bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sperm storage in the uterium of the insect-parasitic nematode Sphaerularia vespae (Nematoda: Sphaerulariidae)
Authors: Yushin Vladimir V. , Kosaka Hajime
Published: March 2013

The spermatheca found in the ‘uterium’ (highly transformed part of parasitic female) of the sphaerularioidid nematode Sphaerularia vespae, an endoparasite of a common Japanese hornet, Vespa simillima, was studied with TEM. The uterium consists of a thick trophic epithelium exposed to the insect haemocoel and a protective cavity which contains the female genital tube and storage cells (fat body). The uterium cavity contains the female reproductive system composed of the usual parts: uterus, oviduct and ovary. The genital pore of the young uterium is an opening of the short narrow uterine tube which joins to the voluminous spermatheca. The spermatheca is a dilated distal part of the uterus, storing numerous tiny spermatozoa. The spermatheca is blocked distally by the oviduct. The spermatozoa are uniform amoeboid cells only 1.4-1.6 μm in size with a highly condensed nucleus about 0.8 μm in size. The transparent sperm cytoplasm contains several mitochondria, small membranous organelles (specific organelles characteristic of nematode spermatozoa), occasional bundles of fibres and centriole-like bodies. The S. vespae spermatozoa are very similar to the spermatozoa stored in the uterus of infective females of another sphaerularioidid nematode, Deladenus sp., and have the main features of sperm found in many other rhabditid nematodes.
Indian Ocean Variability in the CMIP5 Multimodel Ensemble: The Basin Mode
Authors: Du Yan , Xie Shang-Ping , Yang Ya-Li , Zheng Xiao-Tong , Liu Lin , Huang Gang
Published: March 2013

This study evaluates the simulation of the Indian Ocean Basin (IOB) mode and relevant physical processes in models from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). Historical runs from 20 CMIP5 models are available for the analysis. They reproduce the IOB mode and its close relationship to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Half of the models capture key IOB processes: a downwelling oceanic Rossby wave in the southern tropical Indian Ocean (TIO) precedes the IOB development in boreal fall and triggers an antisymmetric wind anomaly pattern across the equator in the following spring. The anomalous wind pattern induces a second warming in the north Indian Ocean (NIO) through summer and sustains anticyclonic wind anomalies in the northwest Pacific by radiating a warm tropospheric Kelvin wave. The second warming in the NIO is indicative of ocean–atmosphere interaction in the interior TIO. More than half of the models display a double peak in NIO warming, as observed following El Niño, while the rest show only one winter peak. The intermodel diversity in the characteristics of the IOB mode seems related to the thermocline adjustment in the south TIO to ENSO-induced wind variations. Almost all the models show multidecadal variations in IOB variance, possibly modulated by ENSO.
Objective Detection of Oceanic Eddies and the Agulhas Leakage
Authors: Beron-Vera Francisco J. , Wang Yan , Olascoaga María J. , Goni Gustavo J. , Haller George
Published: March 2013

Mesoscale oceanic eddies are routinely detected from instantaneous velocities derived from satellite altimetry data. While simple to implement, this approach often gives spurious results and hides true material transport. Here it is shown how geodesic transport theory, a recently developed technique from nonlinear dynamical systems, uncovers eddies objectively. Applying this theory to altimetry-derived velocities in the South Atlantic reveals, for the first time, Agulhas rings that preserve their material coherence for several months, while ring candidates yielded by other approaches tend to disperse or leak within weeks. These findings suggest that available velocity-based estimates for the Agulhas leakage, as well as for its impact on ocean circulation and climate, need revision.
Using Frontogenesis to Identify Sting Jets in Extratropical Cyclones
Authors: Schultz David M. , Sienkiewicz Joseph M.
Published: March 2013

Sting jets, or surface wind maxima at the end of bent-back fronts in Shapiro–Keyser cyclones, are one cause of strong winds in extratropical cyclones. Although previous studies identified the release of conditional symmetric instability as a cause of sting jets, the mechanism to initiate its release remains unidentified. To identify this mechanism, a case study was selected of an intense cyclone over the North Atlantic Ocean during 7–8 December 2005 that possessed a sting jet detected from the NASA Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT). A couplet of Petterssen frontogenesis and frontolysis occurred along the bent-back front. The direct circulation associated with the frontogenesis led to ascent within the cyclonically turning portion of the warm conveyor belt, contributing to the comma-cloud head. When the bent-back front became frontolytic, an indirect circulation associated with the frontolysis, in conjunction with alongfront cold advection, led to descent within and on the warm side of the front, bringing higher-momentum air down toward the boundary layer. Sensible heat fluxes from the ocean surface and cold-air advection destabilized the boundary layer, resulting in near-neutral static stability facilitating downward mixing. Thus, descent associated with the frontolysis reaching a near-neutral boundary layer provides a physical mechanism for sting jets, is consistent with previous studies, and synthesizes existing knowledge. Specifically, this couplet of frontogenesis and frontolysis could explain why sting jets occur at the end of the bent-back front and emerge from the cloud head, why sting jets are mesoscale phenomena, and why they only occur within Shapiro–Keyser cyclones. A larger dataset of cases is necessary to test this hypothesis.
U.S. Latinas/os’ Ethnic Identity
Authors: Acevedo-Polakovich I. David , Chavez-Korell Shannon , Umaña-Taylor Adriana J.
Published: March 2013

