bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Time Delay in Perceptual Decision-Making: Neuronal Population Modeling Approach
Authors: Foryś Urszula , Bielczyk Natalia Z. , Piskała Katarzyna , Płomecka Martyna , Poleszczuk Jan
Published: September 2017

Impairments in decision-making are frequently observed in neurodegenerative diseases, but the mechanisms underlying such pathologies remain elusive. In this work, we study, on the basis of novel time-delayed neuronal population model, if the delay in self-inhibition terms can explain those impairments. Analysis of proposed system reveals that there can be up to three positive steady states, with the one having the lowest neuronal activity being always locally stable in nondelayed case. We show, however, that this steady state becomes unstable above a critical delay value for which, in certain parameter ranges, a subcritical Hopf bifurcation occurs. We then apply psychometric function to translate model-predicted ring rates into probabilities that a decision is being made. Using numerical simulations, we demonstrate that for small synaptic delays the decision-making process depends directly on the strength of supplied stimulus and the system correctly identifies to which population the stimulus was applied. However, for delays above the Hopf bifurcation threshold we observe complex impairments in the decision-making process; that is, increasing the strength of the stimulus may lead to the change in the neuronal decision into a wrong one. Furthermore, above critical delay threshold, the system exhibits ambiguity in the decision-making.
Kinetics of Methane Hydrate Formation in an Aqueous Solution with and without Kinetic Promoter (SDS) by Spray Reactor
Authors: Tian Yaqin , Li Yugui , An Hongping , Ren Jie , Su Jianfeng
Published: September 2017

Hydrate formation apparatus reported so far was mainly concentrated in stirred-tank batch environments. It was difficult to produce the high gas storage hydrate efficiently. Some nonstirred technology has been attracting more attention by researchers. This work proposed a new apparatus for hydrate formation by spraying water into a gaseous phase with a fine nozzle. It can get sufficient contact surface area for gas-liquid reaction. Methane hydrate formation experiments have been conducted using pure water and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) aqueous solution for comparison at 277.15 K. The experiments were conducted at 7.0 and 6.0 MPa, respectively. Kinetics of methane hydrate formation have been investigated by methane consumption per mole of water and reaction rate. The mechanism of hydrate formation and kinetics property by spraying atomization were studied with the theory of crystal chemistry.
A Conservation Difference Scheme of Generalized Boussinesq Equation
Authors: Jiang Xiaoli , Wang Xiaofeng
Published: September 2017

We focus on the algorithm research of a class of six-order generalized Boussinesq equation. We use the finite difference method to discrete the Boussinesq equation. The discrete format with the law of energy conservation is deduced; stability and existence and good order of convergence properties are also derived. The efficiency of the proposed method is tested to numerical results that the convergence of space is of second-order and the conservation law of energy is verified very well for the energy difference.
An Adaptive and Time-Efficient ECG R-Peak Detection Algorithm
Authors: Qin Qin , Li Jianqing , Yue Yinggao , Liu Chengyu
Published: September 2017

R-peak detection is crucial in electrocardiogram (ECG) signal analysis. This study proposed an adaptive and time-efficient R-peak detection algorithm for ECG processing. First, wavelet multiresolution analysis was applied to enhance the ECG signal representation. Then, ECG was mirrored to convert large negative R-peaks to positive ones. After that, local maximums were calculated by the first-order forward differential approach and were truncated by the amplitude and time interval thresholds to locate the R-peaks. The algorithm performances, including detection accuracy and time consumption, were tested on the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database and the QT database. Experimental results showed that the proposed algorithm achieved mean sensitivity of 99.39%, positive predictivity of 99.49%, and accuracy of 98.89% on the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database and 99.83%, 99.90%, and 99.73%, respectively, on the QT database. By processing one ECG record, the mean time consumptions were 0.872 s and 0.763 s for the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database and QT database, respectively, yielding 30.6% and 32.9% of time reduction compared to the traditional Pan-Tompkins method.
Influence of Carbon Modification on the Morphological, Structural, and Optical Properties of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized by Pneumatic Spray Pyrolysis Technique
Authors: Taziwa R. , Meyer E. , Katwire D. , Ntozakhe L.
Published: September 2017

