bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fully automated structural MRI of the brain in clinical dementia workup
Authors: Persson Karin , Selbæk Geir , Brækhus Anne , Beyer Mona , Barca Maria , Engedal Knut
Published: September 2016

Background

The dementia syndrome has been regarded a clinical diagnosis but the focus on supplemental biomarkers is increasing. An automatic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumetry method, NeuroQuant® (NQ), has been developed for use in clinical settings.

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical usefulness of NQ in distinguishing Alzheimer’s disease dementia (AD) from non-dementia and non-AD dementia.

Material and Methods

NQ was performed in 275 patients diagnosed according to the criteria of ICD-10 for AD, vascular dementia and Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD); the Winblad criteria for mild cognitive impairment; the Lund-Manchester criteria for frontotemporal dementia; and the revised consensus criteria for Lewy body dementia (LBD). Receiver operating curve (ROC) analyses with calculation of area under the curve (AUC) and regression analyses were carried out.

Results

Forebrain parenchyma (AUC 0.82), hippocampus (AUC 0.80), and inferior lateral ventricles (AUC 0.78) yielded the highest AUCs for AD/non-dementia discrimination. Only hippocampus (AUC 0.62) and cerebellum (AUC 0.67) separated AD from non-AD dementia. Cerebellum separated AD from PDD-LBD (AUC 0.83). Separate multiple regression analyses adjusted for age and gender, showed that memory (CERAD 10-word delayed recall) (beta 0.502, P < 0.001) was more strongly associated to the hippocampus volume than the diagnostic distinction of AD versus non-dementia (beta −0.392, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

NQ measures could separate AD from non-dementia fairly well but generally poorer from non-AD dementia. Degree of memory impairment, age, and gender, but not diagnostic distinction, were associated to the hippocampus volume in adjusted analyses. Surprisingly, cerebellum was found relevant in separating AD from PDD-LBD.
Alleviated negative rather than positive attentional bias in patients with depression in remission: an eye-tracking study
Authors: Li Mi , Lu Shengfu , Wang Gang , Feng Lei , Fu Bingbing , Zhong Ning
Published: September 2016

Objective

To investigate attentional bias toward happy and sad faces in remitted depressed (RD) patients compared with healthy control (HC) subjects.

Methods

This cross-sectional study enrolled RD patients and sex- and age-matched HC subjects. Eye movement data were acquired for all study participants while free viewing a 2 × 2 matrix of emotional faces. The attentional bias toward different emotional faces and whether the attention maintenance components generated attentional bias in the RD patients were analysed by comparing the attentional modes of the RD group with the HC group.

Results

A total of 27 RD patients and 27 HC subjects were analysed in this study. The RD and HC groups exhibited no significant differences toward first fixation location and initial attentional maintenance. In later attentional maintenance, the RD group showed significantly less attentional bias toward happy faces, but there were no significant differences in their attentional bias toward sad faces, compared with the HC group.

Conclusions

This present study showed that the negative attentional bias of RD patients was successfully eased, but their positive attentional bias was still insufficient.
German development aid and the politics of pre-emption
Authors: Fröschner Joschka
Published: September 2016

Forty years ago, development aid programmes in the ‘Third World’, if colonial in thrust and often imperial in economic purpose, were at least usually recognisably different from war, conflict and internal repression. And the respective roles of metropolitan governmental departments and private companies, national governments and international NGOs were clearly delineated. But today, with neoliberalism breaking down the distinctions between the public and private, the war on terror conflating risk into security and pushing towards a pre-emptive geopolitics, the shape of development is changing. Innovation in areas such as border control and transportation systems, still marketed as development, are better analysed in terms of biopolitics (as conceptualised by Michel Foucault, Giorgio Agamben and others). Using this framework and that of pre-emptive securitisation the author unpicks some of the ‘aid’ programmes of one German agency – the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Saudi Arabia, Sudan and South Africa over the last fifteen years.
Entitlement and belonging: social restructuring and multicultural Britain
Authors: Burnett Jon
Published: September 2016

In May, two flagship measures of the current Conservative UK government, the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and the Immigration Act 2016 were passed, despite opposition from rights and advocacy organisations, charities and individuals in both fields. Based on wide-ranging research carried out before the Acts’ passage, the article shows how both Acts will work in tandem to reinforce and exacerbate a fundamental restructuring of the societal landscape, which will particularly impact on multiracial, inner-city and poor communities. They continue a process in which social entitlements are ever more codified and restricted, rights seen as linked to (and dependent on) responsibilities, with certain categories of persons – undocumented workers, asylum seekers – excluded from some rights altogether. As the state increasingly divests itself of accountability for its actions, it is placing yet more onus on third-sector organisations to become accountable, not to their clients, but to government targets and policies.
The CIVA system for engineering education
Authors: Lo SHR
Published: September 2016

