bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DRAMA COMO UMA POSSIBILIDADE TEATRAL NA EDUCAÇÃO INFANTIL
Authors: Pereira Diego de Medeiros
Published: January 2015

A proposta de pesquisa, de que trata o presente texto, consistiu em uma investigação teórico-prática, em nível de doutorado, acerca da defesa do Drama como um encaminhamento metodológico possível para o trabalho com a linguagem teatral na Educação Infantil. Como base teórica, utilizou-se dos escritos de autores ingleses sobre esse método, assim como estudiosos brasileiros do tema, sobretudo Beatriz Cabral e Flávio Desgranges. Por meio da realização de 9 experimentos com crianças entre 2 e 6 anos, foi possível constatar a proximidade entre a proposta do Drama e as especificidades do trabalho pedagógico desenvolvido nesse segmento de ensino e discutir novas possibilidades de exploração da linguagem teatral com crianças.
Role of cAMP-Phosphodiesterase 1C Signaling in Regulating Growth Factor Receptor Stability, Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Growth, Migration, and Neointimal Hyperplasia
Authors: Cai Yujun , Nagel David J. , Zhou Qian , Cygnar Katherine D. , Zhao Haiqing , Li Faqian , Pi Xinchun , Knight Peter A. , Yan Chen
Published: January 2015

Rationale:

Neointimal hyperplasia characterized by abnormal accumulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is a hallmark of occlusive disorders such as atherosclerosis, postangioplasty restenosis, vein graft stenosis, and allograft vasculopathy. Cyclic nucleotides are vital in SMC proliferation and migration, which are regulated by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs).

Objective:

Our goal is to understand the regulation and function of PDEs in SMC pathogenesis of vascular diseases.

Methods and Results:

We performed screening for genes differentially expressed in normal contractile versus proliferating synthetic SMCs. We observed that PDE1C expression was low in contractile SMCs but drastically elevated in synthetic SMCs in vitro and in various mouse vascular injury models in vivo. In addition, PDE1C was highly induced in neointimal SMCs of human coronary arteries. More importantly, injury-induced neointimal formation was significantly attenuated by PDE1C deficiency or PDE1 inhibition in vivo. PDE1 inhibition suppressed vascular remodeling of human saphenous vein explants ex vivo. In cultured SMCs, PDE1C deficiency or PDE1 inhibition attenuated SMC proliferation and migration. Mechanistic studies revealed that PDE1C plays a critical role in regulating the stability of growth factor receptors, such as PDGF receptor β (PDGFRβ) known to be important in pathological vascular remodeling. PDE1C interacts with low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein-1 and PDGFRβ, thus regulating PDGFRβ endocytosis and lysosome-dependent degradation in an low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein-1–dependent manner. A transmembrane adenylyl cyclase cAMP-dependent protein kinase cascade modulated by PDE1C is critical in regulating PDGFRβ degradation.

Conclusions:

These findings demonstrated that PDE1C is an important regulator of SMC proliferation, migration, and neointimal hyperplasia, in part through modulating endosome/lysosome-dependent PDGFRβ protein degradation via low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein-1.
Fibroblast Inward-Rectifier Potassium Current Upregulation in Profibrillatory Atrial Remodeling
Authors: Qi Xiao-Yan , Huang Hai , Ordog Balazs , Luo Xiaobin , Naud Patrice , Sun Yiguo , Wu Chia-Tung , Dawson Kristin , Tadevosyan Artavazd , Chen Yu , Harada Masahide , Dobrev Dobromir , Nattel Stanley
Published: January 2015

Rationale:

Fibroblasts are involved in cardiac arrhythmogenesis and contribute to the atrial fibrillation substrate in congestive heart failure (CHF) by generating tissue fibrosis. Fibroblasts display robust ion currents, but their functional importance is poorly understood.

Objective:

To characterize atrial fibroblast inward-rectifier K
+
current (
I
K1
) remodeling in CHF and its effects on fibroblast properties.

Methods and Results:

Freshly isolated left atrial fibroblasts were obtained from controls and dogs with CHF (ventricular tachypacing). Patch clamp was used to record resting membrane potential (RMP) and
I
K1
. RMP was significantly increased by CHF (from −43.2±0.8 mV, control, to −55.5±0.9 mV). CHF upregulated
I
K1
(eg, at −90 mV from −1.1±0.2 to −2.7±0.5 pA/pF) and increased the expression of KCNJ2 mRNA (by 52%) and protein (by 80%). Ba
2+
(300 μmol/L) decreased the RMP and suppressed the RMP difference between controls and dogs with CHF. Store-operated Ca
2+
entry (Fura-2-acetoxymethyl ester) and fibroblast proliferation (flow cytometry) were enhanced by CHF. Lentivirus-mediated overexpression of KCNJ2 enhanced
I
K1
and hyperpolarized fibroblasts. Functional KCNJ2 suppression by lentivirus-mediated expression of a dominant negative KCNJ2 construct suppressed
I
K1
and depolarized RMP. Overexpression of KCNJ2 increased Ca
2+
entry and fibroblast proliferation, whereas the dominant negative KCNJ2 construct had opposite effects. Fibroblast hyperpolarization to mimic CHF effects on RMP enhanced the Ca
2+
entry. MicroRNA-26a, which targets KCNJ2, was downregulated in CHF fibroblasts. Knockdown of endogenous microRNA-26 to mimic CHF effects unregulated
I
K1
.

