bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teaching the Sciences in Ninth-Century Baghdad as a Question in the History of the Book: The Case of Abū Yūsuf Yaʿqūb b. Isḥāq al-Kindī (d. after 256/870)
Authors: Brentjes Sonja
Published: March 2017

This paper raises the question as to what role teaching (teachers, teaching material, orality, students) played in intellectual activities and the codification of those activities into texts and manuscripts with respect to the mathematical sciences and natural philosophy in third/ninth-century Baghdad. This issue is approached via the question of how extant works of that period, which are predominantly seen by modern historians of science either as translations or as newly composed research works, can be identified as having had a teaching function. The question of relevance, organization, and content of teaching in the highly innovative context of the mathematical sciences and natural philosophy of the third/ninth century is historiographically significant beyond the recovery of historical details about texts and their character.
Digital China
Authors: Keane Michael , Chen Ying
Published: March 2017

The rapid development of digital technology infrastructure in the People’s Republic of China, together with the government’s recent support of grassroots innovation, has led to a growing mood of techno-nationalism as well as a feeling that digital technology can play an important role in renovating China’s international image. Powerful internet companies are challenging the dominance of traditional state-owned media. Cultural products are digitized, distributed, and consumed on online platforms. Such platforms offer consumers a choice of content through subscription, either free or paid. With China’s media and culture striving to ‘go out’ (zou chuqu走出去), typified bycctvand Confucius Institutes, we pose the question: Can China use the ‘digital power’ of the internet to achieve international recognition as an ‘innovative nation’ or will the internet perpetuate a stereotype of China as a copycat nation?
The Networked China Researcher
Authors: Svensson Marina
Published: March 2017

The internet has opened up new possibilities for scholars to gather data and, in general, to stay updated on rapidly changing developments in the Chinese society. Social media has added yet another dimension as it enables researchers to follow events and public debates as they unfold as well as facilitate engagement and interactivity with informants and other contacts. This article is based on the author’s own experiences and discusses the possibilities and challenges of using Chinese social media platforms. It calls for an explicit reflexivity on rapidly changing technologies. The article also addresses the fact that the researcher leaves many digital footprints on the internet and social media, and the advantages and possible dangers in an authoritarian society such as China. The article is written as a reflection piece and a call for more open and systematic discussions on how digital technologies change research practices in and on China.
Real Imaginary Diasporas
Authors: Looser Thomas D.
Published: March 2017

An island might seem an unlikely figure of globalization, and perhaps more appropriate as a model for diasporic communities. This article takes as a starting point the assumption that islands (conceptually as well as geographically) are in fact particularly relevant to pivotal trends within contemporary globalization, even while there are also reasons to consider islanding in relation to diaspora, and in ways that might make us rethink both globalization and the role of diasporas within the global now. The essay will take up some of the central conditions (economic, social, cultural) of contemporary islands and islanding—conditions that are at once Asian but also increasingly everywhere, and definitive of the way cities are being re-formed on continents and on real islands in real oceanic waters. The focal point of the article will be the art forms that come out of, and put expression to, these island worlds.
On the Three Transformations in Seng Ni Gong Fan 僧尼共犯
Authors: Leggieri Antonio
Published: March 2017

The object of this paper is Feng Weimin’s shortzajuplay calledSeng Ni Gong Fan. The first part of the article deals with the more visible differences between Feng’s play and the traditional, canonicalzaju, and here the writer tries to show how Feng broke away from the tradition while at the same time preserving some of its elements. After these macro-level observations, the second part deals more in detail with the language that Feng used in order to give life to his characters, and how he modifies well-known sayings, images, and tropes to obtain new, surprising effects. The third part deals directly with the choice of characters, the motivation behind their action and how their role changes as the plot unravels. Through a detailed analysis centred on the characters’ lines and on the already existing commentaries, this article tries to bring to light the underlying intention of the text, together with its ideological focal points, and ultimately explains the often downplayed influence that Feng’szajuhad on other genres of Ming theatre.
Chinese Porcelain as a Symbol of Power on the East African Coast from the 14th Century Onward
Authors: Montella Andrea
Published: March 2017

The aim of this paper is to illustrate the role of Chinese ceramics in Swahili society, with particular emphasis on their funerary uses. Although the importance of Chinese ceramics, especially porcelain, is attested throughout the Indian Ocean, scholars have only recently pointed out their role not only as chronological markers, but also as useful tools to better understand the politics and social customs of certain areas, such as the East African Coast. Imported vessels are involved in several ritual activities which have been performed in Swahili houses since ancient times. Ceramics act as protective tools in the innermost and main section of the house, exclusively reserved for women. According to local customs, Chinese ceramics are believed to be able to ward off negative influences. Furthermore, ceramics became part of the constitution of authority and power, not just a reflection of them. In particular, their importance is evident from their use in religious monuments such as mosques and tombs, where they are used as architectural decorative elements in order to display the wealth of the deceased and as symbols of legitimacy bestowed from ancestors to their heirs. Chinese porcelain in funerary contexts thus became a necessary instrument whereby the Swahili elite asserted their prominence during the continuous negotiation of power between them and other social classes.
朱耷《个山小像》與明清文人風尚
Authors: 芳芳 陳
Published: March 2017

