bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On choice of initial guess in the variational iteration method and its applications to nonlinear oscillator
Authors: Hashemi Gholamreza , Ahmadi Morteza
Published: February 2015

This paper uses the variational iteration method to study nonlinear oscillator, and He’s amplitude–frequency formulation is adopted here as a good initial guess. In general, the ability of amplitude–frequency formulation to present reasonable and precision results makes it a reliable method, especially in oscillation systems. In addition, simplicity in the determination of the frequency of the system is one of the distinctive merits in this method. On the other hand, it is difficult to attain higher accurate solutions or higher order solutions in amplitude–frequency formulation. Thus, to overcome this hardship, one can select amplitude–frequency formulation as an initial guess in variational iteration method; this not only noticeably improves the accuracy and efficiency of variational iteration method (improved variational iteration method) but also accomplishing higher order solutions is feasible. Moreover, the more precise the frequency of the initial guess of variational iteration method, the more dominant the final results of variational iteration method. To show the ability and precision of this choice, some examples are presented and their results are compared to variational iteration method, amplitude–frequency formulation, energy balance method, and fourth Runge-Kutta’s numerical method. The resultant graphs and charts show an excellent agreement to this choice. In fact, the choice of amplitude–frequency formulation as an initial guess not only improves various aspects of the variational iteration method but also it distinguishes decline the relatively complex trend of calculating of initial guess compared to other ways.
The effects of fastening strength on the variation in stress-free temperature in continuous welded rail
Authors: Gräbe Petrus J , Jacobs Dylan
Published: February 2015

Continuous welded rail (CWR) is a fundamental component of any modern track structure and has several advantages over former types of rail joining processes. The reduction in maintenance and related costs has become the most attractive property of CWR although careful monitoring and maintenance of CWR is essential to ensure safe train operations. Management of the stress-free temperature (SFT) of any section of CWR in order to prevent rail breaks and lateral buckling that could lead to derailments is a vital duty of the track maintenance team. Variations in the SFT are influenced by a number of external factors. This paper describes experimental field and laboratory tests carried out to investigate to what extent the fastening strength influences the variation in SFT in CWR track on Fist fastenings and two types of pads. The research established a nonlinear relationship between clamping force and rail movement through the fasteners as well as a strongly linear relationship between clamping force and the variation in SFT. It is also demonstrated that although the friction coefficient of the pad has an influence on rail movement through the fastener, the primary factor influencing SFT variations is the clip force. This paper concludes by quantifying the relationship between clamping force and the expected variation in SFT with clear guidelines on the management of the SFT in CWR.
Performance investigation of extended-state-observer-based roll autopilot design
Authors: Sirisha ChV , Das Ranajit , Talole SE
Published: February 2015

In this work, performance analysis of the recently appeared extended-state-observer (ESO)-based roll autopilot design is carried out. Firstly, considering a more realistic roll dynamics, performance comparison of the ESO-based design with several classical roll autopilot structures is carried out and the related results are presented. Next, the better performing designs are implemented and validated through a high fidelity nonlinear 6-DOF environment for a typical tactical missile in a realistic engagement scenario. Lastly, performance of the ESO-based design is investigated using Monte Carlo simulations under several subsystem parameter uncertainties. The results show that the ESO-based design offers satisfactory performance in controlling roll angle and its rate in the presence of significant disturbances, parameter uncertainties and cross-coupling effects and thus offers a viable approach towards design of roll autopilot for high performance tactical missiles.
Motivating intersectoral collaboration with the Hygienic City Campaign in Jingchang, China
Authors: Li Bingqin , Huikuri Suvi , Zhang Yongmei , Chen Wenjiang
Published: February 2015

Intersectoral collaboration is important for policy implementation. However, effective collaboration may be difficult to achieve because of poor internal drive to collaborate, disagreements on framing the problem, institutional constraints and poor leadership. This article examines how competitive campaigns stimulate intersectoral collaboration in the context of healthy urban planning. We examine the case of the Creating Hygienic City Campaign in Jingchang, China from 2006 to 2011, illustrating how the city resorted to intersectoral collaboration to achieve the multiple targets and thus improved public and environmental hygiene. The paper argues that a competitive campaign, when well-organized, can overcome some of the barriers to intersectoral collaboration by building a campaign organization team, legitimizing the leadership, and enhancing public awareness and involvement. The article also suggests that the campaign approach in its current form failed to involve local authorities in setting the targets and was unable to sustain certain efforts.
Sharing reflections on inclusive sanitation
Authors: Banana Evans , Chikoti Patrick , Harawa Chisomo , McGranahan Gordon , Mitlin Diana , Stephen Stella , Schermbrucker Noah , Shumba Farirai , Walnycki Anna
Published: February 2015

