bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Power and Competition in Contracting Out
Authors: Smirnova Olga V. , Leland Suzanne Marie
Published: August 2013

Market forces provide a foundation for the expectations of efficiency in contracting out. However, often the lack of competition in particular industries creates powerful companies that are able to negotiate contracts in their favor, reducing improved performance for government agencies. To study how market power influences performance in service delivery in the transit industry, we examine individual contracts as our unit of analysis. We hypothesize that a vendor’s market power directly influences an individual contract’s operational efficiency. We find that the lack of competition in the execution of contracts is an important determinant of agency performance.
Relations among neighborhood social networks, home literacy environments, and children’s expressive vocabulary in suburban at-risk families
Authors: Froiland John Mark , Powell Douglas R. , Diamond Karen E.
Published: August 2013

In response to increasing research and policy interest in the neighborhood context of early school success, this study examined relations among neighborhood social networks, home literacy practices/resources, and children’s expressive vocabulary in a suburban at-risk sample in the USA at the beginning of the school year. In a Structural Equation Model, neighborhood social networks predicted home literacy, which in turn predicted expressive vocabulary. The indirect effect of neighborhood social networks on expressive vocabulary was also significant. Implications for future research and preventive interventions concerning the role of neighborhoods in enhancing family reading behavior and the early literacy of at-risk preschool children are discussed.
Towards a politics for human rights
Authors: Hoover Joe
Published: August 2013

Human rights are a suspect project – this seems the only sensible starting point today. This suspicion, however, is not absolute and the desire to preserve and reform human rights persists for many of us. The most important contemporary critiques of human rights focus on the problematic consequences of the desire for universal rights. Some defenders of human rights accept elements of this critique in their reformulations, but opponents remain wary of the desire to think and act in human rights terms because of their limitations as a political ethics. Yet, we hesitate to abandon human rights. In this article, I look at the political critique of human rights in greater detail. I argue that an agonistic account drawing on the work of William Connolly and Bonnie Honig offers the best response to the most important contemporary critiques of human rights, and a clearer account of what it means to claim that human rights do valuable work. The key developments of this agonistic view of human rights are its focus on the ambiguity of ‘humanity’ as a political identity and the challenge to legitimate authority and membership that new rights claims make. In the end, human rights are defended as a universal political ethos focused on the pluralization and democratization of global politics.
Endogenous Sex Hormones and Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Authors: Boss Lisa , Kang Duck-Hee , Marcus Marianne , Bergstrom Nancy
Published: August 2013

Estrogen and testosterone may influence cognition in older adults, but the relationship between sex hormones and cognitive function is complex. The aim of this systematic review is to examine the role of sex hormones in cognitive function among older adults. A comprehensive, electronic review of literature was performed. Inclusion criteria were original quantitative research, written in English, used human subjects with a mean age of ≥60 years, and published from January 1997 through May 2012. Findings were mixed, although potential patterns were identified. Estradiol levels were potentially associated with benefits to episodic memory, semantic memory, verbal memory, and verbal learning in females only. The association between testosterone and cognitive function was mixed in both genders. Mixed findings may have been influenced by methodological differences and future studies should include research designs with ample rigor, sufficiently powered samples, consistent cognitive measurements, and clear descriptions of handling and storage of biological specimens.
A Narrative Exploration
Authors: Ballem Anne , MacIntosh Judith
Published: August 2013

Experienced nurses are repeatedly asked to mentor and to work with new graduate nurses in intensely busy hospital environments. To gain an understanding of experienced nurses’ perspectives of working with new graduates, eight nurses were interviewed from two hospitals in Eastern Canada. Narrative analysis revealed that experienced nurses prepared in advance for new graduates’ arrival and felt their workload increased when new graduates actually began to practice. Experienced nurses expressed verbal support for new graduates and yet their stories did not all reflect supportive comments. Themes identified were New Graduates Are Coming, Keeping Us on Our Toes, and Carrying the Load. Findings provide valuable information to help nurses, educators, and managers gain a new understanding of what it is like for experienced nurses working with new graduates. There are important implications for managers in how to support experienced nurses as they work alongside new nurses.
Second-Order Animals: Cultural Techniques of Identity and Identification
Authors: Macho Thomas
Published: August 2013

This paper explores the thesis that the concept of cultural techniques should be strictly limited to symbolic technologies that allow for self-referential recursions. Writing enables one to write about writing itself; painting itself can be depicted in painting; films may feature other films. In other words, cultural techniques are defined by their ability to thematize themselves; they are second-order techniques as opposed to first-order techniques like cooking or tilling a field. To illustrate his thesis, Macho discusses a sequence of historical examples, from body signs and death masks to digital code and ID papers. These examples serve to reiterate another basic proposal that is already announced in the paper’s title. The recursive, self-observing qualities of cultural techniques make them a ‘technology of the self’ and thus render them indispensable for the generation, repetition and maintenance of identity.
Writing a PhD Dissertation in Theology: Some Common Pitfalls
Authors: O’Loughlin Thomas
Published: August 2013