朱耷 (1626–1705) 以「八大山人」為號，以其鮮明而獨特的畫風聞名中國繪畫史。朱耷本人不涉及人物畫，也沒有自畫像，惟友人黃安平所畫的 《个山小像》成為他傳世的畫像。本文集中研究《个山小像》，以肖像畫和題跋切入，從中管窺明清時期肖像畫的主要特色；並探究朱耷在個人風格未形成前，對前人大師的臨摹，揭示了「八大體」形成前的前期書風。 明代流行在繪畫題識，從友人的三段題跋，可以佐證朱耷的家世、生平事蹟、禪宗思想及交遊網絡。
The Italian species of Pritha (Araneae, Filistatidae): a critical revision and description of two new species
Authors: LEGITTIMO CARLO MARIA , SIMEON ENRICO , POMPEO PIERGIORGIO DI , KULCZYCKI ALESSANDRO
Published: March 2017

The species of Pritha Lehtinen, 1967 in Italy are revised for the first time, and a preliminary putative diagnosis for the genus is provided. Two new Italian species are described: Pritha parva sp. nov. (male and female) and P. sagittata sp. nov. (male and female). P. pallida (Kulczyński, 1897) and the type species P. nana (Simon, 1868) are entirely re-described. The copulatory organs, some other somatic characters and the habitus of each sex of the four Italian species are illustrated and photographed at high magnifications. P. debilis (Simon, 1911) and P. vestita (Simon, 1873) are removed from the synonymy with P. nana and revalidated to species status, and a lectotype is designated for the latter. P. pallida is recorded from Spain and Greece for the first time. Distribution, behavioural aspects and ecology of the four Italian species are discussed and photographs of live specimens, webs and habitats are provided.
Impacts of Storm-Track Variations on Wintertime Extreme Weather Events over the Continental United States
Authors: Ma Chen-Geng , Chang Edmund K. M.
Published: March 2017

Extratropical cyclones are responsible for many of the high-impact weather events over the United States, including extreme cold, extreme high wind, and extreme heavy precipitation. In this study, impacts from the variations of the cyclone (or storm-track) activity on these extreme events are examined through composites based on map-averaged cyclone activity. Increased cyclone activity enhances the frequency of extreme cold and high wind events over much of the United States, and impacts extreme precipitation around the Ohio River valley. These impacts are largely due to a changing of the tail of the distribution rather than a shifting of the mean. To systematically study these impacts, three singular value decomposition (SVD) analyses have been conducted, each one between the cyclone activity and one kind of extreme event frequency. All three SVD leading modes represent a pattern of overall increase or decrease of storm tracks over the United States. The average of the time series of these leading modes is highly correlated with the observed map-averaged storm track and strongly associated with the Pacific–North America (PNA) pattern and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). However, composites based on either the PNA pattern or ENSO do not show as strong impacts as the map-averaged storm track. A second common SVD mode is found that correlates weakly with the North Pacific mode and is likely to be largely due to internal variability. Finally, the potential impacts of projected storm-track change on the frequency of extreme events are examined, indicating that the projected storm-track decrease over North America may give rise to some reduction in the frequency of extreme events.
Lagrangian Kinematic Criterion for the Breaking of Shoaling Waves
Authors: Itay Uri , Liberzon Dan
Published: March 2017

An experimental study was conducted with the aim of validating the Lagrangian kinematic criterion (LKC) for the case of breaking of shoaling waves. Monochromatic wave trains were generated in a large wave flume and allowed to shoal and break naturally on an artificial inclination changeable shore, thus allowing inspection of a range of slopes. Instantaneous horizontal Lagrangian water surface velocity was measured by particle tracking velocimetry and compared to the instantaneous propagation speed of the crest on a verge of breaking, the latter calculated using time series produced by resistance-type wave gauges staged along the flume. The inception of a breaker was found to occur when the monotonically increasing horizontal water velocity on the crest, during the process of steepening, approached that of the slowing steep crest, thus confirming the LKC for shoaling conditions. In addition, an objective method of breaking detection was developed utilizing the phase–time method and wavelet analysis by recognizing a specific pattern in the instantaneous local frequency fluctuations. The two main expected contributions of this study are the formation of an applicable criterion for breaking occurrences in shoaling waves and development of a wave breaking detection method independent of human decision. Incorporation of the suggested criterion into existing waves prediction models can be a significant contribution to maritime projects efficiency, whereas the breakers detection method will be useful for conducting further experimental research on waves breaking both in laboratory installations and in the highly unstable environment of an open sea.
The light that blinds: On art in D’Annunzio’s La Gioconda
Authors: Syrimis Michael
Published: March 2017

