bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epigenetic Targeting of Adipocytes Inhibits High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion
Authors: Tang Jessica , Pulliam Nicholas , Özeş Ali , Buechlein Aaron , Ding Ning , Keer Harold , Rusch Doug , O'Hagan Heather , Stack M. Sharon , Nephew Kenneth P.
Published: May 2018

Ovarian cancer (OC) cells frequently metastasize to the omentum, and adipocytes play a significant role in ovarian tumor progression. Therapeutic interventions targeting aberrant DNA methylation in ovarian tumors have shown promise in the clinic, but the effects of epigenetic therapy on the tumor microenvironment are understudied. Here, we examined the effect of adipocytes on OC cell behavior in culture and impact of targeting DNA methylation in adipocytes on OC metastasis. The presence of adipocytes increased OC cell migration and invasion, and proximal and direct coculture of adipocytes increased OC proliferation alone or after treatment with carboplatin. Treatment of adipocytes with hypomethylating agent guadecitabine decreased migration and invasion of OC cells toward adipocytes. Subcellular protein fractionation of adipocytes treated with guadecitabine revealed decreased DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) levels even in the presence of DNA synthesis inhibitor, aphidicolin. Methyl-Capture- and RNA-sequencing analysis of guadecitabine-treated adipocytes revealed derepression of tumor-suppressor genes and epithelial–mesenchymal transition inhibitors. SUSD2, a secreted tumor suppressor downregulated by promoter CpG island methylation in adipocytes, was upregulated after guadecitabine treatment, and recombinant SUSD2 decreased OC cell migration and invasion. Integrated analysis of the methylomic and transcriptomic data identified pathways associated with inhibition of matrix metalloproteases and fatty acid α-oxidation, suggesting a possible mechanism of how epigenetic therapy of adipocytes decreases metastasis. In conclusion, the effect of DNMT inhibitor on fully differentiated adipocytes suggests that hypomethylating agents may affect the tumor microenvironment to decrease cancer cell metastasis.

Implications: Epigenetic targeting of tumor microenvironment can affect metastatic behavior of ovarian cancer cells. Mol Cancer Res; 16(8); 1226–40. ©2018 AACR.
Gleanings of Curiosities from the Harvest-Fields of Arabic Literature: Chapter 87 of Kitāb al-Zahrah by Ibn Dāwūd al-Iṣbahānī (d. 297/910)
Authors: van Gelder Geert Jan
Published: May 2018

Muḥammad Ibn Dāwūd al-Iṣbahānī (d. 297/910) was a theologian who lived in Baghdad, where he succeeded his father as the leader of the juridico-theological school called al-Ẓāhiriyyah. He wrote several books but the only one that is preserved is a work of literature and poetry. His al-Zahrah (The Flower) consists of one hundred chapters, mostly containing poetry by many poets including himself, as well as some anecdotes and passages in prose. The first fifty chapters deal with various aspects of love and the second half with various genres and kinds of poetry. Chapter 87 is entitled Dhikr al-shiʿr alladhī yustaẓraf li-khurūjihi ʿan ḥadd mā yuʿraf, “On Poetry That Is Deemed Curious Because It Goes Beyond What Is Conventionally Known.” In a more or less unordered, partly associative sequence, this chapter offers many freaks of versification: lipograms; palindromes; lines that only use undotted, or dotted, or connected, or unconnected letters; pangrams; acrostics; unrhymed epigrams that seem to rely on non-verbal language; lines containing Persian or Greek words and expressions, etc. Many of the features of these poems are usually associated with a later stage of Arabic literature: they became more frequent especially after the appearance of the verbal artistry and artifices in the very popular Maqāmāt of al-Ḥarīrī (d. 516/1122). Ibn Dāwūd was therefore in a sense a pioneer. Many poems in the text pose problems. The chapter has never been investigated in detail; two passages were studied in articles by Michele Vallaro. The present article deals with the poems and anecdotes in the chapter, providing translations and commentary.
Financial Contributions by the EU to UN Peace Operations
Authors: Presutti Francesco
Published: May 2018

The UN has recently embarked in a comprehensive debate concerning the reform of its peace and security response. Improved financing mechanisms and other support modalities are called for. Currently, the EU is engaged in a strategic and operational cooperation framework with the UN, but only its Member States contribute troops, civilian police, and funding to the UN peace operations. This article explores the feasibility and potential benefits for the maintenance of international peace and security of an enhanced role of the EU as an entity in funding UN peace operations and other activities related to them. It first contends that this development would increase the effectiveness of the EU foreign policy. It then analyses the institutional and legal challenges that it would raise in the UN setting. It finally concludes that using this financing tool to invigorate the EU leadership in foreign policy would benefit the European integration project.
The ILO Stumbling towards Its Centenary Anniversary
Authors: van der Heijden Paul
Published: May 2018

