bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Workspace Modeling and Analysis for Dexterous Hands
Authors: Yang Wenzhen , Wu Xinli , Zhang Hua
Published: December 2014

The workspace is a fundamental feature for a dexterous hand to grasping plan, motion control, and mechanical design. Although the graphic, numerical, or analytical methods are valid to generate the workspace of dexterous hands, but there exist several defects for these methods to describe the workspace characteristics, such as forms, boundaries, volumes, and intersection workspaces. We propose a combined modeling approach to visualize and analyze the workspace of YWZ dexterous hand, which has five fingers, 20 degrees of freedom (Dofs). The proposed approach is also fit for similar dexterous hands to generate their precise workspaces. After a brief mechanism introduction of YWZ dexterous hand, a displacement equation of its index finger is deduced to calculate the fingertip positions in three-dimension (3D) Euclidean space. Then, a two-dimension (2D) boundary figure enclosing the flexion–extension motion field of the finger is drawn by the displacement equation. Taking this boundary figure as a sketch in a CAD modeling environment, we further model a vivid 3D finger workspace, which is relative with the abduction–adduction motion of the finger. Besides, we generate the whole workspace of YWZ dexterous hand and analyze its volumes and intersection workspaces. The kinematic simulations and physical prototype experimentations are carried out to validate this approach can construct perfect workspace of dexterous hands. Compared with the Monte Carlo method, the form and boundary of the 3D finger workspace generated by our proposed approach have more accurate, integrated, vivid, and intuitional.
Pre-B cell colony enhancing factor induces Nampt-dependent translocation of the insulin receptor out of lipid microdomains in A549 lung epithelial cells
Authors: Peng Qianyi , Jia Song Hui , Parodo Jean , Ai Yuhang , Marshall John C.
Published: December 2014

Pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF) is a highly conserved pleiotropic protein reported to be an alternate ligand for the insulin receptor (IR). We sought to clarify the relationship between PBEF and insulin signaling by evaluating the effects of PBEF on the localization of the IRβ chain to lipid rafts in A549 epithelial cells. We isolated lipid rafts from A549 cells and detected the IR by immunoprecipitation from raft fractions or whole cell lysates. Cells were treated with rPBEF, its enzymatic product nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), or the Nampt inhibitor daporinad to study the effect of PBEF on IRβ movement. We used coimmunoprecipitation studies in cells transfected with PBEF and IRβ constructs to detect interactions between PBEF, the IRβ, and caveolin-1 (Cav-1). PBEF was present in both lipid raft and nonraft fractions, whereas the IR was found only in lipid raft fractions of resting A549 cells. The IR-, PBEF-, and Cav-1-coimmunoprecipitated rPBEF treatment resulted in the movement of IRβ- and tyrosine-phosphorylated Cav-1 from lipid rafts to nonrafts, an effect that could be blocked by daporinad, suggesting that this effect was facilitated by the Nampt activity of PBEF. The addition of PBEF to insulin-treated cells resulted in reduced Akt phosphorylation of both Ser473and Thr308. We conclude that PBEF can inhibit insulin signaling through the IR by Nampt-dependent promotion of IR translocation into the nonraft domains of A549 epithelial cells. PBEF-induced alterations in the spatial geometry of the IR provide a mechanistic explanation for insulin resistance in inflammatory states associated with upregulation of PBEF.
Comparison of the physiological relevance of systemic vs. portal insulin delivery to evaluate whole body glucose flux during an insulin clamp
Authors: Farmer Tiffany D. , Jenkins Erin C. , O'Brien Tracy P. , McCoy Gregory A. , Havlik Allison E. , Nass Erik R. , Nicholson Wendell E. , Printz Richard L. , Shiota Masakazu
Published: December 2014

To understand the underlying pathology of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, an accurate determination of whole body glucose flux needs to be made by a method that maintains key physiological features. One such feature is a positive differential in insulin concentration between the portal venous and systemic arterial circulation (P/S-IG). P/S-IG during the determination of the relative contribution of liver and extra-liver tissues/organs to whole body glucose flux during an insulin clamp with either systemic (SID) or portal (PID) insulin delivery was examined with insulin infusion rates of 1, 2, and 5 mU·kg−1·min−1under either euglycemic or hyperglycemic conditions in 6-h-fasted conscious normal rats. A P/S-IG was initially determined with endogenous insulin secretion to exist with a value of 2.07. During an insulin clamp, while inhibiting endogenous insulin secretion by somatostatin, P/S-IG remained at 2.2 with PID, whereas, P/S-IG disappeared completely with SID, which exhibited higher arterial and lower portal insulin levels compared with PID. Consequently, glucose disappearance rates and muscle glycogen synthetic rates were higher, but suppression of endogenous glucose production and liver glycogen synthetic rates were lower with SID compared with PID. When the insulin clamp was performed with SID at 2 and 5 mU·kg−1·min−1without managing endogenous insulin secretion under euglycemic but not hyperglycemic conditions, endogenous insulin secretion was completely suppressed with SID, and the P/S-IG disappeared. Thus, compared with PID, an insulin clamp with SID underestimates the contribution of liver in response to insulin to whole body glucose flux.
Vasonatrin peptide attenuates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in diabetic rats and underlying mechanisms
Authors: Shi Zhenwei , Fu Feng , Yu Liming , Xing Wenjuan , Su Feifei , Liang Xiangyan , Tie Ru , Ji Lele , Zhu Miaozhang , Yu Jun , Zhang Haifeng
Published: December 2014

