bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cervical HPV infection in Romanian women infected with HIV during early childhood
Authors: Ene Luminita , Voinea Cristina , Stefanescu Claudia , Sima Diana , Duiculescu Dan , Mehta Sanjay R
Published: September 2015

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common cause of cervical cancer worldwide, and Romania has the highest rate of cervical cancer in Europe. Sixty-five young Romanian women infected with HIV during early childhood and 25 control subjects were evaluated for the presence of cervical HPV infection and for cytologic abnormalities. HPV infection was evaluated longitudinally in 42 HIV-infected individuals. Overall 28/65 (43.1%) of HIV-infected and 8/25 (32.0%) of uninfected subjects were infected with HPV, and 21/65 (32.3%) and 6/25 (24%) had high-risk subtypes, respectively. In HIV-infected women, those maintaining or acquiring a new subtype in follow-up were more likely to have a lower nadir ( p = 0.04) and current ( p = 0.01) CD4 cell counts. The incidence rate for HPV acquisition events was 0.69 per subject per year, and 0.52 for high-risk subtypes. In the HIV-infected group, 9/13 (69.2%) individuals with abnormal cytology progressed at follow-up. Although HPV prevalence was similar to controls, the rate of Pap smear abnormalities was much higher, possibly due to the decreased ability to mount new immune responses. Given the high rate of incident detection of vaccine preventable strains and cytologic progression in this cohort, HPV vaccination may be beneficial at any age in co-infected women.
Relationship between vitamin D, IFN-γ, and E2 levels in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Kokic V , Martinovic Kaliterna D , Radic M , Perkovic D , Cvek M , Capkun V
Published: September 2015

In this study, we investigated the relationship between vitamin D, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and estradiol (E2) in females of childbearing age with inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study included 22 SLE patients, and 21 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. Serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3), E2, and IFN-γ were measured by radioimmunoassay using the gamma-counter and ELISA. Patients and control subjects were divided into two groups based on their vitamin D levels (25(OH)D3 ≤ 20 ng/mL; 25(OH)D3 > 20 ng/mL). The median values of IFN-γ and E2 were higher in SLE patients compared to the controls, irrespective of vitamin D level ( p = 0.001, p = 0.009, p = 0.003, and p = 0.003, respectively). In SLE patients, there was a negative correlation between IFN-γ and 25(OH)D3 ( rs = −0.330; p = 0.03) and a positive correlation between IFN-γ and E2 ( rs = 0.404; p = 0.007). This study demonstrates an interesting interplay between vitamin D, INF-γ, and E2 in SLE patients with inactive disease.
Clinical and immunological aspects and outcome of a Brazilian cohort of 414 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): comparison between childhood-onset, adult-onset, and late-onset SLE
Authors: das Chagas Medeiros M M , Bezerra M Campos , Braga F N Holanda Ferreira , da Justa Feijão M R Melo , Gois A C Rodrigues , Rebouças V C do Rosário , de Carvalho T M Amorim Zaranza , Carvalho L N Solon , Ribeiro ÁT Mendes
Published: September 2015

The clinical expression of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is influenced by genetic and environmental factors and therefore varies between ethnicities. Information on the epidemiology of SLE in Brazil is scarce and practically limited to studies conducted in socioeconomically developed regions (South and Southeast). The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and immunological aspects and outcome of a cohort of patients with SLE treated at a university hospital in northeastern Brazil and compare patterns related to age at onset: childhood (cSLE), adult (aSLE), and late (lSLE). A random sample of 414 records (women: 93.5%) were reviewed. The mean age at SLE onset and the mean disease duration were 28.9 ± 10.9 years and 10.2 ± 6.6 years, respectively. Most patients had aSLE ( n = 338; 81.6%), followed by cSLE ( n = 60; 14.5%) and lSLE ( n = 16; 3.9%). The female/male ratio was 6.5:1 in cSLE and 16.8:1 in aSLE; in lSLE, all patients were female ( p = 0.05). During follow-up, the cSLE group presented higher rates of nephritis (70% vs. 52.9% vs. 12.5%; p = 0.0001) and leuko/lymphopenia (61.7% vs. 43.8% vs. 56.2%; p = 0.02). No significant differences were found for anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm, and antiphospholipid antibodies. Treatment with immunosuppressants was significantly more common, and higher doses of prednisone were used, in cSLE. The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases were more frequent in lSLE ( p = 0.03). No significant differences were found between the three groups with regard to mean damage accrual (SDI), remission, and mortality. Although cSLE presented higher rates of nephritis and leuko/lymphopenia, more frequent use of immunosuppressants and higher prednisone doses than aSLE and lSLE, the three groups did not differ significantly with regard to damage accrual, remission, and mortality.
The African Lupus Genetics Network (ALUGEN) registry: standardized, prospective follow-up studies in African patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Hodkinson B , Mapiye D , Jayne D , Kalla A , Tiffin N , Okpechi I
Published: September 2015

Background

The prevalence and severity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) differs between ethnic groups and geographical regions. Although initially reported as rare, there is growing evidence that SLE is prevalent and runs a severe course in Africa. There is a paucity of prospective studies on African SLE patients.

