bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The importance of socio-spatial influences in shaping young people’s employment aspirations: case study evidence from three British cities
Authors: White Richard J , Green Anne E
Published: March 2015

Over the last two decades a vibrant body of research committed to investigating the complex inter-relationships between ‘the social’ and ‘the spatial’ has gathered momentum within sociology and the social sciences more generally. Focusing on young people, this article seeks to develop further insights regarding the sociology of place using the spatial visualization technique of mental mapping as part of a mixed-methods approach. Its main contribution is to develop a more nuanced understanding of young people’s localized cognitive spaces and associated socio-spatial influences in three deprived urban areas in Hull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. In this context, the article explores the role of place in shaping young people’s social networks, identities and aspirations regarding employment and highlights the implications of these for future research.
Discrimination in the labour market: nationality, ethnicity and the recession
Authors: Kingston Gillian , McGinnity Frances , O’Connell Philip J
Published: March 2015

Previous research shows that immigrants, in common with other groups that suffer disadvantage in the labour market, are more vulnerable during recession. However, little research has focused on the impact of the Great Recession on work-related discrimination. We examine the extent to which discrimination varies across different national-ethnic groups in Ireland, and whether discrimination increased between 2004, during an economic boom, and 2010, in the midst of a severe recession. Our analysis draws on two large-scale nationally representative surveys on the experience of labour market discrimination. We find that overall non-Irish nationals do experience higher rates of work-based discrimination and that there is substantial variation in discrimination across national-ethnic groups. However we find no evidence to suggest that self-reported discrimination increased during the recession.
Workplace bullying: exploring an emerging framework
Authors: Berlingieri Adriana
Published: March 2015

To date, emphasis within the literature on workplace bullying has been on gathering empirical data with a focus on individual acts, actors (targets and perpetrators) and consequences. This analytical focus has resulted in an understanding of workplace bullying as fundamentally an individualized phenomenon. This article begins with a brief discussion of the theorization that currently predominates in the workplace violence and bullying literature and the outcomes of this theorizing. An emerging framework, conceptualizing violence broadly, is then outlined for understanding violence and bullying. Through this framework, it is argued that the discourse and research on workplace violence – in all its forms – must explore explicit connections between these social phenomena and the interrelatedness of all forms of oppression. Workplace violence must be examined within a framework where power cannot be separated from social dimensions within and outside the workplace.
The transformation of work and industrial relations in the post-Soviet bloc: 25 years on from 1989
Authors: Upchurch Martin , Croucher Richard , Danilovich Hanna , Morrison Claudio
Published: March 2015

The uprisings of 1989 in the Soviet sphere were momentous in their political impact. Examination of this prolonged transformation is timely. We progress from case study analysis of the workplace – important in the early stages of transformation – to reflective overviews which consider the accumulated experience of a quarter of a century of post-communism. Our overview studies highlight, for example, aspects of gender difference within the frame of ‘winners and losers’. The commonalities of ‘state capture’ are revealed across the states and geographical differences emerge in post-communist ‘recovery’ which highlight processes of uneven and combined development. Finally we identify relationships between state, labour and capital which stand outside the economic prescribed orthodoxy and the expected convergence of East with West. Instead of convergence to liberal economic values and practices we find crony capitalism associated with clientelism and mafia crime forming the backdrop to institutional failure.
Development of recycling technology to recover valuable metals from lithium primary and ion batteries
Authors: Joo Sung-Ho , Shin Shun-Myung , Shin Dong-Ju , Wang Jei-Pil
Published: March 2015

This study focused on a newly proposed recycling process to recover electrodic powder enriched in cobalt (Co) and lithium (Li) from spent lithium primary and ion batteries. In addition, this new process was designed to prevent the explosion of batteries during thermal treatment under an inert atmosphere. Spent lithium mixed batteries were heated over the range of 300 °C to 600 °C for 2 h, and each component was completely separated inside the reactor after the experiment. Electrodic powder was successfully recovered from the bulk components through sieving; the powder contained several pieces of metals. The electrodic powder obtained was examined using X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Additionally, an image of the powder was taken using scanning electron microscopy. The cobalt and lithium were mainly recovered at approximately 32–35 wt% and 3–5 wt% in the electrodic powder, respectively.
An assessment of maintenance performance indicators using the fuzzy sets approach and genetic algorithms
Authors: Stefanovic Miladin , Nestic Snezana , Djordjevic Aleksandar , Djurovic Dusan , Macuzic Ivan , Tadic Danijela , Gacic Marija
Published: March 2015

