bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PARÂMETROS FÍSICOS DO SOLO EM DIFERENTES SISTEMAS DE MANEJO CONVENCIONAL, MUNICÍPIO DE RESERVA - PR
Authors: Pereira Adalberto Alves , Thomaz Edivaldo Lopes
Published: January 2016

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: PT-BR; mso-fareast-language: PT-BR; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar o efeito da pecuária extensiva e do plantio convencional nos parâmetros físico-hídricos do solo comparando-os com uma área de floresta. As áreas foram divididas em terço superior, terço médio e terço inferior, em cada seção coletaram-se quatro amostras indeformadas por camada de solo (0,0-0,05; 0,05-0,15; 0,15-0,30 m), resultando em 36 amostras por área, para avaliação da densidade e estabilidade de agregados do solo. A resistência mecânica foi estimada utilizando um penetrômetro de impacto e para mensuração da infiltração utilizou-se um infiltrômetro de tensão. A pastagem apresentou os maiores valores de densidade e resistência mecânica, o que demonstra a compactação da área. Inversamente à densidade e resistência o diâmetro médio de agregados mostrou boa agregação na pastagem com presença de agregados maiores de 2,0 mm e índice de estabilidade de agregados superior a 98% na camada superficial. O manejo convencional contribui para a baixa densidade e resistência mecânica do solo, mas influencia de maneira negativa na agregação. Conclui-se desta forma, que pastejo mal manejado e sem controle de lotação animal tem provocado a compactação do solo e o manejo convencional apresenta degradação da estrutura do solo devido à baixa estabilidade de agregados.
Allopurinol and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Adults With Hypertension
Authors: MacIsaac Rachael L. , Salatzki Janek , Higgins Peter , Walters Matthew R. , Padmanabhan Sandosh , Dominiczak Anna F. , Touyz Rhian M. , Dawson Jesse
Published: January 2016

Allopurinol lowers blood pressure in adolescents and has other vasoprotective effects. Whether similar benefits occur in older individuals remains unclear. We hypothesized that allopurinol is associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes in older adults with hypertension. Data from the United Kingdom Clinical Research Practice Datalink were used. Multivariate Cox-proportional hazard models were applied to estimate hazard ratios for stroke and cardiac events (defined as myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome) associated with allopurinol use over a 10-year period in adults aged >65 years with hypertension. A propensity-matched design was used to reduce potential for confounding. Allopurinol exposure was a time-dependent variable and was defined as any exposure and then as high (≥300 mg daily) or low-dose exposure. A total of 2032 allopurinol-exposed patients and 2032 matched nonexposed patients were studied. Allopurinol use was associated with a significantly lower risk of both stroke (hazard ratio, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.32–0.80) and cardiac events (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.43–0.87) than nonexposed control patients. In exposed patients, high-dose treatment with allopurinol (n=1052) was associated with a significantly lower risk of both stroke (hazard ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.36–0.94) and cardiac events (hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.46–0.93) than low-dose treatment (n=980). Allopurinol use is associated with lower rates of stroke and cardiac events in older adults with hypertension, particularly at higher doses. Prospective clinical trials are needed to evaluate whether allopurinol improves cardiovascular outcomes in adults with hypertension.
How Reliable are Patient‐Reported Rehospitalizations? Implications for the Design of Future Practical Clinical Studies
Authors: Krishnamoorthy Arun , Peterson Eric D. , Knight J. David , Anstrom Kevin J. , Effron Mark B. , Zettler Marjorie E. , Davidson‐Ray Linda , Baker Brian A. , McCollam Patrick L. , Mark Daniel B. , Wang Tracy Y.
Published: January 2016

Background

Longitudinal clinical investigations often rely on patient reports to screen for postdischarge adverse outcomes events, yet few studies have examined the accuracy of such patient reports.

Methods and Results

Patients with acute myocardial infarction (
MI
) in the
TRANSLATE
‐
ACS
study were asked during structured interviews at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months postdischarge to report any rehospitalizations. The accuracy of patient‐reported rehospitalizations within 1 year of postdischarge was determined using claims‐based medical bill validation as the reference standard. The cumulative incidence of rehospitalizations was compared when identified by patient report versus medical bills. Patients were categorized by the accuracy in reporting events (accurate, under‐, or over‐ reporters) and characteristics were compared between groups. Among 10 643
MI
patients, 4565 (43%) reported 7734 rehospitalizations. The sensitivity and positive predictive value of patient‐reported rehospitalizations were low at 67% and 59%, respectively. A higher cumulative incidence of rehospitalization was observed when identified by patient report versus medical bills (43% vs 37%;
P
<0.001). Overall, 18% of patients over‐reported and 10% under‐reported the number of hospitalizations. Compared with accurate reporters, under‐reporters were more likely to be older, female, African American, unemployed, or a non‐high‐school graduate, and had greater prevalence of clinical comorbidities such as diabetes and past cardiovascular disease.

