bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wireless model predictive control: Application to water-level system
Authors: Hedjar Ramdane , Bounkhel Messaoud
Published: April 2016

This article deals with wireless model predictive control of a water-level control system. The objective of the model predictive control algorithm is to constrain the control signal inside saturation limits and maintain the water level around the desired level. Linear modeling of any nonlinear plant leads to parameter uncertainties and non-modeled dynamics in the linearized mathematical model. These uncertainties induce a steady-state error in the output response of the water level. To eliminate this steady-state error and increase the robustness of the control algorithm, an integral action is included in the closed loop. To control the water-level system remotely, the communication between the controller and the process is performed using radio channel. To validate the proposed scheme, simulation and real-time implementation of the algorithm have been conducted, and the results show the effectiveness of wireless model predictive control with integral action.
Study on high-speed cutting parameters optimization of AlMn1Cu based on neural network and genetic algorithm
Authors: Wang Zhenhua , Yuan Juntang , Yin Zengbin , Li Chao
Published: April 2016

In this article, the cutting parameters optimization method for aluminum alloy AlMn1Cu in high-speed milling was studied in order to properly select the high-speed cutting parameters. First, a back propagation neural network model for predicting surface roughness of AlMn1Cu was proposed. The prediction model can improve the prediction accuracy and well work out the higher-order nonlinear relationship between surface roughness and cutting parameters. Second, considering the constraints of technical requirements on surface roughness, a mathematical model for optimizing cutting parameters based on the Bayesian neural network prediction model of surface roughness was established so as to obtain the maximum machining efficiency. The genetic algorithm adopting the homogeneous design to initialize population as well as steady-state reproduction without duplicates was also presented. The application indicates that the algorithm can effectively avoid precocity, strengthen global optimization, and increase the calculation efficiency. Finally, a case was presented on the application of the proposed cutting parameters optimization algorithm to optimize the cutting parameters.
A novel real-time control system for plasma cutting robot with xPC target
Authors: Soylak Mustafa
Published: April 2016

In this article, a novel inexpensive controller system for plasma cutting robots built based on MATLAB xPC is presented. The plasma cutting robot model with 5 degrees of freedom is constructed in the MATLAB/Simulink of the host machine, where the code is generated by real-time workshop and downloaded on the target machine. Two different types of proportional–integral–derivative controllers are applied on the experimental robot manipulator for the real-time plasma cutting process’s trajectory control using this hardware system. First, the performance of a standard proportional–integral–derivative controller is evaluated on this manipulator. Then, a novel proportional–integral–derivative controller structure is used to control the system, and it is compared with a standard proportional–integral–derivative controller. This study shows that the control system for a plasma cutting robot can be established inexpensively, and MATLAB xPC and different controllers can be applied on this system. Moreover, the study concludes that the novel proportional–integral–derivative controller used in this study gives better results for plasma cutting robots than the standard proportional–integral–derivative controller.
Experimental test on impeller clocking effect in a multistage centrifugal pump
Authors: Tan Minggao , He Naichang , Liu Houlin , Wu Xianfang , Ding Jian
Published: April 2016

In this article, the effects of clocking effect on performance and vibration intensity of a five-stage centrifugal pump were investigated by experimental tests. The vibration characteristics of five positions in the pump were measured, including axial direction of the pump and horizontal and vertical directions of pump inlet and outlet. There are eight clocking schemes between the impellers in the test, which are arranged by orthogonal experimental design. The test results show that the clocking effect of impellers has little effect on the head and efficiency of the five-stage pump in the whole flow rate. Compared with the results of 0° stagger angle clocking scheme between each impeller, in the whole flow rate, the pulsation of pump head and efficiency is just 1.5% and 1.3%, respectively, under other clocking schemes of impellers. Instead, the impeller clocking has a significant effect on the vibration characteristics of the model pump. The maximum vibration intensity of the five-stage pump locates in the vertical direction of pump inlet within the whole flow rate. Under the best clocking scheme of impellers, the maximum vibration intensity of the pump can decrease by 23.1% and the mean vibration intensity can decrease by 17.3%.
Analysis on the shift strategy of hydro-mechanical infinitely variable transmission based on the orthogonal test
Authors: Pan Daoyuan , Zhu Zhen , Gao Xiang , Zhu Yu , Cao Leilei
Published: April 2016

This article focuses on the shift strategy of hydro-mechanical infinitely variable transmission. A computer simulation is carried out to investigate the shift strategy, and the simulation results are verified by the test data. There are four typical working conditions in the continuous shift process, among which the shift process from F2(N) to F3(P) plays a decisive role in shift quality. The shift strategy based on the physical parameters from F2(N) to F3(P) is lower engine rotating speed, smaller load torque, lower main circuit pressure, and larger speed valve flow rate. The shift strategy based on the shift time from F2(N) to F3(P) is to switch the third group of clutches first, then disengage the first group of clutches, and engage the second group of clutches at last. The results show that the shift quality of hydro-mechanical infinitely variable transmission can be improved greatly by the optimization of physical parameters and shift time.
Computer-aided design and simulation of strip layout for progressive die planning using Petri nets
Authors: Hussein Hussein Mohamed A , Kumar Shailendra , Abouel Nasr Emad S
Published: April 2016

