new emerging pseudorabies viruses.
Targeted Therapeutic Nanoparticles: An Immense Promise to Fight against Cancer
Authors: Jahan Sheikh Tasnim , Sadat Sams M. A. , Walliser Matthew , Haddadi Azita
Published: December 2017

In nanomedicine, targeted therapeutic nanoparticle (NP) is a virtual outcome of nanotechnology taking the advantage of cancer propagation pattern. Tying up all elements such as therapeutic or imaging agent, targeting ligand, and cross-linking agent with the NPs is the key concept to deliver the payload selectively where it intends to reach. The microenvironment of tumor tissues in lymphatic vessels can also help targeted NPs to achieve their anticipated accumulation depending on the formulation objectives. This review accumulates the application of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) based NP systems, with a specific perspective in cancer. Nowadays, PLGA, PEG, or their combinations are the mostly used polymers to serve the purpose of targeted therapeutic NPs. Their unique physicochemical properties along with their biological activities are also discussed. Depending on the biological effects from parameters associated with existing NPs, several advantages and limitations have been explored in teaming up all the essential facts to give birth to targeted therapeutic NPs. Therefore, the current article will provide a comprehensive review of various approaches to fabricate a targeted system to achieve appropriate physicochemical properties. Based on such findings, researchers can realize the benefits and challenges for the next generation of delivery systems.
Ocular Biometry in Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma Associated with Retinitis Pigmentosa
Authors: Xu Jiangang , Ouyang Zhikun , Yang Yangfan , Cai Xiaoyu , Wang Zhonghao , Lin Mingkai , Zhang Xiulan , Liu Xing , Yu Minbin
Published: December 2017

Background. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) comprises a group of inherited disorders in which patients typically lose night vision in adolescence and then lose peripheral vision in young adulthood before eventually losing central vision later in life. A retrospective case-control study was performed to evaluate differences in ocular biometric parameters in primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) patients with and without concomitant RP to determine whether a relationship exists between PACG and RP. Methods. We used ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) to measure anterior chamber depth (ACD). A-scan biometry was carried out to measure lens thickness (LT) and axial length (AL). Propensity score matching and mixed linear regression model analysis were conducted. 23 patients with chronic primary angle-closure glaucoma (CPACG) associated with RP, 21 patients with acute primary angle-closure glaucoma (APACG) associated with RP, 270 patients with CPACG, and 269 patients with APACG were recruited for this study. Results. There were no significant differences on ACDs, ALs, and relative lens position (RLP) (P>0.05) between patients with PACG associated with RP and patients with PACG; however, patients with APACG associated with RP had a significantly greater LT than patients with APACG (P<0.05). Conclusion. Patients with PACG associated with RP had the same biometric parameter characteristic as the patients with CPACG and APACG. This may suggest that RP is a coincidental relationship with angle-closure glaucoma.
Antroquinonol Exerts Immunosuppressive Effect on CD8+ T Cell Proliferation and Activation to Resist Depigmentation Induced by H2O2
Authors: Guan Cuiping , Li Qingtian , Song Xiuzu , Xu Wen , Li Liuyu , Xu Aie
Published: December 2017

Antroquinonol was investigated as antioxidant and inhibition of inflammatory responses. Our study was to evaluate its immunosuppressive effect on CD8+ T cells and protective effect on depigmentation. CD8+ T cells were treated with antroquinonol in vitro, and C57BL/6 mice were treated with antroquinonol with or without H2O2 in vivo for 50 consecutive days. We found antroquinonol could inhibit proliferation of CD8+ T cells and suppress the production of cytokines IL‐2 and IFN‐γ and T cell activation markers CD69 and CD137 in vitro. H2O2 treatment induced depigmentation and reduced hair follicle length, skin thickness, and tyrosinase expression in vivo. Whereas, antroquinonol obviously ameliorated depigmentation of mice skin and resisted the reduction of hair follicle length, skin thickness, and tyrosinase expression induced by H2O2. Antroquinonol decreased CD8+ T cell infiltration in mice skin, inhibited the production of IL‐2 and IFN‐γ, and decreased the expression of CXCL10 and CXCR3. Summarily, our data shows antroquinonol inhibits CD8+ T cell proliferation in vitro. It also reduces CD8+ T cell infiltration and proinflammatory cytokine secretion and suppresses the thinning of epidermal layer in vivo. Our findings suggest that antroquinonol exerts immunosuppressive effects on CD8+ T cell proliferation and activation to resist depigmentation induced by H2O2.
Patients’ and Healthcare Personnel’s Experiences of Health Coaching with Online Self-Management in the Renewing Health Project
Authors: Lindberg Inger , Lindberg Birgitta , Söderberg Siv
Published: December 2017

