bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring English language workplace proficiency across subgroups: Using CFA models to validate test score interpretation
Authors: Yoo Hanwook , Manna Venessa F.
Published: December 2015

This study assessed the factor structure of the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC®) Listening and Reading test, and its invariance across subgroups of test-takers. The subgroups were defined by (a) gender, (b) age, (c) employment status, (d) time spent studying English, and (e) having lived in a country where English is the main language. The study results indicated that a correlated two-factor model corresponding to the two language abilities of listening and reading best accounted for the factor structure of the test. In addition, the underlying construct had the same structure across the test-taker subgroups studied. There were, however, significant differences in the means of the latent construct across the subgroups. This study provides empirical support for the current score reporting practice for the TOEIC test, suggests that the test scores have the same meaning across studied test-taker subgroups, and identifies possible test-taker background characteristics that affect English language abilities as measured by the TOEIC test.
A geographic information system-based logical urban growth model for predicting spatial growth of an urban area
Authors: Debnath Ripan , Amin ATM Nurul
Published: December 2015

The paper describes the development of a forecasting model to render most logical or probable urban expansion over the spatial region of an urban area. Prediction of urban growth is very important for development planning and policy making as well as for urban management. In this model, five different but equal influential factors of urban expansion choices have been integrated. Those factors are city’s future development master plan, spatial and temporal population growth pattern, land elevation, road connectivity and distance from existing urban center(s). The integration processes were performed on equal area hexagonal grid through geographic information system application. The location-specific information were extracted and overlaid on the hexagonal grid and classified into a scale of scores in order to compare the cells with one another. The model presumes that the higher the cell value is the higher the probability to be developed as urban. As a case study, the model delineated spatial growth of Dhaka city by the years of 2025 and 2040. There it has been observed that Badda, Khilkhet, Khilgaon, Jatrabari, Demra, Ashulia, Savar, etc. areas are supposed to be urbanized in the near future. Subsequently, a huge portion of flood flow zone are most likely to be developed as urban though those are non-urban areas as declared by the authority. On the other hand, the regions across the lying rivers in Dhaka Metropolitan area may face sluggish urban development despite closer proximity to core urban. Since the model portrays future expansion over the geographical regions, the urban planners and decision makers may utilize it in physical planning to guide future urbanization.
Effects of whole body vibration on muscle spasticity for people with central nervous system disorders: a systematic review
Authors: Huang Meizhen , Liao Lin-Rong , Pang Marco YC
Published: December 2015

Objectives:

To examine the effects of whole-body vibration on spasticity among people with central nervous system disorders.

Methods:

Electronic searches were conducted using CINAHL, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, PubMed, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus and Scopus to identify randomized controlled trials that investigated the effect of whole-body vibration on spasticity among people with central nervous system disorders (last search in August 2015). The methodological quality and level of evidence were rated using the PEDro scale and guidelines set by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine.

Results:

Nine trials with totally 266 subjects (three in cerebral palsy, one in multiple sclerosis, one in spinocerebellar ataxia, and four in stroke) fulfilled all selection criteria. One study was level 1b (PEDro⩾6 and sample size>50) and eight were level 2b (PEDro<6 or sample size ⩽50). All three cerebral palsy trials (level 2b) reported some beneficial effects of whole-body vibration on reducing leg muscle spasticity. Otherwise, the results revealed no consistent benefits on spasticity in other neurological conditions studied. There is little evidence that change in spasticity was related to change in functional performance. The optimal protocol could not be identified. Many reviewed studies were limited by weak methodological and reporting quality. Adverse events were minor and rare.

Conclusion:

Whole-body vibration may be useful in reducing leg muscle spasticity in cerebral palsy but this needs to be verified by future high quality trials. There is insufficient evidence to support or refute the notion that whole-body vibration can reduce spasticity in stroke, spinocerebellar ataxia or multiple sclerosis.
Diabetes Self-Care Activities and Health-Related Quality-of-Life of individuals with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Shantou, China
Authors: Lin Kun , Yang Xiaoping , Yin Guoshu , Lin Shaoda
Published: December 2015

Objective

To assess diabetes self-care behaviours and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), in China.

Methods

Individuals with T1DM underwent face-to-face interviews over a 7-day questionnaire period. The Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) was used to assess self-care behaviours. EQ-5D-3L was used to quantify HRQoL.

Results

Of self-care activities, individuals ( n = 322) were most likely to adhere to treatment and least likely to perform foot care. A total of 78.9% of participants did not examine their feet and 33.9% of participants did not monitor blood glucose during the questionnaire period. Moderate/severe anxiety or depression was reported by 28.6% of participants; 23.9% reported moderate/severe pain or discomfort. The individual’s level of diabetes education, insulin injection regimen and HbA1c were independently associated with total SDSCA score. Household income and age were independently associated with EQ-5D index.

