bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical and thermal properties of graphene–carbon nanotube-reinforced metal matrix composites: A molecular dynamics study
Authors: Sharma Sumit , Kumar Pramod , Chandra Rakesh
Published: December 2016

Single layer graphene sheets and carbon nanotubes have resulted in the development of new materials for a variety of applications. Though there are a large number of experimental and numerical studies related to these nanofillers, still there is a lack of understanding of the effect of geometrical characteristics of these nanofillers on their mechanical properties. In this study, molecular dynamics simulation has been used to assess this issue. Two different computational models, single layer graphene sheets–copper and carbon nanotube–copper composites have been examined to study the effect of nanofiller geometry on Young’s modulus and thermal conductivity of these nanocomposites. Effect of increase in temperature on Young’s modulus has also been predicted using molecular dynamics. The effect of nanofiller volume fraction ( Vf) on Young’s modulus and thermal conductivity has also been studied. Results of thermal conductivity obtained using molecular dynamics have been compared with theoretical models. Results show that with increase in Vf the Young’s modulus as well as thermal conductivity of single layer graphene sheets–Cu composites increases at a faster rate than that for carbon nanotube–Cu composite. For the same Vf, the Young’s modulus of single layer graphene sheets–Cu composite is higher than carbon nanotube–Cu composite.
Characterization of functional single jersey knitted fabrics using non-conventional yarns for sportswear
Authors: Souza Jefferson M , Sampaio Sandra , Silva Welter C , de Lima Sidney G , Zille Andrea , Fangueiro Raul
Published: December 2016

Eight functional single jersey plain knitted fabrics have been developed in order to assess a quantitative analysis of various comfort-related properties in terms of thermal control, air and water vapor permeability, wickability, coefficient of kinetic friction and antimicrobial efficiency, using eight different commercially available functional yarns: Polyester Craque® and viscose Craque® conventional yarns as controls; Finecool® and Coolmax® polyester yarns for moisture management and quick drying; Holofiber® polyester yarns containing an optical responsive material that the producer claims to improve body oxygenation; Airclo® polyester hollow yarns for efficient control of body temperature; and, finally, polyester Trevira® and viscose Seacell® for antimicrobial activity. According to the results, Coolmax® for moisture management, Airclo® for thermal control and Seacell® for antimicrobial activity present the best performances as technical textiles for sportswear for the respective specific functional property.
Teaching Sociology Resources as Classified by Topical Areas
Authors: Cardwell Marissa
Published: December 2016

The following index includes all articles, conversations, notes, and reviews published in Teaching Sociology from January 2010 (volume 38, issue 1) through October 2016 (volume 44, issue 4). The purpose of this index is to provide an organized resource for instructors who are designing courses for the first time and for instructors who seek to integrate fresh ideas and approaches in their classes. By organizing the index according to topical areas (e.g., sexualities, sociology of culture, education), each publication has been categorized by subject area, enhancing the capacities of readers to locate and access recent publications in particular areas of interest.
Myocardial cytochrome oxidase activity increases with age and hypoxemia in patients with congenital heart disease
Authors: Onwugbufor Michael , Levy Richard J. , Zurakowski David , Jonas Richard A. , Sinha Pranava
Published: December 2016

Background:

Myocardial tolerance to ischemia is influenced by age and preoperative cyanosis through unknown mechanisms and significantly affects postoperative outcomes. Cytochrome c oxidase (CcOx), the terminal enzyme of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, may play a role in the susceptibility to ischemic-reperfusion (IR) injury. Our study aimed at investigating changes in human myocardial CcOx activity based on age and preoperative oxygen saturation to understand its role in transition from neonatal to mature myocardium and hypoxic conditions.

Methods:

The right atrial appendage from patients undergoing first time surgical repair/palliation of congenital heart defects was analyzed for steady state CcOx activity by oxidation of ferrocytochrome c via spectrophotometry and steady state CcOx subunit I protein content by protein immunoblotting. Student’s t-test compared CcOx activity and protein levels between patients with preoperative hypoxia and normoxia. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the effects of age and preoperative arterial oxygen saturations (SaO2) on CcOx protein activity and protein content.

Results:

Thirty-two patients with a median (interquartile range) age of 83 days (8-174) and preoperative oxygen saturation 98% (85-100%) were enrolled. Independent of age, preoperative SaO2 ⩽90% was associated with significantly greater CcOx steady state activity (p=0.004). Additionally, older age itself was associated with increased CcOx steady state activity (p=0.022); the combination of preoperative SaO2 and age account for 33% of the variation in CcOx steady state activity (R2=0.332). There was no increase in the CcOx subunit I protein content with either age or preoperative hypoxia.

