bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lipid remodeling and an altered membrane-associated proteome may drive the differential effects of EPA and DHA treatment on skeletal muscle glucose uptake and protein accretion
Authors: Jeromson Stewart , Mackenzie Ivor , Doherty Mary K. , Whitfield Phillip D. , Bell Gordon , Dick James , Shaw Andy , Rao Francesco V. , Ashcroft Stephen P. , Philp Andrew , Galloway Stuart D. R. , Gallagher Iain , Hamilton D. Lee
Published: June 2017

In striated muscle, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have differential effects on the metabolism of glucose and differential effects on the metabolism of protein. We have shown that, despite similar incorporation, treatment of C2C12myotubes (CM) with EPA but not DHA improves glucose uptake and protein accretion. We hypothesized that these differential effects of EPA and DHA may be due to divergent shifts in lipidomic profiles leading to altered proteomic profiles. We therefore carried out an assessment of the impact of treating CM with EPA and DHA on lipidomic and proteomic profiles. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) analysis revealed that both EPA and DHA led to similar but substantials changes in fatty acid profiles with the exception of arachidonic acid, which was decreased only by DHA, and docosapentanoic acid (DPA), which was increased only by EPA treatment. Global lipidomic analysis showed that EPA and DHA induced large alterations in the cellular lipid profiles and in particular, the phospholipid classes. Subsequent targeted analysis confirmed that the most differentially regulated species were phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines containing long-chain fatty acids with five (EPA treatment) or six (DHA treatment) double bonds. As these are typically membrane-associated lipid species we hypothesized that these treatments differentially altered the membrane-associated proteome. Stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)-based proteomics of the membrane fraction revealed significant divergence in the effects of EPA and DHA on the membrane-associated proteome. We conclude that the EPA-specific increase in polyunsaturated long-chain fatty acids in the phospholipid fraction is associated with an altered membrane-associated proteome and these may be critical events in the metabolic remodeling induced by EPA treatment.
Integration of visual and tactile information in reproduction of traveled distance
Authors: Churan Jan , Paul Johannes , Klingenhoefer Steffen , Bremmer Frank
Published: June 2017

In the natural world, self-motion always stimulates several different sensory modalities. Here we investigated the interplay between a visual optic flow stimulus simulating self-motion and a tactile stimulus (air flow resulting from self-motion) while human observers were engaged in a distance reproduction task. We found that adding congruent tactile information (i.e., speed of the air flow and speed of visual motion are directly proportional) to the visual information significantly improves the precision of the actively reproduced distances. This improvement, however, was smaller than predicted for an optimal integration of visual and tactile information. In contrast, incongruent tactile information (i.e., speed of the air flow and speed of visual motion are inversely proportional) did not improve subjects’ precision indicating that incongruent tactile information and visual information were not integrated. One possible interpretation of the results is a link to properties of neurons in the ventral intraparietal area that have been shown to have spatially and action-congruent receptive fields for visual and tactile stimuli.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study shows that tactile and visual information can be integrated to improve the estimates of the parameters of self-motion. This, however, happens only if the two sources of information are congruent—as they are in a natural environment. In contrast, an incongruent tactile stimulus is still used as a source of information about self-motion but it is not integrated with visual information.
In Vitro and In Vivo Dentinogenic Efficacy of Human Dental Pulp-Derived Cells Induced by Demineralized Dentin Matrix and HA-TCP
Authors: Kang Kyung-Jung , Lee Min Suk , Moon Chan-Woong , Lee Jae-Hoon , Yang Hee Seok , Jang Young-Joo
Published: June 2017

Human dental pulp cells have been known to have the stem cell features such as self-renewal and multipotency. These cells are differentiated into hard tissue by addition of proper cytokines and biomaterials. Hydroxyapatite-tricalcium phosphates (HA-TCPs) are essential components of hard tissue and generally used as a biocompatible material in tissue engineering of bone. Demineralized dentin matrix (DDM) has been reported to increase efficiency of bone induction. We compared the efficiencies of osteogenic differentiation and in vivo bone formation of HA-TCP and DDM on human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). DDM contains inorganic components as with HA-TCP, and organic components such as collagen type-1. Due to these components, osteoinduction potential of DDM on hDPSCs was remarkably higher than that of HA-TCP. However, the efficiencies of in vivo bone formation are similar in HA-TCP and DDM. Although osteogenic gene expression and bone formation in immunocompromised nude mice were similar levels in both cases, dentinogenic gene expression level was slightly higher in DDM transplantation than in HA-TCP. All these results suggested that in vivo osteogenic potentials in hDPSCs are induced with both HA-TCP and DDM by osteoconduction and osteoinduction, respectively. In addition, transplantation of hDPSCs/DDM might be more effective for differentiation into dentin.
On the Role of Thermal Stresses during Hydraulic Stimulation of Geothermal Reservoirs
Authors: Jansen Gunnar , Miller Stephen A.
Published: June 2017

