bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment Failure of Active Vitamin D Therapy in Chronic Kidney Disease: Predictive Factors
Authors: Cozzolino Mario , Covic Adrian , Martinez-Placencia Blanca , Xynos Konstantinos
Published: October 2015

Background: In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), impaired renal function leads to decreased vitamin D levels, which causes an increase in parathyroid hormone (PTH) production and contributes to the development of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). This may result in adverse clinical effects such as bone disorders, vascular calcification, cardiovascular disease, and increased mortality. Current treatment practices and associated outcomes with active vitamin D treatment in patients with CKD were reviewed with the objective to assess parameters (such as PTH and serum calcium levels) that may be used to define the failure of vitamin D treatment. Summary: Reports based on observational data have noted improved outcomes with active vitamin D treatment (calcitriol, paricalcitol, alfacalcidol, or doxercalciferol) in patients with CKD. Criteria for the identification of active vitamin D treatment failure are unclear from current guidelines, although up to 50% of patients may experience treatment failure eventually because of development of hypercalcemia or resistant SHPT, characterized by an elevated intact PTH (iPTH) level despite treatment. We propose a definition of vitamin D treatment failure as iPTH >600 pg/ml after 6 months of intravenous active vitamin D treatment and corrected total calcium serum levels >10.2 mg/dl, and review factors that may predict the response to vitamin D treatment. Key Message: Active vitamin D treatment failure is an important challenge in clinical practice. The aim of the proposed definition is to suggest a possible framework for hypothesis generation and to encourage further research into this common problem.
Disseminated Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Colombia: Report of 27 Cases
Authors: Vélez Iván D. , Jiménez Alejandra , Vásquez Daniel , Robledo Sara M.
Published: October 2015

Disseminated leishmaniasis (DL) is a poorly described disease that is frequently misdiagnosed as other clinical manifestations of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) such as diffuse CL or post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis. Twenty-seven cases of DL diagnosed between 1997 and 2015 are described. A higher prevalence was observed in men (mean age 32 years). The number of lesions per patient ranged from 12 to 294, distributed mainly in the upper extremities, face and trunk. The lesions were mostly plaques or nodules. Seven patients had nasal mucous damage, 74% of the patients were of mixed race, 92% lived in northwestern Colombia, and Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis was identified as the causative agent in 58% of cases. Eighteen patients recovered with pentavalent antimonial. The importance of distinguishing DL from those other clinical presentations is based on the fact that disseminated, diffuse and post-kala-azar CL are very different in etiology, clinical manifestations and response to treatment and prognosis.
Safety and Effectiveness of Stent Placement for Iliofemoral Venous Outflow Obstruction
Authors: Razavi Mahmood K. , Jaff Michael R. , Miller Larry E.
Published: October 2015

Background—

Endovenous recanalization of iliofemoral stenosis or occlusion with angioplasty and stent placement has been increasingly used to maintain long-term venous patency in patients with iliofemoral venous outflow obstruction. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine safety and effectiveness of venous stent placement in patients with iliofemoral venous outflow obstruction.

Methods and Results—

We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies evaluating safety or effectiveness of stent placement in patients with iliofemoral venous outflow obstruction. Data were extracted by disease pathogenesis: nonthrombotic, acute thrombotic, or chronic post-thrombotic. Main outcomes included technical success, periprocedural complications, symptom relief at final follow-up, and primary/secondary patency through 5 years. A total of 37 studies reporting 45 treatment effects (nonthrombotic, 8; acute thrombotic, 19; and chronic post-thrombotic, 18) from 2869 patients (nonthrombotic, 1122; acute thrombotic, 629; and chronic post-thrombotic, 1118) were included. Technical success rates were comparable among groups, ranging from 94% to 96%. Complication rates ranged from 0.3% to 1.1% among groups for major bleeding, from 0.2% to 0.9% for pulmonary embolism, from 0.1% to 0.7% for periprocedural mortality, and from 1.0% to 6.8% for early thrombosis. Patient symptom relief data were reported inconsistently. At 1 year, primary and secondary patency were 96% and 99% for nonthrombotic, 87% and 89% for acute thrombotic, and 79% and 94% for chronic post-thrombotic.

Conclusions—

Stent placement for iliofemoral venous outflow obstruction results in high technical success and acceptable complication rates regardless of cause of obstruction.
Changes in Diet Quality Scores and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Among US Men and Women
Authors: Sotos-Prieto Mercedes , Bhupathiraju Shilpa N. , Mattei Josiemer , Fung Teresa T. , Li Yanping , Pan An , Willett Walter C. , Rimm Eric B. , Hu Frank B.
Published: October 2015

Background—

Adherence to several diet quality scores, including the Alternative Healthy Eating Index, Alternative Mediterranean Diet score, and Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension, has been associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but little is known about how changes in these scores over time influence subsequent CVD risk.