This paper draws on sanitation innovations in Blantyre (Malawi), Chinhoyi (Zimbabwe), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and Kitwe (Zambia) driven by slum(1)/shack dweller federations to consider what an inclusive approach to sanitation would involve. This includes what is possible for low-income households when there is little or no external support, no piped water supply and no city sewers to connect to. The paper discusses low-income households’ choices in situations where households can only afford US$ 3–4 per month for sanitation (for instance between communal, shared and household provision). It also considers the routes to both spatial and social inclusion (including the role of loan finance in the four cities) and its political underpinnings. In each of the four cities, the community engagement in sanitation intended from the outset to get the engagement and support of local authorities for city-wide sanitation provision.
Urethral condylomas in men: experience in 123 patients without previous treatment
Authors: Vives Álvaro , Vazquez Andrés , Rajmil Oswaldo , Cosentino Marco
Published: February 2015

The most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) is infection by human papillomavirus. There are more than 100 types of human papillomavirus, and over 30 of them involve the genital area. Urethral involvement is uncommon and usually limited to the distal 3 cm of the meatus. There are various treatments for urethral condylomas; as a rule, they are limited by a difficult approach, by recurrences, and by potential complications, the most significant of which is urethral stenosis. The purpose of the treatments is to remove the warts and induce lesion-free periods. Such treatments do not eliminate the infection nor do they prevent continued transmission of the virus. We retrospectively evaluated 123 patients diagnosed and treated for condylomas in the genital area at our Institution between April 2009 and April 2012. The patients’ mean age was 28.7 years (range 19–51). Of the 123 patients included, 48 (39%) had a history of previous STIs, most frequently gonococcal urethritis. Three of them had a urethral malformation in the form of hypospadias, and another three reported a previous urologic manipulation (catheterisation). Meatal/urethral condylomas are rare, cryotherapy is simple, easy to apply, and has a very low risk of complications in patients with externally accessible warts.
Anticipating Divine Protection? Reminders of God Can Increase Nonmoral Risk Taking
Authors: Kupor Daniella M. , Laurin Kristin , Levav Jonathan
Published: February 2015

Religiosity and participation in religious activities have been linked with decreased risky behavior. In the current research, we hypothesized that exposure to the concept of God can actually increase people’s willingness to engage in certain types of risks. Across seven studies, reminders of God increased risk taking in nonmoral domains. This effect was mediated by the perceived danger of a risky option and emerged more strongly among individuals who perceive God as a reliable source of safety and protection than among those who do not. Moreover, in an eighth study, when participants were first reminded of God and then took a risk that produced negative consequences (i.e., when divine protection failed to materialize), participants reported feeling more negatively toward God than did participants in the same situation who were not first reminded of God. This research contributes to an understanding of the divergent effects that distinct components of religion can exert on behavior.
Illusory Feature Slowing
Authors: Cook Richard , Aichelburg Clarisse , Johnston Alan
Published: February 2015

Upright static faces are widely thought to recruit holistic representations, whereby individual features are integrated into nondecomposable wholes for recognition and interpretation. In contrast, little is known about the perceptual integration of dynamic features when viewing moving faces. People are frequently exposed to correlated eye and mouth movements, such as the characteristic changes that accompany facial emotion, yawning, sneezing, and laughter. However, it is unclear whether the visual system is sensitive to these dynamic regularities, encoding facial behavior relative to a set of dynamic global prototypes, or whether it simply forms piecemeal descriptions of feature states over time. To address this question, we sought evidence of perceptual interactions between dynamic facial features. Crucially, we found illusory slowing of feature motion in the presence of another moving feature, but it was limited to upright faces and particular relative-phase relationships. Perceptual interactions between dynamic features suggest that local changes are integrated into models of global facial change.
Aggressive-Antisocial Boys Develop Into Physically Strong Young Men
Authors: Isen Joshua D. , McGue Matthew K. , Iacono William G.
Published: February 2015

Young men with superior upper-body strength typically show a greater proclivity for physical aggression than their weaker male counterparts. The traditional interpretation of this phenomenon is that young men calibrate their attitudes and behaviors to their physical formidability. Physical strength is thus viewed as a causal antecedent of aggressive behavior. The present study is the first to examine this phenomenon within a developmental framework. We capitalized on the fact that physical strength is a male secondary sex characteristic. In two longitudinal cohorts of children, we estimated adolescent change in upper-body strength using the slope parameter from a latent growth model. We found that males’ antisocial tendencies temporally precede their physical formidability. Boys, but not girls, with greater antisocial tendencies in childhood attained larger increases in physical strength between the ages of 11 and 17. These results support sexual selection theory, indicating an adaptive congruence between male-typical behavioral dispositions and subsequent physical masculinization during puberty.
Cultural psychology and Deconstructing Developmental Psychology
Authors: Crafter Sarah
Published: February 2015

