bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Serotonin and Dopamine in Psoriasis: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Wardhana Made , Windari Martina , Puspasari Nila , Suryawati Nyoman
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease mediated by the immune system with increased proliferation of keratinocytes. The exact cause is unknown but as a multifactor, such as infection, trauma and psychological stress have been thought to play a role in its pathophysiology. Dopamine and serotonin are believed to have a strong role in stress conditions and also directly play a role in psoriasis.
AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the role of dopamine, serotonin, and psychological stress in psoriasis.
METHODS: This study used a case-control design involving 30 patients with psoriasis (as a case group) and 30 healthy controls in the Dermatology and Venereology Polyclinic of Sanglah General Hospital Denpasar during the period December 2016 to February 2017. All samples were taken for venous blood examination serum dopamine and serotonin and analysed using the ELISA method. Statistical analysis using an independent t-test, partial correlation, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve, and logistic regression model.
RESULT: There were significant differences in serotonin, dopamine, and stress index levels between groups with psoriasis and non-psoriasis (102.68 ± 25.44 Vs. 154.17 ± 20.90; p < 0.001), (437.13 ± 164.83 Vs. 138.11 ± 89.51; p < 0.001), and (138.5 ± 27.80 Vs. 92.55 ± 42.97; p < 0.001). Significant negative correlation was found between serotonin level and stress index (r = -0.366; p = 0.016) and between serotonin and dopamine (r = -0.634; p < 0.001) but a positive correlation was found between dopamine and stress index (r = 0.459; p = 0.042). Serotonin and dopamine showed that it could be used as a biochemical predictive model for psoriasis (AUC > 0.7). Multivariable risk analysis model high serum dopamine was the most important risk factor for the occurrence of psoriasis (adjusted OR: 7.8; 95% CI: 3.45-15.57; p = 0.024)
CONCLUSION: Serotonin and dopamine have a significant role in the pathophysiology of the occurrence of psoriasis, and psychological stress can affect psoriasis through its influence on serotonin and dopamine.
Effect of Exercises on Quality of Life in Patients with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis – Randomized Trial
Authors: Koevska Valentina , Nikolikj-Dimitrova Erieta , Mitrevska Biljana , Gjeracaroska-Savevska Cvetanka , Gocevska Marija , Kalcovska Biljana
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterised by a low bone density and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to decrease of its strength and increased risk of fracture. Drug therapy decreases the risk of fracture, thus influencing on the mechanism of bone remodelling. Non-pharmacological interventions include specific exercises for osteoporosis that improve muscle strength and balance, decrease pain and improve quality of life.
AIM: To compare the quality of life in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis who practice exercises with those who do not practice on the beginning and after a year.
MATERIJAL AND METHODS: A randomised Single-blind randomised controlled prospective trial study, which included 92 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis diagnosed and treated at the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups: the first group of patients with exercises and physical modalities (gr. I), the second group with exercises (gr. II), and the third control group of patients who did not practice exercises (gr. III).  Exercises were practised 3 times a week; each exercise was repeated for 5-8 times. Patients regularly took bisphosphonates, calcium and vitamin D. The follow-up period lasted for one year. Quality of life was determined with a specific questionnaire Qualeffo-41.
RESULTS: The results showed, significant statistical difference in terms of pain, physical activity, social life, the perception of own health were shown between the groups (p < 0.0001), only in term of mental function were no significant (p < 0.3).
CONCLUSION: Patients who practice exercises for osteoporosis have a significantly better quality of life than patients who do not perform exercises.
Chemical Characterization of Hydrogels Crosslinked with Polyethylene Glycol for Soft Tissue Augmentation
Authors: Monticelli Damiano , Martina Virginia , Mocchi Roberto , Rauso Raffaele , Zerbinati Umberto , Cipolla Giovanna , Zerbinati Nicola
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUND: Hyaluronic acid (HA) based hydrogels for esthetic applications found widespread use. HA should be crosslinked for this application to achieve the correct viscoelastic properties and avoid fast degradation by the hyaluronidase enzyme naturally present in the skin: these properties are controlled by the amount of crosslinker and the fraction that is effectively crosslinked (i.e. that binds two HA chains).
AIM: Crosslinking by polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) has been more recently introduced and showed attractive features in terms of viscoelastic properties and reduced biodegradation. Aim of this paper is to define a method for the determination of the crosslinking properties of these recently introduced fillers, method that is lacking at the moment.
MATERIAL AND METHOD: The percentage of crosslinker and the fraction that is effectively crosslinked were determined by proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) and by 13C NMR, respectively. The filler were preliminarily washed with acetonitrile to remove residual PEG and then digested by hyaluronidase to obtain a sample that can be analysed by NMR.
RESULTS: The crosslinking parameters were determined in four samples of NEAUVIA PEG-crosslinked dermal fillers (produced by MatexLab S.p.A., Italy). The percentage of crosslinker was between 2.8% and 6.2% of HA, whereas the effective crosslinker ratios were between 0.07 and 0.16 (ratio between the moles of effectively crosslinked PEG and total moles of PEG). Moreover, a digestion procedure alternative to enzymatic digestion, based on acidic hydrolysis, was successfully tested for the determination of crosslinker percentage.
CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method successfully determined the two crosslinking parameters in PEG-crosslinked dermal fillers. The estimated percentage of crosslinker is similar to previously reported data for other crosslinkers, whereas the effective crosslinker ratio is lower for PEG crosslinked hydrogels.
L-NAME-induced Preeclampsia: correction of functional disorders of the hemostasis system with Resveratrol and Nicorandil
Authors: Stupakova Elena G. , Lazareva Galina A. , Gureev Vladimir V. , Dolzhikova Irina N. , Zhilinkova Lyudmila A. , Gureeva Anastasia
Published: April 2019

