bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
YOCAS©® Yoga Reduces Self-reported Memory Difficulty in Cancer Survivors in a Nationwide Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Janelsins Michelle C. , Peppone Luke J. , Heckler Charles E. , Kesler Shelli R. , Sprod Lisa K. , Atkins James , Melnik Marianne , Kamen Charles , Giguere Jeffrey , Messino Michael J. , Mohile Supriya G. , Mustian Karen M.
Published: December 2015

Background. Interventions are needed to alleviate memory difficulty in cancer survivors. We previously showed in a phase III randomized clinical trial that YOCAS©® yoga—a program that consists of breathing exercises, postures, and meditation—significantly improved sleep quality in cancer survivors. This study assessed the effects of YOCAS©® on memory and identified relationships between memory and sleep. Study design and methods. Survivors were randomized to standard care (SC) or SC with YOCAS©® . 328 participants who provided data on the memory difficulty item of the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory are included. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. General linear modeling (GLM) determined the group effect of YOCAS©® on memory difficulty compared with SC. GLM also determined moderation of baseline memory difficulty on postintervention sleep and vice versa. Path modeling assessed the mediating effects of changes in memory difficulty on YOCAS©® changes in sleep and vice versa. Results. YOCAS©® significantly reduced memory difficulty at postintervention compared with SC (mean change: yoga=−0.60; SC=−0.16; P<.05). Baseline memory difficulty did not moderate the effects of postintervention sleep quality in YOCAS©® compared with SC. Baseline sleep quality did moderate the effects of postintervention memory difficulty in YOCAS©® compared with SC (P<.05). Changes in sleep quality was a significant mediator of reduced memory difficulty in YOCAS©® compared with SC (P<.05); however, changes in memory difficulty did not significantly mediate improved sleep quality in YOCAS©® compared with SC. Conclusions. In this large nationwide trial, YOCAS©® yoga significantly reduced patient-reported memory difficulty in cancer survivors.
Reducing The Cost of Transport and Increasing Walking Distance After Stroke
Authors: Awad Louis N. , Reisman Darcy S. , Pohlig Ryan T. , Binder-Macleod Stuart A.
Published: December 2015

Background. Neurorehabilitation efforts have been limited in their ability to restore walking function after stroke. Recent work has demonstrated proof-of-concept for a functional electrical stimulation (FES)–based combination therapy designed to improve poststroke walking by targeting deficits in paretic propulsion. Objectives. To determine the effects on the energy cost of walking (EC) and long-distance walking ability of locomotor training that combines fast walking with FES to the paretic ankle musculature (FastFES). Methods. Fifty participants >6 months poststroke were randomized to 12 weeks of gait training at self-selected speeds (SS), fast speeds (Fast), or FastFES. Participants’ 6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance and EC at comfortable (EC-CWS) and fast (EC-Fast) walking speeds were measured pretraining, posttraining, and at a 3-month follow-up. A reduction in EC-CWS, independent of changes in speed, was the primary outcome. Group differences in the number of 6MWT responders and moderation by baseline speed were also evaluated. Results. When compared with SS and Fast, FastFES produced larger reductions in EC ( Ps ≤.03). FastFES produced reductions of 24% and 19% in EC-CWS and EC-Fast ( Ps <.001), respectively, whereas neither Fast nor SS influenced EC. Between-group 6MWT differences were not observed; however, 73% of FastFES and 68% of Fast participants were responders, in contrast to 35% of SS participants. Conclusions. Combining fast locomotor training with FES is an effective approach to reducing the high EC of persons poststroke. Surprisingly, differences in 6MWT gains were not observed between groups. Closer inspection of the 6MWT and EC relationship and elucidation of how reduced EC may influence walking-related disability is warranted.
Optimization of welding parameters using a genetic algorithm: A robotic arm–assisted implementation for recovery of Pelton turbine blades
Authors: Pérez Pozo Luis , Olivares Z Fernando , Durán A Orlando
Published: December 2015

This work presents the operational optimization of a welding operation involving using genetic algorithms. The welding curves correspond to the profile of a blade-shaped Pelton turbine. The procedure involved the development of a series of tests and observation of the parameters that will be controlled during the welding process. After the tests were performed, the samples were prepared for chemical attack, which allowed observation of the penetration, weld area, and dilution. After that, mathematical models were developed that correlate the controllable welding parameters with the aforementioned bead parameters. In those mathematical models, the optimization of the process parameters was performed using genetic algorithms. Specially programmed functions for mutation, reproduction, and initialization processes were written and used in the implemented model. After the optimization process was completed, the results were evaluated through new tests to verify whether the obtained objective functions properly describe the characteristics of the weld. The comparisons showed errors of less than 6%.
Dynamic vehicle model for handling performance using experimental data
Authors: Na SangDo , Jang JinSeok , Kim KwangSuk , Yoo WanSuk
Published: December 2015

