bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Otolaryngology Consult Carts
Authors: Royer Mark C. , Royer Allison K.
Published: June 2015

Objective:

The objective of this study was to develop an otolaryngology consult cart system to ensure prompt delivery to the bedside of all the unique equipment and medications required for emergent and urgent otolaryngology consults.

Method:

An otolaryngology practice responsible for emergency room and hospital consult coverage sought to create a cart containing all equipment, medications, and supplies for otolaryngology consults. Meetings with hospital administration and emergency room, nursing, pharmacy, central processing, and operating room staff were held to develop a system for the emergent delivery of the cart to the needed location, sterilization and restocking of equipment between uses, and appropriate billing of supplies.

Results:

Two months were required from conception to implementation. All equipment was purchased new, including flexible scopes and headlights. The cart is sterilized, restocked, and maintained by central processing after each use. The equipment is available to handle all airway emergencies as well as all common otolaryngology consults and is delivered bedside in less than 5 minutes.

Conclusion:

The development of a self-contained otolaryngology consult cart requires coordination with a wide variety of hospital departments. This system, while requiring initial monetary and time investment, has resulted in improved patient care, cost containment, and surgeon convenience.
Modeling Types of Pedal Applications Using a Driving Simulator
Authors: Wu Yuqing , Boyle Linda Ng , McGehee Daniel , Roe Cheryl A. , Ebe Kazutoshi , Foley James
Published: June 2015

Objective:

The aim of this study was to examine variations in drivers’ foot behavior and identify factors associated with pedal misapplications.

Background:

Few studies have focused on the foot behavior while in the vehicle and the mishaps that a driver can encounter during a potentially hazardous situation.

Method:

A driving simulation study was used to understand how drivers move their right foot toward the pedals. The study included data from 43 drivers as they responded to a series of rapid traffic signal phase changes. Pedal application types were classified as (a) direct hit, (b) hesitated, (c) corrected trajectory, and (d) pedal errors (incorrect trajectories, misses, slips, or pressed both pedals). A mixed-effects multinomial logit model was used to predict the likelihood of one of these pedal applications, and linear mixed models with repeated measures were used to examine the response time and pedal duration given the various experimental conditions (stimuli color and location).

Results:

Younger drivers had higher probabilities of direct hits when compared to other age groups. Participants tended to have more pedal errors when responding to a red signal or when the signal appeared to be closer. Traffic signal phases and locations were associated with pedal response time and duration. The response time and pedal duration affected the likelihood of being in one of the four pedal application types.

Conclusion and Application:

Findings from this study suggest that age-related and situational factors may play a role in pedal errors, and the stimuli locations could affect the type of pedal application.
Individual Employment Rights Arbitration in the United States
Authors: Colvin Alexander J. S. , Gough Mark D.
Published: June 2015

The authors examine disposition statistics from employment arbitration cases administered over an 11-year period by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) to investigate the process of dispute resolution in this new institution of employment relations. They investigate the predictors of settlement before the arbitration hearing and then estimate models for the likelihood of employee wins and damage amounts for the 2,802 cases that resulted in an award. Their findings show that larger-scale employers who are involved in more arbitration cases tend to have higher win rates and have lower damage awards made against them. This study also provides evidence of a significant repeat employer-arbitrator pair effect; employers that use the same arbitrator on multiple occasions win more often and have lower damages awarded against them than do employers appearing before an arbitrator for the first time. The authors find that self-represented employees tend to settle cases less often, win cases that proceed to a hearing less often, and receive lower damage awards. Female arbitrators and experienced professional labor arbitrators render awards in favor of employees less often than do male arbitrators and other arbitrators.
Short-term course and outcome of acute and transient psychotic disorders: Differences from other types of psychosis with acute onset
Authors: Castagnini Augusto C , Munk-Jørgensen Povl , Bertelsen Aksel
Published: June 2015

Background:

The category of ‘acute and transient psychotic disorders’ (ATPDs) appeared in the ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders (ICD-10), but its distinctive features remain uncertain.

Aim:

To examine the course and outcome of ATPDs, pointing out differences from other types of psychosis.

Methods:

A one-year follow-up investigation of patients enrolled at the former World Health Organization (WHO) Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health in Aarhus (Denmark) for the WHO collaborative study on acute psychoses.

Results:

Of 91 patients aged 15–60 years presenting with acute psychosis, 47 (51.6%) were diagnosed with ATPD, and it occurred more commonly in females; yet, the other acute psychoses featured mainly mood disorders and affected equally both genders. After 1 year, the ATPD diagnosis did not change in 28 cases (59.6%); the remaining developed either affective psychoses (27.7%), or schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder (12.8%). Nearly, all patients with unchanged diagnosis of ATPD enjoyed full recovery, while those with other types of acute psychosis had significantly higher rates of recurrence or incomplete remission. Duration of illness within 4 weeks and stressful events in the 3 months before symptom onset predicted 1-year favourable clinical outcome for acute psychoses.

