bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The scientific report from the first pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) procedures performed in the eastern part of Central Europe
Authors: Nowacki Maciej , Zegarski Wojciech
Published: June 2018

Objective

To perform a single-centre, detailed analysis of the preparations for the introduction of the first pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) programme in the eastern part of Central Europe.

Methods

The study analysed the 14-month preparation period prior to the performance of the first PIPAC procedure with respect to: (i) general preparations; (ii) patient referral and qualification; (iii) the first PIPAC procedure; (iv) the 2 weeks following PIPAC programme establishment; and (v) general problematic issues that arose.

Results

The length of time needed to prepare our institution for the first PIPAC procedure was extremely long compared with other European Union PIPAC centres: 14 months versus a standard 3–6 months of preparation. The longest amount of time (12 months) was required to prepare the required paperwork.

Conclusions

A new PIPAC programme was successfully established in the eastern part of Central Europe. The length of time to implement this method was significantly longer because of lengthy bureaucratic processes. These current findings should help new centres, especially in this part of Europe, to establish a PIPAC programme more quickly.
Enhancing Motion-In-Depth Perception of Random-Dot Stereograms
Authors: Zhang Di , Nourrit Vincent , De Bougrenet de la Tocnaye Jean-Louis
Published: June 2018

Random-dot stereograms have been widely used to explore the neural mechanisms underlying binocular vision. Although they are a powerful tool to stimulate motion-in-depth (MID) perception, published results report some difficulties in the capacity to perceive MID generated by random-dot stereograms. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the performance of MID perception could be improved using an appropriate stimulus design. Sixteen inexperienced observers participated in the experiment. A training session was carried out to improve the accuracy of MID detection before the experiment. Four aspects of stimulus design were investigated: presence of a static reference, background texture, relative disparity, and stimulus contrast. Participants’ performance in MID direction discrimination was recorded and compared to evaluate whether varying these factors helped MID perception. Results showed that only the presence of background texture had a significant effect on MID direction perception. This study provides suggestions for the design of 3D stimuli in order to facilitate MID perception.
The Effect of Housing First on Housing Stability for People with Mental Illness and Low Intellectual Functioning
Authors: Durbin Anna , Lunsky Yona , Wang Ri , Nisenbaum Rosane , Hwang Stephen W. , O’Campo Patricia , Stergiopoulos Vicky
Published: June 2018

Objective:

Housing First (HF) has been linked to increased tenure in housing for homeless people with mental illness, but the effect of HF on housing stability for people with borderline or lower intellectual functioning has not been examined. This study of homeless adults with mental illness in Toronto, Ontario assessed whether the association between housing stability and HF differed for adults with borderline or lower intellectual functioning, compared to adults with above borderline intellectual functioning.

Method:

This study included 172 homeless adults with mental illness from the Toronto site of the At Home-Chez Soi randomized trial that compared receiving HF relative to treatment as usual. This sample was divided into two intellectual functioning groups: 1) adults with borderline or lower intellectual functioning (IQ < 85, 16%), and 2) adults with above borderline intellectual functioning (IQ ≥ 85, 84%). We compared these groups by modelling the percentage of days stably housed using a linear multivariable generalized estimating equation and included interaction between treatment and intellectual functioning. An interaction between treatment and time was also included.

Results:

There were no overall differences in housing stability for individuals with borderline or lower intellectual functioning compared to people with higher than borderline intellectual functioning in either the HF or the treatment as usual groups.

Conclusion:

This study is the first to demonstrate that for homeless adults with mental illness, borderline or lower intellectual functioning did not significantly affect housing stability. This accentuates the need for more research and potentially wider consideration of their inclusion in housing interventions, such as HF.
The Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales: Measurement Invariance Across Four Language Groups
Authors: Gygi Jasmin T. , Ledermann Thomas , Grob Alexander , Rudaz Myriam , Hagmann-von Arx Priska
Published: June 2018

The Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS) measures general intelligence and its two main components, verbal and nonverbal intelligence, each comprising of two subtests. The RIAS has been recently standardized in Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain. Using the standardization samples of the U.S. ( n = 2,438), Danish ( n = 983), German ( n = 2,103), and Spanish ( n = 1,933) versions of the RIAS, this study examined measurement invariance across these four language groups for a single-factor structure, an oblique two-factor structure with a verbal and nonverbal factor, and a bifactor structure with a general, a verbal, and a nonverbal factor. Single-group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the oblique two-factor and bifactor structure for each language group but not the single-factor structure. The bifactor analysis revealed that the general factor accounted for the largest proportion of common variance in each language group, while the amount of variance accounted for by the two specific factors was small and their reliabilities low. Multiple-group CFA supported scalar invariance in both, the oblique two-factor and bifactor structure.
“Stand Up and Do Something”: Exploring Students’ Perspectives on Bystander Intervention
Authors: McMahon Sheila M. , Hoge Gretchen L. , Johnson Laura , McMahon Sarah
Published: June 2018

