bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Injured Spinal Cord Treatment Based on Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells
Authors: Liu Xiao , Wang Siqi , Lu Guangxiu , Wang Jian
Published: September 2016

In this article, we discussed the effect of adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) on the spinal cord injury. In the anti-human nuclei antibody test, the results indicated that 28 days after injection, ADSCs were still detectable. Western blot analysis demonstrated that 3 days
after injection, IBA1 (the label of microglia/macrophage) and iNOS increased significantly in treatment, indicated the infiltrated microglia/macrophage were polarized to proinflammatory M1. 7 days after injection, decreased iNOS activity and increased TIMP1 occurred in the treatment group,
which indicated the polarization of microglia/macrophage to M2. According to the TUNEL analysis 7 days after ADSCs injection, the cell apoptosis ratio decreased markedly which indicated that the ADSCs injection decreased apoptosis occurrence. H&E staining and SEM images indicated that
the integrity of injured tissues was significantly improved and more myelin was retained in the injection group. Electrophysiological assessment revealed that compared with the control, the treatment group presented large amplitude of SEPs and short delay time, suggesting that ADSCs promoted
the repair of spinal cord injury. Therefore, ADSCs influenced the polarization of microglia/macrophage to promote the repair of spinal cord injury.
Detection, Attribution, and Projection of Regional Rainfall Changes on (Multi-) Decadal Time Scales: A Focus on Southeastern South America
Authors: Zhang Honghai , Delworth Thomas L. , Zeng Fanrong , Vecchi Gabriel , Paffendorf Karen , Jia Liwei
Published: September 2016

Observed austral summertime (November through April) rainfall in southeastern South America (SESA)—including northern Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil, and Paraguay—has exhibited substantial low-frequency variations with a multidecadal moistening trend during the twentieth century and a subsequent decadal drying trend during the current century. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for these variations is essential for predicting long-term rainfall changes. Here with a suite of attribution experiments using a pair of high-resolution global climate models, GFDL CM2.5 and FLOR-FA, the authors investigate the causes of these regional rainfall variations. Both models reproduce the twentieth-century moistening trend, albeit with a weaker magnitude than observed, in response to the radiative forcing associated with increasing greenhouse gases. The increasing greenhouse gases drive tropical expansion; consequently, the subtropical dry branch of Hadley cell moves away from SESA, leading to the rainfall increase. The amplitude discrepancy between the observed and simulated rainfall changes suggests a possible underestimation by the models of the atmospheric response to the radiative forcing, as well as an important role for low-frequency internal variability in the observed moistening trend. Over the current century, increasing greenhouse gases drive a continuous SESA rainfall increase in the models. However, the observed decadal rainfall decline is largely (~60%) reproduced in response to the observed Pacific trade wind strengthening, which is likely associated with natural Pacific decadal variability. These results suggest that the recent summertime rainfall decline in SESA is temporary and that the positive trend will resume in response to both increasing greenhouse gases and a return of Pacific trade winds to normal conditions.
Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy
Authors: Mousan Grace , Kamat Deepak
Published: September 2016

Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is a common condition encountered in children with incidence estimated as 2% to 7.5% in the first year of life. Formula and breast-fed babies can present with symptoms of CMPA. It is important to accurately diagnose CMPA to avoid the consequences of either under- or overdiagnosis. CMPA is classically categorized into immunoglobulin E (IgE)- or non-IgE-mediated reaction that vary in clinical manifestations, diagnostic evaluation, and prognosis. The most commonly involved systems in patients with CMPA are gastrointestinal, skin, and respiratory. Evaluation of CMPA starts with good data gathering followed by testing if indicated. Treatment is simply by avoidance of cow’s milk protein (CMP) in the child’s or mother’s diet, if exclusively breast-feeding. This article reviews the definition, epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, evaluation, management, and prognosis of CMPA and provides an overview of different options for formulas and their indication in the treatment of CMPA.
Emphasizing indigenous communities in social work research ethics
Authors: Nygård Reidunn H , Saus Merete
Published: September 2016

This article questions whether the development of Sámi social work could benefit from a greater emphasis on communities in research ethics. Using experience from a comparative research project carried out in indigenous communities in Norway and the United States, we discuss (1) the advantages and challenges associated with the institutionalization of research ethics and (2) the consequences for our research design resulting from dialogue with the ethical committees. We conclude that Sámi social work would benefit from more emphasis on external ethical validation. We call for a debate among social workers and researchers on community involvement in social work research.
Another Perspective
Authors: McCarroll Jesse C.
Published: September 2016

