bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Frailty on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia
Authors: Takeji Yasuaki , Yamaji Kyohei , Tomoi Yusuke , Okazaki Jin , Tanaka Kiyoshi , Nagae Ayumu , Jinnouchi Hiroyuki , Hiramori Seiichi , Soga Yoshimitsu , Ando Kenji
Published: July 2018

Background:

The predictive ability of patient frailty on clinical outcomes after revascularization in patients with critical limb ischemia remains largely unknown.

Methods and Results:

We enrolled 643 patients with critical limb ischemia treated with endovascular therapy (N=486) or bypass surgery (N=157) in January 2010 to January 2016, and prospectively assessed them using a 9-level clinical frailty scale (CFS). Patients were divided into 3 groups according to CFS levels: low (CFS level, 1–3; N=234), intermediate (CFS level, 4–6; N=196), and high (CFS level, 7–9; N=213) groups. Clinical follow-up rate was 95.8% at 2 years. In the low, intermediate, and high CFS groups, 2-year overall survival rates were 80.5%, 63.1%, and 49.3% (
P
<0.001) and amputation-free survival rates were 77.9%, 60.5%, and 46.2% (
P
<0.001), respectively. In multivariable analysis, higher frailty was independently associated with all-cause death (intermediate CFS group: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.12–2.42;
P
=0.01; high CFS group: adjusted hazard ratio, 2.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.52–3.23;
P
<0.001) and a composite of all-cause death and major amputation (intermediate CFS group: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.19–2.48;
P
=0.004; high CFS group: adjusted hazard ratio, 2.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.64–3.35;
P
<0.001). Frailty was also independently associated with overall survival and amputation-free survival in patients aged ≤75 and >75 years, those who underwent endovascular therapy or bypass surgery, and those with or without chronic renal failure, without significant interactions.

Conclusions:

Frailty was independently associated with 2-year overall survival and amputation-free survival in patients with critical limb ischemia treated with revascularization, irrespective of age, revascularization mode, and chronic renal failure status.
Randomized Controlled Trial of E-Counseling for Hypertension
Authors: Nolan Robert P. , Feldman Ross , Dawes Martin , Kaczorowski Janusz , Lynn Hazel , Barr Susan I. , MacPhail Carolyn , Thomas Scott , Goodman Jack , Eysenbach Gunther , Liu Sam , Tanaka Rika , Surikova Jelena
Published: July 2018

Background:

The efficacy of internet-based interventions to improve hypertension management is not established. We evaluated the therapeutic benefit of e-counseling by adapting best evidence guidelines for behavioral counseling.

Methods and Results:

This multicenter double-blind randomized controlled trial included assessments at baseline, 4 months, and 12 months. Participants were 35 to 74 years of age and diagnosed with hypertension: systolic/diastolic blood pressure (BP) 130 to 180/85 to 110 mm Hg. BP was assessed by automated office measurement. E-Counseling used multimedia and interactive tools to increase motivation and skill for self-care (exercise, diet, medication adherence, and smoking cessation). Control used self-care education. Frequency of contact by our e-platform was equal for both trial arms. Primary end points were change at 4 and 12 months in systolic BP, diastolic BP, pulse pressure, total lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and Framingham 10-year cardiovascular risk index. Intention-to-treat analysis used generalized linear models adjusted for baseline measures, sex, and medications. Among 264 participants, mean age was 57.6 years (SE, 0.6), 58% were women, with 83% on antihypertensive medications. At 12 months, e-counseling versus control evoked greater reduction in systolic BP (−10.1 mm Hg [95% confidence interval (CI), −12.5, −7.6] versus −6.0 mm Hg [95% CI, −8.5, −3.5];
P
=0.02); pulse pressure (−5.2 mm Hg [95% CI, −6.9, −3.5] versus −2.7 mm Hg [95% CI, −4.5, −0.9];
P
=0.04), and Framingham risk index (−1.9% [95% CI, −3.3, −0.5] versus −0.02% [95% CI, −1.2, 1.7];
P
=0.02), respectively. Among males in e-counseling versus control, 12-month end points included lower diastolic BP (
P
=0.01), non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (
P
=0.04), total lipoprotein cholesterol (
P
=0.03), and a trend for total lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (
P
=0.07).

Conclusions:

To our knowledge, this is the first double-blind randomized trial of e-counseling for hypertension. Added benefit for medical therapy was achieved by combining available technology with a clinically organized protocol of motivational and cognitive-behavioral counseling.

Clinical Trial Registration:

https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT01541540
Protein Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in the Community
Authors: Ho Jennifer E. , Lyass Asya , Courchesne Paul , Chen George , Liu Chunyu , Yin Xiaoyan , Hwang Shih‐Jen , Massaro Joseph M. , Larson Martin G. , Levy Daniel
Published: July 2018

Background

The discovery of novel and highly predictive biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (
CVD
) has the potential to improve risk‐stratification methods and may be informative regarding biological pathways contributing to disease.

