bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Traffic signal optimization with Particle Swarm Optimization for signalized roundabouts
Authors: Gökçe M A , Öner E , Işık G
Published: April 2015

At complex intersections, traffic congestion causes pollution and leads to accidents, high commute times and many other problems. Correct traffic signal timing can help to reduce the congestion and it can improve the traffic flow. We present a new microscopic traffic simulation-optimization model with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) for traffic signal timing and demonstrate the model with an application to a major roundabout with 28 traffic signal heads in Izmir, Turkey, using real data. A VISSIM ( Verkehr In Städten– SIMulationsmodell) model of the Osman Kibar Roundabout, based on actual traffic flow data, is developed. A PSO model was used to search for traffic signal timings that would minimize mean travel time through the roundabout, and the microsimulation model (VISSIM) was used to evaluate the solutions from PSO. The changes in the traffic signal timings resulted in a 55.9% decrease in average delay time per vehicle passing through the roundabout, and a 9.3% increase in the number of vehicles passing through the roundabout per unit time in the best-case scenario.
New Directions in Western Soteriology
Authors: Bloor Joshua D. A.
Published: April 2015

Traditionally, the doctrine of deification has been embraced significantly in the Eastern tradition. Though glimpses of it can be found throughout Western Christendom, it has often been cast out and labelled as sacrilegious Greek myth. This article however, will seek to prove that, amid contemporary Western theological discourse, deification has experienced a renewed sense of appreciation and appropriation. As well as examining contemporary theologians over the last few decades – from a broad spectrum of Christian traditions – this article will also touch on the brief history of the doctrine, as well as the Western hesitation which the doctrine has received.
Mechanisms and Method
Authors: Little Daniel
Published: April 2015

Causal mechanisms theory (CMT) has provided an important contribution to the theory of social explanation. This article considers whether CMT also makes a contribution to improvement of social science methodology. Methodology serves as a guide to the construction of research questions and explanatory hypotheses. Research is guided by background assumptions about the ontology of the domain of investigation. CMT provides a valuable ontology for social science research. Furthermore, it provides a valuable research heuristic: “seek out the causal mechanisms that underlie an outcome of interest.” CMT does indeed have valuable implications for social science investigation, hypothesis formation, and research strategy.
Public Health and Alcohol Licensing in the UK
Authors: Nicholls James
Published: April 2015

This article discusses the role of public health in alcohol licensing in the UK, with a particular focus on the implementation of national legislation and guidance in local regulatory environments. It identifies a number of practical and theoretical challenges through an analysis of historical trends in licensing practice, recent policy developments, and key licensing decisions and appeals. There are strong historical precedents for a focus on strategic harm reduction in UK licensing; however, because licensing primarily addresses the proximate effects of retail, the incorporation of health considerations presents novel difficulties. These center on the identification and deployment of data, the attribution of population-level harms to individual outlets, alcohol industry resistance, local authority risk aversion, and epistemological tensions between public health and licensing. The conclusion proposes that for public health perspectives to gain traction in the licensing environment, clear and realistic goals need to be established, research needs to emphasize local data, and there needs to be a better understanding of the approaches to evidence, knowledge, and decision making that characterize licensing and other local regulatory services.
Keeping Citizens Engaged
Authors: Yetano Ana , Royo Sonia
Published: April 2015

This study analyzes whether there are any differences in enrollment and drop-out rates between e-participation and traditional participation in a long-term citizen collaboration project. The theoretical framework is based on networked individualism. Results show that capturing and maintaining citizen interest is a daunting task, even in a sensitive topic that might generate positive and tangible benefits for citizens. The higher levels of accessibility offered by information and communication technologies (ICTs) are not enough to reverse public apathy, and person-to-person contact is more effective to maintain engagement. Based on the findings, some actions to reduce dropout in long-term citizen collaboration projects are suggested.
A practical example of integrating sustainable development into higher education: Green Dragons, City University London Students’ Union
Authors: Xypaki Maria
Published: April 2015

Education for Sustainable Development is to ‘equip the younger generation with leadership skills, management capabilities, and the broad knowledge needed to make informed decisions for the benefit of themselves and others, now and for the future, and to act upon those decisions’. This paper examines how an innovative student-led sustainability project of extracurricular activities with a bottom-up basis and a top-down motivation and capacity building support structure can deliver sustainability outcomes and inspire other institutions of higher education and policy makers in the UK. Green Dragons project for City University London aims to establish pro-environmental behaviours and facilitate empowerment, while engaging academics, creating community links and affecting operations management. To test the effectiveness of this new model, qualitative and quantitative data were collected. The paper concludes with the actions needed by institutions like City University London for exploiting the full potential of Green Dragons project as a sustainability model that could deliver sustainable development in the curriculum, research, operations community outreach, while empowering the future sustainability leaders and facilitating environmental behaviours.
Treatment of holistic suffering in cancer: A systematic literature review
Authors: Best Megan , Aldridge Lynley , Butow Phyllis , Olver Ian , Price Melanie A , Webster Fleur
Published: April 2015

Background:

Holistic suffering is a debilitating problem for cancer patients. Although many treatments have been suggested for its alleviation, they have not been compared for effectiveness.

