bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Spillover Effects of Focused Deterrence on Gang Violence
Authors: Braga Anthony A. , Apel Robert , Welsh Brandon C.
Published: February 2014

Background:

Focused deterrence strategies attempt to increase punishment risks faced by violent gangs through the development of new and creative ways of deploying traditional and non-traditional law enforcement tools. In addition to increasing the swiftness and certainty of sanctions, these strategies explicitly communicate incentives and disincentives to deter likely gang offenders from violent behavior.

Objective:

This study seeks to determine whether focused deterrence strategies generate spillover deterrent effects on the gun violence behaviors of vicariously treated gangs that were socially tied to directly treated violent gangs.

Research Design:

A nonrandomized quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate the gun violence reduction effects of focused deterrence strategies on directly treated gangs and vicariously treated gangs. Propensity score matching techniques were used to identify balanced comparison gangs for the vicariously treated gangs. Growth curve regression models were used to analyze gun violence trends for treated gangs relative to comparison gangs.

Unit of Analysis:

Quarterly counts of fatal and non-fatal shootings involving specific street gangs between 2006 and 2010 served as the units of analysis.

Measures:

Key outcome measures included quarterly shootings committed by specific gangs, shooting victimizations suffered by specific gangs, and the total number of shootings involving specific gangs.

Results:

The focused deterrence strategy was associated with statistically significant reductions in total shootings by directly treated gangs and vicariously treated gangs.

Conclusions:

Our study finds that vicariously treated gangs were deterred by the treatment experiences of their rivals and allies. This suggests that focused deterrence strategies can generate spillover crime reduction effects to gangs that are socially connected to directly treated gangs.
Music perception ability of children with executive function deficits
Authors: Lesiuk Teresa
Published: February 2014

This study examined differences in music perception between children with executive function deficits (EF deficits) and typically-developing children. The role of executive functions in music perception ability was also examined. Participants included 71 children (40 males), aged 9–11 years. The study utilized a between-subjects control group design in which executive functions were measured by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), and music perception ability was measured by several music listening tasks of tone and timing discrimination. The children with EF deficits performed significantly poorer than their typically-developing peers when discriminating between duration of tones and when discriminating between rhythm patterns. However, pitch and melodic perception did not show performance decrement. The executive function of working memory was the only independent predictor of duration and rhythm perception ability as shown in multiple regression models. In conclusion, there are significant differences in duration and rhythm perception ability between children with and without executive dysfunction. Moreover, music perception testing may serve as a potential measure of executive functions assessment, and given that improvements in working memory are desirable for children with EF deficits, music-based activities may be a promising medium for working memory intervention.
PACAP-38 infusion causes sustained vasodilation of the middle meningeal artery in the rat: Possible involvement of mast cells
Authors: Bhatt Deepak K , Gupta Saurabh , Olesen Jes , Jansen-Olesen Inger
Published: February 2014

Background:

In healthy human volunteers and in migraineurs, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-38 (PACAP-38) infusion caused sustained vasodilation of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) and an immediate as well as a delayed headache. All the study subjects experienced facial flushing. Mast cells (MCs) might have a role in the long-lasting effect of PACAP-38 infusion. We hypothesized that in mast cell-depleted (MCD) rats the vascular responses to PACAP-38 would be lesser than in control rats because of a lack of vasodilatory products released during MC degranulation.

Methods:

MCs were depleted by chronic treatment with compound 48/80. The effect of 20 minutes' intravenous (i.v.) infusion of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), PACAP-38, PACAP(6-38) (PAC-1 receptor antagonist) and PACAP-27 on the diameter of the MMA and on mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in control and MCD rats was recorded by using the genuine closed-cranial window (CCW) model. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) infusion was given only in control rats. A combination of the histamine H1 receptor antagonist mepyramine (4 mg kg−1 i.v.) and the H2 receptor antagonist famotidine (1 mg kg−1 i.v.) was given 10 minutes prior to PACAP-38 infusion. Increasing doses of PACAP-38, PACAP-27 and VIP were infused through the intracarotid artery (i.c.) in control and MCD rats to see the direct effects of these peptides on MMA diameter change.

Results:

There was no significant change in CGRP-induced MMA diameter increase in control and MCD rats, and the dilated MMA immediately returned back to baseline after stopping the infusion. The delayed MMA dilation induced by PACAP-38 was abolished in MCD and antihistamine (AH)-pretreated rats. Compared to PACAP-38, the PACAP-27 i.v. infusion gave smaller peak dilation of MMA in control rats. In MCD rats, PACAP-27 did not induce any significant dilation. VIP i.v. infusion reduced MABP but did not dilate MMA significantly. PACAP(6-38), which is a potent MC degranulator, also gave a significant delayed dilation of MMA. PACAP-38 i.c. responses (direct receptor mediated response) were not affected by MC depletion. Only the maximum response (% Emax) value of PACAP-27 (i.c.) was significantly lower in MCD rats compared to control rats.

