bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effects of a Compensatory Intervention on Processing Deficits of Adults with Acquired Brain Injuries
Authors: Dirette Diane K. , Hinojosa Jim
Published: December 2014

Deficits in visual processing are common for individuals who have acquired brain injuries (ABI). Using an experimental, matched-groups design, the researchers examined the efficacy of a cognitive rehabilitation treatment focused on instruction in the use of compensatory strategies for deficits in processing of visual information. Participating in the study were 30 adults who were 2 to 12 months post-ABI. Repeated analysis of variance measures demonstrated significant improvements in both the experimental group and the control group on both weekly and pre-test/post-test measures. Auxiliary analyses, however, revealed the use of compensatory strategies by 80% of both the experimental group and the control group, which had received a remedial intervention. Further investigation indicated that the use of compensatory strategies by both groups resulted in improved scores.
Construct Validity of Beery's Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration for Taiwanese Children
Authors: Mao Hui-Fen , Li Wenshu , Lo Jin-Ling
Published: December 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the construct validity of Beery's Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (VMI test) and its hierarchical structure of item difficulties for Taiwanese children. The VMI test was administered to 314 Taiwanese children aged from 3.3 to 13.3 years. The Rasch model of measurement was chosen to investigate the goodness-of-fit of individual items within the VMI test and the sequence of item difficulty. The results revealed that the 24 items of the VMI test measure a unidimensional construct. The difficulty levels of the items were spread widely and evenly across the age range tested. A person separation reliability of .92 and an item separation reliability of .99 indicated that the VMI test had good discriminatory power. However, the different sequence of item difficulty preliminarily found in this study indicates that the item order or the scoring criteria should be revised for Taiwanese children. Further studies of the standardization and validity of the VMI test and revision of the sequence for the Taiwanese population are necessary.
Gluten-free diet in the management of patients with irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia and lymphocytic enteritis
Authors: Volta Umberto
Published: December 2014

An evaluation of the effect of 1 year of a gluten-free diet was performed in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome displaying lymphocytic enteritis. Gluten withdrawal produced a slight but significant improvement of the functional symptoms, suggesting that gluten might be partly responsible for this clinical picture. This hypothesis should be confirmed by a double-blind placebo-controlled trial since it cannot be ruled out that the studied patients displayed a subjective sensation of improvement due to the placebo effect of gluten withdrawal. Further investigations are needed before recommending gluten withdrawal in patients with fibromyalgia and lymphocytic enteritis.
Effects of biological and non-biological immunomodulatory therapies on the immunogenicity of vaccines in patients with rheumatic diseases
Authors: McMahan Zsuzsanna H , Bingham III Clifton O
Published: December 2014

Vaccinations are administered to patients to induce a protective immune response, resulting in immunological memory. Preventing infection through the use of vaccines is particularly important in immunocompromised and immunosuppressed individuals given their increased frequency and severity of infections relative to healthy individuals. Recent surveys show that the vaccination rate is still alarmingly low in patients with rheumatic disease. In this review we briefly discuss the different types of vaccines and then critically examine evidence related to vaccination efficacy in patients with autoimmune disease and the effects of immunomodulatory therapy, with an aim to provide guidance and optimize the administration of vaccines in such individuals.
Pirfenidone gel in patients with localized scleroderma: a phase II study
Authors: Rodríguez-Castellanos Marco , Tlacuilo-Parra Alberto , Sánchez-Enríquez Sergio , Vélez-Gómez Ezequiel , Guevara-Gutiérrez Elizabeth
Published: December 2014

Introduction

Localized scleroderma is an inflammatory disease in its first stages and a fibrotic process in later stages, principally mediated by the transforming growth factor β. To date, there is no standard treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness and safety of 8% pirfenidone gel in patients with localized scleroderma.

Methods

This was an open phase II clinical trial that included 12 patients. Treatment with pirfenidone was indicated, three times daily for 6 months. Patients were evaluated clinically with the modified Localized Scleroderma Skin Severity Index (mLoSSI), as well with a durometer and histologically using hematoxylin and eosin stain and Masson’s trichrome stain.

Results

The baseline mLoSSI average scores were 5.83 ± 4.80 vs. 0.83 ± 1.75 (P = 0.002) at 6 months. The initial durometer induration of the scleroderma plaques was 35.79 ± 9.10 vs. 32.47 ± 8.97 at 6 months (P = 0.05). We observed histopathological improvement with respect to epidermal atrophy, inflammation, dermal or adipose tissue fibrosis and annex atrophy from 12.25 ± 3.25 to 9.75 ± 4.35 (P = 0.032). The 8% pirfenidone gel application was well tolerated, and no side effects were detected.