Ethnic identity is theoretically linked to the psychological health of U.S. Latinas/os and has played a preeminent role in the limited literature focused on this group. However, research does not uniformly confirm a positive relationship between ethnic identity and psychological health among U.S. Latinas/os. Emerging work suggests that inconsistencies in the existing literature might be better understood if ethnic identity conceptualizations accounted for context and the developmental period under study. It also has been suggested that the narrow collection of methods and analytical tools used in ethnic identity research prevent a complete understanding of this construct. This article introduces the rationale for consideration of context, incorporation of a life span perspective, and expansion of methodological approaches in the study of U.S. Latina/o ethnic identity, describing the manner in which the four empirical studies in this major contribution illustrate these issues. The practice implications of current findings are summarized after offering suggestions for future research.
Racial diversity, is it a blessing to an organization? Examining its organizational consequences in municipal police departments
Authors: Hur Yongbeom
Published: March 2013

The present study, with a focus on ethnic and racial diversity, tested an implicit assumption of diversity studies that diversified workforces perform better and bring more benefits to organizations. Using data from 464 police departments of cities with more than 50,000 residents, this study found decreased crime control performance and increased employee turnover as workforces became more diversified. According to the findings in this study, managers are advised to consider introducing diversity management practices to reduce negative results of being diverse while protecting and increasing the benefits derived from diversity to make diversified workforces help enhance organizational productivity.

Points for practitioners

According to the findings in this study, managers are advised to consider introducing diversity management practices to reduce negative results of being racially diverse while protecting and increasing the benefits derived from racial diversity to make diversified workforces help enhance organizational productivity.
Changing governance structures and the evolution of Public Service Bargains in Hong Kong
Authors: Burns John P , Wei Li , Peters B Guy
Published: March 2013

The perspective of Public Service Bargains has been used to analyze the relationships between politicians and senior civil servants based on the premise of stable expectations about the roles of both parties. Changing governance arrangements and leadership changes, however, may destabilize and increase ambiguity about these expectations. Hong Kong provides a case of changing governance arrangements that has destabilized the roles of senior civil servants, providing them with new opportunities to slide back and forth between administrative and political roles. We discuss the case of Hong Kong, analyzing the move from a colonial trustee-type bargain to an agency-type bargain. The case study provides new insights into the applicability of the PSB concept in conditions of changing governance arrangements and unstable political and administrative roles.

Points for practitioners

The roles of politicians and civil servants may be less stable than is sometimes assumed. Changing governance structures may also upset these relationships, leading to contests for power and instability.
The success of an international development project: lessons drawn from a case between Morocco and Canada
Authors: Brière Sophie , Proulx Denis
Published: March 2013

According to the literature on decisive criteria for the success of international development projects, this article presents a case of cooperation between Morocco and Canada on the implementation of projects to institutionalize gender equality within the Moroccan public administration. Based on a triangulation of data and starting from an analytical framework on the factors decisive for the success of international development projects, this case study illustrates the limited success of the project. Although the elements that are decisive for the success of Tier 1 of the FAES projects have resulted in the involvement of stakeholders in the implementation of the projects, the creation of local expertise and the production of tools and strategies that aid institutionalization of gender equality, this study highlights significant barriers to institutionalization. These relate mainly to the difficulty of involving stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle, the lame functioning of the projects’ governance structures and the struggle to take ownership of projects designed on the basis of a management by results logic based on models specific to the donor. This case feeds the critical reflection on the various issues and challenges inherent to the management of international development projects and suggests various avenues of research.

Points for practitioners

The case presented in this article involves the implementation of projects to institutionalize gender equality within the Moroccan civil service supported by the Canadian cooperation agency. Although its success requires the involvement of the stakeholders, the development of local expertise and the production of institutionalization tools, this case brings to light significant obstacles to institutionalization, such as the difficulty of involving the stakeholders in the project, the limited functioning of the governance structures and the struggle to secure the ownership of the projects, designed according to models specific to the donor. It also reveals the limits of a management by results style and its consequences.
Thermoplastic polyurethane/clay nanocomposite foam made by batch foaming
Authors: Yeh Shu-Kai , Liu Yu-Che , Wu Wei-Zhe , Chang Kuang-Chin , Guo Wen-Jeng , Wang Sea-Fue
Published: March 2013

