bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dead Silence: Ecological Silencing and Environmentally Engaged Sound Art
Authors: McKinnon Dugal
Published: September 2013

Silencing and musicalization, as defined by Douglas Kahn, are valuable means to call attention to the sonically liminal. They create a frame within which acoustic silence can be attended to, either as a conceptual phenomenon or as the dead silence of sounds and soundmakers subjected to ecological silencing. Through critical discussion of silence in Kahn's writing on John Cage, as well as in acoustic ecology and soundscape composition, an outline of ecological silencing is developed and applied through the examination of environmentally engaged sound works by Sally Ann McIntyre of New Zealand and Katie Paterson of Great Britain.
On the Ethics of International Religious/Spiritual Gatherings and Academic Conferencing in the Era of Global Warming: A Case Study of the Parliament of The World’s Religions Melbourne 2009 – Part 2
Authors: Beringer Almut , Douglas Steven
Published: September 2013

Global climate change and its impacts have ethical dimensions, for instance carbon footprint equity concerns. World issues, including the state of the ecosphere and biodiversity, regularly see political leaders, NGOs, business representatives, religious/spiritual organizations, academics, and others engage in international aviation-dependent meetings to address critical challenges facing humanity and the planet. Yet, climate scientists and associated advocates call for an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 to cap the increase in global temperatures to 2ºC. Aviation emissions resulting from international meetings raise questions that are not silenced by GHG emissions offsetting. The era of climate change and ‘peak oil’ poses ethical challenges for holding international in-person religious and academic events, especially when the events propound an environmentalist concern and when aviation use is assumed. This paper raises questions regarding the ecological impacts of large international events and focuses the ‘inconvenient truths’ associated with international aviation in the era of global warming. The Parliament of the World’s Religions, the largest multifaith gathering in the world, serves as a case study. The paper emphasizes the view that faith-based/faith-inspired organizations have a special responsibility for leadership in policy and praxis on the moral imperatives of sustainability, sustainable development and climate justice.
New and interesting Peritelini of the Western Mediterranean fauna. XX. A novel Meira (Jacquelin du Val, 1852) species from the Ligurian Alps
Authors: PIEROTTI HELIO , FINK THOMAS
Published: September 2013

Meira diottii, nov.sp. from the Ligurian Alps is described. Relevant anatomical characters are detailed and illustrated with drawings and photography. Characteristic sensilla on the penis are identified and illustrated with scanning electron microscopy. Relationships with other Meira species are proposed.
A new species of Evonima Walker, 1865 (Lepidoptera: Nolidae: Nolinae) from China
Authors: HU YANQING , LÁSZLÓ GYULA M. , RONKAY GÁBOR , WANG MIN
Published: September 2013

The genus Evonima Walker, 1865 was established with the type species aperta Walker, 1865. Evonima as currently understood is a species-rich genus having rather variable forewing pattern, with a South-East Asian and African geographic distribution (see Hacker et al. 2012). The known species of Evonima are separable by external features; although the genus as a whole displays distinctive genitalia, the individual species are similar genitalically. Evonima contains 12 South-East Asian species: E. aperta Walker, 1865, E. xanthoplaga (Hampson, 1911), E. ochritincta (Hampson, 1901), E. unicolor László, Ronkay & Witt, 2010, E. faircloughi Holloway, 2003, E. kamboranga Holloway, 2003, E. maculata Holloway, 2003, E. mandschuriana (Oberthür, 1880), E. elegans Inoue, 1991, E. minora (Eecke, 1926), E. plagiola (Hampson, 1898) and E. albifurca (Hampson, 1914). The African fauna (see Hacker et al. 2012) contains 4 taxa: E. westafricana Hacker, 2012, E. littoralis littoralis (van Son, 1933), E. littoralis abyssinica Hacker, 2012 and E. ruhija Hacker, 2012. It is worth noting that, of these, only E. westafricana actually belongs within Evonima; the other African species mentioned by them are representatives of closely related but distinct genera, despite their external similarity with Evonima species; the configuration of their male genitalia clearly show their distinctness from Evonima. In our recent survey of the Chinese Nolinae, we found a striking new Evonima species, which we describe herein.
A new Brachyrhamdia (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) from Rio Japurá basin, Brazil, with comments on its phylogenetic affinities, biogeography and mimicry in the genus
Authors: SLOBODIAN VERONICA , BOCKMANN FLÁVIO ALICINO
Published: September 2013