In this article, a novel approach for assessment and ranking of maintenance process indicators as well as maintenance cost indicators and maintenance equipment indicators using the fuzzy sets approach and genetic algorithms is presented. Weight values of these indicators are defined using the experience of decision makers from analyzed small and medium enterprises (total number of 197 persons) and calculated using the fuzzy sets approach. In the second step, a model for ranking and optimization of maintenance performance indicators and small and medium enterprises by using genetic algorithm is presented. The presented approach enables multi-objective optimization of selected key performance indicators in the scope of optimization of maintenance performances. The value of optimization was tested on a group of small and medium enterprises which proved that improvement of maintenance performance could be more significant (or performed at the shorter period of time) if the specific key performance indicators were targeted for improvement. The presented solution could provide identification of strengths and weaknesses (comparing key performance indicators), learning from a leading organization (in prioritization of key performance indicator improvement) and improvement of maintenance performance.
An integrated modular design methodology based on maintenance performance consideration
Authors: Zheng Hao , Feng Yixiong , Tan Jianrong , Zhang Zixian
Published: March 2015

Maintenance nowadays not only plays a crucial role in the usage phase, but is fast becoming the primary focus of the design stage—especially with general increased emphasis on product service. The modularization of maintenance has been explored rarely by previous researchers, despite its significant potential benefit. Existing modular design methods on life cycle do not sufficiently improve maintenance performance as a whole. In effort to remedy this, this article considers relevant maintenance issues at early stages of product development and presents a novel modular methodology based on the simultaneous consideration of maintenance and modularity characteristics. The proposed method first employs the design structure matrix to analyze the comprehensive correlation among components. Next, based on graph theory, initial modules with high cohesion and low coupling are generated. After that, a maintenance performance multi-objective model is established for further optimization to minimize maintenance costs, minimize differences in the maintenance cycle, and maximize system availability. To conclude, an improved strength Pareto evolutionary algorithm 2 is used for modular optimization. The complete methodology is demonstrated using a case study with a hydraulic press, where results reveal that the optimized modules can reduce maintenance cost under the premise of approximately constant modular performance.
Tool–workpiece contact detection in micro-milling using wireless-aided accelerometer sensor
Authors: Roy Sritama , Mandal Soumen , Nagahanumaiah Nagahanumaiah
Published: March 2015

Detection of tool–workpiece contact before the start of precision machining application is essential as it prevents tool breakage and aids in maintaining the accuracy of the machined workpiece. In this research, a wireless-aided three-axis accelerometer attached to a rotating micro-milling tool is used to detect tool–workpiece contact before the start of micro-milling operations. A three-axis accelerometer (ADXL345), an X-Bee pro wireless module and ATMEL328PP-U microcontroller along with other ancillaries were housed on a printed circuit board rigidly attached to a micro-milling tool using couplings. Subsequently, the micro-milling operation was conducted on three different materials, namely, aluminum, copper and brass, for three different revolutions per minute, depth of cut and feed velocity combinations. The accelerometer signals were received wirelessly in a personal computer. Impulsive change in accelerometer signal along Z-axis during machining indicated tool–workpiece contact. The depth of cut of the machined samples was measured using a profilometer. It was found that the setup was accurate in determining tool–workpiece contact at the start of micro-milling operations.
A thermo-structural manufacturing process using AISI 304L stainless steel
Authors: Towfighi Siyavash , Romilly Douglas P
Published: March 2015

This article presents a study of high-temperature heating of AISI 304L stainless steel to induce deformations in a manufactured part. Small square samples of AISI 304L were heated to deform a slot using an oxy-acetylene torch. The sample temperature profiles were measured using three thermocouples with maximum temperature values ranging from 760 °C to 1130 °C. Three-dimensional thermo-structural finite element models were created to predict the magnitude of permanent deformation and were validated experimentally. Torch modeling parameters were optimized numerically using a series of finite element simulations. The finite element predictions for deformation were found to be in reasonable agreement with the experimental results. The variation in yield strength of AISI 304L was shown to be an important factor in affecting the magnitude of deformations. Repeated heating experiments also demonstrated additive plastic strain with each heating cycle. The results provide a means to use high temperatures to purposefully alter the dimensions of a slot in a manufactured part but with varying accuracy.
Body Weight Misperception in Adolescence and Incident Obesity in Young Adulthood
Authors: Sutin Angelina R. , Terracciano Antonio
Published: March 2015

Misperceptions of one’s weight are common in adolescence. Adolescents of normal weight who misperceive themselves as being overweight tend to engage in unhealthy dieting practices and behaviors that are conducive to obesity. To examine whether this misperception is associated with a risk of obesity during early adulthood, we analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health ( N = 6,523; mean age at baseline = 16 years; 58% female). Adolescents who misperceived themselves as being overweight had greater odds of becoming obese over the 12-year follow-up period than adolescents who perceived their weight accurately (odds ratio = 1.41, 95% confidence interval = [1.22, 1.64]). Although the increase in the odds associated with misperception of weight was apparent for both sexes, it was significantly stronger among boys (1.89 greater odds) than among girls (1.29 greater odds). The present research indicates that weight-based self-stigmatization, much like weight-based social stigmatization, is a powerful risk factor for incident obesity. This finding underscores the importance of addressing inaccurate body weight perceptions, even among adolescents of normal weight.
Two Languages, Two Minds
Authors: Athanasopoulos Panos , Bylund Emanuel , Montero-Melis Guillermo , Damjanovic Ljubica , Schartner Alina , Kibbe Alexandra , Riches Nick , Thierry Guillaume
Published: March 2015