Aim:

This literature review seeks to identify what interventions are effective in treatment of holistic suffering of cancer patients.

Design:

A systematic review was conducted to identify and evaluate studies of interventions for holistic suffering in adult cancer patients. Search terms were generated iteratively from the literature.

Data sources:

MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and PsycINFO databases were searched for the years 1992–2015. Included studies were peer-reviewed, English language reports of either a controlled trial or a randomised controlled trial focusing on therapies aimed at relieving suffering in adult cancer patients. Articles were excluded if focused predominantly on spiritual or existential issues or concerns not leading to suffering. Studies were graded for quality using the QualSyst quantitative checklist. Levels of evidence were ascertained by completing the National Health and Medical Research Council criteria. Results are reported according to AMSTAR guidelines.

Results:

The studies represented seven intervention types. Meaning-centred, hope-centred and stress-reduction interventions were found to be effective. Results of both psycho-educational and spiritual interventions in improving spiritual well-being were mixed. Supportive-expressive interventions – with the exception of forgiveness therapy – were not efficacious. There was little or no evidence for the efficacy of creative and healing arts and other assessed interventions such as animal therapy and haptotherapy.

Conclusion:

This systematic review found that spiritual well-being, meaning, hope and benefit finding can be positively impacted by a variety of treatment modalities.
Picking up a soft 3D object by “feeling” the grip
Authors: Lin Huan , Guo Feng , Wang Feifei , Jia Yan-Bin
Published: April 2015

This paper describes a strategy for a robotic hand to pick up deformable 3D objects on a table. Inspired by human hand behavior, the robotic hand employs two rigid fingers to first squeeze such an object until it “feels” the object to be liftable. Such “feeling” is provided by a (virtual) liftability test that is repeatedly conducted during the squeeze. Passing of the test then triggers a lifting action. Throughout the manipulation the object’s deformation and its state of contact with the fingers and the table are being tracked based on contact events. Deformable modeling uses the finite element method (FEM) while slip computation employs the homotopy continuation method to determine the contact displacements induced by finger movements. The experiment was conducted for everyday items ranging from vegetables to a toy. A simulation-based comparison between deformable grasping and rigid body grasping reveals why soft objects are easier to pick up than hard ones, and demonstrates how a rigid body grasping strategy may fail on soft objects in certain situations.
Longitudinal Stability of the Beck Depression Inventory II
Authors: Wu Pei-Chen
Published: April 2015

In a six-wave longitudinal study with two cohorts (660 adolescents and 630 young adults), this study investigated the longitudinal stability of the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) using the Trait-State-Occasion (TSO) model. The results revealed that the full TSO model was the best fitting representation of the depression measured by the BDI-II for both cohorts. It was found that the trait components explained more than 50% of the state variance of the BDI-II scores in both cohorts, and the occasion-specific factor explained about 7% to 12% of variances. The occasion-specific variance was more stable (occasion stability) and somewhat higher in the younger cohort. Implications regarding the longitudinal stability of the BDI-II measure are discussed.
Factors Influencing Persistence Among Nontraditional University Students
Authors: Markle Gail
Published: April 2015

One third of undergraduate students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities are considered nontraditional as defined by the single criterion of being aged 25 years and older. Nontraditional students have significantly lower graduation rates than traditional students. Using a role theory perspective this mixed-methods study examines the factors influencing persistence among a sample of 494 nontraditional men and women undergraduates attending a large public university in the southeastern United States. In this study, persistence rates did not differ between men and women although the factors influencing persistence did. Grade point average and confidence in graduating positively influenced persistence for both men and women. Women enrolled part-time were more likely to persist than those enrolled full-time. Although interrole conflict leads many women to consider withdrawing from school, most do not. Instead they exhibit a will to persist that enables them to overcome obstacles and ultimately graduate.
Exploring the Use of Paradata in Predicting Nonresponse in the Indonesian Family Life Survey
Authors: Liew Hui-Peng , Gardner Sheena
Published: April 2015

To date, there is a lack of empirical analysis about their effect on survey nonresponse in most developing countries, including Indonesia. To fill this research gap, this study aims to extend previous research to explore the use of paradata in predicting survey non-participation in the 2007 Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS4). Findings suggest that non-response may be lowered if interviewers make an effort to contact respondents during weekday afternoons and evenings, and during the weekends. Non-response may be also be lowered if survey organizations make special efforts to maintain contact with households with dependent children, disabled or sick individuals, and multiple working adults, as well as households located in urban areas.
Echantillons de convenance par Internet et par la presse - Enquête Presse Gays et Lesbiennes 2011
Authors: Velter Annie , Saboni Leïla , Bouyssou Alice , Bernillon Pascale , Sommen Cécile , Semaille Caroline
Published: April 2015