Background. Telehealth applications have shown positive effects for people with chronic conditions and their awareness of health. Objective. To describe patients’ and healthcare personnel’s experiences of using health coaching with online self-management in primary health care. Method. A pragmatic randomised controlled trial was conducted. Patients in the intervention group measured and reported medical parameters such as blood pressure, blood glucose, prothrombin complex (PK) values, and 2-channel ECG. Data were collected through a questionnaire, individual interviews with patients, and focus group discussions with healthcare personnel. The questionnaire was analysed using statistics; texts from interviews and focus groups were analysed using content analysis. Findings. Patients were satisfied and believed that the intervention had enhanced their care and increased accessibility without causing concerns about privacy. Although being positive, patients commented the lack of support and feedback from healthcare personnel. Healthcare personnel regarded the intervention valuable for the patients’ abilities to perform self-management healthcare tasks but preferred that patients did so without them supporting the patients. Conclusion. Patients expressed satisfaction and acceptance regarding the use of the application. It seems that healthcare personnel are convinced about the benefits for patients and the potential for the intervention but are not convinced about its benefits for healthcare organisations.
Multiobjective Optimization Model for Profile Design of Hump Distributing Zone
Authors: Zhang Hongliang , Yang Jing , Yang Taoyuan
Published: December 2017

Railway freight trains consist of many cars heading to different destinations. Hump is the special equipment that distributes cars with different destinations to different tracks in a marshalling station. In recent years, with the development of Chinese freight car technology, the axle load has risen from 21 ton to 23 ton and will rise to 27 ton in the future. Many rolling problems appear in the hump distributing zone with the application of 23‐ton axle load cars, which will be exacerbated by 27‐ton axle load cars. This paper proposes a multiobjective optimization model based on the angle of the hump profile design with minimizing weighted accumulating rolling time (WART) and hump height as optimization goals and uses the improved genetic algorithm NSGA‐II to determine a solution. In case study, Pareto solution set is obtained, and the contrast analysis with traditional method is made.
Silencing Chitinase Genes Increases Susceptibility ofTetranychus cinnabarinus(Boisduval) to Scopoletin
Authors: Zhou Hong , Zhang Yong-qiang , Lai Ting , Wang Dan , Liu Jin-lin , Guo Fu-you , Ding Wei
Published: December 2017

The carmine spider miteTetranychus cinnabarinusis a major pest of crop and vegetable plants worldwide. Previous studies have shown that scopoletin is a promising acaricidal compound againstTetranychus cinnabarinus.However, the acaricidal mechanism of scopoletin remains unclear. In the present study, 12 full-length cDNAs of chitinase (CHIT) genes fromTetranychus cinnabarinus(designatedTcCHITs) were cloned and characterized. AlthoughTcCHITswere expressed throughout all life stages, their expression levels were significantly upregulated during the larval and nymphal stages.TcCHITswere downregulated 24 h after treatment with scopoletin and upregulated 24 h after treatment with diflubenzuron (DFB, a chitin synthesis inhibitor). Feeding double-stranded RNA effectively silencedTcCHITtranscription inTetranychus cinnabarinus, thus increasing its susceptibility to scopoletin but reducing that to DFB. Meanwhile,TcCHITsilencing in larvae and adult resulted in an extremely low molting rate (7.3%) and high mortality rate (53.3%), respectively, compared with those in the control group. CHIT genes are closely related to arthropod survival, molting, and development inTetranychus cinnabarinus, suggesting that acaricidal mechanisms of scopoletin and DFB may occur by inhibition and activation of CHIT gene expression, respectively.TcCHITconstitutes a possible target of scopoletin and DFB inTetranychus cinnabarinus.
Roll Attitude Determination of Spin Projectile Based on GPS and Magnetoresistive Sensor
Authors: Yuan Dandan , Yi Wenjun , Guan Jun
Published: December 2017