Planning of strip layout is one of the important activities of progressive die design in sheet metal industries. The optimum and economical die design mainly depends on the design of strip layout. Many methodologies are used to determine optimum strip layout, but there is no literature available for strip-layout simulation. Petri net is one of the most suitable methodologies for simulation of strip layout. In this article, two research contributions are described (1) to apply the visual Petri net to simulate the sequential workstations in the strip layout of part and (2) to integrate the parametric design of strip layout and simulation using Petri-net technique. To demonstrate the present research contribution, two case studies are also discussed.
Disturbance observer–based control for missile non-strapdown seeker disturbance rejection
Authors: Song Tao , Lin Defu , Wang Jiang
Published: April 2016

Non-strapdown seeker disturbances which involve counter-electromotive force, spring restoring torque, and friction torque can corrupt the seeker tracking accuracy and degrade the missile guidance performance. In this article, the effects of guidance parameters and disturbances on the guidance stability and the miss distance are analyzed. It is shown that these disturbances have a pronounced deterioration in the guidance performance for the anti-air missile under high altitude and head-on interception. A new approach for disturbance rejection using disturbance observer–based control is presented. Disturbances in seeker stabilizing loop are estimated by the observer which has synthetic inputs based on the available seeker measurement signals. The estimates are fed back into the seeker inner loop to compensate the disturbances, and an additional loop is applied to improve the effect of disturbance compensation. The performance of the approach under non-nominal condition is analyzed. Simulation studies are performed to examine the effect of this control scheme. The result shows that this approach can effectively reduce the influences of corrupting disturbances and significantly improve the miss distance performance.
A modified method for risk evaluation in failure modes and effects analysis of aircraft turbine rotor blades
Authors: Jiang Wen , Xie Chunhe , Wei Boya , Zhou Deyun
Published: April 2016

Failure mode and effects analysis is an important methodology, which has been extensively used to evaluate the potential failures, errors, or risks in a system, design, or process. The traditional method utilizes the risk priority number ranking system. This method determines the risk priority number by multiplying failure factor values. Dempster–Shafer evidence theory has been combined with failure mode and effects analysis due to its effectiveness in dealing with uncertain and subjective information. However, since the risk evaluation of different experts may be different and some even conflict with each other, Dempster’s combination rule may become invalid. In this article, for better performance of application of evidence theory in failure mode and effects analysis, a modified method is proposed to reassign the basic believe assignment taking into consideration a reliability coefficient based on evidence distance. We illustrate several numerical examples and use the modified method to obtain the risk priority numbers for risk evaluation in failure modes of aircraft engine rotor blades. The results show that the proposed method is more reasonable and effective for real applications.
Analyzing the elements related to parking demand: An empirical study in Beijing
Authors: Yao Guangzheng , Guo Hongwei , Li Chunyan , Sun Hairui
Published: April 2016

Previous studies have shown that constraining parking policy can alleviate air pollution and traffic congestion by reducing vehicle ownership and usage. The feasibility and efficiency of the parking policy are crucial to urban traffic planning and management. With the aim of exploring the elements related to parking demand and improving the policy efficiency, this study analyzed several factors relevant to vehicle ownership and usage which may affect the feasibility of policy. In all, 40,000 samples obtained from Beijing residents’ trip interview survey were used. A combined method with empirical study and network dynamic analysis is used to give a clear relationship between parking supply and private usage. The results, after conducting a quantitative analysis, show that vehicle ownership is related to family income, family size, geographic location, and parking fee, while trip purpose and parking fee in destination influence the frequency of car usage. It is noteworthy that the proportion of free parking in working trips is up to 96%, and single driving occupies a proportion as high as 90%. The research suggests that planners should be cautious of parking facility supply strategy and pay great attention to parking fees of working trip.
Effects of oxygen and nitrogen gases on the dynamics between the interfaces of self-mated titanium pairs
Authors: Chang Yuh-Ping , Chou Huann-Ming , Chu Li-Ming , Wang Jin-Chi
Published: April 2016

