bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic Characterization of Long Noncoding RNAs Reveals the Contrasting Coordination of
Cis
- and
Trans
-Molecular Regulation in Human Fetal and Adult Hearts
Authors: He Chunjiang , Hu Hanyang , Wilson Kitchener D. , Wu Haodi , Feng Jing , Xia Siyu , Churko Jared , Qu Kun , Chang Howard Y. , Wu Joseph C.
Published: February 2016

Background—

The molecular regulation of heart development is regulated by
cis
- and
trans
-factors acting on the genome and epigenome. As a class of important regulatory RNAs, the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in human heart development is still poorly understood. Furthermore, factors that interact with lncRNAs in this process are not well characterized.

Methods and Results—

Using RNA sequencing, we systematically define the contrasting lncRNA expression patterns between fetal and adult hearts. We report that lncRNAs upregulated in adult versus fetal heart have different sequence features and distributions. For example, the adult heart expresses more sense lncRNAs compared with fetal heart. We also report the coexpression of lncRNAs and neighboring coding genes that have important functions in heart development. Importantly, the regulation of lncRNA expression during fetal to adult heart development seems to be due, in part, to the coordination of specific developmental epigenetic modifications, such as H3K4me1 and H3k4me3. The expression of promoter-associated lncRNAs in adult and fetal hearts also seems to be related to these epigenetic states. Finally, transcription factor–binding analysis suggests that lncRNAs are directly regulating cardiac gene expression during development.

Conclusions—

We provide a systematic analysis of lncRNA control of heart development that gives clues to the roles that specific lncRNAs play in fetal and adult hearts.
Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Risk of Ghanaian‐ and Nigerian‐Born West African Immigrants in the United States: The Afro‐Cardiac Study
Authors: Commodore‐Mensah Yvonne , Hill Martha , Allen Jerilyn , Cooper Lisa A. , Blumenthal Roger , Agyemang Charles , Himmelfarb Cheryl Dennison
Published: February 2016

Background

The number of African immigrants in the United States grew 40‐fold between 1960 and 2007, from 35 355 to 1.4 million, with a large majority from West Africa. This study sought to examine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (
CVD
) risk factors and global
CVD
risk and to identify independent predictors of increased
CVD
risk among West African immigrants in the United States.

Methods and Results

This cross‐sectional study assessed West African (Ghanaian and Nigerian) immigrants aged 35–74 years in the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area. The mean age of participants was 49.5±9.2 years, and 58% were female. The majority (95%) had ≥1 of the 6
CVD
risk factors. Smoking was least prevalent, and overweight or obesity was most prevalent, with 88% having a body mass index (in  kg/m
2
) ≥25; 16% had a prior diagnosis of diabetes or had fasting blood glucose levels ≥126 mg/
dL
. In addition, 44% were physically inactive. Among women, employment and health insurance were associated with odds of 0.09 (95%
CI
0.033–0.29) and 0.25 (95%
CI
0.09–0.67), respectively, of having a Pooled Cohort Equations estimate ≥7.5% in the multivariable logistic regression analysis. Among men, higher social support was associated with 0.90 (95%
CI
0.83–0.98) lower odds of having ≥3
CVD
risk factors but not with having a Pooled Cohort Equations estimate ≥7.5%.

Conclusions

The prevalence of
CVD
risk factors among West African immigrants was particularly high. Being employed and having health insurance were associated with lower
CVD
risk in women, but only higher social support was associated with lower
CVD
risk in men.
Tetrahydrobiopterin Supplementation Improves Endothelial Function But Does Not Alter Aortic Stiffness in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Mäki‐Petäjä Kaisa M. , Day Lisa , Cheriyan Joseph , Hall Frances C. , Östör Andrew J. K. , Shenker Nicholas , Wilkinson Ian B.
Published: February 2016

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory condition associated with increased cardiovascular risk that may be due to underlying endothelial dysfunction and subsequent aortic stiffening. We hypothesized that supplementation with tetrahydrobiopterin (
BH
4
) would recouple endothelial nitric oxide synthase and thus improve endothelial function and consequently reduce aortic stiffness.

Methods and Results

We conducted 2 randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled crossover studies examining 2 separate regimens: an acute regimen, with a single dose of
BH
4
400 mg versus placebo (n=18), and a short‐term regimen, composed of a 1‐week treatment with
BH
4
400 mg once daily versus placebo (n=15). Flow‐mediated dilatation and aortic pulse wave velocity were studied 4 times, before and after each treatment phase. Acute
BH
4
supplementation led to an improvement of flow‐mediated dilatation, whereas placebo had no effect (mean±
SD
of effect difference 2.56±4.79%;
P
=0.03). Similarly, 1‐week treatment with
BH
4
improved endothelial function, but there was no change with placebo (mean±
SD
of effect difference 3.50±5.05%;
P
=0.02). There was no change in aortic pulse wave velocity following acute or short‐term
BH
4
supplementation or placebo (mean±
SD
of effect difference: acute 0.09±0.67 m/s,
P
=0.6; short‐term 0.03±1.46 m/s,
P
=0.9).

