bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Head, Face, and Eye Injuries in Collegiate Women’s Field Hockey
Authors: Gardner Elizabeth C.
Published: June 2015

Background:

While there is concern regarding head, face, and eye injuries in field hockey, prompting some to recommend the use of protective equipment such as goggles and helmets, little has been written about their incidence and mechanism of injury in the modern game of field hockey. The elucidation of this information will better inform the development of maximally effective injury prevention schemes to protect the athlete while maintaining the integrity of the game.

Purpose:

To determine the incidence and epidemiology of head, face, and eye injuries in United States collegiate women’s field hockey players from 2004-2005 to 2008-2009.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiological study.

Methods:

All head, face, and eye injuries reported to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System for collegiate women’s field hockey athletes from the 2004-2005 through 2008-2009 seasons were analyzed. Data regarding the event type, injury mechanism, body part injured, type of injury, outcome, and time lost were reviewed. The weighted injury incidence per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs) was calculated using the exposure data set for the same years; 95% CIs were calculated based on a normal approximation to the Poisson distribution.

Results:

There were 150 reported traumatic injuries during this time period, with a weighted occurrence of 1587.3 injuries. The overall incidence of head, face, and eye injuries in collegiate women’s field hockey was 0.94 per 1000 AEs (95% CI, 0.86-1.19). Injuries to the head or face, other than the mouth, nose, and eye, accounted for 75.3% of these injuries. The incidence of eye injuries was 0.07 per 1000 AEs (95% CI, 0.03-0.12); nose injuries occurred at a rate of 0.10 per 1000 AEs (95% CI, 0.05-0.15). The rate of traumatic dental injuries was 0.06 per 1000 AEs (95% CI, 0.04-0.14). Contact with an apparatus caused 72.9% of all injuries; specifically, contact with an elevated ball accounted for 47.9% of all injuries, and contact with an elevated stick caused 21.7% of all injuries. While the majority of players suffering a head, face, or eye injury were able to return to sport that season (90.0%), the remaining athletes suffered season-ending injuries (10%). Concussions accounted for 42.8% of all head, face, and eye injuries reported (0.40 per 1000 AEs; 95% CI, 0.32-0.53).

Conclusion:

Head, face, and eye injuries occur regularly in women’s field hockey. This description of the injury profile and mechanisms of injury may be used to design appropriate injury prevention schemes for the sport.
Statistical Comparison of the Pediatric Versus Adult IKDC Subjective Knee Evaluation Form in Adolescents
Authors: Oak Sameer R. , O’Rourke Colin , Strnad Greg , Andrish Jack T. , Parker Richard D. , Saluan Paul , Jones Morgan H. , Stegmeier Nicole A. , Spindler Kurt P.
Published: June 2015

Background:

The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Evaluation Form is a patient-reported outcome with adult (1998) and pediatric (2011) versions validated at different ages. Prior longitudinal studies of patients aged 13 to 17 years who tore their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) have used the only available adult IKDC, whereas currently the pediatric IKDC is the accepted form of choice.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

This study compared the adult and pediatric IKDC forms and tested whether the differences were clinically significant. The hypothesis was that the pediatric and adult IKDC questionnaires would show no clinically significant differences in score when completed by patients aged 13 to 17 years.

Study Design:

Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

A total of 100 participants aged 13 to 17 years with knee injuries were split into 2 groups by use of simple randomization. One group answered the adult IKDC form first and then the pediatric form. The second group answered the pediatric IKDC form first and then the adult form. A 10-minute break was given between form administrations to prevent rote repetition of answers. Study design was based on established methods to compare 2 forms of patient-reported outcomes. A 5-point threshold for clinical significance was set below previously published minimum clinically important differences for the adult IKDC. Paired t tests were used to test both differences and equivalence between scores. By ordinary least-squares models, scores were modeled to predict adult scores given certain pediatric scores and vice versa.

Results:

Comparison between adult and pediatric IKDC scores showed a statistically significant difference of 1.5 points; however, the 95% CI (0.3-2.6) fell below the threshold of 5 points set for clinical significance. Further equivalence testing showed the 95% CI (0.5-2.4) between adult and pediatric scores being within the defined 5-point equivalence region. The scores were highly correlated, with a linear relationship ( R2 = 92%).

Conclusion:

There was no clinically significant difference between the pediatric and adult IKDC form scores in adolescents aged 13 to 17 years. This result allows use of whichever form is most practical for long-term tracking of patients. A simple linear equation can convert one form into the other. If the adult questionnaire is used at this age, it can be consistently used during follow-up.
Biomechanical Analysis of Simulated Clinical Testing and Reconstruction of the Anterolateral Ligament of the Knee
Authors: Spencer Luke , Burkhart Timothy A. , Tran Michael N. , Rezansoff Alex James , Deo Shaneel , Caterine Scott , Getgood Alan M.
Published: June 2015

Background:

Anatomic anterolateral ligament (ALL) reconstruction has been proposed to assist anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in controlling anterolateral rotational laxity of the knee. However, the biomechanical effects have not been reported.

