bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of sudden gastrointestinal deaths: An autopsy study
Authors: Hugar Basappa Subhas , Harish S , Girishchandra YP , Jayanth SH
Published: July 2013

Sudden or unexpected deaths can occur from violence, poisoning, as well as from natural causes. In spite of gastrointestinal diseases being one of the important causes for sudden natural death, only limited studies have been conducted into the pattern of sudden deaths due to gastrointestinal causes. As a result, a 10-year (January 2001 to December 2010) retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, South India. Data were collected from the post-mortem register maintained in the department and the relevant reports were reviewed. Descriptive statistics for qualitative type of data was summarized using frequency and percentage. A total of 7520 deaths were reported. This included a total of 291 sudden natural deaths, out of which 62 cases (21.3%) were due to gastrointestinal causes. Maximum number of cases (nine cases – 15.6%) occurred in the year 2009. Of the 62 cases, 87% were males and 13% were females. The age of the deceased ranged from seven to 78 years and maximum numbers of cases were in the age group of 30–39 years (25.8%). Out of 28 cases (45.1%) of cirrhosis, 19 died due to variceal bleeding and the rest due to hepatic failure. Perforations resulted in death in 29% of cases due to peritonitis.
Exploring the Development of ‘Interest’ in Learning English as a Foreign/Second Language
Authors: Tin Tan Bee
Published: July 2013

The paper proposes a new conceptual perspective for understanding students’ engagement in L2 learning, in particular the concept of interest development in learning English. It investigates situational features that trigger interest in learning English, employing data from interviews with non-native English speaking students studying in TESOL programmes. Students were invited to reflect on critical moments which triggered their interest in learning English. These events were discussed in terms of three temporal stages: sources of interest in early years (primary), in teenaged years (secondary) and in adulthood (university and work). The findings show that what triggers interest is not just the ability to imagine and predict the vision of the future but the reimagining or revisioning of the past or one’s ability to postdict the past event in accordance with the present experience. It is not just the value of English (i.e. a property of topic or topic interest) per se that triggers interest but how its value is presented and experienced. For interest to be triggered, English must be presented or experienced in such a way that it creates surprise, unexpectedness, and encourages post-hoc understanding of the importance of English and one’s past interaction with English.
Reflecting on ESL Teacher Beliefs and Classroom Practices: A Case Study
Authors: Farrell Thomas S.C. , Bennis Karen
Published: July 2013

This paper presents a case study that investigated and compared the stated beliefs and observed classroom practices relating to language teaching of one experienced and one novice English language teacher. Areas where observed practices converged with or diverged from stated beliefs are explored and discussed with reference to factors which might have influenced particular practices with respect to grammar teaching. Throughout this study, the novice and experienced teachers are compared with one another. The findings indicate that teachers indeed possess a set of complex beliefs that are not always realized in their classroom practices for a variety of potential reasons: some of these might be directly related to the context of teaching. Further, findings from this study show some similarities with previous studies that have compared experienced teachers with novice teachers.
Embedded Vowels: Remedying the Problems Arising out of Embedded Vowels in the English Writings of Arab Learners
Authors: Khan Mohamed Fazlulla
Published: July 2013

L1 habits often tend to interfere with the process of learning a second language. The vowel habits of Arab learners of English are one such interference. Arabic orthography is such that certain vowels indicated by diacritics are often omitted, since an experienced reader of Arabic knows, by habit, the exact vowel sound in each phonetic environment. As a result of their non-dependence on the writings of vowels explicitly, Arab learners tend to ignore writing the vowel letters in their English writings, too. Research scholars name this interference ‘vowel blindness’. This paper is a report on an investigation of the presence of this feature in a group of 20 learners of English, registered for the Foundation Program in King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia. However, this report aims to show that, this vowel blindness could only be a ‘temporary blindness’, and that remedial measures significantly helped these learners overcome this interference.
An OPNET simulation model for peer-to-peer networks
Authors: Hawa Mohammed
Published: July 2013

Peer-to-peer (P2P) traffic has increased rapidly over the past few years, with file sharing providing the main drive behind such traffic. Therefore, modeling P2P systems and studying their impact on the performance of the underlying network is a vital research topic. In this work we describe a flexible, efficient and easily expandable P2P simulation framework developed for the OPNET simulation package. The framework can be used to study a wide variety of issues regarding the packet-level and/or the flow-level performance of P2P systems, including the impact of cooperation incentives on file dissemination; mobility and quality of service (QoS) support in P2P distribution; and the effects of free-riding, resource pollution, and malicious attacks on P2P networks.
Mumbai Metropolitan Region: Impact of Recent Urban Change on the Peri-urban Areas of Mumbai
Authors: Phadke Aparna
Published: July 2013

