bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mothers Coping With Bereavement in the 2008 China Earthquake: A Dual Process Model Analysis
Authors: Chen Lin , Fu Fang , Sha Wei , Chan Cecilia L. W. , Chow Amy Y. M.
Published: August 2017

The purpose of this study is to explore the grief experiences of mothers after they lost their children in the 2008 China earthquake. Informed by the dual process model, this study conducted in-depth interviews to explore how six bereaved mothers coped with such grief over a 2-year period. Right after the earthquake, these mothers suffered from intensive grief. They primarily coped with loss-oriented stressors. As time passed, these mothers began to focus on restoration-oriented stressors to face changes in life. This coping trajectory was a dynamic and integral process, which bereaved mothers oscillated between loss- and restoration-oriented stressors. This study offers insight in extending the existing empirical evidence of the dual process model.
Down-regulation of S100A1 protein in patients with metabolic syndrome and its association with zinc-α2-glycoprotein
Authors: Ebrahimi Elham , Kheirouri Sorayya , Alizadeh Mohammad
Published: August 2017

Objectives

It has been proposed that zinc-α2-glycoprotein and S100A1 are possibly linked to the development of lipogenesis and obesity. We aimed to measure serum levels of S100A1 and zinc-α2-glycoprotein in patients with metabolic syndrome and investigate any associations of these two novel peptides with each other or components of metabolic syndrome.

Methods

Forty-four patients with metabolic syndrome and the equivalent number of healthy controls participated in this study. The participants’ body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured. Serum levels of low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood sugar, insulin, zinc-α2-glycoprotein and S100A1 protein were determined.

Results

Higher levels of anthropometric and lipid indices, metabolic factors and also SBP and DBP were observed in the metabolic syndrome group. Serum S100A1 levels were significantly lower in the metabolic syndrome group than the control group ( P = 0.008). There was a strong positive correlation between serum zinc-α2-glycoprotein and S100A1 levels ( r = 0.80, P < 0.0001). Serum levels of both S100A1 ( P = 0.03) and zinc-α2-glycoprotein ( P = 0.02) were potentially higher in subjects with hypertension than those with normal blood pressure, though these were found as part of multiple testing.

Conclusion

The results indicate that changes in the circulating level of S100A1 protein occur in metabolic syndrome patients. The strong correlation between serum zinc-α2-glycoprotein and S100A1 might suggest that production or release of these two proteins could be related mechanistically.
Gamification: What it is, and how to fight it
Authors: Woodcock Jamie , Johnson Mark R.
Published: August 2017

‘Gamification’ is understood as the application of game systems – competition, rewards, quantifying player/user behaviour – into non-game domains, such as work, productivity and fitness. Such practices are deeply problematic as they represent the capture of ‘play’ in the pursuit of neoliberal rationalization and the managerial optimization of working life and labour. However, applying games and play to social life is also central to the Situationist International, as a form of resistance against the regularity and standardization of everyday behaviour. In this article, the authors distinguish between two types of gamification: first, ‘gamification-from-above’, involving the optimization and rationalizing of work practices by management; and second, ‘gamification-from-below’, a form of active resistance against control at work. Drawing on Autonomism and Situationism, the authors argue that it is possible to transform non-games into games as resistance, rather than transferring game elements out of playful contexts and into managerial ones. Since the original ‘gamification’ term is now lost, the authors develop the alternative conception as a practice that supports workers, rather than one used to adapt behaviour to capital. The article concludes with a renewed call for this ‘gamification-from-below’, which is an ideal form of resistance against gamification-from-above and its capture of play in pursuit of work.
The Dialectic of Faith and Reason in Cornelio Fabro’s Reading of Kierkegaard’s Theology
Authors: Furnal Joshua
Published: August 2017

This essay explores the impact of Søren Kierkegaard upon the important Italian Thomist, Cornelio Fabro. Fabro rejected the caricature of Kierkegaard as an “irrationalist” and placed him firmly in the Christian tradition. By highlighting the influence of Kierkegaard upon a Thomist like Fabro, the relevance of Fabro’s own thought is opened up for more contemporary debates in theology regarding the enduring legacies of German idealism, existentialism, and atheism.
Receptive Ecumenism and Discerning the Sensus Fidelium: Expanding the Categories for a Catholic Reception of Revelation
Authors: Rush Ormond
Published: August 2017

The benefits of the approach of “receptive ecumenism” are becoming increasingly appreciated within ecumenical circles. A primary focus is the way a particular Christian tradition can learn from another and, in a mutual exchange of gifts, receive gifts that have not been part of one’s own tradition. This essay views this dynamic in terms of recognizing differing “senses of the faith” that the Holy Spirit has brought forth within the baptized of different churches. It proposes that Catholic discernment of the sensus fidelium, as presupposed in Lumen Gentium 12, should also include the sensus fidei of other Christians, and that ecumenical dialogues play a crucial role in that ecclesial discernment.
Ressourcement Anti-Semitism? Addressing an Obstacle to Henri de Lubac’s Proposed Renewal of Premodern Christian Spiritual Exegesis
Authors: Gordon Joseph K.
Published: August 2017