Objective

The African Lupus Genetics Network (ALUGEN) is a multicentred framework seeking to prospectively assess outcomes in SLE patients in Africa. Outcomes measured will be death, hospital admission, disease activity flares, and SLE-related damage. We will explore predictors for these outcomes including clinical, serological, socio-demographic, therapeutic and genetic factors. Further, we will investigate comorbidities and health-related quality of life amongst these patients.

Methods

Data of patients recently (≤5 yrs) diagnosed with SLE will be collected at baseline and annual follow-up visits, and captured electronically. The ALUGEN project will facilitate standardized data capture for SLE cases in Africa, allowing participating centres to develop their own SLE registries, and enabling collaboration to enrich our understanding of inter-ethnic and regional variations in disease expression.

Conclusion

Comprehensive, high-quality multi-ethnic data on African SLE patients will expand knowledge of the disease and inform clinical practice, in addition to augmenting research capacity and networking links and providing a platform for future biomarker and interventional studies.
Brain unidentified bright objects (“UBO”) in systemic lupus erythematosus: sometimes they come back. A study of microembolism by cMRI and Transcranial Doppler ultrasound
Authors: Bortoluzzi A , Padovan M , Azzini C , De Vito A , Trotta F , Govoni M
Published: September 2015

Objectives

The objectives of this report are to assess the occurrence of microembolic signals (MES) detected by transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with (NPSLE) and without (SLE) neuropsychiatric involvement, and to verify the correlation between MES, clinical characteristics, especially the patent foramen ovale (PFO), and the presence of punctuate T2-hyperintense white matter lesions (WMHLs) detected by conventional magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI).

Methods

A TCD registration to detect MES from the middle cerebral artery was carried out in SLE and NPSLE patients after exclusion of aortic and/or carotid atheromatous disease. In all patients conventional brain magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) and transesophageal echocardiography were performed. Patients were stratified in two groups, with and without WMHLs, and compared.

Results

Twenty-three SLE patients (16 NPSLE and seven SLE) were enrolled in the study. Overall MES were detected in 12 patients (52.1%), WHMLs were detectable in 15 patients (13 NPSLE and two SLE) while eight patients had normal cMRI (three NPSLE and five SLE). Matching TCD ultrasound and neuroimaging data, MES were detected in 10 (nine NPSLE and one SLE) out of 15 patients with WHMLs and in only two out of eight patients (two NPSLE and six SLE) with normal cMRI, both with NP involvement. A PFO was confirmed in all cases of MES detection.

Conclusion

MES are frequent findings in SLE patients, especially in those with focal WMHLs detected by cMRI and correlating with PFO. These findings should be taken into account and suggest caution in the interpretation of cMRI pictures along with a careful evaluation of MES in patients with cMRI abnormalities that should be included in the workup of SLE patients.
A survey of the mental health workforce in Guangdong: implications for policy and workforce planning
Authors: Li Yue , Jia Fujun , Hou Cailan , Ryan Brigid , Blashki Grant , Everall Ian , Ng Chee
Published: September 2015

Objective:

Mental illness is a major contributor to disease burden in China. Guangdong province has a population of over 104 million. This province’s health information system is inadequate, especially the mental health workforce and service response. This paper describes a field survey to assess the existing mental health workforce and service capacity in Guangdong.

Method:

A total of 125 major service providers in Guangdong were identified with the capacity to treat serious mental illness at all levels of the health system. These services were approached to complete a standardised survey based on the WHO Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems.

Results:

The survey identified 8498 mental health workers with 72.5% working in psychiatric hospitals. Service providers reported a treatment rate of 68.8% of a total of 430,000 people registered for treatment of severe mental illness, and only 28.4% of over a million people estimated to be experiencing severe mental illness. An inadequate mental health workforce was cited as a common barrier to treatment access.

Conclusion:

Guangdong province has a significant treatment gap for severe mental illness and a shortage in the mental health workforce. The distribution of the mental health workforce and facilities is imbalanced towards hospital care rather than community care.
An online learning-based fuzzy control method for vibration control of smart solar panel
Authors: Xu Rui , Li DongXu , Jiang JianPing
Published: September 2015