Introduction. Preeclampsia is a formidable disease of the second half of pregnancy, leading to severe complications, including disability and even death. Many authors have recognized the correlation between the severity of preeclampsia and the degree of disturbances in the hemostasis system. In this regard, the objective of this study was to assess inhibition of platelet aggregation and the possibility of its correction with resverаtrol and nicorandil.

Materials and methods. The study was performed on 250 mature white Wistar female rats weighing 250–300 g. The platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen, ristomycin, adrenaline was determined, as well as PTT, TT, aPTT, fibrinogen, and the clotting time.

Results and discussion. Introduction of resverаtrol and nicorandil resulted in a decrease in thrombocyte aggregation capacity from 53.8 ± 2.60% to 22.1 ± 1.25% and 37.1 ± 1.79%, respectively, when using ADP as an inducer. The clotting time was from 841 ± 42 s up to 1135 ± 33 s and 1034 ± 26 s, respectively. In addition, there was an increase intemporal parameters of plasma-coagulation hemostasis and a decrease in plasma fibrinogen content. The use of gliben-clamide resulted in partial cancellation of the positive effects of resverаtrol and nicorandil, with an increase in platelet aggregation to 28.9 ± 1.8% and 43.9 ± 1.2% when using ADP as an inducer and a decrease in the thrombosis time to 988 ± 26 s and 950 ± 22 s, respectively.

Conclusion. In animals with experimental preeclampsia, there were disturbances in the hemostasis system, comparable to those in the clinical situation. The use of resverаtrol and nicorandil leads to a pronounced correction of hemostasis parameters. The positive effects of the studied pharmacological agents are mediated by several mechanisms, including K+ATP channels.K+ATP channels.
Le développement social : un espace de possibles dans un contexte favorable
Authors: Avenel Cyprien
Published: April 2019

Le Haut Conseil du travail social, dans ce document d’étape, met en relief des premiers éléments concernant l’intervention collective. Un déficit de structuration théorique apparaît ainsi que le peu d’inscription de ces pratiques dans les référentiels métiers et les fiches de poste des travailleurs sociaux, par rapport aux interventions individuelles. Le contexte actuel favorise pourtant le développement social, de plus, des pratiques de terrain sont observées, y compris dans les formations. Le développement social n’est pas que l’affaire des travailleurs sociaux, c’est aussi un projet politique sur un territoire pour lequel la question du temps est à prendre en compte. Répertoriant les différents courants du travail social collectif, on voit qu’il est présent dans le milieu de l’animation sans être toujours théorisé et, dans le champ du travail social et de l’intervention sociale, une articulation avec la recherche doit être consolidée pour qu’il puisse se traduire en une véritable pratique.
Réflexion sur l’analyse des pratiques institutionnelles
Authors: Hibon Benoît
Published: April 2019

L’analyse des pratiques d’accompagnement et de soin, que ce soit dans le champ social, médico-social ou psychiatrique, participe d’une dynamique d’élaboration institutionnelle permettant la construction et le remaniement de points de vue. Cette dynamique intersubjective, centrée sur le partage pluridisciplinaire du vécu professionnel et des observations, nécessite de s’approcher du symptôme et, par conséquent, d’en subir les effets. L’analyse des pratiques a pour fonction l’analyse des défenses psychiques induites par ce rapprochement ainsi que l’élaboration d’une méthodologie clinique. À partir de la psychothérapie institutionnelle, plusieurs références théorico-pratiques sont ici évoquées : l’ethno-méthodologie, la psychanalyse intersubjective et les thérapies narratives.
Impact Mechanics of Football Helmet with Various Shell Liner Configurations
Authors: Akano Theddeus T. , Fakinlede Omotayo Abayomi
Published: April 2019

