bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical simulation and optimization of aerodynamic noise for claw pole alternator
Authors: Zuo Shuguang , Xie Chaofeng , Wu Xudong , Li Yuejiao , Wei Kaijun
Published: March 2018

This study aims at minimizing the aerodynamic noise generated by claw pole alternator used in vehicles. In this paper, an effective and efficient hybrid test-analysis engineering approach has been proposed to predict and optimize acoustic performance of claw pole alternator. First, an experimental analysis was performed to predict the main components of the aerodynamic noise generated by the claw pole alternator. Then a hybrid approach was proposed to calculate the aerodynamic noise of the alternator. A computational fluid dynamics model of the claw pole alternator was developed for calculating the flow-field of the alternator. The pressure fluctuation in the flow field was analyzed to validate the computational fluid dynamics simulation. After the computational fluid dynamics simulation, the far-field aerodynamic noise generated by the flow field was calculated by adopting the acoustic finite element method. The accuracy and feasibility of the acoustic finite element model were validated with the experimental data. After the validation, the effects of the cooling fan parameters on the aerodynamic noise of the alternator were discussed and analyzed. According to the sound source information and the generation mechanism of the aerodynamic noise, the blade spacing angle of the cooling fan was optimized by establishing a theoretical model. The blade chord length of the cooling fan, the blade installation angle of the cooling fan and the tilt angle of the grille on end cap were optimized by structuring different surrogate models. After the optimizations, a significant reduction in the noise level of the claw pole alternator was found by the finite element method simulation. The overall sound power level has been decreased by about 6 dB (A).
Analysis of the electric wheel vibration reduction system of a wheel-hub motor-driven vehicle
Authors: Shi Peicheng , Shi Peilei , Yan Changshan , Zhang Rongyun , Xiao Ping
Published: March 2018

Based on the principle of multi-stage vibration isolation and active vibration absorption, a multi-stage passive vibration-isolating system and active motor vibration-absorbing system are designed for the electric wheel system of wheel-hub motor-driven electric vehicle, and the 1/4 suspension structural diagrams of the two vibration-isolating systems are drawn. Secondly, the corresponding multi-degrees-of-freedom vertical vibration model is established according to the different structural diagrams, and the dynamic differential equation of the multi-degrees-of-freedom vibration system is deduced. Then, by programming the MATLAB software is used to solve the acceleration of the vehicle body, the dynamic deflection of the suspension spring, and the amplitude, and the frequency characteristic curve of the relative dynamic load of the wheel of the 1/4 suspension system are drawn and the results are compared and analyzed. Finally, the ADAMS software is used for remodeling; the simulation experiment of ADAMS multi-body dynamics verified the correctness of the theoretical results of MATLAB software. The results show that the ADAMS simulation experiment results are consistent with the MATLAB theoretical results, and their correctness is verified. The vibration isolation effect of the active vibration-absorbing system is better and can improve the riding comfort and safety of the vehicle; hence it is worth popularizing and drawing.
Assembly sequence planning using soft computing methods: A review
Authors: Deepak BBVL , Bala Murali G , Bahubalendruni MVA Raju , Biswal BB
Published: March 2018

The implementation of artificial intelligence techniques is increasing rapidly in recent years to solve numerous engineering problems. Assembly sequence planning is one of the prominent complex combinatorial problem draw attention of industrial engineers to economize the overall manufacturing cost by minimizing the assembly time and energy. Due to large search space and multiple assembly predicate criteria, researchers are motivated towards efficient utilization of AI techniques to address the problem. Literature review on various artificial intelligence techniques for obtaining the optimal assembly sequence planning are analyzed and the limitations of the existed methodologies are discussed in detail. This review provides an outlook for the researchers on various artificial intell1igent techniques which will be useful to carry out research for obtaining the optimum assembly sequence planning while qualifying various assembly predicate criteria.
Advances and significance of solar reflectors in solar energy technology in Pakistan
Authors: Akhtar Sophia , Hashmi M Khurram , Ahmad Ishaq , Raza Rizwan
Published: March 2018

Being located in the Sun Belt, Pakistan is rich in sunlight and receives a high mean irradiation. This condition is ideal for harnessing Sun’s power for solar energy applications by using solar reflectors. In spite of possessing such a rich solar irradiation area, Pakistan is facing energy crisis because most of the energy resources are still unexploited. This paper discusses the energy crisis of Pakistan and provides the solution by putting efforts into solar energy technology, as well as devising innovative ways to incorporate solar reflectors into a solar panel and get more power generation out of it by a diminutive modification. Reflectors are used in the solar technology to concentrate the sunlight onto the solar panels. They employ glass as a base material with a silver coating and a protective layer over it. They elevate the energy input of solar panels as the whole solar spectrum is reflected on them. Materials with more reflective properties are needed to be used to increase the reflectivity and efficiency of solar reflectors. In Pakistan, no significant work is done till now towards the development of solar reflectors. If solar reflectors are used with the solar panels, then their efficiency as well as production from the solar panels will be maximized.
Quantifying Status of Women and Men in India at the Subnational Level
Authors: Kher Jagriti , Aggarwal Savita , Punhani Geeta
Published: March 2018

