bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemically Cross‐Linked Poly(acrylic‐co‐vinylsulfonic) Acid Hydrogel for the Delivery of Isosorbide Mononitrate
Authors: Hussain Talib , Ansari Mahvash , Ranjha Nazar Muhammad , Khan Ikram Ullah , Shahzad Yasser
Published: October 2013

We report synthesis, characterization, and drug release attributes of a series of novel pH‐sensitive poly(acrylic‐co‐vinylsulfonic) acid hydrogels. These hydrogels were prepared by employing free radical polymerization using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and benzyl peroxide (BPO) as cross‐linker and initiator, respectively. Effect of acrylic acid (AA), polyvinylsulfonic acid (PVSA), and EGDMA on prepared hydrogels was investigated. All formulations showed higher swelling at high pHs and vice versa. Formulations containing higher content of AA and EGDMA show reduced swelling, but one with higher content of PVSA showed increased swelling. Hydrogel network was characterized by determining structural parameters and loaded with isosorbide mononitrate. FTIR confirmed absence of drug polymer interaction while DSC and TGA demonstrated molecular dispersion of drug in a thermally stable polymeric network. All the hydrogel formulations exhibited a pH dependent release of isosorbide mononitrate which was found to be directly proportional to pH of the medium and PVSA content and inversely proportional to the AA contents. Drug release data were fitted to various kinetics models. Results indicated that release of isosorbide mononitrate from poly(AA‐co‐VSA) hydrogels was non‐Fickian and that the mechanism was diffusion‐controlled.
Control of Disturbing Loads in Residential and Commercial Buildings via Geometric Algebra
Authors: Castilla Manuel-V.
Published: October 2013

Many definitions have been formulated to represent nonactive power for distorted voltages and currents in electronic and electrical systems. Unfortunately, no single universally suitable representation has been accepted as a prototype for this power component. This paper defines a nonactive power multivector from the most advanced multivectorial power theory based on the geometric algebra (GA). The new concept can have more importance on harmonic loads compensation, identification, and metering, between other applications. Likewise, this paper is concerned with a pioneering method for the compensation of disturbing loads. In this way, we propose a multivectorial relative quality index   associated with the power multivector. It can be assumed as a new index for power quality evaluation, harmonic sources detection, and power factor improvement in residential and commercial buildings. The proposed method consists of a single‐point strategy based of a comparison among different relative quality index multivectors, which may be measured at the different loads on the same metering point. The comparison can give pieces of information with magnitude, direction, and sense on the presence of disturbing loads. A numerical example is used to illustrate the clear capabilities of the suggested approach.
The Study of Cooling Process on Runout Table by Simulation Method
Authors: Suebsomran Anan , Butdee Suthep
Published: October 2013

This research aims to achieving the effective cooling parameter on the runout table (ROT) of strip steel in hot rolling process. The 2-dimensional transient heat conduction is developed including the external force convection and heat source due to translational motion. The material property, boundary, and initial condition are defined and bounded to model geometry. The strip velocity, cooling water temperature, and external fluid velocity are chosen for the influent parameters during cooling process at ROT. To find the optimality of cooling operating requirement, simulation study is conducted throughout this research. To reach the objective of optimal cooling consumption at ROT, temperature distribution in the strip steel during cooling governs by the form of heat transfer equation. To solve 2-dimensional transient heat conduction by numerical methods, the backward difference formula (BDF) applies to discretization of partial differentiation equation (PDE). The parallel sparse direct linear solver (PARDISO) and conjugate gradients method are comparatively applied to computation in linear algebraic equation. The simulation studies are divided into 12 case studies with three variations subjected to cooling conditions at ROT. From simulation results, the range of such three variations can be identified in relation to economic cooling system and desired quality of products.
Measurement Model for the Maximum Strain in Beam Structures Using Multiplexed Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors
Authors: Choi Se Woon , Lee Jihoon , Oh Bo Hwan , Park Hyo Seon
Published: October 2013

This study develops a strain measurement model for beam structures subjected to multiloading conditions by defining the strain-shape function and participation factors to overcome the limitations of strain measurements using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensors. Using the proposed model, the maximum strain in a beam is obtained by the sum of the strains caused by the different loadings acting separately. In this paper, the strain-shape functions for various loading and support conditions are provided, and a system of equations is defined to calculate the participation factors. Furthermore, the influence ratio is defined to identify the influence of each loading on the value of the total strain. The measurement model is applied to the monitoring of the maximum strain in a 4 m long steel beam subjected to two concentrated loads. For measurements during the test, seven FBG sensors and nine electric strain gauges (ESGs) were attached on the surface of the bottom flange. The experimental results indicate a good agreement between the estimated strains based on the model and the measured strains from ESGs. Furthermore, the dependency of the locations for the FBG sensors installed at the beam structure on the selection can be avoided using the measurement model.
Management of Pediatric and Adolescent Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Constantine Samaan M.
Published: October 2013

