bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leader or Guide? A Response to R.M. Billow’s ‘Relational Group Psychotherapy: An Overview. Part III: Modes of Therapeutic Leadership’, September 2017
Authors: Tubert Oklander Juan
Published: August 2017

Richard Billow’s review of relational group psychotherapy has been divided into three parts, on account of its length, but it is really an organic whole. It is a valuable summary of his theoretical and technical position on group psychotherapy, but it differs significantly from that of group analysis, since it is more psychoanalytic than group-analytic. The main difference is that the author conceives the conductor as a leader and advocates the need for his constant presence from a central position. Group analysis, instead, poses that the conductor should strive to leave his initial central position and help the group to become group-centred and take over the functions he initially performed. The conductor in group analysis is not a leader, but a guide, a coach, or a midwife who accompanies and cares for a natural process. These differences in conception and overall strategy are extensively discussed. Nonetheless, Billow’s presentation has many valuable contributions on the technical level.
The Work of Trigant Burrow and Homophobia as a Social Image
Authors: Hengstberger Peter
Published: August 2017

This article attempts to present some of the concepts developed by Trigant Burrow during the first half of the 20th-century. He wrote prolifically on psychoanalysis and extended his research and writing to the analysis of divisions within groups and society. Three concepts are examined (social image, ‘I’-persona, and the principle of primary identification) and used to explore the origins of the personal and social problem of homophobia in contemporary western society. From this perspective, homophobia can be understood as a group process.
The code for success? Using a Bernsteinian perspective on sociolinguistics to accentuate working-class students’ underachievement in the Republic of Ireland
Authors: Skerritt Craig
Published: August 2017

Educational disadvantage has been a long-standing issue in Ireland, and since the 2006/07 academic year, schools recognised as serving disadvantaged areas receive DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) status and subsequent additional funding, resources, and staffing allocations. Studies on DEIS schools usually report the traditional challenges associated with the lower classes when identifying problems schools face: unemployment in the community, a lack of parental interest, involvement and support, absenteeism, behavioural and emotional difficulties, dysfunction among students’ families, etc. while the theme of sociolinguistics and the linguistic repertoire of working class students receives little to no attention. Drawing on Basil Bernstein’s theory of code, this paper outlines the discontinuities that exist between the language of working-class children and the language of the school as a formal institution, which is a salient issue in the context of the Irish education system as it is particularly focused around strong linguistic skills at the expense of other forms of intelligence. This paper therefore highlights the role sociolinguistics play in hindering the academic attainment of working-class students in Irish schools, and explains why this theme has not traditionally surfaced as a detrimental factor in Irish education.
Impact of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Admission on Family Financial Status and Productivity: A Pilot Study
Authors: Clark Maureen E. , Cummings Brian M. , Kuhlthau Karen , Frassica Natalie , Noviski Natan
Published: August 2017

Objective:

A child’s pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission may have wide-ranging family implications. We assessed nonmedical out-of-pocket expenses (NMOOPEs) and disruptions in work and normal life for parents with a child admitted to the PICU for at least 2 days with acute, new onset, or exacerbation of a critical condition.

Design:

We conducted a prospective, single-center study; administered a daily verbal response survey on NMOOPEs; stratified families by annual income (<$50 999, $51-99 000, >$100 000); and calculated daily expenditures (DEs), estimated daily budgets (DBs), and percentage of NMOOPEs (%DE/DB). We used a modified caregiver version of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Scale to assess the impact of PICU admission on work-related and normal life activities.

Setting:

The PICU in an academic, tertiary medical center in the United States.

Patients:

Patients admitted to PICU.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

The study included 38 families, with median length of PICU stay of 3 days (range 3-13). The mean total NMOOPE was $127 ± $107 (range $5-$511). Financial impact of DB in the 3 annual income groups ranged from 0% to 136% (median 36%), 5% to 18% (median 10%), and 4% to 39% (median 16%), respectively. Total work absenteeism for cohort was 78 days. High levels of distraction were reported in working families, and normal daily activities were interrupted or suspended.

Conclusions:

PICU hospitalization results in a range of direct NMOOPEs of varying burden on families and additional work productivity impact. Further research to understand the array of financial implications on families and additional mitigation strategies are needed.
Backing up digital preservation practice with empirical research
Authors: Kay Gareth , Coufal Libor , Pearson Mark
Published: August 2017

This article introduces the National Library of Australia’s Digital Preservation Knowledge Base which helps the Library to manage digital objects from its collections over the long term. The Knowledge Base includes information on file formats, rendering software, operating systems, hardware and, most importantly, the relationships between them. Most of the work on the Knowledge Base over the last few years has been focused on the mapping of functional relationships between file formats, their versions and software applications. The information is gathered through unique empirical research and is initially being recorded in a multiple-worksheet Excel file in a semi-structured format, though development of a prototype graph database is underway.
Renal outcome after kidney-transplantation in Korean patients with lupus nephritis
Authors: Park E S , Ahn S S , Jung S M , Song J J , Park Y-B , Lee S-W
Published: August 2017

