bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical analysis and experimental verification of elastomer bending process with different material models
Authors: Kut Stanislaw , Ryzinska Grazyna , Niedzialek Bernadetta
Published: September 2016

The article presents the results of tests in order to verifying the effectiveness of the nine selected elastomeric material models (Neo-Hookean, Mooney with two and three constants, Signorini, Yeoh, Ogden, Arruda-Boyce, Gent and Marlow), which the material constants were determined in one material test - the uniaxial tension testing. The convergence assessment of nine analyzed models were made on the basis of their performance from an experimental bending test of the elastomer samples from the results of numerical calculations FEM for each material models. To calculate the material constants for the analyzed materials, a model has been generated by the stressstrain characteristics created as a result of experimental uniaxial tensile test with elastomeric dumbbell samples, taking into account the parameters received in its 18th cycle. Using such a calculated material constants numerical simulation of the bending process of a elastomeric, parallelepipedic sampleswere carried out using MARC / Mentat program.
Investigation of the impact of simulated solar radiation on the micro- and nanoscale morphology and mechanical properties of a sheet moulded composite surface
Authors: Sikora Andrzej , Bednarz Łukasz , Fałat Tomasz , Wałecki Marek , Adamowska Maria
Published: September 2016

In this paper we present the results of investigation of micro- and nanoscale degradation of a sheet moulded composite exposed to simulated solar radiation. Utilization of high resolution methods such as atomic force microscopy, optical profilometry and microcomputer tomography allowed us to provide the evidence of significant deterioration of the surface as well as the material few microns in depth. Additionally, the typically used macroscopic investigations, such as wettability and flexural strength, were performed to observe the impact of weathering process. It was also shown that high resolution techniques provide superior sensitivity of the material degradation detection. The particular effectiveness of the applied approach was related to the structure of investigated material, as due to its degradation, a number of voids appeared, causing a significant roughness increase. In addition, the impact of light radiation could be compared to other environmental conditions maintained in the climatic chamber. It should be underlined, that according to our knowledge, such a study has not been performed so far.
Luhmanns Gesellschaftstheorie: Anregung und Herausforderung für eine allgemeine Theorie komplexer Systeme
Authors: Jost Jürgen , Olbrich Eckehard
Published: September 2016

Ein einflussreiches Paradigma in der Untersuchung komplexer Systeme versucht biologische und soziale Systeme als »quasi-physikalische« Systeme zu verstehen, d.h. Systeme, in denen die Elemente nach Regeln interagieren, die wie physikalische Gesetze behandelt werden können, und die durch Prozesse der Selbstorganisation zur Emergenz von Strukturen auf höheren Ebenen führen. Dabei bleibt aber unklar, worin das spezifisch Biologische oder Soziale dieser Systeme besteht. Für soziale Systeme bietet Luhmanns Theorie eine Alternative, welche von Kommunikationen als grundlegenden Elementen ausgeht, die durch ihr selbstreferentielles Operieren soziale Systeme konstituieren. Mit dem Ziel einer mathematischen Formalisierung dieser Konzepte quantifizieren wir in diesem Beitrag den Luhmannschen Komplexitätsbegriff und formalisieren Kommunikation als Operation auf Erwartungen, die durch parametrisierte Wahrscheinlichkeitsverteilungen repräsentiert werden. Wenn sich dann diese Erwartungen wieder auf derartige Parameter statt direkt auf Fremdreferenzen beziehen, ermöglicht dies eine Komplexitätsreduktion durch eine Ausmittelung und Erfassung von Regularitäten über eine längere Zeitskala. Wenn gemeinsame Bedeutungen etabliert sind, kann dies wiederum zur Bildung eines kommunikativen Systems durch selbstreferentiellen Anschluss führen.
Meaning as society’s transcendental subject: Die Gesellschaft der Gesellschaft, Computers and Theology
Authors: Qvortrup Dean Lars
Published: September 2016

Niklas Luhmanns abschließende Analyse der Gesellschaft, Die Gesellschaft der Gesellschaft (GdG), beginnt mit einem Spinozas Ethica entnommenem Motto: »Id quod per aliud non potest concipi, per se concipi debet.« Die Leitfrage dieses Beitrags lautet, worin die »geheime Botschaft« dieses Mottos besteht. Folgende Annahmen werden getroffen: »Sinn« ist in GdG ein Äquivalent zu »Gott« in Spinozas Ethica. Die Struktur der fünf Kapitel der GdG kann mit einer ähnlichen fünfteiligen Struktur von Spinozas Ethica verglichen werden. Dies weist auf eine »metatheologische« Theoriearchitektur von Luhmanns Theorie der Gesellschaft hin, dank derer sich GdG in die europäische Tradition der Transzendenzphilosophie einschreibt. Und dies beeinflusst Luhmanns Anregung der Untersuchung einer »nächsten Gesellschaft«, der Computergesellschaft, für die Luhmann eine duale Struktur von Oberfläche und Tiefe annimmt, eines Computerbildschirms und einer »unsichtbaren Maschine«. Unter Bezugnahme auf die »metatheologische« Struktur von Luhmanns Theorie kann man diese Maschine als Inkarnation des Gottes der nächsten Gesellschaft verstehen. Unter einer weniger radikalen Annahme spiegelt der Dualismus der nächsten Gesellschaft nur die Beziehung zwischen Luhmanns Soziologie und der Transzendentalphilosophie wider.
The relevance of interactions in functionally differentiated society: The contribution of conversation analysis to the theory of social systems
Authors: Baraldi Claudio , Gavioli Laura
Published: September 2016

