bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Fluoride-Containing Toothpastes on Enamel Demineralization and Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Architecture
Authors: Fernández Constanza E. , Fontana Margherita , Samarian Derek , Cury Jaime A. , Rickard Alexander H. , González-Cabezas Carlos
Published: April 2016

This study aimed to explore the effect of fluoridated toothpastes on biofilm architecture and enamel demineralization in an in vitro biofilm model. Streptococcus mutans was grown on enamel and treated with slurries of commercial toothpastes, containing SnF2 or NaF. Water and chlorhexidine were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. The developed biofilms were imaged and enamel demineralization was measured. SnF2 and NaF toothpaste treatments significantly reduced enamel demineralization, but SnF2 toothpaste was more effective. Only SnF2 toothpaste and chlorhexidine treatments caused reductions on biofilm mass and thickness. In conclusion, this biofilm model was able to differentiate the effects of the SnF2 and NaF toothpastes on biofilm architecture and enamel demineralization.
Mutational Profile of 10 Afflicted Egyptian Families with 17-β-HSD-3 Deficiency
Authors: Hassan Heba Amin , Mazen Inas , Gad Yehia Zakaria , Ali Ola S.M. , Mekkawy Mona , Essawi Mona L.
Published: April 2016

This study aimed at the detection of HSD17B3 gene mutations in Egyptian patients with suspected diagnosis of 46,XY DSD due to 17-β-HSD-3 deficiency and at evaluation of phenotype/genotype relationship of these mutations. The study was conducted on 11 patients of 10 families which were provisionally diagnosed to have 17-β-HSD-3 enzyme deficiency. Karyotyping, hormonal evaluation of testosterone, Δ4-androstenedione, and dihydrotestosterone, and sequencing analysis of the 11 exons of the HSD17B3 gene were done. Mutations in HSD17B3 were detected in exons 2, 7, 8, 10, and 11, and 6 novel mutations were determined in exons 1, 2, 7, and 8. Two patients showed compound heterozygous mutations, while 8 families had probands with homozygous mutations. The current study shows that 17-β-HSD-3 deficiency is not an uncommon disorder among Egyptian DSD cases. It was evidenced that the mutational profile of the disease is rather heterogeneous, relatively different from those reported in other populations, and has a high degree of novel genetic defects.
Diverse Renal Phenotypes Observed in a Single Family with a Genetic Mutation in Paired Box Protein 2
Authors: Iwafuchi Yoichi , Morioka Tetsuo , Morita Takashi , Yanagihara Toshio , Oyama Yuko , Morisada Naoya , Iijima Kazumoto , Narita Ichiei
Published: April 2016

A common renal phenotype of paired box protein 2 (PAX2) mutations is renal coloboma syndrome. We report a single family with diverse renal phenotypes associated with PAX2 mutation. The proband presented steroid-resistant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis with optic coloboma, whereas his two sons showed severe renal hypoplasia with end-stage renal disease, with or without optic coloboma. In all three cases, a heterozygous PAX2 genetic mutation was identified (exon 2; NM_003987.3:c.76dupG, p.Val26Glyfs*28). Based on histopathological findings of the proband, we hypothesized that autophagic dysfunction was associated with the pathophysiology of the focal segmental glomerulosclerosis with PAX2 mutation. Detailed funduscopic examination - including the optic disc - might be useful for the diagnosis of renal anomalies associated with PAX2 mutation.
The Correlation of Urethral Pressure Profilometry Data in Women with Different Types of Urinary Incontinence
Authors: Sharipova Kuralay , Pilsetniece Zane , Bekmukhambetov Ye , Vjaters Egils
Published: April 2016

Introduction: The aim of the study was to analyse the correlation of subjective complaints and urethral pressure profilometry (UPP) data in women with different types of urinary incontinence (UI): stress UI (SUI), urgency UI (UUI), and mixed UI (MixUI). Methods: A study group of 405 women with complaints about UI were surveyed (UDI-6; ICIQ-UI) to determine the subjectively dominant type of UI, and UPP was performed for all these women. The variables analysed by UPP were the maximum urethral closure pressure at rest (MUCPrest), maximum urethral closure pressure at cough stress (MUCPstress), functional urethral length at rest (FULrest), functional urethral length during cough stress (FULstress) test and pressure transmission ratio (PTR). The statistical variation between different groups of UI patients was calculated for all the analysed variables. Results: The value of PTR was statistically and significantly higher in the group of patients with isolated UUI, compared to the SUI and MixUI groups. The MUCPrest and MUCPstress values were consistently lower in women with isolated SUI, compared to isolated UUI. The FULrest and FULstress values showed no statistically significant difference between the groups with different types of UI. Conclusions: The PTR value is a result of UPP test that helps in distinguishing objectively between UUI, SUI, and MixUI. The PTR value can be used to characterise the hypermobility of urethra. The MUCPrest and MUCPstress values are consistently lower in women with isolated SUI, compared to those with isolated UUI. MUCP can be used as an objective criterion for differentiation of these 2 groups of patients.
Increased Late Sodium Current Contributes to the Electrophysiological Effects of Chronic, but Not Acute, Dofetilide Administration
Authors: Qiu Xiaoliang S. , Chauveau Samuel , Anyukhovsky Evgeny P. , Rahim Tania , Jiang Ya-Ping , Harleton Erin , Feinmark Steven J. , Lin Richard Z. , Coronel Ruben , Janse Michiel J. , Opthof Tobias , Rosen Tove S. , Cohen Ira S. , Rosen Michael R.
Published: April 2016