The chemical reactions of titanium in air include both TiO2 and TiN. The phenomena are quite complex, and the reaction mechanisms are still unclear. However, as titanium is in widespread use all over the world, it is important that the reaction mechanisms be thoroughly investigated. Therefore, in this study, the continuous variations in the electrical contact resistance and the friction coefficient are simultaneously measured to monitor the dynamics of self-mated titanium pairs in an air, O2 or N2 gas flow. When a large amount of TiO2 formed on the surface of the plate for Ti/Ti, the results showed the tribo-physical phenomena of higher electrical contact resistance, friction coefficient almost doubled and severe wear. When a large amount of TiN formed on the surface of the plate for Ti/Ti, the results showed the tribo-physical phenomena of lower electrical contact resistance, friction coefficient almost halved and mild wear with some lubrication. Therefore, variations in the electrical contact resistance can be applied to determine whether the chemical reaction on the surface was TiO2 or Ti with TiN. The unsymmetrical frictional models and wear mechanisms of the self-mated titanium pairs in the air, O2 or N2 gas flow were proposed.
Dynamic strain measurement of hydraulic system pipeline using fibre Bragg grating sensors
Authors: Wang Qiang , Huang Jun , Liu Quan , Zhou Zude
Published: April 2016

Fatigue failure is a serious problem in hydraulic piping systems installed in the machinery and equipment working in harsh operational conditions. To alleviate this problem, health monitoring of pipes can be conducted by measuring and analysing vibration-induced strain. Fibre Bragg grating is considered as a promising sensing approach for dynamic load monitoring. In this article, dynamic strain measurements based on fibre Bragg grating sensors for small-bore metal pipes have been investigated. The quasi-distributed strain sensing of fibre Bragg grating sensors is introduced. Two comparison experiments were carried out under vibration and impact loads among the methods of electrical strain gauge, piezoelectric accelerometer and fibre Bragg grating sensor. Experimental results indicate that fibre Bragg grating sensor possesses an outstanding ability to resist electromagnetic interference compared with strain gauge. The natural frequency measurement results, captured by fibre Bragg grating sensor, agree well with the modal analysis results obtained from finite element analysis. In addition, the attached fibre Bragg grating sensor brings a smaller impact on the dynamic characteristics of the measured pipe than the accelerometer due to its small size and lightweight. Fibre Bragg grating sensors have great potential for the quasi-distributed measurement of dynamic strain for the dynamic characteristic research and health monitoring of hydraulic system pipeline.
Mannose binding lectin polymorphisms in systemic lupus erythematosus in Spain
Authors: Losada López Inés , García Gasalla Mercedes , González Moreno Juan , Serrano Araceli , Domínguez Valdés Francisco Javier , Milà Joan , Payeras Antoni
Published: April 2016

Low mannose binding lectin (MBL) producer genotypes have been considered as a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) risk factor. The aim of this study was to explore whether polymorphisms in the MBL gene are associated with susceptibility to SLE and disease-specific clinical manifestations or with disease severity in SLE patients in Son Llàtzer Hospital. MBL2 exon 1 and promoter polymorphisms were genotyped and MBL plasma levels were quantified by ELISA in 39 SLE cases and in 96 healthy controls. High MBL producer genotypes HYPA and LXPA were the most frequent haplotypes (65 and 62 participants, respectively). LYQC/HYPD, LXPA/LYQC and LYPB/HYPD were only found in SLE, and all of them were related to severe MBL deficiency. SLE patients showed a trend towards more severe MBL deficiency (MBL <100 ng/mL) compared to controls (10 [25.6%] and 11 [11.46%] respectively, P = 0.07). The wild-type genotype was more frequent in controls compared to SLE. The trend towards more severe MBL deficiency in SLE and the fact that some of the low-MBL producer genotypes were only found in SLE patients, suggest that low MBL levels or MBL2 variant could be a risk factor for the development of SLE.
Career profiles of athlete–coach relationships: Descriptions and interpretations
Authors: Sandström Elin , Linnér Lukas , Stambulova Natalia
Published: April 2016

The aim of this study was to explore athlete–coach relationships from an athletic career perspective with the objectives: (a) to create individual career profiles of athlete–coach relationships, (b) to illustrate the career profiles describing athletes’ subjective experiences of working with all the coaches involved in their careers, and (c) to summarize athletes’ views on the dynamics of athlete–coach relationships in the course of their careers. Two case studies using narrative interviews with one team and one individual sport athlete (both Swedish) were made. The Narrative Oriented Inquiry model was used to guide the data collection, treatment, and interpretation. The results representing over 20 relationships in total are presented as individual career profiles of athlete–coach relationships followed by interpretive narratives exploring more in detail the different athlete–coach relationships throughout their careers. Poems summarizing the athletes’ perceived dynamics of their relationships with coaches are then presented using only the athletes own words.
Skills trained by coaches of Canadian male volleyball teams: A comparison with long-term athlete development guidelines
Authors: Chevrier Jonathan , Roy Martin , Turcotte Sylvain , Culver Diane M , Cybulski Sarah
Published: April 2016

