bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Possible Early Biomarker for Bicuspid Aortopathy
Authors: Forte Amalia , Bancone Ciro , Cobellis Gilda , Buonocore Marianna , Santarpino Giuseppe , Fischlein Theodor J.M. , Cipollaro Marilena , De Feo Marisa , Della Corte Alessandro
Published: April 2017

Rationale:

The pathogenesis of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV)–associated aortopathy is poorly understood, and no prognostic biomarker is currently available.

Objective:

We aimed to identify putative circulating biomarkers pathogenetically and prognostically linked to bicuspid aortopathy.

Methods and Results:

By reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, we evaluated gene expression variations (versus normal aorta) of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), connective tissue growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-14, endoglin (ENG), and superoxide dismutase 3 in ascending aorta samples from 50 tricuspid and 70 patients with BAV undergoing surgery for aortic stenosis (aorta diameter ≤45 mm: BAV
non-dil
or >45 mm: BAV
dil
). Expression changes of the TGF-β1 active dimer and ENG were analyzed also by Western blot in ascending aorta samples from other 10 tricuspid aortic valve, 10 BAV
non-dil
, and 10 BAV
dil
patients. The serum concentration of study targets was assessed through ELISA and the ratio of serum TGF-β1/ENG (T/E) was evaluated. All BAV
non-dil
patients underwent follow-up echocardiography to assess aortic growth rate. In BAV
non-dil
patients, TGF-β1 and MMP-2 gene expression increased significantly, whereas MMP-14 and ENG expression decreased versus controls. Expression changes were confirmed at protein level for TGF-β1 and ENG. TGF-β1 serum concentration significantly decreased in tricuspid aortic valve and BAV
non-dil
patients versus healthy subjects. ENG serum concentration decreased in all patients, more markedly in BAV
dil
. A significant increase of the T/E ratio versus healthy subjects was unique of patients with BAV. In BAV
non-dil
patients, a T/E ≥9 was independently associated in multivariable analysis with higher MMP-2 and lower superoxide dismutase 3 gene expression, independent of age and aortic diameter. A significant correlation was observed between baseline T/E ratio and aortic diameter growth rate in BAV
non-dil
patients (
r
=0.66,
P
<0.001).

Conclusions:

The novel evidence of a possible value of the T/E ratio as a biomarker of BAV aortopathy was presented: further validation studies are warranted.
Smokers and Postcessation Weight Gain After Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Dehghani Payam , Habib Bettina , Windle Sarah B. , Roy Nathalie , Old Wayne , Grondin François R. , Bata Iqbal , Iskander Ayman , Lauzon Claude , Srivastava Nalin , Clarke Adam , Cassavar Daniel , Dion Danielle , Haught Herbert , Mehta Shamir R. , Baril Jean‐François , Lambert Charles , Madan Mina , Abramson Beth L. , Eisenberg Mark J.
Published: April 2017

Background

Smoking cessation and weight management are recommended after acute coronary syndrome (
ACS
); however, little is known about the effects of smoking cessation on weight change after
ACS
. We aimed to assess the effect of smoking cessation after
ACS
on weight over a 12‐month follow‐up period.

Methods and Results

Data were prospectively collected from the EVITA (Evaluation of Varenicline in Smoking Cessation for Patients Post‐Acute Coronary Syndrome) trial. Weight change was compared among 3 groups of patients: those who were completely abstinent (n=70), those who smoked intermittently (n=68), and those who smoked persistently (n=34). Patients' mean baseline weight was 83.9 kg (
SD
17.7) with a mean body mass index of 28.5 (
SD
5.4). Patients smoked a mean of 37.7 years (
SD
17.7) and a mean of 21.0 cigarettes (
SD
9.0) per day prior to their
ACS
. Weight change varied across groups, with abstainers gaining a mean of 4.8 kg (
SD
8.6), intermittent smokers gaining a mean of 2.0 kg (
SD
8.9) and persistent smokers losing a mean of 0.7 kg (
SD
7.4). At 52 weeks, abstainers were more likely to gain weight than persistent smokers (difference in means 5.5 kg; 95%
CI
2.3–8.8). This weight gain was not associated with an increase in the use of antihypertensive or antidiabetic medications.

Conclusions

Following an
ACS
, significant weight is gained by patients who quit smoking. Weight‐management interventions among smokers who quit after
ACS
should be a focus of investigation in future research so that the cardiovascular benefits achieved by smoking cessation are not offset by weight gain in this high‐risk population.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier:
NCT
00794573.
Notes on an Arabic Translation of the Pentateuch in the Library of the Twelver Shīʿī Scholar Raḍī al-Dīn ʿAlī b. Mūsā Ibn Ṭāwūs (d. 664/1266)
Authors: Schmidtke Sabine
Published: April 2017

