bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intersubjective identity work and sensemaking of adult learners on a postgraduate coaching course: Finding the balance in a world of dynamic complexity
Authors: Moore Liam , Koning Juliette
Published: December 2015

This article explores how we make sense of identity in situations of dynamic complexity. It contributes to debates on how dynamic complexity, conceived as periods of heightened uncertainty, disrupts the balance between acting and thinking that is constitutive of sensemaking. The article follows narratives of adult learners (including the first author) aspiring to become academically trained coaches within an emerging industry. We examine dynamic complexity in terms of individuals relating to multiple contexts (e.g. biographical, learning and industry), arguing that each of these creates varying degrees of complexity as individuals relate to a multitude of others within them. We show that heightened uncertainty resulting from such complexity makes greater demands on identity work. This involves both failure (more persistent intransigence of identity) and success (transience of identity). We suggest a mediating role for relationality and reflexivity in making sense of identity as they offer a balance between acting and thinking. By exploring the professional identity work of the first author in relation to the participants, we explicate the intersubjective nature of identity work and sensemaking. The contribution we make is to theorize identity work as intersubjectively conducted.
Radical learning through semantic transformation: Capitalizing on novelty
Authors: Bosma Bas , Chia Robert , Fouweather Ian
Published: December 2015

That organizations exist in a fluid environment of unprecedented and discontinuous change seems beyond debate. We seem to find ourselves immersed in a world in which events have a tendency to unfold and overtake us in unforeseeable and novel ways that defy comprehension; a crisis of meaning takes place and conventional sensemaking is disrupted. Our need to imaginatively construct new meanings that allow us to understand what is going on and to work out how to respond becomes ever more pressing. We do live in interesting times. The emergence of the new, however, challenges current established ways of knowing and opens a creative space for radical learning to take place. Novelty stimulates the generative process by which organizations and individuals learn, adapt to, and cope with the exigencies they face in order to survive and progress. Such radical learning occurs when creative linguistic interventions in dialogue open up semantic spaces whereby new terms are coined and old ones broken up, combined, and/or redeployed in novel ways, in an effort to give expression to the fresh circumstances experienced or new phenomena observed. We call this kind of imaginative linguistic intervention semantic transformation. In this article, we argue that it is this semantic transformation that promotes radical transformational learning. Such semantic transformation is predicated on the improvisatory character of dialogue as a form of communication. We explore how, through this dialogical process of semantic transformation, we discover the resources and means to respond to the vagueness and equivocality experienced, by exploiting language in novel ways in our attempts to make sense of and account for such experiences.
A commentary quiz: What musical composition best describes a primary contribution of your article?
Authors: Bartunek Jean M
Published: December 2015

The contributions in this Special Issue focus on relationships between sensemaking (primarily), learning, and dynamic complexity. They address a range of phenomena, including mindfulness, radical learning, formal inquiries after dealing with natural disasters, adult learning, and big data. While not explicitly framed as such, the contributions can be understood in terms of the musical elements they embody, including sequence, rhythm, punctuation, polyphony, and thematic transformation. In this commentary, I suggest how these musical elements are expressed in the articles. On the basis of these musical elements, I present the musical compositions that describe primary contributions of each article.
Sensemaking processes and Weickarious learning
Authors: Colville Ian , Pye Annie , Brown Andrew D.
Published: December 2015

The processes by which people learn to make sense and make sense to learn is of both theoretical and practical importance. In a world suffuse with dynamic complexity in which unusual, unexpected and unprecedented events occur on a persistent basis, this challenges the relevance of the sensemaking perspective. We put forward a rebalanced model of sensemaking to make the sensable once again sensible, and open up the sensemaking perspective to understand learning as a process that is more than mere interpretation and attends to embodied sensemaking through adopting a thorough-going process approach. This way, we extend both the grasp and the reach of the sensemaking perspective to make sense of learning and to learn to make sense.
Women in the neighbourhood: Reinstating the European Union’s civilising mission on the back of gender equality promotion?
Authors: Kunz Rahel , Maisenbacher Julia
Published: December 2015

