bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fostering intentional learning with systems dynamic modeling
Authors: Lee Chwee Beng , Rooney Paul , Parada Roberto H
Published: January 2014

The intent of this paper is to suggest the dimensions of intentional learning and identify the key cognitive benefits of systems modeling with regard to intentional learning through a review of related studies. The authors propose that intentional learning occurs when learners realize the need for refining their conceptual understanding, relate learning to their everyday experiences, possibly through everyday problem solving, and activates or develops metacognitive processes in the course of learning. When engaged in intentional learning, learners’ epistemological beliefs are also challenged. The authors also discuss how systems modeling could potentially foster domain knowledge, systemic thinking, and conceptual change. The second section of this paper describes a technology-enhanced learning environment that fosters intentional learning.
Access to Treatment for Toddlers With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Braddock Barbara , Twyman Kimberly
Published: January 2014

New research shows that intensive and early intervention (EI) has the potential to change brain function in young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Despite the positive benefit of EI, many families (n = 16) reported difficulties accessing EI services following an ASD diagnosis at the intensity viewed necessary for optimal child outcome. Parents reported that on average they secured 6.81 hours of services per month and that limited access to EI services led to increased parental stress at a time when a new ASD diagnosis was often overwhelming. Findings are discussed in terms of support to families who are experiencing difficulties accessing care after new ASD diagnosis.
Bringing communities back: Security communities and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ plural turn
Authors: Collins Alan
Published: January 2014

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is building a people-oriented community in Southeast Asia and it has all the hallmarks of a Deutschian security community, with its emphasis on people-to-people contact and the involvement of civil society organisations in the community’s creation. In this article the argument is made that it is precisely the involvement of the masses that creates the peace inertia associated with security communities, and thus ASEAN’s plural turn is an essential first step in making ASEAN’s community a security community. Whether ASEAN can actually do this, and indeed whether the membership are united in this objective, is not the focus for this article. Instead, and contrary to the security community literature, which identifies ASEAN as a non-liberal security community and has emphasised the practice of self-restraint, this article argues that past ASEAN practice has prevented a security community forming in Southeast Asia, and using self-restraint as an explanation for why security communities create dependable expectations of peaceful change for members has resulted in the agency of ‘community’ being neglected. Hence, this article argues for the need to bring ‘community’ back.
Learning Computerese
Authors: Warner Janis A. , Koufteros Xenophon , Verghese Anto
Published: January 2014

This article introduces a new construct coined as Computer User Learning Aptitude (CULA). To establish construct validity, CULA is embedded in a nomological network that extends the technology acceptance model (TAM). Specifically, CULA is posited to affect perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, the two underlying TAM constructs. Furthermore, we examine several antecedents of CULA by relying on the second language learning literature. These include computer anxiety, tolerance of ambiguity, and risk taking. Conceptualization of CULA is based on the observation that computer systems use language as communication between the computer and the user, making system usage significantly dependent on the ability of the individual to learn the language. We posit that learning to communicate with computer technology is akin to learning a second language, that is, a language learned after the first language(s) or native language(s), and is referred to as computerese. The proposed construct, CULA, measures the aptitude of an individual to learn computerese, and it is specified as a second-order variable. It includes measures of three critical facets of computerese pertaining to general hardware/software, programming, and the Internet. Significant relationships are found between computer anxiety, tolerance of ambiguity, and taking risk with CULA, as well as between CULA and TAM constructs.
Leaving a violent domestic relationship: Experiences of women in Lebanon
Authors: Khoury Jamilé , Wehbi Samantha
Published: January 2014

This article reports on the findings of a study conducted with 24 women who left violent domestic relationships in Lebanon. The study sought to understand the process of making the decision to leave within the particularities of the Lebanese sociocultural context. Findings elucidate a three-step process by which women make and carry out their decision to leave: 1) focusing on saving the marriage, 2) facing a moment of truth that helps them re-evaluate their experiences within the marriage, and 3) leaving without ‘losing face’. Implications of these findings for research and practice are presented.
Child physical punishment and international human rights: Implications for social work education
Authors: Watkinson Ailsa M , Rock Letnie
Published: January 2014

There are increasing calls for the universal implementation of human rights education into the curriculum of schools of social work flowing from international directives including the recent Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development Commitment to Action. With these directives as backdrop, we use, as a case study, the issue of child physical punishment with particular reference to the Caribbean region. The article discusses the prevalence of child physical punishment, social factors supporting its use, human rights agreements, and current research. Child physical punishment is one example of the breach between international human rights promises and lived realities.
From Aset to Jesus
Authors: Williams Jennifer
Published: January 2014

