bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arthroscopic Management of Dysplastic Hip Deformities
Authors: Larson Christopher M. , Ross James R. , Stone Rebecca M. , Samuelson Kathryn M. , Schelling Emma F. , Giveans M. Russell , Bedi Asheesh
Published: December 2015

Background:

Reports regarding arthroscopy for mild hip dysplasia have conflicting results.

Hypothesis:

Arthroscopy for borderline/mild hip dysplasia would lead to improved outcomes but be inferior to arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A total of 88 hips (77 patients, 71% female; mean age, 33.9 years) with dysplastic radiographic findings were retrospectively reviewed at a mean follow-up of 26.0 months after hip arthroscopy. Specific procedures included labral repair (76%), labral debridement (23%), capsular repair/plication (82%), and femoral osteochondroplasty (72%). Radiographic parameters included lateral center-edge angle, neck-shaft angle, Tönnis angle, extrusion index, femoral head lateralization, and break in the Shenton line. Pre- and postoperative function were evaluated prospectively with the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), 12-Item Short Form Health Survey, and visual analog scale for pain. The results of the dysplastic cohort were compared with an age-matched cohort of 231 hips without radiographic dysplasia that underwent arthroscopic FAI correction during the study period (mean follow-up, 22.7 months).

Results:

The mean lateral center-edge angle was 20.8° (range, 8.7°-24.5°), and the mean Tönnis angle was 11.0° (range, 0°-22.2°). At the time of final follow-up, the dysplastic cohort demonstrated a mean mHHS of 81.3 with a mean 15.6-point improvement in mHHS, compared with 88.4 and 24.4 points, respectively, in the FAI cohort ( P = .00044). The dysplastic cohort had 60.9% good/excellent results and 32.2% failures, compared with 81.2% good/excellent results and 10.5% failures for the FAI cohort ( P < .01). Failure was defined as an mHHS ≤70 or eventual pelvic/femoral osteotomy or total hip arthroplasty. Dysplastic hips that underwent capsular plication and labral repair had greater good/excellent results (73%) and mean latest mHHS (85), as well as lower failure rates (18%) compared with the remainder of the dysplastic cohort ( P < .05). Grade 4 chondral defects were predictive of lower scores ( P = .02). There were no other statistically significant differences for outcomes regarding sex, age, or radiographic parameters ( P > .05). There were no iatrogenic subluxations/dislocations.

Conclusion:

Arthroscopic management of mild to moderate acetabular dysplasia had inferior good/excellent results and higher failure rates when compared with an FAI cohort; therefore, isolated arthroscopic procedures in this population should be cautiously considered. These results were independent of patient sex. Labral repair and capsular plication resulted in better clinical outcomes in this mildly dysplastic cohort.
Production Relations in Agrarian Capitalist Development
Authors: Skillman Gilbert L.
Published: November 2015

Das (2012) proposes to apply Marx’s account of the subsumption of labor under capital, concerning levels of capitalist control of production, in addressing questions regarding the definition of capitalism and the nature and forms of economic development in agrarian economies, and to use the recent economic experience of Indian agriculture for empirical illustration. This comment raises several issues with regard to Das’s reading of Marx’s account and his application of that account in assessing Indian agricultural development.
A Tale of Three Theorems
Authors: Hahnel Robin
Published: November 2015

In combination the Okishio theorem (1961) and a theorem due to John Roemer (1981) imply that a capital-saving technical change could simultaneously (1) reduce production costs and therefore be adopted by profit-maximizing capitalists, (2) make the economy less productive because it is retrogressive, yet (3) raise the rate of profit even while the real wage remains constant. But how can a technical change which makes the economy less productive make capitalists better off if workers are no worse off? This article resolves this conundrum, and goes on to prove a third theorem which provides a way in the Sraffian framework to calculate precisely how much any individual technical change, introduced in any particular industry, increases labor productivity in the economy as a whole.
Growth Accounting of the Value Composition of Capital and the Rate of Profit in the U.S. Economy: A Note Stimulated by Zarembka’s Findings
Authors: Tsoulfidis Lefteris
Published: November 2015

The purpose of this article is twofold. On the one hand, to present a growth account of the evolution of the value composition of capital and in so doing to deal with some of the issues raised by Zarembka’s (2015) contribution. And on the other hand, to review some crucial relations between the variables that relate to the movement of the rate of profit and the current predicament.
(Re)claiming Space by Urban Commons
Authors: Łapniewska Zofia
Published: November 2015

The purpose of this research is to analyze the process of (re)constitution of urban commons by actors involved in action situations. What follows is a description of the way in which these actors are organized and (re)claim urban space, asserting their rights to the city, in relation to the introduced framework. For my analysis of two initiatives in Poland I propose the approach of Elinor Ostrom and address its limitations and critiques as well as outline further areas of research.
Comparison of drug release from poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres and novel fibre formulations
Authors: Campbell Christopher SJ , Delgado-Charro M Begoña , Camus Olivier , Perera Semali
Published: December 2015