An analytical vehicle model is essential for the development of vehicle design and performance. Various vehicle models have different complexities, assumptions and limitations depending on the type of vehicle analysis. An accurate full vehicle model is essential in representing the behaviour of the vehicle in order to estimate vehicle dynamic system performance such as ride comfort and handling. An experimental vehicle model is developed in this article, which employs experimental kinematic and compliance data measured between the wheel and chassis. From these data, a vehicle model, which includes dynamic effects due to vehicle geometry changes, has been developed. The experimental vehicle model was validated using an instrumented experimental vehicle and data such as a step change steering input. This article shows a process to develop and validate an experimental vehicle model to enhance the accuracy of handling performance, which comes from precise suspension model measured by experimental data of a vehicle. The experimental force data obtained from a suspension parameter measuring device are employed for a precise modelling of the steering and handling response. The steering system is modelled by a lumped model, with stiffness coefficients defined and identified by comparing steering stiffness obtained by the measured data. The outputs, specifically the yaw rate and lateral acceleration of the vehicle, are verified by experimental results.
Impact of ribs on flow parameters and laminar heat transfer of water–aluminum oxide nanofluid with different nanoparticle volume fractions in a three-dimensional rectangular microchannel
Authors: Akbari Omid Ali , Toghraie Davood , Karimipour Arash
Published: December 2015

This article aims to study the impact of ribs on flow parameters and laminar heat transfer of water–aluminum oxide nanofluid with different nanoparticle volume fractions in a three-dimensional rectangular microchannel. To this aim, compulsory convection heat transfer of water–aluminum oxide nanofluid in a rib-roughened microchannel has been numerically studied. The results of this simulation for rib-roughened three-dimensional microchannel have been evaluated in contrast to the smooth (unribbed) three-dimensional microchannel with identical geometrical and heat–fluid boundary conditions. Numerical simulation is performed for different nanoparticle volume fractions for Reynolds numbers of 10 and 100. Cold fluid entering the microchannel is heated in order to apply constant flux to external surface of the microchannel walls and then leaves it. Given the results, the fluid has a higher heat transfer with a hot wall in surfaces with ribs rather than in smooth ones. As Reynolds number, number of ribs, and nanoparticle volume fractions increase, more temperature increase happens in fluid in exit intersection of the microchannel. By investigating Nusselt number and friction factor, it is observed that increase in nanoparticle volume fractions causes nanofluid heat transfer properties to have a higher heat transfer and friction factor compared to the base fluid used in cooling due to an increase in viscosity.
Benchmark solutions for two-dimensional fluid flow and heat transfer problems in irregular regions using multigrid method
Authors: Li Jingfa , Yu Bo , Wang Min
Published: December 2015

In the previous researches about the benchmark solutions in the irregular regions, there are some obvious shortcomings, such as small number of computational grids, simple computational domain, small characteristic number, and lack of mixed convection benchmark solution. In order to improve this situation, this article deeply studied the benchmark solutions for two-dimensional fluid flow and heat transfer problems in the irregular regions under the body-fitted coordinate system. Taking the lid-driven flow, natural convection, and mixed convection problems as the research objects and considering the influence of boundary configurations of the computational domains, Reynolds number, Prandtl number, and Grashof number, this article designed three groups of test cases. The program code is first verified through employing the nonlinear multigrid method based on the collocated finite volume method and then the numerical solutions of three test cases with 1024 × 1024 grids and convergence criterion of 10−14 are obtained to get the benchmark solutions estimated by the Richardson extrapolation method.
Empirical study on synergy of China’s rail freight transportation system
Authors: Feng Fenling , Liu Haihong , Liu Chengguang , Zhang Jiaqi , Zhou Hongwei
Published: December 2015

This article analyzes the characteristics of evaluating synergy of China’s rail freight transportation system. According to Delphi method, an evaluation indicator system of synergy of the rail freight transportation system is established and the system is in accordance with railway development strategies and synergic targets. Besides, this article builds up an evaluating model for synergy of China’s rail freight transportation system and conducts an empirical study with statistical data from 1995 to 2013. The results indicate that there is an increasing tendency toward the synergy degree of the railway freight system, with a slow growth before the year 2002, and then has a sustained and rapid growth until 2010 as the trends become smooth. The synergy degree of the rail freight transportation system in 2013 has increased nearly 34 times than 1996 from 0.016810995 to 0.57142183. This article concludes that indicators such as synergy in structure, transportation, organization, management, and information have made an outstanding contribution to the synergy degree of the rail freight transportation system.
Experimental investigation and performance analysis of inertia properties measurement for heavy truck cab
Authors: Zhu Tianjun , Li Fei
Published: December 2015