Diabetes mellitus increases morbidity/mortality of ischemic heart disease. Although atrial natriuretic peptide and C-type natriuretic peptide reduce the myocardial ischemia-reperfusion damage in nondiabetic rats, whether vasonatrin peptide (VNP), the artificial synthetic chimera of atrial natriuretic peptide and C-type natriuretic peptide, confers cardioprotective effects against ischemia-reperfusion injury, especially in diabetic patients, is still unclear. This study was designed to investigate the effects of VNP on ischemia-reperfusion injury in diabetic rats and to further elucidate its mechanisms. The high-fat diet-fed streptozotocin-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to ischemia-reperfusion operation. VNP treatment (100 μg/kg iv, 10 min before reperfusion) significantly improved the instantaneous first derivation of left ventricle pressure (±LV dP/d tmax) and LV systolic pressure and reduced LV end-diastolic pressure, apoptosis index, caspase-3 activity, plasma creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities. Moreover, VNP inhibited endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by suppressing glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). These effects were mimicked by 8-bromine-cyclic guanosinemonophosphate (8-Br-cGMP), a cGMP analog, whereas they were inhibited by KT-5823, the selective inhibitor of PKG. In addition, pretreatment with tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), a specific inhibitor of ER stress, could not further promote the VNP's cardioprotective effect in diabetic rats. In vitro H9c2 cardiomyocytes were subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation and incubated with or without VNP (10−8mol/l). Gene knockdown of PKG1α with siRNA blunted VNP inhibition of ER stress and apoptosis, while overexpression of PKG1α resulted in significant decreased ER stress and apoptosis. VNP protects the diabetic heart against ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting ER stress via the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway. These results suggest that VNP may have potential therapeutic value for the diabetic patients with ischemic heart disease.
Breast Cancers with aBRCA1-like DNA Copy Number Profile Recur Less Often Than Expected after High-Dose Alkylating Chemotherapy
Authors: Schouten Philip C. , Marmé Frederik , Aulmann Sebastian , Sinn Hans-Peter , van Essen Hendrik F. , Ylstra Bauke , Hauptmann Michael , Schneeweiss Andreas , Linn Sabine C.
Published: December 2014

Purpose: Breast cancers in carriers of inactivating mutations of the BRCA1 gene carry a specific DNA copy-number signature (“BRCA1-like”). This signature is shared with cancers that inactivate BRCA1 through other mechanisms. Because BRCA1 is important in repair of DNA double-strand breaks through error-free homologous recombination, patients with a BRCA1-like tumor may benefit from high-dose alkylating (HD) chemotherapy, which induces DNA double-strand breaks.

Experimental Design: We investigated a single institution cohort of high-risk patients that received tandem HD chemotherapy schedule comprising ifosfamide, epirubicin, and carboplatin or conventional chemotherapy. We classified copy-number profiles to be BRCA1-like or non–BRCA1-like and analyzed clinical associations and performed survival analysis with a treatment by biomarker interaction design.

Results: BRCA1-like status associated with high-grade and triple-negative breast cancers. BRCA1-like cases benefitted from the HD compared with a conventional regimen on disease-free survival (DFS): [hazard ratio (HR), 0.05; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.01–0.38; P = 0.003]; distant DFS (DDFS): (HR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01–0.43; P = 0.01); and overall survival (OS; HR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.03–0.83; P = 0.03) after correction for prognostic factors. No such benefit was observed in the non–BRCA1-like cases on DFS (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.38–1.46; P = 0.39), DDFS (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.41–1.52; P = 0.47), and OS (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.52–1.64; P = 0.79). The P values for interaction were 0.01 (DFS), 0.01 (DDFS), and 0.045 (OS).

Conclusions: BRCA1-like tumors recurred significantly less often after HD than conventional chemotherapy. BRCA1-like copy-number profile classification may be a predictive marker for HD alkylating chemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res; 21(4); 763–70. ©2014 AACR.
Interaction of Impaired Coronary Flow Reserve and Cardiomyocyte Injury on Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients Without Overt Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Taqueti Viviany R. , Everett Brendan M. , Murthy Venkatesh L. , Gaber Mariya , Foster Courtney R. , Hainer Jon , Blankstein Ron , Dorbala Sharmila , Di Carli Marcelo F.
Published: December 2014

Background—

Minimally elevated serum cardiac troponin reflects myocardial injury and is associated with increased mortality, even absent coronary artery disease (CAD). We sought to investigate the relationship between low-level troponin elevation and impaired coronary flow reserve (CFR), an integrated measure of coronary vasomotor function, and to assess their contributions to adverse outcomes in patients without overt CAD.

