bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Type designation for Cyclachaena xanthiifolia (Euphrosyne xanthiifolia) (Heliantheae, Asteraceae)
Authors: Crespo Manuel B. , Pena-Martín Carolina , Becker Anna Sarah , Dressler Stefan
Published: February 2015

Cyclachaena xanthiifolia (Iva xanthiifolia) is a North American member of the Heliantheae-Ambrosiinae (Asteraceae), which is currently accepted in the genus Euphrosyne. It is a nitrophilous plant, usually growing in disturbed grounds related to human activities, and this fact has probably favoured its introduction and naturalization in Eurasia and New Zealand. As part of the taxonomical work on the Iberian Compositae, typification of the name Cyclachaena xanthiifolia is effected here by selection of a lectotype and an epitype from the material housed at FR (Frankfurt am Main, Germany). The protologue and original material are discussed, and pictures of the relevant material are presented. Some historical aspects are also discussed to justify typification.
Caetetermes taquarussu Fontes (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae): description of the imago caste and new distributional records
Authors: CUEZZO CAROLINA , CARRIJO TIAGO F. , CANCELLO ELIANA M.
Published: February 2015

Caetetermes Fontes, 1981 is a monotypic South American genus of Nasutitermitinae. Its single species, Caetetermes taquarussu Fontes, 1981, was described based on morphological characters from soldiers and workers collected at three localities in the tropical rainforest of northeastern Ecuador. Several samples of C. taquarussu represented also by the imago caste were examined at the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (MZUSP) and the National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C., USA (USNM). Herein, we describe the imago caste of Caetetermes for the first time, with notes on soldier and worker caste and new distributional records for the species.
Elucidating taxonomic problems of the genus Disparia Nagano, 1916 of Taiwan and its neighboring areas, with description of one new species (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae)
Authors: WU SHIPHER
Published: February 2015

The taxonomic problems of the genus Disparia Nagano, 1916 in Taiwan and its neighboring areas are elucidated in the present study. The hitherto well-known separated taxonomic units, Fentonia nigrofasciata Wileman, 1910 and Pseudofentonia medioalbida Nakamura, 1973, are confirmed as the conspecific species based on the type material examination. The latter is here treated as a junior synonym (syn. nov.). The taxon previously identified as “D. nigrofasciata” in most of studies is actually D. wilemani Matsumura, 1925 stat. rev. Fentonia variegata Wileman, 1910 is retained for the eastern Asian population as a subspecies of widespread D. diluta (Wileman, 1910) through comparison with other populations. In addition, one new species, D. kobayashii sp. nov., endemic to Taiwan is described. Including D. maculata (Moore, 1879), totally five Disparia species are distributed in Taiwan.
Mass-Flux Characteristics of Tropical Cumulus Clouds from Wind Profiler Observations at Darwin, Australia
Authors: Kumar Vickal V. , Jakob Christian , Protat Alain , Williams Christopher R. , May Peter T.
Published: February 2015

Cumulus parameterizations in weather and climate models frequently apply mass-flux schemes in their description of tropical convection. Mass flux constitutes the product of the fractional area covered by convection in a model grid box and the vertical velocity in cumulus clouds. However, vertical velocities are difficult to observe on GCM scales, making the evaluation of mass-flux schemes difficult. Here, the authors combine high-temporal-resolution observations of in-cloud vertical velocities derived from a pair of wind profilers over two wet seasons at Darwin with physical properties of precipitating clouds [cloud-top heights (CTH), convective–stratiform classification] derived from the Darwin C-band polarimetric radar to provide estimates of cumulus mass flux and its constituents. The length of this dataset allows for investigations of the contributions from different cumulus cloud types—namely, congestus, deep, and overshooting convection—to the overall mass flux and of the influence of large-scale conditions on mass flux. The authors found that mass flux was dominated by updrafts and, in particular, the updraft area fraction, with updraft vertical velocity playing a secondary role. The updraft vertical velocities peaked above 10 km where both the updraft area fractions and air densities were small, resulting in a marginal effect on mass-flux values. Downdraft area fractions are much smaller and velocities are much weaker than those in updrafts. The area fraction responded strongly to changes in midlevel large-scale vertical motion and convective inhibition (CIN). In contrast, changes in the lower-tropospheric relative humidity and convective available potential energy (CAPE) strongly modulate in-cloud vertical velocities but have moderate impacts on area fractions. Although average mass flux is found to increase with increasing CTH, it is the environmental conditions that seem to dictate the magnitude of mass flux produced by convection through a combination of effects on area fraction and velocity.
Use of Automated Bone Age for Critical Growth Assessment
Authors: Khan Khalid M. , Gonzalez-Bolanos Maria T. , Holm Tara , Miller Bradley S. , Sarafoglou Kyriakie
Published: February 2015

