bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time and narrative: Temporality, memory, and instant history of Balkan wars
Authors: Abazi Enika , Doja Albert
Published: December 2016

In this article, we explore the ways in which from the beginning to the end of twentieth century different temporalities and historicizations stemming from different narrative perspectives on the Balkan wars have constructed different commonplace, timeworn and enduring representations. In practical terms, we take issue with several patterns of narratives, such as the sensationalism of media industry, the essentialization of collective memory, the securitization of imaginary threats and the pacifist activism of normative transformations. It is our contention to argue that they historicize certain moments of rupture, which are subsequently used and misused to construct an anachronistic representation of Southeast Europe that may conceal hidden interests. Contrastingly, an alternative narrative that emphasizes a “history from below” as an apperception of the temporality of being can offer a revisionist approach that may show the futility of ahistorical accounts. 1
Validation of various parasite detection tests for use in the Australian marsupials quenda (Isoodon obesulus) and brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula)
Authors: Hillman Alison E. , Ash Amanda L. , Kristancic Amanda R. , Elliot Aileen D. , Lymbery Alan J. , Robertson Ian D. , Thompson R. C. Andrew
Published: December 2016

We aimed to validate the use of 1) the modified agglutination test and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol in detecting Toxoplasma gondii infection in quenda ( Isoodon obesulus) and brushtail possums ( Trichosurus vulpecula); 2) immunofluorescence microscopy of feces and a PCR and sequencing protocol in detecting Giardia spp. infection in quenda; and 3) a fecal flotation protocol in detecting gastrointestinal helminth infections of quenda. Quenda and brushtail possum carcasses, and samples from trapped quenda, were tested with 2 parasite detection tests per parasite, and results were modeled using Bayesian latent class analysis to estimate test sensitivity and specificity. The modified agglutination test and the PCR protocol were highly specific at detecting T. gondii infections in quenda and brushtail possums (≥93%); however, data were insufficient to assess sensitivity with adequate precision. Immunofluorescence microscopy and the PCR and sequencing protocol were both highly specific at detecting Giardia spp. in quenda (≥96%), but the PCR and sequencing protocol was relatively insensitive (69%, 95% credible interval [CrI]: 60–77%) compared to the highly sensitive immunofluorescence microscopy (98%, 95% CrI: 93–99%). The fecal flotation protocol was generally highly specific in the detection of gastrointestinal helminth infections (≥94%, with the exception of Trichuris spp. (88%, 95% CrI: 71–99%). The fecal flotation protocol was moderately to highly sensitive (≥74%) in the detection of strongyles, Labiobulura spp., Linstowinema spp., and Trichuris spp. Sensitivity was poor for detection of the cestode genus Potorolepis (36%, 95% CrI: 14–67%).
Comparison of methodologies in determining bone marrow fat percentage under different environmental conditions
Authors: Murden David , Hunnam Jaimie , De Groef Bert , Rawlin Grant , McCowan Christina
Published: December 2016

The use of bone marrow fat percentage has been recommended in assessing body condition at the time of death in wild and domestic ruminants, but few studies have looked at the effects of time and exposure on animal bone marrow. We investigated the utility of bone marrow fat extraction as a tool for establishing antemortem body condition in postmortem specimens from sheep and cattle, particularly after exposure to high heat, and compared different techniques of fat extraction for this purpose. Femora were collected from healthy and “skinny” sheep and cattle. The bones were either frozen or subjected to 40°C heat; heated bones were either wrapped in plastic to minimize desiccation or were left unwrapped. Marrow fat percentage was determined at different time intervals by oven-drying, or by solvent extraction using hexane in manual equipment or a Soxhlet apparatus. Extraction was performed, where possible, on both wet and dried tissue. Multiple samples were tested from each bone. Bone marrow fat analysis using a manual, hexane-based extraction technique was found to be a moderately sensitive method of assessing antemortem body condition of cattle up to 6 d after death. Multiple replicates should be analyzed where possible. Samples from “skinny” sheep showed a different response to heat from those of “healthy” sheep; “skinny” samples were so reduced in quantity by day 6 (the first sampling day) that no individual testing could be performed. Further work is required to understand the response of sheep marrow.
Women's Studies and Men's Studies: Friends or Foes?
Authors: Justad Mark J.
Published: December 2016

The article identifies some major issues at play in the conversation between women's and men's studies scholars and activists. This is done from a profeminist perspective, laying out potential points of convergence and conflict between the two areas of scholarship. The article also renews the argument for the place of the critical study of men and masculinities in the movement toward gender equality on a broad scale. The article reflects a call for a critical yet complimentary relationship between men's and women's studies scholars and activists.
Downlow Mountain? De/Stigmatizing Bisexuality through Pitying and Pejorative Discourses in Media
Authors: Pitt Richard N.
Published: December 2016