Volleyball Canada and Volleyball Quebec developed long-term athlete development models in order to guide volleyball coaches concerned with athlete development. These models propose guidelines about the development of skills. However, it has yet to be determined whether coaches apply long-term athlete development guidelines in their coaching practice. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to describe the amount of time devoted to the various skills trained by four volleyball coaches of different levels and to compare these training skills with the long-term athlete development guidelines. The results of this multiple case study (n = 4) indicated that based on long-term athlete development guidelines, (a) college and university coaches over-trained technical skills; (b) high school coaches and university coaches undertrained individual tactical skills; and (c) high school coaches over-trained team tactical skills. Corrective measures that might help coaches apply the long-term athlete development guidelines are changes in the access to training facilities, competition schedules, and coach education programs.
Informing priorities for coaching education: Perspectives from youth sport leaders
Authors: Newman Tarkington J , Ortega Robert M , Lower Leeann M , Paluta Lauren M
Published: April 2016

Central to the ability of successfully facilitating sport participation toward positive developmental outcomes is the youth sport leader. Youth sport leaders are responsible for addressing the many stressors and risk factors that youth encounter in both sport and life. However, a majority of youth sport leaders do not receive coaching education or training, especially in regard to youth development. The purpose of this study was to gain a greater understanding of the various factors, which affect youth sport leaders, their team, and the community in which they coach. The four key areas of team building/teamwork, parental influence/involvement, sportsmanship, and teaching life skills emerged. By better understanding the issues within youth sport, researchers will be more aware of the most relevant issues to guide future research and to inform the development of coaching education. Moreover, youth sport leaders will be better equipped and prepared to maximize youth development through sport participation.
Getting On
Authors: Johnson Beth
Published: April 2016

This article examines the feminist foundations, style and performances of key writer-stars Jo Brand, Vicki Pepperdine and Joanna Scanlan in the British Broadcasting Corporation sitcom Getting On (2009–2012). Paying close attention to the ‘life experience’ of these women, it aims to think through the multiple, acute politics of representation that the show offers up, suggesting that sex, class and age operate as key emotional loadstones. Examining the hierarchical interactions between medical staff, this article also argues that the minutiae of social exchanges made visible in the sitcom reveal the sickness of the National Health Service to be connected to new managerialism and male privilege.
Embedding patient and public involvement within research – How to set up a research patient ambassador group within a NHS trust
Authors: Skilton Emma , Aslam Mudassar , Yeung Joyce , Gao Fang , Melody Teresa
Published: April 2016

Patient and public involvement in clinical research is vital to ensure the correct research questions are being asked to address patient and public’s needs. Patient and public involvement groups can be set up within individual research departments and local NHS trusts to help guide researchers, but there is a lack of guidance on how to develop and implement patient and public involvement groups. In this paper, we discuss the vital role and benefits of patient and public involvement in clinical research. We also describe how a research patient ambassador group called the Clinical Research Ambassador Group was created at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust to offer some advice and guidance for researchers and clinicians wishing to form their own group within a NHS trust.
Development of a novel image-based program to teach narrow-band imaging
Authors: Dumas Cedric , Fielding David , Coles Timothy , Good Norm
Published: April 2016

Objectives:

Narrow-band imaging (NBI) is a widely available endoscopic imaging technology; however, uptake of the technique could be improved. Teaching new imaging techniques and assessing trainees’ performance can be a challenging exercise during a 1-day workshop. To support NBI training, we developed an online training tool (Medimq) to help experts train novices in NBI bronchoscopy that could assess trainees’ performance and provide feedback before the close of the 1-day course. The present study determines whether trainees’ capacity to identify relevant pathology increases with the proposed interactive testing method.

Methods:

Two groups of 20 and 18 bronchoscopists have attended an NBI course where they did a pretest and post-test before and after the main lecture, and a follow-up test 4 weeks later to measure retention of knowledge. We measured their ability to mark normal and abnormal ‘biopsy size’ areas on bronchoscopic NBI images for biopsy. These markings were compared with areas marked by experts on the same images.

Results:

The first group results were used to pilot the test. After modifications, the results of the improved test for group 2 showed trainees improved by 32% (total class average normalized gain) in detecting normal or abnormal areas. On follow-up testing, Group 2 improved by 23%.

Conclusions:

The overall class average normalized gain of 32% shows our test can be used to improve trainees’ competency in analyzing NBI Images. The testing method (and tool) can be used to measure the follow up 4 weeks later. Better follow-up test results would be expected with more frequent practice by trainees after the course.
Cardiac remodelling and RAS inhibition
Authors: Ferrario Carlos M.
Published: April 2016

Risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes are known to augment the activity and tissue expression of angiotensin II (Ang II), the major effector peptide of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS). Overstimulation of the RAS has been implicated in a chain of events that contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular (CV) disease, including the development of cardiac remodelling. This chain of events has been termed the CV continuum. The concept of CV disease existing as a continuum was first proposed in 1991 and it is believed that intervention at any point within the continuum can modify disease progression. Treatment with antihypertensive agents may result in regression of left ventricular hypertrophy, with different drug classes exhibiting different degrees of efficacy. The greatest decrease in left ventricular mass is observed following treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is), which inhibit Ang II formation. Although ACE-Is and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) provide significant benefits in terms of CV events and stroke, mortality remains high. This is partly due to a failure to completely suppress the RAS, and, as our knowledge has increased, an escape phenomenon has been proposed whereby the human sequence of the 12 amino acid substrate angiotensin-(1-12) is converted to Ang II by the mast cell protease, chymase. Angiotensin-(1-12) is abundant in a wide range of organs and has been shown to increase blood pressure in animal models, an effect abolished by the presence of ACE-Is or ARBs. This review explores the CV continuum, in addition to examining the influence of the RAS. We also consider novel pathways within the RAS and how new therapeutic approaches that target this are required to further reduce Ang II formation, and so provide patients with additional benefits from a more complete blockade of the RAS.
Building resilience through leadership
Authors: Jagger Olivia , Lewith George
Published: April 2016

Demonstrating leadership skills at work builds resilience by empowering you to take control of your working environment. Demonstrating leadership qualities enables more-effective team-working, which improves your performance and provides a protective support network. Both these processes buffer stress and promote personal resilience. This article explains how you can build personal resilience through leadership and gives advice on ways you can develop both leadership and resilience skills.
Old and New Media Logics in an Electoral Campaign
Authors: Casero-Ripollés Andreu , Feenstra Ramón A. , Tormey Simon
Published: April 2016

In Spain, the 2014 European Elections saw the unexpected rise of a new party Podemos, which obtained five European Parliament seats only three months after its formation. In the Spanish National Elections in December 2015, this party obtained 20.66 percent of the votes, which made it the third biggest party. Our objective was to analyze the old and new elements of Podemos’ communication and campaign strategies. The methodology followed here used this new party as a strategic case study by a qualitative approach. The analysis focused on three key fronts: (1) the role of communication, (2) mediatization of politics, and (3) use of digital media. The results suggested that Podemos’ 2014 electoral campaign combined presence on broadcast television and use of intense digital media to boost citizens’ engagement and self-mediation. Accordingly, it was established as a new transmedia party. This case also demonstrates that mediatization can also occur in two-way street dynamics, that is, from politics to the media, where the former generates an influence on the latter. This finding opens the door to help overcome the media-centric vision. Finally, we discussed future questions about the influence on other political actors’ communication strategies in different parts of the world from an international perspective.
Social Movements and Futures Research
Authors: Schulz Markus S.
Published: April 2016

This article discusses sociological approaches to the study of social movements and assesses their relevance for futures research. Older theories of collective behavior viewed mass protest as result of structural strains or collapse of order. Revolutions were seen as an inevitable result of social disenfranchisement. More recent theories argued that deprivation exists often without the occurrence of any upheavals and stressed the importance of resource mobilization, political opportunities, collective identity, common goals, and transhistorical struggle for recognition. Although each of the different approaches has its problems, combined they are providing a valuable resource for a reconceptualization of futures research.
Reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Goyal Gaurav , Gundabolu Krishna , Vallabhajosyula Saraschandra , Silberstein Peter T. , Bhatt Vijaya Raj
Published: April 2016

Elderly patients (>60 years) with acute myeloid leukemia have a poor prognosis with a chemotherapy-alone approach. Allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation (HCT) can improve overall survival (OS). However, myeloablative regimens can have unacceptably high transplant-related mortality (TRM) in an unselected group of older patients. Reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) or nonmyeloablative (NMA) conditioning regimens preserve the graft- versus-leukemia effects but reduce TRM. NMA regimens result in minimal cytopenia and may not require stem cell support for restoring hematopoiesis. RIC regimens, intermediate in intensity between NMA and myeloablative regimens, can cause prolonged myelosuppresion and usually require stem cell support. A few retrospective and prospective studies suggest a possibility of lower risk of relapse with myeloablative HCT in fit older patients with lower HCT comorbidity index; however, RIC and NMA HCTs have an important role in less-fit patients and those with significant comorbidities because of lower TRM. Whether early tapering of immunosuppression, monitoring of minimal residual disease, and post-transplant maintenance therapy can improve the outcomes of RIC and NMA HCT in elderly patients will require prospective trials.
Recent developments and future prospects in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis
Authors: Sundar Shyam , Singh Anup
Published: April 2016

Limited therapeutic options in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) make the treatment of this neglected disease very challenging. In addition to this, long treatment duration and toxic adverse effects make it even more difficult. With no effective vaccine available to date, treatment of VL is based only on chemotherapy. In the Indian subcontinent, a single dose of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) and multidrug therapy (L-AmB + miltefosine, L-AmB + paromomycin [PM], or miltefosine + PM) are the treatments of choice for VL. In East Africa, however, combination therapy of pentavalent antimonials (Sbv) and PM remains the treatment of choice, and in the Mediterranean region and South America, L-AmB is the recommended drug. Fexinidazole and PA-824 are new promising drugs which have shown encouraging results in preclinical studies.
Original and metaphorical bereavement: The current state of research and future directions in consumer behaviour
Authors: Plaud Cécile , Urien Bertrand
Published: April 2016