This paper looks at points of convergence and divergence between the different branches of cultural psychology and Burman's ideas in Deconstructing Developmental Psychology. The paper discusses the relationship between the developing ideas in cultural psychology over time and some of the shared theoretical and conceptual criticisms put forward in Deconstructing Developmental Psychology. This takes into account some of the differences between the symbolic approach, activity theory and an individualistic approach to cultural psychology. In turn, some of the bigger themes within the book are discussed, such as the role of ‘normalisation’ and demarcation of age, and studying the child in context and how these relate to the different account of cultural psychology and the influence these themes have had on the author's own work. Since this paper details a personal research journey, examples are taken from work on home–school mathematics education, child language brokering and young caring. Using these examples, the paper examines how cultural psychology is interested in the mediation between culture and the person, whilst Deconstructing Developmental Psychology asks us to question the stories and assumptions embedded within developmental psychology.
Constructing sexualities: A critical overview of articles published in Feminism & Psychology
Authors: Marx Jacqueline , Donaldson Natalie
Published: February 2015

How have sexualities been dealt with in articles published in Feminism & Psychology since the inception of the journal in 1991? The idea for this overview arose from our experience of designing a critical sexualities course for graduate students in psychology. The articles featured in this overview form part of a Virtual Special Issue that can be located on the Feminism & Psychology website. Virtual Special Issues (VSI) are collections of previously published articles, which have been compiled by guest editors who are experts in the field. VSIs provide readers with an overview of feminist thought about a topic or theme, as well as an easy way to locate pertinent articles. Scholars who are approaching a new topic may find a VSI especially useful, as will instructors who are preparing course syllabi. This article introduces the Constructing Sexualities VSI.
Logical foundations and analogies of Anglo-American cognitive science
Authors: de Monte Ettore , Tamburello Antonino
Published: February 2015

This article is a theoretical study of the relations between logic and Anglo-American cognitive science. It uses temporal, historical, and intentional evidence, and it is based on two consequential assumptions: (a) between the late 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century, some logical systems attempted to explain the foundations of mathematics and (b) since the 1940s and 1950s, these same systems became implicit sources of contents and methods of the rising Cognitivism. This study produces an important conclusion: Anglo-American cognitive science partly derives from logic and partly shares many similarities with this science.
Variable response of cholinesterase activities following human exposure to different types of organophosphates
Authors: Moon J , Chun B , Lee S
Published: February 2015

We investigated the red blood cell (RBC) acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities at presentation to the emergency department (ED) and at 24 h after presentation following poisoning by dichlorvos, fenitrothion, or ethyl p-nitrophenol thio-benzene phosphonate (EPN). Although the patients from different groups had similar characteristics at presentation such as time interval from ingestion to presentation to the ED and the amount of organophosphate ingested, the dichlorvos group had significantly lower BChE levels than the fenitrothion group and lower RBC cholinesterase activity than the EPN group. Patients poisoned with EPN or dichlorvos had significantly higher inhibition of BChE activities from baseline than RBC AChE activities at presentation. Twenty four hours after administration of pralidoxime, RBC AChE activities had increased in patients in the dichlorvos and EPN groups, while RBC AChE activities had slightly decreased in the fenitrothion group. BChE activities increased significantly in the dichlorvos group but decreased in the EPN group. The recovery patterns of RBC AChE and BChE activities did not match in any particular individual. This study showed that the patterns of inhibition and recovery of the activities of two cholinesterases after treatment are highly variable according to the organophosphate and in different individuals.
Protective effects of erdosteine against nephrotoxicity caused by gamma radiation in male albino rats
Authors: Elkady AA , Ibrahim IM
Published: February 2015

The aim of this study was focused on investigating the possible protective effect of erdosteine against gamma radiation-induced renal lesions in male albino rats. Twenty-eight albino rats were divided into four equal groups as follows: control group, irradiated group (animals subjected to whole-body gamma irradiation at a dose of 5 Gy), treated group (each rat received 100 mg/kg body weight once daily, orally by gastric tube, erdosteine for 1 week), and treated irradiated group (each rat received 100 mg/kg body weight once daily, orally by gastric tube, erdosteine for 1 week, then exposed to whole-body gamma irradiation at a dose of 5 Gy). The results revealed that the administration of erdosteine to rats before irradiation significantly ameliorated the changes occurred in kidney function (creatinine and urea) compared with irradiated group. Also the changes in serum tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1β, and interleukin 6 activities were markedly improved compared with the corresponding values of irradiated group. Kidney catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and reduced glutathione concentration showed approximately normal level when compared with the irradiated group. The histopathological results showed distinctive pattern of renal lesions in irradiated group, while in treated irradiated group the renal tissues showed relatively well-preserved architecture. Erdosteine acts in the kidney as a potent scavenger of free radicals to prevent or ameliorate the toxic effects of gamma irradiation as shown in the biochemical and histopathological changes and might provide substantial protection against radiation-induced inflammatory damage.
An exploration of the relationship between undergraduate students’ library book borrowing and academic achievement
Authors: Çetin Yakup , Howard Vivian
Published: February 2015

