bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pose estimation for planar contact manipulation with manifold particle filters
Authors: Koval Michael C. , Pollard Nancy S. , Srinivasa Siddhartha S.
Published: May 2015

We investigate the problem of using contact sensors to estimate the pose of an object during planar pushing by a fixed-shape hand. Contact sensors are unique because they inherently discriminate between “contact” and “no-contact” configurations. As a result, the set of object configurations that activates a sensor constitutes a lower-dimensional contact manifold in the configuration space of the object. This causes conventional state estimation methods, such as the particle filter, to perform poorly during periods of contact due to particle starvation. In this paper, we introduce the manifold particle filter as a principled way of solving the state estimation problem when the state moves between multiple manifolds of different dimensionality. The manifold particle filter avoids particle starvation during contact by adaptively sampling particles that reside on the contact manifold from the dual proposal distribution. We describe three techniques, one analytical and two sample-based, of sampling from the dual proposal distribution and compare their relative strengths and weaknesses. We present simulation results that show that all three techniques outperform the conventional particle filter in both speed and accuracy. In addition, we implement the manifold particle filter on a real robot and show that it successfully tracks the pose of a pushed object using commercially available tactile sensors.
Relationship between dietary pattern and cognitive function in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Enomoto Mari , Yoshii Hidenori , Mita Tomoya , Sanke Haruna , Yokota Ayako , Yamashiro Keiko , Inagaki Noriko , Gosho Masahiko , Ohmura Chie , Kudo Kayo , Watada Hirotaka , Onuma Tomio
Published: May 2015

Objective

To analyse the relationships between dietary patterns and cognitive function in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

Patients with T2DM completed a 3-day dietary record and Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE). Dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis.

Results

The study included 73 patients and identified five dietary patterns, one of which was characterized by high loading for vegetables and fish. A higher consumption of vegetables and fish was significantly associated with improved MMSE score (unadjusted model, model adjusted for age and sex, and model adjusted for age, sex, education, diabetic nephropathy and alcohol consumption), and decreased prevalence of suspected mild dementia (unadjusted model, model adjusted for age and sex).

Conclusions

A high score in the vegetables and fish dietary pattern was associated with high MMSE score and low prevalence of suspected mild dementia in elderly patients with T2DM.
Fascist Internationalism
Authors: Steffek Jens
Published: May 2015

In 1934, the Italian diplomat and scholar Giuseppe de Michelis (1872−1951) published a programmatic book that in English was called ‘World Reorganisation on Corporative Lines’. In this study, de Michelis suggested transferring the socio-economic model of fascist Italy to the global level. He thus envisaged global economic governance by a powerful international organisation and a strict limitation of national sovereignty over the factors of production. My purpose in this article is to explore these largely forgotten proposals as well as the ideological context from which they emerged. The fascist internationalism of de Michelis was technocratic and dirigist, enthusiastic about the possibilities of public planning and the virtues of bureaucratic organisation. This is why his suggestions resembled, in some important respects, world order proposals made by liberal internationalists during the same period. The lesson for International Relations theory is that blueprints for international institutions can be connected to a wide variety of political ideologies. There is no reason to believe that any tradition of political thought is necessarily and eternally committed to internationalism, while others are principally hostile to it.
Child Under-weight and Agricultural Productivity in India
Authors: Vepa Swarna Sadasivam , Viswanathan Brinda , R. V. Bhavani , Parasar Rohit
Published: May 2015

A recent global hunger index indicated a 12 percent decline in child underweight rates. This study attempts an empirical explanation of the factors that influence child underweight rates at the district level. Agricultural land productivity, share of women educated above the secondary level and participating in work, maternal, and child health seem to contribute to the reduction in child underweight. However government health and water supply facilities turn out to be ineffective.
Residual organic matter and microbial respiration in bottom ash: Effects on metal leaching and eco-toxicity
Authors: Ilyas A , Persson KM , Persson M
Published: May 2015

A common assumption regarding the residual organic matter, in bottom ash, is that it does not represent a significant pool of organic carbon and, beyond metal-ion complexation process, it is of little consequence to evolution of ash/leachate chemistry. This article evaluates the effect of residual organic matter and associated microbial respiratory processes on leaching of toxic metals (i.e. arsenic, copper, chromium, molybdenum, nickel, lead, antimony and zinc), eco-toxicity of ash leachates. Microbial respiration was quantified with help of a respirometric test equipment OXITOP control system. The effect of microbial respiration on metal/residual organic matter leaching and eco-toxicity was quantified with the help of batch leaching tests and an eco-toxicity assay – Daphnia magna. In general, the microbial respiration process decreased the leachate pH and eco-toxicity, indicating modification of bioavailability of metal species. Furthermore, the leaching of critical metals, such as copper and chromium, decreased after the respiration in both ash types (fresh and weathered). It was concluded that microbial respiration, if harnessed properly, could enhance the stability of fresh bottom ash and may promote its reuse.
Comparison of Efficacy and Side Effects of Oral Baclofen Versus Tizanidine Therapy with Adjuvant Botulinum Toxin Type A in Children With Cerebral Palsy and Spastic Equinus Foot Deformity
Authors: Dai Alper I. , Aksoy Sefika N. , Demiryürek Abdullah T.
Published: May 2015

