bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Green Tea Catechins for Prostate Cancer Prevention
Authors: Kumar Nagi B. , Pow-Sang Julio , Egan Kathleen M. , Spiess Philippe E. , Dickinson Shohreh , Salup Raoul , Helal Mohamed , McLarty Jerry , Williams Christopher R. , Schreiber Fred , Parnes Howard L. , Sebti Said , Kazi Aslam , Kang Loveleen , Quinn Gwen , Smith Tiffany , Yue Binglin , Diaz Karen , Chornokur Ganna , Crocker Theresa , Schell Michael J.
Published: April 2015

Preclinical, epidemiologic, and prior clinical trial data suggest that green tea catechins (GTC) may reduce prostate cancer risk. We conducted a placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of Polyphenon E (PolyE), a proprietary mixture of GTCs, containing 400 mg (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) per day, in 97 men with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) and/or atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP). The primary study endpoint was a comparison of the cumulative one-year prostate cancer rates on the two study arms. No differences in the number of prostate cancer cases were observed: 5 of 49 (PolyE) versus 9 of 48 (placebo), P = 0.25. A secondary endpoint comparing the cumulative rate of prostate cancer plus ASAP among men with HGPIN without ASAP at baseline, revealed a decrease in this composite endpoint: 3 of 26 (PolyE) versus 10 of 25 (placebo), P < 0.024. This finding was driven by a decrease in ASAP diagnoses on the Poly E (0/26) compared with the placebo arm (5/25). A decrease in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was observed on the PolyE arm [−0.87 ng/mL; 95% confidence intervals (CI), −1.66 to −0.09]. Adverse events related to the study agent did not significantly differ between the two study groups. Daily intake of a standardized, decaffeinated catechin mixture containing 400 mg EGCG per day for 1 year accumulated in plasma and was well tolerated but did not reduce the likelihood of prostate cancer in men with baseline HGPIN or ASAP. Cancer Prev Res; 8(10); 879–87. ©2015 AACR.
Clinical and Endocrine Features of Two Allan-Herndon-Dudley Syndrome Patients with Monocarboxylate Transporter 8 Mutations
Authors: Kim Ja Hye , Kim Yoo-Mi , Yum Mi-Sun , Choi Jin-Ho , Lee Beom Hee , Kim Gu-Hwan , Yoo Han-Wook
Published: April 2015

The monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) gene, located on chromosome Xq13.2, encodes a thyroid hormone transporter that is involved in triiodothyronine (T3) uptake into central neurons. MCT8 mutations cause an X-linked syndromic disorder known as Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS) that is characterized by severe psychomotor delays, abnormal thyroid function, and hypomyelinated leukodystrophies. We identified 2 AHDS patients with developmental delays, truncal hypotonia, and spastic paraplegia. These patients presented with psychomotor retardation and characteristic thyroid function abnormalities, such as elevated T3 and low T4 levels. Direct MCT8 sequencing identified heterozygous mutations in each patient: p.I114N and p.A224V, respectively. Because it is difficult to suspect AHDS solely according to neurological features, thyroid function, including the T3 level, should be screened in male patients with X-linked mental retardation. Although the clinical features of hypothyroidism cannot be improved by only administering levothyroxine treatment, early diagnosis, management, and appropriate genetic counseling should be provided to at-risk families.
Evaluation of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Alzheimer's Disease Patients with Subclinical Hypothyroidism
Authors: Haji Megumi , Kimura Noriyuki , Hanaoka Takuya , Aso Yasuhiro , Takemaru Makoto , Hirano Teruyuki , Matsubara Etsuro
Published: April 2015

Background: This study examined regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with and without subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). Methods: Eleven AD patients with SCH and 141 AD patients without SCH underwent brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The SPECT data were analyzed by statistical parametric mapping (SPM8) and FineSRT. Results: AD patients with SCH showed a significantly decreased rCBF mainly in the temporal lobe and thalamus, whereas those without SCH showed a significantly decreased rCBF in the parietotemporal lobe and cingulate gyrus as well as the frontal lobe. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that SCH may affect cerebral perfusion in regions associated with the memory function.
C/EBP-Homologous Protein (CHOP) in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Regulates Their Proliferation in Aortic Explants and Atherosclerotic Lesions
Authors: Zhou Alex-Xianghua , Wang Xiaobo , Lin Chyuan Sheng , Han Jaeseok , Yong Jing , Nadolski Marissa J. , Borén Jan , Kaufman Randal J. , Tabas Ira
Published: April 2015

Rationale:

Myeloid-derived C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), an effector of the endoplasmic reticulum stress–induced unfolded protein response, promotes macrophage apoptosis in advanced atherosclerosis, but the role of CHOP in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in atherosclerosis is not known.

Objective:

To investigate the role of CHOP in SM22α
+
VSMCs in atherosclerosis.

