bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heart Failure Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction; Burden and Timing of Occurrence: A Nation‐wide Analysis Including 86 771 Patients From the Cardiovascular Disease in Norway (CVDNOR) Project
Authors: Sulo Gerhard , Igland Jannicke , Vollset Stein Emil , Nygård Ottar , Ebbing Marta , Sulo Enxhela , Egeland Grace M. , Tell Grethe S.
Published: January 2016

Background

Coronary heart disease (
CHD
) represents often the underlying conditions for the development of heart failure (
HF
). We aimed at exploring the burden and timing of
HF
complicating an acute myocardial infarction (
AMI
), using the total population of
AMI
patients hospitalized during 2001–2009 in Norway.

Methods and Results

A total of 86 771 patients with a first
AMI
during 2001–2009 and without previous
HF
were identified in the “Cardiovascular Disease in Norway” project and followed until
HF
development, death, or December 31, 2009. In 16 219 patients (18.7%),
HF
was present on admission or developed during hospitalization for the incident
AMI
.
HF
occurrence varied according to age (8.9%, 15.2%, and 25.6% among men and 10.2%, 16.8%, and 27.1% among women ages 25–54, 55–74, and 75–85 years). Among 63 853 patients discharged alive without
HF
, 8058 (12.6%) were hospitalized with or died because of
HF
during a median follow‐up time of 3.2 years.
HF
incidence rates (
IRs
) per 1000 person‐years during follow‐up were 31 (95%
CI
, 30–32) for men and 46 (95%
CI
, 44–47) for women (
P
<0.01).
IR
s of
HF
were highest during the first 6 months of follow‐up, after which they leveled off and remained stable until the end of follow‐up.

Conclusions

In this nation‐wide cohort study, we observed that
HF
remains a frequent complication of the first
AMI
; both during the acute phase and shortly after the discharge from the hospital.
Bradea borrerioides (Rubiaceae), a new species from Brazilian inselbergs
Authors: Oliveira Juliana Amaral de , Sobrado Sandra Virginia
Published: January 2016

Bradea borrerioides is here newly described as a species endemic to the inselbergs of Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais states, Brazil. It differs from all other Bradea species by its frondose-bracteate synflorescence with paraclades disposed in a monocasial branch-pattern. Affinities, diagnostic characters, distribution and conservation status are discussed.
The Impacts of Land-Use and Land-Cover Change on Tropospheric Temperatures at Global and Regional Scales
Authors: Zhang Weiyue , Xu Zhongfeng , Guo Weidong
Published: January 2016

The impacts of land-use and land-cover change (LULCC) on tropospheric temperatures are investigated in this study using the fully coupled Community Earth System Model. Two simulations are performed using potential and current vegetation cover. The results show that LULCC can induce detectable changes in the tropospheric air temperature. Although the influence of LULCC on tropospheric temperature is weak, a significant influence can still be found below 300 hPa in summer over land. Compared to the global-mean temperature change, LULCC-induced changes in the regional-mean air temperature can be 2–3 times larger in the middle–upper troposphere and approximately 8 times larger in the lower troposphere. In East Asia and South Asia, LULCC is shown to produce significant decreases (0.2° to 0.4°C) in air temperature in the middle–upper troposphere in spring and autumn due to the largest decrease in the latent heat release from precipitation. In Europe and North America, the most significant tropospheric cooling occurs in summer, which can be attributed to the significant decrease in the absorbed solar radiation and sensible heat flux during this season. In addition to local effects, LULCC also induces nonlocal responses in the tropospheric air temperature that are characterized by significant decreases over the leeward sides of LULCC regions, which include East Asia–western North Pacific Ocean, Mediterranean Sea–North Africa, North America–Atlantic Ocean, and North America–eastern Pacific. Cooling in the leeward sides of LULCC regions is primarily caused by an enhanced cold advection induced by LULCC.
How Much is the Precipitation Amount over the Tropical Coastal Region?
Authors: Ogino Shin-Ya , Yamanaka Manabu D. , Mori Shuichi , Matsumoto Jun
Published: January 2016

Motivated by observational evidence of rainfall concentrations near tropical coastlines with a diurnal cycle, the annual mean precipitation amount was quantified in the tropics (latitudes lower than 37°) obtained as a function of coastal distance and compared between land and ocean sides. The data are from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). Precipitation amount peaks at the coastline and decreases rapidly over a distance of 300 km from the coastline on both sides of the coastline. The precipitation inside the “coastal region” (defined by a distance <300 km from the coastline) accounts for approximately 34% of the total over the entire tropics, while that outside the coastal region accounts for 52% and 14% on the ocean and land sides, respectively. Since the coastal regions are about 29% of the total tropical areas, the precipitation per unit area inside the coastal regions is higher than that outside. Examining the grid number variation in the coastal regions with respect to the annual precipitation amount resulted in the finding that more than 90% of the annual precipitation with the amount of 3500 mm yr−1 or more occurs exclusively in the coastal regions, indicating that precipitation systems unique to coastal regions are needed for producing the highest annual precipitation on Earth.
Improving Weather Predictability by Including Land Surface Model Parameter Uncertainty
Authors: Orth Rene , Dutra Emanuel , Pappenberger Florian
Published: January 2016

The land surface forms an important component of Earth system models and interacts nonlinearly with other parts such as ocean and atmosphere. To capture the complex and heterogeneous hydrology of the land surface, land surface models include a large number of parameters impacting the coupling to other components of the Earth system model.

