bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Value of Follow-Up Hemodynamic Variables After Initial Management in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Weatherald Jason , Boucly Athénaïs , Chemla Denis , Savale Laurent , Peng Mingkai , Jevnikar Mitja , Jaïs Xavier , Taniguchi Yu , O’Connell Caroline , Parent Florence , Sattler Caroline , Hervé Philippe , Simonneau Gérald , Montani David , Humbert Marc , Adir Yochai , Sitbon Olivier
Published: October 2017

Background:

Hemodynamic variables such as cardiac index and right atrial pressure have consistently been associated with survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) at the time of diagnosis. Recent studies have suggested that pulmonary arterial compliance may also predict prognosis in PAH. The prognostic importance of hemodynamic values achieved after treatment initiation is less well established.

Methods:

Our objective was to evaluate the prognostic importance of clinical and hemodynamic variables during follow-up, including pulmonary arterial compliance, after initial management in PAH. We evaluated incident patients with idiopathic, drug- and toxin-induced, or heritable PAH enrolled in the French pulmonary hypertension registry between 2006 and 2016 who had a follow-up right-sided heart catheterization (RHC). The primary outcome was death or lung transplantation. We used stepwise Cox regression and the Kaplan-Meier method to assess variables obtained at baseline and at first follow-up RHC.

Results:

Of 981 patients, a primary outcome occurred in 331 patients (33.7%) over a median follow-up duration of 2.8 years (interquartile range, 1.1–4.6 years). In a multivariable model considering only baseline variables, no hemodynamic variables independently predicted prognosis. Median time to first follow-up RHC was 4.6 months (interquartile range, 3.7–7.8 months). At first follow-up RHC (n=763), New York Heart Association functional class, 6-minute walk distance, stroke volume index (SVI), and right atrial pressure were independently associated with death or lung transplantation, adjusted for age, sex, and type of PAH. Pulmonary arterial compliance did not independently predict outcomes at baseline or during follow-up. The adjusted hazard ratio for SVI was 1.28 (95% confidence interval, 1.11–1.49;
P
<0.01) per 10-mL/m
2
decrease and for right atrial pressure was 1.05 (95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.09;
P
<0.01) per 1–mm Hg increase. Among patients who had 2 (n=355) or 3 (n=193) low-risk prognostic features at follow-up, including a cardiac index ≥2.5 L·min
−1
·m
−2
, 6-minute walk distance >440 m, and New York Heart Association class I or II functional class, lower SVI was still associated with higher rates of death or lung transplantation (
P
<0.01).

Conclusions:

SVI and right atrial pressure were the hemodynamic variables that were independently associated with death or lung transplantation at first follow-up RHC after initial PAH treatment. These findings suggest that the SVI could be a more appropriate treatment target than cardiac index in PAH.
Effects of Vitamin D on Blood Pressure, Arterial Stiffness, and Cardiac Function in Older People After 1 Year: BEST‐D (Biochemical Efficacy and Safety Trial of Vitamin D)
Authors: Tomson Joseph , Hin Harold , Emberson Jonathan , Kurien Rijo , Lay Michael , Cox Jolyon , Hill Michael , Arnold Linda , Leeson Paul , Armitage Jane , Clarke Robert
Published: October 2017

Background

The relevance of vitamin D for prevention of cardiovascular disease is uncertain. The
BEST
‐D (Biochemical Efficacy and Safety Trial of vitamin D) trial previously reported effects of vitamin D on plasma markers of vitamin D status, and the present report describes the effects on blood pressure, heart rate, arterial stiffness, and cardiac function.

Methods and Results

This was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of 305 older people living in United Kingdom, who were allocated vitamin D 4000 IU (100 μg), vitamin D 2000 IU (50 μg), or placebo daily. Primary outcomes were plasma concentrations of 25‐hydroxy‐vitamin D and secondary outcomes were blood pressure, heart rate, and arterial stiffness in all participants at 6 and 12 months, plasma N‐terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide levels in all participants at 12 months, and echocardiographic measures of cardiac function in a randomly selected subset (n=177) at 12 months. Mean (
SE
) plasma 25‐hydroxy‐vitamin D concentrations were 50 (
SE
2) nmol/L at baseline and increased to 137 (2.4), 102 (2.4), and 53 (2.4) nmol/L after 12 months in those allocated 4000 IU/d, 2000 IU/d of vitamin D, or placebo, respectively. Allocation to vitamin D had no significant effect on mean levels of blood pressure, heart rate, or arterial stiffness at either 6 or 12 months, nor on any echocardiographic measures of cardiac function, or plasma N‐terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide concentration at 12 months.

