bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of small water-soluble diazirine-functionalized gold nanoparticles and their photochemical modification
Authors: Ghiassian Sara , Biesinger Mark C. , Workentin Mark S.
Published: July 2014

Dual water and organic solvent soluble 3-aryl-3-(trifluormethyl) diazirine-functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were prepared through a place exchange reaction from triethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EG3-Me) capped AuNPs. These nanoparticles were fully characterized using 1H and 19F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). TGA along with 1H NMR data allowed the determination of 15% incorporation of diazirine (Diaz) ligands onto mixed monolayer AuNPs, while TEM images showed an average diameter of 2.3 ± 0.5 nm. This information led to the estimated molecular formula of Au400 (S-EG4-Diaz)40 (S-EG3-Me)230 for these AuNPs. It is noteworthy that high-resolution XPS was a powerful tool for quantitative analysis. Irradiation of the diazirine capped AuNPs resulted in nitrogen extrusion and the formation of a highly reactive carbene with evidence of a portion of the reaction proceeding via the diazo intermediate and thus requiring a second photon for activation. The carbene species generated was utilized to tether the attached AuNPs via insertion into C=C or O–H functionality inherent on various substrates. Here, we demonstrated that photolysis of the diazirine modified AuNPs in the presence of a variety of model carbene scavengers led to clean and efficient insertion products while maintaining their solubility in polar solvents.
Seedling growth responses to light and mineral N form are predicted by species ecologies and can help explain tree diversity
Authors: Walters Michael B. , Willis John L. , Gottschalk Kurt W.
Published: July 2014

Tree species distributions and diversity could be explained by rank changes in performance over multiple spatiotemporal resource gradients, i.e., resource partitioning. For 14 species planted in 45 harvest gap and closed canopy locations in a mesic northern hardwood forest community, Michigan, USA, we asked the following questions: (i) are species growth responses to light, nitrogen (N), or N form (ammonium vs. nitrate) related to their ecological distributions and phylogenies? and (ii) is there evidence of growth-based resource partitioning over measured resource gradients? Growth responses to the N form were consistent with both differences in uptake energy requirements between N forms and their availability through succession and across fertility gradients; height growth was negatively related to the species shade-tolerance score, especially in high light, i.e., shade-intolerant species responded to soil nitrate-N and shade-tolerant species responded to ammonium-N; fertile soil associated species responded to nitrate-N and infertile soil associated species to ammonium-N; and gymnosperms responded to ammonium-N and angiosperm responses varied. Modeled growth responses to resources showed only modest evidence for rank changes over resource gradients, with N contributing less to rank changes than light. Thus, growth responses to resources were accurately predicted by species ecology and (or) phylogeny; however, there was only modest support for the notion that growth-based resource partitioning underlies community-scale diversity in a northern hardwood forest.
Visualizing Emotions from Chinese Blogs by Textual Emotion Analysis and Recognition Techniques
Authors: Quan Changqin , Ren Fuji
Published: July 2014

The research on blog emotion analysis and recognition has become increasingly important in recent years. In this study, based on the Chinese blog emotion corpus (Ren-CECps), we analyze and compare blog emotion visualization from different text levels: word, sentence, and paragraph. Then, a blog emotion visualization system is designed for practical applications. Machine learning methods are applied for the implementation of blog emotion recognition at different textual levels. Based on the emotion recognition engine, the blog emotion visualization interface is designed to provide a more intuitive display of emotions in blogs, which can detect emotion for bloggers, and capture emotional change rapidly. In addition, we evaluated the performance of sentence emotion recognition by comparing five classification algorithms under different schemas, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the Complement Naive Bayes model for sentence emotion recognition. The system can recognize multi-label emotions in blogs, which provides a richer and more detailed emotion expression.
Equipping IDEs with XML-Path Reasoning Capabilities
Authors: Genevès Pierre , Layaïda Nabil
Published: July 2014

One of the challenges in Web development is to achieve a good level of quality in terms of code size and runtime performance for popular domain-specific languages such as XQuery, XSLT, and XML Schema. We present the first IDE augmented with static detection of inconsistent XPath expressions that assists the programmer with simplifying development and debugging of any application involving XPath expressions. The tool is based on newly developed formal verification techniques based on expressive modal logics, which are now mature enough to be introduced in the process of software development. We further develop this idea in the context of XQuery for which we introduce an analysis for identifying and eliminating dead code automatically. This proof of concept aims at illustrating the benefits of equipping modern IDEs with reasoning capabilities.
The Query Complexity of Scoring Rules
Authors: Azar Pablo Daniel , Micali Silvio
Published: July 2014

Proper scoring rules are crucial tools to elicit truthful information from experts. A scoring rule maps X, an expert-provided distribution over the set of all possible states of the world, and
ω
, a realized state of the world, to a real number representing the expert’s reward for his provided information. To compute this reward, a scoring rule queries the distribution X at various states. The number of these queries is thus a natural measure of the
complexity
of the scoring rule.

