bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Cold War and the Transformation of Latin American Studies in the United States
Authors: Chilcote Ronald H.
Published: May 2018

The Cold War assumptions of mainstream Latin American studies in the United States were challenged in the 1960s by a new generation of academics that opened up the field to progressive thinking, including Marxism. West Coast intellectuals played a major role in this transformation. These new Latin Americanists rejected the university-government-foundation nexus in the field and emphasized field research that brought them into close relationships with Latin Americans struggling for change and engaging with radical alternatives to mainstream thinking. In the course of this work, they confronted efforts to co-opt them and to discourage and even prevent their field research. Despite this they managed to transform Latin American studies into a field that was intellectually and politically vibrant both in theory and in practice.

Los supuestos de la Guerra Fría dominantes en los estudios latinoamericanos en los Estados Unidos fueron cuestionados en la década de 1960 por una nueva generación de académicos que abrió el campo al pensamiento progresista, incluso el Marxismo. Los intelectuales de la costa oeste jugaron un papel importante en esta transformación. Estos nuevos latinoamericanistas rechazaron el nexo universidad-gobierno-fundación que caracterizó el campo y enfatizaron la investigación en el terreno que los ubicó en una estrecha relación con los latinoamericanos que luchan por el cambio y se enfrentan con alternativas radicales al pensamiento dominante. En el curso de este trabajo, confrontaron esfuerzos para cooptarlos y desalentar e incluso prevenir su investigación en el terreno. A pesar de esto, lograron transformar los estudios latinoamericanos en un campo que era intelectualmente y políticamente vibrante tanto en la teoría como en la práctica.
A hybrid structure of an extreme learning machine combined with feature selection, signal decomposition and parameter optimization for short-term wind speed forecasting
Authors: Sun Sizhou , Fu Jingqi , Zhu Feng , Du Dajun
Published: May 2018

Influenced by various environmental and meteorological factors, wind speed presents stochastic and unstable characteristics, which makes it difficult to forecast. To enhance the forecasting accuracy, this study contributes to short-term multi-step hybrid wind speed forecasting (WSF) models using wavelet packet decomposition (WPD), feature selection (FS) and an extreme learning machine (ELM) with parameter optimization. In the model, the WPD technique is applied to decompose the empirical wind speed data into different, relatively stable components to reduce the influence of the unstable characteristics of wind speed. A hybrid particle swarm optimization gravitational search algorithm (HPSOGSA) combining conventional PSOGSA with binary PSOGSA (BPSOGSA) is utilized to realize the FS and parameter optimization simultaneously. The PSOGSA is employed to tune the parameter combination of input weights and biases in ELM, while BPSOGSA is exploited to select the most suitable features from the candidate input variables determined by a partial autocorrelation function for reconstruction of the input matrix for ELM. The proposed forecasting strategy carries out multi-step short-term WSF using mean half-hour historical wind speed data collected from a wind farm situated in Anhui, China. To investigate the forecasting results of the hybrid model, a lot of comparisons and analyses are executed. Simulation results illustrate that the proposed WPD-ELM model with FS and parameter optimization can effectively catch the non-linear characteristics hidden in wind speed data and provide satisfactory WSF performance.
In the Eye of the Beholder: Top Managers’ Long-Term Orientation, Industry Context, and Decision-Making Processes
Authors: Lin Ya (Lisa) , Shi Weilei , Prescott John E. , Yang Haibin
Published: May 2018

Time orientation matters. While a temporal perspective is widely recognized as an important lens in strategic management research, few studies have explored how top managers’ temporal orientation affects strategic decision-making processes. We propose that top managers’ subjective perception of time, specifically, their long-term orientation, positively affects the comprehensiveness, speed, and creativity of strategic decision-making processes and that industry context moderates these relationships. Drawing on the organization-environment fit perspective and associated compatibility and temporal fit mechanisms, we found considerable support for our hypotheses in the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries in China. Our findings reinforce the perspective that temporal referent points act as anchors for strategic decision-making processes.
Book review: Ross Bassett, The Technological Indian
Authors: Ramnath Aparajith
Published: May 2018

Ross Bassett, The Technological Indian, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA and London, 2016, 400 pp., ₹1,250.
Generating anxiety, short-circuiting desire: Battery waste and the capitalist phantasy
Authors: Moore Sarah A. , Arefin Mohammed Rafi , Rosenfeld Heather
Published: May 2018