Background—

Drugs are screened for delayed rectifier potassium current (
I
Kr
) blockade to predict long QT syndrome prolongation and arrhythmogenesis. However, single-cell studies have shown that chronic (hours) exposure to some
I
Kr
blockers (eg, dofetilide) prolongs repolarization additionally by increasing late sodium current (
I
Na-L
) via inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. We hypothesized that chronic dofetilide administration to intact dogs prolongs repolarization by blocking
I
Kr
and increasing
I
Na-L
.

Methods and Results—

We continuously infused dofetilide (6–9 μg/kg bolus+6–9 μg/kg per hour IV infusion) into anesthetized dogs for 7 hours, maintaining plasma levels within the therapeutic range. In separate experiments, myocardial biopsies were taken before and during 6-hour intravenous dofetide infusion, and the level of phospho-Akt was determined. Acute and chronic dofetilide effects on action potential duration (APD) were studied in canine left ventricular subendocardial slabs using microelectrode techniques. Dofetilide monotonically increased QTc and APD throughout 6.5-hour exposure. Dofetilide infusion during ≥210 minutes inhibited Akt phosphorylation.
I
Na-L
block with lidocaine shortened QTc and APD more at 6.5 hours than at 50 minutes (QTc) or 30 minutes (APD) dofetilide administration. In comparison, moxifloxacin, an
I
Kr
blocker with no effects on phosphoinositide 3-kinase and
I
Na-L
prolonged APD acutely but no additional prolongation occurred on chronic superfusion. Lidocaine shortened APD equally during acute and chronic moxifloxacin superfusion.

Conclusions—

Increased
I
Na-L
contributes to chronic dofetilide effects in vivo. These data emphasize the need to include time and
I
Na-L
in evaluating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibition–derived proarrhythmic potential of drugs and provide a mechanism for benefit from lidocaine administration in clinical acquired long QT syndrome.
Myofiber Architecture of the Human Atria as Revealed by Submillimeter Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Authors: Pashakhanloo Farhad , Herzka Daniel A. , Ashikaga Hiroshi , Mori Susumu , Gai Neville , Bluemke David A. , Trayanova Natalia A. , McVeigh Elliot R.
Published: April 2016

Background—

Accurate knowledge of the human atrial fibrous structure is paramount in understanding the mechanisms of atrial electric function in health and disease. Thus far, such knowledge has been acquired from destructive sectioning, and there is a paucity of data about atrial fiber architecture variability in the human population.

Methods and Results—

In this study, we have developed a customized 3-dimensional diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging sequence on a clinical scanner that makes it possible to image an entire intact human heart specimen ex vivo at submillimeter resolution. The data from 8 human atrial specimens obtained with this technique present complete maps of the fibrous organization of the human atria. The findings demonstrate that the main features of atrial anatomy are mostly preserved across subjects although the exact location and orientation of atrial bundles vary. Using the full tractography data, we were able to cluster, visualize, and characterize the distinct major bundles in the human atria. Furthermore, quantitative characterization of the fiber angles across the atrial wall revealed that the transmural fiber angle distribution is heterogeneous throughout different regions of the atria.

Conclusions—

The application of submillimeter diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging provides an unprecedented level of information on both human atrial structure, as well as its intersubject variability. The high resolution and fidelity of this data could enhance our understanding of structural contributions to atrial rhythm and pump disorders and lead to improvements in their targeted treatment.
Clinical Outcomes After Evaluation of Stable Chest Pain by Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography Versus Usual Care
Authors: Bittencourt Márcio Sommer , Hulten Edward A. , Murthy Venkatesh L. , Cheezum Michael , Rochitte Carlos E. , Carli Marcelo F. Di , Blankstein Ron
Published: April 2016

Background—

Limited data exist on how noninvasive testing options compare for evaluating patients with suspected stable coronary artery disease. In this study, we have performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing the use of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) with usual care.

Methods and Results—

We systematically searched databases for randomized clinical trials comparing coronary CTA with usual care for the evaluation of stable chest pain with follow-up for cardiovascular outcomes. The primary outcomes were myocardial infarction and all-cause mortality. We identified 4 randomized clinical trials, including a total of 7403 patients undergoing coronary CTA and 7414 patients undergoing usual care with various functional testing approaches. When compared with usual care, the use of coronary CTA was associated with a significant reduction in the annual rate of myocardial infarction (rate ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.49–0.98;
P
=0.038), but no difference was found in all-cause mortality. There was a trend toward more invasive coronary angiographies among patients undergoing coronary CTA (odds ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.95–1.84;
P
=0.09) and higher use of coronary revascularizations (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.14–2.75). Significant heterogeneity for invasive coronary angiography and revascularization was noted, which was attributable to the Scottish Computed Tomography of the HEART (SCOT-HEART) study. We found no difference in the rate of admission for cardiac chest pain (rate ratio, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 0.95–1.54).