Methods and Results

We used a discovery proteomic platform that targeted high‐value proteins for
CVD
to ascertain 85 circulating protein biomarkers in 3523 Framingham Heart Study participants (mean age, 62 years; 53% women). Using multivariable‐adjusted Cox models to account for clinical variables, we found 8 biomarkers associated with incident atherosclerotic
CVD
, 18 with incident heart failure, 38 with all‐cause mortality, and 35 with
CVD
death (false discovery rate, q<0.05 for all;
P
‐value ranges, 9.8×10
−34
to 3.6×10
−2
). Notably, a number of regulators of metabolic and adipocyte homeostasis were associated with cardiovascular events, including insulin‐like growth factor 1 (
IGF
1), insulin‐like growth factor binding protein 1 (
IGFBP
1), insulin‐like growth factor binding protein 2 (
IGFBP
2), leptin, and adipsin. In a multimarker approach that accounted for clinical factors, growth differentiation factor 15 (
GDF
15) was associated with all outcomes. In addition, N‐terminal pro‐b‐type natriuretic peptide, C‐reactive protein, and leptin were associated with incident heart failure, and C‐type lectin domain family 3 member B (
CLEC
3B; tetranectin), N‐terminal pro‐b‐type natriuretic peptide, arabinogalactan protein 1 (AGP1), soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (
sRAGE)
, peripheral myelin protein 2 (
PMP
2), uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein (
UCMGP)
, kallikrein B1 (KLKB1),
IGFBP
2,
IGF
1, leptin receptor, and cystatin‐C were associated with all‐cause mortality in a multimarker model.

Conclusions

We identified numerous protein biomarkers that predicted cardiovascular outcomes and all‐cause mortality, including biomarkers representing regulators of metabolic homeostasis and inflammatory pathways. Further studies are needed to validate our findings and define clinical utility, with the ultimate goal of improving strategies for CVD prevention.
Replay of Stimulus-specific Temporal Patterns during Associative Memory Formation
Authors: Michelmann Sebastian , Bowman Howard , Hanslmayr Simon
Published: July 2018

Forming a memory often entails the association of recent experience with present events. This recent experience is usually an information-rich and dynamic representation of the world around us. We here show that associating a static cue with a previously shown dynamic stimulus yields a detectable, dynamic representation of this stimulus. We further implicate this representation in the decrease of low-frequency power (∼4–30 Hz) in the ongoing EEG, which is a well-known correlate of successful memory formation. The reappearance of content-specific patterns in desynchronizing brain oscillations was observed in two sensory domains, that is, in a visual condition and in an auditory condition. Together with previous results, these data suggest a mechanism that generalizes across domains and processes, in which the decrease in oscillatory power allows for the dynamic representation of information in ongoing brain oscillations.
Attentional Fluctuations Influence the Neural Fidelity and Connectivity of Stimulus Representations
Authors: Rothlein David , DeGutis Joseph , Esterman Michael
Published: July 2018

Attention is thought to facilitate both the representation of task-relevant features and the communication of these representations across large-scale brain networks. However, attention is not “all or none,” but rather it fluctuates between stable/accurate (in-the-zone) and variable/error-prone (out-of-the-zone) states. Here we ask how different attentional states relate to the neural processing and transmission of task-relevant information. Specifically, during in-the-zone periods: (1) Do neural representations of task stimuli have greater fidelity? (2) Is there increased communication of this stimulus information across large-scale brain networks? Finally, (3) can the influence of performance-contingent reward be differentiated from zone-based fluctuations? To address these questions, we used fMRI and representational similarity analysis during a visual sustained attention task (the gradCPT). Participants ( n = 16) viewed a series of city or mountain scenes, responding to cities (90% of trials) and withholding to mountains (10%). Representational similarity matrices, reflecting the similarity structure of the city exemplars ( n = 10), were computed from visual, attentional, and default mode networks. Representational fidelity (RF) and representational connectivity (RC) were quantified as the interparticipant reliability of representational similarity matrices within (RF) and across (RC) brain networks. We found that being in the zone was characterized by increased RF in visual networks and increasing RC between visual and attentional networks. Conversely, reward only increased the RC between the attentional and default mode networks. These results diverge with analogous analyses using functional connectivity, suggesting that RC and functional connectivity in tandem better characterize how different mental states modulate the flow of information throughout the brain.
Learning Naturalistic Temporal Structure in the Posterior Medial Network
Authors: Aly Mariam , Chen Janice , Turk-Browne Nicholas B. , Hasson Uri
Published: July 2018

The posterior medial network is at the apex of a temporal integration hierarchy in the brain, integrating information over many seconds of viewing intact, but not scrambled, movies. This has been interpreted as an effect of temporal structure. Such structure in movies depends on preexisting event schemas, but temporal structure can also arise de novo from learning. Here, we examined the relative role of schema-consistent temporal structure and arbitrary but consistent temporal structure on the human posterior medial network. We tested whether, with repeated viewing, the network becomes engaged by scrambled movies with temporal structure. Replicating prior studies, activity in posterior medial regions was immediately locked to stimulus structure upon exposure to intact, but not scrambled, movies. However, for temporally structured scrambled movies, functional coupling within the network increased across stimulus repetitions, rising to the level of intact movies. Thus, temporal structure is a key determinant of network dynamics and function in the posterior medial network.
From Pacifism to Trotskyism
Authors: Birchall Ian
Published: July 2018