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) was an adult disease until recently, but the rising rates of obesity around the world have resulted in a younger age at presentation. Children who have T2D have several comorbidities and complications reminiscent of adult diabetes, but these are appearing in teens instead of midlife. In this review, we discuss the clinical presentation and management options for youth with T2D. We discuss the elements of lifestyle intervention programs and allude to pharmacotherapeutic options used in the treatment of T2D youth. We also discuss comorbidities and complications seen in T2D in children and adolescents.
Travelling Wave Solutions for Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation with a Higher-Order Dispersive Term
Authors: Cao Rui
Published: October 2013

A nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a higher-order dispersive term describing the propagation of ultrashort femtosecond pulses in optical fibres is considered and is transformed into a second-order nonlinear ordinary differential equation. We investigate the exact travelling wave solutions of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation using three methods, namely, the auxiliary equation method, the first integral method, and the direct integral method. As a result, Jacobi elliptic function solution, hyperbolic function solution, trigonometric function solution, and rational solution with parameters are obtained successfully. When the parameters are taken as special values, the two known solitary wave solution and periodic wave solution are derived from the solutions obtained. The aim of the paper is to compare the efficiency of the three methods.
Differential Therapeutic Effects of Anti–VEGF-A Antibody in Different Tumor Models: Implications for Choosing Appropriate Tumor Models for Drug Testing
Authors: Alishekevitz Dror , Bril Rotem , Loven David , Miller Valeria , Voloshin Tali , Gingis-Velistki Svetlana , Fremder Ella , Scherer Stefan J. , Shaked Yuval
Published: October 2013

We previously reported that the host response to certain chemotherapies can induce primary tumor regrowth, angiogenesis, and even metastases in mice, but the possible impact of anti–VEGF-A therapy in this context has not been fully explored. We, therefore, used combinations of anti–VEGF-A with chemotherapy on various tumor models in mice, including primary tumors, experimental lung metastases, and spontaneous lung metastases of 4T1-breast and CT26-colon murine cancer cell lines. Our results show that a combined treatment with anti–VEGF-A and folinic acid/5-fluorouracil/oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) but not with anti–VEGF-A and gemcitabine/cisplatinum (Gem/CDDP) enhances the treatment outcome partly due to reduced angiogenesis, in both primary tumors and experimental lung metastases models. However, neither treatment group exhibited an improved treatment outcome in the spontaneous lung metastases model, nor were changes in endothelial cell numbers found at metastatic sites. As chemotherapy has recently been shown to induce tumor cell invasion, we tested the invasion properties of tumor cells when exposed to plasma from FOLFOX-treated mice or patients with cancer. While plasma from FOLFOX-treated mice or patients induced invasion properties of tumor cells, the combination of anti–VEGF-A and FOLFOX abrogated these effects, despite the reduced plasma VEGF-A levels detected in FOLFOX-treated mice. These results suggest that the therapeutic impact of antiangiogenic drugs varies in different tumor models, and that anti–VEGF-A therapy can block the invasion properties of tumor cells in response to chemotherapy. These results may implicate an additional therapeutic role for anti–VEGF-A when combined with chemotherapy. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(1); 202–13. ©2013 AACR.
Assessment of endogenous, oral and inhaled steroid cross-reactivity in the Roche cortisol immunoassay
Authors: Stokes FJ , Bailey LM , Ganguli A , Davison AS
Published: October 2013

Background

Inhaled steroids are widely used for the treatment of asthma. Concerns over adrenal suppression when used at high doses or in combination with drugs such as ritonavir exist, requiring the measurement of serum cortisol. Herein, we investigate the cross-reactivity of the inhaled steroids betamethasone, fluticasone and beclomethasone in the Roche cortisol immunoassay, in addition to five other steroids.

Methods

Five replicates were produced from a serum pool for each of the eight steroids at a final concentration of 0.1 and 1 µg/mL. Each steroid was dissolved in 50% methanol, with 50% methanol of the same volume added to the control sample. The cross-reactivity of each steroid in the cortisol assay was calculated.

Results

There was no statistically or clinically significant cross-reactivity in the measurement of cortisol when fluticasone, beclomethasone or betamethasone were spiked at 0.1 and 1.0 µg/mL, except for beclomethasone at a concentration of 1 µg/mL (1490 nmol/L) with a cross-reactivity of 1.6%, which is unlikely to be clinically significant. At both steroid concentrations investigated, prednisolone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and 11-deoxycortisol exhibited statistically significant cross-reactivities that were greater than the least significant change of the assay (13.1%), whereas dexamethasone and metyrapone did not. Mean inter-assay precision was 1.5% (405–1586 nmol/L).

