bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of a polyurethane copolymer covalently linked to graphite and the influence of graphite on electric conductivity
Authors: Chung Yong-Chan , Khiem Nguyen D , Chun Byoung C
Published: June 2014

Polyurethane was linked to graphite modified with a phenol or 4-phenylethanol group on its surface, and the composite polymer was characterized regarding its thermal, spectroscopic, mechanical, and shape-memory properties as well as its electric conductivity. Graphite as a filler was covalently linked to a polyurethane backbone composed of 4,4′-methylenebis(phenylisocyanate) and 1,4-butanediol as hard segments and poly(tetramethyleneglycol) as a soft segment. The two different polyurethane series, differing in their modifying spacer, show similar structural characteristics and exhibit a small degree of cross-linking due to the agent used for the covalent linking of graphite to the polyurethane frame. The tensile mechanical strength and shape-recovery characteristics remain high as the graphite content is increased when compared to the linear polyurethane polymer without the linked graphite. Regarding the tensile mechanical properties, the maximum stress increases up to 436% compared to the linear polyurethane, and the maximum strain goes up to 1744%. Shape recovery reaches values as high as 93%, and shape retention gradually decreases as the graphite content increases. The electric conductivity of graphite-linked polyurethane exhibits a sharp increase as the graphite content increases, but the blended graphite polyurethane has very poor electric conductivity at higher graphite contents. The implication of this finding is discussed, and the synthesized polymers are compared with other conductive polymer composite.
On the prediction of cure-process shape deviations in fibre metal laminates
Authors: Abouhamzeh M , Sinke J , Benedictus R
Published: June 2014

An investigation of the fabrication-induced distortions in fibre metal laminates is presented using finite-element modelling and experiments. Cooling down is considered as the main source of distortion. Four fibre metal laminate panels are manufactured and their curvature is measured using digital image correlation and linear variable differential transformer. The curvatures are the response of the non-symmetric lay-up to different parameters like stacking order and number of composite or metal layers. Acceptable agreement between model and experiment in predicting the geometry shows that the laminate shape can be predicted with reliability. A large displacement model should be used for large shape deviations in laminates with high level of non-symmetry. Fibre metal laminates may have single or multi-stable configurations after removal from the layup tool. This phenomenon is analysed and parameters and modelling considerations are investigated to obtain a method to predict the final configuration. Further modelling and experimentation are needed to improve the quality of the predictions with increasing complexity of the component.
Opening the Contemplative Mind in the Sociology Classroom
Authors: Song Kirsten Younghee , Muschert Glenn W.
Published: June 2014

We examined the usefulness of mindfulness practices for developing understandings of the intersection between the individual and social milieu. After incorporating mindfulness practices in a sociology course, we conducted open-ended surveys asking students’ understanding of mindfulness practice and its usefulness to their learning. We asked students to describe their experience in a sentence of “Who, does what, to what or whom, when, where, how, and why.” Students identified themselves (39.4 percent), class (40.9 percent), and the instructor (19.7 percent) as the leading actor (“who”), and each group showed varied understanding of mindfulness practices. This finding suggests that it is important to consider the instructor-led nature when incorporating mindfulness in courses. Second, our data show that nearly all students reported mindfulness practices as positive experiences to their learning. Students’ enhanced self-awareness was a crucial part of their experience, which led them to developing appreciation about differences in perspectives and a sense of social connectedness. This finding suggests that mindfulness practices have great potential to help students develop sociological understanding of intersections between individuals and society. We argue mindfulness is worth further consideration as an educational tool to integrate the factual and mechanical aspects of learning and the deeper and holistic facets in sociology education.
Corporate Practices and Harmful Consequences
Authors: Halebsky Stephen
Published: June 2014

The corporation is implicated in a wide range of activities that are profoundly deleterious to human well-being. The Holocaust, as organized and carried out by the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP; the Nazis), is arguably the outstanding example of organized malevolence in modern times. Beginning with the realization that the corporation and the Holocaust are both organizational phenomena, the present research mines a wide range of literature on the Holocaust and the corporation to identify similar practices and then analyzes those practices to discern how they contributed to the Holocaust and may contribute to the various adverse consequences associated with the corporation. Important similarities are identified and analyzed in respect of organization; relationship to unskilled and low-skilled labor; the involvement of professionals, scientists, and engineers; the pervasive use of secrecy and deception; and fascism. These similarities produce their adverse effects both individually and collectively. Collectively, they disempower or eliminate potential countervailing forces and thereby augmented the capacity of the NSDAP, in one case, and may augment the capacity of the corporation, in the other, to carry out destructive acts.
Legacy of a Humanist Sociologist
Authors: King Edith W.
Published: June 2014

