bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Observations and High-Resolution Modeling of Midlatitude Nocturnal Boundary Layer Processes Connected to Low-Level Jets
Authors: Marke Tobias , Crewell Susanne , Schemann Vera , Schween Jan H. , Tuononen Minttu
Published: April 2018

Low-level-jet (LLJ) periods are investigated by exploiting a long-term record of ground-based remote sensing Doppler wind lidar measurements supported by tower observations and surface flux measurements at the Jülich Observatory for Cloud Evolution (JOYCE), a midlatitude site in western Germany. LLJs were found 13% of the time during continuous observations over more than 4 yr. The climatological behavior of the LLJs shows a prevailing nighttime appearance of the jets, with a median height of 375 m and a median wind speed of 8.8 m s−1 at the jet nose. Significant turbulence below the jet nose only occurs for high bulk wind shear, which is an important parameter for describing the turbulent characteristics of the jets. The numerous LLJs (16% of all jets) in the range of wind-turbine rotor heights below 200 m demonstrate the importance of LLJs and the associated intermittent turbulence for wind-energy applications. Also, a decrease in surface fluxes and an accumulation of carbon dioxide are observed if LLJs are present. A comprehensive analysis of an LLJ case shows the influence of the surrounding topography, dominated by an open pit mine and a 200-m-high hill, on the wind observed at JOYCE. High-resolution large-eddy simulations that complement the observations show that the spatial distribution of the wind field exhibits variations connected with the orographic flow depending on the wind direction, causing high variability in the long-term measurements of the vertical velocity.
A Parameterization Scheme for Air–Sea Surface Interface Fluxes: Design and Stand-Alone Experiments
Authors: Zhuang Haixiong , Yang Xiaojun , Wu Zhenling
Published: April 2018

Observations show that sea surface temperature (SST) can vary up to several degrees in a day and sea surface energy fluxes up to a few hundreds of watts per square meter. For synoptic- and subsynoptic-scale atmospheric modeling, there remains a need for the parameterization of air–sea surface interaction using simple schemes. In this paper, such a simple scheme, Atmosphere–Ocean Surface Interaction Scheme (AOSIS), is presented so that the short time variations in SST and energy fluxes can be estimated using a small number of atmospheric and oceanic bulk quantities. The scheme consists of three components: a two-layer ocean temperature model, a wind-wave model, and a surface flux model. Numerical experiments show that the scheme performs well in simulating SST and the air–sea exchanges. Relative to other schemes, AOSIS shows the following improvements: 1) it simulates SST and the cool-skin and warm-layer effect of the ocean mixed layer without the input of ocean bulk temperature of the mixed layer as a prior condition, which is required by most one-layer models; 2) the depth of the ocean mixed layer is allowed to vary according to surface wind stress and buoyancy flux; and 3) a method for computing ocean surface roughness length is proposed, which accounts for the aerodynamic effect of wind-generated waves. For experimental studies, AOSIS can be used in stand-alone mode for the calculation of SST through a small number of bulk measurements. AOSIS can also be used as an interface between the atmosphere and ocean models to be coupled together.
Assessing the Impact of Volcanic Eruptions on Climate Extremes Using CMIP5 Models
Authors: Paik Seungmok , Min Seung-Ki
Published: April 2018

This study analyzes extreme temperature and precipitation responses over the global land to five explosive tropical volcanic eruptions that occurred since the 1880s, using CMIP5 multimodel simulations. Changes in annual extreme indices during posteruption years are examined using a composite analysis. First, a robust global decrease in extreme temperature is found, which is stronger than the internal variability ranges (estimated from random bootstrap sampling). Intermodel correlation analysis shows a close relationship between annual extreme and mean temperature responses to volcanic forcing, indicating a similar mechanism at work. The cooling responses exhibit strong intermodel correlation with a decrease in surface humidity, consistent with the Clausius–Clapeyron relation. Second, extreme and mean precipitation reductions are observed during posteruption years, especially in Northern and Southern Hemisphere summer monsoon regions, with good intermodel agreement. The precipitation decreases are also larger than the internal variability ranges and are dominated by the monsoon regions. Moisture budget analysis further reveals that most of the precipitation decrease over the monsoon regions is explained by evaporation decrease, as well as dynamic and thermodynamic contributions. Interestingly, the dynamic effect is found to have a large influence on intermodel spread in precipitation responses, with high intermodel correlation with mean and extreme precipitation changes. These model-based results are largely supported by an observational analysis based on the Hadley Centre Global Climate Extremes Index 2 (HadEX2) dataset for the recent three volcanic eruptions. Our results demonstrate that temperature and precipitation extremes significantly respond to volcanic eruptions, largely resembling mean climate responses, which have important implications for geoengineering based on solar radiation management.
A video-game group intervention: Experiences and perceptions of adults with chronic stroke and their therapists
Authors: Rand Debbie , Givon Noa , Avrech Bar Michal
Published: April 2018

Background.