Conclusion

The cross-reactivity of the inhaled steroids; betamethasone, fluticasone and beclomethasone in the Roche cortisol immunoassay are unlikely to be clinically significant at the concentrations found in patients on therapeutic doses. This will enable confident assessment of adrenal status in patients at risk of adrenal suppression.
Engines of Desperation: Jet Engines, Production and New Weapons in the Third Reich
Authors: Giffard Hermione
Published: October 2013

This article uses the case of the production of jet engines during the Second World War to challenge how historians think about the Third Reich’s relationship to new weapons. Far from wonder weapons, Germany’s jet engines, first deployed in July 1944, were engines of desperation, unreliable but well fitted to the conditions of production in the National Socialist war economy. Despite the chaos of late war weapons production in Germany, Albert Speer’s Armament’s Ministry oversaw the manufacture of large numbers of jet engines, exploiting in particular the Mittelwerk weapons factory. The jet did not allow Germany to regain air superiority, but jet engines optimized for production enabled the regime to produce aero-engines as efficiently as possible with its remaining resources. Great Britain also deployed jet aircraft in mid-1944, but its government de-emphasized short-term engine production in favour of a broad development programme. Comparison of the different paths followed by the two nations to jet engines highlights how the design and production of jet engines in the Third Reich reflected a compromise typical of the regime's last years: manufacturing masses of inferior weapons, whose virtue lay in the fact that they were easy to build.
Illicit Encounters: Female Civilian Fraternization with Axis Prisoners of War in Second World War Britain
Authors: Moore Bob
Published: October 2013

The arrival of enemy prisoners of war in Britain from 1941 onwards and their use as a labour force in the hard-pressed British war economy meant that they came into increasing contact with civilians as the scope of their employment widened. Their deployment into labour battalions and billeting on farms meant that they had day-to-day contact with many women as well as men. This article charts the attempts by government agencies to limit civilian fraternization with both Italian and later German prisoners of war both during and after the war through the enforcement of defence regulations and other relevant legislation – showing how difficult this proved to be as circumstances changed and demonstrating that public perceptions of the prisoners changed after 1945 and how this was belatedly followed by relaxation of the relevant legislation. It also places government and public attitudes to fraternization within the contemporary debates on declining female morals and draws some comparisons with scholarship on women’s relations with foreign allied soldiers in the same period.
The Ghosts of Appeasement: Britain and the Legacy of the Munich Agreement
Authors: Hughes R. Gerald
Published: October 2013

This article is concerned with British foreign policy and the legacy of the Munich Agreement during and after the Second World War. It argues that contemporary policy requirements necessitated an unapologetic attitude to the past that often entailed the adoption of evasive legal formulae. Thus, while West Germany and Czechoslovakia achieved a modus vivendi in 1973, the British refused to repudiate Munich ab initio and applauded the West German decision to do likewise. London steadfastly maintained this position until 1992, three years after the end of the Cold War. This article explores the reasoning in British policy formulation and demonstrates that while historians discussed the ‘shame’ of Munich, policymakers rarely experienced feelings of guilt – seeking instead to derive the maximum possible benefit from the continuing significance of Munich. Furthermore, many of the actions of the British government during the Second World War, not least with regard to the Katyń massacres and the Yalta Conference, reinforced the idea that Munich had been a creature of its time and a ‘necessary evil’. Drawing extensively on primary sources, this article will make a contribution to the historiography of British foreign relations and that of collective institutional memory and appeasement.
A Five-Year Follow-Up on the Role of Educational Support in Preventing Dropout From Upper Secondary Education in Finland
Authors: Hakkarainen Airi M. , Holopainen Leena K. , Savolainen Hannu K.
Published: October 2013

In this longitudinal study, we investigated the role of word reading and mathematical difficulties measured in 9th grade as factors for receiving educational support for learning in upper secondary education in Grades 10 to 12 (from ages 16 to 19) and furthermore as predictors of dropout from upper secondary education within 5 years after compulsory education. In addition, we studied the role of school achievement in Grades 9 and 11 in this prediction. The participants of this study were members of one age group of 16-year-old ninth graders ( N = 595, females 302, males 293) in a midsized Finnish city, who were followed for 5 years after completing compulsory education. The path model results, where the effects of gender, educational track, and SES were controlled, showed, first, that students with academic learning difficulties received educational support for learning particularly in the 11th grade. Second, academic learning difficulties directly affected school achievement in the 9th grade, but no longer in the 11th grade. Third, mathematical difficulties directly predicted dropout from upper secondary education, and difficulties in both word reading and mathematics had an indirect effect through school achievement in Grades 9 and 11 on dropout.
Surgical approach to huge cardiac hydatid cyst of the interventricular septum
Authors: Alshehri Halia Z , Lawand Sameeh , Omar Ahmed H , Koudieh Mohammed S
Published: October 2013