Improvement in attack accuracy of the spin projectiles is a very significant objective, which increases the overall combat efficiency of projectiles. The accurate determination of the projectile roll attitude is the recent objective of the efficient guidance and control. The roll measurement system for the spin projectile is commonly based on the magnetoresistive sensor. It is well known that the magnetoresistive sensor produces a sinusoidally oscillating signal whose frequency slowly decays with time, besides the possibility of blind spot. On the other hand, absolute sensors such as GPS have fixed errors even though the update rates are generally low. To earn the benefit while eliminating weaknesses from both types of sensors, a mathematical model using filtering technique can be designed to integrate the magnetoresistive sensor and GPS measurements. In this paper, a mathematical model is developed to integrate the magnetoresistive sensor and GPS measurements in order to get an accurate prediction of projectile roll attitude in a real flight time. The proposed model is verified using numerical simulations, which illustrated that the accuracy of the roll attitude measurement is improved.
A Novel Graphical Technique for Combinational Logic Representation and Optimization
Authors: Pandit Vedhas , Schuller Björn
Published: December 2017

We present a new technique for defining, analysing, and simplifying digital functions, through hand-calculations, easily demonstrable therefore in the classrooms. It can be extended to represent discrete systems beyond the Boolean logic. The method is graphical in nature and provides complete ‘‘implementation-free” description of the logical functions, similar to binary decision diagrams (BDDs) and Karnaugh-maps (K-maps). Transforming a function into the proposed representations (also the inverse) is a very intuitive process, easy enough that a person can hand-calculate these transformations. The algorithmic nature allows for its computing-based implementations. Because the proposed technique effectively transforms a function into a scatter plot, it is possible to represent multiple functions simultaneously. Usability of the method, therefore, is constrained neither by the number of inputs of the function nor by its outputs in theory. This, being a new paradigm, offers a lot of scope for further research. Here, we put forward a few of the strategies invented so far for using the proposed representation for simplifying the logic functions. Finally, we present extensions of the method: one that extends its applicability to multivalued discrete systems beyond Boolean functions and the other that represents the variants in terms of the coordinate system in use.
Integrative Approach to Facilitate Fracture Healing: Topical Chinese Herbal Paste with Oral Strontium Ranelate
Authors: Siu Wing-Sum , Shiu Hoi-Ting , Ko Chun-Hay , Shum Wai-Ting , Yu Ho-Nam , Lau Clara Bik-San , Hung Leung-Kim , Leung Ping-Chung
Published: December 2017

Strontium ranelate (SrR) is one of the pharmaceutical agents reported to be effective on the promotion of fracture healing. This study aimed to evaluate the integrative effect of the oral SrR with a topical Chinese herbal paste, namely, CDR, on facilitation of bone healing. The in vivo efficacy was evaluated using rats with tibial fracture. They were treated with either CDR topically, or SrR orally, or their combined treatments. The in vivo results illustrated a significant additive effect of CDR on SrR in increasing the yield load of the fractured tibia. The in vitro results showed that neither SrR nor CDR exhibited a cytotoxic effect on UMR106 and bone‐marrow stem cell (BMSC), but both of them increased the proliferation of BMSC at low concentrations. The combination of CDR at 200 μg/mL with SrR at 200 or 400 μg/ml also showed an additive effect on increasing the ALP activity of BMSC. Both SrR and CDR alone reduced osteoclast formation, and the effective concentration of SrR to inhibit osteoclastogenesis was reduced in the presence of CDR. This integrative approach by combining oral SrR and topical CDR is effective in promoting fracture healing properly due to their additive effects on proosteogenic and antiosteoclastogenic properties.
Antidisturbance Vibration Suppression of the Aerial Refueling Hose during the Coupling Process
Authors: Su Zikang , Wang Honglun
Published: December 2017