Ongoing physical activity is important for maintaining the functional level of individuals with chronic stroke. Video games in a group setting might be a cost-effective way for providing mobility and preventing physical inactivity.

Purpose.

This study explores the experiences and perceptions of individuals with chronic stroke who participated in a novel community-based video-game group intervention and their therapists.

Method.

A qualitative study, nested in a randomized controlled trial, was conducted using semistructured interviews with eight individuals with chronic stroke (four men and four women) ages 29 to 69 and a focus group of their three occupational therapists, following a video-game intervention. Data were analyzed using content analysis.

Findings.

Three main categories were identified by the study participants: (a) using video games, (b) the group/team experience, and (c) intervention outcomes/evolving understandings following the intervention.

Implications.

Playing video games was perceived not as treatment but as a motivating tool to facilitate whole-body movement. Therefore, this intervention might be suitable to be used in the community for ongoing intervention.
Another Killer Industry: A Review of Fake Silk by Paul Blanc
Authors: Berman Daniel
Published: April 2018

Rayon, a shiny artificial fabric with the flashy allure of silk, constitutes no danger to consumers. But worker exposure to carbon disulfide, an essential input in rayon manufacture, can drive workers insane and kill them as well. The dangers of carbon disulfide have been known since the middle of the 19th century. Professor Paul Blanc’s book traces the social amnesia about the dangers of making rayon and how its production has shifted from wealthy countries in Europe, the United States, and Japan to poorer countries like South Korea and the People’s Republic of China. The history of the rayon industry constitutes a metaphor for the lives of millions of people who toil unnoticed at dangerous jobs to support their families and help make life possible and even pleasurable for the luckier ooernes.
Joint Relationship Between Physical Activity, Weight Status, and Motor Skills in Children Aged 3 to 10 Years
Authors: DuBose Katrina D. , Gross McMillan Amy , Wood Aaron P. , Sisson Susan B.
Published: April 2018

While the relationships between physical activity (PA), obesity, and motor skills have been independently examined by previous research, this study explored both independent and combined relationships between children’s PA, weight status, and motor skills within a multiple regression analysis. We measured height and weight and calculated body mass index (BMI) z scores for 96 children (3–10 years of age). We measured motor skills using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd edition (MABC-2), and we measured PA levels through accelerometry. Children with more time in moderate and moderate-to-vigorous PA had higher Total motor skill scores on the MABC-2. Further, children with higher moderate PA levels had higher Balance scores and those with moderate-to-vigorous PA demonstrated higher Aiming and Catching scores. Among children with healthier BMIs, more time spent in PA, regardless of intensity, was related to higher Aiming and Catching scores. Among children with BMI scores suggestive of overweight/obesity, both moderate and moderate-to-vigorous PA were positively related to Balance scores. In conclusion, while BMI z scores were not directly related to motor skills, PA levels were positively related to motor skills, and weight status mediated the relationship between PA and specific components of motor skills.
The Anthropocene as colonial discourse
Authors: Simpson Michael
Published: April 2018

Research on the Anthropocene has emerged fast and furiously across academic disciplines in recent years. While some have suggested that this concept signifies a rupture with the philosophical foundations of Western modernity, this paper stresses the continuities between the Anthropocene and its antecedents. I trace the development of the concept from the late 18th century through to the mid-20th century, identifying several colonial and Eurocentric features of these earlier accounts of the Anthropocene. I then proceed to question whether contemporary debates about the Anthropocene and its periodization evoke similar problematic narratives about progress, modernity, and civilization. In the closing section of this article, I discuss whether or not the Anthropocene can be salvaged as an analytical category without reproducing these colonial logics. Here, I conclude that regardless of whether the term is discarded or redeemed, critical scholars can help to problematize and destabilize the concept’s investment in the dominant onto-epistemological categories of Western modernity, thereby opening up possibilities for the plurality of ways of thinking and knowing to shape this conversation about the social and ecological predicaments of the colonial present.
Journeys through planetary urbanization: Decentering perspectives on the urban
Authors: Schmid Christian
Published: April 2018

In recent years, the concept of planetary urbanization has provoked a widespread debate. It is grounded upon a basic hypothesis: that the contemporary urbanizing world cannot be adequately understood without systematically revising inherited concepts and representations of the urban. It is therefore first and foremost an invitation to adopt a different perspective, one that decenters the focus of analysis and looks from an ex-centric position on the urban world. This article attempts to clarify some of the most pressing questions that have arisen thus far in the debate on planetary urbanization. It approaches the question of the power of the urban under conditions of planetary urbanization, and explores the nature and role of theory, in relation to urban practice as well as in relation to urban research. Through some reflections on the relationship between the abstract and the concrete in social theory, this paper discusses the much-debated question of “universalizing” and “totalizing” theoretical engagements, addresses the role of difference and specificity in urban research, and finally evaluates some first results of the various ongoing investigations of planetary urbanization.
A retrospective analysis of the mixed venous oxygen saturation as the target for systemic blood flow control during cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Svenmarker Staffan , Hannuksela Matias , Haney Michael
Published: April 2018

