bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prosocial Behaviors of Black Adolescent Boys: An Application of a Sociopolitical Development Theory
Authors: Lozada Fantasy T. , Jagers Robert J. , Smith Chauncey D. , Bañales Josefina , Hope Elan C.
Published: June 2016

Sociopolitical development theory asserts that critical social analysis informs prosocial behaviors. We suggest that one aspect of Black adolescents’ critical social analysis development is an oppression analysis, in which Black adolescents consider (1) the importance of race to they are, (2) their personal feelings about their racial group, and (3) the experience of oppression for minority groups. The current study examined oppression analysis as a latent construct among a sample of 265 Black male adolescents in Grades 7 to 10 from three suburban districts in the Midwestern United States. Structural equation modeling revealed that received parental racial pride messages, but not school-based discrimination experiences, predicted Black male adolescents’ oppression analysis. An oppression analysis and school-based discrimination had direct effects on prosocial behaviors. Racial pride messages had an indirect effect on prosocial behaviors through oppression analysis. In addition, an oppression analysis had an indirect effect on prosocial behaviors through social-emotional skills. This research offers insight into the role of Black boys’ critical social analysis among individual and contextual factors in facilitating positive developmental outcomes.
Early Parenteral Nutrition in Patients Unconscious Because of Acute Drug Poisoning
Authors: Kolacinski Zbigniew
Published: June 2016

The author studied the clinical and laboratory effects of early parenteral nutrition (EPN) in patients who were comatose as a result of acute drug poisoning. All patients were unconscious at the time of admission and entry into the study and received our usual conservative therapy for the first 24 hours. Alternate patients received an EPN solution containing amino acids and glucose. Volume, composition, and caloric content of the EPN solution were calculated separately for each patient according to weight and height nomograms. It was found that the group receiving EPN (n = 46) normalized their nitrogen balance sooner and demonstrated a consistent decrease in their creatine Phosphokinase level. Serum amino acid values in patients treated with EPN did not change significantly during the treatment trial. The control group (n = 40) demonstrated a significantly lower serum amino acid concentration on the third day of treatment (p <.001), had significantly more pneumonias (p <.05), and their hospitalization time was significantly longer (.01 < p <.05) than the EPN group. There were significantly fewer instances of disseminated intravascular coagulation in the group receiving EPN (p <.05).
Right main bronchus rupture from blunt chest trauma in a child
Authors: Alimi Faouzi , Alijla Hazem , Neily Asma , Ghannouchi Chams , El Hadj Sidi Chighali , Jerbi Sofian
Published: June 2016

We report the case of a 6-year-old boy with right main bronchus avulsion after blunt chest trauma. Reimplantation of the right main bronchus at the carina was performed via a right posterolateral thoracotomy, with satisfactory long-term morphological and functional results.
Would Private Sector be Inclined to Take up Initiatives to Address Water Crisis in India?
Authors: Rao Purba H , Jain Sharad K , Millin Alan
Published: June 2016

Executive Summary

In the years to come, India will be highly vulnerable to the impacts of rising sea level, floods and droughts, water pollution, and the associated health hazards. In addition to the severe effect of water-related concerns on health and heat stress, water scarcity problems would also impact generation of electricity, both in hydel and thermal power sectors, industrial production, which often requires large volumes of water, and irrigation, which again is highly water-based. To address such severe concerns in the realm of unavailability of water in desired quantity and quality, many industry initiatives have been implemented. However, the challenge is huge and full industry participation in this endeavour is still awaited in India. Private sector participation would be a relevant and much-needed initiative to the cause of water management in the country. However, the inclination of private sector in taking up such initiatives has not been ascertained yet.

Therefore, an empirical academic research was undertaken to determine (a) if there is an awareness in private sector in India with regard to existence and impacts of water crisis and (b) if such awareness would lead to voluntary participation on the part of private sector. A research instrument in the form of survey questionnaire was administered on a population of practising managers across the country. Thereafter, structural equation modelling was carried out to analyse the data, thus, obtained.

The research concludes that there is significant awareness that (a) water crisis does exist in India, (b) there is a possibility of spread of disease due to water stress, and that (c) private sector could help in recycling, treatment of wastewater, and conservation initiatives.

