bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationship between the Pacific–North American Teleconnection Pattern, the Great Plains Low-Level Jet, and North Central U.S. Heavy Rainfall Events*
Authors: Harding Keith J. , Snyder Peter K.
Published: July 2015

This study demonstrates the relationship between the Pacific–North American (PNA) teleconnection pattern and the Great Plains low-level jet (GPLLJ). The negative phase of the PNA, which is associated with lower heights over the Great Plains and ridging in the southeastern United States, enhances the GPLLJ by increasing the pressure gradient within the GPLLJ on 6-hourly to monthly time scales. Strong GPLLJ events predominantly occur when the PNA is negative. Warm-season strong GPLLJ events with a very negative PNA (<−1) are associated with more persistent, longer wavelength planetary waves that increase the duration of GPLLJ events and enhance precipitation over the north central United States. When one considers the greatest 5-day north central U.S. precipitation events, a large majority occur when the PNA is negative, with most exhibiting a very negative PNA. Stronger moisture transport during heavy rainfall events with a very negative PNA decreases the precipitation of locally derived moisture compared to events with a very positive PNA. The PNA becomes negative 2–12 days before heavy rainfall events and is very negative within two weeks of 78% of heavy rainfall events in the north central United States, a finding that could be used to improve medium-range forecasts of heavy rainfall events.
Screening for Celiac Disease in a Pediatric Primary Care Setting
Authors: Leonard Maureen M. , Fogle Rhonda , Asch Alexander , Katz Aubrey
Published: July 2015

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy in genetically predisposed individuals triggered by the ingestion of gluten. The prevalence in adults in the United States is increasing. Despite recognition of asymptomatic patients that benefit from screening and improved diagnostics, the majority of patients remain undiagnosed. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of CD in at-risk and not-at-risk pediatric patients in a primary care practice routinely screening for CD. The records of 2325 pediatric patients who underwent serological testing with immunoglobulin A tissue transglutaminase (tTG) during a 5-year period were reviewed. Patients were categorized as at-risk or not-at-risk for CD. The prevalence of CD in at-risk patients was 1:26, the prevalence of CD in not-at-risk patients was 1:111. Our results suggest that the prevalence of CD in children approximates that of US adults and that the true prevalence in children without known risk factors may be increasing.
Outpatient Management of Febrile Children With Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Sokol Elizabeth , Obringer Emily , Palama Brett , Hageman Joseph , Peddinti Radhika
Published: July 2015

The electronic medical records at 2 children’s hospitals were reviewed from June 1, 2011 to May 31, 2013 for all patients with sickle cell disease who presented with fever. Of a total of 390 blood cultures drawn, 11 cultures (2.8%) turned positive with only 1 (0.3%) growing a true pathogen. This culture turned positive in 13 hours. There were 154 patients who received exclusive outpatient management of fever. Fourteen patients (9.1%) completed 1 acute care visit, 16 patients (10.4%) completed 2 acute care visits, and 124 patients (80.5%) completed 3 acute care visits. Of those treated exclusively as outpatients, there was 1 positive culture that was considered a contaminant. Although the overall rate of positivity was low, this study confirms previous findings that pediatric blood cultures become positive with pathogens within 48 hours. Given the high rate of compliance and early time to positivity of true pathogens, we suggest that follow-up for the febrile sickle cell disease patients can be treated on an outpatient basis.
Autism Speaks Toolkits
Authors: Bellando Jayne , Fussell Jill J. , Lopez Maya
Published: July 2015

Given the increased prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), it is likely that busy primary care providers (PCP) are providing care to individuals with ASD in their practice. Autism Speaks provides a wealth of educational, medical, and treatment/intervention information resources for PCPs and families, including at least 32 toolkits. This article serves to familiarize PCPs and families on the different toolkits that are available on the Autism Speaks website. This article is intended to increase physicians’ knowledge on the issues that families with children with ASD frequently encounter, to increase their ability to share evidence-based information to guide treatment and care for affected families in their practice.
Utilization of and Adherence to Oral Contraceptive Pills and Associated Disparities in the United States
Authors: Lin Hsien-Chang , Lee Hsiao-Yun
Published: July 2015

This study investigated sociological factors that may influence women’s utilization of and adherence to oral contraceptive pills. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study using the 2010–2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Female adults aged 18–50 years were included. Logistic regression was performed to discern women’s decisions to use oral contraceptive pills or not. Ordinary least squares and Poisson regressions were conducted to examine the number of oral contraceptive pills received, refill frequency, and annual out-of-pocket expenditure on oral contraceptive pills. Covariates were based on the Andersen model of health care utilization. Among the study sample (weighted n = 207,007,531), 14.8% were oral contraceptive pill users. Factors positively related to oral contraceptive pill use included non-Hispanic white ethnicity, younger age, not currently married, having private insurance, residing in the Midwest, higher education level, and higher annual family income. Being non-Hispanic white and having a higher education level were positively related to oral contraceptive pill adherence. Our findings therefore demonstrate disparities in oral contraceptive pill utilization and adherence, especially according to women’s race/ethnicity and educational level. This study serves as a baseline assessment for the impact of the Affordable Care Act on oral contraceptive pill utilization and adherence for future studies.
Mutual and Non-Mutual Social Support
Authors: Wang Shu-wen , Lau Anna S.
Published: July 2015