An experimental investigation and performance analysis of inertia properties measurement for heavy truck cab is presented. This method is specifically intended for measuring the inertia properties of irregular rigid bodies, and it has the potential to be applied to the measurement of the inertia properties of vehicle bodies, such as the cab, engine, and gearbox. This article, based on CATARC moment of inertia measurement system test rig, develops an accurate measuring method to identify inertia parameters of heavy truck cab. First, corresponding tests are carried out, and the lever principle and moments of inertia parallel theorem are employed to calculate and analyse the test results, which leads to the accurate value of inertia parameters. Second, the performance analysis of the proposed method is verified through the measurement error analysis. As a result, the proposed method shows high accuracy, which provides an experimental basis for accurate inertia parameter measurement of heavy truck cab.
A study of electrodischarge machining–pulse electrochemical machining combined machining for holes with high surface quality on superalloy
Authors: Ma Ning , Yang Xiaolong , Gao Mingqian , Song Jinlong , Liu Ganlin , Xu Wenji
Published: December 2015

Noncircular holes on the surface of turbine rotor blades are usually machined by electrodischarge machining. A recast layer containing numerous micropores and microcracks is easily generated during the electrodischarge machining process due to the rapid heating and cooling effects, which restrict the wide applications of noncircular holes in aerospace and aircraft industries. Owing to the outstanding advantages of pulse electrochemical machining, electrodischarge machining–pulse electrochemical machining combined technique is provided to improve the overall quality of electrodischarge machining-drilled holes. The influence of pulse electrochemical machining processing parameters on the surface roughness and the influence of the electrodischarge machining–pulse electrochemical machining method on the surface quality and accuracy of holes have been studied experimentally. The results indicate that the pulse electrochemical machining processing time for complete removal of the recast layer decreases with the increase in the pulse electrochemical machining current. The low pulse electrochemical machining current results in uneven dissolution of the recast layer, while the higher pulse electrochemical machining current induces relatively homogeneous dissolution. The surface roughness is reduced from 4.277 to 0.299 µm, and the hole taper induced by top-down electrodischarge machining process was reduced from 1.04° to 0.17° after pulse electrochemical machining. On account of the advantages of electrodischarge machining and the pulse electrochemical machining, the electrodischarge machining–pulse electrochemical machining combined technique could be applied for machining noncircular holes with high shape accuracy and surface quality.
Genetic algorithm–based varying parameter linear quadratic regulator control for four-wheel independent steering vehicle
Authors: Gao Linlin , Jin Lisheng , Wang Faji , Zheng Yi , Li Keyong
Published: December 2015

From the perspective of vehicle dynamics, the four-wheel independent steering vehicle dynamics stability control method is studied, and a four-wheel independent steering varying parameter linear quadratic regulator control system is proposed with the help of expert control method. In the article, a four-wheel independent steering linear quadratic regulator controller for model following purpose is designed first. Then, by analyzing the four-wheel independent steering vehicle dynamic characteristics and the influence of linear quadratic regulator control parameters on control performance, a linear quadratic regulator control parameter adjustment strategy based on vehicle steering state is proposed to achieve the adaptive adjustment of linear quadratic regulator control parameters. In addition, to further improve the control performance, the proposed varying parameter linear quadratic regulator control system is optimized by genetic algorithm. Finally, simulation studies have been conducted by applying the proposed control system to the 8-degree-of-freedom four-wheel independent steering vehicle dynamics model. The simulation results indicate that the proposed control system has better performance and robustness and can effectively improve the stability and steering safety of the four-wheel independent steering vehicle.
Feasibility analysis of phase transition signals based on e-bike rider behavior
Authors: Dong Sheng , Zhou Jibiao , Zhao Li , Tang Keshuang , Yang Renfa
Published: December 2015

This article evaluates the feasibility of two scenarios of phase transition signals, that is, the flashing green together with red–yellow light and the green countdown together with red countdown, at signalized intersections in terms of e-bike rider behavior. An evaluation framework is first proposed. During the phase transition, the stop-go and start-up behavioral parameters are collected at four intersections in Shanghai, China. Sensitivity analysis is then performed to identify the most significant factors that influence the occurrence of traffic conflicts during the phase transition. Based on the above analysis results, case studies were finally done to look into safety performance of the two scenarios of phase transition signals, indicated by the distributions of post encroachment time at the conflict point and the occurring probability of extremely small post encroachment times. Research result shows the transition signal combination of green countdown + red countdown tends to cause traffic accidents more easily and thus less safe compared to the transition signal combination of flashing green + red-yellow. Unlike the conventional method generally based on the deterministic traffic flow theory, the proposed methodology has a wide application. With the aid of it, traffic engineers are capable of designing transition signals in a more scientific manner.
Numerical and experimental research of flow and sound fields in an axial-flow check valve and its optimization
Authors: Yu Jianping , Yu Shurong
Published: December 2015

In order to find a proper method to study the flow and sound fields in an axial-flow check valve, the jetting noise at a nozzle is investigated with simulations and experiments. Based on optimization principle, the main channel of the valve body is numerically investigated and optimized twice. The results show that the resistance coefficient and the maximum noise of the valve are decreased by 0.37 and 23.8 dB, respectively, and the head and the tail of the valve plug are optimized when streamline design is employed on the main channel structure of the valve body.
An experimental investigation of a 100-W high-power light-emitting diode array using vapor chamber–based plate
Authors: Zhang Ping , Zeng Jianhua , Chen Xianping , Cai Miao , Xiao Jing , Yang Daoguo
Published: December 2015