Early Christians appropriated icons and stories from the Kemetic Spiritual System to create a belief system centered on the martyr Jesus. When reexamining the roles of the Kemet trinity of Asar, Aset, and Heru, previous scholarship often used the Christian model of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Aset, the feminine aspect of the Kemetic trinity, translated as Mary, mother of Jesus, has diminished importance in Christianity and thus diminished in the reexamination. My research traces the history of Aset to emphasize her importance to the Kemet people and to show the importance of complementarity in Africana research.
Experiential Psychotherapy of Unification
Authors: Răban-Motounu Nicoleta
Published: January 2014

Being a psychotherapist trained in experiential psychotherapy of unification, I can say that one has to live it to properly understand it, because it is about living and not only about understanding. But an introduction is necessary, and this is the purpose of this article: to make a presentation for psychologists from other countries. Another purpose is to make known how important concepts of humanistic psychology have been integrated, assimilated, and developed by a section of Romanian psychologists. In a few words, experiential psychotherapy of unification is mainly about creativity, authenticity, and a co-actualization therapeutic relationship, which allows integration of the cultural specific aspects and, moreover, individualization of the psychotherapeutic program: It is an application of main humanistic ideas and values and recent advances in psychotherapy research.
Anaesthesia in medetomidine premedicated New Zealand White rabbits: a comparison between intravenous sufentanil–midazolam and isoflurane anaesthesia for orthopaedic surgery
Authors: Hedenqvist Patricia , Edner Anna , Jensen-Waern Marianne
Published: January 2014

Eighteen female New Zealand White rabbits (3.9 ± 0.4 kg) were anaesthetized with sufentanil–midazolam by intravenous infusion (SUF–MID, n = 9) or isoflurane (ISO, n = 9) for bilateral creation of an osteochondral defect in the medial femur condyle. Subcutaneous premedication with 0.1 mg/kg medetomidine and anaesthesia induction by intravenous infusion of 1.1 µg/kg sufentanil and 0.2 mg/kg midazolam were identical in both groups. During surgery (60 min), the effects on respiratory and circulatory variables serum lactate, total protein and blood glucose were examined. Intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) was initiated if apnoea lasted>30 s or if end-tidal CO2 ≥8 kPa. The righting reflex was lost in 3 min. IPPV was necessary during most of the anaesthesia for most of the rabbits. Maintenance doses during surgery were 2.0 µg/kg/h sufentanil and 0.4 mg/kg/h midazolam, and 1.4% isoflurane, respectively. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was higher in group SUF–MID than group ISO during surgery (63 ± 12 vs 50 ± 8 mmHg). In group ISO the heart rate was higher during surgery than before anaesthesia (197 ± 26 vs 158 ± 40 bpm) as was blood glucose (9 ± 2 vs 12 ± 3 mmol/L). Serum lactate levels remained unchanged whereas total protein decreased in both groups. Time to recover from anaesthesia did not differ between groups (20 min). Intravenous sufentanil–midazolam infusion provided surgical anaesthesia with a higher MAP than isoflurane anaesthesia. The protocol can be useful in situations in which gas anaesthesia cannot be used or in animals with limited cardiovascular reserves. However, IPPV is necessary.
Ultrasound-guided block of sciatic and femoral nerves: an anatomical study
Authors: Waag Sonja , Stoffel Michael H , Spadavecchia Claudia , Eichenberger Urs , Rohrbach Helene
Published: January 2014

The sheep is a popular animal model for human biomechanical research involving invasive surgery on the hind limb. These painful procedures can only be ethically justified with the application of adequate analgesia protocols. Regional anaesthesia as an adjunct to general anaesthesia may markedly improve well-being of these experimental animals during the postoperative period due to a higher analgesic efficacy when compared with systemic drugs, and may therefore reduce stress and consequently the severity of such studies. As a first step 14 sheep cadavers were used to establish a new technique for the peripheral blockade of the sciatic and the femoral nerves under sonographic guidance and to evaluate the success rate by determination of the colorization of both nerves after an injection of 0.5 mL of a 0.1% methylene blue solution. First, both nerves were visualized sonographically. Then, methylene blue solution was injected and subsequently the length of colorization was measured by gross anatomical dissection of the target nerves. Twenty-four sciatic nerves were identified sonographically in 12 out of 13 cadavers. In one animal, the nerve could not be ascertained unequivocally and, consequently, nerve colorization failed. Twenty femoral nerves were located by ultrasound in 10 out of 13 cadavers. In three cadavers, signs of autolysis impeded the scan. This study provides a detailed anatomical description of the localization of the sciatic and the femoral nerves and presents an effective and safe yet simple and rapid technique for performing peripheral nerve blocks with a high success rate.
Three Versions of Constructionism and their Reliance on Social Conditions in Social Problems Research
Authors: Thibodeaux Jarrett
Published: January 2014

