bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Myosin Activator Omecamtiv Mecarbil Increases Myocardial Oxygen Consumption and Impairs Cardiac Efficiency Mediated by Resting Myosin ATPase Activity
Authors: Bakkehaug Jens Petter , Kildal Anders Benjamin , Engstad Erik Torgersen , Boardman Neoma , Næsheim Torvind , Rønning Leif , Aasum Ellen , Larsen Terje Steinar , Myrmel Truls , How Ole-Jakob
Published: May 2015

Background—

Omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) is a novel inotropic agent that prolongs systolic ejection time and increases ejection fraction through myosin ATPase activation. We hypothesized that a potentially favorable energetic effect of unloading the left ventricle, and thus reduction of wall stress, could be counteracted by the prolonged contraction time and ATP-consumption.

Methods and Results—

Postischemic left ventricular dysfunction was created by repetitive left coronary occlusions in 7 pigs (7 healthy pigs also included). In both groups, systolic ejection time and ejection fraction increased after OM (0.75 mg/kg loading for 10 minutes, followed by 0.5 mg/kg/min continuous infusion). Cardiac efficiency was assessed by relating myocardial oxygen consumption to the cardiac work indices, stroke work, and pressure–volume area. To circumvent potential neurohumoral reflexes, cardiac efficiency was additionally assessed in ex vivo mouse hearts and isolated myocardial mitochondria. OM impaired cardiac efficiency; there was a 31% and 23% increase in unloaded myocardial oxygen consumption in healthy and postischemic pigs, respectively. Also, the oxygen cost of the contractile function was increased by 63% and 46% in healthy and postischemic pigs, respectively. The increased unloaded myocardial oxygen consumption was confirmed in OM-treated mouse hearts and explained by an increased basal metabolic rate. Adding the myosin ATPase inhibitor, 2,3-butanedione monoxide abolished all surplus myocardial oxygen consumption in the OM-treated hearts.

Conclusions—

Omecamtiv mecarbil, in a clinically relevant model, led to a significant myocardial oxygen wastage related to both the contractile and noncontractile function. This was mediated by that OM induces a continuous activation in resting myosin ATPase.
Cluster-Randomized Clinical Trial Examining the Impact of Platelet Function Testing on Practice
Authors: Wang Tracy Y. , Henry Timothy D. , Effron Mark B. , Honeycutt Emily , Hess Connie N. , Zettler Marjorie E. , Cohen David J. , Baker Brian A. , Berger Peter B. , Anstrom Kevin J. , Angiolillo Dominick J. , Peterson Eric D.
Published: May 2015

Background—

Little is known about how clinicians use platelet function testing to guide choice and dosing of adenosine diphosphate receptor inhibitor (ADPri) therapy in routine community practice.

Methods and Results—

The Treatment With Adenosine Diphosphate Receptor Inhibitors: Longitudinal Assessment of Treatment Patterns and Events After Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)—Prospective, Open Label, Antiplatelet Therapy Study (TRANSLATE-POPS) was a cluster-randomized trial in which 100 hospitals were assigned access to no-cost platelet function testing versus usual care for acute myocardial infarction patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. In both arms, ADPri treatment decisions were left up to the care team. The primary end point was the frequency of ADPri therapy adjustment before discharge. Secondary end points included 30-day rates of major adverse cardiovascular events and Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Coronary Arteries–defined bleeding events. Platelet function testing was performed in 66.9% of patients treated in intervention sites versus 1.4% of patients in usual care sites. Intervention arm patients were more likely to have ADPri therapy adjustment than usual care patients (14.8% versus 10.5%,
P
=0.004; odds ratio 1.68, 95% confidence interval 1.18–2.40); however, there were no significant differences in 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (4.8% versus 5.4%,
P
=0.73; odds ratio 0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.66–1.34) or bleeding (4.3% versus 4.2%,
P
=0.33; odds ratio 0.86, 95% confidence interval 0.55–1.34). One-year outcomes were also not significantly different between groups. An as-treated analysis showed higher incidence of ADPri therapy adjustment among intervention arm patients who received platelet function testing than untested usual care arm (16.4% versus 10.2%,
P
<0.0001), but no significant differences in major adverse cardiovascular events or bleeding.

Conclusions—

TRANSLATE-POPS found that when clinicians routinely used platelet function testing, they were more likely to adjust their choice or dosing of ADPri therapy; yet with few changes in therapy overall, significant differences in clinical outcomes were not seen.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01088503.
Change in Coronary Blood Flow After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Relation to Baseline Lesion Physiology
Authors: Nijjer Sukhjinder S. , Petraco Ricardo , van de Hoef Tim P. , Sen Sayan , van Lavieren Martijn A. , Foale Rodney A. , Meuwissen Martijn , Broyd Christopher , Echavarria-Pinto Mauro , Al-Lamee Rasha , Foin Nicolas , Sethi Amarjit , Malik Iqbal S. , Mikhail Ghada W. , Hughes Alun D. , Mayet Jamil , Francis Darrel P. , Di Mario Carlo , Escaned Javier , Piek Jan J. , Davies Justin E.
Published: May 2015

Background—

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) aims to increase coronary blood flow by relieving epicardial obstruction. However, no study has objectively confirmed this and assessed changes in flow over different phases of the cardiac cycle. We quantified the change in resting and hyperemic flow velocity after PCI in stenoses defined physiologically by fractional flow reserve and other parameters.

