bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Control Loop Sensor Calibration Using Neural Networks for Robotic Control
Authors: Kramer Kathleen A. , Stubberud Stephen C.
Published: December 2011

Whether sensor model’s inaccuracies are a result of poor initial modeling or from sensor damage or drift, the effects can be just as detrimental. Sensor modeling errors result in poor state estimation. This, in turn, can cause a control system relying upon the sensor’s measurements to become unstable, such as in robotics where the control system is applied to allow autonomous navigation. A technique referred to as a neural extended Kalman filter (NEKF) is developed to provide both state estimation in a control loop and to learn the difference between the true sensor dynamics and the sensor model. The technique requires multiple sensors on the control system so that the properly operating and modeled sensors can be used as truth. The NEKF trains a neural network on-line using the same residuals as the state estimation. The resulting sensor model can then be reincorporated fully into the system to provide the added estimation capability and redundancy.
Comparison between18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography and Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Regional Lymph Nodal Staging in Patients with Melanoma: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Mirk Paoletta , Treglia Giorgio , Salsano Marco , Basile Pietro , Giordano Alessandro , Bonomo Lorenzo
Published: December 2011

Aim. to compare18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for regional lymph nodal staging in patients with melanoma.Methods. We performed a literature review discussing original articles which compared FDG-PET to SLNB for regional lymph nodal staging in patients with melanoma.Results and Conclusions. There is consensus in the literature that FDG-PET cannot replace SLNB for regional lymph nodal staging in patients with melanoma.
Advances and Challenges in Islet Transplantation: Islet Procurement Rates and Lessons Learned from Suboptimal Islet Transplantation
Authors: Plesner Annette , Verchere C. Bruce
Published: December 2011

The initial step in successful islet transplantation is procurement of healthy donor islets. Given the limited number of donor pancreata selected for islet isolation and that islets from multiple donors are typically required to obtain insulin independence, it is critical to improve pancreas procurement rates and yield of islets for transplantation. Islets are delicate microorgans that are susceptible to apoptosis, hypoxia, and ischemia during isolation, culture, and the peritransplant period. Once the islets are engrafted, both prompt revascularization and protection from beta-cell death and graft rejection are key to secure long-term survival and function. To facilitate the engraftment of more robust islets suitable for combating the challenging isolation period and proinflammatory transplantation milieu, numerous approaches have been employed to prevent beta-cell dysfunction and death including immune modulation, prevention of apoptosis and hypoxia, as well as stimulation of growth factors, angiogenesis, and reinnervation. In addition to briefly discussing islet isolation procedures, procurement rates, and islet transplantation, the relevant literature pertaining to successful suboptimal islet transplantation is reviewed to provide insight into potential approaches to balance the limited supply of available donor islets.
Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) Activation and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatase 1 Induction by Pulsatile Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone in Pituitary Gonadotrophs
Authors: Kanasaki Haruhiko , Purwana Indri , Oride Aki , Mijiddorj Tselmeg , Miyazaki Kohji
Published: December 2011

The frequency of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse secreted from the hypothalamus differently regulates the expressions of gonadotropin subunit genes, luteinizing hormone β (LHβ) and follicle-stimulating hormone β (FSHβ), in the pituitary gonadotrophs. FSHβ is preferentially stimulated at slower GnRH pulse frequencies, whereas LHβ is preferentially stimulated at more rapid pulse frequencies. Several signaling pathways are activated, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase C, calcium influx, and calcium-calmodulin kinases, and these may be preferentially regulated under certain conditions. Previous studies demonstrated that MAPK pathways, especially the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), play an essential role for induction of gonadotropin subunit gene expression by GnRH, whereas, MAPK phosphatases (MKPs) inactivate MAPKs through dephosphorylation of threonine and/or tyrosine residues. MKPs are also induced by GnRH, and potential feedback regulation between MAPK signaling and MKPs within the GnRH signaling pathway is evident in gonadotrophs. In this paper, we reviewed and mainly focused on our observations of the pattern of ERK activation and the induction of MKP by different frequencies of GnRH stimulation.
A Decomposition Algorithm for Convex Nondifferentiable Minimization with Errors
Authors: Lu Yuan , Pang Li-Ping , Shen Jie , Liang Xi-Jun
Published: December 2011

A decomposition algorithm based on proximal bundle‐type method with inexact data is presented for minimizing an unconstrained nonsmooth convex function f. At each iteration, only the approximate evaluation of f and its approximate subgradients are required which make the algorithm easier to implement. It is shown that every cluster of the sequence of iterates generated by the proposed algorithm is an exact solution of the unconstrained minimization problem. Numerical tests emphasize the theoretical findings.
Consistent Posttest Calculations for LOCA Scenarios in LOBI Integral Facility
Authors: Reventós F. , Pla P. , Matteoli C. , Nacci G. , Cherubini M. , Del Nevo A. , D'Auria F.
Published: December 2011