Vibration control problem of solar panel structure is an ultra-important problem which was studied by a lot of researchers. This research is devoted to design an “intelligent” control algorithm for this problem, which can learn autonomously without supervision or a priori training data. Based on this idea, an online learning-based fuzzy control method is proposed in this article. The online learning-based fuzzy control is composed of reinforce learning algorithm and fuzzy inference system. The learning algorithm learns the fuzzy rule base by interaction with the plant and changes rule base generated by policy via evaluative reward signal to realize the learning goal. In order to verify the presented control method, vibration control of a typical single-panel smart solar panel structure bonded with piezoelectric actuators is considered in this article. First, the dynamic model of the smart solar panel structure is established using finite element method. Then, the state-space equation of the control system is presented. After that, technique details of the online learning-based fuzzy control method are described. Finally, experimental validation is conducted. The experimental results show that the online learning-based fuzzy control method presented in this article can suppress the vibration of the smart solar panel effectively and faster than fuzzy control method.
Stepped and Standard Care for Childhood Trauma
Authors: Salloum Alison , Small Brent J. , Robst John , Scheeringa Michael S. , Cohen Judith A. , Storch Eric A.
Published: September 2015

Objective:

This study explored the feasibility of stepped care trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (SC-TF-CBT) relative to TF-CBT with children (aged 8–12).

Method:

Children ( N = 33) with post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) were randomly assigned (2:1) to SC-TF-CBT or TF-CBT. SC-TF-CBT consisted of Step 1, parent-led therapist-assisted treatment, and Step 2 (nine TF-CBT sessions). TF-CBT consisted of 12 therapist-directed sessions. Baseline, post-Step 1, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up assessments occurred. Cost-related data were collected throughout the treatment.

Results:

In all, 64% (intent-to-treat) to 82% (completers) responded to Step 1. Group × Time interactions were not statistically significant for PTSS ( p = .888), severity ( p = .576), and internalizing ( p = .862)/externalizing ( p = .974) symptoms, indicating comparable improvements in outcomes across both conditions. There were no significant differences in parental treatment credibility ( p = .440), expectations ( p = .664), and satisfaction ( p = .768). SC-TF-CBT total costs were significantly lower than TF-CBT (Effect Size [ES] = 1.61, confidence interval [CI] = [0.65, 2.59], p < .0001).

Conclusion:

Step 1 may be a viable service delivery approach although further research is needed.
Simultaneous planning and action: neural-dynamic sequencing of elementary behaviors in robot navigation
Authors: Billing Erik , Lowe Robert , Sandamirskaya Yulia
Published: September 2015

A technique for simultaneous planning and action based on dynamic field theory is presented. The model builds on previous work on representation of sequential behavior as attractors in dynamic neural fields. Here, we demonstrate how chains of competing attractors can be used to represent dynamic plans towards a goal state. The present work can be seen as an addition to a growing body of work that demonstrates the role of dynamic field theory as a bridge between low-level reactive approaches and high-level symbol processing mechanisms. The architecture is evaluated on a set of planning problems using a simulated e-puck robot, including analysis of the system’s behavior in response to noise and temporary blockages of the planned route. The system makes no explicit distinction between planning and execution phases, allowing continuous adaptation of the planned path. The proposed architecture exploits the dynamic field theory property of stability in relation to noise and changes in the environment. The neural dynamics are also exploited such that stay-or-switch action selection emerges where blockage of a planned path occurs; stay until the transient blockage is removed versus switch to an alternative route to the goal.
The Anesthetic Management of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Guarracino Fabio , Baldassarri Rubia
Published: September 2015

An increasing number of patients with a high risk for surgery because of advanced age and associated comorbidities that significantly increase the perioperative risk successfully undergo transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). TAVI is commonly performed under general or local anesthesia or local anesthesia plus mild sedation to achieve a conscious sedation. The anesthetic regimen generally depends on the patient’s clinical profile and the procedural technical characteristics, but the center’s experience and internal organization likely play an important role in anesthetic decision making. The large variation in anesthetic management among various centers and countries likely depends on the different composition of the operating team and institutional organization. Therefore, a tight interaction among the various members of the TAVI team, including the cardiac anesthetist, provides the proper anesthetic management using the chosen procedural technique.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Applications in Cardiac Critical Care
Authors: Raleigh Lindsay , Ha Rich , Hill Charles
Published: September 2015

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (ECMO) in cardiac critical care has steadily increased over the past decade. Significant improvements in the technology associated with ECMO have propagated this recent resurgence and contributed to improved patient outcomes in the fields of cardiac and transplant (heart and lung) surgery. Specifically, ECMO is being increasingly utilized as a bridge to heart and lung transplantation, as well as to ventricular assist device placement. ECMO is also employed during the administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, known as extracorporeal life support. In this review, we examine the recent literature regarding the applications of ECMO and also describe emerging topics involving current ECMO management strategies.
Pathology and behaviour in feline medicine: investigating the link between vomeronasalitis and aggression
Authors: Asproni Pietro , Cozzi Alessandro , Verin Ranieri , Lafont-Lecuelle Céline , Bienboire-Frosini Cécile , Poli Alessandro , Pageat Patrick
Published: September 2015

Objectives

The aim of the study was to investigate if the feline vomeronasal organ (VNO) can be affected by inflammatory lesions and if these changes are associated with behavioural alterations.