Conclusions

Enhancing diabetes education in individuals and implementing strict insulin regimens could improve self-care behaviours in people with T1DM in China.
Crossmodal Correspondence Between Auditory Pitch and Visual Elevation Affects Temporal Ventriloquism
Authors: Orchard-Mills Emily , Van der Burg Erik , Alais David
Published: December 2015

Temporal ventriloquism is the shift in perceived timing of a visual stimulus that occurs when an auditory stimulus is presented close in time. This study investigated whether crossmodal correspondence between auditory pitch and visual elevation modulates temporal ventriloquism. Participants were presented two visual stimuli (above and below fixation) across a range of stimulus onset asynchronies and were asked to judge the order of the events. A task-irrelevant auditory click was presented shortly before the first and another shortly after the second visual stimulus. There were two pitches used (low and high) and the congruency between the auditory and visual stimuli was manipulated. The results show that incongruent pairings between pitch and elevation abolish temporal ventriloquism. In contrast, the crossmodal correspondence effect was absent when the direction of the pitch change was fixed within sessions, reducing the saliency of the pitch change. The results support previous studies suggesting that in addition to spatial and temporal factors, crossmodal correspondences can influence binding of information across the senses, although these effects are likely to be dependent on the saliency of the crossmodal mapping.
Reduction in the Reverse-Bias Effect by an Abrupt Break in the Sequential Regularity of Visual Events
Authors: Urakawa Tomokazu , Hirose Nobuyuki , Mori Shuji
Published: December 2015

A bistable image is more likely to be initially perceived as the reversal of its preceding unambiguous version presented for a prolonged period. This perceptual bias is called the reverse-bias effect. We hypothesized that an abrupt break in the sequential regularity of visual events, synchronized with the onset of a bistable image, counteracts the reverse-bias effect in a similar manner to the disturbing effect of noise in the perceptual process. Under the condition in which the reverse-bias effect was achieved with the Necker lattice, the orientation of the bars around the lattice was simultaneously changed at the onset of the lattice, yielding an abrupt break in the sequential regularity of visual events besides the lattice. The results obtained showed that the reverse-bias effect was significantly reduced by the abrupt break, suggesting that an abrupt break in the sequential regularity of visual events perturbs the perceptual bias of the bistable image, similar to that caused by noise.
Posteromedial Meniscocapsular Lesions Increase Tibiofemoral Joint Laxity With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency, and Their Repair Reduces Laxity
Authors: Stephen Joanna M. , Halewood Camilla , Kittl Christoph , Bollen Steve R. , Williams Andy , Amis Andrew A.
Published: December 2015

Background:

Injury to the posteromedial meniscocapsular junction has been identified after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture; however, there is a lack of objective evidence investigating how this affects knee kinematics or whether increased laxity can be restored by repair. Such injury is often overlooked at surgery, with possible compromise to results.

Hypotheses:

(1) Sectioning the posteromedial meniscocapsular junction in an ACL-deficient knee will result in increased anterior tibial translation and rotation. (2) Isolated ACL reconstruction in the presence of a posteromedial meniscocapsular junction lesion will not restore intact knee laxity. (3) Repair of the posteromedial capsule at the time of ACL reconstruction will reduce tibial translation and rotation to normal. (4) These changes will be clinically detectable.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Nine cadaveric knees were mounted in a test rig where knee kinematics were recorded from 0° to 100° of flexion by use of an optical tracking system. Measurements were recorded with the following loads: 90-N anterior-posterior tibial forces, 5-N·m internal-external tibial rotation torques, and combined 90-N anterior force and 5-N·m external rotation torque. Manual Rolimeter readings of anterior translation were taken at 30° and 90°. The knees were tested in the following conditions: intact, ACL deficient, ACL deficient and posteromedial meniscocapsular junction sectioned, ACL deficient and posteromedial meniscocapsular junction repaired, ACL patellar tendon reconstruction with posteromedial meniscocapsular junction repair, and ACL reconstructed and capsular lesion re-created. Statistical analysis used repeated-measures analysis of variance and post hoc paired t tests with Bonferroni correction.

Results:

Tibial anterior translation and external rotation were both significantly increased compared with the ACL-deficient knee after posterior meniscocapsular sectioning ( P < .05). These parameters were restored after ACL reconstruction and meniscocapsular lesion repair ( P > .05).

Conclusion:

Anterior and external rotational laxities were significantly increased after sectioning of the posteromedial meniscocapsular junction in an ACL-deficient knee. These were not restored after ACL reconstruction alone but were restored with ACL reconstruction combined with posterior meniscocapsular repair. Tibial anterior translation changes were clinically detectable by use of the Rolimeter.