While batteries are ubiquitous in modern life, they often go unnoticed; that is, until they stop working. Each time a battery dies and becomes waste, our modernist expectations of convenient, reliable energy sources, and our unexamined dependence on these volatile combinations of heavy metals, plastics, and chemical pastes is exposed. In this paper, we document and visualize battery waste flows across North America to reveal the anxiety-ridden processes through which we manage, mismanage, and attempt to forget about battery waste. Drawing on Lacan’s seminar on Anxiety, this paper contributes to understandings of the role of psycho-social objects in constituting both material landscapes of risk and the symbolic structures of capitalist modernity that repress these risks in the interest of continued economic growth. We examine the “total management narrative” around battery waste as a Lacanian phantasy preserved through dysfunctional responses to underlying anxieties about the continued production, circulation, and distribution of toxins necessary to the maintenance of modern life. In challenging these total management narratives, we argue that processes of denial, disavowal, and foreclosure only partially mask the myriad ways that battery waste escapes, exceeds, or endures our practices of disposal and recycling, producing problematic and often environmentally unjust outcomes.
Post-release reforms for short prison sentences
Authors: Cracknell Matthew
Published: May 2018

Transforming Rehabilitation (TR) promised a ‘revolution’ in the way offenders are managed, providing a renewed focus on short sentence prisoners. The TR reforms extends mandatory post-release supervision and tailored through-the-gate resettlement provisions to a group that has predominantly faced a ‘history of neglect’ yet often present with the most acute needs within the criminal justice system. However, existing literature underlines that serving short sentences lacks ‘utility’ and can be counter-productive to facilitating effective rehabilitation. This article explores the purposes of providing post-release supervision for short sentences, firstly exploring a previous attempt to reform short sentences, the now defunct ‘Custody Plus’ within the 2003 Criminal Justice Act, and then the Offender Rehabilitation Act (ORA) 2014 within the TR reforms. This article contends that both post-release reforms have sought to re-affirm and re-legitimise prison as the dominant form of punishment in society – or what Carlen refers to as ‘carceral clawback’. This article will also use Cohen’s analysis on social control to establish that post-release supervision will serve to ‘widen the net’, extend the period of punishment and oversight and will only reinforce a form of enforced ‘state-obligated rehabilitation’ that will undermine efforts made to resettle short sentence prisoners.
Romantic relationships among emerging adult African-American men: A latent profile analysis
Authors: Kogan Steven M. , Allen Kimberly A. , Gonzales-Backen Melinda , Bae Dayoung , Cho Junhan
Published: May 2018

Studies of romantic relationships among emerging adult African-American men have the potential to inform downstream challenges observed in marriage and relationship development among African-Americans. To date, however, most research on African-American men has focused narrowly on sexual risk behavior, to the exclusion of normative relationship behavior. Accordingly, we focused on understanding heterogeneity in emerging adult African-American men’s romantic relationships. We conducted a latent profile analysis with 354 men participating in the African-American Men’s Project who had a main female romantic partner. To understand the significance of the resulting profiles, we examined the correlates of each profile in the areas of sociodemographics, adverse childhood experiences, masculinity attitudes, and health risk behaviors. Results revealed three romantic relationship groups: Supportive, Uncommitted, and Volatile. Differences were detected among the groups in education, fertility with partners, adverse childhood experiences, masculinity attitudes, substance abuse, and sexual concurrency.
Brain perfusion evaluated by regional tissue oxygenation as a possible quality indicator of ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. An experimental porcine cardiac arrest study
Authors: Bouček Tomáš , Mlček Mikuláš , Krupičková Petra , Huptych Michal , Belza Tomáš , Kittnar Otomar , Linhart Aleš , Bělohlávek Jan
Published: May 2018

Introduction:

Relationship between regional tissue oxygenation (rSO2) and microcirculatory changes during cardiac arrest (CA) are still unclear. Therefore, we designed an experimental study to correlate rSO2, microcirculation and systemic hemodynamic parameters in a porcine model of CA.

Methods:

Ventricular fibrillation was induced in 24 female pigs (50±3kg) and left for three minutes untreated followed by five minutes of mechanical CPR. Regional and peripheral saturations were assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy, sublingual microcirculation by Sidestream Dark Field technology and continuous hemodynamic parameters, including systemic blood pressure (MAP) and carotid blood flow (CF), during baseline, CA and CPR periods. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test, the Friedman test and the partial correlation method were used to compare these parameters.

Results:

Brain and peripheral rSO2 showed a gradual decrease during CA and only an increase of brain rSO2 during mechanical CPR (34.5 to 42.5; p=0.0001), reflected by a rapid decrease of microcirculatory and hemodynamic parameters during CA and a slight increase during CPR. Peripheral rSO2 was not changed significantly during CPR (38 to 38.5; p=0.09). We only found a moderate correlation of cerebral/peripheral rSO2 to microcirculatory parameters (PVD: r=0.53/0.46; PPV: r=0.6/0.5 and MFI: r=0.64/0.52) and hemodynamic parameters (MAP: r=0.64/0.71 and CF: 0.71/0.67).