This article examines the differing approaches the media took to black and white male bisexuality following a 2001 Los Angeles Times article and Ang Lee's film, Brokeback Mountain, respectively. Using content analysis of more than 170 articles written between 2001 and 2007, the author finds that the media pathologized black bisexuals' behavior while either ignoring or sympathizing with white bisexuals' behavior. While the “Down Low” black bisexual is described pejoratively as a threat to black masculinity and the health of the black family, the “Brokeback” white bisexual (when described as bisexual at all) is described in pitying language as one who is constrained by the society around him. In addition to exposing these differences, the author examines the reasons the media share these different viewpoints of, essentially, the same sexual behavior.
Gay Skinheads
Authors: Borgeson Kevin , Valeri Robin
Published: December 2016

Through case studies, the strategies used by six men to negotiate between their gay and skinhead identities were examined. Skinheads are defined by traditional masculine values and culture, primarily fashion and music. These men differed in their definitions of skinheads and the centrality of their gay identity to their overall identity. Four of the men, when interacting with other skinheads, strove to minimize their homosexuality. Two of these four relied heavily on fashion and music to validate their skinhead identity. The other two accentuated their masculinity and aggressed against effeminate men. For one, being gay was always central to his identity. For another, his gay identity was balanced with his skinhead and occupational identities.
“A View From the Top”
Authors: Carmack Heather J. , DeGroot Jocelyn M. , Quinlan Margaret M.
Published: December 2016

Domestic discipline (DD) is a relationship approach that advocates wifely submission and male dominance through the use of disciplinary tactics such as spanking. Because DD is seen as a deviant behavioral approach to relationships, men often turn to blogs to chronicle their experiences with DD. These blogs provide insight regarding their identity as a Dominant (Dom), or what they refer to as their “Domdentity.” The purpose of our study is to investigate how Doms socially construct and perform their Domdentity. The Domdentity is constructed through a dialectic of discipline and love in the DD relationship, continuously working to maintain the DD relationship, and actively participating, and questioning their roles, in the DD relationship.
Men’s Sexual Selectivity, Romantic Confidence, and Gender Ratios in the Media
Authors: Taylor Laramie D.
Published: December 2016

An experiment was conducted to examine the impact of media gender ratios on male audience members. One hundred thirty young adult men read a series of media narratives featuring either multiple men and a single woman or multiple women and a single man as well as a measure of endorsement of traditional masculinity and measures of romantic and sexual selectivity and confidence. Men who read the abundant partners narratives exhibited greater selectivity for marriage partners relative to control participants. Partner availability or scarcity in media narratives also influenced romantic confidence, although this was moderated by endorsement of traditional masculine ideology (TMI).
Three Men and a Maybe
Authors: Tucker Stephen I.
Published: December 2016

Male preservice elementary teachers often receive special attention. However, identities consist of many complex components. Constant comparative methodology revealed emergent themes of privilege and disadvantage linked to gender, religion, and ethnicity in this exploratory examination of the stories of three male preservice elementary teachers. The men demonstrated varying awareness of their hybrid identities and associated privileges and disadvantages. The participants found privileges and disadvantages related to their gender, but members of religious and ethnic minority groups perceived significant disadvantages of those aspects of their identities. Findings suggest that preservice male teachers’ identities are more complex than gender alone, that being in multiple minority groups may compound challenges for preservice male teachers, and that teacher training alone may not sufficiently address issues of identity.
Masculinity Priming
Authors: Wong Y. Joel , Levant Ronald F. , Welsh Matthew M. , Zaitsoff Andrew , Garvin Matthew , King Daniel , Aguilar Michael
Published: December 2016

Most research on the link between masculinity-related constructs and psychology well-being has been conducted using correlational rather than experimental research designs. To address this limitation, this study tested the effects of activating men’s subjective masculinity experiences on state self-esteem by randomly assigning 183 men into either a masculinity priming condition or a control priming condition. Consistent with the social identity paradigm, participants who received masculinity priming reported higher state self-esteem than those in the control priming condition. A moderation effect showed that masculinity priming exerted the strongest effect on self-esteem among men with relatively negative self-perceptions. These findings are discussed within the context of the need for more experimental research on masculinity-related constructs.
The Ten Tenets of Male Spirituality
Authors: Harris Ian M.
Published: December 2016

This paper summarizes a three-stage study of spiritual influences that play a formative role in male gender identities. During the first stage participants volunteered that spiritual beliefs played an important role in their male development. The second stage asked 100 men to define their particular spiritual beliefs. An item analysis of the responses came up with the ten tenets or beliefs: finding inner wisdom, searching for truth, speaking from the heart, confronting the dark side, loving, working for a better world, passing a test, belonging to something great, following scripture, and believing in destiny. These spiritual beliefs form a continuum extending from isolated spiritual practice to communion with others, sharing beliefs, and traditions. During the final stage 163 men rank ordered these ten tenets according to which ones most influenced their lives.
Men's Sexual Risk Factors for HIV Infection: Racial Differences in Behavior, Knowledge, and Self-Perceptions
Authors: Tewksbury Richard , Moore Darin K.
Published: December 2016