This retrospective study aimed to compare the therapeutic response, including side effects, for oral baclofen versus oral tizanidine therapy with adjuvant botulinum toxin type A in a group of 64 pediatric patients diagnosed with static encephalopathy and spastic equinus foot deformity. Following botulinum toxin A treatment, clinical improvement led to the gradual reduction of baclofen or tizanidine dosing to one-third of the former dose. Gross Motor Functional Measure and Caregiver Health Questionnaire scores were markedly elevated post–botulinum toxin A treatment, with scores for the tizanidine (Gross Motor Functional Measure: 74.45 ± 3.72; Caregiver Health Questionnaire: 72.43 ± 4.29) group significantly higher than for the baclofen group (Gross Motor Functional Measure: 68.23 ± 2.66; Caregiver Health Questionnaire: 67.53 ± 2.67, P < .001). These findings suggest that the combined use of botulinum toxin A and a low dose of tizanidine in treating children with cerebral palsy appears to be more effective and has fewer side effects versus baclofen with adjuvant botulinum toxin A.
Integrated versus two-loop guidance-autopilot for a dual control missile with high-order aerodynamic model
Authors: Ibarrondo FB , Sanz-Aránguez P
Published: May 2015

This paper proposes a novel integrated guidance and autopilot design scheme for endo-atmospheric missiles having forward and rearward aerodynamic controls. The missile aerodynamic, including the aero-coupling effects between the canard and tail sections, is assumed to be non-linear. The value of the integrated design scheme is that it is solved in finite-time horizon to target interception, while maintaining missile angle of attack, canard and tail incidence angles within their aerodynamic limitations. The integrated design includes a feed-forward command generator based on the dual control missile trim conditions. The proposed design scheme is compared against a two-loop approach. The test cases via simulations are promising, achieving reduced control efforts and lower miss distances with the integrated logic.
Penile carcinoma presenting as inguinal bubo, masquerading as a venereal disease
Authors: Gupta Vishal , Rai Ajay , Mutha Shreyans , Firdaus Ali Mohammad , Sharma Vinod K
Published: May 2015

We report a case of penile carcinoma presenting as an inguinal bubo in a young man. The associated painful genital ulcer and history of high-risk sexual behaviour raised a strong suspicion of a sexually transmitted infection. We review the literature for similar cases, highlight the similarities with venereal disease and discuss the differential diagnosis of inguinal bubo.
HIV research trials versus standard clinics for antiretroviral-naïve patients: the outcomes differ but do the patients?
Authors: Williams AJ , Wallis E , Orkin C
Published: May 2015

Exclusion criteria for HIV treatment-naïve drug trials can be stringent and selection bias exists, making it difficult to extrapolate results into the ‘real world’ clinical situation. We aim to compare the demographics, virological outcomes and psychosocial complexity in adult HIV-infected treatment-naïve patients from our cohort initiating combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in research trials versus standard clinics. In our unit from 2006 to 2011, 1202 standard clinic and 69 research trial patients initiated cART; every eighth standard clinics patient was included to create a standard clinics:research trials patient ratio of 2:1. Notes were retrospectively reviewed for patient demographics, attendance rates and virological outcomes. Data from 221 antiretroviral-naïve patients starting cART were analysed: 152 standard clinic patients and 69 from research trials. In the research trials group, there was an overrepresentation of men ( p = 0.041), men who have sex with men ( p < 0.001), patients of white ethnicity ( p = 0.01), employed patients ( p = 0.01) and patients using excessive alcohol ( p = 0.02). There was equal representation of drug use, depression and referral to psychology, psychiatry and social work in both groups. The research trials group at baseline had significantly higher CD4 counts ( p < 0.001), lower viral loads ( p = 0.01) and more patients achieved undetectable viral loads at three ( p < 0.001), six ( p < 0.001) and 24 months ( p = 0.033). There is a prevailing common preconception that participants in clinical trials are uncomplicated, unlike their ‘real-life’ counterparts. We demonstrated important similarities in psychosocial complexity as well as differences in demographics and virological outcomes in trial and non-trial patients. Clinicians need to be aware of these discrepancies to ensure the facilitation of a heterogeneous population participating in research trials.
Impaired glucose metabolism in HIV-infected pregnant women: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Moore Rebecca , Adler Hugh , Jackson Valerie , Lawless Mairead , Byrne Maria , Eogan Maeve , Lambert John S
Published: May 2015