Conclusions:

Our experimental study confirmed that monitoring brain and peripheral rSO2 is an easy-to-use method, well reflecting the hemodynamics during CA. However, only brain rSO2 reflects the CPR efforts and might be used as a potential quality indicator for CPR.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia complicating extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in pediatric patients: review of the literature and alternative anticoagulants
Authors: Pollak Uri
Published: May 2018

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a prothrombotic, immune-mediated complication of unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low molecular weight heparin therapy. HIT is characterized by moderate thrombocytopenia 5-10 days after initial heparin exposure, detection of platelet-activating anti-platelet factor 4/heparin antibodies and an increased risk of venous and arterial thrombosis. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a form of mechanical circulatory support used in critically ill patients with respiratory or cardiac failure. Systemic anticoagulation is used to alleviate the thrombotic complications that may occur when blood is exposed to artificial surfaces within the ECMO circuit. Therefore, when HIT complicates patients on ECMO support, it is associated with a high thrombotic morbidity and mortality. The following article reviews the current knowledge in pediatric HIT, especially in ECMO patients, and the alternative anticoagulation options in the presence of HIT.
Effect of pump type on outcomes in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia requiring ECMO
Authors: Delaplain Patrick T. , Zhang Lishi , Nguyen Danh V. , Ashrafi Amir H. , Yu Peter T. , Di Nardo Matteo , Chen Yanjun , Starr Joanne , Ford Henri R. , Guner Yigit S.
Published: May 2018

Purpose:

With the exception of neonatal respiratory failure, most centers are now using centrifugal over roller-type pumps for the delivery of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Evidence supporting the use of centrifugal pumps specifically in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains lacking. We hypothesized that the use of centrifugal pumps in infants with CDH would not affect mortality or rates of severe neurologic injury (SNI).

Methods:

Infants with CDH were identified within the ELSO registry (2000-2016). Patients were then divided into those undergoing ECMO with rollertype pumps or centrifugal pumps. Patients were matched based on propensity score (PS) for the ECMO pump type based on pre-ECMO covariates. This was done for all infants and separately for each ECMO mode, venovenous (VV) and venoarterial (VA) ECMO.

Results:

We identified 4,367 infants who were treated with either roller or centrifugal pumps from 2000-2016. There was no difference in mortality or SNI between the two pump types in any of the groups (all infants, VA-ECMO infants, VV-ECMO infants). However, there was at least a six-fold increase in the odds of hemolysis for centrifugal pumps in all groups: all infants (odds ratio [OR] 6.99, p<0.001), VA-ECMO infants (OR 8.11, p<0.001 and VV-ECMO infants (OR 9.66, p<0.001).

Conclusion:

For neonates with CDH requiring ECMO, there is no survival advantage or difference in severe neurologic injury between those receiving roller or centrifugal pump ECMO. However, there is a significant increase in red blood cell hemolysis associated with centrifugal ECMO support.
The first five years of neonatal and pediatric transports on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the center and south of Italy: The pediatric branch of the Italian “Rete Respira” network
Authors: Di Nardo Matteo , Lonero Margherita , Pasotti Elisabetta , Cancani Federica , Perrotta Daniela , Cecchetti Corrado , Stoppa Francesca , Pirozzi Nicola , La Salvia Ondina , Nicolini Antonella , Amodeo Antonio , Patroniti Nicolo’ , Pesenti Antonio
Published: May 2018

Introduction:

Neonatal and pediatric ECMO is a high-risk procedure that should be performed only in expert centers. Children who are eligible for ECMO and are managed in hospitals without ECMO capabilities should be referred to the closest ECMO center before the severity of illness precludes safe conventional transport. When the clinical situation precludes safe conventional transport, ECMO should be provided on site with the patient transported on ECMO.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed our institutional database of all ECMO transports for neonatal and pediatric respiratory failure from February 2013 to February 2018.

Results:

Over the last 5 years, we provided 24 transports covering all requests from the center and south of Italy except for the islands. Of these transports, 20 were performed on ECMO and 4 without ECMO. No patient died during transportation. Five complications were reported only during the ECMO transports, and all of these were managed without compromising the patient’s safety. The preferred modes of transport were by ambulance (70%) and ambulance transported into the fixed wing aircraft (30%) for longer national distances. The survival to hospital discharge of the patients transported with ECMO was 75% among the neonatal transports and 83.3% among the pediatric transports. The survival to hospital discharge of the four patients transported without ECMO was 100% for both neonates and children.

Conclusions:

Neonatal and pediatric ECMO transports can be safely performed with a dedicated team that maintains stringent adherence to well-designed management protocols.
A systematic review on the use of deep venous stenting for acute venous thrombosis of the lower limb
Authors: Taha Mohamed AH , Busuttil Andrew , Bootun Roshan , Davies Alun H
Published: May 2018

Objectives

The aim is to evaluate venous stent patency, the development of post-thrombotic syndrome, recurrence, quality of life and the optimal post-procedural anticoagulation regimen in the treatment of iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis.

Method and results

EMBASE and Medline databases were interrogated to identify studies in which acute deep venous thrombosis patients were stented. Twenty-seven studies and 542 patients were identified. Primary, assisted primary and secondary patency rates 12 months after stent placement ranged from 74 to 95, 90 to 95 and 84 to 100%, respectively. The observed post-thrombotic syndrome rate was 14.6%. The incidence of stent re-thrombosis was 8%. In 26% of studies, patients received additional antiplatelet therapy. Quality of life questionnaires employed in 11% of studies, demonstrating an improvement in the chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire (22.67 ± 3.01 versus 39.34 ± 6.66).