Clinical Relevance:

This study suggests that unrepaired posteromedial meniscocapsular lesions will allow abnormal meniscal and tibiofemoral laxity to persist postoperatively, predisposing the knee to meniscal and articular damage.
Sport-Specific Yearly Risk and Incidence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in High School Athletes
Authors: Gornitzky Alex L. , Lott Ariana , Yellin Joseph L. , Fabricant Peter D. , Lawrence J. Todd , Ganley Theodore J.
Published: December 2015

Background:

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury rates are affected by frequency and level of competition, sex, and sport. To date, no study has sought to quantify sport-specific yearly risk for ACL tears in the high school (HS) athlete by sex and sport played.

Purpose:

To establish evidence-based incidence and yearly risk of ACL tears in HS athletes by sex for sports performed at the varsity level across the majority of US high schools.

Study Design:

Meta-analysis.

Methods:

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched to identify all articles reporting ACL tears per athletic exposure in HS athletes. ACL injury incidence rates (IRs) by sex and sport were calculated via meta-analysis. State athletic association guidelines were used to determine the number of exposures per season to calculate yearly risk of ACL tears.

Results:

The search recovered 3779 unique articles, of which 10 met our inclusion criteria, for a total of 700 ACL injuries in 11,239,029 exposures. The IR was 0.062 injuries per 1000 exposures (95% CI, 0.058-0.067). Although more injuries were recorded in males than females, females had a higher rate of injury per exposure (relative risk, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.35-1.82). Relative risk was highest in basketball (3.80; 95% CI, 2.53-5.85) and soccer (3.67; 95% CI, 2.61-5.27). While boys’ football had the highest number of ACL injuries at 273, girls’ soccer had the highest IR (0.148; 95% CI, 0.128-0.172). In girls, the highest injury risks per season were observed in soccer (1.11%; 95% CI, 0.96%-1.29%), basketball (0.88%; 95% CI, 0.71%-1.06%), and lacrosse (0.53%; 95% CI, 0.19%-1.15%). In comparison, the highest risks for boys were observed in football (0.80%; 95% CI, 0.71%-0.91%), lacrosse (0.44%; 95% CI, 0.18%-0.90%), and soccer (0.30%; 95% CI, 0.22%-0.41%).

Conclusion:

There is an approximately 1.6-fold greater rate of ACL tears per athletic exposure in HS female athletes than males. However, there is significant risk in both sexes, particularly in high-risk sports such as soccer, football, basketball, and lacrosse. Knowledge of sport-specific risk is essential for future injury reduction programs, parent-athlete decision making, and accurate physician counseling.
Extinguishment of counter-flow diffusion flame by water mist derived from aqueous solutions containing chemical additives
Authors: Feng Ming-Hui , Tao Jun-Jun , Qin Jun , Fei Qin
Published: December 2015

A comparative study on the suppression efficiency of different water mist additives was conducted in a counter-flow flame apparatus. The introduction of 1 mL/min ultrapure water mist reduced the critical stretch rate by 14%. The chemical additives could improve the suppression efficiency of water mist except FeSO4 and H3PO4. Their suppression efficiency could be generally sorted in a descending order: organic alkali metal salts (K2C2O4, C2H3KO2), inorganic alkali metal salts (KCl, KHCO3, K3PO4), phosphorus-containing compounds (K3PO4, NH4H2PO4, H3PO4), and inorganic ferrous compounds (FeCl2, FeSO4). The morphology of the particles deviated from the previous sphere shape assumptions. It is assumed that the efficiency of chemical additives in suppressing highly stretched diffusion can depend on the following factors: (1) the chemical nature of the additives, (2) the residence time controlled by the flow conditions, and (3) the residual particles formed by the additive-containing water mist.
Coping While Connected
Authors: Hudson Chloe C. , Lambe Laura ,   PREVNet National Youth Advisory Committee, Pepler Debra J. , Craig Wendy M.
Published: December 2015

The current study explored online preventive coping (privacy settings) and reactive coping (reporting tools) among youth and how the use of these online safety tools related to the frequency of cybervictimization. Surveys were administered to youth in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary school. Results indicated that the prevalence of cybervictimization decreased with grade and did not vary by gender. Gender differences emerged in the use of coping mechanisms, with females more likely to use privacy settings than males. In addition, older females were more likely to use privacy settings compared with younger females. Compared with older females, younger females were more likely to use informal reporting tools (i.e., contacting the person responsible for posting inappropriate content). Only limiting the visibility of posts and comments was uniquely associated with a lower frequency of cybervictimization. Younger adolescents were less likely to engage in the only behaviour that was associated with less frequent cybervictimization. These findings suggest that younger youth may lack the skills and knowledge necessary to cope effectively with cybervictimization.
The Effects of Obesity Myths on Perceptions of Sexual Assault Victims and Perpetrators’ Credibility
Authors: Yamawaki Niwako , Riley Christina , Rasmussen Claudia , Cook Mary
Published: December 2015