Conclusions:

In patients with congenital heart disease, an increase in CcOx steady state activity is seen with increasing age. Hypoxia leads to upregulation of CcOx steady state activity without an increase in the amount of enzyme protein itself. Higher CcOx activity in older and cyanotic patients may indicate CcOx-dependent reactive oxygen species as the mechanism for IR injury.
Effect of dexmedetomidine on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients after general anaesthesia: A meta-analysis
Authors: Zhou Chengmao , Zhu Yu , Liu Zhen , Ruan Lin
Published: December 2016

Objective

We undertook a meta-analysis to investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine on postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD).

Methods

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CNKI and Google Scholar to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the influence of dexmedetomidine on POCD in elderly adults who had undergone general anaesthesia. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated methodologic quality against inclusion and exclusion criteria. We used RevMan 5.2 to undertake our meta-analysis.

Results

Thirteen RCTs were included. Compared with controls, dexmedetomidine: 1) significantly reduced the incidence of POCD (relative risk = 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45–2.95) and improved Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score (mean difference, MD = 1.74, 95% CI 0.43–3.05) on the first postoperative day; and 2) reduced the incidence of POCD after the first postoperative day (MD = 2.73, 95% CI 1.33–4.12).

Conclusion

Dexmedetomidine reduces the incidence of POCD and improves postoperative MMSE score.
Anti- trachea inflammatory effects of diosgenin from Dioscorea nipponica through interactions with glucocorticoid receptor α
Authors: Junchao Yang , Zhen Wang , Yuan Wang , Liying Xu , Libin Jiang , Yuanhong Zhu , Wei Zhao , Ruilin Chen , Lu Zhai
Published: December 2016

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease characterized by symptoms of chronic inflammation and airway structural and functional changes. It affects about 300 million people worldwide and causes 250 000 deaths annually, but its symptoms can be greatly relieved by regular use of inhaled glucocorticoids (GCs). GCs exert their function through interacting with glucocorticoid receptors (GRs). Diosgenin is a naturally occurring steroidal saponin abundantly present in many medicinal plants, including Dioscorea nipponica, which shares a similar steroidal structure with GC. In this study, ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic mice and primary tracheal epithelial cells (TECs) were used as research models. ELISAs were applied to measure the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, while quantitative PCR and western blotting were applied to evaluate expression of GRs SLPI, TTP, GILZ, MKP-1, and NF-κB. Our data demonstrated that diosgenin suppressed the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 by enhancing the expression of GRs, SLPI, GILZ, and MKP-1, and inhibiting the expression of HSP70. These data provide some evidence on the molecular mechanism of diosgenin, which might facilitate its clinical applications.
Doping Among Professional Athletes in Iran: A Test of Akers’s Social Learning Theory
Authors: Kabiri Saeed , Cochran John K. , Stewart Bernadette J. , Sharepour Mahmoud , Rahmati Mohammad Mahdi , Shadmanfaat Syede Massomeh
Published: December 2016

The use of performance-enhancing drugs (PED) is common among Iranian professional athletes. As this phenomenon is a social problem, the main purpose of this research is to explain why athletes engage in “doping” activity, using social learning theory. For this purpose, a sample of 589 professional athletes from Rasht, Iran, was used to test assumptions related to social learning theory. The results showed that there are positive and significant relationships between the components of social learning theory (differential association, differential reinforcement, imitation, and definitions) and doping behavior (past, present, and future use of PED). The structural modeling analysis indicated that the components of social learning theory accounts for 36% of the variance in past doping behavior, 35% of the variance in current doping behavior, and 32% of the variance in future use of PED.
Exploring accessibility from spatial interaction data: An evaluation of the Essential Air Service (EAS) program in the contiguous US air transport system
Authors: Park Yongha , O’Kelly Morton E
Published: December 2016

This paper is primarily concerned with the accessibility of airports located in small and geographically isolated communities. Specifically, it carries out a sensitivity analysis to derive rates of change for the parameters of a spatial interaction model applied to empirical air passenger trip data, and interprets the results focusing on the local airports subsidized by the Essential Air Service program. An empirical trip based accessibility measure is developed for individual airports in the contiguous US air transportation system. The measure enables us to capture the distinctive roles of small airports, which primarily function as regional associates of nearby cities and entrances for long-haul trips via major hub(s) to continental-scale connections. We observe the geographic and temporal variability of accessibility among airports, regarding the external factors including the dynamics of air carriers’ routing schemes, as well as global and local circumstances. Their impacts on passenger journey lengths are substantial at the local airports due to the few available connections. This issue has received less attention in existing subsidy program assessments. Furthermore, we explore the geographic distribution of non-subsidized local airports showing similar accessibility conditions. This paper enhances prior development by showing that the rates of change in accessibility scores are largely stable over recent national air passenger data.
“I never felt targeted as an Asian … until I went to a gay pub”: Sexual racism and the aesthetic geographies of the bad encounter
Authors: Ruez Derek
Published: December 2016