Methods and Results:

Chop
fl/fl
mice were generated and crossed into the
Apoe
−/−
and
SM22α-CreKI
+
backgrounds. SM22α-CreKI causes deletion of floxed genes in adult SMCs. After 12 weeks of Western-type diet feeding, the content of α-actin–positive cells in aortic root lesions was decreased in
Chop
fl/fl
SM22α-CreKI
+
Apoe
−/−
versus control
Chop
fl/fl
Apoe
−/−
mice, and aortic explant–derived VSMCs from the VSMC-CHOP–deficient mice displayed reduced proliferation. Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), a key suppressor of VSMC proliferation, was increased in lesions and aortic VSMCs from
Chop
fl/fl
SM22α-CreKI
+
Apoe
−/−
mice, and silencing
Klf4
in CHOP-deficient VSMCs restored proliferation. CHOP deficiency in aortic VSMCs increased KLF4 through 2 mechanisms mediated by the endoplasmic reticulum stress effector activating transcription factor 4: transcriptional induction of
Klf4
mRNA and decreased proteasomal degradation of KLF4 protein.

Conclusions:

These findings in SM22α-CHOP–deficient mice imply that CHOP expression in SM22α
+
VSMCs promotes cell proliferation by downregulating KLF4. The mechanisms involve newly discovered roles of CHOP in the transcriptional and post-translational regulation of KLF4.
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN IN TONGA – A VIOLATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
Authors: McLean Angus
Published: April 2015

Corporal punishment of children is pervasive throughout the Pacific Island nation of Tonga. In May 2014, a mother was imprisoned for causing the death of her 14-year-old daughter who was beaten with a stick, watering hose and hammer and left to die on her living room floor. Tonga remains in a group of 39 countries that retain corporal punishment of children as a legal sanction for a crime and has defied recent calls during the Universal Periodic Review to abolish these laws. Despite the Tongan Court of Appeal observing corporal punishment to be a violation of the Constitution of Tonga and the jus cogens right to freedom from torture, the court has yet to suspend the operation of these laws. This article argues that the court has failed to protect the fundamental rights guaranteed to children and uphold the Constitution as the supreme law of Tonga. Analysis of the Constitution and the presentation of literature detailing the pervasive and destructive nature of corporal punishment in Tonga highlights the material extent of this injustice. This supports a call for the complete legislative prohibition of corporal punishment in Tonga, including in the criminal justice system, schools and the home.
A new species of free-living marine nematode (Nematoda: Chromadoridae) from the East China Sea
Authors: CHUNMING WANG , LIGUO AN , YONG HUANG
Published: April 2015

A new species of free-living marine nematodes, Ptycholaimellus longibulbus sp. nov., is described from the East China Sea. Ptycholaimellus longibulbus sp. nov. is characterized by having body length of about 1100–1400 μm, cephalic seta 9 µm long (half a head diameter), a relatively long double posterior pharyngeal bulb occupying 44–49% of pharyngeal length, a voluminous ventral gland with a large ampulla, cuticle with transverse rows of punctations and lateral differentiation with two longitudinal rows of thick dots, relatively long spicules 45–55 μm long, an arcuate gubernaculum 25 µm long, and a conico-cylindrical tail with a distinct long finger-like spinneret. A key to species of Ptycholaimellus is given.
Extratropical Ocean Warming and Winter Arctic Sea Ice Cover since the 1990s
Authors: Li Fei , Wang Huijun , Gao Yongqi
Published: April 2015

Despite the fact that the Arctic Oscillation (AO) has reached a more neutral state and a global-warming hiatus has occurred in winter since the late 1990s, the Arctic sea ice cover (ASIC) still shows a pronounced decrease. This study reveals a close connection (R = 0.5) between the extratropical sea surface temperature (ET-SST) and ASIC in winter from 1994 to 2013. In response to one positive (negative) unit of deviation in the ET-SST pattern, the ASIC decreases (increases) in the Barents–Kara Seas and Hudson Bay (the Baffin Bay and Bering Sea) by 100–400 km2. This relationship might be maintained because of the impact of warming extratropical oceans on the polar vortex. Positive SST anomalies in the midlatitudes of the North Pacific and Atlantic (around 40°N) strengthen the equatorward planetary wave propagation, whereas negative SST anomalies in the high latitudes weaken the upward planetary wave propagation from the lower troposphere to the stratosphere. The former indicates a strengthening of the poleward meridional eddy momentum flux, and the latter implies a weakening of the poleward eddy heat flux, which favors an intensified upper-level polar night jet and a colder polar vortex, implying a stronger-than-normal polar vortex. Consequently, an anomalous cyclone emerges over the eastern Arctic, limiting or encouraging the ASIC by modulating the mean meridional heat flux. A possible reason for the long-term changes in the relationship between the ET-SST and ASIC is also discussed.
A SWOT Analysis of Multiculturalism in Canada, Europe, Mauritius, and South Korea
Authors: Ng Eddy S. , Bloemraad Irene
Published: April 2015

