bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Story of Carora: The Origins of El Sistema
Authors: Carlson Alexandra
Published: December 2015

Venezuela’s youth symphony program, the Fundación Musical Simón Bolívar, commonly referred to as “El Sistema,” combines musical achievement with learning important life skills through orchestral practice and performance. Although the history most commonly reported outside Venezuela is of the program’s director, José Antonio Abreu, hosting a rehearsal of music students in a Caracan parking lot in 1975, El Sistema’s origins are equally owed to another orchestra. That same year, arts advocate Juan Martínez founded Venezuela’s first children’s orchestra in the Venezuelan city of Carora alongside three Chileans who previously taught for a similar program in Chile. I show that the two orchestras were frequent collaborators in the 1975–1977 period, a relationship that was essential in securing government and public support for the nascent Venezuelan program. I combine oral history and historiography to detail how the project in Carora began, define its relationship with Abreu’s orchestra in Caracas, and describe its pedagogy, philosophy, and funding. Beyond illuminating a historical narrative that highlights the importance of both national and international cooperation in the development of youth orchestras in Venezuela, this research has broad implications for advocacy and development of musical programs, within and outside schools.
The music materials in early childhood education: A descriptive study in Galicia (Spain)
Authors: Rodríguez Jesús Rodríguez , Álvarez Rosa María Vicente
Published: December 2015

Here we present the main findings of a study conducted at the Department of Teaching and School Organization of the University of Santiago de Compostela to explore the perceptions of teachers regarding didactic and music materials used and produced to facilitate teaching in early childhood education. This descriptive and interpretative study involved questionnaires sent to a sample of 560 early childhood teachers in public, private, private subsidized, and unitary schools in Galicia. In addition, interviews were conducted to better understand the questionnaire findings. A number of recommendations are included regarding measures to be taken by institutions and professionals involved in the process of design, selection, and use of didactic materials reflecting the analyses and opinions of the teachers in our study. Attention has been given to the comparative analysis of our findings with those in other studies carried out in Galicia and Spain over the past 10 years.
The subsystem of specialized music education in Portugal since 1983: The process of integration into the general education system
Authors: Ribeiro António José Pacheco , Vieira Maria Helena Gonçalves Leal
Published: December 2015

Portuguese music education occurs in two branches: general and specialized. The specialized subsystem is also subdivided into vocational schools (conservatories and music academies) and professional schools. Although different in nature and organization, vocational and professional schools have several goals in common. In the first part, this article contextualizes the historical development of the vocational branch, from the creation of the first Portuguese conservatory (in Lisbon in 1835) until the present day. It describes the emergence of professional schools in the 1990s and, finally, it questions the concept of “vocational schools” itself. In the second part, the article describes the structural reform initiated in 1983 by Law-Decree nr. 310/83, underlining its unquestionable contribution to the improvement of public music education in Portugal. The last part of the article presents a summary of the main effects of this reform in the present situation of specialized music schools.
My country, my music: Imagined nostalgia and the crisis of identity in a time of globalization
Authors: Lum Chee-Hoo
Published: December 2015

This qualitative research study seeks to examine definitions of Singapore music, music by Singapore composers and musics of/in Singapore through the eyes of tertiary music educators in a local institute of teacher education, and to determine pedagogical implications of such definitions in the space of the music classroom. Extensive informal interviews with seven tertiary music educators (key informants) serve as the methodological base for this phenomenological study. Findings suggest that music educators should give focus to the historical, socio-cultural and musical characteristics of the lived and living musical practices that comprise Singapore while being cognizant of contradictions brought forth by recent migratory flows and the emergence of a global city identity.
How much professional development is enough? Meeting the needs of independent music teachers learning to use a digital tool
Authors: Upitis Rena , Brook Julia
Published: December 2015

Even though there are demonstrated benefits of using online tools to support student musicians, there is a persistent challenge of providing sufficient and effective professional development for independent music teachers to use such tools successfully. This paper describes several methods for helping teachers use an online tool called iSCORE, including embedded online support, targeted email messages, webinars, and face-to-face workshops. Using contemporary frameworks for characterizing continuing professional development, the success of each of these teaching approaches, separately and in combination, is considered through an examination of teacher feedback, uptake of the tool by students, and the interview data from an advisory board made up of teachers, educators, software designers and developers, publishers, and business leaders. Inherent tensions and difficulties in designing appropriate professional development are discussed.
Where is planning to be found? Material practices and the multiple spaces of planning
Authors: Allmendinger Phil , Haughton Graham , Shepherd Edward
Published: December 2015