Methods

VNOs from 20 cats were sampled during necropsy, submitted for routine tissue processing and stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histopathological evaluation. For the 20 cats, data on the presence of aggressive behaviours towards cats or humans were collected by questionnaire survey at the point of death. Inflammatory lesions were classified depending on the duration of the process as acute or chronic, both in vomeronasal sensory epithelium (VNSE) and in non-sensory epithelium (NSE). Fisher’s exact test was used to compare VNO inflammation with behavioural data.

Results

The VNSE was inflamed in 11/20 VNOs (55%) while the NSE was inflamed in 13/20 (65%). Overall, the VNO was affected by inflammation in 14/20 (70%) cats, and all the lesions were classified as chronic. Five out of 20 cats (25%) had documented intraspecific aggressive behaviours and 8/20 (40%) had shown aggression towards humans. Fisher’s exact test showed a statistically significant correlation between inflammation of the VNSE and intraspecific aggression ( P = 0.038). No statistically correlations were observed between VNSE inflammation and aggression towards humans and between NSE inflammation and aggression towards cats or humans.

Conclusions and relevance

Our results show, for the first time, the existence of vomeronasalitis in animals and its possible association with intraspecific aggressive behaviours. The inflammatory microenvironment could impair VNSE functionality, causing intraspecific communication alterations, probably through a reduction in chemical communication action and perception. Owing to the pivotal role of the VNO in the social life of cats and other species, this report provides a rationale to further investigate this disease in relation to a variety of behavioural disorders.
Total loss optimization in varying pole pair radial magnetic bearing using theoretical and genetic algorithm approach
Authors: Shelke Santosh N
Published: September 2015

A typical problem of radial magnetic bearing is chosen and bearing involving n-pole pairs, where n = 2,3,4,6,8, are designed. Various losses occurring in magnetic bearings such as copper loss, eddy current loss, hysteresis loss, windage loss are summarized as total loss and the methods of evaluating are discussed. Each individual loss and total loss in each case are computed for different rotor speeds. Total loss analysis was performed and the results are compared. It is found that there is a drastic decrease in the total loss from two pole pair to four pole pair. Later there is slow increase of total loss with number of pole pairs. On the whole, it is found the four pole pair to give the minimum total loss for all the speeds. Further a better analysis of total loss in four-pole pair radial magnetic bearing is performed using genetic algorithms. Objective function considered represents the total power loss, expressed as a function of seven design variables. It is found that the optimum total loss obtained by considering seven design parameters is much less than that of theoretical results. The genetic algorithm is showing the optimum losses nearly 50% of those theoretically predicted losses. On the whole, the total loss is found to increase with speed. Sensitivity analysis of various design parameters has been performed to see the effect on individual loss and changes in bearing performance parameters.
From May’s Laws to May’s legacy
Authors: Van Holsteyn Joop JM , Ridder Josje M Den , Koole Ruud A
Published: September 2015

For over 40 years now, the debate on the hierarchical opinion structure within political parties has been colored by May’s laws of General and Special curvilinear disparity. Their essence is that, compared to non-leaders and top leaders, the mid-level of sub-leaders of parties consists of radicals as regards their ideological, substantive positions. Persistent as this vision is, however, there have been few comprehensive empirical tests. In this paper such a test is employed for Dutch parties, consisting of: a) a comparison of average positions on issues and in terms of left and right of voters, members and MPs; b) a comparison of the full opinion distributions on particular political issues for these groups; and c) an exploration of perceptions among top leaders and sub-leaders of the opinion structure within their party. We conclude that there is not enough support to uphold May’s laws any longer. His laws should be dismissed, but May’s legacy should consist of a more open study of the opinion structures of parties, which are still crucial actors in Western representative democracies.
Balancing the ticket while appealing to the base
Authors: Krumel Thomas P , Enami Ali
Published: September 2015

Our paper addresses why a moderate presidential candidate would select an extreme running mate, as was the case in the 2012 US presidential election. To address this question, we designed a one-dimensional policy game in which a moderate challenger uses their vice-presidential candidate as a policy tool to alter the median voter participating in the election. Our main conclusion is that the median voter is altered through a mobilization effect, by increasing own party turnout through the convincing of the more extreme segment of a party to participate in the election, rather than altering the voter’s decision to vote for a particular candidate. This decision function only has a marginal effect on independent voters. Our conclusion is in line with recent empirical advances in the literature and our paper aims to more formally ground these advancements in theory. We developed a set of comparative statics to apply the theory of running mate selection more broadly, germane beyond the case of the 2012 presidential election used to frame this topic. Our model also determines the optimal difference between the platforms of a challenger and their vice-presidential candidate.
The far-right, immigrants, and the prospects of democracy satisfaction in Europe
Authors: Just Aida
Published: September 2015