Social support seeking is not uniformly beneficial for different cultural groups, and in fact, is experienced as less helpful and more distressing for Asians and Asian Americans compared with European Americans. However, relationship factors that may attenuate this cross-cultural difference are little understood. We examined the effects of mutual (i.e., interdependent) and non-mutual support on psychological, biological, and behavioral stress responses to support seeking using a laboratory stressor paradigm. Findings show that across all three distress indicators, East Asian Americans were more benefited when they construed support as mutual versus non-mutual, whereas European Americans’ response did not differ by support condition. Furthermore, the data support previous research showing that Asian Americans are more likely to seek support from discretionary (i.e., peers) than obligatory ties (i.e., parents). Our discussion addresses cultural differences in the priority placed on mutuality, interdependence, and harmony in relationships, and their implications for how people construe their relationships. Future areas for research are discussed.
Teaching Adolescents EFL by Integrating Think-Pair-Share and Reading Strategy Instruction: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Shih Ying-Chun , Reynolds Barry Lee
Published: July 2015

Think-Pair-Share, a cooperative discussion strategy developed by Frank Lyman and colleagues (1981), is often utilized in first language contexts but rarely in second language (L2) contexts. To investigate its usefulness in the L2 context, a traditional English as a Foreign Language (EFL) reading class was transformed by integrating think-pair-share with reading strategy instruction. An intervention class was compared to a traditionally taught class to determine whether any differences in terms of motivation towards learning English and reading strategy use would be found. In addition, it was further investigated whether adolescent students are accepting of a think-pair-share integrated reading strategy method of English instruction. Results indicate that think-pair-share integrated reading strategy instruction seems to be more effective in increasing motivation than the traditional approach. However, when examined in terms of motivation type, both the traditional and intervention groups showed a statistically significant increase in intrinsic motivation. Furthermore, statistical results indicate that the think-pair-share technique combined with reading strategy instruction did not change the participants’ perceptions regarding their reading strategy use. Still, based on the responses from the closed- and open-ended questions, the students appeared to be very receptive to the think-pair-share technique. Based on the findings of this study, the think-pair-share technique combined with reading strategy instruction appears to be a plausible alternative for teaching English reading to adolescents in Taiwanese EFL classrooms. Pedagogical implications of the results and future research directions are discussed.
A method for obtaining the required system reliability level by applying preventive maintenance
Authors: Pilch Robert
Published: July 2015

This work presents a method for determining the reliability of k out of n systems, in which elements are preventively replaced. The presented method is based on a computer simulation whose assumptions and course are discussed in the work. The reliability function is determined for an assumed time horizon with specified probability of failure time distribution and specified preventive replacement periods. The solutions presented in the literature focus mainly on determining the optimum replacement time interval due to expected maintenance costs. The model developed here enables one to observe the effects of performed preventive replacements as changes of reliability function. It also enables one to state whether the preventive replacement periods that were applied can ensure the achievement of the required reliability limit and to check how the changes of fixed values of replacement periods influence the reliability of the whole system. According to the model developed, numerical calculations were made and their results are presented. An example of a practical application of the developed model in the industry is also presented.
Studies on package winding with modified traverse blades. Part I: Modification of existing system
Authors: Koranne MV , Kanade PS , Bhagat RA , Bhavsar SD
Published: July 2015

Yarn traversing with counter rotating blades is a well-established method of traversing the yarn, employed on several commercial winding machines. This method is mainly suitable for shorter traverse strokes and does not have positive control on yarn during traversing (especially at traverse extremes) as compared to other traversing systems. Moreover, yarn may be subjected to greater abrasion with traversing elements. This may lead to deficiencies such as lack of precision in yarn lay during package build-up that may be reflected in terms of poor package appearance. In this study, the blade profile of the existing yarn traversing mechanism employed on an assembly precision winder has been modified. Three modified blade profiles have been developed with the intention of improving control over yarn during traversing as well as at yarn transfer at traverse extremes from one blade to the other. Packages were built successfully with modified blade profiles. This paper summarizes developmental work of improving profiles of the original design of counter rotating blades to achieve the aforementioned intentions.
A systematic design approach of an embedded-control material-strength testing system
Authors: Chen Jian , Li Peng , Song Gangbing , Li Qingdong , Ren Zhang
Published: July 2015