A range of new spaces of English planning have emerged in recent years. One new space of clear import is the sub-region. In this paper we seek to gain a better understanding of why sub-regional spaces emerge, how they are used and how planning functions through them. Drawing upon an analysis of three English regions and interviews with actors the paper identifies four types of sub-regional planning that highlight the relationship between accountable, legally sanctioned territorial spaces on the one hand and more informal, open and strategic sub-regional spaces on the other. Sub-regional planning provides an important if not critical strategic parallel to regulatory planning though the relationship between the two is characterised by complexity, contestation, experimentation and impermanence. Among other issues raised by this contemporary reworking of planning is the emergence of an accountability gap through the uncoupling of formal democratic processes embedded within territories and the more diffuse practices of strategic plan making.
Building consensus for network power? Some reflections on strategic spatial planning in the North West region of England
Authors: Bafarasat Abbas Ziafati , Baker Mark
Published: December 2015

This case study of collaborative regional spatial planning in the North West region of England seeks to understand if ‘network power’ provides a sufficient incentive for the politically stronger and institutionally established players (particularly local government) to adopt a more flexible approach to consensus building. An observed failure in this respect, due to the overwhelming strength of the parochial interests of local government under network governance, leads to a suggestion to incentivise greater collaboration and consensus building at the strategic level through what has been termed ‘meta-governed citizen power’.
Relatedness and diversification in the European Union (EU-27) and European Neighbourhood Policy countries
Authors: Boschma Ron , Capone Gianluca
Published: December 2015

This paper analyzes the process of industrial diversification in the countries that were part of the European Union (EU-27) and those that were the target of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) in the period 1995–2010 by means of world trade data derived from the BACI database (elaborated UN Comtrade data). Our results show that in both the EU-27 and the ENP countries, the evolution of the productive structure—as proxied by the export mix—is strongly path-dependent: countries tend to keep a comparative advantage in products that are strongly related to their current productive structure, and they also diversify in nearby products. However, this effect is much stronger for ENP countries, signalling their lower resources and capabilities to diversify in products that are not very related to their productive structure. We also show that the future export structures of countries are affected by their imports: both the EU-27 and ENP countries keep a comparative advantage in products that are strongly related to their imports, but only EU countries show a strong capability to diversify in new products from related import sectors. Our results also hold when controlling for geographical and institutional proximity.
Building Competing Fashion Textile Fairs in Europe, 1970–2010
Authors: Wubs Ben , Maillet Thierry
Published: December 2015

Interstoff (launched in 1959 by Messe Frankfurt) and Première Vision (launched in 1972 in Lyon) became “information dissemination gathering locations” for the fashion and textile industries all over the world. The two events mobilized the fashion prediction methodology as a key tool to impose themselves as the favorite information gatekeeper for the industry. Their goal was to complement the trading of goods with the exchange of adequate and strategic information for companies that were dramatically constrained by immediate global competition and rapidly changing seasonal models. As a result the two trade fairs progressively adopted a new information-centric model and contributed to maintain Western Europe as the central location for the dissemination of fashion trends worldwide. Messe Frankfurt also pursued an alternative geographical strategy. It did this by following the global relocation of textile manufacturing and setting up fairs around the world, particularly in China, before ultimately ending the Interstoff event in Frankfurt in 1999.
Role of 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance hysterosalpingography in the diagnostic work-up of female infertility
Authors: Cipolla Valentina , Guerrieri Daniele , Pietrangeli Daniela , Santucci Domiziana , Argirò Renato , de Felice Carlo
Published: December 2015

Background

Imaging evaluation plays a crucial role in the diagnostic work-up of female infertility. In recent years, the possibility to evaluate tubal patency using 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance (1.5T MR) has been studied.

Purpose

To assess the feasibility of 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance (3.0T MR) hysterosalpingography and its role in the diagnostic work-up of female infertility and to evaluate if this fast “one-stop-shop” imaging approach should be proposed as a first-line examination.

Material and Methods

A total of 116 infertile women were enrolled in this prospective study; all underwent 3.0T MR hysterosalpingography. After standard imaging of the pelvis, tubal patency was assessed by acquiring 3D dynamic time-resolved T1-weighted (T1W) sequences during manual injection of 4–5 mL of contrast solution consisting of gadolinium and normal sterile saline. Images were evaluated by two radiologists with different experience in MR imaging (MRI).

Results

The examination was successfully completed in 96.5% of cases, failure rate was 3.5%. Dynamic sequences showed bilateral tubal patency in 64.3%, unilateral tubal patency in 25.9%, and bilateral tubal occlusion in 9.8%. Extratubal abnormalities were found in 69.9% of patients. Comprehensive analysis of morphological and dynamic sequences showed extratubal abnormalities in 43.1% of patients with bilateral tubal patency.