Purpose:

(1) To investigate the effect of ALL transection on rotational knee kinematics and (2) to determine the effect on knee biomechanics of ALL reconstruction procedures compared with lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET).

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

A total of 12 cadaveric knee specimens were tested in the following sequence: (1) ACLintact, (2) anteromedial bundle of ACL sectioned (ACLamb), (3) complete ACL sectioned (ACLfull), (4) ALL sectioned (ALLsec), (5) anatomic ALL reconstruction (ALLanat), and (6) LET. Biomechanical anterior drawer and Lachman tests were performed in which a 90-N load was applied to the posterior tibia, and anterior translation was measured. A combined load to simulate the early phase of the pivot-shift test was executed in which a 5-N·m internal rotation moment was applied to a fully extended knee; anterior translation and internal rotation were measured.

Results:

Anterior translation increased across conditions for the biomechanical tests. Internal rotation during the simulated early-phase pivot-shift test was significantly different between ACLfull and ALLsec. Anatomic ALL reconstruction did not significantly reduce internal rotation or anterior translation during the simulated early-phase pivot-shift test. After LET, a significant decrease in anterior translation was found. There was no evidence of overconstraint of the knee with either anatomic ALL reconstruction or LET.

Conclusion:

The ALL demonstrated a role in controlling anterolateral laxity. LET had a composite effect in governing both anterior and rotational laxity. Anatomic ALL reconstruction did not reduce anterolateral rotational laxity.

Clinical Relevance:

Profiling the biomechanical characteristics of anterolateral reconstruction is integral to understanding the implications and potential benefit of such an additional procedure to ACL reconstruction.
Informing Understandings of Mild Cognitive Impairment for Older Adults: Implications From a Scoping Review
Authors: Fang Mei Lan , Coatta Katherine , Badger Melissa , Wu Sarah , Easton Margaret , Nygård Louise , Astell Arlene , Sixsmith Andrew
Published: June 2015

The development of effective interventions for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults has been limited by extensive variability in the conceptualization and definition of MCI, its subtypes, and relevant diagnostic criteria within the neurocultural, pharmaceutical, and gerontological communities. A scoping review was conducted to explore the conceptual development of MCI and identify the resulting ethical, political, and technological implications for the care of older adults with MCI. A comprehensive search was conducted between January and April 2013 to identify English-language peer-reviewed articles published between 1999 and 2013. Our analysis revealed that the MCI conceptual debate remains unresolved, the response to ethical issues is contentious, the policy response is limited, and one-dimensional and technological interventions are scarce. Reflections on the conceptual, ethical, and policy responses in conjunction with the identification of the needs of older adults diagnosed with MCI highlight significant opportunities for technological interventions to effectively reposition MCI in the aging care discourse.
Plastic debris in the coastal environment: The invincible threat? Abundance of buried plastic debris on Malaysian beaches
Authors: Fauziah SH , Liyana IA , Agamuthu P
Published: June 2015

Studies on marine debris have gained worldwide attention since many types of debris have found their way into the food chain of higher organisms. Thus, it is crucial that more focus is given to this area in order to curb contaminations in sea food. This study was conducted to quantify plastic debris buried in sand at selected beaches in Malaysia. Marine debris was identified according to size range and distribution, and this information was related to preventive actions to improve marine waste issues. For the purpose of this study, comparison of plastic waste abundance between a recreational beach and fish-landing beaches was also carried out, since the different beach types represent different activities that produce debris. Six beaches along the Malaysian coastline were selected for this study. The plastic types in this study were related to the functions of the beach. While recreational beaches have abundant quantities of plastic film, foamed plastic including polystyrene, and plastic fragment, fish-landing beaches accumulated line and foamed plastic. A total of 2542 pieces (265.30 g m-2) of small plastic debris were collected from all six beaches, with the highest number from Kuala Terengganu, at 879 items m-2 on Seberang Takir Beach, followed by Batu Burok Beach with 780 items m-2. Findings from studies of Malaysian beaches have provided a clearer understanding of the distribution of plastic debris. This demonstrates that commitments and actions, such as practices of the ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ (3R) approach, supporting public awareness programmes and beach clean-up activities, are essential in order to reduce and prevent plastic debris pollution.
Composition and uses of anaerobic digestion derived biogas from wastewater treatment facilities in North America
Authors: Lackey Jillian C , Peppley B , Champagne P , Maier A
Published: June 2015