Conclusion

Both acute and short‐term supplementation with oral
BH
4
improved endothelial function but not aortic stiffness. This result suggests that
BH
4
supplementation may be beneficial for patients with rheumatoid arthritis by improving endothelial dysfunction and potentially reducing risk of cardiovascular disease. There appears to be no causal relationship between endothelial function and aortic stiffness, suggesting that they occur in parallel, although they may share common risk factors such as inflammation.
β3 Adrenergic Stimulation Restores Nitric Oxide/Redox Balance and Enhances Endothelial Function in Hyperglycemia
Authors: Karimi Galougahi Keyvan , Liu Chia‐Chi , Garcia Alvaro , Gentile Carmine , Fry Natasha A. , Hamilton Elisha J. , Hawkins Clare L. , Figtree Gemma A.
Published: February 2016

Background

Perturbed balance between NO and O
2
•−
. (ie, NO/redox imbalance) is central in the pathobiology of diabetes‐induced vascular dysfunction. We examined whether stimulation of β
3
adrenergic receptors (β
3
ARs), coupled to endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation, would re‐establish NO/redox balance, relieve oxidative inhibition of the membrane proteins eNOS and Na
+
‐K
+
(NK) pump, and improve vascular function in a new animal model of hyperglycemia.

Methods and Results

We established hyperglycemia in male White New Zealand rabbits by infusion of S961, a competitive high‐affinity peptide inhibitor of the insulin receptor. Hyperglycemia impaired endothelium‐dependent vasorelaxation by “uncoupling” of eNOS via glutathionylation (eNOS‐GSS) that was dependent on NADPH oxidase activity. Accordingly, NO levels were lower while O
2
•−
levels were higher in hyperglycemic rabbits. Infusion of the β
3
AR agonist CL316243 (CL) decreased eNOS‐GSS, reduced O
2
•−
, restored NO levels, and improved endothelium‐dependent relaxation. CL decreased hyperglycemia‐induced NADPH oxidase activation as suggested by co‐immunoprecipitation experiments, and it increased eNOS co‐immunoprecipitation with glutaredoxin‐1, which may reflect promotion of eNOS de‐glutathionylation by CL. Moreover, CL reversed hyperglycemia‐induced glutathionylation of the β
1
NK pump subunit that causes NK pump inhibition, and improved K
+
‐induced vasorelaxation that reflects enhancement in NK pump activity. Lastly, eNOS‐GSS was higher in vessels of diabetic patients and was reduced by CL, suggesting potential significance of the experimental findings in human diabetes.

Conclusions

β
3
AR activation restored NO/redox balance and improved endothelial function in hyperglycemia. β
3
AR agonists may confer protection against diabetes‐induced vascular dysfunction.
Spatial and temporal distribution of bats (Chiroptera) in bright summer nights
Authors: Michaelsen Tore Christian
Published: February 2016

Most bat species show plasticity in their choice of habitat and landscape. This study focuses on the distribution and activity of bats along the hillsides and onto the shores of a low salinity marine Norwegian fiord at 62°N. Ultrasound was recorded using D500 detectors in June and July at 42 different sites from the shoreline and up the hillsides to around 200 m. Detectors were placed in well-preserved woodlands. Only Pipistrellus sp., northern bats Eptesicus nilssonii and bats of the Myotis genus were common. There was a clear non-linear spatial distribution pattern along these slopes, with a pronounced increase in the number of recorded bats at short distances from the shore. On all six nights, the detector closest to the shore had the highest number of recorded bats. A pattern was also seen in bat distribution over time. Pipistrellus sp., northern bats and Myotis species all had a peak near the shore during the darkest part of the night, which is around 01.35 h in mid-summer at this latitude. At greater distances, Pipistrellus sp. and northern bats had a peak around 40 minutes to one hour before the darkest part of the night, respectively. Here, Myotis spp. peaked about an hour after 01.35.
Ovarian steroids involvement in maternal care in the native Thai hen (Gallus domesticus)
Authors: Chaiseha Yupaporn , Kamkrathok Boonyarit , Rozenboim Israel
Published: February 2016

Maternal care in birds generally includes incubation, brooding and rearing behavior. The neuroendocrine regulation of such maternal behavior is not fully understood for many bird species. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether changes in the circulating levels of ovarian steroids might be associated with brooding behavior in the female native Thai chicken. Changes in the levels of ovarian steroids of rearing hens were compared with those of non-rearing ones. Plasma estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The results revealed differences in circulating levels of ovarian steroids between hens rearing their chicks and those deprived of their young after hatching. The non-rearing hens had higher circulating estradiol, progesteron, and tertosterone levels than those of the rearing hens. These differences were significant during the first two weeks after hatching. The results of the present study demonstrate the inhibitory effect of brooding behavior on ovarian steroids in the native Thai chickens. Indeed, disruption of brooding behavior by removing the chicks from the hens increased circulating levels of ovarian steroids and reinitiated reproductive and egg laying activities.
A new species of nurse-frog (Aromobatidae, Allobates) from the Madeira River basin with a small geographic range
Authors: SIMÕES PEDRO IVO
Published: February 2016