Convenience Samples by Internet and the Press - Gay and Lesbian Press Survey 2011. Since 1985, the Gay Press Survey, based on a convenience sample, has collected data through an anonymous self-administered questionnaire on lifestyles and preventive sexual behavior among Men having Sex with Men or MSM (Bochow et al., 2003). First broadcast in the gay press, the questionnaire, since 2004, has also been available online via information or gay dating sites. From 15 May to 15 July 2011, the survey Gay News was renewed and collected a total of 10,587 questionnaires MSM residing in France, 1,084 via the press and 9,503 via the Internet. This article describes the methodology developed and the main results by comparing the two collection methods. The advantages and limitations of Internet use over paper in convenience sample surveys are discussed.
Peer-Mediated Pivotal Response Treatment for Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Boudreau Ainsley M. , Corkum Penny , Meko Katelyn , Smith Isabel M.
Published: April 2015

This review examined the effectiveness of peer-mediated pivotal response treatment (PM-PRT) to increase social-communication skills for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A systematic review was conducted of all published studies examining PM-PRT in school-aged children with ASD, based on an established rubric. Five PM-PRT studies utilizing single-subject research designs were reviewed, involving 29 participants (8 with ASD and 21 peer coaches). Most studies of PM-PRT observed positive outcomes. However, the existing research base did not meet criteria for classification as promising or established evidence-based practice (EBP) for improving social skill deficits in children with ASD. More research is required for PM-PRT to be considered formally as EBP. This review may be used to guide clinical decisions for school psychologists and future research. Our aim was to highlight the rationale for, and core aspects of, this intervention and discuss school-based applications.
Speed-Accuracy Trade-Off in a Trajectory-Constrained Self-Feeding Task
Authors: Lunardini Francesca , Bertucco Matteo , Casellato Claudia , Bhanpuri Nasir , Pedrocchi Alessandra , Sanger Terence D.
Published: April 2015

Motor speed and accuracy are both affected in childhood dystonia. Thus, deriving a speed-accuracy function is an important metric for assessing motor impairments in dystonia. Previous work in dystonia studied the speed-accuracy trade-off during point-to-point tasks. To achieve a more relevant measurement of functional abilities in dystonia, the present study investigates upper-limb kinematics and electromyographic activity of 8 children with dystonia and 8 healthy children during a trajectory-constrained child-relevant task that emulates self-feeding with a spoon and requires continuous monitoring of accuracy. The speed-accuracy trade-off is examined by changing the spoon size to create different accuracy demands. Results demonstrate that the trajectory-constrained speed-accuracy relation is present in both groups, but it is altered in dystonia in terms of increased slope and offset toward longer movement times. Findings are consistent with the hypothesis of increased signal-dependent noise in dystonia, which may partially explain the slow and variable movements observed in dystonia.
Predictors of Outcome of Convulsive Status Epilepticus Among an Egyptian Pediatric Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Halawa Eman F. , Draz Iman , Ahmed Dalia , Shaheen Hala A.
Published: April 2015

Convulsive status epilepticus is a common neurologic emergency in pediatrics. We aimed to study the etiology, clinical features, and prognostic factors among pediatric patients with convulsive status epilepticus. Seventy patients were included in this cohort study from pediatric emergency department of the specialized Children Hospital of Cairo University. The outcome was evaluated using the Glasgow Outcome Score. Acute symptomatic etiology was the most common cause of convulsive status epilepticus. Refractory convulsive status epilepticus was observed more significantly in cases caused by acute symptomatic etiologies. The outcome was mortality in 26 (37.1%) patients, severe disability in 15 (21.4%), moderate disability in 17 (24.3%), and good recovery in 12 (17.1%) patients. The significant predictor of mortality was lower modified Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission, whereas lower modified Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission and refractory convulsive status epilepticus were the significant predictors for disability and mortality.
When Is EEG Indicated in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?
Authors: Zaimoğlu Sennur , Türkdoğan Dilşad , Mazlum Betül , Bekiroğlu Nural , Tetik-Kabil Aylin , Eyilikeder Seda
Published: April 2015