Objectives:

The patient’s body surface area serves as the traditional reference for the determination of systemic blood flow during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). New strategies refer to different algorithms of oxygen delivery. This study reports on the mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) as the target for systemic blood flow control. We hypothesise that an SvO2>75% (SvO275) is associated with better preservation of renal function and improved short-term survival.

Methods:

This retrospective, 10-year, observational study analysed 6945 consecutive cardiac surgical cases requiring CPB. Endpoints included rates of acute kidney injury (AKI) and short-term survival, also the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), lactate levels and blood transfusions.

Results:

Seventy-seven percent of the patients attained the SvO275 target. For this group, the median SvO2 was 78.1 (5.8) %, with a mean oxygen delivery of 331 (78) ml/min per m2 body surface area. Overall incidence of AKI levels (I-III): 7.5% - 2.6% - 0.6%. Incidence of eGFR (<50%): 3.9%, increasing to 6% for haemoglobin levels <80 g/L (p<0.001). Red cell transfusion was more frequent (p<0.001) within this group (30.6%) compared to levels >100 g/L (0.3%). Further, women (52.8%) were transfused more often than men (14.6%). Lactate level at weaning from CPB was 1.3 (0.7) mmol/L. The SvO275 target demonstrated a relative risk reduction of 22.5% (p=0.032) for AKI (I), increasing to 32.3% (p=0.026) for procedures extending >90 minutes. In addition, the risk for death 90-days postop was lower (p=0.039).

Conclusion:

The SvO275 target showed a decreased risk for postoperative AKI and prolonged short-term survival. Good clinical outcomes were also linked to measures of lactate and the eGFR. However, anaemia remains a risk factor for AKI.
Assessment of Canada’s Transportation System under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
Authors: Jahangiriesmaili Mahyar , Roorda Matthew J. , Bachmann Chris , Allen Rupert
Published: April 2018

Canada signed the Canada–European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in October 2016, which was later ratified by the European Parliament in February 2017. This agreement enables Canadian establishments to trade openly with EU members. Despite the Canadian government’s economical analysis, no study has been undertaken to investigate the impact of CETA on Canada’s transportation network. The objective of this paper is to assess the potential impact of CETA on the Canadian transportation network by estimating origin–destination trade flows, mode shares, and transportation flows before and after the agreement. Annual provincial commodity flows are obtained from a computable general equilibrium model. Mode shares are determined based on US commodity flow survey data. Finally, changes in freight flows by the rail and truck modes as a result of CETA are examined. The model results indicate an increase in freight movement to and from Eastern Canada and a decrease in trade movement near the US–Canada borders and Western Canada.
Most Likely Bridges as Roosting Habitat for Bats: Study for Iowa
Authors: Bektas Basak Aldemir , Hans Zachary , Phares Brent , Nketah Emmanuel , Carey Joe , Solberg Mary Kay , McPeek Kraig
Published: April 2018

Bats play an important role in the natural balance of many ecosystems. There has been a growing concern about the bat population in the United States, mainly because of white-nose syndrome (WNS). The primary objective of this work was to better understand what types of bridges are the most likely to be used by bats as roosting locations. In one of the most comprehensive studies in the United States to date, 517 structures in the state of Iowa were inspected for evidence of bat roosting. Logistic regression models were fitted to identify structure, land cover distribution, and predicted bat species distribution characteristics that increase the probability of bat roosting. The final model indicated that probability of bat roosting on bridges increases under the following conditions: structures are prestressed concrete continuous, prestressed concrete or steel continuous; increased superstructure height above ground; increased superstructure depth; increased wetland coverage within a 0.1-mile radius of the structure; and increased number of potential bat species present at the location. The findings show that bridge characteristics, combined with land cover and bat species distribution data, are significant for higher probabilities of bat roosting. This information can be useful to transportation agencies as they plan bridge maintenance and renewal and can also help conservation efforts targeted toward bats. It is thought that the integration of objective, geospatial land cover data with potential bat presence data, and estimation of quantitative and relative influence of variables on probability of bat roosting are unique to this study.
Andrew Feenberg’s critical theory of technology
Authors: Kirkpatrick Graeme
Published: April 2018

This piece introduces the special issue, providing an account of its rationale and a brief overview of each of the contributions.
Concave modifications of tooth surfaces of beveloid gears with crossed axes
Authors: Liu Siyuan , Song Chaosheng , Zhu Caichao , Fan Qi
Published: April 2018

