bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Legal Compliance in Street‐Level Bureaucracy: A Study of UK Housing Officers
Authors: Hunter Caroline , Bretherton Joanne , Halliday Simon , Johnsen Sarah
Published: December 2015

Street‐level bureaucratic theory is now at a fairly mature stage. The focus on street‐level bureaucrats as ultimate policymakers is now as familiar as it is important. Likewise, the parallel sociolegal study of the implementation of public law in public organizations has demonstrated the inevitable gap between law‐in‐the‐books and law‐in‐action. Yet, the success of these advances comes at the potential cost of us losing sight of the importance of law itself. This article analyzes some empirical data on the decision making about one legal concept—vulnerability in UK homelessness law. Our analysis offers two main contributions. First, we argue that, when it comes to the implementation of law, the legal abilities and propensities of the bureaucrats must be taken into account. Bureaucrats' abilities to understand legal materials make a difference to the likelihood of legal compliance. Second, we must also pay attention to the character of the legal provisions. Where a provision is simple, it is more likely to facilitate legal knowledge and demands nothing of bureaucrats in terms of legal competence. Where the provision is also inoffensive and liveable, it is less likely to act as an impediment to legal conscientiousness.
Pay attention to me! Late ERPs reveal gender differences in attention allocated to romantic partners
Authors: Burdwood Erin N. , Simons Robert F.
Published: December 2015

The present study employed late ERPs to examine differences in the association between neural responses to romantic partners and relationship quality factors across men and women. Participants passively viewed photos of their romantic partners, celebrities, and strangers during a computerized facial processing task. All participants demonstrated enhanced positivity to partner faces at late ERP components (P3 and LPP), furthering the notion that significant others elicit more motivated and sustained attention than do other familiar or unfamiliar individuals. Neural responses to romantic partner faces were influenced by factors including overall relationship quality, investment, and communication quality, with associations varying by gender. Results highlight the key role that relationship quality factors play in the immediate processing of romantic partners—a finding with implications for couples counseling and research.
Monoparentalidad, trabajo materno y desarrollo psicomotor infantil: Un estudio chileno en niños que asisten a salas cuna en contexto de pobreza
Authors: Santelices Alvarez María Pía , Besoain Carolina , Escobar Maria Josefina
Published: December 2015

La monoparentalidad en contexto de pobreza ha sido asociada a dificultades en el desempeño parental, afectando negativamente en la salud mental infantil. Producto de los recientes cambios sociales de incorporación de la mujer al mundo laboral y el aumento en la cantidad de mujeres jefas de hogar, han aumentado las investigaciones que buscan comprender la situación de niños y niñas que cada vez ingresan a las salas cuna y jardines infantiles a menor edad. El presente artículo estudia la relación entre desarrollo psicomotor infantil, jornada laboral de la madre y configuración familiar en una muestra de 199 niños(as) de 8 a 24 meses de edad, de nivel socioeconómico bajo, que asisten a las salas cuna en Santiago de Chile. El desarrollo psicomotor de los infantes fue evaluado con la Escala de Evaluación del Desarrollo Psicomotor 0-24 meses (EEDP) de Rodríguez, Arancibia y Undurraga (1976). La información concerniente a la configuración familiar y la jornada laboral fue extraída de la entrevista a los padres que realiza la educadora responsable de la institución. Los resultados muestran que los niños que asisten a salas cuna y cuyas madres trabajan jornada completa y provienen de una familia monoparental puntúan en desarrollo psicomotor significativamente más bajo que los niños cuyas madres también trabajan jornada completa, pero provienen de una familia biparental.
Felicidad y esperanza subjetiva
Authors: Sariҫam Hakan
Published: December 2015

The aim of this research is to examine the relationships between subjective happiness and hope. The participants were 435 university students. In this study, the Integrative Hope Scale and the Subjective Happiness Scale were used. The relationships between were examined using correlation analysis and Structural Equation Model (SEM). In correlation analysis, trust and confidence, positive future orientation, and social relations and personal value sub factors of hope were found positively related to subjective happiness. On the other hand, lack of perspective sub factor of hope was found negatively correlated to subjective happiness. Structural Equation Model showed that subjective happiness was predicted positively by trust and confidence, positive future orientation, and social relations and personal value. However, subjective happiness was negatively explained by lack of perspective. According to standardized beta coefficients (β= 0.34), the most significant predictor of subjective happiness was trust and confidence. Results were discussed in the light of the related literature.
Assessment of environmental quality, degree of optimism, and the assignment of responsibility regarding the state of the environment in Latin America
Authors: Páramo Pablo , Sandoval-Escobar Marithza , Jakovcevic Adriana , Ferreiro Julian , Mustaca Alba , Jengich Alexa , Brenes José , Ortega-Andeane Patricia , Vivas Fabiola , Moros Oscar , Méndez Carmen , Pasquali Carlota , Aparecida Bassani Marlise , Anicama Gómez José , Castillo Betty , Urzúa Alfonso , Denegri Marianela
Published: December 2015