This article attempts to develop a status index for female and male genders and quantify the same at the subnational level for India. It examines the gaps and shortcomings in women’s socio-economic attainments with respect to men. Four main components were considered for quantifying this gender status index, namely (a) education, (b) health and demographics, (c) economic participation and (d) political participation and decision-making, with four to six parameters for each of these dimensions. This exercise shows that, overall, there are huge gender differentials in status across all states and union territories in India. The most lacking sectors for women are their poor economic and political participation, which therefore need consistent and targeted action. This study also shows that tools such as status index can be suitably used to gauge and monitor empowerment of women over different temporal and spatial scales.
Urbanization in Kerala—What Does the Census Data Reveal?
Authors: Praveen Lal C.S.  , Nair Sajini B.
Published: March 2018

Kerala’s recent urban growth rate has thrown open a challenge before the state government to cater the needs of the urban population and design programmes to provide basic facilities for a good standard of living. The authors here examine the growth trends in Kerala’s urban population, the tempo and degree of concentration and capture the changes in development indicators based on data available from the Census of India. The recent upsurge of 92.8 per cent urban growth rate in Kerala is due to the areal reclassification. The higher order towns (Classes I and II) in Kerala show a decline in growth of population, whereas the lower order towns (Class III towns) are growing. The urban density decreased and work participation rate increased slightly during 2001–2011. This phase of urbanization is characterized by the growth of a more dispersed population than concentrated urban centres. The steady increase in the rate of urbanization in Kerala, however, is accompanied by low pace of development, especially of basic amenities, which is a matter of concern that needs policy attention.
Mistaken identity of an open reading frame proposed for PCR-based identification of Mycoplasma bovis and the effect of polymorphisms and insertions on assay performance
Authors: Register Karen B. , Boatwright William D. , Gesy Karen M. , Thacker Tyler C. , Jelinski Murray D.
Published: March 2018

Mycoplasma bovis is an important cause of disease in cattle and bison. Because the bacterium requires specialized growth conditions, many diagnostic laboratories routinely use PCR to replace or complement conventional isolation and identification methods. A frequently used target of such assays is the uvrC gene, which has been shown to be highly conserved among isolates. We discovered that a previously described PCR putatively targeting the uvrC gene amplifies a fragment from an adjacent gene predicted to encode a lipoprotein. Comparison of the lipoprotein gene sequence from 211 isolates revealed several single nucleotide polymorphisms, 1 of which falls within a primer-binding sequence. Additionally, 3 isolates from this group were found to have a 1,658-bp transposase gene insertion within the amplified region that leads to a false-negative result. The insertion was not detected in a further 164 isolates. We found no evidence that the nucleotide substitution within the primer-binding region affects the assay sensitivity, performance, or limit of detection. Nonetheless, laboratories utilizing this method for identification of M. bovis should be aware that the region amplified may be prone to nucleotide substitutions and/or insertions relative to the sequence used for its design and that occasional false-negative results may be obtained.
Identification of the Medication Regimen Complexity Index as an Associated Factor of Nonadherence to Antiretroviral Treatment in HIV Positive Patients
Authors: Manzano-García Mercedes , Pérez-Guerrero Concepción , Álvarez de Sotomayor Paz Maria , Robustillo-Cortés Mª de las Aguas , Almeida-González Carmen Victoria , Morillo-Verdugo Ramón
Published: March 2018

Background: Multiple studies have identified a relationship between the complexity of a medication regimen and non-adherence. However, most studies in people who live with HIV (PLWH) have focused on antiretroviral use and have failed to consider the impact of other medications. Objective: The aim of our study is to identify the Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) as an associated factor for nonadherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART). The secondary aim is to analyze the relationship between clinical and pharmacotherapeutical variables and adherence to antiretroviral treatment and to generate an adherence model. Methods: A transversal, observational study. Patients included were PLWH over 18 years of age on active antiretroviral therapy. Patients who participated in clinical trials or who did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded. We had studied HIV transmission mode, viral load, treatment status, number of comorbidities and complexity index as factors associated with adherence to ART. Results: We included 619 patients in the study. Number of comorbidities ( p = 0.021; OR = 1.038-1.570); viral load ( p = 0.023; OR = 1.108-4.505) and MRCI ( p < 0.001; OR = 1.138-1.262) (ART and concomitant treatment) were the independent associated factors to ART nonadherence. The value of the Hosmer and Lemeshow test confirmed the validity of this model (P = 0.333). Conclusion: A higher MRCI was associated with non-adherence. Therefore, the regimen complexity calculation may be appropriate in daily practice for identifying patients at a higher risk of becoming non-adherent.
Tendoscopic Treatment of Peroneal Intrasheath Subluxation: A New Subgroup With Superior Peroneal Retinaculum Injury
Authors: Guelfi Matteo , Vega Jordi , Malagelada Francesc , Baduell Albert , Dalmau-Pastor Miki
Published: March 2018

Background:

Snapping peroneal tendons is a rare cause of lateral ankle pain. Two subgroups have been described: chronic subluxation with superior peroneal retinaculum (SPR) injury and intrasheath subluxation with SPR intact. The aim of the study was to report the tendoscopic findings and results in patients affected by snapping peroneal tendons without evident dislocation.