Conclusions:

CHF upregulates fibroblast KCNJ2 expression and currents, thereby hyperpolarizing RMP, increasing Ca
2+
entry, and enhancing atrial fibroblast proliferation. These effects are likely mediated by microRNA-26a downregulation. Remodeling-induced fibroblast KCNJ2 expression changes may play a role in atrial fibrillation promoting fibroblast remodeling and structural/arrhythmic consequences.
Prospective National Study of the Prevalence, Incidence, Management and Outcome of a Large Contemporary Cohort of Patients With Incident Non‐Valvular Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Haim Moti , Hoshen Moshe , Reges Orna , Rabi Yardena , Balicer Ran , Leibowitz Morton
Published: January 2015

Background

There are few studies of atrial fibrillation (
AF
) outside of North America or Europe. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence, incidence, management and outcomes of patients with new atrial fibrillation, in a large contemporary cohort (2004–2012) of adult patients.

Methods and Results

The Clalit Health Services (
CHS
) computerized database of 2 420 000 adults, includes data of community clinic visits, hospital discharge records, medical diagnoses, medications, medical interventions, and laboratory test results. The prevalence of
AF
on January 1, 2004 was 71 644 (3%). Prevalence and incidence of
AF
increased with age and was higher in men versus women. During the study period (2004–2012) 98 811 patients developed new non‐valvular
AF
(mean age −72, 50% women, 46% with cardiovascular disease, 6% with prior stroke). The rate of persistent warfarin use (dispensed for >3 months in a calendar year) was low (25.7%) and it increased with increasing stroke risk score. Individual Time in Therapeutic Range (
TTR
) among warfarin users was 42%. The incidence rate of ischemic stroke and death increased with age. The rate of stroke increased from 2 per 1000 person years in patients with CHA
2
DS
2
_VASC SCORE of 0, to 58 per 1000 person years in those with a score of 9.

Conclusions

In the present study the prevalence and incidence of
AF
, stroke, and death were comparable to those reported in Europe and North America. The low use of anticoagulation calls for measures to increase adherence to current treatment recommendations in order to improve outcomes.
Muscles as Motors and Muscles as Brakes
Authors: Pinniger Gavin Jon
Published: January 2015

During normal daily activities, muscles are required to lengthen as frequently as they shorten to produce movement. Lengthening muscle actions are associated with high forces and low energy consumption, but can often result in muscle injury. These unique features are not explained adequately by current (cross-bridge) theories of muscle contraction. Using specific myosin inhibitors and different temperatures the author has examined the molecular mechanisms of stretch-induced force enhancement. The results, which suggest that lengthening force arises from the strain of both cross-bridge and non-cross-bridge components of the sarcomere, help to refine understanding of the molecular mechanisms of muscle contraction.
Research in Human-Computer-Biosphere Interaction
Authors: Kobayashi Hill Hiroki
Published: January 2015

Currently human-computer interaction (HCI) is primarily focused on human-centric interactions. However, people experience many non-human-centric interactions every day. Interactions with nature can reinforce the importance of our relationship with nature. This paper presents the author’s vision of human-computer-biosphere interaction (HCBI) to facilitate non-human-centric interaction with the goal of moving society towards environmental sustainability.
Detecting Subtle Seasonal Transitions of Upwelling in North-Central Chile
Authors: Rahn David A. , Rosenblüth Benjamín , Rutllant José A.
Published: January 2015

Biological productivity in the ocean along the Chilean coast is tied to upwelling that is primarily forced by equatorward wind stress and wind stress curl on the ocean surface. Southerly alongshore flow is driven by the southeast Pacific (SEP) anticyclone, and its intensity and position vary on a range of time scales. Variability of the SEP anticyclone has been linked to large-scale circulations such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the Madden–Julian oscillation. The actual timing, duration, and nature of the seasonal meridional drift of the SEP anticyclone are associated with the onset, demise, and strength of the local upwelling season. Seasonal variation is especially marked at the Punta Lavapié (37°S) upwelling focus, where there is a clear upwelling season associated with a change of the cumulative upwelling index (CUI) slope between positive and negative. The Punta Lengua de Vaca (30°S) focus typically exhibits upwelling year-round and has less distinct transitions, making it more difficult to identify an enhanced upwelling season. A two-phase linear regression model, which is typically used to detect subtle climate changes, is applied here to detect seasonal changes in CUI at Punta Lengua de Vaca. This method objectively finds distinct transitions for most years. The spring-to-summer transition is more readily detected and the slackening of the upwelling-favorable winds, warmer waters, and longer wind strengthening–relaxation cycles change the coastal upwelling ecosystem. While the spring-to-summer transition at Punta Lengua de Vaca could be influenced by large-scale circulations, the actual dates of transition are highly variable and do not show a clear relationship.
Public trust in the Chinese police: The impact of ethnicity, class, and Hukou
Authors: Wu Yuning , Sun Ivan Y , Hu Rong
Published: January 2015