The European Union has launched its New European Neighbourhood Policy as a reaction to a ‘changing neighbourhood’. A key novelty in the New European Neighbourhood Policy is the special role attributed to gender equality promotion as an important ingredient of Europeanisation. The literature has so far focused on assessing whether and to what extent neighbourhood countries adopt and implement European Union gender equality norms. Bringing together the feminist and postcolonial literature on gender equality promotion and European identity formation, this article resituates the New European Neighbourhood Policy within the broader debate regarding processes of European identity formation and Europe’s relations with Others. We combine the concept of delineating gendered and racialised coding with the concept of contrapuntal reading to analyse key official European Union documents alongside the voices expressing themselves through new (social) media. This allows us to highlight silences and exclusions within New European Neighbourhood Policy narratives, to resituate these narratives in their historical context, and to render visible the diversity of competing and interrelated narratives related to gender equality promotion. We read the recent focus on gender equality promotion in the New European Neighbourhood Policy as an expression of the ambivalence of European Union identity building: at a moment when neighbouring countries move closer to Europe, either adopting the acquis communautaire or going through democratisation processes, they are placed at a spatial and temporal distance outside Europe. Our analysis highlights the persistence of colonial practices of Othering and hierarchical Self–Other definitions that are reproduced through current New European Neighbourhood Policy policies. Yet, we suggest that this moment might also present an opportunity to render visible and take seriously the co-constitutive relationship between the European Union and its Others, which could point to alternative forms of interaction and identity building.
Posttraumatic growth and benefit-finding in lung cancer survivors: The benefit of rural residence?
Authors: Andrykowski Michael A , Steffens Rachel F , Bush Heather M , Tucker Thomas C
Published: December 2015

Rural cancer survivors report more distress than non-rural survivors. Little research has examined whether rural residence might also be linked to positive psychological outcomes. Rural ( n = 117) and non-rural ( n = 76) lung cancer survivors completed measures of posttraumatic growth, benefit-finding, and distress. Rural survivors reported more posttraumatic growth than urban survivors. There were no differences in benefit-finding. Mediation analyses indicated distress mediated the relationship between rural residence and posttraumatic growth. Findings suggest rural residence might be beneficial with regard to potential for posttraumatic growth among cancer survivors. Consistent with trauma theory, distress mediated the relationship between rural residence and posttraumatic growth.
Non-market benefits of creative cultural projects in post-quake revitalization regions: A case study of the Nantou Jiji Station area
Authors: Cheng Hsien-Hsin , Liao Chung-Yao
Published: December 2015

In contrast to previous post-quake revitalization initiatives in which urban redevelopment is emphasized, cultural projects and their non-market benefits have recently garnered increased attention. In the past, when post-quake revitalization cultural projects were evaluated, the non-market benefits of these projects were not considered. Consequently, we have adopted a contingent valuation method (CVM) as a process that can evaluate the non-market benefits of cultural projects. This article reports research on Jiji Township, which is the epicentre of the most severe earthquake recorded in Taiwan in the past 50 years. The study’s results verified that creative cultural projects generated numerous non-market benefits, and that local identity value is the key factor influencing residents’ valuation of the projects and the amount they are willing to pay. This study proposes an economic valuation process that helps establish a method for promoting creative cultural projects based on residents’ opinions and needs.
Agenda setting in the twenty-first century
Authors: Boynton GR , Richardson Glenn W
Published: December 2015

The revelation of the surveillance practices of the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) serves as a compelling case study of the new agenda-setting capacities in the 21st century. We use a stream of 14 million messages on Twitter to note how its reach equals that of television. Next, we demonstrate the interactive communication characteristics of social media in the use of hashtags, retweets, and shared URLs. Finally, we draw upon data from Lexis-Nexis on newspaper stories and broadcast transcripts to emphasize the different ways social and mainstream media constructed the story about surveillance and interacted with each other. We conclude agenda setting can no longer be understood as a monopoly of the mainstream media, indexed to the actions of political elites. Social media, through its reach, interaction, and broadening of ideas brought into the discussion, emerge as a distinctive mode of large-scale communication. Giving voice to the people introduces an entirely new dimension to agenda setting.
Role of the intake generated thermal stratification on the temperature distribution at top dead center of the compression stroke
Authors: Schmitt Martin , Boulouchos Konstantinos
Published: December 2015

This work investigates the role of the intake generated thermal stratification in the temperature field evolution during the compression stroke using direct numerical simulation. The analysis compares two direct numerical simulations during the compression stroke, from which one is initialized with a homogeneous temperature distribution and the other one with a stratified temperature field resulting from a precursor direct numerical simulation of the intake stroke. All other initial and boundary conditions are identically imposed. The results show that the thermal situation at bottom dead center has nearly no impact on the evolution of the temperature field and the wall heat transfer during compression. Dominating mechanism for the temperature field evolution is found to be the convective transport of cold gases from the boundary layers toward the cylinder center. As a consequence, the wall temperature and the flow field are the main influencing parameters controlling the evolution of the temperature distribution during compression. This finding can assist practical engine experiments, since it points out which mechanisms are promising to affect the temperature field during the compression stroke. In addition, it explains why the stratification of the temperature field during intake by varying the gas temperatures in the two intake channels showed only a minor impact on the thermal situation at top dead center.
Language acquisition of recently arrived immigrants in England, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands
Authors: Kristen Cornelia , Mühlau Peter , Schacht Diana
Published: December 2015

