bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cooperation in Human-Agent Systems to Support Resilience
Authors: Chiou Erin K. , Lee John D.
Published: May 2016

Objective:

This study uses a dyadic approach to understand human-agent cooperation and system resilience.

Background:

Increasingly capable technology fundamentally changes human-machine relationships. Rather than reliance on or compliance with more or less reliable automation, we investigate interaction strategies with more or less cooperative agents.

Method:

A joint-task microworld scenario was developed to explore the effects of agent cooperation on participant cooperation and system resilience. To assess the effects of agent cooperation on participant cooperation, 36 people coordinated with a more or less cooperative agent by requesting resources and responding to requests for resources in a dynamic task environment. Another 36 people were recruited to assess effects following a perturbation in their own hospital.

Results:

Experiment 1 shows people reciprocated the cooperative behaviors of the agents; a low-cooperation agent led to less effective interactions and less resource sharing, whereas a high-cooperation agent led to more effective interactions and greater resource sharing. Experiment 2 shows that an initial fast-tempo perturbation undermined proactive cooperation—people tended to not request resources. However, the initial fast tempo had little effect on reactive cooperation—people tended to accept resource requests according to cooperation level.

Conclusion:

This study complements the supervisory control perspective of human-automation interaction by considering interdependence and cooperation rather than the more common focus on reliability and reliance.

Application:

The cooperativeness of automated agents can influence the cooperativeness of human agents. Design and evaluation for resilience in teams involving increasingly autonomous agents should consider the cooperative behaviors of these agents.
The Critical Roles of Task Conflict and Job Autonomy in the Relationship Between Proactive Personalities and Innovative Employee Behavior
Authors: Giebels Ellen , de Reuver Renee S.M. , Rispens Sonja , Ufkes Elze G.
Published: May 2016

We examine why and when proactive personality is beneficial for innovative behavior at work. Based on a survey among 166 employees working in 35 departments of a large municipality in the Netherlands we show that an increase in task conflicts explains the positive relation between a proactive personality and innovative employee behavior. This process is moderated by job autonomy in such a way that the relationship between proactive personality and task conflict is particularly strong under low compared with high autonomy. The present research contributes to the discussion on the potential benefits of task conflict for change processes and highlights the importance of examining the interplay between personality and work context for understanding innovation practices.
Effect of the vinyl modification of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the performances of waste poly(ethylene terephthalate)-based nanocomposites
Authors: Tasić Ana , Rusmirović Jelena D , Nikolić Jovana , Božić Aleksandra , Pavlović Vladimir , Marinković Aleksandar D , Uskoković Petar S
Published: May 2016

Production of high-performance nanocomposite materials obtained from unsaturated polyester resin, based on products of the waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) recycling, and modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes is presented. Di-hydroxy functional glycolysates, synthesized by catalytic depolymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) with propylene glycol, were used for the unsaturated polyester resin synthesis. The structure of the obtained glycolysis product and unsaturated polyester resin were characterized by using FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, and by acid, iodine, and hydroxyl value. Nanofillers were prepared by direct and two-step amidation of oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Direct amidation with diallylamine produced multi-walled carbon nanotube-diallylamine reactive nanofiller. Two-step modification with diamines: hexamethylenediamine and p-phenylenediamine gave multi-walled carbon nanotube-hexamethylenediamine and multi-walled carbon nanotube- p-phenylenediamine nanofiller, respectively, whose amidation with methyl ester of linseed oil fatty acids gave multi-walled carbon nanotube-hexamethylenediamine/methyl ester of linseed oil fatty acid and multi-walled carbon nanotube- p-phenylenediamine/methyl ester of linseed oil fatty acid nanofiller, respectively. Influences of vinyl functionalities on mechanical properties of nanocomposite were analyzed from tensile strength ( σb), elongation ( ɛb) and Young’s modulus ( E) determination. An increase of 97.4, 119 and 139% of σb was obtained for nanocomposites with addition of 0.25 wt.% of diallylamine, p-phenylenediamine/methyl ester of linseed oil fatty acid and hexamethylenediamine/methyl ester of linseed oil fatty acid multi-walled carbon nanotubes, respectively. Short techno-economic analysis, performed on the basis of fixed and variable unsaturated polyester resin production costs, showed satisfactory potential profit, which could be realized by the implementation of the presented technology.
Shock attenuation mechanisms of magnetorheological elastomers absorbers: A theoretical analysis
Authors: Leng Dingxin , Wang Xiaojie , Sun Lingyu , Gordaninejad Faramarz
Published: May 2016