Massive quantities of fluid are injected into the subsurface during the creation of an engineered geothermal system (EGS) to induce shear fracture for enhanced reservoir permeability. In this numerical thermoelasticity study, we analyze the effect of cold fluid injection on the reservoir and the resulting thermal stress change on potential shear failure in the reservoir. We developed an efficient methodology for the coupled simulation of fluid flow, heat transport, and thermoelastic stress changes in a fractured reservoir. We performed a series of numerical experiments to investigate the effects of fracture and matrix permeability and fracture orientation on thermal stress changes and failure potential. Finally, we analyzed thermal stress propagation in a hypothetical reservoir for the spatial and temporal evolution of possible thermohydraulic induced shear failure. We observe a strong influence of the hydraulic reservoir properties on thermal stress propagation. Further, we find that thermal stress change can lead to induced shear failure on nonoptimally oriented fractures. Our results suggest that thermal stress changes should be taken into account in all models for long-term fluid injections in fractured reservoirs.
Role of Vascular Endothelial Cells in Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Induced by Seawater Immersion in a Rat Trauma Model
Authors: Zhang Dajin , Qu Jia , Xiong Ming , Qiao Yuanyuan , Wang Dapeng , Liu Fengjiao , Li Dandan , Hu Ming , Zhang Jiashu , Wang Fuyu , Zhao Xiaohang , Shi Chenghe
Published: June 2017

Trauma complicated by seawater immersion is a complex pathophysiological process with higher mortality than trauma occurring on land. This study investigated the role of vascular endothelial cells (VECs) in trauma development in a seawater environment. An open abdominal injury rat model was used. The rat core temperatures in the seawater (SW, 22°C) group and normal sodium (NS, 22°C) group declined equivalently. No rats died within 12 hours in the control and NS groups. However, the median lethal time of the rats in the SW group was only 260 minutes. Among the 84 genes involved in rat VEC biology, the genes exhibiting the high expression changes (84.62%, 11/13) on a qPCR array were associated with thrombin activity. The plasma activated partial thromboplastin time and fibrinogen and vWF levels decreased, whereas the prothrombin time and TFPI levels increased, indicating intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation pathway activation and inhibition, respectively. The plasma plasminogen, FDP, and D-dimer levels were elevated after 2 hours, and those of uPA, tPA, and PAI-1 exhibited marked changes, indicating disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Additionally, multiorgan haemorrhagia was observed. It indicated that seawater immersion during trauma may increase DIC, elevating mortality. VECs injury might play an essential role in this process.
Online Social Network Emergency Public Event Information Propagation and Nonlinear Mathematical Modeling
Authors: Liu Xiaoyang , Liu Chao , Zeng Xiaoping
Published: June 2017

Emergency public event arises everyday on social network. The information propagation of emergency public event (favorable and harmful) is researched. The dynamics of a susceptible-infected-susceptible and susceptible-infected-removed epidemic models incorporated with information propagation of emergency public event are studied. In particular, we investigate the propagation model and the infection spreading pattern using nonlinear dynamic method and results obtained through extensive numerical simulations. We further generalize the model for any arbitrary number of infective network nodes to mimic existing scenarios in online social network. The simulation results reveal that the inclusion of multiple infective node achieved stability and equilibrium in the proposed information propagation model.
Cerebral Reorganization in Subacute Stroke Survivors after Virtual Reality-Based Training: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Xiao Xiang , Lin Qiang , Lo Wai-Leung , Mao Yu-Rong , Shi Xin-chong , Cates Ryan S. , Zhou Shu-Feng , Huang Dong-Feng , Li Le
Published: June 2017

Background. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a promising method for quantifying brain recovery and investigating the intervention-induced changes in corticomotor excitability after stroke. This study aimed to evaluate cortical reorganization subsequent to virtual reality-enhanced treadmill (VRET) training in subacute stroke survivors.Methods. Eight participants with ischemic stroke underwent VRET for 5 sections per week and for 3 weeks. fMRI was conducted to quantify the activity of selected brain regions when the subject performed ankle dorsiflexion. Gait speed and clinical scales were also measured before and after intervention.Results. Increased activation in the primary sensorimotor cortex of the lesioned hemisphere and supplementary motor areas of both sides for the paretic foot (p<0.01) was observed postintervention. Statistically significant improvements were observed in gait velocity (p<0.05). The change in voxel counts in the primary sensorimotor cortex of the lesioned hemisphere is significantly correlated with improvement of 10 m walk time after VRET (r=−0.719).Conclusions. We observed improved walking and increased activation in cortical regions of stroke survivors after VRET training. Moreover, the cortical recruitment was associated with better walking function. Our study suggests that cortical networks could be a site of plasticity, and their recruitment may be one mechanism of training-induced recovery of gait function in stroke. This trial is registered with ChiCTR-IOC-15006064.
Ultrasound Risk Categories for Thyroid Nodules and Cytology Results: A Single Institution’s Experience after the Adoption of the 2016 Update of Medical Guidelines by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and Associazione Medici Endocrinologi
Authors: Negro Roberto , Greco Gabriele , Colosimo Ermenegildo
Published: June 2017