This paper examines the consequences of the far-right in shaping foreign-born immigrants’ satisfaction with the way democracy works in their host country. It posits that while electorally successful far-right parties undermine democracy satisfaction, the magnitude of this effect is not uniform across all first-generation immigrants. Instead, it depends on newcomers’ citizenship status in their adopted homeland. The analyses using individual-level data collected as part of the five-round European Social Survey (ESS) 2002–2012 in 16 West European democracies reveal that the electoral strength of far-right parties in a form of vote and seat shares won in national elections is indeed powerfully linked to democracy satisfaction among foreign-born individuals. However, this relationship is limited to foreign-born non-citizens, as we have no evidence that far-right parties influence democracy attitudes among foreign-born individuals who have acquired citizenship in their adopted homeland.
Parental romantic expectations and parent–child sexuality communication in autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Holmes Laura G , Himle Michael B , Strassberg Donald S
Published: September 2015

This study examined the relationship between core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, parental romantic expectations, and parental provision of sexuality and relationship education in an online sample of 190 parents of youth 12–18 years of age with a parent-reported diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Regression analyses were conducted separately for youth with autism spectrum disorder + parent-reported average or above IQ and youth with autism spectrum disorder + parent-reported below average IQ. For youth with autism spectrum disorder + parent-reported average or above IQ, autism spectrum disorder severity predicted parental romantic expectations, but not parental provision of sexuality and relationship education. For youth with autism spectrum disorder + parent-reported below average IQ, parental romantic expectations mediated the relationship between autism spectrum disorder severity and parent provision of sexuality and relationship education. This supports the importance of carefully considering intellectual functioning in autism spectrum disorder sexuality research and suggests that acknowledging and addressing parent expectations may be important for parent-focused sexuality and relationship education interventions.
Autism spectrum disorder etiology: Lay beliefs and the role of cultural values and social axioms
Authors: Qi Xin , Zaroff Charles M , Bernardo Allan BI
Published: September 2015

Recent research examining the explanations given by the public (i.e. lay beliefs) for autism spectrum disorder often reveals a reasonably accurate understanding of the biogenetic basis of the disorder. However, lay beliefs often manifest aspects of culture, and much of this work has been conducted in western cultures. In this study, 215 undergraduate university students in Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China, completed self-report measures assessing two beliefs concerning autism spectrum disorder etiology: (1) a belief in parental factors and (2) a belief in genetic factors. Potential correlates of lay beliefs were sought in culture-specific values, and more universal social axioms. Participants were significantly more likely to endorse parenting, relative to genetic factors, as etiological. A perceived parental etiology was predicted by values of mind–body holism. Beliefs in a parental etiology were not predicted by values assessing collectivism, conformity to norms, a belief in a family’s ability to obtain recognition through a child’s achievement, or interpersonal harmony, nor by the social axioms measured (e.g. social cynicism, reward for application, social complexity, fate control, and religiosity). Beliefs in a genetic etiology were not predicted by either culture-specific values or social axioms. Implications of the current results are discussed.
Resistance through realism: Youth subculture films in 1970s (and 1980s) Britain
Authors: Weiner Nathaniel
Published: September 2015

Film scholars have argued that the British social realist films of the late 1950s and early 1960s reflect the concerns articulated by British cultural studies during the same period. This article looks at how the social realist films of the 1970s and early 1980s similarly reflect the concerns of British cultural studies scholarship produced by the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies during the 1970s. It argues that the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies’ approach to stylised working-class youth subcultures is echoed in the portrayal of youth subcultures in the social realist films Pressure (1976), Bloody Kids (1979), Babylon (1980) and Made in Britain (1982). This article explores the ways in which these films show us both the strengths and weaknesses of the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies’ work on subcultures.
A novel fault diagnosis technique for enhancing maintenance and reliability of rotating machines
Authors: Yunusa-Kaltungo Akilu , Sinha Jyoti K , Nembhard Adrian D
Published: September 2015

Equipment standardisation as a cost-effective means of rationalising maintenance spares has significantly increased the existence of several identical (similar components and configurations) ‘as installed’ machines in most industrial sites. However, the dynamic behaviours of such identical machines usually differ due to variations in their foundation flexibilities, which is perhaps why separate analysis is often required for each machine during fault diagnosis. In practice, the fault diagnosis process is even further complicated by the fact that analysis is often conducted at individual measurement locations for different speeds, since a significant number of rotating machines operate at various speeds. Hence, through the experimental simulation of a similar practical scenario of two identically configured ‘as installed’ rotating machines with different foundation flexibilities, this study proposes a simplified vibration-based fault diagnosis technique that may be valuable for fault detection irrespective of foundation flexibilities or operating speeds. On both experimental rigs with different foundation flexibilities, several common rotor-related faults were independently simulated. Data combination method was then used for computing composite higher order spectra (composite bispectrum and composite trispectrum), after which principal component analysis is used for fault separation and diagnosis of the grouped data. Hence, this article highlights the usefulness of the proposed fault diagnosis approach for enhancing the reliability of identical ‘as installed’ rotating machines, irrespective of the rotating speeds and foundation flexibilities.
Anger Management–Based Smoking Cessation Treatment
Authors: Rath Molly S. , Walitzer Kimberly S. , Deffenbacher Jerry L.
Published: September 2015