Intraperitoneal cisplatin delivery has recently been shown to benefit ovarian cancer patients. Cisplatin-containing poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres have been proposed for cisplatin delivery. The drug loading of cisplatin containing microspheres produced elsewhere is 3–10%w. Similar microspheres are reported here with a mean diameter of 38.8 µm, and a drug loading of 11.7%w, but using ethyl acetate as a safer solvent. In addition, novel formulations of cisplatin-containing solid and hollow PLGA 65:35 (lactide:glycolide) fibres were prepared and are reported here for the first time. PLGA hollow fibres were produced by phase inversion with a high drug loading of 27%w. Mechanistic mathematical models were applied to the cisplatin release profiles to allow quantitative comparison of microsphere, solid fibre and hollow fibre formulations. The diffusion coefficient of cisplatin eluting from a typical batch of PLGA microspheres was 4.8 × 10−13 cm2 s−1; this low diffusivity of cisplatin in microspheres was caused by the low porosity of the polymer matrix. The diffusion coefficients of cisplatin eluting from a batch of PLGA solid fibres and hollow fibres were 6.1 × 10−10 and 3.3 × 10−10 cm2 s−1, respectively. These fibres allowed the controlled release of high doses of cisplatin over four days and may represent an improvement in slow release technology for treatment of ovarian cancer.
Who Is the Rotten Apple? Mock Jurors’ Views of Teacher–Student Sexual Contact
Authors: Anderson Alissa , Wingrove Twila , Fox Paul , McLean Kyle , Styer Erin
Published: December 2015

The present study investigated mock jurors’ ( N = 541) perceptions of a hypothetical case of teacher–student sexual contact. Mock jurors read a brief vignette describing an alleged sexual encounter where the gender and age of both the teacher and student were manipulated. Participants rendered legal decisions (i.e., verdict, degree of guilt, and sentence length), as well as culpability judgments pertaining to both the teacher and the student (i.e., blame, cause, and desire for the sexual contact). In addition, the effects of mock juror gender and attitudes regarding both rape myth acceptance and homophobia were investigated. Teacher gender and both teacher and student age predicted mock jurors’ recommended sentences, with male teachers, older teachers, and younger students leading to greater sentences. Overall, student age was most consistently related to multiple culpability judgments, and the culpability judgments regarding the victim were the most consistently predicted by the independent variables. We did not find any evidence of homosexist attitudes, meaning that same-gender teacher–student contact was not judged any differently than opposite-gender contact. Worth noting, we found an interaction such that male students victimized by female teachers were judged to have wanted the contact more than any other gender combination, especially by male participants. The authors discuss these findings in the context of the child sexual abuse (CSA) literature concluding that many of the findings of more prototypical CSA cases extend to the teacher–student context. We also discuss the implications of these findings in terms of gendered judgments of adolescents who are victimized by teachers, possibly decided by legal professionals, school administrators, and jurors themselves. In particular, the three-way gender interaction can be interpreted in the context of stereotypes regarding sexual development marking sexual contact between adolescent males and older females as a “rite of passage” into adulthood.
The effect on dynamics of using various transmission designs for two-stage cycloidal speed reducers
Authors: Hsieh Chiu-Fan , Jian Wun-Si
Published: December 2015

This paper investigates different transmission methods for a two-stage speed reducer by analyzing component motion and stress conditions during reducer operation. First, an exemplar (set) speed-reducing ratio is used to develop four differently structured two-stage speed reducers: a traditional design using two serially connected single-stage speed reducers, an Rotate Vector (RV) reducer constructed by serially connecting a cycloid speed reducer and an involute planet gear reducer, and two new concept designs. The first new concept named “New design 1” has a pin component in which a cam pair and pins connect two-stage cycloidal gears having different tooth numbers. The second new concept named “New design 2” has a center disc component in which a cam pair symmetrically connects two-stage cycloid gears with different tooth numbers. These four structural types of two-stage speed reducer form the basis for a system dynamics analysis model used to analyze the main components’ motion and stress variation conditions. Besides, this study also carries out the cycloid internal gear (nonpinwheel design) to replace the pinwheel in these four-structured two-stage speed reducers. The results highlight the differences and shortcomings of the four transmissions with pinwheel and nonpinwheel designs, including the dynamic load imbalance and stress peaks phenomena caused by design inadequacies.
Analytical and experimental characterization of viscous fan clutch performances including thermal dynamics
Authors: Yin Zhihong , Zhao Kegang , Shangguan Wenbin , Song Liming
Published: December 2015

