bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can Top-of-Atmosphere Radiation Measurements Constrain Climate Predictions? Part I: Tuning
Authors: Tett Simon F. B. , Mineter Michael J. , Cartis Coralia , Rowlands Daniel J. , Liu Ping
Published: July 2013

Perturbed physics configurations of version 3 of the Hadley Centre Atmosphere Model (HadAM3) driven with observed sea surface temperatures (SST) and sea ice were tuned to outgoing radiation observations using a Gauss–Newton line search optimization algorithm to adjust the model parameters. Four key parameters that previous research found affected climate sensitivity were adjusted to several different target values including two sets of observations. The observations used were the global average reflected shortwave radiation (RSR) and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) from the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System instruments combined with observations of ocean heat content. Using the same method, configurations were also generated that were consistent with the earlier Earth Radiation Budget Experiment results. Many, though not all, tuning experiments were successful, with about 2500 configurations being generated and the changes in simulated outgoing radiation largely due to changes in clouds. Clear-sky radiation changes were small, largely due to a cancellation between changes in upper-tropospheric relative humidity and temperature. Changes in other climate variables are strongly related to changes in OLR and RSR particularly on large scales. There appears to be some equifinality with different parameter configurations producing OLR and RSR values close to observed values. These models have small differences in their climatology with the one group being similar to the standard configuration and the other group drier in the tropics and warmer everywhere.
Can Top-of-Atmosphere Radiation Measurements Constrain Climate Predictions? Part II: Climate Sensitivity
Authors: Tett Simon F. B. , Rowlands Daniel J. , Mineter Michael J. , Cartis Coralia
Published: July 2013

A large number of perturbed-physics simulations of version 3 of the Hadley Centre Atmosphere Model (HadAM3) were compared with the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) estimates of outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and reflected shortwave radiation (RSR) as well as OLR and RSR from the earlier Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) estimates. The model configurations were produced from several independent optimization experiments in which four parameters were adjusted. Model–observation uncertainty was estimated by combining uncertainty arising from satellite measurements, observational radiation imbalance, total solar irradiance, radiative forcing, natural aerosol, internal climate variability, and sea surface temperature and that arising from parameters that were not varied. Using an emulator built from 14 001 “slab” model evaluations carried out using the climateprediction.net ensemble, the climate sensitivity for each configuration was estimated. Combining different prior probabilities for model configurations with the likelihood for each configuration and taking account of uncertainty in the emulated climate sensitivity gives, for the HadAM3 model, a 2.5%–97.5% range for climate sensitivity of 2.7–4.2 K if the CERES observations are correct. If the ERBE observations are correct, then they suggest a larger range, for HadAM3, of 2.8–5.6 K. Amplifying the CERES observational covariance estimate by a factor of 20 brings CERES and ERBE estimates into agreement. In this case the climate sensitivity range is 2.7–5.4 K. The results rule out, at the 2.5% level for HadAM3 and several different prior assumptions, climate sensitivities greater than 5.6 K.
Angels and Demons Are Among Us
Authors: Webster Russell J. , Saucier Donald A.
Published: July 2013

We conducted five studies to demonstrate that individuals’ beliefs in pure evil (BPE) and in pure good (BPG) are valid and important psychological constructs. First, these studies together demonstrated that BPE and BPG are reliable, unitary, and stable constructs each composed of eight theoretically interdependent dimensions. Second, these studies showed that across a wide variety of different measures, higher BPE consistently related to greater intergroup aggression (e.g., supporting the death penalty and preemptive military aggression) and less intergroup prosociality (e.g., opposing criminal rehabilitation, proracial policies, and beneficial social programs), while higher BPG consistently related to less intergroup aggression (e.g., opposing proviolent foreign relations and torture) and greater intergroup prosociality (e.g., supporting criminal rehabilitation and support for diplomacy). In sum, these studies evidence that BPE and BPG relate to aggressive and prosocial orientations toward others and have strong potential to advance current theories on prejudice, aggression, and prosociality.
Alternative Households, Structural Changes, and Cognitive Development of Infants and Toddlers
Authors: Sun Yongmin , Li Yuanzhang
Published: July 2013

Using panel data from 8,650 infants in the first two waves of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort, the current study found that the negative effects of alternative families on children’s cognitive development started to emerge when children were as young as 9 months of age. Meanwhile, coresidence with grandparents was not disadvantageous and, in some cases, even beneficial for the cognitive development of 9-month-old infants. Our analyses also found that some forms of family instability were actually more beneficial to children’s cognitive growth between 9 months and 2 years of age than all types of stable family structures. However, continuous coresidence with grandparents did not further benefit children’s cognitive growth rate. Overall, the analyses found evidence for the resource deprivation and attachment perspectives but cast some doubt on instability theory.
Is eccentric exercise an effective treatment for lateral epicondylitis? A systematic review
Authors: Cullinane Frances L , Boocock Mark G , Trevelyan Fiona C
Published: July 2013

Objective:

To establish the effectiveness of eccentric exercise as a treatment intervention for lateral epicondylitis.