Integral test facilities (ITFs) are one of the main tools for the validation of best estimate thermalhydraulic system codes. The experimental data are also of great value when compared to the experiment-scaled conditions in a full NPP. The LOBI was a single plus a triple-loop (simulated by one loop) test facility electrically heated to simulate a 1300 MWe PWR. The scaling factor was 712 for the core power, volume, and mass flow. Primary and secondary sides contained all main active elements. Tests were performed for the characterization of phenomenologies relevant to large and small break LOCAs and special transients in PWRs. The paper presents the results of three posttest calculations of LOBI experiments. The selected experiments are BL-30, BL-44, and A1-84. They are LOCA scenarios of different break sizes and with different availability of safety injection components. The goal of the analysis is to improve the knowledge of the phenomena occurred in the facility in order to use it in further studies related to qualifying nodalizations of actual plants or to establish accuracy data bases for uncertainty methodologies. An example of procedure of implementing changes in a common nodalization valid for simulating tests occurred in a specific ITF is presented along with its confirmation based on posttests results.
Sandwich‐Type Theorems for a Class of Multiplier Transformations Associated with the Noor Integral Operators
Authors: Cho Nak Eun , Noor Khalida Inayat
Published: December 2011

We obtain some subordination‐ and superordination‐preserving properties for a class of multiplier transformations associated with Noor integral operators defined on the space of normalized analytic functions in the open unit disk. The sandwich‐type theorems for these transformations are also considered.
Towards a “Sample-In, Answer-Out” Point-of-Care Platform for Nucleic Acid Extraction and Amplification: Using an HPV E6/E7 mRNA Model System
Authors: Gulliksen Anja , Keegan Helen , Martin Cara , O'Leary John , Solli Lars A. , Falang Inger Marie , Grønn Petter , Karlgård Aina , Mielnik Michal M. , Johansen Ib-Rune , Tofteberg Terje R. , Baier Tobias , Gransee Rainer , Drese Klaus , Hansen-Hagge Thomas , Riegger Lutz , Koltay Peter , Zengerle Roland , Karlsen Frank , Ausen Dag , Furuberg Liv
Published: December 2011

The paper presents the development of a “proof-of-principle” hands-free and self-contained diagnostic platform for detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) E6/E7 mRNA in clinical specimens. The automated platform performs chip-based sample preconcentration, nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and real-time fluorescent detection with minimal user interfacing. It consists of two modular prototypes, one for sample preparation and one for amplification and detection; however, a common interface is available to facilitate later integration into one single module. Nucleic acid extracts (n=28) from cervical cytology specimens extracted on the sample preparation chip were tested using the PreTect HPV-Proofer and achieved an overall detection rate for HPV across all dilutions of 50%–85.7%. A subset of 6 clinical samples extracted on the sample preparation chip module was chosen for complete validation on the NASBA chip module. For 4 of the samples, a 100% amplification for HPV 16 or 33 was obtained at the 1 : 10 dilution for microfluidic channels that filled correctly. The modules of a “sample-in, answer-out” diagnostic platform have been demonstrated from clinical sample input through sample preparation, amplification and final detection.
EGFR Exon 19 Insertions: A New Family of Sensitizing EGFR Mutations in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: He Mai , Capelletti Marzia , Nafa Khedoudja , Yun Cai-Hong , Arcila Maria E. , Miller Vincent A. , Ginsberg Michelle S. , Zhao Binsheng , Kris Mark G. , Eck Michael J. , Jänne Pasi A. , Ladanyi Marc , Oxnard Geoffrey R.
Published: December 2011

Purpose: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) genotyping is now standard in the management of advanced lung adenocarcinoma, as this biomarker predicts marked benefit from treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). EGFR exon 19 insertions are a poorly described family of EGFR mutations, and their association with EGFR-TKI sensitivity in lung adenocarcinoma is uncertain.

Experimental Design: Patients with lung cancers harboring EGFR exon 19 insertions were studied. The predicted effects of the insertions on the structure of the EGFR protein were examined, and EGFR exon 19 insertions were introduced into Ba/F3 cells to assess oncogenicity and in vitro sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs. In patients receiving TKI, response magnitude was assessed with serial computed tomographic (CT) measurement.

Results: Twelve tumors harboring EGFR exon 19 insertions were identified; patients were predominately female (92%) and never-smokers (75%). The 11 specimens available for full sequencing all showed an 18-bp insertion that resulted in the substitution of a Pro for Leu at residue 747. The mutant EGFR transformed the Ba/F3 cells, which were then sensitive to EGFR-TKI. Six patients with measurable disease received TKI and five had a response on serial CT.

