bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The kinetic model of pilling revisited
Authors: Naylor Geoffrey RS , Aïssani Nasser , Ramsay Donald J
Published: August 2010

The current paper revisits the simplified two step kinetic model of pilling and identifies an implicit assumption made by previous workers in the application of the model to experimental data. Relaxing this assumption potentially allows a paradigm shift in the understanding of the pilling process with quite different interpretations and conclusions drawn from the analysis of experimental pilling data. In the case of wool knitwear, the original implicit assumption is tested experimentally and found to be invalid. A reanalysis of the pilling behavior of wool knitwear reveals new insights into the process. First, the mass of fiber associated with pilling is approximately twenty times larger than previously thought and pilling is the primary mechanism associated with fiber loss during the pilling test, compared to Williams’ conclusion that pilling accounted for only approximately 4% of the mass loss. Secondly, the non-pillable fiber loss fraction is both relatively small and is limited to the early stages of the pilling test, indicative of this being associated with a relatively small percentage of fiber that is not securely held in the structure (e.g. perhaps predominately a short fiber fraction). More generally, this reinterpretation significantly changes the relative importance of the two conceptual steps in the pilling process and so gives new insights regarding likely beneficial approaches for managing pilling.
A study on the relationship between irregularity and hairiness of spun yarns
Authors: Zhigang Xia  , Hongshan Wang  , Xin Wang  , Wenxiang Ye  , Weilin Xu
Published: August 2010

In this study, Photoshop software was used to do image analysis on the photos of spun yarns. The result showed that yarn could be divided into two parts: the surface hairs and the stem. Based on this finding, a mathematical model of yarn unevenness was built to analyze the relationship between yarn unevenness and surface hairiness. The relationships among the coefficients of mass variance of the yarn, the stem and the surface hairs, expressed as CVt, CVs and CVh, respectively, were investigated in detail. Results indicate that the CVs of an uneven yarn always coincides with the irregularity of the yarn hairiness. More specifically, the CVt of a yarn cannot be better than those of both yarn hairiness and stem (CVh and CVs), even if one of them is excessive. It is rare for CV t to be higher than CVs after removal of yarn hairs. In particular, it is irrational for the CVt value to be higher than both CV s and CVh, which prompts a rethinking of the exact distribution of yarn hairs on the yarn body.
A particle swarm optimization-based state estimation scheme for moving objects
Authors: Lee T.-E. , Su J.-P. , Yu K.-W.
Published: August 2010

The α − β and α − β − γ filters based on the Kalman-like estimation scheme have been recognized as outstanding tools for estimating position, velocity and acceleration signals of moving objects. Nevertheless, the performance of estimation heavily depends on the parameters α, β, and γ. In general, the choice of parameters is a trade-off multi-objective optimization problem between the tracking accuracy and noise suppression capability. In this paper, a weighted particle swarm optimization (PSO) method is proposed to help search globally optimal parameter values in parameter space to meet some specifications. A numerical example is employed to illustrate the developed optimum estimation scheme, which is capable of tracking the desired signals accurately and, at the same time, reducing the noise disturbance remarkably. In order to test practically the effectiveness of the estimation scheme, an experimental apparatus, named twin rotor system, will be used as a test bed to demonstrate its performance. The experimental results strongly suggest that the PSO-based state estimators are encouraging for practical applications.
A parallel stereo vision-based 3D pneumatic arm
Authors: Wang Ying T. , Wong Ray-Hwa , Liu Chao-Yi
Published: August 2010

Two parallel installed CCDs are used to capture the stereo photo vision of a three-dimensional (3D) pneumatic arm. The parallel stereo vision can be adapted for the 3D pneumatic arm’s feedback control signals via the stereo triangulation and co-ordinate transformation. Since the imaging process restricts the sampling rate, a self-organizing sliding-mode fuzzy controller is implemented to simplify the fuzzy rules to reduce the computer load and its learning mechanism can optimize fuzzy rules online to improve the control performance. The objective of this paper is to compare the measuring accuracy and control performance of non-contacted vision-based and contacted encoder-based 3D pneumatic arms, and then justify the feasibility of this parallel stereo vision-based 3D pneumatic arm by a variety of trajectory tracking experiments.
A composite speed controller based on a second-order model of permanent magnet synchronous motor system
Authors: Shihua Li  , Kai Zong  , Huixian Liu
Published: August 2010

The speed-regulation problem for a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) servo system is studied in this paper. In traditional control design for a speed loop, a first-order model is used to approximately describe the relationship between the reference quadrature axis current and the speed output, i.e. the reference quadrature axis current is regarded as the same as the quadrature axis current. This approximation degrades the closed-loop performance of PMSM system when using a vector control scheme. To this end, a second-order model is built to describe the relationship between the reference quadrature axis current and the speed output for a PMSM system. Based on this second-order model, a standard sliding mode controller is designed for the speed loop. Then, to reduce the chattering and improve the performance of the system, a composite controller consisting of a sliding mode feedback part and a disturbance compensation part based on an extended state observer are developed. Simulation and experiment results and comparisons are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Discovering Client and Intervention Patterns in Home Visiting Data
Authors: Monsen Karen A. , Banerjee Arindam , Das Puja
Published: August 2010