Methods and Results—

We analyzed the association between 4-year changes in the 3 diet quality scores (Alternative Healthy Eating Index, Alternative Mediterranean Diet score, and Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) and subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among 29 343 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and 51 195 women in the Nurses’ Health Study (1986–2010). During 1 394 702 person-years of follow-up, we documented 11 793 CVD cases. Compared with participants whose diet quality remained relatively stable in each 4-year period, those with the greatest improvement in diet quality scores had a 7% to 8% lower CVD risk in the subsequent 4-year period (pooled hazard ratio, 0.92 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.87–0.99] for the Alternative Healthy Eating Index; 0.93 [95% CI, 0.85–1.02] for the Alternative Mediterranean Diet score; and 0.93 [95% CI, 0.87–0.99] for the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension; all
P
for trend <0.05). In the long term, increasing the diet scores from baseline to the first 4-year follow-up was associated with lower CVD risk during the next 20 years (7% [95% CI, 1–12] for the Alternative Healthy Eating Index, and 9% [95% CI, 3–14] for the Alternative Mediterranean Diet score). A decrease in diet quality scores was associated with significantly elevated risk of CVD in subsequent time periods.

Conclusions—

Improving adherence to diet quality scores over time is associated with significantly lower CVD risk in both the short term and long term.
Childhood to Early-Midlife Systolic Blood Pressure Trajectories
Authors: Theodore Reremoana F. , Broadbent Jonathan , Nagin Daniel , Ambler Antony , Hogan Sean , Ramrakha Sandhya , Cutfield Wayne , Williams Michael J.A. , Harrington HonaLee , Moffitt Terrie E. , Caspi Avshalom , Milne Barry , Poulton Richie
Published: October 2015

Previous studies examining blood pressure change over time have modeled an average population trajectory. Recent research among older adults suggests there may be subgroups with different blood pressure trajectories. Identifying subgroups at risk of developing adult hypertension early in life can inform effective risk reduction efforts. We sought to identify different systolic blood pressure trajectories from childhood, their correlated risk factors, and early-midlife cardiovascular outcomes. Blood pressure data at ages 7, 11, 18, 26, 32, and 38 years from a longitudinal, representative birth cohort study (n=975) were used to identify 4 distinct trajectory groups via group-based trajectory modeling: normal (21.8%), high-normal (43.3%), prehypertensive (31.6%), and hypertensive (4.2%). The categories refer to blood pressure beginning at the age of 7 years and most recently measured at the age of 38 years. Family history of high blood pressure (odds ratio [OR], 43.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.27–354.65), male sex (OR, 109.48; 95% CI, 26.82–446.96), being first born (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.00–8.69) and low birth weight (OR, 2.79; 95% CI, 2.49–3.09) were associated with hypertensive group membership (compared with the normal group). Higher body mass index and cigarette smoking resulted in increasing blood pressure across trajectories, particularly for the higher blood pressure groups. Prehypertensive and hypertensive trajectory groups had worse cardiovascular outcomes by early midlife. Harmful blood pressure trajectories are identifiable in childhood, associated with both antecedent and modifiable risk factors over time, and predict adult cardiovascular disease risk. Early detection and subsequent targeted prevention and intervention may reduce the lifecourse burden associated with higher blood pressure.
Effect of Catheter-Based Renal Denervation on Morning and Nocturnal Blood Pressure
Authors: Kario Kazuomi , Bhatt Deepak L. , Brar Sandeep , Cohen Sidney A. , Fahy Martin , Bakris George L.
Published: October 2015

Abstract—

High nighttime and early morning blood pressure (BP) have been associated with greater risk for cardiovascular events than high clinic or daytime BP. BP is typically highest in the rising hours, when morning activities typically begin. We examined the effect of renal denervation on morning (6:00–8:59
AM
), daytime (9:00
AM
–8:59
PM
), and nighttime (1:00–5:59
AM
) ambulatory BP. Patient data from 2 prospective, randomized controlled trials of patients with treatment-resistant, uncontrolled hypertension, one conducted in a US population (Renal Denervation in Patients With Uncontrolled Hypertension [SYMPLICITY HTN-3]) and the other in a Japanese population (SYMPLICITY HTN-Japan [HTN-Japan]), were analyzed. Patients in SYMPLICITY HTN-3 and HTN-Japan were prescribed a similar number of baseline antihypertensive medications (5.2±1.4 versus 4.9±1.6,
P
=0.28), but the classes prescribed and changes in prescription varied by study. Among patients treated with renal denervation, although the number of ablation treatments were similar in both studies (11.2±2.8 versus 11.5±1.9,
P
=0.55), patients in SYMPLICITY HTN-3 were less likely to receive at least 1 four-quadrant ablation treatment (25% versus 82%,
P
<0.001). In SYMPLICITY HTN-3, compared with controls (n=159), patients treated with renal denervation (n=325) experienced a significantly greater change in morning (−7.3±19.8 mm Hg,
P
<0.001) and nighttime (−6.1±18.2 versus −1.6±19.7 mm Hg,
P
=0.02) but not daytime systolic BP (−7.2±16.2 versus −6.4±18.6 mm Hg,
P
=0.67). This same trend was observed in the pooled analysis with HTN-Japan. Reduction of BP during these high-risk periods might provide cardiovascular protection in drug-resistant hypertensive patients, although this will need to be proved in future randomized trials.