Conclusion:

Although ATPDs fared better over the short-term than other acute psychoses, their diagnostic stability is relatively low.
Language Ideology, Gender, and Varieties of Belizean Kriol
Authors: Salmon William
Published: June 2015

This article reports on a study of attitudes, gender, and prestige with respect to Kriol, the Afro-Belizean language of Belize. We ask a fundamental question of whether genders in two Belizean communities perceive prestige and prestigious linguistic objects in the same way. We used a verbal-guise test with 141 participants, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data in Belize City and Punta Gorda, and tested attitudes toward two varieties of Kriol. We found that the variety spoken in Belize City, which is closer to the traditional Kriol vernacular, is held in higher regard than that spoken in Punta Gorda, and that there is little difference between genders in this respect. This is interesting in terms of sociolinguistic thought, as stronger preference for the vernacular is generally associated with men. We attribute this to a rise of post-independence nationalism, globalization of the coastal economy, and the growing language rights movement in Belize.
The Future of Joint-up Thinking
Authors: Dyson Matthew
Published: June 2015

The law of secondary liability continues to trouble defendants, victims, politicians, practitioners, judges, academics and laypeople. In a recent report, the House of Commons Justice Select Committee called even more forcefully for the Government to consult on reforming the law of ‘joint enterprise’. The committee called, in particular, for a stronger fault requirement: at the moment a secondary party can be liable for the full offence merely because he foresaw a chance that the principal might commit a crime. This article discusses the report, analyses the substantive law in issue and considers appropriate reforms. The report is also a chance to reassess what secondary liability looks like today, a process that reveals that we now live in a post-accessory liability world where ‘joint enterprise’ rules. This shift in language and corresponding shift in fault elements has caused significant uncertainty in understanding the law as well as practical injustice, making it easier to convict for more serious crimes than should be the case. The paper draws on an analysis of the joint enterprise cases decided in 2014 to show how attitudes to evidential and sentencing issues are shaping the substantive law.
Sentencing Guidelines for HBV and Honour Killings
Authors: Idriss Mohammad Mazher
Published: June 2015

Honour-Based Violence (HBV) and Honour Killings are crimes committed to salvage the reputation of families and are usually committed because of the deviant (and usually sexual) behaviour of a woman is perceived to have brought about shame. Violence, it is believed, must then be inflicted in order to modify that behaviour and to cleanse the family’s reputation of dishonour. This article will explore the role of the criminal courts in tackling HBV by appropriately punishing those who perpetrate such acts. It will argue that despite the increasing number of prosecutions in these types of cases, Sentencing Council guidelines are needed not only to help achieve consistency, but to help to ensure that sentencing judges apply relevant aggravating and mitigating factors that will lead to the imposition of a proportionate sentence that is commensurate with the seriousness of the offence. This article will offer proposals and will examine the main aggravating and mitigating factors a newly devised Sentencing Council guideline should include.
Are we alone? And does it matter?
Authors: Fergusson David
Published: June 2015

Van Huyssteen’s 2004 Edinburgh Gifford Lectures raise the question of how human uniqueness is to be understood in evolutionary and theological terms. This has been defended in subsequent interaction with critics. In this article, his approach is explored in light of recent challenges to theological anthropocentrism. While a weak or benign form of anthropocentrism can be sustained along the lines mapped out by van Huyssteen, it is argued that this requires some rethinking in relation to the imago Dei and to accounts of incarnation, providence, and eschatology.
What makes theology theology?
Authors: Welker Michael
Published: June 2015

Informed by a dialogue between the disciplines of law and theology on legal and theological dogmatics, the article describes nine levels that constitute theological normativity and weight. The first three levels deal with integrating concepts of God, with the historical, cultural, and theological weight of the biblical canon, and with confessional documents and multi-loci dogmatics, respectively. These are central parts of the spectrum. The ecclesial, academic, and contextual-ethical responsibilities (integral to truth- and justice-seeking communities), the professional ethos and the institutional frameworks are equally important. Finally, the radiations of these six levels with individual piety and a shared living faith and the reverse shaping powers of practiced religious experience are all indispensable for the enterprise of theology.
A response to my colleagues
Authors: van Huyssteen J. Wentzel
Published: June 2015

