bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of an Immune-Neuroendocrine Biomarker Panel for Detection of Depression: A Joint Effects Statistical Approach
Authors: Chan Man K. , Cooper Jason D. , Bot Mariska , Steiner Johann , Penninx Brenda W.J.H. , Bahn Sabine
Published: November 2015

Background/Aims: Less than half of depression patients are correctly diagnosed within the primary care setting. Previous proteomic studies have identified numerous immune and neuroendocrine changes in patients. However, few studies have considered the joint effects of biological molecules and their diagnostic potential. Our aim was to develop and validate a diagnostic serum biomarker panel identified through joint effects analysis of multiplex immunoassay profiling data from 1,007 clinical samples. Methods: In stage 1, we conducted a meta-analysis of two independent cohorts of 78 first-/recent-onset drug-naive/drug-free depression patients and 156 controls and applied the 10-fold cross-validation with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression to identify an optimal diagnostic prediction model (biomarker panel). In stage 2, we tested the discriminatory performance of this biomarker panel using the naturalistic Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) cohort of 468 depression patients and 305 controls. Results: An optimal panel of 33 immune-neuroendocrine biomarkers and gender was selected in the meta-analysis. Testing this biomarker-gender panel using the NESDA cohort resulted in a moderate to good performance to differentiate patients from controls (0.69 < AUC < 0.86), particularly the first-episode patients free of chronic non-psychiatric diseases or medications and following incorporation of sociodemographic covariates (0.76 < AUC < 0.92). Conclusion: Despite the need for additional validation studies, we demonstrated that a blood-based biomarker-sociodemographic panel can detect depression in naturalistic healthcare settings with good discriminatory power. Further refinements of blood biomarker panels aiding in the diagnosis of depression may provide a cost-effective means to increase accuracy of clinical diagnosis within the primary care setting.
Lifestyle Intervention for Weight Loss and Cardiometabolic Changes in the Setting of Glucokinase Regulatory Protein Inhibition
Authors: Belalcazar L. Maria , Papandonatos George D. , Erar Bahar , Peter Inga , Alkofide Hadeel , Balasubramanyam Ashok , Brautbar Ariel , Kahn Steven E. , Knowler William C. , Ballantyne Christie M. , McCaffery Jeanne M. , Huggins Gordon S.
Published: November 2015

Background—

Glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR) inhibitors offer a novel treatment approach for glucose control in diabetes mellitus; however, their cardiometabolic effects, particularly in relation to increased triglycerides and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, are of concern. GCKR Leu446Pro is a common variant associated with reduced GCKR function, increased triglycerides, and CRP.

Methods and Results—

We investigated whether a 1-year intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) for weight loss would avert the unfavorable cardiometabolic effects associated with GCKR Leu446Pro when compared with a diabetes mellitus support and education arm in overweight/obese individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus with triglyceride (n=3214) and CRP (n=1411) data participating in a randomized lifestyle intervention study for weight loss, Action for Health in Diabetes Mellitus (Look AHEAD). Once demographics, medication use and baseline adiposity, and fitness were accounted for, ILI did not modify the baseline association of GCKR-Leu446Pro with elevated triglycerides (β±SE=0.067±0.013,
P
=1.5×10
−7
and β±SE=0.052±0.015,
P
=5×10
−4
) or with elevated CRP (β±SE=0.136±0.034,
P
=5.1×10
−5
and β±SE=0.903±0.038,
P
=0.015) in the overall sample and Non-Hispanic Whites, respectively. The lack of a protective effect from ILI at 1 year when compared with diabetes mellitus support and education (ILI versus diabetes mellitus support and education interaction for triglyceride and CRP change, respectively:
P
=0.64 and 0.37 in the overall sample;
P
=0.27 and 0.05 in Non-Hispanic Whites) persisted after additional adjustment for changes in adiposity and fitness.

Conclusions—

Moderate improvements in adiposity and fitness with ILI did not mitigate the adverse cardiometabolic effects of GCKR inhibition in overweight/obese individuals with diabetes mellitus.
Derivation and Validation of a Novel Prognostic Scale (Modified–Stroke Subtype, Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project Classification, Age, and Prestroke Modified Rankin) to Predict Early Mortality in Acute Stroke
Authors: Abdul-Rahim Azmil H. , Quinn Terence J. , Alder Sarah , Clark Allan B. , Musgrave Stanley D. , Langhorne Peter , Potter John F. , Myint Phyo Kyaw
Published: November 2015

Background and Purpose—

The stroke subtype, Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project classification, age, and prestroke modified Rankin (SOAR) score is a prognostic scale proposed for early mortality prediction after acute stroke. We aimed to evaluate whether including a measure of initial stroke severity (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and modified-SOAR [mSOAR] scores) would improve the prognostic accuracy.

Methods—

Using Anglia Stroke and Heart Clinical Network data, 2008 to 2011, we assessed the performance of SOAR and mSOAR against in-hospital mortality using area under the receiver operating curve statistics. We externally validated the prognostic utility of SOAR and mSOAR using an independent cohort data set from Glasgow. We described calibration using Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test.

