bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High temperature matrix resins based on bispropargyl ethers – part 1
Authors: Dhanalakshmi Jeyaraj Pandiyan , Alam Sarfaraz , Vijayakumar Chinnaswamy Thangavel
Published: December 2012

The compound bispropargyl ether of bisphenol-A (BPEBPA) is prepared using phase transfer catalyst. Different copper salts like cuprous chloride (CuCl), cupric chloride dihydrate (CuCl2.2H2O), copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO4.5H2O), basic copper carbonate (CuCO3.Cu(OH)2), cupric acetate monohydrate ((CH3COO)2Cu.H2O), and cupric oxide (CuO) are blended separately with BPEBPA (1%, w/w) and the curing characteristics of these materials are investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The presence of copper salt in BPEBPA shifts the curing temperature to a lower temperature region. The materials are thermally cured and the structural characterisation and the thermal properties of these cross-linked materials are investigated using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Of the different copper salts investigated, the presence of copper sulphate pentahydrate in BPEBPA increases the thermal stability of the cured BPEBPA. The thermal degradation products of thermally cured pure BPEBPA and copper salts containing BPEBPA are studied using TG-FTIR. The phenols, substituted phenols, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and alkenes are major volatiles evolved during the thermal degradation of these materials.
Effect of deformed interface on hydro-viscous drive characteristics
Authors: Xie Fang-wei , Zheng Gang , Cui Jian-zhong , Zhang Xian-jun , Li Xia-long , Liu Jian , Yang Ping
Published: December 2012

In this article, the effect of the deformed interface on the hydro-viscous drive characteristics was investigated through a three-dimensional fluid simulation and experiments. The main parameters such as pressure field, velocity field, and torque transferred by the oil film were simulated in FLUENT software in the light of the principle of the computational fluid dynamics. The results found that the dynamic pressure and velocity of the oil film goes up gradually along the radial direction, and the dynamic pressure at zone with groove is much higher than that without groove due to the hydrodynamic effect. After the interface deforming, the dynamic pressure decreases; while the torque transferred by the oil film increases slightly. Furthermore, a special hydro-viscous drive test-bed was developed to verify the correctness and validity of the theoretical results.
A novel 4-RRCR parallel mechanism based on screw theory and its kinematics analysis
Authors: Guo Sheng , Wang Congzhe , Qu Haibo , Fang Yuefa
Published: December 2012

In this article, a novel 4-RRCR parallel mechanism is introduced based on screw theory, and its kinematics and singularity are studied systematically. First, the degree of freedom analysis is performed using the screw theory. The formulas for solving the inverse and direct kinematics are derived. Second, a recursive elimination method is proposed to solve the Jacobian matrix based on the algebra operation of reciprocal product. Then, three kinds of singularity, i.e. limb, platform, and actuation singularities are analyzed. Finally, the analysis proves that the proposed mechanism possesses two advantages of simple forward kinematics and no platform singularity.
Numerical analysis of flows and aerodynamic forces in honeycomb and labyrinth seals
Authors: Zhang Hai , Zheng Qun , Yue Guoqiang , Gao Jie
Published: December 2012

Rotor dynamics and flow characteristics are computed for a honeycomb seal and a corresponding labyrinth seal. Firstly, rotor dynamic parameters, such as amplitude and frequency of vibration are calculated. Then these parameters are used for unsteady fluid flow computation. Numerical results indicate that the rotor vibration can reduce sealing performance and result in additional aerodynamic force on rotor. Further, the aerodynamic forces tend to reduce the self-excited vibration of rotor, and this effect becomes more apparent with the increase of pressure difference. Vortex in seal cavities is deemed to be the primary cause of the above mentioned results. The differences between the two types of seals are presented in this article. Finally, authors conclude that suitable structure design of honeycomb and labyrinth seals, or their combination can minimize rotor vibration.
Research on the efficiency of reduced-basis approach in computations of structural problems and its improvements
Authors: Lei F , Xie XP , Wang XW , Wang YG
Published: December 2012

In this article, procedure and efficiency of the reduced-basis approach in structural design computation are studied. As a model order reduction approach, it provides fast evaluation of a structural system in explicitly parameterized formulation. Theoretically, the original structural system is reduced to obtain a reduced system by being projected onto a lower dimensional subspace. However, in practice, it is a time-consuming process due to the iterations of adaptive procedure in subspace construction. To improve the efficiency of the method, some characteristics are analyzed. First, the accuracy of the subspace is evaluated and computational costs of procedures with different approaches are studied. Results show that the subspaces constructed by greedy adaptive procedures with different beginnings have the same accuracy. It is instructive that accuracy of the subspace is guaranteed by adaptive procedure. And the computational costs depend on the number of iterations in adaptive procedure. Thus, a modified adaptive procedure is proposed to reduce the computational costs and guarantee the accuracy. The modified adaptive procedure begins with experimental design methods to obtain a set of samples rather than a single sample and ends with the adaptive procedure. The start set of samples are selected by the following experimental design methods: 2 k factorial design, standard Latin design and Latin hypercube design. By being integrated with the experimental design, the modified adaptive procedure saves computational costs and retains the same accuracy as traditional procedure does. As an example, the outputs of a vehicle body front compartment subjected to a bending load are illustrated. It is proved that the proposed procedure is efficient and is applicable to many other structural design contexts.
Synchronous clamping control of marine umbilical cable tensioner
Authors: Wang Wenming , Zhang Shimin , Wang Deguo , Lin Li , Zhu Xiaoxiao , Chen Yingchun
Published: December 2012