This article argues that the three most popular versions of constructionism in social problems research fail to eliminate social conditions as causal variables. Strict constructionism fails to empirically ground its analyses without reference to social conditions. Contextual constructionism ‘ontologically gerrymanders’ out social conditions as causal variables of social problems. Finally, debunking constructionism depends on the assumption that objectivism is true and then uses a negative theory of objectivism as constructionism in order to conduct investigations. That being so, the study of social problems should again investigate the way social conditions, as contextual to claims-making processes, create social problems. The ways in which opportunity structures affect the timing of the prominence and form of social problems is presented as a fruitful alternative.
A Sociological Analysis of Military Resilience
Authors: McGarry Ross , Walklate Sandra , Mythen Gabe
Published: January 2014

The term ‘resilience’ has grown in its usage across a range of disciplines and practices. The US military and the British armed forces have typified this increasing use of ‘resilience’ in recent years within such initiatives as Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF) and throughout British Army Doctrine. However by unpacking what being ‘resilient’ for soldiers might mean we explore the interaction between their personal ‘masculine’ characteristics, the structural environment within which they operate, and the civilian life they return to. In doing so this paper offers a critical sociological analysis combining the agency of the soldiers’ body with the structure of the military as a [total institution] to problematize issues of masculinity, stigma and resilience within the military setting. As such, we question if the fostering of ‘resilience’ in military personnel is something that may be productive during service, but counter-productive thereafter when service personnel return to civilian life as veterans.
An LMI approach to non-fragile robust optimal guaranteed cost control of 2D discrete uncertain systems
Authors: Tandon Akshata , Dhawan Amit
Published: January 2014

This paper addresses the problem of non-fragile robust optimal guaranteed cost control for a class of two-dimensional discrete systems described by the general model with norm-bounded uncertainties. Based on Lyapunov method, a new linear matrix inequality (LMI)-based criterion for the existence of non-fragile state feedback controller is established. Furthermore, a convex optimization problem with LMI constraints is formulated to select a non-fragile robust optimal guaranteed cost controller, which minimizes the upper bound of the closed-loop cost function. The merit of the proposed criterion in aspect of conservativeness over a recently reported criterion is demonstrated with the help of illustrative examples.
Optimal performance of networked control systems over limited communication channels
Authors: Zhan Xi-Sheng , Guan Zhi-Hong , Zhang Xian-He , Yuan Fu-Shun
Published: January 2014

The optimal tracking performance of single-input-single-output networked control systems over limited communication channels is proposed in this paper. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) constrained of communication channel is considered. The tracking performance is measured by the energy of the error variance response between the output of the plant and the reference signal. The optimal tracking performance is obtained by applying the [Formula: see text] square error criterion and the spectral factorization technique. It is shown that the optimal tracking performance is constrained by the non-minimum phase zeros, the unstable poles of a given plant, the power spectral density of a given reference signal, and the SNR of a communication channel. The results obtained in this work explicitly show how the optimal tracking performance is limited by the communication parameters (SNR in this paper). Finally, computer simulations are performed to verify the analytical results.
Tip trajectory control of a flexible-link manipulator using an intelligent proportional integral (iPI) controller
Authors: Agee John T , Bingul Zafer , Kizir Selcuk
Published: January 2014

This paper presents the development, stability analysis and validation of an intelligent proportional integral (iPI) controller for the tip position control of a flexible-link manipulator. A stability analysis included in the paper shows that the iPI controller is equivalent to the proportional integral-squared controller. In order to verify the performance of the iPI controller, several experiments were conducted. In these experiments, step and square-wave inputs and two other trajectories were applied to the flexible-link manipulator. Also, the performance of the iPI controller was compared with those of classical PI and PID controllers. The results obtained from the comparison experiments showed that, the PI and PID controllers produced better performance in step and square-wave inputs, but the iPI controller yielded better trajectory tracking performance. All of the controllers were tested for disturbance and noise rejection capability. The iPI controller eliminated disturbance and noise better than the classical controllers. Considering all of the results, the iPI controller has great potential in trajectory tracking control of flexible-link manipulators.
Composite nonlinear feedback controller design for an overhead crane servo system
Authors: Yu Xiao , Lin Xianwu , Lan Weiyao
Published: January 2014