Methods and Results—

Seventy-five stenoses (67 patients) underwent paired flow velocity assessment before and after PCI. Flow velocity was measured over the whole cardiac cycle and the wave-free period. Mean fractional flow reserve was 0.68±0.02. Pre-PCI, hyperemic flow velocity is diminished in stenoses classed as physiologically significant compared with those classed nonsignificant (
P
<0.001). In significant stenoses, flow velocity over the resting wave-free period and hyperemic flow velocity did not differ statistically. After PCI, resting flow velocity over the wave-free period increased little (5.6±1.6 cm/s) and significantly less than hyperemic flow velocity (21.2±3 cm/s;
P
<0.01). The greatest increase in hyperemic flow velocity was observed when treating stenoses below physiological cut points; treating stenoses with fractional flow reserve ≤0.80 gained Δ28.5±3.8 cm/s, whereas those fractional flow reserve >0.80 had a significantly smaller gain (Δ4.6±2.3 cm/s;
P
<0.001). The change in pressure-only physiological indices demonstrated a curvilinear relationship to the change in hyperemic flow velocity but was flat for resting flow velocity.

Conclusions—

Pre-PCI physiology is strongly associated with post-PCI increase in hyperemic coronary flow velocity. Hyperemic flow velocity increases 6-fold more when stenoses classed as physiologically significant undergo PCI than when nonsignificant stenoses are treated. Resting flow velocity measured over the wave-free period changes at least 4-fold less than hyperemic flow velocity after PCI.
High Event Rate After a First Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Ritsinger Viveca , Saleh Nawsad , Lagerqvist Bo , Norhammar Anna
Published: May 2015

Background—

Patients with diabetes mellitus have reduced longevity after acute coronary syndromes and revascularization. However, knowledge of the long-term complication rates and patterns from an everyday life setting is lacking.

Methods and Results—

Consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention included in the Swedish Coronary Angiography Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR) between 2006 and 2010 and with no previous revascularization were prospectively followed up for combined cardiovascular events (first of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure) until December 31, 2010. The mean follow-up period was 920 days (SD, 530 days). Differences in background and procedural characteristics were adjusted for in a multivariate Cox regression model. Of 58 891 patients, mean age 67 years, 19% had diabetes mellitus; 27% of them were on diet treatment, 33% on oral glucose lowering, and 40% on insulin treatment. At admission, cardiovascular risk factors, multiple coronary vessel, and left main stem disease were more frequent in patients with diabetes mellitus and their revascularization was less often complete. The adjusted risk for combined cardiovascular events was higher in patients on insulin (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], 1.63 [1.55–1.72]), on oral treatment (1.23 [1.15–1.31]), and on diet alone (1.21 [1.12–1.29]) compared with patients without diabetes mellitus. Insulin-treated patients ran an increased risk of restenosis (1.54 [1.39–1.71]) and stent thrombosis (1.56 [1.25–1.96]).

Conclusions—

The prognosis after a first percutaneous coronary intervention is more severe in patients with diabetes mellitus, in particular, in patients treated with insulin, with higher rates of mortality, cardiovascular events, and stent thrombosis over the following 5 years.
Magnitude of Troponin Elevation and Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients Treated With and Without Revascularization
Authors: Bagai Akshay , Huang Zhen , Lokhnygina Yuliya , Harrington Robert A. , Armstrong Paul W. , Strony John , White Harvey D. , Leonardi Sergio , Held Claes , Van de Werf Frans , Wallentin Lars , Tricoci Pierluigi , Mahaffey Kenneth W.
Published: May 2015

Background—

In patients with non–ST-segment–elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE ACS), elevated troponin levels identify patients at high risk for adverse outcomes; however, it is unknown whether the magnitude of troponin elevation during hospitalization remains predictive of subsequent events in patients undergoing coronary revascularization.

Methods and Results—

We studied 12 635 patients with NSTE ACS in the Thrombin Receptor Antagonist for Clinical Event Reduction in Acute Coronary Syndrome (TRACER) study with at least 1 troponin measurement during index hospitalization. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine the relationship between peak troponin level (standardized as the ratio of peak troponin value measured during hospitalization and local laboratory upper reference limit [URL]) and revascularization on all-cause mortality at 2 years. Revascularization (percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft) was performed during index hospitalization in 8586 patients (68.0%); revascularized patients had higher peak troponin ratios (median, 23 versus 9.5× URL). Among patients that did not undergo revascularization, the mortality rate at 2 years increased in a curvilinear fashion with increasing levels of peak troponin. In contrast, the mortality rate at 2 years remained constant irrespective of peak troponin levels among revascularized patients (
P
for interaction=0.004). This relationship was unchanged after multivariable adjustment.