This article analyzes Gabriele D’Annunzio’s 1898 play La Gioconda as a form of modern tragedy with respect to Friedrich Nietzsche’s duality of the Apollinian and Dionysian, and with particular emphasis on the motif of light as it appears both in the author’s stage directions and in the dialogues. The story of the play revolves around the recurrent Dannunzian theme of the love triangle. A young sculptor of a Nietzschean sensibility struggles with the dilemma between a peaceful family life and the stormy lifestyle of an artist, played out in his relationships with a gentle and caring spouse and his seductive and implacable model, or la nemica. A study of the diverse ways in which the light motif is used and discussed from one act to the next vis-a-vis the Nietzschean duality, while also considering the stylistic contradiction between a bourgeois domestic drama, on the one hand, and a philosophical and lyrical treatise on aesthetic experience, on the other, the article challenges the dichotomy of spouse vs. lover and argues that the artist’s imagination conflates the two figures in formulating the ideal of a modern muse, a new ‘Gioconda’, a timeless figure that synthesizes an ancient primal dynamism, a restrained Renaissance harmony, and a resounding modernity.
Benchmarking Aided Decision Making in a Signal Detection Task
Authors: Bartlett Megan L. , McCarley Jason S.
Published: March 2017

Objective:

A series of experiments examined human operators’ strategies for interacting with highly (93%) reliable automated decision aids in a binary signal detection task.

Background:

Operators often interact with automated decision aids in a suboptimal way, achieving performance levels lower than predicted by a statistically ideal model of information integration. To better understand operators’ inefficient use of decision aids, we compared participants’ automation-aided performance levels with the predictions of seven statistical models of collaborative decision making.

Method:

Participants performed a binary signal detection task that asked them to classify random dot images as either blue or orange dominant. They made their judgments either unaided or with assistance from a 93% reliable automated decision aid that provided either graded (Experiments 1 and 3) or binary (Experiment 2) cues. We compared automation-aided performance with the predictions of seven statistical models of collaborative decision making, including a statistically optimal model and Robinson and Sorkin’s contingent criterion model.

Results and Conclusion:

Automation-aided sensitivity hewed closest to the predictions of the two least efficient collaborative models, well short of statistically ideal levels. Performance was similar whether the aid provided graded or binary judgments. Model comparisons identified potential strategies by which participants integrated their judgments with the aid’s.

Application:

Results lend insight into participants’ automation-aided decision strategies and provide benchmarks for predicting automation-aided performance levels.
Shooter–System Performance Variability as a Function of Recoil Dynamics
Authors: Morelli Frank , Neugebauer Jennifer M. , Haynes Courtney A. , Fry Thomas C. , Ortega Samson V. , Struve Douglas J. , LaFiandra Michael E. , Larkin Gabriella B.
Published: March 2017

Objective:

The goal of this study was to quantify shooter performance relative to subtle variations in recoil energy.

Background:

Marksmanship performance remains undefined for subtle distinctions in weapon recoil energy across common small-arms platforms.

Method:

Weapons were customized using multiple components and ammunition types. Firing scenarios were designed to examine the effect of recoil energy on shooter timing and accuracy.

Results:

The results suggest that recoil condition does not affect timing during firing sequences designed to elicit differences in timed-fire performance. Recoil condition did, however, influence shot placement, with accuracy decreasing as the energy associated with firing increased. Subjective recoil estimations were quantified according to relative magnitude and spatial distribution of perceived energy transferred at shooter–weapon surface contact locations.

Conclusion:

The absence of differences in time to engage may be reflective of resistance to recoil-induced point-of-aim deviation based on experience. Distinctions in performance were revealed despite subtle differences in recoil energy between conditions. An instrument that may be sensitive to shooter perception of subtle differences in recoil energy during firing was also developed.

Application:

The findings inform performance expectations for small-arms systems relative to recoil energy levels transferred to the shooter during dynamic firing events.
Trade, Labour Markets and Health
Authors: McNamara Courtney , Labonté Ronald
Published: March 2017

Previous analyses indicate that there are a number of potentially serious health risks associated with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The objective of this work is to provide further insight into the potential health impacts of the TPP by investigating labour market pathways. The impact of the TPP on employment and working conditions is a major point of contention in broader public debates. In public health literature, these factors are considered fundamental determinants of health, yet they are rarely addressed in analyses of trade and investment agreements. We therefore undertake a prospective policy analysis of the TPP through a content analysis of the agreement’s Labour Chapter. Provisions of the Chapter are analyzed with reference to the health policy triangle and four main areas through which labour markets influence health: power relations, social policies, employment conditions and working conditions. Findings indicate that implementation of the TPP can have important impacts on health through labour market pathways. While the Labour Chapter is being presented by proponents of the agreement as a vehicle for improvement in labour standards, we find little evidence to support this view. Instead, we find several ways the TPP may weaken employment relations to the detriment of health.
Family Structure, Child Living Arrangement and Mothers’ Self-rated Health in Sweden—A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Fritzell Sara C. , Gähler H. Michael
Published: March 2017