The PhD is one of the most demanding investments (in terms of time, energy and money) made by most aspiring theologians. This article argues that apart from thinking about the topic of the PhD, the student needs to think through some basic questions about why she/he wants to go through this process. How does one see one’s topic in relation to the work one is going to do? How does it related to your interests in life and religion? And are you willing to engage in the change/growth in your own theology that is part of the process?
No Visitor Comes Empty-Handed – Some Thoughts on Unhealthy Dependency
Authors: Hanger Ralph
Published: August 2013

This article looks at a number of issues relating to Unhealthy Dependency between churches in Africa and those in the Materially Developed World. Having defined unhealthy Dependency and recognizing the significance of finance in this area, it looks at the bigger picture, identifying a number of other areas where Unhealthy Dependency has arisen and continues to be significant. It also begins to point out some of the methods by which such unhealthy dependency is being tackled.
Examining differential item functioning trends for English language learners in a reading test: A meta-analytical approach
Authors: Koo Jin , Becker Betsy Jane , Kim Young-Suk
Published: August 2013

In this study, differential item functioning (DIF) trends were examined for English language learners (ELLs) versus non-ELL students in third and tenth grades on a large-scale reading assessment. To facilitate the analyses, a meta-analytic DIF technique was employed. The results revealed that items requiring knowledge of words and phrases in context favored non-ELLs in grade 3, whereas items requiring evaluation skills favored ELLs in grade 10. However, inconsistent patterns were found across gender and ethnicity. Educational implications are discussed.
The influence of prompt on group oral tests
Authors: Leaper David A. , Riazi Mehdi
Published: August 2013

This paper reports an investigation into how the prompt may influence the discourse of group oral tests. The group oral test, in which three or four participants are rated on their ability to discuss a prompt, is a format for assessing the spoken ability of language learners. In this study, 141 Japanese university students were videoed in 41 group orals of three or four test-takers. Although the four different prompts written for the test were supposed to be of equal difficulty, they were found to be substantially different in the type and number of questions that comprised them. Analysis of the transcribed interactions revealed significant differences in turns taken, syntactic complexity and fluency of the interactions they elicited. A qualitative examination revealed that the two prompts that elicited longer, more complex turns did so by encouraging test-takers to explain their family circumstances or speculate about their future. Prompts with more factual content elicited shorter, less complex turns and the prompt that test-takers responded to with the least fluency required the test-takers to talk about a more personal subject. The implications for rating and creating prompts are discussed, and the need to tailor them to the purpose of the test.
First experiences with a combined usage of veno-arterial and veno-venous ECMO in therapy-refractory cardiogenic shock patients with cerebral hypoxemia
Authors: Moravec R , Neitzel T , Stiller M , Hofmann B , Metz D , Bucher M , Silber R , Bushnaq H , Raspé C
Published: August 2013

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is becoming a popular tool in the treatment of cardiogenic shock. We present two case reports where classical veno-arterial peripherally cannulated ECMO therapy proved insufficient with profuse cerebral hypoxemia. After augmenting the setting into veno-veno-arterial ECMO, we achieved a remarkable improvement of all oxygenation parameters. The simultaneous use of veno-venous and veno-arterial ECMO might display as a novel strategy to counteract the coronary and cerebral hypoxemia in veno-arterial ECMO therapy in patients with therapy-refractory cardiogenic shock or in combined cardiopulmonary failure. In this manuscript, the veno-veno-arterial ECMO setup is described in full detail and different venous cannulas are discussed.
Making space for fat bodies?
Authors: Colls Rachel , Evans Bethan
Published: August 2013

A key focus for geographical and policy work on obesity has involved interrogating the concept of an ‘obesogenic environment’ – an environment with particular physical, social and economic characteristics considered to contribute towards the propensity of bodies to be or to become obese/fat. Alongside this, Critical Geographies of Obesity/Fatness challenge the classification of fat bodies as diseased and in need of intervention by drawing attention to the politics surrounding the governance of fatness and the multiple experiences of body size. In this article, we place these strands of geographical work alongside each other in order to develop Critical Geographies of Obesogenic Environments. In so doing, we not only set out the main tenets of work in geography on obesity/fatness but also raise specific questions about how bodies, environments and body-environment interactions have been conceptualized and researched. We do so in order to develop and present three research trajectories for Critical Geographies of Obesogenic Environments which will allow geographical research to engage within obesity/fatness more carefully, reflexively and critically. Specifically, this involves: redefining obesogenic environments not as environments that make bodies fat, but as environments that make fat bodies problematic; engaging sensitively with the multiplicities of fat embodied experience; and considering alternative theoretical frameworks in order to avoid the pitfalls of environmental determinism.
Historical geography III
Authors: Offen Karl
Published: August 2013