Henri de Lubac hoped that his works on premodern Christian exegesis would help the church recover a more holistic Christian approach to Scripture, but the presence of anti-Jewish rhetoric in the tradition, which he reproduces in his major works, is a significant obstacle to any such recovery. While he did not address this difficulty in his major works, his resistance to Anti-Semitism during World War II provides a resource for addressing this problem. His early writings offer principles for a renewed and recentered approach to Christian use and interpretation of Scripture.
Metaphor and Analogy in Theology: A Choice between Lions and Witches, and Wardrobes?
Authors: Ryliškytė Ligita
Published: August 2017

Through a reconsideration of metaphorical language in its relation to analogy, this essay brings into conversation the divergent currents of spirituality and theology. The author advocates a theological approach which values and appropriately employs both analogical and figurative language as the means for integrating the speculative and spiritual dimensions of theological discourse. In particular, by referring to the Christian mystical tradition, metaphor can be deployed as a creative modification of the standard triplex via of analogical predication.
The Shifting Ecumenical Landscape at the 2017 Reformation Centenary
Authors: Wood Susan K.
Published: August 2017

The 2017 Reformation Centenary is the first commemoration to take place during the ecumenical age and marks fifty years of Lutheran–Roman Catholic dialogue. The current ecumenical landscape is a tale of two cities, one of ecclesial fragmentation that exists simultaneously with new relationships of communion and ecumenical progress. The way forward requires the discernment of deeper commonalities among ecclesial tradition, a correlation of doctrines, a “pastoral ecumenism,” and a hierarchy of virtues in addition to a hierarchy of truths.
Thinking through heterogeneous infrastructure configurations
Authors: Lawhon Mary , Nilsson David , Silver Jonathan , Ernstson Henrik , Lwasa Shuaib
Published: August 2017

Studies of infrastructure have demonstrated broad differences between Northern and Southern cities, and deconstructed urban theory derived from experiences of the networked urban regions of the Global North. This includes critiques of the universalisation of the historically–culturally produced normative ideal of universal, uniform infrastructure. In this commentary, we first introduce the notion of ‘heterogeneous infrastructure configurations’ (HICs) which resonates with existing scholarship on Southern urbanism. Second, we argue that thinking through HICs helps us to move beyond technological and performative accounts of actually existing infrastructures to provide an analytical lens through which to compare different configurations. Our approach enables a clearer analysis of infrastructural artefacts not as individual objects but as parts of geographically spread socio-technological configurations: configurations which might involve many different kinds of technologies, relations, capacities and operations, entailing different risks and power relationships. We use examples from ongoing research on sanitation and waste in Kampala, Uganda – a city in which service delivery is characterised by multiplicity, overlap, disruption and inequality – to demonstrate the kinds of research questions that emerge when thinking through the notion of HICs.
Identification of the Unique Attributes of Tourist Destinations from Online Reviews
Authors: Toral S. L. , Martínez-Torres M. R. , Gonzalez-Rodriguez M. R.
Published: August 2017

Online reviews have become increasingly important in tourist destinations and they affect the way in which they are perceived by potential consumers. They represent an overabundant source of information in the form of open answers, where customers freely express their experience regarding the tourist destination. Previous studies have made use of the shared experiences of visitors to obtain the main attributes of a tourist destination. This article goes one step further and proposes the identification of those attributes that are uniquely associated with a tourist destination when compared with some other destinations, using a combination of analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s honestly significant difference. Findings reveal that the unique attributes are the best predictors of tourist destinations when compared with other destinations. Additionally, they represent a competitive advantage that could be reinforced by planners or agencies while minimizing the effect of the unique attributes of competitors.
Intermediary Attributes, Regulatee Experiences, and Perceived Expertise in Third-Party Regulation
Authors: Carter David P.
Published: August 2017

Expertise is a common rational for relying on third-party intermediaries in the administration of regulatory standards. Yet, little is known regarding how perceived competence varies across the diversity of intermediaries observed in empirical regulatory settings. This article offers a better understanding of perceived intermediary expertise through an examination of regulatee perceptions of certifier competence in the administration of U.S. organic regulations. From the results of a nationwide organic producer survey, the article concludes that what intermediaries look like matters less than how they fulfill their regulatory functions. These results suggest that diverse intermediaries have the potential to be similarly effective at supporting regulatory program goals, and that program credibility is not inherently threatened by an administratively diverse third-party landscape.
Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma with mediastinal lymph node metastasis
Authors: Soo Ing Xiang , Sittampalam Kesavan , Lim Chong Hee
Published: August 2017

Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma is a rare tumour with 23 cases reported to have metastasis to lymph nodes, but to date, only 6 had involved mediastinal nodal stations. Our patient was a 40-year-old Asian female with a 2.5 cm nodule in her right lower lobe. Positron-emission tomography suggested no nodal disease; but after resection, the intra-lobular, hilar and subcarinal nodes were all found to be involved. As prognosis of this rare disease is uncertain, we aim to report our findings against available literature and similar cases.
Quadriplegia post-coronary artery bypass graft surgery: an unusual case
Authors: Tan Ann Kheng , Naik Madhava J , Chua Yeow Leng
Published: August 2017

A 74-year-old Chinese man with triple-vessel coronary artery disease, developed quadriplegia following coronary artery bypass graft surgery, secondary to cervical disc anterior herniation and a C5-6 to T1 acute spinal hematoma. Preoperatively, no neurological signs or symptoms had been reported.
A network perspective on mediated Europeanized public spheres: Assessing the degree of Europeanized media coverage in light of the 2014 European Parliament election
Authors: Grill Christiane , Boomgaarden Hajo
Published: August 2017

The European Union has become an active political player in the political realm, raising the question about the European Union’s linkages with all aspects of political life reflected in national Europeanized public spheres. This study offers empirical evidence on the extent to which mass media support, challenge or even ignore political representatives in European Union affairs, and thus legitimize, respectively delegitimize European Union governance. The analysis is based on large-scale content analyses of print, TV and online news gathered before and after the 2014 European Parliament election in Austria ( N = 6432). Semantic networks show that national media focus on the European Union’s legislative body, the implications of the European Union’s exclusive competences on the nation state and on well-established European Union member countries. In doing so, national Europeanized public spheres constituted by the media legitimize the European Union’s governance in these areas while other aspects of European integration are ignored.
Left ventricular dysfunction causing ischemia in patients with patent coronary arteries
Authors: Nguyen Thach , Do Hoang , Pham Tri , Vu Loc T , Zuin Marco , Rigatelli Gianluca
Published: August 2017

Background:

New onset of heart failure (HF) is an indication for the assessment of coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanistic causes of new onset HF associated with ischemic electrocardiograph (EKG) changes and chest pain in patients with patent or minimally diseased coronary arteries.

Methods:

Twenty consecutive patients (Group A) were retrospectively reviewed if they had an history of new onset of HF, chest pain, electrocardiographic changes indicating ischemia (ST depression or T wave inversion in at least two consecutive leads and a negative coronary angiogram [CA]) and did not require percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting. A 1:1 matched cohort (Group B) was adopted to validate the results.

Results:

All patients had a negative CA. The majority of subjects in Group A had a higher left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) when compared to the control group (p<0.05). Similarly, the aortic diastolic (AOD) pressure was lower in Group A than in Group B (p<0.05). In patients with elevated LVEDP and low AOD, with a coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) <20 mmHg, deep T wave inversion in two consecutive leads were more frequently observed. When the CPP was between 20-30 mmHg, a mild ST depression were more frequently recorded (p<0.05). Conversely, when the CPP was >30 mmHg, only mild non-specific ST-T changes or normal EKG were observed.

Conclusions:

In patients with HF and EKG changes suggestive of ischemia in at least two consecutive leads, a lower AOD could aggravate ischemia in patients with elevated left ventricular end diastolic pressure.
Intra-individual comparison of hepatocellular carcinoma imaging features on contrast-enhanced computed tomography, gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI, and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI
Authors: Kim Yo Na , Song Ji Soo , Moon Woo Sung , Hwang Hong Pil , Kim Young Kon
Published: August 2017

Background

Gadoxetic acid is being widely used for detection and characterization of hepatic nodules. However, there are no data regarding intra-individual comparison of imaging features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on dynamic computed tomography (CT), gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-DTPA-MRI), and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI (Gd-EOB-MRI).

Purpose

To evaluate typical imaging features of HCC and capsule appearance with dynamic CT, Gd-DTPA-MRI, and Gd-EOB-MRI.

Material and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 56 HCCs in 49 patients. Lesion attenuation/signal intensity was graded using a five-point scale based on dynamic phase and hepatobiliary phase (HBP) imaging. Subjective washout and capsule appearance were evaluated on portal venous phase (PVP) or delayed/transitional phase (DP/TP) imaging. The tumor-to-liver contrast ratio (TLCR) was calculated.