HIV transmission most often results from individually-induced activities. Previous research into HIV transmission has identified both high-risk groups and high-risk behaviors. This research identifies differences between white and African-American men and their participation in HIV-risk behaviors, HIV-related knowledge, and self-perceived likelihood for HIV infection. Findings show a contradiction between reported HIV-risk behaviors and self-perceived risk of contracting HIV for all male participants. Furthermore, racial differences are significantly related to both the type and number of sexual partners, participation in and frequency of condom use for various sexual activities, and levels of self-perceived knowledge of HIV/AIDS. These findings and implications on current and future HIV prevention/intervention efforts are discussed.
Sexual Coercion: Men Victimized by Women
Authors: Fiebert Martin S. , Tucci Lisa M.
Published: December 2016

A 12-item inventory designed to assess mild, moderate, and severe forms of sexual coercion was administered to an ethnically diverse sample of 182 college men at California State University, Long Beach. Results reveal that 70% of subjects reported experiencing some form of sexual coercion within the past five years. Mild and moderate forms of sexual coercion were most commonly experienced. Younger men were somewhat more likely than older men to report being sexually coerced. An ethnic difference in response was found on one item.
“Instigating Women” and Initiation in Postmodern Male Identity: Women Mentoring Men in Michael Dorris's Short Fiction
Authors: Lee Terry
Published: December 2016

Two short stories from Working Men by the American fiction writer Michael Dorris enact romantic heterosexual relationships in which a woman becomes the mentor who helps carry a man stuck in delayed adolescence into initiated manhood. Dorris's stories update and make accessible the mythical and magical elements that Robert Bly has described in his Iron John as being able to renew a man stuck in his boyhood woundedness. Where Bly discusses the female mentor for men in terms of “meeting the god woman” and the wild woman guarding a sacred pond, Dorris fleshes out his female guides in the form of what Bly calls “instigating wom[en],” contemporary women who possess a certain wisdom. These women play a life-transforming role in establishing a more mature, differentiated identity in men.
Father Presence: An Enhancement of a Child's Well-Being
Authors: MacKey Wade C.
Published: December 2016

For the last quarter of a century, American academics and literati have assumed that the traditional father figure was supernumerary and rather optional. This perspective viewed a child's life-space trajectory as little perturbed if a father was present or not. The present paper argues against this assumption. Available evidence clearly indicates that fathers do enhance their children's well-being. The problems aligned with fatherlessness are analyzed, and modest proposals are proffered to re-establish fathering as central to a child's growth and development within American society.
Absent Fathers: Effects on Abandoned Sons
Authors: Balcom Dennis A.
Published: December 2016

Absent fathers are pervasive in American culture. Father absence is pathological and severely affects the abandoned son's capacity for self-esteem and intimacy. The reason for and type of father absence is important in determining the effects on the adult son. This article discusses the impact of a father's absence on his abandoned son's struggle with self-esteem and intimacy and proposes a treatment model for abandoned sons.
Gender Differences in Heterosexual Dating: A Content Analysis of Personal Ads
Authors: Lance Larry M.
Published: December 2016

Heterosexual females and males are continually searching for members of the opposite sex for dating and romance. Have changes in gender roles over the recent past resulted in changes in the characteristics in the search for dating and romance? There are various available choices for those presently interested in meeting, dating, and possibly finding romance with some-one. One of these available choices, placing descriptive, singles ads in newspapers and magazines, was investigated in this research. A content analysis of 1,433 descriptive ads was conducted to determine the characteristics sought in potential heterosexual partners for females and males and to compare these characteristics with characteristics identified in previous studies. Results of this content analysis suggest that changes in the “marriage gradient” are taking place and that nonsmoking is becoming more of a concern for both males and females who are seeking a potential partner.
Gender Politics and the Study of Nineteenth-Century Autobiography
Authors: MacHann Clinton
Published: December 2016

This article discusses ideologically-slanted reactions to the study of British Victorian autobiography, a “male-dominated” literary genre, as an example of the “social agendas” currently operative in the study of the humanities. It focuses on the publication and reception of the book The Genre of Autobiography in Victorian Literature (1994a). Literary autobiography for the Victorians was a referential, nonfiction genre, which, with conventional pressures applied through historicity and verifiability, required the conflation of mental or spiritual (inner) development and the (outer) development of career and reputation based on publications (along with other public works). The field of men's studies opens up a space within which male writers like the Victorian autobiographers can be studied unapologetically from a variety of theoretical perspectives.
Dalva: Jim Harrison's “Twin Sister”
Authors: McClintock James I.
Published: December 2016