Further, the research also shows a significant link between awareness about disease impacts due to water stress and propensity to support individual initiatives. The awareness that private sector could help in recycling and treatment of wastewater and in conservation initiatives would lead to voluntary participation of private sector both in the organizational capacity as well as in managers taking up individual initiatives.
Modulation of cannabinoid signaling by hippocampal 5-HT4 serotonergic system in fear conditioning
Authors: Nasehi Mohammad , Farrahizadeh Maryam , Ebrahimi-Ghiri Mohaddeseh , Zarrindast Mohammad-Reza
Published: June 2016

Behavioral studies have suggested a key role for the cannabinoid system in the modulation of conditioned fear memory. Likewise, much of the literature has revealed that the serotonergic system affects Pavlovian fear conditioning and extinction. A high level of functional overlap between the serotonin and cannabinoid systems has also been reported. To clarify the interaction between the hippocampal serotonin (5-HT4) receptor and the cannabinoid CB1 receptor in the acquisition of fear memory, the effects of 5-HT4 agents, arachidonylcyclopropylamide (ACPA; CB1 receptor agonist), and the combined use of these drugs on fear learning were studied in a fear conditioning task in adult male NMRI mice. Pre-training intraperitoneal administration of ACPA (0.1 mg/kg) decreased the percentage of freezing time in both context- and tone-dependent fear conditions, suggesting impairment of the acquisition of fear memory. Pre-training, intra-hippocampal (CA1) microinjection of RS67333, a 5-HT4 receptor agonist, at doses of 0.1 and 0.2 or 0.2 µg/mouse impaired contextual and tone fear memory, respectively. A subthreshold dose of RS67333 (0.005 µg/mouse) did not alter the ACPA response in either condition. Moreover, intra-CA1 microinjection of RS23597 as a 5-HT4 receptor antagonist did not alter context-dependent fear memory acquisition, but it did impair tone-dependent fear memory acquisition. However, a subthreshold dose of the RS23597 (0.01 µg/mouse) potentiated ACPA-induced fear memory impairment in both conditions. Therefore, we suggest that the blockade of hippocampal 5-HT4 serotonergic system modulates cannabinoid signaling induced by the activation of CB1 receptors in conditioned fear.
Neural signals of ‘intensity’ but not ‘wanting’ or ‘liking’ of rewards may be trait markers for depression
Authors: McCabe Ciara
Published: June 2016

We have shown previously that participants ‘at risk’ of depression have decreased neural processing of reward suggesting this might be a neural biomarker for depression. However, how the neural signal related to subjective experiences of reward (wanting, liking, intensity) might differ as trait markers for depression is as yet unknown. Using SPM8 parametric modulation analysis the neural signal related to the subjective report of wanting, liking and intensity was compared between 25 young people with a biological parent with depression (FH) and 25 age/gender matched controls. In a second study the neural signal related to the subjective report of wanting, liking and intensity was compared between 13 unmedicated recovered depressed (RD) patients and 14 healthy age/gender matched controls. The analysis revealed differences in the neural signal for wanting, liking and intensity ratings in the ventral striatum, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and caudate respectively in the RD group compared with controls. Despite no differences in the FH group’s neural signal for wanting and liking there was a difference in the neural signal for intensity ratings in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and anterior insula compared with controls. These results suggest that the neural substrates tracking the intensity but not the wanting or liking for rewards and punishers might be a trait marker for depression.
Short-term effects of greater occipital nerve blocks in chronic migraine: A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Authors: Cuadrado María L , Aledo-Serrano Ángel , Navarro Patricia , López-Ruiz Pedro , Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , González-Suárez Inés , Orviz Aida , Fernández-Pérez Cristina
Published: June 2016

Background

Greater occipital nerve (GON) blocks are widely used for the treatment of headaches, but quality evidence regarding their efficacy is scarce.

Objective

The objective of this article is to assess the short-term clinical efficacy of GON anaesthetic blocks in chronic migraine (CM) and to analyse their effect on pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) in different territories.

Participants and methods

The study was designed as a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Thirty-six women with CM were treated either with bilateral GON block with bupivacaine 0.5% ( n = 18) or a sham procedure with normal saline ( n = 18). Headache frequency was recorded a week after and before the procedure. PPT was measured in cephalic points (supraorbital, infraorbital and mental nerves) and extracephalic points (hand, leg) just before the injection (T0), one hour later (T1) and one week later (T2).

Results

Anaesthetic block was superior to placebo in reducing the number of days per week with moderate-or-severe headache (MANOVA; p = 0.027), or any headache ( p = 0.04). Overall, PPTs increased after anaesthetic block and decreased after placebo; after the intervention, PPT differences between baseline and T1/T2 among groups were statistically significant for the supraorbital (T0–T1, p = 0.022; T0–T2, p = 0.031) and infraorbital sites (T0–T1, p = 0.013; T0–T2, p = 0.005).

Conclusions

GON anaesthetic blocks appear to be effective in the short term in CM, as measured by a reduction in the number of days with moderate-to-severe headache or any headache during the week following injection. GON block is followed by an increase in PPTs in the trigeminal area, suggesting an effect on central sensitisation at the trigeminal nucleus caudalis. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02188394).
Time Trends in Emergency Department Visits for Suicide-Related Behaviours by Girls and Boys in Alberta
Authors: Newton Amanda S. , Rosychuk Rhonda J. , Carlisle Corine E. , Zhang Xuechen , Bethell Jennifer , Rhodes Anne E.
Published: June 2016

Objective:

In Canada, emergency departments (EDs) are a frontline setting for treating suicide-related behaviours (SRBs) among adolescents, yet description of national trends in ED SRB visits is lacking. We determined whether the SRB incidence rate and method patterns between 2002 and 2010 previously shown for Ontario adolescents were also experienced in Alberta.