The seventh/thirteenth-century Imami scholar Raḍī al-Dīn ʿAlī b. Mūsā Ibn Ṭāwūs (d. 664/1266) is well known for his rich personal library. He compiled a catalogue of its holdings,al-Ibāna fī maʿrifat(asmāʾ)kutub al-khizāna, which is lost, as well as a supplement to the catalogue,Saʿd al-suʿūd li-l-nufūs manḍūd min kutub waqf ʿAlī b. Mūsā b. Ṭāwūs, which is partly preserved and was perhaps never completed. In the latter work, Ibn Ṭāwūs provided detailed information on selected books in his possession, together with extensive quotations. Here, he describes in detail an Arabic translation of the Pentateuch. The paper discusses Ibn Ṭāwūs’s description of the Pentateuch manuscript and offers tentative conclusions as to its provenance.
Six new species of silk-lined burrow spider genus Stenoterommata Holmberg, 1881 (Araneae, Nemesiidae) from southern Brazil
Authors: INDICATTI RAFAEL P. , CHAVARI JOÃO L. , ZUCATELLI-JÚNIOR MAURÍLIO , LUCAS SYLVIA M. , BRESCOVIT ANTONIO D.
Published: April 2017

A new diagnosis for the genus Stenoterommata Holmberg, 1881 is presented and six new species are described from Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil: S. pavesii sp. nov. and S. leticiae sp. nov. from Blumenau and Balneário Camboriú; S. sevegnaniae sp. nov. from Blumenau; S. gugai sp. nov., S. peri sp. nov. and S. pescador sp. nov. from Santa Catarina Island, Florianópolis. New records of S. palmar Goloboff, 1995 from southern Brazil are provided. Information on the natural history and habitat are included for all the species. In addition, Hermacha iricolor Mello-Leitão, 1923, described from Blumenau, is transferred to Rachias Simon, 1892.
Two new species of the nemourid genus Amphinemura (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) from China
Authors: LI WEIHAI , DU KAISHU , YANG DING
Published: April 2017

Two new species of the nemourid genus Amphinemura, A. dabanshana sp. nov. and A. kuankuoshui sp. nov., are described from Qinghai and Guizhou provinces of China. These two new species are compared with related taxa. The types of the new species are deposited in the Entomological Museum of China Agricultural University, Beijing and Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, respectively.
Ensemble Streamflow Forecasting across the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region with a Distributed Hydrological Model Forced by GEFS Reforecasts
Authors: Siddique Ridwan , Mejia Alfonso
Published: April 2017

The quality of ensemble streamflow forecasts in the U.S. mid-Atlantic region (MAR) is investigated for short- to medium-range forecast lead times (6–168 h). To this end, a regional hydrological ensemble prediction system (RHEPS) is assembled and implemented. The RHEPS in this case comprises the ensemble meteorological forcing, a distributed hydrological model, and a statistical postprocessor. As the meteorological forcing, precipitation, and near-surface temperature outputs from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) 11-member Global Ensemble Forecast System Reforecast, version 2 (GEFSRv2), are used. The Hydrology Laboratory Research Distributed Hydrologic Model (HL-RDHM) is used as the distributed hydrological model, and a statistical autoregressive model with an exogenous variable is used as the postprocessor. To verify streamflow forecasts from the RHEPS, eight river basins in the MAR are selected, ranging in drainage area from ~262 to 29 965 km2 and covering some of the major rivers in the MAR. The verification results for the RHEPS show that, at the initial lead times (1–3 days), the hydrological uncertainties have more impact on forecast skill than the meteorological ones. The former become less pronounced, and the meteorological uncertainties dominate, across longer lead times (>3 days). Nonetheless, the ensemble streamflow forecasts remain skillful for lead times of up to 7 days. Additionally, postprocessing increases forecast skills across lead times and spatial scales, particularly for the high-flow conditions. Overall, the proposed RHEPS is able to improve streamflow forecasting in the MAR relative to the deterministic (unperturbed GEFSRv2 member) forecasting case.
Requirement-Driven Design of Pulse Compression Waveforms for Weather Radars
Authors: Torres Sebastián M. , Curtis Christopher D. , Schvartzman David
Published: April 2017

With more weather radars relying on low-power solid-state transmitters, pulse compression has become a necessary tool for achieving the sensitivity and range resolution that are typically required for weather observations. While pulse compression is well understood in the context of point-target radar applications, the design of pulse compression waveforms for weather radars is challenging because requirements for these types of systems traditionally assume the use of high-power transmitters and short conventional pulses. In this work, Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) antenna pattern requirements are used to illustrate how suitable requirements can be formulated for the radar range weighting function (RWF), which is determined by the transmitted waveform and any range-time signal processing. These new requirements set bounds on the RWF range sidelobes, which are unavoidable with pulse compression waveforms. Whereas nonlinear frequency modulation schemes are effective at reducing RWF sidelobes, they usually require a larger transmission bandwidth, which is a precious commodity. An optimization framework is proposed to obtain minimum-bandwidth pulse compression waveforms that meet the new RWF requirements while taking into account the effects of any range-time signal processing. Whereas pulse compression is used to meet sensitivity and range-resolution requirements, range-time signal processing may be needed to meet data-quality and/or update-time requirements. The optimization framework is tailored for three processing scenarios and corresponding pulse compression waveforms are produced for each. Simulations of weather data are used to illustrate the performance of these waveforms.
A Multidimensional Study of Vocal Function Following Radiation Therapy for Laryngeal Cancers
Authors: Angadi Vrushali , Dressler Emily , Stemple Joseph
Published: April 2017

Background:

Radiation therapy (XRT) has proven to be an effective curative modality in the treatment of laryngeal cancers. However, XRT also has deleterious effects on vocal function.