This paper reveals the influence of doping on the morphological, structural, and optical properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by pneumatic spray pyrolysis technique (PSP), using zinc ethoxide ZnO2CH32 as the precursor. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, HRTEM, SEM-EDX, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and RS. RS analysis has revealed that the unmodified ZnO and carbon modified ZnO samples have characteristic Raman optic modes at 325 cm−1, 373 cm−1, and 432 cm−1 belonging to Wurtzite ZnO structure. The XRD ZnO (C:ZnO) NPS have characteristic peaks of hexagonal Wurtzite ZnO structure. HRTEM analysis has revealed that the synthesized ZnO NPs have particle size range of 8.8–11.82 nm. EDX spectra of both unmodified and modified ZnO nanoparticles have revealed prominent peaks at 0.51 keV, 1.01 keV, 1.49 keV, 8.87 keV, and 9.86 keV. The occurrence of these peaks in the EDX spectra endorses the existence of Zn and O atoms in the PSP synthesized ZnO NPs. The UV-Vis spectroscopy has revealed a red shift of the absorption edge, with the increase in C dopant level. The effect of nanocrystallite size and the gradual prominence of C into ZnO matrix due to increase in C dopant level in the PSP synthesized ZnO NPs was meticulously elaborated through Raman spectroscopy analysis.
Citric Acid Metabolism in Resistant Hypertension
Authors: Martin-Lorenzo Marta , Martinez Paula J. , Baldan-Martin Montserrat , Ruiz-Hurtado Gema , Prado Jose Carlos , Segura Julian , de la Cuesta Fernando , Barderas Maria G. , Vivanco Fernando , Ruilope Luis Miguel , Alvarez-Llamas Gloria
Published: September 2017

Resistant hypertension (RH) affects 9% to 12% of hypertensive adults. Prolonged exposure to suboptimal blood pressure control results in end-organ damage and cardiovascular risk. Spironolactone is the most effective drug for treatment, but not all patients respond and side effects are not negligible. Little is known on the mechanisms responsible for RH. We aimed to identify metabolic alterations in urine. In addition, a potential capacity of metabolites to predict response to spironolactone was investigated. Urine was collected from 29 patients with RH and from a group of 13 subjects with pseudo-RH. For patients, samples were collected before and after spironolactone administration and were classified in responders (n=19) and nonresponders (n=10). Nuclear magnetic resonance was applied to identify altered metabolites and pathways. Metabolites were confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Citric acid cycle was the pathway most significantly altered (
P
<0.0001). Metabolic concentrations were quantified and ranged from ng/mL malate to μg/mL citrate. Citrate and oxaloacetate increased in RH versus pseudoresistant. Together with α-ketoglutarate and malate, they were able to discriminate between responders and nonresponders, being the 4 metabolites increased in nonresponders. Combined as a prediction panel, they showed receiver operating characteristiccurve with area under the curve of 0.96. We show that citric acid cycle and deregulation of reactive oxygen species homeostasis control continue its activation after hypertension was developed. A metabolic panel showing alteration before spironolactone treatment and predicting future response of patients is shown. These molecular indicators will contribute optimizing the rate of control of RH patients with spironolactone.
High-energy brain dynamics during anesthesia-induced unconsciousness
Authors: Riehl James R. , Palanca Ben J. , Ching ShiNung
Published: September 2017

Characterizing anesthesia-induced alterations to brain network dynamics provides a powerful framework to understand the neural mechanisms of unconsciousness. To this end, increased attention has been directed at how anesthetic drugs alter the functional connectivity between brain regions as defined through neuroimaging. However, the effects of anesthesia on temporal dynamics at functional network scales is less well understood. Here, we examine such dynamics in view of the free-energy principle, which postulates that brain dynamics tend to promote lower energy (more organized) states. We specifically engaged the hypothesis that such low-energy states play an important role in maintaining conscious awareness. To investigate this hypothesis, we analyzed resting-state BOLD fMRI data from human volunteers during wakefulness and under sevoflurane general anesthesia. Our approach, which extends an idea previously used in the characterization of neuron-scale populations, involves thresholding the BOLD time series and using a normalized Hamiltonian energy function derived from the Ising model. Our major finding is that the brain spends significantly more time in lower energy states during eyes-closed wakefulness than during general anesthesia. This effect is especially pronounced in networks thought to be critical for maintaining awareness, suggesting a crucial cognitive role for both the structure and the dynamical landscape of these networks.
Patterns of genetic divergence in the Ilyodromus amplicolis lineage (Crustacea, Ostracoda), with descriptions of three new species
Authors: SHEARN RYLAN , SCHÖN ISA , MARTENS KOEN , HALSE STUART , KRAWIEC JOE , KOENDERS ANNETTE
Published: September 2017

In this study, 13 previously recorded populations of Ilyodromus amplicolis De Deckker, 1981 from temporary aquatic habitats in Western Australia were scanned for undescribed species diversity using morphological and molecular systematics techniques. The study found congruent morphological and molecular evidence for three species that are new to science, all of which are formally described here (I. armacutis n. sp., I. sensaddito n. sp. and I. hiatus n. sp.). The findings shed light on the potential for further undescribed diversity in the genus Ilyodromus Sars, 1894.
Don’t Name Them, Don’t Show Them, But Report Everything Else: A Pragmatic Proposal for Denying Mass Killers the Attention They Seek and Deterring Future Offenders
Authors: Lankford Adam , Madfis Eric
Published: September 2017

