bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Forms of Environmental Governance in São Paulo
Authors: Haglund LaDawn
Published: March 2015

The democratic transition and constitutional reforms in Brazil raised hopes that critical environmental challenges and egregious social deficits could finally be remedied through law, but political and legal legacies, fragmentation among actors, and disarticulation between and within institutions and between the state and citizens have complicated this transformation. Examination of the emerging role of the courts and the law in promoting social rights and environmental protection in the water and sanitation sectors in São Paulo reveals how long-standing urban problems are reified or altered through legal means. It also shows that ongoing challenges have prompted a search for new, proactive strategies of coordination, tested old assumptions about state/society relationships, and provoked broader conversations about difficult socioeconomic and political questions at the heart of creating sustainable, just societies.

A transição para a democracia, e as reformas constitucionais, no Brasil crearam a esperança de que puder-se corrigir os desafios do meio-ambiente e as deficiências sociais dos mais flagrantes por meio da lei. Infelizmente essa transformação se complicou pelas heranças políticas e legais, pelas divisões entre os atores, e a desarticulação entre as instituições e dentro delas, e o afastamento entre o Estado e os seus cidadãos. Um exame do papel emergente dos tribunais e da lei na promoção dos direitos sociais e em proteger o meio-ambiente nos setores do abastamento de água e do saneamento na Grande São Paulo mosta como se mudam ou se reificam os problemas urbanos de larga duração pelo meio do sistema legal. Revela também como os desafios consistentes estimularam a procura de novas estratégias proativas de coordinação, põem à prova as velhas assumções sobre a relações entre o Estado e a sociedade, e provocaram conversações mais amplas sobre essas questões socio-econômicas e políticas que jazem no coração do esforço de crear as sociedades sustentáveis e justas.
The Girls Set the Tone
Authors: Busching Robert , Krahé Barbara
Published: March 2015

In a four-wave longitudinal study with N = 1,321 adolescents in Germany, we examined the impact of class-level normative beliefs about aggression on aggressive norms and behavior at the individual level over the course of 3 years. At each data wave, participants indicated their normative acceptance of aggressive behavior and provided self-reports of physical and relational aggression. Multilevel analyses revealed significant cross-level interactions between class-level and individual-level normative beliefs at T1 on individual differences in physical aggression at T2, and the indirect interactive effects were significant up to T4. Normative approval of aggression at the class level, especially girls’ normative beliefs, defined the boundary conditions for the expression of individual differences in aggressive norms and their impact on physically and relationally aggressive behavior for both girls and boys. The findings demonstrate the moderating effect of social norms on the pathways from individual normative beliefs to aggressive behavior in adolescence.
Radiobiology of tissue reactions
Authors: Dörr W.
Published: March 2015

Tissue effects of radiation exposure are observed in virtually all normal tissues, with interactions when several organs are involved. Early reactions occur in turnover tissues, where proliferative impairment results in hypoplasia; late reactions, based on combined parenchymal, vascular, and connective tissue changes, result in loss of function within the exposed volume; consequential late effects develop through interactions between early and late effects in the same organ; and very late effects are dominated by vascular sequelae. Invariably, involvement of the immune system is observed. Importantly, latent times of late effects are inversely dependent on the biologically equieffective dose. Each tissue component and – importantly – each individual symptom/endpoint displays a specific dose–effect relationship. Equieffective doses are modulated by exposure conditions: in particular, dose-rate reduction – down to chronic levels – and dose fractionation impact on late responding tissues, while overall exposure time predominantly affects early (and consequential late) reactions. Consequences of partial organ exposure are related to tissue architecture. In ‘tubular’ organs (gastrointestinal tract, but also vasculature), punctual exposure affects function in downstream compartments. In ‘parallel’ organs, such as liver or lungs, only exposure of a significant (organ-dependent) fraction of the total volume results in clinical consequences. Forthcoming studies must address biomarkers of the individual risk for tissue reactions, and strategies to prevent/mitigate tissue effects after exposure.
Concrete philosophy
Authors: Dabrowski Tomash Conrad
Published: March 2015

Herbert Marcuse’s early essays and reviews written while under the tutelage of Martin Heidegger continue to suffer a poor reception. Even the most sympathetic of his critics widely focus on either his deviations from existing Marxist orthodoxy, or his failure to demonstrate the commensurability of Marxism and existentialism. Although both these concerns highlight important problems in Marcuse’s work, this narrow focus of Marcuse scholarship neglects essential aspects of his early thought, particularly his concern with what types of truth claims inform political action, and how one might assess the validity of these claims. This article examines these overlooked facets of Marcuse’s early thought, with particular emphasis on the role of judgement.
Cardiac calcified amorphous tumor in a hemodialysis patient
Authors: Seo Hiroyuki , Fujii Hiromichi , Aoyama Takanobu , Sasako Yoshikado
Published: March 2015