Background. We compared the variability of bone age (BA) rating between clinicians and an automated system in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Method. A total of 126 radiographs assessed by 3 clinicians blinded to patient details using Greulich and Pyle (GP) (readers 1, 2, and 3) and BoneXpert (BX). Results. Comparing BA rating with each other, the mean of the absolute differences varied from 0.42 ± 0.53 years (reader 1 and BX) to 0.57 ± 0.58 years (reader 2 and reader 3), P = .368. Comparing ratings that were consistent with all 4 methods (within 1 year of each other, 93/126, 74%) and the remaining, “outliers” (33/126, 26%), the outliers were younger ( P = .003), smaller (height, P = .011, weight, P = .000), and prepubertal ( P = .001). Conclusion. The variability of BA rating in CAH children is similar whether performed by clinicians or an automated system. The greatest variability was in prepubertal children.
From marginality to integration: Appropriation of space through sociolinguistic competence in Laila Wadia’s Amiche per la pelle
Authors: Pampinella Margherita
Published: February 2015

In her novel Amiche per la pelle, Indian-Italian writer Laila Wadia tells the stories of four immigrant women as they learn Italian in Trieste. Wadia uses space to define the characters’ marginality, and to describe their journey as they seek integration into society. The depiction of space is also employed by Wadia to hint at the potential for the literature of migration in Italian to become an integral part of Italian literature. The article analyzes the learning experience of the four women within the sociolinguistic framework of the community of practice. The acquisition of sociolinguistic competence allows the apprentice in the community of practice to move from a peripheral, marginal position to a more central one. According to the author, Wadia points to a possible and desirable future when migrants find a central space and gain full membership in the community of practice of their adopted country through mutual engagement and shared goals, just as literature of migration in Italian will one day find legitimate inclusion in the Italian literary patrimony.
Visual Performance With Small Concave and Convex Displays
Authors: Mustonen Terhi , Kimmel Jyrki , Hakala Jussi , Häkkinen Jukka
Published: February 2015

Objective:

In this study, we aim to investigate how users’ visual performance with a small flexible display changes based on the direction (i.e., convex, concave) and the magnitude (i.e., low, high) of the display curvature.

Background:

Despite the wide interest in flexible display materials and deformable displays, the potential effects of nonplanar display surfaces on human perception and performance have received little attention. This study is the first to demonstrate how curving affects visual performance with an actual flexible display (4.5-in. active-matrix organic light-emitting diode).

Method:

In a series of three experiments, we compared the performance with a planar display to the performance with concave and convex display surfaces with low and high curvature magnitudes. Two visual search tasks were employed that required the subject to detect target letters based on their contrast (Experiments 1 and 2) and identity (Experiment 3). Performance was measured as the sensitivity of target detection ( d′) and threshold time of the search, respectively.

Results:

There were similar sensitivities for targets across the curvature variants, but the high-magnitude curvatures resulted in prolonged search times, especially for the convex form. In both of the tasks, performance was dependent on the display location, which was defined as the target’s distance from the display center.

Conclusion:

High curvature magnitudes should be avoided, even in small displays, because large local changes in visual stimuli decrease processing speed outside the central display.

Application:

The findings have implications for the development of technologies, applications, and user interfaces for flexible displays and the design of visual display devices.
Trouble at the next level: Effects of differential leader–member exchange on group-level processes and justice climate
Authors: Cobb Anthony T , Lau Rebecca S
Published: February 2015

Leaders develop different exchange relationships with their followers ranging from higher to lower quality. As these exchange relationships increase in quality a number of beneficial outcomes often accrue to both the leader and the follower when examined at the individual level of analysis. At the work unit level, however, differential leader–member exchange (LMXD) can lead to structural schisms between subordinates receiving higher- and lower-quality exchange that can interfere with productive group processes and the benefits of a favorable work climate. This article examines the incremental effects of group-level LMXD over average group levels of LMX on three group processes (co-worker communications, relationship conflict and team-member exchange) and three justice climates (interactional, procedural and distributive). Results from 87 intact teams indicate that LMXD has a sizable and negative impact on all group-level processes. LMXD also substantially decreases the strength of interactional, procedural and distributive justice climates. The incremental effects for LMXD on justice climate levels were negative for interactional justice and surprisingly positive for distributive justice. Post hoc analyses indicate an additional positive moderating effect of LMXD for relationship conflict and interactional justice climate level.
Agent-based simulation for the evaluation of a new dispatching model for the straddle carrier pooling problem
Authors: Garro Alfredo , Monaco Maria Flavia , Russo Wilma , Sammarra Marcello , Sorrentino Gregorio
Published: February 2015