Conclusion

Venous stenting appears to be an effective adjunct to early thrombus removal; however, further studies are needed to identify optimal anticoagulant regimen and effect on quality of life.
The effect of Tai Chi training on the dual-tasking performance of stroke survivors: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chan Wing Nga , Tsang William Wai-Nam
Published: May 2018

Objective:

To compare the effect of Tai Chi training with conventional exercise on dual-tasking performance among stroke survivors.

Design:

An assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial.

Subjects:

Community-dwelling stroke survivors.

Setting:

Community centers and university.

Interventions:

Subjects in the Tai Chi group and the conventional exercise group were trained with the corresponding exercises for 12 weeks (1 hour/session, 2/week). No training was given to the controls.

Main measures:

An auditory Stroop test, a turning-while-walking test, and a dual-tasking condition that combined the two tests were conducted at baseline, after the intervention, and one month later.

Results:

Forty-seven subjects were randomized into Tai Chi group ( n = 15), conventional exercise group ( n = 17), or control group ( n = 15). There was no significant difference in the outcome measures among the three groups after the intervention and at the one month follow-up assessment. Within-group comparisons showed improvements in dual-tasking performance after Tai Chi training and further improvement during the follow-up period (composite score on the auditory Stroop test: pre-assessment: 73.1 ± 27.6, post-assessment: 89.9 ± 23.4, follow-up assessment: 91.7 ± 26.9; completion time of the turning-while-walking test: pre-assessment: 17.7 ± 6.9 seconds, post-assessment: 15.6 ± 5.2 seconds, follow-up assessment: 14.9 ± 4.9 seconds).

Conclusion:

Tai Chi training does not have superior effect on dual-tasking performance compared with conventional exercise among stroke survivors. Further studies with larger sample size, longer training, and follow-up periods are needed.
An oesophageal spring
Authors: Calamelli Elisabetta , Gargano Tomasso , Brusa Sandra , Bottau Paolo , Lima Mario , Lanari Marcello
Published: May 2018

Oesophageal foreign bodies (OFBs) are a relatively common emergency in young children. OFBs are complicated by significant morbidity and mortality because their ingestion often occurs without witnesses, leading to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. We report an occult OFB in an 11-month-old infant who initially presented without any specific respiratory symptoms, mimicking a respiratory infection. Worsening of the patient’s cough, which did not show any improvement, despite treatment, and progressive onset of gastrointestinal manifestations (dysphagia, vomiting, and drooling) led to the diagnosis of an OFB (metallic spring). The complex and long-term clinical course of the patient highlights the need of promptly recognizing the presence of an occult OFB. This is because rapid diagnosis and treatment are essential for preventing severe and sometimes irreversible complications.
Characteristics of the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Primary and Paired Metastatic Canine Mammary Carcinomas
Authors: Raposo-Ferreira Talita M. M. , Brisson Becky K. , Durham Amy C. , Laufer-Amorim Renee , Kristiansen Veronica , Puré Ellen , Volk Susan W. , Sorenmo Karin
Published: May 2018

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a dynamic process linked to metastasis in many tumor types, including mammary tumors. In this study, we evaluated E-cadherin and vimentin immunolocalization in primary canine mammary carcinomas (20 cases) and their respective metastases, as well as their relationship with the core regulators SNAIL/SLUG. To assess the number of cells undergoing the process of EMT, we quantitated double-positive (E-cadherin+/vimentin+) cells using immunofluorescence, via cell counting and image analysis. In addition, SNAIL/SLUG expression was evaluated by established immunohistochemical methods. Primary tumors had significantly more E-cadherin+/vimentin+ co-expression than their paired respective lymph node or distant metastasis, respectively. Furthermore, the percentage of E-cadherin+/vimentin+ cells in grade II and III carcinomas was significantly higher than in grade I tumors. Primary tumors had significantly higher SNAIL/SLUG expression when analyzed based on the percentage of positive cells compared with their respective distant metastases in pairwise comparisons. An inverse correlation was noted between SNAIL/SLUG immunoreactivity and percentage of E-cadherin+/vimentin+ immunopositive cells in primary tumor samples when SNAIL/SLUG immunoreactivity was grouped into 2 categories (high versus low) based on percentage-positive staining. These results show a positive correlation between E-cadherin+/vimentin+ cells and higher tumor grade, establish differences between primary tumor and their respective metastases, and provide further support that EMT plays a critical role in the metastasis of canine mammary carcinoma. Furthermore, these data suggest that modulation of this process could provide greater therapeutic control and provide support for further research to determine if E-cadherin+/vimentin+ co-immunoreactivity imparts predictive value in the clinical outcome of patients with canine mammary carcinomas.
Why Transnational Class and State? A Response to Ian Taylor
Authors: Ougaard Morten
Published: May 2018