Throughout the 20th century, the International Labour Organization (‘ILO’) has played a significant and successful role in the international advancement of social justice. However, in the past 10–15 years the impact of the organization has decreased. Its legislative machinery seems to have come to a standstill. Hardly any influential modern legal instruments have been developed in these years. The ILO’s monitoring system via the Committee of Experts is in danger to be weakened, mainly due to questions from within the organization. The boat that passed by flying the corporate social responsibility (‘CSR’) flag, has been missed. A powerful and unanimous signal, for instance by adopting a Framework Convention on Decent Work, is necessary if the organization is to survive in the 21st century.
Court Jews, Printers, Book Publishing, and the Beginning of the Haskalah in the German Lands: The Life History of the Wulffian Printing Press as a Case-Study
Authors: Freudenthal Gad
Published: May 2018

This article presents the history of a printing press that operated at several places near Berlin during the first half of the eighteenth century, culminating in the epoch-making reprinting of Maimonides’ Guide of the Perplexed in 1742. The press was established in Dessau in 1694 by the court Jew Moses Wulff (1661–1729), and was run by several printers, notably the convert Israel b. Abraham (fl. 1715–1752). Using the trajectory of the Wulff press as a case study, I examine the relations between scholars, patrons of learning (especially court Jews), printers, and book publishing. The inquiry will highlight the considerable role that court Jews played in shaping the Jewish bookshelf, notably by choosing which books (reprints and original) would be funded. Surprisingly perhaps, although court Jews were in continuous contact with the environing culture, they did not usually favor the printing of non-traditional Jewish works that would favor a rapprochement.
“Where is My Region?” Geographical Representation and Textuality in Sokoto
Authors: Zehnle Stephanie
Published: May 2018

This paper is devoted to geographical knowledge of the world and the definition of homeland and outland among the elite of the early Sokoto Caliphate (ca. 1800–1840). It argues that with the creation of a territorial jihadist state, geography became an important tool within religious and political discourses because in Sokoto warfare was predicated upon a precise mapping of the “Land of Islam” and the “Land of Unbelief”. The circulation of contradictory accounts about landscapes and rivers in the Sahel via medieval Arabic books, traders, pilgrims and soldiers, will receive special attention. The key argument is that written geographical accounts and cartography from Sokoto were not only restricted by the information available for this task, but also by the characteristics of the genres: texts can express uncertainties about concepts of space, in contrast, cartography requires geographical definition and spatial exactitude. This article is thus dedicated to the analysis of content and form of geographical discourses in the early Sokoto State by the comparison of texts and a map.
Unbraiding the Qu’ran: Wolofal and the Tafsīr Tradition of Senegambia
Authors: Dell Jeremy
Published: May 2018

Thanks to the work of scholars on both sides of the Atlantic, the orthographic practice known as “ʿajami,” or the writing of non-Arabic languages in Arabic script, is better known today than ever before, expanding alongside scholarly efforts to understand it. This article contributes to this renewed interest by examining the first known commentary on the Qur’an written entirely in Wolofal, or Wolof in modified Arabic script. Contra the prevailing populist spirit of contemporary ʿajami scholarship, it argues that ʿajami texts were not always intended for an audience of non-Arabophones. In the case of Mawridu al-ẓamān fī tafsīr al-qurān, a Wolofal commentary written by the Murid scholar Muhammadu Dem (d. 1965), ʿajami techniques were employed to produce a text explicitly intended for a specialized audience already literate in Arabic. Dem’s commentary therefore qualifies the argument that ʿajami texts necessarily reached non-Arabophone audiences.
Damages in Investor-State Arbitration: Current Issues and Challenges
Authors: Marboe Irmgard
Published: May 2018

The assessment of damages in investor-state arbitration involves complex legal and economic considerations. Particular challenges arise from the interdisciplinary nature of this endeavor. The present issue discusses some of the pertinent specificities in investor-state disputes reflecting the tensions between sovereignty and self-determination of states and their legal obligations towards foreign investors. These tensions are primarily present in the context of expropriation, but also commitments undertaken by states in bilateral investment treaties and contracts as well as changing economic circumstances need to be taken into consideration. The lack of valuation principles that are uniformly accepted and implemented leads to uncertainty and unpredictability in practice. The present volume analyses some of the most controversial and unsettled issues, including the choice of the valuation date, appropriate valuation methods, moral damages, and the awarding of interest.
Foundations in Spain: An International Comparison of a Dynamic Nonprofit Subsector
Authors: Rey-Garcia Marta
Published: May 2018

