bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethical Issues Raised by Private Practice Physiotherapy Are More Diverse than First Meets the Eye: Recommendations from a Literature Review
Authors: Hudon Anne , Drolet Marie-Josée , Williams-Jones Bryn
Published: December 2014

Purpose: Physiotherapy in private practice differs from physiotherapy practised in a public setting in several ways, the most evident of which is the for-profit nature of private physiotherapy clinics; these differences can generate distinct and challenging ethical issues. The objectives of this article are to identify ethical issues encountered by physiotherapists in private practice settings and to identify potential solutions and recommendations to address these issues. Method: After a literature search of eight databases, 39 studies addressing ethical issues in a private practice context were analyzed. Results: A total of 25 ethical issues emerging from the included studies were classified into three main categories: (1) business and economic issues (e.g., conflicts of interests, inequity in a managed care context, lack of time affecting quality of care); (2) professional issues (e.g., professional autonomy, clinical judgment, treatment effectiveness, professional conduct); and (3) patients' rights and welfare issues (e.g., confidentiality, power asymmetries, paternalism vs. patient autonomy, informed consent). Recommendations as to how physiotherapists could better manage these issues were then identified and categorized. Conclusions: The physiotherapy community should reflect on the challenges raised by private practice so that professionals can be supported—through education, research, and good governance—in providing the best possible care for their patients.
Toward a Politico-Theology of Relationality: Justice as Solidarity and the Poor in Aristide's Theological Imagination
Authors: Joseph Celucien L.
Published: December 2014

Abstract:

This article argues that Aristide's theology of the poor should be construed as a robust theology of relationality; it calls for an ethics of participation and collaboration in the plight of the poor. In this sense, we situate Aristide's theological discourse not only in the liberation theology framework but also in the politico-theological and democratic tradition, what Douglass Sturm has termed “a politics of relationality.” A theology of relationality focuses on the horizontal relations between the poor and the theologian-activist. The horizontal aspect defines and shapes the ethics of democratic participation and collaboration by cultivating a dynamic alliance with the poor and fostering a genuine bond between the poor and theologian-activist. Hence, a theology of relationality promotes democratic values, rights, freedom, and the welfare of the oppressed and poor. This participatory approach to theology of liberation might be the zone for active collaboration with the collective poor, oppressive communities, and Third World countries. This article examines the concept of “the poor” in Aristide's theological discourse and explores his theology of relationality.
Homo Ludens Revisited: A Theological Inquiry into Being Human from the Perspective of Javanese Children's Play
Authors: Sasongko Nindyo
Published: December 2014

Abstract:

This article revisits the meaning of being human as Homo ludens (the playing human), which was introduced by Johan Huizinga. Drawing on the wisdom of Javanese culture and Christian theology, especially that of Paul Tillich, and Hugo and Karl Rahner, I contribute to the Christian notion that to be human is to play. For Javanese people in Indonesia, play is not something that only children do; rather, it can be seen as the foundation of culture. According to Tillich, human beings experience a tremendous haecceitas (this-ness) when playing. From Karl Rahner's viewpoint, in play a human expresses the fullness of Vorgriff (pre-apprehension) or radical freedom. His brother, Hugo, is of the opinion that human play prepares for the final return of the whole cosmos to God. People who cannot play become estranged from their humanity, their culture, and their quest for the Absolute. Indeed, modern-day Homo ludens has become Homo economicus, having been drawn into what Tillich calls the “threat of nonbeing” by globalization. Revisiting the meaning of play in theological anthropology opens up the possibility of becoming a better people of God in the world.
Clinical factors associated with venous thromboembolism risk in patients undergoing craniotomy
Authors: Kimmell Kristopher T. , Jahromi Babak S.
Published: December 2014

OBJECT

Patients undergoing craniotomy are at risk for developing venous thromboembolism (VTE). The safety of anticoagulation in these patients is not clear. The authors sought to identify risk factors predictive of VTE in patients undergoing craniotomy.

METHODS

The authors reviewed a national surgical quality database, the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Craniotomy patients were identified by current procedural terminology code. Clinical factors were analyzed to identify associations with VTE.

RESULTS

Four thousand eight hundred forty-four adult patients who underwent craniotomy were identified. The rate of VTE in the cohort was 3.5%, including pulmonary embolism in 1.4% and deep venous thrombosis in 2.6%. A number of factors were found to be statistically significant in multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, including craniotomy for tumor, transfer from acute care hospital, age ≥ 60 years, dependent functional status, tumor involving the CNS, sepsis, emergency surgery, surgery time ≥ 4 hours, postoperative urinary tract infection, postoperative pneumonia, on ventilator ≥ 48 hours postoperatively, and return to the operating room. Patients were assigned a score based on how many of these factors they had (minimum score 0, maximum score 12). Increasing score was predictive of increased VTE incidence, as well as risk of mortality, and time from surgery to discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing craniotomy are at low risk of developing VTE, but this risk is increased by preoperative medical comorbidities and postoperative complications. The presence of more of these clinical factors is associated with progressively increased VTE risk; patients possessing a VTE Risk Score of ≥ 5 had a greater than 20-fold increased risk of VTE compared with patients with a VTE score of 0.
Symptomatic contralateral subdural hygromas after decompressive craniectomy: plausible causes and management protocols
Authors: Salunke Pravin , Garg Ravi , Kapoor Ankur , Chhabra Rajesh , Mukherjee Kanchan K.
Published: December 2014