This study examines processes of language acquisition among new immigrants from Poland and Turkey in different European destinations focusing on the first few months after arrival. Starting from a human capital framework, a variety of pre- and post-migration conditions of language learning are addressed, including economic and non-economic incentives, the amount of exposure to the destination language as well as learning efficiency. The empirical analyses are based on SCIP data, a two-wave panel on new immigrants in Europe. The longitudinal setup allows following the development of language skills over time, taking into account initial skill levels shortly after arrival as well as language acquisition thereafter. The analyses reveal that immigrants from both groups in all destination countries improve their language skills over time. There is also clear evidence that the conditions associated with efficiency, exposure, and incentives matter for language learning. Especially pre-migration exposure in school or other structured learning environments and post-migration exposure in terms of destination language use in various contexts are crucial to acquiring language proficiency. The empirical results apply to Poles and Turks in the different destinations likewise indicating that the processes fostering language acquisition follow a general logic.
From Geisha girls to the Atomic Bomb Dome: Dark tourism and the formation of Hiroshima memory
Authors: Schäfer Stefanie
Published: December 2015

This article shows that tourism development was a driving factor in the formation of Hiroshima memory culture from the start. By focusing on tourism, this article discusses a hitherto neglected aspect of public atomic bomb memory and raises criticism of area studies’ ongoing preoccupation with the nation which risks overlooking local as well as structural factors. Many aspects, such as postwar pacifism, can be explained from the perspective of tourism. Dean MacCannell’s concept of “staged authenticity” is used to explain how atomic bomb tourism ties into previous research on Hiroshima memory and how tourism discourse is structured. Furthermore, it offers an alternative approach to understanding sites of dark tourism defining them the particular way in which their “staged-ness” plays out.
Profane archaeology and the existential dialectics of the city
Authors: Dawdy Shannon Lee
Published: December 2015

What does it mean to view the landscape dialectically? I here experiment with an approach inspired by Benjamin, the intent of which is to expand our understanding of dialectics beyond the structural Marxism that dominates urban geography. I seek to temper macro-level analyses of political economies with a recognition of micro-level processes of both active matter and human consciousness that can shape, constrain, or undo. In fact, the evidence of urban archaeology demands such attention. Expanding dialectics requires a rapprochement among the followers of Marx, Sartre, and even Latour. I use archaeological evidence from New Orleans, and standard modes of organizing it (the property history, stratigraphy, taphonomy), to critique broader approaches to urbanism and materiality. Archaeology has much to contribute to understanding the city as an ongoing human-object formation full of contradictions, affect, and contingency. Following Sartre, I call this existential dialectics. Humans make cities, but not exactly as they please.
Museum lighting environment: Designing a perception zone map and emotional response models
Authors: Chen H-S , Chou C-J , Luo H-W , Luo MR
Published: December 2015

This paper describes two experiments that were designed to investigate the museum lighting environment in terms of correlated colour temperature and illuminance. The results are reported as visual perceptions and perception zone maps. Experiment 1 was conducted to investigate the impact of the illumination conditions on visual perceptions in a light cabinet. Experiment 2 was the same as Experiment 1, except that it was performed in a museum. The rating scores were combined to establish the perception zone maps on a correlated colour temperature–illuminance plane. Furthermore, two emotional response models, named the visibility model and the warmth model, suitable for museum indoor lighting in small- and large-scale spaces were established. The analytical results indicated that the pleasant zone found in this study partially agrees with Kruithof's rule.
Through the Eyes of Students
Authors: Tinto Vincent
Published: December 2015

For years, our prevailing view of student retention has been shaped by theories that view student retention through the lens of institutional action and ask what institutions can do to retain their students. Students, however, do not seek to be retained. They seek to persist. The two perspectives, though necessarily related, are not the same. Their interests are different. While the institution’s interest is to increase the proportion of their students who graduate from the institution, the student’s interest is to complete a degree often without regard to the institution in which it is earned. Although there has been much written from the former point of view, much less has been written from the latter. This article seeks to address this imbalance by laying out a conceptual model of student institutional persistence as seen through the eyes of students. Having done so, the article asks what such a model implies about institutional action to promote student persistence.
Comparative study of the weft-knitted strain sensors
Authors: Atalay Ozgur , Tuncay Asli , Husain Muhammad D , Kennon William R
Published: December 2015

In this study, weft-knitted strain-sensing structures are described, along with the materials and manufacturing techniques required to produce the fabrics on a computerised flat-bed knitting machine. Knitted sensing fabrics with conductive yarns, i.e. silver-plated nylon yarn and polyester-blended stainless steel yarn have been created with different design possibilities. A laboratory test set-up was built to characterise the knitted sensors and the resulting equivalent resistance under the different level of strains. The most successful samples have been realised through a series of single conductive courses within the interlock base fabric structure using silver-plated nylon in terms of responsivity, repeatability and lower electrical signal drift. Deficiencies associated with strain-sensing structures realised through the intermeshing of conductive yarns have also been addressed.
Vasculitic Ulcers
Authors: Papi Massimo , Papi Claudia
Published: December 2015

