bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on coordinated control of the energy regeneration and the vibration isolation in a hybrid electromagnetic suspension
Authors: Ding Renkai , Wang Ruochen , Meng Xiangpeng , Chen Long
Published: August 2017

A type of hybrid electromagnetic suspension is proposed in this study to improve the reliability of a conventional active electromagnetic suspension. A motor with the proposed hybrid electromagnetic suspension linear can regenerate the vibration energy; the coordination relationship between the energy regeneration and the vibration isolation of the hybrid electromagnetic suspension is studied. A dynamic model is established, and a modified skyhook control strategy is designed. A passive energy regeneration control system and an active control system are developed. The effect of the damping on the energy regeneration and the vibration isolation is discussed. The best damping, which can consider the energy regeneration and the vibration isolation simultaneously, is determined. Comparative simulations of a passive suspension, a hybrid electromagnetic suspension and an active electromagnetic suspension are carried out, and the results verify the effectiveness of the control strategy. Finally, an energy regeneration experiment and an isolation comparative experiment of a quarter-suspension are conducted. The findings show that the hybrid electromagnetic suspension with a modified skyhook control strategy can efficiently facilitate coordination between the energy regeneration and the vibration isolation.
Topological optimization of a suspension concept considering the kinematics and compliance performance and the geometric non-linearity
Authors: Wang Meng , Beeh Elmar , Krüger David , Friedrich Horst E
Published: August 2017

This paper proposes a structure design approach for a suspension concept based on topological optimization. In this approach, the kinematics and compliance requirements and the geometric non-linearity are introduced into the structural optimization in order to generate a new lightweight suspension structure and to simplify the iterative design steps between the mechanical requirements and the kinematics and compliance requirements. In the suspension concept, the electric motors are integrated into the longitudinal arms. This concept needs a new suspension linkage with a lightweight structure. For the cases with suspension compliance, linear implicit optimization is used in the design; for the cases with suspension kinematics, the equivalent static load method for implicit optimization with a geometric non-linearity is employed to seek the optimum. By this approach, a suspension structure is obtained. This structure has a better kinematics and compliance performance with a reduced mass than the reference suspension does.
Entrepreneurship and Firm Growth
Authors: Gupta Rakesh
Published: August 2017

Small firms are at a disadvantage compared to large firms because of their size. Yet they play a very significant role in the growth of economy. These firms have little tangible assets at an early stage, but some of them have long-term growth potential. There is enough literature about individual entrepreneur, but relatively little is known about firm-level entrepreneurship, that is, entrepreneurial orientation (EO). EO consists of five dimensions: innovativeness, risk taking, proactiveness, autonomy and competitive aggressiveness. This study reviews the existing literature on the influence of EO on the growth of small firms. It tries to figure out whether this growth comes out as a demonstration of all the dimensions of EO together or a combination of them. There is an important gap in the literature on this issue, and this study focuses on this gap.
Infrastructure and Development in Rural India
Authors: Ghosh Madhusudan
Published: August 2017

This article evaluates rural infrastructure facilities in 16 major states of India, and examines their impacts on some income and non-income dimensions of rural development. Despite several public initiatives for infrastructure development in rural India, facilities continue to be poor and progress has been mostly unsatisfactory with differential performance across states. Estimates of regression coefficients of the composite indices and individual indicators of rural infrastructure reveal that improved physical and social infrastructure and livelihood opportunities enhance agricultural productivity and output, improve literacy and life expectancy, and reduce poverty and infant mortality. The results, showing the relative importance of various infrastructures, suggest that the government should prioritise additional investments in electricity, roads, irrigation, housing and telecommunications to enhance overall well-being.

JEL Classification: H54, O15, O18, Q19
Post-communist Transition as a Path Break: Comparing Legal Institutional Effects on Economic Growth between Path-breaking and Path-drifting Institutional Reforms
Authors: Tamilina Larysa , Tamilina Natalya
Published: August 2017

This article explains the peculiarities of institutional effects on growth rates in postcommunist countries. By proposing a certain dependence of the institution–growth nexus on the mode of institutional grafting, the distinction between drift-phase and path-breaking institutional change is introduced. Theoretical juxtapositions show that transition countries’ institutions built through path-breaking institutional reforms differ from those that emerge evolutionarily in the drift phase in a twofold manner in their relationship to growth. Growth rates of their economies are less likely to depend on the quality of legal institutions and are more likely to be a function of the maturity of political institutions. In addition, legal institutional change in the post-communist world is a product of the quality of the political environment to a greater extent than their drift-phase alternatives. These propositions are tested empirically based on a sample of 87 countries derived from the POLITY IV Project’s website.