This article will study the impact of two types of bereavement on consumer behaviour: original (following the death of a loved one) and metaphorical (following any significant loss). It will discuss the idiosyncratic decision-making process in bereavement and propose the use of a new theoretical framework that will provide fresh insight into how original bereavement influences consumption behaviours. Furthermore, it will show how the concept of metaphorical bereavement makes it possible to gain an alternative understanding of certain consumer reactions to brand abandonment strategies or to analyse acculturation processes differently. This will open up new avenues of research both on consumer brand/brand name relationships and on ethnicity. To carry out this research agenda, we will first present a literature review of the concept of bereavement in the fields of anthropology, psychology and sociology, and then propose a definition of this concept. Next, we will identify the main theoretical models referring to this concept and, finally, discuss the conditions under which these future studies and new methodological tools could be used.
Albumin resuscitation in burns: a hybrid regime to mitigate fluid creep
Authors: Hunter Judith E , Drew Peter J , Potokar Tom S , Dickson William , Hemington-Gorse Sarah J
Published: April 2016

[Formula: see text]

Introduction:

Globally, many burns units moved away from colloid resuscitation in response to the Cochrane review (1998). Recent literature has introduced the concept of fluid creep: patients receiving volumes far in excess of the upper limit of the Parkland formula. The Cochrane review has been widely criticised, however, and we continued to use 4.5% human albumin solution after 8 h of crystalloid as a hybrid of Parkland and Muir & Barclay’s regime.

Methods:

Adult patients ⩾15% TBSA were identified from data prospectively entered into our database over a 5-year period (2003–2008). Medical notes and intensive care charts were reviewed comparing volumes of fluids received with requirement estimates. Adverse events were also documented.

Results:

A total of 72 cases with 34 sets of intensive care charts were analysed. Mean TBSA was 35.2% (range, 15–95%). A total of 75% survived; 3% were haemofiltered. Forty-one percent of patients were resuscitated using the Parkland formula alone, while 59% switched at 8 h post burn to the Muir and Barclay formula (Hybrid group). There was a significantly greater TBSA in the Hybrid group, but they received significantly less fluid volumes than the Parkland group ( P = 0.0363; the Hybrid group received 1.36 times calculated need vs. 1.62 in the Parkland group).

Conclusion:

Our patients still demonstrate fluid creep, but to a lesser extent than previously reported. Fluid creep has been mitigated but not eliminated through this strategy.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis and concurrent granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener’s granulomatosis). Management of a rare case and review of the literature
Authors: Sofos Stratos S , Ewing J , Hughes LC , James MI
Published: April 2016

[Formula: see text]

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare, acute life-threatening mucocutaneous disorder that is characterised by epidermal loss/exfoliation exceeding 30% total body surface area (TBSA) and is on a spectrum that includes erythema multiforme and Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS). It is estimated that 80% of TEN cases are related to medication reactions; the association based on the recognition that TEN usually develops 1–3 weeks following administration of the suspect drug. It is agreed that primary treatment consists of prompt withdrawal of causative drugs and transfer to a regional burn unit. Transfer to a burn unit, no more than 7 days after onset of symptoms, has been acknowledged as reducing the risk of infections, hospital length of stay and infection-related mortality. Due to the uncertainty surrounding TEN pathogenesis, several different modalities have been proposed for the treatment of TEN, including high-dose intravenous immunoglobulins, plasmapheresis, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine and systemic steroids; however, these therapies are relatively ineffective. The use of systemic corticosteroids for treatment of TEN has in particular been deemed controversial due to associations with increased infections leading to greater length of hospital stay and increased mortality.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly known as Wegener’s granulomatosis, is a rare relapsing-remitting disorder of unknown aetiology, characterised by granulomatosis inflammation and necrotising vasculitis predominantly affecting small- to medium-sized vessels. While a 5-year survival rate of 75–83% is now realised, relapse and associated morbidity is of concern.

The established treatment for GPA follows the recommendations of the French National Authority for Health (HAS) for systematic necrotising vasculitis. With induction treatment, it is recommended that GPA be treated with a combination of systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.