Engaged in “soul-making,” novelist Jim Harrison experiments in his novel Dalva with developing his feminine side in the service of his art and life by utilizing psychologist James Hillman's post-Jungian ideas. Harrison tells the story in the first person voice of Dalva, a Nebraskan woman of Swedish and Sioux descent. To overcome depression and to thrive, Harrison had to acknowledge a masculinity of greater dimension than he had characterized earlier in his career, when his characters were often called “macho.” The new conception of masculinity is symbolized by locating his lost “twin sister.” Dalva is the outward sign that Harrison found her, thereby extending his understanding of masculinity and revitalizing his life and art.
“Even a Woman Can Do This Job Now”: Reflections on Technological Change and Male Subcultures in the Modern Factory
Authors: Glenday Daniel
Published: December 2016

Using statistical and interview data of male workers at two newsprint paper manufacturing companies, this article compares workplace subcultures in two different technological settings—a high-tech, information-rich and a low-tech, physically demanding work environment. Three scales of male workers' behaviors, their physicality, immediacy, and sociality, are employed to compare statistically the two workplaces. The results are enriched by interview data from workers at the high-tech paper mill. The analysis and interpretation of the results suggest male subcultures in the modern factory differ from those in more traditional factories in some of the characteristics known as its physicality. However, workers at both paper mills continue to use all their senses in order to better “understand” the limits/possibilities of the production technologies. A comparison of workers reveals they also share other behavioral characteristics. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the continuation of male dominance in the modern factory's subcultures.
Faithful Fathering: Spiritual Narratives and Religious Meanings
Authors: Swenson Don
Published: December 2016

Author provides reaction to the “Fathering Symposium” papers (Furrow; Palkovitz & Palm; Latshaw; and Dollahite, Marks, & Olson).
A memory-dependent derivative model for damping in oscillatory systems
Authors: Al-Jamel Ahmed , Al-Jamal Mohammad F , El-Karamany Ahmed
Published: December 2016

Classically, damping force is described as a function of velocity in the linear theory of mechanical models. In this work, a memory-dependent derivative model with respect to displacement is proposed to describe damping in various oscillatory systems of complex dissipation mechanisms where memory effects could not be ignored. A memory-dependent derivative is characterized by its time-delay τ and kernel function K( x, t) which can be chosen freely. Thus, it is superior to the fractional derivative in that it provides more access into memory effects and thus better physical meaning. To elucidate this, an equation of motion is proposed based on the prototype mass-spring model. The analytical solution is then attempted by the Laplace transform method. Due to the complexity of finding the inverse Laplace transform, a numerical inversion treatment is carried out using the fixed Talbot method and also compared with the finite difference discretization to validate the method. The calculations show that the response function is sensitive to different choices of τ and K( x, t). It is found that this proposed model supports the existence of memory-dependence in the structure of the material. The interesting case of resonance where the response function is classically increased rapidly is found to be weakened by an appropriate choice of τ and K( x, t).
YouTube flow and the transmission of heritage: The interplay of users, content, and algorithms
Authors: Pietrobruno Sheenagh
Published: December 2016

YouTube’s increasing convergence with television extends to the notion of flow. The platform’s revising and reshaping of television flow theorized by Raymond Williams ((1974) Television. London: Routledge.), which is produced through the combined work of users and algorithms, enables diverse cultural representations to come into contact. This diversity creates relational juxtapositions that become meaningful through human interpretation. The algorithms that are entrenched in YouTube’s business models and designed to monetize the work of users may also circulate divergent versions of a cultural practice. That YouTube flow can produce diverse cultural representations is demonstrated by a case study of the Mevlevi Sema ceremony, a Turkish intangible heritage practice safeguarded by UNESCO; official heritage narratives put forward by the nation-state of Turkey through UNESCO are challenged by other narratives on the platform.
Numerical and experimental comparison of complete three-dimensional particle tracking velocimetry algorithms for indoor airflow study
Authors: Fu Sijie , Biwole Pascal Henry , Mathis Christian , Maïssa Philippe
Published: December 2016

The experimental data retrieved from three-dimensional particle tracking velocimetry (3D PTV) are crucial for indoor environment engineering when designing ventilation strategies or monitoring airborne pollutants dispersion in inhabited spaces as well as in livestock compounds. The performance of the measurement algorithm, as the core part of the 3D PTV technology, has a strong influence on the final results. This study presents a method to select the better 3D PTV algorithm depending on the application targeted. This study first compared the performance of seven 3D PTV algorithms on two types of 3D laminar macro scale flows of known Navier–Stokes solutions, namely the Kovasznay and Beltrami flows. The comparison was based on the accuracy, the measuring volume coverage and the achievable trajectory length of each algorithm with respect to the particle tracking density and the total number of frames. Then, the measurement algorithms with better performances were further compared with the experimental measurement of real 3D airflows in a cubic cavity. The results suggest that different measurement algorithms have different advantages and drawbacks depending on the application targeted, and that the algorithms using the epipolar constraint as the method of spatial matching generally perform better.
Thoracoscopic, minimally invasive rib fixation after trauma
Authors: Zens Tiffany , Beems Megan V , Agarwal Suresh
Published: December 2016