In this special issue on “Multiculturalism During Challenging Times,” we present six articles focused on multiculturalism as it is currently practiced or implemented in Canada, across Europe, in Mauritius, and in South Korea. We apply SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis to assess the strengths and weaknesses of its application and the opportunities and threats it presents for the countries studied here. Strengths: We find that multiculturalism fosters national identity, promotes cultural tolerance and modernization, and assists with the incorporation of cultural minorities. Weaknesses: At the same time, multiculturalism also creates “faultlines” along cultural and religious groups, could promote separate and parallel lives, and could pose a challenge to equality in liberal societies. Opportunities: Multiculturalism has the potential to be used as a tool for attracting talents, a source of competitive advantage for nations, and a discourse for politicians to score political gains. Threats: Multiculturalism also has the potential to be perceived as incompatible with Western, liberal values, a burden to the state welfare, and challenge existing national identities. We conclude with some suggestions for future research to extend our understanding of multiculturalism within the context of increasing globalization and greater international migration.
Augustine’s Natural Law Theory in De libero arbitrio
Authors: Smith Brett W.
Published: April 2015

Recent authors have debated the continuity of Augustine’s thought in the mid-390s, as well as the continuity of On the Free Choice of the Will ( De libero arbitrio), which he completed around that time. This study contributes to the current debate surrounding De libero arbitrio by identifying one strand of thought that Augustine develops with a natural continuity throughout the dialogue, namely, his natural law theory. This article argues that, when read as a unified whole, De libero arbitrio implies a working natural law theory centered on the order of the universe and applied to man particularly through his ordered nature, with attendant rewards and punishments. The argument proceeds through the themes of order, nature, and retribution in turn, explaining each from passages in De libero arbitrio. The first of these sections also discusses some of Augustine’s other early works as important background for understanding his concept of order.
Peter Comestor and Biblical Chronology
Authors: Luscombe David
Published: April 2015

The Historia scholastica of Peter Comestor (d. 1178) was for centuries the main work of reference for the study in the Latin West of Biblical history, just as Peter Lombard’s Four Books of Sentences were for the study of systematic theology and the Decretum of Gratian of Bologna for the study of canon law. Hundreds of manuscript copies of each of these manuals survive, and the Historia scholastica was conspicuous for the attention it gave to the details of the historical events narrated in the Bible, to such matters as places, names, and dates. The work does not offer moral or spiritual interpretation of the Bible. Some examples of Peter’s presentation of biblical chronology are presented in this essay.
A Step Too Far: A Critique of Francis Moloney’s Understanding of ‘the Scripture’ in John 20:9
Authors: Byrne Brendan
Published: April 2015

In a series of studies Francis Moloney has argued, along narrative critical lines, that the phrase ‘the Scripture’ in John 20:9 should be understood as a reference to the Fourth Gospel itself, which presents itself to later believers as ‘Scripture’ in continuity with the Scriptures of Israel. This interpretation, while resolving the long-noted tension between v. 8 and v. 9 towards the end of the passage, is not tenable on the grounds that such a reinterpretation of γραϕή places too great a demand upon the reader in view of the use of the term up to this point. The transition across vv. 8–9 is better explained as a reference to ‘Scripture’ in a global sense as providing the divinely appointed ‘script’ for the paradoxical messianic mission of the Son.
Faith healers, myths and deaths
Authors: Wasti Harihar , Kanchan Tanuj , Acharya Jenash
Published: April 2015

Science and myth have been closely linked and argued upon by philosophers, educationalists, scientists, enthusiasts and the general public. Faith healing, when added as an adjuvant or alternative aid to medical science, will not necessarily be confined to mere arguments and debates but may also give rise to series of complications, medical emergencies and even result in death. We present an unusual case where reliance on faith healing led to the death of a young man.
Advertising Nanotechnology
Authors: Campbell Norah , Deane Cormac , Murphy Padraig
Published: April 2015

Advertisements for high-technology products and services visualize processes and phenomena which are unvisualizable, such as globalization, networks, and information. We turn our attention specifically to the case of nanotechnology advertisements, using an approach that combines visual and sonic culture. Just as phenomena such as complexity and networks have become established in everyday discourse, nanotechnology seizes the social imaginary by establishing its own aesthetic conventions. Elaborating Raymond Williams’ concept of structures of feeling, we show that in visualizing nanotechnology, its stakeholders employ spaces, verbs, and objects of feeling. These favorable nanotechnology structures of feeling are woven into the social imaginary, recursively producing the reality they describe.
Inequitable Access to Gifted Education
Authors: Kettler Todd , Russell Joseph , Puryear Jeb S.
Published: April 2015

This study examined discrepancies in educational opportunity for gifted students at the program services level. School districts in the study ( N = 1,029) varied in expenditures for gifted education and the allocation of faculty for gifted education. The relationships of variables representing funding and staffing gifted education and school contextual variables such as locale (city, suburban, town, rural) were examined. Pairwise comparisons among locales revealed effect sizes as high as 0.31 with respect to funding and staffing variables. Multiple regression analyses and bivariate correlations were examined to estimate the relative strength of the predictor variables on the funding and staffing variables. Data in this study indicated that locale, school size, and economic disadvantage were the strongest predictors of variance in funding and staffing gifted education programs. Rural schools, small schools, and schools with larger economically disadvantaged populations allocate proportionally less fiscal and human resources to gifted education services. Racial/ethnic diversity, property wealth, and overall expenditures per student accounted for relatively little of the variance in funding and staffing gifted programs.
Language clustering and knowledge sharing in multilingual organizations: A social perspective on language
Authors: Ahmad Farhan , Widén Gunilla
Published: April 2015

