bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Virtual prototype modeling and performance analysis of the air-powered engine
Authors: Qiyue Xu , Yan Shi , Qihui Yu , Maolin Cai
Published: January 2014

For accurate modeling and optimization of the air-powered engine, the basic model of the air-powered engine’s working process was established at first. Experiments on a prototype modified from an internal combustion engine were carried out to verify the air-powered engine’s feasibility and the basic model’s validity. Based on the experimental results, a balanced valve was designed. Afterward, the virtual prototype with the newly designed valve system was built and relative simulations were conducted to analyze the dynamic performances of the air-powered engine. Results show that the valve controlling model is easy to achieve parameterization. The output performance of the designed valve is superior to that of a solenoid valve. Furthermore, the inertia moment of the flywheel is analyzed to balance the starting performance and speed fluctuations. At last, orthogonal design and gray relation analysis were utilized to optimize the valve timing parameters, and optimized values of the cam rise angle and the cam return angle are proposed. This research can provide theoretical supports to the new air-powered engine prototype’s design and optimization.
Conceptual design and analysis of blended-wing-body aircraft
Authors: van Dommelen Jorrit , Vos Roelof
Published: January 2014

Due to the unconventional nature of the blended wing body (BWB) no off-the-shelf software package exists for its conceptual design. This study details a first step towards the implementation of traditional and BWB-specific design and analysis methods into a software tool to enable preliminary sizing of a BWB. The tool is able to generate and analyze different BWB configurations on a conceptual level. This paper investigates three different BWB configurations. The first configuration is an aft-swept BWB with aft-mounted engines, the second configuration is an aft-swept BWB with wing-mounted engines and the third configuration is a forward-swept BWB with wing-mounted engines. These aircraft comply with the same set of top-level requirements and airworthiness requirements. Each of the designs has been optimized for maximum harmonic range, while keeping its maximum take-off weight constant and identical. Results show that the forward-swept configuration with wing-mounted engines has the highest harmonic range. These findings warrant further investigation in this configuration and other alternative BWB configurations.
The influence of kinematic conditions and design on the wear of patella-femoral replacements
Authors: Maiti Raman , Fisher John , Rowley Liam , Jennings Louise M
Published: January 2014

The success rate of patella-femoral arthroplasty varies between 44% and 90% in 17 years of follow-up. Several studies have been performed previously for assessing the surface wear in the patella-femoral joint. However, they have not included all six degrees of freedom. The aim of this study was to develop a six-axis patella-femoral joint simulator to assess the wear rate for two patellae designs (round and oval dome) at different kinematic conditions. An increase in patellar rotation from 1° to 4° led to a significantly ( p<0.049) increased wear rate of round dome from 8.6 mm3/million cycles to 12.3 mm3/million cycles. The wear rate for oval dome increased from 6.3 mm3/million cycles to 14.5 mm3/million cycles. However, the increase was nonsignificant ( p>0.08). The increase in wear rate was likely due to the higher cross shear. A decrease in patellar medial lateral displacement from passive to constrained resulted in a nonsignificant reduction in wear ( p>0.06). There was no significant difference in wear rate between the two patellae designs ( p>0.28). The volumetric wear under all conditions was positively correlated with the level of passive patellar tilt (rho>0.8). This is the first report of preclinical wear simulation of patella-femoral joint in a six-axis simulator under different kinematic conditions.
Heterotopic ossification in cervical total disk replacement: A finite element analysis
Authors: Ganbat Danaa , Kim Kyungsoo , Jin Yong Jun , Kim Yoon Hyuk
Published: January 2014

Heterotopic ossification is one of the possible complications following cervical total disk replacement. Although there are numerous hypotheses regarding the etiology of heterotopic ossification, the main causes of heterotopic ossification remain unknown. In this study, we hypothesize that heterotopic ossification formation is related to external loading in the cervical vertebrae after total disk replacement. A two-dimensional finite element model of a cervical vertebra treated by total disk replacement in the sagittal plane was developed. The bone adaptation process of heterotopic ossification was simulated based on strain energy density under both compressive and shear forces. Different types of heterotopic ossification formation were analyzed according to the directions of forces. Two distinct types of heterotopic ossification following cervical total disk replacement were predicted, which was consistent with previous clinical studies. Type 1 heterotopic ossification was observed in the posterior upper part of the vertebra under compressive forces, while type 2 heterotopic ossification was detected mostly in the anterior upper part under shear forces. In addition, heterotopic ossification formation enhanced the strain energy distribution, which is known to be related to bone remodeling. This article presents the effects of different mechanical loading conditions on the occurrence of heterotopic ossification following cervical total disk replacement, and the results may be useful for the design of artificial disks that minimize heterotopic ossification.
Selective Social Learning of Plant Edibility in 6- and 18-Month-Old Infants
Authors: Wertz Annie E. , Wynn Karen
Published: January 2014