This study investigated the effects of obesity myths on blame attribution and the perceived credibility of both an alleged sexual assault victim and her perpetrator. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three sexual assault scenarios (in which either the victim or the perpetrator was described as obese and one in which both were described as obese) and responded to questions measuring the blame attribution and perceived the credibility of both individuals. A main effect of scenario was found on the perpetrator’s credibility, indicating that participants rated the obese perpetrator as more credible when the victim was obese in comparison with when the victim was nonobese. However, no main effect of scenario was found on the victim’s credibility and blame attribution, denoting that the victim’s or perpetrator’s weight did not influence participants’ perceptions of the victim’s credibility or blame attribution. The belief in obesity myths was the most significant predictor of victim blaming. However, differing patterns of the effects of obesity myths were found on the victim’s credibility and the perpetrator’s credibility. The belief in obesity myths was a significant predictor only when the victim was obese, whereas it was not a significant predictor in the scenarios where both the victim and the perpetrator were obese or the perpetrator was obese and the victim was nonobese. As for the perpetrator’s credibility, the belief of obesity myths was not a significant predictor. Instead, the scenario was a significant predictor. Implications of obesity-myth endorsement in relation to sexual assault are discussed.
Beyond “Witnessing”: Children’s Experiences of Coercive Control in Domestic Violence and Abuse
Authors: Callaghan Jane E. M. , Alexander Joanne H. , Sixsmith Judith , Fellin Lisa Chiara
Published: December 2015

Children’s experiences and voices are underrepresented in academic literature and professional practice around domestic violence and abuse. The project “Understanding Agency and Resistance Strategies” (UNARS) addresses this absence, through direct engagement with children. We present an analysis from interviews with 21 children in the United Kingdom (12 girls and 9 boys, aged 8-18 years), about their experiences of domestic violence and abuse, and their responses to this violence. These interviews were analyzed using interpretive interactionism. Three themes from this analysis are presented: (a) “Children’s experiences of abusive control,” which explores children’s awareness of controlling behavior by the adult perpetrator, their experience of that control, and its impact on them; (b) “Constraint,” which explores how children experience the constraint associated with coercive control in situations of domestic violence; and (c) “Children as agents,” which explores children’s strategies for managing controlling behavior in their home and in family relationships. The article argues that, in situations where violence and abuse occur between adult intimate partners, children are significantly affected, and can be reasonably described as victims of abusive control. Recognizing children as direct victims of domestic violence and abuse would produce significant changes in the way professionals respond to them, by (a) recognizing children’s experience of the impact of domestic violence and abuse; (b) recognizing children’s agency, undermining the perception of them as passive “witnesses” or “collateral damage” in adult abusive encounters; and (c) strengthening professional responses to them as direct victims, not as passive witnesses to violence.
Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability in Parents at Risk for Child Physical Abuse
Authors: Crouch Julie L. , Hiraoka Regina , McCanne Thomas R. , Reo Gim , Wagner Michael F. , Krauss Alison , Milner Joel S. , Skowronski John J.
Published: December 2015

The present study examined heart rate and heart rate variability (i.e., respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]) in a sample of 48 general population parents (41.7% fathers), who were either at high risk ( n = 24) or low risk ( n = 24) for child physical abuse. During baseline assessments of heart rate and RSA, parents sat quietly for 3 min. Afterward, parents were presented with a series of anagrams (either easy or difficult) and were instructed to solve as many anagrams as possible in 3 min. As expected, high-risk (compared with low-risk) parents evinced significantly higher resting heart rate and significantly lower resting RSA. During the anagram task, high-risk parents did not evince significant changes in heart rate or RSA relative to baseline levels. In contrast, low-risk parents evinced significant increases in heart rate and significant decreases in RSA during the anagram task. Contrary to expectations, the anagram task difficulty did not moderate the study findings. Collectively, this pattern of results is consistent with the notion that high-risk parents have chronically higher levels of physiological arousal relative to low-risk parents and exhibit less physiological flexibility in response to environmental demands. High-risk parents may benefit from interventions that include components that reduce physiological arousal and increase the capacity to regulate arousal effectively.
It’s (Not) Over: Relationship Instability and Recovery Between Victims and Detained Domestic Abusers
Authors: Carotta Christin L. , Bonomi Amy E. , Lee Meghan A. , Terrell Lynsey A.
Published: December 2015