Conclusions:

The delayed MMA dilatory responses to PACAP-38 infusion were attenuated in MCD and AH-pretreated rats, indicating a role of the MC mediator-histamine in PACAP-38-induced delayed dilation of MA.
Geometrical effects in the impact response of the aluminium honeycomb sandwich structures
Authors: Shen YO , Yang FJ , Cantwell WJ , Balawi S , Li Y
Published: February 2014

Low-velocity impact tests have been conducted on sandwich beams and panels based on [0°, 90°] glass fibre-reinforced epoxy skins with an aluminium honeycomb core. The sandwich beams were placed on simple supports positioned at different separations to investigate the effect of target size on their impact response. Two thicknesses (13 and 26 mm) of honeycomb core were investigated. Following impact, damage within the beams was assessed by sectioning the samples and observing them under a low-power microscope. An energy-balance model was used to predict the maximum impact force for subsequent comparison with the experimental results. The energy-balance model was used to partition the energy absorbed during the impact event, giving an understanding of the energy absorption process. Finally, a limited number of tests have been conducted on square sandwich panels in order to investigate the effect of impact loading on their indentation behaviour. An examination of the cross-sections of impacted samples highlighted regions of core buckling and local plastic folding. At higher energies, damage in the form of localized fibre fracture was observed in the top skin close to the point of impact. The energy-balance model predicted the elastic response of the sandwich beams with reasonable success. The accuracy of the model decreased as damage became more extensive in the beams. It has been shown that the level of permanent indentation in both the beams and the square panels collapsed onto a single curve when the data are plotted against maximum impact force.
Participatory Action Research and Its Meanings
Authors: Glassman Michael , Erdem Gizem
Published: February 2014

This article traces the development of the “second” and arguably more well-known “genre” of participatory action research (PAR). The article argues that the origins of PAR are highly distributed and cannot really be traced back to the ideas of a single person or even a single group of researchers. Instead, the development of PAR is tied to social movements of the 20th century, in particular land reform, anticolonialism, and need for a new research methodology, occurring simultaneously across multiple continents. The origins of PAR have little to do with the action research that developed in the United States. For that reason the PAR referent can sometimes be confusing or even misleading. We suggest that the second PAR also be recognized through its mirror concepts of vivencia, praxis, and conscientization—PAR/VPC. We discuss the core underpinnings of PAR/VPC and its evolution with strong ties to the sociopolitical context of developing societies and their fight for liberation. We also suggest our reflections of future of PAR/VPC with integration of feminist perspectives and inclusion of youth in the education movement.
The Prediction of Later Neurodevelopmental Status of Preterm Infants at Ages 7 to 10 Years Using the Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener
Authors: Soysal A. Sebnem , Gucuyener Kivilcim , Ergenekon Ebru , Turan Özden , Koc Esin , Turkyılmaz Canan , Önal Esra , Atalay Yıldız
Published: February 2014

The aim of this study was to see whether the scores of the Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener of 45 high-risk preterm infants (gestational age 26-37 wk) between the ages of 3 and 24 months predicted neurodevelopmental status at 7 to 10 years of age. Neurodevelopmental status of 45/122 preterm infants, grouped according to their gestational ages of 26 to 29, 30 to 32, and 33 to 37 weeks, were previously evaluated by Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener. The scores were categorized as low or high-moderate. Verbal and performance scores of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Revised (WISC-R) of those patients were assessed between 7 and 10 years. The patients with high-moderate-risk scores of Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener at all times, regardless of their gestational age, had lower performance, verbal, and total scores of WISC-R than those of who had low Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener risk scores. High-moderate risk score of Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener at 7 to 10, and 16 to 20 months, of all patients especially showed good prediction for identifying lower verbal and performance scales. For 7 to 10 months, verbal scale: positive predictive value = 92.3%, negative predictive value = 44.4%, sensitivity = 70.58%, and specificity = 80%; performance scale: positive predictive value = 100%, negative predictive value = 30%, sensitivity = 68.18%, and specificity = 100%. For 16 to 20 months, verbal scale: positive predictive value = 90%, negative predictive value = 37.5%, sensitivity = 64.3%, and specificity = 80%; performance scale: positive predictive value = 90%, negative predictive value = 12.5%, sensitivity = 56.3%, and specificity = 50%. Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener shows good prediction of later verbal and performance scores of Wechsler Intelligence Scale–Revised for Children as early as 7 to 10 months, which gives us the opportunity to start early intervention.
Anti-N-Methyl-d-Aspartate (Anti-NMDA) Receptor Encephalitis
Authors: Türkdoğan Dilşad , Orengul A. Cahid , Zaimoğlu Sennur , Ekinci Gazanfer
Published: February 2014