Global city-regions in least and highly developed countries are said to have homogenised visions in their reorganisation of urban space, but in reality they differ drastically in terms of consequences. This can be demonstrated with special reference to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Planned integration of the MMR in the early 1990s into the world system has resulted in massive breakdowns in the indigenous space-economy leading to deeper changes in the socioeconomic and politico-cultural structures of the peri-urban areas.
The Rescaling of Economic Governance: Insights into the Transitional Territories of England
Authors: Pemberton Simon , Morphet Janice
Published: July 2013

The development of functional economic areas and their relationship to governance has been attracting considerable attention. New forms of sub-regional governance have emerged that have been interpreted in a variety of ways. Within this context, a different approach to multiscalar governance linked to economic space is emerging at a European level in relation to the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty. This is embedding the principles of subsidiarity/territorial cohesion within member-states, and with sub-state scales of working being promulgated. This paper adds to existing discussions of city-regionalism by providing an alternative—yet fundamental—insight into these reform constructs within England in its relations with the EU. It explores: the role of economic spaces in the genealogy of rescaling tendencies; their co-option of governance as a ‘strategic’ mechanism for growth; and the emergent geo-politics associated with new sub-state governance structures and their effectiveness as intended ‘transitionary’ arrangements.
The Influence of Prior Relationship on Perceptions of Stalking
Authors: Scott Adrian J. , Nixon Keri , Sheridan Lorraine
Published: July 2013

The current research examined the influence of prior relationship on perceptions of stalking, and compared the perceptions of laypersons, nonspecialist police officers, and specialist police officers. Two studies employed experimental designs where participants were presented with one of three vignettes in which the nature of the prior relationship was manipulated so that the perpetrator and victim were portrayed as strangers, acquaintances, or ex-partners. Participants comprised 101 nonspecialist police officers and 108 laypersons in Study 1, and 49 specialist police officers and 49 nonspecialist police officers in Study 2. Findings indicate that nonspecialist police officers and laypersons shared the common misperception that stranger stalkers present a greater threat to the personal safety of their victims than acquaintance or ex-partner stalkers. Specialist police officers were less susceptible to common misperceptions and believed that intervention was more necessary. Specialist police officers also believed that the perpetrator’s behavior would cause the victim more alarm or personal distress than nonspecialist police officers.
From Novel Practice to Consecrated Exemplar: Unity Temple as a Case of Institutional Evangelizing
Authors: Jones Candace , Massa Felipe G.
Published: July 2013

Institutional theorists focus on practices that spread because they conform with and build on established cultural assumptions and resources. Novel practices, however, not only fail to conform to, but also challenge the dominant institutional order. We seek to understand the process by which novel practices move from entrepreneurial anomaly to consecrated exemplar within a field. We contrast Unity Temple by Frank Lloyd Wright—a building that challenged the accepted practices of ecclesiastical design in the architectural profession—with the most prominent churches during the same period. We find two distinct legitimation processes—institutional evangelism where creators express their identity and generate novel practices versus adaptive emulation where adopters focus on prestigious others and emulate their established practices. We reveal that actors engaged in institutional evangelism and adaptive emulation, employing institutional work and leveraging ideas, materials and identities to effect, transform, and maintain institutions. Our comparative cases show the key role of materiality, particularly collective identity markers, in institutional work and institutional processes.
Attitudes of select music performance faculty toward students teaching private lessons after graduation: A USA pilot study
Authors: Fredrickson William E. , Moore Christopher , Gavin Russell
Published: July 2013

The present study was designed to pilot test an adjusted version of a questionnaire, used in earlier studies with college music students, to determine opinions of college music faculty on the topic of private lesson teaching. Full-time tenure-track college music faculty, with primary appointments in applied music at two universities in the United States, were contacted for the project. Thirty-two of 51 completed the task with no negative comments about the format, focus or specific questions in the instrument. Results were similar in many ways to previous student responses, and this group felt strongly that they liked teaching, training for teaching is important, and that their applied music lesson students would likely teach someday themselves. They enjoyed talking about pedagogical issues with students and liked the challenges of teaching musicians. Future research with this instrument should focus on larger groups with delineations in specialty area, faculty appointment, institution type/size, teaching assignment, and global representation.
Use of plasma “reconstitution” during cardio pulmonary bypass for a heart transplant after previous left ventricular assist device implant surgery
Authors: Babaev A , Saczkowski R , Hynes M , Boodhwani M , Hudson CCC
Published: July 2013

The case report describes a novel technique of pre-emptive plasma “reconstitution” prior to disengagement from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to minimize RV volume overload. The concomitant use of hemoconcentration facilitates volume and blood product management in cardiac transplant after previous left ventricular assist device implant surgery.
Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal for refractory status asthmaticus: experience in distinct exacerbation phenotypes
Authors: Brenner K , Abrams DC , Agerstrand CL , Brodie D
Published: July 2013

Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R) may be indicated for refractory status asthmaticus when severe dynamic hyperinflation or life-threatening respiratory acidosis persists despite optimal medical and ventilator management. Most prior reports describe the application of ECCO2R to rapid-onset asthma exacerbation, requiring a short duration of extracorporeal support. We report two patients with refractory status asthmaticus managed with ECCO2R, emphasizing the use of modern extracorporeal technology, cannulation technique and management protocols, which may improve the risk-to-benefit profile of this strategy. This report highlights the challenges in managing patients with distinct asthma exacerbation phenotypes. The potential need for prolonged device support may alter provider expectations and offers a new perspective of the role of ECCO2R for status asthmaticus.
Optimizing waypoints for monitoring spatiotemporal phenomena
Authors: Binney Jonathan , Krause Andreas , Sukhatme Gaurav S.
Published: July 2013

We introduce a graph-based informative path planning algorithm for a mobile robot which explicitly handles time. The objective function must be submodular in the samples taken by the robot, and the samples obtained are allowed to depend on the time at which the robot visits each location. Using a submodular objective function allows our algorithm to handle problems with diminishing returns, e.g. the case when taking a sample provides less utility when other nearby points have already been sampled. We give a formal description of this framework wherein an objective function that maps the path of the robot to the set of samples taken is defined. We also show how this framework can handle the case in which the robot takes samples along the edges of the graph. A proof of the approximation guarantee for the algorithm is given. Finally, quantitative results are shown for three problems: one simple example with a known Gaussian process model, one simulated example for an underwater robot planning problem using data from a well-known ocean modeling system, and one field experiment using an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) measuring wireless signal strength on a lake.
Vehicle model identification by integrated prediction error minimization
Authors: Seegmiller Neal , Rogers-Marcovitz Forrest , Miller Greg , Kelly Alonzo
Published: July 2013

We present a highly effective approach for the calibration of vehicle models. The approach combines the output error technique of system identification theory and the convolution integral solutions of linear systems and stochastic calculus. Rather than calibrate the system differential equation directly for unknown parameters, we calibrate its first integral. This integrated prediction error minimization (IPEM) approach is advantageous because it requires only low-frequency observations of state, and produces unbiased parameter estimates that optimize simulation accuracy for the chosen time horizon. We address the calibration of models that describe both systematic and stochastic dynamics, such that uncertainties can be computed for model predictions. We resolve numerous implementation issues in the application of IPEM, such as the efficient linearization of the dynamics integral with respect to parameters, the treatment of uncertainty in initial conditions, and the formulation of stochastic measurements and measurement covariances. While the technique can be used for any dynamical system, we demonstrate its usefulness for the calibration of wheeled vehicle models used in control and estimation. Specifically we calibrate models of odometry, powertrain dynamics, and wheel slip as it affects body frame velocity. Experimental results are provided for a variety of indoor and outdoor platforms.
A human-inspired object handover controller
Authors: Chan Wesley P , Parker Chris AC , Van der Loos HF Machiel , Croft Elizabeth A
Published: July 2013

In this paper, we present a novel controller for safe, efficient, and intuitive robot-to-human object handovers and a set of experiments to evaluate user responses to the robot’s handover behavior. The controller enables a robot to mimic human behavior by actively regulating the applied grip force according to the measured load force during a handover. We provide an implementation of the controller on a Willow Garage PR2 robot, demonstrating the feasibility of realizing our design on robots with basic sensor/actuator capabilities. A user study comparing four variations of our controller shows that our design yields both human-like and human-preferred object handovers.
What is a clinically relevant change on the HIT-6 questionnaire? An estimation in a primary-care population of migraine patients
Authors: Smelt Antonia FH , Assendelft Willem JJ , Terwee Caroline B , Ferrari Michel D , Blom Jeanet W
Published: July 2013

Objective

To interpret questionnaire scores, clinicians and researchers need to know what change in score reflects a meaningful change in the condition of an individual patient, and what difference reflects a meaningful difference between groups. These values differ between different populations. We determined the within-person minimally important change (MIC) and the between-group minimally important difference (MID) of the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) questionnaire in a primary-care population of migraine patients.

Methods

We included 490 patients who participated in a clinical trial on the treatment of migraine in primary care. We compared their change scores on the HIT-6 questionnaire between baseline and at three-months follow-up with the answers to two anchor questions according to the ‘mean change approach’ and the ‘ROC curve approach’.

Results

The within-person MIC was estimated to be between −2.5 points (mean change approach) and −6 points (ROC curve approach). The choice for the within-person MIC value depends on the consequences of false positives and false negatives in a particular setting. The between-group MID was estimated at −1.5 points.