The structure of the skull reveals that the cranial is made up of a number of bones. These bones, except the temporomandibular joint, are joined by sutures. The adjacent bones are strongly united by a matrix of connective tissues consisting of bundles of strong collagenous fibres connecting periosteum to the bones. The little movement at the sutures contributes to the elasticity and compliance of the cranial. This composition serves as a shock absorber and distributes impact force evenly around the skull. Frequent head impacts by footballers cause concussion which leads to brain and neurological disorders such as; Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), dementia, depression, and a loss of attention span. These disorders are primarily caused by shock waves following impact, which moves from the front to the back of the brain. As such, the effort is geared at reducing head injuries from concussion by optimising helmet design through shock absorption increase and stress amplification reduction during impact. In this paper, the suture structure is mimicked in the design of a football helmet. A fibre-reinforced composite liner is introduced in the shell of the helmet. The liner runs from the front to the back of the helmet and bisects the shell into two equal parts. Hyperelastic material model is employed in the modelling of the composite liner while the polycarbonate helmet shell is modelled as a nonlinear elastoplastic material. A finite element model based on realistic geometric features of a football helmet was carried out, and an explicit finite element code LS-DYNA® is employed to simulate dynamic responses at different impact velocities of the helmet. The simulation was repeated for various compositions of the composite liner. Impact loads are applied on one side of the helmet shell while the responses are taken on the other side of the shell body of the helmet. To establish the validity of the model, the liner, and the shell materials are made to be the same. The results revealed that the responses of the helmet during impact are the same when the two components are of the same material compared with when there is no liner on the helmet shell. It was also shown that the dynamic response curve of the helmet emanating from different impacting conditions is judged by the maximum principal stress, Von Mises stress, and acceleration monitored within the impact period. The helmet composition with a sinusoidal liner form on the shell absorbed more impact load than other liner configurations.
Symbiotic Outcomes of Potency and Microstructure on Nano Composite with Microsilica and Nanosilica Additives
Authors: Madhusudanan Swetha , Amirtham Lilly Rose , Nallusamy S.
Published: April 2019

Development and promotion of nano materials and technology has gained more attention of research scholars world wide spreding to different disciplines. In this research an approach has been made to study and investigate the behavioural properties and examine the microstuructural qualities of nano composite bricks replacing the cement with microsilica (mS) and nanosilica (nS) additives. The investigation was conducted using four types of specimens being normal concrete mixture with 0% of mS and nS, with 5%, 6% and 7% of mS, with 1%, 1.5% and, 2% of nS and replacing the cement with mixure of 5%+1%, 6%+1.5% and 7%+2% of mS and nS respectively. The results showed that, the maximum compression strength of 27.62MPa and 37.67MPa with the maximum flexural strength of 22.76MPa and 33.56MPa were possible when 6% of mS and 1.5% of nS were replaced respectively. Also, it was found that the maximum compression strength of 31.47MPa and flexural strength of 31.95MPa were achieved when we add 6%+1.5% mS and nS was added together in the concrete mix. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) results revealed that, the mixture of mS and nS enhances the mechanical properties and the addition of mS and nS gives more symbiotic effects of densifying the microstructure in the hardened concrete mixture leading to better harmonic effects on durability.
Postbuckling of Curved Carbon Nanotubes Using Energy Equivalent Model
Authors: Eltaher Mohamed A. , Mohamed Nazira , Mohamed Salwa , Seddek Lila F.
Published: April 2019

This paper presents a novel numerical procedure to predict nonlinear buckling and postbuckling stability of imperfect clamped–clamped single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) surrounded by nonlinear elastic foundation. Nanoscale effect of CNTs is included by using energy-equivalent model (EEM) which transferring the chemical energy between carbon atoms to mechanical strain energy. Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio for zigzag (n, 0), and armchair (n, n) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are presented as functions of orientation and force constants by using energy-equivalent model (EEM). Nonlinear Euler-Bernoulli assumptions are proposed considering mid-plane stretching to exhibit a large deformation and a small strain. To simulate the interaction of CNTs with the surrounding elastic medium, nonlinear elastic foundation with cubic nonlinearity and shearing layer are employed. The governing nonlinear integro-partial-differential equations are derived in terms of only the lateral displacement. The modified differential quadrature method (DQM) is exploited to obtain numerical results of the nonlinear governing equations. The static problem is solved for critical buckling loads and the postbuckling deformation as a function of applied axial load, curved amplitude, CNT length, and orientations. Numerical results show that the effects of chirality angle and curved amplitude on static response of armchair and zigzag CNTs are significant. This model is helpful especially in mechanical design of NEMS manufactured from CNTs.
Participation Factor and Vibration of Carbon Nanotube with Vacancies
Authors: Eltaher Mohamed A. , Almalki T.A. , Almitani K.H , Ahmed K.I.E
Published: April 2019