Brachyrhamdia thayeria is herein described as a new heptapterid species from Rio Japurá, a left margin tributary of the Rio Solimões, Amazonas basin, Brazil. The new species is diagnosed from all its congeners by having a putative autapomorphy: dark oblique stripe across the caudal peduncle, originating below the anterior half of adipose fin and ending at base of rays of ventral caudal-fin lobe. Brachyrhamdia thayeria is considered closely related to B. imitator and B. rambarrani with which it shares a low vertebral number and absence of lateral stripe along trunk. The new species shares exclusively with B. rambarrani the presence of a dark conspicuous bar along the dorsolateral region of trunk, a putative synapomorphy. Brachyrhamdia are distributed in lowland regions of northern South America where they inhabit small streams with running waters. The new species appears to have a mimetic association with the syntopic callichthyid Corydoras arcuatus. Herein, we argue in favor of the hypothesis that the interaction between species of Brachyrhamdia and Pimelodella or Corydoras is Müllerian mimicry.
Multidecadal ENSO Amplitude Variability in a 1000-yr Simulation of a Coupled Global Climate Model: Implications for Observed ENSO Variability
Authors: Borlace Simon , Cai Wenju , Santoso Agus
Published: September 2013

The amplitude of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) can vary naturally over multidecadal time scales and can be influenced by climate change. However, determining the mechanism for this variation is difficult because of the paucity of observations over such long time scales. Using a 1000-yr integration of a coupled global climate model and a linear stability analysis, it is demonstrated that multidecadal modulation of ENSO amplitude can be driven by variations in the governing dynamics. In this model, the modulation is controlled by the underlying thermocline feedback mechanism, which in turn is governed by the response of the oceanic thermocline slope across the equatorial Pacific to changes in the overlying basinwide zonal winds. Furthermore, the episodic strengthening and weakening of this coupled interaction is shown to be linked to the slowly varying background climate. In comparison with the model statistics, the recent change of ENSO amplitude in observations appears to be still within the range of natural variability. This is despite the apparent warming trend in the mean climate. Hence, this study suggests that it may be difficult to infer a climate change signal from changes in ENSO amplitude alone, particularly given the presently limited observational data.
The Macroeconomic Policy Paradox
Authors: Blinder Alan S.
Published: September 2013

While objections can be (and have been) raised, the U.S. government’s multifaceted macroeconomic policy responses to the financial crisis after September 2008 appear to have been quite effective. Yet, politically, they are more reviled than admired. The paradox is that economic success—in the sense of averting much worse outcomes—turned into political failure. This article asks why.
Political Effects of the Great Recession
Authors: Bartels Larry M.
Published: September 2013

America’s political response to the Great Recession was surprising to pundits but mostly consistent with patterns familiar to political scientists. Ordinary citizens assessed politicians and policies primarily on the basis of visible evidence of success or failure. Thus, in 2008, the president’s party was punished at the polls for the dismal state of the election-year economy. The successful challenger, Barack Obama, pushed policy significantly to the Left, as Democratic presidents typically do, provoking a predictable “thermostatic” shift to the Right in the public’s policy mood. In 2010, slow economic recovery and public qualms about ideological overreach exacerbated the losses normally suffered by a president’s party in midterm elections. In 2012, Obama was reelected—as incumbents almost always are when their party has held the White House for just four years—thanks in part to a modest but timely upturn in the income growth rate.
Failing the Test? The Flexible U.S. Job Market in the Great Recession
Authors: Freeman Richard B.
Published: September 2013

The Great Recession tested the ability of the “great U.S. jobs machine” to limit the severity of unemployment in a major economic downturn and to restore full employment quickly afterward. In the crisis the American labor market failed to live up to expectations. The level and duration of unemployment increased substantially in the downturn, and the growth of jobs was slow and anemic in the recovery. This article documents these failures and their consequences for workers. The U.S. performance in the Great Recession contravenes conventional views of the virtues of market-driven flexibility compared to institution-driven labor adjustments and the notion that weak labor institutions and greater market flexibility offer the best road to economic success in a modern capitalist economy.
The Great Recession and the Social Safety Net
Authors: Moffitt Robert A.
Published: September 2013

The social safety net responded in significant and favorable ways during the Great Recession. Aggregate per capita expenditures in safety net programs grew significantly, with particularly strong growth in the SNAP, EITC, UI, and Medicaid programs. The increase in transfers was widely shared across demographic groups, including families with and without children, and single-parent and two-parent families. Transfers grew as well among families with more employed members and with fewer employed members. In the low-income population, however, the increase in transfer amounts was not strongly progressive across income classes, with transfers to those just below or above the poverty line increasing slightly, compared to those at the bottom of the income distribution. This was mainly because of the EITC program, which provides greater benefits to those with higher family earnings. The expansions of SNAP and UI benefitted those at the bottom of the income distribution to a greater extent.
The Effects of the Great Recession on the Retirement Security of Older Workers
Authors: Munnell Alicia H. , Rutledge Matthew S.
Published: September 2013