Recent research underscores the importance of social learning to the development of food preferences. Here, we explore whether social information about edibility—an adult placing something in his or her mouth—can be selectively tied to certain types of entities. Given that humans have relied on gathered plant resources across evolutionary time, and given the costs of trial-and-error learning, we predicted that human infants may possess selective social learning strategies that rapidly identify edible plants. Evidence from studies with 6- and 18-month-olds demonstrated that infants selectively identify plants, over artifacts, as food sources after seeing the same food-relevant social information applied to both object types. These findings are the first evidence for content-specific social learning mechanisms that facilitate the identification of edible plant resources. Evolved learning mechanisms such as these have enabled humans to survive and thrive in varied and changing environments.
Geographical Differences in Subjective Well-Being Predict Extraordinary Altruism
Authors: Brethel-Haurwitz Kristin M. , Marsh Abigail A.
Published: January 2014

Altruistic kidney donation is a form of extraordinary altruism, the antecedents of which are poorly understood. Although well-being is known to increase the incidence of prosocial behaviors and there is significant geographical variation in both well-being and altruistic kidney donation in the United States, it is unknown whether geographical variation in well-being predicts the prevalence of this form of extraordinary altruism. We calculated per capita rates of altruistic kidney donation across the United States and found that an index of subjective well-being predicted altruistic donation, even after we controlled for relevant sociodemographic variables. This relationship persisted at the state level and at the larger geographic regional level. Consistent with hypotheses about the relationship between objective and subjective well-being, results showed that subjective well-being mediated the relationship between increases in objective well-being metrics, such as income, and altruism. These results suggest that extraordinary altruism may be promoted by societal factors that increase subjective well-being.
Middle- to late-Holocene relative sea-level changes at Puerto Deseado (Patagonia, Argentina)
Authors: Zanchetta Giovanni , Bini Monica , Isola Ilaria , Pappalardo Marta , Ribolini Adriano , Consoloni Ilaria , Boretto Gabriella , Fucks Enrique , Ragaini Luca , Terrasi Filippo
Published: January 2014

Stratigraphic, morphologic and radiocarbon data from Puerto Deseado coastal area (Santa Cruz Province, Argentina) indicate that the Holocene coastline formed in response to the discontinuous aggradation of coarse gravely beaches since c. 6300 cal. yr BP related to a progressive falling of relative sea level. Beach ridge crests crudely approximate to the sea level showing at least three steps of aggradation and relative sea-level lowering. Two inactive abrasive notches at c. 7.9 and 3.4 m a.s.l. have recorded this sea-level trend, suggesting two important phases when sea level was stationary. This allows the estimation of a rate of relative sea-level fall in the last c. 3500 years of c. 1.8 mm/yr. Moreover, notches and morphological data indicate that the crest of the beach ridges exceeded the sea-level height by c. 2 ± 0.5 m. This value provides a reasonable regional estimate to be applied to produce comparable relative sea-level curve for Atlantic Patagonia coast.
Climatic potential of Islamic chronicles in Iberia: Extreme droughts (ad 711–1010)
Authors: Domínguez-Castro Fernando , de Miguel Juan C , Vaquero José M , Gallego María C , García-Herrera Ricardo
Published: January 2014

From ad 711 to 1492, several regions in Iberia were under Muslim ruling. This Al-Andalus civilization generated a large amount of documentation during those centuries. Unfortunately, most of the documents are lost. The surviving Arabic documentary sources have never been studied from a climate perspective. In this paper, we present the first attempt to retrieve climate evidence from them. We studied all the Islamic chronicles (documents written by Islamic historians that narrate the social, political and religious history) available for the period ad 711–1010. It is shown that these sources recorded extreme events with a high temporal and spatial resolution. We identified three severe droughts, ad 748–754, ad 812–823 and ad 867–879, affecting Al-Andalus. We also noticed that the weather in Cordoba during the period ad 971–975 showed a higher frequency of snow and hail than current climate. The possibility of obtaining long continuous series from this type of source seems highly difficult.
Revealing the cultivation history of northernmost Sweden: Evidence from pollen records
Authors: Hörnberg Greger , Josefsson Torbjörn , Liedgren Lars
Published: January 2014