Conclusion

3.0T MR hysterosalpingography is a feasible, simple, fast, safe, and well-tolerated examination, which allows evaluation of tubal patency and other pelvic causes of female infertility in a single session, and it may thus represent a “one-stop-shop” solution in female infertility diagnostic work-up.
Identity, Relationship Satisfaction, and Disclosure
Authors: Velkoff Elizabeth A. , Forrest Lauren N. , Dodd Dorian R. , Smith April R.
Published: December 2015

We tested the usefulness of combining the Interpersonal–Psychological Theory of Suicide and minority stress models in studying suicidality among sexual minority women. According to the Interpersonal–Psychological Theory of Suicide, perceptions of being a burden on others and feelings of failed belongingness predict suicidal ideation. In a sample of sexual minority women ( n = 51), we tested first, if the interaction of perceived burdensomeness and failed belongingness predicted lifetime suicidal behavior; second, if identity affirmation was negatively related to perceived burdensomeness and if this relation was moderated by disclosure; and third, if relationship satisfaction was negatively related to failed belongingness and if this relation was moderated by acceptance concerns. The proposed interaction of perceived burdensomeness and failed belongingness predicted lifetime suicide attempts. Moreover, among sexual minority women with greater disclosure of their sexual minority identities, low identity affirmation was related to higher perceived burdensomeness. For sexual minority women with high acceptance concerns, relationship satisfaction did not relate to lower feelings of failed belongingness. These findings suggest that sexual minority related stressors moderate risk factors for suicidality—in particular, perceptions of burdensomeness and failed belongingness. We suggest clinicians and others encourage sexual minority individuals to engage in activities that promote effectiveness and interpersonal closeness. Online slides for instructors who want to use this article for teaching are available to PWQ subscribers on PWQ's website at http://pwq.sagepub.com/supplemental
Sports- and Work-Related Outcomes After Shoulder Hemiarthroplasty
Authors: Garcia Grant H. , Mahony Gregory T. , Fabricant Peter D. , Wu Hao-Hua , Dines David M. , Warren Russell F. , Craig Edward V. , Gulotta Lawrence V.
Published: December 2015

Background:

With an active aging population, more patients expect to return to previous activities and work after surgery.

Purpose:

To determine the rate and timing to return of sports and employment after shoulder hemiarthroplasty.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

This was a retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent shoulder hemiarthroplasty from 2007 to 2013. Follow-up consisted of a patient-reported questionnaire regarding physical fitness, sporting activities, and work status.

Results:

From 105 patients screened, 79 were available for follow-up. The average follow-up time was 63.1 months, and the average age at follow-up was 69 years. Scores on the visual analog scale for pain improved from 6.2 to 2.1 ( P < .001) postoperatively, and those on the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) shoulder assessment improved from 34.6 to 71.3 ( P < .001). Patients older than 65 years had significantly lower absolute postoperative ASES scores ( P = .041) but experienced similar improvement from their preoperative baseline ( P = .158) compared with patients younger than 65 years. There were 58 patients who played sports preoperatively, and 67.2% of these restarted at least 1 of their previous sports postoperatively. The average time to return to full sports was 6.5 months for those who returned. Direct rates of return were as follows: fitness sports (69%), swimming (65%), running (64%), cycling (63%), and doubles tennis (57%). Younger age was associated with highest demand level achieved ( P = .023). Forty-nine patients worked preoperatively, with 69.4% returning to previous employment after surgery; the average time to return to work was 1.4 months. In comparative analysis, patients who did not return to work had a higher mean body mass index (32 ± 7 vs 27 ± 5 kg/m2; P < .008).

Conclusion:

In this hemiarthroplasty cohort, there was a 67.2% rate of return to 1 or more sports at an average of 6.5 months postoperatively. Patients older than 65 years experienced similar improvements in ASES scores compared with patients younger than 65 years, although absolute scores were lower on average. Those who returned to higher demand sports were younger on average. Of patients working preoperatively, 69.4% returned to their previous employment at an average of 1.4 months. Patients who did not return to employment had significantly higher body mass index on average. These findings will help surgeons manage expectations of shoulder hemiarthroplasty candidates preoperatively.
Low Risk of Injuries in Young Adolescents Participating in Top-Level Karate Competition
Authors: Arriaza Rafael , Inman David , Arriaza Alvaro , Saavedra Miguel A.
Published: December 2015

Background:

Prospective studies on injuries in martial arts competition are scarce, especially those involving young practitioners, but the upsurge of children and adolescents taking part in organized training and competition in these sports requires clarification of the injury risk that they represent for youths.

Hypothesis:

Top-level karate competition for young adolescents (cadets, or 14- to 15-year-olds) has a low injury rate and can be safely promoted.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiological study.

Methods:

Prospective recording of the injuries resulting from all bouts in 3 consecutive World Karate Championships (2009, 2011, and 2013) for cadets was performed. Data were collected prospectively in situ with checklists that described competitor sex, bout category, and weight as well as injured area, diagnosis, mechanism of injury, severity, and treatment.