JEL Classification: O17, O43, O57, P26, P37
Pubertal Communication Between School Nurses and Adolescent Girls in Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Authors: Salau Omowumi R. , Ogunfowokan Adesola A.
Published: August 2017

We examined information on pubertal changes provided by school nurses to adolescent girls, the methods, and media of communication. We also examined the challenges faced by the nurses in the course of communication. The study setting was five private high schools located in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Participants were 10 school nurses and 420 school adolescent girls. Cross-sectional descriptive design was employed using quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Results showed school nurses paid more attention to physical body changes, menarche, and menstrual hygiene as contents of pubertal communication rather than contraception, prevention of sexually transmitted infection, and teenage pregnancy prevention. Materials for communication were reportedly lacking in many of the schools while the school management censors pubertal information. Efforts should be tailored at equipping the school clinic with audiovisual aids and school nurses should be encouraged to give comprehensive pubertal education irrespective of their values and beliefs.
Validation of the Childhood Career Development Scale Among Italian Middle School Students
Authors: Ferrari Lea , Nota Laura , Schultheiss Donna E. , Stead Graham B. , Davis Brittan L.
Published: August 2017

During early adolescence, individuals engage in exploring educational opportunities, beginning to develop a career identity, contemplate future careers, and make tentative career decisions. Choices made during this period may have a strong effect on one’s academic and career future, and in many countries, young adolescents must make important and sometimes final academic and career choices that impact the rest of their lives. Despite this, research on early adolescence is severely lacking. To address this gap, a validation study of the Childhood Career Development Scale (CCDS) was conducted with a young adolescent Italian sample. Consistent with previous research with younger samples, support was found for an eight-factor structure of the CCDS. Convergent validity was supported by positive associations with exploration, students’ ideas, attitudes, and behaviors regarding their academic and career future and career self-efficacy. These findings support Super’s dimensional model of childhood career development through early adolescence as originally theorized.
Following the Contour of Concepts Toward a Minor Inquiry
Authors: Mazzei Lisa A.
Published: August 2017

In this article, I describe how following the contour of concepts can enable a minor inquiry in which voice might be rethought as what Deleuze and Guattari called a “collective assemblage of enunciation.” Following the contour of Deleuze and Guattari’s “minor literature” and thinking voice as an assemblage, I both explain the characteristics of a minor literature and provide examples of the conditions for a minor inquiry. Mapping an enactment of a minor inquiry with examples from my previous work on voice, I conclude with what minor inquiry might look like as I experiment further with collective assemblages of enunciation.
Numerical homogenization of the Eshelby tensor at small strains
Authors: Kuhn Charlotte , Müller Ralf , Klassen Markus , Gross Dietmar
Published: August 2017

Numerical homogenization methods, such as the FE2 approach, are widely used to compute the effective physical properties of microstructured materials. Thereby, the macroscopic material law is replaced by the solution of a microscopic boundary value problem on a representative volume element in conjunction with appropriate averaging techniques. This concept can be extended to configurational or material quantities, like the Eshelby stress tensor, which are associated with configurational changes of continuum bodies. In this work, the focus is on the computation of the macroscopic Eshelby stress tensor within a small-strain setting. The macroscopic Eshelby stress tensor is defined as the volume average of its microscopic counterpart. On the microscale, the Eshelby stress tensor can be computed from quantities known from the solution of the physical microscopic boundary value problem. However, in contrast to the physical quantities of interest, i.e. stress and strain, the Eshelby stress tensor is sensitive to rigid body rotations of the representative volume element. In this work, it is demonstrated how this must be taken into account in the computation of the macroscopic Eshelby stress tensor. The theoretical findings are illustrated by a benchmark simulation and further simulation results indicate the microstructural influence on the macroscopic configurational forces.
Experimental and numerical analysis of vibration frequency in sandwich composites with different radii of curvature
Authors: Yurddaskal Melis , Okutan Baba Buket
Published: August 2017

In this study, free vibration responses of sandwich composite panels with different radius of curvature were presented numerically. The studies were carried out on square flat and curved sandwich panels made of E-glass/epoxy face sheets and polyvinyl chloride foam with three different radii of curvature. Experimental studies were used to verify the numerical results. Vibration tests were performed on flat and curved sandwich panels under free–free boundary conditions. The experimental data were then compared with finite element simulation, which was conducted by ANSYS finite element software and it was shown that the numerical analysis results agree well with the experimental ones. Effect of the curvature on natural frequencies under different boundary conditions (all edge free, simply supported, and fully clamped) was investigated numerically. Results indicated that the natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes were affected by boundary conditions and curvature of the panel. For all boundary conditions, the variation of curvature had smaller effect on the natural frequency of the first mode than those of the other modes.
Who is working on it? Captioning Australian catch-up television and subscription video on demand
Authors: Ellis Katie , Kent Mike , Locke Kathryn , Latter Natalie
Published: August 2017