To deal with several classes of planning and management problems in different business domains (transport, energy, defense, etc.) and at different decisional levels (strategic, tactical and operational levels), significant benefits can derive from the definition of solution methods which are able to combine and capitalize on the strengths of mathematical programming and agent-based techniques. In this paper, an approach based on the joint use of mathematical programming and agent-based techniques is exploited in the context of maritime logistics. In particular, a transshipment terminal is considered with the goal of planning the container transportation between the yard and the quay during the loading/discharging operations of a containership by exploiting a pool of straddle carriers shared among the quay cranes. The goal is to route the straddle carriers by determining a sequence of container movements for each of them in order to optimize a given performance criterion. In particular, a new dispatching model is proposed and evaluated through an agent-based simulation model which also made it possible a better understanding of interesting properties of the problem under consideration.
The public manager, the structure of public institution, and implementation: the 2002–2012 Finnish senior bureaucratic manager reform
Authors: Mukhtar Mohammed Ibn
Published: February 2015

Public management and administration today is about crafting, structuring and instituting. Structuration is a very integral part of all organisations. Unlike the gradualist approach, structural reform transforms the dominant system touching on main elements. Structural reform had largely come and gone without necessarily touching on some public administrations and their core elements. Interviews were conducted for 37 interviewees believed to belong to the policy and implementation network. Characteristically, the structures stand very tall and hierarchically, instituting traditional top-down directives bereft of crafting. Management and managing failed to be understood and actively played. Consequently, structure and capacity remain non-aligned; and implementation is negatively affected as the reform context and management are poorly defined. With managerial leadership responsibilities shirked, silo-slabs systems have become the modern features of organisational gridlocks; thus, increasing manager incompetence.
Routine, Scale, and Inequality
Authors: Croissant Jennifer L.
Published: February 2015

This special issue of Science, Technology, & Human Values contains articles concerned with ethics in and around scientific practice. These articles ask how organizational routines both produce and diffuse concerns about the risks and benefits of scientific research and products, and why context remains elusive in formal ethical analysis. These cases are from diverse settings, with several touching on issues of economic inequality and participation in scientific research. Each article describes in some way how cultural and institutional configurations shape ethical thinking and the distribution of goods and harms in science.
Evaluating journalism through popular culture: HBO’s The Newsroom and public reflections on the state of the news media
Authors: Peters Chris
Published: February 2015

While HBO’s The Newsroom presents itself as fictional television, its narrative is driven by critiquing American cable news culture and contemporary journalism ethics. This article analyses popular reflections on the programme to identify what these discourses reveal about public evaluations of the state of the US news media. Based upon 1115 lengthy audience posts and discussions and 49 news articles, I argue that the response to this supposedly ‘fictional’ newscast nonetheless reveals a highly politicized scepticism about the actual news media and a corresponding – although fairly depoliticized and surprisingly uniform – nostalgic lament for the journalism of days gone by. Similarly, findings suggest that the traditional modernist discourse of journalism as a public good persists – both among journalists and the public – despite the evident commercial underpinnings of the American media system. The study finds that audiences and journalists alike use the show as a catalyst to (1) ‘name and shame’ news outlets – including the fictional Newsroom, (2) engage in political confrontation and (3) employ the rhetoric and metanarratives of the Anglo-American objectivity regime to define ‘good’ journalism. However, it also finds that while individuals may embrace critique, they often lack critical skills to go beyond politicized accusations of bias.
An enriched social behavioural information diffusion model in social networks
Authors: Mozafari Niloofar , Hamzeh Ali
Published: February 2015

Online social networks have recently become an innovative and effective method for spreading information among people around the world. Information diffusion, rumour spreading and diseases infection are all instances of stochastic processes that occur over the edges of social networks. Many prior works have carried out empirical studies and diffusion models to understand how information propagates in online social networks; however they suffer from problems. In this paper, we propose an information diffusion model inspired by information propagation among people. Our proposed Social Behavioural Information Diffusion Model, abbreviated as SBIDM, considers the effect of mainstream media like TV and radio, as well as interaction with the neighbours. The advantages of our approach are four-fold. First, it models information diffusion in social networks inspired by social life, which considers the effect of aggregate social behaviour to diffuse information; second, it allows partial knowledge to be held in each individual; third, it considers the effects of social media in propagating information as well as the effects of interacting with neighbours; and last but not least, it is applicable to different types of data including synthetic and well-known real social networks like Facebook, Amazon, Epinions and DBLP. To explore the advantages of our approach, many experiments with different settings and specifications were conducted. The obtained results are very promising.
Novel legislation for pediatric advance directives: Surveys and focus groups capture parent and clinician perspectives
Authors: Boss Renee D , Hutton Nancy , Griffin Pamela L , Wieczorek Beth H , Donohue Pamela K
Published: February 2015

Background:

Legislative measures increasingly require consideration of pediatric inpatients for Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment.