The mathematical models of the beveloid gear surfaces with different scenarios of combinations of profile concave modification and lead crowning are derived. Four schemes of modifications were proposed for beveloid gears with crossed axes. Tooth contact analysis is developed to study the influences of different schemes of concave modifications on the mesh behaviors including film thickness, transmission errors, contact ratio, root stresses, and contact patterns. Comparison of the contact characteristics of a beveloid gear drive with and without concave modifications is conducted. The results show that all the concave modification schemes can increase the area of contact patterns and decrease the maximum value of contact stresses, while the minimum film thickness can be increased. For the scheme i.e. the pinion with profile crowning modification and gear with profile concave modification, the contact ratio increases firstly then decreases to a relative lower value. Also, the root stresses are increased obviously. For the scheme for pinion without modification and gear with lead concave modification and the scheme for both pinion and gear with lead concave modification, the transmission errors are decreased slightly. The scheme for the pinion with combined crowning modification and gear with combined concave modification shows the largest improvement for the mesh behaviors in terms of the transmission errors and contact patterns where an almost contact condition can be found for the crossed beveloid gear pair.
Knowledge, Beliefs, and Behaviors Related to Palliative Care Delivery Among Pediatric Oncology Health Care Providers
Authors: Spruit Jessica L. , Bell Cynthia J. , Toly Valerie B. , Prince-Paul Maryjo
Published: April 2018

The care of pediatric patients with cancer and their families is complex and rapidly evolving. Despite significant advances in outcomes, symptoms of the disease and complications of therapy continue to cause suffering that may improve with the involvement of pediatric palliative care (PPC) services. This descriptive study responds to the observation of great variability in PPC utilization within pediatric oncology. Data collected from 156 health care professionals (nurses, advanced practice professionals, and physicians) from a statewide hematology alliance evaluates the knowledge, beliefs, and perceived barriers to PPC involvement. Data analysis reveals significant variability when comparing respondents from professional roles and practice environments. Despite progress in PPC availability, care delivery remains incongruent with current recommendations. Knowledge gained from this study emphasizes the important role for all health care providers in advocating for support of PPC programs, educating the public, and committing to intentional involvement of PPC services while caring for pediatric oncology patients.
The Effectiveness of the Young–Old Link and Growth Intergenerational Program in Reducing Age Stereotypes
Authors: Sun Qian , Lou Vivian Weiqun , Dai Annie , To Carman , Wong Shum Yee
Published: April 2018

Purpose:

This study evaluated an intergenerational interaction program set in a nonfamilial context to combat age-related stereotypes and to facilitate positive interactions between the young and elderly in Hong Kong.

Method:

A quasi-experimental design was adopted. A total of 312 participants were recruited: 73 older and 78 young participants in the intervention group and 77 older and 84 young participants in the comparison group. Standardized measurements of intergenerational attitude, sense of comfort with cross-age groups, and intergenerational interaction were used during pre- and posttest.

Results:

The intervention group showed positive change in intergenerational attitude and sense of comfort. There were also positive changes in most aspects of intergenerational interaction in the intervention group.

Discussion:

This research provides preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of the intervention model and offers many implications for service directions. The findings enrich cumulative knowledge about factors contributing to the reduction of age-related stereotypes.
Prognostication in Anoxic Brain Injury
Authors: Nguyen Kim Phung L. , Pai Vandana , Rashid Saima , Treece Jennifer , Moulton Marie , Baumrucker Steven J.
Published: April 2018

Cardiac arrest is a common cause of coma with frequent poor outcomes. Palliative medicine teams are often called upon to discuss the scope of treatment and future care in cases of anoxic brain injury. Understanding prognostic tools in this setting would help medical teams communicate more effectively with patients’ families and caregivers and may promote improved quality of life overall. This article reviews multiple tools that are useful in determining outcomes in the setting of postarrest anoxic brain injury.
Comparison of Pre- and Postoperative Sleep Studies in Patients Undergoing Sphincter Pharyngoplasty
Authors: Busuito Christina M. , Vandjelovic Nathan , Flis Diana M. , Rozzelle Arlene
Published: April 2018

Objective:

To determine if sphincter pharyngoplasty changes sleep study parameters on patients undergoing surgery for velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI).

Design:

Retrospective chart review on patients undergoing sphincter pharyngoplasty for VPI with pre- and postoperative polysomnography completed.

Setting:

Institutional study at a tertiary pediatric hospital.

Patients:

All patients who underwent sphincter pharyngoplasty over a 20-year period were reviewed; all patients with both pre- and postoperative sleep studies were collected for evaluation.

Interventions:

Sphincter pharyngoplasty for patients with VPI.