Method:

A retrospective, population-based study of ED visits for SRBs (self-poisoning or self-injury, irrespective of suicidal intent) by 12- to 17-year-olds was conducted using administrative health care data from 104 EDs across Alberta, Canada. Incidence rates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and graphed. Rate ratios (RRs) comparing rates between time periods (2002-2005 and 2006-2010) and corresponding 95% CIs were estimated. Changes in SRB methods were also described. The time periods chosen were based on published Ontario trends.

Results:

Decreases in yearly incidence rates levelled off after 2005. Crude RRs indicated a rate decrease in 2006 to 2010 for boys (RR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.90) and girls (RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95). From 2002 to 2010, the proportion of SRB visits for self-poisoning decreased (girls, –13%; boys, –10%) while visits for self-cutting increased (girls, +13%; boys, +14%).

Conclusions:

Alberta trends were similar to those previously published for Ontario. Determining if the trends and observed changes are associated with mental health care access or availability and/or provincial suicide prevention strategies would contextualize these findings and could shape future prevention efforts. Lack of identification of suicidal intent and exclusion of fatal SRB are limitations of the current study.
Recognition, disrecognition and legitimacy
Authors: de Souza Luiz Gustavo da Cunha
Published: June 2016

This article discusses Axel Honneth’s recent theory of recognition, as exposed in his book Freedom’s Right (2001). The argument defended here is that Honneth’s approach does not apprehend the normative implications of political conflicts, for it relies on what some critics have called normative history. Against that approach, this paper defends a model of social theory that is not committed to normative presuppositions of analysis. Rather, it seeks to understand how political struggles strive for normative authority. As an illustration of forms of recognition that are alternative to the ones Honneth calls normative, the paper builds on an example from Brazilian society.
The Need to Feed
Authors: Gregg Desiree , Hiller Lynn , Fabri Peter
Published: June 2016

Necrotizing soft tissue injury (NSTI) is rare with an impressively difficult and dangerous clinical course. While the importance of nutrition as part of the treatment plan for NSTI is recognized as essential to recovery, specific recommendations have not been elucidated. A review of the evidence‐based guidelines and published research to accomplish wound healing is presented. The nutrition considerations in the setting of organ failure are also discussed. This article outlines a complicated case of a septic, malnourished man with Fournier's gangrene and acute kidney injury. Protein loss from exudate extracted from a negative‐pressure vacuum helped estimate the amount of protein needed to accomplish wound healing and guide clinical care. Development of acute kidney injury resulted in protein restriction at the request of the consulting renal service. This restriction led to insufficient protein intake to meet needs required for wound healing as evidenced by a nitrogen balance study and analysis of wound exudate. The estimated daily protein losses through the wound were within 11–26 g protein (2–4 g nitrogen) per day. Inclusion of wound exudate nitrogen loss in nitrogen balance analyses helped resolve conflicting treatment approaches. Estimating protein loss from wound exudate allows for individualization of protein requirements.
Vivian Carter Mason and Interracial Cooperation During the Massive Resistance Era in Virginia
Authors: Fairfax Colita Nichols
Published: June 2016

Vivian Carter Mason successfully utilized her social work skills during the Massive Resistance Era in Virginia. Through organizational strategies with black and white women, her leadership was indispensable, as a social worker who focused on human and civil rights. Her skills were not merely a substructure of the civil rights movement, rather her work provided a major dimension of women’s leadership through the creation of the Women’s Council for Interracial Cooperation. It engaged in community mobilization and made public education a priority for all children. This interracial model has implications for work and can be conducted today among women social workers.
Stigmatizing Reactions Versus General Negative Reactions to Partner Violence Disclosure as Predictors of Avoidance Coping and Depression
Authors: Overstreet Nicole M. , Willie Tiara C. , Sullivan Tami P.
Published: June 2016

Despite increased attention to the relation between negative social reactions to intimate partner violence (IPV) disclosure and poorer mental health outcomes for victims, research has yet to examine whether certain types of negative social reactions are associated with poorer mental health outcomes more so than others. Furthermore, research is scarce on potential mediators of this relationship. To fill these gaps, the current study examines whether stigmatizing reactions to IPV disclosure, such as victim-blaming responses and minimizing experiences of IPV, are a specific type of negative social reaction that exerts greater influence on women’s depressive symptoms than general negative reactions, such as being angry at the perpetrators of IPV. We also examine avoidance coping as a key mediator of this relationship. A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted to examine these relationships. Participants were 212 women from an urban northeast community who indicated being physically victimized by their male partner in the past 6 months. Findings from a multiple regression analysis showed that stigmatizing reactions, not general negative reactions, predicted women’s depressive symptoms. In addition, a multiple mediation analysis revealed that avoidance coping strategies, but not approach coping strategies, significantly accounted for the relationship between stigmatizing social reactions and women’s depressive symptoms. Findings have implications for improving support from informal and formal sources and subsequently, IPV-exposed women’s psychological well-being.
Dyeing of EDTA-Modified Cotton With Reactive Dyes
Authors: Das Debasish , Bakshi Sumantra , Bhattacharya Pinaki
Published: June 2016