Focusing on ECMWF’s land surface model Hydrology Tiled ECMWF Scheme of Surface Exchanges over Land (HTESSEL), the authors present in this study a comprehensive parameter sensitivity evaluation using multiple observational datasets in Europe. The authors select six poorly constrained effective parameters (surface runoff effective depth, skin conductivity, minimum stomatal resistance, maximum interception, soil moisture stress function shape, and total soil depth) and explore their sensitivity to model outputs such as soil moisture, evapotranspiration, and runoff using uncoupled simulations and coupled seasonal forecasts. Additionally, the authors investigate the possibility to construct ensembles from the multiple land surface parameters.

In the uncoupled runs the authors find that minimum stomatal resistance and total soil depth have the most influence on model performance. Forecast skill scores are moreover sensitive to the same parameters as HTESSEL performance in the uncoupled analysis. The authors demonstrate the robustness of these findings by comparing multiple best-performing parameter sets and multiple randomly chosen parameter sets. The authors find better temperature and precipitation forecast skill with the best-performing parameter perturbations demonstrating representativeness of model performance across uncoupled (and hence less computationally demanding) and coupled settings.

Finally, the authors construct ensemble forecasts from ensemble members derived with different best-performing parameterizations of HTESSEL. This incorporation of parameter uncertainty in the ensemble generation yields an increase in forecast skill, even beyond the skill of the default system.
From Patrick to John F.
Authors: Goldstein Joshua R. , Stecklov Guy
Published: January 2016

Taking advantage of historical census records that include full first and last names, we apply a new approach to measuring the effect of cultural assimilation on economic success for the children of the last great wave of immigrants to the United States. We created a quantitative index of ethnic distinctiveness of first names and show the consequences of ethnic-sounding names for the occupational achievement of the adult children of European immigrants. We find a consistent tendency for the children of Irish, Italian, German, and Polish immigrants with more “American”-sounding names to have higher occupational achievement. About one-third of this effect appears to be due to social class differences in name-giving, and the remaining two-thirds to signaling effects of the names themselves. An exception is found for Russian, predominantly Jewish, immigrants, where we find a positive effect of ethnic naming on occupational achievement. The divergent effects of our new measure of cultural assimilation, sometimes hurting and sometimes helping, lend historical empirical support to more recent theories of the advantages of different paths to assimilation. The effects of ethnic first names are also found for a restricted analysis of recognizably ethnic last names, suggesting that immigrants’ success depended on being perceived as making an effort to assimilate rather than hiding their origins.
Human Endothelial Cell-Specific Molecule-1 (Endocan) and Coronary Artery Disease and Microvascular Angina
Authors: Çimen Tolga , Efe Tolga Han , Akyel Ahmet , Sunman Hamza , Algül Engin , Şahan Haluk Furkan , Erden Gönül , Özdemir Şeyda , Alay Emine Figen , Doğan Mehmet , Yeter Ekrem
Published: January 2016

Endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (endocan) is an immunoinflammatory marker linked to endothelial activation and dysfunction. We investigated the relationship between obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), microvascular angina (MVA), and plasma levels of endocan. We included 53 healthy individuals as controls, 40 MVA patients, and 120 patients with obstructive CAD. The severity of CAD was assessed by the Gensini and SYNergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) scores. Endocan levels were 382.7 (313.8-470.2) pg/mL in patients with obstructive CAD; 324.3 (277.1-460.7) pg/mL in MVA group, and 268.0 (226.4-336.5) pg/mL ( P < .001) in controls. Endocan levels in obstructive CAD and MVA groups were similar but both were significantly higher than for the control group ( P < .001 and P = .002, respectively). In subgroup analysis, similar to the hypertensive subgroup results, endocan was still an independent predictor of presence of obstructive CAD in normotensives (odds ratio = 1.005, 95% confidence interval = 1.001-1.010, P = .024). There was also an independent positive correlation between endocan levels and SYNTAX score both in the hypertensives (β = 0.414, t = 3.21, P = .002) and in the normotensives (β = .301, t = 2.23, P = .031). In conclusion, endocan could be a common predictor of the endothelium-dependent inflammatory processes, rather than related with specific risk factors.
The plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 are elevated in patients with endometriosis
Authors: Liu Haiping , Wang Jianye , Wang Haiyu , Tang Ning , Li Yunfei , Zhang Yan , Hao Tianyu
Published: January 2016

Background

Enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-9 is a member of the matrix metalloproteinase family, which is critical to normal tissue remodelling during embryogenesis and wound healing. In patients with endometriosis, increased expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 have been observed in ectopic endometrium, but the plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients with endometriosis and their relation to disease severity have not been clear. The aim of the study was to investigate the concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in plasma and peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis.

