bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing cell migration in shape-memory alginate–collagen composite scaffolds: In vitro and ex vivo assessment for intervertebral disc repair
Authors: Guillaume Olivier , Naqvi Syeda Masooma , Lennon Kerri , Buckley Conor Timothy
Published: November 2014

Lower lumbar disc disorders pose a significant problem in an aging society with substantial socioeconomic consequences. Both inner tissue (nucleus pulposus) and outer tissue (annulus fibrosus) of the intervertebral disc are affected by such debilitating disorders and can lead to disc herniation and lower back pain. In this study, we developed an alginate–collagen composite porous scaffold with shape-memory properties to fill defects occurring in annulus fibrosus tissue of degenerated intervertebral discs, which has the potential to be administered using minimal invasive surgery. In the first part of this work, we assessed how collagen incorporation on preformed alginate scaffolds influences the physical properties of the final composite scaffold. We also evaluated the ability of annulus fibrosus cells to attach, migrate, and proliferate on the composite alginate–collagen scaffolds compared to control scaffolds (alginate only). In vitro experiments, performed in intervertebral disc-like microenvironmental conditions (low glucose and low oxygen concentrations), revealed that for alginate only scaffolds, annulus fibrosus cells agglomerated in clusters with limited infiltration and migration capacity. In comparison, for alginate–collagen scaffolds, annulus fibrosus cells readily attached and colonized constructs, while preserving their typical fibroblastic-like cell morphology with spreading behavior and intense cytoskeleton expression. In a second part of this study, we investigated the effects of alginate–collagen scaffold when seeded with bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells. In vitro, we observed that alginate–collagen porous scaffolds supported cell proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition (collagen type I), with secretion amplified by the local release of transforming growth factor-β3. In addition, when cultured in ex vivo organ defect model, alginate–collagen scaffolds maintained viability of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells for up to 5 weeks. Taken together, these findings illustrate the advantages of incorporating collagen as a means to enhance cell migration and proliferation in porous scaffolds which could be used to augment tissue repair strategies.
Do Crisis Intervention Teams Reduce Arrests and Improve Officer Safety? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Taheri Sema A.
Published: November 2014

Until the 1950s, state mental health hospitals accommodated the majority of individuals suffering from mental illness. Today, however, following the closing of state mental hospitals, persons with serious mental illness without adequate private care are 3 times more likely to be housed in a jail or prison than in a hospital. The consequences associated with increased contact between the criminal justice system and the mentally ill necessitates a comprehensive strategy that targets improvement in interaction between the criminal justice system and the mentally ill. This article reports on findings of a systematic review and meta-analysis of the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), a widely adopted program implemented in police departments, in an effort to reduce reliance on incarceration as mental health institutions, and to train officers about mental illness. The findings of this review and meta-analysis reveal null effects of CITs on arrests of persons with mental illness ( d = 0.180, p = .495) and on police officer safety ( d = −0.301, p = .191). These results do not suggest that CIT programs should be discontinued. However, potential improvements to program implementation and evaluation are discussed.
Marriage, Violence, and Choice
Authors: Rao Nitya
Published: November 2014

The literature on Dalit women largely deals with issues of violence and oppression based on intersections of class, caste, and gender. Women’s bodies, sexuality, and reproductive choices are linked to the ideological hegemony of the caste–gender nexus in India, with marriage and sexual relations playing crucial roles in maintaining caste boundaries. Often, the ways in which women manipulate their multiple, interlinked identities as women, Dalits, workers, and homemakers to resist control over their bodies (labor and sexuality), negotiate conjugal loyalty and love, and construct a sense of selfhood is missed in the analyses. Based on research in rural Tamil Nadu, I analyze Dalit women’s narratives that reflect multiple concerns and dilemmas about marital choice and violence, generating in the process a deeper understanding of agency, voice, and gender relations, as fluid, dynamic, and intersecting in response to changing experiences, positionalities, and subjectivities.
Determination of multi-performance characteristics for powder mixed electric discharge machining of tungsten carbide alloy
Authors: Sharma Rajiv Kumar , Singh Jagdeep
Published: November 2014

This article aims to develop a method that optimize the multi-performance characteristics, that is, micro-hardness and surface roughness of powder mixed electric discharge machining process. For experimentation, four input parameters—(a) pulse-on time, (b) pulse-off time, (c) current and (d) powder—are considered to investigate the improvement in multi-performance characteristics using Taguchi’s L27 orthogonal array design. Furthermore, to optimize these parameters and to handle the element of uncertainty associated with multi-input and discrete data, a method combining the grey and Taguchi experimental design was established. Theoretical prediction of results obtained from grey relational grade approach shows that the proposed approach proved useful for optimizing surface roughness and micro-hardness. In addition, analysis of variance is used to find the percentage contribution of process parameters. Finally, from analytical and experimental results, it is concluded that the pulse-on, powder and current are the most influencing parameters in powder mixed electric discharge machining of cobalt-bonded tungsten carbide.
Thermal error compensation on a computer numerical control machine tool considering thermal tilt angles and cutting tool length
Authors: Yang Jun , Mei Xuesong , Zhao Liang , Ma Chi , Shi Hu , Feng Bin
Published: November 2014