Results

Gd-DTPA-MRI and Gd-EOB-MRI was graded higher than CT on arterial phase ( P < 0.001). Gd-EOB-MRI was graded lower than Gd-DTPA-MRI on PVP and DP/TP ( P < 0.05). The detection rate of subjective washout and capsule appearance did not differ among the three imaging studies on either PVP or DP/TP. TLCR of Gd-EOB-MRI was lower than CT on PVP ( P = 0.004) and was lower than Gd-DTPA-MRI on DP/TP ( P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Arterial phase hyperenhancement and washout appearance of HCC were well demonstrated in Gd-EOB-MRI. The detection of capsule appearance using Gd-EOB-MRI was not inferior to Gd-DTPA-MRI or CT.
Climate state: Science-state struggles and the formation of climate science in the US from the 1930s to 1960s
Authors: Baker Zeke
Published: August 2017

This article has two aims: first, to understand the co-production of climate science and the state, and second, to provide a test case for Pierre Bourdieu’s field theory. To these ends, the article reconstructs the historical formation of a US climate science field, with an analytic focus on inter-field dynamics and heterogeneous networking practices. Drawing from primary- and secondary-source materials, the historical analysis focuses on relations between scientists and state actors from the 1930s to the 1960s. The account shows how actors with positions linking scientific and bureaucratic fields constructed critical nodes and ‘hinges’ that co-produced war-making and state expansion on the one hand, and a relatively autonomous climate science field on the other. The analysis explains the emergence of climate science by focusing on the WWII-era transformation of meteorology and oceanography into distinct disciplines, the emergence of ‘basic’ research as a central principle of post-war government, and the formation of a climate science field by the 1960s centered on computerized modeling and populated by an interdisciplinary scientific elite. The article concludes by indicating how these processes led to the subsequent development of climate change as a science–state conundrum that has reorganized the climate science field in recent decades.
Analysing and interpreting outcomes data to support evidence-based practice using the example of AusTOMs-OT
Authors: Unsworth Carolyn A
Published: August 2017

Statement of context

Occupational therapists working with clients who have neurological impairments routinely collect outcomes data. However, data cannot inform practice unless it is routinely reviewed. The aim of this paper was to show how outcomes data collected on the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures – Occupational Therapy scale were analysed and interpreted. Although the example pertains to clients with neurological problems, the approach can be applied to all areas of practice.

Critical reflection on practice

When outcomes data are routinely analysed and findings reviewed, occupational therapists have an increased understanding of practice strengths and limitations.

Implications for practice

Incorporating analysis and interpretation of outcomes data for clients with neurological problems into practice contributes evidence to support therapy and ensures clinicians retain control of their data.
Objective identification of upper limb tremor in multiple sclerosis using a wrist-worn motion sensor: Establishing validity and reliability
Authors: Teufl Stefan , Preston Jenny , van Wijck Frederike , Stansfield Ben
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Over 25% of people with multiple sclerosis experience tremor, which may impact on activities of daily living and quality of life. Yet there is no method to objectively measure tremor and effectiveness of interventions on tremor. This study aimed to test validity and reliability of a new objective measurement for upper limb tremor in people with multiple sclerosis.

Method

Twelve participants with multiple sclerosis who self-reported tremor were observed performing standardised tasks. Validity and reliability of a new method to detect tremor from wrist movement was established against occupational therapist observation of tremor (FAHN). Concurrent validity of severity (displacement) of tremor was assessed. Responsiveness to change in tremor characteristics was explored in a sub-set of participants using weighted wrist-cuffs.

Results

The new method correctly predicted 98.2% of tremor cases identified by the occupational therapist, with high sensitivity (0.988) and specificity (0.976). Calculated displacement of tremor correlated with FAHN tremor severity scores moderately (rs = .452, p = .004). The new measure was responsive to changes in tremor characteristics due to change in weight of wrist-cuffs.

Conclusion

The new method of characterising tremor in those with multiple sclerosis demonstrated excellent validity and reliability in relation to tremor identified by an occupational therapist, and could provide valuable objective insight into the efficacy of interventions.
The application of geospatial techniques in monitoring karst vegetation recovery in southwest China
Authors: Zhang Chunhua , Qi Xiangkun , Wang Kelin , Zhang Mingyang , Yue Yueming
Published: August 2017

The karst region in southwestern China, one of the largest continuous karst areas in the world, is special for its high landscape heterogeneity, unique hydrology, high endemism among vegetation species and high intensity of human disturbance. The region had experienced severe degradation through karst rocky desertification (KRD) between the 1950s and 1990s. Starting in the late 1990s, various levels of the Chinese government conducted several ecological projects to recover degraded karst ecosystems. It was reported that the implementation of these projects had been successful in facilitating the recovery of karst vegetation in many areas. However, global climate changes may compromise the efficacy of recovery. Geospatial techniques had been employed to map and monitor karst ecosystem conditions during the recovery process. We examined the history and progress of the various geospatial techniques applied to monitor and evaluate karst vegetation conditions. In addition, we reviewed the techniques used to assess and monitor KRD, KRD influencing factors, vegetation community type, fractional vegetation cover, vegetation dynamics, vegetation productivity, ecosystem goods and services, vegetation biodiversity, ecosystem health and rural society changes. We also explored the potential to apply geospatial techniques for karst vegetation recovery in the future. It is projected that there will be more remotely sensed images for the vegetation dynamics monitoring at numerous scales. New techniques (e.g. image fusion and data assimilation) will be available to manage scale and heterogeneity issues in the karst landscape.
Classical vector, first-order sliding-mode and high-order sliding-mode control for a grid-connected variable-speed wind energy conversion system: A comparative study
Authors: Krim Youssef , Abbes Dhaker , Krim Saber , Mimouni Mohamed Faouzi
Published: August 2017