Alternate living, i.e. children living 50-50 with their parents following separation is emerging as a new family form. This study is the first to differentiate separated mothers with sole/main custody from mothers with alternately living children, analysing health outcomes and using a sample representative of the population. The association between the self-rated health (SRH) of mothers and different family structures are examined. Parental cooperation is included in the analyses as a potential mediator. Data on 755 mothers from the 2010 Swedish Level of Living Survey were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Single mothers with sole/main custody reported poorer SRH than couple mothers in intact families while the difference was not significant for single mothers with children living alternately and mothers in stepfamilies. Controlling for potential confounders, probabilities for poor SRH for single mothers were reduced. The excess risk among mothers with sole/main custody may be due to poorer socioeconomic conditions. Employment was significantly more common among mothers with alternate living and an important explanatory factor for their better health compared to single mothers with sole/main custody. Adjusting for parental cooperation lowered the increased probability for poor SRH among single mothers with sole/main custody compared to single mothers with alternate living.
Venous air embolism: An under-recognised entity in blunt-force trauma and the importance of radiology
Authors: du Plessis Marna , du Toit-Prinsloo Lorraine
Published: March 2017

Air embolism (AE) is considered a rare event and can be either iatrogenic or traumatic. Various post-mortem methods to detect AE exist, of which radiology is preferred. The presence of air in the heart can be demonstrated using special dissection techniques where the heart is opened under water or by needle puncture from a water-filled syringe. Three cases of blunt-force head injury are presented herein, with AE being diagnosed by conventional radiography using a Lodox Statscan® full-body digital X-ray machine in all cases. This case series demonstrates that AE due to blunt-force trauma to the head and sinuses might be under-recognised in the forensic post-mortem setting. It also highlights the importance of radiology in diagnosing AE post-mortem, especially where the results of post-mortem techniques might be unsatisfactory.
Experience, Knowledge, and Perceived Comfort and Clinical Competency in Working With Suicidal Clients Among Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors
Authors: Lund Emily M. , Schultz Jared C. , Nadorff Michael R. , Galbraith Kate , Thomas Katie B.
Published: March 2017

Despite the well-documented elevated rates of suicidality among people with disabilities, no published research has examined rehabilitation counselors’ experiences or perceived competency in suicide assessment or intervention. In the present study, we surveyed 223 vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors from state VR offices in eight states regarding their experiences with, knowledge of, and perceived comfort with and competency in suicide assessment and intervention. Almost a quarter of participants worked with suicidal clients once a month or more, with more than half reporting working with suicidal clients at least once a year. Two thirds of participants reported having received some training related to suicide, and participants demonstrated both a good knowledge of suicide myths and facts, and a willingness to work with suicidal clients. However, most participants did not perceive themselves as being competent in core skills related to suicide assessment and intervention. These results suggest that more clinical training in suicide assessment and intervention is needed for VR counselors.
Evaluation of thermal, moisture management and sensorial comfort properties of superabsorbent polyacrylate fabrics for the next-to-skin layer in firefighters’ protective clothing
Authors: Nayak Rajkishore , Kanesalingam Sinnappoo , Houshyar Shadi , Wang Lijing , Padhye Rajiv , Vijayan Arun
Published: March 2017

This research investigated the transport properties (such as thermal resistance, water vapor resistance and air permeability), moisture management capacity and sensorial properties of some knitted structures of superabsorbent polyacrylate in order to explore their potential as next-to-skin layers in firefighters’ protective clothing in Australia. Test results using these fabrics were compared with the currently used next-to-skin woven fabric. Three different knitted structures (i.e. jersey, rib and interlock) were selected for the study in addition to the current woven fabric in use by Australian firefighters. It was observed that the knitted fabric samples of superabsorbent polyacrylate retained higher amounts of water compared to the fabric sample currently used in the firefighters’ clothing. However, the woven fabric sample dried at a faster rate. Hence, a blended fabric of polyacrylate with the current Nomex® fabric can help in higher sweat absorption and faster drying. The thermal and water vapor resistance of jersey fabric was the lowest, which may better facilitate the transfer of metabolic heat and vapor to the environment, resulting in better thermal comfort. Furthermore, all the fabric samples showed a low coefficient of friction (∼0.2), which indicated less tactile discomfort if the fabrics are worn as the next-to-skin layer in the firefighters’ clothing. The overall moisture management properties of the fabric samples were rated as fair to good. The findings of this research suggest that the superabsorbent material has the potential to be used in place of the existing next-to-skin layer of firefighters’ protective clothing, with better sweat absorption capacity and thermal comfort.
The Active Skim: Efficient Reading as a Moral Challenge in Postgraduate Education
Authors: Wohl Hannah , Fine Gary Alan
Published: March 2017