I describe the seventh species of nurse-frog (Allobates) from the Madeira River basin in Brazilian Amazonia. The new species is distinguished from similar congeneric species by its small body size (snout-to-vent length ranging between 14.0–14.7 mm in adult males and between 14.7–14.9 mm in adult females), by the absence of dark brown regular shapes (e.g. hourglass, “X” or polygon-like marks) on the dorsum, by the absence of transverse dark bars on the dorsal surface of the thigh, and by the light gray to white ventral surfaces, light to dark gray only on throat in live male and female specimens. Males have a distinctive advertisement call characterized by the emission of long (7–11 s) trills of short notes (0.04 s in average) with dominant frequency at 5.9–6.3 kHz and emission rate ranging between 6.7–8.7 notes/s. DNA barcode analyses based on a fragment of the 16S rDNA mitochondrial gene provides additional support to the recognition of the new taxon, which is probably distributed on the east riverbank of the Madeira River, in the interfluve between the Aripuanã and Ji-Paraná rivers.
Five new species of freshwater crabs of the genera Ghatiana Pati & Sharma, 2014, and Gubernatoriana Bott, 1970 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae Rathbun, 1904) from the Western Ghats, India
Authors: PATI S.K. , THACKERAY T. , KHAIRE A.
Published: February 2016

Five new species of gecarcinucid freshwater crabs, Ghatiana atropurpurea n. sp., Ghatiana splendida n. sp., Gubernatoriana alcocki Pati n. sp., Gubernatoriana thackerayi Pati n. sp., and Gubernatoriana waghi Pati n. sp. are described from the Western Ghats in Maharashtra and Goa states of India. Ghatiana atropurpurea n. sp. can be differentiated from other species of Ghatiana Pati & Sharma, 2014 by the shape and colour of its carapace, and the sigmoid-shaped male first pleopod (G1). Ghatiana splendida n. sp. is separated from its congeners mainly by its long anterolateral margin of the carapace and short terminal article of the G1. Besides, the colour pattern (deep pink carapace and chelipeds, orange ambulatory legs) of G. splendida n. sp. is exceptional among its congeners. Gubernatoriana alcocki n. sp. is unique among species of Gubernatoriana Bott, 1970 due to its inwardly curved tip of the terminal article of the G1. The stout and cone-shaped terminal article of the G1 of G. thackerayi n. sp. is characteristic among its congeners. In addition, G. thackerayi n. sp. has a unique colouration amongst congeners (violet-red carapace and ambulatory legs, orange-red chelipeds). Gubernatoriana waghi n. sp. can be distinguished from its congeners by the quadrate-shaped carapace, narrow frontal margin, pointed tips of the cheliped fingers, short terminal article of the G1 and very short or vestigial terminal article of the male second pleopod (G2). The body colour (burnt orange carapace and ivory coloured chelipeds and ambulatory legs) of G. waghi n. sp. is also important to distinguish live crabs of the genus. Key to the species of Ghatiana and Gubernatoriana is provided.
Gap Filling of the Coastal Ocean Surface Currents from HFR Data: Application to the Mid-Atlantic Bight HFR Network
Authors: Fredj Erick , Roarty Hugh , Kohut Josh , Smith Michael , Glenn Scott
Published: February 2016

High-frequency radar (HFR) surface current data are an increasingly utilized tool for capturing complex dynamics of coastal ocean systems worldwide. The radar is uniquely capable of sampling relevant temporal and spatial scales of nearshore processes that impact event response activities and basic coastal ocean research. HFR is a shore-based remote sensing system and is therefore subject to data gaps, which are predominately due to environmental effects, like increased external noise or low signal due to ocean surface conditions. Many applications of these surface current data require that these gaps be filled, such as Lagrangian numerical models, to estimate material transport and dispersion. This study introduces a new penalized least squares regression method based on a three-dimensional discrete cosine transform method to reconstruct hourly HFR surface current data with a horizontal resolution of 6 km. The method explicitly uses both time and space variability to predict the missing value. Furthermore, the method is fast, robust, and requires relatively low computer memory storage. This paper evaluates the method against two scenarios of common data gaps found in HFR networks currently deployed around the world. The validation is based on observed surface current maps along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States with specific vectors removed to replicate these common gap scenarios. The evaluation shows that the new method is robust and particularly well suited to fill a more common scenario with complete data coverage surrounding an isolated data gap. It is shown that the real-time application of the method is suitable for filling data gaps in large oceanography datasets with high accuracy.
Ripples of Fear
Authors: Greve Henrich R. , Kim Ji-Yub (Jay) , Teh Daphne
Published: February 2016