Archaeological and historical records suggest that cultivation became established rather late in northern Fennoscandia, preferably in coastal villages of northernmost Sweden during the 14th century. The expansion of these settlements has obliterated the relevant biological archives, thus restricting our ability to conduct palaeoecological studies of the oldest villages and limiting our knowledge of their cultivation history. In a secondary phase, new settlements were established around the periphery of these primary villages. We hypothesize that such secondary villages, which generally are only moderately affected by urban expansion, may function as key sites for vegetation-history studies and that the results can be extrapolated to provide clues about the establishment of primary villages and the initiation of associated permanent cultivations. Analyses of pollen, pollen accumulation rates, charred particles and loss-on-ignition residues from a small lake in the secondary village of Arnemark revealed continuous land use from at least c. 1650 cal. BP (cal. ad 300), a step-up phase in grazing and trampling around 1200 cal. BP (cal. ad 750), and permanent cultivation during the last c. 625 years (cal. ad 1325). The results suggest that the secondary village was established around cal. ad 750, that is, c. 600 years earlier than previously thought and that cultivation here was initiated at the same time as has been suggested for the primary villages by the coast. In this study, we also demonstrate that using pollen from old cereal types as references can make the distinction between cereal and wild-grass pollen more reliable.
Silver and zinc oxide nanostructures loaded on activated carbon as new adsorbents for removal of methylene green
Authors: Ghaedi M , Karimi H , Yousefi F
Published: January 2014

In this study, the removal of methylene green (MG) from aqueous solution based on two new adsorbents including silver nanoparticles and zinc oxide nanorods loaded on activated carbon (Ag-NP-AC and ZnO-NR-AC, respectively) has been carried out. The dependency of removal process to variables such as contact time, pH, amount of adsorbents, and initial MG concentration were examined and optimized. It was found that the maximum MG removal percentage was achieved at pH = 7.0 following stirring at 400 r min−1 for 7 and 6 min for Ag-NP-AC and ZnO-NR-AC, respectively. Equilibrium data were well fitted with the Langmuir model having maximum adsorption capacity of 166.7 and 200 mg g−1 for Ag-NP-AC and ZnO-NR-AC, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters of MG adsorption on Ag-NP-AC such as enthalpy and entropy changes, activation energy, sticking probability, and Gibbs free energy changes show the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the removal process. Among different conventional kinetic models, the pseudo second-order kinetics in addition to particle diffusion mechanism is the best and efficient model for the prediction and explanation of experimental data of MG adsorption onto both adsorbents.
Security as controversy: Reassembling security at Amsterdam Airport
Authors: Schouten Peer
Published: January 2014

Critical approaches to security have come to define themselves against mainstream security studies by not a priori assuming what security is, but rather taking it as an ‘essentially contested concept’. Yet, as evidenced by the way in which recent ‘turns’ in the field have played out in the debate around airport security, ontological assumptions about security tend to restrict the scope of empirical analysis, with airport security being studied as, for instance, either discourse or practice. This article aims to propose an alternative methodological approach to security by studying security as controversy. Studying security as controversy means refraining from making a priori assumptions about the ontology of (in)security, instead considering it as itself at stake in – and hence the outcome of – security governance efforts. The article elaborates on this approach by drawing on core insights from actor-network theory, a conceptual and methodological toolkit that allows, as I show, a focus on how security actors perform security by enrolling, assembling and translating heterogeneous elements into stable assemblages that can be presented as definitive security solutions or threats. The article illustrates this approach through a look at the case of airport security at Amsterdam Airport in the aftermath of the 2009 Christmas terrorist attempt.
Beyond the erotics of Orientalism: Lawfare, torture and the racial–sexual grammars of legitimate suffering
Authors: Richter-Montpetit Melanie
Published: January 2014

Contrary to commonsense understandings of torture as a form of information-gathering, confessions elicited through the use of torture produce notoriously unreliable data, and most interrogation experts oppose it as a result. With a focus on the US carceral regime in the War on Terror, this article explores the social relations and structures of feelings that make torture and other seemingly ineffective and absurd carceral practices possible and desirable as technologies of security. While much of international relations scholarship has focused on the ways in which affective and material economies of Orientalism are central to representations of the ‘terrorist’ threat, this article connects the carceral violences in the racialized lawfare against Muslimified people and spaces to the capture and enslavement of Africans and the concomitant production of the figure of the Black body as the site of enslaveability and openness to gratuitous violence. The article further explores how these carceral security practices are not simply rooted in racial–sexual logics of Blackness, but themselves constitute key sites and technologies of gendered and sexualized race-making in this era of ‘post-racial triumph’ (HoSang and LaBennett, 2012: 5).
To what extent is the use of human enhancements defended in international human rights legislation?
Authors: Lawrence David R.
Published: January 2014

Human enhancement technologies appear to come under the protection of human rights law. This protection is afforded both explicitly and through deeper analysis of the principles espoused in documents such as the Oviedo Convention and the International Bill of Human Rights, specifically its subsidiary legislation in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convention on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Focus lies on the rights to health and access to science. These can be described as rights of ‘enablement’, which relate to the practice of self-realisation, legislatively backed through rights to personality, personhood and self-determination. In this paper I will argue that human enhancements can act as the means by which these rights are given effect. Denied these means, one is denied the exercise of personhood. I propose, too, that the enablement provided by enhancement technology is required for true societal equality and ‘real freedom’ through provision of opportunity.
Toward a Greater Eurasia
Authors: Emerson Michael
Published: January 2014