Faculty and students recognize that to succeed in graduate school, the ability to read efficiently and with comprehension is crucial. Students must be able to process information newly presented to them, even when that information seems overwhelming. Comprehending, discussing, and utilizing relevant texts are central to the production of scholars. But what constitutes appropriate techniques of reading, when does one employ various strategies, and for what purposes? In a world in which more is assigned than can reasonably be processed, what constitutes a legitimate practice? In this conversation essay, we discuss the role of skimming, building upon an interview study of 36 social science graduate students in history, economics, and sociology. We ask what students believe about the necessity and appropriateness of skimming, how they honed their skills, and what constitutes normative standards. We treat skimming as a form of “legitimate deviance,” necessary for occupational survival but a strategy that is potentially a challenge to an academic self-image. Students learn techniques that allow them to read rapidly and recall information for later use, but the appropriate use of these techniques is rarely discussed openly in graduate training.
Stakeholder Involvement in Public–Private Partnerships: Its Influence on the Innovative Character of Projects and on Project Performance
Authors: Nederhand José , Klijn Erik Hans
Published: March 2017

This article examines to what degree citizens and societal stakeholders are involved in Public–Private Partnership (PPP) projects, what factors account for their involvement, and what the effects are on the performance and innovativeness of the projects. This research, based on a survey in 2014 consisting of 144 respondents involved in Dutch PPP projects, shows that although trustful relationships between actors enhance the inclusion of societal parties, the presence of a contract that allows for flexibility leads to more citizen involvement. Furthermore, we found that the involvement of stakeholders leads to more innovative projects but not necessarily to better performing projects.
State estimation in fractional-order systems with coloured measurement noise
Authors: Safarinejadian Behrouz , Kianpour Nasrin , Asad Mojtaba
Published: March 2017

This paper presents new estimation methods for discrete fractional-order state-space systems with coloured measurement noise. A novel approach is proposed to convert a fractional system with coloured measurement noise to a system with white measurement noise in which the process and measurement noises are correlated with each other. In this paper, two new Kalman filter algorithms for fractional-order linear state-space systems with coloured measurement noise, as well as a new extended Kalman filter algorithm for state estimation in nonlinear fractional-order state-space systems with coloured measurement noise, are proposed. The accuracy of the equations and relations is confirmed in several theorems. The validity and effectiveness of the proposed algorithms are verified by simulation results and compared with previous work. Results show that for linear and nonlinear fractional-order systems with coloured noise, the proposed methods are more accurate than conventional methods regarding estimation error and estimation error covariance. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms can accurately perform estimation in fractional-order systems with coloured measurement noise.
Hidden Gaussian Markov model for distributed fault detection in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Saihi Marwa , Zouinkhi Ahmed , Boussaid Boumedyen , Abdelkarim Mohamed Naceur , Andrieux Guillaume
Published: March 2017

Wireless sensor networks are based on a large number of sensor nodes used to measure information like temperature, acceleration, displacement, or pressure. The measurements are used to estimate the state of the monitored system or area. However, the quality of the measurements must be guaranteed to ensure the reliability of the estimated state of the system. Actually, sensors can be used in a hostile environment such as, on a battle field in the presence of fires, floods, earthquakes. In these environments as well as in normal operation, sensors can fail.

The failure of sensor nodes can also be caused by other factors like: the failure of a module (such as the sensing module) due to the fabrication process models, loss of battery power and so on. A wireless sensor network must be able to identify faulty nodes. Therefore, we propose a probabilistic approach based on the Hidden Markov Model to identify faulty sensor nodes. Our proposed approach predicts the future state of each node from its actual state, so the fault could be detected before it occurs. We use an aided judgment of neighbour sensor nodes in the network. The algorithm analyses the correlation of the sensors’ data with respect to its neighbourhood. A systematic approach to divide a network on cliques is proposed to fully draw the neighbourhood of each node in the network. After drawing the neighbourhood of each node (cliques), damaged cliques are identified using the Gaussian distribution theorem. Finally, we use the Hidden Markov Model to identify faulty nodes in the identified damaged cliques by calculating the probability of each node to stay in its normal state. Simulation results demonstrate our algorithm is efficient even for a huge wireless sensor network unlike previous approaches.
Should We Stop Developing Heuristics and Only Rely on Mixed Integer Programming Solvers in Automated Test Assembly? A Rejoinder to van der Linden and Li (2016)
Authors: Chen Pei-Hua
Published: March 2017

