bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in 10-Year Survival of Patients With Stroke Hospitalized Between 1980 and 2000
Authors: Lakshminarayan Kamakshi , Berger Alan K. , Fuller Candace C. , Jacobs David R. , Anderson David C. , Steffen Lyn M. , Sillah Arthur , Luepker Russell V.
Published: July 2014

Background and Purpose—

We report on trends in poststroke survival, both in the early period after stroke and over the long term. We examine these trends by stroke subtype.

Methods—

The Minnesota Stroke Survey is a study of all hospitalized patients with acute stroke aged 30 to 74 years in the Minneapolis–St Paul metropolis. Validated stroke events were sampled for survey years 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, and 2000 and subtyped as ischemic or hemorrhagic by neuroimaging for survey years 1990, 1995, and 2000. Survival was obtained by linkage to vital statistics data through the year 2010.

Results—

There were 3773 acute stroke events. Age-adjusted 10-year survival improved from 1980 to 2000 (men 29.5% and 46.5%;
P
<0.0001; women 32.6% and 50.5%;
P
<0.0001). Ten-year ischemic stroke survival (n=1667) improved from 1990 to 2000 (men 35.3% and 50%;
P
=0.0001; women 38% and 55.3%;
P
<0.0001). Ten-year hemorrhagic stroke survival showed a trend toward improvement, but this (n=489) did not reach statistical significance, perhaps because of their smaller number (men 29.7% and 45.8%;
P
=0.06; women 39.2% and 49.6%;
P
=0.2). Markers of stroke severity including unconsciousness or major neurological deficits at admission declined from 1980 to 2000 while neuroimaging use increased.

Conclusions—

These poststroke survival trends are likely because of multiple factors, including more sensitive case ascertainment shifting the case mix toward less severe strokes, improved stroke care and risk factor management, and overall improvements in population health and longevity.
Clinical Features and Outcomes of Spinal Cord Arteriovenous Malformations
Authors: Lee Young-Jun , Terbrugge Karel G. , Saliou Guillaume , Krings Timo
Published: July 2014

Background and Purpose—

As a result of the rarity of spinal cord arteriovenous malformations (AVM), there are only a few series available that describe clinical features, outcome after treatment, and natural history of these lesions. In this article, we aim to describe our experience with both nidus- and fistulous-type spinal cord AVMs.

Methods—

Forty-four consecutive patients with spinal cord AVMs were retrospectively reviewed. There were 26 patients with a nidus-type and 18 patients with a fistulous-type AVM. Treatments were performed with embolization (n=23), surgery (n=13), combined embolization–surgery (n=3), or conservative management (n=5). Clinical features, radiological findings, treatment results, and clinical outcomes were assessed.

Results—

Patients with nidus-type AVMs were younger at presentation and more often presented with hemorrhage, with a higher proportion of hematomyelia than fistulous-type AVMs (
P
<0.05). Progression of clinical presentation from hemorrhage to congestive myelopathy during follow-up was noted in 5 patients, all of which had AVMs of the nidus type. Complete obliteration could be achieved more often in the fistulous type (72%) than in the nidus type (27%). Improved or stable clinical status at last follow-up was noted in 100% of fistulous-type and 77% of nidus-type patients. Long-term clinical deterioration was noted in 6 of 26 patients with nidus-type (23%) AVMs and was related to recurrent bleeding (n=3) or progressive venous congestion (n=3). Overall rebleed rate after presentation with hemorrhage was 7 in 145.5 patient-years (4.8%/y) if the lesion was not treated, 3 in 102 patient-years (2.9%/y) after partial treatment, and 0 in 47.5 patient-years (0%) after complete treatment.

Conclusions—

Nidus and fistulous spinal cord AVMs have different clinical features and obliteration rates, which may affect their long-term prognosis.
Currencies of Social Support: Israeli-Palestinian Single Mothers in Their Families and Communities
Authors: Meler Tal
Published: July 2014

This article addresses the support and supervisional relations of Israeli Palestinian women who are single mothers vis-à-vis their families and communities. This article links the theoretical discussion of gift economy with the discussion of power relations and gender. Whereas previous studies have emphasized aggressive means of supervising women, the focus on gifts allows for an examination of single mothers and kinship relationships in the context of dependency, power and obligation. As single mothers, many women enjoy several types of concrete support and assistance. This study shows that in return, they are required to “repay” in various “currencies,” which are manifested in several obedience patterns. This is a qualitative study using in-depth interviews with Palestinian single mothers in Israel.
Stable Boundary Layer in Complex Terrain. Part I: Linking Fluxes and Intermittency to an Average Stability Index
Authors: Medeiros Luiz E. , Fitzjarrald David R.
Published: July 2014

