bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Multiple-Step Legendre-Gauss Collocation Method for Solving Volterra’s Population Growth Model
Authors: Tavassoli Kajani Majid , Maleki Mohammad , Kılıçman Adem
Published: December 2013

A new shifted Legendre-Gauss collocation method is proposed for the solution of Volterra’s model for population growth of a species in a closed system. Volterra’s model is a nonlinear integrodifferential equation on a semi-infinite domain, where the integral term represents the effects of toxin. In this method, by choosing a step size, the original problem is replaced with a sequence of initial value problems in subintervals. The obtained initial value problems are then step by step reduced to systems of algebraic equations using collocation. The initial conditions for each step are obtained from the approximated solution at its previous step. It is shown that the accuracy can be improved by either increasing the collocation points or decreasing the step size. The method seems easy to implement and computationally attractive. Numerical findings demonstrate the applicability and high accuracy of the proposed method.
Interval Shannon Wavelet Collocation Method for Fractional Fokker-Planck Equation
Authors: Mei Shu-Li , Zhu De-Hai
Published: December 2013

Metzler et al. introduced a fractional Fokker-Planck equation (FFPE) describing a subdiffusive behavior of a particle under the combined influence of external nonlinear force field and a Boltzmann thermal heat bath. In this paper, we present an interval Shannon wavelet numerical method for the FFPE. In this method, a new concept named “dynamic interval wavelet” is proposed to solve the problem that the numerical solution of the fractional PDE is usually sensitive to boundary conditions. Comparing with the traditional wavelet defined in the interval, the Newton interpolator is employed instead of the Lagrange interpolation operator, so, the extrapolation points in the interval wavelet can be chosen dynamically to restrict the boundary effect without increase of the calculation amount. In order to avoid unlimited increasing of the extrapolation points, both the error tolerance and the condition number are taken as indicators for the dynamic choice of the extrapolation points. Then, combining with the finite difference technology, a new numerical method for the time fractional partial differential equation is constructed. A simple Fokker-Planck equation is taken as an example to illustrate the effectiveness by comparing with the Grunwald-Letnikov central difference approximation (GL-CDA).
FLUKA Monte Carlo Simulations about Cosmic Rays Interactions with Kaidun Meteorite
Authors: Korkut Turgay
Published: December 2013

An asteroid called Kaidun fell on December 3, 1980, in Yemen (15° 0′N, 48° 18′E). Investigations on this large-sized meteorite are ongoing today. In this paper, interactions between cosmic rays-earth atmosphere and cosmic rays-Kaidun meteorite were modeled using a cosmic ray generator FLUKA Monte Carlo code. Isotope distributions and produced particles were given after these interactions. Also, simulation results were compared for these two types of interactions.
Correlation of N-Acetyltransferase 2 Genotype with Isoniazid Acetylation in Polish Tuberculosis Patients
Authors: Zabost Anna , Brzezińska Sylwia , Kozińska Monika , Błachnio Maria , Jagodziński Jacek , Zwolska Zofia , Augustynowicz-Kopeć Ewa
Published: December 2013

Isoniazid (INH), a key agent in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), is metabolized primarily by the genetically polymorphic N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) enzyme. Patients treated with INH can be classified as fast, intermediate, and slow acetylators. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between NAT2 genotypes and the serum concentrations of INH. Blood samples from 130 patients were taken for the analysis, and plasma INH concentrations were determined by using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technology. Acetylation genotype was determined on genomic DNA by using an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) assay. Once the NAT2 genotypes were established, patients were classified into three categories: fast, intermediate, and slow acetylators. Of the 130 patients studied, 84 (64.6%) were slow, 39 (30%) were intermediate, and 7 (5.4%) were fast acetylators. Analysis of INH concentrations in the blood of patients receiving the approximate doses of the drug revealed that, at the time intervals examined, the average concentration of INH was 2- to 7-fold higher among slow acetylators compared to fast and intermediate acetylators.Conclusion. Determining mutations in the NAT2 gene enabled the identification of the INH acetylation type in patients and the genotyping results were consistent with the phenotype determined by methods of measurement of drug bioavailability.
Quantitative Diagnostic Method for Biceps Long Head Tendinitis by Using Ultrasound
Authors: Huang Shih-Wei , Wang Wei-Te
Published: December 2013