This study explores the assessments made by the inhabitants of eight Latin American countries regarding the current state of the environment, at a local, national and global scale, and how it is perceived looking ahead to the future. It also examines the assignment of responsibility in the future management of the environment. A total of 944 people took part in the study from the eight participating countries, men and women over the age of 18 with different levels of education. The study uses the Environmental Futures Scale to which two relevant items have been added to assess the environment in the region, as well as the Assignment of Environmental Responsibility Scale. The results show differences between the countries, although in general they are pessimistic regarding the current and future state of the environment at the local, national and global level, with the exception of Brazil. In general, and with the exception of Brazil, in the countries surveyed, people assign a high level of responsibility to external social agents at the different levels, increasing their judgement of external responsibility at the national and global levels of analysis. The implications of these findings for environmental policy and education in the countries of this region are also discussed.
La competencia mediática en educación infantil. Análisis del nivel de desarrollo en España
Authors: Pérez-Rodríguez M. Amor , Ramírez García Antonia , García-Ruiz Rosa
Published: December 2015

Este trabajo indaga en el nivel de desarrollo de la competencia mediática de los niños y niñas de segundo ciclo de infantil. Para ello se aplica un instrumento, diseñado ad hoc, en el marco de una investigación más amplia (todos los niveles educativos del estado español), que toma como referencia una serie de dimensiones para estimar el grado de competencia mediática. Los resultados muestran que es necesario avanzar en políticas educativas de integración de las habilidades y estrategias para esa alfabetización que resulta indispensable para una educación acorde con las necesidades de la sociedad.
Efecto de factores temáticos y pragmáticos en razonamiento condicional con textos narrativos
Authors: Valiña Maria Dolores , Martín Monserrat , Gehring Sonnya , Seoane Pesqueira Gloria
Published: December 2015

RESUMEN En esta investigación experimental se analiza la importancia de factores de tipo temático y pragmático en tareas de inferencia condicional, incluidas en textos narrativos, que describen situaciones plausibles de la vida cotidiana. Se manipula el tipo de contenido (causal versus promesa/amenaza), la congruencia de los textos (congruente versus no congruente), la probabilidad de ocurrencia empírica de los enunciados condicionales (deterministas, probabilísticos y ninguna relación), y el tipo de regla condicional (Modus Ponens, Modus Tollens, Afirmación del Consecuente y Negación del Antecedente). A partir de un paradigma de selección de respuesta, además de elegir la conclusión, los sujetos debían indicar la seguridad con la que hacían dicha selección. Los resultados pusieron de manifiesto que: (a) Los sujetos que razonaban con textos congruentes, obtenían mejores resultados y manifestaban sentirse más seguros de sus respuestas que los que razonaban con textos no congruentes; (b) se obtuvieron las tasas más elevadas de aciertos y la mayor seguridad en las respuesta cuando se razonaba con enunciados deterministas, que siempre suceden en el mundo real (c) el tipo de contenido no registró efectos principales, pero sí se obtuvieron efectos interactivos significativos entre el contenido y la congruencia de los textos. Los resultados obtenidos se discuten en el marco de los principales enfoques teóricos actuales de razonamiento condicional.
Un estudio de la relación entre la memoria, la narrativa y el lenguaje en alumnado con trastorno específico del lenguaje (TEL)
Authors: Ramírez Santana Gustavo Mario , Acosta Rodríguez Víctor Manuel , Hernández Expósito Sergio
Published: December 2015

En esta investigación se estudiaron las relaciones entre el lenguaje, la narrativa y la memoria en alumnado con Trastorno Específico del Lenguaje (TEL). La muestra estuvo compuesta por 32 alumnos con TEL y 23 niños con desarrollo típico, diagnosticados con el CELF-3, el Peabody, el ITPA, el Subtest de Dígitos del WISC-IV, el Subtest de Localización Espacial de la WMS-III y la tarea del recontado del cuento Rana, ¿dónde estás?. Los resultados obtenidos relacionan estrechamente la memoria de trabajo y la superestructura narrativa. Además, se distinguen tres subtipos de TEL atendiendo al déficit en memoria. Finalmente, entre todas las dimensiones que conforman el diagnóstico del TEL, son los problemas narrativos los que permiten advertir de mayores dificultades en la memoria.
“It’s all discursive!” Crossing boundaries and crossing words with Rom Harré
Authors: Belli Simone , Aceros Juan C , Harré Rom
Published: December 2015

Rom Harré is one of the most important figures in academia of recent decades. Born in New Zealand he developed most of his career in Oxford. Influenced by authors such as John Austin, Ludwig Wittgenstein and Lev Vygotsky, Harré has produced his own and innovative approach to humanities and social sciences topics. His writings on philosophy of science have been focused on destabilizing the central doctrines of logical empiricism and positivism. However, his work has been not only influential in philosophy but also in other fields. This paper introduces his main contributions to psychology in general and social psychology in particular. It presents an interview with Rom Harré which outlines an approach to the author and his contributions to the social psychology crisis. Some key concepts in social sciences and in Rom's own work are also addressed, and research lines he advises to follow in the next decade are examined. The interview depicts Rom Harré as a scholar who crosses the boundaries between different disciplines and places.
El impacto de la valoración de la importancia en la evaluación de la calidad de vida en adolescentes chilenos
Authors: Urzúa Alfonso , Caqueo-Urízar Alejandra , Bravo María Fernanda , Carvajal Karen , Vera Claudio
Published: December 2015

