bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urinary PGE-M in Colorectal Cancer: Predicting More than Risk?
Authors: Maresso Karen Colbert , Vilar Eduardo , Hawk Ernest T.
Published: July 2014

Progress in cancer chemoprevention has been hindered by a lack of validated biomarkers of risk and interventive response. The identification of accurate, reliable, and easily measurable risk and response biomarkers within the field of cancer prevention could dramatically alter our approach to the disease. Colorectal cancer is associated with substantial morbidity and a limited 5-year survival rate for late-stage disease. The identification of biomarkers to predict (i) those most at risk of clinically significant colorectal neoplasia in conjunction with or building upon current risk models and/or (ii) those most likely to respond to potential colorectal chemopreventive agents, such as aspirin and NSAIDs, would significantly advance colorectal cancer risk management. Urinary PGE-M is an established indicator of systemic prostaglandin E2 production and has previously been demonstrated to predict risk of advanced colorectal neoplasia in a handful of studies. In the July 2014 issue, Bezawada and colleagues confirmed those earlier risk associations and demonstrated that PGE-M can also predict responsiveness to aspirin/NSAIDs in a small subset of women undergoing lower endoscopy in the Nurse's Health Study. PGE-M has the potential to define subsets of the population that may derive greater chemopreventive benefit from NSAIDs, as well as the potential to optimize the use of expensive and/or invasive screening tests. Additional larger and more diverse prospective studies meeting the criteria for phase IV biomarker studies are needed to advance the development of PGE-M as a noninvasive biomarker of both risk and chemopreventive response in populations at risk for colorectal cancer. Cancer Prev Res; 7(10); 969–72. ©2014 AACR.
The Surgical Outcome of Traumatic Extra-Axial Hematomas Causing Brain Herniation in Children
Authors: Gürer Bora , Kertmen Hayri , Yilmaz Erdal R. , Sekerci Zeki
Published: July 2014

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the surgical outcome and prognostic importance of clinical and radiological data from children operated on under emergency conditions due to an extra-axial hematoma causing brain herniation. Methods: This retrospective study included 25 children operated on due to herniated traumatic extra-axial hematomas from January 2000 to December 2010. Results: Of those 25 children, 17 (68%) were diagnosed with subdural hematoma (SDH), 7 (28%) with epidural hematoma (EDH) and only 1 patient (4%) suffered from both SDH and EDH. Overall mortality from a herniated extra-axial hematoma was 44%. The mortality rate for herniated SDH patients was 52.9%, and only 1 patient died from a herniated EDH (14.2%). Low Glasgow coma scale scores at admission, high postoperative intracranial pressure (ICP) values, longer intervals from trauma to surgery, longer durations of brain herniation, the presence of intraoperative brain swelling, larger and thicker hematomas and more displacement of the midline structures and obliteration of the basal cisterns were all correlated with mortality and an unfavorable outcome. Conclusions: Brain herniation is a serious consequence of traumatic extra-axial hematomas in children, and approximately one third of these patients have the potential for a favorable outcome. We recommend postoperative ICP monitoring to predict outcome and early decompressive surgery when possible for promising results.
Anticipated Motivation for Genetic Testing among Smokers, Nonsmokers, and Former Smokers: An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Decision Making
Authors: Giordimaina Alicia M. , Sheldon Jane P. , Petty Elizabeth M.
Published: July 2014

Objectives: This qualitative study explores the public's interest in genetic testing related to cigarette smoking, comparing the public's motivations with researchers' intentions for this technology. Methods: Adult nonsmokers (n = 463), former smokers (n = 163), and current smokers (n = 129) completed an online survey. Within a hypothetical scenario, respondents decided whether they desired genetic testing related to smoking and explained their decision making. A non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the interest in genetic testing by smoking history group. Inductive content analysis was used to investigate respondents' explanations for their testing decisions. Results: Most nonsmokers (64%) and former smokers (58%) did not want genetic testing. While most current daily smokers were interested in testing (56%), most current occasional smokers were not (52%). Respondents' decision-making explanations were categorized into 3 major themes: Causality, Relevancy and Utility (e.g. personal benefits or harms). The use of causality, relevancy and utility explanations varied by smoking history. Notable perceived benefits of testing included recreation and altruism. Notable perceived harms included fear of fatalistic thoughts and concern about genetic discrimination. Conclusions: Interest in genetic testing was highest among current daily smokers, despite potential utility in other groups. Although respondents' motivations for testing paralleled researchers' intentions of tailoring smoking cessation therapies and increasing motivation to quit or abstain, respondents also raised alternative motivations and fears that healthcare providers would need to address.
The Influence of the ‘Patient-to-Patient Model' on Swallowing Problems in Patients with Supraglottic Laryngeal Cancer
Authors: Zheng Yan , Liu Ming , Li Minghua , Zhang Jiarui , Ge Jingchun , Sun Yanan , Tian Linli
Published: July 2014