Knowledge sharing is a product of the collaborative and supportive environment shaped by socialization and informal communication between employees. Under the pressure of globalization and business internationalization, workforces have become increasingly diverse, particularly in terms of language. This has implications for knowledge sharing. It has been observed that employees tend to gravitate towards their own language communities, leading to language clustering (language-based grouping), which affects informal communication and knowledge mobility in organizations negatively. Although the existence of such clusters has been reported in many previous studies, we do not clearly understand how and why language brings these clusters into being and what kind of implications this has for knowledge sharing. This paper draws upon the theory of the semiotic processes of linguistic differentiation taken from linguistic anthropology to provide a theoretical framework capable of explaining the dynamics of language creating language clusters. Unlike previous knowledge management studies, which largely focus on the instrumental aspect of language, this paper adopts a social perspective on language. It is argued that, to deal with language clustering, we have to explore the dynamics operating behind it in detail. This will not only allow us to understand its implications for knowledge sharing but will also be helpful in devising potent knowledge management initiatives in multilingual workplaces.
Parents’ expressed emotion and mood, rather than their physical disability are associated with adolescent adjustment: a longitudinal study of families with a parent with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Bogosian Angeliki , Hadwin Julie , Hankins Matthew , Moss-Morris Rona
Published: April 2015

Objective:

This study investigated the impact of the severity of parental multiple sclerosis, parents’ expressed emotion and psychological well-being on offspring’s psychological difficulties.

Design:

A longitudinal study including baseline and 6-month follow-up data collected from parents and children.

Subjects:

Adolescents ( n=75), their parents with multiple sclerosis ( n=56) and the partner without multiple sclerosis ( n=40).

Main measures:

Parents completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Five Minutes Speech Sample, a standardised interview of expressed emotion towards their child. Parents with multiple sclerosis also completed the Expanded Disability Status Scale, a measure of illness severity. Adolescents completed the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire, a self-report measure of psychological difficulties.

Results:

Higher depression scores of the parents with multiple sclerosis at baseline correlated with increased adolescents’ internalising symptoms at 6-month follow-up (γdep=0.31, P=.004). Higher expressed emotion scores of parents with multiple sclerosis at baseline were associated with increased adolescent externalising symptoms at 6-month follow-up (γEE=4.35, P=.052). There was no direct effect of severity, duration or type of multiple sclerosis on adolescents’ adjustment at baseline or follow-up.

Conclusions:

Emotional distress and expressed emotion in parents with multiple sclerosis, rather than the severity and type of multiple sclerosis had an impact on adolescents’ psychological difficulties.
Developing an occupation- and recovery-based outcome measure for people with mental health conditions: An action research study
Authors: Boniface Gail , Humpage Sally , Awatar Sally , Reagon Carly
Published: April 2015

Introduction

An action research study was carried out to develop an outcome measure for a community outreach service known as HiWay. The service is run by Mind Monmouthshire, in Wales, with input from local occupational therapists. It aims to facilitate mental health recovery through engagement in community occupations.

Method

Seven cycles of reflection and action were undertaken by HiWay staff, occupational therapists, service users and university researchers. Data in the form of audio recordings and field notes of group meetings were analysed between each cycle.

Findings

Participants suggested that outcome measurement needs to be service user led in terms of the nature and size of outcomes and when and how often a measure is used. They argued that terminology around outcomes needs to be accessible and motivational. Participants also suggested that outcome measures have the potential to become central to resilience-building for people with mental health problems.

Conclusion

Through action research, service users and staff from different agencies can be involved in service level change such as the design and implementation of an outcome measure.
Ethical tensions in occupational therapy practice: A scoping review
Authors: Bushby Kathryn , Chan Jody , Druif Shawna , Ho Kim , Kinsella Elizabeth Anne
Published: April 2015

Introduction

Ethical tensions are an unavoidable part of occupational therapy practice. Given the significance of this, and the divergent nature of the literature, a need was identified for a systematic examination of the published literature on this topic. The purpose of this scoping review therefore was to identify, summarize, and describe existing literature on ethical tensions in occupational therapy practice.

Method

A comprehensive scoping review was conducted. In the initial search, 459 articles, spanning a 13-year time frame, were retrieved from six databases; 32 articles met the criteria for full review.

Results

Seven themes were identified that highlighted ethical tensions related to: (a) resource and systemic issues; (b) upholding ethical principles and values; (c) client safety; (d) working with vulnerable clients; (e) interpersonal conflicts; (f) upholding professional standards and (g) practice management.

Conclusion

This scoping review highlights a breadth of ethical tensions that have implications for practice, education, policy and research. It represents an important first step in mapping knowledge about ethical tensions in occupational therapy practice, and lays a foundation for future research directions.
The association between impulsivity and sensory processing patterns in healthy adults
Authors: Hebert Karen
Published: April 2015

Introduction

Growing evidence suggests that an individual's style of processing sensory information plays a role in affective disorders. However, most of this work focuses on the relationship between sensory hypersensitivity and factors related to internalizing disorders. This study explores the association between sensory processing styles and impulsivity, a fundamental feature of externalizing disorders, in healthy adults.