Conclusions: EGFR exon 19 insertions are a newly appreciated family of EGFR-TKI–sensitizing mutations, and patients with tumors harboring these mutations should be treated with EGFR-TKI. While these mutations may be missed through the use of some mutation-specific assays, the addition of PCR product size analysis to multigene assays allows sensitive detection of both exon 19 insertion and deletion mutations. Clin Cancer Res; 18(6); 1790–7. ©2011 AACR.
Endoscopic Closure of a Tracheal Access Site Using BioGlue after Transtracheal Thoracoscopy in a Nonsurvival Canine Model
Authors: Chen W.-H. , Chu Y. , Wu Y.-C. , Liu C.-Y. , Yuan H.-C. , Ko P.-J. , Liu Y.-H.
Published: December 2011

Objectives: An ideal wound closure device would repair the wound with minimal complexity. In this report, we describe a simple wound closure method using BioGlue sealant. Method: Eleven canines underwent transtracheal pericardial window creation under endoscopic guidance for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). The tracheal wound was closed using BioGlue sealant. The integrity of the wound was assessed by determining the amount of air leaking under mechanical ventilation. Results: Transtracheal thoracic exploration and pericardial window creation was successful for all of the canines, and adequate wound closure was achieved in 10 of the canines. There was 1 case of NOTES-related death arising from misplacement of the endotracheal tube in the left lower lobar bronchus. This caused a collapse of the left upper lobe and ventilatory failure. Minor lung injuries occurred in 3 canines and minor mediastinal bleeding was encountered in 1 canine during the creation of the access site. Conclusion: BioGlue sealant was found to be effective in sealing the tracheal wound in all but 1 of the canines. This study demonstrates that the use of the sealant is a simple and efficient means of endoscopically closing the tracheal access site in NOTES.
Does Nuclear Factor-Kappa B in Peripheral Mononuclear Cells Have a Prognostic Role during Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis in Rats?
Authors: Alhan E. , Türkyılmaz S. , Erçin C. , Kural B.V. , Flinte D.
Published: December 2011

Aim: To investigate the prognostic role of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-ĸB) activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) during acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) in rats. Methods: ANP was induced by an intravenous infusion of cerulein over 6 h superimposed on glycodeoxycholic acid (10 mmol/l) into the biliary-pancreatic duct for 10 min. The rats were divided into five groups and the first group served as the control. ANP was induced in the remaining groups, which were followed for 6, 12, 24 and 48 h. The mortality rate, serum amylase, alanine transferase (ALT), urea, creatinine and calcium, pancreatic histology, and NF-ĸB activity in PBMNCs were investigated. The NF-ĸB activity in PBMNCs was measured as two subunits of NF-ĸB, p50 and p65. Results: A significant increase in mortality rate, pancreatic damage, serum activity of amylase and ALT, urea and NF-ĸB p65 activity in PBMNCs were observed. There was a significant correlation between the mortality rate and pancreatic damage in conjunction with time, but there was no correlation between NF-ĸB p65 activity in PBMNCs and the mortality rate. Conclusion: The measurement of p65 levels of NF-kB in PBMNCs has no prognostic role during ANP in rats.
Not So Imaginary Interpersonal Contact With Public Figures on Social Network Sites
Authors: Lee Eun-Ju , Jang Jeong-woo
Published: December 2011

Two studies investigated (a) how public figures’ interaction with their followers on social network sites (SNS) affects individuals’ impressions about and attitudes toward them, and (b) how individuals’ interpersonal orientation moderates such effects, if any. In Study 1, participants viewed either a famous actor’s Twitter page or a news article merely relaying his Tweets. Exposure to the Twitter page (vs. news article) induced stronger feelings of actual conversation (i.e., social presence) among less affiliative individuals, whereas the reverse was true for more socially proactive ones. Social presence, in turn, facilitated parasocial interaction with the target and heightened the participants’ willingness to watch his movie, with limited effects on their overall evaluation of the target. Study 2, which employed a lesser known local politician using a different microblogging service, replicated the advantage of SNS communication over the news article for socially reserved individuals, with no corresponding effect for more affiliative ones.
Political information and interpersonal conversations in a multimedia environment: A quantitative and qualitative examination of information practices in France
Authors: Jouët Josiane , Vedel Thierry , Comby Jean-Baptiste
Published: December 2011

This article is concerned with the way in which the Internet may affect political information patterns and interpersonal conversations about issues of public interest. It presents the first findings of a quantitative and qualitative study done in France about news consumption of traditional mass media and of the web. It investigates the impact of the Internet on information sources and studies the forms of information practices on the web. It also examines the difference between face-to-face discussions and online exchanges about politics and current events. Data show that even if digital practices are developing, the use of the mass media for political information still prevails, while political exchange mainly takes place in the ordinary social networks of daily life. Furthermore, the research demonstrates that people who are the most engaged in information and political practices on the Internet are also those who previously had a high interest in current events.
Do audiences receive diverse ideas from news media? Exposure to a variety of news media and personal characteristics as determinants of diversity as received
Authors: van der Wurff Richard
Published: December 2011

Media policies in Europe traditionally promote a diverse media supply. This article investigates for the first time under what conditions audience members actually receive diversity. It focuses on the reception of diverse ideas on European integration from mainstream news media in Ireland and the Netherlands. Results show that exposure to a variety of media outlets predicts to some extent the reception of diverse ideas, especially for citizens with lower education. But interest and knowledge are better predictors. This indicates that policies that favour a diverse supply are necessary but not sufficient. New ideas are required to stimulate audiences to receive the diversity that is sent, especially in modern online societies.
Haptic interface transparency achieved through viscous coupling
Authors: Mohand-Ousaid Abdenbi , Millet Guillaume , Régnier Stéphane , Haliyo Sinan , Hayward Vincent
Published: December 2011

