bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utilization of coconut shell powder as a novel filler in natural rubber
Authors: Sareena C , Ramesan MT , Purushothaman E
Published: March 2012

This work focuses on the use of coconut shell powder as filler in natural rubber. Coconut, one of the food crops in the world, generates large amounts of waste material namely coconut shell. Modified and unmodified coconut shell powder–natural rubber composites with varying particle size and dosages were prepared by an open mill-mixing technique. The processing characteristics and the curing behavior of the composites were determined by Monsanto Rheometer. The technological performance was done by analyzing the tensile strength, tear strength and hardness of the vulcanizates. The swelling studies were carried out to observe the crosslink density and the reinforcement ability of the filler on natural rubber. The observed variation in mechanical properties has been supported by the fractography of the composites obtained by scanning electron microscopy. The results of the study show that the coconut shell powder is most effective filler in natural rubber at 10 parts per hundred loading. Reinforcement ability of modified coconut shell powder is more when compared to unmodified coconut shell powder, therefore modified coconut shell powder–natural rubber composites show better physicomechanical properties. Incorporation of coconut shell powder into natural rubber matrix enhances the thermal properties of the natural rubber—coconut shell powder composites.
Critically Questioning the Discourse of Transformative Learning Theory
Authors: Kucukaydin Ilhan , Cranton Patricia
Published: March 2012

In this article, the authors critically examine the way discourse enters into and becomes embedded in transformative learning theory, especially from the extrarational or depth psychology perspective. The authors begin by providing an overview of how transformative learning theory has developed in diverse directions, including the extrarational approach. In this latter perspective, concepts from depth psychology tend to be used to describe transformative learning, without there being a critical analysis or a common understanding of the meaning of these concepts. By treating knowledge about transformative learning as practical knowledge (from the perspective of Habermas’s framework), the authors are able to critically question the knowledge claims inherent in the discourse within the extrarational approach to transformative learning theory development.
The Current Crisis of US Domination over the Americas
Authors: Salazar Luis Suárez
Published: March 2012

The Western hemisphere is experiencing a multidimensional system of US domination sustained through asymmetrical alliances of the economic, political, and military kind. That system of domination has fallen into crisis and is being challenged by a multifaceted resistance of popular, democratic, reformist, and revolutionary forces. Attempts to preserve the hegemonic ‘Pan-American Order’ gave rise to a ‘surge’ that is analyzed in this article. This hegemonic design has been confronted with new and alternative kinds of regional integration initiatives, spearheaded by the revolutionary states and to some extent assimilated by reformist governments. In this dynamic context, a futurist analysis of the region’s short-term prospects suggests that the challenge of building unity around revolutionary and reform processes represents the best hope for cracking US hegemony over the Americas.
Public administration and executive politics: perennial questions in changing contexts
Authors: Lodge Martin , Wegrich Kai
Published: March 2012

The fields of political science and public administration are said to be drifting apart. This article argues that a focus on executive politics – the politics of the executive and of the execution of policies – offers a key avenue to maintain a useful conversation that focuses on perennial questions that are shared across research traditions. This conversation should concentrate on the ‘administrative factor’ in political life and the ‘political factor’ in administrative life. This article develops this argument in three steps. First, it defines the field of executive politics. Second, it considers the rationale why a focus on executive politics is pertinent at this particular time. Third, it discusses the challenges that a turn towards executive politics faces. This article concludes by considering the position of British public administration in the field of executive politics.
A knowledge-based system for multi-disciplinary conceptual design synthesis
Authors: Liu Ze-Lin , Chen Yong , Xie You-Bai
Published: March 2012

Exploring wide multi-disciplinary solution spaces to create conceptual design solutions is a difficult task for human designers due to lack of sufficient multi-disciplinary knowledge. A viable approach would be to develop a computer-aided system to synthesize the wide variety of knowledge for a given design task. However, the existing design synthesis systems are mainly domain-specific, focusing on conceptual design synthesis in a single or few limited disciplines. Therefore, this article introduces the development of a knowledge-based system for multi-disciplinary conceptual design synthesis, including the establishment of a knowledge base for organizing multi-disciplinary principle solutions and a design synthesis algorithm. The implementation of a prototype software is also reported, with the conceptual design of a solar fountain as a demonstrative case. The results of the case study show that the system can automatically and conveniently generate multi-disciplinary conceptual solutions.
Control-oriented model-based ignition timing prediction for high-degrees-of-freedom spark ignition engines
Authors: Prucka Robert G , Filipi Zoran S , Assanis Dennis N
Published: March 2012