This exploratory study examines book circulation patterns among undergraduate university students at an English-language University in Istanbul, Turkey, in order to investigate the relationship between students’ academic achievement and discipline of study, gender and book borrowing habits. Overall, this study supports the important role of the academic library’s print book collection in supporting and contributing to student success and demonstrates a significant positive correlation between undergraduate students’ level of academic achievement and the number of books they borrowed from the university library. This positive correlation was found for students in all faculties and fields of study, but was strongest for students studying qualitative disciplines and was particularly strong for students enrolled in English as a foreign language programmes.
Association of PELI1 polymorphisms in systemic lupus erythematosus susceptibility in a Chinese population
Authors: Chen F-R , Zhai Z-F , Shi X-W , Feng L , Zhong B-Y , Yan W-J , Wang H , Chen Y , You Y , Luo N , Zhang D-M , Hao F
Published: February 2015

Objective

Studies in animal models have indicated that Pellino 1 is involved in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The current study was designed to determine whether PELI1 confers genetic susceptibility to SLE in humans, as assessed in a Chinese Han population.

Methods

Blood samples were drawn from patients diagnosed with SLE and healthy volunteers. Three single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci with a minor allele frequency of at least 0.05 were chosen to evaluate the correlation between PELI1 genotype and the incidence of SLE.

Results

There was a significant difference in the frequency distribution of the rs329497 allele between the SLE patients and the healthy controls (A vs. G; Bonferroni corrected p = 0.036, odds ratio = 0.75, 95% confidence interval = 0.60–0.94). No differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of other SNP loci were observed between the two groups. Furthermore, the alleles and genotypes of the three SNPs were not associated with lupus nephritis.

Conclusion

In the Chinese Han population, PELI1 SNPs may be associated with SLE susceptibility.
Pregnancy and patients with preexisting lupus nephritis: 15 years of experience at a single center in Korea
Authors: Koh J H , Ko H S , Lee J , Jung S M , Kwok S-K , Ju J H , Park S-H
Published: February 2015

We investigated obstetric outcomes and comorbidities during pregnancy in females with preexisting lupus nephritis (LN) and identified predictors for renal flare. In cases of renal flare during pregnancy, we assessed the long-term post-delivery renal outcome. We performed a retrospective analysis of 183 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pregnancies including blood chemistry, urinalysis, urinary protein, and disease activity recorded at prepregnancy, during pregnancy, and at one month, six months, and one year post-delivery. Pregnancies with preexisting LN had a greater frequency of adverse obstetric outcomes and maternal comorbidity. Renal flares occurred in 50.7% of pregnancies with preexisting LN, 89.2% of which were reactivations. Renal flare among pregnancies with SLE was predicted based on preexisting lupus nephritis (OR 17.73; 95% CI, 5.770–54.484), an active disease prior to pregnancy (OR 2.743; 95% CI, 1.074–7.004), and prepregnancy eGFR < 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 (OR 11.151; 95% CI, 3.292–37.768).

Persistent LN one year after delivery was observed in 33.3% of pregnancies. The median follow-up time after delivery was 5.9 (3.1–9.7) years and chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurred in 21.4% of pregnancies with renal flare. In patients with renal flare, failing to achieve a ≥ 50% reduction in urine protein levels within six months, longer total duration of renal flare, and acute kidney injury at renal flare was associated with CKD development. Females with preexisting LN should achieve remission before pregnancy. When patients experience renal flares during pregnancy, it is important to reduce the proteinuria level by >50% within six months and to achieve early remission for excellent long-term renal outcomes.
SLE presenting as multiple hemorrhagic complications
Authors: Abdulla M C , Alungal J , Hashim S , Ali M M , Musambil M
Published: February 2015

A 24 year old female with hereditary spastic paraplegia presented with intermittent headache for one year. She also had lower abdominal pain and vomiting for two months. She was pale, had icterus and mild splenomegaly. On diagnostic evaluation she was found to have hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and bilateral adrenal, subdural, soft tissue (scalp and orbit) hemorrhages due to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) antibodies were negative. Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage without associated APS is a rare phenomenon in SLE. We describe a case of SLE presenting with sequence of rare hemorrhagic complications in concert.
Is extinction forever?
Authors: Smith-Patten Brenda D. , Bridge Eli S. , Crawford Priscilla H. C. , Hough Daniel J. , Kelly Jeffrey F. , Patten Michael A.
Published: February 2015

Mistrust of science has seeped into public perception of the most fundamental aspect of conservation— extinction. The term ought to be straightforward, and yet, there is a disconnect between scientific discussion and public views. This is not a mere semantic issue, rather one of communication. Within a population dynamics context, we say that a species went locally extinct, later to document its return. Conveying our findings matters, for when we use local extinction, an essentially nonsensical phrase, rather than extirpation, which is what is meant, then we contribute to, if not create outright, a problem for public understanding of conservation, particularly as local extinction is often shortened to extinction in media sources. The public that receives the message of our research void of context and modifiers comes away with the idea that extinction is not forever or, worse for conservation as a whole, that an extinction crisis has been invented.
Immigrant labour in Europe in times of crisis and austerity: An international political economy analysis
Authors: Pradella Lucia , Cillo Rossana
Published: February 2015

