bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unfolded protein response in brain ischemia: A timely update
Authors: Yang Wei , Paschen Wulf
Published: October 2016

Folding and processing newly synthesized proteins are vital functions of the endoplasmic reticulum that are sensitive to a variety of stress conditions. The unfolded protein response is activated to restore endoplasmic reticulum function impaired by stress. While we know that brain ischemia impairs endoplasmic reticulum function, the role of unfolded protein response activation in post-ischemic recovery of neurologic function is only beginning to emerge. Here, we summarize what is known about endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response in brain ischemia and discuss recent findings from myocardial ischemia studies that could help to advance research on endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response in brain ischemia.
From academic laboratory to the market: Disclosed and undisclosed narratives of commercialization
Authors: Sapir Adi , Oliver Amalya L
Published: October 2016

This paper examines how the Weizmann Institute of Science has been telling the story of the successful commercialization of a scientific invention, through its corporate communication channels, from the early 1970s to today. The paper aims to shed light on the transformation processes by which intellectual-property-based commercialization activities have become widely institutionalized in universities all over the world, and on the complexities, ambiguities and tensions surrounding this transition. We look at the story of the scientific invention of Copolymer-1 at the Weizmann Institute of Science and its licensing to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, which subsequently developed the highly successful drug Copaxone for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. We argue that, in its tellings and retellings of the story of Copolymer-1, the Weizmann Institute has created narratives that serve to legitimize the institution of academic patenting in Israel.
‘The global assemblage of digital flow’
Authors: Pickren Graham
Published: October 2016

Geographers have been at the forefront of interrogating the changes made possible by the ubiquity of computing and the phenomenon of ‘big data’ in an emerging field known as ‘critical data studies’. In this article, I argue that engagement with the proliferation of computing infrastructures that make these new developments possible in the first place allows critical data studies to gain important historical-geographical perspective, connect to new manifestations of uneven development, and better grasp the role of non-human actors within emerging socio-technical relations. This expanded empirical framing opens up new theoretical implications and opportunities for public engagement with critical infrastructure.
Indigenous Suicide: A Global Perspective with a New Zealand Focus
Authors: Hatcher Simon
Published: October 2016

This perspective article describes the problem of Canadian indigenous suicide from a non-Canadian viewpoint. In particular, the article compares both similarities and differences in suicide prevention between Māori in New Zealand and indigenous peoples in Canada. It emphasises that the problem of indigenous suicide is not being indigenous but coping with losses secondary to colonisation. A useful way to translate this into helpful clinical conversations and actions is to think about loss of belonging. Culture and belonging are key components of identity and as such should be considered in all psychiatric encounters, not just in those who are considered minorities or “other.” The article concludes by suggesting how some of the experiences of addressing health inequalities and suicide in Māori may be applied in Canada.
Pilot Study for Implementing an Osteoporosis Education and Exercise Program in an Assisted Living Facility and Senior Community
Authors: Nanduri Aparna P. , Fullman Sally , Morell Lori , Buyske Steve , Wagner Mary L.
Published: October 2016

Background: Project Healthy Bones (PHB) is a 24-week, peer-led exercise and education program for older adults at risk of osteoporosis. Method: Residents from an assisted living and senior community program were enrolled after medical clearance. Participant demographics, geriatric fitness assessments, exercise logs, quizzes, and surveys were collected at baseline and 24 weeks. Data were analyzed using paired t tests and ANOVA of change scores for the pooled data within the R statistical environment. Results: Forty of the 53 enrolled participants completed the program. Participants improved their strength, balance, posture, and flexibility, resulting in a reduced risk of falls and fractures. In addition, their knowledge of bone health, nutrition, and fall prevention increased. Conclusion: Offering low-cost disease-specific programs such as PHB helps minimize the complications of osteoporosis and improve the overall health of participants. Implementing disease-specific public health programs in assisted living centers can increase access to programs.
Shifting Grounds
Authors: Crichton Hayley , Ricciardelli Rose
Published: October 2016

The framework of the new penology will be applied to reveal how the contemporary objectives of incarceration have functioned to alter the role of Canadian provincial correctional officers (COs). Specifically, changing policy and legislation toward a more punitive agenda shape the daily operations of correctional facilities and how COs interact with those in their custody. Rehabilitative initiatives of any kind appear to be pushed aside, as the new or intensifying challenges associated with the growing prisoner populations and changing penal discourses are addressed. Semistructured face-to-face interviews were conducted with Canadian provincial COs and data from these interviews were analyzed to explicate the ways in which the new penology has reshaped COs’ employment in part due to their obligatory adherence to increasingly punitive managerial directives including an increased reliance on using disciplinary segregation. Findings suggest officer strain is impacted by their lack of agency and decision-making capabilities in light of these occupational changes. Our findings also evince that although COs work in a too often negative environment, many believe in the rehabilitative potential of incarceration and, further, oppose the use of segregation.
The Development and Validation of a Mental Toughness Scale for Adolescents
Authors: McGeown Sarah , St. Clair-Thompson Helen , Putwain David W.
Published: October 2016