OBJECT

Contralateral subdural hygromas are occasionally observed after decompressive craniectomies (DCs). Some of these hygromas are symptomatic, and the etiology and management of these symptomatic contralateral subdural collections (CLDCs) present surgical challenges. The authors share their experience with managing symptomatic CLSDCs after a DC.

METHODS

During a 10-month period, 306 patients underwent a DC. Of these patients, 266 had a head injury, 25 a middle cerebral artery infarction (that is, a thrombotic stroke), and 15 an infarction due to a vasospasm (resulting from an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH]). Seventeen patients (15 with a head injury and 2 with an SAH) developed a CLSDC, and 7 of these patients showed overt symptoms of the fluid collection. These patients were treated with a trial intervention consisting of bur hole drainage followed by cranioplasty. If required, a ventriculo- or thecoperitoneal shunt was inserted at a later time.

RESULTS

Seven patients developed a symptomatic CLSDC after a DC, 6 of whom had a head injury and 1 had an SAH. The average length of time between the DC and CLSDC formation was 24 days. Fluid drainage via a bur hole was attempted in the first 5 patients. However, symptoms in these patients improved only temporarily. All 7 patients (including the 5 in whom the bur hole drainage had failed and 2 directly after the DC) underwent a cranioplasty, and the CLSDC resolved in all of these patients. The average time it took for the CLSDC to resolve after the cranioplasty was 34 days. Three patients developed hydrocephalus after the cranioplasty, requiring a diversion procedure, and 1 patient contracted meningitis and died.

CONCLUSIONS

Arachnoid tears and blockage of arachnoid villi appear to be the underlying causes of a CLSDC. The absence of sufficient fluid pressure required for CSF absorption after a DC further aggravates such fluid collections. Underlying hydrocephalus may appear as subdural collections in some patients after the DC. Bur hole drainage appears to be only a temporary measure and leads to recurrence of a CLSDC. Therefore, cranioplasty is the definitive treatment for such collections and, if performed early, may even avert CLSDC formation. A temporary ventriculostomy or an external lumbar drainage may be added to aid the cranioplasty and may be removed postoperatively. Ventriculoperitoneal or thecoperitoneal shunting may be required for patients in whom a hydrocephalus manifests after cranioplasty and underlies the CLSDC.
Preface: Writing at Borders
Authors: Kurki Tuulikki , Kaskinen Saija , Laurén Kirsi , Ristolainen Mari
Published: December 2014

No abstract available.
Discontinuity and Continuity in Representations of 20th Century Estonian History
Authors: Jaago Tiiu
Published: December 2014

The theme of this article is how Estonians have described political changes in their autobiographical narratives. The discussion is based on the observation that the establishment of Soviet rule in Estonia in the 1940s is construed in the studies of life stories, on the one hand, as a discontinuity of ‘normal life’, and on the other hand, as continuity. It is remarkable that irrespective of the demarcation of state borders by political decisions, Estonian territory is still perceived as a single and eternal whole. To what extent is the perception of discontinuity or continuity related to experiencing political change and to what extent is it related to the method of narration, and to what extent does it depend on the choices made by the researcher? An analysis of the three life histories discussed in the article indicates that experiencing discontinuity or continuity in a specific historical context does not coincide with its depiction in life histories. The texts reflect both the diversity of narrative methods (coherent representation of different layers of recollections, the comparison and contrast of different situations, etc.), and the context of narratives – for example the interviewer’s effect on discussing a topic or the relation of a story to publicly discussed topics. Recollections are characterised by variability, however this may not become evident as studies focus on certain aspects of the narrative or interrelations of the topic and public discourses. The polysemic and ambivalent nature of the ‘border’ unfolds through the entangled interplay of territorial, political and cultural borders, their narrative articulation in life story telling as well as researchers’ choices.
An Eighteenth-Century Ecology of Knowledge: Patronage and Natural History
Authors: Andersson Burnett Linda
Published: December 2014