Results:

A total of 1020 bouts were reviewed, 671 in the male category and 349 in the female category. A total of 61 injuries were recorded. Of those, only 3 were time-loss injuries. During the 2009 and 2011 championships, there was 1 injury per 25.6 fights, while during the 2013 championship the number of injuries increased, with 1 injury per 10 fights ( P = .003). There was no statistical difference in the total injury rate between the male and female categories ( P = .71), with an odds ratio of 1.16 (95% CI, 0.52-2.55).

Conclusion:

The injury rate for cadet top-level karate competition found in this prospective study is much lower than the rates previously published for karate or other martial arts competitions, but there seems to be a marked increase as more championships are held, which is a matter of concern.
Corticosteroid Injections Accelerate Pain Relief and Recovery of Function Compared With Oral NSAIDs in Patients With Adhesive Capsulitis
Authors: Ranalletta Maximiliano , Rossi Luciano A. , Bongiovanni Santiago L. , Tanoira Ignacio , Elizondo Cristina M. , Maignon Gastón D.
Published: December 2015

Background:

Intra-articular corticosteroid injection is a common therapy for adhesive capsulitis, but there is a lack of prospective randomized controlled studies analyzing the efficacy of single injections applied blindly to accelerate improvement in pain and function.

Hypothesis:

In patients with adhesive capsulitis, a single intra-articular corticosteroid injection without image control applied before the beginning of a physical therapy program will accelerate pain relief and recovery of function compared with oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and physical therapy.

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods:

A total of 74 patients with primary adhesive capsulitis in the freezing stage were randomized to receive either intra-articular injections with betamethasone or oral NSAIDs. Clinical outcome was documented at baseline and after 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks and comprised a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Shoulder Score, the abbreviated Constant-Murley score, and the abbreviated Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) score for function. Passive range of motion was measured with a goniometer.

Results:

Patients treated with corticosteroid injections achieved faster pain relief compared with control patients during the first 8 weeks after treatment ( P < .001). However, no significant difference in pain was observed among the groups at final follow-up. Likewise, shoulder function and motion improved significantly in both groups at all follow-up points. Shoulder function scores and most motion parameters improved faster in the injection group up to week 8 ( P < .001). Again, no significant differences in function or motion were seen at final follow-up.

Conclusion:

In patients with adhesive capsulitis, a single corticosteroid injection applied without image control provides faster pain relief and earlier improvement of shoulder function and motion compared with oral NSAIDs.
Politics trumps policy
Authors: Cull Elizabeth
Published: December 2015

This paper explores how health ministers make decisions. It is not intended to be an exhaustive inquiry into the subject; rather it draws on my personal experience as a public servant, a health minister, and a political advisor in the British Columbia government over the past 40 years, plus informal interviews with former health ministers from different political parties.
A system of system lenses for leadership decision-making
Authors: Cady Phil
Published: December 2015

The sheer volume and dynamics among system agents in healthcare makes decision-making a daunting task at all levels. Being clear about what leaders mean by “healthcare system” is critical in aligning system strategy and leadership decision-making. This article presents an emerging set of lenses (ideology and beliefs, rational and irrational information processing, interpersonal social dynamics, process and value creation, and context) to help frame leadership decision-making in healthcare systems.
Teachers’ Intentions in Punishing Self-Defenders and Aggressors Among Schoolchildren: The Importance of Proving the Student’s Role in a Violent Altercation
Authors: Fleischmann Amos
Published: December 2015

Israeli regulations require teachers to subject pupils who participate in violent altercations to severe punishment. How teachers actually apply this policy, however, has not yet been researched. The current study investigates teachers’ intentions in disciplining students who brawl. Two hundred ninety-nine teachers read fictional vignettes about students who took part in fighting and are asked to describe the disciplinary measures that they would invoke. The teachers’ responses are quantified on the basis of a specially developed key that determines the severity of the steps that the teachers propose to take. Multi-level regression is utilized. The results reveal that students who explain their use of violence as a response to a violent provocation await only mild discipline if they can prove their claim; those who cannot prove it face severe punishment. Students who turn out to be the aggressors are punished even more severely. The research participants are inclined to punish students more harshly for involvement in retaliation than in involvement in self-defense. The differences in inclination to discipline students with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are inconsequential. The discussion examines the importance of the need to prove guilt in weighing disciplinary action and the compromise between two needs—to discipline violent students and to treat self-defenders fairly—that teachers make when administering punishment.
Unpacking Americans’ Views of the Employment of Mothers and Fathers Using National Vignette Survey Data
Authors: Jacobs Jerry A. , Gerson Kathleen
Published: December 2015