We investigated renal outcome of kidney-transplantation in 19 Korean recipients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis and compared it with 18 Korean age- and gender-matched recipients without lupus nephritis who were diagnosed with end-stage renal disease caused by renal diseases other than lupus nephritis in a single centre. We reviewed histological findings of kidneys and calculated cumulative dose of immunosuppressive agents. We assessed renal flare of systemic lupus erythematosus, recurrence of lupus nephritis and graft failure as prognosis. The mean age of recipients with lupus nephritis was 43.5 years and all patients were female. Six patients had class III, 10 had class IV and three had class V. There were no meaningful differences in demographic data, renal replacement modality, cumulative doses of immunosuppressants and prognosis between recipients with and without lupus nephritis. Eight patients experienced renal flare of systemic lupus erythematosus, but there were no cases of recurrence of lupus nephritis or graft failure in recipients with lupus nephritis. Kidney-recipients with class IV lupus nephritis exhibited a lower cumulative renal flare of systemic lupus erythematosus free survival rate than those with class III lupus nephritis. In conclusion, renal outcome of kidney-transplantation in patients with lupus nephritis is similar to that in those without lupus nephritis, and class IV was associated with renal flare of systemic lupus erythematosus.
The ‘Ombuds Watchers’
Authors: Gill Chris , Creutzfeldt Naomi
Published: August 2017

This article examines the phenomenon of the ‘ombuds watchers’. These are groups of dissatisfied users of public service ombuds schemes who engage in legal protest against the current system of redress for citizen-state complaints. Through the lens of legal consciousness scholarship we propose a framework that conceptualizes the collectivized protest of the ombuds watchers. Based on an empirical dataset, our analysis shows that the ombuds watchers meet each of the defining characteristics of dissenting collectivism and demonstrates the existence of forms of legal consciousness which present ‘opportunities to build alternative imaginaries and institutions’. Our case study provides an insight into the potential for dissenting collectives to challenge the hegemonic structures of state law, while at the same time emphasising the continuing power of legal ideology in shaping popular understandings of justice. The article also suggests a pathway for future empirical research into user experiences of justice systems.
Analysing India’s Soft Power Functioning in the Twenty-first Century: Possibilities and Challenges
Authors: Khanna Shrey , Moorthy P.
Published: August 2017

The first decade of the twenty-first century saw the chants of the rise of an Indian superpower. These claims of the twenty-first century as India’s century were not only based on the massive economic growth that the country saw in the post-1991 liberalisation period, and the concomitant boost in military infrastructure, but also by virtue of its having the biggest functional democracy, an influential multi-million plus diaspora, the sway of Bollywood in the region and abroad and the spectacular religious-linguistic diversity of the country. From conducting mega disaster-relief operations during the 2004 tsunami to effectuating the world’s largest civil evacuation during Operation Rahat, India has ceaselessly augmented its soft power potential to project its national power in the region. This article is an attempt to analyse the possibilities and challenges that India faces in the effective functioning of its soft power in the region. It also remarks as to how India’s soft power limitations can be quashed by integrating a smart power approach in its foreign policy by strengthening existent digital and public diplomacy infrastructure.
The rationality of belief change and the unexpected effects of a conflict of values
Authors: Sauvayre Romy
Published: August 2017

This article is based on a question that is already present in the work of Festinger et al.: Why is the unequivocal disproof of a given belief an insufficient reason for abandoning that belief? We will first outline the cognitive dissonance theory and then discuss how, in a seemingly counterintuitive way, beliefs that are contradicted by facts—that is, factual contradictions—lead only to minimal belief changes, whereas beliefs that are in contradiction with some fundamental value held by an individual—that is, axiological contradictions—represent a challenge to the individual’s entire belief system and may lead to disaffiliation. The objective of this article is to propose an alternative explanatory hypothesis to that of Festinger—which is now disputed—and thus provide new answers to help understand the process by which beliefs are abandoned. This article has epistemological ambitions insofar as it aims to demonstrate that by means of a paradigm based on reasons and abduction—the Boudon-Peirce Paradigm—it is possible to propose an alternative, explanatory hypothesis to that of Festinger’s and to provide new answers to facilitate understanding the process of abandonment of beliefs. This comprehensive paradigm has allowed the discovery that conflicts of values—axiological contradictions—can cause disaffiliation.
The dynamics of personal norms and the determinants of cultural homogeneity
Authors: Calabuig Vicente , Olcina Gonzalo , Panebianco Fabrizio
Published: August 2017

This article studies the emergence of cultural homogeneity in personal norms when the behavior of heterogeneous individuals is driven both by economic incentives and by personal norms. Agents participate in a team production game by choosing their level of costly effort. Norms evolve along the life cycle of the individuals according to two psychological forces: cognitive dissonance or consistency and informational conformity. The model sheds light on how primitive economic and behavioral parameters such as the distribution of skills, the income distribution, and the levels of materialism, conformism, and consistency in the group determine the long-run culture and its degree of cultural homogeneity.
The ModRey: An Episodic Memory Test for Nonclinical and Preclinical Populations
Authors: Hale Christiane , Last Briana S. , Meier Irene B. , Yeung Lok-Kin , Budge Mariana , Sloan Richard P. , Small Scott A. , Brickman Adam M.
Published: August 2017