In this paper, an embedded control system is developed to measure the yield strength of the material plate with an applied load. A systematic approach is proposed to handle special requirements of embedded control systems, which are different from computer-based control systems, as there are much less hardware resources and computational power available. An efficient control algorithm has to be designed to remove the CPU burden so that the microcontroller has enough power available. A three-step approach is proposed to address the embedded control issue: firstly, the mathematical description of the whole system is studied using both theoretical and experimental methods. A mathematical model is derived from the physical models of each component used, and an experiment is retrieved by employing Levy’s method and least-square estimation to identify specific parameters of the system model. Secondly, a feedforward plus feedback controller is designed and simulated as a preparation for the embedded system implementation. The cerebellar model articulation controller (CMAC) is chosen as the feedforward part, and a PD controller is used as the feedback part to train the CMAC. Finally, the proposed algorithm is applied in the embedded system, and experiments are conducted to verify both the identified model and designed controller.
High Protein Intake Does Not Prevent Low Plasma Levels of Conditionally Essential Amino Acids in Very Preterm Infants Receiving Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Morgan Colin , Burgess Laura
Published: July 2015

Background: We have shown that increasing protein intake using a standardized, concentrated, added macronutrients parenteral (SCAMP) nutrition regimen improves head growth in very preterm infants (VPIs) compared with a control parenteral nutrition (PN) regimen. VPIs are at risk of conditionally essential amino acid (CEAA) deficiencies because of current neonatal PN amino acid (AA) formulations. We hypothesized that the SCAMP regimen would prevent low plasma levels of CEAAs. Aim: To compare the plasma AA profiles at approximately day 9 of life in VPIs receiving SCAMP vs a control PN regimen. Methods: VPIs (<29 weeks' gestation) were randomized to receive SCAMP (30% more PN AA) or a control regimen. Data were collected to measure parenteral and enteral protein, energy, and individual AA intake and the first plasma AA profile. Plasma profiles of the 20 individual protogenic AA levels were measured using ion exchange chromatography. Results: Plasma AA profiles were obtained at median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 9 (8–10) days in both SCAMP (n = 59) and control (n = 67) groups after randomizing 150 VPIs. Median (IQR) plasma levels of individual essential AAs were higher than the reference population mean (RPM) in both groups, especially for threonine. SCAMP infants had higher plasma levels of essential AAs than did the controls. Median (IQR) plasma levels of glutamine, arginine, and cysteine (CEAAs) were lower than the RPM in both groups. Conclusion: Plasma AA levels in PN‐dependent VPIs indicate there is an imbalance in essential and CEAA provision in neonatal PN AA formulations that is not improved by increasing protein intake.
Learning and Classroom Preferences of Gifted Eighth Graders
Authors: Samardzija Nadine , Peterson Jean Sunde
Published: July 2015

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore how academically gifted eighth graders experience learning, with special attention to learning and classroom preferences. Twenty-three students were interviewed individually. The central phenomenon was that their learning preferences were complex, nuanced, and idiosyncratic, and reflected sensitivities associated with giftedness. Fundamental to their learning experience was the classroom teacher’s personality, competence, accessibility, and concern for students. Among contributions to the literature are perspectives that gifted youth at this age appreciate being able to hear varied perspectives in groups, their learning preferences are domain-specific, their sensitivities seem to affect classroom preferences and homework needs, they are concerned about public error, and they do not necessarily want teachers to know about their personal lives.
Sons, Daughters, and the Parental Division of Paid Work and Housework
Authors: Pollmann-Schult Matthias
Published: July 2015

Children play an important role in shaping the division of labor within couples. This study examines whether the impact of parenthood on the household division of paid work and housework is moderated by child gender, and thereby extends previous work on the effect of child gender on family life. The empirical analysis used fixed effects models and data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (1985-2011, N = 7,572). It showed that both fathers and mothers of boys spend more hours on paid work than parents of girls. This child-gender effect is, however, much stronger for women than for men. There is also suggestive evidence that mothers and fathers of a same-sex child spend more time on housework than mothers and fathers of an opposite-sex child. Overall, the analysis indicates that having a daughter is associated with a more traditional division of labor than having a son.
Three‐Dimensional Printed Prosthesis for Repair of Superior Canal Dehiscence
Authors: Kozin Elliott D. , Remenschneider Aaron K. , Cheng Song , Nakajima Hideko Heidi , Lee Daniel J.
Published: July 2015