The authors investigated the parameters for predicting epileptiform abnormalities in a group of children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The sample consisted of 148 subjects aged between 6 and 13 (8.76 ± 1.26; 25.7% female) years. Subtypes of ADHD and comorbid psychiatric disorders were defined according to DSM-IV criteria. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Revised was applied to all patients. Most of the subjects (89.2%) had wakefulness and sleep electroencephalography examinations lasting about one hour. The authors found out that the coexistence of speech sound disorder (odds ratio [OR] 3.90, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.61-9.48) and higher Digit Span test performance (OR 1.24, 95% CI: 1.06-1.44) predicted the presence of accompanying epileptiform abnormalities. The prevalence of epileptiform abnormalities was 26.4%, and they were frequently localized in the frontal (41%) and centrotemporal (28.2%) regions. Higher percentage of speech sound disorder co-occurrence (64%) in subjects with rolandic spikes suggests that epileptiform abnormalities associated with ADHD can be determined genetically at least in some cases. Pathophysiology of epileptiform abnormalities in ADHD might have complex genetic and maturational background.
Antimicrobial polymer composites with copper micro- and nanoparticles: Effect of particle size and polymer matrix
Authors: Palza Humberto , Quijada Raúl , Delgado Katherine
Published: April 2015

The addition of metal particles, for instance, silver or copper, into polymer matrices is a relevant strategy producing novel antimicrobial materials. By using two particles with diameters around 10 nm and 45 µm, and polymers with different characteristics, the effect of filler size and matrix on the biocide behavior of polymer/copper composites was studied. The composites were prepared by melt mixing, and the ion release from these materials was used to obtain critical information about the processes involved. Regarding the effect of the particle size, our results for polypropylene showed that this variable drastically changes the release of copper from the matrix. The ion release rate from nanocomposites increased quickly exhibiting a sharp maximum during the first day; meanwhile, in microcomposites, the release rate increased slowly releasing lower ions. The relevance of particle size was confirmed by the antibacterial behavior of the samples as polypropylene with nanoparticles displayed larger activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria than microcomposites. These results further showed the relationship between copper ion release and antimicrobial behavior in polymer/metal composites. Our findings further revealed that the ion release from polymer composites could be improved by either increasing the hydrophilic characteristic of the matrix or by lowering its crystallinity. These observations allowed the conclusion that both the polymeric matrix and the size of the metal filler are relevant variables toward the design of antimicrobial composite materials.
Depth (Z-axis) control of cell morphologies on micropatterned surfaces
Authors: Baran Erkan T , Pirraco Rogerio P , Cerqueira Mariana T , Marques Alaxandre P , Retolaza Aritz , Merino Santos , Neves Nuno M , Reis Rui L
Published: April 2015

In this study, cell responses on micropatterned films that were changing in groove–ridge widths and pattern depth were investigated to compare the degree of size effects from X–Y and Z planes. Poly(caprolactone) films with five different groove–ridge sizes and three pattern depths were prepared by hot embossing technique. In general, the morphologies of osteoblast cell were not changed noticeably by the size changes in groove–ridges with the same depth size. However, cell morphologies were changed significantly when pattern depths were increased from 1.35 to 4.95 µm. Also, the cell morphology change between different groove–ridges was significant when the pattern depth was small (1.35 µm), and these effects were diminished or masked when the pattern depth was increased to 4.95 µm. Linear regression analysis further clarifies that unit size changes in depth may affect cell length and orientation rates 2.4 and 4 times, respectively, in comparison to rates obtained from X–Y planes.
Evaluation of silk fibroin protein/poly(vinyl alcohol) transparent membranes as prospective patch for acne care
Authors: Bai Meng-Yi , Hsueh Yi-Wen
Published: April 2015

In this work, the drop-casting method was used to mix silk with poly(vinyl alcohol) to generate a composite membrane silk fibroin protein/poly(vinyl alcohol) transparent membrane, whose porosity and permeability can be controlled by adding (or not adding) NaCl, for increasing its permeability. The silk fibroin protein/poly(vinyl alcohol) transparent membranes did not exhibit significant cytotoxicity when an appropriate amount of tea tree oil was added. When the volume of tea tree oil that was added to the non-porous silk fibroin protein membrane or porous silk fibroin protein membrane increased above 12.50 µL/patch, the viability of 3T3 fibroblast cells began to fall to below 80%. Accordingly, 3.12, 6.25, and 12.50 µL were added in the following anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and in vivo animal studies. Although the silk fibroin protein/poly(vinyl alcohol) transparent membrane exhibits a slight anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effect, when an appropriate amount of tea tree oil was added, our membranes show great enhancement in inhibition of formation of NO in lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophages (Raw 264.7) and the following anti-bacterial ability. In the experiments on the inhibition of the proliferation of Propionibacterium acnes, the silk fibroin protein/poly(vinyl alcohol)transparent membrane exhibited a mild anti-bacterial effect (with a bacteriosis ratio of ~78%), but when 3.12–12.50 µL tea tree oil was added, the inhibition ratio reached approximately 84%–99%. In the evaluation of the animal model, we found that increasing the numbers of treatment days markedly increased the inhibition of P. acnes in the experimental group.
CEO Pay Complexity
Authors: Sigler Kevin , Sigler Jake
Published: April 2015