Conclusions—

There is a differential relationship between the magnitude of troponin elevation and long-term mortality in ACS patients treated with and without revascularization. Although prognostically important in patients treated without revascularization, the prognostic implications of peak troponin level seem to be minimal in revascularized patients.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00527943.
Transvenous Implantable Cardioverter‐Defibrillator Lead Reliability: Implications for Postmarket Surveillance
Authors: Kramer Daniel B. , Hatfield Laura A. , McGriff Deepa , Ellis Christopher R. , Gura Melanie T. , Samuel Michelle , Retel Linda Kallinen , Hauser Robert G.
Published: May 2015

Background

As implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator technology evolves, clinicians and patients need reliable performance data on current transvenous implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator systems. In addition, real‐world reliability data could inform postmarket surveillance strategies directed by regulators and manufacturers.

Methods and Results

We evaluated Medtronic Sprint Quattro, Boston Scientific Endotak, and St Jude Medical Durata and Riata
ST
Optim leads implanted by participating center physicians between January 1, 2006 and September 1, 2012. Our analytic sample of 2653 patients (median age 65, male 73%) included 445 St Jude, 1819 Medtronic, and 389 Boston Scientific leads. After a median of 3.2 years, lead failure was 0.28% per year (95%
CI
, 0.19 to 0.43), with no statistically significant difference among manufacturers. Simulations based on these results suggest that detecting performance differences among generally safe leads would require nearly 10 000 patients or very long follow‐up.

Conclusions

Currently marketed implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator leads rarely fail, which may be reassuring to clinicians advising patients about risks and benefits of transvenous implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator systems. Regulators should consider the sample size implications when designing comparative effectiveness studies and evaluating new technology for preventing sudden cardiac death.
The Mayo Clinic Arizona Spasmodic Dysphonia Experience
Authors: Patel Alpen B. , Bansberg Stephen F. , Adler Charles H. , Lott David G. , Crujido Lisa
Published: May 2015

Objective:

Analyze demographic data collected over a 25-year experience of 718 patients with spasmodic dysphonia (SD) who have been treated with botulinum toxin-A (BoNT-A) and compare our data with previously published studies.

Methods:

Seven hundred eighteen patients with SD were treated with 6621 BoNT-A injections at Mayo Clinic Arizona between 1989 and 2014. All patients were treated by the same physician team. Background demographic data for each patient were recorded.

Results:

Of 718 patients, 557 patients were female (77.6%). Six hundred sixty of 718 (91.8%) patients had adductor SD (AdSD), and 58 of 718 (8.1%) patients had abductor SD (AbSD). Average age of onset was 51 years. Of 718 patients, 378 (52.6%) had vocal tremor (VT); VT was present in 54.4% of AdSD patients and 32.1% of AbSD patients. Thirty-seven of 718 (5.2%) patients had other dystonias, including cervical dystonia (2.3%), blepharospasm (1.4%), limb dystonia (1.1%), and oromandibular dystonia (0.3%). A positive family history of SD was present in only 6 of 718 patients (0.8%) and of other dystonias in 11 of 718 patients (1.5%).

Conclusions:

Spasmodic dysphonia is a chronic and potentially disabling focal laryngeal dystonia. The Mayo Clinic Arizona SD experience compares to prior reports and reveals a female preponderance, onset in middle age, infrequent hereditary pattern, high co-occurrence of VT, and low co-occurrence of other dystonias.
Average Ambulatory Measures of Sound Pressure Level, Fundamental Frequency, and Vocal Dose Do Not Differ Between Adult Females With Phonotraumatic Lesions and Matched Control Subjects
Authors: Van Stan Jarrad H. , Mehta Daryush D. , Zeitels Steven M. , Burns James A. , Barbu Anca M. , Hillman Robert E.
Published: May 2015

Objectives:

Clinical management of phonotraumatic vocal fold lesions (nodules, polyps) is based largely on assumptions that abnormalities in habitual levels of sound pressure level (SPL), fundamental frequency (f0), and/or amount of voice use play a major role in lesion development and chronic persistence. This study used ambulatory voice monitoring to evaluate if significant differences in voice use exist between patients with phonotraumatic lesions and normal matched controls.

Methods:

Subjects were 70 adult females: 35 with vocal fold nodules or polyps and 35 age-, sex-, and occupation-matched normal individuals. Weeklong summary statistics of voice use were computed from anterior neck surface acceleration recorded using a smartphone-based ambulatory voice monitor.

Results:

Paired t tests and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests resulted in no statistically significant differences between patients and matched controls regarding average measures of SPL, f0, vocal dose measures, and voicing/voice rest periods. Paired t tests comparing f0 variability between the groups resulted in statistically significant differences with moderate effect sizes.