Aim:

To demonstrate the multidimensional nature of deficits in vocal function as a result of radiation therapy for laryngeal cancer.

Study Design:

Cohort study.

Methodology:

Vocal function parameters were chosen from the 5 domains of voice assessment to complete a multidimensional assessment battery. Adults irradiated (XRT group) for laryngeal cancers were compared to a control group of individuals with no history of head and neck cancers or radiation therapy. The control group was matched in age, sex, and pack years of smoking.

Results:

Eighteen participants were recruited for the study. The XRT group demonstrated significantly worse clinical values as compared to the control group across select parameters in the each of the 5 domains of voice assessment.

Discussion:

Radiation therapy for laryngeal cancers results in multidimensional deficits in vocal function. Notably, these deficits persist long term. In the present study sample, multidimensional deficits were persistent 2 to 7 years following completion of XRT. The observed multidimensional persistent vocal difficulties highlight the importance of vocal rehabilitation in the irradiated larynx cancer population.
Creating an Optimal 3D Printed Model for Temporal Bone Dissection Training
Authors: Takahashi Kuniyuki , Morita Yuka , Ohshima Shinsuke , Izumi Shuji , Kubota Yamato , Yamamoto Yutaka , Takahashi Sugata , Horii Arata
Published: April 2017

Objective:

Making a 3-dimensional (3D) temporal bone model is simple using a plaster powder bed and an inkjet printer. However, it is difficult to reproduce air-containing spaces and precise middle ear structures. The objective of this study was to overcome these problems and create a temporal bone model that would be useful both as a training tool and for preoperative simulation.

Methods:

Drainage holes were made to remove excess materials from air-containing spaces, ossicle ligaments were manually changed to bony structures, and small and/or soft tissue structures were colored differently while designing the 3D models. The outcomes were evaluated by 3 procedures: macroscopic and endoscopic inspection of the model, comparison of computed tomography (CT) images of the model to the original CT, and assessment of tactile sensation and reproducibility by 20 surgeons performing surgery on the model.

Results:

Macroscopic and endoscopic inspection, CT images, and assessment by surgeons were in agreement in terms of reproducibility of model structures. Most structures could be reproduced, but the stapes, tympanic sinus, and mastoid air cells were unsatisfactory. Perioperative tactile sensation of the model was excellent.

Conclusions:

Although this model still does not embody perfect reproducibility, it proved sufficiently practical for use in surgical training.
Occupation-based practices and homelessness: A scoping review
Authors: Roy Laurence , Vallée Catherine , Kirsh Bonnie H. , Marshall Carrie Anne , Marval Rebecca , Low Alissa
Published: April 2017

Background.

Persons experiencing or at risk of homelessness have occupational needs that are seldom addressed in the Canadian system of care. The lack of documented evidence on occupational therapy practices in this field hinders the development of the profession.

Purpose.

This article identifies current and potential practices that aim to enable or support the occupations of persons experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Method.

A scoping review was conducted, including evidence from both occupational therapy and non–occupational therapy sources.

Findings.

One hundred and seventy-eight papers were selected in the areas of occupational performance skills training, enrichment of occupational repertoire, employment/education, physical rehabilitation services, child/family services, community building, occupational transition from homeless to housed, literacy, and disaster relief.

Implications.

Occupational therapists can build environments and create opportunities that facilitate occupational engagement of individuals experiencing homelessness. Gaps in knowledge include the evaluation of occupational therapy practices, the Canadian context of family homelessness, and the cultural safety of occupational therapy interventions.
Myths on Chemical Burns in the Diaper Area
Authors: Shah Kara
Published: April 2017

Over the past several years, a number of articles and online posts have circulated on the Internet associating use of disposable and cloth diapers with chemical burns on babies’ skin. Because both mild chemical burns and diaper dermatitis (diaper rash) can cause skin redness and peeling, it is not surprising that some confusion has arisen regarding the association between these two conditions. However, diapers cannot cause chemical burns because they are made of inert materials. Diaper rash and chemical burns are distinct conditions that require different evaluation and treatment, which is why it is important for pediatricians to help parents understand the difference.
The Myth of “Cry Wolof”: The Wolof Provenance of African American Language
Authors: Sohna Zola
Published: April 2017

The term “Cry Wolof” is a disparaging catchphrase first introduced by U.S. linguist Laurence Horn as a dismissal of Wolof etymologies in African American language. The cogency of this catchphrase is largely dependent on the circa-1970s argument that the African American term hip meaning (among other things) “in fashion” or “to inform” is derived from the Wolof term xippi meaning, “to open the eyes.” This study aims to demonstrate that while the Wolof term xippi is not the proper etymology of hip, the etymology of hip is indeed Wolof. More broadly, this study aims to demonstrate the Wolof presence in African American language.
A graphene/graphite-based conductive polyamide 12 interlayer for increasing the fracture toughness and conductivity of carbon-fiber composites
Authors: Barjasteh E , Sutanto C , Reddy T , Vinh J
Published: April 2017