Family home visiting is a widely accepted strategy used with disadvantaged families to mitigate the effects of poverty. However, gaps persist in knowledge of effective intervention approaches for home visiting relative to specific client risks such as parenting and psychosocial problems. The purpose of this study was to inductively create clusters from electronic health records of 484 public health nursing clients, using client characteristics and intervention data. Four clinically relevant client clusters were generated using Mixed Membership Naïve Bayes methods. Fourteen distinct intervention clusters were generated using KMETIS, a graph partitioning method. The content of the intervention clusters illustrates the complexity of public health nursing practice. This study leverages current nursing documentation technology capacity to advance nursing knowledge. Future research is needed to explore relationships between client and intervention clusters and their associations with client outcomes, with the end goals of improving home visiting practice and client outcomes.
Reproductive Decisions in People With Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Trait
Authors: Gallo Agatha M. , Wilkie Diana , Suarez Marie , Labotka Richard , Molokie Robert , Thompson Alexis , Hershberger Patricia , Johnson Bonnye
Published: August 2010

In the context of an inherited condition such as sickle cell disease (SCD), it is critical to understand how people with SCD or carriers (sickle cell trait [SCT]) face the challenges of making informed reproductive health decisions. The purpose of this analysis was to examine the beliefs, attitudes, and personal feelings of people with sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait related to making informed reproductive health decisions. Three focus groups were conducted with a total of 15 people who had either SCD or SCT. Five themes were identified: health-related issues in sickle cell disease, testing for sickle cell trait, partner choice, sharing sickle cell status with partners, and reproductive options. These findings enhance understanding of the reproductive experiences in people with SCD and SCT and provide the groundwork for developing an educational intervention focused on making informed decisions about becoming a parent.
Factors Associated With Increased Pain Communication by Older Adults
Authors: Shea Maura , McDonald Deborah Dillon
Published: August 2010

The purpose of this secondary analysis study was to identify factors associated with increased pain communication by older adults. Data were obtained from 312 older adults with osteoarthritis pain. Content analysis was conducted using criteria from the American Pain Society’s “Guidelines for the Management of Pain in Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Juvenile Chronic Arthritis” to identify important pain management information described by the older adults in response to general questions about their pain. Gender was the only factor associated with increased pain communication from the predictor variables of age, education, gender, ethnicity, race, marital status, pain intensity, functional pain interference, treatment from a practitioner for arthritis and for pain, and pain relief. The lack of association between pain communication and factors such as pain intensity suggests that practitioners should routinely elicit specific pain information from older adults who have a history of chronic painful conditions such as osteoarthritis.
A Questionnaire for Assessing Community Health Nurses’ Learning Needs
Authors: Akhtar-Danesh Noori , Valaitis Ruta K. , Schofield Ruth , Underwood Jane , Martin-Misener Ruth , Baumann Andrea , Kolotylo Camille
Published: August 2010

Learning needs assessment is an important stage of every educational process that aims to inform changes in practice and policy for continuing professional development. Professional competencies have been widely used as a basis for the development of learning needs assessment. The Canadian Community Health Nursing Standards of Practices (CCHN Standards) were released in 2003. However, it is not known whether community health nurses (CHNs) have the educational background to enable them to meet these standards. This article reports on the development of a learning needs assessment questionnaire for CHNs. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to examine the consistency of factors underpinning the CCHN Standards. Also, validity and reliability of the questionnaire were evaluated using appropriate techniques. This process resulted in a valid and reliable CHN learning needs assessment questionnaire to measure learning needs of large groups of practitioners, where other forms of measurement cannot be feasibly conducted.
A randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of craniosacral therapy on pain and heart rate variability in fibromyalgia patients
Authors: Castro-Sánchez Adelaida María , Matarán-Peñarrocha Guillermo A , Sánchez-Labraca Nuria , Quesada-Rubio José Manuel , Granero-Molina José , Moreno-Lorenzo Carmen
Published: August 2010

Context: Fibromyalgia is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder associated with widespread mechanical tenderness, fatigue, non-refreshing sleep, depressed mood and pervasive dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system: tachycardia, postural intolerance, Raynaud’s phenomenon and diarrhoea.

Objective: To determine the effects of craniosacral therapy on sensitive tender points and heart rate variability in patients with fibromyalgia.

Design: A randomized controlled trial.

Subjects: Ninety-two patients with fibromyalgia were randomly assigned to an intervention group or placebo group.

Interventions: Patients received treatments for 20 weeks. The intervention group underwent a craniosacral therapy protocol and the placebo group received sham treatment with disconnected magnetotherapy equipment.