Despite tremendous progress in tobacco control over the past 50 years, smoking continues to be the foremost preventable cause of disease and death in the United States and the majority of adults who smoke want to quit. Thus, continuing efforts, both clinical and research, must focus on new, effective methods to aid in smoking cessation. Anger management (AM) therapy for smoking cessation is one such approach. The experience of anger-related emotions (e.g., irritation, frustration, annoyance, hostility) is integrally linked to smoking behavior, nicotine withdrawal, and smoking relapse. Here, we present an innovative, AM-based smoking cessation therapy coupled with nicotine replacement therapy. The treatment experiences of three diverse clients are presented, and insights based on their pre- and posttherapy research assessments are discussed. The client outcomes suggest that AM-based smoking cessation is a promising therapy approach and is deserving of more research and study.
Disruption on Steroids
Authors: Kimberly John R. , Bouchikhi Hamid
Published: September 2015

Over the past three decades, several industries including newspapers, broadcasting, book publishing and selling, music, movie, travel, financial services, and now the automobile industry have been disrupted by entrepreneurs using innovative business models based on lean and customizable technologies. Business schools have celebrated and promoted these developments, producing books, articles, and case studies documenting the profound changes that have occurred. Currently, the worlds of higher education in general and business education in particular are themselves facing disruption in much the same way as other industries. Paradoxically, however, the established incumbents in the B-school world have remained committed to a high-cost business model that served them well in the second half of the past century but that has disconnected their faculties, to a large extent, from the real world of business practice and that may be compromising their future adaptation and survival. This article reviews this rapidly changing landscape by identifying a number of disruptive trends in higher education, discussing a set of challenges that are specific to business education, and articulating two possible scenarios for the future of business schools, namely variation and selection.
Robust adaptive constrained backstepping flight controller design for re-entry reusable launch vehicle under input constraint
Authors: Zou Qin , Wang Fang , Zou Lianghua , Zong Qun
Published: September 2015

A nonlinear constrained controller is designed for a reusable launch vehicle during re-entry phase in the presence of model uncertainty, external disturbance, and input constraint, via combining sliding mode control and adaptive backstepping control. Since the complex coupling between the translational and rotational dynamics of reusable launch vehicle, a control-oriented model derived from rotational dynamic is used for controller design. During the virtual control input design procedure, a dynamic robust term is utilized to compensate for the uncertainty. In addition, a filter is applied to handle “explosion of terms” problem during the actual control input design. To reduce the computational burden, adaptive law is used to evaluate the unknown norm bound of the lumped uncertainty. An auxiliary system is constructed to compensate for the input constraint effect. The stability of the closed-loop system is analyzed based on Lyapunov theory. Simulation results demonstrate the validity of the developed controller in providing stable tracking of the guidance command by numerical simulation on the 6-degree-of-freedom model of reusable launch vehicle.
Gender and political leadership: Turkish experience
Authors: Inal Tuba
Published: September 2015

Women’s political leadership has been ignored both in actual political scene of world’s democracies and by the studies of political leadership. The common perception in both areas has long been that gender difference makes women unfit leaders. More recent studies of gender and leadership as well as various women politicians, on the other hand, emphasized women’s fitness for leadership due to their gendered characteristics. This paper argues that using gender as a determining factor for good or bad political leadership endangers future leadership opportunities for women. An exploration of the experience of Turkey in the 1990s with a woman political leader, Tansu Çiller, and her leadership style in relation to her gender, demonstrates that while gender stereotypes make women’s political leadership to be perceived as ineffective, any argument that is made in its favor in gendered terms faces the risk of being refuted by actual experience hence delegitimizing women’s leadership altogether. Using Crosby and Bryson’s leadership model as an analytical framework to dissect Çiller’s political and ethical leadership and her use of gender in the Turkish context, we can see that gender itself does not make a leader more democratic or ethical and arguing so works against potential women leaders.
Peace journalism: A proposition for conceptual and methodological improvements
Authors: Nohrstedt Stig Arne , Ottosen Rune
Published: September 2015