This article develops an international political economy analysis of immigrant labour in Western Europe, with a focus on Italy and the UK in the period following the outbreak of the global economic crisis in 2008. Seeking to overcome the problem of methodological nationalism, the article places cross-national comparison against the backdrop of the broader process of international accumulation of capital. In this light, it examines the causes of the differential effects of the economic crisis upon EU member states and various sections of the workforce. In both the UK and Italy, labour conditions and trade unions are under attack; immigrant workers have been particularly affected by the rise in levels of unemployment, the worsening of working conditions, and the heightening of anti-immigration practices, legislations and discourses. The article concludes with a discussion of how the main trade unions in the UK and Italy are responding to these economic, social and political challenges.
International Universities
Authors: Knight Jane
Published: February 2015

Internationalization has transformed higher education institutions and systems but there is much confusion as to what an international, binational, transnational, cosmopolitan, multinational, or global university actually means. There is no standardized model for an international university, nor should there be, but a deeper understanding of different types of international institutions is necessary. This article examines key characteristics of three generic models or generations of international universities. The classic model or first generation is an internationalized university with a diversity of international partnerships, international students and staff, and multiple international and intercultural collaborative activities at home and abroad. This is the most common model. The second generation is called the satellite model, which includes universities with satellite offices around the world in the form of branch campuses, research centers, and management/contact offices. Internationally co-founded universities constitute the third and most recent generation of international universities. These are stand-alone institutions co-founded or co-developed by two or more partner institutions from different countries. This article elaborates on the three models, provides examples of international co-founded institutions, identifies a number of issues and challenges, and poses the question as to what the next model of international universities might look like.
Beyond Strain
Authors: Sutter Megan , Perrin Paul B. , Peralta Silvina Victoria , Stolfi Miriam E. , Morelli Eliana , Peña Obeso Leticia Aracely , Arango-Lasprilla Juan Carlos
Published: February 2015

Introduction:

Life expectancy is increasing in Latin America resulting in the need for more family caregivers for older adults with dementia. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationships between personal strengths (optimism, sense of coherence [SOC], and resilience) and the mental health of dementia caregivers from Latin America. Method: Primary family dementia caregivers ( n = 127) were identified via convenience sampling at the Instituto de Neurociencias de San Lucas, Argentina, and CETYS University, in Baja California, Mexico and completed measures of these constructs.

Findings:

Personal strengths explained between 32% and 50% of the variance in caregiver mental health. In a series of hierarchical multiple regressions, more manageability (β = −.38, p = .001), general resilience (β = −.24, p = .012), and social competence (β = −.21, p = .034) were uniquely associated with lower depression. Greater comprehensibility (β = −.28, p = .008) was uniquely associated with decreased burden, and manageability was marginally related (β = −.21, p< .10). Greater optimism (β = .37, p< .001) and manageability (β = .27, p = .004) were uniquely associated with increased life satisfaction.

Discussion:

The personal strengths of caregivers in Latin America may be particularly important for their mental health because of the culturally imbedded sense of duty toward older family members. Implications: Incorporating strengths-based approaches into research on caregiver interventions in regions where caregiving is a highly culturally valued role such as Latin America may have the potential to improve the mental health of dementia caregivers.
Nurses Leading the Fight Against Ebola Virus Disease
Authors: Sagar Priscilla L.
Published: February 2015

The current Ebola crisis has sparked worldwide reaction of panic and disbelief in its wake as it decimated communities in West Africa, particularly in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, including its health care workers. This article affirms the crucial role nurses play in maintaining health and preventing diseases, connects the devastating havoc of the Ebola virus disease to another issue of nursing shortage in underdeveloped countries, and asserts the key leadership nurses play in protecting the communities they serve while maintaining their safety and those of other health care workers. Nurses must actively seek a place at the table, as echoed by the American Academy of Nursing and American Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association, when decisions are being made regarding Ebola virus disease: at care settings, in the board room, and at federal, state, and local levels.
Transformational Learning
Authors: Foote Laura S.
Published: February 2015

Transformational learning, narrative learning, and spiritual learning frame adult experiences in new and exciting ways. These types of learning can involve a simple transformation of belief or opinion or a radical transformation involving one’s total perspective; learning may occur abruptly or incrementally. Education should liberate students from passive, mindless, and uncritical acceptance of experience and how experience shapes knowledge. Learning to re-evaluate and re-story prior learning experiences can lead adults to make sense of their experience and find a new sense of identity.
The 21st Annual AERC African Diaspora Pre-Conference
Authors: Ellis Auburn , Erwin Patricia L. , Lasker-Scott Tennille , Bush Perdeta L. , Stephens Mattyna L. , Alston Geleana Drew , Brown Nozella
Published: February 2015