A conductive thermoplastic material was developed to increase the interlaminar fracture toughness and through-the-thickness conductivity of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics materials. A polyamide 12 nonwoven fabric was coated with graphene/graphite particles in a solution of hexane, water, and graphite particles. The graphite powders were exfoliated in the sonication bath and the resulting layers of graphene resided at the interface of the immiscible solvents, where the graphene layers/graphite simultaneously infused into the polyamide 12. The sonication time and graphite content were optimized to maximize the surface conductivity of conductive polyamide 12 fabric. The presence of pristine graphene flakes and graphite on the polyamide 12 fabric was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The dry fabric preform was interleaved with the conductive polyamide 12 and the composite laminates were manufactured by a vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process. The resulting composite laminate resulted in a significant increase in Mode I and Mode II fracture toughness up to 42% and 141%, respectively, and a decrease in the volume resistivity from 100 MΩm to 402 Ωm.
Enforcing Labor Standards in Partnership with Civil Society: Can Co-enforcement Succeed Where the State Alone Has Failed?
Authors: Fine Janice
Published: April 2017

Over the last decade, cities, counties, and states across the United States have enacted higher minimum wages, paid sick leave and family leave, domestic worker protections, wage theft laws, “Ban the Box” removal of questions about conviction history from job applications, and fair scheduling laws. Nevertheless, vulnerable workers still do not trust government to come forward and report labor law violations. The article argues that while increasing the size of the labor inspectorate and engaging in strategic enforcement are necessary, they are not sufficient. It argues that co-enforcement, in which government partners with organizations that have industry expertise and relationships with vulnerable workers, has the potential to manage the shifting and decentralized structures of twenty-first-century production, which were explicitly designed to evade twentieth-century laws and enforcement capabilities. The article aims to contribute to a broader understanding of the role of organizations in enforcement and the circumstances in which their effectiveness can be maximized. It sets forth a set of scope conditions and mechanisms and examines empirical cases of co-enforcement in Austin, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The main findings are that co-enforcement is most enduring when (1) government agencies and worker organizations recognize each other’s unique capacities, rather than attempt to substitute for one another (2); the effort focuses on a specific industry; and (3) the collaboration receives strong political support. Sustaining the impacts of co-enforcement is found to require greater formalization of the partnership and funding streams.
Who owns Chinatown: Neighbourhood preservation and change in Boston and Philadelphia
Authors: Acolin Arthur , Vitiello Domenic
Published: April 2017

The survival of Chinatowns and other ethnic enclaves in cities is largely determined by who owns property. Ethnic enclaves such as Chinatowns have traditionally played important economic, social and cultural functions as places for recent immigrants to live and work, though Chinatowns have long faced redevelopment pressures. In North America, as Chinese immigrants and their descendants settle in the suburbs, and as historic Chinatowns’ locations close to revitalising downtowns attract increasing investment, the future of these historic enclaves is shaped by various, often intense and divergent, forces. This article describes changes in the patterns of property ownership in Boston and Philadelphia’s downtown Chinatowns over the last decade (2003–2013) and relates them to changes and continuities in these neighbourhoods’ population, commercial activities and building stock. The trends we observe simultaneously reinforce and complicate debates about gentrification and longstanding efforts to preserve these Chinatowns as ethnic Chinese residential, commercial, and cultural centres.
Rhinoscleroma: a chronic infectious disease of poor areas with characteristic histological features – report of a series of six cases
Authors: Efared Boubacar , Hammas Nawal , Gabrielle Atsame-Ebang , Ben Mansour Najib , El Fatemi Hinde , Chbani Laila
Published: April 2017

Rhinoscleroma is a chronic infectious disease that is endemic in certain poor areas of the world. The diagnosis often relies on pathology, the outcome is disappointing and then marked by recurrence. We present a retrospective series of six patients histologically diagnosed with rhinoscleroma. Some clinical and histological features of the disease are discussed below, as its adequate management implies a multidisciplinary approach.
Brazil’s June Days of 2013: Mass Protest, Class, and the Left
Authors: Purdy Sean
Published: April 2017

On June 17, 2013, Brazilians took to the streets in militant rallies and marches against transit fare hikes, poor-quality education and health care services, and the immense public investment in “mega-events” such as the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. These massive demonstrations capped off a two-week series of demonstrations initially provoked by a 20-cent increase in bus, train, and subway fares in São Paulo. In the face of brutal police repression, the harsh opposition of politicians and the major political parties, and the clear bias of the mass media, the largely young and working-class protesters soon forced municipal governments in over 100 cities to revoke proposed fare increases. Explanations for the June Days and the ensuing political crisis, which have been the subject of fierce debates in activist and scholarly circles in Brazil, ignore the role of particular forms of capitalism, the adoption of neoliberalism by Workers’ Party governments, and the changing forms and conditions of class struggle.