The Great Recession had a profound effect on the retirement security of older Americans, and the slow recovery from the downturn will have a lasting impact on their quality of life. The nature of today’s retirement system left older households exposed to the collapse in the equity and housing markets and induced many to plan for a later retirement. More late-career workers experienced job loss than in previous recessions, often with long jobless spells, encouraging a record number of early Social Security retirement claims and disability applications. Going forward, workers who lost a job can expect lower earnings and more instability and, potentially, poorer health. Even households that avoided job loss will have less money available for spending in retirement due to low interest rates and reduced home values. These findings emphasize the importance of Social Security as income insurance and the need for a more robust retirement income system.
State Fiscal Policy during the Great Recession
Authors: Campbell Andrea Louise , Sances Michael W.
Published: September 2013

Plunging tax revenues and soaring social program demand during the Great Recession created state budget shortfalls of historic magnitude. After reviewing states’ aggregate reaction to the economic downturn, we conduct an original analysis of the recession’s budgetary impact on the states and their policy responses. Economic factors such as falling personal income and home values explain much of the variation in the recession’s impact. State budgeting rules and practices conditioned states’ experiences, but not always as intended: budget gaps were smaller in states with stricter balanced budget requirements, but larger in states with statutory spending limitations. Personal income tax increases were more likely in states with a Democratic legislature or greater public unionization rates, while midyear spending cuts were smaller in states with larger public sector unions. In sum, we find that while states’ objective economic situations determined the bulk of their responses to the Great Recession, political factors determined these responses’ shape and form.
Embedded and External Brokers
Authors: López-Sanders Laura
Published: September 2013

Immigration scholars have made great strides in documenting the role of labor agents in connecting immigrant workers with jobs, though less attention has centered on whether such brokerage exacerbates existing workplace inequalities. Based on participant observation and in-depth interviews over 15 months in seven workplaces, I examine power dynamics and relations between brokers and immigrant workers. My analyses show that temporary agencies and embedded brokers play a complementary role in incorporating undocumented immigrants into jobs. Yet important power imbalances develop within these relationships, with implications for the inequalities that the most vulnerable workers experience.
Can the Newest Vital Sign Be Used to Assess Health Literacy in Children and Adolescents?
Authors: Warsh Joel , Chari Roopa , Badaczewski Adam , Hossain Jobayer , Sharif Iman
Published: September 2013

Context. We evaluated the validity of the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) as a brief screen for health literacy in children. Objectives. To ( a) test the hypothesis that child performance on the NVS correlates with performance on a test of child reading comprehension and ( b) establish age-based cutoffs for expected performance on the NVS. Design. Children aged 7 to 17 years were administered the NVS followed by the Gray Silent Reading Test (GSRT). Results. The NVS score correlated strongly with GSRT score (ρ = 0.71, P < .0001) and increased with age. Children aged 7 to 9 years had a median NVS score of 1 (interquartile range = 1-2); children aged 10 to 17 years had a median score of 3 (interquartile range = 2-4), P < .0001. Conclusion. The NVS performs well in this population. Children aged 10 to 17 years with an NVS score lower than 2 may have low health literacy.
Perceived barriers to optimum nutrition among congregate (sheltered) housing residents in the USA
Authors: Mahadevan Meena , Hartwell Heather , Feldman Charles , Raines Emily
Published: September 2013

Objective:

Malnutrition, secondary to decreased food intake, is a public health problem of epidemic proportions among older adults in the United States of America (USA). Compared to community-dwelling senior citizens, congregate (sheltered) housing residents are found to be frailer, with documented deficiencies in several major and minor nutrients, and associated health complications. While studies have quantified these problems, translational research examining the perceived factors influencing their daily food habits is lacking.

Design:

Using a qualitative approach, this study was undertaken to further and enhance understanding of this complex, under-researched area, and to form the basis for better nutritional management of this group.

Setting:

Participants ( n = 46) were convenience sampled from four sheltered housing settings located in the suburbs of northern New Jersey, USA.

Method:

Data were collected using a brief demographic questionnaire, and a focus group guide designed utilizing constructs derived from socio-ecological theory.

Results:

Content analysis of the transcripts identified several themes suggesting that a repertoire of individual, interpersonal, and organizational factors may serve as barriers to optimum nutritional health among residents. With an emphasis on utilizing their perspectives to explain and interpret behaviour, the qualitative approach adopted offered a perfect vehicle for shifting the focus from measuring dietary outcomes to clarifying how participants arrive at the decisions they made.