The pressure to improve automotive fuel economy and emissions has driven the introduction of more complex spark ignition engines. As the number of control actuators increases, traditional ignition timing calibration and control methods become restrictive, creating a need for new feedforward approaches to manage transient operation. This research was conducted to determine whether a control-oriented turbulent flame entrainment model could be developed to predict the ignition timing of an engine with a large number of control actuators. A physics-based approach is used to capture the influence of additional control actuators on the complex interactions affecting the ignition timing. Each actuator is characterized by its influence on the fundamental combustion parameters, such as the residual gas fraction and the turbulence intensity. Experimental results are used to generate semiempirical input and combustion models that are capable of running in real time within an engine controller. The model is used to predict the combustion duration, from the spark to 50% mass fraction burned, at every crank angle position within a reasonable ignition timing window for each engine operating point. With minimal engine mapping, the model was capable of predicting the spark timing to within several degrees of ideal values, demonstrating the feasibility of this approach for use in high-degrees-of-freedom spark ignition engines.
Performance and emissions of a direct-injection diesel engine operating on emulsions of corn stalk bio-oil in diesel
Authors: Huang Yongcheng , Han Xudong , Shang Shang , Wang Li
Published: March 2012

The experimental bio-oil produced from corn stalk through a fast pyrolysis process is mainly composed of oxygenated organics and water, which makes it unsuitable for direct use as fuel. However, the use of bio-oil in diesel engines can be realized by developing stable emulsions of bio-oil in diesel. In this paper, two emulsions with 10% and 20% bio-oil by mass fraction in No. 0 diesel, represented by BO10 and BO20 respectively, were prepared using an ultrasonic emulsification method after determining the optimum hydrophilic and lipophilic balance value of the emulsifier for the emulsions. Then, the performance and emissions of an unmodified direct-injection diesel engine operating with the two emulsions were studied. The results show that the two emulsions display longer ignition delays, exhibit higher peak values of the premixed burning rate and pressure rise rate, demonstrate lower peak values of the in-cylinder pressure and combustion temperature and have a shorter combustion duration than No. 0 diesel does. In comparison with BO10, BO20 has a longer ignition delay, while it exhibits lower peak values of the premixed burning rate, the pressure rise rate, the in-cylinder pressure and the combustion temperature. In addition, the fuel economy of BO10 is comparable with that of No. 0 diesel, while the fuel economy of BO20 is poorer than that of No. 0 diesel. Nitrogen oxide emissions of the emulsions are lower but carbon monoxide emissions are higher than those of No. 0 diesel, and these trends are more marked with increasing bio-oil mass fraction. The hydrocarbon and smoke emissions of BO10 are lower than those of No. 0 diesel, but the hydrocarbon and smoke emissions of BO20 are higher.
High altitude low Reynolds number effect on the matching performance of a turbofan engine
Authors: Tang Hai-Long , Chen Min , Jin Dong-hai , Zou Zheng-ping
Published: March 2012

Under the condition of high altitude and low Mach number, the low Reynolds number greatly affects the performance and aerodynamic stability of aero-engines for high altitude endurance uninhabited aerial vehicles. In order to quantitatively analyze this effect, an iteration simulation method has been employed, in which the aero-engine zero-dimensional simulation is communicated and iterated with the components three-dimensional simulation several turns, until the result is satisfactory. The result shows, under the condition of low Reynolds number, not only the efficiency and the mass flow capacity of the rotational components decline, but also the surge lines of the fan and the compressor move downward. Furthermore, to meet the constraints of different engine components operating together, the matching operation lines of the fan and the compressor move toward the surge line, which leads to the decrease of the surge margin. These simulation results agree well with high altitude experimental results.
Synthesis of zinc–polytetrafluorethylene composite coatings based on electroplating
Authors: Diblíková Linda , Pazderová Martina , Valeš Miroslav , Kudláček Jan
Published: March 2012

This article covers the development of the synthesis of the zinc coatings with dispersed polytetrafluorethylene particles (zinc–polytetrafluorethylene composite coatings). The technology was based on zinc electrolytic plating in weakly acid bath. After optimising the parameters of the technology according to the results of coating analyses by infrared spectroscopy and tribological measurements, it was possible to prepare zinc coatings with homogenously incorporated polytetrafluorethylene. This ensured significantly lower friction coefficient of these coatings in comparison with pure zinc coating. The corrosion resistance and self-lubrication character of zinc–polytetrafluorethylene coatings is promising in potential replacement of existing multi-layered zinc coating systems.
On the force signatures of a pair of multi-plunging airfoils
Authors: Amiralaei Mohammad R , Alighanbari Hekmat , Hashemi Seyed M
Published: March 2012