Data sources:

ProQuest, Medline via EBSCO, AMED, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL.

Review methods:

A systematic review was undertaken to identify randomized and controlled clinical trials incorporating eccentric exercise as a treatment for patients diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis. Studies were included if: they incorporated eccentric exercise, either in isolation or as part of a multimodal treatment protocol; they assessed at least one functional or disability outcome measure; and the patients had undergone diagnostic testing. The methodological quality of each study was assessed using the Modified Cochrane Musculoskeletal Injuries Group score sheet.

Results:

Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Three were deemed ‘high’ quality, seven were ‘medium’ quality, and two were ‘low’ quality. Eight of the studies were randomized trials investigating a total of 334 subjects. Following treatment, all groups inclusive of eccentric exercise reported decreased pain and improved function and grip strength from baseline. Seven studies reported improvements in pain, function, and/or grip strength for therapy treatments inclusive of eccentric exercise when compared with those excluding eccentric exercise. Only one low-quality study investigated the isolated effects of eccentric exercise for treating lateral epicondylitis and found no significant improvements in pain when compared with other treatments.

Conclusion:

The majority of consistent findings support the inclusion of eccentric exercise as part of a multimodal therapy programme for improved outcomes in patients with lateral epicondylitis.
The palliative care needs for fibrotic interstitial lung disease: A qualitative study of patients, informal caregivers and health professionals
Authors: Bajwah Sabrina , Higginson Irene J , Ross Joy R , Wells Athol U , Birring Surinder S , Riley Julia , Koffman Jonathan
Published: July 2013

Background:

While there have been some studies looking at the impact on quality of life of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, to date no qualitative research looking at the specialist palliative needs of these patients has been conducted.

Aim:

This study aims to explore the specialist palliative care needs of people living with end-stage progressive idiopathic fibrotic interstitial lung disease.

Design and settings/participants:

In total, 18 qualitative semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with patients, their informal caregivers and health professionals across two specialist interstitial lung disease centres in London and in the community.

Results:

Many participants reported uncontrolled symptoms of shortness of breath, cough and insomnia, which profoundly impacted every part of patients’ and informal caregivers’ lives. Psychologically, patients were frustrated and angry at the way in which their illness severely limited their ability to engage in activities of daily living and compromised their independence. Furthermore, both patients and informal caregivers also reported that the disease seriously affected family relationships where strain was pronounced. There was varied knowledge and confidence among health professionals in managing symptoms, and psychosocial needs were often underestimated.

Conclusion:

This study is the first of its kind to examine in depth the impact of symptoms and psychosocial needs revealing the profound effect on every aspect of progressive idiopathic fibrotic interstitial lung disease patients’ and informal caregivers’ lives. Education and guidance of appropriate palliative care interventions to improve symptom control are needed. A case conference intervention with individualised care plans may help in addressing the substantial symptom control and psychosocial needs of these patients and informal caregivers.
Use of Magnetic Resonance Arthrography to Compare Clinical Features and Structural Integrity After Arthroscopic Repair of Bursal Versus Articular Side Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears
Authors: Kim Sung-Jae , Kim Sung-Hwan , Lim Su-Han , Chun Yong-Min
Published: July 2013

Background:

There has been no study using magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) to compare clinical features and structural integrity after arthroscopic repair of bursal and articular side partial-thickness rotator cuff tears (PTRCTs).

Hypothesis:

The 2 groups studied, which consisted of patients who underwent arthroscopic repair for either the articular side or the bursal side, would show significant improvement in overall outcomes after surgery, even though clinical outcomes and structural integrity would not be significantly different. It was thought that the incidence of preoperative positive impingement signs and protruded spurs on the acromion undersurface would be higher in patients with a bursal side tear.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

The current study consisted of 83 patients who underwent arthroscopic repair for either articular side (group A; n = 29) or bursal side (group B; n = 54) PTRCT and who were available at the 2-year follow-up. Clinical outcomes were compared by use of the Neer impingement sign, visual analog scale for pain, Simple Shoulder Test, University of California Los Angeles score, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score. At 6 months after surgery, MRA was used to assess structural integrity.