Conclusions—

In comparison to usual care, an initial investigation of suspected stable coronary artery disease using coronary CTA resulted in a significant reduction in myocardial infarction, an increased incidence of coronary revascularization, and no effect in all-cause mortality. Future studies should further define whether the potential reduction in myocardial infarction identified justifies the increased resource utilization associated with coronary CTA.
Genetic Associations With White Matter Hyperintensities Confer Risk of Lacunar Stroke
Authors: Traylor Matthew , Rutten-Jacobs Loes C.A. , Thijs Vincent , Holliday Elizabeth G. , Levi Chris , Bevan Steve , Malik Rainer , Boncoraglio Giorgio , Sudlow Cathie , Rothwell Peter M. , Dichgans Martin , Markus Hugh S.
Published: April 2016

Background and Purpose—

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are increased in patients with lacunar stroke. Whether this is because of shared pathogenesis remains unknown. Using genetic data, we evaluated whether WMH-associated genetic susceptibility factors confer risk of lacunar stroke, and therefore whether they share pathogenesis.

Methods—

We used a genetic risk score approach to test whether single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with WMH in community populations were associated with magnetic resonance imaging–confirmed lacunar stroke (n=1,373), as well as cardioembolic (n=1,331) and large vessel (n=1,472) Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment subtypes, against 9,053 controls. Second, we separated lacunar strokes into those with WMH (n=568) and those without (n=787) and tested for association with the risk score in these 2 groups. In addition, we evaluated whether WMH-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with lacunar stroke, or in the 2 groups.

Results—

The WMH genetic risk score was associated with lacunar stroke (odds ratio [OR; 95% confidence interval [CI]]=1.14 [1.06–1.22];
P
=0.0003), in patients both with and without WMH (WMH: OR [95% CI]=1.15 [1.05–1.26];
P
=0.003 and no WMH: OR [95% CI]=1.11 [1.02–1.21];
P
=0.019). Conversely, the risk score was not associated with cardioembolic stroke (OR [95% CI]=1.03 [0.97–1.09];
P
=0.63) or large vessel stroke (OR [95% CI]=0.99 [0.93,1.04];
P
=0.39). However, none of the WMH-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms passed Bonferroni-corrected significance for association with lacunar stroke.

Conclusions—

Genetic variants that influence WMH are associated with an increased risk of lacunar stroke but not cardioembolic or large vessel stroke. Some genetic susceptibility factors seem to be shared across different radiological manifestations of small vessel disease.
Significance of Hematoma Shape and Density in Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Delcourt Candice , Zhang Shihong , Arima Hisatomi , Sato Shoichiro , Salman Rustam Al-Shahi , Wang Xia , Davies Leo , Stapf Christian , Robinson Thompson , Lavados Pablo M. , Chalmers John , Heeley Emma , Liu Ming , Lindley Richard I. , Anderson Craig S. ,   for the INTERACT2 investigators
Published: April 2016

Background and Purpose—

In patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), the shape and density of the hematoma are associated with its subsequent growth, but the impact of these parameters on clinical outcome is uncertain.

Methods—

Baseline computed tomographic scans and clinical data were obtained in the Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage Trial (INTERACT2). Three independent neurologists blind to clinical data assessed ICH for shape and density using a previously described scale. Shape was defined as irregular when the ICH had ≥2 extra lesions added to the ellipsoid-shaped ICH. Density was heterogeneous when there were ≥3 low-density lesions within the ICH. Outcome measures were death and major disability (modified Rankin scale score of 3–5), combined and separate at 90-day postrandomization. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the significance of hematoma characteristics on outcome.

Results—

There were 2066 patient computed tomographic scans included in the analysis, with 46% and 38% having irregular and heterogeneous ICH, respectively. Irregular shape was independently associated with death/major disability (adjusted odds ratio, 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29–1.98) and major disability alone (adjusted odds ratio, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.31–1.95), but not with death alone (adjusted odds ratio, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.68–1.39). Heterogeneous density was not associated with clinical outcomes (adjusted odds ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.85–1.33), 1.04 (95% CI, 0.73–1.48), and 1.14 (95% CI, 0.93–1.39), respectively, for death/major disability, death alone, and disability alone).

Conclusions—

Irregular shape, but not heterogeneous density, is independently associated with poor outcome after ICH.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00716079.
Lymphocytopenia Is an Independent Predictor of Unfavorable Functional Outcome in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Giede-Jeppe Antje , Bobinger Tobias , Gerner Stefan T. , Madžar Dominik , Sembill Jochen , Lücking Hannes , Kloska Stephan P. , Keil Toni , Kuramatsu Joji B. , Huttner Hagen B.
Published: April 2016

Background and Purpose—

Stroke-associated immunosuppression is an increasingly recognized factor triggering infections and thus potentially influencing outcome after stroke. Specifically, lymphocytopenia after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has only been addressed in small-sized retrospective studies of mixed intracranial bleedings. This cohort study investigated the natural course of lymphocytopenia, parameters associated with lymphocytopenia on admission (LOA) and during stay, and evaluated the clinical impact of lymphocytopenia in solely ICH patients.