Conclusions

We determined the within-person MIC and between-group MID for the HIT-6 in a primary-care population of migraine patients. We recommend the use of these values for clinical care and for research.
Prevalence of right-to-left shunts on transcranial Doppler in chronic migraine and medication-overuse headache
Authors: Guo Song , Shalchian Sarvnaz , Gérard Pascale , Küper Michael , Katsarava Zaza , Ashina Messoud , Schoenen Jean
Published: July 2013

Background

It was suggested that right-to-left shunt (RLS) may be highly prevalent in chronic migraine (CM) patients, indicating that patent foramen ovale (PFO) might be an aggravating and chronifying factor of migraine. Since a high proportion of chronic migraineurs also have medication-overuse headache (MOH), one may wonder if they have a more severe form of the disorder and more frequently a PFO.

Objective

The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and grade of RLS in patients suffering from CM and MOH.

Methods

A cross-sectional multicenter study of air-contrast transcranial Doppler was conducted in 159 patients with CM ( n = 57) or MOH ( n = 102) attending a tertiary headache clinic.

Results

The prevalence of RLS in CM was 37% (11% large shunts) and in MOH patients 31% (13% large shunts). There was no difference between the two groups ( p = 0.49).

Conclusion

RLS prevalence in CM is within the upper range of those reported in episodic migraine without aura or in the general population, and not higher in MOH. PFO is thus unlikely to have a significant causal role in these chronic headaches.
Multiple Percutaneous Longitudinal Tenotomies for Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy in Runners
Authors: Maffulli Nicola , Oliva Francesco , Testa Vittorino , Capasso Giovanni , Del Buono Angelo
Published: July 2013

Background:

Multiple percutaneous longitudinal tenotomies have been successfully undertaken in runners with isolated midportion Achilles tendinopathy (nodular lesions <2.5 cm) without any sign of paratendinopathy.

Hypothesis:

In the long term, minimally invasive multiple tenotomies allow the patient to remain involved in middle- and long-distance running. Clinical and ultrasound (US) evidence of paratendinopathy is a negative prognostic factor.

Study Design:

Case series study; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

A total of 39 patients were reviewed at an average follow-up of 17 years (range, 15-22 years) after US-guided multiple percutaneous longitudinal tenotomies for chronic Achilles tendinopathy. The Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment–Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire was completed by each patient, maximum calf circumference and isometric plantarflexion strength of the gastrocsoleus complex were measured in both the affected and contralateral legs, and functional assessment was scored by the 4-point Boyden scale. Achilles tendon changes were also assessed according to the grayscale US grading system.

Results:

At the final follow-up, the maximum calf circumference and the strength in the operated leg were not significantly different than those measured preoperatively, but they were significantly lower than those on the contralateral side. This did not affect patients’ daily or sports activities. All patients had returned to their preinjury working occupation; 20 patients were still active in middle- and long-distance running, with an average current level of sport and function that was 60% ± 13% compared with baseline status (before onset of symptoms). Thirty of 39 patients (77%) reported good or excellent outcomes according to the Boyden assessment. On US assessment, the tendon was generally thicker than the contralateral asymptomatic tendon (average, 7.0 vs 8.7 mm, respectively; P = .003). There was no significant difference ( P > .05) when comparing patients with good or excellent Boyden results versus those with fair or poor outcomes. The mean VISA-A score was 78.5, with no significant difference between patients with and without paratendinopathy on US assessment ( P > .05). All of the patients who did not return to running or who gave up sports activities had signs of paratendinopathy.

Conclusion:

This approach to the management of midportion Achilles tendinopathy is safe, has a low cost, and is effective in the long term.
Risk Factors for Lumbar Disc Degeneration in High School American Football Players
Authors: Nagashima Masaki , Abe Hitoshi , Amaya Kenji , Matsumoto Hideo , Yanaihara Hisashi , Nishiwaki Yuji , Toyama Yoshiaki , Matsumoto Morio
Published: July 2013

Background:

Several risk factors have been proposed for intervertebral disc degeneration (DD) among adolescent athletes. However, the causes of DD are not well understood, and there have been few prospective studies evaluating DD in adolescents.

Purpose:

To identify risk factors for DD among adolescent American football (AF) players.

Study Design:

Cohort study (prevalence); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

This study investigated the relationships between the progression of DD and the following factors: lumbar spine abnormalities on baseline radiographs, body mass index, AF position played (lineman or other), and length of playing career (2 full competitive AF seasons or <2 seasons). Included were 192 students who joined a top-ranked high school AF team from 2004 to 2008. Of these, 160 played for 2 full competitive AF seasons. The remaining 32 players, who stopped before completing 2 seasons, were used as a control group. Baseline radiographs and lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were obtained when the players enrolled in the AF team in May, and follow-up lumbar MRI scans were obtained 2 years later at the end of their second academic year in March. Disc degeneration was measured by the signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus, and its progression was evaluated by multiple regression analysis of decreases in signal intensity. Also analyzed was the relationship between DD and low back pain (LBP).