Results:

At 2-year follow-up, both groups showed significant improvement in pain and shoulder function scores, even though there was no significant difference between groups. The retear rate on follow-up MRA was not significantly different between group A (8%) and B (11%). Patients in group B, compared with group A, showed a higher incidence of the preoperative impingement sign (89% vs 52%, respectively; P = .004), protruded spur on the acromion undersurface (69% vs 0%, respectively; P < .001), and concomitant acromioplasty (93% vs 24%, respectively; P < .001).

Conclusion:

Both articular and bursal side PTRCTs showed significant functional improvements after arthroscopic repair. The bursal side tears had a higher incidence of impingement sign at preoperative examination and more often had a protruded spur on the acromion undersurface.
Effect of compounding principles on thermal, mechanical and magnetic performance of soft magnetic polymethylmethacrylate/Fe3O4 nanocomposites
Authors: Xie L , Kirchberg S , Rudolph M , Ziegmann G , Peuker U
Published: July 2013

In this study, the effect of compounding principles on the properties of Polymer Bonded Soft Magnetic Nanocomposites (PBSMNs) was discussed. The polymethylmethacrylate /Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposites (Fe3O4: 30 wt%) were prepared by the in situ process based on the solution and spray drying method, as well as by the ex situ process based on the kneading machine. As reference, the process combining these two compounding principles was also carried out for the PBSMN preparation, named as in-between process. The morphology structures, thermal, mechanical and magnetic properties of the magnetic nanocomposites achieved with different compounding principles were characterized. The results show that compounding principles have significant influence on the properties of the magnetic polymer nanocomposites. In the end, their contributions to the power electronic applications were discussed as well.
Influence of rare-earth-functionalized carbon nanotubes on thermal and mechanical properties of polytetrafluoroethylene nanocomposites
Authors: Cheng Haizheng , Cheng Xianhua
Published: July 2013

Mixed acid and rare-earth (RE) solution were used as the surface modifiers to functionalize multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Fourier transform infrared spectra reveal that the carboxylic groups were induced on the surface of acid-functionalized and RE-functionalized CNTs, and the presence of C–N bond suggests that the ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid molecules were successfully grafted on the surface of RE-functionalized CNTs. Raman analysis indicates that acid-treatment and RE-treatment did not significantly change the structure of pristine CNTs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis shows that both acid-treatment and RE-treatment improved the number of carboxylic groups on treated CNTs surfaces compared to pristine CNTs, and RE-treatment is superior to acid-treatment to improve the oxygen to carbon ratio on the CNTs surfaces. Transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope observations indicate that RE-functionalized CNTs have better dispersion in solvent and in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) matrix than acid-functionalized CNTs, respectively. Thermal stability analysis and mechanical tests display that RE-functionalized CNTs/PTFE nanocomposite has the highest thermal stability and mechanical properties than acid-functionalized CNTs/PTFE nanocomposite and pristine CNTs/PTFE nanocomposite.
Experimental investigation on normal and oblique ballistic impact behavior of fiber metal laminates
Authors: Chen Yong , Pang Baojun , Zheng Wei , Peng Keke
Published: July 2013

In this work, the normal (0°) and oblique (30° and 45°) ballistic impact behavior of glass fiber-reinforced aluminum laminates (fiber metal laminate, FMLs) impacted by a rigid cylindrical projectile (with a flat nose) has been investigated from an experimental point of view. The ballistic impact tests were conducted on the FMLs using a one-stage gas gun at different impact angels, i.e. 0°, 30° and 45°. A high-speed camera was used to capture and record the experimental images and data during the impacting process. Different failure patterns were observed in the FMLs under oblique and normal impact, with the differences concentrated on the initial crack (in the back surface) and plugging damage (in both the front and back surface). The angular change in direction of the projectile during perforation was only observed during oblique impact tests while the maximum value of the angular change was observed when the impact velocity was close to its ballistic limit velocity. In addition, the angular change decreases with increasing impact velocity and is almost constant when the value of [Formula: see text] reaches a critical value. It can also be observed from the impact test results (both normal and oblique impacts) that FMLs exhibited the lowest ballistic limit velocity when the impact angle was close to 30°. In particular, normal impact shows a higher ballistic limit velocity than that of oblique impact while the ballistic limit velocity at impact angle 45° is slightly higher than that at 30°.
“After 9/11 everything changed”: Re-formations of state violence in everyday life on the US–Mexico border
Authors: Correa Jennifer G
Published: July 2013