Aims: To evaluate the patient-to-patient model and swallowing problems in Chinese patients with supraglottic laryngeal cancer (SLC), and to find a solution to help SLC patients with swallowing problems. Methods: Eighty-nine patients who had undergone operation for horizontal partial laryngectomy were chosen and divided randomly into two groups. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Swallow Quality-of-Life (SWAL-QOL) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) questionnaires were used to measure the quality of life and swallowing situation of those patients. Results: At 0.5 and 1 months after eating, the scores of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and SWAL-QOL of the participant group were significantly higher than those of the nonparticipant group (p < 0.05). One week after eating, the VAS score for swallowing improved significantly from 4.9 to 7.9 in the participant group. However, in the nonparticipant group, the VAS score showed no obvious change (from 4.5 to 4.1). Conclusions: We concluded that the patient-to-patient model may be utilized in clinical cases to solve swallowing problems of SLC patients, and infered that swallowing problems mainly appeared in 60 to 70-year-olds, and 1 week after eating was a critical time point of communication.
ERG-APLNR Axis Controls Pulmonary Venule Endothelial Proliferation in Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease
Authors: Lathen Christopher , Zhang Yu , Chow Jennifer , Singh Martanday , Lin Grace , Nigam Vishal , Ashraf Yasser A. , Yuan Jason X. , Robbins Ivan M. , Thistlethwaite Patricia A.
Published: July 2014

Background—

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease is caused by excessive cell proliferation and fibrosis, which obliterate the lumen of pulmonary venules, leading to pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular failure, and death. This condition has no effective treatment and a 5-year survival of <5%. Understanding the mechanism of this disease and designing effective therapies are urgently needed.

Methods and Results—

We show that mice with homozygous deletion of the Ets transcription factor
Erg
die between embryonic day 16.5 and 3 months of age as a result of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, capillary hemorrhage, and pancytopenia. We demonstrate that Erg binds to and serves as a transcriptional activator of the G-protein–coupled receptor gene
Aplnr
, the expression of which is uniquely specific for venous endothelium and that knockout of either
Erg
or
Aplnr
results in pulmonary venule–specific endothelial proliferation in vitro. We show that mice with either homozygous-global or endothelium-directed deletion of
Aplnr
manifest pulmonary veno-occlusive disease and right heart failure, detectable at 8 months of age. Levels of pulmonary ERG and APLNR in patients with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease undergoing lung transplantation were significantly lower than those of control subjects.

Conclusions—

Our results suggest that ERG and APLNR are essential for endothelial homeostasis in venules in the lung and that perturbation in ERG-APLNR signaling is crucial for the development of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. We identify this pathway as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of this incurable disease.
Novel Mechanism of Blood Pressure Regulation By Forkhead Box Class O1–Mediated Transcriptional Control of Hepatic Angiotensinogen
Authors: Qi Yajuan , Zhang Kebin , Wu Yuxin , Xu Zihui , Yong Qian Chen , Kumar Rajesh , Baker Kenneth M. , Zhu Qinglei , Chen Shouwen , Guo Shaodong
Published: July 2014

The renin–angiotensin system is a major determinant of blood pressure regulation. It consists of a cascade of enzymatic reactions involving 3 components: angiotensinogen, renin, and angiotensin-converting enzyme, which generate angiotensin II as a biologically active product. Angiotensinogen is largely produced in the liver, acting as a major determinant of the circulating renin–angiotensin system, which exerts acute hemodynamic effects on blood pressure regulation. How the expression of angiotensinogen is regulated is not completely understood. Here, we hypothesize that angiotensinogen is regulated by forkhead transcription factor forkhead box class O1 (Foxo1), an insulin-suppressed transcription factor, and thereby controls blood pressure in mice. We generated liver-specific Foxo1 knockout mice, which exhibited a reduction in plasma angiotensinogen and angiotensin II levels and a significant decrease in blood pressure. Using hepatocyte cultures, we demonstrated that overexpression of Foxo1 increased angiotensinogen expression, whereas hepatocytes lacking Foxo1 demonstrated a reduction of angiotensinogen gene expression and partially impaired insulin inhibition on angiotensinogen gene expression. Furthermore, mouse angiotensinogen prompter analysis demonstrated that the angiotensinogen promoter region contains a functional Foxo1-binding site, which is responsible for both Foxo1 stimulation and insulin suppression on the promoter activity. Together, these data demonstrate that Foxo1 regulates hepatic angiotensinogen gene expression and controls plasma angiotensinogen and angiotensin II levels, modulating blood pressure control in mice.
Drawing in Mathematics: From Inverse Vision to the Liberation of Form
Authors: Anderson Gemma , Buck Dorothy , Coates Tom , Corti Alessio
Published: July 2014

The literature on art and mathematics has focused largely on how geometric forms have influenced artists and on the use of computer visualization in mathematics. The authors consider a fundamental but undiscussed connection between mathematics and art: the role of drawing in mathematical research, both as a channel for creativity and intuition and as a language for communicating with other scientists. The authors argue that drawing, as a shared way of knowing, allows communication between mathematicians, artists and the wider public. They describe a collaboration based on drawing and “inverse vision” in which the differing logics of the artist and the mathematician are treated on equal terms.
Introduction
Authors: McGregor JoAnn , Pasura Dominic
Published: July 2014