Results:

The mean decrease in signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus was 4.30% ± 11.63% in players who completed 2 AF seasons and 1.41% ± 10.03% in those who did not ( P = .12). Mean visual analog scale scores for LBP at follow-up were significantly higher ( P = .001) in players who had played for 2 full seasons (2.67 ± 2.81) than in those with a shorter career (0.99 ± 1.61). Decreases in signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus after 2 years of playing AF related significantly to playing a lineman position (partial regression coefficient, 3.47%), the presence of Schmorl nodes (partial regression coefficient, 3.58%), and disc herniation (partial regression coefficient, 4.09%).

Conclusion:

Significant risk factors for DD progression in high school AF players included playing a lineman position, the presence of Schmorl nodes, and disc herniation. Continuing to play AF through 2 years of high school was a risk factor for the onset of LBP.
Léopold Sédar Senghor and the Civilization of the Universal
Authors: Mabana Kahiudi C.
Published: July 2013

One among the concepts strongly defended by Léopold Sédar Senghor is what he called the civilization of the universal, which forms an essential component of his thought. This concept has been thoroughly commented and, at times, wrongly or controversially interpreted. My approach consists of a personal reflection on the backgrounds of Senghor’s thought. First of all I will deal with Senghor’s conception of Negritude and what it implies in terms of black identification, recognition of Africa as birthplace of races. Then I will examine the civilization of the universal as defended by Senghor and its link to the thought of Father Teilhard de Chardin, a French palaeontologist. Finally I will present the passionate debate on his work and thought. Senghor was among the African writers and thinkers probably the most admired, the most awarded throughout the world, but also the most criticized and hated.
Transcending Cosmopolitanism
Authors: Ramose Mogobe Bernard
Published: July 2013

In general, discussion about cosmopolitanism is predicated on the assumption of community either already existing or yet to be realised. A common feature of this assumption is that community represents the boundary of “us” inclusion and exclusion of “the other”. Accordingly, the strife to reach out to “the other” constitutes the quest for the cosmos – order – and its realisation is cosmopolitanism. Cosmopolitanism is thus based on the ontology of opposition tending towards synthesis. The thesis defended here is that the ontology of boundary as a coupling point and not a moment of the exclusion of “the other” is a necessary reaffirmation as well as complement of “us”. This ontology, supported by polylogue among the peoples and cultures of our planet, is the means to transcend cosmopolitanism and constitute a planetary human community.
Exploitation of Labor and Exploitation of Commodities
Authors: Yoshihara Naoki , Veneziani Roberto
Published: July 2013

In the standard Okishio-Morishima approach, the existence of profits is proved to be equivalent to the exploitation of labor. Yet, it can also be proved that the existence of profits is equivalent to the “exploitation” of any good. Labor and commodity exploitation are just different numerical representations of the productiveness of the economy. This paper presents an alternative approach to exploitation theory which is related to the “New Interpretation” (Duménil 1980; Foley 1982). In this approach, labor exploitation captures unequal social relations among producers. The equivalence between the existence of profits and labor exploitation holds, whereas it is proved that there is no relation between profits and commodity “exploitation.”
Trade sanctions in international environmental policy: Deterring or encouraging free riding?
Authors: Cirone Alexandra E. , Urpelainen Johannes
Published: July 2013

Could trade sanctions improve environmental cooperation by reducing countries’ incentives to free ride? While carbon tariffs are a widely debated environmental policy, their ability to facilitate climate cooperation remains unclear. We examine game-theoretic models of environmental cooperation with and without trade sanctions. While trade sanctions prevent free riders from obtaining unfair competitive advantages, we show that they can also impede environmental cooperation. Most importantly, since trade sanctions reduce the cost of unilateral policy, they prevent environmentally inclined countries from credibly threatening to suspend cooperation if other countries defect. We use these findings to illuminate outcomes in normatively important cases such as ozone depletion and overfishing, and discuss how they cast a shadow of doubt on the use of carbon tariffs to enforce climate cooperation.
A Mistaken Account of the Age–Crime Curve
Authors: Shulman Elizabeth P. , Steinberg Laurence , Piquero Alex R.
Published: July 2013

The present article responds to Males and Brown’s “Teenagers’ High Arrest Rates: Features of Young Age or Youth Poverty?” which claims that the widely observed pattern of crime rates peaking in late adolescence or early adulthood is an artifact of age differences in poverty. We note that the authors’ interpretation of their aggregated data is an example of the ecological fallacy. Drawing inferences about individual behavior from macro-level data can lead to erroneous conclusions and does so in the case of Males and Brown’s analysis. Moreover, the authors overlook research that has used more appropriate methods to examine age-related change in criminal behavior while accounting for the effects of economic factors and still found a robust age–crime curve. Males and Brown’s characterization of the literature and their claims about the relationship between age and crime should be regarded with a great deal of skepticism.
An institutional remedy for ethnic patronage politics
Authors: Durant T Clark , Weintraub Michael
Published: July 2013