Objectives. In 2016, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and Associazione Medici Endocrinologi (AME) released updated guidelines for the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules. The aim of this study was to evaluate the AACE/AME recommendations for FNA in clinical practice, by comparing the (US) stratification risk and indications for FNA with cytologic results. Methods. From May to December 2016, we collected the cytologic results from FNAs of nodules that were classified using a three-tier US category system (low, intermediate, and high risk). Results. We obtained 859 FNAs from 598 patients: 341 (39.7%) from low, 489 (56.9%) from intermediate, and 29 (3.4%) from high risk nodules. Of these, 88.5% and 74.9% of low and intermediate risk nodules, respectively, were cytologically benign, whereas 84.6% of high risk nodules had a moderate-to-elevated risk of malignancy or were malignant. If FNAs had been limited to intermediate risk nodules >20 mm, we would have missed 13/17 (76.5%) nodules that had moderate-to-elevated risk of malignancy or were malignant (11/13 were malignant based on histology). Conclusions. A nonnegligible number of cytologically malignant nodules or nodules that were suspected to be malignant would be missed if intermediate US risk nodules <20 mm were not biopsied.
Study on the Gap Flow Simulation in EDM Small Hole Machining with Ti Alloy
Authors: Zhang Shengfang , Zhang Wenchao , Liu Yu , Ma Fujian , Su Chong , Sha Zhihua
Published: June 2017

In electrical discharge machining (EDM) process, the debris removed from electrode material strongly affects the machining efficiency and accuracy, especially for the deep small hole machining process. In case of Ti alloy, the debris movement and removal process in gap flow between electrodes for small hole EDM process is studied in this paper. Based on the solid-liquid two-phase flow equation, the mathematical model on the gap flow field with flushing and self-adaptive disturbation is developed. In our 3D simulation process, the count of debris increases with number of EDM discharge cycles, and the disturbation generated by the movement of self-adaptive tool in the gap flow is considered. The methods of smoothing and remeshing are also applied in the modeling process to enable a movable tool. Under different depth, flushing velocity, and tool diameter, the distribution of velocity field, pressure field of gap flow, and debris movement are analyzed. The statistical study of debris distribution under different machining conditions is also carried out. Finally, a series of experiments are conducted on a self-made machine to verify the 3D simulation model. The experiment results show the burn mark at hole bottom and the tapered wall, which corresponds well with the simulating conclusion.
Nrf2 Mutagenic Activation Drives Hepatocarcinogenesis
Authors: Ngo Hoang Kieu Chi , Kim Do-Hee , Cha Young-Nam , Na Hye-Kyung , Surh Young-Joon
Published: June 2017

Nrf2, a master regulator of oxidative stress, is considered a prominent target for prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Here we report that Nrf2-deficient mice resisted diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis without affecting P450-mediated metabolic activation of DEN. Nrf2 expression, nuclear translocation, and transcriptional activity were enhanced in liver tumors. Overactivated Nrf2 was required for hepatoma growth in DEN-induced HCC. Following DEN treatment, Nrf2 genetic disruption reduced expression of pentose phosphate pathway-related enzymes, the depletion of which has been associated with an amelioration of HCC incidence. Conversely, enhanced Nrf2 activity was attributable to alterations in the ability to bind its endogenous inhibitor Keap1. Our findings provide a mechanistic rationale for Nrf2 blockade to prevent and possibly treat liver cancer. Cancer Res; 77(18); 4797–808. ©2017 AACR.
Caries Experience in Children with and without Molar-Incisor Hypomineralisation: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Grossi Juliana de Aguiar , Cabral Renata Nunes , Leal Soraya Coelho
Published: June 2017