Clinical trial registration—

URL:
www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifiers: NCT01418261 (SYMPLICITY HTN-3) and NCT01644604 (HTN-Japan).
Leukotriene B
4
Activates Pulmonary Artery Adventitial Fibroblasts in Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Qian Jin , Tian Wen , Jiang Xinguo , Tamosiuniene Rasa , Sung Yon K. , Shuffle Eric M. , Tu Allen B. , Valenzuela Antonia , Jiang Shirley , Zamanian Roham T. , Fiorentino David F. , Voelkel Norbert F. , Peters-Golden Marc , Stenmark Kurt R. , Chung Lorinda , Rabinovitch Marlene , Nicolls Mark R.
Published: October 2015

A recent study demonstrated a significant role for leukotriene B
4
(LTB
4
) causing pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension. LTB
4
was found to directly injure luminal endothelial cells and promote growth of the smooth muscle cell layer of pulmonary arterioles. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of LTB
4
on the pulmonary adventitial layer, largely composed of fibroblasts. Here, we demonstrate that LTB
4
enhanced human pulmonary artery adventitial fibroblast proliferation, migration, and differentiation in a dose-dependent manner through its cognate G-protein–coupled receptor, BLT1. LTB
4
activated human pulmonary artery adventitial fibroblast by upregulating p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase as well as Nox4-signaling pathways. In an autoimmune model of pulmonary hypertension, inhibition of these pathways blocked perivascular inflammation, decreased Nox4 expression, reduced reactive oxygen species production, reversed arteriolar adventitial fibroblast activation, and attenuated pulmonary hypertension development. This study uncovers a novel mechanism by which LTB
4
further promotes pulmonary arterial hypertension pathogenesis, beyond its established effects on endothelial and smooth muscle cells, by activating adventitial fibroblasts.
Baltic Sea Gastrotricha—one new species and one new record of Chaetonotida from Poland
Authors: KOLICKA MAŁGORZATA , JANKOWSKA EMILIA , KOTWICKI LECH
Published: October 2015

Gastrotricha is a cosmopolitan phylum of aquatic and semi–aquatic invertebrates that comprise about 820 described species, which are divided into two orders: Chaetonotida Remane, 1925 [Rao & Clausen, 1970] and Macrodasyida Remane, 1925 [Rao & Clausen, 1970]. They inhabit natural as well as artificial habitats in diverse marine, freshwater, and semi–aquatic ecosystems (e.g. peatbogs, alder woods, riparian forests). Until now, 29 species of gastrotrichs from the Polish Baltic Sea region (including three freshwater species which were found in estuaries) were known. Sixteen species belong to Chaetonotida and thirteen to Macrodasyida. During this study we found two species, Heterolepidoderma sinus spec. nov., and Aspidiophorus lamellophorus Balsamo, Hummon, Todaro et Tongiorgi, 1997 which is new to the Baltic Sea fauna. H. sinus spec. nov. has distinct cuticular reinforcements in the anterior dilatation of the pharynx. Moreover, it is characterized by two kinds of lamellae: one type is represented by small triangular lamellae which aris from lateral scales, the second type is large and clearly visible and arises from ventral scales. None of the Heterolepidoderma species known so far has two types of lamellae. A. lamellophorus was previously known only from the Mediterranean Sea. The finding of two new gastrotrich species in the Baltic Sea shows that the knowledge of these small invertebrates in the area is still far from complete.
Evaluation of Empirical Statistical Downscaling Models’ Skill in Predicting Tanzanian Rainfall and Their Application in Providing Future Downscaled Scenarios
Authors: Mtongori Habiba I. , Stordal Frode , Benestad Rasmus E.
Published: October 2015

Projections of three important seasonal rainfall parameters—total precipitation (), wet-day mean () and wet-day frequency ()—considered to be relevant to crop agriculture were performed. Links between large-scale climate variables and local precipitation in Tanzania were investigated during the March–May (MAM), October–December (OND), and December–April (DJFMA) rainfall seasons. Variables found to have strong links were used to downscale the local precipitation for three future periods; near term, midcentury, and end of century. Downscaling models for , and were calibrated using observed large-scale seasonal rainfall and projected downscaled parameters were obtained based on rainfall simulations from ensembles of GCMs. The models’ skill scores were found to be sensitive to the domain size and number of leading EOFs used. The common EOF method employed in the downscaling modulated the skills depending on the GCMs used. The spread in the rainfall projections was found to be larger in OND and moderate in MAM and DJFMA. The multimodel mean projections in response to two RCPs (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) suggest a shift toward wetter (drier) conditions () for OND (DJFMA) for all three periods. There is no uniform projection for MAM; some stations are projected to feature wetter and some drier conditions. In the midcentury and end of century, there is an increase of precipitation to about 40% for some areas getting OND rainfall and a decrease of precipitation up to about 10% for some areas getting MAM or DJFMA rainfall. Generally, the magnitude of change strongly differs across the areas.
Estimating age-specific trends in circulating testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin in males and females across the lifespan
Authors: Handelsman David J , Sikaris Ken , Ly Lam P
Published: October 2015

Background

Age-specific trends of serum testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin across the full lifespan have not been reported.