Cotton was modified with disodium salt of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) in presence of potassium sodium tartrate as the esterification catalyst following a pad-dry-cure technique. Treatment of cotton fabric with 8% EDTA in presence of 8% catalyst followed by drying at 95°C for 5 min and curing at 140°C for 5 min produced optimum results in respect of exhaustion and fixation of reactive dyes having chlorotriazine and vinyl sulphone reactive groups when dyeing was accomplished in absence of salt. Colourfastness to wash, light, and rubbing of cotton for application of reactive dyes remain unaltered for such prior modification with EDTA. IR spectroscopy indicated incorporation of amine in polymeric chains of cotton via establishment of ester linkages between carboxyl groups of the EDTA and hydroxyl groups of the cotton cellulose on pad-dry-cure.
The Involvement/Exclusion Paradox of Spontaneous Volunteering
Authors: Harris Margaret , Shaw Duncan , Scully Judy , Smith Chris M. , Hieke Graham
Published: June 2016

This article focuses on the involvement and management of spontaneous volunteers (SVs). It develops a new theory—which we call the “involvement/exclusion” paradox—about a situation which is frequently manifested when SVs converge in times of disaster. After reviewing research and policy guidance relating to spontaneous volunteering, we present findings from a study of responses to winter flood episodes in England. Taking together the empirical findings and the literature, the article analyzes elements inherent in the involvement/exclusion paradox and develops a conceptual model to illustrate and explain the paradox. Implications for managers and future research are discussed.
Of slime moulds and smart slums – Kolkata informal settlements and the tale of a failed canal reclamation project
Authors: Chakrabarty Antarin
Published: June 2016

This paper begins with the description of a theory that draws a parallel between slime mould behaviour and the functioning of informal settlements – part of a scholarly trend that recognizes and glorifies a kind of futuristic intelligence in these deprived zones. The paper goes on to demystify the slime mould theory using a case that, at first glance, seems to validate it. When faced with the threat of forced eviction due to a canal reclamation project, the informal residents living along the banks resort to a range of survival tactics that protect them from eviction, and, in an ironic twist, also make it impossible for the project to succeed. Seen in isolation, the informal residents seem to act as the theory predicted – without being guided by a “single brain” or a “power elite”. However, seen within the historical and political context, this moment of triumph is itself found to be bounded on all sides by defeat and deprivation.
A non-affine electro-viscoelastic microsphere model for dielectric elastomers: Application to VHB 4910 based actuators
Authors: Thylander Sara , Menzel Andreas , Ristinmaa Matti
Published: June 2016

Dielectric elastomers belong to a larger group of materials, the so-called electroactive polymers, which have the capability of transforming electric energy to mechanical energy through deformation. VHB 4910 is one of the most popular materials for applications of dielectric elastomers and therefore one of the most investigated. This paper includes a new micromechanically motivated constitutive model for dielectric elastomers that incorporates the nearly incompressible and viscous time-dependent behaviour often found in this type of material. A non-affine microsphere framework is used to transform the microscopic constitutive model to a macroscopic continuum counterpart. Furthermore the model is calibrated, through both homogeneous deformation examples and more complex finite element analysis, to VHB 4910. The model is able to capture both the purely elastic, the viscoelastic and the electro-viscoelastic properties of the elastomer and demonstrates the power and applicability of the electromechanically coupled microsphere framework.
Oblique Impact of Multi-Flexible-Link Systems
Authors: Shafei AM , Shafei HR
Published: June 2016

The main goal of this paper is to present an automatic approach for the dynamic modeling of the oblique impact of a multi-flexible-link robotic manipulator. The behavior of a multi-flexible-link system confined inside a closed environment with curved walls can be completely expressed by two distinct mathematical models. A set of differential equations is employed to model the system when it has no contact with the curved walls (Flight phase); and a set of algebraic equations is used whenever it collides with the confining surfaces (Impact phase). In this article, in addition to the Assumed Mode Method (AMM), the Euler-Bernoulli Beam Theory (EBBT), and the Newton’s kinematic impact law, the Gibbs-Appell (G-A) formulation has been employed to derive the governing equations in both phases. Also, instead of using 3 × 3 rotational matrices, which involves lengthy kinematic and dynamic formulations for deriving the governing equations, 4 × 4 transformation matrices have been used. Moreover, for the systematic modeling of flexible multiple links through the space, two virtual links have been added to the n real links of a manipulator. Finally, two case studies have been simulated to demonstrate the validity of the proposed approach.
Cheapening Death
Authors: Marenin Otwin
Published: June 2016