Conclusions

The accuracy of patient‐reported rehospitalizations was low with patients both under‐ and over‐reporting events. Longitudinal clinical research studies need additional mechanisms beyond patient report to accurately identify rehospitalization events.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
https://clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier:
NCT
01088503.
From Wangba Back to Wangka: Ruination and Renewal of the Chinese Internet Café
Authors: Zhang Ge
Published: January 2016

This paper takes a particular angle that begins with the drastic decline of internet cafés in China and their receding yet still evolving presence. This project aims at delineating the history of internet cafés as urban spaces in relation to the different roles they played in various stages of Chinese modernity. The particularities of local development, as directed by trajectories of Chinese modernization, has led to a contempt for the ‘low quality’ of internet cafés, on the one hand, and a nostalgic sentimentalization of its ruination, on the other. Internet cafés are situated in the present moment of transition as a reflection of larger transformations of urban renewals and ideals of modernity. Drawn from both ethnographic research and existing literature on internet cafés, this paper theorizes the space that Chinese internet cafés have produced in the past 25 years.
A new species of Megaselia Rondani (Diptera, Phoridae) with wing-spots from China
Authors: WANG JIAN-FENG , LIU GUANG-CHUN
Published: January 2016

The genus Megaselia was established by Rondani in 1856 with the type species Megaselia crassineura Rondani (=Phora costalis Roser, 1840) (Borgmeier 1968). About 1600 species are recorded and distributed all over the world (Fang & Liu 2015). In the genus Megaselia, species with wing-spots are rare. Only six species are recorded with wing-spots worldwide: M. conglomerata (Malloch) from North America (Borgmeier 1964), M. dickoni Wakeford & Disney and M. shadeae Hartop & Brown from Central America (Wakeford & Disney 1994, Hartop & Brown 2014), M. maculifera Beyer from Africa (Beyer 1965), M. chorogi Naumov from Georgia (Naumov 1979), and M. trimacula Fang & Liu from China (Fang & Liu 2015).
The Spousal Bump
Authors: Adida Claire L. , Combes Nathan , Lo Adeline , Verink Alex
Published: January 2016

In democratic Africa, where ethnicity is a key driver of vote choice, politicians must attract voters across ethnic lines. This article explores one way politicians can do this: by appealing to a coethnic bond through their spouse. We propose that cross-ethnic spouses can help candidates send credible signals of coalition building before an election. We test this argument with a survey experiment in Benin, where President Yayi has married across ethnic lines. Our results confirm that priming the first lady’s ethnicity increases support for President Yayi among her coethnics. We generalize these results by combining new data on leader-spouse ethnicity with Afrobarometer survey data. Our results suggest that cross-ethnic marriages are one tool leaders can use to shore up support in multiethnic elections.
How walkable is Walker’s paradise?
Authors: Koschinsky Julia , Talen Emily , Alfonzo Mariela , Lee Sungduck
Published: January 2016

This article tests the extent to which a measure of walkable access is a good proxy for the quality of the walking environment. Based on existing findings on inequalities of walkability, we ask whether this relation varies between neighborhoods with low and high incomes. Walk Score is used to measure walkable access while the State of Place Index is applied to synthesize the qualitative urban form dimensions collected as part of the Irvine Minnesota Inventory. Simple bivariate correlations and difference-in-means tests assess the relationship and difference in average scores between the two. We draw on an existing sample of 115 walkable neighborhoods in the Washington, DC metro area that Mariela Alfonzo and colleagues had collected for previous research and that we augmented to include additional low-income neighborhoods. Our results reveal a strong and positive overall association between walkable access (Walk Score) and walkability (State of Place). However, this association masks problems with the quality of the walking environment that are significantly larger in low-income neighborhoods (even those with very good walkable access), especially regarding connectivity, personal safety, and the presence of litter and graffiti. As a proxy for walkability, Walk Score’s walkable access measure is, therefore, not equally strong across all neighborhoods but declines with income. In this sense, Walker’s Paradise is more walkable in higher than low-income neighborhoods.
Angina severity predicts worse sleep quality after coronary artery bypass grafting
Authors: Yilmaz Seyhan , Aksoy Eray , Doğan Tolga , Diken Adem İlkay , Yalcınkaya Adnan , Ozşen Kelime
Published: January 2016

Objective:

We sought to reveal whether the severity of angina pectoris affects sleep quality after elective coronary artery bypass grafting.

Material and methods:

Patients scheduled to undergo isolated coronary artery bypass grafting were divided into two groups, having a recent myocardial infarction (Group 1, n=22, mean age 59.40±7.79 years) or not having a recent myocardial infarction (Group 2, n=30, mean age 59.73±7.72 years). The assessment included the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Angina Score, the visual analogue scale for postoperative pain and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Results:

The two groups were similar in regard to baseline characteristics. Cross-clamp time was significantly higher (p=0.007) and the use of inotropes was significantly more common (p=0.01) in those patients with recent myocardial infarction compared to those without. Mean Canadian Cardiovascular Society scores were also higher in patients with recent myocardial infarction (p=0.02). Total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score was significantly higher in patients with recent myocardial infarction (8.45±3.50 vs. 5.03±2.32, respectively, p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, higher angina score (OR: 3.27, 95% CI, 1.20-8.90, p=0.02) and longer time of intensive care unit stay (OR: 6.15, 95% CI, 1.49-25.35, p=0.01) were found to be independent predictors of poor sleep quality. The Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina score showed a significant positive correlation with poor sleep duration score (<0.001), sleep disturbance score (p=0.02), day dysfunction due to sleepiness score (p=0.001), sleep efficiency score (p=0.003), overall sleep quality score (0.03) and total PSQI score (p=0.004).