Engineering education in higher education is facing multiple and significant challenges due to the changing requirements for future professional engineers and the changing landscape of higher education. How to raise the standard and quality of engineering courses to meet the demands of the fast evolving industry and society, how to improve the employability of graduates by developing the mentality and competence of professional engineers, and how to improve the inclusiveness to maximise the benefits of widening participation and internationalisation of higher education are some key issues that need to be addressed. This paper presents an innovative system for engineering education, the CIVA (standing for Coursework-driven teaching and learning process, Integrated teaching approach, Verification and validation guided quality learning and professional development and Active support mechanism) system. The CIVA system aims to address the above mentioned key issues in engineering education and represents a new way to manage the teaching and learning process in order to achieve a high quality engineering education outcome that is characterised by high academic standard and quality, high inclusiveness and high employability. An example of implementation of the CIVA system for a structural vibration unit is provided for illustration. Furthermore, the CIVA system provides a framework in engineering education that is responsive and customisable to the requirements of both the learners and the employers. With further development, the CIVA system is promising to make a significant contribution to modernising engineering education.
Unsaturated flow behavior in double-scale porous reinforcement for liquid composite molding processes
Authors: Kim Sung H , Jung Jae W , Li Mei X , Choi Sung W , Lee Woo I , Park Chung H
Published: September 2016

We investigate the unsaturated resin flow behavior in a dual scale porosity preform by observing the pressure distribution and the void content. The experimental data show that the pressure profile in the unsaturated flow is nonlinear with positive curvature whereas that in the saturated flow is linear as expected from the classical Darcy’s law. To address this issue, the governing equation for mass conservation is modified by introducing a mass sink term. Eventually, it has been found that the discrepancy between the unsaturated and saturated permeability values comes from a misinterpretation of the pressure gradient at the flow front in the unsaturated permeability measurement method and the permeability for a given preform is a unique value regardless of measurement method or flow condition. Based on this investigation, the ratio of unsaturated permeability to saturated permeability is represented as a dimensionless number in terms of void content.
Exploring the Context Dependency of the PSM–Performance Relationship
Authors: Lynggaard Mikkel , Pedersen Mogens Jin , Andersen Lotte Bøgh
Published: September 2016

The public service motivation (PSM) of public employees matters to their performance at work. Yet research on how context factors moderate the PSM–performance relationship is sparse. This article shows how the PSM–performance relationship may depend on two context factors: (a) the extent of work autonomy that a public organization provides its employees and (b) the service users’ capacity to affect the organization’s service provision. We test a set of moderation hypotheses using school data (teacher survey data with administrative data on schools and student). Using within-student between-teachers fixed effects regression, we find a stronger PSM–performance relationship in organizational contexts involving greater regulation of employee work autonomy for users with low to moderate user capacity.
Efficacy of Low-Dose Corticosteroid Therapy Versus High-Dose Corticosteroid Therapy in Bell’s Palsy in Children
Authors: Arican Pinar , Dundar Nihal Olgac , Gencpinar Pinar , Cavusoglu Dilek
Published: September 2016

Bell’s palsy is the most common cause of acute peripheral facial nerve paralysis, but the optimal dose of corticosteroids in pediatric patients is still unclear. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose corticosteroid therapy compared with high-dose corticosteroid therapy in children with Bell’s palsy. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the dose of oral prednisolone regimen initiated. The severity of idiopathic facial nerve paralysis was graded according to the House-Brackmann Grading Scale. The patients were re-assessed in terms of recovery rate at the first, third, and sixth months of treatment. There was no significant difference in complete recovery between the 2 groups after 1, 3, and 6 months of treatment. In our study, we concluded that even at a dose of 1 mg/kg/d, oral prednisolone was highly effective in the treatment of Bell’s palsy in children.
A Pilot Study of Healthy Living Options at 16 Truck Stops Across the United States
Authors: Lincoln Jennifer E. , Birdsey Jan , Sieber W. Karl , Chen Guang-X. , Hitchcock Edward M. , Nakata Akinori , Robinson Cynthia F.
Published: September 2016

Purpose:

There is a growing body of evidence that the built environment influences diet and exercise and, as a consequence, community health status. Since long-haul truck drivers spend long periods of time at truck stops, it is important to know if this built environment includes resources that contribute to the emotional and physical well-being of drivers.

Setting:

The truck stop environment was defined as the truck stop itself, grocery stores, and medical clinics near the truck stop that could be accessed by a large truck or safely on foot.

Design:

Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed and utilized a checklist to record the availability of resources for personal hygiene and comfort, communication and mental stimulation, health care, safety, physical activity, and nutrition at truck stops.

Subjects:

The NIOSH checklist was used to collect data at a convenience sample of 16 truck stops throughout the United States along both high-flow and low-flow truck traffic routes.