Bystander education is an increasingly popular primary prevention strategy for preventing sexual and relationship violence on college campuses. Although the evidence base for this primary prevention approach has grown substantially in recent years, more research is needed that accounts for changes in students’ readiness to help and helping behaviors over time. In addition, because there is still much to learn about the factors that contribute to these changes in behavior, it is important to hear from students in their own words about their experiences with bystander education. This article presents qualitative data from a group of students who participated in a bystander intervention education program over an 18-month period and explores what conclusions can be drawn about the impact of this program on student attitudes, self-perception, and behaviors related to preventing sexual violence on a college campus. Themes that emerged from the data include students’ increased knowledge about sexual violence, perceived changes in attitude about sexual assault on campus, students’ increased desire to help in situations that could escalate to sexual assault, actual helping, and students’ developing sense of themselves as persons of integrity and action.
Teaching and Learning From Case Studies: The Added Value of Using a Nursing Conceptual Model to Construct Cases
Authors: Hackel Jennifer , Fawcett Jacqueline
Published: June 2018

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the influence of applying Orem’s self-care framework practice methodology on the content and comprehensiveness of a case study about a woman who denied having self-care deficits. The discussion begins with presentation of the case as it might have been found in a classroom or health professions journal and contrasts this with application of Orem’s self-care framework practice methodology to illustrate how much more comprehensive the content of the case study is and how well it highlights the role of the primary care nurse practitioner in complex geriatric care. Through application of Orem’s practice methodology, the nurse practitioner is better able to address the high-level risk experienced by an older adult with complex comorbidities whose only initial complaint was “imbalance.”
Orem’s Self-Care Model With Trauma Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Khatiban Mahnaz , Shirani Fatemeh , Oshvandi Khodayar , Soltanian Ali Reza , Ebrahimian Ramin
Published: June 2018

To examine if the application of Orem’s self-care model could improve self-care knowledge, attitudes, practices, and respiratory conditions of trauma patients with chest tubes, a quasi-experimental study was conducted. The participants were assigned to two groups—namely, Orem’s model and routine care. Although the patients’ self-care knowledge, attitudes, and practices were improved in both groups over the course of 3 days since the initial assessments, there was a greater degree of improvement in the experimental group than that in the control group. However, there were no differences in the improvement of the chest parameters between the two groups. Orem’s model was effective in improving self-care in patients with chest tube.
Quantum Caring Leadership: Integrating Quantum Leadership With Caring Science
Authors: Watson Jean , Porter-O’Grady Tim , Horton-Deutsch Sara , Malloch Kathy
Published: June 2018

The authors of this article integrate two historically parallel yet disparate fields of nursing, caring science theory and nursing quantum leadership science. Through a nursing, discipline-specific unitary paradigm lens, intersecting principles of caring science and quantum leadership science are uncovered. The result is a model for unitary, discipline-specific, nursing healthcare leadership: Quantum Caring Healthcare Leadership. Ontological congruence is uncovered among the philosophical-ethical-theoretical principles of caring science and the unifying disciplinary structural concepts from quantum leadership. The result is a model for discipline-specific, healthcare leadership. This convergence is potentially theory-generating for both unitary science and healthcare leadership. In this model, both quantum leadership and caring science are transformed and metamorphosed into a new unitary, discipline-specific entity to guide further advancement of knowledge, theory, and discipline-specific healthcare leadership and practice.
Looking Inward: Philosophical and Methodological Perspectives on Phenomenological Self-Reflection
Authors: Pool Natalie M.
Published: June 2018

Engaging in early and ongoing self-reflection during interpretive phenomenological research is critical for ensuring trustworthiness or rigor. However, the lack of guidelines and clarity about the role of self-reflection in this methodology creates both theoretical and procedural confusion. The purpose of this article is to describe key philosophical underpinnings, characteristics, and hallmarks of the process of self-reflection in interpretive phenomenological investigation and to provide a list of guidelines that facilitate this process. Excerpts from an interpretive phenomenological study are used to illustrate characteristics of quality self-reflection. The guidelines are intended to be particularly beneficial for novice researchers who may find self-reflective writing to be daunting and unclear. Facilitating use of self-reflection may strengthen both the interpretive phenomenological body of work as well as that of all qualitative research.
Entanglement and the Relevance of Method in Qualitative Research
Authors: Reed Pamela G.
Published: June 2018

This brief article is an introduction to the feature article on self-reflection in interpretive phenomenology research. Self-reflection is discussed as a method that warrants more explicit description in the practice of qualitative research. Research does not occur in an epistemic vacuum. Despite researchers’ entanglement in the process of research and the fuzziness of the phenomenon under study, scientific methods, including that of self-reflection, enable nurse scientists to persevere in their study of human health experiences.
Faces of Shame
Authors: Bunkers Sandra Schmidt
Published: June 2018