This paper investigates the design of a composite nonlinear feedback (CNF) control law for an overhead crane servo system to improve the transient performance of both displacement tracking of the trolley and anti-sway of the payload. To address the property of underactuation of the overhead crane system, a novel nonlinear function of the CNF control law is specifically proposed to compromise the tracking performance of the trolley and the anti-sway performance of the payload. The performance improvement in both tracking of the trolley and anti-sway of the payload is illustrated with a complete comparison between the CNF control method and the trajectory planning method, which has been proposed in recent literature. The simulation results show that this well-tuned CNF control law can significantly shorten the settling time of the trolley displacement tracking and reduce the sway of the payload.
Pilot Experimental Study on the Effect of Arginine, Glutamine, and β‐Hydroxy β‐Methylbutyrate on Secondary Wound Healing
Authors: Bozkırlı Bahadır Osman , Gündoğdu Rıza H. , Ersoy Eren , Lortlar Neşe , Yıldırım Zuhal , Temel Hande , Oduncu Mehmet , Karakaya Jale
Published: January 2014

Background: Wound healing is a complex process, dependent on available nutrition substrates. When used together with β‐hydroxy β‐methylbutyrate, arginine and glutamine have been shown to increase collagen deposition in human subjects. However, there are no experimental investigations on the influence of this amino acid mixture with regard to secondary wound healing. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the supplementation of these 3 amino acids on the healing of open wounds in otherwise healthy animals. Materials and Methods: Twelve rats were divided into control and treatment groups. Two 2‐cm × 1‐cm full‐thickness skin defects were prepared on each subject. The rats in both groups received a diet containing 1.2 g of protein per 100 g of body weight per day. The treatment group, in addition, received 200 mg/kg L‐arginine, 200 mg/kg L‐glutamine, and 40 mg/kg β‐hydroxy β‐methylbutyrate every day. Wound sizes were measured every 2 days. On the 10th day, tissue samples were taken for histopathologic evaluation and also for the measurement of hydroxyproline concentrations. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between mean wound sizes for the 2 groups (P > .05). There was also no statistically significant difference between the groups with regard to histological healing parameters (reepithelialization [P = 1.00], granulation tissue [P = 1.00], collagen accumulation [P = .455], inflammatory cell accumulation [P = .455], angiogenesis [P = .242]) or tissue hydroxyproline concentrations (P = .240). Conclusion: Diet supplemented with arginine, glutamine, and β‐hydroxy β‐methylbutyrate is not beneficial in enhancing secondary healing of open wounds in rats. Further research regarding this topic is warranted.
Pharmacologic Management of Diarrhea in Patients With Short Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Kumpf Vanessa J.
Published: January 2014

Diarrhea associated with short bowel syndrome (SBS) can have multiple etiologies, including accelerated intestinal transit, gastric acid hypersecretion, intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and malabsorption of fats and bile salts. As a result, patients may need multiple medications to effectively control fecal output. The armamentarium of antidiarrheal drugs includes antimotility agents, antisecretory drugs, antibiotics and probiotics, bile acid–binding resins, and pancreatic enzymes. An antidiarrheal regimen must be individualized for each patient and should be developed using a methodical, stepwise approach. Treatment should be initiated with a single first‐line medication at the low end of its dosing range. Dosage and/or dosing frequency can then be slowly escalated to achieve maximal effect while minimizing adverse events. If diarrhea remains poorly controlled, additional agents can be incorporated sequentially. If modification of the regimen is required, a single medication should be altered or exchanged at a time. After each adjustment of the regimen, sufficient time should be permitted to fully assess response (≥3–5 days) before initiating additional changes. SBS‐associated malabsorption is a major obstacle to optimization of an antidiarrheal regimen because drug absorption is impaired. Patients may benefit from high dosages and/or frequent dosing intervals, liquid preparations, or nonoral routes of drug delivery. Although the diarrhea associated with SBS can be debilitating, effective pharmaceutical management has the potential to substantially improve health outcomes and quality of life for these patients.
A query transformation framework for automated structured query construction in structured retrieval environment
Authors: Gan Keng Hoon , Phang Keat Keong
Published: January 2014

Current research and development of structured retrieval systems allow search communities to tap into structured resources over the web. These resources have advantages compared with the normal web resources as they have additional annotations that can be utilized when composing a search request. However, structured query languages used by these retrieval systems are not meant for normal searchers. This article addresses this problem by automating the construction of a structured query from a keywords query that is more familiar to the web search user. As a result, a query transformation framework is proposed. Different from the existing framework, which is a one-time solution, our proposed framework has greater flexibility in accommodating new structured query languages and different collection types. A novel intermediate query representation is designed to handle transformation to multiple types of query languages, whereas a context-based probabilistic model is designed to capture the structural features of both homogeneous and heterogeneous collections. Experimental results show that the structured queries generated from our framework give promising results compared with their source queries. This finding suggests that the framework can potentially be used in search applications to improve their search features.
Parenting in Adolescence and Young Adult Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Giordano Peggy C. , Johnson Wendi L. , Manning Wendy D. , Longmore Monica A.
Published: January 2014