Conclusion:

The severity of angina pectoris in the preoperative period is independently associated with worse sleep quality after elective isolated coronary artery bypass surgery.
Challenges of diagnosis and management of axial spondyloarthritis in North Africa and the Middle East: An expert consensus
Authors: Hammoudeh Mohammed , Abdulaziz Sultana , Alosaimi Hanan , Al-Rayes Hanan , Aldeen Sarakbi Hussam , Baamer Matouqa , Baraliakos Xenofon , Dahou Makhloufi Chafia , Janoudi Nahid , Shirazy Khalid , Sieper Joachim , Sukhbir Uppal
Published: January 2016

Axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a spectrum of inflammatory disease with stages characterized by both nonradiographic and radiographic sacroiliitis. Nonradiographic axial SpA is associated with health-related quality-of-life impairment and may progress to ankylosing spondylitis. Axial SpA has a low prevalence in some countries in North Africa and the Middle East, and pooling of data and resources is needed to increase understanding of the regional picture. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are required to reduce disease burden and prevent progression. Anti-TNF therapy is recommended for patients with persistently high disease activity despite conventional treatment, and has been shown to be effective in patients without radiographic damage. Diagnostic delays can be an obstacle to early treatment and appropriate referral strategies are needed. In some countries, restricted access to magnetic resonance imaging and anti-TNF agents presents a challenge. In this article, a group of experts from North Africa and the Middle East evaluated the diagnosis and management of axial SpA with particular reference to this region.
Serum levels of thyroid hormones and thyroid stimulating hormone in patients with biliogenic and hyperlipidaemic acute pancreatitis: Difference and value in predicting disease severity
Authors: Yang Ning , Zhang Dong-Lei , Hao Jian-Yu , Wang Guang
Published: January 2016

Objectives

To compare retrospectively serum levels of thyroid hormones (THs) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) between patients with biliogenic acute pancreatitis (BAP) and those with hyperlipidaemic acute pancreatitis (HLAP), in order to assess their value for predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP).

Methods

Patients with AP were divided into BAP and HLAP groups, then further divided into either a mild AP (MAP) group or a moderately severe AP (MSAP) group. Routine blood parameters were measured. Free tri-iodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and TSH levels were measured.

Results

Seventy-six patients with AP were enrolled in the study. FT3 and TSH levels were significantly higher in patients with MAP than in patients with MSAP. FT4 and TSH levels were significantly lower in the HLAP group than in the BAP group. TSH levels in both MAP and MSAP patients were significantly lower in the HLAP group than in the BAP group. TSH was inversely correlated with triglyceride levels in patients with HLAP. FT3 was a risk factor for MSAP in patients with AP and also demonstrated moderate accuracy in predicting AP severity.

Conclusions

THs and TSH decrease with the severity of AP, especially in patients with HLAP. FT3 may be a useful biomarker for the early assessment of the severity of AP.
How attention to everyday technology could contribute to modern occupational therapy: A focus group study
Authors: Nygård Louise , Rosenberg Lena
Published: January 2016

Introduction

Everyday technologies such as mobile phones and ticket vending machines have become increasingly indispensable, profoundly influencing daily life activities. Yet this has been given little attention in occupational therapy. The aim of this study was to explore occupational therapists’ views on everyday technologies’ relevance, meaning and potential applicability in practice.

Method

Focus groups were undertaken with 42 occupational therapists who had been introduced to an assessment of people’s ability to use everyday technologies. Data comprised eight focus groups and were analysed with a constant comparative approach.

Findings

The findings show how the participants’ fields of vision expanded when they discovered new ways of using information related to their clients’ everyday technology use, and new roles as therapists that would help make occupational therapy ‘modern’, that is, more timely and up-to-date. However, this also implied a risk of receiving information that was considered potentially unethical if the detected problems could not be dealt with.

Conclusion

Attending to clients as everyday technology users could give occupational therapists new expert roles, and allow clients to be seen as more complete persons. However, as this opportunity also involves priority conflicts and ethical dilemmas, the issue can inspire critical discussion about client-centred occupational therapy.
Evaluation of porous gradient hydroxyapatite/zirconia composites for repair of lumbar vertebra defect in dogs
Authors: Shao Rong-Xue , Quan Ren-Fu , Huang Xiao-Long , Wang Tuo , Xie Shang-Ju , Gao Huan-Huan , Wei Xi-Cheng , Yang Di-Sheng
Published: January 2016

Objective

To evaluate the effects of porous gradient composites with hydroxyapatite/zirconia and autologous iliac in repair of lumbar vertebra body defects in dogs.