Outcomes following repair of superior canal dehiscence (SCD) are variable, and surgery carries a risk of persistent or recurrent SCD symptoms, as well as a risk of hearing loss and vestibulopathy. Poor outcomes may occur from inadequate repair of the SCD or mechanical insult to the membranous labyrinth. Repair of SCD using a customized, fixed‐length prosthesis may address current operative limitations and improve surgical outcomes. We aim to 3‐dimensionally print customized prostheses to resurface or occlude bony SCD defects. Dehiscences were created along the arcuate eminence of superior semicircular canals in cadaveric temporal bones. Prostheses were designed and created using computed tomography and a 3‐dimensional printer. The prostheses occupied the superior semicircular canal defect, reflected in postrepair computed tomography scans. This novel approach to SCD repair could have advantages over current techniques. Refinement of prosthesis design and materials will be important if this approach is translated into clinical use.
Cognitive Biases and the Link Between Shyness and Social Anxiety in Early Adolescence
Authors: Weeks Murray , Ooi Laura L. , Coplan Robert J.
Published: July 2015

Shy children display wariness in unfamiliar social situations and often experience feelings of social anxiety. This study explored the potential mediating role of cognitive biases in the link between shyness and social anxiety in early adolescence. In particular, we focused on judgments of the probability and cost of negative social situations (i.e., judgment biases). Six hundred eighty-six early adolescents aged 10 to 14 years ([Formula: see text] = 11.58, SD = 1.13) completed measures of shyness, judgment biases, and social anxiety. Among the results, shyness, judgment biases, and social anxiety were positively interassociated. Shyness and judgment biases significantly predicted social anxiety. Moreover, elevated judgments of both the probability and cost of negative social situations partially mediated the relation between shyness and social anxiety. Results are discussed in terms of the conceptual pathway from shyness to social anxiety, as well as implications for intervention programs.
The relationship between sensory processing disorders and eating problems among children with intellectual developmental deficits
Authors: Engel-Yeger Batya , Hardal-Nasser Reem , Gal Eynat
Published: July 2015

Introduction

Sensory processing disorders are prevalent among children with intellectual developmental deficits and negatively impact their daily routines. Eating, which is a major part of daily routines, is known to be frequently impaired among children with intellectual developmental deficits. This study aimed to examine the relationships between sensory processing disorders and eating problems in children with different levels of intellectual developmental deficit.

Method

Participants were 91 children aged 4 to 9 years: 25 with mild intellectual developmental deficits, 32 with moderate intellectual developmental deficits and 34 with severe/profound intellectual developmental deficits. All participants were recruited from special education kindergartens/schools for children with intellectual developmental deficits. Participants' primary caregiver in school completed the screening tool of eating problems and the short sensory profile.

Findings

Significant correlations between sensory processing disorders and eating problems were found in each intellectual developmental deficit level ( r = −.40, p ≤ .05 to r = −.57, p ≤ .001), but most correlations were found among children with moderate and severe/profound level. Energy level significantly predicted aspiration frequency; smell/taste sensitivity significantly predicted food selectivity and food refusal frequency.

Conclusion

Eating problems should be screened among children with intellectual developmental deficits according to intellectual developmental deficit severity and other related factors such as sensory processing disorders. Applying this approach in occupational therapy intervention may contribute to a child's adaptive behaviour and performance in daily routines.
Strategies used by older women with intellectual disability to create and maintain their social networks: An exploratory qualitative study
Authors: White Katharine , Mackenzie Lynette
Published: July 2015

Introduction

Social networks are important to health and wellbeing, and enhancing social networks are key occupations for older people. This is relevant for older people with intellectual disability, particularly older women, who face challenges in building social networks, and their social networks are vulnerable to loss as they age. This study aimed to investigate how older women with intellectual disability create and maintain their social networks.

Method

This exploratory qualitative study involved conducting in-depth interviews with five women with mild to moderate intellectual disability (as defined by their service organisation) aged over 50 years and living in the community, using the Support Interview Guide, that has previously been used with younger adults with intellectual disability. Participants could communicate in spoken English. Data were coded line by line and analysed using a thematic analysis.

Results

Participants created social networks independently and through others. Strategies used included communicating, sharing activities, celebrating special occasions, organising activities, supporting each other, having a routine, being out and about and using formal assistance. Barriers and facilitators were also identified.