Respected music professor and pianist Jesse C. McCarroll presents an overview of his multicultural journey, sharing some of his challenges and high points in a fascinating career. His writing offers a look at an important part of the history of Music Educators National Conference and the National Association for Music Education and points the way forward for music educators in a time of religious, ethnic, and cultural conflicts: We need more than tolerance of differences—we need to understand each other, and becoming acquainted with diverse musical cultures offers a step in this direction.
Proprioceptive-Visual Integration and Embodied Cognition
Authors: Manoel Edison de J. , Viana Felicio Pedro Fernando , Makida-Dionísio Cristiane , Nascimento Soares Rafael Do , Freitas Alessandro , Gimenez Roberto
Published: September 2016

The present study addressed whether a spatial matching task relying on inter-sensory judgments might be influenced by the transition between egocentric and decentered mode of thinking. Thirty-six children aged 5, 7, or 9 years performed a paramedian correspondence task with conditions requiring inter-sensory integration (visual-proprioceptive) and a problem-solving task. The visual information was given through a mirror that perturbed the sensory judgments in the paramedian correspondence task. The results did not corroborate the hypotheses; nevertheless, the increasing importance of proprioception in the perceptual judgments for older children suggests that although younger children may be body centered (egocentric mode of thinking), older children seemed more able to use body to mediate their perceptual judgments.
Stages of Behavioral Change for Physical Activity in High School Students
Authors: Nunes Heloyse E. G. , Silva Diego A. S.
Published: September 2016

The aim was to estimate the prevalence of stages of change for physical activity and associated sociodemographic factors in students. The sample consisted of 942 students (44.7% males, 55.3% females; mean age = 16.1 years, SD = 1.1) in southern Brazil. Self-administered questionnaire was applied to identify stages of behavioral change for physical activity and sociodemographic variables (gender, age, maternal schooling, economic status, and school shift). Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (95%). Results showed that 9.6% were in the pre-contemplation stage, 18.4% in the contemplation, 17.6% in the preparation, 14.3% in the action, and 39.6% in the maintenance stages. Girls and adolescents with lower economic status were more likely to be at stages of behavioral risk. Students whose mothers had high education were more likely to be in the action stage.
Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Love of Life Scale
Authors: Vahid Mohammad Kazem Atef , Dadfar Mahboubeh , Abdel-Khalek Ahmed M. , Lester David
Published: September 2016

A love of life is defined as an overall positive attitude toward life and a liking for life. The present study was designed to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of a Persian version of the Love of Life Scale using a convenience sample of 145 Iranian female volunteer college students ( M age = 23.0 years, SD = 3.4). The mean score on the Love of Life Scale was 61.08 ( SD = 11.40). A principal component analysis with a Varimax rotation yielded two factors labeled (a) Positive Attitude Towards Life and Happy Consequences of Love of Life and (b) Meaningfulness of Life. Cronbach’s alpha was .94 and the one-week test–retest reliability was .85. Love of Life Scale scores had significant positive correlations with scores on the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Adult Hope Scale. The scale displayed negative correlations with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale and the Wish to be Dead Scale. It was concluded that the Persian form of the Love of Life Scale can be recommended for future research on positive psychology.
Book Review: Avtar Singh, Closure, Relocation and Displacement—Issues and Challenges in India
Authors: Chand Prakash
Published: September 2016

Avtar Singh, Closure, Relocation and Displacement—Issues and Challenges in India, New Delhi, Century Publications, 2015, 282 pp., ₹895, ISBN: 9788188132614.
The Community Colleges’ Role in Developing Students’ Civic Outcomes
Authors: Kisker Carrie B. , Weintraub Dayna S. , Newell Mallory Angeli
Published: September 2016

Objective: Ideally, community colleges both democratize opportunity and develop in students the civic skills necessary to meaningfully participate in a democratic society. This national pilot study examines the individual and institutional factors associated with greater civic agency, capacity, behavior, and knowledge among students after at least 1 year of community college attendance. Method: Using survey data obtained from both community college students and administrators via a new civic outcomes survey and institutional questionnaire, this research utilizes both descriptive and multivariate statistics to identify associations between individual and institutional characteristics and behaviors leading to greater civic outcomes. Results: Holding students’ incoming characteristics and pre-college behaviors constant, this study shows that community college students’ academic and extracurricular behaviors, as well as institutions’ intentionality toward civic engagement, are associated with higher levels of civic agency, capacity, behavior, and knowledge. Contributions: Results of this study indicate that by making visible and measurable commitments to civic learning and democratic engagement on campus, and by creating opportunities for students to interact with one another, wrestle with thorny social or political issues, and engage in their communities, colleges can help create informed citizens who are skilled in democratic practices and committed to lifelong engagement. For community colleges, this is especially important, given their large population of students from groups historically marginalized in the nation’s education and political systems and their mission to both democratize opportunity and do the work of democracy.
Comparing Demographic Factors, Background Characteristics, and Workplace Perceptions as Predictors of Burnout Among Community Corrections Officers
Authors: Rhineberger-Dunn Gayle , Mack Kristin Y. , Baker Kimberly M.
Published: September 2016