Objective. To investigate the feasibility of grayscale quantitative diagnostic method for biceps tendinitis and determine the cut‐off points of a quantitative biceps ultrasound (US) method to diagnose biceps tendinitis. Design. Prospective cross‐sectional case controlled study.
Setting. Outpatient rehabilitation service. Methods. A total of 336 shoulder pain patients with suspected biceps tendinitis were recruited in this prospective observational study. The grayscale pixel data of the range of interest (ROI) were obtained for both the transverse and longitudinal views of the biceps US. Results. A total of 136 patients were classified with biceps tendinitis, and 200 patients were classified as not having biceps tendinitis based on the diagnostic criteria. Based on the Youden index, the cut‐off points were determined as 26.85 for the transverse view and 21.25 for the longitudinal view of the standard deviation (StdDev) of the ROI values, respectively. When the ROI evaluation of the US surpassed the cut‐off point, the sensitivity was 68% and the specificity was 90% in the StdDev of the transverse view, and the sensitivity was 81% and the specificity was 73% in the StdDev of the longitudinal view to diagnose biceps tendinitis. Conclusion. For equivocal cases or inexperienced sonographers, our study provides a more objective method for diagnosing biceps tendinitis in shoulder pain patients.
An Adaptive Clustering Scheme for Improving the Scalability in Intelligent Transportation Systems
Authors: Lin Yen-Wen , Weng Hao-Chun , Lee Tsung-Han , Hou Shan-Yin
Published: December 2013

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs) aim at making the vehicle users be safer, comfortable, and better informed. Internet-enabled ITS applications get increasingly attractive recently. In this context, gateway is the portal of accessing the Internet. The efficiency of gateway management in ITSs thus profoundly affects the applicability of Internet-enabled applications. When the number of vehicles on the road greatly increased, the effectiveness of gateway requisition challenges the usage of the ITS services. To remedy the scalability problem in accessing the Internet in ITSs, an adaptive clustering scheme for gateway management is proposed in this paper. In the proposed scheme, the gateways are organized as a two-level cluster architecture. The gateways are dynamically employed according to the QoS requirements of the applications and current networking conditions. As shown in the simulation results, the proposed scheme is able to achieve the QoS requirements with fair gateway deployment cost.
The Age of Initiation of Drug Use and Sexual Behavior May Influence Subsequent HIV Risk Behavior: A Systematic Review
Authors: Baldwin Patrick , Shrestha Roman , Potrepka Jessica , Copenhaver Michael
Published: December 2013

Researchers examining injection drug users (IDUs) in drug treatment have been trying for decades to determine the optimal way to intervene to prevent the transmission and spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in this population. Although efficacious HIV risk reduction interventions are widely available, questions remain about what specific factors are most related to HIV risk behavior and defined as unprotected sexual activity and/or high risk drug use. This review involved an evaluation of the research literature in order to better understand the association between drug use and sexual behavior debut on HIV risk behavior. Findings suggest that drug use debut and sexual behavior debut may be related to subsequent HIV risk behavior. Evidence to date implies that intervening at an earlier age to assist youth to avoid or delay these high risk behaviors may be an additional means of reducing subsequent HIV risk.
NF-κB Activation-Induced Anti-apoptosis Renders HER2-Positive Cells Drug Resistant and Accelerates Tumor Growth
Authors: Bailey Shannon T. , Miron Penelope L. , Choi Yoon J. , Kochupurakkal Bose , Maulik Gautam , Rodig Scott. J. , Tian Ruiyang , Foley Kathleen M. , Bowman Teresa , Miron Alexander , Brown Myles , Iglehart J. Dirk. , Biswas Debajit K.
Published: December 2013

Breast cancers with HER2 overexpression are sensitive to drugs targeting the receptor or its kinase activity. HER2-targeting drugs are initially effective against HER2-positive breast cancer, but resistance inevitably occurs. We previously found that NF-κB is hyperactivated in a subset of HER2-positive breast cancer cells and tissue specimens. In this study, we report that constitutively active NF-κB rendered HER2-positive cancer cells resistant to anti-HER2 drugs and cells selected for lapatinib resistance upregulated NF-κB. In both circumstances, cells were antiapoptotic and grew rapidly as xenografts. Lapatinib-resistant cells were refractory to HER2 and NF-κB inhibitors alone but were sensitive to their combination, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy. A subset of NF-κB–responsive genes was overexpressed in HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancers, and patients with this NF-κB signature had poor clinical outcome. Anti-HER2 drug resistance may be a consequence of NF-κB activation, and selection for resistance results in NF-κB activation, suggesting that this transcription factor is central to oncogenesis and drug resistance. Clinically, the combined targeting of HER2 and NF-κB suggests a potential treatment paradigm for patients who relapse after anti-HER2 therapy. Patients with these cancers may be treated by simultaneously suppressing HER2 signaling and NF-κB activation.

Implications: The combination of an inhibitor of IκB kinase (IKK) inhibitor and anti-HER2 drugs may be a novel treatment strategy for drug-resistant human breast cancers. Mol Cancer Res; 12(3); 408–20. ©2013 AACR.
Interrogating Congenital Heart Defects With Noninvasive Fetal Echocardiography in a Mouse Forward Genetic Screen
Authors: Liu Xiaoqin , Francis Richard , Kim Andrew J. , Ramirez Ricardo , Chen Guozhen , Subramanian Ramiah , Anderton Shane , Kim Youngsil , Wong Liyin , Morgan Judy , Pratt Herbert C. , Reinholdt Laura , Devine William , Leatherbury Linda , Tobita Kimimasa , Lo Cecilia W.
Published: December 2013

Background—

Congenital heart disease (CHD) has a multifactorial pathogenesis, but a genetic contribution is indicated by heritability studies. To investigate the spectrum of CHD with a genetic pathogenesis, we conducted a forward genetic screen in inbred mice using fetal echocardiography to recover mutants with CHD. Mice are ideally suited for these studies given that they have the same four-chamber cardiac anatomy that is the substrate for CHD.