We prove that any bounded and strictly proper scoring rule that is deterministic must make a number of queries to its input distribution that is a quarter of the number of states of the world. When the state space is very large, this makes the computation of such scoring rules impractical. We also show a new stochastic scoring rule that is bounded, strictly proper, and which makes only two queries to its input distribution. Thus, using randomness allows us to have significant savings when computing scoring rules.
Interview with Kumiyo Nakakoji
Authors: Atzenbeck Claus
Published: July 2014

Kumiyo Nakakoji is currently a professor at the Unit of Design, Center for the Promotion of Interdisciplinary Education and Research, Kyoto University. She has also been directing the Key Technology Laboratory, Software Research Associates, Inc., Japan. She received her B.S. in information engineering from Osaka University, Japan (1986) and M.S. (1990) and Ph.D. (1993) in computer science from University of Colorado, Boulder, certified by Institute of Cognitive Science. She was a professor at Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo prior to the current positions. She has served as chairs, editors, and committee members for a number of research communities, journals, and conferences, in the fields of Human-Computer Interaction, Software Engineering, and Design and Creativity Support. Nakakoji was awarded the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award from College of Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, in 2006. Her research interests include human-computer interaction design, collective creativity, and knowledge interaction design, which is a framework for the design and development of computational tools for creative knowledge work.
Using computer technology to address the problem of cyberbullying
Authors: Cohen R. , Lam D. Y. , Agarwal N. , Cormier M. , Jagdev J. , Jin T. , Kukreti M. , Liu J. , Rahim K. , Rawat R. , Sun W. , Wang D. , Wexler M.
Published: July 2014

The issue of cyberbullying is a social concern that has arisen due to the prevalent use of computer technology today. In this paper, we present a multi-faceted solution to mitigate the effects of cyberbullying, one that uses computer technology in order to combat the problem. We propose to provide assistance for various groups affected by cyberbullying (the bullied and the bully, both). Our solution was developed through a series of group projects and includes i) technology to detect the occurrence of cyberbullying ii) technology to enable reporting of cyberbullying iii) proposals to integrate third-party assistance when cyberbullying is detected iv) facilities for those with authority to manage online social networks or to take actions against detected bullies. In all, we demonstrate how this important social problem which arises due to computer technology can also leverage computer technology in order to take steps to better cope with the undesirable effects that have arisen.
Resonance-Enhanced Multiphoton Ionization Mass Spectrometry (REMPI-MS): Applications for Process Analysis
Authors: Streibel Thorsten , Zimmermann Ralf
Published: July 2014

Process analysis is an emerging discipline in analytical sciences that poses special requirements on analytical techniques, especially when conducted in an online manner. Mass spectrometric methods seem exceedingly suitable for this task, particularly if a soft ionization method is applied. Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) in combination with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) provides a selective and sensitive means for monitoring (poly)aromatic compounds in process flows. The properties of REMPI and various variations of the ionization process are presented. The potential of REMPI for process analysis is highlighted with several examples, and drawbacks of the method are also noted. Applications of REMPI-TOFMS for the detection and monitoring of aromatic species in a large variety of combustion processes comprising flames, vehicle exhaust, and incinerators are discussed. New trends in technical development and combination with other analytical methods are brought forward.
Shaping Magnetic Fields to Direct Therapy to Ears and Eyes
Authors: Shapiro B. , Kulkarni S. , Nacev A. , Sarwar A. , Preciado D. , Depireux D.A.
Published: July 2014

Magnetic fields have the potential to noninvasively direct and focus therapy to disease targets. External magnets can apply forces on drug-coated magnetic nanoparticles, or on living cells that contain particles, and can be used to manipulate them in vivo. Significant progress has been made in developing and testing safe and therapeutic magnetic constructs that can be manipulated by magnetic fields. However, we do not yet have the magnet systems that can then direct those constructs to the right places, in vivo, over human patient distances. We do not yet know where to put the external magnets, how to shape them, or when to turn them on and off to direct particles or magnetized cells—in blood, through tissue, and across barriers—to disease locations. In this article, we consider ear and eye disease targets. Ear and eye targets are too deep and complex to be targeted by a single external magnet, but they are shallow enough that a combination of magnets may be able to direct therapy to them. We focus on how magnetic fields should be shaped (in space and time) to direct magnetic constructs to ear and eye targets.
Progesterone Inhibits Endometrial Cancer Invasiveness by Inhibiting the TGFβ Pathway
Authors: Bokhari Amber A. , Lee Laura R. , Raboteau Dewayne , Hamilton Chad A. , Maxwell George L. , Rodriguez Gustavo C. , Syed Viqar
Published: July 2014