This rejoinder responds to the commentary by van der Linden and Li entiled “Comment on Three-Element Item Selection Procedures for Multiple Forms Assembly: An Item Matching Approach” on the article “Three-Element Item Selection Procedures for Multiple Forms Assembly: An Item Matching Approach” by Chen. Van der Linden and Li made a strong statement calling for the cessation of test assembly heuristics development, and instead encouraged embracing mixed integer programming (MIP). This article points out the nondeterministic polynomial (NP)–hard nature of MIP problems and how solutions found using heuristics could be useful in an MIP context. Although van der Linden and Li provided several practical examples of test assembly supporting their view, the examples ignore the cases in which a slight change of constraints or item pool data might mean it would not be possible to obtain solutions as quickly as before. The article illustrates the use of heuristic solutions to improve both the performance of MIP solvers and the quality of solutions. Additional responses to the commentary by van der Linden and Li are included.
The Social Reorganization of Time
Authors: Koeber Chuck
Published: March 2017

U.S. workers labor longer hours, on average, than do their counterparts in most other countries. They also work longer than previous generations of U.S. workers. As a result, many people feel as though they are trapped in what Monica Bauerlein and Clara Jefferey have termed the “Great Speedup.” We can better understand this problem by viewing it as a social reorganization of time and work discipline brought about by growth imperatives of global capitalism. In the United States, this response is characterized by a lengthening of the workday, made possible by reducing time spent completing household and childcare tasks (i.e., reproductive labor), and by reducing time spent in leisure. It is also accomplished by strategically embedding productive work into consumption or what I refer to as “consumptive labor.” This occurs, for example, when businesses design the labor process to include self-service forms of consumption, wherein consumers perform work-like tasks but without being paid as employees. We can view this lengthening of the workday as a significant change in what E. P. Thompson termed “time discipline.” Relying on new digital information technology, both producers and consumers can more effectively than in the past minimize time spent completing tasks, not only at work but also at home and in leisure. The time made available through these reductions can then be transferred into productive labor, thereby increasing the hours people spend working. However, this trajectory of unlimited economic growth and increasing hours of production is not socially, economically, or ecologically sustainable. Moreover, I assert that having access to and control over an ample portion of one’s time is an important part of our humanity within a free and democratic society.
Towards an understanding of morphogenesis in metropolitan street-networks
Authors: Serra Miguel , Gil Jorge , Pinho Paulo
Published: March 2017

We propose a GIS-based method to enable the understanding of how global street-network properties emerge from the temporal accumulation of individual street-network increments. The method entails the adoption of quantitative descriptions of individual street-patterns and of classification algorithms, in order to obtain numerically defined typomorphologies, which may then be statistically associated with the numerical outputs of street-network analysis. We apply the method to the case of Oporto Metropolitan Area, whose development we observed over 60 years. We isolate each increment of development entailing the creation of new streets (4208 objects), we quantify the morphology of their street-layouts, and we classify them into typomorphologies with clustering techniques. Through the investigation of the temporal and spatial frequencies of those typomorphologies, we assess their impacts on the street-networks of a set of selected civil-parishes of the metropolitan region, demonstrating that different typomorphological frequencies result in also different global street-network properties. We conclude by summarising the advantages of the method to generic urban morphological research and by suggesting that it may also contribute to inform bottom-up metropolitan spatial planning.
Cities as implements or facilities – The need for a spatial morphology in smart city systems
Authors: Marcus Lars , Koch Daniel
Published: March 2017

In light of the urgent threats presented by climate change and rapid urbanisation, interest in ‘smart city systems’ is mounting. In contrast to scholarship that poses ‘smartness’ as something that needs to be added to cities, recent developments in spatial morphology research pursue a view of the built fabric of cities as an extension of the cognitive human apparatus, as well as a material formulation of social, cultural and economic relations and processes. The built fabric of cities needs to be understood as a highly intelligent artefact in itself, rather than simple, dead matter. The current focus on high-tech systems risks concealing the fact that the machine is already there. In contrast to the technological ‘implements’ of smart city systems, this article looks at cities as ‘facilities’ – that is, as technologies that slow down, store and maintain energy as a resource for a variety of purposes. The article builds on space syntax research in order to give precision to the understanding of the affordances the cities offer their various processes and the ways in which cities operate as information storage and retrieval devices for individuals and for society. The city must be considered, we argue, in terms of a range of tangled, interdependent systems, reaching from individual buildings to the whole city, an understanding anchored in notions of ‘diversity’ and ‘density’ (recently gathered under the concept of ‘spatial capital’) and in research addressing how the distribution of space and artefacts serve as means of knowledge communication (specifically, in complex buildings such as libraries and department stores). In conclusion, we argue that existing discussions on ‘smart city systems’ would benefit acknowledgement of the role of cities as facilities.
Comparison of the Effects of a Pharmaceutical Industry Decision Guide and Decision Aids on Patient Choice to Intensify Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Martin Richard W. , Enck Ryan D. , Tellinghuisen Donald J. , Eggebeen Aaron T. , Birmingham James D. , Head Andrew J.
Published: March 2017

