bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Universal Rights versus Exclusionary Politics: Aspirations and Despair among Eritrean Refugees in Tel Aviv
Authors: Müller Tanja R.
Published: February 2019

By investigating contemporary refugees, this paper analyses the contradictory dynamics of a global order whereby universal rights are distributed unequally through nation-state politics. It uses an ethnographic case study of Eritrean refugees in Tel Aviv as its empirical base in order to investigate refugeeness as a condition of everyday life. The paper demonstrates how a repressive environment within Eritrea has made people refugees, and how that condition is being reinforced by the Israeli government's refusal to recognise these refugees as such. It further interrogates the relationship between persecution and belonging that characterises the lives of Eritreans as refugees in Israel. The paper concludes by arguing that being a refugee does not preclude feeling a strong sense of national belonging. Eritrean refugees in Tel Aviv do not aspire to gain cosmopolitan citizenship rights but are driven by the desire to be rightful citizens of Eritrea.
“Incompleteness” and the Quest for Multiple Identities in South Africa
Authors: Lategan Bernard C.
Published: February 2019

The article explores the contours of multiple identities in contrast to singular identities in situations of social complexity and cultural diversity. Nyamnjoh's concepts of “incompleteness” and “frontier Africans” imply an alternative approach to identity formation. Although the formation of one's own, singular identity is a necessary stage in the development of each individual, it has specific limitations. This is especially true in situations of complexity and diversity and where the achievement of social cohesion is an important goal. With reference to existing theories of identity formation, an alternative framework is proposed that is more appropriate for the dynamic, open-ended nature of identity and better suited to encourage the enrichment of identity. The role of imagination, a strategy for crossing borders (with reference to Clingman's concept of a “grammar of identity”), the search for commonality, and the effect of historical memory are discussed. Enriched and multiple identities are not achieved by replacement or exchange, but by widening (existing) singular identities into a more inclusive and diverse understanding of the self.
Land Acquisitions, the Politics of Dispossession, and State-Remaking in Gambella, Western Ethiopia
Authors: Gebresenbet Fana
Published: February 2019

This paper argues that development through large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) in Gambella, western Ethiopia, belies a state-remaking project under a dispossessive political economy. This argument is based on fieldwork in Gambella, Addis Ababa, and Minneapolis and is situated within the broader development agenda pursued by Ethiopia's ruling party. The political economy of LSLAs tells us that the deals are not occurring in a predominantly economic manner; rather, extra-economic state intervention clears the way for, facilitates, and ensures sustained accumulation. This political intervention is “unlocking” and making the lowland resources accessible and extractable by the state, while a concomitant villagisation project is guaranteeing continued accumulation by disempowering the local population by making the community legible, governable, and controllable. By combining these processes, the Ethiopian state is mastering, and building itself in, Gambella's lowlands.
The Eagle's Nest in the Horn of Africa: US Military Strategic Deployment in Djibouti
Authors: Sun Degang , Zoubir Yahia H.
Published: February 2019

Djibouti is the only country in the world in which US, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese military forces are stationed simultaneously; China will soon have a presence there as well. The US military deployment in Djibouti has shifted from a soft military presence to an arrangement of significant strategic import, and from a small outpost to a large garrison in the past two decades. The internal dynamics of the US deployment are geopolitical, as the US presence facilitates the carrying out of its strategies regarding antiterrorism, anti-proliferation, the protection of energy investments, and anti-piracy. The external dynamics of the US deployment are geo-economic: the government of Djibouti, as the host nation, reaps economic windfalls from the US presence in this strategically located country. Given that the United States has failed since 2008 to persuade any country on the continent to host AFRICOM, the base in Djibouti is likely to remain the only one in East Africa. Djibouti may be part of a pattern whereby some small African nations, such as São Tomé and Príncipe, collect revenue through the provision of military bases to big powers.
Legal Loopholes and the Politics of Executive Term Limits: Insights from Burundi
Authors: Vandeginste Stef
Published: February 2019

The nomination of incumbent Pierre Nkurunziza to stand again for president in the 2015 national elections triggered a political and security crisis in Burundi. A crucial element in the controversy around his third term was the legality of his candidacy. This paper analyses how domestic and international actors responded to the legal loopholes that characterised Burundi's term-limit legislation. Three responses are distinguished. First, quite paradoxically, an argument was put forward by third-term supporters that stressed constitutional legality, a value usually invoked by third-term opponents. Second, a peace agreement was referred to as a source of legitimacy and as a legal norm. Third, a Constitutional Court ruling was invoked to address the legal loophole. Despite the apparent irrelevance of legal norms in an increasingly authoritarian environment, law significantly shaped the dynamics of the third-term debate and of the wider crisis. The Burundi case also illustrates the limitations of constitutional engineering of democratic governance.
Institutional Engineering, Management of Ethnicity, and Democratic Failure in Burundi
Authors: Reyntjens Filip
Published: February 2019