Methods and Results—

Consecutive patients (n=761) undergoing evaluation for suspected CAD with troponin before stress myocardial perfusion positron emission tomography were followed up (median, 2.8 years) for major adverse cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or late revascularization. Patients with flow-limiting CAD, left ventricular ejection fraction <40%, or revascularization within 60 days of imaging were excluded. CFR was quantified from stress/rest myocardial blood flow with the use of positron emission tomography. Compared with patients with negative troponin, those with at least 1 positive troponin (n=97) had higher pretest clinical scores, more renal dysfunction, and lower left ventricular ejection fraction and CFR. In adjusted analysis, impaired CFR remained independently associated with positive troponin (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.37–3.47;
P
=0.001), and both impaired CFR and positive troponin were independently associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (hazard ratio, 2.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.31–3.86;
P
=0.003; and hazard ratio, 2.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.34–4.40;
P
=0.004, respectively). Impaired CFR and positive troponin identified patients at highest risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (log-rank
P
<0.0001), with a significant interaction (
P
<0.007) seen between CFR and troponin.

Conclusions—

In patients without overt CAD, impaired CFR was independently associated with minimally elevated troponin and major adverse cardiovascular events. Impaired CFR, here reflecting microvascular dysfunction, modified the effect of a positive troponin on adverse outcomes.
Fides et Ratio: The Catholic and the Calvinist: Prospects for Rapprochement
Authors: Echeverria Eduardo J.
Published: December 2014

I ask everyone to look more deeply at man, whom Christ has saved in the mystery of His love, and at the human being’s unceasing search for truth and meaning. Different philosophical systems have lured people into believing that they are their own absolute master, able to decide their own destiny and future in complete autonomy, trusting only in themselves and their own powers. But this can never be the grandeur of the human being who can find fulfillment only in choosing to enter the truth, to make a home under the shade of Wisdom and dwell there. Only within this horizon of truth will people understand their freedom in its fullness and their call to know and love God as the supreme realization of their true self.
Molecular phylogenetics of American snapping shrimps allied to Alpheus floridanus Kingsley, 1878 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae)
Authors: BRACKEN-GRISSOM HEATHER D. , ROBLES RAFAEL , FELDER DARRYL L.
Published: December 2014

Widely distributed populations of the snapping shrimp, Alpheus floridanus Kinglsey, 1878, from the eastern Pacific and western and eastern Atlantic Ocean have long been suspected to represent different species due to extreme morphological variation among conspecifics.  A companion study (Bracken-Grissom & Felder 2014) contains redescriptions of two western Atlantic species (A. floridanus Kingsley 1878 sensu stricto and A. platycheirus Boone, 1927), assignments of the original syntypes for A. floridanus, descriptions of three new species from the Atlantic and eastern Pacific (A. hephaestus Bracken-Grissom & Felder, 2014; A. roblesi Bracken-Grissom & Felder, 2014; A. ulalae Bracken-Grissom & Felder, 2014), and discussion of the relationship of the eastern Atlantic A. floridanus africanus Balss, 1916. The present study underpins all these findings by application of molecular phylogenetic techniques.  Analysis of partial sequences of the 16S, 12S, and COI mitochondrial genes separate species throughout the eastern Pacific and the eastern and western Atlantic.  Morphological comparisons suggested that the two syntypes of A. floridanus belong to different species, and molecular results in this study confirm this separation.   Genetic data suggest a strong affinity between the western Atlantic A. platycheirus and the eastern Pacific A. hephaestus.  Close relationships are evident between trans-Atlantic species, A. floridanus africanus and A. floridanus, a pattern also seen for other cryptic and pseudocryptic species of  Alpheus.  Alpheus roblesi and A. ulalae represent early-branching lineages within the complex.  In some cases, molecular phylogenetic relationships between members of the A. floridanus complex can be reconciled with postulated biogeographic history.
Credibility Versus Control
Authors: Ennser-Jedenastik Laurenz
Published: December 2014

There is a natural tension between theories of party government and theories of regulatory politics. Whereas effective party government requires that politicians have firm control over public policy, the need for credible commitment in regulation stipulates that policy-making capacities are delegated to independent agencies. While the theoretical dimension of this tension is well established, there is little research that examines its empirical implications. To narrow this gap, the analysis assesses whether legal agency independence limits the influence of parties on agency executives. To that end, it investigates the careers of 300 CEOs in 100 West European regulatory agencies. The analysis shows that high levels of agency independence protect appointees with opposition ties from early removal. This presents some of the first evidence to suggest that the institutional response to credibility pressures limits the political use of the appointment channel and, thus, has the potential to constrain party control in regulatory politics.
Virtual Exertions
Authors: Chen Karen B. , Ponto Kevin , Tredinnick Ross D. , Radwin Robert G.
Published: December 2014

Objective:

This study was a proof of concept for virtual exertions, a novel method that involves the use of body tracking and electromyography for grasping and moving projections of objects in virtual reality (VR). The user views objects in his or her hands during rehearsed co-contractions of the same agonist-antagonist muscles normally used for the desired activities to suggest exerting forces.