Conclusions

The absence of any significant effect of vitamin D on blood pressure, arterial stiffness, or cardiac function suggests that any beneficial effects of vitamin D on cardiovascular disease are unlikely to be mediated through these mechanisms.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search
. Unique identifier: EudraCT number: 2011–005763‐24a
Exercise Training Reveals Inflexibility of the Diaphragm in an Animal Model of Patients With Obesity‐Driven Heart Failure With a Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Bowen T. Scott , Brauer Dominic , Rolim Natale P. L. , Bækkerud Fredrik H. , Kricke Angela , Ormbostad Berre Anne‐Marie , Fischer Tina , Linke Axel , da Silva Gustavo Justo , Wisloff Ulrik , Adams Volker
Published: October 2017

Background

Respiratory muscle weakness contributes to exercise intolerance in patients with heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction (
HF
p
EF
)—a condition characterized by multiple comorbidities with few proven treatments. We aimed, therefore, to provide novel insight into the underlying diaphragmatic alterations that occur in
HF
p
EF
by using an obese cardiometabolic rat model and further assessed whether exercise training performed only after the development of overt
HF
p
EF
could reverse impairments.

Methods and Results

Obese
ZSF
1 rats (n=12) were compared with their lean controls (n=8) at 20 weeks, with 3 additional groups of obese
ZSF
1 rats compared at 28 weeks following 8 weeks of either sedentary behavior (n=13), high‐intensity interval training (n=11), or moderate‐continuous training (n=11). Obese rats developed an obvious
HF
p
EF
phenotype at 20 and 28 weeks. In the diaphragm at 20 weeks,
HF
p
EF
induced a shift towards an oxidative phenotype and a fiber hypertrophy paralleled by a lower protein expression in Mu
RF
1 and MuRF2, yet mitochondrial and contractile functional impairments were observed. At 28 weeks, neither the exercise training regimen of high‐intensity interval training or moderate‐continuous training reversed any of the diaphragm alterations induced by
HF
p
EF
.

Conclusions

This study, using a well‐characterized rat model of
HF
p
EF
underpinned by multiple comorbidities and exercise intolerance (ie, one that closely resembles the patient phenotype), provides evidence that diaphragm alterations and dysfunction induced in overt
HF
p
EF
are not reversed following 8 weeks of aerobic exercise training. As such, whether alternative therapeutic interventions are required to treat respiratory muscle weakness in
HF
p
EF
warrants further investigation.
Cruciferous and Allium Vegetable Intakes are Inversely Associated With 15‐Year Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease Deaths in Older Adult Women
Authors: Blekkenhorst Lauren C. , Bondonno Catherine P. , Lewis Joshua R. , Devine Amanda , Zhu Kun , Lim Wai H. , Woodman Richard J. , Beilin Lawrence J. , Prince Richard L. , Hodgson Jonathan M.
Published: October 2017

Background

Higher vegetable intake is consistently associated with lower atherosclerotic vascular disease (
ASVD
) events. However, the components responsible and mechanisms involved are uncertain. Nonnutritive phytochemicals may be involved. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations of total vegetable intake and types of vegetables grouped according to phytochemical constituents with
ASVD
mortality.

Methods and Results

The cohort consisted of 1226 Australian women aged 70 years and older without clinical
ASVD
or diabetes mellitus at baseline (1998). Vegetable intakes were calculated per serving (75 g/d) and were also classified into prespecified types relating to phytochemical constituents.
ASVD
‐related deaths were ascertained from linked mortality data. During 15 years (15 947 person‐years) of follow‐up, 238
ASVD
‐related deaths occurred. A 1‐serving increment of vegetable intake was associated with a 20% lower hazard of
ASVD
‐related death (multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.69–0.94 [
P
=0.005]). In multivariable‐adjusted models for vegetable types, cruciferous (per 10‐g/d increase: hazard ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.81–0.94 [
P
<0.001]) and allium (per 5‐g/d increase: hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.73–0.94 [
P
=0.003]) vegetables were inversely associated with
ASVD
‐related deaths. The inclusion of other vegetable types, as well as lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors, did not alter these associations. Yellow/orange/red (
P
=0.463), leafy green (
P
=0.063), and legume (
P
=0.379) vegetables were not significant.

Conclusions

Consistent with current evidence, higher cruciferous and allium vegetable intakes were associated with a lower risk of
ASVD
mortality. In addition, cruciferous and allium vegetables are recognized to be a good source of several nonnutritive phytochemicals such as organosulfur compounds.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
http://www.anzctr.org.au
. Unique identifier:
ACTRN
12617000640303.
Broken Walls: Challenges to Patriarchal Authority in the Eyes of Sudanese Social Media Actors
Authors: Hofheinz Albrecht
Published: October 2017

This article presents and discusses voices of active social media users from the urban Sudan on the social impact of internet and mobile communication, with a focus on changes in individuals’ attitudes to established patriarchal norms, in particular regarding relations between the sexes, and between young people and their parents’ generation. The picture that emerges from interviews and online sources is that of young people often impatient with the pace of change in their society, while at the same time professing that the new technologies have enabled them, in their own lives, to break established norms, to expand the realm of their private sphere, and to assert their own voice. Such sociocultural change risks going unnoticed if one focuses mainly on the political side of the Arab Spring; it may, however, be as important as regime change to the understanding of current dynamics in the Arab world.
Beyond Preaching Women: Saudi Dāʿiyāt and Their Engagement in the Public Sphere
Authors: Makboul Laila
Published: October 2017