This article argues that constitutional engineering along consociational lines in Burundi – explicitly accommodating ethnicity rather than attempting to suppress it – was instrumental in reducing the political role of ethnicity, but that other endogenous and exogenous factors also played a role. After surveying developments since 1988, this article focuses on the 2005 polls. The outcome of the parliamentary elections suggests that the “disappearance of the ethnic factor,” extolled by many at the time, was achieved by constitutional constraints rather than by social or political dynamics. Nevertheless, with regard to the country's most important and lethal historical problem, the ethnic divide, constitutional engineering has proved hugely effective. Burundi's main cleavage is now between (and within) parties rather than ethnic groups, and when violence occurs it is political rather than ethnic. Burundi's current crisis is therefore not a failure of consociationalism but of democracy.
The Elections in Uganda, February 2016
Authors: Gibb Ryan
Published: February 2019

On 18 February, Uganda conducted presidential and parliamentary elections. Incumbent president Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) won the multiparty contest for a third consecutive time. If his reign as the NRM leader during Uganda's stint as a one-party state is counted, the February elections marked the beginning of Museveni's fifth overall term as president. The NRM continues to dominate parliament, having won a super-majority of the contested seats. Opposition members who competed for both the presidential seat and a seat in parliament contested the results of the election, and the primary opposition candidate Kizza Besigye was placed under house arrest. International observers questioned the integrity of the results, specifically in rural areas that were poorly monitored, and opposition strongholds in urban centres suffered logistical problems. The elections reconfirmed the strength of the NRM following years of political infighting.
Democracy in Reverse: The 2016 General Election in Zambia
Authors: Goldring Edward , Wahman Michael
Published: February 2019

On 11 August 2016, Zambia held elections for the presidency, National Assembly, local councillors, and mayors. Concurrently, a referendum was held on whether to enhance the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of Zambia. The elections were significant for several reasons: It was the first contest under a newly amended Constitution, which introduced important changes to the electoral framework. It also marked a break with Zambia's positive historical record of arranging generally peaceful elections. Moreover, the election featured an electoral playing field that was notably tilted in favour of the incumbent party. Ultimately, the incumbent president, Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front, edged out opposition challenger Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development. The election was controversial and the opposition mounted an unsuccessful legal challenge to the final results. The 2016 elections represent a reversal in the quality of Zambian democracy and raise questions about the country's prospects for democratic consolidation.
ECOWAS and the Restoration of Democracy in the Gambia
Authors: Hartmann Christof
Published: February 2019

Following the disputed December 2016 presidential elections in The Gambia, ECOWAS managed to “restore democracy” in the country by using the threat of force, but without any use of direct physical violence. Both the African Union and the United Nations Security Council backed ECOWAS, which also gave ECOWAS legitimacy, for what was essentially ECOWAS's policy, and indeed an African solution to African problems. Only when the scenario of military invasion became credible did the Gambian regime accept the defeat. Four main factors explain the behaviour of ECOWAS and its success: ECOWAS had a clear legal mandate to threaten the use of force in order to protect democracy in one of its member states; there was consensus that ECOWAS forces could have coped with the relatively small Gambian army; the Gambian president could not rely on friends among his regional peers or some powerful ally from outside Africa; and regional leaders such as Nigeria and Senegal made a credible commitment to the regional intervention. While the intervention was a victory for pro-democratic activist regionalism, the specific West African conditions make a diffusion of the model to other parts of Africa unlikely.
Land Reform and Conflict in South Sudan: Evidence from Yei River County
Authors: Justin Peter Hakim , van Dijk Han
Published: February 2019

Following South Sudanese independence in 2011, land reform became a major aspect of state building, partly to address historical injustices and partly to avoid future conflicts around land. In the process, land became a trigger for conflicts, sometimes between communities with no histories of “ethnic conflict.” Drawing on cases in two rural areas in Yei River County in South Sudan, this paper shows that contradictions in the existing legal frameworks on land are mainly to blame for those conflicts. These contradictions are influenced, in turn, by the largely top-down approach to state building, which has tended to neglect changes in society and regarding land resulting from colonialism and civil wars.
The State of Electoral Reforms in Ghana
Authors: Van Gyampo Ransford Edward
Published: February 2019