The components of chief executive officer (CEO) pay are numerous and complex. Top managers are hired to work in the shareholders’ interests, which are to maximize the wealth of the owners. But CEOs are human and are concerned in maximizing their own utility of wealth. This desire may run counter to the shareholders’ interests, resulting in agency costs. It appears that the complex manner in which a CEO is paid is designed to provide an incentive to the top manager to carry out the goals of stockholders and reduce agency problems.
Efficacy, Feasibility, and Acceptability of Perinatal Yoga on Women’s Mental Health and Well-Being
Authors: Sheffield Karen M. , Woods-Giscombé Cheryl L.
Published: April 2015

Introduction: Perinatal major depressive disorder affects 20% of women, while perinatal anxiety affects 10% of women. Although pharmacological treatment has shown effectiveness, many pregnant women are concerned about potential adverse effects on the fetus, maternal–infant bonding, and child development. Approximately 38% of American adults use complementary and alternative medicine, including yoga and other mind–body strategies. Although complementary and alternative medicine has been less studied in the perinatal population, it potentially offers women and their providers alternatives to traditional medication for treatment of perinatal depression and anxiety. Thus, the purpose of this systematic review was to examine existing empirical literature on yoga and its effects on women’s health and well-being during the perinatal period. Method: Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines for systemic literature reviews, literature searches using relevant search terms were performed in four major electronic databases: CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, and EMBASE. Thirteen publications met inclusion criteria. Results: Results indicated that yoga interventions are generally effective in reducing anxiety and depression in pregnant women. Discussion: The use of yoga in the perinatal period shows promise in improving mental health and well-being for women and infants. This review can inform future yoga intervention studies and clinical practice with the perinatal population.
Determinism, Freedom and Sin: Reformed Theological Resources for a Conversation with Neuroscience and Philosophy
Authors: Messer Neil
Published: April 2015

This paper engages with one debate in the emerging field of neuroethics. It is sometimes claimed on the strength of neuroscientific research that our actions are causally determined and therefore not truly free, or more modestly that brain structures or processes constrain some choices and actions, raising questions about our moral responsibility for them. I argue that a Reformed account of providence, sin and grace offers an account of causation able to resist hard determinism, reframes concepts of freedom and responsibility, and provides a theological perspective for evaluating medical interventions in brain activity. Thus the paper not only contributes to a neuroethical debate, but also illustrates the capacity of Reformed ethics to respond creatively to novel problems.
Stepping into the Madness: On Being Sceptical, Doing Justice, and Hoping Against Hope
Authors: Rigby Cynthia L.
Published: April 2015

This essay finds room for scepticism in the context of a Reformed understanding of how we come to know, and participate in, the work of God in the world. To disallow scepticism in the face of the impossible things God has promised is to impede the work of bringing God’s Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven. This work is done only when we step into that which is beyond anything we can ask or imagine. I develop this argument first by considering how we might do a better job of including and conversing with sceptics in our midst. I then explore three theological themes in the Reformed tradition that suggest the potential value of scepticism. Finally, I suggest that scepticism secures a place for wonder in the face of God’s Kingdom, a place from which we can effectively work for God’s impossible promises to come to fruition.
Is Playing Video Games Related to Cognitive Abilities?
Authors: Unsworth Nash , Redick Thomas S. , McMillan Brittany D. , Hambrick David Z. , Kane Michael J. , Engle Randall W.
Published: April 2015

The relations between video-game experience and cognitive abilities were examined in the current study. In two experiments, subjects performed a number of working memory, fluid intelligence, and attention-control measures and filled out a questionnaire about their video-game experience. In Experiment 1, an extreme-groups analysis indicated that experienced video-game players outperformed nonplayers on several cognitive-ability measures. However, in Experiments 1 and 2, when analyses examined the full range of subjects at both the task level and the latent-construct level, nearly all of the relations between video-game experience and cognitive abilities were near zero. These results cast doubt on recent claims that playing video games leads to enhanced cognitive abilities. Statistical and methodological issues with prior studies of video-game experience are discussed along with recommendations for future studies.
Famine, migration and war: Comparison of climate change impacts and social responses in North China between the late Ming and late Qing dynasties
Authors: Xiao Lingbo , Fang Xiuqi , Zheng Jingyun , Zhao Wanyi
Published: April 2015