To predict the dynamic response of shock absorbers based on magnetorheological elastomers and investigate the contributions of various possible energy dissipation mechanisms, a modified four-parameter model of magnetorheological elastomers was proposed, which includes the viscoelastic characteristics of rubber matrix, the variable stiffness and damping property, and the interfacial bond conditions of magnetorheological elastomers under the applied magnetic field. The constitutive equations of magnetorheological elastomers were derived and all parameters were identified based on a published literature. It is theoretically demonstrated that the maximum response force under an impulse input could be attenuated approximately 30% when the magnetic field with 0.57 T is applied. Using the proposed theoretical model, it is shown that the energy dissipation mechanisms mainly come from the interfacial friction between particles and matrix, and the increment on stiffness and dynamic viscosity of the rubber matrix provides reverse contributions to the shock mitigation, while the interfacial bond stiffness has little influence on the response force amplitude. Hence, when magnetorheological elastomers are utilized in shock absorbers, it is suggested to take advantage of the interfacial friction energy.
Anisotropic size effect law for notched strength of unidirectional carbon/epoxy laminates – Part 2: Comparison with experiment
Authors: Kawai M , Kasuga A
Published: May 2016

The multiaxial quasi-brittle failure criterion for notched orthotropic composites that was formulated in the first part of this study is evaluated on the basis of the off-axis notched strength of a unidirectional carbon/epoxy composite. Static tension tests are first carried out on center circular hole specimens of different hole diameters and fiber orientations to examine the notch size effect as well as the fiber orientation effect on the off-axis notched strength of the unidirectional composite. Experimental results show that the tensile strength in the fiber direction is more notch-sensitive than that in the transverse direction. The notch sensitivity in off-axis strength increases as the off-axis angle increases from the 0° fiber direction to about 10° off-axis direction, but it turns to decrease monotonically as the off-axis angle increases further in the range up to 90°. Then, the analytical formulas to predict the off-axis notched strength, off-axis notch sensitivity, off-axis intrinsic equivalent mode-I fracture toughness, and off-axis apparent equivalent mode-I fracture toughness of unidirectional composites are established on the basis of the multiaxial quasi-brittle failure criterion. These analytical formulas succeed in efficiently predicting both the effects of notch size and fiber orientation on the off-axis notched strength of the unidirectional composite. It is also shown that the intrinsic and apparent off-axis equivalent mode-I fracture toughness values predicted for brittle failure and quasi-brittle failure, respectively, correlate well with the experimental results.
Some improvements on Sun-Chen's one-parameter plasticity model for fibrous composites (Part II: Finite element method implementation and applications)
Authors: Wang Jie , Xiao Yi
Published: May 2016

A SD-effect-incorporated nonlinear model for investigating the tension-compression asymmetry in stress–strain curves of fibrous composites was developed in Part I as a new application of the one-parameter plasticity model. In Part II of this investigation, the model is further developed to three-dimensional finite element models and is implemented in the finite element code ABAQUS; in addition, the model is validated against experimental results of stress–strain curves for unidirectional and angle-ply laminates under off-axis tension and compression. Last, parametric studies for a composite cantilever beam with and without SD effect are discussed to illustrate the features of the implemented model that is proposed herein.
Effects of Lexical Competition and Dialect Exposure on Phonological Priming
Authors: Clopper Cynthia G. , Walker Abby
Published: May 2016

A cross-modal lexical decision task was used to explore the effects of lexical competition and dialect exposure on phonological form priming. Relative to unrelated auditory primes, matching real word primes facilitated lexical decision for visual real word targets, whereas competing minimal pair primes inhibited lexical decision. These effects were robust across two English vowel pairs (mid–front and low–front) and for two listener groups (mono-dialectal and multi-dialectal). However, both the most robust facilitation and the most robust inhibition were observed for the mid–front vowel words with few phonological competitors for the mono-dialectal listener group. The mid–front vowel targets were acoustically more distinct than the low–front vowel targets, suggesting that acoustic–phonetic similarity leads to stronger lexical competition and less robust facilitation and inhibition. The multi-dialectal listeners had more prior exposure to multiple different dialects than the mono-dialectal group, suggesting that long-term exposure to linguistic variability contributes to a more flexible processing strategy in which lexical competition extends over a longer period of time, leading to less robust facilitation and inhibition.
Explaining Political Knowledge: The Role of Procedural Quality in an Informed Citizenry
Authors: Clark Nicholas
Published: May 2016

While much is known about the micro-level predictors of political knowledge, there have been relatively few efforts to study the potential macro-level causes of knowledge. Seeking to improve our understanding of country-based variation in knowledge, this article demonstrates that individuals have an easier time finding and interpreting information in political environments that provide the public with greater opportunities to engage, observe, and learn about the political process. To investigate that possibility, the article analyzes how the procedural quality of the political process affects political knowledge. Using data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems and the Worldwide Governance Indicators Project, survey analyses show that the transparency and responsiveness of a political system indeed influence the public’s information about political parties and, to a lesser extent, the amount of factual knowledge retained by survey respondents. In other words, the quality of democratic governance affects how much individuals know about the political process.
Citizens as Sense-Makers: Towards a Deeper Appreciation of Citizens’ Understandings of Democratic Politics
Authors: van Wessel Margit
Published: May 2016