The present study examined the validity of a newly developed instrument, the Mental Toughness Scale for Adolescents, which examines the attributes of challenge, commitment, confidence (abilities and interpersonal), and control (life and emotion). The six-factor model was supported using exploratory factor analysis ( n = 373) and confirmatory factor analysis ( n = 372). In addition, the mental toughness attributes correlated with adolescents’ academic motivation and engagement ( n = 439), well-being (depression and anxiety; n = 279), and test anxiety ( n = 279), indicating relations with a number of affective, cognitive, and behavioral dispositions, and demonstrating relevance in education and potentially mental health contexts.
Vortex flow and lift generation of a non-slender reverse delta wing
Authors: Lee T , Ko LS
Published: October 2016

The vortex flow and lift force generated by a 50°-sweep non-slender reverse delta wing were investigated via particle image velocimetry, together with flow visualization and force balance measurement, at Re = 11,000. The non-slender reverse delta wing produced a delayed stall but a lower lift compared to its delta wing counterpart. The stalling mechanism was also found to be triggered by the disruption of the multiple spanwise vortex filaments developed over the upper wing surface. The vortex flowfield was, however, characterized by the co-existence of reverse delta wing vortices and multiple shear-layer vortices. The outboard location of the reverse delta wing vortex further implies that the lift force is mainly generated by the wing lower surface while the upper surface acts as a wake generator. The spatial progression of the flow parameters of the vortex generated by the non-slender reverse delta wing as a function of α was also discussed.
Challenges in establishing and maintaining functional school libraries: Lessons from Limpopo Province, South Africa
Authors: Mojapelo Samuel Maredi
Published: October 2016

Most governments, particularly in poor and developing African countries, are hesitant to pledge themselves through a legislated school library policy to roll out an active and sustainable library and information service for their schools to improve the quality of education. In South Africa, providing schools with a well-resourced and well-staffed library and information service is even more challenging because of the inheritance of the apartheid education system prior to 1994. The article is limited to just one part of a research project which investigated the resource provision in public high schools in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The purpose of the study was to investigate challenges that negatively affect the establishment and sustainability of an active and vigorous library and information service for all schools in Limpopo Province. The study was largely quantitative, blended with triangulation of both quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data from the principals or teacher-librarians at schools, while an interview schedule was used to collect qualitative data from education officials through face-to-face interviews. The findings established that there are daunting challenges which hinder effective establishment and maintenance of functional school library and information service. The national Department of Basic Education has a responsibility to ensure that school library policy is formulated, endorsed and implemented as a matter of urgency. The Government should also fast-track rural development to enable teachers and learners, particularly those in historically disadvantaged rural black communities, to access library materials in other amenities.
Demographic Factors Associated With Leading Causes of Injury Mortality in Ningbo, China
Authors: Zhu Yinchao , Jiang Xia , Li Hui , Wang Yong , Xu Guozhang
Published: October 2016

Injuries have emerged as a crucial public health concern in China. Data were obtained from the death registry system in Ningbo during 2004-2013. Mortality rates resulting from all injuries and the 6 most common types of injuries were analyzed to identify time trends using linear regression models on both the absolute scale and log scale. A decreased male to female ratio and increasing age were observed among the total injury deaths. The annual all-injury mortality rates declined considerably during the observation period. Injury mortality rates for motor vehicle traffic crashes, drowning, and suicide all showed a deceasing trend; however, only mortality from falls showed an increasing trend. There was a sharp increasing trend among females, with a disproportionate number of falls. The injury patterns in Ningbo are mostly comparable to those in high-income countries. Appropriate preventive strategies should be urgently tailored to control this aggressive evolution in older individuals and females.
A Symptom-Triggered Benzodiazepine Protocol Utilizing SAS and CIWA-Ar Scoring for the Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome in the Critically Ill
Authors: Sen Soumitra , Grgurich Philip , Tulolo Amanda , Smith-Freedman Andrew , Lei Yuxiu , Gray Anthony , Dargin James
Published: October 2016