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the caries experience of children with and without molar-incisor hypomineralisation (MIH). Methods: A case-control study was designed in which 130 children aged between 7 and 13 years with MIH (cases) were matched with 130 children without the condition (controls) according to age, sex, and school. Dental caries and MIH were assessed using the Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST) and European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) criteria, respectively, by three examiners. CAST was converted into DMFT/dmft; the Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to analyse whether dmft/DMFT was influenced by the severity of MIH. Associations between MIH and dental caries were analysed at child and tooth levels: between and within subjects, respectively. To correlate MIH severity and the occurrence of dental caries, the Cochran-Armitage test was used. Results: The mean age of the children was 9.63 ± 1.29 years. The mean dmft for cases was 1.23 ± 1.99 and for controls 1.71 ± 2.22 (p > 0.05). For the DMFT, the mean scores for cases and controls were 0.45 ± 0.90 and 0.07 ± 0.25, respectively (p < 0.001). The between-subject analysis showed no difference in relation to enamel carious lesions; however, the prevalence of dentine carious lesions was significantly higher in children with MIH than in those without the condition. The same pattern was seen for the within-subject analysis. It was observed that the increase in MIH severity resulted in more teeth being affected by dentine carious lesions (p = 0.0003). Conclusion: Children with MIH presented a higher experience of caries in the permanent dentition than those without the condition. MIH was considered a risk factor for caries development.
Life's Simple 7 and Incident Heart Failure: The Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Ogunmoroti Oluseye , Oni Ebenezer , Michos Erin D. , Spatz Erica S. , Allen Norrina B. , Rana Jamal S. , Virani Salim S , Blankstein Ron , Aronis Konstantinos N. , Blumenthal Roger S. , Veledar Emir , Szklo Moyses , Blaha Michael J. , Nasir Khurram
Published: June 2017

Background

The American Heart Association introduced the Life's Simple 7 (
LS
7) metrics to assess and promote cardiovascular health. We sought to examine the association between the
LS
7 metrics and incident heart failure (
HF
) in a multiethnic cohort.

Methods and Results

We analyzed data from 6506 participants of the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis free of cardiovascular disease at baseline. The
LS
7 metrics (smoking, physical activity, body mass index, diet, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and blood glucose) were graded on a scale of 0 to 2, with 2 indicating “ideal” status, 1 “intermediate” status, and 0 “poor” status. Points were summed, thus the
LS
7 score ranged from 0 to 14. Cox proportional hazard ratios and incidence rates of
HF
per 1000 person‐years were calculated. During a median follow‐up of 12.2 years, 262 (4%) participants developed
HF
. Incidence of
HF
decreased as the number of ideal
LS
7 metrics increased; 5.9 per 1000 person‐years for participants with 0 to 1 ideal metrics and 0.6 per 1000 person‐years for those with 6 to 7 ideal metrics. Compared with inadequate scores (0–8 points), hazard ratios for
HF
were 0.57 (0.43–0.76) and 0.31 (0.19–0.49) for average (9–10 points) and optimal (11–14 points) scores, respectively. A similar pattern was observed when the results were stratified by 4 racial/ethnic groups: white, Chinese American, black, and Hispanic.

Conclusions

A lower risk of
HF
with more favorable
LS
7 status regardless of race/ethnicity suggests that efforts to achieve ideal cardiovascular health may reduce the burden of
HF
, a major source of morbidity and mortality.
At the Crossroads of Slavonic Compilations
Authors: Veder William R.
Published: June 2017

Close examination of five compilations from texts previously translated into Slavonic (two of which are edited) and their interrelation leads to the recognition that they form part of a corpus with at least another eleven compilations (four of which are edited). This corpus, in size vastly surpassing that of original compositions in Slavonic, was written in Glagolitic script, which implies that it cannot have been created later than the beginning of the twelfth century.
The Primary Chronicle in Light of World(-)System Theories and Social Constructivism
Authors: Kola Adam F.
Published: June 2017

The text presents a new interpretation of the Old Rus’ Primary Chronicle through the lens of I. Wallerstein’s and A.G. Frank’s World(-)System Theories, combined with social constructivism and historical anthropology, which will allow the author to elaborate on the utility and advantages that this concept offers for the large-scale study of pre-modern literature.
“A Very Important Yet Complicated Matter”
Authors: Hardy Jeffrey S.
Published: June 2017

Informant networks were an integral feature of the Soviet Gulag. This article sheds light on their size, structure, recruitment methods, aims, and results using archival documentation primarily from the Estonian ssr. Focusing on the Khrushchev era, it demonstrates that although the regime placed high value on the networks as a way of fighting crime and managing inmate behavior, various factors mitigated against the realization of these goals. In the end, the networks were used by local administrators not to create institutions of strict disciplinary order as instructions from central authorities dictated, but rather to help cultivate the “customary order” that penal officials globally strive for: a modus vivendi between inmates and administrators that tolerates some infractions of penal regulations by the former and an acceptable level of corruption by the latter.
Towards a typology of relative clauses in Sinitic
Authors: ARCODIA Giorgio Francesco
Published: June 2017

The study of relative clauses (RCs) in Sinitic has attracted considerable attention in typological literature, especially because of the exceedingly rare correlation of Verb-Object order and prenominal relatives (Tang 2006; Dryer 2013b). As to the structural differences of RCs within Sinitic, although previous studies have brought to light several key issues (e.g. Liu 2005), there is much work yet to be done in this area. Basing on data from a convenience sample of 44 Sinitic languages, in this paper we will try to sketch a typology of relativization in Sinitic languages according to two parameters, namely the position of the head and relativization strategies. Also, we will highlight some meaningful correlations and implications constraining diversity in the domain of relativization in Sinitic.
Relativization strategies and alignment in Thulung Rai
Authors: LAHAUSSOIS Aimée
Published: June 2017