A prevalent notion among researchers working on gender politics in Saudi Arabia is that women’s engagement in the public sphere is restricted by the official interpretation of Islam, which only allows women to engage in issues presumed to be “feminine.” Based on an anthropological fieldwork exploration of al-dāʿiyāt al-muthaqqafāt (traditional female preachers belonging to the intellectual sphere in Riyadh), this article challenges this common assumption. It seeks to understand in what ways these women are a part of the public sphere and how this came about. One key factor is how the religious concept of “commanding right and forbidding wrong” has been expanded to adapt to changing circumstances, circumstances that have necessitated women’s presence in the public sphere. Examples from prominent intellectual female preachers such as Nawāl al-ʿĪd and Ruqayya al-Muḥārib demonstrate how leading dāʿiyāt in Riyadh engage in issues affecting Saudi society beyond gender-specific issues and encourage women to take a greater part in the public sphere.
Null models for understanding fairy shrimp habitats
Authors: De los Ríos Escalante Patricio
Published: October 2017

The Chilean fairy shrimp species are represented by the Branchinecta genus, which are poorly described, and mainly occur in shallow ephemeral pools in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile and the Southern Chilean Patagonian plains. The aim of the present study was to perform an initial ecological characterization of Branchinecta habitats and its associated communities in the Chilean Southern Patagonian plains (45-53°S) using null models (co-occurrence, niche sharing and size overlap). The results of the co-occurrence analysis revealed that the species’ associations are structured, meaning that at different kinds of Branchinecta habitats, the associated species are different. I did not find niche sharing, which means interspecific competition is absent. Finally the size overlap analysis revealed structured patterns, which are probably due to environmental homogeneity or colonization extinction processes. The habitats studied are shallow ephemeral pools, with extreme environmental conditions, where continuous local colonization and extinction processes probably occur, which would explain the marked Branchinecta species endemism.
Hausa Calligraphic and Decorative Traditions of Northern Nigeria: From the Sacred to the Social
Authors: Kurfi Mustapha Hashim
Published: October 2017

In the past, sacred Islamic calligraphies were used strictly in sacred places, whereas profane calligraphies were used in secular spheres. However, the trend now among some Hausa artists is to extend the sacred Islamic calligraphic tradition to the social domain. Some Hausa calligraphers do so by “desacralizing” their Islamic-inspired calligraphies. This article deals with the extension of Islamic decorations to secular social domains in Kano, Northern Nigeria. Such works are produced by calligraphers like Sharu Mustapha Gabari. I show how Hausa calligraphers like Mustapha Gabari creatively extend their arts, talents, and skills to other social domains. These domains include the human body, clothing, houses, and other objects. This article describes the ways in which the sacred and the secular realms overlap, and illustrates some key processes of enrichment the Islamic arts have undergone in sub-Saharan Africa. These processes exemplify the ʿAjamization of Islamic arts in Africa, especially how sub-Saharan African Muslims continue to creatively appropriate and enrich the Islamic calligraphic and decorative traditions to fit their local realities and address their preoccupations.
Two new species of the genus Thalassaphorura Bagnall, 1949 (Collembola: Onychiuridae) from south China, with an updated key to world species of the genus
Authors: SUN XIN , BEDOS ANNE , DEHARVENG LOUIS
Published: October 2017

Two new onychiurid species, Thalassaphorura microspinata sp. nov. and T. guangxiensis sp. nov., are reported from the karsts of south China (Guangxi). T. microspinata sp. nov. is similar to T. grandis Sun, Chen & Deharveng, 2010 in having the same dorsal and ventral pso formula, number of pseudocelli on subcoxae 1, number of chaetae in the distal whorl of tibiotarsi and number of p-chaetae between inner posterior pso on head; but it can be recognized by the smaller body size, shorter AS, 5 chaetae on baso-lateral part of labium, distinguishable S-chaetae and absence of chaetae on Th. I sternum. T. guangxiensis sp. nov. possesses the same dorsal pso formula as Chinese species T. reducta Sun, Chen & Deharveng, 2010, T. bapen Sun, Chen & Deharveng, 2010 and T. guangdongensis Sun & Li, 2015a, but they could be separated easily by ventral pso formula, number of pseudocelli on subcoxae 1 and other combined characters. An updated key of world species of the genus Thalassaphorura is provided. The species Thalassaphorura saccardyi (Denis, 1935) is transferred to the genus Protaphorura Absolon, 1901 on examination of the type material. In addition to those listed in Sun et al. (2010), two additional species placed in Thalassaphorura by Parimuchová & Kováč 2016 are considered here as incertae sedis because of insufficient descriptions: Thalassaphorura boskovae (Lučić, Dimitrijević & Mihajlova, 2003), and T. tamdaona (Nguyen, 1995).
Pseudochromis stellatus, a new species of dottyback from Indonesia (Teleostei: Pseudochromidae)
Authors: GILL ANTHONY C. , ALLEN GERALD R. , ERDMANN MARK V.
Published: October 2017