Metabolic complications, including diabetes mellitus, have been increasingly recognised in HIV-infected individuals since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, particularly protease inhibitors (PIs). Pregnancy is also a risk factor for impaired glucose metabolism, and previous studies have given conflicting results regarding the contribution of PIs to impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in pregnant HIV-infected women. We conducted a retrospective review of all HIV-infected women attending a combined infectious disease and antenatal clinic between 2007 and 2013 who underwent a 100 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24–28 weeks. We grouped the patients based on whether their OGTT result was normal or abnormal, and compared the groups using standard parametric tests ( t-test and Fisher’s exact test). Of 263 women with HIV who attended the clinic, 142 (53.9%) attended for OGTT and were eligible for inclusion. The mean age was 31 years (SD 5.37), all women were of European or African origin and 33.7% had a body mass index ≥30 kg/m2. About 93.7% were on PI-based regimens. At delivery, the mean CD4 count was 526 cells/µL, and 13% of patients had a detectable viraemia. The prevalence of IGT was 2.8%, while the prevalence of GDM was 2.1%. Also, 71.4% ( n = 5) of women with abnormal glucose metabolism were taking PIs versus 94.8% ( n = 128) of normoglycaemic women ( p = 0.06). We did not confirm an increased rate of GDM in HIV-infected women in our patient population and found no association between PI use and GDM.
Energy and economic analysis of concentrating solar power plants based on parabolic trough and linear Fresnel collectors
Authors: Cocco Daniele , Cau Giorgio
Published: May 2015

This paper compares the performance of 1 MWe concentrating solar power (CSP) plants based on an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) power generation unit integrated with parabolic trough and linear Fresnel collectors. The CSP plants studied herein use thermal oil as heat transfer fluid and as storage medium in a two-tank direct thermal storage system. The performance of the CSP plants was evaluated on the basis of a 1 MWe ORC unit with a conversion efficiency of about 24%. The comparative performance analysis of the two CSP solutions was carried out by means of specifically developed simulation models and considering different values of solar multiple and thermal storage capacity. The results of the performance assessment demonstrate that CSP plants based on linear Fresnel collectors lead to higher values of electrical energy production per unit area of occupied land (about 50–60 kWh/y per m2 vs. 45–55 kWh/y m2 produced by solutions based on parabolic troughs). However, owing to their better optical efficiency, the use of parabolic troughs gives better values of energy production per unit area of solar collector (about 185–205 kWh/m2 vs. 125–140 kWh/m2) and, therefore, better conversion efficiencies (about 10.8–11.9% vs. 7.3–8.1%). The results of a preliminary economic analysis show that CSP plants based on linear Fresnel collectors are still not competitive with those based on parabolic trough owing to their higher energy production cost (about 380 €/MWh vs. 340 €/MWh).
Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Investigate Meaningful Prenatal Care Among African American Women
Authors: Nypaver Cynthia F. , Shambley-Ebron Donna
Published: May 2015

Purpose: In the United States, African American babies die more than twice as often as White babies. The cause for this difference remains elusive, yet is likely complex with one factor being inadequate cultural care of pregnant African American women. The purpose of this study was to explore African American women’s perspectives of meaningful prenatal care. Design: Community-based participatory research was employed for this study using photovoice. The sample included 11 African American mothers in an urban community in Midwestern United States. Findings: Five themes were abstracted from the data: (1) Access to Care; (2) Soul Nourishment; (3) Companionship; (4) Help Me, Teach Me; and (5) The Future. Discussion/Conclusion: Meaningful prenatal care is influenced by culture. African American women need physical, social, and soulful support to enhance meaningfulness of care during pregnancy. Practice Implications: The findings support that meaningfulness of prenatal care for African American women may be enhanced by accessible and uniquely designed, culturally congruent models of prenatal care.
Factors Affecting Professional Autonomy of Japanese Nurses Caring for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Patients in a Hospital Setting in Japan
Authors: Kuwano Noriko , Fukuda Hiromi , Murashima Sachiyo
Published: May 2015