The goal of this article is threefold. First, it aims at understanding the dynamic positions of foundations (institutional proximities and purposes, approaches and roles) relative to church, state, market, and civil society. The institutional factors behind the transformation of the small and heterogeneous set of foundations existing in the country in the late 1980s, under scattered and restrictive regimes, into a relatively sizeable and influential sector of formally homogeneous nonprofits are explored. Second, it approaches the conceptualization of foundations in Spain and describes the recent evolution and current configuration of the sector with 2009 (year of the first foundation census) and 2014 (latest estimate available) as reference dates—illustrating them in comparative perspective. Third, its goal is to shed light on their advantages and disadvantages for relevant stakeholders in the context of evolving institutional proximities, foundation models, and prevailing typologies. In order to structure the discussion, the purposes, approaches, roles, benefits, and drawbacks of Spanish foundations will be compared with the German and U.S. anchors as depicted by Anheier and Hammack in this issue.
Simultaneous In Situ Monitoring of Trimethoxysilane Hydrolysis Reactions Using Raman, Infrared, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy Aided by Chemometrics and Ab Initio Calculations
Authors: Chen Xiaoyun , Eldred Donald , Liu Jing , Chiang Hsu , Wang Xianghuai , Rickard Mark A. , Tu Siyu , Cui Li , LaBeaume Paul , Skinner Kwan
Published: May 2018

Sol-gels are found in many different scientific fields and have very broad applications. They are often prepared by the hydrolysis and condensation of alkoxysilanes such as trimethoxysilanes, which are commonly used as precursors in the preparation of silsequioxanes via the sol-gel process. The reaction rates of such reactions are influenced by a wide range of experimental factors such as temperature, pH, catalyst, etc. In this study, we combined multiple in situ spectroscopic techniques to monitor the hydrolysis and partial condensation reactions of methyltrimethoxysilane and phenyltrimethoxysilane. A rich set of kinetics information on intermediate species of the hydrolysis reactions were obtained and used for kinetics modeling. Raman and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy provided the most information about hydrolysis and NMR provided the most information about condensation. A quantitative method based on Raman spectra to quantify the various transient intermediate hydrolysis products was developed using NMR as the primary method, which can be deployed in the field where it is impractical to carry out NMR measurements.
Evaluation of Silicon Wafer-Based Internal Reflection Elements for Use with in Situ Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy
Authors: Sperling Brent A. , Kalanyan Berc
Published: May 2018

Silicon wafer-based internal reflection elements (IREs) present many practical advantages over the prisms conventionally used for attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy in the infrared. We examine two methods of using minimally prepared IREs that have appeared in the literature, edge-coupled (EC) and prism-coupled (PC), in conjunction with a liquid flow cell. Polarization measurements show that radiation entering the PC-IRE becomes depolarized due to stress-induced birefringence, and transmission through the edge of the EC-IRE also affects the polarization state. Quantification of the noise and a calibration using a series of sodium acetate solutions show the sensitivity of the PC-IRE outweighs the lower noise obtainable with the EC-IRE.
Outcome of serious violent offenders with psychotic illness and cognitive disorder dealt with by the New South Wales criminal justice system
Authors: Nielssen Olav , Yee Natalia YL , Dean Kimberlie , Large Matthew
Published: May 2018

Background:

The few studies of the recidivism by people with psychotic illness and cognitive disorder who are convicted of serious violent offences and sentenced by the courts.

Method:

Re-imprisonment data were obtained for 661 individuals convicted of serious non-lethal violent offences in the District Courts of New South Wales in the years 2006 and 2007. Rates of re-imprisonment of offenders known to psychotic illness or cognitive disorder (intellectual disability or acquired brain injury) was compared to those not known to have those conditions. A survival analysis was performed controlling for the effects of male sex, having a report by a mental health professional at the initial sentencing and receiving a custodial sentence for the initial offence.

Results:

There was no significant difference in the overall likelihood of further imprisonment between those with psychotic disorder (53.7%), those with cognitive disorder (50.7%) or among those with neither condition (45.2%; χ2 = 2.22, p = 0.33). A Kaplan–Meier analysis found that people with a psychotic disorder were returned to custody earlier than those not known to have psychosis ( p = 0.002). People with psychosis spent a non-significantly greater time in custody (mean 477 days) than those with a cognitive disorder (mean 334 days) or among those with neither condition (mean 348 days) (Mann–Whitney Z-score = 1.5, η2 = 0.003, p value = 0.13). For the entire sample of 661 offenders, those who received non-custodial sentences for their initial offences had a lower likelihood of spending any time in custody in the follow-up period.

Conclusion:

The likelihood of returning to custody of sentenced violent offenders with psychotic illness or cognitive disorder is higher than that of released forensic patients in New South Wales followed up for a similar period. The results suggest an opportunity to improve the outcome of offenders with psychosis by better treatment and rehabilitation.
National Survey of Pediatric Care Providers: Assessing Time and Impact of Coding and Documentation in Physician Practice
Authors: Arora Anshul , Garg Ashish , Arora Vrinda , Rizvi Munaza , Desai Ninad
Published: May 2018