This article examines debates over conflict diasporas’ relationships to the African crises that initially produced them. It investigates the difference that crisis makes to frameworks for thinking about diasporic entanglements with political, economic and cultural change in sending countries. We argue that the existing literature and dominant approaches are partial, ahistorical, and constrained in other ways. The special issue contributes to new strands of scholarship that aim to rectify these inadequacies, seeking historical depth, spatial complexity and attention to moral- alongside political-economies. To achieve these aims, the special issue focuses on one country – Zimbabwe. This introductory article provides an overview of the themes and arguments of the special issue, revealing the multitude of ways in which diasporic communities are imbricated with political-economic, developmental, familial, and religious change in the homeland.
Cross-Border Couriers as Symbols of Regional Grievance?
Authors: Nyamunda Tinashe
Published: July 2014

This article explores the history and experiences of cross-border couriers/transporters known as omalayitsha, who remit money and commodities across the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe. Based on interviews with omalayitsha operators, customers and state officials in Matabeleland, it furthers debates over remittances in several ways. First, the focus on couriers and transport operators themselves (rather than on the migrants who are their customers) provides a novel perspective, as the remittance literature tends to overlook these businesses. The article scrutinises couriers’ modus operandi and business relationships with clients, state officials, collaborators and rivals, exploring moral economies, and the entanglement of irregular modes of operation with state authority. The three-fold typology of large, medium and small-scale omalayitsha shows significant variation in relations with the Zimbabwean and South African regulatory authorities. Second, the article emphasises the importance of regional histories and spatial variation, criticising the tendency for debates over remittances to depend on national scale data and ignore geographical differences. The development of the malayitsha remittance system is widely upheld within Matabeleland as a symptom of the region’s marginalisation and displacement, linked to the aftermath of the episode of state violence in the 1980s known as Gukurahundi. I argue that in Matateleland, the figure of the malayitsha is upheld as an icon of regional neglect and enforced cross-border engagement.
On some Palaearctic click beetles deposited in the Hungarian Natural History Museum, 2 (Coleoptera: Elateridae)*
Authors: NÉMETH T. , PLATIA G.
Published: July 2014

One new genus (Roznerathous gen. n.) and 31 new species of Elateridae are described: Athous szalokii sp. n. (Georgia), Agriotes balikesirensis sp. n. (Turkey), Agriotes rozneri sp. n. (Syria), Agriotes sakaryaensis sp. n. (Turkey), Cardiophorus anatolicus sp. n. (Turkey), Cardiophorus aranyos sp. n. (Afghanistan), Cardiophorus burkus sp. n. (Afghanistan), Cardiophorus dicronychoides sp. n. (Afghanistan), Cardiophorus podlussanyi sp. n. (Turkey), Cardiophorus tenuis sp. n. (Armenia), Coptostethus attilai sp. n. (Spain: Canary Isl.), Coptostethus buci sp. n. (Spain: Canary Isl.), Coptostethus kundratai sp. n. (Spain: Canary Isl.), Craspedostethus ferrugineus sp. n. (Iran), Craspedostethus hirticollis sp. n. (Afghanistan), Dicronychus decoroides sp.n. (Iran), Dicronychus diluvii sp. n. (Turkey), Dicronychus fabiani sp. n. (Iran), Dicronychus gurjevae sp. n. (Afghanistan), Dicronychus ilniczkyi sp. n. (Oman), Dicronychus kandaharensis sp. n. (Afghanistan), Dicronychus karolyvigi sp. n. (Iran), Dicronychus podlussanyi sp. n. (Turkey), Dicronychus povolnyi sp. n. (Afghanistan), Dicronychus quadrimaculatus sp. n. (Afghanistan), Glyphonyx occidentalis sp. n. (Afghanistan), Hartenius marocanus sp. n. (Morocco), Hemicrepidius rahmei (Iran) sp. n., Idotarmonides gracilis sp. n. (Turkey), Roznerathous hellenicus sp. n. (Greece), Oedostethus pektusanicus sp. n. (North Korea). Dicronychus marginalis comb. n. and Dicronychus oxypterus comb. n. New distributional data for species of the genera Aeoloides, Agriotes, Ampedus, Cardiohypnus, Cardiophorus, Cidnopus, Craspedostethus, Dicronychus, Drasterius, Haterumelater, Heteroderes, Hypnoidus, Isidus, Limonius, Liotrichus, Melanotus, Pseudocrepidophorus and Zorochros are given. The females of Astanchus ussuriensis (Gurjeva, 1975); Cidnopus macedonicus Cate et Platia, 1989; Peripontius orchymonti Platia, 2008 and the male of Agriotes barkulensis Jagemann, 1942 were unknown at the time of their description, are figured. With 137 figures.
Eight new species of Oragua Melichar, 1926 (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from Amazonas State, Brazil, with description of the female terminalia of Oragua jurua Young, 1977, and new records for the genus
Authors: CAMISÃO BEATRIZ M. , CAVICHIOLI RODNEY R. , TAKIYA DANIELA M.
Published: July 2014