Während die Funktionssysteme der modernen Gesellschaft kulturelle Voraussetzungen schaffen und zur Geltung bringen, die sich in Form von strukturierten Erwartungen in Interaktionen widerspiegeln, können im Gegenzug Interaktionen kulturelle Voraussetzungen beeinflussen, indem sie Beiträge fördern, die zuweilen neu definieren, was jeweils erwartet wird. Die Konversationsanalyse als eine Methode zur Untersuchung von Interaktionen scheint ein besonders interessanter Kandidat für die Ergänzung der Theorie der Gesellschaft zu sein, indem sie reziproke Einflüsse zwischen Interaktionen und Funktionssystemen zu erklären versucht. Der Artikel erörtert die Verbindungen zwischen der soziologischen Systemtheorie und der Konversationsanalyse. Unsere These ist, dass die Integration von soziologischer Systemtheorie und Konversationsanalyse dazu beitragen kann, die Wechselbeziehung zwischen unterschiedlichen Typen von sozialen Systemen zu erklären. In unserem Beitrag analysieren wir die komplementären Aspekte der soziologischen Systemtheorie und Konversationsanalyse, indem wir Interaktion als ein soziales System verstehen; wir konzentrieren uns auf die Art und Weise, in der die Strukturen der Interaktion in die Funktionssysteme der Gesellschaft eingebettet sind und wir behaupten, dass die Möglichkeit der Interaktion, durch ihre Teilnehmer neue Beiträge einzuführen, es potentiell erlaubt, soziale Veränderungen zu bewirken.
Kontingenz und Notwendigkeit in der Semantik Lateinamerikas
Authors: Mascareño Aldo
Published: September 2016

Das Zusammenspiel unterschiedlicher Differenzierungsformen, das besonders im 19. Jahrhundert in Lateinamerika stattfindet, wird von den semantischen Korrelaten als eine zunehmende Spannung zwischen zentralisierenden und dezentralisierenden Weltvorstellungen reflektiert. Solche Spannung wird hier durch den Unterschied zwischen einer Semantik der Einheit und einer Semantik der Differenz charakterisiert. Eine Semantik der Einheit versucht die Pluralität von Sinnwelten hinter einer notwendigen Fortschrittsvorstellung oder einer wesentlichen Identität zu verbergen. Im Unterschied dazu dezentralisiert eine Semantik der Differenz solche Vorstellungen und akzeptiert dabei die Pluralität von Sinnwelten als Kontingenz einer fragmentierten Welt. Die Entfaltung dieses Zusammenspiels im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert in Lateinamerika ist das Thema dieses Aufsatzes.
Ex facto ius oritur. Überlegungen zum Ursprungsparadox des Rechts
Authors: Amstutz Marc
Published: September 2016

Das Ursprungsparadox des Rechts wird im Allgemeinen entweder durch einen im System selbst gefertigten Mythos oder durch die Einführung neuer Unterscheidungen invisibilisiert. In Fällen, da Recht in sozialer Anomie operiert, z.B. im Fall von Recht, das in transitionalen Regimes angewendet wird (sog. transitionales Recht), stößt dieser Umgang mit Paradoxie auf Schwierigkeiten. Einen möglichen Ausweg bieten Derridas Denkfiguren des supplément und der différance. Wie transitionales Recht auf dieser Basis erklärt werden kann, wird am Beispiel einer Strafnorm (Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit), die im Nürnberger Prozess von 1945-1946 angewendet wurde, veranschaulicht.
Functions, Communication, and Perception of Emotions in Luhmannian Theory: Emotions as Reflection Resources of Social Systems
Authors: Riese Juliane
Published: September 2016

Um die in der bestehenden Literatur beschriebenen Effekte von Emotionen in der sozialen Sphäre in Luhmanns Theorie autopoietischer sozialer Systeme integrieren zu können, ist es notwendig zu zeigen, wie Emotionen - laut Luhmann psychische Phänomene - im Bereich des Sozialen relevant werden kön­nen, auch wenn nicht über sie kommuniziert wird. Der vorliegende Aufsatz nimmt Bezug auf Weinbachs Person/Habitus-Konstrukt und schlägt vor, dass Emotionen via die Adresse von »Personen« kommuniziert und/oder via die Adresse von »Habi­tus« wahrgenommen werden können, wobei sie in beiden Fällen soziale Relevanz er­langen. Emotionen dienen der Absicherung der Autopoiesis organischer, psychischer und sozialer Systeme. Sie stützen die Fortschreibung viabler sozialer Strukturen und regen die Veränderung solcher sozialer Strukturen an, die nicht mehr viabel erschei­nen. Daher können sie als Reflexionsressourcen nicht nur psychischer, sondern auch sozialer Systeme gesehen werden. Diese Konzeptualisierung von Emotionen lenkt unsere Aufmerksamkeit auf die Bedeutung von Körpern für das Soziale. Sie legt nahe, dass die Rolle der Emotionen zu idiosynkratisch ist, um Emotionen einem anderen Begriff wie dem der symbolisch generalisierten Kommunikationsmedien zu subsu­mieren. Sie eröffnet weiterhin zusätzliche Möglichkeiten der Integration der psycho­logischen und psychotherapeutischen Literatur in die Luhmannsche Theorie.
The Function of Ethics from the Perspective of the Individual
Authors: Mascareño Aldo
Published: September 2016