In this paper the finite element simulation is exploited to investigate dynamical behaviors of perfect and defected Single Walled Carbon Nanotube (SWCNT). The natural frequencies, mode shapes and modal participation factors those not be considered elsewhere, are consider through this analysis. Energy equivalent model is adopted to find a linkage between the energy stored in chemical atomic bonds and potential energy stored in mechanical beam structure. Nanotube software modeler is used to generate a geometry of SWCNT structure by defining its chiral angle, length of nanotube and bond distance between two carbon atoms. The whole tube of SWCNT is simulated as cage and bonds between each two atoms are represented by beam (A BEAM 188) with circular cross section, and carbon atoms as nodes. Numerical results are presented to show the fundamental frequencies and modal participation factors of SWCNTs. The effect of vacancies on activation and deactivation of vibration modes are illustrated. During manufacturing of SWCNTs, atoms may be not perfectly bonded with adjacent and some vacancies may be found, so this defect is considered in this study.
Experimental Analysis of Mechanical Properties on Concrete with Nano Silica Additive
Authors: Sivasankaran Usha , Raman Seetha , Nallusamy S.
Published: April 2019

In the current scenario nanotechnology and nanomaterials are emerging as key role in engineering and medical industries. The objective of this research is to increase the usage of fly ash in concrete to enhance the strength properties of concrete mixed with nano silica and to reduce the emission control caused by CO2discharged from cement manufacturing industries. The strength properties of concrete mixture is enhanced with nano size particles filled the voids amoung micron size cement particle, and hence a denser concrete mixture was being attained. Fly ash is used for partial replacement of cement to enhance the environmental sustainability and to reduce the cost. This research work focussed on preparation of nano silica mixed concrete with replacement of fly ash in concrete mixture. Nano silica was added in addition to the above by 1% and 2% to improve the overall strength properties. Different experimental analysis were carried out to obtained the results such as compression strength, ultimate divide tensile strength and elastic modulus of the enriched concrete mixture. From the observed results it was found that, compression strength was increased by adding 1% nano silica and 25% of fly ash and also increased the ultimate tensile strength by 28%. Scanning Electrom Microscope (SEM) results reveal that, the incorporation of the nano silica in concrete increases the mechanical properties and porosity was successfully minimized with enhancement of pore size distribution.
Vaccination with a Single-Cycle Respiratory Syncytial Virus Is Immunogenic and Protective in Mice
Authors: Schmidt Megan E. , Oomens Antonius G. P. , Varga Steven M.
Published: April 2019

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of severe respiratory tract infection in infants and young children, but no vaccine is currently available. Live-attenuated vaccines represent an attractive immunization approach; however, balancing attenuation while retaining sufficient immunogenicity and efficacy has prevented the successful development of such a vaccine. Recently, a recombinant RSV strain lacking the gene that encodes the matrix (M) protein (RSV M-null) was developed. The M protein is required for virion assembly following infection of a host cell but is not necessary for either genome replication or gene expression. Therefore, infection with RSV M-null produces all viral proteins except M but does not generate infectious virus progeny, resulting in a single-cycle infection. We evaluated RSV M-null as a potential vaccine candidate by determining its pathogenicity, immunogenicity, and protective capacity in BALB/c mice compared with its recombinant wild-type control virus (RSV recWT). RSV M-null–infected mice exhibited significantly reduced lung viral titers, weight loss, and pulmonary dysfunction compared with mice infected with RSV recWT. Despite its attenuation, RSV M-null infection induced robust immune responses of similar magnitude to that elicited by RSV recWT. Additionally, RSV M-null infection generated serum Ab and memory T cell responses that were similar to those induced by RSV recWT. Importantly, RSV M-null immunization provided protection against secondary viral challenge by reducing lung viral titers as efficiently as immunization with RSV recWT. Overall, our results indicate that RSV M-null combines attenuation with high immunogenicity and efficacy and represents a promising novel live-attenuated RSV vaccine candidate.
#ttc on Instagram: a multimodal discourse analysis of the treatment experience of patients pursuing in vitro fertilization
Authors: Johnson Bethany , Quinlan Margaret M. , Pope Nathan
Published: April 2019