Cardiac echinococcosis is a rare but potentially fatal condition. The cysts are frequently located in the left or right ventricle; involvement of the interventricular septum is exceptional. We report the case of a 29-year-old woman who presented with palpitation and generalized T-wave inversion on her electrocardiogram. Transthoracic echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a huge hydatid cyst originating from the interventricular septum. She was started on albendazole tablets, and surgical excision on cardiopulmonary bypass was carried out after 5 days of treatment. She had an uneventful postoperative recovery, and was continued on albendazole tablets for 4 months.
Hot air ablowin! ‘Media-speak’, social conflict, and the Australian ‘decoupled’ wind farm controversy
Authors: Hindmarsh Richard
Published: October 2013

In work in science, technology, and society social conflict around wind farms has a growing profile, not least because it draws our attention to two key interrelated themes: ‘science, technology and governance’ and ‘socio-technological systems’. In this article on Australian wind farm development and siting, these themes are highlighted in contexts of sustainability, legitimacy, and competency for policy effectiveness. There is enduring social conflict around wind farms at the local community level, but little government understanding of this conflict or willingness to respond adequately to resolve it. This article examines the conflict through the lens of print media analysis. A key finding of the five identified is that people seeing wind farms as spoiling a sense of place is a primary cause of enduring social conflict at the local community level around wind farms, alongside significant environmental issues and inadequate community engagement; this finding also indicates a central reason for the highly problematic state of Australian wind energy transitions. In turn, by identifying this problematic situation as one of a significantly ‘decoupled’ and ‘dysfunctional’ condition of the Australian socio-technological wind farm development and siting system, I suggest remedies including those of a deliberative nature that also respond to the Habermas–Mouffe debate. These inform a socio-technical siting approach or pathway to better respect and navigate contested landscapes for enhanced renewable energy transitions at the local level.
Regulations Guiding the Interstate Shipment of Investigational Product
Authors: McIntyre Chelsey
Published: October 2013

Purpose:

Investigational drug services (IDSs) are often responsible for delivery of investigational product, whether to a study participant pursuant to a prescription or in bulk to another investigational study site. These deliveries must often cross state borders. For situations in which the study is not conducted under an investigational new drug application, these shipments are subject to the legislation of the receiving state.

Every state board of pharmacy in the United States was contacted in an effort to compile a single resource describing interstate investigational product shipping regulations for each state. The majority of the states require registration with their board of pharmacy for shipment of medication into the state. Some states will allow for exceptions and/or fee waiver in certain situations. Controlled substances also fall under the jurisdiction of the Drug Enforcement Administration, with additional constraints placed on their shipment by many states.

Conclusion:

Knowledge of state legislative requirements surrounding interstate shipment of investigational product is crucial for IDSs to maintain compliance with all regulations. This document provides an important framework for obtaining and interpreting this information. However, as legislation changes on a regular basis, current legislation should be reviewed prior to the commencement of interstate shipping.
Outcomes of Stay Strong, Stay Healthy in Community Settings
Authors: Ball Stephen , Gammon Robin , Kelly Patricia J. , Cheng An-Lin , Chertoff Keyna , Kaume Lydia , Abreu Eduardo L. , Brotto Marco
Published: October 2013

Loss of muscle strength, flexibility, and balance are strong predictors of falls in the elderly. Objectives: The goal of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of a 10-week, strength-based exercise program delivered by Extension professionals. Methods: Matched pair t tests were used to compare differences in five measures of fitness collected from 808 participants (mean age = 65.4 years) at the start and finish of the exercise program. Results: Following programming, participants significantly improved strength, flexibility, and balance. Discussion: Results indicate that an evidence-based program can be translated into a community Extension program that is able to improve the fitness level of seniors.
Static stiffness modeling and sensitivity analysis for geared system used for rotary feeding
Authors: Han Lin , Zhang Dawei , Tian Yanling , Wang Fujun , Xiao Hui
Published: October 2013

The positioning accuracy of rotary feed system under load greatly depends on the static stiffness of mechanical transmission system. This paper proposes a unified static stiffness model of rotary feed system with geared transmission system. Taking the torsional stiffness of transmission shaft and mesh stiffness of gear pairs into account, the motion equations of the whole transmission system are presented. Based on the static equilibrium, a unified expression for the relationship between torsional angles of two adjacent elements is derived. Then a unified static stiffness model is presented. Furthermore, analytical expressions for sensitivity analysis of the static stiffness on the individual element’s stiffness and design parameters are derived. The presented model is verified by a traditional model, and a good agreement is obtained. The influence of phase angle of meshing gear pairs on the resultant static stiffness is investigated. An example transmission system is employed to perform the sensitivity analysis and the results are analyzed. The proposed model provides an essential tool for the design of rotary feed system satisfying requirement of static stiffness.
Algebraic parameter identification for infinite dimensional fluid transmission line models
Authors: Stauch Christian , Gehring Nicole , Rudolph Joachim
Published: October 2013