The author in this article explores the humanbecoming dignity tenet of shame. Shame is examined through an extensive literature review, through storytelling, and through surveying humanbecoming inquiries of sadness, feeling fear, feeling overwhelmed, and feeling disrespected.
Midwestern Farm Widows: Adaptation Following Spousal Loss
Authors: Steinberg Jennifer Weathersbee , Roux Gayle M.
Published: June 2018

The purpose of this descriptive study was to co-create oral histories of Midwestern farm widows. Rural widows constitute a vulnerable population due to issues of bereavement and depression compounded by emotional and geographical isolation. A farm widow is often forced to maintain viability of the farm for the family’s livelihood. Oral history interviews with nine Midwest farm widows were conducted and analyzed. Three overarching themes emerged: competence, industriousness, and inner strength. Women shared stories of overcoming insurmountable obstacles. This study contributes to the literature on grief and expanding inner strength among rural widows. Further research could inform theory related to inner strength following a challenging life event.
Leveraging Subordinates for Performance
Authors: Wang Pengji , Zhao Xiuxi , Lim Angeline Cuifang
Published: June 2018

Using multisource data from 37 countries encompassing a sample of 9,039 managers and their subordinates, we find that managers who provide more career mentoring receive higher performance ratings. This relationship holds true in all cultures but is more salient in more assertive than less assertive cultures. Conversely, managers who provide psychosocial mentoring receive higher performance ratings only in more assertive cultures. By understanding how the two types of mentoring behaviors affect managers’ performance across cultures with different levels of assertiveness, this study provides insight into how managers (especially expatriates and managers of cross-cultural teams) can adapt their mentoring behaviors across cultures.
Stereovision-based relative states and inertia parameter estimation of noncooperative spacecraft
Authors: Wang Xun , Wang Zhaokui , Zhang Yulin
Published: June 2018

Autonomous proximity operations have recently become appealing as space missions. In particular, the estimation of the relative states and inertia properties of a noncooperative spacecraft is an important but challenging problem, because there might be poor priori information about the target. Using only stereovision measurements, this study developed an adaptive unscented Kalman filter to estimate the relative states and moment-of-inertia ratios of a noncooperative spacecraft. Because the accuracy of the initial relative states has an effect on the estimation convergence performance, attention was also given to their determination. The target’s body-fixed frame was defined in parallel to the chaser’s initial body-fixed frame, and then the initial relative attitude was known. After formulating kinematic constraint equations between the relative states and multiple points on the target surface, particle swarm optimization was utilized to determine the initial relative angular velocity. The initial relative position was also determined under the assumption that the initial relative translational velocity was known. To estimate the relative states and moment-of-inertia ratios using the adaptive unscented Kalman filter, the relative attitude dynamic model was reformulated by designing a novel transition rule with five moment-of-inertia ratios, described in the defined target’s body-fixed frame. The moment-of-inertia ratios were added to the state space, and a new state equation with variant process noise covariance matrix Q was formulated. The measurement updating errors of the relative states were utilized to adaptively modify Q so that the filter could estimate the relative states and moment-of-inertia ratios in two stages. Numerical simulations of the adaptive unscented Kalman filter with unknown moment-of-inertia ratios and the standard unscented Kalman filter with known moment-of-inertia ratios were conducted to illustrate the performance of the adaptive unscented Kalman filter. The obtained results showed the satisfactory convergence of the estimation errors of both the relative states and moment-of-inertia ratios with high accuracy.
Robust attitude predictive control design for hypersonic vehicles with state constraints
Authors: Xingjie Niu , Jianguo Guo , Jun Zhou , Qing Lu
Published: June 2018

In this paper, a novel robust predictive controller based on the tangent barrier Lyapunov function (BLF-Tan) is proposed for the attitude tracking problem of the hypersonic vehicles with full state constraints. The finite-time nonlinear disturbance observer is involved to improve the predictive controller’s property of disturbance rejection. It is strictly proved that with the proposed approach, all state constraints are not violated, all signals in the closed-loop systems are bounded and asymptotical tracking is achieved. Furthermore, the relationship among state constraints, initial state conditions, tracking performance and controller parameters is analyzed, which provides a guideline for the selection of controller parameters. And the solvability analysis of the constrained tracking problem provides a guideline for the selection of desired states trajectories. Finally, the numerical simulation shows that the proposed method for hypersonic vehicles can guarantee all state constraints are not violated compared with the classical predictive controller, and also has fast convergence rate and enough robustness.
The Effect of Work Fulfilment on Job Characteristics and Employee Retention: Gen Y Employees
Authors: Vui-Yee Koon , Paggy Khoo
Published: June 2018

