bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grandparental involvement and young adults’ cognitive and social adjustment
Authors: Li Tianyuan , Lam Chun Bun , Chan Kevin Ka-Shing
Published: April 2017

Grandparents play a critical role in child-rearing both in the evolutionary history of human beings and in modern societies. The current study examined how grandparental involvement might contribute to young adults’ cognitive and social adjustment and whether grandchildren’s filial piety beliefs might moderate the impact of grandparental involvement. A total of 287 Hong Kong college students completed questionnaire measures of grandparental involvement, cognitive well-being, breadth and depth of friendships, and reciprocal and authoritarian filial piety beliefs. Results indicated that grandparental involvement was positively associated with young adults’ cognitive well-being and friendship quality even after controlling for parental influences, but only for young adults with strong filial piety beliefs. Moreover, reciprocal filial piety was a significant moderator for both cognitive well-being and friendship quality, whereas authoritarian filial piety only moderated the association between grandparental involvement and cognitive well-being. Findings highlighted the relevance of grandparental involvement in understanding youth development, and the importance of considering cultural values when investigating intergenerational interactions.
Aprotinin in aspirin-pretreated patients
Authors: Bidstrup Ben P , Royston David , McGuinness Cathy , Sapsford Ralph N
Published: April 2017

Forty-four patients who had been taking aspirin underwent aortocoronary bypass surgery; twenty-six selected randomly received high-dose aprotinin (total 700mg approximately). Chest drainage was reduced from 1393ml to 352ml. Haemoglobin loss was reduced fourfold and there was a marked reduction in blood and blood product use in the aprotinin-treated patients. In an era where the need to reduce blood usage is vital, we conclude that aprotinin is effective in reducing bleeding in aspirin-treated patients, known to be at greater risk of postoperative haemorrhage.
Microenterprise development, industrial labour and the seductions of precarity
Authors: Prentice Rebecca
Published: April 2017

Microenterprise development is underpinned by an ideology that the solution to poverty is the integration of the poor into market relations. This article addresses the paradox that its ‘beneficiaries’ may be dispossessed industrial workers who already have a long history of participation in the capitalist economy. Exploring the transformation of garment workers in Trinidad from factory employees to home-based ‘micro-entrepreneurs’, I argue that working conditions and labour rights have deteriorated under the protective cover of seemingly laudable policies to promote economic empowerment via self-employment. Showing how microenterprise initiatives contribute to women workers’ ‘adverse incorporation’ ( Phillips, 2011 ) into global production networks, this article calls for renewed attention to the labour politics of microenterprise development.
Exogenous sources of regional industrial change
Authors: Trippl Michaela , Grillitsch Markus , Isaksen Arne
Published: April 2017

The role of exogenous sources of new path development has been underplayed in the literature on regional industrial change so far. The aim of this article is to explore in a conceptual way under which conditions and in what ways non-local knowledge can lead to new path development in different regional innovation systems (RISs). We distinguish between organizationally thick and diversified RISs, thick and specialized RISs and thin RISs and argue that these types vary substantially in their needs for exogenous sources as well as in their capacities to attract and absorb knowledge generated elsewhere.
Teaching Girls About Puberty and Menstrual Hygiene Management in Rural Ethiopia: Findings From a Pilot Evaluation
Authors: Blake Sarah , Boone Melissa , Yenew Kassa Alene , Sommer Marni
Published: April 2017

Educational interventions on menstruation and puberty have emerged as an important element of efforts to improve girls’ knowledge and confidence related to puberty, menstruation, and menstrual hygiene management (MHM). We conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of the Ethiopia Growth and Changes puberty book, developed through research with Ethiopian girls to present scientifically accurate content on MHM in a format appropriate to girls’ lives. Deploying a cluster-randomized approach, we conducted quantitative surveys with girls enrolled in Grades 6 and 7 ( n = 636) in 10 intervention and 10 control schools in two rural districts of the West Shewa Zone of Oromia, Ethiopia. We collected qualitative data from girls in intervention schools. We found that the book was associated with a statistically significant improvement in knowledge, and evidence of improvements in attitudes around menstruation. Qualitative evidence underscored a strong interest in interventions that present information on menstruation and puberty in accurate and supportive terms. Consistent with an ecological framework for adolescent health, we conclude that puberty books offer a useful individual-level intervention, whose impact would be magnified if combined with investments aimed at creating more gender equitable physical and social school environments.
The Role of Traumatic Childhood Experiences in Predicting a Disposition to Risk-Taking and Aggression in Turkish University Students
Authors: Odacı Hatice , Çelik Çiğdem Berber
Published: April 2017