We present a case of cardiac calcified amorphous tumor, a rare intracardiac non-neoplastic tumor, in a hemodialysis patient. A 72-year-old woman with no history of thromboembolic, malignant, or inflammatory disease presented with dyspnea. Echocardiography revealed a highly echoic, slightly mobile mass with an acoustic shadow originating from the mitral subvalvular apparatus, extending to the left ventricular outflow tract. She underwent surgical resection of the mass through the aortic valve, which was easily excised from the papillary muscle and chordae tendineae. Histopathologic examination revealed nodular calcium deposits on a background of amorphous degenerated fibrin material, consistent with calcified amorphous tumor.
Self-perceived popularity in early adolescence
Authors: Putarek Vanja , Keresteš Gordana
Published: March 2015

This study examined the accuracy of sixth- and seventh-grade boys’ and girls’ self-perceived popularity within a group of same- and opposite-gender peers. The links between popularity, self-perceived popularity, and the interaction of these variables in relation to girls’ and boys’ loneliness was also explored. The results showed that boys and girls overestimated their popularity but overestimations were greater when self-perceptions were compared with perceptions of opposite- rather than same-gender peers. Perceiving oneself as popular, as well as actually being perceived as popular by others, was related to less loneliness in both boys and girls. The interaction between self-perceived popularity and actual popularity did not explain significant variance in loneliness above and beyond the contributions of actual and self-perceived popularity.
What happens when the standard for openness goes unmet in romantic relationships? Analyses of stress, coping, and relational consequences
Authors: Thompson Charee M. , Vangelisti Anita L.
Published: March 2015

The current investigation advances existing research by exploring the stress elicited when individuals perceive their standard for openness has been unmet, identifying the coping strategies individuals engage in when faced with this stress, and assessing the consequences of individuals’ coping efforts on relational quality. Data were gathered from 205 individuals in newly dating relationships. Analyses revealed that punishing, exiting, reframing, and using humor coping strategies partially mediated the negative association between the stress linked to unfulfilled openness standards and relationship satisfaction. Specifically, stress was related to individuals’ use of each of these strategies. In turn, using humor was positively associated with relationship satisfaction, whereas punishing, exiting, and reframing were negatively associated with relationship satisfaction. Theoretical contributions and implications are discussed.
Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study
Authors: Johansen Pål-Ørjan , Krebs Teri Suzanne
Published: March 2015

A recent large population study of 130,000 adults in the United States failed to find evidence for a link between psychedelic use (lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin or mescaline) and mental health problems. Using a new data set consisting of 135,095 randomly selected United States adults, including 19,299 psychedelic users, we examine the associations between psychedelic use and mental health. After adjusting for sociodemographics, other drug use and childhood depression, we found no significant associations between lifetime use of psychedelics and increased likelihood of past year serious psychological distress, mental health treatment, suicidal thoughts, suicidal plans and suicide attempt, depression and anxiety. We failed to find evidence that psychedelic use is an independent risk factor for mental health problems. Psychedelics are not known to harm the brain or other body organs or to cause addiction or compulsive use; serious adverse events involving psychedelics are extremely rare. Overall, it is difficult to see how prohibition of psychedelics can be justified as a public health measure.
Antidepressants and the adolescent brain
Authors: Cousins Lesley , Goodyer Ian M
Published: March 2015

Major unipolar depression is a significant global health problem, with the highest incident risk being during adolescence. A depressive illness during this period is associated with negative long-term consequences including suicide, additional psychiatric comorbidity, interpersonal relationship problems, poor educational performance and poor employment attainment well into adult life. Despite previous safety concerns, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) remain a key component of the treatment of moderate to severe depression episodes in adolescents. The impact of SSRIs on the developing adolescent brain, however, remains unclear. In this review we first consider what is currently known about the developing brain during adolescence and how these development processes may be affected by a depressive illness. We then review our understanding of the action of SSRIs, their effects on the brain and how these may differ between adults and adolescents. We conclude that there is currently little evidence to indicate that the human adolescent brain is at developmental risk from SSRIs. Furthermore, there is no clear-cut evidence to support the concerns of marked suicidal adverse side effects accruing in depressed adolescents being treated with SSRIs. Neither, however, is there irrefutable evidence to dismiss all such concerns. This makes SSRI prescribing a matter of medical judgement, ensuring the benefits outweigh the risks for the individual patients, as with so much in therapeutics. Overall, SSRIs show clinical benefits that we judge to outweigh the risks to neurodevelopment and are an important therapeutic choice in the treatment of moderate to severe adolescent depression.
Further evidence for the association of the NPSR1 gene A/T polymorphism (Asn107Ile) with impulsivity and hyperactivity
Authors: Laas Kariina , Eensoo Diva , Paaver Marika , Lesch Klaus-Peter , Reif Andreas , Harro Jaanus
Published: March 2015