After attending the 21st Annual Adult Education Research Conference (AERC) African Diaspora Pre-Conference, the authors present their reflections on the significance of the pre-conference.
Inhomogeneous and homogeneous swelling behavior of temperature-sensitive poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels
Authors: Mazaheri Hashem , Baghani Mostafa , Naghdabadi Reza
Published: February 2015

The aim of this work is to develop a model to continuously predict inhomogeneous and homogeneous swelling behavior of temperature-sensitive poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels. Employing this model, some benchmark homogeneous problems such as free, unidirectional constrained and biaxial constrained swelling as well as swelling of core-shell structures are investigated. The main advantage of the model is its ability to solve inhomogeneous deformations due to a stable behavior in the vicinity of the phase transition temperature. Therefore, inhomogeneous swelling of a spherical shell on a hard core with application to microfluidics is analytically and numerically investigated for various thicknesses of the shell. Based on the solved examples, it is shown that the model possesses continuity and stability in the vicinity of the phase transition temperature.
Sensory carbon fiber based textile-reinforced concrete for smart structures
Authors: Goldfeld Yiska , Rabinovitch Oded , Fishbain Barak , Quadflieg Till , Gries Thomas
Published: February 2015

This article investigates the feasibility of intelligent textile-reinforced concrete structural elements with sensing capabilities. The concept is based on dual use of glass and carbon fiber textiles as reinforcement and, at the same time, as a sensory agent. Experimental investigation demonstrates the feasibility of the concept in two applications: detecting strains in a mechanically loaded textile-reinforced concrete beam and monitoring the interaction of the structural element with a wet environment. By detecting the changes to the integrative electrical resistance of the carbon tow, the ability of the textile to sense strain and exposure to water is demonstrated. For strain sensing, the hybrid reinforcing textile provides electro-mechanical sensing with a gauge factor of the order of 1 and a detectable correlation with the load, strain, and displacement responses. For the detection of wetting, the implementation of the carbon tow in a Wheatstone bridge detects fractional resistance changes in the order of 10−5, a figure that is effectively detected by monitoring the voltage across the bridge. The response to wetting, which is conditioned by the cracking of the beam and the exposure to ionic conductive solutions, provides a mean to monitor the functionality and the structural health of the textile-reinforced concrete beam.
Parents’ Experiences of Health Care for Their Children With Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Hayles Emily , Harvey Desley , Plummer David , Jones Anne
Published: February 2015

Although current health care service delivery approaches for children with cerebral palsy recognize the importance of including parents in the health care of their child, we do not yet understand how parents experience this phenomenon. In this study, we used grounded theory methodology to explore parents’ experiences of health care for their children with cerebral palsy living in a regional area of Australia. Our findings indicate that parents experience health care for their child as a cyclical process of “making the most of their body and their life.” Important aspects of care include “learning as you go,” “navigating the systems,” “meeting needs through partnership,” “being empowered or disempowered,” and “finding a balance.” We suggest modifications to health care service delivery practices that might contribute to improved experiences of health care for this population.
Lived Observations
Authors: Thoresen Lisbeth , Öhlén Joakim
Published: February 2015

As researchers in palliative care, we recognize how involvement with seriously ill and dying persons has an impact on us. Using one’s own senses, emotional and bodily responses in observations might open intersubjective dimensions of the research topic. The aim of the article is to highlight how phenomenological theories on intersubjectivity can be useful to develop rich and transparent data generation and analysis. We present three field note examples from observation in a hospice ward, which illuminate how researcher awareness of aspects of intersubjectivity can add valuable insights to data and analysis. Out of the examples, we elaborate on three arguments: (a) how the researcher’s lived experience of time and space during fieldwork triggers new research questions, (b) how observations as an embodied activity can bring new insights and open new layers of meaning, and (c) the value of observations in gaining insight into relational aspects in a hospice.
Portuguese War Veterans
Authors: Ferrajão Paulo Correia , Aragão Oliveira Rui
Published: February 2015

This study explored the factors to which a sample of Portuguese war veterans attributed their recovery from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants were a sample of veterans ( N = 60) with mental sequelae of the Portuguese Colonial War: 30 suffered from chronic PTSD (unrecovered) and 30 veterans with remission from PTSD (recovered). Two semistructured interviews were conducted. Analysis of the interviews was conducted using the Thematic and Categorical Analysis. Results showed that unrecovered participants reported higher postwar betrayal, appraisal of hostile societal homecoming, social stigmatization, lack of personal resources (mental fatigue and restriction of coping strategies), and reduced perceived social support. Recovered participants verbalized some capability for self-awareness of their own mental states and/or awareness of others’ mental states (mentalization ability), a wider repertoire of coping strategies, and higher perceived social support. The authors discussed that recovery from PTSD among veterans can be related to the assimilation of moral injury by developing higher mentalization abilities.
“Nature Does Things Well, Why Should We Interfere?”
Authors: Dubé Eve , Vivion Maryline , Sauvageau Chantal , Gagneur Arnaud , Gagnon Raymonde , Guay Maryse
Published: February 2015