Increased expression of TGFβ isoforms in human endometrial cancer correlates with decreased survival and poor prognosis. Progesterone has been shown to exert a chemoprotective effect against endometrial cancer, and previous animal models have suggested that these effects are accompanied by changes in TGFβ. The goal of this study was to characterize the effect of progesterone on TGFβ signaling pathway components and on TGFβ-induced protumorigenic activities in endometrial cancer cell lines. Progesterone significantly decreased expression of three TGFβ isoforms at 72 hours after treatment except for TGFβ2 in HEC-1B and TGFβ3 in Ishikawa cells. Progesterone treatment for 120 hours attenuated expression of the three isoforms in all cell lines. Progesterone exposure for 72 hours reduced expression of TGFβ receptors in HEC-1B cells and all but TGFβR1 in Ishikawa cells. Progesterone reduced TGFβR3 expression in RL-95 cells at 72 hours, but TGFβR1 and βR2 expression levels were not affected by progesterone at any time point. SMAD2/3 and pSMAD2/3 were substantially reduced at 72 hours in all cell lines. SMAD4 expression was reduced in RL-95 cells at 24 hours and in HEC-1B and Ishikawa cells at 72 hours following progesterone treatment. Furthermore, progesterone effectively inhibited basal and TGFβ1-induced cancer cell viability and invasion, which was accompanied by increased E-cadherin and decreased vimentin expression. An inhibitor of TGFβRI blocked TGFβ1-induced effects on cell viability and invasion and attenuated antitumor effects of progesterone. These results suggest that downregulation of TGFβ signaling is a key mechanism underlying progesterone inhibition of endometrial cancer growth. Cancer Prev Res; 7(10); 1045–55. ©2014 AACR.
Association between the Body Mass Index and the Risk of Barrett's Esophagus in Japan
Authors: Shinkai Hirohiko , Iijima Katsunori , Koike Tomoyuki , Abe Yasuhiko , Dairaku Naohiro , Inomata Yoshifumi , Kayaba Syoichi , Ishiyama Fumitake , Oikawa Tomoyuki , Ohyauchi Motoki , Ito Hirotaka , Asonuma Sho , Hoshi Tatsuya , Kato Katsuaki , Ohara Shuichi , Shimosegawa Tooru
Published: July 2014

Background: We investigated the association between long-segment Barrett's esophagus and obesity in the Japanese population in a multicenter case-control trial. Methods: One hundred thirteen patients with endoscopically detected Barrett's esophagus with a length of more than 2 cm and the same number of sex- and age-matched controls were prospectively enrolled. Barrett's esophagus was diagnosed based on the Prague C and M criteria. The body mass index (BMI) of the subjects was categorized into the following groups: normal, BMI <22.9; overweight, BMI 23.0-24.9, and obese, BMI >25.0. To determine the association between BMI and the risk of Barrett's esophagus, multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: The basically adjusted regression model adjusted for smoking and alcohol consumption revealed that overweight and obesity were significantly associated with an elevated risk of Barrett's esophagus (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.7, and OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.3-4.6, respectively). The intensity of the association was not attenuated even after adjustment for gastroesophageal reflux disease-related parameters. Conclusions: An increased BMI was associated with an increased risk for Barrett's esophagus through a gastroesophageal reflux-independent mechanism in the Japanese population. Further, unlike in Caucasian populations, being even slightly overweight with a BMI of 23.0-24.9 was an independent risk factor in the Japanese population.
Foreign Body Granuloma Secondary to Ventriculo-Peritoneal Shunt: A Rare Scenario with a New Insight
Authors: Millward Christopher Paul , Perez da Rosa Sandra , Williams Dawn , Kokai George , Byrne Aideen , Pettorini Benedetta
Published: July 2014

Ventriculo-peritoneal shunts are used extensively for the management of hydrocephalus and frequently present with complications such as shunt blockage and infection. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) eosinophilia and allergic responses to the shunt itself are rare, poorly understood but increasingly recognised complications. Here, the authors describe a child who required multiple shunt revision surgeries due to extensive scalp tenderness overlying the shunt tubing and persistent severe headaches despite having a normal working shunt and no CSF infection or eosinophilia. Histological investigation of excised tissue during the last shunt revision demonstrated fibrosis with scar tissue and chronic inflammatory infiltrate with foreign body giant cells and few abortive granulomata. This was felt to represent a foreign body reaction to the shunt. A hypoallergenic ‘extracted' shunt was trialled (extracted Delta® valve and extracted ventricular and peritoneal catheters; Medtronic) and the child has had no further shunt revisions and is currently asymptomatic 1 year after the insertion.
Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy-Candidiasis-Ectodermal Dystrophy: Report of Seven Additional Sicilian Patients and Overview of the Overall Series from Sicily
Authors: Valenzise Mariella , Fierabracci Alessandra , Cappa Marco , Porcelli Paolo , Barcellona Roberto , De Luca Filippo , Barollo Susi , Garelli Silvia , Betterle Corrado
Published: July 2014