Despite the rapid evolution in the way in which we watch television – through digitalisation and the introduction of video on demand (VOD) and catch-up services – the inaccessibility of television content remains an issue, specifically for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. This article revisits the claim from 2014 that VOD providers were ‘working on’ providing closed captions. Building on Ellis’ 2014 research, the accessibility of television in Australia in 2016 is analysed using a cross study of current subscription VOD services and catch-up television providers. The research reveals that while some companies have accessibility policies and offer closed captioned content, there have been minimal changes in the provision of captioning, both within the industry and in legislation.
“Our lifestyle is a mix-match”: Traditional healers talk about suicide and suicide prevention in South Africa
Authors: Bantjes Jason , Swartz Leslie , Cembi Sithembile
Published: August 2017

Practitioners of traditional African medicine (traditional healers) are an important part of the health care system in South Africa, yet their voices are often absent from discussions about public health. In this context, we set out to investigate how a group of traditional healers in South Africa understand suicide and suicide prevention. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 6 traditional healers and analysed using thematic content analysis. The traditional healers report they are frequently consulted by suicidal individuals and they are confident about their ability to help people in a suicidal crisis. Findings suggest that traditional healers understand suicidal behaviour as a symptom of social disconnection and cultural discontinuity. Traditional healers report that suicidal individuals can be helped by reestablishing interpersonal connections, reconnecting to family and ancestors, and renewing their cultural identities through rituals. These findings suggest that there is some congruence between the way traditional healers understand suicide and the Western scientific and biomedical literature. Our findings raise important questions about cultural approaches to suicide research which are commonly premised on dualistic thinking that constructs culture as something distinct from Western biomedicine.
A fuzzy set approach to economic crisis, austerity and public health. Part I. European countries’ conformity to ideal types during the economic downturn
Authors: Saltkjel Therese , Ingelsrud Mari Holm , Dahl Espen , Halvorsen Knut
Published: August 2017

Aims: This is the first part of a two-part paper that takes an explorative approach to assess crisis and austerity in European countries during the Great Recession. The ultimate aim of this two-part paper is to explore the “crisis–austerity” thesis by Stuckler and Basu and assess whether it is the interplay between austerity and crisis, rather than the current economic crisis per se, that can led to deterioration in population health. In Part I of this paper we offer one way of operationalizing crisis severity and austerity. We examine countries as specific configurations of crisis and policy responses and classify European countries into “ideal types.” Methods: Cases included were 29 countries participating in the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) surveys. Based on fuzzy set methodology, we constructed two fuzzy sets, “austerity” and “severe crisis.” Austerity was measured by changes in welfare generosity; severe crisis was measured by changes in gross domestic product (GDP) per capita growth. Results: In the initial phase of the Great Recession, most countries faced severe crisis combined with no austerity. From 2010–2011 onward, there was a divide between countries. Some countries consistently showed signs of austerity policies (with or without severe crisis); others consistently did not. Conclusions: The fuzzy set ideal-type analysis shows that the European countries position themselves, by and large, in configurations of crisis and austerity in meaningful ways that allow us to explore the “crisis–austerity” thesis by Stuckler and Basu. This exploration is the undertaking of Part II of this paper.
Capacity to reduce inequities in health in Norwegian municipalities
Authors: Helgesen Marit Kristine , Fosse Elisabeth , Hagen Susanne
Published: August 2017

Aims: One of the goals of the Norwegian Public Health Act is to reduce health inequities. The act mandates the implementation of policies and measures with municipalities and county municipalities to accomplish this goal. The article explores the prerequisites for municipal capacity to reduce health inequities and how the capacity is built and sustained. Methods: The paper is a literature study of articles and reports using data from two surveys on the implementation of public health policies sent to all Norwegian municipalities: the first, a few months before the implementation of the Public Health Act in 2012; the second in 2014. Results: Six dimensions are included in the capacity concept. Leadership and governance refers to the regulating tool of laws that frame the local implementation of public health policies. Municipalities implement inter-sectoral working groups and public health coordinators to coordinate their public health policies and measures. Financing of public health is fragmented. Possibilities for municipalities to enter into partnerships with county municipalities are not equally distributed. Owing to the organisational structures, municipalities largely define public health as health policy. Workforce and competence refers to the employment of public health coordinators, and knowledge development refers to the mandated production of health overviews in municipalities. Conclusions: The capacity to reduce health inequities varies among municipalities. However, if municipalities build on the prerequisites they control, establishing inter-sectoral working groups and employing public health coordinators in authoritative positions, national governance instruments and regional resources may sustain their capacity.
Compulsory school achievement and gambling among men and women aged 18–29 in Finland
Authors: Latvala Tiina , Castrén Sari , Alho Hannu , Salonen Anne
Published: August 2017