Aim:

To explore pediatric clinicians’ experiences with life-sustaining treatments prior to the Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment mandate and to describe clinician and family concerns and preferences regarding pediatric Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment.

Design:

Clinician surveys and clinician and parent focus groups.

Setting/participants:

Pediatric clinicians and parents from one of Maryland’s largest health systems.

Results:

Of 96 survey respondents, 72% were physicians and 28% were nurse practitioners. A total of 73% of physicians and 34% of nurse practitioners felt able to lead discussions about limiting therapies “most” or “all” of the time. A total of 75% of physicians and 37% of nurse practitioners led such a discussion in the prior year. A total of 55% of physicians and 96% of nurse practitioners had written no order to limit therapies in the past year. Only for children predicted to die within 30 days did >80% of clinicians agree that limitation discussions were warranted. A total of 100% of parent focus group participants, but 17% of physicians and 33% of nurse practitioners, thought that all pediatric inpatients warranted Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment discussions. Parents felt that universal Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment would decrease the stigma of limitation discussions. Participants believed that Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment would clarify decision making and increase utilization of palliative care. Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment communication skills training was recommended by all.

Conclusion:

A minority of clinicians, but all parents, support universal pediatric Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment. Immediately prior to the Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment mandate, many clinicians felt unprepared to lead limitation discussions, and few had written relevant orders in the prior year. Communication training is perceived essential to successful Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment conversations.
Peak experiences and the afterglow phenomenon: When and how do therapeutic effects of hallucinogens depend on psychedelic experiences?
Authors: Majić Tomislav , Schmidt Timo T , Gallinat Jürgen
Published: February 2015

Interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances has recently resumed. During an early phase of human psychedelic research, their therapeutic application in different pathologies had been suggested, and the first evidence for efficacy was provided. The range of recent clinical applications of psychedelics spans from cluster headaches and obsessive-compulsive disorder to addiction and the treatment of fear and anxiety in patients suffering from terminal illness, indicating potentially different therapeutic mechanisms. A variety of approaches in psychotherapy emphasize subjective experiences, such as so-called peak experiences or afterglow phenomena, as differentially mediating therapeutic action. This review aims to re-evaluate earlier and recent concepts of how psychedelic substances may exert beneficial effects. After a short outline of neurophenomenological aspects, we discuss different approaches to how psychedelics are used in psychotherapy. Finally, we summarize evidence for the relationship between subjective experiences and therapeutic success. While the distinction between pharmacological and psychological action obviously cannot be clear-cut, they do appear to contribute differently from each other when their effects are compared with regard to pathologies.
Stable, open-loop precision manipulation with underactuated hands
Authors: Odhner Lael U. , Dollar Aaron M.
Published: February 2015

This paper discusses dexterous, within-hand manipulation with differential-type underactuated hands. We discuss the fact that not only can this class of hands, which to date have been considered almost exclusively for adaptive grasping, be utilized for precision manipulation, but also that the reduction of the number of actuators and constraints can make within-hand manipulation easier to implement and control. Next, we introduce an analytical framework for evaluating the dexterous workspace of objects held within the fingertips in a precision grasp. A set of design principles for underactuated fingers are developed that enable fingertip grasping and manipulation. Finally, we apply this framework to analyze the workspace of stable object configurations for an object held within a pinch grasp of a two-fingered underactuated planar hand, demonstrating a large and useful workspace despite only one actuator per finger. The in-hand manipulation workspace for the iRobot–Harvard–Yale Hand is experimentally measured and presented.
Quantitative Assessment of the Latarjet Procedure for Large Glenoid Defects by Computed Tomography
Authors: Moon Seong Cheol , Cho Nam Su , Rhee Yong Girl
Published: February 2015

Background:

Coracoid transfer to a large glenoid defect is considered an excellent method to restore the surface area of the anteroinferior glenoid. However, there is little quantitative evidence supporting whether a coracoid graft can sufficiently restore the glenoid arc.

Purpose:

To assess whether the Latarjet procedure can sufficiently restore the surface area of the glenoid.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

A total of 44 patients who underwent a Latarjet operation for a large glenoid defect between February 2009 and July 2011 were enrolled in this study. Three-dimensional computed tomography was used to calculate the surface areas of the preoperative glenoid defect size and the reconstructed glenoid. Preoperative and postoperative clinical results also were assessed.