The purpose of this article was to explore the association between demographic and background characteristics, as well as workplace perceptions that may predict burnout among two connected groups of community corrections officers. Using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, we assessed whether burnout differed between probation/parole and residential officers and analyzed whether predictors of burnout varied across these two groups. Our results indicated that while probation/parole officers were more likely to report Emotional Exhaustion, they were not any more or less likely to experience Depersonalization or Personal Accomplishment. In addition, educational training had a stronger impact for residential officers, while schedule fit was more important for probation/parole officers, when predicting Personal Accomplishment. These results not only extended the existing research on burnout but also helped inform key correctional stakeholders about what policies and practices were working well, as well as indicated potential areas of change to help minimize burnout among staff.
Introduction
Authors: Semley Lorelle
Published: September 2016

Although cities were not new to Africa and the Americas, slave trading and imperialism produced a particular phenomenon: the modern colonial city. These new sites were supposed to broadcast the power and interests of colonial states and societies. Yet, Africans and people of African descent left indelible marks on modern urban life. Research has demonstrated that cities, even in the metropole, were transformed by enslaved women and men, immigrants, refugees, and laborers. These articles discuss the ways women and men shaped cities as property-owners, litigants, activists, and intellectuals and engaged broader questions of identity, belonging, and citizenship. People circulating through the Atlantic world also inhabited cities as gendered, sexual, and affective beings who actively conceptualized ideas about pleasure, morality, respectability, and desire. These articles on New Orleans, Louisiana; East London, South Africa; Marseille, France; and Dakar, Senegal reveal unique approaches that integrate gender and urban studies in an Atlantic world context that considers connections between Africa, the Americas, and Europe. This introduction discusses the shared themes and contributions to the scholarship the authors make while pointing to potential new directions in research.
External Validity: The Next Step for Systematic Reviews?
Authors: Avellar Sarah A. , Thomas Jaime , Kleinman Rebecca , Sama-Miller Emily , Woodruff Sara E. , Coughlin Rebecca , Westbrook T’Pring R.
Published: September 2016

Background:

Systematic reviews—which identify, assess, and summarize existing research—are usually designed to determine whether research shows that an intervention has evidence of effectiveness, rather than whether an intervention will work under different circumstances. The reviews typically focus on the internal validity of the research and do not consistently incorporate information on external validity into their conclusions.

Objectives:

In this article, we focus on how systematic reviews address external validity.

Methods:

We conducted a brief scan of 19 systematic reviews and a more in-depth examination of information presented in a systematic review of home visiting research.

Results:

We found that many reviews do not provide information on generalizability, such as statistical representativeness, but focus on factors likely to increase heterogeneity (e.g., numbers of studies or settings) and report on context. The latter may help users decide whether the research characteristics—such as sample demographics or settings—are similar to their own. However, we found that differences in reporting, such as which variables are included and how they are measured, make it difficult to summarize across studies or make basic determinations of sample characteristics, such as whether the majority of a sample was unemployed or married.

Conclusion:

Evaluation research and systematic reviews would benefit from reporting guidelines for external validity to ensure that key information is reported across studies.
Effects of personality on postdivorce partnership trajectories
Authors: Sodermans An Katrien , Corijn Martine , Vanassche Sofie , Matthijs Koen
Published: September 2016

Personality is known to be a key predictor for several aspects of close relationship functioning. Most likely, the influence of this psychological factor is even growing in contemporary societies, where the individual life biography is increasingly the result of personal preferences and less influenced by normative expectations and cultural institutions. In an era of high relationship instability, more and more people engage in a second union. Although it becomes increasingly relevant to study the effects of personality on close relationship functioning in higher order unions, this remained understudied until now. This study examines the impact of personality on partnership trajectories following divorce. First, we construct a typology of eight partnership trajectories, capturing the occurrence, order, and timing of different partnership events (e.g., repartnering, cohabiting, getting married) in the first 7 years after separation. Then, we use multinomial logistic regression to examine the association between personality and the post-separation partnership trajectories, thereby controlling for sociodemographic variables. The analyses are based on data from a large-scale representative survey, the Divorce in Flanders Survey. Results show that personality and sociodemographic factors are both important determinants for explaining post-separation partnership trajectories. Extraversion tends to increase the likelihood and speed of repartnering. Neuroticism lowers the stability in partnerships. Conscientiousness is related with a higher likelihood to remarry. A higher age at separation and the presence of children at home decrease the likelihood to repartner, while education increases this. The present study delivers an important contribution for unraveling part of the complex association between personality and partner relationship dynamics.
Celibacy, Courage, and Hungry Wives: Debating Military Marriage and Citizenship in Pre-Revolutionary France
Authors: Ngaire Heuer Jennifer
Published: September 2016