The French journal Clarté had its origins in a movement launched just after the end of World War I by Henri Barbusse. It was soon taken over by a group of more radical intellectuals, who were close to the French Communist Party but not under its direct control. The journal combined politics and culture. It attempted to analyse the changing world-conjuncture, and in particular the significance of the defeated revolutions in Germany and China. But it also developed a theory of culture under the influence of the Russian proletcult, Victor Serge, Georges Sorel and surrealism. In 1927, under the influence of Pierre Naville, Clarté broke with the Moscow-dominated Communist Party and became the organ of the French Left Opposition. Cuenot has given a well-researched and balanced account of its development.
Cultural Formation and Appropriation in the Era of Merchant Capitalism
Authors: Crane William
Published: July 2018

Discussions of ‘cultural appropriation’ in popular culture suffer from an inherited politics of authenticity and ownership originating in a liberal legal–ethical framework. Here, I use Raymond Williams’s and Stuart Hall’s cultural theory to pinpoint the place at which cultural-appropriation discourse goes wrong – an essentialist and anti- historical notion of colonial encounters. We can overcome these limits through Marxist cultural and historical analysis. Outrage about colonial violence which most often roots appropriation discourse is better understood within the context of an account of the transition to capitalism beginning with the Low Countries and their eastern colonies. Furthermore, the Marxist idea of the cosmopolitan cultures of both capital and labour offers a productive path for the history of culture rooted in the same colonial encounter.
Defining My Own Oppression: Neoliberalism and the Demands of Victimhood
Authors: Shi Chi-Chi
Published: July 2018

In this article I explore a central paradox of contemporary identity politics: why do we look for recognition from the very institutions we reject as oppressive? I argue that neoliberalism’s continued assault on the bases for collectivity has led to a suspicion that ‘the collective’ is an essentialising concept. The assault on the collective coupled with the neoliberal imperative to create an ‘authentic’ self has led to trauma and victimhood becoming the only bases on which people can unite. This manifests discursively and theoretically in the primary trope of contemporary activism: ‘intersectionality’. Mobilising around this analytical concept has led to an analysis of oppression that, even as it claims to be systemic, is totally dematerialised and relentlessly individualised. Instead of building collective power, we are left with a politics of individual demand coming from a coalition of dispersed subject positions.
Using DNA data to determine the taxonomic status of Ammopiptanthus kamelinii in Kyrgyzstan (Thermopsideae, Leguminosae)
Authors: SHI WEI , SU ZHIHAO , PAN BORONG , WU SHIXIN
Published: July 2018

The taxonomic status of Ammopiptanthus kamelinii has been unresolved because of numerous characters that make it similar to another closely related species, A. nanus. In this study, we set out to resolve the complex relationships among A. kamelinii using samples from three populations, with a total of 38 individuals. Phenotypic indices (plant height, canopy, and leaf characters) and DNA data (ITS 1–4 nrDNA markers, as well as trnH-psbA, trnL-trnF, and trnS-trnG cpDNA markers) were used to understand the controversial taxonomic status of A. kamelinii. The phenotypic characters of A. kamelinii did not show a significant difference from A. nanus, and the nrDNA data did not reflect any variability from A. nanus, but all the individuals of A. kamelinii in Kyrgyzstan showed two new haplotypes in the cpDNA. When the genetic data were combined, specimens of A. kamelinii clustered together with A. nanus; therefore, we have confirmed that A. kamelinii cannot be recognized as a separate species of A. nanus and should be merged with the latter species. The description of A. nanus is revised here.
Five new synonyms in Serpocaulon (Polypodiaceae)
Authors: SANÍN DAVID , SALINO ALEXANDRE
Published: July 2018

A new taxonomic circumscription is proposed for Serpocaulon sessilifolium and S. wagneri. We compared the type specimens of S. sessilifolium and S. wagneri with those of the new proposed synonyms: S. acuminatum, S. antillense and S. chacapoyense for the former, and Polypodium kuhlmannii and S. panorense for the latter. Diagnostic descriptions, synonymy, taxonomic discussion, and pictures of diagnostic characters for each species are provided. In addition, lectotypes for two names are designated.
Coniophoropsis bambusicola sp. nov. (Coniophoraceae, Basidiomycota) from southern Vietnam
Authors: ZHAO YA-NAN , LIU SHI-LIANG , NAKASONE KAREN K. , HE SHUANG-HUI
Published: July 2018

Coniophoropsis bambusicola sp. nov. is described and illustrated from southern Vietnam based on morphological and molecular evidence. It is the second species in the genus, and differs from the type, C. obscura, by having much smaller basidiospores measuring 5.5–7 × 4–5 µm and growing on the culms of dead bamboo. The phylogenetic analyses based on a combined dataset of nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) and nuc 28S rDNA (28S) sequences of Boletales show that Coniophoropsis bambusicola is closely related to Coniophora.
A new species of Eugenia (Myrteae, Myrtaceae) from the submontane forest of northern Atlantic Forest
Authors: AMORIM BRUNO S. , CABRAL FERNANDA N.
Published: July 2018