Prior research has shown that many mass shooters have explicitly admitted they want fame and have directly reached out to media organizations to get it. These fame-seeking offenders are particularly dangerous because they kill and wound significantly more victims than other active shooters, they often compete for attention by attempting to maximize victim fatalities, and they can inspire contagion and copycat effects. However, if the media changes how they cover mass shooters, they may be able to deny many offenders the attention they seek and deter some future perpetrators from attacking. We propose that media organizations should no longer publish the names or photos of mass shooters (except during ongoing searches for escaped suspects), but report everything else about these crimes in as much detail as desired. In this article, we (1) review the consequences of media coverage of mass shooters, (2) outline our proposal, (3) show that its implementation is realistic and has precedent, (4) discuss anticipated challenges, and (5) recommend future steps for consensus building and implementation.
More Than Just “Pushing and Pulling”: Conceptualizing Identified Human Trafficking in the Netherlands
Authors: Kragten-Heerdink Suzanne L. J. , Dettmeijer-Vermeulen Corinne E. , Korf Dirk J.
Published: September 2017

By tradition, the human trafficking discourse focuses on cross-border sex trafficking from impoverished countries to countries with a high standard of living. This article explores whether identified trafficking in the Netherlands corresponds to this. We introduce a model that identifies all possible trafficking situations, and with this, intends to prevent tunnel vision and identify blind spots. Subsequently, we analyze 768 trafficking cases identified by the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (2008-2012) and categorize each case according to our model: by form of exploitation and route of trafficking. The data show that (near-)domestic sex trafficking where victims are not pushed out of impoverished countries, but are recruited on native (or neighboring) soil, is the human trafficking situation most commonly identified.
Winning hearts & minds (!)
Authors: Tokdemir Efe
Published: September 2017

Foreign aid is a policy tool implemented with the purpose of fostering both hard and soft power abroad. Yet, previous research has not probed the effects of US foreign aid on public attitudes toward the US in the recipient countries. In this article, I argue that US foreign aid may actually feed anti-Americanism: aid indirectly creates winners and losers in the recipient countries, such that politically discontented people may blame the US for the survival of the prevailing regime. Drawing on Pew Research for Global Attitudes and on USAID Greenbook datasets, I focus on determining both the conditions under which foreign aid exacerbates anti-Americanism and the type of aid most likely to do this. The findings reveal that political losers of the recipient countries are more likely to express negative attitudes toward the USA as the amount of US aid increases, whereas political winners enjoy the results of US aid and view the USA positively accordingly. Moreover, the effect of US aid on attitudes toward the USA is also conditional on the regime type. While US aid increases the likelihood of anti-American attitudes among the losers in non-democratic countries, it decreases the likelihood of anti-Americanism among the losers in democratic ones. This article has important implications for policy in terms of determining how and to whom to provide aid in the context of the possible ramifications of providing aid at the individual level.
Counter-cyclical Voting in the United Kingdom
Authors: Bojar Abel
Published: September 2017

By extending the time-tested reward–punishment hypothesis in economic voting, this article argues that rational voters hold incumbents accountable for the macroeconomic policies they pursue rather than purely for the economic climate that prevails under their tenure. Building on this premise, I first put forward a theory where business cycle fluctuations realign relative fiscal preferences among income groups. This theory’s implications predict that the aggregate electoral response to fiscal decisions evolves in a counter-cyclical fashion. Using quarterly measures of vote intention shares of incumbent parties in the United Kingdom, I provide time-series evidence from a set of error correction models supporting this proposition: at times of low unemployment, the electorate punishes profligate incumbents; in deteriorating labour market conditions, however, they reward expansionary policies. The immediate electoral impact is non-significant across the models, and most of the estimated effect is spread out across subsequent quarters.
Brahmanism
Authors: Bronkhorst Johannes
Published: September 2017

This article shows how Brahmanism was a regional tradition, confined to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent, that passed through a difficult period—which it barely survived—roughly between the time of Alexander and the beginning of the Common Era. It then reinvented itself, in a different shape. No longer primarily a sacrificial tradition, it became a mainly socio-political ideology that borrowed much (including the belief in rebirth and karmic retribution) from the eastern region in which Buddhism and Jainism had arisen. Its revival went hand in hand with the elaboration of behavioural and theoretical innovations, one of whose purposes was to justify the claimed superiority of Brahmins.
Experimental and theoretical investigations on the viscosity of heterogeneous asphalt binders
Authors: Diab Aboelkasim
Published: September 2017