Conclusions:

Individuals with phonotraumatic lesions did not exhibit differences in average ambulatory measures of vocal behavior when compared with matched controls. More refined characterizations of underlying phonatory mechanisms and other potentially contributing causes are warranted to better understand risk factors associated with phonotraumatic lesions.
Party Nomination Rules and Campaign Participation
Authors: Kernell Georgia
Published: May 2015

This study examines how political party organizations shape campaign participation in advanced industrialized parliamentary democracies. In some parties, members directly nominate candidates to run for parliament. In others, selection is the sole responsibility of the party leadership. Two countervailing arguments are presented: one stating that member participation will increase incentives to get involved in campaigns; the other contending that democratic nominations expose internal party divisions and depress participation. The hypotheses are tested using cross-national election surveys and original candidate selection data. Participation is measured in two ways: campaign activity and political persuasion. The results suggest that partisans are more likely to participate when leaders, rather than members, select candidates. In addition, the article examines the role of party ideology, size, incumbency, and heterogeneity in shaping participation.
Integrating Positive Psychology Into Counseling Psychology Doctoral Education
Authors: Georges Colleen M. , Tomlinson-Clarke Saundra M.
Published: May 2015

Strategies for integrating positive psychology theory and practice into the existing counseling psychology training program model within the framework of the Counseling Psychology Core are proposed. The three main clusters (i.e., Foundational, Functional, Organizational) and subcategories of the Counseling Psychology Core Competencies provide the framework for integrating positive psychology approaches into doctoral education. Integrating positive psychology and counseling psychology increases counseling psychologists’ familiarity with positive psychology treatment approaches, and maximizes counseling psychologists’ ability to promote empirically based positive psychology interventions designed to assist individuals, communities, and organizations in achieving positive life outcomes.
How to make a career by writing against jazz: Anton Giulio Bragaglia’s Jazz Band (1929)
Authors: Cerchiari Luca
Published: May 2015

Anton Giulio Bragaglia’s book Jazz Band (1929) is a unique case. The author (1890–1960), a well-known Italian writer, critic, theatre director and a pioneer in photography and cinema, in his early years joined Futurism, the literary and artistic movement started and led by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti. Marinetti and other Futurists (Carmelich, Casavola, Fillia, Manolo, Nervetti) showed interest in African-American music and wrote about it. In the 1920s, when jazz became popular all over the world, Futurist authors were the first to promote jazz fiction. After 1927, however, Mussolini’s Fascist regime made it increasingly difficult to promote international culture, including music. Fascism appreciated Bragaglia’s Jazz Band, an ambivalent yet violent attack against African-American music and dance, divided between fascination and racist rejection. Thanks to Jazz Band, Bragaglia was back in favor with the Fascist regime and ultimately was appointed Director of Teatro delle Arti (1937), the first Italian public theatre.
Work experience during higher education and post-graduation occupational outcomes: A comparative study on four European countries
Authors: Passaretta Giampiero , Triventi Moris
Published: May 2015

This article examines the relationship between work experience acquired during higher education and post-graduation labour market outcomes in four European countries: Germany, Italy, Norway and Spain. A theoretical framework that shows in which institutional contexts work experience may be a ‘competitive advantage’ for young graduates is developed. In the empirical analysis, data from the Higher Education and Graduate Employment in Europe (CHEERS) and Research into Employment and Professional Flexibility (REFLEX) surveys are used to examine the effect of a typology of student employment (accounting for both length and coherence of work experience with the field of study attended) on several occupational outcomes 4–5 years after graduation. The empirical results show that, in Italy and especially in Spain, work activities during tertiary education are associated with better labour market positions after graduation: any type of work experience increases employability and reduces the risk of unemployment, and furthermore, previous work experience – especially when coherent with the field of study – decreases the probability of skill mismatch in future occupations. The effect of student employment, however, is smaller for most outcomes in Germany and negligible in Norway.
Modeling of compression curves of phase change graphite composites using Maxwell and Kelvin models
Authors: Alzoubi MF , Khateeb Siddique , Al-Hallaj S
Published: May 2015

Materials containing phase change and graphite composites are very attractive materials for energy storage and thermal management applications because of their high thermal conductivity and heat storage characteristics. Mostly, these composites are currently used in thermal management of lithium-ion batteries to regulate the battery temperature and protect the battery from undesirable thermal runaway and also it can be used in other thermal energy storage applications. Several samples with expanded graphite impregnated with phase change material composites such as paraffin wax were tested in quasi-static stress–strain compression tests. To provide these composites with flexibility and compressibility, a special silicon polymer added to the phase change material–expanded graphite composite resulted in a new phase change material with expanded graphite and polymer composite; for which several samples of this composite were tested as well. The compression tests were performed using an Instron 3300R floor model universal testing system at a constant platen speed of 52 mm/min. All tests were conducted at room temperature and they were compressed up to failure. All phase change material–expanded graphite composite samples were tested in-plane and through-plane relative to the expanded graphite compaction directions. Both phase change material–expanded graphite composite samples in in-plane and through-plane directions showed distinct and unique mechanical and thermal characteristic responses. Compression stress–strain tests for all samples were modeled using a combined constitutive viscoelastic polymeric foam model equation based on Kelvin and Maxwell models. In this research, the Maxwell–Kelvin viscoelastic model was used to calibrate the compression tests for expanded graphite, phase change material–expanded graphite, and phase change material with expanded graphite and polymer composites. It was found that ductility and viscous characteristics of the model are due to the presence of expanded graphite whereas brittleness characteristics are due to the presence of phase change material. The polymeric foam model equation is a powerful tool for designing new energy storage composites with targeted mechanical and thermal characteristics such as yield strength, Young's modulus, thermal conductivity, and latent heat. From curve fitting of the experimental tests of phase change material–expanded graphite composites with the viscoelastic model, several mechanical properties such as elastic and viscous coefficients were computed.
The Role of Metacognitive Reading Strategies, Metacognitive Study and Learning Strategies, and Behavioral Study and Learning Strategies in Predicting Academic Success in Students With and Without a History of Reading Difficulties
Authors: Chevalier Thérèse M. , Parrila Rauno , Ritchie Krista C. , Deacon S. Hélène
Published: May 2015