The map of the big Eurasian supercontinent is currently being shaped by three separate regional initiatives, the European Union (EU), a Eurasian Union proposed by Russia, and the plethora of fast-developing Asian groupings. In addition, Europe and Asia are flanked by two intercontinental developments across both Euro-Atlantic and Asian-Pacific areas, which effectively cut the Eurasian supercontinent in half. By contrast, the present article examines the case for a Greater Eurasia, which would embrace all of Europe and Asia. Eurasianism on a smaller scale already has several variants with long historical roots in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey, but these are addressing Lesser rather than Greater Eurasias. Concretely, there is already an important agenda of issues of concern for the whole of the Greater Eurasia: security around post-2014 Afghanistan; transcontinental transport connections; energy supplies and transit to both west and east; rationalization of the proliferating free trade areas; and Arctic cooperation, to name just a few. But there are also overarching long-term issues of political, economic, societal, and even philosophical nature facing this Greater Eurasia. The question is whether these immediate and longer-term issues need to be treated holistically with a growing sense of common Greater Eurasian identity, with a deepening institutional network of overlapping but differentiated bodies and arrangements. This Greater Eurasia is going to account for much of the advanced world far into the twenty-first century. It should, therefore, rise in significance as a strategic space alongside the current set of regional, intercontinental, and global groupings.
Gender and Identity in Game-Modifying Communities
Authors: Wirman Hanna
Published: January 2014

This article discusses the practice of game modification among players of the computer game THE SIMS 2. It draws on a set of email interviews conducted with Finnish players of the game. From a cultural studies and media studies perspective, it considers the importance of, primarily, gendered identity and, to some degree, national identity, for such a practice. Focusing on the players’ constructed identities as women, game modifiers, THE SIMS 2 players, and Finns, this article highlights the importance of global game communities and discourses for their player identity. Game reviews and popular game magazine articles are used as secondary sources to establish the game within popular game discourse.
Interobserver Reproducibility Study of the Histological Patterns of Primary Lung Adenocarcinoma With Emphasis on a More Complex Glandular Pattern Distinct From the Typical Acinar Pattern
Authors: Wang Congli , Durra Heba Y. , Huang Yajue , Manucha Varsha
Published: January 2014

The newly proposed International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, American Thoracic Society, and European Respiratory Society (IASLC/ATS/ERS) classification of lung adenocarcinoma has emphasized the prognostic significance of histological subtyping. In this study, 2 surgical pathologists reevaluated 49 consecutive cases of invasive primary pulmonary adenocarcinomas; histological subtyping was performed according to the IASLC/ATS/ERS classification. The 2 reviewers agreed on the predominant pattern in 23 out of 32 independently reviewed cases (71.9%, k = 0.628, 95% confidence interval = 0.442-0.815). Postconsensus, a complex glandular pattern consisting of fused, closely packed glands and cribriform architecture was identified in 9 of 49 (18%) cases. This pattern has a strong association with lymphovascular invasion (78%; P = .0091), high mitotic activity (89%), and higher tumor stage (78%). Frequent association of complex glandular pattern with poor prognostic factors and its overlap with acinar pattern warrant a more detailed description of this pattern in the classification system and a large-scale study to evaluate its prognostic significance.
One Among Many
Authors: Reale Michelle
Published: January 2014

This research poem is a hybrid representation of qualitative methods and poetic inquiry. My work with African refugees in Sicily focuses on their assimilation process on the island and among a population that paradoxically both resent them and to whom they are invisible. Their marginalization notwithstanding, there are several initiatives offered to refugees to acclimatize them and to make them “good citizens” in their new “home.” Civics class is just one. Assimilation is not a mere abstraction for them. Daily life is difficult for them even after they learn the language. For this poem, I used observation of these classes to “concretize emotions, feelings and moods—the most private kinds of feelings, so as to create experience itself to another person” (Richardson, 1993). Furthermore, Richardson speaks of the (lyric) poems task “to represent actual experiences—episodes, epiphanies, misfortunes, pleasures in such a way that others can experience and feel them” (Richardson, 1994). The writing of this poem involved direct observation and interviews with the refugees resulting in the fragmented representation of vortex of their experience(s) and my observation of their experience(s). I have tried to render both in the most truthful and poetic way possible. I am indebted to Laurel Richardson whose work, among many others, has been my inspiration to use poetry as the truest representation of my work to render the greatest meaning.
Never Innocent Victims
Authors: Strega Susan , Janzen Caitlin , Morgan Jeannie , Brown Leslie , Thomas Robina , Carriére Jeannine
Published: January 2014