After 11 September 2001, the state declared a War on Terror, repositioning “Arab-Middle-Eastern-Muslims” as threats to national security, and later broadening its scope to include immigrants crossing the US–Mexico border. This discursive shift propelled the passage of the Secure Fence Act of 2006 (approximately 700 mile barrier between the United States and Mexico) to curtail unauthorized immigration and international terrorism. This article focuses on the effects of militarization on Cameron County, Texas residents living in the Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley as they contend with an assemblage of security apparatuses in their communities. The objective is to move beyond institutional understandings of “the state” and focus on the micropolitics of sovereignty or what I call the state as lived experience. Using ethnographic methods, three manifestations of the state— dispossessor, irrational legal–political force, and arbiter of knowledge—emerge in the everyday lives of residents.
Analysis of the cutting forces in plunge milling
Authors: Ventura Carlos EH , Hassui Amauri
Published: July 2013

Plunge milling is used increasingly in the manufacture of molds and dies for opening pockets due to its advantages over end milling. Because it is a rough operation, it involves high material removal rates and strong cutting forces. In this context, this article reports on a study of the static and dynamic behaviors of the forces involved in the process. In addition, a cutting force model is developed based on the kinematics of the process and the tool’s special features to predict the mean forces generated during the plunge operation. Low sensitivity of the static force components of tool flank wear and minor influence of the system on the dynamic behavior of the process are observed. The model shows good agreement with experimental results.
Fixture performance improvement by an accelerated integral method of fixture layout and clamping force plan
Authors: Zhihui Liu , Wang Michael Yu , Kedian Wang , Xuesong Mei
Published: July 2013

Deformation under external and clamping forces is an important factor affecting fixture performance. To reduce the deformation of the workpiece–fixture system and improve the performance of the fixture, an optimisation method for the fixture layout and clamping force plan is constructed in this article. First, the workpiece–fixture is illustrated as an elastic–elastic contact model with friction in which the workpiece is modelled by the finite element model, while the fixel can be modelled by either the spring model or finite element model. To accelerate the computing speed of solving the contact problem, a matrix size reducing method for the finite element model stiffness matrix is proposed, utilising less computer memory. Based on the same idea, a clamping force optimisation method considering the friction effect is presented to achieve the optimal clamping force of a special fixture layout within very few finite element model computing processes. Then, based on these, an integral fixture layout and clamping force optimisation algorithm are built by genetic algorithm. At the end of this article, numerical examples are taken to prove the performance of the methods. The results show that the accelerating method yields sufficient performance, and the optimisation algorithms of both the clamping force plan and the fixture layout design achieve favourable convergence.
Decentralization of Health Care Systems: Findings from Odisha and Gujarat, India
Authors: Raut Manoj Kumar , Sekher T.V.
Published: July 2013

India is the second most populous country in the world characterized by regional imbalances like a large north–south divide in health and development. The National Population Policy, 2000 focuses on ‘Decentralised Planning and Programme Implementation’. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, made health, family welfare, and education a responsibility of village panchayats. The panchayati raj institutions are an important means of furthering decentralized planning and programme implementation. The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) also clearly spells out this by recognizing the importance of decentralization and district management of health programmes. In this direction, the concepts of Village Health Plan and Fund, Village Health and Sanitation Committees and Rogi Kalyan Samities are inbuilt in this programme to decentralize the powers, functions and funds to the local frontline health functionaries and to empower them to take decision and utilize the funds for the welfare of the patients. The present study focuses on the decentralization of healthcare systems in Indian context and its relationship with improvement in healthcare service delivery, utilization and outcomes in rural areas. This study was carried out in two districts of Vadodara and Khurdha in the states of Gujarat and Odisha respectively. The data includes both primary and secondary sources. The primary quantitative survey includes data collected through a questionnaire for 480 women (15–49 years of age) and 480 men (15–54 years of age) from 480 households. The primary qualitative data includes data collected from in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and case studies. The secondary source includes the data from the health facility survey of the DLHS-3. The study was carried out during 2009–2010. In this paper, an attempt has also been made to construct an index of health systems decentralization using secondary data with inputs from the field from the primary study in the two states of Gujarat and Odisha, which revealed that Gujarat fared higher in terms of health system decentralization compared to its counterpart.
Use of Social Media Marketing in Healthcare
Authors: Gupta Anita , Tyagi Mukta , Sharma Deepshikha
Published: July 2013

Social media is an umbrella term that defines online technology and practices used to share opinion, insights, experience and perspectives. Social media are low cost marketing tools that help in facilitating the building of networks, instant dissemination of information and thus encouraging trust and confidence of public. It can take many forms like text, images, audio and video. According to Kaplan and Haenlein, there are six different types of social media: collaborative projects (e.g., Wikipedia), blogs and micro blogs (e.g., Twitter), content communities (e.g., YouTube, Flicker), social networking sites (e.g., Facebook, MySpace), virtual game worlds (e.g., World of Warcraft, Whyville), and virtual social worlds (e.g., Second Life). Based on this classification, extensive literature search was done from a range of sources like journals, books and internet websites of relevant disciplines, including public health organizations, hospitals and case studies prepared on each type exploring the use of social media in health promotion. The objective of this paper is to explain the use of social media marketing in health promotion and education and discuss various interventions done, using social media marketing tools in promoting public health. Finally, it is discussed like every coin has two sides, social media provides large opportunity for health promotion in the public health community, enabling public health professionals to reach out far and wide and directly to the public on multiple public health issues and at the same time its cautious use is imperative to prevent colossal damage. Social media, a communication boon for the public health community has the potential to promote and change many health-related behaviours and issues particularly in times of crisis.
A beer a minute in Texas football: Heavy drinking and the heroizing of the antihero in Friday Night Lights
Authors: Kerr Robert L
Published: July 2013