Background:

Unlike physical objects, virtual objects are images and lack mass. There is currently no practical physically demanding way to interact with virtual objects to simulate strenuous activities.

Method:

Eleven participants grasped and lifted similar physical and virtual objects of various weights in an immersive 3-D Cave Automatic Virtual Environment. Muscle activity, localized muscle fatigue, ratings of perceived exertions, and NASA Task Load Index were measured. Additionally, the relationship between levels of immersion (2-D vs. 3-D) was studied.

Results:

Although the overall magnitude of biceps activity and workload were greater in VR, muscle activity trends and fatigue patterns for varying weights within VR and physical conditions were the same. Perceived exertions for varying weights were not significantly different between VR and physical conditions.

Conclusions:

Perceived exertion levels and muscle activity patterns corresponded to the assigned virtual loads, which supported the hypothesis that the method evoked the perception of physical exertions and showed that the method was promising.

Application:

Ultimately this approach may offer opportunities for research and training individuals to perform strenuous activities under potentially safer conditions that mimic situations while seeing their own body and hands relative to the scene.
From Austerity to Expansion? Consolidation, Budget Surpluses, and the Decline of Fiscal Capacity
Authors: Haffert Lukas , Mehrtens Philip
Published: December 2014

In the wake of the financial crisis, many developed countries have embarked upon ambitious fiscal consolidation programs. While the success of austerity programs is still unclear, it is also an open question what success would mean for activist government in the long run. This study rejects the progressive belief that successful fiscal consolidation will strengthen fiscal capacity, arguing that consolidations transform the political context in which fiscal policy is made. By analyzing public expenditure in six countries with sustained budget surpluses, we show that surpluses were mostly achieved through expenditure cuts but predominantly used for tax cuts. While fiscal crises abated, their collateral damage to public expenditure remained. This result is further elaborated by a case study of the Swedish budget surplus. We conclude that consolidations can create a new fiscal regime and thus have long-term consequences for the fiscal capacity of the state.
Effect of polyester blends in hydroentangled raw and bleached cotton nonwoven fabrics on the adsorption of alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride
Authors: Nam Sunghyun , Slopek Ryan , Condon Brian D , Sawhney Paul
Published: December 2014

The adsorption kinetics and isotherms of alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride (ADBAC), a cationic surfactant commonly employed as an antimicrobial agent, on hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics (applicable for wipes) including raw cotton, bleached cotton, and their blends with polyester (PES) were studied at room temperature. The adsorption kinetics of ADBAC on all nonwoven fabrics was best described by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Unlike bleached cotton/PES blends, the equilibrium adsorption capacities of ADBAC on raw cotton/PES blends were enhanced in comparison with predictions based on the binary mixing rule. The adsorption rates for raw cotton, determined by the KASRA (kinetics of adsorption study in the regions with constant adsorption acceleration) model and Elovich equation, were significantly greater than those for bleached cotton, resulting in a rapid decrease of adsorption rates when blending with PES, which has a negligible interaction with ADBAC. This distinctive adsorption property of raw cotton was attributed to its unique surface characteristics induced by the hydroentangling process: retained pectin, partial removal of waxes, and surface fibrillation, which enhance electrostatic interaction, hydrophobic interaction, and accessible surface area to ADBAC, respectively. In adsorption isotherms, raw cotton/PES blends exhibited a non-linear decrease in maximum adsorption capacity and monolayer adsorption capacity, calculated by the Langmuir and Langmuir-type equations, respectively, as a function of PES blend ratio.
Transfer and mechanical behavior of three-dimensional honeycomb fabric
Authors: Xiao Xueliang , Hua Tao , Wang Jinchun , Li Li , Au Waiman
Published: December 2014