Over the past decade, street sex workers and their families garnered considerable media attention through extensive coverage of disappeared and murdered women in Western Canada. The research presented here examines whether recent media accounts differ from past coverage given that families and friends of disappeared and unaccounted for women inserted themselves into media discussions and circulated alternative readings of their stories. We found that coverage was dominated by two discourses: Vermin-victim discourse demonstrates the tensions between historically dominant conceptualizations and more recent ideas promulgated by families; and risky lifestyle discourse is related to neo-liberal ideologies about personal choice and responsibility.
Correlates of Victim-Blaming Attitudes Regarding Partner Violence Against Women Among the Spanish General Population
Authors: Gracia Enrique , Tomás José M.
Published: January 2014

This article analyzes correlates of victim-blaming attitudes regarding partner violence against women (PVAW) among the Spanish general population ( N = 1,006). Results showed that victim-blaming attitudes were more common among respondents who were older, less educated, and who placed themselves at the bottom of the social scale. Furthermore, the odds of expressing victim-blaming attitudes were higher among respondents who thought that PVAW was common in society, considered it more acceptable, and knew women victims of partner violence in their circle of friends and family. Implications for public education are discussed.
Impact of outpatient interventions made at an ambulatory cancer centre oncology pharmacy in Singapore
Authors: Chew Cindy , Chiang Joen , Yeoh TT
Published: January 2014

Objectives

To evaluate the clinical significance of interventions made by pharmacists in an oncology pharmacy in Singapore and their acceptance rate and to identify common drug-related problems and workflow-related interventions.

Methods

A two-month prospective intervention study was conducted at National Cancer Centre Singapore. During the study, pharmacists documented the reason for intervening and its related drug(s). Each intervention was evaluated for its clinical significance by an expert panel: two oncologists and a pharmacist using a five-point scale. The Kendall’s test of concordance and Cohen’s weighted kappa were employed for analysis of agreement among the respondents. Other variables were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results

A total of 331 interventions were recorded: 147 cases were due to missing chemotherapy orders while 184 cases had potential drug-related problems. Among the 184 cases, 60 cases were related to clarification of orders, while the others had drug-related problems. The Kendall’s concordance coefficient was calculated to be 0.612 ( p < 0.001) while weighted kappa test results showed fair agreement across the evaluators. Acceptance rate of interventions was 93%. Most commonly documented drugs requiring interventions were carboplatin, trastuzumab and capecitabine.

Conclusions

About half of the documented interventions by pharmacists were evaluated as clinically ‘significant’ or ‘very significant’.
The Association Between Home Health Compare Quality Metrics and Acute Care Hospitalizations
Authors: Young Robert S. , Morgan Vickie , Lee Jungwha , Hansen Luke O.
Published: January 2014

Currently, a large number of home health care episodes end in acute care hospitalization (ACH). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reports publically a set of quality measures, including ACH rate, for home health agencies. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between reported Home Health Compare metrics and ACH rates. Using beta regression and controlling for urban/rural classification, median household income, and state levels of rehospitalizations, we modeled the multivariate relationship between acute hospital utilization and each separate measure of home care processes and outcomes. From our analysis, we found that two measures addressing the issue of pain management and improvement in bathing ability had strong associations with a decrease in ACH rate.
What Works? How Does One Know? Show Me the Data
Authors: Suter W. Newton , Suter Paula M.
Published: January 2014

We discuss how to think about qualitative and quantitative approaches to research in general and the value of home health research in particular. We describe several lesser known research or pernicious biases and the challenge of reasoned interpretations of data from research studies. We advocate policies that allow individuals to receive home-based care grounded in strong, objective scientific evidence and support critical thinking about implementation of care.
Federal Transfers and Fiscal Discipline in India
Authors: Bhatt Antra , Scaramozzino Pasquale
Published: January 2014

This article examines the relationship between federal transfers and fiscal deficits in India. The current system of transfers has been criticized on the grounds that it distorts the incentives for states to promote fiscal discipline. We analyze the relationship between transfers, state domestic product, and fiscal deficit for a panel of states during the period 1990 to 2010. The article finds a positive long-run relationship and bidirectional causality between primary/gross fiscal deficits and non-plan transfers. Further, there is a negative long-run relationship and one-way causality from state domestic product to transfers. These results are confirmed by multivariate cointegration analysis, which finds a long-run relationship between fiscal transfers, state product per capita, and state primary deficit. The evidence in the article is consistent with the system of fiscal transfers being “gap filling.”
An experimental investigation on the influence of deactivation of a groove on the performance of a twin groove journal bearing
Authors: Solghar A Arab , Brito FP , Claro JCP
Published: January 2014