My third report covering recent research in historical geography focuses on climate, and particularly scholarship that explores how the meaning of climate and climate change varies in distinct cultural and temporal contexts. Viewing climate science, and more specifically interpretations of climate science, as a discourse amenable to cultural criticism suggests that notions of climate are and have always been a physical and social phenomenon. Reviewed research suggests that ideas of climate and climate change are intertwined with social mores, politics and institutions, philosophies of civilization and progress, and inseparable from the cultural expressions that give them meaning and, thus, are far too important to be left to climate scientists to narrate or interpret.
Geographies of production I
Authors: Jones Andrew
Published: August 2013

This report considers recent developments and ongoing debates around relational economic geography, and a growing body of work that has focused on economic practices as a means better to understand production processes and economic development. In particular, it examines the critical reaction to relational thinking within the subdiscipline, and the nature of the debate about the degree to which relational work is – and needs to be – regarded as distinct from more traditional approaches to economic geography. It then considers how relational economic geography has become inflected towards an epistemological and methodological focus on practice. It argues that this engagement with economic practices provides the basis to respond to some of the limitations identified with earlier work, and opens up fruitful new potential for theorizing the nature of agency in the space economy.
Domicile citizenship, human mobility and territoriality
Authors: Bauder Harald
Published: August 2013

Formal citizenship often excludes migrants who were not born in the national territory in which they reside and/or were born to parents of foreign nationality. In this article, I explore how the domicile principle of citizenship can better accommodate migrants. Although this principle has a long history, it has only recently received significant attention among scholars. I examine the tensions between formal citizenship, mobility and territoriality, while developing a practical argument in support of domicile as an alternative configuration of territorial formal citizenship. Moreover, I highlight the capacity of domicile to include migrants at local and urban scales.
Factors Associated With the Failure of Surgical Treatment for Femoroacetabular Impingement
Authors: Saadat Ehsan , Martin Scott D. , Thornhill Thomas S. , Brownlee Sarah A. , Losina Elena , Katz Jeffrey N.
Published: August 2013

Background:

With the recent increased recognition of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) as a cause of hip pain and early osteoarthritis, surgical treatment has proliferated. There is a growing body of literature on outcomes of surgical intervention for FAI, but factors associated with inferior surgical outcomes have not been reviewed systematically.

Purpose:

To review the available literature and identify factors associated with the failure of open or arthroscopic surgery for FAI.

Study Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

Using the PubMed database, we searched for relevant English-language articles published from January 1966 through August 2012. Inclusion criteria were a primary focus on the surgical treatment of FAI, measurement of functional or pain outcomes, identification of treatment failures, and statistical analysis of factors leading to failure. Exclusion criteria were review articles, technique-only articles, and studies of nonoperative management. Two definitions of failure were considered: (1) a lack of statistically significant improvement in validated measures of pain, function, or satisfaction postoperatively; and (2) revision surgery or conversion to hip arthroplasty because of persistent symptoms. The consistency of association between preoperative variables and clinical outcomes was reported across all studies.

Results:

Thirteen studies were included. Three were retrospective; there were no randomized controlled trials. Many studies had important methodological limitations. Preoperative cartilage damage or osteoarthritis had the strongest and most consistent relationship with conversion to hip arthroplasty and with a lack of improvement in pain or function. Greater age at the index operation, worse preoperative modified Harris Hip Score, and longer duration of symptoms preoperatively (>1.5 years) were associated with conversion to hip arthroplasty.

Conclusion:

Older age, presence of arthritic changes, longer duration of symptoms, and worse preoperative pain and functional scores are associated with poor outcomes of surgery for FAI. Incorporation of these data into discussions with patients may facilitate informed, shared decision making about the surgical treatment of FAI.
Highly loaded nanocomposite films as fire protective coating for polymeric substrates
Authors: Lecouvet Benoît , Sclavons Michel , Bourbigot Serge , Bailly Christian
Published: August 2013