Community reactions against organizations can be driven by negative information spread through a diffusion process that is distinct from the diffusion of organizational practices. Bank panics offer a classic example of selective diffusion of negative information. Bank panics involve widespread bank runs, although a low proportion of banks experience a run. We develop theory on how organizational similarity, community similarity, and network proximity create selective diffusion paths for resistance against organizations. Using data from the largest customer-driven bank panic in the United States, we find significant effects of organizational and community similarity on the diffusion of bank runs. Runs on banks are more likely to diffuse across communities with similar ethnicities, national origins, religion, and wealth, and across banks that are structurally equivalent or have the same organizational form. We also find stronger influence from runs that are spatially proximate and in the same state.
The treatment of suicidality in adolescents by psychosocial interventions for depression: A systematic literature review
Authors: Devenish Bethany , Berk Lesley , Lewis Andrew J
Published: February 2016

Objective:

Given depression is a significant risk factor for suicidal behaviour, it is possible that interventions for depression may also reduce the risk of suicide in adolescents. The purpose of this literature review is to determine whether psychological interventions aimed to prevent and/or treat depression in adolescents can also reduce suicidality.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic review of psychological interventions aimed to prevent and/or treat depression in adolescents in which outcomes for suicidality were reported, using five databases: PsycINFO, Embase, Medline, CINAHL and Scopus. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias.

Results:

A total of 35 articles pertaining to 12 treatment trials, two selective prevention trials and two universal prevention trials met inclusion criteria. No studies were identified that used a no-treatment control. In both intervention and active control groups, suicidality decreased over time; however, most structured psychological depression treatment interventions did not outperform pharmaceutical or treatment as usual control groups. Depression prevention studies demonstrated small but statistically significant reductions in suicidality.

Limitations:

Analysis of study quality suggested that at least 10 of the 16 studies have a high risk of bias. Conclusive comparisons across studies are problematic due to differences in measures, interventions, population differences and control groups used.

Conclusions:

It is unclear whether psychological treatments are more effective than no treatment since no study has used a no-treatment control group. There is evidence to suggest that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy interventions produce pre–post reductions in suicidality with moderate effect sizes and are at least as efficacious as pharmacotherapy in reducing suicidality; however, it is unclear whether these effects are sustained. There are several trials showing promising evidence for family-based and interpersonal therapies, with large pre–post effect sizes, and further evaluation with improved methodology is required. Depression prevention interventions show promising short-term effects.
The “Battle” of Managing Language Barriers in Health Care
Authors: Steinberg Emma M. , Valenzuela-Araujo Doris , Zickafoose Joseph S. , Kieffer Edith , DeCamp Lisa Ross
Published: February 2016

Providing safe and high-quality health care for children whose parents have limited English proficiency (LEP) remains challenging. Reports of parent perspectives on navigating language discordance in health care are limited. We analyzed portions of 48 interviews focused on language barriers from 2 qualitative interview studies of the pediatric health care experiences of LEP Latina mothers in 2 urban US cities. We found mothers experienced frustration with health care and reported suboptimal accommodation for language barriers. Six themes emerged relevant to health care across settings: the “battle” of managing language barriers, preference for bilingual providers, negative bias toward interpreted encounters, “getting by” with limited language skills, fear of being a burden, and stigma and discrimination experienced by LEP families. Parents’ insights highlight reasons why effective language accommodation in health care remains challenging. Partnering with families to address the management of language barriers is needed to improve health care quality and safety for LEP patients and families.
The Cumulative Lifting Index (CULI) for the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation
Authors: Garg Arun , Kapellusch Jay M.
Published: February 2016

Objective:

The objectives were to: (a) develop a continuous frequency multiplier (FM) for the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation (RNLE) as a function of lifting frequency and duration of a lifting task, and (b) describe the Cumulative Lifting Index (CULI), a methodology for estimating physical exposure to workers with job rotation.

Background:

The existing FM for the RNLE (FME) does not differentiate between task duration >2 hr and <8 hr, which makes quantifying physical exposure to workers with job rotation difficult and presents challenges to job designers.

Method:

Using the existing FMs for 1, 2, and 8 hr of task durations, we developed a continuous FM (FMP) that extends to 12 hr per day. We simulated 157,500 jobs consisting of two tasks each and, using different combinations of Frequency Independent Lifting Index, lifting frequency and duration of lifting. Biomechanical stresses were estimated using the CULI, time-weighted average (TWA), and peak exposure.

Results:

The median difference between FME and FMP was ±1% (range: 0%–15%). Compared to CULI, TWA underestimated risk of low-back pain (LBP) for 18% to 30% of jobs, and peak exposure for an assumed 8-hr work shift overestimated risk of LBP for 20% to 25% of jobs. Peak task exposure showed 90% agreement with CULI but ignored one of two tasks.

Conclusion:

The CULI partially addressed the underestimation of physical exposure using the TWA approach and overestimation of exposure using the peak-exposure approach.