Conclusions

This is the first study on the therapeutic use of pirfenidone gel in localized scleroderma. It acts on both the inflammatory and the fibrotic phases. Considering its effectiveness, good safety profile and the advantage of topical application, pirfenidone is a treatment option in this condition.
Taxonomy of Q
Authors: Morozov Igor , Baharvand Ahmadi Amin
Published: December 2014

The seismic quality factors [Formula: see text] used in many applications of exploration seismology are not automatically equivalent. We identified three groups of usage of the concept of a [Formula: see text]: (1) a measure of internal mechanical friction within rocks, as implied in petrophysical interpretations, (2) several types of apparent [Formula: see text] arising from attenuation measurements, and (3) axiomatic [Formula: see text] defined in the viscoelastic theory. These groups differ by their roles in the interpretation, sensitivity to model assumptions, frequency dependences, and particularly by the temporal and spatial resolution. Among all types of [Formula: see text], those that are most robust and useful for characterizing the material are also strongly limited in resolution and accuracy. For example, from spectral coherency studies, it is known that to measure a [Formula: see text] of approximately 100 with modest accuracy of 30%, measurement time intervals of about 500 ms are required. Although several inversion techniques offer models of [Formula: see text] at much higher resolution, such detailed [Formula: see text] models are usually dominated by the effects of localized structures, such as “colored” transmission across boundaries, reflectivity, or scattering. Such types of [Formula: see text] can be called “structural,” and they differ from the [Formula: see text]-factor of the medium. Detailed [Formula: see text] images are also sensitive to theoretical models such as background geometric spreading and assumptions about the frequency dependence of the [Formula: see text]. Direct association of such [Formula: see text] with material properties may be inaccurate and unreliable. Measurement of geometric spreading and averaging of the structural [Formula: see text] produce estimates of “geometric” and scattering attenuation; however, these estimates are also strongly limited in accuracy and resolution. The viscoelastic [Formula: see text] (group 3 above) heavily relies on a specific mathematical model. Despite producing detailed images, the spatial resolution of viscoelastic [Formula: see text] is inherently limited by the nature of its relation to the frequency-dependent velocity. This resolution limit is difficult to assess quantitatively.
Electrical resistivity imaging for long-term autonomous monitoring of hydrocarbon degradation: Lessons from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Authors: Heenan Jeffrey , Slater Lee D. , Ntarlagiannis Dimitrios , Atekwana Estella A. , Fathepure Babu Z. , Dalvi Sonal , Ross Cameron , Werkema Dale D. , Atekwana Eliot A.
Published: December 2014

Conceptual models for the geophysical responses associated with hydrocarbon degradation suggest that the long-term evolution of an oil plume will result in a more conductive anomaly than the initial contamination. In response to the Deepwater Horizon (DH) oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, an autonomous resistivity monitoring system was deployed on Grand Terre, Louisiana, in an attempt to monitor natural degradation processes in hydrocarbon-impacted beach sediments of this island. A 48-electrode surface array with a 0.5-m spacing was installed to obtain twice-daily images of the resistivity structure of the shallow subsurface impacted by oil. Over the course of approximately 18 months, we observed a progressive decrease in the resistivity of the DH spill-impacted region. Detailed analysis of pixel/point resistivity variation within the imaged area showed that long-term decreases in resistivity were largely associated with the DH-impacted sediments. A microbial diversity survey revealed the presence of hydrocarbon-degrading organisms throughout the test site. However, hydrocarbon degradation activity was much higher in the DH-impacted locations compared to nonimpacted locations, suggesting the presence of active hydrocarbon degraders, supporting biodegradation processes. The results of this long-term monitoring experiment suggested that resistivity might be used to noninvasively monitor the long-term degradation of crude oil spills.
Simultaneous microseismic event localization and source mechanism determination
Authors: Zhebel Oksana , Eisner Leo
Published: December 2014

Microseismic monitoring has become a tool of choice for the development and optimization of oil and gas production from unconventional reservoirs. The primary objective of (micro) seismic monitoring includes localization of (micro) seismic events and characterization of their source mechanisms. Most seismic events are of a nonexplosive nature, and thus, there are waveform (polarity) differences among receivers. Specifically, double-couple sources represented a challenge for migration-based localization techniques. We developed and applied a new migration-type location technique combined with source mechanism inversion that allowed for constructive interference of signal in seismic waveforms. The procedure included constructing image functions by stacking the amplitudes with compensated polarity changes. The compensation weights were calculated by using moment tensor inversion. This method did not require any picking of arrivals at individual receivers, but it required receivers to be distributed in multiple azimuths and offsets. This made the technique suitable for surface or near-surface monitoring, in which a low signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) can be overcome by stacking. Furthermore, the advantage of this technique was that in addition to the position in time and space, we also determined the source mechanism. We determined with numerical tests that the proposed technique can be used for detection and location of events with S/Ns as low as 0.05 at individual (prestacked) receivers. Furthermore, we found that other source mechanism parameters such as magnitude, volumetric, or shear components of the source mechanism were not suitable for the location. Finally, we applied the proposed technique to a microseismic event of moment magnitude [Formula: see text] induced during the hydraulic fracturing treatment of a gas shale reservoir in North America.
Investigation of borehole cross-dipole flexural dispersion crossover through numerical modeling
Authors: Fang Xinding , Cheng Arthur , Fehler Michael C.
Published: December 2014

