bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Whose Dream Is It Anyway?
Authors: Baz Avner
Published: October 2014

I start with two basic lines of response to Cartesian skepticism about the ‘external world’: in the first, which is characteristic of Analytic philosophers to this day, the focus is on the meaning of ‘know’—what it ‘refers’ to, its ‘semantics’ and its ‘pragmatics’; in the second, which characterizes Continental responses to Descartes, the focus is on the philosophizing or meditating subject, and its relation to its body and world. I argue that the first approach is hopeless: if the Cartesian worry that I could be dreaming right now so much as makes sense, the proposal that—under some theory of knowledge (or of ‘knowledge’)—my belief that I am sitting in front of the computer right now may still be (or truly count as) a piece of knowledge, would rightfully seem to the skeptic to be playing with words and missing the point. I then argue that the practice of Ordinary Language Philosophy, which has mostly been linked to the first line of response to Cartesian skepticism, may be seen as actually belonging with the second line of response; and I show how a form of what may be called “Existentialist Ordinary Language Philosophy” can be used to reveal the nonsensicality of the Cartesian skeptical worry. My argument takes its cue from Thompson Clarke’s insight—an insight that Clarke himself has not pursued far or accurately enough—that our concept of Dream is not a concept of the “standard type.”
Exploring the Impact of Islamophobia on Visible Muslim Women Victims: A British Case Study
Authors: Allen Chris
Published: October 2014

This article presents the empirical findings from a British-based project that sought to explore the nature and impact of ‘street-level’ Islamophobia on women who are visibly recognisable as Muslim—hereafter referred to as visible Muslim women in this article. Drawing on the findings from in-depth interviews with twenty visible Muslim women, this article highlights how despite the fact that such Islamophobia is largely manifested in low-level ways it has significant impacts on the everyday lives of its victims as also the way in which their identities are both perceived and defined. In doing so, this article considers how the experience of Islamophobia not only affects the daily life of these women and their families, but also affects their sense of belonging to British society while making them re-evaluate how they feel about being British.
‫المكتبة الرقمية للنقوش والخطوط‬ (Coptic Texts Relating to Daily Life)
Authors: ‫رمضان‬ ‫شيرين‬
Published: October 2014

(Please note that this article is in Arabic)
Preparing for Worship
Authors: Marsh Clive
Published: October 2014

This article uses insights from an empirical study of music-users to explore the assumptions and expectations which everyday music is likely to create within a Western Christian congregation. It identifies the desire to be happy, the search for a safe space, a concern about personal identity and a willingness to use music to acknowledge negative emotions as four key emphases of the practice of contemporary listening. These four emphases are explored in relation to the practice of contemporary worship. It is shown that whilst it could be argued that everyday music dulls the expectations of the non-musical – for the musical may gain much through performance and participation in music-making – it is nevertheless vital that theological attention is paid to what is happening to congregation-members. The potentially salvific work to which music contributes is in need of further exploration and articulation in contemporary theology.
A new species of the genus Paravillersia (Acari: Prostigmata: Stigmaeidae) from Western Siberia, with supplementary description of Paravillersia grata Kuznetsov, 1978
Authors: KHAUSTOV ALEXANDER A.
Published: October 2014

A new species of the genus Paravillersia Kuznetsov, 1978 (Acari: Stigmaeidae), P. jamaliensis Khaustov sp. nov. is described from mosses on fen in Western Siberia, Russia. The supplementary description of Paravillersia grata Kuznetsov, 1978 is provided based on the type material.
Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature Version 4 (ERSST.v4). Part I: Upgrades and Intercomparisons
Authors: Huang Boyin , Banzon Viva F. , Freeman Eric , Lawrimore Jay , Liu Wei , Peterson Thomas C. , Smith Thomas M. , Thorne Peter W. , Woodruff Scott D. , Zhang Huai-Min
Published: October 2014

The monthly Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) dataset, available on global 2° × 2° grids, has been revised herein to version 4 (v4) from v3b. Major revisions include updated and substantially more complete input data from the International Comprehensive Ocean–Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS) release 2.5; revised empirical orthogonal teleconnections (EOTs) and EOT acceptance criterion; updated sea surface temperature (SST) quality control procedures; revised SST anomaly (SSTA) evaluation methods; updated bias adjustments of ship SSTs using the Hadley Centre Nighttime Marine Air Temperature dataset version 2 (HadNMAT2); and buoy SST bias adjustment not previously made in v3b.