Under the shiny surface of continued rapid economic growth, China has become a country rife with discontent over social inequalities, providing a unique social laboratory for studying social divisions and public perceptions of the police. We extended the conflict perspectives developed in the West to China and became the first to simultaneously examine the effects of three most vital social stratification variables in China—ethnicity, social status, and hukou—on trust in the police. Using nationwide data, we found that ethnic minorities showed the same or higher levels of trust than the Hans, rural registers held more favorable views than urban registers, and self-identified social status emerged as the most important concept associated with conflict theory in explaining Chinese trust in the police. Findings provided important theoretical and policy implications of social stratification and policing in a country of rapid modernization.
Development and Cross-Cultural Validation of the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms–Thai Version
Authors: Ratanasiripong Paul , Wang Chiachih DC , Ratanasiripong Nop , Hayes Jeffrey A. , Kaewboonchoo Orawan , Kathalae Duangrat
Published: January 2015

This study examined the applicability of the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms (CCAPS), a psychological assessment instrument that is widely used with college students in the United States, to the college student population in Thailand. Following the procedures of translation and back-translation, the Thai version of the CCAPS (CCAPS-Thai) was developed. A total sample of 1,259 college students recruited from seven colleges and universities in four different regions of Thailand completed the CCAPS-Thai along with several carefully selected scales. Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a six-factor model. Findings also provided preliminary evidence for adequate internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and convergent validity of the CCAPS-Thai. Implications are discussed based on the mental health issues and cultural context of college students in Thailand.
Analyzing the Effects of Human-Aware Motion Planning on Close-Proximity Human–Robot Collaboration
Authors: Lasota Przemyslaw A. , Shah Julie A.
Published: January 2015

Objective:

The objective of this work was to examine human response to motion-level robot adaptation to determine its effect on team fluency, human satisfaction, and perceived safety and comfort.

Background:

The evaluation of human response to adaptive robotic assistants has been limited, particularly in the realm of motion-level adaptation. The lack of true human-in-the-loop evaluation has made it impossible to determine whether such adaptation would lead to efficient and satisfying human–robot interaction.

Method:

We conducted an experiment in which participants worked with a robot to perform a collaborative task. Participants worked with an adaptive robot incorporating human-aware motion planning and with a baseline robot using shortest-path motions. Team fluency was evaluated through a set of quantitative metrics, and human satisfaction and perceived safety and comfort were evaluated through questionnaires.

Results:

When working with the adaptive robot, participants completed the task 5.57% faster, with 19.9% more concurrent motion, 2.96% less human idle time, 17.3% less robot idle time, and a 15.1% greater separation distance. Questionnaire responses indicated that participants felt safer and more comfortable when working with an adaptive robot and were more satisfied with it as a teammate than with the standard robot.

Conclusion:

People respond well to motion-level robot adaptation, and significant benefits can be achieved from its use in terms of both human–robot team fluency and human worker satisfaction.

Application:

Our conclusion supports the development of technologies that could be used to implement human-aware motion planning in collaborative robots and the use of this technique for close-proximity human–robot collaboration.
Leader reactions to follower proactive behavior: Giving credit when credit is due
Authors: Fuller Bryan , Marler Laura E , Hester Kim , Otondo Robert F
Published: January 2015

In the present study, we rely upon an integration of proactive motivation and performance theories to investigate a neglected research question – when is proactive behavior likely to be rewarded or punished? Based upon a self-determination theory perspective of proactive motivation, we hypothesize that leader feelings of responsibility for constructive change moderate the relationship between follower proactive behavior and performance evaluation. The results of a time-lagged study support this hypothesis, indicating that follower taking charge behavior is rewarded with higher performance evaluations only when leaders feel responsible for constructive change. Following the discussion of findings, we discuss practical implications, potential limitations of the present study and directions for future research.
Does ethnicity have an impact on duration of untreated psychoses: A retrospective study in Singapore
Authors: Basu Sutapa , Subramaniam Mythily , Abdin Edimansyah , Poon Lye Yin , Verma Swapna
Published: January 2015

Background:

Some studies have suggested ethnicity as being one of the causes leading to a longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) in first episode psychosis.

Aim:

We sought to investigate this issue, in a large cohort of patients with a first episode of psychosis, in Singapore.

Method:

In this naturalistic retrospective study, 794 patients accepted into Early Psychosis Intervention Programme (EPIP) services in Singapore were recruited. Diagnosis was made based on SCID 1 (Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV), Axis I Disorders). Information about DUP and sociodemographic characteristics was collected from patients and relatives. Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale were used as tools to assess the severity of symptoms and functioning of the patient, respectively, at baseline, 3, 6, 12 and 24  months.