Background: Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a rare recessive inherited disease caused by the mutation of the AIRE gene on chromosome 21. To date, 8 Sicilian patients have been described and the R203X AIRE mutation was found to be the most common in this region. Aims: (1) To describe 7 additional Sicilian APECED patients and to review all 15 Sicilian APECED patients who have been investigated by our group in the last years, and (2) to report a novel AIRE gene mutation. Results: Among the 3 cardinal features of APECED, hypoparathyroidism has been already detected in all 15 patients, whereas Addison's disease and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis have so far been found in 10/15 and 12/15 cases, respectively. In 2 consanguineous cases, AIRE gene analysis revealed a novel mutation, named IVS13+2T, in homozygosis. R203X was the most common mutation in this region (30% of alleles and 46.6% of patients), followed by R257X (20% of alleles and 40% of patients). Conclusions: Sicilian APECED patients are confirmed to have some peculiar characteristics from a clinical and genetic point of view. No correlations between genotype and phenotype were identified.
Larynx Preservation Protocols: Long-Term Functional Outcomes in Good Responders to Induction Chemotherapy for Pyriform Sinus Carcinoma
Authors: Vourexakis Zacharias , Janot François , Dulguerov Pavel , Le Ridant Anne-Marie
Published: July 2014

Background/Aims: Larynx preservation for laryngopharyngeal carcinomas aims to avoid the mutilation of a total laryngectomy without compromising survival or functionality. The aim of the present study on pyriform sinus squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is to evaluate the long-term functional outcomes of larynx preservation in good responders to induction chemotherapy (ICT). Methods: The study was carried out in a tertiary referral cancer center in France. The subjects were good responders to ICT for pyriform sinus SCC, subsequently treated with adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) - with or without concomitant chemotherapy - between 1999 and 2008. Only patients without recurrence at 3 years were included. The evaluated pharyngolaryngeal functions were airway patency, oral communication and oral feeding, based on a self-administered questionnaire and the patients' medical records. Results: Twenty-eight patients were retained. Two (7%) patients needed a tracheotomy during or after the treatment and 2 (7%) had total laryngectomy for a late local recurrence. At least 3 years after the end of treatment, all patients were exclusively fed by mouth. All the evaluated patients judged their voice performance as ‘adequate for everyday oral communication'. Conclusions: In the long run, patients with pyriform sinus SCC who are candidates for larynx preservation and respond favorably to ICT present a satisfactory functional outcome when treated with adjuvant RT.
With or without a therapist: Self-help reading for mental health
Authors: McLean Scott
Published: July 2014

Objective:

To address a critical gap in health education scholarship by exploring the contexts in which self-help reading takes place, the motivations of self-help readers and the processes through which such readers engage with books on mental health.

Design:

Structured, in-depth interviews conducted with participants recruited through online classified advertisements.

Setting:

Self-help readers were recruited from the four largest cities in western Canada. The setting of self-help reading as an ‘intervention’ was as natural as possible, with readers being asked to reflect upon their recent experience of reading a self-help book.

Method:

Qualitative interviews conducted with 45 readers. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically.

Results:

Illustrative narratives are provided for two categories of readers: those who read in conjunction with direct therapeutic intervention and those who read without input from a therapist. Findings within both categories indicate a high level of diversity in terms of contexts, motivations and experiences.

Conclusion:

Understanding the diversity of readers and their experiences is an important prerequisite for health educators wishing to develop a critical and responsible approach to positioning self-help literature within the broader range of approaches to promoting mental health.
The depression in women in pregnancy and postpartum period: A follow-up study
Authors: Kirkan Tulay Sati , Aydin Nazan , Yazici Esra , Akcali Aslan Puren , Acemoglu Hamit , Daloglu Ali Gokhan
Published: July 2014

Aim:

This was a follow-up study to determine postpartum depression (PPD) and its causes in a population previously evaluated in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Methods:

The study sample consisted of pregnant women who were evaluated in the first trimester and 360 women who were re-evaluated in the postpartum period. Detailed sociodemographic data were obtained from the women, and depression was assessed with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression scale (EPDS) and Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) Axis I Disorders (SCID-I).

Results:

In this follow-up study, the prevalence of PPD was 35% ( n = 126). A depressive disorder in the first trimester of pregnancy, previous mental disorder, somatic disorder, exposure to domestic violence during pregnancy, baby’s staying in the incubator and not breastfeeding were predictors of PPD. Exposure to violence and a history of previous depression predicted depression both in pregnancy and in the postpartum period.

Conclusion:

Depression rates are high in Eastern Turkey. Exposure to violence during pregnancy and the existence of a previous mental disorder were risk factors for perinatal depression in this study. Performing screening tests can identify women at risk of pregnancy-related depression. Prevention programs should be established in areas where the prevalence of depression is high.
Protective effect of nanocomposite film from the low earth orbit environment
Authors: Son Gilsang , Kim Chun-Gon
Published: July 2014