Results:

At the last follow-up, the mean visual analog scale score for instability during motion improved significantly from 5.1 points (range, 3-10 points) preoperatively to 1.3 points (range, 0-4 points) ( P < .001). The mean deficit in external rotation at the side, external rotation at 90° of abduction, and internal rotation to the posterior were 10° ± 20°, 7° ± 16°, and 1.9° ± 4°, respectively ( P = .004, .022, and .009, respectively). The overall recurrence rate was 4.5% (2 of 44 shoulders). The mean preoperative glenoid defect size was 157 ± 38 mm2 (range, 141-239 mm2; 25.3% ± 6% of the intact glenoid surface). The mean surface area of the coracoid graft used for reconstruction was 152 ± 34 mm2 (range, 146-236 mm2; 24.8% ± 5% of the intact glenoid surface). After the Latarjet procedure, the mean surface area of the reconstructed glenoid was 706 ± 32 mm2 (range, 639-749 mm2). Finally, postoperative glenoid defect size was 5 ± 11 mm2 (range, 3-28 mm2; 1.5% ± 2% of the intact glenoid surface).

Conclusion:

The Latarjet procedure can provide satisfactory outcomes, including a low recurrence rate and reliable functional recovery. Defects at the anteroinferior glenoid were restored to nearly normal after coracoid transfer by use of the Latarjet procedure, which is an anatomically matched reconstruction.
It’s a Matter of Trust
Authors: Hansen Bryan R. , Hodgson Nancy A. , Gitlin Laura N.
Published: February 2015

Purpose: To examine perceptions of older African Americans’ encounters with health care providers and ways to enhance trust. Method: Transcribed semi-structured interviews with African American senior center members were analyzed, using Pattern Coding method. Results: Four themes emerged: “Added Insult of Ageism,” “Alternative Remedies,” “Good Providers in a ‘Broken’ System,” and “The Foundation of Trust Is Person Recognition.” Provider behaviors leading to mistrust included erroneously assuming stereotypical preferences and competence, spending inadequate time listening to patients, disregarding patient preferences, and insufficiently explaining treatments. Discussion: Of importance to improving trust among older African American patients is valuing individual histories and preferences by reallocating scarce time to person-centered listening, individualizing treatments, more completely explaining interventions, and assuring that patients understand and agree with treatment plans.
“Are You Sure?”
Authors: Wild Katherine V. , Mattek Nora , Austin Daniel , Kaye Jeffrey A.
Published: February 2015

Accurate retrospective reporting of activities and symptoms has been shown to be problematic for older adults, yet standard clinical care relies on self-reports to aid in assessment and management. Our aim was to examine the relationship between self-report and sensor-based measures of activity. We administered an online activity survey to participants in our ongoing longitudinal study of in-home ubiquitous monitoring. We found a wide range of accuracies when comparing self-report with time-stamped sensor-based data. Of the 95 participants who completed the 2-hr activity log, nearly one quarter did not complete the task in a way that could potentially be compared with sensor data. Where comparisons were possible, agreement between self-reported and sensor-based activity was achieved by a minority of participants. The findings suggest that capture of real-time events with unobtrusive activity monitoring may be a more reliable approach to describing behavioral patterns and meaningful changes in older adults.
Microwave-assisted synthesis of carboxymethyl psyllium and its development as semi-interpenetrating network with poly(acrylamide) for gastric delivery
Authors: Bajpai Sunil K , Chand Navin , Agrawal Abhishek
Published: February 2015

In this study, microwave-induced synthesis of carboxymethyl psyllium is reported. The carboxymethyl psyllium was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis. It also showed fair antibacterial activity against model bacteria Escherichia coli, thus confirming its bioactivity. Its semi-interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels with poly(acrylamide) were synthesized and investigated for their swelling behavior in simulating gastric fluid at 37°C. The swelling ratio strongly depended on the degree of cross-linking and ratio of psyllium to acrylamide in the feed mixture. The kinetic water uptake data were interpreted by various kinetic models, and the order of fitness for these models was as follows: Power model > First-order model ≈ Schott model.
Party Competition Structure in Eastern Europe
Authors: Rovny Jan
Published: February 2015

The literature on party competition structure in eastern Europe varies between aggregated large-N studies that propose uniform patterns of party competition across the region on the one hand, and disaggregated, case-focused studies identifying a plurality of country-specific patterns on the other. This article finds that both suffer from theoretical weaknesses. The aggregated works, arguing for common unidimensionality of party competition in the region, overlook significant cross-national differences, while the case-focused works, suggesting country-specific multidimensionality, do not identify commonalities. In effect, both sets of research fall short in explaining the variance of party competition in eastern Europe. This article consequently argues for the importance of bridging these findings of aggregate uniformity and idiosyncratic diversity through the use of refined theoretical explanations of party competition patterns in the region. To demonstrate the plausibility and utility of such an approach, the article builds a theoretical model of party competition in eastern Europe, and tests it by estimating the vote for left-wing parties across ten eastern European countries using the 2009 European Election Study.
A study on cutting temperature for wood–plastic composite
Authors: Pei Zhijian , Zhu Nanfeng , Gong Yu
Published: February 2015