Tests show that the impacts of the revisions to ship SST bias adjustment in ERSST.v4 are dominant among all revisions and updates. The effect is to make SST 0.1°–0.2°C cooler north of 30°S but 0.1°–0.2°C warmer south of 30°S in ERSST.v4 than in ERSST.v3b before 1940. In comparison with the Met Office SST product [the Hadley Centre Sea Surface Temperature dataset, version 3 (HadSST3)], the ship SST bias adjustment in ERSST.v4 is 0.1°–0.2°C cooler in the tropics but 0.1°–0.2°C warmer in the midlatitude oceans both before 1940 and from 1945 to 1970. Comparisons highlight differences in long-term SST trends and SSTA variations at decadal time scales among ERSST.v4, ERSST.v3b, HadSST3, and Centennial Observation-Based Estimates of SST version 2 (COBE-SST2), which is largely associated with the difference of bias adjustments in these SST products. The tests also show that, when compared with v3b, SSTAs in ERSST.v4 can substantially better represent the El Niño/La Niña behavior when observations are sparse before 1940. Comparisons indicate that SSTs in ERSST.v4 are as close to satellite-based observations as other similar SST analyses.
Observed Southern Ocean Cloud Properties and Shortwave Reflection. Part I: Calculation of SW Flux from Observed Cloud Properties*
Authors: McCoy Daniel T. , Hartmann Dennis L. , Grosvenor Daniel P.
Published: October 2014

The sensitivity of the reflection of shortwave radiation over the Southern Ocean to the cloud properties there is estimated using observations from a suite of passive and active satellite instruments in combination with radiative transfer modeling. A composite cloud property observational data description is constructed that consistently incorporates mean cloud liquid water content, ice water content, liquid and ice particle radius information, vertical structure, vertical overlap, and spatial aggregation of cloud water as measured by optical depth versus cloud-top pressure histograms. The observational datasets used are Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) effective radius filtered to mitigate solar zenith angle bias, the Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) cloud-top height–optical depth (CTH–OD) histogram, the liquid water path from the University of Wisconsin dataset, and ice cloud properties from CloudSat. This cloud database is used to compute reflected shortwave radiation as a function of month and location over the ocean from 40° to 60°S, which compares well with observations of reflected shortwave radiation. This calculation is then used to test the sensitivity of the seasonal variation of shortwave reflection to the observed seasonal variation of cloud properties. Effective radius decreases during the summer season, which results in an increase in reflected solar radiation of 4–8 W m−2 during summer compared to what would be reflected if the effective radius remained constant at its annual-mean value. Summertime increases in low cloud fraction similarly increase the summertime reflection of solar radiation by 9–11 W m−2. In-cloud liquid water path is less in summertime, causing the reflected solar radiation to be 1–4 W m−2 less.
Tropical Cyclone Mekkhala’s (2008) Formation over the South China Sea: Mesoscale, Synoptic-Scale, and Large-Scale Contributions
Authors: Park Myung-Sook , Kim Hyeong-Seog , Ho Chang-Hoi , Elsberry Russell L. , Lee Myong-In
Published: October 2014

Tropical cyclone formation close to the coastline of the Asian continent presents a significant threat to heavily populated coastal countries. A case study of Tropical Storm Mekkhala (2008) that developed off the coast of Vietnam is presented using the high-resolution analyses of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts/Year of Tropical Convection and multiple satellite observations. The authors have analyzed contributions to the formation from large-scale intraseasonal variability, synoptic perturbations, and mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). Within a large-scale westerly wind burst (WWB) associated with the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), synoptic perturbations generated by two preceding tropical cyclones initiated the pre-Mekkhala low-level vortex over the Philippine Sea. Typhoon Hagupit produced a synoptic-scale wave train that contributed to the development of Jangmi, but likely suppressed the Mekkhala formation. The low-level vortex of the pre-Mekkhala disturbance was then initiated in a confluent zone between northeasterlies in advance of Typhoon Jangmi and the WWB. A key contribution to the development of Mekkhala was from diurnally varying MCSs that were invigorated in the WWB. The oceanic MCSs, which typically develop off the west coast of the Philippines in the morning and dissipate in the afternoon, were prolonged beyond the regular diurnal cycle. A combination with the MCSs developing downstream of the Philippines led to the critical structure change of the oceanic convective cluster, which implies the critical role of mesoscale processes. Therefore, the diurnally varying mesoscale convective processes over both the ocean and land are shown to have an essential role in the formation of Mekkhala in conjunction with large-scale MJO and the synoptic-scale TC influences.
Correlation of Unmet Need and Discontinuation in Ethiopia: a View
Authors: Lailulo Yishak A , Sathiya Susuman A
Published: October 2014