The various hazards in the low earth orbit space cause damage mostly on the exposed surfaces of polymer-based materials. Neutral particles, especially atomic oxygen, erode the exposed surface, and cyclic temperature variation produces microcracks that degrade mechanical performance. To protect substrate materials from the harmful environments, this research investigated the protective effect of nanocomposite film under a simulated low earth orbit space environment involving 4 × 10−4 torr high vacuum, 200 nm ultraviolet radiation, 14 thermal cycles ranging from −70℃ to 100℃, and atomic oxygen flux of 2.07 × 1014 atoms/cm2s. The protective films of multi-walled carbon nanotubes or nano-silica dispersed in epoxy matrix were fabricated using a comma roll casting machine. The physical and mechanical changes of the film-protected specimens under the simulated low earth orbit environment were compared to those of no-film-protected specimens. The amount of specimen erosion during the low earth orbit simulation test was analyzed through mass change. Furthermore, the tensile performance before and after exposure to the simulated low earth orbit environment was evaluated. Since the uniformly dispersed nano-silica blocked the attack of atomic oxygen and ultraviolet radiation, and internal multi-walled carbon nanotubes impeded crack propagation due to the bridging effect, the specimens protected by nanocomposite film showed less damage on the exposed surfaces and smallest in degradation of tensile strength after exposure to the simulated low earth orbit environment.
What Works for Whom? The Effects of Gender Responsive Programming on Girls and Boys in Secure Detention
Authors: Day Jacob C. , Zahn Margaret A. , Tichavsky Lisa P.
Published: July 2014

Objectives:

This study investigates whether gender responsive programming is effective at reducing recidivism relative to traditional, reinforcement-based programming for both girls and boys in secure detention.

Methods:

Event-history analysis is used to examine recidivism outcomes for two propensity score matched samples of girls ( n = 148) and boys ( n = 140) released from gender responsive versus traditional detention facilities in Connecticut. The contingent effects of trauma, depression/anxiety, alcohol/drug abuse, anger/irritability, and somatic complaints are also examined.

Results:

Compared to traditional programming, gender responsive programming for youth in secure detention is associated with a lower risk of recidivism for girls with gender-sensitive risk factors but a higher risk of recidivism among girls who do not display these risk factors. Gender responsive programs are no more or less effective at reducing recidivism for boys, regardless of whether they display risk factors commonly associated with girls’ delinquency and confinement.

Conclusions:

The results suggest that girls in secure detention require different approaches depending on their histories of trauma and associated mental and physical health issues. While girls who follow gendered pathways into detention benefit from the relational approach employed in gender responsive programs, girls without such issues benefit more from traditional reinforcement programming.
Including Employees With Disabilities in Workplace Cultures
Authors: Hagner David , Dague Bryan , Phillips Kimberly
Published: July 2014

Assisting individuals with disabilities to become socially included in the workplace is an important rehabilitation goal. This article reports the results of a descriptive study of the workplace cultures where individuals with disabilities are employed, the inclusion of employees within those cultures, the strategies used by employment specialists to promote inclusion, and the barriers encountered in the process. Fifty-three employment specialists who had successfully completed online training on analyzing workplace cultures and planning support strategies selected an individual they provided support to and completed an assessment instrument during the course of their visits to and contacts with the workplace. The distribution of workplace culture strength was bimodal, comprising a larger group with weaker cultures and a smaller group with stronger cultures. Individuals with disabilities were included in a mean of 83% of their workplace cultures. Employment specialists reported about twice as many barriers as strategies, indicating that they viewed most inclusion difficulties as beyond their role and function. The implications of these findings for job placement and support services are discussed.
Guardians of Family Health in Qing China
Authors: Yang Binbin
Published: July 2014

This article examines women’s role as the guardian of family health during the Qing period to uncover a neglected aspect of their transformation into the New Woman of the early twentieth century. Although medicine as a form of specialized knowledge has seldom been related to the tradition of women’s learning, my case studies suggest that gentry women during the Qing period routinely resorted to medical texts to regulate family health. This aspect of women’s learning readily lent itself to the project of national strengthening under new exigencies: as China’s encounter with imperialism during the late Qing period came to include a discourse of hygiene, gentry wives could take a step further to reform the national body and claim their centrality to China’s transformation into a modern nation.
Surgical retrieval of entrapped coronary angioplasty guidewire from the aorta
Authors: Ahmad Tanveer , Chithiraichelvan Satish , Patil Thimmangouda Ayangouda , Jawali Vivek
Published: July 2014

An entrapped or retained coronary angioplasty guidewire is a rare but serious complication of coronary interventions. A failed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty attempt on the left anterior descending artery in a 35-year-old man was complicated by entrapment of the guidewire. Under cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest, the whole length of the entrapped guidewire was retrieved successfully from the left anterior descending artery and the aorta through an aortotomy following revascularization with left internal mammary artery.
The ethics of predictive risk modelling in the Aotearoa/New Zealand child welfare context: Child abuse prevention or neo-liberal tool?
Authors: Keddell Emily
Published: July 2014

The White Paper on Vulnerable Children before the Aotearoa/New Zealand parliament proposes changes that will significantly reconstruct the child welfare systems in this country, including the use of a predictive risk model (PRM). This article explores the ethics of this strategy in a child welfare context. Tensions exist, including significant ethical problems such as use of information without consent, breaches of privacy and stigmatisation, without clear evidence of the benefits outweighing these costs. Broader implicit assumptions about the causes of child abuse and risk and their intersections with wider discursive, political and systems design contexts are discussed. Drawing on Houston et al. (2010) this paper highlights the potential for a PRM to contribute to a neo-liberal agenda that individualises social problems, reifies risk and abuse, and narrowly prescribes service provision. However, with reference to child welfare and child protection orientations, the paper suggests more ethical ways of using the model.
Extracorporeal membrane modality conversions
Authors: Chan-Dominy ACF , Anders M , Millar J , Horton S , Best D , Brizard C , D’Udekem Y , Hilton A , Butt W
Published: July 2014

We report the case of a patient with cardiovascular and respiratory failure due to severe anaphylaxis requiring multiple extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cannulation strategies to provide adequate oxygen delivery and ventilatory support during a period of rapid physiological change.