Average heat and momentum fluxes observed by a network of surface stations during the Hudson Valley Ambient Meteorology Study (HVAMS) were found as functions of a spatially representative bulk Richardson number Ribr. Preferential sites were identified for the occurrence of strong turbulence under mesoscale stability conditions common to all stations. Locally sensed turbulence intermittency depends on the mesoscale flow stability. Nearly continuous turbulence with few long-lived intermittent events occurs when Ribr < Ricr, the critical gradient Richardson number. Less-continuous mixing associated with a larger number of events occurs when Ricr < Ribr < 5, with the weakest turbulence and fewer events observed for Ribr ≫ Ricr. It was found that the need to allow for extra mixing above the conventional critical bulk Richardson number in numerical weather prediction models is primarily a consequence of spatial averaging in a heterogeneous landscape and is secondarily the result of turbulence above Ricr at locations with “nonideal fetch.”
Water Vapor Budget in a Developing Tropical Cyclone and Its Implication for Tropical Cyclone Formation
Authors: Fritz Cody , Wang Zhuo
Published: July 2014

Evolution of the water vapor budget from the tropical wave stage to the tropical cyclone stage is examined using a high-resolution numerical model simulation. The focus is on a time window from 27 h prior to genesis to 9 h after genesis, and the diagnoses are carried out in the framework of the marsupial paradigm. Analysis shows that the vertically integrated inward moisture flux accounts for a majority of the total condensation and that its fractional contribution increases from the tropical wave stage to the tropical cyclone stage. The fractional contribution of the local evaporation is much smaller and decreases from the tropical wave stage to the tropical cyclone stage. It is also shown that the radial moisture flux above 850 hPa is rather weak prior to genesis but increases significantly after genesis because of the deepening of the inflow layer. The decrease in the fractional contribution of the local evaporation, or the increase in the fractional contribution of the vertically integrated inward moisture flux, is due to the strengthening of the low-level convergence associated with the secondary circulation. The intensification of the secondary circulation can be attributed to the organized convection and concentrated diabatic heating near the circulation center. The results suggest that the local evaporation and its positive interaction with the primary circulation may not be as important as generally appreciated for tropical cyclone development. By contrast, the increase in the fractional contribution by the inward moisture flux with the storm intensification implies the importance of the positive feedback among the primary circulation, the secondary circulation, and convection for tropical cyclone development.
CO2-Induced Sahel Greening in Three CMIP5 Earth System Models
Authors: Bathiany Sebastian , Claussen Martin , Brovkin Victor
Published: July 2014

The existence and productivity of vegetation is the basis for food and energy supply in the Sahel. Past changes in climate and vegetation abundance have raised the question whether the region could become greener in the future as a result of higher CO2 levels. By analyzing three Earth system models (ESMs) from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) with dynamic vegetation, the authors demonstrate why an answer to this question remains elusive in contrast to more robust projections of vegetation cover in the extratropics. First, it depends on the location and the time scale whether vegetation expands or retreats. Until the end of the twenty-first century, the three models agree on a substantial greening in the central and eastern Sahel due to increased CO2 levels. This trend is reversed thereafter, and vegetation retreats in particular in the western Sahel because the beneficial effect of CO2 fertilization is short lived compared to climate change. Second, the vegetation cover changes are driven by different processes in different models (most importantly, precipitation change and CO2 fertilization). As these processes tend to oppose each other, the greening and browning trends are not a reliable result despite the apparent model agreement. The authors also find that the effect of vegetation dynamics on the surface energy balance crucially depends on the location. In contrast to the results of many previous studies, the Sahel appears as a hotspot where the physiological effects of CO2 can exert a cooling because vegetation structure and distribution overcompensate for the decreased stomatal conductance.
Endoscopic Staple Diverticulostomy for Zenker’s Diverticulum
Authors: Wilken Reason , Whited Chad , Scher Richard L.
Published: July 2014

Objective:

Surgical treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum (ZD) has evolved over the previous 2 decades to a predominantly endoscopic approach. In this study, we review our experience with endoscopic staple-assisted diverticulostomy (ESD) for treatment of ZD from 2002 to 2011.

Methods:

Retrospective chart review of 359 primary and revision ESD procedures performed on 337 unique patients between September 2002 and December 2011. Data were tabulated for age, sex, size of diverticulum, time to symptom recurrence, complications, and relief of symptoms.

Results:

Of 337 attempted primary ESD procedures, 3.9% (N = 13) were aborted due to inadequate exposure. Of 324 patients who underwent primary ESD, 93.8% (N = 304) reported postoperative improvement of dysphagia symptoms. There was a 4.0% (N = 13) major complication rate. Patient-reported recurrence of symptoms occurred in 7.1% (N = 23) of primary ESD patients but was not significantly associated with diverticulum size ( P = .9765). Twenty-one patients underwent revision ESD, with 95% (N = 20) of patients reporting improvement and 4.8% (N = 1) developing recurrent symptoms.