Main Outcome Measure:

Sleep study parameters collected include apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), obstructive and central apneas, hypopneas, and mixed events. The preoperative values were compared to postoperative values.

Results:

There were 98 patients collected with sleep studies for review. Of these, 32 patients had both pre- and postoperative sleep studies. The AHI increased from 1.8 preoperatively to a postoperative value of 4.8 ( P = .004). The number of obstructive events per night went from 4.6 to 17.6 postoperatively ( P = .04). The number of hypopneas increased from 4.0 to 13.6 ( P = .003). The other parameters were not statistically different, central events decreased from 4.8 to 2.1 ( P = .086), and mixed events were essentially unchanged from 0.2 to 0.5 ( P = .17) events per night.

Conclusions:

Patients undergoing sphincter pharyngoplasty for VPI may experience an increase in their postoperative AHI, obstructive events per night, and hypopneas. Sleep studies should be performed both pre- and postoperatively to assess the need for intervention or change in management.
The Implications of Nasal Substitutions in the Early Phonology of Toddlers With Repaired Cleft Palate
Authors: Hardin-Jones Mary A. , Chapman Kathy L.
Published: April 2018

Objective:

To examine the implications of nasal substitutions in the early words of toddlers with cleft palate.

Design:

Retrospective.

Patients:

Thirty-four toddlers with nonsyndromic cleft palate and 20 noncleft toddlers, followed from ages 13 to 39 months.

Main Outcome Measures:

The groups were compared for the percentage of toddlers who produced nasal substitutions in their early words. The percentage of toddlers with repaired cleft palate who produced nasal substitutions and were later suspected of having velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) was also examined.

Results:

Seventy-six percent of the toddlers in the cleft group (n = 26) and 35% of toddlers in the noncleft group (n = 7) produced nasal substitutions on one or more of their early words. Only 38% (10/26) of the toddlers with cleft palate who produced nasal substitutions in their early words were later diagnosed as having moderate-severe hypernasality and suspected VPD.

Conclusions:

The presence of nasal substitutions following palatal surgery was not always an early sign of VPD. These substitutions were present in the early lexicon of children with and without cleft palate.
Subnational Patterns of Participation: Compulsory Voting and the Conditional Impact of Institutional Design
Authors: Barnes Tiffany D. , Rangel Gabriela
Published: April 2018

Cross-national studies of turnout find that compulsory voting has the strongest impact on participation, boosting turnout by 10 to 18 percent. We argue that in the absence of compulsory voting, other institutional factors such as small district size, strong electoral competition, and moderate candidate fragmentation may be similarly effective at mobilizing turnout. Where voting is mandatory, these factors should instead primarily influence how people vote once they are at the polls—diminishing levels of invalid voting, and consequently increasing effective turnout. We take advantage of the abolition of compulsory voting in Chile to test our expectations immediately before and after reform, in the exact same electoral districts. Using this unique subnational research design, we leverage data from more than 1,000 mayoral elections over the course of three electoral cycles and across 345 municipalities to examine patterns of turnout and invalid voting. Results show that small district size, strong electoral competition, and moderate candidate fragmentation are effective at reducing invalid voting when turnout is compulsory, and fostering higher levels of turnout when voting is voluntary.
Reducing Discipline and Safety Issues: A District-Wide Bus-PBIS Initiative
Authors: Goldin Jamie T. , McDaniel Sara C.
Published: April 2018

Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) is a means to proactively address student behavior in all school settings. Misbehavior on the school bus can lead to issues with safety, carry over to school and home, and hinder at-risk students’ academic success. Students’ behavior can be supported on the bus through the implementation of a bus-PBIS framework. School districts can implement PBIS on the bus through establishing leadership, creating a bus-PBIS framework, training, implementation, and monitoring/regeneration.
Political party gender action plans: Pushing gender change forward beyond quotas
Authors: Verge Tània
Published: April 2018

Focus on quotas has shifted attention away from other, more comprehensive and strategic reforms aimed at furthering gender equality in political parties. This article concentrates on the gender action plans adopted by three Spanish parties. Using a gendered and institutional approach, it examines the conditions that led to the layering of these plans alongside existing party rules and assesses the outcome of such a gradual change. The results of the empirical analysis suggest that gender action plans have contributed not only to feminize the organization in terms of women’s numerical representation but also increasingly to regender it, thereby setting in motion a more profound change that challenges the foundations of gendered opportunities for political participation. The article also identifies the measures that have been less effective and pinpoints the reasons for the differential impact of gender equity institutional change across the various components of the party gender regime.
What does meaningful look like? A qualitative study of patient engagement at the Pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review: perspectives of reviewers and payers
Authors: Rozmovits Linda , Mai Helen , Chambers Alexandra , Chan Kelvin
Published: April 2018

Objectives

While there is wide support for patient engagement in health technology assessment, determining what constitutes meaningful (as opposed to tokenistic) engagement is complex. This paper explores reviewer and payer perceptions of what constitutes meaningful patient engagement in the Pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review process.