The purpose of this research was to determine whether or not traumatic childhood experiences in childhood predict a disposition to risk-taking and aggression among university students. The participants consisted of 851 students: 477 (56.1%) females and 374 (43.9%) males attending various faculties at the Karadeniz Technical University in Turkey. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Adolescent Risk-Taking Scale, Aggression Questionnaire, and Personal Information Form were used for data collection. The analysis results revealed a positive correlation between traumatic experiences (physical, sexual, emotional maltreatment, and emotional neglect) and risk-taking and aggression. Physical and sexual abuse and gender are significant predictors of risk-taking. Physical abuse and gender are some of the predictors of aggression. Another finding from the study is that physical and emotional abuse and emotional neglect vary by gender. This study concludes that exposure to traumatic experiences in childhood prepares the foundation for negative behaviors in adulthood.
A Behavior Sequence Analysis of Perceptions of Alcohol-Related Violence Surrounding Drinking Establishments
Authors: Taylor O. , Keatley D. A. , Clarke D. D.
Published: April 2017

Alcohol-related violence surrounding the nighttime economy puts increased pressure and workload on security and police forces. Research surrounding alcohol-related violence consistently identifies risk factors, such as the organizational practices and physical characteristics of drinking establishments, as influential in the generation of violent behavior. The current research uses sequence analysis to investigate dynamic patterns of events perceived to lead to a violent incident. The research was collected using questionnaires across university students with customer experience of the modern nighttime economy. The findings show perceptions of maladaptive patterns of events that may lead to violent incidents in different environments (a brightly lit bar and a nightclub). Analysis demonstrated that participants thought those involved in a violent incident would have consumed large amounts of alcohol throughout the night, fueled by predrinking and irresponsible serving practices of staff. Frustration inducing events were also common stages in the sequences leading to a violent outcome. Finally, staff intervention in violent situations was also considered to be an important predictor of violence, with forceful removal of individuals from premises often considered to be the final event preceding a violent incident. The present sequences analysis supports the suggestion that the organizational practices and physical characteristics of a drinking establishment influence the risk of violent activity and helps identify where initiatives aiming to reduce levels of violence could be effectively targeted.
Access to justice in the European Convention on Human Rights system
Authors: Gerards Janneke H. , Glas Lize R.
Published: April 2017

The numerous reforms to the Convention system of the past two decades have unquestionably had an effect on applicants’ means to access justice in the system. It is, however, open to question how these changes should be evaluated: with reference to the individual right to petition, or with reference to a more substantive and general conception of access to justice. This article explores these two approaches to the notion of access to justice both generally and for the Convention system specifically. The main argument of the article is to show the value of taking a substantive approach to access to justice in the Convention system. Thus, it challenges the centrality of the individual right to petition in discussions on reform of the system. Further, to show how taking a different perspective on access to justice may lead to different analyses, an evaluation in the light of both approaches is made of five sets of central changes to the Court’s procedure and its working method. This includes the revised Rule 47, single-judge formations and the priority policy.
Gasoline compression ignition approach to efficient, clean and affordable future engines
Authors: Kalghatgi Gautam , Johansson Bengt
Published: April 2017

The worldwide demand for transport fuels will increase significantly but will still be met substantially (a share of around 90%) from petroleum-based fuels. This increase in demand will be significantly skewed towards commercial vehicles and hence towards diesel and jet fuels, leading to a probable surplus of lighter low-octane fuels. Current diesel engines are efficient but expensive and complicated because they try to reduce the nitrogen oxide and soot emissions simultaneously while using conventional diesel fuels which ignite very easily. Gasoline compression ignition engines can be run on gasoline-like fuels with a long ignition delay to make low-nitrogen-oxide low-soot combustion very much easier. Moreover, the research octane number of the optimum fuel for gasoline compression ignition engines is likely to be around 70 and hence the surplus low-octane components could be used without much further processing. Also, the final boiling point can be higher than those of current gasolines. The potential advantages of gasoline compression ignition engines are as follows. First, the engine is at least as efficient and clean as current diesel engines but is less complicated and hence could be cheaper (lower injection pressure and after-treatment focus on control of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions rather than on soot and nitrogen oxide emissions). Second, the optimum fuel requires less processing and hence would be easier to make in comparison with current gasoline or diesel fuel and will have a lower greenhouse-gas footprint. Third, it provides a path to mitigate the global demand imbalance between heavier fuels and lighter fuels that is otherwise projected and improve the sustainability of refineries. The concept has been well demonstrated in research engines but development work is needed to make it feasible on practical vehicles, e.g. on cold start, adequate control of exhaust carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons and control of noise at medium to high loads. Initially, gasoline compression ignition engines technology has to work with current market fuels but, in the longer term, new and simpler fuels need to be supplied to make the transport sector more sustainable.
Application of Lyapunov matrix inequality based unsymmetrical saturated control to a multi-vectored propeller airship
Authors: Chen Li , Whidborne James F , Dong Qi , Duan Deng Ping
Published: April 2017