Rib fractures and flail chest are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Operative rib fixation has been shown to improve patient outcomes. In an attempt to decrease postoperative pain and wound infection rates, we performed rib fixation using a thoracoscopic approach. A 43-year-old trauma patient underwent thoracoscopic rib fixation with placement of a bioabsorbable plate. Postoperatively, the patient was extubated on post-operative day (POD) 1 and no longer required supplemental oxygen on POD5. This case demonstrates that thoracoscopic rib fixation is technically feasible and safe.
Virtuous profits: Pay for success arrangements and the future of recidivism reduction
Authors: Myers Randolph R. , Goddard Tim
Published: December 2016

Pay for success contracting is the latest financial instrument for funding social programs. Governments in Australia, the UK, the US, and elsewhere are piloting their use in reentry programs, youth offender programs, and a host of other initiatives aimed at homelessness, child welfare, workforce development, and preventive health care. Under a pay for success arrangement, private investors put up capital to fund a program, and if successful, a government agency will repay the investors with a yield, that is, with a profit. This article situates pay for success contracting in the context of reentry and decarceration and it theorizes how the arrangement will reverberate through new alternatives to incarceration and fundamentally change the meaning of “what works.” The article concludes by locating pay for success within the broader drift toward securitizing marginal populations under neoliberalism.
Continuity of home-based care for persons with dementia from formal and family caregivers’ perspective
Authors: Larsen Lill Sverresdatter , Normann Hans Ketil , Hamran Torunn
Published: December 2016

Western health care policy emphasizes continuity of care for people with dementia. This paper presents formal and family caregivers’ descriptions of collaboration in home-based dementia care and explores whether this collaboration inhibits or enables continuity of care and the use of the statutory individual plan. Empirical data were derived from 18 in-depth interviews with formal and family caregivers and brief fieldwork. The results reveal dynamic positions in collaborative practice and, from these positions, discrepancies in descriptions of practices and the needs of the person with dementia. Such micro-level discrepancies may serve as barriers for macro-level continuity of care objectives. To ensure continuity of care, formal and family caregivers must be aware of their positions and discuss specific expectations for information flow, involvement and care responsibilities. Individual plan can serve as a starting point for such discussions.
Developing the Senses Framework to support relationship-centred care for people with advanced dementia until the end of life in care homes
Authors: Watson Julie
Published: December 2016

People with advanced dementia living in care homes can experience social death before their physical death. Social death occurs when a person is no longer recognised as being an active agent within their relationships. A shift is required in how we perceive people with advanced dementia so that the ways they continue to be active in their relationships are noticed. Paying attention to embodied and interembodied selfhood broadens the scope and opportunities for relationships with people with advanced dementia, acting as a counter to social death. This has the potential to improve the quality of care, including end of life care, of people with advanced dementia in care homes. This study examined the role of embodied and interembodied selfhood within care-giving/care-receiving relationships in a specialist dementia care home. Empirical findings and their implications for the development of relationship-centred care and the Senses Framework in care homes are discussed.
The Evaluation of Significant Figures in the History of Social Psychology: A Class Exercise in the Teaching of Introductory Social Psychology
Authors: Innes John Michael , Chambers Timothy Peter
Published: December 2016

In teaching social psychology, the process of identifying a particular theorist can lead to an enhanced understanding of the theories associated with that individual. Employing this process into a summative assessment, this article outlines an exercise that facilitated the teaching of introductory social psychology to 147 undergraduate students. The students completed an exercise in the critical evaluation and ranking of the contributions of several significant figures in the history of social psychology. Evaluations of the exercise revealed that the most popular triad included various combinations of Festinger, Asch, and Milgram. Additional analyses highlighted no differences in choice of triad between genders, nor were there differences in assessment grade for the chosen triad. Student choices of the exemplars suggested that decisions were guided by selected principles, and that systematic selection of the exemplars in further iterations of the exercise will enable the exploration of the links students make between the theorists and their collective work.
Psychology as an Evolving, Interdisciplinary Science: Integrating Science in Sensation and Perception from Fourier to Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Ebersole Tela M. , Kelty-Stephen Damian G.
Published: December 2016