While self-report of overall quality of life has been widely examined, there are no studies that explore the impact of the relative importance people give to the various categories of their quality of life. Therefore, with a quantitative methodology and a co-relational transverse design, we analyze differences in the assessment when the importance given to each category is evaluated. Participants were 530 students from the city of Antofagasta in the North of Chile, aged between 15 and 18 years. They were from subsidized, public secondary schools and private and state universities in the city who were assessed using the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire. Results: Differences were found in the assessment of categories when results were analyzed based on gender and age and when incorporating an assessment of importance. Even when the results were not conclusive, there was evidence of a need to incorporate an importance variable when assessing quality of life.
Percepción de alteraciones dermatológicas de baja expresión y calidad de vida: el papel mediador del afrontamiento
Authors: Hernández-Fernaud Estefanía , Hernández Bernardo , Ruiz Cristina
Published: December 2015

La percepción de una enfermedad tiene que ver con las estrategias de afrontamiento de la misma y la calidad de vida del paciente. El objetivo de este trabajo es contrastar el papel mediador de varias estrategias de afrontamiento en la relación entre la percepción de la enfermedad dermatológica y la calidad de vida. Participaron 220 personas que cumplimentaron, de forma individual y anónima, un cuestionario que evaluaba expresión sintomatológica cutánea, impacto psicológico de las condiciones de la piel, estrategias de afrontamiento ante alteraciones cutáneas y calidad de vida. Los resultados muestran que, en personas que creen tener una alteración dermatológica leve, la influencia del impacto psicológico de las condiciones de la piel sobre la calidad de vida está mediada de forma diferencial por las estrategias de afrontamiento. Mientras que el uso de la estrategia de pensamientos positivos contribuye a mantener la calidad de vida, utilizar la estrategia pensamientos desiderativos produce una disminución de la misma.
El papel predictivo de la autocompasión de atrapamiento en estudiantes universitarios turcos
Authors: Akin Ahmet , Akin Umran
Published: December 2015

The purpose of this study is to examine the predictive role of self-compassion on entrapment. Participants were 338 university students (185 women, 153 men; M age = 20.5 yr.). In this study, the Self-compassion Scale and the Entrapment Scale were used. The relationships between self-compassion and entrapment were examined using correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. In correlation analysis, self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness factors of self-compassion were found negatively and self-judgment, isolation, and over-identification factors of self-compassion were found positively related to entrapment. According to regression results, entrapment was predicted positively by self-judgment, isolation, and over-identification. Further self-kindness and common humanity predicted entrapment in a negative way. Self-compassion has explained 50% of the variance in entrapment. The results were discussed in the light of the related literature and dependent recommendations to the area were given.
Actitudes de los jóvenes ante situaciones de agravio en el entorno familiar: su relación con el género, la creencia religiosa y el clima social familiar
Authors: Cantero López Mª José , Viguer Seguí Paz , Domínguez Barragán Rocío
Published: December 2015

Los objetivos de este trabajo son desarrollar una adaptación española para jóvenes del Cuestionario de Actitudes ante Situaciones de Agravio en su versión familia (CASA-F; Moreno y Pereyra, 2000), analizar las diferencias en las actitudes ante el agravio en función del género y la creencia religiosa y establecer el poder predictivo del género, la creencia religiosa y el clima social familiar sobre las actitudes ante la ofensa de personas significativas. Los participantes fueron 230 jóvenes (edad media= 21.2), 130 mujeres y 100 hombres, quienes cumplimentaron el cuestionario CASA-F y la escala de Clima Social Familiar de Moos, Moos y Trickett (1995). Respecto al primer objetivo, los resultados apoyaron la estructural factorial del CASA-F alcanzándose adecuados criterios psicométricos. Respecto al segundo objetivo, se obtuvieron diferencias en las actitudes ante el agravio en función del género y la creencia religiosa. Por último, los análisis de regresión múltiple confirmaron la capacidad predictiva del género, la creencia religiosa y el clima social familiar sobre las actitudes prosociales de perdón y explicación.
Intervención sobre el Mecanismo de Reconsolidación: Artículo de Revisión
Authors: Labrador Encinas Francisco Javier , Restrepo Castro Juan Camilo
Published: December 2015

En la actualidad existen tratamientos eficaces para reducir los síntomas de ansiedad y el malestar asociado. Sin embargo, se observa con frecuencia que las respuestas de ansiedad, después de haberse extinguido, se recuperan, sin que esté claro el mecanismo que subyace a dicha recuperación. Desde hace décadas se considera la posibilidad de un mecanismo de reconsolidación que colaboraría en el proceso de almacenar nuevamente los recuerdos que han sido evocados. Algunas investigaciones recientes aparentemente revelan que la intervención sobre el mecanismo de reconsolidación previene la recuperación de respuestas de ansiedad que han sido previamente extinguidas. Si esto es así podría ser una alternativa a los tratamientos actuales de los trastornos de ansiedad basados en la exposición. El objetivo del presente trabajo es revisar la evidencia sobre los efectos de actuar sobre el mecanismo de reconsolidación para la reducción de las respuestas de ansiedad. Finalmente se discuten las posibles implicaciones clínicas.
Orman's Internet Addiction Survey: A Preliminary Psichometric Study in an Universitary Andalusian Sample
Authors: Matas Antonio
Published: December 2015