Following Ghana's December 2012 elections, there was a protracted election petition process at the nation's Supreme Court challenging the declaration of the winner as the duly elected presidential candidate. Even though the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the declared winner, it made several recommendations that paved the way for numerous interventions aimed at putting together proposals for electoral reform to fine-tune Ghana's electoral processes. Several such reform proposals were submitted to the Electoral Commission by the end of 2013. Nevertheless, these were not implemented to guide the 2016 general elections. The successful conduct of the 2016 elections has therefore been described as a “miracle.” Why were the reform proposals not implemented? What is the current state of reform proposals submitted to the Electoral Commission? What is the way forward? This article addresses these questions.
The Popular Niche Economy of a Ghanaian Bus Station: Departure from Informality
Authors: Stasik Michael
Published: February 2019

This article combines the concept of a “popular economy” with that of a “niche economy” to analyse the workings of a central bus station in Accra, Ghana, and, by extension, of Ghana's public transport sector at large. In doing so it departs from generic models of the “informal sector” commonly used for describing road and roadside entrepreneurship in African contexts. At the same time, it challenges prevalent views of popular economies bent on emphasising mechanisms of reciprocity and solidarity over opportunity and profiteering. The focus on the station, it suggests, provides for a detailed reflection on the dialectics of collaboration and competition characteristic of Ghana's local transport economics, and it offers significant continuities with practices, places, and politics of economic “informality” in Africa.
Finding the Baoding Villages: Reviewing Chinese Conceptualisation of Sino-African Agricultural Cooperation
Authors: Liu Philip H. P.
Published: February 2019

Scholars usually examine African images of the Chinese to understand African responses to Chinese economic expansion, yet they rarely observe that a constructed image of Africa has been built up in China. That image is intrinsically racist and promotes the idea that Chinese investment can somehow “rescue” Africans from their “laziness.” This paper analyses the enduring legend of the Baoding villages, constructed to persuade the Chinese public that Chinese farmers could easily make their fortunes and win respect in Africa. A review of the history of Sino–African agricultural cooperation reveals that this fabricated narrative was convincing because it reinforced Chinese perceptions of African inferiority and reproduced existing ideologies of foreign aid and propaganda concerning policy effectiveness.
European Transnational Solidarity: Citizenship in Action?
Authors: Lahusen Christian , Theiss Maria
Published: February 2019

Europeans proclaim a readiness to engage for solidarity in support of others, even across their most immediate environment. However, our knowledge is rather limited on how widespread transnational European solidarity might be. Additionally, we do not know what kinds of beliefs and ideas are patterning cognitively the popular conceptions of transnational European solidarity. This article aims to present fresh insights on all these aspects. The analysis is based on a survey conducted in the context of the TransSOL project. This survey provides data about citizens reporting to have supported people abroad through various practices. In conceptual and theoretical terms, the article wishes to analyze and discuss transnational European solidarity from the perspective of political citizenship. Findings show that solidarity activities in support of other Europeans are more likely among citizens with “civic” skills and commitments, stronger identifications with the European Union, and preferences for more inclusive social rights.
Prescribing practices of Indian psychiatrists in the treatment of bipolar disorder
Authors: Reddy YC Janardhan , Jhanwar Venugopal , Nagpal Rajesh , Reddy MS , Shah Nilesh , Ghorpade Sanman , Kulkarni Sujay
Published: February 2019

Objective:

The treatment of bipolar disorder is challenging because of its clinical complexity and availability of multiple treatment options, none of which are ideal mood stabilizers. This survey studies prescription practices of psychiatrists in India and their adherence to guidelines.

Method:

In total, 500 psychiatrists randomly selected from the Indian Psychiatric Society membership directory were administered a face-to-face 22-item questionnaire pertaining to the management of bipolar disorder.

Results:

For acute mania, most practitioners preferred a combination of a mood stabilizer and an atypical antipsychotic to monotherapy. For acute depression, there was a preference for a combination of an antidepressant and a mood stabilizer over other alternatives. Electroconvulsive therapy was preferred in the treatment of severe episodes and to hasten the process of recovery. Approximately, 50% of psychiatrists prescribe maintenance treatment after the first bipolar episode, but maintenance therapy was rarely offered lifelong. While the majority (85%) of psychiatrists acknowledged referring to various clinical guidelines, their ultimate choice of treatment was also significantly determined by personal experience and reference to textbooks.

Limitations:

The study did not study actual prescriptions. Hence, the responses to queries in the survey are indirect measures from which we have tried to understand the actual practices, and of course, these are susceptible to self-report and social-desirability biases. This was a cross-sectional study; therefore, temporal changes in responses could not be considered.