Conclusion:

This study is a step forward in providing the empirical foundations necessary to design a comprehensive intervention with effective strategies to motivate and encourage sheltered housing residents to make healthier food choices and improve their overall health.
Boundary element approaches for filling simulations of anisotropic reinforced preforms used in the resin transfer molding process
Authors: Vanegas Juan D , Patiño Iván D , Vargas Carlos A
Published: September 2013

The boundary element method (BEM) is implemented in the simulation of the filling of anisotropic fiber reinforced preforms used in the resin transfer molding process (RTM). They are analyzed both as a homogeneous and a non-homogeneous domain. In the former case, two injection regimes are considered: constant pressure and constant flow. The BEM results of flow front positions, pressure history and pressure profiles in the two main directions of permeability are compared to analytical and experimental results. In the second case of non-homogeneous domain, the domain integral appearing in the boundary integral formulation is treated by the dual reciprocity (DR) technique; the DR-BEM results of the curve pressure versus radial distance Pressure vs. Radial distance in the main directions of permeability are compared to numerical results obtained from the solution of the equation of pressure using MacLaurin series. In this case, the influence of the linear radial change of the fiber volume fraction on the flow front positions and on the curves of pressure versus radial distance is analyzed Pressure vs. Radial distance. For the homogeneous case, an acceptable coincidence between BEM and analytical results is appreciated as the circular inlet effect, which is considered in the BEM formulation and is not considered in the analytical method, lessens with the time. In non-homogeneous case, the coincidence among the DR-BEM and the numerical MacLaurin series results indicates that the DR-BEM is a promising technique to deal with the infiltration phenomenon of anisotropic reinforced preforms in non-homogeneous domains.
Investigations on the effectiveness of cyanoacrylate adhesive for repair of fibre-reinforced polymer laminates under different environmental conditions
Authors: Fifo Omosola , Ryan Kevin , Basu Biswajit
Published: September 2013

This article presents the results of an experimental study on the long-term durability of delaminated glass fibre-reinforced polyester composites that have been repaired using a rubber toughened cyanoacrylate adhesive. While several studies have investigated cyanoacrylate for glass fibre-reinforced polyester repair applications, none has addressed the impact of environmental conditions on bond durability. Glass fibre-reinforced polyester was fabricated in the laboratory and structural damage was induced before application of cyanoacrylate adhesive. Environmental chambers were used to expose the repaired specimens to the following three standard conditions for a duration of 1000 h: dry/wet cycles of salt mist (5% salt), dry/wet non-saline water mist condition (0% salt) and a cold chamber at −20℃. A fourth set were maintained at ambient temperature and pressure and served as the control. Double cantilever beam tests were used to determine the initial peak load for pre- and post-repair specimens. No degradation in the adhesive performance was observed for the specimens exposed to the salt mist and non-saline mist. A decrease in the peak load was observed for those specimens exposed to the cold environment, indicating some reduction in bond strength.
Preparation of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate)/Fe3O4 nanocomposite film and its thermoelectric performance
Authors: Lu Huansheng , Song Haijun , Shi Hui , Jiang Qinglin , Zhang Long , Liu Congcong , Xu Jingkun
Published: September 2013

Free-standing nanocomposite films of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate)/Fe3O4 were successfully prepared by mechanically blending magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) solution and casting the mixed solution on polypropylene film substrates. The characterization of nanocomposite films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectra. The result indicated that the Fe3O4 nanoparticles were composited together well with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate). It was found that the content of Fe3O4 has a significant effect on the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposite film. The maximum electrical conductivity could be up to 218 S/cm, at optical weight ratio (25 wt% Fe3O4). Simultaneously, the Seebeck coefficient fluctuated smoothly in a tiny range (13.1–15.8 µV/K), and the power factor was calculated to be 5.26 μW/mK2.
The influence of carbon fabric weave on the in-plane shear mechanical performance of epoxy fiber-reinforced laminates
Authors: Medina Carlos , Canales Cristian , Arango Carolina , Flores Paulo
Published: September 2013

Woven fabrics used in composite materials are designed to fulfill specific manufacturing or structural requirements. Knowledge of the influence of the weave structure on the mechanical properties of the composite is essential to properly optimize the design of structural components. The focus of this work is to investigate the influence of the type of weave used for fabric reinforcement in polymers particularly on the in-plane shear mechanical performance. The selected materials are carbon fibers and epoxy resin. The laminates are manufactured by vacuum infusion. Three woven structures are selected for manufacturing the composite laminates: (a) a plain weave with unidirectional orientation in the warp direction, (b) a plain weave with balanced properties in the warp and weft directions and (c) a 2/2 twill weave with balanced properties in the warp and weft directions. The laminates are tested according to the ASTM D 4255 standard by a two-rail shear test under quasi-static monotonic and cyclic loading conditions. The resulting stress–strain curves are used to study the initial in-plane shear modulus and its evolution (which directly correlates with material damage) and the hardening produced by plastic strain. The results show that for vacuum infusion manufacturing, the weave structure has an influence on the resulting fiber and void volume fractions and, consequently, on the mechanical performance. However, for similar fiber volumes, the weave structure is found to have little effect on the experimental results.
Displacement-controlled flexural bending fatigue behavior of graphene/epoxy nanocomposites
Authors: Shokrieh MM , Esmkhani M , Taheri-Behrooz F , Haghighatkhah AR
Published: September 2013