Aims: This study aims to explore the associations between final compulsory school grades and gambling and their relation to substance use and perceived mental health among people aged 18–29 in Finland (N = 831). Methods: Cross-sectional random sample data, weighted on the basis of age, gender and region of residence, were collected in 2015. The data were analysed using logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic variables, risky alcohol use, daily smoking, and perceived mental health. Results: Weekly gambling and at-risk and problem gambling (ARPG) were more common among men. Weekly gambling was linked to smoking and risky alcohol use among men and smoking among women. Additionally, ARPG was linked to risky alcohol use among men. ARPG was associated with moderate/poor mental health among men and women, but this was not the case with weekly gambling. Among men, low and average final school grades at age 16 were associated with weekly gambling later in life, even when adjusting for other variables. Among women, low and average final school grades were not associated with weekly gambling when adjusting for substance use. Lower final school grades were associated with ARPG among women but not among men when all potential confounders were adjusted for. Conclusions: Adolescents with lower final school grades are more likely to gamble weekly later in life. Lower final school grades are also linked with ARPG among women. It is important therefore for schools to have clear policies on gambling and to implement early prevention programmes.
Book Review: Bruce Currie-Alder, Ravi Kanbur, David M. Malone and Rohinton Medhora, editors. 2014: International Development: Ideas, Experience, & Prospects
Authors: Fontefrancesco Michele
Published: August 2017

Bruce Currie-Alder, Ravi Kanbur, David M. Malone and Rohinton Medhora, editors. 2014: International Development: Ideas, Experience, & Prospects. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 943 + xxviii pp. £39.99 (paperback). ISBN 978–0-19–967166–3.
Book Review: Stella, Francesca Yvette, Tracey Reynolds and Antoine Rogers, editors. 2016: Sexuality, Citizenship and Belonging: Trans-National and Intersectional Perspectives
Authors: Gilling Georgia
Published: August 2017

Stella, Francesca Yvette, Tracey Reynolds and Antoine Rogers, editors. 2016: Sexuality, Citizenship and Belonging: Trans-National and Intersectional Perspectives. New York: Routledge. 254 pp. £95 (hardback). ISBN 978–1-138–80504–0.
Combination of Fluorescence-Guided Surgery With Photodynamic Therapy for the Treatment of Cancer
Authors: He Jun , Yang Leping , Yi Wenjun , Fan Wentao , Wen Yu , Miao Xiongying , Xiong Li
Published: August 2017

Specific visualization of body parts is needed during surgery. Fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) uses a fluorescence contrast agent for in vivo tumor imaging to detect and identify both malignant and normal tissues. There are several advantages and clinical benefits of FGS over other conventional medical imaging modalities, such as its safety, effectiveness, and suitability for real-time imaging in the operating room. Recent advancements in contrast agents and intraoperative fluorescence imaging devices have led to a greater potential for intraoperative fluorescence imaging in clinical applications. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an alternative modality to treat tumors, which uses a light-sensitive drug (photosensitizers) and special light to destroy the targeted tissues. In this review, we discuss the fluorescent contrast agents, some newly developed imaging devices, and the successful clinical application of FGS. Additionally, we present the combined strategy of FGS with PDT to further improve the therapeutic effect for patients with cancer. Taken together, this review provides a unique perspective and summarization of FGS.
A Theory-Based Model for Understanding Faculty Intention to Use Students Ratings to Improve Teaching in a Health Sciences Institution in Puerto Rico
Authors: Collazo Andrés A.
Published: August 2017

A model derived from the theory of planned behavior was empirically assessed for understanding faculty intention to use student ratings for teaching improvement. A sample of 175 professors participated in the study. The model was statistically significant and had a very large explanatory power. Instrumental attitude, affective attitude, perceived capability, and perceived controllability were statistically significant contributors in explaining directly variability in faculty intention. Past use of student ratings–intention relationship was mostly indirect.
Formation behaviors of networks with antagonistic interactions of agents
Authors: Zou Wen-Lu , Li Gun
Published: August 2017

In this study, a new formation behavior problem for second-order multi-agent systems with time delay is investigated in the presence of antagonistic interactions. We first proposed a formation behavior protocol with time delay for each agent in the antagonistic network. Then, by a frequency-domain analysis, a sufficient and necessary condition is derived to guarantee the consensus stability of the multi-agent system. It is shown that the agents in the same group form their own desired formation while keeping a desired relative position with other groups. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the obtained results.
Gap analysis of service needs for adults with neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Burke Shanna L , Wagner Eric , Marolda Heather , Quintana Jordan E , Maddux Marlaina
Published: August 2017

In Florida, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities provides waivers for adults with the following types of disabilities: intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Down syndrome, and Prader–Willi syndrome. This review examined the peer-reviewed literature to indicate and assess the common needs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Current models of service delivery, the efficacy of these services, and remaining gaps in the need fulfillment of individuals within the six diagnostic categorizations of interest were examined. Severity level within each diagnostic category was plotted on a matrix according to whether the needs of individuals were minimal, moderate, severe, or universal. The study found that sexual health education, socialization, and adult-focused medical care are universal needs among the six conditions. The study indicates that health-care professionals must work toward addressing the many unmet needs in comprehensive life span care services for adult individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Current strategies for salvage treatment for relapsed classical Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Nikolaenko Liana , Chen Robert , Herrera Alex F.
Published: August 2017