Vasculitic ulcers are an emerging problem in wound care that needs to be well defined and adequately approached by caregivers. Cutaneous vasculitis includes several inflammatory disorders that compromise microvessels and specifically the cutaneous vascular system: arterioles, capillaries, postcapillary venules. The pathogenetic role of circulating immunocomplexes and autoantibodies (antineutrophil antibodies) in these diseases has been widely demonstrated in animal models and in humans. Vasculitis can be limited to the skin or represent the cutaneous signs in case of systemic vasculitis with visceral involvement. The injury of cutaneous microvessels may result in impairment of blood flow and consequent focal ischemia and formation of skin ulcers. The ulcers are often multiple and localized on the lower leg and foot where the microcirculatory anatomy and rheologic dynamics are predisposing factors. Approximately 3% to 5% of skin ulcers may be caused by a vasculitic disorder.
Exploring the Relationship Between Leaders’ Core Self-Evaluations and Subordinates’ Perceptions of Servant Leadership
Authors: Flynn C. Brian , Smither James W. , Walker Alan G.
Published: December 2015

Recent developments in servant leadership theory exposed a gap in the research literature regarding traits that are important to servant leaders. Our study partially addresses this gap by examining the trait of core self-evaluations and its relationship to servant leadership and leader effectiveness. The results of our study indicate that leader’s core self-evaluations are positively related to followers’ perceptions of servant leadership and leader effectiveness, and the relationship between leaders’ core self-evaluations and leader effectiveness is fully mediated by servant leadership. The results add support to current servant leadership theory by confirming the role that core self-evaluations play in servant leader emergence, and extend the research on core self-evaluations as it relates to leader performance.
Replication of human operators’ situation assessment and decision making for simulated area reconnaissance in wargames
Authors: Guo Ruibiao J , Sprague Kevin
Published: December 2015

This paper describes a replication model of human operators’ situation assessment and decision making in a simulated area reconnaissance wargame. A variety of factors that affect human operators’ threat assessment and decision making were identified and categorized based on interviews with Subject Matter Experts and a review of defense doctrine on area reconnaissance. By combining these factors with the capabilities of existing synthetic environments, a schema consisting of a set of Bayesian networks and associated joint probability distributions for human operators’ situation assessment and decision making was developed. To verify and validate the proposed schema, a software system was designed and implemented, and then used for analyzing the consistency between the replicator’s decisions and human players’ decisions. Results showed that the proposed approach replicated human operators’ situation assessment and movement-based decision making in the wargame with high consistency.
Use of a flow-diverting stent for ruptured dissecting aneurysm treatment in a patient with sickle cell disease
Authors: Dmytriw AA , Martinez JL , Marotta T , Montanera W , Cusimano M , Bharatha A
Published: December 2015

Introduction

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a clinical phenotype that presents a unique challenge to the interventionalist, particularly when stent therapy is contemplated. Homozygous individuals are likely at increased risk for thromboembolic complications. There are no formal guidelines regarding antiplatelet therapy in the short or long term for intracranial stent use in SCD. The authors describe the novel use of a pipeline embolization device (PED) to treat a ruptured dissecting bilobed/fusiform vertebral artery V4 aneurysm in an SCD patient complicated by tortuous proximal anatomy and the anterior spinal artery arising from the diseased segment. Considerations regarding antiplatelet therapy in this scenario are discussed.

Case report

A 50-year-old woman with homozygous recessive SCD was transported to the emergency department and presented with diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage. CT angiography demonstrated a left-sided 3 × 5 mm fusiform bi-lobulated presumed dissecting vertebral artery aneurysm, immediately distal to the origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). A PED was deployed within the V4 segment across the aneurysm. Post-treatment angiography showed patency of the parent artery, and patency of the “jailed” anterior spinal artery and of the PICA.