The main fire retardancy mechanism of polymer–clay nanocomposites involves the progressive build-up of an inorganic-rich layer at the sample surface during combustion, by a combination of ablative reassembling and migration of the nanoparticles, reducing heat and mass transfer between gas and condensed phases. In this process, a non-negligible amount of polymer needs to be sacrificed before the entire surface of the residual material is shielded. This study aims to improve the fire behaviour of polymer–clay nanocomposites by accelerating the physical barrier formation through the development of new hybrid structures. For that purpose, a system based on polyamide 12 and halloysite nanotubes is chosen as reference and highly loaded nanocomposite films are coated on a virgin PA12 substrate. Both the influence of clay fraction in the nanocomposite film and its thickness on the flammability performance of the coated samples are evaluated by mass loss calorimetry and compared to that of homogeneous ‘bulk’ nanocomposites. Results show unambiguously that hybrid materials are more effective than conventional nanocomposites to flame retard polymers while substantially reducing the total filler loading, and so the cost of the final product. Moreover, a small amount of carbon nanotubes can be incorporated in the polymer substrate and/or in the nanocomposite film to suppress the vigorous bubbling of evolved degradation products as well as to reduce the flexibility of the thin protective skin, which can cause detrimental effects on its barrier properties.
“The New Costumes of Odd Sizes”
Authors: Keist Carmen N. , Marcketti Sara B.
Published: August 2013

By 1916 over 13 million women or 12.7% of the total U.S. population was considered overweight or “stout.” In the 1920s, the term “stout.” indicated an (often matronly appearance) with generous bust, back and hip curves that did not fit with fashion s demands of the ideal stylish figure. Research related to ready-to-wear fashions for plus sized women in the 20th century is almost non-existent. The purpose of this study was to explore available ready-to-wear fashions for the plus sized woman during the years 1920-1929. To explore this topic, a historical method approach was utilized using primary sources that included The New York Times, Vogue, and Good Housekeeping. The results of this study identified prescriptive and proscriptive advice regarding appropriate clothing styles and merchandising trends marketed to plus sized women.
Criminal networks, unfortunate circumstances, or migratory projects? Researching sex trafficking from Eastern Europe
Authors: Davydova Darja
Published: August 2013

Eastern Europe constitutes a peripheral space of the European Union, in which political and symbolic belonging of the nations is constantly questioned. As the migration of Eastern Europeans challenges and redefines geographical and symbolic borders, sex trafficking emerges as a politicized issue related to the construction of the European identity and the surveillance of the borders. The research on sex trafficking is frequently employed by policy-makers in order to justify the increasing control of migration over the Eastern border. In this article, I explore the diversity of methodological approaches in recent research on migration for sex work from Eastern Europe and discuss its implications for maintaining physical and symbolic Eastern border of the European Union. I distinguish between different perspectives undertaken by researchers and demonstrate the relation between conceptualization of the problem of sex trafficking, methodological approaches, and the way Eastern Europe is described in research projects.
Hierarchical fuzzy-tuned multiobjective optimization control for gantry cranes
Authors: Zhang Hai-yun , Wang Jin , Lu Guo-dong
Published: August 2013

This work presents a hierarchical fuzzy-tuned multiobjective optimization control scheme for the horizontal moving process of gantry cranes. Initially, a multiobjective optimization controller is developed based on gantry crane dynamics, which transforms the control issue of gantry crane into a state-tracking optimization problem and accomplishes simultaneous optimization of multiple performance indexes through the weighting matrix configuration. To cope with the multiobjective optimization controller, an actuation signal modulator is designed using a linear interpolation algorithm, which transforms the step signal of terminal position into an asymptotic signal to improve the transient system performance. Furthermore, a PD-type fuzzy logic regulator is developed as the superior of multiobjective optimization controller to adaptively guide the control procedure by tuning and configuring the weighting matrix. Above three components (multiobjective optimization controller, actuation signal modulator, fuzzy logic regulator) compose the complete hierarchical control scheme. Then, stability of the proposed control scheme is testified through Lyapunov stability theorem, and performances of the control scheme are examined through a series of simulations. Finally, conclusions and assessment of the control scheme are summarized and discussed.
Optimized inchworm motion planning for a novel in-pipe robot
Authors: Liu Qingyou , Chen Yonghua , Ren Tao , Wei Ying
Published: August 2013

Modern society is fueled by very comprehensive grids of gas and liquid supply pipelines. The frequent inspection and maintenance of such pipeline grids is not a trivial task. It has been demonstrated that such task is best performed by using in-pipe robots. In this paper, a novel inchworm robot design and its optimized motion planning are presented. The proposed design uses a helical drive for both gripping and locomotion of the robot. The extension and retraction between inchworm segments are facilitated by conic springs as they can store strain energy. The proposed inchworm robot can also be made very compact without sacrificing stroke length as conic springs can be easily designed with telescopic feature. To generate inchworm motion, a sinusoidal velocity pattern is planned for each segment. The frequency of the velocity pattern is optimized using a genetic algorithm (GA). The optimization result from the GA method has been validated using a traditional gradient based method.
Tool path generation for fabricating optical freeform surfaces by non-resonant three-dimensional elliptical vibration cutting
Authors: Jieqiong Lin , Yingchun Li , Xiaoqin Zhou
Published: August 2013