Administration of neuropeptide S (NPS) elicits anxiolysis, arousal and higher activity in rodents. In humans, the NPS receptor ( NPSR1) gene rs324981 A/T (Asn107Ile) polymorphism is associated with fear responses and anxiety. We have recently revealed an association of NPSR1 with impulsivity-related traits and psychopathology. In the present study the association of the NPSR1 genotype with impulsivity and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related symptoms was re-examined in two independent non-clinical cohorts. We used self-reports of two population-derived samples of the Estonian Psychobiological Study of Traffic Behaviour (EPSTB): a community car driving sample ( n=491, MAge=37) and a driving school student sample ( n=773, MAge=24). Impulsivity was measured with the Adaptive and Maladaptive Impulsivity Scale (AMIS) in both samples, and with the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS) in driving schools only. For the latter sample, also measurement of ADHD symptoms was carried out with the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). NPSR1 T-allele carriers had higher scores of impulsivity, motor restlessness and total ADHD scores. The effect on impulsivity originated from male participants but for ADHD symptoms the association was independent of sex. Thus we have confirmed in two additional population-derived samples that the T-allele of the NPSR1 rs324981 polymorphism is associated with increased impulsivity and ADHD-related traits.
‘Right Paths’ and/or ‘Paths of Righteousness’? Examining Psalm 23.3b within the Psalter
Authors: Abernethy Andrew T.
Published: March 2015

There are various interpretations of ‭קדע־ילגעמב‬ ‭ינחני‬ in Ps. 23.3b. Does it profess confidence in Yahweh's guidance of his people to live morally, his righteous treatment of them, his ensuring their prosperity, or some combination of these? This article contributes to the discussion by drawing upon the literary context of the Psalter for assistance in several ways. First, with the Psalter providing a ‘grammar of faith’ for its readers, seven verses containing collocations similar to Ps. 23.3b receive consideration to discern what sense they typically convey (Pss. 1.6; 5.9; 25.9; 27.11; 107.7; 119.35; 139.24). Second, this article explores how the frame of Book I and Psalms 15–24, a smaller collection within Book I, illuminate how one might read Ps. 23.3 within these contexts. Thus, the Psalter as a collocative and structural context is brought to bear on the interpretation of Ps. 23.3b.
Sabbath in Egypt? An Examination of Exodus 5
Authors: Frey Mathilde
Published: March 2015

This study presents indicators from the narrative of Exodus 5, which in their entirety may suggest the notion of Sabbath rest among the Israelite slaves in Egypt. One such indicator is the verb shabbat, ‘to cease’, a verb that marks the seventh day of the creation week with the quality of divine Sabbath rest. Its particular form and use in Exod. 5.5 entails various semantic notions, such as the indication that the Israelites ceased from their slave labors regularly. In addition, contextual, structural, and discourse elements allow for a reading that is indeed telling with regard to the Israelites’ social status and the impact of a possible Sabbath cessation under an oppressive regime. Finally, certain verbal expressions link with Sabbath texts of the Pentateuch such as Exod. 23.12, a Sabbath text that is embedded in the exodus narratives of slavery and freedom. All these indicators when taken together allow for a Sabbath-motivated reading of Exodus 5. The implications of such a reading tell of a world that longs for freedom, restored identities, and renewed relationships.
An Anti-Prophet among the Prophets? On the Relationship of Jonah to Prophecy
Authors: Schellenberg Annette
Published: March 2015

Despite the fact that the book of Jonah and its main character are atypical compared to other prophetic books and prophets, the book became one of the Twelve. Taking up insights from Ehud Ben Zvi and others, this article argues that these idiosyncrasies have to do with the self-understanding of the authors/tradents of the book and their ambivalent relationship to the classical prophetic past of ancient Israel. Identifying them as ‘literary prophets’, indebted to the prophetic tradition but at the same time aware of the differences from their classical predecessors, helps explain the ambivalences in the portrayal of Jonah, the interest in meta-prophetic questions, and peculiarities like the literary form of the book and the choice of Nineveh as the city that escaped destruction.
Neoliberalism and the geographies of marketization
Authors: Birch Kean , Siemiatycki Matti
Published: March 2015

Increasingly, governments are experimenting with ways to provide public goods by involving the private sector in the planning, financing, building and operating of a range of services, facilities, infrastructure, etc. In the geographical literature on neoliberalism this entanglement of the state and markets has been loosely conceptualized as a process of marketization. This concept describes the insertion of markets or market forces into the state and public sector. In this paper we unpack this concept by highlighting the need to think about a range of marketization processes at play across a range of geographies.
Individual Autonomy or Social Engagement? Adult Learners in Neoliberal Times
Authors: McLean Scott
Published: March 2015