People make sense of objects and events around them by classifying them into identifiable categories. The extent to which language affects this process has been the focus of a long-standing debate: Do different languages cause their speakers to behave differently? Here, we show that fluent German-English bilinguals categorize motion events according to the grammatical constraints of the language in which they operate. First, as predicted from cross-linguistic differences in motion encoding, bilingual participants functioning in a German testing context prefer to match events on the basis of motion completion to a greater extent than do bilingual participants in an English context. Second, when bilingual participants experience verbal interference in English, their categorization behavior is congruent with that predicted for German; when bilingual participants experience verbal interference in German, their categorization becomes congruent with that predicted for English. These findings show that language effects on cognition are context-bound and transient, revealing unprecedented levels of malleability in human cognition.
Improving Vision Among Older Adults
Authors: DeLoss Denton J. , Watanabe Takeo , Andersen George J.
Published: March 2015

A major problem for the rapidly growing population of older adults (age 65 and over) is age-related declines in vision, which have been associated with increased risk of falls and vehicle crashes. Research suggests that this increased risk is associated with declines in contrast sensitivity and visual acuity. We examined whether a perceptual-learning task could be used to improve age-related declines in contrast sensitivity. Older and younger adults were trained over 7 days using a forced-choice orientation-discrimination task with stimuli that varied in contrast with multiple levels of additive noise. Older adults performed as well after training as did college-age younger adults prior to training. Improvements transferred to performance for an untrained stimulus orientation and were not associated with changes in retinal illuminance. Improvements in far acuity in younger adults and in near acuity in older adults were also found. These findings indicate that behavioral interventions can greatly improve visual performance for older adults.
Gender Cognition in Transgender Children
Authors: Olson Kristina R. , Key Aidan C. , Eaton Nicholas R.
Published: March 2015

A visible and growing cohort of transgender children in North America live according to their expressed gender rather than their natal sex, yet scientific research has largely ignored this population. In the current study, we adopted methodological advances from social-cognition research to investigate whether 5- to 12-year-old prepubescent transgender children ( N = 32), who were presenting themselves according to their gender identity in everyday life, showed patterns of gender cognition more consistent with their expressed gender or their natal sex, or instead appeared to be confused about their gender identity. Using implicit and explicit measures, we found that transgender children showed a clear pattern: They viewed themselves in terms of their expressed gender and showed preferences for their expressed gender, with response patterns mirroring those of two cisgender (nontransgender) control groups. These results provide evidence that, early in development, transgender youth are statistically indistinguishable from cisgender children of the same gender identity.
Narrating the Generative Life
Authors: McAdams Dan P. , Guo Jen
Published: March 2015

Generativity is an adult’s concern for and commitment to promoting the well-being of future generations. Analyzing lengthy life-narrative interviews of late-midlife adults, we examined the extent to which a particular kind of life story is empirically linked to self-report measures of generativity and other indices of psychosocial adaptation in midlife. The results showed that highly generative adults are significantly more likely than their less-generative counterparts to construe their lives as variations on a prototypical redemption narrative, wherein the story’s protagonist (a) enjoys an early advantage in life, (b) exhibits sensitivity to the suffering of other people, (c) develops a clear moral framework, (d) repeatedly transforms negative scenes into positive outcomes, and (e) pursues prosocial goals for the future. The psychological and cultural features of redemptive life stories are considered, as are the problems and potentialities of life-narrative research in psychological science.
An Event-Based Account of Conformity
Authors: Kim Diana , Hommel Bernhard
Published: March 2015

People often change their behavior and beliefs when confronted with deviating behavior and beliefs of others, but the mechanisms underlying such phenomena of conformity are not well understood. Here we suggest that people cognitively represent their own actions and others’ actions in comparable ways (theory of event coding), so that they may fail to distinguish these two categories of actions. If so, other people’s actions that have no social meaning should induce conformity effects, especially if those actions are similar to one’s own actions. We found that female participants adjusted their manual judgments of the beauty of female faces in the direction consistent with distracting information without any social meaning (numbers falling within the range of the judgment scale) and that this effect was enhanced when the distracting information was presented in movies showing the actual manual decision-making acts. These results confirm that similarity between an observed action and one’s own action matters. We also found that the magnitude of the standard conformity effect was statistically equivalent to the movie-induced effect.
How Do Stereotypes Influence Choice?
Authors: Chaxel Anne-Sophie
Published: March 2015