Ian Taylor challenges the concepts of a transnational capitalist class (TCC) and state, suggesting that Poulantzas’s notion of the “internal bourgeoisie” is a better theoretical starting point for the analysis of transnational class formation and that the transnational state (TNS) is a step too far. This critique is not convincing. It is debatable to what extent it is a “Poulantzian reading.” The rejection of the notion of a TCC is unsustainable because of compelling evidence for the existence of such a class with articulated shared interests and organizations tasked with pursuing them. The critique of the TNS has some validity, but largely because proponents of the concept have been insufficiently clear on the consequences of upscaling the state concept to the global level. When this is acknowledged, the relevance and usefulness of the concept is that it enables state theoretical analysis of demonstrably existing TNS apparatuses that perform TNS functions, shaped by transnational relations of power between social forces, involving both structural power and direct engagement in transnational sites of contestation. There are now transnational elements of all fundamental characteristics of the capitalist state except one, the monopoly on the legitimate use of violence. Finally, Taylor does not provide an alternative approach to theorizing what descriptively is known as global governance.
Doing reparatory history: bringing ‘race’ and slavery home
Authors: Hall Catherine
Published: May 2018

This article asks whether history writing can be reparatory. Opening with a discussion of the bi-centenary of the abolition of the slave trade in 2007 and the national conversation that was created at that time, it goes on to reflect on contestations over memory and the significance of the emergence of reparations as a key term with which to think about the wrongs of the past and the possibilities of repair. It uses a discussion of the author’s individual and collaborative historical work to argue for the importance of a different understanding of Britain’s involvement in the slavery business and our responsibilities, as beneficiaries, of the gross inequalities associated with slavery and colonialism.
Geomorphic context in rivers
Authors: Wohl Ellen
Published: May 2018

Geomorphic context refers to the geomorphic setting of a river reach, which is defined as a length of river with consistent valley and channel geometry. Context includes spatial dimensions of geometry, location within a drainage basin, and location within a global context. Context also includes temporal dimensions of the frequency and duration of specific processes influencing the river reach and the historical sequence of natural and human-induced processes that continue to influence process and form in the river reach. These spatial and temporal characteristics interact to create a geomorphic context that governs the contemporary form of the river corridor, the rates and processes by which diverse materials move through the corridor, and the adjustments of form and process in response to disturbances. Context matters for both basic understanding and effective management of river corridors. Examples of widely used formal articulations of geomorphic context include a bedform-based classification of mountain streams, geomorphic process domains, and river styles. Each has been applied to understanding and predicting longitudinal variations in stream power, sediment budgets, habitat and biotic communities, resilience to disturbance, and other characteristics of rivers. The three Cs of rivers—complexity (or spatial heterogeneity), connectivity, and context—provide a conceptual framework for river research and management.
Influence of mesh orientation in discrete element method simulations of fracture processes
Authors: Birck Gabriel , Iturrioz Ignacio , Riera Jorge D , Miguel Letícia FF
Published: May 2018

The lattice discrete element method was employed by the authors in numerical determinations of the pre and post peak-failure response of quasi-brittle systems in which tensile fracture typically controls the dominant failure modes. In previous publications, the approach has also been applied to structures that fail by shear or unconfined compression. It was also verified that discrete element method models predict the strength of cubic and cylindrical samples subjected to confining lateral pressures up to about 20% of the vertical stress, although overestimating the effect of confinement. One of the factors responsible for this overestimation may be associated to the restraints on the fracture paths introduced by numerical methods such as discrete element method or finite element method . In order to determine a bound on model error in discrete element method numerical predictions, in this article, the influence of the mesh orientation on simulations of fracture propagation in quasi-brittle materials is examined in case of a plate subjected to a nominally homogeneous stress state.
Phase 1, randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effects of erenumab (AMG 334) and concomitant sumatriptan on blood pressure in healthy volunteers
Authors: de Hoon Jan , Van Hecken Anne , Vandermeulen Corinne , Herbots Marissa , Kubo Yumi , Lee Ed , Eisele Osa , Vargas Gabriel , Gabriel Kristin
Published: May 2018

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of concomitant administration of erenumab and sumatriptan on resting blood pressure, pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability in healthy subjects.

Methods

In this phase 1, parallel-group, one-way crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, healthy adult subjects were randomized (1:2) to receive either intravenous placebo and subcutaneous sumatriptan 12 mg (i.e. two 6-mg injections separated by 1 hour) or intravenous erenumab 140 mg and subcutaneous sumatriptan 12 mg. Blood pressure was measured pre-dose and at prespecified times post-dose. The primary endpoint was individual time-weighted averages of mean arterial pressure, measured from 0 hours to 2.5 hours after the first dose of sumatriptan. Pharmacokinetic parameters for sumatriptan were evaluated by calculating geometric mean ratios (erenumab and sumatriptan/placebo and sumatriptan). Adverse events and anti-erenumab antibodies were also evaluated.