The Pseudochromis reticulatus complex is diagnosed to include species of Pseudochromis with the combination of a pointed caudal fin (rounded with middle rays produced), a reticulated colour pattern on the upper part of the body, dorsal-fin rays modally III,26, anal-fin rays modally III,15, and pectoral-fin rays modally 18. Members of the complex include P. reticulatus Gill & Woodland, P. pictus Gill & Randall, P. tonozukai Gill & Allen, P. jace Allen, Gill & Erdmann and P. stellatus new species. The last-named is herein described from six specimens from Batanta and Batu Hitam in the Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua, Indonesia. It is distinguished from other members of the complex in live coloration, and in having higher mean numbers of scales in lateral series and of anterior lateral-line scales (36–38 and 29–32, respectively), and a deeper body as measured from the dorsal-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin (31.8–33.5 % SL).
An annotated catalogue of Iranian Aulacidae, Evaniidae and Gasteruptiidae (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea)
Authors: GHAHARI HASSAN , MADL MICHAEL
Published: October 2017

Currently 36 species of the superfamily Evanioidea are recorded from Iran. The family Aulacidae is represented by four species belonging to the genus Pristaulacus Kieffer, 1900), Evaniidae by five species belonging to three genera, Brachygaster Leach, 1815 (one species), Evania Fabricius, 1775 (three species), Prosevania Kieffer, 1911 (one species), and Gasteruptiidae by 27 species belonging to the genus Gasteruption Latreille, 1796.
Means-Tested School Vouchers and Educational Achievement: Evidence from Chile’s Universal Voucher System
Authors: Mizala Alejandra , Torche Florencia
Published: October 2017

Chile features a universal school choice system, in which a government voucher provides families an opportunity to send students to public or private schools of their choosing. Since its implementation in 1981, the amount of the voucher was flat without adjustments for family income, creating incentives for schools to enroll students from economically advantaged families. In 2008, a policy change adjusted voucher values by the poverty level of students and the proportion of poor students attending each school. We evaluate the effect of this policy on primary school students’ standardized test scores, using time-distributed fixed effects models. We find a positive and significant effect of the means-tested voucher policy on Math and Language achievement. The effect is much larger among private-voucher schools serving poor children, and it increased over the years after the policy change, suggesting that schools require some time to realize the benefits of the policy. Our findings show that moving from a flat to a means-tested voucher improves achievement and equality.
Learning in Harm’s Way: Neighborhood Violence, Inequality, and American Schools
Authors: Pelletier Elizabeth , Manna Paul
Published: October 2017

Is a school’s geographic proximity to violent crime related to characteristics of its student body and to students’ academic performance? Our understanding of the educational impacts of students’ exposure to violence has been constrained because of various technical and financial limitations that have made research in this area problematic. The work presented here leverages advances in the availability of geo-coded data on incidents of crime to overcome the limitations of prior research in this area, showing that a school’s proximity to violent crime is associated with common measures of educational inequality and also with school performance. We discuss the implications of our findings for future research and public policy.
Structure analysis of needle-punched nonwoven fabrics by X-ray computed tomography
Authors: Ishikawa Tatsuya , Ishii Yujiro , Nakasone Kengo , Ohkoshi Yutaka , Kyoung Hou Kim
Published: October 2017

Needle-punching conditions determine the structure of nonwoven fabrics and the structure determines their tensile properties. However, the structural parameters of nonwoven fabrics and the relationship between these parameters and tensile properties have not been quantitatively analyzed. Therefore, we analyzed the structure of needle-punched nonwoven fabrics by X-ray computed tomography (XCT). The relationships between the needle-punching conditions, tensile properties, and structural parameters, such as fiber-volume fraction and three-dimensional fiber orientation, were investigated. The fiber-volume fraction in the middle layer of the fabric was clearly larger than that of the bulk above a compression ratio of 1.4. With increasing needle penetration depth, the fibers tended to become oriented both parallel and perpendicular to the normal direction of the fabric plane while avoiding the intermediate direction. A linear relationship was found between the obtained volume fraction of fibers oriented in the normal direction and the tensile strength of the fabric. These results demonstrate that XCT image analysis is effective to evaluate the structure of needle-punched nonwoven fabrics and to design the properties of nonwoven fabrics.
Can We Prepare Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teachers Online? A Cross-Case Analysis of Online and On-Campus Courses
Authors: Walker Dana , Mahon Elizabeth , Dray Barbara
Published: October 2017

Using a cross-case analysis of online, on-campus and online university teacher preparation courses, this study critically examines the constraints and affordances of online teacher education in preparing teachers for culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) urban schools. The results of the study indicate that while there was no significant difference between online and on-campus courses in terms of teacher acquisition of knowledge related to CLD instruction and assessment, questions remain about whether online teacher preparation can promote critical self-reflection, culturally responsive teaching practices, and collaboration within schools, when teacher learning is not supported and situated in schools and communities in an ongoing and structured way.
Is compact city livable? The impact of compact versus sprawled neighbourhoods on neighbourhood satisfaction
Authors: Mouratidis Kostas
Published: October 2017