In the study reported here, I tracked one process through which stereotypes affect choice. The Implicit Association Test (IAT) and a measurement of predecisional information distortion were used to assess the influence of the association between male gender and career on the evaluation of information related to the job performance of stereotypical targets (male) and nonstereotypical targets (female). When the IAT revealed a strong association between male gender and career and the installed leader in the choice process was a stereotypical target, decision makers supported the leader with more proleader distortion; when the IAT revealed a strong association between male gender and career and the installed leader in the choice process was a nonstereotypical target, decision makers supported the trailer with less antitrailer distortion. A stronger association between male gender and career therefore resulted in an upward shift of the evaluation related to the stereotypical target (both as a trailer and a leader), which subsequently biased choice.
Cutaneous pseudovasculitis, antiphospholipid syndrome and obstetric misadventure
Authors: Thayaparan A S , Lowe S A
Published: March 2015

We present two women with severe obstetric complications from antiphospholipid (aPL) syndrome associated with a rare dermatological manifestation, cutaneous pseudovasculitis. Both of these women developed a rash on the palmar aspect of the hands during the post partum period, with histology consistent with microthrombotic disease, despite anticoagulation. Cutaneous pseudovasculitis appears to be a maternal manifestation of aPL coagulopathy, possibly reflecting the severity of the underlying pregnancy pathology.
Victor Eisenmenger (1864–1932): The man behind the syndrome
Authors: Duke Martin
Published: March 2015

Although much has been written about the cardiovascular abnormalities present in Eisenmenger’s syndrome, little has been recorded previously in the medical literature about Victor Eisenmenger, the Austrian doctor whose name is attached eponymously to this disorder. Archival material together with information provided by his descendants and relatives has been gathered to make available further details of his life, family, schooling, medical training and accomplishments. An examination of Eisenmenger’s book about his observations and experiences while serving from 1895 to 1914 as personal physician to Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, also sheds light on Eisenmenger’s personality, abilities and interests.
Financial hegemony and the unachieved European state
Authors: Durand Cédric , Keucheyan Razmig
Published: March 2015

This article addresses a classic problem in the social sciences: what allows for or, on the contrary, prevents, the emergence of democratic institutions, i.e., of modern democratic statehood. This problem is tackled in relation to the internal socio-political logic of the European integration process. Drawing on the political economy of the French Regulation School and Poulantzas’s approach to the modern democratic state, the authors argue that the absence of state-like, democratic institutions at the EU level is the outcome of a cumulative process of exclusion of labour and a monopolization of the agenda by transnational and financial capital, preventing the institutional crystallization of conflicting European class relations.
Curriculum Integration in the General Music Classroom
Authors: Munroe Angela
Published: March 2015

Arts integration is a topic that has been researched and discussed by music educators and general educators alike. Some feel this is a worthwhile endeavor in both the arts classroom and the general classroom, while others feel that we should be spending what little time we have in the music classroom focusing on music goals. This article will focus on integrating music and other disciplines in a way that treats each discipline with integrity. I will offer practical ideas for integrating music across the curriculum.
Attrition in Psychotherapy
Authors: Roseborough David John , McLeod Jeffrey T. , Wright Florence I.
Published: March 2015

Purpose:

Attrition is a common problem in psychotherapy and can be defined as clients ending treatment before achieving an optimal response.

Method:

This longitudinal, archival study utilized data for 3,728 clients, using the Outcome Questionnaire 45.2. A Cox regression proportional hazards (hazard ratios) model was used in order to better understand who is likely to attrit when considering (1) demographics, (2) diagnostic categories, and (3) process variables (e.g., recent symptom change).

Results:

A pattern emerged, with younger clients and those reporting less education and lower incomes being more likely to end. Clients who demonstrated a recent status change were more likely to remain in treatment.

Discussion:

Consistent with the large-scale STAR*D study, clients with more social and economic challenges demonstrated more risk. Adults diagnosed with a substance or obsessive compulsive disorder–related disorder showed the most elevated risk. Engagement strategies are discussed, with the goal of better supporting recovery.
Building New Teams for Late Life Care
Authors: Schellinger Sandra , Cain Cindy L. , Shibrowski Kathleen , Elumba Deborah , Rosenberg Erin
Published: March 2015