Results—

A total of 1002 patients were included in the derivation cohort, and 105 (10.5%) died as inpatients. The area under the receiver operating curves for outcome of early mortality derived from the SOAR and mSOAR scores were 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.75–0.84) and 0.83 (95% confidence interval, 0.79–0.86), respectively (
P
=0.001). The external validation data set contained 1012 patients with stroke; of which, 121 (12.0%) patients died within 90 days. The mSOAR scores identified the risk of early mortality ranging from 3% to 42%. External validation of mSOAR score yielded an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.82–0.88) for outcome of early mortality. Calibration was good (
P
=0.70 for the Hosmer–Lemeshow test).

Conclusions—

Adding National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale data to create a modified-SOAR score improved prognostic utility in both derivation and validation data sets. The mSOAR may have clinical utility by using easily available data to predict mortality.
Multilingual Validation of the Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status in West Africa
Authors: Sarfo Fred , Gebregziabher Mulugeta , Ovbiagele Bruce , Akinyemi Rufus , Owolabi Lukman , Obiako Reginald , Akpa Onoja , Armstrong Kevin , Akpalu Albert , Adamu Sheila , Obese Vida , Boa-Antwi Nana , Appiah Lambert , Arulogun Oyedunni , Mensah Yaw , Adeoye Abiodun , Tosin Aridegbe , Adeleye Osimhiarherhuo , Tabi-Ajayi Eric , Phillip Ibinaiye , Sani Abubakar , Isah Suleiman , Tabari Nasir , Mande Aliyu , Agunloye Atinuke , Ogbole Godwin , Akinyemi Joshua , Laryea Ruth , Melikam Sylvia , Uvere Ezinne , Adekunle Gregory , Kehinde Salaam , Azuh Paschal , Dambatta Abdul , Ishaq Naser , Saulson Raelle , Arnett Donna , Tiwari Hemnant , Jenkins Carolyn , Lackland Dan , Owolabi Mayowa
Published: November 2015

Background and Purpose—

The Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status (QVSFS), a method for verifying stroke-free status in participants of clinical, epidemiological, and genetic studies, has not been validated in low-income settings where populations have limited knowledge of stroke symptoms. We aimed to validate QVSFS in 3 languages, Yoruba, Hausa and Akan, for ascertainment of stroke-free status of control subjects enrolled in an on-going stroke epidemiological study in West Africa.

Methods—

Data were collected using a cross-sectional study design where 384 participants were consecutively recruited from neurology and general medicine clinics of 5 tertiary referral hospitals in Nigeria and Ghana. Ascertainment of stroke status was by neurologists using structured neurological examination, review of case records, and neuroimaging (gold standard). Relative performance of QVSFS without and with pictures of stroke symptoms (pictograms) was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value.

Results—

The overall median age of the study participants was 54 years and 48.4% were males. Of 165 stroke cases identified by gold standard, 98% were determined to have had stroke, whereas of 219 without stroke 87% were determined to be stroke-free by QVSFS. Negative predictive value of the QVSFS across the 3 languages was 0.97 (range, 0.93–1.00), sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value were 0.98, 0.82, and 0.80, respectively. Agreement between the questionnaire with and without the pictogram was excellent/strong with Cohen k=0.92.

Conclusions—

QVSFS is a valid tool for verifying stroke-free status across culturally diverse populations in West Africa.
Trajectories of Vasomotor Symptoms and Carotid Intima Media Thickness in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation
Authors: Thurston Rebecca C. , El Khoudary Samar R. , Tepper Ping Guo , Jackson Elizabeth A. , Joffe Hadine , Chen Hsiang-Yu , Matthews Karen A. ,   Appendix, Harlow Siobán , Sowers MaryFran , Finkelstein Joel , Neer Robert , Kravitz Howard , Powell Lynda , Gold Ellen , Greendale Gail , Derby Carol , Wildman Rachel , Santoro Nanette , Weiss Gerson , Rossi Winifred , Sherman Sherry , Ory Marcia , McConnell Daniel , Brooks Maria Mori , Sutton-Tyrrell Kim , McKinlay Sonja , Johnson Susan , Gallagher Chris
Published: November 2015

Background and Purpose—

Emerging work has linked menopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS) to subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) among women. However, VMS are dynamic over time. No studies have considered how temporal patterns of VMS may relate to subclinical CVD. We tested how temporal patterns of VMS assessed over 13 years were related to carotid intima media thickness (IMT) among midlife women.

Methods—

The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation is a longitudinal cohort study of midlife women. Eight hundred and eleven white, black, Hispanic, and Chinese participants with a well-characterized final menstrual period completed measures of VMS, a blood draw, and physical measures approximately annually for 13 years. Women underwent a carotid artery ultrasound at study visit 12.

Results—

Four trajectories of VMS were identified by trajectory analysis (consistently high, early-onset, late-onset, persistently low VMS) and tested in relation to carotid indices in linear regression models. Results indicated that women with early-onset VMS had both greater mean IMT (beta, b [standard error, SE]=0.03 [0.01],
P
=0.03) and greater maximal IMT (b [SE]=0.04 [0.01],
P
=0.008) than women with consistently low VMS, adjusting for demographics and CVD risk factors.