Methods

(1) New porous gradient hydroxyapatite/zirconia composites were prepared using foam immersion, gradient compound and high temperature sintering; (2) A total of 18 adult beagle dogs, aged five to eight months and weighted 10–13 kg, were randomly assigned into two subgroups, which were implanted with new porous gradient hydroxyapatite/zirconia composites (subgroup A in 12) or autologous iliac bone (subgroup B in 6); (3) The post-operative data were analyzed and compared between the subgroups to repair the vertebral body defect by roentgenoscopy, morphology and biomechanics.

Results

The porosity of new porous gradient hydroxyapatite/zirconia composites is at 25 poles per inch, and the size of pores is at between 150 and 300 µm. The post-operative roentgenoscopy displayed that new-bone formation is increased gradually, and the interface between composites and host-bone becomes became blur, and the new-bone around the composites were integrated into host-bone at 24 weeks postoperatively in subgroup A. As to subgroup B, the resorption and restructure were found at six weeks after the surgery, and the graft-bone and host-bone have been integrated completely without obvious boundary at 24 weeks postoperatively. Histomorphologic study showed that the amount of bone within pores of the porous gradient hydroxyapatite/zirconia composites increased continuously with a prolonged implantation time, and that partial composites were degradated and replaced by new-bone trabeculae. There was no significant difference between subgroups ( P > 0.05) in the ultimate compressive strengths.

Conclusion

New porous gradient hydroxyapatite/zirconia composites can promote the repair of bony defect, and induce bone tissue to ingrow into the pores, which may be applied widely to the treatment of bony defect in the future.
Effect of GO-Fe3O4 and rotating magnetic field on cellular metabolic activity of mammalian cells
Authors: Urbas Karolina , Jedrzejczak-Silicka Magdalena , Rakoczy Rafal , Zaborski Daniel , Mijowska Ewa
Published: January 2016

The effect of hybrid material—graphene flakes with Fe3O4 nanospheres (GO-Fe3O4), graphene oxide (GO) and magnetite nanospheres (Fe3O4) in rotating magnetic field on mammalian cells metabolism has been studied. Several reports shown that exposure to magnetic field may have influence on cellular membrane permeability. Thus, the aim of presented study was to determine the cellular response of L929 fibroblast cells to nanomaterials and rotating magnetic field for 8-h exposure experiment. The GO had tendency to adsorb proteins, thus cell metabolism was decreased and the effect of that mechanism was enhanced by impact of nanospheres and rotating magnetic field. The highest reduction of cellular metabolism was recorded for WST-1 and NR assays at concentration 100 µg/mL of all tested nanomaterials and magnetic induction value 10.06 mT. The lactate dehydrogenase leakage assay has shown significant changes in membrane permeability. Further studies need to be carried out to precisely determine the mechanism of that process.
Cognitive Function in Older Suicide Attempters and a Population-Based Comparison Group
Authors: Olsson Petter , Wiktorsson Stefan , Sacuiu Simona , Marlow Thomas , Östling Svante , Fässberg Madeleine Mellqvist , Skoog Ingmar , Waern Margda
Published: January 2016

Objective:

The aim was to compare cognitive function in older suicide attempters with a population-based comparison group.

Methods:

Hospitalized suicide attempters aged 70 years and older were assessed cognitively at baseline (n = 99) and 1-year follow-up (n = 59). Depression symptoms were rated with the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Results of cognitive assessments in attempters were compared with results in nonattempter comparison subjects (n = 115) selected among participants in our population-based health studies to yield a similar distribution of MADRS scores.

Results:

Suicide attempters scored lower on Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) than comparison persons. Among attempters, the mean MMSE score was lower in those with medically serious attempts. Attempters displayed poorer performance on tests of pentagon drawing and abstract thinking compared to comparison persons, and the results remained also after exclusion of those with medically serious attempts. At 1-year follow-up, significant improvement in MADRS scores was observed in the attempters. No evidence of improvement could be shown regarding cognitive deficits.

Conclusion:

Older suicide attempters may have cognitive deficits, which may in part be related to the attempt itself. This needs to be taken into account when designing intervention strategies.
Influence of the backlash generated by tooth accumulated wear on dynamic behavior of compound planetary gear set
Authors: Wu Shijing , Zhang Haibo , Wang Xiaosun , Peng Zeming , Yang Kangkang , Zhu Weilin
Published: January 2016

Backlash is a key internal excitation on the dynamic response of planetary gear transmission. After the gear transmission running for a long time under load torque, due to tooth wear accumulation, the backlash between the tooth surface of two mating gears increases, which results in a larger and irregular backlash. However, the increasing backlash generated by tooth accumulated wear is generally neglected in lots of dynamics analysis for epicyclic gear trains. In order to investigate the impact of backlash generated by tooth accumulated wear on dynamic behavior of compound planetary gear set, in this work, first a static tooth surface wear prediction model is incorporated with a dynamic iteration methodology to get the increasing backlash generated by tooth accumulated wear for one pair of mating teeth under the condition that contact ratio equals to one. Then in order to introduce the tooth accumulated wear into dynamic model of compound planetary gear set, the backlash excitation generated by tooth accumulated wear for each meshing pair in compound planetary gear set is given under the condition that contact ratio equals to one and does not equal to one. Last, in order to investigate the impact of the increasing backlash generated by tooth accumulated wear on dynamic response of compound planetary gear set, a nonlinear lumped-parameter dynamic model of compound planetary gear set is employed to describe the dynamic relationships of gear transmission under the internal excitations generated by worn profile, meshing stiffness, transmission error, and backlash. The results indicate that the introduction of the increasing backlash generated by tooth accumulated wear makes a significant influence on the bifurcation and chaotic characteristics, dynamic response in time domain, and load sharing behavior of compound planetary gear set.
Nonlinear vibration analysis of a ┴-shaped mass attached to a clamped–clamped microbeam under electrostatic actuation
Authors: Zamanian M , Karimiyan A , Hosseini SAA , Tourajizadeh H
Published: January 2016