Methods—

This observational study included 855 consecutive patients with ICH. Patient demographics, clinical and neuroradiological data as well as laboratory and in-hospital measures were retrieved from institutional prospective databases. Functional 3-month outcome was assessed by mailed questionnaires. Lymphocytopenia was defined as <1.0 (10
9
/L) and was correlated with patient’s characteristics and outcome.

Results—

Prevalence of LOA was 27.3%. Patients with LOA showed significant associations with poorer neurological status (18 [10–32] versus 13 [5–24];
P
<0.001), larger hematoma volume (18.5 [6.2–46.2] versus 12.8 [4.4–37.8];
P
=0.006), and unfavorable outcome (74.7% versus 63.3%;
P
=0.0018). Natural course of lymphocyte count during hospital stay revealed a lymphocyte nadir of 1.1 (0.80–1.53 [10
9
/L]) at day 5. Focusing on patients with day-5-lymphocytopenia, compared with patients with LOA, revealed increased rates of infections (63 [71.6] versus 113 [48.5];
P
<0.001) and poorer functional outcome at 3 months (76 [86.4] versus 175 [75.1);
P
=0.029). Adjusting for baseline confounders, multivariable logistic and receiver operating characteristics analyses documented independent associations of day-5-lymphocytopenia with unfavorable outcome (day-5-lymphocytopenia: odds ratio, 2.017 [95% confidence interval, 1.029–3.955],
P
=0.041; LOA: odds ratio, 1.391 [0.795–2.432],
P
=0.248; receiver operating characteristics: day-5-lymphocytopenia: area under the curve=0.673,
P
<0.0001, Youden’s index=0.290; LOA: area under the curve=0.513,
P
=0.676, Youden’s index=0.084), whereas receiver operating characteristics analyses revealed no association of age or hematoma volume with day-5-lymphocytopenia (age: area under the curve=0.540,
P
=0.198, Youden’s index=0.106; volume: area under the curve=0.550,
P
=0.0898, Youden’s index=0.1224).

Conclusions—

Lymphocytopenia is frequently present in patients with ICH and may represent an independent parameter associated with unfavorable functional outcome. Developing lymphocytopenia affected outcome even stronger than LOA, a finding that may open up new therapeutic avenues in specific subsets of patients with ICH.
Risk Reduction of Cerebral Stroke After Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Small Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations
Authors: Hanakita Shunya , Shin Masahiro , Koga Tomoyuki , Igaki Hiroshi , Saito Nobuhito
Published: April 2016

Background and Purpose—

A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations (ARUBA) indicated the superiority of medical management in reducing the risks for strokes and other neurological deficits over observation alone. The aim of our study was to verify the rationale for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for small unruptured arteriovenous malformation.

Methods—

A retrospective review was performed for 292 patients with unruptured arteriovenous malformations referred for SRS. The risks for cerebral hemorrhages were statistically compared before and after SRS.

Results—

Of the 292 patients in whom arteriovenous malformation was found unruptured at initial diagnosis, 17 sustained hemorrhages in the period between the diagnosis and the initial therapeutic intervention (annual bleeding rate, 2.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2%–3.4%). Of the remaining 275 patients, 240 were initially treated with SRS, and 16 sustained a hemorrhage after SRS (annual bleeding rate, 1.1%; 95% CI, 0.6%–1.8%), but only 2 sustained a hemorrhage after angiographic obliteration (annual bleeding rate, 0.3%; 95% CI, 0.04%–1.2%). Comparing the risk of hemorrhage between the periods before and after SRS, a 53% risk reduction was achieved after SRS (hazard ratio, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.24–0.94;
P
=0.03), and 85% reduction was achieved after angiographic obliteration (hazard ratio, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.02–0.53;
P
=0.002).

Conclusions—

SRS can significantly reduce the risk of stroke in the patients with small unruptured arteriovenous malformations. To definitively determine the clinical benefits of SRS, a longer follow-up will be necessary. However, based on our results, we can recommend SRS for patients who face a latent risk for stroke from this intractable vascular disease.
What does the Form Ðrowian in the Taunton Fragment Stand For?
Authors: Afros Elena
Published: April 2016