In this study, the foaming of nonwoven fabrics and bulk polymers was investigated. Four different polymers that are commonly used for textiles including polyethylene terephthalate, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic polyether ester elastomer and polypropylene were foamed by batch foaming. Among the polymers, thermoplastic polyurethane seems to be the most promising material since it possesses the highest cell density and smallest cell size. In addition, nanoclay was added to thermoplastic polyurethane to promote cell nucleation and to increase the cell density. The results showed that well dispersed nanoclay in thermoplastic polyurethane served as an excellent nucleation agent and the cell structure was improved. The cell size of thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposite foam decreased to 1 µm while the cell density increased to 3 × 1011 cells/cm3.
Multifunctional polyetherimide nanocomposite foam
Authors: Kim Yong-Ha , Li Wei
Published: March 2013

Polyetherimide/multi-wall carbon nanotube nanocomposite foams were fabricated and their electrical and mechanical properties characterized. The composites with 0.5–3 wt% of carbon nanotube loadings were fabricated using a solution-based method. Different foaming conditions were studied along with the residual solvent effects. It was found that the residual solvent significantly affected the mechanical properties of the nanocompsites. Electrical conductivity of the composite foams with the same wt% loading of carbon nanotubes was found to be dependent on the relative density of the foams. Foams with a higher relative density had a higher electrical conductivity. The fabricated polyetherimide nanocomposite foam is thermally stable, with a glass transition temperature close to that of the neat polyetherimide. Despite the volume expansion due to foaming, the polyetherimide nanocomposite foams achieved an electrical conductivity of 10−7 S/cm at 2 wt% carbon nanotube loading and 45% relative density. This makes them a multifunctional material for lightweight and electrostatic dissipative applications.
Tensile properties of microcellular poly(lactic acid) foams blown by compressed CO2
Authors: Ji Guoying , Wang Jing , Zhai Wentao , Lin Dongpo , Zheng Wenge
Published: March 2013

In this study, microcellular poly(lactic acid) foams with various crystallinities, cell morphologies, and densities were prepared using CO2 as the physical blowing agent. The evolution of crystallinity developments of four types of poly(lactic acid) samples during the saturation, foaming, and annealing processes was investigated. Crystallization of about 20% was reached in poly(lactic acid) samples after CO2 saturation, a high crystallinity of about 38.2% could be achieved for the foamed poly(lactic acid) that has the highest crystallization ability. Poly(lactic acid) samples had low elongation at break of 3.6–15.1%. After foaming, however, poly(lactic acid) foam presented a significant increase in the elongation at break up to 15.1 times compared with that of the unfoamed counterpart. On the other hand, microcellular foaming endowed poly(lactic acid) foams with a maximum increase in specific tensile strength of 53.1%. The influences of crystallinity, foam density, and cell morphology on the tensile properties of poly(lactic acid) foams were investigated.
Modelling of water demand in building supply systems using fuzzy logic
Authors: Oliveira LH , Cheng LY , Gonçalves OM , Massolino PMC
Published: March 2013

This paper presents a method to establish the design flow rate adopting probabilistic and possibilistic approaches to model the subjective behaviour of the users that affects strongly the duration of usage of sanitary appliances. At first, the Monte Carlo method is used to determine the instance of usage of the sanitary appliances. After that, fuzzy logic is applied to determine the duration of the shower. As a result, historical records of the use of the sanitary appliances and the flow rate during the peak period can be generated. The design flow rate obtained by the simulation is about 23% lower than that assessed by the Brazilian standard, based on deterministic approach, and closer to the values calculated by the probabilistic model.

Practical application: As the processing cost is extremely low, the simulation based on the proposed method is also an efficient means to obtain a quite accurate estimate of the flow rate for the sizing of water supply systems and water meters in water sub-metering systems.
A probability-based unified framework for semantic search and recommendation
Authors: Lee Jae-won , Kim Han-joon , Lee Sang-goo
Published: March 2013

The objective of search and recommendation is to provide users with documents that are relevant to their needs. Keyword-based search and recommendation approaches suffer from sparsity and semantic ambiguity problems because they correlate users’ needs with documents only via keywords. Thus, for a given query, some documents that are semantically relevant to a user’s needs are not provided if they do not include specific keywords. To address this, some search approaches have used the authority of documents, which is commonly represented using hyperlinks within documents. However, if there are no hyperlinks, it is difficult to exploit the authority for ranking documents. As the links of documents are determined by their owners, the authority derived from links does not consider users’ current needs. In order to resolve these problems, we propose a unified framework for semantic search and recommendation to enrich the semantics of users’ needs and documents with their corresponding concepts and to use personalized authority derived from recommendation approaches. The proposed approach makes it possible to retrieve documents with a high degree of semantic relevance as well as high authority. Through extensive experiments, we show that our approach outperforms conventional search and recommendation approaches.
Building and evaluating a collaboratively built structured folksonomy
Authors: Yoo Donghee , Choi Keunho , Suh Yongmoo , Kim Gunwoo
Published: March 2013