In this study, a compact 100-W input power light-emitting diode array vapor chamber–based plate has been fabricated to investigate the thermal performance. To make a comparison, a typical commercial chip on board–type light-emitting diode array using a copper-based plate which has the same chip layout and the same power input was also investigated. The surface temperature distribution and total thermal resistance corresponding to these two high-power light-emitting diode modules were measured using a thermal infrared camera and a MicReD T3Ster. The experimental results show that the thermal performance of the compact light-emitting diode array using vapor chamber–based plate is much better than that using copper-based plate. The average temperatures of light-emitting diode copper- and vapor chamber–based plates are 100.5°C and 41.5°C at 100 W power input, respectively. In addition, the maximal temperature difference of the 100-W light-emitting diode array vapor chamber–based plate is 2.2°C far less than 31.7°C of copper-based plate. Furthermore, the measurement results show that the vapor chamber can prominently lower the spreading resistance, diminish the hot-spot effect, and increase durability.
Framework for assessing cable car construction investment projects: Examining investment projects in Taiwan
Authors: Liu Hsin-Lung , Hsu Wei-Ling
Published: December 2015

The use of low-carbon evaluation indices for tourist attractions facilitates the promotion of low-carbon tourism. However, balancing tourism and environmental considerations has become critical to the development of the tourism market. Compared with road vehicles, cable cars are environmentally friendly, convenient, and economical. This study presents a framework for evaluating cable car development projects on the basis of the following aspects: (a) determining guidelines for cable car stations and route layouts, (b) establishing a logical framework for assessing the feasibility of cable car systems, (c) identifying station assessment items, and (d) evaluating the assessment items for potential routes by applying the analytic hierarchy process. These aspects can facilitate executing thorough and pragmatic assessments of cable car development projects.
Bureaucratic Passions
Authors: Satkunanandan Shalini
Published: December 2015

In order to have a more nuanced conversation about the role and size of government, we should attend to our diverse passional experiences of bureaucracy. We overlook our affective experience of bureaucracy in our usual focus on bureaucracy’s impersonality and passionless rule and on cost-benefit analyses of individual regulations. To the extent that we consider bureaucracy’s passional effects, bureaucracy is cast as something that saps passion – understood as energy and vigor – from our lives. Attention to the variety of passional experiences of bureaucracy reveals neglected and salutary aspects of life within and under the shadow of bureaucracy. For example, particular bureaucratic affects are arguably a pedagogy in the realities, compromises and burdens of politics, and may enhance – in desirable ways – our solidarity with those who share our polity.
Dignity and the Limits of Liberal Individualism
Authors: Cocks Joan
Published: December 2015

This article accords with recent liberal defenses of the political significance of dignity and the value in distinguishing between assaults on dignity and assaults on the body aimed at causing physical pain. However, it breaks with liberal individualist approaches in three ways. It shifts its focus of attention from the state to social groups as key sources of dignity injuries; from abstract individuals to collective identities as key targets and sufferers of dignity injuries; and from public points of contact between political regimes and their citizens to interior, intimate, and informal social spaces – some impenetrable by and/or unsuitable for legal intervention – as important theaters in which insults to dignity and struggles against those insults are played out.
A testing-based approach to ensure the safety of shared resource concurrent systems
Authors: Fredlund Lars-Åke , Mariño Julio , Alborodo Raúl NN , Herranz Ángel
Published: December 2015

The paper describes a framework for testing a class of safety-critical concurrent systems implemented using shared resource specifications. Shared resources contain declarative specifications of process interaction that can be used to derive, in a model-driven way, the most critical parts of a concurrent system. Here, we propose their use to build a state-based model that will help in testing a real implementation of the resource. The framework has been implemented using Erlang and QuickCheck and its source code is available. The paper also provides a novel parametric operational semantics for shared resources with scheduling policy annotations and a methodology to guide test-case generation from the shared resource specifications and a classification of common mistakes. We illustrate our framework by applying it to testing Java implementations of a prototypical automated shipping plant.
Taking Berger and Luckmann to the Realm of Materiality: Architecture as a Social Construction
Authors: Steets Silke
Published: December 2015

Although objects and buildings form an integral part of the reality of everyday life, they have seldom been explicitly discussed in social theory. This article starts by exploring how various classical approaches relate the social to the material world in order to show, in a second step, how this can be done with the help of the ‘new sociology of knowledge’ formulated by Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann in 1966. Central in this effort is the concept of ‘material objectivations’. Drawing on Émile Durkheim’s first and most basic rule of sociological thought, according to which sociologists should consider social facts as things, I pose the question: what happens when this rule is reversed and things are conceptualized as social facts or – to use the terminology of Berger and Luckmann – as material ‘objectivations’?
Superoxide anions produced by Streptococcus pyogenes group A-stimulated keratinocytes are responsible for cellular necrosis and bacterial growth inhibition
Authors: Regnier Elodie , Grange Philippe A , Ollagnier Guillaume , Crickx Etienne , Elie Laetitia , Chouzenoux Sandrine , Weill Bernard , Plainvert Céline , Poyart Claire , Batteux Frédéric , Dupin Nicolas
Published: December 2015