ECMO provides partial or complete support of oxygenation-ventilation and circulation. The choice of which ECMO modality to use is governed by anatomical (vessel size, cardiovascular anatomy and previous surgeries) and physiological (respiratory and/or cardiac failure) factors. The urgency with which ECMO needs to be implemented (emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR), urgent, elective) and the institutional experience will also influence the type of ECMO provided.

Here we describe a 12-year-old schoolgirl who, having been resuscitated with peripheral veno-venous (VV) ECMO for severe hypoxemia due to status asthmaticus in the setting of acute anaphylaxis, required escalation to peripheral veno-arterial (VA) ECMO for precipitous cardiovascular deterioration. Insufficient oxygen delivery for adequate cellular metabolic function and possible cerebral hypoxia due to significant differential hypoxia necessitated ECMO modification. After six days of central (transthoracic) VA ECMO support and 21 days of intensive care unit (ICU) care, she made a complete recovery with no neurological sequelae.

The use of ECMO support warrants careful consideration of the interplay of a patient’s pathophysiology and extracorporeal circuit dynamics. Particular emphasis should be placed on the potential for mismatch between cardiovascular and respiratory support as well as the need to meet metabolic demands through adequate cerebral, coronary and systemic oxygenation. Cannulation strategies occasionally require alteration to meet and anticipate the patient’s evolving needs.
MDM2 oncogene, E3 ubiquitin protein ligase T309G polymorphism and risk of oesophageal or gastric cancer: Meta-analysis of 15 studies
Authors: Shen Wei , Hu Ping , Cao Jia-qing , Liu Xiu-xia , Shao Jiang-hua
Published: July 2014

Objective

To investigate the association between potentially functional MDM2 oncogene, E3 ubiquitin protein ligase ( MDM2) T309G polymorphism and susceptibility to oesophageal or gastric cancer.

Methods

Two investigators independently searched the PubMed and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for studies published before September 2013.

Results

Pooled results showed that the variant homozygous 309GG genotype (versus TT) was significantly associated with increased risk of both oesophageal (odds ratio [OR] 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65, 0.90) and gastric cancer (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.38, 0.72). Subgroup analysis revealed a 309GG-associated increased risk for both cancer types in Asian populations, particularly among Chinese and Japanese ethnicity. When stratified for Helicobacter pylori infection and histological type of gastric cancer, the 309GG-related risk was higher in H. pylori-positive patients (T versus G: OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.22, 0.63) and the association was stronger with intestinal (TT + TG versus GG: OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.54, 0.87) rather than diffuse gastric-cancer type.

Conclusions

The MDM2 T309G polymorphism may be significantly associated with increased susceptibility to oesophageal or gastric cancer, particularly among Eastern Asian populations.
‘Power to the people’: A reply to Healy, Mangin, and Applbaum
Authors: Nik-Khah Edward
Published: July 2014

In challenging one portion of the history presented in my article, Healy et al. argue that Louis Lasagna was a ‘classical liberal’ who sought only to increase the scientific stature of the physician–patient encounter. They advance this interpretation to encourage science and technology studies scholars to heed Lasagna’s ideas about how to organize the medical marketplace. I argue that Healy et al. mischaracterize Lasagna’s ideas. I conclude with an example of these ideas being put into practice, Lasagna’s efforts on behalf of Wyeth in the approval and marketing of Redux and Fen-Phen.
More-than-human, emergent belongings
Authors: Wright Sarah
Published: July 2014

Belonging is an ambiguous concept that has tended to escape the rigorous theorization of other key concepts in geography. Rather than viewing this as a weakness, I turn to weak theory to consider belonging in generative ways, to reflect on the texture of how it is felt, used and practised. I particularly consider its emotional aspects and the ways it is performed by myriad humans and more-than-humans. I conclude with an ontological consideration. Understanding belonging as emergent co-becoming may allow for hopeful and inclusive geographies that are diversely care-ing and careful.
Individual investor portfolio performance in retirement savings accounts
Authors: Gan Su (Sally) , Heaney Richard , Gerrans Paul
Published: July 2014

We analyse the investment performance of a large sample of individuals investing in discretionary superannuation products offered by a large Australian financial institution. We do not find gender differences as has previously been reported but we do find evidence of a negative relationship between investor age and performance. Those residing in wealthier postcodes perform better. In terms of investment characteristics, wholesale investors perform better whereas those who are the most active perform worse.
Enhanced Patella–Patellar Tendon Healing Using Combined Magnetic Fields in a Rabbit Model
Authors: Xu Daqi , Zhang Tao , Qu Jin , Hu Jianzhong , Lu Hongbin
Published: July 2014

Background:

A combined magnetic field (CMF) is a composite of a dynamic sinusoidal magnetic field and a magnetostatic field. Stimuli from CMFs has proved to be an effective tool for healing problem fractures and spinal fusion procedures.