Parents’ decision to use vaccination services is complex and multi-factorial. Of particular interest are “vaccine-hesitant” parents who are in the middle of the continuum between vaccine acceptance and refusal. The objective of this qualitative longitudinal study was to better understand why mothers choose to vaccinate—or not—their newborns. Fifty-six pregnant mothers living in different areas of Quebec (Canada) were interviewed. These interviews gathered information on mothers’ views about health and vaccination. Almost half of the mothers were categorized as vaccine-hesitant. A second interview was conducted with these mothers 3 to 11 months after birth to look at their actual decision and behavior concerning vaccination. Our results show the heterogeneity of factors influencing vaccine decision making. Although the majority of vaccine-hesitant mothers finally chose to follow the recommended vaccine schedule for their child, they were still ambivalent and they continued to question their decision.
Challenges of Providing End-of-Life Care for Homeless Veterans
Authors: Hutt Evelyn , Whitfield Emily , Min Sung-Joon , Jones Jacqueline , Weber Mary , Albright Karen , Levy Cari , O’Toole Thomas
Published: February 2015

Objective:

To describe challenges of caring for homeless veterans at end of life (EOL) as perceived by Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) homeless and EOL care staff.

Design:

E-mail survey.

Setting/participants:

Homelessness and EOL programs at VAMCs.

Measurements:

Programs and their ratings of personal, structural, and clinical care challenges were described statistically. Homelessness and EOL program responses were compared in unadjusted analyses and using multivariable models.

Results:

Of 152 VAMCs, 50 (33%) completed the survey. The VAMCs treated an average of 6.5 homeless veterans at EOL annually. Lack of appropriate housing was the most critical challenge. The EOL programs expressed somewhat more concern about lack of appropriate care site and care coordination than did homelessness programs.

Conclusions:

Personal, clinical, and structural challenges face care providers for veterans who are homeless at EOL. Deeper understanding of these challenges will require qualitative study of homeless veterans and care providers.
Anticipatory Grief
Authors: Moon Paul J.
Published: February 2015

Anticipatory grief (AG) has been studied, debated, and written about for several decades. This type of grief is also recognized in hospice and palliative care (HPC). The question, however, is whether the reality of AG is sufficiently upheld by professionals at the point of concrete service delivery. In other words, is AG a mere concept or is everyday practice of HPC duly informed of AG as evidenced by the resulting care delivery?
Medical Manuscript
Authors: Kim Se Won , Hwang In Cheol , Ahn Hee Kyung , Kyung Sun Young , Ahn Hong Yup
Published: February 2015

The role of total serum testosterone in the prognosis of terminal cancer is unclear. We retrospectively investigated the total serum testosterone level in 69 male patients with terminal cancer in a palliative care unit. The association between the serum testosterone level and survival was assessed using Cox proportional hazard model. The median value of serum total testosterone was 44.5 ng/dL, far lower than previously reported in patients with advanced cancer. Multivariate analysis revealed thrombocytopenia (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.68), hypoalbuminemia (aHR, 2.02), azotemia (aHR, 2.67), and lower serum testosterone level (aHR, 2.03) were significantly negatively prognostic of survival. Lower serum testosterone level was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for life expectancy in male patients with terminal cancer.
Paternalistic Leadership Profiles
Authors: Chou Wan-Ju , Sibley Chris G. , Liu James H. , Lin Tzu-Ting , Cheng Bor-Shiuan
Published: February 2015

Paternalistic leadership (PL) is a multidimensional construct of three elements that together form a profile model consisting of authoritarianism, benevolence, and morality. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to analyze subordinate response profiles of 1,146 platoon leaders who rated their company commanders in the Taiwanese military. Results indicated the prevalence of three leadership profiles: most common was a moral-authoritarian leadership profile (60.1%), followed by a moral-benevolent leadership profile (29.1%). Least prevalent was an authoritarian leadership profile (10.8%) low on both morality and benevolence. The probability of subordinate responses fitting in the moral-benevolent leadership profile was associated with greater supervisor identification, more occupational commitment, better task performance, and lower intention to leave; probability of subordinate responses fitting the authoritarian profile was associated with greater intention to leave. There was considerable variability in leadership profile perceptions for the same company commander rated by different subordinates.
Diversification of motor skills rely upon an optimal amount of variability of perceptive and motor task demands
Authors: de Paula Pinheiro João , Marques Pricila Garcia , Tani Go , Corrêa Umberto Cesar
Published: February 2015