This paper presents an investigation on the performance characterization of viscous fan clutch with double grooves including thermal behaviors. A detailed mathematical model of the fan clutch is established by taking into account the viscosity variation of the viscous fluid with shear radius and temperature, and an iterative algorithm is proposed to calculate the performances of the fan clutch. Laboratory experiments are then carried out on a performance measurement setup for viscous clutch, for validating the proposed mathematical model and calculation method. Based on the verified model and calculation algorithm and the experimental setup, the performances of six alternative viscous fan clutch designs are studied. The combined analytical/experimental results suggest that the clutch performances degrade with the increase of the input speed, and the proposed model and calculate method are valid and can be successfully employed to facilitate the design of new viscous fan clutches as well as control system development, for saving cost and shortening development period.
Prehistoric human impact on tree island lifecycles in the Florida Everglades
Authors: Ardren Traci , Lowry Justin P , Memory Melissa , Flanagan Kelin , Busot Alexandra
Published: December 2015

The current study provides a fine-grained analysis of evidence for sustained pre-Columbian human occupation and socio-ecological interaction within Everglades National Park. Utilizing archaeological data on dietary and cultural patterns recovered from recent excavations at a prehistoric tree island site, we argue the role of ancient human populations in the formation or augmentation of tree islands should be incorporated into environmental models of the tree island lifecycle. High phosphorus levels in human waste, especially the largely organic waste of prehistoric populations, as well as other anthropogenic factors have not been adequately factored into current environmental models of tree island formation or the ecological evolution of the Everglades. More broadly, while socio-ecological modeling is at the core of current scholarly and restoration paradigms, expanded collaboration between environmental scientists and archaeologists will lead to more accurate identification of anthropogenic environmental impacts over time.
Prevalence of premature ovarian failure in systemic lupus erythematosus patients treated with immunosuppressive agents in Thailand
Authors: Akawatcharangura P , Taechakraichana N , Osiri M
Published: December 2015

Background

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that affects most women of reproductive age. The prevalence of premature ovarian failure (POF) in SLE patients is higher than that in the general population. However, the data on this condition are limited in Asian countries.

Objectives

To determine the prevalence and associated factors of POF in SLE patients who received immunosuppressive therapy.

Methods

Women aged 18–40 years who were diagnosed with SLE according to the 1997 revised criteria for the classification of SLE or patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis were evaluated. All patients had received at least one of the following immunosuppressive agents: cyclophosphamide (CYC), azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, chlorambucil or cyclosporine for more than six months. POF was diagnosed in those who had sustained amenorrhea for more than six consecutive months, with a level of estradiol ≤ 110 pmol/L (30 pg/mL) and follicle stimulating hormone ≥40 IU/L.

Results

Ninety two SLE patients were included in this study. Mean age at enrollment was 30 ± 6.9 years and disease duration was 103 ± 67.5 months. The mean Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ American College of Rheumatology (SLICC/ACR) damage index was 1.7 ± 1.7. Seventy five patients (82%) had lupus nephritis. Sixty four patients (70%) received CYC. Eleven patients (12%) with POF were observed. For the binary logistic regression model, CYC cumulative dosage of more than 10 g was the only independent risk factor of POF (hazard ratio 17.0, 95%CI 1.96–147.72, p = 0.01).

Conclusions

From our data, 12% of SLE patients developed POF. A cumulative dose of CYC of more than 10 g was the only risk factor for POF. To prevent these events, systematic evaluation and early recognition of POF should be promoted in the care of SLE patients.
Mediational Analyses of the Effects of Responsive Teaching on the Developmental Functioning of Preschool Children With Disabilities
Authors: Karaaslan Ozcan , Mahoney Gerald
Published: December 2015

Mediational analyses were conducted with data from two small randomized control trials of the Responsive Teaching (RT) parent-mediated developmental intervention which used nearly identical intervention and control procedures. The purpose of these analyses was to determine whether or how the changes in maternal responsiveness and children’s engagement that occurred during these interventions contributed to child development outcomes. To conduct these analyses, regression procedures described by Baron and Kenny were used to test for mediation. RT, which focuses on enhancing mother’s responsiveness with their children, was found to be more effective than the control condition at promoting not only children’s development but also both mothers’ responsiveness and children’s engagement (i.e., pivotal behavior). Intervention changes in mothers’ responsiveness were highly associated with changes in children’s pivotal behavior. However, intervention changes in children’s language and personal social development were mediated by changes in children’s pivotal behavior but not by changes in mothers’ responsiveness. Results are discussed in terms of both mechanisms for developmental change and the nature of children’s early intervention objectives.
(Re)Animated Pasts
Authors: Martinez Shantel
Published: December 2015

I am dislocated. I am fragmented. I am mixed-raced.