In November of 2014, Princeton Theological Seminary honored me with an outstanding academic Retirement Symposium to celebrate my 23 years of tenure there. In this article I respond to various challenging and exciting themes and issues raised by colleagues Niels Henrik Gregersen, Michael Welker, Agustin Fuentes, Celia Deane-Drummond, and David Fergusson. My colleagues raised a surprisingly rich series of challenging questions covering a wide range of issues and topics that have fascinated me throughout my career. Overtly present in all these questions are concerns about the integrity of theology proper, what is required to make theology theological, as well as the much broader and more fluid boundaries that I draw for a philosophical theology that has conceptual problem-solving at the very heart of its own academic integrity. What also comes through in an exciting way are discussions about my most recent work in theological anthropology, as challenged directly by contemporary developments in evolutionary anthropology and paleoanthropology. At the heart of this is my current research and writing on the evolution of the moral sense, the religious sense, and, from a theological point of view, questions about the  imago Dei, christology, original sin, evil, and suffering.
The Metropolitan Military: Homeownership Resistance to Military Family Housing in Southern California, 1979-1990
Authors: Reft Ryan
Published: June 2015

Despite its dependence on military investment, large segments of the Sunbelt have always expressed ambivalence toward military housing. From 1941 to 1973, real estate interests served as the primary resistance to the construction of military housing; however, during the 1970s, due to economic changes, tax revolts, New Right fiscal and social policies, and the transformation to the all-volunteer force (AVF), opposition to military housing transferred from real estate interests to homeowners. From 1979 to 1990, the Navy’s attempt to construct military family housing in San Diego encountered angry homeowners who resented the tax exempt status of housing and accused military households of overburdening school infrastructure, reducing property values, and spreading social dysfunction. Demographic changes resulting from the AVF yielded more families and greater ethnic and racial diversity, which failed to align with suburban norms and thereby marginalized service households socially and politically.
Three-Dimensional Optoacoustic and Laser-Induced Ultrasound Tomography System for Preclinical Research in Mice
Authors: Ermilov S. A. , Su R. , Conjusteau A. , Anis F. , Nadvoretskiy V. , Anastasio M. A. , Oraevsky A. A.
Published: June 2015

In this work, we introduce a novel three-dimensional imaging system for in vivo high-resolution anatomical and functional whole-body visualization of small animal models developed for preclinical and other type of biomedical research. The system (LOUIS-3DM) combines a multiwavelength optoacoustic tomography (OAT) and laser-induced ultrasound tomography (LUT) to obtain coregistered maps of tissue optical absorption and speed of sound, displayed within the skin outline of the studied animal. The most promising applications of the LOUIS-3DM include 3D angiography, cancer research, and longitudinal studies of biological distributions of optoacoustic contrast agents.
Answers or no answers: Studying question answerability in Stack Overflow
Authors: Chua Alton Y.K. , Banerjee Snehasish
Published: June 2015

Some questions posted in community question answering sites (CQAs) fail to attract a single answer. To address the growing volumes of unanswered questions in CQAs, the objective of this paper is two-fold. First, it aims to develop a conceptual framework known as the Quest-for-Answer to explain why some questions in CQAs draw answers while others remain ignored. The framework suggests that the answerability of questions depends on both metadata and content. Second, the paper attempts to empirically validate the Quest-for-Answer framework through a case study of Stack Overflow. A total of 3000 questions divided equally between those answered and unanswered were used for analysis. The Quest-for-Answer framework yielded generally promising results. With respect to metadata, asker’s popularity, participation and asking time of questions were found to be significant in predicting if answers would be forthcoming. With respect to content, level of details, specificity, clarity and the socio-emotional value of questions were significant in enhancing or impeding responses.
Surgery for aortic regurgitation and aortic root dilatation in Takayasu arteritis
Authors: Kaku Yuji , Aomi Shigeyuki , Tomioka Hideyuki , Yamazaki Kenji
Published: June 2015

Background

Special consideration may be required for surgical treatment in Takayasu arteritis because inflammation may cause serious complications such as valve detachment or dilatation of the residual aorta. We evaluated our surgical outcome of treatment for aortic regurgitation and aortic root dilatation in Takayasu arteritis.

Methods

Between December 1983 and January 2013, 22 cardiac operations were performed in 20 patients with aortic regurgitation due to Takayasu arteritis. Aortic valve replacement was carried out in 6 patients, and aortic root replacement in 16. Of these 16 patients, composite graft replacement was undertaken in 6, composite graft replacement plus coronary artery bypass grafting in 2, composite graft replacement plus total or partial arch replacement in 7, and valve-sparing aortic root replacement with hemiarch replacement in one.

Results

The operative mortality (within 30 days) was 4.5% and the 5-year survival rate was 90.9%. Early surgical reintervention was not required in any patient. Neither valve detachment nor composite graft detachment was noted. Two patients required redo aortic root replacement due to pseudoaneurysm formation and severe aortic regurgitation during follow-up. Late dilatation of the residual thoracoabdominal or abdominal aorta was observed in 2 patients, and both were treated surgically.

Conclusions

The early surgical outcome was acceptable but surgical reintervention was required because of late dilatation of the residual aorta or recurrent aortic regurgitation due to annular dilatation, and longstanding careful follow-up will be needed.
Does walking improve disability status, function, or quality of life in adults with chronic low back pain? A systematic review
Authors: Lawford Belinda J , Walters Julie , Ferrar Katia
Published: June 2015

Objective:

To establish the effectiveness of walking alone and walking compared to other non-pharmacological management methods to improve disability, quality of life, or function in adults with chronic low back pain.