The unsteady aerodynamics of a pair of multi-plunging airfoils is studied using computational fluid dynamics based on a finite volume method and dynamic layering mesh motion algorithm. The two-dimensional unsteady, incompressible Navier–Stokes equations are used as the governing equations while the thin ellipsoidal airfoils, commonly used in micro aerial vehicles, perform harmonic plunging motion. The instantaneous lift and drag coefficients are examined in detail and the effects of Reynolds number, frequency and amplitude of oscillations, and the airfoils’ centre-to-centre spacing on the force coefficients are investigated. It is shown that the force coefficients of each of the plunging airfoils differ noticeably from those of a single plunging airfoil both quantitatively and qualitatively, showing the significance of the airfoil–airfoil interaction. It is also observed that the investigated parameters affect the magnitude and characteristics of the real-time lift and drag coefficients. There is an optimum frequency of oscillations, resulting in the highest thrust generation between the investigated frequencies. The amplitude of oscillations increases the aerodynamic performance by increasing the mean lift coefficient but decreasing the mean drag coefficient at the same time. Re effects on the lift coefficient are negligible; however, it is shown that increasing Re causes the airfoils to generate more thrust compared to the lower Re investigated here.
Climatic signatures in crops and grain prices in 19th-century Sweden
Authors: Holopainen Jari , Rickard Ian J , Helama Samuli
Published: March 2012

Climate and weather variation affect agricultural productivity, with consequences for both overall food availability and the wider economy. Knowledge of these processes has implications for understanding historical demography and predicting effects of climate change on societies. We studied the relationships between ambient temperature and the yields and prices of principle grains (wheat, rye, barley oats) in Sweden from 1803 to 1914. We found that the annual general crop index (a measure of overall crop yield) correlated negatively with the annual average price of the four grains. Overall temperature during the period of crop growth was related positively to general crop index and negatively to average crop price. At the level of month of crop growth, when the relationship between temperature and general crop index was most positive, that between temperature and average crop price was most negative. This strong structured relationship was found to be consistent when yields of each crop were considered separately, and indicates that the relationships between crop yield and crop price were to a large extent due to the influence of ambient temperature. Price correlations between pairs of crop species were in all cases greater than the correlation of yields. Within individual crops, correlations between price and yield were stronger for those crops for which imports were not available, and which were therefore subject to the weakest influence from rising globalisation. Our analyses demonstrate the sensitivity of historical agriculture to climatic factors, and the extent to which this affected the wider economy. It is likely that the susceptibility of agriculture to climatic risks was ascended by the concomitant climate regime, the ‘Little Ice Age’. Moreover, our study period spans the period of rising globalisation, and suggests a weakening influence of prevailing weather on crop prices.
A paleoecological perspective on 1450 years of human impacts from a lake in southern Greenland
Authors: Perren Bianca B , Massa Charly , Bichet Vincent , Gauthier Émilie , Mathieu Olivier , Petit Christophe , Richard Hervé
Published: March 2012

A multiproxy sedimentary record from Lake Igaliku in southern Greenland documents 1450 years of human impacts on the landscape. Diatoms, scaled chrysophytes, and C and N geochemistry show perturbations consistent with recent agricultural activities (post-ad 1980), superimposed upon long-term environmental variability. While the response to Norse agriculture (~ad 986–1450) is weak, the biological response to the last 30 years of modern sheep farming is marked, with drastic changes in diatom taxa, δ13C and δ15N isotopic ratios, and a sharp increase in scaled chrysophytes. Indeed, current conditions in the lake during the last 30 years are unprecedented in the context of the last 1450 years. The dominant driver for recent changes is likely an intensification of agricultural practices combined with warming summer temperatures. Warm temperatures and agricultural disturbance together during Norse Landnám did not lead to the marked changes seen in the modern lake environment over the last 30 years. The synergistic response between increased climate warming and agriculture will likely have unanticipated effects. These findings confirm the sensitivity of Arctic lakes to external anthropogenic forcing and are the first analyses of their kind for the effects of agriculture in Greenland.
Acute initial haemodynamic changes in a rat isoprenaline model of cardiotoxicity
Authors: Filipský T , Zatloukalová L , Mladěnka P , Hrdina R
Published: March 2012