Utilizing Moraga’s (1984) theory of the flesh, I reflect on my childhood as a mixed-race child trying to find her “place” both in the family and in society. Neither looking like my mother nor of my father, my body becomes/is constantly surveyed for “proof” that I “belong.” But what does belonging look it? What does it feel like? What does longing to belong mean? In this article, I explore the notions of “ghosts” and “haunting” as metaphors of diaspora and trauma within a fragmented childhood.
Biographies of “Invisible” People Who Transform Their Lives and Enhance Social Transformations Through Dialogic Gatherings
Authors: Soler Marta
Published: December 2015

This introduction presents the transformative dimension of the Dialogic Gatherings (DG) by briefly describing sixteen articles that use the biographical method to show these profound transformations. Drawing from the experience of the Dialogic Literary Gatherings, which started in 1970, the editor develops a framework for the special issue: the power of DG in changing underprivileged people’s lives, transforming them into leaders of their communities. This biographical description accounts for the main premises of the communicative methodology, such as the egalitarian dialogue, the disappearance of interpretative hierarchy, collective meaning-making and understanding people as agents of social change.
Writing Minor Literature
Authors: Gale Ken
Published: December 2015

This article is written with a commitment to advocacy. It is intended to embody a rhetoric that will help to animate Deleuze and Guattari’s claims for “minor literacies” in ways that sees writing as always emergent, contingent, and offering challenge to the transcendent. In attempting to bring this to life, the article is also concerned to activate awareness of and encourage engagement with, what Barad has described as, the “entanglements” that exist between language and the materialities of worlds within which it comes to life. The article is written with the intention and a sense of hope that the inferences for practice that can be made from its arguments might promote further inquiries into writing as both method of inquiry and pedagogic practice within contemporary education settings.
Does Transit Mean Business? Reconciling Economic, Organizational, and Political Perspectives on Variable Transit Fares
Authors: Yoh Allison C. , Taylor Brian D. , Gahbauer John
Published: December 2015

For decades, transportation scholars have argued for transit fares that vary by mode, distance, and/or time-of-day to reflect the marginal costs of providing transit service. This pricing strategy, they contend, would increase the efficiency and equity of transit service. Recent advances in smartcard fare collection technologies have reduced the operational obstacles to charging variable fares, yet relatively few transit agencies are doing so. Through interviews and a nationwide survey of transit professionals, this research examines why transit managers and their governing boards have been reluctant to adopt variable fare policies. We find that agencies and practitioners have little incentive to understand how the costs of transit service provision vary and that managers and policymakers tend to be loss averse—they worry more about the riders they might lose under variable pricing than those they might gain. Collectively, we find that transit agency objectives impede fare policy innovation.
623 Tflop/s HPCG run on Tianhe-2: Leveraging millions of hybrid cores
Authors: Liu Yiqun , Yang Chao , Liu Fangfang , Zhang Xianyi , Lu Yutong , Du Yunfei , Yang Canqun , Xie Min , Liao Xiangke
Published: December 2015

In this article, we present a new hybrid algorithm to enable and scale the high-performance conjugate gradients (HPCG) benchmark on large-scale heterogeneous systems such as the Tianhe-2. Based on an inner–outer subdomain partitioning strategy, the data distribution between host and device can be balanced adaptively. The overhead of data movement from both the MPI communication and the PCI-E transfer can be significantly reduced by carefully rearranging and fusing operations. A variety of parallelization and optimization techniques for performance-critical kernels are exploited and analyzed to maximize the performance gain on both host and device. We carry out experiments on both a small heterogeneous computer and the world’s largest one, the Tianhe-2. On the small system, a thorough comparison and analysis has been presented to select from different optimization choices. On Tianhe-2, the optimized implementation scales to the full-system level of 3.12 million heterogeneous cores, with an aggregated performance of 623 Tflop/s and a parallel efficiency of 81.2%.
Ultrasonographic anatomy of the healthy southern tigrina (Leopardus guttulus) abdomen: comparison with domestic cat references
Authors: Müller Thiago R , Marcelino Raquel S , de Souza Livia P , Teixeira Carlos R , Mamprim Maria J
Published: December 2015

Objectives

The aim of the study was to describe the normal abdominal echoanatomy of the tigrina and to compare it with the abdominal echoanatomy of the domestic cat. Reference intervals for the normal abdominal ultrasonographic anatomy of individual species are important for accurate diagnoses and interpretation of routine health examinations. The hypothesis was that the echoanatomy of the tigrina was similar to that of the domestic cat.

Methods

Eighteen clinically healthy tigrina were selected for abdominal ultrasound examination, in order to obtain normal parameters of the bladder, spleen, adrenal gland, kidney, gastrointestinal tract, liver and gall bladder, and Doppler parameters of liver and kidney vessels.

Results

The splenic parenchyma was consistently hyperechoic to the kidneys and liver. The liver, kidneys and spleen had similar echotexture, shape and dimensions when compared with the domestic cat. The gall bladder was lobulated and surrounded by a clearly visualized thin, smooth, regular echogenic wall. The adrenal glands had a bilobulated shape. The urinary bladder had a thin echogenic wall. The Doppler parameters of the portal vein and renal artery were similar to the domestic cat.