Data sources:

A systematic search of the following databases was undertaken: Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Pedro, SportDiscus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The following keywords were used: ‘back pain’ or ‘low back pain’ or ‘chronic low back pain’ and ‘walk*’ or ‘ambulation’ or ‘treadmill*’ or ‘pedometer*’ or ‘acceleromet*’ or ‘recreational’ and ‘disability’ or ‘quality of life’ or ‘function*’.

Review methods:

Primary research studies with an intervention focus that investigated walking as the primary intervention compared to no intervention or any other non-pharmacological method in adults with chronic low back pain (duration >3 months).

Results:

Seven randomised controlled trials involving 869 participants were included in the review. There was no evidence that walking was more effective than other management methods such as usual care, specific strength exercises, medical exercise therapy, or supervised exercise classes. One study found over-ground walking to be superior to treadmill walking, and another found internet-mediated walking to be more beneficial than non-internet-mediated walking in the short term.

Conclusion:

There is low quality evidence to suggest that walking is as effective as other non-pharmacological management methods at improving disability, function, and quality of life in adults with chronic low back pain.
Peaceweaving
Authors: Shields Patricia M. , Soeters Joseph
Published: June 2015

Beginning with the odd finding that “peace research is just the study of war,” this article explores “positive peace” as an important yet neglected notion in public administration. It does this by examining the ideas of Nobel Peace Prize winner, Jane Addams, a pioneer in public administration and peace theory. More than 100 years ago, Addams refined an expansive notion of peace that incorporated social justice and social equity. Addams’s feminist, pragmatist ideas of peace, which we call peaceweaving, emerged from her critique of municipal government and her experience as a settlement worker in Chicago. Her ideas are placed in historical context, and applied to an essential problem facing contemporary peace operations, which is how to prepare troops and other state agents for the seemingly contradictory demands that come along with today’s security problems, both intra- and internationally.
An exploration of the relationship between melodic originality and fame in early 20th-century American popular music
Authors: Hass Richard W.
Published: June 2015

The current study examined the relationship between fame and melodic originality among the refrains of over 500 early American popular songs. The main goals were to attempt to replicate results detailed by Simonton (1994), to compare different measures of melodic originality in the context of information theory, and to utilize hierarchical linear modeling in the analyses. The following hypotheses were tested: (1) melodic originality varies across historical time; (2) melodic originality is a positive function of composer age; and (3) fame is a curvilinear function of melodic originality. Results showed that melodic originality increased from 1916 to 1960—the period covered by the current corpus—which is consistent with hypothesis 1. Hypothesis 2 was not confirmed, as results showed a negative relationship between originality and age. The test of hypothesis 3 showed that a significant amount of the variation in fame could be attributed to a non-linear relationship with originality, but that the fame–originality relationship is moderated by genre (instrumental v. vocal). Implications for further studies of the psychomusical contributions to fame are discussed.
Long-term outcomes after reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome
Authors: John Seby , Singhal Aneesh B , Calabrese Leonard , Uchino Ken , Hammad Tariq , Tepper Stewart , Stillman Mark , Mills Brittany , Thankachan Tijy , Hajj-Ali Rula A
Published: June 2015

Background

Long-term outcomes of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) have not been systematically investigated.

Methods

The following validated questionnaires were mailed to patients recruited from the RCVS registries of two academic hospitals: headache screening form, Headache Impact Test, Migraine Disability Assessment Test, Barthel Index (BI), EuroQoL (EQ-5D-5L) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).

Results

Of the 191 patients in the registries, 109 could be contacted and 45 responded. Median follow-up time after symptom onset was 78 months. After RCVS resolution, 24 (53%) patients continued to have headache, but the majority (88%) reported improvement in its severity. Thirteen of the 24 patients with persistent headache had a history of migraine prior to RCVS diagnosis. The majority (97.5%) of respondents were functionally independent based on BI scores. EQ-5D-5L showed better scores in the domains of mobility, self-care and usual activities, as compared to pain and anxiety/depression. Patients with persistent headache had significantly higher levels of EQ-5D-5L pain scores. PHQ-9 scores revealed only one patient (3%) with severe depression.

Conclusion

More than half of RCVS patients will continue to have chronic headaches of mild to moderate intensity that are distinct from the “thunderclap” headaches at RCVS onset. The vast majority regain complete functional ability. However, pain and anxiety/depression are frequent, often aggravated by concomitant chronic headaches, and may be associated with lower quality of life.
Microfracture in the Hip
Authors: Domb Benjamin G. , Gupta Asheesh , Dunne Kevin F. , Gui Chengcheng , Chandrasekaran Sivashankar , Lodhia Parth
Published: June 2015

Background:

Microfracture in hip preservation surgery has demonstrated favorable outcomes, but studies with a higher level of evidence assessing microfracture are warranted.