Hypothesis:

Combined magnetic field technology will enhance healing of bone-tendon junction repair via endochondral ossification for regeneration of the fibrocartilage zone.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Forty-eight mature rabbits were randomly divided into CMF-treated and placebo-treated (control) groups. A partial patellectomy model was created. The CMF-treated group was subjected to CMF stimulation from the third postoperative day for 30 minutes per day up to weeks 8 or 16. At each time point, tissue samples were harvested and evaluated biomechanically and histomorphologically. The area of newly formed bone and the thickness of fibrocartilage were measured in hematoxylin and eosin–stained sections and toluidine blue–stained sections, respectively, while the density of fibrocartilage cells and the amount of proteoglycans were calculated using safranin O–stained sections. A biomechanical analysis was carried out to ascertain tensile strength.

Results:

Quantitative histological measurements showed that the newly formed bone and regenerated fibrocartilage zone in the CMF-treated group increased by a respective 99.2% and 41.9% compared with the control group at week 8 and a respective 97.8% and 22.8% at week 16. In the CMF-treated group at postoperative week 16, the amount of proteoglycans was 36.9% more than that of the control group, but the density of fibrocartilage cells was just 71.4% of the control group; there were no significant differences at week 8. Mechanical test results showed that energy to failure was not significantly different between the 2 groups at week 8. Yet, at week 16, load to failure, ultimate strength, and energy to failure in the CMF-treated group (311.0 ± 59.4 N, 8.46 ± 1.41 MPa, and 0.87 ± 0.17 J, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the control group (247.1 ± 65.6 N, 6.84 ± 1.12 MPa, and 0.52 ± 0.15 J, respectively).

Conclusion:

Biophysical stimulation with CMFs enhances healing after bone-tendon junction injuries in a rabbit model.

Clinical Relevance:

These results demonstrate the feasibility of using CMFs for stimulating bone-tendon healing after repair.
Microwave curing bismaleimide-triazine composites filled with micro-silica and nano-silica
Authors: Yuan Lingxia , Yan Hongxia , Jia Yuan , Li Tingting
Published: July 2014

A novel composite of bismaleimide-triazine (BT) resins containing 2,2′-diallyl bisphenol A (DABPA) and filled with the mixture of micro- and nano-silica particles were cured by conventional thermal and microwave-assisted process. The dielectric and mechanical properties of BT composites were studied in this paper. The results indicated that the curing method, particle size and content of silica had influences on the dielectric and mechanical properties of BT composites. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent of microwave-cured samples were lower than those of the thermal cured samples because of the different curing mechanism. With the increase of micro-silica content, the dielectric constant of BT composites increased, while the dielectric loss tangent decreased. Due to the decrease of the free volume, the dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent decreased when the nano-silica particles were incorporated into the composites. In addition, the flexural strength of the BT composites will also be improved by incorporating appropriate amount of micro- and nano-silica particles.
Plumhoff v. Rickard
Authors: Ross Darrell L.
Published: July 2014

In a 9-0 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court addressed whether police officers were justified in using deadly force in response to a dangerous motorist who attempted to flee the officers’ arrest and whether qualified immunity should have been granted. The Court concluded that the officers used objectively reasonable force consistent with the Fourth Amendment and granted them qualified immunity. This case analysis provides an assessment of the Court’s decision, a review of prior use of force case decisions, and the requirements for awarding qualified immunity. Implications of the case decision are discussed.
Improving the drilling performance of hole enlargement via optimized operation
Authors: Zhu XiaoHua , Jing Jun
Published: July 2014

The severe vibration experienced by the bottom hole assembly (BHA) in the process of hole enlargement when drilling (HEWD) is the major cause for deteriorated drilling performance. A dynamic model of the system of reamer near pilot bit (RNB)-HEWD-BHA including the drillstring and drill collar is formulated with the finite element method. Based on the dynamic analysis and some project cases of hole enlargement, the relationship between operating rotation speed and dynamic characteristics of RNB-HEWD-BHA is discussed. The results show that “the optimum operating rotation speed” exists to this kind of BHA, and the dynamic characteristics of this BHA such as the rate of penetration (ROP), vibration, and safety can be improved effectively when the optimum operating rotation speed works. Furthermore, this paper offers a more scientific and objective method, the Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation Model, to make a comprehensive evaluation of drilling performance of RNB-HEWD-BHA at different operating rotation speeds. These evaluation results will guide the operator to make more reasonable drilling operation plan to enlarge the hole efficiently and safely.
Fault diagnosis of rolling bearing based on empirical mode decomposition and higher order statistics
Authors: Cai Jian-hua
Published: July 2014