Anti- N-methyl-d-aspartate (anti-NMDA) receptor encephalitis is an autoimmune/paraneoplastic encephalitis, with neurologic and psychiatric symptoms. Early and aggressive therapy has been shown to improve prognosis although problems with executive functions and memory have continued for several years. A 15-year-old girl had a history of initial symptoms including behavioral difficulties, poor attention, and frequent seizures progressing to a catatonia-like state, 2.5 months after onset of initial symptoms. Anti–NMDA receptor antibodies were detected in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Subsequent to treatment with methylprednisolone starting 3 months after onset, motor skills, responsiveness, self-care, and speech improved rapidly. Her neuropsychologica profile assessed after 2 months showed global difficulties predominantly in attention, executive functions, memory, and visual perception, which moderately recovered in the 7th and 24th months, respectively. Contrary to current literature supporting the positive impact of early immunomodulatory therapy, a dramatic resolution of major neurologic and psychiatric symptoms was detected with steroid treatment given in the late phase.
Longitudinally Extensive Optic Neuritis in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Graves Jennifer , Kraus Verena , Soares Bruno P. , Hess Christopher P. , Waubant Emmanuelle
Published: February 2014

Extensive optic nerve demyelinating lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in adults could indicate a diagnosis other than multiple sclerosis with worse prognosis such as neuromyelitis optica. We report the frequency of longitudinally extensive lesions in children with first events of optic neuritis. Subjects had brain or orbit MRI within 3 months of onset and were evaluated at the University of California, San Francisco, Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center. Lesion length, determined by T2 hyperintensity or contrast enhancement, was blindly graded as absent, focal or longitudinally extensive (at least 2 contiguous segments of optic nerve). Of 25 subjects, 9 (36%) had longitudinally extensive optic neuritis. Extensive lesions were not associated with non–multiple sclerosis versus multiple sclerosis diagnosis ( P = 1.00). No association between age and lesion extent was observed ( P = .26). Prospective studies are needed to determine if longitudinally extensive optic neuritis can predict visual outcome.
Congenital Dermal Sinus Tract of the Spine
Authors: Mete Mesut , Umur Ahmet Sukru , Duransoy Yusuf Kurtuluş , Barutçuoğlu Mustafa , Umur Nurcan , Gurgen Seren Gulsen , Selçuki Mehmet
Published: February 2014

Congenital dermal sinus tract is a rare entity which lined by epithelial cells and can end anywhere between subcutaneous planes to thecal sac. These tracts may be accompanied with other pathologies such as lipomyelomeningocele, myelomeningocele, split cord malformation, tethered cord, filum abnormality and inclusion tumors and treatment includes resection of tract with intradural exploration. The authors review their experience with 16 cases. Clinical, radiological appearance and treatment of these lesions discussed with literature review.
Detection of Intragenic SMN1 Mutations in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Patients With a Single Copy of SMN1
Authors: Ganji Hamid , Nouri Nayereh , Salehi Mansoor , Aryani Omid , Houshmand Massoud , Basiri Keivan , Fazel-Najafabadi Esmat , Sedghi Maryam
Published: February 2014

Proximal spinal muscular atrophy is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by symmetrical muscle weakness due to degeneration of alpha motor neurons in the spinal cord. Homozygous deletions in the SMN1 have been reported in more than 90% of spinal muscular atrophy cases. Compound heterozygous patients account for approximately 4% of spinal muscular atrophy cases. In this study, we performed a quantitative test in 20 of 87 spinal muscular atrophy patients who did not have homozygous deletion of SMN1. Mutation screening of SMN1 gene was performed in 4 patients who have only 1 copy of SMN1 to identify intragenic mutations. In addition to a previously described missense mutation in exon 4 (p.A188S/ c.562G>T), we identified 2 novel mutations including a single nucleotide insertion in exon 7 (c.861_862insT/p.R288X) and a deletion of nucleotide G in exon 3 (c.286delG/p.D96Tfs*53). Our results suggested that about 4% of spinal muscular atrophy patients have subtle mutations and might be considered in laboratory examination.
Toe Walking in Autism
Authors: Accardo Pasquale J. , Barrow William
Published: February 2014

Toe walking has been associated with language disorders and autism. To better understand the association between persistent toe walking and sensory and motor variables in children with autism, the degree of toe walking was compared with an estimate of the severity of sensory integration dysfunction symptoms and the presence of residual components of the tonic labyrinthine in supine reflex pattern in 61 children younger than 37 months of age with newly diagnosed autism. There was no association between the presence of toe walking and sensory symptoms ( P = .5298) or language age ( P = .6142), but there was an association between toe walking and the presence of components of the tonic labyrinthine reflex ( P = .04222). These preliminary results support the contribution of subtle motor deficits to the evolution of some behaviors associated with autism.
Managing Change With a Time-Tested Organic Model
Authors: Bhattacharyya Dipak Kumar
Published: February 2014