Conclusions and relevance

The results support the hypothesis that the ultrasonographic parameters of the abdominal viscera of the southern tigrina are similar to those of the domestic cat.
Dirofilaria immitis exposure status in client-owned cats with or without lower airway/lung-associated signs: case-control study in a canine heartworm-endemic area
Authors: Lin Chung-Hui , Lo Pei-Ying , Tsai Han-Ju , Wang Lih-Chiann , Liaw Bor-Song , Hsieh Olivia F , Chang Yeong-Shuenn , Tsai Yi-Chin , Yu Szu-Ching , Chueh Ling-Ling
Published: December 2015

Objectives

Heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD) is a recently recognised pathological manifestation in cats caused by Dirofilaria immitis exposure. This study aimed to estimate the percentage of cats at risk of developing HARD in a heartworm-endemic area (Taipei, Taiwan), and to test the correlation of heartworm exposure and the presence of lower airway/lung clinical signs (LA/L signs).

Methods

This was a prospective case-control study. The study design called for the enrolment of at least 80 cats with LA/L signs and at least 80 cats without such clinical signs in a 1 year period. The D immitis antibody seroprevalence of the two cohorts was compared.

Results

From February 2014 to January 2015, 187 client-owned cats were prospectively enrolled: 83 clinical cases with LA/L signs and 104 cats without such signs. Antibody seropositivity was approximately twice as frequent in cats with LA/L signs (13.3%) than in cats without signs (7.8%) (odds ratio [OR] 1.814); nevertheless, no statistically significant difference between the two cohorts ( P = 0.22) was found. We used 41 frozen samples from free-roaming cats to examine the possibility of different exposure rates to mosquito bites between client-owned cats and stray cats, finding the seroprevalence to be 7.5% in free-roaming cats – a result not statistically different to that in client-owned cats ( P = 0.60). Outdoor access was a significant risk factor for heartworm exposure in client-owned cats (OR 3.748; P = 0.03); however, living entirely indoors did not provide complete protection from exposure/infection.

Conclusions and relevance

Our results did not show statistically significant differences in antibody seroprevalence between cats with and without LA/L signs. LA/L signs were not always present under conditions of natural exposure. However, exposure to D immitis is not rare among client-owned cats, suggesting that heartworm prophylactics should be a part of routine care in all cats living in areas endemic for canine heartworm.
Genomic Profile of Fatigued Men Receiving Localized Radiation Therapy
Authors: Hsiao Chao-Pin , Reddy Swarnalatha Y. , Chen Mei-Kuang , Saligan Leorey N.
Published: December 2015

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to explore gene expression changes in fatigued men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer receiving localized external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).

Methods:

Fatigue was measured in 40 men with prostate cancer (20 receiving EBRT and 20 controls on active surveillance) using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Fatigue (FACT-F). EBRT subjects were followed from baseline to midpoint and end point of EBRT, while controls were seen at one time point. EBRT subjects were categorized into high- and low-fatigue groups based on change in FACT-F scores from baseline to EBRT completion. Full genome microarray was performed from peripheral leukocyte RNA to determine gene expression changes related to fatigue phenotypes. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed the most differentially expressed gene in the microarray experiment.

Results:

At baseline, mean FACT-F scores were not different between EBRT subjects (44.3 ± 7.16) and controls (46.7 ± 4.32, p = .24). Fatigue scores of EBRT subjects decreased at treatment midpoint (38.6 ± 9.17, p = .01) and completion (37.6 ± 9.9, p = .06), indicating worsening fatigue. Differential expression of 42 genes was observed between fatigue groups when EBRT time points were controlled. Membrane-spanning four domains, subfamily A, member ( MS4A1) was the most differentially expressed gene and was associated with fatigue at treatment end point ( r = −.46, p = .04).

Conclusion:

Fatigue intensification was associated with MS4A1 downregulation, suggesting that fatigue during EBRT may be related to impairment in B-cell immune response. The 42 differentially expressed fatigue-related genes are associated with glutathione biosynthesis, γ-glutamyl cycle, and antigen presentation pathways.
Rewriting the Battles of Algiers
Authors: Crane Sheila
Published: December 2015

Following conventions in metropolitan France, colonial Algiers was a city of posted proclamations. During the war for independence, officially declared in 1954, posters supporting “French Algeria” transformed buildings into agents of propaganda. Counterclaims by the National Liberation Front advocating Algeria’s independence were scrawled on walls throughout the city, and later aggressively contested by the far-right Secret Army Organization’s own poster campaign. New housing estates were animated by painted inscriptions and more fleeting actions, from choreographed illuminations to coordinated choruses from apartment balconies. Here Henri Lefebvre’s analysis of the ephemeral provides a critical framework for understanding how urban spaces were given multivalent meanings. Such ephemeral tactics challenged the logic of buildings designed as structures of containment to reimagine them as sites of collective resistance. These performative interventions served to actively produce a conjectural space, one in which it became possible to envision a different future for the city and its residents.
Mass tourists and destination interaction avoidance
Authors: Lee Hee-Jung , Wilkins Hugh
Published: December 2015