Purpose:

To assess 2-year outcomes of patients who underwent hip arthroscopy with full-thickness chondral damage treated with microfracture and compare these outcomes with those of a control group from a similar cohort of patients who did not have full-thickness chondral damage and who were not treated with microfracture.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Between February 2008 and May 2012, prospectively gathered data for patients undergoing microfracture during hip arthroscopy with a 2-year follow-up were reviewed. All patients were assessed pre- and postoperatively at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years with 4 patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments. A matched cohort of patients who did not have full-thickness chondral damage and hence did not receive microfracture was selected on a 1:2 ratio. Matching criteria were sex, age within 6 years, workers’ compensation status, concomitant labral treatment, and radiographic parameters. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the change in PROs in both groups.

Results:

A total of 79 hips were included in the microfracture group and 158 in the control group. There was no significant difference in PRO scores preoperatively between the groups. Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in all postoperative PRO scores at all time points. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative PRO scores between the microfracture and control groups, except for the visual analog scale (VAS) score at 2 years, which was higher ( P = .02) in the microfracture group (mean ± SD, 3.63 ± 2.50) than in the control group (2.82 ± 2.76). Patient satisfaction was 7.2 for the microfracture group and 8.04 for the control group, which was statistically different ( P < .05). The mean change in all PRO scores was similar between groups at 3 months and 1 year postoperatively but significantly lower in the microfracture group at 2 years postoperatively. The greatest improvement in both groups was noted at 3 months postoperatively.

Conclusion:

This study showed that patients undergoing microfracture during hip arthroscopy had equivalent PRO scores compared with the control group at 2 years postoperatively. The change in PRO scores from preoperatively to 2 years postoperatively was significantly lower in the microfracture group compared with the control group. The VAS scores and satisfaction were inferior by 0.81 and 0.84 units, respectively, in the microfracture group compared with the control group, likely due to lack of full-thickness chondral defects in the latter. However, both groups showed significant improvement in all PRO scores after surgery, with no significant difference in final PRO scores.
Packaging waste prevention activities: A life cycle assessment of the effects on a regional waste management system
Authors: Nessi Simone , Rigamonti Lucia , Grosso Mario
Published: June 2015

A life cycle assessment was carried out to evaluate the effects of two packaging waste prevention activities on the overall environmental performance of the integrated municipal waste management system of Lombardia region, Italy. The activities are the use of refined tap water instead of bottled water for household consumption and the substitution of liquid detergents packaged in single-use containers by those distributed ‘loose’ through self-dispensing systems and refillable containers. A 2020 baseline scenario without waste prevention is compared with different waste prevention scenarios, where the two activities are either separately or contemporaneously implemented, by assuming a complete substitution of the traditional product(s). The results show that, when the prevention activities are carried out effectively, a reduction in total waste generation ranging from 0.14% to 0.66% is achieved, corresponding to a 1–4% reduction of the affected packaging waste fractions (plastics and glass). However, the improvements in the overall environmental performance of the waste management system can be far higher, especially when bottled water is substituted. In this case, a nearly 0.5% reduction of the total waste involves improvements ranging mostly between 5 and 23%. Conversely, for the substitution of single-use packaged liquid detergents (0.14% reduction of the total waste), the achieved improvements do not exceed 3% for nearly all impact categories.
Sense of Coherence as a Determinant of Psychological Well-Being Across Professional Groups of Aid Workers Exposed to War Trauma
Authors: Veronese Guido , Pepe Alessandro
Published: June 2015

The present study aims to test whether sense of coherence (SOC) acts as a determinant of positive psychological functioning in aid workers directly exposed to warfare. Specifically, we performed multiple regression analyses to compare different groups of aid workers in terms of the effects of SOC and cumulative trauma on their psychological distress. Palestinian helpers, both professional and non-professional ( N = 159) completed three self-reported measures: the General Health questionnaire, Sense of Coherence Scale, and Impact of Events Scale. The findings bear out the predictive power of SOC and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in relation to mental health across different professional groups. In particular, volunteers without a specific professional profile, psychiatrists, medical doctors, and less markedly counselors seemed to protect their mental health through a SOC. Clinical implications and recommendations for training and supervision are discussed.
Prosecutors and Use of Restorative Justice in Courts: Greek Case
Authors: Wasileski Gabriela
Published: June 2015

