bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Looking beyond the district: The representation of geographical sub-constituencies across Europe
Authors: André Audrey , Depauw Sam
Published: December 2016

A key question in representation is how institutional settings bring about particular representational roles among legislators. In this regard, the strategic dilemma that representatives face of whether to represent all people in the district equally or, alternatively, to prioritize some area within the district, has been vastly understudied. Using innovative survey data collected in 12 European democracies, we demonstrate that a striking number of legislators favour representing the interests of their home town over the district as a whole and that the number of representatives elected by the district critically impacts their choice as to whom to represent. As district magnitude increases, an increasing number of legislators will not cater to district opinion but will prioritize the interests of a geographical sub-constituency. These findings have important implications for the study of political representation, challenging the conventional wisdom that – compared to single-seat districts – proportional representation tends not to provide geographical representation.
Spaces of abandonment: Genealogies, lives and critical horizons
Authors: Leshem Noam
Published: December 2016

Abandonment has a long presence in Western cultural, philosophical and legal canon, though most contemporary critical debates focus on its sovereign and juridico-political functions. This article considers the concept of abandonment through its more nuanced and multidimensional appearances: at once a political technology and a material economy, a juridical category and a sphere of intimacy. Following the longer conceptual history of abandonment, from its Greco-Roman sources to the present, the article sheds light on abandonment as a systemic political technology, its evolution and significance in different social and political contexts. Drawing on notions of abandonment that remain outside Western intellectual corpus—primarily in early Jewish jurisprudence—this article seeks a more nuanced and expansive understanding of this concept. Closely reading a case documenting the fatal abandonment of one Palestinian man in 2008, the article highlights a myriad of agents, materialities, relations and infrastructures that join in the production and perpetuation of the abandoned present.
‘Making space public’ through occupation: The Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Canberra
Authors: Iveson Kurt
Published: December 2016

Through the actions of activists involved in the Arab Spring uprisings, European anti-austerity movements and the Occupy and Umbrella movements among others, long-term occupations of public space have re-entered the repertoire of insurgent social movements to spectacular effect. These events have dramatised the challenges and limits of occupation as a spatial strategy for ‘making space public’. This paper seeks to make a contribution to the critical geographical literatures on occupation and public space, through analysis of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy – a politically motivated occupation of a patch of land in the Australian capital that is now entering its 45th year. The Embassy activists mobillised occupation in the process of making and sustaining a counterpublic. Counterpublic participants face a distinct set of geographical challenges in making space for both withdrawal and representation in the face of spatial subordination. Occupations like the Embassy seek to resolve these challenges by combining both of these activities in a single site. The Embassy draws our attention to two important sets of issues in relation to the counterpublic geography of occupations. First, it has much to teach about how space is made public through occupation, including dynamics related to the location, duration, reproduction and relations of occupation. Second, the Embassy issues a challenge about whose space is made public through occupation – as an embodied enactment of indigenous sovereignty, the Embassy reminds us that democratic politics in settler colonial nations like Australia is premised on a violent dispossession that has yet to be fully acknowledged or addressed.
‘New Warsaw Pacts’, ‘Beggar Imperialism’ and interstate rivalry in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Ilkowski Filip
Published: December 2016

This article addresses newly emerging interstate rivalry between Central and Eastern European states based on unevenness of capitalist development and growing assertiveness of particular states in terms of their various strategies and tactics. It critically analyses the efficacy of ‘New Warsaw Pacts’ concepts and argues that in the Central and Eastern European area, we observe a specific form of a post–Cold War multi-polarity, whereby interstate rivalry is becoming increasingly more complex. The term of ‘Beggar Imperialism’ is utilized as a possibly useful description of a specific form geopolitical strategy shown by the example of Poland.
A Comprehensive Taxonomy for Serious Games
Authors: De Lope Rafael Prieto , Medina-Medina Nuria
Published: December 2016

This article highlights the importance of establishing comprehensive taxonomies in the booming sector of serious games. Although various authors have proposed partial classification systems in this field, very little has so far been published on serious game taxonomies which serve to classify any type of serious game. This article proposes a comprehensive serious game taxonomy. The aim of this taxonomy is to gather the particular features of video game design and development, the platforms used to run the games, and operational aspects such as use, users, and distribution by highlighting the idiosyncrasies of the serious component. To this end, 16 criteria are discussed in this work. The taxonomy collects a large number of features that will be useful for those looking for a serious game (e.g., to teach a subject or train a skill). If they wish to use an existing game, the taxonomy helps to choose between the different options. If they need to develop a custom game, the taxonomy details the design alternatives to consider. The proposal has been applied on 22 serious games, and some interesting conclusions are drawn from this study. In addition, a web application has been built to support the proposal.
What’s the Story? Views of Pregnant Teens in Qualitative Research
Authors: Anastas Jeane W.
Published: December 2016