Methods and Results—

Ethylnitrosourea mutagenized mice were ultrasound-interrogated by fetal echocardiography using a clinical ultrasound system, and fetuses suspected to have cardiac abnormalities were further interrogated with an ultrahigh-frequency ultrasound biomicroscopy. Scanning of 46 270 fetuses revealed 1722 with cardiac anomalies, with 27.9% dying prenatally. Most of the structural heart defects can be diagnosed using ultrasound biomicroscopy but not with the clinical ultrasound system. Confirmation with analysis by necropsy and histopathology showed excellent diagnostic capability of ultrasound biomicroscopy for most CHDs. Ventricular septal defect was the most common CHD observed, whereas outflow tract and atrioventricular septal defects were the most prevalent complex CHD. Cardiac/visceral organ situs defects were observed at surprisingly high incidence. The rarest CHD found was hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a phenotype never seen in mice previously.

Conclusions—

We developed a high-throughput, 2-tier ultrasound phenotyping strategy for efficient recovery of even rare CHD phenotypes, including the first mouse models of hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Our findings support a genetic pathogenesis for a wide spectrum of CHDs and suggest that the disruption of left–right patterning may play an important role in CHD.
The Origins of Hobbes’s State of Nature
Authors: Hamilton James J.
Published: December 2013

I argue from The Elements of Law, De Cive and Leviathan that Hobbes constructed his state of nature drawing on an eclectic range of ideas – from Plato, Thucydides, Pyrrhonism and Chillingworth, and even Descartes. Sometimes he adapted themes and ideas from his reading and sometimes he reacted against them. His early humanist studies and work on Thucydides and Aristotle provided an important foundation. His account of primitive history was based on the ancient theory of historical progress, which he thought was validated by native Americans. The traditional view of the anarchy of civil war was a ready companion to this theory. He developed a theory of moral relativity based on Pyrrhonism, the Protestant exaltation of the individual conscience, and a radical theory of subjective natural right that seems to owe much to Fernando Vázquez. His novel theory of natural equality rejects the traditional juridical and theological idea for one that capitalizes on contemporary fear of social equality. Finally, his theory of the passions that produce the war of all against all are almost certainly drawn from Thucydides.
Thomas Hobbes: Magnanimity, Felicity, and Justice
Authors: Corsa Andrew J.
Published: December 2013

Thomas Hobbes’s concept of magnanimity, a descendant of Aristotle’s “greatness of soul,” plays a key role in Hobbes’s theory with respect to felicity and the virtue of justice. In his Critique du ‘De Mundo’, Hobbes implies that only genuinely magnanimous people can achieve the greatest felicity in their lives. A life of felicity is a life of pleasure, where the only pleasure that counts is the well grounded glory experienced by those who are magnanimous. Hobbes suggests that felicity involves the successful pursuit of desires, a pursuit at which the magnanimous are particularly adept. Additionally, Hobbes implies that those who possess the virtue of justice must also possess magnanimity; it is the just person’s “Nobleness or Gallantnesse of courage, (rarely found).” Leo Strauss and Dorothea Krook suggest that this cannot be Hobbes’s “final word” on justice, because, they say, Hobbes considers magnanimity a type of pride, which he derogates and cannot consistently associate with virtue. I argue that magnanimity, associated with well-grounded glory, is not a type of pride; only vain glory is.
Reason and Desire After the Fall of Man: A Rereading of Hobbes’s Two Postulates of Human Nature
Authors: Cooper Kody W.
Published: December 2013

Hobbes claimed to have discovered two most certain (certissima) postulates of human nature: first, the postulate cupiditatis naturalis, whereby man demands private use of common things and second, the postulate rationis naturalis, which teaches man to avoid violent death or “fly contra-natural dissolution” as the greatest natural evil. From these two postulates, Hobbes claims to demonstrate “by most evident connection” his moral and civil doctrines. But the character of Hobbes’s two postulates and their role in grounding his political philosophy has been a flashpoint of contention. This is not surprising given what is at stake: our reading of these postulates will implicate our understanding of Hobbes’s most celebrated moral and political doctrines. In what follows, I take up Leo Strauss’s influential analysis of the Hobbes’s two postulates and identify some problems for Strauss’s interpretation. I then sketch a rereading of the two postulates in light of the Christian Aristotelian or Thomistic tradition of thought. I argue that Hobbes’s human nature teaching is not as radically novel as has often been thought.1
Stability and change in the mental health of New Zealand secondary school students 2007–2012: Results from the national adolescent health surveys
Authors: Fleming Theresa M , Clark Terryann , Denny Simon , Bullen Pat , Crengle Sue , Peiris-John Roshini , Robinson Elizabeth , Rossen Fiona V , Sheridan Janie , Lucassen Mathijs
Published: December 2013

Objective:

To describe the self-reported mental health of New Zealand secondary school students in 2012 and to investigate changes between 2007 and 2012.