An important literature has emerged that seeks to explain political disaffection and the resulting problem of disengagement by looking into citizens’ understandings of democratic politics and approaching understanding in cognitive terms. On the basis of an empirical study, this article proposes an alternative approach that can contribute to a deeper appreciation of the way in which citizens approach democratic politics; one that we need in order to address political disaffection. This article shows how a citizen’s understanding should be viewed as the outcome of a dynamic between a citizen and the democracy she/he is trying to understand. Understanding is then about knowing how politics works: an embodied achievement, contextually embedded. This article concludes by arguing that confronting political disaffection by changing understandings would demand an acknowledgement and appreciation of why a certain understanding is a valid way of seeing for a citizen, in order then to be able to plausibly shift such understandings.
Development and Initial Psychometric Properties of the Participatory Ethics Scale
Authors: Tarvydas Vilia M. , Estrada-Hernandez Noel , Vazquez-Ramos Robinson A. , Saunders Jodi L.
Published: May 2016

This article describes the development and initial validation of the Participatory Ethics Scale (PES). The PES assesses counselor’s self-reported ethical orientation in relation to consumer participation in the solution of ethical dilemmas. Study 1 includes the results of a Delphi study conducted to develop and assess content validity of PES items. This first study resulted in the creation of 90 potential items to evaluate a participatory ethics orientation. Study 2 reports on the results of a pilot study conducted to assess the usefulness of the PES items measuring an ethical orientation guided by consumer participation. Results indicate that data from this pilot study provide enough evidence of the usefulness of these items in measuring aspects related to ethical knowledge, working alliance, consumer involvement, and consumer empowerment. Discussion, limitations, and implications for future research are presented.
The effect of fabric movement on washing performance in a front-loading washer IV: under 3.25-kg laundry load condition
Authors: Cho Yoonkyung , Yun Changsang , Park Chung Hee
Published: May 2016

This study investigated the effects of fabric movement on detergency in a front-loading washer. To this end, various fabric movements of 3.25-kg loads were induced by controlling wash spin speeds at 34, 46, 50, and 54 r/min and detergency was measured, after which the correlation between the fabric movement and detergency at each wash speed was analyzed. The observed fabric movement characteristics were represented by 10 Fabric Movement Indexes (FMIs), with numerical values defined to describe fabric movements in a front-loading washer. It was revealed that detergency was highest at the wash spin speed of 46 r/min. It was also found that each speed resulted in distinguishing characteristics of fabric movements and two FMIs, “Distance from the center of the drum to the tracer fabric” and “Number of appearances of the tracer fabric”, had the greatest influence on detergency. These results show that not only falling movement, which provides high mechanical force to fabric, but also fabric interactions, such as abrasion and mixing, also affected detergency just as significantly.
A study of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer fiber for the drawing process
Authors: Rwei Syang-Peng , Jue Zhi-Feng , Chiang Whe-Yi , Chen Yu-Hua , Chen Jui-Hsiang
Published: May 2016

This study investigates the effect of the drawing process of ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) fibers on their physical properties. Three different ethylene contents, namely EV-32, EV-38 and EV-44, were used where the ethylene content has the order of EV-44 > EV-38 > EV-32. The result indicates that at the same drawing temperature and draw ratio, the online drawing stress of the fiber with high ethylene content is higher than that with low ethylene content. Moreover, the drawn EVOH fiber, at the drawing temperature of 80℃ and the draw ratio of 2.0, exhibits an optimal mechanical property. As the draw ratio increases, the online drawing stress, birefringence and initial modulus increase. Notably, unlike typical polymeric fibers, the glass transition temperature ( Tg) of the drawn EVOH fibers decreases with the draw ratio due to more water being absorbed by thinner fibers within the same number of samples. The draw ratio was found to have little effect on the melting temperature ( Tm). At the same draw ratio, the online drawing stress, birefringence, stress and initial modulus of the fiber EV-44, which has the highest ethylene content, is higher than those of EV-32 and EV-38. The creep strain of the drawn fibers EV-32 and EV-38 linearly increase with the drawing time when the applied stress maintains constant at 150 MPa, while an insignificant increase is observed for EV-44, suggesting that EV-44 is difficult to deform and has higher size stability. In the stress relaxation test, the elongation increases with the initial stress. At the same elongation percentage, the initial stress of the drawn fibers has the following trend: EV-44 > EV-38 > EV-32 and the stress relaxation time (τ) has the following trend: EV-44 > EV-38 > EV-32, indicating again that EV-44 is relatively difficult to deform during drawing. Finally, EV-44 fiber performed the best in the hot water resistance test.
Covalent immobilization of enzyme on aminated woven poly (lactic acid) via ammonia plasma: evaluation of the optimum immobilization conditions
Authors: Song Ji Eun , Song Wha Soon , Yeo Sang Young , Kim Hye Rim , Lee So Hee
Published: May 2016