The umbilical cable tensioner is a core component of deep-water oil and gas development, and it can lay and recover the umbilical cables to ensure the transmission of communication signals, electric signals or liquid injection. The displacements of tensioner’s clamping hydraulic cylinders, which are not synchronized as the nonlinear electro-hydraulic control system, results in the occurrence of the crawler mechanism’s stuck phenomenon or cause umbilical cable deformation or even cause damage by the extrusion in the umbilical cable’s clamping process. To ensure synchronous clamping, the structure scheme of umbilical cable tensioner, crawler mechanism, clamping mechanism and the hydraulic system of synchronous clamping control is designed in this study. This article also analyzes the function of structure parameters and hydraulic cylinders’ displacement, speed and acceleration, and builds the synchronous clamping mechanical model to reveal crawler mechanism’ clamping law. The study proposes the control strategy including the fast moving stage, the working stage and the pressuring stage based on proportional–integral–derivative control, and analyzes the characteristics of synchronous clamping control by building the synchronous clamping experimental platform in the lab environment. The experimental data shows that the tensioner’s hydraulic cylinders have excellent synchronous clamping performance and the theoretical analysis is feasible. The research has important guiding significance for the tensioner design, and provides theoretical support for the laying of the deep-sea umbilical cables.
Softsensor for estimation of steam quality in riser tubes of boilers
Authors: Elshafei Moustafa , Habib Mohamed A
Published: December 2012

Steam fraction in riser tubes of boilers is a critical process variable which impacts the life of the tubes and could lead to tube rupture, long boiler down time, and expensive repairs. Unfortunately this parameter is difficult to measure by hardware sensors. This article presents a new neural network softsensor for estimation and monitoring steam mass and volume fractions in riser tubes. First, conventional data were collected from a target industrial boiler. The data are then used to develop a detailed nonlinear simulation model for the two phase flow in the riser tubes and risers and downcomers water circulation. The model output is verified against the collected field data. Next, the boiler nonlinear model is used to generate data covering a wide rage of operating conditions for training and testing the neural network. The input of the neural network includes the heating power, the steam flow rate, the water feed rate, the drum level, and the drum pressure. The neural networks predict the mass steam quality and the steam volume fractions. The softsensor achieves a root mean square error on the test data less than 1.5%. The predicted steam quality is then compared with the critical limits to guide the operators for safe and healthy operation of the boilers. The developed softsensor for estimation of the steam quality has simple structure and can be implemented easily at the operator stations or the application servers.
A novel finite element model incorporating rotary inertia in thin circular rods
Authors: Ranganathan Shivakumar I
Published: December 2012

In this article, we extend the finite element formulation proposed by Buckham et al.2 to include the effects of rotary inertia in isotropic circular rods (or cables). In developing our model, we first express the angular velocities in terms of the time derivatives of the Frenet frame and use this definition to determine the contributions of rotary inertia. A salient feature of this model is that only six variables representing the absolute position vectors are used as nodal coordinates. Galerkin’s weighted residual approach is used to complete the discretization.
Habits, routines and temporalities of consumption: From individual behaviours to the reproduction of everyday practices
Authors: Southerton Dale
Published: December 2012

The terms habit and routine have come to be used with increasing frequency in debates about ‘behaviour’ change and sustainable consumption, where dominant approaches, dubbed as ‘portfolio models of action’ by their critics, employ these terms to capture human deficiencies in the translation of pro-environmental values into corresponding actions (the ‘value–action’ gap). Alternative approaches present habits and routines as the observable performances of stable practices. Informed by these approaches, this article makes three ‘conceptual moves’ in order to demonstrate the need for empirical attention to the temporal conditioning of everyday practices. First, it is argued that conceptual usages of the terms ‘habit’ and ‘routine’ are often imprecise and used generically to capture many different aspects of human action. A threefold conceptual framework comprising of ‘dispositions’, ‘procedures’ and ‘sequences’ is proposed as a preliminary step in dealing with this problem. Second, it is suggested that generic uses of the terms ‘habit’ and ‘routine’ imply multiple forms of temporality. Again, as a conceptual sorting exercise, three categories of temporality pertinent to understanding the performance of practices are examined: time as a resource; the temporal demands of practices; and temporal rhythms. Third, the relationships between the conceptual variants of habitual and routine actions and temporalities of practices are examined through reference to empirical research. In conclusion, it is argued that reducing habits and routines to generic descriptions of behaviour within portfolio models of action is inadequate for developing understandings of the reproduction of everyday practices. Rather, empirical and conceptual attention to the relationships between practices, temporalities and different forms of action are required if the challenge of fostering more sustainable ways of life is to be met.
Enhancing Risk Communication for More Effective Epidemic Control in Taiwan
Authors: Ou Shih-Ming , Liu Li-Ling , Chin Ko-Chien
Published: December 2012