Conclusion:

Overall, Indian psychiatrists seemed to broadly adhere to recommendations of clinical practice guidelines, but with some notable exceptions. The preference for antidepressants in treating depression is contrary to general restraint recommended by most guidelines. Therefore, the efficacy of antidepressants in treating bipolar depression in the context of Indian psychiatrists’ practice needs to be studied systematically. Not initiating maintenance treatment early in the course of illness may have serious implications on the long-term outcome of bipolar disorder.
Effect of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes on physicomechanical properties of silicone rubber nanocomposites
Authors: Tamore Milind Shashikant , Ratna Debdatta , Mishra Satyendra , Shimpi Navinchandra Gopal
Published: February 2019

Ethyl-4-aminocinnamate functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes–reinforced silicone rubber nanocomposites were developed by means of compounding (two roll-mill) and molding (compression). Meanwhile, multi-walled carbon nanotubes were synthesized using a catalytic chemical vapor deposition technique and functionalized using ethyl-4-aminocinnamate. The as-synthesized and functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes were subjected to Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscopy to know the presence of the functional group with its shape and size. Further, silicone rubber nanocomposites were subjected to study its mechanical (tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation at break), thermal (stability), and physical (swelling index and hardness) properties. The amount of loading of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes was from 0 to 1 wt%. It was observed that with the increase in the amount of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes loading, the properties were found to be increased. This improvement was due to uniform dispersion with the alignment of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes inside the rubber matrix. Moreover, this improvement was due to weak functionalizing materials which make the surface smooth and glossy so as to facilitate uniform dispersion of materials. Also, thermal stability was found to be increased due to shifting of heat uniformly throughout the rubber matrix. Certainly, it reduces the swelling indices of silicone rubber as the chains are closely packed which does not allow a solution to get penetrated. This improvement in properties of silicone rubber nanocomposites was reflected from field emission scanning electron microscope, which shows uniform dispersion with the alignment of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes inside the rubber matrix.
Reading Between the Lines: Neurocognition and Reading Acquisition in Remote Indigenous Australia
Authors: Freire Melissa Renee , Pammer Kristen
Published: February 2019

Successful academic progression relies on a child’s ability to develop proficient reading skills. In Australia, the majority of children achieve this milestone during elementary schooling. Yet Australian Indigenous children, particularly those living in remote and rural regions of Australia, consistently struggle to meet national benchmarks for reading, as evidenced by national benchmark data. There has been extensive debate about whether sociocultural factors impinge on academic achievement for Indigenous Australians, but little discussion regarding the possible role of neurocognitive factors. In this review, we consider limited available research on neurocognitive mechanisms associated with reading for Indigenous populations and argue for an urgent need to consider the relationship between neurocognitive and sociocultural development when examining reading acquisition outcomes for this population. We also discuss the plausibility of targeting the potential neurocognitive strengths of certain Indigenous populations to scaffold reading acquisition and identify opportunities for furthering this line of research.
Under the Same Label: Adopted Adolescents’ Heterogeneity in Well-Being and Perception of Social Contexts
Authors: Paniagua Carmen , Moreno Carmen , Román Maite , Palacios Jesús , Grotevant Harold D. , Rivera Francisco
Published: February 2019

This study compares a sample of 223 adopted adolescents with a nonadopted reference group representative of the Spanish adolescent population from the “Spanish Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study.” Variables related to the family context, peers, school context, and emotional well-being are compared. Adoptees are not only analyzed as a group, but also according to the type of adoption (domestic or intercountry) and the birth area of origin (Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe). The results showed more similarities than differences between the whole group of adoptees and the reference group, as well as heterogeneity within the adoptees depending on their origin.
H∞ static output feedback control for electrical power steering subject to actuator saturation via fuzzy Lyapunov functions
Authors: Nasri Mohamed , Saifia Dounia , Chadli Mohammed , Labiod Salim
Published: February 2019

This paper presents an H∞ static output-feedback control of electrical power steering (EPS) subject to actuator saturation. It deals with different practical problems in designing control of EPS systems, such as unavailability for measurement of the sideslip angle, friction effect, disturbances and the assist motor input current optimization. In order to guarantee good and stable driving, the nonlinear model of the EPS combined with bicycle model of electrical vehicles is used. Firstly, a new Takagi-Sugeno model is established, then using a fuzzy Lyapunov function, an H∞ static output-feedback is designed in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Finally, the proposed control schemes are applied to an EPS system. Simulation results and comparison with previous works show the effectiveness of the proposed control methods.
Pathology Approaches to Determine Safety and Efficacy of Cardiac Ablation Catheters
Authors: Stoffregen William C. , Rousselle Serge D. , Rippy Marian K.
Published: February 2019