We used an innovative data set involving audio-recorded conversations between abusers and victims to explore the interactional patterns that occur within violent relationships, following severe violence and the abuser’s detainment. Using micro-level conversational data, our analysis sequenced the hopes/desires that victims and abusers expressed around their expectations for continuing or discontinuing a connection with each other. Conversations commonly included an expressed statement to end the relationship. Although it was common for both victims and abusers to express hope of ending the relationship, victims were most likely to initiate this desire. In response, abusers used multiple strategies to regain connection, including 1) challenging the victim, 2) declaring love or a desire to continue the relationship, 3) appealing for sympathy or help from the victim, and 4) mirroring or accepting the victim’s desire to end the relationship (when other strategies were unsuccessful). Abusers’ responses served to cultivate additional conflict in the relationship while at the same time maintained communication and facilitated relationship recovery following threats of dissolution. These findings contribute to an increased theoretical understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence in the sensitive period involving the couple’s physical separation.
Perceived Group Competition and Charitable Giving
Authors: Samson Frank L.
Published: December 2015

Extending Blumer’s group position theory into the domain of civic engagement, the present study identifies an intergroup social-psychological attitude linked to charitable giving: perceived immigrant job competition. Using the 2006 Portraits of American Life Study ( N = 2,539), binary logistic regression models estimating the odds of giving money to a stranger indicate a negative association with perceived immigrant job competition for White and Black respondents. No association is found for Hispanics, Asians, or those identifying with other ethnoracial categories. Furthermore, race-related affect is found to mediate this association for White respondents, but not Black respondents, further emphasizing the relevance of the sense of dominant group position and the group position theory of racial prejudice. Future research on diversity and civic engagement should include and test individual-level measures associated with the social psychology of intergroup relations, in addition to the population-level measures of ethnic heterogeneity already employed.
Use of manganese dioxide as oxidant in polymerization of aniline on carbon black for supercapacitor performance
Authors: Liu Zhisen , Li Zesheng , Li Dehao , Yin Xudong , Liu Zhenghui
Published: December 2015

α-Manganese dioxide (MnO2) and β-MnO2 have been prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal synthesis method. Polyaniline (PANI)/carbon black composites were synthesized in acidic medium by an in situ polymerization method using α-MnO2, β-MnO2, and ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS) as chemical oxidant. The morphology, structure, and electrochemical performances are characterized by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, charge–discharge test, and electrochemical impedance measurements. The PANI/carbon black composite (PANI/C-2) prepared using β-MnO2 as oxidant shows significantly better specific capacity performance compared with those prepared using α-MnO2 and APS as oxidant. Addition of carbon black into the PANI composites prepared via the conventional polymerization method showed improved specific capacitance.
Residual life prediction for ball bearings based on joint approximate diagonalization of eigen matrices and extreme learning machine
Authors: Liu Fang , Liu Yongbin , Chen Fenglin , He Bing
Published: December 2015

Data-driven approaches have been proved effective for remaining useful life estimation of key components (bearings for example) in rotating machinery. In such approaches, it is important to determine an appropriate degradation indicator from the collected run-to-failure life cycle data. In this paper, a new degradation indicator is introduced based on the joint approximate diagonalization of eigen matrices algorithm. First, a matrix consisting of time domain, frequency domain, and time–frequency domain features extracted from the collected data instances is created. Then a two-layer joint approximate diagonalization of eigen matrices is introduced to transform the matrix to the advanced features (a vector) that represents the behavior of the bearing’s degradation. As an independent component analysis method, the designed two-layer joint approximate diagonalization of eigen matrices is able to eliminate the redundancy of the directly extracted features. Further, the obtained vector is input into an extreme learning machine to train a remaining useful life prediction model. Finally, a set of experimental cases are utilized to verify the presented method. Results show that the two-layer joint approximate diagonalization of eigen matrices is capable of exploring features that reflects the trend of bearing’s degradation state much better. And due to the easy parameter configuration and fast learning speed, the extreme learning machine is capable of training a model that can effectively predict the remaining useful life of the bearings.
Effect of pre-drilling, loading rate and temperature variation on the behavior of railroad spikes used for high-density-polyethylene crossties
Authors: Lotfy Ibrahim , Farhat Maen , Issa Mohsen A
Published: December 2015

Railroad spikes represent a vital component of the rail track system, as they fasten the rail to the supporting crossties. Thus, it is important to understand its behavior and effect on the fastening assembly to mitigate any local failure, which, in turn, could lead to system deterioration or damage. Currently, alternative solutions to the traditional hardwood timber crossties are increasing being adopted by the railroad industry in the USA, with recycled plastic composite crossties being among the available alternatives. Their sustainably, environmental benefits, durability and ease of installation render them an attractive and competitive solution. Several research programs have studied this material and its fastening system in the past; however, additional research is required to fully understand the behavior of these materials and their interactions with the fastening system components. This paper presents an investigation that aims to understand and assess the performance of typical railroad spikes used for recycled high-density-polyethylene crossties. The study encompassed a comprehensive experimental investigation and analytical finite element modeling. The testing program evaluated railroad spikes using static testing methods recommended by the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) manual. These tests addressed the rail spike pullout and lateral restraint for both screw and cut spikes. Finite element models were constructed and calibrated using the data obtained from the experimental program in order to extrapolate on the experimental results and predict the behavior of full-scale systems beyond the scale of the laboratory. The results observed in this study showed great promise, surpassing all the AREMA recommendations, which highlights the potential of these materials if properly optimized and engineered. Screw spikes exhibited a very good performance, surpassing the minimum recommendations by a significant margin (up to more than 200%) and are thus are highly recommended for future implementation.
On vibration behavior of rotating functionally graded double-tapered beam with the effect of porosities
Authors: Ebrahimi Farzad , Hashemi Mahmud
Published: December 2015