Low-density urban forms are often considered more livable than compact ones. Yet, studies investigating the relationship between compact cities and livability do not take into consideration the importance of public transport, accessibility and mix of land uses along with high densities. Moreover, direct comparisons of livability between the compact city and its alternative, urban sprawl, are scarce, and even more so in a European context. Investigating the metropolitan area of Oslo, which encompasses both compact and sprawled areas, this study examines the impact of the compact city on livability by employing neighbourhood satisfaction as a livability measure. Three different methods are used: cross-sectional regression analysis, longitudinal comparisons and qualitative analysis. Cross-sectional results indicate that compact-city residents are significantly more satisfied with their neighbourhood than those who live in sprawled neighbourhoods, even after controlling for sociodemographic and other variables. Longitudinal analysis based on residents who have lived in both neighbourhood types confirms this finding. This study also examines the impact of compactness within a wider range of urban form typologies and finds that the higher the density, the higher the neighbourhood satisfaction. Important components of the compact city – public transport, accessibility to city centre and land use mix – demonstrate a positive association with neighbourhood satisfaction. Findings from this study suggest that, when common urban problems are addressed, and when planned to integrate all its essential characteristics, the compact city has a positive influence on livability.
Intelligent optimal control for the crawler vehicle with semi-active suspension using modified staged continuous tabu search algorithm
Authors: Wang Fengchen , Wang Decheng , Sun Jia , Zhao Jianzhu
Published: October 2017

This paper proposes a novel intelligent optimal control strategy for crawler vehicles with semi-active suspension. The proposed control strategy aims at improving vehicle ride comfort by addressing contradictory suspension properties requirements of ride comfort and handling stability simultaneously. After establishing seven degrees of freedom dynamic model of the crawler vehicle, a comprehensive evaluation index is developed to trade off among various vehicle performances, which include ride comfort, damper thermal reliability, elastic element fatigue and handling stability. Then, using modified staged continuous tabu search (MSCTS) algorithm, the optimal control efforts of semi-active suspension, damping ratios, are determined by minimizing the cost function defined by the comprehensive evaluation index. Demonstrated by simulations with triangle convex block and random ground roughness excitations, MSCTS control strategy can successfully improve ride comfort performance and achieve the optimal comprehensive performance as well.
High accuracy optical voltage transformer with digital output based on coaxial capacitor voltage divider
Authors: Li Zhen-hua , Zhao Shuang
Published: October 2017

The voltage transformer based on capacitor divider is susceptible to stray capacitance and Bi4Ge3O12 crystal is sensitive to temperature, which leads to the decrease of measurement precision. To solve these questions, a kind of temperature self-healing optical voltage transformer based on the coaxial capacitor is proposed in this paper. By using coaxial capacitor divider structure instead of the traditional capacitor divider structure, and using a reference light path to achieve the function of temperature self-healing, the measurement accuracy of the optical voltage transformer can be improved. The theoretical analysis, modeling and simulation of several key technologies of coaxial capacitance are presented. Simulation and experimental results show that the temperature self-healing optical voltage transformer based on coaxial capacitor structure meets the requirements of the 0.2 class accuracies.
Talking to the beat: Six-year-olds’ use of stroke-defined non-referential gestures
Authors: Mathew Mili , Yuen Ivan , Demuth Katherine
Published: October 2017

Children are known to use different types of referential gestures (e.g., deictic, iconic) from a very young age. In contrast, their use of non-referential gestures is not well established. This study investigated the use of stroke-defined non-referential ‘beat’ gestures in a story-retelling and an exposition task by twelve 6-year-olds, an age at which proficiency in discourse is beginning to develop. The goals of the study were to (1) establish if children this age use stroke-defined beats, (2) determine whether the two discourse types influence the incidence of stroke-defined beats, and (3) examine the extent to which stroke-defined beats co-occur with lexical words or pitch accents. The results showed that nine of the children produced at least one beat gesture with a well-defined stroke phase, and that the frequency of the stroke-defined beat gesture use did not differ significantly between the two tasks. Stroke-defined beats occurred more often on lexical words than function words, but they did not co-occur more often with a pitch accent, suggesting its potential link with pitch accents for emphasis. This study therefore provides support for children’s ‘prosodic’ use of gesture – a function which may become more common as discourse abilities develop.
The personalization of engagement: the symbolic construction of social media and grassroots mobilization in Canadian newspapers
Authors: Dumitrica Delia , Bakardjieva Maria
Published: October 2017