This article addresses the problem of parameter identification in fluid transmission lines. The recently developed algebraic approach to parameter identification in linear distributed parameter systems is applied to three different transmission line models: the inviscid model, the linear friction model, and the frequency-dependent friction model. The main idea is to derive exact equations for parameter identification based on the infinite dimensional system models using only spatially concentrated measurements. To this end, the transmission line models are subjected to several transformation steps including the Laplace transform. Using further algebraic manipulations, equations are derived, which allow for the calculation of system parameters. The identification method presented is illustrated by means of numerical simulations covering two different scenarios of pressure and flow rate measurements taken at the boundaries of a pipeline.
Imperialist competitive algorithm–based adaptive fuzzy control of a pneumatic actuator
Authors: Ahmadi AR , Tavakolpour-Saleh AR , Yazdani AM
Published: October 2013

This article presents an investigation into the application of a constrained imperialist competitive algorithm with a new penalty function to optimize an adaptive fuzzy proportional–integral–derivative controller for a pneumatic actuator. The integral absolute error and the maximum overshoot of the control system are considered as the cost functions. The constrained imperialist competitive algorithm–based optimization scheme is thus conducted to obtain the best structure of the fuzzy proportional–integral–derivative controller involving optimum shape and location of membership functions and suitable value of scale factors. Then, a simulation study based on the identified model of the pneumatic actuator and three control approaches namely conventional proportional–integral–derivative control, genetic algorithm–based adaptive fuzzy proportional–integral–derivative control and the proposed constrained imperialist competitive algorithm–based adaptive fuzzy proportional–integral–derivative control is carried out to evaluate the performance of the proposed controllers. Finally, an experimental rig is developed to verify the simulation outcomes. It is found that the constrained imperialist competitive algorithm–based fuzzy controller converges faster to an optimum solution compared to the genetic algorithm method. Besides, the superiority of the proposed constrained imperialist competitive algorithm–based design over other controllers is demonstrated.
The development of continuum damage mechanics-based theories for predicting forming limit diagrams for hot stamping applications
Authors: Lin J , Mohamed M , Balint D , Dean TA
Published: October 2013

This paper presents a novel plane-stress continuum damage mechanics (CDM) model for the prediction of the different shapes of forming limit diagrams (FLCs) for aluminium alloys under hot stamping conditions. Firstly, a set of uniaxial viscoplastic damage constitutive equations is determined from tensile experimental data of AA5754 at a temperature range of 350–550℃ and strain rates of 0.1, 1.0 and 10 s−1. The tests were carried out on Gleeble materials simulator (3800). Based on the analysis of features of FLCs for different materials forming at different temperatures, a plane-stress damage equation is proposed to take account the failure of materials at different stress-state sheet metal forming conditions. In this way, a set of multiaxial viscoplastic damage constitutive equations is formulated. The model is calibrated from the FLC data at temperature of 350℃ and strain rate of 1.0 s−1 for AA5754. A good agreement has been achieved between the experimental and numerical data. The effect of the maximum principal stress, effective stress and hydrostatic stress on the materials failure features and on the shape of FLCs is studied individually and in combination. Using the newly developed plane-stress unified viscoplastic damage constitutive equations, the FLC of materials can be predicted at different temperatures and strain rate forming conditions.
Damage assessment of carbon fiber reinforced composites under accelerated aging and validation via stochastic model-based analysis
Authors: Mouzakis Dionysios E , Dimogianopoulos Dimitrios G , Zaoutsos Stefanos
Published: October 2013

