bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Delivering manufacturing technology and workshop appreciation to engineering undergraduates using the flipped classroom approach
Authors: Mavromihales Mike , Holmes Violeta
Published: March 2016

Delivery of manufacturing technology and practical workshop-based work, on undergraduate engineering courses that engage the learners, is challenging. The paper presents an experimental method of workshop delivery using the flipped learning approach, a pedagogical model in which the typical lecture and homework elements of a course are reversed. Video lectures are viewed by students prior to class. In-class time can be devoted to exercises, projects, or discussions as in this case. Learners were asked to observe three audiovisual clips in preparation for class. The objective was to determine whether the flipped classroom approach can enhance the learning experience, through better engagement with the students, compared to conventional classroom-based learning. The level of student participation and level of success have been established by means of feedback questionnaires from more than 100 participants and peer observation. The results are encouraging and demonstrate that this approach is favoured by the students.
Development and application of a grid generation tool for aerodynamic simulations of wind turbines
Authors: Rahimi Hamid , Daniele Elia , Stoevesandt Bernhard , Peinke Joachim
Published: March 2016

This manuscript presents an effort towards the introduction of a new grid generation tool for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of wind turbines. The tool was developed and designed to considerably reduce the duration and complexity of the grid generation process and, moreover, to enable users to perform an efficient CFD simulation for a complete wind turbine rotor. Furthermore, the tool is fully automatized, thus enabling the user to refine the grid along the desired direction. For the purpose of validation, the quality of the generated grid was checked via a grid independence test. Finally, the grid generator tool was evaluated by means of a series of simulations of the NREL phase VI rotor using a three-dimensional CFD Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes method. The capability of CFD simulations based on the generated grid in capturing aerodynamic performances (such as the power) and the detailed flow characteristics (e.g. the surface pressure distributions) were investigated under various conditions. The obtained results demonstrate the quality and reliability of the developed grid generation tool.
A pilot-scale steam autoclave system for treating municipal solid waste for recovery of renewable organic content: Operational results and energy usage
Authors: Holtman Kevin M , Bozzi David V , Franqui-Villanueva Diana , Offeman Richard D , Orts William J
Published: March 2016

A pilot-scale (1800 kg per batch capacity) autoclave used in this study reduces municipal solid waste to a debris contaminated pulp product that is efficiently separated into its renewable organic content and non-renewable organic content fractions using a rotary trommel screen. The renewable organic content can be recovered at nearly 90% efficiency and the trommel rejects are also much easier to sort for recovery. This study provides the evaluation of autoclave operation, including mass and energy balances for the purpose of integration into organic diversion systems. Several methods of cooking municipal solid waste were explored from indirect oil heating only, a combination of oil and direct steam during the same cooking cycle, and steam only. Gross energy requirements averaged 1290 kJ kg−1 material in vessel, including the weight of free water and steam added during heating. On average, steam recovery can recoup 43% of the water added and 30% of the energy, supplying on average 40% of steam requirements for the next cook. Steam recycle from one vessel to the next can reduce gross energy requirements to an average of 790 kJ kg−1.
Potential for improving efficiency of the internal cylindrical grinding process by modification of the grinding wheel structure—Part II: Grinding wheels made of superabrasive grains
Authors: Nadolny Krzysztof , Habrat Witold
Published: March 2016

This article offers an overview of 11 grinding wheel construction modifications used in the peripheral grinding of flat, shaped, internal, and external cylindrical surfaces, when grinding wheels made of superabrasive grains are used (natural and synthetic diamonds, as well as mono- and microcrystalline cubic boron nitride). The text contains characteristics of grinding wheels with: bubble corundum grains, glass-crystalline bond, conic chamfer, zones of different diameters, a centrifugal provision of the coolant into the grinding zone, aggregate grains, zone-diversified structure, as well as impregnated (self-lubricating), multiporous, segment and “intelligent” grinding wheels. Each of the presented structural modifications were described by giving construction scheme, used abrasive grains, range of applications, advantages as well as disadvantages. Modifications of the grinding wheel construction allow for effective improvement of both the conditions and the results of the grinding process. A wide range of the known modifications allow for their proper selection depending on the required criteria of effective evaluation and taking into account the specific characteristics of superabrasive grains. As a result, it is possible to obtain positive influence on a number of technological factors of the grinding process. The described modifications of the grinding wheel structure can be also an inspiration and the basis for creating new solutions in this field.
Development of a biomechanical model of the wrist joint for patient-specific model guided surgical therapy planning: Part 1
Authors: Eschweiler Jörg , Stromps Jan-Philipp , Fischer Maximilian , Schick Fabian , Rath Björn , Pallua Norbert , Radermacher Klaus
Published: March 2016