This article investigates how to more effectively conduct risk communication to increase the probability of successful control of an epidemic in Taiwan. The epidemic control of H1N1 in Taiwan in 2010 was studied. We used factor analysis and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) to obtain the total influence for each factor and to determine the critical factors among them. After being processed using proposed operational procedures, we obtained the critical factors and found that the government plays the key role in successful epidemic control. To reduce the resistance to efforts that seek to prevent pandemic crises, some necessary intervention activities, such as fairly and honorably exploring the complete relevant information and revealing the side effects of vaccines in a manner that is easily understood, were recommended. These could lead to an increase in immunizations among Taiwanese people by gaining their trust and commitment, thus achieving control of this epidemic.
Relationships Between Perceived Stigma, Coping Orientations, Self-esteem, and Quality of Life in Patients With Schizophrenia
Authors: Ow Chien-Yi , Lee Boon-Ooi
Published: December 2012

Stigmatization of mental disorders has detrimental consequences for psychiatric patients. This study examined how perceived stigma and coping orientations of secrecy, withdrawal, and education were related to schizophrenic patients’ self-esteem and quality of life (QOL). Coping orientations as mediators of perceived stigma on the outcome variables were also investigated. A total of 80 schizophrenic patients in Singapore participated in the study. Results show that perceived stigma predicted self-esteem over and above gender and depression, perceived stigma and education predicted QOL over and above depression, and education partially mediated the effect of perceived stigma on QOL. Findings indicate that stigma perceptions and education coping are important focus areas in clinical interventions.
Molecular Epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the United States–Affiliated Pacific Islands
Authors: Bamrah Sapna , Desmond Edward , Ghosh Smita , France Anne Marie , Kammerer J. Steve , Cowan Lauren S. , Heetderks Andrew , Forbes Alstead , Moonan Patrick K.
Published: December 2012

The United States–Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) are part of the US National Tuberculosis (TB) Surveillance System and use laboratory services contracted through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2004, the CDC established the National Tuberculosis Genotyping Service, a system to genotype 1 isolate from each culture-confirmed case of TB. To describe the molecular epidemiology of TB in the region, we examined all Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates submitted for genotyping from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2008. Over this time period, the USAPI jurisdictions reported 1339 verified TB cases to the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System. Among 419 (31%) reported culture-confirmed TB cases, 352 (84%) had complete genotype results. Routine TB genotyping allowed, for the first time, an exploration of the molecular epidemiology of TB in the USAPI.
A Silent Public Health Crisis
Authors: Monse Bella , Benzian Habib , Araojo Juan , Holmgren Christopher , van Palenstein Helderman Wim , Naliponguit Ella-Cecilia , Heinrich-Weltzien Roswitha
Published: December 2012

The oral health status of 6- and 12-year-old Filipino children was assessed in a representative national sample of 2030 6-year-old and 2022 12-year-old children, using WHO Basic Methods for Oral Health Surveys (4th edition, 1997) and the PUFA (pulpal involvement [P/p], ulceration caused by dislocated tooth fragments [U/u], fistula [F/f], and abscess [A/a]) index. A subsample of 242 12-year-old children was included to assess backward comparability between the 1998 Oral Health Survey that used WHO Basic Methods (3rd edition, 1987). The results showed that 97% of 6-year-old children had caries (mean dmft 8.4), 85% showed dental infection (mean pufa 3.4), 20% reported pain when examined. In all, 82% of 12-year-old children had caries (mean DMFT 2.9), 56% prevalence of pulp involvement (mean PUFA 1.0), and 16% reported pain when examined. Differences in methodology between the 1998 and the 2006 surveys are likely to have had an effect on the observed reduction in DMFT, indicating that the real caries prevalence had not changed much and remains very high.
Thermoelectric properties of SiO2/SiO2+CoSb multi-nanolayered thin films modified by MeV Si ions
Authors: Budak Satilmis , Smith Cydale , Muntele Claudiu , Chhay Bopha , Heidary Kaveh , Johnson Ralph B , Ila Daryush
Published: December 2012