We examined the self-reported use of reading, study, and learning strategies in university students with a history of reading difficulties (HRD; n = 77) and with no history of reading difficulties (NRD; n = 295). We examined both between-groups differences in strategy use and strategy use as a predictive measure of academic success. Participants completed online questionnaires regarding reading history and strategy use. GPA and frequency of use of academic support services were also obtained for all students. University students with HRD reported a different profile of strategy use than their NRD peers, and self-reported strategy use was differentially predictive of GPA for students with HRD and NRD. For students with HRD, the use of metacognitive reading strategies and the use of study aids predicted academic success. Implications for university student services providers are discussed.
Environmental complexity and feeding enrichment can mitigate effects of space constraints in captive callitrichids
Authors: Sha John Chih Mun , Ismail Rubiah , Marlena Diana , Lee Jia Ling
Published: May 2015

Non-human primates housed in zoos and laboratories often exhibit reduced activity and this poses welfare concerns. We examined the effects of enclosure types of differing size and environmental complexity on the activities of two species of callitrichids. We found that cotton-top tamarins housed in an enclosure of larger size and more environmental complexity showed higher activity levels, which was mainly contributed by more feeding/foraging activity. By contrast, Goeldi’s monkeys housed in an enclosure of larger size and more environmental complexity showed lower activity levels, which was mainly contributed by less locomotory activity. In both species, off-exhibit groups housed in smaller enclosures did not show significantly less locomotory activity which would have been expected, as larger availability spaces should allow more opportunities for locomotion. Furthermore, the feeding enrichment had significant effects on increased feeding/foraging activity for both cotton-top tamarins and Goeldi’s monkeys, irrespective of enclosure type. These results suggested that environmental complexity (or application of feeding enrichment) that provided more opportunities for natural foraging could have a larger effect on overall activity levels compared with larger enclosure sizes that should provide more locomotion opportunities. More importantly, it showed that even when enclosure space and complexity were limited, increased opportunities for foraging through the application of enrichment could increase species-typical behaviours. Such inexpensive, easy to implement enrichment methods should be applied to provide more complex environments for captive non-human primates, particularly in situations where there are logistical and/or cost constraints to the modification of physical exhibits.
Functionalization of polyethyleneterephthalate fibers using galactoglucomannan from spruce wood
Authors: Šauperl Olivera , Doliška Aleš , Hadela Ajra , Strnad Simona
Published: May 2015

Interest in researching biopolymers from renewable resources has risen over recent decades. Biopolymers that are byproducts within industrial production processes are of special importance, thus there is no need for additional fertile soil for their production. During the production of thermo-mechanical pulp within the paper industry, galactoglucomannans (GGMs) are dominant hemicelluloses and are released in large quantities in the processing of water as a byproduct. In this research a new possibility was investigated for the application of GGM from spruce wood. The influence of GGM adsorption from aqueous solutions onto polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) fibers on their surface properties and hydrophilic/hydrophobic character was thoroughly analyzed. The adsorption process was analyzed and optimized using quartz crystal microbalance with a dissipation unit. Total organic carbon determination was applied for evaluating the success of GGM adsorption onto PET fabric samples. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic character of treated fabrics was evaluated by moisture sorption determination as well as by water adsorption determination using tensiometry and water contact angles determination using goniometry. The results showed that even small amounts of adsorbed GGM significantly increased the hydrophilicity of PET fabric samples. Moisture content within standard atmosphere was increased by about 100%, water adsorption by about 250% and water contact angles were decreased from 125° to immediate spreading when comparing non-treated PET fabric with a GGM-treated one. The presented research proved the hypothesis that GGM from spruce wood is potentially highly applicable for functionalization of synthetic textile materials in order to significantly increase their surface hydrophilic characteristics.
Review of heat and water vapor transfer through multilayer fabrics
Authors: Huang Jianhua
Published: May 2015