Ray P. Cuzzort (1926–1999) was a well-known and highly regarded member of the Association of Humanist Sociology during his career. His book, Using Social Thought: The Nuclear Issue and Other Concerns received the 1989 Association of Humanistic Sociology Award. On the 25th anniversary of this prestigious award, it is most appropriate to revisit his contributions to the field. Cuzzort was a humanistic sociologist. He decried the paradox that we are more capable of dealing with the mysteries of the universe than we are with the complexities of ourselves and our social systems. This article gives an overview and a sampling of R. P. Cuzzort’s contributions to humanism and sociology. I had the rare privilege of being his colleague, friend, and coauthor for three decades. This memorial article recalling Ray Cuzzort seems all the more fitting in this second decade of the twenty-first century and the 25th year of his honor from the Association.
Rating written performance: What do raters do and why?
Authors: Kuiken Folkert , Vedder Ineke
Published: June 2014

This study investigates the relationship in L2 writing between raters’ judgments of communicative adequacy and linguistic complexity by means of six-point Likert scales, and general measures of linguistic performance. The participants were 39 learners of Italian and 32 of Dutch, who wrote two short argumentative essays. The same writing tasks were administered to a control group of 18 native writers of Italian and 17 of Dutch. During a panel discussion raters were asked to verbalize for which reasons they assigned a text to a particular rating level. The results show that although raters’ judgements of communicative adequacy largely corresponded to their judgments of linguistic complexity, the findings for L2 and L1 turned out to be different. In L2 overall ratings of linguistic complexity were correlated with lexical diversity and accuracy, but not with syntactic complexity. In L1 hardly any correlations between raters’ judgements and general measures of syntactic complexity and lexical diversity were found. Furthermore, raters used different strategies when assessing high- and low-proficiency L2 writers or native writers, and seemed to attach more importance to textual features connected to communicative adequacy than to linguistic complexity and accuracy.
Comparing foreign accent in L1 attrition and L2 acquisition: Range and rater effects
Authors: Schmid Monika S. , Hopp Holger
Published: June 2014

This study examines the methodology of global foreign accent ratings in studies on L2 speech production. In three experiments, we test how variation in raters, range within speech samples, as well as instructions and procedures affects ratings of accent in predominantly monolingual speakers of German, non-native speakers of German, as well as long-term emigrants from Germany, that is, L1 attriters. The findings show that rater differences do not result in systematic changes in rating patterns. In contrast, range effects and effects of familiarity with accented speech lead to shifts in absolute and relative ratings. Including more strongly foreign-accented samples leads to lower judgements for the entire group of L2 speakers compared to natives. Similarly, lower familiarity with foreign accent results in more variable and more strongly foreign-accented judgements. We discuss the implications for research on L2 pronunciation as well as for the interpretation of nativeness in L2 studies and language testing more generally.
Environmental Considerations
Authors: Jackson Carla W. , Callender Maya F.
Published: June 2014

This study examined differences in the quantity of child vocalizations (CVs) between preschool and home environments using the Language Environmental Analysis (LENA). The sample included monolingual English-speaking children ( n = 27) and Spanish–English speaking dual language learners ( n = 30). A two-way mixed effects analysis of variance with one between-subjects effect (language) and one within-subjects effect (setting) was conducted to examine whether there was a significant difference in CVs between home and school settings, and whether that contrast differentially affected monolingual and English language learner (ELL) preschool participants. Overall, there was a significant difference in average hourly CVs between home and preschool environments with a higher rate of CV at home than at school for both monolinguals and ELLs. Results support the need to carefully consider the environment in communication sampling, recognizing that child vocalization counts (CVCs) may vary by environment.
The accuracy of V/Q SPECT in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: a meta-analysis
Authors: Kan Ying , Yuan Leilei , Meeks Jacqui K , Li Chunlin , Liu Wencao , Yang Jigang
Published: June 2014

Background

Ventilation perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (V/Q SPECT) and CT pulmonary angiography have all been used in the diagnosis of acute PE. Previous studies have shown higher sensitivity and specificity and a marked decrease in the non-diagnostic rate of V/Q SPECT than planar scan.

Purpose

To systematically review and perform a meta-analysis of published data on the performance of V/Q SPECT in the diagnosis of acute PE.

Material and Methods

A comprehensive computer search was conducted on literature published through 31 December 2013 in an effort to find relevant articles on the diagnostic performance of V/Q SPECT in the diagnosis of PE patients. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, negative likelihood ratio (LR), and positive LR, the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve of V/Q SPECT in the diagnosis of PE patients were calculated.