This article analyses the construction and dissemination of natural-history knowledge in the eighteenth century. It takes the mapping and narration of Orkney as a case study, focusing on the local minister and amateur natural-historian George Low and his network of patron-client relationships with such prominent natural historians as Joseph Banks and Thomas Pennant. It focuses too on Low‘s network of informants and assistants among local island farmers, and argues that canonical natural-history texts were the products of collaborative and interdependent processes that included a large number of actors from all strata of society. To conceptualise how natural-history knowledge was created in this period, the article applies the metaphoric description ‘an ecology of knowledge’. This approach enables a focus on a large number of actors, their collaboration and influence on each other, while also paying attention to asymmetrical power relationships in which competition and appropriation took place.
Creating the Authentic? Art Teaching in South Africa as Transcultural Phenomenon
Authors: Klein Melanie
Published: December 2014

The question about what art and craft from Black individuals in South Africa should look like as well as how and for what purposes it could be created was of prominent importance within the contact zone of educational institutions from the 1930s onwards. Art teachers of mostly European origin established provisional art educational venues for African students first, within the curricula of mission schools and then as workshops and art schools in their own right. They transferred modernistic concepts from Europe into the South African context, yet were also confronted with divergent expectations of their students and the overarching policy of Bantu Education that was launched in 1953.

A closer look at selected case studies reveals complex and ambivalent theoretical approaches that were negotiated and discussed in the seemingly autonomous context of art schools and workshops. The teachers’ attitudes seemed to oscillate between the search for an ‘authentic’ African idiom and the claim to partake in global archives or in the making of an art history that was imagined as universally applicable. Art educational institutions perceived as transcultural contact zones exemplify a genesis of modern art from South Africa that was formed by mutually influencing perspectives apart from the restrictions for and the re-tribalisation of Black people imposed by the apartheid regime.
The Fictitious World Traveller: The Swede on Timor and the Noble Savage Imagery
Authors: Hägerdal Hans
Published: December 2014

Travel writing soared in the Western world in the early-modern era with the widening geographical knowledge. This was accompanied by a genre of travel fiction. The present study analyses a short Swedish novella from 1815, Swensken på Timor (The Swede on Timor), “translated” by Christina Cronhjelm from a purported English account. It is a romantic tale of a Swedish sailor who is shipwrecked and is adopted by an indigenous group on the Southeast Asian island Timor, marrying a local woman and converting to Islam. The novella is remarkable for the positive portrayal of indigenous society and to some extent Islam. The article discusses the literary tropes influencing the account, and the partly accurate ethnographic and historical details.
Volatiles from the Rare Australian Desert Plant Prostanthera centralis B.J.Conn (Lamiaceae): Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Collins Timothy , Jones Graham , Sadgrove Nicholas
Published: December 2014

Hydrodistilled essential oils and dichloromethane (DCM) extracted volatiles were taken from cultivated specimens of Prostanthera centralis, endemic to central Australia. All volatiles were chemically characterised by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) with the use of authentic standards, followed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils was measured against a range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial species using a micro-titre plate broth dilution assay. Twenty-two compounds were identified as components of the sweet smelling aromatic essential oil and DCM extracts, both showing a relatively high abundance of prostantherol. The volatiles extracted using DCM, differed only in the relative abundance of the major components and the lack of ledol and squamulosone. This study constitutes the first time ledol and squamulosone have been identified in a Prostanthera species. Antimicrobial assays showed moderate to high inhibitory activity against some Gram-positive bacteria and the yeast Candida albicans.
Chaos Control and Synchronization of a Hyperchaotic Zhou System by Integral Sliding Mode control
Authors: Toopchi Yashar , Wang Jidong
Published: December 2014

In this paper, an adaptive integral sliding mode control scheme is proposed for synchronization of hyperchaotic Zhou systems. In the proposed scheme, an integral sliding mode control is designed to stabilize a hyperchaotic Zhou system with known parameters to its unstable equilibrium at the origin. The control is then applied to the synchronization of two identical systems, i.e., a slave and a master hyperchaotic Zhou system with unknown parameters. The adaptive control mechanism introduced synchronizes the systems by estimating the unknown parameters. Simulation results have shown that the proposed method has an excellent convergence from both speed and accuracy points of view, and it outperforms Vaidyanathan’s scheme, which is a well-recognized scheme in this area.
Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth- and Douglas-Fir Beetle-Caused Mortality in a Ponderosa Pine/Douglas-Fir Forest in the Colorado Front Range, USA
Authors: Negrón José , Lynch Ann , Schaupp Willis , Mercado Javier
Published: December 2014

An outbreak of the Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata McDunnough, occurred in the South Platte River drainage on the Pike-San Isabel National Forest in the Colorado Front Range attacking Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco. Stocking levels, species composition, and tree size in heavily and lightly defoliated stands were similar. Douglas-fir tussock moth defoliation resulted in significant Douglas-fir mortality in the heavily defoliated stands, leading to a change in dominance to ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa Lawson. Douglas-fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsuqae Hopkins, populations increased following the defoliation event but caused less mortality, and did not differ between heavily and lightly defoliated stands. Douglas-fir tussock moth-related mortality was greatest in trees less than 15 cm dbh (diameter at 1.4 m above the ground) that grew in suppressed and intermediate canopy positions. Douglas-fir beetle-related mortality was greatest in trees larger than 15 cm dbh that grew in the dominant and co-dominant crown positions. Although both insects utilize Douglas-fir as its primary host, stand response to infestation is different. The extensive outbreak of the Douglas-fir tussock moth followed by Douglas-fir beetle activity may be associated with a legacy of increased host type growing in overstocked conditions as a result of fire exclusion.
Transformation of a Degraded Pinus massoniana Plantation into a Mixed-Species Irregular Forest: Impacts on Stand Structure and Growth in Southern China
Authors: Meng Jinghui , Lu Yuanchang , Zeng Ji
Published: December 2014