Honeycomb woven fabric is a single layer of fabric exhibiting three-dimensional (3D) cellular shape on both fabric sides due to the combination of periodic straight yarn floats and partial plain weave. In a fabric weave repeat, the triangle shape of increased yarn floats and crossed diagonal woven lines form two inverted pyramidal spaces on the fabric surfaces and a closed internal space. This particular 3D architecture is bound to influence the fabric transfer and mechanical properties. This study investigated these properties for honeycomb weaves experimentally, including air resistance, thermal conductivity, water absorption and vapor transmission rate, bending rigidity, compressional energy and tensile behavior. The typical two-dimensional plain woven fabrics with the same yarns and density were set as references and elastic yarns were considered as a factor of effect on the fabric properties. The measurements by the Kawabata Evaluation System and Instron machine show that the honeycomb woven fabric has enhanced air permeability and water absorption, as well as lower thermal conductivity compared to that of the plain woven fabric. Higher bending rigidity, compressional energy and Young’s modulus are also observed for honeycomb fabrics. The mechanical properties are found to be affected significantly by applying the elastic yarns to the honeycomb woven fabrics.
Exploring use of warp-knitted spacer fabric as a substitute for the absorbent layer for advanced wound dressing
Authors: Tong Shuk-fan , Yip Joanne , Yick Kit-lun , Yuen Chun-wah Marcus
Published: December 2014

Wound management has become more sophisticated as modern wound dressings now focus more on providing an optimal microclimate for wound healing. As a novel three-dimensional textile material, warp-knitted spacer fabrics are versatile enough to meet special requirements when their parameters are changed. This paper reports on an experimental study on the required physical properties of warp-knitted spacer fabrics that can be developed as an absorbent layer for advanced wound dressing. Three types of wound dressings available on the market have been chosen that are especially used for burns and ulcers, as they are designed to provide good absorbing of extrudes and a cushioning effect. The physical properties of spacer fabrics, including air permeability, thermal conductivity, water vapor permeability, absorbency and compression, are evaluated and compared with those of existing wound dressings. The results show that the air and water vapor permeabilities and the thermal conductivity of warp-knitted spacer fabrics are competitive enough to prove that spacer fabrics can also provide a good ventilated environment for wound healing. Their good compressional resistance and compressional resilience indicate that warp-knitted spacer fabrics can provide good protection as wound dressings. Although their absorbency is only somewhat better than some of the wound dressings, they are also good for wounds with no heavy extrudes.
Effect of TW-ZnO/SiO2-compounded shear thickening fluid on the sound insulation property of glass fiber fabric
Authors: Wang Yan , Zhu Yaofeng , Fu Xiang , Fu Yaqin
Published: December 2014

A novel sound insulation composite was successfully fabricated by modifying glass fiber fabric with tetrapod ZnO whisker (TW-ZnO)/SiO2-compounded shear thickening fluid (STF). The rheological properties of the compounded STF were evaluated using a high-speed rotational rheometer. The microstructure and sound-insulating properties of the STF-treated glass fiber fabric (STF-fabric) were characterized using a scanning electron microscope and a two-channel acoustic analyzer, respectively. The shear thickening effect of TW-ZnO/SiO2-compounded STF can be better than that of SiO2-monodispersed STF. The sound insulation performance of the STF-fabric, which was superior to that of the original fabric, was related to the fabric weaving structure and shear thickening effect of the compounded STF.
Thermal and moisture transfer properties of sock fabrics differing in fiber type, yarn, and fabric structure
Authors: Van Amber Rebecca R , Wilson Cheryl A , Laing Raechel M , Lowe Bronwyn J , Niven Brian E
Published: December 2014

This study aimed to determine the relative effects of fiber type (fine wool, mid-micron wool, acrylic), yarn type (high-twist, low-twist, single), and fabric structure (single jersey, half-terry, terry) on thermal resistance, water vapor resistance, thermal conductance, water vapor permeability, liquid absorption capacity, and regain of sock fabrics. Fabric structure had the greatest effect on thermal resistance, water vapor resistance, water vapor permeability, liquid absorption capacity, and thermal conductance. Terry fabrics were the most thermal and water vapor resistant, most absorbent, and most conductive. Results were consistent with current understanding of the effect of fabric thickness on thermal and moisture transfer properties when measured under static conditions: However, the effects of yarn type and/or fabric structure of sock fabrics have not previously been explained.
Effects of a tailor-made girdle on posture of adolescents with early scoliosis
Authors: Liu Pak-Yiu , Yip Joanne , Yick Kit-Lun , Yuen Chun-Wah Marcus , Tse Chi-Yung , Ng Sun-Pui , Law Derry
Published: December 2014

Spinal curvature and postural deviation are commonly found in female patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of applying a tailor-made posture correction girdle on patients with early scoliosis with the aim to help them to improve their imbalanced posture and reduce the likelihood of curve progression. A total of 10 subjects who were female adolescents with symptoms of early scoliosis were recruited through a school-screening program to undertake a 3-month wear trial with the posture correction girdle. The Vicon motion capture system has also been employed to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of this therapeutic girdle on posture correction. The results show that the imbalanced posture of the subjects improves after the 3-month wear trial, and the effect is particularly significant for the acromion in the frontal plane in a standing posture. Posture could be improved with posture training. This study shows that there is an improving trend in posture and effectiveness of motion control through the use of the posture correction girdle.
Constructing the narrative of the sustainability fix: Sustainability, social justice and representation in Austin, TX
Authors: Long Joshua
Published: December 2014