Discussion

Selecting a treatment method in SCD patients with a ruptured intracranial aneurysm is challenging and there are no clinical trials comparing treatment methods in this population. The authors demonstrate that flow diversion is feasible in SCD, which has not been described in the literature. Additionally, the case stresses the peri- and post-procedural management of SCD, as well as long-term considerations with a flow-diverting stent in place.
Using Blogs as a Qualitative Health Research Tool
Authors: Wilson Elena , Kenny Amanda , Dickson-Swift Virginia
Published: December 2015

The global increase in and prevalence of social media is stimulating interest in the utilisation of blogs for research purposes. There is, however, a significant lack of information about the manner and scope of blog use in health research. In this scoping review, we aimed to identify how blogs are being used in health research to date and whether blogging has potential as a useful qualitative tool for data collection. Our purpose was to summarize the extent, range, and nature of research activity using blogs. In our scoping review key search terms were developed and applied to selected databases with 44 relevant studies identified. Studies were examined for the inclusion of blog use in their methods and descriptions of the manner in which they were used. While blogs were used in a variety of ways, the majority of identified studies used blogs for data collection, mostly as one method within a set of data collection methods and primarily for gathering information about experiences, perceptions, and feelings. We identified themes related to the blog’s function, the health issue or topic focus, and sampling categories. Our review demonstrated that blogs have potential as a qualitative health research tool for a range of purposes, including data collection. Blogs have particular application for researchers accessing populations beyond their physical reach. Given the global commitment to research for improvements to health and health equity, this review is an essential first step to embark on future qualitative health research using blogs.
Online Facebook Focus Group Research of Hard-to-Reach Participants
Authors: Lijadi Anastasia Aldelina , van Schalkwyk Gertina Johanna
Published: December 2015

Conducting discovery-oriented qualitative research about the life experiences of hard-to-reach individuals posed several challenges for recruiting participants and collecting rich textual data. In a study pertaining the experiences of Third Culture Kids (TCKs), we explored the benefits of the social media, such as Facebook as a platform to collect data. TCKs are individuals who define their sense of belonging to the third culture trailing their parents moving across borders during their developmental years. Adult TCKs live in many different countries, and accessing and interviewing respondents could be a difficult and costly endeavor. In this article, the authors share their experience conducting online, asynchronous focus groups using a Facebook platform. We reflect upon the process of setting up a secret Facebook focus group for research purposes, recruiting participants, rapport building between facilitator and participants, monitoring and keeping track of participants’ responses, and the dynamics emerging within an online focus group. We also discuss the novelty, limitations, and benefits of the Facebook focus group as an emerging mode for collecting qualitative data from hard-to-reach participants.
Learning to Listen
Authors: Petrovic Sanja , Lordly Daphne , Brigham Susan , Delaney Mary
Published: December 2015

The Listening Guide (LG) is a relational, voice-centered method to analyzing qualitative research data. This article provides an account of how the LG was modified for a study that examined personal critical reflection papers written by 27 fourth-year dietetics university students after they participated in an arts-informed module on body image in a dietetics professional practice course. By relying on the main principles of the LG, we demonstrate how the LG can help us to listen and hear previously unnoticed and underappreciated voices. The purpose of this article is to serve as a source of guidance and support for researchers looking to implement the LG method beyond its original purpose, which was for transcribed interviews.
Cultural Insiders and Research Fieldwork
Authors: Suwankhong Dusanee , Liamputtong Pranee
Published: December 2015

The status of the insider and outsider is an important concept for cross-cultural research. Being a cultural insider is recognized as a strength that allows the researcher to take part in the everyday lives of local people and to get closer to the participants. We explore these issues using examples from our own research with Thai people in southern Thailand and in Melbourne, Australia. We suggest that insider status has an impact on whether the researchers can conduct successful fieldwork and obtain in-depth understanding of the phenomenon being investigated. Being an insider enables a researcher to conduct research more sensitively. It helps in gaining a deeper understanding of the sociocultural contexts of the research setting. However, there are also challenges associated with insider status. These include the need to reestablish our position in a community, our assumptions about what the participants tell us, and participants’ expectations about us. This article provides case examples for researchers who are interested in conducting research, particularly within the Thai context. It should contribute to a conceptual understanding of real life experiences in a cross-cultural context in general.
Doing Participatory Action Research in a Multicase Study
Authors: Fletcher Amber J. , MacPhee Maura , Dickson Graham
Published: December 2015

In this article, we describe an approach for conducting participatory action research (PAR) in a longitudinal multicase study, with particular focus on cross-case analysis. Existing literature has documented the practice of PAR in single-case studies, but far less has been written on how to conduct PAR across multiple cases. There is also a need for instructional examples of multicase study application, particularly methods of cross-case analysis. In PAR, research methods—including data analysis methods—have the power to shape participant inclusion or exclusion, involvement or attrition, and mobilization of knowledge in real time. In response to these challenges, we discuss the analysis methods used in a PAR study of health leadership in Canada. The project, which consisted of six case studies of leadership in major health system change, involved health leaders as collaborators. We address the challenges of doing PAR with collaborators facing time limitations and suggest a project structure for involving collaborators at critical junctures. We present a detailed, two-part method for conducting cross-case data analysis. Our method involved targeted collaborator involvement in data interpretation while also ensuring faithfulness to the coded data. We describe our process for mobilizing study findings through a deliberative dialogue with health leaders.
Validity in Qualitative Evaluation
Authors: Lub Vasco
Published: December 2015