Conclusion:

Primary and revision ESD were shown to have similar success at relieving the symptoms of ZD, with low procedure abandonment and perioperative complication rates. Further patient follow-up is needed to determine the durability of symptom improvement and ZD recurrence rate following ESD.
Topiramate for Weight Reduction in Adolescents With Severe Obesity
Authors: Fox Claudia K. , Marlatt Kara L. , Rudser Kyle D. , Kelly Aaron S.
Published: July 2014

Background. Medications for use as an adjunct to lifestyle modification therapy (LSM) for severe adolescent obesity are limited. Topiramate results in weight reduction in adults with obesity, but has not been studied in adolescents. Objective. To examine the effect of topiramate plus LSM on body mass index (BMI) reduction in adolescents with severe obesity. Methods. Data for this retrospective chart review were collected from patients attending a pediatric weight management program who were treated with LSM plus topiramate for 3 months minimum. Mean BMI percent change from baseline was evaluated using t-tests. Results. Twenty-eight patients (mean age 15.2 ± 2.5 years, mean baseline BMI 46.2 ± 10.3 kg/m2) were identified for inclusion. The 6-month percent change in BMI was −4.9, 95% confidence interval (−7.1, −2.8), P < .001. Conclusions. Topiramate with concurrent LSM was associated with clinically meaningful BMI reduction in adolescents with severe obesity. Randomized controlled clinical trials examining efficacy and safety of topiramate for severe obesity in adolescents are needed.
Modelling thermal conductivity of biphasic ceramic materials by the finite element method
Authors: Barea Rafael , Achiaga Beatriz , Osendi M Isabel , Miranzo Pilar
Published: July 2014

The thermal conductivity of two-phase ceramics has been modelled by finite element method for a wide range of second phase contents, aspect ratios and thermal conductivities of the filler phase. The finite element method model has been validated with the experimental thermal conductivity data from exemplary ceramics to show the applicability of this model, namely alumina/silicon carbide composites and highly porous mullite materials, which show second phases of very different thermal conductivity (SiC and pores). The selection of the mesh element dimensions has been based on a schematic picture of the microstructure. For the first time, the finite element method simulation of a large number of random biphasic meshes has been used for estimating errors in the predicted thermal conductivity values that were comparable with the experimental error. The model can be very helpful in designing new materials with specific thermal conduction, limiting the more expensive and time consuming material preparation work.
Remaking Asylum in Post-War France, 1944–52
Authors: Burgess Greg
Published: July 2014

This article examines the steps by which asylum and the rights of refugees were remade in France after the Liberation. The legacy of the pre-1940 period, in which exclusive practices such as legislative prohibitions on refugees, expulsion and internment were the norm, resulted in the need, after the war, to restate and reaffirm republican principles. The article will examine the ideological assumptions that lay behind the postwar asylum debate, and address why it was necessary to place asylum so firmly within republican political culture.
Prejudiced Asylum: Czechoslovak Refugee Policy, 1918–60
Authors: Frankl Michal
Published: July 2014

This article examines Czechoslovak refugee policy and particularly reactions to the refugee crises of the late 1930s, after the Anschluss with Austria and the Munich Agreement. As well as facing waves of refugees from Austria, the Sudetenland and elsewhere, Czechoslovakia by the late 1930s was changing from a place of refuge into a refugee-generating country as its own citizens were forced to flee. The article will focus on the relationship between successive refugee crises (and the introduction of a highly restrictive and anti-Jewish refugee policy) and the decline of a multiethnic society (measured by the concept of citizenship). Particular attention will be paid to the radical shift post-Munich from the limited tolerance of interwar Czechoslovakia to the nationalist, ethnically-exclusive, antisemitic and authoritarian Second Czecho-Slovak Republic. These developments will be traced against the background of the history of the refugee policy of interwar Czechoslovakia and other refugee-receiving countries in Europe. The link between the refugee crisis of 1938 and the emergence of an ethnically intolerant Czechoslovak state post-Second World War will also be explored.
Recent research and developments on yarn hairiness
Authors: Haleem Noman , Wang Xungai
Published: July 2014

Hairiness is an important quality parameter of spun yarns. It not only affects the quality of yarns, but also the weaving and knitting performance of yarns as well as the quality of the resultant fabrics. Various developments regarding yarn hairiness have been reported in the last decade. These cover aspects such as hairiness measurement, modeling, simulation, spinning modifications and post spinning treatments to reduce hairiness. This study is an attempt to critically review all significant recent developments regarding yarn hairiness. Further possibilities of research and future work are also briefly discussed.
Out-of-plane effects on dynamic pull-out of p-phenylene terephthalamide yarns
Authors: Guo Zherui , Hong Jihye , Zheng James , Chen Weinong
Published: July 2014

In this study, the mechanical response of a single yarn pull-out from single layers of Kevlar® and Twaron® fabric under out-of-plane loading at dynamic rates was experimentally investigated, as ballistic applications typically occur at higher velocities and out-of-plane directions compared to previous literature. In order to perform the dynamic experiments, a pendulum impact setup was designed and constructed to pull out a single yarn dynamically. The pull-out load was measured directly by a load cell and the movement of the fabric was measured to portray the load–displacement history. The effects of fabric length, out-of-plane versus in-plane yarn pull-out, and constraining boundary conditions were compared.
The commissioning of all believers: Toward a more holistic model of global discipleship
Authors: Wheeler Aaron
Published: July 2014