Despite declining birthrates, teen pregnancy is still seen as an “epidemic” centered among low-income young women of color. Professional, conservative, and social justice views of the “problem” vary greatly. This article reports on the first findings from a systematic review of qualitative studies from 1989 to 2014. Forty-one studies were identified, and the narratives in them varied. Variation in perspective was related to the profession of the study author and whether the author professed a feminist and critical race perspective. Findings inform theory, practice, and policy.
Immediate and Long-Term Mental Health Outcomes in Adolescent Female Rape Survivors
Authors: Oshodi Yewande , Macharia Muiruri , Lachman Anusha , Seedat Soraya
Published: December 2016

Rape is considered a stressful trauma and often has long-lasting health consequences. Compared with adult females, limited data exist on the psychological impact of rape in adolescents. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of emotional distress in a cohort of adolescent rape survivors in Cape Town. Participants in this prospective longitudinal study were 31 adolescent female rape survivors recruited from a rape clinic in Cape Town and assessed within 2 weeks of the assault. Assessment measures included a sociodemographic questionnaire and initial screening with the Child and Adolescent Trauma Survey (CATS), the patient-rated Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), and the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC). The CATS, CDI, and MASC were repeated at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post enrollment. Psychiatric diagnoses were made with the clinician-administered Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview–Child and Adolescent version (MINI-Kid). At baseline, on the MINI-Kid, a definitive diagnosis of major depressive episode was endorsed in 22.6% of the participants. Stress-related disorders were found in 12.9%, whereas 16.1% had anxiety disorders. There was no diminution of symptoms on self-reported psychopathology measures at follow-up assessment over the five follow-up time points, suggesting persistent psychopathology over a 1-year period despite repeated clinical assessments and supportive counseling. Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder in this sample of adolescent female rape survivors were high at enrollment and found to be persistent, underlining the need for long-term support, screening, and evidence-based follow-up care.
Re-designation of Ethnic Muslims as Bosniaks in Montenegro
Authors: Đečević Mehmed , Vuković-Ćalasan Danijela , Knežević Saša
Published: December 2016

The purpose of this article is to analyse the dynamics of the process of re-designation of ethnic Muslims as Bosniaks in Montenegro. Through a comparison with the analogous process in Serbia, certain specificities are indicated in the context of Montenegro. In line with the premises of the elite theory, we point to the divergent influence of the socially engaged members of the Slavic Muslim cultural corpus in Montenegro on the process of ethnic self-identification of Slavic Muslims in the country. The willingness of a part of this corpus to adhere to the views of the elite part of the population that opposed the ethnonym “Bosniak,” and insisted on retaining the ethnic designation “Muslim,” is interpreted through the lens of social constructivism. The article indicates the formation of the socio-political constructs of “Montenegrin” and “Muslim” that occurred in the last decade of the twentieth century. These two constructs are interlinked; the former is superior as it has ethnic and ethical-political semantic layers, while the latter is subordinate, and it partially stems from the positive sentiment of Slavic Muslims towards Montenegro as the country they inhabit. The relationship between these constructs interferes with the process of accepting national Bosniakhood in a part of the Muslim population in Montenegro. A comparison of the results from the last two population censuses in Montenegro indicates a trend of acceptance of the ethnonym “Bosniak” among the Slavic Muslim population in Montenegro. However, given the slow dynamics of the process, affected by the continuous exposure to factors that increase its complexity, national divergence of Slavic Muslims in Montenegro will most likely prevail.
Can STEM Be Stemmed? An Essay Review of Andrew Hacker, The Math Myth and Other STEM Delusions (New York, NY: The New Press, 2016. 239 pp. $25.95. ISBN 978-1-62097-068-3)
Authors: Apple Michael W.
Published: December 2016

Educational policy in a number of nations has stressed the importance of STEM and advanced mathematics. This article examines Andrew Hacker’s analysis of the uncritical acceptance of STEM and advanced mathematics and of its empirical, epistemological, political, and educational assumptions. Although I support Hacker’s claims, I also raise a number of questions about some of his own assumptions and arguments. On the whole, however, The Math Myth is an important book, one that should be read by both supporters of STEM in curriculum and teaching and by those who are deeply concerned about its dominance.
Evidence of secondary tooth contact in harmonic drive, with involute toothed gear pair, through experimental and finite element analyses of stresses in flex-gear cup
Authors: Sahoo Vineet , Maiti Rathindranath
Published: December 2016