The present error compensation technology of computer numerical control machine tools ignores radial thermal tilt angle errors of the spindle, while the thermal-induced offset is closely related to the tilt angle and the handle length. To solve this problem, three models of spindle thermal errors are proposed for the thermal yaw, pitch angles and elongation, and error compensation is performed based on the thermal tilt angles and cutting tool length. A five-point method was applied to measure the spindle thermal drifts at different speeds by eddy current sensors, which could effectively analyse the changes in the position-pose of the errors. Fuzzy clustering and correlation analysis were applied to group and optimise the temperature variables and select the variables sensitive to thermal errors in order to depress the multicollinearity of the temperature variables and improve the stability of the model. Finally, the thermal offset compensation was conducted in three directions. The results indicate that back propagation has a better capability for nonlinear fitting, but its generalisation is far less than that of time series. While the structure of multiple linear regression analysis is simple, its prediction accuracy is not satisfied. Time series adequately reflects the dynamic behaviours of the thermal error, and the prediction accuracy can reach 94%, with excellent robustness under different cutting conditions. The thermal error compensation equation that includes thermal tilt angles and cutting tool length is suitable for actual conditions and can accurately describe the space-pose of the thermal deformation and improve the machining accuracy.
Sparse representation based on adaptive multiscale features for robust machinery fault diagnosis
Authors: Zhu Huijie , Wang Xinqing , Zhao Yang , Li Yanfeng , Wang Wenfu , Li Liping
Published: November 2014

In machinery fault diagnosis, it is fairly time consuming and expertise-demanded for manually selecting features, so it is profitable to automate this process for rapid and robust fault diagnosis. An automatic and adaptive feature extraction scheme via K-SVD algorithm was proposed in this paper, and without additional classifier, the fault detection was directly implemented by sparse representation. Higher animals apply the integration of global and local information to identify unknown objects for better recognition. Enlightened by this mechanism, the judgments by global and local frequency features were fused for better diagnosis by evidence theory. This fusion not only improved the successful rate, but also presented the reliability of diagnosis, which provided worthwhile recommendations and was essential to final decision. Verified in bearing fault diagnosis, the results demonstrated that the proposed scheme improved accuracy, robustness and efficiency, and this scheme had potential value for engineering application.
Kinematic modelling and configuration estimation for elastic wire using minimum sensors
Authors: Jeon Jiun , Yi Byung-Ju , Shin Kyoosik , Kim Wheekuk
Published: November 2014

Configuration estimation of elastic wire has been confined to small-sized continuum bodies. This work aims at configuration estimation algorithm of general elastic wires using minimum number of information (i.e. two magnetic sensor and length of wire) with consideration of gravity load of the elastic wire. The elastic wire is modelled as a kinematically redundant manipulator with multiple links and joints. An optimization algorithm minimizing the potential energy of the elastic wire is employed. The performance of the configuration estimation algorithm is proven by comparison of simulation and experiment results.
Virtual serial strategy for parallel hybrid electric vehicles
Authors: Pantoja-Vazquez Alfonso , Alvarez-Icaza Luis , Becerra Guillermo
Published: November 2014

A new strategy to control the power split in hybrid electric vehicles is presented. The strategy is proposed for a parallel hybrid vehicle where the internal-combustion engine and the electric machine are coupled by a planetary gear system. This low computational burden strategy is designed to operate the internal-combustion engine at the maximum efficiency most of the time, in a similar fashion to serial hybrid electric vehicles, and to keep the state of charge of the battery on a desired level by an easy-to-tune proportional–integral controller. Although the strategy is not formally proven to be optimal, it is inspired by optimal control theory and has the advantage, when compared with optimal strategies, of requiring almost no a priori information about the vehicle or the route.
Load transient between conventional diesel operation and low-temperature combustion
Authors: Sarangi Asish K , Garner Colin P , McTaggart-Cowan Gordon P , Davy Martin H , Wahab Emad , Peckham Mark
Published: November 2014