Methods

We deduced age-specific trends in serum testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin in males and females between ages 10 and 90 from a large sample of consecutive results from a single large pathology laboratory. Coded results of 110,712 consecutive blood samples requesting serum testosterone over seven years (2007–2013) comprising blood testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin and calculated free testosterone together with gender and age were analysed create smoothed age-specific centiles (2.5%, 5%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 95%, 97.5%) for males and females.

Results

These identified the pubertal increases in serum testosterone in males peaking at 20 years of age and remaining stable thereafter until the eighth decade. In females, circulating testosterone peaked in late adolescence and declined gradually over the next two decades but remained stable across menopause and beyond. After early childhood, serum sex hormone-binding globulin declines to a nadir in males at the age of 20 years and remains stable till the sixth decade with a gradual, progressive rise thereafter. In females, the sex hormone-binding globulin nadir is reached earlier with levels rising gradually and progressively with age thereafter and accelerating after the age of 70 years. Females also exhibit a second sex hormone-binding globulin peak during reproductive ages reflected only in upper centiles due to effects of pregnancy and oral contraceptive use in a significant minority of females.

Conclusions

This large sample of clinical data provides a comprehensive profile of androgen status across the lifespan from early adolescence to late old age.
Adolescent Physical Activity
Authors: Babey Susan H. , Wolstein Joelle , Diamant Allison L.
Published: October 2015

Few youth meet current physical activity recommendations. Protective social factors such as having a role model, social participation, and adult support at school may help promote youth physical activity. This study used data from the 2011-2012 California Health Interview Survey to examine the extent to which role models, social participation, and support at school promote physical activity among groups at risk of inactivity and obesity, specifically low-income youth and youth of color. In a model including all adolescents, those who participated in organizations outside school, did volunteer work, reported higher support from adults at school, and reported having an athlete as a role model were more physically active. However, associations varied by gender, income, and race/ethnicity. These findings suggest that some of these protective social factors, especially school support, may help promote physical activity among Latino, African American, and low-income youth, groups at increased risk of physical inactivity.
How do management and non-management employees perceive workplace wellness programmes? A qualitative examination
Authors: Caperchione Cristina M , Reid R Colin , Sharp Paul G , Stehmeier Joshua
Published: October 2015

Objectives:

The value of workplace wellness programmes (WWPs) has been established in the literature. Such programmes, however, have an increased likelihood for success when both management and non-management employees’ perspectives and needs are incorporated into development and implementation. This study aimed to identify the perspectives of each of these two employee groups as a means of informing the future development and implementation of WWPs.

Methods:

Nine focus groups ( N = 56) were held in western Canada with participants employed at four diverse organisations consisting of >100 employees. Each participating organisation provided two separate groups, consisting of one management group and one non-management group. Participants were asked to share their perceptions, attitudes and beliefs concerning WWPs. Thematic inductive analysis was conducted to elicit emergent areas of focus.

Results:

Three areas of focus were identified: (1) role of the company in WWPs, (2) elements of successful WWPs and (3) mandatory participation in WWPs. Providing a clear indication of the roles and responsibilities of both employee groups, making these initiatives part of the organisational strategic plan, demonstrating a long term commitment to such programmes, and having employees play participatory roles in the design, implementation and decision making process, are components that need consideration.

Conclusion:

Both employee groups agreed that their organisation played a role in employee health. Similarities and discrepancies of the beliefs between groups are highlighted and key considerations are presented. Findings have implications for the future development and implementation of WWPs.
Lessons for Health From Insights into Environmental Crises
Authors: Benatar Solomon , Poland Blake
Published: October 2015

The health of whole populations within nations and globally and the implications of climate change are two of the most important challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. Both are components of a complex global crisis that must be acknowledged and addressed. Here we draw the attention of health professionals to some emerging threats and insights from key works of environmentalists in the hope that these may catalyze reflection on the broader challenges facing human health at a time of deep planetary malaise.
Microstructure and damping characteristics of Mg and its composites containing metastable Al85Ti15 particle
Authors: Nguyen Quy B , Nai Mui LS , Nguyen Anh S , Seetharaman Sankaranarayanan , Jayalakshmi S , Leong Eugene WW , Gupta Manoj
Published: October 2015