A study was conducted to determine the current knowledge of biogas production and its use at municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across North America. Information was provided by municipal WWTPs across Canada and the US. It was determined that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and silicon (Si) compounds had sufficient variability to be of concern. The only biogas production trend that could be identified was a possible seasonal relationship with sludge input and biogas production. Secondary analysis was performed to observe trends in biogas usage in urban areas larger than 150,000 in the US and 50,000 in Canada; 66% of facilities had anaerobic digestion systems and, of those, only 35% had an energy recovery system. Climatic, population, and socio-political influences on the trends were considered. The primary conclusion was that more data is required to perform significant analyses on biogas production and composition variation.
Iqra
Authors: Muhammad Gholnecsar E.
Published: June 2015

In this study, the researcher explores the role of literacy—specifically writing in the lives of adolescent Muslim girls who used writing as a sociopolitical tool when participating in a literacy collaborative grounded in Islamic principles and writing for social change. Previously, researchers have largely focused on the literacies of immigrant adolescent Muslims, leaving African American girls out of scholarly conversations. Employing methods of intertextual analysis grounded within a qualitative study, the researcher examined two questions: (a) What social issues do African American Muslim girls choose to write within broadside poetry? (b) How do these self-selected social issues relate to their identities? Findings show girls most frequently wrote about issues related to (a) war and violence and (b) the abuse, violence, and mistreatment of women and girls. Writing was a means to make sense of and critically shape their multiple identities, including who they are as Muslims, their community, and ethnic and gendered identities.
How to Cope With Digital Stress
Authors: Weinstein Emily C. , Selman Robert L. , Thomas Sara , Kim Jung-Eun , White Allison E. , Dinakar Karthik
Published: June 2015

There is considerable interest in ways to support adolescents in their digital lives, particularly related to the relational challenges they face. While researchers have explored coping with cyberbullying, the scope of relevant digital issues is considerably broader. Through the lens of online peer responses to personal accounts posted by adolescents, this study explores recommended strategies for coping with different experiences of socio-digital stress, including both hostility-oriented issues and digital challenges related to navigating close relationships. A content analysis of 628 comments posted in response to 180 stories of digital stress reveals five common recommendations: Get Help from others, Communicate Directly, Cut Ties with the person involved, Ignore the situation, and Utilize Digital Solutions. The most common recommendation for hostility-oriented issues is to Get Help, while Cut Ties is most common for issues that arise in close relationships. Variations in the pattern of recommendations proposed for different digital issues and for each type of recommendation are described. The findings point to both practical implications for supporting digital youth and next steps for research.
Storytelling for Empowerment for Latino Teens
Authors: Nelson Annabelle , Cordova David , Walters Andrew S. , Szecsy Elsie
Published: June 2015

Latino adolescents are disproportionately impacted by HIV, but researchers have documented few programs to prevent and reduce HIV risk. The Storytelling for Empowerment (SFE) HIV StoryBook was designed with an innovative ecodevelopment approach combining empowerment, family communication, and positive cultural identity. A mixed method design used both a randomized control group design, as well as grounded theory coding of semi-structured focus group interviews. For the quantitative method, a total of 96 adolescents (85% Latino, M age = 12.2) were randomized to either the SFE HIV StoryBook condition or a control condition and then tested at baseline and at 4 months post-baseline. Study findings indicated that teens who participated in the HIV StoryBook condition maintained sexual abstinence, increased their ability to communicate about sex, increased their intention to stop sexual advances, and increased their HIV prevention knowledge. For the qualitative method, seven focus groups of 38 participants, including staff, madres, teen participants, and graduates created rich description. Axial coding produced emergent themes, including an appreciation for the culturally affirming curriculum, increased family communication, and the embodiment by teens resulting in restraint and integrity. Results indicate that SFE has promise to stem HIV infections.
Synthesis and characterization of β-cyclodextrin-conjugated alginate hydrogel for controlled release of hydrocortisone acetate in response to mechanical stimulation
Authors: Tan Li , Li Jingjing , Liu Yang , Zhou Huan , Zhang Zhiguo , Deng Linhong
Published: June 2015