We transformed a Pinus massoniana plantation, the most important conifer plantation in southern China, with four different transformation treatments, in which Pinus massoniana was thinned to a density of 70%, and then differing richness and compositions of enrichment plantings were added. In order to examine the effects of the transformation, we compared species composition, stand structure and growth pattern in transformed stands with those in control stands. The results suggested that in the transformed stands species composition was diverse with trees both from the enrichment plantings and from natural recruitment. The size structure was changed such that the diameter at breast height (DBH) distribution tended to shift from a nearly normal distribution to an irregular multi-modal distribution. Substantial new ingrowth was found in the small DBH classes. The residual trees in the transformed stands were significantly larger than in the control treatment. However, for all trees, the control stands had the largest mean size, even though the residual tree growth was significantly smaller in the control stands. Finally, transformation treatment A4, which had the smallest overall mortality rate and simultaneously the mortality rate of each tree species was smaller than the corresponding value in other transformation treatments, was identified as the optimal transformation.
A Health Impact Assessment Framework for Assessing Vulnerability and Adaptation Planning for Climate Change
Authors: Brown Helen , Spickett Jeffery , Katscherian Dianne
Published: December 2014

This paper presents a detailed description of an approach designed to investigate the application of the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) framework to assess the potential health impacts of climate change. A HIA framework has been combined with key climate change terminology and concepts. The fundamental premise of this framework is an understanding of the interactions between people, the environment and climate. The diversity and complexity of these interactions can hinder much needed action on the critical health issue of climate change. The objectives of the framework are to improve the methodology for understanding and assessing the risks associated with potential health impacts of climate change, and to provide decision-makers with information that can facilitate the development of effective adaptation plans. While the process presented here provides guidance with respect to this task it is not intended to be prescriptive. As such, aspects of the process can be amended to suit the scope and available resources of each project. A series of working tables has been developed to assist in the collation of evidence throughout the process. The framework has been tested in a number of locations including Western Australia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Nauru.
Urinary Concentrations of Toxic and Essential Trace Elements among Rural Residents in Hainan Island, China
Authors: Inoue Yosuke , Umezaki Masahiro , Jiang Hongwei , Li Dandan , Du Jianwei , Jin Yuming , Yang Bin , Li Bai , Li Yufeng , Watanabe Chiho
Published: December 2014

Background: Toxic element exposure and essential trace element consumption may have changed after the Chinese economy transformed to a market-oriented system. The objectives of this study were to measure urinary concentrations of toxic (arsenic, cadmium, lead) and essential trace (selenium, zinc, copper) elements among rural residents in Hainan, China and to examine if variations in economic development are linked to differences in toxic and trace element exposure. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey and undertook anthropometric measurements of residents aged ≥20 years (n = 599). Urinary samples were collected and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results: The median (μg/g creatinine) element concentrations were: arsenic, 73.2; cadmium, 1.8; lead, 3.1; selenium, 36.5; zinc, 371; and copper, 11.0. Intra-community variation in element concentrations was explained by age (arsenic, cadmium, zinc and copper), sex (arsenic, cadmium and selenium: higher in females; zinc: higher in males), body mass index (cadmium) and individual involvement in the market economy as indexed by agrochemical use (lead and selenium). The degree of community-level economic development, which was determined by the proportion of people living in better housing among the study communities, was positively associated with cadmium concentration. Conclusions: The degree of community-level economic development was positively associated with urinary cadmium concentration while individual involvement in the market economy was positively associated with lead and selenium.
Plant-Pathogen Interaction, Circadian Rhythm, and Hormone-Related Gene Expression Provide Indicators of Phytoplasma Infection in Paulownia fortunei
Authors: Fan Guoqiang , Dong Yanpeng , Deng Minjie , Zhao Zhenli , Niu Suyan , Xu Enkai
Published: December 2014