Background. Documentation and billing/coding are essential to medical practice. Physicians spend significant time documenting to meet coding and medicolegal requirements, potentially reducing time for patient care and learning. We sought to assess time spent charting in pediatric practice and provider understanding and comfort level regarding billing/coding. Methods. An anonymous web-based survey was emailed to members of American Academy of Pediatrics Section of Pediatric Trainees practicing in the United States. Results. A total of 601 trainees responded to the survey. Thirty-seven percent of trainees spent more than half of patient encounter time documenting in outpatient settings while 62% ( P < .01) in inpatient settings. There was a positive correlation between trainees’ apprehension about documentation and reporting increased stress due to documentation ( r = 0.32, P < 0.001). Sixty-two percent respondents had no prior training of billing/coding, and >70% feel necessity of including billing/coding in the medical curriculum ( P < 0.0001). Conclusions. Our study highlights increasing burden of documentation in practice. Majority of pediatric trainees feel the need to including billing/coding skills as a part of medical curriculum.
Lexical properties: Trademarks, dictionaries, and the sense of the generic
Authors: Bellido Jose , Pottage Alain
Published: May 2018

The third edition of Webster’s International Dictionary, first published in 1961, represented a novel approach to lexicography. It recorded the English language used in everyday life, incorporating colloquial terms that previous grammarians would have considered unfit for any responsible dictionary. Many were scandalized by the new lexicography. Trademark lawyers were not the most prominent of these critics, but the concerns they expressed are significant because they touched on the core structure of the trademark as a form of property in language. In the course of eavesdropping on everyday usage, Merriam-Webster’s lexicographers picked up on the use of trademarks as common nouns: “thermos” as a generic noun for any vacuum flask, “cellophane” as a term for transparent wrapping, and so on. If Webster’s Third were to be taken as sound evidence of the meaning of words, then the danger was that some of the most familiar marks in the USA would be judged “generic” in the legal sense, and would thereby cease to be proprietary. In this article, we explore the implications of this encounter between law and lexicographic technique.
Reframing Paul’s Anthropology in Light of the Cognitive Sciences: Exercising Care in Interdisciplinary New Testament Scholarship
Authors: Spezio Michael
Published: May 2018

Susan Eastman’s recent contribution to scholarship on Paul’s anthropology is a welcome example of authentic interdisciplinarity. The book highlights core themes in recent work from the cognitive sciences and shows how these themes might guide readings of the Pauline corpus. At the same time, there are useful warnings about confusing the aims of the sciences of the person with the anthropological aims that motivate theological interpretations of sacred texts. In this review article I explore Eastman’s emphasis on the Pauline project’s grounding of personhood in categories of spiritually-morally formational-relational constitution; I highlight difficulties with the current status of mirror neuron theory and of imitation in early childhood development and emphasize the importance of primary literature for interdisciplinary scholarship in religious studies and theology.
Threat to the Group’s Image Can Motivate High Identifiers to Take Action Against In-group Transgressions
Authors: Shuman Eric , Johnson Dan , Saguy Tamar , Halperin Eran
Published: May 2018

When transgressions are committed by a group, those highly identified with the group are often least likely to recognize the transgressions, feel collective guilt, and engage in action to address them. We hypothesized that especially among high identifiers, demonstrating that in-group transgressions threaten the group’s image can induce normative conflict and thus collective guilt and action. In the first study, we demonstrate that high (vs. low) image threat increases normative conflict among high identifiers. In Study 2, we show that inducing normative conflict through image threat leads to increased collective guilt and collective action among high identifiers. In Study 3, we replicate this effect with the addition of a control condition to demonstrate increased normative conflict and collective guilt relative to both a low threat and baseline conditions. In Study 4, we again replicate these effects with a modified manipulation that more precisely manipulated image threat. Together, these studies indicate that image threat can be an effective motivator for high identifiers to address in-group transgressions.
Structural Validity and Measurement Invariance of the Pearlin Mastery Scale in Spanish-Speaking Primary Care Patients
Authors: Gordon Janna R. , Malcarne Vanessa L. , Roesch Scott C. , Roetzheim Richard G. , Wells Kristen J.
Published: May 2018

The Pearlin Mastery (PM) Scale is frequently used in health research to assess individuals’ personal mastery or the extent to which they believe they are in control of their own lives. It has been adapted from English into multiple languages including Spanish. However, no studies have assessed the psychometric properties of Spanish translations of the scale. This analysis evaluated structural validity and measurement invariance of the original Spanish translation of the PM Scale in two groups of Spanish-speaking individuals receiving primary care at community clinics in Florida. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated that the 5-item version used in the literature yields a unidimensional factor structure as expected; however, multiple-group CFA revealed that the PM Scale items did not load equivalently on the factor across samples. This indicates that the Spanish version of the PM Scale may not measure mastery consistently across groups, possibly due to differences in respondents’ semantic understanding of items or differences in the meaning of the construct itself. Findings suggest that researchers seeking to measure personal mastery in Spanish-speaking participants from diverse cultural backgrounds should consider alternative approaches including the development of new instruments.
Postdoctoral Opportunities for Nursing PhD Graduates: A Resource Guide
Authors: Lor Maichou , Oyesanya Tolu , Chen Chen X. , Cherwin Catherine , Moon Chooza
Published: May 2018