Methods

A prospective case–control study was conducted in Jinan Military General Hospital between January 2010 and December 2013. Fifty patients with proven endometriosis and 26 endometriosis-free controls were enrolled in this study. Patients with endometriosis were evaluated and divided into moderate/severe endometriosis group (stage I–II, n = 26) and minimal/mild endometriosis group (stage III–IV, n = 24) according to the revised criteria of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Blood samples and peritoneal fluid were obtained from both patients and controls. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in plasma and peritoneal fluid. The concentration of matrix metalloproteinase-9 between different groups was compared and its correlation to disease severity was analysed.

Results

Plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients with endometriosis were higher than that in controls. In addition, those patients with moderate/severe endometriosis had significantly higher plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 compared to those with minimal/mild endometriosis. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 concentrations in plasma and peritoneal fluid were both positively correlated with severity of endometriosis and plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 concentrations had a positive correlation with peritoneal fluid matrix metalloproteinase-9 concentrations in patients with endometriosis.

Conclusions

Increased concentrations of plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 appear to be associated with disease severity of endometriosis and may serve as an alternative biomarker to determine disease severity of endometriosis.
Transient human anti-mouse antibody generated with immune enhancement in a carbohydrate antigen 19-9 immunoassay after surgical resection of recurrent cancer
Authors: Nakano Keiichi , Yasuda Keiko , Shibuya Hitoshi , Moriyama Takanori , Kahata Kaoru , Shimizu Chikara
Published: January 2016

We report a case of transient human anti-mouse antibody from a 64-year-old man in a carbohydrate antigen 19-9 immunoassay using an AIA 1800 analyser that generated immune enhancement after surgical resection of recurrent cancer.

Methods

The carbohydrate antigen 19-9 concentration was measured using an AIA 1800 analyser and a UniCel Dxl 800. Size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography was carried out on a Superose 12 column to estimate the carbohydrate antigen 19-9 elution profile using an AIA 1800 analyser. To determine whether IgM in the patient contributed to the carbohydrate antigen 19-9 immunoassay, immunoprecipitation was performed. Furthermore, mouse immunoglobulins were added to the patient’s serum to verify that the patient’s IgM reacted with it.

Results

The carbohydrate antigen 19-9 concentration was >400 and 9.5 kU/L using an AIA 1800 analyser and using a UniCel Dxl 800, respectively. In the single carbohydrate antigen 19-9 peak, the molecular weight corresponded to IgM by size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography on a Superose 12 column. In the immunoprecipitation reaction and addition of mouse immunoglobulins, there was interference for anti-human IgM and mouse immunoglobulins whose recoveries were 3.2 and 14.2%, respectively. These results indicated that IgM in the patient’s serum interfered with the carbohydrate antigen 19-9 immunoassay using an AIA 1800 analyser.

Conclusion

A novel transient human anti-mouse antibody generated with immune activation in a carbohydrate antigen 19-9 immunoassay using an AIA 1800 analyser was identified in a patient with rectal cancer after surgical resection. These findings demonstrate the importance of monitoring tumour markers in patients after treatment with mouse monoclonal antibody.
A theory of Abject Appearance: Women elite leaders’ intra-gender ‘management’ of bodies and appearance
Authors: Mavin Sharon , Grandy Gina
Published: January 2016

In this article, we develop a theory of Abject Appearance to explain women elite leaders’ embodied identity work within a context of intra-gender relations. The theory of Abject Appearance illuminates a dynamic and dialectical process whereby women elite leaders ‘manage’ the ambiguities of their ‘in-between’ and ‘abject’ status. This process is understood as a possible material effect or consequence of women’s abjection in organizations. Women elite leaders hold power through their formal positions, yet remain marginalized in social relations because their feminine bodies are out of place in organizations. In a qualitative study with women elite leaders, we illustrate how the theme Fascination with bodies and appearance depicts a dialectical process of simultaneous disgust and attraction with women’s bodies and appearance. We discuss how this material effect of abjection may be played out through two embodied identity work strategies in an intra-gender context, namely: Shifting focus from the body and appearance and Achieving a professional balance. We offer insights into how women’s embodiment in elite leader roles may be constrained in a context of intra-gender relations. We suggest opportunities to strengthen women’s agency by raising awareness to the theory of Abject Appearance and women leaders’ associated body work.
Hidden (end-on) patent ductus arteriosus: recognition and device closure
Authors: Garg Naveen , Madan Bevunahalli Kantharaj
Published: January 2016

Background

Sometimes, it is difficult to visualize a patent ductus arteriosus and deploy a device in the standard lateral view because of an end-on orientation. The right anterior oblique view may be helpful by separating the ductus arteriosus from the aorta. This study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of end-on patent ductus arteriosus and the utility of the right anterior oblique view during device closure.