The problem of the design of a controller for a multi-vectored propeller airship is addressed. The controller includes anti-windup that takes into account unsymmetrical actuator constraints. First, a linear transformation is applied to transform the unsymmetrical constraints into symmetric constraints with an amplitude-bounded exogenous disturbance. Then, a stability condition based on a quadratic Lyapunov function for the saturated closed-loop system is proposed. The condition considers both amplitude-bounded and energy-bounded exogenous disturbances. Thus, the controller design problem is transformed into a convex optimization problem expressed in a bilinear matrix inequality form. Two controller design methods were applied: one-step controller and traditional anti-windup controller. The one-step method obtains the controller and the anti-windup compensator in one step while the anti-windup controller method separates this process into the linear controller design and the compensator design. Simulation results showed that both controllers enlarge the stability zone of the saturation system and have good tracking performance. It is shown that the anti-windup controller design method not only has a larger region of stability, but the demanded actuator output exceeds the constraints less and has a smaller anti-windup coefficient matrix compared to the one-step method.
Researching people who are bereaved: Managing risks to participants and researchers
Authors: Butler Ashleigh E , Copnell Beverley , Hall Helen
Published: April 2017

Conducting qualitative research, especially in areas considered ‘sensitive’, presents many challenges. The processes involved in such research often expose both participants and the research team to a vast array of risks, which may cause damage to their personal, professional, social and cultural worlds. Historically, these risks have been considered independent of each other, with most studies exploring only the risks to participants or only risks to researchers. Additionally, most researchers only consider risks during data collection, frequently overlooking risks that might be present during other phases of the research project. We aim, therefore, to bring together this fractured literature to enable an integrated exploration of the current academic discourse relating to risks to participants with the literature exploring risks to researchers across all phases of the research process. This article draws on personal experiences to highlight ethical issues and risks encountered by both participants and researchers throughout all phases of a research project. Beginning in recruitment, we discuss the risk of secondary distress in participants arising from researcher contact and then explore the concept of informed consent during grief and bereavement research. We then focus on risks present during data collection, examining risks for participants, such as emotional distress, and potential safety risks for the research team. Finally, we consider the risks which arise in data analysis, including both confidentiality and the possibility of researcher burnout. Previous recommendations are summarised, with new management strategies suggested based on lessons learned along the way.
Improving Culturally Congruent Health Care for Children With Disabilities: Stakeholder Perspectives of Cultural Competence Training in an Interdisciplinary Leadership Training Program
Authors: LaFleur Rachel C. , Truscott Stephen , Graybill Emily , Crenshaw Mark , Crimmins Daniel
Published: April 2017

Introduction: Racially/ethnically diverse children with disabilities experience increased risk for health care disparities when compared to non-Hispanic White children with disabilities or racially/ethnically diverse children without disabilities. The purpose of this study was to progress culturally congruent health care by exploring cultural competence (CC) for an interdisciplinary leadership training program designed to improve services for children with disabilities. The study also sought to bridge a gap in the literature by including the perspectives of diverse health care consumers. Method: Q-methodology was used to support participant groups’ sorting of CC training outcomes by importance to identify factors of CC. Results: Data collected from 51 participants were subjected to a by-person factor analysis that yielded six factors explaining 50% of variance. Discussion: Findings validate some common elements of existing CC models and provide new perspectives regarding potentially overlooked aspects of CC, with many new perspectives provided by racially/ethnically diverse parents of children with disabilities.
Phenomenology in Its Original Sense
Authors: van Manen Max
Published: April 2017

In this article, I try to think through the question, “What distinguishes phenomenology in its original sense?” My intent is to focus on the project and methodology of phenomenology in a manner that is not overly technical and that may help others to further elaborate on or question the singular features that make phenomenology into a unique qualitative form of inquiry. I pay special attention to the notion of “lived” in the phenomenological term “lived experience” to demonstrate its critical role and significance for understanding phenomenological reflection, meaning, analysis, and insights. I also attend to the kind of experiential material that is needed to focus on a genuine phenomenological question that should guide any specific research project. Heidegger, van den Berg, and Marion provide some poignant exemplars of the use of narrative “examples” in phenomenological explorations of the phenomena of “boredom,” “conversation,” and “the meaningful look in eye-contact.” Only what is given or what gives itself in lived experience (or conscious awareness) are proper phenomenological “data” or “givens,” but these givens are not to be confused with data material that can be coded, sorted, abstracted, and accordingly analyzed in some “systematic” manner. The latter approach to experiential research may be appropriate and worthwhile for various types of qualitative inquiry but not for phenomenology in its original sense. Finally, I use the mythical figure of Kairos to show that the famous phenomenological couplet of the epoché-reduction aims for phenomenological insights that require experiential analysis and attentive (but serendipitous) methodical inquiry practices.
The Yerin Dilly Bag Model of Indigenist Health Research
Authors: Doyle Kerrie , Cleary Michelle , Blanchard Denise , Hungerford Catherine
Published: April 2017