Numerous scholars have documented and critiqued the predominance of neoliberal policies and rationalities shaping adult and continuing education around the world. Contemporary sociologists have argued that neoliberal citizens are characterized by hyperindividuality and a strong sense of personal autonomy. Self-help reading is widely viewed as one of the most neoliberal forms of adult learning. In this article, we challenge recent claims about the autonomy of the neoliberal subject through reporting results of qualitative research undertaken with 134 readers of self-help books. Using an innovative approach to explore people’s self-characterizations, we argue that contemporary patterns of subjectivity may be more complex and socially engaged than those implied by prevailing accounts of our neoliberal times. Our findings are important for those seeking to understand the changing nature of adult learners, and for those seeking to understand the complex interplay of discourse and subjectivity in the contemporary field of adult education.
Hole making in natural fiber-reinforced polylactic acid laminates
Authors: Bajpai Pramendra Kumar , Debnath Kishore , Singh Inderdeep
Published: March 2015

Natural fiber-reinforced composite materials are finding wide acceptability in various engineering applications. A substantial increase in the volume of production of these composites necessitates high-quality cost-effective manufacturing. Drilling of holes is an important machining operation required to ascertain the assembly operations of intricate composite products. In the present experimental investigation, natural fiber (sisal and Grewia optiva fiber)-reinforced polylactic acid-based green composite laminates were developed using hot compression through film stacking method. The drilling behavior of green composite laminates was evaluated in terms of drilling forces (thrust force and torque) and drilling-induced damage. The cutting speed, feed rate, and the drill geometry were taken as the input process parameters. It was concluded that all the three input process parameters affect the drilling behavior of green composite laminates. The drill geometry was established as an important input parameter that affects the drilling forces and subsequently the drilling-induced damage.
How Career Anchors Differentiate Managerial Career Trajectories
Authors: Gubler Martin , Biemann Torsten , Tschopp Cécile , Grote Gudela
Published: March 2015

In our study, we used sequence analysis to examine the relationship between career anchors (a concept of value-based career orientations widely used in career counseling and organizational career management), sociodemographic variables, and career trajectories of 377 Swiss managers over 15 years. Particularly, we investigated whether career anchors differentiate career trajectories into different patterns, and, if they do, whether different career anchors vary regarding their discriminative power. Thereby, we addressed an open key question in career anchor research. We found that particularly the Managerial Competence (MC) and Lifestyle (LS) anchors are strong differentiators. That is, individuals with different preferences on these anchors had significantly different career trajectories. Further, our results highlighted that the relationship between career anchors and sociodemographic variables is complex and differs for various job characteristics, such as hierarchical level and company size. We conclude with several directions for future research and implications for Human Resource Management in organizations.
Impact of an Integrated Pharmacy Transitions of Care Pilot Program in an Urban Hospital
Authors: Christy Shannon , Sin Billy , Gim Suzanna
Published: March 2015

Purpose:

To evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated Pharmacy Transitions of Care (PTC) pilot program on reducing hospital readmissions and improving patient satisfaction.

Methods:

This prospective observational cohort study compares patients who participated in the PTC program to a control of usual hospital discharged patients during January through April 2014. The PTC program provided discharge medication review, medication counseling, delivery of medications to bedside, clinic scheduling, and follow-up phone calls. The primary outcome measure was 30-day readmissions. Secondary outcomes included emergency department (ED) visits, pharmacist interventions, and patient satisfaction.

Results:

Seventy patients participated in the PTC program. Compared to the control (n = 725), the study group had decreased 30-day all-cause readmissions (5.7% vs 13.8%, P = .08), 30-day readmissions for the same diagnosis (2.9% vs 8.1%, P = .18), and ED visits (18.6% vs 25%, P = .82). Twenty-five interventions during discharge medication review included discontinuation of unnecessary medications and correction of medication dose or frequency. The majority of patients were satisfied with the medication education provided (94%) and the timely delivery of prescriptions to bedside (96%).

Conclusion:

There was no significant difference in 30-day readmission rates. However, pharmacists were able to make a positive impact on patient satisfaction and improve understanding of medications during discharge.
“The Keepers of Stories”
Authors: Vishnevsky Tanya , Quinlan Margaret M. , Kilmer Ryan P. , Cann Arnie , Danhauer Suzanne C.
Published: March 2015

This study examined whether oncology nurses experience personal growth and wisdom as a result of caring for patients. Using a grounded theory approach, 30 nurses were interviewed regarding their experiences caring for cancer patients. Every nurse in this sample cited at least one example of growth and wisdom. Subthemes of personal growth were largely consistent with the documented domains of posttraumatic growth and included appreciation of life, new perspective on life, relating to others, spiritual/religious growth, and personal strength. Subthemes of wisdom were more varied, reflecting the diversity of this construct in the context of nursing. Benevolence arose as a unifying theme between personal growth and wisdom, with subthemes centering on altruistic attitudes and behavior toward patients and the greater community. Findings suggest that nurses develop personal growth, wisdom, and benevolence as a result of the emotional connections formed with patients and the subsequent struggle to cope with their loss. This process accords well with findings in other populations experiencing trauma and adversity directly.
Evaluation of a force balance with semiconductor strain gages in wind tunnel tests of the HB-2 standard model
Authors: Vuković Đorđe , Damljanović Dijana
Published: March 2015