Enlightenment reformers in France had very different visions about whether military men should marry. In one view, acting as a good soldier and citizen drew on new models of masculine virility, and required separating oneself entirely from the restraints of domestic life. Conversely, being a soldier-citizen could mean building on changing ideas of domestic virtue and respectability, combining a patriotic obligation to fight with responsibility to family. The marital status of soldiers provided a potent flash point for negotiating these tensions, while also engaging with pragmatic questions of providing for dependents, promoting military efficiency, and reinforcing population and state power.
Protective Nature of Platelet-Rich Plasma Against Chondrocyte Death When Combined With Corticosteroids or Local Anesthetics
Authors: Durant Thomas J.S. , Dwyer Corey R. , McCarthy Mary Beth R. , Cote Mark P. , Bradley James P. , Mazzocca Augustus D.
Published: September 2016

Background:

The use of corticosteroids and local anesthetics to treat osteoarthritis has established benefits, including relief of pain and increased range of motion, but may also have the potential to lead to tissue atrophy or degeneration, specifically on chondrocytes. There is growing evidence that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has anti-inflammatory characteristics that can limit the cytotoxic effects of corticosteroids and local anesthetics.

Hypothesis/Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of PRP in chondrocyte cultures when combined with corticosteroids or local anesthetics. The hypothesis of this study was that PRP would (1) dampen the negative effects on chondrocyte viability and (2) improve chondrocyte proliferation seen with corticosteroid or local anesthetic treatment alone.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Peripheral blood was obtained from 8 healthy participants, followed by centrifugation to obtain PRP. Human chondrocytes were treated with PRP alone or in combination with corticosteroids or local anesthetics. Saline (concentration of 0.9%) served as the control. Luminescence and radioactive thymidine assays were performed to examine chondrocyte viability and proliferation, respectively. Cell exposures of 0, 5, 10, and 30 minutes were used for viability and 120 hours for proliferation.

Results:

The presence of PRP significantly limited the negative effect on chondrocyte viability at tested time points for the examined corticosteroids and local anesthetics ( P < .05). PRP in addition to corticosteroids and local anesthetics significantly improved chondrocyte proliferation ( P < .05).

Conclusion:

The addition of PRP can significantly reduce the cytotoxic effects of corticosteroids and/or local anesthetics applied to chondrocytes. PRP can improve the proliferation of chondrocytes compared with corticosteroids or local anesthetics alone.

Clinical Relevance:

With the use of corticosteroids and local anesthetics for temporary symptomatic relief and improvement of function to treat the chronic progressive nature of osteoarthritis, long-term negative effects of these agents can be limited with the parallel use of PRP.
Prediction of elastic behavior of plain weft-knitted composites
Authors: Shekarchizadeh Navid , Abedi Mohammad Mahdi , Jafari Nedoushan Reza
Published: September 2016

Design and analysis of parts constructed from weft-knitted textile composites need the elastic and fracture behavior of the composite. To avoid time-consuming and expensive experimental procedures, micromechanical models and finite element simulations can be used to estimate stiffness matrix of these composites. In the present study, at first, a 3D model of a plain weft-knitted fabric is presented. Then a micromechanical approach is proposed to derive the mechanical properties of the weft-knitted composite using this geometrical model. A finite element simulation is carried out to extract the elastic properties of the composite as an alternative procedure. Finally, obtained moduli from both methods are validated by comparing them with existing experimental values. Results show a good agreement between the calculated and measured data. It can be concluded that the proposed micromechanical approach can predict weft-knitted composite behavior well without any great effort; however, the finite element analysis gives acceptable results too. The effects of composite variables on the stiffness are investigated and discussed.
Effect of Time and Temperature on Thickened Infant Formula
Authors: Gosa Memorie M. , Dodrill Pamela
Published: September 2016