Multilayer fabrics have been widely used for cold weather clothing and thermal protective clothing. The thermal and water vapor resistances provided by multilayer fabrics are of considerable importance in determining thermal comfort of clothing. Firstly, those studies on the steady-state heat and water vapor transfer through multilayer fabrics are summarized. There are three circumstances between thermal resistance of individual layers and the total thermal resistance of multilayer fabrics, that is, additive thermal resistance of individual layers, less resistance per additional layer, and more resistance per additional layer. Secondly, an overview on unsteady-state heat and water vapor transfer through multilayer fabrics is presented. Thirdly, the models on the heat and water vapor transfer through multilayer fabrics at both steady state and unsteady state are summed up. Finally, several research themes for the future are described.
Antioxidant properties of naturally brown-colored cotton fibers
Authors: Ma Mingbo , Luo Shaohong , Hu Zhihua , Tang Zhirong , Zhou Wenlong
Published: May 2015

Naturally brown-colored cotton (NBCC) fibers have been reported as having excellent antibacterial properties. In this study, the antioxidant properties of NBCC fibers were investigated . The results demonstrate that the antioxidant capacity of NBCC is significantly higher than that of white cotton. An NBCC variety with a darker color has a much higher capacity in which the 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging activities are 6.9 and 6.1 times those of white cotton, respectively. The antioxidant properties of NBCC were durable after scouring and laundering. The phenolic pigment composition in the fibers was found to contribute to their antioxidant properties. The results presented have furthered the understanding of the polyfunctional properties of NBCC fibers and their pigment components.
Study on the effects of the characteristics of a vortex on splice strength in pneumatic yarn splicing
Authors: Wu Zhenyu , Shi Pengfei , Chen Shenyang , Xiang Zhong , Hu Xudong
Published: May 2015

Pneumatic yarn splicing is a complex process that involves the simultaneous movement of two strands of counter-rotating yarn. Depending on the process and structural parameters of the mingling chamber, the airflow field is more dominant in influencing the wrapped effectiveness of untwisted filaments and consequently the splice strength. This study establishes a computational domain of a mingling chamber comprising an inlet channel, accelerating channel, rotating channel, and groove channel. The renormalization-group k–ε turbulence model is adopted to simulate the vortex patterns in the rotating channel under different inlet pressure. Furthermore, a transient mass flow test bench based on the isothermal principle is used to verify the numerical simulation results by comparing the mass flow of a pneumatic splicer. A wrapped model of spliced yarn is presented to describe the effects of wrapped force determined by the characteristic of vortex patterns on the strength of spliced yarn. A strength tester is also used to acquire the strength of spliced yarn produced under different inlet pressures and interpret the reliability of theoretical analysis. Comparisons between numerical results and experimental data show that the inlet pressure of the mingling chamber clearly affects the vorticity of the vortex and the strength of spliced yarn. The vorticity of the vortex will be enhanced with increasing inlet pressure and improve splice strength to avoid insufficient twisting of the yarn end. However, excessive twisting of the yarn end, as reflected by splice strength, would occur if the inlet pressure strengthens continually.
Institutional transition: Internal migration, the propiska, and post-socialist urban change in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Hatcher Craig , Thieme Susan
Published: May 2015

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, there has been remarkable enthusiasm for theorising how transitional processes have unfolded in post-socialist cities. In seeking to extend literature that uses the post-socialist condition as a tool for theory building, we draw attention to the ongoing processes of institutional change in post-socialist cities. In doing so, we reject a ‘top-down’ perspective and examine how these institutional transitions are shaped through processes of ‘domestication’, negotiation and contestation between different interest groups in the city. We develop our argument, by drawing attention to the local political debates surrounding the propiska in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The propiska developed throughout the Soviet Union to control internal migration and is still used today in a less restrictive form. By discussing our case study, we hope to foster attention towards the ongoing contested processes of institutional transition in post-socialist cities.
The Role of Relative Intrinsic Aspirations in Chinese Adolescents’ Prosocial Behaviors
Authors: Fu Xinyuan , Liu Xiaolan , Yang Ying , Zhang Mengyuan , Kou Yu
Published: May 2015

We examined Chinese adolescents’ aspirations and explored the relationship between relative intrinsic aspirations (RIA) and prosocial behaviors and whether adolescents with different levels of RIA have different emphases on self- and other-oriented considerations during prosocial decision making. In Study 1, 236 participants were recruited and completed a questionnaire containing the Aspiration Index and Prosocial Tendencies Measure. The results show that RIA are positively associated with adolescents’ prosocial behaviors. In Study 2, 158 adolescents completed a questionnaire containing the Aspiration Index and measurements of prosocial decision making and considerations in prosocial decision making. To some extent, adolescents with a lower level of RIA have a greater emphasis on self-oriented considerations, whereas adolescents with a higher level of RIA have a greater emphasis on other-oriented considerations. In addition, both studies suggest that Chinese adolescents value intrinsic aspirations above extrinsic ones.
The ‘war on terror’ and the battle for the definition of torture
Authors: Barnes Jamal
Published: May 2015