Methods:

Between 2010 and 2015, a total of 18 patients with a retromalleolar “click” sensation and no clinical signs of peroneal tendon dislocation underwent tendoscopy. Mean age was 29 years (range, 18-47). Mean follow-up was 45 months (range, 18-72).

Results:

Tendoscopic examination revealed an intact SPR in 12 patients. Of these 12, a space-occupying lesion was present in 7, a superficial tear of peroneus brevis in 4, and a shallow fibular groove in 7. An SPR injury without peroneal tendon dislocation was observed in the remaining 6 patients. All these 6 patients presented a shallow fibular groove. Although the SPR was injured, they had been diagnosed as intrasheath subluxation. Patients with intrasheath subluxation and intact SPR underwent debridement of a space-occupying lesion in 11 cases and fibular groove deepening in 5 cases. Patients with intrasheath subluxation and SPR injury underwent fibular groove deepening without addressing the SPR. At follow-up, the mean American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society score increased from 76 (range, 69-85) preoperatively to 97 (range, 84-100). No recurrence or major complications were reported.

Conclusion

Intrasheath subluxation of peroneal tendons was successfully treated tendoscopically. A new subgroup of intrasheath subluxation with SPR injury but no clinically evident peroneal tendon dislocation is reported.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, case series.
Barriers and Facilitating Factors for Research Involvement in Cancer Centers
Authors: Kowalski Christoph , Post Stefan , Seufferlein Thomas , Benz Stefan R. , Ferencz Julia , Wesselmann Simone
Published: March 2018

Improvements in health care depend on research involving health-care providers (HCPs) and health-care organizations (HCOs). Existing research suggests that involvement in research studies is still much lower than it could be. This study investigates factors that may impede or facilitate research involvement. A standardized online questionnaire was used to carry out a survey, in 3 countries, of key informants in colorectal cancer centers that hold certification in accordance with the requirements of the German Cancer Society. A total of 184 individuals responded (response rate 65%). The respondents found it difficult to identify studies suitable for their patients (40% agreement), criticized the small overall number of studies available (48%), and found that many studies are not worthwhile financially (56%). Among respondents who were not involved in studies as the principal investigators (PIs), 66% agreed they lacked the research infrastructure needed and 81% that they did not have enough staff. Among respondents who were involved as PIs, only 22% indicated that their hospital management encouraged them to initiate and conduct clinical trials. Eighty-five percent of the respondents agreed that the general population lacks information about the importance of studies. Five recommendations for health policy makers are derived from these findings for ways of increasing the involvement of HCPs and HCOs in research, and in cancer research in particular.
Work/Think/Play in Doctoral Education
Authors: Van Cleave Jessica , Bridges-Rhoads Sarah , Hughes Hilary E.
Published: March 2018

This article is the introduction to the special issue, “Work/Think/Play in Doctoral Education.” Similar to its companion issue titled, “Work/Think/Play in Qualitative and Postqualitative Inquiry,” the goal of this issue is not to define, categorize, stabilize, or normalize the processes and practices of inquiry that remain behind-the-scenes of research reports and dissertations. Nor is it to make visible what researchers do when we say we are doing (and learning to do) qualitative and postqualitative research. Instead, we hope the articles in this volume open up conversations about scholars’ work/think/play that goes beyond the scope of the dissertation study and contribute to the continuous re-creation of teaching, learning, and qualitative and post qualitative research.
Surface contamination of counting tools after mock dispensing of cyclophosphamide in a simulated outpatient pharmacy
Authors: Chaffee Bruce W , Lander Michael J , Christen Catherine , Redic Kimberly A
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The primary aim was to determine if dispensing of cyclophosphamide tablets resulted in accumulated residue on pharmacy counting tools during a simulated outpatient dispensing process. Secondary objectives included determining if cyclophosphamide contamination exceeded a defined threshold level of 1 ng/cm2 and if a larger number of prescriptions dispensed resulted in increased contamination.