Most prior studies of intimate partner violence (IPV) have relied on traditional indices of parental support, control, or coercion to examine the nature and extent of parental influences. We explore whether parents’ more general attitudes toward their child’s dating and associated parenting practices are related to the young adult child’s report of IPV, once traditional parent factors and other covariates are introduced. Using data from the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study ( n = 625), results indicate that net of covariates, parental negativity about their child’s dating and related parenting practices are associated with later reports of IPV during young adulthood. Parent–child conflict and the child’s own feelings of gender mistrust were considered as potential mediators. Results suggest the importance of moving beyond support, control, and parents’ own use of violence to include a range of parental attitudes and behaviors that influence the child’s approach to and conduct within the romantic realm.
Growth in Body Mass Index From Childhood Into Adolescence
Authors: El-Sheikh Mona , Bagley Erika J. , Keiley Margaret K. , Erath Stephen A.
Published: January 2014

This study examined longitudinal relations between sleep and body mass index (BMI) from late childhood ([Formula: see text] age = 9.44 at T1) to early adolescence ([Formula: see text] age = 11.36 at T3) with a relatively large ( n = 273 at T1) and diverse (35% African Americans) sample. Sleep was assessed with actigraphy-based sleep minutes and self-reported sleep problems. Latent growth modeling revealed associations between sleep and BMI that varied based on the sleep parameter and sex of the child. In particular, although boys reported more sleep problems and had higher BMI than girls across time, self-reported sleep problems at age 9 predicted higher BMI at age 11 among girls (but not boys). Furthermore, more minutes of actigraph-assessed sleep at age 9 only predicted less growth in BMI among the girls. Possible mechanisms and intervention implications are discussed.
What Motivates Youth Civic Involvement?
Authors: Ballard Parissa J.
Published: January 2014

The topic of youth civic engagement is increasingly popular in social science research; however, the question of why some youth are civically involved while others are not is not well understood. This article addresses the following questions: What motivations and barriers do youth report for civic involvement? How do motivations and barriers differ across school contexts? A qualitative study using in-depth semi-structured interviews with youth ( N = 22) was used to identify four categories of motivations and two categories of barriers for civic involvement. Variation emerged in the motivations and barriers for civic involvement both within and across school contexts. Understanding civic motivations in context uncovers new insights about how to structure opportunities to better facilitate youth civic involvement.
Clinical Presentation of Severe Viral Encephalitis With Known Causative Agents in Children
Authors: Adenot Marc , Frobert Emilie , Blanchard Gaëlle , Morel Benoit , Perrot Laurence , Floret Daniel , Javouhey Etienne
Published: January 2014

A retrospective analysis was conducted in a French pediatric hospital in Lyon. Subjects were 16 patients diagnosed with acute viral encephalitis with identified causative agents who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit from 2008 to 2011. The median length of stay was 6 days. The outcome was favorable for 77% of the patients. Analysis of biological and clinical findings based on causative agents did not reveal clinical patterns or neurological findings specific to the causal viruses. Nevertheless, uncommon clinical pictures and severe neurological complications were highlighted, in particular for children with influenza-related encephalitis and herpes simplex encephalitis. This case series exemplifies the difficulties, even pitfalls, in establishing a diagnosis of encephalitis, especially in neonates. It points out significant differences in the clinical presentation of encephalitis in children compared with clinical pictures described in previously published large-scale studies on encephalitis mainly conducted in adults.
The Ketogenic Diet as Broad-Spectrum Treatment for Super-Refractory Pediatric Status Epilepticus
Authors: Cobo Nicole H. , Sankar Raman , Murata Kristina K. , Sewak Sarika L. , Kezele Michele A. , Matsumoto Joyce H.
Published: January 2014

Refractory status epilepticus carries significant morbidity and mortality. Recent reports have promoted the use of the ketogenic diet as an effective treatment for refractory status epilepticus. We describe our recent experience with instituting the ketogenic diet for 4 critically ill children in refractory status epilepticus, ranging in age from 9 weeks to 13.5 years after failure of traditional treatment. The ketogenic diet allowed these patients to be weaned off continuous infusions of anesthetics without recurrence of status epilepticus, though delayed ketosis and persistently elevated glucose measurements posed special challenges to effective initiation, and none experienced complete seizure cessation. The ease of sustaining myocardial function with fatty acid energy substrates compares favorably over the myocardial toxicity posed by anesthetic doses of barbiturates and contributes to the safety profile of the ketogenic diet. The ketogenic diet can be implemented successfully and safely for the treatment of refractory status epilepticus in pediatric patients.
An analytical and experimental study of a hybrid rocket motor
Authors: Rezaei Hadi , Soltani Mohammad Reza
Published: January 2014