Change in organization is a continuous process. With success in one change effort, organization has to go for successive changes. We categorize organizational change, depending on its nature and scope, into two types: transactional and transformational. Transactional changes are specific to some issues, such as change in performance management systems, a particular work process or systems, compensation policies and so on. Transformational changes are more holistic as major changes in the organization may be required. Managing a transactional change issue or issues may not require us to face major problems, when it is rational or legitimate. But a transformational change issue requires us to make effective use of change strategies, aligning with our people and organization, and it is more a long-term project. Reflecting on experience in managing change and organizational development, this article illustrates an organic model of change. The author had used this model in large- and small and medium–scale enterprises with success and had experienced it as dynamic and evolving. The author recommends a cross-country evaluation of the organic model for further validation.
Identifying Antecedents of Risky Appearance Management Behaviors
Authors: Johnson Kim K. P. , Kim Eundeok , Lee Ji Young , Kim Angella J.
Published: February 2014

Acts of appearance management include a range of activities to control the presentation of the body that one makes to self and to others. Appearance management behaviors (AMBs) can be divided into two categories: risky and non-risky. Risky AMBs can all be linked to some threat to health if engaged in for extended periods of time. We investigated body-related variables predicting engagement in three specific categories (i.e., cosmetic procedures, extreme dieting, use of diet aids) of risky AMBs with female undergraduates from the U.S. ( n = 349) and from South Korea ( n = 338). The predictor variables were objectified body consciousness (OBC) and body image investment (BII). Mediating variables investigated were body comparison (BC) and body satisfaction (BS). Across all risky AMBs investigated and with participants from both countries, as BC increased, BS decreased. Similarly, OBC and BII significantly predicted BC for both groups of women. For Korean women, OBC predicted engagement in cosmetic procedure and extreme dieting through BC. For U.S. women, OBC and BII predicted extreme dieting and use of diet pills through BS. Further, there was a difference between the two countries in terms of the specific risky AMBs engaged in. Korean participants engaged in cosmetic procedures followed by extreme dieting. U.S. participants engaged in the use of diet aids followed by extreme dieting.
For Rule of Law, Political Plurality, and a Just Society
Authors: Havlík Vlastimil , Hrubeš Milan , Pecina Marek
Published: February 2014

The President of the Czech Republic has few opportunities to actively intervene in the legislative process and express his opinion on the current situation, except for one: the power to veto laws. It is one of the most important powers belonging to the Czech Republic’s head of state, through which the president is able to influence the results of the legislative process. According to the Czech constitution, the veto must be accompanied by a written explanation, which gives the president an extraordinary opportunity to express his own view of not only the particular law being vetoed but the general political situation and direction of the country. The importance of the reasoning is greater if the state is headed by a strong figure with a clear vision of how society should function. The first Czech president, Václav Havel, was undoubtedly such a figure. This study will bring a qualitative analysis of Václav Havel’s veto reasonings, and point out how he systematically based his argumentation on three principles: rule of law, political plurality, and a just (humane) society.
Tu sabes que somos de calle
Authors: Joanou Jamie Patrice
Published: February 2014

Drawing from eleven months of ethnographic fieldwork, this article examines the distinctive interplay between the urban landscape, children living on the street, and outreach organizations in the downtown area of Lima, Peru. Outreach organizations, discourses surrounding children on the street, and research play a significant role in shaping the streetscape, and in the creation and maintenance of a street child identity. Merging Soja’s theory of Thirdsapce with theories of identity development and performance, I examine the lives of adolescents on the street and the spaces in which children explore, adopt, and develop an attachment to street life and a street child identity.
Women’s Political Engagement in a Mexican Sending Community
Authors: Andrews Abigail
Published: February 2014

Early research suggested that migration changed gender roles by offering women new wages and exposing them to norms of gender equity. Increasingly, however, scholars have drawn attention to the role of structural factors, such as poverty and undocumented status, in mediating the relationship between migration and gender. This article takes such insights a step further by showing that migrant communities’ reactions to structural marginality—and their efforts to build alternatives in their home villages—may also draw women into new gender roles. I demonstrate this mechanism through the case of San Miguel, a Mixtec sending community in Southern Mexico where, in the context of U.S. migration, once-excluded women came to predominate in civic affairs. In response to harsh conditions in the United States, migrants from San Miguel returned to their village. To make this economically feasible, they sought state development resources. Men, who often stayed in the United States as breadwinners, relied on sympathetic women back in the sending community to advocate on their behalf. Meanwhile, women’s own rejection of migrant life gave them new interest in sustaining their village. For both, incorporating women into politics offered a strategy to secure needed resources and avoid assimilating into an undocumented underclass.
Strategic Internal Communication
Authors: Men Linjuan Rita
Published: February 2014