Measures:

The checklist was completed by observation within and around the truck stops.

Results:

No truck stops offered exercise facilities, 94% lacked access to health care, 81% lacked a walking path, 50% lacked fresh fruit, and 37% lacked fresh vegetables in their restaurant or convenience store.

Conclusion:

The NIOSH found that most truck stops did not provide an overall healthy living environment.
Eco-design case-based reasoning tool: The integration of ecological quality function deployment and case-based reasoning methods for supporting sustainable product design
Authors: Romli Awanis , Setchi Rossitza , Prickett Paul , de la Pisa Miguel P
Published: September 2016

Several methods and tools have been developed to facilitate sustainable product design, but they lack critical application of the ecological design (eco-design) process and economic costing, particularly during the conceptual design phase. This research study overcomes these deficiencies by integrating eco-design approaches across all phases of the product life cycle. It proposes an eco-design case-based reasoning tool that is integrated with the recently developed ecological quality function deployment method, which supports sustainable product design. The eco-design case-based reasoning tool is an intuitive decision-support tool that complements the ecological quality function deployment method and proposes solutions related to customers’ requirements and the environmental and economic impacts of the product. The ecological quality function deployment method ensures that customers’ needs are considered within the context of product sustainability. The novelty of this article is in the development of the eco-design case-based reasoning tool which is based on the premise that if experiences from the ecological quality function deployment process can be captured in some useful form, designers can refer to and learn from them. This approach helps industrial decision-makers propose solutions by reusing solutions from similar cases and from their past experiences. The novelty is in the way the cases are structured and new cases are generated, using life-cycle assessments, cost estimations, and information about related manufacturing processes and means of transportation. This article demonstrates the applicability of the proposed approach through an industrial case study.
A multi-response adaptive sampling approach for global metamodeling
Authors: Liu Haitao , Xu Shengli , Wang Xiaofang , Yang Shuhua , Meng Jigang
Published: September 2016

Some adaptive sampling approaches have been developed to efficiently and accurately build global metamodels for the deterministic single-response problems. Most complex engineering problems, however, yield multiple responses during one simulation. This article adjusts the framework of the CV-Voronoi adaptive sampling approach for a multi-response system. In the proposed multi-response CV-Voronoi (mCV-Voronoi) sampling approach, a new strategy that combines a weighted-sum term and an extreme term is presented to properly estimate the cell errors by simultaneously considering the characteristics of multiple responses. The performance of this approach is investigated on 57 multi-response systems and two engineering design problems. The results show that mCV-Voronoi is very promising for global metamodeling of deterministic multi-response systems.
A mathematical model for the estimation of hardness of electrochemical deposits
Authors: Kumar Varun S , Sundaram Murali
Published: September 2016

Binding of metal powders using electrochemically deposited binders provides a novel way of carrying metal additive manufacturing at ambient temperatures. In this paper, a mathematical model was developed to predict the hardness and the yield strength of electrochemically bound parts. In this work, an existing composite hardness model is modified to predict the deposit hardness. Experimental verification of the model was performed using brass and aluminum substrates with nickel as the binder under similar deposition parameters to verify that substrate effects were not involved in the measured hardness value. The film hardness values were then compared for deposits on both brass and aluminum substrates. The model was able to predict the hardness values on both substrates within 8% of each other thereby eliminating the substrate effects involved.
Experimental investigations on the frequency of partial surge
Authors: Pan Tianyu , Li Qiushi , Li Zhiping
Published: September 2016

Partial surge is characterized by axisymmetric low-frequency disturbance localized in the hub region and with the potential risk of causing full compressor instability in a transonic axial flow compressor. To find out what determines the low frequency of partial surge, most typical vibro-acoustic frequencies in the test compressor system are first examined, and the observed frequency of partial surge is found to be the closest to the Helmholtz frequency estimated with Greitzer’s duct-compressor-plenum model. Experiments are then conducted to observe the frequency of partial surge during the evolution of instability in the same compressor system with varied lengths of compressor inlet duct and inlet duct in front of the settling chamber and at the same rotor speed. The result also suggests that the dominant frequency of partial surge can be determined by the Helmholtz frequency of the system. When the length of compressor inlet duct is increased beyond a critical range, a different type of system oscillation is also observed in the form of a disturbance at higher frequency. The occurrence of this disturbance is discussed in this article with an extended theory of system oscillation.
Investigation of the flow in a small-scale turbocharger centrifugal compressor
Authors: Hazby Hamid R , Xu Liping , Casey Michael V
Published: September 2016