Stresses in flex spline/gear cup in harmonic drives with involute toothed gear pair and conventional strain wave generating cam are analyzed using finite element method in ANSYS® environment and experiments. The most innovative part of this investigation is establishing the evidence of secondary contacts and probable load shared by those contacts experimentally over the finite element analysis. Aiming at the performance improvement of gearing in harmonic drives, with involute toothed gear pair, the investigations are carried out through the following analyses. (a) Initial stresses in flex gear cup due to cam insertion only. (b) Stresses in flex gear cup at no load in fully assembled harmonic drive components i.e. flex gear, ring gear, and strain wave generating cam. (c) Stresses in flex gear cup at full load passing through the two pitch points, i.e. the intersection points of ring gear pitch circle, flex gear pitch curve, and major axis on both sides. Finally, (d) stresses in flex gear cup at full load distributed over all possible primary and secondary contacts, in proportion to their contact intensities. Recorded strains of the flex-gear cup while the cam being rotated showed very good agreement with the results obtained by finite element analysis with proper modeling of loading.
Investigation of the instability mechanisms in a turbocharger centrifugal compressor with a vaneless diffuser by means of unsteady simulations
Authors: Zheng Xinqian , Liu Anxiong , Sun Zhenzhong
Published: December 2016

The stable-flow range of a compressor is predominantly limited by surge and stall. In this paper, an unsteady simulation method was employed to investigate the instability mechanisms of a high-speed turbocharger centrifugal compressor with a vaneless diffuser. In comparison with the variation in the pressure obtained by dynamic experiments on the same compressor, unsteady simulations show a great accuracy in representing the stall behaviour. The predicted frequency of the rotating stall is 22.5% of the rotor frequency, which agrees with to the value for the high-frequency short-term rotating stall obtained experimentally. By investigating the instability of the flow field, it is found that the unstable flow of the turbocharger compressor at high rotational speeds is caused by the tip clearance leakage flow and the ‘backflow vortices’ originating from the interaction of the incoming flow and the backflow in the tip region of the passages. The asymmetric volute helps to induce the occurrence of stall in certain impeller passages because it generates an asymmetric flow field. The high-pressure low-velocity area from the 180° circumferential position to the 270° circumferential position is dominant and strengthens the backflow at the trailing edge of the impeller, finally triggering the stall.
Energy-efficient hydraulic actuator position tracking using hydraulic system operation modes
Authors: Saeedzadeh Ahsan , Tivay Ali , Zareinejad Mohammad , Rezaei S Mehdi , Rahimi Abdolreza , Baghestan Keivan
Published: December 2016

Efficient actuation is an important requirement in electromechanical designs. Although hydraulic actuators are used extensively when high-magnitude forces are present in heavy machinery, they are not very energy-efficient. This paper aims to increase the efficiency of electro-hydraulic servo systems after introducing a controllable supply pressure and six mode of operation for different condition. This process allows for the system to have very low energy consumption whenever its environmental force agrees with its position reference signal. For this purpose, first, the electrohydraulic servo systems is modeled and a robust H∞ controller is designed for each mode of operation. The resulting control system works based on applying each mode strategy at right time to save energy. The effectiveness of this method is tested by conducting experiments on a hydraulic test rig and presenting the experimental results.
Motion control of a two-axis linear motor-driven stage in the micro-milling process
Authors: Heydarzadeh Mohammad S , Rezaei Seyed M , Mardi Noor A , Kamali E Ali
Published: December 2016

The application of linear motor-driven stages as the feed drivers of CNC micro milling machine tools is growing. In addition to employ high speed and high precision equipment such as linear motor-driven stages, the precision of the machined contours is highly dependent on the capabilities of the servo controllers. In this paper, the design of a precise controller for a two-axis LMDS has been investigated for micro-milling applications. In such feed drives, disturbances such as friction, force ripples, and machining forces have adverse effects on the workpiece positioning precision due to the direct drive concept behind them. Therefore, in order to have an acceptable transient response and disturbance rejection properties, a two-degree-of-freedom proportional–integral–derivative controller was employed for each axis. To design this controller, the zero-placement method was used. To compensate disturbances and machining contour errors, the utilization of Kalman filter observers, neural networks, cross-coupled controllers, and different integration of them were studied. The controllers were experimentally examined for circular motions. An integrated controller consisted of a Kalman filter disturbance observer, a cross-coupled controller, and a well-designed two-degree-of-freedom proportional–integral–derivative controller resulted in a high contouring and tracking precision. The controller could also reduce the spikes caused by the friction at the motion reversal points such as the quadrants in circle trajectories.
The optimal strength of shear pins: Requirements in point run-throughs
Authors: Colantuono Thomas , Grossoni Ilaria , Allen Paul , Molyneux-Berry Paul , Borczyk Philip
Published: December 2016