In this article, we discuss indigenist approaches to health research, including indigenist knowledges, cultural proficiency, and core values. We also highlight the importance of conducting Indigenous research in ways that are congruent with the needs and interests of Indigenous peoples. The discussion includes consideration of how indigenist approaches can be utilized to generate new Indigenous knowledges, in culturally appropriate ways. We then introduce the Yerin Dilly Bag Model for indigenist health research, an approach that allows for indigenist knowledges to be employed and created by the research/er/ed within an Indigenous framework. Use of the Yerin Dilly Bag Model enables research/er/ed concordance, together with the privileging of Indigenous voices. This is achieved by guiding researchers to align their research with the core values of the researched, with the Yerin Dilly Bag a metaphor for the holder of these core values.
The Berlin Social Support Scales: Validation of the Received Support Scale in a Canadian sample of patients affected by melanoma
Authors: DiMillo Julia , Hall Nathan C , Ezer Hélène , Schwarzer Ralf , Körner Annett
Published: April 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Received Support Scale of the Berlin Social Support Scales in a Canadian sample of English and French language melanoma patients ( N = 137). Participants received a skin self-examination education and completed self-report questionnaires. Exploratory factor analyses, reliability analyses, and independent samples t-tests were conducted. Findings support the unidimensionality of the Received Support Scale of the Berlin Social Support Scales. The psychometric similarities of the French and English versions of the scale, its strong internal consistency, as well as its convergent and discriminant validity support the use of the Received Support Scale of the Berlin Social Support Scales in patients with melanoma.
Procedures and compliance of a video modeling applied behavior analysis intervention for Brazilian parents of children with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Bagaiolo Leila F , Mari Jair de J , Bordini Daniela , Ribeiro Tatiane C , Martone Maria Carolina C , Caetano Sheila C , Brunoni Decio , Brentani Helena , Paula Cristiane S
Published: April 2017

Video modeling using applied behavior analysis techniques is one of the most promising and cost-effective ways to improve social skills for parents with autism spectrum disorder children. The main objectives were: (1) To elaborate/describe videos to improve eye contact and joint attention, and to decrease disruptive behaviors of autism spectrum disorder children, (2) to describe a low-cost parental training intervention, and (3) to assess participant’s compliance. This is a descriptive study of a clinical trial for autism spectrum disorder children. The parental training intervention was delivered over 22 weeks based on video modeling. Parents with at least 8 years of schooling with an autism spectrum disorder child between 3 and 6 years old with an IQ lower than 70 were invited to participate. A total of 67 parents fulfilled the study criteria and were randomized into two groups: 34 as the intervention and 33 as controls. In all, 14 videos were recorded covering management of disruptive behaviors, prompting hierarchy, preference assessment, and acquisition of better eye contact and joint attention. Compliance varied as follows: good 32.4%, reasonable 38.2%, low 5.9%, and 23.5% with no compliance. Video modeling parental training seems a promising, feasible, and low-cost way to deliver care for children with autism spectrum disorder, particularly for populations with scarce treatment resources.
Lessons learned while developing, adapting and implementing a pilot parent-mediated behavioural intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder in rural Bangladesh
Authors: Blake Jasmine M , Rubenstein Eric , Tsai Peng-Chou , Rahman Hafizur , Rieth Sarah R , Ali Hasmot , Lee Li-Ching
Published: April 2017

Low- and middle-income countries often have limited resources, underdeveloped health systems and scarce knowledge of autism spectrum disorder. The objectives of this preliminary study were to develop and adapt intervention materials and to train a native clinician to implement a community-based parent-mediated behavioural intervention in rural Gaibandha, Bangladesh. Intervention materials to support parents’ use of behavioural strategies were developed and refined by US behavioural intervention experts and Bangladesh field experts. Study investigators trained a native child psychologist in developmental milestones and behavioural intervention techniques. The native clinician delivered a 1-day group education session attended by 10 families of children aged 7–9 years with autism spectrum disorder, followed by two one-on-one training sessions with each family to train and practice individualized strategies for targeted challenging behaviours. Preliminary qualitative results indicate the importance of materials that are culturally appropriate and at an adequate literacy level. All families expressed strong desires to have learned the behavioural strategies when their child was younger and vocalized their need for further support and tools to help their children. This study is a preliminary step to creating sustainable and low-cost autism spectrum disorder interventions in rural Bangladesh, and possibly for families in regions with similar cultural and socioeconomic status backgrounds.
Information, communication and political consumerism: How (online) information and (online) communication influence boycotts and buycotts
Authors: Kelm Ole , Dohle Marco
Published: April 2017