The operation of diesel low-temperature combustion engines is currently limited to low-load and medium-load conditions. Mode transitions between diesel low-temperature combustion and conventional diesel operation and between conventional diesel operation and diesel low-temperature combustion are therefore necessary to meet typical legislated driving-cycle load requirements, e.g. those of the New European Driving Cycle. Owing to the markedly different response timescales of the engine’s turbocharger, exhaust gas recirculation and fuelling systems, these combustion mode transitions are typically characterised by increased pollutant emissions. In the present paper, the transition from conventional diesel operation to diesel low-temperature combustion in a decreasing-load transient is considered. The results of an experimental study on a 0.51 l single-cylinder high-speed diesel engine are reported in a series of steady-state ‘pseudo-transient’ operating conditions, each pseudo-transient test point being representative of an individual cycle condition from within a mode transition as predicted by the combination of real-world transient test data (for fuelling and load) and one-dimensional transient simulations (for intake manifold pressure and exhaust gas recirculation rate). These test conditions are then established on the engine using independently controllable exhaust gas recirculation and boost systems. The results show for the first time that the intermediate cycle conditions encountered during combustion mode change driven by the load transient pose a significant operating challenge, particularly with respect to control of carbon monoxide, total hydrocarbon and smoke emissions. A split-fuel-injection strategy is found to be effective in mitigating the negative effects of the mode change on smoke emissions without significantly increasing oxides of nitrogen or decreasing fuel economy; however, unburned hydrocarbon emissions are increased. Additional experimental testing was also conducted at selected intermediate cycles to understand the sensitivity of key fuel injection parameters with the split-injection strategy on engine performance and emissions.
Designing an intelligent control strategy for hybrid powertrains utilizing a fuzzy driving cycle identification agent
Authors: Safaei Ali , Ha’iri-Yazdi Mohammad Reza , Esfahanian Vahid , Esfahanian Mohsen , Masih Tehrani Masood , Nehzati Hassan
Published: November 2014

In this paper, a new idea for designing the control strategy for the energy management of hybrid powertrains based on the driving cycle type is presented. Here, every instance of an unknown driving cycle is considered to be similar to the reference driving cycles using similarity weights. To determine the control output in the unknown driving cycle, the weights are applied to a linear combination of the optimal control decisions generated in each of the reference driving cycles. The weights which are between zero and one are determined using a fuzzy driving cycle identification agent based on the comparison of preselected driving features. The simulation studies in seven different driving cycles show that, while all driving patterns in every driving cycle are considered for the generation of energy management by online implementation of the proposed intelligent control strategy, some driving patterns would be eliminated by using a non-fuzzy identification agent. This leads to a significant reduction in the fuel consumption of the hybrid powertrain utilized with the fuzzy identification agent in some driving cycles in comparison with those without the use of non-fuzzy driving cycle identification. In addition, in some driving cycles, the intelligent control strategy has a performance close to that for the offline optimized control strategy.
Investigating the surface roughness of implant prepared by combining fused deposition modeling and investment casting
Authors: Singh Rupinder , Singh Sunpreet , Kapoor Prince
Published: November 2014

Fused deposition modeling is widely used for printing three-dimensional models of biomedical implants as functional/ nonfunctional prototypes. In the present work, experimental investigations have been made for controlling surface roughness of implant (hip joint) prepared by combining fused deposition modeling and investment casting as a case study. The process started with printing of implant (hip joint patterns) using acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) as filament material with fused deposition modeling and, thereafter, functional prototype has been developed through investment casting route using SS316L. Three controllable factors of the investment casting process (namely, number of slurry layers, slurry viscosity, and dry time of primary layer) were studied at three levels each by Taguchi’s parametric approach and single-response optimization was conducted to identify the main factors controlling surface roughness ( Ra) of cast specimens. The results of the study suggest that for Ra, percentage contribution of number of layer, viscosity of primary dip, and dry time of primary coating is 41%, 32%, and 25%, respectively.
Growth and Change in Attention Problems, Disruptive Behavior, and Achievement From Kindergarten to Fifth Grade
Authors: Claessens Amy , Dowsett Chantelle
Published: November 2014

Despite widespread interest in children’s adjustment problems, existing research does not provide conclusive evidence regarding the direction of the associations of achievement with classroom attention problems and disruptive behavior over the course of elementary school. Using a nationally representative sample of 16,260 kindergarteners, this study examined the temporal sequence of achievement, classroom attention problems, and disruptive behavior, focusing on how changes in skills and problems unfold across key periods between kindergarten and fifth grade. Results indicate that improvements in attention during the earliest years of schooling predict achievement gains through third grade. However, changes in disruptive behavior do not predict subsequent changes in achievement. Evidence linking changes in achievement to changes in classroom attention problems and disruptive behavior was less consistent. These findings point to the need to develop and examine early interventions that can improve attention skills as a mechanism for improving children’s academic trajectories in elementary school.
Edible mushroom-related poisoning
Authors: Gawlikowski T , Romek M , Satora L
Published: November 2014

Background:

The American Association of Poison Control Center (AAPCC) shows that in 2012 there were 0.3% of human exposures involving mushrooms. Only 17% of 6600 cases were then identified by the species. The present retrospective study was designed to identify the epidemiology of mushroom poisoning in adults admitted to Krakow’s Department of Clinical Toxicology (DCT) from 2002 to 2009.