Composite materials used in technically advanced structures are subjected to constant aging from exposure to changing environmental conditions. Studying the effects on such materials due to exposure to varying temperature, humidity, ultraviolet radiation, etc. reveals the impact on their mechanical behavior. This study assesses alterations in static, dynamic, and viscoelastic response of polymer matrix woven carbon fiber lamina composites upon exposure to varying environmental conditions recreated in a climatic chamber. Therein, specimens suffered temperature changes from –35 to +40℃ and humidity variations from <10% to 95% RH (noncondensing) over a period of up to 30 days. Alternating cycles simulating conditions of actual 3–4 h flights were specified. Additionally, specimens of the same material were subjected to thermal shock under similar (to the aging scenario) temperature extremes. All specimens were comparatively assessed via experimental procedures involving three-point bending tests performed in both static and dynamic mechanical analysis for a range of temperatures and frequencies, frequency and thermal scans, and finally impact tests. Results indicate that aged materials exhibit increased dynamic stiffness (expressed by the storage moduli) and decreased material damping ability (expressed by the tan  δ parameter). Macroscopic assessment of impact test data was performed via stochastic model-based damage detection methodologies. Results indicate that differences in the impact behavior between pristine and aged specimens are statistically detectable and quantifiable, without input from mechanical testing analysis. More importantly, this assessment of aging-induced effects on the specimens corroborates the findings on storage moduli and tan  δ from mechanical testing analysis, thus validating the latter.
Using gear mechanism in vehicle suspension as a method of altering suspension characteristic
Authors: Soong Ming Foong , Ramli Rahizar , Mahadi Wan Nor Liza
Published: October 2013

A passive vehicle suspension has constant spring and damper properties that compromise either ride or road holding ability, depending on whether the suspension is designed to be hard or soft. This study examines the implementation of a gear mechanism in a vehicle suspension system to alter its suspension characteristic while keeping the same spring and damper properties. In the study, a rack-and-pinion mechanism was used to modify the suspension force which acted between the sprung and unsprung masses of a quarter vehicle model. The system with proposed suspension layout was modeled mathematically and solved to obtain the vehicle response due to step excitation for various gear ratios. Results indicated that the use of such a mechanism was capable of changing the equivalent suspension force of the system. It was noted that different gear ratios would amplify or reduce the equivalent suspension force, hence emulating a harder or softer suspension setting compared to that of the original suspension. Additionally, it was found that with optimized gear ratio and gear mass, the implementation was capable of overcoming the compromise between the ride and road holding ability associated with conventional passive suspensions, as simultaneous improvement on both criteria was observed.
Characteristic parameter degradation prediction of hydropower unit based on radial basis function surface and empirical mode decomposition
Authors: An Xueli , Pan Luoping
Published: October 2013

A prediction method of characteristic parameter degradation for a hydropower unit is presented based on radial basis function (RBF) interpolation, empirical mode decomposition (EMD), approximate entropy, artificial neural network and grey theory. Considering the effect of active power and working head, the characteristic parameter degradation model of a hydropower unit is built by using RBF interpolation. The EMD method is used to decompose the characteristic parameter degradation time series of the hydropower unit into a number of intrinsic mode function (IMF) components. The approximate entropy of each IMF component is calculated. According to their different properties, the neural network or grey theory is used to predict them, respectively. All the predicted results are added to obtain the final forecasting result of the original characteristic parameter degradation time series. The case study results demonstrate that the proposed method has an extremely high prediction accuracy, and can be applied in the hydropower unit condition prediction effectively.
Home Visiting Nurse Agencies for Community Dwelling Elderly at Nighttime in Japan
Authors: Taguchi Atsuko , Naruse Takashi , Kuwahara Yuki , Nagata Satoko , Murashima Sachiyo
Published: October 2013

Our objectives were to describe the care provided during the nighttime and to discuss the characteristics of individuals who are more likely to be cared for at nighttime by visiting nurses of home visiting nurse agencies (HVNAs). Thirty-one clients participated in this study. Eight clients were physically independent and 23 clients were chair/bed bound. Among the physically independent group, the contents of the care at scheduled times were insulin injection and blood sugar measurement in four clients. Among the chair/bed-bound group, the most frequently given medical treatment was sputum suction (16 clients). The majority of clients who received HVNA services at night and early in the morning required medical treatment. The disease condition of clients was unstable and assessment of changes in disease condition was desirable.
Transition of Care in Patients With Heart Failure
Authors: Lee Phillip H. , Calhoun McKenzie L. , Stewart David W. , Cross L. Brian
Published: October 2013

Heart failure (HF) affects 6 million Americans, has an expected increasing prevalence in the next 20 years, and has a 5-year mortality rate of 50%. It represents the number one reason for hospitalization in patients older than 65 years. Recent legislation has increased the accountability of care of patients with HF, specifically readmission rates for HF in less than 30 days. This increased focus on HF readmission rates has led many health care organizations to reassess transition-of-care issues (i.e., from home to hospital, from hospital to home) and possible interventions to positively impact these readmission rates. During this process, home health care providers play an integral role and should be aware of possible issues to ensure optimum care for patients.
Understanding Provider/Patient Expectations of Care in Clinical Encounters
Authors: Rowe Rev Jimmy , Kellam Charles , Stott Emily
Published: October 2013