Application:

The proposed FM and CULI may provide more accurate physical exposure estimates, and therefore estimated risk of LBP, for workers with job rotation.
Perceived insecurity, mental health and urbanization: Results from a multicentric study
Authors: Luciano M , De Rosa C , Del Vecchio V , Sampogna G , Sbordone D , Atti AR , Bardicchia F , Bertossi F , Calò S , Cava L , Ciafone M , De Fazio P , Di Iorio G , Fantini E , Ferrari S , Ginanneschi A , Gotelli S , Macina A , Mulè A , Papanti D , Pingani L , Pinna F , Piselli M , Signorelli MS , Tarricone I , Tarsitani L , Ventriglio A , Carrà G , Catapano F , Fiorillo A
Published: February 2016

Aims:

This article aims to (1) explore the levels of perceived insecurity in a sample of patients with mood or anxiety disorders and (2) assess whether living in ‘big cities’ can influence the levels of patients’ perceived insecurity and social contacts compared to living in a non-urbanized context.

Methods:

A total of 24 Italian mental health centers (MHCs) have been invited to participate. Twenty patients consecutively accessing the MHC have been recruited. All patients have been assessed using validated assessment tools.

Results:

The sample consisted of 426 patients, mostly female, with a mean age of 45 years. Globally, 52.2% of patients had a diagnosis of mood disorders, and 37.8% had anxiety disorders. Half of the sample declared that the main feeling toward life is uncertainty; higher levels of pessimistic views toward life have been detected in patients living in urban areas. A positive association between negative attitudes toward life and higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms, poor social functioning and higher levels of perceived psychological distress has been found.

Conclusion:

Our findings confirm the presence of a common sense of perceived uncertainty among our sample. Such attitude toward life can have a detrimental impact on patients’ psychological and physical well-being, contributing to high levels of distress.
Exploring communication of traumatic experiences from Khmer Rouge genocide survivors to their offspring: In-depth interviews with both generations
Authors: Melander Marianne , Dahlblom Kjerstin , Jegannathan Bhoomikumar , Kullgren Gunnar
Published: February 2016

Background:

Traumatic events experienced by parents who have survived genocide influence mental health among their offspring. This study aims at exploring how the communication of traumatic events between Khmer Rouge survivors and their offspring was perceived by both generations.

Methods:

Qualitative interviews were performed with six Khmer Rouge survivors and with six young people representing the second generation and were analysed using a content analysis approach.

Discussion:

Parents felt that informing their children was important to instill gratitude for living a better life and to empower them. Among children, this was met with empathy but sometimes also disbelief and at times they blamed their parents for being too submissive.

Conclusion:

The study discloses the complexity, pros and cons of intergenerational sharing of trauma.
Ephemeral Development Agendas and the Process of Priority Shifts in Malawi
Authors: Anderson Norma J
Published: February 2016

Drawing on 70 interviews with civil society staff in Malawi, I argue that when development trends and issues in the country change, at donors’ wishes, organizations proactively strategize to vie for donor funds. Collected over three research trips, my data show that between 2008 and 2010 there was a widespread belief among civil society in Malawi that climate change was becoming the “it” issue, surpassing HIV/AIDS in predominance. Alongside this belief, there was a dynamic, if invisible, process of organizational repositioning. Comparing the earlier interviews with those conducted in 2014, I contend that the issues of focus, while interesting, are less telling than the ways Malawian organizations endeavor to adapt and respond to them. This paper adds a critical dimension to development literature, investigating a process that occurs when development agendas change.
The effects of different fibre packing geometries on the transverse matrix strain magnification and fibre strain reduction in uniaxially aligned continuous fibre-reinforced composites
Authors: Maringa Maina , Masu LM
Published: February 2016

Expressions for transverse matrix strain magnification and fibre strain reduction are derived for square and hexagonal fibre array reinforced composites. Respective transverse matrix and fibre strain magnification and reduction, for the square arrays are shown to be higher for all reinforcing fibre volume fractions than those for the hexagonal arrays. The respective magnification and reduction of the transverse matrix and fibre strains are shown to decrease with increasing values of the ratio of elastic modulus ( Em/ Ef) for both reinforcing fibre arrays. The magnified transverse matrix strains in axially loaded longitudinally aligned continuous fibre-reinforced composites are shown to be higher than the applied longitudinal strains for all square array reinforcing fibre volume fractions and for all hexagonal array reinforcing fibre volumes fractions above 31%. This raises possibilities of longitudinal matrix splitting before interfacial bond failure and transverse matrix failure, in a strain based rather than stress-based failure mode.
Evaluation of mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of multiwalled carbon nanotube-based ethylene–propylene copolymer composites mixed by masterbatch dilution
Authors: Hoikkanen Maija , Poikelispää Minna , Das Amit , Reuter Uta , Dierkes Wilma , Vuorinen Jyrki
Published: February 2016