The synthetic catecholamine isoprenaline (ISO) has been used as an inductor in the acute myocardial infarction model for more than a half century. Despite the fact that many articles were published on this topic, precise early haemodynamic pathology remains unknown. Acute haemodynamic changes were measured in rats; first, in preliminary experiments by the thermodilution method; and second, in main experiments continuously for 2 h using a Millar catheter. Animals received saline or ISO in the cardiotoxic dose (100 mg/kg, subcutaneously). Also, additional experiments were performed with salbutamol in order to evaluate the role of β2-receptors. ISO caused a rapid, within 1 min, approximately 40% decrease in arterial blood pressures, 30% increase in the heart rate, and 30% decrease in the stroke volume. Within the first 2 min, the changes were followed by decreases in afterload (−40%), preload (−10%), diastolic relaxation (−50%), diastolic filling (−40%), and a marked, but short-term, increase in the left ventricle contractility (+100%). Ejection fraction did not significantly change, suggesting diastolic dysfunction. Salbutamol, with the exception of diastolic pressure and afterload, did not substantially influence other parameters. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that diastolic dysfunction precedes systolic dysfunction and β2-receptor stimulation alone is not sufficient for an early induction of diastolic dysfunction.
Sulfasalazine prevents the increase in TGF-β, COX-2, nuclear NFκB translocation and fibrosis in CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis in the rat
Authors: Chávez E , Castro-Sánchez L , Shibayama M , Tsutsumi V , Moreno MG , Muriel P
Published: March 2012

It has been demonstrated that this sulfasalazine (SF) inhibits the nuclear factor κB (NFκB) pathway, which regulates important genes during inflammation and immune answer. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of SF on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis. We formed the following experimental groups of rats: controls, damage induced by chronic CCl4 (0.4 g/kg, intraperitoneally, three times a week for 8 weeks) administration and CCl4 + SF (100 mg/kg/day, postoperatively for 8 weeks) administration. We determined the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP), cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2, lipid peroxidation, glutathione levels, collagen content, expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and nuclear translocation of NFκB. SF was capable to inhibit the ALT and γ-GTP elevated levels induced with the CCl4 administration. SF had antioxidant properties, prevented the lipid peroxidation and the imbalance of reduced and oxidized glutathione produced by CCl4. Importantly, SF blocked the accumulation of collagen in the liver, the expression of TGF-β, the nuclear translocation of NFκB and the activity of COX-2, all induced with the administration of CCl4 in the rat. These results show that SF has strong antifibrotic properties because of its antioxidant properties and its ability to prevent nuclear translocation of NFκB and consequently the expression of TGF-β and the activity of COX-2.
Choice of Information to Discuss
Authors: Littlepage Glenn , Perdue Eric B. , Fuller Dana K.
Published: March 2012

Members of 43 three-person groups completed a deductive logic task. Each member was provided with unique clues and information indicating the utility of each clue. Objective validity varied because some clues were essential to problem solution and others were not useful. Social validity was manipulated by informing participants that some clues would likely be useful and that other clues were not likely to be useful. Clues were discussed more frequently if either objective validity or social validity was high, but the effects were not additive. Clues were discussed less frequently in the low objective validity–low social validity condition than in all other conditions. Alignment of both types of validity facilitated the group’s ability to focus on relevant information.
RABBIT-VENTURE
Authors: Gerwel Cecile N. , Bodhanya Shamim
Published: March 2012

Change processes in organizations and specifically change involving multiple stakeholders can be challenging. Participants in the simulation are grouped and tasked with making a success of a project involving the building of simulated rabbit cages. Certain groups have complete power and control, particularly by way of possession of valuable resources, whereas the group tasked with producing the cages relies on communication from the other groups regarding the required strategy. Participants thus have to navigate through immense complexity, which arises from the existence of multiple stakeholders, each with their own mental models, values, goals, and perceptions. The simulation can be used for students in classes that focus on change management, project management, strategic management, and even general management, as the scenarios are characterized by turbulence, which sets the scene for a rich debriefing regarding these critical areas. The simulation can also be of benefit to employees and managers undergoing such processes.
Second-Stage Music Teachers’ Perceptions of Their Professional Development
Authors: Eros John
Published: March 2012

In recent years, professional development has become a topic of an increasing amount of research. However, studies are often general in nature or focused on beginning teachers specifically. Recently, researchers have begun to explore professional development over the course of a teacher’s entire career. The purpose of this study was to investigate the professional development needs of a particular population of experienced teachers: those known as second-stage teachers, commonly defined as teachers who have experience of 4 to 10 years and have passed the “survival years.” Research questions were as follows: (a) How do second-stage music teachers describe their professional development experiences? and (b) How do second-stage music teachers perceive their professional development needs? Findings are organized into the following themes: forms of professional development, professional development needs at different times, obstacles to professional development, and concerns about a lack of professional development.
A hierarchical Bayesian framework for multimodal active perception
Authors: Ferreira João Filipe , Castelo-Branco Miguel , Dias Jorge
Published: March 2012