Materials and Methods:

This study was conducted retrospectively after examining the files of 457 adult patients with wild mushroom poisoning. Mycological analysis was made and the species of the poisoning-inducing mushroom was determined. Furthermore, the circumstances related to the mushroom gathering, transport, storage, preparation, and consumption have been analyzed.

Results:

The analysis revealed that in 400 (87.53%) out of 457 cases, the clinical symptoms were caused by ingestion of identified edible mushroom species. The main reason for edible mushroom poisoning is associated with their incorrect processing after harvest. The analysis of the circumstances of mushroom collection, transport, and storage shows that the largest percentage of poisoning was connected with long-term storage of mushroom dishes, collecting, and storing them in plastic bags, and long storage of mushrooms.

Conclusion:

Based on spore analysis of the gastric content, edible mushrooms were responsible for the great majority of mushroom poisoning cases admitted to the DCT. The toxicity of edible mushroom is associated with proceeding with them during collection, transport, and storage. The medical history should be supplemented by questions concerning these circumstances. The identification of the mushroom by a mycologist is highly desirable.
Assessment of patients who presented to the emergency department with mushroom poisoning
Authors: Colak S , Kandis H , Afacan MA , Erdogan MO , Gunes H , Kaya E , Akdemir HU , Saritas A
Published: November 2014

Objective:

This study aimed to assess the demographic characteristics, emergency department (ED) complaints, laboratory findings, and latent phase periods of patients who presented to the ED due to mushroom poisoning (MP) as well as the efficacy of conventional and hemofiltration therapies.

Method:

The study was conducted on patients who presented to the ED with MP between 2010 and 2012. The patient’s demographic characteristics, complaints at the ED, latent phases, laboratory findings, and treatments of MP cases were evaluated.

Results:

The mean age of patients was 38.03 ± 15.96, where 63.8% of them were female and 36.2% were male. Visits occurred most frequently in the autumn (32.6%). When presenting to the ED, the most frequent complaint was nausea–vomiting. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), international normalised ratio (INR), and blood urea nitrogen values of patients with a latent phase between 0 h and 5 h were significantly lower than the values of patients with a latent phase between 6 h and 24 h. In this study, 62% of the patients ( n = 36) had stomach lavage and received activated charcoal. Altogether, 55.2% of the patients had received conventional therapy, 37.9% of them received hemofiltration, and all of them received supportive treatment. The AST, ALT, and INR values of those who had received hemofiltration and conventional therapies were significantly higher than of those who received only supportive treatment ( p < 0.01).

Conclusion:

Hemofiltration, in combination with conventional therapy, seems to be an effective treatment for reducing mortality in suspected MP cases involving late acting toxins.
Perceptions and Challenges
Authors: Son Juyeon
Published: November 2014

PURPOSE: This study aims to obtain the understanding of Korean immigrants’ postpartum care expectations and experiences as they tend to differ from the dominant culture in the United States. DESIGN: Using an interpretative qualitative method, 305 questions and 1,224 replies on a bulletin board forum in a major Korean online community were examined. The postings were identified through a keyword search and a subsequent categorization of the resulting questions. FINDINGS: A qualitative analysis provided descriptive knowledge regarding postpartum care and the associated beliefs widespread among Korean Americans, struggles with the issues they face during postpartum care, and the vulnerability of new Korean mothers to the negative effects of experiencing unmet needs. DISCUSSION: The results pointed to the significance of understanding the concerns regarding postpartum care needs among the Korean immigrant women. Furthermore, the outcomes illustrate the variations in cultural beliefs and practices of postpartum care needed for health care providers.
Assessment and Management of Symptoms for Outpatients Newly Diagnosed With Lung Cancer
Authors: Reinke Lynn F. , Feemster Laura C. , Backhus Leah M. , Gylys-Colwell Ina , Au David H.
Published: November 2014

Rationale:

Little is known about symptom assessment around the time of lung cancer diagnosis. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess symptoms within 2 months of diagnosis and the frequency with which clinicians addressed symptoms among a cohort of veterans (n = 20) newly diagnosed with lung cancer. We administered questionnaires and then reviewed medical records to identify symptom assessment and management provided by subspecialty clinics for 6 months following diagnosis.

Results:

Half (50%) of the patients were diagnosed with early-stage non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), stage I or II. At baseline, 45% patients rated their overall symptoms as severe. There were no significant differences in symptoms among patients with early- or late-stage NSCLC or small-cell lung cancer. Of the 212 clinic visits over 6 months, 70.2% occurred in oncology. Clinicians most frequently addressed pain although assessment differed by clinic.