This article describes the relativization strategies found in Thulung Rai (Eastern Nepal, Tibeto-Burman, Kiranti subgroup). The strategies make use of three morphemes: a finite nominalizer -m (along with allomorph -mim), and two participial markers, -pa and -ma, and have different distributions in terms of the arguments they can relativize upon. Of particular interest is the question of the distribution of strategies available for relativization on subjects, and how these correlate with case marking and the person-based split ergative system found in Thulung.
Perception of Rhythmic Similarity is Asymmetrical, and Is Influenced by Musical Training, Expressive Performance, and Musical Context
Authors: Cameron Daniel , Potter Keith , Wiggins Geraint , Pearce Marcus
Published: June 2017

Rhythm is an essential part of the structure, behaviour, and aesthetics of music. However, the cognitive processing that underlies the perception of musical rhythm is not fully understood. In this study, we tested whether rhythm perception is influenced by three factors: musical training, the presence of expressive performance cues in human-performed music, and the broader musical context. We compared musicians and nonmusicians’ similarity ratings for pairs of rhythms taken from Steve Reich’s Clapping Music. The rhythms were heard both in isolation and in musical context and both with and without expressive performance cues. The results revealed that rhythm perception is influenced by the experimental conditions: rhythms heard in musical context were rated as less similar than those heard in isolation; musicians’ ratings were unaffected by expressive performance, but nonmusicians rated expressively performed rhythms as less similar than those with exact timing; and expressively-performed rhythms were rated as less similar compared to rhythms with exact timing when heard in isolation but not when heard in musical context. The results also showed asymmetrical perception: the order in which two rhythms were heard influenced their perceived similarity. Analyses suggest that this asymmetry was driven by the internal coherence of rhythms, as measured by normalized Pairwise Variability Index (nPVI). As predicted, rhythms were perceived as less similar when the first rhythm in a pair had greater coherence (lower nPVI) than the second rhythm, compared to when the rhythms were heard in the opposite order.
Annotated zoogeography of non-marine Tardigrada. Part IV: Africa
Authors: MCINNES SANDRA J. , MICHALCZYK ŁUKASZ , KACZMAREK ŁUKASZ
Published: June 2017

This paper is the fourth monograph in a series that describes the global records of limno-terrestrial water bears (Tardigrada). Here, we provide a comprehensive list of non-marine tardigrades recorded from Africa, providing an updated and revised taxonomy accompanied by geographic co-ordinates, habitat, and biogeographic comments. It is hoped this work will serve as a reference point and background for further zoogeographical and taxonomical studies.
Systematics of Simothraulopsis Demoulin, 1966 (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae)
Authors: NASCIMENTO JEANE M. C. DO , SALLES FREDERICO F. , HAMADA NEUSA
Published: June 2017

In the present paper, based on specimens from different regions of Brazil, we review the current knowledge of the Neotropical genus Simothraulopsis. A phylogenetic study was performed in order to address the relationships between all species and to test the monophyly of Simothraulopsis. For this purpose, 48 characters related to the external morphology of adults and nymphs were investigated. As a result, four new species are described; S. caliginosus sp.nov., S. dominguezi sp. nov., S. eurybasis sp. nov., S. inaequalis sp. nov. New taxonomic and biological information are added to this genus. Nymphs of S. diamantinensis Mariano, 2010 and S. janae Mariano, 2010 are described for the first time and several new distributional records for Brazil are provided. Additionally, keys for male imagos and nymphs of the genus are proposed. The phylogenetic analysis corroborated the monophyly of Simothraulopsis, however, the division in two subgenera as previously proposed was not recovered in our reconstruction.
“Everyone’s Voices Are to Be Heard”: A Comparison of Struggling and Proficient Readers’ Perspectives in One Urban High School
Authors: Learned Julie E. , Morgan Mary Jo , Lui Angela M.
Published: June 2017

Static reading labels are problematic not only because youths demonstrate varying reading skills and identities across secondary classrooms but also because being labeled as “struggling” can undermine literacy learning. Little research has investigated how “struggling” and “proficient” readers’ interactions with shared classroom contexts may mediate their literacy in similar and different ways. In a school-year-long qualitative study, the first author shadowed eight struggling readers across classes in an urban high school and compared their literacy experiences with those of youths not labeled as such. Analysis of 46 interviews, using 425 hr of observations as contextualizing data, showed that interactions with school contexts contributed to students’ positioning as struggling or proficient regardless, sometimes, of skilled reading. Proficient readers reported feeling that their perspectives were valued whereas struggling readers reported theirs were not. By documenting how contexts mediated youths’ perspectives on reading, findings have implications for disrupting deficit labels and promoting socially just teaching.
Heroin–piracetam mixture: Suggested mechanisms of action and risks of misinterpretation for drug users
Authors: Cappelletti Simone , Lombardo Francesco , Vitale Pasquale , Vallone Giuseppe , Ciallella Costantino
Published: June 2017