Electromagnetic drives are subjected to an inherent inertia–torque tradeoff that fundamentally limits transparency: the higher the torque, the higher the inertia. We describe a dual-stage design that is not subjected to this tradeoff and that is able to approach perfect transparency for human users. It comprises a large, proximal motor and a small, distal motor to reproduce the transients. The two stages are coupled by a viscous clutch based on eddy currents that, without contact, accurately transforms slip velocity into torque. Such a system can, in general, be controlled to achieve a variety of objectives. Here, we show that an advanced, discrete-time, RST polynomial pole-placement controller can achieve near-perfect transparency. Experimental validation evaluated the human ability to detect small haptic details when using this drive and compared it with when using a conventional, single-motor interface.
Ibex-Associated Malignant Catarrhal Fever–Like Disease in a Group of Bongo Antelope (Tragelaphus eurycerus)
Authors: Gasper D. , Barr B. , Li H. , Taus N. , Peterson R. , Benjamin G. , Hunt T. , Pesavento P. A.
Published: December 2011

A private zoological facility experienced an outbreak of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) in 3 bongo antelope ( Tragelaphus eurycerus). All cases were periparturient bongos that presented acutely anorectic beginning ~6 weeks after being housed with a Nubian ibex. Disease quickly progressed to respiratory distress and death within 24–72 hours of onset of clinical signs. Consistent gross findings in affected bongos were pulmonary edema and small pale tan foci in the livers. Histological lesions included a nonsuppurative vasculitis in multiple tissues, which is well recognized in MCF, but additionally included necrotizing cholangiohepatitis and neutrophilic, necrotizing myocarditis. Ibex-associated viral DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction and was identical in sequence whether derived from bongos or ibex. The sequence closely matched an MCF viral DNA fragment that had been amplified from an ibex and bongo in a previous case report.
Exploring a rationale for choosing to listen to sad music when feeling sad
Authors: Van den Tol Annemieke J. M. , Edwards Jane
Published: December 2011

Choosing to listen to self-identified sad music after experiencing negative psychological circumstances seems paradoxical given the commonly-held view that people are motivated to seek a positive affective state when distressed. We examined the motivations people described to listen to music they identified as sad, particularly when experiencing negative circumstances, and the self-reported effects of this activity. We asked adults to respond to an online survey and analyzed their narrative reports using a modified grounded theory approach. Responses were received from 65 adults across five countries. The process that underlies choosing to listen to sad music as well as the self-regulatory strategies and functions of sad music were identified. The music-selection strategies included: connection; selecting music based on memory triggers; high aesthetic value; and message communicated. The functions of these strategies were in the domains of (re-)experiencing affect, cognitive, social, retrieving memories, friend, distraction, and mood enhancement. We additionally modelled the underlying psychological process that guides sad music listening behaviour and the effects of listening. These findings present core insights into the dynamics and value of choosing to listen to self-identified sad music when coping with negative psychological circumstances.
Prolonged Direct Catheter Thrombolysis of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis in Children: A Case Series
Authors: Waugh Jeff , Plumb Patricia , Rollins Nancy , Dowling Michael M.
Published: December 2011

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a rare condition with potentially devastating neurologic outcome—death and severe disability are common in advanced cases. In adults, protocols for mechanical clot disruption and direct thrombolysis are established; no guidance exists for children. We present our experience of 6 children with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and ominous clinical progression. We found that effective thrombolysis required substantially longer infusion, more rounds of mechanical disruption, and higher doses of thrombolytics than are commonly practiced. Despite pervasive thrombosis, prethrombolysis hemorrhage, coma, and other predictors of death and disability, our patients survived and 4 of 6 had no functional deficits. One patient had moderate, and one had severe deficits. We report these cases to illustrate that hemorrhage may not be a contraindication to thrombolysis for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, that prolonged infusion may be required to restore perfusion, and that good neurologic outcomes can be achieved despite dire clinical presentations and extensive sinus thrombosis.
Effects of Osmotic-Release Methylphenidate on Height and Weight in Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Following up to Four Years of Treatment
Authors: Durá-Travé Teodoro , Yoldi-Petri María Eugenia , Gallinas-Victoriano Fidel , Zardoya-Santos Patricia
Published: December 2011

There is some controversy concerning \the potential negative influence of methylphenidate on growth. The authors reviewed clinical records of 187 patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder under treatment with methylphenidate. The patients’ weight, height, and body mass index were measured at diagnosis and during 4 years of follow-up. The dose of methylphenidate was gradually increased up to 1.31 ± 0.2 mg/kg/d. At diagnosis, mean weight value was lower than mean weight expected for age by 0.697 kg. This difference increased to 4.274 kg (at 30 months of treatment), although it subsequently decreased to 1.588 kg (at 48 months of treatment). Mean value of height was lower than expected mean height for age by 0.42 cm at diagnosis. This difference increased to 2.69 cm (at 30 months of treatment), but it subsequently decreased to 0.83 cm (at 48 months of treatment). The relationship between nutritional status and the negative effects on the height curve in those patients would require nutritional optimization to return anthropometric variables to normal.
Acute Intermittent Porphyria
Authors: Anyaegbu Elizabeth , Goodman Michael , Ahn Sun-Young , Thangarajh Mathula , Wong Michael , Shinawi Marwan
Published: December 2011