Results

Nine studies, comprising a total sample size of 3454 patients, were included in our meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity, specificity of V/Q SPECT in the diagnosis of acute PE patients, calculated on a per-patient-based analysis, was 96% (95% confidence interval [CI], 95–97%), 97% (95% CI, 96–98%). The pooled negative LR, positive LR of V/Q SPECT in acute PE patients was 0.06 (range, 0.02–0.19) and 16.64 (range, 9.78–31.54). The area under the ROC curve of V/Q SPECT in the diagnosis of acute PE patients was 0.99 on a per-patient-based analysis.

Conclusion

V/Q SPECT is an accurate method in acute PE patients with high sensitivity and high specificity in the diagnosis of PE.
Quantitative assessment of pulmonary perfusion using dynamic contrast-enhanced CT in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: correlations with pulmonary function test and CT volumetric parameters
Authors: Guan Yu , Xia Yi , Fan Li , Liu Shi-yuan , Yu Hong , Li Bin , Zhao Li-ming , Li Bing
Published: June 2014

Background

Pulmonary function test (PFT) is commonly used to help diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other lung diseases. However, it cannot be used to evaluate regional function and morphological abnormalities.

Purpose

To quantitatively evaluate pulmonary perfusion imaging using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) computed tomography (CT) and observe its correlations with PFT and CT volumetric parameters in COPD patients.

Material and Methods

PFT and CT pulmonary perfusion examination were performed in 63 COPD patients. Perfusion defects were quantitated by calculating the CT value ratio (RHU) between perfusion defects (HUdefect) and normal lung (HUnormal). Volumetric CT data were used to calculate emphysema index (EI), total lung volume (TLV), and total emphysema volume (TEV). Emphysematous parenchyma was defined as the threshold of lung area lower than –950 HU. Correlations between RHUand TLV, TEV, EI, and PFT were assessed using Spearman correlation analysis.

Results

The positive rate of perfusion defects on CT perfusion images was higher than that of emphysema on CT mask images (χ2 = 17.027, P < 0.001). The Spearman correlation test showed that RHUwas positively correlated with FEV1( R = 0.59, P < 0.001), FEV1% Predicted ( R = 0.61, P < 0.001), FVC ( R = 0.47, P = 0.002), and FEV1/FVC ( R = 0.65, P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with EI ( R = –0.67, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

CT perfusion imaging is more sensitive in detecting emphysema that is inconspicuous on CT images. RHUis correlated with PFT and CT volumetric parameters, suggesting that it is more sensitive in detecting early COPD changes and may prove to be a potential predictor of focal lung function.
Diagnostic value of dual time-point 18 F-FDG PET/CT versus single time-point imaging for detection of mediastinal nodal metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer patients: a meta-analysis
Authors: Shen Guohua , Hu Shuang , Deng Houfu , Jia Zhiyun
Published: June 2014

Background

Lymph node staging in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is challenging and important for determining treatment policy. Conflicting results have been presented to date.

Purpose

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of dual time-point (DTP) 18 F-FDG PET/CT compared with single time-point (STP) imaging for detecting mediastinal nodal metastases in patients with NSCLC.

Material and Methods

The PubMed, EMBASE, EBSCO, and Web of Knowledge databases were searched for relevant articles. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) were calculated using Meta-Disc software. Summary receiver-operating characteristic (SROC) curves were also constructed. The potential for between-study heterogeneity was explored using subgroup analyses.

Results

A total of eight studies involving 654 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. On a per-patient analysis, the pooled sensitivity and specificity with a 95% confidence interval (CI) for DTP PET/CT were 0.85 (0.78–0.91), 0.75 (0.68–0.82), and for STP imaging, they were 0.79 (0.70–0.85), 0.73 (0.65–0.79), respectively. On a per-lesion basis, the corresponding values for DTP imaging were 0.84 (0.81–0.86), 0.89 (0.87–0.91), and for STP imaging, they were 0.84 (0.80–0.86), 0.83 (0.81–0.85), respectively.

Conclusion

DTP PET/CT performed better than STP imaging in evaluating the lymph node status of NSCLC patients and had the potential to be broadly applied in clinical practice. However, due to the small sample size and large heterogeneity, current evidence does not justify the implementation of DTP imaging in routine PET protocols for mediastinal lymph node staging of NSCLC.
From object to subject: Deconstructing anthropology and HIV/AIDS in South Africa
Authors: Hlabangane Nokuthula
Published: June 2014

South Africa has the highest burden of HIV/AIDS in the world. Theories that account for this are wide-ranging. This article argues that anthropological theories advanced to speak to the widespread nature and particular patterning of HIV vulnerability revert to problematic notions that betray age-old prejudices that once characterised the discipline. I argue that these theories do not, in fact, go to the root cause debates that are more contemporary and thus credible in accounting for HIV/AIDS in South Africa. South Africa has some glaring properties that cannot be ignored when accounting for its HIV/AIDS epicentre status. This article is a critical appraisal of anthropological HIV/AIDS discourse in South Africa. I argue that, in fact, such discourse serves ubiquitous purposes that can be duly read when one considers the history of the discipline, practices in the discipline and the power dynamics that reside in and arise from scholarly interventions.
Disengagement from politics: Nationalism, political identity, and the everyday in a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan
Authors: Achilli Luigi
Published: June 2014