In this study, a mathematical modelling work has been carried out to investigate the potential of the use of shear pins within London Underground Switch and Crossing electric point machine drives to protect against run-through derailments. The review is based on a need to minimise the risks of derailment and to better understand the risks associated with run-through. The study has been accomplished in two stages: analytical modelling to establish the stiffness of the switch blade followed by vehicle dynamics modelling to analyse the wheel climb-out events and the resultant loadings on the shear pins. A range of shear pin strengths and vehicle-track parameters has been considered. A post-processing routine has been developed to enable a thorough study on the relationship between vehicle-track parameters, strength of shear pins, failure rates and the risk of vehicle derailment. A good agreement between the modelling results and the current shear pin’s ability to protect against derailments has been found. Ultimately, the potential to increase the strength of shear pins has been analysed in order to protect the vehicles against fatigue failure.
Fusing unscented Kalman filter for performance monitoring and fault accommodation in gas turbine
Authors: Lu Feng , Wang Yafan , Huang Jinquan , Huang Yihuan , Qiu Xiaojie
Published: December 2016

The Kalman filter is widely utilized for gas turbine health monitoring due to its simplicity, robustness, and suitability for real-time implementations. The most common Kalman filter for linear systems is linearized Kalman filter, and for nonlinear systems are extended Kalman filter and unscented Kalman filter. These algorithms have proven their capabilities to estimate gas turbine performance variations with a good accuracy, and the studies are done provided that all sensor measurements are available. In this paper, a nonlinear fusion approach with consistent diagnostic mechanism based on unscented Kalman filter is proposed, especially for gas turbine performance monitoring in the case of sensor failure. The architecture of fusion method comprises a set of local unscented Kalman filters and an information mixer. The local unscented Kalman filters are utilized to estimate health parameters of various component combinations, and the results are then transferred to the mixer for the integrated estimation of global health state in fusion structure. The consistent fault diagnosis and isolation logic is designed based on the fusion architecture and combined with the fusing unscented Kalman filter, called an improved fusing unscented Kalman filter. A systematic comparison of the generic linearized Kalman filter, extended Kalman filter, and unscented Kalman filter to their fusion filter kinds is presented for engine health estimation of gradual deterioration and abrupt fault. The studies show that the fusing unscented Kalman filter evidently outperforms the fusing linearized Kalman filter and fusing extended Kalman filter, while the fusing Kalman filters have slightly better estimation accuracy than the basic Kalman filters. In addition, the proposed methodology can reach the reliable performance monitoring with measurement uncertainty while the conventional Kalman filters collapse.
Information access preferences and behaviour of Blind Foundation Library clients
Authors: Calvert Philip , Creaser Claire , Pigott Chris
Published: December 2016

Library services to blind and visually impaired readers are changing as computer technology makes it possible to deliver reading material in a variety of new media formats. The Blind Foundation of New Zealand surveyed its library clients to discover the reading formats they currently used and which ones they preferred. The survey also asked questions about their access to computer technology and their personal assessment of their technological competency. There was a particular focus in the survey on the DAISY format and on services offering books by download. Analysis of the survey data shows that access to computer technology roughly matches the national profile. Use of computers generally declines with age, with iPhones and iPads being the exception. The DAISY format is both the most used and the most preferred format for reading, though not so overwhelmingly as to suggest other formats can be dropped. Computer competency declines with age, but among the younger respondents there seemed to be both the ability and the confidence to download books, and some were already using that service provided by the library. The library will make further investigations into why relatively few clients currently use the download service, and how clients envisage using such a service in the future.
Securing with algorithms: Knowledge, decision, sovereignty
Authors: Amoore Louise , Raley Rita
Published: December 2016

Amid the deployment of algorithmic techniques for security – from the gathering of intelligence data to the proliferation of smart borders and predictive policing – what are the political and ethical stakes involved in securing with algorithms? Taking seriously the generative and world-making capacities of contemporary algorithms, this special issue draws attention to the embodied actions of algorithms as they extend cognition, agency and responsibility beyond the conventional sites of the human, the state and sovereignty. Though focusing on different modes of algorithmic security, each of the contributions to the special issue shares a concern with what it means to claim security on the terrain of incalculable and uncertain futures. To secure with algorithms is to reorient the embodied relation to uncertainty, so that human and non-human cognitive beings experimentally generate and learn what to bring to the surface of attention for a security action.
A comparative study on the smart damping capabilities of cylindrically orthotropic piezoelectric fiber–reinforced composite actuators in vibration control of simply supported/fully clamped isotropic annular plate
Authors: Kumar A Srinivas Pavan , Panda Satyajit , Reddy Narravula H
Published: December 2016