Gram-positive Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus or GAS) is a major skin pathogen and interacts with keratinocytes in cutaneous tissues. GAS can cause diverse suppurative and inflammatory infections, such as cellulitis, a common acute bacterial dermo-hypodermitis with a high morbidity. Bacterial isolation yields from the lesions are low despite the strong local inflammation observed, raising numerous questions about the pathogenesis of the infection. Using an in vitro model of GAS-infected keratinocytes, we show that the major ROS produced is the superoxide anion ([Formula: see text]), and that its production is time- and dose-dependent. Using specific modulators of ROS production, we show that [Formula: see text] is mainly synthesized by the cytoplasmic NADPH oxidase. Superoxide anion production leads to keratinocyte necrosis but incomplete inhibition of GAS growth, suggesting that GAS may be partially resistant to the oxidative burst. In conclusion, GAS-stimulated keratinocytes are able to develop an innate immune response based on the production of ROS. This local immune response limits GAS development and induces keratinocyte cell death, resulting in the skin lesions observed in patients with cellulitis.
Management of advanced non-small cell lung cancers with known mutations or rearrangements: latest evidence and treatment approaches
Authors: Shea Meghan , Costa Daniel B. , Rangachari Deepa
Published: December 2015

Precision oncology is now the evidence-based standard of care for the management of many advanced non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Expert consensus has defined minimum requirements for routine testing and identification of epidermal growth factor ( EGFR) mutations (15% of tumors harbor EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R substitutions) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase ( ALK) rearrangements (5% of tumors) in advanced lung adenocarcinomas (ACs). Application of palliative targeted therapies with oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in advanced/metastatic lung ACs harboring abnormalities in EGFR (gefitinib, erlotinib, afatinib) and ALK/ ROS1/ MET (crizotinib) has consistently led to more favorable outcomes compared with traditional cytotoxic agents. In addition, mutations leading to resistance to first-line EGFR and ALK TKIs can now be successfully inhibited by soon to be approved third-generation EGFR TKIs (osimertinib, rociletinib) and second-generation ALK TKIs (ceritinib, alectinib). Notably, increasing feasibility, accessibility, and application of molecular profiling technologies has permitted dynamic growth in the identification of actionable driver oncogenes. Emerging genomic aberrations for which TKIs have shown impressive results in clinical trials and expansion of drug labels for approved agents are awaited include ROS1 rearrangements (1–2% of tumors, drug: crizotinib) and BRAF-V600E mutations (1–3% of tumors, drugs: vemurafenib, dafrafenib + trametinib). Evolving genomic events in which TKI responses have been reported in smaller series include MET exon 14 skipping mutations (2–4% of tumors, drug: crizotinib); high-level MET amplification (1–2% of tumors, drug: crizotinib); RET rearrangements (1% of tumors, drug: cabozantinib); and ERBB2 mutations (2–3% of tumors, drug: afatinib), among others. Unfortunately, the most common genomic event in NSCLC, KRAS mutations (25–30% of tumors), is not targetable with approved or in development small molecule inhibitors. Here, we review currently approved, emerging, and evolving systemic precision therapies matched with their driver oncogenes for the management of advanced NSCLC.
Utilizing High-Fidelity Simulation to Teach Pediatric Residents Clinical Nutrition
Authors: Teske Susan , Peterson Dawn Taylor , Morse Amy , Hardy Leigh , Youngblood Amber Q. , Tofil Nancy M.
Published: December 2015

Background. Pediatric nutrition concepts, important competencies for pediatric residents, are often incompletely taught in lectures. Objective. Demonstrate use of simulation as an effective and well-received method to teach nutrition to pediatric residents. Design. This qualitative study was designed to describe the learning needs of residents and gain insight into how residents receive nutrition information using a simulation. A survey containing nutrition knowledge questions and self-assessed comfort level was administered to residents during two conferences. Upon completion of the simulation, feedback from residents regarding its utility was collected. Participants/Setting. During their inpatient service, twenty-four residents participated in monthly simulations between January 2014 and February 2015. Intervention. Based on the needs assessments, learning objectives were derived leading to development of a simulation scenario with scripted roles and debriefing points led by experts in simulation and nutrition. Main outcome measures. The primary outcome measure obtained was the pediatric residents’ rating of the simulation. Statistical analyses performed. Using SPSS software (Chicago, IL), averages/standard deviations were calculated, and a one-way analysis of variance was done to compare test results across different resident levels. Results. 96% (23/24) strongly agreed the experience will improve performance in clinical settings. 100% (24/24) strongly agreed the simulation was a valuable learning experience and 92% (22/24) strongly agreed the debriefing was valuable. Learning themes that emerged aligned with learning objectives and included: manifestations of trace element deficiencies, nutrition history, infant formula preparation/storage, and cultural differences in feeding practices. Conclusion: Nutrition simulation appears to be a well-received educational method for pediatric residents.
Regional Differential Genetic Response of Human Articular Cartilage to Impact Injury
Authors: Vernon Lauren L. , Vance Danica D. , Wang Liyong , Rampersaud Evadnie , Vance Jeffery M. , Pericak-Vance Margaret , Huang C.-Y. Charles , Kaplan Lee D.
Published: December 2015