The Taunton Fragment is an eleventh-century bilingual (Latin-Old English) collection of expositions of gospel pericopes. In addition to contributing to understanding of pastoral care in Anglo-Saxon England, it provides invaluable information about linguistic innovations that take place during the transition period from Late Old to Early Middle English. The present article focuses on one such development—the form ðrowian. Taken at its face value, that is, as a ii class weak verb meaning ‘to suffer; torment’, it causes discrepancy between the syntactic structure and the lexical meaning in the Old English text, on the one hand, and lack of correspondence between the Latin and Old English rendition, on the other. A close examination of this form in the Old English corpus suggests that it might be the earliest recorded example of the verb throw in the sense ‘to hurl’. The present article proposes that this semantic development originates in the glosses and Latin-influenced texts. Among the major causes of this innovation are polysemy and homonymy resulting from phonological and morphological changes as well as linguistic creativity of the Anglo-Saxon translators, glossators, and scribes.
Prodesse et delectare in den deutschen Fastnachtsspielen von Hans Sachs und in den arabischen Schattenspielen von Ibn Dāniyāl
Authors: Asaad Hend
Published: April 2016

The German Shrovetide plays and the Arabic Shadow plays belong to the earliest scenic literature which has dramatic elements such as storyline, dialogues and monologues. The most famous representatives of this scenic literature are the German Shrovetide plays of Hans Sachs (1494–1576) as well as the Arabic shadow plays of Ibn Dāniyāl (1248–1311). The following study tries to cover a kind of entertaining literature that is not lacking in social critical allusions which has a moralizing purpose (prodesse) and reflects the reality of everyday life in an entertaining way (delectare). Therefore, this study tries to show, how both poets illuminate the problems in their societies in a humorous way. The image of women and the image of different types of people occupy centre stage in this study. The texts to be analyzed are ‚Die alt verschlagen Kuplerin mit dem Thumbherrn‘ (1553) and ‚Das Hoffgesindt Veneris‘ (1517) by the German poet Hans Sachs, and the shadow plays ‚Tayf al-Khayal‘ and ‚Adjib and Gharib‘ (the Wonderful and the Strange) by the Arabic poet Ibn Dāniyāl in the 13th century.
The Plumbing of Land Surface Models: Is Poor Performance a Result of Methodology or Data Quality?
Authors: Haughton Ned , Abramowitz Gab , Pitman Andy J. , Or Dani , Best Martin J. , Johnson Helen R. , Balsamo Gianpaolo , Boone Aaron , Cuntz Matthias , Decharme Bertrand , Dirmeyer Paul A. , Dong Jairui , Ek Michael , Guo Zichang , Haverd Vanessa , van den Hurk Bart J. J. , Nearing Grey S. , Pak Bernard , Santanello Joe A. , Stevens Lauren E. , Vuichard Nicolas
Published: April 2016

The Protocol for the Analysis of Land Surface Models (PALS) Land Surface Model Benchmarking Evaluation Project (PLUMBER) illustrated the value of prescribing a priori performance targets in model intercomparisons. It showed that the performance of turbulent energy flux predictions from different land surface models, at a broad range of flux tower sites using common evaluation metrics, was on average worse than relatively simple empirical models. For sensible heat fluxes, all land surface models were outperformed by a linear regression against downward shortwave radiation. For latent heat flux, all land surface models were outperformed by a regression against downward shortwave radiation, surface air temperature, and relative humidity. These results are explored here in greater detail and possible causes are investigated. It is examined whether particular metrics or sites unduly influence the collated results, whether results change according to time-scale aggregation, and whether a lack of energy conservation in flux tower data gives the empirical models an unfair advantage in the intercomparison. It is demonstrated that energy conservation in the observational data is not responsible for these results. It is also shown that the partitioning between sensible and latent heat fluxes in LSMs, rather than the calculation of available energy, is the cause of the original findings. Finally, evidence is presented that suggests that the nature of this partitioning problem is likely shared among all contributing LSMs. While a single candidate explanation for why land surface models perform poorly relative to empirical benchmarks in PLUMBER could not be found, multiple possible explanations are excluded and guidance is provided on where future research should focus.
Nest-leaving, childhood family climate and later parent–child contact in Sweden
Authors: Tosi Marco , Gähler Michael
Published: April 2016

In this paper, we ask whether the time spent in the parental home promotes the frequency of contacts between generations, and whether violating social norms regarding the socially accepted time for leaving home is related to less frequent interactions with parents in later life. We also devote particular attention to union dissolution and family conflict during childhood and adolescence as possible mechanisms behind this relationship. Employing multilevel linear probability models, data from two waves of the Swedish Level of Living Survey (2000 and 2010) are used to analyze earlier family history and face-to-face contacts between parents and their adult children. The findings reveal that the duration of co-residence is likely to foster family interactions in later life, and this positive relationship is only marginally explained by childhood family experiences. However, late home leavers tend to maintain frequent contacts with parents in part owing to having moved shorter geographical distances, and this is more evident for adult daughters than for sons. In addition, adult daughters who stay at home for longer have more opportunities to form binding relationships with mothers than with fathers.
Mathematical Models of Criminal Careers
Authors: Farrington David P. , MacLeod John F. , Piquero Alex R.
Published: April 2016