Optical freeform surfaces on difficult-to-machine materials are used widely in a range of areas such as optical engineering, semiconductor and biomedical products. However, it is a challenge to achieve both a high surface quality and complex surface shape because of their tendency of being damaged in brittle fracture in the machining process. In this article, non-resonant three-dimensional elliptical vibration cutting method is proposed to obtain optical freeform surfaces of some difficult-to-machine materials, which is realised by making the diamond tool vibrate at a three-dimensional ellipse in the non-resonant manner. The elliptical motion parameters of this method can be taken active control under different machining conditions, which can make us get optimal cutting performance. Based on this new elliptical vibration cutting method, the algorithm of the tool path generation considering the tool arc radius compensation is proposed, which can avoid excess turning. The three-dimensional surface topography prediction model is established to verify the tool path. Simulation analysis on a typical optical freeform surface, toric surface, has shown that the tool path generation algorithm with the proposed elliptical vibration cutting method can envelope the toric surface, which has illustrated the validity of the proposed algorithm and technique. The tool path generation algorithm can be used to direct one to machine the optical freeform surface in the cutting experiments.
Onboard pseudospectral guidance for re-entry vehicle
Authors: Zhou Hao , Rahman Tawfiqur , Wang Danwei , Chen Wanchun
Published: August 2013

In this paper, a guidance scheme is developed for tracking constrained entry trajectory which is updated onboard. From an initial offline trajectory, the guidance system updates trajectories at every step of control command generation. This scheme models state error dynamics as a linear time varying system and updates the trajectory using a pseudospectral method. The solution provides an updated and optimal trajectory from the present position to the terminal state satisfying the path constraints. The guidance system continues updating the online trajectories and generates the control commands. This method is different from tracking methods purely based on linear quadratic regulator theory because it utilizes the pseudospectral method in generating control command; but it is also different from pseudospectral guidance because generation of new reference trajectories is done onboard. The method is validated through a number of test cases for initial state perturbations, aerodynamics and atmosphere modeling errors. In order to demonstrate improved accuracy relative to other methods, the method is also tested against linear quadratic regulator and pseudospectral guidance schemes.
Finding the ‘self’ after weight loss surgery: Two women’s experiences
Authors: Young Jessica , Burrows Lisette
Published: August 2013

Drawing on narratives derived from two women’s YouTube vlogs (video blogs), we examine what weight loss surgery offers as a mode of being in the world. In these vlogs, Divataunia and Thebandinme have kept a record of their weight loss surgery ‘journey’. We explore the multiple selves they express, drawing on notions of embodiment and post-structuralist conceptualisations of subjectivity, to examine the contradictory and shifting experiences of having weight loss surgery. We examine the work that subjectivity ‘does’, in how each woman enacts her subjectivity, in what they ‘choose’ to express, and in how their choices are related to their perceptions and lived experiences of their bodies. In particular we investigate one subject position that the women both take up – a ‘fat subjectivity’ – and discuss how each woman relates to this subject position as her body changes. The notion of a weight loss surgery journey from an ‘old’ self to a ‘new’ one is explored and we conclude that the idea of a simple trajectory from ‘old’ to ‘new’ fails to adequately account for the complex vagaries of each women’s experience.
Harmonic regressor: Robust solution to least-squares problem
Authors: Stotsky Alexander
Published: August 2013

A new robust and computationally efficient solution to least-squares problem in the presence of round-off errors is proposed. The properties of a harmonic regressor are utilized for design of new combined algorithms of direct calculation of the parameter vector. In addition, an explicit transient bound for estimation error is derived for classical recursive least-squares algorithm using the Lyapunov function method. Different initialization techniques of the gain matrix are proposed as an extension of the recursive least-squares algorithm. All the results are illustrated by simulations.
Combined low-dose mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus for lupus nephritis with suboptimal response to standard therapy: a 12-month prospective study
Authors: Mok CC , To CH , Yu KL , Ho LY
Published: August 2013

Objective

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the efficacy of combined mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus (TAC) for lupus nephritis with suboptimal response to standard therapy.

Methods

Inclusion criteria for patients: (1) biopsy-confirmed active lupus nephritis; and (2) inadequate response to ≥2 immunosuppressive regimens. While prednisolone (≤10 mg/day) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were continued, immunosuppressive agents were replaced by combined MMF (1 g/day) and TAC (4 mg/day). Patients were followed every 2 months for the clinical response and adverse events at 12 months.