Methods

Qualitative interview study comprising 24 semi-structured telephone interviews. A qualitative descriptive approach, employing the technique of constant comparison, was used to produce a thematic analysis.

Results

Submissions from patient advocacy groups were seen as meaningful when they provided information unavailable from other sources. This included information not collected in clinical trials, information relevant to clinical trade-offs and information about aspects of lived experience such as geographic differences and patient and carer priorities. In contrast, patient submissions that relied on emotional appeals or lacked transparency about their own methods were seen as detracting from the meaningfulness of patient engagement by conflating health technology assessment with other functions of patient advocacy groups such as fundraising or public awareness campaigns, and by failing to provide credible information relevant to deliberations.

Conclusions

This study suggests that misalignment of stakeholder expectations remains an issue even for a well-regarded health technology assessment process that has promoted patient engagement since its inception. Support for the technical capacity of patient groups to participate in health technology assessment is necessary but not sufficient to address this issue fully. There is a fundamental tension between the evidence-based nature of health technology assessment and the experientially oriented culture of patient advocacy. Divergent notions of what constitutes evidence and how it should be used must also be addressed.
The boundary condition of travel satisfaction and the mediating role of destination image: The case of event tourism
Authors: Wong IpKin Anthony , Xu Yueying Hazel , Tan Xiuchang Sherry , Wen Huijun
Published: April 2018

Planned events have been acknowledged to improve the image of a place. Although there are ample studies examining the destination image and tourist behaviors, this research focuses on the mediating effects of different destination images on the linkage between travel-specific event value and destination loyalty. In addition, this study seeks to advance the literature by addressing the mixed findings of event-induced destination image by examining the moderating effect of travel satisfaction. Moderated mediating effects of cognitive and affective destination images as well as the moderated indirect effect of event value are also tested. From a broader theoretical perspective, this study aims to advance the importance of event-induced destination image and the loyalty formation process by demonstrating the boundary condition of a trip based on tourist satisfaction.
The seven sins of L2 research: A review of 30 journals’ statistical quality and their CiteScore, SJR, SNIP, JCR Impact Factors
Authors: Al-Hoorie Ali H. , Vitta Joseph P.
Published: April 2018

This report presents a review of the statistical practices of 30 journals representative of the second language field. A review of 150 articles showed a number of prevalent statistical violations including incomplete reporting of reliability, validity, non-significant results, effect sizes, and assumption checks as well as making inferences from descriptive statistics and failing to correct for multiple comparisons. Scopus citation analysis metrics and whether a journal is SSCI-indexed were predictors of journal statistical quality. No clear evidence was obtained to favor the newly introduced CiteScore over SNIP or SJR. Implications of the results are discussed.
Old and afraid of new communication technologies? Reconceptualising and contesting the ‘age-based digital divide’
Authors: Neves Barbara Barbosa , Waycott Jenny , Malta Sue
Published: April 2018

Despite sociological attempts to critically address an age-based digital divide, older adults (65+) continue to be portrayed in the academic literature and public discourse as a homogeneous group characterised by technophobia, digital illiteracy, and technology non-use. Additionally, the role of socioeconomic factors and personal contexts in later life are often overlooked in studies on technology adoption and use. For example, older adults who are identified as least likely to use technology (frail, care-dependent, low socioeconomic/educational backgrounds) are typically described as a uniform cluster. Yet, research on digital technology use with this group remains scant – so what can we learn from studying technology adoption among them? This article discusses long-term deployment of new communication technologies with such a group of older adults, shedding light on the dynamics of technology adoption and contexts of use/non-use. It is based on a case study approach and a cross-cultural perspective, using Canadian and Australian mixed-methods research from two projects that included interviews, psychometric scales, and field observations. We present cases from these projects and contest the simplistic notion of an age-based digital divide, by drawing on Strong Structuration Theory to explore the interconnection of agency, structure, and context in the sociotechnical process of technology adoption and use/non-use among older adults.
Continuity, change and possibility in older age: Identity and ageing-as-discovery
Authors: Cook Peta S.
Published: April 2018

Traditionally, sociology has framed older age as a time of disengagement, withdrawal and reduced social integration. While now largely dismissed in contemporary sociological understandings of ageing, narratives of decline still feature heavily across social, media, and medical discourses. This negativity towards ageing could be at odds with how older people experience their age and identity. In this article, I will explore how 16 older people construct their self-identity. Drawing on participant-generated imagery and interview data, this article exposes that they experience older age as a time of continuity, discovery, possibility and change, where identity is multiple and fluid, and emerges through the links they make between the past, present and future. Thus, while ageing is not without its difficulties, the research participants challenge the social myths that reductively and negatively frame older age by constructing an identity that builds on their past through an active exploration of new possibilities and experiences.
Back to my old self and life restarting: Biographies of ageing in Beck’s risk society
Authors: Curryer Cassie , Gray Mel , Byles Julie E.
Published: April 2018