Crossover of the dispersion of flexural waves recorded in borehole cross-dipole measurements is interpreted as an indicator of stress-induced anisotropy around a circular borehole in formations that are isotropic in the absence of stresses. We have investigated different factors that influence flexural wave dispersion. Through numerical modeling, we determined that for a circular borehole surrounded by an isotropic formation that is subjected to an anisotropic stress field, the dipole flexural dispersion crossover is detectable only when the formation is very compliant. This might happen only in the shallow subsurface or in zones having high pore pressure. However, we found that dipole dispersion crossover can also result from the combined effect of formation intrinsic anisotropy and borehole elongation. We found that a small elongation on the wellbore and very weak intrinsic anisotropy can result in a resolvable crossover in flexural dispersion that might be erroneously interpreted as borehole stress-induced anisotropy. A thorough and correct interpretation of flexural dispersion crossover thus has to take into account the effects of stress-induced and intrinsic anisotropy and borehole cross-sectional geometry.
Experimental Seismic Fragility of Pressurized Fire Suppression Sprinkler Piping Joints
Authors: Tian Yuan , Filiatrault Andre , Mosqueda Gilberto
Published: December 2014

Pressurized fire suppression sprinkler piping is a critical nonstructural system that must remain operational after an earthquake, particularly in critical facilities. Observations from past earthquakes have demonstrated that the locations most susceptible to damage in sprinkler piping systems are the joints, sprinkler heads, support hangers, and bracing systems. However, field observations and previous experimentations are insufficient to fully characterize the response of sprinkler piping systems under seismic actions and to develop effective solutions to improve their performance. This paper presents the results of an experimental program designed to evaluate the seismic behavior of sprinkler piping joints. Forty-eight tee joints made of various materials (black iron with threaded joints, thermoplastic (CPVC) with cement joints, and steel with groove-fit connections) and nominal diameters (¾ in. to 6 in.) were tested under reverse cyclic loading to determine their rotational capacities at which leakage and/or fracture occur. The ATC-58 framework is applied to develop a seismic fragility database for pressurized fire suppression sprinkler joints considering joint rotation as the demand parameter. Fragility functions in terms of more global demand parameters, such as floor accelerations, can be developed using data presented here combined with structural analysis models of sprinkler piping systems.
Residual β-Cell Function and the Insulin-Like Growth Factor System in Danish Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Sorensen Jesper S. , Birkebaek Niels H. , Bjerre Mette , Pociot Flemming , Kristensen Kurt , Hoejberg Anne Soee , Frystyk Jan ,   the Danish Society for Diabetes in Childhood and Adolescence
Published: December 2014

Context:

C-peptide-positive adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have higher circulating total and free IGF-1 and lower IGF binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) than C-peptide-negative patients. Whether this is also the case in children remains unknown.

Objective:

The objective of the study was to examine the IGF system in children/adolescents with and without residual β-cell function (RBF).

Design and Patients:

This was a cross-sectional study containing 136 prepubertal (hereof 15 RBF positive) and 206 pubertal (hereof 42 RBF positive) children/adolescents with T1D for 3–6 years as well as 40 prepubertal and 30 pubertal healthy controls. RBF was evaluated by meal-stimulated C-peptide.

Main Outcome Measures:

Fasting serum levels of bioactive IGF (ie, the ability of serum to activate the IGF-1 receptor in vitro), total IGF-1, total IGF-2, and IGFBP-1 and -3.

Results:

Irrespective of pubertal status, patients with T1D showed lower bioactive IGF and total IGF-1, but higher IGFBP-1 as compared with controls (P < .05). When stratified according to RBF status, a positive RBF was associated with normalization of all IGF-related peptides but IGFBP-1 in prepubertal children (P < .05), whereas none of the IGF components were normalized in prepubertal, RBF-negative children. In pubertal children, total IGF-1 and bioactive IGF remained subnormal and IGFBP-1 supranormal, irrespective of RBF status (P < .05).

Conclusion:

Independent of pubertal status, T1D was associated with an abnormal IGF system. However, a positive RBF status appeared important but only in prepubertal children, in whom all IGF components but IGFBP-1 were normalized. We speculate that the pubertal GH surge induces insulin resistance, which overrides the stimulatory effect that an RBF may exert on the liver-derived IGF system.
Expression Pattern of 12-Lipoxygenase in Human Islets With Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Grzesik Wojciech J. , Nadler Joseph L. , Machida Yui , Nadler Jerry L. , Imai Yumi , Morris Margaret A.
Published: December 2014

Context:

Inflammation in the pancreas can cause β-cell stress, leading to diabetes development. Access to human pancreas tissues via the Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes (nPOD) has allowed characterization of pathways leading to this inflammation.

Objective:

12-Lipoxygenase (12-LO) induces inflammation and has been implicated in diabetes development. Our goal was to determine expression of 12-LO in human islets from control, autoantibody-positive, type 1 diabetic, and type 2 diabetic nPOD pancreas donors.