Method

Two hundred and twenty-six healthy individuals aged 18–60 years completed the adolescent/adult sensory profile, Barratt impulsiveness scale, and a computerized response inhibition task (go/no-go task).

Findings

Low registration sensory processing scores were positively correlated with Barratt impulsivity scores. In addition, individuals high in low registration were more likely to meet criteria for high impulsivity. Individuals higher in sensory sensitivity made more impulsive errors on the response inhibition task.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that individuals with low registration are more impulsive. When helping clients manage impulsivity, occupational therapists should consider their sensory processing patterns and utilize interventions that address sensory needs. Future studies should examine these associations in clinical populations characterized by high rates of impulsive behavior.
Older Adult Strategies for Community Wayfinding
Authors: Marquez David X. , Hunter Rebecca H. , Griffith Michelle H. , Bryant Lucinda L. , Janicek Sarah J. , Atherly Adam J.
Published: April 2015

Community wayfinding becomes more challenging with age and decrements in functioning. Given the growth in numbers of older adults, we need to understand features that facilitate or inhibit wayfinding in outdoor settings to enhance mobility and community engagement. This exploratory study of 35 short- ( n = 14) and long-term ( n = 21) residents in an ethnically diverse neighborhood identified relevant wayfinding factors. Data collection included an interview, map-drawing task, and walk along a previously audited, prescribed route to identify key wayfinding strategies. Most participants sought information from other people as a primary method of route planning. Street signs and landmarks were overwhelming favorites as helpful wayfinding features. When asked to recall the route following the walk, only half of participants gave completely correct directions. Findings reinforce the importance of landmarks and legible, systematic, and consistently available signage, as well as trustworthy person-to-person information sources. Findings also underscore the need for wayfinding research in diverse environments.
The Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale–Second Edition Short Form
Authors: Lowe Patricia A.
Published: April 2015

The psychometric properties of a new, brief measure, the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale–Second Edition (RCMAS-2) Short Form, were examined in a sample of 1,003 U.S. elementary and secondary students. The RCMAS-2 Short Form consists of the first 10 items of the RCMAS-2. The results of confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the modified one-factor model provided an adequate fit for students in Grades 2 to 12. The results of tests of measurement invariance supported configural, weak, and strong invariance of the RCMAS-2 Short Form across gender and configural, weak, and partial strong invariance of the RCMAS-2 Short Form across age. Gender and age differences were also examined on the RCMAS-2 Short Form. The results of latent mean analyses indicated that adolescents (ages 12-19) and females had significantly higher factor means than children (ages 7-11) and males, respectively, on the RCMAS-2 Short Form. Moderate correlations between the RCMAS-2 Short Form scores and scores of measures of test anxiety were found. Implications of the findings for researchers and clinicians who work with children and adolescents are discussed.
On the choice of initial clearance and prediction of leakage flow rate for a rotating gas turbine seal
Authors: Subramanian Sivakumar , Sekhar AS , Prasad BVSSS
Published: April 2015

The present work proposes a design procedure along with guidelines for the choice of initial clearance of a typical rotating gas turbine seal in a secondary air system. The basis for the design is to prevent seal rubbing against stator, by ensuring that the centrifugal and thermal growths of the seal are within the safe operating limits. As a case study, a six-tooth straight-through rotating labyrinth seal configuration is considered with wide ranging seal parameters, namely the seal inner radius (25–700 mm), speed (1000–5000 rad/s), temperature (200–650 ℃) and pressure ratio (1.1–2.5). By means of an iterative process, which involves computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis techniques, and with a choice of initial clearance, an extensive database is generated. The results are presented in terms of non-dimensional variables, namely seal clearance ratio, centrifugal growth ratio, thermal growth ratio, operating clearance ratio due to centrifugal growth and operating clearance ratio due to thermal growth. It is found that the value of clearance ratio depends significantly on the dimensionless radial position. For a seal clearance ratio of 0.01, at 3000 rad/s, the leakage flow rate gets reduced by 18 and 4%, respectively for pressure ratios of 1.1 and 2.5, when the centrifugal growth alone is considered. When both centrifugal and thermal growths are considered, the percentage reduction becomes about 70% for the same seal operating at 3000 rad/s and 204 ℃, and it is as high as 95% at 426 ℃.
Fractional order fuzzy terminal sliding mode control of aerodynamics load simulator
Authors: Ullah Nasim , Khattak Muhammad I , Khan Wakeel
Published: April 2015

Fractional order adaptive fuzzy continuous non-singular terminal sliding mode control is proposed for electrical aerodynamics load simulator system which is subjected to extra torque disturbance and parametric uncertainties. A fractional order sliding surface is constructed and a continuous non-singular terminal sliding mode control law is derived to ensure faster convergence and precise control without singularity problem. Fractional order adaptive fuzzy logic system is used to estimate the unknown extra torque disturbance. Moreover, nonlinear friction is compensated using LuGre model. Practically, electrical aerodynamics load simulator system is affected by additional un-modeled dynamics due to uncertainty in system parameters and friction model combined with fuzzy approximation error. The un-modeled dynamics are compensated using fractional order adaptive law which is derived using Lyapunov function. The validity and effectiveness of proposed control scheme are verified using numerical simulations.
In situ scanning electron microscopy study of strains of ionic electroactive polymer actuators
Authors: Punning Andres , Vunder Veiko , Must Indrek , Johanson Urmas , Anbarjafari Gholamreza , Aabloo Alvo
Published: April 2015