Methods

Aortography was performed in lateral and right anterior oblique views before, during, and after successful device deployment in 117 consecutive patients. When a ductus arteriosus was not clearly visible in the lateral view due to overlapping by the aorta, it was termed “right anterior oblique view useful”.

Results

The types of patent ductus arteriosus were A, B, C, and E in 86 (73.5%), 20 (17.1%), 4 (3.4%), and 7 (6.0%) patients, respectively. An end-on ductus arteriosus was present in 24 (20.5%) patients (14 type B, 10 type A). The right anterior oblique view was useful during device closure in 15 (12.8%) cases (all end-on type). Among all cases of end-on patent ductus arteriosus, it was useful in 62.5% (most type B and a few type A). In all of these, the device appeared obliquely oriented and foreshortened in the lateral view but fully profiled in the right anterior oblique view.

Conclusions

Recognizing an end-on patent ductus arteriosus and utilizing the right anterior oblique view simplified device closure. For ducts well-profiled in the lateral view, the right anterior oblique view is unnecessary and avoidable.
Transient presence of lupus anticoagulant associated with mycoplasma pneumonia
Authors: Wang Chun Kwok , See Wan Yan , Poon Chuen Wong
Published: January 2016

We report a case of asymptomatic transient presence of lupus anticoagulant with isolated prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time in a 30-year-old lady with pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. After treatment of pneumonia, lupus anticoagulant was not detected and the activated partial thromboplastin time normalized.
Undermining housing affordability for New York’s low-income households: The role of policy reform and rental sector restructuring
Authors: Kadi Justin , Ronald Richard
Published: January 2016

While public programmes, rent controls and subsidy schemes have not resolved New York’s historic and long-standing housing crisis, they have been important in dampening the housing problems of low-income New Yorkers. Along with an encroaching neo-liberal hegemony, however, since the 1990s redistributive policies have come under growing pressure. This article focuses on the neo-liberal restructuring of the city’s rental market and the effects on housing affordability. First, we outline the most crucial reforms and policy changes, at various scales, that have impacted the rental market in recent decades. Second, we demonstrate, using survey data, how reforms have affected the rental market structure before assessing how supply changes have affected affordability. We find that policy reforms have led to a reduction in inexpensive rental units in the city, reshaping patterns of affordability among different income groups, with particularly negative outcomes for low-income households, specifically among Black and Minority Ethnic Groups.
Listening space: Lessons from artists with and without learning disabilities
Authors: Macpherson Hannah , Fox Alice , Street Susan , Cull John , Jenner Tina , Lake Des , Lake Martyn , Hart Shirley
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we develop an expanded conception of listening as ‘being-with’ and explore this in the context of creative visual arts activities with people with learning disabilities. Through a series of textual and visual interlocutions between Inclusive Artist ‘Alice’, Social and Cultural Geographer ‘Hannah’ and members of the contemporary arts group ‘The Rockets’, we identify how an expanded conception of listening is practiced and the results it produce. Where listening for the Inclusive Artist includes an attentiveness to visual, verbal and gestural vocabularies of arts-based methods; the construction of conducive spaces for listening and voice with attuned collaborators and appropriate art materials; the use of art materials as ‘meeting points’, which enable a non-verbal conversation to take place and knowledge of how particular materials and practices can influence a person’s work and sense of themselves. The temporalities of these forms of expanded, attentive, curious listening are explored and concern is expressed about how they sit in opposition to the hasty demands for research with ‘impact’. We hope this paper provokes researchers to consider what it means to listen through arts-based methods, the crucial role of the facilitator and the temporalities of listening they are bringing into being.
The Neglected Educative Function of Public Space on Preadolescent Development
Authors: Giardiello Mauro
Published: January 2016

The crisis of public spaces implies a closure to the private sphere and, as a consequence, the inanity of the education processes. Space privatization involves the supremacy of the “οίκος” (house) on the “αγορα” (public space), so that the house assumes the role of an enclosed community. The effect of this closure is a weakening of the spatial identification and socialization of preadolescents and the exclusion of differences and relationships with their peers. This break prevents and reduces the autonomous exploration of the space as a place of free expression, the communicative acting, the conflict. This article analyzes the efficacy of the educative role of the quarter and its incidence on the preadolescent development from a sheltered to an open space both through a deep relationship with the environment and an aptitude to explore the external world. The validity of these hypotheses has been proved through a study carried out in three cities.
Ecological momentary assessment of the relationship between headache pain intensity and pain interference in women with migraine and obesity
Authors: Thomas J Graham , Pavlovic Jelena , Lipton Richard B , Roth Julie , Rathier Lucille , O’Leary Kevin C , Buse Dawn C , Evans E Whitney , Bond Dale S
Published: January 2016

Background

While pain intensity during migraine headache attacks is known to be a determinant of interference with daily activities, no study has evaluated: (a) the pain intensity-interference association in real-time on a per-headache basis, (b) multiple interference domains, and (c) factors that modify the association.