Objective. To compare the effects a pharmaceutical industry decision guide and International Patient Decision Aids Standard (IPDAS) compliant patient decision aids (PtDA) on patient medication beliefs and choice to intensify therapy. Methods. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, who had never taken etanercept (Enbrel), took part in a mail survey. They were presented with a hypothetical decision scenario where they were asked to consider adding etanercept to their current regimen. Each patient was randomized to review 1 of 3 forms of an etanercept-specific decision support: a long PtDA (LONG DA), a short PtDA (SHORT DA), or the manufacturer’s Enbrel decision guide (Pharm Booklet). Results. We had 402 RA patients participate in the study (response rate, 52%). Of the patients randomized to the Pharm Booklet, 30.6% elected to initiate etanercept. Only 14.6% and 14.0% of patients who reviewed the LONG DA or SHORT DA choose to take etanercept (χ2 = 15.7; P < 0.001). Patients who reviewed the LONG DA or SHORT DA had a greater increase in knowledge about etanercept than those who reviewed the Pharm Booklet. There was no difference in decisional conflict among the groups. A logistic regression model explained 44.2% (R2 = 0.442) of patient choice to intensify therapy by initiating etanercept. The strongest predictor of choice to intensify therapy were beliefs about etanercept’s ability to improve symptoms (OR = 2.56, 96%CI [1.71, 3.80]), and its use by others like the respondent (OR = 2.24, 95%CI [1.49, 3.35]). Mediation analysis confirmed the presence of a partial mediating effect of decision support on patients’ intent to take etanercept (OR = 0.59, 95%CI [0.39, 0.89]). Conclusions. Patients supported by the Pharm Booklet were twice as likely to choose to intensify therapy. The Pharm Booklet’s effects are partially mediated through persuasive communication techniques that influence patients’ beliefs that symptoms will improve, and increase social normative beliefs, rather than by increasing the relevant knowledge, clarifying patient values about positive or negative treatment outcomes, or increasing their self-efficacy.
Our Priceless Youth
Authors: Jensen Birger Boutrup , Grønhøj Alice , Godt Diana , Gadensgaard Birgitte
Published: March 2017

Young people’s excessive alcohol consumption is considered a societal problem in many countries, and higher alcohol taxes are often suggested as a possible remedy. Price increases cannot be effective if unnoticed, but little is known about young people’s alcohol price knowledge and sensitivity, as aggregate price sensitivity studies have produced ambiguous results. Applying individual data, this study examines young people’s knowledge of retail alcohol prices using two price memory tests. Results show that the majority holds fairly accurate reference prices, while a large segment intentionally checks in-store alcohol prices, though large variations exist across categories. Furthermore, logistic regressions revealed ‘purchased a special’ and ‘simple prices’ as determinants of alcohol price knowledge. The results suggest that alcohol tax increases must be significant to be effective when targeting young people. Otherwise, such increases go unnoticed and other policy instruments may perform better, not least when targeting the youngest, and thus most vulnerable group.
Migraine and vascular disease biomarkers: A population-based case-control study
Authors: Tietjen Gretchen E , Khubchandani Jagdish , Herial Nabeel , Palm-Meinders Inge H , Koppen Hille , Terwindt Gisela M , van Buchem Mark A , Launer Lenore J , Ferrari Michel D , Kruit Mark C
Published: March 2017

Background

The underpinnings of the migraine-stroke association remain uncertain, but endothelial activation is a potential mechanism. We evaluated the association of migraine and vascular disease biomarkers in a community-based population.

Methods

Participants (300 women, 117 men) were recruited as a part of the Dutch CAMERA 1 (Cerebral Abnormalities in Migraine, an Epidemiologic Risk Analysis) study. Participants were aged 30–60 (mean 48) years, 155 migraine had with aura (MA), 128 migraine without aura (MO), and 134 were controls with no severe headaches. Plasma concentrations of fibrinogen, Factor II, D-dimer, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and von Willebrand factor antigen were compared between groups, also stratifying by sex.

Results

Fibrinogen and hs-CRP were elevated in migraineurs compared to controls. In logistic regression analyses, MO and MA had increased likelihood of elevated fibrinogen, and MA had increased likelihood of elevated Factor II and hs-CRP. Fibrinogen and Factor II were associated with MA in women but not men. In the migraine subgroup, the total number of years of aura, but not headache, predicted elevated hs-CRP, and the average number of aura, but not headache, attacks predicted all biomarkers but Factor II.

Conclusions

Elevated vascular biomarkers were associated with migraine, particularly MA, as well as with years of aura and number of aura attacks.
High-mobility group box protein 1 expression in inflammatory diseases of the middle ear
Authors: Bellussi Luisa Maria , Vindigni Carla , Cocca Serena , Butorano Marie Aimee Gloria Munezero , Livi Walter , Corallo Giulia , Passali Desiderio
Published: March 2017

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a nuclear non-histone protein, playing a critical role as a mediator between innate and acquired immunity; when released extracellularly, it coordinates the cellular stress response (under necrosis, bacterial lipopolysaccharide stimulation) and acts as an inflammatory marker and cytokine. The aim of the study was to demonstrate whether HMGB1 is over-expressed in chronic middle-ear pathologies and whether the entity of expression and the localization are correlated with the degree of the inflammatory reaction, thus suggesting that HMGB1 may play a crucial role in chronic inflammatory disorders of the middle ear, as already demonstrated in other airway diseases.