Results

Twenty-one patients were recruited (20 women; age 35.8 ± 9.2 years; systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) duration 111 ± 51 months). The histological classes of lupus nephritis were: IV/III (33%), V + III/IV (33%) and pure V (33%). The creatinine clearance (CrCl), urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (uP/Cr) and serum albumin was 82.4 ± 33 ml/min (<90 ml/min in 57%), 3.27 ± 1.5 and 30.1 ± 5.9 g/l, respectively. Thirteen (62%) patients had active urinary sediments and 17 (81%) patients had active lupus serology. At 12 months, eight (38%) patients had very good response, one (5%) patient had good response and five (24%) patients had partial response. Significant improvement in uP/Cr, albumin, complement C3 and anti-dsDNA titer, and stabilization of CrCl was observed in the responders. Thirty-three adverse events were reported in 18 patients: major infection requiring hospitalization (6%), infection not requiring hospitalization (27%), herpes infection (9%), diarrhea (12%), cramps (9%), dyspepsia (6%), transient increase in serum Cr (6%), alopecia (4%), facial twitching (3%), tremor (3%) and diabetes mellitus (3%). None of these had led to protocol withdrawal.

Conclusions

Combined low-dose MMF and TAC is an option for lupus nephritis that fails to respond adequately to standard regimens, with two-thirds of patients improving after 12 months. Longer-term observation is needed to confirm its efficacy and safety.
The politics of temporality: Autonomy, temporal spaces and resoluteness
Authors: Clancy Craig A.
Published: August 2013

While many theorists and projects raise the notion of creating more ‘free time’, the implication that this will somehow be ‘beneficial’ is inadequate without a deeper understanding of how time is related to the individual and psychological well-being. This article offers some considerations for the raison d’etre of what can be termed a politics of time, taking as its trajectory the phenomenological understanding of time in Heidegger, and the view that restricted experiences of time in contemporary capitalist society fragment the phenomenological unity of individual temporalities. A politics of time is posed here as the necessary intervention to alleviate the subsequent inability to experience an authentic temporal orientation in such conditions. The article offers that any such temporal project must place such an understanding of temporality as its theoretical basis, and apodictically, the creation of ‘temporal autonomous spaces’ (TAS) as its political purpose.
Drama as primary prevention: my life as a producer
Authors: Jurd Stephen
Published: August 2013

Objective:

This paper documents use of a historically accurate and psychiatrically relevant play written by a couple of visiting academics.

Conclusion:

The high recognisability of first author Samuel Shem’s name was used to attract interest from both within the medical profession and the media, which was intrigued by the curiosity of a psychiatrist turning producer. Far-reaching publicity was achieved at no financial cost.
Updating medical school psychiatry curricula to meet projected mental health needs
Authors: Thomas Susan , Pai Nagesh , Dawes Kerry , Wilson Coralie , Williams Virginia
Published: August 2013

Objective:

In view of the growing disease burden of mental disorders, we consider the pressing need to update medical school psychiatry education to better equip doctors to recognise and treat these conditions. Key challenges to the delivery of medical school mental health curricula, and possible directions for reform, are reviewed with the aims of stimulating collaboration and enhancing the efficiency across schools.

Conclusions:

In Australia, medical school expansion provides opportunities to prepare many training doctors to meet growing mental health care needs. Despite this, published reviews of practice and curriculum models are notably lacking. Australia, unlike other countries, has yet to agree on a core curriculum in medical school psychiatry, with practices varying widely between schools. Curricula should equip doctors to better recognise and treat common mental disorders during early stages, as well as preparing some for specialist psychiatry training. High-quality, multidisciplinary teaching in varied clinical settings may boost teaching resources. Additionally, medical education provides opportunities to better equip doctors to take care of their own mental health. Key challenges are to achieve a consensus on core curricula across Australian medical schools, and an appropriate proportion of medical school curriculum time for mental disorders, relative to their complexity and large disease burden.
The impact of mental state disorder and personality on social functioning in patients engaged in community mental health care
Authors: Newton-Howes Giles
Published: August 2013

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to assess the degree to which mental state disorder and personality disorder impact on social functioning in patients engaged in secondary mental health care in New Zealand.

Method:

Patients were interviewed using peer-reviewed instruments able to provide an indication of severity to assess their social functioning, personality status and diagnosis. Univariate correlations and linear regression was used to identify the association between social functioning, mental state disorder and personality.

Results:

Using simple correlations all diagnostic categories associated with declines in social functioning. In the regression analysis depression and personality dysfunction accounted for 48% of the variance in social functioning.

Conclusions:

For patients engaged in secondary care, depression and personality dysfunction are significantly associated with poorer social functioning.
A history of insulin coma therapy in Australia
Authors: Kaplan Robert M
Published: August 2013

Objective:

To explore the history of insulin coma therapy (ICT) in Australia.