For active control of vibration of plane structures of revolution, a cylindrically orthotropic piezoelectric fiber–reinforced composite actuator is addressed in a recent study. Some other available piezoelectric composites, which are originally constructed in Cartesian coordinate frame, can also be reconstructed in polar coordinate frame for similar application. Making use of all these piezoelectric composites in polar coordinate frame of an annular plate, a comparative study on their control capabilities is performed at present. All the piezoelectric composites are used in the form of patches which are optimally configured over the host plate surface and utilized as smart dampers. The geometrical and material properties of the piezoelectric composites are taken in uniform manner and the corresponding electric fields in function of applied voltage are evaluated for derivation of a closed-loop finite element model of the smart annular plate. First, the patches of every piezoelectric composite are optimally configured through the proposition of a new methodology. Next, the control/damping capabilities of the piezoelectric composites are evaluated for fundamental symmetric/asymmetric mode of vibration of the plate. The numerical results first illustrate the implementation and suitability of the present methodology for optimal size and locations of actuator patches. Subsequently, the results demonstrate damping capabilities of all the piezoelectric composites to label potential ones.
A type of dual-rotor hybrid ultrasonic motor based on vibration of four side panels
Authors: Yang Lin , Zhu Xingxing , Di Sisi
Published: December 2016

Based on vibration of four side panels, a type of dual-rotor hybrid ultrasonic motor without using the torsional piezoelectric ceramics polarized along the circumferential direction is presented. The first longitudinal and the first bending vibration modes of the four side panels are used to indirectly excite the first longitudinal and the second torsional vibration modes of the stator cylinder. There are rectangle piezoelectric ceramics bonded on both sides of the four side panels, which are uniformly distributed along the circumference of the stator cylinder. One pair of panels on the opposite side is used to indirectly excite the first longitudinal vibration mode of the stator cylinder, and the other pair is used to indirectly excite the second torsional vibration mode. The simulation results, using finite element method software Workbench, reveal the operating principles, and the optimal structure is proposed. The appearance size of the prototype is 27.2 mm × 27.2 mm × 70 mm, while the outer diameter of the stator cylinder is 20 mm. The working frequency of the prototype measured in experiment is 44.7 KHz, which is consistent with the numerical results. According to the major mechanical measurement at 450 Vp−p operating voltage and 3.46 N preload, the stalling torque of the prototype is 8 mN·m and the no-load speed is 140 r/min. The experimental results indicate that the motor can operate in the first longitudinal and the second torsional coupled vibration modes transformed from the first longitudinal and the first bending vibration modes of four side panels.
Automatic as-built modeling for concurrent progress tracking of plant construction based on laser scanning
Authors: Chai Jian , Chi Hung-Lin , Wang Xiangyu , Wu Changzhi , Jung Kwang Hyo , Lee Jae Myung
Published: December 2016

The application of automatic as-built modeling based on laser scanning can potentially facilitate progress tracking and control in industrial plant construction. Although notable work has been conducted in the as-built modeling field, the level of automation and ability for programs to recognize semantic information is low. Semantic information, such as an installation schedule for industrial components, is vital for identifying actual construction progress. Unfortunately, as the current practices lack the ability to use robust process mapping to turn such information into corresponding as-built models, the current successful rate of recognition remains low. To fill these gaps, this article describes a new as-built modeling process for industrial components by incorporating segmentation and three-dimensional object recognition techniques from computer vision fields. Following the generation of the as-built model, the tracking process is able to identify schedule delays through deviation analysis between the as-built and four-dimensional as-designed models. The modeling process can be integrated in a concurrent construction environment, which provides precise feedback for planners and site managers to simultaneously maintain the quality of construction plans. A case study is conducted, which demonstrates that the developed process enables as-built modeling with semantic information and automatic construction progress tracking. With a certain number of as-built components of a dehydration module being captured, a successful recognition rate of over 90% is achieved. Furthermore, the processing time of the case study lies within an acceptable time period, which supports efficient progress tracking. The results show the feasibility of the developed process, which promises to save time and labor costs during construction.
Development of fat-reduced sausages: Influence of binary and ternary combinations of carrageenan, inulin, and bovine plasma proteins
Authors: Baracco Yanina , Rodriguez Furlán Laura T , Campderrós Mercedes E
Published: December 2016