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study of the flow in a 1:1 scale, automotive turbocharger centrifugal compressor. Particle image velocimetry measurements have been carried out in the vaneless diffuser at 50% of the design speed. The challenges involved in taking optical measurements in the current small-scale compressor rig are discussed. The overall stage performance and the measured diffuser flow are compared with the results of steady-state computational fluid dynamics calculations. A good agreement between the computational fluid dynamics and the experimental results demonstrates that the numerical methods are capable of predicting the main flow features within the compressor. The synthesis of measured and predicted data is used to explain the sources of the flow and performance variations across the compressor map, and the differences in loss production between small and large compressors are highlighted.
Geochemical investigation of the South Wellesley Island wetlands: Insight into wetland development during the Holocene in tropical northern Australia
Authors: Mackenzie Lydia , Heijnis Henk , Gadd Patricia , Moss Patrick , Shulmeister James
Published: September 2016

The South Wellesley Islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria, northern Australia, were the recent focus of a palynological investigation which found vegetation change during the Holocene was driven by coastal progradation and regional climate. Here, we present new elemental data from x-ray fluorescence core scanning which provides non-destructive, continuous and high resolution analysis from three wetlands across Bentinck Island, the largest of the South Wellesley Islands. Elemental data and grain size analyses are combined with lead-210 (210Pb) and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) carbon-14 (14C) dates. An open coastal environment was present 1250 cal. a BP on the south east coast of Bentinck Island, with sediment supply incorporating fluvial deposition and detrital input of titanium and iron from eroding lateritic bedrock. Prograding shorelines, dune development and river diversion formed a series of swales parallel to the coast by ~800 cal. a BP, forming the Marralda wetlands. Wetlands developed at sites on the north and west coasts ~500 and ~450 cal. a BP, respectively. Geochemical and grain size analyses indicate that wetlands formed as accreting tidal mudflats or within inter-dune swales that intercepted groundwater draining to the coastal margins. The timing of wetland initiation indicates localised late-Holocene sea level regression, stabilisation and coastal plain development in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Elemental data provide new records of wetland development across Bentinck Island, highlighting the value of a multi-proxy approach to understanding environmental change during the Holocene in tropical northern Australia.
Complementary role of cardiovascular imaging and laboratory indices in early detection of cardiovascular disease in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Mavrogeni S , Koutsogeorgopoulou L , Dimitroulas T , Markousis-Mavrogenis G , Kolovou G
Published: September 2016

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been documented in >50% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, due to a complex interplay between traditional risk factors and SLE-related factors. Various processes, such as coronary artery disease, myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, vasculitis, valvular heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and heart failure, account for CVD complications in SLE.

Methods

Electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography (echo), nuclear techniques, cardiac computed tomography (CT), cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and cardiac catheterization (CCa) can detect CVD in SLE at an early stage. ECG and echo are the cornerstones of CVD evaluation in SLE. The routine use of cardiac CT and nuclear techniques is limited by radiation exposure and use of iodinated contrast agents. Additionally, nuclear techniques are also limited by low spatial resolution that does not allow detection of sub-endocardial and sub-epicardial lesions. CCa gives definitive information about coronary artery anatomy and pulmonary artery pressure and offers the possibility of interventional therapy. However, it carries the risk of invasive instrumentation. Recently, CMR was proved of great value in the evaluation of cardiac function and the detection of myocardial inflammation, stress-rest perfusion defects and fibrosis.

Results

An algorithm for CVD evaluation in SLE includes clinical, laboratory, ECG and echo assessment as well as CMR evaluation in patients with inconclusive findings, persistent cardiac symptoms despite normal standard evaluation, new onset of life-threatening arrhythmia/heart failure and/or as a tool to select SLE patients for CCa.

Conclusions

A non-invasive approach including clinical, laboratory and imaging evaluation is key for early CVD detection in SLE.
Saint Ioannis Lampadistis, the first possible case of blindness due to organic mercury poisoning in history
Authors: Tsakiris Kleonikos A
Published: September 2016

Saint Ioannis Lampadistis is a Cypriot saint of the Greek Orthodox Church, widely venerated in his island of origin. He lived during the 11th century and was blinded by ingesting contaminated fish in the mountainous area of Galata, withdrew from civil life when he was 18, and died at the age of 22. The reason for his blindness remains unknown, though it is widely attributed to an unknown poison related to the copper mines of the region. As fish is the end reservoir of organic mercury, it is quite possible that his blindness was the result of heavy metal toxicity. Organic mercury is associated with CNS atrophy and hypoplasia, and blindness is a frequent presenting symptom. While not much is known about the saint’s clinical symptoms (as his ecclestiastical biography focuses on his example and miracles), organic mercury poisoning could explain his sudden loss of vision, thus possibly making him the first-recorded case of organic mercury poisoning in history.
India’s Energy Security: Critical Considerations
Authors: Chakrabarti Anindita , Arora Ravinder Kumar
Published: September 2016