Conclusions:

Veterans with newly diagnosed lung cancer report significant symptom burden. Despite ample opportunities to address patients’ symptoms, variations in assessment exist among subspecialty services. Coordinated approaches to symptom assessment are likely needed among patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer.
If You Don’t Care, Then Why Should I? The Influence of Instructor Commitment on Student Satisfaction and Commitment
Authors: Dachner Alison M. , Saxton Brian M.
Published: November 2014

Management education often takes place at institutions where research is one of the top priorities of the faculty and administration. In this context, and others, instructors may not be fully committed to their teaching. Yet student satisfaction with their professors is an important determinant of a university’s reputation. We explore how an instructor’s attitude about teaching influences student outcomes in general and student satisfaction and commitment specifically. Using a sample of 286 students and five different management instructors, our research establishes an instructor’s attitude about teaching, specifically the instructor’s self-rated commitment to the students in his or her class, as having a positive influence on student-rated satisfaction. Moreover, perceived instructor support is established as the explanatory mechanism that mediates the relationship between an instructor’s commitment to students and student satisfaction as well as the relationship between an instructor’s commitment to students and student commitment. Based on our findings, we offer implications for administrators and management educators alike for fostering supportive environments that will enhance student satisfaction and commitment.
Differences in Access to Care Among Students Using School-Based Health Centers
Authors: Parasuraman Sarika Rane , Shi Leiyu
Published: November 2014

Health care reform has changed the landscape for the nation’s health safety net, and school-based health centers (SBHCs) remain an important part of this system. However, few large-scale studies have been conducted to assess their impact on access to care. This study investigated differences in access among a nationally representative sample of adolescent SBHC users. An analysis using multivariate logistic regression examined the association between student characteristics and access to care. We found no differences based on race/ethnicity or insurance status among adolescent SBHC users; however, we did observe significant differences with regard to unmet health needs. School nurses serve as invaluable frontline staff who can facilitate equitable access to care, provide high-quality primary care, coordinate care for students with community health services, and advocate for policy and funding support of SBHCs as a critical part of the safety net for underserved adolescents.
Time Spent on the Internet and Adolescent Blood Pressure
Authors: Cassidy-Bushrow Andrea E. , Johnson Dayna A. , Peters Rosalind M. , Burmeister Charlotte , Joseph Christine L. M.
Published: November 2014

Internet use is nearly ubiquitous among adolescents. Growing evidence suggests heavy Internet use negatively impacts health, yet the relationship between time spent on the Internet and adolescent blood pressure (BP) is unknown. We examined the association between Internet use and elevated BP in a racially diverse cross-sectional sample of 331 healthy adolescents (ages 14–17 years). Heavy Internet use was defined as ≥2 hr/day, moderate use as <2 hr/day and ≥5 days/week, and light use as <2 hr/day and ≤4 days/week. Elevated BP was defined as systolic or diastolic BP ≥90th percentile. Heavy Internet users had statistically significantly higher odds of elevated BP compared to light Internet users. School nurses can play an important role in preventing high BP through assessment of BP and other health behaviors including Internet use, and health teaching to individuals, student groups, faculty, and parents to increase awareness of the relationship between Internet use and health.
Are Informant Reports of Personality More Internally Consistent Than Self Reports of Personality?
Authors: Balsis Steve , Cooper Luke D. , Oltmanns Thomas F.
Published: November 2014

The present study examined whether informant-reported personality was more or less internally consistent than self-reported personality in an epidemiological community sample ( n = 1,449). Results indicated that across the 5 NEO (Neuroticism–Extraversion–Openness) personality factors and the 10 personality disorder trait dimensions, informant reports tended to be more internally consistent than self reports, as indicated by equal or higher Cronbach’s alpha scores and higher average interitem correlations. In addition, the informant reports collectively outperformed the self reports for predicting responses on a global measure of health, indicating that the informant reports are not only more reliable than self reports, but they can also be useful in predicting an external criterion. Collectively these findings indicate that informant reports tend to have greater internal consistency than self reports.
Nonaffine response of skeletal muscles on the ‘descending limb’
Authors: Novak Igor , Truskinovsky Lev
Published: November 2014