We have fabricated the thermoelectric generator devices from 100 alternating layers of SiO2/SiO2+CoSb superlattice thin films using the ion beam–assisted deposition. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry was used for quantitative elemental analysis of Si, Co, and Sb in the multilayer films. The thin films were then modified by 5-MeV Si ion bombardments using the Alabama A&M University Pelletron ion beam accelerator. Quantum dots and/or clusters were produced in the nanolayered superlattice films to decrease the cross-plane thermal conductivity, increase the cross-plane Seebeck coefficient, and the cross-plane electrical conductivity. We have characterized the thermoelectric generator devices before and after Si ion bombardments using the thermoelectric, optical, and surface characterization techniques. The optical absorption amplitude decreased when the first fluence of 1 × 1012 ions/cm2 was introduced from the value of 2.8 to about 1.9 at 200 nm. The figure of merit reached the maximum value of about 0.005 at the fluence of 1 × 1013 ions/cm2.
Aeroelastic stability of smart sandwich plates with electrorheological fluid core and orthotropic faces
Authors: Rahiminasab Jafar , Rezaeepazhand Jalil
Published: December 2012

The flutter of orthotropic sandwich plates with an electrorheological fluid layer subjected to supersonic airflow is discussed in this article. The sandwich plate consists of an electrorheological fluid layer, a base and a constraining orthotropic layer. The first piston theory is used to model the aerodynamic forces. Hamilton’s principle is employed to derive the finite element equations of motion. Taking the aerodynamic damping into account, an iterative complex eigenvalue solution is conducted to determine the flutter boundaries. The effects of electric field strength, electrorheological layer thickness, electrorheological fluid type, constraining layer thickness, and fiber angle of orthotropic faces on the critical aerodynamic pressure are investigated. Both simply supported and clamped boundary conditions are considered. The results show that the electrorheological core layer is capable of shifting the flutter instability of the system. It is also found that the electrorheological fluid type and the thickness ratios have significant effects on the flutter bounds.
Piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting by optimized synchronous electric charge extraction
Authors: Wu Yipeng , Badel Adrien , Formosa Fabien , Liu Weiqun , Agbossou Amen E
Published: December 2012

This article presents a novel nonlinear energy extraction technique for piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting. The proposed approach is an improvement of the previous technique, “synchronous electric charge extraction,” which is the first that optimizes the harvested power whatever the connected load. The new approach is then named as “optimized synchronous electric charge extraction.” Compared with synchronous electric charge extraction, the conversion effectiveness is enhanced while simplifying the electronic circuitry and the switch control strategy. The analytical expression of the harvested powers is derived for a classical electromechanical structure. Finally, theoretical predictions confirmed by experimental results show that optimized synchronous electric charge extraction increases the harvested power for a very large range of load resistance, which is a favorable characteristic for wideband vibration energy harvesting.
Capacitance calculation for electrostatic transducer applications
Authors: Le Cuong P , Halvorsen Einar
Published: December 2012

An approach for accurate calculation of the capacitance coefficient matrix in electrostatic transducer applications is presented in this article. We consider transducers consisting of a fixed and a moving set of metal strips where strong fringing field effects may occur. The calculation method is based on an expansion of the surface charge distribution on each metal finger in terms of orthogonal functions that capture the singularity effects at the edge of the fingers. We analyze the errors both due to neglect of end effects and due to truncation of the series expansion. The complexity of the capacitance matrix calculation is significantly reduced by truncation to the first three terms of the expansion, giving errors below 1%. An example capacitance structure is analyzed in detail. The capacitance/induction coefficients roughly vary as a cosine function of the horizontal relative displacement between two electrodes. This motivates a simple approximation formula that can be used to calculate the capacitance coefficient matrix of electrostatic transducers. It gives a maximum error of 1.5% compared to the full calculation for a gap g = 5 µm and a microstrip width a = 50 µm in the example structure.
Integrating Climate Change Mechanics Into a Common Pool Resource Game
Authors: Fennewald Thomas J. , Kievit-Kylar Brent
Published: December 2012

The topic of climate change offers unique challenges to simulation game designers largely because standard game mechanics fail to capture the complexity of this real-world problem. Climate change dynamics are characterized by the second-order delayed effects of carbon emissions on global temperatures and by political actors, who often have unique individual goals and asymmetrical abilities. However, many climate change games exhibit mechanics such as immediate and first-order delayed effects, zero-sum collaborative play, zero-sum competitive play, and players with symmetrical abilities and goals. By examining variants of an asymmetrical three-player common pool resource game, this research illustrates how inclusion or omission of mechanics found in real-life climate change impact the outcome of simulations and gameplay.
Micromechanical modelling of damage evolution in highly filled particulate composites – Induced effects at different scales
Authors: Dartois Sophie , Nadot-Martin Carole , Halm Damien , Dragon André , Fanget Alain , Contesse Gérald
Published: December 2012