Objective

Normal physiological movement creates different weightbearing zones within a human knee: the medial condyle bearing the highest and the trochlea bearing the lowest weight. Adaptation to different physiological loading conditions results in different tissue and cellular properties within a knee. The objective of this study was to use microarray analysis to examine gene expression differences among three anatomical regions of human knee articular cartilage at baseline and following induction of an acute impact injury.

Design

Cartilage explants were harvested from 7 cadaveric knees (12 plugs per knee). A drop tower was utilized to introduce injury. Plugs were examined 24 hours after impact for gene expression using microarray. The primary analysis is the comparison of baseline versus impacted samples within each region separately. In addition, pairwise comparisons among the three regions were performed at baseline and after impact. False discovery rate (FDR) was used to evaluate significance of differential gene expression.

Results

In the comparison of before and after injury, the trochlear had 130 differentially expressed genes (FDR ≤ 0.05) while the condyles had none. In the comparison among regions, smaller sets of differentially expressed genes ( n ≤ 21) were found, with trochlea being more different than the condyles. Most of more frequently expressed genes in trochlea are developmental genes.

Conclusions

Within the experimental setup of this study, only the trochlea was displaying an acute genetic response on injury. Our data demonstrated the regional-specific response to injury in human articular cartilage.
The Unsung Benefits of Material Things
Authors: Weidman Aaron C. , Dunn Elizabeth W.
Published: December 2015

Although research suggests that people derive more happiness from buying life experiences than material objects, almost no studies have examined how people actually feel while consuming real-world experiential and material purchases. In the present research, we provided the first examination of people’s momentary happiness while consuming these purchases. Participants were randomly assigned to spend C$20 on a material versus experiential purchase (Study 1) or to report a material versus experiential gift they received at Christmas (Study 2); participants in both studies reported their momentary happiness regarding these purchases over 2 weeks, using daily-diary (Study 1) and experience-sampling (Study 2) methodologies. Results suggest that material and experiential purchases deliver happiness in two distinct flavors: Material purchases provide more frequent momentary happiness over time, whereas experiential purchases provide more intense momentary happiness on individual occasions.
The hierarchy of mobile phone incorporation among older users
Authors: Nimrod Galit
Published: December 2015

Older people use mobile telephones extensively, yet little is known about the relevant domestication processes. Employing usage variety as an indicator, this study explores levels of mobile phone incorporation among older users, based on an online cross-European survey of 1,039 individuals aged 60 and up. Results displayed a four-level pyramid structure of mobile phone incorporation with voice calling at its base, proceeding through basic functions and Internet-based functions to media player at its apex. The two upper levels were negatively associated with reported “old” media use (e.g., television, radio) and positively correlated with use of more advanced technology-based media. Younger age, higher education and income, work force participation, and residence in Italy or Israel predicted higher levels of mobile phone incorporation. The findings suggested that the incorporation phase of mobile phone domestication by older Internet users comprises various subphases and that level of incorporation depends on one’s personal and cultural background. Furthermore, results demonstrated that mobile phones replace old media to some extent and complement the use of other new media.
Thalassemia and sickle cell anemia in Swedish immigrants: Genetic diseases have become global
Authors: Hemminki Kari , Li Xinjun , Försti Asta , Sundquist Jan , Sundquist Kristina
Published: December 2015

Aims:

Some 15% of the Swedish population is born outside Sweden, originating from all continents of the world. Thalassemia and sickle cell anemia constitute the most common inherited recessive disorders globally and they are endemic in areas of Africa and Asia, origins of many immigrants to Sweden. We aimed at investigating the origins of the Swedish sickle cell and thalassemia patients.

Methods:

Patients were identified using data from the Swedish Hospital Discharge Register since 1987 and from the Outpatient Register since 2001 up to year 2010.

Results:

A total of 3064 persons were diagnosed with thalassemia. The incidence was highest, 62.9/100,000 for immigrants from Thailand, followed by Iraqis (47.1/100,000); the rate was 0.7/100,000 among those born in Sweden. The total number of sickle cell anemia patients was 584 and the highest rate of 13.0/100,000 was found for Sub-Saharan immigrants. For thalassemia, 363 of the patients were siblings, while for sickle cell anemia, 180 were siblings.