Background: Unlike adult populations, who primarily depend on liquids for hydration alone, infants rely on liquids to provide them with hydration and nutrition. Speech‐language pathologists working within pediatric medical settings often identify dysphagia in patients and subsequently recommend thickened liquids to reduce aspiration risk. Caregivers frequently report difficulty attempting to prepare infant formula to the prescribed thickness. Materials and Methods: This study was designed to determine (1) the relationship between consistencies in modified barium swallow studies and thickened infant formulas and (2) the effects of time and temperature on the resulting thickness of infant formula. Prepackaged barium consistencies and 1 standard infant formula that was thickened with rice cereal and with 2 commercially available thickening agents were studied. Thickness was determined via a line spread test after various time and temperature conditions were met. Results: There were significant differences between the thickened formula and barium test consistencies. Formula thickened with rice cereal separated over time into thin liquid and solid residue. Formula thickened with a starch‐based thickening agent was thicker than the desired consistency immediately after mixing, and it continued to thicken over time. The data from this project suggest that nectar‐thick and honey‐thick infant formulas undergo significant changes in flow rates within 30 minutes of preparation or if refrigerated and then reheated after 3 hours. Conclusions: Additional empirical evidence is warranted to determine the most reliable methods and safest products for thickening infant formula when necessary for effective dysphagia management.
Obligated to Care: A Personal Narrative of Compassion Fatigue in an Oncology Nurse
Authors: Brint Suzanne
Published: September 2016

Evidence does not suggest but validates the very fact that an unsupportive patient care environment contributes to the development of what is called compassion fatigue in oncology nurses. This retrospective is an attempt to describe through personal story how compassion fatigue developed over time. The purpose of this article is to illustrate through personal narrative the manifestation of compassion fatigue in an individual oncology nurse and to hopefully allow readers to become aware of any presence of compassion fatigue in their personal lives and/or professional nursing practice. The following questions emerged from the writing of this article and may be useful for future research: (1) What is the best definition of compassion fatigue to be used when specifically applied to oncology nurses as guidance for future research? (2) What specific interventions might be explored as a means to prevent compassion fatigue in oncology nurses using prospective trials? (3) What are the best institutional practices used currently in oncology units? What prospective intervention trials aimed at prevention and amelioration of compassion fatigue in oncology nurses might be developed? (4) What administrative training to observe and manage compassion fatigue might be developed and tested? (5) What is the possible relationship between compassion fatigue, if any, that might lead to deleterious health outcomes in oncology nurses?
High performance disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)/poly(ethylene oxide) composite membrane used as a novel separator for supercapacitor with neutral electrolyte and activated carbon electrodes
Authors: Na Ruiqi , Zhang Xingrui , Huo Pengfei , Du Yinlong , Huo Guanze , Zhu Kai , Wang Guibin
Published: September 2016

High performance disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)/poly(ethylene oxide) (SPAES/PEO) composite membranes were prepared by a simple method such as a novel separator saturated by the lithium sulfate (Li2SO4) aqueous electrolyte for application in supercapacitors (SCs). As prepared composite membranes exhibit excellent mechanical properties and thermal stabilities, which are beneficial for the safety in potential applications, meanwhile, the addition of PEO on membrane also enhanced the affinity with electrolyte and the ion conduction for lithium salts. In addition, the SC cell was fabricated with optimized SPAES/PEO composite membrane and activated carbon electrodes with Li2SO4 aqueous electrolyte. The obtained SC with the SPAES/PEO separator revealed a specific capacitance of 142.5 F g−1 at a current density of 0.1 A g−1. Furthermore, the energy density of the SC was promoted to 19.04 Wh kg−1 due to the wide working voltage range of the neutral electrolyte, and the SC exhibited an excellent coulombic efficiency of almost 99% and nearly 100% cycling retention after 5000 galvanostatic charge/discharge cycles. All of these results indicated that SPAES/PEO composite membrane is suitable as a novel separator for SC.
Effects of rotational speed on the leakage behavior, temperature increase, and swirl development of labyrinth seal in a compressor stator well
Authors: Liu Gaowen , Kong Xiaozhi , Liu Yuxin , Feng Qing
Published: September 2016

The stator well in a compressor is the space between the rotor and stator inside the mainstream annulus flow. Labyrinth seals are normally used to control the internal flow in the stator well. The upstream and downstream rotating cavities of the labyrinth seal can lead to substantial temperature rise and swirl development in this region. Additionally, due to the centrifugal expansion and thermal expansion, the tip clearance of labyrinth seal changes dramatically at different rotational speeds and temperatures in the stator well. A test rig capable to establish different rotational speeds and pressure ratios was designed according to the simplified model of the labyrinth seal in a compressor stator well (one stage). The leakage flow rate and change in total temperature across the stator well were measured. This paper also contains the experimental results of swirl ratios in the outlet rotating cavity to reveal the swirl development. Special emphasis in this work lies on acquiring the working tip clearance precisely. The set up tip clearance was measured with plug gauges, while the radial displacements of labyrinth ring and stator casing were measured separately with two high precision laser distance sensors. Two-dimensional, axisymmetric swirl flow numerical simulations were performed to get a further understanding about the basic flow characteristics and to evaluate their ability to predict the experimental results. The computational results of discharge coefficient, windage heating, and swirl ratio were compared to those obtained from test rig measurements. Particularly, when calculating, the tip clearance, the inlet parameters, and the outlet parameters of numerical model at a specific rotating speed were set to be the same with the experimental conditions.
Saudi academic librarians’ perceptions of the Association of College & Research Libraries guidelines
Authors: Matook Khaled , Abu El-Khair Ibrahim
Published: September 2016