The inherent multiphase structure of heterogeneous asphalt binders (additives containing binders) may complicate viscosity understanding and predictions in the Newtonian or non-Newtonian response. The objective of this article is to understand the viscosity characteristics of heterogeneous asphalt binders based on experimental and theoretical investigations over a wide range of conditions the matter may encounter in the field (temperatures and oxidative aging). Selected materials representing the generic additives commonly used for pavement construction including styrene–butadiene–styrene block copolymer and ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer, crumb rubber, and two mineral fillers, namely hydrated lime and fly ash, were utilized separately at different concentrations to produce the heterogeneous materials under study. The effects of varied temperatures as well as short- and long-term aging processes were studied for the materials over a wide range of shear rates. A further theoretical investigation was carried out by addressing the capability of Tscheuschner model to predict the flow behavior under the aforementioned conditions. In addition, the zero shear viscosity said to be an intrinsic characteristic of asphalt binders was evaluated using the regression analysis of data predicted from Tscheuschner model. Overall, the shear thinning behavior of heterogeneous asphalt binders occurred at low shear rates as compared to the base binder, especially at low temperatures. Emphasis was placed on the repeatability of the model predictions under different conditions, which could be an initiative to provide a simple but accurate representation of the viscosity of heterogeneous asphalt binders.
The Function of Fear in Institutional Maintenance: Feeling frightened as an essential ingredient in haute cuisine
Authors: Gill Michael J. , Burrow Robin
Published: September 2017

Fear is a common and powerful emotion that can regulate behaviour. Yet institutional scholars have paid limited attention to the function of fear in processes of institutional reproduction and stability. Drawing on an empirical study of elite chefs within the institution of haute cuisine, this article finds that the multifaceted emotion of fear characterized their experiences and served to sustain their institution. Chefs’ individual feelings of fear prompted conformity and a cognitive constriction, which narrowed their focus on to the precise reproduction of traditional practices while also limiting challenges to the norms underpinning the institution. Through fear work, chefs used threats and violence to connect individual experiences of fear to the violation of institutionalized rules, sustaining the conditions in which fear-driven maintenance work thrived. The study also suggests that fear is a normative element of haute cuisine in its own right, where the very experience and eliciting of fear preserved an essential institutional ingredient. In this way, emotions such as fear do not just accompany processes of institutionalization but can be intimately involved in the performance and maintenance of institutions.
Evaluating Web-Based Nursing Education’s Effects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kang Jiwon , Seomun GyeongAe
Published: September 2017

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated whether using web-based nursing educational programs increases a participant’s knowledge and clinical performance. We performed a meta-analysis of studies published between January 2000 and July 2016 and identified through RISS, CINAHL, ProQuest Central, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and PubMed. Eleven studies were eligible for inclusion in this analysis. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated significant differences not only for the overall effect but also specifically for blended programs and short (2 weeks or 4 weeks) intervention periods. To present more evidence supporting the effectiveness of web-based nursing educational programs, further research is warranted.
Evaluation of adiponectin and leptin levels and oxidative stress in bipolar disorder patients with metabolic syndrome treated by valproic acid
Authors: Akgün Sema , Köken Tülay , Kahraman Ahmet
Published: September 2017

Introduction:

An increased risk for metabolic syndrome (MS) has been described for people with psychotic and mood disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of valproic acid (VPA) treatment on adiponectin, leptin levels and oxidative stress in bipolar disorder (BD).

Methods:

Forty patients with BD receiving VPA monotherapy and 20 healthy control subjects were included in this study. BD patients were divided into two groups with and without MS as group 1 and group 2, respectively. Twenty BD patients diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM IV) were assessed for MS according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III) criteria. Adiponectin, leptin, protein carbonyls, sulfhydryl (–SH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in 40 BD patients and 20 control subjects.

Results:

Serum adiponectin levels were significantly lower in group 1 patients than in group 2 and control subjects ( p<.001). Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in group 1 patients than in group 2 and control subjects ( p<.001). Serum –SH levels were significantly lower in group 2 patients than in group 1 ( p<.001) and control subjects ( p<.05). Serum carbonyl levels were significantly higher in group 1 and group 2 patients than in control subjects ( p<.001). Serum MDA levels were significantly higher in group 1 patients than in group 2 and control subjects ( p<.001).

Conclusion:

These results provide further evidence that VPA treatment for patients with BD contributed to the metabolic disturbances, such as the decreased serum adiponectin and –SH levels, as well as the increased serum leptin, MDA and carbonyl levels.
Impaired vagal activity to meal in patients with functional dyspepsia and delayed gastric emptying
Authors: Guo W-J , Yao S-K , Zhang Y-L , Du S-Y , Wang H-F , Yin L-J , Li H-L
Published: September 2017

Objective

This study was performed to investigate impaired vagal activity to meal in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) with delayed gastric emptying (GE).

Methods

Eighty-five patients were studied. GE parameters, including those in the overall and proximal stomach, were measured by GE functional tests at the Department of Nuclear Medicine. Autonomic nervous function was tested by spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). The vagal activity and sympathetic activity were analyzed by recording the power in the high-frequency component (HF), low-frequency component (LF), and LF/HF ratio.

Results

Overall and proximal GE were delayed in 47.2% and 50.9% of the patients, respectively. Spectral analysis of HRV showed that the HF in patients with delayed proximal GE was significantly lower and that the LF/HF ratio was significantly higher than those in patients with normal proximal GE after a meal.