This article studies the nonlinear vibration of a ┴-shaped mass attached to a clamped–clamped microbeam under electrostatic actuation considering the effect of stretching. The DC and AC electrostatic force is applied to the horizontal part of ┴-shaped mass. The dynamic solution is studied using two methods of modeling. In the first model, the ┴-shaped mass is considered as a rigid body between two flexible microbeams. Then, the discretized equation of motion is derived using Lagrange’s equation combined with assumed mode method. The vibration mode shape of linear system is used as the comparison functions. In the second model, the dynamical effect of ┴-shaped mass is modeled as a concentrated force and moment, and it is introduced in the equation of motion by the Dirac function. Afterwards, the equation of motion is discretized using Galerkin method. In both methods of modeling, the equations of motion are solved using two methods. The first method is approximate analytical perturbation and the other one is Runge–Kutta numerical method. The effect of geometrical dimension of ┴-shaped mass on the nonlinear shift of resonance frequency and dynamic pull-in voltage is studied. The efficiency and accuracy of the presented formulations is verified by comparing the obtained results by two methods of modeling and two methods of solution.
Aortic aneurysm association with SLE – a case–control study
Authors: Guy A , Tiosano S , Comaneshter D , Tekes-Manova D , Shovman O , Cohen A D , Amital H
Published: January 2016

Objectives

Aortic aneurysm is a life threatening cardiovascular complication in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between SLE and occurrence of aortic aneurysms.

Methods

Patients with SLE were compared with age- and sex-matched controls regarding the proportion of aortic aneurysm in a case–control study. Chi-square and t-tests were used for univariate analysis and a logistic regression model was used for multivariate analysis. The study was performed utilizing the medical database of Clalit Health Services.

Results

The study included 5018 patients with SLE and 25,090 age- and sex-matched controls. The proportion of aortic aneurysm in patients with SLE was increased compared with the proportion in controls (0.6% and 0.1%, respectively, p < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis SLE was associated with the coexistence of aortic aneurysms (odds ratio 2.06, 95% confidence interval 1.21–3.51).

Conclusions

Patients with SLE have a higher proportion of aortic aneurysms as compared with matched controls. Therefore, physicians treating patients with SLE should be aware of this life threatening association.
Gender Differences in the Impact of Obesity on Health-Related Quality of Life
Authors: Song Hyun Jin , Lee Eui-Kyung , Kwon Jin-Won
Published: January 2016

This study investigated the association between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and obesity stratified by sex in 34 935 Korean adults. We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional, nationwide, population-based survey, from 2007 to 2012. Individuals with higher than average health value scores using the EQ-5D-3L to measure HRQoL were classified as being in good health. Multiple logistic regressions were used to determine the association between obesity and good health. Of the 34 935 adults, 28.0% (9767) were classified as obese, 3.8% (1326) as severely obese, and 23.6% (8249) as overweight. Through multiple logistic regressions after adjustments, women who were severely obese had 31% significantly lower HRQoL than women with normal weight (95% confidence interval = 1.12-1.53). However, the same trend was not found in men. Additional interventional studies would be needed to better understand the causality of the association between obesity and HRQoL in women.
Long-term stable magnetorheological fluid brake for application in wind turbines
Authors: Güth Dirk , Maas Jürgen
Published: January 2016

In this article, a novel brake for application in wind turbines developed with the focus on long-term stability is proposed. The brake, whose transmission of power is based on magnetorheological fluids, is designed for fail-safe operation under industrial standards. The long-term stability performance over a lifetime of up to 20 years can be ensured by the use of a Taylor-vortex flow in idle mode that causes a mixing effect for preventing particle separation. Beside a detailed description of the design, long-term measurements with requirements for use in wind turbines emulating a timely reduced aging of the magnetorheological fluid will be presented by applying Hardware-in-the-Loop simulations. The results show an outstanding torque performance over an emulated lifetime of 20 years of use in wind turbines that outpaces the capability of conventional brakes whose power transmission is based on dry friction.
Exploring Sensory Experiences and Personalization in an Inpatient Residential Hospice Setting
Authors: Niedzielski Oksana K. , Rodin Gary , Emmerson Debbie , Rutgers Job , Sellen Katherine M.
Published: January 2016