Background: There are limited data on the efficacy of symptom-triggered therapy for alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) in the intensive care unit (ICU). Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a symptom-triggered benzodiazepine protocol utilizing Riker Sedation Agitation Scale (SAS) scoring for the treatment of AWS in the ICU. Methods: We performed a before-and-after study in a medical ICU. A protocol incorporating SAS scoring and symptom-triggered benzodiazepine dosing was implemented in place of a protocol that utilized the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-Ar) scale and fixed benzodiazepine dosing. Results: We enrolled 167 patients (135 in the preintervention and 32 in the postintervention group). The median duration of AWS was shorter in the postintervention (5, interquartile range [IQR] = 4-8 days) than in the preintervention group (8, IQR = 5-12 days; P < 0.01). Need for mechanical ventilation (31% vs 57%, P = 0.01), median ICU length of stay (LOS; 4, IQR = 2-7, vs 7, IQR = 4-11 days, P = 0.02), and hospital LOS (9, IQR = 6-13, vs 13, IQR = 9-18 days; P = 0.01) were less in the postintervention group. There was a reduction in mean total benzodiazepine exposure (74 ± 159 vs 450 ± 701 mg lorazepam; P < 0.01) in the postintervention group. Conclusion: A symptom-triggered benzodiazepine protocol utilizing SAS in critically ill patients is associated with a reduction in the duration of AWS treatment, benzodiazepine exposure, need for mechanical ventilation, and ICU and hospital LOS compared with a CIWA-Ar–based protocol using fixed benzodiazepine dosing.
Diffuse Gastric Carcinoma Undergoes Characteristic Phenotypic Changes in the Intravascular Environment: Evidence for a Reversal of the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Lymphovascular Metastasis
Authors: Bracey Tim S. , Keers Louise C. , Adams Susan A. , Smith Mark E. F.
Published: October 2016

This article reports differences between the properties of extravascular carcinoma, which generally forms the vast bulk of a tumor, and those of intravascular carcinoma, at both primary and metastatic lymph node sites. In a morphological and immunohistochemical study of 19 diffuse gastric adenocarcinomas, we report that in comparison to extravascular carcinoma, the intravascular tumor compartment showed frequent and profound phenotypic change, including increased tumor cell cohesion, differentiation and cadherin/catenin expression. For example, greatest cohesion was seen at the intravascular site in 78% ( P = .00006) of primary cancers and in 84% ( P = .000015) of their lymph node metastases. Pan cadherin showed a statistically significant increase at the intravascular metastatic site ( P = .031). We suggest that this change from an extravascular isolated cell phenotype to an intravascular cohesive phenotype represents reversal of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Since this proposed reversal of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in intravascular carcinoma is frequently conspicuous in routine histological sections of many types of cancer, as our previous publications have indicated, this process is likely to have widespread significance for the biology of metastasis.
A 3-D CT Analysis of Screw and Suture-Button Fixation of the Syndesmosis
Authors: Schon Jason M. , Williams Brady T. , Venderley Melanie B. , Dornan Grant J. , Backus Jonathon D. , Turnbull Travis Lee , LaPrade Robert F. , Clanton Thomas O.
Published: October 2016

Background:

Historically, syndesmosis injuries have been repaired with screw fixation; however, some suggest that suture-button constructs may provide a more accurate anatomic and physiologic reduction. The purpose of this study was to compare changes in the volume of the syndesmotic space following screw or suture-button fixation using a preinjury and postoperative 3-D computed tomography (CT) model. The null hypothesis was that no difference would be observed among repair techniques.

Methods:

Twelve pairs of cadaveric specimens were dissected to identify the syndesmotic ligaments. Specimens were imaged with CT prior to the creation of a complete syndesmosis injury and were subsequently repaired using 1 of 3 randomly assigned techniques: (a) one 3.5-mm cortical screw, (b) 1 suture-button, and (c) 2 suture-buttons. Specimens were imaged postoperatively with CT. 3-D models of all scans and tibiofibular joint space volumes were calculated to assess restoration of the native syndesmosis. Analysis of variance and Tukey’s method were used to compare least squares mean differences from the intact syndesmosis among repair techniques.

Results:

For each of the 3 fixation methods, the total postoperative syndesmosis volume was significantly decreased relative to the intact state. The total mean decreases in volume compared with the intact state for the 1-suture-button construct, 2-suture-button construct, and syndesmotic screw were −561 mm3 (95% CI, −878 to −244), −964 mm3 (95% CI, −1281 to −647) and −377 mm3 (95% CI, −694 to −60), respectively.

Conclusion:

All repairs notably reduced the volume of the syndesmosis beyond the intact state. Fixation with 1 suture-button was not significantly different from screw or 2-suture-button fixation; however, fixation with 2 suture-buttons resulted in significantly decreased volume compared with screw fixation.

Clinical Relevance:

The results of this study suggest that the 1-suture-button repair technique and the screw fixation repair technique were comparable for reduction of syndesmosis injuries, although both may overcompress the syndesmosis.
MRI Quantification of the Impact of Ankle Position on Syndesmosis Anatomy
Authors: Nault Marie-Lyne , Marien Melissa , Hébert-Davies Jonah , Laflamme G. Yves , Pelsser Vincent , Rouleau Dominique M. , Gosselin-Papadopoulos Nayla , Leduc Stéphane
Published: October 2016

Background:

Despite the common occurrence of syndesmotic injuries in ankle trauma, the distal tibiofibular relationship remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anatomical impact of ankle sagittal positioning on the tibiofibular relationship in intact ankles by using a validated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)–based measurement system.

Methods:

In this radiologic study, 34 healthy volunteers underwent a series of ankle MRIs with the ankle stabilized in 3 positions: neutral position (NP), dorsiflexion (DF), and plantarflexion (PF). Using a previously validated measurement system, 6 fixed translational measurements and 2 fixed angles were recorded on each MRI and compared using paired t tests.