Results:

The mean and 50th quantile (median) of DUP for this sample were 14.2 and 6, respectively. The mean and median DUP were higher among Indians than in the other ethnic groups. After adjusting for demographic variables, Indian ethnicity was significantly associated with higher median and 75th Percentile DUP than Chinese. Secondary and tertiary education and diagnosis of affective psychosis and brief psychotic disorder (vs. schizophrenia spectrum and delusional disorder) were also significantly associated with lower mean, median and 75th percentile DUP symptoms. Increase in age was significantly associated with higher mean, median and 75th percentile DUP while married and separated/divorced (vs. single) was significantly associated with lower mean and 75th percentile DUP.

Conclusion:

This study found a positive correlation between certain ethnic groups and DUP. Indian ethnicity, older age, single, lower education and patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum and delusional disorders were more likely to be associated with longer DUP.
Introduction
Authors: Karimi Pamela
Published: January 2015

This article summarizes the goal of this special issue of the Journal of Urban History ( JUH). Offering a variety of perspectives—ranging from the role of impromptu artists to that of immigrants and small, independent communities of activists—it details unconventional solutions offered for reviving the economically declining postindustrial American city. Akin to the articles included in this volume, this essay emphasizes ways in which revitalization can take place without necessarily engaging the top–down missions of governmental agencies, large corporations, or costly urban planning. As this introduction demonstrates, most articles in this volume reflect on current and recent developments in major postindustrial American cities. As such, this issue of JUH hopes to offer fresh perspectives on the role of ad hoc agents, a topic rightly deserving of further attention in the field.
Fighting Redlining and Gentrification in Washington, D.C.
Authors: Lloyd James M.
Published: January 2015

In the mid-1970s, the Adams-Morgan neighborhood in Washington, D.C., faced both redlining and gentrification. In response to developer-led gentrification and its accompanying displacement, the Adams-Morgan Organization used the tenant right-to-purchase clause of D.C.’s 1974 rent control law to block the eviction of twenty-six families on one street. Simultaneously, the organization leveraged a community reinvestment campaign against a local thrift to obtain financing for evicted families, resulting in successful purchases and further community reinvestment lending. This research shows that tenant right-to-purchase legislation provided the legal opportunity structure necessary for community organizations to fight redlining and gentrification.
Fit for fight? A cross-sectional study of union apathy in Norway
Authors: Bergene Ann Cecilie , Mamelund Svenn-Erik
Published: January 2015

The article synthesizes the literature on union commitment and union renewal through employing the concept of union apathy. This is done with a view to analyse the association between union strategies and union apathy, and the association between apathy and willingness to become a union delegate in Norway. To this end, the authors have run multivariate regressions on the YS Employment Outlook Survey. Results show that union strategy is significantly associated with apathy, and that apathetic union members are less willing to work for their union in the capacity of union delegate. The authors conclude that if unions are to counter apathy in an effort at renewal, and to ensure a sufficient pool of potential union delegates, they must mobilize the talents, ideas and energy of their members. Finally, the authors suggest that unions with an ‘organizing’ soul seem better equipped to counter apathy than unions bent on the ‘servicing’ model.
Kernel Equating Under the Non-Equivalent Groups With Covariates Design
Authors: Wiberg Marie , Bränberg Kenny
Published: January 2015

When equating two tests, the traditional approach is to use common test takers and/or common items. Here, the idea is to use variables correlated with the test scores (e.g., school grades and other test scores) as a substitute for common items in a non-equivalent groups with covariates (NEC) design. This is performed in the framework of kernel equating and with an extension of the method developed for post-stratification equating in the non-equivalent groups with anchor test design. Real data from a college admissions test were used to illustrate the use of the design. The equated scores from the NEC design were compared with equated scores from the equivalent group (EG) design, that is, equating with no covariates as well as with equated scores when a constructed anchor test was used. The results indicate that the NEC design can produce lower standard errors compared with an EG design. When covariates were used together with an anchor test, the smallest standard errors were obtained over a large range of test scores. The results obtained, that an EG design equating can be improved by adjusting for differences in test score distributions caused by differences in the distribution of covariates, are useful in practice because not all standardized tests have anchor tests.
Underfunding Annual Pension Contributions
Authors: Thom Michael , Randazzo Anthony
Published: January 2015

Inadequate contributions are one factor behind the gap between pension assets and benefit liabilities. Each year, many states fail to meet their required pension contribution while others consistently meet or exceed their required amount. This study seeks to identify the factors that shape actual pension contributions across the states. Results suggest that states with smaller long-term funding gaps are more likely to fund required contributions. Legislative professionalism and constitutional collective bargaining privileges reduce annual funding. The effect of partisan and institutional traits was sensitive to methodology. Revenue changes and balanced budget requirements had no significant effect on pension contributions. These results suggest a number of reform avenues, including constitutional, institutional, and programmatic changes of varying political feasibility.
Perioperative anticoagulation management in antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Ishida Keiichi , Masuda Masahisa , Kohno Hiroki , Tamura Yusaku , Matsumiya Goro
Published: January 2015