Main measures: Pain intensity levels were determined by evaluating tender points, and heart rate variability was recorded by 24-hour Holter monitoring.

Results: After 20 weeks of treatment, the intervention group showed significant reduction in pain at 13 of the 18 tender points ( P < 0.05). Significant differences in temporal standard deviation of RR segments, root mean square deviation of temporal standard deviation of RR segments and clinical global impression of improvement versus baseline values were observed in the intervention group but not in the placebo group. At two months and one year post therapy, the intervention group showed significant differences versus baseline in tender points at left occiput, left-side lower cervical, left epicondyle and left greater trochanter and significant differences in temporal standard deviation of RR segments, root mean square deviation of temporal standard deviation of RR segments and clinical global impression of improvement.

Conclusion: Craniosacral therapy improved medium-term pain symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia.
The effect of electrical stimulation in combination with Bobath techniques in the prevention of shoulder subluxation in acute stroke patients
Authors: Fil Ayla , Armutlu Kadriye , Atay Ahmet Ozgur , Kerimoglu Ulku , Elibol Bulent
Published: August 2010

Objective: To examine the efficiency of electrical stimulation in combination with Bobath techniques in the prevention of inferior and anterior shoulder subluxation in acute stroke patients.

Design: A prospective randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Intensive care unit and inpatient clinics of neurology in a university hospital.

Subjects: Forty-eight patients with acute stroke, divided equally into control and study groups.

Intervention: Subjects in both groups were treated in accordance with the Bobath concept during the early hospitalization period. In addition to Bobath techniques, electrical stimulation was also applied to the supraspinatus muscle, mid and posterior portions of the deltoid muscle of patients in the study group.

Main measures: Two radiological methods were used to measure the horizontal, vertical and total asymmetry and vertical distance values of the shoulder joint. Motor functions of the arm were evaluated with the Motor Assessment Scale.

Results: The hospitalization period was 12.62 ± 2.24 days for the control group and 11.66 ± 1.88 days for the study group. Shoulder subluxation occurred in 9 (37.5%) subjects in the control group, whereas it was not observed in the study group. All shoulder joint displacement values were higher in the control group than in the study group (horizontal asymmetry P = 0.0001, vertical asymmetry P = 0.0001, total asymmetry P = 0.0001, vertical range P = 0.002).

Conclusion: Application of electrical stimulation combined with the Bobath approach proved to be efficient in preventing inferior and anterior shoulder subluxation in the acute stages of stroke.
Preoperative Factors Correlating with Prolonged Range of Motion Deficit after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Quelard Bénédicte , Sonnery-Cottet Bertrand , Zayni Rachad , Ogassawara Roger , Prost Thierry , Chambat Pierre
Published: August 2010

Background

Impaired postoperative range of motion remains one of the most frequent complications after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Purpose

This study was undertaken to determine the preoperative factors associated with prolonged range of motion deficit after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

Between January 2007 and March 2008, a consecutive series of 217 patients underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and were reviewed at 6 weeks and 3 months after surgery. In this series, all data of patients who required a further surgery for arthrolysis until December 2009 were studied. Goniometric range of motion measurement was performed the day before surgery and at 6 weeks and 3 months postoperatively. Bone contusions were analyzed on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). All MRI scans were performed in the 6 months before surgery. Seven potential risk factors—age, sex, limited preoperative range of motion, meniscal lesions, bone contusion(s), operative delay less than 45 days, and rehabilitation—were assessed using univariate analysis. The correlations between the significant factors previously identified were analyzed further using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

Limited preoperative range of motion (P < .001), typical bone contusions of the lateral compartment (P < .001), operative delay less than 45 days (P = .003), and female sex (P = .049) were found to be significantly correlated with delayed recovery. The limited preoperative mobility and the presence of typical contusions were strongly correlated (P < .001). In the group of patients who underwent surgery within 45 days, delayed recovery was strongly correlated with limited preoperative mobility (P = .0008) and to the presence of typical contusions (P < .001). Arthrolysis was correlated with delayed range of motion (odds ratio [OR], 8.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9-50; P =.001) and bone bruise (OR, 7.6; 95% CI, 1.7-46.1; P = .002).

Conclusion

Preoperative limited range of motion and typical bone bruises of the lateral femoral condyle and tibial plateau are major risk factors for a difficult rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Prevalence of Nonanatomical Graft Placement in a Series of Failed Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructions
Authors: Marchant Bryant G. , Noyes Frank R. , Barber-Westin Sue D. , Fleckenstein Cassie
Published: August 2010

Background

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction employing transtibial tunnel techniques may result in less than ideal femoral and tibial vertical graft placement, with a residual pivot shift and instability symptoms.

Hypothesis

Nonanatomical graft placement is highly prevalent among knees with failed primary and revision anterior cruciate ligament grafts.