Results

A total of 34 subjects were randomized and included in the analysis. Least squares mean (standard error) time-weighted averages of mean arterial pressure were 87.4 (1.0) mmHg for the placebo and sumatriptan group and 87.4 (1.2) mmHg for the erenumab and sumatriptan group. Mean difference in mean arterial pressure between groups was −0.04 mmHg (90% confidence interval: −2.2, 2.1). Geometric mean ratio estimates for maximum plasma concentration of sumatriptan was 0.95 (90% confidence interval: 0.82, 1.09), area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) from time 0 to 6 hours was 0.98 (90% confidence interval: 0.93, 1.03), and AUC from time 0 to infinity was 1.00 (90% confidence interval: 0.96, 1.05). No clinically relevant safety findings for co-administration of sumatriptan and erenumab were identified.

Conclusion

Co-administration of erenumab and sumatriptan had no additional effect on resting blood pressure or on pharmacokinetics of sumatriptan. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02741310.
Metrics of Urban Form and the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem
Authors: Zhang Ming , Kukadia Nishant
Published: May 2018

There is growing interest in incorporating urban form indicators into transportation planning and travel analysis. These indicators typically are measured at a certain level of spatial aggregation (e.g., traffic analysis zone) and therefore are subject to the modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) known primarily in the statistical and geographic literature but generally overlooked by transportation researchers. The presence of the MAUP can cause serious inconsistency in analytical results and consequently misinform policy making. This study diagnoses the MAUP in measuring urban form through empirical modeling of travel mode choice in the Boston, Massachusetts, region. Using data aggregated in grids with five cell sizes and at the transportation analysis zone, the census block group, and the block level, the study explores the sensitivity of coefficient estimates for population density, network pattern, and land use balance to data aggregation in predicting mode choice decisions. Having confirmed the presence of the MAUP, the study discusses three approaches for dealing with it. Using a grid with a cell size of 1/2 mi appears to be the most desirable method of data aggregation among the eight methods studied. The suggested improvements in methodology will help advance the inquiry on the link between urban form and travel.
Spatiotemporal Data Model and Query Language for Tracking Land Use Change
Authors: Huang Bo , Claramunt Christophe
Published: May 2018

Management of spatiotemporal information requires a more generic and consolidated data model to facilitate applications such as tracking land use parcel changes. This paper presents such a spatiotemporal data model in the context of object databases by extending the Object Data Management Group (ODMG) standard and examines its feasibility in a land use application. This model extends the ODMG object model with a parameterized type, TimeSeries, which allows the shifting of spatial types into spatiotemporal types to support the representation of a series of states (i.e., the history) of an object. An object query language (OQL), spatiotemporal OQL (STOQL), which adds spatial and temporal dimensions to ODMG's OQL, is also designed. A case study demonstrates that STOQL supports the formulation of various spatiotemporal queries pertaining to historical states of spatial objects as well as spatial changes, including spatial type substitution. The model and query language have been implemented by using an object-oriented language in a geographic information system environment.
A Transportation-Efficient Land Use Mapping Index
Authors: Moudon Anne Vernez , Kavage Sarah E. , Mabry Jean E. , Sohn D. W.
Published: May 2018

Land use and transportation are linked by complex, yet identifiable, relationships. Tools are needed to formalize this relationship and to take it into account when decisions are made about urban and suburban transportation systems. This paper reviews foundational concepts of performance measures of metropolitan transportation systems. It offers a rationale for the types of tools needed to measure and assess land use and transportation system efficiency. One tool being developed by the Washington State Department of Transportation–-the Transportation-Efficient Land Use Mapping Index (TELUMI)–-illustrates how research findings can be applied in metropolitan transportation planning. TELUMI uses cartographic modeling (CM) techniques and parcel-level geographic information system data. The fine resolution of the data measures microscaled land use conditions associated with travel patterns in built-up areas. CM generates maps of zones in a region that match land use conditions with travel behaviors. Zones are defined by land use variables, such as density of activities, presence and agglomeration of destinations, block size, and transportation infrastructure attributes. CM also performs advanced quantitative analyses of map attributes, and it is effective with lay and professional audiences. TELUMI's use of individual land use variables makes it possible to target intervention strategies, such as augmenting density or building sidewalks, and to evaluate their effectiveness in improving transportation efficiency. TELUMI assists transportation and local planning authorities in allocating transportation investments appropriate to multimodal travel.
Initiating Bus Rapid Transit in Jakarta, Indonesia
Authors: Ernst John P.
Published: May 2018