In autonomous aerial refueling (AAR), the vibration of the flexible refueling hose caused by the receiver aircraft’s excessive closure speed should be suppressed once it appears. This paper proposed an active control strategy based on the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) angular control for the timely and accurate vibration suppression of the flexible refueling hose. A nonsingular fast terminal sliding-mode (NFTSM) control scheme with adaptive extended state observer (AESO) is proposed for PMSM take-up system under multiple disturbances. The states and the “total disturbance” of the PMSM system are firstly reconstituted using the AESO under the uncertainties and measurement noise. Then, a faster sliding variable with tracking error exponential term is proposed together with a special designed reaching law to enhance the global convergence speed and precision of the controller. The proposed control scheme provides a more comprehensive solution to rapidly suppress the flexible refueling hose vibration in AAR. Compared to other methods, the scheme can suppress the flexible hose vibration more fleetly and accurately even when the system is exposed to multiple disturbances and measurement noise. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme is competitive in accuracy, global rapidity, and robustness.
Lysosomal Exoglycosidase Profile and Secretory Function in the Salivary Glands of Rats with Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes
Authors: Maciejczyk Mateusz , Kossakowska Agnieszka , Szulimowska Julita , Klimiuk Anna , Knaś Małgorzata , Car Halina , Niklińska Wiesława , Ładny Jerzy Robert , Chabowski Adrian , Zalewska Anna
Published: December 2017

Before this study, there had been no research evaluating the relationship between a lysosomal exoglycosidase profile and secretory function in the salivary glands of rats with streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced type 1 diabetes. In our work, rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 animals each: control groups (C2, C4) and diabetic groups (STZ2, STZ4). The secretory function of salivary glands—nonstimulated and stimulated salivary flow,α-amylase, total protein—and salivary exoglycosidase activities—N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase (HEX, HEX A, and HEX B),β-glucuronidase,α-fucosidase,β-galactosidase, andα-mannosidase—was estimated both in the parotid and submandibular glands of STZ-diabetic and control rats. The study has demonstrated that the activity of most salivary exoglycosidases is significantly higher in the parotid and submandibular glands of STZ-diabetic rats as compared to the healthy controls and that it increases as the disease progresses. Reduced secretory function of diabetic salivary glands was also observed. A significant inverse correlation between HEX B,α-amylase activity, and stimulated salivary flow in diabetic parotid gland has also been shown. Summarizing, STZ-induced diabetes leads to a change in the lysosomal exoglycosidase profile and reduced function of the salivary glands.
History of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, Blood Pressure, and Subclinical Vascular Measures in Late Midlife: SWAN (Study of Women's Health Across the Nation)
Authors: Cortés Yamnia I. , Catov Janet M. , Brooks Maria , Harlow Siobán D. , Isasi Carmen R. , Jackson Elizabeth A. , Matthews Karen A. , Thurston Rebecca C. , Barinas‐Mitchell Emma
Published: December 2017

Background

Adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth (
PTB
), have been associated with elevated risk of maternal cardiovascular disease, but their effect on late midlife blood pressure (BP) and subclinical vascular measures remains understudied.

Methods and Results

We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis with 1220 multiethnic parous women enrolled in SWAN (Study of Women's Health Across the Nation) to evaluate the impact of self‐reported history of adverse pregnancy outcomes (
PTB
, small‐for‐gestational‐age, stillbirth), on maternal
BP
, mean arterial pressure, and subclinical vascular measures (carotid intima‐media thickness, plaque, and pulse wave velocity) in late midlife. We also examined whether these associations were modified by race/ethnicity. Associations were tested in linear and logistic regression models adjusting for sociodemographics, reproductive factors, cardiovascular risk factors, and medications. Women were on average aged 60 years and 255 women reported a history of an adverse pregnancy outcome. In fully adjusted models, history of
PTB
was associated with higher
BP
(systolic: β=6.40;
SE,
1.62 [
P
<0.0001] and diastolic: β=3.18;
SE
, 0.98 [
P
=0.001]) and mean arterial pressure (β=4.55;
SE
1.13 [
P
<0.0001]).
PTB
was associated with lower intima‐media thickness, but not after excluding women with prevalent hypertension. There were no significant associations with other subclinical vascular measures.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that history of
PTB
is associated with higher
BP
and mean arterial pressure in late midlife. Adverse pregnancy outcomes were not significantly related to subclinical cardiovascular disease when excluding women with prevalent hypertension. Future studies across the menopause transition may be important to assess the impact of adverse pregnancy outcomes on midlife progression of
BP
.
Partner choice and timing of first marriage among the children of immigrants in Norway and Sweden
Authors: Wiik Kenneth Aarskaug , Holland Jennifer A
Published: December 2017