Methods

Participants were 116 women with overweight/obesity and migraine seeking behavioral treatment to lose weight and decrease headaches in the Women’s Health and Migraine trial. Ecological momentary assessment, via smartphone-based 28-day headache diary, and linear mixed-effects models were used to study associations between pain intensity and total- and domain-specific interference scores using the Brief Pain Inventory. Multiple factors (e.g. pain catastrophizing (PC) and headache management self-efficacy (HMSE)) were evaluated either as independent predictors or moderators of the pain intensity-interference relationship.

Results

Pain intensity predicted degree of pain interference across all domains either as a main effect (coeff = 0.61–0.78, p < 0.001) or interaction with PC, allodynia, and HMSE ( p < 0.05). Older age and greater allodynia consistently predicted higher interference, regardless of pain intensity (coeff = 0.04–0.19, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Pain intensity is a consistent predictor of pain interference on migraine headache days. Allodynia, PC, and HMSE moderated the pain intensity-interference relationship, and may be promising targets for interventions to reduce pain interference.
Authority, Governance, Legitimacy, Representation: Some Thoughts from the Muslim Margins
Authors: Rizvi Sajjad
Published: January 2016

The study of political theology has never been a neutral exercise in excavating the theoretical origins of sovereignty. The political contexts in which questions arise are instructive. In this paper, I argue that the very language of representation and legitimacy articulated for Muslims in the contemporary world may occlude the political challenges that obviate their possibility. Biopolitics, the construction of tradition, the possibility of a ‘philosophical religion’ and the challenge of rationality, and the incompleteness of the critique of political theology make the actuality of a critical and theoretical encounter with representation difficult at best, elusive at worst.
Dynamic thermal-dielectric behavior of core-shell–structured aluminum particle-reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: Wang Zijun , Zhou Wenying , Sui Xuezhen , Dong Lina , Chen Qingguo , Zuo Jing , Cai Huiwu
Published: January 2016

The broadband dielectric spectroscopy was carried out in the frequency range of 1–107 Hz at the −20–200°C range to investigate the effect of temperature on the dynamic thermal–dielectric behavior of the aluminum (Al)/epoxy composite. The epoxy composites with core-shell–structured Al particles were prepared by solution method. The results show that the dielectric permittivity of the composites increased smoothly with a rise of filler content and reduced with an increase in frequency at room temperature. While the dielectric loss and conductivity still remained at low level owing to the nanoscale alumina insulating shell serving as a barrier layer to control the dielectric loss. The dielectric permittivity, dissipation factor, and conductivity of the composites increased with temperature and exhibited an abrupt rise around the glass transition temperature ( Tg). A large increase in the dissipation factor and conductivity with temperature is attributed to the direct current conduction of thermal-activated charge carriers resulting from pure epoxy above Tg. The observed temperature-dependent dielectric relaxations of the composites indicated a thermally activated behavior of the relaxation time of epoxy chain segments.
Propensity for Risk Taking Across the Life Span and Around the Globe
Authors: Mata Rui , Josef Anika K. , Hertwig Ralph
Published: January 2016

Past empirical work suggests that aging is associated with decreases in risk taking. But are such effects universal? Life-history theory suggests that the link between age and risk taking is a function of specific reproductive strategies that can be more or less risky depending on the ecology. We assessed variation in the age-risk curve using World Values Survey data from 77 countries ( N = 147,118). The results suggest that propensity for risk taking tends to decline across the life span in the vast majority of countries. In addition, there is systematic variation among countries: Countries in which hardship (e.g., high infant mortality) is higher are characterized by higher levels of risk taking and flatter age-risk curves. These findings suggest that hardship may function as a cue to guide life-history strategies. Age-risk relations thus cannot be understood without reference to the demands and affordances of the environment.
Five-Month-Old Infants Have General Knowledge of How Nonsolid Substances Behave and Interact
Authors: Hespos Susan J. , Ferry Alissa L. , Anderson Erin M. , Hollenbeck Emily N. , Rips Lance J.
Published: January 2016

Experience puts people in touch with nonsolid substances, such as water, blood, and milk, which are crucial to survival. People must be able to understand the behavior of these substances and to differentiate their properties from those of solid objects. We investigated whether infants represent nonsolid substances as a conceptual category distinct from solid objects on the basis of differences in cohesiveness. Experiment 1 established that infants can distinguish water from a perceptually matched solid and can correctly predict whether the item will pass through or be trapped by a grid. Experiments 2 and 3 showed that infants extend this knowledge to less familiar granular substances. These experiments indicate that concepts of cohesive and noncohesive material appear early in development, apply across several types of nonsolid substances, and may serve as the basis of later knowledge of physical phases.
Reduction of endwall secondary flow losses with leading-edge fillet in a highly loaded low-pressure turbine
Authors: Wei Zuo-Jun , Qiao Wei-Yang , Liu Jian , Duan Wen-Hua
Published: January 2016