Design:

Pancreas tissues from nPOD donors were examined by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence for islet expression of 12-LO in different subsets of islet cells.

Participants:

Donor pancreas samples were obtained from nPOD based on disease status (control, n = 7; autoantibody-positive, n = 8; type 1 diabetic, n = 17; or type 2 diabetic donors, n = 15).

Main Outcome Measure:

Determination of 12-LO expression within human islets served as the main outcome measure, including distinguishing which types of islet cells expressed 12-LO.

Results:

Islets from control participants (nondiabetic) lacked islet expression of 12-LO. Of donors in the other groups, 25% to 37% expressed islet 12-LO with a clear inverse relation between the numbers of β-cells and 12-LO+ cells within islets of 12-LO+ cases. 12-LO expression was not seen within macrophages, endothelial cells, α-cells, or β-cells, but only within cells expressing low levels of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and increased levels of vimentin.

Conclusions:

12-LO expression colocalizes within a specific type of islet PP+ cell under prediabetic and diabetic conditions. The costaining of PP and vimentin suggests that 12-LO participates in the process leading to β-cell dedifferentiation in the islet.
Introduction
Authors: Mitchell Timothy
Published: December 2014

Infrastructures are both durable yet fragile, hidden but ever present, solidly embedded in the collective world yet open to speculation and uncertainty. The essays in this section of Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East volume 34, number 3, explore the many ways in which, whether as scholars or as political subjects, we think about forms of infrastructure and make them a focus of collective life. The essays also consider how infrastructures can enable, transform, or inhibit ways of thinking and living collectively.
Automobility and Citizenship in Interwar Lebanon
Authors: Monroe Kristin V.
Published: December 2014

Based on newspaper resources from Lebanon’s French mandate period (1920–46), Monroe’s essay offers a new perspective to a developing global historiography of automobility by considering, in a provisional way and primarily as a basis for further research, how the driving of cars shaped everyday and national life in Lebanon in the interwar era. First, Monroe explores how the driving of cars, as a demonstration of state power, served as a tool and representation of government. Second, she looks at how vehicular excursions by urban elite from the city to the mountain and rural areas created new patterns of leisure and recreation that put into practice the bourgeois habitus. Finally, she examines the gendered dimensions of automobility as women who took the wheel traversed boundaries both social and geographical. The essay explores how automobilities in mandate-era Lebanon participate in, and depart from, automobility paradigms that take the global North as the primary site of historical research and interest by providing insights into the ways in which the motor vehicle not only served a utilitarian function, but also contributed to particular constructions of class, gender, and nation.
Introduction
Authors: Low Michael Christopher
Published: December 2014

Low’s essay introduces the five essays in this roundtable in volume 34, number 3, which explore theoretical and practical connections between the fields of Middle Eastern and Indian Ocean studies. At least part of the exercise suggested by this forum, Low writes, involves a slight decentering of India in order to contemplate a rebalanced Indian Ocean as narrated from the peninsular Middle East outward. As a result, the points of departure and return suggested here move along a more heterogeneous set of oceanic axes running from Mecca to Calcutta, Singapore to Jidda, Hadhramawt to Java, Zanzibar to Oman, Awadh to Karbala and Najaf, and the Zanj to Shiraz.
Nuancing the Patterns of Empire Informal Empire, Anti-Imperialism, and Transnationalism
Authors: Espiritu Augusto
Published: December 2014

Espiritu’s essay locates Julian Go’s Patterns of Empire in the context of the critical literature of US-Philippine colonial studies and explains why it is a signal contribution to that literature. It provides an appreciative view of its argument against exceptionalism as well as its comparative critical analysis of the British and US empires. Finally, it raises several questions about empire, informal empire, and anti-imperialism as a way of furthering the dialogue the book seeks between political studies writ large and postcolonial studies.
The Historical Sociology of Empire
Authors: Go Julian
Published: December 2014

Go’s contribution to the book forum on Patterns of Empire responds to the critiques of the other commentators in the section. Although Go disagrees with some of the readings of his work, he welcomes future studies—whether comparative, postcolonial, transnational, or otherwise—that interrogate and challenge empire’s exceptionalist fantasies of uniqueness, power, and agency. Empires are far too sprawling and devious to be left in the hands of any single discipline, method, or theoretical approach. To this, Go writes, the US empire is no exception.
Teaching basic numeracy, predictive models and socioeconomics to marine ecologists through Bayesian belief networks
Authors: Stafford Richard , Williams Rachel
Published: December 2014