Flat folksonomy uses simple tags and has emerged as a powerful instrument for classifying and sharing a huge amount of knowledge on Web 2.0. However, it has semantic problems, such as ambiguous and misunderstood tags. To alleviate such problems, researchers have built structured folksonomies with a hierarchical structure or relationships among tags. Structured folksonomies, however, also have some fundamental problems, such as limited tagging of pre-defined vocabulary and time-consuming manual effort required to select tags. To resolve these problems, we suggested a new method of attaching a tag with its category, which we call a categorized tag (CT), to web content. CTs entered by users are automatically and immediately integrated into a collaboratively built structured folksonomy (CSF), reflecting the tag-and-category relationships supported by the majority of users. Then, we developed a CT-based knowledge organization system (CTKOS), which builds upon the CSF to classify organizational knowledge and enables us to locate appropriate knowledge. In addition, the results of the evaluation, which we conducted to compare our proposed system with the flat folksonomy system, indicate that users perceive CTKOS to be more useful than the flat folksonomy system in terms of knowledge sharing (i.e. the tagging mechanism) and retrieval (i.e. the searching mechanism).
A reflective conversation with Joe Renzulli and Sally Reis
Authors: Renzulli Joe , Reis Sally , Shaughnessy Michael F
Published: March 2013

In this reflective conversation, Dr. Joe Renzulli and Dr. Sally Reis respond to questions about the newly developed Renzulli Learning System. They discuss the system in light of the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) and provide information regarding it's use with curriculum compacting and Renzulli's “Three Ring Conceptualization of Giftedness”. Lastly, the “new literacies” in gifted education are discussed.
Techno-animism in Japan: Shinto Cosmograms, Actor-network Theory, and the Enabling Powers of Non-human Agencies
Authors: Jensen Casper Bruun , Blok Anders
Published: March 2013

In a wide range of contemporary debates on Japanese cultures of technological practice, brief reference is often made to distinct Shinto legacies, as forming an animist substratum of indigenous spiritual beliefs and cosmological imaginations. Japan has been described as a land of Shinto-infused ‘techno-animism’: exhibiting a ‘polymorphous perversity’ that resolutely ignores boundaries between human, animal, spiritual and mechanical beings. In this article, we deploy instances of Japanese techno-animism as sites of theoretical experimentation on what Bruno Latour calls a symmetrical anthropology of nature-cultures. In staging a dialogue between actor-network theory and Japanese techno-animism, we show how Shinto cosmograms provide an enlivening and alternative diffraction device on several of the ontological motifs manifested in Latour’s work. In particular, by mobilizing the territory of a ‘new’ animism debate in anthropology – manifested in the work of Philippe Descola and Eduardo Viveiros de Castro – we attempt to infuse Latourian ‘multinaturalism’ with new, other-than-western analytical energy. Extending actor-network theory, we argue, Shinto cosmograms offer an interesting vantage point for interpreting the immanent, affective, enchanting and enabling powers of non-humans in contributing to collective life. By thus broadening the ‘cosmopolitical’ imagination beyond Latour’s own European-Catholic frame of reference, Shinto techno-animism offers up a wider reflection on contemporary entanglements of science, politics, ecology and cosmos. This reflection, we conclude, opens up a new intellectual territory, allowing us to trace techno-animist streams of thinking both ‘East’ and ‘West’, beyond the confines of the scientific naturalism indigenous to European thinking.
At the Center of Health Care Policy Making
Authors: Stevens Andrew J. , Longson Carole
Published: March 2013

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), a world leader in health technology assessment (HTA), sits at the interface of a policy environment where everything is urgent and consensus between policy makers and stakeholders is sometimes difficult to attain. The majority of stakeholder challenges to NICE’s use of HTA concern the interpretation of evidence and the methodological rules applied by the appraisal committees. We discuss the most significant issues: choice of comparators; evidence synthesis and indirect comparison; parameter selection, especially for the valuation of quality of life; extrapolation beyond clinical trial data; and the level of the cost-effectiveness threshold.
Arthroscopic Versus Posterior Endoscopic Excision of a Symptomatic Os Trigonum
Authors: Ahn Jae Hoon , Kim Yoon-Chung , Kim Ha-Yong
Published: March 2013

Background:

Both subtalar arthroscopic and posterior endoscopic techniques are used to treat posterior ankle impingement syndrome (PAIS). However, there have been no studies comparing the 2 procedures.

Hypothesis:

Both arthroscopic and endoscopic excisions of the os trigonum are safe and effective in treating PAIS.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Twenty-eight patients were treated with excision of the os trigonum either by an arthroscopic (16 patients) or endoscopic (12 patients) technique. The mean patient age was 29.8 years (range, 17-55 years), and the mean follow-up period was 30 months (range, 18-58 months). Preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and Maryland Foot Score (MFS) were used to analyze the functional results. Duration of surgery, time to return to sports (RTS), and patient satisfaction were evaluated as well. The size of the os trigonum was measured using T1-weighted sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The clinical and MRI results were compared between the 2 groups.