In recent years Austin, Texas has gained popular recognition as a ‘sustainable city’ while experiencing robust economic growth. Austin’s ability to resolve many of the political tensions between development and environmental protection have made it a favoured case study for North American policymakers who seek to mimic the ‘Austin model’. However, despite recognised environmental achievements, the popular storyline of Austin’s move toward sustainability overlooks key aspects of sustainable development, including equitable political representation, affordability, displacement of vulnerable populations and other social justice issues. Using While et al.’s ‘sustainability fix’ as a conceptual framework, this paper explores the historical development, ideological construction and strategic implementation of Austin’s sustainability agenda. In doing so, this paper moves beyond a lateral understanding of sustainability rhetoric toward a more nuanced and critical analysis of the selective promotion and implementation of sustainability agendas, as well as the consequences they have for social justice and equity in the ‘sustainable cities’ of the 21st century.
Developing treatments for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia: The challenge of translation
Authors: Young JW , Geyer MA
Published: December 2014

Schizophrenia is a life-long debilitating mental disorder affecting tens of millions of people worldwide. The serendipitous discovery of antipsychotics focused pharmaceutical research on developing a better antipsychotic. Our understanding of the disorder has advanced however, with the knowledge that cognitive enhancers are required for patients in order to improve their everyday lives. While antipsychotics treat psychosis, they do not enhance cognition and hence are not antischizophrenics. Developing pro-cognitive therapeutics has been extremely difficult, however, especially when no approved treatment exists. In lieu of stumbling on an efficacious treatment, developing targeted compounds can be facilitated by understanding the neural mechanisms underlying altered cognitive functioning in patients. Equally importantly, these cognitive domains will need to be measured similarly in animals and humans so that novel targets can be tested prior to conducting expensive clinical trials. To date, the limited similarity of testing across species has resulted in a translational bottleneck. In this review, we emphasize that schizophrenia is a disorder characterized by abnormal cognitive behavior. Quantifying these abnormalities using tasks having cross-species validity would enable the quantification of comparable processes in rodents. This approach would increase the likelihood that the neural substrates underlying relevant behaviors will be conserved across species. Hence, we detail cross-species tasks which can be used to test the effects of manipulations relevant to schizophrenia and putative therapeutics. Such tasks offer the hope of providing a bridge between non-clinical and clinical testing that will eventually lead to treatments developed specifically for patients with deficient cognition.
Building a Safe State
Authors: Go Min Hee
Published: December 2014

Although existing studies uncovered how controversial policies are adopted across American States, little is known as to how regulatory policies are diffused that are technically complex and yet have low political salience. Drawing on existing theories of policy adoption and diffusion, this article identifies the determinants of building code mandates in U.S. state governments. Using original data from state legislatures and administrative agencies from 1980 to 2006, this article finds that both emulation from neighboring states and innovation within the state government increase the likelihood of statewide building regulations. Code adoption follows a hybrid diffusion pattern, whereby external and internal mechanisms occur simultaneously rather than independently from each other.
Vertical urbanisms
Authors: Harris Andrew
Published: December 2014

This paper develops a more diverse and multi-dimensional agenda for understanding and researching urban verticality. In particular, it argues for vertical geographies that encompass more than issues of security and segregation and are not necessarily framed by the three-dimensional politics of Israel/Palestine identified by some commentators. In opening up a wider world of vertical urbanisms, the paper outlines three key approaches: close attention to where urban verticality is theorised and the relationship between power and height, the importance of ethnographic detail to emphasise more everyday verticalities and disrupt top-down analytical perspectives, and geographical imaginations that carefully attend to the myriad spatial entanglements of the three-dimensional city.
Epidemiology of Stress Fracture Injuries Among US High School Athletes, 2005-2006 Through 2012-2013
Authors: Changstrom Bradley G. , Brou Lina , Khodaee Morteza , Braund Cortney , Comstock R. Dawn
Published: December 2014

Background:

High school athletes in the United States sustain millions of injuries annually, approximately 10% of which are fractures. However, there is no clear estimate of the number of stress fractures sustained by high school athletes annually despite reports that stress fractures account for 0.7% to 20% of injuries seen in sports medicine clinics. This suggests a high utilization of resources for a potentially preventable injury. In addition, stress fractures have been associated with low energy availability and disordered eating in young athletes, highlighting the importance of early recognition and intervention.

Purpose:

To investigate stress fracture rates and patterns in a large national sample of US high school athletes.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiologic study.

Methods:

Data from High School RIO (Reporting Information Online), a national sports injury surveillance study, were analyzed to describe rates and patterns of stress fracture injury sustained from 2005-2006 through 2012-2013, across sports and by sex.