This article examines the evolution of the concept of energy security and its proper meaning with regard to India’s energy sector. In the context of energy security, it aims to understand the impact of rising gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and change in oil prices on energy use; patterns in production, consumption and import of major sources of energy, such as crude oil, natural gas and coal in India; and the current structure of India’s energy sector and the impact of regulatory policies thereon. The evidence shows that GDP per capita and energy use per capita have a bidirectional causal relationship and these two also cointegrate. There also exists a unidirectional causal relationship from oil prices to energy use. No causal relationship is observed between oil prices and GDP per capita. For all the sources of energy, the indigenous production capacity is unable to match the consumption requirement, and hence there is an increased dependence on the import of these sources. A major impediment in the achievement of energy security by India is the current regulatory and policy environment that fails to make the sector more attractive for private sector participation and investment.
Stopping Territory Infringement
Authors: Mukherjee Jaydeep
Published: September 2016

Sashi Kujur, Branch Manager, LPB Ltd. (a major Television marketer in India) was losing sales in Baleshwar district of Odisha as the distributor of West Bengal (neighbouring state) was selling materials in his territory at substantially lower prices. The Regional Manager of LPB was not very keen on taking any action as the region had a greater stake on West Bengal distributor and the problem was quite common in these areas across competitors and other product categories. Odisha sales team as well as the distributor were demotivated by the unabated infiltration and were also losing faith in Sashi’s leadership. The discount structure of LPB was much higher for a greater volume of sale; hence, competing on price with West Bengal was not a sustainable solution for Odisha. Sashi needed to find a long term solution for the problem and had to take concrete steps immediately.
Electro-thermoelastic vibration of plates made of porous functionally graded piezoelectric materials under various boundary conditions
Authors: Barati Mohammad Reza , Zenkour Ashraf M
Published: September 2016

In this article, electro-thermo-mechanical vibrational behavior of functionally graded piezoelectric (FGP) plates with porosities is explored via a refined four-variable plate theory for the first time. Uniform, linear and nonlinear temperature changes are considered in this study. Electro-elastic material properties of porous FGP plate vary across the thickness based on modified power-law model. The governing equations derived from Hamilton’s principle are solved analytically. The exactness of solution is confirmed by comparing obtained results with those provided in the literature. Influences of applied voltage, porosity distribution, thermal loadings, material gradation, plate geometrical parameters and boundary conditions on the vibrational behavior of FGP plates are discussed. These results can be applied for accurate design of smart structures made of functionally graded piezoelectric materials by considering porosity distribution.
Personal Experience Versus Media Coverage: Testing the Issue Obtrusiveness Condition of Agenda-Setting Theory in a Developing Country
Authors: Shafi Ashik
Published: September 2016

Issue obtrusiveness has long been considered a condition in agenda-setting effect of mass media. Public’s perceived salience of news issues has been found to be more strongly influenced by mass media for unobtrusive issues than obtrusive issues. This study measures the issue obtrusiveness contingency in a developing country by comparing public perception of 10 different issues with varying levels of obtrusiveness. The findings support the original issue obtrusiveness contingency, and add that the public in developing countries report salience of obtrusive issues based on their own personal experience rather than from media exposure.
Who’s Behind the Lens?
Authors: Whiting Rebecca , Symon Gillian , Roby Helen , Chamakiotis Petros
Published: September 2016

This article applies paradox as a metatheoretical framework for the reflexive analysis of roles within a participatory video study. This analysis moves us beyond simply describing roles as paradoxical, and thus problematic, to offer insights into the dynamics of the interrelationship between participant, researcher, and video technology. Drawing on the concept of “working the hyphens,” our analysis specifically focuses on the complex enactment of Participation-Observation and Intimacy-Distance “hyphen spaces.” We explore how video technology mediates the relationship between participant and researcher within these spaces, providing opportunities for participant empowerment but simultaneously introducing aspects of surveillance and detachment. Our account reveals how video study participants manage these tensions to achieve participation in the project. It examines the roles for the researched, the technology, and the researchers that are an outcome of this process. Our analysis advances methodology by bringing together a paradox perspective with reflexive work on research relationships to demonstrate how we can more adequately explore tensions in research practice and detailing the role of technology in the construction and management of these tensions.
Exploring preservice teachers’ conceptions after ‘living a hybrid curriculum’
Authors: Sinclair Christina , Thornton Leonard Jay
Published: September 2016