When the difference between winning and losing elections is large, elites have incentives to use ethnicity to control access to spoils, mobilizing some citizens and excluding others. This paper presents a new electoral mechanism, the turn-taking institution, that could move states away from ethnically mediated patron–client politics. With this mechanism, the whole executive term goes to a sufficiently inclusive supermajority coalition; if no coalition qualifies, major coalitions take short, alternating turns several times before the next election. A decision-theoretic model shows how the turn-taking institution would make it easier for mass-level actors to coordinate on socially productive policy and policy-making processes. We argue this institution would raise the price elites would pay to deploy and enforce exclusive ethnic markers.
Avascular necrosis in HIV patients: a case–control study
Authors: Whitlock GG , Herbert S , Copas A , Gilson R , Ainsworth JG
Published: July 2013

This study investigates the association of avascular necrosis (AVN) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals with possible risk factors, including antiretroviral therapy. Clinic records of all AVN cases diagnosed up to July 2009 in HIV-positive patients attending North Middlesex Hospital, London, UK were retrospectively reviewed. For each case, one control was randomly selected, matched for gender, age, nadir CD4 count and date of HIV diagnosis. Of 15 symptomatic AVN cases identified, eight were in women. Univariate analysis demonstrated significant associations between AVN and a history of systemic steroid use ( p = 0.004) and cumulative exposure to protease inhibitor ( p = 0.03). Physicians should be aware of the risk of AVN with steroid use, the importance of early diagnosis and avoidance of other risk factors in order to prevent further joint involvement if possible.
An unusual case of hyperlactataemia in a neonate
Authors: Nirupam Nilay , Nangia Sushma , Kumar Ajay , Saili Arvind
Published: July 2013

We report a HIV uninfected neonate born to HIV positive mother, who had tachypnoea at birth. On investigations, he was found to have hyperlactataemia. All the secondary causes for elevated lactate were ruled out. Hyperlactataemia was attributed to the perinatal exposure, to maternal antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, mainly nucleoside analogues. Asymptomatic and symptomatic hyperlactataemia is not uncommon in HIV-exposed infants. Neonates with tachypnoea, who are HIV- and ARV-exposed with no obvious cause, should be screened for raised arterial lactate.
Reducing Health-Information Avoidance Through Contemplation
Authors: Howell Jennifer L. , Shepperd James A.
Published: July 2013

Despite the importance of learning about one’s health, people sometimes opt to remain ignorant. In three studies, we investigated whether prompting people to contemplate their reasons for seeking or avoiding information would reduce avoidance of personal health information. In Study 1, people were more likely to opt to learn their risk for type 2 diabetes if they had completed a motives questionnaire prior to making their decision than if they had not. In Study 2, people were more likely to opt to learn their risk for cardiovascular disease if they had first listed and rated reasons for seeking or avoiding the information than if they had not. Study 3 replicated Study 2 but also showed that contemplating reasons for avoiding versus seeking reduced avoidance of personal-risk information only when the risk condition was treatable.
Keeping It Steady
Authors: Schmiedek Florian , Lövdén Martin , Lindenberger Ulman
Published: July 2013

People often attribute poor performance to having bad days. Given that cognitive aging leads to lower average levels of performance and more moment-to-moment variability, one might expect that older adults should show greater day-to-day variability and be more likely to experience bad days than younger adults. However, both researchers and ordinary people typically sample only one performance per day for a given activity. Hence, the empirical basis for concluding that cognitive performance does substantially vary from day to day is inadequate. On the basis of data from 101 younger and 103 older adults who completed nine cognitive tasks in 100 daily sessions, we show that the contributions of systematic day-to-day variability to overall observed variability are reliable but small. Thus, the impression of good versus bad days is largely due to performance fluctuations at faster timescales. Despite having lower average levels of performance, older adults showed more consistent levels of performance across days.
Suppression on Your Own Terms
Authors: Sayers W. Michael , Sayette Michael A.
Published: July 2013

Research on emotion suppression has shown a rebound effect, in which expression of the targeted emotion increases following a suppression attempt. In prior investigations, participants have been explicitly instructed to suppress their responses, which has drawn the act of suppression into metaconsciousness. Yet emerging research emphasizes the importance of nonconscious approaches to emotion regulation. This study is the first in which a craving rebound effect was evaluated without simultaneously raising awareness about suppression. We aimed to link spontaneously occurring attempts to suppress cigarette craving to increased smoking motivation assessed immediately thereafter. Smokers ( n = 66) received a robust cued smoking-craving manipulation while their facial responses were videotaped and coded using the Facial Action Coding System. Following smoking-cue exposure, participants completed a behavioral choice task previously found to index smoking motivation. Participants evincing suppression-related facial expressions during cue exposure subsequently valued smoking more than did those not displaying these expressions, which suggests that internally generated suppression can exert powerful rebound effects.
Climate of the past 2500 years in the Gulf of Taranto, central Mediterranean Sea: A high-resolution climate reconstruction based on δ18O and δ13C of Globigerinoides ruber (white)
Authors: Grauel Anna-Lena , Goudeau Marie-Louise S , de Lange Gert J , Bernasconi Stefano M
Published: July 2013