Als Theorie der Moral wird die Ethik zu einer Reflexion darüber, wie der moralische Code auf unterschiedliche gesellschaftliche Zusammenhänge an­gewendet wird. Dieser Aufsatz versteht ergänzend die Funktion der Ethik als eine lose Kopplung zwischen individueller Motivation und sozialer Selektivität, i.e. zwi­schen einer individuell skizzierten gesellschaftlichen Projektion und der sachlichen Erfahrung in der Gesellschaft. Als eine lose Kopplung besteht die Funktion der Ethik darin, vor eventuellen Entkopplungen individueller Motivation und sozialer Selekti­vität zu warnen, so dass eine institutionell nicht akzeptierte individuelle Wünschbarkeit zumindest in der Ethik Akzeptanz findet. Der Aufsatz illustriert dies anhand vier unterschiedlicher Inklusion / Exklusions-Konstellationen.
Das Realitätsproblem der Sozialwissenschaften: Anmerkungen zur Beobachtung des Außersozialen
Authors: Kaldewey David
Published: September 2016

Die aus einer lebensweltlichen Perspektive selbstverständliche Einbettung der Gesellschaft in eine natürliche und räumliche Umwelt hat in den Sozial wissenschaften immer wieder zu Debatten über den jeweiligen epistemischen Status der sozialen und der außersozialen Realität geführt. Die Rahmung dieser Kontroversen durch den Gegensatz von »Realismus« und »Konstruktivismus« hat sich jedoch als unbefriedigend erwiesen. Der vorliegende Beitrag schlägt vor, das Thema begrifflich neu zu umreißen. In einem ersten Schritt wird gezeigt, dass das Realitätsproblem der Sozialwissenschaften nicht mit dem Realitätsproblem der Philosophie gleichgesetzt werden darf. Daraufhin wird schrittweise versucht, die Frage nach dem Verhältnis von sozialer und außersozialer Realität mit dem Vokabular der soziologischen Theorie zu präzisieren. Dazu werden verschiedene sozialwissenschaftliche Problemkontexte unterschieden und miteinander in Beziehung gesetzt: Das Emergenzproblem, das Mikro / Makro-Problem und die wissenssoziologische Unterscheidung von »harten« und »weichen« Strukturen. Im Verlauf der Darstellung werden außerdem handlungstheoretische und systemtheoretische Konzeptionen von sozialer Realität verglichen.
Gesellschaft, Umwelt und Technik: Zur Problemstellung einer »Ökologie sozialer Systeme«
Authors: Lippuner Roland
Published: September 2016

In der Theoriediskussion der Sozialwissenschaften zeichnet sich in jüngerer Zeit eine verstärkte Aufmerksamkeit für Natur, Umwelt und die Materialität der Dinge ab. Die Systemtheorie nach Luhmann spielt bei dieser Diskussion bisher jedoch keine große Rolle. Das muss umso mehr erstaunen, als die Theorie sozialer Systeme im Grunde eine Theorie der System / Umwelt-Differenz ist. In diesem Beitrag soll deshalb geprüft werden, welches Theorieangebot die Systemtheorie für die Auseinandersetzung mit Beziehungen zwischen der Gesellschaft und ihrer materiellen Umwelt macht. Dazu wird zuerst nachgezeichnet, wie die Systemtheorie die zentrale Problemstellung ökologischer Betrachtungen mit dem Begriff der strukturellen Kopplung konzeptualisiert. Dabei geht es insbesondere darum, Implikationen dieses Konzeptes im Hinblick auf die Umweltabhängigkeit sozialer Systeme und deren Anpassung an Umweltgegebenheiten herauszuarbeiten. Vor diesem Hintergrund sollen schließlich, die von Luhmann präferierte sprachliche Kopplung von Kommunikation und Bewusstsein genauer betrachtet und weiterführende Mechanismen der strukturellen Kopplung von Gesellschaft und Umwelt gesucht werden. Das Ziel dieser Auseinandersetzung ist es, auf diese Weise die Problemstellung einer »Ökologie sozialer Systeme« zu skizzieren.
Wie ist globale Konkurrenz möglich? Zur sozialen Konstruktion globaler Konkurrenz am Beispiel des Human Development Index
Authors: Werron Tobias
Published: September 2016