Study Design

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

A total of 122 consecutive patients presented to the authors’ center with a failed anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, and operative reports were used to define graft placement. Arthroscopic confirmation of graft placement was obtained in 92 knees during subsequent revision surgery. A nonanatomical graft placement was assigned when ≥50% of the graft was outside of the native tibial and femoral insertions. All patients prospectively completed Cincinnati Knee Rating System questionnaires.

Results

A nonanatomical graft placement occurred in 107 of 122 (88%) knees; 61% of the grafts were entirely on the intercondylar femoral roof, and 35% extended posterior to the anterior cruciate ligament tibial attachment. A transtibial technique had been used in 83%. The mean values for the coronal and sagittal graft placement showed a significantly increased vertical orientation in comparison with a control group (P < .01). Forty-two of the 107 nonanatomical grafts had undergone 1 or more revisions without correction of the misplaced graft tunnels, and these subsequently failed.

Conclusion

The occurrence of nonanatomical graft placement in primary and revision knees may represent an inadequacy of transtibial tunnel drilling techniques to obtain graft placement within the native femoral and tibial footprints. In revision cases, the prior graft location requires close scrutiny so the new graft tunnels are placed at the native anterior cruciate ligament attachments. Independent drilling of tibial and femoral tunnels is recommended using either 2-incision or anteromedial portal techniques.
Clinical Results of Arthroscopic Single-Bundle Transtibial Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Kim Young-Mo , Lee Cassandra A. , Matava Matthew J.
Published: August 2010

Background: Reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament has traditionally been performed using an arthroscopically assisted single-bundle transtibial technique. Unfortunately, clinical studies evaluating this procedure are rare. In addition, there are no pooled analyses evaluating the effectiveness of this procedure for isolated posterior cruciate ligament tears.

Hypothesis: Patients who undergo arthroscopically assisted, single-bundle, transtibial posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction will exhibit subjective improvement in knee function despite persistent objective knee laxity.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Methods: A structured literature search was performed to identify those clinical studies assessing the results of an arthroscopically assisted single-bundle transtibial posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction for isolated posterior cruciate ligament tears. The published data meeting the inclusion criteria were systematically reviewed with an emphasis on residual posterior laxity, subjective and objective functional outcome, activity level, patient satisfaction, incidence of osteoarthritis, and postoperative complications.

Results: A total of 10 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Mean postoperative instrumented posterior knee laxity varied from 1.96 mm to 5.90 mm, which was considerably improved from preoperative values (range, 8.38-12.3 mm). The range of mean values of the Lysholm knee scores was 81 to 100 points. The overall International Knee Documentation Committee rating was categorized as “normal” or “nearly normal” in 75% of patients and the mean Tegner activity score varied from 4.7 to 6.3 points. Degenerative osteoarthritis was frequently noted at the time of the most recent follow-up. There were few complications reported.

Conclusion: Arthroscopically assisted single-bundle transtibial posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction for isolated posterior cruciate ligament tears can improve posterior knee laxity by 1 grade, although this procedure does not reliably restore normal knee stability. Return to recreational and athletic activity was predictable, with 75% of patients exhibiting a normal or nearly normal objective outcome, although degenerative osteoarthritis was not prevented by this procedure.
Indian Summer Monsoon variations could have affected the early-Holocene woodland expansion in the Near East
Authors: Djamali Morteza , Akhani Hossein , Andrieu-Ponel Valérie , Braconnot Pascale , Brewer Simon , de Beaulieu Jacques-Louis , Fleitmann Dominik , Fleury Jules , Gasse Françoise , Guibal Frédéric , Jackson Stephen T. , Lézine Anne-Marie , Médail Frédéric , Ponel Philippe , Roberts Neil , Stevens Lora
Published: August 2010

Postglacial expansion of deciduous oak woodlands of the Zagros—Anti-Taurus Mountains, a major biome of the Near East, was delayed until the middle Holocene at ~6300 cal. yr BP. The current hypotheses explain this delay as a consequence of a regional aridity during the early Holocene, slow migration rates of forest trees, and/or a long history of land use and agro-pastoralism in this region. In the present paper, support is given to a hypothesis that suggests different precipitation seasonalities during the early Holocene compared with the late Holocene. The oak species of the Zagros—Anti-Taurus Mts, particularly Quercus brantii Lindl., are strongly dependent on spring precipitation for regeneration and are sensitive to a long dry season. Detailed analysis of modern atmospheric circulation patterns in SW Asia during the late spring suggests that the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) intensification can modify the amount of late spring and/or early summer rainfall in western/northwestern Iran and eastern Anatolia, which could in turn have controlled the development of the Zagros—Anti-Taurus deciduous oak woodlands. During the early Holocene, the northwestward shift of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) could have displaced the subtropical anticyclonic belt or associated high pressure ridges to the northwest. The latter could, in turn, have prevented the southeastward penetration of low pressure systems originating from the North Atlantic and Black Sea regions. Such atmospheric configuration could have reduced or eliminated the spring precipitation creating a typical Mediterranean continental climate characterized by winter-dominated precipitation. This scenario highlights the complexity of biome response to climate system interactions in transitional climatic and biogeographical regions.
Barriers to Employment Among Women With Complex Episodic Disabilities
Authors: Vick Andrea , Lightman Ernie
Published: August 2010