The use of torture by the Bush administration has raised important questions regarding the strength of the torture taboo. Did US torture signal a regress of the torture prohibition? This article examines the attempts by the United States to re-define torture to better reflect its interests. However, rather than seeing this as a case of norm regression, I show how the United States failed in its revisionist attempts to legitimise its interpretation of torture in international society. The torture taboo remained resilient to US challenges, demonstrating not only the difficulty of norm revisionism but also the robustness of the torture taboo.
Block Constraints in Age–Period–Cohort Models with Unequal-width Intervals
Authors: Luo Liying , Hodges James S.
Published: May 2015

Age–period–cohort (APC) models are designed to estimate the independent effects of age, time periods, and cohort membership. However, APC models suffer from an identification problem: There are no unique estimates of the independent effects that fit the data best because of the exact linear dependency among age, period, and cohort. Among methods proposed to address this problem, using unequal-interval widths for age, period, and cohort categories appears to break the exact linear dependency and thus solve the identification problem. However, this article shows that the identification problem remains in these models; in fact, they just implicitly impose multiple block constraints on the age, period, and cohort effects to achieve identifiability. These constraints depend on an arbitrary choice of widths for the age, period, and cohort intervals and can have nontrivial effects on the estimates. Because these assumptions are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to verify in empirical research, they are qualitatively no different from the assumptions of other constrained estimators. Therefore, the unequal-intervals approach should not be used without an explicit rationale justifying their constraints.
Taming Big Data
Authors: Bail Christopher A.
Published: May 2015

Social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter provide an unprecedented amount of qualitative data about organizations and collective behavior. Yet these new data sources lack critical information about the broader social context of collective behavior—or protect it behind strict privacy barriers. In this article, I introduce social media survey apps (SMSAs) that adjoin computational social science methods with conventional survey techniques in order to enable more comprehensive analysis of collective behavior online. SMSAs (1) request large amounts of public and non-public data from organizations that maintain social media pages, (2) survey these organizations to collect additional data of interest to a researcher, and (3) return the results of a scholarly analysis back to these organizations as incentive for them to participate in social science research. SMSAs thus provide a highly efficient, cost-effective, and secure method for extracting detailed data from very large samples of organizations that use social media sites. This article describes how to design and implement SMSAs and discusses an application of this new method to study how nonprofit organizations attract public attention to their cause on Facebook. I conclude by evaluating the quality of the sample derived from this application of SMSAs and discussing the potential of this new method to study non-organizational populations on social media sites as well.
Mutual Relationship of Strategic Stances and Formulation Methods, and Their Impacts on Performance in Public Local Transit Agencies
Authors: Pasha Obed Q. , Poister Theodore H. , Edwards Lauren H.
Published: May 2015

This study is a continuation of previous work that emphasizes an alignment between the internal management (strategy formulation) of public organizations and their environment (strategic stance). As public organizations formulate strategy through strategic planning or logical incrementalism, they relate to their external environments through the strategy stances of prospector or defender. Current research asserts that organizations with a prospector stance perform better when they adopt logical incrementalism, whereas organizations with a defender stance perform better when they formulate their strategy through formal strategic planning (FSP). Our study on the transit industry, however, could not find support to these assertions.
Upplevelse av trygghet och otrygghet bland patienter med hjärtsvikt som får avancerad sjukvård i hemmet
Authors: Söderberg AnneCharlotte , Karlsson Monica Rydell , Löfvenmark Caroline
Published: May 2015

Aim

The aim of this study was to describe the experience of security and insecurity in patients with chronic heart failure who were treated by Advanced Home Care (AHC) in a city in Sweden.

Background

It is common for patients with heart failure to have frequent readmissions to hospital due to deterioration. The patients have various symptoms such as breathing problems, oedema and fatigue. Being cared for by AHC has become more common for patients with heart failure to reduce deterioration of heart failure and prevent hospitalization.

Method

A qualitative method with semi-structured interviews was used. Eight patients with heart failure participated in the study. The interviews were analysed by content analysis.

Findings

Three categories were identified: ‘home care’, ‘the social network’ and ‘internal and external resources’.

Conclusion

The experience was complex and depended on several factors both within and outside the health care situation. The need for access to a multidisciplinary team was great and it was important that the nursing staff had time to listen. It was important that the care had focus on the patient’s perspective to create security and avoid insecurity.
Muligheder og barrierer for udvikling af den kommunale palliative indsats: Evaluering af et aktionsforskningsinspireret projekt
Authors: Raunkiær Mette
Published: May 2015

Aim

This study is based on a project inspired by action research with the aim to elucidate possibilities and barriers for the organizational and professional development of community palliative care services.

Background

Many people with life-threatening diseases want to stay in their own homes as long as possible. Therefore, community palliative care services are significant. Experience concurrently shows several interdisciplinary and inter-sectorial challenges between professions and different organizations.

Method

The evaluation consisted of continuous reflections of practice by the involved professionals, an interview study with 21 professionals and a questionnaire survey among 88 professionals and 13 relatives.