Methods:

Nationally representative health and wellbeing surveys of students were completed in 2007 ( n=9107) and 2012 ( n=8500). Logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between mental health and changes over time. Prevalence data and adjusted odds ratios are presented.

Results:

In 2012, approximately three-quarters (76.2%, 95% CI 74.8–77.5) of students reported good overall wellbeing. By contrast (also in 2012), some students reported self-harming (24.0%, 95% CI 22.7–25.4), depressive symptoms (12.8%, 95% CI 11.6–13.9), 2 weeks of low mood (31%, 95% CI 29.7–32.5), suicidal ideation (15.7%, 95% 14.5–17.0), and suicide attempts (4.5%, 95% CI 3.8–5.2). Between 2007 and 2012, there appeared to be slight increases in the proportions of students reporting an episode of low mood (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.06–1.23, p=0.0009), depressive symptoms (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.03–1.30, p=0.011), and using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire - emotional symptoms (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.23–1.54, p<0.0001), hyperactivity (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.05–1.29, p=0.0051), and peer problems (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.09–1.49, p=0.0022). The proportion of students aged 16 years or older reporting self-harm increased slightly between surveys, but there was little change for students aged 15 years or less (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.15–1.44 and OR 1.10, 95% 0.98–1.23, respectively, p=0.0078). There were no changes in reported suicidal ideation and suicide attempts between 2007 and 2012. However, there has been an improvement in self-reported conduct problems since 2007 (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.70–0.87, p<0.0001).

Conclusions:

The findings suggest a slight decline in aspects of self-reported mental health amongst New Zealand secondary school students between 2007 and 2012. There is a need for ongoing monitoring and for evidence-based, accessible interventions that prevent mental ill health and promote psychological wellbeing.
Identifying Useful Auxiliary Variables for Incomplete Data Analyses
Authors: Raykov Tenko , Marcoulides George A.
Published: December 2013

This research note contributes to the discussion of methods that can be used to identify useful auxiliary variables for analyses of incomplete data sets. A latent variable approach is discussed, which is helpful in finding auxiliary variables with the property that if included in subsequent maximum likelihood analyses they may enhance considerably the plausibility of the underlying assumption of data missing at random. The auxiliary variables can also be considered for inclusion alternatively in imputation models for following multiple imputation analyses. The approach can be particularly helpful in empirical settings where violations of missing at random are suspected, and is illustrated with data from an aging research study.
Trauma in global contexts: Integrating local practices and socio-cultural meanings into new explanatory frameworks of trauma
Authors: Suarez Eliana Barrios
Published: December 2013

Although Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is only one of the identifiable responses to trauma, it has become the main focus of trauma research, writing, and clinical interventions. The unquestioned use worldwide of PTSD, however, presents the risk of oversimplifying human responses to traumatic events. This article goes beyond critiques of the current trauma paradigm and intends to offer new theoretical tenets whereby multiple local contexts could be better incorporated into trauma discourse and practice. If a renewed trauma paradigm aims to have a role in the global health arena, it should be informed locally and globally.
Effect of screw design on fiber breakage and dispersion in injection-molded long glass-fiber-reinforced polypropylene
Authors: Inoue Akira , Morita Kazuya , Tanaka Tatsuya , Arao Yoshihiko , Sawada Yasutake
Published: December 2013

Fiber breakage occurs during the injection molding of fiber-reinforced thermoplastics, resulting in the deterioration of the mechanical properties of the molded parts. In this paper, we propose an effective screw geometry for improving both fiber dispersion and residual fiber length. The proposition is based on the results of our study in which we evaluated five types of screws by investigating the molded specimens. We found that the screw geometry in the compression zone dominantly affected the residual fiber length, and that the choice of an appropriate geometry for the melting and mixing processes was the most important factor for improving both fiber dispersion and residual fiber length. Our experimental observations were compared with the results of flow analysis and consistency was observed. We also discuss the effects of the screw size on the quality of the molded parts.
The Determinants of Nuclear Force Structure
Authors: Gartzke Erik , Kaplow Jeffrey M. , Mehta Rupal N.
Published: December 2013

A substantial literature examines the causes of nuclear proliferation, but few studies have addressed why states decide on a particular portfolio of weapon systems once they have acquired a basic nuclear capability. We advance a portfolio theory of nuclear force structure, positing that states seek a diverse set of capabilities for nuclear deterrence, but that they also face major resource and organizational constraints. A number of factors may help to explain the portfolio of nuclear forces that states ultimately field, including resource availability, experience as a nuclear power, bureaucratic politics, the conventional threat environment, the presence of nuclear rivals, and the maintenance of nuclear alliances. We test the influence of these factors on force structure using a new data set of nuclear weapon platforms fielded by nine nuclear nations between 1950 and 2000. Our findings represent an important step in understanding the drivers of nuclear behavior after states have joined the nuclear weapons club.
Corrections in Asia
Authors: Jiang Shanhe
Published: December 2013