Patients with antiphospholipid syndrome are at increased risk of developing thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications after cardiac surgery, and may have abnormal coagulation tests and develop thrombocytopenia after invasive procedures, which can complicate the perioperative management of anticoagulant therapy. We describe a patient with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and antiphospholipid syndrome, who presented with prolonged activated partial thromboplastin and activated clotting times, and developed thrombocytopenia after the catheterization workup. We performed pulmonary endarterectomy and successfully managed anticoagulation by restricting heparin use at the time of surgery and monitoring the heparin effect by measuring heparin concentrations during cardiopulmonary bypass.
Maintaining professional practice
Authors: Clare Roger
Published: January 2015

Probation officers ‘sifted’ to community rehabilitation companies (CRCs) are left wondering precisely what their role and longer term future will be; this article argues that they are essential carriers of the probation heritage in which they can be 'cultural architects ‘to the CRC organizations. Being at one remove from the MOJ, the CRCs have the potential to reinvigorate 'what works'.
Synthesis of nonlinear continuous controllers for verifiably correct high-level, reactive behaviors
Authors: DeCastro Jonathan A. , Kress-Gazit Hadas
Published: January 2015

Planning robotic missions in environments shared by humans involves designing controllers that are reactive to the environment yet able to fulfill a complex high-level task. This paper introduces a new method for designing low-level controllers for nonlinear robotic platforms based on a discrete-state high-level controller encoding the behaviors of a reactive task specification. We build our method upon a new type of trajectory constraint which we introduce in this paper, reactive composition, to provide the guarantee that any high-level reactive behavior may be fulfilled at any moment during the continuous execution. We generate pre-computed motion controllers in a piecewise manner by adopting a sample-based synthesis method that associates a certificate of invariance with each controller in the sample set. As a demonstration of our approach, we simulate different robotic platforms executing complex tasks in a variety of environments.
Closing the loop or squaring the circle? Locating generative spaces for the circular economy
Authors: Hobson Kersty
Published: January 2015

Heightened concerns about long-term sustainability have of late enlivened debates around the circular economy (CE). Defined as a series of restorative and regenerative industrial systems, parallel socio-cultural transformations have arguably received less consideration to date. In response, this paper examines the contributions human geographical scholarship can make to CE debates, focusing on ‘generative spaces’ of diverse CE practices. Concepts infrequently discussed within human geography such as product service systems and ‘prosumption’ are explored, to argue that productive potential exists in bringing these ideas into conversation with ongoing human geographical research into practices, materialities, emergent political spaces and ‘everyday activism’.
Inhibitory effect of chronic oral treatment with fluoxetine on capsaicin-induced external carotid vasodilatation in anaesthetised dogs
Authors: Muñoz-Islas Enriqueta , González-Hernández Abimael , Lozano-Cuenca Jair , Ramírez-Rosas Martha Beatríz , Medina-Santillán Roberto , Centurión David , MaassenVanDenBrink Antoinette , Villalón Carlos M
Published: January 2015

Background

During migraine, capsaicin-sensitive trigeminal sensory nerves release calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), resulting in cranial vasodilatation and central nociception. Moreover, 5-HT is involved in the pathophysiology of migraine and depression. Interestingly, some limited lines of evidence suggest that fluoxetine may be effective in migraine prophylaxis, but the underlying mechanisms are uncertain. Hence, this study investigated the canine external carotid vasodilator responses to capsaicin, α-CGRP and acetylcholine before and after acute and chronic oral treatment with fluoxetine.

Methods

Forty-eight vagosympathectomised male mongrel dogs were prepared to measure blood pressure, heart rate and external carotid blood flow. The thyroid artery was cannulated for infusions of agonists. In 16 of these dogs, a spinal cannula was inserted (C1–C3) for infusions of 5-HT.

Results

The external carotid vasodilator responses to capsaicin, α-CGRP and acetylcholine remained unaffected after intracarotid or i.v. fluoxetine. In contrast, the vasodilator responses to capsaicin, but not those to α-CGRP or acetylcholine, were inhibited after chronic oral treatment with fluoxetine (300 µg/kg; for 90 days) or intrathecal 5-HT.