Conclusion

As older women with intellectual disability age, occupational therapists and support organisations need to focus on assisting this group to build and maintain their social networks.
Blenderized Tube Feeding Use in Adult Home Enteral Nutrition Patients
Authors: Hurt Ryan T. , Edakkanambeth Varayil Jithinraj , Epp Lisa M. , Pattinson Adele K. , Lammert Lisa M. , Lintz Jennifer E. , Mundi Manpreet S.
Published: July 2015

Background: Use of long‐term enteral nutrition (EN) has increased dramatically in the United States. It has been the authors' experience that most home EN (HEN) patients use blenderized tube feeding (BTF) in addition to commercial EN. There are limited resources available for patients interested in BTF, and studies evaluating safety and effectiveness are limited. Methods: The authors conducted a prospective cross‐sectional study (n = 54). Inclusion criteria: age >18 years, follow‐up in HEN clinic, prescribed commercial EN. Participants were provided the survey at HEN follow‐up appointments after receiving HEN for at least 3 weeks. Results: Median age (range) was 60.5 (22–87) years with 42.6% females (n = 23). BTF was used by 55.5% of patients (n = 30). Most (57%; n = 31) received HEN for >6 months. BTF use was a median of 4 (1–7) days per week. Most common reasons for using BTF were as follows: it is more natural (43%), like eating what their family does (33%), and tolerate BTF better (30%). In patients who use BTF, 80% reported maintaining goal body weight. BTF resulted in significantly less reported nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation compared with commercial EN. Conclusions: This is the first study to evaluate BTF use in an adult HEN population. More than 50% of our patients used and approximately 80% expressed a desire to use BTF if provided with adequate information. With new connection tube changes coming in the near future, adequate adapters for BTF need to be developed.
Hydration Strategy for Endurance Running in an Athlete Requiring Home Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Tillman Emma M. , Killmeier Greg , Opilla Marianne , Clarke Catherine J. , Nishikawa Reid A.
Published: July 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to share our experience with optimizing home parenteral nutrition (HPN) and hydration therapy for an HPN consumer who desired to run a marathon. Methods: A 34‐year‐old woman with idiopathic gastroparesis necessitating HPN and intravenous (IV) hydration desired to train for a marathon. For short runs, prerun and/or postrun hydration were adequate, but a marathon (26.2 miles) would be too long to run without IV hydration. During training, we instructed our consumer to record weights (pre/post run), ambient temperature, running distance, and duration of time. These data were used to calculate her sweat rate and estimate hydration volume during the marathon. Results: Ambient temperature was a significant factor influencing sweat rate. The estimate temperature for the marathon was 65°F; therefore, our consumer would have an estimated sweat rate of approximately 720 mL/h. This exceeded the amount of fluid that could be infused during the marathon; therefore, we advised our consumer to overhydrate prior to the race. Initial postrace urine output was low and concentrated but returned to baseline after postrace hydration. Our consumer did not experience any symptoms of dehydration and had only minor muscle soreness. Conclusions: Our consumer was able to complete a marathon with IV hydration. We have shown that with careful preparation, calculation, and planning, our HPN consumer was able to adequately maintain her state of hydration and accomplish her goal of running a marathon.
What Predicts Where Sex Offenders Live? An Examination of Census Tract Data in Minnesota
Authors: Clark Valerie A. , Duwe Grant
Published: July 2015

Communities across the United States have become increasingly concerned over the presence of sex offenders in their neighborhoods. The purpose of this research is to examine the factors that are associated with the concentration of sex offenders in a large geographic area with few residency restrictions. This research also examines multiple categories of sex offenders subject to varying levels of community notification, allowing for an assessment of what, if any, effect community notification has on the residential patterns of sex offenders. Concentrated disadvantage, concentrated affluence, and housing affordability are all significant factors in explaining the concentration of multiple categories of sex offenders. Concentrated affluence relative to poverty is the most consistent predictor of sex offender concentration, revealing that more affluent communities ward off sex offender residents, regardless of community notification requirements.
The Politics and Imperialism of Colonial and Foreign Volunteer Legions during the Great War: Comparing Proposals for Cypriot, Armenian, and Jewish Legions
Authors: Varnava Andrekos
Published: July 2015

Throughout history, colonial and foreign legions have been a part of larger armies but rarely have they been as politically ‘loaded’ as the three proposed to the British government during the Great War. Cypriot, Armenian, and Jewish political elites proposed the formation of volunteer legions in the British army in late 1914 and early 1915. The primary sources show that they were initially rejected for political as well as military reasons. In 1916 the British agreed for the French to establish an Armenian legion, while in April 1917 the British agreed to establish a Jewish legion. When the French and British authorities accepted the Armenian Legion in the French army and the Jewish Legion in the British army respectively, the same political reasons for initially rejecting them were overcome or set aside. Imperialism was the key to understanding the initial rejecting of all three and the acceptance of those two: the Cyprus proposal threatened British rule in Cyprus and so was never accepted; the Armenian proposal did not play into British imperial interests, but once the British accepted French imperial interests in Cilicia in the Sykes–Picot Agreement the British accepted it; the Jewish Legion was accepted after the British embarked on their conquest of Palestine. Using British, French, and Cypriot archives, this article explores the official British reasoning for rejecting offers of Cypriot, Armenian, and Jewish legions and then accepting the latter two during the Great War.
Constitutional Mandate for Free and Compulsory Education
Authors: Juneja Nalini
Published: July 2015