An enhanced musculoskeletal biomechanical model of the wrist joint is presented in this article. The developed computational model features the two forearm bones radius and ulna, the eight wrist bones, the five metacarpal bones, and a soft tissue apparatus. Validation of the model was based on information taken from the literature as well as own experimental passive in vitro motion analysis of eight cadaver specimens. The computational model is based on the multi-body simulation software AnyBody. A comprehensive ligamentous apparatus was implemented allowing the investigation of ligament function. The model can easily patient specific personalized on the basis of image information. The model enables simulation of individual wrist motion and predicts trends correctly in the case of changing kinematics. Therefore, patient-specific multi-body simulation models are potentially valuable tools for surgeons in pre- and intraoperative planning of implant placement and orientation.
Prediction of knee joint moment changes during walking in response to wedged insole interventions
Authors: Lewinson Ryan T , Stefanyshyn Darren J
Published: March 2016

Wedged insoles are prescribed for medial knee osteoarthritis to reduce the knee adduction moment; however, it is currently not possible to predict which patients will in fact experience reduced moments. The purpose of this study was to identify a simple method using two-dimensional data for predicting the expected change in knee adduction moments with wedged insoles. Knee adduction moments during walking were determined for healthy individuals ( n = 15) and individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis ( n = 19) while wearing their own shoe without an insole (control), with a 6-mm medial wedge and with a 6-mm lateral wedge. The percent changes relative to control were determined. Then, participants completed single-step trials with each footwear condition where only the changes in mediolateral positions of the knee joint center, shank center of mass, ankle joint center, and foot center of mass relative to control were determined. These variables were used as predictors in regression equations where the change in knee adduction moment during walking was the dependent variable. The change in mediolateral positions of the lower extremity during a single step significantly predicted the change in knee adduction moment during walking for the lateral wedge in both the healthy ( R2 = 0.72, p = 0.008) and knee osteoarthritis ( R2 = 0.52, p = 0.026) groups, and also for the medial wedge in both the healthy ( R2 = 0.67, p = 0.016) and knee osteoarthritis ( R2 = 0.54, p = 0.020) groups. The method of using mediolateral position data from a single-step movement to predict walking biomechanics was successful. These data are relatively simple to collect and analyze, offering the possibility for future incorporation into a wedge prediction system.
Bayesian bivariate meta-analysis of correlated effects: Impact of the prior distributions on the between-study correlation, borrowing of strength, and joint inferences
Authors: Burke Danielle L , Bujkiewicz Sylwia , Riley Richard D
Published: March 2016

Multivariate random-effects meta-analysis allows the joint synthesis of correlated results from multiple studies, for example, for multiple outcomes or multiple treatment groups. In a Bayesian univariate meta-analysis of one endpoint, the importance of specifying a sensible prior distribution for the between-study variance is well understood. However, in multivariate meta-analysis, there is little guidance about the choice of prior distributions for the variances or, crucially, the between-study correlation, ρB; for the latter, researchers often use a Uniform(−1,1) distribution assuming it is vague. In this paper, an extensive simulation study and a real illustrative example is used to examine the impact of various (realistically) vague prior distributions for ρB and the between-study variances within a Bayesian bivariate random-effects meta-analysis of two correlated treatment effects. A range of diverse scenarios are considered, including complete and missing data, to examine the impact of the prior distributions on posterior results (for treatment effect and between-study correlation), amount of borrowing of strength, and joint predictive distributions of treatment effectiveness in new studies. Two key recommendations are identified to improve the robustness of multivariate meta-analysis results. First, the routine use of a Uniform(−1,1) prior distribution for ρB should be avoided, if possible, as it is not necessarily vague. Instead, researchers should identify a sensible prior distribution, for example, by restricting values to be positive or negative as indicated by prior knowledge. Second, it remains critical to use sensible (e.g. empirically based) prior distributions for the between-study variances, as an inappropriate choice can adversely impact the posterior distribution for ρB, which may then adversely affect inferences such as joint predictive probabilities. These recommendations are especially important with a small number of studies and missing data.
Regime Stability in Anocracies: The Role of Special Economic Zones
Authors: Fuller Clay Robert
Published: March 2016