In this article, we present a hierarchical Bayesian framework for multimodal active perception, devised to be emergent, scalable and adaptive. This framework, while not strictly neuromimetic, finds its roots in the role of the dorsal perceptual pathway of the human brain. Its composing models build upon a common spatial configuration that is naturally fitting for the integration of readings from multiple sensors using a Bayesian approach devised in previous work. The framework presented in this article is shown to adequately model human-like active perception behaviours, namely by exhibiting the following desirable properties: high-level behaviour results from low-level interaction of simpler building blocks; seamless integration of additional inputs is allowed by the Bayesian Programming formalism; initial ‘genetic imprint’ of distribution parameters may be changed ‘on the fly’ through parameter manipulation, thus allowing for the implementation of goal-dependent behaviours (i.e. top-down influences).
Fault diagnosis of rolling bearing based on wavelet transform and envelope spectrum correlation
Authors: Sun Wei , An Yang Guo , Chen Qiong , Palazoglu Ahmet , Feng Kun
Published: March 2012

Monitoring of incipient faults is vital for the safe and reliable operation of rolling element bearings. In this paper, the combination of discrete wavelet transform and envelope analysis is proposed to extract the characteristic spectrum of rolling bearing vibration data. Then spectrum cross-correlation coefficient is applied to identify different operating conditions of rolling bearings. The proposed method is applied to fault diagnosis of rolling bearings with several different faults. The results show that the proposed method has high classification accuracy, and performs better than alternative approaches based on conventional characteristic defect frequency extraction.
Solenoid actuator design and modeling with application in engine vibration isolators
Authors: Hosseini A Masih , Arzanpour Siamak , Golnaraghi Farid , Parameswaran Ash M
Published: March 2012

This paper investigates the performance of a modified conventional solenoid valve as a low-cost controllable reciprocating force actuator. The applied modifications include adding a spring for plunger return mechanism, applying a bias current for pre-compression of the spring, and minor machining of the plunger rod. Potentially, this actuator can be employed in many applications, e.g. active noise and vibration control systems. A mathematical model of the actuator is given using the fundamental electromagnetic relationships. This model identifies the transfer function between the applied current and the output force. An experimental analysis in the frequency domain is conducted to obtain the current/force transfer function and validate the mathematical model. It is shown that in the stroke range of interest, the nonlinear analytical model of this actuator can be well estimated by a linear model. To investigate the performance of the actuator in a real application, this actuator is installed and tested in an active engine mount prototype. The analytical model of this engine mount is modified to include the actuator. The simulation result indicates that the stiffness and damping of this mount is tunable by controlling the input current to the actuator. The experimental results are also in close agreement with the simulations.
Semi-active control for a multi-dimensional vibration isolator with parallel mechanism
Authors: Zhao Wei , Li Bing , Liu Ping , Liu Kefu
Published: March 2012

In this paper, a vibration isolation system based on a parallel mechanism is proposed to isolate the multi-dimensional (MD) vibrations. The parallel mechanism, which is composed of three uniform [Formula: see text] (Prismatic pair with spring and damper elements–Universal joint–Universal joint) limbs and two platforms, has three translational degrees of freedom. First, the isolator is introduced and the dynamic model is achieved by a Newton–Euler method. Further, a sliding mode controller is designed to obtain the optimal damping forces as the control strategy is very essential to a vibration isolation system. At the same time, the time-domain hard constraints are considered in the controller design as the damping force can only be produced along the direction contrary to the relative velocities of the MR damper’s two ends. Simulations results demonstrate that the semi-active isolator using MR dampers has fine performance in reducing MD vibrations.
Improvement of journal bearing operation at heavy misalignment using bearing flexibility and compliant liners
Authors: Thomsen Kim , Klit Peder
Published: March 2012

A flexure journal bearing design is proposed that will improve operational behaviour of a journal bearing at pronounced misalignment. Using a thermoelastohydrodynamic model, it is shown that the proposed flexure journal bearing has vastly increased the hydrodynamic performance compared to the stiff bearing when misaligned. The hydrodynamic performance is evaluated on lubricant film thickness, pressure and temperature. Furthermore, the influence of a compliant bearing liner is investigated and it is found that it increases the hydrodynamic performance when applied to a stiff bearing, whereas the liner has practically no influence on the flexure journal bearing's performance.
Characteristics of multiple sclerosis in aboriginals living in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Saeedi Jameelah , Rieckmann Peter , Yee Irene , Tremlett Helen ,   and the UBC MS clinic neurologists
Published: March 2012

Objectives:

The objectives of this study were to identify and describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS) in aboriginals in British Columbia (BC), Canada and compare these findings with non-aboriginal MS patients.