Acute intermittent porphyria is a metabolic disorder rarely seen in prepubertal children. A delay in diagnosis of acute intermittent porphyria is common because of variable and nonspecific symptoms. We report an 8-year-old boy with right hemimegalencephaly and intractable seizures, who presented with dark-colored urine, hypertension, increasing lethargy, fluctuating seizures, and poor oral intake. He subsequently developed hyponatremia secondary to syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. His urinalysis was negative for red blood cells, and a random urine porphobilinogen level was elevated. Further biochemical and molecular testing confirmed the diagnosis of acute intermittent porphyria. His antiepileptic medications were discontinued and hemin administered, with dramatic clinical improvement. The diagnosis of acute intermittent porphyria was challenging because of his underlying neurologic condition. This case highlights the variable presentation of acute intermittent porphyria and emphasizes the importance of considering the diagnosis even in young patients with underlying neurologic conditions when they present with nonspecific neurovisceral symptoms or with unexplained neurologic deterioration.
Effect of General Anesthesia in Patients With Cerebral Palsy at the Turn of the New Millennium
Authors: Wass C. Thomas , Warner Mary E. , Worrell Gregory A. , Castagno Julie A. , Howe Melinda , Kerber Kimberly A. , Palzkill Jenna M. , Schroeder Darrell R. , Cascino Gregory D.
Published: December 2011

The severity of preoperative cerebral palsy appears to correlate directly with postoperative complications. The primary aim of this study was to characterize the frequency of perioperative morbidity and mortality in cerebral palsy patients undergoing anesthesia. This was accomplished by undertaking a systematic review of the Mayo Database. The risk for perioperative adverse events was 63.1% (95% confidence interval 59.8%-66.5%). However, it deserves clarification that hypothermia and clinically significant yet non–life-threatening hypotension represented the majority (80%) of these complications. When these 2 events are excluded, the rate of adverse perioperative events was 13.1% (95% confidence interval 10.8%-15.5%). Risk factors associated with increased risk included American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status score exceeding 2, history of seizures, upper airway hypotonia, general surgery procedures, and adults. Our findings are useful to counsel patients with cerebral palsy, their caregivers, and their guardians regarding the risk of general anesthesia.
Constructal design for cooling a disc-shaped body using incomplete inserts with temperature-dependent thermal conductivities
Authors: Salimpour Mohammad Reza , Sharifi Farrokh , Menbari Dalir
Published: December 2011

In this study, constructal theory is used to analyze the radial and branching configurations of highly conductive incomplete inserts embedded in a disc for cooling purposes. The thermal conductivities are considered temperature-dependent which are varied linearly and ascending. Applying the Kirchhoff transformation, the resulting nonlinear partial equations are transformed to linear ones which are more suitable to solve, analytically. Furthermore, the effect of temperature-dependency of the thermal conductivities is examined and compared with the case with constant thermal conductivities under different conditions where a decrease in heat resistance is observed. However, the effectiveness of this factor in decreasing the thermal resistance is dependent upon other parameters. The effect of considering variable cross-section for the highly conductive material is combined with the temperature-dependency of the conductivities where it is concluded that under certain circumstances where the effect of temperature-dependency of the conductivities is weak, the variable cross-section can be used to reduce the thermal resistance, efficiently. Finally, since the proposed analytical solution is accompanied with some approximations, the problem is also solved numerically to verify the solution where an acceptable agreement is observed.
Computational analysis of the aerodynamic performance of a jet-flap airfoil in transonic flow
Authors: Mantič-Lugo V , Doulgeris G , Gohardani A , Singh R
Published: December 2011

The needed shift in next generation aircraft design is expected to bring novel concepts for civil aviation as the jet-flap wing. The aircraft efficiency improvements with the jet-flap wing directs its use for future aircraft designs reinforced by the tendency for more synergistic systems as active flow control, boundary layer ingestion and distributed propulsion, making the jet-flap wing a very suitable option for the latter concept. The analysis carried out in this paper is aimed at the application of the jet-flap wing concept for manoeuvrability and cruise efficiency improvement of an airliner. A 2D computational model of a jet-flapped transonic airfoil is developed in order to assess the jet-flap wing technology for a commercial aircraft at cruise conditions. This paper provides an insight into the parameters that affect the performance of a jet-flap under various flight conditions. To do this, a general parametrical analysis is performed, studying numerically the influences of main flow parameters like Mach number, Reynolds number, angle of attack, jet deflection angle and jet thickness. Changes in pressure distribution and flow circulation around the airfoil yield strong modifications in lift and drag due to jet angle variation. Improvements are encountered in the performance of an airfoil with a jet-flap system compared with a standard airfoil with no jet. Enhancements in lift and reduction in drag, as well as an increase of the lift-to-drag ratio is possible with a proper combination of the jet deflection and the angle of attack of the airfoil. In summary, this paper shows the conditions under which the benefits of the jet-flapped wing, for lift enhancement and manoeuvrability as an active flow control are promising.
Multi-model approaches to three-axis missile autopilot design under aerodynamic roll angle uncertainty
Authors: Won D-Y , Tahk M-J , Kim Y-H , Kim H J
Published: December 2011