The purpose of this research study was to examine the experiences of prosecutors in Athens, Greece, as they implement a restorative justice (RJ; mediation) model in cases of intimate partner violence (IPV). Greece recently enacted a new legislation related to domestic violence, part of the requirement is mediation. This study used semi-structured interviews with 15 public prosecutors at the courts of first instance and three interviews with facilitators of mediation process. The findings indicate widespread role confusion. Prosecutors’ experiences, professional positions, and views of RJ in adult cases of gendered violence were shaped by their legal training. That is, their perceptions reflected their work in an adversarial system. Their views were complex yet ultimately unreceptive and their practices failed the victims of IPV. The study report concluded with recommendations for the legislators and for better preparation of court actors.
Listening to the Narratives of Our Patients as Part of Holistic Nursing Care
Authors: Alicea-Planas Jessica
Published: June 2015

Nurses in all settings interact with individuals often identified as vulnerable or marginalized, and at times are frustrated by their own inability to “make a difference.” By allowing oneself to listen, a fuller appreciation of the individual circumstance, or that which is unwritten, can be appreciated. Storytelling is a way to set the stage for experiences to be shared and can provide insight into lives. The narratives told by patients are often complex, affected by various influences of the environment, and personal, which in combination with nursing informs their individual healing journeys. Using a philosophy of nursing that encompasses all of the distinct influences on these narratives can allow nurses to more holistically care and advocate for their patients. As this case study shows, nursing plays a significant role in the narratives of others. Although many vulnerable populations live in a perpetual cycle of poverty and poor health, some nurses are able to assess the intricacies of a situation and facilitate understanding, as part of their support, caring, and advocacy for their patients.
Influence of chemically and plasma-functionalized carbon nanotubes on high-performance polymeric nanocomposites
Authors: Ajeesh G. , Bhowmik Shantanu , Venugopal Sivakumar , Varshney Lalit , Baluch Abrar , Park Yurim , Gilsang Son , Kim Chun Gon
Published: June 2015

This investigation highlights different surface functionalization processes of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and their effects on mechanical properties of polyetherimide nanocomposite. Surfaces of MWCNTs were modified by chemical process and by low-pressure plasma process. There is a significant change in physicochemical characteristics of MWCNTs after chemical and low plasma treatment evident from scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies. Due to surface modification of CNTs, there is a significant change in surface morphology and increase in oxygen functionalities such as C=O, C–O, and COOH especially evident in low-pressure plasma treatment; however, differential scanning calorimeter and thermogravimetric analysis studies reveal that thermal properties of the composite do not alter as such. There is a significant increase in mechanical properties of high-performance polymeric nanocomposites when surface-functionalized MWCNTs are dispersed in polymeric matrix; however, surface characteristics of the composite remain almost unchanged evident from contact angle and surface energy studies.
Curing behaviors and performance of a carboxyl-terminated butadiene acrylonitrile rubber/bisphthalonitrile resin system
Authors: Pan Hai , Xu Mingzhen , Lei Xuefeng , Jia Kun , Liu Xiaobo
Published: June 2015

The curing behaviors and processability of 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)phenyl] propane (BAPh) and carboxyl-terminated butadiene acrylonitrile rubber (CTBN) were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic rheological analysis. The results indicated that the introduction of CTBN significantly catalyzed the polymerization of the CTBN/BAPh system and that the processability of the CTBN/BAPh prepolymer could be controlled by temperature, processing time, and CTBN content. CTBN/BAPh/glass fiber (GF) composite laminates were prepared in this study. In terms of mechanical and dielectric properties, the CTBN/BAPh/GF composite laminate with 10 wt% CTBN content showed an outstanding flexural strength and modulus of 534 MPa and 32 GPa, respectively, as well as higher dielectric constant and lower dielectric loss compared with the BAPh/GF composite laminate. The results on thermal property showed that the CTBN/BAPh/GF composite laminate with 10 wt% CTBN could withstand a high decomposition temperature of 580°C under nitrogen and 520°C in air atmospheres. Hence, this work proposes an approach to improving the processability of phthalonitrile resin so as to further widen its industrial applications.
Synthesis and thermal properties of high-temperature phthalonitrile polymers based on 1,3,5-triazines
Authors: Sheng Haitong , Zhao Fenghua , Yu Xiaoyan , Naito Kimiyoshi , Qu Xiongwei , Zhang Qingxin
Published: June 2015

Two kinds of phthalonitrile monomers based on 1,3,5-triazine structure have been synthesized. The chemical structures of the phthalonitrile monomers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. Differential scanning calorimetric analysis revealed the curing behavior of the monomers. Thermogravimetric analysis suggested outstanding thermal stabilities of the triazine-structured phthalonitrile polymers. Thermal decomposition kinetic analysis indicated that the activation energy of the two phthalonitrile polymers is 205.6 and 152.3 kJ mol−1, respectively. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the storage moduli ( E′) are 3.62 GPa and 3.66 GPa, respectively, and glass transition temperatures of both the monomers are higher than 350°C. Postcuring effects were investigated, which showed that more excellent thermal and mechanical properties were achieved with postcuring.
Modification of montmorillonite by different surfactants and its use for the preparation of polyphenylene sulfide nanocomposites
Authors: Jian Xing , Xuebing Wang , Bingyao Deng , Qingsheng Liu
Published: June 2015

Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)/clay composites were prepared by simple melt blending. Three different kinds of surfactants such as cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), and synthetic 1,3-dihexadecyl-3H-benzimidazolium bromide (Bz) were used as organic modifiers for the organic modification process. The benzimidazolium-modified montmorillonite (Bz-MMT) and CTAB-modified MMT (CTAB-MMT) exhibited larger interlayer spacing than SDBS-modified MMT (SDBS-MMT), while SDBS-MMT and Bz-MMT exhibited higher thermal stability compared with the CTAB-MMT. The morphology of the PPS/organic MMT nanocomposites was evaluated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The nanocomposites based on SDBS-MMT and Bz-MMT exhibited good overall dispersion of organic MMT with a mixed dispersion of intercalated and exfoliated structures. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to evaluate the thermal properties of PPS/organic MMT nanocomposites. The crystallization process of PPS in all nanocomposites was accelerated, and the crystallinity also increased, when compared with the pure PPS from the DSC analysis. The TGA analysis indicated that nanocomposites based on SDBS-MMT and Bz-MMT exhibited higher thermal stability than composites based on CTAB-MMT due to the well-dispersed nanoplatelets.
Thermal error prediction of the spindle using improved fuzzy-filtered neural networks
Authors: Li Yanlei , Wang Mingyan , Hu Youmin , Wu Bo
Published: June 2015

An improved fuzzy-filtered neural network model is utilized to predict spindle deformation based on temperature data. The improved fuzzy-filtered neural network model combines the fuzzy logic qualitative approach and neural network adaptive capabilities, and it is composed of fuzzy filtering and adaptive layers. A verification experiment is conducted to evaluate the performance of the improved fuzzy-filtered neural network model. Nine Pt100 thermal resistances are employed to monitor spindle temperature. An inductive current sensor is utilized to detect spindle deformation. Experimental results show that the improved fuzzy-filtered neural network model can better predict spindle deformation than back propagation network, and it can significantly improve the performance of the spindle. Under the new cutting condition, the residual error of spindle deformation along the z-axis can be reduced to less than 6 µm.
Oxidative stress induced by cadmium in the plasma, erythrocytes and lymphocytes of rats
Authors: Nazima B , Manoharan V , Miltonprabu S
Published: June 2015

The present study has been designed to investigate the ameliorative effect of grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSP) on cadmium (Cd)-induced oxidative damage in rat erythrocytes. Twenty four male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, GSP-treated group (100 mg kg−1 body weight (BW)), Cd-treated group (cadmium chloride, 5 mg kg−1 BW), and GSP + Cd-treated group in which GSP was orally pre-administered 90 min before Cd intoxication for 4 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture and were processed for various biochemical estimations. The extent of oxidative damage in isolated rat erythrocyte membrane was assessed by measuring lipid peroxidation, enzymatic and non-enzymatic content, calcium ion (Ca2+)/magnesium ion (Mg2+)-ATPase and sodium ion (Na+)/potassium ion (K+)-ATPase activities, free iron, calcium, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration, and osmotic fragility. Our results unveiled that Cd intoxication significantly increased the erythrocyte lipid peroxidation markers and decreased the activity of enzymatic and non-enzymatic markers in erythrocytes. Conversely, GSP pretreatment significantly prevented the decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and membrane-bound ATPases. GSP also restored the levels of iron, calcium, and H2O2 in Cd-treated rats. Conformational changes in erythrocytes of various groups were also determined using morphological and ultrastructural electron microscopic analysis. The findings of our study clearly revealed that GSP affords superior protection against Cd-induced reactive oxygen species generation, lipid peroxidation, and free radical generation in Cd-treated rats, which presumably reflects the ability of this flavonoid to protect erythrocytes and lymphocytes of rats from the toxic effects of Cd.
The cell and the corridor: Imprisonment as waiting, and waiting as mobile
Authors: Armstrong Sarah
Published: June 2015

Imprisonment is the exemplary symbol of waiting, of being stuck in a space and for a time not of our choosing. This concept of waiting is perfectly represented by the image of the prison cell. In this paper, I contrast the cell with the less familiar imagery of the corridor, a space of prison that evokes and involves mobility. Through this juxtaposition, I aim to show that prisons are as much places of movement as stillness with associated implications for penal power and purpose. I argue that the incomplete imaginary of prison as a cell (and waiting as still) may operate as a necessary fiction that both sustains and undermines its legitimacy. By incorporating the corridor into the penal imaginary, key premises about how prisons do and should work, specifically by keeping prisoners busy, and how prison time flows and is experienced, are disrupted.
Role of Public Research Institutes in Japan’s National Innovation System: Case Study of AIST, RIKEN and JAXA
Authors: Suzuki Jun , Tsukada Naotoshi , Goto Akira
Published: June 2015

Among the actors in the National Innovation System, Public Research Institutes (PRIs) are probably the least studied. Historically, PRIs played an important role in conducting research related to the Japanese government’s missions in defence, space exploration, health care, agriculture and industrial technology. PRIs that aimed to help industry played a significant role during the catch-up period before and after the second World War. However, throughout the 1970s and 1980s, as Japanese firms acquired new technological capabilities and crossed technological frontiers with increasing financial resources, the firms’ reliance on PRIs as a source of advanced technology decreased. At present, discussions are underway regarding the role and rationale of PRIs in Japan’s innovation system.