No dia 17 de junho de 2013, brasileiros organizaram protestos e marchas contra o aumento de tarifas de transportes e o baixo nível de educação e saúde públicas, especialmente no contexto em que o governo investia valores altíssimos em meg eventos como a Copa do Mundo de 2014 e as Olimpíadas de 2016. Essas marchas foram a culminação de duas semanas de ativismo inicialmente provocado por uma alta de R 0,20 nas tarifas de ônibus, trem e metrô em São Paulo. Diante de repressão policial violenta, veemente oposição de políticos e de nítida parcialidade da imprensa, os ativistas (majoritariamente jovens e trabalhadores de baixa renda) por meio dessas manifestações forçaram prefeituras em mais de 100 cidades a revogar os aumentos tarifários propostos. Explicações sobre os protestos de junho e a crise política que se seguiu, objetos de disputas acirradas em círculos acadêmicos e de ativistas no Brasil, desconsideram o papel que formas específicas do capitalismo desempenharam nesse processo, especialmente o neoliberalismo das administrações petistas, bem como as transformações na forma e condição da luta de classes.
Resilience, Path Dependence, and the Port: The Case of Savannah
Authors: Ramos Stephen J.
Published: April 2017

The article takes an historical perspective on Savannah’s port since 1733 to examine those unique port factors that contributed to the city’s resilience. I review resilience and path dependence literatures for seaport research, and I identify and review three critical junctures from Savannah’s history to explore the port city’s resilience. I then consider how the region once dominated by agricultural production began to move toward an industrial base, with World War II shipbuilding. I conclude by reflecting on how these episodes have helped to establish a trajectory of resilience for Savannah that continues today, suggesting that actor network theory and urban design aesthetics need to be additional criteria for historical port city resilience analysis.
Nonlinear observer based sliding mode control and oxygen fraction estimation for diesel engine
Authors: Wang Haoping , Qu Qiankun , Tian Yang
Published: April 2017

In this paper, a nonlinear observer based sliding mode control (NOSMC) approach for air-path and a model-based observer for oxygen concentration in the diesel engine equipped with a variable geometry turbocharger and exhaust gas recirculation is introduced. We propose a less conservative observer design technique for Lipschitz nonlinear systems using Ricatti equations. The observer gains are obtained by solving the linear matrix inequality (LMI). Then a robust nonlinear control method, sliding mode control is applied for the states of intake and exhaust manifold pressure and compressor mass flow rate for the sake of the minimization of emissions. The proposed NOSMC controller is applied on a mean value model of turbocharged diesel engine. Besides this, a model-based observer is developed to estimate the oxygen concentration in the intake and exhaust manifolds owing to its significance in reducing emissions of diesel engines. The validation and efficiency of the proposed method are demonstrated by AMESim and Matlab/Simulink co-simulation results.
Quality of Life After Brain Injury: Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Translation of the QoLIBRI
Authors: Castaño-León Ana M. , Navarro-Main Blanca , Gomez Pedro A. , Gil Angel , Soler M. Dolors , Lagares Alfonso , Bernabeu Montserrat , v. Steinbüchel Nicole , Real Ruben G. L.
Published: April 2017

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is frequently followed by a variety of physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms, which affect the patient’s daily life, their social relations, and their work/educational status. In addition to function measures, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has received increasing attention as an important outcome after TBI, as it may guide rehabilitation and evaluate treatment success. Here, we report on psychometric properties of a Spanish translation of the quality of life after brain injury (QoLIBRI) questionnaire, a disease-specific instrument to assess HRQoL in patients after TBI. Classical test theory, item response theory, and structural equation modeling were used to evaluate psychometric properties of the Spanish QoLIBRI translation in a convenience sample of N = 155 patients with TBI. A subset of n = 23 patients were tested twice with a test–retest interval of ≤2 weeks. Internal consistency and test–retest reliabilities were high (Cronbach’s α: 0.78–0.96; ICCs: 0.81–0.96). Rasch analysis infit (range 0.52–1.20) and outfit indices (range 0.50–1.17) supported unidimensionality of subscales, whereas SEM analysis tended to support a correlated six-factor model (CFI = .88, RMSEA = .068, 95% confidence interval [.061, .075]). Results show favorable psychometric properties of the Spanish translation of the QoLIBRI, comparable to the international version. It is, thus, a useful instrument for clinicians and researchers assessing the impact of TBI on quality of life, the outcomes of rehabilitation, and may be included in epidemiological surveys.
Chronic Pain and Psychological Distress Among Older Adults: A National Longitudinal Study
Authors: Bierman Alex , Lee Yeonjung
Published: April 2017

This research examines whether unobserved time-stable influences confound the association between chronic pain and psychological distress in older adults as well as how race and ethnicity combine with subjective social status (SSS) to modify the association. In a nationally representative longitudinal survey, holistically controlling for unobserved time-stable influences using fixed-effects models substantially reduces the pain–depression relationship and eliminates the overall pain–anxiety relationship. The association with depression is stronger for Black and Hispanic elders, illustrating a process of double-jeopardy. Black elders with severe pain experience lower anxiety, as do Black elders with moderate pain and low SSS, which we suggest may be due to the enervating effects of undermanaged pain. Black elders at high SSS experience greater anxiety with moderate pain. This research suggests that undermanagement of chronic pain among racial and ethnic minorities differentiates the association between pain and distress in late life and especially creates stronger associations with depression.
Lexicon-based sentiment analysis: Comparative evaluation of six sentiment lexicons
Authors: Khoo Christopher SG , Johnkhan Sathik Basha
Published: April 2017