This article explores the symbolic construction of civic engagement mediated by social media in Canadian newspapers. The integration of social media in politics has created a discursive opening for reimagining engagement, partly as a result of enthusiastic accounts of the impact of digital technologies upon democracy. By means of a qualitative content analysis of Canadian newspaper articles between 2005 and 2014, we identify several discursive articulations of engagement: First, the articles offer the picture of a wide range of objects of engagement, suggesting a civic body actively involved in governance processes. Second, engagement appears to take place only reactively, after decisions are made. Finally, social media become the new social glue, bringing isolated individuals together and thus enabling them to pressure decision-making institutions. We argue that, collectively, these stories construct engagement as a deeply personal gesture that is nevertheless turned into a communal experience by the affordances of technology. The conclusion unpacks what we deem as the ambiguity at the heart of this discourse, considering its implications for democratic politics and suggesting avenues for the further monitoring of the technologically enabled personalization of engagement.
Antiresorptives: Safety Concerns—Clinical Perspective
Authors: Brown Jacques P.
Published: October 2017

Antiresorptive drugs, such as amino-bisphosphonates and denosumab (Dmab), have dominated osteoporosis therapies for over 20 years. Since osteoporosis is a chronic disease, antifracture therapy could continue for the rest of a patient’s life. Phase III clinical trials for antiresorptive drugs assessed relatively small patient populations for short durations and excluded up to 80% of patients who might seek osteoporosis therapy in clinical practice. Postmarketing reports based upon millions of patient-years and long-term (>5 years) clinical administration have associated some previously unknown, rare adverse events with antiresorptive use including osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) and atypical femur fractures (AFFs). In the osteoporosis patient population, who receive much lower doses of bisphosphonate (BP) or Dmab, the incidence of ONJ is estimated at 0.001% to 0.01%, which is only slightly higher than that seen in the general population. AFFs are insufficiency or fissure transverse fractures originating on the lateral cortex of the subtrochanteric or diaphyseal region of the femur becoming oblique as they progress medially when complete. Incidence rates of AFF range from 1.8/100,000 per year with a 2-year BP exposure to 113/100,000 per year with BP exposure from 8 to 9.9 years. Most recent pathogenic hypotheses of these rare events will be discussed.
Decreased background parenchymal enhancement of the contralateral breast after two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with tumor response in HER2-positive breast cancer
Authors: You Chao , Gu Yajia , Peng Wen , Li Jianwei , Shen Xuxia , Liu Guangyu , Peng Weijun
Published: October 2017

Background

Several recent studies have focused on the association between background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) and tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), but early prediction of tumor response based on BPE has yet not been investigated.

Purpose

To retrospectively investigate whether changes in the BPE of the contralateral breast following NAC could help predict tumor response in early stage HER2-positive breast cancer.

Material and Methods

Data from 71 patients who were diagnosed with unilateral HER2 positive breast cancer and then underwent NAC with trastuzumab before surgery were analyzed retrospectively. Two experienced radiologists independently categorized the patients’ levels of BPE of the contralateral breast into four categories (1 = minimal, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, 4 = marked) at baseline and after the second cycle of NAC. After undergoing surgery, 34 patients achieved pathologic complete response (pCR) and 37 patients had residual disease (non-pCR). The association between BPE and histopathologic tumor response was analyzed.

Result

The level of BPE was higher in premenopausal than post-menopausal women both at baseline and after the second cycle of NAC ( P < 0.005). A significant reduction in BPE ( P < 0.001) was observed after the second NAC cycle; however, a more obvious decrease in BPE was identified in premenopausal relative to post-menopausal women ( P = 0.041). No significant association was identified between pCR and baseline BPE ( P = 0.287). However, after the second NAC cycle, decreased BPE was significantly associated with pCR ( P = 0.003).

Conclusion

For HER2-positive patients, changes in BPE may serve as an additional imaging biomarker of treatment response at an early stage.
Results of Applying Cultural Domain Analysis Techniques and Implications for the Design of Complementary Feeding Interventions in Northern Senegal
Authors: Zobrist Stephanie , Kalra Nikhila , Pelto Gretel , Wittenbrink Brittney , Milani Peiman , Diallo Abdoulaye Moussa , Ndoye Tidiane , Wone Issa , Parker Megan
Published: October 2017

Background:

Designing effective nutrition interventions for infants and young children requires knowledge about the population to which the intervention is directed, including insights into the cognitive systems and values that inform caregiver feeding practices.

Objective:

To apply cultural domain analysis techniques in the context of implementation research for the purpose of understanding caregivers’ knowledge frameworks in Northern Senegal with respect to infant and young child (IYC) feeding. This study was intended to inform decisions for interventions to improve infant and young child nutrition.

Methods:

Modules from the Focused Ethnographic Study for Infant and Young Child Feeding Manual were employed in interviews with a sample of 126 key informants and caregivers from rural and peri-urban sites in the Saint-Louis region of northern Senegal. Descriptive statistics, cluster analysis, and qualitative thematic analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results:

Cluster analysis showed that caregivers identified 6 food clusters: heavy foods, light foods, snack foods, foraged foods, packaged foods, and foods that are good for the body. The study also revealed similarities and differences between the 2 study sites in caregivers’ knowledge frameworks.