Teaching numeric disciplines to higher education students in many life sciences disciplines is highly challenging. In this study, we test whether an approach linking field observations with predictive models can be useful in allowing students to understand basic numeracy and probability, as well as developing skills in modelling, understanding species interactions and even community/ecosystem-service interactions.  We presented a field-based lecture in a morning session (on rocky shore ecology), followed by an afternoon session parameterising a belief network using a simple, user-friendly interface. The study was conducted with students during their second week of a foundation degree, hence having little prior knowledge of these systems or models. All students could create realistic predictive models of competition, predation and grazing, although most initially failed to account for trophic cascade effects in parameterising their models of the rocky shore they had previously seen. The belief network was then modified to account for a marine ecosystem management approach, where fishing effort and economic benefit of fishing were linked to population abundance of different species, and management goals were included. Students had little difficultly in applying conceptual links between species and ecosystem services in the same manner as between species. Students evaluated their understanding of a range of variables from rocky shore knowledge to marine management as increasing over the session, but the role of the predictive modelling task was indicated as a major source of learning, even for topics we thought may be better learned in the field. The study adds evidence to the theories that students benefit from exposure to numeric topics, even very early in their degree programmes, but students grasp concepts better when applied to real world situations which they have experience of, or perceive as important.
Managing Blood Donations with Marketing
Authors: Aravindakshan Ashwin , Rubel Olivier , Rutz Oliver
Published: December 2014

Blood banks rely on marketing to encourage donors to give blood. Many, if not most, blood banks in the United States are community-based not-for-profit organizations with limited marketing budgets. As a result, blood banks increasingly use novel and inexpensive online media, i.e., paid, owned, and earned (POE) media, in their marketing efforts. We propose a dynamic model to help blood bank marketing managers understand how blood donations can be managed via online POE media. We analytically characterize the optimal forward-looking paid media strategies, taking into account the asymmetric costs related to shortage and excess of blood, as well as the possibility of a cost-free target donation zone. We detail new advertising resource allocation rules for blood banks and show when traditional allocation recommendations do not apply. Additionally, we discover that under certain circumstances, owned/earned media activities hurt the blood bank’s performance, despite being (predominantly) free. We validate our analytical model by using daily donation data from a community-based blood bank and measure the effects of POE media activities on the level of blood donated.
Fluid Limits of G/G/1+G Queues Under the Nonpreemptive Earliest-Deadline-First Discipline
Authors: Atar Rami , Biswas Anup , Kaspi Haya
Published: December 2014

A single-server queueing model is considered with customers that have deadlines. If a customer’s deadline elapses before service is offered, the customer abandons the system (customers do not abandon while being served). When the server becomes available, it offers service to the customer having the earliest deadline among those that are in the queue. We obtain a fluid limit of the queue length and abandonment processes and for the occupation measure of deadlines, in the form of measure-valued processes. We characterize the limit by means of a Skorohod problem in a time-varying domain that has an explicit solution. The fluid limits also describe a certain process called the frontier that is well known to play a key role in systems operating under this scheduling policy.
A year of progress and promise
Authors: Hill Kristie
Published: December 2014

Kristie Hill qualified as a health visitor in 2013 and joined the JHV editorial board for a year. As her tenure on the board comes to a close, she reflects on the achievements of her first year in practice and looks forward to her future as a health visitor.
Beyond ‘train and hope’: Identifying factors that affect implementation of the Promotional Guide in practice
Authors: Morton Alison , Wigley Wendy
Published: December 2014

The Healthy Child Programme recommends using the Promotional Guide to explore health needs. This paper presents the findings of a qualitative research study using normalisation process theory to identify factors that affect the implementation of the Guide. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with health visitors (n=9) to explore their experiences of implementation. Health visitors were positive and felt the Guide enhanced their practice, but embedding it into practice was not straightforward. The multiple purposes of the antenatal appointment produced points of disjuncture. Integration was achieved only when the Guide was considered to fulfil the perceived requirements of the organisation and the client perceived the intervention as worthwhile. Factors affecting implementation included: lack of client awareness of the health visiting service; integration of client needs with organisational agenda; organisational compliance, electronic patient record and monitoring systems provided no incentive for Promotional Guide use; continuity of practitioner; health visitor communication skills; and endorsement by senior management. To minimise difficulties, it is recommended that an implementation strategy is used when introducing the Promotional Guide into health visiting practice.
Rethinking the evolution of the Portuguese Catholic Centre, in dialogue with three questions that have explained its history
Authors: Santos Paula Borges
Published: December 2014

This article discusses the life cycle of the Portuguese Catholic Centre (CC – Centro Católico) between 1919 and 1940, considering that this organization possessed a structural problem of tactical and strategic weakness that prevented its consolidation as a party formation
with wide popular support. It also discusses how the regime question was not the main obstacle preventing it from carrying out its plan for the ‘political union of Catholics’ cherished by the religious authorities. Some fracturing issues within the CC, such as the party question
or the emergence of the paradigm of Catholic Action, are considered. The article also reflects on the final years of the CC, from its deactivation policy in 1926 to its extinction in 1940, which was formally decided by the bishops following the negotiation of the Concordat between Portugal
and the Holy See, demonstrating that the performance of Salazar on the CC was not the determining factor in its dissolution.
Using E-Book annotations to develop deep reading
Authors: Jensen Mark , Scharff Lauren
Published: December 2014

This quick hit describes strategies for modeling and assessing critical reading in an e-textbook environment at the collegiate level over the course of a single semester.  Special attention is devoted to annotation practices associated with critical reading: outlining, connecting, questioning, and objecting.
Too cool for school?: The effects of gamification in an advanced interdisciplinary course
Authors: Cruz Laura , Penley John
Published: December 2014