The development and diffusion of digital media is one frequently mentioned factor to explain the popularity of political consumerism; yet, to what extent (online) information and (online) communication activities influence the intensity of political consumerism has rarely been investigated. Arguing that (online) information and (online) communication activities have impacts on various forms of political consumerism – namely, on boycotts and buycotts – two data sets collected in Germany were analysed. Based on the citizen communication mediation model, the results indicate that (online) communication mediates the influence of (online) information on boycotts and buycotts; furthermore, the results suggest that boycotts are influenced by communication activities in a stronger way than buycotts.
Energy Poverty, Institutional Reform and Challenges of Sustainable Development: The Case of India
Authors: Jewitt Sarah , Raman Sujatha
Published: April 2017

This article1 assesses recent efforts by the Indian government to tackle energy poverty and sustainable development. It focuses on the new integrated energy policy and initiatives to disseminate improved cookstoves and develop energy alternatives for transport. The success of government initiatives in cleaner biomass cookstoves and village electrification has historically been limited, and institutional reforms in the 2000s promoted market-led and ‘user-centred’ approaches, and encouraged biofuels as a ‘pro-poor’ route to rural development and energy security. The article argues that such interventions have reopened tensions and conflicts around land-use, intra-community inequalities and the role of corporate agendas in sustainable energy.
Numerical studies of the ignition characteristics of a high-pressure gas jet in compression-ignition engines with glow plug ignition assist: Part 1—Operating condition study
Authors: Pan Kang , Wallace James S
Published: April 2017

This article presents the results of computational studies investigating the ignition of high-pressure natural gas jets in a compression-ignition engine with glow plug ignition assist. The simulation was conducted using a KIVA-3V-based three-dimensional engine model, along with an improved fuel injector model, a detailed cut-off glow plug shield model and a modified two-step methane reaction mechanism, to simulate the natural gas injection and ignition. The simulated results demonstrate the significance of using a shield for the glow plug. Compared to an unshielded (bare) glow plug, the shield not only reduces the heat loss from the hot glow plug surface to the cold intake air charge and the cold injected gas jet but also traps the fuel mixture to increase its residence time adjacent to the hot surface. Over a representative range of heavy-duty diesel engine operating conditions, a shielded glow plug greatly improves the natural gas engine performance and provides reliable ignition, while an unshielded glow plug can only be optimized for specific conditions. The understanding of glow plug shield behavior gained from the simulations suggests avenues for improved shield designs that would yield further reduced ignition delays.
The academic profession in Russia’s two capitals: The impact of 20 years of transition
Authors: Sivak Elizaveta , Yudkevich Maria
Published: April 2017

This paper studies the dynamics of key characteristics of the academic profession in Russia based on the analysis of university faculty in the two largest cities in Russia – Moscow and St Petersburg. We use data on Russian university faculty from two large-scale comparative studies of the academic profession (‘The Carnegie Study’ carried out in 1992 in 14 countries, including Russia, and ‘The Changing Academic Profession Study’, 2007–2012, with 19 participating countries and which Russia joined in 2012) to look at how faculty’s characteristics and attitudes toward different aspects of their academic life changed over 20 years (1992–2011) such as faculty’s views on reasons to leave or to stay at a university, on university’s management and the role of faculty in decision making. Using the example of universities in the two largest Russian cities, we demonstrate that the high degree of overall centralization of governance in Russian universities barely changed in 20 years.

Our paper provides comparisons of teaching/research preferences and views on statements concerning personal strain associated with work, academic career perspectives, etc., not only in Russian universities between the years 1992 and 2012, but also in Russia and other ‘Changing Academic Profession’ countries.
Economic Voting and Economic Inequality: U.S. Presidential Elections 1952–2012
Authors: Linn Suzanna , Nagler Jonathan
Published: April 2017

Most economic models of election outcomes make two assumptions: voters look at the aggregate economy, and they compare the state of the economy with some fixed reference. We argue that the increase in economic inequality and slowing of overall growth suggest these assumptions should no longer hold. We propose a theory that allows voters to take into account the distribution of economic growth, and we reconsider different decision rules voters could use to evaluate the incumbent. Analyzing presidential elections from 1952 through 2012, we show that models using the economic performance of individual income quintiles are indistinguishable in overall fit from models using aggregate income to predict election results, but can produce different predictions given different distributions of growth. And we show that voters do not appear to explicitly compare economic performance of the incumbent with the out-party, suggesting they have reneged on their role as rational gods of vengeance.
The time changes of endogenous salusin-β in septic rats
Authors: Xie Fu-Jia , Chai Chen , Li De-Hong , Yang Wei-Lin , Lu Yan , Cao Nong
Published: April 2017