In the two decades since Fukuyama’s famous claim of an ‘end of history,’ the number of democratic regimes increased and the number of autocratic regimes decreased, but the number of anocracies – mixed or institutionally inconsistent regimes – remains the same or slightly higher. This article presents a theory of institutionally inconsistent regime stability. Stability in all regimes is due to reinforcing and consistent institutional structures that create self-enforcing equilibria, which in turn induces elites to work together towards regime stability. The use of special economic zones (SEZs) in institutionally inconsistent anocracies allow the existing elite to prescreen and preselect new members in the winning coalition, thus creating a more consistent institutional environment in which elites are more likely to work together. Elites are chosen based upon 1) potential economic contribution and 2) potential to challenge the existing political order. This study empirically examines the role of special economic zones (SEZs) – geographically restricted investment areas with special benefits. SEZs allow for preselection and screening through the offer of special benefits and the negotiation of contracts. I use an original set of SEZ panel data covering 160 countries from 1995–2010 to examine regime stability. I first use a fixed effects model to confirm that autocracies and democracies are more stable than anocracies. I then use a Heckman selection model to examine the interaction between SEZs and regime types. I find evidence that the use of SEZs in anocracies significantly increases regime stability and marginally decreases it in autocracies.
Having Someone to Walk Down the Road With: A Conversation With Jeffrey Sprague
Authors: Teagarden Jim , Zabel Robert , Kaff Marilyn
Published: March 2016

Dr. Jeffrey Sprague is a professor of special education and the director of the University of Oregon Institute on Violence and Destructive Behavior. He directs research and demonstration projects related to positive supports and youth violence prevention.
Peer Modeling of Commenting During Small Group Direct Instruction for Academic Behaviors
Authors: Urlacher Sarah , Wolery Mark , Ledford Jennifer R.
Published: March 2016

During small group instruction, two groups of children—each group comprised of one child with a disability and two without disabilities—were taught to read words using a progressive time delay procedure (PTD). Apart from the children with disabilities, two typically developing peers in each group were taught to comment on tokens given for correct responding. Academic responding was similar to that in previous studies including older children, but observational learning of peers’ words was variable within and across participants. Although adequate baseline comparisons were not possible and experimental control was not demonstrated, peers and one participant with a disability exhibited variable but increasing levels of commenting over time. Commenting increased over time in one generalization context (generalization across adults) and remained at low levels in the other (generalization across materials).
The Laughing Body Politic
Authors: Giamario Patrick T.
Published: March 2016

This article turns to Hobbes’s theory of laughter to determine the role collective laughter plays in democratic politics. After examining the political themes in Hobbes’s various accounts of laughter as well as the appearances laughter makes in his political philosophy, I argue that the Hobbesian body politic is a laughing body politic at the moment of its foundation. The individuals who contract with one another to establish a commonwealth perform the same sudden, “vainglorious,” and counter-sovereign political enactment as the laughing individual in Hobbes. This notion of a “laughing body politic” illuminates how Hobbes—the philosophical champion of sovereign power—provides resources for theorizing the counter-sovereign, democratic possibilities of collective laughter today.
Perceptions of Climate Change Imagery
Authors: Metag Julia , Schäfer Mike S. , Füchslin Tobias , Barsuhn Tjado , Kleinen-von Königslöw Katharina
Published: March 2016

Prevalent in mass media worldwide, climate change imagery appears to be similar across countries. Replicating a study from the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, we analyze whether these images are perceived in similar ways cross-nationally by studying Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. A total of 75 respondents sorted images with respect to their perceptions of salience and self-efficacy (Q method). They associated images of climate change impacts most strongly with salience, while they related imagery of renewable energies and mobility to self-efficacy. These findings suggest that perceptions of climate change visuals are largely consistent cross-culturally. They indicate that imagery that is frequently used in media is rarely associated with feelings of salience or self-efficacy.
This Is Going to Hurt
Authors: Hansen Hans , Trank Christine Quinn
Published: March 2016

As compassion has become established in the organizational literature as an important area of study, calls for increased compassion in our own work and research have increased. Compassion can take many forms in academic work, but in this article we propose a framework for compassionate research methods. Not only driven by caring for others and a desire for improving their lot, compassionate research methods actually immerse the researcher in compassionate work. We propose that compassionate research methods include three important elements: ethnography, aesthetics, and emotionality. Together, these provide opportunities for emergent theoretical experimentation that can lead to both the alleviation of suffering in the immediate research context and new theoretical insights. To show the possibilities of this method, we use empirical data from a unique setting—the first U.S. permanent death penalty defense team.
Description of a novel telemedicine-enabled comprehensive system of care: drip and ship plus drip and keep within a system of stroke care delivery
Authors: Commiskey Patricia , Afshinnik Arash , Cothren Elizabeth , Gropen Toby , Iwuchukwu Ifeanyi , Jennings Bethany , McGrade Harold C , Mora-Guillot Julia , Sabharwal Vivek , Vidal Gabriel A , Zweifler Richard M , Gaines Kenneth
Published: March 2016