Drawing on findings from an original national survey experiment, we unpack Americans’ views on the employment of mothers and fathers with young children. This study provides a fuller account of contemporary attitudes than is available from surveys such as the General Social Survey. After seeing vignettes that vary the circumstances in which married mothers, single mothers, and married fathers make decisions about paid work and caregiving, the respondents’ views swing from strong support to deep skepticism about a parent’s work participation, depending on the parent’s specific job conditions and family circumstances. When a mother, whether married or single, is satisfied with her job and her family depends on her income, respondents overwhelmingly support the option to work. Conversely, when a father is dissatisfied with his job and the family does not depend on his income, respondents generally support the option to stay home. These findings provide insight regarding the “gender stall” thesis by showing that Americans’ views depend heavily on the circumstances they believe parents are facing. This more nuanced view highlights the importance of social context in the allocation of paid work and caregiving for both mothers and fathers.
Semiempirical approach to predict shrinkage and warpage of fiber-reinforced polymers using measured material properties in finite element model
Authors: Gandhi Umesh , Song Yu Yang , Mandapati Raghuram
Published: December 2015

The automotive industry has great interest in designing and producing lightweight high-performance components using fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs), primarily due to their high specific strengths. Injection molding of FRP is one of the preferred processes to meet low-cost, high-volume objectives. It is imperative to account for shrinkage and warpage while designing the tools for injection molding. However, predicting shrinkage and warpage of injection-molded FRP parts remains a challenge. This is because both the structural and thermal properties depend on the condition of the fibers in the resin, that is, variation in the orientation, length, and concentration throughout the part. Additional challenges come from the fact that the material properties of polymers are a function of temperature, which varies as the parts cool. In this study, we are presenting a finite element-based semiempirical approach to address both these challenges and predict warpage due to cooling for a fiber-reinforced resin component in solid phase. The approach is demonstrated to predict warpage of an injection-molded flat plaque made of glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene, cooled from 160°C to room temperature of 23°C. First, the fiber orientation in the plaque is estimated. Next the material properties for the combined material, that is, glass and resin, are measured as a function of temperature. Then the combined material properties and calculated fiber orientations are used to estimate the ‘in-mold’ condition resin properties using reverse engineering. Finally, the warpage of the plaque is predicted using the estimated resin properties and fiber orientations. Warpage predictions using this method compare well with the measured experimental results. Our study demonstrates that valid predictions for shrinkage and warpage of injection-molded fiber-reinforced thermoplastic parts in solid phase can be made if accurate material properties are used.
All thePuertorriqueñidadthat’s Fit to Print: UnAmerican Racial Citizens inThe New York Times(1948–1958)
Authors: Gonzalez-Sobrino Bianca , Hughey Matthew W
Published: December 2015

While scholars have shown how ‘color-blind racism’ functions as the dominant form of racist discourse in the post-Civil Rights era, few have interrogated how this logic operated before the advent of US Civil Rights, or how ethno-racial groups such as Puerto Ricans exist in an unique and liminal position and have been subject to color-blind racist discourse. The authors explore the construction of Puerto Rican identity during the pre-Civil Rights: a time rife with color-blind American paternalism over the supposed cultural dysfunctions of the Puerto Rican diaspora, an era of mass Puerto Rican emigration to the US, and a moment when Puerto Rico underwent a political change. The authors employ a content analysis of The New York Times (1948 to 1958) in order to investigate the relationship between the discursive construction of Puerto Rican identity and the flagship newspaper’s use of nationalist and racialized cultural schemata.
Do Grandchildren Influence How Old You Feel?
Authors: Bordone Valeria , Arpino Bruno
Published: December 2015

Objectives: Guided by the acknowledged importance of measures of aging alternative to chronological age, we explored the association between subjective age, on the one hand, and having grandchildren and provision of grandchild care, on the other, by gender and age groups. Method: Data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; N = 1,701 men and 2,395 women aged 50-85) and linear regression models were used to test two hypotheses. Results: Grandparents feel older than their grandchildless counterparts at younger ages, but such association is reversed in later life if they look after their grandchildren. A cumulative negative association between subjective age and both having grandchildren and providing grandchild care holds for older women. Discussion: This study extends prior research by examining age and gender differences in factors associated with subjective age. The findings suggest that grandparenthood is central in shaping the personal experience of aging. Future studies should address the causality of the factors analyzed.
Gas permeation properties of polymer membranes containing pendant tertiary amine groups
Authors: Luo Jujie , Guo Ruiqian , Zhang Meng , Li Jinping
Published: December 2015