This paper investigates free vibration characteristics of a rotating double-tapered functionally graded (FG) beam made of porous material. Material properties of the FG beam vary continuously through thickness direction according to the power-law which modified to approximate material properties for even and uneven distributions of porosities. The governing differential equations of motion are derived based on Euler–Bernoulli beam theory and using Hamilton's principle and then solved utilizing a semi-analytical technique called the differential transform method (DTM). In order to verify the competency and accuracy of the current analysis, a comparative study with previous researches is performed and good agreement is observed. Several important parameters such as power-law exponent, porosity volume fraction, taper ratios, rotational speed and slenderness ratio which have impacts on natural frequencies of such beams are investigated and discussed in detail. It is concluded that these effects play significant role on dynamic behavior of rotating double tapered FG beam. Numerical results are tabulated in several tables and figures that can serve as benchmarks for future analyses of FGM beams with porosity phases.
Robust control of spacecraft rendezvous on elliptical orbits: Optimal sliding mode and backstepping sliding mode approaches
Authors: Imani Amin , Beigzadeh Borhan
Published: December 2015

The problem of relative motion control of spacecraft rendezvous process on elliptical orbit is considered in this paper. Due to the presence of nonlinear dynamics and external disturbances, two robust controllers are developed based on sliding mode control theory. The first one is an optimal sliding mode controller; in which optimal control theory is used to reduce the tracking error and fuel cost, and then integral sliding mode control technique is applied to robustify optimal controller. The other controller is a backstepping sliding mode one that is developed based on nonlinear dynamics of spacecraft rendezvous; having applied the backstepping method to synthesis the tracking errors and Lyapunov functions, a sliding mode controller is developed to guarantee the Lyapunov stability, handling of all nonlinearities, robustness against uncertainties as well as tracking the desired position. It is assumed that the chaser and target spacecraft are in a low Earth orbit and subject to the perturbing effects of J2 and atmospheric drag. In addition, two fault tolerant scenarios, i.e. thruster degradation and short thruster failure are also considered to verify the robustness and efficacy of the control approaches. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed controllers in reaching to the desired position in case of actuator fault-free and fault tolerant situations.
Internalized Impressions
Authors: Slepian Michael L. , Ames Daniel R.
Published: December 2015

Researchers have debated whether a person’s behavior can be predicted from his or her face. In particular, it is unclear whether people’s trustworthiness can be predicted from their facial appearance. In the present study, we implemented conceptual and methodological advances in this area of inquiry, taking a new approach to capturing trustworthy behavior and measuring targets’ own self-expectations as a mediator between consensual appearance-based judgments and the trustworthiness of targets’ behavior. Using this novel paradigm to capture 900 observations of targets’ behavior (as trustworthy or untrustworthy), we found that face-based judgments predicted trustworthiness. We also found that this effect was mediated by targets’ expectations of how other people would perceive them and by their intentions to act in accordance with those expectations. These results are consistent with an internalized-impressions account: Targets internalize other people’s appearance-based expectations and act in accordance with them, which leads facial-appearance-based judgments to be accurate.
Paleomagnetic chronostratigraphy of late Holocene Zaca Lake, California
Authors: Lund Steve P , Platzman Ellen
Published: December 2015

We have developed a paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) record from Zaca Lake, California, that spans the last ~3200 years. The record is derived from detailed (2 cm) sampling of core 09-1C, which is 873 cm in length. The paleomagnetic remanence is carried jointly by magnetite and greigite. The greigite appears to form in the anoxic bottom water of the lake and/or at the sediment/water interface. The paleomagnetic remanence has a very simple characteristic remanence, which demagnetizes straight to the origin between ~10 and 80 mT. This remanence has strong serial correlation and a pattern of variability that strongly matches 15 other published PSV records from Western North America. In all, 23 radiocarbon-dated PSV features, which were identified in the core, provide an independent timescale for dating the Zaca Lake core and an independent means of correlating Zaca Lake sediments to other Holocene lakes of the Western United States. We have also compared our paleomagnetic chronology with a previously published radiocarbon-based chronology from Zaca Lake (Feakins et al., 2014; Kirby et al., 2014). Our chronology is not significantly different from the radiocarbon-based chronology for the last 2000 years. However, the radiocarbon dates appear to be anomalously young in the older part of the lake record where correlatable PSV features suggest ages that are ~300–500 years older than the radiocarbon dates. Our analysis suggests that the PSV feature ages are a better estimator of lake sediment age in this interval.
The measurement of disability weights for 18 prevalent acute poisoning conditions
Authors: Asadi R , Afshari R , Dadpour B
Published: December 2015