Piracetam is a positive allosteric modulator of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor that has been frequently used in the treatment of cognitive disorders. Press and internet reports indicate that the use of piracetam, as a heroin adulterant, has spread rapidly in some countries, especially in Asia and Europe. Its use, as adulterant, is believed to produce more profound desirable effects, while decreasing hangover. Recent surveys demonstrated that piracetam protects neurons from heroin-induced apoptosis. The protective role of this adulterating substance may be related to restoration of beta-endorphin levels and to its neuroprotective effects. The aim of this paper is to review the relevant literature and suggest the main hypothetical mechanisms that justify its use as a heroin adulterant, try to understand if its use could help people who want to come off heroin by reducing withdrawal symptoms and, finally, give useful information that permit us to understand why drug trafficking organisations started to use piracetam as heroin adulterant.
‘We’re not hard-to-reach, they are!’ Integrating local priorities in urban research in Northern England: An experimental method
Authors: Symons Jessica
Published: June 2017

In this article the author identifies the dichotomous nature of a government approach which insists on autonomy. Exhortations to communities to be independent while fostering dependent relations lead to a kind of paralysis that inhibits people’s abilities to progress. These insights were gained in Salford, UK in a former working class community fatigued by government intervention. As part of an academic project focused on supporting local people’s ideas, new ways of engaging were explored. However the researchers’ role as project directors and the status of the university also had impacts on fostering self-determination. The author proposes that a reflexive strategy identifying and ameliorating the multiple points of government interventions in low-income communities would go far in nurturing people’s productivity. This includes working with local intermediaries who have an intimate knowledge of the communities they serve.
How family networks drive residential location choices: Evidence from a stated preference field experiment in Bogotá, Colombia
Authors: Stokenberga Aiga
Published: June 2017

This research quantifies the relative importance of proximity to extended family networks in the stated residential location choices of Bogotá‘s low-to-middle-income residents by applying a conditional logistic regression model and using data from an original choice experiment. I find that the surveyed individuals prefer living near their extended family and, on average, prioritise it more than accessibility to the central business district. Those who have relied on help from extended family members in a personal or economic crisis situation have a stronger preference for living near extended family compared with those who have not, as do those who are able to rely on extended family ties for childcare assistance.
The cosmopolitics of situated care
Authors: Schillmeier Michael
Published: June 2017

Everyday experiences of illness draw our attention to the importance of the cosmopolitics of care in and through which normalizing and normalized practices of care can neither be taken for granted nor be expected. Drawing on ethnographic work on issues of everyday care practices in heath care this article argues that caring relations demand an attentiveness to the emerging requirements of care in concrete situations. Shared policy rules are beneficial if they allow policy practitioners to respond adequately to the unfolding issues, requirements and obligations of care practices. The article suggests that an ethnographic sense of and for caring practices may offer important insights that contribute to health care policy making processes.
Care, policy, knowledge: Translating between worlds
Authors: Freeman Richard
Published: June 2017

It is the achievement of this collection to challenge our everyday distinction between care and policy. In these ethnographic accounts, we learn how something we might call ‘care-policy’ is achieved in practice, ‘on the ground’. This brief postscript draws attention to the corollary world of the office, the way care-policy is constructed in the committee room and the debating chamber, in the offices and corridors of its administration. The author notes how the work of the office is likewise constituted in practice, in interaction between people and between people and things. It is suggested that care-policy in the field and in the office is predicated on different ways of knowing which reflect a specific tension between case and category. The studies presented here are made at the point of intersection of discrepant worlds/knowledges: some seem to expose and emphasise those discrepancies, but others point to ways in which, in practice, they might be resolved. In carrying out inspections, in assembling and articulating generic experiences of injustice, some actors seem to do care and policy together, piecing together knowledges of different kinds, translating between worlds.
The low frequency vibration control of the hoop truss structure with extended arm
Authors: Ma Guoliang , Xu Minglong , Gao Bo , Zhang Shuwen , Hu Zifan
Published: June 2017

The hoop truss structure with extended arm has large diameter and great flexibility. These two characteristics cause low frequency and affect the technical requirements of modern satellite system. This article investigates the active vibration control of the hoop truss structure with extended arm. At first, proportional plus derivative algorithm and least mean square adaptive filtering algorithm are applied to derive the vibration control equation. Then, based on the first two modes calculated by finite elements method, the positions of the actuators are optimized. Finally, the excitation simulation and the closed-loop control simulation for suppressing the low frequency vibration are established. The simulation result illustrates that the amplitudes of the responses are decreased significantly under the steady state excitation after adopting the intelligent control algorithm.
Against ‘law and order’ lockup: the 1970 NYC jail rebellions
Authors: Losier Toussaint
Published: June 2017