This article proposes a comparative study between different control strategies of a wind energy conversion system. It aims to guarantee a robust control strategy which gives a good performance despite the external disturbances. Studied system comprises a wind turbine, a permanent magnet synchronous generator, and two converters linked by a DC bus. The whole is connected to the grid through a resistor–inductor filter. A classical vector control based on proportional–integral controller is applied to our system. Owing to the sensitivity of this control against external disturbances, a control strategy using first-order sliding mode has been proposed. This strategy provides good performance, such as insensitivity to non-linearity of system. Yet, the theory of first sliding mode has faced the problem of chattering, which proved to be a major drawback. To overcome this problem, a control strategy using sliding mode of higher order was implemented on the basis of the super-twisting algorithm.
Perceived triggers of primary headache disorders: A meta-analysis
Authors: Pellegrino A Brooke Walters , Davis-Martin Rachel E , Houle Timothy T , Turner Dana P , Smitherman Todd A
Published: August 2017

Objective

To quantitatively synthesize extant literature on perceived triggers of primary headache disorders.

Methods

A meta-analytic review of headache trigger survey studies was conducted. Endorsement rates, assessment method, and headache and sample characteristics were extracted from included articles. Separate random-effects models were used to assess trigger endorsement rates and post-hoc meta-regressions examined potential moderator variables.

Results

85 articles from 1958 to 2015 were included, involving 27,122 participants and querying 420 unique triggers (collapsed into 15 categories). Four-fifths (0.81; 95% CI .75 to .86) of individuals with migraine or tension-type headache endorsed at least one trigger. Rates increased with the number of categories queried (OR: 1.18, 1.08–1.30) and year of publication (OR: 1.04, 1.00–1.08). The triggers most commonly endorsed were stress (.58, .53–.63) and sleep (.41, .36–.47).

Conclusions

Extreme heterogeneity characterizes the headache trigger literature. Most individuals with a primary headache disorder perceive their attacks to be triggered by one or more precipitants, the most common of which are stress and sleep. However, trigger endorsement is influenced by method of assessment. Enhancing methodological consistency and prioritizing experimental studies would improve our understanding of headache triggers.
Medication overuse reinstates conditioned pain modulation in women with migraine
Authors: Guy Nathalie , Voisin Daniel , Mulliez Aurélien , Clavelou Pierre , Dallel Radhouane
Published: August 2017

Background

This study investigated the effects of medication overuse and withdrawal on modulation of pain processing in women with migraine. Temporal summation of laser-evoked thermal pain was used to measure the effects of conditioned pain modulation.

Methods

36 female participants (12 healthy volunteers, 12 with episodic migraine and 12 with medication overuse headache) were included in a two session protocol. Medication overuse headache subjects were also tested three weeks after medication overuse headache withdrawal. Mechanical and laser-evoked thermal pain thresholds were measured on the back of the non-dominant hand where, later, temporal summation of laser-evoked thermal pain to repetitive thermal stimuli was elicited for 30 min, at an intensity producing moderate pain. Between the 10th and 20th minutes, the contralateral foot was immersed into a water bath at a not painful (30℃) or painfully cold (8℃; conditioned pain modulation) temperature.

Results

Episodic migraine, medication overuse headache and medication overuse headache withdrawal were associated with an increase in extracephalic temporal summation of laser-evoked thermal pain as compared to healthy volunteer subjects, while there was no alteration of laser-evoked thermal and mechanical extracephalic pain thresholds in these subjects. Conditioned pain modulation was highly efficient in temporal summation of laser-evoked thermal pain in healthy volunteer subjects, with a solid post-effect (reduction of pain). Conditioned pain modulation was still present, but reduced, in episodic migraine. By contrast, conditioned pain modulation was normal in medication overuse headache and strongly reduced in medication overuse headache withdrawal. Furthermore, in medication overuse headache withdrawal, the post-effect was no longer a decrease, but a facilitation of pain.