Encounters across difference—in city spaces marked by diverse migration trajectories, cultural differences, and racialized hierarchies—have captured the attention of urban scholars concerned with both the challenge of “living with difference” and the promise of multicultural conviviality that inhere in the super-diversity of many cities. Expanding on approaches that focus on analyzing the conditions of a good or “meaningful” encounter that can reduce prejudice or promote intercultural understanding, this paper brings interviews with queer Asian men in Sydney, Australia into dialogue with Sara Ahmed's revaluation of the “bad encounter.” It shows how research on encounters can more productively engage with how negative encounters can become meaningful political occasions in their own right. Focusing on the problem of sexual racism as it emerges in accounts shared by participants, the paper highlights dating and sex as important moments through which the aesthetic orderings of race, gender, and sexuality shape the unevenly shared spaces of citizenship and urban life.
The great British housing crisis
Authors: Robertson Mary
Published: December 2016

Noting the recent resurgence of housing as a political issue, this article takes a historic view of the origins of the current housing crisis. While the foundations of the contemporary housing system were laid in the period following the First World War, the roots of the crisis lie in two developments in the 1980s: the privatisation of the social housing stock through the Right to Buy and the growth of mortgage lending in response to financial liberalisation. These two changes combined to produce an upsurge in ground rent on residential land and a restructuring of housing consumption and production around the pursuit of this ground rent. This article ends by outlining a range of policy measures and considering the prospects for their implementation.
Girl Power or Powerless Girl? Television, Sexual Scripts, and Sexual Agency in Sexually Active Young Women
Authors: Seabrook Rita C. , Ward L. Monique , Cortina Lilia M. , Giaccardi Soraya , Lippman Julia R.
Published: December 2016

Both traditional gender roles and traditional heterosexual scripts outline sexual roles for women that center on sexual passivity, prioritizing others’ needs, and self-silencing. Acceptance of these roles is associated with diminished sexual agency. Because mainstream media are a prominent source of traditional gender portrayals, we hypothesized that media use would be associated with diminished sexual agency for women, as a consequence of the traditional sexual roles conveyed. We modeled the relations among television (TV) use, acceptance of gendered sexual scripts, and sexual agency (sexual assertiveness, condom use self-efficacy, and sexual shame) in 415 sexually active undergraduate women. As expected, both TV exposure and perceived realism of TV content were associated with greater endorsement of gendered sexual scripts, which in turn were associated with lower sexual agency. Endorsement of gendered sexual scripts fully mediated the relation between TV use and sexual agency. Results suggest that endorsement of traditional gender roles and sexual scripts may be an important predictor of college women’s sexual agency. Interventions targeting women’s sexual health should focus on encouraging media literacy and dismantling gender stereotypic heterosexual scripts. Online slides for instructors who want to use this article for teaching are available on PWQ's website at http://journals.sagepub.com/page/pwq/suppl/index .
Paradoxes of Restorative Justice in the Workplace
Authors: Paul Gregory D.
Published: December 2016

Proponents of restorative justice argue that restorative practices are more effective than legalistic practices at addressing detrimental personal and relational outcomes of hurtful behavior. Following this thinking, researchers have argued that restorative justice offers the promise of constructive outcomes in the workplace as well. Yet, when adapted into workplace policies and norms, the potential exists for the use of restorative practices paradoxically to reinforce legalistic organizing structures and practices. Based on interviews with employees at an organization that codified and promoted restorative practices, this study identifies several paradoxes that can occur when engaging in restorative practices within a traditional, bureaucratic organizational structure. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of these paradoxes for the understanding and practice of restorative justice in the workplace.
Ethnic Differences in Fall Risk Among Community-Dwelling Older People in the Netherlands
Authors: El Fakiri Fatima , Kegel Amber A. , Schouten Gea M. , Berns Mary P. H.
Published: December 2016

Objective: This study measures the prevalence of falls and fear of falling among a population sample aged ≥65 years from different ethnic minorities living in the Netherlands, and examines whether ethnicity contributed to the differences in fall risk. Method: We analyzed data from 8,892 Dutch, Moroccan, Turkish, and Surinamese participants. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were conducted with falls and fear of falling as the dependent variable and ethnicity as the independent variable. Results: Moroccan, Turkish, and Surinamese older adults had a significantly higher odds ratio (OR) for fear of falling than their Dutch counterparts (OR = 2.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.05, 4.31]; OR = 2.09, 95% CI = [1.07, 4.09]; and OR = 2.49, 95% CI = [1.53, 4.03], respectively). The association between ethnicity and falling disappeared after controlling for socio-demographic and health characteristics. Discussion: Dutch minority older adults were at higher risk for fear of falling than their Dutch counterparts. The study underlines the need for targeting culture-sensitive interventions.
Perceived Benefit From Hearing Aid Use and Life-Space Mobility Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Polku Hannele , Mikkola Tuija M. , Gagné Jean-Pierre , Rantakokko Merja , Portegijs Erja , Rantanen Taina , Viljanen Anne
Published: December 2016