This article provides a discussion on the question of validity in qualitative evaluation. Although validity in qualitative inquiry has been widely reflected upon in the methodological literature (and is still often subject of debate), the link with evaluation research is underexplored. Elaborating on epistemological and theoretical conceptualizations by Guba and Lincoln and Creswell and Miller, the article explores aspects of validity of qualitative research with the explicit objective of connecting them with aspects of evaluation in social policy. It argues that different purposes of qualitative evaluations can be linked with different scientific paradigms and perspectives, thus transcending unproductive paradigmatic divisions as well as providing a flexible yet rigorous validity framework for researchers and reviewers of qualitative evaluations.
Using Drawings and Collages as Data Generation Methods With Children
Authors: Nomakhwezi Mayaba Nokhanyo , Wood Lesley
Published: December 2015

Appropriate data generation methods are key to a successful research project to attain rich and relevant data. When doing research with children, the methods selected should be age appropriate and enable them to contribute their ideas in the research process. However, data generation with children is not “child’s play”—it is a challenging task that requires careful design on the part of the researcher. We conducted a study in South Africa with children between the ages of 9 and 14 who were orphaned and rendered vulnerable by HIV and AIDS in order to explore if, and how, the use of participatory visual methods might enhance resilience. In this article, we provide a reflective account of the research process and discuss lessons learnt from our experiences of using drawings and collage as data generation methods when doing research with children. This article contributes to the literature on the use of participatory visual methods as data generation strategies with children highlighting some caveats and offering insight into how challenges could be circumvented.
The Encounters and Challenges of Ethnography as a Methodology in Health Research
Authors: Rashid Marghalara , Caine Vera , Goez Helly
Published: December 2015

Medical anthropology has existed since the early 1960s, and the encounters of ethnography in health research are recent. We will trace key historical markers and highlight several ethnographic studies in health research in this article. In particular, we are interested how aspects of classic ethnographic work have been taken up, and how the use has changed over time, as ethnographies, such as focused ethnographies and other forms of ethnography, have developed in health research. Understandings of culture have shifted and led to redefinitions of culture, and some key elements of ethnographic research have been lost. Ethnographies conducted in health research often do not focus on culture from a broader perspective; instead, the focus is on single health-related issues. Health researchers appear to spend less time in the field, time spent in the field is regarded as less important, and the importance of the context of field notes is underestimated.
Rolling ball method applied to 3½½-axis machining for tool orientation and positioning and path planning
Authors: Roman Armando , Barocio Eduardo , Huegel Joel C , Bedi Sanjeev
Published: December 2015

In 3½½-axis machining, the machined part surface is partitioned in pre-processing in order to calculate the tool position and patch boundaries and then machined in patches, thereby minimizing the intermediate manual part re-positioning and the overall machining time. Each patch requires a constant, but different, tool orientation. In previous research, local properties have been used to subdivide surfaces into patches. For an ideal tool position and orientation, however, the tool’s shape and curvature should exactly match the shape and curvature of the part surface. The rolling ball method, originally developed for 5-axis machining, considers the regional characteristics of tool positioning. This work extends the rolling ball method to 3½½-axis machining, thereby successfully delivering 5-axis quality with currently installed 3-axis computer numerical control milling machines. The pseudo-radius of curvature provides a novel geometrical subdivision criterion. Two Bézier curved surfaces are tested and compared with the 5-axis rolling ball method. Two additional surfaces are presented to further demonstrate the partitioning capability of the method. The results suggest that the rolling ball method for 3½½-axis machining is comparatively competitive in performance and quality.
Forecasting inter-urban transport demand for a logistics company: A combined grey–periodic extension model with remnant correction
Authors: Wang Donghui , Chen Weiya , Shi Hong , Fang Xiaoping , Luo Wei
Published: December 2015

Accurately predicting short-term transport demand for an individual logistics company involved in a competitive market is critical to make short-term operation decisions. This article proposes a combined grey–periodic extension model with remnant correction to forecast the short-term inter-urban transport demand of a logistics company involved in a nationwide competitive market, showing changes in trend and seasonal fluctuations with irregular periods different to the macroeconomic cycle. A basic grey–periodic extension model of an additive pattern, namely, the main combination model, is first constructed to fit the changing trends and the featured seasonal fluctuation periods. In order to improve prediction accuracy and model adaptability, the grey model is repeatedly modelled to fit the remnant tail time series of the main combination model until prediction accuracy is satisfied. The modelling approach is applied to a logistics company engaged in a nationwide less-than-truckload road transportation business in China. The results demonstrate that the proposed modelling approach produces good forecasting results and goodness of fit, also showing good model adaptability to the analysed object in a changing macro environment. This fact makes this modelling approach an option to analyse the short-term transportation demand of an individual logistics company.
Multi-response optimization of turning parameters for machining glass fiber–reinforced plastic composite rod
Authors: Raveendran P , Marimuthu P
Published: December 2015