The police have come under fire recently as videos showing their use of force are heavily publicized in public and social media. The President's Task Force on 21st-century policing, though useful in reviewing current issues, fails to effectively address the use of force problem by not considering the power of informal police culture and the way in which street police perceive dangers. Exaggerating the dangers of the job, perception and responses to dangers by street police, and a lack of legal and managerial oversight of use of force and shooting and arrest situations are pointed to as major factors in why deadly use of force incidents occur. Recommendations on how to minimize such incidents even further are delineated.
Experimental assessment of the Refined Zigzag Theory for the static bending analysis of sandwich beams
Authors: Iurlaro Luigi , Gherlone Marco , Mattone Massimiliano , Di Sciuva Marco
Published: June 2016

In the present work, for the first time, the accuracy of the Refined Zigzag Theory in reproducing the static bending response of sandwich beams is experimentally assessed. The theory is briefly reviewed and an analytical solution of the equilibrium equations is presented for the boundary and loading conditions under investigation (four-point bending). The experimental campaign is described, including the material characterization and the bending tests. The experimentally measured deflections and axial strains are compared with those provided by Refined Zigzag Theory and by the Timoshenko Beam Theory with an ad hoc shear correction factor. The Refined Zigzag Theory is shown to be more accurate than the Timoshenko Beam Theory, in particular for beams with higher face-to-core thickness and stiffness ratios and with a reduced slenderness.
Sound transmission loss characteristics of sandwich aircraft panels: Influence of nature of core
Authors: Arunkumar MP , Pitchaimani Jeyaraj , Gangadharan KV , Lenin Babu MC
Published: June 2016

Sandwich panel which has a design involving acoustic comfort is always denser and larger in size than the design involving mechanical strength. The respective short come can be solved by exploring the impact of core geometry on sound transmission characteristics of sandwich panels. In this aspect, the present work focuses on the study of influence of core geometry on sound transmission characteristics of sandwich panels which are commonly used as aircraft structures. Numerical investigation has been carried out based on a 2D model with equivalent elastic properties. The present study has found that, for a honeycomb core sandwich panel in due consideration to space constraint, better sound transmission characteristics can be achieved with lower core height. It is observed that, for a honeycomb core sandwich panel, one can select cell size as the parameter to reduce the weight with out affecting the sound transmission loss. Triangular core sandwich panel can be used for low frequency application due to its increased transmission loss. In foam core sandwich panel, it is noticed that the effect of face sheet material on sound transmission loss is significant and this can be controlled by varying the density of foam.
Emotion-identity talk in aggressive interactions and in reflexive accounts
Authors: Sela-Sheffy Rakefet , Leshem Rotem
Published: June 2016

Proceeding from the assumption that emotional competencies are vital components of identity work, this article focuses on emotion talk in interactions as conducive to the speaker's maintaining dignity and forming desired relatedness with their counterpart. We compare the same speaker's emotion-identity management in two different yet related encounter types: (1) an aggressive bargaining, where his dignified self is threatened and (2) his reflexive account of this event. Thereby we aim to identify alternating emotion-talk strategies as cultural resources in coping with specific encounters' constraints and tasks. Materials are drawn from a study on talk-in-interaction of young Israeli men. Extensive discourse analysis is conducted of the speaker's performance throughout the two encounters. Findings reveal two sets of emotional-discursive strategies in constructing the speaker's self-in-relations and in retrospectively positioning himself vis-à-vis his own past experience. The speaker's competence of maneuvering between two self-in-interaction models—aggressiveness and detachment—is demonstrated, using or avoiding emotion talk in accordance with his different encounters' tasks, eventually producing a coherent, morally justified image of himself throughout the sequence of events. Linking emotion talk to the construction of a dignified self, analysis points at the ambivalent status of emotion-discourse as a resource of identity-work, hinging on specific encounter rules.
Women’s narratives of crisis and change: Transitioning from infertility to pregnancy
Authors: HaCohen Nehama , Amir Dana , Wiseman Hadas
Published: June 2016

This study explores ways women, who endured prolonged fertility difficulties, after which they eventually conceived, integrate the two phases within their life stories. A total of 12 women were interviewed during their first pregnancy after having experienced 2–6 years of infertility. Three types of narratives were identified: (1) the infertility overshadows the pregnancy and approaching motherhood, (2) the pregnancy leads to a dissociation concerning the infertile period, and (3) the two states coexist together along an integrated continuum. We suggested that the different narrative types may occur in diverse circumstances that entail integrating a crisis or prolonged illness into a constructive and meaningful life story.
Beyond global modernity, global consciousness and global governmentality
Authors: Guy Jean-Sébastien
Published: June 2016