Before completing a nursing PhD program, doctoral students are encouraged to seek out and apply for a position in one of many, often highly competitive postdoctoral programs. These programs include the more traditional National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded experiences, such as the T32, as well as the nontraditional institution funded positions, including the associate faculty role. Graduates often need guidance on which postdoctoral programs are available, the resources each program offers to promote development of the applicant’s program of research, the disadvantages of each program, and what each program uses as benchmarks for success. This article summarizes both traditional and nontraditional postdoctoral positions including the T32, F32, F99/K00, T90/R90, research supplements, associate faculty, research associate, and hospital-affiliated postdoctoral positions. This article updates previous papers describing postdoctoral opportunities and offers a starting place to aide PhD students planning their postgraduate activities in seeking and evaluating these positions.
Against their Will: Sexual Assault and the Uttarakāṇḍa
Authors: Goldman Sally J. Sutherland
Published: May 2018

A close reading of the Uttarakāṇḍa of Vālmīki’s Rāmāyaṇa demonstrates that its author has composed a carefully and logically structured work, one that is haunted by themes of sexual transgression. Not only is the first half of the kāṇḍa occupied with the history and genealogy of Rāvaṇa, who is no less than the sexual predator par excellence, but its latter half tells of Rāma’s seemingly heart-wrenching decision to banish Sītā based on rumours of her own supposed infidelity. Similar themes are reflected in a number of the kāṇḍa’s sub-stories—both those that are understood to be part of the main narrative and those that belong to the so-called ‘purāṇic’ narratives—and highlight sexual aggression against women. This article examines a specific and unusual subset of such narratives that permeate the kāṇḍa, those that deal with explicit rape, with an eye towards further understanding why, uniquely in this kāṇḍa, such stories appear, and what lies behind their popularity and longevity.
The perception of Mandarin lexical tones by native Korean speakers differing in their experience with Mandarin
Authors: Tsukada Kimiko , Han Jeong-Im
Published: May 2018

While it is well established that non-native speakers differ from native speakers in their perception and/or production of Mandarin lexical tones, empirical studies focusing on non-native learners are still limited. The objective of this study is to add to the current understanding of lexical tone perception by comparing native speakers of standard Korean from the Seoul/Kyunggi area differing in Mandarin experience (NK1, NK2) with native speakers of Mandarin. NK1 ( n = 10) had no experience with Mandarin whereas NK2 ( n = 10) consisted of highly advanced learners of Mandarin. A group of 10 native Mandarin (NM) speakers was included as controls. Accuracy of perception of six tone pairs (T1–T2, T1–T3, T1–T4, T2–T3, T2–T4, T3–T4) was assessed in a four-alternative forced-choice discrimination test. As expected, the NK2 group with extensive Mandarin learning experience resembled the NM group to a greater extent than did the NK1 group. T2–T3 was the hardest pair for both NK groups, but NK2 had the largest advantage over NK1 for this pair. Apart from T2–T3 which is generally considered difficult, tone pairs involving T1 caused some misperception by the NK groups. This may be related to the difficulty with perceiving a level tone which shows the least fundamental frequency (F0) movement and possibly has limited perceptual salience.
What sources of bereavement support are perceived helpful by bereaved people and why? Empirical evidence for the compassionate communities approach
Authors: Aoun Samar M , Breen Lauren J , White Ishta , Rumbold Bruce , Kellehear Allan
Published: May 2018

Aims:

To determine who provides bereavement support in the community, what sources are perceived to be the most or least helpful and for what reason, and to identify the empirical elements for optimal support in developing any future compassionate communities approach in palliative care.

Design:

A population-based cross-sectional investigation of bereavement experiences. Sources of support (informal, community and professional) were categorised according to the Public Health Model of Bereavement Support; most helpful reasons were categorised using the Social Provisions Scale, and least helpful were analysed using inductive content analysis.

Setting and participants:

Bereaved people were recruited from databases of funeral providers in Australia via an anonymous postal survey (2013–2014).

Results:

In total, 678 bereaved people responded to the survey. The most frequently used sources of support were in the informal category such as family, friends and funeral providers. While the professional category sources were the least used, they had the highest proportions of perceived unhelpfulness whereas the lowest proportions of unhelpfulness were in the informal category. The functional types of helpful support were Attachment, Reliable Alliance, Social Integration and Guidance. The five themes for least helpful support were: Insensitivity, Absence of Anticipated Support, Poor Advice, Lack of Empathy and Systemic Hindrance.