Methods:

This retrospective chart and database review accessed patient information from the linked BC-wide MS clinical and genetics databases. Data gathered included: demographics (age, sex and ethnicity); clinical characteristics (MS onset date, disease course and disability scores (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS]). Aboriginals were identified via the database linkage augmented by physician and nurse recall. Two non-aboriginal comparator groups with definite MS were selected. Group one included all definite MS patients in the BC MS database, and group two comprised MS patients matched by sex, age at onset and initial disease course. Patient characteristics were compared using the Student’s t-test, chi-squared test, and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to examine disease progression (time to sustained and confirmed EDSS 6)

Results:

We identified 26 aboriginals with MS, of which 19/26 (73%) were female, 23/26 (89%) had relapsing-onset MS and a mean onset age of 31.1 years. There were no significant differences between the MS aboriginals and the non-matched ( n = 5708) comparator group with respect to age, sex or disease course ( p > 0.1), However, aboriginals progressed more rapidly to EDSS 6 from disease onset ( p < 0.001) when compared with the matched and unmatched comparator groups.

Conclusion:

We identified a small, but important cohort of aboriginals with MS; being the largest identified to date. There was evidence of more rapid MS progression in aboriginals compared with non-aboriginals.
Effect of gender on late-onset multiple sclerosis
Authors: Bove Riley M , Healy Brian , Augustine Ann , Musallam Alexander , Gholipour Taha , Chitnis Tanuja
Published: March 2012

Objectives:

We aimed to examine the incidence and disease course of late-onset multiple sclerosis (LOMS) compared with adult-onset MS (AOMS) in our clinic cohort, stratified based on gender and race, since both have been reported as important modifiers of disease outcomes in MS.

Methods:

Patients with LOMS and AOMS were compared in terms of demographic characteristics and disease course characteristics. Combined effects were investigated with a logistic regression model. Time from disease onset to sustained Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 6 was investigated using an extension of log-rank test appropriate for interval-censored data.

Results:

Some 7.96% of 4273 patients studied had an onset of MS after the age of 50 years (LOMS), and 1.33% experienced an onset after age 60. Progressive onset was more common in LOMS relative to AOMS. The proportion of women with progressive-onset disease was similar in AOMS and LOMS. Time to EDSS 6 was delayed in AOMS females compared with males; however, it was similar between males and females in the LOMS group.

Conclusions:

Women with LOMS have a different trajectory in terms of disease progression than women with AOMS. The effect of menopause combined with race/ethnicity on the MS disease course requires further investigation.
Behavioural symptoms and impairments in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Rosti-Otajärvi Eija , Hämäläinen Päivi
Published: March 2012

Behavioural problems are not well recognized in multiple sclerosis (MS). In this review we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of behavioural symptoms and impairments in MS. A systematic search was carried out from MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL and COCHRANE. In total, 23 studies (1831 participants) were identified. Based on the literature search, behavioural symptoms and impairments are observed in MS. Aggression (23%), apathy (22%), euphoria (12%) and lack of insight (11%) were the most frequent symptoms, and adjustment disorder (17%) the most frequent impairment. Severe mental disorders are more infrequent than changes in behaviour, manner of reaction, and way of action. In conclusion the objective behavioural impairments and especially subjective symptoms are present in patients with MS. These manifestations should be taken into account in the diagnostics and treatment of the disease.
1914 in world historical perspective: The ‘uneven’ and ‘combined’ origins of World War I
Authors: Anievas Alexander
Published: March 2012

The causes of World War I remain a topic of enormous intellectual interest. Yet, despite the immensity of the literature, historiographical and IR debates remain mired within unhelpful methodological dichotomies revolving around whether a ‘primacy of foreign policy’ versus ‘primacy of domestic politics’ or systemic versus unit-level approach best account for the war’s origins. Given that this historiography is the most prolific body of literature for any war within the modern age, it reveals a much deeper problem with the social sciences: how to coherently integrate ‘external’ and ‘internal’ relations into a synthesized theory of inter-state conflict and war. Drawing on and contributing to the theory of uneven and combined development, this article challenges standard interpretations of the war by distinctively uniting geopolitical and sociological modes of explanation into a single framework. In doing so, the article highlights how the necessarily variegated character of interactive socio-historical development explains the inter-state rivalries leading to war. Contextualizing the sources of conflict within the broad developmental tendencies of the Long 19th Century (1789–1914) and their particular articulation during the immediate pre-war juncture, the article seeks to provide significant contributions to recent debates in IR and historical sociology, as well as those concerning the relationship between history and IR theory.
Local political subcultures and party activism in Italy
Authors: Vergani Matteo
Published: March 2012