A two-step masterbatch mixing technique was studied for preparation of carbon nanotube-filled ethylene–propylene diene elastomer compounds, and compared to conventional one-step mixing process. In the two-step process, a masterbatch compound with carbon nanotube content of 50 parts per hundred was prepared by melt-mixing ethylene–propylene diene elastomer. This material was then compounded with pristine ethylene–propylene diene elastomer and composites with different carbon nanotube concentrations were compared. The aim of this study is to compare the efficiency of two different mixing processes on the dispersion of carbon nanotubes and to facilitate the handling of carbon nanotubes, as the masterbatch can be prepared in a controlled way and used for further dilution without the problems related to carbon nanotube processing. The compound properties were studied with emphasis on mechanical characterization and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Masterbatch mixing resulted in the similar mechanical properties of the composites compared to the direct mixing method. At the relatively low loadings of carbon nanotubes, the considerable improvements of the mechanical properties were observed. The aspect ratio of the carbon nanotubes determined by transmission electron microscope was found to be similar to the one calculated from the Guth equation. It showed a considerable reduction in aspect ratio independent of the used mixing method.
Effect of physical modification of matrix by nano(polyvinyl alcohol) fibers on fatigue performance of carbon fiber fabric-reinforced vinylester composites
Authors: Shao Yongzheng , Okubo Kazuya , Fujii Toru , Shibata Ou , Fujita Yukiko
Published: February 2016

The vinylester resins were physically modified by 0.05 and 0.1 wt% nano polyvinyl alcohol fibers with about 80 nm in diameter prepared by electrospinning. Addition of nano polyvinyl alcohol fiber with 0.05–0.1 wt% improved the fracture toughness of vinylester resin slightly by ∼14.3%, while the carbon fiber/vinylester resin adhesion was almost unchanged. Then, carbon fiber/vinylester resin composites were fabricated by using modified vinylester resin as matrix and carbon fiber plain-woven fabrics as reinforcement. Low and high-cycle fatigue tests were conducted under the laboratory condition as well as static tensile tests. The tensile strength of carbon fiber/vinylester resin/polyvinyl alcohol composites increased slightly due to increased resistance to damage propagation at transverse bundles and resin-rich region. The fatigue properties of carbon fiber/vinylester resin composites were improved significantly by 3–50 times with the addition of no more than 0.1 wt% nano polyvinyl alcohol fibers. Due to the incorporation of nano filler, damage degree in carbon fiber/vinylester resin/polyvinyl alcohol composite was reduced at the fatigue initial stage based on thermoelastic stress damage analysis. Furthermore, a delay of delamination growth was found as well at the fatigue middle stage according to CT-scan and scanning electron microscopy investigation. The resistance to fatigue damage accumulation due to energy absorption by the addition of nano fiber contributed to fatigue life extension.
The effect of microscale residual stress from thermal cooldown on the nanoindentation properties of fibre-reinforced composites
Authors: Hardiman M , Vaughan TJ , McCarthy CT
Published: February 2016

A two-step finite element framework is presented that examines the effect of microscale thermal residual stress on the nanoindentation properties of fibre-reinforced composites. Firstly, micromechanical modelling is used to determine the residual stress state following thermal cooldown of a carbon-fibre composite material from cure temperature. A three-dimensional finite element nanoindentation model is then used to characterise the effects of residual stress on material properties determined by nanoindentation theory. The results show that the hardness of the matrix pockets decreases following thermal cooldown due to the existence of equibiaxial tensile residual stresses. The hardness property is also found to decrease for the majority of interfacial region stress states, while the microstructural areas where the effects of the residual stress are nullified are determined. The indentation modulus property is relatively insensitive to the microstructural residual stress, and thus is the recommended indentation property to be determined when carrying out a comparative parametric analysis between microstructural regions. The property changes are shown to be insensitive to any errors associated with contact area estimation using the Oliver and Pharr method.
Sacred violence or strategic faith? Disentangling the relationship between religion and violence in armed conflict
Authors: Isaacs Matthew
Published: February 2016

Why are religious conflicts more violent than non-religious conflicts? Research has argued that religion pushes partisans toward violence. However, existing research suffers from widespread problems of measurement validity and fails to confront the possibility of endogeneity in the relationship between religion and violence. This article develops a more precise measure of the relevance of religion to conflict based on the use of religious rhetoric by political organizations. With this approach in mind, this article disentangles the causal sequence linking religious rhetoric and violence using annually coded data on the rhetoric of 495 organizations worldwide from 1970 through 2012. The analysis finds a strong general correlation between religious rhetoric and violence. However, past use of religious rhetoric does not increase the likelihood that an organization will participate in violence or the overall intensity of conflict. On the contrary, previous participation in violence makes an organization more likely to adopt religious rhetoric for mobilization. Indeed, religious rhetoric becomes more likely as violence increases in intensity and conflict continues for longer periods of time. These findings suggest that violent actors adopt religious rhetoric to solve the logistical challenges associated with violence, including access to mobilizing resources and recruitment and retention of members. This article contributes to the study of religious conflict by providing evidence of endogeneity in the relationship between religion and violence and highlighting the need for temporally sensitive measures of religious mobilization.
Influence of dual-frequency combination on the quality improvement of ultrasound tomography
Authors: Tran Quang-Huy , Tran Duc-Tan , Huynh Huu Tue , Ton-That Long , Nguyen Linh-Trung
Published: February 2016