We present a high-resolution isotope stratigraphy based on Globigerinoides ruber (white) over the past 2500 years in the Gulf of Taranto, central Mediterranean. G. ruber (white) reflects summer conditions in the Gulf of Taranto but is influenced by two major surface water masses: the Western Adriatic Current (WAC) and the Ionian Surface Water (ISW) and their variations on a decadal to multicentennial scale. Our analysis of the δ13C and δ18O of G. ruber (white) allows the distinction of several climatic periods: the ‘Roman Warm Period’ (RWP) (450–0 bc), with relatively wet and warm conditions and a higher influence of the WAC; the ‘Roman Classical Period’ (RCP) (ad 1–200) characterized by salinity increase resulting from circulation changes; the ‘Dark Ages Cold Period’ (DCP) (ad 500–750), where wetter conditions in the Gulf of Taranto region are coherent with an increase dominance of the WAC; the ‘Medieval Warm Period’ (MWP), with wet and warm conditions in the first, and a gradual drying in the second half; and finally, the transition from the MWP to the ‘Little Ice Age’ (LIA), which is characterized by continuing dry conditions.
Calendars: Representational homogeneity and heterogeneous time
Authors: Birth Kevin
Published: July 2013

Calendars and almanacs are objects designed to allow users to gain information about time that results from complicated calculations and observations, and to do so without having to replicate these cognitive tasks. Objects based on Gregorian calendrical logic have features that lead one to think that they represent homogeneous time, yet, adaptations of the Gregorian calendar as manifest in calendars and almanacs allow the homogeneous temporal framework to be used as a palimpsest for the representation of distinctive temporalities. This argument challenges the importance Anderson gives to homogeneous empty time as represented by newspapers in Imagined Communities, and offers an object-mediated alternative in which the counterpoint of temporal homogeneity and heterogeneity in the material manifestation of calendars and almanacs becomes a crucial means of imagining community. These issues are explored through historical evidence of calendars and almanacs in early modern Great Britain and ethnographic evidence from Trinidad.
Cooperation in criminal organizations: Kinship and violence as credible commitments
Authors: Campana Paolo , Varese Federico
Published: July 2013

The paper argues that kinship ties and sharing information on violent acts can be interpreted as forms of ‘hostage-taking’ likely to increase cooperation among co-offenders. The paper tests this hypothesis among members of two criminal groups, a Camorra clan based just outside Naples, and a Russian Mafia group that moved to Rome in the mid-1990s. The data consist of the transcripts of phone intercepts conducted on both groups by the Italian police over several months. After turning the data into a series of network matrices, we use Multivariate Quadratic Assignment Procedure to test the hypothesis. We conclude that the likelihood of cooperation is higher among members who have shared information about violent acts. Violence has a stronger effect than kinship in predicting tie formation and thus cooperation. When non-kinship-based mechanisms fostering cooperation exist, criminal groups are likely to resort to them.
Cross-Cultural Comparison of Attitudes and Preferences for Care of the Elderly Among Australian and Chinese Nursing Students
Authors: Xiao Lily Dongxia , Shen Jun , Paterson Jan
Published: July 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare Australian and Chinese nursing students’ attitudes and intentions to care for the elderly and the factors affecting these intentions. Method: A cross-sectional design employed two questionnaires to survey 256 Australian nursing students and 204 Chinese nursing students within the first weeks of their nursing curriculum. Factor analysis and logistical regression analysis were performed to identify predictors of intent to care for the elderly. Results: The percentage of students more likely to care for the elderly was significantly higher among the Chinese group (72.1%) than the Australian group (45.3%). Work experience with older people and being under the age of 20 were found to be positive predictors, whereas factors such as prejudice toward the elderly and beliefs that elders should live in separate housing were negatively associated with an intention to care for the elderly. Conclusions: The collectivist culture has a more positive influence on nursing students’ attitudes toward the elderly compared with the individualist culture. Implications for Research and Practice: It is highly recommended that elderly care settings should be incorporated in clinical placements and further research is needed to explore how clinical experience affects students’ career choice.
The Development of a Chinese-Language Instrument to Measure Social Smoking Motives Among Male Taiwanese Smokers
Authors: Huang Chih-Ling , Cheng Chung-Ping , Huang Hui-Wen
Published: July 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to measure the social smoking motives of adult male smokers using a Chinese social context. Design: Three phases were conducted between February 2006 and May 2009. First, the initial instrument development was guided by a literature review, interviews with smokers, and item analysis. Second, the validity and reliability of the refined scale were tested. The factor structures of the Social Smoking Measures (SSM-12) scale were validated. Results: The final scale consists of 12 items. Two factors that account for 49.2% of the variance emerged from the exploratory factor analysis. Cronbach’s alpha was .88, and test–retest reliability was .82. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the SSM model was a two-correlated factor. Conclusion: Field testing revealed the SSM-12 to be a reliable and valid Chinese-language instrument to measure social smoking motives, which can be used to guide nursing interventions that support culturally and socially appropriate smoking cessation programs.
Appendiceal Mucosal Schwann Cell Proliferation
Authors: Stockl Thomas , Ross Jeffrey S. , Walter Otto , Dresser Karen , Lee Hwajeong
Published: July 2013