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is curable in 70–80% of patients with first-line therapy. However, relapses occur in a minority of patients with favorable early stage disease and are more frequent in patients with advanced HL. Salvage chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for patients with chemotherapy-sensitive disease is a standard treatment sequence for relapsed or refractory (rel/ref) HL. Patients who achieve complete response prior to ASCT have better survival outcomes. The choice of salvage chemotherapy therapy is becoming increasingly difficult in the era of novel agents, as there are no randomized studies to guide the choice of a second-line regimen. In this article, we will review current salvage therapy options, including combination chemotherapy and novel-agent-based salvage regimens for rel/ref HL.
The Unique Health Needs of Post-9/11 U.S. Veterans
Authors: Waszak Daria L. , Holmes Aline M.
Published: August 2017

This article applies a hazard-based approach to the identification of physical, mental, and psychosocial health needs of post-9/11 veterans. The weaponry, survival, and population of servicemen and women by the military have evolved over time, particularly during the post-9/11 era. It is evident that military hazards and potential exposures vary depending on not only the deployment era but also the specific location and role. Many individual factors may affect the development of health problems. Recent evidence-based literature about post-9/11 veterans’ long-term complex health issues is summarized, so occupational health nurses can advocate for the provision of veteran-sensitive care.
Intersections of Fandom in the Age of Interactive Media
Authors: Brown Kenon A. , Billings Andrew C. , Murphy Breann , Puesan Luis
Published: August 2017

This study focuses on comparing the uses sought and gratifications obtained when consuming media related to eSports and traditional sports; in doing so, relevant areas of overlap and distinction are ascertained. In all, more than 1,300 American eSports participants were queried as to their interest in both eSports and traditional sports fan/followership. Results revealed that eSports participants sought out media for both eSports and traditional sports for similar motivations, specifically social sport, fanship, and Schwabism. However, it is the magnitude of the motives that truly set eSports fans apart, with participants showing far more dedication and desire to engage with eSport content than in any other realm of the traditional sporting arena.
A new technique of arthroscopic subscapularis repair with 2-year clinical outcomes in an Asian population
Authors: Goh Keng Meng Jeremy , Chen Jerry Yong Qiang , Lie Denny Tjiauw Tjoen
Published: August 2017

Background:

Tears of the subscapularis are not as common as the other rotator cuff muscles and hence not as many arthroscopic repair techniques have been previously described in the literature. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes in patients undergoing arthroscopic subscapularis repairs (with and without repairs of the other cuff muscles) using a technique devised by the senior author of this study.

Methods:

A retrospective study of 40 consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic subscapularis repair at a single centre, by a single surgeon from 2009 to 2014. All patients were assessed preoperatively and post-operatively at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Constant–Murley Shoulder Score (CMSS), University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Shoulder Score and Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) were recorded and used.

Results:

At 24 months follow-up, the VAS for pain improved from 6 (±2) points preoperation to 0 (±1) points. The CMSS improved from 41 (±18) points preoperation to 71 (±15). The relative CMSS improved from 55 (±24%) preoperation to 96 (±22%; % of the uninjured side). The ULCA Shoulder Score improved from 15 (±5) points preoperation to 30 (±4). The OSS improved from 28 (±12) points preoperation to 45 (±5). p < 0.001 for all outcomes measured.

Conclusion:

Overall clinical outcomes are favourable at 2 years post-operatively. The described technique is an effective method for arthroscopic subscapularis repair in the Asian population.
Evolution of gender representation among Canadian OTL-HNS residents: A 27-year analysis
Authors: Chorfi Sarah , Schwartz Joseph S. , Verma Neil , Young Meredith , Joseph Lawrence , Nguyen Lily H. P.
Published: August 2017

Background

The proportion of females enrolling into medical schools has been growing steadily. However, the representation of female residents among individual specialties has shown considerable variation. The purpose of this study was to compare the trends of gender representation in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (OTL-HNS) residency programs with other specialty training programs in Canada. In order to contextualize these findings, a second phase of analysis examined the success rate of applicants of different genders to OTL-HNS residency programs.

Method

Anonymized data were obtained from the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) and from the Canadian Post-M.D. Education Registry (CAPER) from 1988 to 2014. The differences in gender growth rates were compared to other subspecialty programs of varying size. Descriptive analysis was used to examine gender representation among OTL-HNS residents across years, and to compare these trends with other specialties. Bayesian hierarchical models were fit to analyze the growth in program rates in OTL-HNS based on gender.