The human-climate-ecosystem interactions in the past were valuable for today’s human beings who face the challenge of global change. The multi-proxy reconstruction of climate change impacts and social responses and the comparative study between typical periods form an effective tool for elucidating the mechanisms of the interactions. In this paper, with a reconstruction of the proxy series of famine, migration and wars, the most typical social consequences related to climate change and disasters (flood/drought) in North China in 1470–1911 were quantitatively described, and two typical periods of human-climate interaction with similar climate change backgrounds (cold periods of the ‘Little Ice Age’), which were the late Ming dynasty (1560–1644) and late Qing dynasty (1780–1911), were selected and compared. It is determined that the climate deterioration (rapid cooling and increasing extreme disasters) in the late 16th and 18th centuries both resulted in severe social consequences characterized by more famine and popular unrest. The differences were that the climatic impacts in the late Ming were much more serious, and interregional migration, which was an effective responsive measure in the late Qing, was not important in the late Ming; they were primarily influenced by three factors based on the analytical framework of the impacts of historical climate change and social responses: (1) climate deterioration in the late Ming was more severe (more rapid cooling and more extreme disasters), (2) social system were more sensitive to climate change in the late Ming because of its mode of agricultural production (especially cropping system and crop species), and (3) the capacity of social response to climate disaster, especially disaster relief and refugee settlement, was considerably greater in the late Qing.
Bison bonasus skull from the Bihor Mountains, Romania: Isotopic and morphological investigations
Authors: Bojar Ana-Voica , Guja Ovidiu , Pelc Andrzej , Piotrowska Natalia , Vasile Ştefan
Published: April 2015

In this study, we investigated morphologically and geochemically a skull from an open pit situated on the Călineasa-Şesu Gârzii Plateau, Bihor Mountains. The study presents the first 14C dating and stable isotope composition of bison skeletal remains from the Romanian Carpathians. The result of 14C determination yielded two relevant maxima: one is around AD 1550 and the second around AD 1645. The data indicate that the investigated bison died during the ‘Little Ice Age’ (LIA), approximately 200 years before the last ones were hunted to extinction. Stable isotope composition of carbon from bison tooth enamel suggests that the bison diet consisted mainly of C3 grasses, compatible with a high-altitude habitat, vegetation distribution and low mobility. Oxygen isotope composition of both phosphate and carbonate groups of tooth enamel indicates that the bison drank from stagnant water sources, such as lakes or puddles formed from rain water. This further suggests low mobility of the bison as well, as the presence of such small stagnant water sources is characteristic even today for the plateau. Calculated oxygen isotope compositions of rain and drinking water at the time the bison lived indicate a lower relative humidity, around 60–70% at that period of LIA when the bison lived, which is lower than today’s humidity of 80%.
Reconstruction of the geographic extent of drought anomalies in northwestern China over the last 539 years and its teleconnection with the Pacific Ocean
Authors: Lee Harry F , Zhang David D , Pei Qing
Published: April 2015

Recent paleo-climatic/environmental studies have resulted in several high-resolution paleo-precipitation/moisture reconstructions in Northwestern (NW) China over extended periods. Nevertheless, those reconstructions are mostly about the climatic history of individual sites, while fine-grained portrayal and analysis of the geographic extent of drought anomalies across the entire NW China are still missing. We based our study on the dryness/wetness grade series of 19 sites in NW China, which are primarily derived from historical documents, to reconstruct the annual geographic extent of drought anomalies in NW China in AD 1470–2008. Our reconstruction reveals the following periods of drought in NW China: the AD 1470s–1490s, 1620s–1640s, 1700s–1720s, 1770s–1790s, 1860s–1870s, and 1910s–1930s. The most extremely dry years were AD 1928 and 1929. In addition, we found that the influence of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the geographic extent of drought anomalies in NW China was non-stationary at the inter-annual to multi-decadal timescale and that the correlation switched from positive to negative since the late ‘Little Ice Age’. We propose that this non-stationary relationship is attributable to the variance of ENSO and the strength of Asian Summer Monsoon. To conclude, we discuss the implications of the above findings within the context of global warming.
Femininity, State and Cultural Space in Eighteenth-century India
Authors: Dalal Urvashi
Published: April 2015

Eighteenth-century India is by now historians’ cherished kaleidoscope. Of its images she sees is one that shapes into an expansion of the feminine presence in the century’s political and cultural space. Symbolised in a greatly enhanced visibility of women, many of whom were rulers–regents and courtesans, this article seeks to articulate that image, the metaphysics of its manifestation and elaboration within the state and cultural sphere by focusing upon the imperial capital, Delhi. It hypothesises a destabilisation of the gender of the state and its masculinity consequent upon the Mughal empire’s decline which also enabled indigenous cultural traditions friendlier to the feminine to assert themselves. The femininity that evolved moderated the masculinity of the century’s polities which came to be mediated through a more balanced gender template. The greater concord it signified defined societies rich in regional expressiveness that blended with the cosmopolitanism of their cities.
Design and implementation of tunable multi-degree-of-freedom vibration absorber made of hybrid shape memory helical springs
Authors: Lee Chun-Ying , Pai Chung-An
Published: April 2015