A detailed experimental and numerical investigation of the effect of leading-edge fillet on the endwall secondary flow was performed in a highly loaded low-pressure turbine cascade. The objective is to gain further understanding on the reduction mechanism of endwall secondary flow losses by leading-edge fillet. The results suggest that the numerical results offer a reliable prediction for the endwall secondary flow structure together with suction surface separation bubble. A pressure-side corner separation vortex is found in the front part of pressure surface/endwall junction, where an inverse flow goes upward and over the leading edge to suction side of the same blade. This inverse flow also takes part in the interaction between endwall secondary flow and separation bubble. However, the leading-edge fillet can fill the region of corner separation vortex, and the inverse flow is eliminated. Combined with the reduction of cross-pressure gradient achieved by this fillet, the loss coefficient and flow angle deviation at exit plane are decreased. Besides, the leading-edge fillet will reduce the intensity of leading-edge horseshoe vortex and thus decrease the loss of passage vortex and shed vortex. It is these three aspects introduced by leading-edge fillet that achieves an effective reduction of the endwall secondary loss in turbine.
A numerical and experimental test-bed for low-speed fans
Authors: Moreau Stéphane , Foss John , Morris Scott
Published: January 2016

An extensive experimental and numerical database provides detailed information on some transition and noise mechanisms encountered in the low-Reynolds-number flows of low-speed axial fans for the first time. Two different similarly instrumented mock-ups built from the same industrial controlled-diffusion airfoil have allowed the first consistent comparison of wall pressure and near-field velocity statistics on the same geometry with and without rotation in perfect similitude of Mach and Reynolds numbers. The experimental and numerical results on the stationary airfoil constitute the largest unique aeroacoustic data set for airfoil trailing-edge noise characterization including installation effects. A similar experimental aeroacoustic database has been built on the rotating controlled-diffusion blade in the Michigan State University-Automotive Fan Research and Development (MSU-AFRD) test facility for different fan configurations, rotational speeds and flow rates. This yields a unique test-bed for fan code validation. The comparisons between the stationary and rotating airfoils suggest that the wall pressure statistics are hardly influenced by rotation in the trailing-edge region, and that the differences in the velocity statistics in the near-wake are a more energetic wake with smaller velocity deficits and diffusion, and a far-less uniform inviscid region in the rotating case.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic literature review
Authors: Henegar C E , Eudy A M , Kharat V , Hill D D , Bennett D , Haight B
Published: January 2016

Objective

To determine risk factors for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, and understand how underlying disease or treatment for SLE may be associated with PML in this population.

Methods

Studies published in English between January 1, 1984 and October 31, 2014 that reported PML in adult SLE patients were included. Immunosuppression was defined as exposure to ≥1 immunosuppressant drug of interest at PML diagnosis: belimumab, rituximab, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and high-dose corticosteroids (>15 mg/day). Minimal immunosuppression was defined as low-dose corticosteroids (≤15 mg/day) and/or anti-malarials.

Results

Thirty-five publications met our inclusion criteria: four observational studies, two large case series, and 29 case reports that described 35 cases. Reported PML incidence rates among SLE patients based on observational studies ranged from 1.0 to 2.4 cases/100,000 person-years. Of the 35 case reports, three cases were exposed to no immunosuppressant drugs at PML diagnosis, five cases had minimal immunosuppression, 23 cases had immunosuppression, and four cases were indeterminate.

Conclusions

The evidence from this literature review suggests that, while PML is a very rare disease in SLE patients, there does appear to be an increased risk of PML associated with SLE compared to the general population, potentially due to immunosuppression, other contributing factors in their underlying disease, treatments prescribed to manage disease, or some combination of these factors. Additional large observational studies, designed to assess exposure to drugs of interest and complicated treatment histories, are needed to provide further evidence about potential mechanisms contributing to the onset of PML in SLE patients.
Coping Strategies of Jordanian Adolescents With Cancer
Authors: Al Omari Omar , Wynaden Dianne , Al-Omari Hasan , Khatatbeh Moawiah
Published: January 2016