The aim of the present study is to identify the extent of the validity of the application of the Association of College and Research Libraries 2011 guidelines for academic librarians. In order to achieve this, the researchers conducted a survey using a questionnaire distributed to the study population. The population consisted of male and female librarians in six Saudi university libraries: Umm Al Qura University, Tiba University, King Abdulaziz University, Taif University, Princess Noura University, and the University of Dammam. The number of respondents to the questionnaire was 88. All standards received high approval rates. Values relating to professional responsibilities received the highest rating, followed by governance, then leave and research funds followed by compensation, and finally grievance. Among the indicators that received the highest average scores were: providing the librarians with the opportunity to complete their studies while working and therefore improve their salaries, engaging them in developing the policies and regulations of the library, and enabling them to participate in conferences and seminars. There were no statistically significant differences in the degrees of Saudi librarians’ approval rates of the application of any of the ACRL guidelines with regard to years of experience, qualifications, gender, specialization, and place of work.
Integrated semi-active seat suspension for both longitudinal and vertical vibration isolation
Authors: Bai Xian-Xu , Jiang Peng , Qian Li-Jun
Published: September 2016

“Functional integration” is to integrate two or multiple systems or mechanisms that are independent with each other and to realize the two or multiple functions using only one actuation system. Maximization of engineering applications of actuation systems could be achieved through the use of the “functional integration” concept-based structural design. In this article, an integrated semi-active seat suspension, mainly composed of a switching mechanism, a transmission amplification mechanism, and a damping force- or torque-controllable rotary magnetorheological (MR) damper working in pure shear mode, for both longitudinal and vertical vibration attenuation, is proposed, designed, and fabricated. The switching mechanism employs the parallelogram frames as a motion guide which keeps the seat moving longitudinally and vertically. Both longitudinal and vertical motions are transformed into a reciprocating rotary motion that is transmitted to the rotary MR damper after an amplification by a gear mechanism. The torque generated by the MR damper can be tuned by adapting the applied current in real time, and hence, effective two-dimensional vibration control of the seat could be realized. The mathematical model of the semi-active seat suspension system is established, and vibration isolation performance of the system is simulated and analyzed. Based on the established experimental test rig, the prototype of the semi-active seat suspension system is tested, and the results of the mathematical model and the experimental test are compared.
Quality Improvement Initiatives Need Rigorous Evaluation: The Case of Pressure Ulcers
Authors: Averill Richard F. , Hughes John S. , Fuller Richard L. , Goldfield Norbert I.
Published: September 2016

The Partnership for Patients (PfP) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) have reported a 23.5% decline in hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPU) over 4 years resulting in a cumulative cost savings of more than $10 billion and 49 000 averted deaths, claiming that this significant decline may have been spurred in part by Medicare payment incentives associated with severe (stage 3 or 4) HAPUs. Hospitals with a high rate of severe HAPUs have a payment penalty imposed, creating a financial disincentive to report severe HAPUs, possibly contributing to the magnitude of the reported decline. Despite the financial disincentive to report, the number of severe HAPUs found in claims data over the corresponding 4-year period did not decline but instead remained unchanged. The results from claims data, combined with some flaws in estimating HAPUs, call into question the validity of the decline in HAPUs reported by PfP and AHRQ.
Design and development of Knowledge Based System for Integrated Maintenance Strategy and Operations
Authors: Milana Milana , Khan M Khurshid , Munive-Hernandez J Eduardo
Published: September 2016

The importance of maintenance has escalated significantly by the increase in automation in manufacturing processes. This condition changed the perspective of maintenance from being considered as an inevitable cost to being seen as a key business function to drive competitiveness. Consequently, maintenance decisions need to be aligned with the business competitive strategy as well as the requirements of manufacturing/quality functions in order to support manufacturing equipment performance. Therefore, it is required to synchronise the maintenance strategy and operations with business and manufacturing/quality aspects. This article presents the design and development of a Knowledge Based System for Integrated Maintenance Strategy and Operations. The developed framework of the Knowledge Based System for Integrated Maintenance Strategy and Operations is elaborated to show how the Knowledge Based System for Integrated Maintenance Strategy and Operations can be applied to support maintenance decisions. The knowledge-based system integrates the Gauging Absences of Prerequisites methodology in order to deal with different decision-making priorities and to facilitate benchmarking with a target performance state. This is a new contribution to this area. The Knowledge Based System for Integrated Maintenance Strategy and Operations is useful in reviewing the existing maintenance system and provides reasonable recommendations for maintenance decisions with respect to business and manufacturing perspectives. In addition, it indicates the roadmap from the current state to the benchmark goals for the maintenance system.
Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Tunisian Monocenter Study on 160 Patients
Authors: Sassi Samia Ben , Touati Nahla , Baccouche Hela , Drissi Cyrine , Romdhane Neila Ben , Hentati Fayçal
Published: September 2016

Objective:

Data regarding cerebral venous thrombosis in North Africa are scarce. This study aims to identify the clinical features, risk factors, outcome, and prognosis of cerebral venous thrombosis in Tunisia.