Phytoplasmas are mycoplasma-like pathogens of witches’ broom disease, and are responsible for serious yield losses of Paulownia trees worldwide. The molecular mechanisms of disease development in Paulownia are of considerable interest, but still poorly understood. Here, we have applied transcriptome sequencing technology and a de novo assembly approach to analyze gene expression profiles in Paulownia fortunei infected by phytoplasmas. Our previous researches suggested that methyl methane sulfonated (MMS) could reverse the effects of the infection. In this study, leaf samples from healthy, infected, and both infected and methyl methane sulfonate treated plants were analyzed. The results showed that the gene expression profile of P. fortunei underwent dramatic changes after Paulownia witches’ broom (PaWB) phytoplasma infection. Genes that encoded key enzymes in plant-pathogen interaction processes were significantly up-regulated in the PaWB-infected Paulownia. Genes involved in circadian rhythm and hormone-related genes were also altered in Paulownia after PaWB infection. However, after the PaWB-infected plants were treated with MMS, the expression profiles of these genes returned to the levels in the healthy controls. The data will help identify potential PaWB disease-resistance genes that could be targeted to inhibit the growth and reproduction of the pathogen and to increase plant resistance.
Irisin, a Link among Fatty Liver Disease, Physical Inactivity and Insulin Resistance
Authors: Arias-Loste María , Ranchal Isidora , Romero-Gómez Manuel , Crespo Javier
Published: December 2014

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in industrialized countries. The increasing prevalence of NAFLD mirrors the outbreak of obesity in western countries, highlighting the connection between these two conditions. Nevertheless, there is currently no specific pharmacotherapy for its treatment. Accepted management begins with weight loss and exercise. Moreover, exercise can provide metabolic benefits independently of weight loss. It is known how long-term aerobic training produces improvements in hepatic triglycerides, visceral adipose tissue and free fatty acids, even if there is no weight reduction. A recent study from Boström et al. unravels a potential molecular mechanism that may explain how exercise, independently of weight loss, can potentially improve metabolic parameters through a new messenger system (irisin) linking muscle and fat tissue. Irisin has been proposed to act as a hormone on subcutaneous white fat cells increasing energy expenditure by means of a program of brown-fat-like development. Moreover, it was also shown that irisin plasma concentration was higher in people who exercise, suggesting a molecular mechanism by which exercise may improve metabolism. The present systematic review is based on the possibility that irisin might represent a hypothetical connection between NAFLD pathogenesis and disease progression.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Alzheimer’s Disease Patients: The Promise, the Hope and the Path Ahead
Authors: Freude Kristine , Pires Carlota , Hyttel Poul , Hall Vanessa
Published: December 2014

The future hope of generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) from Alzheimer’s disease patients is multifold. Firstly, they may help to uncover novel mechanisms of the disease, which could lead to the development of new and unprecedented drugs for patients and secondly, they could also be directly used for screening and testing of potential new compounds for drug discovery. In addition, in the case of familial known mutations, these cells could be targeted by use of advanced gene-editing techniques to correct the mutation and be used for future cell transplantation therapies. This review summarizes the work so far in regards to production and characterization of iPS cell lines from both sporadic and familial Alzheimer’s patients and from other iPS cell lines that may help to model the disease. It provides a detailed comparison between published reports and states the present hurdles we face with this new technology. The promise of new gene-editing techniques and accelerated aging models also aim to move this field further by providing better control cell lines for comparisons and potentially better phenotypes, respectively.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange Dye under the Daylight Irradiation over CN-TiO2 Modified with OMS-2
Authors: Hassan Mohamed , Chen Jing , Liu Guanglong , Zhu Duanwei , Cai Jianbo
Published: December 2014

In this study, CN-TiO2 was modified with cryptomelane octahedral molecular sieves (OMS-2) by the sol-gel method based on the self-assembly technique to enhance its photocatalytic activity under the daylight irradiation. The synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and porosimeter analysis. The results showed that the addition of OMS-2 in the sol lead to higher Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, pore volume, porosity of particle after heat treatment and the specific surface area, porosity, crystallite size and pore size distribution could be controlled by adjusting the calcination temperature. Compared to the CN-TiO2-400 sample, CN-TiO2/OMS-2-400 exhibited greater red shift in absorption edge of samples in visible region due to the OMS-2 coated. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity of CN-TiO2/OMS-2 composite photocatalyst was subsequently evaluated for the degradation of the methyl orange dye under the daylight irradiation in water. The results showed that the methyl orange dye degradation rate reach to 37.8% for the CN-TiO2/OMS-2-400 sample under the daylight irradiation for 5 h, which was higher than that of reference sample. The enhancement in daylight photocatalytic activities of the CN-TiO2/OMS samples could be attributed to the synergistic effects of OMS-2 coated, larger surface area and red shift in adsorption edge of the prepared sample.
Performance Characterization of Micromachined Inductive Suspensions Based on 3D Wire-Bonded Microcoils
Authors: Lu Zhiqiu , Poletkin Kirill , Wallrabe Ulrike , Badilita Vlad
Published: December 2014