The present study aims to develop an immobilization support from woven poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and establish the optimum immobilization conditions for trypsin. Woven PLA was modified by ammonia-based plasma treatment in order to incorporate amine groups on its surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that the N1s composition of PLA increased significantly, from 0.66% to 5.92%, after ammonia-based plasma processing. Trypsin from porcine pancreas was immobilized onto modified woven PLA by covalent binding after activating PLA with glutaraldehyde (GA). The results indicated that the optimal GA treatment conditions were as follows: pH of 10.0, 2% GA (v/v), and 180 min crosslinking time. In addition, the optimum immobilization conditions were as follows: pH of 8.5, 10% (owf) of trypsin concentration, 30 min, and 25℃. Under the optimum conditions, the amount of immobilized enzyme on woven PLA was 0.28 mg/mg and specific activity was 3.763 U/mg. In addition, the pH and thermal stabilities of the immobilized trypsin were improved. The immobilized trypsin retained approximately 55% of its initial activity after 20 days of storage and exhibited the potential for repetitive use through approximately 15 cycles. GA crosslinking and trypsin immobilization were found to improve the roughness of the PLA surface and increase its hydrophobicity. The data indicate that modified woven PLA, used as an immobilization support, shows suitable properties for use as a biocatalytic material in enzymatic applications.
Teaching a “Critical Accessibility Case Study”
Authors: Browning Ella R. , Cagle Lauren E.
Published: May 2016

As technical communication (TC) instructors, it is vital that we continue reimagining our curricula as the field itself is continually reimagined in light of new technologies, genres, workplace practices, and theories—theories such as those from disability studies scholarship. Here, the authors offer an approach to including disability studies in TC curricula through the inclusion of a “critical accessibility case study” (CACS). In explicating the theoretical and practical foundations that support teaching a CACS in TC courses, the authors provide an overview of how TC scholars have productively engaged with disability studies and case studies to question both our curricular content and classroom practices. They offer as an example their “New York City Evacuation CACS,” developed for and taught in TC for Health Sciences courses, which demonstrates that critical disability theory can help us better teach distribution and design of technical information and user-based approaches to TC. The conceptual framework of the CACS functions as a strategy for TC instructors to integrate disability studies and attention to disability and accessibility into TC curricula, meeting both ethical calls to do so as well as practical pedagogical goals.
Chinese Participation in Adventure Tourism
Authors: Gardiner Sarah , Kwek Anna
Published: May 2016

This study explores Chinese Generation Y’s perceptions of adventure tourism experiences and their reasoning in deciding to participate. Focus group interviews reveal that Chinese youths have a unique generational sociocultural perception of participation in adventure activities. Much like their Western counterparts, members of China’s Generation Y want to experience the freedom of international travel that enables self-development and maturity, but they also have a strong sense of familial obligation and distinctive cultural beliefs that underpin their consumer decision making. Safety concerns of both the young people and their parents, along with self-efficacy beliefs regarding their physical ability to participate in the experience, can also reduce their likelihood of participation in adventure activities that they consider to be too risky or physically challenging. The study emphasizes that the design and marketing of adventure experiences must consider the unique Chinese generational psychology of this cohort and has implications for practice and future research.
Vitamin D deficiency and lower respiratory tract infections in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
Authors: Jat Kana Ram
Published: May 2016

Studies related to vitamin D deficiency and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in children have inconsistent findings. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children with LRTI, and to evaluate the correlation between vitamin D levels and the incidence and severity of LRTI. A total of 12 studies enrolling 2279 participants were included in our analysis. Children with LRTI were found to have significantly lower mean vitamin D levels as compared to controls There was likewise a correlation between vitamin D levels and incidence and severity of LRTI. Large randomised controlled trials are needed to evaluate effect of vitamin D supplementation for LRTI.
A Model of Turnover Intent and Turnover Behavior Among Staff in Juvenile Corrections
Authors: Wells James B. , Minor Kevin I. , Lambert Eric G. , Tilley Jennifer L.
Published: May 2016

This study extended prior research on staff turnover in adult corrections to juvenile corrections by analyzing direct and indirect interrelationships among personal, work environment, job attitude, and turnover variables. Data came from a mail survey of youth worker staff as well as from agency archives. Race, age, tenure, input into decisions, and job stress had significant direct effects on job satisfaction, while organizational commitment was directly affected by gender, stress, and satisfaction. Tenure, satisfaction, and commitment directly affected intent, while only race and age directly affected actual turnover. Satisfaction and commitment performed significant mediating functions. Results suggest that staff turnover intent can be reduced by promoting job satisfaction and organizational commitment and, further, that these attitudes can be improved by providing staff greater input into decisions and reducing job stress. Future research must specify conditions under which intent predicts behavior, as the two were not significantly related in this study.
Gender and Corruption
Authors: Chen Fang
Published: May 2016