Conclusions:

The data showed that >90% of sickle cell and thalassemia patients were first- or second-generation immigrants to Sweden and the endemic regions for these were the origins of immigrants with the highest incidence. Global immigration provides global challenges to national health care systems.
Systematic review and network meta-analysis of the relative efficacy and safety of edoxaban versus other nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and CHADS2 score ⩾ 2
Authors: Fernandez Maria M , Wang Jianmin , Ye Xin , Kwong Winghan Jacqueline , Sherif Bintu , Hogue Susan , Sherrill Beth
Published: December 2015

Background:

The nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants pivotal clinical trials for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation have important differences in trial designs and baseline patient characteristics.

Objective:

We sought to evaluate the relative efficacy and safety of edoxaban versus other nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in the management of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation by adjusting for differences in baseline stroke risk and the length of follow-up among the four phase 3 randomized controlled trials.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials evaluating the nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and performed a network meta-analysis using data from ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48, RE-LY, ROCKET-AF, and ARISTOTLE, with warfarin as a common comparator. To adjust for between-trial differences in CHADS2 score and length of follow-up, annualized event rates among patients with CHADS2 score ⩾ 2 were analyzed using a mixed Poisson’s regression model.

Results:

Once-daily high-dose edoxaban was associated with significant lower major bleeding episodes compared with once-daily rivaroxaban (risk ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.66–0.89), twice-daily dabigatran 150 mg (risk ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.61–0.84), and twice-daily dabigatran 110 mg (risk ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.71–0.98) and similar bleeding risk compared with twice-daily apixaban (risk ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.91–1.28). Risk of stroke and systemic embolism was similar for the high-dose edoxaban and other nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant regimens. The low-dose edoxaban regimen was associated with a significant lower risk of major bleeding than other nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants and a significant higher risk of stroke and systemic embolism compared with apixaban and dabigatran 150 mg.

Conclusion:

Among patients with atrial fibrillation and CHADS2 score ⩾ 2, the high-dose edoxaban regimen may offer similar efficacy to the other nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants but with a significant major bleeding benefit over rivaroxaban and dabigatran.
An observational study comparing the prototype device with the existing device for the effective visualization of invisible veins in elderly patients in Japan
Authors: Kimori Keiko , Sugama Junko , Nakatani Toshio , Nakayama Kazuya , Miyati Tosiaki , Sanada Hiromi
Published: December 2015

Objective:

To compare the performance on the detection of the invisible veins between our modified prototype device and an existing device in elderly hospitalized patients.

Methods:

A prospective, cross-sectional, and observational study was performed in the invisible veins in elderly patients. The major variables, skin color near the invisible veins, and diameter and depth of the invisible veins were measured. The vein visualization rate was calculated as the ratio of the visualized veins to the invisible veins by the visualization device.

Results:

We analyzed 53 invisible veins in the cubital fossa and 56 invisible veins in the forearm in a total of 72 patients (median age, 73 years). The visualization rate for our prototype device was higher than that for an existing device in the cubital fossa and the forearm sites. The visualized veins of the prototype device had a higher intensity ratio than that of an existing device. No significant differences were observed in the body mass index, vein depth, and vein diameter of the visualized veins at the cubital fossa and forearm sites.

Conclusion:

The prototype surpassed the existing device in visualizing the invisible veins. However, the prototype was unable to visualize all the invisible veins. We need to look for ways to reduce noise and to visualize the invisible veins, and the visualization rate of devices needs to be investigated in further association with the percentage of success with actual intravenous access and locating time to vein.
Self-resolving focal non-ossifying myositis: a poorly known clinical and imaging entity diagnosed with MRI
Authors: Perlepe Vasiliki , Dallaudière Benjamin , Omoumi Patrick , Hristova Lora , Rezzazadeh Afshin , Vande Berg Bruno , Malghem Jacques , Lecouvet Frederic
Published: December 2015

Background

Focal myositis is a rare benign inflammatory pseudotumor, presenting as a painful nodular mass within a muscle, and characterized by spontaneous resolution within weeks.

Purpose

To assess the clinical and imaging findings of focal nodular myositis simulating a neoplasm at clinical examination, with no history of trauma.

Material and Methods

This study describes the locations and appearance at ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of this condition in a series of five patients.

Results

MRI and US displayed a solid intramuscular “tumor” and suggested a continuum between the proximal and distal muscle fibers that appeared thickened within the nodular lesion, a sign that has been reported in myositis ossificans. MRI showed edema in adjacent muscles and soft tissues, as well as intense enhancement of the mass. Intense vascular flows were seen at Doppler analysis. CT did not reveal the appearance of peripheral ossifications, ruling out the diagnosis of myositis ossificans. In some patients, the diagnosis of sarcoma had been suggested as possible by the radiologist. Imaging follow-up with MRI showed complete resolution of the masses over several weeks, thus avoiding a biopsy; no recurrence was observed at long-term follow-up (more than 24 months).