Using population register data from Norway ( n = 209,532) and Sweden ( n = 592,491), this study addressed the relationship between partner choice and the timing of first marriage. We considered all migrant-background individuals born between 1972 and 1989 who were either native-born or who immigrated prior to age 18, relative to 10% random samples of the majority populations. The results demonstrate that marital timing patterns of migrant background individuals who married exogamously (that is, with a majority-background spouse or across their global region of origin) were more similar to the majority populations than among those who married endogamously (that is, with another migrant-background individual originating in the same global region). However, among immigrant-background individuals who endogamously married, there was evidence of a shift toward the Scandinavian pattern of later marriage across generations. Taken together the results provide an important starting point for investigations into the family life-courses and social position of children of immigrants in Europe, an increasingly large population subgroup currently entering family formation ages.
Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on the Presentation and Outcome of Patients Hospitalized With Atrial Fibrillation: Insights From Qatar
Authors: Salim Imtiaz , Al Suwaidi Jassim , AlBinali Hajar A , Singh Rajvir , Al-Qahtani Awad , Asaad Nidal , Salam Amar M.
Published: December 2017

Atrial fibrillation (AF) with coexistent chronic kidney disease (CKD) is poorly described in the literature. We compared the presenting symptoms, clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of patients hospitalized with AF with and without CKD in a large clinical registry. Data of patients hospitalized with AF between 1991 and 2012 in Qatar were analyzed. Of 5201 patients hospitalized for AF, 264 (5.1%) had CKD. Patients with AF and CKD were older with higher prevalence of other comorbidities and left ventricular dysfunction and were more likely to present with shortness of breath and chest pain compared with patients with AF alone who were more likely to present with palpitation. The crude in-hospital mortality was 3 times higher in patients with dual disease. On multivariable adjustments, CKD was an independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio: 2.84; 95% confidence interval: 1.33-6.08, P = .001). Further studies are warranted to try to reduce the increased mortality observed in this high-risk population.
Weekend Versus Weekday Admission and In-Hospital Mortality for Pulmonary Embolism: A 14-Year Retrospective Study on the National Hospital Database of Italy
Authors: Gallerani Massimo , Fedeli Ugo , Pala Marco , De Giorgi Alfredo , Fabbian Fabio , Manfredini Roberto
Published: December 2017

We assessed the association between weekday (WD) or weekend (WE) admission and mortality for patients hospitalized with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Weekend included holidays. We analyzed hospital administrative data of all patients discharged with a diagnosis of PE extracted from the Italian Health Ministry database (January 2001 to December 2014). A total of 265 035 hospitalizations with a diagnosis of PE were retrieved, in which PE was the primary diagnosis in 198 565 (74.9%); 200 166 (75.5%) patients were admitted on WD and 64 869 (24.5%) on WE. Admissions for PE were more frequent on Mondays (41 917 admissions, 15.8% of all events) and less frequent on Saturdays (32 295 admissions, 12.2%) and Sundays (32 574 admissions, 12.3%). Patients admitted on WE were on average 1 year older, presented more frequently with respiratory failure, and had more common comorbidities. After adjustment for age, gender, comorbidities, and presence of respiratory failure, in-hospital mortality for patients admitted on WE was greater (odds ratio: 1.15, 95% confidence interval: 1.13-1.18; P < .001). This study supports that, in Italy, hospitalization for PE on WE is associated with a significantly higher mortality rate than on WD.
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: Another Form of Cardiorenal Syndrome
Authors: Bill Verena , El-Battrawy Ibrahim , Hoffmann Ursula , Haghi Darius , Kuschyk Jürgen , Borggrefe Martin , Akin Ibrahim
Published: December 2017