Objectives: To examine the association between perceived benefit from hearing aid (HA) use and life-space mobility among older adults. Method: Cross-sectional analysis of 76- to 91-year-old community-dwelling adults ( n = 702). Data on perceived hearing with and without a HA were obtained via postal questionnaire and data on life-space mobility (Life-Space Assessment, range = 0-120) via phone interview. Results: Participants who perceived more benefit from HA use, had a better life-space mobility score ( M = 65, SD = 2.6) than participants who had less benefit from using a HA ( M = 55, SD = 3.2). Participants who benefitted more from HA use did not differ from those who did not have a HA ( M = 63, SD = 0.9) in their life-space mobility score. Discussion: Perceived benefit from HA use is associated with higher life-space mobility among community-dwelling older adults. Future studies are needed to examine whether use of an appropriate HA promotes life-space mobility among those with difficulties in hearing.
Characterization of the rear wake of a SUV with extensions and without extensions
Authors: Sebben Simone , Sterken Lennert , Wölken Thies
Published: December 2016

Passenger vehicles are considered to be bluff bodies, and therefore their total aerodynamic resistance is dominated by the pressure drag, which is basically the difference between the stagnation pressure at the front and the pressure at the base. In particular, the base wake of a vehicle has a significant influence on the total drag, and the ways to reduce and to control the drag have been the subject of numerous investigations. The present work focuses on the identification and analysis of unsteady-flow structures acting on the base wake of a sport utility vehicle with rear-end extensions and without rear-end extensions. Tapered extensions have proved to be an effective way to reduce the drag since they act as a truncated boat-tailing device which improves the pressure recovery zone and reduces the wake size. In this investigation, wind tunnel experiments and computational fluid dynamics were used to study the forces acting on the vehicle and the non-stationary behaviour of the rear wake flow. For analysis of the unsteady base pressures, a data-structure-sensitive filtering approach based on empirical mode decomposition in combination with fast Fourier transform and proper orthogonal decomposition was used. The numerical results and the experimental results complement each other well, and both revealed an antisymmetric mode in the transverse plane related to a flapping of the wake at a Strouhal number of around 0.23. Furthermore, a pumping effect, which is a main contributor to the drag, was observed at Strouhal values of between 0.04 and 0.07. This is in good agreement with the results from the research on more simplified model shapes. The rear extensions proved to be a productive way to reduce the drag coefficient and the magnitude of the wake flapping for the yaw angles investigated.
On the effect of operating condition on separated-flow control by nanosecond pulse discharge actuators
Authors: Du Hai , Shi Zhiwei , Cheng Keming , Jiang Xuan , Li Zheng
Published: December 2016

The surface dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator driven by nanosecond pulses is recognized as an effective fluid actuator for flow separation control. The operation condition of nanosecond dielectric barrier discharge actuators for separated flow control still requires further study, particularly prioritizing the improvement of the effectiveness and reducing energy consumption in flow separation control implementation. In this study, experiments are conducted using a two-dimensional NASA SC(2)-0712 airfoil in a wind tunnel with a Reynolds number of 0.5 × 106 (25 m/s). The pressure measurement experiments show that the location of actuators affects the efficiency of separation control. Particle image velocimetry results indicate that the most efficient location of the actuator is upstream of the separation point and near the original point of the separated shear layer. Meanwhile, the particle image velocimetry results show the vorticity attaches to the airfoil wall after discharge, which suggests that the reattachment is due to the generation of large-scale vortices. These present structures result in the mixing of the shear layer with the main flow thereby delaying separation and reattaching a separated flow. This study shows the most efficient location related to the separation point. Furthermore, it indicates the reattachment of flow is attributed to the motion of vortexes coherent structure.
Investigation of imaging magnification in radiostereometric analysis
Authors: Broberg Jordan S , Yuan Xunhua , Teeter Matthew G
Published: December 2016

Radiostereometric analysis is a highly accurate imaging technique. A recent advance in radiostereometric analysis is the use of flat panel digital radiography, which provides the opportunity for quick analysis using radiostereometric analysis. However, such a setup is expensive. Using large cassettes for small joints could minimize the cost. In this article, we investigated the influence of cassette size for small joint examinations with a biplanar radiostereometric analysis setup. Our results indicated that there is no significant difference in the precision when using large cassettes over small cassettes, whether or not imaging magnification is applied.
A 3-year follow-up of a patient with acute renal failure caused by thrombotic microangiopathy related to antiphospholipid syndrome: case report
Authors: Zhou X-J , Chen M , Wang S-X , Zhou F-D , Zhao M-H
Published: December 2016

Background

Microvascular manifestations of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome in the kidneys include acute renal failure, thrombotic microangiopathy and hypertension. Therapy has been largely empiric.