Results:

When comparing PF to DF, the anterior distance between the tibial incisura and the fibula varied from 2.5 mm to 3.9 mm ( P < .001), respectively. The middle distance between the tibial incisura and the fibula varied from 1.5 mm to 2.6 mm ( P < .001). Fibular angle varied from 8.7 degrees to 7.8 degrees of internal rotation ( P = .046), respectively. When comparing NP to DF, only the anterior distance was found to be significantly different, varying 0.4 mm ( P < .002).

Conclusions:

Ankle dorsiflexion leads to an increase in external rotation and lateral translation of the fibula. These changes could be measured on MRI using a validated measurement system. Ankle motion did have an impact on the distal tibiofibular relationship and should be considered in studies pertaining to syndesmosis imaging.

Clinical Relevance:

This is the first in vivo study demonstrating the impact of sagittal ankle position on the distal tibiofibular relationship in an uninjured ankle. Our findings also support the practice of placing the ankle in dorsiflexion when fixing a disrupted syndesmosis.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, comparative study.
A 28-Day Repeated Dose Toxicological Study of an Aqueous Extract of Morus Alba L.
Authors: Marx Tennille K. , Glávits Róbert , Endres John R. , Palmer Philip A. , Clewell Amy E. , Murbach Timothy S. , Hirka Gábor , Pasics Ilona
Published: October 2016

Morus alba L. (white mulberry) leaves are one of the oldest recognized traditional Chinese medicines. More recently, M alba leaves and their constituents, particularly iminosugars (or azasugars), have garnered attention for their ability to maintain normal blood glucose concentrations, an effect identified in both animal studies and human clinical trials. Reducose (Phynova Group Limited) is a commercial water-soluble extract of M alba leaves standardized to 5% 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), an iminosugar with α-glucosidase inhibition properties. Although there is an extensive history of consumption of M alba leaves by humans and animals worldwide, suggesting that the leaves and their extracts have a relatively good safety profile, we are unaware of safety assessments on an extract containing a higher amount of DNJ than that occurs naturally. The current 28-day repeated dose oral toxicity study in rats, conducted according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines, was carried out to assess the safety of Reducose. Male and female Hsd.Han Wistar rats (4 groups of 10 animals/sex) were administered Reducose via gavage at doses of 0, 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000 mg/kg body weight (bw)/d. No treatment-related mortality or adverse effects (per clinical observations, body weight/weight gain, food consumption, ophthalmoscopy, clinical pathology, gross pathology, organ weights, or histopathology) were observed, and no target organs were identified. The no observed adverse effect level was determined to be 4,000 mg/kg bw/d for both male and female rats, the highest dose tested.
Acculturation Predicts Negative Affect and Shortened Telomere Length
Authors: Ruiz R. Jeanne , Trzeciakowski Jerome , Moore Tiffany , Ayers Kimberly S. , Pickler Rita H.
Published: October 2016

Chronic stress may accelerate cellular aging. Telomeres, protective “caps” at the end of chromosomes, modulate cellular aging and may be good biomarkers for the effects of chronic stress, including that associated with acculturation. The purpose of this analysis was to examine telomere length (TL) in acculturating Hispanic Mexican American women and to determine the associations among TL, acculturation, and psychological factors. As part of a larger cross-sectional study of 516 pregnant Hispanic Mexican American women, we analyzed DNA in blood samples ( N = 56) collected at 22–24 weeks gestation for TL as an exploratory measure using monochrome multiplex quantitative telomere polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We measured acculturation with the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans, depression with the Beck Depression Inventory, discrimination with the Experiences of Discrimination Scale, and stress with the Perceived Stress Scale. TL was negatively moderately correlated with two variables of acculturation: Anglo orientation and greater acculturation-level scores. We combined these scores for a latent variable, acculturation, and we combined depression, stress, and discrimination scores in another latent variable, “negative affectivity.” Acculturation and negative affectivity were bidirectionally correlated. Acculturation significantly negatively predicted TL. Using structural equation modeling, we found the model had an excellent fit with the root mean square error of approximation estimate = .0001, comparative fit index = 1.0, Tucker–Lewis index = 1.0, and standardized root mean square residual = .05. The negative effects of acculturation on the health of Hispanic women have been previously demonstrated. Findings from this analysis suggest a link between acculturation and TL, which may indicate accelerated cellular aging associated with overall poor health outcomes.
Influence of sinusoidal airflow and airflow distance on human thermal response to a personalized ventilation system
Authors: Xie Yongxin , Fu Sauchung , Wu Chili , Chao Christopher Y.H.
Published: October 2016