This article applies a qualitative framing analysis to the first three seasons of the television series Friday Night Lights, focusing particularly on its incorporation of heavy drinking into narrative representations of the player whose character is most consistently central to the game of football as fictionally mediated in small-town Texas over the course of those three seasons. The analysis suggests that over the course of that period Friday Night Lights embeds nuanced social meanings in its framing of alcohol use by that player and other characters so as to associate it with multiple potential outcomes. Yet among those outcomes, the most dominant framing works to, in effect, reverse a progression through which media representations historically evolved from a heroic model toward an antihero model, with heavy drinking central to that narrative process of meaning-making in such messages.
Exploring microtonal performance of “…Plainte…” by Klaus Huber for viola d’amore in third-tone tuning
Authors: Knipper Till , Kreutz Gunter
Published: July 2013

Contemporary microtonal music poses considerable challenges to professional performers. Here, we investigate five renditions of Klaus Huber’s “…Plainte…” for viola d’amore in third-tone tuning with respect to pitch accuracy at the acoustic level. The analysis also includes examining tones on open strings, which were played on the composer’s instrument. Significant differences between intended and realized fundamental frequency values were observed. The tuning of instruments deviated 14 to 42.5 cents from theoretical values. Influences of sound production on fundamental frequencies in performances were analysed, supplemented by additional analyses using the composer’s instrument. In each performance, the range of fundamental frequency deviations of tones played on open strings was considerably narrower than when tones were played with fingerboard stopping. In latter case, the range of deviations exceeded a third-tone interval (67 cents) in all performances and was larger than reported on tonal music in twelve-tone equal temperament. These results suggest specific limitations in the realization of third-tone music as performed on a fretless string instrument by highly-trained professional performers. The fact that three of the analysed recordings are commercially available further suggests that rather large deviations of fundamental frequencies from values described by music theory are accepted aesthetically.
Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction course on stress, mindfulness, job self-efficacy and motivation among unemployed people
Authors: de Jong Audrey , Hommes Mark , Brouwers André , Tomic Welko
Published: July 2013

The current study examines the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction program on participants receiving unemployment benefit payments. A pretest posttest control group design was used. The participants ( N = 43) were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group followed the mindfulness-based stress reduction program in a group-setting with a trainer whereas the control group did not receive any training. All the participants received a pre-test and a post-test. Stress was measured with the Perceived Stress Scale, mindfulness with the Questionnaire on Everyday Experiences, self-efficacy with regard to finding a job with the Job Seeking Self-Efficacy Scale and motivation was measured with a questionnaire developed by the researchers. The results showed that stress symptoms had reduced and the focus on everyday activities had increased in the experimental group setting. Confidence in being able to find a job also increased. With respect to motivation to go to job interviews, no increase was found between the initial and final measurements for either group.
A review of the concepts, terminologies and dilemmas in the assessment of decisional capacity: a focus on alcoholism
Authors: Restifo Sam
Published: July 2013

Objective:

The formal assessment of a person’s capacity for making reasoned decisions is an infrequent and usually unappealing clinical task. The purpose of this paper is to dissect the task, consider the component parts, clarify those aspects that can be problematic and highlight those that remain so.

Method:

The paper reviews the concepts, terminologies and dilemmas around alcoholism, insight, lack of insight, denial, judgement, will, decisional capacity and competence.