A six-component wind tunnel balance of a robust, unconventional design was produced using semiconductor strain gages on a compression-type axial-force element. The balance was designed primarily for supersonic tests of high-drag models in short-duration wind tunnels. It was first used in a short crash program to test a design of a high-drag training kinetic-energy projectile. Obtained data were useful for the development of the projectile, but a lack of reliable references to validate the performance of the balance was felt, especially in view of the different opinions on the usability of semiconductor strain gages for wind tunnel balances. This issue was dealt with when the balance was used in wind tunnel tests of a HB-2 hypervelocity-ballistic standard model at Mach numbers 1.5 to 4, in a campaign of tuning the supersonic performance of the T-38 wind tunnel in VTI. Test results were compared with the reference data and with results from an earlier test of the same model where a conventional-design balance was used. The evaluation of the balance was focused on the measurement of the axial-force coefficient. It was concluded that the balance was very convenient for the intended type of wind tunnel tests, but not for general use.
Aeroelastic analysis of light sport aircraft using ground vibration test data
Authors: Cecrdle Jiri , Hlavaty Vaclav
Published: March 2015

This paper addresses a methodology for aeroelastic analysis of a light sport aircraft using experimentally gained data. It is focused on the aeroelastic analyses and related ground tests. The procedure is simple, fast, and low cost; however, it maintains a high standard regarding the quality and reliability of its results. It is applicable to the light aircraft category airworthiness standards, such as German standard LTF-UL, European standards CS-LSA and CS-VLA, and others. The procedure is based on a ground vibration test of the aircraft and measurements of the mass of control surfaces. Subsequent flutter analyses are based on the experimental data. The paper is focussed on the experimental and analytical tools and methodologies used. The entire process is demonstrated using the FM-250 “Vampire II” light sport aircraft as an example.
Similar and equal relationships? Negotiating bisexuality in an enduring relationship
Authors: Lahti Annukka
Published: March 2015

In the public debate in Finland, same-sex couples’ right to legal recognition is routinely defended by stressing their sameness to heterosexual couples within the discourse of romantic love. This article explores how bisexual women and their partners use these discourses. The five couple interviews were analyzed by implementing discourse analysis. The results highlight how, when taking positions within the discourse of the enduring couple relationship, the interviewees drew on the discourse of romantic love. Woman’s bisexuality disappeared easily in this talk. Although it seemed effortless at first sight, negotiations and affective tensions arose when the interviewees tried to fit their relationship into the normative discourse: Is our relationship like traditional heterosexual relationship or is it more equal? Are we similar or are we different? What role does woman’s bisexuality have in our relationship? Close reading of these negotiations revealed the hierarchies and norms related to gender and (bi)sexuality that constitute the enduring relationship discourse.
Experimental design and statistical analysis for three-drug combination studies
Authors: Fang Hong-Bin , Chen Xuerong , Pei Xin-Yan , Grant Steven , Tan Ming
Published: March 2015

Drug combination is a critically important therapeutic approach for complex diseases such as cancer and HIV due to its potential for efficacy at lower, less toxic doses and the need to move new therapies rapidly into clinical trials. One of the key issues is to identify which combinations are additive, synergistic, or antagonistic. While the value of multidrug combinations has been well recognized in the cancer research community, to our best knowledge, all existing experimental studies rely on fixing the dose of one drug to reduce the dimensionality, e.g. looking at pairwise two-drug combinations, a suboptimal design. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop experimental design and analysis methods for studying multidrug combinations directly. Because the complexity of the problem increases exponentially with the number of constituent drugs, there has been little progress in the development of methods for the design and analysis of high-dimensional drug combinations. In fact, contrary to common mathematical reasoning, the case of three-drug combinations is fundamentally more difficult than two-drug combinations. Apparently, finding doses of the combination, number of combinations, and replicates needed to detect departures from additivity depends on dose–response shapes of individual constituent drugs. Thus, different classes of drugs of different dose–response shapes need to be treated as a separate case. Our application and case studies develop dose finding and sample size method for detecting departures from additivity with several common (linear and log-linear) classes of single dose–response curves. Furthermore, utilizing the geometric features of the interaction index, we propose a nonparametric model to estimate the interaction index surface by B-spine approximation and derive its asymptotic properties. Utilizing the method, we designed and analyzed a combination study of three anticancer drugs, PD184, HA14-1, and CEP3891 inhibiting myeloma H929 cell line. To our best knowledge, this is the first ever three drug combinations study performed based on the original 4D dose–response surface formed by dose ranges of three drugs.
A study of whether automated Diabetic Retinopathy Image Assessment could replace manual grading steps in the English National Screening Programme
Authors: Kapetanakis Venediktos V , Rudnicka Alicja R , Liew Gerald , Owen Christopher G , Lee Aaron , Louw Vern , Bolter Louis , Anderson John , Egan Catherine , Salas-Vega Sebastian , Rudisill Caroline , Taylor Paul , Tufail Adnan
Published: March 2015