Conclusions

These data show that a decrease in conditioned pain modulation does not underlie medication overuse headache in women. On the contrary, medication overuse reinstated conditioned pain modulation in female migraine patients. They also identify different phenotypes of pain modulation in migraine patients. Registration number N° 2008-A00471-54.
How We Contradict Ourselves: The Case of John Cochrane—Gliding and Behavioral Economics
Authors: Sazhin Daniel , Morey Matthew
Published: August 2017

John Cochrane, a leading economist, has consistently expressed a skeptical view toward behavioral economics and libertarian-paternalism. Specifically, he has consistently voiced his disagreement with the premise of “protecting” people from their own choices. However, in his hobby of piloting gliders, he has strongly argued that pilots will make behavioral errors. Indeed, he notes that pilots can be tempted to make unsafe decisions and has argued for specific rules to help prevent pilot error. In this article, we examine this contradiction. In doing so, it provides an interesting case study of how our beliefs in one system can be quite different in another.

JEL Classifications: B31, D91, G40
Study of unidirectional fiber reinforced epoxy composites in short-beam bending test
Authors: Theotokoglou Efstathios E , Sideridis Emilio P
Published: August 2017

The present paper deals with the computational study of unidirectional glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites in short-beam bending test and the comparison of the induced results with experimental and analytical results. The measurement of the interlaminar shear strength of composite beams, an important design variable in many applications, may be performed by short-beam three-point bending test. A two-dimensional finite element analysis is adopted throughout the composite beams in order to, on the one hand, correlate with the experimental results and, on the other hand, to obtain the stress distributions at the supports and at the loading points where usually there is an abrupt variation due to the indentation existing because of the noses. Thus, the linear variation of the normal stress according to bending theory is not valid near the supports and characteristics of curves. Similarly, the shear stress which shows, normally, a parabolic variation becomes a curve with a different shape near the point where the load is applied. The discrepancies among theoretical, experimental and Finite Element Method (FEM) results support the qualitative conclusions of the study concerning the significance of non-isotropy and point effects for the correct interpretation of the three-point bending tests-results.
Support for designing waste sorting systems: A mini review
Authors: Rousta Kamran , Ordoñez Isabel , Bolton Kim , Dahlén Lisa
Published: August 2017

This article presents a mini review of research aimed at understanding material recovery from municipal solid waste. It focuses on two areas, waste sorting behaviour and collection systems, so that research on the link between these areas could be identified and evaluated. The main results presented and the methods used in the articles are categorised and appraised. The mini review reveals that most of the work that offered design guidelines for waste management systems was based on optimising technical aspects only. In contrast, most of the work that focused on user involvement did not consider developing the technical aspects of the system, but was limited to studies of user behaviour. The only clear consensus among the articles that link user involvement with the technical system is that convenient waste collection infrastructure is crucial for supporting source separation. This mini review reveals that even though the connection between sorting behaviour and technical infrastructure has been explored and described in some articles, there is still a gap when using this knowledge to design waste sorting systems. Future research in this field would benefit from being multidisciplinary and from using complementary methods, so that holistic solutions for material recirculation can be identified. It would be beneficial to actively involve users when developing sorting infrastructures, to be sure to provide a waste management system that will be properly used by them.
Cancer Cachexia: Cause, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Authors: Mattox Todd W.
Published: August 2017

Patients with cancer frequently experience unintended weight loss due to gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction caused by the malignancy or treatment of the malignancy. However, others may present with weight loss related to other symptoms not clearly associated with identifiable GI dysfunction such as anorexia and early satiety. Cancer cachexia (CC) is a multifactorial syndrome that is generally characterized by ongoing loss of skeletal muscle mass with or without fat loss, often accompanied by anorexia, weakness, and fatigue. CC is associated with poor tolerance of antitumor treatments, reduced quality of life (QOL), and negative impact on survival. Symptoms associated with CC are thought to be caused in part by tumor‐induced changes in host metabolism that result in systemic inflammation and abnormal neurohormonal responses. Unfortunately, there is no single standard treatment for CC. Nutrition consequences of oncologic treatments should be identified early with nutrition screening and assessment. Pharmacologic agents directed at improving appetite and countering metabolic abnormalities that cause inefficient nutrient utilization are currently the foundation for treating CC. Multiple agents have been investigated for their effects on weight, muscle wasting, and QOL. However, few are commercially available for use. Considerations for choosing the most appropriate treatment include effect on appetite, weight, QOL, risk of adverse effects, and cost and availability of the agent.
Shape-controlled fabrication of cell-laden calcium alginate-PLL hydrogel microcapsules by electrodeposition on microelectrode
Authors: Chen Weinan , Zhu Bowen , Ma Li , Hua Xiaoqing
Published: August 2017