On February 1, 2004, a 12.9-km (8-mi) bus rapid transit (BRT) line began revenue operation in Jakarta, Indonesia. The BRT line has incorporated most of the characteristics of BRT systems. The line was implemented in only 9 months at a cost of less than US$1 million/km ($1.6 million/mi). Two additional lines are scheduled to begin operation in 2005 and triple the size of the BRT. While design shortcomings for the road surface and terminals have impaired performance of the system, public reaction has been positive. Travel time over the whole corridor has been reduced by 59 min at peak hour. Average ridership is about 49,000/day at a flat fare of 30 cents. Furthermore, 20% of BRT riders have switched from private motorized modes, and private bus operators have been supportive of expanding Jakarta's BRT. Immediate improvements are needed in the areas of fiscal handling of revenues and reconfiguring of other bus routes. The TransJakarta BRT is reducing transport emissions for Jakarta and providing an alternative to congested streets. The BRT provides a tangible vision for an effective, viable, and sustainable public transportation system in Jakarta and elsewhere.
Paratransit Service Optimization for Special Events
Authors: Karlaftis Matthew G. , Kepaptsoglou Konstantinos L. , Stathopoulos Antony
Published: May 2018

Paratransit services can be useful for special events, especially when private vehicles are discouraged from approaching the event locations. During the Athens 2004 Olympics, such a shuttle service was planned to connect major Athens spots with athletic complexes. A mixed nonlinear integer programming model is developed for jointly obtaining optimal headways and vehicle types for such a paratransit service, given demand, resource, and travel time constraints. The model is incorporated into a user-friendly Microsoft Excel–based interface. An application of the model to the Athens 2004 Olympics and its results are presented and discussed.
Context-Sensitive Solution for Arizona State Route 179
Authors: Rauch Ethan
Published: May 2018

The Arizona Department of Transportation (DOT) is following an innovative approach called a needs-based implementation plan (NBIP) to improve State Route 179, in Sedona, Arizona. The NBIP process consists of a coordinated, collaborative team effort to assess needs and develop solutions for this corridor. Throughout the process, Arizona DOT has solicited input and involvement from the community by using a variety of methods, such as advisory panels, focus groups, workshops, a website, and charrettes (collaborative planning events with a specific goal and a limited time frame that harness the talents and energies of all interested parties to create and support a feasible outcome). The NBIP process takes a context-sensitive solutions approach by balancing safety, mobility, and the preservation of scenic, aesthetic, historic, environmental, and other community values. A key component of the approach is that citizens play an active role in the planning, design, and construction of the corridor. Working with Arizona DOT throughout the process are the Big Park Regional Coordinating Council, Yavapai County, Coconino National Forest, FHWA, city of Sedona, and Coconino County. The NBIP process is structured around a series of three charrettes: first, a planning charrette, in which the community articulated its core values and long-range vision for the corridor, and a second charrette, in which participants worked in small groups at gaming workshops to build their road. In addition, an evaluation program, which consisted of evaluation criteria and performance measures, was developed to screen planning concepts resulting from the gaming workshop. At two screening workshops and a third charrette, the community screened 12 planning concepts to produce a single preferred planning concept consisting of a greatly improved two-lane facility.
Hydraulic Characteristics of Buried-Invert Elliptical Culverts
Authors: Tullis Blake P. , Robinson S. Collin , Young Jacob C.
Published: May 2018

In response to recent and ongoing adaptation of culvert designs to environmentally sensitive installations, inlet loss coefficients and inlet control flow performance data are presented that are specific to environmentally sensitive culvert geometries. A common practice for such culvert designs is to bury the culvert inverts and create a simulated streambed through the culvert. Common cross-sectional geometries of such culverts typically include circular, elliptical, or pipe arch. These buried- or depressed-invert culverts create inlet geometries for which inlet loss information and inlet control flow performance curves have not been developed. Regardless of the method used to design environmentally sensitive culverts, the ability of the culvert to pass the design flood must be determined. In an effort to provide such information, an elliptical smooth-wall culvert with an invert burial depth of 50% was tested under various conditions (e.g., various end treatments, inlet and outlet control, submerged and unsubmerged inlet conditions, and ponded and channelized approach flow conditions) to determine the inlet loss coefficient and flow performance curve characteristics. The test results show that the inlet loss coefficient is relatively independent of both Reynolds number and the ratio of the distance from the inlet invert to the upstream total energy grade line to the culvert diameter ( HW/ D) and that the inlet loss coefficients for the elliptical culvert with 50% burial depth are approximately equal to the published coefficients for traditional culvert inlets. The inlet control data adapt well to the Form 1 and Form 2 unsubmerged and the submerged equations recommended by FHWA.
Monitoring Pavement Changes in a Rehabilitation Project with Continuous Rolling Dynamic Deflectometer Profiles
Authors: Lee Jeffrey L. Y. , Stokoe Kenneth H. , Chen Dar-Hao , Garrison Miles R. , Nam Boo Hyun
Published: May 2018