There is a lack of publications on corrections in Asia in English language journals. This special issue was taken to fill this void. This introduction briefly states the reasons for the issue and its manuscript reviewing process. There are six papers in this issue, covering institutional corrections and community corrections in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Disparities in Debt
Authors: Houle Jason N.
Published: December 2013

In an era of rising college costs and stagnant grant-based student aid, many young adults rely on their parents’ resources and student loans to pay for their postsecondary education. In this study I ask how parents’ income and education are linked to young adults’ student loan debt. I develop and test two perspectives regarding the functional form of the association between parents’ income, parents’ education, and student loan debt. I have four key findings. First, the relationship between parents’ income and student loan debt is nonlinear, such that young adults from middle-income families have a higher risk for debt than do those from low- and high-income families. Second, young adults from college-educated and high-income families are relatively protected from debt. Third, the association between parents’ socioeconomic status (SES) and debt is modified by postsecondary institutional characteristics and is strongest at private and high-cost institutions. Finally, the effect of parents’ SES on debt varies across the debt distribution. Parents’ SES is strongly predictive of entry into debt, but there are few differences conditional on going into debt. This suggests that socioeconomic disparities in debt are primarily driven by the probability of going into debt rather than differences among debtors. However, compared to their more advantaged counterparts, young adults from low-SES backgrounds have a higher risk of accruing debt burdens that exceed the national average.
Sport Involvement and Educational Outcomes of High School Students
Authors: Hwang Seunghyun , Feltz Deborah L. , Kietzmann Laura A. , Diemer Matthew A.
Published: December 2013

This study examined the relations among sport involvement and social and personal influences on high school students’ educational expectations and attainment, using National Education Longitudinal Survey-88. Athletic engagement, educational expectations of significant others, peer support for academics, parental involvement in academics, and academic and athletic identities were measured in the 10th grade. Educational expectations and attainment were measured in the 12th grade and 8 years after high school. Socioeconomic status, academic ability, and school size were controlled. Results indicated that athletic engagement was related to youths’ formation of identities, but only their academic identity was associated with later educational outcomes. Athletic engagement and identity were not adversely related to educational outcomes.
A Collective Effort to Improve Sociology Students’ Writing Skills
Authors: Burgess-Proctor Amanda , Cassano Graham , Condron Dennis J. , Lyons Heidi A. , Sanders George
Published: December 2013

Nationwide, academic sociologists at all types of higher education institutions face the challenge of working to improve students’ writing skills. In this article, we describe a collective effort by a group of faculty members in one undergraduate sociology program to implement several effective writing-improvement strategies. We advocate aiming to improve students’ writing by working together on a united front rather than working in isolation. After explaining the origins of the collective emphasis on writing that emerged in our group and briefly outlining the writing-improvement strategies that we utilize, we use student survey data to reflect on major themes before concluding with a discussion of the merits of our collective approach.
“You’re Not Good Enough”
Authors: Moloney Mairead Eastin , Pelehach Lisa
Published: December 2013

Sociologists have developed compelling pedagogical strategies to focus the undergraduate gaze on problems of gender and sexuality. Nested within the social construction of gender norms, the sexualization of girls and women negatively impacts individual, interpersonal, and societal levels of social interaction. Nevertheless, this important issue remains under-explored in the sociology of teaching and learning. This article reports on a pedagogical module that utilizes a multimedia presentation to define and illustrate the sexualization of girls and women. Lesson impacts were assessed through an online survey. Results indicate a critical gap between the social importance of this topic and educational exposure. Students unanimously recommended this module be taught in introductory sociology courses and offered specific examples of individual and interpersonal impacts. Our findings suggest an ongoing need to address the sexualization of girls and women inside, and outside, of the classroom.
“Many Students Really Do Not Yet Know How to Behave!”
Authors: Sulik Gayle , Keys Jennifer
Published: December 2013

This study analyzes the content and discursive strategies within 39 introductory-level sociology course syllabi published in TRAILS, the Teaching Resources and Innovations Library of the American Sociological Association, from two different time periods (2004 and 2010) to explore the syllabus as a tool for socialization. We find that syllabi, commended for their attention to pedagogical practice, do more than communicate course objectives and the means for achieving them. Syllabi (re)socialize students for success in the college setting by establishing student-teacher roles and norms and setting the tone for classroom interactions. The integration of sociological concepts and perspectives into syllabi also immerses students into the discipline and practice of sociology.
Charismatic Leaders and Mediated Personalization in the International Arena
Authors: Balmas Meital , Sheafer Tamir
Published: December 2013