Background:

Disability weights (DWs) are used in disease burden studies, with the calculation of the weight of the disability as years lived with disability versus years of lost life accounting for mortalities. Currently, there is a single DW score available for poisoning, which is considered to be a single health state. This makes it difficult to evaluate the differing burdens of poisonings involving various substances/conditions in comparison with other health states in countries with different patterns of substance abuse. The aim of this study is therefore to estimate the DWs of 18 common poisonings based on the expert elicitation method.

Methods:

A panel of 10 medical clinicians who were familiar with the clinical aspects of different poisonings estimated the DWs of 50 health states by interpolating them on a calibrated Visual Analogue Scale. The DWs of some poisonings, such as alcohol, cannabis and heroin, had been estimated in previous studies and so were used to determine the external consistency of our panel. As a matter of routine, the DWs could vary on a scale between 0 (best health state) and 1 (worst health state).

Results:

Statistical analysis showed that both the internal (Cronbach’s α = 0.912) and external consistency of the panel were acceptable. The DWs for the different poisonings were estimated along a range from 0.830 for severe aluminium phosphide to 0.022 for mild benzodiazepine.

Conclusions:

Different poisonings should be weighted differently since they vary widely. Unfortunately, they are currently all weighted the same.
Anti-inflammatory and proapoptotic effects of umbelliferone in colon carcinogenesis
Authors: Muthu R , Selvaraj N , Vaiyapuri M
Published: December 2015

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a serious health problem throughout the world. 5-Flurouracil, the first-line chemotherapy of colorectal cancer often produces more toxicity to neighboring cells; however, it is still used for CRC treatment. To overcome this, umbelliferone (UMB), a less toxic bioflavonoid has been used to test its anticancer effects on animal model. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the anticancer activity of UMB on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced rat colon tumorigenesis to determine the development of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), agyrophylic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs), mast cell recruitment, pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and also study the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and apoptotic markers. DMH-induced rats showed increased ACF number (incidence), multiplicity and its distribution, counts of AgNORs, mast cells, inflammatory markers and apoptotic proteins. Interestingly, UMB supplementation to DMH-induced rats (group 4) significantly ( p < 0.05) suppressed ACF development, AgNORs, mast cells, and inflammatory markers and increased the apoptotic markers as compared to DMH-induced rats (group 2). We concluded that UMB is a potential anticancer agent that can be used for the prevention and treatment of CRC.
Toxicity assessment of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles in rat liver cell model in vitro
Authors: Sonmez E , Cacciatore I , Bakan F , Turkez H , Mohtar YI , Togar B , Stefano AD
Published: December 2015

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAP NPs) are widely used for preparations of biomedical and biotechnological fields such as drug delivery, gene therapy, and molecular imaging. However, the current toxicological knowledge about HAP NPs is relatively limited. The present study was designed to investigate the toxicity potentials of various concentrations (0–1000 µg cm−2) of HAP NPs in cultured primary rat hepatocytes. Cell viability was detected by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl) 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, while total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative stress (TOS) levels were determined to evaluate the oxidative injury. The DNA damage was also analyzed via scoring liver micronuclei rates and determining 8-oxo-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) levels. The results of MTT and LDH assays showed that the higher concentrations of dispersed HAP NPs (300, 500, and 1000 µg cm−2) decreased cell viability. Also, HAP NPs increased TOS (500 and 1000 µg cm−2) levels and decreased TAC (300, 500, and 1000 µg cm−2) levels in cultured hepatocytes. On the basis of increasing doses, the NPs as depending on dose caused significant increases of the number of micronucleated hepatocytes and 8-OH-dG levels as compared to control culture. Furthermore, the highest concentration of HAP NPs (1000 µg cm−2) exhibited cytotoxic activity. Based on these results, HAP NPs have a dose-dependent toxic effect in rat hepatocytes. Further extensive research in this field is promising and reasonable.
Judicial reasoning and the concept of damage
Authors: Purshouse Craig
Published: December 2015