Conclusion:

Assessments of patients suffering from alcoholism (or any other dyscontrol problem such as deliberate self-harm, problem gambling or eating disorders) are likely to evoke unease because of the interweaving of potentially disputable phenomenological, clinical, ethical, semantic and legal aspects. Familiarity with the concepts and terms around decisional capacity helps to orientate clinicians in their work. There remain some particular conceptual issues that are in need of further scholarly attention.
The Development of Self-Reported White-Collar Offending
Authors: Morris Robert G. , Sayed Sarah El
Published: July 2013

In contrast to street offending/delinquency, no study to date has explored how white-collar offending develops across the life course using self-report data. This paper fills this gap in the literature by exploring latent developmental profiles of self-reported white-collar offending across a 16-year period. These trajectories are then compared in terms of concurrently reported street crimes. Data for analysis were culled from Waves 7 through 11 of the National Youth Survey Family Study (NYSFS) when the original respondents were between 22 and 44 years old. Six latent offending profiles were identified and were characterized through the lens of previous research and theory.
Journey of Patients With Cancer
Authors: Bhatnagar Sushma , Goyal Alka , Sharma Anchal , Joshi Saurabh , Ahmed Sayed Mehmood
Published: July 2013

In cancer patients early institution of therapy placed a very important role and delay in the diagnosis and treatment can cause catastrophe. Affirm step to cut shot this delay requires detailed information about each step of patient referral journey and for fulfillment of above aim, we interviewed 101 patients, to calculate the elapsed time at each step. Result revealed that onset of symptoms to median time of presentation to general practitioner is 20 (9 - 28) days, time consumed in state based hospital is 100 (15- 167) days while in Delhi based hospital is 56 (18 - 100) days. Higher cure rate (38.2%) in patients presented within 3 months of development of cancer symptoms then those presented late. Study concluded that primary physician and all the referral hospital attributed important role in early diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
The response of structures equipped with tuned liquid dampers of complex geometry
Authors: Love JS , Tait MJ
Published: July 2013

Tuned liquid dampers (TLDs) employ sloshing fluid to reduce the resonant response of structures. Existing structure-TLD models are limited to rectangular or circular tanks, shapes that may not always be feasible in practice due to geometric restrictions of the building floor plan. This paper utilizes an equivalent linearized mechanical model and a nonlinear multimodal model to predict the response of the structure-TLD systems where the TLD tank geometry is irregular.

Experimental structure-TLD system tests are conducted that consider two irregular tank shapes. Response history plots and frequency response plots of the structural displacement and TLD wave heights are created to evaluate the models using the experimental results. The parent distributions and 10-minute peak distributions of the structural displacements and TLD wave heights are created for the simulated and experimental results. These distributions indicate that both the linearized and nonlinear models can accurately predict the structural response; however, the linearized model substantially underestimates the peak wave heights. Since wave heights are required to establish the required tank free board, or roof impact pressures, it is concluded that nonlinear analysis of the structure-TLD system model is required before a TLD design is finalized.
Prediction of cutting process parameters in boring operations using artificial neural networks
Authors: Ramesh K , Alwarsamy T , Jayabal S
Published: July 2013

This study deals with the development of displacement of the tool (amplitude of vibration), cutting temperature and tool wear prediction model for boring process using artificial neural networks (ANNs). The experiments have been conducted using full factorial design on an all-geared head lathes with the experimental setup. The adequacy of the developed model is verified by using the neural network model, which has been developed using the feed-forward back propagation algorithm using training data and tested using test data. To judge the ability of the model to predict displacement of the tool (amplitude of vibration), cutting temperature and tool wear values, the percentage deviation and average absolute percentage deviation have been used. The predicted ANN model values are very close to the experimental results.
Effects of exhaust gas recirculation and load on soot in a heavy-duty optical diesel engine with close-coupled post injections for high-efficiency combustion phasing
Authors: O’Connor Jacqueline , Musculus Mark
Published: July 2013

In-cylinder strategies to reduce soot emissions have demonstrated the potential to lessen the burden on, and likely the size and cost of, exhaust aftertreatment systems for diesel engines. One in-cylinder strategy for soot abatement is the use of close-coupled post injections. These short injections closely following the end of the main injection can alter soot-formation and/or oxidation characteristics enough to significantly reduce engine-out soot. Despite the large body of literature on post injections for soot reduction, a clear consensus has not yet been achieved regarding either the detailed mechanisms that affect the soot reduction, or even the sensitivity of the post-injection efficacy to several important engine operating parameters. We report that post injections reduce soot at a range of close-coupled post-injection durations, intake-oxygen levels, and loads in an optical, heavy-duty diesel research engine. Maximum soot reductions by post injections at the loads and conditions tested range from 40% at 21% intake oxygen (by volume) to 62% at 12.6% intake oxygen. From a more fundamental fluid-mechanical perspective, adding a post injection to a constant main-injection for conditions with low dilution (21% and 18% intake oxygen) decreases soot relative to the original main injection, even though the load is increased by the post injection. High-speed visualization of natural combustion luminosity and laser-induced incandescence of soot suggest that as the post-injection duration increases and the post injection becomes more effective at reducing soot, it interacts more strongly with soot remaining from the main injection.
Evaluating the Effect of Dependent Interviewing on the Quality of Measures of Change
Authors: Lugtig Peter , Lensvelt-Mulders Gerty J. L. M.
Published: July 2013