We analyzed 30 samples of middle-ear mucosa in patients affected by chronic suppurative otitis media with ear drum perforation with/without cholesteatoma and otosclerosis as control. The distribution of HMGB1 was evaluated as nuclear, cytoplasmic, and/or extracellular staining.

The inflammatory cells observed in the biopsies were mostly lymphocytes and plasmacells. A statistically significant difference in inflammation score between otosclerosis and chronic otitis samples ( P < 0.01; Anova test) and between otosclerosis and cholesteatoma samples ( P < 0.05; Anova test) was observed; the HMGB1 positivity was in accordance with the density of the inflammatory infiltrate.

HMGB1 is over-expressed in chronic middle-ear pathologies and may play a role in the progression of the inflammatory process from recurrent acute otitis media to chronic suppurative otitis media.
Walking and talking together: Questions/answers and mobile participation in guided visits
Authors: Mondada Lorenza
Published: March 2017

This article studies mobile social interactions and, in particular, the embeddedness of talking and walking, and their intertwined organizations. Within a conversation analytic and ethnomethodological perspective, and on the basis of a corpus of video recorded guided visits, the article shows the implications of asking questions in a mobile versus a stationary context: whereas the former are answered in a collective participation framework, the latter are given a more private, interpersonal answer. The article also analyses how speakers manage to transform an answer given on the move into a stationary one, radically modifying the participation framework characterizing the sequence. In this way, the analyses contribute to better understand the finely tuned coordination of human actions in mobile social contexts, and to show how walking and talking are reflexively organized, mutually shaping each other, one revealing what the other is performing and vice-versa.
Public Perspectives Toward the Sexual Behavior of an Individual With Dementia Residing in Long-Term Care
Authors: Yelland Erin L. , Cless Adam W. , Mallory Allen B. , Cless Jessica D.
Published: March 2017

Objective: This study examines public perspectives toward sexual behavior within a heterosexually married couple in which one individual has dementia and resides in a long-term care facility. Method: Respondents included 318 adults in the Southern United States. Paired sample t tests were used to understand how the diagnosis of dementia statistically influenced participants’ responses, and a logistic regression model was used to understand how a vignette character’s sex and respondent characteristics influenced attitudes. Results: Fifty-eight percent of respondents believed that a sexual relationship should be permitted for an adult with dementia, and t tests revealed that dementia had a statistical effect on participants’ responses. Sex of the vignette character was not a predictor of attitudes. Participant’s qualitative rationales are offered for additional insight. Discussion: Respondents who felt that a couple should not engage in a sexual relationship commonly cited consent-related issues as their primary concern. Implications for policy development are discussed.
Pentraxin-3 levels are associated with vasculitis and disease activity in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Sahin S , Adrovic A , Barut K , Durmus S , Gelisgen R , Uzun H , Kasapcopur O
Published: March 2017

Objectives

Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) is a multisystemic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory organ damage by means of vasculitis. Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is expressed locally at the sites of inflammatory processes, predominantly from endothelial cells. In adult studies, PTX3 has shown to be an indicator of active vasculitis both in large-vessel and small-vessel vasculitides, as well as in SLE. Moreover, in SLE it has found to be correlated with disease activity, and with some of the clinical manifestations and laboratory parameters. We aimed to ascertain if PTX3 might be a significant mediator in cSLE and if it might indicate active vasculitis during the course of the disease.

Methods

Serum PTX3 levels were measured in 76 patients with cSLE and 41 healthy subjects. We have investigated its relation with disease activity, damage, clinical features, laboratory parameters and medications.

Results

Serum levels of PTX3 were found to be increased in cSLE compared to healthy controls (mean ± SD; 10.6 ± 8.2 ng/mL vs 2.7 ± 1.3 ng/mL, p < 0.001). PTX3 concentrations were also in correlation with SLEDAI-2K ( r = 0.57, p < 0.001). When viewed from the clinical perspective, serum PTX3 levels were significantly higher only in patients with active vasculitis ( p < 0.001), Raynaud phenomenon ( p = 0.006) and mucocutaneous manifestations ( p < 0.001). However, an association between PTX3 and age, age at disease onset, disease duration, complement levels, PedSDI score (pediatric version of the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index), ESR, CRP, procalcitonin levels, anti-ds DNA antibody, anticardiolipin antibodies was not detected.

Conclusions

Patients with cSLE have increased levels of serum PTX3 compared to healthy controls. Thus, serum PTX-3 level might be a significant mediator in cSLE. Apart from these, the results support that PTX3 reflects active cutaneous vasculitis in cSLE and correlates with disease activity.