Methods

Mock prescriptions of 40 cyclophosphamide 50 mg tablets were counted on clean trays in three scenarios using a simulated outpatient pharmacy after assaying five cleaned trays as controls. The three scenarios consisted of five simulated dispensings of one, three, or six prescriptions dispensed per scenario. Wipe samples of trays and spatulas were collected and assayed for all trays, including the five clean trays used as controls. Contamination was defined as an assayed cyclophosphamide level at or above 0.001 ng/cm2 and levels above 1 ng/cm2 were considered sufficient to cause risk of human uptake. Mean contamination for each scenario was calculated and compared using one-way analysis of variance. P-values of < 0.05 implied significance.

Results

Mean cyclophosphamide contamination on trays used to count one, three, and six cyclophosphamide prescriptions was 0.51 ± 0.10 (p=0.0003), 1.02 ± 0.10 (p < 0.0001), and 1.82 ± 0.10 ng/cm2 (p < 0.0001), respectively. Control trays did not show detectable cyclophosphamide contamination. Increasing the number of prescriptions dispensed from 1 to 3, 1 to 6, and 3 to 6 counts increased contamination by 0.51 ± 0.15 (p = 0.0140), 1.31 + 0.15 (p < 0.0001), and 0.80 ± 0.15 ng/cm2 (p = 0.0004), respectively.

Conclusion

Dispensing one or more prescriptions of 40 cyclophosphamide 50 mg tablets contaminates pharmacy counting tools, and an increased number of prescriptions dispensed correlates with increased level of contamination. Counting out three or more prescriptions leads to trays having contamination that surpasses the threshold at which worker exposure may be increased. Pharmacies should consider devoting a separate tray to cyclophosphamide tablets, as cross-contamination could occur with other drugs and the efficacy of decontamination methods is unclear. Employee exposure could be minimized with the use of personal protective equipment, environmental controls, and cleaning trays between uses. Future investigation should assess the extent of drug powder dispersion, the effects of various cleaning methods, and the potential extent of contamination with different oral cytotoxic drugs.
Is Ego Depletion Real? An Analysis of Arguments
Authors: Friese Malte , Loschelder David D. , Gieseler Karolin , Frankenbach Julius , Inzlicht Michael
Published: March 2018

An influential line of research suggests that initial bouts of self-control increase the susceptibility to self-control failure (ego depletion effect). Despite seemingly abundant evidence, some researchers have suggested that evidence for ego depletion was the sole result of publication bias and p-hacking, with the true effect being indistinguishable from zero. Here, we examine (a) whether the evidence brought forward against ego depletion will convince a proponent that ego depletion does not exist and (b) whether arguments that could be brought forward in defense of ego depletion will convince a skeptic that ego depletion does exist. We conclude that despite several hundred published studies, the available evidence is inconclusive. Both additional empirical and theoretical works are needed to make a compelling case for either side of the debate. We discuss necessary steps for future work toward this aim.
The ELAPS framework: Experimental Linear Algebra Performance Studies
Authors: Peise Elmar , Bientinesi Paolo
Published: March 2018

In scientific computing, optimal use of computing resources comes at the cost of extensive coding, tuning, and benchmarking. While the classic approach of “features first, performance later” is supported by a variety of tools such as Tau, Vampir, and Scalasca, the emerging performance-centric approach, in which both features and performance are primary objectives, is still lacking suitable development tools. For dense linear algebra applications, we fill this gap with the Experimental Linear Algebra Performance Studies (ELAPS) framework, a multi-platform open-source environment for easy, fast, and yet powerful performance experimentation and prototyping. In contrast to many existing tools, ELAPS targets the beginning of the development process, assisting application developers in both algorithmic and optimization decisions. With ELAPS, users construct experiments to investigate how performance and efficiency depend on factors such as caching, algorithmic parameters, problem size, and parallelism. Experiments are designed either through Python scripts or a specialized Graphical User Interface (GUI), and run on a spectrum of architectures, ranging from laptops to accelerators and clusters. The resulting reports provide various metrics and statistics that can be analyzed both numerically and visually. In this article, we introduce ELAPS and illustrate its practical value in guiding critical performance decisions already in early development stages.
Feline hyperaesthesia syndrome with self-trauma to the tail: retrospective study of seven cases and proposal for an integrated multidisciplinary diagnostic approach
Authors: Amengual Batle Pablo , Rusbridge Clare , Nuttall Tim , Heath Sarah , Marioni-Henry Katia
Published: March 2018