Since the concept of personalized ventilation was introduced in the late 1990s, many studies on thermal comfort have been conducted and a number of parameters identified. In this research, the influence of three parameters, the airflow speed, airflow fluctuating period and a parameter which has drawn less attention in previous studies – the airflow distance between the human subject and the nozzle of the personalized ventilation device on air movement perception, thermal sensation and thermal comfort – are studied. The combinations of fluctuating period and airflow amplitude were selected based on the Power Spectrum Density method. Then 25 human subjects participated in the thermal comfort experiment, each of them underwent 54 tests of different experimental conditions and expressed their thermal feelings by completing the survey questionnaire. Our findings showed that a longer airflow distance could lead to cooler thermal sensation, but not cause any difference in thermal comfort. Changing the fluctuating period of the sinusoidal airflow from 10 s to 60 s did not cause an influence on thermal sensation, but a shorter fluctuating period could result in a higher air movement perception. When dealing with thermal comfort issues, a joint effect with airflow speed and fluctuating period occurs and this should also be considered.
Mitochondrial-dependent mechanisms are involved in angiotensin II-induced apoptosis in dopaminergic neurons
Authors: Ou Zhou , Jiang Teng , Gao Qing , Tian You-Yong , Zhou Jun-Shan , Wu Liang , Shi Jian-Quan , Zhang Ying-Dong
Published: October 2016

Introduction:

We recently demonstrated that angiotensin II (Ang II) was involved in the etiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD) via induction of apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons, but the mechanisms are not completely elucidated. Here, we asked whether mitochondrial-dependent mechanisms contributed to the Ang II-induced dopaminergic neuronal apoptosis.

Materials and methods:

CATH.a cells were incubated with Ang II in combination with mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor antagonists, and apoptosis rate, caspase-3 activity, cytochrome c levels, and mPTP opening were assessed.

Results:

We showed that Ang II triggered apoptosis via a mitochondrial-dependent pathway, as elevated cytochrome c levels were observed in the cytosol. By employing cyclosporin A and sanglifehrin A, two specific mPTP inhibitors, we revealed that cytochrome c release from mitochondria into cytoplasm was ascribed to mPTP opening. Meanwhile, the aforementioned effects could be abrogated by an AT1 receptor antagonist losartan rather than an AT2 receptor antagonist PD123319.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates that Ang II triggers mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis via facilitating mPTP opening through an AT1 receptor-mediated fashion in dopaminergic neurons. These findings give insight into the effect of Ang II in the etiology of PD, and reinforce the application of AT1 receptor antagonists for PD treatment.
Mandatory mediation in Australia’s civil justice system
Authors: Waye Vicki
Published: October 2016

As courts have buckled under the pressure to provide quick and efficient access to justice the practice of mandatory or quasi-mandatory mediation has proliferated across Australia, and, indeed, now occupies the position of Australia’s default dispute resolution mechanism. However, it remains unclear whether mandatory mediation has led to widespread improvements in access to justice or a reorientation of the legal system away from adversarial culture. In many cases, mandatory mediation appears to comprise a rough banging of heads together to achieve a quick settlement rather than the iterative, transformative process envisaged by traditional mediation practitioners. Where there is significant power imbalance between the parties, an emphasis on diversion rather than just and sustainable outcomes can be problematic.
The controversial intellectual giant of our time
Authors: Magyar John J
Published: October 2016

While the late Justice Antonin Scalia is best known for his colourful, intemperate dissents, not everyone is aware of his broader significance as a jurist and legal scholar. As well as being successful at the bar and bench, Justice Scalia adopted an approach to statutory and constitutional interpretation called ‘textualism’ which proved highly influential, and which inspired an enormous quantity of scholarly writing. He claimed that his approach to adjudication was value-neutral; however, his well-known connections to the Republican Party made him a target for accusations of political bias. His concurring opinions in several landmark Supreme Court judgments added fuel to the controversy by providing outcomes which advanced policies generally regarded as favourable to those on the right of the political spectrum. The controversy tends to overshadow the enormous impact that Scalia’s jurisprudence has had on the legal community. He inspired the development of legal thought on both sides of the political divide, and he drew scholars from a variety of academic disciplines into the dialogue. In light of the enormous body of literature he inspired, and his political, legal and social impact, Justice Scalia deserves to be regarded as one of the great common law jurists of the Anglo-American tradition, alongside historical figures such as Denning and Pound.
Implied terms again, or how Lord Hoffmann got treated in Marks & Spencer
Authors: Fisher James C
Published: October 2016

This comment summarizes and reflects on the decision of the United Kingdom Supreme Court in Marks and Spencer v BNP Paribas Securities Services Trust Company (Jersey) Ltd. It presents the leading judgment as an attempt to obstruct the development of a welcome new understanding of implication of contract terms as an exercise in contractual construction. This attempt is unconvincing, requiring an unduly timid reading of Lord Hoffmann’s influential judgment in Attorney General of Belize v Belize Telecom Ltd.
A centennial refurbishment of Dunlop’s emporium of contractual concepts
Authors: Swaminathan Shivprasad
Published: October 2016