An unconventional multi-scale approach is investigated to model interfacial damage and subsequent effects in highly filled particulate composites such as solid propellants. The basic framework by Nadot et al. (2006 Damage modelling framework for viscoelastic particulate composites via a scale transition approach, Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics 44:553–583) is enhanced to deal with damage state and configuration evolution under any loading. Three criteria are formulated at the microscale. The first one concerns the nucleation of new defects, while the other two (for closure and re-opening) monitor the respective proportions of open and closed defects. The formulation exploits the explicit microstructure representation and the knowledge of the local displacement field as a function of local morphology around the interfaces. The multi-scale model is finally implemented through a numerical solving procedure able to deal with successive and/or simultaneous discrete damage events (nucleation/closure/re-opening of defects) depending on the loading path. Numerical illustrations are given for a three-dimensional microstructure containing 351 particles submitted to complex loading sequence involving extension, shear and contraction stages. The results show the ability of the model to estimate damage characteristics (position, orientation within the material) in addition to induced effects at both microscale and macroscale (induced anisotropy, unilateral effects and influence on local fields).
Determining the Various Perspectives of Caregivers of Aging Adults With Q Methodology
Authors: Ramlo Susan , Berit Kari
Published: December 2012

According to the National Family Caregivers Association (2009), 59% of the U.S. population will become family or informal caregivers of aging adults. As the population ages, financial resources for support are diminishing. A needs-assessment of these caregivers is necessary to best direct resources and develop efficient, well-serving programs. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the benefits of using Q methodology within aging research; within this context the authors explain how the Q methodology study enabled the determination of the various views and consensus among groups of caregivers of aging adults. The authors also demonstrate how these views and consensus can then, in turn, provide a needs-assessment for programs and other support that would serve this population. Factor analysis of the sorts resulted in three factors/views: dutiful caregivers new to caregiving, nurturing and prepared caregivers, and loving and fun caregiving relationship.
Assessment of Emotional Intelligence in the Family
Authors: Sánchez-Núñez M. Trinidad , Fernández-Berrocal Pablo , Latorre J. Miguel
Published: December 2012

The authors evaluated the self-reported emotional intelligence (SEI) in mothers, fathers, and children of 73 families. The sample was composed of 73 fathers, 73 mothers, and 156 children (71 male and 85 female). In addition, the perceived emotional intelligence (PEI) among the family members was examined and the possible relationships were analyzed. The SEI and the PEI were evaluated with the Trait Meta Mood Scale–24. Three factors composed this measure: attention, clarity, and emotional repair. The results showed that the parents’ SEI correlated with the children’s SEI in two of the three EI factors (attention and clarity). However, the parents’ PEI of their children and the children’s PEI of their parents correlated significantly in the three factors, as well as the children’s SEI and their PEI of their parents and the parents’ SEI and their PEI of their children. That is, parents and children see each other in a similar way. The regression analyses confirmed that the children’s SEI was predicted first by the children’s PEI of their parents, over and above the children’s own SEI and the parents’ SEI. The parents’ PEI of their children also had predictive power for the attention their children believed they paid to their emotions. Neither the children’s gender nor age demonstrated sufficient predictive power on their SEI. The repercussions of these results in the field of education and family therapy are discussed.
Hurricane Katrina Families
Authors: Godwin Emilie E. , Foster Victoria A. , Keefe Elizabeth P.
Published: December 2012

Hurricane Katrina has profoundly altered the lives of New Orleans residents as they continue for years following the storm to attempt to rebuild their community and their lives. Natural disaster literature has historically focused on the impacts on individuals and correlating variables. Significant literature gaps exist regarding family systems and disaster and analysis of the relationship of social class to recovery. Further, social class has traditionally been examined solely as it relates to socioeconomic status. This qualitative investigation situated in an emancipatory paradigm investigated the relationship between social class and family changes for seven families recovering from Hurricane Katrina. Participants self-identified as members of marginalized social classes. Cross-case themes emerging as significant in the process of familial recovery included Relationship to Community, Interpersonal Relationships, Constructions of Class, and Growing and Changing. Study conclusions revealed significant shifts in family identities evolving around participant geographic connectivity to kinship networks, perceptions of social class status, and levels of cohesion between individual and relational domains within a family. Implications for professionals in the fields of disaster preparedness and recovery are outlined, with emphasis on the connection between practice and study findings.
New and Improved? A Comparison of the Original and Revised Versions of the Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms
Authors: Green Debbie , Rosenfeld Barry , Belfi Brian
Published: December 2012