Cardiac electrophysiology utilizes nonimplantable, catheter-based devices for diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias as well as electroanatomical mapping of cardiac chambers. Gross pathology and histopathological assessments in preclinical studies play critical roles in determining the safety and efficacy of cardiac ablation systems used to treat tachyarrhythmias. The pathologist must assess ablation sites, adjacent structures and organs, and downstream organs to characterize the effects of the ablation treatment and determine whether adverse local reactions, collateral injury, or downstream thromboembolism are present. Histopathological assessment serves as an adjunct to electroanatomical data in determining efficacy in preclinical studies. Histopathology is the standard in definitively demonstrating transmurality of ablation lesions, which is necessary for complete conduction block, as well as showing the linear or circumferential distribution of a contiguous, transmural ablation lesion necessary for electroanatomical isolation of entire target structures such as pulmonary veins and the cavotricuspid isthmus, which are involved in propagating certain arrhythmias. This article will detail gross and histological methods for the pathology assessment of preclinical studies evaluating the safety and/or efficacy of cardiac ablation catheter systems as well as discuss correlation of pathology data with other supporting evidence for safety and efficacy such as acute, electroanatomical data.
Effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor-enhancing agents on cognition in patients with schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of double-blind randomised controlled trials
Authors: Chang Chun-Hung , Lane Hsien-Yuan , Tseng Ping-Tao , Chen Shaw-Ji , Liu Chieh-Yu , Lin Chieh-Hsin
Published: February 2019

Background:

Multiple N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor-enhancing agents have demonstrated promising effects for cognition in schizophrenia. However, the results of studies have been conflicting. This updated meta-analysis explored the effect of NMDA-receptor-enhancing agents on cognitive function.

Methods:

We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Collaboration Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials and Cochrane Systematic Reviews for studies on the effect of NMDA-receptor-enhancing agents on cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia up to September 2018. Double-blind randomised placebo trials with cognition rating scales were included. We pooled studies by using a random-effect model for comparisons with add-on NMDA-receptor-enhancing agents. Cognitive function scores were compared between baseline and subsequent levels, and NMDA-receptor-positive modulators were assessed using the standardised mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We evaluated statistical heterogeneity through visual inspection of funnel plots and by using the I2 statistic.

Results:

We identified 25 trials with 1951 participants meeting the inclusion criteria. NMDA-receptor-enhancing agents had a small but nonsignificant effect compared with the placebo on overall cognitive function (SMD = 0.068, CI = −0.056 to 0.193, P = 0.283). We identified trials enrolling patients aged between 30 and 39 years old, which reported significant positive effects (SMD: 0.163, 95% CI: 0.016–0.310, P = 0.030). Men were associated with a smaller effect of NMDA-receptor-positive modulators on overall cognitive function. Moreover, subgroup meta-analysis of cognitive domains revealed that N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) had a significant effect on working memory ( P-value for interaction = 0.038; SMD = 0.679, CI = 0.397–0.961, P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Our meta-analysis revealed no significant effect of NMDA-enhancing agents on overall cognition. However, subgroup analysis suggested that NMDAR-enhancing agents may benefit young patients with schizophrenia, and NAC may have an effect on working memory. Additional trials with larger samples are suggested to evaluate these cognitive domains and ascertain the possible mechanisms.
Curcumin regulates the miR-21/PTEN/Akt pathway and acts in synergy with PD98059 to induce apoptosis of human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells
Authors: Qiang Zhanrong , Meng Lingyu , Yi Caixia , Yu Lianying , Chen Wenxia , Sha Weihong
Published: February 2019

Objective

PD98059 is a potent and selective inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase. Substantial preclinical evidence has shown an anti-tumor effect of curcumin on various solid tumors. This study aimed to investigate whether curcumin synergistically acts with PD98059 in exerting anti-gastric cancer effects.

Methods

The cell counting kit-8 assay was used to detect cell proliferation of the human gastric cancer MGC-803 cell line. Flow cytometry was performed to detect apoptosis. Western blotting was used to detect phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) expression levels. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to determine microRNA-21 (miR-21).

Results

A dose of 5 to 40 µM curcumin inhibited proliferation of MGC-803 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. A high dose of curcumin strongly inhibited p-Akt protein expression. With increasing curcumin levels, PTEN expression increased and miR-21 levels decreased. These results suggest that curcumin negatively modulated the miR-21/PTEN/Akt pathway. Moreover, after pretreatment with PD98059, cell apoptosis induced by curcumin was significantly increased. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of curcumin on the miR-21/PTEN/Akt pathway were significantly enhanced.