A big data analysis of six countries has demonstrated that Western news media focus increasingly on foreign leaders, at the expense of their respective countries—a process termed here as mediated political personalization in the international arena. Important variations found across the countries in the sample are attributed to differences in media systems, media values, and the level of development of communication technologies. However, for the first time, it was shown that the personalization process is not deterministic; rather, it is affected by leaders’ personal qualities, particularly those that are aligned with the values of prevalent media logic. Thus, the election of a leader endowed with strong charisma accelerates the process of personalization in the coverage of his or her country in the foreign media. Data were obtained from a large corpus comprising more than 800,000 news items spanning two to three past decades, subjected to a computerized content analysis.
Finite-time stabilization for discrete-time switched stochastic linear systems under asynchronous switching
Authors: Wang Ronghao , Xing Jianchun , Wang Ping , Yang Qiliang , Xiang Zhengrong
Published: December 2013

This paper deals with the problem of state feedback stabilization with finite-time stochastic stability for a class of discrete-time switched stochastic linear systems under asynchronous switching. The attention is focused on designing the feedback controller that guarantees the finite-time stochastic stability of the dynamic system. The finite-time stochastic stability definition of discrete-time switched stochastic systems is introduced. The asynchronous switching idea originates from the fact that switching instants of the controllers lag behind or exceed those of subsystems. On the basis of the average dwell time method and multiple Lyapunov functions approach, a finite-time stochastic stability condition is established. Then, an asynchronously switched controller is designed and the corresponding switching law is derived to guarantee the considered system be finite-time stochastically stable. Two numerical examples are provided to show the effectiveness of the developed results.
A graphical approach to computing loop gain margins for TITO systems
Authors: Le Binh Nguyen , Wang Qing-Guo , Lee Tong Heng
Published: December 2013

An effective method is presented to compute the loop gain margins exactly for two-input–two-output processes. The stable regions in parameter space are first obtained by determining the stability boundaries and the loop gain margins found within the stable regions. Examples are provided for illustration and comparison with other methods.
Leader-following formation control for second-order multi-agent systems with time-varying delays
Authors: Xia Hong , Huang Ting-Zhu , Shao Jin-Liang , Yu Jun-Yan
Published: December 2013

This paper investigates a leader-following formation control problem for second-order multi-agent systems with nonuniform time-varying communication delays under directed topologies. We first propose a consensus protocol and give a sufficient condition for second-order consensus of the system. Then, under a framework of multiple leaders, the protocol is applied to the formation control, including time-invariant formation and time-varying formation as well as time-varying formation for trajectory tracking. It is shown that the agents will attain the desired formation under the protocol. Finally, several simulations are conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of our theoretical results.
Development of an emulation method for the performance evaluation of radiant floor heating systems
Authors: Rhee KN , Yeo MS , Kim KW
Published: December 2013

Since radiant floor heating systems utilise part of the building as a system for controlling the indoor environment, the integrated analysis considering the interaction between the building and the system needs to be conducted for the performance evaluation. Integrated simulation can be applied for this purpose; however, it is somewhat difficult to evaluate the impact of the system hardware such as hydronic circuits and heat sources due to the lack of modeling information. Although the experimental methods can guarantee the most reliable results, they have a limitation on the repetitive comparison due to the restriction of time, space and cost. For this reason, this study presents an emulation method that can mitigate the disadvantage of the simulation as well as experimental methods, especially for the performance evaluation of radiant floor heating systems. To achieve this, the factors to be considered in radiant floor heating systems were examined by reviewing the previous studies on the emulation. This study suggested an emulation method that can physically represent pressure loss in the hydronic circuits and heat output from the floor structure, which are distinguishing features of radiant floor heating systems. With the developed emulation method, this study showed that the control performance and energy consumption of a radiant floor heating system can be investigated.

Practical application: This study presents an emulation method to evaluate the energy consumption and control performance of radiant floor heating systems. The proposed emulation method will be able to supplement a pure simulation and to contribute to the development of an evaluation method considering the impact of system hardware on the overall performance of radiant floor heating systems. Therefore, it is expected that the results will be helpful to researchers for indoor environment, heating, ventilating and air conditioning engineers, system manufacturers and those who want to analyse the energy performance of radiant floor heating systems.
Assessing Individual Change Using Short Tests and Questionnaires
Authors: Kruyen Peter M. , Emons Wilco H. M. , Sijtsma Klaas
Published: December 2013

In clinical contexts, tests and questionnaires are used to assess change at the level of the individual client. The difference between an individual client’s posttreatment and pretreatment scores is used to decide about the degree to which the client benefited from a treatment. Because administration time is limited, clinicians prefer using short tests consisting of, say, at the most 15 items. Simulation research showed that shorter tests produce a higher risk of drawing incorrect conclusions about change in individual clients. Based on the simulation results, the authors provide guidelines for the number of items minimally required to reliably assess individual change. Using item response theory, they also provide guidelines for the minimally required local test information for individual-change assessment.
Adding Postal Follow-Up to a Web-Based Survey of Primary Care and Gastroenterology Clinic Physician Chiefs Improved Response Rates but not Response Quality or Representativeness
Authors: Partin Melissa R. , Powell Adam A. , Burgess Diana J. , Haggstrom David A. , Gravely Amy A. , Halek Krysten , Bangerter Ann , Shaukat Aasma , Nelson David B.
Published: December 2013