The original constitutional provision for free and compulsory education, granted under Article 45 stated that it was to be available for ‘all children until they complete the age of fourteen years’, but it did not specify the lower age limit nor the stage of education (whether elementary or primary) that would be free and compulsory. This has led to much speculation about the ‘real intentions’ of the founding fathers of the Constitution and even led to ‘policy framing’ in support of various preferred strategies. However, this article, based on recent research that traces the genesis of this clause, shows that the pre-final text of what was adopted in the Constitution of India as Article 45 originated from four sister clauses that together represented the essence of the Sargent Plan of 1944, with the intention of making only the primary stage of education free and compulsory.
Gut feelings 1. Mind, mood and gut in irritable bowel syndrome: approaches to psychiatric care
Authors: Keightley Philip , Pavli Paul , Platten Jan , Looi Jeffrey CL
Published: July 2015

Objective:

Psychiatrists are likely to encounter patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We aim to provide a clinically-focused summary of psychiatric comorbidities and management.

Conclusions:

IBS affects up to 15% of the population. Antidepressants and brief psychotherapy can reduce symptom severity and improve coping. These treatments are effective for patients without comorbid mental illness, as well as those with increased somatisation, health-care seeking and sexual abuse histories.
The core vote effect on the annulled vote: an agent-based model
Authors: Martínez Miguel Ángel , Balankin Alexander , Chávez Mauricio , Trejo Alfredo , Reyes Ismael
Published: July 2015

Using an agent-model, we conducted an analysis of a two-party system, in order to identify a pattern of behavior in the influence exercised by the number core votes on the proportion of the number of annulled votes, which are cast during an election. In a 2d toroidal grid network, where each node is connected with its four closest neighbors, we introduce the concept of an opinion network with uniformly distributed nodes that can have one of three different states, also known as “spin”: +1, −1 and 0. Initially, the states +1 and −1 correspond respectively to “active votes” for candidate A and candidate B, with the specific feature that these are not able to change their state “core vote” (i.e., that do not change their political preferences). The rest is established as having a state of 0, known as “undecided voters”, who will try to become “active votes” in favor of one of the two contending candidates, during the process of interaction with their four closest neighbors (because of their influence, in real life these would be interpreted as the voters’ immediate surroundings). The model dynamics tend to a state of equilibrium, in which there are no more voters changing their opinion upon interaction with his four closest neighbors. Finally, active voters who decide become part of the valid vote, while the undecided become part of the annulled vote.
Targeting Neuronal Networks with Combined Drug and Stimulation Paradigms Guided by Neuroimaging to Treat Brain Disorders
Authors: Faingold Carl L. , Blumenfeld Hal
Published: July 2015

Improved therapy of brain disorders can be achieved by focusing on neuronal networks, utilizing combined pharmacological and stimulation paradigms guided by neuroimaging. Neuronal networks that mediate normal brain functions, such as hearing, interact with other networks, which is important but commonly neglected. Network interaction changes often underlie brain disorders, including epilepsy. “Conditional multireceptive” (CMR) brain areas (e.g., brainstem reticular formation and amygdala) are critical in mediating neuroplastic changes that facilitate network interactions. CMR neurons receive multiple inputs but exhibit extensive response variability due to milieu and behavioral state changes and are exquisitely sensitive to agents that increase or inhibit GABA-mediated inhibition. Enhanced CMR neuronal responsiveness leads to expression of emergent properties—nonlinear events—resulting from network self-organization. Determining brain disorder mechanisms requires animals that model behaviors and neuroanatomical substrates of human disorders identified by neuroimaging. However, not all sites activated during network operation are requisite for that operation. Other active sites are ancillary, because their blockade does not alter network function. Requisite network sites exhibit emergent properties that are critical targets for pharmacological and stimulation therapies. Improved treatment of brain disorders should involve combined pharmacological and stimulation therapies, guided by neuroimaging, to correct network malfunctions by targeting specific network neurons.
The roles of resilience and nonmotor symptoms in adjustment to Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Shamaskin-Garroway Andrea M , Lageman Sarah K , Rybarczyk Bruce
Published: July 2015

Resilience contributes to better chronic disease adjustment but is understudied in Parkinson’s disease. Although nonmotor symptoms affect quality of life, their effect on other aspects of Parkinson’s disease adjustment is less understood. Hierarchical regression analyses from a cross-sectional survey of 138 community-dwelling adults with Parkinson’s disease (mean (standard deviation) age = 64.15(10.09) years) investigated relationships between nonmotor symptoms and resilience on depression, apathy, life satisfaction, and quality of life. After controlling for demographic variables, functional status, and nonmotor symptoms, resilience was associated with all adjustment variables. Nonmotor symptoms were associated with depression and worse quality of life. Nonmotor symptoms and resilience appear to play critical roles in Parkinson’s disease adjustment.
‘The fact that’: Stance nouns in disciplinary writing
Authors: Jiang Feng (Kevin) , Hyland Ken
Published: July 2015