Conclusion

PD98059 combined with curcumin may be a potential strategy for managing gastric cancer.
Motion-Induced Scotoma
Authors: Seizova-Cajic Tatjana , Adamian Nika , Duyck Marianne , Cavanagh Patrick
Published: February 2019

We investigated artificial scotomas created when a moving object instantaneously crossed a gap, jumping ahead and continuing its otherwise smooth motion. Gaps of up to 5.1 degrees of visual angle, presented at 18° eccentricity, either closed completely or appeared much shorter than when the same gap was crossed by two-point apparent motion, or crossed more slowly, mimicking occlusion. Prolonged exposure to motion trajectories with a gap in most cases led to further shrinking of the gap. The same gap-shrinking effect has previously been observed in touch. In both sensory modalities, it implicates facilitation among codirectional local motion detectors and motion neurons with receptive fields larger than the gap. Unlike stimuli that simply deprive a receptor surface of input, suggesting it is insentient, our motion pattern skips a section in a manner that suggests a portion of the receptor surface has been excised, and the remaining portions stitched back together. This makes it a potentially useful tool in the experimental study of plasticity in sensory maps.
Experimental investigations on surface finish and microgeometry of helical gear in pulsed-electrochemical honing process
Authors: Rai Pravin , Jain Neelesh K , Pathak Sunil
Published: February 2019

Gear is one of the most vital mechanical elements for transmission of power and motion. It has been considered as one of the highest consumable mechanical parts. Surface attributes of the gears are most important elements to describe its operating performance, service life, and accuracy. Present work highlights the development of pulsed-electrochemical honing process to enhance the performance of gears by refining the variables of surface roughness, microgeometry, and material removal rate of 20MnCr5 alloy steel helical gears. Freshly designed sandwich type cathode gear has been developed which served as a tool in pulsed-electrochemical honing process. Investigations have been done on studying the effects and identifying the optimum values of four most important variables of pulsed-electrochemical honing process, namely applied voltage ( V), pulse-on time ( T on), pulse-off time ( T off), and finishing time ( t) on synchronized enhancement in surface finish and microgeometry. Results of the investigations reveal that T on as 6 ms, T off as 3 ms, t as 8 min, and V as 16 V yielded the best results for surface finish and microgeometry together.
Understanding Dyslexia Through Personalized Large-Scale Computational Models
Authors: Perry Conrad , Zorzi Marco , Ziegler Johannes C.
Published: February 2019

Learning to read is foundational for literacy development, yet many children in primary school fail to become efficient readers despite normal intelligence and schooling. This condition, referred to as developmental dyslexia, has been hypothesized to occur because of deficits in vision, attention, auditory and temporal processes, and phonology and language. Here, we used a developmentally plausible computational model of reading acquisition to investigate how the core deficits of dyslexia determined individual learning outcomes for 622 children (388 with dyslexia). We found that individual learning trajectories could be simulated on the basis of three component skills related to orthography, phonology, and vocabulary. In contrast, single-deficit models captured the means but not the distribution of reading scores, and a model with noise added to all representations could not even capture the means. These results show that heterogeneity and individual differences in dyslexia profiles can be simulated only with a personalized computational model that allows for multiple deficits.
The Legislative Consequences of Congressional Scandals
Authors: Paschall Collin , Sulkin Tracy , Bernhard William
Published: February 2019

We explore the consequences of involvement in scandal for members of Congress’ (MCs) success within the House of Representatives. Our analyses target all MCs who served in the 101st to 112th Congresses (1989–2012). Across this time period, we identify 253 discrete member-term observations of professional or personal scandal. Our results demonstrate that scandal stalls the upward trajectory of MCs’ careers in the chamber, affecting their levels of legislative effectiveness, their centrality to the congressional network, and their likelihood of gaining or losing prestigious committee assignments and leadership positions. Importantly, these effects can linger beyond the term following scandal, shaping MCs’ behavior into the future. Our findings demonstrate that in addition to negative electoral repercussions, scandals can have important legislative consequences for members.
A Newtonian mechanics formulation for the vibration of translating and rotating elastic continua
Authors: Lowe Robert L , Cooley Christopher G
Published: February 2019

In this paper, we present a Newtonian mechanics formulation for modeling the vibration of a convecting elastic continuum, i.e., a system characterized by mean kinematic translation or rotation with small superposed vibrations. The proposed Newtonian approach complements customary energy-based techniques and serves as a convenient means to validate and physically interpret their results. We develop the equations of motion and matching conditions in a continuum mechanics setting with respect to a stationary inertial reference frame. Interaction of the convecting continuum with discrete space-fixed elements (e.g., springs and dampers) is enabled, without introducing time-dependent coefficients, through the use of Eulerian kinematics and kinetics. Kinematic discontinuities inherent in these interactions are accommodated by employing a global (or integral) form of balance of linear momentum applied to a space-fixed control volume. A generalized form of Navier's equation of elastic wave propagation is derived, with unsteady, Coriolis, centripetal, and convective contributions to the inertia. The resulting formulation is applied to a broad class of translating and rotating systems – including spinning rings, axially moving strings and beams, and general three-dimensional elastic structures – and shown to successfully reconcile with existing energy-based derivations in the literature.
Sex differences in employment and supports for adults with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Taylor Julie Lounds , Smith DaWalt Leann , Marvin Alison R , Law J Kiely , Lipkin Paul
Published: February 2019