Angesichts zahlreicher internationaler ›Rankings‹ und ›Ratings‹ intensiviert sich der Streit um die Vor- und Nachteile globaler Konkurrenzen aller Art. Der Aufsatz geht von der Diagnose aus, dass die Soziologie auf diese Debatte nicht gut vorbereitet ist, weil Standardbegriffe der Konkurrenz zu alltagsnah gebaut sind und daher den spezifischen Entstehungsvoraussetzungen globaler Konkurrenzen nicht gerecht werden. Um diese Lücke zu schließen, entwickelt er (1) ein an Georg Simmel angelehntes kommunikationstheoretisches Modell globaler Konkurrenz, welches die Globalität von Konkurrenzen nicht primär an die globale Inklusion der Konkurrenten, sondern an die Vorstellung globaler Publika und entsprechender ›weicher‹ globaler Güter wie Aufmerksamkeit, Legitimität und Prestige knüpft. Dieses Modell impliziert die These, dass öffentliche Vergleichsschemata wie Rankings globale Konkurrenz nicht nur symbolisieren, sondern ermöglichen und produzieren, indem sie solche ›weichen‹ globalen Güter konstruieren und verknappen (›artifizielle Nullsummenspiele‹). Diese These wird (2) an einer spezifischen Form globaler Konkurrenz, der Konkurrenz zwischen Nationalstaaten um Modernitätsprestige, illustriert sowie an Internetdarstellungen eines Rankings, des ›Human Development Index‹ (HDI) der Entwicklungsorganisation der Vereinten Nationen, überprüft. Die Analyse des HDI zeigt exemplarisch, wie Rankings zur Konstruktion globaler Konkurrenz um Modernitätsprestige beitragen: Indem sie unbeschränkte Erweiterbarkeit der Zahl der Vergleichsobjekte, unbeschränkte quantitative Differenzierung von Leistungsniveaus und visuelle Vergleichssuggestionen (Tabellen, Karten, andere Graphiken) miteinander kombinieren, können sie Prestigegewinne eines Ranglistenteilnehmers immer zugleich als Verlust eines anderen erscheinen lassen - also als knappes Gut, um das konkurriert werden kann.
Urban Humanities Pedagogy
Authors: Banfill Jonathan , Presner Todd , Zubiaurre Maite
Published: September 2016

Founded in 1919, UCLA is nearing its first centenary, but the university builds on humanistic and liberal arts traditions that are many centuries long and globally diffused. The core disciplines that we recognize today as comprising the Humanities have deep roots in these institutional, cultural, and technological histories. But yet, for all its grand ambitions for reckoning with the world, the university has remained by and large an isolated institution, walled in and often walled off from its surrounding community, accessible to a chosen few, stratified by economic, social, and racial differences, and perhaps too invested in the security of its storied past. The Urban Humanities initiative is an attempt both to apply conventional tools in unconventional ways and to invent new tools by respecting the fundamental virtue of bricks, namely their porous nature. Is it possible to decolonize knowledge? If so, the studio courses it develops will have profound implications for the role of the classroom, syllabus, and for rethinking and developing new knowledge and practices.
A Boom Interview
Authors: Yamashita Karen Tei
Published: September 2016

Jonathan Crisman and Jason Sexton interview Karen Tei Yamashita about motivating and influential features behind her novels and plays, which are difficult to define by genre: they have been called science fiction, speculative fiction, postmodern, postcolonial, magic realist, and most certainly experimental. Between her transnational history, her role as a maker, and the strong spatiality of her writing, Yamashita’s insights have shaped the way urban humanities are practiced. Her landmark 1997 novel, Tropic of Orange, has become a key text and model for creative practice for urban humanists based in Los Angeles.
Hanging Out with Cyclists
Authors: Shoked Noam
Published: September 2016

In 2014, architecture Professor Margaret Crawford and Associate Professor of Art Practice Anne Walsh taught the first University of California, Berkeley, Global Urban Humanities Initiative research studio course, called “No Cruising: Mobility and Identity in Los Angeles.” What occurred during the course had both varied and unexpected interpretations as ten students majoring in art practice, art history, architecture, and performance studies each selected a dimension of mobility they wished to identify on field trips to LA. One goal of these field trips, or research studios, was to get students out of their comfort zones to explore new approaches and methods. We encouraged students to draw on each others’ disciplines, so art students undertook archival research while architectural history students, like Noam Shoked, used interviews and photography to investigate contemporary conditions. The stories here are from Shoked as he comes to interpret and interact with the cyclist of LA.
Neither Here Nor There
Authors: Cuff Dana , Loukaitou-Sideris Anastasia
Published: September 2016

Over the last four decades, comparative urbanism has flourished, triggered by a desire to identify, compare, contrast, or juxtapose parallel phenomena that happen in multiple sociospatial contexts and likely influence one another. Starting in the 1970s, a number of scholars began touting the need for comparative urban research that opens the eyes to broader urban phenomena that can be compared across municipal boundaries and national borders. Underlying comparative approaches carry the notion that urban imaginaries are “sites of encounters with other cities” mediated through travel, migration and the circulation of images, goods, and ideas. In more recent years, a transnational perspective has gained favor in urban studies, arising in response to criticism that comparative urbanism suffers from a static perception of the urban. Transnational approaches focus on interdependencies, movements, and flows across borders in regions and subregions, the goal being to understand urban settings and experiences, as composed by multiple regional, ethnic or institutional identities and forces. In other words, transnational urban studies wish to take down arbitrary divisions between entities so that both their interconnections as well as collisions become more apparent. There are three interrelated ways that urban humanities go beyond conventional comparative urban studies and contribute to our understanding of the urban. In this essay, the matter is fleshed out through a comparative study of Los Angeles and Mexico City.
Reconstructing Demography and Social Behavior During the Neolithic Expansion from Genomic Diversity Across Island Southeast Asia
Authors: Vallée François , Luciani Aurélien , Cox Murray P
Published: September 2016