Salusin-α and salusin-β are newly found bioactive peptides of 28 and 20 amino acids, respectively, which are widely distributed in the hematopoietic system, endocrine system, and central nervous system. Salusins exert cardiovascular effects, including hypotension and bradycardia; promote vascular inflammation; and so on. However, little information is available yet on the relationships of salusin-β with sepsis. In this study, we investigated the distribution and content of endogenous salusin-β in septic rats. A total of 72 specified pathogen-free (SPF) male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group (sham operation, n = 36) and experimental group (n = 36) with sepsis rat model by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The model group rats were sacrificed after 6, 12, and 24 h of treatment. The concentration of salusin-β in spleen, stomach, small intestine, hypothalamus, and serum specimens was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). It showed that salusin-β was endogenously generated in rat tissues, including spleen, stomach, small intestine, hypothalamus, and serum. The content of salusin-β in the spleen was higher than that in other tissues. The content of salusin-β in the spleen, stomach, and small intestine, together with the serum level of salusin-β, increased significantly at 6 h after CLP compared with the control group ( P < 0.05). The content of salusin-β in spleen and serum peaked at 12 h, and in small intestine, it reached the summit at 24 h. Meanwhile, no significant fluctuations in salusin-β content were observed in the stomach. The content of salusin-β in hypothalamus began to increase at 6 h, and a significant increase appeared 12 h after CLP ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, this study shows that the time-dependent alterations of salusin-β in septic rats suggest that salusin-β might be involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis.
Anti-inflammatory effect of Varthemia iphionoides extracts against prostate cancer in vitro
Authors: Al-Bakheit Ala’a , Abu-Romman Saeid , Sharab Ahmad , Shhab Mohammad Al
Published: April 2017

Varthemia iphionoides is a Jordanian medicinal plant with several health-promoting properties, including antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer activities. However, its anti-inflammatory properties have been poorly investigated up to date. The current study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of V. iphionoides by measuring the production of interleukin-6 in response to a pro-inflammatory stimulus (bacterial lipopolysaccharide) in in vitro cell models of human MRC-5 and PC3 cells. We observed a significant reduction in lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin-6 release in response to V. iphionoides (125 µg/mL) in both non-cancerous fibroblast MRC-5 and prostate cancerous PC3 cells. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of this medicinal plant was stronger when MRC-5 cells were treated with an aqueous extract, while the methanolic extract was more potent in PC3 cells. The effect of V. iphionoides in reducing interleukin-6 production was not due to its cytotoxicity, and future studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms of action by which this medicinal plant modulates inflammatory responses. In conclusion, the results of our study represent the first report of the potential protective effect of water and methanolic extracts of V. iphionoides against pro-inflammatory stimuli in fibroblasts and cancer cells of human origin, and it is critically important to identify the phytochemical compounds responsible for this effect.
Educating citizens of ‘the global’: Mapping textual constructs of UNESCO’s global citizenship education 2012–2015
Authors: VanderDussen Toukan Elena
Published: April 2017

In this article, I pose the question of what constructs of ‘global citizenship education’ are being mobilized by key international actors. I undertake a comparative analysis of three key United Nations (UN) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) documents that have emerged in the past 5 years to frame the content and pedagogy of global citizenship education among member states and educational stakeholders. This comparison asks to what degree the documents’ discursive constructions of ‘the global’, ‘citizenship’ and ‘education’ are transformative, and what they might contribute to an ongoing conversation on the aims of education. I suggest that it is important to reflect constructively on the values, assumptions and strategies of key actors who aim to provide answers for fundamental questions about the nature, purpose and applications of education for a wide array of local educational contexts, needs and conditions.
Young people’s conceptions of trust and confidence in the crime control system: Differences between public and private policing
Authors: Saarikkomäki Elsa
Published: April 2017

Private security increasingly participates in policing, thus changing the field of policing. However, there is a lack of research on how private security is perceived by citizens, and particularly by young people. This article reports on a novel approach to studying procedural justice and trust; it compares young people’s perceptions of public and private policing. Relying on focus group data from Finland, the findings indicated that young people have more trust and confidence in the police than in private security guards. Their perceptions were based on face-to-face encounters (to measure ‘trust’) and on general assumptions (to measure ‘confidence’). Young people perceived the police as more educated, professional, legitimate and respectful than security guards. They also felt that security guards sometimes exceed their legal rights and act unfairly. However, the findings also suggest that security guards have some legitimacy. The study suggests that issues around trust in policing are more complex than prior research indicates and that private security cannot replace police tasks without it affecting perceptions of trust in policing.
The practicalities of English and Welsh rape trials: Observations and avenues for improvement
Authors: Smith Olivia
Published: April 2017