The expansion of the global economy, characterized by shifts in the organization of labor markets, has increased demands for flexible employment. Changes from standard, permanent employment relationships to nonstandard or “precarious” work arrangements have become the normative template in many work settings. Although significant scholarship explores precarious employment among the nondisabled, little work examines precarious work among persons with disabilities, especially women. Drawing on a secondary analysis of a series of longitudinal, semistructured interviews, this article explores the personal and structural barriers to employment that five women with complex episodic disabilities identify as welfare recipients within the context of precarious employment. Implications for practice relationships and policy that consider an alternative understanding of (dis)ability and employability as a contingent, fluid embodiment are considered.
Characterization of Active Cooling and Flow Distribution in Microvascular Polymers
Authors: Kozola Brian D. , Shipton Lyle A. , Natrajan Vinay K. , Christensen Kenneth T. , White Scott R.
Published: August 2010

Two- and three-dimensional microvascular networks embedded within a polymer fin were fabricated via direct write assembly to demonstrate cooling potential of vascular polymer structures. Thin fin cooling experiments were carried out utilizing water and polyalphaolefin (PAO) oil-based coolant as the working fluids. The surface temperature of the fin was monitored using an infrared camera and flow distribution within the network was evaluated by microscopic particle image velocimetry. The effective heat transfer coefficient was increased 53-fold at low Reynolds number for water cooling in both 2D and 3D geometries. However, 3D architectures offer more uniform flow distribution and the ability to efficiently adapt to blockages and reroute flow within the network. Microvascular materials are excellent candidates for compact, efficient cooling platforms for a variety of applications and 3D architectures offer unique performance enhancements.
A Framework of Describing and Managing Engineering Analysis Modeling Knowledge for Design Validation
Authors: Nomaguchi Yutaka , Taguchi Tomohiro , Fujita Kikuo
Published: August 2010

Engineering design is validated by engineering analysis. In the process for predicting the physical behavior of the design, the design components, physical mechanisms, etc. are idealized as models, the contents of which depend on a various factors such as the type of product, the validation objectives, and the design lead time as well as the design’s physical features. It is important to examine such modeling knowledge to enhance the rationality and reusability of engineering analysis. This article proposes a concise and comprehensive format for describing the knowledge of engineering analysis, called Engineering Analysis Modeling Matrix (EAMM). EAMM is a matrix of two axes, that is, a modeling aspect axis and a modeling level axis. The former axis consists of target objects, governing principles and behavior, and the latter axis consists of conceptual, mathematical and computational approaches. EAMM takes the form of a nine-cell matrix by combining the two modeling axes, each having the three sub concepts. Seven scaphoid boxes called operation spaces are arranged among the cell spaces. When a designer describes various elements of modeling knowledge in such a format, the association of the cells and boxes enables the designer to organize the modeling process and obtain its overview. The design of a water heater is used as an example to demonstrate the capability of EAMM for description and management of engineering analysis modeling knowledge.
Control of a Delayed Limit Cycle Using the Tilt Angle of a Fast Excitation
Authors: Sah Si Mohamed , Belhaq Mohamed
Published: August 2010

We investigate the tilting effect of a fast excitation on self-excited vibrations in a delayed van der Pol pendulum. Specifically, we analyze the simultaneous effects of fast excitation and time delay in controlling self-excited oscillations taking into account the influence of the incline angle of the fast excitation. We use an averaging technique to reduce the original oscillator to a slow flow system. Analysis of stationary solutions of this slow flow provides analytical approximations of regions in parameter space where self-excited vibrations can be controlled. We have shown that in the case where the delay and the fast excitation are both imposed in the system, the incline of the fast excitation can be an alternative to control self-excited vibrations.
Stability Analysis of a Nonlinear Jointed Beam under Distributed Follower Force
Authors: Ahmadian H. , Azizi H.
Published: August 2010

This paper deals with the stability of a beam subjected to thrust. The thrust acts upon the structure as a follower non-conservative force, thus the structure can lose its stability by flutter or divergence depending on the system parameters. The model consists of two beams interconnected by a nonlinear joint. The joint is a combination of linear and nonlinear springs and a damper. Follower force is assumed to be linearly distributed along the length of beam, so the governing equation has variable coefficients, so that only an approximate solution is possible. We divided the beam into a number of segments so that force distributions could be approximated as constants and then we used the method of multiple scales to obtain the analytical solution of the system. The flutter and divergence and post-critical behavior are then obtained.
Bifurcation Analysis of High Speed Spindle Air Bearings
Authors: Wang Cheng-Chi
Published: August 2010