From a cultural approach and a feminist perspective, this article analyzes a gendered narrative of official corruption in China through news reports of “keeping a second wife.” Moreover, it engages the lived experiences and perceptions of the message receivers. Drawing upon feminist discourse analysis, interviews, and digital ethnography, this study shows that a cultural script derived from the Chinese storytelling tradition of “women are a source of trouble” serves as a contemporary narrative of corruption in the state media. Nevertheless, the media narrative has generated a vigorous audience counternarrative, which disconnects the media linkage between “second wives” and corruption.
Excellent Teachers’ Perspectives on Excellent Teaching
Authors: Keeley Jared W. , Ismail Emad , Buskist William
Published: May 2016

Studies of master teaching have investigated a set of qualities that define excellent teaching. However, few studies have investigated master teachers’ perspectives on excellent teaching and how it may differ from other faculty or students. The current study investigated award-winning teachers’ ( N = 50) ratings of the 28 qualities on the teacher behavior checklist. There was substantial overlap in the importance placed upon various teaching qualities among award-winning teachers and other faculty. However, excellent teachers placed more value upon being prepared and forming rapport with students. Full professors placed more importance on several teaching qualities than associate and assistant professors. Teaching training programs should include broad definitions of excellent teaching that incorporate components that some faculty may otherwise overlook.
Use of Home Parenteral Nutrition in Post–Bariatric Surgery–Related Malnutrition
Authors: Mundi Manpreet S. , Vallumsetla Nishanth , Davidson Jacob B. , McMahon Megan T. , Bonnes Sara L. , Hurt Ryan T.
Published: May 2016

Background: Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective techniques for achieving sustained weight loss but can be associated with surgical complications or malabsorption so significant that it leads to malnutrition. Parenteral nutrition (PN) may be necessary to help treat surgical complications or malnutrition from these procedures. There are limited data describing this patient population and role for home PN (HPN). Methods: A retrospective review of our HPN database was conducted to identify patients who were initiated on HPN between January 1, 2003, and August 31, 2015, and had a history of bariatric surgery. Results: A total of 54 HPN patients (6.3%) had a history of bariatric surgery. Average age was 52.1 ± 12.8 years, and 80% were female. The most common surgical procedure was Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (72%), with malnutrition or failure to thrive being the most common HPN indication (57%). Weight at the time of HPN initiation was 71.9 ± 20.4 kg and significantly increased to 78.9 ± 24.4 kg by the end of treatment (P = .0001). Serum albumin levels rose from 2.8 ± 0.77 g/dL to 3.7 ± 0.58 g/dL by the end of HPN (P < .0001). Forty‐five of 54 patients (83.3%) went on to revision surgery. Conclusion: The results of this retrospective review support initiation of HPN in the malnourished post–bariatric surgery patient both nutritionally and as a bridge to revision surgery.
Integrating Dialectical and Paradox Perspectives on Managing Contradictions in Organizations
Authors: Hargrave Timothy J , Van de Ven Andrew H
Published: May 2016

We present a typology and process model that integrate dialectical and paradox perspectives on managing contradictions in organizations. Whereas paradox research depicts tensions between contradictory elements as irreconcilable and best managed through acceptance and synergy, the dialectical perspective portrays the relationship of such elements as adversarial and transformed through conflict. Our integrated typology and process model account for both dialectical and paradox approaches to managing contradictions and also identify two approaches, assimilation and adjustment, which combine the two. The model also identifies a key contingency, the expected distribution of power between contradictory elements, as a key influence on actors’ approaches to managing contradictions. For paradox researchers our integrated model emphasizes the need for more attention to the political, institutional, and social contexts of contradictions, practices for managing conflict, and transformation of organizational contradictions. Our integrated model suggests that dialectics researchers pay attention to the strategies managers use to productively manage tensions between contradictory elements, take a contingent view of transformation, and recognize that acceptance of contradiction may play a role in transformation. Hence our integrated model suggests a broadened agenda for both paradox and dialectics researchers.
Boredom and Organization Studies
Authors: Johnsen Rasmus
Published: May 2016

Even if people may always have been bored, ‘boredom’ as a phenomenon is not a universal feature of human existence. Rather it is deeply connected to organization as a reaction to the gradual emergence in Western culture of the management and administration of time. As an acquired capacity of those able to tell and endure time in an organized manner, boredom is a perceived loss of meaning inferred by the lived experience of a discrepancy between the involvement with transient means in everyday life and their value in a larger vision of existence. But boredom also signifies a concurrent protest against such a loss, which potentially leads new possibilities with it. In this essay, I explore the connection between boredom and organization, focusing on these two interrelated aspects of the phenomenon: how boredom can be understood as an experience of a loss of meaning, but also how this loss itself can be viewed as an imperative towards meaning that remains the source of new forms of organizing.
Organizing for Individuation: Alternative Organizing, Politics and New Identities
Authors: Reedy Patrick , King Daniel , Coupland Christine
Published: May 2016