Dependent interviewing (DI) uses respondent data from earlier waves in panel surveys to improve the data quality of change estimates. Apart from a positive effect on data quality through reducing overestimations of change, DI could also affect data quality negatively when it leads to satisficing and an overestimation of stability between waves. In this article, we experimentally test two frequently used DI designs under different levels of measurement error. Our data consist of income reports from a four-wave panel survey conducted in the Netherlands. The effects of our experiment on data quality are modeled with a quasi-simplex structure to enable the decomposition of variances into measurement errors and true change. Our main conclusion is that there is some risk of a negative effect on data quality for proactive DI but not for reactive DI.
Sports Economics on Trial
Authors: Rodenberg Ryan M. , Kaburakis Anastasios , Coates Dennis
Published: July 2013

On June 30, 2012, a North American Association of Sports Economists-sponsored symposium session entitled “Sports Economics on Trial” was held in conjunction with the 2012 Western Economics Association International conference in San Francisco, California. The foci of the symposium were two-fold. First, speakers discussed relevant evidentiary rules and recent legal cases that turned on sports economics issues and expert testimony related thereto. Second, the panel sought to collectively provide a primer that academics and professionals working in the sports economics realm could subsequently turn to as a guide when involved in litigation pertaining to their research. This article represents an outgrowth of the symposium, highlighting four recent legal cases under the sports economics umbrella and addressing discrete issues relevant to sports economics’ role in litigation.
Effects of a New Pocket Device for Negative Pressure Wound Therapy on Surgical Wounds of Patients Affected With Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Pellino Gianluca , Sciaudone Guido , Candilio Giuseppe , Campitiello Ferdinando , Selvaggi Francesco , Canonico Silvestro
Published: July 2013

Introduction. Surgical site infections (SSIs) affect costs of care and prolong length of stay. Crohn’s disease (CD) represents an independent risk factor for SSI. The risk can be further increased by concomitant administration of immunosuppressive drugs and poor performance status at the time of surgery. Patients suffering from CD often need more than one surgical intervention during life, sometimes requiring fashioning of a stoma. The aim of this pilot study was to compare a portable device for negative pressure wound therapy (PICO, Smith & Nephew, London, UK) to conventional gauze dressings in patients undergoing surgery for stricturing CD. Methods. Between January 2010 and November 2011, this controlled trial enrolled 30 patients, who were assigned to treatment with either PICO (n = 13) or conventional dressings (n = 17). Each patient completed a 3-month follow-up. Results. Patients receiving PICO experienced significantly less postoperative wound complications ( P = .001) and SSI ( P = .017) compared with those who received conventional dressings. This resulted in shorter hospital stay ( P = .0007). No significant differences in cosmetic results were found. Conclusion. These data suggest that PICO allows faster and safe discharge by reducing the incidence of SSI and wound-related complications in selected patients undergoing surgical intervention for stricturing CD. This could be particularly useful in patients receiving steroids.
Activation of NOD receptors by Neisseria gonorrhoeae modulates the innate immune response
Authors: Mavrogiorgos Nikolaos , Mekasha Samrawit , Yang Yibin , Kelliher Michelle A , Ingalls Robin R
Published: July 2013

NOD1 and NOD2 are members of the NOD-like receptor family of cytosolic pattern recognition receptors that recognize specific fragments of the bacterial cell wall component peptidoglycan. Neisseria species are unique amongst Gram-negative bacteria in that they turn over large amounts of peptidoglycan during growth. We examined the ability of NOD1 and NOD2 to recognize Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and determined the role of NOD-dependent signaling in regulating the immune response to gonococcal infection. Gonococci, as well as conditioned medium from mid-logarithmic phase grown bacteria, were capable of activating both human NOD1 and NOD2, as well as mouse NOD2, leading to the activation of the transcription factor NF-κB and polyubiquitination of the adaptor receptor-interacting serine-threonine kinase 2. We identified a number of cytokines and chemokines that were differentially expressed in wild type versus NOD2-deficient macrophages in response to gonococcal infection. Moreover, NOD2 signaling up-regulated complement pathway components and cytosolic nucleic acid sensors, suggesting a broad impact of NOD activation on innate immunity. Thus, NOD1 and NOD2 are important intracellular regulators of the immune response to infection with N. gonorrhoeae. Given the intracellular lifestyle of this pathogen, we believe these cytosolic receptors may provide a key innate immune defense mechanism for the host during gonococcal infection.
Predicting Intentions to Seek Psychological Help Among Botswana University Students
Authors: Pheko Mpho M. , Chilisa Rapelang , Balogun Shyngle K. , Kgathi Christina
Published: July 2013