Case report

A 49-year-old Chinese man presented with anuric acute renal failure without abundant proteinuria and heavy haematuria, but markedly low levels of urinary sodium, potassium and chlorine upon admission. On day 1 of hospitalization, his thrombocytopenia, anaemia and renal failure showed rapid progression. The presence of lupus anticoagulant and vascular ischaemia of the small vessels in renal arteriography were also observed. Anticoagulants, continuous renal replacement therapy, glucocorticoids and six sessions of plasma exchange were started. After the fourth plasma exchange (on day 20), his urine output increased and began to normalize. On day 25, haemodialysis was stopped and his general condition gradually improved. A renal biopsy was subsequently performed, and the histopathological diagnosis was thrombotic microangiopathy due to antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. A further 3-year follow-up showed that his haemoglobin level, platelet count and serum creatinine were within the normal range, with stable blood pressure.

Conclusion

Treatment modalities such as anticoagulation, immunosuppression and plasma exchange are likely to be necessary when severe acute renal failure combined with thrombotic microangiopathy present in nephropathy of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.
I will do it tomorrow! Exploring the dimensionality of procrastination in Poland
Authors: Przepiorka Aneta M , Blachnio Agata , Díaz-Morales Juan F
Published: December 2016

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the widely used general procrastination, decisional procrastination, and adult inventory of procrastination scales in both undergraduate and adult Polish populations. Polish versions of these scales were filled out by 390 student and 513 adult participants. Principal component analysis indicated one-factor structure for each scale. The pattern of loadings was congruent between student and adult samples. The item-total correlation coefficients were adequate in each sample, with higher Cronbach's alpha values in adults compared to students, who reported higher procrastination scores in general procrastination and decisional procrastination scales. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the unidimensional model emerged as the best fit when the three scales were considered together. The results of the study suggest that Polish versions of the three procrastination scales are effective and reliable and contribute to the international debate about the dimensionality of procrastination.
Penny-shaped cracks in three-dimensional piezoelectric semiconductors via Green’s functions of extended displacement discontinuity
Authors: Zhao YanFei , Zhou ChunGuang , Zhao MingHao , Pan Ernian , Fan CuiYing
Published: December 2016

In this article, a penny-shaped crack in the isotropic plane of three-dimensional transversely isotropic piezoelectric semiconductors is analyzed via the displacement discontinuity boundary element method. The general solutions are derived based on the generalized Almansi’s theorem and the operator theory. Green’s functions are derived using the Hankel transformation under uniformly distributed extended displacement discontinuities (including displacement discontinuities, potential discontinuity, and electron density discontinuity) on a penny-shaped crack in the isotropic plane of three-dimensional transversely isotropic piezoelectric semiconductors. Using the extended displacement discontinuity boundary element method, penny-shaped cracks in transversely isotropic plane of three-dimensional piezoelectric semiconductors are studied, and the stress, electric displacement, and electric current intensity factors under uniform mechanical-electric-current loads applied on the penny-shaped crack surface are calculated. The fracture behaviors of piezoelectric semiconductors are studied.
Reading Big Words: Instructional Practices to Promote Multisyllabic Word Reading Fluency
Authors: Toste Jessica R. , Williams Kelly J. , Capin Philip
Published: December 2016

Poorly developed word recognition skills are the most pervasive and debilitating source of reading challenges for students with learning disabilities (LD). With a notable decrease in word reading instruction in the upper elementary grades, struggling readers receive fewer instructional opportunities to develop proficient word reading skills, yet these students face greater amounts of texts with more complex words. Poor decoders, even those who can fluently read monosyllabic words, often have difficulty with multisyllabic words, yet the average number of syllables in words that students read increases steadily throughout their school years. As such, it is necessary to identify instructional practices that will support the continued reading development of students into the upper elementary years. This article discusses the difficulty involved in multisyllabic word reading and describes five research-based instructional practices that promote the multisyllabic word reading fluency of struggling readers, particularly those with LD.
Prioritizing Elementary School Writing Instruction: Cultivating Middle School Readiness for Students With Learning Disabilities
Authors: Ciullo Stephen , Mason Linda
Published: December 2016

Helping elementary students with learning disabilities (LD) prepare for the rigor of middle school writing is an instructional priority. Fortunately, several standards-based skills in upper elementary school and middle school overlap. Teachers in upper elementary grades, specifically fourth and fifth grades, have the opportunity to provide evidence-based writing instruction that will provide readiness for middle school writing. In this article, three key writing standards are highlighted and then paired with an evidence-based instructional approach for teaching genre-based (i.e., informative, persuasive, narrative) writing instruction, revising and editing, and note taking to students with LD. Teaching procedures and resources are included.
Anisotropic (Continuum Damage Mechanics)-based multi-mechanism model for semi-crystalline polymer
Authors: Ayadi Walid , Laiarinandrasana Lucien , Saï Kacem
Published: December 2016