Wood–plastic composite (WPC) material has been developed rapidly and used widely to replace wood production in recent years. The cutting process of WPC material is the key to directly affect the efficiency of utilization and processing. The infrared thermal imaging system and numerical control machine tool were used in this article to analyze the cutting temperature under different cutting parameters, which was further compared with massoniana wood cutting procedure to provide theoretical basis for WPC material processing. Under certain conditions, the cutting depth was the most important factor on the cutting temperature, followed by spindle speed, while cutting width was the least affected. In the cases of similar processing parameters, although cutting temperature for massoniana wood is always higher than WPCs, the change trends of their cutting temperature are similar. Besides, shear heat moderately affected the cutting temperature during cutting.
Implementation of a Districtwide Policy to Improve Principals’ Instructional Leadership
Authors: Carraway Jennifer H. , Young Tamara
Published: February 2015

This study examines principals’ experiences implementing Skillful Observation and Coaching Laboratory (SOCL), a program designed to help principals become effective instructional leaders. Guided by Karl Weick’s notion of sensemaking, this study sought to identify the components of SOCL that were implemented with fidelity and discover the factors that facilitated or impeded implementation of SOCL. Data for this multiple case study were drawn from interviews with principals, observations of principals coaching teachers, and internal documents. The results showed that content knowledge, preexisting knowledge, structural conditions, social interactions, meaningfulness, identity as an instructional leader, and positive feelings influenced principals’ implementation of SOCL.
Patient Satisfaction With Pharmacist-Led Chronic Disease State Management Programs
Authors: Schuessler Tyler J. , Ruisinger Janelle F. , Hare Sarah E. , Prohaska Emily S. , Melton Brittany L.
Published: February 2015

Purpose:

To assess patient satisfaction, perception of self-management, and perception of disease state knowledge with pharmacist-led diabetes and cardiovascular disease state management (DSM) programs.

Methods:

A self-insured chain of grocery store pharmacies in the Kansas City metropolitan area administers pharmacist-led diabetes and cardiovascular DSM programs for eligible employees and dependents. A modified version of the Diabetes Disease State Management Questionnaire was used to assess patient satisfaction with the DSM programs. Demographic information was also collected. Survey items were based on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree). Patients were eligible to complete the survey if he or she had been in at least 1 DSM program for 6 months. Data were assessed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance.

Results:

Across 20 pharmacies, 281 eligible participants were identified, and 46% (n = 128) completed a survey. Means for summed items relating to overall satisfaction (8 items), self-management (5 items), and knowledge (4 items) were 36.6/40 (standard deviation [SD] = 3.9), 20.9/25 (SD = 3.4), and 17.6/20 (SD = 2.1), respectively. Participant comments further indicated that the program and pharmacists are helpful and increase motivation and accountability.

Conclusions:

Positive patient responses to the program support use of pharmacist-led DSM programs.
Effects of Medicare Part D on Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Hospital Utilization Among Seniors
Authors: Mahmoudi Elham , Jensen Gail A. , Tarraf Wassim
Published: February 2015

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate whether Medicare Part D reduced racial/ethnic disparities in hospital utilization among Medicare seniors, based on the Institute of Medicine’s definition of a disparity. Method: Using data on 43,098 adult respondents to the 2002-2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we derive a difference-in-difference-in-differences estimator using a multivariate regression framework, and measure Part D’s effects on disparities in any hospitalization, the number of nights hospitalized, and inpatient expenses. Results: Part D narrowed racial/ethnic disparities in hospital utilization. For African Americans, it reduced the disparity in any hospitalization by 2.94% ( p < .001) but had no effect on disparities in nights hospitalized or inpatient expenses. For Hispanics, Part D reduced disparities in nights hospitalized by 1.58 nights ( p = .009) and in inpatient expenses by US$3,453 ( p < .001). Discussion: Following Medicare Part D, disparities in hospital utilization narrowed significantly for both African American and Hispanic seniors, but in different ways for each population.
Pills, ills and the ugly face of aesthetic labour: ‘They should’ve discriminated against me’
Authors: Butler Clare , Harris Joanne
Published: February 2015

This article presents a vivid account of one woman’s experience of taking on a second job – the role of a slimming club consultant – when her husband is made unemployed. Her story highlights how aesthetic labour, particularly when a worker’s appearance becomes more prominent over time, can lead to dangerous behaviours, namely the use of weight-loss pills and illegal drugs. These behaviours resulted in sleeplessness, frequent headaches and a feeling of disgust. Furthermore, this troubling account raises an important and uncomfortable question: can discrimination in the workplace sometimes be ‘for the best’?
Synthesis and characterization of thermally stable polyimides with a pendent phenothiazine unit based on new diamine 10-(3,5-diaminobenzoyl)phenothiazine
Authors: Ghorpade Ravindra V. , Thorave Asmita K. , Rajan C. R. , Chavan Nayaku N. , Ponrathnam S.
Published: February 2015