This article details team development within a longitudinal cohort study designed to bring team-based, whole person care early in the course of serious illness. The primary innovation of this approach is the use of nonclinically trained care guides who support patients and family members by focusing care around what matters most to patients, linking to resources, collaborating with other providers, and offering continuity through care transitions. By describing the development of this team, we document the kinds of questions others may ask during the process of team creation.
Apprehensive and Excited
Authors: Isbell Daniel S.
Published: March 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine music education students’ experiences ( N = 64) in courses designed to develop vernacular musicianship and expand understandings of informal music making. Students participated in one of two classes (undergraduate/graduate), formed their own small ensembles, chose their own music and instruments, led their own rehearsals, and played without using notation. Data sources included written reflections, class observation notes, video recordings of rehearsals and performances, composition artifacts, and formal course evaluations. Participants indicated that they were comfortable working in small peer-led groups, yet they were challenged to learn without notation. Participants believed that their musicianship developed during the course, they learned new pedagogical methods, and they gained comfort working without notation in collaborative groups. Though they believed that these experiences were valuable, participants remained uncomfortable with the idea of placing students in similar settings. Graduate students appeared to be more comfortable with the experience than were undergraduate students.
Arts Teachers’ Perceptions and Attitudes on Arts Integration While Participating in a Statewide Arts Integration Initiative
Authors: May Brittany Nixon , Robinson Nicole R.
Published: March 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions and attitudes of the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program (BTSALP) arts specialists on arts integration. BTSALP arts specialists ( N = 50) throughout the state of Utah responded to a 20-item survey. Results indicated that a majority of BTSALP arts specialists believe that arts integration serves as a support for both arts and nonarts subjects. BTSALP art specialists also indicated that teacher collaboration is essential for effective integration models; however, collaboration continues to be one of the greatest challenges. Also, results indicated a need for arts integration training for undergraduate preservice arts specialists. Open-ended response questions revealed the perceived benefits of arts integration as a positive impact on students both academically and socially. The limitations of arts integration identified were time constraints, the inability to “teach art for the sake of art,” and a lack support from both teachers and administrators.
Rationales for Support That African American Grandmothers Provide to Their Children Who Are Parenting Adolescents
Authors: Sumo Jen’nea , Dancy Barbara , Julion Wrenetha , Wilbur JoEllen
Published: March 2015

African American grandmothers are known to be a major source of support for their children who are parenting adolescents, but little is known about why they provide support. The purpose of this study was to describe the kinds of support provided by African American maternal and paternal grandmothers to their parenting adolescents and the reasons for giving support. In all, 10 maternal and 10 paternal grandmothers were recruited from one low-income African American community to participate in this cross-sectional, qualitative, descriptive study. Grandmothers provided support due to love and concern for their adolescent parenting children and their grandchildren. Grandmothers were influenced by their own past experiences and by the adolescent’s personality and behavior. School nurses and school health clinic personnel are tactically positioned within the lives of families with parenting adolescents and can help facilitate the provision of support that allows adolescent parents to successfully transition to adulthood and assume adult roles.
Nurse-Led School-Based Child Obesity Prevention
Authors: Tucker Sharon , Lanningham-Foster Lorraine M.
Published: March 2015

School-based childhood obesity prevention programs have grown in response to reductions in child physical activity (PA), increased sedentariness, poor diet, and soaring child obesity rates. Multiple systematic reviews indicate school-based obesity prevention/treatment interventions are effective, yet few studies have examined the school nurse role in obesity interventions. Building on a previous study, this study examines a refined health messaging (Let’s Go 5-2-1-0) program delivered to fourth and fifth graders ( n = 72) by a school nurse with reinforcement on-site health coaching by senior nursing students. Two nursing schools and two elementary schools participated. Measures of PA, body mass index percentile, and self-reported health habits were collected at baseline (School A, September 2009 and School B, January 2010) and end of year (April 2010 for both schools). Findings included statistically significant increases in PA levels and improvements in child-reported health habits. School nurses can influence obesity prevention. Further research on adoption of school nurse–led obesity interventions is warranted.
Investigation of Proposed Mechanisms of Chemotherapy-Induced Venous Thromboembolism
Authors: Kirwan Cliona C. , McCollum C. N. , McDowell G. , Byrne G. J.
Published: March 2015

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) during chemotherapy is common, with 7% mortality in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In a prospective cohort study of patients with breast cancer, we investigated whether vascular endothelial cell activation (VECA), and whether apoptosis, is the cause of chemotherapy-induced VTE. Methods: Serum markers of VECA, E-selectin (E-sel), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and d-dimer (fibrin degradation and hypercoagulability marker) were measured prechemotherapy and at 1, 4, and 8 days following chemotherapy. Clinical deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism and occult DVT detected by duplex ultrasound imaging were recorded as VTE-positive (VTE+). In patients with MBC, hypercoagulable response to chemotherapy was compared between patients with and without cancer progression. Development of VTE and cancer progression was assessed 3 months following starting chemotherapy. Results: Of the 134 patients, 10 (7.5%) developed VTE (6 [17%] of 36 MBC receiving palliation, 0 of 11 receiving neoadjuvant to downsize tumor, and 4 [5%] of 87 early breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, P = .06). Levels of E-sel and VCAM-1 decreased in response to chemotherapy ( P < .001) in both VTE+ and patients not developing VTE (VTE−). However, decrease in VECA markers was similar in VTE+ and VTE− patients, implying this is not the cause of VTE. In patients with MBC following chemotherapy, d-dimer (geometric mean) increased by 36% in the 21 patients with MBC responding to chemotherapy but steadily decreased by 11% in the 15 who progressed (day 4, P < .01), implying patients with tumor response (apoptosis) had an early hypercoagulable response. Conclusions: During chemotherapy for breast cancer, VECA is induced; however, this is not the primary mechanism for VTE. Chemotherapy-induced apoptosis may enhance hypercoagulability and initiate VTE.
Optimizing time delay feedback for active vibration control of a cantilever beam using a genetic algorithm
Authors: Mirafzal Seyed Hamed , Khorasani Amir Mahyar , Ghasemi Amir Hossein
Published: March 2015