This study assessed whether postal follow-up to a web-based physician survey improves response rates, response quality, and representativeness. We recruited primary care and gastroenterology chiefs at 125 Veterans Affairs medical facilities to complete a 10-min web-based survey on colorectal cancer screening and diagnostic practices in 2010. We compared response rates, response errors, and representativeness in the primary care and gastroenterology samples before and after adding postal follow-up. Adding postal follow-up increased response rates by 20–25 percentage points; markedly greater increases than predicted from a third e-mail reminder. In the gastroenterology sample, the mean number of response errors made by web responders (0.25) was significantly smaller than the mean number made by postal responders (2.18), and web responders provided significantly longer responses to open-ended questions. There were no significant differences in these outcomes in the primary care sample. Adequate representativeness was achieved before postal follow-up in both samples, as indicated by the lack of significant differences between web responders and the recruitment population on facility characteristics. We conclude adding postal follow-up to this web-based physician leader survey improved response rates but not response quality or representativeness.
The Social and Cultural Predictors of Generosity in Marriage
Authors: Wilcox W. Bradford , Dew Jeffrey
Published: December 2013

This study focuses on the social and cultural sources of an important dimension of solidarity in contemporary marriages: marital generosity. Marital generosity is defined here as freely giving to one’s spouse by regularly engaging in small acts of service, forgiving one’s spouse, and displaying high levels of affection and respect. Using recent data from a national sample, the Survey of Marital Generosity ( N = 1,368 couples), we explored the associations between gender egalitarianism, familism, religiosity, and generous behavior among spouses aged 18 to 45. Our results suggest that domestic gender egalitarianism—where spouses reported sharing housework and child care—is linked to greater reports of marital generosity. Religiosity is also positively associated with marital generosity. Finally, the most potent predictor of generosity in this study is commitment, where spouses are personally dedicated to their partner and to continuing the relationship.
Factors Influencing RNs’ Perceptions of Quality Geriatric Care in Rural Hospitals
Authors: Cline Daniel D. , Dickson Victoria Vaughan , Kovner Christine , Boltz Marie , Kolanowski Ann , Capezuti Elizabeth
Published: December 2013

The rapidly aging population and their frequent use of hospital services will create substantial quality challenges in the near future. Redesigning rural hospital work environments is the key to improving the quality of care for older adults. This study explored how the work environment influences registered nurses’ (RNs’) perceived quality of geriatric care in rural hospitals. We used an exploratory mixed-methods research design emphasizing the qualitative data (in-depth, semi-structured interviews). Quantitative data (questionnaire) measuring the RN work environment were also collected to augment qualitative data. Four themes emerged: (a) collegial RN relationships, (b) poor staffing/utilization, (c) technology benefits/challenges, and (d) RN–physician interactions, which were identified as key factors influencing the quality of geriatric care. We concluded that rural hospital work environments may not be optimized to facilitate the delivery of quality geriatric care. Targeted interventions are needed to improve overall quality of care for hospitalized older adults in rural settings.
Use of the Supraclavicular Artery Island Flap for Reconstruction of Cervicofacial Defects
Authors: Kokot Niels , Mazhar Kashif , Reder Lindsay S. , Peng Grace L. , Sinha Uttam K.
Published: December 2013

Objective

To describe the supraclavicular artery island (SAI) flap as an alternative flap for reconstruction of cervicofacial defects.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Academic, tertiary referral center.

Subjects and Methods

Twenty‐two patients with defects of the face, temporal bone, and neck were reconstructed with an SAI flap. Each defect was deemed unsuitable for primary or local flap closure and would require regional or free tissue transfer. Outcome measures included size and location of the defect, time to raise the flap, flap size and viability, and complications. Mean follow‐up was 7.4 months (range, 1‐31 months). Statistical analysis was performed using SAS 9.1 (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina).

Results

Defects of the cervical skin (n = 10), face (n = 8), and temporal bone (n = 4) were reconstructed. Mean flap dimensions were 6.1 cm (range, 5‐7 cm) wide and 21.8 cm (range, 16‐28 cm) long. The proximal portion of the flap was deepithelialized to match the defect, resulting in a mean skin paddle length of 9.6 cm (range, 5‐18 cm). Minor donor site dehiscence occurred in 3 patients. Partial skin flap necrosis occurred in 2 patients, while 1 patient had complete loss of the skin paddle. There was no statistical correlation between flap necrosis and flap length (P =. 3, χ2) or defect location (P =. 13, χ2).

Conclusion

The SAI flap is a viable alternative to cervicofacial advancement or microvascular reconstruction of cervicofacial defects in select cases. This flap is reliable, easy to harvest, and versatile, and it provides a good color match for cervicofacial defects.
Clothing Hanger Injuries: Pediatric Head and Neck Traumas in the United States, 2002‐2012
Authors: Walls Andrew , Pierce Matthew , Wang Hongkun , Harley Earl H.
Published: December 2013

Objective

To discuss pediatric clothing hanger injuries and review the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System to elucidate frequency and promote increased public awareness among pediatric otolaryngologists.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional analysis of a national database.