The article combines the research strategies developed by Bruno Latour and Niklas Luhmann to problematize how we interpret the world when discussing globalization. Two previous approaches – global modernity and global consciousness – interpret the world as completely objective (nature transcends culture). Another approach – global governmentality – interprets the world as completely subjective (culture transcends nature). Against these approaches, this article proposes a new one: the symmetrical anthropology (or sociology) of globalization. Inspired by Latour’s variable ontologies, it considers multiple descriptions of the world and multiple descriptions of society simultaneously. It considers globalization as one description of society and searches for the description of the world corresponding to it. It distinguishes three descriptions of the world: (1) the world as natural order; (2) the world as external object; and (3) the world as levels of organization. It is argued that the description of the world that is the most closely connected with globalization is the third one.
New dimensionless numbers for deformation of circular mild steel plates with large strains as a result of localized and uniform impulsive loading
Authors: Babaei Hashem , Mirzababaie Mostofi Tohid
Published: June 2016

This study introduces an empirical analysis approach to assess mechanical behavior of thin circular mild steel plates subjected to uniform and localized impulsive loading. The empirical models have been derived by singular values decomposition procedure to predict midpoint deflection of circular plates. The essence of empirical analysis is based on dimensionless numbers. For this, Jones’s dimensionless number λ is considered as a dimensionless number for both uniform and localized loading. This number has some features such as considering plate geometries, mechanical properties of material, and loading conditions. The well-known Cowper–Symonds constitutive equation has been used to investigate the potential influence of material strain rate sensitivity where the constant parameters in this equation are considered as a function of plate thickness. In localized impulsive loading, two other dimensionless numbers are appended to investigate the effects of changing load ratio and standoff distance. The results of empirical models are compared to the other experimental and theoretical studies which have been performed by different researchers. Also, the obtained results show that the presented models have much less root mean square error than the other ones. Hence, these models are suitable to predict midpoint deflection of thin circular plates subjected to both uniform and localized impulsive loading.
Surface durability of injection-moulded carbon nanotube–polypropylene spur gears
Authors: Mertens A Johnney , Senthilvelan S
Published: June 2016

Short fibre reinforced thermoplastics are being considered for light- and medium-duty engineering applications because of their improved mechanical strength combined with cost-effective advantages. In recent years, the carbon nanotube reinforced thermoplastics are being preferred over the short fibre reinforced thermoplastics because of the absence of directional shrinkage characteristics, directional mechanical and tribological properties. In this work, 1 wt% carbon nanotube–polypropylene material was injection-moulded to spur gears and evaluated for the durability using in-house developed power absorption gear test rig. During testing, the net surface temperature of the test gears and in-line torque available at the driver and driven shafts were continuously measured. The measured torque was used to evaluate the transmission efficiency of the test-steel gear pair. The measured net surface temperature was correlated with the gear failure mode. Test gears were run up to failure or up to 8.6 × 105 cycles, whichever occurred first. Worn-out gear tooth surfaces were observed using an optical and scanning electron microscope to understand the wear mechanism. In the initial stage of service, test gears exhibited less wear near the pitch region compared to the tip and root regions. This behaviour is due to the maximum sliding velocities at the tip and root regions compared to the pitch region. The carbon nanotube–polypropylene gears exhibited lower surface temperature (5−10 ℃), improved service life (30%−80%) and higher transmission efficiency (1−1.5%) compared to the polypropylene gear.
Social work students’ reflections on challenges during field education
Authors: Rehn Malin , Kalman Hildur
Published: June 2016

Field education is a key curriculum component in social work programmes. Students as well as researchers have identified this learning experience as central to the students’ transition to practice. This article reports on a qualitative study with the aim of analysing social work students’ narratives of their experiences during field education in order to elucidate their reasoning with regard to the challenges presented by unique clients and their contexts, along with their objectives set in the service user situation. The narratives of 23 social work students in Sweden describing a sum total of 46 problematic and unproblematic situations during field education were analysed, revealing circumstances that according to the students had either aggravated or facilitated professional action.

Findings

The experiences of being overwhelmed by emotions and of having too much latitude in the interpretation of principles and guidelines were experienced as aggravating circumstances, whereas having knowledge of legislation and clear guidelines to follow was experienced as facilitating client interaction and as providing a sense of security with the professional role. The analysis also revealed differing levels and scope of ambition with regard to the objectives set in the service user situation.