This paper employs a hybrid numerical method combining the differential transformation method and the finite difference method to study the bifurcation behavior of a high speed spindle air bearing (HSSAB) system. The analytical results reveal a complex dynamic behavior comprising periodic, sub-harmonic, and quasi-periodic responses of the rotor center. Furthermore, the results reveal the changes which take place in the dynamic behavior of the bearing system as the rotor mass and bearing number are increased. The current analytical results are found to be in good agreement with those of other numerical methods. Therefore, the proposed method provides an effective means of gaining insights into the nonlinear dynamics of HSSAB systems.
Trajectory Tracking for the End-effector of a Class of Flexible Link Manipulators
Authors: Vakil M. , Fotouhi R. , Nikiforuk P.N.
Published: August 2010

A new controller for the end-effector trajectory tracking (EETT) of a class of flexible link manipulators which consists of a chain of rigid links with a flexible end-link (CRFE) is introduced. To design this new controller, a dynamic model of the CRFE is expressed in the singularly perturbed form; that is, decomposed into slow and fast subsystems. The states of the slow subsystem are the joints’ rotations and their time derivative, while the states of the fast subsystem are the flexible variables, which model the lateral deflection of the end-link, and their time derivative. For the slow subsystem, the new controller requires only ‘‘one’’ corrective torque in addition to the computed torque command of the rigid link counterpart of the CRFE for the reduction of the EETT error. This corrective torque is derived based on the concept of the integral manifold of the singularly perturbed differential equations. The need for only one corrective torque and its derivation are among the contributions of the new controller. To stabilize the fast subsystem, an observer-based controller is designed according to the gain-scheduling technique. Due to the application of the observer-based controller there is no need for the measurement of the time derivative of the flexible link’s lateral deflection, in which its measurement is difficult if not impossible in practice. This feature of the new controller is an advantage for it. To facilitate the derivation and implementation of this controller, several properties of the matrices in the dynamic model of the CRFE are introduced and used which are other contributions of this research. The effectiveness and feasibility of the new controller are shown by simulation and experimental studies.
Pain Management After Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Cogan Jennifer
Published: August 2010

Pain levels after cardiac surgery are often severe and undertreated. The effects of undertreatment may be both severe and prolonged. The incidence of chronic pain after cardiac surgery varies between 21% and 55%. Pain syndromes that occur following cardiac surgery may be multiple and may be of visceral, musculoskeletal, or neurogenic origin. Risk factors for acute pain vary depending on the study but generally include younger age, longer duration of surgery, and the location of the surgery. Risk factors for chronic pain include depression and psychological vulnerability, both preoperative and postoperative. Other independent risk factors for chronic pain are more extensive surgery, surgery lasting longer than 3 hours, and ASA grade greater than III. Pain control is achieved with regular and systematic evaluation and the use of multimodal regimens. Treatment strategies that are commonly used include opioids, paracetamol, NSAIDS, and more recently anticonvulsants.
Vasopressin and Methylene Blue: Alternate Therapies in Vasodilatory Shock
Authors: Lavigne Dominique
Published: August 2010

Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is frequently complicated by vasoplegic syndrome, a vasodilatory shock state. Traditional treatment based on fluid resuscitation and catecholamine drugs is ineffective in a number of patients. Clinical trials investigating both vasopressin and methylene blue as additional rescue or preventative therapy are reviewed. Vasopressin is suggested to retain its vasoconstrictive power in hypoxemia and acidosis, lower pulmonary hypertension, reduce supraventricular arrhythmias, and accelerate intensive care unit (ICU) recovery. Safety concerns include frequent thrombocytopenia and potentially altered mesenteric and renal perfusion. Methylene blue is suggested to facilitate CPB weaning, reduce renal, respiratory, arrhythmic, and septic complications, reduce mortality, and accelerate ICU and hospital recovery. Safety concerns include oximeter interference, pulmonary hypertension, neurotoxicity, arrhythmias, and potentially altered coronary, mesenteric, and renal perfusion. Research on both molecules is ongoing and has yet to confirm on a larger scale their efficacy and safety as treatments for post-CPB vasoplegic syndrome.
Cognitive Behavioral Theories Used to Explain Injection Risk Behavior Among Injection Drug Users: A Review and Suggestions for the Integration of Cognitive and Environmental Models
Authors: Wagner Karla Dawn , Unger Jennifer B. , Bluthenthal Ricky N. , Andreeva Valentina A. , Pentz Mary Ann
Published: August 2010

Injection drug users (IDUs) are at risk for HIV and viral hepatitis, and risky injection behavior persists despite decades of intervention. Cognitive behavioral theories (CBTs) are commonly used to help understand risky injection behavior. The authors review findings from CBT-based studies of injection risk behavior among IDUs. An extensive literature search was conducted in spring 2007. In total, 33 studies were reviewed— 26 epidemiological and 7 intervention studies. Findings suggest that some theoretical constructs have received fairly consistent support (e.g., self-efficacy, social norms), whereas others have yielded inconsistent or null results (e.g., perceived susceptibility, knowledge, behavioral intentions, perceived barriers, perceived benefits, response efficacy, perceived severity). The authors offer some possible explanations for these inconsistent findings, including differences in theoretical constructs and measures across studies and a need to examine the environmental structures that influence risky behaviors. Greater integration of CBT with a risk environment perspective may yield more conclusive findings and more effective interventions in the future.
The Contraceptive Needs for STD Protection Among Women in Jail
Authors: Oswalt Krista , Hale Galen J. , Cropsey Karen L. , Villalobos Gabriella C. , Ivey Sara E. , Matthews Catherine A.
Published: August 2010