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is a life-threatening syndrome with ambiguous pathophysiology. The interdependency between heart failure and kidney failure (KF) is well established, but the influence of KF on TC outcome is not known. This single-center cohort from January 2003 to September 2015 consisted of 114 consecutive patients with TC. They were divided into 2 groups according to the presence (n = 32, 29.6%) or absence (n = 76, 70.3%) of KF. The end point of this retrospective study was a composite of in-hospital events, all-cause mortality, rehospitalization due to heart failure, stroke, and recurrence of TC (mean follow-up: 5 years). Although there were no differences in baseline characteristics between patients with/without KF, we found a significantly higher mortality rate in those with KF, 1 (7.9% vs 21.8%, P < .05), 2 (11.8% vs 31.5%, P < .05), and 5 years (22.3% vs 43.7%, P < .05) after the index event. There were no differences in life-threatening arrhythmias, cardiogenic shock, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and thromboembolic events in both groups at the index event. Patients with TC and KF have a much worse long-term prognosis. This is clinically relevant, but the mechanisms responsible remain to be determined.
Severity of illness and adaptive functioning predict quality of care of children among parents with psychosis: A confirmatory factor analysis
Authors: Campbell Linda E , Hanlon Mary-Claire , Galletly Cherrie A , Harvey Carol , Stain Helen , Cohen Martin , van Ravenzwaaij Don , Brown Scott
Published: December 2017

Objective:

Parenthood is central to the personal and social identity of many people. For individuals with psychotic disorders, parenthood is often associated with formidable challenges. We aimed to identify predictors of adequate parenting among parents with psychotic disorders.

Methods:

Data pertaining to 234 parents with psychotic disorders living with dependent children were extracted from a population-based prevalence study, the 2010 second Australian national survey of psychosis, and analysed using confirmatory factor analysis. Parenting outcome was defined as quality of care of children, based on participant report and interviewer enquiry/exploration, and included level of participation, interest and competence in childcare during the last 12 months.

Results:

Five hypothesis-driven latent variables were constructed and labelled psychosocial support, illness severity, substance abuse/dependence, adaptive functioning and parenting role. Importantly, 75% of participants were not identified to have any dysfunction in the quality of care provided to their child(ren). Severity of illness and adaptive functioning were reliably associated with quality of childcare. Psychosocial support, substance abuse/dependence and parenting role had an indirect relationship to the outcome variable via their association with either severity of illness and/or adaptive functioning.

Conclusion:

The majority of parents in the current sample provided adequate parenting. However, greater symptom severity and poorer adaptive functioning ultimately leave parents with significant difficulties and in need of assistance to manage their parenting obligations. As symptoms and functioning can change episodically for people with psychotic illness, provision of targeted and flexible support that can deliver temporary assistance during times of need is necessary. This would maximise the quality of care provided to vulnerable children, with potential long-term benefits.
Research into Australian emergency services personnel mental health and wellbeing: An evidence map
Authors: Varker Tracey , Metcalf Olivia , Forbes David , Chisolm Katherine , Harvey Sam , Van Hooff Miranda , McFarlane Alexander , Bryant Richard , Phelps Andrea J
Published: December 2017

Background:

Evidence maps are a method of systematically characterising the range of research activity in broad topic areas and are a tool for guiding research priorities.

Aims:

‘Evidence-mapping’ methodology was used to quantify the nature and distribution of recent peer-reviewed research into the mental health and wellbeing of Australian emergency services personnel.

Methods:

A search of the PsycINFO, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases was performed for primary research articles that were published between January 2011 and July 2016.

Results:

In all, 43 studies of primary research were identified and mapped. The majority of the research focused on organisational and individual/social factors and how they relate to mental health problems/wellbeing. There were several areas of research where very few studies were detected through the mapping process, including suicide, personality, stigma and pre-employment factors that may contribute to mental health outcomes and the use of e-health. No studies were detected which examined the prevalence of self-harm and/or harm to others, bullying, alcohol/substance use, barriers to care or experience of families of emergency services personnel. In addition, there was no comprehensive national study that had investigated all sectors of emergency services personnel.