In al-Wihdat, a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan, there is today a puzzling absence of political participation among camp dwellers. This absence is all the more striking for a number of reasons. First of all, because Palestinian refugee camps in the Middle East are widely held to be bastions of political resistance and Palestinian nationalism. Secondly, because this lack of political participation coincides with the outbreak of unprecedented turmoil in the Arab world. Is refugees’ disengagement from politics a clear sign of their passive assimilation or, conversely, a form of political protest tout court? What forms does Palestinian nationalism take in a country that has granted full citizenship rights to the majority of refugees? More generally, how do claims of national belonging articulate with other, apparently conflicting, national identities? Taking as its starting point the reverberations of the “Arab Spring” in Jordan, this paper wants to shed light on the complexities associated with refugees’ socioeconomic and political integration in Jordan. More broadly, it aims to add to a scholarly debate that has recently urged anthropologists and social scientists to rethink the categories of “the political” and “political agency.” What will be argued here is that refugees’ eagerness to distance themselves from what they saw as the dangerous world of politics can also be explained with Carl Schmitt’s specific understanding of the political. According to the philosopher, the distinction between friend and enemy lies at the very core of “the political.” In Jordan, this distinction is played out in the seemingly contradiction of being both Palestinian refugees and Jordanian citizens. However, if politics requires taking a firm stand either as Palestinian refugees or Jordanian citizens that camp dwellers are unwilling to take, a descent into what refugee perceives as a nonpolitical ordinariness enables them to negotiate the complexities of their lives.
Supporting Fifth-Grade ELLs’ Argumentative Writing Development
Authors: O’Hallaron Catherine L.
Published: June 2014

This article reports instruction supporting the development of fifth grade English learners’ argumentative writing in an English language arts setting. Arguments analyzed for the study were produced by the same students on two occasions, roughly 3 months apart. In the first instance, students discussed the source text in detail, but were given no genre-specific support for writing. Following professional development, the teacher introduced students to the stages, or structural elements, expected in argumentation, with genre-specific scaffolds. Classroom data illustrate how the teacher scaffolded students’ argumentative writing. Analysis of writing data identifies the text- and stage-level features of students’ responses, with particular attention paid to students’ construction of the reason stage, in which writers must explain why textual evidence supports their overall position on a question about a character or theme. Findings describe the range of responses and point to characteristics of texts and prompt that may influence children’s written argumentation.
Mitochondrial Disease
Authors: Thornton Ben , Cohen Bruce , Copeland William , Maria Bernard L.
Published: June 2014

Mitochondrial medicine provides a metabolic perspective on the pathology of conditions linked with inadequate oxidative phosphorylation. Dysfunction in the mitochondrial machinery can result in improper energy production, leading to cellular injury or even apoptosis. Clinical presentations are often subtle, so clinicians must have a high index of suspicion to make early diagnoses. Symptoms could include muscle weakness and pain, seizures, loss of motor control, decreased visual and auditory functions, metabolic acidosis, acute developmental regression, and immune system dysfunction. The 2013 Neurobiology of Disease in Children Symposium, held in conjunction with the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Child Neurology Society, aimed to (1) describe accepted clinical phenotypes of mitochondrial disease produced from various mitochondrial mutations, (2) discuss contemporary understanding of molecular mechanisms that contribute to disease pathology, (3) highlight the systemic effects produced by dysfunction within the mitochondrial machinery, and (4) introduce current strategies that are being translated from bench to bedside as potential therapeutics.
Sociology of professions: international divergences and research directions
Authors: Adams Tracey L
Published: June 2014

This article considers points of convergence and divergence in English-language publications in the sociology of professions. While research on professions in the US, UK, Canada and Western Europe shares many similarities, UK researchers have devoted more attention to professional regulation, while their US counterparts focus instead on organizational challenges facing professionals. Contrasting these empirical and theoretical approaches opens up new research directions, and highlights the importance of socio-historical and cultural context to professions. More international and comparative work is required to develop a better understanding of professions and professional regulation.
Sharing the load? Partners’ relative earnings and the division of domestic labour
Authors: Lyonette Clare , Crompton Rosemary
Published: June 2014