Alginate hydrogels are a class of biomaterials that can be used as local release depots for therapeutic agents. A particular drug that can take advantage of alginate hydrogel for controlled release is hydrocortisone acetate. Hydrocortisone acetate is a widely used anti-inflammatory agent, but is limited in application due to poor solubility and lack of controlled delivery. To overcome this limitation, a mechanically responsive β-cyclodextrin-conjugated alginate (Alg-β-CD) hydrogel was synthesized and characterized for enhanced aqueous solubility and controlled release of hydrocortisone acetate. We demonstrated that mono-6-deoxy-6-ethylenediamine-β-cyclodextrin and hydrocortisone acetate formed a 1:1 inclusion complex, thus resulting in marked increase in hydrocortisone acetate solubility, while causing no significant inhibition to the growth of cultured mouse fibroblasts (L929). More importantly, the release of hydrocortisone acetate from the hydrogel system was increasingly sensitive to mechanical compression, and the mechanical responsiveness of hydrocortisone acetate release increased dramatically as the concentration of mono-6-deoxy-6-ethylenediamine-β-cyclodextrin increased from 0% to 46%, whereas the swelling rate and stiffness of the hydrogel decreased as the concentration of mono-6-deoxy-6-ethylenediamine-β-cyclodextrin increased. The mechanical responsiveness of hydrocortisone acetate release was attributable to conformational distortion of mono-6-deoxy-6-ethylenediamine-β-cyclodextrin moieties and deformation of the polymer network. Moreover, we demonstrated that the hydrogel continuously released and accumulated hydrocortisone acetate in the medium when compressed for up to 72 h, which led to increasing suppression of nitric oxide production in the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse macrophages (RAW264.7), indicating desirable anti-inflammatory effect at the cell level. Hence, this hydrogel system may provide a useful platform for drug delivery, such as hydrocortisone acetate release to wound site, by intentionally generated mechanical force.
Emerging Role of Melatonin and Melatonin Receptor Agonists in Sleep and Delirium in Intensive Care Unit Patients
Authors: Mo Yoonsun , Scheer Corey E. , Abdallah George T.
Published: June 2015

Delirium, an acute state of mental confusion, can lead to many adverse sequelae in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Although the etiology of ICU delirium is often multifactorial, and at times not fully understood, sleep deprivation is considered to be a major contributing factor to its development. It has been postulated that administration of exogenous melatonin and melatonin receptor agonists such as ramelteon may prevent delirium by promoting nocturnal sleep in ICU patients. The purpose of this review is to summarize the pharmacology of melatonin and melatonin receptor agonists and investigate their potential roles in sleep promotion and delirium prevention in ICU patients. Although few studies evaluating the impact of melatonergic agents on sleep and delirium in the ICU have been completed, some data suggest their potential positive effects on sleep and delirium. However, large-scale randomized controlled trials are warranted to determine the optimal role of melatonergic agents in the prevention of ICU delirium.
The Relationship Between Sociodemographic Characteristics, Work Conditions, and Level of “Mobbing” of Health Workers in Primary Health Care
Authors: Picakciefe Metin , Acar Gulcihan , Colak Zehra , Kilic Ibrahim
Published: June 2015

Mobbing is a type of violence which occurs in workplaces and is classified under the community violence subgroup of interpersonal violence. The aim of this study is to examine health care workers who work in primary health care in the city of Mugla and to determine whether there is a relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, work conditions, and their level of mobbing. A cross-sectional analysis has been conducted in which 130 primary health care workers were selected. Of the 130, 119 health workers participated, yielding a response rate of 91.5%; 83.2% of health workers are female, 42.9% are midwives, 27.7% are nurses, and 14.3% are doctors. In all, 31.1% of health workers have faced with “mobbing” in the last 1 year, and the frequency of experiencing “mobbing” of those 48.6% of them is 1 to 3 times per year. A total of 70.3% of those who apply “mobbing” are senior health workers, and 91.9% are female. The frequency of encountering with “mobbing” was found significantly in married health workers, in those 16 years and above according to examined total working time, in those who have psychosocial reactions, and in those who have counterproductive behaviors. It has been discovered that primary health care workers have high prevalence of “mobbing” exposure. To avoid “mobbing” at workplace, authorities and responsibilities of all employees have to be clearly determined.
How Nurses in Johannesburg Address Intimate Partner Violence in Female Patients: Understanding IPV Responses in Low- and Middle-Income Country Health Systems
Authors: Sprague Courtenay , Hatcher Abigail M. , Woollett Nataly , Black Vivian
Published: June 2015

One in three women, globally, experiences intimate partner violence (IPV). Although 80% of the world’s population resides in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), health system responses to IPV are poorly understood. In 2013, the World Health Organization released new guidelines for IPV but universal screening was not recommended in LMICs due to perceived lack of capacity and insufficient evidence. South Africa, with IPV prevalence estimated at 31% to 55%, offers a window into LMIC health systems. South African women seek health care for partner abuse, yet no guidelines exist to direct providers. This research aimed to understand how and why nurses respond to IPV. Using a descriptive design, 25 nurses from five health facilities were interviewed, generating rich narratives of provider actions. Themes were coded and analyzed. An iterative process of constant comparison of emergent data was undertaken to verify and confirm final themes. In the absence of IPV guidelines, nurses employed interventions characterized as counseling, ascertaining abuse, and referral. Nurses’ actions were motivated by fear for patients’ survival, perceived professional obligations, patients’ expectations of receiving treatment, personal experiences of IPV, and weak police responses to IPV. Findings indicated nurses were responding to IPV in a routine manner, yet comprehensive guidelines remain essential to govern and locate their actions within the framework of a public health response. South Africa yields lessons for enhancing understanding of IPV responses in LMICs, while contributing to a slim evidence base of the “how” and “why” of provider actions toward IPV in patients.
Personnel vs. strategic human resource management in public education
Authors: Tran Henry
Published: June 2015