The concept of the environmental bubble was introduced by Cohen to describe the ‘psychological comfort’ sought by mass tourists. However, there has been little empirical research to investigate the underlying structure of this construct. This study provides insight into the psychological motivations of those who choose mass tourism and provides a scale, named Tourist Interaction Avoidance, which measures the extent to which tourists seek to avoid uncertainty during their trips and can be used as a predictor of travel style. A sequential mixed methods research design was adopted with qualitative data collected through focus group interviews followed by a self-completion survey to collect the quantitative data. The findings identify three underlying components: ‘protection’, ‘food’ and ‘avoidance’. These provide deeper understanding of the needs of tourists from South Korea by identifying the three components that underpin the dimension and provide a means to measure individual tourist preferences.
Twitter Time
Authors: Pond Philip
Published: December 2015

This article examines the role that the microblogging service Twitter plays in engaging audiences with televised political debate. Analysis focuses on Q&A, a political discussion show hosted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and the #QandA hashtag used to discuss the broadcast. Analysis suggests that rather than enabling user-to-user communication, the #QandA stream is characterized by the struggle to signify and complex nonlinear temporalities. These contributions to ongoing language wars imply an emergent type of audience engagement, which may not be compatible with a normative framing of deliberative discourse.
Study of unsteady cavitation on NACA66 hydrofoil using dynamic cubic nonlinear subgrid-scale model
Authors: Huang Xianbei , Yang Wei , Liu Zhuqing , Li Yaojun
Published: December 2015

In this article, we describe the use of a new dynamic cubic nonlinear model, a new nonlinear subgrid-scale model, for simulating the cavitating flow around an NACA66 series hydrofoil. For comparison, the dynamic Smagorinsky model is also used. It is found that the dynamic cubic nonlinear model can capture the turbulence spectrum, while the dynamic Smagorinsky model fails. Both models reproduce the cavity growth/destabilization cycle, but the results of the dynamic cubic nonlinear model are much smoother. The re-entrant jet is clearly captured by the models, and it is shown that the re-entrant jet cuts the cavity into two parts. In general, the dynamic cubic nonlinear model provides improvement over the dynamic Smagorinsky model for the calculation of cavitating flow.
Simulation and analysis of road construction traffic flow in urban road networks
Authors: Shi Junqing , Hu Yongju , Li Sulan , Li Zhiqiang , Zhang Xinhuan , Mao Chengyuan
Published: December 2015

Road construction is an important source of occasional urban road network traffic congestion. In this article, a new cellular automaton model is proposed to simulate road construction traffic flow in urban two-way-six-lane network systems with roundabout intersections. In the proposed model, a three-lane traffic rule is adopted to represent vehicle movements on road sections, turning lane changing and overtaking lane changing are allowed, and vehicle movements in intersection areas are determined by priority which relies on vehicle position. Simulation results show that increasing the closed lane number may lead to decline of the network speed. We also found that there is a relatively fixed influence range of road construction in different cases, and a proper proportion of vehicle bypass can improve the operation efficiency of road network when semi-closed construction.
Parametric optimization with the use of numerically efficient finite element models
Authors: Danielczyk Piotr
Published: December 2015

This article presents numerically efficient computational models for solving exemplary problems of parametric optimization with the use of the finite element method. Building computational models involved applying a non-standard usage of superelements. In the problems of static analysis, static condensation method was used for model reduction. In the case dynamic problem, component mode synthesis method was applied. The advantages of the adopted modelling methodology were shown with reference to the time required to find the optimal solution. The issue, so far overlooked in this type of analyses, of the relationship between the modelling methodology and the size of the files generated during the analysis was also mentioned.
Method and application of grade division for road traffic congestion based on driver’s feeling
Authors: Qi Weiwei , Wen Huiying , Wu Yaping
Published: December 2015

Although road traffic congestion is an objective state of traffic flow, drivers have different feelings about road traffic congestion. First of all, in order to reveal the law that driver’s mental state changes along with congested degree of road traffic, the targeted questionnaire was designed to analyze the driver’s psychological feeling under different state of traffic flow. Then, from the perspectives of the driver’s subjective feeling, the new definition of road traffic congestion was put forward, so the pressure coefficient of traffic congestion, which is written as [Formula: see text], is defined to measure traffic congestion pressure. Furthermore, by adopting statistical methods to associate the driver’s subjective feeling toward traffic congestion with objective parameters of traffic flow, the grading thresholds of the unblocked state, mild congested state, moderate congested state, and severe congested state were calculated, which are [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text], respectively. And in the field of application for the grading thresholds, Fourier Transform theory was introduced to calculate domain frequency indexes of the driver’s heart rate variability in the four states of traffic flow, respectively. The results show that the domain frequency indexes of the driver’s heart rate variability present obvious differences in the four states, which illustrates the solving rationality and applied value of the new grading thresholds for traffic congestion based on driver’s feeling. On one hand, the new grading method for traffic congestion, which combines the subjectivity with objectivity, can reflect the driver’s actual feeling; on the other hand, it lays the foundation for the study about the influence of traffic congestion on the driver’s physiological and psychological characteristics.
An alternative method for order tracking using autopower spectrum
Authors: Guercioni Guido R , Galvagno Enrico , Vigliani Alessandro
Published: December 2015