The most useful feature of ultrasound tomography founded on the inverse scattering theory is that it can detect small structures below the wavelength of the pressure wave. A popular method introduced in ultrasound tomography is the Distorted Born Iterative Method (DBIM). Recently, the dual-frequency combination technique has been utilized to improve the reconstruction quality and increase the convergence rate of the DBIM. This method uses two frequencies, f1 (low) and f2 (high), to estimate the sound contrast in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] iterations, respectively. However, the influence of these iteration parameters on the overall performance of the system is not yet known. In this paper, it is shown by using the simulation technique that if we do not pay attention to the choice of these parameters, the reconstruction quality might be worse than that using a single frequency. Furthermore, we focus on the best way to select the parameters in order to improve the reconstruction quality of ultrasound tomography. Given a fixed sum [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], simulation results show that the best value of [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]/2; this choice of parameters offers a normalized error that reduces by 67.6%, compared to the conventional DBIM using a single frequency.
Calembour de choses dans le vaudou italien : Corps-fétiche et principes d’inégalité devant les dieux
Authors: Taliani Simona
Published: February 2016

The article seeks to identify what ‘sensing religion’ means in the context of the migration of Nigerian women. The author reflects on the transformation of a youngster (cadet social) into a ‘fetish-body’ terrified by the experience of constantly being acted by and at the mercy of another who haunts her. She also analyses the production of the fetish-object, which has both an identity and autonomy, during the ritual. This object consists of all kinds of spiritual ingredients and materials. In such cases, doctors simply diagnose a post-traumatic stress disorder or an acute psychotic state in the form of a magical-religious delusion. On the basis of the biographies of these suffering women, however, the article reflects on the power relations and on the conditions of inequality and dependency that inform the ‘carnal economy’ of Nigerian migration, during which women become in some way related to the gods.
Improving local ventilation prediction by accounting for inter-segmental ventilation
Authors: Ismail Nagham , Ghaddar Nesreen , Ghali Kamel
Published: February 2016

The inter-segmental ventilation rate at clothing inter-connection of arms and trunk affects the estimation of local ventilation rates of these clothed segments. The accurate estimation of the inter-segmental ventilation rate is based on the integration of a connected clothed cylinders model with a bio-heat model to predict a realistic segmental skin temperature. This integration is validated with experiments on a thermal manikin using the tracer gas method. The results show that accounting for the inter-segmental ventilation rate improves the estimation of the segmental ventilation of the arm and the trunk for different garment apertures at external wind velocities less than 4 m/s. For a wind velocity of 1 m/s, the inter-connection increased the trunk ventilation by up to 12% and heat loss by up to 5.46%.

A statistical correlation is established for the inter-segmental ventilation rate in terms of the influencing parameters: air permeability, wind velocity, mean air gap size between skin and clothing, and the upper clothing aperture design. Furthermore, a local ventilation rate correction factor equation is developed as a function of the inter-segmental ventilation rate to correct for local ventilation rates when derived from values of isolated/unconnected clothed segments.
Superhydrophobic and transparent surfaces on cotton fabrics coated with silica nanoparticles for hierarchical roughness
Authors: Jeong Seon Ah , Kang Tae Jin
Published: February 2016

Superhydrophobic and transparent surfaces on cotton fabrics have been developed using silica nanomaterials. Initially, trichlorododecylsilane was treated on the silica nanoparticles to lower the surface energy of the fabric. By simply spraying alcohol suspensions containing hydrophobized silica nanoparticles, extremely water repellent coatings were formed on the textile fabrics. The effect of three types of alcohol solvent on the hydrophobicity of the coated cotton fabrics was examined by measuring the surface wettability. The treated cotton textiles in methanol exhibited contact angles higher than 160°, contact angle hysteresis lower than 10°, and good water repellency. It proved to be essential to form hierarchical morphology in achieving superhydrophobicity.
Highly conductive polymer/metal/carbon nanotube composite fiber prepared by the melt-spinning process
Authors: Lim Tae Hwan , Lee So Hee , Yeo Sang Young
Published: February 2016

Highly electrical conductive fibers have received significant attention because of their potential to be utilized for wearable technology. Conductive fibers have already been developed by many research groups using metal and carbon nanotubes (CNT); however, productivity is limited. Conductive fibers composed of conductive additives embedded in a polymer matrix were fabricated by a melt-spinning process. This enables the scaling-up of production and gives high mechanical strength compared to fibers prepared by other processes. Silver (Ag) was selected for the conductive material, and embedded in polypropylene (PP) fiber. However, the melt-spinning process has an inherently lower filler content threshold; therefore, it was difficult to fabricate with sufficient silver for the required electrical properties. CNT forests were introduced to make up for this shortcoming, and they could serve as a conductive bridge between unconnected Ag. The CNT percolation effect confirmed that non-conductive Ag/PP increases electrical conductivity after CNTs were added. It was determined that 80 nm Ag (46 wt%) and single wall CNT (4 wt%) embedded PP composite fiber (Ag80/SW_46/4) was the optimum fiber; with a thickness of less than 100 µm its electrical conductivity was 4.1–7.2 × 10−2 S/cm. Conductive fabric was fabricated using our composite fiber, and it had higher electrical conductivity than that of a single fiber because multi-filaments induced lower electrical resistance. Although the electrical value attained does not approach a satisfactory goal, it is thought that this fiber has a potential to be applicable for wearable technology.
Pope Francis and the Theology of the People
Authors: Scannone Juan Carlos
Published: February 2016