A few key factors affecting usage of all methods and contraceptive discontinuation among women whom are currently married in Ethiopia are discussed. What are the factors affecting women’s contraceptive use? The aim is to explore the two regions on the basis of high total fertility rate (TFR) regions (Oromiya (5.6) and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region (SNNPR) (4.9)) in the Ethiopian demographic and health survey (EDHS) 2011. A descriptive and comparative study using the quantitative research method is chosen to address the above research question. The study findings show that the contraceptive discontinuation rate for users of all types of methods is 37%. The highest women’s discontinuation rate is for the pill which is 70% due to side effects.
“How Am I Not Myself?” Despair in Sickness Unto Death as Misguided Attempts Toward Self-Actualization
Authors: Oaks Cody L.
Published: October 2014

This article is an attempt at a creative exegesis of Kierkegaard’s diagnosis of despair in Sickness Unto Death, that is, the overextension of the self into one side of the polarities of personality that should be a synthesis: infinity, finitude, and possibility–necessity are explored. For each instance of despair, I provide concrete examples of how this type of despair manifests itself in everyday life and in our current cultural context. Finally, the role of faith, as a means to curb despair and allow the self to actualize, is discussed over against the attempt to assert the self as an act of defiance.
Scapegoating During a Time of Crisis: A Critique of Post-Celtic Tiger Ireland
Authors: O’Flynn Micheal , Monaghan Lee F , Power Martin J
Published: October 2014

Focusing upon scapegoating in post-crash Ireland, this article considers a pervasive political process that is protective of powerful interests and the status quo following the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. Drawing from group conflict theory and framing analysis as part of a broader critical realist take on society, we consider how blame has been placed on myriad targets, ranging from a collective ‘we who went a bit mad with borrowing’ to more specific groups such as public sector workers, the unemployed, single mothers and immigrants. In conclusion, we underscore the need for sociology to assert its relevance by challenging such processes and defend civil society in a capitalist world-system that is in structural crisis.
Financial Derivatives as Social Policy beyond Crisis
Authors: Bryan Dick , Rafferty Michael
Published: October 2014

The period since the global financial crisis has seen financial derivatives not only grow quantitatively in financial markets but also expand socially as a calculative logic, giving increasing precision to the concept of capital and hence class relations. The logic of derivatives involves deconstructing ‘things’ into a spectrum of tradable risks. The article identifies the ways in which this logic is spreading into an increasing range of social, economic and political policy domains. It posits how, through the logic of derivatives, a range of sociological issues can be seen and re-thought through the eyes of financial calculus.
Modeling of package-free flexible conductive fabric with thermal regulation where temperature can be customized
Authors: Tong Jia-hui , Liu Su , Yang Chen-xiao , Li Li
Published: October 2014

Temperature control of thermal fabrics has recently become a topic of interest. It was reported that the electrical resistance of fabrics embedded with conducting yarns can be affected by temperature change. In this paper the quantitative relationship between electrical resistance of a conductive knitted fabric and temperature was established. Based on this relationship, a theoretical model was proposed to control the temperature of conductive knitted fabrics in different courses and different wales. One important parameter of fabrics, which reflects how the electrical resistance of a fabric changes in percentage corresponding to the temperature change and is independent of the sizes of the fabrics, is the β value ([Formula: see text], where k, α, R0 are the electrical resistance decrease speed, thermal diffusivity and initial resistance of the fabrics). By analyzing the β value, initial resistance R0 and thermal diffusivity α of the fabrics, satisfactory simulation of the experimental data was achieved by using the model, which indicates that the model can be used in temperature control in future applications.
The Effects of Probation or Parole Agent Relationship Style and Women Offenders’ Criminogenic Needs on Offenders’ Responses to Supervision Interactions
Authors: Morash Merry , Kashy Deborah A. , Smith Sandi W. , Cobbina Jennifer E.
Published: October 2014

Although prior research revealed that in noncorrectional and correctional settings, staff relationship style affects client outcomes, there has been little study of this effect for women offenders. The present study investigated effects of two dimensions of relationship style (probation or parole agent–reported supportiveness and punitiveness) on female clients’ reports of responding to interactions with their agents with anxiety, reactance, and a sense of self-efficacy to avoid a criminal lifestyle. Results of a longitudinal study of 330 women on probation or parole revealed that agent supportiveness elicited lower anxiety and reactance and higher crime-avoidance self-efficacy. Agent punitiveness elicited greater anxiety and crime-avoidance self-efficacy. Moderation effect analysis showed that punitive style was most related to anxiety and reactance for women at lowest risk for reoffending. In contrast, supportiveness was most related to positive outcomes for the highest risk women. The research findings suggest areas for future theory development and approaches to effective correctional practice.
Assailing the Competition
Authors: Ainsworth Sarah E. , Maner Jon K.
Published: October 2014