Eugenia studerae is here described and illustrated. This species is restricted to submontane forests of northern Atlantic Forest and known only for the Alagoas state. Eugenia studerae is morphologically related to E. hirta. They share the small leaves, inflorescence with reduced main axis and subglobose and smooth fruits, but E. studerae differs by the inflorescence usually with 3–4 mature flowers/fruits, smaller and acute calyx lobes and the restricted distribution in submontane forests (vs. inflorescence usually with 1 mature flower/fruit, larger and rounded calyx lobes and the distribution in lowland coastal forests in E. hirta).
A revision of the genus Bromeloecia Spuler (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae: Limosininae)
Authors: YAU TIFFANY , MARSHALL STEPHEN A.
Published: July 2018

The genus Bromeloecia Spuler is revised, including 20 new and one previously described species. A key to species is provided, and species-level phylogenetic relationships are assessed on the basis of morphological characters. The B. winnemana species group, a mainly Nearctic species group characterized by ornamental processes on the hind tarsus, is excluded from the revision but is diagnosed, included in the key and considered within the phylogeny of Bromeloecia as an operational taxonomic unit. B. bromeliarum (Knab and Malloch) is redescribed and the following new species are described: B. abundantia, B. aculatus, B. aurita, B. balaena, B. brachium, B. cercarcuata, B. coniclunis, B. diabolunguia, B. ephippium, B. fractacincta, B. magna, B. peloris, B. pinna, B. ponsa, B. ramus, B. robustora, B. spathicercus, B. triunguia, B. undulata, and B. wolverinei.
New Rainfall Datasets for the Congo Basin and Surrounding Regions
Authors: Nicholson S. E. , Klotter D. , Dezfuli A. K. , Zhou L.
Published: July 2018

This paper describes three new rainfall datasets that have been developed for equatorial Africa. The development relies on acquisition of recent gauge data from the relevant countries and statistical methods to fill in gaps in coverage. Two of the three datasets are gridded with spatial resolutions of 2.5° and 5.0°, and the third is regionally aggregated and based purely on gauge data. The work is based on a total of 1826 gauge records in the analysis sector, of which only several hundred operate in recent years. The gridded datasets were produced and validated by using a period of dense coverage (1947–72) to “calibrate” a spatial reconstruction method, which is then utilized to grid data for the remaining years. The period 1973–2010 served as a validation period. The validation was carried out by comparing the gridded values with values obtained by simple averaging of station data in grid boxes with an adequate number of stations. This exercise clearly showed that the statistical reconstruction approach based on principal components produced far superior results than those from the more commonly used kriging. The gridded datasets cover each month of the year, six seasons, and annual rainfall, and they commence in 1921 and extend through 2014. In contrast, the gauge-only regional dataset covers varied time periods, depending on the geographical region in question. Records for several regions cover nearly all of the twentieth century and most extend to 2014.
A ‘better’ education: An examination of the utility of boarding school for Indigenous secondary students in Western Australia
Authors: Macdonald Mary-Anne , Gringart Eyal , Ngarritjan Kessaris Terry , Cooper Martin , Gray Jan
Published: July 2018

Over the past 10 years, great improvements have been observed in the Year 12 attainment rate of Indigenous Australians. This has been due, in part, to government funding of programmes aimed at improving education opportunity for Indigenous Australian students, including funding of scholarships for students from remote areas to attend boarding schools. The current qualitative study investigated the perspectives of school leaders and Indigenous secondary students across the Australian state of Western Australia, on the utility and impact of this boarding provision. Students identified that boarding education allowed them to achieve a dual goal of meaningful career pathways and improved health outcomes, although they faced challenges unique to the Indigenous boarding school experience in terms of student self-concept, racism, homesickness and post-school transitions.
Screening for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Comorbidities in a Diverse, Urban Primary Care Setting
Authors: Spencer Andrea E. , Plasencia Natalie , Sun Ying , Lucke Cara , Haile Haregnesh , Cronin Rebecca , Faraone Stephen V. , Jellinek Michael , Murphy J. Michael , Biederman Joseph
Published: July 2018

We tested the accuracy of 2 parent-report tools, the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-35) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), to identify attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and distinguish complex (highly comorbid) cases in an urban, largely Latino pediatric practice. Spanish- and English-speaking parents of children aged 6 to 10 years completed a PSC-35 and CBCL at well visits. Those with CBCL Attention Problems Subscale (CBCL-APS) T scores ≥60 plus controls completed the diagnostic MINI-KID (Miniature International Neuropsychiatric Interview) for Children. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves quantified accuracy of both scales to distinguish ADHD from non-ADHD, and complex from simple ADHD. Two hundred and nine children were screened, and 41 completed diagnostic interviews. Both the CBCL-APS and PSC Attention Scale (PSC-AS) accurately identified ADHD; the CBCL-APS performed best (AUROCCBCL_APS = 0.837; AUROCPSC_AS = 0.728). The PSC Total and Internalizing Scores and the number of CBCL subscale elevations accurately distinguished complex from simple ADHD; the PSC Internalizing Score performed best (AUROCPSC_TOTAL = 0.700; AUROCPSC_INT = 0.817; AUROCCBCL_SUBS = 0.762).
Outreach and Reminders to Improve Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in an Integrated Primary Care System
Authors: Henrikson Nora B. , Zhu Weiwei , Baba Lauren , Nguyen Matthew , Berthoud Heidi , Gundersen Gabrielle , Hofstetter Annika M.
Published: July 2018