Archaeology, linguistics, and increasingly genetics are clarifying how populations moved from mainland Asia, through Island Southeast Asia, and out into the Pacific during the farming revolution. Yet key features of this process remain poorly understood, particularly how social behaviors intersected with demographic drivers to create the patterns of genomic diversity observed across Island Southeast Asia today. Such questions are ripe for computer modeling. Here, we construct an agent-based model to simulate human mobility across Island Southeast Asia from the Neolithic period to the present, with a special focus on interactions between individuals with Asian, Papuan, and mixed Asian–Papuan ancestry. Incorporating key features of the region, including its complex geography (islands and sea), demographic drivers (fecundity and migration), and social behaviors (marriage preferences), the model simultaneously tracks a full suite of genomic markers (autosomes, X chromosome, mitochondrial DNA, and Y chromosome). Using Bayesian inference, model parameters were determined that produce simulations that closely resemble the admixture profiles of 2299 individuals from 84 populations across Island Southeast Asia. The results highlight that greater propensity to migrate and elevated birth rates are related drivers behind the expansion of individuals with Asian ancestry relative to individuals with Papuan ancestry, that offspring preferentially resulted from marriages between Asian women and Papuan men, and that in contrast to current thinking, individuals with Asian ancestry were likely distributed across large parts of western Island Southeast Asia before the Neolithic expansion.
Activation of Checkpoint Kinase Chk1 by Reactive Oxygen Species Resulting from Disruption of wat1/pop3 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: Ahamad Nafees , Verma Sumit Kumar , Ahmed Shakil
Published: September 2016

DNA double-strand breaks are critical lesions that can lead to chromosomal aberrations and genomic instability. In response to DNA damage, Chk1, a serine/threonine kinase, is responsible for cell cycle arrest to prevent damaged cells from progressing through the cell cycle. Here, we report that the disruption of wat1, a WD repeat-containing protein, leads to the phosphorylation of Chk1. The double-deletion of chk1 and wat1 had a grave effect on the survival of fission yeast cells, and the spontaneous recombination rate was also high upon double-deletion of wat1 and chk1, as compared to the single-mutant. In the absence of wat1, the cells exhibited a high level of nuclear fragmentation that resulted in the accumulation of Rad22 yellow fluorescent protein foci. Furthermore, we show that wat1 is required for the regulation of the oxidative stress response. We observed elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in wat1-null mutant that led to a high degree of propidium iodide staining at nonpermissive temperature. Based on the results presented here, we hypothesize that ROS production in wat1-null mutant cells generates DNA fragmentation that could trigger a checkpoint response and that, in the absence of checkpoint kinase Chk1, the cells exhibit severe growth defects leading to a synthetic lethal phenotype.
Musculoskeletal symptoms among handicraft workers engaged in hand sewing tasks
Authors: Dianat Iman , Karimi Mohammad Ali
Published: September 2016

Objectives

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and associated risk factors among Iranian handicraft workers engaged in different hand sewing tasks.

Methods

Data were collected using questionnaires (including the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire) as well as direct observations of posture (using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment [RULA] method) from 632 workers including carpet handicraft workers (n=222), textiles handicraft workers (n=209), and leather handicraft workers (n= 201) in Tabriz, Iran.

Results

The response rate was 88.8%. The overall prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints, particularly in the neck (57.9%), lower back (51.6%), and shoulders (40.5%) was relatively high. The prevalence of neck and shoulder pain was higher among females and with increasing age. Working posture and fast working were associated with neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Years worked as a sewing worker was associated with neck and lower back pain. Long duration of continuous sitting work (>2 h) without a break was associated with neck pain. Body mass index, marital status, sport/physical activity, smoking, daily working hours, job satisfaction, and perceived pressure due to work had no effect.

Conclusions

The findings indicate a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among the studied handicraft workers and emphasize the importance of individual, physical, and psychosocial aspects of hand sewing tasks in this regard.
Risk assessment of fall‐related occupational accidents in the workplace
Authors: Tsukada Tsukimi , Sakakibara Hisataka
Published: September 2016

Objectives

This study aimed to examine effective assessment methods of falls in the workplace.

Methods

There were 436 employees (305 males and 131 females) of electrical appliance manufacturers included in this study. In 2014, a baseline survey was conducted using the fall scores questionnaire and the self‐check risk assessment of falls and other accidents in the workplace (physical function measurement and questionnaire) . In 2015, the occurrence of falls in the past year was investigated. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine factors relevant to falls.

Results

In total, 62 subjects (14.2%) fell during the year, including those who fell during off‐hours. The occurrence of falls during that one year was only associated with having experienced falls during the past year in the baseline survey (odds ratio [OR] 5.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.5‐9.7). Falls during that year were also related to the inability to walk 1 km continuously (OR 0.1; 95% CI 0.1‐0.6), tripping sometimes (OR 4.0; 95% CI 1.6‐9.9), step height differences at home (OR 3.0; 95% CI 1.3‐6.8), and working in the production section (OR 0.2; 95% CI 0.1‐0.5). Measurements of physical functions, such as muscle strength, balance, and agility, were not different between subjects who fell and those who did not.

Conclusions

Our results showed that the questionnaire assessing falls during the past year could be useful to assess the risk of falls in the workplace. Annual checks for falls may contribute to fall prevention programs in the workplace.
Changes in the psychosocial work characteristics and insulin resistance among Japanese male workers: a three‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Hino Ayako , Inoue Akiomi , Mafune Kosuke , Nakagawa Toru , Hayashi Takeshi , Hiro Hisanori
Published: September 2016

Objective

This study investigated the impact of changes in psychosocial work characteristics on insulin resistance (IR) among Japanese male workers.