In this research, the effect of adding graphene nanoplatelets on mechanical properties of epoxy resin under flexural bending stress in fatigue conditions was investigated. The fatigue tests of specimens were carried out under displacement-controlled bending loading at different displacement amplitudes at room temperature. Due to the addition of graphene nanoplatelets, a remarkable improvement in fatigue life of epoxy resin was observed. For instance, specimens comprising epoxy resin and 0.25 wt.% of graphene fatigued at a stress ratio of 0.43 revealed a 27.4-fold improvement in fatigue life in comparison with the neat epoxy resin.
Investigation of chemically treated randomly oriented sansevieria ehrenbergii fiber reinforced isophthallic polyester composites
Authors: Sathishkumar TP , Navaneethakrishnan P , Shankar S , Rajasekar R
Published: September 2013

Surface treatment of sansevieria ehrenbergii fibers were carried out using various chemicals like alkali, benzoyl peroxide, benzoyl chloride, permanganate and stearic acid in order to improve the interfacial bonding between the fiber and matrix. Polyester composites were prepared using raw and surface-treated fibers. Morphology and physico-mechanical properties of the prepared composites are analyzed and compared with pure resin. Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopic analysis examined for the chemically treated fibers affirm the removal of moisture, hemicellulose, lignin and wax content. Scanning electron microscopic images prove the formation of rough surface on the fiber after chemical treatment due to the removal of lignocellulose content. The physico-mechanical properties of the treated fiber reinforced polyester composites are enhanced due to good physical interaction between the fiber and polymer matrix. The chemically treated fiber shows lower water absorption compared to untreated fiber composites.
Blue helmets as targets
Authors: Salverda Nynke
Published: September 2013

A majority of UN peacekeeping operations deployed to civil wars face violent attacks by rebel groups. To date, the academic study of this type of violence has been very limited. This article is a first attempt to fill this gap. In particular, I aim to examine why rebel groups fight against peacekeepers in some cases, while not in others. I argue that since peacekeepers are mostly impartial but not neutral, they become an actor in a conflict and tend to protect the weaker side from total defeat. This implies that on the one hand, relatively weaker rebels will seek protection from the government by peacekeepers. On the other hand, relatively stronger rebels will challenge the peacekeepers in order to restrict their behavior and/or make them withdraw. If stronger rebels are successful in targeting the peacekeepers and the peacekeepers withdraw or alter their behavior, a victory for these rebel groups should become easier. Using novel data on violence against UN peacekeepers, I find that indeed, stronger rebel groups are more likely to fight against peacekeepers.
Employer Attitudes Toward Blind or Visually Impaired Employees
Authors: McDonnall Michele Capella
Published: September 2013

The purpose of this research project was to create an instrument to measure attitudes of employers towards persons who are blind or visually impaired as employees. Items were developed based on prior research with employers that identified their concerns about hiring people with disabilities. A 15-item attitude scale (which was revised based on an expert panel review and results of a pilot test) was administered to a sample of 194 employers in hiring positions located in four states. Psychometric analyses included evaluation of coefficient alpha estimates, item-total correlations, and a common factor analysis procedure ( n = 158 for these analyses). Items were hypothesized to load on two factors: productivity of blind/visually impaired people as employees and challenges to employing blind/visually impaired people, which was supported by the data. As a result of the psychometric analyses, four items were removed from the attitude measure, resulting in an 11-item instrument consisting of a five-item productivity subscale and a six-item challenges subscale. Evidence for criterion validity was provided by significant differences in scores of employers based on whether they had ever hired someone with a visual impairment. Overall, results provide good initial evidence for the instrument’s reliability and validity.
Investigation of flow and heat transfer around internal channels of an air ventilation vest
Authors: Yang An-Shik , Shih Yang-Cheng , Lee Chun-Lung , Lee Ming-Chen
Published: September 2013

The effects of a fabric’s ventilation and cooling are important to human comfort in the design of clothes. Persons in a high-temperature situation can experience imbalance of thermoregulation, which in turn results in the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The purpose of this research was to achieve cooling enhancement by designing air ventilation vests as an effective measure to control human thermoregulation in hot environs. In this study, the Taiwan Textile Research Institute devised a new air ventilation vest characterized by seven internal flow channels. The computational fluid dynamics software ANSYS/Fluent® was applied using the three-dimensional conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy to simulate the airflow and heat transfer phenomena within the internal channels. The incompressible turbulent flow was also treated with a standard k-ɛ two-equation model for turbulence closure. We compared the predicted steady axial velocities at the centers of channel exits with the measured data for software validation. The simulated results were employed to investigate the complicated flowfield and heat transfer phenomena around internal channels of the air ventilation vest. In practice, the design with the outlet arranged along the airflow direction produces a higher flow rate due to a relatively lower flow resistance, and thereby achieves better air-cooling outcomes. To enhance the cooling performance, simulations were also conducted to examine the influences of channel outlet design, inlet temperature and velocity on the convective heat transfer coefficient distributions over the inner channel surface of the vest.
Landscapes of antagonism: Local governance, neoliberalism and austerity
Authors: Newman Janet
Published: September 2013