Conclusions—

This is the first study to test trajectories of VMS in relation to subclinical CVD. Women with VMS early in the menopause transition had higher mean IMT and maximal IMT than those with consistently low VMS across the transition. Associations were not accounted for by demographic factors nor by CVD risk factors. Results can signal to women in need of early CVD risk reduction.
Analysis of Credit Ratings for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Evidence from Asia
Authors: Yoshino Naoyuki , Taghizadeh-Hesary Farhad
Published: November 2015

In Asia, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for the major share of employment and dominate domestic economies, yet providing these companies with access to finance is a challenge across the region. Asian economies are often characterized as having bank-dominated financial systems and underdeveloped capital markets, in particular with regard to venture capital. As a result, banks are the main source of financing for SMEs. It is crucial for banks to be able to distinguish healthy from risky companies. If they can do this, lending and financing SMEs through banks will be easier. In this paper, we explain the importance of SMEs in Asia. Then, we provide a scheme for assigning credit ratings to SMEs by employing two statistical analysis techniques—principal component analysis and cluster analysis—applying 11 financial ratios of 1,363 SMEs in Asia. If used by the financial institutions, this comprehensive and efficient method could enable banks and other lending agencies around the world, and especially in Asia, to group SME customers based on financial health and adjust interest rates on loans and set lending ceilings for each group.
Rural Nonfarm Employment, Income, and Inequality: Evidence from Bhutan
Authors: Rahut Dil Bahadur , Jena Pradyot Ranjan , Ali Akhter , Behera Bhagirath , Chhetri Nar Bahadur
Published: November 2015

Using the 2012 Bhutan Living Standard Survey, this paper finds that rural nonfarm activities comprise 60.7% of rural household income in Bhutan and this contribution increases with higher income and education levels. The poor and less educated participate less in the nonfarm sector. When they do, they are self-employed in petty nonfarm activities, which require little investment and little or no skills. Accounting for endogeneity and sample selection issues, we estimate the determinants of participation in nonfarm activities and nonfarm incomes. We find that a household's education and labor supply play an important role in accessing more remunerative nonfarm employment. Interestingly, we find that women play an important role in self-employment in nonfarm activities. Decomposition shows that nonfarm income has a disequalizing effect and farm income has an equalizing effect, indicating the need to increase the endowment of poor households to enable them to access the lucrative rural nonfarm sector. Further decomposition reveals that self-employment in petty nonfarm activities reduces inequality.
Match-fixing: The Current Discussion in Europe and the Case of The Netherlands
Authors: Spapens Toine , Olfers Marjan
Published: November 2015

Match-fixing is a topic that captures the imagination of the public and increasingly attracts academic interest as well. Manipulation of sports games can be sports related, to achieve a better result for the team or a player, or gambling related to gain financially from the outcome. This paper describes the results of an empirical study of match-fixing in The Netherlands and analyses the main risk factors involved. These are social relations of persons involved in sports with criminals; the availability of the game for betting; financial difficulties of clubs, players and others who can influence the outcome of a match, and gambling addiction. Currently, match-fixing is high on the agenda of sports associations, gambling operators and government institutions on both the national and international levels. The ‘Convention on the manipulation of sports competitions’ drawn up by the Council of Europe encompasses a broad range of measures and can be viewed as the leading international initiative to curb match-fixing. Finally, we argue that the importance of sports in society requires more thorough and comparative empirical research of the scope and nature of the problem, on non-gambling related match-fixing, and on the relationship between sports-betting and manipulation.
Socio-Cultural Impacts on Drug Trafficking Trends in Europe
Authors: Dolliver Diana S.
Published: November 2015

A myriad of national and international publications have detailed global patterns of drug trafficking for decades, with recent reports identifying Europe as a global consumption “hotspot” for the majority of popular drugs in the world. Yet, despite increasing levels of drug trafficking worldwide, scholars have not routinely examined this crime-type through the lens of a socio-cultural criminological theory. As such, this empirical study employed guidance from Institutional Anomie Theory. Data were collected from fourteen countries in Europe from 1995 to 2009 and analyzed using pooled cross-sectional multivariate time series. Trafficking patterns in cannabis, heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines were operationalized using officially reported drug seizure amounts. The findings from this study emphasize the need for differentiation between drug-types in future research, but also illustrate support for use of the theoretically informed variables.
Instrument of Death and Tree of Life
Authors: Baranov Vladimir
Published: November 2015

This article overviews the background of the representation of the Cross in Late Antique and Byzantine monumental art. Several contexts of the usage of the Cross are considered, such as the Cross as a non-anthropomorphic substitute of Christ; the Cross as a cosmic symbol simultaneously framing the surrounding decorative space, and the Theophanic Cross in a vault or conch or as a counterpart to the “Earthly” register below.
Ignatius of Antioch and the Apostle Paul
Authors: Daunton-Fear Andrew
Published: November 2015