Education human resources (HR) professionals have often been neglected in education research. This study seeks to better understand their role in the American school industry, by first examining how districts conceptualize the position of HR professionals and then exploring how the professionals themselves understand their role in school business. Emphasis is placed on identifying the dominant employee management philosophy (i.e. personnel vs. strategic HR management) that is promoted for and practiced by the professionals. Data was collected by document analysis and focus group interviews. The document analysis was conducted with data from a recruitment/job advertising system that most school employers use in the state of California, USA. The focus group was conducted with HR professionals in primary and secondary education institutions across Northern California ( n = 14). Findings suggest that personnel management is emphasized for HR professionals in public school districts more often than strategic HR management. Results are discussed.
Are schools and colleges institutions?
Authors: Glatter Ron
Published: June 2015

This paper asks whether schools and colleges should be regarded as institutions as well as organizations, and if so what are the implications. Different conceptions of ‘institution’ are examined including an attempt to distinguish ‘institution’ from ‘organization’. It is suggested that institutions are committed to a set of values beyond the transmission of knowledge and skills, as well as to breadth in education and the importance of continuity and a degree of stability. Positive and negative connotations of the idea of institution are briefly reviewed. The discussion is placed in a wider context of the debate about the public realm and its boundaries. Institutional theory is drawn on regarding the interplay between schools and colleges and their environments. Finally there is a brief discussion of the conception of ‘civic institution’, and its implications concerning the ownership of publicly-funded schools and colleges.
Collaborative Barriers and Cultural Brokers: Competing Conceptions of Gender Equality in Potosí, Bolivia
Authors: Cockburn Jenny
Published: June 2015

This article examines barriers to collaborations that arise between Andean farmers and a Bolivian rural development NGO in efforts toward agroecology. Despite their shared concerns, tensions are evident in the power imbalances embedded in these relationships, as well as in the divergent values and meanings assigned to participation and equality, most evident when viewed through the lens of gender. The implications of these tensions extend to how gendered human rights are understood more broadly. Western liberal notions of human rights may conflict with local cultures’ notions of these rights, informed by the organizing principle of gender complementarity. To explore this, ethnographic data on farm women’s participation, issues of decision-making power, and their public voices and silence are brought forth, demonstrating how the NGO is positioned as cultural broker between two different conceptions of equality – that of the farm families and the funding agencies and partners from the Global North.
The Five I’s of Five-O: Racial Ideologies, Institutions, Interests, Identities, and Interactions of Police Violence
Authors: Hughey Matthew W.
Published: June 2015

The relationship between police violence and race is one fraught with both specific historical and contemporary tensions (i.e., white police profiling, beating, and murder of people of color) and with ambiguity (e.g., what is meant by “race” and how do we operationalize and measure “violence” at the hands of law enforcement?). Defining the concept of “race” as a multidimensional process of oppression and justification for social inequality can shed light on why and how police violence often descends upon black and Latino populations as well as why such brutality and state surveillance is supported by many whites yesterday and today. In this article I analyze the relationships between police violence and race as an ongoing feedback loop: “race” produces violence and inequality while violence and inequality (re)forms “race.” Their intertwined formation reproduces the dominant meanings and structural location of racial groups in five key domains: ideologies, institutions, interests, identities, and interactions – what I call “The Five I’s.”
A Perfect Storm
Authors: Coates Rodney D.
Published: June 2015

In this article we shall explore the elements of the perfect storm. Specifically, it reflects on the confluence of sequentially interrelated events and processes: (a) a national cult of violence; (b) structural inequality; (c) national and local policies targeting young males of color; (d) neglect; and (e) nihilism, all of which delegitimizes, targets, and victimizes young males of color. This perfect storm reflects a system, rarely viewed by either media or the public, which must both theoretically and with reference to policy also be viewed systematically. Absent this systematic approach, our efforts to contain, reduce, and/or eliminate the homicidal menace devastating our youth and communities of color can at best only be marginally successful.
Point-of-Care Testing
Authors: Goble Joseph A. , Rocafort Patrick T.
Published: June 2015