Conclusion:

This evidence map highlights the need for future research to address the current gaps in mental health and wellbeing research among Australian emergency services personnel. Improved understanding of the mental health and wellbeing of emergency services personnel, and the factors that contribute, should guide organisations’ wellbeing policies and procedures.
A systematic review of cost-effectiveness studies of prevention and treatment for eating disorders
Authors: Le Long Khanh-Dao , Hay Phillipa , Mihalopoulos Cathrine
Published: December 2017

Background:

Eating disorders are serious mental disorders and are associated with substantial economic and social burden. The aim of this study is to undertake a systematic review of the cost-effectiveness studies of both preventive and treatment interventions for eating disorder.

Method:

Electronic databases (including the Cochrane Controlled Trial Register, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete, Global Health, CINAHL complete, Health Business Elite, Econlit, Health Policy Reference Center and ERIC) were searched for published cost-effectiveness studies of eating disorder prevention and treatment including papers published up to January 2017. The quality of studies was assessed using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist.

Results:

In all, 13 studies met the review inclusion criteria as full cost-effectiveness studies and 8 were published since 2011. The studies included three modelled and one trial-based study focused on prevention, two trial-based and one modelled study for anorexia nervosa treatment and three trial-based studies for bulimia nervosa treatment. The remaining studies targeted binge-eating disorder or non-specific eating disorder treatment. The average percent of CHEERS checklist items reported was 71% (standard deviation 21%). Eating disorder interventions were mainly cost-saving or more effective and more costly compared to comparators; however, some results did not reach statistical significance. In the two studies that achieved 100% CHEERS checklist, one study reported that a cognitive dissonance intervention might be cost-effective for prevention of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa with a 90% participation rate and the second study supported lisdexamfetamine to be cost-effective in the treatment of binge-eating disorder. Insufficient evidence for long-term cost-effectiveness (e.g. over 2 years) was found.

Conclusion:

Cost-effectiveness studies in eating disorder appear to be increasing in number over the last 6 years. Findings were inconsistent and no firm conclusion can be drawn with regard to comparative value-for-money conclusions. However, some promising interventions were identified. Further research with improved methodology is required.
Latent profiles of early developmental vulnerabilities in a New South Wales child population at age 5 years
Authors: Green Melissa J , Tzoumakis Stacy , Laurens Kristin R , Dean Kimberlie , Kariuki Maina , Harris Felicity , O’Reilly Nicole , Chilvers Marilyn , Brinkman Sally A , Carr Vaughan J
Published: December 2017

Objective:

Detecting the early emergence of childhood risk for adult mental disorders may lead to interventions for reducing subsequent burden of these disorders. We set out to determine classes of children who may be at risk for later mental disorder on the basis of early patterns of development in a population cohort, and associated exposures gleaned from linked administrative records obtained within the New South Wales Child Development Study.

Methods:

Intergenerational records from government departments of health, education, justice and child protection were linked with the Australian Early Development Census for a state population cohort of 67,353 children approximately 5 years of age. We used binary data from 16 subdomains of the Australian Early Development Census to determine classes of children with shared patterns of Australian Early Development Census–defined vulnerability using latent class analysis. Covariates, which included demographic features (sex, socioeconomic status) and exposure to child maltreatment, parental mental illness, parental criminal offending and perinatal adversities (i.e. birth complications, smoking during pregnancy, low birth weight), were examined hierarchically within latent class analysis models.

Results:

Four classes were identified, reflecting putative risk states for mental disorders: (1) disrespectful and aggressive/hyperactive behaviour, labelled ‘misconduct risk’ ( N = 4368; 6.5%); (2) ‘pervasive risk’ ( N = 2668; 4.0%); (3) ‘mild generalised risk’ ( N = 7822; 11.6%); and (4) ‘no risk’ ( N = 52,495; 77.9%). The odds of membership in putative risk groups (relative to the no risk group) were greater among children from backgrounds of child maltreatment, parental history of mental illness, parental history of criminal offending, socioeconomic disadvantage and perinatal adversities, with distinguishable patterns of association for some covariates.