This paper looks at the establishment of the church in the city of Antioch in Syria, and the part played by the apostle Paul in its early history. It then examines the indebtedness of Ignatius to the apostle as seen in his letters written nearly half a century after Paul’s death. Finally it suggests why the bishop outstrips his model in his zeal for martyrdom.
The Murder of George of Cappadocia and the Violent Pagan Image in Ammianus Marcellinus
Authors: Kosaka Shunsuke
Published: November 2015

This paper focused on three main issues regarding the brutal murder of George of Cappadocia on 24 December 361 CE in Alexandria and the question of whether the “pagans” attempted to prevent the cult of the martyr. First, an examination of the sources regarding the murderers of George found that the Alexandrian crowd did not only consist of pagans. Instead, everyone who had suffered from the tyranny of George could be possible assailants. Second, Ammianus’ report that the intention of the people was to defile the victims’ remains is highly contested. Regarding fourth-century Alexandria, it is impossible to find any evidence that refers to such an attempt. Third, his text exposed a somewhat ruthless image of pagans as presented by Christian authors such as Prudentius. Despite Ammianus being not a Christian himself, his account reflects the images of the cruel pagans fabricated by Christians, thus allowing us to acknowledge the Christianised view of pagans in the work of the last great Latin historian.
Occurrence of a new species of Letana (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae) in India
Authors: NAGAR RAJENDRA , SWAMINATHAN R.
Published: November 2015

A new species of the Oriental genus Letana, Walker (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae), proposed as Letana dentata sp. nov., collected from the North-eastern province, Meghalaya, India (Ri bhoi 90°55’15 to 91°16’ latitude and 25°40’ to 25°21’ longitude, 993 MSL), is described together with the morphological characterization of eight reported species. Of these, Letana rubescens (Stål, 1861) collected from Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (India) is being reported for the first time from India. The other species of Letana include: L. atomifera, L. bulbosa, L. inflata, L. infurcata, L. pyrifera and L. rufonatata. Taxonomic and diagnostic characters with illustrations of the head, pronotum, ventral view of left tegmina to show stridulatory file teeth and the genitalia (supra-anal plate and subgenital plate) including the phallus sclerite has been given.
Triple-Moment Modal Parameterization for the Adaptive Growth Habit of Pristine Ice Crystals
Authors: Chen Jen-Ping , Tsai Tzu-Chin
Published: November 2015

A three-moment modal parameterization scheme was developed for describing variations in the shape of cloud ice crystals during growth by vapor deposition. The shape of ice crystals is represented using the volume-weighted aspect ratio, while the size spectrum of the crystal population is described using a three-parameter gamma function. Verified with binned spectral calculations, the proposed modal scheme performed quite accurately in the evolution of the mass and shape of cloud ice crystals growing under idealized conditions. The associated error is within 1% in mass after 1000 s of growth under water saturation. When the ventilation effect is taken into account, the error remains within 5%. Error with regard to the bulk aspect ratio is generally about 3%. A failure to take into account the ice crystal shape led to a 45% underestimation in mass growth. Using only two moments to describe the gamma distribution led to a 37% underestimation in mass and 28% underestimation in the bulk aspect ratio of the ice crystals. The proposed scheme is able to capture the shape memory effect and the gradual adaptation of ice crystal aspect ratios to a new growth habit regime.
Winter Atmospheric Buoyancy Forcing and Oceanic Response during Strong Wind Events around Southeastern Greenland in the Regional Arctic System Model (RASM) for 1990–2010*
Authors: DuVivier Alice K. , Cassano John J. , Craig Anthony , Hamman Joseph , Maslowski Wieslaw , Nijssen Bart , Osinski Robert , Roberts Andrew
Published: November 2015

Strong, mesoscale tip jets and barrier winds that occur along the southeastern Greenland coast have the potential to impact deep convection in the Irminger Sea. The self-organizing map (SOM) training algorithm was used to identify 12 wind patterns that represent the range of winter [November–March (NDJFM)] wind regimes identified in the fully coupled Regional Arctic System Model (RASM) during 1990–2010. For all wind patterns, the ocean loses buoyancy, primarily through the turbulent sensible and latent heat fluxes; haline contributions to buoyancy change were found to be insignificant compared to the thermal contributions. Patterns with westerly winds at the Cape Farewell area had the largest buoyancy loss over the Irminger and Labrador Seas due to large turbulent fluxes from strong winds and the advection of anomalously cold, dry air over the warmer ocean. Similar to observations, RASM simulated typical ocean mixed layer depths (MLD) of approximately 400 m throughout the Irminger basin, with individual years experiencing MLDs of 800 m or greater. The ocean mixed layer deepens over most of the Irminger Sea following wind events with northerly flow, and the deepening is greater for patterns of longer duration. Seasonal deepest MLD is strongly and positively correlated to the frequency of westerly tip jets with northerly flow.
Submesoscale Dynamics of a Gulf Stream Frontal Eddy in the South Atlantic Bight
Authors: Gula Jonathan , Molemaker M. Jeroen , McWilliams James C.
Published: November 2015