This paper reports for the first time the damping behavior of Mg-Al85Ti15 metastable composites synthesized using near dense blend-press-microwave sinter-hot extrusion methodology. Optical microscopy results show that the metastable particles were located along the grain boundaries and the formation of twins within the grains. In addition, scanning electron microscopy reveals reasonable distribution of particles, good matrix-particle interfacial bonding and minimal presence of microvoids. The damping test results show an increment in damping capacity and damping loss rate with the presence and increasing amount of particles. The effect of microstructure on damping characteristics of magnesium and damping mechanisms are discussed.
Preventing Childhood Caries
Authors: Albino J. , Tiwari T.
Published: October 2015

The etiology of dental caries reflects a complex interplay of biochemical, microbial, genetic, social and physical environmental, and health-influencing behavioral factors. This review updates the literature on the efficacy of behavioral approaches to caries prevention for children up to 18 y of age. Included were studies of behavioral interventions implemented at individual, family, and community levels that assessed results in terms of reductions in caries increments. Only those reports published since 2011 were considered. Outcomes were variable, although motivational interviewing, which involves individuals in decisions about oral health within the context of their respective life circumstances, proved effective in 3 of 4 reported studies, and more definitive trials are underway. Recommendations for future research include examinations of the cost-effectiveness of interventions, as well as work focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying oral health behavior change and variables that may mediate or moderate responses to interventions.
Trauma and Morbidities Among Female Detainees in a Large Urban Jail
Authors: Scott Christy K. , Lurigio Arthur J. , Dennis Michael L. , Funk Rod R.
Published: October 2015

Using data from 810 women entering the Department of Women’s Justice Services in the Cook County Jail (Chicago) from 2010 to 2013, this study examines patterns of trauma exposure and the relationship between trauma exposure and mental disorders. Female detainees averaged 6.1 ( SD = 4.90) types of trauma in their lifetimes, with greater trauma exposure associated with earlier age of trauma onset, more recent trauma exposure, and higher rates of fear for life or injury. Higher rates of trauma exposure were also correlated with higher rates of past-year symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder as well as other internalizing, externalizing, and substance use disorders. Behavioral health programming for female detainees in jail settings should include more trauma-sensitive mental health and substance use disorder treatments.
Development of three-dimensional profiled woven fabrics on narrow fabric looms
Authors: Fazeli Monireh , Kern Martin , Hoffmann Gerald , Cherif Chokri
Published: October 2015

Three-dimensional (3D) profiled woven fabrics with varying cross-sections along the component parts are needed in a number of industrial applications. One of the main advantages of the ribbon loom weaving technique is the ability to produce highly diverse structures with open or closed edges. The realization of 3D profiled woven fabrics that satisfy the requirements is directly connected to the ability to process high-performance fibers in the weft direction. The processing of high-performance yarns in the weft direction with low fiber damage will open new application areas for shuttle weaving machines. By employing modified mechanical loom elements, the variety of producible structures can be increased significantly.
Single hook model of fiber figures in card webs
Authors: Sakaguchi Akio , Kimura Hirokazu
Published: October 2015

In card webs, many fibers are not straight and generally have hooks or bends. In this study, a one-dimensional fiber figure model is discussed. Using correlation coefficients, a simple classification method for fiber figures is proposed. This method enables us to classify fiber figures into five categories: straight, leading- and trailing-hooked, and leading- and trailing-bent figures. This method is then applied to experimental data. The results indicate that the absolute values of the correlation coefficients of the vector quantities between the measured fiber figures and one of our models are greater than 0.8 in many cases. Thus, our proposed method is viable for the classification of fiber figures in card webs.
Effects of structural parameters on the tangentially injected swirling flow in concentric tubes with different lengths as a model of the vortex spinning nozzle
Authors: Sun Leilei , Pei Zeguang
Published: October 2015

The tangentially injected swirling tube flow has broad applications in various engineering fields. In the textile industry, the vortex spinning technology, which produces short-staple yarns by means of a tangentially injected swirling airflow, is of great prospect in view of its spinning speed and yarn structure. In this paper, the vortex spinning nozzle is abstracted into a model of concentric tubes of different lengths with tangential injectors. A computational fluid dynamics model is presented to study the effects of some structural parameters on the swirling flow generated in this tube system. The particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique is adopted to measure the flow field. Due to the difficulty in duplicating the Mach number, Reynolds numbers are matched between the tube model and prototype in the PIV experiment. Despite the discrepancy between the velocity values provided by the numerical simulation and experiment due to the compressibility effects not being reproduced in the PIV measurement, a comparative analysis concludes that qualitatively matched results on the flow pattern and effects of the structural parameters are obtained by the numerical simulation and PIV measurement.
Trunk marker sets and the subsequent calculation of trunk and breast kinematics during treadmill running
Authors: Mills Chris , Loveridge Amy , Milligan Alexandra , Scurr Joanna
Published: October 2015