While searching the Internet for health information is now commonplace, giving and receiving medical expertise on social media platforms such as Instagram (IG) is underexplored. In order to investigate the ways in which social media platforms are a resource for seeking medical expertise, we employed a multimodal discourse analysis; specifically, we focused on the hashtag #ttc and the engagement of the IG community it comprised. We examined three main themes around medical expertise during treatment indexed by the hashtag: treatment protocol choices, treatment side effects and pregnancy diagnosis/confirmation. Our findings suggest that social media platforms provide a new arena in which patients can challenge medical expertise by circumventing it or adopting lay expertise instead of practitioner suggestions. We close with research implications and suggestions for further research.
Clinical translational students' perceptions of research ethics coursework: a case study
Authors: Behar-Horenstein Linda S. , Zhang Huibin
Published: April 2019

Relatively unknown is whether coursework in responsible conduct of research actually achieve the purposes for which it is designed. In this study, the authors report clinical translational students’ perceptions of their research ethics coursework and the alignment between course content as recommended in the literature. We used grounded theory to portray emergent findings across focus groups and semistructured interviews among 31 participants at one clinical translational science hub. We also used thematic analysis to analyze course syllabi. Two themes emerged: Averting scientific misconduct and Responding to ethical dilemmas. Students reported that they did not acquire requisite strategies to address research ethical dilemmas. One of the course syllabi indicated the provision of active learning opportunities. However, the findings did not offer support. Developing experiential learning activities and ensuring that course content is aligned with the contemporary ethical practices, such as case study and portfolio development, is recommended.
Detecting alliance ruptures: the effects of the therapist’s experience, attachment, empathy and countertransference management skills
Authors: Talbot Corinne , Ostiguy-Pion Rose , Painchaud Esther , Lafrance Claudelle , Descôteaux Jean
Published: April 2019

Accurate alliance rupture detection is a prerequisite to any successful repair process. Despite its importance, however, rupture detection remains a struggle for most therapists. Supporting the existence of a therapist effect on therapy outcomes, rupture detection skills may rely on certain therapists’ personal characteristics. The aim of this study was to verify whether alliance rupture detection performance is related to therapists’ personal characteristics. One hundred and eight undergraduates, trainees and mental health professionals participated in an experimental task assessing their alliance rupture detection ability. Participants also completed attachment, empathy and countertransference management self-reported measures. Participants with clinical experience (trainees and professionals) reported more alliance ruptures, accurate or not, than those with no clinical experience (undergraduates). Trainees reported more accurate ruptures and less inaccurate ones than the two other groups. Attachment anxiety was positively associated with accurate ruptures detection for undergraduates, while this association proved negative for trainees and therapists. Perspective-taking, a cognitive dimension of empathy, was negatively associated with accurate rupture detection, whereas personal distress, an affective dimension of empathy, was negatively associated with accurate ruptures detection for trainees, and positively associated for undergraduates. Self-insight, a component of countertransference management, revealed a negative association with accurate rupture detection for trainees. These findings suggest that therapists vary as to their rupture detection ability and that this ability is related to certain personal characteristics. They also highlight the importance of specific training and clinical supervision for both trainees and experienced therapists in order to improve their detection ability.
In the shadow of Apartheid: intergenerational transmission of Black parental trauma as it emerges in the analytical space of inter-racial subjectivities
Authors: Knight Zelda Gillian
Published: April 2019

Using the construct of projective identification and integrating it with the body of literature on intergenerational transmission of unsymbolized parental trauma, I describe the case of an adult black South African woman called Sibulelo. It is suggested that Sibulelo has unconsciously identified with the disavowed parents and grandparents trauma that they suffered as a result of the system of Apartheid. Such trauma is expressed through her feelings of being dis-located in time and space, as if she is living outside of herself, unplugged from life, and living someone else’s life. The paper details the unfolding therapeutic process in relation to my whiteness in the context of her blackness. This brings into sharp focus an exploration of black-white racialized transference-counter-transference matrix in the context of intergenerational trauma. It is a reflective paper and opens up my own counter-transference, thus foregrounding the notion of therapeutic inter-subjectivity. A further contribution to psychoanalytic theory concerns the role of recognition and being seen as a powerful process in facilitating the symbolization of trauma. In addition, if there is no interruption of the cycles of intergenerational trauma, and therefore no symbolization, it becomes an unconscious familial compulsion to repeat. Moreover, this therapy case highlights the idea that as a traumatised family living within a bruised culture of intergenerational transmission of trauma, such repetition of trauma becomes a cultural compulsion to repeat what has not been spoken or named.
The subjective experience of psychotherapists during moments of rupture in psychotherapy with adolescents
Authors: Morán Javier , Díaz M. Francisca , Martínez Claudio , Varas Carlos , Parra Sepúlveda Roxana
Published: April 2019