Frontal eddies are commonly observed and understood as the product of an instability of the Gulf Stream along the southeastern U.S. seaboard. Here, the authors study the dynamics of a simulated Gulf Stream frontal eddy in the South Atlantic Bight, including its structure, propagation, and emergent submesoscale interior and neighboring substructure, at very high resolution (dx = 150 m). A rich submesoscale structure is revealed inside the frontal eddy. Meander-induced frontogenesis sharpens the gradients and forms very sharp fronts between the eddy and the adjacent Gulf Stream. The strong straining increases the velocity shear and suppresses the development of barotropic instability on the upstream face of the meander trough. Barotropic instability of the sheared flow develops from small-amplitude perturbations when the straining weakens at the trough. Small-scale meandering perturbations evolve into rolled-up submesoscale vortices that are advected back into the interior of the frontal eddy. The deep fronts mix the tracer properties and enhance vertical exchanges of tracers between the mixed layer and the interior, as diagnosed by virtual Lagrangian particles. The frontal eddy also locally creates a strong southward flow against the shelf leading to topographic generation of submesoscale centrifugal instability and mixing. In eddy-resolving models that do not resolve these submesoscale processes, there is a significant weakening of the intensity of the upwelling in the core of the frontal eddies, and their decay is generally too fast.
Estimation of Volcanic Ash Emissions Using Trajectory-Based 4D-Var Data Assimilation
Authors: Lu S. , Lin H. X. , Heemink A. W. , Fu G. , Segers A. J.
Published: November 2015

Volcanic ash forecasting is a crucial tool in hazard assessment and operational volcano monitoring. Emission parameters such as plume height, total emission mass, and vertical distribution of the emission plume rate are essential and important in the implementation of volcanic ash models. Therefore, estimation of emission parameters using available observations through data assimilation could help to increase the accuracy of forecasts and provide reliable advisory information. This paper focuses on the use of satellite total-ash-column data in 4D-Var based assimilations. Experiments show that it is very difficult to estimate the vertical distribution of effective volcanic ash injection rates from satellite-observed ash columns using a standard 4D-Var assimilation approach. This paper addresses the ill-posed nature of the assimilation problem from the perspective of a spurious relationship. To reduce the influence of a spurious relationship created by a radiate observation operator, an adjoint-free trajectory-based 4D-Var assimilation method is proposed, which is more accurate to estimate the vertical profile of volcanic ash from volcanic eruptions. The method seeks the optimal vertical distribution of emission rates of a reformulated cost function that computes the total difference between simulated and observed ash columns. A 3D simplified aerosol transport model and synthetic satellite observations are used to compare the results of both the standard method and the new method.
Differences Between Radiologically Confirmed Pneumonia With and Without Pleural Fluid in Hospitalized Children Younger Than 5 Years in Southern Israel
Authors: Barrett Chiya , Ben-Shimol Shalom , Greenberg David
Published: November 2015

We compared demographic and clinical characteristics of pneumonia with and without pleural fluid (PF and Pn, respectively) in hospitalized children younger than 5 years in southern Israel, between 2002 and 2011. Overall, 108 PF and 5811 Pn episodes were recorded. Children with PF were older. Prematurity (6.6% vs 14.0%) and asthma (9.9% vs 23.5%) were less common in PF. Mean temperature and saturation were higher in PF while hemoglobin and sodium levels were lower in PF compared with Pn. Nasal washes were obtained in 30.6% and 39.9% of PF and Pn episodes, respectively, with respiratory syncytial virus identified more commonly in Pn (24.2% vs 42.3%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified in 5.2% and 0.9% of blood cultures in PF and Pn, respectively. In conclusion, PF differed from Pn in demographic and clinical characteristics, possibly due to differences in etiology. Although both diseases are considered bacterial, a high proportion of viral etiology was found in both, especially in Pn.
From Economic Competition to Military Combat
Authors: Chatagnier J. Tyson , Kavaklı Kerim Can
Published: November 2015

The vast majority of the extant literature on trade and conflict focuses on bilateral trade to determine whether commerce has a pacifying effect upon pairs of states. We argue that this focus neglects a critical role of international trade: creating tension between states that sell similar goods to the global market. We consider this role explicitly and operationalize its effects empirically. Using commodity-level trade data from 1962 to 2000, we show that countries that produce and sell similar goods are generally more likely to fight, even after we take into account their bilateral trade ties and institutional membership in the global economic system. Our findings are robust to numerous alternative specifications and suggest a strong relationship between economic competition in the global market and military conflict between states.
An Analysis of Naturalistic Interventions for Increasing Spontaneous Expressive Language in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Lane Justin D. , Lieberman-Betz Rebecca , Gast David L.
Published: November 2015