This article provides an overview of the current use of point-of-care testing (POCT) and its utility for patients’ self-management of chronic disease states. Pharmacists utilize POCT to provide rapid laboratory diagnostic results as a monitoring tool in the management of their patients and in order to improve medication outcomes. Considerations for the transition to use of POCT in the home to further improve disease management and improve health care cost-effectiveness are discussed. Devices available for home use include those suitable for management of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and anticoagulation. Many of these devices include software capabilities enabling patients to share important health information with health care providers using a computer. Limitations and challenges surrounding implementation of home POCT for patients include reliability of instrumentation, ability to coordinate data collection, necessary training requirements, and cost-effectiveness. Looking forward, the successful integration of POCT into the homes of patients is contingent on a concerted effort made by all members of the health care team.
Effects of Self-Rated Health and Self-Rated Economic Situation on Depressed Mood Via Life Satisfaction Among Older Adults in Costa Rica
Authors: Reyes Fernández Benjamín , Rosero-Bixby Luis , Koivumaa-Honkanen Heli
Published: June 2015

Objective: The study examined the relationship of self-rated health and self-rated economic situation with depressed mood, and life satisfaction as mediator of this relationship among older adults in Costa Rica. Method: A longitudinal study was conducted with a subsample ( N = 1,618) from the Costa Rican Longevity and Healthy Aging Study (CRELES). Self-rated health, self-rated economic situation, depressed mood, and life satisfaction were measured at baseline, and depressed mood was reassessed 18 months later. Putative mechanisms for changes in depressed mood were examined by means of conditional process analysis. Results: Self-rated health was negatively associated to depressed mood. This effect took place via life satisfaction. An interaction showed that better economic situation compensated the effect of a low self-rated health on life satisfaction. Discussion: This study suggests that subjective variables such as self-rated health, economic situation, and life satisfaction should be considered when addressing the onset of depressed mood.
The Impact of Relationship-Specific Support and Strain on Depressive Symptoms Across the Life Course
Authors: Thomas Patricia A.
Published: June 2015

Objective: This study integrates stress process theory into a life course framework to examine how support and strain from particular relationship types (spouse/partner, children, mother, and friends/relatives) influence trajectories of depressive symptoms among different age groups, net of support and strain from other relationship types. Method: Latent growth curve models were used on nationally representative panel data ( N = 3,617) from the Americans’ Changing Lives survey (1986, 1989, 1994, and 2001/2002). Results: Net of support and strain from other relationships, support from a spouse was related to fewer depressive symptoms among each age group. Friendships were important for depressive symptoms among younger and older adults, whereas only support/strain from family relationships influenced depressive symptoms among adults in midlife. Discussion: Findings demonstrate the importance of support and strain in multiple types of network members for the mental health of adults across the life course.
Innovation design and experiment research on the N–N type planetary gear apparatus with small tooth number difference
Authors: Pu Wei , Wang Jiaxu , Xin Yuefeng , Li Junyang , Zhou Guangwu , Zhou Qinghua
Published: June 2015

The three high-performance indicators (low retrace tolerance, long life and low vibration) of N–N type planetary gear apparatus with small tooth number difference (abbrev “N–N–PGA”) are hardly achieved simultaneously until recently. At present, the root cause analysis (RCA) and TRIZ are considered to be comprehensive and systematic new theories for technological innovation, which provides a new way to figure out the conundrum existed in the N–N–PGA. In the present study, the “root cause” of the problem is proposed with the RCA approach and two contradictions existed in the N–N–PGA have been revealed: Harmful side effect and stability of composition; harmful side effect and durability of a moving object. Besides, two reasonable principles (“Dynamicity” and “Composite materials”) for the N–N–PGA design recommended by the TRIZ method are used to eliminate these contradictions. In addition, a prototype of the obtained new type N–N–PGA design is developed for experimental testing. The obtained result demonstrates the capability of the above method for obtaining low retrace tolerance, long life, and low vibration.
A general anomaly detection approach applied to rolling element bearings via reduced-dimensionality transition matrix analysis
Authors: Harris Bradley W , Milo Michael W , Roan Michael J
Published: June 2015

Rolling element bearings are vital components in most rotating machines. Bearings often operate in harsh environments where manufacturing imperfections, misalignments, and fatigue can result in reduced component lifespan. These failures are often preceded by changes in the normal vibration of the system. Modeling and detecting these vibrational anomalies is common practice in predicting machine failure. This paper develops and implements a novel approach to detecting bearing vibration anomalies in the time–frequency domain. The performance of the new approach is quantified using both simulated and experimental bearing vibration data. In these ground-truth experiments, the proposed time–frequency method successfully detects anomalies (>98% true positive) using short time spans (<0.1 s) with low false alarm rates (<1% false positive). Using experimental data, this time–frequency approach is shown to outperform one-dimensional time series analysis techniques.
Soot and nitric oxide modeling in reacting diesel jets with an unsteady flamelet progress variable model
Authors: Yen May , Abraham John
Published: June 2015