The problem of designing a robust three-axis missile autopilot that operates under aerodynamic roll angle uncertainty is addressed in this article. A finite number of local state-space models over an aerodynamic roll angle envelope are developed as a multi-model to represent uncertainty bounds. Two design methods with multi-objective output-feedback control are proposed. In the first approach, a classical three-loop autopilot structure is slightly modified for the multivariable autopilot design. The optimal gains in the autopilot structure are automatically obtained by using a co-evolutionary optimization method that addresses competing specifications and constraints. In the second approach, the mixed H2/ H∞ performance criteria are guaranteed by multi-objective control synthesis via optimization techniques. Both design approaches are used in non-linear simulations with variations in the aerodynamic roll angle to provide satisfactory performance as a three-axis missile autopilot.
Urban governance, sustainability and environmental movements: post-democracy in French and British cities
Authors: Béal Vincent
Published: December 2011

Drawing on an empirical study of environmental policies in Manchester (UK) and Saint-Etienne (France), this article attempts to provide a periodization of the evolution of the management of urban environmental issues. The periodization traces the shift in discourse from a focus on ‘local environment’ to ‘sustainable urban development’. Three main sequences are identified corresponding to three different ways of tackling environmental issues covering a period from the late 1970s up to the present. The aim of this article is twofold. First, it will use environmental policies as a tool to understand the transformations of urban governance, and in particular the transformations of the actors involved in policy-making. Second, it will show how sustainable development policies are used by local elites to neutralize urban conflicts by excluding environmental grassroots movements from the management of environmental issues. Finally, the article will discuss how this marginalization should be considered as a sign of the emergence of a post-democratic era.
Territorial attractiveness in EU urban and spatial policy: a critical review and future research agenda
Authors: Servillo Loris , Atkinson Rob , Russo Antonio Paolo
Published: December 2011

The paper introduces the concept of territorial assets and discusses their role for regional development. Focusing on European societies and taking into account different strands of the literature on place and territorial capital, we argue that the endowment with – and mobilization of – such territorial assets could be seen as a key aspect of regional policy, producing changes in the attraction (and/or retention) of specific segments of population and, in a longer-term perspective, influencing sustainable development strategies. In this light, ‘territorial attractiveness’ – characterized in this paper in both conceptual and operational terms – is presented as a powerful element in European spatial policy, allowing regional development strategies to be more systematically integrated under an overall objective of territorial cohesion, while taking into account their implications in terms of human mobility.
Concordance Between Couples Reporting Their Child’s Quality of Life and Their Decision Making in Pediatric Oncology Palliative Care
Authors: Tomlinson Deborah , Hendershot Eleanor , Bartels Ute , Maloney Anne-Marie , Armstrong Christine , Wrathall Glynis , Sung Lillian
Published: December 2011

In children 18 years and younger with cancer and no reasonable chance for cure the authors used a cross-sectional study design to (1) describe concordance between fathers’ and mothers’ evaluation of quality of life (QoL) and (2) determine parental correlation for how factors such as hope, anticipated QoL, and prolonged survival time influence decisions between supportive care alone versus aggressive chemotherapy. Both parents of 13 children performed PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales, Acute Cancer Module, and Multidimensional Fatigue Scale. Concordance was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Parents reported preferences of supportive care versus aggressive chemotherapy in a hypothetical scenario and rated factors that influenced decision making. Concordance was variable across QoL domains, better for physical health (ICC = 0.46), nausea (ICC = 0.61), general fatigue (ICC = 0.50), and sleep/rest fatigue (ICC = 0.76). Correlation was variable between parents on the influence of factors on their decision, with particularly poor correlation for importance of hope ( r = −0.24). Variable concordance was reported between parental assessment of child QoL and factors influencing their decision making, suggesting parents may have different perspectives in decision making and that understanding both is important in clinical care.
Pseudohyperkalemia in a patient with chronic lymphoblastic leukemia and tumor lysis syndrome
Authors: Kintzel Polly E , Scott William L
Published: December 2011

Purpose:

Recognition of pseudohyperkalemia is essential to prevent medical mismanagement of erroneous hyperkalemia. The purpose of this case is to describe pseudohyperkalemia attributed to malignant leucocytosis in a patient with chronic lymphoblastic leukemia and tumor lysis syndrome. Methods for determination of pseudohyperkalemia are discussed.