Methods

Subjects were 1,815 male workers who received a comprehensive health examination and requested measurement of their serum insulin level in Fiscal Years (FY) 2008 and 2011. Psychosocial work characteristics, including job demands, job control, and workplace social support (from supervisors and coworkers), were assessed in each of the job demands‐control and demand‐control‐support models. Psychosocial work characteristics were assessed by the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire. Changes in the psychosocial work characteristics were measured by creating a four‐category variable for each of the psychosocial work characteristics: (1) stable low group, (2) increased group, (3) decreased group, and (4) stable high group. We defined IR as a value of 2.5 or more on the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR), or having a diagnosis of diabetes. A series of multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted.

Results

The group experiencing a decrease in supervisor support had a significantly higher risk of having IR compared to the stable high group with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.44; 95% CI: 1.48‐4.02. After adjusting for covariates, this significant association was unchanged; the OR was 2.19; 95% CI: 1.23‐3.91. On the other hand, there was no significant association of changes in the psychosocial work characteristics, expect for decrease in supervisor support, with IR.

Conclusions

A decrease in supervisor support was found to be an independent risk factor for worsening IR.
Egg Freezing in Childhood and Young Adult Cancer Survivors
Authors: Filippi Francesca , Meazza Cristina , Paffoni Alessio , Raspagliesi Francesco , Terenziani Monica , Somigliana Edgardo
Published: September 2016

Fertility preservation in prepubertal and young adolescent girls scheduled for chemotherapy is a demanding situation. Despite the recent impressive improvements of ovarian cortex cryopreservation, significant limitations persist. The technique remains experimental, it exposes the girl to the risks of surgery and to an iatrogenic insult to the ovarian reserve, and there is no guarantee of use because not all girls will undergo re-implantation. Moreover, it is impossible to respect all the requested conditions for a valid informed consent. The girl is minor, the time for decision is very short, and the prospect of not surviving clouds both the girl and her relatives. An alternative but neglected option is oocyte cryopreservation after the end of cancer treatments, when the girl reaches adulthood. This possibility can overcome some of the limitations of ovarian cortex freezing and may be considered for girls scheduled for a chemotherapy at low or medium risk of ovarian reserve impairment. In this case report, we describe the case of a young female patient with cancer who survived 2 chemotherapies for 2 distinct cancers and who was diagnosed with reduced ovarian reserve. The patient underwent 3 cycles of ovarian hyperstimulation and ultimately stored 19 oocytes. The success obtained in this girl suggests consideration of egg freezing as an alternative fertility-preservation procedure in prepubertal and young adolescent girls scheduled for chemotherapy. However, cryopreservation of ovarian tissue remains the only option for those scheduled for chemotherapies at high risk of ovarian reserve impairment.
Safety of Oral Propranolol for the Treatment of Infantile Hemangioma: A Systematic Review
Authors: Léaute-Labrèze Christine , Boccara Olivia , Degrugillier-Chopinet Caroline , Mazereeuw-Hautier Juliette , Prey Sorilla , Lebbé Geneviève , Gautier Stéphanie , Ortis Valérie , Lafon Martine , Montagne Agnès , Delarue Alain , Voisard Jean-Jacques
Published: September 2016

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Given the widespread use of propranolol in infantile hemangioma (IH) it was considered essential to perform a systematic review of its safety. The objectives of this review were to evaluate the safety profile of oral propranolol in the treatment of IH.

METHODS:

We searched Embase and Medline databases (2007–July 2014) and unpublished data from the manufacturer of Hemangiol/Hemangeol (marketed pediatric formulation of oral propranolol; Pierre Fabre Dermatologie, Lavaur, France). Selected studies included ≥10 patients treated with oral propranolol for IH and that either reported ≥1 adverse event or effect (AE) or planned to capture AEs. Data capture was standardized and extracted study design, demographic characteristics, IH characteristics, intervention, and safety outcomes. AEs were assigned a system organ class and preferred term.

RESULTS:

A total of 83 of 398 identified literature records met the inclusion criteria, covering 3766 propranolol-treated patients. The manufacturer’s data for 3 pooled clinical trials (435 propranolol-treated patients) and 1 Compassionate Use Program (1661 patients) were included. AE data were reported for 1945 of 5862 propranolol-treated patients. The most frequently reported AEs included a range of sleep disturbances, peripheral coldness, and agitation. The most serious AEs (atrioventricular block, bradycardia, hypotension, bronchospasm/bronchial hyperreactivity, and hypoglycemia-related seizures) were managed by decreasing doses or temporary/permanent discontinuation of propranolol. Limitations included the variety of included study designs; monitoring, collection, and reporting of AE data; small sample sizes for some articles; and the wide scope of review.

CONCLUSIONS:

Oral propranolol is well tolerated if appropriate pretreatment assessments and within-treatment monitoring are performed to exclude patients with contraindications and to minimize serious side effects during treatment.
Predicting Severe Pneumonia Outcomes in Children
Authors: Williams Derek J. , Zhu Yuwei , Grijalva Carlos G. , Self Wesley H. , Harrell Frank E. , Reed Carrie , Stockmann Chris , Arnold Sandra R. , Ampofo Krow K. , Anderson Evan J. , Bramley Anna M. , Wunderink Richard G. , McCullers Jonathan A. , Pavia Andrew T. , Jain Seema , Edwards Kathryn M.
Published: September 2016

BACKGROUND:

Substantial morbidity and excessive care variation are seen with pediatric pneumonia. Accurate risk-stratification tools to guide clinical decision-making are needed.