Job characteristics are considered a contributing factor for the retention of employees at work, but the mechanism behind this relationship remains unclear. The current study aimed to analyse work fulfilment as mediators and age among Generation Y (Gen Y) as moderators of the relationship between task and knowledge characteristics and employee retention based on self-determination theory (SDT). Data were collected from 153 Gen Y employees in Klang Valley, Malaysia and analysed using partial least squares (PLS). The results supported the predicted mediating role of work fulfilment with gender and educational level as control variables. Various ages among Gen Y have no differences within the studied relationships. Implications, limitations of these findings and directions for future research are further discussed to improve the retention of employees in the workplace.
Behaviour of Individual Investors in Stock Market Trading: Evidence from India
Authors: Raut Rajdeep Kumar , Das Niladri , Mishra Ramkrishna
Published: June 2018

This study employs structural equation modelling (SEM) for analysing data collected from a nationwide survey with 396 individual investors, for exploring the factors influencing individual investors’ decision-making in the Indian stock market. This study explored the factors that underpin individual investors’ investment decision-making behaviour to find whether the Indian financial market is efficient and investors make rational decisions. The result indicates that the investors are significantly influenced by herding, information cascades, anchoring, representativeness and overconfidence while contagion shows the insignificant result. Concurrently, the study has also provided strong evidence of investors’ irrationality as well as inefficiency of the financial market. The results can be used for the further exploration of trading behaviour of individual investors and foster new research in the context of behavioural finance.
Magnetic field effect on vibration of a rotary smart size-dependent two-dimensional porous functionally graded nanoplate
Authors: Hosseini Mehdi , Mahinzare Mohammad , Ghadiri Majid
Published: June 2018

In this article, the free vibration of a rotating two-directional functionally graded porous magnetoelastic nanosize circular plate is analytically studied. The presented model incorporates effects of the small-scale parameter and external magnetic loading. In contrast to the previous works, the material properties of the circular nanoplate are considered to be functionally graded in both thickness and radial directions. In addition, the magnetic actuation is also taken into account in the analysis. By using Hamilton’s principle and employing the modified couple stress theory, the governing equations and boundary conditions are derived based on the first-order shear deformation theory. The derived equations are solved by using the differential quadrature method. The validity of the present analysis is confirmed by comparing the obtained results with the results existed in the literature. A detailed parametric study is conducted to highlight the influences of the boundary conditions type, size dependency, porosity factor, non-dimensional angular velocity, functionally graded power index, initial external magnetic potential, variation form of the material properties, and radius-to-thickness ratio on the non-dimensional natural frequencies of the circular nanoplate.
A Mixed Methods Investigation of Posttraumatic Growth in Young Adults Following Parental Divorce
Authors: Milam Sarah R. B. , Schmidt Christa K.
Published: June 2018

The present study used a mixed methods design to examine factors contributing to posttraumatic growth (PTG) in 232 young adults who experienced parental divorce. Participants completed an online survey including measures of social support, religious coping, posttraumatic stress, and posttraumatic growth. Participants also responded to five open-ended questions related to their parents’ divorce. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that perceived social support, intrinsic religiousness, and positive and negative religious coping contributed statistically significant variance to PTG. Qualitative data revealed themes of both pain and positive growth following parental divorce. Implications to assist children in the promotion of positive growth after parental divorce are discussed.
The Impact of Smoke on the Ultraviolet and Visible Radiative Forcing Under Different Fire Regimes
Authors: Park Yun H , Sokolik Irina N , Hall Samuel R
Published: June 2018

The quantification of the UV characteristics of smoke aerosols is valuable to UV Index forecasting, air quality studies, air chemistry studies, and assessments of the impacts on regional and global environmental changes. The wavelength dependence of the light absorption by smoke aerosol has been researched throughout the UV and visible spectral region and varies with fire type and aerosol composition. An objective of this study is to investigate the spectral optical properties (eg, extinction coefficient, single-scattering albedo, and asymmetry parameter), UV actinic fluxes, and radiative forcing of smoke of different fire regimes. The smoke aerosol information (eg, simulated smoke fields from biomass burning emission and vertical distribution of the mass concentration of smoke components) from WRF-Chem is used to distinguish 2 smoke types: flaming and smoldering. To compute the spectral optical properties for the fire regimes, the representative size distribution and spectral refractive index have been implemented into the Mie code, and the optical properties are used to run the tropospheric ultraviolet and visible radiative transfer model. We make comparisons between simulated model and measured actinic flux in the UV and visible spectra under smoke aerosol laden conditions. The WRF-Chem-SMOKE model simulates the smoke plume matched with fire locations and comparable aerosol optical depth (AOD) with satellite measurements. However, the correlation between the simulated and observed AOD is small, which implies that adjusting the fire size for the emission inputs and improving meteorological fields are required for further research. The smoke at selected locations reduces the UV actinic flux and increases the visible actinic flux above the plume at small solar zenith angles. The specific spectral response is dependent on the smoke type. Overall, the results of this investigation show that this approach is valuable to estimate the impact of smoke on UV and visible radiative fluxes.
A mixed methods investigation of flow experience in the middle school instrumental music classroom
Authors: Clementson Casey J.
Published: June 2018