Organization theorists have predominantly studied identity and organizing within the managed work organization. This frames organization as a structure within which identity work occurs, often as a means of managerial control. In our paper our contribution is to develop the concept of individuation pursued through prefigurative practices within alternative organizing to reframe this relation. We combine recent scholarship on alternative organizations and new social movements to provide a theoretical grounding for an ethnographic study of the prefigurative organizing practices and related identity work of an alternative group in a UK city. We argue that in such groups, identity, organizing and politics become a purposeful set of integrated processes aimed at the creation of new forms of life in the here and now, thus organizing is politics is identity. Our study presents a number of challenges and possibilities to scholars of organization, enabling them to extend their understanding of organization and identity in the contemporary world.
Health and Relationship Quality Later in Life: A Comparison of Living Apart Together (LAT), First Marriages, Remarriages, and Cohabitation
Authors: Lewin Alisa C.
Published: May 2016

This study compares happiness in the relationship, support, and strain in LAT (living apart together, i.e., noncohabiting) relationships with first marriages, remarriages, and cohabitation among older adults in the United States. The study also asks whether partner’s health affects relationship quality differently in different relationship types. This study draws on the first wave of the National Social Life Health & Aging Project 2005-2006, ( n = 1992). Partner’s physical and mental health are good predictors of relationship quality and their effects do not differ by relationship type. Men are more likely to be very happy in their relationship and to receive high support than women, but they also report more strain. LAT relationships are less likely to be very happy and to have high support than marriage and remarriage, but they also have lower strain. Different interpretations of “strain” are discussed.
Additional superior vena cava combined with abnormal inflow of the hepatic vein
Authors: Bockeria Leo Antonovich , Bockeria Olga Leonidovna , Sanakoev Merab Konstantinovich , Shvartz Vladimir Alexandrovich , Le Tatyana Georgievna
Published: May 2016

We represent a case of successful surgical treatment of a rare congenital heart disease: abnormal inflow of an additional superior vena cava into the left atrium, combined with atrial septal defect, mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitation, and abnormal inflow of the left hepatic vein into a roofless coronary sinus.
Redefining welfare in Scotland – with or without women?
Authors: O’Hagan Angela
Published: May 2016

The combination of the impact of welfare reform by the UK government and the opportunity for change presented by the debate on Scottish independence produced a profusion of alternative proposals for social security from scholars, formal political parties, the Scottish Government, and a range of think tanks and civil society organisations. The extent to which these proposals demonstrated considered gender analysis or specific objectives to address economic and social constraints principally experienced by women and arising from the constraints of gender relations varied considerably. This article considers the extent to which concerns for alternative approaches to social security policy reflect a political commitment to women’s economic and social well-being in a future Scotland through an analysis of proposals from key policy documents prior to the referendum and the proposals emerging in the post-referendum period.
Retrofitting the built environment ‘to save’ energy: Arbed, the emergence of a distinctive sustainability transition pathway in Wales
Authors: De Laurentis Carla , Eames Malcolm , Hunt Miriam
Published: May 2016

Combining insights from research on systems innovation and sustainable transitions with multi-level governance perspectives, this paper examines the ‘Arbed’ domestic housing retrofit programmes in Wales. In so doing, the paper demonstrates the critical role of sub-national government in the emergence of a distinctive sustainability-oriented pathway for domestic end-use energy demand reduction in Wales, and highlights the multi-level governance challenges involved. The governance processes contributing to this purposive transformation (e.g., policies and institutions; a ‘shared’ normative vision; network building; competencies, resource mobilisation, etc.) are illuminated and how they simultaneously cut across multiple spatial scales is discussed. Rather than simply viewing such transition arenas as simple sites of experimentation, the paper argues that sub-national sustainable energy transitions and pathways are shaped by pressures and opportunities that are mediated by unique place and context-specific conditions that exert influence on the mobilisation of resources, governance capabilities and actor-networks.
A systematic review of the compression regimes used in randomised clinical trials following endovenous ablation
Authors: El-Sheikha Joseph , Carradice Daniel , Nandhra Sandip , Leung Clement , Smith George E , Wallace Tom , Campbell Bruce , Chetter Ian C
Published: May 2016

Objectives

There is insufficient evidence to inform guidelines on the optimal compression strategy following ablation for varicose veins. This study aimed to identify the practice of key opinion leaders performing randomised clinical trials involving endovenous ablation.

Method

A systematic review of MEDLINE/EMBASE/CENTRAL was performed identifying the compression strategies used in randomised clinical trials where at least one comparator arm underwent endovenous ablation.

Results

Thirty-four randomised clinical trials were identified. At least 14 different compression products were used, with at least 6 different pressures in 7 different regimes with durations from 2 to 84 days. There was no evidence of any convergence of practice over time.