This article outlines the theoretical rationale and process for an integrated-science approach to teaching sensation and perception (S&P) to undergraduate psychology students that may also serve as an integrated-science curriculum. The course aimed to introduce the interdisciplinary evolution of this psychological field irrespective of any presumed distinctions between hard and soft science. The class began with perceptual science’s foundations in Fourier decomposition and culminated in more recent developments with the perceptual science’s interest in pattern-formation phenomena from fluid dynamics, and class illustrated this transition with various applications in music, art, and materials science. Post-course responses to the Research on Integrated Science Curriculum survey demonstrated that our students made significantly large gains in course elements, specifically making the most of the students pre-existing experiences. We find that students are ready and willing to engage in the study of S&P by setting aside neuroscience’s sometimes constraining assumptions.
Assessing glare, Part 3: Glare sources having different colours
Authors: Yang Y , Luo Ronnier M , Huang WJ
Published: December 2016

This paper describes an experiment for assessing the discomfort glare caused by light emitting diodes (LEDs) having different colours. The results showed that coloured LEDs induce more discomfort glare than a white LED. On comparing different coloured LEDs, blue ones gave the highest glare perception, especially for those having shorter peak wavelengths. Different earlier proposed luminous efficiency functions for discomfort glare were applied to re-define luminance. This led to modified unified glare ratings, which achieved very accurate predictions of the visual results. A modified brightness based on a colour appearance model for unrelated lights was used to predict glare and also performed very well.
A method to select correcting faces of a double-face dynamic balancing rotor
Authors: Zhang Shihai , Zhang Zimiao
Published: December 2016

Considering the sensitivity and installing position limitation, the real positions for two correcting faces must be selected first in the process of double-face dynamic balancing design and practice for rigid rotor system. According to the principle of influence coefficient method, series of testing weight experiments are conducted in this article. Based on the experimental results, the axial distribution laws of the amplitudes and phases of influence coefficients are found and summarized as follows: the amplitude variations of influence coefficients are very small and the phase variations of influence coefficients are obvious when the correcting positions are changed along shaft, so the phases of influence coefficients have the key effect on the correcting vector in correcting faces. Based on this fact, the total phase difference maximum method of influence coefficients is proposed to select the real axial positions for correcting faces. The principle of the method is analyzed in theory, and the application effect is tested by double-face dynamic balancing experiments.
Mechanical properties optimization of the steering column based on multi-objective optimization design
Authors: Chen Si , Wang Zhaohui , Lv Mi
Published: December 2016

The mechanical properties of the steering column have a significant influence on the comfort and stability of a vehicle. In order for the mechanical properties to be improved, the rotary swaging process of the steering column is studied in this article. The process parameters, including axial feed rate, hammerhead speed, and hammerhead radial reduction, are systematically analyzed and optimized based on a multi-objective optimization design. The response surface methodology and the genetic algorithm are employed for optimal process parameters to be obtained. The maximum damage value, the maximum forming load, and the equivalent strain difference obtained with the optimal process parameters are, respectively, decreased by 30.09%, 7.44%, and 57.29% compared to the initial results. The comparative results present that the quality of the steering column is improved. The torque experiments and fatigue experiments are conducted with the optimal steering column. The maximum torque is measured to be 260 NM, and the service life is measured to be 2 weeks (40 NM, 2500 times), which are, respectively, increased by 8.3% and 8.69% compared to the initial results. The above results display that the mechanical properties of the steering column are optimized to verify the feasibility of the multi-objective optimization method.
3D printing guiding stent graft fenestration: A novel technique for fenestration in endovascular aneurysm repair
Authors: Huang Jianhua , Li Gan , Wang Wei , Wu Keming , Le Tianming
Published: December 2016

Objective

To describe a novel approach, 3D printing guiding stent graft fenestration, for fenestration during endovascular aneurysm repair for juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Methods

A 69-year-old male with juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm underwent endovascular aneurysm repair with “off the label” fenestrated stent graft. To precisely locate the fenestration position, we reconstructed a 3D digital abdominal aortic aneurysm model and created a skin template covering this abdominal aortic aneurysm model. Then the skin template was physically printed and the position of the visceral vessel was hollowed out, thereby helping in locating the fenestration on stent graft.

Results and conclusions

With the help of this 3D printed skin template, we fenestrated the stent graft accurately and rebuilt the bilateral renal artery successfully. This is the first clinical case that used 3D printing guiding stent graft fenestration, which is a novel approach for precise fenestration on stent graft on the table during endovascular aneurysm repair.
G9a inhibits CREB-triggered expression of mu opioid receptor in primary sensory neurons following peripheral nerve injury
Authors: Liang Lingli , Zhao Jian-Yuan , Gu Xiyao , Wu Shaogen , Mo Kai , Xiong Ming , Marie Lutz Brianna , Bekker Alex , Tao Yuan-Xiang
Published: December 2016