English and Welsh rape trials have long been recognized as problematic, with research highlighting the prevalence of rape myths, sexual history evidence and manipulative questioning at trial. Despite this extensive literature, little attention has been paid to the more practical elements of rape trials, but the limited evidence that does exist suggests these may significantly impact survivors. This article therefore draws upon 13 months of court observations to examine how seemingly mundane aspects of rape trials can present substantial barriers to participation. It will argue that ‘special measures’ can cause delays, some witness facilities are inadequate and that the public gallery is frequently a site of intimidation. Ultimately, the research highlights simple changes that could increase opportunities for survivor justice; for example ensuring rape survivors use judicial entrances to court.
Varicella vasculopathy presenting with thunderclap headache
Authors: Barritt Andrew W , Vundavalli Sriram , Hughes Paul J
Published: April 2017

Lesson

Our report serves to highlight Varicella vasculopathy as a rarity not to be overlooked in the differential diagnosis of subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Duodenal perforation as a complication of gastrostomy tube migration
Authors: Rossidis Avery C , Raper Steven E , Dumon Kristoffel R
Published: April 2017

Gastrostomy tube placement is a routinely safe procedure; however, this report and its accompanying images highlight a rare but serious complication of tube migration – duodenal perforation.
Stable 2D magnetotelluric strikes and impedances via the phase tensor and the quadratic equation
Authors: Muñíz Yunuhen , Gómez-Treviño Enrique , Esparza Francisco J. , Cuellar Mayra
Published: April 2017

A combination of the magnetotelluric phase tensor and the quadratic algorithm provides a fast and simple solution to the problem of a 2D impedance tensor distorted by 3D electrogalvanic effects. The strike direction is provided by the phase tensor, which is known to provide unstable estimates for noisy data. We obtain stable directions in three steps. First, we use bootstrapping to find the most stable estimate among the different periods. Second, this value is used as the seed to select the neighbor strikes assuming continuity over periods. This second step is repeated several times to compute variances. The third step, which we call prerotating, consists of rotating the original impedance tensor to a most favorable angle for optimal stability and then rotating it back for compensation. The procedure is developed as a progressing algorithm through its application to the gradually more difficult data sets COPROD2S1, COPROD2, far-hi, and BC87, all available for testing new ideas. Alternately, using the Groom-Bailey terminology, the quadratic algorithm provides the amplitudes and phases independently of the strike direction and twist. The amplitudes and phases still need to be tuned up by the correct shear. The correct shear is obtained by contrasting the phases from the phase tensor and from the quadratic equation until they match for all available periods. The results are the undistorted impedances. Uncertainties are computed using formulas derived for the quadratic equation. We use the same data sets as for the strike to illustrate the recovery of impedances and their uncertainties.
Optimization of the parameters in complex Padé Fourier finite-difference migration
Authors: Salcedo Marco , Novais Amélia , Schleicher Jörg , Costa Jessé C.
Published: April 2017

Complex Padé Fourier finite-difference migration is a stable one-way wave-equation technique that allows for better treatment of evanescent modes than its real counterpart, in this way producing fewer artifacts. As for real Fourier finite-difference (FFD) migration, its parameters can be optimized to improve the imaging of steeply dipping reflectors. The dip limitation of the FFD operator depends on the variation of the velocity field. We have developed a wide-angle approximation for the one-way continuation operator by means of optimization of the Padé coefficients and the most important velocity-dependent parameter. We have evaluated the achieved quality of the approximate dispersion relation in dependence on the chosen function of the ratio between the model and reference velocities under consideration of the number of terms in the Padé approximation and the branch-cut rotation angle. The optimized parameters are chosen based on the migration results and the computational cost. We found that by using the optimized parameters, a one-term expansion achieves the highest dip angles. The implementations were validated on the Marmousi data set and SEG/EAGE salt model data.
S-wave singularities in tilted orthorhombic media
Authors: Ivanov Yuriy , Stovas Alexey
Published: April 2017

Quasi S-wave propagation in low-symmetry anisotropic media is complicated due to the existence of point singularities (conical points) — points in the phase space at which slowness sheets of the split S-waves touch each other. At these points, two eigenvalues of the Christoffel tensor (associated with the quasi S-waves) degenerate into one and polarization directions of the S-waves, which lay in the plane orthogonal to the polarization of the quasi longitudinal wave, are not uniquely defined. In the vicinity of these points, slowness sheets of the S-waves have complicated shapes, leading to rapid variations in polarization directions, multipathing, and cusps and discontinuities of the shear wavefronts. In a tilted orthorhombic medium, the point singularities can occur close to the vertical, distorting the traveltime parameters that are defined at the zero offset. We have analyzed the influence of the singularities on these parameters by examining the derivatives of the slowness surface up to the fourth order. Using two orthorhombic numerical models of different shear anisotropy strength and with different number of singularity points, we evaluate the complexity of the slowness sheets in the vicinity of the conical points and analyze how the traveltime parameters are affected by the singularities. In particular, we observe that the hyperbolic region associated with the singularity points in a model with moderate to strong shear anisotropy spans over a big portion of the slowness surfaces and the traveltime parameters are strongly affected outside the hyperbolic region. In general, the fast shear mode is less affected by the singularities; however, the effect is still very pronounced. Moreover, the hyperbolic region associated with the singularity points on the slow S-wave affects the slowness surface of the fast mode extensively. In addition, we evaluate a relation between the slowness surface Gaussian curvature and the relative geometric spreading, which has anomalous behavior due to the singularities.
Geostatistical inversion of prestack seismic data for the joint estimation of facies and impedances using stochastic sampling from Gaussian mixture posterior distributions
Authors: Lang Xiaozheng , Grana Dario
Published: April 2017