This study evaluated the impact of health system–based outreach and reminders on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series initiation and completion. Parents of 10 to 12 year olds (n = 1805) were randomized to receive either (1) an outreach letter and brochure recommending HPV vaccination followed by automated HPV vaccine reminders or (2) usual care. We interviewed a subset of 50 parents to assess program acceptability. Outcomes were HPV vaccine initiation during the study period and on-time series completion. Rates of HPV vaccine initiation during the study period (July 2015 to August 2016) were similar between the intervention and control groups, but initiation within 120 days of randomization was higher in the intervention group (23.6% and 18.8%, P = .04) as was completion during the study period (10.3% vs 6.8%, P = .04). Reminders for doses 2 and 3 did not affect completion. The program was acceptable to parents. This study provides evidence that health system–based outreach and reminders can improve HPV vaccination.
Discursive Psychology: Implications for Counseling Psychology
Authors: Lester Jessica Nina , Wong Y. Joel , O’Reilly Michelle , Kiyimba Nikki
Published: July 2018

In this article, we present discursive psychology (DP), a qualitative approach that focuses on the study of conversational and textual materials, including everyday interactions. Although DP is well-established methodologically and theoretically, and is used widely in Europe and in the Commonwealth countries, it is relatively unknown in counseling psychology in the United States. As such, the purpose of this article is to provide a general overview of DP and offer guidance for researchers who may be interested in studying and using DP. We thus discuss practical considerations for utilizing DP, including the development of research questions, carrying out data collection, and conducting DP-informed analyses. We also provide a general overview of the history of DP and key resources for those interested in studying it further, while noting the usefulness of DP for counseling psychology.
Health experiences of children and young people who migrate – Opportunities for health education
Authors: Spencer Grace , Smith Melody , Thompson Jill , Fairbrother Hannah , Hoare Karen , Fouché Christa , Curtis Penny
Published: July 2018

Research on migration and health is gaining significant ground, with a focus on the adverse physical and mental health outcomes experienced by migrants. The health-related experiences of children and young people who migrate, however, are relatively absent, with children’s migration and health status often conflated with that of their parents. The omission of children’s own perspectives limits knowledge about how health is understood and experienced by child migrants, including the identification of best ways to support their health. Drawing on the empirical literature on child migrants and health from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Western Pacific Region, we adopt a critical perspective to examine how the research to date supports a particular way of understanding and investigating the health of children and young people who migrate. Specifically, we highlight how a dominant focus on parents’ migration status, (negative) health outcomes and patterns of risk behaviours limits, rather than aids, the understanding of migrant children’s health. In doing so, we illustrate how much of the evidence base upholds Westernised biomedical notions of health and privileges the use of particular methodologies to assess health outcomes and reduce health risks. These preferences, in turn, shape the subsequent range of ‘appropriate’ forms of health education for, rather than with, children. We conclude by drawing on some exceptions and consider the opportunities these provide for developing health education in line with children’s own understandings of health – crucially underscoring the importance migrant children and young people attach to the more social aspects of their health and migration experiences.
Thermal cycle effects on laminated composite plates containing voids
Authors: Gupta Shambhu K , Hojjati Mehdi
Published: July 2018

Composite structures are often cured in an autoclave to acquire the required space grade quality. Now the industry is focusing on the out of autoclave manufacturing method which leads to more voids inside laminate with respect to those manufactured in the autoclave. In the present work, the influence of voids on microcrack formation under thermal cycling and environmental conditions was analyzed. Thermal cycle experiments were performed using liquid nitrogen and oven, followed by microscopic observation of the polished cross-section of the 90° layered plies. Cracks were monitored, counted, and measured with respect to void and void free areas. Void content was characterized using microscopic and ImageJ software was used. It was observed that the microcracks will be formed both around the voids and in void free areas. As the number of thermal cycle increases, the number of microcrack around the voids increases much faster than compared to the void free areas. Also it was observed that most of microcracks were propagated in the transverse direction. Interlaminar shear strength was measured. Results indicate that interlaminar shear strength reduces as the number of cycle rises due to the increase in the microcrack density. Finite element method was used to simulate the process. The micro, meso, and macro model were created with respect to original samples voids and positions to calculate the stress distribution and its concentration. Good agreement between experiment and simulation was observed.
Effect of strain rate, off-axis loading and high-velocity impact damage on the compressive strength of C/SiC composite
Authors: Altaf M , Singh S , Bhanu Prasad VV , Patel Manish
Published: July 2018