The success of a rehabilitation project that involves replacement of the asphalt concrete (AC) overlay on a concrete pavement often depends on the assessment of the existing conditions and the repair of critically weak locations. In a case study, a rolling dynamic deflectometer (RDD) was used to collect continuous deflection profiles at different stages in such a project. The project, conducted by the Texas Department of Transportation, was located in the Atlanta District. The condition of the pavement was monitored with an RDD in each stage. The stages ranged from before milling of the original AC overlay to 22 months after the placement of a new overlay. The deflection profiles measured after milling were used to identify locations with a high potential for reflection cracking. After the new overlay was placed, profiling was repeated at three different times to ( a) monitor changes at locations of previously high deflections, ( b) evaluate the effectiveness of full-depth repairs, and ( c) group different AC test sections of the new overlay according to the condition of the underlying concrete pavement. It was found that the continuous deflection profiles obtained at the start of a rehabilitation project can be used to identify high-deflection locations that, if not repaired, will likely deteriorate rapidly after the new overlay is placed. The continuous deflection profile measured on the concrete pavement after milling was particularly helpful in identifying high-deflection locations that were irregularly spaced. Continuous deflection profiles, measured at various times after placement of the new overlay, effectively tracked the zones of deterioration.
Wisconsin Experiences with Reflective Crack Relief Projects
Authors: Makowski Leonard , Bischoff Debra L. , Blankenship Phillip , Sobczak Daryl , Haulter Fiona
Published: May 2018

Many agencies place hot-mix asphalt overlays on deteriorating jointed or cracked portland cement concrete pavements to improve the ride, protect the pavement structure, and reduce noise. Reflection cracking of the joints and preexisting cracks through the overlay is a persistent problem. In climates such as that in Wisconsin, the initial reflective cracks often appear within a year or two. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the City of Milwaukee tried a fine-aggregate, asphalt-rich, polymer-modified asphalt mix interlayer to absorb joint movements, delay reflective cracking, and protect the existing pavement. Four Wisconsin projects are discussed. In the first project, constructed in 1996, the interlayer showed no effect on delaying reflection cracking within the first 3 years. Later projects, however, included specifications for performance-related design tests for flexural beam fatigue and Hveem stability and were overlaid with improved mixtures to complement the flexible interlayer. The later projects showed an average 42% improvement in the time to the appearance of surface cracks compared with the control sections. Furthermore, cores taken from the projects showed that even when the overlay cracked, some of the interlayer samples did not, even under severe conditions, thus further protecting the underlying pavement structure. Other major factors contributing to the cracking delay included the type of concrete pavement, concrete patches, and climate.
Interpretation of Transverse Profiles to Determine the Source of Rutting within an Asphalt Pavement System
Authors: Villiers Claude , Roque Reynaldo , Dietrich Bruce
Published: May 2018

The transverse profilograph has been recognized as one of the most accurate devices for the measurement of rut depth. However, interpretation of surface transverse profile measurements poses a major challenge in determining the contributions of the different layers to rutting. A literature review has shown that the actual rutting mechanism can be estimated from a surface transverse profile for determination of the relative contribution of the layers to rutting. Unfortunately, much of the research yielded no verification or data. In addition, some techniques presented cannot be used if the rut depth is not well pronounced. Other techniques may be costly and time-consuming. The present research developed an approach that integrates ( a) falling weight deflectometer and core data along with 3.6-m transverse profile measurements to assess the contributions of different pavement layers to rutting and ( b) identifies the presence (or absence) of instability within the asphalt surface layer. This approach can be used regardless of the magnitude of the rut depth. On the basis of the analysis conducted, absolute rut depth should not be used to interpret the performance of the asphalt mixture. In addition, continued instability may not result in an increase in rut depth because the rutted basin broadens as traffic wander compacts or moves the dilated portion of the mixture. The approach developed appears to provide a reasonable way to distinguish between different sources of rutting. The conclusions drawn from analysis of the approach agreed well with observations from the trench cuts taken from four sections.
Technical Efficiency of Road Haulage Firms
Authors: Baños-Pino José , Carrera-Gómez Gema , Coto-Millán Pablo , Inglada Vicente , González Miguel Angel Pesquera
Published: May 2018

This study justifies the contemporary importance of efficiency analysis. The theoretical concepts of technical, allocative, and economic efficiency are presented. Empirical problems are addressed, with different ways of measuring efficiency and their inherent disadvantages presented. A theoretical application is given for haulage firms operating on Spanish roads in six subsectors with panel data. The liberalization of goods road transport policies in the 1990s has engendered a more technically efficient reorganization of road transport regions, which will result in innovations in transport services, lower fares, greater diversity in contracts, and better transport quality.
Estimating the Impact of Pickup- and Delivery-Related Illegal Parking Activities on Traffic
Authors: Han Lee D. , Chin Shih-Miao , Franzese Oscar , Hwang Holing
Published: May 2018

Illegal parking of delivery trucks used for pickup and delivery (PUD) reduces traffic capacity and causes delays. A geographically based combinatorial model was developed to estimate the extent of capacity losses and subsequent delays. The model uses a geographically based inference engine to extract data from several large-scale databases and process the data. These data are presented and compared with data from other temporary loss-of-capacity events. Because only weekday and daytime activities were studied, the resulting estimate of the national PUD effect is somewhat conservative.