In this work, the anisotropic damage of semi-crystalline polymers is investigated. The model, developed within a thermodynamic framework, includes the following features: (i) the degree of crystallinity; (ii) the hydrostatic pressure effect; and (iii) the damage anisotropy. The adopted tensorial damage variable is based on the Continuum Damage Mechanics approach under the energy equivalence assumption. For the quantification of the anisotropy, a parameter called “shape factor” is defined as the ratio between the void mean diameter and the void mean height. This parameter is linked to the main axial and the main radial damage components. Experimental data taken from the recent literature using the tomography technique were selected to assess the model capability. Finite element simulations of notched round bar specimens subjected to tensile test stopped at three key loading stages are systematically compared with experimental data. The proposed model was able not only to accurately simulate the macroscopic response of the material, but more interestingly, to reproduce the spatial distribution of the shape factor. This demonstrates the anisotropy effects of the material under study induced at different stages of the deformation.
Singapore, a Garden City
Authors: Han Heejin
Published: December 2016

The rapid economic development of Singapore has been attributed to its plan-rational technocratic elite, according to the developmental state model. However, few studies have addressed the impacts of the country’s deeply entrenched developmental state tradition on its environment and environmental governance. This article establishes the nexus between these two by examining Singapore’s transition into a garden city. It demonstrates how the Singaporean government has maintained a top-down, nonparticipatory approach to policy making in line with the postulations of authoritarian environmentalism and how this mode of governance is related to the developmental state legacy. While Singapore’s environmental policy resulted in its international reputation as a model green city with a remarkable expansion of green spaces and infrastructure, these outputs signify the results of the developmental state’s deliberate planning and management based on a utilitarian view toward nature rather than on the outcomes of an organic and comprehensive transition to a green society.
Comparison of proliferative and immunomodulatory potential of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from young and geriatric cats
Authors: Zajic Lara B , Webb Tracy L , Webb Polly , Coy Jonathan W , Dow Steve W , Quimby Jessica M
Published: December 2016

Objectives

The objective of this study was to compare the ability of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (aMSCs) generated from young vs geriatric cats to proliferate in culture, suppress lymphocyte proliferation and undergo senescence.

Methods

Adipose tissues from five young (<5 years) and six geriatric (>10 years) cats were harvested and cryopreserved for subsequent aMSC isolation and culture. aMSC proliferation in culture was compared via determination of time until passage two and by 3-(4,5-demethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The immunomodulatory capacity of aMSCs was assessed using lymphocyte proliferation assays, and senescence was evaluated using senescence-associated B-galactosidase (SABG) expression. All assays were performed on aMSCs between passage two and passage three.

Results

aMSCs from geriatric cats took significantly longer ( P = 0.008) to reach passage two (median 11 days, range 9–22 days) compared with aMSCs from young healthy cats (median 7 days, range 6–8 days). No significant difference was detected between young and geriatric cats in terms of their ability to suppress lymphocyte proliferation. SABG expression was not significantly different between young and geriatric aMSCs.

Conclusions and relevance

Compared with young feline aMSCs, geriatric aMSCs are significantly impaired in their ability to rapidly proliferate to passage two following initial culture, presenting a concern for autologous therapy. Nonetheless, once the cells are expanded, young and geriatric cat aMSCs appear to be equivalent in terms of their ability to functionally suppress T-cell activation and proliferation.
Using Aesop’s Fables to Teach Political Theory and Newsgathering Practice to Journalism Students
Authors: Williams Paul D.
Published: December 2016

While the industry versus academic debate surrounding the training and education of journalists is now largely resolved in a consensus of a hybrid pedagogical model, there remains concern that even this compromise ignores journalistic ‘empowerment’. This article seeks to answer this concern with a model to empower beginning journalists by teaching students political concepts of power and authority through a novel classroom application of Aesop’s Fables. Taking the rich pedagogy literature on storytelling as its commencement, this article anatomizes how the universally familiar and popular Aesop’s Fables—with their clear cultural and political mores—not only offer easy and accessible insight into the political theory but also practical lessons that can prepare beginning journalists cognitively and intuitively as they begin newsgathering and newswriting processes. Ultimately, a study of Aesop’s Fables can produce not only more able beginning journalists but also well-rounded and engaged citizens.
Distance Education and ‘Discovery Learning’ in First-year Journalism: A Case in Subject Improvement
Authors: Ames Kate
Published: December 2016