This paper offers an engagement with theoretical deficits in some uses of neoliberalism as an explanatory concept. It draws on theories of ideology, of governmentality and of assemblage to offer alternative conceptions of the relationship between neoliberalism and its others, and to illuminate the ambiguous and contradictory role of local governments in the UK in processes of neoliberalisation. The paper develops an analysis of local governments as strategic actors in the ‘landscapes of antagonism’ generated by current cycles of economic, political and governance change, and argues for more attention to be paid to the relationship between theory, politics and critique.
Contesting inclusive urbanism in a divided city: The limits to the neoliberalisation of Cape Town’s energy system
Authors: Swilling Mark
Published: September 2013

The struggles to define and implement an inclusive non-racial urbanism in South Africa after democratisation in 1994 occurred during the heyday of world-wide diffusion of unevenly developed neoliberalisation processes. This case study of the complexities of transforming Cape Town’s energy sector analyses the consequences of these contradictory trajectories by tracking the dynamics of four urbanism typologies: inclusive, splintered, green and slum urbanism. It is argued that, while the imperatives of deracialisation reinforced inclusive trends, neoliberalisation processes reinforced splintered urbanism and its consequences, namely slum urbanism. These dynamics were then overdetermined by environmental changes that have introduced green urbanism as a new arena of contestation.
Congenital vivax malaria: rare or underdiagnosed infection
Authors: Chandelia Sudha , Jain Sarika , Dubey Nand Kishore
Published: September 2013

Congenital malaria is a rare disease both in endemic and non-endemic areas. It is seldom suspected due to its rarity and the fact that its signs and symptoms may be similar to those with neonatal sepsis. Furthermore, clues such as a history of maternal travel to an endemic area during pregnancy or any malaria symptoms may not always be revealed. The situation is further complicated by subjective smear tests and an expensive rapid diagnostic test, especially in developing countries where affordability is an issue. We call attention to the need to consider the diagnosis of malaria in neonates who present with signs and symptoms often confused with sepsis, to enable a quick diagnosis and treatment in order to reduce mortality.
An examination of language input and vocabulary development of young Latino dual language learners living in poverty
Authors: Boyce Lisa K. , Gillam Sandra L. , Innocenti Mark S. , Cook Gina A. , Ortiz Eduardo
Published: September 2013

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the language status of 120 young, Latino dual language learners living in poverty in the United States. Maternal language input and home language and literacy environments were examined with regard to language development at 24 and 36 months. Results suggested that even when combining English and Spanish language knowledge scores, the children in this sample still performed below, albeit closer to, age level. The home language and literacy environments were significantly related to and predicted child language status at 24 and 36 months. The article discusses the implications of these findings with regard to the focus of early intervention efforts.
Improving Process Evaluations of Health Behavior Interventions
Authors: Morgan-Trimmer Sarah
Published: September 2013

This article reflects on the current state of process evaluations of health behavior interventions and argues that evaluation practice in this area could be improved by drawing on the social science literature to a greater degree. While process evaluations of health behavior interventions have increasingly engaged with the social world and sociological aspects of interventions, there has been a lag in applying relevant and potentially useful approaches from the social sciences. This has limited the scope for health behavior process evaluations to address pertinent contextual issues and methodological challenges. Three aspects of process evaluations are discussed: the incorporation of contexts of interventions; engagement with the concept of “process” in process evaluation; and working with theory to understand interventions. Following on from this, the article also comments on the need for new methodologies and on the implications for addressing health inequalities.
Investigating the Psychometric Properties of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale for South African Residents of Greater Pretoria
Authors: Westaway Margaret S. , Jordaan Esmè R. , Tsai Jennifer
Published: September 2013

Interviewers administered the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale (RSES) to five groups of Black (formal township and informal settlement), White, Indian, and mixed race adult residents of Greater Pretoria. The results demonstrated that the RSES was psychometrically sound for the five groups. The minimal effects of sociodemographic characteristics on global self-esteem showed that the RSES and its two dimensions, self-competence (SC) and self-liking (SL), were suitable in this setting. All five groups scored above the theoretical midpoint of the RSES, indicating that generally positive self-evaluations appear to be universal. The relationships between positively and negatively worded items, SC, and SL attested to the following: internal structure reliability, congruence between positive and negative items, no negative biases in response, and concordance between SC and SL dimensions. The significant differences between informal settlement residents and the other four groups on global self-esteem, positively and negatively worded items, and SC and SL were possibly due to physiological needs taking precedence over higher order needs.
Assessing and Evaluating Multidisciplinary Translational Teams
Authors: Wooten Kevin C. , Rose Robert M. , Ostir Glenn V. , Calhoun William J. , Ameredes Bill T. , Brasier Allan R.
Published: September 2013