Damage is the gist of the action in negligence but is often subsumed within other headings of this tort such as duty of care, quantum of damages and causation. This article examines three important decisions where new forms of damage, such as the costs of raising a healthy child or loss of autonomy, have been implicitly recognized or rejected – McFarlane v. Tayside Health Board, Rees v. Darlington and Chester v. Afshar – and suggests that the lack of separate scrutiny of the damage concept in such cases is leading to poor reasoning and questionable results that threaten to undermine the coherence of the tort of negligence. Methods of restoring clarity to this tort are then addressed.
Informed consent: A study of patients with life-threatening illnesses
Authors: Busquets Montserrat , Caïs Jordi
Published: December 2015

Background:

The relationship between healthcare professionals and patients in the Spanish health sector has undergone dramatic change. One aspect of this is that the use of informed consent has become a key factor in the delivery of adequate healthcare. But although a certain period of time has already passed since informed consent started to be used, in Spain there is still doubt about how adequately informed consent is being used.

Objectives:

(a) To look at how patients understand the notion and purpose of informed consent, and (b) how the informed consent is applied – the way patients receive such information affects their level of participation and decision making during the time they receive medical care.

Methodology:

We use interpretative description of interviews with patients. We developed guiding questions for the interviews with patients in two preliminary and exploratory focus groups. Then, we carried out 20 personal open-ended interviews with 20 purposive selected patients with illnesses that had a serious impact on their lives.

Ethical considerations:

Permission from ethical committees and institutions involved in the study, and consent and confidentiality were ensured before conducting the research.

Results:

The findings show that while patients agreed that their consent should be necessary for health professionals to be able to intervene, they had serious difficulty obtaining and then understanding information offered to them at the moment when they were being asked to sign informed consent documents. The participants were critical of the consent documents, which they considered were treated as merely a formality and even some of them had felt coerced to sign.

Discussion:

Participants confirmed that the informed consent documents that they signed did not meet their ethical objectives. Their perception of the purpose of consent indicates that informed consent document may still be largely understood as a formality rather an ethical obligation.
Nurse ethical awareness: Understanding the nature of everyday practice
Authors: Milliken Aimee , Grace Pamela
Published: December 2015

Much attention has been paid to the role of the nurse in recognizing and addressing ethical dilemmas. There has been less emphasis, however, on the issue of whether or not nurses understand the ethical nature of everyday practice. Awareness of the inherently ethical nature of practice is a component of nurse ethical sensitivity, which has been identified as a component of ethical decision-making. Ethical sensitivity is generally accepted as a necessary precursor to moral agency, in that recognition of the ethical content of practice is necessary before consistent action on behalf of patient interests can take place. This awareness is also compulsory in ensuring patient good by recognizing the unique interests and wishes of individuals, in line with an ethic of care. Scholarly and research literature are used to argue that bolstering ethical awareness and ensuring that nurses understand the ethical nature of the role are an obligation of the profession. Based on this line of reasoning, recommendations for education and practice, along with directions for future research, are suggested.
Community-Based Study on Family-Related Contributory Factors for Childhood Unintentional Injuries in an Urban Setting of Sri Lanka
Authors: Punyadasa Dhanusha , Samarakkody Diana
Published: December 2015

A community-based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among children aged 1 to 4 years residing in an urban setting of Sri Lanka to assess the incidence and associated family-related factors of unintentional injuries. A total of 458 children were recruited using simple random sampling technique, giving a response rate of 91.6%. The incidence of unintentional injuries that needed medical attention during the study period of 3 months was 28.1 per 100 children (95% CI = 19.46-36.74). The factors that were significantly associated with the occurrence of unintentional injuries among children are low monthly income of the family ( P = .045), low social support to the mother of index child ( P = .022), nonauthoritative type of parenting of the mother of index child ( P = .039), cared by person other than mother during day time ( P = .002), frequent arguments between parents ( P = .004), and frequent alcohol consumption of father ( P = .001).
Learning in times of dynamic complexity through balancing phenomenal qualities of sensemaking
Authors: Guiette Alain , Vandenbempt Koen
Published: December 2015

This article provides the scaffolding for a more holistic approach towards sensemaking and learning by arguing that learning to navigate dynamic complexity requires a sensemaking lens grounded in different phenomenal qualities. Widening the aperture of the sensemaking perspective, we advance a more holistic and integrative approach towards sensemaking and learning, by taking sensemaking’s processual and temporal nature seriously. Inspired by phenomenological work of Heidegger’s three modes of being-in-the-world – ‘availableness’, ‘occurentness’ and ‘involved thematic deliberation’ – we argue that learning ‘becomes’ through the continuous re-enactment of sensemaking grounded in absorbed, detached and mindful coping, respectively. It follows that learning in times of dynamic complexity is reappraised as occurring during the continuous re-enactment of sense being made at the crossroad of detached, absorbed and mindful coping, in an effort to weather dynamic complexity at the intersection of order and disorder by both reducing and exploring equivocality.