Conclusions:

The demonstration of differences between biomedical concepts of nutrition and the knowledge frameworks of northern Senegalese women with regard to IYC feeding highlights the value of knowledge about emic perspectives of local communities to help guide decisions about interventions to improve nutrition.
Effect of thickness on the damage tolerance of glass/epoxy laminates subject to repeated impacts
Authors: Paolino Davide S , Cavatorta Maria Pia , Belingardi Giovanni
Published: October 2017

To evaluate the influence of layer and laminate thickness on the repeated impact response of E-glass/epoxy laminates, two types of cross-ply stacking sequences ([0/90]3n and [03/903]n), with two different thicknesses (4 mm and 8 mm), were analyzed. The investigation, led by running quasi-static perforation tests and repeated impact tests, outlined the better performance of [03/903]n laminates. Experimental results were analyzed through a macroscopic damage variable (damage index DI) and by microscopic observation and digitalized profiles of impacted specimens. The higher damage tolerance of [03/903]n laminates was found to depend on the capability of spreading the damage over a more extended area and of tolerating a higher permanent deflection. For both laminate types, the end of the steady damage accumulation phase was observed to correspond to through-thickness transverse cracking.
Shock mitigation of pedestrians from sports utility vehicles impact using active pop-up and extended hood mechanisms: experimental work
Authors: Lee Tae-Hoon , Yoon Gun-Ha , Han Moon-Sik , Choi Seung-Bok
Published: October 2017

This paper presents experimental results of shock mitigation of pedestrians from a frontal crash with a sports utility vehicle (SUV) by utilizing new active hood mechanisms; pop-up hood and extended hood. The pop-up hood mechanism to protect a pedestrian colliding with the hood area of a SUV is proposed and manufactured. Then, the deployment completion time of a whole active hood lift system, which significantly affects the injury sustained is measured and a headform impact test on the hood system is performed to evaluate shock mitigation of the pedestrian head impact. It is shown that using the proposed pop-up hood mechanism, the pedestrian head injury value can be reduced on the hood impact area for both children and adults. In addition, in this work the newly proposed extended hood mechanism is manufactured by considering beneficial aspects of relatively large-sized SUVs to protect pedestrians from collision with the windshield area. It is demonstrated that the proposed extended hood system can provide a much better protection effect for pedestrians compared to direct collision with the windshield only.
Improved Taylor analogy breakup and Clark models for droplet deformation prediction
Authors: Wu Zhenlong , Lv Benyin , Cao Yihua
Published: October 2017

The deformation of rain droplet at the leading edge of a wing is critical to the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft under heavy rainfall and icing conditions. This study introduces the improvement of the Taylor analogy breakup and Clark models for prediction of droplet deformation near the leading edge of an airfoil. The slip velocity is considered as time-variant in the improved Taylor analogy breakup model. The viscous force is optimized in the improved Clark model. The prediction results suggest that the Clark models predict better results than the Taylor analogy breakup models. Besides, the improved Clark model has the highest prediction accuracy. However, considering the Clark model is derived based on a two-dimensional model, even the improved model still has some unavoidable deviations from the real situation. In addition, the simplified surface area in the surface tension force and the approximation of the pressure force in the original Clark model are very effective, thus are kept the same in the improved Clark model.
Implicit Statistical Learning in Real-World Environments Leads to Ecologically Rational Decision Making
Authors: Perkovic Sonja , Orquin Jacob Lund
Published: October 2017

Ecological rationality results from matching decision strategies to appropriate environmental structures, but how does the matching happen? We propose that people learn the statistical structure of the environment through observation and use this learned structure to guide ecologically rational behavior. We tested this hypothesis in the context of organic foods. In Study 1, we found that products from healthful food categories are more likely to be organic than products from nonhealthful food categories. In Study 2, we found that consumers’ perceptions of the healthfulness and prevalence of organic products in many food categories are accurate. Finally, in Study 3, we found that people perceive organic products as more healthful than nonorganic products when the statistical structure justifies this inference. Our findings suggest that people believe organic foods are more healthful than nonorganic foods and use an organic-food cue to guide their behavior because organic foods are, on average, 30% more healthful.
Violence and the contemporary soldiering body
Authors: Welland Julia
Published: October 2017

This article asks what is the significance of making the soldiering body (hyper)visible in war. In contrast to the techno-fetishistic portrayals of Western warfare in the 1990s, the recent counterinsurgency campaign in Afghanistan witnessed a re-centring of British soldiering bodies within the visual grammars of war. In the visibility of this body, violences once obscured were rendered viscerally visible on the bodies of British soldiers. Locating the analysis in the War Story exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, London, the article details two moments of wartime violence experienced and enacted by British soldiers, tracking how violence was mediated in, on and through these hypervisible soldiering bodies and the attending invisibility of ‘other’ bodies. The article argues that during the Afghanistan campaign, soldiers’ bodies became not just enactors of military power but crucial representational figures in the continuance of violent projects abroad and their acceptance back home.
Prevention and Management of Enterococcal Infection: Cost Implications
Authors: Barriere Steven L.
Published: October 2017

Enterococcal infections are becoming increasingly prevalent, in part because of the widespread use of cephalosporins and a greater number of immunosuppressed patients. Most infections where enterococci are isolated are pelvic or intraabdominal. The actual pathogenic role of the enterococcus remains controversial, since many types of organisms are usually cultured as well. Although specific therapy directed at the enterococcus may not always be necessary, reasonable indications for specific therapy include the presence of shock, immunosuppression, or persistent or recurrent infection.