Results

CaRMS and CAPER data over a 27 year period demonstrated that OTL-HNS has doubled its female representation from 20% to 40% between 1990 and 1994 and 2010-2014. The difference in annual growth rate of female representation versus male representation in OTL-HNS over this time period was 2.7%, which was similar to other large specialty programs and surgical subspecialties. There was parity in success rates of female and male candidates ranking OTL-HNS as their first choice specialty for most years.

Conclusions

Female representation in Canadian OTL-HNS residency programs is steadily increasing over the last 27 years. Large variation in female applicant acceptance rates was observed across Canadian universities, possibly attributable to differences in student body or applicant demographics. Factors influencing female medical student career selection to OTL-HNS require further study to mitigate disparities in gender representation and identify barriers to prospective female OTL-HNS applicants.
Fatty acid synthase regulates the pathogenicity of Th17 cells
Authors: Young Kathryne E , Flaherty Stephanie , Woodman Kaitlyn M , Sharma-Walia Neelam , Reynolds Joseph M
Published: August 2017

T cell activation and effector function is characterized by changes in metabolism. Altered metabolism is common to almost all types of activated T cells, but fatty acid synthesis seems to especially drive the formation of Th17 cells. Indeed, research has demonstrated that inhibition of early fatty acid synthesis through targeting of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC1) can inhibit Th17 cell formation and instead promote the generation of regulatory T cells. Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is downstream of ACC, and previous studies have shown that FASN activity influences both cancer and inflammation. However, it remains to be determined whether FASN is a viable target for inhibiting Th17 cell function. Here, we demonstrate that FASN is a critical metabolic control for the generation of inflammatory subsets of Th17 cells. Conversely, inhibiting FASN function promotes IFN-γ production by Th1 and Th1-like Th17 cells. In vivo, inhibition of FASN, specifically in Th17 cells, leads to reduction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis disease. These studies demonstrate the necessity of FASN in the autoimmune inflammatory function of Th17 cells.
Reviews
Authors: Brittan John , Tutuncu Azra N. , Bevc Dimitri
Published: August 2017

Introduction to Modern Climate Change, second edition, by Andrew Dessler, ISBN 978-1-107-48067-4, 2016, Cambridge University Press, 273 p., US$49.99 (paper), US$40 (eBook) Fluid Dynamics in Complex Fractured-Porous Systems, edited by Boris Faybishenko, Sally M. Benson, and John E. Gale, ISBN 978-1-118-87720-3, 2015, Wiley, 264 p., US$169.95 (print), US$135.99 (eBook) Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources: Exploitation and Development, edited by Usman Ahmed and D. Nathan Meehan, ISBN 978-1-49-875940-3, 2016, CRC Press, 860 p., US$199.95 (print), US$139.97 (eBook)
Metastatic Lymph Node Burden and Survival in Oral Cavity Cancer
Authors: Ho Allen S. , Kim Sungjin , Tighiouart Mourad , Gudino Cynthia , Mita Alain , Scher Kevin S. , Laury Anna , Prasad Ravi , Shiao Stephen L. , Van Eyk Jennifer E. , Zumsteg Zachary S.
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Current staging systems for oral cavity cancers incorporate lymph node (LN) size and laterality, but place less weight on the total number of positive metastatic nodes. We investigated the independent impact of numerical metastatic LN burden on survival.

Methods

Adult patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma undergoing upfront surgical resection for curative intent were identified in the National Cancer Data Base between 2004 and 2013. A neck dissection of a minimum of 10 LNs was required. Multivariable models were constructed to assess the association between the number of metastatic LNs and survival, adjusting for factors such as nodal size, laterality, extranodal extension, margin status, and adjuvant treatment.

Results

Overall, 14,554 patients met inclusion criteria (7,906 N0 patients; 6,648 node-positive patients). Mortality risk escalated continuously with increasing number of metastatic nodes without plateau, with the effect most pronounced with up to four LNs (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.29 to 1.39; P < .001). Extranodal extension (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.20 to 1.65; P < .001) and lower neck involvement (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.27; P < .001) also predicted increased mortality. Increasing number of nodes examined was associated with improved survival, plateauing at 35 LNs (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.98 to 0.99; P < .001). In multivariable models accounting for the number of metastatic nodes, contralateral LN involvement (N2c status) and LN size were not associated with mortality. A novel nodal staging system derived by recursive partitioning analysis exhibited greater concordance than the American Joint Committee on Cancer (8th edition) system.