The current study investigates how leadership influences internal public relations by building the linkage between transformational leadership, the use of communication channels, symmetrical communication, and employee satisfaction. Furthermore, it examines the effectiveness of various internal communication channels. Through a web survey of 400 employees working in medium-sized and large corporations in the United States, the study showed that transformational leadership positively influences the organization’s symmetrical internal communication and employee relational satisfaction. Transformational leaders most often use information-rich face-to-face channels to communicate with followers. Leaders’ use of face-to-face channels is positively associated with employee satisfaction. Employees mostly prefer emails to receive information from the organization regarding new decisions, policies, events, or changes, followed by general employee meetings and interpersonal communication with managers. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
An integrated systematic investigation of the process variables on surface generation in abrasive flow machining of titanium alloy 6Al4V
Authors: Howard Mitchell , Cheng Kai
Published: February 2014

This article presents an integrated and systematic investigation into the interaction and effects of the abrasive flow machining factors, through its three major process variables of the media velocity, temperature and quantity, which play an essential role in interfacing the ‘machine’ with ‘workpiece’ and ‘media’ corners of the abrasive flow machining triangle. The article also presents predictive models, main effects and industrially useful rule-of-thumb tools. Collectively, these variables offer machine operators the ability to manipulate the process behaviour when the opportunity to modify geometry and media levels is unavailable. In the media and geometry corners of the triangle, capital expenditure is required to adjust levels, making them economically and temporally limiting. The machine adjustments are physically limited by the hardware in use; however, this research finds that the range of response magnitude can vary significantly among the three process outcomes studied, that is, surface roughness, material removal and peak height reduction. Using a standard media and testpiece set-up, data are collected using a 33 full factorial experiment design and translated into a response surface design (Box–Behnken) for predictive model development. Application to oil and gas industry parts is shown whereby data are utilised to aid in the abrasive flow machining of production parts.
Comparison of the vibration sensors used in the estimation of the combustion process in a diesel engine
Authors: Shaobo Ji , Yong Cheng , Wanyou Huang , Minli Huang
Published: February 2014

The vibration signal measured from the cylinder head contains much effective information about the combustion process. The vibration signal can be measured with a vibration displacement sensor, a vibration velocity sensor or a vibration acceleration sensor. In this study the signals measured with the three sensors were compared. The comparison results showed that the vibration displacement measured from the cylinder head is mainly caused by the fixed bracket of the diesel engine, and it is difficult to extract combustion information from the vibration displacement. The vibration velocity signal was compared with the pressure increase rate. The comparison results showed that the two signals have similar trends in the main combustion process. The vibration velocity signal contains much information about combustion. The vibration acceleration signal is hardly influenced by the fixed bracket but contains the vibration response excited by the impact of the opening and closing of the valves and other impact-exciting sources. Based on the results of analyses, it can be concluded that the vibration velocity sensor is the best sensor to estimate the combustion process. The vibration velocity signal was used to estimate the timing of the start of combustion for a two-cylinder homogeneous charge compression ignition engine. The results demonstrated that the accuracy of estimation fulfils the requirement of the application.
Instantaneous optimal regenerative braking control for a permanent-magnet synchronous motor in a four-wheel-drive electric vehicle
Authors: Lu Dongbin , Ouyang Minggao , Gu Jing , Li Jianqiu
Published: February 2014

Recovering the kinetic energy of a vehicle is one inherent advantage of an electric vehicle. A permanent-magnet synchronous motor is widely adopted for the traction motor in an electric vehicle with the advantage of a high efficiency and a high torque density. The principle for electric braking control of the permanent-magnet synchronous motor under field-oriented control is studied. The efficiency model of the electric drive system, which is different from that of the internal-combustion engine drive system, can be exactly described by analytical equations. On this basis, the battery power can be expressed as a function of the angular velocity and the electromagnetic torque of the motor. By solving the partial differential equation for the battery power, the instantaneous optimal regenerative braking torque of the permanent-magnet synchronous motor is simply calculated according to the vehicle braking torque demand and the motor speed. Compared with the existing efficiency map method, the analytical technology is easily implemented. Then a four-wheel-drive electric vehicle is investigated to achieve optimal regenerative braking control. The dynamic behaviour of braking in the four-wheel-drive electric vehicle is also considered. The parallel braking pattern and the series braking pattern are investigated in order to evaluate the availability of braking energy recovery. The instantaneous optimal regeneration energy can be recovered for the series braking system, and a significant amount of energy can be recovered for the parallel braking system by adjusting the free travel of the brake pedal.
Road-model-based and graph-structure-based hierarchical path-planning approach for autonomous vehicles
Authors: Kim Junsoo , Jo Kichun , Chu Keonyup , Sunwoo Myoungho
Published: February 2014