Purpose: The study aimed to analyze the professional autonomy of Japanese nurses when caring for non-Japanese patients and to identify its contributing factors. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Participants included 238 clinical nurses working at 27 hospitals in Japan. The Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (Chen and Starosta), and the Scale for Professional Autonomy in Nursing (Kikuchi and Harada) were used to measure intercultural sensitivity and professional autonomy. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to identify the most significant factors affecting professional autonomy. Results: Professional autonomy of Japanese nurses caring for non-Japanese patients was significantly lower than when caring for Japanese patients (142.84 vs. 172.85; p < .001). Contributing factors were intercultural sensitivity ( p < .001), length of nurse experience ( p < .05), and availability of interpretation service ( p < .05). Conclusion: Incorporating transcultural nursing content into training programs in schools and hospitals could enhance professional autonomy of Japanese nurses by promoting intercultural sensitivity.
Quality and Utility of Immediate Formal Postoperative Radiographs in Ankle Fractures
Authors: Miniaci-Coxhead Sara Lyn , Martin Elizabeth A. , Ketz John P.
Published: May 2015

Background:

Patients who undergo internal fixation of ankle fractures commonly have postoperative imaging performed immediately after surgery. As these patients typically are typically immobilized, radiographs provide limited visualization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility and quality of formal radiographs performed immediately following ankle fracture surgery.

Methods:

Ankle fractures undergoing open reduction and internal fixation at a single institution from January 1, 2011, to January 1, 2013, were reviewed. Intraoperative and formal postoperative radiographs were evaluated using defined parameters. The postoperative images were compared with the intraoperative fluoroscopic images in terms of quality. Postoperative complications were evaluated in terms of fracture displacement, hardware malpositioning, and need for return to the operating room. A total of 411 patients with 413 ankle fractures underwent surgical fixation, with 271 patients undergoing formal postoperative radiographs.

Results:

Twenty-eight patients (10.3%) had 3 good quality postoperative views of the ankle, with the lateral (35.2%) and mortise (41.3%) views least commonly performed with good technique. None of the patients without radiographs had a complication that could have been detected earlier using postoperative radiographs. No patients required return to the operating room based on immediate postoperative radiographs. Postoperative radiographs cost $191 per patient.

Conclusion:

The routine use of formal postoperative radiographs prior to discharge from the hospital did not provide additional value to the patient or orthopedic surgeon. The quality of these images was generally inferior to the quality of those obtained and saved intraoperatively due to malrotation and overlying cast material. To reduce cost and radiation exposure, formal postoperative radiographs should be obtained only in specific circumstances, such as increasing postoperative pain, marginal fixation, or instability.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective cohort study.
Derivation and Cross-Validation of Cutoff Scores for Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders on WAIS-IV Digit Span–Based Performance Validity Measures
Authors: Glassmire David M. , Toofanian Ross Parnian , Kinney Dominique I. , Nitch Stephen R.
Published: May 2015

Two studies were conducted to identify and cross-validate cutoff scores on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Fourth Edition Digit Span–based embedded performance validity (PV) measures for individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. In Study 1, normative scores were identified on Digit Span–embedded PV measures among a sample of patients ( n = 84) with schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses who had no known incentive to perform poorly and who put forth valid effort on external PV tests. Previously identified cutoff scores resulted in unacceptable false positive rates and lower cutoff scores were adopted to maintain specificity levels ≥90%. In Study 2, the revised cutoff scores were cross-validated within a sample of schizophrenia spectrum patients ( n = 96) committed as incompetent to stand trial. Performance on Digit Span PV measures was significantly related to Full Scale IQ in both studies, indicating the need to consider the intellectual functioning of examinees with psychotic spectrum disorders when interpreting scores on Digit Span PV measures.
Ca2+ Dependence of Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis
Authors: Leitz Jeremy , Kavalali Ege T.
Published: May 2015

Ca2+-dependent synaptic vesicle recycling is essential for structural homeostasis of synapses and maintenance of neurotransmission. Although, the executive role of intrasynaptic Ca2+ transients in synaptic vesicle exocytosis is well established, identifying the exact role of Ca2+ in endocytosis has been difficult. In some studies, Ca2+ has been suggested as an essential trigger required to initiate synaptic vesicle retrieval, whereas others manipulating synaptic Ca2+ concentrations reported a modulatory role for Ca2+ leading to inhibition or acceleration of endocytosis. Molecular studies of synaptic vesicle endocytosis, on the other hand, have consistently focused on the roles of Ca2+-calmodulin dependent phosphatase calcineurin and synaptic vesicle protein synaptotagmin as potential Ca2+ sensors for endocytosis. Most studies probing the role of Ca2+ in endocytosis have relied on measurements of synaptic vesicle retrieval after strong stimulation. Strong stimulation paradigms elicit fusion and retrieval of multiple synaptic vesicles and therefore can be affected by several factors besides the kinetics and duration of Ca2+ signals that include the number of exocytosed vesicles and accumulation of released neurotransmitters thus altering fusion and retrieval processes indirectly via retrograde signaling. Studies monitoring single synaptic vesicle endocytosis may help resolve this conundrum as in these settings the impact of Ca2+ on synaptic fusion probability can be uncoupled from its putative role on synaptic vesicle retrieval. Future experiments using these single vesicle approaches will help dissect the specific role(s) of Ca2+ and its sensors in synaptic vesicle endocytosis.
Learning informally to use the ‘full version’ of teaching games for understanding
Authors: O’Leary Nick
Published: May 2015