The current study had two main objectives. The first was to investigate Botswana’s university students’ intentions to seek psychological help. The second was to investigate whether (a) Attitude Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help (ATSPPH), (b) Self-Stigma of Seeking Help (SSOSH), and (c) Social Stigma of Receiving Psychological Help (SSRPH) predicted the students’ intentions to seek psychological help. A total of N = 519 (283 females and 236 males) students from the University of Botswana completed the survey. Results indicated that generally, the students had moderate intentions of seeking psychological help. Multiple regression analysis revealed that of the three predictors, only ATSPPH and SSRPH significantly predicted intentions to seek psychological help. The current study is important because while it has been established that university students are a high-risk population for mental health problems, there is close to nothing documented on university students in Botswana. Findings of the current study will undoubtedly increase knowledge relating to psychological help-seeking and its predictors in Botswana and may inform interventions that aim to encourage young people to seek psychological or counseling help.
Parameters for Building Materials Specifications in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Folorunso Clement Oluwole , Ahmad Mohd Hamdan
Published: July 2013

The responsibility of specifying materials for building construction purposes within Nigeria rests on the architects. Understanding the appropriate parameters for specifying building materials that could lead to immense financial proportion is required from the architects. The level of understanding and knowledge of architects is germane to the optimum performance of buildings throughout their life cycle. The methodology applied for this research involved the administration of a structured questionnaire on professional architects within the study area to determine the basis of their decision on the materials they specify or chose for building finishes. The parameters used to measure the specification of materials for finishes are client’s choice, cost, climatic compliance, and maintenance demand of materials. Findings show that the maintenance demand of materials is the most important factor that determines the specification of materials irrespective of the choice of client and climate. However, cost occupies a prominent role in the decision process. It also shows that most architects are not fully aware about the role of climate in determining the life cycle of materials in tropical environments. The compliance of materials to ever-changing climate does not constitute a major factor in the specification of materials in the area.
Affective and Self-Esteem Instability in the Daily Lives of People With Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Farmer Antonina S. , Kashdan Todd B.
Published: July 2013

Research on affect and self-esteem in social anxiety disorder (SAD) has focused on trait or average levels, but we know little about the dynamic patterns of these experiences in the daily lives of people with SAD. We asked 40 adults with SAD and 39 matched healthy controls to provide end-of-day reports on their affect and self-esteem over 2 weeks. Compared to healthy adults, participants with SAD exhibited greater instability of negative affect and self-esteem, though the self-esteem effect was driven by mean-level differences. The SAD group also demonstrated a higher probability of acute changes in negative affect and self-esteem (i.e., from one assessment period to the next), as well as difficulty maintaining positive states and improving negative states (i.e., dysfunctional self-regulation). Our findings provide insights on the phenomenology of SAD, with particular attention to the temporal dependency, magnitude of change, and directional patterns of psychological experiences in everyday life.
Detection of phase-dependent transcriptomic changes and Rubisco-mediated CO2 fixation into poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) under heterotrophic condition in Ralstonia eutropha H16 based on RNA-seq and gene deletion analyses
Authors: Shimizu Rie , Chou Kenta , Orita Izumi , Suzuki Yutaka , Nakamura Satoshi , Fukui Toshiaki
Published: July 2013

Background

Ralstonia eutropha H16 is well known to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), which are potential bio-based biodegradable plastics, in an efficient manner as an energy storage material under unbalanced growth conditions. To obtain further knowledge of PHA biosynthesis, this study performed a quantitative transcriptome analysis based on deep sequencing of the complementary DNA generated from the RNA (RNA-seq) of R. eutropha H16.

Results

Total RNAs were extracted from R. eutropha cells in growth, PHA production, and stationary phases on fructose. rRNAs in the preparation were removed by repeated treatments with magnetic beads specific to bacterial rRNAs, and then the 36 bp sequences were determined using an Illumina high-throughput sequencer. The RNA-seq results indicated the induction of gene expression for transcription, translation, cell division, peptidoglycan biosynthesis, pilus and flagella assembly, energy conservation, and fatty acid biosynthesis in the growth phase; and the repression trends of genes involved in central metabolisms in the PHA production phase. Interestingly, the transcription of genes for Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle and several genes for β-oxidation were significantly induced in the PHA production phase even when the cells were grown on fructose. Moreover, incorporation of 13C was observed in poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) synthesized by R. eutropha H16 from fructose in the presence of NaH13CO3, and further gene deletion analyses revealed that both of the two ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubiscos) in CBB cycle were actually functional in CO2 fixation under the heterotrophic condition.

Conclusions

The results revealed the phase-dependent transcriptomic changes and a CO2 fixation capability under heterotrophic conditions by PHA-producing R. eutropha.