Throughout history, men have tended to be more violent than women. Evolutionary theories suggest that this sex difference derives in part from their historically greater need to compete with other men over access to potential mates. In the current research, men and women (Experiment 1) or men only (Experiments 2 and 3) underwent a mating motive prime or control prime, and then performed a task designed to measure aggression toward a same-sex partner. The mating prime increased aggression among men, but not women (Experiment 1). Furthermore, mating-related increases in aggression were directed only toward men who were depicted as viable intrasexual rivals, including a dominant (vs. non-dominant) male partner (Experiment 2) and a man who was depicted as single (versus married) and looking for a mate (Experiment 3). This research provides a picture of male intrasexual aggression as highly selective and aimed strategically at asserting one’s dominance over sexual rivals.
Estimating and interpreting latent variable interactions
Authors: Maslowsky Julie , Jager Justin , Hemken Douglas
Published: October 2014

Latent variables are common in psychological research. Research questions involving the interaction of two variables are likewise quite common. Methods for estimating and interpreting interactions between latent variables within a structural equation modeling framework have recently become available. The latent moderated structural equations (LMS) method is one that is built into Mplus software. The potential utility of this method is limited by the fact that the models do not produce traditional model fit indices, standardized coefficients, or effect sizes for the latent interaction, which renders model fitting and interpretation of the latent variable interaction difficult. This article compiles state-of-the-science techniques for assessing LMS model fit, obtaining standardized coefficients, and determining the size of the latent interaction effect in order to create a tutorial for new users of LMS models. The recommended sequence of model estimation and interpretation is demonstrated via a substantive example and a Monte Carlo simulation. Finally, extensions of this method are discussed, such as estimating quadratic effects of latent factors and interactions between latent slope and intercept factors, which hold significant potential for testing and advancing developmental theories.
The effect of whole body vibration on balance, gait performance and mobility in people with stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Xiaotian , Wang Pu , Liu Chuan , He Chengqi , Reinhardt Jan D
Published: October 2014

Objective:

To examine the effect of whole body vibration on balance, gait performance and mobility among people with stroke.

Method:

A systematic review was conducted by two independent reviewers who completed the article search and selection. We included randomized controlled trials published in English examining effects of whole body vibration on balance, gait, mobility, muscle strength and muscle tone in adults with a clinical diagnosis of stroke. Articles were excluded if they were research studies on people with other primary diagnosis, abstracts published in the conferences or books. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the selected studies.

Data source:

Sources included Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Pubmed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PEDro, PsycINFO, Science Citation Index, ClinicalTrials.gov, Current Controlled Trials, Stroke Trials Registry, and reference lists of all relevant articles.

Result:

Eight randomized controlled trials (nine articles) involving 271 participants were included in this meta-analysis. No significant improvement was found regarding Berg balance scale (SMD=-0.08, 95%CI=-1.35 to 1.19, P=0.91), mobility (SMD=0.45, 95%CI=-0.46 to 1.37, P=0.33), maximal isometric contracion of knee extension strength (SMD=0.23, 95%CI=-0.27 to 0.74, P=0.36), and maximal isometric contracion of knee extension strength (SMD=0.09, 95%CI=-0.38 to 0.56, P=0.71).

Conclusion:

There was no evidence for effects of whole body vibration on balance in people with stroke. Effects of whole body vibration on mobility and gait performance remain inconclusive. More large and high-quality trials are required.
A study of influence of interference phenomenon on stagger spinning of thin-walled tube
Authors: Ge Ting , Wang Jin , Lu Guo-Dong , Pan Guo-Jun
Published: October 2014

In this article, a unique phenomenon called position and inclination interference in stagger spinning process is characterized and investigated. A series of trials are presented to illustrate the causality of visible bulge and concave of wall thickness between position interference, as well as the imbalance and oscillation of roller force. Also, effects of inclination interference have been discussed. Finally, formulae of roller interval selection without interference phenomenon are derived based on the characteristics of position and inclination interference to help exclude invalid combination of roller intervals and guide selection of inclination of roller and blank, which will effectively reduce the amounts of invalid experiments or simulations.
Expectations and beliefs in science communication: Learning from three European gene therapy discussions of the early 1990s
Authors: Meyer Gitte
Published: October 2014

There is widespread agreement that the potential of gene therapy was oversold in the early 1990s. This study, however, comparing written material from the British, Danish and German gene therapy discourses of the period finds significant differences: Over-optimism was not equally strong everywhere; gene therapy was not universally hyped. Against that background, attention is directed towards another area of variation in the material: different basic assumptions about science and scientists. Exploring such culturally rooted assumptions and beliefs and their possible significance to science communication practices, it is argued that deep beliefs may constitute drivers of hype that are particularly difficult to deal with. To participants in science communication, the discouragement of hype, viewed as a practical–ethical challenge, can be seen as a learning exercise that includes critical attention to internalised beliefs.
Public understanding of cyclone warning in India: Can wind be predicted?
Authors: Dash Biswanath
Published: October 2014