Residential hospices are often purpose-built to enhance the experience of patients and families. However, there has been relatively little research on ambient and sensory experiences of patients and families. This study explored the ambient and sensory experience of residents and families in a residential hospice. Hospice users participated in personalizing environments and experiences, adapting and developing rituals, and enjoying the experience (including smells and sounds) of communal spaces and private rooms. Opportunity for developing new rituals, in particular, suggests an environment supportive of sense of control, social support, and positive distractors. The design of an inpatient hospice can offer a platform through which to support the delivery of flexible care practices, providing opportunities for personal expression, shared experiences, and the maintenance or development of rituals.
Telemental Health
Authors: Vernig Peter M.
Published: January 2016

Telemental health, which involves clinicians connecting remotely to patients via teleconferencing, has seen growing interest. In addition to providing in-home treatment, this technology allows specialists to provide care in remote and underserved areas. Current research suggests that both patients and clinicians are satisfied with telemental health services and that it is comparable in terms of quality to in-person care. Nonetheless, concerns still exist regarding its effects on the role of clinicians and the care they provide.
Experimentalizing the organization of objects: Re-enacting mines and landfills
Authors: Johansson Nils , Metzger Jonathan
Published: January 2016

In this article, we draw upon ‘After-ANT’ scholarship to generate openings for a shift from purely deconstructive studies of object organization to a more straightforward generation of concrete and specific alternative trajectories towards the future by way of ontological experimentation. Through careful empirical investigation of a mine and a landfill, and how these are enacted in practice in different topological registers, we show how mines and landfills are intertwined; enacted sometimes as similar and in other cases as different types of objects, thus shaping the paths of becoming for those bundles of relations that become enacted as either a ‘mine object’ or a ‘landfill object’. Mapping these practices generates openings for interventions suggesting how things could be made different in some specificity; in this case, for example, the appreciation of what constitutes ‘natural resources’. The overarching purpose of this article is to intervene in current debates regarding the potential merits of drawing upon Object-Oriented Philosophy as an inspiration in critical organizational studies. While we are highly sympathetic to calls for more experimental object studies, we are hesitant towards Object-Oriented Philosophy as a source of inspiration due to its specific metaphysical underpinnings. To clarify what we find to be at stake here, we conclude the article by situating After-ANT in a wider landscape of thought, discussing the contrast between broadly pragmatist research approaches, such as After-ANT, and Object-Oriented Philosophy. Finally, we try to spell out how we believe this contrast reverberates upon how we understand the purpose and potential of critical social science.
Arendt’s ‘conscious pariah’ and the ambiguous figure of the subaltern
Authors: Ray Larry , Diemling Maria
Published: January 2016

Hannah Arendt’s Jewish writings were central to her thinking about the human condition and engaged with the dialectics of modernity, universalism and identity. Her concept of the ‘conscious pariah’ attempted both to define a role for the public intellectual and understand the relationship between Jews and modernity. Controversially she accused Jewish victims of lack of resistance to the Nazis and argued that their victimization resulted from apolitical ‘worldlessness’. We argue that although Arendt’s analysis was original and challenging, her characterization of Jewish history as one of ‘powerlessness’ is exaggerated but, more importantly, her underdeveloped concept of ‘the social’ is insensitive to the complex modalities of resistance and consciousness among subaltern Jewish communities. Furthermore, her lack of interest in religious observance obscures the importance of Judaism as a resource for resistance. This is illustrated by the ‘hidden transcripts’ of Jewish resistance from the early modern period.
Gang violence on the digital street: Case study of a South Side Chicago gang member’s Twitter communication
Authors: Patton Desmond U , Lane Jeffrey , Leonard Patrick , Macbeth Jamie , Smith Lee Jocelyn R
Published: January 2016

Social media connects youth to peers who share shared experiences and support; however, urban gang-involved youth navigate ‘the digital street’ following a script that may incite violence. Urban gang-involved youth use SNS to brag and insult and make threats a concept known as Internet banging. Recent research suggests Internet banging has resulted in serious injury and homicide. We argue violence may be disseminated in Chicago through social media platforms like Twitter. We examine the Twitter communications of one known female gang member, Gakirah Barnes, during a two week window in which her friend was killed and then weeks later, she was also killed. We explore how street culture is translated online through the conventions of Twitter. We find that a salient script of reciprocal violence within a local network is written online in real time. Those writing this script anticipate, direct, historicize, and mourn neighborhood violence.
Influence of pulse width on luminous efficiency for a two-degree field
Authors: Fan S , Zhang X , Gu X , Shen H , Liu M
Published: January 2016

A two-degree bipartite field was used to investigate the influence of pulse width on human luminous perception. The frequency of the pulsed light was 100 Hz and the duty ratio was set to 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50 and 70%. The results show that pulsed light has a brightness enhancement effect and that the enhancement effect changes when the wavelength and duty ratio are different. The maximum enhancement effect appears at 430 nm and the minimum at 460 nm. Then, a theoretical spectral luminous function for pulsed light as a function of wavelength and duty ratio was calculated using cone fundamentals. The newly established luminous function can be used to calculate the real brightness perceived by human eyes when people are exposed to a space illuminated by pulse-width modulation dimming lamps.
Using Online Message Testing to Evaluate TV Ads, Select Effective Messaging, and Improve Public Health Campaigns
Authors: Mowery Andrea , Riedesel Paul , Dreher Marietta , Schillo Barbara A. , Saul Jessie E.
Published: January 2016

Background:

This article describes two examples of online ad testing used to assess effectiveness of tobacco control ads in Minnesota (United States). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends mass-media campaigns to change tobacco-related attitudes and encourage quitting. ClearWay MinnesotaSM uses online surveys to test ads with target audiences, select the most effective ads, and complement traditional evaluations of its campaigns. Two examples in this article demonstrate the method and how results have been used.