Study Setting

National Electronic Injury Surveillance System Database.

Methods

A retrospective review of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System provided a nationally weighted sampling estimate of 394 pediatric incident reports involving clothing hangers. Each incident report was analyzed for impalement, facial laceration, and contusion injuries to the mouth, face, and head. In addition, hospital disposition and location of the described incident were also obtained.

Results

Upon review of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, incident rates of pediatric oral impalement (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.10‐0.41), facial laceration (95% CI, 0.22‐0.41), and facial abrasion injuries (95% CI, 0.15‐0.44) frequently involved the metal clothing hanger design. In addition, most of the reported injuries occurred within the home and involved lacerations to the oral cavity.

Conclusions

This is the first multiyear, nationally representative study to analyze clothing hanger injuries in the pediatric population. We demonstrate that these injuries occur more frequently than the medical literature currently reports and also elucidate that children are more likely to obtain laceration injuries by metal clothing hangers within the home. Furthermore, we provide a recommendation for standardization of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System such that product safety analysis may occur and reduce further pediatric incidents.
Intercostal muscle flap and intracostal suture to reduce post-thoracotomy pain
Authors: Sapkota Ranjan , Shrestha Uttam Krishna , Sayami Prakash
Published: December 2013

Background

Thoracotomy is considered to be the most painful surgical access, the main culprit being intercostal nerve injury. Despite the use of many techniques, this remains a major problem, pointing towards prevention as a better strategy. The effect of protecting both the upper and lower intercostal nerves during surgery has attracted many researchers.

Method

A prospective study spanning 15 months was undertaken in 48 patients randomized to a conventional group ( n = 25) and a study group ( n = 23). Pericostal sutures in the former and intracostal sutures in the latter were used for closure. An intercostal muscle flap was harvested at the start of the operation in the study group only. The groups were comparable in terms of baseline characteristics. With a similar pain protocol, pain scores and analgesic consumption were recorded and analyzed.

Results

Times for pedicle harvest, intracostal suture, and pericostal suture were 5.2 ± 1.56, 3.65 ± 0.71, and 6.4 ± 1.20 min, respectively, in the study group. Total operative time was similar in both groups. Postoperative pain scores and the overall frequency of pain were consistently lower in the study group.

Conclusion

these techniques lead to a reduction in the acute and chronic post-thoracotomy pain, without increasing complications.
Elevated hemoglobin A1c is associated with readmission but not complications
Authors: Engoren Milo , Schwann Thomas A , Habib Robert H
Published: December 2013

Background

studies have shown that elevated hemoglobin A1c levels are associated with worse short-term outcomes after cardiac surgery. However, the effect on readmission has not been studied. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the independent effect of hemoglobin A1c level on the readmission rate after cardiac surgery. The secondary purpose was assess its effect on complications and mortality.

Methods

consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery between April 2007 and August 2010 were divided into 3 groups based on preoperative hemoglobin A1c levels. Outcomes were controlled for demographics, comorbidities, and surgery.

Results

300 (34%) patients had normal hemoglobin A1c levels (<6.0%), 305 (35%) had mildly elevated levels (6.0%–6.9%), and 275 (31%) had markedly elevated levels (≥7.0%). Postoperative glucose levels were similar among all 3 hemoglobin A1c groups. Compared to patients with normal hemoglobin A1c levels, those with higher levels were more likely to be readmitted: adjusted odds ratio 2.091 (95% confidence interval: 1.074–4.069, p = 0.036) for hemoglobin A1c 6.1%–6.9%; and adjusted odds ratio 2.089 (95% confidence interval: 1.050–4.155, p = 0.036) for hemoglobin A1c ≥ 7.0. Overall, 381 (43%) patients suffered complications, and hemoglobin A1c levels were similar in those with and without complications (6.8% ± 1.6% vs. 6.9% ± 1.7%, p = 0.837). Mortality was equivalent in all 3 hemoglobin A1c groups.

Conclusions

elevated preoperative hemoglobin A1c levels are associated with an increased risk of readmission but not complications.
Measuring the return on investment of academic libraries in Arab countries: a proposed model
Authors: Elsayed Amany M. , Saleh Emad I.
Published: December 2013

This study provides an initiative for reflecting from a new perspective on academic libraries in Arab countries and their value to the institutions they serve. Depending on the pivotal role of databases in all educational and research activities, the study had two phases; first, demonstrating return on investment based on total downloads by King Abdulaziz University (KAU) faculty and students, which found that researchers would have to pay more than six times as much for articles if they had to purchase them rather than getting them through library databases; and secondly, measuring the usage of 52 funded research report citations drawn from library databases during the year 2011, which found that the return on investment was negative (– 0.99). The study showed that the proposed model can be applied in many Arab academic libraries.