The aim of this work was to study the influence of the binary and ternary combinations of bovine plasma proteins (BPP), inulin (I) and κ-carrageenan (C) in the overall quality of fat-reduced sausages. The influence of these components over different properties (chemical composition, weight loss after cooking, emulsion stability, texture profile and sensory analysis of fat-reduced sausages) was studied and compared against two samples, one without fat reduction and another a fat-reduced sample without addition of texturing agents. In this sense, a full factorial experimental design of two levels with central point was used. The samples containing BPP+I and BPP+C showed a synergy in which the binary combinations presented higher values of moisture and protein content than the samples containing the individual components. The reduction of fat content increases the values of hardness and decreases the values of springiness. Samples with 5% BPP (w/w) and binary combinations of BPP+C and BPP+I had the best stability values (low total fluid loss), demonstrating a significant synergistic effect by combining BPP+C. Similar results were obtained from the study of weight loss after cooking. However, both studies showed a destabilization of the sample BPP+I+C as emulsion stability decreased and weight loss increased after cooking compared to binary combinations ( P < 0.05). Samples with a binary combination of BPP+C and BPP+I do not present a statistically significant difference in the chewiness with respect to a not-fat-reduced commercial sample ( P > 0.05). The less acceptable sample for flavor and texture was the one containing only BPP. However, when BPP combined with I or C, a major acceptability was obtained, demonstrating the synergistic effect of these binary combinations. Therefore, our studies revealed that the binary combinations of BPP with I or C are good alternatives for the development of fat-reduced sausage.
Combined lubricant–surface system perspective: Multi-scale numerical–experimental investigation
Authors: Leighton M , Nicholls T , De la Cruz M , Rahmani R , Rahnejat H
Published: December 2016

Frictional losses are one of the main causes of reduced energy efficiency in all machines and mechanisms. In particular, there is mounting pressure upon manufacturers of all forms of vehicle to comply with increasingly stringent legislation and directives with regard to harmful emissions. Therefore, reduction of friction has become an imperative issue. The traditional approach of dealing with surface material and lubricant formulation in isolation has been replaced by a lubricant–surface system approach. This paper presents multi-scale experimentation from nano/meso-scale lateral force microscopy of ultra-thin surface adsorbed films through to micro-scale precision sliding tribometry to investigate lubricant–surface friction optimisation within the mixed regime of lubrication, using lubricants with different organic and inorganic friction modifying species. These affect the parameters of the system, commonly used as input to models for mixed and boundary regimes of lubrication. Therefore, the precise measurement of these parameters at different physical scales is important. The study also makes use of detailed numerical predictions at micro-scale through combined solution of the average Reynolds equation as well as interaction of wetted asperities in mixed and boundary regimes of lubrication. Good agreement is found between the predictions and measurements at micro-scale tribometric interactions. Furthermore, the same trends are observed in testing across the physical scales.
Clinical course of multiple sclerosis: A nationwide cohort study
Authors: Manouchehrinia Ali , Beiki Omid , Hillert Jan
Published: December 2016

Background:

The course of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been studied in several cohorts; however, results have varied significantly.

Objective:

To describe the clinical course of MS in a nationwide cohort of patients.

Method:

Data from the Swedish MS register (SMSreg) were used to estimate the median time to the sustained Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores 3.0, 4.0 and 6.0, onset of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) and death using Kaplan–Meier method. A possible effect of first-line treatments on age at EDSS 6.0 and SPMS was estimated.

Results:

In all, 12,703 patients were included. Median ages at EDSS scores 3.0, 4.0 and 6.0 were 55.4 (95% confidence interval (CI): 54.8−55.8), 60.7 (95% CI: 60.1−61.2) and 64.3 (95% CI: 63.6−64.7), respectively. Median age at SPMS was 57.4 (95% CI: 56.9−57.9). The median age at the time of death was 80.5 (95% CI: 79.9−81.1). Males and progressive-onset patients showed higher risks of disability worsening. On average, treated patients gained 1.6 years (95% CI: 0.2−3) to EDSS 6.0 as a result of treatment.

Conclusion:

Ages at disability milestones in this population-based cohort were higher than previously described in clinic- and regional-based samples. Nevertheless, MS patients die at younger age and live at an average almost 20 years with moderate and 30 years with severe disability.
Breaking down the gut microbiome composition in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Budhram Adrian , Parvathy Seema , Kremenchutzky Marcelo , Silverman Michael
Published: December 2016

Background:

The gut microbiome, which consists of a highly diverse ecologic community of micro-organisms, has increasingly been studied regarding its role in multiple sclerosis (MS) immunopathogenesis. This review critically examines the literature investigating the gut microbiome in MS.