Recognition of an appendiceal diverticulum is important because of its association with an appendiceal neoplasm. The incidence of mucosal Schwann cell proliferation in 24 cases of appendiceal diverticular disease, 17 serrated polyps, 4 cases of mucosal hyperplasia, and 45 normal appendices was determined. Ten (42%) of 24 cases with diverticula, 2 (50%) of 4 cases of mucosal hyperplasia with concurrent surface low-grade dysplasia, and 9 (20%) of 45 cases of normal appendices showed mucosal Schwann cell proliferation. It was not seen within the 17 cases of serrated polyps. Mucosal Schwann cell proliferation is common in appendiceal diverticular disease and may serve as a histologic marker for the presence of an appendiceal diverticulum. Thus, when routine histologic sections of a removed appendix demonstrate Schwann cell proliferation, further examination of the specimen may detect possible coexisting diverticular disease, which in turn may be associated with appendiceal neoplasms and epithelial dysplasia.
Multi-damage feature extraction and diagnosis of a gear system based on higher order cumulant and empirical mode decomposition
Authors: Shao Renping , Hu Wentao , Huan Xinna , Chen Liqun
Published: July 2013

Higher order cumulant (HOC) is a new theory and method of modern signal analysis. Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is a new time-frequency analysis method for analysis of non-stationary and nonlinear processes. This paper discusses the characteristics of both HOC and EMD, investigates their related technology and advantage in the process of dealing with nonlinear coupling characteristics of random and non-stationary signals. Then through combining with the merits of HOC and EMD, it proposes a new method for multi-damage feature extraction and fault diagnosis of gear systems. For restraining system noise and extracting the fault features of signals, the acquired signal is decomposed into a three-layer signal which has different frequency bands, and then every layer is given to a HOC analysis. Six kinds of signal are analyzed including signal without fault, signal with tooth root short crack, signal with tooth root long crack, signal with pitch circle short crack, signal with pitch circle long crack and signal with tooth wear, which were acquired at four different speeds: 300 r/min, 900 r/min, 1200 r/min and 1500 r/min. The results demonstrate that this method not only can be used to identify various faults (including multi-fault) in the low-speed and high-speed running conditions, but can also be used to identify the damage level of some faults. On this basis, combining the advantages of MATLAB and Visual C++ (VC++), a virtual instrument (VI) system of gear damage detection and diagnosis is developed through a mixed programming method. The interface is designed with VC++, the calculation of test data, signal processing and graphical display are completed by MATLAB. Using COM module technology, it calls the *.m file conversion program in VC++. A different kind and multifunctional gear fault diagnosis software system is successfully empoldered, which possesses some functions, including the introduction of gear vibration signals, signal processing, feature extraction, graphics display, fault detection and diagnosis. The system can be used to detect damage and diagnose faults in gear systems as proven by the results of the validation testing.
The dynamic reliability analysis of pipe conveying fluid based on a refined response surface method
Authors: Zhai Hong-bo , Wu Zi-yan , Liu Yong-shou , Yue Zhu-feng
Published: July 2013

The dynamic reliability of the pipe conveying fluid was analyzed by a refined response surface method (RSM) in this study. In the refined RSM, a new response surface expression was proposed based on functional variables with the physical characteristics of basic random variables. The sampling points were located on Gauss Hermite integration points along the coordinate axes of standard normal random variables. The response surface was constituted via an iterative strategy, in which the information of the sampling points could be utilized richly. On the other hand, Hamilton’s principle for open systems was applied to formulate the motion equations of the pipe conveying non-uniform axial fluid. The proposed RSM was used to analyze the dynamic reliability and sensitivity of the pipe conveying non-uniform axial fluid. As shown in the numerical results, the refined response surface method leads to the better approximation of the nonlinear limit state function, higher precision and better stability of the failure probability estimation, especially for the dynamic reliability analysis of the pipe conveying fluid.