We present a comprehensive experimental investigation of a micromachined inductive suspension (MIS) based on 3D wire-bonded microcoils. A theoretical model has been developed to predict the levitation height of the disc-shaped proof mass (PM), which has good agreement with the experimental results. The 3D MIS consists of two coaxial wire-bonded coils, the inner coil being used for levitation, while the outer coil for the stabilization of the PM. The levitation behavior is mapped with respect to the input parameters of the excitation currents applied to the levitation and stabilization coil, respectively: amplitude and frequency. At the same time, the levitation is investigated with respect to various thickness values (12.5 to 50 μm) and two materials (Al and Cu) of the proof mass. An important characteristic of an MIS, which determines its suitability for various applications, such as, e.g., micro-motors, is the dynamics in the lateral direction. We experimentally study the lateral stabilization force acting on the PM as a function of the linear displacement. The analysis of this dependency allows us to define a transition between stable and unstable levitation behavior. From an energetic point of view, this transition corresponds to the local maximum of the MIS potential energy. 2D simulations of the potential energy help us predict the location of this maximum, which is proven to be in good agreement with the experiment. Additionally, we map the temperature distribution for the coils, as well as for the PM levitated at 120 μm, which confirms the significant reduction of the heat dissipation in the MIS based on 3D microcoils compared to the planar topology.
Microorganisms—A Journal and a Unifying Concept for the Science of Microbiology
Authors: Fuerst John
Published: December 2014

The MDPI journal Microorganisms is still very young, having been launched in 2013, but the concept of the microorganism has been in use for at least a century as a unifying principle for the discipline of microbiology, which was cemented firmly by the intellectual work of Roger Stanier and colleagues in their Microbial World and other general microbiology textbooks and related articles from the 1950s to the 1970s [1,2]. Merging the idea of the microscopic and the very small with the older idea of an organism as a living entity or cell, the concept of a microorganism enabled a real appreciation of the microbial world as one that is amenable to study using similar tools and approaches even though representing distinctly different types of reproductive units and cell organizations. In the late 20th century following the work of Carl Woese and other molecular evolutionists, biologists came to appreciate the commonality among all organisms, all being comprised of cells that bear a remarkable similarity to one another and that share a common evolutionary ancestry, and consequently with major features of a largely shared genetic code and molecular biology. In this sense microbiology and biology as a whole became unified as they never had been before.[...]
Combined Dynamic Light Scattering and Raman Spectroscopy Approach for Characterizing the Aggregation of Therapeutic Proteins
Authors: Lewis E. , Qi Wei , Kidder Linda , Amin Samiul , Kenyon Stacy , Blake Steven
Published: December 2014

Determination of the physicochemical properties of protein therapeutics and their aggregates is critical for developing formulations that enhance product efficacy, stability, safety and manufacturability. Analytical challenges are compounded for materials: (1) that are formulated at high concentration, (2) that are formulated with a variety of excipients, and (3) that are available only in small volumes. In this article, a new instrument is described that measures protein secondary and tertiary structure, as well as molecular size, over a range of concentrations and formulation conditions of low volume samples. Specifically, characterization of colloidal and conformational stability is obtained through a combination of two well-established analytical techniques: dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. As the data for these two analytical modalities are collected on the same sample at the same time, the technique enables direct correlation between them, in addition to the more straightforward benefit of minimizing sample usage by providing multiple analytical measurements on the same aliquot non-destructively. The ability to differentiate between unfolding and aggregation that the combination of these techniques provides enables insights into underlying protein aggregation mechanisms. The article will report on mechanistic insights for aggregation that have been obtained from the application of this technique to the characterization of lysozyme, which was evaluated as a function of concentration and pH.
Design and Experiment of FBG-Based Icing Monitoring on Overhead Transmission Lines with an Improvement Trial for Windy Weather
Authors: Zhang Min , Xing Yimeng , Zhang Zhiguo , Chen Qiguan
Published: December 2014

A scheme for monitoring icing on overhead transmission lines with fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensors is designed and evaluated both theoretically and experimentally. The influences of temperature and wind are considered. The results of field experiments using simulated ice loading on windless days indicate that the scheme is capable of monitoring the icing thickness within 0–30 mm with an accuracy of ±1 mm, a load cell error of 0.0308v, a repeatability error of 0.3328v and a hysteresis error is 0.026%. To improve the measurement during windy weather, a correction factor is added to the effective gravity acceleration, and the absolute FBG strain is replaced by its statistical average.
A Self-Referenced Optical Intensity Sensor Network Using POFBGs for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Moraleda Alberto , Montero David , Webb David , García Carmen
Published: December 2014

This work bridges the gap between the remote interrogation of multiple optical sensors and the advantages of using inherently biocompatible low-cost polymer optical fiber (POF)-based photonic sensing. A novel hybrid sensor network combining both silica fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) and polymer FBGs (POFBG) is analyzed. The topology is compatible with WDM networks so multiple remote sensors can be addressed providing high scalability. A central monitoring unit with virtual data processing is implemented, which could be remotely located up to units of km away. The feasibility of the proposed solution for potential medical environments and biomedical applications is shown.
A Novel High Sensitivity Sensor for Remote Field Eddy Current Non-Destructive Testing Based on Orthogonal Magnetic Field
Authors: Xu Xiaojie , Liu Ming , Zhang Zhanbin , Jia Yueling
Published: December 2014