Case series summary

This was a retrospective study on the clinical features and response to treatment in seven cats with feline hyperaesthesia syndrome (FHS) and tail mutilation. FHS is a poorly understood disorder characterised by skin rippling over the dorsal lumbar area, episodes of jumping and running, excessive vocalisation, and tail chasing and self-trauma. The majority of the cats were young, with a median age of 1 year at the onset of clinical signs, male (n = 6) and with access to the outdoors (n = 5). Multiple daily episodes of tail chasing and self-trauma were reported in five cats, with tail mutilation in four cats. Vocalisation during the episodes (n = 5) and rippling of lumbar skin (n = 5) were also reported. Haematology, serum biochemistry, Toxoplasma gondii and feline immunodeficiency virus/feline leukaemia virus serology, MRI scans of brain, spinal cord and cauda equina, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and electrodiagnostic tests did not reveal any clinically significant abnormalities. A definitive final diagnosis was not reached in any of the cats, but hypersensitivity dermatitis was suspected in two cases. A variety of medications was used alone or in combination, including gabapentin (n = 6), meloxicam (n = 4), antibiotics (n = 4), phenobarbital (n = 2), prednisolone (n = 2) and topiramate (n = 2); ciclosporin, clomipramine, fluoxetine, amitriptyline and tramadol were used in one cat each. Clinical improvement was achieved in six cases; in five cats complete remission of clinical signs was achieved with gabapentin alone (n = 2), a combination of gabapentin/ciclosporin/amitriptyline (n = 1), gabapentin/prednisolone/phenobarbital (n = 1) or gabapentin/topiramate/meloxicam (n = 1).

Relevance and novel information

This is the first retrospective study on a series of cats with FHS. The diagnostic work-up did not reveal any significant abnormalities of the central or peripheral nervous system; dermatological and behavioural problems could not be ruled out. We propose an integrated multidisciplinary diagnostic pathway to be used for the management of clinical cases and for future prospective studies.
Functional changes during visuo-spatial working memory in autism spectrum disorder: 2-year longitudinal functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Vogan Vanessa M , Morgan Benjamin R , Smith Mary Lou , Taylor Margot J
Published: March 2018

This study examined functional changes longitudinally over 2 years in neural correlates associated with working memory in youth with and without autism spectrum disorder, and the impact of increasing cognitive load. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging and a visuo-spatial 1-back task with four levels of difficulty. A total of 14 children with autism spectrum disorder and 15 typically developing children (ages 7–13) were included at baseline and followed up approximately 2 years later. Despite similar task performance between groups, differences were evident in the developmental trajectories of neural responses. Typically developing children showed greater load-dependent activation which intensified over time in the frontal, parietal and occipital lobes and the right fusiform gyrus, compared to those with autism spectrum disorder. Children with autism spectrum disorder showed minimal age-related changes in load-dependent activation, but greater longitudinal load-dependent deactivation in default mode network compared to typically developing children. Results suggest inadequate modulation of neural activity with increasing cognitive demands in children with autism spectrum disorder, which does not mature into adolescence, unlike their typically developing peers. Diminished ability for children with autism spectrum disorder to modulate neural activity during this period of maturation suggests that they may be more vulnerable to the increasing complexity of social and academic demands as they progress through adolescence than their peers.
A novel Index of Vulnerable Homes: Findings from application in Spain
Authors: Castaño-Rosa Raúl , Solís-Guzmán Jaime , Marrero Madelyn
Published: March 2018

This paper develops a novel index of vulnerable homes in terms of fuel poverty that is based on the analysis of different existing fuel poverty indicators and their relationship to the residential sector. The new index of vulnerable homes unifies the many indicators hitherto employed, and assesses the home vulnerability situation regardless of whether or not it is in fuel poverty by using three dimensions: monetary cost, energy and thermal comfort. The monetary dimension analyses vulnerability in relation to the available net income to face everyday life. The energy variable assesses the vulnerability related to the constructive characteristics of the dwelling. Finally, the introduction of the thermal-comfort variable enables the evaluation of the vulnerability related to the inner temperature of the dwelling and its perception by occupants. The combination of the different resulting values in each dimension and its relationship to the quality of life of occupants establishes a hierarchy of vulnerable levels. As a result, a multi-dimensional index is defined which relates technical aspects (characteristics of the dwelling) and social aspects (quality of life of households). The index of vulnerable homes provides a more complete assessment of the home situation than the existing fuel poverty indicators by identifying which variables require a greater assistance.
Viscoelastic material damping characteristics of carbon nanotubes based functionally graded composite shell structures
Authors: Swain Ashirbad , Roy Tarapada
Published: March 2018

This work deals with the study of viscoelastic modeling and vibration analysis of functionally graded nanocomposite shell panels where carbon nanotubes are reinforced in the polymer matrix based on the functionally graded distributions of carbon nanotubes. Five types of grading of carbon nanotubes (such as UD, FGX, FGV, FGO, and FGΛ) in the thickness directions have been considered in order to investigate the vibration damping performance of such composite shell panels. A detailed mathematical formulation for the determination viscoelastic properties is presented. The Mori–Tanaka micromechanics in conjunction with weak interface theory has been developed for the mathematical formulations of the viscoelastic modeling of carbon nanotubes based polymer matrix phase. An eight-noded shell element with five degrees-of-freedom per node has been formulated to study the vibration damping characteristics of various panels made by such functionally graded nanocomposite materials. The shell finite element formulation is based on the transverse shear effects as per the Mindlin’s hypothesis, and stress resultant-type Koiter’s shell theory. Impulse and frequency responses of such structures have been performed to study the effects of various important parameters (such as volume fraction of carbon nanotubes, interfacial condition, agglomeration, temperature, geometries of shell panel) on the dynamic responses. Obtained results demonstrate that quick vibration mitigation may be possible using such carbon nanotubes based proposed composite materials.
Three branches of literary anthropology: Sources, styles, subject matter
Authors: Wiles Ellen
Published: March 2018