We have developed a technique to determine the bending strain of ionic electroactive polymer actuators without the use of the macroscopic bending geometry. In situ comparisons of the scanning electron microscope micrographs from a bending ionic electroactive polymer actuator, using a digital image correction methodology, identify its bi-directional deformation field. The developed technique allows verification of the factual axial and thickness strains of any notional layer of the actuator, including the outer surfaces of the electrodes. Thus, calculation of the bending and thickness strains of the ionic electroactive polymer laminate becomes possible. Moreover, the technique allows the determination of the position of the neutral layer of bending that is an important requirement for the calculation of the second area and bending moments of the beam. The four examples presented demonstrate the potential variations of the bending schemes, in cases where the neutral layer is at the centroid and shifted away from the centroid.
Experimental and numerical analyses of progressive damage in non-circular metal/composite hybrid vessels under internal pressure
Authors: Karami Peyman , Tabatabaei Seyed Ahmad , Zangaraki Reza , Mashhadi Mahmoud Mousavi
Published: April 2015

In this paper, the damage behavior of non-circular metal/composite hybrid vessels subjected to internal pressure was investigated. The effect of the fiber orientation on the failure mechanism of the filament wound structures was also studied. Thin-walled steel square section vessels wrapped by glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) with different fiber orientations were tested under hydrostatic pressure. A progressive damage model was employed using the finite element analysis (FEA). Hashin’s damage initiation criteria and energy based damage evolution were applied for GFRP. From the obtained results, two different failure modes were detected for the steel/GFRP hybrid specimens: composite failure as the dominant failure mode and metal liner failure. It was observed that the extension and the shape of the damaged zone were strongly influenced by the lay-up configuration of the composite layer. To show the effectiveness of the reinforcement on failure pressure, damage in an all-metal vessel as the benchmark was compared with damage in the hybrid structures and the improvement in the failure pressure was observed. The numerical results were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.
Narrating well-being in the context of precarious prosperity: An account of agency framed by culturally embedded happiness and gender beliefs
Authors: Vlase Ionela , Sieber Rebekka
Published: April 2015

This article sets out to critically examine the accounts of well-being produced by a middle-aged Swiss woman living in precarious prosperity. By taking on a feminist reading of the narrative on well-being, the article challenges the taken for granted assumption of the powerful agent in thriving societies. Insights from literature on happiness in nations and gender beliefs enabled addressing the woman’s capability to exert agency, while acknowledging the influence of the context in which narratives are embedded. In addition, the presence of a non-national interviewer appears to be an incentive for the interviewee’s compliance with cultural meta-narratives. The approach of well-being as ‘agential flourishing’ proved helpful in assessing the woman’s capability on a gendered career path in atypical employment to deal with precariousness.
Producing desirable bodies: Boundary work in a lesbian niche dating site
Authors: Hightower Joy L
Published: April 2015

This article presents an in-depth case study of the way contemporary lesbians use labels in the niche dating site, “WomynLink.com.” Drawing on five months of online ethnography between November 2011 and March 2012, I examine and compare butch, femme, and queer members’ use of labels and bodily presentations in WomynLink’s (video) chat room, forum boards, and profiles. I also conducted 21 online interviews through WomynLink’s free chat room service or external messaging services such as Skype.

I draw on the boundary-making literature to illustrate how femme, butch, and queer members engage in different forms of boundary work to achieve online desirability by reconciling the tensions between their gendered bodily presentation, label use and other members’ perceptions of them. Femme members sought to highlight their femininity, butches’ boundary work made salient their sexual interest, and queer members defended their sex category as female and sexual identity as lesbian. These patterns of boundary work provide insight into how the salience of lesbian gender labels has evolved, particularly in the contemporary online era.
Barebacking in France: From controversy to community ownership? An account of the ‘Zone NoKpote’ workshops conducted by AIDES in 2009
Authors: Castro Daniela Rojas , Girard Gabriel
Published: April 2015

Research on bareback behaviours and identities constitutes a wide field of academic work. Literature on this issue has focused on the associated psycho-sociological factors, on the evolution of gay sociabilities and on the discursive and socio-political uses of bareback sex. But few of these studies have explored local appropriation of the terms in non-English-speaking contexts. The present article aims to provide an empirical illustration of this process in the French context. It is based on a qualitative study of the impact of a series of sexual health workshops for men who do not use condoms (‘barebackers’).
Sunlight in cyberspace? On transparency as a form of ordering
Authors: Flyverbom Mikkel
Published: April 2015