Tetanized muscle myofibrils are often modeled as one-dimensional chains where springs represent half-sarcomeres (HS). The force–length relation for individual HSs (isometric tetanus) is known to have a ‘descending limb’, a segment with an apparently negative stiffness. Despite the potential mechanical instability on the descending limb, the isometric tetanus is usually interpreted as describing an affine deformation. At the same time, active stretching during tetanus around the descending limb is known to produce non-affine sarcomere patterns. In view of this paradox, the question whether the mechanical behavior of a myofibril can be interpreted as a response of a single contractile unit has been a subject of considerable controversy over the last 50 years. In this paper we question the claim that the isometric tetanus describes homogeneous configurations of the HS chain. To distinguish between the multitudes of non-affine equilibrium states available to this mechanical system, we propose to use the concept of a stored mechanical energy. While the notion of energy is natural from a mechanical point of view, physiologists have resisted it so far on the grounds that the contractile elements are active. We discuss how this objection can be overcome and show that the appropriately defined stored energy of a tetanized myofibril with N contractile units has exponentially many local minima. We then argue that the ruggedness of the ensuing energy landscape is responsible for the experimentally observed history dependence and hysteresis in the mechanical response of a tetanized muscle near the descending limb. A nonlocal extension of the chain model, accounting for surrounding tissues, shows that both the ground states and the marginally stable states are fine mixtures of short and long HSs. These mixtures are homogeneous at the macro-scale and inhomogeneous at the micro-scale and we show that the negative overall slope of the step-wise tetanus can coexist with a positive instantaneous stiffness. A salient feature of the nonlocal model is that the variation of the degree of non-uniformity with elongation follows a complete devil’s staircase.
A Dyadic Approach
Authors: Checton Maria G. , Magsamen-Conrad Kate , Venetis Maria K. , Greene Kathryn
Published: November 2014

The purpose of the present study was to apply Berg and Upchurch’s developmental-conceptual model toward a better understanding of how couples cope with chronic illness. Specifically, a model was hypothesized in which proximal factors (relational quality), dyadic appraisal (illness interference), and dyadic coping (partner support) influence adjustment (health condition management). The study was cross-sectional and included 308 dyads in which one partner has a chronic health condition. The actor partner interdependence model shows how congruence and noncongruence in relational quality, dyadic appraisal, and dyadic coping influence dyadic adjustment.
Unpacking Customer Rage Elicitation
Authors: Surachartkumtonkun Jiraporn , McColl-Kennedy Janet R. , Patterson Paul G.
Published: November 2014

Unlike prior research that has confined customer rage to a single point in time, this article explores the unfolding of rage over three time periods, at the initial service failure (Episode 1) and two ineffective service recovery attempts (Episodes 2 and 3). In each episode, we examine the association between loss, or a threat of loss, of personal resources (e.g., self-esteem, sense of justice, sense of control, and economic resources such as time and money) and negative emotions. We empirically demonstrate for the first time that although rage may sometimes take place at the initial service failure (Episode 1), rage does not tend to be an immediate reaction. Rather, it is when service failures remain unresolved that residual negative emotions are carried forward into the next episode, so that rage is dominant in Episodes 2 and 3. This carryover of negative emotion spirals with more resources being threatened, propelling the customer into rage. The authors offer a methodological contribution demonstrating the dynamic nature of appraisals and emotions in a sequence of related episodes in the elicitation of rage. Finally, differences between U.S. and Thai responses are discussed with important theoretical and managerial implications.
The Use of Sexual History Narratives to Assess Processes of Hegemonic Masculinity among South African Men in the Context of HIV/AIDS
Authors: Stern Erin , Clarfelt Alice , Buikema Rosemarie
Published: November 2014

Connell’s concept of hegemonic masculinities has been invaluable for prevention efforts that seek to promote a shift in hegemonic male norms driving the HIV epidemic. However, inadequate attention has been given to the internal processes of hegemony, which limits the comprehension of how to engage men in HIV prevention efforts. A narrative approach, which privileges the diversity in men’s lived experiences, could address such concerns. Fifty sexual history interviews were conducted with men sampled from three age categories: (eighteen to twenty-four, twenty-five to fifty-four and fifty-five plus), a range of cultural and racial backgrounds, and in urban and rural sites across five provinces in South Africa. For the purpose of this article, narrative analysis was conducted on three cases that provide a platform for understanding how men both conform to and resist gender norms that influence their sexual and reproductive health. Implications of the narratives for gender transformative HIV prevention efforts are discussed.
“Expectations to Change” (E2C)
Authors: Adams Adrienne E. , Nnawulezi Nkiru A. , Vandenberg Lela
Published: November 2014

From a utilization-focused evaluation perspective, the success of an evaluation is rooted in the extent to which the evaluation was used by stakeholders. This paper details the “Expectations to Change” (E2C) process, an interactive, workshop-based method designed to engage primary users with their evaluation findings as a means of promoting evaluation use and building evaluation capacity. The process is uniquely suited for contexts in which the aim is to assess performance on a set of indicators by comparing actual performance to planned performance standards for the purpose of program improvement. The E2C process was originally developed for use in a participatory evaluation with a non-profit human service organization. Evidence from a one-year follow-up survey suggested that the method increased participants’ conceptual, instrumental, and process use. The general utility of the E2C process is discussed.
Femoral head and neck excision in cats: medium- to long-term functional outcome in 18 cats
Authors: Yap Fui W , Dunn Andrew L , Garcia-Fernandez Paloma Maria , Brown Gordon , Allan Ross M , Calvo Ignacio
Published: November 2014

Objective

To assess the medium- to long-term functional outcome of cats after femoral head and neck excision (FHNE) using an owner-completed questionnaire.