This paper presents a path-planning strategy for autonomous vehicles which aims to provide safe and feasible manoeuvres in various driving environments. Our strategy uses a hierarchical architecture which consists of three components: a behaviour planner, a map and path selector and a local-path planner. The behaviour planner performs the rule-based decision process which determines the overall vehicle manoeuvres. The map and path selector preprocesses perception data and chooses a local-path-planning algorithm using the results of the behaviour planner. From this selection, the local-path planner generates a driveable and collision-free path. For reliable path generation under various driving conditions, the proposed local path planner employs two algorithms: a road-model-based path planning algorithm and a graph-structure-based path-planning algorithm. The former is used for structured road driving, such as lane keeping or changing, and the latter is used for unstructured road driving. The proposed hierarchical path-planning algorithm was implemented in the autonomous vehicle called A1, which was applied with an in-vehicle-network-based distributed system architecture. A1 won the 2012 Autonomous Vehicle Competition organized by the Hyundai Motor Group in Korea.
Optimal control for far-distance rapid cooperative rendezvous
Authors: Feng Wei-ming , Ren Fei , Shi Lei
Published: February 2014

This study investigated the far-distance cooperative rendezvous problem for two spacecrafts. The orbital dynamics equations were represented based on the orbital elements with an improved vernal equinox and were normalized. Pontryagin’s extremum principle was introduced into the dynamics equations and the co-state equations were obtained. A performance evaluation function was created by particle swarm optimization algorithm based on simulated annealing. The convergent co-state initial vector was obtained using an improved particle swarm optimization algorithm. The initial vector was set as the initial value for optimization and a rapid small-population genetic algorithm was applied, before the approximate global optimum was obtained rapidly. The fine adjustment of the search process was performed based on sequential quadratic programming and the results were sufficiently precise. The process of optimization was simulated for problems that involved far-distance coplanar cooperative rendezvous and active-passive rendezvous, which showed that cooperative rendezvous had more advantages than active-passive rendezvous in terms of fuel saving and time.
Effect of operating parameters on the removal of bone cement by a sawing process
Authors: James Thomas P , Sheehan Brian , Sagar Amrit
Published: February 2014

The number of total knee arthroplasty revision surgeries is increasing each year, driven by the wide availability and general acceptance of the procedure accompanied by an aging population of implants. Metal implants are often secured to the tibial plateau by a mantle of poly(methyl methacrylate) bone cement. During revision surgery, a power oscillating saw is used to remove bone cement while preparing the boney bed. Presently, there are no published studies on the mechanics of bone cement removal by a sawing process. The aim of this research was to quantify the effect of blade speed and applied thrust force on the volumetric cutting rate of bone cement. A custom reciprocating saw with variable stroke length was used to conduct a three-factor design of experiments. Two levels, without center-points, were sufficient to model the effect of stroke length (6.75, 10.13 mm), thrust force (11, 19 N), and reciprocating speed in strokes per minute (6000, 8000 SPM) on cutting rate. The results indicate that each of the three parameters had a significant impact on cutting rate (p < 0.001), with a linear relationship between both force and cutting rate (r = 0.98) and blade speed and cutting rate (r = 0.98). For the parameters considered, increasing the reciprocating speed had the most significant effect on cutting rate. For example, while holding force and stroke length constant (11 N, 10.13 mm), an increase in speed from 6000 to 8000 SPM nearly doubled the cutting rate of bone cement. A cutting rate model was developed by regression analysis of the experimental data and validated through additional experiments. The model has applications in haptic feedback for surgical simulators to differentiate between the cutting rates of bone and bone cement during virtual training of resident surgeons.
The influence of condenser pressure variation and tip leakage on low pressure steam turbine exhaust hood flows
Authors: Burton Zoe , Ingram GL , Hogg Simon
Published: February 2014

This paper aims to highlight the importance of the accurate computational modelling of both the inlet and outlet exhaust hood boundary conditions. The computations presented are calculated using the public domain low pressure exhaust diffuser test case proposed by Burton in 2012. The original test case did not include the effect of tip leakage on diffuser flows, but this paper describes the inclusion of tip leakage and the results are shown to be in line with the outputs produced by other authors. The key advance in this paper is that calculations were conducted with a representative condenser pressure gradient caused by the temperature variation inside the condenser tube nest. It is shown that accurately modelling the exit boundary calculation has a large influence on the flow structure and a smaller influence on the pressure recovery inside the exhaust diffuser. This influence is smaller than that seen by other authors when including unsteady effects or accounting for the circumferential non-uniformity of the turbine exit flow but will need to be included in design calculations as diffuser design advances.
All stabilizing sets for proportional–integral controller of high-order delay processes
Authors: Wang Honghai , Liu Jianchang , Yang Feisheng , Zhang Yu
Published: February 2014

This article considers the problem of determining the complete stabilizing set of proportional–integral controllers, which is applied in a class of high-order processes with time delay in complex-frequency domain. First, we give a necessary condition for a proportional–integral controller to stabilize the process with certain constant delay using Descartes’ rule of signs. Then by employing the generalization of the Hermite–Biehler theorem applicable to quasi-polynomials, a complete set for all stabilizing proportional–integral parameters is derived to stabilize the open-loop stable and unstable systems. In the case of uncertain time delay, we provide a design approach to stabilize the related plant with a robust proportional–integral controller, where the unknown but constant time delay lies inside a known interval. Three examples illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed results.
Drone strikes, dingpolitik and beyond: Furthering the debate on materiality and security
Authors: Walters William
Published: February 2014