Although flow theory is one way of measuring the quality of a student’s experience in a music ensemble, the majority of flow research utilizes samples of high school or collegiate level musicians thus causing us to generalize findings to young adolescent (middle school) populations. Using a convergent parallel mixed methods design, the purpose of this study was to examine factors that may contribute to flow experiences of students in a middle school band. Quantitative data (surveys that included the Experience Sampling Method) and qualitative data (case study of an eighth grade band) were analyzed separately before being merged into a final analysis. Results provide evidence to support that flow is an individualized experience even though students were not in flow based on self-perceived ratings of challenge and skill. Mixed methods results also suggest that young adolescent students may not conceptualize flow in the same manner as older adolescents, thus erroneously suggesting that flow did not occur. Recommendations for future research include exploring alternative vocabulary for flow characteristics for use in Experience Sampling Method surveys, expanding the sample to include music programs at multiple middle schools to create additional regression model predictor variables, and longitudinal explorations of flow over time within large ensembles.
Globalization, demand of sense and enemization of the other: A psychocultural analysis of European societies’ sociopolitical crisis
Authors: Salvatore Sergio , Mannarini Terri , Avdi Evrinomi , Battaglia Fiorella , Cremaschi Marco , Fini Viviana , Forges Davanzati Guglielmo , Kadianaki Irini , Krasteva Anna , Kullasepp Katrin , Matsopoulos Anastassios , Mølholm Martin , Redd Rozlyn , Rochira Alessia , Russo Federico , Santarpia Alfonso , Sammut Gordon , Valmorbida Antonella , Veltri Giuseppe Alessandro
Published: June 2018

The paper outlines a cultural–psychological interpretation of the current European societies’ socio-institutional crisis. To this end, preliminarily, the cultural psychological view of social behaviour is outlined, focusing on the idea that socio-political choices depend on how people make sense of their world. Second, the paper provides an interpretation of the current socio-political European scenario of crisis, based on the main results of a recent study that has mapped the cultural dynamics underpinning some European countries. The interpretation focuses on two complementary facets: on the one hand, the lack of symbolic resources (defined: semiotic capital) enabling people to perceive the collective dimension of life as a lived, subjectively relevant fact of experience; on the other hand, the relevance of a cultural form (defined: paranoid belongingness) that channels a trajectory of sensemaking consisting of the affective connotation of otherness in terms of threat and enemy. Third, the paper deepens the interplay between these cultural dynamics and the social, political and economic conditions that may have been triggered by them. In that perspective, the function of semiotic regulation played by the enemization of the other is highlighted. The conclusive part of the work is devoted to discuss implications the analysis suggests for policy makers.
Body Composition, Dietary, and Gustatory Function Assessment in People With Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Martín Ismael San Mauro , Barato Víctor Paredes , Oliva Sara López , Rodríguez Marta , Yurrita Luis Collado , Cabañas Maria José Ciudad , Rojo Sara Sanz , de la Calle Licia , Díaz Elena Ávila , Santos Yaiza Quevedo , Pascual Paloma Elortegui , Nieto Marta Villanueva , Vilar Elena Garicano
Published: June 2018

Objectives:

Observe the association of foods habits, body composition, lifestyle habits, and loss of gustatory function with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Methods:

This comparative study enrolled 75 patients with AD (mean age 77.5 years) and 267 healthy volunteers (mean age 73 years). Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), body fat, visceral fat, muscle mass, and waist circumference were measured. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was measured by the Mediterranean-Diet-Adherence Screener. Gustatory function was investigated using a threshold and triangle test.

Results:

Cases with AD presented lower BMI and weight and higher sleep hours, being statistically significant the difference between cases and controls ( P = .02; P = .001; P = .001, respectively). Patients with AD showed lower adherence to exercise and Mediterranean diet as shown by the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener–score (8.12 ± 2.5 vs 8.65 ± 2.4). The gustatory function was impaired in patients with AD when compared to controls.

Conclusion:

Patients with AD show worst outcomes in terms of anthropometric measurements, lifestyle habits (diet, exercise), and gustatory function than controls.
A Phenomenological Analysis of the Spiritual Support Services in State Hospitals: The Case of Turkey
Authors: Bakiler Esra , Eksi Halil
Published: June 2018

The purpose of this research is to examine the core and nature of spiritual support services experienced by Turkey's pioneer spiritual support specialists (SSSs). A phenomenological approach was used in this qualitative research in which six males, two females, and eight SSSs participated. It has been seen that as a result of face-to-face interviews with participants within the framework of the semi-structured interview protocol, the spiritual support service has been experienced as a process which changes the perception of life. In participants’ experience, spiritual support has a deeper and more positive impact than other psychosocial services. Research findings show the need for a more dynamic education process based on psychology and social sciences to enhance effective communication and interviewing skills.
God in the Hour: Religious Faith in Psychoanalytic Treatment
Authors: Madonna John Michael
Published: June 2018