En las últimas décadas se han desarrollado diversos instrumentos para medir el comportamiento de estar continuamente conectado a Internet, presentado por algunos usuarios. En este artículo se analizan sus características psicométricas a partir de una muestra incidental de estudiantes universitarios. Los resultados muestran una fiabilidad satisfactoria y una estructura latente unidimensional, presentando valores de correlación altos con otros instrumentos utilizados con el mismo fin. Se sugiere su utilización para el estudio de la Adicción a Internet.
Psicología en Chile: análisis de su historia, presente y futuro
Authors: Urzúa Alfonso , Vera-Villarroel Pablo , Zúñiga Claudia , Salas Gonzalo
Published: December 2015

El presente artículo realiza una revisión del desarrollo y estado actual de la Psicología Chilena. En 1946 se instaura formalmente la formación de Psicólogos en Chile, en 1959 se oficializa la Asociación de psicólogos de Chile y en 1968 se funda el Colegio de Psicólogos de Chile. Esto sitúa a Chile dentro de los primeros países de la región en el desarrollo formal de la disciplina. Actualmente existen 139 programas de formación en Psicología, impartidos en 49 Universidades, sumado a eso a una creciente oferta de programas de Magister y Doctorado en Psicología. Con respecto al desarrollo científico de la disciplina destaca un alza sostenida en el número de artículos publicados destacando que desde el año 2011 se sobrepasa los 100 artículos por año, aunque esta producción está ligada a unas pocas Instituciones y autores que tienen alto protagonismo. Adicionalmente se observa una baja colaboración entre investigadores chilenos y latinoamericanos en investigaciones y productividad científica a pesar de compartir temáticas y problemas similares. Respecto a los desafíos futuros es necesario aumentar los sistemas de aseguramiento de la calidad en pre y post grados así como la mayor influencia de los psicólogos y psicólogas en la sociedad.
“Soy el que cierra y el que apaga la luz”: Cuando el liderazgo de dirigentes comunitarios no empodera a la comunidad
Authors: Zambrano Alba Ximena , García Ojeda Mauricio , Bustamante Rivera Gonzalo
Published: December 2015

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar el capital social en los liderazgos de distintos tipos de organizaciones de base en dos localidades del sur de Chile y cómo esto influye en los diversos niveles de empoderamiento. Los resultados a partir de datos cualitativos y del análisis de redes sociales muestran que el capital social interno y externo de estas organizaciones se centran en los/las dirigentes, lo que impide que los demás miembros de la comunidad tengan acceso a recursos existentes al interior y al exterior de la organización. Estos hallazgos muestran que no basta con el desarrollo de empoderamiento psicológico en los/las dirigentes para desarrollar empoderamiento organizacional y comunitario.
Valoración de buenas prácticas docentes a través de observación sistemática
Authors: Díaz Hernández Matilde Candelaria
Published: December 2015

Las buenas prácticas docentes, un tema de especial relevancia para determinar la calidad de la educación superior y requiere diseñar distintas formas de medirlo. Una gran parte de las buenas prácticas corresponden a comportamientos desarrollados por el profesor en el aula de clase, que se puede medir y analizar mediante metodología observacional. Se seleccionaron diez profesores de la universidad de La Laguna (España) y siete de la de Guadalajara (México), codificando sus comportamientos mediante una escala de calificación y los patrones comportamentales de interacción con el alumnado mediante el Protocolo de Observación de Funciones Docentes (PROFUNDO_UNI). El análisis secuencial de retardos extrajo patrones significativos relacionados con la retroalimentación a las preguntas del alumnado, el refuerzo dado y el fomento a la participación de los estudiantes.
Variables predictoras de la ansiedad precompetitiva: aspectos diferenciales en corredores de fondo en ruta
Authors: Ruiz-Juan Francisco , Sancho Antonio Zarauz , Flores-Allende Gabriel
Published: December 2015

En la práctica deportiva, estudiar las dimensiones de la ansiedad implicadas en que un sujeto desarrolle dicha actividad, se ha convertido en uno de los temas fundamentales de la psicología del deporte y del ejercicio. Se pretendía conocer qué relaciones predictivas presentaban sobre la ansiedad precompetitiva el compromiso a correr, la adicción negativa a correr, las motivaciones y la percepción de éxito en las carreras en ruta. Participaron 1795 corredores de fondo en ruta (1105 españoles, 690 mexicanos). De ellos, el 85.65% fueron hombres con una edad de M=38.98 (DT=10.45), y el 14.35% mujeres, con una edad M=37.88 (DT=9.80). La recogida de datos se llevó a cabo mediante las adaptaciones al castellano del Revised Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2R), la Commitment to Running Scale-11 (CR-11), la Running Addiction Scale-8 (RAS-8), las Motivations of Marathoners Scales-34 (MOMS-34) y el Perception of Success Questionnaire (POSQ). Se obtuvieron moderados valores de ansiedad cognitiva y somática, tanto en hombres y mujeres como en españoles y mexicanos. También elevados valores en autoconfianza, significativamente mayores en hombres respecto a mujeres y en mexicanos respecto a españoles. Con ligeras diferencias por sexo y país, la ansiedad se pudo predecir por puntuar alto en los constructos psicológicos menos deseables analizados (adicción, motivaciones extrínsecas y orientación al ego), mientras que en la autoconfianza fue a la inversa, es decir, por valorar en mayor medida los constructos psicológicos más deseables (compromiso y motivaciones más autodeterminadas).
Finite Element Modeling of Mitral Valve Repair
Authors: Morgan Ashley E. , Pantoja Joe Luis , Weinsaft Jonathan , Grossi Eugene , Guccione Julius M. , Ge Liang , Ratcliffe Mark
Published: December 2015