In order to solve the problem of the faulted rolling bearing signal getting easily affected by Gaussian noise, a new fault diagnosis method was proposed based on empirical mode decomposition and high-order statistics. Firstly, the vibration signal was decomposed by empirical mode decomposition and the correlation coefficient of each intrinsic mode function was calculated. These intrinsic mode function components, which have a big correlation coefficient, were selected to estimate its higher order spectrum. Then based on the higher order statistics theory, this method uses higher order spectrum of each intrinsic mode function to reconstruct its power spectrum. And these power spectrums were summed to obtain the primary power spectrum of bearing signal. Finally, fault feature information was extracted from the reconstructed power spectrum. A model, using higher order spectrum to reconstruct power spectrum, was established. Meanwhile, analysis was conducted by using the simulated data and the recorded vibration signals which include inner race, out race, and bearing ball fault signal. Results show that the presented method is superior to traditional power spectrum method in suppressing Gaussian noise and its resolution is higher. New method can extract more useful information compared to the traditional method.
Annual performance evaluation and experimental study on variable speed compressors for room air conditioners
Authors: Zhang Haifeng , Wu Jianhua , Li Cui , Li Yanzhong
Published: July 2014

Energy efficiency for room air conditioners has received increasing attention in recent years with the intense emphasis on environmental concern and energy consumption. As the main energy consumption component of air conditioner, compressor awaits further work to accomplish the transition of performance evaluation from one operation condition to its actual usage. In the present study, an evaluation index called annual efficiency is proposed to rate the annual performance of air conditioner compressor. Experimental study is conducted on four variable-speed compressors, and the results show that the best fit determined from annual efficiency is different from that of ASHRAE standard. The compressor efficiency and dynamic pressure are quite different at rated and half-capacity test conditions. Compressor running under half-capacity conditions is more energy efficient and peak phenomenon of dynamic pressure is less obvious when compared with rated conditions. Moreover, more attention should be paid to half-capacity conditions to improve the annual efficiency of compressor and energy-saving capabilities of air conditioners.
Three-dimensional united biased proportional navigation law for interception of maneuvering targets with angular constraint
Authors: Yan Liang , Zhao Ji-Guang , Shen Huai-Rong , Li Yuan
Published: July 2014

Studying a guidance law, which can intercepts not only high-speed targets, but also low-speed targets with impact angle constrains, is a challenging task. In this paper, a new guidance law called united biased proportional navigation (UBPN) is proposed. The guidance law uses time-varying bias and navigation ratio, and incorporates the advantages of head-on and head-pursuit engagement. UBPN with positive time-varying navigation ratio can intercept low-speed targets which is a head-on engagement, while with negative time-varying navigation ratio can intercept high-speed targets, which is a head-pursuit engagement. To begin with, planar UBPN guidance law is proposed and exact time-varying bias is derived. Moreover, the solution to the singularity in time-varying navigation ratio is given. Secondly, in order to realize the guidance law in three-dimensional space, we derive the relation between two-dimensional acceleration and three-dimensional acceleration, and also give the solution for calculating the impact angle from two-dimensional surface into three-dimensional space. Finally, the simulation results of UBPN compared with proportional navigation, retro-proportional navigation, and bias proportional navigation guidance law are shown. It is demonstrated that the miss distance and impact angle error can meet the guidance law requirements. Capture region of UBPN is given by simulation, which indicates that it is almost two times than that of the guidance law in the head-on engagement for interception of high-speed target.
Canard flow improvement in a split canard configuration
Authors: Davari Ali R , Askari F , Soltani MR
Published: July 2014

Extensive low-speed wind-tunnel tests are performed to study the flow field structure over a dual-surface canard, known as split canard, in comparison to the conventional configurations. Surface pressure for both steady deflections and unsteady oscillations of the canard are measured and compared for both canard-alone and split-canard cases. The split canard shows a superior advantage at high angles of attack, where a delay in the vortex breakdown phenomena on the canard surface is observed. For the split-canard configuration, the downwash of the front canard reduces the effective angle of attack at the inboard section of the rear element which postpones formation of the leading-edge vortex. Furthermore, a region of considerably high suction was observed at front portion of the rear canard when compared with the isolated canard case. This can be thought of as the main mechanism of performance enhancement in split canards comparing to the conventional configurations.
Rio de Janeiro and the divided state: Analysing the political discourse on favelas
Authors: Lacerda Daniel S
Published: July 2014

This article analyses the discourse on favelas produced by Brazilian society and consumed in the political field of local administration. The ideological conception of favelas (slums) determines the creation of public policies that reinforce the prejudicial notion of favelas. This work employs critical discourse analysis (CDA) to analyse several texts extracted from mass-media stories and press releases of the Rio government. It shows that the state of praxis reproduces the understanding of slums as a phenomenon detached from the rest of society. This alienated vision impacts on different utterances blaming the poor (analysis 1); perpetuating poverty (analysis 2); and reinforcing exclusion (analysis 3).