The hybrid rocket motor is a kind of chemical propulsion system that has been recently given serious attention by various industries and research centers. The relative simplicity, safety and low cost of this motor, in comparison with other chemical propulsion motors, are the most important reasons for such interest. Moreover, throttle-ability and thrust variability on demand are additional advantages of this type of motor. In this paper, the result of an internal ballistic simulation of hybrid rocket motor in a zero-dimensional form is presented. Further to validate the code, an experimental setup was designed and manufactured. The simulation results are compared with the experimental data and good agreement is achieved. The effect of various parameters on the motor performance and on the combustion products is also investigated. It is found that increasing the oxidizer flow rate, increases the pressure and specific impulse of the motor; however, the slope of the specific impulse for the high flow rate case reduces. In addition, by increasing the combustion chamber pressure, the specific impulse is increased considerably. The initial diameter of the fuel port does not have significant effect on the pressure chamber and on the specific impulse. Addition of a percentage of an oxidizer like ammonium perchlorate to the fuel increases the specific impulse linearly.
One-dimensional unsteady design method for pulsed detonation engine nozzles
Authors: Qiu Hua , Xiong Cha , Fan Wei
Published: January 2014

A new design method for pulse detonation engines nozzle was developed theoretically. The effects of non-uniform exhaust on the performance of pulse detonation engine were analyzed by constant volume cycle model. The results showed thrust losses induced by the non-uniform exhaust could be decreased by increasing fill pressure ratio. If the fill pressure ratio was larger than 10, the performance losses with a fixed optimal nozzle could be controlled within 3%. The optimal area ratio of the nozzle was obtained when the time-averaged pressure at the nozzle exit equals the ambient pressure. This was also applicable to one-dimensional unsteady frictionless pulse detonation engine model. Thus an optimal area of the nozzle could be calculated by the time-averaged total pressure. Compared with the zero-dimensional results obtained by numerical search technique, the errors of predicted optimal area could be neglected if fill pressure ratio is too large to prevent shock from propagating back to the nozzle. And the errors of predicted optimal area are lower than 5% compared with the results of the one-dimensional unsteady pulse detonation engine model.
Selecting stratospheric airship energy storage system using analytic hierarchy process and physical programming
Authors: Lixue Zhang , Zhongwei Wang , Xixiang Yang
Published: January 2014

An evaluation model for stratospheric airship energy storage system selection is developed, which provides a new method for quantitative selection of renewable energy storage system. Firstly, some basic properties and their indexes are proposed to evaluate the overall performance of stratospheric airship energy storage system by qualitative analysis of airship’s operation principium and operation environment. Secondly, the weights to be used as subperformance indexes coefficients of the model are obtained with analytic hierarchy process method. The normalization of the subperformance indexes is implemented by physical programming method which takes the decision maker's preferable degree into account and can convert the indexes with different physical meaning and magnitude into nondimensionless satisfaction level evaluation scores with the magnitude in the same quantity level. Thirdly, the weights and evaluation scores of candidate designs’ indexes are combined with the aggregate objective function in the form of specific scores and the optimal energy storage system concept can be found out. Finally, an example of stratospheric airship energy storage system selection is given to illustrate this method. Moreover, the method presented in this paper can be effectively applied to various decision-making scenarios.
Optical Origins of Opposing Facial Expression Actions
Authors: Lee Daniel H. , Mirza Reza , Flanagan John G. , Anderson Adam K.
Published: January 2014

Darwin theorized that emotional expressions originated as opposing functional adaptations for the expresser, not as distinct categories of social signals. Given that two thirds of the eye’s refractive power comes from the cornea, we examined whether opposing expressive behaviors that widen the eyes (e.g., fear) or narrow the eyes (e.g., disgust) may have served as an optical trade-off, enhancing either sensitivity or acuity, thereby promoting stimulus localization (“where”) or stimulus discrimination (“what”), respectively. An optical model based on eye apertures of posed fear and disgust expressions supported this functional trade-off. We then tested the model using standardized optometric measures of sensitivity and acuity. We demonstrated that eye widening enhanced stimulus detection, whereas eye narrowing enhanced discrimination, each at the expense of the other. Opposing expressive actions around the eye may thus reflect origins in an optical principle, shaping visual encoding at its earliest stage—how light is cast onto the retina.
“Obesity Is a Disease”
Authors: Hoyt Crystal L. , Burnette Jeni L. , Auster-Gussman Lisa
Published: January 2014