The article focuses on a series of rebellions that occurred within the New York City jail system in 1970 over problems of overcrowding and inhumane conditions and the resurgent practice of preventive detention. While championed in the Nixon administration’s vision of ‘law and order’, preventive detention was carried out by John Lindsay, the liberal Republican mayor of New York City, not only against political dissidents, but also against working-class citizens too poor to afford bail. During the course of the October revolts in five facilities including the Tombs, Branch Queens, and Rikers Island, inmates called attention to this practice, winning an unprecedented set of bail review hearings during the course of their takeover of a local jail. These radical prison movements, which were influenced by inmates from the Black Panther Party and Young Lords Party, drew upon discourses of human rights, multiracial unity, and national liberation and also joined calls for broader social transformation. Though short-lived, these events shed light on the contested legacy of preventive detention, a crucial strategic reminder amidst today’s resurgence in ‘law and order’ rhetoric and practice.
Bayesian cure rate models induced by frailty in survival analysis
Authors: de Souza Daiane , Cancho Vicente G , Rodrigues Josemar , Balakrishnan Narayanaswamy
Published: June 2017

Frailty models provide a convenient way of modeling unobserved dependence and heterogeneity in survival data which, if not accounted for duly, would result incorrect inference. Gamma frailty models are commonly used for this purpose, but alternative continuous distributions are possible as well. However, with cure rate being present in survival data, these continuous distributions may not be appropriate since individuals with long-term survival times encompass zero frailty. So, we propose here a flexible probability distribution induced by a discrete frailty, and then present some special discrete probability distributions. We specifically focus on a special hyper-Poisson distribution and then develop the corresponding Bayesian simulation, influence diagnostics and an application to real dataset by means of intensive Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. These illustrate the usefulness of the proposed model as well as the inferential results developed here.
Likelihood inference for COM-Poisson cure rate model with interval-censored data and Weibull lifetimes
Authors: Pal Suvra , Balakrishnan N
Published: June 2017

In this paper, we consider a competing cause scenario and assume the number of competing causes to follow a Conway–Maxwell Poisson distribution which can capture both over and under dispersion that is usually encountered in discrete data. Assuming the population of interest having a component cure and the form of the data to be interval censored, as opposed to the usually considered right-censored data, the main contribution is in developing the steps of the expectation maximization algorithm for the determination of the maximum likelihood estimates of the model parameters of the flexible Conway–Maxwell Poisson cure rate model with Weibull lifetimes. An extensive Monte Carlo simulation study is carried out to demonstrate the performance of the proposed estimation method. Model discrimination within the Conway–Maxwell Poisson distribution is addressed using the likelihood ratio test and information-based criteria to select a suitable competing cause distribution that provides the best fit to the data. A simulation study is also carried out to demonstrate the loss in efficiency when selecting an improper competing cause distribution which justifies the use of a flexible family of distributions for the number of competing causes. Finally, the proposed methodology and the flexibility of the Conway–Maxwell Poisson distribution are illustrated with two known data sets from the literature: smoking cessation data and breast cosmesis data.
Understanding accommodation preferences of visitors to the Kruger National Park
Authors: Kruger Martinette , van der Merwe Peet , Saayman Melville , Slabbert Elmarie
Published: June 2017

Accommodation plays such an important role in the tourist’s experience that one would imagine that many studies concerning this topic have been conducted. However, surprisingly, very few studies have focused on this subject despite the growth in both demand and supply. This gap or lack of research led to the present exploratory study that addressed the question: ‘What are visitors’ accommodation preferences when they select accommodation in the Kruger National Park?’ Based on a visitor survey in the Northern region of the Park during December 2015 where 294 fully completed questionnaires were administered, respondents were segmented based on their accommodation preferences (self-service, serviced and safari). Three distinct segments were identified, Self-service seekers, Servicescape seekers and Self-safari seekers. These segments differ regarding their socio-demographic characteristics and especially regarding the factors they regard as important when selecting accommodation and campsites. This was the first time that the accommodation preferences of visitors to the flagship national park in South Africa have been analysed. The results demonstrated that while visitors to the Kruger National Park appear homogeneous regarding their demographic profile, they differ significantly when it comes to accommodation needs and preferences. The findings from the research are valuable to park management, especially when developing and expanding accommodation options in the park as it shows the preferences of each distinct market. This research furthermore contributes to the current literature regarding ecotourism and ecotourists’ accommodation preferences.
Predictors of pre-hospital delay in Hong Kong Chinese patients with acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Li Polly WC , Yu Doris SF
Published: June 2017

Background:

The pre-hospital delay to seek care remains the most significant barrier for effective management of acute myocardial infarction. Many of the previous studies mainly took place in Western countries. Few data are available about the care-seeking behavior of Hong Kong Chinese.