Conclusion

This paper highlights MRI and US findings in focal non-ossifying myositis, and emphasizes the role of MRI in suggesting this diagnosis, leading to the careful follow-up of the lesion until its resolution, and ruling out more aggressive lesions.
Non-contrast-enhanced hepatic MR arteriography with balanced steady-state free-precession and time spatial labeling inversion pulse: optimization of the inversion time at 3 Tesla
Authors: Kawahara Seiya , Isoda Hiroyoshi , Ohno Tsuyoshi , Furuta Akihiro , Togashi Kaori
Published: December 2015

Background

A 3 Tesla (3 T) magnetic resonance (MR) scanner is a promising tool for upper abdominal angiography. However, no report has focused on the contrast behavior of non-contrast-enhanced hepatic MR arteriography at 3 T.

Purpose

To establish the optimal inversion time (TI) for favorable selective visualization of the hepatic arteries on non-contrast-enhanced MR arteriography with time spatial labeling inversion pulse (Time-SLIP) at 3 T.

Material and Methods

Twenty-five healthy volunteers were examined using respiratory-triggered three-dimensional balanced steady-state free-precession combined with Time-SLIP. According to the difference in the TI, five image groups (A, B, C, D, and E, from 1200 to 2000 ms, increasing at 200-ms intervals) were performed and compared to detect the optimal TI for hepatic artery visualization. The relative Cv-l (vessel-to-liver contrast) was quantified. For qualitative evaluation, the vessel visualization quality and order of the depicted hepatic artery branches were evaluated.

Results

In group C (TI of 1600 ms), the Cv-l showed the highest probably due to a favorable balance between the hepatic vessel signal and signal recovery of the surrounding tissue. Regarding qualitative assessment, in group C, the mean image quality score of all hepatic arteries and mean maximal visible order of the hepatic artery branches were the highest. However, there was no significant difference between these results.

Conclusion

Non-contrast-enhanced hepatic MR arteriography with Time-SLIP at 3 T enabled the selective visualization of hepatic arteries at a TI of 1600 ms with an optimal balance between Cv-l and peripheral hepatic artery visualization.
A Member of Complementary Medicinal Food
Authors: Kolayli Sevgi , Sahin Huseyin , Can Zehra , Yildiz Oktay , Malkoc Meltem , Asadov Alsever
Published: December 2015

This study investigated various chemical and antioxidant properties of Anatolian royal jelly samples. Moisture, pH, total protein, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) and sugars were analyzed from 18 samples. Total phenolic contents, ferric reducing antioxidant capacity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity were measured as antioxidant determinants. 10-HDA contents and total protein content of fresh weight ranged between 1.0% and 3.9%, and 11.4% and 15.8%, respectively. The main sugars detected were glucose and fructose. Maltose, trehalose, and melibiose were detected at less than 1.0% in all samples. Lactose, a milk sugar, was detected in only 3 samples, at values between 0.8% and 1.4%. Total henolic content ranged from 91.0 to 301.0 mg gallic acid equivalents/kg fresh weight. Antioxidant activity is due to both to the total phenolic content, proteins and fatty acids of royal jelly. Anatolian royal jelly samples were not different from other royal jelly samples from across the world.
For Better or for Worse: The Impact of Social Media on Chinese Sports Journalists
Authors: Li Bo , Stokowski Sarah , Dittmore Stephen W. , Scott Olan K. M.
Published: December 2015

The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of social media in Chinese sports journalism. After distributing an online survey using a snowball sampling technique, a total of 133 Chinese sports journalists working in print media participated in this study. The results indicated that news gathering was reported as a primary motivation to use social media. Weibo and WeChat, two localized social networking tools, were the most commonly used tools among participants. Nearly half of participating sports journalists admitted that monitoring information on social media increased their pressure level and created workloads. The majority of sports journalists believed social media had weakened their gatekeeping role due to the increase in citizen journalists and the increase in channels and sources from which users obtain news and information. The study also found that the relationship between journalists and athletes has also been altered with the advent of social media.
The wilderness in Kalidasa’s poetry: A classical ancient formulation?
Authors: Roy Kumkum
Published: December 2015

Kākudāsa in the Raghuvaṃśa has a special place for the forest; but as the following investigation shows it is an idyllic rather than a natural one. It is rather tailored to perform a particular function in the world of ritual as well as dynastic legitimisation. This explains why, when the need arises, it can also be portrayed as a source of desolation, even terror.
Ireland, India and the British empire
Authors: Ohlmeyer Jane
Published: December 2015

Ireland’s being England’s oldest, and India’s being its largest colony, there was a natural relationship that developed between the nationalist movements of Ireland and India in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. That relationship succeeded an earlier one, in which Ireland, being a part of the metropolis was also a co-sharer in the empire. There was yet a third source of complexity, partitions as the price of freedom. This essay aspires to examine the various aspects of what is both a comparative and connected history.