A novel diamine 10-(3,5-diaminobenzoyl)phenothiazine (DBPT) with a side chain containing phenothiazine unit was synthesized. A new family of polyimides (PIs) containing phenothiazine unit in the side chains has been successfully synthesized by direct polycondensation of DBPT with pyromellitic dianhydride, 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tertacarboxylic dianhydride, and 4,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODA) via a conventional two-step chemical imidization process. The yield of polymers was good enough, which were soluble in most organic solvents. The molecular orbital energy gaps, thermal stability, and crystallinity of PIs were investigated by molecular modeling, thermogravimetric analysis, and wide-angle X-ray scattering, respectively. Thermal properties of polymers were good enough to permit the use of these PIs in various applications; only 49% weight loss is detected at 900°C in nitrogen atmosphere. X-Ray diffraction clearly reveals the amorphous nature of PIs. A quantum modeling study (density functional theory) has shown the influence of dianhydride structure on the energy difference of highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels.
Phenylethynyl- and naphthylethynyl-terminated hyperbranched polyimides with low melt viscosity
Authors: You Kaiyuan , Yao Hongyan , Zhang Yunhe , Liu Yu , Liu Shanyou , Song Ying , Guan Shaowei
Published: February 2015

In the past decades, 4-phenylethynyl phthalic anhydride has been the most commonly used endcapper for polyimide (PI). A series of different groups of terminated hyperbranched PIs (HBPIs) were synthesized from 1,3,5-tris(2-trifluoromethyl-4-aminophenoxy)benzene, bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]ether dianhydride, and 4-phenylethynylphthalic anhydride or 4-(1-naphthylethynyl)phthalic anhydride. The glass transition temperatures ( Tgs) of the polymers varied from 166°C to 193°C. The 5% weight loss temperatures of polymers were in the range of 548 to 571°C and those of the endcapped HBPIs increased to the range of 600 to 601°C after curing. The PIs exhibited rather low melt viscosity at processing temperature and the complex viscosity increased continuously with the temperature increase. Because there is a large temperature difference between the Tg and cross-linking exothermic temperature, HBPIs provided a wide processing window.
Novel poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) nanocomposites containing poly(amide–imide)/aluminum oxide nanostructure hybrid as a filler
Authors: Mallakpour Shadpour , Khadem Elham
Published: February 2015

In this work, the physicochemical properties of poly( N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) reinforced with the poly(amide–imide)/alumina nanocomposite (PAN) under sonochemical treatment were studied. In the process of manufacturing PAN, the surface of alumina nanoparticles was grafted with 15 wt% of the bioactive dicarboxylic acid based on amino acid, and an amount of 10 wt% of this modified nanoparticle was loaded into the poly(amide–imide) using some powerful ultrasound irradiation. Subsequently, in order to prepare the PVP-PAN, various contents (2, 4, and 6 wt%) of the PANs were incorporated into the PVP matrix. The structure morphology and the physical properties of the obtained PVP/PANs were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The data obtained from the thermal analysis of PVP/PANs indicated their noteworthy thermal stability, thereby implying the complete miscibility between PVP and the PAN hybrid.
A bi-level programming model for supply chain network optimization with assembly line balancing and push–pull strategy
Authors: Hamta Nima , Shirazi M Akbarpour , Ghomi SMT Fatemi
Published: February 2015

This article investigates how to simultaneously optimize both strategic and tactical decisions in the supply chain network design. For this purpose, a bi-level programming model is developed in which supply chain network design problem is considered as a strategic decision in the upper-level model, while the lower-level model contains the assembly line balancing as a tactical decision. In addition, the problem is extended to include push–pull strategy where decisions such as production amount and inventory level of each component in manufacturers are made. Based on the special structure of the model, a heuristic method is proposed to solve the developed bi-level model. A numerical example is employed to show the performance of proposed method in terms of feasibility and convergence. Finally, computational experiments on several problem instances are presented to demonstrate the applications of developed model and the solution method.
Finite element modeling of thermal and mechanical stresses in work-rolls of warm strip rolling process
Authors: Koohbor Behrad
Published: February 2015

An integrated mathematical model was developed to study the thermo-mechanical behavior of strips and work-rolls during warm rolling process of steels. A two-dimensional finite element analysis was first employed to solve for the thermo-mechanical response of the rolled strip under steady-state conditions. The calculated roll pressure and temperature fields were then used to apply proper boundary conditions for solving the governing thermo-mechanical problem for the work-roll. The obtained results indicate that in warm strip rolling of steels, the thermal and mechanical stresses developed within the work-roll are comparable; however, the more significant influence is due to heating and cooling of the work-roll during the process, particularly in case of warm rolling operations of the strips with higher initial temperature. Besides, the utilized model was shown to be capable of determining the effects of various rolling parameters on the thermo-mechanical behavior of strips and work-rolls during warm rolling process.
Modeling the cutting edge geometry of scalpel blades
Authors: Shetty Pralav P , Hatton Ryan W , Barnett Andrew C , Homich Andrew J , Moore Jason Z
Published: February 2015