Conclusion:

Patterns of early childhood developmental vulnerabilities may provide useful indicators for particular mental disorder outcomes in later life, although their predictive utility in this respect remains to be established in longitudinal follow-up of the cohort.
Deserts of Disadvantage: The Diffuse Effects of Structural Disadvantage on Violence in Urban Communities
Authors: Johnson Lallen T. , Kane Robert J.
Published: December 2017

We advance discussion of structural inequality by operationalizing “concentrated” disadvantage in terms of highly disadvantaged communities located at the spatial core of contiguous areas of high disadvantage, and by testing the extent to which such location achieves an independent effect on violence. Using exploratory spatial data analysis and count modeling, we show that highly disadvantaged communities located at the center of a contiguous ghetto have significantly higher rates of violence than other highly disadvantaged communities, but that this relationship is moderated by structural disadvantage. In addition to finding a significant interaction between these “deserts” of disadvantage and structural disadvantage, as they relate to violent crime, we also observe that in desert communities, disadvantage has a diminishing effect on violence.
Cumulative Disadvantage and the Role of Transportation in Community Supervision
Authors: Bohmert Miriam Northcutt , DeMaris Alfred
Published: December 2017

Drawing from cumulative disadvantage theory, we are the first to examine the role of transportation disadvantage among other known challenges for women on community supervision. We create a composite measure of transportation disadvantage using factor analyses and data for 362 women on probation and parole in one Midwestern state: It is used to predict arrest and conviction using multiepisode event history analysis and conditional logistic regression. Consistent with cumulative disadvantage theory, the results suggest each additional disadvantage makes women more vulnerable, over and above the other disadvantages. Transportation disadvantage is a significant and entrenched feature in criminal justice-involved women’s lives. The import of modeling all available recidivism events, given the entrenched nature of criminal justice system involvement, cannot be overstated.
Trauma, Race, and Risk for Violent Felony Arrests Among Florida Juvenile Offenders
Authors: Johnson Micah E.
Published: December 2017

This study tests the assumptions of the The Childhood Trauma Model, which proposes that marginalized populations are both more likely to have traumatic childhoods and more criminalized than those in the upper echelons of society. It hypothesizes that traumatic childhood experiences increase risk of being sanctioned for violent behavior, and risks are amplified for minority and disadvantaged groups. The study finds that experiencing three or more traumas had a 200% to 370% increased chance of being arrested for a violent felony as youth who experienced a single traumatic event, and Blacks had up to 300% increased risk than Whites with equal trauma scores.
Disrupting Terrorist Assassinations Through Situational Crime Prevention
Authors: Mandala Marissa , Freilich Joshua D.
Published: December 2017

This article uses environmental criminology and situational crime prevention (SCP) to devise a series of hypotheses to determine the factors that distinguish successful from unsuccessful assassination incidents. We analyzed a random sample of 100 successful and 100 unsuccessful assassination incidents from the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) that occurred between 2005 and 2014. We then consulted open sources to create new SCP variables that we added to the original GTD data. The hypotheses were tested in a binary logistic regression. Results show that successful assassinations are associated with several SCP measures, including weapon type, fatalities, terrorist proximity to target, and attack and target location.
Why They Did It? Sex Differences in the Impact of Mental Health and Substance Use on Motivations for Offending
Authors: Craig Jessica M. , Wilson Angie D. , Baglivio Michael T. , Wolff Kevin T. , Piquero Alex R. , Epps Nathan
Published: December 2017

This study examined how mental health issues and substance use relate to motivations for offending among a large sample of adjudicated youth who completed a community-based placement in a large southeastern state ( n = 18,749). The extent to which these relationships differed by sex was also considered. Multinomial logistic regression models revealed that although both mental health issues and substance use were related to a variety of reasons for offending, these relationships differed and did not appear to influence one another. In addition, findings revealed that mental health issues and substance use have differential effects on reasons for offending across sex. Treatment implications are highlighted along with suggestions for future research.