We assessed the contraceptive needs of women in jails and their sexually transmitted disease (STD) history and risk to determine effective contraceptive methods for this population. A survey of demographics, sexual health, contraceptive use, and preferred method of contraception was completed by participants recruited at jails in a medium-sized metropolitan area. Results from 188 women indicated high rates of STDs, inconsistent contraceptive use, and use of unreliable and user-dependent contraception methods. Intended contraceptive use following release varied depending on women’s ability to bear children. Women planning to use condoms after release were more likely to have had an STD and more sexual partners than were women not planning to use condoms. Racial differences were found for participants’ sexual health and contraception histories. These women were at high risk for STDs and appeared to need education about contraception methods. Therefore, they might benefit from education on safe sex practices provided prior to release.
The Fallacy of Formative Measurement
Authors: Edwards Jeffrey R.
Published: August 2010

In management research, there is a growing trend toward formative measurement, in which measures are treated as causes of constructs. Formative measurement can be contrasted with reflective measurement, in which constructs are specified as causes of measures. Although recent work seems to suggest that formative measurement is a viable alternative to reflective measurement, the emerging enthusiasm for formative measurement is based on conceptions of constructs, measures, and causality that are difficult to defend. This article critically compares reflective and formative measurement on the basis of dimensionality, internal consistency, identification, measurement error, construct validity, and causality. This comparison leads to the conclusion that the presumed viability of formative measurement is a fallacy, and the objectives of formative measurement can be achieved using alternative models with reflective measures.
Customer Engagement as a New Perspective in Customer Management
Authors: Verhoef Peter C. , Reinartz Werner J. , Krafft Manfred
Published: August 2010

Since 2000, customer management (CM) research has evolved and has had a significant impact on the marketing discipline. In an increasingly networked society where customers can interact easily with other customers and firms through social networks and other new media, the authors propose that customer engagement is an important new development in CM. Customer engagement is considered as a behavioral manifestation toward the brand or firm that goes beyond transactions. The authors propose a conceptual model of the antecedents, impediments, and firm consequences of customer engagement and relate this model to seven articles appearing in the special issue on customer engagement.
Customer Engagement Behavior: Theoretical Foundations and Research Directions
Authors: van Doorn Jenny , Lemon Katherine N. , Mittal Vikas , Nass Stephan , Pick Doreén , Pirner Peter , Verhoef Peter C.
Published: August 2010

This article develops and discusses the concept of customer engagement behaviors (CEB), which we define as the customers’ behavioral manifestation toward a brand or firm, beyond purchase, resulting from motivational drivers. CEBs include a vast array of behaviors including word-of-mouth (WOM) activity, recommendations, helping other customers, blogging, writing reviews, and even engaging in legal action. The authors develop a conceptual model of the antecedents and consequences—customer, firm, and societal—of CEBs. The authors suggest that firms can manage CEBs by taking a more integrative and comprehensive approach that acknowledges their evolution and impact over time.
Differential patterns of interhemispheric functional disconnection in mild and advanced multiple sclerosis
Authors: Codecà Claudia , Mori Francesco , Kusayanagi Hajime , Monteleone Fabrizia , Boffa Laura , Paolillo Andrea , Bernardi Giorgio , Koch Giacomo , Centonze Diego
Published: August 2010

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis may present altered patterns of connectivity between the two brain hemispheres. To date, only transcallosal connectivity between the two primary motor cortices (M1) has been investigated functionally in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether connectivity between the dorsal premotor cortex and the contralateral M1 was altered in patients with multiple sclerosis, and to see whether clinical progression is accompanied by exacerbated dorsal premotor cortex—M1 disconnectivity.

Methods: A twin-coil transcranial magnetic stimulation approach was used to investigate both excitatory and inhibitory interhemispheric connections between the left dorsal premotor cortex and the contralateral M1 in 18 multiple sclerosis patients without disability, in 18 multiple sclerosis patients with advanced disease and in 12 age-matched healthy subjects. To activate distinct inhibitory and facilitatory transcallosal pathways, the intensity of dorsal premotor cortex stimulation was adjusted to be either suprathreshold (110% of resting motor threshold) or subthreshold (80% of active motor threshold).

Results: Our sample of patients with multiple sclerosis showed altered patterns of interhemispheric dorsal premotor cortex—M1 functional connectivity even in the absence of clinical deficits. Facilitatory connections originating from dorsal premotor cortex were reduced in multiple sclerosis patients with or without disability, while inhibitory dorsal premotor cortex—M1 connections were altered only in disabled patients.