The compressive strength of C/SiC composite at different strain rates, off-axis orientations and after high-velocity impact was studied. The compressive strength was found to be 137 ± 23, 130 ± 46 and 162 ± 33 MPa at a strain rate of 3.3 × 10−5, 3.3 × 10−3, 3.3 × 10−3 s−1, respectively. On the other hand, the compressive strength was found to be 130 ± 46, 99 ± 23 and 87 ± 9 MPa for 0°/90°, 30°/60° and 45°/45° fibre orientations to loading direction, respectively. After high-velocity impact, the residual compressive strength of C/SiC composite was found to be 58 ± 26, 44 ± 18 and 36 ± 3.5 MPa after impact with 100, 150 and 190 m/s, respectively. The formation of kink bands in fibre bundles was found to be dominant micro-mechanism for compressive failure of C/SiC composite for 0°/90° orientation. On the other hand, delamination and the fibre bundles rotation were found to be the dominant mechanism for off-axis failure of composite.
Mechanobehavior and Ontogenesis of the Temporomandibular Joint
Authors: Nickel J.C. , Iwasaki L.R. , Gonzalez Y.M. , Gallo L.M. , Yao H.
Published: July 2018

Craniofacial secondary cartilages of the mandibular condyle and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) eminence grow in response to the local mechanical environment. The intervening TMJ disc distributes normal loads over the cartilage surfaces and provides lubrication. A better understanding of the mechanical environment and its effects on growth, development, and degeneration of the TMJ may improve treatments aimed at modifying jaw growth and preventing or reversing degenerative joint disease (DJD). This review highlights data recorded in human subjects and from computer modeling that elucidate the role of mechanics in TMJ ontogeny. Presented data provide an approximation of the age-related changes in jaw-loading behaviors and TMJ contact mechanics. The cells of the mandibular condyle, eminence, and disc respond to the mechanical environment associated with behaviors and ultimately determine the TMJ components’ mature morphologies and susceptibility to precocious development of DJD compared to postcranial joints. The TMJ disc may be especially prone to degenerative change due to its avascularity and steep oxygen and glucose gradients consequent to high cell density and rate of nutrient consumption, as well as low solute diffusivities. The combined effects of strain-related hypoxia and limited glucose concentrations dramatically affect synthesis of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which limit repair capabilities. Magnitude and frequency of jaw loading influence this localized in situ environment, including stem and fibrocartilage cell chemistry, as well as the rate of ECM mechanical fatigue. Key in vivo measurements to characterize the mechanical environment include the concentration of work input to articulating tissues, known as energy density, and the percentage of time that muscles are used to load the jaws out of a total recording time, known as duty factor. Combining these measurements into a mechanobehavioral score and linking these to results of computer models of strain-regulated biochemical events may elucidate the mechanisms responsible for growth, maintenance, and deterioration of TMJ tissues.
Epstein-Barr Virus–Infected Plasma Cells Infiltrate Erosive Oral Lichen Planus
Authors: Raybaud H. , Olivieri C.V. , Lupi-Pegurier L. , Pagnotta S. , Marsault R. , Cardot-Leccia N. , Doglio A.
Published: July 2018

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), in addition to its transforming properties, contributes to the pathogenesis of several inflammatory diseases. Here, we investigated its involvement in oral lichen planus (OLP), a common autoimmune-like disease of unknown etiopathogenesis that can display a malignant potential. EBV-infected cells (EBV+ cells) were sought in a large series of clinically representative OLPs ( n = 99) through in situ hybridization to detect small noncoding EBV-encoded RNAs. Overall, our results demonstrated that EBV was commonly found in OLP (74%), with significantly higher frequency (83%) in the erosive form than in the reticular/keratinized type mild form (58%). Strikingly, many erosive OLPs were massively infiltrated by large numbers of EBV+ cells, which could represent a large part of the inflammatory infiltrate. Moreover, the number of EBV+ cells in each OLP section significantly correlated with local inflammatory parameters (OLP activity, infiltrate depth, infiltrate density), suggesting a direct relationship between EBV infection and inflammatory status. Finally, we characterized the nature of the infiltrated EBV+ cells by performing detailed immunohistochemistry profiles ( n = 21). Surprisingly, nearly all EBV+ cells detected in OLP lesions were CD138+ plasma cells (PCs) and more rarely CD20+ B cells. The presence of EBV+ PCs in erosive OLP was associated with profound changes in cytokine expression profile; notably, the expression of key inflammatory factors, such as IL1-β and IL8, were specifically increased in OLP heavily infiltrated with EBV+ PCs. Moreover, electron microscopy–based experiments showed that EBV+ PCs actively produced EBV viral particles, suggesting possible amplification of EBV infection within the lesion. Our study thus brings conclusive evidence showing that OLP is commonly infiltrated with EBV+ PCs, adding a further puzzling element to OLP pathogenesis, given that PCs are now considered to be major regulatory immune cells involved in several autoimmune diseases (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02276573).
Global Value Chains and National Tourism Carbon Competitiveness
Authors: Sun Ya-Yen
Published: July 2018