United States (US) and worldwide telestroke programs frequently focus only on emergency room hyper-acute stroke management. This article describes a comprehensive, telemedicine-enabled, stroke care delivery system that combines “drip and ship” and “drip and keep” models with a comprehensive stroke center primary hub at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, advanced stroke-capable regional hubs, and geographically-aligned, “stroke-ready” spokes. The primary hub provides vascular neurology expertise via telemedicine and monitors care for patients remaining at regional hubs and spokes using a multidisciplinary team approach. By 2014, primary hub telestroke consults grew to ≈1000/year with 16 min average door to consult initiation and 20 min to completion, and 29% of ischemic stroke patients received recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rtPA), increasing 275%. Most patients remained in hospitals close to home, but neurointensive care and interventional procedures were common reasons for primary hub transfer. Given the time sensitivity and expert consultation needed for complex acute stroke care delivery paradigms, telestroke programs are effective for fulfilling unmet care needs. Combining drip and ship and drip and keep management allows more patients to stay “local,” limiting primary hub transfer unless more advanced services are required. Post admission telestroke management at spokes increases personnel efficiency and can positively impact stroke outcomes.
Generalized multiple indicators, multiple causes measurement error models
Authors: Tekwe Carmen D. , Carter Randy L. , Cullings Harry M.
Published: March 2016

Generalized Multiple Indicators, Multiple Causes Measurement Error Models (G-MIMIC ME) can be used to study the effects of an unobservable latent variable on a set of outcomes when the causes of the latent variables are unobserved. The errors associated with the unobserved causal variables can be due to either bias recall or day-to-day variability. Another potential source of error, the Berkson error, is due to individual variations that arise from the assignment of group data to individual subjects. In this article, we accomplish the following: (a) extend the classical linear MIMIC models to allow both Berkson and classical measurement errors where the distributions of the outcome variables belong in the exponential family, (b) develop likelihood based estimation methods using the MC-EM algorithm and (c) estimate the variance of the classical measurement error associated with the approximation of the amount of radiation dose received by atomic bomb survivors at the time of their exposure. The G-MIMIC ME model is applied to study the effect of genetic damage, a latent construct based on exposure to radiation, and the effect of radiation dose on physical indicators of genetic damage.
Planning in the face of ‘deep divisions’: A view from Beirut, Lebanon
Authors: Mady Christine , Chettiparamb Angelique
Published: March 2016

This article discusses planning in the global South-East while focusing on the specific context of social divides, political turmoil and conflict situations. The article proposes a five-way framework based on political science and planning theory to analyse such contexts. The article explores the case of Beirut, Lebanon that has undergone several episodes of internal and external conflicts resulting in a society splintered along sectarianism. Two case studies of open urban spaces and their public activities are analysed using the five-way framework The discussion indicates how economic liberalism that is prevalent in countries of the South-East, along with place-based identities, interest-based identities, consensus orientated processes and institutionalism might facilitate a cultivation of deep values away from a narrowly constructed identity. The article argues that planners should understand the options for positive action that aim to bridge deep divisions and suggests that the five-way framework provides a reference for contextualising in different ways to suit particular contexts. Therefore, the framework is not necessarily restricted to the South-East but could be applicable to any context which manifests deep divisions.
Neoliberal meditations: How mindfulness training medicalizes education and responsibilizes young people
Authors: Reveley James
Published: March 2016

Teaching mindfulness meditation at school has been advocated by educational researchers and practitioners in order to proactively target the well-being of young people. By conceptualizing mindfulness meditation as a technology of the self, in Foucauldian terms, this article considers the ideological implications of implementing mindfulness programs within schools. Recent work by Kristin Barker, it is argued, provides insight into how mindfulness meditation functions as a forceful vector for medicalization. It does so by broadening the scope of illness to encompass the emotional ups and downs inherent to daily life. My thesis is that mindfulness training's medicalizing effect is what transforms this otherwise health-beneficial meditative technique into a non-obvious means for reconstructing the educational subject in line with neoliberalism's ideological dictates. Learning to become mindful is one way members of the younger generation become charged with a moral responsibility to augment their own emotional well-being. The capacity for personal prevention and self-surveillance that school-based mindfulness training inculcates in the young, in turn, is central to the self-managing figure that neoliberalism prizes. When institutionalized as a form of therapeutic education, therefore, mindfulness meditation is not ideologically neutral but rather morphs into a neoliberal self-technology.
Born Pupils? Natural Pedagogy and Cultural Pedagogy
Authors: Heyes Cecilia
Published: March 2016