Laboratory tests have been carried out in order to assess the influence of groove activation and deactivation on the performance of a twin axial groove steadily loaded hydrodynamic journal bearing. Temperature distribution at the oil–bush interface, oil outlet temperature, total oil flow rate, partial oil flow rate (at each groove), and motor consumption were measured for several journal speeds and loads under constant feeding pressure ( pf) and constant feeding temperature ( Tf), at five different loading angles (Γ). In this study, the corresponding groove was deactivated whenever negative oil flow rate was observed in it and results were compared. It was found that the groove deactivation strategy has profound influence on the bearing performance when negative flow rate occurs at one groove, preventing such undesirable effects as lubricant starvation at the loaded region of the bearing. Groove deactivation in the event of negative flow rate may be easily implemented by incorporating a check valve to the feeding system of each groove. Such strategy seems to be highly recommended for the safe operation of bearings subjected to high loads and load angles deviated from 90°.
Power in practice: Negotiating the international intervention in Libya
Authors: Adler-Nissen Rebecca , Pouliot Vincent
Published: January 2014

How does power work in practice? Much of the ‘stuff’ that state agents and other international actors do, on an everyday basis, remains impenetrable to existing International Relations theory. This is unfortunate, as the everyday performance of international practices actually helps shape world policy outcomes. In this article, we develop a framework to grasp the concrete workings of power in international politics. The notion of ‘emergent power’ bridges two different understandings of power: as capability or relation. Emergent power refers to the generation and deployment of endogenous resources — social skills and competences — generated in particular practices. The framework is illustrated with an in-depth analysis of the multilateral diplomatic process that led to the 2011 international intervention in Libya. Through a detailed account of the negotiations at the United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and the European Union, the article demonstrates how, in practice, state representatives translate their skills into actual influence and generate a power politics that eschews structural analysis. We argue that seemingly trivial struggles over diplomatic competence within these three multilateral organizations played a crucial role in the intervention in Libya. A focus on practice resituates existing approaches to power and influence in International Relations, demonstrating that, in practice, power also emerges locally from social contexts.
Comparative verification of high dynamic range image tools for luminous analysis of visual environment
Authors: Lim Hong Soo , Kim Jeong Tai , Kim Gon
Published: January 2014

Design of visual environment is a complex issue involving lighting sources, luminous properties of surfaces, brightness and glare. Digital image processing software can simulate lighting designs to ensure the right amount of light and luminous quality of the visual environment. Even though there are several means about how to determine the quality of the visual environment, this study adopted high dynamic range (HDR) images captured in real-life environment. The HDR imaging has been used for research purposes to analyse discomfort glare and extract luminance on the scene. However, numbers of previous researches reveal that the capacity of HDR imaging technology for luminance acquisition might be dependent upon types of camera and the exposed ranges of images. This paper aims to verify the accuracy and pragmatic reliability of HDR image tools such as LMK and Photolux. The reflectance percentages measured by LMK and Photolux were compared to the absolute values presented by Pantone hue, value and chroma. A series of Pantone colour, yellow, warm red, rubine red, rhodamine red, purple, reflex blue, process blue and green were adopted and with varying the mixture ratio of whiteness. A variation on this type of analysis can be used to validate the design and address visual problem areas such as the detection of potential glare sources.
Italy’s “Five Stars” movement and the role of a leader: Or, how charismatic power can resurface through the web
Authors: Miconi Andrea
Published: January 2014

By focusing on the case of the Italian political movement “Five Stars”, founded in 2009 by former comedian Beppe Grillo, this article will analyze the resurfacing of a particular kind of power – charismatic authority – through a platform such as Web 2.0 that was expected to promote more rational consensus strategies. Although the political action of the Five Stars movement pretends to be inspired by a participative culture, it is in fact directly ruled by the founder via his blog, with a little space allowed for discussions. In this sense, the rise of Grillo as a political leader seems to both retrieve and renew an old form of authority grounded in a very traditional legitimacy – the charismatic and undisputed leadership of the boss – while at the same time being able to spread through the network. This article will offer an overview of events and also provide a theoretical interpretation.
Damage-sensitive features from non-linear vibration response of reinforced concrete structures
Authors: Srinivas Voggu , Sasmal Saptarshi , Ramanjaneyulu Karusala
Published: January 2014

Reinforced concrete structures respond in non-linear manner under dynamic loads even at low levels of vibration. This causes softening in concrete which may result in the unstable vibration. By considering the non-linearity, the effects of amplitude of vibration on the modal characteristics can be used to extract damage-sensitive features. In this article, investigations carried out on the phenomena associated with non-linear vibration, which were observed during the vibration tests on damaged reinforced concrete structures, are discussed. For effectively identifying the non-linear damage features in reinforced concrete structures from the frequency spectral information, an appropriate vibration testing procedure is formulated in this study. Damage features are evaluated from the changes in vibration amplitude with frequency at different damage levels under various types of excitations and their force levels. Damage indicators based on basic signal statistics and non-linearity in vibration responses are evaluated. Using the phase-plane information obtained from various damage scenarios, non-linear damage indices have been formulated. Another significant non-linear damage feature has been identified by the occurrence of higher harmonics observed by analysing the spectral density functions obtained from the frequency domain decomposition. The results obtained from this study would pave the way for identifying the damage in heterogeneous and non-linear structures such as reinforced concrete.
Coaching and Human Resource Development
Authors: Ellinger Andrea D. , Kim Sewon
Published: January 2014

The Problem

Coaching is a pervasive form of development that has garnered significant attention among scholars and practitioners. Although interest in coaching has grown considerably in recent years, coaching has been criticized as being opinion- and best-practice-based, as well as atheoretical. It has been critiqued as being an under-examined and researched concept.