A 75-year-old male with progressive chronic lymphoblastic leukemia was hospitalized for medical evaluation and chemotherapy administration. Notable laboratory findings included white blood cell count of 479 × 103 cells/µL (4.00 × 103 cells/µL–10.80 × 103 cells/µL) with 95% lymphocytes (20%–50%) and 5% blasts (zero) present in the differential, serum potassium 9.8 mM/L (3.4 mM/L–5.0 mM/L), uric acid of 11.8 mg/dL (3.5 mg/dL–8.0 mg/dL), serum creatinine 1.47 mg/dL (0.60 mg/dL–1.30 mg/dL), and lactate dehydrogenase of 2529 IU/L (100 IU/L–220 IU/L). The patient was anemic (Hb 7.6 g/dL (14.0 g/dL–18.0 g/dL)) and thrombocytopenic (17 × 103 platelets/μL (140 × 103 platelets/μL–400 × 103 platelets/μL)). There were no electrocardiographic findings indicating systemic hyperkalemia. Repeat analysis of the blood potassium level using a heparinized tube assayed immediately after specimen collection demonstrated a plasma potassium level 4.1 mM/L. Subsequent analysis of specimens using similar methodology demonstrated potassium results within the normal limits despite continued laboratory evidence of pseudohyperkalemia. Based on the patient’s conscious and interactive condition, ECG findings, and normal plasma potassium level following immediate analysis, the diagnosis of pseudohyperkalemia was made. Laboratory findings of pseudohyperkalemia persisted throughout the period of leukocytosis.

Conclusion:

This case describes pseudohyperkalemia attributed to malignant leucocytosis in a patient with chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL). Practitioners should consider pseudohyperkalemia as the underlying cause of elevated potassium levels in patients with malignant leucocytosis who do not have signs or symptoms of systemic hyperkalemia.
An Integrated Knowledge Translation Experience
Authors: Moodie Sheila T. , Bagatto Marlene P. , Miller Linda T. , Kothari Anita , Seewald Richard , Scollie Susan D.
Published: December 2011

Pediatric audiologists lack evidence-based, age-appropriate outcome evaluation tools with well-developed normative data that could be used to evaluate the auditory development and performance of children aged birth to 6 years with permanent childhood hearing impairment. Bagatto and colleagues recommend a battery of outcome tools that may be used with this population. This article provides results of an evaluation of the individual components of the University of Western Ontario Pediatric Audiological Monitoring Protocol (UWO PedAMP) version 1.0 by the audiologists associated with the Network of Pediatric Audiologists of Canada. It also provides information regarding barriers and facilitators to implementing outcome measures in clinical practice. Results indicate that when compared to the Parents’ Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance of Children (PEACH) Diary, audiologists found the PEACH Rating Scale to be a more clinically feasible evaluation tool to implement in practice from a time, task, and consistency of use perspective. Results also indicate that the LittlEARS® Auditory Questionnaire could be used to evaluate the auditory development and performance of children aged birth to 6 years with permanent childhood hearing impairment (PCHI). The most cited barrier to implementation is time. The result of this social collaboration was the creation of a knowledge product, the UWO PedAMP v1.0, which has the potential to be useful to audiologists and the children and families they serve.
Knowledge Translation in Audiology
Authors: Moodie Sheila T. , Kothari Anita , Bagatto Marlene P. , Seewald Richard , Miller Linda T. , Scollie Susan D.
Published: December 2011

The impetus for evidence-based practice (EBP) has grown out of widespread concern with the quality, effectiveness (including cost-effectiveness), and efficiency of medical care received by the public. Although initially focused on medicine, EBP principles have been adopted by many of the health care professions and are often represented in practice through the development and use of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Audiology has been working on incorporating EBP principles into its mandate for professional practice since the mid-1990s. Despite widespread efforts to implement EBP and guidelines into audiology practice, gaps still exist between the best evidence based on research and what is being done in clinical practice. A collaborative dynamic and iterative integrated knowledge translation (KT) framework rather than a researcher-driven hierarchical approach to EBP and the development of CPGs has been shown to reduce the knowledge-to-clinical action gaps. This article provides a brief overview of EBP and CPGs, including a discussion of the barriers to implementing CPGs into clinical practice. It then offers a discussion of how an integrated KT process combined with a community of practice (CoP) might facilitate the development and dissemination of evidence for clinical audiology practice. Finally, a project that uses the knowledge-to-action (KTA) framework for the development of outcome measures in pediatric audiology is introduced.
Toxic Pollution and School Performance Scores
Authors: Lucier Cristina , Rosofsky Anna , London Bruce , Scharber Helen , Shandra John M.
Published: December 2011