Glass fiber–reinforced plastics are extensively applied in engineering fields as a potential replacement to conventional steels, owing to its corrosive resistance property and high specific strength. But machining is complicated due to its anisotropic properties and non-homogeneous structure. In machining processes, minimum surface roughness and less tool wear are important factors influencing the quality of the surface, tool life, and productivity. Thus, the selection of tool and optimizing machining parameters are essential for perfect finishing. The tool used in this study is TiCN/TiN coated. The cutting parameters applied are cutting speed, feed, and depth of cut. As a dynamic approach, the multiple response optimization is carried out using grey relational analysis and desirability function analysis for simultaneous evaluation. These two methods are considered in optimization, as both are multiple criteria evaluation and not much complicated. Analysis of variance is employed to classify the significant parameters affecting the response.
Numerical investigation of degas performance on impeller of medium-consistency pump
Authors: Li Hong , Ye Daoxing , Zou Chenhai , Xue Zhikuan
Published: December 2015

Medium-consistency technology is known as the process with high efficiency and low pollution. The gas distribution was simulated in the medium-consistency pump with different degas hole positions. Rheological behaviors of pulp suspension were obtained by experimental test. A modified Herschel–Bulkley model and the Eulerian gas–liquid two-phase flow model were utilized to approximately represent the behaviors of the medium-consistency pulp suspension. The results show that when the relative position is 0.53, the gas volume ratio is less than 0.1% at the pump outlet and 9.8% at the vacuum inlet, and the pump head is at the maximum. Because of the different numbers of the impeller blades and turbulence blades and the asymmetric volute structure, the gas is distributed unevenly in the impeller. In addition, the pump performance was tested in experiment and the results are used to validate computational fluid dynamics outcomes.
Numerical investigation of CO2 emission and thermal stability of a convective and radiative stockpile of reactive material in a cylindrical pipe
Authors: Lebelo Ramoshweu Solomon , Makinde Oluwole Daniel
Published: December 2015

In this article, we investigate the combined effects of emission of CO2 and O2 depletion on thermal stability in a long cylindrical pipe of combustible reactive material. The cylindrical pipe loses heat by convection and radiation at the surface, and the nonlinear differential equations governing the heat and mass transfer problem are tackled numerically using Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method coupled with shooting technique. The effects of various thermo-physical parameters on the temperature, CO2 and O2 fields, and thermal stability are presented graphically and discussed quantitatively.
Analysis on machine tool systems using spindle vibration monitoring for automatic tool changer
Authors: Chen Shang-Liang , Cheng Yin-Ting , Su Chin-Fa
Published: December 2015

Recently, the intelligent systems of technology have become one of the major items in the development of machine tools. One crucial technology is the machinery status monitoring function, which is required for abnormal warnings and the improvement of cutting efficiency. During processing, the mobility act of the spindle unit determines the most frequent and important part such as automatic tool changer. The vibration detection system includes the development of hardware and software, such as vibration meter, signal acquisition card, data processing platform, and machine control program. Meanwhile, based on the difference between the mechanical configuration and the desired characteristics, it is difficult for a vibration detection system to directly choose the commercially available kits. For this reason, it was also selected as an item for self-development research, along with the exploration of a significant parametric study that is sufficient to represent the machine characteristics and states. However, we also launched the development of functional parts of the system simultaneously. Finally, we entered the conditions and the parameters generated from both the states and the characteristics into the developed system to verify its feasibility.
Temperature field measurement of spindle ball bearing under radial force based on fiber Bragg grating sensors
Authors: Dong Yanfang , Zhou Zude , Liu Zicheng , Zheng Kai
Published: December 2015

Bearing temperature rise amplitude is related to the running state of bearing and spindle thermal error, so the measurement of bearing temperature field is helpful to ascertain the bearing running characteristic and analysis of the spindle thermal error. On the basis of thoroughly understood several reasons of bearing heat generation, this article analyzes bearing temperature field simulation based on ANSYS and bearing temperature field measurement based on fiber Bragg grating sensors. The results showed that using fiber Bragg grating is able to complete the bearing temperature field distribution measurement perfectly.
Stability and economy analysis based on computational fluid dynamics and field testing of hybrid-driven underwater glider with the water quality sensor in Danjiangkou Reservoir
Authors: Li Chao , Wang Yanhui , Wu Zhiliang
Published: December 2015