Remote field eddy current is an effective non-destructive testing method for ferromagnetic tubular structures. In view of conventional sensors’ disadvantages such as low signal-to-noise ratio and poor sensitivity to axial cracks, a novel high sensitivity sensor based on orthogonal magnetic field excitation is proposed. Firstly, through a three-dimensional finite element simulation, the remote field effect under orthogonal magnetic field excitation is determined, and an appropriate configuration which can generate an orthogonal magnetic field for a tubular structure is developed. Secondly, optimized selection of key parameters such as frequency, exciting currents and shielding modes is analyzed in detail, and different types of pick-up coils, including a new self-differential mode pick-up coil, are designed and analyzed. Lastly, the proposed sensor is verified experimentally by various types of defects manufactured on a section of a ferromagnetic tube. Experimental results show that the proposed novel sensor can largely improve the sensitivity of defect detection, especially for axial crack whose depth is less than 40% wall thickness, which are very difficult to detect and identify by conventional sensors. Another noteworthy advantage of the proposed sensor is that it has almost equal sensitivity to various types of defects, when a self-differential mode pick-up coil is adopted.
Sustainable Water Management in Urban, Agricultural, and Natural Systems
Authors: Russo Tess , Alfredo Katherine , Fisher Joshua
Published: December 2014

Sustainable water management (SWM) requires allocating between competing water sector demands, and balancing the financial and social resources required to support necessary water systems. The objective of this review is to assess SWM in three sectors: urban, agricultural, and natural systems. This review explores the following questions: (1) How is SWM defined and evaluated? (2) What are the challenges associated with sustainable development in each sector? (3) What are the areas of greatest potential improvement in urban and agricultural water management systems? And (4) What role does country development status have in SWM practices? The methods for evaluating water management practices range from relatively simple indicator methods to integration of multiple models, depending on the complexity of the problem and resources of the investigators. The two key findings and recommendations for meeting SWM objectives are: (1) all forms of water must be considered usable, and reusable, water resources; and (2) increasing agricultural crop water production represents the largest opportunity for reducing total water consumption, and will be required to meet global food security needs. The level of regional development should not dictate sustainability objectives, however local infrastructure conditions and financial capabilities should inform the details of water system design and evaluation.
Low-cost plasmonic solar cells prepared by chemical spray pyrolysis
Authors: Kärber Erki , Katerski Atanas , Oja Acik Ilona , Mikli Valdek , Mere Arvo , Sildos Ilmo , Krunks Malle
Published: December 2014

Solar cells consisting of an extremely thin In2S3/CuInS2 buffer/absorber layer uniformly covering planar ZnO were prepared entirely by chemical spray pyrolysis. Au nanoparticles (Au-NPs) were formed via thermal decomposition of a gold(III) chloride trihydrate (HAuCl4·3H2O) precursor by spraying 2 mmol/L of the aqueous precursor solution onto a substrate held at 260 °C. Current–voltage scans and external quantum efficiency spectra were used to evaluate the solar cell performance. This work investigates the effect of the location of the Au-NP layer deposition (front side vs rear side) in the solar cell and the effect of varying the volume (2.5–10 mL) of the sprayed Au precursor solution. A 63% increase (from 4.6 to 7.5 mA/cm2) of the short-circuit current density was observed when 2.5 mL of the precursor solution was deposited onto the rear side of the solar cell.
One-pot functionalisation of N-substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines by photooxidation and tunable organometallic trapping of iminium intermediates
Authors: Barham Joshua P , John Matthew P , Murphy John A
Published: December 2014

Nucleophilic trapping of iminium salts generated via oxidative functionalisation of tertiary amines is well established with stabilised carbon nucleophiles. The few reports of organometallic additions have limited scope of substrate and organometallic nucleophile. We report a novel, one-pot methodology that functionalises N-substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines by visible light-assisted photooxidation, followed by trapping of the resultant iminium ions with organometallic nucleophiles. This affords 1,2-disubstituted tetrahydroisoquinolines in moderate to excellent yields.
Impliquer les managers à atteindre leurs objectifs : participation, feedback et confiance
Authors: Langevin Pascal , Mendoza Carla
Published: December 2014

La littérature suggère que pour être efficaces, les systèmes de contrôle par les résultats doivent favoriser l’implication des managers à atteindre leurs objectifs. À partir d’une enquête auprès de 320 managers, notre étude montre que la participation des managers à la fixation de leurs objectifs ainsi que le feedback qu’ils reçoivent sur leur performance sont positivement associés à l’implication de ces managers à atteindre leurs objectifs. Nos résultats vérifient également que la confiance du manager envers son supérieur joue un rôle médiateur dans la relation entre ces deux déterminants du système de contrôle et l’implication. De façon générale, ces résultats donnent des pistes sur la manière de concevoir les systèmes de contrôle pour développer la confiance et, par voie indirecte, accroître l’implication des managers.
L'impact des normes IFRS sur la relation entre le conservatisme et l'efficacité des politiques d'investissement
Authors: André Paul , Filip Andrei , Marmousez Sophie
Published: December 2014