The thirty known species of Oragua are distributed from southern Mexico to Argentina. Seventeen species are recorded from Brazil, but only O. elegantula Young, 1977, O. insipida Young, 1977, and O. jurua Young, 1977 are recorded from Amazonas State. Oragua partitula (Jacobi, 1905) is herein firstly recorded from Brazil, ocurring in Amazonas State. The aim of the study was to describe eight new species of Oragua, to provide a key to males of the species of the genus that are recorded from Amazonas State and to study in detail the female terminalia of these new species. Also, the female of O. jurua Young, 1977 is herein described for the first time. Oragua alerochae sp. nov. has the external color pattern similar to O. bifasciata Cavichioli, 2000, however, the head is darker, the forewings are paler and the stripes are thinner, aedeagus is much more curved with long apical processes, and apex of paraphyses rami are curved. Oragua aurantimaculata sp. nov. is similar externally to O. elegantula and Oragua jau sp. nov. as they share the body brown with three orange maculae on crown and orange maculae on forewings, but it has the aedeagus with shaft enlarged medially with a pair of apical processes curved anteriorly and connective more slender. Oragua bella sp. nov. is dark with orange spots, aedeagus with basal elongated processes extending to the apex of the pygofer, with the basal portion enlarged and narrowing toward the apex. Oragua copiosa sp. nov. is dark with small pale dots all over the body, paraphyses rami are slender and their apices expanded, and styles with hooked apex, extending posteriorly beyond the connective apex. Oragua gracilenta sp. nov. has the external color similar to O. galerula, but it can be distinguished by the brown ground color, absence of two maculae near median line just before posterior margin on pronotum and apex of rami of paraphyses bifurcate and not truncate. Oragua jau sp. nov. has the external color similar to O. elegantula, but the aedeagus is curved and slender with a pair of small lateral processes at the apex and very thin paraphyses rami bifurcating only in the final portion, with the length of the rami just one third of the total length. Oragua schwertineri sp. nov. has the external color similar to O. insipida, however the male genitalia differs from the latter by the lack of paraphyses and aedeagus with pair of basal processes curved dorsally and shaft with pair of apical lateral processes. Oragua unifasciata sp. nov. is dark brown with pale spots over the body with a pale transverse stripe over the anteapical cells and paraphyses stem slender and abruptly broadened at apical two thirds, with rami robust and flattened with posterior margin serrate with large and irregular tooth-like projections. This work raises the number of Oragua species occurring in Amazonas State from three to twelve.
Water Mass Transformation in Salinity–Temperature Space
Authors: Hieronymus Magnus , Nilsson Johan , Nycander Jonas
Published: July 2014

This article presents a new framework for studying water mass transformations in salinity–temperature space that can, with equal ease, be applied to study water mass transformation in spaces defined by any two conservative tracers. It is shown how the flow across isothermal and isohaline surfaces in the ocean can be quantified from knowledge of the nonadvective fluxes of heat and salt. It is also shown how these cross-isothermal and cross-isohaline flows can be used to form a continuity equation in salinity–temperature space. These flows are then quantified in a state-of-the-art ocean model. Two major transformation cells are found: a tropical cell driven primarily by surface fluxes and dianeutral diffusion and a conveyor belt cell where isoneutral diffusion is also important. Both cells are similar to cells found in earlier work on the thermohaline streamfunction. A key benefit with this framework over a streamfunction approach is that transformation due to different diabatic processes can be studied individually. The distributions of volume and surface area in S–T space are found to be useful for determining how transformations due to these different processes affect the water masses in the model. The surface area distribution shows that the water mass transformations due to surface fluxes tend to be directed away from S–T regions that occupy large areas at the sea surface.
Surgical Management of Posterior Glottic Diastasis in Children
Authors: Sidell Douglas R. , Zacharias Stephanie , Balakrishnan Karthik , Rutter Michael J. , de Alarcón Alessandro
Published: July 2014

Introduction:

The purpose of this study was to report our clinical experience in the surgical management of patients with posterior glottic diastasis (PGD) secondary to prolonged intubation and/or laryngotracheoplasty (LTP) during childhood.

Methods:

We reviewed the charts of patients with a history of prolonged intubation and/or LTP who had undergone surgical correction for PGD at our institution between 2010 and 2014. We documented demographic data and pertinent information regarding medical and surgical histories. The Pediatric Voice Handicap Index (pVHI) and/or the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) were used to assess patients both before and after undergoing treatment for voice disorders.

Results:

Six patients met our inclusion criteria. With 1 exception, all patients with complete voice data demonstrated improvements in perceptual, patient-reported, and acoustic voice measures. There were no perioperative complications.