List learning tests are used in practice for diagnosis and in research to characterize episodic memory, but often suffer from ceiling effects in unimpaired individuals. We developed the Modified Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, or ModRey, an episodic memory test for use in normal and preclinical populations. We administered the ModRey to 230 healthy adults and to 86 of the same individuals 102 days later and examined psychometric properties and effects of demographic factors. Primary measures were normally distributed without evidence of ceiling effect. Differences between alternate forms were of very small magnitude and not significant. Test–retest reliability was good. Higher participant age and lower participant education was associated with poorer performance across most outcome measures. We conclude that the ModRey is appropriate for episodic memory characterization in normal populations and could be used as an outcome measure in studies involving preclinical populations.
Use of the Brief Shame and Guilt Questionnaire in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Adolescents
Authors: Broekhof Evelien , Kouwenberg Maartje , Oosterveld Paul , Frijns Johan H. M. , Rieffe Carolien
Published: August 2017

No assessment tools are available to measure shame and guilt in children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), while these self-conscious emotions might play a role in the frequently noted social and behavioral problems in this group. Therefore, the aim of this study was to validate the Brief Shame and Guilt Questionnaire (BSGQ) in DHH children. In addition, we examined associations of shame and guilt with social anxiety, self-esteem, delinquency, and psychopathic behaviors. A sum of 225 hearing ( Mage = 11.62 years) and 108 DHH ( Mage = 11.82 years) participants completed the self-report BSGQ. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure (i.e., shame and guilt) of the BSGQ in the DHH group. Measurement invariance was established across both groups. However, the DHH group reported lower levels of self-conscious emotions in comparison with the hearing group. The BSGQ showed good concurrent validity, where shame was associated with higher levels of social anxiety and lower levels of self-esteem, and guilt was associated with lower levels of delinquency and psychopathic behavior in both groups. Future research should investigate the potential behavioral consequences of lower reported levels of self-conscious emotions in DHH youth.
Experimental and analytical investigation on the in-plane dynamic instability of arches owing to parametric resonance
Authors: Liu Airong , Yang Zhicheng , Lu Hanwen , Fu Jiyang , Pi Yong-Lin
Published: August 2017

When an arch is subjected to a periodic load, it may lose in-plane stability dynamically owing to parametric resonance. Previous investigations have been concentrated on in-plane dynamic buckling of pin-ended shallow arches. However, in engineering practice, fixed arches with different rise-to-span ratios are often encountered. Little research on in-plane dynamic instability of deep fixed arches has been reported in the literature. This paper is concerned with experimental and analytical investigations for in-plane dynamic instability of fixed circular arches with rise-to-span ratios 1/8–1/2 under a central periodic load owing to parametric resonance. Experiments are carried out to determine the in-plane frequency and damping ratio of arches, to investigate critical regions of frequencies and amplitudes of the periodic load for in-plane dynamic instability of arches, and to explore effects of the rise-to-span ratio and additional weights on dynamic instability. The analytical method for determining the region of excitation frequencies and amplitudes of the periodic load causing in-plane instability of the arch is established using the Hamilton’s principle by accounting for effects of additional concentrated weights. Comparisons of analytical solutions with test results show that they agree with each other quite well. These results show that the rise-to-span ratio significantly influences the bandwidth of regions of critical excitation frequencies for in-plane dynamic instability of arches. The critical frequencies of the periodic load and their bandwidth increase with a decrease of the rise–span ratio of the arch, whereas the corresponding amplitude of the periodic load decreases at the same time. It is also found that the central concentrated weight influences in-plane dynamic instability of arches significantly. As the weight increases, the critical frequencies of excitation and their bandwidth for in-plane dynamic instability of arches decreases, whereas the corresponding amplitude of excitation increases.
The MSOAC approach to developing performance outcomes to measure and monitor multiple sclerosis disability
Authors: LaRocca Nicholas G , Hudson Lynn D , Rudick Richard , Amtmann Dagmar , Balcer Laura , Benedict Ralph , Bermel Robert , Chang Ih , Chiaravalloti Nancy D , Chin Peter , Cohen Jeffrey A , Cutter Gary R , Davis Mat D , DeLuca John , Feys Peter , Francis Gordon , Goldman Myla D , Hartley Emily , Kapoor Raj , Lublin Fred , Lundstrom Gary , Matthews Paul M , Mayo Nancy , Meibach Richard , Miller Deborah M , Motl Robert W , Mowry Ellen M , Naismith Rob , Neville Jon , Panagoulias Jennifer , Panzara Michael , Phillips Glenn , Robbins Ann , Sidovar Matthew F , Smith Kathryn E , Sperling Bjorn , Uitdehaag Bernard MJ , Weaver Jerry ,   for the Multiple Sclerosis Outcome Assessments Consortium (MSOAC)
Published: August 2017

Background:

The Multiple Sclerosis Outcome Assessments Consortium (MSOAC) was formed by the National MS Society to develop improved measures of multiple sclerosis (MS)-related disability.

Objectives:

(1) To assess the current literature and available data on functional performance outcome measures (PerfOs) and (2) to determine suitability of using PerfOs to quantify MS disability in MS clinical trials.

Methods:

(1) Identify disability dimensions common in MS; (2) conduct a comprehensive literature review of measures for those dimensions; (3) develop an MS Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) data standard; (4) create a database of standardized, pooled clinical trial data; (5) analyze the pooled data to assess psychometric properties of candidate measures; and (6) work with regulatory agencies to use the measures as primary or secondary outcomes in MS clinical trials.