The mitral valve is a complex structure regulating forward flow of blood between the left atrium and left ventricle (LV). Multiple disease processes can affect its proper function, and when these diseases cause severe mitral regurgitation (MR), optimal treatment is repair of the native valve. The mitral valve (MV) is a dynamic structure with multiple components that have complex interactions. Computational modeling through finite element (FE) analysis is a valuable tool to delineate the biomechanical properties of the mitral valve and understand its diseases and their repairs. In this review, we present an overview of relevant mitral valve diseases, and describe the evolution of FE models of surgical valve repair techniques.
Cryotherapy-Induced Persistent Vasoconstriction After Cutaneous Cooling: Hysteresis Between Skin Temperature and Blood Perfusion
Authors: Khoshnevis Sepideh , Craik Natalie K. , Matthew Brothers R. , Diller Kenneth R.
Published: December 2015

The goal of this study was to investigate the persistence of cold-induced vasoconstriction following cessation of active skin-surface cooling. This study demonstrates a hysteresis effect that develops between skin temperature and blood perfusion during the cooling and subsequent rewarming period. An Arctic Ice cryotherapy unit (CTU) was applied to the knee region of six healthy subjects for 60 min of active cooling followed by 120 min of passive rewarming. Multiple laser Doppler flowmetry perfusion probes were used to measure skin blood flow (expressed as cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC)). Skin surface cooling produced a significant reduction in CVC (P < 0.001) that persisted throughout the duration of the rewarming period. In addition, there was a hysteresis effect between CVC and skin temperature during the cooling and subsequent rewarming cycle (P < 0.01). Mixed model regression (MMR) showed a significant difference in the slopes of the CVC–skin temperature curves during cooling and rewarming (P < 0.001). Piecewise regression was used to investigate the temperature thresholds for acceleration of CVC during the cooling and rewarming periods. The two thresholds were shown to be significantly different (P = 0.003). The results show that localized cooling causes significant vasoconstriction that continues beyond the active cooling period despite skin temperatures returning toward baseline values. The significant and persistent reduction in skin perfusion may contribute to nonfreezing cold injury (NFCI) associated with cryotherapy.
Modeling of Flexible Robots With Varying Cross Section and Large Link Deformations
Authors: Celentano Laura
Published: December 2015

In this paper, a very easy, numerically stable and computationally efficient method is presented, which allows the modeling and simulation of a flexible robot with high precision. The proposed method is developed under the hypotheses of flexible links having varying cross sections, of large link deformations and of time-varying geometrical and/or physical parameters of both the robot and the end-effector. This methodology uses the same approach of the modeling of rigid robots, after suitably and fictitiously subdividing each link of the robot into sublinks, rigid to the aim of the calculus of the inertia matrix and flexible to the aim of the calculus of the elastic matrix. The static and dynamic precision of the method is proved with interesting theorems, examples and some experimental tests. Finally, the method is used to model, control, and simulate a crane, composed of three flexible links and a cable with varying length, carrying a body with a variable mass.
Wrap Pressure Between a Flexible Web and a Circumferentially Grooved Cylindrical Guide
Authors: Kasikci Tugce , Müftü Sinan
Published: December 2015

Contact mechanics in wrapping a thin-shell (tape/web) around a grooved cylindrical surface (roller) under tension is investigated. The problem is analyzed along the axial direction of the roller, and the effects of wrap-angle tape/web motion are neglected. Equations of equilibrium admit analytical solutions, but the problem is nonlinear due to the unknown nature of contact area. The tape bends into the grooves and makes contact over the lands. Three distinct contact states describe the interaction of the tape/web with respect to the lands. Nondimensional analysis shows that contact state depends on the width of the groove and the land, and the nondimensional belt-wrap pressure only modulates the amplitude of the deflected profile.
Effects of voice style, noise level, and acoustic feedback on objective and subjective voice evaluations
Authors: Bottalico Pasquale , Graetzer Simone , Hunter Eric J.
Published: December 2015

Speakers adjust their vocal effort when communicating in different room acoustic and noise conditions and when instructed to speak at different volumes. The present paper reports on the effects of voice style, noise level, and acoustic feedback on vocal effort, evaluated as sound pressure level, and self-reported vocal fatigue, comfort, and control. Speakers increased their level in the presence of babble and when instructed to talk in a loud style, and lowered it when acoustic feedback was increased and when talking in a soft style. Self-reported responses indicated a preference for the normal style without babble noise.
Japanese probe primed for second run at Venus
Authors: Normile Dennis
Published: December 2015

Akatsuki spacecraft aims to plumb planet's weird atmosphere.
Born to rewild
Authors: Kintisch Eli
Published: December 2015

A father and son's quixotic quest to bring back a lost ecosystem—and save the world.
The final countdown
Authors: Underwood Emily
Published: December 2015

In the race to find a biological clock, there are plenty of contenders.
In vivo imaging today and tomorrow: How multimodality imaging is driving translational research
Authors: Contag Christopher H. , Moore Anna
Published: December 2015

It has been two decades since researchers at Stanford University showed that the progression of disease can be tracked noninvasively in living animals using bioluminescence imaging. Since then, researchers have developed and utilized a variety of molecular imaging techniques employing bioluminescence, fluorescence, chemiluminescence, and Cerenkov luminescence, combined with sophisticated imaging technologies, to increase our understanding of complex diseases and develop new therapeutic solutions. More recently, optical imaging has been combined with clinical imaging technologies, such as microcomputed tomography (microCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) to produce multimodal imaging techniques that allow molecular, functional, and anatomical data to be seamlessly merged. This technology provides a more precise and rigorous method for exploring disease models in greater depth. In this webinar, our speakers will discuss the significant impact that imaging technologies have had on biomedicine and translational research, and how bioimaging might play a role in new and emerging scientific areas.