In spite of meteorological warning, many human lives are lost every year to cyclone mainly because vulnerable populations were not evacuated on time to a safe shelter as per recommendation. It raises several questions, most prominently what explains people’s behaviour in the face of such danger from a cyclonic storm? How do people view meteorological advisories issued for cyclone and what role they play in defining the threat? What shapes public response during such situation? This article based on an ethnographic study carried out in coastal state of Odisha, India, argues that local public recognising inherent limitations of meteorological warning, fall back on their own system of observation and forecasting. Not only are the contents of cyclone warning understood, its limitations are accommodated and explained.
Getting started in research: research questions, supervisors and literature reviews
Authors: Macfarlane Matthew D , Kisely Steve , Loi Samantha , Looi Jeffrey C , Merry Sally , Parker Stephen , Power Brian , Siskind Dan , Smith Geoff , Macfarlane Stephen
Published: October 2014

Objectives:

Research can seem daunting, especially for trainees and early career researchers. This paper focuses on how to formulate and begin a research project such as the RANZCP Scholarly Project.

Methods:

We outline an approach to framing a research question, developing theses and hypotheses, choosing a supervisor and conducting a literature review.

Conclusions:

Through systematic planning early career researchers and other clinicians can plan and conduct research suitable for the Scholarly Project or other research activity.
Situational Choice and Crime Events
Authors: Coyne Michelle A. , Eck John E.
Published: October 2014

This article explores offender choice and the concept of rationality. We begin by presenting two traditional perspectives on rationality, the first being the pure economic model and the second being the sociological perspective from traditional criminologists. We then address a potential middle ground known as bounded rationality. This part of the article reviews contemporary developments in brain and cognitive sciences, which shed light on the complexity of how people make choices. We then question the usefulness of the term rational choice and instead suggest that situational choice may be a more useful term. We conclude by using situational choice to link crime science and life course/developmental perspectives and discuss broad applications of situational choice.
Offender Searches and Crime Events
Authors: Gialopsos Brooke Miller , Carter J. W.
Published: October 2014

This article explores how several prominent theories explain how and where crime events occur. In particular, rational choice, lifestyle-routine activities, crime pattern, and multilevel opportunity theories are applied to offender searches for targets. Examples from qualitative and quantitative works are used to illustrate these theoretical concepts as applied to offenders’ target selection and journey to crime. While both of these types of studies help to shed light on these topics, the ethnographic works have been particularly instrumental in understanding offenders’ searches for targets. Finally, new directions or suggestions for future research are discussed, mainly the application to school shootings (or other mass murders) and online crimes.
Informal Social Control and Crime Events
Authors: Groff Elizabeth R.
Published: October 2014

Informal social control at micro-level places such as addresses, collections of addresses, and streetblocks is a critical factor in understanding crime patterns. Historically, informal social control has been associated with community-level theories such as social disorganization, systemic theory, and collective efficacy. This article reviews several important streams of literature that address the role of informal social control in controlling crime at micro-level places. It begins with opportunity theories such as rational choice, routine activity, and crime pattern theories, which mention informal social control as playing a role in crime control. More detailed treatment of the role of informal social control is offered by theoretical work addressing “eyes on the street” and human territorial functioning. Together, these various theoretical perspectives provide the basis for the specification of mechanisms that reflect how informal social control can prevent crime events. The article explains each theory, discusses the spatial scale at which the dynamics operate, highlights gaps in the current body of knowledge, and proposes a two-pronged research path forward.
General Multilevel Opportunity and Crime Events
Authors: Tillyer Marie Skubak
Published: October 2014

General multilevel opportunity theory draws from a range of existing opportunity theories that collectively account for variation in criminal opportunity across various levels of analysis. The theory, which is inclusive in its conceptualization of criminal opportunity, specifies macro- and micro-influences and their interactive effects. There is a growing body of multilevel victimization research that supports the propositions of the theory. To date, however, general multilevel opportunity theory has been underutilized as a theory of crime events and situational prevention. This article describes general multilevel opportunity theory, reviews its empirical status, and offers new extensions and applications of the theory for crime-event research and situational prevention.
The Search for Suitable Homicide Co-Offenders Among Gang Members
Authors: McCuish Evan C. , Bouchard Martin , Corrado Raymond R.
Published: October 2014