Conclusion:

Our case series demonstrates that operative intervention can lead to improved voice in carefully selected patients with PGD secondary to prolonged intubation and/or LTP during childhood. Patients exhibited postoperative improvement in loudness and vocal endurance; however, they also exhibited a degree of compromise in voice quality.
Recalcitrant Rhinosinusitis, Innate Immunity, and Mannose-Binding Lectin
Authors: Justice Jeb M. , Sleasman John W. , Lanza Donald C.
Published: July 2014

Background:

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a protein produced by the liver that participates in innate immunity by tagging the surface of microbes for opsonization. Mannose-binding lectin deficiency is present in 7% of the population and has been implicated in recurrent respiratory tract infections in children. Mannose-binding lectin deficiency has not been explored in rhinosinusitis but is associated with increased mortality in adult pneumococcal infection. The purpose of this report is to describe a tertiary rhinology patient experience with MBL deficiency and recalcitrant rhinosinusitis.

Methods:

This retrospective case series report characterizes predominantly adult patients with low MBL levels from January 2010 to June 2012. Indications for MBL testing, sinus culture data, immunological testing results, and treatments used to control rhinosinusitis are described.

Results:

Mannose-binding lectin levels were deficient in 12 of 36 patients (33.3%) tested. IgG subclasses were abnormally low in 5 of 12 patients; IgA was normal in 11 of 12 patients; and IgM was normal in 11 of 12 patients. Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, known to be “tagged” by MBL, were the most common organisms grown on culture. Treatments included culture directed systemic antimicrobial therapy and topical steroids/antibiotics.

Conclusion:

Mannose-binding lectin, an important component of the lectin complement pathway and innate immunity, is possibly associated with recalcitrant adult rhinosinusitis. Steroid/antibiotic irrigations appear to benefit patients with recalcitrant rhinosinusitis and possibly those with MBL deficiency. Given that the prevalence of MBL deficiency in this case series is 4 times that seen in the normal population, additional investigations are warranted to further elucidate the role of MBL deficiency in rhinosinusitis.
Universal old-age pension in an aging China: Can China learn from Sweden?
Authors: Johansson Stina , Cheng Shengli
Published: July 2014

This work addresses the two questions of how China can respond to its rapidly aging population and whether China can learn from the experiences of Sweden when establishing a universal pension system. Two different demographic transitions are analysed: the slowly aging Swedish population, and the rapidly aging Chinese population. This work discusses adaptations and dilemmas in the labour market and in family structures in response to balances and imbalances in these demographic structures. Measuring instruments need to be adapted to a changing situation. Family care contributions must be recognized. What is considered a fair distribution of welfare must be further analysed.
Shear behavior and failure analysis of a composite T-joint with a cutout
Authors: Li GC , Xue P , Luo G , Yu ZL , Yang J , Tu B
Published: July 2014

This study investigates the mechanical behavior and the failure of a composite T-joint with a teardrop-shaped cutout under shear loading numerically and experimentally. By establishing a composite finite element model with continuous shell elements and cohesive interface elements, using the progressive damage algorithms, the shear behavior and the failure mechanisms of the composite T-joint are investigated. The change of the load–displacement curve of the T-joint is correlated with the damage development of the T-joint with the cutout, and the typical damage modes are identified. To validate the numerical results, the samples of composite T-joints were manufactured and the experiments were conducted using a universal testing machine. The curve of the load versus deformation and the failure modes are in good agreement with the numerical prediction. In order to further enhance the load-carrying capacity of the composite T-joints with the teardrop-shaped cutout, three reinforcing schemes are proposed and their efficiencies are compared.
Using a Group-Based Trajectory Approach to Assess Risk and Protective Factors of Marijuana Use
Authors: Eassey John M. , Gibson Chris L. , Krohn Marvin D.
Published: July 2014

Marijuana is the most widely used illegal substance in the world, and persistent and frequent use during adolescence has been associated with precocious transitions and deleterious consequences in adulthood. This study used a group-based trajectory approach to analyze panel data collected from 1,725 youth participating in the National Youth Study to describe pathways of marijuana use and to explore protective factors that may reduce the continuation of use. A trajectory approach allowed us to operationalize risk based on prior within-person patterns of self-reported marijuana use. Three trajectory groups of marijuana users were identified: chronic users (17%), rising users (40%), and abstainers (43%). Our results show that some protective factors are significantly associated with decreases in marijuana use for each trajectory group (e.g., parent disapproval and non-using peer associations), but others are significantly associated with decreases in marijuana for a particular trajectory group and not others (e.g., school attachment for chronic marijuana users). The implications of our findings are discussed for the risk and protective factor framework, as well as their importance in a society where opinions of marijuana are currently changing.
PREDICT: a diagnostic accuracy study of a tool for predicting mortality within one year: Who should have an advance healthcare directive?
Authors: Richardson Philip , Greenslade Jaimi , Shanmugathasan Sulochana , Doucet Katherine , Widdicombe Neil , Chu Kevin , Brown Anthony
Published: July 2014

Background:

CARING is a screening tool developed to identify patients who have a high likelihood of death in 1 year.

Aim:

This study sought to validate a modified CARING tool (termed PREDICT) using a population of patients presenting to the Emergency Department.

Setting/participants:

In total, 1000 patients aged over 55 years who were admitted to hospital via the Emergency Department between January and June 2009 were eligible for inclusion in this study.