‘What is literary anthropology?’ – a deceptively simple question, posed by anthropologist Paul Stoller – unleashes debate about the perceived identity of the field. Through the lens of three book reviews, this essay proposes conceptualizing literary anthropology as a central stem with three branches. The first is the use of literary texts as ethnographic source material, particularly for historical anthropologists. The second is the use of literary modes of writing ethnography, ranging from the incorporation of metaphorical language and the subversion of conventional ethnographic structures to the production of fiction as ethnography. The third is the anthropological examination of literary cultural and production practices. The third has been underexplored in the academy to date, the second has been at the centre of fierce controversy within the wider field of anthropology, while the first has arguably been limited by restrictive disciplinary and epistemological assumptions.
Culturally sensitive social work practice: Lessons from social work practitioners and educators in Ghana
Authors: Forkuor John B , Ofori-Dua Kwadwo , Forkuor David , Obeng Bernard
Published: March 2018

It has been argued that to be able to practice in a culturally sensitive manner, social workers in Ghana have to adopt strategies that are relevant for their socio-cultural context. Nonetheless, it remains unclear how social workers are implementing culturally sensitive social work approaches. This research investigated the various strategies that social workers have used in implementing culturally sensitive social work approaches. It has been revealed that in a bid to make their practice and education culturally sensitive, social work educators make use of local wise sayings, cases and examples, while practitioners were found to rely a lot on family dispute resolution strategies as well as the traditional authority system as part of practice techniques. This research argues that the emphasis of a culturally sensitive social work approach must be on teaching practitioners and educators how to negotiate the demands of culture, social work values, ethics and constitutional law and secondly, for educators to develop an understanding of their context and to use that understanding to explain social work concepts in a way that students can identify with.
Risk Factors Associated With Peripheral Neuropathy in Heart Failure Patients Candidates for Transplantation
Authors: Minà Chiara , Bagnato Sergio , Sant’Angelo Antonino , Falletta Calogero , Gesaro Gabriele Di , Agnese Valentina , Tuzzolino Fabio , Galardi Giuseppe , Clemenza Francesco
Published: March 2018

Introduction:

Peripheral neuropathy can affect patients with heart failure, though its prevalence is unknown. After heart transplantation, it can influence the postoperative course and quality of life, but screening for neuromuscular disease is not routinely performed.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with neuropathy in a population of patients with heart failure who are candidates for heart transplantation.

Study Design:

Data regarding patients’ clinical history, including recent hospitalizations, were collected. All patients underwent a complete neurological examination and a neurophysiological protocol including nerve conduction studies and concentric needle electromyography.

Results:

Thirty-two patients were included in the study, and neuropathy was diagnosed in 10 (31.3%). Neuropathy was associated with the number of admissions ( P = .023; odds ratio [OR]: 1.96) and the total number of days of hospitalization in the year prior to inclusion in the study ( P = .010; OR: 1.03). The majority of hospitalizations occurred in the step-down unit (85%), with acute heart failure the leading cause of admission (42%).

Conclusions:

This study shows that neuropathy is frequent in patients with advanced heart failure and that hospitalization for cardiac care, also in the absence of intensive care, is a marker of high risk of neurologic damage. These data can help physicians in selecting and managing candidates for transplantation and can guide decisions on the best immunosuppressive regimen or rehabilitation strategy.
Substitution in Sports: The Case of Lower Division Football Attendance
Authors: Wallrafen Tim , Pawlowski Tim , Deutscher Christian
Published: March 2018

Commercialization processes in European football are facilitated by reducing concurrent games within the leagues and reallocating kickoff times to prime time slots abroad. Consequently, the number of top division games that temporally overlap with lower division games has increased significantly during recent years. By using attendance data of around 6,000 games in Germany’s fourth division, this article is the first to empirically test whether such overlaps have any adverse demand effects for lower division games. Fixed effects panel regressions reveal that overlapping games indeed reduce the demand for lower division games, suggesting some negative spillovers of commercialization processes in football.
‘In the mix’: Relational leadership explored through an analysis of techno DJs and dancers
Authors: Biehl Brigitte
Published: March 2018