The theory of natural pedagogy is an important focus of research on the evolution and development of cultural learning. It proposes that we are born pupils; that human children genetically inherit a package of psychological adaptations that make them receptive to teaching. In this article, I first examine the components of the package—eye contact, contingencies, infant-directed speech, gaze cuing, and rational imitation—asking in each case whether current evidence indicates that the component is a reliable feature of infant behavior and a genetic adaptation for teaching. I then discuss three fundamental insights embodied in the theory: Imitation is not enough for cumulative cultural inheritance, the extra comes from blind trust, and tweaking is a powerful source of cognitive change. Combining the results of the empirical review with these insights, I argue that human receptivity to teaching is founded on nonspecific genetic adaptations for social bonding and social learning and acquires its species- and functionally specific features through the operation of domain-general processes of learning in sociocultural contexts. We engage, not in natural pedagogy, but in cultural pedagogy.
With Eyes Wide Open
Authors: Rosenzweig Emily
Published: March 2016

Life is full of negative events that threaten our self-worth, and we deploy a wide range of potent psychological strategies—such as dissonance reduction, motivated reasoning, downward comparison, self-serving attribution, and outgroup derogation—to defend our egos. People are highly adept at using these psychological immune system strategies while remaining blind to the fact that they have done so. In fact, prominent voices in the field have suggested that this lack of awareness is a necessary condition for the psychological immune system’s efficacy; how else could someone continue to believe a self-serving attribution while being aware that the attribution was generated precisely because it favored him or her? In this article, I outline the argument underlying why awareness might be a threat to the efficacy of the psychological immune system and then closely review the empirical literature for evidence supporting this claim. On the contrary, the data indicate people can and do use these strategies with awareness, intention, and efficacy. I subsequently consider three ways people may achieve the apparent paradox of being aware of their own biased mental processes while also believing the conclusions that result from them. The third of these is a novel conceptual approach to the illusion of objectivity, which highlights the potential for dissociation between the objectivity of our mental processes and of our mental products. Finally, I outline the implications of this work for future theoretical and applied research.
The pains of desistance
Authors: Nugent Briege , Schinkel Marguerite
Published: March 2016

Desistance is generally presented in a positive light, with themes of ‘making good’ and generativity recurring in the literature. This article reports on two qualitative studies exploring the desistance journeys of two different groups of ex-offenders, drawing attention to the pains of this process. It examines the possible consequences of these ‘pains of desistance’ and how they are linked to three spheres of desistance: act-desistance; identity desistance; and relational desistance. The attempt to achieve act-desistance often led to the pain of isolation for our interviewees, while the clash between the need to achieve identity desistance and a lack of relational desistance (especially on the meso- and macro-levels) meant that they suffered the pain of goal failure. The pains of isolation and goal failure combined to lead to the further pain of hopelessness. Those interviewed were indeed ‘going straight’, but taking this path led many to a limited and often diminished life.
Lifestyle changes for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a review of observational studies and intervention trials
Authors: Zelber-Sagi Shira , Godos Justyna , Salomone Federico
Published: March 2016

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as a major public health problem because of its association with increased cardiovascular and liver-related morbidity and mortality. Both genetic factors and lifestyle contribute to the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Lifestyle, including dietary habits and physical activity, is a modifiable risk factor and thus represents the main target for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. In this review, we summarize the evidence regarding nutritional aspects (i.e. total energy intake, saturated fat and carbohydrates intake, certain foods or drinks and dietary patterns as a whole) in the treatment of NAFLD. In addition, we analyze the evidence concerning the independent effect of physical activity, including aerobic and resistance training, in the treatment of NAFLD. A therapeutic algorithm according to results from intervention trials is also provided for clinicians and other healthcare professionals involved in the management of NAFLD.
Factors Contributing to Popularity of Loyalty Programs
Authors: Yan Wei , Cui Zhijian
Published: March 2016

Using secondary data from multiple sources, this study empirically examines the factors that contribute to the popularity of loyalty programs in the airline and hotel industries in the context of emerging market economies. We find that the number of partners, the number of redemption options, and the threshold for obtaining elite status all positively contribute to a loyalty program’s popularity. However, the award redemption requirement has the opposite effects on a program’s popularity. Our results show that the redemption requirement of top-tier preferential treatment negatively affects the program’s popularity. Surprisingly, the redemption requirement of entry-tier preferential treatment positively affects the program’s popularity. As one of the few program-level empirical studies, this study contributes new insights to the extant literature on loyalty program management and provides managerial guidelines for practitioners in the hospitality sector.
Understanding the Breadth of Futures Studies through a Dialogue with Climate Change
Authors: Gidley Jennifer M.
Published: March 2016