While there are relevant studies on both local political subcultures and party activism in Italy, the literature misses the relations between these two social and political phenomena. This article aims at bridging the lacuna by presenting a typology of the local branches of the Italian PD (Democratic Party) based on the relationship between the features of party activism and the local political subcultures. Four types of local PD branch emerge: the ‘showcase’ branch, the ‘administrative’ branch, the ‘company’ branch and the ‘committee’ branch. The article discusses each type, while drawing on 40 in-depth interviews collected during field research. Insights into the relationship between local political subcultures and party activism in Italy are offered.
The subpolitics of online piracy: A Swedish case study
Authors: Lindgren Simon , Linde Jessica
Published: March 2012

‘Pirates’ and ‘anti-pirates’ have become common concepts in the cultural political debate, as the file-sharing phenomenon is a delicate and disputed subject. The fact that people organize in networks to share data with each other has led film and music companies from all over the world to initiate a number of anti-piracy organizations, assigned to protect the property rights to culture and information. In Sweden, the industrial organization The Swedish Bureau of Anti-Piracy on the one side, and the network The Bureau of Piracy together with The Pirate Party, on the other, play important parts in the prevailing conflict. The purpose of this article is to apply a sociological perspective on the collective act of file sharing. By focusing on the distinctly organized part of file sharing activities as well as on the everyday practices of users, the goal is to describe how the collective action and the production of knowledge, taking place in relation to online piracy, can be understood.
Performing and undoing identity online: Social networking, identity theories and the incompatibility of online profiles and friendship regimes
Authors: Cover Rob
Published: March 2012

This article aims to expand the critical frameworks by which online social networking can be contextualised and understood within the broader cultural practices of identity and selfhood. Utilising Judith Butler’s theories of performative identity, it is argued that the use of social networking sites are performative acts in and of themselves. Two facets of social networking are examined from theoretical and critical perspectives: (1) the use of social networking profiles (Info pages, taste selections, biographies) as a tool for performing, developing and stabilising identity as a narrative in line with cultural demands for coherence, intelligibility and recognition; (2) identity performances that occur through relationality among online friends through list maintenance and communication (wall posts, tagging, commentary), and how identity is reconfigured within a network morphology. Finally, the article aims to open discussion around the broad cultural practices and implications of online social networking by developing some theoretical approaches to understanding the incompatibilities between these two facets which compete and risk the ‘undoing’ of online identity coherence. Within the framework of the growing use of social networking sites as one area in which our selfhood and subjectivity are performed, this incompatibility and undoing has both risks and benefits for future the cultural production of identity.
The impact of routine HIV testing on HIV-related stigma and discrimination in Africa
Authors: Durojaye Ebenezer
Published: March 2012

This paper discusses different methods of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, particularly routine and voluntary HIV testing methods, which have been adopted in response to the HIV epidemic in Africa. It then examines the importance of HIV testing as a tool for the prevention and treatment of infected and affected persons. The paper argues that although routine HIV testing is important in scaling up HIV testing in Africa, it may not necessarily address HIV-related stigma as contended by some commentators. Rather, it is argued that routine HIV testing, as practised in many African countries, may fuel HIV-related stigma and violate individuals’ fundamental rights guaranteed in numerous human rights instruments. In conclusion, the paper cautions that any attempt at adopting routine HIV testing in Africa should be tempered with respect for people’s human rights.
Intergroup bias and perceived similarity: Effects of successes and failures on support for in- and outgroup political leaders
Authors: Alabastro Alexis , Rast David E. , Lac Andrew , Hogg Michael A. , Crano William D.
Published: March 2012

Drawing on the social identity theory of leadership and optimal distinctiveness theory, this research examined differences in perceived attitude similarity to in- and outgroup leaders among Liberals and Conservatives before and after the 2008 U.S. presidential election. We predicted Liberals and Conservatives alike would perceive their ingroup leaders (Obama or McCain) to be attitudinally similar to themselves before the election. After the election, however, Conservatives were expected to distance themselves from McCain and to accentuate similarity to Obama. Using a longitudinal design, analysis of American National Election Survey ( N = 742) data showed that Liberals and Conservatives viewed themselves to be similar to their respective ingroup leader and dissimilar to the outgroup leader. Consistent with expectations, Conservatives significantly accentuated perceived similarity with Obama following his electoral victory, and significantly distanced themselves from McCain following his loss. Liberals’ similarity with either candidate did not change from pre- to postelection. Implications for social identity in inter- and intragroup leadership contexts are discussed.
Optimization of semi-trailing arm suspension for improving handling and stability of passenger car
Authors: Kazemi Mohsen , Heydari Shirazi Kourosh , Ghanbarzadeh Afshin
Published: March 2012