Enterococcal bacteremia is associated with a mortality rate in excess of 40 percent. This entity, as well as enterococcal endocarditis and meningitis, should be treated with bactericidal, combination antibiotic therapy, which includes a penicillin and an aminoglycoside. Mixed infections probably can be treated with a penicillin alone. Penicillin-allergic patients should be treated with vancomycin. The costs of nosocomial infection or superinfection are very high; costs incurred as a result of enterococcal infection or superinfection may be prevented by avoiding prolonged prophylactic or broad-spectrum therapeutic regimens (such as cephalosporins) that lack antienterococcal activity. Extended-spectrum penicillins may be effective prophylactic regimens for intraabdominal or pelvic procedures and should serve as adequate therapy for mixed infections in these sites.
Assisted Reproduction in the Digital Age: Stories of Canadian Sperm Donors Offering Their Gametes Online via Introduction Websites
Authors: Lavoie Kévin , Côté Isabel , de Montigny Francine
Published: October 2017

The aim of this study was to describe the phenomenon of sperm donation offered in informal settings and, more specifically, by contacts through the Internet. It documented the perceptions, experiences, and practices of a sample of Canadian donors and explored their motivations for becoming involved in the family projects of others. Eight semistructured interviews were conducted with men who had offered their sperm to couples or single women through one or more introduction websites. The results showed that the process leading to sperm donation outside fertility clinics is influenced by a variety of factors, such as the motives of those involved, logistics, and health concerns, as well as the possibility of having access to information on the genetic heritage of children conceived from these donations. The men applied different strategies to achieve their donations, engaging in a process of negotiation with the recipients, based on mutual trust and acceptance of the risks involved.
Immune-related intestinal pseudo-obstruction associated with nivolumab treatment in a lung cancer patient
Authors: Fragulidis Georgios , Pantiora Eirini , Michalaki Vasiliki , Kontis Elissaios , Primetis Elias , Vezakis Antonios , Polydorou Andreas
Published: October 2017

Immune checkpoint inhibition therapy using targeted monoclonal antibodies is a new therapeutic approach with significant survival benefit for patients with several cancer types. However, their use can be associated with unique immune-related adverse effects as a consequence of impaired self-tolerance due to loss of T-cell inhibition via a nonselective activation of the immune system. Nivolumab is an anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor that was recently developed for cancer immunotherapy with remarkable responses in nonsmall cell lung cancer patients. We present a 62-year-old Caucasian male with recurrent lung adenocarcinoma and currently under third-line therapy with nivolumab, who was admitted in our hospital with abdominal distension. Radiologic findings were consistent with small bowel ileus. After four days of conservative treatment, the patient underwent exploratory laparotomy where no cause of ileus was discovered. Postoperative the ileus persisted and considering that an adverse effect of the immune checkpoint inhibition therapy occurred, the patient received high-dose prednisone resulting in gradual improvement of symptoms. Immune checkpoint inhibitors may induce adverse effects to unaffected organ systems and tissues including the skin, gastrointestinal, hepatic, pulmonary, and endocrine system. The mainstay treatment consists of immunosuppression with corticosteroids in the majority of cases. As the clinical use of immune checkpoint inhibitors is expanding rapidly, there is an emergence of unique immune-related adverse effects in a growing patient population. Gaining early awareness is essential in these patients in order to ensure prompt diagnosis and management.
Piston ring performance in two-stroke marine diesel engines: Effect of hydrophobicity and artificial surface texturing on power efficiency
Authors: Koukoulopoulos Eleftherios , Papadopoulos Christos I
Published: October 2017

In the present work, an algorithm for the solution of the Reynolds equation incorporating the Elrod–Adams cavitation model and appropriately modified to account for hydrophobic surfaces has been developed and solved by means of the finite difference method. The algorithm has been utilized to calculate the frictional characteristics of piston rings of a large two-stroke marine diesel engine, and to evaluate their performance, in terms of minimum film thickness, friction force, and power loss over a full-engine cycle, including time-dependent phenomena. For improving frictional behavior, two surface treatments of the piston ring surface have been studied, namely hydrophobicity and artificial surface texturing, which are introduced at appropriate parts of the ring face. Following a parametric analysis, optimal texturing and hydrophobicity design parameters have been identified for operation with maximum value of minimum film thickness and minimum friction losses. The present results demonstrate that substantial performance improvement can be achieved if hydrophobicity or artificial surface texturing is properly introduced at the faces of a piston ring.