Objectives

Diabetic retinopathy screening in England involves labour intensive manual grading of digital retinal images. We present the plan for an observational retrospective study of whether automated systems could replace one or more steps of human grading.

Methods

Patients aged 12 or older who attended the Diabetes Eye Screening programme, Homerton University Hospital (London) between 1 June 2012 and 4 November 2013 had macular and disc-centred retinal images taken. All screening episodes were manually graded and will additionally be graded by three automated systems. Each system will process all screening episodes, and screening performance (sensitivity, false positive rate, likelihood ratios) and diagnostic accuracy (95% confidence intervals of screening performance measures) will be quantified. A sub-set of gradings will be validated by an approved Reading Centre. Additional analyses will explore the effect of altering thresholds for disease detection within each automated system on screening performance.

Results

2,782/20,258 diabetes patients were referred to ophthalmologists for further examination. Prevalence of maculopathy (M1), pre-proliferative retinopathy (R2), and proliferative retinopathy (R3) were 7.9%, 3.1% and 1.2%, respectively; 4749 (23%) patients were diagnosed with background retinopathy (R1); 1.5% were considered ungradable by human graders.

Conclusions

Retinopathy prevalence was similar to other English diabetic screening programmes, so findings should be generalizable. The study population size will allow the detection of differences in screening performance between the human and automated grading systems as small as 2%. The project will compare performance and economic costs of manual versus automated systems.
Inventory of current EU paediatric vision and hearing screening programmes
Authors: Sloot Frea , Hoeve Hans LJ , de Kroon Marlou LA , Goedegebure André , Carlton Jill , Griffiths Helen J , Simonsz Huibert J ,   for the EUS€REEN study group
Published: March 2015

Objective

To examine the diversity in paediatric vision and hearing screening programmes in Europe.

Methods

Themes for comparison of screening programmes derived from literature were used to compile three questionnaires on vision, hearing, and public health screening. Tests used, professions involved, age, and frequency of testing seem to influence sensitivity, specificity, and costs most. Questionnaires were sent to ophthalmologists, orthoptists, otolaryngologists, and audiologists involved in paediatric screening in all EU full-member, candidate, and associate states. Answers were cross-checked.

Results

Thirty-nine countries participated; 35 have a vision screening programme, 33 a nation-wide neonatal hearing screening programme. Visual acuity (VA) is measured in 35 countries, in 71% of these more than once. First measurement of VA varies from three to seven years of age, but is usually before age five. At age three and four, picture charts, including Lea Hyvarinen, are used most; in children over four, Tumbling-E and Snellen. As first hearing screening test, otoacoustic emission is used most in healthy neonates, and auditory brainstem response in premature newborns. The majority of hearing testing programmes are staged; children are referred after 1–4 abnormal tests. Vision screening is performed mostly by paediatricians, ophthalmologists, or nurses. Funding is mostly by health insurance or state. Coverage was reported as >95% in half of countries, but reporting was often not first-hand.

Conclusion

Largest differences were found in VA charts used (12), professions involved in vision screening (10), number of hearing screening tests before referral (1–4), and funding sources (8).
Consultation rates in cervical screening non-attenders: opportunities to increase screening uptake in GP primary care
Authors: Lim Anita Wey Wey , Sasieni Peter
Published: March 2015

Objective

To estimate the proportion of cervical screening non-attenders presenting to general practice (GP) primary care over one year.

Setting

137 practices in East London, UK.

Methods

Anonymous primary care records were downloaded using EMIS web (clinical software). Cervical screening nonattendance was defined as no recorded smear in the last 3.5 years (women aged 25–49) or 5.5 years (women aged 50–64). The last three consultation entries were used to estimate the proportion of non-attenders who consulted in GP over 3 months and 1 year using the Kaplan-Meier method. Newly registered women were assessed separately. Results were calculated for each practice and the median and interquartile range (IQR) across practices are presented. Heterogeneity was assessed using funnel plots.

Results

Of 261,810 women, 224,313 (86%) had been registered for >1 year. The proportion classified as non-attenders differed between those registered for >1 year (30%, IQR 27%--35%) and within the last year (49%, IQR 40%--57%), suggesting that screening records were less up-to-date in newly registered women. A median of 32% (IQR: 27%--37%) of non-attenders presented over 3 months, and 60% (IQR: 52%--67%) over 1 year. Funnel plots of the proportion of non-attenders presenting by the number of non-attenders showed substantial variation between practices.