Conclusion:

Considerable data exist supporting measures of the functional domains ambulation, manual dexterity, vision, and cognition. A CDISC standard for MS ( http://www.cdisc.org/therapeutic#MS ) was published, allowing pooling of clinical trial data. MSOAC member organizations contributed clinical data from 16 trials, including 14,370 subjects. Data from placebo-arm subjects are available to qualified researchers. This integrated, standardized dataset is being analyzed to support qualification of disability endpoints by regulatory agencies.
High usability of a smartphone application for reporting symptoms in adults with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Wood Jamie , Jenkins Sue , Putrino David , Mulrennan Siobhain , Morey Sue , Cecins Nola , Hill Kylie
Published: August 2017

Introduction

In cystic fibrosis, exacerbations impair lung function and health-related quality of life, increase healthcare costs and reduce survival. Delayed reporting of worsening symptoms can result in more severe exacerbations and worse clinical outcomes; therefore there is a need for a novel approach to facilitate the early identification and treatment of exacerbations in this population. This study investigated the usability of a smartphone application to report symptoms in adults with cystic fibrosis, and the observer agreement in clinical decision-making between senior clinicians interpreting smartphone application responses.

Methods

Adults with cystic fibrosis used the smartphone application weekly for four weeks. The application comprised 10 yes/no questions regarding respiratory symptoms and two regarding emotional well-being. Usability was measured with the System Usability Scale; Observer agreement was tested by providing a cystic fibrosis physician and a nurse practitioner with 45 clinical scenarios. For each scenario the clinicians, who were blinded to each other's responses, were asked to indicate whether or not they would: (i) initiate telephone contact, and/or (ii) request a clinic visit for the individual.

Results

Ten participants (five female), aged mean (SD) 33 (11) years, FEV1 49 (27)% predicted completed the study. The mean (SD) System Usability Scale score was 94 (6). There was perfect agreement between clinicians for initiating contact with the participant ( κ = 1.0, p < 0.001), and near-perfect for requesting a clinic visit ( κ = 0.86, p < 0.001).

Discussion

The use of a smartphone application for reporting symptoms in adults with cystic fibrosis has excellent usability and near-perfect agreement between senior clinicians when interpreting the application responses.
Faculty and undergraduate student perceptions of an integrated mentoring approach
Authors: Livingstone Nicola , Naismith Nicola
Published: August 2017

The role of an academic mentor is typically diverse, discipline specific and institutionally heterogeneous. Mentoring relationships are commonplace, yet the experience and delivery of mentoring in universities reflect a broad spectrum of approaches and execution. This article reflects on the pedagogic evolution of mentoring, examining the student response to systematic changes in undergraduate mentoring. Much has been written on mentoring, but this research focuses on student experiences when pastoral, professional and curriculum-based mentoring models are integrated and applied together, rather than adopted as separate, distinct approaches. The research employs a mixed methodology, adopting qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques to investigate how mentoring relationships evolved following the implementation of an updated contemporary mentoring system. Initially, faculty responses to the changing mentoring system were related through semi-structured interviews. Student experiences were then collected in a pilot study via questionnaires disseminated across all undergraduate levels and subsequently analysed. Key findings suggest that by adopting multifaceted approaches to mentoring which blend the modern and traditional, institutions can effectively add significant ‘value’ to the student experience. Typically (but not exclusively), the undergraduate students’ personal and academic development is enhanced when a system which integrates the pastoral, professional and curriculum-based models is applied.
Critical Pedagogy and assessment in higher education: The ideal of ‘authenticity’ in learning
Authors: Serrano Maria Martinez , O’Brien Mark , Roberts Krystal , Whyte David
Published: August 2017

Current forms of marketisation in university systems create pressures towards purely ends-focused expectations among students and have implications for learning and assessment processes. The potential harm that these trends have on ‘learning’ should be resisted by educators and students alike. Critical Pedagogy approaches offer one way of conceptualising and implementing such resistance in the interests of ‘authenticity’ in learning. However, the issue becomes sharpest at the point of assessment. Here, the ideals of Critical Pedagogy can collide with student expectations of final degree success. By addressing the question of ‘authenticity’ for assessment in relation to Critical Pedagogy, this article explores the challenges posed by this conundrum and draws upon interviews conducted with module leaders who apply recognisably (although not explicitly) Critical Pedagogy principles in their teaching and in the types of assessment they use. The themes that emerged present a picture of the kinds of potential that Critical Pedagogy influenced forms of assessment have for supporting authenticity in learning, as well as the difficulties involved in its application. It also helps to trace out the possible boundaries for further inquiry.
The impact of political context on news coverage: Covering Qatar in the Israeli press
Authors: Yarchi Moran , Samuel-Azran Tal , Galily Yair , Tamir Ilan
Published: August 2017