Hybrid-driven underwater glider is a new kind of unmanned platform for water quality monitoring. It has advantages such as high controllability and maneuverability, low cost, easy operation, and ability to carry multiple sensors. This article develops a hybrid-driven underwater glider, PETRELII, and integrates a water quality monitoring sensor. Considering stability and economy, an optimal layout scheme is selected from four candidates by simulation using computational fluid dynamics method. Trials were carried out in Danjiangkou Reservoir—important headwaters of the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. In the trials, a monitoring strategy with polygonal mixed-motion was adopted to make full use of the advantages of the unmanned platform. The measuring data, including temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, turbidity, chlorophyll, and ammonia nitrogen, are obtained. These data validate the practicability of the theoretical layout obtained using computational fluid dynamics method and the practical performance of PETRELII with sensor.
Self-starting aerodynamics analysis of vertical axis wind turbine
Authors: Zhu Jianyang , Huang Hailin , Shen Hao
Published: December 2015

Vertical axis wind turbine is a special type of wind-force electric generator which is capable of working in the complicated wind environment. The self-starting aerodynamics is one of the most important considerations for this kind of turbine. This article aims at providing a systematic synthesis on the self-starting aerodynamic characteristics of vertical axis wind turbine based on the numerical analysis approach. First, the physical model of vertical axis wind turbine and its parameter definitions are presented. Secondary, the interaction model between the vertical axis wind turbine and fluid is developed by using the weak coupling approach; the numerical data of this model are then compared with the wind tunnel experimental data to show its feasibility. Third, the effects of solidity and fixed pitch angle on the self-starting aerodynamic characteristics of the vertical axis wind turbine are analyzed systematically. Finally, the quantification effects of the solidity and fixed pitch angle on the self-starting performance of the turbine can be obtained. The analysis in this study will provide straightforward physical insight into the self-starting aerodynamic characteristics of vertical axis wind turbine.
Pharmacokinetics of consecutive oral moxifloxacin (400 mg/day) in patients with respiratory tract infection
Authors: Ito Fumitaka , Ohno Yasushi , Toyoshi Sayaka , Kaito Daizo , Koumei Yanase , Endo Junki , Kamamiya Fumihiko , Mori Hidenori , Mori Masahiro , Morishita Megumi , Funaguchi Norihiko , Minatoguchi Shinya
Published: December 2015

A population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed to investigate the pharmacokinetics of moxifloxacin (400 mg) following a once-daily oral administration in 28 patients with respiratory tract infection disease. The maximum plasma concentration and the area under the plasma concentration–time curve were 3.97 µg/ml and 51.74 µg·h/ml, respectively; these values were nearly equivalent to those of healthy adult men. Two adverse drug reactions (nausea, vomiting) occurred, but both reactions were mild and nonserious and the patients recovered without treatment. The pharmacokinetic profile of moxifloxacin in Japanese patients with respiratory tract infection and an underlying disease should thus be considered safe and comparable with that in healthy adult men, and adjustment of dose may do not need for age, sex, body weight, or renal function.
Nontraumatic spinal cord injury at the neurological intensive care unit: spectrum, causes of admission and predictors of mortality
Authors: Grassner Lukas , Marschallinger Julia , Dünser Martin W. , Novak Helmut F. , Zerbs Alexander , Aigner Ludwig , Trinka Eugen , Sellner Johann
Published: December 2015

Objective:

Nontraumatic spinal cord injuries (NTSCIs) form a heterogeneous group of diseases, which may evolve into a life-threatening condition. We sought to characterize spectrum, causes of admission and predictors of death in patients with NTSCI treated at the neurological intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods:

We performed a retrospective observational analysis of NTSCI cases treated at a tertiary care center between 2001 and 2013. Among the 3937 NICU admissions were 93 patients with NTSCI (2.4%). Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, we examined predictors of mortality including demographics, etiology, reasons for admission and GCS/SAPS (Glasgow Coma Scale/Simplified Acute Physiology Score) scores.

Results:

Infectious and inflammatory/autoimmune causes made up 50% of the NTSCI cases. The most common reasons for NICU admission were rapidly progressing paresis (49.5%) and abundance of respiratory insufficiency (26.9%). The mortality rate was 22.6% and 2.5-fold higher than in the cohort of all other patients treated at the NICU. Respiratory insufficiency as the reason for NICU admission [odds ratio (OR) 4.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38–17.9; p < 0.01], high initial SAPS scores (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.003–1.08; p = 0.04), and the development of acute kidney injury throughout the stay (OR 7.25, 1.9–27.5; p = 0.004) were independent risk factors for NICU death.

Conclusions:

Patients with NTSCI account for a subset of patients admitted to the NICU and are at risk for adverse outcome. A better understanding of predisposing conditions and further knowledge of management of critically ill patients with NTSCI is mandatory.