The purpose of this review was to identify naturalistic language interventions for increasing spontaneous expressive language (defined in this review as absence of verbal prompt or other verbalization from adults or peers) in young children with autism spectrum disorder. Also, the methodological rigor and effectiveness of each study were evaluated to determine which interventions confidently led to increases in the target behavior. A total of 24 studies that included 45 participants, 2 to 9 years of age, used a naturalistic language intervention. When using What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) guidelines to evaluate design standards, 50% of studies had adequate rigor and 33% of those studies demonstrated positive effects in the target behavior. In addition, the components of each intervention were coded and grouped by function. Implications for teachers, practitioners, and researchers are provided.
Orthopaedic textile inserts for pressure treatment of hypertrophic scars
Authors: Yu Annie , Yick Kit Lun , Ng Sun Pui , Yip Joanne
Published: November 2015

Material selection in orthotic and prosthetic practice directly affects wear comfort, and thus treatment efficacy and adherence. In the pressure therapy of hypertrophic scars, insert materials made of thermoplastic (e.g. Plastazote®) are often placed underneath pressure garments to increase the local pressure for effective scar treatment. However, the currently used insert materials are barely breathable and quite uncomfortable. In this study, spacer fabric is proposed as a potential insert material. The physical properties and compression behaviour of five types of spacer fabrics are evaluated. The pressure delivered by the pressure gloves and spacer fabric inserts onto the hands of 10 subjects are measured. The results show that the spacer fabrics are not only able to provide much lower air resistance (0.05–0.12 kPa s/m) and higher water vapour transmission rate (34.35–102.39 g/h·m2) than Plastazote®, but also produce an interfacial pressure that is comparable to Plastazote® at various locations on the hand dorsum. The results of a 24-week clinical study in which spacer fabric inserts are applied to four hypertrophic scarred hands also support that the inserts are found to be effective in scar treatment by providing good comfort and breathability, and hence pressure treatment acceptance and compliance are increased.
Static and dynamic puncture properties of intra-/inter-laminar reinforced multilayer compound fabrics by needle-punching and thermal bonding
Authors: Li Ting-Ting , Lou Ching-Wen , Lin Jan-Yi , Lin Mei-Chen , Lin Jia-Horng
Published: November 2015

A new approach for intra-/inter-laminar reinforcement using needle-punching and thermal bonding was proposed for improvement of puncture resistance of multilayer compound fabrics that were composed of different kinds of nonwovens and woven fabrics. Effects of woven fabric orientation and thermal bonding on static and dynamic puncture properties were explored. Multilayer compound fabrics with different compositions of nonwoven and sequence of woven fabrics were comparatively discussed to confirm fabric and nonwoven influencing on static and dynamic puncture resistances. Puncture resistance mechanism of plied orientation and thermal bonding was analyzed for multilayer compound fabrics. The research result shows that woven fabric orientation affected static and dynamic puncture resistances more significantly when multilayer compound fabrics were comprised of high-modulus nonwovens and woven fabrics. Plied orientation correlated with the yarn density of woven fabric that was contained in compound fabrics. Contact length between woven fabric and nonwoven, as well as specific fiber toughness from nonwoven, was respectively responsible for static and dynamic puncture resistances of multilayer compound fabrics.
Balloon theory of yarn during unwinding from packages
Authors: Praček Stanislav , Pušnik Nace , Franken Gregor , Simončič Barbara
Published: November 2015

Yarn unwinding from a package is a key problem in many textile processes, such as weft insertion and warping. Stability of the unwinding has a direct influence on the efficiency of the entire textile process and the quality of the final product. The quality of the yarn is numerically expressed mainly in terms of mechanical quantities. In the unwinding process, viscoelastic properties are the most important. They depend on how the yarn is stressed. The quality of the yarn that is being unwound should not be reduced, unless this reduction does not significantly lower the quality of the fabric. We strive to achieve as large warping and weaving speeds as possible; therefore, our aim is to improve the theory of cross-wound package unwinding and to find the necessary modifications of the yarn unwinding process. The goal of our contribution is to state the equations of motion that describe the unwinding yarn.
Development of seamless woven node element structures for application in integral constructions
Authors: Fazeli Monireh , Hübner Matthias , Lehmann Theo , Gebhardt Ulrike , Hoffmann Gerald , Cherif Chokri
Published: November 2015

In order to advance consistent lightweight construction principles in automotive and mechanical engineering, support frame construction made from high-performance materials is becoming more commonplace. These consist of complexly structured nodular connection elements. The required connection elements have not yet been produced satisfactorily. The developed node element structures in this paper are produced on a shuttle weaving loom by flattening and weaving them as multi-surface woven fabrics. The development of the woven concept for the realization of node element structures is based on the fragmentation of the individual sub-elements. The goal of this research is development of a flexible technology for weaving fabrics and intended for the integral realization of woven nodular semi-finished products with complex geometries and connections, which are to be used to connect Fiber-reinforced Plastic components in support frame structures.
A new perspective on the ripple effect in the UK housing market: Comovement, cyclical subsamples and alternative indices
Authors: Cook Steve , Watson Duncan
Published: November 2015