The linguistic resources used by academic writers to adopt a position and engage with readers, variously described as evaluation, stance and metadiscourse, have attracted considerable attention in recent years. A relatively overlooked means of expressing a stance, however, is through a Noun Complement structure, where a stance head noun takes a nominal complement clause. This pattern allows a writer to front-load attitude meanings and offers an explicit statement of evaluation of the proposition which follows (as in ‘The fact that science has a history is not an argument against the possibility of scientific truth’). In this article, we explore the frequencies, forms and functions of this structure in a corpus of 160 research articles across eight disciplines totalling 1.7 million words. Developing a new rhetorically based classification of stance nouns, we show that the structure is not only widely used to express author comment and evaluation, but that it exhibits considerable variation in the way that it is used to build knowledge across different disciplines.
‘So much choice and no choice at all’
Authors: Nixon Elizabeth , Gabriel Yiannis
Published: July 2015

Psychoanalytic concepts and theory have long served studies of consumption, from exposing unconscious motives to elucidating contemporary consuming desire. Sharing with psychoanalysis an interest in symbolic meanings, anthropological approaches have also contributed to the study of contemporary consumption and social life. In this article, we draw on both Freudian psychoanalysis and Douglas’s structural anthropology to examine the field of non-consumption or the ‘choice’ not to buy. Based on detailed interpretations of interview data, we argue that consuming less at the individual level is not always the result of purposeful acts of ideological, anti-consumption protest or the outward expression of countercultural sentiments. Rather, forms of non-consumption can have deeper psychological origins that are located in a view of consumerism as a threatening force and a potent source of toxic contamination to mind and body, ‘dirt’ in Douglas’s conceptualization. We argue that this outlook prompts a constant vigilance and the deployment of different defensive measures, prohibitions and purification rituals akin to Freud’s conceptualization of the obsessive–compulsive individual. In this way, our analysis seeks to illuminate the myriad of largely invisible ways in which some people ‘choose’ not to buy within an ostensibly consumer culture or dismiss the idea of such a choice altogether.
A Primer for Creating a Flipped Psychology Course
Authors: Hussey Heather D. , Richmond Aaron S. , Fleck Bethany
Published: July 2015

Instructional design for psychology courses is ever changing. Recently, there has been an explosion of scholarly literature related to flipped classroom pedagogy in higher education. This essentially entails inverting a course so that lectures are viewed outside of class, and class time is devoted to active learning through activities such as demonstrations and group work. Although beneficial to student learning, implementing the flipped course design into a psychology class can be difficult, time consuming, and daunting. As such, we provide a primer for successful implementation of the flipped design. Based on the literature, we describe several teaching tips (e.g., what content to deliver in class versus online) that may aid in the implementation process. Additionally, we describe several common pitfalls to avoid (e.g., apprehension about learning new technology) when implementing the flipped classroom.
The Impact of Individual, Interpersonal, and Institutional Factors on Latina/o College Students’ Life Satisfaction
Authors: Vela Javier C. , Ikonomopoulos James , Hinojosa Karina , Gonzalez Stacey L. , Duque Omar , Calvillo Megan
Published: July 2015

This manuscript investigated the contributions of individual, interpersonal, and institutional factors on Latina/o college students’ life satisfaction. Participants included 130 Latina/o students enrolled at a Hispanic Serving Institution. Results indicated that search for meaning in life, mentoring, and family support were significant predictors of life satisfaction. Researchers provide implications for counselors and psychologists.
Cultural Practices and Cognition in Debriefing
Authors: Roth Wolff-Michael
Published: July 2015

This study was designed to investigate the cultural and cognitive dimensions of debriefing. Pilots and flight examiners from five airlines were involved in this cognitive anthropological study. The data include (a) videotaped debriefing sessions and associated interviews with participants and (b) stimulated recall and modified think-aloud protocols with flight examiners. Findings point to the varied structures and contents of debriefing practices, in part mediated by the tools available to the participants. Some implications from this research are already taken up in the industry and are currently subject to an ongoing investigation.
A bearing fault diagnosis method based on the low-dimensional compressed vibration signal
Authors: Zhang Xinpeng , Hu Niaoqing , Hu Lei , Chen Ling , Cheng Zhe
Published: July 2015