One of the most pressing issues contributing to the persistence of gender inequality is the gendered division of domestic labour. Despite their entry into paid employment, women still carry out more domestic work than men, limiting their ability to act on an equal footing within the workplace. This qualitative research adds to the ongoing debate concerning the reasons for the persistence of the gendered nature of domestic work, by comparing working women who earn more, those who earn around the same and those who earn less than their male partners, as well as examining women’s absolute incomes. On average, men whose partners earn more than they do carry out more housework than other men, although women in these partnerships still do more. However, these women actively contest their male partner’s lack of input, simultaneously ‘doing’ and ‘undoing’ gender. The article also identifies class differences in the ‘sharing’ of domestic work.
An improved one-class support vector machine classifier for outlier detection
Authors: An Wenjuan , Liang Mangui , Liu He
Published: June 2014

Outlier detection, as a type of one-class classification problem, is one of important research topics in data mining and machine learning. Its task is to identify sample points markedly deviating from the normal data. A reliable outlier detector needs to build a model which encloses the normal data tightly. In this paper, an improved one-class SVM (OC-SVM) classifier is proposed for outlier detection problems. We name this method OC-SVM with minimum within-class scatter (OC-WCSSVM), which exploits the inner-class structure of the training set via minimizing the within-class scatter of the training data. This can construct a more accurate hyperplane for outlier detection, such that the margin between the training data and the origin in a higher dimensional space is as large as possible, while at the same time the decision boundary around the normal data is as tight as possible. Experimental results on a synthetic dataset and 10 real-world datasets demonstrate that our proposed OC-WCSSVM algorithm is effective and superior to the compared algorithms.
Transmission loss and gas-dynamic noise analyses of a downsized spark ignition engine
Authors: Siano Daniela
Published: June 2014

Experimental and numerical analyses of a turbocharged spark-ignition engine, aiming to characterize the gas-dynamic noise radiated at the intake mouth of the engine, are presented. The radiated noise level is measured on the production engine, during a dedicated experimental campaign. The analysis of the measured frequency spectra allows to identify the frequency range where most of the acoustic energy is contained, and gives the possibility to select the design modifications required to improve the acoustic performance of the component under investigation. A Helmholtz resonator of proper resonance frequency is installed upstream the original air-box. A three-dimensional finite element method approach computes the transmission loss parameter for the original and the modified designs, as well. A more refined transmission loss analysis is carried out to take into account the effects exerted by the structural participation. A one-dimensional model of the original propulsion system allows to forecast the engine performance data and the in-cylinder pressure cycles. In addition, it provides a preliminary evaluation of the radiated noise and gives boundary conditions for unsteady three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulations. The latter is utilized to obtain a reduction in terms of gas-dynamic noise through the introduction of the Helmholtz resonator.
Design and qualification of a supersonic wind tunnel for induced boundary layer transition research
Authors: Bottini H , Paniagua G , Schreivogel P , Sonda A , de las Heras S
Published: June 2014

This paper presents the design and the results of the qualification test campaign of a multiple Mach number supersonic wind tunnel designed for induced boundary layer transition. Its characteristics, function, and instrumentation are described. The range of Mach numbers successfully span is presented along with the measured intensities of freestream fluctuations. All the measurement techniques implemented in the test campaigns after the qualification are introduced, and some results shown and commented to highlight their potentialities.
Radial basis function-based shape optimization of centrifugal impeller using sequential sampling
Authors: Khalfallah Smail , Ghenaiet Adel
Published: June 2014

Multi-objective optimization algorithms become more appropriate in general aerodynamic design problems, despite the number of objective functions evaluated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations. This paper presents a multi-objective aerodynamic shape optimization (ASO) procedure implemented to minimize the optimization cycle time. Its main ideas consist in replacing some of CFD evaluations by those provided by an approximate meta-model known as the radial basis functions (RBFs). In order to minimize the size of training samples when constructing the RBF meta-model, a sequential sampling strategy based on an iterative refinement of training samples database is considered. When compared with one-stage sampling, the sequential sampling has allowed more reduction in the computational time and a better accuracy in the approximation of the objectives by RBF meta-model. The MASSOUD “multidisciplinary aero/struc shape optimization using deformation” and Bspline techniques are combined to reduce the number of control points for the shape deformation or optimization variables. Once the database composed of a set of geometries is constructed and CFD is used to evaluate the objectives for each element of the database, RBF is used to approximate the objectives with respect to the optimization variables, and finally the NSGA-II “Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm” is applied to produce the pareto optimal fronts. An application aimed to optimize the NASA low speed centrifugal compressor (LSCC) resulted in an optimal design within a reasonable computational time and produced the Pareto fronts of trade-offs enhancing the baseline performance.
Partnerships for women’s safety in the city: “four legs for a good table”
Authors: Whitzman Carolyn , Andrew Caroline , Viswanath Kalpana
Published: June 2014