Conclusions:

The negative period between the wars came to an end with the discovery of the biological therapies, including ICT, a development of great interest to Australian psychiatrists. Melbourne psychiatrist Reg Ellery documented his use of ICT in 1937, but the evidence shows that he was beaten to it by Farran-Ridge and Reynolds at Mont Park. ICT was soon used at various centres, but phased out by the late fifties. A review follows of its use in Australia and a discussion of the issues involved. Doing ICT played a part in enhancing the professional status of Australian psychiatrists and was one of the factors that led to the establishment of the AAP in 1946.
Recovery, medication and shared responsibility in mental health care
Authors: Stratford Anthony , Brophy Lisa , Beaton Tracy , Castle David
Published: August 2013

Objective:

The recovery paradigm is significantly influencing contemporary mental health services. This paper explores using a recovery orientation when introducing, prescribing, administering and monitoring medication as part of treatment in psychiatry.

Conclusions:

Recovery is not ‘anti’ medication; however, a recovery-oriented position does require the adoption of an enabling and empowering approach to the use of medication. The cornerstone of this is shared decision-making that respects the person’s own lived experience and choice as well as the practitioner’s professional expertise. This paper suggests that by taking this path, relationships between psychiatrists, other clinicians and consumers will be enhanced.
The ACT Mental Health Service for People with Intellectual Disability, 10 years on
Authors: Wurth Peter , Brandon Shirley-Anne
Published: August 2013

Objective:

Our aim is to describe the establishment and first 10 years’ experience of a specialist team for providing psychiatric services to individuals with intellectual disability.

Conclusion:

This service is unique in Australia in providing a comprehensive mental health assessment and treatment service to this population in a defined catchment area. It can serve as a model for service development in this area of unmet need.
Switching in Twitter’s Hashtagged Exchanges
Authors: Jones John
Published: August 2013

Networks have a remarkable ability to bring people together in communities, both online and offline, but such community building is not the only possible result of network use. This article examines the case of a tagging network on Twitter, the online social networking service characterized by short messages. Although Twitter has many social features that foster interaction between users, the use of hashtags to signal the topic of a message exists outside of the site’s primary social structures, creating a unique writing environment. This article analyzes a hashtagged exchange surrounding the 2009 health care debate in the United States, examining the social features of this exchange and how participants used it to communicate about that debate. While traditional social features were certainly present within the exchange, they were not prominent or common; rather, users engaged the network properties of this exchange to make connections with other networks, drawing on a form of network power called switching. The analysis focuses on how the Twitter network’s structural features affect communication between users.
Framing Sustainability
Authors: Mathison Maureen A. , Stillman-Webb Natalie , Bell Sarah A.
Published: August 2013

Corporate social responsibility is a topic that is increasingly incorporated into business school curricula. This article describes a study of undergraduate business majors who wrote about an environmental topic in response to an Analytical Writing Assessment question in the Graduate Management Admission Test™. Of 187 students, only 76 mentioned natural resources in their responses. The study examines this smaller corpus for stance, framing, and argument. The results indicate that the majority of those 76 students supported sustainable practices but were less adept at presenting their perspectives, invoking a personal frame over a professional one. The authors suggest ways to help students develop stronger skills in writing about corporate social responsibility.
Tactoid body features in a Schwann cell hamartoma of colonic mucosa
Authors: de Beça Francisco Ferro , Lopes Joanne , Maçoas Fernanda , Carneiro Fátima , Lopes José Manuel
Published: August 2013

Background. Mesenchymal colorectal polyps are uncommon lesions, particularly those of neurogenic origin. We describe a mucosal Schwann cell hamartoma of the colon with tactoid features, so far reported in peripheral nerve sheath tumours, and address its differential diagnosis and clinical implications. Case presentation. A 72-year-old man underwent screening colonoscopy that presented a 5-mm polyp on distal sigmoid. Histologically, it displayed a lesion in the lamina propria comprising oval structures with tactoid features and bland spindle cells, entrapping adjacent crypts. No ganglion cells were seen. Spindle cells expressed only S-100 protein and vimentin. Discussion. Mucosal Schwann cell hamartoma was recently recognized as distinct from common (submucosal) colorectal Schwannomas and so far not associated to inherited syndromes. Thus, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of look-alike lesions (eg, ganglioneuroma, neuroma, and neurofibroma) that may occur in the setting of inherited syndromes such as Cowden syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia-2B, and type 1 neurofibromatosis.
Meta-Analytic Guidelines for Evaluating Single-Item Reliabilities of Personality Instruments
Authors: Spörrle Matthias , Bekk Magdalena
Published: August 2013