Little is known about homicide co-offending networks at the individual gang member level. Of particular interest is whether and to what degree gang members who are selected to participate in murder are different from those who are not. The current study constructed the co-offense network of 18 participants from the Incarcerated Serious and Violent Young Offender Study who were identified as members of a prominent gang within British Columbia, Canada, referred to as the BC Gang. This gang started to form not long before seven offenders together committed a homicide that was orchestrated by the founder and leader of the BC Gang. After this offense, some of these seven offenders became the most central actors within a large network of co-offenders ( n = 137) that was measured at four time periods over a 20-year period. Over this period, a second murder, like the first, was orchestrated by the leader of the BC Gang, offering a rare glimpse into the co-offending recruitment decisions made by a high ranking gang member for two separate homicides. Although only 25% of the 137 co-offenders are BC gang members ( n = 35), 100% of the offenders selected for a homicide were members of this gang ( n = 13). The network contained 8 separate components at the final measurement period, but all 13 homicide offenders were connected to the same network component of 48 individuals.
The Workgroup Emotional Climate Scale
Authors: Liu Xiao-Yu , Härtel Charmine E. J. , Sun James Jian-Min
Published: October 2014

This article reports two studies aimed at developing a theory-based multidimensional measure of workgroup emotional climate (WEC) and exploring its relationship with workgroup effectiveness. In Study 1, a four-factor theory of WEC is derived from a review of the climate and emotions literature, followed by the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods to operationalize the model and develop a survey measure. An initial sample of 396 workgroup members provided the data for the exploratory factor analysis and item response theory analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of data from another sample of 334 workgroup members further confirmed the proposed structure. In Study 2, multilevel CFA of data collected from 840 workgroup members from 148 workgroups provided construct, consensual, and discriminant validity. We also examined the relationship between WEC and workgroup effectiveness. The resulting four-factor, 16-item measure demonstrated robust psychometric properties, with acceptable levels of reliability and validity.
Weight Status, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity
Authors: Minges Karl E. , Chao Ariana , Nam Soohyun , Grey Margaret , Whittemore Robin
Published: October 2014

Healthy behaviors including limited screen time (ST), high physical activity (PA), and adequate fruits and vegetables consumption (FV) are recommended for adolescents, but it is unclear how gender, race/ethnicity, and weight status relate to these public health guidelines in diverse urban adolescents. Participants ( N = 384) were recruited from three public high schools in or near New Haven, Connecticut. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Most adolescents exceeded recommended levels of ST (70.5%) and did not meet guidelines for PA (87.2%) and FV (72.6%). Only 3.5% of the sample met all three guidelines. Boys were more likely to meet guidelines for PA ( p < .01), while girls were engaged in less ST ( p < .001). Black, non-Latinos were less likely to meet PA guidelines ( p < .05). There were no significant differences in meeting ST, PA, or FV guidelines by weight status for the overall sample or when stratified by gender or race/ethnicity. We found alarmingly low levels of healthy behaviors in normal weight and overweight/obese adolescents.
Technosphere Insulin (Afrezza)
Authors: Nuffer Wesley , Trujillo Jennifer M. , Ellis Samuel L.
Published: October 2014

Objective: To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of Technosphere insulin (TI), a new inhaled insulin product. Data Sources: Searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scientific Citation Index, and abstracts from both the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meetings from 2005 to August 2014, utilizing the search terms Afrezza, Technosphere, Afresa, and inhaled insulin. References were reviewed to identify additional sources. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Studies with adequate sample sizes, evaluating clinically relevant end points were included. Data Synthesis: TI is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a bolus insulin to treat patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Its glucose-lowering properties are less than that of rapid-acting insulins, but it does demonstrate less hypoglycemia. TI’s kinetics make it the fastest absorbed of any insulin available, although its overall onset of action appears similar to insulin lispro. It represents an alternative to bolus injections but would likely be used concomitantly with injected basal insulin. Major adverse effects are respiratory in nature, with cough being the most prominent. There is a small decrease in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) with TI; this appears to be consistent, nonprogressive, and reversible. Patients using TI must receive pulmonary function tests periodically throughout therapy. TI is contraindicated in patients with chronic lung disease and should be used with caution in patients who smoke. Conclusion: TI is a novel inhaled insulin that provides prandial coverage to patients with diabetes, representing an alternative to bolus insulin injections.
The Relationship of Personality Type, Problem-Solving Appraisal, and Learning Strategies
Authors: Ginevra Maria Cristina , Nota Laura , Heppner Puncky Paul , Heppner Mary , Soresi Salvatore
Published: October 2014

The present study examined the relationship between problem-solving appraisal (problem-solving inventory), various personality styles (Myers–Briggs Type Indicator), and learning strategies. Specifically, it was hypothesized that problem solving appraisal would mediate, fully or partially, the relationship between personality styles and learning strategies. A total of 577 Italian adolescents (187 boys and 390 girls), aged 17–19 years, were involved. Results obtained confirmed that problem-solving appraisal was a significant mediator of the relationship between personality styles and learning strategies. These results have important implications for practice and underscore that specific problem-solving training may improve critical learning strategies for Italian youth with extroversion, intuition, thinking, and judgment personality styles.
A study for stainless steel fan blade design with metal foam core
Authors: Min James B , Ghosn Louis J , Lerch Bradley A
Published: October 2014