Female participants present a unique challenge as the design of the bra used to support the breasts occludes the correct positioning of many recommended trunk marker sets. This study aimed to compare the effect of two existing and one new trunk marker set on the calculation of trunk and breast kinematics. Twelve females had markers placed on their trunk and right nipple; these markers were tracked using infrared cameras during five running gait cycles and used to define three trunk calculation methods: Trunk 1: suprasternal notch, right and left ribs; Trunk 2: supersternal notch, processus xiphoideus, 7th cervical and 8th thoracic spinous process; Trunk 3: Trunk 2 plus a marker 33% from the suprasternal notch to the processus xiphoideus, and another 50% between the 7th cervical and 8th thoracic spinous process. Trunk segment capture success, segment origin instability, segmental residual, trunk kinematics, and breast range of motion (relative to the trunk segment), were calculated for each trunk segment. Segment capture success varied from 88% (Trunk 1) to 100% (Trunk 2 and 3). Segment origin instability ranged from 0.2 cm (Trunk 2 and 3) to 1.5 cm (Trunk 1). Maximum trunk extension differed by 7° and breast range of motion varied by 41% (anterioposterior), 54% (mediolateral), and 21% (superioinferior) between trunk calculation methods. The selection of marker set used to construct the trunk segment is critical before recommending improvements to bra design to improve breast support. The Trunk 3 marker set is recommended for subsequent breast research.
Extraction and classification of She nationality clothing via visual features
Authors: Ding Xiaojun , Zou Chuhang , Chen Jingyu , Zou Fengyuan
Published: October 2015

The clothing pattern is an important feature of She nationality clothing, whose characteristics provide in-depth inference for digital computers to classify She nationality clothing automatically. In this paper, we propose a novel method to jointly reveal the texture characteristics and spatial distribution of the clothing pattern in She nationality clothing. Our approach employed visual features based on Scale Invariant Feature Transform and Gaussian blur to obtain robust and representative key points. We involved the Bag of Visual Words model and K-means clustering to construct a fundamental code word for texture representation. Also, spatial distribution was analyzed by frequencies of key points in spatial bins of the clothing’s design area. We then proposed a unified classification model applying the nearest neighbor method by utilizing both texture and spatial features. To demonstrate the efficiency of our method, we conducted 13 images of four types of typical She nationality clothing for training and testing. Our method achieved an average accuracy of 92.3% in cross-validation. The result revealed good consistency between the key points of texture and spatial features, and the different types of She nationality clothing characteristics. We further showed that our proposed algorithm could be used as inference for general clothing automatic classification and design.
Generalized geometric modeling of tubular and flat braided structures with arbitrary floating length and multiple filaments
Authors: Kyosev Yordan
Published: October 2015

This paper provides a critical overview about the state of the art in the area of three-dimensional modeling of braided structures. It gives a generalized geometrical approach for modeling braided structures with arbitrary floating length and filaments in the yarn. The approach is tested with large set of structures of different types. Subsequently, one of the simulated geometries is compared with the real geometry of braided tube.
From ‘doing history’ to thinking historically: Historical consciousness across History and International Relations
Authors: Glencross Andrew
Published: October 2015

Although most attempts to foster interdisciplinary dialogue are located outside mainstream International Relations (IR), this article seeks to problematize how the two dominant paradigms of IR theory, realism and liberalism, think historically. The argument proceeds by examining how the disciplines consider what historical knowledge is useful for, that is, how they think historically or are historically conscious. This constitutes a shift away from the dominant dialogue over how to ‘do history’ in IR. Historical consciousness is defined as the understanding of the temporality of historical experience or how past, present and future are thought to be connected. The analysis is set up to explore the extent to which both disciplines share a similar historical consciousness beyond merely treating history as instructive. To do so the article first examines the canon of European historiography to identify three genres of historical consciousness: history as teacher, history as narrative, history as representation. This survey of pre-positivist historiography serves to show the complexity of historical reflection within that discipline, something against which variance within IR theory can also be compared. Disciplinary comparison reveals that three genres of historical consciousness are present in liberalism and realism: lessons of history, revenge of history, and among progressive realists a speculative escape from history genre. Whereas lessons of history spans both ‘isms’ in IR, realism is shown to have a more complex understanding of temporality, thereby providing another conceptual starting point for distinguishing between these two ‘traditions’. Moreover, these differences between genres of historical consciousness used within realism capture the split between realists that lies not in the origin of anarchy itself but in how realists think historically. What emerges, therefore, by comparing how disciplines think historically rather than ‘do’ History, is the equally purposive or even political use of the historical knowledge they produce.
Impact of Procedural Characteristics on Justice Perceptions of Chinese Civil Service Candidates
Authors: Zhang Yanyan , Xu Baihua , Zhang Jin
Published: October 2015

The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of eight procedural characteristics on the justice perception of candidates taking Chinese civil servant recruitment exam. The effects of justice perception on candidate’s confidence in government and their recommendation intention were also tested. Four hundred twenty-one graduating students from 10 universities in Shandong province participated in this study. Among the eight procedural characteristics, predictive validity, interpersonal treatment, consistency, and feedback were supported to be predictor of the overall process justice perception. Whereas, content validity, opportunity to perform, property of questions, and information known did not show significant impact on the process justice perception. Results demonstrated the significant effect of candidates’ justice perception on their confidences in government and recommendation intentions. The practical implications and limitations of the present study are also discussed.
Testing Multiple Goals Theory With Low-Income, Mother-Child Spanish-Speakers: Language Brokering Interaction Goals and Relational Satisfaction
Authors: Guntzviller Lisa M.
Published: October 2015