In the current work, we examined the impact of the American Medical Association’s recent classification of obesity as a disease on weight-management processes. Across three experimental studies, we highlighted the potential hidden costs associated with labeling obesity as a disease, showing that this message, presented in an actual New York Times article, undermined beneficial weight-loss self-regulatory processes. A disease-based, relative to an information-based, weight-management message weakened the importance placed on health-focused dieting and reduced concerns about weight among obese individuals—the very people whom such public-health messages are targeting. Further, the decreased concern about weight predicted higher-calorie food choices. In addition, the disease message, relative to a message that obesity is not a disease, lowered body-image dissatisfaction, but this too predicted higher-calorie food choices. Thus, although defining obesity as a disease may be beneficial for body image, results from the current work emphasize the negative implications of this message for self-regulation.
Wage and workforce adjustments in the economic crisis in Germany and the Netherlands
Authors: Tijdens Kea , van Klaveren Maarten , Bispinck Reinhard , Dribbusch Heiner , Öz Fikret
Published: January 2014

This study uses data from a continuous employee web-survey to investigate the trade-off between wage and workforce adjustments and the role of industrial relations in firm-level responses to the economic crisis in Germany and the Netherlands. Workforce adjustments seemed to be a continuous organizational strategy, but wage adjustments were less often reported. We found no large-scale evidence of wage concessions being traded-off for job protection in the two countries. Collective bargaining ensured that wage-setting was more robust than employment protection: employees covered by collective agreements reported workforce adjustments more often than wage adjustments. Low-educated and low-wage employees reported basic wage reductions more often: the economic crisis increased wage inequality. Labour hoarding was reported predominantly by young, male employees with a permanent, full-time contract.
International Framework Agreements: A thread in the web of transnational labour regulation
Authors: Dehnen Veronika , Pries Ludger
Published: January 2014

Are International Framework Agreements potential mechanisms of cross-border labour regulation? For some scholars they are no more than ‘window-dressing’, for others they are effective instruments of transnational regulation. We argue that their effectiveness depends on their interconnection with other mechanisms of labour regulation. Drawing on a broad review of research and our own empirical data, we conclude that different institutional frameworks, different dominant actor groups and configurations, and also different modes of regulation and bargaining, lead to varying and sometimes contrasting outcomes.
Spatial patterns of eastern Mediterranean climate influence on tree growth
Authors: Touchan Ramzi , Anchukaitis Kevin J , Shishov Vladimir V , Sivrikaya Fatih , Attieh Jihad , Ketmen Muzaffer , Stephan Jean , Mitsopoulos Ioannis , Christou Andreas , Meko David M
Published: January 2014

The first large-scale network of 79 tree-ring chronologies in the Eastern Mediterranean and Near East (EMNE; 33°N–42°N, 21°E–43°E) is described and analyzed to identify the seasonal climatic signal in indices of annual ring width. Correlation analysis and cluster analysis are applied to tree-ring data and gridded climate data to assess the climate signal embedded in the network in preparation for climate field reconstructions and formal proxy/model intercomparison experiments. The lengths of the 79 combined chronologies range from 89 to 990 years. The monthly correlations and partial correlations reveal a pervasive positive association with May, June, and sometimes July precipitation, positive correlations with winter and spring (December through April) temperatures, and negative relationships with May through July temperature, although as expected, there are site-to-site exceptions to these general patterns. Cluster analysis suggests three groups of sites based on their association with climate. The chronologies for the EMNE have coherent seasonal precipitation and temperature signals across a fairly broad geographical domain. The predominant signal is a positive growth response to May–June precipitation. Collectively, the findings suggest that the network can be exploited to develop season-specific field reconstructions of precipitation and drought history in the EMNE.
The performance of different propensity score methods for estimating absolute effects of treatments on survival outcomes: A simulation study
Authors: Austin Peter C , Schuster Tibor
Published: January 2014