Since Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co v New Garage Motors (1915), the law pertaining to the enforceability of stipulated contractual sums in most of the common law world has revolved around the dichotomy between unenforceable penalties that are in terrorem on the one hand and enforceable liquidated damages that are genuine pre-estimates of loss, on the other. The United Kingdom Supreme Court took up the Dunlop test for reconsideration in Cavendish Square Holding BV v Talal El Makdessi and ParkingEye Limited v Beavis (2015). While on the surface the court ‘upheld’ the penalties rule in Dunlop, in quintessentially common law fashion, it recast it in such a manner that the old rule survives only in name. It renders otiose the enquiry into whether any stipulation is a genuine pre-estimate and hence a liquidated damages clause and redefines a penalty as a stipulation that is unconscionable in relation to the ‘interest’ protected, whether or not in terrorem. Practically, the new test operates as a test of ‘reasonableness’ of stipulated sums would. Theoretically, however, the new test continues to rest on a questionable distinction between primary and secondary obligations.
‘Horizontal effect’ of the Hong Kong Basic Law
Authors: Liu Hin Ting , Chan Joshua
Published: October 2016

One area of Hong Kong law which has received surprisingly little attention is how far its human rights provisions reach into the private sphere. This issue is commonly known as ‘horizontal effect’. It will be argued that in the Hong Kong context, courts are under an obligation to develop the common law with a view to achieving maximum consistency with the Hong Kong Basic Law, even when a purely private dispute is involved. As such, judges should not feel constrained by legislative inaction, but should take the initiative to fill perceived gaps in the common law in order to fulfil their obligation to adjudicate in accordance with the Basic Law. In the final analysis, it is suggested that this obligation may even necessitate the creation of a new cause of action or require the judge to rule inconsistently with a superior court’s decision.
Electronic signatures in online transactions
Authors: Srivastava Aashish
Published: October 2016

There are several laws and some notable judicial decisions across the globe to regulate electronic signatures. These judicial decisions when interpreting legislation are not consistent with each other. They leave much to be desired. There are still problems with the validity of an electronic signature. In this paper the author mainly focuses on the South African model. The major legislation regulating the use of electronic signatures in South Africa is the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002. It has recently been interpreted in the case of Spring Forest Trading v Wilberry by the High Court of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the highest court of South Africa, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). However, there is a wide difference in the approaches of the High Court of KZN and the SCA. Even in other jurisdictions judicial decisions have not helped towards clarifying the law; rather one has to wade through conflicting approaches of judges to understand where the law is going. The paper concludes with a few recommendations, which if adopted may help clarify the legal position of electronic signatures in South Africa and worldwide.
Experience or deterrence? Revisiting an old but neglected issue
Authors: Hirtenlehner Helmut , Wikström Per-Olof H.
Published: October 2016

Deterrence theory states that fear of sanctions secures compliance with the law. Empirical research on the deterrent effect of legal sanctions has remained inconclusive though. This applies especially to perceptual deterrence studies. Most of them are cross-sectional in nature and rely on measures of self-reported previous offending, which implies that they actually explain past criminal behaviour from current perceptions of risk. However, such a temporal ordering of the concepts is more congruent with experiential effects according to which previous criminal involvement lowers subsequent risk perceptions rather than depicting deterrent relationships. The few longitudinal studies that have attempted to disentangle experiential and deterrent effects are based on samples from North America. Their common finding is that experiential effects exist and that they are substantially larger than the deterrent effect. Most of them reject the notion of deterrence. This work contributes to the discussion by for the first time addressing the experience–deterrence issue with panel data collected in the UK. Results show that associations between current risk estimates and prior offending found in cross-sectional studies reflect chiefly experiential effects. Evidence in support of deterrence remains very limited.
The School-to-Coffin Pipeline: Queer Youth, Suicide, and Living the In-Between
Authors: Wozolek Boni , Wootton Lindsey , Demlow Aaron
Published: October 2016

Written from the perspectives of a tenured high school teacher/researcher, an out bisexual sophomore, and a transgender senior, this article discusses the challenges of being and becoming an out lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) student in a large, Midwestern high school. Through counternarratives, the authors explore what they call the school-to-coffin pipeline, a system that (un)intentionally positions LGBTQ teens in what has become a horrific, yet normalized, epidemic of queer youth suicide. The authors use the framework of this pipeline to examine what it means to live with/in the in-between of school rhetoric and a dearth of enacted school policy that could literally be life-saving for queer youth. Through an examination of the everyday challenges queer youth encounter, the authors argue that all adults involved in schooling—including teachers, teacher educators, administrators, counselors, and school psychologist—are necessarily (un)knowing participants in the school-to-coffin pipeline, contributing to institutional homophobia and, by extension, LGBTQ youth suicide. The authors argue that by attending to the school-to-coffin pipeline, those who contribute to it can begin to interrupt the current, and possibly continuing, cycle of self-inflicted violence on queer youth bodies.
Mapping the Evolving Ideas of Occupational Justice
Authors: Gupta Jyothi
Published: October 2016