The following is a discussion of the issue of religious faith on the part of the analyst, in terms of how it comes to bear on the psychological treatment of patients who have faith and some who do not. A consideration, and refutation, of Freud’s position on religion and his belief in a supreme being as an illusion will be conducted, along with subsequent analytic thinking on this matter. The author’s personal experience will be described, and how he is affirmed and sometimes challenged by the various clinical situations in which he finds himself. There will be an application of psychological theory, clinical practice, and theological guide-points.
Factors Predicting Burnout Among Chaplains: Compassion Satisfaction, Organizational Factors, and the Mediators of Mindful Self-Care and Secondary Traumatic Stress
Authors: Hotchkiss Jason T. , Lesher Ruth
Published: June 2018

This study predicted Burnout from the self-care practices, compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, and organizational factors among chaplains who participated from all 50 states (N = 534). A hierarchical regression model indicated that the combined effect of compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, mindful self-care, demographic, and organizational factors explained 83.2% of the variance in Burnout. Chaplains serving in a hospital were slightly more at risk for Burnout than those in hospice or other settings. Organizational factors that most predicted Burnout were feeling bogged down by the “system” (25.7%) and an overwhelming caseload (19.9%). Each self-care category was a statistically significant protective factor against Burnout risk. The strongest protective factors against Burnout in order of strength were self-compassion and purpose, supportive structure, mindful self-awareness, mindful relaxation, supportive relationships, and physical care. For secondary traumatic stress, supportive structure, mindful self-awareness, and self-compassion and purpose were the strongest protective factors. Chaplains who engaged in multiple and frequent self-care strategies experienced higher professional quality of life and low Burnout risk. In the chaplain’s journey toward wellness, a reflective practice of feeling good about doing good and mindful self-care are vital. The significance, implications, and limitations of the study were discussed.
Group and Organizational Safety Norms Set the Stage for Good Post-Fall Huddles
Authors: Allen Joseph A. , Reiter-Palmon Roni , Kennel Victoria , Jones Katherine J.
Published: June 2018

We explored group and organizational safety norms as antecedents to meeting leader behaviors and achievement of desired outcomes in a special after-action review case—a post-fall huddle. A longitudinal survey design was used to investigate the relationship between organizational/group safety norms, huddle leader behavior, and huddle meeting effectiveness. The sample included health care workers in critical access hospitals ( N = 206) who completed a baseline safety norm assessment and an assessment of post-fall huddle experiences 3 to 6 months later. Findings indicate that organizational and group safety norms relate to perceived huddle meeting effectiveness through appropriate huddle leader behavior in a partial mediated framework. In contrast to previous research showing after-action reviews predicting group and organizational safety norms, the longitudinal study presented here suggests that group and organizational safety norms set the stage for the enactment of post-fall huddles in an effective manner.
Optimal linear quadratic control for wireless sensor and actuator networks with random delays and packet dropouts
Authors: Wang Zhuwei , Liu Lihan , Fang Chao , Wang Xiaodong , Si Pengbo , Wu Hong
Published: June 2018

In this article, the optimal linear quadratic control problem is considered for the wireless sensor and actuator network with stochastic network-induced delays and packet dropouts. Considering the event-driven relay nodes, the optimal solution is obtained, which is a function of the current plant state and all past control signals. It is shown that the optimal control law is the same for all locations of the controller placement. Since the perfect plant state information is available at the sensor, the optimal controller should be collocated with the sensor. In addition, some issues such as the plant state noise and suboptimal solution are also discussed. The performance of the proposed scheme is investigated by an application of the load frequency control system in power grid.
Efficient sensor network planning based on approximate potential games
Authors: Lee Su-Jin , Park Young-Jin , Choi Han-Lim
Published: June 2018

This article addresses information-based sensing point selection from a set of possible sensing locations. A potential game approach has been applied to addressing distributed decision making for cooperative sensor planning. For a large sensor network, the local utility function for an agent is difficult to compute, because the utility function depends on the other agents’ decisions, while each sensing agent is inherently faced with limitations in both its communication and computational capabilities. Accordingly, we propose an approximation method for a local utility function to accommodate limitations in information gathering and processing, using only a part of the decisions of other agents. The error induced by the approximation is also analyzed, and to keep the error small, we propose a selection algorithm that chooses the neighbor set for each agent in a greedy way. The selection algorithm is based on the correlation between one agent’s and the other agents’ measurement selection. Furthermore, we show that a game with an approximate utility function has an [Formula: see text]equilibrium and the set of the equilibria include the Nash equilibrium of the original potential game. We demonstrate the validity of our approximation method through two numerical examples on simplified weather forecasting and multi-target tracking.
Life prediction of the tensile damage progress for high-speed train gearbox shell based on acoustic emission sensor and an automatic optimization method
Authors: Ai Yibo , Sun Chang , Zhang Weidong
Published: June 2018