Conclusion:

A public health approach, as exemplified by compassionate communities policies and practices, should be adopted to support the majority of bereaved people as much of this support is already provided in informal and other community settings by a range of people already involved in the everyday lives of those recently bereaved. This study has provided further support for the need to strengthen the compassionate communities approach, not only for end of life care for dying patients but also along the continuum of bereavement support.
Quantitative hemodynamic analysis of cerebral blood flow and neurovascular coupling using optical coherence tomography angiography
Authors: Shin Paul , Choi WooJhon , Joo JongYoon , Oh Wang-Yuhl
Published: May 2018

Functional hyperemia in the rat cortex was investigated using high-speed optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography and Doppler OCT. OCT angiography (OCTA) was performed to image the hemodynamic stimulus-response over a wide field of view. Temporal changes in vessel diameters in different vessel compartments, which were determined as the diameters of erythrocyte flows in OCT angiograms, were measured in order to monitor localized hemodynamic changes. Our results showed that the dilation of arterioles at the site of activation was accompanied by the dilation of upstream arteries. Relatively negligible dilation was observed in veins. An increase in the OCTA signal was observed during stimulus in multiple capillaries, which may imply that capillary blood flow increases as a result of the expanded arterial blood volume. These results agree with previous observations using two-photon laser scanning microscopy (TPLSM). Doppler OCT was performed to quantitatively measure stimulus-induced blood flow response in pial arteries. The measurement showed small but clear hemodynamic response in upstream arteries with diameters exceeding 100 [Formula: see text]m. Our results demonstrate the potential of OCTA and Doppler OCT for the investigation of neurovascular coupling in small animal models.
Engaging Higher Education Learners With Transmedia Play
Authors: Dickinson-Delaporte Sonia , Gunness Aneeshta , McNair Hamish
Published: May 2018

This article documents the application of transmedia play in a higher education business context, providing a case study of how transmedia play can be infused into an undergraduate marketing course. We share our findings regarding learner experience and engagement, detailing results from structured interviews with 22 course participants. Evidence shows that the transmedia approach has value and can be successfully enacted in an undergraduate course to create connected learning opportunities and elicit cognitive, affective, and behavioral engagement. However, we note that the participatory nature of the pedagogy did create challenges for digital novices. In order to transition digital novices from peripheral to full participants in a transmedia learning community context, further research is warranted.
Association between urinary sodium excretion and coronary heart disease in hospitalized elderly patients in China
Authors: Li Chun-lin , Wang Hai-jun , Si Quan-jin , Zhou Jin , Li Kai-liang , Ding Yu
Published: May 2018

Objective

This study was performed to evaluate the association between urinary sodium excretion and coronary heart disease (CHD) in hospitalized elderly patients in China.

Methods

The 24-h urinary excretion specimens of 541 patients were collected, and the serum creatinine concentration and urinary sodium/potassium ratio were measured. Associations were explored by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

The mean 24-h urinary sodium excretion was 200.4 mmol, corresponding to 11.7 g of salt intake. Both of these values were higher in men than in women. The salt intake of 80- to 89-year-old patients was significantly lower than that of 70- to 79-year-old patients. The 24-h urinary sodium excretion and spot urine Na/K ratios were significantly higher in overweight/obese and hypertensive patients. The 24-h urinary sodium excretion of men who smoked was significantly higher than that of women. The spot urine Na/K ratio was significantly higher in patients with cerebral thrombosis. The urinary Na/K ratio, smoking status, and hypertension were independent risk factors for CHD.

Conclusions

This cross-sectional survey suggests that the Na/K ratio may better represent salt loading than Na excretion alone in studying the association between sodium intake and CHD. There was no association between sodium and CHD prevalence.
Development of Artificial Neural Networks for Predicting the Response of Bonded Concrete Overlays of Asphalt for Use in a Faulting Prediction Model
Authors: DeSantis John W. , Vandenbossche Julie M. , Alland Kevin , Harvey John
Published: May 2018

Transverse joint faulting is a common distress in bonded concrete overlays of asphalt pavements (BCOAs), also known as whitetopping. However, to date, there is no predictive faulting model available for these structures. To account for conditions unique to BCOA, a computational model was developed using a three-dimensional finite element program, ABAQUS, to predict the response of these structures. The model was validated with falling weight deflectometer (FWD) data from existing field sections at the Minnesota Road Research Facility (MnROAD) as well as at the University of California Pavement Research Center (UCPRC). A large database of analyses was then developed using a fractional factorial design. The database is used to develop predictive models, based on artificial neural networks (ANNs), to rapidly estimate the structural response at the joint in BCOA to environmental and traffic loads. The structural response will be related to damage using the differential energy concept. Future work includes the implementation of the developed ANNs in this study into a faulting prediction model for designing BCOA.
Development and Validation of a Model to Predict Interface Bonding Between Pavement Layers
Authors: Das Ramendra , Mohammad Louay N. , Elseifi Mostafa , Cao Wei , Cooper Samuel B.
Published: May 2018