Results:

From 2005-2006 through 2012-2013, a total of 51,773 injuries were sustained during 25,268,873 athlete-exposures, of which 389 (0.8%) were stress fractures, resulting in an overall stress fracture rate of 1.54 per 100,000 athlete-exposures. Rates per 100,000 athlete-exposures were highest in girls’ cross country (10.62), girls’ gymnastics (7.43), and boys’ cross country (5.42). In sex-comparable sports, girls sustained more stress fractures (63.3%) than did boys (36.7%) and had higher rates of stress fracture (2.22 vs 1.27; rate ratio, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.38-2.23). The most commonly injured sites were the lower leg (40.3% of all stress fractures), foot (34.9%), and lower back/lumbar spine/pelvis (15.2%). Management was nonsurgical in 98.7% of the cases, and 65.3% of injuries resulted in ≥3 weeks of time loss, medical disqualification, or an end to the season before athletes could return to play.

Conclusion:

Although a rare injury, stress fractures cause considerable morbidity for high school athletes of both sexes. Future research should evaluate risks of stress fractures to drive development of targeted prevention efforts.
Prospective Memory Training
Authors: Waldum Emily R. , Dufault Carolyn L. , McDaniel Mark A.
Published: December 2014

Prospective memory (PM) tasks are those that must be performed in the future (e.g., attend an appointment). While these everyday tasks can be especially relevant for older adults (i.e., medication adherence), and have been associated with age-related decline, PM has been virtually overlooked in the cognitive training domain. This article describes the first comprehensive PM training intervention. Older adults (age 55 to 75) who received training completed 8 weekly PM training sessions that consisted of variable PM training tasks, strategy-focused discussion, and homework assignments. Those assigned to a control group completed only the first and last training task. On both a real-world proxy PM transfer task and the training tasks detailed here, there was a positive impact of PM training, suggesting practical benefits of the current training package for older adults. Benefits may also extend to other special populations who experience PM impairments (e.g., traumatic brain injury [TBI], Parkinson’s).
Nursing Home Perspectives on the Admission of Morbidly Obese Patients From Hospitals to Nursing Homes
Authors: Felix Holly C. , Bradway Christine , Ali Mir M. , Li Xiaocong
Published: December 2014

Purpose of the Study: Care challenges have been described for hospitalized morbidly obese (MO) patients. These challenges likely persist post discharge. As a result, nursing homes (NHs) may be reluctant to admit these patients, potentially leaving them “stranded in hospitals”. This study identified issues NHs consider in admission decisions for MO patients transitioning from hospitals. Design and Method: Approved surveys were mailed to nursing directors at federally-certified NHs in Arkansas ( n = 234) and Pennsylvania ( n = 710) to collect NH experience in the admission of patients weighing ≥325 pounds. Analyses included descriptive and inferential statistics to summarize and identify predictors of MO patient admission decisions. Results: In total, 360 surveys were returned (38.1% response rate). Although two-thirds of respondents reported patient size as an admission barrier, only 6% reported that MO patients were always refused admission. Adjusted analysis showed that NHs with adequate staff were significantly ( p = .04) less likely to report obesity as an admission barrier whereas NHs reporting concerns about availability of bariatric equipment were significantly ( p < .0001) more likely to report obesity as a barrier. Implications: Lack of staff and bariatric equipment in NHs appears to negatively affect the transition of MO patients out of the hospital to NHs. Additional research, including examination of current regulations and reimbursement policies, should be undertaken to understand NH staffing and equipment acquisition decisions in light of the current obesity epidemic. Such research has implications for the optimal care of obese individuals during times of transition.
A Group Contingency Plus Self-Management Intervention Targeting At-Risk Secondary Students’ Class-Work and Active Engagement
Authors: Trevino-Maack Sylvia I. , Kamps Debra , Wills Howard
Published: December 2014

The purpose of the present study is to show that an independent group contingency (GC) combined with self-management strategies and randomized-reinforcer components can increase the amount of written work and active classroom responding in high school students. Three remedial reading classes and a total of 15 students participated in this study. Students used self-management strategies during independent reading time to increase the amount of writing in their reading logs. They used self-monitoring strategies to record whether or not they performed expected behaviors in class. A token economy using points and tickets was included in the GC to provide positive reinforcement for target responses. The results were analyzed through visual inspection of graphs and effect size computations and showed that the intervention increased the total amount of written words in the students’ reading logs and overall classroom and individual student academic engagement.
Enteral Nutrition Formula Selection
Authors: Brown Britta , Roehl Kelly , Betz Melanie
Published: December 2014

Many new enteral nutrition (EN) formulas have been created over the past several decades with a variety of intended uses. Although each is intended to promote improved outcomes, research is often unclear and, in many cases, conflicting. It is important to note that EN products are considered medical foods by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and therefore do not have to complete premarket review or approval and are not regulated to the same extent as pharmaceuticals. While standard EN formulas are designed to meet the basic macro‐ and micronutrient requirements of individuals who cannot meet nutrition needs orally, specialty EN products have been developed to exhibit pharmacologic properties, such as immune‐enhancing formulas containing arginine, glutamine, nucleotides, and ω‐3 fatty acids. With the vast number of products available, rising costs of healthcare, and the drive toward evidence‐based practice, it is imperative that clinicians carefully consider research regarding use of specialty formulas, paying close attention to the quality, patient population, clinical end points, and cost to patient and/or facility.
U.S. Regional Poverty Post-2000
Authors: Partridge Mark D. , Rickman Dan S. , Tan Ying , Olfert M. Rose
Published: December 2014