Drawing on free-text survey comments from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health (ALSWH), this article explores themes of transition and change in the lives of 150 women baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1951) in relation to Beck’s theories of the risk society, reflexive modernisation and individualisation. Few studies have explicitly explored ageing through Beck’s theoretical lenses. However, Beck’s emphasis on interactional processes of social, individual and structural change has much to offer for sociological studies of ageing. A key premise is that of complex adaptation and change as people age, with focus on the socio-political contexts in which the post-Second World War baby boomer generation will live out their later years.
‘Getting the seat of your pants dirty’: Space and place in ethnographic educational research
Authors: White ML
Published: April 2018

In this paper I consider the importance of space and place in ethnographic educational research. The paper draws on research that took place at Educational Video Center (EVC), a non-profit media education centre in New York City (NYC). In this paper I articulate EVC as a place imbued with meaning from the pedagogical practices that take place within and regarding it and argue for a consideration of spatiality in ethnographic educational research. I consider the role of the city landscape in order to identify how knowledge is emplaced and represented through digital, visual technology, and I conclude by outlining the criticality of spatializing our ethnographic practices.
Plain Language to Communicate Physical Activity Information: A Website Content Analysis
Authors: Paige Samantha R. , Black David R. , Mattson Marifran , Coster Daniel C. , Stellefson Michael
Published: April 2018

Plain language techniques are health literacy universal precautions intended to enhance health care system navigation and health outcomes. Physical activity (PA) is a popular topic on the Internet, yet it is unknown if information is communicated in plain language. This study examined how plain language techniques are included in PA websites, and if the use of plain language techniques varies according to search procedures (keyword, search engine) and website host source (government, commercial, educational/organizational). Three keywords (“physical activity,” “fitness,” and “exercise”) were independently entered into three search engines (Google, Bing, and Yahoo) to locate a nonprobability sample of websites ( N = 61). Fourteen plain language techniques were coded within each website to examine content formatting, clarity and conciseness, and multimedia use. Approximately half ( M = 6.59; SD = 1.68) of the plain language techniques were included in each website. Keyword physical activity resulted in websites with fewer clear and concise plain language techniques ( p < .05), whereas fitness resulted in websites with more clear and concise techniques ( p < .01). Plain language techniques did not vary by search engine or the website host source. Accessing PA information that is easy to understand and behaviorally oriented may remain a challenge for users. Transdisciplinary collaborations are needed to optimize plain language techniques while communicating online PA information.
Validation of a New Methodology to Determine 3-Dimensional Endograft Apposition, Position, and Expansion in the Aortic Neck After Endovascular Aneurysm Repair
Authors: Schuurmann Richte C. L. , Overeem Simon P. , van Noort Kim , de Vries Bastiaan A. , Slump Cornelis H. , de Vries Jean-Paul P. M.
Published: April 2018

Purpose: To validate a novel methodology employing regular postoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) scans to assess essential factors contributing to durable endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), including endograft deployment accuracy, neck adaptation to radial forces, and effective apposition of the fabric within the aortic neck. Methods: Semiautomatic calculation of the apposition surface between the endograft and the infrarenal aortic neck was validated in vitro by comparing the calculated surfaces over a cylindrical silicon model with known dimensions on CTA reconstructions with various slice thicknesses. Interobserver variabilities were assessed for calculating endograft position, apposition, and expansion in a retrospective series of 24 elective EVAR patients using the repeatability coefficient (RC) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The variability of these calculations was compared with variability of neck length and diameter measurements on centerline reconstructions of the preoperative and first postoperative CTA scans. Results: In vitro validation showed accurate calculation of apposition, with deviation of 2.8% from the true surface for scans with 1-mm slice thickness. Excellent agreement was achieved for calculation of the endograft dimensions (ICC 0.909 to 0.996). Variability was low for calculation of endograft diameter (RC 2.3 mm), fabric distances (RC 5.2 to 5.7 mm), and shortest apposition length (RC 4.1 mm), which was the same as variability of regular neck diameter (RC 0.9 to 1.1 mm) and length (RC 4.0 to 8.0 mm) measurements. Conclusion: This retrospective validation study showed that apposition surfaces between an endograft and the infrarenal neck can be calculated accurately and with low variability. Determination of the (ap)position of the endograft in the aortic neck and detection of subtle changes during follow-up are crucial to determining eventual failure after EVAR.
Prediction and analysis of compression behaviour of warp-knitted spacer fabric with cylindrical surface
Authors: Datta Mrinal K , Behera B K , Goyal Ashvani
Published: April 2018