With the emergence of global value chains (GVCs), imported products and services play a critical role in the quality and quantity of tourism services. What to import and how much to import thus concern the trade-offs of maintaining economic prosperity, reducing domestic and global carbon emissions and improving tourism carbon efficiency at destinations. This study clarifies the relationship between tourism and GVCs and presents an environmentally extended input–output model to assess the distribution of tourism’s economic and environmental effects in global segments. We argue that GVCs increase a nation’s tourism carbon competitiveness and relieve global carbon pressure when imports (1) are high in carbon contents but low in economic linkage, (2) facilitate the transition of domestic businesses toward better energy efficiency, and (3) are produced with a lower carbon intensity than the domestic production technology. An empirical case of the bilateral travel between Taiwan and Japan is applied.
We Ran 9 Billion Regressions: Eliminating False Positives through Computational Model Robustness
Authors: Muñoz John , Young Cristobal
Published: July 2018

False positive findings are a growing problem in many research literatures. We argue that excessive false positives often stem from model uncertainty. There are many plausible ways of specifying a regression model, but researchers typically report only a few preferred estimates. This raises the concern that such research reveals only a small fraction of the possible results and may easily lead to nonrobust, false positive conclusions. It is often unclear how much the results are driven by model specification and how much the results would change if a different plausible model were used. Computational model robustness analysis addresses this challenge by estimating all possible models from a theoretically informed model space. We use large-scale random noise simulations to show (1) the problem of excess false positive errors under model uncertainty and (2) that computational robustness analysis can identify and eliminate false positives caused by model uncertainty. We also draw on a series of empirical applications to further illustrate issues of model uncertainty and estimate instability. Computational robustness analysis offers a method for relaxing modeling assumptions and improving the transparency of applied research.
The Problem of Underdetermination in Model Selection
Authors: Schultz Michael
Published: July 2018

Conventional model selection evaluates models on their ability to represent data accurately, ignoring their dependence on theoretical and methodological assumptions. Drawing on the concept of underdetermination from the philosophy of science, the author argues that uncritical use of methodological assumptions can pose a problem for effective inference. By ignoring the plausibility of assumptions, existing techniques select models that are poor representations of theory and are thus suboptimal for inference. To address this problem, the author proposes a new paradigm for inference-oriented model selection that evaluates models on the basis of a trade-off between model fit and model plausibility. By comparing the fits of sequentially nested models, it is possible to derive an empirical lower bound for the subjective plausibility of assumptions. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach, the method is applied to models of the relationship between cultural tastes and network composition.
The Nonprofit Career Ladder: Exploring Career Paths as Leadership Development for Future Nonprofit Executives
Authors: Stewart Amanda J. , Kuenzi Kerry
Published: July 2018

Pending leadership transitions in the nonprofit sector present a timely need to understand the career path to the executive position, but very few studies on nonprofit career paths have been conducted. A systematic study would help make sense of the existing leadership pipeline to the executive office and offer promising insights that contribute to theory building in the sector. This study investigates the career paths of a national random sample of nonprofit executives serving health and human service nonprofit organizations. Primary and secondary data were collected and analyzed on the experience, education, and credentials these executives hold. The analysis evaluates variations among career characteristics, as well as applies career typologies from within and beyond the nonprofit sector. Respondents also provided qualitative descriptions of their path to executive office, which are insightful about influencing factors that are beyond a resume’s depiction of credentials. The findings are rich in descriptive value and are discussed in light of their utility for nonprofit boards charged with executive selection responsibilities. Finally, the findings are also applied to formulate propositions for future research about how individual career movement may be shaping the nonprofit sector.
Study on the effect of silica–graphite filler on the rheometric, mechanical, and abrasion loss properties of styrene–butadiene rubber vulcanizates
Authors: Shanmugharaj AM , Kumar K Thileep , Sundari G Sivagaami , Kumar E Senthil , Ashwini A , Ramya M , Varsha P , Kalaivani R , Raghu S , Ryu SH
Published: July 2018

Silica–graphite filler was prepared via two-step grafting procedure by grafting silica particles onto the expanded graphite. In the first step, isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane was chemically introduced onto the silica aggregates, which was followed by grafting onto the expanded graphite via urethane linkage in the second step. Successful grafting of silica aggregates onto the graphite was corroborated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The presence of a thin graphene layer on silica aggregates corroborated using transmission electron microscopy confirmed the grafting of silica aggregates onto the graphite surface. Styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) composites with various silica–graphite loadings were prepared by melt processing technique to generate pristine silica and silica–graphite-filled elastomeric composites. Rheometric cure studies revealed that the torque difference (Δ S) increased with pristine silica loading, when compared to the unfilled SBR system, and this effect is more pronounced on loading silica–graphite filler. Improvements in mechanical properties such as modulus and tensile strength were observed with increasing loading of silica particles and this effect is more pronounced on loading silica–graphite fillers, indicating that this is due to the rise in the elastomer–filler interactions in the silica–graphite-loaded SBR systems. This fact was further corroborated using bound rubber content and equilibrium swelling ratios of the unvulcanized and vulcanized SBR composites.
Exploring cross-cultural variations in the development of executive function for preschoolers from low and high socioeconomic families
Authors: Schmitt Sara A. , Korucu Irem , Purpura David J. , Whiteman Shawn , Zhang Chenyi , Yang Fuyi
Published: July 2018