Patients and providers bring completely different expectations to clinical encounters. When these expectations differ due to cultural reasons, beliefs, or values, communication is necessary to ensure each participant is satisfied with the result of the encounter. Using the traditional notion of “cura” can illuminate how these encounters occur, and what providers and patients can do to have a successful interaction. Patients and providers’ agendas must be understood by each party, patients must feel they are seen as individuals, and each must be aware of cultural differences that bring separate lenses to the encounter. Trust lies at the heart of the encounter, which provides a chance for each to understand the other’s culture. Each party must communicate their expectations of care to improve the nature of their interactions in the clinical setting.
Housing Market Distortions and the Mortgage Interest Deduction
Authors: Hanson Andrew , Martin Hal
Published: October 2013

Housing market distortions from the mortgage interest deduction (MID) typically focus on a single choice measure such as home size or self-reported amount of debt on a new mortgage. We estimate the amount of mortgage interest deducted on federal tax returns to capture the full range of housing market distortions from the MID. Our primary results show that for every one percentage point increase in the tax rate that applies to deductibility, the amount of mortgage interest deducted increases by US$303 to US$590. Empirical estimates imply elasticities of mortgage interest deducted with respect to the after-tax cost of housing between −0.78 and −1.62, and deadweight loss estimates ranging from 16 to 36 percent of MID tax expenditure.
Silent bodies: Childfree women’s gendered and embodied experiences
Authors: Peterson Helen , Engwall Kristina
Published: October 2013

This article reports from the first studies on voluntary childlessness in Sweden and addresses a so far neglected issue – the embodied experiences of childfree women. These childfree women reject and resist pronatalist understandings that conflate being a woman with being a mother. However, instead of explaining their childlessness by external factors, mentioned in previous research, the interviewed women created a positive feminine identity separated from motherhood with reference to their ‘silent bodies’, i.e. bodies without a biological urge to reproduce. Reducing voluntary childlessness to a mere result of biological determinism, the article argues, establishes a legitimate, natural position, less provocative and stigmatized in a pronatalist society. Nevertheless, paradoxically, drawing on biological determinism both challenges and reinstates pronatalism as it builds on the simultaneous acceptance of, and detachment from, the biological reproductive urge. The study hence highlights how persistent the social and cultural link between motherhood and womanhood is, but also how this relationship can be challenged.
Metacognitive judgments-of-learning in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Wojcik Dominika Z , Waterman Amanda H , Lestié Claire , Moulin Chris JA , Souchay Celine
Published: October 2013

This study investigated metacognitive monitoring abilities in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder in two experiments using the judgment-of-learning paradigm. Participants were asked to predict their future recall of unrelated word pairs during the learning phase. Experiment 1 compared judgments-of-learning made immediately after learning and judgments-of-learning made after a delay. We found that both groups overestimated their memory performance but that overall there were no group differences in judgment-of-learning accuracy. Additionally, both groups displayed the standard delayed judgment-of-learning effect (yielding greater judgment accuracy in delayed compared to immediate judgments), suggesting that both groups were able to use appropriate information in making their judgments-of-learning. Experiment 2 assessed whether adolescents with autism spectrum disorder could regulate their study time according to their judgments-of-learning using a self-paced learning procedure. Results showed that both groups spent more time learning items given lower judgments-of-learning. Finally, Experiment 2 showed that judgments-of-learning and study time varied according to item difficulty in both groups. As a whole, these findings demonstrate that adolescents with autism spectrum disorder can accurately gauge their memory performance while learning new word associations and use these skills to control their study time at learning.
A meta-analysis of the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/ deletion gene polymorphism and the risk of overweight/obesity
Authors: Mao Song , Huang Songming
Published: October 2013

Background and objective:

The association between angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion (ACE I/D) gene polymorphism and the risk of overweight/obesity remains controversial. A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between ACE I/D gene polymorphism and overweight/obesity susceptibility.

Method:

All eligible studies were included in this meta-analysis by searching PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases through April 2013 according to a predefined criteria.

Results:

Fourteen case-control studies including 3371 cases and 4490 controls were recruited for the analysis of the association between ACE I/D gene polymorphism and overweight/obesity susceptibility. A significant association was observed between DD genotype and overweight/obesity risk in overall populations and Africans ( p=0.014 and 0.010, respectively). D allele was associated with the risk of overweight/ obesity in Africans ( p=0.026). However, II genotype might not be a protective factor against overweight/obesity risk in overall populations, Africans, Caucasians and Asians.