In this work, computations of soot and nitric oxide in reacting diesel jets are carried out for a wide range of conditions by employing a Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes model in which an unsteady flamelet progress variable submodel is employed to represent turbulence–chemistry interactions. The computations are carried out in a constant-volume chamber. Soot kinetics are represented using a chemical mechanism that models the growth of soot precursors starting from a single aromatic ring by hydrogen abstraction and carbon (acetylene) addition, and nitric oxide is modeled using the kinetics from a submechanism of GRI-Mech 3.0. Tracer particles are used to track the residence time of the injected mass in the jet. For the soot and nitric oxide computations, this residence time is used to track the progression of the soot and nitric oxide reactions in time. The computational conditions selected reflect the changes in the injection pressure, the chamber temperature, the oxygen concentration and density, and the orifice diameter. Comparisons with the measured soot concentrations are shown when the measured results are available. Furthermore, the dependence of the soot and nitric oxide formed in the jet on the flame lift-off height is examined. Analysis of the entrained mass upstream of the lift-off height confirms that this correlation arises from the variation in the entrained oxygen.
Investigation of multiple-baseline stereovision for state estimation of unknown dynamic space targets
Authors: Jigalin Anton , Gurfil Pini
Published: June 2015

Estimating the pose, motion, and structure of noncooperative dynamic targets using on board sensors is a challenging problem. This work suggests using multiple-baseline stereovision for noncooperative dynamic target relative pose, motion, and structure estimation, with a particular emphasis on space applications. A computer-vision feature-matching algorithm is designed, which produces input data for a recursive filtering algorithm. A newly-developed initialization scheme is proposed, which decreases the ambiguity in the target center of mass location. An extensive numerical study is provided, comparing between two estimators and different relative motion models. It is shown that a simple kinematic model can work well when combined with initial structure estimation. The effect of varying the number of cameras and stereo-rig geometry is investigated. The proposed vision-based relative motion estimation method was validated at the Technion’s Distributed Space Systems Laboratory. A scalability analysis indicates that the proposed method may be potentially useful for space applications.
Impact of finite element idealisation on the prediction of welded fuselage stiffened panel buckling
Authors: Ekmekyapar T , Murphy A , Quinn D , Özakça M
Published: June 2015

Lap joints are widely used in the manufacture of stiffened panels and influence local panel sub-component stability, defining buckling unit dimensions and boundary conditions. Using the finite element method it is possible to model joints in great detail and predict panel buckling behaviour with accuracy. However, when modelling large panel structures such detailed analysis becomes computationally expensive. Moreover, the impact of local behaviour on global panel performance may reduce as the scale of the modelled structure increases. Thus this study presents coupled computational and experimental analyses, aimed at developing relationships between modelling fidelity and the size of the modelled structure, when the global static load to cause initial buckling is the required analysis output. Small, medium and large specimens representing welded lap-joined fuselage panel structure are examined. Two element types, shell and solid-shell, are employed to model each specimen, highlighting the impact of idealisation on the prediction of welded stiffened panel initial skin buckling.
Tool for preliminary structural sizing, weight estimation, and aeroelastic optimization of lifting surfaces*
Authors: Elham Ali , van Tooren Michel JL
Published: June 2015

This paper presents the development and implementation of a tool for wing structural sizing and aeroelastic optimization in early design steps, where the amount of available data about the wing structure is not enough to allow high-fidelity finite element analysis and optimization. The proposed tool consists of two levels. The first level is a quasi-analytical method for wing structural weight estimation and initially sizing of the wing box structure. The second level is an aeroelastic tool that uses a vortex lattice method and a finite beam element to compute the stress distribution in the wing box structure. The Newton method is used to solve the coupled system. The coupled adjoint sensitivity analysis method is used to compute the sensitivity of any function of interest with respect to the design variables. The tool was used for a series of wing aeroelastic optimizations to minimize the wing weight with a series of constraints on the wing structural failure modes and aileron effectiveness. Another series of optimizations is also used to find the wing jig shape for a predefined cruise shape. The outputs of the optimizations showed that the wing box weight varies quadratically with the required value for the aileron effectiveness.
Attitude determination using Newton’s method on Riemannian manifold
Authors: Yang Yaguang
Published: June 2015

Attitude determination problem is formulated by Wahba as an optimization problem. This problem is reduced by Davenport to an eigenvalue and eigenvector problem of the K-matrix. Several popular solutions aiming at reducing the computational cost, such as QUEST and FOMA, use iterative algorithms of Newton’s method to find the eigenvalue as the largest real root of the characteristic polynomial of K-matrix and then use some analytic formulas to calculate the eigenvector which is a function of the largest eigenvalue. Since the characteristic polynomial of K-matrix is a quartic, closed-form formulas for the eigenvalue were also available. However, extensive numerical experience shows that (a) the calculation of the eigenvector (quaternion) based on the analytic formulas is sensitive to the accuracy of the eigenvalue, and (b) directly solving the eigenvalue/eigenvector problem of the K-matrix is a much more robust method. To avoid the calculation of all eigenvectors, Newton algorithm on Riemannian manifold is proposed to calculate the largest eigenvalue and the corresponding eigenvector. Extensive simulation test is performed to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the algorithm.
‘The waiting game’: are current chlamydia and gonorrhoea near-patient/point-of-care tests acceptable to service users and will they impact on treatment?
Authors: Atkinson Lindsay M , Vijeratnam Dayan , Mani Reena , Patel Raj
Published: June 2015