This study explored sex differences in employment, reasons for unemployment, benefits, and supports among a large, international sample of adults with autism spectrum disorder. The sample included 443 adults with autism spectrum disorder (60% female; 74% residing in the United States) who consented to be part of an autism research registry and completed an Internet survey. Outcome variables included current employment status, number of hours working, number of jobs in the past 5 years, reasons for unemployment, as well as the number of benefits received and the amount of financial support currently being received from families of origin. Using multiple regression models, we found that males and females were working at similar rates. Females were more likely than males to say that their unemployment was a result of choosing to withdraw from the labor market. Similar percentages of males and females reported receiving some form of benefits or family support, but of those receiving benefits/family support, males received more than females. These results are consistent with other studies finding subtle, but potentially important sex differences in life-course outcomes of individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
A Noninvasive Method to Reduce Radiotherapy Positioning Error Caused by Respiration for Patients With Abdominal or Pelvic Cancers
Authors: Li Weifeng , Jiang Zhuoran , Chu Kaiyue , Jin Jianhua , Ge Yun , Cai Jing
Published: February 2019

Purpose:

To develop an infrared optical method of reducing surface-based registration error caused by respiration to improve radiotherapy setup accuracy for patients with abdominal or pelvic tumors.

Materials and Methods:

Fifteen patients with abdominal or pelvic tumors who received radiation therapy were prospectively included in our study. All patients were immobilized with vacuum cushion and underwent cone-beam computed tomography to validate positioning error before treatment. For each patient, after his or her setup based on markers fixed on immobilization device, initial positioning errors in patient left-right, anterior-posterior, and superior-inferior directions were validated by cone-beam computed tomography. Then, our method calculated mismatch between patient and immobilization device based on surface registration by interpolating between expiratory- and inspiratory-phase surface to find the specific phase to best match the surface in planning computed tomography scans. After adjusting the position of treatment couch by the shift proposed by our method, a second cone-beam computed tomography was performed to determine the final positioning error. A comparison between initial and final setup error will be made to validate the effectiveness of our method.

Results:

Final positioning error confirmed by cone-beam computed tomography is 1.59 (1.82), 1.61 (1.84), and 1.31 (1.38) mm, reducing initial setup error by 24.52%, 51.04%, and 53.63% in patient left-right, anterior-posterior, and superior-inferior directions, respectively. Wilcoxon test showed that our method significantly reduced the 3-dimensional distance of positioning error ( P < .001).

Conclusion:

Our method can significantly improve the setup precision for patients with abdominal or pelvic tumors in a noninvasive way by reducing the surface-based registration error caused by respiration.
Qualitative exploration of the education and skill needs of community pharmacists in Saskatoon concerning substance use disorder
Authors: Fatani Sarah , Dobson Roy , El-Aneed Anas
Published: February 2019

Background:

Identifying the skills and educational needs of community pharmacists concerning addiction is critical to improving the services provided for people who suffer from addiction disease (PWSAD).

Methods:

Eleven one-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with community pharmacists practising in the Saskatoon Health Region, Canada. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and verified with the participants. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the transcripts.

Results:

Four major themes were identified: 1) effect of the work setting on pharmacists’ encounters with PWSAD, 2) pharmacists’ knowledge of key aspects of addiction, 3) level of support within the health care system, and 4) educational and training needs.

Conclusion:

Participants indicated that a lack of knowledge and training were major hindrances to improving the quality of the services provided to people who suffer from addiction disease. Additional practicum experience at the undergraduate level and interprofessional interactive educational sessions at the continuing educational level were key recommendations emerging from the study.
Economic Accountability in Central America
Authors: Johnson Gregg B. , Schwindt-Bayer Leslie A.
Published: February 2019

Representative democracy hinges upon the notion of accountability. We examine the mediating effects of political context on economic accountability in a hostile environment – the developing democracies of Central America. We test whether clarity of responsibility mediates the economy's effects on citizens’ support for a president using approval ratings. In general, we find that a good economy increases public support for a president significantly more under unified government, but surprisingly, we find that a bad economy decreases public support for a president far more under divided government. Dynamic simulations show that these effects become more pronounced during sustained periods of economic expansion or contraction.
Hybrid Political Institutions and Governability: The Budgetary Process in Brazil
Authors: Pereira Carlos , Orellana Salomon
Published: February 2019