The study of the ruptures of the therapeutic alliance has impacted research in psychotherapy by highlighting the relational nature of this phenomenon. Despite ruptures are frequent and relevant during adolescent psychotherapy, most of the empirical evidence in this field has been carried out with adults. Understanding the subjective experience of the therapist during ruptures while working with adolescent is proposed as a starting point for the study of this type of interactional scenarios. The study examined the meanings that emerge from the therapists’ experience in terms of their explanations about the causes and effects of ruptures with adolescents. Eight psychotherapists were interviewed about their experiences during ruptures with young patients. The data was qualitatively analyzed through the Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis method. Four categories emerged: the failure to recognize the adolescent’s experience, the intensity of the affective experience of adolescents in psychotherapy, therapeutic boundaries as an articulator of the therapeutic purpose and, the obstacles that family generates during the therapeutic process. This study concurs with the literature on the need to make explicit with the family about the meaning, roles and limits of the therapy, and to prevent the exercise of control from an adultcentered position. It is concluded that in order to avoid and repair ruptures with adolescents in psychotherapy, an approach that integrates a sensitive attitude, an ecological point of view and mentalizing about the origin of the rupture is needed.
Ruptures, repairs, and reflections: contributions of Jeremy Safran
Authors: Samstag Lisa Wallner , Muran J. Christopher
Published: April 2019

Jeremy D. Safran’s contributions to our understanding of the complexities of the therapeutic relationship, and its role in the process of patient change in psychotherapy, have been profound. In this paper, we briefly summarize the evolution of his thinking about the alliance and highlight how his ambivalence about this construct contributed to his seminal work delineating rupture resolution models, defined as negotiated intersubjective processes between patient and therapist that are the very essence of the therapeutic process for some patients. Responding to strains in the alliance throughout the rupture resolution process is critical and is an aspect of the treatment model that trainees find most challenging. A clinical example is included to illustrate how Jeremy’s attempts at metacommunicating about his experience with a frustrated patient initiated a productive shift in the process that also contributed to additional ruptures, requiring a simultaneous focus on the strained alliance.
Jeremy Safran: a hero's journey
Authors: Horvath Adam Otto
Published: April 2019

In this essay I explore Jeremy Safran’s intellectual career as a hero’s journey or monomyth within the specific context of psychotherapy research. I argue that he fits such model in the sense that his work – though deeply informed by theories – was singularly focused and driven by his own sense of his role and mission within the profession. Rather than attempting to review in detail the entire scope or specific parts of his research contributions, I look at his scholarship as a kind of quest, a pursuit that was trans-theoretical but unified by foundational questions about the unique nature of the relationship between therapist and patient.
Параметры одного класса функций, заданных на конечном поле
Authors: Bugrov Aleksei Dmitrievich , Kamlovskii Oleg Vital'evich
Published: April 2019

Изучается класс функций над полем $GF(q)$, построенных на основе линейных рекуррентных последовательностей над кольцом $GR(q^n, p^n)$ c отмеченным характеристическим многочленом. Для данного класса исследуются: близость функций, близость к классу всех аффинных функций, число построенных функций и мощности прообразов элементов при действии функций. Показано, что указанный класс состоит из функций, значительно удаленных от класса всех аффинных функций.
An Assessment of Customer Retention with Self-Service Technologies: A Model Development
Authors: Alsiehemy Ali
Published: April 2019

This paper reviews the literature relating to self service technologies (SST) with the purpose of building an accurate and clear picture of the most important aspects associated with this technology. It also reviews the literature on customer retention using SST. By examining studies of SST, it can be seen that many have examined SST from different perspectives (customers vs. organisations) in different contexts (banks, libraries, airlines, hotels and retailers) and in different cultures and countries (developed, developing). Thus, this chapter, after providing an overview of SST, discusses the topic from the organisational perspective by focusing on areas concerned with the contribution of SST to organisational performance (e.g. profitability, productivity, marketing relationship, service quality and cutting costs). A closer look at these studies clearly reveals the breadth and diversity of studies investigating SST from the customers’ perspective, whereby it is noteworthy that the majority have focused on examining the usage patterns of SST (e.g. behavioural intention, usage behaviour, adoption, future intention). Finally, this chapter examines the use of SST in banks to retain customers as well as the profitability of customer retention.
US Motor-Carrier Exit: Prevalence and Determinants
Authors: Guntuka Laharish , Corsi Thomas M. , Grimm Curtis M. , Cantor David E.
Published: April 2019