Scalpel blades are commonly used in surgery to perform invasive medical procedures, yet there has been limited research on the geometry that makes up these cutting instruments. The goal of this article is to define scalpel blade geometry and examine the cutting forces and deflection between commonly used scalpel blades and phantom gel. The following study develops a generalized geometric model that describes the cutting edge geometry in terms of normal rake and inclination angle of any continuously differentiable scalpel cutting edge surface. The parameter of scalpel-tissue contact area is also examined. The geometry of commonly used scalpel blades (10, 11, 12, and 15) is compared to each other and their cutting force through phantom gel measured. It was found that blade 10 displayed the lowest average total steady-state cutting force of 0.52 N followed by blade 15, 11, and 12 with a cutting force of 1.17 N (125% higher than blade 10). Blade 10 also displayed the lowest normalized cutting force of 0.16 N/mm followed by blades 15, 12, and 11 with a force of 0.19 N/mm (17% higher than blade 10).
A fault detection method for railway point systems
Authors: Vileiniskis Marius , Remenyte-Prescott Rasa , Rama Dovile
Published: February 2015

Failures of railway point systems (RPSs) often lead to service delays or hazardous situations. A condition monitoring system can be used by railway infrastructure operators to detect the early signs of the deteriorated condition of RPSs and thereby prevent failures. This paper presents a methodology for early detection of the changes in the measurement of the current drawn by the motor of the point operating equipment (POE) of an RPS, which can be used to warn about a possible failure in the system. The proposed methodology uses the one-class support vector machine classification method with the similarity measure of edit distance with real penalties. The technique has been developed taking into account specific features of the data of infield RPSs and therefore is able to detect the changes in the measurements of the current of the POE with greater accuracy compared with the commonly used threshold-based technique. The data from infield RPSs, which relate to incipient failures of RPSs, were used after the deficiencies in the data labelling were removed using expert knowledge. In addition, possible improvements in the proposed methodology were identified in order for it to be used as an automatic online condition monitoring system.
Trajectory tracking of a quadrotor with unknown parameters and its fault-tolerant control via sliding mode fault observer
Authors: Chen Fuyang , Zhang Kangkang , Wang Zheng , Tao Gang , Jiang Bin
Published: February 2015

Based on the nonlinear equations of a quadrotor, position tracking with unknown parameters and fault-tolerant control scheme is proposed in this article. First, a multi-loop structure is designed with multiple time-scale analysis to make the system realizable. Then, to achieve the goal of accurate tracking, a sliding mode fault observer is added into each loop to accommodate the effects of all the uncertainties. This controller shows great applicability because of the simple structure. The only information the controller needs to know is the limits of uncertainties. In addition, since the above controller cannot guarantee robustness when the system model is unknown, an online adaptive estimation method is proposed to learn the parameter information. Stability of the overall closed-loop system is analyzed with the Lyapunov stability theory, and output tracks the expected trajectory. The simulation is presented with several situations (including adaptive estimation result test/robust test under parameter uncertainties and high-frequency noise/fault-tolerant ability under actuator faults) to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed scheme.
Modeling hydraulic actuator mechanical dynamics from pressure measured at control valve ports
Authors: Cristofori Davide , Vacca Andrea
Published: February 2015

The goal of this article is to formulate and validate a model for the prediction of the mechanical dynamics of hydraulic actuators controlled by means of proportional directional valves (PDVs). The model inputs are the pressure at the PDVs ports and the current to the solenoids: no further input is required even when additional elements are installed in the line between PDV and actuator. The model finds application in closed-loop control of mobile electrohydraulic machines for load handling, construction and agriculture. These machines are typically based on open-loop control of the actuator speed. Nevertheless, these machines are often characterized by non-cyclical operation, large disturbances (e.g. drive on uneven ground) and time-varying parameters (e.g. load mass). Due to these features, closed-loop control has potential to improve the machine dynamics with consequent benefits in terms of productivity and operation safety. However, because of the harsh working conditions, the installation of feedback sensors in proximity of the hydraulic actuator is impractical and rarely exploited. The proposed model offers a solution to implement closed-loop control using pressure sensors in a compact and reliable arrangement, next to PDVs ports. The case study is a hydraulic crane using PDVs in combination with counterbalance valves (CBVs) to control the mechanical arms. The experiments were performed without altering the basic hydraulic circuit of the commercial crane and using an electronic hardware with performance comparable to standard controllers for mobile hydraulics. The results show the accuracy of the model for all operating conditions, including the assistive load condition.