Nous testons si une information comptable caractérisée par un niveau plus élevé de conservatisme est associée à des politiques d’investissement plus efficaces (réduction du sur- ou du sous-investissement) pour un échantillon de sociétés françaises, avant et après l’application obligatoire des IFRS en 2005. S’il est aisé d’établir un lien théorique entre le conservatisme et l’efficacité des politiques d’investissement, il n’est pas évident que ce lien persiste dans le contexte du passage aux normes IFRS, généralement reconnues comme réduisant le conservatisme. Empiriquement, nous observons effectivement une diminution significative du conservatisme après l’introduction des IFRS, à l’instar de Piot et al. (2011), Ahmed et al. (2013) et André et al. (2013). Nos résultats montrent que si, dans la période pré-IFRS, le conservatisme limite le sur- et le sous-investissement, il ne semble plus jouer aucun rôle dans la période post-IFRS. Notre recherche contribue aux débats académiques et réglementaires sur les conséquences économiques de diverses caractéristiques de l’information comptable produite par les sociétés, ainsi que sur les effets du passage aux IFRS. L’introduction des IFRS a assurément établi un nouvel équilibre entre les caractéristiques qualitatives de l’information financière dont les coûts et bénéfices restent difficiles à apprécier.
Crise de la transmission et médicalisation de l'échec scolaire
Authors: Diet Emmanuel
Published: December 2014

Conséquence des logiques libérales et des préconisations du traité de Maastricht, la crise de l’acculturation scolaire, inscrite dans la mise en échec généralisée de la transmission culturelle, remet en cause les valeurs et les pratiques de l’École de la république, et, singulièrement, modifie le rapport au temps et à la temporalité dans les apprentissages et l’évaluation des difficultés scolaires. Les nouvelles normes et la frénésie évaluative remettent en question l’existence, le sens et les modalités de l’enseignement spécialisé, la disqualification de toute pédagogie relationnelle au profit des procédures didactiques, se redoublant d’une médicalisation ignorante des temporalités subjectives et institutionnelles.
Du narcissisme ou le symptôme de la virtualité
Authors: Guiche Dorothée , Lecourt Édith
Published: December 2014

À partir du postulat de l’existence de la foule virtuelle, nous cherchons à questionner l’émergence de l’utilisation massive des réseaux sociaux sur Internet. Le sujet y trouve de nombreux bénéfices narcissiques qui lui permettent de prendre le risque du dévoilement de son intime. La transparence, au même titre qu’elle s’infiltre dans les institutions sociales et médicosociales, semble présente dans ce virtuel et se justifier pour chacun tant le plaisir pris et l’hyper-investissement narcissique lui sont nécessaires. Dans ce contexte, comment maintenir le désir d’extimité à la faveur de la mobilisation de la créativité ? Le recours à certains processus de pensée et à des organisations groupales, tels que le clivage ou la tentative de maintien de l’illusion groupale, permet de maintenir une certaine contenance, mais dont la fragilité est à la mesure de l’excès de cet investissement du virtuel.
Le travail de décider
Authors: Lamrani Jamal
Published: December 2014

Cet article vise à élucider ce qu’est le travail de décider au niveau des cadres dirigeants dans les organisations dites hypermodernes : centration sur les objectifs de performance à court terme, complexification de l’organisation, reporting permanent, rationalisation instrumentale, etc. Il met en débat deux questions. Dans ce type d’organisation, la mission de « management de la décision » des cadres dirigeants ( CD) est-elle encore possible, du fait de la raréfaction observée du temps managérial pour partager une vision, décider en équipe... ? Face au discours interne sur le management qui ne tient pas compte du réel et banalise les paradoxes, est-il possible pour eux de penser les décisions à prendre, d’accompagner le management intermédiaire pour porter ces décisions et gérer les contradictions liées à leur mise en œuvre, suivre les effets des décisions et les évaluer ? Cet article se base sur un récit d’intervention par l’analyse de pratique de décision auprès d’un groupe de CD d’une grande entreprise française de service public, dans un contexte économique d’entrée dans la concurrence européenne, de montée en complexité de l’organisation de l’entreprise et de mise place de la « culture de résultat dans tous les services ». Cette intervention a été conçue comme un dispositif d’accompagnement des postures et pratiques de décision des CD et comme un dispositif de recherche-action pour aider le groupe des CD , les acteurs du service Recherche et la Direction Générale, à repenser ensemble les limites du discours à l’œuvre dans l’entreprise sur la notion de responsabilité et de décision et les fondements du rôle du CD .