The Argentine theology of the people turns to the religion of the “faithful people of God” as a key source for theological reflection. The theology of the people was developed in the church of Argentina in conversation with diverse strands of Latin American theology of liberation as well as local political circumstances and movements. The influence of the Argentine school on Pope Francis is especially evident in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium. Moreover, the theology of the people also provides an elucidating point of departure for interpreting the gestures and tonalities of Pope Francis’s ongoing call for a Church that is poor and for the poor.
Does Rapid and Sustained Economic Growth Lead to Convergence in Health Resources
Authors: Liang Di , Zhang Donglan , Huang Jiayan , Schweitzer Stuart
Published: February 2016

China’s rapid and sustained economic growth offers an opportunity to ask whether the advantages of growth diffuse throughout an economy, or remain localized in areas where the growth has been the greatest. A critical policy area in China has been the health system, and health inequality has become an issue that has led the government to broaden national health insurance programs. This study investigates whether health system resources and performance have converged over the past 30 years across China’s 31 provinces. To examine geographic variation of health system resources and performance at the provincial level, we measure the degree of sigma convergence and beta convergence in indicators of health system resources (structure), health services utilization (process), and outcome. All data are from officially published sources: the China Health Statistics Year Book and the China Statistics Year Book. Sigma convergence is found for resource indicators, whereas it is not observed for either process or outcome indicators, indicating that disparities only narrowed in health system resources. Beta convergence is found in most indicators, except for 2 procedure indicators, reflecting that provinces with poorer resources were catching up. Convergence found in this study probably reflects the mixed outcome of government input, and market forces. Thus, left alone, the equitable distribution of health care resources may not occur naturally during a period of economic growth. Governmental and societal efforts are needed to reduce geographic health variation and promote health equity.
Electronic interventions for depression in adolescents: hot idea or hot air?
Authors: Bruce Vanessa , Kutcher Stan
Published: February 2016

Depressive disorders frequently onset in adolescence, and although effective treatments for these disorders are known, many youth have difficulty accessing care when needed. Electronic interventions and mobile applications have been posited as a possible solution for increasing access to affordable care. This narrative review explores the state of the evidence for their effectiveness, safety, and acceptability with teenagers. Although many electronic interventions and mobile applications have received widespread attention, minimal rigorous independent research has been conducted, and their use with teenagers who have depression cannot be recommended at this time.
The Antidote to Wall Street?
Authors: Schmidt Jalane D.
Published: February 2016

When revolutionary Cuba’s governmental cultural policy apparatus cast Afro-Cuban religions as “folklore,” certain religious forms, especially Santería, gained visibility in scholarly investigations, publications, documentary films, and state-sponsored cultural programming. Since the 1990s these discursive treatments of Santería have been monetized by the Cuban tourism industry and state-owned manufacturers and repackaged as merchandise that garners the attention and revenues of Cuban consumers and international visitors. This “ethno-business” produces a paradox: Afro-Cuban popular religions—long admired by the nation’s intellectual and artistic avant-garde as subaltern cultural rebuttals of dominant Cuban bourgeois opinion and U.S. economic pressures alike—are now promoted and consumed in a manner that conforms to neoliberal logic. The Cuban state confronts the challenges of late socialism with the methods of late capitalism. To some extent, the commodification of Afro-Cuban religions acts to fortify and extend revolutionary cultural policy.

Cuando el aparato de cultura política del gobierno revolucionario cubano calificó las religiones afro-cubanas como “folclore,” ciertas formas religiosas, sobre todo la Santería, adquirieron visibilidad en investigaciones académicas, publicaciones, documentales, y programación cultural estatal. Desde la década de los noventa estos tratos discursivos de la Santería han sido monetizados por la industria turística cubana y los fabricantes estatales y empaquetado como mercancía que atrae atención e ingresos de los consumidores cubanos y las visitas internacionales. Este “etno-negocio” provoca una paradoja: las religiones populares afro-cubanas —largamente admiradas igualmente por la vanguardia intelectual y artística de la nación como refutaciones culturales subalternas de la opinión burgués cubana dominante como por las presiones económicas estadounidenses— son ahora promocionadas y consumidas conforme a la lógica neoliberal. El estado cubano encara los desafíos del socialismo tardío con los métodos del capitalismo tardío. En cierta medida, la mercantilización de las religiones afro-cubanas actúan para fortalecer y extender la política cultural revolucionaria.