Design:

Data on the six prognostic indicators comprising PREDICT were obtained retrospectively from patient records. One-year mortality data were obtained from the State Death Registry. Weights were applied to each PREDICT criterion, and its final score ranged from 0 to 44. Receiver operator characteristic analyses and diagnostic accuracy statistics were used to assess the accuracy of PREDICT in identifying 1-year mortality.

Results:

The sample comprised 976 patients with a median (interquartile range) age of 71 years (62–81 years) and a 1-year mortality of 23.4%. In total, 50% had ≥1 PREDICT criteria with a 1-year mortality of 40.4%. Receiver operator characteristic analysis gave an area under the curve of 0.86 (95% confidence interval: 0.83–0.89). Using a cut-off of 13 points, PREDICT had a 95.3% (95% confidence interval: 93.6–96.6) specificity and 53.9% (95% confidence interval: 47.5–60.3) sensitivity for predicting 1-year mortality. PREDICT was simpler than the CARING criteria and identified 158 patients per 1000 admitted who could benefit from advance care planning.

Conclusion:

PREDICT was successfully applied to the Australian healthcare system with findings similar to the original CARING study conducted in the United States. This tool could improve end-of-life care by identifying who should have advance care planning or an advance healthcare directive.
General Theory versus ENA Theory
Authors: Ellis Lee , Hoskin Anthony , Hartley Richard , Walsh Anthony , Widmayer Alan , Ratnasingam Malini
Published: July 2014

General theory attributes criminal behavior primarily to low self-control, whereas evolutionary neuroandrogenic (ENA) theory envisions criminality as being a crude form of status-striving promoted by high brain exposure to androgens. General theory predicts that self-control will be negatively correlated with risk-taking, while ENA theory implies that these two variables should actually be positively correlated. According to ENA theory, traits such as pain tolerance and muscularity will be posi-tively associated with risk-taking and criminality while general theory makes no predictions concerning these relationships. Data from Malaysia and the United States are used to test 10 hypotheses derived from one or both of these theories. As predicted by both theories, risk-taking was positively correlated with criminality in both countries. However, contrary to general theory and consistent with ENA theory, the correlation between self-control and risk-taking was positive in both countries. General theory’s prediction of an inverse correlation between low self-control and criminality was largely supported by the U.S. data but only weakly supported by the Malaysian data. ENA theory’s predictions of positive correlations between pain tolerance, muscularity, and offending were largely confirmed. For the 10 hypotheses tested, ENA theory surpassed general theory in predictive scope and accuracy.
Using an iPad® App to Improve Sight Word Reading Fluency for At-Risk First Graders
Authors: Musti-Rao Shobana , Lo Ya-yu , Plati Erin
Published: July 2014

We used a multiple baseline across word lists design nested within a multiple baseline across participants design to examine the effects of instruction delivered using an iPad® app on sight word fluency and oral reading fluency of six first graders identified as at risk for reading failure. In Study 1, three students participated in teacher-directed iPad® instruction to learn sight words. In Study 2, three other students participated in self-mediated iPad® instruction. We measured sight word fluency and oral reading fluency in both studies; In addition, we measured academic engagement in Study 2. Results showed increases in sight word fluency during the iPad® instruction, but limited gains were seen in oral reading fluency. The three participants in Study 2 consistently achieved high levels of engagement during the iPad® instruction compared with engagement during independent reading time. The benefits of using technology in the classroom and directions for future research are discussed.
A Quality Improvement Project to Improve the Rate of Early Breast Milk Expression in Mothers of Preterm Infants
Authors: Murphy Lindsey , Warner Diane D. , Parks Jessica , Whitt Jenny , Peter-Wohl Sigal
Published: July 2014

Providing breast milk is challenging for non-nursing mothers of premature infants. Early breast milk expression results in successful and longer lactation in mothers of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. This quality improvement initiative sought to increase the rate of early milk expression in mothers of VLBW infants and increase the proportion of infants receiving maternal breast milk (MBM) at 28 days of age and at discharge. Phase 1 (n = 45) occurred between April 1, 2012, and August 31, 2012. Phase 2 (n = 58) occurred between September 1, 2012, and February 28, 2013. Pre-phase 2 actions included increased lactation consultant workforce, early lactation consultation, tracking of MBM supply, and physician education. Inborn infants < 1500 grams were eligible. Primary outcomes were the time of first maternal milk expression (TFME) and infant feeding type at 28 days of age and at discharge. The median TFME decreased from 9 (25th, 75th percentile; 6, 16) hours to 6 (5, 11) hours after implementation ( P = .06). The proportion of infants receiving exclusive MBM at 28 days and at discharge was 64% and 74%, respectively ( P = .40), and the proportion of infants receiving exclusive MBM at discharge increased from 37% to 59% ( P = .046). In conclusion, a multidisciplinary initiative aimed at improving the rate of early milk expression was associated with more VLBW infants receiving exclusive MBM at discharge.
Agro-Industrialization, Petrodollar Illusions and the Transformation of the Capitalist World Economy in the 1970s: The Latin American Experience
Authors: Ortiz Roberto José
Published: July 2014