Results:

The VAS score, AOFAS score, and MFS for both the arthroscopic group (preoperative: 6.3, 63.8, and 61.5, respectively; postoperative: 1.2, 89.9, and 89.6, respectively) and endoscopic group (preoperative: 6.7, 64.8, and 62.5, respectively; postoperative: 1.2, 89.9, and 88.4, respectively) improved significantly ( P < .01). The mean surgery and RTS times were 39.4 minutes and 7.5 weeks in the arthroscopic group and 34.8 minutes and 8.0 weeks in the endoscopic group, respectively ( P > .05). All patients were satisfied with the results. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the preoperative and postoperative VAS score, AOFAS score, or MFS ( P > .05). The mean size of the os trigonum was 11.1 × 8.8 mm2 in the arthroscopic group and 12.6 × 10.4 mm2 in the endoscopic group, and the difference was significant ( P < .05). Two patients underwent both arthroscopic and endoscopic procedures because of technical difficulty in removing the large os trigonum arthroscopically.

Conclusion:

Both arthroscopic and posterior endoscopic excisions of the os trigonum were safe and effective in treating PAIS. The arthroscopic procedure was more demanding, especially in cases of a large os trigonum. The posterior endoscopic approach had the advantage of addressing problems in the posterior ankle joint and allowed a more extensive release of the flexor hallucis longus.
“You Must Know Where You Come From”
Authors: Brittian Aerika S. , Lewin Nina , Norris Shane A.
Published: March 2013

This study examined South African youths’ perceptions of religion during a period of social and economic transition. In-depth interviews were conducted with 55 Black South African youth (age 18) living in the Johannesburg-Soweto metropolitan area. Data were analyzed in a manner consistent with grounded theory methodology and structural coding. Beliefs about the function of religion were captured by the following themes: provides support, connection to the past, moral compass, promotes healthy development, and intersections between African traditional practices and Christian beliefs. Themes are discussed and directions for future research are presented. In addition, applications of the current research and implications for promoting youths’ resilience are offered.
The Context and Consequences of Sexual Assault Among Undergraduate Women at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Authors: Lindquist Christine H. , Barrick Kelle , Krebs Christopher , Crosby Carmen M. , Lockard Allison J. , Sanders-Phillips Kathy
Published: March 2013

To examine the context of sexual assault and postassault actions and consequences among women attending historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs), web-based surveys were administered in November 2008 to 3,951 undergraduate women attending four HBCUs. Data on the context in which assaults occurred were generated for women who had been sexually assaulted since entering college ( n = 358). Multivariate models were run on the full sample to examine the association between sexual assault and symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Results indicated that most survivors were assaulted by assailants well known to them and when the survivor and perpetrator were drinking alcohol. Very few survivors disclosed their experiences to formal sources of support. Survivors had significantly more symptoms of depression and were more likely to screen positive for PTSD than nonvictims. Further research on disclosure and its moderating role on the mental health consequences of sexual assault is needed.
Understanding the Experiences of Mothers Who Are Breastfeeding an Infant with Tongue-Tie
Authors: Edmunds Janet Elizabeth , Fulbrook Paul , Miles Sandra
Published: March 2013

Background:

Tongue-tie or ankyloglossia is a congenital condition that negatively affects breastfeeding. The thickened, tightened, or shortened frenulum affects the infant’s ability to suck and frequently results in sore and painful nipples. Although several studies have investigated outcomes associated with treatment of tongue-tie, none have investigated mothers’ experiences of breastfeeding an infant with tongue-tie.

Objective:

This study aimed to understand the breastfeeding experiences of women whose infants have tongue-tie.

Methods:

A hermeneutic phenomenological design was employed. Data were collected using focused interviews and, following transcription, were analyzed in the phenomenological tradition. Ten women who presented at a breastfeeding clinic with feeding problems, and were diagnosed with tongue-tie, were interviewed on 2 occasions.

Results:

The analysis revealed a common story of tension between the mothers’ expectations and the breastfeeding challenges they faced. Their journey was characterized by 6 distinct phases described in the following themes: Expectations; Something is wrong; Questioning, seeking advice, no real answers; Symptoms and perseverance; Approaching the wall—it’s all too much; and finally, Relief.

Conclusion:

The women in this study described a somewhat harrowing journey, which was at odds with the natural experience they had anticipated. They encountered health professionals who were found to have limited knowledge of tongue-tie and its potential effect on breastfeeding and were unable to provide appropriate advice concerning their breastfeeding difficulties. However, following treatment with frenotomy, their breastfeeding experience improved dramatically. The reported incidence of tongue-tie is significant, and early identification and prompt and effective management would contribute to improved breastfeeding.
Mothers’ Knowledge of and Attitudes toward Human Milk Banking in South Australia
Authors: Mackenzie Catherine , Javanparast Sara , Newman Lareen
Published: March 2013

Background:

The beneficial effects of breastfeeding for mothers and babies are well recognized. When maternal breast milk is not available in sufficient quantity, donor breast milk is recommended as an alternate source of nutrition, particularly in preterm and other high-risk infants. Australia lags behind the rest of the developed world in establishing and promoting human milk banks; there is no human milk bank in South Australia and little is known concerning mothers’ perceptions of using human milk banks in that state.