The peace journalism (PJ) field now has an appreciable amount of published material to show for its first decade of serious operation, in research, teaching and training alike. It amounts to a serious project to reform professional education programmes in journalism. But so far, the proposed remedies are more individual projects than coordinated and organized reforms; they are scattered geographically and do not have a global scope. This article discusses the need for a joint approach together with universities, colleges, training institutes and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and inter-governmental organizations, if PJ is to contribute to establishing journalism as an important factor in international norm-setting and to raise the profession’s ethical standards with regard to violent conflicts. To enable this, further conceptual development is also necessary. A combination of Johan Galtung’s PJ approach, with insights from critical discourse analysis (CDA), offers a way of managing the demand for contextual reflexivity that has been raised in the debate about PJ. CDA offers an opportunity to address war and peace issues in a more comprehensive manner, integrating analysis of the propaganda discourses during peacetime, underestimated by Galtung in his model.
The influence of resonant leadership on the structural empowerment and job satisfaction of registered nurses
Authors: Bawafaa Eunice , Wong Carol A , Laschinger Heather
Published: September 2015

The demanding nature of nursing work environments signals longstanding and growing concerns about nurses' health and job satisfaction and the provision of quality care. Specifically in healthcare settings, nurse leaders play an essential role in creating supportive work environments to avert these negative trends and increase nurse job satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of managers' resonant leadership on nurses' structural empowerment and job satisfaction. A secondary analysis of data collected from a cross-sectional survey design of 1216 registered nurses from nine Canadian provinces was conducted. Structural empowerment partially mediated the relationship between resonant leadership and job satisfaction. Resonant leadership and structural empowerment explained a total of 36% of the variance in job satisfaction while controlling for age, education and work setting ( F(5, 1169) = 131.78, p < 0.001). Findings suggested that resonant leaders are instrumental in creating empowering environments that contribute to higher job satisfaction in nursing. Therefore, a focus on developing resonant leadership skills among nurse leaders in healthcare organisations will advance the creation of healthy work environments that promote job satisfaction and the retention of nurses.
Storyboards of remembrance: Representations of the past in visitors’ photography at Auschwitz
Authors: Hilmar Till
Published: September 2015

A majority of today’s visitors to the Auschwitz memorial site take photos to document their stay. By calling attention to visitors’ photography on site, this article investigates the role of visual perception and visual techniques of memory for visits to memorial sites and empirically discusses the significance of historical imagination in linking the past with the present. Visitors’ photography at Auschwitz can be considered a mnemonic practice because seemingly lookalike, amateur pictures express modes of experience which are negotiated within an ethical and social framework. The strongest emotional impulse expressed in amateur photography on site is the feeling of the sublime, which supports the need to promote moral ideas like freedom or justice in the face of the past. Through participant-orientated research, this article contends that visual perception regulates sensual impressions during a visit and identifies six dominant photographic genres through which visitors focus their historical understanding of the site. Single images function within this as “storyboards” because of their strong narrative as well as mnemonic quality.
Contribution des acteurs régionaux à la réduction des inégalités sociales de santé : le cas de la France
Authors: Stachenko Sylvie , Pommier Jeanine , You Cécile , Porcherie Marion , Halley Justine , Breton Eric
Published: September 2015

Depuis le rapport de la Commission sur les Déterminants Sociaux de la Santé, plusieurs pays ont commencé à intégrer à leurs plans de santé la question des déterminants et de leur impact sur les inégalités de santé. En France, la création des Agences Régionales de Santé en 2009 est considérée comme une opportunité pour agir sur les inégalités sociales de santé (ISS) avec les instances régionales, départementales et locales qui détiennent les leviers appropriés. A la suite d’une analyse thématique des projets régionaux de santé, visant à identifier l’intégration des ISS ainsi que les approches retenues pour les aborder, quatre régions ont été étudiées plus finement. Des entretiens collectifs et individuels ( N = 45 interviewés) ont été menés auprès d’acteurs de terrain et institutionnels, afin de mieux comprendre et identifier les types de programmes et processus pour réduire les ISS. Nos analyses font ressortir une prise en compte généralisée des ISS dans les documents de planification et de programmation des instances régionales, des stratégies régionales qui restent centrées sur les populations vulnérables avec une faible considération du gradient social, l’existence d’instances de concertations intersectorielles dans les quatre régions qui constituent un potentiel de gouvernance important à mieux exploiter, l’existence de modalités de suivi et d’évaluation des ISS qui restent à consolider, et une forte mobilisation de plusieurs secteurs dans les processus régionaux de consultation des publics et des acteurs, mais des résultats variables, souvent reliés au niveau de ressources investies et des approches privilégiées. L’analyse de ces expériences françaises démontre un intérêt croissant pour l’action sur les déterminants sociaux de la santé et les ISS ; mais leur opérationnalisation, toujours en cours, appelle à des analyses plus fines qui permettront de mieux éclairer les politiques publiques.
Lack of interference between small bowel capsule endoscopy and implantable cardiac defibrillators: an ‘in vivo’ electrophysiological study
Authors: Moneghini Dario , Lipari Alessandro , Missale Guido , Minelli Luigi , Cengia Gianpaolo , Bontempi Luca , Curnis Antonio , Cestari Renzo
Published: September 2015

Background

Capsule endoscopy is a widely performed procedure for small bowel investigation. Once swallowed by the patient, the capsule transmits images to an external recorder over a digital radiofrequency communication channel. Potential electromagnetic interferences with implantable cardiac devices have been postulated. Clinical studies on the safety of capsule endoscopy in patients with cardiac defibrillators are lacking.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess potential mutual electromagnetic interferences between capsule and defibrillators.