Observational studies are increasingly being used to estimate the effect of treatments, interventions and exposures on outcomes that can occur over time. Historically, the hazard ratio, which is a relative measure of effect, has been reported. However, medical decision making is best informed when both relative and absolute measures of effect are reported. When outcomes are time-to-event in nature, the effect of treatment can also be quantified as the change in mean or median survival time due to treatment and the absolute reduction in the probability of the occurrence of an event within a specified duration of follow-up. We describe how three different propensity score methods, propensity score matching, stratification on the propensity score and inverse probability of treatment weighting using the propensity score, can be used to estimate absolute measures of treatment effect on survival outcomes. These methods are all based on estimating marginal survival functions under treatment and lack of treatment. We then conducted an extensive series of Monte Carlo simulations to compare the relative performance of these methods for estimating the absolute effects of treatment on survival outcomes. We found that stratification on the propensity score resulted in the greatest bias. Caliper matching on the propensity score and a method based on earlier work by Cole and Hernán tended to have the best performance for estimating absolute effects of treatment on survival outcomes. When the prevalence of treatment was less extreme, then inverse probability of treatment weighting-based methods tended to perform better than matching-based methods.
Comparison of treatments in a cataract surgery with circular response
Authors: Biswas Atanu , Dutta Somak , Laha Arnab Kumar , Bakshi Partho K
Published: January 2014

Circular data are a natural outcome in many biomedical studies, e.g. some measurements in ophthalmologic studies, degrees of rotation of hand or waist, etc. With reference to a real data set on astigmatism induced in two types of cataract surgeries we carry out some two-sample testing problems with the possibility of common or different concentration parameters in the circular set up. Detailed simulation study and the analysis of the data set, including redesigning the cataract surgery data, are carried out.
Can we believe the DAGs? A comment on the relationship between causal DAGs and mechanisms
Authors: Aalen OO , Røysland K , Gran JM , Kouyos R , Lange T
Published: January 2014

Directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) play a large role in the modern approach to causal inference. DAGs describe the relationship between measurements taken at various discrete times including the effect of interventions. The causal mechanisms, on the other hand, would naturally be assumed to be a continuous process operating over time in a cause–effect fashion. How does such immediate causation, that is causation occurring over very short time intervals, relate to DAGs constructed from discrete observations? We introduce a time-continuous model and simulate discrete observations in order to judge the relationship between the DAG and the immediate causal model. We find that there is no clear relationship; indeed the Bayesian network described by the DAG may not relate to the causal model. Typically, discrete observations of a process will obscure the conditional dependencies that are represented in the underlying mechanistic model of the process. It is therefore doubtful whether DAGs are always suited to describe causal relationships unless time is explicitly considered in the model. We relate the issues to mechanistic modeling by using the concept of local (in)dependence. An example using data from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study is presented.
Ethical issues related to caring for low birth weight infants
Authors: Webb Mary S , Passmore Denise , Cline Genieveve , Maguire Denise
Published: January 2014

Background:

Currently preterm births are the leading causes of newborn deaths and newborn mortality in developed countries. Infants born prematurely remain vulnerable to many acute complications and long-term disabilities. There is a growing concern surrounding the moral and ethical implications of the complex and technological care being provided to extremely low birth weight infants in neonatal intensive care units in the developed nations.

Research purpose:

The purpose of this study was to describe the ethical and moral issues that neonatal intensive care nurses experience when caring for low birth weight preterm infants and their families.

Research design:

A phenomenological method design was used to describe the lived experiences of nurses with ethical and moral issues encountered in the neonatal intensive care unit. One-on-one, semi-structured interviews using open-ended questions were used to gather data from the participants.

Research participants:

The setting for this study was a 97-bed neonatal intensive care. A total of 16 female nurses were interviewed.

Ethical considerations:

Approval to conduct the research study was obtained from the institutional review board of the hospital where the study was conducted. Formal signed consent was obtained from each participant. To ensure confidentiality, each participant was asked to choose a confederate name to be used in the interview and the transcriptions.

Findings:

The thematic analysis identified five recurring themes: (a) at the edge of viability, (b) infant pain and discomfort, (c) crucial decisions, (d) communicating with parents, and (e) letting go.

Conclusion:

Neonatal intensive care unit nurses indicated that they often had challenges to their own sense of morality as they struggled to protect the infant from pain and unnecessary discomfort, provide care to an infant and their family whom they thought was faced with a lifetime of challenges and poor health, accepting decisions made by parents, and feeling as if parents were not adequately informed about outcomes.
English as the Lingua Franca in Transnational Higher Education
Authors: Wilkins Stephen , Urbanovič Jolanta
Published: January 2014

Although there seems to be a wide held assumption that transnational higher education programs have to be taught in English to be legitimate “international” programs, there are a few examples globally of international branch campuses that teach in languages other than English. Using seven institutional case studies from around the world, the research seeks to identify the motives of universities for establishing campuses abroad that deliver degree programs in languages other than English. The problems and issues experienced by these institutions are examined and their future prospects are considered. The main motives of the seven featured institutions for establishing campuses abroad were found to be altruistic rather than financial, but teaching in languages other than English presents advantages and disadvantages to institutions. In 2012, none of the seven institutions had more than 800 students although two institutions had been in existence for more than 16 years, indicating success at some level.