Active vibration control using time delay for a cantilever beam is developed in this paper. The equation of motion of the system is developed using the discrete standard formulation, and the discrete quadratic function is used to design the controller. The original contribution in this paper is using a genetic algorithm to determine the optimal time delay feedback for active vibration control of a cantilever beam. Simulations of the beam demonstrated that the genetic algorithm correctly identified the time delay which produced the quickest attenuation of unwanted vibrations for both mode one and mode two. In terms of frequency response, the optimal time delay for both modes reduced the resonant amplitude. In a mixed mode situation, the simulation demonstrated that an optimal time delay could be identified.
Linear modes of vibration of cylindrical shells in composite laminates reinforced by curvilinear fibres
Authors: Ribeiro Pedro
Published: March 2015

Modes of vibration of thin cylindrical shells made up of layers with curvilinear fibres (variable stiffness composite laminates (VSCL) shells) are investigated in the linear regime. A p-version finite element type formulation is developed for that purpose; in the absence of data on vibrations of cylindrical VSCL shells, the formulation is verified by comparisons with published data on laminated shells reinforced by straight fibres and on VSCL plates. Parametric studies are performed, in order to investigate how curvilinear fibre paths can influence the modes of vibration. It is found that curvilinear fibre paths can have a very large effect, larger than on plates, on the natural frequencies and natural mode shapes of vibration of cylindrical shells. Factors that strongly influence the modes of vibration of VSCL shells are found; these include the fibre orientation at boundaries and in relation to principal normal sections.
The dynamic behavior of a parametrically excited time-periodic MEMS taking into account parametric errors
Authors: Peruzzi NJ , Chavarette FR , Balthazar JM , Tusset AM , Perticarrari ALPM , Brasil RMFL
Published: March 2015

Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) are micro scale devices that are able to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy or vice versa. In this paper, the mathematical model of an electronic circuit of a resonant MEMS mass sensor, with time-periodic parametric excitation, was analyzed and controlled by Chebyshev polynomial expansion of the Picard interaction and Lyapunov-Floquet transformation, and by Optimal Linear Feedback Control (OLFC). Both controls consider the union of feedback and feedforward controls. The feedback control obtained by Picard interaction and Lyapunov-Floquet transformation is the first strategy and the optimal control theory the second strategy. Numerical simulations show the efficiency of the two control methods, as well as the sensitivity of each control strategy to parametric errors. Without parametric errors, both control strategies were effective in maintaining the system in the desired orbit. On the other hand, in the presence of parametric errors, the OLFC technique was more robust.
Ground vibrations induced by InterCity/InterRegion trains: a numerical prediction based on the multibody/finite element modeling approach
Authors: Kouroussis Georges , Florentin Juliette , Verlinden Olivier
Published: March 2015

This present paper aims to identify the main components which influence the generation and the propagation mechanisms of railway-induced ground vibrations. It is based on numerical assessments of ground vibrations on the L161 line that runs through Brussels Capital Region, Belgium. The objective is twofold. First, using data collection at a Brussels site, a numerical prediction model is built up. It is based on a two-step approach, recently validated in tramway and high-speed train cases and improved by an accurate description of the foundation. The vehicle/track/foundation and soil subsystems are treated successively. A key advantage of the new approach is that it is capable of including the effect of soil conditions in the vehicle/track simulation. The vehicle is modeled with the help of the multibody strategy. The soil is a three-dimensional finite/infinite element model, with a complex geometry on the surface and inclined soil layers. The track model includes a rail joint defect. The model is eventually validated against experimental data. Then, a sensitivity analysis on parameters of the studied site is performed. The vehicle and foundation modeling are discussed, along with the influence of local defects and vehicle speed variation on ground vibrations.
Prevalence and Correlates of Self-Reported ADD/ADHD in a Large National Sample of Canadian Adults
Authors: Hesson Jacqueline , Fowler Ken
Published: March 2015