Conclusion

The number of metastatic nodes is a critical predictor of oral cavity cancer mortality, eclipsing other features such as LN size and contralaterality in prognostic value. More robust incorporation of numerical metastatic LN burden may augment staging and better inform adjuvant treatment decisions.
The Surveillance Commodity, Unequal Exchange, and the (In)Visible Subject in Hasan Elahi’s Tracking Transience
Authors: Ahnert Laurel
Published: September 2017

This article interrogates artist Hasan Elahi’s claim that an increased supply of a surveillance commodity will decrease its demand, a premise that led to his web-based artwork Tracking Transience. As a form of “artveillance,” the website archives thousands of images documenting Elahi’s daily movements, which he began recording in an effort to subvert government surveillance. Taking seriously the idea that information should be treated as a commodity, this article uses Marxist theory to articulate how surveillance data fit within the broader information economy. Drawing from Thomas Keenan’s rhetorical reading of Marx, it argues that surveillance enacts the figurative trope of catachresis. Just as the commodity is an abstraction of the labor that went into its making, surveillance data is an abstraction of the subject being surveilled. The information commodity supplants the subject, who becomes a ghostly remainder that haunts the data archive. This maneuver then makes it possible to treat certain individuals, often those marked as racial outsiders, as nonsubjects who can be acted upon outside of the law. This process is visualized by the Tracking Transience website, which is analyzed within this Marxist framework.
Law, Coercion, and Expression: A Review Essay on Frederick Schauer's The Force of Law and Richard McAdams's The Expressive Powers of Law
Authors: Rasmusen Eric
Published: September 2017

What is law and why do people obey it? This question from jurisprudence has recently been tackled using the tools of economics. The field of law and economics has long studied how fines and imprisonment affect behavior. Nobody believes, however, that all compliance is motivated by penalties, and it is questionable whether that is even the typical motivation. Two books published in 2015, Frederick Schauer's The Force of Law and Richard McAdams's The Expressive Powers of Law: Theories and Limits, consider alternative motivations—Schauer skeptically and McAdams more sympathetically. While coercion, either directly or in support of internalized norms, seems to dominate law qua law (and not as a mere expression of morality), a considerable portion of law serves other uses such as coordination, information provision, expression, and reduction of transaction costs. (JEL C72, D23, D83, K00, K40, Z13)
Intertraffic of Endothelin 1 and Thrombospondin 1 between lungs and myocard via pulmonary circulation can alter cardiac loads, tissue integrity and atrial blood coagulability
Authors: Kurbel Sven
Published: August 2017

Similar expression patterns of mRNA profiles for Endothelin 1 (ET-1) and Thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) from GeneAtlas U133A, gcrma, suggest that these two mediators are dominantly synthesized in the myocard and lungs. This paper proposes that intertraffic of these two mediators between myocard and lungs via pulmonary and coronary vessels optimizes cardiopulmonary functions and maintains their tissue integrity. A controlled delivery of endocrine mediators to the left and to the right heart is done by the coronary sinus (CS) that drains venous blood to the right atrium, and Thebesian veins (TVs) that open in all four heart cavities.

Myocard and pulmonary capillaries are connected as a bidirectional portal system. Mediators from lungs can directly influence myocardial cells after entering the coronary circulation, while mediators in the myocardial venous blood that drain into the right heart will initially affect lungs.

Strain induced myocardial ET-1 secretion into the right heart and pulmonary circulation increases the right heart afterload by constricting pulmonary vasculature. The same action reduces the left heart preload. Pulmonary ET-1 secretion can protect lungs from overperfusion by increasing the left heart afterload through constriction of peripheral arterioles. Chronic tissue overexposure to ET-1 leads to pulmonary and myocardial fibrosis. 

TSP1 availability is important in tissues under mechanical stress, since TSP1 is an adhesive glycoprotein involved in cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions. Pulmonary and myocardial TSP1 secretion that enter the fibrillating left atrium can mimic actions of the platelet-derived TSP1 in promoting the thrombus formation.
Biosimilar monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in oncology
Authors: Moore Caroline
Published: September 2017

Biological medicines are derived from living cells and organisms. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are biological agents that are widely used to treat malignancies including non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. They are effective but expensive. The patents for many mAbs are expiring, so biosimilar medicines, which contain a version of the active ingredient of the original drug, are being developed. Biological medicines cannot be assessed in the same way as standard generic medications because they are difficult to copy and can change over time. A pathway regulates how biosimilars are assessed and compared with the original drug to ensure they are highly similar and have no clinically meaningful differences in terms of structure, function, pharmacodynamics and mechanism of action, pharmacokinetic properties, clinical efficacy and safety. Truxima® ▾(rituximab), the first biosimilar monoclonal antibody to be approved for use in the UK in an oncology setting, is biosimilar to intravenous (IV) rituximab; rituximab improves the effectiveness of standard chemotherapy for lymphoma. The two drugs are comparable in efficacy and safety and have the same indications, dosing regimen and storage procedures.
Ground Soil Input Characteristics Determining Agricultural Tractor Dynamics
Authors: CUTINI MAURIZIO , DEBOLI ROBERTO , CALVO ANGELA , PRETI CHRISTIAN , BRAMBILLA MASSIMO , BISAGLIA CARLO
Published: August 2017

Abstract.