METHODS:

We developed risk models to predict severe pneumonia outcomes in children (<18 years) by using data from the Etiology of Pneumonia in the Community Study, a prospective study of community-acquired pneumonia hospitalizations conducted in 3 US cities from January 2010 to June 2012. In-hospital outcomes were organized into an ordinal severity scale encompassing severe (mechanical ventilation, shock, or death), moderate (intensive care admission only), and mild (non–intensive care hospitalization) outcomes. Twenty predictors, including patient, laboratory, and radiographic characteristics at presentation, were evaluated in 3 models: a full model included all 20 predictors, a reduced model included 10 predictors based on expert consensus, and an electronic health record (EHR) model included 9 predictors typically available as structured data within comprehensive EHRs. Ordinal regression was used for model development. Predictive accuracy was estimated by using discrimination (concordance index).

RESULTS:

Among the 2319 included children, 21% had a moderate or severe outcome (14% moderate, 7% severe). Each of the models accurately identified risk for moderate or severe pneumonia (concordance index across models 0.78–0.81). Age, vital signs, chest indrawing, and radiologic infiltrate pattern were the strongest predictors of severity. The reduced and EHR models retained most of the strongest predictors and performed as well as the full model.

CONCLUSIONS:

We created 3 risk models that accurately estimate risk for severe pneumonia in children. Their use holds the potential to improve care and outcomes.
Impact of fishing with Tephrosia candida (Fabaceae) on diversity and abundance of fish in the streams at the boundary of Sinharaja Man and Biosphere Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka
Authors: Kankanamge Epa Udaya Priyantha , Ruvandika Waniga Chinthamanie Mohotti Chamari
Published: September 2016

Local communities in some Asian, African and American countries, use plant toxins in fish poisoning for fishing activities; however, the effects of this practice on the particular wild fish assemblages is unknown. This study was conducted with the aim to investigate the effects of fish poisoning using Tephrosia candida, on freshwater fish diversity and abundance in streams at the boundary of the World Natural Heritage site, Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka. A total of seven field trips were undertaken on a bimonthly basis, from May 2013 to June 2014. We surveyed five streams with similar environmental and climatological conditions at the boundary of Sinharaja forest. We selected three streams with active fish poisoning practices as treatments, and two streams with no fish poisoning as controls. Physico-chemical parameters and flow rate of water in selected streams were also measured at bimonthly intervals. Fish were sampled by electrofishing and nets in three randomly selected confined locations (6 x 2 m stretch) along every stream. Fish species were identified, their abundances were recorded, and Shannon-Weiner diversity index was calculated for each stream. Streams were clustered based on the Bray-Curtis similarity matrix for fish composition and abundance. Physico-chemical parameters of water were not significantly different among streams (P > 0.05). A total of 15 fish species belonging to four different orders Cypriniformes, Cyprinodontiformes, Perciformes and Siluriformes were collected; nine species (60 %) were endemic, and six (40 %) were native species. From these, 13 fish species were recorded in streams with no poisoning, while five species were recorded in streams where poisoning was practiced. Four endemic and one native fish species were locally extinct in streams where fish poisoning was active. Fish abundance was significantly higher in control streams (32-39/m2) when compared to treatment streams (5-9/m2) (P < 0.05). We concluded that fish poisoning with T. candida may have resulted in a significant reduction in species richness, total abundance and Shannon-Weiner diversity index of fish species in the studied streams at the boundary of Sinharaja forest. We recommend that this fishing practice should be strictly regulated, and to inform local communities about the legal status of fish poisoning, its consequences and the importance of fish diversity for local livelihoods and conservation purposes.
Nicho ecológico actual y futuro de la Leishmaniasis (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) en la región Neotropical
Authors: Moo-Llanes David A.
Published: September 2016

The leishmaniasis is a complex disease system, caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania and transmitted to humans by the vector Lutzomyia spp. Since it is listed as a neglected disease according to the World Health Organization, the aim of this study was to determine the current and future niche of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in the Neotropical region. We built the ecological niche model (ENM) of cutaneous (N= 2 910 occurrences) and visceral (N= 851 occurrences) leishmaniasis using MaxEnt algorithm. Nine bioclimatic variables (BIO1, BIO4, BIO5, BIO6, BIO7, BIO12, BIO13, BIO14, BIO15 (downloaded from the Worldclim) and disease occurrences data were used for the construction of ENM for three periods (current, 2050 and 2070) and four climate change scenarios (RCP 2.6, 4.5, 6.0 y 8.5). We analyzed the number of pixels occupied, identity niche, modified niche (stable, loss, and gain) and seasonality. Our analyses indicated the expansion for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a comparison for visceral leishmaniasis (VL). We rejected the null hypothesis of niche identity between CL and VL with Hellinger’s index = 0.91 (0.92-0.98) and Schoener’s Index = 0.67 (0.85-1.00) but with an overlap niche of 56.3 %. The differences between the two leishmaniasis types were detected in relation to RCP scenarios and niche shifts (area gained / loss). Seasonality was more important for CL. We provided a current picture of CL and VL distributions and the predicted distributional changes associated to different climate change scenarios for the Neotropical region. We can anticipate that increasing range is likely although it will depend locally on the future trends in weather seasonality.
Population dynamics and reproductive biology of Barilius bendelisis (Cyprinidae: Cypriniformes) from river Gaula of Central Indian Himalaya
Authors: Saxena Neha , Patiyal Rabindar Singh , Rawat Kiran Dube , Tiwari Virendra K.
Published: September 2016