Gamification is a subject of a great deal of conversations and advocates believe that the familiarity of gaming to the current student population gives it considerable potential to transform teaching and learning. The research literature presents a more ambiguous view and it remains to be seen whether or not gamifying instruction can significantly strengthen student learning outcomes. This question forms the basis of the current study, which focuses on an extensive gamification exercise applied in an upper-division interdisciplinary course. To phrase it colloquially, this research asks whether or not gamification is too cool for school.
Introducing positive psychology to SLA
Authors: Mercer Sarah , MacIntyre Peter D.
Published: December 2014

Positive psychology is a rapidly expanding subfield in psychology that has important implications for the field of second language acquisition (SLA). This paper introduces positive psychology to the study of language by describing its key tenets. The potential contributions of positive psychology are contextualized with reference to prior work, including the humanistic movement in language teaching, models of motivation, the concept of an affective filter, studies of the good language learner, and the concepts related to the self. There are reasons for both encouragement and caution as studies inspired by positive psychology are undertaken. Papers in this special issue of SSLLT cover a range of quantitative and qualitative methods with implications for theory, research, and teaching practice. The special issue serves as a springboard for future research in SLA under the umbrella of positive psychology.
The Role of Architect in Interdisciplinary Collaborative Design Studios
Authors: Jutraz Anja , Zupancic Tadeja
Published: December 2014

Architectural design is a complex process involving different actors. While studying architecture, students usually work alone, and they do not have many opportunities to collaborate with other professions. Consequently, they end up lacking the knowledge regarding other professions, as well as regarding communic42ation and collaboration with other professionals. They become too proud of themselves, which eventually prevents them from engaging in active collaboration and accepting compromises. Furthermore, it is essential for their future professional careers that architects collaborate with other professions, adopt their ideas and requirements. Such collaboration is recommended from the early stages of the design process onwards. The main focus of this article is to determine the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in architecture projects through the process of studying architecture, the role of the architect within this process, and the manner in which decisions are usually made within an interdisciplinary team. The following research is based on the AEC Global Teamwork Course, which took place during school years 2011/2012, 2012/2013 and 2013/2014, 2013 at Stanford University under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Renate Fruchter. Students from all around the world worked together on an architectural project from its initial stages. They met twice only: at the beginning and at the end of the project, otherwise they worked on a virtual basis, using different digital tools intended for long-distance interdisciplinary collaboration. There were three case studies examined for the purposes of this article in which the main focus was placed on architects, more specifically on the challenges and the problems they were facing, the knowledge architects gained through interdisciplinary collaboration, and lessons learned in such a course that could help them with their professional careers.
Wrap around field plate technique for GaN Schottky barrier diodes
Authors: Kolli Sowmya , Hickman Robert , Alphenaar Bruce W
Published: December 2014

In this paper, we propose a wrap around field termination technique for a vertical Schottky barrier diode fabricated on a free standing GaN substrate. Unlike conventional field plate designs, in the wrap around structure the field plate surrounds the active device area. This allows for better control of the electric field distribution, and reduces field-crowding. 2D finite element simulations using ATLAS show a uniform field distribution across the device. Calculations show that the Ron increases relative to the conventional field plate. A break down voltage of 1300V was predicted for a 5um thick epilayer.
Spatially resolved optical emission of cubic GaN/AlN multi-quantum well structures
Authors: As D.J. , Kemper R. , Mietze C. , Wecker T. , Lindner J.K.N. , Veit P. , Dempewolf A. , Bertram F. , Christen J.
Published: December 2014

In this contribution we report on the optical properties of cubic AlN/GaN asymmetric multi quantum wells (MQW) structures on 3C-SiC/Si (001) substrates grown by radio-frequency plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and spatially resolved cathodoluminescence (CL) at room temperature and at low temperature are used to characterize the optical properties of the cubic AlN/GaN MQW structures. An increasing CL emission intensity with increasing film thickness due to the improved crystal quality was observed. This correlation can be directly connected to the reduction of the linewidth of x-ray rocking curves with increasing film thickness of the c-GaN films. Defects like stacking faults (SFs) on the {111} planes, which also can be considered as hexagonal inclusions in the cubic crystal matrix, lead to a decrease of the CL emission intensity. With low temperature CL line scans also monolayer fluctuations of the QWs have been detected and the observed transition energies agree well with solutions calculated using a one-dimensional (1D) Schrödinger-Poisson simulator.
Removal of Metal Ions and Organic Compounds from Aqueous Environments Using Versatile Carbon Nanotube/Graphene Hybrid Adsorbents
Authors: Dichiara Anthony B. , Webber Michael R. , Rogers Reginald E.
Published: December 2014