Physical education reform efforts support constructivist learning theory (CLT) to re-conceptualize K-12 physical education. Advocates of models-based instruction (MBI) indicate that sport education and a tactical games approach are grounded in CLT. A key implication for physical education teacher education (PETE) programmes is to develop preservice teachers (PSTs) capable of implementing MBI. Often, PSTs enter PETE programmes with the pre-conception that learning can only occur through passive transfer of information. As a result, PETE programmes must help PSTs re-conceptualize physical education. The two purposes of this study were to: (a) explore the use of a ‘living the curriculum’ experience to influence PSTs’ conceptions of learning and teaching in physical education; and (b) examine the usefulness of visual methods to further understand students’ experiences in a PETE course. Participants were undergraduate PSTs ( N = 12; five women, seven men) who experienced living a hybrid curriculum. PSTs took five to seven photographs to create a photo-collage that best depicted their experiences in the class. Semi-structured focus group interviews centered on discussion of the PSTs’ photo collages. Data analysis revealed two major themes and sub-themes: (1) Learning in physical education – (a) knowledge is socially constructed and (b) learning is active; and (2) The role of the professor – (a) professor as facilitator and (b) clinging to old conceptions. PSTs experienced cognitive conflict and conceptual addition, suggesting old ideas were not completely extinguished but revised. Overall, the PSTs’ conceptions indicated an openness to and basic understanding of alternate forms of physical education.
Telehealth interventions for reducing waiting lists and waiting times for specialist outpatient services: A scoping review
Authors: Caffery Liam J , Farjian Mutaz , Smith Anthony C
Published: September 2016

We undertook a scoping review of the published literature to identify and summarise key findings on the telehealth interventions that influence waiting times or waiting lists for specialist outpatient services. Searches were conducted to identify relevant articles. Articles were included if the telehealth intervention restructured or made the referral process more efficient. We excluded studies that simply increased capacity. Two categories of interventions were identified – electronic consultations and image-based triage. Electronic consultations are asynchronous, text-based provider-to-provider consultations. Electronic consultations have been reported to obviate the need for face-to-face appointments between the patient and the specialist in between 34–92% of cases. However, it is often reported that electronic consultations are appropriate in less than 10% of referrals for outpatient care. Image-based triage has been used successfully to reduce unnecessary or inappropriate referrals and was used most often in dermatology, ophthalmology and otolaryngology (ENT). Reported reduction rates for face-to-face appointments by specialty were: dermatology 38–88%, ophthalmology 16–48% and ENT 89%. Image–based triage can be twice as effective as non-image based triage in reducing unnecessary appointments. Telehealth interventions can effectively be used to reduce waiting lists and improve the coordination of specialist services, and should be considered in conjunction with clinical requirements.
WNT5A-JNK regulation of vascular insulin resistance in human obesity
Authors: Farb Melissa G , Karki Shakun , Park Song-Young , Saggese Samantha M , Carmine Brian , Hess Donald T , Apovian Caroline , Fetterman Jessica L , Bretón-Romero Rosa , Hamburg Naomi M , Fuster José J , Zuriaga María A , Walsh Kenneth , Gokce Noyan
Published: September 2016

Obesity is associated with the development of vascular insulin resistance; however, pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly understood. We sought to investigate the role of WNT5A-JNK in the regulation of insulin-mediated vasodilator responses in human adipose tissue arterioles prone to endothelial dysfunction. In 43 severely obese (BMI 44±11 kg/m2) and five metabolically normal non-obese (BMI 26±2 kg/m2) subjects, we isolated arterioles from subcutaneous and visceral fat during planned surgeries. Using videomicroscopy, we examined insulin-mediated, endothelium-dependent vasodilator responses and characterized adipose tissue gene and protein expression using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. Immunofluorescence was used to quantify endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation. Insulin-mediated vasodilation was markedly impaired in visceral compared to subcutaneous vessels from obese subjects ( p<0.001), but preserved in non-obese individuals. Visceral adiposity was associated with increased JNK activation and elevated expression of WNT5A and its non-canonical receptors, which correlated negatively with insulin signaling. Pharmacological JNK antagonism with SP600125 markedly improved insulin-mediated vasodilation by sixfold ( p<0.001), while endothelial cells exposed to recombinant WNT5A developed insulin resistance and impaired eNOS phosphorylation ( p<0.05). We observed profound vascular insulin resistance in the visceral adipose tissue arterioles of obese subjects that was associated with up-regulated WNT5A-JNK signaling and impaired endothelial eNOS activation. Pharmacological JNK antagonism markedly improved vascular endothelial function, and may represent a potential therapeutic target in obesity-related vascular disease.
State and regional actors in complex governance systems: Exploring dynamics of international negotiations
Authors: Panke Diana , Lang Stefan , Wiedemann Anke
Published: September 2016