One hundred dyads of low-income, Spanish-speaking mothers and their bilingual children (age = 12-18) who act as language brokers (i.e., culturally/linguistically mediate between their mothers and English-speakers) were surveyed. Multiple goals theory was tested and extended by examining how mother and child perceptions of own and partner interaction goals across language brokering episodes were associated with mother-child relational satisfaction. An actor-partner interdependence model revealed that goals related to face, trust, and ethnic identity were associated with mother and child relational satisfaction. For both mothers and children, perceptions of own and partner goals (i.e., actor effects), and interactions between own reported and partner perceptions of the same goal (i.e., actor-partner effects) linked with mother-child relational satisfaction. Mother and child goal management during language brokering may have broader relational repercussions.
The Predictive and Incremental Validity of Two Self-Report Risk Assessment Measures With Adult Male Offenders Who Have Mental Health Problems
Authors: Rodrigues Nicole C. , Seto Michael C. , Ahmed Adekunle G. , Loza Wagdy
Published: October 2015

We examined the predictive and incremental validity of two self-report risk assessment measures—the Self-Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ) and the Measure of Criminal Attitudes and Associates (MCAA)—in a sample of 121 adult male offenders, with mental health problems in a correctional treatment setting. Both the SAQ and MCAA were significantly and positively correlated with a standard risk/need assessment currently used in corrections, the Level of Service Inventory–Ontario Revision (LSI-OR). All three risk measures significantly predicted general recidivism within 1 year of follow-up. The SAQ and LSI-OR also significantly predicted institutional incidents (threat, verbal aggression, or assault). In addition, the MCAA significantly added to the prediction of general recidivism provided by the LSI-OR, whereas the SAQ did not, likely reflecting the relatively high content overlap of the SAQ and LSI-OR. Neither self-report measure added to the ability of the LSI-OR to predict institutional incidents involving aggression.
The Importance of Being Satisfied
Authors: Slocum Lee Ann , Ann Wiley Stephanie , Esbensen Finn-Aage
Published: October 2015

Researchers have documented the negative consequences of police-initiated contact for youth including increased delinquency. The procedural justice framework suggests this delinquency amplification is due, in part, to the negative consequences of police contact on evaluations of the police. Using four waves of data, we explore the multiple ways in which being stopped or arrested and procedural injustice act in concert to affect later delinquency. We also assess how these effects differ based on youth’s evaluations of their police encounters. Our findings indicate that the total effect of being stopped or arrested on delinquency depends on the youth’s level of satisfaction with the encounter. In addition, procedural injustice mediates some of the effect of contact on delinquency, but its relationship with delinquency is not direct. We conclude that the negative consequences of being stopped or arrested are mitigated, but not eliminated, when contact is perceived favorably.
Momentary Assessment of Psychosocial Stressors, Context, and Asthma Symptoms in Hispanic Adolescents
Authors: Dunton Genevieve , Dzubur Eldin , Li Marilyn , Huh Jimi , Intille Stephen , McConnell Rob
Published: October 2015

The current study used a novel real-time data capture strategy, ecological momentary assessment (EMA), to examine whether within-day variability in stress and context leads to exacerbations in asthma symptomatology in the everyday lives of ethnic minority adolescents. Low-income Hispanic adolescents ( N = 20; 7th-12th grade; 54% male) with chronic asthma completed 7 days of EMA on smartphones, with an average of five assessments per day during non-school time. EMA surveys queried about where (e.g., home, outdoors) and with whom (e.g., alone, with friends) participants were at the time of the prompt. EMA surveys also assessed over the past few hours whether participants had experienced specific stressors (e.g., being teased, arguing with anyone), asthma symptoms (e.g., wheezing, coughing), or used an asthma inhaler. Multilevel models tested the independent relations of specific stressors and context to subsequent asthma symptoms adjusting for age, gender, and chronological day in the study. Being outdoors, experiencing disagreements with parents, teasing, and arguing were associated with more severe self-reported asthma symptoms in the next few hours ( ps < .05). Being alone and having too much to do were unrelated to the experience of subsequent self-reported asthma symptoms. Using a novel real-time data capture strategy, results provide preliminary evidence that being outdoors and experiencing social stressors may induce asthma symptoms in low-income Hispanic children and adolescents with chronic asthma. The results of this preliminary study can serve as a basis for larger epidemiological and intervention studies.
Social and Emotional Characteristics and Early Childhood Mathematical and Literacy Giftedness
Authors: Wilson Hope E.
Published: October 2015