A case report illustrates how multidisciplinary translational teams can be assessed using outcome, process, and developmental types of evaluation using a mixed-methods approach. Types of evaluation appropriate for teams are considered in relation to relevant research questions and assessment methods. Logic models are applied to scientific projects and team development to inform choices between methods within a mixed-methods design. Use of an expert panel is reviewed, culminating in consensus ratings of 11 multidisciplinary teams and a final evaluation within a team-type taxonomy. Based on team maturation and scientific progress, teams were designated as (a) early in development, (b) traditional, (c) process focused, or (d) exemplary. Lessons learned from data reduction, use of mixed methods, and use of expert panels are explored.
Aortopulmonary window: a single institution surgical experience
Authors: Naik Abhijeet V , Salvi Prasanna , Mhatre Amit , Soomar Sanah Merchant , Joshi Suresh
Published: September 2013

Background

Aortopulmonary window is a rare cardiac anomaly. We report our experience with this rare lesion and highlight the criteria for treating this defect without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods

From May 2007 to April 2012, 10 patients, aged 1 to 10 months and weighing 3.4 to 5.5 kg, were operated on by a single surgeon using both off-pump and standard techniques. All patients underwent preoperative and postoperative echocardiographic assessment, and were followed up with clinical examinations and echocardiography.

Results

There was no operative death and all patients were alive at the last follow-up. No major morbidities were noted. Two cases were operated on off-pump and they had shorter intensive care unit stays. All patients were in New York Heart Association class I on follow-up, with no residual shunt noted in follow-up echocardiograms.

Conclusions

The surgical closure of aortopulmonary window carries a low surgical risk. Early surgical closure prevents the development of pulmonary vascular disease and achieves good immediate and long-term outcomes. Off-pump repair techniques, when used judiciously, have a place in the treatment of this defect.
Antecedents of franchisee responses to franchisor-initiated strategic change
Authors: Croonen Evelien P.M. , Brand Maryse J.
Published: September 2013

This article uses an in-depth case study of two franchisor imposed change processes in one franchise system to generate propositions on the antecedents of franchisee responses to franchisor-initiated strategic change. The results point to the importance of the level of standardisation in the franchise system on franchisee responses to changes introduced by the franchisor. The franchise system’s standardisation level, as perceived and expected by franchisees, determines the number, nature and level of importance of antecedents of franchisee responses to change. Overall, franchisee expected profitability and trust are the most important antecedents. Additionally, non-economic motivations for running a franchise influence decisions to take-up alternative opportunities and diminish the importance of switching costs. Finally, actions of parties outside the existing franchise relationship may influence franchisee decisions to switch systems.
Head Start Instructional Professionals’ Inclusion Perceptions and Practices
Authors: Muccio Leah S. , Kidd Julie K. , White C. Stephen , Burns M. Susan
Published: September 2013

This study considered the facilitators and barriers of successful inclusion in Head Start classrooms by examining the perspectives and practices of instructional professionals. A cross-sectional survey design was combined with direct observation in inclusive Head Start classrooms. Survey data were collected from 71 Head Start instructional professionals in three Head Start programs. Observations took place in nine classrooms to examine the practices of 19 instructional professionals using an observation rating scale. Participants identified a lack of professional development as the greatest barrier to successful inclusion. Participants believed that their inclusion needs were greater than the inclusion supports available to them. Inclusive classroom quality varied significantly among different classrooms. Study findings suggested that the instructional professionals appear to be key to successful inclusion in Head Start settings. Additional professional development for Head Start instructional professionals focused on effectively enacting inclusion practices could support high-quality inclusion for children with disabilities.
Predictive value of procalcitonin for excluding bloodstream infection: Results of a retrospective study and utility of a rapid, quantitative test for procalcitonin
Authors: Wang Huan , Yin Fan , Shen Ding-Xia , Zhang You-Jiang , Luo Yan-Ping , Liu Chao-Jun , Wang Kai-fei , Zhou Guang , Ye Li-Yan , Chen Gang , Wang Xiao-Ning
Published: September 2013

Objectives

To assess retrospectively the diagnostic value of procalcitonin (PCT) in excluding suspected bloodstream infection, establish cut-off values for PCT levels, and compare PCT with other clinical markers.

Methods

The predictive accuracy of different continuous parameters was estimated by univariate analysis of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Optimized cut-off points for the parameters were selected according to the maximum Youden index values, which in turn were used to define positive and negative predictive values of different parameters in diagnosing bloodstream infection.

Results

The PCT level yielded a statistically significant area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.765, with a best cut-off value of 0.80 ng/ml (83% sensitivity; 65% specificity, Youden index, J = 0.48). Positive and negative predictive values at this cut-off value were 38% and 94%, respectively. Mann–Whitney U-test revealed significantly higher values for PCT, C-reactive protein and percentage of neutrophils, but not for white blood cell count, in patients with bloodstream infection.