This article introduces a new general-purpose sentiment lexicon called WKWSCI Sentiment Lexicon and compares it with five existing lexicons: Hu & Liu Opinion Lexicon, Multi-perspective Question Answering (MPQA) Subjectivity Lexicon, General Inquirer, National Research Council Canada (NRC) Word-Sentiment Association Lexicon and Semantic Orientation Calculator (SO-CAL) lexicon. The effectiveness of the sentiment lexicons for sentiment categorisation at the document level and sentence level was evaluated using an Amazon product review data set and a news headlines data set. WKWSCI, MPQA, Hu & Liu and SO-CAL lexicons are equally good for product review sentiment categorisation, obtaining accuracy rates of 75%–77% when appropriate weights are used for different categories of sentiment words. However, when a training corpus is not available, Hu & Liu obtained the best accuracy with a simple-minded approach of counting positive and negative words for both document-level and sentence-level sentiment categorisation. The WKWSCI lexicon obtained the best accuracy of 69% on the news headlines sentiment categorisation task, and the sentiment strength values obtained a Pearson correlation of 0.57 with human-assigned sentiment values. It is recommended that the Hu & Liu lexicon be used for product review texts and the WKWSCI lexicon for non-review texts.
Hannah Arendt, the problem of the absolute and the paradox of constitutionalism, or
Authors: Lindsay Adam
Published: April 2017

Contemporary theorists of constituent power recognize a tension in which the omnipotent novelty of constituent power is necessarily policed by constituted power. Beginning with Arendt’s claim that the categories of constitutional stability and political novelty should be thought together rather than treated as oppositional, this article presents an interpretation of her work that seeks to address this ‘paradox of constitutionalism’. While commentators have come to assert that Arendt repudiates ‘absolutes’ in favour of an account of ‘relative beginnings’, this article demonstrates that Arendt’s argument involves a critical redescription of the absolute, rather than a repudiation. This is significant, for it illuminates the manner in which her account of founding seeks to dismantle the commonplace temporalizations we attribute to our political vocabulary. This is employed to argue that particular stylings of absolutes naturalize the appearance of the new only as temporal ruptures, allowing us to get a handle upon the paradox of constitutionalism, and to think tentatively beyond this paradigm.
Lung Tumor Induction by 26-week Dermal Application of 1,2-Dichloroethane in CB6F1-Tg rasH2 Mice
Authors: Suguro Mayuko , Numano Takamasa , Kawabe Mayumi , Doi Yuko , Imai Norio , Mera Yukinori , Tamano Seiko
Published: April 2017

Short-term alternatives to traditional 2-year carcinogenic studies in rodents are being actively pursued. Recently, a 26-week short-term carcinogenicity study using CB6F1-Tg rasH2@Jcl (rasH2) mice has become a worldwide standard for the evaluation of chemical carcinogenesis. However, an acceptable short-term carcinogenic study model for dermally applied products is still lacking. To investigate the suitability of using the rasH2 mouse to test carcinogenic potential, 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) was dermally applied to rasH2 mice: 1,2-DCE is a known carcinogen that causes lung bronchiolo-alveolar adenomas and adenocarcinomas when administered topically, orally, or by inhalation exposure; 1,2-DCE at a dose level of 126 mg/mouse in 200 μl acetone or acetone alone (vehicle control) was applied to the dorsal skin of 10 mice of each sex 3 times a week for 26 weeks. As a positive control, 10 mice of each sex received a single intraperitoneal injection of 75 mg/kg of N-methyl- N-nitrosourea. Bronchiolo-alveolar adenomas and adenocarcinomas were significantly increased in 1,2-DCE-treated rasH2 mice of both sexes, and bronchiolo-alveolar hyperplasias were significantly increased in female mice. Overall, almost all mice of each sex developed adenomas and/or adenocarcinomas with 100% of female rasH2 mice developing bronchiolo-alveolar adenocarcinomas.
Great expectations
Authors: Vannier Sarah A. , O’Sullivan Lucia F.
Published: April 2017

Expectations for one’s romantic relationship, and the extent to which these expectations are actually met, are important predictors of relationship outcomes. Themes of romanticism (e.g., idealism, soul mates, love at first sight) emerge from our romantic socialization. But what happens when romantic relationships fall short of these ideals and expectations are unmet? The current study examined the association among unmet romantic expectations and relationship outcomes using an investment model framework. The sample comprised 296 U.S. young adults involved in dating relationships. Participants provided ratings of the romantic characteristics of their current, ideal, and potential alternative relationships. Unmet romantic expectations based on an ideal relationship were associated with lower relationship satisfaction, commitment, and investment. Unmet romantic expectations based on an alternative relationship were associated with lower relationship satisfaction, investment, and commitment and higher quality of alternatives. The results are discussed in terms of implications for researchers and clinicians/counselors.
The impact of ambiguous economic news on uncertainty and consumer confidence
Authors: Svensson Helle Mølgaard , Albæk Erik , van Dalen Arjen , de Vreese Claes H
Published: April 2017