In this paper we take a close look at some of the particular pathways by which majoritarian and consensual institutions affect governability. We demonstrate that the mix of majoritarian and consensual institutions found within a country can influence these pathways quite dramatically, such that they produce rather different consequences for governability, even when these pathways are relatively similar in nature. Particularly, we focus on the rules governing the relationship between the President and the Legislature, especially the appropriation of amendments proposed by legislators. In some presidential countries, the President possesses a partial veto (or a line-item veto), which allows him/her to approve or strike appropriations, which legislators introduce in amendments. Concentrating on the case of Brazil, we argue and demonstrate that whether or not the President can use this tool to sustain governing majorities (i.e., to increase governability) depends on the kind of amendment to the budget introduced by legislators. One kind, individual amendment, is linked to the majoritarian institution of a powerful presidency and therefore helps to increase governability. A second kind, collective amendment, is linked to consensual institutions and actually does not enhance legislative support for the Executive.
Delegation, Presidential Regimes, and Latin American Regulatory Agencies
Authors: Jordana Jacint , Ramió Carles
Published: February 2019

During the 1990s, a large number of regulatory agencies were created or reformed in different sectors in Latin American countries. Almost all included political delegation mechanisms, intended as formal rules to enhance credible commitments to time-consistent policies. In this paper, using an original data set of agencies’ head tenure in the telecommunications and finance regulatory agencies, we discuss if these mechanisms worked as planned, and find a divergence between actual mandates and the formally established fixed terms, effected by means of systematic early resignations. Our findings reveal, however, some consistent patterns of behavior. Stronger legislative presidential power reduced effective delegation to some extent, and agencies’ organizational strengths protected them from patronage. We also confirmed the existence of some significant differences between the two sectors examined. Having slightly weaker delegation rules, delegation practices were also less effective in telecommunications than in financial services, contrary to expectations about credible commitments.
Let's Blame Everyone: Executive and Legislative Evaluations of Economic Performance in Brazil and Chile
Authors: Renno Lucio , Gramacho Wladimir
Published: February 2019

In this paper we bring together institutional, contextual, and behavioral perspectives in a comprehensive model that explores determinants of executive and legislative approval based on economic performance in Brazil and Chile. Our main question is, do voters attribute responsibility for the state of the economy to their representatives in the Legislative Branch as they apparently do to officeholders in the Executive Branch? We search for answers to this question with an eye on how active the distinct branches of government are in economic policy-making and voters’ levels of political sophistication. Our main hypothesis is that less sophisticated voters will blame politicians indiscriminately for the state of the economy, independent of how influential each branch of government is on economic policy. More sophisticated voters will better discern the role each branch plays in economic policy-making and will not blame representatives in the Legislative Branch for the state of the economy when Congress is not active in economic policy-making. The cases of Brazil and Chile under Cardoso and Lagos offer the perfect opportunity to test this hypothesis, which is confirmed by our data.
The Politics of Subnational Undemocratic Regime Reproduction in Argentina and Mexico
Authors: Giraudy Agustina
Published: February 2019

This article studies the continued existence of subnational undemocratic regimes in Argentina and Mexico, two countries that have recently experienced national democratization. The first part of the article offers a conceptualization of subnational democracy and measures its territorial extension across all subnational units. The second part explores a common, albeit not systematically tested explanation about subnational undemocratic regime continuity, namely, that these regimes persist because they meet national incumbents’ strategic political needs. This claim is tested using statistical analyses to contrast patterns of spending across undemocratic subnational units during the presidencies of Menem (1989-1999), De la Rúa (2000-2001), Duhalde (2002), and Kirchner (2003-2007) in Argentina, and Fox (2000-2006) in Mexico. Contradicting conventional wisdom, the results show that presidents only reproduce a handful of subnational undemocratic regimes, as not all of them can meet presidential needs. In addition, the results reveal that the strategic calculation of presidents regarding this reproduction is dictated by factors that have been largely overlooked by the literature.
The Institutional Feasibility of National-Local Policy Collaboration: Insights from Brazil and Argentina
Authors: Fenwick Tracy Beck
Published: February 2019

The goal of this paper is to suggest that municipalities can facilitate the central government's ability to carry out its desired policy goals. Using three institutional variables that provide internal evidence for each case, I will argue that within some institutional configurations the center may seek uniformity of outcome by trying to circumvent governors and/or regional intermediation and forge a direct relationship with municipalities. Based on research from the area of social protection policy in Brazil and Argentina, I suggest that direct national-local collaboration contributed to the ability of the Brazilian central government to bypass governors and evenly spread non-contributory welfare goods across its territory and alleviate poverty. I argue that such policy collaboration is less likely to be institutionally feasible in a federal system like Argentina's, where such equivalent collaboration is impeded by the ability of its provinces to directly capture local units of government and undermine national policy outcomes and executive preferences.