The pursuit for cheap, low-density and high-performance materials in the design of aircraft engine blades raises wide-ranging challenges to the materials and structural design engineers. Traditionally, these components have been fabricated using expensive materials such as lightweight titanium alloys and polymer composite materials composites. The present study investigates the use of a sandwich foam fan blade made of solid face sheets and a metal foam core. The face sheets and the metal foam core material were an aerospace grade precipitation-hardened 17-4 stainless steel with high strength and high toughness. The stiffness of the sandwich structure is increased by separating the two face sheets by a foam core. The resulting structure possesses a high stiffness while being lighter than a similar solid construction. Since the face sheets carry the applied bending loads, the sandwich architecture is a viable engineering concept. The material properties of 17-4 precipitation-hardened metal foam are briefly reviewed to describe the characteristics of the sandwich structure for a fan blade application. Vibration characteristics and design criteria on the 17-4 precipitation-hardened metal foam core sandwich blade design with different combinations of skin thickness and core volume are presented with a comparison to a solid titanium blade.
Research on the energy absorption properties of aluminum foam composite panels with enhanced ribs subjected to uniform distributed loading
Authors: Xie Beixin , Tang Liqun , Liu Yiping , Liu Zejia , Jiang Zhenyu
Published: October 2014

A new design of aluminum foam composite panels with enhanced ribs was proposed, and the energy absorption property of it was analyzed by combining dynamic testing and numerical simulation. The optimization of aluminum foam composite panels with enhanced ribs was investigated assuming that the panels had the same total mass. An Instron drop hammer test machine was used to study the dynamic compressive behavior of the new composite panels and the impact deformation characteristics of the components. Finite element method (FEM) software was employed to simulate the loading process, and the simulation results were compared with the experimental data for validating the reliability of the model. The effect of rib-mass ratio on the energy absorption property was investigated, and the energy absorption capacities of the new composite panels and conventional sandwiches were compared at different impact velocities. The analysis shows that, compared with conventional sandwich panels, aluminum foam composite panels with enhanced ribs have better energy absorption subjected to uniform distributed loading; and both rib-mass ratio and impact velocity have an effect on the normalized energy absorption. The results of this study can be a reference for related academic research and engineering application.
Correlation Between Body Temperature and Survival Rate in Patients With Hospital-Acquired Bacteremia
Authors: Dai Yu-Tzu , Lu Shu-Hua , Chen Yee-Chun , Ko Wen-Je
Published: October 2014

Background:

Fever is a complex and major sign of a patient’s acute response to infection. However, analysis of the risks and benefits associated with the change in body temperature of an infected host remains controversial.

Objective:

To examine the relationship between the intensity of the change in body temperature and the mortality of patients with hospital-acquired bacteremia.

Design:

A prospective observational study.

Method:

Subjects were hospitalized adult patients who developed clinical signs of infection 48 hr or more after admission and had documented bacterial growth in blood culture. The maximum body temperature (maxTe) during the early period of infection measurements (i.e., the day before, the day of, and 2 days after the day of blood culture) was used to indicate the intensity of the body temperature response. Patients were categorized as discharged alive or died in hospital. Cox regression analysis was employed to analyze the data.

Results:

The cohort consisted of 502 subjects. The mean maxTe of subjects was 38.6°C, and 14.9% had a maxTe lower than 38.0°C. The in-hospital mortality rate was 18.9%. The highest in-hospital mortality was found in subjects with a maxTe lower than 38°C (30.7%). Multivariate Cox regression analysis determined that the maxTe and the severity of comorbidity are the two variables associated with in-hospital mortality.

Conclusions:

Lack of a robust febrile response may be associated with greater risk of mortality in patients with bacteremia. Clinicians must be vigilant in identifying patients at risk for a blunted febrile response to bacteremia for more intensive monitoring.
Sustained prognostic implications of newly detected glucose abnormalities in patients with acute myocardial infarction: Long-term follow-up of the Glucose Tolerance in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction cohort
Authors: Ritsinger Viveca , Tanoglidi Eleni , Malmberg Klas , Näsman Per , Rydén Lars , Tenerz Åke , Norhammar Anna
Published: October 2014

Objective:

To investigate long-term prognostic importance of newly discovered glucose disturbances in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods:

During 1998–2001, consecutive patients with AMI (n = 167) and healthy controls (n = 184) with no previously known diabetes were investigated with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Patients and controls were separately followed up for cardiovascular events (first of cardiovascular mortality/AMI/stroke/heart failure) during a decade.