The current study evaluated the accuracy of the Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms, Second Edition (SIRS-2) in a criterion-group study using a sample of forensic psychiatric patients and a community simulation sample, comparing it to the original SIRS and to results published in the SIRS-2 manual. The SIRS-2 yielded an impressive specificity rate (94.3%) that exceeded that obtained using the original SIRS scoring method (92.0%) and approached that observed in the SIRS-2 normative data (97.5%). However, changes in scoring resulted in markedly lower sensitivity rates of the SIRS-2 (36.8% among forensic patients and 66.7% among simulators) compared with the SIRS (47.4% and 75.0%, respectively). The removal of the Total Score from the SIRS-2 further hindered identification of feigning. Analyses also evaluated the additive value of the new RS-Total and MT Index scales in the SIRS-2. Implications of these results for forensic psychologists are discussed.
Probenecid as a Noninjurious Positive Inotrope in an Ischemic Heart Disease Murine Model
Authors: Koch Sheryl E. , Tranter Michael , Robbins Nathan , Luther Kristin , Singh Umesh , Jiang Min , Ren Xiaoping , Tee Trisha , Smith Leah , Varma Priyanka , Jones W. Keith , Rubinstein Jack
Published: December 2012

The current therapeutic options for acute decompensated heart failure are limited to afterload reducers and positive inotropes. The latter increases myocardial contractility through changes in myocyte calcium (Ca2+) handling (mostly through stimulation of the β-adrenergic pathways [β-ADR]) and is associated with paradoxical effects of arrhythmias, cell death, and subsequently increased mortality. We have previously demonstrated that probenecid can increase cytosolic Ca2+ levels in the cardiomyocyte resulting in an improved inotropic response in vitro and in vivo without activating the β-ADR system. We hypothesize that, in contrast to other commonly used inotropes, probenecid functions through a system separate from that of β-ADR and hence will increase contractility and improve function without damaging the heart. Furthermore, our goal was to evaluate the effect of probenecid on cell death in vitro and its use in vivo as a positive inotrope in a mouse model of ischemic cardiomyopathy. Herein, we demonstrate that probenecid induced an influx of Ca2+ similar to isoproterenol, but does not induce cell death in vitro. Through a series of in vivo experiments we also demonstrate that probenecid can be used at various time points and with various methods of administration in vivo in mice with myocardial ischemia, resulting in improved contractility and no significant difference in infarct size. In conclusion, we provide novel data that probenecid, through its activity on cellular Ca2+ levels, induces an inotropic effect without causing or exacerbating injury. This discovery may be translatable if this mechanism is preserved in man.
Science-Based Communication Strategy for a Federal Health Agency
Authors: Weber Mark A. , Backer Thomas E.
Published: December 2012

Over 6 years, a U.S. Federal health agency, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, has developed a science-based communications strategy. Agency staff reviewed the scientific literature, discussed implications of it for meeting communications goals of the agency, created a strategy based on what was learned, and refined it over time as informed by experience. Doing so led to eight significant changes in ongoing operations of the agency’s Office of Communications. Discussion of these activities is followed by an analysis of possible next steps this agency or others like it could take to enhance communications strategy.
Mean Platelet Volume Associated With Aortic Distensibility, Chronic Inflammation, and Diabetes in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Şahin Durmuş Yıldıray , Gür Mustafa , Elbasan Zafer , Yıldırım Arafat , Akıllı Rabia Eker , Koyunsever Nermin Yıldız , Özaltun Betül , Gözübüyük Gökhan , Kıvrak Ali , Çaylı Murat
Published: December 2012

We aimed to assess the effective factors on high mean platelet volume (MPV) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). A total of 411 patients (247 males and 164 females; mean age: 61.7 ± 9.9 years) with angiographically proven CAD were included. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the median MPV value (MPVlow group <9.5 fL and MPVhigh group ≥9.5 fL). The SYNTAX score, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels, and frequencies of diabetes and hypertension were higher in MPVhigh group compared to MPVlow group. Aortic distensibility (AD) and platelet count of patients in MPVhigh group were lower than patients in MPVlow group ( P < .05, for all). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that MPV was independently related with diabetes (β = 0.135, P = .007), hsCRP (β = 0.259, P < .001), platelet count (β = −0.144, P < .001), and AD (β = −0.425, P < .001). High MPV value is independently related to AD, as well as diabetes, hsCRP, and platelet count in patients with stable CAD.
On the brachistochronic motion of a variable-mass mechanical system in general force fields
Authors: Obradović Aleksandar , Šalinić Slaviša , Jeremić Olivera , Mitrović Zoran
Published: December 2012

The problem of the brachistochronic motion of a mechanical system composed of rigid bodies and variable-mass particles is solved. The laws of the time-rate of mass variation of the particles as well as relative velocities of the expelled (or gained) masses are assumed to be known. The system moves in an arbitrary field of known potential and nonpotential forces. Applying Pontryagin’s minimum principle along with singular optimal control theory, a corresponding two-point boundary value problem is obtained. The appropriate numerical procedure based on the shooting method to solve the obtained two-point boundary value problem is presented. The considerations in the paper are illustrated by an example of determining the brachistochronic motion of a system composed of a rigid rod and two variable-mass particles attached to the rod.
Biologically Inspired Approaches to Strategic Service Design
Authors: Baltas George , Tsafarakis Stelios , Saridakis Charalampos , Matsatsinis Nikolaos
Published: December 2012