The Indian hill trout cyprinid, Barilius bendelisis is a member of family Cyprinidae that dwells in shallow, cold, and clear water. In this study, growth parameters and reproductive biology of Indian hill trout, Barilius bendelisis from river Gaula, Central Himalaya region, India, were studied. The length-frequency data were grouped sex wise and were analyzed to determine the growth and mortality parameters using the computer software programme, FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tool (FISAT II). Altogether, 501 individuals were collected from river Gaula (November 2013-October 2014) and were preserved in formalin for further analysis. The results showed that the female outnumbered the male population. The minimum GSI of females was observed in the month of October (4.93 ± 0.26) and for males in the month of June and July (0.093 ± 0.12), whereas, the maximum value was in the month of April for both females (13.47 ± 0.52) and males (1.21 ± 0.12). Fluctuation in GSI values had a bimodal pattern showing two peaks during March-May and August-September in both the sexes, indicating the common spawning period of fish. The slope of regression showed the negative allometric growth for both males and females (b= 2.65 for male and b= 2.5 for female). A significant relationship between length and weight was observed in the present study (p < 0.05). The ELEFAN-I estimated L∞ and K of the von Bertalanffy growth factor for males (17.33 cm and 0.310 per year), females (17.33 cm and 0.3 per year) and pooled sexes (17.33 cm and 0.240 per year). The results indicated that Barilius bendelisis is a small sized fish having negative allometric growth that spawns twice a year. Thus, the present study on biological traits represents the baseline information for effective production, conservation and restoration planning.
Relevance of the ancestry for the variability of the Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 polymorphisms in a multiethnic Costa Rican population
Authors: Céspedes-Garro Carolina , Rodrigues-Soares Fernanda , Jiménez-Arce Gerardo , G. Naranjo María-Eugenia , Tarazona-Santos Eduardo , Fariñas Humberto , Barrantes Ramiro , Llerena Adrián
Published: September 2016

CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 metabolize around 40% of drugs and their genes vary across populations. The Costa Rican population has a trihybrid ancestry and its key geographic location turns it into a suitable scenario to evaluate interethnic differences across populations. This study aims to describe the diversity of CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 polymorphisms in Costa Rican populations in the context of their ancestry. A total of 448 healthy individuals were included in the study: Bribri (n= 47), Cabécar (n= 27), Maleku (n= 16), Guaymí (n= 30), Huetar (n= 48), Chorotega (n= 41), Admixed/Mestizos from the Central Valley/Guanacaste (n= 189), and Afro-Caribbeans (n= 50) from Limón. CYP2C9 (alleles *2, *3, *6) and CYP2C19 (*2, *3, *4, *5, *17) genotypes were determined by Real-Time PCR. African, European and Native American ancestry were inferred using 87 ancestry informative markers. The frequency of the decreased activity allele CYP2C9*2 is lower in the self-reported Amerindian groups compared to the admixed population, and the highest frequencies of CYP2C19*2 (null activity) and the CYP2C19*17 (increased activity) were found in the self-reported Afro-Caribbean population. Moreover, a frequency of 0.7 % CYP2C9 gPMs in the Admixed population and a variable frequency of CYP2C19 gUMs (0.0-32.6 %, more prevalent in Afro-Caribbeans) in Costa Rican populations, was found. Finally, the following alleles were positively correlated with genomic African ancestry and negatively correlated with genomic Native American ancestry: CYP2D6*5 (null activity), CYP2D6*17 (decreased activity), CYP2D6*29 (decreased activity) and CYP2C19*17 (increased activity). No correlation for CYP2C9 polymorphisms and genomic ancestry was found. Further studies assessing the CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 sequence in these populations, preferentially by sequencing these genes, are warranted.
Caryocar coriaceum (Caryocaraceae) diaspore removal and dispersal distance on the margin and in the interior of a Cerrado area in Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Santos Gilney Charll , Schiel Nicola , De Lima Araújo Elcida , Paulino Albuquerque Ulysses
Published: September 2016

The seed dispersal process is a crucial stage in plant regeneration and maintenance of forest biological diversity. While the number of removed seeds is quantitative, the distance to which a seed is removed from its origin is qualitative, because it affects the probability that a seed will germinate and recruit to the next life stage. However, the creation of forest margins can negatively affect the seed dispersal process, especially for large-diaspore plant species. In this study, the diaspore removal and dispersal distance of Caryocar coriaceum, a tree with large diaspores that is in danger of extinction, were analyzed. The study was conducted for two consecutive years in a protected forest in Northeastern Brazil. Each year, 1 200 diaspores with a nylon wire and a satin tape yellow were used and equally distributed in 120 experimental stations established on the forest margin and in the interior. During the first year of the study, no differences in diaspore removal and dispersal distance were found among the investigated environments. However, for the second year of the study, the number of removed diaspores differed significantly; nevertheless, the dispersal distance was not different between the forest margin and the interior. The low diaspore removal percentages suggest that species recruitment may be compromised because the diaspore accumulation close to the relatives enables higher fungi and insect attack. In addition, most of the few removed diaspores were found at short distances from their sources (up to 5 m), which can lead to low genetic variability. Virtually no diaspore was found buried by hoarding rodents, and no diaspore was found preyed upon by these animals. Evidence found in this study suggests the local loss of species dispersers, which can compromise the maintenance of forest biological diversity.