The high-speed train gearbox is one of the key components of the train system, and its working state is related to passengers’ safety. The gearbox shell is the protective shell for gears under harsh and complex service environment. Instantaneous impact of hard material during failure can lead to the rapid damage accumulation and fracture of the shell material. In this article, the accumulation of tensile damage of the high-speed train gearbox shell material has been studied. For the short tensile process leading to significant amount of damage, a real-time and non-destructive detection method has been used to monitor the tensile damage progression and predict the residual life of the material. An automatic optimization algorithm has been proposed to deal with data quality problems such as fluctuations, imbalances, and large intervals. In addition, an automatic life prediction optimization model for material tensile process has been established. The life prediction errors are controlled within 50 s, and the majority of errors are less than 20 s. For the accelerated test, in respect to real situation, a 6 h time slot is designed for disaster control such as passenger evacuation and train failure prevention.
Study on the vibration characteristics of coke pushing ram in the coke pushing process
Authors: Xiang Jin , Sun Huanwu , Shao Qi , Sun Naixin , Li Min , Fan Yaoyao
Published: June 2018

Serious vibrations can occur in the coke pushing ram in the coke pushing process and may directly affect the regular production of coke oven, in order to avoid vibration, it is necessary to study the vibration characteristics of coke pushing ram. In this article, the coke pushing resistance is derived via the coke pushing current and a mathematical model of coke pushing ram in the coke pushing process is established to study the vibration mechanism of coke pushing ram. The results indicate that in the low-velocity and heavy-load coke pushing process after the slipper enters the carbonization chamber, the coke pushing velocity is less than the critical velocity, which indicates that the stick-slip vibration occurs in the coke pushing ram, and the factors affecting the coke pushing ram stability mainly include the difference between the static and dynamic friction coefficients, stiffness, and damping. The results are validated by numerical simulation and experiment test.
Treatment of exercise pulmonary hypertension improves pulmonary vascular distensibility
Authors: Wallace William D. , Nouraie Mehdi , Chan Stephen Y. , Risbano Michael G.
Published: June 2018

Exercise pulmonary hypertension (ePH) is an underappreciated form of exertional limitation. Despite normal resting pulmonary artery pressures, patients with ePH demonstrate early pulmonary vascular changes with reduced pulmonary arterial compliance (PAC) and vascular distensibility (α). Recent data suggest that targeted vasodilator therapy may improve hemodynamics in ePH, but it is not well‐known whether such medications alter pulmonary vascular distensibility. Thus, we sought to evaluate if vasodilator therapy improved α a marker of early pulmonary vascular disease in ePH. Ten patients performed supine exercise right heart catheterization (exRHC) with bicycle ergometer to peak exercise. Patients diagnosed with ePH were treated with pulmonary vasodilators. A repeat symptom‐limited exercise RHC was performed at least six months after therapy. Patients with ePH had evidence of early pulmonary vascular disease, as baseline PAC and α were reduced. After pulmonary vasodilator therapy, a number of peak exercise hemodynamics statistically improved, including a decrease of total pulmonary resistance and pulmonary vascular resistance, while cardiac output increased. Importantly, vasodilator therapy partially reversed the pathogenic decreases of α at the time of repeat exRHC. Pulmonary vascular distensibility, α, a marker of early pulmonary vascular disease, improves in ePH after therapy with pulmonary vasodilators.
The Diversity of Japan’s Overseas Development Assistance to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: A Case Study of the Role of Security
Authors: Kikkawa Takuro
Published: June 2018

This article analyzes Japan’s Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) policy in Jordan, focusing primarily on the areas concerning security. After the oil shock in 1973, security concerns in the Middle East affected Japan’s economic security policy. However, Japan’s long vulnerability in energy supply was not the sole determinant of its aid policies in the Middle East. Rather, a paradigm shift in the Japanese government’s ODA policy in the 1990s, the implementation of the human security approach, had a greater impact than economic security in subsequent Japanese ODA programs in Jordan. Japan has given more assistance to areas relevant to military security in its ODA in Jordan, particularly after increasing security concerns about the Middle East since the early twenty-first century. The two phenomena—Japan’s more aggressive commitment in the Middle East, including its deployment of Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in the region and Jordan’s greater responsibility in regional security—occurred simultaneously because of a series of crises after 2003. The unusual nature of Jordanian society today, a small society that hosts refugees from many nations, means the new Japanese ODA approach in Jordan has more diverse recipients than ever, as the country is becoming a host for a community of refugees.
De-feminization and (Dis)empowerment of Women Workers in Garment Factories
Authors: Prasad Archana
Published: June 2018