Applications

Our results demonstrate the importance of furthering students’ articulation of and active reflection on their interpretation of guidelines and legislation, and on their own setting of objectives specific to the individual cases and on how these objectives relate to the value base of social work.
On vibration-based damage detection by multivariate statistical techniques: Application to a long-span arch bridge
Authors: Comanducci Gabriele , Magalhães Filipe , Ubertini Filippo , Cunha Álvaro
Published: June 2016

Structural health monitoring allows the automated condition assessment of civil infrastructure, leading to a cost-effective management of maintenance activities. However, there is still a debate in the literature about the effectiveness of available signal processing strategies to timely assess the health state of a structure. This paper is a contribution to this debate, by presenting the application of different vibration-based damage detection methods using up-to-date multivariate statistical analysis techniques applied to data acquired from a permanently monitored long-span arch bridge. Techniques based on dynamic regression models, linear and local principal component analysis, as well as on their combinations, including, in particular, the newly proposed method based on the combination of dynamic multiple linear regressions and local principal component analysis, and, finally, a method based on the recently proposed approach of cointegration, are considered. A first effort is made to formulate these methods within a unique mathematical framework, highlighting, in particular, the relevant parameters affecting their results and proposing objective criteria for their appropriate tuning and for choosing the length of the training period. Then, the considered damage detection methods are implemented and applied to field data, seeking for damage-sensitive features in the presence of variable environmental and operational conditions. The considered techniques are applied to time histories of identified modal frequencies of the bridge and their capability to reveal structural damage of varying severity is assessed using control charts. The case of an artificially imposed non-linear correlation between the features is also considered. The results provide, for the first time in the literature, an estimation of the minimum level of damage that can be realistically detected in the bridge using dynamic signatures and up-to-date signal processing algorithms, thus contributing to a more aware use of monitoring data and reliance over related health state assessment information.
Fault detection of engine timing belt based on vibration signals using data-mining techniques and a novel data fusion procedure
Authors: Khazaee Meghdad , Banakar Ahmad , Ghobadian Barat , Mirsalim Mostafa , Minaei Saeid , Jafari Mohamad , Sharghi Peyman
Published: June 2016

In this research, an intelligent procedure was designed and implemented based on vibration signals for detecting and classifying prevalent faults of an internal combustion engine timing belt. The vibration signals of the timing belt were captured during operation in six different states: healthy, tooth crack, back crack, wear, separated tooth, and oil pollution. These signals were processed at three domains, namely, time, frequency, and time–frequency domains. Time-domain signals were transformed into the frequency and time–frequency domains using fast Fourier transform and wavelet transform, respectively. Then, six statistical features were extracted from vibration signals at all three domains. The extracted features were used as inputs to an artificial neural network for the primary classification of timing belt defects. Classification accuracy of artificial neural network in detecting and classifying timing belt faults in the time, frequency, and time–frequency domains have obtained 71%, 78%, and 84%, respectively. Combining separate classification accuracies from time, frequency, and time–frequency domains has been implemented using Dempster–Shafer theory of evidence. Classification accuracy based on the fusion of time- and frequency-domain classifiers was 97%, from time and time–frequency results was 98%, and from frequency and time–frequency results was also 98%, whereas the combination of results for all domains led to a >99% accuracy. Results show that the proposed methodology can detect and classify timing belt defects with high precision and reliability before failure occurrence.
Depression, Resource Utilization, and Outcomes Following Liver Transplant
Authors: Sebaaly Jamielynn C. , Fleming James , Pilch Nicole , Meadows Holly , Finn Anastasia , Chavin Kenneth , Baliga Prabhakar , Bratton Charles F. , McGillicuddy John W. , Nadig Satish , Taber David
Published: June 2016

Context:

There is evidence that depression after liver transplant (LTX) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality; however, the effect of depression treatment on LTX outcomes has not been well established.

Objective/Setting/Design:

This single-center, longitudinal cohort study aimed to determine whether depression treatment influences outcomes after LTX. Depression diagnosis was based on medical history and documentation from psychosocial providers.

Patients/Intervention/Main Outcome Measures:

Patients were studied from October 2010 to June 2013 and separated into 3 groups for analysis: no depression, adequately treated depression, and inadequately treated depression. Adequacy of depression treatment was determined using the Antidepressant Treatment History Form.

Results:

Of the 161 patients included in the analysis, 103 did not have depression, 24 had adequately treated depression, and 34 had inadequately treated depression. Baseline demographics were similar between the groups. Patients with inadequately treated depression had significantly more encounters with a health-care provider ( P = .03). Graft loss tended to be higher in these patients (27% in the inadequately treated group, 17% in the adequately treated, and 14% in the no depression group, P = .25). The adequately treated group was more likely than the inadequately treated group to be on antidepressants at 30 days post-LTX ( P = .001). The inadequately treated group was more likely to be on a sleep aid 30 days post-LTX ( P = .01).

Conclusion:

Inadequately treated depression led to increased health-care resource utilization. Patients with adequately treated depression had similar outcomes as those with no depression. Use of sleep aids early post-LTX may be a surrogate indicator of inadequately treated depression.
Mastering Together the Highs and Lows
Authors: Beckmann Sonja , Künzler-Heule Patrizia , Biotti Beatrice , Spirig Rebecca
Published: June 2016

Context:

Self-management in chronic illness involves complex medical, role-related, and emotional tasks. Still, while self-management support of patients and their families has become a cornerstone of chronic illness care, information is limited as to how liver transplant (LTx) patients and close caregivers perceive self-management before and after transplantation.