During the planning of overlay construction activities, a contractor and/or state agency may be interested in selecting a tack coat material and application rate that would provide adequate interface bonding at the site. The objective of this study was to develop an interface shear strength (ISS) predictive model to estimate interface bonding between the hot-mix asphalt (HMA) overlay and the underlying pavement layer. To achieve this objective, 10 field rehabilitation projects were selected in six states that included 33 in-service test sections representing different traffic and climatic conditions. The overlay construction used different types of tack coat at various residual application rates. Field cores were obtained to measure ISS using a direct shear test device, referred to as the Louisiana Interlayer Shear Strength Tester (LISST). Influencing factors to be included in the model were pavement surface type and mean texture depth, residual application rate, and characteristics of tack coat residues. The experimental data were complemented with test results from a recently completed study for model development and validation. Two types of statistical regression models (linear and nonlinear) were evaluated. Results of the analysis showed that the predicted ISS obtained from the proposed models were in good agreement with the measurements. Further, the developed nonlinear model showed better prediction accuracy than the linear model. The nonlinear model can be used effectively for optimum selections of tack coats given the project conditions. The results presented herein were part of NCHRP Project 9-40A, Field Implementation of the Louisiana Interface Shear Strength Test.
Modified Elastic Dynamic Analysis (EDA) for Seismic Demand on In-Span Hinge Shear Keys in Multi-Frame Bridges
Authors: Mehr Masoud , Zaghi Arash E.
Published: May 2018

Long concrete box-girder bridges are typically constructed in multiple frames that are separated by in-span hinges. Shear keys, located at the in-span hinges, help preserve the transverse integrity of the bridge frames. To date, no reliable method other than nonlinear time history analysis exists to estimate the seismic force demands on in-span shear keys. Methods such as pushover and elastic dynamic analysis (EDA) do not provide accurate estimations. In this study, a rational and reliable analysis method was developed for obtaining the seismic demand on in-span shear keys of multi-frame bridges. A large number of time history analyses were performed on two- to five-frame bridge models with single- and two-column bents that were designed according to California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Seismic Design Criteria. The results show that high-frequency modes of vibration of the superstructure significantly contribute to the shear key force demands. These modes may also cause transverse yielding in columns. It was established that a modified EDA method may be used to approximate the shear key force demands. In the proposed modified method, the modal forces are reduced separately by the corresponding modal displacement ductility before performing modal combination. This method accounts for the nonlinear response under high-frequency modes of vibration.
Latent Hazard Anticipation in Young Drivers: Review and Meta-Analysis of Training Studies
Authors: Unverricht James , Samuel Siby , Yamani Yusuke
Published: May 2018

Young drivers are overrepresented in motor vehicle crashes, and are shown to be poorer at anticipating potential threats on the roadway compared with their more experienced peers. Literature demonstrates the effectiveness of driver training programs at improving young drivers’ latent hazard anticipation performance. Various hazard anticipation training studies have been undertaken on different population demographics using different training scenario presentation modes and multiple evaluation testbeds. These error-based feedback training programs (3M) allow trainees to make a mistake, show them how to mediate the mistake, and provide an opportunity to master the target skills. The current meta-analytical review focused on 19 peer-reviewed training studies that utilized eye movements to measure improvements in drivers’ latent hazard anticipation performance following training. The role of four moderating factors (mode of delivery – PC-based or non PC-based; presentation of training – egocentric or exocentric; method of evaluation – on-road or driving simulator; and age of sample – teen novices aged 16–17 or young drivers aged 18–21) on the training effects were explored. Overall, the current meta-analysis suggest that: (a) superficial improvements in training programs does not necessarily further improve the drivers’ latent hazard anticipation; (b) drivers who completed a training program with both egocentric and exocentric training views achieved greater levels of latent hazard anticipation performance than those who completed a training program that contained either view, but not both; and (c) the effect sizes of the 3M-based training programs on latent hazard anticipation were greater for drivers aged 18–21 years than drivers aged 16–17.
A Process for Optimizing Gradation of Marginal Backfill of Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls to Achieve Acceptable Resistivity
Authors: Arciniega Jose Luis , Walker W. Shane , Nazarian Soheil , Fishman Kenneth L.
Published: May 2018

The service life of mechanically stabilized earth walls depends on the corrosion rate of the metallic reinforcement used in their construction. The resistivity of the backfill aggregates needs to be measured accurately to estimate realistically the corrosion rate of the reinforcement. Resistivity testing is usually performed using the traditional soil box on the portion of the aggregates that passes a No. 10 or No. 8 sieve to either select or reject the backfill. For a more reasonable characterization of the corrosivity of coarse backfills, it is desirable to use their actual gradations. To that end, several resistivity boxes that were double and quadruple the dimensions of the original box were constructed. In addition to the three standard gradations specified by the Texas Department of Transportation, over 20 backfill materials sampled from sources throughout Texas were fractionated to fines, fine sand, coarse sand, and gravel. Resistivity tests were performed separately on each of these four constituents for each backfill. The results were used to evaluate a relationship that would allow the estimation of the resistivity of any desired backfill gradations from the resistivity values of these four constituents. The proposed model looks promising since the resistivity of the backfill composed of the actual gradation can be estimated with reasonable certainty. The results of this study can potentially help highway agencies and contractors use a number of local quarries that are currently disqualified based on the resistivity values obtained from only testing materials that pass a No. 8 or No. 10 sieve.
Predicting Owners’ Willingness to Share Private Residential Parking Spots
Authors: Zhang Chu , Chen Jun , Li Zhibin , Wu Yuanyuan
Published: May 2018