Ten years after the first Reclaim the Night marches in the late 1970s began to galvanize women around the right to move freely in public and private space without fear of violence, a local governance-based movement to promote women’s safety developed in European and Canadian cities and was later diffused to Africa, Asia and Latin America. This movement drew on urban planning and design as a means to promote women’s empowerment. Partnerships developed around a framework we have titled “four legs for a good table”: community advocates to push for change; local politicians to galvanize government resources; “femocrats” to capture local policies and programmes for emancipatory ends; and researchers to gather evidence around the problem and to document efforts around solutions. This paper traces the collective history of this loosely coordinated movement. Focusing on three case studies, we mark the advancements of theoretical frameworks and practical tools as the women’s safety movement internationalized, and reflect on achievements and challenges.
Free Will and Punishment: A Mechanistic View of Human Nature Reduces Retribution
Authors: Shariff Azim F. , Greene Joshua D. , Karremans Johan C. , Luguri Jamie B. , Clark Cory J. , Schooler Jonathan W. , Baumeister Roy F. , Vohs Kathleen D.
Published: June 2014

If free-will beliefs support attributions of moral responsibility, then reducing these beliefs should make people less retributive in their attitudes about punishment. Four studies tested this prediction using both measured and manipulated free-will beliefs. Study 1 found that people with weaker free-will beliefs endorsed less retributive, but not consequentialist, attitudes regarding punishment of criminals. Subsequent studies showed that learning about the neural bases of human behavior, through either lab-based manipulations or attendance at an undergraduate neuroscience course, reduced people’s support for retributive punishment (Studies 2–4). These results illustrate that exposure to debates about free will and to scientific research on the neural basis of behavior may have consequences for attributions of moral responsibility.
Exploring Solomon’s Paradox: Self-Distancing Eliminates the Self-Other Asymmetry in Wise Reasoning About Close Relationships in Younger and Older Adults
Authors: Grossmann Igor , Kross Ethan
Published: June 2014

Are people wiser when reflecting on other people’s problems compared with their own? If so, does self-distancing eliminate this asymmetry in wise reasoning? In three experiments ( N = 693), participants displayed wiser reasoning (i.e., recognizing the limits of their knowledge and the importance of compromise and future change, considering other people’s perspectives) about another person’s problems compared with their own. Across Studies 2 and 3, instructing individuals to s elf-distance (rather than self-immerse) eliminated this asymmetry. Study 3 demonstrated that each of these effects was comparable for younger (20–40 years) and older (60–80 years) adults. Thus, contrary to the adage “with age comes wisdom,” our findings suggest that there are no age differences in wise reasoning about personal conflicts, and that the effects of self-distancing generalize across age cohorts. These findings highlight the role that self-distancing plays in allowing people to overcome a pervasive asymmetry that characterizes wise reasoning.
Library services for incarcerated persons: A survey of recent trends and challenges in prison libraries in Croatia
Authors: Šimunić Zrinka , Tanacković Sanjica Faletar , Badurina Boris
Published: June 2014

The article contributes to the professional discussion of prison librarianship in the context of intellectual freedom and social justice paradigm. It presents results from a nationwide survey of the prison libraries in Croatia. Survey was conducted in 2013 through a mailed questionnaire that received a 91.3% response rate. The study set off to answer the following research questions: How are Croatian prison libraries organised and managed? and What kind of library collections and services are offered to incarcerated persons in Croatia? The results show that almost all correctional institutions in Croatia provide some kind of minimal library services to their inmates. However, prison libraries in Croatia are not professionally managed nor are they regularly funded. Further, their collections are developed mainly through gifts and there is almost no evidence of any systematic programming which would lead to constructive and creative use of prisoners’ free time. Although there are some shining examples, it is evident that prison libraries in Croatia are underdeveloped and in need of a new organisational and financial model. Authors conclude with concrete recommendations for improved library services to this marginalised population in Croatia.
WHO decides on the exception? Securitization and emergency governance in global health
Authors: Hanrieder Tine , Kreuder-Sonnen Christian
Published: June 2014

This article analyses the emergency governance of international organizations by combining securitization theory with legal theory on the state of exception. Our main argument is that where issues are securitized as global threats, exceptionalism can emerge at the level of supranational bodies, endowing them with the decisionist authority to define emergencies and guide political responses. We theorize the ‘emergency trap’, which is triggered when the emergency powers of international organizations reduce the obstacles to, and increase the incentives for, the securitization of further issues. Based on the idea that the emergency trap functions as an institutional driver of securitization, we also highlight the importance of the constitutional containment of emergency competencies as an alternative to discursive desecuritization strategies. We illustrate this security–emergency dynamic in a case study of the recent empowerment of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the governance of global health emergencies. The article shows how WHO’s exceptional response to the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) crisis paved the way for an institutionalization of emergency powers within the organization and contributed to securitizing the 2009 swine influenza outbreak as a global pandemic. However, WHO’s crisis governance has also triggered internal and external processes of constitutional contention.
Toward interventions to address moral distress
Authors: Musto Lynn C , Rodney Patricia A , Vanderheide Rebecca
Published: June 2014

Background:

The concept of moral distress has been the subject of nursing research for the past 30 years. Recently, there has been a call to move from developing an understanding of the concept to developing interventions to help ameliorate the experience. At the same time, the use of the term moral distress has been critiqued for a lack of clarity about the concepts that underpin the experience.