Objective:

This study explored mothers’ knowledge of and attitudes toward human milk banks, to inform the development of human milk banking policies and guidelines in South Australia should a milk bank be established.

Methods:

In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 mothers who were breastfeeding and/or had preterm or sick babies. In addition, 2 focus groups were conducted—1 with breastfeeding mothers as potential donors (n = 5) and the other with mothers of preterm or high-risk infants (n = 4)—to answer questions raised by early analysis of the individual interview data.

Results:

Breastfeeding mothers, as potential donors, unanimously supported donating their breast milk to a human milk bank, provided it would be easy (especially if required to drop off milk) and not overly time consuming. Mothers of preterm or sick infants would use a human milk bank if they were assured the milk was safe and appropriate for their babies.

Conclusion:

Study participants would welcome having access to a human milk bank for both donating and receiving milk in South Australia.
Factors Associated With the Variability in Caregiver Assessments of the Capacities of Patients With Alzheimer Disease
Authors: Conde-Sala Josep L. , Reñé-Ramírez Ramón , Turró-Garriga Oriol , Gascón-Bayarri Jordi , Juncadella-Puig Montserrat , Moreno-Cordón Laura , Viñas-Diez Vanesa , Vilalta-Franch Joan , Garre-Olmo Josep
Published: March 2013

Background:

Several studies have identified certain caregiver factors that can produce variability in their assessments of the capacities of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD).

Objectives:

To identify the caregiver variables associated with variability in their ratings of patients’ capacities.

Methods:

Consecutive sample of 221 outpatients with AD and their family caregivers. The capacities evaluated by caregivers were the degree of functional disability, using the Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD); psychological and behavioral symptoms, via the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI); anosognosia, with the Anosognosia Questionnaire-Dementia (AQ-D); and quality of life, using the Quality of Life in AD (QOL-AD). The relationship between these measures and caregiver’s gender, burden, depression, and health was analyzed by means of a bivariate analysis, calculating the effect size (Cohen d) and subsequently by a regression analysis, calculating the contribution coefficient (CC).

Results:

The greatest variability in caregiver assessments was observed in relation to patients with early-stage dementia, where caregiver’s burden was the main factor associated with a more negative evaluation ( d = 1.02-1.25). Depression in the caregiver was associated with less variability and only in the assessments of patients with moderate dementia ( d = 0.38-0.69). In the regression analysis, caregiver factors were associated with greater variance in scores on the NPI (CC = 37.4%) and QOL-AD (CC = 27.2%), and lower variance in AQ-D (CC = 21.6%) and DAD (CC = 10.3%) scores.

Conclusions:

Caregiver’s burden and depression were associated with more negative assessments of patients’ psychological and behavioral symptoms and quality of life.
Celebrating a Return to Jim Crow? A Reflexive Analysis and Methodological Query on Measuring Segregation
Authors: Henricks Kasey , Byrnes Bill , Brockett Victoria
Published: March 2013

Glaeser and Vigdor (2012) recently declared ‘the end of a segregated century’. Because America has returned to 1910 segregation levels, it has allegedly achieved transcendence over racism. After all, the authors note, government no longer endorses housing discrimination, all-white neighborhoods are extinct, and white racial attitudes have liberalized. Despite the proclamation, many questions regarding segregation remain unanswered by Glaeser and Vigdor. Namely, how can segregation be conceptualized and its measurement improved, what might alternative methods for analyzing it yield, and why does it matter in the first place? To prompt an overdue substantive and methodological discussion, we undertake a case study analysis of Cook County, Illinois to address these questions. Our analytic goal is to illuminate how segregation is a much more complex matter than many analyses reflect, and when this is taken into account, it becomes readily apparent that any assertions of racial transcendence are quite premature.
Rethinking War of Maneuver/War of Position: Gramsci and the Military Metaphor
Authors: Egan Daniel
Published: March 2013

One of the most important components of Antonio Gramsci’s social theory is his discussion of political strategy, particularly his distinction between ‘war of maneuver’ and ‘war of position’. For Gramsci, the classical model of revolution through military insurrection (war of maneuver) has been supplanted within advanced capitalism by a cultural struggle of much longer duration and complexity (war of position). Despite the significance of Gramsci’s analysis of war of maneuver/war of position for contemporary Marxism, it is striking that so little attention has been paid to these terms. These terms have a history, both in military theory and in Marxism, which predates Gramsci’s prison notebooks. An examination of the military writings of Engels, Lenin and Trotsky, which are grounded more directly on military theory, leads to different conclusions about the nature of political strategy and the relationship between war of maneuver and war of position.
Explicit solution format for complex-valued natural frequency of beam with R-shunted piezoelectric laminate transducer
Authors: Høgsberg Jan , Cöent Adrien Le
Published: March 2013