Political environment is an important factor in news coverage, both in terms of the news items selected (the amount of coverage) and the tone of the coverage. Through an analysis of news coverage of Qatar in the Israeli press, the current study examines the impact of the political circumstances and the contextual cues in news stories on the framing of foreign news. The analysis includes 1,199 articles appearing in the mainstream online Israeli press in two time frames: summer 2013 and summer 2014 (during the war in Gaza). Findings indicate that, although both the circumstances and the contextual cues had a significant impact on the tone of coverage towards Qatar in the Israeli press, while controlling for the contextual cues in the news stories, coverage of Qatar did not change significantly during the war, which indicates that the framing process is less influenced by the immediate political circumstances than the political cues appearing in the coverage.
Energy distribution mechanism and open-kinetic-chain characteristics of the upper body system in female volleyball spiking
Authors: Naito Kozo , Wakayama Akinobu , Kubota Hideaki , Maruyama Takeo
Published: August 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate the energy distribution mechanism in volleyball spike movement by assessing the individual contributions of muscular torque and interactive torques of the upper body including gyroscopic, centripetal force, and Coriolis force effects. The spiking movements of seven female collegiate volleyball players were recorded using a three-dimensional motion capture system and an induced power analysis using a link system with 18 degrees of freedom joints to decompose the system’s mechanical energy into causal torque- and force-dependent components. The kinetic energy output of the striking hand at ball impact was 28% (40.7 J) of the system kinetic energy. The decrease in system kinetic energy (−91.3 J) during the early period resulted from the energy absorption mechanism associated with an external joint force component. The energy transfer mechanism, which occurred in the later period, was attributed to a centripetal force effect. Although proximal-to-distal sequential joint rotations were observed in the participants, the quantified data that were calculated using the induced power analysis did not completely agree with the effective energy transfer pattern. These findings indicate that open-kinetic-chain movement–specific task in volleyball spiking likely affected the energy flow characteristics. From the view of energy flow perspective, this study suggests that the volleyball spike movement might have inefficient movement characteristics.
Exploring the Potential Distinction Between Continuous Traumatic Stress and Posttraumatic Stress in an East African Refugee Sample
Authors: Hecker Tobias , Ainamani Herbert E. , Hermenau Katharin , Haefele Eva , Elbert Thomas
Published: August 2017

Posttraumatic stress (PTS) indicates a continuous stress response that persists though threats to life had been experienced in the past. However, threats to life are frequently ongoing. For these contexts, the concept of continuous traumatic stress (CTS) has been put forward. Based on structured clinical interviews with Congolese refugees ( N = 226), this study investigated the CTS concept and whether it can be distinguished from PTS. We found that current exposure to violence correlated positively with concerns about its recurrence in the CTS group ( r = .46). An ANCOVA indicated that higher intrusion symptom severity in the PTS group (no symptom reduction under safe conditions) was explained by higher lifetime trauma exposure (η2 = .125). In contexts of continuous trauma exposure, symptom-like responses may be regarded as appropriate responses to realistic danger. In these contexts, the possibility that symptom changes are a response to real threats should be considered to avoid overestimation of PTSD prevalences.
Effect of continuous positive airway pressure on blood pressure and metabolic profile in women with sleep apnoea
Authors: Campos-Rodriguez Francisco , Gonzalez-Martinez Monica , Sanchez-Armengol Angeles , Jurado-Gamez Bernabe , Cordero-Guevara Jose , Reyes-Nuñez Nuria , Troncoso Maria F. , Abad-Fernandez Araceli , Teran-Santos Joaquin , Caballero-Rodriguez Julian , Martin-Romero Mercedes , Encabo-Motiño Ana , Sacristan-Bou Lirios , Navarro-Esteva Javier , Somoza-Gonzalez Maria , Masa Juan F. , Sanchez-Quiroga Maria A. , Jara-Chinarro Beatriz , Orosa-Bertol Belen , Martinez-Garcia Miguel A.
Published: August 2017

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) reduces blood pressure levels in hypertensive patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). However, the role of CPAP in blood pressure and the metabolic profile in women has not yet been assessed. In this study we investigated the effect of CPAP on blood pressure levels and the glucose and lipid profile in women with moderate-to-severe OSA.

A multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial was conducted in 307 women diagnosed with moderate-to-severe OSA (apnoea–hypopnoea index ≥15 events·h–1) in 19 Spanish Sleep Units. Women were randomised to CPAP (n=151) or conservative treatment (n=156) for 12 weeks. Changes in office blood pressure measures as well as in the glucose and lipid profile were assessed in both groups.

Compared with the control group, the CPAP group achieved a significantly greater decrease in diastolic blood pressure (−2.04 mmHg, 95% CI −4.02– −0.05; p=0.045), and a nonsignificantly greater decrease in systolic blood pressure (−1.54 mmHg, 95% CI −4.58–1.51; p=0.32) and mean blood pressure (−1.90 mmHg, 95% CI −4.0–0.31; p=0.084). CPAP therapy did not change any of the metabolic variables assessed.

In women with moderate-to-severe OSA, 12 weeks of CPAP therapy improved blood pressure, especially diastolic blood pressure, but did not change the metabolic profile, compared with conservative treatment.
Participation, Competition, and the Quality of Democracy in Greece
Authors: Danopoulos Constantine P.
Published: August 2017

This essay assesses participation and competition in the quality of democracy in Greece. Theoretically, the quality of democracy is assessed in three interrelated dimensions: procedure, result, and content. Procedure encompasses the character and working of the environment in which governance takes place, and it is assessed through the rule of law, accountability, and participation and competition. Result refers to the overall quality of government performance and citizen satisfaction. Content involves the quality of the substance of governance. Using diverse indices and quantitative data, the essay assesses the participation and competition dimensions of the quality of democracy in post-1974 Greece. It concludes that the country's quality of democracy is fair but in need of improvement.
Intoxication and Imperialism
Authors: MacArthur-Seal Daniel-Joseph
Published: August 2017