Discussion:

Some researchers suggest that a closer examination of how socio-political structures influence healthcare delivery will move moral distress from being seen as located in the individual to an experience that is also located in broader healthcare structures. Informed by new thinking in relational ethics, we draw on research findings from neuroscience and attachment literature to examine the reciprocal relationship between structures and agents and frame the experience of moral distress.

Conclusion:

We posit moral distress as a form of relational trauma and subsequently point to the need to better understand how nurses as moral agents are influenced by—and influence—the complex socio-political structures they inhabit. In so doing, we identify this reciprocity as a framework for interventions.
Design and implementation of wireless sensor networks for impedance-based structural health monitoring using ZigBee and Global System for Mobile Communications
Authors: Cortez Nicolás E , Filho Jozué Vieira , Baptista Fabricio G
Published: June 2014

This article presents the design and implementation of a novel wireless structural health monitoring system based on the electromechanical impedance principle. The proposed system is a wireless low-power scalable sensor network composed of multiple sensor nodes and a link node used as master to establish communication with the remote monitoring center (host node and server). The link node communicates with the remote monitoring center through a Global System for Mobile Communications/General Packet Radio Services network and with other sensor nodes through a ZigBee network. Each sensor node is a portable and autonomous structural health monitoring core based on microcontroller, digital synthesizer, and transceiver ZigBee. The identification of damage is performed by simply comparing the variations in root mean square voltage obtained from piezoelectric transducers, such as lead zirconate titanate patches, bonded to the structure. The lead zirconate titanate patches are excited on a wideband frequency range, and it is not necessary to compute the electromechanical impedance. The proposed system was built and experiments were carried out on an aluminum structure, and excellent results have been obtained. Our contribution ranges from the hardware to the graphical front end.
Evaluating Compassion–Mindfulness Therapy for Recurrent Anxiety and Depression
Authors: Lo Herman H. M. , Ng Siu Man , Chan Cecilia L. W.
Published: June 2014

Objective:

To evaluate the effects of compassion–mindfulness therapy (C-MT), an adapted version of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy that integrates compassion training.

Method:

Individuals aged 17–69 with recurrent depressive and anxiety symptoms were recruited from a community mental health service unit. Half of the participants were randomized to an 8-week C-MT program ( n = 41) and the other half to a wait-list control condition ( n = 41).

Results:

Intent-to-treat analyses showed significant improvements in all measures in the treatment group. The effect sizes for depression and anxiety were 1.11 and 1.10, respectively, and those for physical distress, daily functioning, positive affect, and negative affect ranged from 0.71 to 1.04. All improvements were sustained at the 3-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

The results provide preliminary support for C-MT as a viable treatment option for individuals with recurrent depression and anxiety symptoms. Time-limited treatments such as C-MT should be promoted in social work practice.
Electrophysiological and Morphological Maturation of Murine Fetal Cardiomyocytes During Electrical Stimulation In Vitro
Authors: Baumgartner Sven , Halbach Marcel , Krausgrill Benjamin , Maass Martina , Srinivasan Sureshkumar Perumal , Sahito Raja Ghazanfar Ali , Peinkofer Gabriel , Nguemo Filomain , Müller-Ehmsen Jochen , Hescheler Jürgen
Published: June 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate whether continuous electrical stimulation affects electrophysiological properties and cell morphology of fetal cardiomyocytes (FCMs) in culture. Fetal cardiomyocytes at day 14.5 post coitum were harvested from murine hearts and electrically stimulated for 6 days in culture using a custom-made stimulation chamber. Subsequently, action potentials of FCM were recorded with glass microelectrodes. Immunostainings of α-Actinin, connexin 43, and vinculin were performed. Expression of ion channel subunits Kcnd2, Slc8a1, Cacna1, Kcnh2, and Kcnb1 was analyzed by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Action potential duration to 50% and 90% repolarization (APD50 and APD90) of electrically stimulated FCMs were significantly decreased when compared to nonstimulated control FCM. Alignment of cells was significantly higher in stimulated FCM when compared to control FCM. The expression of connexin 43 was significantly increased in stimulated FCM when compared to control FCM. The ratio between cell length and cell width of the stimulated FCM was significantly higher than in control FCM. Kcnh2 and Kcnd2 were upregulated in stimulated FCM when compared to control FCM. Expression of Slc8a1, Cacna1c, and Kcnb1 was not different in stimulated and control FCMs. The decrease in APD50 observed after electrical stimulation of FCM in vitro corresponds to the electrophysiological maturation of FCM in vivo. Expression levels of ion channels suggest that some important but not all aspects of the complex process of electrophysiological maturation are promoted by electrical stimulation. Parallel alignment, increased connexin 43 expression, and elongation of FCM are signs of a morphological maturation induced by electrical stimulation.
Parenting Interventions for ADHD
Authors: Coates Janine , Taylor John A. , Sayal Kapil
Published: June 2014