Sharing of private residential parking spots is a new pattern of parking management in China. This pattern corresponds to the booming sharing economy and is growing very fast. It can significantly improve the utilization of parking resources and relieve parking supply pressure. Based on the real data of 1-year behavioral records of owners obtained from Ding Ding Parking (DParking), an application on smart phones, as well as various field survey data, the study analyzed the influential factors and predicted owners’ sharing willingness. Two Classification and Regression Trees (CART) were developed to answer questions pertaining to whether owners would share their parking spot and how long owners would share during peak periods of parking demand, respectively. The results showed good accuracy in both models and revealed that owners’ self-use behavior, along with owners’ private spots’ physical characteristics and rental effects of the previous month, all have significant influence on owners’ willingness to share. The influence of factors and their importance differ for the two models; thus, a detailed comparison is performed. The findings in this paper would be beneficial to the government’s parking supply policies, as well as to third parties, so as to enhance the effective distribution of parking resources.
Market Segmentation Analysis of Commuter Parking Relative to Shared Private Residential Parking Spots
Authors: Zhang Chu , Chen Jun , Li Zhibin , Gao Liangpeng
Published: May 2018

Using shared private residential spots for commuter parking is a relatively new parking method in China. It promotes the utilization of residential parking resources, while reducing parking supply pressure during the day. This study adopted the market segmentation approach for analyzing this new method, based on surveying parkers’ socioeconomic and attitudinal factors. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to identify various influential factors. The results reveal that attitudes and socioeconomic heterogeneity influence parkers’ willingness and attitudes, which play a more significant role in this process. Moreover, the K-means was used to segment the market. Finally, six segments with distinct characteristics were identified, based on a willingness to utilize private residential spots for commuter parking, sensitivity to parking search time, walking distances, the economy, environmental awareness and parking payment method. Suggestions for marketing promotion for parkers of each segment are also discussed. The findings in this paper will help clarify the mechanism behind commuter-parking location choices and benefit third parties by enabling them to establish precise marketing strategies.
Modeling Surface Temperatures for Snow-Covered Roads: A Case Study for a Heated Pavement in Bærum, Norway
Authors: Nuijten Anne D. W. , Hoff Inge , Høyland Knut V.
Published: May 2018

Heated pavements are used as an alternative to removing snow and ice mechanically and chemically. Usually a heated pavement system is automatically switched on when snowfall starts or when there is a risk of ice formation. Ideally, these systems run based on accurate predictions of surface conditions a couple of hours ahead of time, for which both weather forecasts and reliable surface temperature predictions are needed. The effective thermal conductivity of the snow layer is often described as a function of its density. However the thermal conductivity of a snow layer can vary considerably, not only for snow samples with a different density, but also for snow samples with the same density, but with a variation in the liquid water content. In this paper a physical temperature and surface condition model is described for snow-covered roads. The model is validated for an entire winter season on a heated pavement in Norway. Two different models to describe the thermal conductivity through the snow layer were compared. Results show that the thermal conductivity of the snow layer can be best described as a function of the density for snow with a low liquid water content. For snow with a high water content, the thermal conductivity can be best described as a function of the volume fractions and thermal conductivity of ice, water, and air, in which air and ice are modeled as a series system and water and air/ice in parallel.
Wearing Course Mixtures Prepared with High Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Content Modified by Rejuvenators
Authors: Büchler Stephan , Falchetto Augusto Cannone , Walther Axel , Riccardi Chiara , Wang Di , Wistuba Michael P.
Published: May 2018

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the combined use of high content of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and rejuvenators, for producing asphalt mixtures for wearing courses. First, the new Binder-Fast-Characterization-Test (Bitumen Typisierungs Schnell Verfahren in German) BTSV method, recently proposed in Germany, is used to determine the amount of rejuvenator required to design recycled mixtures for a specific RAP source. Then, a set of seven asphalt mixtures for wearing course is prepared with different amounts of RAP and with three types of rejuvenators. The BTSV procedure is further applied to evaluate the rheological properties of the binder extracted from the mixtures. Resistance to permanent deformation, stiffness, fatigue, and low temperature behavior tests are then performed to determine the material response. It is observed that the use of recycled material and rejuvenators results in similar or better deformation resistance, higher stiffness and enhanced low temperature properties, with an improved fatigue behavior, also for high RAP content, when compared to mixtures prepared with virgin material. These findings suggest the possibility of using rejuvenators for field tests on wearing courses.