Conclusion

Delayed proximal GE might be caused by disrupted sympathovagal balance as a result of decreased vagal activity after a meal. Improvement in vagal activity may constitute an effective treatment method for patients with FD.
Impact of Multiple Daily Clinical Pharmacist-Enforced Assessments on Time in Target Sedation Range
Authors: Lizza Bryan D. , Jagow Benjamin , Hensler David , Cooper Craig J. , Short Elizabeth J. , Maas Matthew B. , Naidech Andrew M. , Wunderink Richard G.
Published: September 2017

Objectives:

Incorporation of a single daily assessment by a clinical pharmacist to improve adherence with a sedation protocol is associated with reduced duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS). We test the feasibility of incorporating a clinical pharmacist into more frequent sedation assessments and observed whether there are any potential differences in the sedatives administered.

Methods:

Prospective, quasi-experimental, pilot study of patients admitted to the medical ICU. Patients were included in the analysis if ≥18 years of age within the first 24 hours of initiation of mechanical ventilation. Our primary intent was to test the clinical feasibility surrounding more frequent sedation assessments by a clinical pharmacist by evaluating potential differences in time in target sedation range and sedative administration. Exploratory efficacy end points included time in target sedation range (0 to −2) using the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) and sedative exposure. Patients were assigned to receive either 3 assessments with a clinical pharmacist per day (intervention) or a single assessment by a clinical pharmacist per day (standard of care). During the assessments, clinical pharmacists participated in the RASS administration and made dosing adjustments according to an established sedation protocol.

Main Results:

Seventeen patients were enrolled (n = 6 intervention group, n = 11 standard of care). Duration of mechanical ventilation was similar in the 2 groups (intervention 100.0 hours [52.5-197.5] vs control 76.0 hours [46.0-201.0], P = .95), but patients in the intervention group exhibited a greater percentage time in the target RASS range (intervention 76.0% [53.7-81.5%] vs control 45.2% [35.3-67.0], P = .11) that was not statistically significant. Patients in the intervention group received less fentanyl per day (820.9 µg [227.3-1579.4] vs 1997 µg [1648.2-2477.2], P = .02) than in the control group.

Conclusion:

Incorporating a clinical pharmacist into more frequent daily sedation assessments was associated with a reduction in fentanyl administration. There were no observed differences in time in target sedation range or reduction in duration of mechanical ventilation.
Behavioral Manipulation by Optogenetics in the Nonhuman Primate
Authors: Deng Chunshan , Yuan Hong , Dai Ji
Published: September 2017

Given their neuroanatomical similarities to humans and their ability to perform complex behaviors, the nonhuman primate has been an important model for understanding complex systems such as sensory processing, motor control, social interaction, and nervous system disorders. Optogenetics offers cell-type specific neural control with millisecond precision, making it a powerful neural modulation technique. Combining optogenetics with the nonhuman primate model promises to lead to significant advances in both basic and applied research. In the past few years, optogenetics has made considerable progress in the nonhuman primate. Here, we systematically review the current state-of-art of optogenetics in the nonhuman primate with an emphasis on behavioral manipulation. Given its recent successes, we believe that the progress in the nonhuman primate will boost the translation of optogenetics to clinical applications in the near future.
Venous Thromboprophylaxis With Neuromuscular Stimulation: Is It Calf Muscle Pumping or Just Twitches and Jerks?
Authors: Lattimer Christopher R. , Zymvragoudakis Vassilios , Geroulakos George , Kalodiki Evi
Published: September 2017

The common peroneal nerve stimulator (CPNS) is a UK–approved device for reducing venous thromboembolism risk. It resembles a wrist watch and is placed over the common peroneal nerve to fire at 1 electrical impulse/sec. The aim was to quantify the claim that it drives the venous muscle pump and imitates walking. Twelve healthy volunteers performed 10 tip-toe maneuvers and 10 ankle dorsiflexions to imitate walking movements. The reductions in calf volume were recorded using air plethysmography (APG). The common peroneal nerve was stimulated for over 10 seconds at each of the 7 increasing electrical impulse settings, and the volume reductions were measured for comparison. The results are expressed as median (interquartile range) absolute (mL), and percentage reduction in calf volume. Tip-toe and dorsiflexion pumping maneuvers were not significantly different: 59 (33.6-96.1), 81.9% vs 51.4 (34-68.5), 59.7%, respectively ( P = .53). However, they both outperformed the CPNS: 10.8 (7.3-18), 13.2% at P = .002 and P = .002, respectively. Qualitatively, the CPNS registered on the tracings as a small spike (muscle twitch) at low settings, with larger amplitudes (ankle jerk) at higher settings. The CPNS activity spikes were discrete, lasting a median (range) of 0.24 (0.16- .3) seconds. The claim that the CPNS empties veins by pumping is supported statistically. However, the amount is small versus the tip-toe and dorsiflexion maneuvers. Furthermore, the CPNS has a short activity profile on the APG trace. Innovations that produce sustained contraction and involve the posterior calf compartments may improve pumping.
Unpacking Young People’s National Identities
Authors: Katartzi Eugenia
Published: September 2017