We have developed a seismic inversion method for the joint estimation of facies and elastic properties from prestack seismic data based on a geostatistical approach. The objectives of our inversion methodology are to sample from the posterior distribution of seismic properties and to simultaneously classify the lithology conditioned by seismic data. The inversion algorithm is a sequential Gaussian mixture inversion based on Bayesian linearized amplitude variation with offset inverse theory and sequential geostatistical simulations. The stochastic approach to the inversion allows generating multiple elastic models that match the seismic data. To mathematically represent the multimodal behavior of elastic properties due to their variations within different lithologies, we adopt a Gaussian mixture distribution for the prior model of the elastic properties and we use the prior probability of the facies as weights of the Gaussian components of the mixture. The solution of the inverse problem is achieved by deriving the explicit analytical expression of the posterior distribution of the elastic properties and facies and by sampling from this distribution according to a spatial correlation model. The inversion methodology has been validated using well logs and synthetic seismic data with different noise levels, and it is then applied to a real 3D seismic data set in North Sea.
Kaleidoscope
Authors: Tracy Derek K. , Joyce Dan W. , Shergill Sukhwinder S.
Published: April 2017

Quitting smoking isn't easy, even with the advent of e-cigarettes. The NHS Stop Smoking Services (SSSs) were established in 2000, and have shown superior results to nicotine replacement alone, but are characterised by low, and dropping, attendance rates. Beneath the highlight figure of a halving of UK smoking prevalence over the past 40 years lies a direct £6 billion cost to the NHS and 80000 deaths each year, as well as recent concern that clinical commissioning groups are not renewing service funding. Given that the ‘health belief model’ is based upon a trigger changing behaviour, what will encourage attendance at SSSs, especially with evidence that smokers underestimate their own personal risk? Gilbert et al randomised over 4000 smokers across almost 100 general practices to receive either a standard generic advertisement of the SSS clinic, or an individually tailored risk letter and invitation to a no-commitment introductory SSS session. The hosting general practitioners (GPs) and SSS advisors were masked to the allocation. The personalised letter more than doubled the odds of attending the SSS, showing that a more proactive approach can help engagement. Interestingly, the intervention was more effective with men, who are typically less likely to attend and set quit dates.
Downward Arpeggiations
Authors: Cubero Diego
Published: April 2017

The concept of prolongation in Schenkerian analysis broadly describes the elaboration of a vertical sonority. Among the most basic ways to prolong a chord is by arpeggiating it, such that it governs the time span of its arpeggiation. In Heinrich Schenker's writings, however, there are many examples where the prolonged chord differs from the one being arpeggiated. Many of these involve a downward arpeggiation of a triad from fifth to root that connects two different harmonies. This article examines the prolongational issues involved in this type of arpeggiation. The first section seeks to explain Schenker's understanding of these progressions within the context of his approach to prolongation in general. The next section revisits those very issues that Schenker grapples with in his analysis of these progressions, and considers the role that different parameters have in determining the prolongational boundary between the first and the last chords of the arpeggiation. In examining the prolongational issues surrounding downward triadic arpeggiations, this article promotes a more dynamic approach to prolongation.
Solid-State NMR Study of Dynamic Properties of a Columnar Liquid Crystalline Macrocycle
Authors: Kawano Shin-ichiro , Tanaka Kentaro
Published: April 2017

A shape-persistent macrocycle composed of carbazole and salphen, which has a discrete 1.4-nm-sized inner cavity, forms four thermotropic columnar liquid crystalline (LC) phases. Both the structure and dynamics of the macrocyclic mesogens in the LC phases were investigated by solid-state NMR. Variable temperature 1H and 13C magic-angle spinning (MAS) experiments reveal that the peripheral side chains exhibited narrow line widths throughout the columnar phases, indicating that the side chains behave like liquids among the columns. In sharp contrast, the NMR signals related to the macrocyclic mesogen became highly symmetric and similar to signals in solution with increasing temperature. These results revealed that the LC macrocycle with an inherent inner cavity gains more mobility around the mesogenic framework as the macrocycle underwent phase transitions.