Results

The evaluation showed that the guideline system The Gold Standard Framework and EORTC-QLQ-C15-PAL in combination with more locally-developed interventions, according to the professionals, had improved the community palliative care services. However, the results also showed barriers for improvement and change of practice: such as mainly insufficient management, lack of commitment among some of the professionals to work with the new interventions, insufficient information technology, reorganization, cost-cutting, and differently structured organizations.

Conclusion

The interventions encouraged the community development palliative care, but also showed that there were barriers for the change process. There is a need for research and development of how to lead and manage change processes and methods of cooperation in community palliative care.
Generating near-extreme Summer Reference Years for building performance simulation
Authors: Jentsch Mark F , Eames Matt E , Levermore Geoff J
Published: May 2015

At present, there is no universally accepted method for deriving near-extreme summer weather data for building performance simulation. Existing data sets such as the Design Summer Years (DSY) used in the UK to estimate summer discomfort in naturally ventilated and free running buildings have been criticised for being inconsistent with the corresponding Test Reference Years (TRY). This paper proposes a method for generating Summer Reference Years (SRY) by adjusting the TRY of a given site with meteorological data in order to represent near-extreme conditions. It takes as the starting point that the TRY is robust, being determined on a monthly basis from the most typical months. Initial simulations for the 14 UK TRY locations show promising results for determining building overheating with the SRY.

Practical application: The proposed method for deriving near-extreme summer years from multi-year data and the corresponding ‘typical’ weather year (TRY) of a given site is applicable to locations worldwide and facilitates summer overheating assessment of naturally ventilated and free running buildings. The method helps to overcome the previous shortcomings of near-extreme summer year selection procedures by providing a clear relationship to the underlying TRY.
Low‐Dose Parenteral Soybean Oil for the Prevention of Parenteral Nutrition–Associated Liver Disease in Neonates With Gastrointestinal Disorders
Authors: Calkins Kara L. , Havranek Thomas , Kelley‐Quon Lorraine I. , Cerny Laura , Flores Martiniano , Grogan Tristan , Shew Stephen B.
Published: May 2015

Background: Neonates with gastrointestinal disorders (GDs) are at high risk for parenteral nutrition–associated liver disease (PNALD). Soybean‐based intravenous lipid emulsions (S‐ILE) have been associated with PNALD. This study's objective was to determine if a lower dose compared with a higher dose of S‐ILE prevents cholestasis without compromising growth. Materials and Methods: This multicenter randomized controlled pilot study enrolled patients with GDs who were ≤5 days of age to a low dose (~1 g/kg/d) (LOW) or control dose of S‐ILE (~3 g/kg/d) (CON). The primary outcome was cholestasis (direct bilirubin [DB] >2 mg/dL) after the first 7 days of age. Secondary outcomes included growth, PN duration, and late‐onset sepsis. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between the LOW (n = 20) and CON groups (n = 16). When the LOW group was compared with the CON group, there was no difference in cholestasis (30% vs 38%, P = .7) or secondary outcomes. However, mean ± SE DB rate of change over the first 8 weeks (0.07 ± 0.04 vs 0.3 ± 0.09 mg/dL/wk, P = .01) and entire study (0.008 ± 0.03 vs 0.2 ± 0.07 mg/dL/wk, P = .02) was lower in the LOW group compared with the CON group. Conclusion: In neonates with GDs who received a lower dose of S‐ILE, DB increased at a slower rate in comparison to neonates who received a higher dose of S‐ILE. Growth was comparable between the groups. This study demonstrates a need for a larger, randomized controlled trial comparing 2 different S‐ILE doses for cholestasis prevention in neonates at risk for PNALD.
Application of Computer-Aided Diagnosis to the Sonographic Evaluation of Cervical Lymph Nodes
Authors: Zhang Junhua , Wang Yuanyuan , Yu Bo , Shi Xinling , Zhang Yufeng
Published: May 2015

We initiated an observer study to evaluate a computerized system developed in our previous study for automatic extraction of 10 features and estimation of the malignancy probability of cervical nodes in sonograms. In the present study, five expert radiologists and five resident radiologists interpreted the sonograms of 178 nodes. The malignancy rating and patient management recommendation (biopsy or follow-up) were made without and then with the computer aid. Under these two reading conditions, the performances of radiologists and agreement among a group of radiologists were evaluated by using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and the κ statistic, respectively. With the computer aid, the performances of radiologists improved significantly, as indicated by the increase in the area under the ROC curve ( Az) from 0.843 to 0.896 ( p = 0.031) and from 0.705 to 0.822 ( p < 0.001), for the expert and resident groups, respectively. Agreement among all 10 radiologists improved from slight to moderate as indicated by an increase in the κ value from 0.195 to 0.421 ( p < 0.001). The average performance of residents with aid ( Az = 0.822) was close to that of experts without aid ( Az = 0.843). Results indicate that computer-aided diagnosis is useful to improve radiologist performance (especially that of inexperienced radiologists) in the ultrasonographic evaluation of cervical nodes and to reduce variability among radiologists.