The article examines the intricacies implicated in the narration of young people’s national identities by shedding light on intersecting allegiances and on the role that perceived ‘others’ play in their accounts of nationhood. Based upon a qualitative study of youth narratives of identity in the context of Greek society, the article unpacks how participants make sense and narrate their nationhood via utilizing discursive resources, whilst dialogically conversing with the gaze of ‘other’. The narrative–discursive analysis of the in-depth interview material illustrates the interweavement of ethnicity with religion, along with the use of historical imagery and cultural signals of alleged similarity and difference. What becomes evident is the salience of ethno-cultural and religious identifications, operating as potent resources for self-making but also as vehicles for categorization and the potential exclusion of ‘others’. The article concludes by underlining the importance of empirically substantiating and theorizing the configurations of young people’s collective identities.
China’s Wall: Space, Power, and Culture
Authors: Lee-Wong Song Mei
Published: September 2017

China’s wall is part of Chinese history—both as habitation (walled settlements) and as an icon of Chinese civilization. More significantly, China’s wall, as a configured part of social space is a spatial metaphor of division and differentiation. According to Bourdieu, space is about social organization and power. This article is a sociohistorical discourse on China’s wall, specifically on social space as conceptualized and perceived in imperial China, during the Mao era and in China today. Bourdieu’s concept of space as social and relational lends itself to the deconstruction of the metaphorical wall. It is contended that the age-old hukou/household registration, reestablished by Mao in conjunction with the danwei/work/administrative system, constitutes a part of this wall. The intent behind this discourse is to gain insight into Chinese conceptualization and perceptions of space within a sociohistorical framework.
contain yourself: technology, the city and atmospheric intervention
Authors: Sumartojo Shanti , Lacey Jordan , Hillary Fiona
Published: September 2017

This article considers how a creative intervention can augment and embellish the atmosphere of an urban industrial site. It builds on recent scholarship on atmospheres in human geography and architecture and on the potential for creative practice to investigate spatial and sensory experience by way of close attunement. To do so, it presents an account of a temporary public art installation, contain yourself, in two shipping containers on the Maribyrnong River in January 2015, a site adjacent to a heavy freight rail bridge and a Port of Melbourne container yard. The artwork was the result of experiments at a live test site of practice by four collaborators to sketch a responsive work in neon, sound, vibration and projection that took inspiration and content from its surroundings.
An order of distinction (or, how to tell a collection from a hoard)
Authors: Kilroy-Marac Katie
Published: September 2017

What is the difference between a collection and a hoard? This article draws upon an array of sources – from the DSM-V and current psychiatric research on hoarding, to recent media stories and artist Song Dong’s Waste Not (2009), to the author’s own participant observation with the Toronto Hoarding Coalition and the 21 ethnographic interviews she conducted with professional home organizers in the Greater Toronto Area between 2014 and 2015 – to examine how popular and psychiatric discourses that distinguish collecting and hoarding reveal a complex set of rules about what constitutes the healthy and moral ordering, organization and arrangement of one’s material possessions in contemporary life. In an age of seemingly limitless possibilities for accumulation, the author argues that it is not just the fact of having things that stands as a matter of distinction. One must also demonstrate an active engagement in practices related to the curation and management of one’s object world.
The combination of words in compound nouns by Spanish-Japanese bilingual children: Transfers in unambiguous structure
Authors: Kutsuki Aya
Published: September 2017

Aims and Objectives:

The current study’s aim was to test the ambiguity and dominance theories of transfer by examining compound noun production and comprehension by bilinguals acquiring Spanish and Japanese, as the word order of nominal compounds in these languages is always reversed, making them grammatically and theoretically unambiguous.

Methodology:

Ten Spanish-Japanese bilingual preschoolers completed production and comprehension elicitation tasks.

Data and Analysis:

The research subjects’ reversal rates were compared with those of age- and vocabulary-matched Japanese monolinguals.

Findings/Conclusions:

The results demonstrate that transfers occur from Spanish to Japanese in both production and comprehension, and that there are no dominance effects on the degree of cross-linguistic influence.

Originality:

There have been no previous studies on cross-linguistic transfer in Spanish-Japanese bilingual children.

Significance/Implications:

Transfer and directionality are not affected by relative vocabulary level; the concept of dominance should be (re)considered carefully especially for young bilinguals whose language inputs are greatly imbalanced and variable. Moreover, what is considered grammatically unambiguous by adults may be ambiguous for children acquiring such knowledge bilingually, which raises the need to consider structures in both languages as affecting the acquisition of language in young bilinguals.
The practice of everyday museum making: Naturalization and empowerment in the amateur consumption of museographic language
Authors: Moncunill-Piñas Mariona
Published: September 2017