Methods

This study used the Given M2A video capsule system. Ten different types of defibrillators were tested in a clinical setting. Before capsule ingestion, defibrillator electrical therapies were switched off. During capsule endoscopy patients were monitored with cardiac telemetry. At the end of capsule endoscopy the following defibrillator’s parameters were analysed: change in device settings; inappropriate shocks; inappropriate anti‐tachycardia therapy; inappropriate sensing or pacing; noise detection; device reset; programming changes; permanent electrical damages. Any technical problem related to capsule image transmission was recorded.

Results

Neither defibrillator malfunction nor interference in sensing or pacing was recorded; conversely, no capsule malfunction potentially caused by defibrillators was registered.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that capsule endoscopy can be safely performed in patients with cardiac defibrillators.
The Land Revolution in China from an academic history perspective: Changes of topics and paradigms
Authors: Meng Qingyan
Published: September 2015

The Land Revolution is considered to be the most important factor that led the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to the completion of its military mobilization and the final revolutionary victory in China. It is also a hot research subject with regards to the revolution in modern China from the standpoint of many disciplines, including law, economics, political science, history, sociology and anthropology. This article presents a critical review of the studies on the issues relating to the CCP’s Land Revolution that focuses on three facets of the research in this area: problematique, theoretical paradigms and specific topics. The review uses a new framework to look at four traditional lines of research: studies of China’s revolutionary history in America since the 1950s, studies of the history of the Chinese Communist Party since the founding of New China, studies of Chinese social and economic history since the 1930s, and studies of oral histories since the 1990s. Based on a careful review of the current literature related to the issues involved in the CCP’s Land Revolution, the article is critical in clarifying the problematique process of the Land Revolution from the angle of academic developmental history in order to learn what internal roadmaps and developmental paths operated within academia, explore the problems and limitations of various research traditions and theoretical perspectives, and lay the foundation for future research on the Land Revolution.
The voice of migrants: How does hukou affect the public consciousness and participation in China?
Authors: Chen Zhao , Lu Ming , Xu Yiqing
Published: September 2015

Based on the China General Social Survey (CGSS) in 2010, this article investigates the impact of hukou status on urban residents’ public consciousness and public participation. Public consciousness includes the self-reported ability regarding political participation, the self-reported confidence in evaluating the government’s activity, the anticipation of the effectiveness of public participation, and the individual attitude indicating public consciousness, while public participation includes voting for neighborhood committee members, voting for property owner committee members, participating in public activities in the local community, and being involved in group events. We find that non-local hukou status has some negative effects on migrants’ public consciousness, and the effects are not significantly weakened by increases in migrants’ income or education levels. Migrants are more passive in public participation, mainly because of the institutional constraints. However, concerning involvement in group events or attitudes toward unfair treatment from the government, migrants are not that different from local citizens. That is to say, if no institutionalized mechanism effectively responds to migrants’ reasonable appeals, migrants might fight for their rights by engaging in public activities, such as group events, which may lead to social instability. We also find that urban residents with higher education levels or more income have stronger public consciousness, although their public participation is not necessarily more frequent.
Upper Cervical Epidural Abscess in a Patient With Parkinson Disease
Authors: Al-Hourani Khalid , Frost Chelsea , Mesfin Addisu
Published: September 2015

To our knowledge, there are no reports in the literature of patients with Parkinson disease (PD) developing upper cervical spine infections. Our objective is to present a case of upper cervical epidural abscess in a patient with PD and to review upper cervical spine infection. We present the patient’s presentation, physical examination, imaging findings, and management as well a review of the literature. A 66-year-old male with PD presented to the emergency department (ED) following referral by a neurologist for a presumed C2 fracture. The preceding history was 1 week of severe neck pain requiring a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which was initially interpreted as a C2 fracture. On admission from the ED, further review of the MRI appeared to show anterior prevertebral abscess and an epidural abscess. The patient’s neurological examination was at baseline. In the span of 2 days, the patient developed significant motor weakness. A repeat MRI demonstrated expansion of the epidural collection and spinal cord compression. Surgical management consisting of C1 and C2 laminectomy, irrigation, and debridement from anterior and posterior approaches was performed. Postoperatively, the patient did not recover any motor strength and elected to withdraw care and died. Spinal epidural abscess requires a high index of suspicion and needs prompt recognition to prevent neurological impairment. Upper cervical spine infections are rare but can lead to lethal consequences.