Conclusions

Chronic oral fluoxetine inhibited capsaicin-induced external carotid vasodilatation, and this inhibition could partly explain its potential prophylactic antimigraine action.
Generative Learning
Authors: Nicolaides Aliki
Published: January 2015

This study explored the extent to which ambiguity can serve as a catalyst for adult learning. The purpose of this study is to understand learning that is generated when encountering ambiguity agitated by the complexity of liquid modernity. Ambiguity, in this study, describes an encounter with an appearance of reality that is at first unrecognizable, oblique, simultaneously evoking fear of “no-cognition” and the potential hope for multiple meanings irresolvable by reference to context alone. Specifically, this phenomenological study engaged nine adults who make meaning—cognitively, affectively, and interpersonally—with an extraordinary capacity for mastering complexity. The findings suggest that metaphor facilitates probing encounters with ambiguity, revealing three capacities for generative learning within ambiguity. Given the unprecedented demands for rapid change and adaptation confronting adults today, exploring the value of ambiguity may facilitate the capacity for vital learning and intelligent action.
‘Ordinary decent domestic violence’: A discursive analysis of family law judges’ interviews
Authors: Naughton Catherine M , O’Donnell Aisling T , Greenwood Ronni M , Muldoon Orla T
Published: January 2015

This study examined judges’ constructions of the ‘best interests of the child’ in child custody and access arraignments where there were allegations of domestic violence within the context of an interview. Using interviews with six Irish District Court judges, a micro-structural discourse analysis enabled the identification of socio-cultural discourses, scientific knowledge and judges’ own values and beliefs biases about custody arraignments in cases of domestic violence. Judges’ discourses were shaped by an idealisation of the nuclear family unit which resulted in a pro-access philosophy (Theme 1). The knowledge that domestic violence had occurred challenged this ideology and, to rhetorically manage this dilemma, judges’ talk normalised or trivialised abusive parents’ behaviour, which rendered domestic violence irrelevant to child custody and access (Theme 2). Mothers who alleged domestic violence when they disputed contact between fathers and their children were pathologised through talk (Theme 3). It is recommended that systems be put in place, including judicial training, to facilitate judges in their decision-making process in this highly discretionary and complex area of the law.
Development of a four-nozzle flapper servovalve driven by a giant magnetostrictive actuator
Authors: Zhu Yuchuan , Yang Xulei , Wang Xiaolu
Published: January 2015

A novel configuration of a four-nozzle flapper servovalve driven by a giant magnetostrictive actuator is described, and giant magnetostrictive actuator displacement model and four-nozzle flapper valve pressure–flow equation are built, which can quantificationally describe the physical process from input current to control pressure in the giant magnetostrictive material–based four-nozzle flapper servovalve. Then, by a computational fluid dynamics method, control pressure under different zero-clearance configurations is determined by the numerical method and compared with the control pressure determined by a theoretical calculation method, which verifies the availability of the above-mentioned numerical method and the accuracy of the implemented numerical model. Subsequently, to elucidate the interaction rule between the control pressure and the orifice flow with the main structural parameters of a four-nozzle flapper servovalve, the parameters and the configurations of a single nozzle, four nozzles and a fixed orifice are investigated, which provides a theoretical basis for the design and optimisation of a giant magnetostrictive material–based four-nozzle flapper servovalve. A test system of a giant magnetostrictive material–based four-nozzle flapper servovalve is established, and the test results of static control pressure and hysteretic control pressure are obtained, which enables the determination of the maximum output control pressure.
Renal outcomes among Egyptian lupus nephritis patients: a retrospective analysis of 135 cases from a single centre
Authors: Mahmoud G A , Zayed H S , Ghoniem S A
Published: January 2015

Objectives

The objective of this paper is to describe renal outcomes in a group of Egyptian patients with lupus nephritis and to identify variable prognostic factors.

Patients and methods

The records of 135 patients (129 females, six males) with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis seen between 1999 and 2011 at Kasr Al-Aini Hospital, Cairo University, were reviewed and included in a retrospective analysis. Biopsies were classified according to the WHO classification. Renal outcomes were defined according to the Renal Subcommittee of Renal Insufficiency of the American College of Rheumatology.

Results

The mean follow-up period was 55.64 ± 25.68 (range 4–156) months. Thirty-nine patients (29.9%) developed an adverse final outcome. This composite outcome, defined as persistent elevation of serum creatinine ≥ 1.2 mg/dl, chronic renal insufficiency, end-stage renal disease or death, was seen in 12 (8.9%), seven (5.2%), three (2.2%) and 17 (12.6%) patients, respectively. The overall patient survival was 93.5% and 87.5% at five and 10 years, respectively. Factors associated with an adverse outcome included male gender ( p = 0.037), hypertension at nephritis onset ( p = 0.001), serum creatinine ≥1.2 mg/dl ( p < 0.001), urinary casts ( p = 0.006), anticardiolipin antibodies ( p = 0.03), class IV nephritis ( p < 0.001), hyaline thrombosis (0.003), glomerular sclerosis ( p = 0.002), tubular atrophy( p < 0.001), interstitial fibrosis ( p < 0.001) and a higher chronicity index ( p = 0.006). Time-dependent factors associated with an adverse outcome included failure to achieve remission within the first year, uncontrolled hypertension, persistently low C3 and development of flares ( p = 0.003, < 0.001, = 0.004, = 0.003, respectively).