Neuropathic pain, a distressing and debilitating disorder, is still poorly managed in clinic. Opioids, like morphine, remain the mainstay of prescribed medications in the treatment of this disorder, but their analgesic effects are highly unsatisfactory in part due to nerve injury-induced reduction of opioid receptors in the first-order sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglia. G9a is a repressor of gene expression. We found that nerve injury-induced increases in G9a and its catalyzed repressive marker H3K9m2 are responsible for epigenetic silencing of Oprm1, Oprk1, and Oprd1 genes in the injured dorsal root ganglia. Blocking these increases rescued dorsal root ganglia Oprm1, Oprk1, and Oprd1 gene expression and morphine or loperamide analgesia and prevented the development of morphine or loperamide-induced analgesic tolerance under neuropathic pain conditions. Conversely, mimicking these increases reduced the expression of three opioid receptors and promoted the mu opioid receptor-gated release of primary afferent neurotransmitters. Mechanistically, nerve injury-induced increases in the binding activity of G9a and H3K9me2 to the Oprm1 gene were associated with the reduced binding of cyclic AMP response element binding protein to the Oprm1 gene. These findings suggest that G9a participates in the nerve injury-induced reduction of the Oprm1 gene likely through G9a-triggered blockage in the access of cyclic AMP response element binding protein to this gene.
Bees algorithm for effective supply chains configuration
Authors: Lambiase A , Iannone R , Miranda S , Lambiase Alessandro , Pham DT
Published: December 2016

This article proposes a bees algorithm for solving a mathematical model of strategic supply chains planning and design in the globalization context. The model, taken from the literature, involves a multi-echelon, multi-facility and multi-product supply chain in a dynamic environment. Our bees algorithm, the first to be applied to this kind of problem, was adapted specifically to the optimization problem, and its performance was benchmarked against the genetic algorithm (GA) provided by commercial optimization software MATLAB R2011b. This is in order to test its effectiveness in an already known supply chain design problem, which has not been solved yet in optimized way. Several configurations of the algorithm were tested and analysed; the bees algorithm performs better of 10% in quality of solution respect to the GA with equivalent calculation time. The better quality of their solutions and the good calculation time performances have encouraged towards more accurate studies on tuning parameters and an extended utilization of the methodology on problems of logistic systems configuration and supply chain design.
Hybrid polyurea elastomers with enzymatic degradation and tunable mechanical properties
Authors: Sears Nicholas A , Pena-Galea Geraldine , Cereceres Stacy N , Cosgriff-Hernandez Elizabeth
Published: December 2016

Herein, we report on the synthesis and characterization of enzymatically labile polyureas for use as a tissue-engineered ligament scaffold. Polyureas were selected due to their excellent tensile properties, fatigue resistance, and highly tunable nature. Incorporation of a collagenase-sensitive peptide into the backbone of the polyurea provided a means to confer cell-responsive degradation to the synthetic polymer. Chemical, morphological, and mechanical testing were used to confirm incorporation of the peptide and characterize polyurea films. Notably, the incorporation of the peptide resulted in an increase in modulus, elongation, and tensile strength. This was attributed to an increase in phase mixing and an increase in hydrogen bonding between the hard and soft segments. Candidate polyureas with varying levels of collagen-mimetic peptide (0%, 10%, 20%) were then subjected to degradation in collagenase media or buffer at 37°C over 4 weeks. Statistically significant decreases in strength and elongation were observed in polyureas with 20% peptide content after collagenase treatment, whereas specimens in phosphate-buffered saline showed no statistically significant difference. These observations confirmed that enzyme-specific degradation was conferred to the polyurea. Overall, these polyureas hold great promise as a material for ligament reconstruction due to the promising mechanical properties and potential for cell-mediated degradation.
Air bubbles are released by thoracic endograft deployment: An in vitro experimental study
Authors: Inci Kamuran , Koutouzi Giasemi , Chernoray Valery , Jeppsson Anders , Nilsson Håkan , Falkenberg Mårten
Published: December 2016

Purpose:

Embolic stroke is a dreaded complication of thoracic endovascular aortic repair. The prevailing theory about its cause is that particulate debris from atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic wall are dislodged by endovascular instruments and embolize to the brain. An alternative source of embolism might be air trapped in the endograft delivery system. The aim of this experimental study was to determine whether air is released during deployment of a thoracic endograft.

Methods:

In an experimental benchtop study, eight thoracic endografts (five Medtronic Valiant Thoracic and three Gore TAG) were deployed in a water-filled transparent container drained from air. Endografts were prepared and deployed according to their instructions for use. Deployment was filmed and the volume of air released was collected and measured in a calibrated syringe.

Results:

Air was released from all the endografts examined. Air volumes ranged from 0.1 to 0.3 mL for Medtronic Valiant Thoracic and from <0.025 to 0.04 mL for Gore TAG. The largest bubbles had a diameter of approximately 3 mm and came from the proximal end of the Medtronic Valiant device.