This article examines the implications of adopting a discovery learning education model for distance education students in a first-year undergraduate journalism subject. It reviews subject enhancement strategies against learning theory and analyzes the ways students are engaged with subject content and assessment. Results of subject redesign included increased student satisfaction, greater retention and higher grades despite the increase in overall assessment requirements. It demonstrates that discovery learning based on group work and social engagement can be adopted in a distance education environment with positive outcomes. This article maps how a subject designed initially to align with a cognitivist/behaviourist model progressed to adopting a social constructivist approach. It concludes with a discussion of the issues associated with that transition.
Competing for the platform
Authors: Victor Jennifer Nicoll , Reinhardt Gina Yannitell
Published: December 2016

What explains which groups are included in a party coalition in any given election cycle? Recent advances in political party theory suggest that policy demanders comprise parties, and that the composition of a party coalition varies from election to election. We theorize three conditions under which parties articulate an interest group’s preferred positions in its quadrennial platform: when groups are ideologically proximate to the party median, when groups display party loyalty, and when groups are flush with resources. Using computer-assisted content analysis on a unique and rich data source, we examine three cycles of testimony that 80 organized groups provided to the Democratic Party. The analysis compares group requests with the content of Democratic and Republican National Committee platforms in 1996, 2000, and 2004. Results show that parties reward loyal groups and those that are ideologically proximate to the party but offer no confirmation of a resource effect.
Risk factors for major bleeding in the SEATTLE II trial
Authors: Sadiq Immad , Goldhaber Samuel Z , Liu Ping-Yu , Piazza Gregory ,   for the Submassive and Massive Pulmonary Embolism Treatment with Ultrasound AcceleraTed ThromboLysis ThErapy (SEATTLE II) Investigators
Published: December 2016

Ultrasound-facilitated, catheter-directed, low-dose fibrinolysis minimizes the risk of intracranial bleeding compared with systemic full-dose fibrinolytic therapy for pulmonary embolism (PE). However, major bleeding is nevertheless a potential complication. We analyzed the 150-patient SEATTLE II trial of submassive and massive PE patients to describe those who suffered major bleeding events following ultrasound-facilitated, catheter-directed, low-dose fibrinolysis and to identify risk factors for bleeding. Major bleeding was defined as GUSTO severe/life-threatening or moderate bleeds within 72 hours of initiation of the procedure. Of the 15 patients with major bleeding, four (26.6%) developed access site-related bleeding. Multiple venous access attempts were more frequent in the major bleeding group (27.6% vs 3.6%; p<0.001). All patients with major bleeding had femoral vein access for device delivery. Patients who developed major bleeding had a longer intensive care stay (6.8 days vs 4.7 days; p=0.004) and longer hospital stay (12.9 days vs 8.4 days; p=0.004). The frequency of inferior vena cava filter placement was 40% in patients with major bleeding compared with 13% in those without major bleeding ( p=0.02). Massive PE (adjusted odds ratio 3.6; 95% confidence interval 1.01–12.9; p=0.049) and multiple venous access attempts (adjusted odds ratio 10.09; 95% confidence interval 1.98–51.46; p=0.005) were independently associated with an increased risk of major bleeding. In conclusion, strategies for improving venous access should be implemented to reduce the risk of major bleeding associated with ultrasound-facilitated, catheter-directed, low-dose fibrinolysis. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01513759; EKOS Corporation 10.13039/100006522
Self-reported visual impairment, physical activity and all-cause mortality: The HUNT Study
Authors: Brunes Audun , Flanders W. Dana , Augestad Liv Berit
Published: December 2016

Aims: To examine the associations of self-reported visual impairment and physical activity (PA) with all-cause mortality. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 65,236 Norwegians aged ⩾20 years who had participated in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT2, 1995−1997). Of these participants, 11,074 (17.0%) had self-reported visual impairment (SRVI). The participants’ data were linked to Norway’s Cause of Death Registry and followed throughout 2012. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were assessed using Cox regression analyses with age as the time-scale. The Cox models were fitted for restricted age groups (<60, 60−84, ⩾85 years). Results: After a mean follow-up of 14.5 years, 13,549 deaths were identified. Compared with adults with self-reported no visual impairment, the multivariable hazard ratios among adults with SRVI were 2.47 (95% CI 1.94–3.13) in those aged <60 years, 1.22 (95% CI 1.13–1.33) in those aged 60–84 years and 1.05 (95% CI 0.96–1.15) in those aged ⩾85 years. The strength of the associations remained similar or stronger after additionally controlling for PA. When examining the joint associations, the all-cause mortality risk of SRVI was higher for those who reported no PA than for those who reported weekly hours of PA. We found a large, positive departure from additivity in adults aged <60 years, whereas the departure from additivity was small for the other age groups. Conclusions: Adults with SRVI reporting no PA were associated with an increased all-cause mortality risk. The associations attenuated with age.
How is low parental socioeconomic status associated with future smoking and nicotine dependence in offspring? A population-based longitudinal 13-year follow-up
Authors: Pedersen Willy , Soest Tilmann Von
Published: December 2016