Conclusion

The association of several adverse prognostic factors with the development of poor renal outcome has been confirmed in this study.
Outsourced racism in Italy
Authors: Cillo Rossana , Perocco Fabio
Published: January 2015

Research findings suggest that in some Italian industrial sectors a structural relationship may exist between new forms of work organization deriving from subcontracting and the embedding of racial discrimination in the workplace. This article first analyses the transformations of work that have led to the increasing recourse to the use of outsourcing. The second part examines the structural transformations due to subcontracting in the construction, metalworking and shipbuilding sectors in Italy from a comparative perspective. The third part presents the main empirical evidence on the effects of the crisis that have made union intervention against both contractual stratification and racial discrimination particularly difficult.
On the thermo-mechanical behavior of NiTi shape memory elements for potential smart micro-actuation applications
Authors: Biffi Carlo A , Bonacina Luca , Nespoli Adelaide , Previtali Barbara , Tuissi Ausonio
Published: January 2015

Among smart and functional materials, the shape memory alloys are enabling the development of a new class of devices for the automotive, aerospace, biomedical, and mechanical applications based on the shape memory and superelastic effects. In this work, a study on the mechanical response of NiTi shape memory micro-elements, in the so-called “snake-like” configuration, is reported. These elements were patterned by means of laser micro-processing from thin NiTi sheets and then chemically etched. Different micro-elements, as function of the number of the curvatures replicated, were fabricated and tested. The functional performances of the micro-elements were characterized through calorimetric analysis for the definition of the operating temperatures and through thermo-mechanical testing for the evaluation of their actuating response. Mechanical tests were carried out to assess the tensile behavior of martensite and austenite phases separately, and for evaluating the thermal hysteresis under different constant loads during cooling/heating loops. Moreover, finite element modeling was also accomplished to analyze the stress distribution in both the martensitic and austenitic phases as loading.
ThermoTRPs and Pain
Authors: Laing Robyn J , Dhaka Ajay
Published: January 2015

The ability of the body to perceive noxious stimuli lies in a heterogeneous group of primary somatosensory neurons termed nociceptors. The molecular receptors of noxious mechanical, temperature, or chemical stimuli are expressed in these neurons and have drawn considerable attention as possible targets for analgesic development to improve treatment for the millions who suffer from chronic pain conditions. A number of thermoTRPs, a subset of the transient receptor potential family of ion channels, are activated by a wide range on noxious stimuli. In this review, we review the function of these channels and examine the evidence that thermoTRPs play a vital role in acute, inflammatory and neuropathic nociception.
The Visual Invention Practices of STEM Researchers
Authors: Walsh Lynda , Ross Andrew B.
Published: January 2015

This article presents results from a qualitative pilot survey of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) researchers concerning techniques used to create graphics for research articles. The survey aimed to induce a methodological vocabulary for a larger project designed to describe and improve STEM visual literacy for nonexperts. However, the survey also revealed interesting problems for investigation—chief among them a mismatch between STEM visual pedagogy and praxis. In addition, participants supplied a handlist of STEM visual communication texts that have informed their praxis. Survey results are presented in the form of a topology—a frequency-based representation of the topics framing participants’ discussion of STEM visual invention.
The physical sacrifice of thinking: Investigating the relationship between thinking and physical activity in everyday life
Authors: McElroy Todd , Dickinson David L , Stroh Nathan , Dickinson Christopher A
Published: January 2015

Physical activity level is an important contributor to overall human health and obesity. Research has shown that humans possess a number of traits that influence their physical activity level including social cognition. We examined whether the trait of “need for cognition” was associated with daily physical activity levels. We recruited individuals who were high or low in need for cognition and measured their physical activity level in 30-second epochs over a 1-week period. The overall findings showed that low-need-for-cognition individuals were more physically active, but this difference was most pronounced during the 5-day work week and lessened during the weekend.
Visual weight status misperceptions of men: Why overweight can look like a healthy weight
Authors: Oldham Melissa , Robinson Eric
Published: January 2015

Overweight men often underestimate their weight status. Here, we examine whether underestimation occurs when visually judging the weight status of men and whether exposure to heavier body weights may be a cause of visual underestimation of male weight status. Participants systematically underestimated the weight status of overweight and obese men (Study 1) and participants reporting more frequent exposure to heavy male body weights were most likely to underestimate (Study 2). Experimental exposure to different body weights influenced underestimation of weight status (Study 3). Frequent exposure to heavier body weights may cause visual underestimation of the weight status of overweight men.
Language teachers making sense of Exploratory Practice
Authors: Hanks Judith
Published: January 2015