Copolymers based on facilitated transport units have been developed to take advantages of permeability to carbon dioxide (CO2). In this study, a series of gas separation membranes from poly(arylene ether sulfone)s (PAESFs) containing pendant tertiary amine were synthesized via nucleophilic substitution polycondensation. The structures of copolymers were confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The permeability and selectivity of the membranes were studied at different temperatures of 25–55°C and pressures of 0.5–1.5 atm using single gases CO2, methane (CH4), and nitrogen. Gas permeation measurements showed that copolymers containing different tertiary amine groups exhibited different separation performances. For example, the PAESF-30 containing 30 mol% tertiary amine groups showed better performance in terms of ideal selectivity over the other seven copolymer membranes. The highest CO2 permeability and ideal CO2/CH4 selectivity were achieved ( p = 14.67 Barrer, α = 37.7).
Control of the 2-degree-of-freedom servo system with iterative feedback tuning
Authors: Zhao Jiangbo , Feng Wei , Wang Junzheng
Published: December 2015

In this article, the controller parameter tuning method of a large inertia 2-degree-of-freedom motion mechanism is presented. The proportional–integral controller is adopted to implement the system control. For the reason of load coupling of the two freedoms, fixed proportional–integral parameters cannot always get satisfied control performance. Based on this problem, the iterative feedback tuning method is applied to tune the controller parameters. This method makes the system output error decrease along the negative gradient direction, and the system cost function will reach local minimum after a few iterations. In order to improve the convergence speed of the iterative process, a gold ratio–based method is proposed to speed up the convergence of the iteration process. The simulation and comparison experiments are performed on the azimuth freedom, and the results show that the iterative feedback tuning method can achieve much higher control performance compared to classical tuning method, and it has the similar effect to the adaptive robust method.
Modeling Regularities in Response Time and Accuracy Data With the Diffusion Model
Authors: Ratcliff Roger , Smith Philip L. , McKoon Gail
Published: December 2015

Diffusion models for simple two-choice decision making have achieved prominence in psychology and neuroscience. The standard model views decision making as a process in which noisy evidence is accumulated until one of the two response criteria is reached, at which point the associated response is made. The criteria represent the amount of evidence needed to make a decision, and they reflect the decision maker’s response biases and speed–accuracy trade-off settings. In this article, we review the regularities in experimental data that a model must explain. These include the relation between accuracy and mean response times, the shapes of response-time distributions for correct and error responses and how they change with experimental variables, and individual differences in response time and accuracy. These relations are sometimes overlooked by researchers, but, taken together, they provide extremely strong tests of models.
Team Cognition as Interaction
Authors: Cooke Nancy J.
Published: December 2015

Teams perform cognitive activities such as making decisions and assessing situations as a unit. The team cognition behind these activities has traditionally been linked to individual knowledge and its distribution across team members. The theory of interactive team cognition instead argues that team cognition resides in team interactions and that it is an activity that takes place in a rich context that needs to be measured at the team level. This article describes this dynamic perspective on team cognition, some research that supports it, and the implications for measuring, understanding, and improving team cognition.
Everyday Consequences of Analytic Thinking
Authors: Pennycook Gordon , Fugelsang Jonathan A. , Koehler Derek J.
Published: December 2015

We review recent evidence revealing that the mere willingness to engage analytic reasoning as a means to override intuitive gut feelings is a meaningful predictor of key psychological outcomes in diverse areas of everyday life. For example, those with a more analytic thinking style are more skeptical about religious, paranormal, and conspiratorial concepts. In addition, analytic thinking relates to having less traditional moral values, making less emotional or disgust-based moral judgments, and being less cooperative and more rationally self-interested in social dilemmas. Analytic thinkers are even less likely to offload thinking to smartphone technology and may be more creative. Taken together, these results indicate that the propensity to think analytically has major consequences for individual psychology.
Dissociative Subtypes in Posttraumatic Stress Disorders and Hypnosis
Authors: Terhune Devin Blair , Cardeña Etzel
Published: December 2015

Converging evidence suggests that heterogeneity in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) arises from the presence of discrete subtypes of patients, one of which is characterized by elevated dissociative symptoms. A similar dissociative subtype has been observed among individuals displaying high hypnotic suggestibility. Here we highlight important parallels between these subtypes, drawing from research on a history of exposure to stressful life events and pathological symptomatology, cognitive functioning, hypnotic suggestibility, and functional neuroimaging and electrophysiology. Further clarification of these parallels can help elucidate the developmental paths and neurocognitive basis of heterogeneity in PTSD and high hypnotic suggestibility and refine the understanding and treatment of different subtypes of PTSD.
Varieties of Visual Working Memory Representation in Infancy and Beyond
Authors: Kibbe Melissa M.
Published: December 2015