Over the last decades, the number of international organizations (IOs) and regional groups (RGs) increased tremendously, and states are now simultaneously members of several RGs and IOs. This article inquiries how states act in settings of complexly nested and overlapping institutions on the regional and international levels. How frequently do states voice regional positions in international negotiations and why are some more active in this respect than others? Why are some RGs more vocal than others? Multiple state memberships in RGs foster the regionalization of international negotiation dynamics via burden-sharing mechanisms. In addition, state capacity and power, the age and policy scope of RGs and the institutional design of IOs also shape negotiation dynamics. This article concludes with reflections on implications of regionalized international negotiations for the efficiency and legitimacy of governance beyond the nation-state.
Radon equilibrium factor and perceived air quality in an air-conditioned auditorium in Lublin, Poland
Authors: Polednik Bernard , Kozak Krzysztof , Mazur Jadwiga , Dudzińska Marzenna , Grządziel Dominik , Polednik Aleksandra
Published: September 2016

The study reports measurements of radon and its decay products and of perceived air quality carried out in an occupied and unoccupied auditorium at the Lublin University of Technology in Lublin, Poland during three air conditioning system operation modes – air conditioning off, air conditioning on and air conditioning on/off. In the air conditioning on/off mode radon and its decay product concentrations and values of perceived air quality were inversely related. During that air conditioning operation mode, the value of the mean equilibrium factor F for the unattached fraction (0.31 ± 0.19) was somewhat higher than for the attached fraction (0.24 ± 0.19) and significant negative correlations were found between F values for attached, unattached and for the sum of both progeny fractions and perceived air quality values. These findings may be of importance as they indicate that in certain air conditioning operation modes indoor air quality deteriorates along with a reduction in the radon health hazard. This, in turn may adversely affect the comfort and productivity of the room users.
Optimal design of the stacking sequences of a corrugated central cylinder in a satellite
Authors: An Haichao , Chen Shenyan , Liu Yanjie , Huang Hai
Published: September 2016

This Case Study is to describe an application of a two-level approximation method in optimally determining the stacking sequences of a practical corrugated central cylinder. Being housed in the center of a practical satellite, this cylinder can support many of the structural components and functional devices in the satellite. For the purpose of reducing its mass meanwhile maintaining good mechanical properties, the stacking sequences of this cylinder are to be optimally designed under given constraints in this paper. To address this problem, an optimization model was first established by minimizing the structural mass based on initial lay-ups. With the given lay-ups for multi-parts of this cylinder, the existence of each ply was to be determined in terms of discrete variables. Meanwhile, the ply thicknesses were also treated as continuous variables. The two-level approximation method combined with a genetic algorithm previously proposed by the authors was adopted as the optimization method. According to the practical engineering considerations, multiple optimizations were conducted by starting from different initial lay-ups to search more possible optimization designs. After optimization, it was found that compared with the empirical designs, the mass of the main cylinder could be significantly decreased by obtaining some reasonable stacking sequences.
Ruin in the films of Jia Zhangke
Authors: Schultz Corey Kai Nelson
Published: September 2016

This article explores the reflection, representation and psychogeographic affect of the ruins in the films by the Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke (b. 1970). During the Maoist period, ruins were signs of developmental progression; as Mao Zedong proclaimed, ‘there is no construction without destruction … Put destruction first, and in the process you have construction.’ The author argues that the ruins are not just the effects of China’s fast-paced modernization, but are also symbols of the destruction of Maoist society. Furthermore, by recording the state and act of destruction, these films enhance the phenomenological and affective aspects of the ruin. Finally, when construction is realized in the films (the construction from destruction), it is either threatening or ‘futuristic’; thus, both the ruin and construction estrange the previous residents from their environment by rejecting them from the places that they once lived and chronologically estrange them from the projected utopian future.
Reciprocal transformations between music and architecture as a real-time supporting mechanism in urban design
Authors: Parthenios Panagiotis , Petrovski Stefan , Chatzopoulou Nicoleta , Mania Katerina
Published: September 2016

The more complex our cities become, the more difficult it is for designers to use traditional tools for understanding and analyzing the inner essence of an eco-system such as the contemporary urban environment. Even many of the recently crafted digital tools fail to address the necessity for a more holistic design approach which captures the virtual and the physical, the immaterial and the material. Handling of massive chunks of information and classification and assessment of diverse data are nowadays more crucial than ever before. We see a significant potential in combining the fields of composition in music and architecture through the use of information technology. Merging the two fields has the intense potential to release new, innovative tools for urban designers. This article describes an innovative tool developed at the Technical University of Crete, through which an urban designer can work on the music transcription of a specific urban environment applying music compositional rules and filters in order to identify discordant entities, highlight imbalanced parts, and make design corrections. Our cities can be tuned.
Rethinking the Chinese Internet: Social History, Cultural Forms, and Industrial Formation
Authors: Li Luzhou Nina
Published: September 2016