View the Webinar
Human telomere biology: A contributory and interactive factor in aging, disease risks, and protection
Authors: Blackburn Elizabeth H. , Epel Elissa S. , Lin Jue
Published: December 2015

Telomeres are the protective end-complexes at the termini of eukaryotic chromosomes. Telomere attrition can lead to potentially maladaptive cellular changes, block cell division, and interfere with tissue replenishment. Recent advances in the understanding of human disease processes have clarified the roles of telomere biology, especially in diseases of human aging and in some aging-related processes. Greater overall telomere attrition predicts mortality and aging-related diseases in inherited telomere syndrome patients, and also in general human cohorts. However, genetically caused variations in telomere maintenance either raise or lower risks and progression of cancers, in a highly cancer type–specific fashion. Telomere maintenance is determined by genetic factors and is also cumulatively shaped by nongenetic influences throughout human life; both can interact. These and other recent findings highlight both causal and potentiating roles for telomere attrition in human diseases.
Mitochondrial dysfunction and longevity in animals: Untangling the knot
Authors: Wang Ying , Hekimi Siegfried
Published: December 2015

Mitochondria generate adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) and are a source of potentially toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). It has been suggested that the gradual mitochondrial dysfunction that is observed to accompany aging could in fact be causal to the aging process. Here we review findings that suggest that age-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction is not sufficient to limit life span. Furthermore, mitochondrial ROS are not always deleterious and can even stimulate pro-longevity pathways. Thus, mitochondrial dysfunction plays a complex role in regulating longevity.
NAD
+
in aging, metabolism, and neurodegeneration
Authors: Verdin Eric
Published: December 2015

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD
+
) is a coenzyme found in all living cells. It serves both as a critical coenzyme for enzymes that fuel reduction-oxidation reactions, carrying electrons from one reaction to another, and as a cosubstrate for other enzymes such as the sirtuins and poly(adenosine diphosphate–ribose) polymerases. Cellular NAD
+
concentrations change during aging, and modulation of NAD
+
usage or production can prolong both health span and life span. Here we review factors that regulate NAD
+
and discuss how supplementation with NAD
+
precursors may represent a new therapeutic opportunity for aging and its associated disorders, particularly neurodegenerative diseases.
Ultraviolet surprise: Efficient soft x-ray high-harmonic generation in multiply ionized plasmas
Authors: Popmintchev Dimitar , Hernández-García Carlos , Dollar Franklin , Mancuso Christopher , Pérez-Hernández Jose A. , Chen Ming-Chang , Hankla Amelia , Gao Xiaohui , Shim Bonggu , Gaeta Alexander L. , Tarazkar Maryam , Romanov Dmitri A. , Levis Robert J. , Gaffney Jim A. , Foord Mark , Libby Stephen B. , Jaron-Becker Agnieszka , Becker Andreas , Plaja Luis , Murnane Margaret M. , Kapteyn Henry C. , Popmintchev Tenio
Published: December 2015

Short wavelengths birth shorter ones

The shortest laser pulses—with durations measured in attoseconds—arise from a process termed high-harmonic generation (HHG). Essentially, a longer, “driving” pulse draws electrons out of gaseous atoms like a slingshot, and, when they ricochet back, light emerges at shorter wavelengths. Most HHG has been carried out using light near the visible/infrared boundary for the driving pulse. Popmintchev
et al.
used an ultraviolet driving pulse instead, which yielded an unexpectedly efficient outcome. These results could presage a more generally efficient means of creating x-ray pulses for fundamental dynamics studies as well as technological applications.

Science
, this issue p. 1225
Imbalanced OPA1 processing and mitochondrial fragmentation cause heart failure in mice
Authors: Wai Timothy , García-Prieto Jaime , Baker Michael J. , Merkwirth Carsten , Benit Paule , Rustin Pierre , Rupérez Francisco Javier , Barbas Coral , Ibañez Borja , Langer Thomas
Published: December 2015

A change of heart (mitochondria)

Mitochondria provide an essential source of energy to drive cellular processes and are particularly important in heart muscle cells (see the Perspective by Gottlieb and Bernstein). After birth, the availability of oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues changes. This invokes changes in metabolism. Gong
et al.
studied the developmental transitions in mouse heart mitochondria soon after birth. Mitochondria were replaced wholesale via mitophagy in cardiomyocytes over the first 3 weeks after birth. Preventing this turnover by interfering with parkin-mediated mitophagy specifically in cardiomyocytes prevented the normal metabolic transition and caused heart failure. Thus, the heart has coopted a quality-control pathway to facilitate a major developmental transition after birth. Wai
et al.
examined the role of mitochondrial fission and fusion in mouse cardiomyocytes. Disruption of these processes led to “middle-aged” death from a form of dilated cardiomyopathy. Mice destined to develop cardiomyopathy were protected by feeding with a high-fat diet, which altered cardiac metabolism.