Conclusions

Over half of cervical screening non-attenders present to their GP at least once a year, in over 75% of practices. This represents a good opportunity for improving coverage by offering an alternative form of screening, such as self-sampling for human papillomavirus testing.
Children's Recognition of Their Musical Performance
Authors: Delogu Franco , Belardinelli Marta Olivetti
Published: March 2015

The present study was designed to obtain indications about unskilled children's music performances by means of a computer-based performance task. In particular, we assessed children's abilities to recognize their own performances and their self-awareness of such competence. A total of 240 children from Southern Italy, subdivided into 3 age groups, performed their own version of a familiar song. After 4, 6, or 8 days according to the group, participants were asked to recognize their own interpretation among two other performances recorded by participants in the same age group. Finally, the reasons for their recognition were elicited. Children's verbal responses were sorted by independent judges into different categories reflecting the cognitive strategies used in the recognition task. Results show that children are able to discriminate their own musical interpretation with a great degree of accuracy. Concerning the verbal responses, children mentioned the Dynamics category more frequently than other categories like Duration, Tempo, Structure, Elimination strategy, Error detection, Aural and tactile discrimination. No significant differences among groups with different retention intervals have been found, suggesting that memory of children's own musical performances is stable for several days. The comparison with a similar American sample shows cultural differences in the strategies used for recognition. Theoretical and methodological implications are also discussed.
“Music-ripping”: Des Pratiques Qui Provoquent la Musicologie
Authors: Rousseaux Francis , Alainbonardi Et
Published: March 2015

Hors des placements habituels de l'informatique dans le domaine de la musique et de Ja musicologie, on constate depuis peu l'apparition de systèmes hommes-machines qui manifestent leur existence en rupture avec une tradition certes encore jeune, mais déjà operante.

Car si ces systèmes singuliers opèrent incontestablement dans les champs d'expansion usuels de la musique, ne font aucune référence systèmatique aux catégories musicologiques connues. Au contraire, les expérimentations qu'ils rendent possibles inaugurent des usages où l'écoute. la composition et la transmission musicales se confondent dans un geste parfois qualifié de “music-ripping”.

Nous montrerons en quoi les pratiques de “music-ripping” provoquent la musicologie traditionnelle, dont les catégories canoniques s'avèrent ici impuissantes au compte rendu.

Pour ce faire, il nous faudra:

expliciter un jeu de catégories minimal qui suffise à sous-tendre lesmodeles usuels de la musique assistée par ordinateur; faire de même pour les systèmes hommes-machines (anti-musicologiques?) dont l'existence nous trouble; examiner les conditions de possibilité de réduction du second ensemble catégorial au premier; conclure sur la nature du “music-ripping”.
Beginnings and Endings in the Musical Improvisations of Children Aged 7 to 10 Years
Authors: Tafuri Johannella , Baldi Gabriella , Caterina Roberto
Published: March 2015

Many factors influence the activation and maturation of the compositional process in children. Although there are numerous studies on children's processes, production and behaviour, little has been done concerning the influence of the didactic strategies used by the teacher, which may actually encourage or suppress such processes.

Children are generally asked to create a composition that has a beginning, a middle and end, but we wondered whether it was really necessary to request this structure or if children of a certain age already adopt it spontaneously, so teachers can use such skills as building blocks for further learning.

We investigated if children, without any specific music education, possess a certain ability to use specific types of beginnings and/or endings and how they improve. We asked 132 primary school children, aged 7–10, to perform six improvisations, five with a soprano glockenspiel, and one with tambourine. A total of 792 pieces were recorded and analysed using a specific classification system.

After referring to studies on musical theory and semiotics to clarify the concept of beginning and ending in a piece of music, we are presenting the results which show that a certain percentage of children aged 7 already possess the mentioned skills, and that there is a gradual spontaneous acquisition of the beginning/ending conventions. Children improve year by year, with greater progress between 8 and 9 years.
The Interpersonal Dimension: A Potential Source of Musical Creativity for Young Children?
Authors: Young Susan
Published: March 2015

This article describes one strand of a study of self-initiated improvisation among three- and four-year-olds attending nursery education in London which aimed to understand some fundamental, generative processes. Early in the study differences had been noted between children's music play with an adult in comparison with play alone. Rather than seek to abstract the sound of children's music from all contextual features, as other studies of children's creativity have done, this study took as one of its main foci, the nature of children's improvisation when playing with an adult partner.