Aim:

The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of pre-hospital delay in care seeking among Hong Kong Chinese patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Methods:

Adult Chinese patients ( n=301) with a confirmed diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction were recruited from the cardiac units of three regional hospitals in Hong Kong. Various socio-demographic, clinical, symptom presentation characteristics and patient perceptual factors were considered as potential predictors. Multivariate analysis was conducted to identify the independent predictors with pre-hospital delay in care-seeking among acute myocardial infarction patients.

Results:

Perceived barriers to care seeking constituted the most significant predictor for longer pre-hospital delay in acute myocardial infarction patients. Female gender was also significant in predicting longer delay, whereas a greater extent of symptom congruence and a greater extent of typical symptom presentation were significantly associated with a shorter delay. The final model accounted for 49.6% of the variance in pre-hospital delay as a whole.

Conclusion:

The most prominent predictors of pre-hospital delay are modifiable in nature, including the perceived barriers to care seeking and symptom congruence. Other sociodemographic and clinical factors also influence patients’ decision. Although these are non-modifiable, our findings provide important insight for educating high-risk individuals.
Avatar as Second Suit: Power and Participation in Virtual Work
Authors: Bengtsson Stina
Published: June 2017

This article provides an analysis of the experiences of user–avatar relations and interaction of people who work in a virtual world. Earlier research often claims that relationships between users and their avatars are, by nature, strong and intense. By analyzing individuals who conducted paid labor in a number of public institutions in a virtual world, this article argues that the frame of work heavily influenced the professional users’ experiences of using an avatar. The user–avatar relationship was mainly related to how and why the user entered the virtual world, their position in their off-line and online workplaces and, as a result, related to aspects of power and control over the framing of the online arena. Because of these factors, many of the professional users regarded their avatar more as a second suit than, as has often been argued, a second self.
Influence of mechanical properties of polypropylene/low-density polyethylene nanocomposites
Authors: Su Bei , Zhou Ying-Guo , Wu Hai-Hong
Published: June 2017

The mechanical blending of polypropylene and low-density polyethylene is an economical and simple method for producing new polymeric materials for specific applications. However, the reduction in mechanical properties of the blend is one of its main shortcomings. In this study, a filler masterbatch including nano-silicon dioxide, compatibilizer, lubricant agent, and antioxidant agent was prepared, and polypropylene–low-density polyethylene composite parts with different content of filler masterbatch were fabricated and tested for mechanical properties at two tensile test speeds. Also, to investigate the underlying mechanism of the mechanical properties improvement, the tested samples were carefully analyzed and compared and further characterized by scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The results indicate that the mechanical properties, including tensile strength, moduli, and elongation, can be all drastically improved simultaneously with the addition of the filler masterbatch. The results also suggest that the compatibility of the two phases increases with the increase in the filler masterbatch, and the crystal size decreases and distribution uniforms owing to the addition of the filler masterbatch. Furthermore, it was also found that there is a close relationship between the mechanical properties and morphological structures, which are improved by the existence of the filler masterbatch.
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Knowledge in the Colombian Caribbean
Authors: Aldana-Domínguez Juanita , Montes Carlos , Martínez María , Medina Nicolás , Hahn Joachim , Duque Maritza
Published: June 2017

The Colombian Caribbean, one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, is facing great challenges in biodiversity conservation due to accelerated ecosystem transformations and the territorial planning required for peacemaking. We conducted a systematic review of 470 documents published between 1990 and 2015 to evaluate the progress of biodiversity and ecosystem services knowledge, identify biases, and define the priorities for research. Specifically, we describe the main characteristics of biodiversity studies, including the geographic distribution and the ecosystem services studied. We found limited participation by the social and interdisciplinary sciences. Researchers have focused mainly on taxonomic groups such as insects, birds, and mammals, ecosystems such as the tropical dry forest and regulating services. Some geographic areas have very few studies, corresponding to places affected by armed conflict. We propose that it is necessary to focus on plant and microorganism studies and those at the genetic and landscape level, as well as on less studied ecosystems such as urban and agro-ecosystems and places involved in armed conflict that have not been studied. We conclude by exposing insights to enhance some of the biases found and face the challenges: in the short term, the establishment of protected areas to guarantee the supply of ecosystem services for human well-being, in the middle term, an integrated territorial planning, and in the long term, the promotion of the social-ecological systems perspective. Ecosystem services concept reveals the link between biodiversity and human well-being and thus could have the potential to contribute to biodiversity conservation and peace construction in the Caribbean.