Methods:

Data of 160 patients with radiologically confirmed cerebral venous thrombosis, hospitalized in Mongi Ben Hmida National Institute of Neurology (Tunis, Tunisia), were retrospectively collected and analyzed.

Results:

The mean age was 37.3 years with a female predominance (83.1%). The mode of onset was subacute in most cases (56.2%). Headache was the most common symptom (71.3%), and focal neurologic symptoms were the main clinical presentation (41.8%). The most common sites of thrombosis were the superior sagittal sinus (65%) and the lateral sinus (60.6%). More than 1 sinus was involved in 114 (71.2%) patients. Parenchymal lesions observed in 85 (53.1%) patients did not correlate with cerebral venous thrombosis extent. Major risk factors were obstetric causes (pregnancy and puerperium) found in 46 (38.6% of women aged <50 years) patients, followed by anemia (28.1%) and congenital or acquired thrombophilia (16.2%). Mortality rate was of 6.6%. Good outcome at 6 months (modified Rankin Scale ≤2) was observed in 105 (87.5%)of 120 patients available for follow-up. Predictors of poor outcome were altered consciousness and elevated plasma C-reactive protein levels.

Conclusion:

Clinical and radiologic presentation of cerebral venous thrombosis in Tunisia was quite similar to other parts of the world with, however, a particularly high frequency of obstetric causes. Plasma C-reactive protein level should be considered as a prognostic factor in CVT.
Methods of Teaching Magazine Writing
Authors: Bird George L.
Published: September 2016

Suggestions for making the most widely offered magazine course more effective are presented here by Dr. Bird, who is professor of journalism at Syracuse and author of the recently published Article Writing and Marketing, newest textbook on the subject. Dr. Bird directs graduate journalism studies at Syracuse.
Magazine Journalism: A Selected Bibliography
Authors: Drewry John E.
Published: September 2016

Dean Drewry, of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, brings together a valuable list of materials. He has compiled several books in the magazine field, including two anthologies of articles on journalism and journalists from the Saturday Evening Post.
Adult Victimization in Female Survivors of Childhood Violence and Abuse: The Contribution of Multiple Types of Violence
Authors: Aakvaag Helene Flood , Thoresen Siri , Wentzel-Larsen Tore , Dyb Grete
Published: September 2016

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a well-established risk factor for adult victimization in women, but little is known about the importance of relationship to perpetrator and exposure to other violence types. This study interviewed 2,437 Norwegian women (response rate = 45.0%) about their experiences with violence. Logistic regression analyses were employed to estimate associations of multiple categories of childhood violence with adult victimization. Women exposed to CSA often experienced other childhood violence, and the total burden of violence was associated with adult rape and intimate partner violence (IPV). Researchers and clinicians need to take into account the full spectrum of violence exposure.
Proficiency influences orthographic activations during L2 spoken-word recognition
Authors: Mitsugi Sanako
Published: September 2016

Aims and objectives:

Previous research has demonstrated that literate adults activate orthographic representations to map spoken words onto printed referents as they hear a word. This study examined the time course of orthographic activation during spoken-word recognition in L2 context, taking into account of L2 proficiency.

Methodology:

We used the printed-word visual-world paradigm, in which participants saw four words on a computer screen and clicked on the word that matched spoken input. Twenty-one native Japanese speakers and 55 learners of Japanese with the L1 English background took part in this study.

Data and analysis:

The eye-movement data were analyzed using time-dependent mixed-effect logistic regression models. Our models included time and proficiency as fixed effects and participants and item as random effects.

Findings:

The pattern of the results identified the activation of orthography during speech processing by native Japanese speakers. The results from the L2 learner group showed that L2 proficiency was attributed to word recognition efficacy.

Originality:

This study is the first to employ the printed-word visual-world paradigm to track L2 learners’ real-time orthographic activations of Japanese hiragana.