The traditional bearing fault diagnosis method is achieved often by sampling the bearing vibration data under the Shannon sampling theorem. Then, the information of the bearing state can be extracted from the vibration data, which will be used in fault diagnosis. A long-term and continuous monitoring needs to sample and store large amounts of raw vibration signals, which will burden the data storage and transmission greatly. For this problem, a new bearing fault diagnosis method based on compressed sensing is presented, which just needs to sample and store a small amount of compressed observation data and uses these data directly to achieve the fault diagnosis. First, several over-complete dictionaries are trained by dictionary learning method using the historical operating data of the bearings. Each of these dictionaries can be effective in signal sparse decomposition for a particular state, while the signals corresponding to other states cannot be decomposed sparsely. According to this difference, the bearing states can be identified finally. The fault diagnosis results of the proposed method with different parameters are analyzed. The effectiveness of the method is validated by experimental tests.
Infertility as a Stage in Species’ Development and Aging Species
Authors: Grech Victor , Vassallo Clare , Callus Ivan
Published: July 2015

Impotence and sterility linked naturally with age have frequently been a topic of science fiction (SF) narratives. Sterility in SF has also been depicted as a natural lost step in human development, up to and even beyond death. This article compares narratives from a variety of SF media that all deal with infertility as a stage in species’ development, or as an effect of the overall aging and loss of vitality of a species and attempts to determine common points and conclusions, with a view toward reassessing the practicality/desirability of indefinite life extension.
Values and Group Behavior Shape Future Governance
Authors: Moeller Joergen Oerstroem
Published: July 2015

The political system and economic model are cracking. Two hundred years of industrialization/mass consumption come to an end. Values feel their way into steering our behavior, promoting groups, and diminishing materialistic consumption. The nation-state, traditional media, representative liberal democracy, and corporate governance are losing ground to group behavior anchored in common and shared values. The coming political system will be a more direct involvement of the citizen through information and communication technology. The economic model will incorporate knowledge as the most important production factor and reflect scarcities of resources in production patterns and consumption function. Industrial age governance—control and command—gives way to value-based governance.
The Deliberate Infliction of Infertility in Science Fiction
Authors: Grech Victor , Vassallo Clare , Callus Ivan
Published: July 2015

Infertility in science fiction (SF) is a huge subject. This article limits itself to the intersection of the deliberate infliction of infertility on humans, aliens, and animals by intelligent agencies. These narratives demonstrate fear of death, of the unknown, and of loss of immortality through the inability to engender offspring. Many of these stories serve as modern parables that warn against excessive hubristic overreach in our chase for posthuman changes that may seem to be improvements but actually hamper or hinder humanity, in this case, through infertility. While serving as cautionary tales, almost all of these stories result in a happy ending, a common outcome in SF that readers and audiences have come to expect from the genre.
Primary angiocentric/angioinvasive T-cell lymphoma of the tympanic bulla in a feline leukaemia virus-positive cat
Authors: Santagostino Sara F , Mortellaro Carlo M , Buchholz Julia , Lugli Margherita , Forlani Annalisa , Ghisleni Gabriele , Roccabianca Paola
Published: July 2015

Case summary A 5-year-old neutered female feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)-positive domestic shorthair cat with a 5 month history of otitis media was referred for head tilt, stertor and dyspnoea. Computed tomography scan revealed soft tissue opacities inside the right tympanic bulla, with bone remodelling, and concurrent nasopharyngeal and intracranial invasion. Endoscopically guided bioptic samples were collected from the nasopharynx and middle ear. Histology revealed dense sheets of round, large, neoplastic cells, often surrounding or invading vascular walls. Neoplastic cells expressed CD3, FeLV p27 and gp70 antigens. A middle ear angiocentric/angioinvasive T-cell lymphoma was diagnosed. After improvement of clinical conditions following radiation therapy, the cat died unexpectedly. At necropsy, hepatic and splenic spread was detected.

Relevance and novel information Primary middle ear tumours are rare and their diagnosis is often delayed as clinical signs mimic more common otological conditions. Multiple bioptic specimens are pivotal for a definitive diagnosis. The young age of the cat, serology and immunohistochemistry revealed a possible transforming role of FeLV.
Nigeria’s Amnesty Program
Authors: Ajibola Iyabobola O.
Published: July 2015

This article investigates the role of the amnesty program in sustaining peace and development in post-conflict Niger Delta. The amnesty program introduced a number of strategies including educational and vocational skills training of ex-militants as alternatives to violence and militancy in the region. The introduction of education and vocational skills training to ex-militants is an innovative approach to transforming one of the major stakeholders in the conflict—youths. Youths had hitherto been majorly associated with violence and criminality in the region. These approaches have achieved some level of successes as violence and militancy have greatly reduced in the region. However, there are challenges that need to be addressed before the program can be regarded as fully successful. Employment opportunities must be provided for ex-militants after their training, and combatants who have not been accommodated by the program should be catered for, to prevent a return to violence and militancy. With this, ex-militants will become change agents that will spur peace and development in Nigeria’s post-conflict Niger Delta.