This paper examines an experienced teacher’s employment of the teaching games for understanding (TGfU) model in a UK secondary school. The study sought to investigate how the teacher delivered TGfU and those factors that influenced his informal learning of this instructional model. Occupational socialisation was utilised to determine the factors that influenced his use of TGfU. Qualitative data were collected from interviews, lesson observations and documentary evidence. Inductive data analysis indicated the teacher delivered the ‘full version’ of the model largely congruent with the creators’ intentions. The traditional approach to games teaching seen in his childhood and partially learned in higher education were ‘washed out’ by the influence of teaching colleagues and the development of a student-centred approach to teaching games. This study indicates it is possible to overcome traditional approaches to games teaching and informally learn to use TGfU successfully given conducive circumstances and sufficient time.
The policy process for health promotion
Authors: Söderberg Erik , Wikström Ewa
Published: May 2015

Aims: The paper aims to contribute to our understanding of the policy process in health promotion by addressing the following questions: What are the characteristics of the policy process in health promotion? How do policy entrepreneurs influence project implementation? Methods: This is a qualitative study with an explorative case study design that uses three different data sources: qualitative interviews, written documents and observations. Results: The paper examines several factors (determinants) that influence the policy process and that, to a lesser extent, are addressed by current models in health policy research. Legitimacy, financial capacity, available structure and political timing are all important determinants that influence the policy process. Policy entrepreneurs, with established networks and knowledge of the environment and its procedures, create legitimacy and provide opportunities for action; however, indistinct organizational boundaries among roles and poorly defined individual responsibilities create policy process uncertainty. As a result, there are lengthy discussions and few decisions, both of which delay the progress of a project. Conclusions: This paper’s theoretical contribution is its analysis of the relationship of policy-making to linear models, via a discussion of policy entrepreneurs, and their importance in the policy process. The paper concludes that we need to consider the influence of policy entrepreneurs, whom build legitimacy and seize action opportunities by coupling the three streams in the policy process, as they help bring projects to fruition. Furthermore, the study points to the importance of policy entrepreneurs throughout the policy process. The paper has practical implications for practitioners whom work with the implementation of community policies.
Spray and combustion of waste cooking oil biodiesel in a compression-ignition engine
Authors: Hwang Joonsik , Jung Yongjin , Bae Choongsik
Published: May 2015

An experimental study was carried out to compare the spray and combustion characteristics of waste cooking oil biodiesel with those of conventional diesel in a common-rail direct-injection compression-ignition engine. The indicated mean effective pressure of approximately 0.7 MPa was tested under an engine speed of 800 r/min. The fuels were injected at an injection timing of −5 crank angle degree after top dead center with injection pressures of 80 and 160 MPa. The experiments were performed to investigate the combustion and emission characteristics in a metal engine, while spray and combustion flame characteristics in an optical engine. The morphological and compositional features of particulate matter were also analyzed by using transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The direct imaging of the spray indicated a longer injection delay for waste cooking oil biodiesel. However, it exhibited longer liquid penetration length and narrower spray angle than diesel as the spray developed. Waste cooking oil biodiesel combustion showed a longer ignition delay with a slightly lower peak of in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate than diesel due to the deteriorated atomization and evaporation of fuel spray. In terms of emission, waste cooking oil biodiesel showed benefits in reduction of carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbon and particulate matter emissions. The particulate matter from waste cooking oil biodiesel was composed of smaller primary particles and more volatile organic fraction than diesel soot. The combustion flame imaging verified the retarded combustion phase of waste cooking oil biodiesel. Waste cooking oil biodiesel combustion showed lower flame luminosity accompanied by shorter visible flame duration, at both injection pressures. The flame spatial fluctuation and flame nonhomogeneity were also lower for waste cooking oil biodiesel.
The common but differentiated responsibilities of states to assist and receive ‘climate refugees’
Authors: Eckersley Robyn
Published: May 2015