Research has demonstrated mixed results regarding differences in social and emotional characteristics between gifted and typical populations. The purpose of this secondary analysis of data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study: Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) is to investigate the affective characteristics of early mathematics and literacy ability among preschool children using a logistic regression analysis. Specifically, parents and childcare providers were asked a series of questions relating to socially maladaptive behaviors, concentration, empathy, worry, and friendship of a nationally representative sample of children born in 2002. The results of the study demonstrate that childcare providers and parents of preschool children ( M age = 53 months) have different patterns of observations of social and emotional characteristics of children, and that concentration and socially maladaptive behaviors were significant predictors of early giftedness in literacy. There were no social or emotional predictors of early giftedness in mathematics found in this study.
Experiences of High-Ability High School Students
Authors: Schmitt Carrie , Goebel Vella
Published: October 2015

This study attempted to answer the question, “To what extent do 12th-grade high-ability students feel that their past educational experiences, particularly in high school, have challenged their academic abilities?” Much research has been conducted in the field of gifted education about the identification, social and emotional characteristics, and educational needs of gifted students. However, little research has focused on how students themselves feel about the rigor and value of their educational experiences. This case study involved three high school seniors identified as high ability and enrolled in an Advanced Placement Language and Composition course in Indiana. Learning how these students feel about their experiences should help inform educators’ decisions regarding programming options, instructional methods, and differentiation strategies for high-ability students in Indiana.
Exploiting semantics for searching agricultural bibliographic data
Authors: Beneventano Domenico , Bergamaschi Sonia , Martoglia Riccardo
Published: October 2015

Filtering and search mechanisms which permit to identify key bibliographic references are fundamental for researchers. In this paper we propose a fully automatic and semantic method for filtering/searching bibliographic data, which allows users to look for information by specifying simple keyword queries or document queries, i.e. by simply submitting existing documents to the system. The limitations of standard techniques, based on either syntactical text search and on manually assigned descriptors, are overcome by considering the semantics intrinsically associated to the document/query terms; to this aim, we exploit different kinds of external knowledge sources (both general and specific domain dictionaries or thesauri). The proposed techniques have been developed and successfully tested for agricultural bibliographic data, which play a central role to enable researchers and policy makers to retrieve related agricultural and scientific information by using the AGROVOC thesaurus.
Indexing – The politics of invisibility
Authors: Stäheli Urs
Published: October 2015

The paper argues that the politics of lists start even before the existence of ready-made list. Rather, we have to focus on how the items of a list are produced. It is argued that list-making performs an analogue–digital conversion: it converts continuous material (e.g. narratives, arguments, descriptions) into discontinuous, isolated items. The history of professional indexing (from the 19th century to search engines) is used as an exemplary case for analysing the practices of this conversion. It is argued that the often hidden work of indexing constitutes a politics of invisibility and that there exists a need for strategies that help to read the hidden ‘personalities’ of lists.
Working to appear: The plural and uneven geographies of race, sexuality, and the local state in Sydney, Australia
Authors: Ruez Derek
Published: October 2015

This paper mobilizes an Arendtian understanding of politics emphasizing plurality and appearance in order to examine a series of projects convened by the City of Sydney council between 2010 and 2013 that were intended to address issues faced by queer people from “culturally and linguistically diverse” communities. Drawing on interviews with participants, as well as archival materials, I argue that these efforts carved out spaces in which racialized queer people in Sydney could appear politically and in which the uneven geographies produced by the mutually constitutive regimes of sexuality and race could become an object of differentially shared concern. Yet, these projects were themselves necessarily shaped by the very dynamics of racialization and normativity to which they responded, and the paper asks how we might differently live with and beyond the fantasy of multicultural queer inclusion at work in these efforts. In doing so, this paper suggests a different way of relating to the binaries (radical/assimilationist, disruption/recognition, state/non-state) that have informed many queer analyses and also contributes to literatures in critical urban and political geography that seek to develop contextually-sensitive understandings of politics that can account for more modest forms of political engagement with existing orders.
Indignation and inclusion: Activism, difference, and emergent urban politics in postcrash Madrid
Authors: Gonick Sophie
Published: October 2015

How to create radical democracy in a moment of crisis and austerity? On the one hand, geographies of autonomy, solidarity, and resistance can offer hope, promise, and utopian anticapitalist alternatives for future action. On the other hand, agonistic initiatives that discard consensus in favor of conflictive engagement with institutions of state rule can allow for pluralism and the acceptance of difference. Perhaps, however, actually existing democracy can be achieved through an emphasis on process that bridges both activist ideologies. Looking to competing forms of activism in Madrid’s housing movement, I identify two strands of action—radical autonomy versus agonistic engagement. Despite their profound disjunctures, however, I argue these strands complement each other to ultimately experience convergence, which in turn contributes to the flourishing of new political initiatives. Within this convergence, feminist perspectives attuned to difference have been crucial in forcing transformation through existing democratic structures. The resulting political projects engage with mechanisms of state rule while drawing on practices and procedures from autonomous struggles to elaborate frameworks for institutional change. In the process, I demonstrate the possibility of collaboration between competing modes of activism—often conceived as incommensurate—in the broader quest for emancipation from neoliberal state rule.