Methods

Cats that had FHNE and were free of other orthopaedic or medical conditions that could affect their mobility, other than the studied coxofemoral joint(s), were included. A specific owner-completed questionnaire was used at a minimum of 4 months postoperatively. The questionnaire assessed the ability of the cats to perform normal feline activities, change of demeanour or behaviour, the necessity for long-term analgesia and the time taken to resume normal activities.

Results

Eighteen cats had undergone uni- or bilateral FHNE and met the inclusion criteria. All but one cat could perform normal feline activities without or with slight difficulty at follow-up. The aforementioned cat had notable, persistent difficulty in climbing. The majority of the cats took between 1 and 2 months to resume normal activity. No change in demeanour or behaviour was noted in any of the cats and none of the cats required long-term analgesia.

Conclusions and relevance

Based on the owner-completed questionnaire, cats have good-to-excellent medium- to long-term functional outcome after adequately performed FHNE.
Teachers’ beliefs regarding composition in elementary general music: Definitions, values, and impediments
Authors: Shouldice Heather Nelson
Published: November 2014

The purpose of this research was to investigate teachers’ beliefs about compositional experiences in the elementary music classroom. Elementary music teachers ( N = 176) in Michigan completed a researcher-designed questionnaire, which included a combination of forced-choice and open-ended questions regarding how teachers define composition, why they believe engaging students in compositional experiences is valuable, and what factors motivate teachers to engage or not engage their students in compositional experiences. Results indicate that participants’ conceptions of composition vary widely. Many teachers believe composition involves creating, expression/communication, and replication; however, teachers varied in other beliefs about composition, including the necessity of notation and the level of complexity involved. Teachers who believe that composition is important in elementary general music feel it is valuable because it helps students develop and apply musical understanding and skills, gives students ownership of their music-making, helps develop creativity, and provides an opportunity for self-expression. Teachers identified numerous impediments to incorporating composition in the elementary music classroom, including time and logistics.
Exploring musical expectations: Understanding the impact of a year-long primary school music project in the context of school, home and prior learning
Authors: Pitts Stephanie E.
Published: November 2014

This article reports on a year-long project carried out in three UK primary schools, which aimed to understand the expectations and experiences of children participating in a series of workshops delivered by the chamber music organisation, Music in the Round. Through drawings, discussions, questionnaires and observations, the children’s developing musical identities and skills were explored, alongside the teachers’ and parents’ understandings of what the children gained from the workshops. The project raises questions about the evaluation and impact of musical interventions of this kind, and about the ways in which children acquire musical self-efficacy from encounters in school and home.
A case study objectively assessing female physical activity levels within the National Curriculum for Physical Education
Authors: Hobbs Matthew , Daly-Smith Andrew , Morley David , McKenna James
Published: November 2014

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the National Curriculum for Physical Education (NCPE) lesson themes and contexts on the profile of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Fifteen, Year 9 Physical Education (PE) lessons were assessed within the lesson themes of Outwitting Opponents (OO) (delivered through field hockey and netball) and Accurate Replication (AR) (delivered through gymnastics) using the System for Observing the Teaching of Games in Physical Education. Accelerometry identified MVPA within PE lessons (Actigraph-GTM1, 10-second epoch, MVPA ≥2296 counts/min). Among 112 females MVPA averaged 20.8% of available learning time. Significantly more MVPA was facilitated during OO than AR (22.7 vs. 15.9%, p < 0.001, d = 0.88). Within both lesson themes, warm-up was the most active lesson context while pre- and post-lesson general management were the least active. Contrary to expectations, neither small-sided nor modified games, versus full-sided games, increased MVPA within OO. During AR technical and applied-skill practice resulted in low MVPA. Objective evidence has justified concerns about female adolescent MVPA within PE. At current levels an additional 17.5 minutes of MVPA per 60 minute PE lesson would be needed to meet the minimum 50% guideline.
Resolute efforts to cure hepatitis C: Understanding patients’ reasons for completing antiviral treatment
Authors: Clark Jack A , Gifford Allen L
Published: November 2014

Antiviral treatment for hepatitis C is usually difficult, demanding, and debilitating and has long offered modest prospects of successful cure. Most people who may need treatment have faced stigma of an illness associated with drug and alcohol misuse and thus may be deemed poor candidates for treatment, while completing a course of treatment typically calls for resolve and responsibility. Patients’ efforts and their reasons for completing treatment have received scant attention in hepatitis C clinical policy discourse that instead focuses on problems of adherence and patients’ expected failures. Thus, we conducted qualitative interviews with patients who had recently undertaken treatment to explore their reasons for completing antiviral treatment. Analysis of their narrative accounts identified four principal reasons: cure the infection, avoid a bad end, demonstrate the virtue of perseverance through a personal trial, and achieve personal rehabilitation. Their reasons reflect moral rationales that mark the social discredit ascribed to the infection and may represent efforts to restore creditable social membership. Their reasons may also reflect the selection processes that render some of the infected as good candidates for treatment, while excluding others. Explication of the moral context of treatment may identify opportunities to support patients’ efforts in completing treatment, as well as illuminate the choices people with hepatitis C make about engaging in care.
Molecular dynamics simulations of the interfacial characteristics of polypropylene/single-walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Rouhi S , Alizadeh Y , Ansari R
Published: November 2014