This paper examines the responsibilities of states to assist and to receive stateless people who are forced to leave their state territory due to rising seas and other unavoidable climate change impacts and the rights of ‘climate refugees’ to choose their host state. The paper employs a praxeological method of non-ideal theorising, which entails identifying and negotiating the unavoidable tensions and trade-offs associated with different framings of state responsibility in order to find a path forward that maximises the protection of climate refugees within the constraints imposed by political feasibility. It argues that the responsibility of states to support climate refugees through financial and technical assistance should be treated separately from their responsibility to receive them. The former is a differentiated responsibility grounded in the ability to pay principle, or relative capability, while the latter is a common responsibility grounded in the fact that all states have causally contributed to their plight, albeit in varying degrees which cannot be, and need not be, precisely determined. A common state ‘responsibility to receive’ is linked with a right on the part of climate refugees to choose their host to suit their circumstances, which would provide a form of partial compensation for the injustice and trauma of their loss and damage. This right is expected to become more viable, and the political willingness of states to receive them more likely, the more that climate refugees are assured of adequate support for resettlement according to states’ differentiated responsibilities to assist.
The complex temporality of borders: Contingency and normativity
Authors: Little Adrian
Published: May 2015

Debates on borders in both normative political theory and critical border studies tend to focus on the spatiality of bordering. This article evaluates this territorialist epistemology by identifying the complex temporality of borders and highlighting the specific normative challenges that it engenders. In particular, it argues for the centrality of time–space governance as a frame for examining bordering processes. This challenge is exemplified through contemporary debates on the movement of people and theoretical arguments about how to construct migration policy. The article contends that complex temporality necessitates an orientation to the future that reconfigures the manner in which theorists should address the time–space governance of migration.
The SAG–AFTRA Merger
Authors: Fortmueller Kate
Published: May 2015

The merger of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) in March 2012 was the culmination of a thirty-two year struggle to bring the two powerful Hollywood performers’ unions together. As a response to larger trends in the media industries, this merger positions the newly converged union as a more unified front at the bargaining table. By analyzing the public discourse of SAG and AFTRA’s history from 1980 through the 2012 merger, this article situates actors and their unions within the industrial consolidation that began in the 1980s, looking at how and why SAG and AFTRA responded to (and often lagged behind) industry conglomeratization. I argue that by focusing on “convergence,” the merger rhetoric effectively masks one of the core issues that expedited it, namely, the diminishing importance of film and the growing importance of television and other media.
A multi-criteria, network analytic approach to war game participant selection
Authors: Bastian Nathaniel D , Boguchwal Louis , Langhans Zachary , Evans Daniel
Published: May 2015

A critical component of the military war game planning process is selecting who should participate, as these participants heavily influence war game outcomes. These outcomes directly impact both strategic and operational decision-making and defense planning, shaping both future defense policy and budget. In this paper, we propose a novel team selection algorithm and decision-support tool combining methods from multiple criteria decision analysis and network analytics to select and visualize a group of war game participants. This method accounts for the diverse requirements of the decision-maker. The results are not only applicable to war games, but also to any team selection domain, such as employee hiring and college admissions.
Online Information Search Performance and Search Strategies in a Health Problem-Solving Scenario
Authors: Sharit Joseph , Taha Jessica , Berkowsky Ronald W. , Profita Halley , Czaja Sara J.
Published: May 2015

Although access to Internet health information can be beneficial, solving complex health-related problems online is challenging for many individuals. In this study, we investigated the performance of a sample of 60 adults ages 18 to 85 years in using the Internet to resolve a relatively complex health information problem. The impact of age, Internet experience, and cognitive abilities on measures of search time, amount of search, and search accuracy was examined, and a model of Internet information seeking was developed to guide the characterization of participants’ search strategies. Internet experience was found to have no impact on performance measures. Older participants exhibited longer search times and lower amounts of search but similar search accuracy performance as their younger counterparts. Overall, greater search accuracy was related to an increased amount of search but not to increased search duration and was primarily attributable to higher cognitive abilities, such as processing speed, reasoning ability, and executive function. There was a tendency for those who were younger, had greater Internet experience, and had higher cognitive abilities to use a bottom-up (i.e., analytic) search strategy, although use of a top-down (i.e., browsing) strategy was not necessarily unsuccessful. Implications of the findings for future studies and design interventions are discussed.
Degradation modeling and experiment of electro-hydraulic shift valve in contamination circumstances
Authors: Liu Yong , Ma Biao , Zheng Changsong , Zhang Saifei
Published: May 2015

In this article, a degradation assessment model has been proposed for electro-hydraulic shift valve in power-shift steering transmission. Our work is motivated by the failure mechanism of abrasive wear with a mathematic model. Abrasive wear will consecutively enlarge the clearance between the friction pairs. It is an overwhelming wear mechanism in the degradation of shift valve within serious contaminated fluid. Herein, a mathematic model is proposed by considering particle morphology and abrasion theory. Such model has been verified for its applicability and accuracy through comparison between the theoretical and experimental results.
A novel underwater measurement method for mooring system using self-contained technique
Authors: Du Yu , Wu Wenhua , Tang Da , Yue Qianjin , Li Feng , Xie Ribin
Published: May 2015