The purpose of this study is to first determine the current incidence of exit from the United States' motor-carrier industry. Second, we develop and test an econometric model of the determinants of motor-carrier exit. Using recent data derived from the Motor Carrier Management Information System database, we find that motor-carrier exit continues to be quite prevalent. This study also finds that motor-carrier crash rates are positively associated with the likelihood of exit from the industry, while fleet size and number of commodity segments handled by motor carriers are negatively associated with a carrier's likelihood of exit. Study findings also suggest that for-hire carriers are more likely to exit, and carriers handling hazardous materials are less likely to exit from the motor-carrier industry. The article discusses these findings, including managerial and public policy implications.
The Relationship between Leadership Strengths and Job Performance of Fleet Managers
Authors: Johnston Ahren , Kent John L.
Published: April 2019

While personality testing has been used extensively in pre-employment screening, authors have noted the possibility of these tools introducing bias into the employment process and potentially violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. An alternative pre-employment screening using Clifton StrengthsFinder® Assessment top five leadership traits is tested to see if there is a relationship between the results and on-the-job performance for existing fleet managers of a large trucking firm. Results of the study reveal that there is a correlation between certain top five leadership traits and several measures of fleet manager performance used by their employer for evaluation.
esearch on Classification Reform of Chinese State-Owned Enterprises
Authors: Lin Xu , Guoyi Zhang , Wei Yuan , Yuan Jiang
Published: April 2019

The classification reform of state-owned enterprises is a major movement in the process of the new round of reform of state-owned enterprises in China. This paper will focus on the implementation of the classification reform of state-owned enterprises, and conduct research and analysis on the implementation path, current situation and difficulties of the classification reform of state-owned enterprises. The first part of the implementation path is divided into three levels: the transfer of capital to the management of the property level, the formation of a differentiated governance structure combining internal and external governance, and the clarification of the authority of state-owned assets. The implementation logic of the three levels is elaborated. The second part of the local provinces' relevant initiatives were introduced from the functional positioning and classification, the implementation of supervision and the implementation of the mixed ownership reform. The third part focuses on the key points and difficulties of the reform of state-owned enterprises. It mainly studies the practical issues of “diversified and multi-functional” classification reform of state-owned enterprises and regulatory conflicts, “rights” and “human rights”. The fourth part promotes the policy recommendations for the effective implementation of the classification reform of state-owned enterprises.
The Impact of Social Media on Customers’ Loyalty toward Hotels in Jordan
Authors: Zoubi Faiz H. , Mohammad Al-Harazneh Diya
Published: April 2019

The present study aimed at exploring the impact of social media on customers' loyalty toward the five stars hotels located in Jordan, it also aimed at exploring the impact of satisfaction as a mediating variable on the relationship between social media and customers’ loyalty from the perspectives of customers and marketing managers. In more precise, to measure the mediating effect of satisfaction in the causal relationship between social media and customers’ loyalty toward five stars hotels. Regression analysis and correlational coefficient were used for analysis purposive of the acquired data that were collected through a self-designed questionnaire.  A sample of (200) hotel customers and (32) marketing managers was drawn from the population of the study. The major findings of the study were as follow: social media has a statistical significant effect on customer’s loyalty, and on satisfaction. Satisfaction as mediating variable has a statistical significant effect on the relationship between social media and customer’s loyalty. Furthermore; marketing managers were found to be having positive beliefs that social media has an effect on customers’ loyalty. But communication and motivation were found to be having no significant effect on customer’s loyalty.
Combining SERVQUAL and QFD to Evaluate and Improve Airline Service Quality
Authors: Jarrett Jeffrey E. , Pan Xia , Yang Yi , Huang Youyou , Huang Lingyan , Li Fenglin
Published: April 2019

Purpose: This paper shows how to evaluate and analyze the service quality for airline business and provide feasible suggestions to improve the service. The purpose is to illustrate how the two quality improvement methods, SERVQUAL and QFD, can be combined and used to improve the service quality for service companies such as airlines.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The data were obtained by the way of interviewing the customers who have experienced the service offered by Air Macau, with tool of SERVQUAL. Comparing the perceived scores of Air Macau to the customers’ expected value as well as to its competitors, we finally believe that the shortest board of service quality is the “responsiveness” among its five dimensions. Quality function deployment is then used to translate customers’ actual requirements into practical service measures to further improvement.

Findings: It is more effective if SERVQUAL is combined with QFD in evaluating firm's quality and quality improvement.

Research Limitations: Effectiveness should be tested over time with bottom line evidences.

Practical Implications: Practitioners should use more than one effective methods in quality improvement whenever possible.