Significance:

The pattern of the results confirms the applicability of the printed-word variant of the visual-world paradigm in L2 research, emphasizing L2 proficiency as an important factor in the integration of orthographic and phonological information.
Statistics, publicity and industry intervention: Changing depictions of the Chinese outbound travel market in New Zealand newspapers
Authors: Weaver Adam
Published: September 2016

Recent socio-economic gains made by China have transformed the country into an enormous outbound travel market for destinations such as New Zealand. Various official statistics that pertain to this market are produced for the purposes of evaluating its behaviour and affirming its commercial value. An analysis of articles published in New Zealand newspapers demonstrates that media-disseminated statistics are used to assess the capabilities of the Chinese outbound travel market, reflect a desire for objective measures and can be broadly associated with a series of managerial interventions. Connecting publically available statistics with certain actions taken by tourism organizations must proceed cautiously. However, the correspondence between official statistics that quantify dimensions of particular issues and certain industry actions can be mapped, to some extent, in proximate terms. Statistics help to make problems and opportunities connected with a phenomenon – in this case, the Chinese travel market – discernible and thus more compatible with management intervention. Enumeration and industry action are intertwined in a manner that merits study by tourism researchers. To chart the connections between data-based depictions of a travel market and industry responses, this paper marshals evidence from New Zealand newspapers – publications that chronicle important dimensions of the country’s tourism industry and are a significant means of public communication. A sequence of statistically based episodic portraits of the Chinese market produces a changing object of scrutiny and intervention for a variety of interested parties.
Gluteal Compartment Syndrome Following Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Treatment
Authors: Viviani Emanuela , Giribono Anna Maria , Narese Donatella , Ferrara Doriana , Servillo Giuseppe , del Guercio Luca , Bracale Umberto Marcello
Published: September 2016

Compartment syndrome (CS) is a pathological increase of the interstitial pressure within the closed osseous fascial compartments. Trauma is the most common cause, followed by embolization, burns, and iatrogenic injuries; it usually involves the limbs. The major issue when dealing with CS is the possibility to do an early diagnosis in order to intervene precociously, through a fasciotomy, reducing the risk of tissue, vascular and nervous damage. Although it is an infrequent condition, it is potentially life threatening. In our case report, we present a 59-year-old patient, smoker, affected by hypertension, dyslipidemia, chronic renal failure, and morbid obesity who came at our attention for a 6-cm abdominal aorta aneurysm, treated with an aorto-aortic graft. Within 24 hours from surgery, the patient presented acute ischemia of the right lower limb due to thrombosis of the common iliac artery and underwent the positioning of a kissing stent at the aortic bifurcation. In the immediate postoperative period, a relevant increase in serum creatinine, creatine phosphokinase, and myoglobin value was recorded, associated with clinical presentation of swelling in the right buttock with intense pain. The diagnosis of gluteal CS was confirmed by the measurement of the gluteal compartment pressure, which resulted of 110 mm Hg. The treatment of the CS consisted in gluteal dermofasciotomy, surgical debridement of the buttock, and positioning of negative pressure medication, associated with infusive therapy, avoiding hemodialysis. Because of the epidural anesthesia only later on it was possible to observe a persistent plegia of the right lower limb, which was solved within 1 month of neurological and physical therapy. With our experience, we can state that the CS is an extremely severe complication that can occur in vascular surgeries and it should therefore be kept in mind in the short-term postoperative period in order to guarantee a precocious diagnosis and immediate treatment.
Symbrachydactyly
Authors: Goodell Parker B. , Bauer Andrea S. , Sierra Francisco J. A. , James Michelle A.
Published: September 2016

Background: Symbrachydactyly is a unilateral congenital hand malformation characterized by failure of formation of fingers and the presence of rudimentary digit nubbins. The management is variable and are investigated in this review. Methods: A detailed review of the literature was compiled into succinct clinically relevant categories. Results: Etiology, classification, non-surgical management, surgical intervention, and patient oriented outcomes are discussed. Conclusions: All interventions should prioritize realistic, evidence-supported appearance and functional gains. Studies of the baseline function and quality of life of children with symbrachydactyly would allow surgeons to better understand functional changes associated with various interventions and would help surgeons and parents to make the best treatment decisions.
Enriching the Preparation of Education Researchers and Practitioner-Scholars: Linking School District Research Priorities and University-Based Policy Evaluation Research Courses
Authors: Malen Betty
Published: September 2016

This article analyzes a novel effort to strengthen the preparation of both practitioner-scholars and education researchers. It describes a university–district partnership that offers graduate students the opportunity to develop research understandings and skills through participation in a “real” research project and provides district leaders the formative evaluation information they need to guide decision making on major reform initiatives. The article suggests that partnerships that link school district research priorities with university-based, policy evaluation research courses can enrich the university’s approach to the teaching of research methods and can yield rigorous studies that both serve local districts and speak to broader academic and professional audiences.