Methods:

Example 1 used an online survey to test two ad campaigns with 600 tobacco users. Participants were randomly assigned to evaluate two CDC Tips From Former Smokers ads and two ClearWay Minnesota QUITPLAN® Services ads for motivational effectiveness. In Example 2, 805 adult Minnesotans evaluated three of ClearWay Minnesota’s Still a Problem educational ads to determine whether the campaign was having the intended effect on its target audience.

Results:

Results for Example 1 revealed CDC’s ads were more effective than QUITPLAN Services ads in motivating tobacco users to seek help. Results for Example 2 demonstrated that the Still a Problem campaign was having the intended effect on the target audience.

Discussion:

Example 1 results compelled ClearWay Minnesota to tag CDC’s ads with the QUITPLAN Services brand and buy more advertising time. Observed service volumes increased. Example 2 results suggested no need for adjustments to change the Still a Problem campaign because it was working as intended. Traditional evaluation requires longer time frames than online testing. Online message testing can inform social marketing and educational campaign development in real time, typically for less cost than traditional methods.

Conclusions:

Online message testing is an efficient way to test ads, improve program effectiveness, and protect investments in public health marketing campaigns.
Linking Adverse Childhood Effects and Attachment: A Theory of Etiology for Sexual Offending
Authors: Grady Melissa D. , Levenson Jill S. , Bolder Tess
Published: January 2016

Sexual violence continues to be a significant public health problem affecting significant portions of the population. Unfortunately, an agreed upon theory of etiology remains elusive leading to challenges in developing effective prevention and treatment interventions. Recently, there is a growing body of literature examining the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the development of sexually violent behavior. This research has begun to explore the rates of various types of child maltreatments and family dysfunction in individuals who have been convicted of a sexual crime. These empirical inquiries have been primarily descriptive in nature and have not yet provided a cohesive theoretical model as to why the presence of ACEs might contribute to sexually abusive behavior. This article suggests that attachment theory offers an explanatory link between early adversity and sexually abusive behavior in adulthood. We first summarize important attachment theory concepts, then integrate them with research in the area of developmental psychopathology and ACEs, and finally propose a model by which attachment can be used as an explanatory theory for subsequent sexualized coping and sexually abusive behaviors. Finally, this article explores the implications for practice, policy, and research using this explanatory theory as a framework for understanding sexual violence.
Member roles and identities in online support groups: Perspectives from corpus and systemic functional linguistics
Authors: McDonald Daniel , Woodward-Kron Robyn
Published: January 2016

Online support groups (OSGs) are common sources of both health information and social support. To augment existing qualitative understandings of member roles and identities in OSGs, this article presents a corpus-based investigation of shifts in member lexicogrammatical and discourse-semantic choices in a bipolar disorder OSG. In total, 8.4 million words in 57,000 posts were transformed into a structured, grammatically annotated corpus and investigated using systemic functional linguistics (SFL) as a theoretical framework, focusing on interpersonal and experiential meanings. The findings of mood and transitivity analyses show marked differences between new and veteran members’ language choices over the course of membership in the OSG: particularly, in how veteran members provide advice, and in how new and veteran members ascribe and attribute bipolar disorder to both the self and others. Discussion addresses the affordances and limitations of corpus linguistics and SFL as strategies for providing quantitative support for key claims of earlier research in this field.
What about clonidine for diarrhoea? A systematic review and meta-analysis of its effect in humans
Authors: Fragkos Konstantinos C. , Zárate-Lopez Natalia , Frangos Christos C.
Published: January 2016

Background:

Clonidine is considered an alternative treatment for refractory diarrhoea. The evidence in the literature is scarce and not conclusive. The present paper’s purpose is to gather available evidence and provide a systematic answer regarding the effectiveness of clonidine for diarrhoea.

Method:

We performed a systematic review of clonidine and its effect on diarrhoea. Meta-analysis was performed with a random effects model of the standardized mean difference (SMD) or the weighted mean difference and heterogeneity was quantified with I2 and publication bias was assessed with Egger’s and Begg’s test. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed to investigate sources of heterogeneity. Any empirical study describing use of clonidine for diarrhoea in humans independent of age was included. For the meta-analysis, papers had to provide sufficient data to produce an effect measure, while case reports were not included in the meta-analysis and are discussed narratively only.