Relational leadership theory views leadership as a process of social construction in which participants engage through their bodily presence. The ‘in-between’ space connecting leaders and followers, however, is under-researched and has not been analysed with a focus on movement. With a phenomenological approach and dance theory, this study explores movement by considering techno DJs and their live performances to an audience in clubs. It analyses DJs’ insights into relationships between themselves and followers. DJs actively seek physical proximity and use bodily movement and kinaesthetic empathy to relate to the participants, engage in mutual challenge, and embrace the co-creation that emerges. These insights are transferable to many leadership situations that include embodied interaction. The study illustrates that leaders not only ‘have’ bodies, but ‘are’ (moving) bodies who achieve a profound appreciation of the situation. This changes how we conceive of leadership when agency in embodied interaction is conditioned and reciprocated by leaders and followers in the ‘in-between’ space and does not pertain to one or the other.
Predicting volatility between China and Hollywood: Using network management to understand Sino-US film collaboration
Authors: Kokas Aynne
Published: March 2018

Sino-US film collaboration processes reveal the fraught power dynamic between the Chinese and American film industries. Through several key Chinese film policy deal structures, China’s centralization of film regulation policy facilitates China’s ongoing efforts to become the most powerful film industry in the world. The absence of a centralized US government media policy, driven by long-term industry lobbying, has thus far blunted US efforts to challenge Chinese centralized film policy. Tracing the power dynamics behind Sino-US deal structures allows us to predict long-term vectors of volatility in Hollywood’s relationship with China. Using network management strategies to analyse the Sino-US film relationship offers a template for predicting relationships between global media markets and a risen China.
Increased expression of CaV3.2 T-type calcium channels in damaged DRG neurons contributes to neuropathic pain in rats with spared nerve injury
Authors: Kang Xue-Jing , Chi Ye-Nan , Chen Wen , Liu Feng-Yu , Cui Shuang , Liao Fei-Fei , Cai Jie , Wan You
Published: March 2018

Ion channels are very important in the peripheral sensitization in neuropathic pain. Our present study aims to investigate the possible contribution of CaV3.2 T-type calcium channels in damaged dorsal root ganglion neurons in neuropathic pain. We established a neuropathic pain model of rats with spared nerve injury. In these model rats, it was easy to distinguish damaged dorsal root ganglion neurons (of tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve) from intact dorsal root ganglion neurons (of sural nerves). Our results showed that CaV3.2 protein expression increased in medium-sized neurons from the damaged dorsal root ganglions but not in the intact ones. With whole cell patch clamp recording technique, it was found that after-depolarizing amplitudes of the damaged medium-sized dorsal root ganglion neurons increased significantly at membrane potentials of −85 mV and −95 mV. These results indicate a functional up-regulation of CaV3.2 T-type calcium channels in the damaged medium-sized neurons after spared nerve injury. Behaviorally, blockade of CaV3.2 with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides could significantly reverse mechanical allodynia. These results suggest that CaV3.2 T-type calcium channels in damaged medium-sized dorsal root ganglion neurons might contribute to neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve injury.
Reflections on Self-Reflection: Contemplating Flawed Self-Judgments in the Clinic, Classroom, and Office Cubicle
Authors: Dunning David , Heath Chip , Suls Jerry M.
Published: March 2018

We reflect back on our 2004 monograph reviewing the implications of faulty self-judgment for health, education, and the workplace. The review proved popular, no doubt because the importance of accurate self-assessment is best reflected in just how broad the literature is that touches on this topic. We discuss opportunities and challenges to be found in the future study of self-judgment accuracy and error, and suggest that designing interventions aimed at improving self-judgments may prove to be a worthwhile but complex and nuanced task.
Reflections on Positive Emotions and Upward Spirals
Authors: Fredrickson Barbara L. , Joiner Thomas
Published: March 2018

We reflect on our 2002 article and the impact this research report has had both within and beyond psychological science. This article was both one of the first publications to provide empirical support for hypotheses based on the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions and a product of the genesis of positive psychology. We highlight empirical and theoretical advancements in the scientific understanding of upward spiral dynamics associated with positive emotions, with particular focus on the new upward spiral theory of lifestyle change. We conclude by encouraging deeper and more rigorous tests of the prospective and reciprocal relations associated with positive emotions. Such progress is needed to better inform translations and applications to improve people’s health and well-being.
The Constructive, Destructive, and Reconstructive Power of Social Norms: Reprise
Authors: Schultz P. Wesley , Nolan Jessica M. , Cialdini Robert B. , Goldstein Noah J. , Griskevicius Vladas
Published: March 2018

The influence of social norms on behavior has been a longstanding storyline within social psychology. Our 2007 Psychological Science publication presented a new rendition of this classic telling. The reported field experiment showed that social norms could be leveraged to promote residential energy conservation, but importantly, the descriptive norm was shown to increase consumption for low-consuming households. This potential destructive effect of social norms was eliminated with the addition of an injunctive message of social approval for using less energy. The article is among the 30 most-cited articles across all APS publications, which we attribute to our methodology, which measured real behavior in a large-scale field experiment and to several circumstances associated with the timing of the work. The article coincided with the explosion of social media, the emergence of behavioral economics, and a heightened level of concern about climate change. These contemporaneous activities set the stage for our work and for its high degree of citation.
Toward a Psychology of Human Agency: Pathways and Reflections
Authors: Bandura Albert
Published: March 2018