Theories in criminology rarely make exact quantitative predictions that can be tested empirically. This article reviews mathematical models of criminal careers, which are simple theories that fit a wide variety of empirical data. It focuses on the work of Blumstein and his colleagues in the 1980s and on the more recent research of MacLeod, Grove, and Farrington. Criminal career data can be fitted by simple assumptions specifying that the frequency of offending and the probability of recidivism are constant over time and that there are two or three categories of offenders who differ in these parameters. These theories also predict future offending. It is useful to build on these simple mathematical models to predict a wider range of criminological results and convert criminology into a more predictive and accurate science.
The Criminal Career Perspective as an Explanation of Crime and a Guide to Crime Control Policy
Authors: Gottfredson Michael R. , Hirschi Travis
Published: April 2016

Students of criminal careers seek distinct longitudinal sequences of offenses committed by individual offenders. Their approach is explicitly theory free: It assumes that meaningfully different careers may be identified by close examination of the criminal activity of individuals over extended periods of time. They first locate in justice system records a set of careers defined by such parameters as length, trajectory, and specialization in particular crimes. Once the various types have been shown to be sufficiently abundant—explanation, prediction, and policy are expected automatically to follow. By some standards, the criminal career perspective has been successful. It has been assimilated by the life-course perspective and has generated a large body of research. Our alternative approach takes theoretically based research as its guide to explanation of crime and crime prevention policy. In particular, it focuses on the implications for theory and policy of the versatility of offenders, the relative stability of their tendency to offend, and the general invariance of the age effect on crime. On all counts, the evidence sides with general theory and its advocacy of research and crime prevention outside the criminal justice system.
Ethnographic Research on Criminal Careers
Authors: Sullivan Mercer
Published: April 2016

Pioneering research on “criminal careers” changed the course of criminology, reviving, and invigorating preexisting strands of inquiry while opening the door for the emergence of the developmental and life-course perspective that has become one of the dominant paradigms in recent criminological research. A persistent concern in this tradition has been the search for mechanisms connecting one stage of life to another. While qualitative methods are ideally suited for discovering and describing these mechanisms, there is far more published research based on quantitative longitudinal data. Calls for more qualitative work have become routine. This article first briefly describes the history of qualitative research on criminal careers and then discusses how a focus on changes in individual offending patterns over time emerged during the inductive theory-building process that produced the book Getting Paid, which began life as a comparative community study. Subsequent qualitative work is then discussed, with a focus on studies of desistance from crime. The conclusions address the problems and prospects for integrating qualitative and quantitative research, within or across projects, in ways that better connect social processes to life-course outcomes. Seeing how lives are embedded in community context is crucial to this endeavor.
Latent Growth Curve Models
Authors: Burant Christopher J.
Published: April 2016

The latent growth curve model (LGCM) is a useful tool in analyzing longitudinal data. It is particularly suitable for gerontological research because the LGCM can track the trajectories and changes of phenomena (e.g., physical health and psychological well-being) over time. Specifically, the LGCM compares lines of change across a set of individuals and determines the overall model's line of change. LGCMs can be used to track either linear or curvilinear trajectories. Since the technique uses structural equation modeling, models are also adjusted for measurement error. This article will present a step-by-step approach to setting up, analyzing, and interpreting an LGCM using post—hospitalization recovery in depressive symptomatology as an example. This article will demonstrate how to test linear, quadratic, and freely estimated lines of change using LGCMs with the purpose of finding the line of trajectory for depressive symptoms that best fits the data.
The Thin-Youth Ideal
Authors: Gendron Tracey L. , Lydecker Janet
Published: April 2016

College students’ attitudes about the pervasive thin ideal have been well-studied, but the relationship between the thin ideal and youth ideal in young adults forming life-long health attitudes is understudied. This cross-sectional study examined body image, aging anxiety, ageism, and gender in a sample of 485 undergraduate students. Results from this study demonstrate associations among components of objectified body consciousness (surveillance, shame, and control), body image avoidance, aging anxiety (fear of older people, psychological concerns, physical appearance, and fear of losses), ageism, and gender. Educational efforts that address body image in relation to aging anxiety and ageism are discussed.
Meta-Analysis of Single-Case Research Design Studies on Instructional Pacing
Authors: Tincani Matt , De Mers Marilyn
Published: April 2016

More than four decades of research on instructional pacing has yielded varying and, in some cases, conflicting findings. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to synthesize single-case research design (SCRD) studies on instructional pacing to determine the relative benefits of brisker or slower pacing. Participants were children and youth with and without disabilities in educational settings, excluding higher education. Tau-U, a non-parametric statistic for analyzing data in SCRD studies, was used to determine effect size estimates. The article extraction yielded 13 instructional pacing studies meeting contemporary standards for high quality SCRD research. Eleven of the 13 studies reported small to large magnitude effects when two or more pacing parameters were compared, suggesting that instructional pacing is a robust instructional variable. Brisker instructional pacing with brief inter-trial interval (ITI) produced small increases in correct responding and medium to large reductions in challenging behavior compared with extended ITI. Slower instructional pacing with extended wait-time produced small increases in correct responding, but also produced small increases in challenging behavior compared with brief wait-time. Neither brief ITI nor extended wait-time meets recently established thresholds for evidence-based practice, highlighting the need for further instructional pacing research.
Tumor Volume Predicts Survival Rate of Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated with Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Qin Li , Wu Fang , Lu Heming , Wei Bo , Li Guisheng , Wang Rensheng
Published: April 2016

Objective

To delineate the prognostic value of primary gross tumor volume (GTVp) for patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Study Design

Analysis of prognostic variables in a prospective cohort.