This article introduces nature-inspired modeling to strategic service management. It determines optimal service diversification through an evolutionary mechanism of natural selection and population genetics as well as a model of cooperative behavior and collective intelligence in swarms. Specifically, we design and implement Genetic and Particle Swarm Optimization algorithms to stated-preference data derived from a conjoint experiment measuring consumer preferences for service attributes in a retail setting. The proposed procedure provides key insights to strategic service management such as optimal service design, optimal mix of service offerings in terms of consumer demand, and local adaptation of service portfolios. It demonstrates how diversification meets heterogeneous customer preferences and how localized solutions address cross-country differences. The findings suggest that variation in service portfolios elevates customer utility, in the sense that diversified offerings better match heterogeneous customer needs. In an intuitive fashion, consumer diversity is such that a uniform service portfolio is inferior to differentiated offerings, especially with regard to salient service attributes. The results also illustrate that localized diversification strategies are necessary for multistore, multimarket operations. Our method has valuable implications for managers aiming to improve how they design their services. A new tool is introduced which handles tangible and intangible service elements and allows service design optimization by predicting which elements create the most compelling service contexts from a customer perspective. The tool also facilitates localized diversification decisions by adapting critical service attributes to local markets. Bio-inspired models shed new light on marketing phenomena and reveal opportunities for empirical research.
Amateur subtitling as immaterial labour in digital media culture
Authors: Pérez-González Luis
Published: December 2012

Media sociologists and cultural globalization theorists have tended to overlook the contribution of translators to the circulation of media content in the era of digital culture. After critiquing the reasons for the invisibility of translation in the literature on global cultural transactions, this article moves on to examine the emergence of new amateur subtitling collectivities in today’s informational society, exploring the role that non-professional translators – specifically, networks of activist subtitlers – play within the participatory media industries. Using examples from a case study of Ansarclub, a Spanish group of engaged amateur translators, this article gauges the extent to which their participation, remediation and bricolage practices – the main components of digital culture (Deuze [2006] Participation, remediation, bricolage: considering principal components of a digital culture. The Information Society 22: 63–75) – fit in or divert from the cocreational dynamics underpinning other domains of the media marketplace. It is argued that the interventionist and ‘monitorial’ quality of activist subtitling lies at the heart of an emerging paradigm of civic engagement, with fluid transnational communities of interest acting as the building blocks of participatory translation.
Tiny moments of great importance: The Marte Meo method applied in the context of early mother–infant interaction and postnatal depression. Utilizing Daniel Stern’s theory of ‘schemas of being with’ in understanding empirical findings and developing a stringent Marte Meo methodology
Authors: Vik Kari , Rohde Rolf
Published: December 2012

This paper provides an overview of basic Marte Meo video interaction guidance concepts and describes the therapeutic performance of the method applied in the context of early mother–infant interaction and postnatal depression. Weight is put upon the importance of the therapeutic relationship. Further Marte Meo therapy is understood in the light of Daniel Stern’s theory of ‘schemas of being with’ and accompanied by clinical vignettes from therapy sessions. The empirical basis for the paper is a study of postnatal depression, mother–infant interaction and video guidance, carried out in Southern Norway. The study examined Marte Meo from a phenomenological perspective. Marte Meo was offered to mothers with either postnatal depression or depressive symptoms. In in-depth interviews the participants reported that the Marte Meo method, ‘from the outside looking in’, increased their reflections about their infants and their own mental states as well as their sensitive interaction with their newborn. Their mothering was improved and they reported feeling less depressed. We argue that Marte Meo methodology can guide new mothers with depressive symptoms, and contribute to the creation of new schemas of being together.
A new risk management for prisoners in France: The emergence of a death-avoidance approach
Authors: Cliquennois Gaëtan , Champetier Brice
Published: December 2012

A new punitive approach in the French prison sector has emerged as a result of the European Court of Human Rights and the French administrative courts exerting pressure on prison governors in response to the complaints made by prisoners’ families, the demands of human rights groups and the requirements of human rights protection bodies. By publicizing cases of suicide and using strategic litigation based on the right to life, human rights groups and barristers have put the prison administration under pressure. The resultant risk management policy and death-avoidance approach are not linked to the decline of the welfare state, as claimed by new penology scholars, but rather to a shared risk management thinking between the prison administration and human rights groups.
Creativity and health: An anti-humanist reflection
Authors: Fox Nick J
Published: December 2012