Using molecular dynamics simulations, the interfacial characteristics of polypropylene chains with single-walled carbon nanotubes are studied. The effects of different parameters (including initial orientation of polypropylene chain relative to nanotube, temperature, nanotube chirality and radius, and chain length) on the polypropylene/nanotube interactions are examined. Besides, the behavior of multiple polypropylene chains around a single-walled carbon nanotube is studied. It is shown that the final structure of polymer chain adsorbed on the single-walled carbon nanotube surface is independent of initial angle between polypropylene chain and the nanotube axis. Moreover, it is observed that armchair nanotubes are better candidates to reinforce the polypropylene matrix nanocomposites than zigzag nanotubes with the same geometry.
The transformation of tequila: From hangover to highbrow
Authors: Gaytán Marie Sarita
Published: November 2014

This article examines the evolution of tequila’s reputation – from lowbrow to high class – in Mexico and the United States. Analyzing the content of novels, magazines, newspapers, ads, and song lyrics, it argues that the current cachet associated with tequila was influenced by a range of historical, political, and economic circumstances within and between Mexico and the United States. Specifically, transformations took place in three key phases including tequila’s: (1) increasing ties to national identity in Mexico; (2) changing perception – moving from feared to fun – in the United States; and (3) gaining of state-backed support and legislative protection. In explaining the shifting patterns of prestige, the roles of transnational circuits of consumption and production merit closer analysis in understanding the relations that shape cultural fields.
Changes in communication of Deaf people with dementia: A thematic interview with a close family member
Authors: Rantapää Minna , Pekkala Seija
Published: November 2014

Background and aim

Learning about changes in communication of Deaf with dementia (DWD) is important in order to improve services and support DWD and their families. We explored family members’ views on the changes in communication DWD have and the ways communication was adapted due to progression of dementia.

Methods

A qualitative content analysis of thematic interviews that were conducted with eight close family members of DWD.

Results

With decreasing vocabulary and increasing sign-finding difficulties, conversations became poorer, and DWD tended to diverge from the topic. Nonverbal communication became more important as the verbal communication abilities of DWD deteriorated, and the adult children took a more active role by taking initiative and guiding conversations.

Conclusion

DWD seem to go through similar changes in communication as hearing people with dementia. Adult children of DWD need to get used to interpreting and assisting their parent’s communication through different phases of dementia.
Ethical issues and dilemmas in doing research with itinerant street vending children and young people: Experiences from Nigeria
Authors: BabyLaw Okoli Rosemary Chinyere
Published: November 2014

It has been widely acknowledged in recent years that contemporary ideas about children and childhoods are framed by perceptions and definitions that are both Western/minority world and adult-centred. This paper argues that this is not only the case for theoretical concepts but is also found in research practice, and, in particular, in the commonly accepted ethical frameworks for conducting research with children and young people. Drawing from multi-sited fieldwork and a combined ethnographic methodology of participant observation and semi-structured interviews, this paper discusses the realities of conducting research with itinerant street vending children and young people in busy Nigerian streets and marketplaces in Enugu urban, who had never taken part in a research project. It explores five key ethical issues that arose from the study and reflects on the dilemmas involved with researching and relating with such a highly mobile group within a chaotic, yet organised market environment. The paper concludes that doing ethical research with children and young people in the developing world is fraught with issues and dilemmas that can best be resolved not by adopting textbook, ‘Western’ ethical research frameworks and constructions that do not reflect the lived realities of non-western children, but by constantly negotiating and renegotiating boundaries of inequalities, moral values, cultural beliefs and practices and specific contexts within which majority world children live and grow.
The online trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals: New criminal opportunities, trends and challenges
Authors: Lavorgna Anita
Published: November 2014

There is widespread agreement that the Internet is a primary market for counterfeit pharmaceuticals, but this issue has been under-investigated by criminologists. In order to effectively control this dangerous trade, considerably more knowledge about it must be assembled. This study contributes to this domain by looking at how the Internet is used to facilitate the trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Based on interviews and investigative cases analysed through a crime script, this study pinpoints the criminal opportunities made available by the specificities of the Internet, identifies what specific phases of the trafficking activity they facilitate, investigates how such opportunities are exploited, provides updated insights into how actors involved in the online market in counterfeit pharmaceuticals behave, and offers a reflection on the main challenges that have to be met to respond to this criminal phenomenon.