Setting

Department of Radiotherapy, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, China.

Subjects and Methods

Between January 2006 and August 2008, 249 patients with stage III‐IVb NPC, all treated by intensity‐modulated radiotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy, were included in this multicenter prospective study. GTVp was measured with treatment‐planning computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans.

Results

GTVp was significantly associated with locoregional control, distant metastasis, and overall survival for patients with advanced NPC. Furthermore, T classification was not an independent prognostic factor. In receiver operator receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, 33 mL was determined as the cutoff points of GTVp for OS and locoregional control. Patients with a GTVp ≥33 mL had poorer OS, worse locoregional control, and more distant metastasis than patients with a GTVp <33 mL (P =. 006,. 009,. 002, and. 007, respectively).

Conclusions

GTVp had significant prognostic value for patients with advanced NPC. The incorporation of GTVp could improve the current TNM classification system.
Hidden clusters: the articulation of agglomeration in City Regions
Authors: Williams Nick , Brooks Chay , Vorley Tim
Published: April 2016

For many years, local economic development has been driven by the desire to maintain, attract and nurture clusters of economic activity in targeted industrial sectors. However, where clusters are not conventionally sector-based, public policy needs to develop alternative approaches to leverage the economic benefits and realise competitive advantage. Drawing on a study of the Sheffield City Region (SCR), the paper explores the challenge of leveraging ‘hidden’ cross-sectoral clusters, which do not fit dominant discourses of agglomeration-led growth. We posit that it is the cross-sectoral connections and networks in the SCR which represent its key strength, yet these are only partially reflected by current place marketing and policy considerations, and, in many ways, are overlooked and thus remain ‘hidden’. The paper argues that the competitive advantage of the SCR is undermined when it characterises clusters in terms of industrial sectors, and instead needs to articulate its strengths as a strategically important industrial centre. The paper concludes by drawing out a number of implications for academic theory and policy development.
Trusting the Looks of Others: Gaze Effects of Faces in Social Settings
Authors: Kaisler Raphaela E. , Leder Helmut
Published: April 2016

Eye gaze is an important social cue in human communication that serves as a predictor of changes in attention, indicates social interest, and even affects the evaluation of objects that have been looked at. However, it needs to be shown how this strong nonverbal signal affects social and aesthetic evaluations in social settings. In this study, we presented natural scenes with two faces in three gaze conditions showing different directions of gaze. Participants evaluated faces that were looked at or not, that showed direct or averted gaze, for attractiveness (aesthetic) as well as trustworthiness (social). In Experiment 1, faces looking directly at the perceiver were rated as more attractive and as more trustworthy. In Experiment 2, when the direct gaze condition was omitted, faces that were looked at by another face were judged as more trustworthy. In Experiment 3a, participants did not remember the directions of gaze of two faces, demonstrating the dependence of the judgement on the actual situation and excluding a memory explanation. In Experiment 3b, we confirmed that these gaze effects depend on the direction of gaze and not the mere presence of another person. Our findings show how gazing in real world settings affects social and aesthetic evaluations.
The Elaboration of Internal Groups in a Photolanguage© Group
Authors: Mitsopoulou-Sonta Lila , Vacheret Claudine
Published: April 2016

This article presents clinical sequences in order to illustrate the case of Sophie, a woman who participates in a Photolanguage© group. Sophie, whose metaphorical thought is flawed, has the possibility to access consciousness and subjectivity with the double aid of the group as well as the mediating object. The contribution of the group is primordial, as it proposes a space where the internal groups of Sophie can be diffracted, permitting her to find the words and to restore the thread of her personal history. The photograph, as an object, creates a space where the subject is able to create the link between her internal and external images, and between its sensations and the descriptive words.
Acute Ataxia in Childhood
Authors: Thakkar Kavita , Maricich Stephen M. , Alper Gulay
Published: April 2016

We categorized the causes of acute ataxia in the pediatric population—referred to the Division of Neurology—at a large, urban pediatric medical center. Of the 120 cases identified over the past 11 years, post-infectious cerebellar ataxia was the most commonly diagnosed (59%), followed by drug intoxication, opsoclonus-myoclonus ataxia syndrome, episodic ataxia, acute cerebellitis, cerebellar stroke, ADEM, meningitis, cerebral vein thrombosis, Leigh’s disease, Miller-Fisher syndrome, and concussion. Among the patients with post-infectious cerebellar ataxia, 85% were 1–6 years old and all had a history of antecedent viral illness. CSF pleocytosis was present in 40% of patients; all had normal brain MRIs. The majority (91%) recovered within 30 days. We conclude that post-infectious cerebellar ataxia remains the most common cause of acute ataxia in childhood and that it carries a good prognosis. We also differentiate acute post-infectious cerebellar ataxia from other causes with similar presentations.
Imaging Findings in Pediatric Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES)
Authors: Gupta Vivek , Bhatia Vikas , Khandelwal Niranjan , Singh Paramjeet , Singhi Pratibha
Published: April 2016