This article introduces a prototype measurement method for investigating deep-water mooring systems. Measurement information and specifications are determined according to mooring system analysis. Mooring line information is difficult to measure underwater, particularly for aging platforms. To solve this problem, a novel mooring line tension measurement strategy based on lumped mass method is proposed. A type of self-contained sensor is designed and manufactured to realize dynamic response measurement of mooring systems underwater. The sensor is described in detail, including its design requirement, hardware design, and installation mode. A comprehensive field test system was constructed on a semi-submersible platform in South China Sea. Prototype data, including the data measured during typhoons, are introduced and discussed to improve the accuracy, feasibility, and stability of the proposed measurement method.
Investigation of tribological condition in cold forging using an optimized design of spike forging test
Authors: Hu Chengliang , Ou Hengan , Zhao Zhen
Published: May 2015

The spike forging test is still commonly used although there are some new tribology test methods, but each designer would like to give their own parameters. Considering the spike height difference between low friction and high friction as the evaluation index, an optimal spike forging test developed using finite element simulations based on orthogonal optimization method and sensitivity analysis of tribological conditions of selected key design parameters was carried out. The spike height does not always monotonically decrease with the increase in friction factor in the scheme with improper parameters; therefore, the design of spike forging test should be critically evaluated before assessing tribological conditions. According to the optimized parameters, a simplified set-up of spike forging test was designed, and two retainers with a clearance fit and the billet with a chamfer were prepared to position the test billet. Finally, four different tribological conditions, including dry polytetrafluoroethylene lubricant, multipurpose grease, VG32 oil, and dry condition, in aluminum forging were chosen as a case study for the optimized design of spike forging test, and correspondingly, the lubricating effect was distinguished.
Leaders as ventriloquists. Leader identity and influencing the communicative construction of the organisation
Authors: Clifton Jonathan
Published: May 2015

Traditionally leadership studies have focussed on psychological and quantitative approaches that have offered limited insights into the achievement of leader identity as an interactional accomplishment. Taking a discursive approach to leadership in which leaders emerge as those who have most influence in communicatively constructing the organisation, and using transcripts of naturally occurring decision-making talk, the purpose of this paper is to make visible the seen but unnoticed discursive resources by which leader identity emerges in talk. More specifically, using actor network theory as a methodology, this paper focusses on how the director of an organisation ventriloquises (i.e. makes another actor speak through the production of a given utterance) other entities to do leadership. Findings indicate that leadership is achieved by making relevant to the interaction hybrid presences of actants that allow certain organisational players to influence the communicative construction of the organisation and so manage the meaning of organisational reality. In this way, social actors talk into being a ‘leader identity’, which is not necessarily a purely human physical presence, but can also be a hybrid presence of human and nonhuman actants, which are dislocated across time and space. The hybrid production of presence(s) also allows leaders to enact authority as a way of influencing others to accept their version of organisational reality.
New ways of seeing and being
Authors: Reid Caroline , Gill Freya , Gore Nick , Brady Serena
Published: May 2015

The current study presents findings from an acceptance and commitment therapy-based intervention for family carers of children who have an intellectual/developmental disability and display high levels of challenging behaviour. The parent well-being workshops consist of two workshops incorporating acceptance and mindfulness-based exercises and discussions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five family carers following attendance of the workshops. Participants found the workshops useful and reported that they were better able to cope with stress. They also described how they had incorporated mindfulness into their daily lives and how their practice had had positive effects on their own well-being and on those around them (e.g. their child). Implications of the findings are discussed with emphasis on how the workshops can be included within a positive behaviour support framework. Future directions include a more robust quantitative evaluation, inclusion of follow-up sessions and the application of the workshops with other client groups and in other delivery formats.
Social pedagogy as a model to provide support for siblings of children with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Carter Sid , Cook James , Sutton-Boulton Gary , Ward Vicki , Clarke Steve
Published: May 2015

The experiences of non-disabled children growing up with a sibling with an intellectual disability vary considerably, with reported impact ranging from increased mental health problems through evaluations of life enhancement. However, there is evidence that the net impact is neutral to positive, which was supported by the findings of this report of a service evaluation survey. The value of providing support to those young siblings is however clear. An established method of support is within a group of peers who also have a sibling with an intellectual disability, though no specific method for running this type of group has yet been fully explored. This article reports the views of 39 children taking part in such a group, analysing their perspective through a proposed model for the operation of sibling groups: social pedagogy. It was found that the closer the group’s activities were to social pedagogy, the more supported the children and young people felt.
Pathophysiological links, echocardiographic characteristics, and clinical implications of QRS morphology in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Sunbul Murat , Tigen Kursat
Published: May 2015