Personality is an important predictor of various outcomes in many social science disciplines. However, when personality traits are not the principal focus of research, for example, in global comparative surveys, it is often not possible to assess them extensively. In this article, we first provide an overview of the advantages and challenges of single-item measures of personality, a rationale for their construction, and a summary of alternative ways of assessing their reliability. Second, using seven diverse samples ( Ntotal = 4,263) we develop the SIMP-G, the German adaptation of the Single-Item Measures of Personality, an instrument assessing the Big Five with one item per trait, and evaluate its validity and reliability. Third, we integrate previous research and our data into a first meta-analysis of single-item reliabilities of personality measures, and provide researchers with guidelines and recommendations for the evaluation of single-item reliabilities.
Development of a Short Form of the Elemental Psychopathy Assessment
Authors: Lynam Donald R. , Sherman Emily D. , Samuel Douglas , Miller Joshua D. , Few Lauren R. , Widiger Thomas A.
Published: August 2013

The Elemental Psychopathy Assessment (EPA) is a 178-item self-report measure designed to assess the basic elements of psychopathy from a Five-Factor Model perspective: Anger, Arrogance, Callousness, Coldness, Disobliged, Distrust, Dominance, Impersistence, Invulnerable, Manipulation, Opposition, Rashness, Self-Assurance, Self-Centered, Self-Contentment, Thrill-Seeking, Unconcern, and Urgency. The present article reports on the development of a short-form version of the EPA in two large undergraduate samples using item response theory. The validity of the resultant, 72-item, item response theory–derived short form is compared against the validity for the full scale in the undergraduate samples and smaller forensic sample. Results indicate that the 18 subscales of the EPA short form remain relatively reliable, possess an internal structure virtually identical to the full version, and manifest highly similar correlational profiles to a variety of criterion measures. The EPA short form is offered as a viable assessment of psychopathy when assessment time is limited. Implications of these findings are discussed.
A novel hybrid CPU–GPU generalized eigensolver for electronic structure calculations based on fine-grained memory aware tasks
Authors: Haidar Azzam , Tomov Stanimire , Dongarra Jack , Solcà Raffaele , Schulthess Thomas
Published: August 2013

The adoption of hybrid CPU–GPU nodes in traditional supercomputing platforms such as the Cray-XK6 opens acceleration opportunities for electronic structure calculations in materials science and chemistry applications, where medium-sized generalized eigenvalue problems must be solved many times. These eigenvalue problems are too small to effectively solve on distributed systems, but can benefit from the massive computing power concentrated on a single-node, hybrid CPU–GPU system. However, hybrid systems call for the development of new algorithms that efficiently exploit heterogeneity and massive parallelism of not just GPUs, but of multicore/manycore CPUs as well. Addressing these demands, we developed a generalized eigensolver featuring novel algorithms of increased computational intensity (compared with the standard algorithms), decomposition of the computation into fine-grained memory aware tasks, and their hybrid execution. The resulting eigensolvers are state-of-the-art in high-performance computing, significantly outperforming existing libraries. We describe the algorithm and analyze its performance impact on applications of interest when different fractions of eigenvectors are needed by the host electronic structure code.
Multiple Paths to Effective National Evaluation Societies
Authors: Holvoet Nathalie , Dewachter Sara
Published: August 2013

National Evaluation Societies (NES) are situated at the intersection between Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) supply and demand. To date, little research has explored NES and their potential for strengthening national M&E. This study addresses this gap, examining perceived NES performance relevant to organizational and policy-oriented goals while identifying factors related to that performance. The study draws upon data from a survey of 40 NES in 37 low- and middle-income countries. Qualitative Comparative Analysis identifies multiple pathways to well-performing NES and focuses on the interplay between the context in which evaluation societies operate and their organizational characteristics. The findings underline the importance of political openness while also demonstrating that some NES manage to perform well even in challenging political environments.
Getting to Outcomes
Authors: Wandersman Abraham
Published: August 2013

The Labin et al. logic model describes the why, how, what, and potential outcomes of evaluation capacity building (ECB). Getting To Outcomes offers a frame and empirical results for operationalizing the ECB logic model of Labin et al. and for deepening the science and practice of ECB.
Reappropriating the City of Fear
Authors: Jeffries Fiona
Published: August 2013

Fear is seen to be one of the defining political emotions of late modernity. Filmmakers, sociologists, artists, philosophers, and pundits see fear everywhere. If fear is a way of life, the contemporary city is seen by many to be one of its most prominent and productive social laboratories. But while fear is seen to be so politically significant, the way it is studied often both naturalizes and exteriorizes fear from politics. As a result, fear’s antagonistic status as both a social relation and an arena of political action is submerged. In this article, I propose a different approach to thinking about, and acting in, the city of fear. By taking social struggles as our starting point, the city of fear becomes recognizable as a platform for social action, a place for the elaboration of a theory and practice of social change, a staging ground for the reappropriation of the city.