This study used hybrid smart materials, shape memory alloy wire enclosed by shape memory polymer sleeves, to design a tunable vibration absorber for vibration reduction over a frequency range. The superelastic wire was trained into helical spring and sleeved with several layers of shape memory polymer to form the structural part of the absorber. Different electric currents could be employed to control the heating and temperature of the shape memory materials in order to tune the dynamic characteristics of the absorber. A theoretical formulation for the configuration design of this absorber based on the principle of minimum total potential energy was derived. In addition, the experimental results showed that with a control current of 1.6 A the heated vibration absorber could demonstrate a 61.6% change in its first modal frequency. After assembling the absorber onto the main structure, the tunable capacity of the absorber under different control currents was measured. Accordingly, the optimal control current spectrum over the interested frequency span for minimizing the frequency response spectrum under base excitation was determined. With this proposed tunable vibration absorber, the vibration reduction of a structure under sinusoidal base excitation at different frequencies was effectively demonstrated.
The Power of Play
Authors: Bartolome Sarah J.
Published: April 2015

Explore musical play as a means of making meaningful connections in the elementary general music classroom. Usher in the Spring with joyful singing, dancing, and playing!
The Interactive Classroom
Authors: Nichols Bryan E.
Published: April 2015

Interactive whiteboards are increasingly used in school classrooms. SMART Boards have been adopted in many schools, including music classes taught by specialists. This article provides specific tips for using the most popular whiteboard application. The main features of the software as well as specific strategies for maximizing their use in the learning environment are emphasized, as well as new resources for SMART Notebook templates. Changes for next-generation whiteboards are discussed as well as suggestions for where teachers can find existing tools and templates as resources for classroom instruction. Online videos are provided to demonstrate how easily the whiteboard can be used by students to enhance the interactivity of music instruction.
Ethnomusicology, Ethnomathematics, and Integrating Curriculum
Authors: Bazinet Ryan , Marshall Anne Marie
Published: April 2015

Integrating curriculum provides rich opportunities for students to focus on relevant applications to the real world and make meaningful connections across different disciplines. This article attempts to go beyond common discourse and platitudes by offering specific examples, showing we—an ethnomusicologist and a mathematics educator—attempted to integrate music and mathematics education curriculum in a graduate mathematics education classroom, with nonmusician graduate students. In our project, we designed and taught a group of graduate mathematics education students a lesson focused on mathematics and world music percussion to explore the ways that nonmusician preservice teachers might experience and use the specific connections between mathematics and music.
Offense Trajectories, the Unfolding of Sexual and Non-Sexual Criminal Activity, and Sex Offense Characteristics of Adolescent Sex Offenders
Authors: Cale Jesse , Smallbone Stephen , Rayment-McHugh Sue , Dowling Chris
Published: April 2015

The current study examines offending trajectories of adolescent sexual offenders (ASOs). Until recently, classification frameworks have not been designed to account for the heterogeneity of offending patterns in adolescence, how these are associated with the unfolding of sexual and non-sexual criminal activity, and whether and to what extent they are related to the characteristics of sex offenses in adolescence. The current study takes a longitudinal view of offending in adolescence by examining retrospective longitudinal data of 217 ASOs referred for treatment to a clinical service between 2001 and 2009 in Australia. General offending trajectories in adolescence were examined using semi-parametric group-based modeling, and compared according to non-violent non-sexual, violent-non-sexual, and sex offending criminal activity parameters (e.g., participation, onset, frequency, specialization/versatility) and the characteristics of the referral sexual offense. The results show distinct differences in the unfolding of sexual and non-sexual criminal activity along different offending trajectories of ASOs, and further, that these trajectories were differentially associated with the characteristics of the sexual offenses they committed.
The Impact of Using Documented but Uncharged Offense Data on JSORRAT-II Predictive Validity
Authors: Ralston Christopher A. , Sarkar Amar , Philipp Grace T. , Epperson Douglas L.
Published: April 2015

Following the implementation of sexual offender notification laws, researchers have found a drop in the rate of prosecutions and an increase in plea bargains for sexual offenses committed by male juveniles. This type of prosecutorial hesitation has implications for the predictive validity of sexual recidivism risk assessments, such as the Juvenile Sexual Offender Recidivism Risk Assessment Tool–II (JSORRAT-II), that require data from officially adjudicated offenses in the scoring of several items. The present study sought to test the impact of including data from documented but uncharged (DBU) sexual offenses in the scoring of the JSORRAT-II on its predictive validity using an exhaustive sample of 1,095 juveniles who offended sexually from the states of Iowa and Utah. Although sexual recidivists had significantly more DBU data, the inclusion of those data did not improve the predictive validity of the tool. The authors discuss additional reasons why changes in prosecutorial practice might remain confound in risk assessment studies and suggest future research to investigate those hypotheses.
Proceedings of TeleMed 2001: London, 15–16 January 2001
Authors: Wootton Richard
Published: April 2015