Results:

In all, 68% of the patients and 35% of the controls had newly detected abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT). Cardiovascular event (n = 72, p = 0.0019) and cardiovascular mortality (n = 31, p = 0.031) were more frequent in patients with newly detected AGT. Regarding patients, a Cox proportional-hazard regression analysis identified AGT (hazard ratio (HR): 2.30; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24–4.25; p = 0.008) and previous AMI (HR: 2.39; CI: 1.31–4.35; p = 0.004) as prognostically important.

Conclusion:

An OGTT at discharge after AMI disclosed a high proportion of patients with previously unknown AGT which had a significant and independent association with long-term prognosis.
How Do Somatic Markers Feature in Decision Making?
Authors: Bartol Jordan , Linquist Stefan
Published: October 2014

Several recent criticisms of the somatic marker hypothesis (SMH) identify multiple ambiguities in the way it has been formulated by its chief proponents. Here we provide evidence that this hypothesis has also been interpreted in various different ways by the scientific community. Our diagnosis of this problem is that SMH lacks an adequate computational-level account of practical decision making. Such an account is necessary for drawing meaningful links between neurological- and psychological-level data. The article concludes by providing a simple, five-step model of practical decision making. Recasting SMH in terms of this model generates more precise and empirically tractable computational-level hypotheses about the various ways that somatic markers might influence practical decisions.
The role and utility of faecal markers in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Lehmann Frank S. , Burri Emanuel , Beglinger Christoph
Published: October 2014

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are characterized by periods of symptomatic relapse and remission. Diagnosis and assessment of inflammatory bowel disease has so far been based on clinical evaluation, serum parameters, radiology and endoscopy. Faecal markers such as calprotectin or lactoferrin have emerged as new diagnostic tools to detect and monitor intestinal inflammation. This review focuses on their potential clinical applications and limitations in the management of inflammatory bowel disease.
Participatory health research within a prison setting: a qualitative analysis of ‘Paragraphs of passion’
Authors: Ramsden Vivian , Martin Ruth , McMillan Jennifer , Granger-Brown Alison , Tole Brenda
Published: October 2014

The purpose of this research was to engage, empower and enhance the health and well-being of incarcerated women. The integration of primary health care, community-based participatory research, a settings approach to health promotion, and transformative action research guided the design of this study. A partnership between incarcerated women who became peer-researchers, correctional staff, and academic researchers facilitated the equitable contribution of expertise and decision-making by all partners. The study was conducted in a short sentence (two years or less), minimum/medium security Canadian women’s correctional centre. Of the approximately 200 women that joined the research team, 115 participated in writing a ‘paragraph of passion’ while incarcerated between November, 2005 and August, 2007. Participatory, inductive qualitative, narrative and content analysis were used to illuminate four themes: expertise, transformation, building self-esteem, as well as access and support. The women organized monthly health forums in the prison to share their new knowledge and life experience with other incarcerated women, correctional staff, academics, and community members, and in doing so have built bridges and relationships, some of which have lasted to the present day.
Ethnographies of pain: culture, context and complexity
Authors: Gooberman-Hill Rachael
Published: October 2014

This article briefly introduces and discusses the value of ethnographic research, particularly research hailing from the discipline of social and cultural anthropology. After an introduction to ethnography in general, key ethnographic studies of pain are described. These show that ethnography provides a set of techniques for data collection and analysis, as well as a way of thinking about pain as socially and culturally embedded. Modern ethnographic writing is far removed from the literature of the past that sometimes described stereotypes rather than process and complexity. Ethnography provides the chance to describe the complexity and nuance of culture, which serves to counter stereotypes. The article concludes with an example from pain research conducted in a clinical setting. Through the use of ethnographic techniques, the research study provided greater insight than other methods alone might have achieved. The article includes references for further reading should readers be interested in developing their engagement with ethnographic method and interpretation.
Cocaine Intoxication and Thyroid Storm
Authors: Lacy Mary E. , Utzschneider Kristina M.
Published: October 2014

Introduction. Cocaine, a widely used sympathomimetic drug, causes thermoregulatory and cardiac manifestations that can mimic a life-threatening thyroid storm. Case. A man presented to the emergency department requesting only cocaine detoxification. He reported symptoms over the last few years including weight loss and diarrhea, which he attributed to ongoing cocaine use. On presentation he had an elevated temperature of 39.4°C and a heart rate up to 130 beats per minute. Examination revealed the presence of an enlarged, nontender goiter with bilateral continuous bruits. He was found to have thyrotoxicosis by labs and was treated for thyroid storm and cocaine intoxication concurrently. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with Graves’ disease and treated with iodine-131 therapy. Conclusion. Cocaine use should be considered a possible trigger for thyroid storm. Recognition of thyroid storm is critical because of the necessity for targeted therapy and the significant mortality associated with the condition if left untreated.