In this study, motor skill was proposed as being organized into two hierarchical levels: macro- and microstructures, which would be responsible for the consistency and variability of actions, respectively. Constant practice was considered responsible for promoting the skill’s macrostructure formation and, following random practice, its diversification (microstructure). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the number of items varied during random practice in order to promote diversification of the skill on the adaptive process of motor learning. A coincident timing complex task was manipulated in terms of perceptive (experiment 1), motor (experiment 2) and perceptive coupled with motor (experiment 3) requirements. In each experiment, 22 children were divided into two groups according to the amount of variability (three or six). Also, the design included two phases: stabilization and adaptation. Results showed that when the motor skill was diversified in relation to perceptive and motor demands separately (experiments 1 and 2), there were no differences between groups with variability of three and six parameters during the adaptation. No learning occurred for both groups in experiment 3. In conclusion, a minimum amount of variability in perceptive and motor task demands varying separately during practice (three variations) was enough to provide the needed flexibility for adaptation in the motor skill.
Comparing Fracture Absolute Risk Assessment (FARA) Tools
Authors: LaFleur Joanne , Steenhoek Chandra L. , Horne Julie , Meier Joy , Nebeker Jonathan R. , Mambourg Scott , Swislocki Arthur , Carmichael Jannet
Published: February 2015

Background: Fracture absolute risk assessment (FARA) is recommended for guiding osteoporosis treatment decisions in males. The best strategy for applying FARA in the clinic setting is not known. Objectives: We compared 2 FARA tools for use with electronic health records (EHRs) to determine which would more accurately identify patients known to be high risk for fracture. Tools evaluated were an adaptation of the World Health Organization’s Fracture Risk Assessment Tool used with electronic data (eFRAX) and the Veterans Affairs (VA)-based tool, VA-FARA. Methods: We compared accuracies of VA-FARA and eFRAX for correctly classifying male veterans who fractured and who were seen in the VA’s Sierra Pacific Network in 2002-2013. We then matched those cases to nonfracture controls to compare odds of fracture in patients classified as high risk by either tool. Results: Among 8740 patients, the mean (SD) age was 67.0 (11.1) years. Based on risk factors present in the EHR, VA-FARA correctly classified 40.1% of fracture patients as high risk (33.0% and 34.6% for hip and any major fracture, respectively); eFRAX classified 17.4% correctly (17.4% for hip and 0.2% for any major fracture). Compared with non-high-risk patients, those classified as high risk by VA-FARA were 35% more likely to fracture (95% CI = 23%-47%; P < 0.01) compared with 17% for eFRAX (95% CI = 5%-32%; P < 0.01). Conclusions: VA-FARA is more predictive of first fracture than eFRAX using EHR data. Decision support tools based on VA-FARA may improve early identification and care of men at risk.
Significance of Trophoblastic Infiltration Into the Tubal Wall in Ampullary Pregnancy
Authors: Erol Onur , Suren Dinc , Unal Betul , Ozel Deniz , Kumru Selahattin , Sezer Cem
Published: February 2015

A total of 81patients with an ampullary ectopic pregnancy undergoing salpingectomy were enrolled in the study. The ampullary pregnancies were classified according to the depth of trophoblastic infiltration into tubal wall as follows: Stage I, limited to mucosa; Stage II, extension to the tubal muscularis; Stage III, complete tubal wall infiltration up to the serosa. An association was observed between serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels and the depth of trophoblastic infiltration. Significantly higher severe ischemic changes and rupture of tubal wall were observed in patients with stage III infiltration compared with the other groups. A significant association was found between the absolute depth of trophoblastic invasion and severe ischemic changes, and also rupture of serosa. In conclusion, serum β-hCG levels are associated with depth of trophoblastic invasion into the tubal wall, severe ischemic changes, and rupture of the tubal wall.
Primary Peritoneal Clear Cell Carcinoma Versus Ovarian Carcinoma Versus Malignant Transformation of Endometriosis
Authors: Insabato Luigi , Natella Valentina , Somma Anna , Persico Marcello , Camera Luigi , Losito Nunzia Simona , Masone Stefania
Published: February 2015

Peritoneum is a site for both primary and secondary tumors. Primary peritoneal tumors are fairly rare. The most common primary tumors of the peritoneum are malignant mesothelioma and serous papillary adenocarcinoma. Clear cell carcinoma of the peritoneum is extremely rare and often misdiagnosed as mesothelioma, serous carcinoma, or metastatic adenocarcinoma, so it represents a diagnostic challenge for both clinicians and pathologists. Up to date, to the best of our knowledge, only 11 cases of primary peritoneal clear cell carcinoma have been reported in the English literature. Distinguishing this tumor of the peritoneum versus ovarian carcinoma can be problematic. Herein, we report a rare case of primary peritoneal clear cell carcinoma occurring in a 49-year-old woman, along with a review of the literature.