Journalistic practice emphasizes both positive and negative aspects of news stories. Nevertheless, the effects of ambiguous news, which includes both positive and negative information, are under-investigated. This study examines how exposure to ambiguous economic news affects uncertainty and ‘consumer confidence’. Consumer confidence refers to citizens’ evaluations of their personal economic situation and of the national economy and is an antecedent of economic behaviour. Using a two-wave national panel survey and a media content analysis, the study demonstrates that ambiguous news exposure and individual level changes in consumer confidence are linked. Our analysis suggests that the relation between exposure to ambiguous news and changes in consumer confidence is mediated by economic uncertainty. This article bridges insights from research on consumer confidence, economic psychology and media effects and unravels one of the mechanisms at play in this cross-field.
The Role of Employees’ Public Service Motives and Organizational Commitment in Workplace Giving Campaigns
Authors: Christensen Robert K. , Nesbit Rebecca , Stritch Justin M.
Published: April 2017

Workplace giving campaigns, like the Combined Federal Campaign, have increased in participation and prominence in recent years. Organizations across all sectors of society frequently encourage employees to voluntarily donate either directly or through payroll deduction. In the nascent research on workplace giving, there has been relatively little focus on how employee attributes, especially motivational and organizational commitment traits, might be related to voluntary participation in workplace giving campaigns. In our article, we explore the role of these factors in an employee’s decision to participate in workplace giving campaigns. Using data from a large, public university, we examine two distinct aspects of participation: (a) the decision to participate in a workplace giving campaign and (b) how much those who participated chose to give. Our analyses demonstrate that these decisions reflect two motivational processes that must be considered in examining the determinants of individual workplace giving behavior. Answering these questions will help deepen our understanding of employee workplace giving in its increasing prominence as a tool of social partnership.
Defining and Analyzing “Resistance”
Authors: Baaz Mikael , Lilja Mona , Schulz Michael , Vinthagen Stellan
Published: April 2017

This article explores the meaning of “resistance” and suggests a new path for “resistance studies,” which is an emerging and interdisciplinary field of the social sciences that is still relatively fragmented and heterogeneous. Resistance has often been connected with antisocial attitudes, destructiveness, reactionary or revolutionary ideologies, unusual and sudden explosions of violence, and emotional outbursts. However, we wish to add to this conceptualization by arguing that resistance also has the potential to be productive, plural and fluid, and integrated into everyday social life. The first major part of the article is devoted to discuss existing understandings of resistance with the aim of seeking to capture distinctive features and boundaries of this social phenomenon. Among other things, we will explore resistance in relation to other key concepts and related research fields. We then, in the article’s second major part, propose a number of analytical categories and possible entrances aiming at inspire more in-depth studies of resistance.
An Evaluation of a Community-Oriented Policing Program in Taiwan
Authors: Kuo Shih-Ya , Shih Yuan-Chin
Published: April 2017

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a community-oriented policing (COP) by documenting results for 16 quantitative outcome variables, including crime incidents, crime clearance, residents’ subjective feelings regarding police performance and community safety, and job satisfaction among police officers. The statistical techniques used to analyze the data involved ARIMA interrupted time series, t tests, the Wilcoxon paired signed-rank test, and Pearson’s correlation. The quantitative results observed indicated that the program had a positive effect on resident’s perceptions for some police performance outcomes and for job satisfaction among police officers. However, there was only a minimal program effect on crime occurrence, crime clearance, and residents’ perceptions of crime. Using a combination of review of prior research and qualitative interview data collected from 10 local stakeholders, we provided insightful informed actor-based and temporal contextual explanations for the unexpected quantitative findings.
Femoroacetabular Impingement in Professional Football Players: Return to Play and Predictors of Career Length After Hip Arthroscopy
Authors: Menge Travis J. , Bhatia Sanjeev , McNamara Shannen C. , Briggs Karen K. , Philippon Marc J.
Published: April 2017

Background:

Previous studies have shown hip arthroscopy to be a highly effective treatment for symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in a wide range of athletes; however, the rate of return to play and length of career after hip arthroscopy in professional football players are unknown.

Purpose:

To determine how many athletes returned to professional football and the number of seasons they played after surgery.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Fifty-one professional football players (60 hips) underwent hip arthroscopy for FAI between 2000 and 2014 by a single surgeon. Return to play was defined as competing in a preseason or regular season professional football game after surgery. Data were retrospectively obtained for each player from NFL.com , ESPN.com , individual team websites, and/or CFL.ca .

Results:

We found that 87% (52/60) of the arthroscopic procedures allowed professional football players to return to play in a preseason or regular season game. Athletes who returned played an average of 38 games during 3.2 seasons after arthroscopy, with an average total career length of 7.4 seasons. Ninety-two percent (48/52) of players who returned had a minimum total career length of 3 years. When participants were analyzed by position, linemen were less likely to return after hip arthroscopy compared with other players (odds ratio 5.6; 95% CI, 1.1-35; P = .04). All quarterbacks and tight ends returned to play after surgery. No significant difference in return to play rate was found between athletes who underwent microfracture and those who did not (25% vs 38%, P = .698).