The objective of this study was to assess the length of time service users were prepared to wait for chlamydia and gonorrhoea (CT/GC) near-patient/point-of-care test (NP-POCT) results and to determine the possible effect on management. Individuals attending two UK clinics from November 2013 to February 2014 were surveyed asking the maximum length of time they would wait for CT/GC NP-POCT results after consultation. Linked CT/GC prevalence and treatment rates were analysed. A total of 1817 participants were surveyed, and 1356 provided CT/GC NAAT samples, in which it was found that 115 (8.5%) could wait over 90 minutes in clinic for their result. 115 received treatment at consultation, of which 50 were CT/GC negative and 12 were treated for urethritis or cervicitis; 38 attended as CT/GC contacts. Six of this population would have waited over 90 minutes were NP-POCTs available. A total of 129 tested CT/GC positive, of whom 65 were treated at their consultation, 61 at a later date, and three were untreated. Twelve of these 129 patients would also have waited over 90 minutes for a NP-POCT result. We conclude that 90-minute NP-POCTs are not acceptable to most clinic attendees and would not have impacted on treatment rates or inappropriate prescribing, and 20-minute NP-POCTs show a marginal benefit in treating CT/GC. While NP-POCTs for CT/GC are promising, they must meet client expectations and enhance disease management in order to be accepted by patients and clinicians.
Sad as a Matter of Choice? Emotion-Regulation Goals in Depression
Authors: Millgram Yael , Joormann Jutta , Huppert Jonathan D. , Tamir Maya
Published: June 2015

Research on deficits in emotion regulation has devoted considerable attention to emotion-regulation strategies. We propose that deficits in emotion regulation may also be related to emotion-regulation goals. We tested this possibility by assessing the direction in which depressed people chose to regulate their emotions (i.e., toward happiness, toward sadness). In three studies, clinically depressed participants were more likely than nondepressed participants to use emotion-regulation strategies in a direction that was likely to maintain or increase their level of sadness. This pattern was found when using the regulation strategies of situation selection (Studies 1 and 2) and cognitive reappraisal (Study 3). The findings demonstrate that maladaptive emotion regulation may be linked not only to the means people use to regulate their emotions, but also to the ends toward which those means are directed.
New defective models based on the Kumaraswamy family of distributions with application to cancer data sets
Authors: Rocha Ricardo , Nadarajah Saralees , Tomazella Vera , Louzada Francisco , Eudes Amanda
Published: June 2015

An alternative to the standard mixture model is proposed for modeling data containing cured elements or a cure fraction. This approach is based on the use of defective distributions to estimate the cure fraction as a function of the estimated parameters. In the literature there are just two of these distributions: the Gompertz and the inverse Gaussian. Here, we propose two new defective distributions: the Kumaraswamy Gompertz and Kumaraswamy inverse Gaussian distributions, extensions of the Gompertz and inverse Gaussian distributions under the Kumaraswamy family of distributions. We show in fact that if a distribution is defective, then its extension under the Kumaraswamy family is defective too. We consider maximum likelihood estimation of the extensions and check its finite sample performance. We use three real cancer data sets to show that the new defective distributions offer better fits than baseline distributions.
Estimating the sample size for a pilot randomised trial to minimise the overall trial sample size for the external pilot and main trial for a continuous outcome variable
Authors: Whitehead Amy L , Julious Steven A , Cooper Cindy L , Campbell Michael J
Published: June 2015

Sample size justification is an important consideration when planning a clinical trial, not only for the main trial but also for any preliminary pilot trial. When the outcome is a continuous variable, the sample size calculation requires an accurate estimate of the standard deviation of the outcome measure. A pilot trial can be used to get an estimate of the standard deviation, which could then be used to anticipate what may be observed in the main trial. However, an important consideration is that pilot trials often estimate the standard deviation parameter imprecisely. This paper looks at how we can choose an external pilot trial sample size in order to minimise the sample size of the overall clinical trial programme, that is, the pilot and the main trial together. We produce a method of calculating the optimal solution to the required pilot trial sample size when the standardised effect size for the main trial is known. However, as it may not be possible to know the standardised effect size to be used prior to the pilot trial, approximate rules are also presented. For a main trial designed with 90% power and two-sided 5% significance, we recommend pilot trial sample sizes per treatment arm of 75, 25, 15 and 10 for standardised effect sizes that are extra small (≤0.1), small (0.2), medium (0.5) or large (0.8), respectively.