The contamination of water by a large variety of molecules is a major environmental issue that will require the use of efficient and versatile materials to purify hydrological systems from source to point-of-use. The present study describes the aqueous-phase adsorption of heavy metal ions and multiple organic compounds at environmentally relevant concentrations onto graphene-single-walled carbon nanotube free-standing hybrid papers. Optical absorption spectroscopy results clearly showed that the hybrid nanocomposites exhibit superior adsorption properties compared to activated carbon, the most widely used adsorbent to date.
Synthesis of SBA-16 Supported Catalyst for CNTs and Dispersion Study of CNTs in Polypyrrole Composite
Authors: Hussain Tajamal , Mujahid Adnan , Shehzad Khurram , Shah Asma Tufail , Kousar Rehana
Published: December 2014

In last two decades, huge amount of research work has been contributed in the field of nanochemistry particularly for synthesis, characterization and applications of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). For synthesis of CNTs through chemical vapor deposition (CVD), supported metal catalyst is used preferentially. In view of that, SBA-16 supported nanoprticles of Iron, Fe/SBA-16, were prepared. To have Fe/SBA-16, adsorption of Fe nanoparticles on SBA-16 have been accomplished by reduction of ferrous ion on the surface of SBA-16. Afterwards, CNTs were synthesized by CVD using benzene as precursor over Fe/SBA-16 nanocatalyst. Synthesis of CNTs was carried out at 750°C with ambient pressure. Synthesized CNTs were functionalized by treating the them with a mixture of H2SO4/HNO3. As a result of this acidic treatment, carboxylic functional group was introduced on the surface of CNTs due to oxidation. As such prepared and functionalized CNTs were, further, used as filler in the synthesis of polymer nanocomposites of polypyrrol(PPY), matrix. These nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization. Thus, electrical conductivity is measured for both types of polymer composites. On their comparison, important information regarding dispersion of CNT in the matrix are extracted.
Zraniony strzałą piękna. Piękno i misja Kościoła według Josepha Ratzingera
Authors: Michalik Andrzej
Published: December 2014

Thoughts about beauty appear in various places of incredibly rich writings of Joseph Ratzinger. Accordingly with his method, he undertakes this topic in a historical context reaching as far as to the Ancient Times, and develops its theological basis, in order to finally present its ecclesiastic context and a practical development. As always though, the point of origin is the existential problem and the answer of the Revelation as well as diagnosis of modernity. Beauty – according to Joseph Ratzinger – today, is rarely a product of inspiration, but it became a subject of commerce. Beauty seems to suffice by itself, which leads to an art crisis. However, because beauty in its deepest essence points towards a different Reality, that is why we discover all over again its special role in the fulfillment of the Church’s mission. The first task of the Church is to oppose the wicked beauty, which diminishes human, and the second one is to breathe new one in the apostolate thanks to discovering anew the purpose and the meaning of beauty in the human life, in experiencing God and in the Church’s liturgy. Against the crisis of apostolate we need to see the pedagogical aspect of beauty. Human wounded by an arrow of beauty – according to a personal experience of Joseph Ratzinger – is lifted up, above himself. For it is the protection of true beauty and seeing its role in the Church’s mission that are the tasks and a chance for the Church.
Historia organów w kościele Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa w Tarnowie
Authors: Szczerba Wojciech
Published: December 2014

The purpose of this article is to enunciate the history of the organs in the church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Tarnów – Grabówka. This church, which was being built from 1935 till 1939 and from 1945 till 1952, despite of its short history, had been a place for two instruments and now the third one is being built. The author of this article, basing on the available archives and oral reports, wrote the short history of all three instruments, showing their specification: disposition, technical information, etc.
Dyspozycje prawne regulujące muzykę i śpiew liturgiczny po Soborze Watykańskim II (kontekst polski)
Authors: Kantor Robert
Published: December 2014

The article addresses the issue if legal requirements regulating liturgical music and singing. There is no mention of it in The Code of Canon Law of 1983. However, the last one hundred and fifty years were characterised in this respect by two great reforms. The first one of 1903 was conducted by Pope Pius X, and the second one was done by means of the Second Vatican Council. The main subject of the first reform was the recovery of the „purity” of music in response to numerous instances of abuse which polluted liturgical music. The second reform was aimed at active and conscious participation of the faithful during a liturgical assembly. This paper presents the most important documents regarding this subject after the Second Vatican Council, including the Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum concilium), Musicam sacram instruction and – with regard to the Polish background – Polish Episcopate instruction of 8 February 1979 on liturgical music.
Uniwersytecka „melodia”. Tarnowski przyczynek do współpracy międzynarodowej Uniwersytetu Papieskiego Jana Pawła II w Krakowie
Authors: Stala Józef
Published: December 2014

The Erasmus exchange programme is one of the greatest culture and education programs, which helps students, teachers and administrative staff to explore and to grow their potential. Programme offers a chance to gain professional development through studying, teaching or training in a partner Higher Education Institution in Europe. Nine students and ten academic teachers from the Faculty of Theology, Section in Tarnow of the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow have participated in programme since 2007. The author of this article presents contribution of the Faculty of Theology, Section in Tarnow to the international cooperation and development of the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow.
Pamięć a czas – od Arystotelesa do św. Tomasza
Authors: Łabno Kamila
Published: December 2014