The Solution

The contributions in this issue address existing concerns in the literature by providing an overview of the theoretical underpinnings of coaching, synthesizing existing literature on research and practice related to genres, types and approaches to coaching, specifically executive coaching, managerial coaching, and action learning coaching. Furthermore, to spur research on coaching, a comprehensive review of currently available measurement instruments is provided.

The Stakeholders

Researchers and scholarly practitioners in the human resource development (HRD) field, internal and external coaches, and line managers who are committed to improving the practice of and expanding empirical research on coaching will benefit from this special issue on coaching.
Sparstolonin B attenuates hypoxia–reoxygenation-induced cardiomyocyte inflammation
Authors: Liu Qing , Wang Junfeng , Liang Qiaoli , Wang Dawei , Luo Yi , Li Jianping , Janicki Joseph S , Fan Daping
Published: January 2014

Myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (MIR) injury is characterized by a rapid increase in cytokines and chemokines and an infiltration of inflammatory cells. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4 mediate these inflammatory responses. Herein we investigated the ability of Sparstolonin B (SsnB), a new selective TLR2/4 antagonist, to inhibit the TLR2/4-mediated inflammatory responses during cardiomyocyte hypoxia–reoxygenation injury as well as the responsible mechanisms. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay was performed to measure the cytotoxicity of SsnB on H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) confirmed that TLR2 and TLR4 expression was elevated during hypoxia–reoxygenation, and that their up-regulation in cardiomyocytes was significantly inhibited by SsnB ( P < 0.05). Both the mRNA and protein levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and high mobility group box 1 were up-regulated during hypoxia–reoxygenation and were significantly attenuated by SsnB ( P < 0.05). Next we found that extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 or 2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways were activated during hypoxia–reoxygenation and SsnB significantly inhibited their activation ( P < 0.05). Moreover, transwell migration assays revealed that the migration of mouse macrophages to hypoxia–reoxygenation injured cardiomyocytes was significantly reduced by SsnB ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, our data indicate that the new selective TLR2 and TLR4 antagonist, SsnB, can substantially attenuate hypoxia–reoxygenation-induced inflammation of cardiomyocytes via inhibiting ERK1/2 and JNK signaling pathways. Accordingly, SsnB has the potential to serve as a therapeutic agent for the prevention of MIR injury.
Endovascular Treatment of the Extracranial Carotid Pseudoaneurysms Resulting From Stab Penetrating Injury Using Overlapping Bare Stents
Authors: Pan Yao-hua , Lin Yong , Ding Sheng-hao , Chen Lei , Liang Yu-ming , Yin Yu-hua , Bao Ying-hui , Gao Guo-Yi , Qiu Yong-ming , Jiang Ji-yao
Published: January 2014

Injury pertaining to the common carotid artery may result in complete or partial arterial transection, pseudoaneurysms, or arteriovenous connections. Endovascular treatment option of the pseudoaneurysm has already been established with favorable success rate and minimal morbidity. Our purpose is to report one 18-year-old male patient having 2 traumatic pseudoaneurysms as a result of penetrating stab injury in the extracranial common carotid. The patient was successfully treated using 2 overlapping bare-metal stents. The 2 common carotid pseudoaneurysms had different degree inflow angles defined as the space between the lines indicating the direction of blood flow from the parent artery and through the aneurysmal neck to the dome. Computed tomography angiography was utilized to follow the evolution of the pseudoaneurysms until total occlusion was demonstrated. The treatment modality used in this report represents an alternative approach of the endovascular treatment for the extracranial carotid pseudoaneurysm.
Surgical reconstruction versus peripheral intervention in patients with critical limb ischemia – a prospective multicenter registry in Japan: The SPINACH study design and rationale
Authors: Azuma Nobuyoshi , Iida Osamu , Takahara Mitsuyoshi , Soga Yoshimitsu , Kodama Akio
Published: January 2014