Conclusion:

Hip arthroscopy for treatment of FAI and associated pathologic abnormalities in professional football players resulted in a high rate of return to play. The study’s findings demonstrate that 87% of the arthroscopic procedures allowed professional football players to return to play, linemen were less likely to return compared with other positions, and the presence of microfracture did not significantly affect the return to play rate. These findings support hip arthroscopy as an effective procedure to treat FAI and related pathologic abnormalities in the professional football player, and this information is important for proper counseling of athletes with FAI.
The Epidemiology of High Ankle Sprains in National Collegiate Athletic Association Sports
Authors: Mauntel Timothy C. , Wikstrom Erik A. , Roos Karen G. , Djoko Aristarque , Dompier Thomas P. , Kerr Zachary Y.
Published: April 2017

Background:

Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries experienced by collegiate athletes. The type of ankle sprain is rarely differentiated in epidemiological studies. This differentiation is necessary, as each ankle sprain type has a unique injury mechanism and recovery period. High ankle sprains commonly result in long recovery periods. Thus, a further examination of the epidemiology of high ankle sprains is warranted.

Purpose:

To describe the epidemiology of high ankle sprains in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports during the 2009/2010-2014/2015 academic years.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

NCAA Injury Surveillance Program high ankle sprain data and athlete-exposures (AEs) from 25 sports were evaluated. Certified athletic trainers recorded sport-related injury, event, and AE data during team-sanctioned events. High ankle sprain injury rates per 10,000 AEs were calculated. Percentage distributions were calculated for the amount of time lost from sport and percentage of recurrent injuries. Injury rate ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs compared injury rates by event type, participation restriction time, and sex. 95% CIs not containing 1.00 were considered statistically significant.

Results:

The overall high ankle sprain injury rate was 1.00 per 10,000 AEs. Overall, 56.7% of high ankle sprain injuries occurred during competitions, and 9.8% of high ankle sprain injuries were recurrent. Men’s football (2.42/10,000 AEs), wrestling (2.11/10,000 AEs), and ice hockey (1.19/10,000 AEs) had the highest high ankle sprain injury rates. In sex-comparable sports, men had higher injury rates (RR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.28-2.44). Player contact was the most common injury mechanism (60.4%), and 69.0% of injuries resulted in ≥1 day of participation restriction, with 47.1% resulting in ≥7 days of participation restriction and 15.8% resulting in >21 days of participation restriction.

Conclusion:

High ankle sprains resulted in significant participation restriction time from sport participation. The majority of high ankle sprain injuries resulted from player contact and were observed in contact/collision sports. The large proportion of high ankle sprains resulting from player contact, specifically in male contact sports, is worthy of further investigation.

Clinical Relevance:

The enhanced understanding of the epidemiology of high ankle sprains provided in our study will aid clinicians in developing targeted injury prevention strategies to mitigate the negative consequences of these injuries.
Microfracture Versus Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation for Articular Cartilage Lesions in the Knee: A Systematic Review of 5-Year Outcomes
Authors: Kraeutler Matthew J. , Belk John W. , Purcell Justin M. , McCarty Eric C.
Published: April 2017

Background:

Microfracture (MFx) and autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) are 2 surgical treatment options used to treat articular cartilage injuries of the knee joint.

Purpose:

To compare the midterm to long-term clinical outcomes of MFx versus ACI for focal chondral defects of the knee.

Study Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

A systematic review was performed by searching PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase to locate studies (level of evidence I-III) comparing the minimum average 5-year clinical outcomes of patients undergoing MFx versus ACI. Search terms used were “knee,” “microfracture,” “autologous chondrocyte implantation,” and “autologous chondrocyte transplantation.” Patients were evaluated based on treatment failure rates, magnetic resonance imaging, and patient-reported outcome scores (Lysholm, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS], and Tegner scores).

Results:

Five studies (3 level I evidence, 2 level II evidence) were identified that met the inclusion criteria, including a total of 210 patients (211 lesions) undergoing MFx and 189 patients (189 lesions) undergoing ACI. The average follow-up among all studies was 7.0 years. Four studies utilized first-generation, periosteum-based ACI (P-ACI), and 1 study utilized third-generation, matrix-associated ACI (M-ACI). Treatment failure occurred in 18.5% of patients undergoing ACI and 17.1% of patients undergoing MFx ( P = .70). Lysholm and KOOS scores were found to improve for both groups across studies, without a significant difference in improvement between the groups. The only significant difference in patient-reported outcome scores was found in the 1 study using M-ACI in which Tegner scores improved to a significantly greater extent in the ACI group compared with the MFx group ( P = .003).

Conclusion:

Patients undergoing MFx or first/third-generation ACI for articular cartilage lesions in the knee can be expected to experience improvement in clinical outcomes at midterm to long-term follow-up without any significant difference between the groups.