This article explores the breadth of the futures studies field by creating a dialogue with some prominent approaches to climate change. The first half of the article takes an evolutionary perspective on the development of the futures studies field. I show how developments in the field parallel the broader epistemological shift from the centrality of positivism to a plurality of postpositivist approaches particularly in the social sciences. Second, I explore the current scientific research on climate change including issues related to mitigation, adaptation, and coevolution. Finally, I apply my futures typology that includes five paradigmatic approaches to undertake a dialogue between futures studies and climate change.
The University Foresight Network
Authors: Bishop Peter
Published: March 2016

Five academic programs in futures studies and strategic foresight collaborated over the 2012–2013 academic year for the purpose of investigating what they were teaching, and particularly what was common among the programs. Each of the five programs presented its curriculum to the other programs and answered their questions. Peter Bishop from the Houston program and Jim Dator from the Hawaii program synthesized the results with a special focus on a comparison of their two programs. Bishop presented the results at the biannual meeting of the World Futures Studies Federation in Bucharest, Romania, in July 2013.
Ischaemic stroke in the setting of glioblastoma: A case series and review of the literature
Authors: Lasocki Arian , Gaillard Frank
Published: March 2016

Ischaemic strokes are an uncommon occurrence in the setting of glioblastoma, and clinically challenging due to co-existing deficits from the tumour, but important to consider as a possible cause of clinical deterioration. Modern therapies and their associated improvements in survival may lead to a greater overall incidence. The possible underlying causes of ischaemia are multiple, and several factors may contribute in a given patient. This review discusses the causative mechanisms of ischaemic strokes in the setting of glioblastoma, with some illustrative cases.
Targeting B-cell receptor signaling kinases in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: the promise of entospletinib
Authors: Sharman Jeff , Di Paolo Julie
Published: March 2016

The B-cell receptor signaling pathway has emerged as an important therapeutic target in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other B-cell malignancies. Novel agents have been developed targeting the signaling enzymes spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK), Bruton’s tyrosine kinase, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta. This review discusses the rationale for targeting these enzymes, as well as the preclinical and clinical evidence supporting their role as therapeutic targets, with a particular focus on SYK inhibition with entospletinib.
Visual Foraging With Fingers and Eye Gaze
Authors: Jóhannesson Ómar I. , Thornton Ian M. , Smith Irene J. , Chetverikov Andrey , Kristjánsson Árni
Published: March 2016

A popular model of the function of selective visual attention involves search where a single target is to be found among distractors. For many scenarios, a more realistic model involves search for multiple targets of various types, since natural tasks typically do not involve a single target. Here we present results from a novel multiple-target foraging paradigm. We compare finger foraging where observers cancel a set of predesignated targets by tapping them, to gaze foraging where observers cancel items by fixating them for 100 ms. During finger foraging, for most observers, there was a large difference between foraging based on a single feature, where observers switch easily between target types, and foraging based on a conjunction of features where observers tended to stick to one target type. The pattern was notably different during gaze foraging where these condition differences were smaller. Two conclusions follow: (a) The fact that a sizeable number of observers (in particular during gaze foraging) had little trouble switching between different target types raises challenges for many prominent theoretical accounts of visual attention and working memory. (b) While caveats must be noted for the comparison of gaze and finger foraging, the results suggest that selection mechanisms for gaze and pointing have different operational constraints.
Intravesical botulinum toxin-A: Does the injection template matter?
Authors: Broome JD , Irwin PP
Published: March 2016

Objective:

The efficacy of intravesical botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) for the treatment of idiopathic detrusor overactivity (IDO) is well-established and evidence-based. The optimal regime in terms of dose, distribution, depth of injection and number of injections has not been determined and there is still considerable variation throughout clinical practice. We aim to establish the optimum template for bladder injections.

Patients and methods:

All patients had urodynamically-proven IDO which had failed conservative and medical management. AbobotulinumtoxinA (250 units) was injected into the detrusor and sub-urothelium in one of five injection templates under general anaesthetic. An Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) and International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS)-Likert quality of life (QoL) score was completed pre-operatively and at six weeks post-operatively. In those who underwent repeat treatments the time to re-commencement of pharmacological therapy was recorded.