In this study, we propose an electrodeposition method of fabricating shape-controlled calcium alginate-poly-L-lysine hydrogel microcapsules. The micro-patterned electrodes, which are produced by coating a patterned photoresist layer onto fluorine-doped tin oxide glass slide based on photolithography technique, are used for making different shapes of microcapsules. By the electrolysis of water in alginate gelation on micro-patterned anode electrode, the 2D alginate hydrogel structures embedded with yeast cells are formed on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass slide. Then, the 2D structures would be detached from the microelectrode surface and treated with given reagent to be transformed into 3D microcapsules while maintaining the ring and hexagon shapes. Finally, the yeast cells within the microcapsules are further promoted into compact tissues by cultivation. The experimental results indicate the method can successfully fabricate tissues which can maintain certain cells bioactivity after 24 h cultivation. The recommended method can lead to fabricating cell-laden scaffold for tissue engineering, biological studies and drug discovery with higher accuracy and efficiency.
Sports Psychology in the English Premier League: ‘It Feels Precarious and is Precarious’
Authors: Gilmore Sarah , Wagstaff Christopher , Smith John
Published: August 2017

This article gives a rare account of the working life of a sports psychologist in the English Premier League, the elite division in English professional football. It shows how members of emerging professions such as sports psychology are a new precariat. John is more successful than many sports psychologists, but his job security is dependent on his continued ability to navigate managerial change: using his skills as a psychologist in the defence of his own employment but simultaneously keeping the (potentially sensitive) ‘psychology’ label of the work he does hidden until circumstances are propitious.
Work Orientations, Well-Being and Job Content of Self-Employed and Employed Professionals
Authors: Warr Peter , Inceoglu Ilke
Published: August 2017

Drawing on psychology-derived theories and methods, a questionnaire survey compared principal kinds of work orientation, job content and mental well-being between self-employed and organisationally employed professional workers. Self-employment was found to be particularly associated with energised well-being in the form of job engagement. The presence in self-employment of greater challenge, such as an enhanced requirement for personal innovation, accounted statistically for self-employed professionals’ greater job engagement, and self-employed professionals more strongly valued personal challenge than did professionals employed in an organisation. However, no between-role differences occurred in respect of supportive job features such as having a comfortable workplace. Differences in well-being, job content and work orientations were found primarily in comparison between self-employees and organisational non-managers. The study emphasises the need to distinguish conceptually and empirically between different forms of work orientation, job content and well-being, and points to the value of incorporating psychological thinking in some sociological research.
Novel amino-containing fluorene-based bisphthalonitrile compounds with flexible group
Authors: Wang An-ran , Dayo Abdul Qadeer , Lv Dan , Xu Yi-le , Wang Jun , Liu Wen-bin , Derradji Mehdi
Published: August 2017

A series of amino-containing fluorene-based bisphthalonitrile (AFPN) monomers with alkyl or alkoxy groups were successfully produced by the reaction of 4-nitrophthalonitrile with 9, 9-bis (3-alkyl (or alkoxy)-4-aminophenyl)-2, 7-dihydroxylfluorene in the presence of potassium carbonate by a nucleophilic substitution reaction. The chemical structures of the synthesized monomers were confirmed by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance, and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. The synthesized monomers’ curing behaviors were evaluated by FTIR and differential scanning calorimetry, and a rheological analysis was performed to evaluate their respective processabilities. Moreover, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed for the thermomechanical, thermal, and thermo-oxidative analyses of the polymers. The results confirmed that the newly prepared phthalonitrile (PN) monomers with alkyl or alkoxy groups exhibited a self-promoted curing behavior. The rheological analysis suggested that the processing windows of the synthesized monomers were wider than that of APFN monomer bearing no flexible group. DMA and TGA revealed that the cured polymers exhibited high glass transition temperature (358–416°C) and the char yields at 800°C under nitrogen were between 70% and 77%. Moreover, the introduction of alkyl or alkoxy groups into the PN monomers’ backbones slightly reduced the thermal stability of the resulting polymers.
Progress in rolling bearing technology for refrigerant compressors
Authors: Morales-Espejel Guillermo E , Wallin Hans H , Hauleitner Rudolf , Arvidsson Magnus
Published: August 2017

The paper describes the latest technological solutions in rolling bearings (ball and roller) used in refrigerant compressors. First, the numerous tribological challenges faced by rolling contacts in a lubricant environment made of oil and refrigerant mixture are discussed. It is followed by a description of the even tougher conditions derived by the replacement of the more chemically stable pre-Montreal and pre-Kyoto Protocol refrigerants by the new generation of more environmental friendly refrigerants. In these conditions, rolling bearings are expected to suffer from surface distress and sometimes corrosion fatigue. Thus, attempts to model these conditions by using advanced tribological models are described. Finally, descriptions of different solutions in rolling bearings in refrigerant compressors facing challenges in lubrication and bearing life are described, all the way from traditional oil–refrigerant mixture lubrication up to the latest innovation related to oil-free lubrication, namely the pure refrigerant lubrication.
Theoretical and experimental investigation into the required minimum starting force for a linear engine–linear generator integrated system
Authors: Sun Chenle , Wu Xian , Wang Zhe , Zang Pengfei
Published: August 2017