This study investigated cross-cultural variation in the development of executive functioning (EF) across the preschool period for United States and Chinese children from low and high socioeconomic families using a longitudinal design. Participants included 216 preschool children ( n = 125 from the US; n = 91 from Shanghai and Jiangxi, China). On average, children were approximately 4 years old. In the US sample, 56% were female, and in the Chinese sample, 54% were female. Results from multi-level models varied slightly with regard to specific EF domains, but generally indicated that Chinese children experienced greater gains in EF during the preschool period compared to US children. Cross-cultural differences in EF growth did not vary by socioeconomic status. These findings highlight cultural variability in the development of EF and provide a foundation for additional research exploring factors that may help explain differential growth in EF for Chinese children compared to US children during the preschool period.
Request-based, secured and energy-efficient (RBSEE) architecture for handling IoT big data
Authors: Ahad Mohd Abdul , Biswas Ranjit
Published: July 2018

The technological advancements in the field of computing are giving rise to the generation of gigantic volumes of data which are beyond the handling capabilities of the conventionally available tools, techniques and systems. These types of data are known as big data. Moreover with the emergence of Internet of Things (IoT), these types of data have increased in multiple folds in 7Vs (volume, variety, veracity, value, variability, velocity and visualisation). There are several techniques prevalent in today’s time for handling these types of huge data. Hadoop is one such open source framework which has emerged as a de facto technology for handling such huge datasets. In an IoT ecosystem, real-time handling of requests is an imperative requirement; however, Hadoop has certain limitations while handling these types of requests. In this article, we present an energy-efficient architecture for effective, secured and real-time handling of IoT big data. The proposed approach adopts atrain distributed system (ADS) to construct the core architecture. This study uses software-defined networking (SDN) framework for energy-efficient and optimal routing of data and requests from source to destination, and vice versa. Furthermore, to ensure secured handling of IoT big data, the proposed approach uses ‘Twofish’ cryptographic technique for encrypting the information captured by the sensors. Finally, the concept of ‘request-type’ identifying unit has been proposed. Instead of handling all the requests in an identical way, the proposed approach works by characterising the requests on the basis of certain criteria and parameters, which are identified here.
Is Complexity Leadership Theory Complex Enough? A critical appraisal, some modifications and suggestions for further research
Authors: Tourish Dennis
Published: July 2018

Scholars are increasingly seeking to develop theories that explain the underlying processes whereby leadership is enacted. This shifts attention away from the actions of ‘heroic’ individuals and towards the social contexts in which people with greater or lesser power influence each other. A number of researchers have embraced complexity theory, with its emphasis on non-linearity and unpredictability. However, some complexity scholars still depict the theory and practice of leadership in relatively non-complex terms. They continue to assume that leaders can exercise rational, extensive and purposeful influence on other actors to a greater extent than is possible. In effect, they offer a theory of complex organizations led by non-complex leaders who establish themselves by relatively non-complex means. This testifies to the enduring power of ‘heroic’ images of leader agency. Without greater care, the terminology offered by complexity leadership theory could become little more than a new mask for old theories that legitimize imbalanced power relationships in the workplace. This paper explores how these problems are evident in complexity leadership theory, suggests that communication and process perspectives help to overcome them, and outlines an agenda for further research on these issues.
Debating exemplarity: The “communis” in sensus communis
Authors: Ferrara Alessandro
Published: July 2018

In this paper I respond to Lois McNay’s article “The politics of exemplarity: Ferrara on the disclosure of new political worlds.” After contextualizing her appraisal of my views on exemplarity within the current debate about critical theory and postcolonialism, and after clarifying my interpretation of Kant’s notion of sensus communis, I defend the function that this concept plays within an immanent and experience-near approach to critical theory. Sensus communis is what makes of a subjective grievance a cogent critique. I then elucidate how the transcontextual communicability of human flourishing can be understood, along lines still compatible with Kant’s theory of judgment. In the final section of the paper, McNay’s suggestion to reconceptualize critique in experience-near terms is integrated as a genealogical reconstruction of sensus communis as nourished by encounters with experiences of injustice.
Port-of-Entry Neighborhood and Its Effects on the Economic Success of Refugees in Sweden
Authors: Andersson Roger , Musterd Sako , Galster George
Published: July 2018

We investigate the degree to which the ethnic group composition of “port-of-entry neighborhood” (PoE), the first permanent settlement after immigration, affects the employment prospects of refugees in Sweden during the subsequent 10 years. We use panel data on working-age adults from Iran, Iraq, and Somalia immigrating into Sweden from 1995 to 2004. We control for initial individual and labor market characteristics, use instrumental variable regression to avoid bias from geographic selection, and stratify models by gender and co-ethnic employment and education rates within the neighborhood. We find that the impact of co-ethnic neighbors in the PoE varies dramatically by gender.