A transformation of world capitalism took place during the 1970s. Profitability decline in core countries was compounded by an increase in world oil prices connected to the rise of OPEC’s oil rent. In this context, a fraction of the Latin American semiperiphery rose in industrial prominence but ultimately collapsed. A combination of recycled petrodollars and an agrarian transformation underwrote this semiperipheral agro-industrial rise. By 1982, however, illusions of advance resting on industrialization were undermined by the debt crisis. While part of the semiperiphery embraced debt-led industrialization, capitalism switched gears into a regime where financial power, not industrialization, became the main sign of coreness. This process is examined through a perspective of capitalism as (simultaneously) world economy and world ecology, where the production of nature and the production of capital are organized in order to secure endless profitability. Nature, in the form of oil, labor-power and agricultural exports takes center stage.
Research status and application prospects of manufacturing technology for micro–nano surface structures with low reflectivity
Authors: Zheng Buxiang , Wang Wenjun , Jiang Gedong , Wang Kedian , Mei Xuesong
Published: July 2014

The light trapping surface of micro–nanostructure can significantly improve the performance of optical transmission and can greatly reduce the broadband domain of material surface reflectivity, which means the material surface absorptivity on wide-spectrum signal is enhanced. Several commonly used methods for manufacturing micro–nano surface of light trapping structure with low reflectivity are introduced first, including chemical etching, mechanical grooving, reactive ion etching, common long-pulse laser grooving, and ultra-fast pulse laser processing. This is followed by a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of these methods. Among these methods, ultra-fast pulse laser processing is an ideal manufacturing technology for fabrication of light trapping structures. The research status of the micro–nano manufacturing technology of structured surfaces for light trapping with low reflectivity is reviewed, and emphasis is given to their application prospects. The research directions and trends of the micro–nano manufacturing technology of structured surfaces for light trapping with low reflectivity are summarized, and broad application prospects and research value in many fields, such as solar cells, solar water heater, building wave-absorbing materials, information acquisition of mechanized equipments, high-radiation heat exchange equipment, solar heating equipment, and solar air conditioner, are pointed out.
A numerical investigation on the lateral resistance of frictional sleepers in ballasted railway tracks
Authors: Ali Zakeri Jabbar , Esmaeili Morteza , Kasraei Ahmad , Bakhtiary Arash
Published: July 2014

The lateral stability of ballasted railway tracks is a function of the lateral resistance of the sleepers created by interaction with ballast materials. Thus, one of the approaches for increasing the lateral resistance of sleepers has been to increase bottom friction and use frictional sleepers. A review of the technical literature showed that numerous experimental studies have been performed on this type of sleeper; however, no numerical analysis has been conducted on its lateral resistance. Therefore, this paper developed a finite element numerical model for investigating frictional concrete sleepers. In this regard, a hardening elasto-plastic behavior model was developed for the ballast layer and ABAQUS software was used to numerically analyze the lateral resistance of this type of concrete sleeper. Using the developed model, some sensitivity analyses were performed on the parameters that affect the lateral resistance including the thickness and extent of the ballast shoulder, and the friction coefficient between the ballast layer and sleeper. The obtained results indicated that increasing the ballast shoulder from 25 to 40 cm resulted in about a 16–22% increase in lateral resistance, whereas increasing the friction coefficient from 0.1 to 0.8 led to about a 22–28% increase in the lateral resistance. On the other hand, on decreasing the ballast layer thickness from 30 to 20 cm, the lateral resistance increased by about 12–17%. In summary, it can be concluded that, compared with conventional concrete sleepers, frictional sleepers increased the lateral resistance by about 63–70%.
Profiling the third-body wear damage produced in CoCr surfaces by bone cement, CoCr, and Ti6Al4V debris: A 10-cycle metal-on-metal simulator test
Authors: Halim Thomas , Burgett Michelle , Donaldson Thomas K , Savisaar Christina , Bowsher John , Clarke Ian C
Published: July 2014

Particles of bone cement (polymethyl methacrylate), CoCr and Ti6Al4V were compared for their abrasion potential against CoCr substrates. This appears to be the first study utilizing CoCr and Ti6Al4V particulates to abrade CoCr bearings and the first study profiling the morphology of third-body abrasive wear scratches in a hip simulator. The 5 mg debris allotments (median size range 140–300 µm) were added to cups mounted both inverted and anatomically with metal-on-metal (MOM) bearings in a 10-cycle, hip simulator test. Surface abrasion was characterized by roughness indices and scratch profiles. Compared to third-body abrasion with metal debris, polymethyl methacrylate debris had minimal effect on the CoCr surfaces. In all, 10 cycles of abrasion with metal debris demonstrated that roughness indices (Ra, PV) increased approximately 20-fold from the unworn condition. The scratch profiles ranged 20–108 µm wide and 0.5–2.8 µm deep. The scratch aspect ratio (W/PV) averaged 0.03, and this very low ratio indicated that the 140 µm CoCr beads had plastically deformed to create wide but shallow scratches. There was no evidence of transfer of CoCr beads to CoCr bearings. The Ti64 particles produced similar scratch morphology with the same aspect ratio as the CoCr particulates. However, the titanium particulates also showed a unique ability to flatten and adhere to the CoCr, forming smears and islands of contaminating metal on the CoCr bearings. The morphology of scratches and metal transfer produced by these large metal particulates in the simulator appeared identical to those reported on retrieved metal-on-metal bearings.
The IMF and the policy of low inflation: A review of Article IV consultations for selected Asian developing countries
Authors: Muzaffar Ahmed Taneem , Chowdhury Anis
Published: July 2014