In the last 150 years, “missions” has become a distinctive specialty often separated from the normal work of the normal church. This article examines that break and how it impacts the way in which the concept of “missions” is being communicated among academics and practitioners. This article will first look at two reasons for the separation: the historical break and the cognitive compartmentalization that results. After examining the damage done by this separation, a new holistic model for understanding the church’s mission will be presented along with the benefits that this model can bring to the church.
Depicting Changes in Multiple Symptoms Over Time
Authors: Muehrer Rebecca J. , Brown Roger L. , Lanuza Dorothy M.
Published: July 2014

Ridit analysis, an acronym for Relative to an Identified Distribution, is a method for assessing change in ordinal data and can be used to show how individual symptoms change or remain the same over time. The purposes of this article are to (a) describe how to use ridit analysis to assess change in a symptom measure using data from a longitudinal study, (b) give a step-by-step example of ridit analysis, (c) show the clinical relevance of applying ridit analysis, and (d) display results in an innovative graphic. Mean ridit effect sizes were calculated for the frequency and distress of 64 symptoms in lung transplant patients before and after transplant. Results were displayed in a bubble graph. Ridit analysis allowed us to maintain the specificity of individual symptoms and to show how each symptom changed or remained the same over time. The bubble graph provides an efficient way for clinicians to identify changes in symptom frequency and distress over time.
Orientalism for a New Millennium: Cable News and the Specter of the “Ground Zero Mosque”
Authors: DeFoster Ruth
Published: July 2014

This study uses discourse analysis to examine the arc of cable news media coverage of the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque”, a proposed Islamic community center in lower Manhattan that sparked widespread controversy. This article analyzes both the nature and duration of mainstream cable news coverage of the controversy and the major arguments put forth by those both supporting and opposing the center in the politically charged post-September 11 media environment. Google Trends data were employed to examine the duration of the controversy both in terms of broader media coverage and search volume for the term “Ground Zero Mosque” online. This study found several consistent trends in terms of the sources present in cable coverage opposing the center, as well as a very narrow set of talking points that underline the presence of what other researchers have identified as an Islamophobic network of individuals and organizations present in American mass media discourse.
Risk factors for the second contralateral hip fracture in elderly patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Song , Zhu Yanbin , Chen Wei , Sun Tao , Cheng Jiaxiang , Zhang Yingze
Published: July 2014

Objectives:

To achieve a quantitative and comprehensive conclusion concerning the risk factors for the second contralateral hip fracture in elderly patients with initial hip fractures.

Data Sources:

This search was applied to Medline, Embase, Cochrane central database (all up to April 2014).

Methods:

All the studies on bilateral hip fractures in elderly patients published in English were reviewed and qualities of included studies were assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. All the data were carefully and independently abstracted by two reviewers, any disagreement was settled by discussion. Data was pooled and a meta-analysis completed.

Results:

A total of 13 case-control studies were identified for the meta-analysis. The significant risk factors were female (odds ratio (OR), 1.30; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02–1.64), living in institutions (OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.33–4.85), osteoporosis (OR, 10.02; 95% CI, 5.41–18.57), low vision (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.06–4.12), dementia (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.54–2.65), dizziness (OR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.42–5.87) cardiac diseases (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.00–1.78) and respiration diseases (OR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.22–5.47). No significant difference was found in admission age between patients with the unilateral hip fracture and the first hip fracture of bilateral hip groups (standardized mean difference, 0.02, 95% CI, –0.30 to 0.35].

Conclusions:

Patients involved with female, living in institutions, osteoporosis, low vision, dizziness, dementia, respiration diseases and cardiac diseases were at risk for a second contralateral hip fracture after the initial hip fracture.
The Study of International Politics in the Neurobiological Revolution: A Review of Leadership and Political Violence
Authors: McDermott Rose , Hatemi Peter K.
Published: July 2014

Neurobiological advances appear critical for explicating individual differences in attitudes, values, behaviors, cognition and evaluation, but only recently has the neurobiological tool kit been applied to questions of interest in international relations. In this review, we first provide an overview of historical approaches from two domains of enduring interest to the field: leadership and political violence. We then explicate the ways that the neurobiological revolution has so far furthered our understanding of these domains.
Comparison of Sansevieria ehrenbergii fiber-reinforced polymer composites with wood and wood fiber composites
Authors: Sathishkumar TP
Published: July 2014