For the purposes of the study, young children's play on an Orff xylophone was continuously recorded on video-tape. A transcription of the video data focused initially on the close observation and identification of small units of behaviour. The children's visible music play behaviours were analysed as situated systems of interaction between the child's movements, the structure of the xylophone and social interactions with an attendant adult. The study had three successive phases, each undertaken in a new nursery with a new sample of children. In total, 95 children took part across the three phases. The evolving nature of this phased study allowed salient aspects of children's play to emerge from a process of constant comparison and revaluation of the video data.

It is proposed that the social interactive processes of play are one generative source of the child's musical ideas. These ideas are understood, first, as arising from the child's movement vocabulary and the play potentials of the instrument itself. Then, with a participatory adult, the child's play with the instrument is further structured by the intention to communicate. With reciprocating and “attuned” adult partners, the children began to play in spontaneously well-balanced, phrased exchanges, they created accumulative sequences, linked and transformed musical ideas and played with expressively varied dynamics.
From certificate chasing to genuine engagement: The contribution of curriculum design to students’ career intent in a subfield
Authors: Gardiner Claire M
Published: March 2015

Many students enter business degrees without a defined career goal beyond working in the business world and adopt a scattergun approach to employability by accumulating certifications accessed through individual subjects. Yet, space and time limitations commonly prevent extended exposure to rewarding and interesting career subfields within main specialisations. This case study draws on student feedback collected over three years exploring students’ career interest following an elective human resource development subject in the final stage of a human resources major. Project-based curriculum provided students with scaffolded learning while undertaking key multiphase human resource development tasks. Subsequently, students reported human resource development career interest and intent, attributed to more realistic appreciation of human resource development’s activities, scope, and values. The paper makes an important contribution illustrating how curriculum design can transform instrumentalism into logically, emotionally, and intuitively based career engagement. Further, human resource development is a study and career area little mentioned in higher education or careers literature.
Career choice status among undergraduates and the influence of work-integrated learning
Authors: Jackson Denise
Published: March 2015

This study examines how work-integrated learning (WIL) influences career choice status among undergraduates ( N = 91). Career choice status has documented effects on well-being, career satisfaction, career success and, more broadly, organisational performance. Quantitative ratings gauge undergraduate satisfaction with their career choices and structured reflections explore how WIL influenced choices. Findings indicate career choice status is relatively strong among those who have completed WIL as part of their academic studies, more specifically a work placement in their degree specialisation. The placement experience influenced career choice status in four ways: provision of professional networking and expanded career choice opportunities; information and insight into one’s intended career; assistance with the decision-making process on precisely which career to pursue; and identification of strategies to pursue one’s targeted profession. The study develops our understanding of WIL’s contribution to career management and how educators and professional practitioners can encourage informed career choice among undergraduates on work placement.
Models for designing radially polarized multilayer piezoelectric/elastic composite cylindrical transducers
Authors: Wang Jianjun , Shi Zhifei
Published: March 2015

The models for designing multilayer piezoelectric/elastic composite cylindrical transducers with two kinds of radial polarization directions are extended based on the typical sandwiched piezoelectric/elastic transducer, and their dynamic characteristics are performed. Based on the plane stress assumption, dynamic analytical solutions of the transducers subjected to an external harmonic voltage are derived, and the electric admittances are obtained. The effects of polarization directions, the inner radius of the transducers, the distance between two adjacent piezoelectric layers, the number of piezoelectric layers, and piezoelectric material types on the dynamic characteristics of the transducers are discussed. For some special cases, comparisons with other related investigations are also given, and good agreements are found. The present investigation provides a comprehensive understanding of multilayer piezoelectric/elastic composite cylindrical transducers, which have potential applications in the field of ultrasonic and underwater sound.
Power and Authority in Disease Maps
Authors: Welhausen Candice A.
Published: March 2015

Medical cartography became an important data visualization tool in the 19th century. In this article, the author argues that early yellow fever maps invoked power and authority over diseased space through their visual conventions and scientific authority as statistical graphics as well as by visually reinforcing underlying Western ideologies about disease, illness, and health. Further, the creation of these maps established a visual precedent for invoking this authority that continues today. As public health continues to move toward a global health perspective in the 21st century, understanding how mapping constructs and shapes knowledge about disease, illness, and health will become increasingly important.
Evaluating the Utility and Communicative Effectiveness of an Interactive Sea-Level Rise Viewer Through Stakeholder Engagement
Authors: Stephens Sonia H. , DeLorme Denise E. , Hagen Scott C.
Published: March 2015

The design of interactive applications for online communication is an ongoing area of research within technical communication. This study reports on the development of an interactive sea-level rise (SLR) viewer, a data visualization tool that communicates about the potential effects of SLR along coastlines. It describes the formative evaluation of a location-specific SLR viewer created via integral stakeholder engagement. Participants performed a series of tasks, answered questions about the tool's usability and communicative effectiveness, and made suggestions for ways to improve its application to desired tasks. The authors discuss the implications of this study for visual risk communication and make recommendations for others developing similar interactive data visualization tools with audience input.