Results:

In total 111 patients received 170 treatments. The average age of patients was 57 (range: 17–86) and the male: female ratio was 0.18:1. Overall there was a mean improvement in the OABSS by −3.7 points±4.29 (standard deviation (SD) ( p<0.01) and an average change in the QoL score of −2.18±2.17 (SD) ( p<0.01) with BTX-A treatment. When analysed by template subgroup there was no statistically significant difference in the magnitude of change for any template over the other four for either the OABSS ( p=0.78) or QoL scores ( p=0.56). Forty-one patients had multiple treatments and had data collected for the duration to treatment failure. The overall average time to treatment failure was 11.2±7.9 months. Subgroup analysis showed that there was no statistically significant ( p=0.783) difference in time to treatment failure for any one of the injection distributions.

Conclusion:

This study has shown that altering the injection protocol of BTX-A did not affect the clinical outcome in terms of symptoms, QoL or in the time to treatment failure.
Hepatic fibrosarcoma incarcerated in a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia in a cat
Authors: Linton Michael , Tong Lydia , Simon Adrian , Buffa Eugene , McGregor Ross , Labruyére Julien , Foster Darren
Published: March 2016

Case summary

A 14-year-old, female neutered domestic shorthair presented for dyspnoea. Thoracic ultrasonography and radiography showed that a heterogeneous mass was present within the pericardial sac, and the mass continued caudally with the mesenteric fat. On CT, the outline of the diaphragm was not continuous and there was an obvious defect with diaphragmatic thickening present at the mid-level of the liver. A pleural effusion and a small-volume pericardial effusion were also present. A ventral midline coeliotomy and median sternotomy revealed a 5 × 6 × 7 cm firm, irregular, tan-coloured soft tissue mass within the pericardial sac attached to both the diaphragmatic defect and liver. The mass was carefully dissected away from the heart and the diaphragmatic defect was repaired with primary closure. Postoperatively, the cat had a persistent pneumothorax that required continuous pleural suction for 41 h. The cat died 44 h postoperatively. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the mass to be a hepatic fibrosarcoma incarcerated in a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH).

Relevance and novel information

This is the first reported case of metaplastic transformation of liver into a sarcoma in a cat with PPDH. In addition, hepatic fibrosarcoma is a rarely reported location for fibrosarcoma in this species.
Engineering cooperation: How Americans and Russians manage joint operation of the International Space Station
Authors: Bianco William T. , Landis Robert
Published: March 2016

The 1990s agreements that created the International Space Station (ISS) described the effort as a partnership of equals, a joint venture between organizations that remained independent in terms of many procedures, norms, goals, and the assumptions underlying these factors. As a result, successful joint ISS operations required the participants, most notably the American and Russian space programs, to reconcile different procedures, norms, and training regimes, as well as the beliefs that underlie these practices. Drawing on a combination of operational experience, first-hand observation, and interviews, this paper focuses on how the two programs reduced conflict and engendered cooperation. It also uses the ISS experience to consider how future joint efforts can be designed to minimize conflict between international partners.
On the Boundaries of Race
Authors: Liebler Carolyn A.
Published: March 2016

Socially constructed race groups have boundaries that define their membership. I study temporal trends and group-specific patterns in race and ancestry responses provided for children of interracial marriages. Common responses indicate contemporary definitions of race groups (and perhaps emerging groups); uncommon responses reveal socially defined limits of race group membership. I leverage dense, nonpublic, Census Bureau data from 1960 to 2010 to do this and include a more diverse set of families, a longer time span, and more accurate estimates than prior research. I find that the location of race group boundaries varies over time and across 11 distinct family types. Since mixed-heritage responses became possible in 1980, they have been common in most groups. Part Asians have almost always been reported as multiracial or mixed ancestry. A number of (non-Asian) mixed-heritage children are described as monoracial on the census form, particularly children with American Indian heritage. Over time, part whites are decreasingly reported as monoracially white (white race with no nonwhite ancestry). Black heritage is reported for part blacks, but monoracial black responses became nonmodal by 1980. Part Pacific Islanders show similarities to part Asians and part American Indians. Given the predominance of multiracial and mixed-ancestry Asian responses since 1980, Asian multiracial may be an emerging socially recognized race category. Black multiracial shows a similar pattern. Monoracial responses (especially common among white–American Indians and black–American Indians) create important but hard-to-measure complexity in groups’ compositions.
Comorbidities Among Persons With Incident Psychiatric Condition
Authors: Fluegge Kyle R.
Published: March 2016