Conclusions

A lack of evidence as to the optimal strategy for compression has resulted in a marked variation in clinical practice. There is no suggestion that this variation is becoming less over time indicating that experience is not helping to form a consensus and, therefore, further research is required.
Cerebral microbleeds topography and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in cognitive impairment
Authors: Shams Sara , Granberg Tobias , Martola Juha , Charidimou Andreas , Li Xiaozhen , Shams Mana , Fereshtehnejad Seyed-Mohammad , Cavallin Lena , Aspelin Peter , Wiberg-Kristoffersen Maria , Wahlund Lars-Olof
Published: May 2016

Cerebral microbleeds, a marker of small vessel disease, are thought to be of importance in cognitive impairment. We aimed to study topographical distribution of cerebral microbleeds, and their involvement in disease pathophysiology, reflected by cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers; 1039 patients undergoing memory investigation underwent lumbar puncture and a brain magnetic resonance imaging scan. Cerebrospinal fluid samples were analyzed for amyloid β(Aβ)42, total tau(T-tau), tau phosphorylated at threonine 18(P-tau) and cerebrospinal fluid/serum albumin ratios. Magnetic resonance imaging sequences were evaluated for small vessel disease markers, including cerebral microbleeds, white matter hyperintensities and lacunes. Low Aβ42 levels were associated with lobar cerebral microbleeds in the whole cohort and Alzheimer’s disease ( P < 0.001). High cerebrospinal fluid/serum albumin ratios were seen with increased number of cerebral microbleeds in the brainstem ( P < 0.001). There were tendencies for increased Aβ42 levels and decreased Tau levels with deep and infratentorial cerebral microbleeds ( P < 0.05). Lobar cerebral microbleeds were associated with white matter hyperintensities and lacunes ( P < 0.001). Probable cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related cerebral microbleeds were associated with low Aβ42 levels and lacunes, whereas probable cerebral amyloid angiopathy-unrelated cerebral microbleeds were associated with white matter hyperintensities ( P < 0.001). Our findings show that cerebral microbleed distribution is associated with different patterns of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, supporting different pathogenesis of deep/infratentorial and lobar cerebral microbleeds.
Operation Valuation
Authors: Mills Adam J. , Treen Emily
Published: May 2016

Although marketing education has seen a dramatic shift toward hands-on, experiential learning in recent years, the teaching of pricing has fallen behind complementary elements of the marketing mix in pedagogical execution. Although the teaching of pricing has shifted focus from economic-based models to value-based pricing in theory, available pedagogical tools for teaching value-based pricing are scarce. This article proposes and outlines an experiential class assignment that engages students in a real-world, applied, market exchange environment. While avoiding the inherent risks of using actual money for transactions, this assignment enables students to explore the consumer motivations and perceptions of value central to value-based pricing.
Impact of prior mammograms on combined reading of digital mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis
Authors: Kim Won Hwa , Chang Jung Min , Koo Hye Ryoung , Seo Mirinae , Bae Min Sun , Lee Joongyub , Moon Woo Kyung
Published: May 2016

Background

Although digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is an emerging technique yielding higher sensitivity and specificity compared to digital mammography (DM) alone, relative contribution of prior mammograms on the interpretation of DBT combined with DM has not been investigated.

Purpose

To retrospectively compare the diagnostic performances of DM, DM + DBT, and DM + DBT with prior mammograms.

Material and Methods

Three breast radiologists independently reviewed images of 116 patients with 24 cancers in the sequential order of DM, DM + DBT, and DM + DBT with prior mammograms using Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) assessment categories.

Results

The average areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of DM, DM + DBT, and DM + DBT with prior mammograms were 0.712, 0.777, and 0.816, respectively. Adding prior mammograms did not significantly affect the AUC of DM + DBT ( P = 0.108), whereas adding DBT significantly increased the AUC of DM ( P = 0.009). Sensitivity for DM, DM + DBT, and DM + DBT with prior mammograms was 58.3%, 69.4%, and 69.4%, and specificities were 84.1%, 85.9%, and 93.8%, respectively. Addition of DBT significantly increased the sensitivity ( P = 0.0090) of DM. Prior mammograms significantly improved the specificity of DM + DBT ( P = 0.0004), whereas adding prior mammogram did not affect sensitivity of DM + DBT ( P = 1.000).

Conclusion

DBT significantly increases the overall sensitivity and diagnostic performance of DM. Prior mammograms significantly increase the specificity of DM + DBT but have no significant effect on sensitivity and overall diagnostic performance.
Outcome of primary percutaneous stent-revascularization in patients with atherosclerotic acute mesenteric ischemia
Authors: Forbrig Robert , Renner Philipp , Kasprzak Piotr , Dahlke Marc-H , Müller-Wille René , Stroszczynski Christian , Heiss Peter
Published: May 2016

Background

Patients with acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) often exhibit severe co-morbidities and significant surgical risks, leading to high perioperative morbidity.

Purpose

To investigate the feasibility of primary percutaneous stent-revascularization (PPSR) in atherosclerotic AMI and its impact on patients’ outcome.