The values of occupational therapy are grounded in justice, and its origins in activism and advocacy. Enabling individuals to participate in meaningful occupations to enhance health and well-being was the genesis of the profession that answered a call to justice. Occupational science brought focus to understand humans as occupational beings and made justice more visible in the discourse. A systematic mapping review was undertaken to deconstruct how notions of occupational justice (OJ) have been woven in the literature. The ideas of OJ were dominant in 40 out of the 120 articles that met the study’s inclusion criteria. OJ was represented mainly in the context of disadvantaged groups and dissonance in practice. For OJ to influence policy, the focus on the individuals’ experiences of occupational injustices must be seen as transacting with systems and policies that contribute to participation inequities in groups and populations.
Uniform-tension form-finding design for asymmetric cable-mesh deployable reflector antennas
Authors: Yang Guigeng , Duan Baoyan , Zhang Yiqun , Yang Dongwu
Published: October 2016

Space antennas with high gain and high directivity are in great demand for future communication and observation applications. Deployable cable-mesh reflector antennas are required to be tensioned in a self-equilibrated state through form-finding design. In order to ensure the cable-mesh reflector antennas’ high performances, both surface accuracy requirements and tension uniformity should be considered in the form-finding design process. To effectively implement the form-finding design for asymmetric cable-mesh antennas, a two-step uniform-tension form-finding approach is presented. In step 1, with the cable tension and membrane stress being considered simultaneously, an iterative design technique which combines force density method and surface stress density method is presented. In step 2, considering the asymmetry between the rear and front nets, the nodal z-coordinates and cable tensions of the rear net are designed with the combination of the equilibrium matrix method and force density method. Finally, an offset AstroMesh antenna is designed using the proposed method. For the obtained antenna, the cable tension and membrane stress of the front net are completely uniform, and the maximum tension ratio of the rear cable net is 1.06, which are very satisfactory.
Simulation and experimental studies to verify the effect of cutting parameters on chip shrinkage coefficient and cutting forces in machining of A6061 aluminum alloy
Authors: Pham Thi-Hoa , Mac Thi-Bich , Tong Van-Canh , Banh Tien-Long , Nguyen Duc-Toan
Published: October 2016

This article predicts the relationship between chip shrinkage coefficient and cutting parameters such as cutting speed and uncut chip thickness in a cutting process of A6061 aluminum alloy. To this end, shrinkage coefficient–based finite element method was first estimated using the Johnson–Cook (J-C) and Bao–Wierzbicki (B-W) material fracture models. After that, experimental measurements of the chip shrinkage coefficients were performed at the same cutting conditions to compare with simulation data and confirm the accuracy of material damage models. By a simultaneous evaluation of the effects of cutting parameters on the chip shrinkage coefficient, the B-W model was found to match well with the experiment. So that, the B-W model was then utilized to verify the effect of various cutting speeds and uncut chip thicknesses on the chip shrinkage coefficient and cutting force. Finally, using the least square method, the relationship between chip shrinkage coefficient and cutting force was obtained. The above-mentioned relationship is believed to be useful in determination of optimal cutting conditions in high-speed machining.
Self-sensing and strengthening effects of reinforced concrete structures with near-surfaced mounted smart basalt fibre–reinforced polymer bars
Authors: Tang Yongsheng , Wang Zhiqiang , Song Min
Published: October 2016

A new retrofitting system is proposed for reinforced concrete structures with application of near-surfaced mounted smart basalt fibre–reinforced polymer bar. The distributed optical fibre sensing technology, namely pre-pump pulse Brillouin optical time-domain analysis, is applied as the sensing technology for the smart bar. Then the proposed system is explained in detail from both self-sensing and strengthening. Finally, some experiments were implemented with reinforced concrete beams to verify the actual effects. From the results, it is concluded that the ultimate strength and the stiffness after steel rebar yielding can be increased obviously due to the high strength and ultimate strain of the smart basalt fibre–reinforced polymer bar. Meanwhile, the structure strain distribution can be measured with the smart basalt fibre–reinforced polymer bar, with which some key parameters can be well assessed, such as crack location, crack width, displacement and bending moment. However, the self-sensing effects indeed have been obviously influenced by the strain measurement accuracy especially after concrete cracking. Therefore, it is meaningful to improve the sensing accuracy especially for complicated strain. Additionally, some prestress upon the smart basalt fibre–reinforced polymer bar can improve both sensing and strengthening performance.
Experimental study on the welding procedure of the central groove of armored face conveyor
Authors: Wang Aiming , Cheng Xiaohan , Meng Guoying , Wo Lei , Pang Zhengduo
Published: October 2016