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of self-reported attention deficit disorder (ADD)/ADHD in Canadian adults. Method: Prevalence of self-reported ADD/ADHD was examined in a large national sample of Canadians ( n = 16,957). Demographic variables, lifetime, and current psychiatric comorbidities were then compared in a group of adults with self-reported ADD/ADHD ( n = 488) and an age- and gender-matched control group ( n = 488). Results: The prevalence of self-reported ADD/ADHD was 2.9%. Significantly higher lifetime and current prevalence rates of major depressive disorder, bipolar I and II disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, and substance use disorders were observed in the ADD/ADHD group compared with the control group. Within the ADD/ADHD group, lifetime and 12-month prevalence rates of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder were significantly higher in women, whereas lifetime and current rates of some substance use disorders were significantly higher in men. Conclusion: In a national sample of Canadian adults, self-reported ADD/ADHD was associated with significant psychiatric comorbidity. Gender differences were also noted.
Cognitive Impairment and Neurogenotoxic Effects in Rats Exposed to Low-Intensity Microwave Radiation
Authors: Deshmukh Pravin Suryakantrao , Nasare Namita , Megha Kanu , Banerjee Basu Dev , Ahmed Rafat Sultana , Singh Digvijay , Abegaonkar Mahesh Pandurang , Tripathi Ashok Kumar , Mediratta Pramod Kumari
Published: March 2015

The health hazard of microwave radiation (MWR) has become a recent subject of interest as a result of the enormous increase in mobile phone usage. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic low-intensity microwave exposure on cognitive function, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), and DNA damage in rat brain. Experiments were performed on male Fischer rats exposed to MWR for 180 days at 3 different frequencies, namely, 900, 1800 MHz, and 2450 MHz. Animals were divided into 4 groups: group I: sham exposed; group II: exposed to MWR at 900 MHz, specific absorption rate (SAR) 5.953 × 10−4 W/kg; group III: exposed to 1800 MHz, SAR 5.835×10−4 W/kg; and group IV: exposed to 2450 MHz, SAR 6.672 × 10−4 W/kg. All the rats were tested for cognitive function at the end of the exposure period and were subsequently sacrificed to collect brain. Level of HSP70 was estimated by enzyme-linked immunotarget assay and DNA damage was assessed using alkaline comet assay in all the groups. The results showed declined cognitive function, elevated HSP70 level, and DNA damage in the brain of microwave-exposed animals. The results indicated that, chronic low-intensity microwave exposure in the frequency range of 900 to 2450 MHz may cause hazardous effects on the brain.
Effects of feline hyperthyroidism on kidney function: a review
Authors: Vaske Heather H , Schermerhorn Thomas , Grauer Gregory F
Published: March 2015

Chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroidism are two commonly diagnosed conditions in the geriatric feline population, and are often seen concurrently. Management of both diseases is recommended; however, the physiologic implications of both diseases must be understood to ensure the most favorable outcome for each patient. This report reviews the complex interplay between hyperthyroidism and kidney function, as well as the effects of hyperthyroid therapy on kidney function.
Application of exercise transcutaneous oxygen pressure measurements for detection of proximal lower extremity arterial disease: A case report
Authors: Mahe Guillaume , Kalra Manju , Abraham Pierre , Liedl David A , Wennberg Paul W
Published: March 2015

Proximal claudication is secondary to ischemia caused by peripheral artery disease (PAD), whereas proximal pseudo-claudication is secondary to other disease processes such as hip arthritis, spinal stenosis, neuropathy, and so forth. The differentiation between the two can be challenging. Exercise transcutaneous oxygen pressure measurement (exercise-TcPO2) allows noninvasive detection of flow-reducing lesions in the proximal arteries and tributaries of the lower extremity arterial tree. We present the first case report in the United States using an exercise-TcPO2 algorithm. A 71-year-old diabetic patient with proximal left-sided and right-calf claudication with indeterminate ankle-brachial indices underwent an exercise-TcPO2 study before and after endovascular intervention. Four TcPO2 probes were placed: one at chest level (reference probe), one on each buttock, and one on the symptomatic calf. The Delta from Resting Oxygen Pressure (DROP) index was calculated at each probe site using a previously validated protocol. Proximal left- and right-calf ischemia were confirmed by the initial exercise-TcPO2, and, after endovascular treatment of the left iliac artery lesion, improvements in proximal exercise-TcPO2 values were found. These data suggest that exercise-TcPO2 can be useful in PAD evaluation in patients with non-compressible arteries and/or proximal claudication.
Venous thromboembolism in systemic autoimmune diseases: A narrative review with emphasis on primary systemic vasculitides
Authors: Tamaki Hiromichi , Khasnis Atul
Published: March 2015