Recent scholarship in critical security studies argues that matter matters because it is not an inert backdrop to social life but lively, affectively laden, active in the constitution of subjects, and capable of enabling and constraining security practices and processes. This article seeks to further the debate about materiality and security. Its main claim is that materials-oriented approaches to security typically focus on the place of materials and objects within technologies and assemblages of governance. Less often do they ask how materials and objects become entangled in political controversies, and how objects mediate issues of public concern. To bring publics and contentious politics more fully into the debate about the matter of security, the article engages with Latour’s work on politics, publics and things – or dingpolitik. It then connects the theme of dingpolitik to a particular controversy: Human Rights Watch’s investigation of Gaza civilians allegedly killed by Israeli drone-launched missiles in 2008–2009. Drawing three lessons from this case, the article explores how further conversation between dingpolitik and security studies can be mutually beneficial for both literatures.
A Comprehensive Approach to Risk Reduction for Asian and Pacific Islander American Women With HIV/AIDS
Authors: Sabato Todd M.
Published: February 2014

As HIV incidence rises globally, Asian and Pacific Islander communities are increasingly affected. While often overlooked, Asian and Pacific Islander American women have shown the greatest percentage increase in HIV diagnosis rates. The development of a multilevel and multistrategy approach to HIV/AIDS education, prevention, and treatment among Asian and Pacific Islander females requires health care providers to identify personal and cultural barriers to prevention and treatment and implement culturally sensitive and specific measures. The purpose of this article is to illuminate barriers to HIV-related prevention, treatment, and care among Asian and Pacific Islander American females and provide practical application-based suggestions for providers, which may enhance Asian and Pacific Islander female inclusion in comprehensive HIV prevention.
Policy Implications of High School Reform on College and Career Readiness of Youth With Disabilities
Authors: Fowler Catherine H. , Test David W. , Cease-Cook Jennifer , Toms Ozalle , Bartholomew Audrey , Scroggins La’Shawndra
Published: February 2014

High school redesign (HSR) efforts currently focus on helping schools prepare all students to be college and career ready. As these initiatives are provided within the context of high schools, students with Individualized Education Programs are impacted by any effort to reform high schools. As a result, policies designed to improve the college and a career readiness (CCR) of all students should simultaneously improve the CCR of students with disabilities. The purpose of this article is to briefly describe current broad initiatives in high school reform and discuss implications for federal, state, and local policy to enable students with disabilities to fully participate in high school reforms designed to ensure that all students graduate college and are career ready.
Unintended Effects of an Intervention Supporting Mexican-Heritage Youth
Authors: Williams Lela Rankin , Marsiglia Flavio F. , Baldwin Adrienne , Ayers Stephanie
Published: February 2014

Objective:

To assess the impact of a parenting intervention, Familias: Preparando la Nueva Generación (FPNG), intended to support children, on parents heavy drinking. We hypothesized that parent participants of FPNG would reduce their heavy drinking at 1-year follow-up.

Methods:

Parents ( N = 281) of middle school children from a large, low-income metropolitan area in the Southwest United States participated in a randomized control trial over 2 years.

Results:

A logistic regression analysis using the maximum likelihood test determined that at Wave 3, parents receiving FPNG reduced heavy drinking behaviors compared to parents in the youth-only condition (odds ratio = .86, p < .05).

Conclusions:

Participating in the parenting program can effectively curb heavy drinking behaviors in parents—an important mechanism through which one may expect changes in youth risk behavior. The practice, policy, and research implications of these unintended findings are promising to the overall effectiveness of a parenting intervention for Mexican-heritage families.
Pursuing and Adjusting to Engineering Majors
Authors: Miller Matthew J. , Lent Robert W. , Lim Robert H. , Hui Kayi , Martin Helena M. , Jezzi Matthew M. , Bryan Nicole A. , Morrison Marylee A. , Smith Paige E. , Watford Bevlee , Wilkins Gregory , Williams Kevin
Published: February 2014

This study extends prior social cognitive career theory research by using discovery methods to examine factors that (a) facilitate and hinder first-year students’ adjustment to engineering majors and (b) inform their self-efficacy beliefs and outcome expectations regarding pursuit of engineering careers. Participant responses to a series of open-ended questions were coded and interpreted using content analysis and consensual qualitative research methods. Participants reported experiencing several types of academic, social, and financial hurdles during their first semester. They also described factors that facilitated their academic progress—such as university programs, social support from peers, and development of personal resources—and cited other resources that, if available, could have further assisted their adjustment. In addition, participants identified experiential sources of self-efficacy and outcome expectations relative to completing an engineering degree. Gender and racial group differences in coping resources and sources of self-efficacy beliefs and outcome expectations were examined.
From a Collection of Identities to Collective Identity
Authors: Dimitrova Radosveta , Chasiotis Athanasios , Bender Michael , van de Vijver Fons J. R.
Published: February 2014