MacArthur-Seal's article explores how the Allied occupation of Istanbul between 1918 and 1923 revived and reshaped nightlife after a period of wartime privation. Soldiers and sailors sought in the nocturnal city to escape the military regimes governing their lives, bringing them into unregulated contact with local civilians. The frequently violent consequences of such encounters fueled nationalist opposition to the occupation and hence drew the acute concern of Allied military authorities. Investigating the Allies' regulatory efforts to control nightlife reveals the extent of imperial intervention in the occupied city, which has been so far underappreciated in a literature centered on the occupation's geopolitical impact and significance. All this has produced copious and heretofore unstudied documentary evidence. This article draws on the diaries and memoirs of Allied servicemen; newspaper critiques of nightlife entertainments and behaviors; and correspondence among bar and theater owners, their supporters, critics, and French and British diplomatic and military representatives.
Tourette syndrome research highlights from 2016
Authors: Black Kevin J.
Published: August 2017

This article presents highlights chosen from research that appeared during 2016 on Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders. Selected articles felt to represent meaningful advances in the field are briefly summarized.
Dissolved Air Flotation with Spraying of Liquid
Authors: Еськин  , Es'kin A.
Published: August 2017

This paper presents a new method of dissolved air flotation with spraying of liquid. Liquid that needs cleaning is sprayed inside an overhead reservoir through a hydraulic nozzle allowing to enlarge the contact area between phases in comparison with traditional method of saturation by barbotage. Suggested method makes it possible to increase the gas content of the liquid processed for cleaning into a flotation section. This paper also contains the results of experimental investigation of the effectiveness of liquid saturation inside the overhead reservoir using spray-centrifugal and spray-percussive nozzles. Volumetric method was used to measure the amount of air escaping during dissolved air flotation and the results of the measurement were used to calculate the speed of barbotage. It was identified that when the method of spraying of liquid is applied, the amount of soluble air increases on average by 33% in comparison with overhead reservoir of bubbling type. The speed of barbotage increases with growth of saturation pressure and significantly depends on the area of the flotation section. If the saturation pressure exceeds 2 bars, the speed of barbotage in the center of the flotation cell becomes significantly higher than in the wall area.
On Displaying Negative Modalities
Authors: Drobyshevich Sergey
Published: August 2017

We extend Takuro Onishi’s result on displaying substructural negations by formulating display calculi for non-normal versions of impossibility and unnecessity operators, called regular and co-regular negations, respectively, by Dimiter Vakarelov. We make a number of connections between Onishi’s work and Vakarelov’s study of negation. We also prove a decidability result for our display calculus, which can be naturally extended to obtain decidability results for a large number of display calculi for logics with negative modal operators.
Implementación de un dispositivo basado en Bluetooth y RFID para guía y posicionamiento en interiores de personas con incapacidad visual usando una APP en su dispositivo móvil.
Authors: González Gómez Arnaldo Andrés , Pallares M. Luis Eduardo , Ferro Escobar Roberto
Published: August 2017

Este artículo, se realiza con el fin de presentar los resultados obtenidos a la aplicación de una solución viable a un problema de ubicación dentro de recintos cerrados, para personas discapacitadas de forma visual, (parcial o totalmente).Se presenta el diseño e implementación de una aplicación para dispositivos Android conectada de forma inalámbrica a través de Bluetooth con un bastón (prototipo) el cual permite la transmisión de información capturada por medio de la tecnología de Radio Frecuencia de Identificación RFID y una cinta magnética que se utilizó como guía, dicha información será presentada en forma de voz sintetizada al usuario (invidente); tecnología que está presente en gran parte de los dispositivos móviles, lo que facilita la implementación de diversas aplicaciones que conllevan a optimizar tareas de la vida cotidiana y mejorar su calidad de vida. En este caso se utilizará la tecnología RFID para ubicación de los sitios de interés, y la cinta magnética como guía para desplazarse dentro de un recinto cerrado, para esto se implementó la lectura de los Tags RFID (uso de sensores).Se utilizó un microcontrolador que procesa la información de los sensores y la envía utilizando la comunicación inalámbrica Bluetooth a un dispositivo móvil con una aplicación Android especialmente diseñada que utiliza las bondades de la programación en lenguaje java (JDK) facilitando la compatibilidad con diferentes sistemas operativos, aprovechando la herramienta del texto al habla para que los usuarios discapacitados puedan entender y comprender el contenido y las instrucciones de la misma.
DISEÑO DE UN GENERADOR DE FLUJO AXIAL USANDO EL MÉTODO DE ELEMENTOS FINITOS
Authors: Herrera Luisa , Alarcón Alexander , Rivas Trujillo Edwin
Published: August 2017

Este artículo presenta las simulaciones y cálculos realizados para el diseño básico de un generador de flujo axial usando el método de elementos finitos. Durante el proceso de diseño se evalúa el comportamiento electromagnético de los imanes seleccionados, se obtiene la característica B vs distancia, así mismo se define la geometría a usar para el montaje de las bobinas y los imanes, calculando el flujo máximo. Posteriormente se analiza la variación del flujo magnético dentro de la bobina en función de la posición angular, se define el número mínimo de espiras a usar por polo y se calcula la tensión inducida en la máquina asumiendo que tiene un sistema de 12 polos.
UN VIAJE A TRAVÉS DE BASES DE DATOS ESPACIALES NoSQL
Authors: Ramírez Arévalo Helio Henry , Herrera Cubides Jhon Francined
Published: August 2017