While we witness a growing belief in transparency as an ideal solution to a wide range of societal problems, we know less about the practical workings of transparency as it guides conduct in organizational and regulatory settings. This article argues that transparency efforts involve much more than the provision of information and other forms of ‘sunlight’, and are rather a matter of managing visibilities than providing insight and clarity. Building on actor-network theory and Foucauldian governmentality studies, it calls for careful attention to the ways in which transparency ideals are translated into more situated practices and become associated with specific organizational and regulatory concerns. The article conceptualizes transparency as a force that shapes conduct in organizational and socio-political domains. In the second section, this conceptualization of transparency as a form of ‘ordering’ is substantiated further by using illustrations of the effects of transparency efforts in the internet domain.
Suicidal Ideation in Juvenile Arrestees
Authors: Tapia Mike , McCoy Henrika , Tucker Lynsey
Published: April 2015

Mental health screening data (Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument version 2 [MAYSI-2]) and offense history were used to study levels of suicidal ideation in a sample of juvenile arrestees held in a large, urban detention center located in a predominately Hispanic Southwestern U.S. city. We used t-tests and multinomial logistic regression to examine the relationships with particular attention to temporal issues. Results indicated that offense history, the timing of arrests, and demographics did influence levels of suicide ideation. We discuss these findings, strengths and limitations, and directions for future research.
Patterns of Play Behaviors and Learning Center Choices Between High Ability and Typical Children
Authors: Wilson Hope E.
Published: April 2015

There is a dearth of research regarding young children with high intellectual abilities, particularly research involving the direct observation of children in naturalistic settings. The current study examines 2 years of observations of young children (aged 37-71 months; n = 34) at an early childhood facility. The children were observed during the substantial periods of the day in which they were engaged in play at self-selected learning centers. The play was coded on levels of cognitive (non-play, functional, dramatic, constructive, and games with rules) and social (solitary, parallel, associative, and cooperative) play. Overall, the high ability children ( n = 19) spent more time in functional, dramatic, and solitary play behaviors than typical children ( n = 15). The high ability children also spent more time in literacy-based (library and writing) and arts-based (art and music) centers than the typical children. These findings indicate that the high ability children in this study were more likely to select centers independent of their peers.
Monitoring Employee Behavior Through the Use of Technology and Issues of Employee Privacy in America
Authors: Moussa Mahmoud
Published: April 2015

Despite the historic American love for privacy that has enhanced innovation and creativity throughout the country, encroachments on privacy restrain individual freedom. Noticeable, advances in technology have offered decision makers remarkable monitoring aptitudes that can be used in numerous tasks for multiple reasons. This has led scholars and practitioners to pose a significant number of questions about what is legitimate and illegitimate in the day-to-day affairs of a business. This article is composed of (a) research about electronic monitoring and privacy concerns; (b) definitions of, critiques of, and alternatives to electronic performance monitoring (EPM); (c) motives behind employee monitoring and leadership behaviors; (d) advice that makes monitoring less distressful; (e) employee monitoring policies; (f) reviewing policies and procedures; (g) the role of human resource development (HRD) in employee assessment and development; and (h) conclusion and recommendations for further studies.
Laccase-catalyzed decolorization and detoxification of Acid Blue 92: statistical optimization, microtoxicity, kinetics, and energetics
Authors: Rezaei Shahla , Tahmasbi Hamed , Mogharabi Mehdi , Ameri Alieh , Forootanfar Hamid , Khoshayand Mohammad Reza , Faramarzi Mohammad Ali
Published: April 2015

Background

In recent years, enzymatic-assisted removal of hazardous dyes has been considered as an alternative and eco-friendly method compared to those of physicochemical techniques. The present study was designed in order to obtain the optimal condition for laccase-mediated (purified from the ascomycete Paraconiothyrium variabile) decolorization of Acid Blue 92; a monoazo dye, using response surface methodology (RSM). So, a D-optimal design with three variables, including pH, enzyme activity, and dye concentration, was applied to optimize the decolorization process. In addition, the kinetic and energetic parameters of the above mentioned enzymatic removal of Acid Blue 92 was investigated.

Results

Decolorization of Acid Blue 92 was maximally (94.1% ± 2.61) occurred at pH 8.0, laccase activity of 2.5 U/mL, and dye concentration of 75 mg/mL. The obtained results of kinetic and energetic studies introduced the laccase-catalyzed decolorization of Acid Blue 92 as an endothermic reaction (Ea, 39 kJ/mol; ΔS, 131 J/mol K; and ΔH, 40 kJ/mol) with K

m
and V

max
values of 0.48 mM and 227 mM/min mg, respectively. Furthermore, the results of microtoxicity study revealed that the toxicity of laccase-treated dye was significantly reduced compared to the untreated dye.

Conclusions

To sum up, the present investigation introduced the Paraconiothyrium variabile laccase as an efficient biocatalyst for decolorization of synthetic dye Acid Blue 92.
Health visiting revitalised
Authors: Bhardwa Seeta
Published: April 2015

As the implementation plan reaches its conclusion, Seeta Bhardwa considers the impact that it has had on the health visiting profession in England over the past 4 years.
The history, benefits and risks of swaddling babies
Authors: Day Lin R
Published: April 2015

Swaddling infants is a practice dating back many centuries, but the manner in which babies are swaddled has changed over the years. About 19% of babies in the UK are swaddled in the first few weeks of life. The benefits are said to include helping the baby to stay on its back, reducing crying and stress, and helping the baby to sleep more deeply. Risks include overheating and difficulty breathing, an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome, and hip dysplasia if swaddling is too restrictive. If parents choose to swaddle their baby, it is important that they follow safe swaddling practice and understand the potential risks as well as the benefits.
Understanding the potential negative impact of interventions on children: A SCPHN student's perspective
Authors: Richards Karen
Published: April 2015