Science
, this issue p.
10.1126/science.aad2459
, p.
10.1126/science.aad0116
; see also p. 1162
Political agency: The key to tackling climate change
Authors: O'Brien Karen
Published: December 2015

Individuals play a central role in the transformations required to avoid dangerous climate change
Silica-supported catalysts get a new breath of life
Authors: Soled Stuart
Published: December 2015

Methods emerge for dispersing metals as stable nanoparticles on silica surfaces
Parkin-mediated mitophagy directs perinatal cardiac metabolic maturation in mice
Authors: Gong Guohua , Song Moshi , Csordas Gyorgy , Kelly Daniel P. , Matkovich Scot J. , Dorn Gerald W.
Published: December 2015

A change of heart (mitochondria)

Mitochondria provide an essential source of energy to drive cellular processes and are particularly important in heart muscle cells (see the Perspective by Gottlieb and Bernstein). After birth, the availability of oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues changes. This invokes changes in metabolism. Gong
et al.
studied the developmental transitions in mouse heart mitochondria soon after birth. Mitochondria were replaced wholesale via mitophagy in cardiomyocytes over the first 3 weeks after birth. Preventing this turnover by interfering with parkin-mediated mitophagy specifically in cardiomyocytes prevented the normal metabolic transition and caused heart failure. Thus, the heart has coopted a quality-control pathway to facilitate a major developmental transition after birth. Wai
et al.
examined the role of mitochondrial fission and fusion in mouse cardiomyocytes. Disruption of these processes led to “middle-aged” death from a form of dilated cardiomyopathy. Mice destined to develop cardiomyopathy were protected by feeding with a high-fat diet, which altered cardiac metabolism.

Science
, this issue p.
10.1126/science.aad2459
, p.
10.1126/science.aad0116
; see also p. 1162
Corridors for people, corridors for nature
Authors: Haddad Nick M.
Published: December 2015

How can the environmental impacts of roads be reduced?
Phage therapy redux—What is to be done?
Authors: Young Ry , Gill Jason J.
Published: December 2015

Bacteriophage biology should move beyond a model system to support human health
Classical entanglement?
Authors: Karimi Ebrahim , Boyd Robert W.
Published: December 2015

Entanglement is a property of the quantum world; classical systems need not apply
Understanding the origins of human cancer
Authors: Alexandrov Ludmil B.
Published: December 2015

Analyzing the DNA sequences of more than 12,000 cancer patients revealed signatures of mutational processes
Mitochondria shape cardiac metabolism
Authors: Gottlieb Roberta A. , Bernstein Daniel
Published: December 2015

Quality control of mitochondria in cardiac muscle affects heart function

[Also see Research Articles by

Gong
et al.

and

Wai
et al.

]
Risk factors for hospital admission in the 28 days following a community-acquired pneumonia diagnosis in older adults, and their contribution to increasing hospitalisation rates over time: a cohort study
Authors: Millett Elizabeth R C , De Stavola Bianca L , Quint Jennifer K , Smeeth Liam , Thomas Sara L
Published: December 2015

Objectives

To determine factors associated with hospitalisation after community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) among older adults in England, and to investigate how these factors have contributed to increasing hospitalisations over time.

Design

Cohort study.

Setting

Primary and secondary care in England.

Population

39 211 individuals from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, who were eligible for linkage to Hospital Episode Statistics and mortality data, were aged ≥65 and had at least 1 CAP episode between April 1998 and March 2011.

Main outcome measures

The association between hospitalisation within 28 days of CAP diagnosis (a ‘post-CAP’ hospitalisation) and a wide range of comorbidities, frailty factors, medications and vaccinations. We examined the role of these factors in post-CAP hospitalisation trends. We also looked at trends in post-CAP mortality and length of hospitalisation over the study period.

Results

14 comorbidities, 5 frailty factors and 4 medications/vaccinations were associated with hospitalisation (of 18, 12 and 7 considered, respectively). Factors such as chronic lung disease, severe renal disease and diabetes were associated with increased likelihood of hospitalisation, whereas factors such as recent influenza vaccination and a recent antibiotic prescription decreased the odds of hospitalisation. Despite adjusting for these and other factors, the average predicted probability of hospitalisation after CAP rose markedly from 57% (1998–2000) to 86% (2009–2010). Duration of hospitalisation and 28-day mortality decreased over the study period.