Heart failure is an important clinical problem worldwide. There is great interest in evaluating the relationship between electrocardiographic variations and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) since it has been used as a predictor of increased morbidity and mortality. The presence of fragmentation in the QRS complexes on 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was reported as a marker of depolarization abnormality in patients with DCM. Previous studies have investigated the relation between QRS morphology and DCM. QRS morphology and duration are associated with clinical deterioration and increased mortality in patients with DCM. Although surface ECG provides valuable information on prognosis of these patients, echocardiographic methods have been used for further investigation of patients with DCM. The aim of the present review is to provide an overview of the pathophysiological links, echocardiographic characteristics and clinical implications of QRS morphology in patients with DCM.
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
Authors: Khalid Somia , Gray Thomas , Hashim Sharifah Syed
Published: May 2015

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a systemic disease caused by the release of vasoactive products from hyperstimulated ovaries. It is usually iatrogenic, occurring as a complication of ovulation induction therapy during fertility treatment; however, it can also occur following spontaneous ovulation. Fertility treatment frequently takes place outside the hospital setting in stand-alone assisted conception units that are independent of the NHS. Consequently, GPs are increasingly seeing patients presenting with OHSS. Symptoms are often mild and self-limiting and can be managed in the community. The aim of this article is to help GPs to understand, recognise and safely manage OHSS.
Is whole gland salvage cryotherapy effective as palliative treatment of haematuria in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer? Results of a preliminary case series
Authors: Magno Carlo , Mucciardi Giuseppe , Galì Alessandro , Pappalardo Rosa , Lembo Francesco , Anastasi Giuseppina , Butticè Salvatore , Ascenti Giorgio , Lugnani Franco
Published: May 2015

Objectives:

Locally advanced prostate cancer may cause several complications such as haematuria, bladder outlet obstruction, and renal failure due to the ureteral obstruction. Various treatments have been suggested, including radiotherapy, antifibrinolytics, bladder irrigation with alum solution, transurethral surgery and angioembolization, none of which have proven effectiveness. In the last years cryoablation has become a valid therapeutic option for prostate cancer. In our experience we used this ‘new’ technique as haemostatic therapy.

Methods:

We selected four patients with gross haematuria affected by locally advanced hormone refractory prostate cancer, who had already been treated with primary radiotherapy. We used third-generation cryotherapy: under ultrasonographic guidance, we inserted six cryoprobes, two in each of the vascular pedicles reaching at least −60°C, and three thermometers. We then induced two freeze–thaw cycles.

Results:

After the operation the haematuria stopped in all patients and at 9-month follow up we observed a mean of four red cells (range three to five) in the urinary sediment with no evidence of bacteriuria. Prostate volume, prostate-specific antigen and postmicturition residue were significantly reduced. Qmax improved significantly too.

Conclusion:

Our experience has given us good results with minimal intra- and postoperative complications. We think that haemostatic cryotherapy as a palliative approach for locally advanced prostate cancer could represent a valid treatment option and more consideration could be given to its use.
A facade of democracy: Negotiating the rights of orphans in Jordan
Authors: Farahat Hind , Cheney Kristen E
Published: May 2015

Many orphans in Jordan, according to Islamic Family Law, lack the lawful lineage that forms the basis of rights such as the right to a family name or inheritance. In a society that is characterized by a tribal sense of belonging and patrilineal entitlement, these legal disadvantages, added to the hardships of orphanhood, manifest themselves in orphans’ everyday lives, resulting in social stigma and discrimination. Orphans and youth without lawful lineage recently began organizing to expose the discrimination toward them, demand their rights, and push for social change by breaking through fear and taboo, but change proved difficult. Using empirical data and interviews with orphans in Jordan, this article investigates how they experience the patriarchy of law, society, and the state. It situates and deconstructs contested notions of identity, citizenship, and nationality in the Jordanian context and considers how these constructions converge to affect the lives of these youth, in both gendered and generational ways. We argue that orphans’ direct action did not yield its expected results because of the social and legal constrictions of their citizenship, bolstered by an ethos of charity and a facade of democracy.
Secular shadows: African, immanent, post-colonial
Authors: Engelke Matthew
Published: May 2015

Almost none of the critical theory concerned with the secular addresses it in relation to sub-Saharan Africa. This is notable not least given the extent to which other post-colonial regions, such as North Africa and South Asia, are central to such discussions. It is not, however, that the critical theorists are ignoring Africanists' work; indeed, looking at the Africanist literature in any depth makes it clear that there is not, and has never been, a field of “secular studies.” Taking this observation as a point of departure, and considering it in relation to a range of classic and contemporary ethnographic cases, this paper aims to shed light (and cast shadows) on some of the key terms in current debates about the secular—terms such as immanence, the mundane, critique, and doubt. In doing so, it calls for further considerations of how to figure the Africanist canon in relation to the terms of critical theory.