Objective:

To explore self-management tasks in view of medical, role-related, and emotional tasks in LTx candidates and recipients and their respective close caregivers.

Design and Participants:

For this qualitative study, focus group interviews were conducted and analyzed using knowledge mapping according to the 3 above-noted self-management categories. German-speaking adults who were wait-listed for or had received LTx and who were being treated in University Hospital Zurich or who were close caregivers to such patients were eligible for participation. As patients’ data were closely related to those of the caregivers, the 2 groups’ data sets were merged during the final development of themes.

Results:

Thirty participants comprised 7 focus groups. The main theme was “The current state of health determines the daily rhythm.” The essence of how patients and caregivers described their self-management tasks is compiled in “Mastering together the highs and lows” which comprises 3 core themes: mastering medical management, managing roles together, and managing the highs and lows of emotion.

Conclusion:

Patients and close caregivers prioritized self-management tasks as follows: first medical, then role-related, and finally emotional management. Over the course of LTx, health-care professionals should acknowledge this ranking while providing individualized support to both patients and caregivers.
The Fashion of Florrick and FLOTUS
Authors: Miller Taylor Cole
Published: June 2016

In this article, I explore The Good Wife’s particular uses of costuming and wardrobe and the consequent linkages to politics, feminism, and the discourse of “quality” television the show mediates. I argue that CBS borrows language from feminism to rehabilitate network broadcasting’s reputation as a dying medium in the wake of premium cable, time shifting, and cord-cutting. In the service of this strategy, I investigate how CBS dusts off an old tactic from The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the 1970s, using fashion to target a “quality” professional female audience and self-referentiality to resignify broadcast television as an activity for progressive, educated, and diverse women. Ultimately, I argue that The Good Wife uses costuming with female characters to self-legitimate and brand itself as “quality” television.
Don’t Misunderestimate the Donald (Like We Did)
Authors: Guthey Eric
Published: June 2016

The spectacle of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign calls for a reconsideration of some of the key arguments we made in our 2009 book, Demystifying Business Celebrity. In that book we downplayed the significance of individual celebrity personalities in order to highlight the importance of the industrialized process of celebrification. But Trump’s very singular personality clearly exerts its own form of agency—somehow appealing to his supporters, and increasingly alarming to many others. In tandem with a set of cultural anxieties, gendered and racialized phobias, economic disparities, and new social media avenues for the expression of populist violence and rage, the industrialized process of celebrification we described in our book has functioned to elevate, and not to diminish, the significance of the particular set of reactionary and narcissistic pathologies Trump embodies. Whether he succeeds in his campaign or not, we should all be worried.
Prediabetes as a toxic environment for the initiation of microvascular and macrovascular complications
Authors: Brannick Ben , Wynn Anne , Dagogo-Jack Samuel
Published: June 2016

Prediabetes is a state characterized by impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. Evidence is increasingly demonstrating that prediabetes is a toxic state, in addition to being a harbinger of future development of diabetes mellitus. This minireview discusses the pathophysiology and clinical significance of prediabetes, and approach to its management, in the context of the worldwide diabetes epidemic. The pathophysiologic defects underlying prediabetes include insulin resistance, β cell dysfunction, increased lipolysis, inflammation, suboptimal incretin effect, and possibly hepatic glucose overproduction. Recent studies have revealed that the long-term complications of diabetes may manifest in some people with prediabetes; these complications include classical microvascular and macrovascular disorders, and our discussion explores the role of glycemia in their development. Finally, landmark intervention studies in prediabetes, including lifestyle modification and pharmacologic treatment, are reviewed.
The State-of-the-Science on Somatosensory Function and Its Impact on Daily Life in Adults and Older Adults, and Following Stroke
Authors: Carey Leeanne M. , Lamp Gemma , Turville Megan
Published: June 2016

The aim was to identify and synthesize research evidence about how adults and older adults process somatosensory information in daily activities, and the interventions available to regain somatosensory function following stroke. We developed two interacting concept maps to address the research questions. The scoping review was conducted from 2005 to 2015 across Web of Science, AMED, CINAHL, Embase, Medline, and PsychInfo databases. Search terms included somatosensory, perception, performance, participation, older adult, stroke, intervention, discrimination, learning, and neuroplasticity. Contributions from 103 articles for Concept 1 and 14 articles for Concept 2 are reported. Measures of somatosensory processing, performance, and participation used are identified. Interventions available to treat somatosensory loss are summarized in relation to approach, outcome measures, and theory/mechanisms underlying. A gap exists in the current understanding of how somatosensory function affects the daily lives of adults. A multidisciplinary approach that includes performance and participation outcomes is recommended to advance the field.