Actualmente, aunque las bases de datos relacionales son utilizadas con éxito para diferentes tipos de escenarios y datos, el concepto NoSQL se escucha con fuerza, a pesar de todas las ventajas que puede ofrecer el modelo relacional, los cuales, a través de su almacén de tuplas y con habilidades de actualización, recuperación de información y estabilidad, pueden complementarse sobre cualquier sistema con gran eficiencia. En este artículo se presenta una revisión global de lo hoy conocido como tendencia NoSQL, analizando sus ventajas en implementaciones de tipo espacial y geográfico. Como objetivo final de este artículo se plantea la identificación de elementos de análisis al momento de desarrollar sistemas espaciales, que le permita al lector identificar si NoSQL es una buena opción como modelo a implementar.
TOMA DE DECISIONES BASADAS EN EL ALGORITMO DE DIJKSTRA
Authors: Méndez Martínez Laura , Rodriguez Colina Enrique , Medina Ramírez. Carolina
Published: August 2017

Una de las funciones que realiza un ‘Radio Cognitivo’ es la toma de decisiones sobre el espectro radioeléctrico, esto a partir del análisis que realiza de su entorno. En este trabajo de investigación, se propone un método para la toma de decisiones para la selección de una banda en el espectro radioeléctrico que cumpla con ciertos criterios requeridos para una aplicación. Esta toma de decisiones se basa en un algoritmo de búsqueda del camino más corto similar al Algoritmo de Dijkstra. Para encontrar el camino más corto, el cual representa a la banda de frecuencia requerida, se especifican los atributos o parámetros a considerar para cada una de las bandas de acuerdo a una aplicación en particular o servicio requerido. A estos atributos o parámetros se les asignan valores es decir, pesos que determinan la prioridad e importancia para cada servicio. El algoritmo propuesto basado en Dijkstra, evalúa los parámetros del conjunto de bandas disponibles considerando el peso asignado, e indica la banda a seleccionar y que cubre con los criterios de la toma de decisiones. Se realizaron simulaciones por computadora para caracterizar los servicios identificados como mejor esfuerzo ‘Best Effort’ y tiempo real ‘Real Time’, obteniendo como resultado una latencia reducida que representa un tiempo práctico para ser implementado en un Radio Cognitivo en su toma de decisiones. Se observó también que los tiempos mostraron una mejora al ser comparados con los resultados obtenidos al implementar el Algoritmo de AHP.
IMPLEMENTACIÓN DE UN SERVICIO EN LA WEB –MASHUP– PARA LA FUSIÓN DE IMÁGENES SATELITALES USANDO LA TRANSFORMADA RÁPIDA DE WAVELET HAAR
Authors: Medina Rubén , Joyanes Luis Joyanes , Pinilla Carlos , Ardila Oscar , Pineda Fernando
Published: August 2017

En este artículo se implementa un nuevo servicio en la Web que ofrece a los usuarios la posibilidad de realizar la fusión de imágenes de satélite provenientes de diferentes sensores remotos y/o con diferentes resoluciones espaciales. A lo largo del artículo tres temáticas importantes son abordadas. La primera temática corresponde al servicio Web, éste servicio es implementado usando software libre y cuenta con una sencilla interfaz donde el usuario puede interactuar y principalmente puede realizar una solicitud del servicio de fusión. Adicionalmente, en la aplicación Web se desarrolló un módulo que permite obtener datos georreferenciados de diferentes fuentes externas para crear un nuevo servicio (Mashup) a través de las API’s, de manera rápida y fácil utilizando OpenStreetMaps. La segunda temática se ocupa del análisis de la transformada rápida de wavelet haar (TRWH), estos conceptos matemáticos se abordan a partir de un ejemplo usando una matriz que se descompone en coeficientes de detalle y de aproximación de segundo nivel. La última temática detalla la metodología propuesta, paso a paso, para realizar la fusión de imágenes usando la TRWH. Igualmente con el fin de determinar la eficiencia de la TRWH cinco wavelets diferentes fueron implementadas en Matlab para fusionar el mismo par de imágenes satelitales. Las imágenes resultantes fueron evaluadas tanto en la calidad espacial como en la espectral a través de cuatro índices. Los mejores resultados de la evaluación fueron obtenidos con la TRWH la cual preserva la riqueza espectral de la imagen multiespectral original y mejora su calidad espacial.
PROPUESTA METODOLÓGICA PARA LA PLANIFICACIÓN Y EJECUCIÓN DE PRUEBAS FUNCIONALES EN EL GRUPO TESTING ANALYST DE SABMILLER – BAVARIA
Authors: Uribe Peñaloza Sandra Milena , Cárdenas Quintero Beitmantt , Abuchar Porras Alexandra
Published: August 2017