This article critically examines the implementation of Exploratory Practice in an English for academic purposes (EAP) context in a British university. The innovation involved challenges as well as opportunities for uniting learning, teaching and research. Particular emphasis is given to two teachers, who are the focus of this article: the story of one, ‘Jenny’, illustrates the processes of doing Exploratory Practice with learners of EAP, while the story of the other, ‘Bella’, provides insight into the notion of puzzlement, a central feature of the Exploratory Practice framework. For these practitioners, it was clear that the integration of pedagogy with locally relevant, small-scale research activity, held a wealth of opportunities for language learning and teaching.
Investigation of the damage mechanisms for mode I delamination growth in foam core sandwich composites using acoustic emission
Authors: Fotouhi Mohamad , Saeedifar Milad , Sadeghi Seyedali , Ahmadi Najafabadi Mehdi , Minak Giangiacomo
Published: January 2015

In this article, acoustic emission monitoring was used to identify different types of damage mechanisms which occur during delamination of sandwich structures. Features of the obtained acoustic emission signals and wavelet-based signal processing technique were utilized to discriminate failure mechanisms during the delamination test. Dominant damage mechanisms were classified based on their power spectral density in distinct frequency ranges and the energy distribution criterion in each component. The scanning electron microscopy was also employed to verify the results which were obtained from the acoustic emission investigation. It was concluded that frequency domain analysis and wavelet analysis are efficient tools for identification and discrimination of different damage mechanisms in sandwich structures.
Strategy and new media: A research agenda
Authors: Plesner Ursula , Gulbrandsen Ib T.
Published: January 2015

Despite current attention to the materiality of organizations and the performative role of tools, devices, artefacts and objects in processes of strategy-making, the impact of new media has not been thoroughly conceptualized in the strategy literature. We argue that new media challenge core assumptions in strategy about control, boundaries and choice. To understand their constitutive effects and the implications for strategy-making, it is necessary to develop a research agenda oriented towards understanding technological affordances – but not only in local practices. Due to vital characteristics of new media, this research agenda should be informed by a socio-material sensibility, network thinking and a longitudinal perspective.
King’s College London Student Clinical Ethics Committee case discussion: A patient changes her mind about surgery – should her later refusal be respected?
Authors: Johnston Carolyn , Baty Michael , Adewole Comfort
Published: January 2015

Members of the Student Clinical Ethics Committee discussed the ethical and legal issues arising in a case referred for consideration – a female patient in her mid-60s, who had a very long history of multiple sclerosis, withdrew her previous consent to treatment following discussion with her son. The case study summarises the reflections of the Committee and focusses on: the meaning and practical application of respect for patient autonomy; whether a refusal of clinically indicated treatment may challenge the notion of capacity; the role of others in the process of decision-making; if the current decision to refuse treatment was the patient’s own and whether, in the circumstances, it should be respected.
The Family Series Workshop
Authors: Llanque Sarah M. , Enriquez Maithe , Cheng An-Lin , Doty Leilani , Brotto Marco A. , Kelly Patricia J. , Niedens Michelle , Caserta Michael S. , Savage Lynette M.
Published: January 2015

This study describes an evaluation of a community-based psychoeducational intervention, called The Family Series Workshop, for caregivers of community-dwelling persons with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias (ADRD). In a one-group pretest–posttest design, participants (n = 35) attended six weekly sessions. Caregiver stress, coping, and caregiving competence were evaluated along with demographic characteristics of participants. There was a significant improvement found for caregiving competence, and a marginally significant increase in coping with humor. Using regression analysis we also found that coping with humor, along with stress, were significant predictors of caregiving competence. These findings indicate that it is possible to increase caregiving competence utilizing a “grassroots” approach and that it is feasible to hold educational, group discussions on a plethora of challenging caregiving topics.
Thermodiffusion effects on boundary layer flow of viscoelastic nanofluids over a stretching sheet with viscous dissipation and non-uniform heat source using hp-finite element method
Authors: Goyal Mania , Bhargava Rama
Published: January 2015

This paper theoretically investigates the conjugate effects of viscous dissipation and non-uniform heat source/ sink on the double-diffusive boundary layer flow of a viscoelastic nanofluid over a stretching sheet. In this model, where binary nanofluid is used, the Brownian motion, thermophoresis and cross-diffusion are classified as the main mechanisms which are responsible for the enhancement of the convection features of the nanofluid. The boundary layer equations governed by the partial differential equations are transformed into a set of ordinary differential equations with the help of group theory transformations. Computations are made by the hp-Galerkin finite element method (FEM). The hp-FEM needs a smaller number of nodes and consequently, less computational time and less memory to achieve the same or even better accuracy than h-FEM. A detailed evaluation of the effects of the governing physical parameters on the velocity, temperature, solutal and nanoparticle concentration via graphical plots is conducted for two different cases, namely prescribed surface temperature (PST) and prescribed heat flux (PHF). The reduced Sherwood number (in PST-case) is observed to be increased with the effects of nanofluid and the modified Dufour parameter, whereas the contrary behaviour is computed for the surface solutal concentration in PHF-case. Heat transfer is increasing function of viscoelastic parameter and decreasing function of Brownian motion, thermophoresis, space and time dependent heat source/sink parameter and Eckert number. Mass transfer is increasing function of Eckert number, space and time dependent heat source/sink parameter and decreasing function of viscoelastic parameter.