Interpretive phenomenological analysis methodology was used to explore coping strategies used by hospitalized Jordanian adolescents with cancer. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with 10 Jordanian adolescents, aged 13 to18 years, who were receiving chemotherapy for cancer. During treatment, participants were confronted with physical, psychosocial, and emotional distresses resulting from the disease process, the treatment, and its associated side-effects. To cope with the impact of their illness, participants utilized 4 coping strategies: “Strengthening spiritual convictions,” “Being optimistic and rebuilding hope,” “Enhancing appearance,” and “Finding self again.” The findings of this study can assist health team members to promote positive psychological care to Arab Muslim adolescents with cancer in a supportive and therapeutic treatment environment.
Effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing in Decreasing Hospital Readmission in Adults With Heart Failure and Multimorbidity
Authors: Riegel Barbara , Masterson Creber Ruth , Hill Julia , Chittams Jesse , Hoke Linda
Published: January 2016

Hospitalizations are common in heart failure (HF). Multimorbidity, defined as ≥2 comorbid conditions, drives many readmissions. The purpose of this pilot study was to test the effectiveness of motivational interviewing (MI) in decreasing these hospital readmissions. We enrolled 100 hospitalized HF patients into a randomized controlled trial, randomizing in a 2:1 ratio: intervention ( n = 70) and control ( n = 30). The intervention group received MI tailored to reports of self-care during one home visit and three to four follow-up phone calls. After 3 months, 34 participants had at least one hospital readmission. The proportion of patients readmitted for a condition unrelated to HF was lower in the intervention (7.1%) compared with the control group (30%, p = .003). Significant predictors of a non-HF readmission were intervention group, age, diabetes, and hemoglobin. Together, these variables explained 35% of the variance in multimorbidity readmissions. These preliminary results are promising in suggesting that MI may be an effective method of decreasing multimorbidity hospital readmissions in HF patients.
Terrorist Threat, Male Stereotypes, and Candidate Evaluations
Authors: Holman Mirya R. , Merolla Jennifer L. , Zechmeister Elizabeth J.
Published: January 2016

How does the threat of terrorism affect evaluations of female (vs. male) political leaders, and do these effects vary by the politician’s partisanship? Using two national surveys, we document a propensity for the U.S. public to prefer male Republican leadership the most in times of security threat, and female Democratic leadership the least. We theorize a causal process by which terrorist threat influences the effect of stereotypes on candidate evaluations conditional on politician partisanship. We test this framework with an original experiment:a nationally representative sample was presented with a mock election that varied the threat context and the gender and partisanship of the candidates. We find that masculine stereotypes have a negative influence on both male and female Democratic candidates in good times (thus reaffirming the primacy of party stereotypes), but only on the female Democratic candidate when terror threat is primed. Republican candidates—both male and female—are unaffected by masculine stereotypes, regardless of the threat environment.
Functional generalized inverse beamforming with regularization matrix applied to sound source localization
Authors: Li Shu , Xu Zhongming , Zhang Zhifei , He Yansong , Mao Jin
Published: January 2016

Microphone arrays have become a popular technique to identify sound sources. They can be utilized to localize the sources for various applications. The most common application is the conventional beamforming that provides the source maps with strong side lobes and poor spatial resolution at low frequencies. To overcome these problems, the focus is set on deconvolution and generalized inverse techniques such as a deconvolution approach for the mapping of acoustic sources (DAMAS) and generalized inverse beamforming (GIB). Although the source maps are clearly improved, these methods have the shortcomings of expensive computing and limited dynamic range. In this paper, we propose a source localization method called functional generalized inverse beamforming with regularization matrix (FGIBR) based on an inverse problem. Compared with GIB, the accuracy of FGIBR could be improved by introducing a new beamforming regularization matrix and a scaling parameter c0. Also the dynamic range of the source maps can be increased by applying FGIBR with an exponent parameter called order v. Several simulated examples are given to illustrate that the side lobes are suppressed and the main lobe becomes much narrow; moreover, if order v is increased, the beamforming side lobes can be sharply reduced and the actual position of the noise source can be precisely located. Then FGIBR is implemented to deal with experimental data in the free field. In the case of the experiment, the source is correctly located. The proposed FGIBR demonstrates a good performance in terms of resolution and side lobe rejection compared with other beamforming methods. Furthermore, the computation time is shown to be low if the iteration and order are reasonable.
Deficient Emotional Self-Regulation in Preschoolers With ADHD: Identification, Comorbidity, and Interpersonal Functioning
Authors: Melegari Maria Grazia , Sacco Roberto , Manzi Barbara , Vittori Elena , Persico Antonio M.
Published: January 2016