A review of the literature failed to identify any previous case where both of these conditions coincide. Our search was conducted through databases which included MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, AMED, CINAHL and EMBASE, using keywords: toxic epidermal necrolysis, Wegener’s granulomatosis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis. We submit the rare case of a 22-year-old woman who presented to our regional burn unit with both GPA and TEN, and we discuss the presentation, investigation and multidisciplinary management of the patient, as well as reviewing the literature regarding these two conditions.
“One Swallow Does Not Make a Summer”
Authors: Macke Janaina , Crespi Kelly Menezes
Published: April 2016

This descriptive study aims at developing a collective competence instrument for Information Technology (IT) teams. It was carried out in the city of Farroupilha (Brazil), with IT teams of a large footwear manufacturing company. To analyze data, descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and linear regression were used. The results indicate that four factors explain the collective competence in IT work teams: Proactivity, Communication, Cooperation, and Interpersonal Relationship. Proactivity was the factor with the highest intensity of association with the general perception of collective competence. This study aims, through its instrument for measuring collective competence, at contributing to the creation, development, and improvement of such competences.
Assessing the Effects of Personal Characteristics and Context on U.S. House Speakers’ Leadership Styles, 1789-2006
Authors: Owens John E. , Schraufnagel Scot , Li Quan
Published: April 2016

Research on congressional leadership has been dominated in recent decades by contextual interpretations that see leaders’ behavior as best explained by the environment in which they seek to exercise leadership—particularly, the preference homogeneity and size of their party caucus. The role of agency is thus discounted, and leaders’ personal characteristics and leadership styles are underplayed. Focusing specifically on the speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives from the first to the 110th Congress, we construct measures of each speaker’s commitment to comity and leadership assertiveness. We find the scores reliable and then test the extent to which a speaker’s style is the product of both political context and personal characteristics. Regression estimates on speakers’ personal assertiveness scores provide robust support for a context-plus-personal characteristics explanation, whereas estimates of their comity scores show that speakers’ personal backgrounds trump context.
The Potential Benefits of Targeted Attentional Bias Modification on Cognitive Arousal and Sleep Quality in Worry-Related Sleep Disturbance
Authors: Milkins Bronwyn , Notebaert Lies , MacLeod Colin , Clarke Patrick J. F.
Published: April 2016

Attentional bias for sleep-related negative information is believed to contribute to symptoms of insomnia by elevating arousal during the presleep period. In the present study, we examined whether the delivery of an attentional bias modification (ABM) procedure in the presleep period could produce transient benefits for sleep-disturbed individuals by reducing presleep cognitive arousal and improving ease of sleep onset. In a counterbalanced repeated A-B design, participants alternated completing an ABM training task and a nontraining control task across six nights and reported on presleep cognitive arousal and sleep onset latency. Significant reductions in presleep cognitive arousal and sleep onset latency were observed on nights where the ABM task was completed relative to nights where the control task was completed. These results suggest that delivery of ABM can attenuate cognitive arousal and sleep onset latency and highlights the possibility that targeted delivery of ABM could deliver real-world benefits for sleep-disturbed individuals.
India’s Balance of Payments, Growth and Fiscal Policy
Authors: Lahiri Hiranya , Ghosh Chandana , Ghosh Ambar
Published: April 2016

Following a dream run during 2003–2004 to 2010–2011, when India’s annual growth rate averaged close to 9 per cent in the midst of remarkable balance of payments (BOP) stability (except for the year 2008–2009), India has slumped into a recession accompanied by severe BOP difficulties and high rates of consumer price inflation. The Government of India (GoI) has responded to it by cutting down subsidies and hiking indirect tax rates. This article develops a simple Keynesian model to assess the policies noted above. It argues that the policies adopted so far by the GoI are likely to aggravate the problems of recession, BOP difficulties and inflation. It recommends hikes in personal income tax rates with a suitable expenditure policy to get out of the present macroeconomic instability.

JEL Classification: E12, E32, F41
Acute Fibrinous and Organizing Pneumonia Associated With Allogenic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Successfully Treated With Corticosteroids
Authors: Nguyen Lam-Phuong , Ahdoot Stella , Sriratanaviriyakul Narin , Zhang Yanhong , Stollenwerk Nicholas , Schivo Michael , Harper Richart
Published: April 2016

Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) is an extremely rare, relatively new, and distinct histological pattern of acute lung injury characterized predominately by the presence of intra-alveolar fibrin and associated organizing pneumonia. AFOP may be idiopathic or associated with a wide spectrum of clinical conditions. It has a variable clinical presentation from mild respiratory symptoms to that similar to the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Currently there is no consensus on treatment, and corticosteroids previously were of unclear benefit. To date, there are less than 40 cases of AFOP reported in the literature and only one has been linked to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Here we report the first case series of 2 patients who developed AFOP following allogenic stem cell transplant that were successfully treated with high-dose corticosteroids.
Micronutrients and Risk of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Sherzai Ayesha Z. , Tagliati Michele , Park Katherine , Pezeshkian Shant , Sherzai Dean
Published: April 2016