Order tracking is a method of analysis used by engineers in the diagnosis of rotating machinery. In many applications, order analysis of non-stationary signals is required. The direct extraction of the amplitude information from the short-time Fourier transform may lead to inaccurate vibration-level estimation in the case of fast changes in the signal frequency content. This article discusses spectral smearing, which is the main reason of the problem, and its sensitivity to the characteristics of the signal (frequency and amplitude variations) and to the input parameters of discrete Fourier transform analysis (window size and type). Through the years, many different approaches to perform order analysis have been developed; this article introduces a novel method for order tracking based on the short-time Fourier transform, which applies a compensation of the smearing effect based on an invariant information contained in autopower spectrum. The limitations and capabilities of the proposed method with respect to other existing techniques are discussed: considering the accuracy of the results, low requirements of computational resources, and ease of implementation, this method proves a valid alternative to currently used techniques.
Modeling and analysis of transient temperature field in finite thickness plate under symmetrically located moving heat sources
Authors: Xiong Cenbo , Ma Biao , Li Heyan , Zhang Fenglian , Wang Yusen
Published: December 2015

The thermal problem of plate slides against symmetrically located contacting pads is investigated. The aim is to find out the influences of plate thickness, moving speed, and convection on the temperature field of the plate. Proper models and computing methods for specific situations can be determined based on these analyses. Finite element method of moving heat input is used to calculate the temperature field which is validated by comparing with some existing analytical solutions. The results show that the characteristic time for the steady state of temperature can be approximated exponentially as a function of moving speed. If the plate is thinner than the critical thickness, the surface temperature is increased significantly, which means that the temperature field is very sensitive to the plate thickness in this situation. The increasing moving speed increases the peak surface temperature almost linearly, and the convection outside of the contact area can decrease the peak surface temperature significantly if the heat sources move slowly, while it hardly affects the peak surface temperature if the heat sources move fast. Based on these results, the criterion of choosing a model and computing methods for studying the temperature fields in the similar structures is established.
Nausea: a review of pathophysiology and therapeutics
Authors: Singh Prashant , Yoon Sonia S. , Kuo Braden
Published: December 2015

The sensation of nausea is a common occurrence with diverse causes and a significant disease burden. Nausea is considered to function as a protective mechanism, warning the organism to avoid potential toxic ingestion. Less adaptive circumstances are also associated with nausea, including post-operative nausea, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and motion sickness. A common definition of nausea identifies the symptom as a precursor to the act of vomiting. The interaction, though present, does not appear to be a simple relationship. Nausea is unfortunately the ‘neglected symptom’, with current accepted therapy generally directed at improving gastrointestinal motility or acting to relieve emesis. Improved understanding of the pathophysiological basis of nausea has important implications for exploiting novel mechanisms or developing novel therapies for nausea relief.
The efficacy and tolerability of mirabegron, a β3 adrenoceptor agonist, in patients with symptoms of overactive bladder
Authors: Thiagamoorthy Ganesh , Kotes Stephanie , Zacchè Martino , Cardozo Linda
Published: December 2015

Mirabegron, is the only β-3 adrenoreceptor (AR) agonist available for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB). To assess the efficacy and tolerability of this novel drug therapy, two phase II and six phase III Astellas-sponsored trials have been conducted with over 10,500 adults with OAB recruited. Of these, seven were randomized, double blind, 12-week placebo controlled studies and the other was for 12 months and not placebo controlled. The evidence described would suggest that mirabegron is as efficacious as most antimuscarinics, including tolterodine extended release (ER) 4 mg, compared with placebo with regard to objective measures such as reduction in number of voids per 24 hours, mean volume per void, mean number of episodes of general urinary incontinence, urgency urinary incontinence and urgency per 24 hours; and subjective measures such as severity of urgency, patient perception of bladder condition and validated continence quality of life questionnaires. Regarding tolerability, these data would suggest that patients taking mirabegron suffer a similar rate of adverse effects as those taking placebo alone, whereas the rate in those taking antimuscarinics is greater. Thus mirabegron presents a safe and effective alternative treatment to antimuscarinics for patients with OAB symptoms. Patients who may particularly benefit from mirabegron include those who are unsuitable for antimuscarinics or who have previously struggled with antimuscarinic side effects.
Evaluation of a cloud-based local-read paradigm for imaging evaluations in oncology clinical trials for lung cancer
Authors: Sueoka-Aragane Naoko , Kobayashi Naomi , Bonnard Eric , Charbonnier Colette , Yamamichi Junta , Mizobe Hideaki , Kimura Shinya
Published: December 2015

Background

Although tumor response evaluated with radiological imaging is frequently used as a primary endpoint in clinical trials, it is difficult to obtain precise results because of inter- and intra-observer differences.