Economic globalization led to the restructuring of global production process. It has led to a decline in the participation of women in the formal sector and the deterioration in their conditions as workers. This article studies the export processing zones (EPZs) of India. By using qualitative data collected through ethnographic study of the women workers in the garment factories in Delhi, this article shows how the lack of labour standards or unions in these zones have made women workers more casualized, informal and vulnerable. They suffer from discrimination, sexual harassment and are denied the basic right to work.
Bit of Barfi, Sip of Margarita: Disability and Sexuality in Hindi Films
Authors: Jain Jayana
Published: June 2018

The aim of this article is to analyse the representation of disability and sexuality in selected Hindi films. The study compares the sexual construct of the disabled bodies of Jhilmil in Anurag Basu’s Barfi! (2012) and Laila in Shonali Bose’s Margarita with a Straw (2014). On the one hand, if the ambivalent representation of the disabled and sexualized body of Jhilmil seems to reinforce the ableist and heterosexual ethos, the disabled and queered body of Laila indicates possibilities, resistance and interruptions. In a larger context, it proposes to indicate a much-needed framework to engage with the politics of representation of disability and sexuality in gender and Hindi film studies.
Advancing of Restorative Justice in Criminal Law in India and Germany: A Comparative Study
Authors: Bajpai Mehak
Published: June 2018

The need for alternative dispute resolution and its importance is not a new discovery. Various kinds of informal agreements existed throughout the world when Alternative Dispute Resolution was not legally recognized as such. It first, however, was employed only in civil cases, and criminal justice system was exempted from it. The state undertook the responsibility to impose sanctions (which is very much the case even now) in criminal matters and the idea of informal settlement in these cases arrived much later globally. This article seeks to put some light on two systems, that is, India’s accusatorial system and Germany’s inquisitorial system of trial, and how both the countries have gradually come up with alternative dispute resolution techniques, with the primary focus being the victim–offender mediation programmes (VOMPs) and plea bargaining. The article shall give an overview of the guiding principle behind these programmes, that is, restorative justice and further trace the historical development and the present situation in both the countries. This is a comparative analysis which shall put forth the best out of both and give suggestions to improve the existing situation, while taking learning lessons from both the countries.
Peptidoglycan induces disseminated intravascular coagulation in baboons through activation of both coagulation pathways
Authors: Popescu Narcis I. , Silasi Robert , Keshari Ravi S. , Girton Alanson , Burgett Tarea , Zeerleder Sacha S. , Gailani David , Gruber Andras , Lupu Florea , Coggeshall K. Mark
Published: June 2018

Key Points

PGN infusion mimics the systemic inflammation and coagulopathy observed in late-stage B anthracis challenge. PGN directly activates the extrinsic coagulation and promotes contact pathway amplification in nonhuman primates.
Effectiveness of pregnant women’s active participation in their antenatal care for the control of malaria and anaemia in pregnancy in Ghana: a cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Ampofo Gifty Dufie , Tagbor Harry , Bates Imelda
Published: June 2018

Background

The burden of malaria and anaemia in pregnancy remains high despite the availability of proven efficacious antenatal care interventions. Sub-optimal uptake of the interventions may be due to inadequate active participation of pregnant women in their antenatal care. It was hypothesized that providing opportunities for pregnant women to improve upon active participation in their antenatal care through malaria and anaemia point-of-care testing would improve adherence to ANC recommendations and interventions and lead to better pregnancy outcomes.

Methods

Fourteen antenatal clinics in the Ashanti region of Ghana were randomized into intervention (pregnant women participating in their care plus current routine care) and control (current routine care) arms. Pregnant women attending the clinics for the first time were recruited and followed up until delivery. Haemoglobin levels and malaria parasitaemia were measured at baseline, 4–8 weeks after recruitment and at 36–40 weeks gestation. Birth weight and pregnancy outcomes were also recorded.

Results

The overall mean age, gestational age and haemoglobin at baseline were 26.4 years, 17.3 weeks and 110 g/l, respectively, with no significant differences between groups; 10.7% had asymptomatic parasitaemia; 74.6% owned an ITN but only 48.8% slept under it the night before enrolment. The adjusted risk ratio by 8 weeks follow up and at 36–40 weeks gestation in the intervention versus the control was 0.97 (95% CI 0.78–1.22) and 0.92 (95% CI 0.63–1.34) for anaemia and 1.17 (95% CI 0.68–2.04) and 0.83 (95% CI 0.27–2.57) for parasitaemia. The adjusted risk ratio for low birth weight was 0.93 (95% CI 0.44–1.97) and for pregnancy complications (abortions, intrauterine fetal deaths and still births) was 0.77 (95% CI 0.17–3.52) in the intervention group versus controls.

Conclusion

Although its potential was evident, this study found no significant beneficial effect of women participating in their malaria and haemoglobin tests on pregnancy outcomes. Exploring factors influencing health worker compliance to health intervention implementation and patient adherence to health interventions within this context will contribute in future to improving intervention effectiveness.

Trial registrationISRTCTN88917252