Amateur museum making is museum practice (museography) performed as serious leisure. This article proposes an analytical approach to amateur museum making that understands it as a simultaneous practice of production and consumption of museography: this is as a use of museum practice or as the consumption of one’s own museographic activity. With this approach, I specifically attempt to detect how processes of naturalization of museographic conventions, and of empowerment through their amateur use, are intimately linked to the use of museography as a whole and not only to its production or to its consumption as separate processes. For this purpose, I propose an extension of De Certeau’s ideas of the production of consumption in The Practice of Everyday Life and the article presents on in-depth interviews with amateur museum makers and participant observation on three case studies: The Bread Museum (Catalonia, Spain), The House of Butterflies (Catalonia, Spain) and the Toy Museum (Antioquia, Colombia).
The UK government and the 0.7% international aid target: Opinion among Conservative parliamentarians
Authors: Heppell Timothy , Crines Andrew , Jeffery David
Published: September 2017

This is the first article to use a detailed dataset of the 2010 - 2015 Parliamentary Conservative Party (PCP) to identify the drivers of MPs’ positions on legally enshrining a commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on foreign aid. We position every Conservative parliamentarian into three different categories on international aid - (1) aid critics, who openly opposed and/or voted the 0.7% target; (2) aid sceptics, who abstained in parliamentary divisions on the 0.7 target and (3) aid advocates, who voted for the 0.7% and spoke out for it. We then draw on a range of political and ideological variables to determine drivers of support or opposition to aid. By doing so we identify that Cameron achieved remarkable success in transforming opinion towards aid amongst Conservative parliamentarians. This article represents a quantitative challenge to the prevalent qualitative assumption in the academic literature, which claims Cameron’s modernistion project was a failure.
Drugs, moral panics and the dispositive
Authors: Bennett Cary
Published: September 2017

The concept of ‘moral panics’ continues to be used as a framework for analysing the causes, structures and functions of social and political crises. Nonetheless, as an analytical tool, such a framework is limited in its capacity to explain the ongoing and interconnected relationships between drugs and society. Drawing first on an interdiscursive and intertextual framework, the field of analysis is broadened to consider how recent drug panics in Australia depend upon, signify and condense wider social and historical anxieties around drugs and other social problems. However, such an approach also has its limitations given that the play of intertextuality is conditioned by relations of power at the level of what Foucault calls a ‘dispositive’, a historically contingent configuration that strategically orientates our responses to the problem. Three dispositional drug-related prototypes are considered and how they work together to shape, reinforce and condition the drug problem and our responses to it.
The social mediation of political rumors: Examining the dynamics in social media and belief in political rumors
Authors: Bae Soo Young
Published: September 2017

Using survey data of social media users in South Korea, this study investigates the dynamics of political rumors in online social networks. Findings of this study reveal the significant connection between the users’ reliance on social media as a source for news and their beliefs in political rumors. Taking a step further, this study underscores the need to understand how users process misinformation they receive through online social networks. Drawing attention to the role of network characteristics in the construction of beliefs around political rumors, this study provides a more nuanced understanding of the conditions under which rumors and misinformation can be regarded as more believable.
Is credit associated with a higher quality of life? A capability approach
Authors: Proctor Julian , Anand Paul
Published: September 2017

There has been an increasing amount of research going beyond income-based approaches to social and economic development. Drawing closely on Sen’s capability approach to welfare economics, this article investigates whether the access to, and use of, informal and formal credit is associated with a higher quality of life among the poor in Hong Kong. Specifically, a new survey is constructed, reflecting key theoretical concepts from Sen and Nussbaum’s framework, and regression models are used to estimate relationships between life quality and financial services. Key empirical findings of the article include the existence of the unhappy borrower, the lower level of capability that borrowers have at home relative to those that do not borrow money and how credit is used has an effect on objective well-being.
Authentic Leadership Through an Ethical Prism
Authors: Gardiner Rita A.
Published: September 2017

The Problem

Authentic leadership (AL) focuses on enhancing the capabilities and capacities of leaders. Instead of focusing on the leader, this article considers the ethical challenges of fostering authenticity among employees. One such challenge is that marginalized groups may feel unable to be true to their values, a key premise of authentic leadership. To foster workplaces where marginalized groups feel able to be true to themselves, we must consider the cultural and structural barriers that can negatively affect people’s ability to express themselves in the workplace. Hence, when considering the merits of AL, it is important for human resource development (HRD) professionals to consider what occurs when employees do not fit institutional norms.

The Solution

Creating the conditions for a relational authentic approach to AL that allows authentic otherness to flourish is an important and complex ethical task, one that HRD scholars and practitioners are uniquely placed to encourage.