Whole body vibrations are among the risk factors for professional diseases in agricultural operators: it is therefore fundamental to study vibration source dynamics to improve vehicle comfort and safety. This study analyses the forces acting on the tires of one tractor operated in 29 different settings both on a standard “ISO 5008” test track and three terrain surfaces. For each setting, the accelerations acquired at the tractor hubs were reproduced on a four-poster test bench and the vertical displacement of the actuators reproducing the test track was obtained for each surface. Subsequently, the spectra of the twenty-nine replicated ground inputs were analyzed. All of them showed a similar shape in terms of frequency, pointing out that solicitations originating from different agricultural surfaces belonged to a specific range of frequencies. Because of this, a remarkable simplification and standardization can be introduced in the analysis of tractor dynamics, comfort, and material resistance. Keywords: Four-poster test bench, Operator comfort, Safety, Surface profile, Test track, Vibrations.
Improvement of Prediction Models for Nondestructive Detection of TVB-N Using Dual-Band Vis/NIR Spectroscopic Technique
Authors: Wang Wenxiu , Peng Yankun
Published: August 2017

Abstract. This article discusses the influence of light source and band selection on prediction model performance. Two spectra acquisition systems for visible (Vis) and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy with a ring light source and a point light source were set up and compared based on the coefficient of variation (CV), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), spectrum area change rate (ACR), and model results. Reflectance spectra of 61 pork samples were collected, and anomalous samples were eliminated by Monte Carlo method based on model cluster analysis. Partial least squares (PLS) models for total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) based on a single spectral region (350-1100 nm or 1000-2500 nm) and a dual spectral region (350-2500 nm) were built to compare the influence of band choice. Based on the optimal chosen band, characteristic wavelengths were selected by competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), and a new PLS model was established. The results showed that spectra acquired with the ring light source had better stability and achieved optimal prediction models. The dual spectral region, which contained more comprehensive information on TVB-N, yielded better results than any single spectral region. Based on the dual-band spectra, a simplified PLS model using feature variables achieved a coefficient of determination in the prediction set (Rp2) of 0.8767 and standard error of prediction (SEP) of 2.8354 mg per 100 g. The results demonstrated that the choice of light source and modeling band had great influence on prediction results, and improvement of models would promote the application of Vis/NIR spectroscopy in on-line or portable detection. Keywords: Band selection, Light source, Nondestructive detection, Pork, TVB-N, Vis/NIR spectroscopy.
Arthur Ferdinand Yencken: A British diplomat in wartime Spain
Authors: Anderson Lara , Yencken David
Published: September 2017

During the Second World War, the maintenance of Spanish neutrality was of great strategic importance to the British Government and its Allies. The British Embassy in Madrid therefore had a role of crucial significance. This article describes the part played by Arthur Yencken, deputy to Ambassador Hoare, who served in Spain from 24 April 1939 until his death on 18 May 1944. In uncovering Yencken’s contributions to the war effort, the article offers an example of the critical part played by diplomacy in achieving British foreign policy objectives. Analysis of unpublished official documents provides fresh perspectives on trade and other negotiations from 1940 to 1944 including those related to wheat, petroleum and wolfram supplies. These documents demonstrate the quality of Yencken’s diplomatic skills during negotiations with Spanish Foreign Minister Jordana when Yencken was Chargé d’Affaires in his Ambassador’s absence. The article also describes the circumstances of his death and the remarkable responses to it.
Comentarios de libros: Comentario a François Dubet: ¿Por qué preferimos la desigualdad?
Authors: Spatola Iael , Borchardt Lucrecia
Published: August 2017

Comentarios de libros: Comentario a François Dubet: ¿Por qué preferimos la desigualdad?
Data driven approximation with bounded resources
Authors: Cao Yang , Fan Wenfei
Published: September 2017

This paper proposes BEAS, a resource-bounded scheme for querying relations. It is parameterized with a resource ratio
α
∈ (0,1], indicating that given a big dataset
D
, we can only afford to access an
α
-fraction of
D
with limited resources. For a query
Q
posed on
D
, BEAS computes exact answers
Q(D)
if doable and otherwise approximate answers, by accessing at most
α
|
D
| amount of data in the entire process. Underlying BEAS are (1) an access schema, which helps us identify and fetch the part of data needed to answer
Q
, (2) an accuracy measure to assess approximate answers in terms of their relevance and coverage
w.r.t
. exact answers, (3) an Approximability Theorem for the feasibility of resource-bounded approximation, and (4) algorithms for query evaluation with bounded resources. A unique feature of BEAS is its ability to answer unpredictable queries, aggregate or not, using bounded resources and assuring a deterministic accuracy lower bound. Using real-life and synthetic data, we empirically verify the effectiveness and efficiency of BEAS.