The current study adds to the literature linking environmental pollution and disparities in educational outcomes among vulnerable populations by measuring variations in school performance scores in East Baton Rouge (EBR) Parish, Louisiana. The authors ask whether the unique, place-specific, results of a study such as the 2004 study by Pastor, Sadd, and Morello-Frosch, specifically the finding that schools’ academic performance scores are negatively related to proximity to major polluters, can be made somewhat more “general” by examining a similar relationship in another location. The authors closely approximate the model and methodology used by Pastor et al. and then respecify that model by including new independent variables with a particular focus on alternative and more nuanced measures of proximity to polluters as indicators of potential human exposure. Furthermore, they analyze the relationship between proximity and achievement in terms of disproportionate effects on human capital experienced by vulnerable populations. The findings provide evidence of “environmental ascription,” the idea that “place” (especially, attending school in polluted places) has ascriptive properties. The authors find that, all else equal, their several measures of proximity (to Toxics Release Inventory facilities in general, to high concentrations of toxic emissions, and to high-volume polluters of developmental neurotoxins) are significantly related to school performance scores throughout EBR Parish.
Using Photographs to Research Organizations: Evidence, Considerations, and Application in a Field Study
Authors: Ray Joshua L. , Smith Anne D.
Published: December 2011

Despite calls for more visual methodologies in organizational research, the use of photographs remains sparse. Organizational research could benefit from the inclusion of photographs to track contemporary change processes in an organization and change processes over time, as well as to incorporate diverse voices within organizations, to name a few advantages. To further understanding, the authors identify researcher choices related to the use of photographs in organizational research, clarify the advantages and disadvantages of these choices, and discuss ethical and other special considerations of the use of photographs. They highlight several organizational areas of research, primarily related to the management discipline, that could benefit from the inclusion of photographs. Finally, the authors describe how they used photographs in a study of one organization and specifically how their intended research design with photographs changed over the course of the study as well as how photographs helped to develop new theoretical insights. Photographic research methods represent a viable—but underleveraged—method that should be more fully incorporated in the methodological tool kit of organizational scholars.
Dialogism and dialogicality in the study of the self
Authors: Grossen Michèle , Salazar Orvig Anne
Published: December 2011

This article stems from the statement that dialogical approaches to a study of the self face a double challenge: that of developing a conception of the self that both avoids social reductionism and accounts for the stability of the self. In discussing this double challenge, we identify three much debated issues: (a) To what does the notion of “Alter” exactly refer? (b) How could we conceptualize the fact that Subject–Alter interactions are not only interpersonal but entail larger social entities, in particular institutions? (c)What importance should we attach to the materiality of objects? We discuss these three questions from two standpoints – that of linguistics and that of psychology – and illustrate our theoretical proposals with an analysis of an excerpt taken from a focus–group discussion. In conclusion, we argue that the dialogism of discourse provides us with some clues about the dialogicality of the mind, whereas the latter invites us to develop a theory showing the importance of interactions in the construction of the self, to pay more attention to the transpersonal dimension of the social, and to consider that the material world contributes to the construction of the self.
Mikhail Bakhtin’s contribution to psychotherapy research
Authors: Leiman Mikael
Published: December 2011

Vygotsky clarified the methodological foundation that, in his view, characterizes every scientific discipline by elucidating the concepts of subject matter, explanatory principle, and unit of analysis. In this article, these concepts are used to explore and organize Michael Bakhtin’s relevance for psychotherapy research. Client and therapist utterances can be regarded as the object of research. Bakhtin’s theory of utterance provides the basic abstractions that define the facts, or the subject matter, of the research area. Semiotic mediation will be considered the explanatory principle that accounts for the utterance as a tool of interaction as well as an expression of intra-psychic processes. Neither Vygotsky’s instrumental nor Bakhtin’s dialogic conception of the sign are adequate for explaining the great variety of semiotic mediation in communication, object-oriented actions, and intra-psychic processes. A revised conception that articulates the dual reference of sign meanings will be introduced. Finally, Bakhtin’s contribution to the unit of analysis in psychotherapy research will be illustrated by elaborating his concept of semantic position.
From Bakhtinian theory to a dialogical psychology
Authors: Clegg Joshua W. , Salgado João
Published: December 2011

The analysis of the different articles in this special issue gives a rather promising but complex image of a dialogical approach to psychology. Mikael Leiman proposed utterances as the object of study for psychotherapy research, semiotic mediation as the explanatory principle, and semiotic position as the unit of analysis. Frank Richardson cautioned us about how dialogical proposals can become entrapped by the extreme decentering tendency of social constructionism. James Cresswell, in his turn, claimed that Bakhtin's work is precisely a way of avoiding the unbalanced account of personal vacuity and freedom found in many constructionist accounts: it is precisely because we are bound to social ties that we become ethically involved with others and, indeed, with ourselves. Michèle Grossen and Anne Salazar Orvig claimed that otherness and the institutional, transpersonal dimensions are also present in every dialogical act, something that tends to be overlooked. Moore et al., following this suggestion, pointed to the multiplicity of institutional social frames, adding to the potential tension between the different available ways of interpreting self and context. Following these various contributions, the authors argue that a dialogical conception implies a relational self in constant dialogical and ethical involvement with society. They further argue that to respect the complexity of the whole in each lived situation, we need different, and more conversational, research strategies. In a final synthesis, centrifugal and centripetal movements of the self are conceived as mutually dependent in a fundamentally temporal conception of psychological becoming.