Material and Methods

Retrospective analysis of 19 consecutive patients (7 women, 12 men; median age, 69 years) with AMI caused by atherosclerotic, non-embolic stenoses/occlusions of the splanchnic arteries and PPSR. Alternative minimally invasive techniques were excluded. Clinical characteristics including the Charlson Comorbidity Index adjusted by age (CCIa) and symptom duration, technical and clinical success of PPSR, clinical course, 30-day mortality, and follow-up were evaluated and compared to literature data for surgical approaches. Technical success was defined as residual stenosis of <30% in diameter. Clinical success was defined as resolution of symptoms of AMI and/or normalization of serum lactate after sole PPSR.

Results

The majority of patients presented with severe co-morbidities (CCIa >4 in 17 of 19 patients, 89%). Median symptom duration was 50 h. Technical and clinical success rates of PPSR were 95% (21 of 22 arteries) and 53% (10 of 19 patients). Seven patients underwent subsequent laparotomy with bowel resection in four cases. Thirty-day mortality was 42% (8 of 19 patients).

Conclusion

In our study population of patients with atherosclerotic AMI, severe co-morbidities, prolonged acute symptoms, and significant perioperative risks PPSR of splanchnic stenoses were technically feasible and the clinical outcome was acceptable.
Long-term clinical and radiological outcome of endovascular embolization of pancreatitis-related pseudoaneurysms
Authors: Vander Mijnsbrugge Ward , Laleman Wim , Van Steenbergen Werner , Heye Sam , Verslype Chris , Maleux Geert
Published: May 2016

Background

Long-term outcome after embolization of pancreatitis-induced pseudoaneurysm is not yet determined.

Purpose

To assess the long-term efficacy and patients’ overall survival after embolization of pancreatitis-induced pseudoaneurysm.

Material and Methods

Patients referred for endovascular treatment of a pancreatitis-induced pseudoaneurysm between January 1998 and January 2014 were analyzed. Embolization procedures were performed by transcatheter techniques using different types of embolic agents. Demographic, technical-radiological, and clinical data were collected.

Results

Thirty-four patients were identified with a pancreatitis-induced pseudoaneurysm; the underlying disease was acute (n = 13; 38%) or chronic (n = 21; 62%) pancreatitis; seven patients (20.6%) had active bleeding when embolized, while in the remaining 27 patients (79.4%) the pseudoaneurysm was not bleeding. In all 34 patients, successful endovascular exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm was obtained after the first attempt. Minor complications occurred in 11 patients (30%); no major complications were noted. A new pseudoaneurysm on a different vessel was identified during follow-up in three patients (9%). In another patient (3%), the excluded pseudoaneurysm reopened during follow-up. All four recurrences occurred within the first 5 months after embolization. Long-term follow-up (mean, 6.6 years; range, 4 months–16 years) revealed estimated survival rates of 94%, 89%, and 75% after 2, 5, and 10 years respectively, without pseudoaneurysm-related death.

Conclusion

Catheter-directed embolization of pancreatitis-induced pseudoaneurysms is relatively safe and effective. Recurrence or new pseudoaneurysm formation was low and occurred within the first 6 months after embolization. Overall survival is high, with no pseudoaneurysm-related deaths.
Quantification of inflammatory activity in patients with Crohn’s disease using diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in MR enteroclysis and MR enterography
Authors: Stanescu-Siegmund Nora , Nimsch Yessica , Wunderlich Arthur P , Wagner Martin , Meier Reinhard , Juchems Markus S , Beer Meinrad , Schmidt Stefan A
Published: May 2016

Background

Individual studies have demonstrated the potential of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI-MRI) for identifying inflamed bowel segments. However, these studies were conducted with rather small patient cohorts and in most cases by means of MR enterography only.

Purpose

To demonstrate the feasibility of detecting inflamed bowel segments in a large collective of patients with Crohn’s disease using DWI in MR enteroclysis and MR enterography and to compare the results of both techniques, also considering clinical parameters by means of the Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI).

Material and Methods

Ninety-six patients underwent MRI enteroclysis and 35 patients MR enterography, both with additional DWI. The HBI as well as apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) in areas of inflamed and normal bowel wall were determined. Thus resulting in 208 bowel segments that were visualized and subsequently statistically analyzed.

Results

There were no significant differences in ADC values in MR enteroclysis and MR enterography ( P = 0.383 in inflammation, P = 0.223 in normal wall). Areas of inflammation showed statistically highly significant lower ADC values than areas of normal bowel wall ( P < 0.001). An ADC threshold of 1.56 × 10–3 mm2/s can distinguish between normal and inflamed bowel segments with a sensitivity of 97.4% and a specificity of 99.2%. A highly significant correlation could be shown between ADC and HBI values ( P = 0.001).

Conclusion

DWI-MRI facilitates recognition of inflamed bowel segments in patients with Crohn’s disease and the ADC values show an excellent correlation to the HBI. There were no significant differences in ADC values in MR enteroclysis and MR enterography. An ADC threshold of 1.56 × 10–3 mm2/s differentiates between normal and inflamed bowel wall.