Many studies suggest that health benefits from engaging with the creative arts, but explanations of the association remain tenuous. This article explores both creativity and health from an anti-humanist perspective and develops a Deleuze-inspired analysis to supply the theoretical framework for creativity and health. In this view, creativity is an active, experimenting flow within a network or assemblage of bodies, things, ideas and institutions, while health is understood as the capacity of a body to affect and be affected by this assemblage. It is consequently unsurprising that there is a relationship between creative activity and health. This analysis is used to explore how creative production and reception can affect health, and to assess the implications for sociology and for arts in health-care practice.
Understanding support for complementary and alternative medicine in general populations: Use and perceived efficacy
Authors: Stoneman Paul , Sturgis Patrick , Allum Nick
Published: December 2012

Proponents of complementary and alternative medicine argue that these treatments can be used with great effect in addition to, and sometimes instead of, conventional medicine, a position which has drawn sustained opposition from those who advocate an evidence-based approach to the evaluation of treatment efficacy. Using recent survey data from the United Kingdom, this article seeks to establish a clearer understanding of the nature of the public’s relationship with complementary and alternative medicine within the general population by focusing on beliefs about the perceived effectiveness of homeopathy, in addition to its reported use. Using recent data from the United Kingdom, we initially demonstrate that reported use and perceived effectiveness are far from coterminous and argue that for a proper understanding of the motivations underpinning public support of complementary and alternative medicine, consideration of both reported use and perceived effectiveness is necessary. We go on to demonstrate that although the profile of homeopathy users differs from those who support this form of medicine, neither outcome is dependent upon peoples’ levels of knowledge about science. Instead, the results suggest a far greater explanatory role for need and concerns about conventional medicine.
Does social networking service usage mediate the association between smartphone usage and social capital?
Authors: Park Kyung-Gook , Han Sehee , Kaid Lynda Lee
Published: December 2012

This study examined the effect of smartphone and social networking service (SNS) usage on various aspects of social capital, including trust, organizational participation, political participation, and network resources. The study further examined whether SNS usage moderates the relationship between smartphones and social capital. A cross-sectional survey data ( N = 339) from a random sample of university students was gathered. The results demonstrated that smartphone and SNS usage have direct effects on all social capital dimensions. In addition, the intensity of smartphone usage has an indirect effect on various social capital dimensions, except organizational participation. These results provide evidence that smartphone and SNS usage is not intrinsically harmful to one’s social capital and may in fact broaden social capital among its users.
The role of supranational identity in promoting democratic values
Authors: Kennedy Ryan
Published: December 2012

This study sets forth a social identity explanation of the link between supranational identity and democratic values, and, thus, for cross-border value diffusion. This explanation is tested with data from 19 regions in Europe from the latest wave of the World Values Survey using multilevel ordered logit models. The results reveal a little-studied relationship between the supranational identification of respondents within the European framework and stronger support for the postmaterialist values that have been previously linked to successful democratization. Conversely, stronger national and local identification is associated with weaker support for these values. The use of multilevel methods also reveals several interesting patterns in more traditional explanations of the adoption of democratic values.
How progressive culture resists critique: The impasse of NGO Studies
Authors: Lashaw Amanda
Published: December 2012

Ethnographies of NGO and nonprofit practices are increasingly focused on the social lives of middle-class liberals who significantly shape how societies recognize social suffering and its redress. At the same time, the boundaries between academic and NGO worlds are blurring ever more as ethnographers prioritize ‘engaged’ projects and as more doctoral students enter graduate school with NGO experience. This article addresses the distinctive dilemmas that arise from this lack of distance between ethnographers and research subjects and particularly the difficulty of critically examining the moral sentiments of progressive actors. I tell the story of a first fieldwork project in which I struggled to objectify the social power of professional education reformers who already analyzed themselves and whose efforts to combat race and class inequalities seemed to be beyond reproach. The narrative explores how the particularity of their norms and ideals continually threatened to disappear in the contexts of university life, of critical ethnographic literature, and of the fieldwork itself. I argue that a direct focus on the production of morality is crucial to grasping the meaning of ‘progress’ as a product of struggle.
Novel readings: The history of a writing community by a partial, prejudiced, & ignorant Historian
Authors: King Virginia
Published: December 2012

In this article, I explore the history of a higher education writing community from its establishment in 2005 to the present day. In order to provide a model of community development which may be generalizable, this inherently ‘partial’ and ‘prejudiced’ autoenthnographic account is framed by themes taken from three of the novels of Jane Austen (1775–1817) which mirror the transitions in the community’s development. These transitions, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Sense and Sensibility’ and ‘Persuasion’, enhance an existing three-phase model of research group impact which comprised ‘Awareness’, ‘Exploring wider effects’ and ‘Adaptation and extension’ by articulating the social and cultural means through which we evolved from one phase to the next. My reflections lead me to make three recommendations for community survival. These are to create alliances with external researchers, to balance collegiality and strategic research endeavour, and to recruit and nurture doctoral students.