Clinical evidence reflecting the recent development of treatments for patients with critical limb ischemia is mandatory to guide the decision-making process for the selection of revascularization procedures, including bypass or endovascular treatment. This paper describes the protocol for a clinical study that is designed and carried out by both vascular surgeons and interventional cardiologists collaboratively, and will investigate current treatment for critical limb ischemia in Japan. The registry aimed to recruit approximately 450 patients with critical limb ischemia, including approximately 150 patients who underwent bypass surgery and approximately 300 patients who underwent endovascular treatment in 23 institutions. The primary endpoint of this study is amputation-free survival at 36 months, and the secondary endpoints include major amputation, cardiovascular events, re-intervention, death, ulcer healing, and their composite outcomes. The SPINACH study aims to provide a suitable patient model for each revascularization procedure, bypass and endovascular treatment, and will expound on the role of each approach for critical limb ischemia treatment (Clinical trial registration UMIN000007050).
Pharmacy students’ experiences in provision of community pharmacy mental health services
Authors: Murphy Andrea , Szumilas Magdalena , Rowe Denise , Landry Kathryn , Martin-Misener Ruth , Kutcher Stan , Gardner David
Published: January 2014

Background:

Little information is available describing the pharmacy student’s experience working in community practice with people with lived experience of mental illness. Students’ perspectives as observers, learners, technical staff and future pharmacists are important.

Objective:

To gain a better understanding of the pharmacy student experience in community pharmacy–based service provision to people with lived experience of mental illness.

Methods:

We conducted a qualitative study using interpretive description and application of the Theoretical Domains Framework. Focus groups were held with third- and fourth-year undergraduate pharmacy students from one Canadian university.

Results:

Two student focus groups were held in the fall of 2012 with 11 students (7 third year and 4 fourth year), 6 women and 5 men, mean age 24.5 (range, 21 to 30) years, averaging 3.2 years (range, 2 weeks to 7 years) of cumulative, mostly part-time, community pharmacy experience. Three broad themes emerged from the pharmacy student experience: (1) business tension; (2) roles, responsibilities and relationships; and (3) stigma. Students discussed their own roles, responsibilities and relationships in a pluralistic identity experience (i.e., pharmacy student, technician, future pharmacist). Application of the Theoretical Domains Framework demonstrated numerous influences on behaviour.

Conclusions:

From the students’ description of community pharmacy–based care of people with lived experience of mental illness, significant issues exist with current practices and behaviours. Advancing the role of pharmacists and pharmacy students to meet the needs of people with mental illness will require strategies to address multifactorial influences on behaviour.
Performative memory and re-victimization: Truth-telling and provocation in Sierra Leone
Authors: Millar Gearoid
Published: January 2014

In transitional justice and peacebuilding literature, the presentation of traumatic memory is thought to be predictably socially generative of healing, reconciliation, and justice. In rural Sierra Leone, however, the truth-telling performances of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission were commonly experienced as provocative and as providing “no good thing.” This article explains this phenomenon by demonstrating how truth-telling in this case generated particular social expectations and perceptions of the self as victim among those who performed traumatic memory. However, because the process required no one to perform the reciprocal role of patron in this context, where reciprocal relationships of patron and client are the social norm, the process was unpredictably socially generative. The socially generative nature of performative memory led to dissatisfaction with the performance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Recognizing that performances of memory are also performative provides new purchase on the potentially negative implications of truth-telling in complex patrimonial systems.
Mechanisms of action of ACTH in the management of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Berkovich Regina , Agius Mark A.
Published: January 2014

Acute and subacute inflammation, the mechanisms by which demyelination and axonal loss occur in multiple sclerosis (MS), result from the migration of activated immune cells into the central nervous system parenchyma. The triggering antigen is unknown, but the process involves deregulated immune response of T and B lymphocytes, macrophages, and mediators with expansion of autoreactive T cells creating a shift in the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines favoring inflammation. Ongoing disease activity and exacerbations early in the course of relapsing–remitting MS may prevent full remission and propagate future progressive disability. A key strategy of immune therapy is timely initiation of treatment to achieve remission, followed by maintenance of remission. In this context, treatment with high-dose methylprednisolone (MP) is currently recommended to induce a faster recovery from a clinical exacerbation that results from an acute inflammatory attack. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH or corticotropin) gel is an alternative for patients who do not respond to or do not tolerate corticosteroids. ACTH is a universal agonist in the melanocortin (MC) system and, as such, among other functions, stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol. MCs are a family of peptides that includes ACTH and other MC peptides. This system has five classes of receptors, all of which show a strong affinity for ACTH, suggesting a more complex and dynamic mechanism than only inducing endogenous corticosteroid production. ACTH and MCs regulate processes relevant to MS, including anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions involving lymphocytes, macrophages, the sympathetic nervous system involved in inflammatory processes, and reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The clinical implications of the mechanistic differences between corticosteroid and ACTH gel treatment remain to be elucidated. Recent data show that patients experiencing an acute exacerbation, who previously had suboptimal response to or were unable to tolerate MP treatment, showed positive clinical outcomes with fewer adverse events with ACTH gel.