This study sought to evaluate the radiological and clinical spectrum of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in pediatric population. A retrospective evaluation of the pediatric patients with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome seen over the last 5 years in the authors’ hospital was done. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were analyzed, and a review of literature was performed. Out of 32 pediatric patients of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, 10 (31.25%) were males and 22 (68.75%) were females, with a mean age of 10.6 years. Renal disease (62.5%) was the most common primary disease, followed by chemotherapy for hemato-oncologic malignancies (15.6%). Hypertension was present in 81.2% of cases. Atypical MRI findings were seen in 62.5% cases. Frontal involvement was common and seen in 56% of the cases. Overall, MRI findings considered atypical in adults were found to be common in the series of pediatric posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. The understanding of the clinical settings and familiarity with radiological findings in pediatric posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome patients is important to adequately treat these patients and to avoid misdiagnosis.
Power flow control strategies in parallel hybrid electric vehicles
Authors: Becerra Guillermo , Alvarez-Icaza Luis , Pantoja-Vázquez Alfonso
Published: April 2016

Two control strategies for power flow control in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) with parallel configuration and a planetary gear system as a power coupling device between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine are proposed in this paper. The aim of both strategies is to determine, for a given driving cycle, an appropriate mixture of the power provided by the two engines. Performance is measured not only in terms of fuel consumption; driving cycle tracking and preservation of energy in the bank of batteries are also considered. The first strategy, named the PGS strategy as it is designed around the planetary gear system, is heuristic, inspired by bang–bang optimal control formulations and has low computational load, while the second is an optimal one derived from Pontryagin’s minimum principle (PMP). It is shown that, under appropriate choice of the weighting parameters in the Hamiltonian of the PMP, both strategies give very similar results and, therefore, that the PGS strategy corresponds to a feasible solution to an optimization problem. Both strategies can be implemented in real time, however, the PGS strategy is easier to tune. Tuning of the strategies’ parameters is independent of the driving cycle. The power flow control laws are continuous and enforce the use of the internal combustion engine with the maximum possible efficiency. The strategies are tested with simulations of a power train of a hybrid diesel–electric bus subjected to the demands of four representative urban area driving cycles. Although optimization solutions are based on simplified dynamic models, simulation results are verified with more detailed dynamic models of the HEV main subsystems. This allows us to evaluate the accuracy of the results and to verify the hypothesis established in the optimization formulation. Simulation results indicate that both strategies attain good fuel consumption reduction levels.
A new anti-skid control method for electric vehicles using the motor torque and the wheel acceleration with experimental verification
Authors: Liu Xiang , Li Mian , Xu Min
Published: April 2016

Driving electric vehicles by electric motors can result in many unique advantages for dynamic control of electric vehicles. With the superior fast and accurate torque control performance of electric motors, electric vehicles, in particular, can achieve higher levels of safety and handling performance. A simple, effective and efficient anti-skid control method specified for electric vehicles is proposed in this paper by considering the real-world resistance factors. This method is developed on the basis of sensing and regulating a newly defined parameter, namely the ratio of the drive motor torque to the angular acceleration of the wheels, both of which can be easily obtained for electric motors. The monotonic relationship between the slip ratio and the ratio of the drive motor torque to the angular acceleration of the wheels is proved under both acceleration conditions and deceleration conditions, by considering the real-world resistance factors. The simulations and the experimental results show that the ratio of the drive motor torque to the angular acceleration of the wheels can be efficiently used, instead of the slip ratio, in anti-skid control. The results indicate that electric vehicles can achieve high-performance vehicle motion control with more flexible and simplified configurations by using in-wheel electric motors.
Limited-slip and torque-vectoring effect of a dual continuously variable transmission
Authors: Chen I-Ming , Huang Yuan-Yao , Yang Tai-Her , Liu Tyng
Published: April 2016

This study investigates the limited-slip and steering characteristics of a dual continuously variable transmission system. The dual continuously variable transmission is a unique final drive system composed of two continuously variable transmissions, with one continuously variable transmission connected to each rear wheel. In this study, a dynamic model of the dual continuously variable transmission system is derived, and models of the conventional final drive systems, i.e. the solid axle and the open differential, are used as benchmarks. In the simulations, the dual continuously variable transmission model, the solid axle model and the open differential model are applied to a vehicle dynamic model for split- μ road tests and a series of steering tests. According to the results of the split- μ road tests, the limited-slip function of a dual continuously variable transmission system is verified. The results of the steering tests show that different torque distributions for the inside wheels and the outside wheels while cornering can be controlled with different gain values of the continuously variable transmissions; for this reason, the application of the dual continuously variable transmission system as a torque-vectoring device is proposed, and a basic setting principle is presented. The results of this study establish a fundamental knowledge for developing the dual continuously variable transmission as an advanced final system for improving the vehicle dynamics.