Social cognitive theory is founded on an agentic perspective. This article reviews the core features of human agency and the individual, proxy, and collective forms in which it is exercised. Agency operates through a triadic codetermination process of causation. Knowledge from this line of theorizing is widely applied to effect individual and social change, including worldwide applications that address some of the most urgent global problems.
Reflections on the Resurgence of Interest in the Testing Effect
Authors: Roediger Henry L. , Karpicke Jeffrey D.
Published: March 2018

We discuss the findings from our 2006 article in Psychological Science on the testing effect and describe how the project arose. The testing effect (or retrieval-practice effect) was first reported in the experimental literature about a century before our article was published, and the effect had been replicated (and sometimes discovered anew) many times over the years. Our experiments used prose materials (unlike most prior research) and produced a more powerful effect than prior research even though we used a conservative control condition for comparison. In our discussion, we drew out possible implications for educational practice. We also reported that students in the experiment could not predict the effect; this lack of metacognitive awareness represented a new finding in this context. In a companion article the same year, we provided an historical review of the testing effect. We believe the synergistic effect of the two articles accounts in part for the resurgence in interest in this phenomenon and its application in educational settings.
Working Memory and Executive Attention: A Revisit
Authors: Engle Randall W.
Published: March 2018

In this follow-up to my 2002 article on working memory capacity, fluid intelligence, and executive attention in Current Directions in Psychological Science, I review even more evidence supporting the idea that the ability to control one’s attention (i.e., executive attention) is important to working memory and fluid intelligence. I now argue that working memory tasks reflect primarily the maintenance of information, whereas fluid intelligence tests reflect primarily the ability to disengage from recently attended and no longer useful information. I also point out some conclusions in the 2002 article that now appear to be wrong.
The Error-Related Negativity, Self-Monitoring, and Consciousness
Authors: Dehaene Stanislas
Published: March 2018

The error-related negativity (ERN) is a negative waveform that arises over the front of the scalp immediately after a participant makes a detectable error. The goal of this short article is to describe my serendipitous encounter with this brain signal in 1993–1994 and to briefly review the operation of the underlying error-monitoring system. Recent work suggests that the ERN reflects an internal comparison, by the anterior cingulate cortex, of two signals: an unconscious representation of the ongoing action and a conscious representation of the intended one.
Revisiting “Most People Are Happy”—And Discovering When They Are Not
Authors: Diener Ed , Diener Carol , Choi Hyewon , Oishi Shigehiro
Published: March 2018

In our 1996 article, “Most People are Happy,” we presented evidence showing that the majority of humans are above neutral in happiness. The article was popular perhaps for several reasons. First, we shed light on the ubiquity of positive or pleasant emotions, whereas previously many scholars had focused on negative or unpleasant ones. Second, our article may have received attention because, as we showed, most people believe that humans are much less happy than they actually are. Thus, our article provided an impetus for understanding the role of positive emotions as well as illuminating an important aspect of human happiness—the fact that happiness is not unusual but may be the default condition. In the current article, we review evidence from the first representative sample of humanity, the Gallup World Poll, and include many more nations that are very poor and troubled. We find that the majority of people are above neutral in affect balance but not life satisfaction. Furthermore, there are extremely bad life circumstances in which most people are below neutral in affect balance as well. This suggests that one explanation for most people’s happiness is that most societies, but not all, can meet enough human needs that they provide the conditions for human happiness. Finally, our findings suggest that human happiness is not just in our heads or genes but is also influenced by personal and societal circumstances.
Treatment of dorsal fracture-dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal joint using the shotgun approach
Authors: Najd Mazhar Farid , Jafari Davod , Taraz Hamid , Mirzaei Alireza
Published: March 2018

This study assessed the outcome of open reduction and internal fixation of proximal interphalangeal joint fracture-dislocations through a shotgun approach, while keeping hemi-hamate arthroplasty as a back-up plan. After using the shotgun approach, fixation was carried out when the anterior fragment was large enough to accept two 1.5 mm screws. Sixty-three fracture-dislocations were treated in 61 patients, of whom 30 underwent internal fixation. Twenty-one of these were assessed in the final study. At a mean follow-up of 29 months, the mean range of joint motion was 80° and 102° for the injured and contralateral hand, respectively. The mean pinch and grip strengths of injured hand were 82% and 83% of contralateral hand, respectively. The mean disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand score was 5.5. The mean visual analogue pain score was 1.6. Surgery through the versatile shotgun approach allows excellent intra-operative assessment and acceptable outcomes.

Level of evidence: IV