Spearheaded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), there has been a rethinking of macroeconomic policies, in particular with regard to targeting inflation at a very low level in the wake of 2008–2009 global economic crisis. We provide a content analysis of the IMF Staff Reports on Article IV consultation of 12 Asian developing countries during the period 2009–2010 in order to see whether that rethinking has been reflected in the IMF’s advice. The findings of this study reveal that the IMF continues with its prescription of achieving low inflationary environment irrespective of country-specific circumstances.
A Systematic Review of Oral Health Behavior Research in American Adolescents
Authors: Calderon Susana J. , Mallory Caroline
Published: July 2014

Despite improvements in prevention, oral diseases are a problem among adolescents, linked to poor health outcomes and poor school performance. Little is known about adolescent oral health behavior. This systematic review describes factors that influence oral health behavior in adolescents. Inclusion criteria for the literature search were American children aged 12–19 and research on oral health behavior. Articles ( n = 353) were retrieved, eight met the inclusion criteria, and of these, six were descriptive and two were experimental studies. The matrix method, critical appraisal, and content analysis produced themes across the studies. Participants were primarily African Americans and Hispanics of both genders, of lower socioeconomic status, aged 12–19. Findings suggest that ethnicity, race, and gender may influence oral health behavior in adolescents and that interventions have an effect. Research is needed to explore what other factors may influence oral health behavior in adolescents, long-term health outcomes, and school performance.
Vibration suppression of four degree-of-freedom nonlinear vehicle suspension model excited by the consecutive speed humps
Authors: Yang Zhiyong , Liang Shan , Sun Yongsheng , Zhu Qin
Published: July 2014

It is well known that chaos phenomenon is harmful for a nonlinear mechanical vibration system. For a running vehicle, chaotic vibrations may lead to early damage to road and the component of vehicle or even bring physical injury to crew member. In this paper, we first studied the possibility of chaotic vibration of the four degree-of-freedom half vehicle model under consecutive speed control humps on the highway. Then, a direct variable feedback control is proposed to eliminate the influence of chaos on vehicle nonlinear vibrations and how to select proper control parameters is discussed.
A robust and new simple control strategy for a class of nonlinear power systems: induction and servomotors
Authors: Soltanpour Mohammad Reza , Khooban Mohammad Hassan , Niknam Taher
Published: July 2014

In this paper, a robust backstepping controller is presented for position tracking of a class of servomotors. It has been shown by mathematical proof that the closed-loop system with the proposed controller has global asymptotic stability in the presence of structured and unstructured uncertainties, and external disturbances. In the following sections of this paper, to remove the undesirable phenomenon of chattering in the proposed control input, using a Takagi-Sugeno-Kang fuzzy system a robust fuzzy backstepping controller is designed that does not suffer from the undesirable phenomenon of chattering. To investigate the performance of the proposed controller, an induction motor and a DC motor with uncertainties are used as case studies. In the simulation phase, to provide essential challenges for the proposed controllers, simulations have been implemented in two steps. The results of these simulations show that the proposed approaches are very robust in the presence of parametric uncertainties, especially in the presence of external disturbances. In the design of a robust fuzzy controller, practical implementation considerations are taken into account in a way where the control input has a low computational burden.
The load-carrying capacity and friction coefficient of incompressible textured parallel slider bearings with surface roughness inside the texture features
Authors: Qiu Mingfeng , Raeymaekers Bart
Published: July 2014

Surface texturing is used to increase hydrodynamic pressure and reduce friction and wear between parallel sliding surfaces in a variety of applications. The shape, geometry, and density of the patterned microtexture features play a key role in the tribological performance of such textured slider bearings. Lubrication models are used to predict the load-carrying capacity, friction coefficient, and volume flow rate of textured bearings, assuming a smooth surface and ideal shape of the texture features. However, experimental evidence shows that manufacturing techniques such as laser surface texturing only approach the ideal shape of the texture features. Moreover, the manufacturing process typically creates roughness inside the texture features. In this paper, we numerically evaluate the effect of roughness inside the texture features on the load-carrying capacity, friction coefficient, and volume flow rate of the textured parallel slider bearing. We consider the cases of sinusoidal roughness and isotropic random roughness with Gaussian distribution of surface heights and find that the effect of roughness inside the texture features on the bearing load-carrying capacity and friction coefficient increases with increasing roughness height and increasing wavelength of the roughness. In addition, the effect of sinusoidal roughness is larger than the effect of isotropic random roughness with Gaussian distribution of surface heights. We also find that the roughness inside the texture features has negligible impact on the volume flow rate of the textured bearing.