An alternative perspective is provided on the existence of a ripple effect in the UK housing market. In contrast to previous studies, the analysis involves consideration of information on the changes in house prices to which the hypothesis of house price diffusion posited by the ripple effect relates, rather than their levels. In an examination of changes in house prices in London relative to other regions of the UK, directional forecasting methods are employed to establish the extent of the relationship between geographical proximity and comovement across the three month window provided by quarterly data. Consequently, the analysis provides a direct examination of the ripple effect which refers to changes in prices rather than the convergence of levels which has become a feature of the empirical literature. The literature is extended further by both the application of dating techniques to perform the analysis across cycles and phases of cycles (recovery and recessionary periods) in the UK housing market, and the use of data from two alternative house price index providers. Striking results in support of the presence of a ripple effect are noted, particularly for the less commonly considered Halifax price index where the most significant results for comovement with London are exhibited by its contiguous regions. In addition, the cyclical subsamples considered indicate comovement to be greater during upturns, rather than downturns in the market. This is consistent with previous research showing London to correct – that is, exhibit differing behaviour to other regions – during downturns.
A spatio-temporal analysis of urban crime in Beijing: Based on data for property crime
Authors: Feng Jian , Dong Ying , Song Leilei
Published: November 2015

In recent years, Chinese crime information has become more transparent and open than ever, thus providing an excellent opportunity for urban crime study by academics. To obtain a better understanding of the spatial pattern of urban crime, the city of Beijing is chosen as a study area and GIS software is employed to collect spatial data. The authors try to establish the quantitative representation of geographical characteristics of crime associated with urban space in order to create a geographical model of urban crime and space. The authors find that the overall spatial distribution of urban crime in Beijing displays a picture of polycentric structure and distance decay, and that the spatial distribution of urban crime has a reference to traffic centres, concentration of urban commerce and population migration. The numbers of suspects and locations where different types of crime happen have inter-annual variation, while both the total number of crime sites and their criminal density within each district are relatively stable. The authors point out that the spatio-temporal characteristics of sites act on both the participants in property crimes and the criminal factors, which will decide whether or not an offender can commit a crime successfully. The hot spots and periods of time of urban crime in Beijing have a close relation to the fact that success in committing a property crime is based on certain conditions of sites and times which appear in Beijing’s environment. In this sense, socio-spatial dialectic provides a better understanding of the dynamics of China’s crime space. Finally, the spatial anti-crime strategies for urban crime and the insufficiency of research are discussed.
Jiaoyufication: When gentrification goes to school in the Chinese inner city
Authors: Wu Qiyan , Zhang Xiaoling , Waley Paul
Published: November 2015

Gentrification, or the class-based restructuring of cities, is a process that has accrued a considerable historical depth and a wide geographical compass. But despite the existence of what is otherwise an increasingly rich literature, little has been written about connections between schools and the middle class makeover of inner city districts. This paper addresses that lacuna. It does so in the specific context of the search by well-off middle class parents for places for their children in leading state schools in the inner city of Nanjing, one of China’s largest urban centres, and it examines a process that we call here jiaoyufication. Jiaoyufication involves the purchase of an apartment in the catchment zone of a leading elementary school at an inflated price. Gentrifying parents generally spend nine years (covering the period of elementary and junior middle schooling) in their apartment before selling it on to a new gentrifying family at a virtually guaranteed good price without even any need for refurbishment. Jiaoyufication is made possible as a result of the commodification of housing alongside the increasingly strict application of a catchment zone policy for school enrolment. We show in this paper how jiaoyufication has led to the displacement of an earlier generation of mainly working class residents. We argue that the result has been a shift from an education system based on hierarchy and connections to one based on territory and wealth, but at the same time a strangely atypical sclerosis in the physical structure of inner city neighbourhoods. We see this as a variant form of gentrification.
Rising residential rents in Chinese mega cities: The role of monetary policy
Authors: Chiang Shu-hen
Published: November 2015

Although there have been a large number of studies carried out on fluctuations in housing prices, little is known about what causes changes in residential rents, which are inextricably intertwined with urban living standards. This is especially noteworthy in Chinese cities, which are now being challenged by the housing market frenzies. Shift-share analysis is proposed to evaluate all possible triggers of residential rent inflation in three cities during the 2001–2013 period, which covers two distinct monetary policy regimes in China. It is found that the recent rise in residential rent comes as a result of aggregate inflation associated with an expansionary monetary policy since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and an all-encompassing and stable policy stance should therefore be adopted.
From urban sprawl to land consolidation in suburban Shanghai under the backdrop of increasing versus decreasing balance policy: A perspective of property rights transfer
Authors: Tian Li , Guo Xu , Yin Wei
Published: November 2015

Since the 1980s, Chinese cities have witnessed significant growth, resulting in urban sprawl all over the country. Under the strict land quota system, local government has had to transform its approach of Greenfield development to land consolidation. Under the ‘Increasing and Decreasing Balance’ land use policy, the Shanghai government began to consolidate rural construction land in order to acquire extra quota for state land by transferring development rights from collective land to state land and by establishing a three-level land consolidation planning system. This paper firstly examines the expansion of non-agricultural land in Shanghai since 1990. It explains the policy arrangements of land consolidation from the perspective of property rights transfer between state and collective land. Taking Xinbang Township as an example, this paper examines the roles of various stakeholders in land consolidation, the municipalities, district and township governments, village collectives, local villagers and entrepreneurs, and analyses the impact land consolidation has upon them. The paper concludes with discussion and policy implications of future land consolidation.
Causes for 30‐Day Readmission following Transsphenoidal Surgery
Authors: Hendricks Brian L. , Shikary Tasneem A. , Zimmer Lee A.
Published: November 2015