In this paper the starting process of the linear engine–linear generator integrated system is described, and the required minimum starting force for the linear engine–linear generator integrated system, both with persistent oscillations and also considering the number of starting strokes based on the principle of single-degree-of-freedom damped forced vibrations, is theoretically analysed. The theoretical expression for the required minimum starting force is obtained, as well as the relationship between the minimum starting force and the structural parameters. Bench tests are also conducted to validate the theory. The results show that the required minimum starting force that satisfies persistent oscillations is related to the cylinder bore, the displacement, the moving mass and the friction coefficient. When considering the number of starting strokes, the required minimum starting force is related to the number of starting strokes, the compression energy, the displacement, the moving mass and the friction coefficient. When the number of starting strokes is designated as four, this satisfies the formation of a combustible mixture; the minimum starting force is slightly larger than the value that satisfies persistent oscillations. The consistency between the test results and the theoretical calculations indicates that the theoretical model of the minimum starting force has a certain reference value for the design of a linear engine–linear generator integrated system.
Investigating bone chip formation in craniotomy
Authors: Huiyu He , Chengyong Wang , Yue Zhang , Yanbin Zheng , Linlin Xu , Guoneng Xie , Danna Zhao , Bin Chen , Haoan Chen
Published: August 2017

In a craniotomy, the milling cutter is one of the most important cutting tools. The operating performance, tool durability and cutting damage to patients are influenced by the tool’s sharpness, intensity and structure, whereas the cutting characteristics rely on interactions between the tool and the skull. In this study, an orthogonal cutting experiment during a craniotomy of fresh pig skulls was performed to investigate chip formation on the side cutting and face cutting of the skull using a high-speed camera. The cutting forces with different combinations of cutting parameters, such as the rake angle, clearance angle, depth of cut and cutting speed, were measured. The skull bone microstructure and cutting damage were observed by scanning electron microscope. Cutting models for different cutting approaches and various depths of cut were constructed and analyzed. The study demonstrated that the effects of shearing, tension and extrusion occur during chip formation. Various chip types, such as unit chips, splintering chips and continuous chips, were generated. Continuous pieces of chips, which are advisable for easy removal from the field of operation, were formed at greater depths of cut and tool rake angles greater than 10°. Cutting damage could be relieved with a faster recovery with clearance angles greater than 20°.
From state agencies to ordinary citizens: reframing risk-mitigation investments and their impact to disrupt urban risk traps in Lima, Peru
Authors: Allen Adriana , Zilbert Soto Linda , Wesely Julia ,   in collaboration with, Belkow Teresa , Ferro Vladimir , Lambert Rita , Langdown Ian , Samanamú Amaru
Published: August 2017

The understanding of linkages between disaster risk and urban development has seen important advances in recent decades. However, it falls short in addressing the production and reproduction of so-called urban “risk traps”, which are accumulation cycles of everyday risks and small-scale disasters with highly localized impacts, particularly on impoverished urban dwellers. Drawing on the action-research project cLIMA sin Riesgo, this paper examines risk-mitigating investment actions of state agencies, residents and communities in Barrios Altos, in the historic centre of Lima, Peru, and José Carlos Mariátegui, in the periphery. The analysis shows that residents tend to be caught in risk traps not necessarily due to lacking investments, but paradoxically despite them and their unintended effects. Furthermore, accumulated fragmented investments erode the capacity to act of those at risk and perpetuate risk accumulation cycles. The paper argues for a re-assessment of risk-mitigation investments and their intended and unintended consequences, and suggests routes to address current shortcomings in order to disrupt “risk traps”.
Medication adherence, depression and disease activity among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Alsowaida N , Alrasheed M , Mayet A , Alsuwaida A , Omair M A
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Medication non-adherence is an important cause of treatment failure among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Depression is a common neuropsychiatric disorder associated with SLE. The aims of this study are to assess the prevalence of both medication non-adherence and depressed mood among Saudi patients with SLE by using validated tools and to explore the impact of both depressive symptoms and disease activity on medication non-adherence.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in outpatients with SLE. Medication non-adherence was assessed by using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, and the severity of depressed mood was evaluated with the Beck’s Depression Inventory. Disease activity was measured using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Multiple logistic regression models were used to identify the multivariate predictors of medication non-adherence.

Results

Out of 140 patients, 134 (95.7%) were females with a mean (±SD) age of 35.6 (±11.3) years and a disease duration of 8.8 (±6.7) years. Medication non-adherence and depressed mood were detected in 62.1% and 35% of the patients, respectively. A moderate or severe depressed mood was significantly associated with medication non-adherence ( p = 0.04). There was a significant correlation between disease activity and the severity of depressed mood ( r = 0.31, p = 0.003). Disease activity did not correlate with medication non-adherence. Logistic regression demonstrated that moderate-to-severe depressed mood increased the probability of medication non-adherence (OR 2.62; 1.02–6.71).

Conclusion

Medication non-adherence and depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among Saudi SLE patients. Routine screening could facilitate the early detection and management of depression and medication adherence.