Results:

A total of 24 trials and seven case reports were identified. Clonidine (median dose 300 μg/day) has been used for treatment of diarrhoea in irritable bowel syndrome, faecal incontinence, diabetes, withdrawal-associated diarrhoea, intestinal failure, neuroendocrine tumours and cholera; studies were also performed on healthy volunteers. Results indicate a strong effect of clonidine on diarrhoea (SMD = −1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] −1.46 to −0.58) with a decrease of stool volume by 0.97 l/day, stool frequency by 0.4 times/day and increase in transit time by 31 minutes. In a sensitivity analysis of studies with functional diarrhoea and sample size over 10 subjects, the effect was similar −0.99 (95% CI −1.54 to −0.43). There is however significant heterogeneity and publication bias. Heterogeneity decreased in subgroup analyses by condition but not with other factors examined. A limitation of the present study includes small study effects.

Conclusion:

Clonidine is effective for treatment of diarrhoea and should be considered as an alternative when all other medications have failed.
Prediction of mortality and functional outcome from status epilepticus and independent external validation of STESS and EMSE scores
Authors: Kang Bong Su , Kim Dong Wook , Kim Kwang Ki , Moon Hye Jin , Kim Young-Soo , Kim Hyun Kyung , Lee Seo-Young , Koo Yong Seo , Shin Jung-Won , Moon Jangsup , Sunwoo Jun-Sang , Byun Jung-Ick , Cho Yong Won , Jung Ki-Young , Chu Kon , Lee Sang Kun
Published: January 2016

Background

Two clinical scoring systems, the status epilepticus severity score (STESS) and the epidemiology-based mortality score in status epilepticus (EMSE), are used to predict mortality in patients with status epilepticus (SE). The aim of this study was to compare the outcome-prediction function of the two scoring systems regarding in-hospital mortality using a multicenter large cohort of adult patients with SE. Moreover, we studied the potential role of these two scoring systems in predicting the functional outcome in patients with SE.

Methods

The SE cohort consisted of patients from the epilepsy centers of eight academic tertiary medical centers in South Korea. The clinical and electroencephalography data for all adult patients with SE from January 2013 to December 2014 were derived from a prospective SE database. The primary outcome variable was defined as in-hospital death. The secondary outcome variable was defined as a poor functional outcome, i.e., a score of 1–3 on the Glasgow Outcome Scale, at discharge.

Results

Among the 120 non-hypoxic patients with SE recruited into the study, 16 (13.3 %) died in the hospital and 64 (53.3 %) were discharged with a poor functional outcome. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve for prediction of in-hospital death based on the STESS had an area under the curve of 0.673 with an optimal cutoff value for discrimination (best match for both sensitivity (0.56) and specificity (0.70)) that was ≥4 points. The two combinations of elements of the EMSE system (EMSE-ALDEg and EMSE-ECLEg) predicted not only in-hospital mortality with the best match for sensitivity (more than 0.6) and specificity (more than 0.6), but also a poor functional outcome with the best match for both sensitivity (>0.7) and specificity (>0.6). STESS did not predict a poor functional outcome (area under the ROC, 0.581; P = 0.23).

Conclusion

Although the EMSE is a clinical scoring system that focuses on individual mortality, we did not find differences between the EMSE and STESS in the prediction of in-hospital death. The EMSE was useful in predicting poor functional outcome, as it was significantly better than STESS.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Children: Does Modified Platinum- and Doxorubicin-Based Chemotherapy Increase Tumor Resectability and Change Outcome? Lessons Learned From the SIOPEL 2 and 3 Studies
Authors: Murawski Maciej , Weeda Víola B. , Maibach Rudolf , Morland Bruce , Roebuck Derek J. , Zimmerman Arthur , Casanova Michela , Perilongo Giorgio , Laithier Veronique , Kebudi Rejin , Scopinaro Marcelo J. , Shun Albert , Brichard Benedicte , de Camargo Beatriz , Childs Margaret , Aronson Daniel C. , Czauderna Piotr
Published: January 2016

Introduction

The aim of this article is to present an experience of two prospective studies from the International Childhood Liver Tumor Strategy Group (SIOPEL 2 [S2] and SIOPEL [S3]) trials and to evaluate whether modified platinum- and doxorubicin-based chemotherapy is capable of increasing tumor resectability and changing patient outcomes.

Methods

Between 1995 and 2006, 20 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were included in the S2 trial and 70 were included in the S3 trial. Eighty-five patients remained evaluable.

Results

Response to preoperative chemotherapy was observed in 29 of 72 patients (40%) who did not have primary surgery, whereas 13 patients underwent upfront surgery. Thirty-three patients had a delayed resection. Thirty-nine tumors never became resectable. Complete tumor resection was achieved in 34 patients (40%), including seven of those treated with liver transplantation (LTX). After a median follow-up period of 75 months, 63 patients (74%) had an event (a progression during treatment, a relapse after treatment, or death from any cause). Sixty patients died. Twenty-three of 46 patients (50%) who underwent tumor resection died. Eighteen of 27 patients (63%) with complete tumor resection (without LTX) and 20 of 34 patients (59%) with LTX survived. Only one of seven patients (14%) with microscopically involved margins survived. Overall survival at 5 years was 22%.

Conclusion

Survival in pediatric HCC is more likely when complete tumor resection can be achieved. Intensification of platinum agents in the S2 and S3 trials has not resulted in improved survival. New treatment approaches in pediatric HCC should be postulated.