Objective

The Affordable Care Act Readmissions Reduction Program introduced reimbursement policy changes resulting in penalties for hospitals with higher‐than‐average readmission rates among several categories, including elective surgical cases. We examined the rate of complications resulting in 30‐day readmission following endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Academic tertiary care center.

Methods

A database of 466 consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery at a tertiary care center between April 2006 and July 2014 was reviewed for 30‐day causes for readmission, length of stay, level of care required, and average cost.

Results

Twenty‐nine readmissions were identified within our study period, indicating a 30‐day readmission rate of 6.2%. Among all patients, rates of 30‐day readmission were 2.1% for epistaxis, 1.5% for hyponatremia, 0.9% for cerebrospinal fluid leak, and 1.7% for other medical conditions. Average cost per readmission ranged from $6011 for hyponatremia to $24,613 for cerebrospinal fluid leak.

Conclusion

Overall, the rate of 30‐day readmission following endoscopic pituitary surgery is low. However, common causes of readmission do add significant cost to the overall care of this patient population. Special attention to surgical technique to prevent epistaxis and cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, as well as multidisciplinary team management to avoid postoperative endocrine dysfunction, is critical to minimize these complications.
The effect of five day dosing with THCV on THC-induced cognitive, psychological and physiological effects in healthy male human volunteers: A placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover pilot trial
Authors: Englund Amir , Atakan Zerrin , Kralj Aleksandra , Tunstall Nigel , Murray Robin , Morrison Paul
Published: November 2015

Rationale:

Cannabis is mostly grown under illegal and unregulated circumstances, which seems to favour a product increasingly high in its main cannabinoid ∆-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). ∆-9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) is a relatively untested cannabinoid which is said to be a cannabinoid receptor neutral antagonist, and may inhibit the effects of THC.

Objectives:

To explore the safety and tolerability of repeated THCV administration and its effects on symptoms normally induced by THC in a sample of healthy volunteers.

Methods:

Ten male cannabis users (<25 use occasions) were recruited for this within-subjects, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over pilot study. 10mg oral pure THCV or placebo were administered daily for five days, followed by 1mg intravenous THC on the fifth day.

Results:

THCV was well tolerated and subjectively indistinguishable from placebo. THC did not significantly increase psychotic symptoms, paranoia or impair short-term memory, while still producing significant intoxicating effects. Delayed verbal recall was impaired by THC and only occurred under placebo condition ( Z=-2.201, p=0.028), suggesting a protective effect of THCV. THCV also inhibited THC-induced increased heart rate ( Z=-2.193, p=0.028). Nine out of ten participants reported THC under THCV condition (compared to placebo) to be subjectively weaker or less intense (χ2=6.4, p=0.011). THCV in combination with THC significantly increased memory intrusions ( Z=-2.155, p=0.031).

Conclusion:

In this first study of THC and THCV, THCV inhibited some of the well-known effects of THC, while potentiating others. These findings need to be interpreted with caution due to a small sample size and lack of THC-induced psychotomimetic and memory-impairing effect, probably owing to the choice of dose.
Early antipsychotic treatment in childhood/adolescent period has long-term effects on depressive-like, anxiety-like and locomotor behaviours in adult rats
Authors: De Santis Michael , Lian Jiamei , Huang Xu-Feng , Deng Chao
Published: November 2015

Childhood/adolescent antipsychotic drug (APD) use is exponentially increasing worldwide, despite limited knowledge of the long-term effects of early APD treatment. Whilst investigations have found that early treatment has resulted in some alterations to dopamine and serotonin neurotransmission systems (essential to APD efficacy), there have only been limited studies into potential long-term behavioural changes. This study, using an animal model for childhood/adolescent APD treatment, investigated the long-term effects of aripiprazole, olanzapine and risperidone on adult behaviours of male and female rats. Open-field/holeboard, elevated plus maze (EPM), social interaction and forced swim (FS) tests were then conducted in adult rats. Our results indicated that in the male cohort, early risperidone and olanzapine treatment elicited long-term hyper-locomotor effects (open-field/holeboard and FS tests), whilst a decrease in depressive-like behaviour (in FS test) was observed in response to olanzapine treatment. Furthermore, anxiolytic-like behaviours were found following testing in the open-field/holeboard and EPM in response to all three drug treatments. Effects in the female cohort, however, were to a far lesser extent, with behavioural attributes indicative of an increased depressive-like behaviour and hypo-locomotor activity exhibited in the FS test following early risperidone and olanzapine treatment. These results suggest that various APDs have different long-term effects on the behaviours of adult rats.