Purpose

To evaluate usefulness of a cloud-based local-read paradigm implementing software solutions that standardize imaging evaluations among international investigator sites for clinical trials of lung cancer.

Material and Methods

Two studies were performed: KUMO I and KUMO I Extension. KUMO I was a pilot study aiming at demonstrating the feasibility of cloud implementation and identifying issues regarding variability of evaluations among sites. Chest CT scans at three time-points from baseline to progression, from 10 patients with lung cancer who were treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, were evaluated independently by two oncologists (Japan) and one radiologist (France), through a cloud-based software solution. The KUMO I Extension was performed based on the results of KUMO I.

Results

KUMO I showed discordance rates of 40% for target lesion selection, 70% for overall response at the first time-point, and 60% for overall response at the second time-point. Since the main reason for the discordance was differences in the selection of target lesions, KUMO I Extension added a cloud-based quality control service to achieve a consensus on the selection of target lesions, resulting in an improved rate of agreement of response evaluations.

Conclusion

The study shows the feasibility of imaging evaluations at investigator sites, based on cloud services for clinical studies involving multiple international sites. This system offers a step forward in standardizing evaluations of images among widely dispersed sites.
Michael Sam, Jackie Robinson, and the Politics of Respectability
Authors: Khan Abraham Iqbal
Published: December 2015

This article asks the following question: When we compare the contemporary political challenges associated with sexual identity to the civil rights history embodied in Jackie Robinson, what shape do the politics of sexuality take? This article argues that through Jackie Robinson, Michael Sam mobilizes the political rhetoric of respectability, the notion that inclusion is the meaning of social struggle and that it is achieved in enacting the rhetorical and behavioral norms modeled in straight White men. Respectability works to domesticate the imagery associated with gay sexuality, to figure the citizen as a model of comportment which relies for its appeal on the civil rights movement as queer sexuality’s map through politics. Moreover, Sam’s circulation through public discourse is marked by a carefully managed stage presence, a phenomenon which, I believe, disavows critiques of neoliberal capitalism by attaching Sam’s sexuality to meanings that might generate economic value. Although the allusion to Robinson presupposes a discursive frame in which Sam’s race and sexuality are merely incidental to each other, taking it seriously is worthwhile not only by examining the rhetorical work the comparison performs but also by tugging at the hidden stitches that hold it together.
The More You Talk, the Worse It Is
Authors: Preiss Doreet Rebecca , Arum Richard , Edelman Lauren B. , Morrill Calvin , Tyson Karolyn
Published: December 2015

Prior works have established the association between students’ perceptions of school discipline and both behavioral and academic outcomes. The interplay between disciplinary fairness and students’ perceptions of their rights, however, warrants further investigation. In an effort to better understand the development of students’ perceptions of school disciplinary climates amid variation in school legal environments, we identified students’ perceptions of their due process rights based on 5,490 student surveys and 86 in-depth interviews in New York, North Carolina, and California high schools. We then examine the link between students’ perceptions of their due process rights, their past experiences with school discipline, and their perceptions of school disciplinary fairness. While quantitative results reveal a negative relationship between students’ perceptions of their rights and perceptions of disciplinary fairness, our qualitative data bolster this finding and deepen our understanding of students’ perceptions, illustrating students’ complex, varied, and often vague understandings of their due process rights when faced with disciplinary sanctions. As prior work has underscored the critical relationship between students’ perceptions of their schooling experiences and educational outcomes, uncovering this negative relationship is an important step toward understanding how variation in perceptions of rights may have consequences for students’ educational outcomes.
Indian shipping and security on the seas in the days of the Mughal empire
Authors: Anjum Nazer Aziz
Published: December 2015

The article studies how Indian shipping in late sixteenth and the entire seventeenth century was subjected to forcible despoliation by the Portuguese and later by the English and Dutch, and to attacks by European privateers as also communities of Indian pirates. To some extent the imposition of ‘protection costs’ provided some safety to the licensed ships, and the Mughal Empire could hold at least the English and Dutch companies hostage in view of their large trade with the Empire. Finally, there was the system of insurance, which provided some safeguards for individual merchants and vessels.
Book Review: Irfan Habib, Prehistory and Irfan Habib, The Indus Civilization
Authors: Korisettar Ravi
Published: December 2015

Irfan Habib, Prehistory, 9th edition, People’s History of India Series (New Delhi: Aligarh Historian Society, Tulika Books) 2012, pp. x + 76, ₹ 130 (Paperback).

Irfan Habib, The Indus Civilization, 7th edition, People’s History of India Series (New Delhi: Aligarh Historian Society, Tulika Books), 2011, pp. x + 111, ₹ 300 (Paperback).