Objective: To evaluate the evidence base relating to the effectiveness of parent-administered behavioral interventions for ADHD. Method: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials or non-randomized but adequately controlled trials for children with ADHD or high levels of ADHD symptoms was carried out across multiple databases. For meta-analyses, the most proximal ratings of child symptoms were used as the primary outcome measure. Results: Eleven studies met inclusion criteria (603 children, age range = 33-144 months). Parenting interventions were associated with reduction in ADHD symptoms (Standardized Mean Difference [SMD] = 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.32, 1.04]). There was no evidence of attenuation of effectiveness after excluding studies where medication was also used. Parenting interventions were also effective for comorbid conduct problems (SMD = 0.59; 95% CI [0.29, 0.90]) and parenting self-esteem (SMD = 0.93; 95% CI [0.48, 1.39]). Conclusion: These findings support clinical practice guidelines and suggest that parenting interventions are effective. There is a need to ensure the availability of parenting interventions in community settings.
Service Failure Severity, Customer Satisfaction, and Market Share
Authors: Keiningham Timothy L. , Morgeson Forrest V. , Aksoy Lerzan , Williams Luke
Published: June 2014

The generally accepted view among managers and researchers is that the greater the severity of a service failure, the greater the resulting impact on customer satisfaction and business outcomes, such as lost customers and revenue. The research used to defend this viewpoint, however, does not typically address the severity of service failures, like those that result in injury or death (i.e., product-harm crises). This research addresses this issue by examining both minor incidents (i.e., failures that do not result in physical harm) and major incidents (i.e., failures that result in injury or death) in the U.S. airline industry, and the corresponding impact on the customer satisfaction and market share of the firms affected. Our results indicate that minor incidents are more strongly (negatively) related to future market share than are major incidents. Moreover, our findings indicate that only minor incidents are significantly linked to customer satisfaction. We argue that these findings occur for two reasons: First, most customers believe major incidents to be low probability events that are less salient when compared to more probable failures. Second, consumers impacted by major incidents most likely defect and are therefore not captured in future customer satisfaction surveys. Consequently, managers can delude themselves that things have “returned to normal” after a major incident when relying on customer satisfaction scores alone.
Depression and its measurement in verbal adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Gotham Katherine , Unruh Kathryn , Lord Catherine
Published: June 2014

In a sample of 50 verbally fluent adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders (age: 16–31 years; verbal IQ: 72–140), we examined the pattern of response and associations between scores on common measures of depressive symptoms, participant characteristics, and clinical diagnosis of depressive disorders. Beck Depression Inventory–Second Edition item descriptives in this autism spectrum disorder sample were compared to previously published data from a large typically developing sample, with results suggesting that cognitive-attributional symptoms of depression may be particularly prevalent in autism spectrum disorder. Scores on a variety of self- and parent-report depression measures were not associated with chronological age or verbal IQ, and were relatively highly correlated with each other and with clinical diagnosis of a mood disorder. The Beck Depression Inventory–Second Edition and the Adult Self-Report “Depressive” scale best identified both depressed and non-depressed participants in this sample, though neither was particularly strong. Validation studies of depression measures in the autism spectrum disorder population are necessary to advance research into this prevalent and impairing comorbidity.
Rethinking language in autism
Authors: Sterponi Laura , de Kirby Kenton , Shankey Jennifer
Published: June 2014

In this article, we invite a rethinking of traditional perspectives of language in autism. We advocate a theoretical reappraisal that offers a corrective to the dominant and largely tacitly held view that language, in its essence, is a referential system and a reflection of the individual’s cognition. Drawing on scholarship in Conversation Analysis and linguistic anthropology, we present a multidimensional view of language, showing how it also functions as interactional accomplishment, social action, and mode of experience. From such a multidimensional perspective, we revisit data presented by other researchers that include instances of prototypical features of autistic speech, giving them a somewhat different—at times complementary, at times alternative—interpretation. In doing so, we demonstrate that there is much at stake in the view of language that we as researchers bring to our analysis of autistic speech. Ultimately, we argue that adopting a multidimensional view of language has wide ranging implications, deepening our understanding of autism’s core features and developmental trajectory.