The static, dynamic (like storage modulus and damping behaviour (tanδ)), thermal, hardness and machinability properties of Sansevieria ehrenbergii fiber-reinforced polyester composites were compared with traditionally available materials like plywood, hardboard sheet, paper board and twisted paper according to ASTM standards. The stress-strain curves of the polyester composites and traditionally available materials were analysed, and the results show that the best tensile, flexural and impact properties were achieved with KMnO4-treated S. ehrenbergii fiber-reinforced polyester composites. The storage modulus of hardboard sheet and KMnO4-treated S. ehrenbergii fiber-reinforced polyester composite was the highest in the glassy and rubbery regions. The tanδ peak height was minimum and peak width was maximum for hardboard sheet and KMnO4-treated S. ehrenbergii fiber-reinforced polyester composites. The thermal stability and hardness of the hardboard sheet were the highest compared to S. ehrenbergii fiber-reinforced polymer composites. The delamination factor and water absorption of KMnO4-treated S. ehrenbergii fiber-reinforced composites and hardboard sheet were lowest compared with the other materials.
Mixed mode I/II delamination analysis of rubber-modified glass-reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: Ghadami F , Dadfar MR , Zeraati A Shayesteh
Published: July 2014

In this study, the effect of carboxyl-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile liquid rubber on fracture toughness of glass-reinforced epoxy composites has been investigated. Fracture toughness tests were conducted in modes I, II and different mixed mode ratios. The data obtained from these tests have been analyzed by using different methods. Results indicated that interlaminar fracture toughness of composite specimens improved considerably through addition of carboxyl-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile in modes I, II and mixed mode. Interlaminar fracture surfaces of the specimens were also characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope.
A Pilot Study Assessing Pharmacokinetics and Tolerability of Oral and Intravenous Baclofen in Healthy Adult Volunteers
Authors: Agarwal Suresh K. , Kriel Robert L. , Cloyd James C. , Coles Lisa D. , Scherkenbach Lisa A. , Tobin Michael H. , Krach Linda E.
Published: July 2014

Our objective was to characterize baclofen pharmacokinetics and safety given orally and intravenously. Twelve healthy subjects were enrolled in a randomized, open-label, crossover study and received single doses of baclofen: 3 or 5 mg given intravenously and 5 or 10 mg taken orally with a 48-hour washout. Blood samples for baclofen analysis were collected pre-dose and at regular intervals up to 24 hours post-dose. Clinical response was assessed by sedation scores, ataxia, and nystagmus. Mean absolute bioavailability of oral baclofen was 74%. Dose-adjusted areas under the curve between the oral and intravenous arms were statistically different ( P = .0024), whereas area under the curve variability was similar (coefficient of variation: 18%-24%). Adverse effects were mild in severity and not related to either dose or route of administration. Three- and 5-mg intravenous doses of baclofen were well tolerated. Seventy-four percent oral bioavailability indicates that smaller doses of intravenous baclofen are needed to attain comparable total drug exposures.
Childhood Headache Attributed to Airplane Travel
Authors: Rogers Kirsty , Rafiq Nadia , Prabhakar Prab , Ahmed Mas
Published: July 2014

Headache attributed to airplane flights is a rare form of headache disorder. This case study describes an 11-year-old girl with recurrent, severe, frontal headaches occurring during airplane travel. The episodes were associated with dizziness and facial pallor but no additional symptoms and showed spontaneous resolution on landing. Blood tests and imaging revealed no abnormalities. The present case fulfils the criteria for airplane headache recently included in the revised edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-III Beta). Only a few cases of airplane headache have been reported in children. To our knowledge, this is the fourth case. We review the current literature on this rare syndrome and discuss various proposed pathophysiological mechanisms.
The ‘losers’ of China’s Internet: Memes as ‘structures of feeling’ for disillusioned young netizens
Authors: Szablewicz Marcella
Published: July 2014

Diaosi (屌丝) ranked as one of the most popular Internet memes of 2012, and it continues to be popular to this day. This article analyses the origins and nature of the diaosi meme and the young men (and women) who self-mockingly describe themselves as ‘losers’. The meme has led to ample speculation in the media and among Chinese academics, and while some see the meme as a relevant form of political critique, others dismiss it as indicative of a psychological malaise affecting contemporary youth. This article reviews the state of this debate about the meanings of the diaosi phenomenon, while offering a new interpretation that frames the meme in terms of Raymond Williams’s notion of ‘structures of feeling’. Though diaosi is a seemingly humorous and playful Internet meme, it is also one that signals young netizens’ disillusionment with the apparent lack of possibilities for upward socio-economic mobility in contemporary China. This author contends that the diaosi phenomenon, though amorphous and at times contradictory, may also be considered an emergent form of affective identification through which alternative desires and forms of mobility may be imagined and enacted.
The Punk Show: Queering heritage in the Black diaspora
Authors: Chapman Alix
Published: July 2014

This article presents ethnography of Black cultural politics in post-flood New Orleans during the summer and fall of 2009. I engage in three interrelated subjects: (1) life histories and oral narratives in which I trace a history of Black queer performances locally referred to as “Punk Shows”; (2) my observations of a community play in which heritage, Black queer subjectivity, and the struggle over communal memory intersect; and (3) a broader discussion of the ways power is constituted by the shaping of history and communal memory to narrate race and sexuality. I argue that some ways of life are constructed as timeless, recuperable, and productive to the nation rather than ephemeral and contradictory. In arguing for a theory of Black queer generation, I deploy performance studies to valorize the “ephemeral” history of their cultural labor.
A step-by-step approach for modelling complex systems with Partial Least Squares
Authors: Pratley Andrew , van Voorthuysen Erik , Chan Ron
Published: July 2014