Objective: I sought to determine how medical comorbidities co-exist with incident psychiatric condition. Method: I used data from all 11 available waves (1992-2012) of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). I identified 4,358 index participants with self-reported incident psychiatric condition. I collected comorbidity data from participants preceding, including, and succeeding that incident wave. Comorbidities assessed included high blood pressure (HBP), diabetes mellitus, cancer, lung disease, heart disease, stroke, and arthritis. Modified Poisson regression combined with log-linked binomial regression was used to estimate relative risks (RRs) of reporting a comorbidity preceding and following the incident wave. Multiple comparison testing dictated significance of RRs with p < .007. Results: For the waves preceding the index wave, the RRs of reporting all comorbidities except HBP and cancer were significantly ( p < .007) increased. For the waves following incident psychiatric condition, the risks of reporting heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease were significantly ( p < .007) increased. These results were adjusted for participant age, race, gender, other comorbidities listed, and the wave in which a comorbidity was reported. Conclusion: The bidirectional association between a psychiatric condition and medical illnesses could only be statistically confirmed for lung disease, diabetes, and heart disease. It is of interest to determine how reporting a psychiatric condition may affect the sequelae of health care use and treatment outcomes for patients with either of these comorbidities or a combination of them.
Age and Gender Differences in Relationships Among Emotion Regulation, Mood, and Mental Health
Authors: Masumoto Kouhei , Taishi Nozomi , Shiozaki Mariko
Published: March 2016

Objective: We investigated the effects of age on mood and mental health-mediated emotion regulation, such as cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression, and examined whether these relationships differ according to gender. Method: We recruited 936 Japanese participants. They comprised six age groups ranging from 20 to 70 years old, with 156 participants in each age group and equal numbers of men and women. Results: Structural equation model analysis showed that older participants were more likely to use cognitive reappraisal, further enhancing positive mood and reducing negative mood, whereas, age did not affect expressive suppression. Moreover, expressive suppression had a smaller impact on mood than cognitive reappraisal. A multi-group analysis showed significant gender differences. In men, cognitive reappraisal increased with age and influenced mood more positively than in women. Discussion: Our findings indicated gender differences in aging effects on emotion regulation. We discussed about these results from the cognitive process, motivation to emotion regulation, and cultural differences.
The role of autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation in the management of indolent B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Kuruvilla John
Published: March 2016

Despite improvements over the past decade in the overall survival of patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas, these lymphomas remain largely incurable with standard therapies. Immunochemotherapy with rituximab-based regimens has become a well-established standard of care in the primary and relapsed disease settings. The role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in indolent lymphoma has been defined by the adoption of this therapy largely in the relapse setting because randomized trials in the first-line setting have not shown survival advantages. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation has the possibility for cure because of the potential for immunologic graft-versus-lymphoma effect, but there are significant concerns regarding nonrelapse mortality. Autologous stem cell transplantation offers a safe treatment platform, but relapse remains a significant issue. The role of transplantation in the current treatment landscape of immunochemotherapy has not been conclusively proven, and randomized trials are lacking. This review summarizes the current relevant data regarding transplantation in indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma and highlights the issues relevant to clinicians in the field.
Tidal flow variability measured by impedance pneumography relates to childhood asthma risk
Authors: Seppä Ville-Pekka , Pelkonen Anna S. , Kotaniemi-Syrjänen Anne , Viik Jari , Mäkelä Mika J. , Malmberg L. Pekka
Published: March 2016

Lung function variability is a fundamental feature of asthma but has been difficult to quantify in children due to methodological limitations. We assessed the feasibility and clinical implications of overnight flow variability measurement at home using impedance pneumography in young children.

44 children aged 3–7 years with recurrent or persistent lower airway symptoms were recruited. Patients were divided into high- or lower-risk groups (HR and LR groups) based on their risk of asthma (modified Asthma Predictive Index), and a third group was formed of children who had a history of wheeze and who were treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS group). Tidal volume and the derived flow were recorded through skin electrodes using impedance pneumography at home during sleep. Quantities describing overnight change in expiratory flow–volume minimum curve shape correlation (CSRmin) and respiratory chaoticity (minimum noise limit (NLmin)) were derived.

Recordings were successful in 34 children. CSRmindiffered between the HR and LR groups (p=0.002) and between the HR and ICS groups (p=0.003), indicating a stronger change in flow profile shape in the HR group. NLmindiffered between the HR and LR groups (p=0.014), indicating momentarily lowered chaoticity in the HR group.

Impedance pneumography was found feasible for quantifying nocturnal lung function variability and the measured variability was associated with risk of asthma in young children.