The Stakeholders

HRD scholars and practitioners interested in creating the conditions that encourage the flourishing of authentic otherness among employees.
Robust collaborative mesh networking with large-scale distributed wireless heterogeneous terminals in industrial cyber-physical systems
Authors: Wang Tao , Liu Jun , Cheng Lianglun , Xiao Hong
Published: September 2017

Industrial cyber-physical system is defined as transformative technologies for upgrading the traditional industrial mode. Wireless mesh network becomes a typical technology in industrial cyber-physical system for the network communication with large-scale distributed wireless terminals. However, the robustness of wireless mesh networks in the industrial environment is seriously challenged by worst working reliability of network nodes, more vulnerable wireless communication links, and so on. In this article, in order to enhance network robustness and reliability, we propose a robust collaborative mesh networking method for interconnecting large-scale distributed wireless heterogeneous terminals in industrial cyber-physical systems. First, moderate redundancy of network deployment is introduced to guarantee two-connectivity for each mesh router and two-coverage for each wireless terminal, and an improved metric for evaluating the overall network robustness is presented. Second, the robustness-aware collaborative mesh networking problem is formulated with a multi-objective optimization model, and an improved multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm based on self-adaptive evolutionary learning is exploited to search out the Pareto optimal particles with better distribution and diversity. The experimental results show how the network robustness and load-balancing performance change along with the increasing number of deployed mesh router/mesh gateways, and our method is helpful for finding out a robust wireless mesh network deployment scheme in industrial cyber-physical systems when given a deployment cost.
A minimized falling damage method for humanoid robots
Authors: Li Qingqing , Chen Xuechao , Zhou Yuhang , Yu Zhangguo , Zhang Weimin , Huang Qiang
Published: September 2017

In order to better adapt to human living environment for improving the ability of serving people on various occasions, humanoid robots need to prevent themselves from being severely damaged during falling backward. In this article, we have study the law of human falling motion with a motion capture system and propose a minimized falling damage method for humanoid robots. Falling backward is divided into two phases: the falling phase and the touchdown phase. The parametric optimal strategy based on inverted pendulum with flywheel is used to plan the motion of robot in the first phase to reduce the impact. In the second phase, to prevent the robot from bouncing and rolling over, the heuristic strategy including the best ratio of leg length inspired by biomechanical is adopted. The experiments have been tested on the BIT Humanoid Robot 6 prototype platform and the presented method has been validated.
Factors Influencing Patient Selection of a Foot and Ankle Surgeon
Authors: Manning Blaine T. , Bohl Daniel D. , Wang Kevin C. , Hamid Kamran S. , Holmes George B. , Lee Simon
Published: September 2017

An increasingly consumer-centric health insurance market has empowered patients to select the providers of their choice. There is a lack of studies investigating the rationale by which patients select a foot and ankle surgeon. In the present study, 824 consecutive new patients seeking treatment from 3 foot-ankle surgeons were consecutively administered an anonymous questionnaire prior to their first appointment. It included rating the importance of 15 factors regarding specialist selection on a 1 to 10 scale, with 10 designated “ Very important” and 1 designated “ Not important at all.” The remaining questions were multiple choice regarding patient perspectives on other surgeon aspects (appointment availability, waiting room times, clinic proximity, etc). Of 824 consecutive patients administered the survey, 305 (37%) responded. Patients rated board certification (9.24 ± 1.87) and on-site imaging availability (8.48 ± 2.37)—on a 1 to 10 scale, with 10 designated “Very important— as the 2 most important criteria in choosing a foot and ankle surgeon. Patients rated advertisements as least important. Among the patients, 91% responded that a maximum of 30 minutes should elapse between clinic check-in and seeing their physician; 61% responded that a maximum of 20 minutes should elapse between clinic check-in and seeing their physician. In the context of an increasingly consumer-driven paradigm of health care delivery and reimbursement, it is important to understand patients’ preferences in specialist selection.

Levels of Evidence: Level III: Prospective questionnaire
Advantages and challenges in using mobile apps for field experiments: A systematic review and a case study
Authors: Zhang Jingwen , Calabrese Christopher , Ding Jieyu , Liu Mingxuan , Zhang Biying
Published: September 2017

As smartphone’s computing power continues to grow and as mobile applications (apps) continue to dominate digital engagement, apps have become a new frontier for advancing field experiment methodology. Using apps may help researchers to scale up the reach, precisely control randomization and experiment materials, collect a variety of objective and self-reported data over time, and more conveniently replicate and adapt an experiment. We performed a systematic review on field experiments involving apps published between 2007 and 2017. Seven databases were scanned using a predefined search strategy. The database search retrieved 4,810 citations; 101 articles met the inclusion criteria. Our review suggests that scholars have only started to employ apps in field experiments in the last 4 years. Most studies only used apps as an experiment treatment instead of an experiment platform; therefore, researchers have yet to fully leverage the advantages. Almost all studies were from the health research domain and 77.2% used randomized controlled trial design. Only 7 studies utilized smartphone sensors for collecting data. Only one study reported cost and ethical concerns regarding using apps for the experiment. Given these findings, we reported a case study that targeted a minority racial group and leveraged the advantages of apps as an experiment platform and as a data collection tool to illustrate practical challenges and lessons learned regarding time, financial cost, and technical support. In conclusion, we suggest apps provide new ways to study causal mechanisms with experiment big data. Limitations of generalizability, retention, and design quality were discussed as well.