Conclusions:

DD genotype is a risk factor for the overweight/obesity susceptibility in overall populations, particularly in Africans. D allele is a risk factor for the overweight/obesity susceptibility in Africans. Further larger studies are needed to confirm our findings.
Recent Trajectories and Themes in Lukan Soteriology
Authors: Reardon Timothy W.
Published: October 2013

Lukan soteriology, although playing a central role in the theology of Luke–Acts, has traditionally been viewed as an incomplete concept. Although Luke–Acts presents the reality of salvation, most suppose that there is no substantial presentation of the means of salvation. However, there have been recent challenges to the traditional conceptions of Lukan soteriology. This has included attempts to identify a more holistic understanding of salvation, alternate concepts of atonement, and reformulations of salvation history in Luke–Acts. Beginning from Hans Conzelmann’s presentation of Lukan salvation-history based on the delay of the Parousia, which is foundational for the modern discussion, we will investigate the development of the concepts of Lukan soteriology such as salvation history, the scope of salvation, presentation of the atonement and theology of the cross, identifying issues of methodology, terminology and theology necessary for the further development of Lukan soteriology.
The Use of Psalm 68(67).19 in Ephesians 4.8: A History of Research
Authors: Ehorn Seth M.
Published: October 2013

Because Eph. 4.8 has an altered citation of Ps. 68(67).19, interpreters have developed polarizing opinions about the author’s sources and his citation techniques, ranging from the claim that the citation is aberrant or that it summarizes the whole psalm. In this study, it is suggested that such diverse opinions do not take account of ancient citation practices or Jewish exegetical procedures. The survey examines key interpreters and treatments in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, focusing on the question of the author’s Vorlage and the interpretive use of the psalm in Eph. 4.8. The survey shows that the prevalent view that Ephesians appropriates a (pre-)targumic or early Christian tradition has led to an under-appreciation of the christological significance of Eph. 4.8.
The Possibility of a Housing Authority
Authors: Bauroth Nicholas
Published: October 2013

This study uses urban regime theory to understand the events surrounding Fargo urban renewal during the 1950s. Specifically, it focuses upon the struggle between realtors, banking officers, government officials, and other local actors, as they established a plan for relocating Fargo residents displaced by urban renewal. With a downtown Civic Center as their ultimate goal, coalition partners set aside their differences and produced an unprecedented plan: to avoid any reliance on public housing, relocation would be handled via the private sector, specifically the Fargo Board of Realtors. The study demonstrates that this relocation plan and its subsequent revisions reflected the interests of the individual regime members.
Clinical Strategies for Managing Dyslipidemias
Authors: Bronas Ulf G. , Salisbury Dereck
Published: October 2013

Dyslipidemia is defined as elevated fasting blood levels of total cholesterol (TC), and its primary lipoprotein carrier—low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG), or reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL), alone, or in combination (mixed dyslipidemia). Dyslipidemia is well known to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. All patients with dyslipidemia should initiate therapeutic lifestyle changes to target lifestyle-related factors such as physical inactivity, dietary habits, and obesity. The combination of a proper dietary plan and regular aerobic exercise has been reported to lower TC, LDL-C, and TG by 7% to 18%, while increasing HDL-C by 2% to 18%. Numerous pharmacological therapies are available and aggressive therapy using a HMG-CoA reductase (3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase) inhibitor (statins) should be initiated if lifestyle therapy is not enough to achieve optimal lipid levels with a primary target of lowering LDL-C levels. Aggressive treatment of dyslipidemia with maximal dosage of statin drugs have been reported to reduce LDL-C by 30% to 60%. If mixed dyslipidemia is present, a combination therapy with statin, niacin, cholestyramine, or fibrates should be initiated to reduce the risk of CVD events. These strategies have been shown to reduce CVD risk and optimize LDL-C levels in primary and secondary prevention of CVD.
Civil Society, Democratic Space, and Social Work
Authors: Jaysawal Neelmani
Published: October 2013

Civil Society envisages the growth of civilization in a way that the society is in “civilized form.” It has been prominent in Social science since time immemorial. Till 18th century, it was synonymous with the state or political society. It was more or less direct translation of Cicero’s Societas’ Civilis and Aristotle’s Koinonia politike. According to Karl Marx, “Civil Society embraces the whole material intercourse of individuals within a definite stage of development of productive forces.” Civil Society is an arena where modern man legitimately gratifies his self-interest and develops his individuality, but also learns the value of group action, social solidarity which educates him for citizenship and equips him to participate in the political sphere of the state. It provides “networks of civic engagement” within which reciprocity is learned and enforced, trust is generated. An active and diverse civil society plays a valuable role in advancement of democracy. It seeks to ensure that citizen’s interests are taken seriously. The social work intervention may not be democratically envisaged until it is promulgated by civic engagement through Civil Society. Methodology: This is a descriptive study which consists of secondary source of data collection based on reports, books, periodic journals, web-based articles. There have been utilized three case studies for reaching the findings of study. This article will highlight on role of civil society in providing democratic space and assisting social workers to ensure inclusive growth through conglomeration of state and individuals.