The role of statistical analysis to improve business decisions is uniquely appropriate for engineers to champion. As systems engineering has become more widespread, engineers are developing models with a holistic view. These models are complex, requiring both theory and data to construct them. Partial Least Squares is introduced as a modelling technique that bridges the gap between engineering and business. Each of the three modes of Partial Least Squares Regression (Mode A, Mode B and Mode C analyses) is discussed with applications of each demonstrated with two case studies from industry.
An investigation on surface finishing in ultra-precision raster milling of aluminum alloy 6061
Authors: Wang SJ , To S , Chen X , Chen XD
Published: July 2014

The technology of ultra-precision machining with single crystal diamond tool produces advanced components with a higher dimensional accuracy and a better surface quality. This article develops a three-dimensional surface topography simulation model for ultra-precision raster milling process by considering the effect of cutting parameters, tool geometry and tool interference as well as the tool–workpiece relative movement on surface generation. Based on the developed surface topography simulation model, a prediction model for the surface roughness in ultra-precision raster milling is built. The effects of depth of cut and surface topography on the cutting-induced heat generation in ultra-precision milling of aluminum alloy 6061 are investigated. Experiment is conducted to verify the developed surface topography simulation model by raster milling of aluminum alloy 6061 under different feed rates and depths of cut. The experimental results show that the surface topography simulation model can properly simulate the surface profile in the raster milling process and the predicted surface roughness agrees well with the measured results of the machined workpiece. Heat generation in horizontal cutting is less than that in vertical cutting and a larger depth of cut generates more heat on the machined workpiece. The cutting-induced heat generates precipitate on the machined aluminum alloy 6061 which results in a worse surface finish in ultra-precision raster milling.
Case finding advantage of HIV rapid tests in community settings: men who have sex with men in 12 programme areas in China, 2011
Authors: Zhang Dapeng , Qi Jinlei , Fu Xiaojing , Meng Sining , Li Chengmei , Sun Jiangping
Published: July 2014

We sought to describe the advantage of rapid tests over ELISA tests in community-based screening for HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) in urban areas of China. Data of 31,406 screening tests conducted over six months in 2011 among MSM across 12 areas were analyzed to compare the differences between those receiving rapid testing and ELISA. Rapid tests accounted for 45.8% of these screening tests. The rate of being screened positive was 7.2% among rapid tests and 5.3% for ELISA tests ( χ2 = 49.161, p < 0.001). This advantage of rapid test in HIV case finding persisted even when socio-demographic, behavioural, screening recruitment channel and city were controlled for in logistic regression (exp[beta] = 1.42, p < 0.001, 95% CI = 1.27,1.59). MSM who received rapid tests, compared with those tested by ELISA, were less likely to use condoms during last anal sex (50.8% vs. 72.3%, χ2 = 1706.146, p < 0.001), more likely to have multiple sex partners (55.7% vs. 49.5%, χ2 = 238.188, p < 0.001) and less likely to have previously undergone HIV testing (38.8% vs. 54.7%, χ2 = 798.476, p < 0.001). These results demonstrate the robustness of the advantage of rapid tests over traditional ELISA tests in screening for MSM with HIV infection in cooperation with community-based organizations in urban settings in China.
HSV oropharyngeal shedding among HIV-infected children in Tanzania
Authors: Zuckerman Richard , Manji Karim , Matee Mecky , Naburi Helga , Bisimba Jema , Martinez Raquel , Wieland-Alter Wendy , Kim Faith , von Reyn C Fordham , Palumbo Paul
Published: July 2014

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) oral shedding has not been studied among HIV-positive children in Africa. We sought to evaluate longitudinal oral HSV reactivation in HIV-positive and -negative children. Twenty HIV-positive antiretroviral-naive and 10 HIV-negative children aged 3–12 years in Tanzania were followed prospectively for 14 days. Oral swabs were collected daily and submitted for HSV DNA PCR analysis. Clinical data were collected via chart review and daily diaries. HSV DNA was detected in 10 (50%) of HIV-positive and 4 (40%) of HIV-negative children. Children who shed HSV had virus detected in a median of 21.4% of samples; shedding was intermittent. Median CD4 count among HIV-infected children was 667 cells/µL in those with positive HSV DNA and 886 cells/µL in those who were negative ( p = 0.6). Of the HIV-positive children reporting prior sores, five (83%) had positive HSV swabs, whereas the one HIV-negative child with prior sores did not have a PCR-positive swab. HSV is detected frequently in children with and without HIV. HIV-infected children reporting oral sores have a high rate of HSV detection. Given the proven strong interactions between HIV and HSV, further study of co-infection with these viruses is warranted in children.
Evaluation of gatifloxacin for its potential to induce antioxidant imbalance and retinopathy in rabbits
Authors: Kumbhar GB , Khan AM , Rampal S
Published: July 2014

Gatifloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, has been reported to produce several adverse reactions. In the present investigation, gatifloxacin administered at the dose rate of 10 and 20 mg kg−1 body weight per day, respectively, for 21 consecutive days, was evaluated for its potential to induce antioxidant status alterations and retinal damage in rabbits. A significant alteration in the antioxidant status of rabbits particularly in the high-dose group was observed which is indicated by decreased activity of superoxide dismutase and levels of blood glutathione with a concomitant increase in the activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase enzymes. The activity of glutathione reductase differed nonsignificantly between groups throughout the study period. The levels of malondialdehyde were elevated in the high-dose group. The histopathological examination of eyeball tunics revealed clumping of nuclei of the retinal outer nuclear layer in the gatifloxacin-treated groups. The results from this study indicate that repeated gatifloxacin administration produces a dose-dependent oxidative stress and retinopathy.
Life Satisfaction in Adult Survivors of Childhood Brain Tumors
Authors: Crom Deborah B. , Li Zhenghong , Brinkman Tara M. , Hudson Melissa M. , Armstrong Gregory T. , Neglia Joseph , Ness Kirsten K.
Published: July 2014

Adult survivors of childhood brain tumors experience multiple, significant, lifelong deficits as a consequence of their malignancy and therapy. Current survivorship literature documents the substantial impact such impairments have on survivors’ physical health and quality of life. Psychosocial reports detail educational, cognitive, and emotional limitations characterizing survivors as especially fragile, often incompetent, and unreliable in evaluating their circumstances. Anecdotal data suggest some survivors report life experiences similar to those of healthy controls. The aim of our investigation was to determine whether life satisfaction in adult survivors of childhood brain tumors differs from that of healthy controls and to identify potential predictors of life satisfaction in survivors. This cross-sectional study compared 78 brain tumor survivors with population-based matched controls. Chi-square tests, t tests, and linear regression models were used to investigate patterns of life satisfaction and identify potential correlates. Results indicated that life satisfaction of adult survivors of childhood brain tumors was similar to that of healthy controls. Survivors’ general health expectations emerged as the primary correlate of life satisfaction. Understanding life satisfaction as an important variable will optimize the design of strategies to enhance participation in follow-up care, reduce suffering, and optimize quality of life in this vulnerable population.
Science of the Particular
Authors: Abma Tineke A. , Stake Robert E.
Published: July 2014

Case studies can provide us with in-depth understanding of a single demarcated entity. Cases can be corporations and clinics, but are usually people. There are several approaches to case study. Naturalistic case study constitutes the science of the particular. The aim of naturalistic case study is to understand with minimum intervention the particularity of a case in its ordinary situation from multiple perspectives. Naturalistic case study relies on a humanistic commitment to study the world from the human perspective. The purpose here is to illuminate how five key features of naturalistic case study can be used in health research. Case studies are of use in various disciplines. In this article we show that the naturalistic case study can have extraordinary value in health research, and is useful from a variety of perspectives. We do so by presenting a case report of a 92-year-old resident moving to a care center.
Ketamine PCA for Treatment of End-of-Life Neuropathic Pain in Pediatrics
Authors: Taylor Matthew , Jakacki Regina , May Carol , Howrie Denise , Maurer Scott
Published: July 2014

Control of neuropathic pain (NP) for children at end of life is challenging. Ketamine improves control of NP, but its use in children is not well described. We describe a retrospective case review of 14 children with terminal prognoses treated with ketamine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for management of opioid-refractory NP at the end of life. Median ketamine dose was 0.06 mg/kg/h (range 0.014-0.308 mg/kg/h) with a 0.05 mg/kg (range 0.03-0.5mg/kg) demand dose available every 15 minutes (range 10-60 minutes). All patients noted subjective pain relief with ketamine, and 79% had no adverse effects. Benzodiazepines limited neuropsychiatric side effects. Ketamine treatment arrested dose escalation of opioids in 64% of patients, and 79% were discharged to home hospice. Ketamine PCA is an effective, well-tolerated therapy for opioid-refractory NP in pediatric end-of-life care.
Geographic Access to Hospice Care for Children With Cancer in Tennessee, 2009 to 2011
Authors: Lindley Lisa C. , Edwards Sheri L.
Published: July 2014

The geographic interface between the need for and the supply of pediatric hospice may be critical in whether children with cancer access care. This study sought to describe the geographic distribution of pediatric hospice need and supply and identify areas lacking pediatric hospice care in Tennessee over a 3-year time period. Using ArcGIS, a series of maps were created. There was a consistent need for care among children with cancer across the state. Most urban areas were supplied by pediatric hospices, except the Knoxville area. Areas within the state were identified where the supply of pediatric hospice care declined, while the need for hospice care was unchanging. This study has important regulatory implications for clinicians practicing in certificate of need states such as Tennessee.
Generalized Irwin plastic zone correction for a Griffith crack near a coated-circular inclusion
Authors: Fan M , Yi DK , Xiao ZM
Published: July 2014