Current accounts of the development of the Chinese Internet have provided important analyses of the political economy of telecommunications and the Internet. This study builds on these research to examine how vernacular online practices played a role in enabling political economic dimensions of the Chinese Internet to act as significant shaping forces. With this objective in mind, this article considers vernacular online practices that preceded the rise of commercial online video portals. My specific examples are ‘video spoofing’ and ‘fansubbing’, practices popular in the early to mid-2000s. Led by amateur enthusiasts, these practices were intimately associated with the legacy of cultural piracy in China in the pre-Internet era. My primary concern here is with identifiying and explicating the social energies that encouraged the formation of these online practices, their development trajectory, and finally, how these practices eventually became assimilated within a nascent video industry. In that respect, my argument is that the vernacular cultural forms and practices associated with these phenomena were central, and indeed essential, to the formation of an online video industry in China.
Fabrication of acid-resistant fabrics with fluoropolymer/SiO2 nanocomposites for the application of protective clothing
Authors: Wang Helan , Song Xiaoxiao , Xu Lihui , Li Xiaoyan , Wang Jun , Zhao Yaping , Cai Zaisheng
Published: September 2016

A facile method for the preparation of acid-resistant fabric with the fluoropolymer/SiO2 hybrid materials was presented. The polyester fabric was treated using a dip-dry technique and, subsequently, cured under high temperature. The results showed that the treated fabric displayed remarkable acid repellency with contact angles of 137.1°, 141.2°, and 139.5° for H2SO4 (80%), HCl (30%), and HNO3 (40%), respectively. The break force tests further confirmed the true potential of fluoropolymer/SiO2 hybrid materials to fabricate functional textile. We believe that this successful attempt offers an opportunity to fabricate acid-resistant fabric and advances the applications of protective clothing.
Standardizing and validating medical simulation equipment procurement across the Air Force Medical Service
Authors: Ruisi Joseph , Wier Grady , Ziegenfuss Adessa
Published: September 2016

The Air Force Medical Modeling and Simulation Training Program Management Office identified an opportunity to more effectively utilize Air Force funds. The developed process reduces unnecessary purchases and streamlines the procurement and validation of medical simulation training equipment. The two-phase initiative included development of the Simulation Procurement Equipment Requirements Matrix (SimPERM), which compared equipment capabilities with training objectives, and aligning the SimPERM document with the existing equipment tracking mechanism, The Integrated Global Equipment Request System. Post procurement communication with the Biomedical Equipment Technician community was vital to successfully reduce extended warranties. This procurement initiative has enhanced allocation of US$1.1 million in Air Force resources per year by transitioning previous poorly planned purchases to validated Air Force education and training requirements.
Optimizing Learning in College
Authors: Putnam Adam L. , Sungkhasettee Victor W. , Roediger Henry L.
Published: September 2016

Every fall, thousands of college students begin their first college courses, often in large lecture settings. Many students, even those who work hard, flounder. What should students be doing differently? Drawing on research in cognitive psychology and our experience as educators, we provide suggestions about how students should approach taking a course in college. We discuss time management techniques, identify the ineffective study strategies students often use, and suggest more effective strategies based on research in the lab and the classroom. In particular, we advise students to space their study sessions on a topic and to quiz themselves, as well as using other active learning strategies while reading. Our goal was to provide a framework for students to succeed in college classes.
Optimizing Research Payoff
Authors: Miller Jeff , Ulrich Rolf
Published: September 2016

In this article, we present a model for determining how total research payoff depends on researchers’ choices of sample sizes, α levels, and other parameters of the research process. The model can be used to quantify various trade-offs inherent in the research process and thus to balance competing goals, such as (a) maximizing both the number of studies carried out and also the statistical power of each study, (b) minimizing the rates of both false positive and false negative findings, and (c) maximizing both replicability and research efficiency. Given certain necessary information about a research area, the model can be used to determine the optimal values of sample size, statistical power, rate of false positives, rate of false negatives, and replicability, such that overall research payoff is maximized. More specifically, the model shows how the optimal values of these quantities depend upon the size and frequency of true effects within the area, as well as the individual payoffs associated with particular study outcomes. The model is particularly relevant within current discussions of how to optimize the productivity of scientific research, because it shows which aspects of a research area must be considered and how these aspects combine to determine total research payoff.
Increasing Transparency Through a Multiverse Analysis
Authors: Steegen Sara , Tuerlinckx Francis , Gelman Andrew , Vanpaemel Wolf
Published: September 2016

Empirical research inevitably includes constructing a data set by processing raw data into a form ready for statistical analysis. Data processing often involves choices among several reasonable options for excluding, transforming, and coding data. We suggest that instead of performing only one analysis, researchers could perform a multiverse analysis, which involves performing all analyses across the whole set of alternatively processed data sets corresponding to a large set of reasonable scenarios. Using an example focusing on the effect of fertility on religiosity and political attitudes, we show that analyzing a single data set can be misleading and propose a multiverse analysis as an alternative practice. A multiverse analysis offers an idea of how much the conclusions change because of arbitrary choices in data construction and gives pointers as to which choices are most consequential in the fragility of the result.