Conclusions

The risk factors we describe enable identification of patients at increased likelihood of post-CAP hospitalisation and thus in need of proactive case management. Our analyses also provide evidence that while comorbidities and frailty factors contributed to increasing post-CAP hospitalisations in recent years, the trend appears to be largely driven by changes in service provision and patient behaviour.
Bifurcation Analysis of the Wound Rotor Induction Motor
Authors: Salas-Cabrera R. , Hernandez-Colin A. , Roman-Flores J. , Salas-Cabrera N.
Published: December 2015

This work deals with the bifurcation phenomena that occur during the open-loop operation of a single-fed three-phase wound rotor induction motor. This paper demonstrates the occurrence of saddle-node bifurcation, hysteresis, supercritical saddle-node bifurcation, cusp and Hopf bifurcation during the individual operation of this electromechanical system. Some experimental results associated with the bifurcation phenomena are presented.
Pullback Attractors for a Reaction–Diffusion Equation in a General Nonempty Open Subset of ℝN with Nonautonomous Forcing Term in H−1
Authors: Anguiano María
Published: December 2015

The existence of minimal pullback attractors in [Formula: see text] for a nonautonomous reaction–diffusion equation, in the frameworks of universes of fixed bounded sets and that given by a tempered growth condition, is proved in this paper, when the domain [Formula: see text] is a general nonempty open subset of [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text]. The main concept used in the proof is the asymptotic compactness of the process generated by the problem. The relation among these families is also discussed.
Bifurcation Analysis and Chaos Switchover Phenomenon in a Nonlinear Financial System with Delay Feedback
Authors: Ding Yuting , Cao Jun
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we study the dynamics in delayed nonlinear financial system, with particular attention focused on Hopf and double Hopf bifurcations. Firstly, we identify the critical values for stability switches, Hopf and double Hopf bifurcations. We show how the parameters affect the dynamical behavior of the system. Secondly, the normal forms near the Hopf and double Hopf bifurcations, as well as the classifications of local dynamics are analyzed. These bifurcations lead a chaotic system to be stable states, such as the coexistence of a pair of stable equilibria or a pair of stable periodic oscillations, and then chaos disappears. Numerical simulations are presented to verify the analytical predictions. Furthermore, detailed numerical analysis using MATLAB extends the local bifurcation analysis to a global picture, namely, a family of stable periodic solutions exist in a large region of delay and “chaos switchover” phenomenon appears. Therefore, in accordance with the above theoretical analysis, reasonable parameters can be designed in order to achieve various applications.
New Phenomena in the Spatial Isosceles Three-Body Problem with Unequal Masses
Authors: Yan Duokui , Liu Rongchang , Hu Xingwei , Mao Weize , Ouyang Tiancheng
Published: December 2015

This work studies periodic orbits as action minimizers in the spatial isosceles three-body problem with mass [Formula: see text]. In each period, the body with mass [Formula: see text] moves up and down on a vertical line, while the other two bodies have the same mass [Formula: see text], and rotate about this vertical line symmetrically. For given [Formula: see text], such periodic orbits form a one-parameter set with a rotation angle [Formula: see text] as the parameter.

[Formula: see text]Two new phenomena are found for this set. First, for each [Formula: see text], this set of periodic orbits bifurcate from a circular Euler (central configuration) orbit to a Broucke (collision) orbit as [Formula: see text] increases from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text]. There exists a critical rotation angle [Formula: see text], where the orbit is a circular Euler orbit if [Formula: see text]; a spatial orbit if [Formula: see text]; and a Broucke (collision) orbit if [Formula: see text]. The exact formula of [Formula: see text] is numerically proved to be [Formula: see text]. Second, oscillating behaviors occur at rotation angle [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text]. Actually, the orbit with [Formula: see text] runs on its initial periodic shape for only a few periods. It breaks the first periodic shape and becomes irregular in a moment. However, it runs close to a different periodic shape after a while. In a short time, it falls apart from the second periodic shape and runs irregularly again. Such oscillation continues as time [Formula: see text] increases. Up to [Formula: see text], the orbit is bounded and keeps oscillating between periodic shapes and irregular motions. Further study implies that, for each [Formula: see text], the angle between any two consecutive periodic shapes is a constant. When [Formula: see text], similar oscillating behaviors are expected.
Global Bifurcation Analysis of a Population Model with Stage Structure and Beverton–Holt Saturation Function
Authors: Fan Li , Tang Sanyi
Published: December 2015

In the present paper, we perform a complete bifurcation analysis of a two-stage population model, in which the per capita birth rate and stage transition rate from juveniles to adults are density dependent and take the general Beverton–Holt functions. Our study reveals a rich bifurcation structure including codimension-one bifurcations such as saddle-node, Hopf, homoclinic bifurcations, and codimension-two bifurcations such as Bogdanov–Takens (BT), Bautin bifurcations, etc. Moreover, by employing the polynomial analysis and approximation techniques, the existences of equilibria, Hopf and BT bifurcations as well as the formulas for calculating their bifurcation sets have been provided. Finally, the complete bifurcation diagrams and associate phase portraits are obtained not only analytically but also confirmed and extended numerically.
Chaotic Dynamics in Nonautonomous Maps: Application to the Nonautonomous Hénon Map
Authors: Balibrea-Iniesta Francisco , Lopesino Carlos , Wiggins Stephen , Mancho Ana M.
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we analyze chaotic dynamics for two-dimensional nonautonomous maps through the use of a nonautonomous version of the Conley–Moser conditions given previously. With this approach we are able to give a precise definition of what is meant by a chaotic invariant set for nonautonomous maps. We extend the nonautonomous Conley–Moser conditions by deriving a new sufficient condition for the nonautonomous chaotic invariant set to be hyperbolic. We consider the specific example of a nonautonomous Hénon map and give sufficient conditions, in terms of the parameters defining the map, for the nonautonomous Hénon map to have a hyperbolic chaotic invariant set.