Research on the developmental origins of visual working memory in infants has largely progressed along two separate branches. One branch is rooted in the classic work on adult visual working memory, while the other is rooted in the classic work on the object concept in infancy. Both lines of research have yielded some converging results but also some surprisingly different patterns. In this review, I show that these different patterns are evidence for two distinct types of representations, which I term feature-based and object-based. I then show that there is evidence for both representation types beyond infancy.
Does the US Fear Gauge Impact on the Investor Fear Gauge in the Emerging Markets?
Authors: Lee Yen-Hsien
Published: December 2015

This article investigates the investor fear gauge linkages among the American and emerging markets, such as, India (India volatility index (IVIX)), South Korea (Volatility Korea Composite Stock Price Index (VKSOPI)), South Africa (South African Volatility Index (SAVI)) and Russian (Russian Volatility Index (RTSVX)). This article further captures the diffusion and jump relationships between the volatility indices (VIXs) in US and emerging markets by applying the correlated bivariate Poisson (CBP) jump model. The empirical result found that the change in the VIX in the US has a substantial impact over the change in the VIXs of emerging markets. The changes in the VIXs exhibit individual jump behaviour. Finally, this article found the time-varying joint jump intensity between the VIXs in US and emerging markets.

JEL Classification: C32, C5
An Investment Strategy Based on Leverage: Evidence from BSE 500
Authors: D’Mello Lorraine , Sivaprasad Sheeja
Published: December 2015

This article examines the value relevance of leverage to equity investors. We construct a short-term investment strategy based on leverage of Indian firms over a 10-year period. We examine the ability of leverage to predict stock returns by analysing the cumulative abnormal returns (ARs) for a holding period of 1 year. We show that returns increase in leverage. Robustness tests are carried out to examine the returns in excess of those attainable using firm characteristics, such as, size, price to book, price–earnings (P/E) and dividend yield (DY). Our findings show that portfolios based on size and leverage can yield an excess return of up to 23 per cent.

JEL Classification: G1, G3, G32
Human consciousness, God and creation
Authors: Kelly Anthony J.
Published: December 2015

This article explores the often-overlooked dimension of human consciousness in the consideration of both creation and the Creator. To that end, it treats the phenomenon of consciousness and its self-transcending dynamism. There follow brief remarks on consciousness in relation to the traditional meaning of ‘soul’ and the modern achievements in brain-research. The way creation in its beauty and variety is registered in consciousness is then treated, along with the implied character of the Creator. Our conclusion points to the need for a multiplicity of perspectives in exploring the mystery of creation.
Adding Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research to Health Intervention Studies
Authors: Johnson R. Burke , Schoonenboom Judith
Published: December 2015

The purpose of this article is to explain how to improve intervention designs, such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs), in health science research using a process philosophy and theory known as dialectical pluralism (DP). DP views reality as plural and uses dialectical, dialogical, and hermeneutical approaches to knowledge construction. Using DP and its “both/and” logic, and its attempt to produce new creative syntheses, researchers on heterogeneous teams can better dialogue with qualitative and mixed methods approaches, concepts, paradigms, methodologies, and methods to improve their intervention research studies. The concept of reflexivity is utilized but is expanded when it is a component of DP. Examples of strategies for identifying, inviting, and creating divergence and integrative strategies for producing strong mixed methods intervention studies are provided and illustrated using real-life examples.
School Nurses’ Experiences of Managing Young People With Mental Health Problems
Authors: Ravenna Jean , Cleaver Karen
Published: December 2015

Prevalence of mental health disorder is increasing among young people. It is recognized that early intervention is essential in supporting young people, and care provided within schools to support emotional well-being is recommended as part of this process. A scoping review was undertaken examining school nurses’ experiences of supporting the mental health of schoolchildren. Findings suggest that school nurses have a central role in supporting young peoples’ mental health, although a number of barriers exist which impact on school nurses’ preparedness for this aspect of their role. While there are inconsistencies in the provision of mental health training available to support school nurses, when training is implemented it has positive outcomes for service provision and quality of care. A number of challenges for school nurses were also identified, and recommendations for practice are suggested in the article.
Fibroadenoma of the Breast With Xanthomatous Features
Authors: Coyne John D. , Michiels JF
Published: December 2015

Xanthomas are common in cutaneous sites but may also be seen in unusual locations. In view of the paucity of reported cases, the occurrence of such lesions within the breast stroma would appear to be either unusual, underreported, or ignored. Indeed, most reports of the few breast xanthomas and of the even fewer xanthomatous fibroadenomas reported have appeared in the older literature. Herein, a case of fibroadenoma with multiple foci of xanthoma is reported, the literature is briefly reviewed, and the apparent difference between the previous cases and the current case is highlighted.
Effects of Neuroinflammation on Neural Stem Cells
Authors: Covacu Ruxandra , Brundin Lou
Published: December 2015

Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs/NPCs) are present in different locations in the central nervous system. In the subgranular zone (SGZ) there is a constant generation of new neurons under normal conditions. New neurons are also formed from the subventricular zone (SVZ) NSCs, and they migrate anteriorly as neuroblast to the olfactory bulb in rodents, whereas in humans migration is directed toward striatum. Most CNS injuries elicit proliferation and migration of the NSCs toward the injury site, indicating the activation of a regenerative response. However, regeneration from NSC is incomplete, and this could be due to detrimental cues encountered during inflammation. Different CNS diseases and trauma cause activation of the innate and adaptive immune responses that influence the NSCs. Furthermore, NSCs in the brain react differently to inflammatory cues than their counterparts in the spinal cord. In this review, we have summarized the effects of inflammation on NSCs in relation to their origin and briefly described the NSC activity during different neurological diseases or experimental models.
Bayesian parameter identification of orthotropic composite materials using Lamb waves dispersion curves measurement
Authors: Gallina Alberto , Ambrozinski Lukasz , Packo Pawel , Pieczonka Lukasz , Uhl Tadeusz , Staszewski Wieslaw J
Published: December 2015

This paper deals with the problem of elastic constant identification in thin plates made of orthotropic composite materials. The approach is based on the analysis of Lamb wave propagation and the related dispersion curves to find the underlying material elastic constants. In the proposed implementation a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer is used to measure Lamb wave dispersion curves. The Local Interaction Simulation Approach is used simultaneously to find a solution to a high-frequency wave propagation problem. The experimental and simulated data are combined in a Bayesian framework for parameter identification which is robust in condition of parameter, modeling and measurement uncertainty. The results are discussed and compared with the results from a deterministic optimization.
A Short Form of the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children
Authors: Wherry Jeffrey N. , Huffhines Lindsay P. , Walisky Desiree N.
Published: December 2015

The purpose of the current study was to develop a short form (SF) of the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC). The TSCC-SF) maintained 29 items, from the original 54 items, in a sample ( N = 215) of sexually abused children who were seeking treatment at a child advocacy center. Exploratory factor analysis refined the original measure, and confirmatory factor analysis provided evidence for best fit for a six-factor, 29-item model. The TSCC-SF evidenced good internal reliability and showed convergent validity with child ratings of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms obtained from the University of California at Los Angeles PTSD Reaction Index. The TSCC-SF has promise as a shorter assessment measure with sexually abused children in numerous settings, including child advocacy centers and pediatric clinics, where efficient screening and assessment are essential for providing the best standard of care.
Review of the Empirical and Clinical Support for Group Therapy Specific to Sexual Abusers
Authors: Jennings Jerry L. , Deming Adam
Published: December 2015

This review compiles 48 empirical studies and 55 clinical/practice articles specific to group therapy with sex offenders. Historically, group therapy has always been the predominant modality in sex offender–specific treatment. In the first decades of the field, treatment applied a psychoanalytic methodology that, although not empirically supported, fully appreciated the primary therapeutic importance of the group modality. Conversely, since the early 1980s, treatment has applied a cognitive behavioral method, but the field has largely neglected the therapeutic value of interpersonal group dynamics. The past decade has seen a growing re-appreciation of general therapeutic processes and more holistic approaches in sex offender treatment, and there is an emerging body of empirical research which, although often indirectly concerned with group, has yielded three definitive conclusions. First, the therapeutic qualities of the group therapist—specifically warmth, empathy, encouragement, and guidance—can strongly affect outcomes. Second, the quality of group cohesion can profoundly affect the effectiveness of treatment. Third, confrontational approaches in group therapy are ineffective, if not counter-therapeutic, and overwhelmingly rated as not helpful by sex offenders themselves. Additional conclusions are less strongly supported, but include compelling evidence that sex offenders generally prefer group therapy over individual therapy, that group therapy appears equally effective to individual therapy, and that mixing or separating groups by offense type is not important to therapeutic climate. Other group techniques and approaches specific to sexual abuse treatment are also summarized.
Impact of Maternal and Child Race on Maternal Ratings of ADHD Symptoms in Black and White Boys
Authors: Barrett Charles , DuPaul George J.
Published: December 2015

Objective: Examine the influence of maternal and child race on ADHD symptom ratings. Method: Participants were Black ( n = 63) and White ( n = 68) mothers randomly assigned to view a 13-min videotape of either a Black or White boy displaying similar levels of ADHD-related behaviors during free play and meal situations. Mothers then completed an ADHD rating scale. Results: With maternal age and socioeconomic status (SES) as covariates, Black mothers provided significantly higher ratings of inattentive and hyperactive–impulsive symptoms than did White mothers regardless of child race. The effect of child race was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Maternal race appears to be more important than child race in accounting for differences in ADHD symptom ratings between Black and White boys. It is critical to understand variables related to these differences and develop assessment measures that lead to equivalent, accurate diagnostic decisions across racial subgroups.