Analysis and design of resistive shunt circuits for piezoelectric damping of beam structures is often based on a representation in terms of the single target vibration mode of the beam, neglecting spill-over effects from the out-of-bandwidth or residual vibration modes. In this article, a solution format is derived for the complex-valued natural frequency of the beam with a shunted piezoelectric laminate transducer, where the influence from the residual modes is taken into account by a quasi-static representation. This explicit solution format contains system parameters that directly represent the authority of the transducer and the spill-over from residual modes, and it recovers the short- and open-circuit frequencies as limit solutions. Furthermore, the frequency solution format provides the basis for design expressions for the optimal resistance and the corresponding attainable damping of the beam. The accuracy of the explicit frequency solution format is verified by comparison with numerical results. It is found that the complex-valued natural frequency of the first vibration mode of a beam with a piezoelectric laminate transducer shunted to a resistance is estimated with sufficient accuracy for engineering design purposes.
Pilot modeling based on time-delay synthesis
Authors: Toader Adrian , Ursu Ioan
Published: March 2013

A review of some human pilot models of the years 1970–1990 – the Kleinman–Baron–Levison optimal control model, the Davidson–Schmidt modified optimal control model, and the Hess optimal control model – has been presented from the perspective of a new model based on the optimal control synthesis of time-delay systems. In the first of the listed models, the ‘central nervous’ reaction of the pilot is naturally defined as a pure time delay in the measurement equation of the system. In the framework of the optimal control theory, the pilot’s behavior is modeled by linear quadratic regulator gain and Kalman–Bucy filter with a linear predictor. Starting from this optimal model of the 1970s, the other two models assumed the Padé approximation of the pure time delay, thus eliminating the linear predictor. In this article, the pure time delay of pilot reaction was reconsidered and divided, for convenience, into two equal parts: for the output measurement equation and for the input control. The pilot model problem has been first defined in the framework of rigorous time-delay synthesis and then solved by making reference to the control separation and duality principles. A closed-form expression of the solution is thereby obtained. The proposed model was then compared by numerical simulations with Kleinman and Hess consacrated models. The analysis of the results shows that this new pilot model is described by a simplified representation, instead denoting similar performance versus previous optimal models – which contains additional insertions as Kleinman–Baron predictor or Padé approximation, respectively. Finally, joint evaluation of the proposed model and Kleinman and Hess models with respect to the well-known Neal–Smith criterion confirms the consistency and viability of the employed strategy as a possible tool for pilot-induced oscillations phenomenon investigation.
Concurrent orbit and attitude estimation using minimum sigma point unscented Kalman filter
Authors: Kiani M , Pourtakdoust Seid H
Published: March 2013

Concurrent orbit and attitude determination (COAD) plays a key role in reducing the cost of navigation and control subsystem for small satellites. This article is devoted to the problem of the COAD of satellites. A measurement package consisting of three axis magnetometer (TAM) and a sun sensor is shown to be sufficient to estimate the attitude and orbit information. To this end, an autonomous gyro-less COAD algorithm is proposed and implemented through the centralized data fusion of the TAM and the sun sensor. The set of nonlinear-coupled roto-translation dynamics of the satellite is used with a modified unscented Kalman filter (MUKF) to estimate the full satellite states. The MUKF is specially proposed to substantially cut the run time by minimizing the number of required sigma points. The results indicate that the adopted strategy fulfills the essential requirements of accuracy and the speed of state estimation. Local observability is demonstrated and an extensive Monte Carlo simulation has shown desirable stability characteristics for the proposed algorithm. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis on the orbital elements and sensor characteristics is performed to verify the feasibility and utility of the MUKF over a wider acceptable range of sensory and operating environments.
Parametric study of sensitivity of deployed frequency for large cable net antenna
Authors: Balaji K , Nagaraj BP , Rai Vijay Shankar , Nagesh G , Sridhara CD
Published: March 2013

Large light-weight deployable cable net reflectors are widely used in communication satellites. These are much larger than satellite and need stowing into a relatively small volume to fit into launch vehicle and are deployed in orbit. The cable net reflectors use deployable support structure along with pretensioned cable net. Due to its large dimensions, the deployed natural frequency will be quite low and may not be acceptable from controls point of view. In such cases, the deployed frequency needs to be enhanced to ensure that the same meets the minimum requirements. This article presents a study of the different parameters, which have been varied in order to assess the sensitivity of the same with respect to the deployed frequency. The effect of the flexibility of each sub-assembly has been assumed and this has helped to identify the sub-assembly, which has to be stiffened in order to enhance the overall frequency. Also, the results from this study have provided the design inputs for modifications to be carried out in order to realize a large cable net antenna.
Optimal trajectory planning for path convergence in three-dimensional space
Authors: Hota Sikha , Ghose Debasish
Published: March 2013