Przedmiotem refleksji w niniejszym artykule jest relacja, jaka zachodzi między pamięcią i czasem. Przytaczając rozważania takich myślicieli jak Arystoteles, św. Augustyn czy św. Tomasz z Akwinu, autorka próbuje odpowiedzieć na pytanie, czy pamięć znajduje się w umyśle, oraz uchwycić różnorodność w ujmowaniu problematyki pamięci i związanego z nią czasu, jego odczuwania i doświadczania.
Z nieznanej korespondencji Romana Brandstaettera
Authors: Witek Jolanta A.
Published: December 2014

Artykuł dotyczy nieznanej dotąd korespondencji pisarza, zgromadzonej w Bibliotece w Kórniku, Ossolineum czy zbiorach prywatnych. Listy kierowane do żony, osób duchownych, niewidomych dzieci z Lasek, literatów z kraju i zza granicy dostarczają interesujących wiadomości dotyczących życia i twórczości pisarza. Materiały nadesłane z Jerozolimy na prośbę autorki artykułu stanowią cenne uzupełnienie całości. Teksty potwierdzają ogromną fascynację pisarza tematyką religijną, a zwłaszcza umiłowaniem Biblii, która jest „księgą życia”.
Żywe pragnienie Boga według papieża Franciszka
Authors: Jaśkiewicz Sylwester
Published: December 2014

Pragnienie Boga wpisane jest w serce człowieka. Zdaniem papieża Franciszka fakt ten wskazuje na wielkie znaczenie osobistej relacji z Bogiem. Bóg, zasiewając w ludzkim sercu pragnienie Jego samego, nie zniewala człowieka ani nie czyni z niego istoty pozbawionej serca bez Jego obecności. Bóg oczekuje od człowieka przyjęcia daru i osobistego zaangażowania. Doświadczenie Boga w sercu człowieka nie należy do kategorii doświadczeń empirycznych, ale duchowych. Nie jest łatwo zwerbalizować tego typu doświadczenia. Czasem pragnienie Boga w sercu człowieka związane jest z odkrywaniem nieskończonego w skończoności i ograniczeniach życia codziennego. Są to często dawne i utarte szlaki odkrywania Boga – szczególnie w prawdzie, dobru i pięknie.
Teologia wobec wymogu pastoralności
Authors: Królikowski Janusz
Published: December 2014

Pod adresem współczesnej teologii stawia się wiele postulatów. Najważniejszymi z nich są naukowość i pastoralność. Z jednej więc strony postuluje się, by teologia była staranna, systematyczna i uporządkowana pod względem naukowości. Chodzi w tym przypadku o jasne określenie jej natury i metody, które konstytuują każdą dziedzinę badawczą jako naukę, a potem konsekwentne kierowanie się wypracowaną metodą. Postulat uzupełniający dotyczy takiego naukowego uprawiania teologii, które pozwoli określić jej miejsce w stosunku do innych nauk. Z drugiej strony formułuje się postulat większej pastoralności teologii. Pojawia się on niemal powszechnie w kręgach związanych z formacją kapłańską. Jest to zrozumiałe, ponieważ studia teologii mają przygotować do pełnienia posługi duszpasterskiej. W kręgach świeckich studentów teologii mówi się raczej o „praktyczności” teologii, chociaż w gruncie rzeczy chodzi o to samo. W niniejszym artykule zostają omówione wspomniane tutaj postulaty na gruncie refleksji nad przedmiotem teologii, jej naturą i metodą, nad niektórymi treściami wykładu teologicznego oraz nad jakością duchową tego wykładu. Szczególna uwaga zostaje zwrócona na możliwości pastoralne teologii, ale formułowane w świetle wyraźnego przyjmowania kryterium jej naukowości.
Nasopharyngeal Airway Volume for Different GOSLON Scores in Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Gurlen S. Olmez , Aras I. , Dogan S.
Published: December 2014

Objective

The aim of this study is to evaluate the nasopharyngeal airway volumes of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) with different GOSLON scores.

Methods

The study sample consisted of 34 patients with UCLP and 20 controls with no cleft history. In the UCLP group, three experienced examiners used the GOSLON Yardstick to rate dental arch relationships, and the sample was divided into three groups as GOSLON 2 (G2) (n = 13), GOSLON 3 (G3) (n = 10), and GOSLON 4 (G4) (n = 11). Airway volumes were constructed using three-dimensional computed tomography data and divided into four compartments named the nasal airway, and superior, middle, and inferior pharyngeal airways.

Results

No statistically significant difference was detected among G2, G3, and G4 between the constitutive airway departments of the nasopharyngeal region. However, nasal airway volumes were significantly higher in the control group when compared with the UCLP group.

Discussion

Although there was no correlation among the investigated parameters, it is also a fact that airway capacities display a great variability among patients when investigated three dimensionally.

Conclusion

Although the severity of GOSLON scores might predetermine the extent of which the airways are affected from the cleft, a larger sample size is needed in future studies.