Nowadays, applications of spacer fabric cover wider areas of technical textile. It is used in the automotive textile, personal protective clothing, sports textile, foundation garments, pads for swimwear, buffer clothing, medical textile etc. It does possess good recovery to compression, high bulk with relatively lightweight and very good moisture permeability. Almost in all applications, spacer fabrics are compressed by different parts of human body. Body parts have different shapes and curvatures. In all standard methods, spacer fabric compressibility is measured by a pair of flat circular plate which cannot represent a human body. The contour of body can be assumed as cylindrical with varying radius of curvature. So, it is necessary to understand the mechanism of compression of spacer fabric with cylindrical surface in order to understand the performance of the fabric under real-world dynamics. In this research, an effort is being made to predict the compression behaviour of warp-knitted spacer fabric by flat as well as cylindrical surface. Finite Element Models were designed on Abaqus/CAE platform to meet above requirement with variable circumstances. Experimental setup was also made to analyse cylindrical and flat compression at different circumstances. Results show that flat compression and cylindrical compression are largely deferred in terms of shape of load-deformation curve and compressional energy. Effect of variables on compression behaviour was also analysed. Model results were validated with experimental values. It is found that the proposed model has got a good agreement with the experimental results.
When Caring Leaders Are Constrained: The Impact of LMX Differentiation on Leader Empathic Concern in Predicting Discretionary Work Behaviors
Authors: Haynie Jeffrey J. , Baur John , Harris John N. , Harris Stanley G. , Moates K. Nathan
Published: April 2018

Empathic leaders often create high-quality relationships with their subordinates, and these relationships are suggested to increase several beneficial outcomes for employees and organizations alike. Yet leader–member exchange (LMX) theory suggests that leaders do not have such high-quality relationships with each of their subordinates, leading to varying levels of LMX differentiation. We examine how leaders’ empathic concern, a trait-based assessment of leader empathy, may incite additional discretionary efforts in the form of assisting coworkers with interpersonal facilitation and taking on additional tasks with job dedication. However, we suggest that when these empathic leaders are constrained, it reduces their ability to form high-quality relationships with all of their subordinates, resulting in high LMX differentiation. This LMX differentiation is expected to influence empathic leaders’ ability to motivate their followers to engage in altruistic behaviors. In a field study of workplace groups, we find that leader empathic concern positively affects interpersonal facilitation and job dedication only when LMX differentiation is low, providing support for our contention that the effects of empathic leadership may be situationally constrained. Findings and future directions are discussed.
Whole-body compliance for multi-arm space robotic capturing of large tumbling target in connection compliant phase
Authors: Liu Jiayu , Huang Qiang , Yang Tao , Chen Xuechao , Wang Yanbo
Published: April 2018

Based on the characteristics of large tumbling space debris, this article proposes an effective method for whole-body compliant controller to eliminate the effects of the relative velocity between chaser and target which is not zero after the capture hands hold their corresponding handles tightly that is named as connection compliant phase. First, the kinematics and dynamics models are established, including tumbling target, free-floating chaser and chaser–target, respectively. Second, to analyse the characteristics of capturing of a large tumbling target, a simplified kinematics model about the centre of mass of the chaser is established, and a Cartesian-space compliant controller is designed in order to achieve the desired gross force as the input of multi-arm compliant distribution. Subsequently, we propose a method based on centre of forces to distribute the desired gross force to each arm optimized first and also a closed-loop regulator based on the dissipation vectors online as the second step. Then, a passivity-based control strategy is used in order to enhance the robustness of the system. Finally, the effectiveness of the control strategy mentioned above is verified by the simulation and air-bearing experiment in the horizontal plane partially.
An improved interval finite element method based on the element-by-element technique for large truss system and plane problems
Authors: Su Jingbo , Zhu Yihuan , Wang Jinpeng , Li Ang , Yang Ganquan
Published: April 2018

The interval finite element method based on the element-by-element technique is proved to be a rigorous and efficient method for considering interval uncertainties. The structural internal force of the same accuracy as the interval response displacement can be obtained by combining the variational method and the Lagrange multiplier method. However, the increase of the Lagrange multiplier reduces the efficiency of solving the equation, especially for a large truss system. In addition, the method is mostly used to analyse truss system, and the applications in plane problems are still rare. In this article, an improved method involving modification of the Lagrange multiplier interval equations is proposed to calculate interval displacements and interval internal forces at the same time. In this proposed method, the increase of the unknown Lagrange interval does not affect the solution of the equations. For plane problems, a new method for solving the stress interval of the element is proposed. This proposed method can effectively reduce the expansion of the stress interval of the element. Finally, the correctness and rationality of the proposed method are verified by numerical examples.