The central groove is a key component of armored face conveyor. Failure of welded joints in the central groove often occurs in engineering. In this article, the welding procedure parameters were analyzed to the improve strength and toughness of the dissimilar steel weld joint in the central groove. First, four types of super-high wear-resistant steel and two types of high-strength welding wire were chosen as the welding materials. Carbon equivalent method, cold crack sensitivity index method, and maximum hardness of heat-affected zone test were applied to analyze their welding properties. Second, to improve their weldability, the proper preheating temperature was determined using Y-groove cracking test and mechanical property tests. Finally, a semi-automatic CO2 welding method was adopted, and a second mechanical property test was conducted to determine the proper welding wire. Results show that the chosen steels have poor weldability and cold cracking sensitivity. Preheating must be used to prevent cold cracking. When the preheating temperature is higher than 80°C, the cold crack rate can be controlled to under 20%, which can satisfy application requirements. Welding wire YMGR76 is appropriate. Using YMGR76, the preheating temperature drops to 120°C, and the strength and toughness of the weld joint are improved to 813 MPa and 112 KV2/J, respectively. This study provides a welding procedure to improve the reliability of the central groove.
Opinions and preferences of British Columbia pharmacists and physicians on medication management services
Authors: Tsao Nicole W. , Khakban Amir , Gastonguay Louise , Zafari Zafar , Lynd Larry D. , Marra Carlo A.
Published: October 2016

Background:

Medication management (MM) services are being provided by pharmacists across Canada in various forms, but pharmacist-physician collaboration is still not a routine practice in most jurisdictions. This survey aimed to gather pharmacists’ and physicians’ opinions and preferences for MM provision.

Methods:

Two parallel, cross-sectional online surveys, including best-worst scaling tasks, were designed for pharmacists and physicians in British Columbia to capture and compare their preferences for a number of attributes of MM.

Results:

Surveys were completed by 119 pharmacists and 146 physicians. Results indicate that pharmacists and physicians had similar opinions on many aspects of MM. Ninety-five percent of pharmacists and 69% of physicians believed that additional health services are needed to help patients optimize the use of their medications. However, the majority of each group felt that they were the most important health care professional in providing this service. Most pharmacists (79%) and some physicians (25%) thought that optimizing use of medications would result in both decreased costs and utilization to the health care system. Both pharmacists and physicians felt that the best attribute of an MM service would be if the services resulted in improved health and medication use for patients. Both groups were motivated by increased remuneration for MM; however, the relative strength of preference for this was higher among physicians. Interestingly, physicians valued improved medication adherence as a result of MM more highly than pharmacists did.

Discussion and Conclusion:

Most pharmacists and physicians agreed that improving patients’ health and medication use would be the best attribute of MM and that there is a need for such services. However, physicians also had strong preferences for being remunerated for participating in MM provision.
Antihypertensive treatment should be commenced in hospital after stroke: Pro
Authors: Kleinig Timothy
Published: October 2016

The most important intervention to lower stroke recurrence rates is to ensure that every eligible patient adheres to antihypertensive therapy guidelines. Although there is no strong evidence that acute in-hospital antihypertensive treatment is either beneficial or harmful, there is robust evidence that long-term adherence is promoted by antihypertensive prescription in-hospital or at discharge.
Image reconstruction algorithm based on variable atomic number matching pursuit
Authors: Zhao Hongtu , Chen Chong , Shi Chenxu
Published: October 2016

As the most critical part of compressive sensing theory, reconstruction algorithm has an impact on the quality and speed of image reconstruction. After studying some existing convex optimization algorithms and greedy algorithms, we find that convex optimization algorithms should possess higher complexity to achieve higher reconstruction quality. Also, fixed atomic numbers used in most greedy algorithms increase the complexity of reconstruction. In this context, we propose a novel algorithm, called variable atomic number matching pursuit, which can improve the accuracy and speed of reconstruction. Simulation results show that variable atomic number matching pursuit is a fast and stable reconstruction algorithm and better than the other reconstruction algorithms under the same conditions.
The danger of a single story: Iconic stories in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide
Authors: Jessee Erin
Published: October 2016

In the aftermath of the 1994 genocide, the government of Rwanda—much like other transitional regimes around the world—has prioritized reconciliation initiatives that educate civilians with a highly politicized understanding of the conflict and encourage them to speak about the conflict and its aftermath in a manner that reinforces the legitimacy of the current government. However, individual survivors, bystanders, ex-combatants, and/or perpetrators of the genocide find various subtle ways to reinforce, resist, or complicate the current official history. This article analyzes a series of “iconic stories” that are repeated by Rwandans in different settings due to their historical and personal resonance for what they can tell us about the ethnic and political tensions that often continue to divide Rwandans and the overall challenges associated with everyday life since the genocide. Yet, engaging with these iconic stories places the researcher in a difficult position where the democratizing potential of oral history is potentially undermined. This article argues that even while qualitative researchers have an obligation to listen deeply to their informants, their moral and professional obligations to avoid reproducing narratives that promote potentially reprehensible agendas—for example, genocide denial or the legitimation of authoritarianism—make contextualizing their participants’ narratives in relation to the personal, historical, and political climate in which they are being produced essential.