Elastic-plastic stress analysis on a radial crack interacting with a coated-circular inclusion in a matrix has been carried out with the aid of a generalized Irwin plastic zone correction. The crack line is assumed to be at the angle of 90° − θ from a remote tensile loading. In the mathematical formulation, the distributed dislocation method is used to simulate the crack. By solving a set of singular integral equations, three quantities, the effective stress intensity factor, the plastic zone size and the crack tip opening displacement (CTOD), are evaluated with the generalized Irwin model proposed. Numerical examples are given to show the influence of the key parameters such as the crack orientation angle θ, the normalized crack distance, the normalized coating phase thickness and the shear modulus ratio ([Formula: see text], coating phase/matrix) on the fracture behavior. The results indicate that the influence of angle θ is the greatest, while the effect of shear modulus ratio [Formula: see text] is relatively small. A validation checking is performed by the finite element method (FEM) for one case. The result obtained from the FEM simulation matches well with that from the current method.
The Association Between Adolescent Sexting, Psychosocial Difficulties, and Risk Behavior
Authors: Van Ouytsel Joris , Walrave Michel , Ponnet Koen , Heirman Wannes
Published: July 2014

When a sexting message spreads to an unintended audience, it can adversely affect the victim’s reputation. Sexting incidents constitute a potential school safety risk. Just as with other types of adolescent risk behavior, school nurses might have to initiate the first response when a sexting episode arises, but a school nurse’s role goes beyond intervention. They can also play an important role in the prevention of sexting and its related risks. This article reviews the links between adolescent sexting, other types of risk behavior, and its emotional and psychosocial conditions. Seven databases were examined and nine studies remained for further review. The review of the literature shows that adolescent sexting is cross sectionally associated with a range of health-risk behaviors. Youth who engage in sexting are also found to experience peer pressure and a range of emotional difficulties. The results can guide school nurse education and practice.
Attitudes of Registered and Licensed Practical Nurses About the Importance of Families in Surgical Hospital Units
Authors: Blöndal Katrin , Zoëga Sigridur , Hafsteinsdottir Jorunn E. , Olafsdottir Olof Asdis , Thorvardardottir Audur B. , Hafsteinsdottir Sigrun A. , Sveinsdóttir Herdis
Published: July 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses about the importance of the family in surgical hospital units before (T1) and after (T2) implementation of a Family Systems Nursing educational intervention based on the Calgary Family Assessment and Intervention Models. This study was part of the Landspitali University Hospital Family Nursing Implementation Project and used a nonrandomized, quasi-experimental design with nonequivalent group before and after and without a control group. There were 181 participants at T1 and 130 at T2. No difference was found in nurses’ attitudes as measured by the Families Importance in Nursing Care–Nurses’ Attitudes (FINC-NA) questionnaire, before and after the educational intervention. Attitudes toward families were favorable at both times. Analysis of demographic variables showed that age, work experience, and workplace (inpatient vs. outpatient units) had an effect on the nurses’ attitudes toward families. The influence of work experience on attitudes toward family care warrants further exploration.
Connective labor and social media
Authors: Boler Megan , Macdonald Averie , Nitsou Christina , Harris Anne
Published: July 2014

This article draws upon the insights of 75 Occupy activists from Toronto and across the United States interviewed as part of the 3-year study ‘Social Media in the Hands of Young Citizens’. This article highlights three major roles adopted by women in the so-called leaderless, horizontally structured Occupy movement – both within the offline, face-to-face General Assembly meetings held during the Occupy encampments and within the online spaces of Facebook pages, Web sites, affinity groups, and working committees. As key participants in the movement, women used social technologies such as Facebook, Twitter, and livestreaming as modes of activist engagement, developing unique roles such as that of the ‘Admin’ (Social Media Administrator), the ‘Documentarian’, and the ‘Connector’. The women’s adoption of these roles illustrates, we argue, the emerging notion of ‘connective labor’ an extended enactment of Bennett and Segerberg’s (2012) notion of ‘the logic of connective action’, augmenting its logic to reveal the often hidden labor of women in sustaining the networked and affective dimension of social movements. This article highlights the gendered, hybrid, embodied, and material nature of women’s connective labor that has supported, and in many ways sustained, the contemporary Occupy movement.
The police and punishment: Understanding the pains of policing
Authors: Harkin Diarmaid M
Published: July 2014

This article argues that police studies should draw on the sociology of punishment to better understand state pain-delivery. Whereas penal theorists commonly assess the pain and punishment of inmates in relation to wider social sentiments, police theory has yet to regard police violence and harm in the same fashion. As a result, police scholars often fail to address why the damage caused by public constabularies, even when widely publicized, is accommodated and accepted. Adapting the idea of ‘punitiveness’ from penal theory allows some explanation of how the public views injury and suffering caused by the police by illuminating the emotions and sentiments their actions generate.