Objective: This study aims to develop an age-adjusted Child Behavior Checklist- (CBCL) and Teacher Report Form (TRF)-based method for the detection of deficient emotional self-regulation (DESR) in preschoolers with ADHD and to assess its incidence, comorbidities, and consequences on interpersonal functioning. Method: Eighty-six ADHD preschoolers and 104 controls were assessed using CBCL, TRF/1½ to 5, Psychiatric Interview With Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment, Leiter-R, and ADHD rating scales. Results: Greatest sensitivity and specificity were obtained applying slightly lower threshold scores compared with school-age children (CBCL: Anxiety/Depression [A/D] ≥ 59, Attention Problems [AP] ≥ 60, Aggression Behaviors [AB] ≥ 58; TRF: A/D ≥ 59, AP ≥ 60, AB ≥ 60). DESR was detected in 33/86 (38.4%) and in 16/54 (29.6%) ADHD preschoolers versus 2/104 (1.9%) controls using CBCL and TRF, respectively. DESR is associated with significantly greater comorbidity and impairment in interpersonal functioning. Conclusion: Among ADHD preschoolers, DESR (a) requires lower CBCL and TRF threshold scores for detection, compared with school-age children, (b) displays similar incidence rates, and (c) is associated with enhanced psychiatric comorbidity and interpersonal difficulties.
Translating the Socio-Ecological Perspective Into Multilevel Interventions
Authors: Schölmerich Vera L. N. , Kawachi Ichiro
Published: January 2016

Multilevel interventions are inspired by socio-ecological models, and seek to create change on various levels—for example by increasing the health literacy of individuals as well as modifying the social norms within a community. Despite becoming a buzzword in public health, actual multilevel interventions remain scarce. In this commentary, we explore the operational and empirical barriers to designing and implementing multilevel interventions, and argue that the current theoretical framework based on the socio-ecological model is insufficient to guide those seeking to design multilevel interventions. We consider two theories, namely, the complementarity principle theory and the risk compensation theory—to address the gap between theory and translation into practice.
Evaluating the environment as a global public good
Authors: Uitto Juha I.
Published: January 2016

Global public goods are defined as non-excludable and non-rivalrous. Global environmental challenges, such as biodiversity conservation or climate change mitigation, fall squarely into this category. This contribution focuses on the specific dimensions of evaluating the provision of global public goods in light of experiences from the Global Environment Facility. As global environmental problems persist, it is important that evaluations focus on the results and impact of our actions beyond the immediate outputs and outcomes of individual projects and programs. It is essential to be able to assess whether these actions are making a difference on the health of the global environment and in the lives of people depending on it. Multiple methods ranging from quantitative to qualitative, and innovations, such as the use of remote sensing and GIS, are needed and have been utilized by the GEF independent evaluation office. The contribution also discusses ways of making global environmental evaluations more influential amongst stakeholders.
OPALesence: Epistemological pluralism in the evaluation of a systems-wide childhood obesity prevention program
Authors: Jones Michelle , Verity Fiona , Warin Megan , Ratcliffe Julie , Cobiac Lynne , Swinburn Boyd , Cargo Margaret
Published: January 2016

The evaluation of complex systems-wide public health interventions requires evaluation research that is underpinned by theory. This article presents and discusses the trans-disciplinary evaluation research framework developed to support the evaluation of a South Australian program called OPAL (Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle). The aim is to provide insights into the research design, methods and implementation of the evaluation and contribute to the debate on how to evaluate community-based interventions with complicated and complex aspects. In an attempt to capture the complexity of childhood obesity and the intervention, the OPAL evaluation research employs post positivist, interpretive and critical epistemologies, valuing epistemological pluralism. Each component of the multi-phase mixed methods evaluation captures different yet complementary information concerning the context, process, cost effectiveness and outcomes providing a more complete understanding of the impacts of the complex program. Evaluation research is not without challenges. Some of the tensions and challenges that arose in the establishment, planning and conduct of the OPAL program and evaluation are discussed.
Exploring ways to reconcile accountability and learning in the evaluation of niche experiments
Authors: Regeer Barbara J. , de Wildt-Liesveld Renée , van Mierlo Barbara , Bunders Joske F. G.
Published: January 2016

While evaluation is seen as a mechanism for both accountability and learning, it is not self-evident that the evaluation of niche experiments focuses on both accountability and learning at the same time. Tensions exist between the accountability-oriented needs of funders and the learning needs of managers of niche experiments. This article explores the differences in needs and expectations of funders and managers in terms of upwards, downwards and internal accountability. The article shows that as the multi-stakeholder contexts in which niche experiments take place give rise to various requirements, tensions in evaluation are essentially a specific manifestation of tensions between niche experiments and their multiple contexts. Based on our findings, an adjusted accountability framework is proposed, including several strategies that can reconcile a learning approach with accountability needs in niche experiments aiming to change current practices in a more sustainable direction.
Evaluating collaboration: The creation of an online tool employing Q methodology
Authors: Jeffares Stephen , Dickinson Helen
Published: January 2016

The continued prevalence of different forms of collaborative working within public policy requires adaption in evaluation practices. In recent years evaluation toolkits, audits and guides have migrated online, but with varying success. At their worst, such tools can offer a disengaging user experience, limited coverage of issues or normative bias. This article outlines POETQ, designed to be engaging, comprehensive and methodologically robust. An overview of this approach is set out alongside an analysis of its merits. The article concludes by reflecting on the kinds of evidence that policy makers actually want to generate in relation to the topic of collaboration.