Methods:

A comprehensive search was performed of PubMed databases and ECTRIMS meeting abstracts for literature relating to the gut microbiome in MS. Controlled studies examining the gut microbiome in patients with MS were included for review.

Results:

Identified studies were predominantly case-control in their design and consistently found differences in the gut microbiome of MS patients compared to controls. We examine plausible mechanistic links between these differences and MS immunopathogenesis, and discuss the therapeutic implications of these findings.

Conclusions:

Review of the available literature reveals potential immunopathogenic links between the gut microbiome and MS, identifies avenues for therapeutic advancement, and emphasizes the need for further systematic study in this emerging field.
Content in context: The impact of mobile media on the British TV industry
Authors: Sørensen Inge Ejbye
Published: December 2016

This article explores the ways in which smartphones, mobile technology and media and, with this, the growing practice of viewing and interacting with content on multiple screens and devices, are informing changes to the TV industry and the content it produces in the United Kingdom. The article reflects on how British TV companies, producers and executives understand their role and the types of content that is currently being commissioned and funded within this changing mediascape. Based on industry data from Ofcom and PACT, interviews with producers, commissioning editors and executives as well as participant observation at industry events, the article argues that mobile media is having a profound impact on the British production sector and ecology. In order to understand and describe the players and practices that make up the ‘TV industry’ today, it is now necessary to rethink how content is defined and where it appears. There is also a need to reconsider who the content producers, broadcasters and distributors are within this industry, and include a wider spectrum of producers as well as the telecoms, aggregators and social media networks as funders and distributors of audiovisual content within this ecology. These reconfigurations impact not only on constitution of the TV industry itself, its modus operandi and the content it produces but also on how arts bodies, policymakers and academics need to approach this ecology.
Incident reporting and a culture of safety
Authors: Hazan Jonathan
Published: December 2016

Incident reporting has long been established as a key component of patient safety in almost all healthcare and related settings. The analysis of incidents to determine why they happen and put in place corrective actions enables us to learn from things that go wrong and protect patients from harm in the future. The introduction of electronic incident reporting using web forms to replace paper has improved efficiency and increased the number of reports collected. There still remain significant barriers to learning from incidents, however. These include issues to do with the design of the systems as well as issues concerning organisational culture. This article revisits the background and purpose of incident reporting in healthcare, discusses some of the barriers to effective reporting and suggests some approaches that can increase its usefulness in protecting patients from harm.
Pharmacological treatment of refugees with trauma-related disorders: What do we know today?
Authors: Sonne Charlotte , Carlsson Jessica , Bech Per , Mortensen Erik Lykke
Published: December 2016

There is a dearth of evidence on the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment for refugees with trauma-related disorders. The present paper provides an overview of available literature on the subject and discusses the transferability of results from studies on other groups of patients with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We conducted a systematic review of published treatment outcome studies on PTSD and depression among refugees. Fifteen studies were identified and reviewed. Most studies focused on the use of antidepressants. Included studies differed widely in method and quality. The majority were observational studies and case studies. Small sample sizes limited the statistical power. Few studies reported effect sizes, confidence intervals, and statistical significance of findings. No specific pharmacological treatment for PTSD among refugees can be recommended on the basis of the available literature. There is a need for well-designed clinical trials, especially with newer antidepressants and antipsychotics. Until such studies are available, clinical practice and design of trials can be guided by results from studies of other groups of PTSD patients, although differences in pharmacogenetics, compliance, and trauma reactions may affect the direct transferability of results from studies on nonrefugee populations.
Effect of tool parameters on mechanical properties, temperature, and force generation during FSW
Authors: Akbari Mostafa , Aliha MRM , Keshavarz SME , Bonyadi A
Published: December 2016

The welding tool parameters play a critical role in obtaining weld strength during friction stir welding. In this investigation, the effect of welding tool parameters such as pin and shoulder diameter and pin height on the axial and traverse forces and also temperature of welding of AA5083 alloy was investigated. A specially designed dynamometer was used to measure the welding tool forces. Then, the mechanical properties of the welds were characterized using tensile tests. Moreover, macrostructure of welds was investigated in order to analyze weld quality. Finally, optimum values for shoulder diameter, pin height and pin diameter were determined.
Can inbound medical tourism boost Malaysia’s economic growth?
Authors: Tang Chor Foon , Nathan Abdullah Ahmad Sofwan
Published: December 2016