Conclusion:

Air bubbles are released from thoracic endografts during deployment. Air embolism may be an alternative cause of stroke during thoracic endovascular aortic repair.
Contegra 12 mm: How Long Can It Last?
Authors: Falchetti Alessandro , Pellegrin Marie-Anne , Sanoussi Ahmed , Demanet Helene , Wauthy Pierre
Published: December 2016

Since the year 2000, we have used Contegra conduits for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction in infants and newborns. Published reports of early and late results from multiple centers have included variable and inconsistent findings. Concerns about the durability of small conduits placed in younger infants have been expressed. We report an interesting experience with a 12-mm Contegra conduit that we explanted 16 years after implantation in the course of repair of truncus arteriosus (common arterial trunk) in an infant.
Utilizing Collaborative Analysis of Student Learning in Educator Preparation Programs for Continuous Improvement
Authors: Colby Susan , Lambert Monica , McGee Jennifer
Published: December 2016

In this results-oriented era of accountability, educator preparation programs are called upon to provide comprehensive data related to student and program outcomes while also providing evidence of continuous improvement. Collaborative Analysis of Student Learning (CASL) is one approach for fostering critical inquiry about student learning. Graduate educator preparation programs in our university used collaborative analysis as the basis for continuous improvement during an accreditation cycle. As authors of this study, we sought to better understand how graduate program directors and faculty used collaborative analysis to inform practice and improve programs. Our findings suggested that CASL has the potential to foster collective responsibility for student learning, but only with a strong commitment from administrators and faculty, purposefully designed protocols and processes, fidelity to the CASL method, and a focus on professional development. Through CASL, programs have the ability to produce meaningful data related to student and program outcomes and meet the requirements for accreditation.
The Impact of a Career and Technology Education Program
Authors: Chumbley Steven Boot
Published: December 2016

There continues to be a shortage of qualified graduates for agriculture jobs within the United States. One reason for this shortage is the decline in student enrollment in colleges of agriculture. One tool that can increase college preparation for future graduates and help students succeed is the agriculture dual-enrollment program. Dual enrollment allows high-school students to take courses while dually enrolled in a corresponding college course. The program was found to have a positive impact on students taking more rigorous courses and gaining in-depth knowledge of agriculture. Teachers felt that this program helped in establishing higher standards in coursework and in feeling satisfied about their job. It enhanced prestige and program reputation. Dual enrollment was seen to have little to no impact on school counselors. Research focused on the pedagogical approaches of these course offerings will benefit the creation of future high-quality dual credit courses.
Request Strategies in Everyday Interactions of Persian and English Speakers
Authors: Yazdanfar Shiler , Bonyadi Alireza
Published: December 2016

Cross-cultural studies of speech acts in different linguistic contexts might have interesting implications for language researchers and practitioners. Drawing on the Speech Act Theory, the present study aimed at conducting a comparative study of request speech act in Persian and English. Specifically, the study endeavored to explore the request strategies used in daily interactions of Persian and English speakers based on directness level and supportive moves. To this end, English and Persian TV series were observed and requestive utterances were transcribed. The utterances were then categorized based on Blum-Kulka and Olshtain’s Cross-Cultural Study of Speech Act Realization Pattern (CCSARP) for directness level and internal and external mitigation devises. According to the results, although speakers of both languages opted for the direct level as their most frequently used strategy in their daily interactions, the English speakers used more conventionally indirect strategies than the Persian speakers did, and the Persian speakers used more non-conventionally indirect strategies than the English speakers did. Furthermore, the analyzed data revealed the fact that American English speakers use more mitigation devices in their daily interactions with friends and family members than Persian speakers.
How Did Youth Mental Health Make It Onto Australia’s 2011 Federal Policy Agenda?
Authors: Whiteford Harvey A. , Meurk Carla , Carstensen Georgia , Hall Wayne , Hill Peter , Head Brian W.
Published: December 2016

The 2011 Australian federal budget included a large investment in youth mental health and early intervention services. In this article, we focus on the critical role of agenda setting in the preceding 4 years to examine how and why these services were given such a high priority at this time. We undertook a systematic review of relevant literature, including parliamentary Hansard transcripts from the House of Representatives and Senate, the final reports of all available parliamentary committees, government policy documents, other pertinent documents held by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aging, and media reports from five widely circulated Australian publications/news outlets. We used Kingdon’s multiple streams framework to structure analysis. We highlight three factors that were influential in getting youth mental health issues onto the policy agenda: (a) the strategic use of quantitative evidence to create a publicly visible “problem,” (b) the marshalling of the “public” to create pressure on government, and (c) the role of serendipity. Overall, we found the decision to prioritize youth mental health resulted from a combination of advocacy for a well-articulated policy solution by high-profile, influential policy entrepreneurs, and political pressure caused by an up swell of national support for mental health reform. Our findings highlight the socio-political factors that influence agenda setting and health policy formulation. They raise important ethical and strategic issues in utilizing research evidence to change policy.