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a prevalent multifactorial health condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Population-based epidemiological studies have revealed an association between systemic autoimmune diseases and deep venous thrombosis (DVT)/VTE. The etiopathogenesis of increased risk of VTE in systemic autoimmune diseases is not entirely clear but multiple contributors have been explored, especially in the context of systemic inflammation and disordered thrombogenesis. Epidemiologic data on increased risk of VTE in patients with primary systemic vasculitides (PSV) have accumulated in recent years and some of these studies suggest the increased risk while patients have active diseases. This could lead us to hypothesize that venous vascular inflammation has a role to play in this phenomenon, but this is unproven. The role of immunosuppressive agents in modulating the risk of VTE in patients with PSV is not yet clear except for Behçet’s disease, where most of the studies are retrospective. Sensitizing physicians to this complication has implications for prevention and optimal management of patients with these complex diseases. This review will focus on the epidemiology and available evidence regarding pathogenesis, and will attempt to summarize the best available data regarding evaluation and treatment of these patients.
The questions verbal children with autism spectrum disorder encounter in the inclusive preschool classroom
Authors: Sanders Eric J , Irvin Dwight W , Belardi Katie , McCune Luke , Boyd Brian A , Odom Samuel L
Published: March 2015

This study investigated questions adults asked to children with autism spectrum disorder in inclusive pre-kindergarten classrooms, and whether child (e.g. autism severity) and setting (i.e. adult-to-child ratio) characteristics were related to questions asked during center-time. Videos of verbal children with autism spectrum disorder ( n = 42) were coded based on the following question categories adapted from the work of Massey et al.: management, low cognitive challenging, or cognitively challenging. Results indicated that management questions (mean = 19.97, standard deviation = 12.71) were asked more than less cognitively challenging questions (mean = 14.22, standard deviation = 8.98) and less cognitively challenging questions were asked more than cognitively challenging questions (mean = 10.00, standard deviation = 6.9). Children with higher language levels had a greater likelihood of receiving cognitively challenging questions (odds ratio = 1.025; p = 0.007). Cognitively challenging questions had a greater likelihood of being asked in classrooms with more adults relative to children (odds ratio = 1.176; p = 0.037). The findings present a first step in identifying the questions directed at preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder in inclusive classrooms.
Feeling narrative in the archive: the question of serendipity
Authors: Tamboukou Maria
Published: March 2015

In this article I consider serendipity and chance in engaging with narratives in the archive. Why is it, I ask, that serendipity has become a sine qua non of archival research? Without downplaying the rarity and preciousness of chance, my argument is that we should not conflate the gift of the chance with the dim area of perceptive experience, which may or may not be conscious. In positing this argument I draw on Whitehead’s philosophy: more particularly I consider the notion of prehensions in exploring a particular storyline from my own archival research with the papers of Jeanne Bouvier, a French trade unionist in the garment industry. In juxtaposing serendipity with the Whiteheadian lens of imaginative freedom, I chart storylines in the archive on a matrix of rhythmical vibrations and finally I consider narrative work through the synthetic activity of symbolic reference.
Evaluation of solar glare from reflective facades: A general method
Authors: Gil V López-Rioboo
Published: March 2015

Solar reflections from buildings can cause veiling glare, which reduces visibility and may increase the risk of traffic accidents. A veiling glare assessment typically includes two steps. Firstly, identifying the number of reflections that are geometrically possible, and secondly, quantifying if these reflections are sufficiently intense as to cause glare. Current methods of assessment address the first step but become laborious when calculating the intensity of the reflections. This is due to the geometrical complexity and the potential number of reflections. The new method presented in this paper demonstrates greater simplicity than previous approaches whilst providing a clearer graphical output with the aid of ray-tracing software.
Minimal important difference of the 6-minute walk distance in lung cancer
Authors: Granger Catherine L , Holland Anne E , Gordon Ian R , Denehy Linda
Published: March 2015

The 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) is one of the most commonly used measures of functional capacity in lung cancer, however, the minimal important difference (MID) has not been established. The aims of this exploratory study are, in lung cancer, to estimate (1) the MID of the 6MWD and (2) relationship between 6MWD, demographic and disease-related factors. Fifty-six participants with stage I–IV lung cancer completed the 6MWD prior to treatment and 10 weeks later. No exercise intervention occurred. Additional measures included European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30) and questionnaires assessing function, physical activity and symptoms. MID was calculated using anchor- and distribution-based methods. The mean 6MWD decline in participants classed as deteriorated was 60 m compared with 16 m in participants classed as not-deteriorated ( p = 0.01). The receiver operating curve indicated a cut-off value for clinically relevant change to be 42 m (95% confidence interval (CI) 6–75) (area under curve = 0.66, 95% CI 0.51–0.81) or a 9.5% change. Distribution-based methods indicated an MID between 22 m (95% CI 18–26) and 32 m (95% CI 20–42). Higher 6MWD correlated with better function ( r = −0.42, p = 0.001), physical activity ( r = 0.56, p < 0.005) and dyspnoea ( r = −0.44, p = 0.001). The MID for deterioration of the 6MWD in lung cancer is estimated to be between 22 m and 42 m or a change of 9.5%.