Medical tourism is an extensively researched sub-sector of the tourism industry because of its acknowledged role as an important catalyst for economic growth. Nevertheless, the impact of medical tourism on economic growth remains contentious due to associated negative externalities. This paper assesses medical tourism’s role in Malaysia’s long-term economic growth using a neoclassical growth model as its framework and a set of time series econometric approaches, namely cointegration, Granger causality and variance decomposition analysis as core instruments. The results indicate that medical tourism has significant positive impact on Malaysia’s economic growth in the long run.
Space between the borders? Perceptions of professionals on the participation in decision-making of young people in coercive care
Authors: ten Brummelaar Mijntje DC , Knorth Erik J , Post Wendy J , Harder Annemiek T , Kalverboer Margrite E
Published: December 2016

The participation of young people in care and treatment decisions is regarded as an essential element in effective decision-making and care. Although care and treatment in juvenile justice facilities is, in the first instance, based on a coercive placement (i.e. non-participatory decision-making), it is likely that participation is also essential for young offenders during their stay in care. In our study, we interviewed 24 care professionals working in two different juvenile justice facilities in the Netherlands. Professionals understand what participation entails (e.g. informing, listening to, taking views into account), and how and why they can use participation in everyday practice. Typically, they link issues such as safety and existing boundaries when talking about participation in a coercive context. Based on our findings, we present a conceptual model of factors that seem to influence a young person’s participation process. These findings indicate that there is a need for the structural incorporation of youth participation into juvenile justice facilities in such a way as to consider the needs and perspectives of both young people and professionals.
Talent Management and Its Relationship to Successful Veteran Transition Into the Civilian Workplace
Authors: Ford Dwayne G.
Published: December 2016

The Problem

Historical trends reveal that after protracted armed conflict, the U.S. Military has experienced troop reductions (Shanker & Cooper, 2014). Over 200,000 service members from the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have left active duty each year since 2014. For veterans who successfully navigate the hiring process, transitioning into a civilian workplace may prove daunting (Minnis & Wang, 2011), particularly regarding retention. Some studies reveal that nearly half of newly hired veterans left their first post-military job within the first year of hire (Maury, Stone, & Roseman, 2014).

The Solution

This article explored strategic talent management planning considerations and their relationship to military-to-private sector transition processes, from the perspective of the organization and veterans who made successful transitions. Through the utilization of a conceptual framework focused on integrated processes across organizational levels, we suggest that human resource development (HRD) practitioners can effectively integrate veterans into the workplace and assist organizations with maintaining optimally performing workforces by identifying strategic relationships between veteran transition processes and organizational talent management objectives.

The Stakeholders

Through the use of a framework, HRD practitioners enhance their ability to assist organizations in attracting, developing, and retaining veteran talent using a systematic approach.
Study of the tensile and compression performance of composite materials based on rubber particles and alpha fibers
Authors: Brahem Mariem , Boubaker Jaouachi , Soulat Damien , Ben Marzoug Imed , Sakli Faouzi
Published: December 2016

This paper deals with the characterization of some composite materials developed using rubber matrix reinforced with short Alfa fibers. This work aims at studying the performance of Alfa-rubber composites using mechanical and physical characterizations. We opted for the study of the behavior in tension and compression of our samples as part of the mechanical characterization. The results we get show that these natural fibers contribute enormously to the composite properties such as breaking strength and elongation at break. Indeed, substantial increased values (50.82% and 54.38%) of the breaking strength and elongation at break are gained. However, based on the obtained findings, decreasing the filler loading value widely improves the developed material performance. On the other hand, compression test showed that the developed material is not affected by this constraint (compression stress). The results showed that the material is well designed to be resistant to compression strain. When we compared the three types of rubber particle used, we deduced that the developed composite samples using smaller particles powder like (type B) present better appearance and better behavior than those obtained using granulated particles (types A and C).
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm With Renal Arteries Originating Above the Superior Mesenteric Artery
Authors: Rao Ajit , Korayem Adam , Tadros Rami , Faries Peter , Marin Michael , Chander Rajiv
Published: December 2016

A 63-year-old female presented to clinic following an incidental finding of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Preoperative imaging was consistent with an infrarenal AAA over 5-cm in diameter with both renal arteries originating above the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). The patient subsequently underwent an endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) using the AFX stent-graft (Endologix, Inc, Irvine, Calif). Notably, the proximal stent-graft piece was unsheathed with the image intensifier in a lateral position to ensure deployment below the SMA. Postoperative course was unremarkable and the patient is currently recovering well.