Aims: Low socioeconomic status (SES) characterizes smoking and nicotine dependence in adult samples. However, less is known about how parental SES is linked to smoking in offspring and the potential mechanisms at work. Methods: A population-based longitudinal study ( n=1380) from Norway was used. Participants were followed from their mid-teens until their late 20s using survey and register data. Data were collected on parental education, parental smoking, educational aspirations and expectations, school grades and school-related conduct problems. Register data monitored education, unemployment and social welfare assistance. Risk factors for smoking and nicotine dependence were identified by means of multinomial logistic regression analyses. Mediation analyses were used to investigate the pathways between parental SES and future smoking. Results: Future smokers were recruited from families with low educational levels. Poor school grades, school dropout and low educational aspirations were also predictors. Unemployment and social welfare assistance additionally increased the risk. Parental smoking, no high school exam and welfare assistance were mediators between low parental education and high levels of nicotine dependence in young adulthood. Conclusions: Socialization to smoking reflects a multifaceted process fuelled by low parental SES. However, parental influences may be masked behind influences from schools or peers. Future research should try to capture the multiple sources of SES-related influence at work. Prevention strategies should target adolescents from low SES backgrounds, who orient towards the manual working class and who have problems entering the labour force.
Public attitudes towards people living with dementia: A cross-sectional study in urban Japan (innovative practice)
Authors: Aihara Yoko , Kato Hisako , Sugiyama Tetsuko , Ishi Kuniko , Goto Yasushi
Published: December 2016

Stigma and social isolation are major challenges in building dementia friendly communities. Information is a key factor in improving knowledge and attitudes about dementia. This cross-sectional survey aimed to investigate public attitudes towards people with dementia in an urban community in Japan. Nearly 90% of the participants responded that they were able to have a good relationship with a person with dementia and help such a person if needed. However, around half of the participants would be ashamed of a family member with dementia. A multiple regression model showed that information from television and educational classes was associated with positive attitudes towards people with dementia among older adults. Information from educational classes and the Internet was likewise associated with positive attitudes among the volunteers. Increasing the availability and accessibility of information on dementia may contribute to improving public attitudes towards people with dementia.
Promoting Gait Recovery and Limiting Neuropathic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Mercier Catherine , Roosink Meyke , Bouffard Jason , Bouyer Laurent J.
Published: December 2016

Most persons living with a spinal cord injury experience neuropathic pain in the months following their lesion, at the moment where they receive intensive gait rehabilitation. Based on studies using animal models, it has been proposed that central sensitization in nociceptive pathways (maladaptive plasticity) and plasticity related to motor learning (adaptive plasticity) share common neural mechanisms and compete with each other. This article aims to address the discrepancy between the growing body of basic science literature supporting this hypothesis and the general belief in rehabilitation research that pain and gait rehabilitation represent two independent problems. First, the main findings from basic research showing interactions between nociception and learning in the spinal cord will be summarized, focusing both on evidence demonstrating the impact of nociception on motor learning and of motor learning on central sensitization. Then, the generalizability of these findings in animal models to humans will be discussed. Finally, the way potential interactions between nociception and motor learning are currently taken into account in clinical research in patients with spinal cord injury will be presented. To conclude, recommendations will be proposed to better integrate findings from basic research into future clinical research in persons with spinal cord injury.
Applications of Three-Dimensional Printing in Surgery
Authors: Li Chi , Cheung Tsz Fung , Fan Vei Chen , Sin Kin Man , Wong Chrisity Wai Yan , Leung Gilberto Ka Kit
Published: December 2016

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a rapidly advancing technology in the field of surgery. This article reviews its contemporary applications in 3 aspects of surgery, namely, surgical planning, implants and prostheses, and education and training. Three-dimensional printing technology can contribute to surgical planning by depicting precise personalized anatomy and thus a potential improvement in surgical outcome. For implants and prosthesis, the technology might overcome the limitations of conventional methods such as visual discrepancy from the recipient’s body and unmatching anatomy. In addition, 3D printing technology could be integrated into medical school curriculum, supplementing the conventional cadaver-based education and training in anatomy and surgery. Future potential applications of 3D printing in surgery, mainly in the areas of skin, nerve, and vascular graft preparation as well as ear reconstruction, are also discussed. Numerous trials and studies are still ongoing. However, scientists and clinicians are still encountering some limitations of the technology including high cost, long processing time, unsatisfactory mechanical properties, and suboptimal accuracy. These limitations might potentially hamper the applications of this technology in daily clinical practice.