In this article, we focus on three large PRIs in Japan—AIST, RIKEN and JAXA—and investigate their role in helping Japan’s industry by examining their patents. We briefly describe their background and history of development, which clarifies their distinctive role in Japan’s innovation systems. We use four measures drawn from patent data (technological value, exclusionary value, expected market value and knowledge spillover) to describe PRI performance. The difference between the PRIs’ patents and those of universities and firms, as well as the impact of the PRIs’ research collaboration with the private sector is analysed. We found that each of the three PRIs has its own identity and is fulfilling its specific role. In addition, we pinpoint problems concerning universities’ patenting activity. Finally, we discuss factors that might affect the research outcome.
Collaboration between Public Research Institutes and Universities: A Study of Industrial Technology Research Institute, Taiwan
Authors: Wong Chan-Yuan , Hu Mei-Chih , Shiu Jyh-Wen
Published: June 2015

This study examines the linkages between Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and universities. It employs the government–university (G–U) relation of triple helix framework to assess collaboration patterns between ITRI and the top universities of Taiwan over two phases of economic development, that is, the catching-up phase in the 1990s and the subsequent post catching-up phase over the 2000s. We highlight the collaborative dynamics in terms of ITRI’s (a) (co-) evolving knowledge capital, (b) strategic collaboration mode, (c) co-publication in scientific papers, (d) co-owned patents, (e) forward and backward citations and (f) science-based patents. Our systematic review of the role of ITRI in both catching-up and post catching-up phases will provide a useful guide for policy makers in other economies (such as Malaysia and Hong Kong) that aspire to define a similar role for their public research institutions.
Strategic Planning for Management of Technology–An Empirical Study with Indian Steel Sectors
Authors: Roy Supriyo , Singh S.N.
Published: June 2015

Indian steel industry, identified as seller’s market in the pre-liberalized era, has become buyer’s market due to import, reduced duty structure, price decontrol and delicensing. Revolutionary changes in this area have been witnessed along with fierce competitive pressure on performance, productivity, price reduction and customer satisfaction. National boundaries have melted the steel sector to encompass the increasing world market. Trade in steel products has been on upswing with the production facilities of both the developed and developing countries complementing each other in making of steel products. Smooth and quick transfer of technologies has meant an increasing competitive pressure on the companies to be ahead of the others in the race for technological superiority. Technology management in steel sector is a practice that entails classification, selection, adoption and exploitation of the technologies needed to maintain organization’s current and future survival. It includes the ability of creating mutual understanding between business and technology as a part of corporate strategic planning. Management of technology assumes great importance and finding out the factors which influence the same assumes even greater importance. In this present study, an attempt has been made to critically identify factor(s) that enhance efficiency in steel technology sector. The outcome of the study will provide a valuable insight into the evaluation and process of management of technology in a competitive market. Finally, it helps the decision maker associated with this sector operating in mature markets to formulate effective strategies for gaining overall competitive advantage.
Line and Staff Functions in Organizations Revisited: A Bionic System Analogy Using ISM
Authors: Agarwal Alpana , Vrat Prem
Published: June 2015

The purpose of this article is to identify variables and their interrelationships causing line and staff conflict in organizations. Specifically it is comparing and analyzing the causes of line and staff conflict from human body perspective, assuming it to be an optimally managed organization. A generally applicable framework that establishes relationship between these variables is developed using interpretative structural modelling (ISM). The developed framework is then compared with the organization of line and staff functions in the human body, presuming that with this the real cause of the problem could be understood. In this effort, it has been found that an optimal degree of flexibility, top management involvement, equity, clearly defined roles and appropriate design and reporting relationships are the major strategies followed by human body that can help managers to eliminate conflict. It is expected that based on this comparison some ways of resolving conflict within organizations can be suggested. Besides, we can also expect that mimicking a variety of elements in human body organization can inspire business organizations to learn improvements in their design and function too.
Book Review: Tony Bendell, Building Anti-fragile Organisations—Risk, Opportunity and Governance in a Turbulent World
Authors: Saini Debi S.
Published: June 2015

Tony Bendell, Building Anti-fragile Organisations—Risk, Opportunity and Governance in a Turbulent World, Aldershot, UK: Gower Publishing Ltd., 2014, xviv + 228 pp., Price not mentioned (hardback).