We studied collective identity and psychological well-being in Bulgarian adolescents (305 mainstreamers, 278 Turkish-Bulgarians, and 183 Muslim-Bulgarians). Turkish-Bulgarian and Muslim-Bulgarian minorities (ethnic Bulgarians converted to Islam during the Ottoman Empire) have been subjected to severe assimilation policies until recently. A multigroup confirmatory analysis showed that ethnic, religious, and familial identities were significantly and positively related to a single underlying factor we labeled collective identity. Bulgarian identity was unrelated to collective identity in the Turkish-Bulgarian group. As expected, mainstream adolescents showed a stronger Bulgarian and weaker religious identity than Turkish-Bulgarian and Muslim-Bulgarian adolescents. In all groups, individuals with a stronger collective identity reported higher levels of well-being. We conclude that the concept of collective identity is useful to link various identity components to well-being of youth from different ethnic groups.
Perceived Competence and Benevolence of Political Institutions as Culturally Universal Facilitators of Political Trust
Authors: Kong Dejun Tony
Published: February 2014

Political trust is important to any culture, but there has been a noticeable decline in political trust around the world. In search for the origin of political trust and ways to enhance political trust, institutional theorists have largely focused on perceived competence of political institutions in Western democracies and neglected another dimension of political institutions’ character—benevolence. The lack of empirical evidence from Arab countries also raises questions about the generalizability of the institutional theories developed in Western democracies. Following previous research on legal institutions, I extended institutional theories of political trust and found that both perceived competence and benevolence of political institutions facilitated political trust in Arab countries, using the archival data from the Arab-Barometer (2006-2007). Given the limited research on political trust in Arab countries or authoritarian regimes and the ongoing search for a global, multilevel theory of trust, the current research makes a contribution to the literatures on political trust and trust at large.
Prototypical Anger Components
Authors: Fernandez Itziar , Carrera Pilar , Paez Dario , Alonso-Arbiol Itziar , Campos Miryam , Basabe Nekane
Published: February 2014

This study explored the effects of psychological and cultural variables on self-reported emotional prototypes of anger. Eight anger components were examined using a multilevel analysis. Competitiveness, interdependence, gender, instrumentality, and expressivity were entered as individual variables, and individualism/collectivism, masculinity/femininity, and the Human Development Index (HDI) were entered as cultural variables. All highlight the importance of considering simultaneously the individual and social levels, with a view to gaining more in-depth knowledge of the emotions. Data were collected among 5,006 college students from 25 countries. Being female, instrumentality, HDI, and the interaction between country-level HDI competitiveness predicted internal processes and behavioral outcomes of anger prototypes. Expressivity, instrumentality, country-level masculinity, and the interaction between gender and country-level masculinity predicted self-control mechanisms of anger prototypes. It is concluded that salient differences in anger prototypes can be found at both individual and country level, and that interaction effects of HDI with individual variables are essential in understanding anger prototypes.
Portrayals of Technoscience in Video Games
Authors: Dudo Anthony , Cicchirillo Vincent , Atkinson Lucy , Marx Samantha
Published: February 2014

Given the proliferation of video games and their potential to contribute to informal science learning and perception formation, we provide an assessment of how commercial video games portray technoscience. Our examination was guided by theories commonly applied in studies of entertainment media’s contributions to public understanding of science. Results indicate that technoscience and its practitioners are common fixtures within video games and that their presence is often conspicuous and enthusiastic. Our findings challenge common assumptions about the treatment of science in media and compel research examining the role of informal gaming in cultivating future generations of scientists.
Evaluation of Pediatric Bleeding Questionnaire in Turkish Children With Von Willebrand Disease and Platelet Function Disorders
Authors: Belen Burcu , Kocak Ulker , Isik Melek , Keskin Ebru Yilmaz , Oner Nergiz , Sal Ertan , Kaya Zuhre , Yenicesu Idil , Gursel Turkiz
Published: February 2014

The diagnosis of mild bleeding disorders is not easy as most of the “healthy” individuals also report bleeding symptoms. In order to get a precise bleeding history, Pediatric Bleeding Questionnaire (PBQ) has been developed. In our study, Turkish children diagnosed with Von Willebrand disease (VWD), platelet function defect (PFD), and healthy children without any symptoms (control group 1) and healthy children with symptoms but found hemostatically normal (control group 2) were analyzed with PBQ. The cut off level for “positive bleeding score” was found to be ≥2 (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.785, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.718-0.852). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of PBQ to define VWD versus control group 1 was 100%, 97.4%, 96.4%, and 100%; VWD versus control group 2 was 100%, 53.1%, 64.3%, and 100%; PFD versus control group 1 was 93.3%, 53.1%, 73.7%, and 85%; and PFD versus control group 2 was 93.3%, 53.1%, 73.7%, and 85%, respectively.