The strong U.S. real income gains and reductions in poverty during the 1990s were largely erased in the following decade, which contained two economic recessions and tepid job growth otherwise. Areas most affected by weak U.S. economic performance could be expected to also have experienced the largest increases in poverty, particularly if interregional labor market adjustment diminished during the decade. We examine this issue, finding that not only was regional poverty affected by regional labor demand shocks, the effect was stronger post-2000. Consistent with the poverty results are findings of greater post-2000 regional labor demand effects on employment rates and reduced population adjustments to asymmetric labor demand shocks.
Thoughts about Conceptual Models of Nursing and Health Policies
Authors: Aronowitz Teri , Fawcett Jacqueline
Published: December 2014

In this essay, we present a conceptual framework for analysis and evaluation of sexuality education health policies based on the conceptual model of nursing and health policy and the Neuman systems model. The framework is intended to facilitate understanding of sexuality education policies promulgated by the governments of any country in the world.
Lateral Violence in Nursing
Authors: Roberts Susan Jo
Published: December 2014

The author of this article reviews the literature on lateral violence in nursing. This concept was first discussed over three decades ago. Bullying and Incivility are concepts similar to lateral violence that have become increasingly utilized in nursing research and scholarly writing. The research on these concepts suggests that the behavior still exists in the nursing workplace, and that few interventions have been developed to change the behaviors or the power dynamics that cause them. Suggestions are included to change practice and scholarship in this area.
Using splitter blades to improve suction performance of centrifugal impeller pumps
Authors: Cavazzini Giovanna , Pavesi Giorgio , Santolin Alberto , Ardizzon Guido , Lorenzi Renzo
Published: December 2014

A comparison between centrifugal impeller pumps with and without splitter blades in terms of suction performance is presented by experimental tests and numerical analyses. The design of both pumps was carried out by preserving the impeller meridional shape, number of blades, and volute casing. Blade shapes were obtained by adopting a 1D inverse design method. The same blade loading distribution was assumed for the full blades of both impellers, while the loading distribution of the splitter blades was modified until a close matching between the two head-capacity curves was achieved. The fulfilment of this performance requirement and the use of the same number of blades were needed to describe accurately the role played by the splitter blades in cavitation inception and development. Differently from other experimental comparisons, where previous requirements were not met, a noticeable improvement in suction performance was found at large flow rates but not at partial ones, where a small deterioration in suction performance was observed. The crucial role played by the blade thickness blockage on the incidence flow angle at the leading edge of the full blades was also investigated.
Is Postpartum Depression a Disease of Modern Civilization?
Authors: Hahn-Holbrook Jennifer , Haselton Martie
Published: December 2014

Access to calorie-dense foods, medicine, and other comforts has made modern humans healthier than our prehistoric ancestors in many respects. However, the epidemics of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease suggest that there are also drawbacks to modern living. Here, we address the question of whether the dramatic cultural changes that have occurred over the past century have inflated rates of postpartum depression, adding postpartum depression to the list of “diseases of modern civilization.” We review evidence from cross-cultural, epidemiological, and experimental studies documenting associations between postpartum depression and modern patterns of early weaning, diets deficient in essential fatty acids, low levels of physical activity, low levels of sun exposure, and isolation from kin support networks, all of which mark significant divergences from lifestyles believed to have been typical throughout human evolutionary history. This “mismatch hypothesis” of postpartum depression integrates research across diverse research areas and generates novel predictions.
Evolving Kolb
Authors: Schenck Jeb , Cruickshank Jessie
Published: December 2014

In pursuing a refined Learning Styles Inventory (LSI), Kolb has moved away from the original cyclical nature of his model of experiential learning. Kolb’s model has not adapted to current research and has failed to increase understanding of learning. A critical examination of Kolb’s experiential learning theory in terms of epistemology, educational neuroscience, and model analysis reveals the need for an experiential learning theory that addresses these issues. This article re-conceptualizes experiential learning by building from cognitive neuroscience, Dynamic Skill Theory, and effective experiential education practices into a self-adjusting fractal-like cycle that we call Co-Constructed Developmental Teaching Theory (CDTT). CDTT is a biologically driven model of teaching. It is a cohesive framework of ideas that have been presented before but not linked in a coherent manner to the biology of the learning process. In addition, it orders the steps in a neurobiologically supported sequence. CDTT opens new avenues of research utilizing evidenced-based teaching practices and provides a basis for a new conversation. However, thorough testing remains.