Conclusions: The current study demonstrates that functional excitatory connectivity originating from non-primary motor areas is compromised in multiple sclerosis patients even in the absence of clinical disability. Clinical disease progression leads to an impairment of both excitatory and inhibitory transcallosal connections.
‘You can’t’ but ‘I do’: Rules, ethics and the significance of shifts in pronominal forms for self-positioning in talk
Authors: Yates Scott , Hiles David
Published: August 2010

Mulhaüsler and Harré contend that pronoun systems set out fields of expression ‘within which people can be . . . presented as agents of one kind or another’. Despite interest in pronominal forms by various discourse researchers, analysis of pronouns-in-use from this perspective remains underdeveloped. This article undertakes such an analysis, drawing on Rees’s theories about the ‘distance from the self ’ encoded in different pronouns. Our data, from interviews analysed as talk-in-interaction, show participants shifting between pronominal registers as a way of presenting their social world and positioning themselves as agents within it. ‘Fourth-person’ pronouns allow the distancing of reports of lack of agency from the deictic centre of self and express a ‘deontic modality’ through which one can position oneself in relation to moral imperatives. Along with shifts into and out of the first-person register, this is notably used to maintain an agentive self-positioning in talk about situations of relative powerlessness.
Frontotemporal dementia, sociality, and identity: Comparing adult-child and caregiver-frontotemporal dementia interactions
Authors: Joaquin Anna Dina L.
Published: August 2010

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the prefrontal cortex, and impairs various aspects relevant to social cognition. Such impairments can emerge as a visible phenomenon in social interaction and therefore can have very real consequences for those who interact with the afflicted (Goodwin, 2003). In this article, I examine how attitudes toward FTD patients are indexed through speech features employed by their interlocutors. I focus on three different speech features typically employed by adults and directed towards subordinates or children: directives, let’s/we framed sequences, and initiation-response-evaluation sequences. These forms are used as strategies to affect and guide FTD patient behaviors, and index how FTD patients are socially constructed as ‘child-like’ and in need of assistance and guidance though not necessarily warranted. Thus, FTD patients may be subject to a diminished status as a result of their social impairments.
Preference organization of sequence-initiating actions: The case of explicit account solicitations
Authors: Robinson Jeffrey D. , Bolden Galina B.
Published: August 2010

This article extends prior conversation analytic research on the preference organization of sequence-initiating actions. Across two languages (English and Russian), this article examines one such action: explicitly soliciting an account for human conduct (predominantly with why-type interrogatives). Prior work demonstrates that this action conveys a challenging stance towards the warrantability of the accountable event/conduct (Bolden and Robinson, forthcoming). When addressees are somehow responsible for the accountable event/conduct, explicit solicitations of accounts are frequently critical of, and thus embody disaffiliation with, addressees. This article demonstrates that, when explicit solicitations of accounts embody disaffiliation, they are systematically ‘withheld’ and, thus, can be characterized as ‘dispreferred’ actions. This article also examines: a) deviant cases, where account solicitations are not withheld, which is a practice for embodying aggravated disaffiliation; and b) negative cases, where account solicitations actually embody affiliation , and as such are typically treated as preferred actions and not withheld.
Molecular evidence of a (pro)renin/ (pro)renin receptor system in human intrauterine tissues in pregnancy and its association with PGHS-2
Authors: Pringle Kirsty G , Zakar Tamas , Yates Della , Mitchell Carolyn M , Hirst Jonathan J , Lumbers Eugenie R
Published: August 2010

Prorenin stimulates decidual prostaglandin (PG) production in vitro, the (pro)renin receptor ((P)RR) may mediate this action. The role of prorenin in amnion PG synthesis has not been examined, despite this being the key site of PG synthesis. To determine if (P)RR, prorenin and PGHS-2 are co-localized in gestational tissues and if expression is altered by labour, term amnion, chorion, decidua and placenta were collected during elective caesarean section or after spontaneous labour. Prorenin, (P)RR and PGHS-2 mRNA abundance was determined by real-time RT-PCR. (P)RR protein was examined by immunohistochemistry. The effect of recombinant human (rh) prorenin on PGHS-2 mRNA abundance in amnion explants was determined. Prorenin and (P)RR mRNA were highest in decidua and placenta, respectively. Decidual prorenin, (P)RR and placental (P)RR mRNA abundance decreased with labour. (P)RR protein was present in all gestational tissues. After labour, decidual prorenin was positively correlated with amnion PGHS-2 mRNA and rh-prorenin significantly increased PGHS-2 mRNA abundance in amnion explants. We conclude that the decidua is the principal source of prorenin and is downregulated with labour. All gestational tissues are targets for prorenin. Decidual prorenin may be involved in the labour-associated increase in amnion PGHS-2 abundance via the (P)RR.