Telemedicine is often proposed as a solution to certain health-care problems in the developing world. There seems to be little published experience on which to make judgements. A literature search revealed 39 articles, of which only two related to any kind of direct clinical work; most of them were review articles or editorials. The majority of the work reported was educational in nature, and there has been little clinical experience. It seems probable that telemedicine can help with the education of health-care workers and patients; it seems likely that it could bring major benefits to the organization of health-care. Without proper trials, it will be impossible to determine the place of health-care in the developing world. Trials are the only way in which rational decisions can ultimately be reached regarding whether scarce resources should be devoted to telemedicine in developing countries, or whether they should be employed in more conventional health-care measures whose outcomes are known to be cost-effective.
The Effect of Resolution, Compression, Colour Depth and Display Modality on the Accuracy of Accident and Emergency Telemedicine
Authors: Benger Jonathan , Lock Alan , Cook Julian , Kendall Jason
Published: April 2015

There are no current recommendations regarding the minimum technical specification for realtime telemedicine consultation in accident and emergency (A&E) practice. We assessed the effect of image resolution, compression, colour depth and display modality on perceived image quality and telediagnosis. Test sets of digitized radiographs and clinical images were subjected to a series of standardized manipulations and the resulting output files were evaluated by an expert panel using image scoring and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. For telemedicine in A&E work, the minimum technical specification should be regarded as images containing at least 250,000 pixels, compressed at up to JPEG 50 (or GIF for colour images) and displayed on a high-resolution computer monitor. These specifications resulted in average file sizes of 17 kByte for digital images and 9 kByte for radiographs.
The Use of Telepsychiatry in the Brief Counselling of Non-Psychotic Patients from an Inner-London General Practice
Authors: Bose UtPaul , McLaren Paul , Riley Ann , Mohammedali Akber
Published: April 2015

Brief counselling of 13 non-psychotic patients was carried out using an interactive television link, in order to assess patient satisfaction with this technique. Informed consent was obtained from all patients before the videoconferencing sessions, which were conducted at 128 kbit/s. Over the four-month study period, 11 men and two women participated in a total of 29 sessions. A total of 28 questionnaires were completed. After the sessions, 93% of patients agreed that they would like to use this medium for communication again, 75% stated that they were able to see everything that they needed to see and 86% agreed that they were able to hear everything they needed to hear. Overall, these findings indicate that patients were happy with the standard of care they received.
The Potential of Telemedicine: Barriers, Incentives and Possibilities in the Implementation Phase
Authors: Sjögren Lotta Holm , Törnqvist Helene , Schwieler Åsa , Karlsson Leif
Published: April 2015

Between 1998 and 1999, the Swedish Institute for Health Services Development (Spri) evaluated three applications in which specialist competence was being accessed via telemedicine. The results indicated that these kinds of application can be cost-effective in an organization well adapted to new technology and that telemedicine can improve continuity of care for patients. However, the new technology was seldom supported by the old organization and better education and technical support are needed. In a study called ‘Incentives and Implementation’, the Federation of Swedish County Councils interviewed people in Swedish health-care with a lot of experience of telemedicine. The interviewees agreed that telemedicine was likely to affect the whole structure of health-care. Peripheral competence was expected to increase and referral patterns to change, as well as the functions of the personnel and the hospitals. New working conditions and methods of work were expected to be made possible by telemedicine and health-care was expected to become more process oriented, partly because patients are likely to be more demanding and better informed. To be able to utilize this potential, health-care managers will have to show more interest in and commitment to telemedicine. Old organizational patterns must be called into question and be developed along with information technology and telemedicine. It is also important to give priority to training in telemedicine for physicians and nurses.
Early Experience with Transmission of Data from Moving Ambulances to Improve the Care of Patients with Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Papouchado Mark , Cox Helen , Bailey Jackie , White Wendy , Spreadbur Tony
Published: April 2015

We conducted a feasibility study of a mobile unit capable of recording a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and transmitting it to a receiving hospital workstation. Two ambulances were equipped with the mobile unit and the ECGs recorded were compared with standard ECGs recorded on the hospital ward after admission. In six months, 62 patients participated in the study The ambulance crew transmitted messages to the coronary care unit for 56 patients. Thirty-five patients were directed to the coronary care unit, four were directed to the emergency department as no beds were available and then transferred to the coronary care unit later, and the remaining 23 were directed to the emergency department. Comparative hospital and mobile ECCs were available for 31 patients. Although the mobile unit recorded smaller R- and S-wave deflections than on the standard hospital ECGs, the medical and nursing staff were able to differentiate between normal and abnormal tracings. The mobile unit may be useful to triage patients with chest pain before they reach hospital.