Conclusions

The serum PCT level can potentially be used as surrogate marker to exclude bacteraemia and to inform critical management decisions regarding antibiotic usage, in patients admitted with suspected bloodstream infection.
Market discipline and bank risk taking
Authors: Hoang Khoa TA , Faff Robert , Haq Mamiza
Published: September 2013

This paper explores the impact of market discipline on bank risk taking. We examine a broad sample of financial institutions from the G7 nations over the period 1996–2010. We apply System Generalized Method of Moments estimation to control for endogeneity and other unobserved heterogeneity in a dynamic panel setting. Our analysis suggests that market discipline helps reduce bank risk (both equity and credit risk). Moreover, we find that this negative impact of market discipline is stronger: (a) in the presence of a risk-adjusted insurance premium; and (b) during the post-global financial crisis period. However, the disciplinary effect of market discipline is not enhanced in the presence of bank capital. We highlight the policy implications of these findings.
Concomitant occurrence of different trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias: A case series and review of the literature
Authors: Totzeck Andreas , Diener Hans-Christoph , Gaul Charly
Published: September 2013

Introduction

The trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs) subsume four primary headache disorders. Hemicrania continua is increasingly regarded as an additional TAC. In rare cases patients may present with two different TACs or a TAC and hemicrania continua.

Cases

We report four patients with two different TACs or one TAC and hemicrania continua. Two patients presented with cluster headache and paroxysmal hemicrania, one patient with cluster headache and hemicrania continua, and one patient suffered from cluster headache and SUNCT.

Discussion

While the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-II) proposes specific diagnostic criteria, the variability of clinical presentation may make clear diagnosis difficult. All patients fulfilled the ICHD-II criteria. The manifestation of two different TACs or hemicrania continua in one patient is uncommon but possible and should be taken into account especially when chronic headache patients present with changing headache symptoms.
Kinematic Analysis of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament, Part 1
Authors: Kennedy Nicholas I. , Wijdicks Coen A. , Goldsmith Mary T. , Michalski Max P. , Devitt Brian M. , Årøen Asbjørn , Engebretsen Lars , LaPrade Robert F.
Published: September 2013

Background:

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is composed of 2 functional bundles and has an essential role in knee function and stability. There is, however, a limited understanding of the role of each individual bundle through the full range of knee flexion.

Hypothesis:

Both bundles provide restraint to posterior tibial translation across a full range of knee flexion. At higher angles of knee flexion (>90°), the intact PCL also imparts significant rotational stability.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Twenty matched-paired, human cadaveric knees (mean age, 55.2 years; range, 51-59 years; 6 male and 4 female pairs) were used to evaluate the kinematics of an intact, anterolateral bundle (ALB) sectioned, posteromedial bundle (PMB) sectioned, and complete PCL sectioned knee. A 6 degree of freedom robotic system was used to assess knee stability with an applied 134-N posterior tibial load, 5-N·m external and internal rotation torques, 10-N·m valgus and varus torques, and a coupled 100-N posterior tibial load and 5-N external rotation torque at 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 105°, and 120°.

Results:

All sectioned states had significant increases compared with intact in posterior translation, internal rotation, and external rotation at all tested flexion angles, with the exception of the ALB sectioned state at 75° of flexion for external rotation. The significant increases (mean ± standard deviation) in posterior translation during a 134-N posterior tibial load at 90° of flexion were 0.9 ± 0.6 mm, 2.6 ± 1.8 mm, and 11.7 ± 4.0 mm for the PMB, ALB, and complete PCL sectioned states, respectively, compared with the intact state. The largest significant increases in internal rotation were in the PMB and complete PCL sectioned states at 105° of flexion, 1.3° ± 1.0° and 2.8° ± 2.1°, respectively.

Conclusion:

Both the ALB and the PMB assume a significant role in resisting posterior tibial translation, at all flexion angles, suggesting a codominant relationship. The PCL provided a significant constraint to internal rotation beyond 90° of flexion.

Clinical Relevance:

This information broadens the understanding of native knee kinematics and provides a template for the evaluation of single- and double-bundle PCL reconstructions.
Work Schedules and Community Ties
Authors: Cornwell Benjamin , Warburton Elizabeth
Published: September 2013

Little is known about how work schedules affect social connectedness beyond family relationships. The authors use detailed time diary data from 12,140 respondents in the 2008 through 2010 American Time Use Surveys to examine how work schedules affect six forms of community involvement. Results show that night and evening shift work reduces community involvement, but only on weekdays. Daytime shifts reduce community involvement when they are very short, when they involve working from 8 to 5 instead of from 7 to 4, and when they are on weekends. These results call into question tacit assumptions about how shift work affects workers’ social lives.