La planificación y ejecución de las pruebas no se detiene en la organización de los archivos y documentos necesarios para administrar exitosamente el testeo, va más allá al pretender que el contenido de este sea accesible a todos los usuarios del grupo de Testers del área “Testing and Deployment” de Bavaria- SABMiller, permitiendo que estos de manera ordenada adicionen, sustraigan, modifiquen y/o eliminen información de los documentos.La metodología  a  utilizar esta  representada mediante el modelo V, el cual requiere que cada entregable sea verificado y validado desde el primera fase de pruebas en que se está ejecutando, además  de identificar problemas tan pronto como sea posible y asegurarse que las especificaciones están completas, correctas y estén  alineados  a los estándares relevantes.
EVALUACIÓN DE TECNOLOGÍAS DE COMUNICACIÓN PARA REDES VEHICULARES DE ÚLTIMA GENERACIÓN
Authors: Florez Jorge , Rojas José , López Danilo
Published: August 2017

El incremento del número de vehículos terrestres particulares, de carga y transporte masivo, y la ausencia de planificación y proyección de las vías en el pasado, han generado graves problemas de congestión, aumento de la accidentalidad,  inseguridad y desinformación de los usuarios de este tipo de  transporte.  Los gobiernos y las entidades descentralizadas han venido  diseñando  sistemas  de  comunicación  entre  vehículos  con  acceso a redes Wan o Internet, que permiten a conductores  y  pasajeros  obtener  información  en  tiempo  real  acerca  del  estado de las vías, peajes, rutas optimas e incluso acceso a  material informativo de la zona por la que se transita, para  hacer el viaje mas seguro y placentero.  En este trabajo se describe el estado actual de las tecnologías  inalámbricas  para  la  comunicación  de  las  redes  vehiculares de última generación, haciendo comparativos entre  las  tecnologías  empleadas  a  bordo  del  vehículo  y  fuera  de  este. También se muestra el estado del arte en las principales  arquitecturas diseñadas en Europa y Estados unidos, que  se encuentran en fase de estudio e implementación.
LOS SISTEMAS BIOINSPIRADOS Y SU ENFOQUE EN LA SOLUCIÓN DE NECESIDADES EN LA INGENIERÍA
Authors: Rocha Diego , López Sarmiento Danilo Alfonso , Gómez Vargas Ernesto
Published: August 2017

El presente artículo hace una breve recuento de cómo se han  hallado  múltiples  estrategias  para  aprovechar  los  recursos  físicos y atender diversas demandas sociales, hasta llegar a  soluciones novedosas basadas en el comportamiento de los  sistemas biológicos, estos se fundamentan en la emulación  de dinámicas o conductas efectuadas por determinados sistemas biológicos, por ende, centran su eficiencia en la evolución alcanzada por dichos organismos.
ANÁLISIS DE LA EVOLUCIÓN DE LAS REDES HACIA UN ENTORNO NETAMENTE ÓPTICO
Authors: Cantor Rivera Fredy Andres , Russi Lazo Omar Giovanni , López Sarmiento Danilo Alfonso
Published: August 2017

En las redes de transporte de conmutación automática (ASTN), los servicios pueden configurarse, modificarse y liberarse bajo demanda utilizando diversos mecanismos en el plano de control. En la actualidad, este nuevo paradigma de aprovisionamiento se está estandarizando bajo las bondades de las redes ópticas con conmutación automática (ASON) y la conmutación generalizada por etiquetas multiprotocolo (GMPLS). Este artículo ofrece una visión general de los marcos de ASON y GMPLS en la etapa actual de su desarrollo, revisando primero sus antecedentes y luego analizando las funciones particulares de los métodos de enrutamiento y señalización de cada uno de ellos en la red, incluyendo los modelos de características de red y la arquitectura del plano de control que cada uno propone. Al finalizar se presenta un marco de comparación de los conceptos, revisando las semejanzas y diferencias de los dos recursos y presentando el alcance actual de las redes soportadas bajo una amalgama de arquitecturas GMPLS/ASON, como respuesta a los requerimientos actuales de transmisión de información y confiabilidad a nivel backbone.
ESTADO DEL ARTE DE SCHEDULING ALGORITHMS (ALGORITMOS DE PROGRAMACIÓN DE ENVÍO)
Authors: Hernandez Suarez Cesar Augusto , Flórez Charry Juan David , Núñez David Murillo
Published: August 2017

El presente artículo presenta un estado del arte de los llamados algoritmos de programación de envío, o en inglés “scheduling algorithms” los cuales determinan el método en que un dispositivo de red envía paquetes al medio de transmisión. Estos algoritmos son importantes para la consecución de calidad de servicio en redes convergentes y la correcta comprensión de ellos es determinante para entender los fenómenos de tráfico y cumplir los requerimientos dados en los diferentes tipos de redes (Ethernet, TDM, WiMAX, Wireless, etc).
OPTIMIZACIÓN DEL PRE-PROCESAMIENTO DE LECTURAS DE SECUENCIACIÓN DE NUEVA GENERACIÓN
Authors: Pérez Castillo José Nelson , Vera Parra Nelson Enrique , Gutierrez Ramirez Luis Miguel
Published: August 2017

En este documento se presenta una herramienta bioinformática que integra y facilita el uso de utilidades de pre-procesamiento de lecturas de secuenciación de nueva generación por medio de una interfaz web, ayudando a los investigadores a enfocarse en el procesamiento y análisis de secuencias sin necesidad del manejo de las herramientas por medio de la consola.  La herramienta es evaluada en funcionalidad y comparada con otras herramientas similares llegando a la conclusión que el aporte generado por este desarrollo es la integración de todas las etapas necesarias en el pre-procesamiento y la facilidad de manejo por parte del usuario.