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. Although the precise pathogenetic mechanisms of PD remain undetermined, there appears to be both genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the risk of developing PD. With regard to environmental risk factors, there has been significant interest related to the role of diet, nutrition, and nutrients on the onset and progression of PD. As the current treatments are predominantly focused on symptomatic management, efforts must be directed toward prevention of the PD and identification of potentially modifiable risk and preventive factors. This comprehensive review gives an overview of studies examining the role of micronutrients in PD, and provides guidance on the value of the reported outcomes.
Genetic Susceptibility and Sleep Disturbance in Black Mothers of Preterm Infants: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Lee Shih-Yu , Hsu Hui-Chin
Published: April 2016

Serotonin (5HT) is involved in emotion and sleep regulation and the 5HT transporter (5HTT) regulates 5HT function. A common 44-base pair deletion (short allele) or insertion (long allele) polymorphism in the promoter region of 5HTT (5-HTTLPR) is differentially associated with 5HTT transcription efficiency. Under stressful conditions, the short allele of 5-HTTLPR has been associated with depression and sleep disturbance. Black women are at higher risk for preterm labor and depressive symptoms. Thus, this exploratory study aimed to examine whether depressive symptoms and sleep disturbance in Black mothers would vary as a function of the 5-HTTLPR genotype when they faced the stress of infant hospitalization after preterm birth at early postpartum. A total of 30 Black mothers filled out a battery of questionnaires, including the Perceived Stress Scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and General Sleep Disturbance Scale. A wrist actigraph was used to assess total sleep time and circadian activity rhythms. Buccal cells from saliva were collected to test the 5-HTTLPR genotype. Results showed that about 38% of the mothers were heterozygous for the short (S/L) allele, and 62% were homozygous for the long (L/L) allele. Mothers’ perceived global stress, depressive symptoms, and circadian activity rhythms did not vary with their 5-HTTLPR genotypes. Unexpectedly, mothers with the L/L allele reported greater sleep disturbances than those with the S/L allele. Ethnic specificity in genetic susceptibility to stress was discussed.
von Willebrand factor multimerization and the polarity of secretory pathways in endothelial cells
Authors: Lopes da Silva Mafalda , Cutler Daniel F.
Published: April 2016

Key Points

The 3 endothelial secretory pathways—constitutive, basal, and regulated—release VWF in different multimeric states. Apical- and basolaterally-released VWF follow different secretory pathways, thus releasing differentially multimerized protein.
Immunomodulation by mesenchymal stem cells in treating human autoimmune disease-associated lung fibrosis
Authors: Liu Ming , Zeng Xiansheng , Wang Junli , Fu Zhiping , Wang Jinsong , Liu Muyun , Ren Dunqiang , Yu Baodan , Zheng Lixia , Hu Xiang , Shi Wei , Xu Jun
Published: April 2016

Background

Interstitial pneumonia in connective tissue diseases (CTD-IP) featuring inflammation and fibrosis is a leading cause of death in CTD-IP patients. The related autoimmune lung injury and disturbed self-healing process make conventional anti-inflammatory drugs ineffective. Equipped with unique immunoregulatory and regenerative properties, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may represent a promising therapeutic agent in CTD-IP. In this study, we aim to define the immunopathology involved in pulmonary exacerbation during autoimmunity and to determine the potential of MSCs in correcting these disorders.

Methods

Lung and blood specimens, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells collected from CTD-IP patients, and human primary lung fibroblasts (HLFs) from patients pathologically diagnosed with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) and healthy controls were analyzed by histology, flow cytometry and molecular biology. T cell subsets involved in the process of CTD-IP were defined, while the regulatory functions of MSCs isolated from the bone marrow of normal individuals (HBMSCs) on cytotoxic T cells and CTD-UIP HLFs were investigated in vitro.

Results

Higher frequencies of cytotoxic T cells were observed in the lung and peripheral blood of CTD-IP patients, accompanied with a reduced regulatory T cell (Treg) level. CTD-UIP HLFs secreted proinflammatory cytokines in combination with upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). The addition of HBMSCs in vitro increased Tregs concomitant with reduced cytotoxic T cells in an experimental cell model with dominant cytotoxic T cells, and promoted Tregs expansion in T cell subsets from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). HBMSCs also significantly decreased proinflammatory chemokine/cytokine expression, and blocked α-SMA activation in CTD-UIP HLFs through a TGF-β1-mediated mechanism, which modulates excessive IL-6/STAT3 signaling leading to IP-10 expression. MSCs secreting a higher level of TGF-β1 appear to have an optimal anti-fibrotic efficacy in BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.

Conclusions

Impairment of TGF-β signal transduction relevant to a persistent IL-6/STAT3 transcriptional activation contributes to reduction of Treg differentiation in CTD-IP and to myofibroblast differentiation in CTD-UIP HLFs. HBMSCs can sensitize TGF-β1 downstream signal transduction that regulates IL-6/STAT3 activation, thereby stimulating Treg expansion and facilitating anti-fibrotic IP-10 production. This may in turn block progression of lung fibrosis in autoimmunity.