The Government's Working together to safeguard children report called for assessment strategies and early interventions to protect children from harm ( Department for Education, 2013 ). However, it is not only the assessments and interventions themselves that are crucial, but the manner in which they are implemented. Deliberately or inadvertently disempowering parents can have a negative impact on children, increasing their trauma and creating secondary abuse. This article offers the perspective of a specialist community public health nursing student, using a case study involving prescription drug misuse to illustrate how well-meaning reforms do not always have the desired outcomes for children and young people. Health visitors are in a key position to challenge the powerful organisational dynamics involved in child protection work, enabling a more holistic, child-centred and reflexive approach.
Simple connectivity in polar spaces
Authors: Horn Max , Nessler Reed , Van Maldeghem Hendrik
Published: April 2015

We settle the simple connectivity of the geometry opposite a chamber in a polar space of rank 3 by completing the job for the non-embeddable polar spaces and some polar spaces with small parameters.
Crystal structure of 2-ethyl-1-ferrocenylsulfonyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]- pyridine, C18H17FeN3O2S
Authors: Wang Lu-Yao , Li Lu
Published: April 2015

C18H17FeN3O2S, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 7.8088(2) Å, b = 10.5763(3) Å, c = 11.9799(3) Å, α = 109.277(1)°, β = 107.856(1)°, γ = 97.832(1)°, V = 857.3 Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0280, wRref(F2) = 0.0755, T = 296 K.
Crystal structure of (E)-1-(2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)imidazolidine- 2,4-dione, C10H9N3O3
Authors: Hu Lei , Liu Xue-Xue , Xu Hua-Jie , Sheng Liang-Quan , Liu Zhao-Di
Published: April 2015

C10H9N3O3, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 11.290(2) Å, b = 7.339(1) Å, c = 12.238(2) Å, β = 101.325(3)°, V = 994.3 Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0408, wRref(F2) = 0.1209, T = 296 K.
Crystal structure of 17-(2'-(1'-oxa-4'-aza-heterocyclohexyl-1'-)ethylamino)- 17-demethoxygeldanamycin dihydrate, C34H54N4O11
Authors: Sun Wei , Li Yan-Ping , Jin Jie , Li Zhuo-Rong , Shan Guang-Zhi
Published: April 2015

C34H54N4O11, monoclinic, P21 (no. 4), a = 15.5892(4) Å, b = 7.7952(2) Å, c = 15.6849(4) Å, β = 106.396(2)°, V = 1828.5 Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0445, wRref(F2) = 0.1189, T = 120 K.
Rethinking Discernment
Authors: Kádár Dániel Z. , Mills Sara
Published: April 2015

This article engages with the notions of discernment and volition, developed by Ide (1989), in order to consider how the concept which these phenomena describe could be reintroduced into second-wave critical analysis of politeness and impoliteness. It is our contention that these terms have been used in a way which polarizes cultures, so that various East Asian cultures are characterized as ‘discernment cultures’ whilst Western cultures are seen as ‘volitional’. We argue that this polarization is problematic as it does not capture politeness behaviour beyond certain stereotypes, and as such it fails to address the complexities with which a cross-cultural examination of politeness needs to cope. Nevertheless, we believe that the cross-cultural phenomenon which Ide attempted to capture should not be completely ignored. Thus, we reconceptualize the notions of discernment and volition, by focusing on discernment, and we integrate this concept into a framework (Kádár 2013) based on convention and ritual, hence providing a way of using the term discernment in crosscultural (and intercultural) analysis.
On the importance of the prosodic component in the expression of linguistic im/politeness
Authors: Hidalgo Navarro Antonio , Cabedo Nebot Adrián
Published: April 2015

This paper outlines the important relationship between prosody and im/politeness and presents a brief overview of what has been done in this field. Sections 2, 3 and 4 present several theoretical concepts which are especially relevant for understanding im/politeness in concrete frameworks (mainly in conversation). Section 5 points out the necessity of studying a pragmatic phenomenon like im/politeness with its prosodic expression. Finally, section 6 discusses some studies in this field on different languages, with a special focus on prosodic values like the F
Prosody, polyphony and politeness. A polyphonic approach to prosodic configurations common to French and Spanish
Authors: García Negroni María Marta , Caldiz Adriana
Published: April 2015

From a theoretical perspective based on the Theory of Argumentation in Language (
The intonation of mitigating politeness in Catalan
Authors: Devís Herraiz Empar , Cantero Serena Francisco José
Published: April 2015

This paper presents a descriptive model of the melodic characteristics of expressions of politeness attenuators in Catalan, based on the acoustic analysis of a spontaneous speech corpus and its subsequent perceptive validation. The model allows the pragmatic analysis of the phenomenon to be covered, as well as offering future guidelines for its teaching. In addition, the results of the analysis reflect the extensive character of the phenomenon, which surpasses the strict limits of idiomatic code, and allows inter-linguistic analysis. The paper is the product of the collaboration between the