This article addresses the problem of determining the shortest path that connects a given initial configuration (position, heading angle, and flight path angle) to a given rectilinear or a circular path in three-dimensional space for a constant speed and turn-rate constrained aerial vehicle. The final path is assumed to be located relatively far from the starting point. Due to its simplicity and low computational requirements the algorithm can be implemented on a fixed-wing type unmanned air vehicle in real time in missions where the final path may change dynamically. As wind has a very significant effect on the flight of small aerial vehicles, the method of optimal path planning is extended to meet the same objective in the presence of wind comparable to the speed of the aerial vehicles. But, if the path to be followed is closer to the initial point, an off-line method based on multiple shooting, in combination with a direct transcription technique, is used to obtain the optimal solution. Optimal paths are generated for a variety of cases to show the efficiency of the algorithm. Simulations are presented to demonstrate tracking results using a 6-degrees-of-freedom model of an unmanned air vehicle.
Firing tests of hybrid engine with varying oxidiser nature and operating conditions
Authors: Gascoin Nicolas , Mangeot Alexandre , Marin Camille , Gillard Philippe , Rouvreau Stéphane , Prevost Jacques , Piton Dominique
Published: March 2013

Hybrid combustors are of increasing interest for space and civilian propulsion. A test facility has been settled to investigate high-density polyethylene combustion (propellant of length 0.15 m). A parametric study has been conducted on the oxidiser nature (gaseous oxygen diluted in nitrogen, from 31.4 vol.% to 69.2 vol.% of O2), on the oxidiser flow rate (from 28.6 g/s to 53.1 g/s), on the combustor pressure (from 11.4 bar to 25 bar) and on the nozzle diameter (from 6.4 mm to 12.9 mm). The regression rate has been estimated by weight loss (mean value of 0.207 mg/s) and by thermocouples (0.198 mg/s). Its values are compared to existing data through the Marxman law; this enlarges the range of validity of this law. The conduction heat flux in the solid reducer is estimated around 6000–8000 W; which is related to the low regression rate of the solid fuel. The axial thrust has been measured in addition to other parameters (pressures, temperatures and mass flow rates). Solid particles have been gathered at the combustor outlet to conduct additional chemical analyses. These particles were formed at the surface of the reducer and extracted by the oxidiser from the solid surface.
Transforming growth factor beta 1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 as prognostic markers of diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Shaker O.G. , Sadik N.A.H.
Published: March 2013

We aimed to find the relationship between serum transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1) and urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) throughout the course of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and to assess the relationship between both levels and other parameters of renal injury such as albumin/creatinine ratio and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Serum TGF-β1, urinary MCP-1, eGFR, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured in 60 patients with type II diabetes mellitus with different degrees of nephropathy (20 patients with normoalbuminuria, 20 patients with microalbuminuria, and 20 patients with macroalbuminuria) and compared with 20 matched healthy control subjects. Both the levels of serum TGF-β1 and urinary MCP-1 were significantly higher in patients with micro- and macroalbuminuria (137.8 ± 69.5 and 329.25 ± 41.46 ng/dl, respectively, for TGF-β1 and 167.41 ± 50.23 and 630.87 ± 318.10 ng/g creatinine, respectively, for MCP-1) compared with normoalbuminuric patients and healthy controls (33.25 ± 17.5 and 29.64 ± 10.57 ng/dl, respectively, for TGF-β1 and 63.85 ± 21.15 and 61.50 ± 24.81 ng/g creatinine, respectively, for MCP-1; p < 0.001). There was a positive significant correlation between the levels of serum TGF-β1 and those of urinary MCP-1 ( r = 0.73, p < 0.001). Also, serum TGF-β1 and urinary MCP-1 correlated positively with HbA1c ( r = 0.49 and 0.55, respectively, p < 0.05 for both) and inversely with eGFR ( r = −0.69 and −0.60, respectively, p < 0.001 for both). We can conclude that serum TGF-β1 and urinary MCP-1 can be used as the markers for detection of progression of DN. Antagonizing TGF-β1 and MCP-1 might be helpful in attenuating the progression of nephropathy in diabetic patients.
Contextual Barriers and Motivators to Adult Male Medical Circumcision in Rakai, Uganda
Authors: Ssekubugu Robert , Leontsini Elli , Wawer Maria J. , Serwadda David , Kigozi Godfrey , Kennedy Caitlin E. , Nalugoda Fred , Sekamwa Richard , Wagman Jennifer , Gray Ronald H.
Published: March 2013

Medical male circumcision (MMC) is a central component of HIV prevention. In this study we examined barriers to and facilitators of MMC in Rakai, Uganda. Interviews and focus groups with MMC acceptors, decliners, and community members were collected and analyzed iteratively. Themes were developed based on immersion, repeated reading, sorting, and coding of data using grounded theory. Pain, medical complications, infertility, lack of empirical efficacy, waiting time before resumption of sex, and religion were identified as obstacles to MMC acceptance. Prevention and healing of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), access to HIV and other ancillary care, penile hygiene, and peer influence were key motivators. Voluntary counseling and testing for HIV, partner influence, and sexual potency were both barriers and motivators. Individual and societal factors, such as pain and religion, might slow MMC scale up. Health benefits, such as HIV/STI prevention and penile hygiene, are essential in motivating men to accept MMC.