Semi-trailing arm is an extended form of two suspension systems trailing arm and swing axle that compromises advantages and disadvantages of those systems. In this article, using Bees algorithm optimization method, the characteristic parameters of a semi-trailing arm suspension system to optimize the handling and stability performances of a passenger car are determined. Two types of objective functions, namely off-line and on-line, are defined. In off-line objective function, variation of camber, toe angle, and wheel track due to roll are considered. In the on-line objective function, handling and stability performance of a moving vehicle in a standard J-turn maneuver are considered. A nine degree-of-freedom non-linear vehicle model consists of semi-trailing arm and MacPherson suspensions in rear and front axle, respectively, is considered. The optimized suspension systems obtained from both off-line and on-line objective functions are utilized in making two accurate vehicle models in ADAMS-Car for experimental field test. A comparison between the behaviors of the two vehicles shows that despite the simplicity of optimization with off-line objective functions relative to on-line1, it returns the satisfactory results and improves both the handling and stability performances.
Effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on cardiovascular outcomes
Authors: Foote Celine , Perkovic Vlado , Neal Bruce
Published: March 2012

Glucose in the glomerular ultrafiltrate is actively reabsorbed by sodium glucose transporters (SGLT) in the proximal tubule. The SGLT2 protein is a high capacity molecule responsible for the majority of glucose reuptake with pharmacological inhibition, resulting in the loss of about 80g of glucose in the urine each day. About a dozen inhibitors of SGLT2 have entered clinical development, and the first has recently been submitted for registration with the United States Food and Drug Administration. The rationale for the clinical evaluation of these agents is their beneficial effects on glycaemia, blood pressure and body weight. No adequately powered trial has yet determined the effects of an SGLT2 inhibitor on either macrovascular or microvascular outcomes, although a number of large-scale trials are now ongoing. Evidence that will define the overall balance of benefits and risks of this new drug class is anticipated within the next 5 years.
Interpretation of spectra responses of metal nanoparticles to analyte based on localized surface plasmon resonance
Authors: Ma Wenying , Hu Fangrong , Yang Huan , Wang Weimin
Published: March 2012

Metal nanoparticles have potential utilities in biochemical sensing applications owing to their localized surface plasmon resonance characteristics. To facilitate the application of localized surface plasmon resonance sensors, a simple and effective interpretation of spectra responses of metal nanoparticles to analyte was developed in this paper. Based on a bilayer structure model and a trilayer structure model, a general relationship between the peak wavelength changes of extinction spectra and the thickness of the receptor layer as well as the analyte layer was established. Both analytical analysis and chloroform vapor test experiment demonstrate that the sensing performance is greatly dependent on the receptor thickness, and a thinner receptor layer will induce a greater sensitivity. These insights can be used as guidelines in fabricating highly sensitive localized surface plasmon resonance-based biochemical sensors.
Comparison between Hybrid III and Hodgson–WSU headforms by linear and angular dynamic impact response
Authors: Kendall Marshall , Walsh Evan S , Hoshizaki T Blaine
Published: March 2012

In brain injury research, linear and angular resultant acceleration data have been considered important mechanisms contributing to various levels of brain injury. The development of biofidelic headforms with similar dimensions and weight to that of a real human head has allowed for researchers to repeatedly collect data related to the effects of different impacts on the human head. Currently, there are different types of headforms available for impact testing, each with varying degrees of biofidelity and repeatability. Two commonly used headforms were tested: the Hybrid III and the Hodgson–WSU (NOCSAE). The two headforms were outfitted with nine single-axis accelerometers positioned orthogonally following a 3–2–2–2 array. Both headforms show good linearity and correlate well throughout the different velocities and are, therefore, reliable tools. Significant differences are observed in peak linear and peak angular accelerations between Hybrid III and Hodgson–WSU headforms. The shapes of the loading curves are visually different and thus may have significant impact on the output from FE modelling of the brain response.
Combining chemotherapy with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition in advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Leung Linda , Mok Tony S.K. , Loong Herbert
Published: March 2012

Treatment of advanced stage lung cancer is changing rapidly. With the new found knowledge on molecular targets such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), effective therapy is now available in a selected population with the target mutation. Single-agent epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) is a standard first-line therapy for patients with activating-EGFR mutation such as base-pair deletion in exon 19 or point mutation at exon 21. At the same time, this class of drugs may be combined with chemotherapy. Studies on the concurrent combination of chemotherapy and EGFR-TKI confirmed a lack of efficacy. A phase II study on sequential intercalated combination has demonstrated an improvement in progression-free survival (PFS), but this needs to be validated by the ongoing phase III study. The third approach is to combine EGFR-TKI as maintenance therapy after tumour response or stable disease to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Two phase III studies have shown improvement in PFS, but the use of biomarkers for the selection of maintenance therapy remains debatable. Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody against EGFR and its combination with chemotherapy was shown to improve overall survival in an unselected population. A new biomarker using the H-score will help to select patients for this combination.