Social Implications: People are more aware of SERVQUAL and QFD.
Reviewing Corporate Crises: A Strategic Management Perspective
Authors: Abatecola Gianpaolo
Published: April 2019

How can be crises classified? What does the term “corporate crisis” mean? Corporate crises have always been a topic of tremendous interest for both the research in and practice of strategic management at an international level. Attention has been given to elaborating appropriate interpretative conceptualizations, together with implementing effective and efficient predicting and countervailing models. To date, scholars have seemingly reached consensus as to the meaning of crises. Conversely, identifying determinants and temporal dynamics still seems to be a lively question to address. This is why in this article we critically review the state of the art on the topic, from which we derive some important implications for the present and future research and practice in the strategic management field.
European Significant Bank Stock Market Volatility: Is there a Bail-In Effect?
Authors: Leone Paola , Porretta Pasqualina , Riccetti Luca
Published: April 2019

In 2016 the “bail-in” tool, set by the European Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD), started to enter into force: shareholders of European banks lose their money in the case of bank rescue. Before the “bail-in” mechanism was introduced, governments often performed bail-out of distressed banks. The larger risk born by shareholders can be observed in the growth of stock market volatility. We implement a panel data analysis on a sample of large European banks and find that in 2016 stock market volatility changes in a way that is theoretically consistent with the introduction of the “bail-in”. Moreover, Italy shows an even higher volatility, probably due to retail investors owning bank shares, who could have understood the risk only after the burden sharing of four Italian banks in November 2015. These findings can be a warning about market efficiency, with implications for the systemic risk of a “bail-in” procedure.
The Social Enterprising Success: Comparative Study of Social and Economic Entrepreneurs
Authors: EL Agy Majda
Published: April 2019

The social entrepreneurship is a recent and a bit explored discipline. This is the interest of the present research which aims to be exploratory. It is situated among the interpretative essays of social enterprising of success. To do this, we have opted for a qualitative approach based on semi-directive interviews carried out with entrepreneurs operating within the Moroccan agricultural sector. Results of the analysis of case studies show that enterprising success, according to the informants asked, is distinguished on a major point. This distinction, which is psychological, is the interest shown by the interviewers and interviewees respectively to the other (collective aspect) and to oneself. The results of this research allow better appreciation of the behaviour of social entrepreneurs. They are relevant to researchers, practitioners and involved parties. They are devoted to the regional and local development, by offering some points of reference which are more precise and can help them understand better this phenomenon.
Assessing the Access to Finance by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises from Financial Institutions in Blantyre City-Malawi
Authors: Nanteleza Ndala Nelson
Published: April 2019

SMEs are an integral part of the economy in Malawi. The paper assesses the access to finance by SMEs from financial institutions in Malawi by highlighting the obstacles that SMEs face in their effort to raise finance. The quantitative research approach was adopted in conducting the study. Questionnaires were circulated to 100 SMEs in the City of Blantyre-Ginnery Corner and the SMEs were selected using the random sampling techniques. The following major findings were revealed.  There are financial institutions that are willing to provide funds to SMEs for growth and expansion but most Malawian SMEs fail to meet the lending requirements demanded by these institutions. Chief amongst these is the inability by most SMEs to provide collateral or security and audited financial statements for their businesses. On the other hand, for the small number that is able to access finance, they are faced with high interest rates which make it very difficult for them to grow. The other constraints include lack of finance, stiff competition in the sector, high taxes and corruption and bribes to access contracts. Another interesting revelation is that SMEs relationship with their bankers is not healthy. Most SMEs consider their relationship to be average despite recent focus by the banks on SMEs businesses. The study recommends the enforcement of the Credit Reference Bureau Act 2010 to help financial institutions identify and lend to creditworthy SMEs; banks should soften their adverse risk attitude of over reliance on collateral rather than on business cash flows. The government should also consider provision of tax incentives to banks’ lending to SMEs; stabilisation of the economy to achieve lower inflation and interest rates and formulation of government policy on SMEs that would compel Ministries, Departments and Agencies to allocate a proportion of contracts to SMEs in any tender. Lastly, financial institutions should revisit their approach to SME banking.
Evaluation of a Real Time PCR Assay and a ELISA Method for the Detection of Walnuts and Almonds Allergen Traces in Food Products
Authors: Houhoula Dimitra , Papatheodorou Spiridon Andreas , Moschou Dimitra , Pappa Sofia , Tsaatazoglou Nikolaos , Koussissis Stamatios , Tsaknis John , Lougovois Vladimiros , Impe Jan F. M. Van , Tsakali Efstathia
Published: April 2019

Food allergens are a well acknowledged issue in food industry and are regulated by legislation. The presence of allergens can either origin from the raw material or due to contamination during production. Allergen information on packaging is mandatory although it cannot be accurate in the case of contamination therefore warnings are used. The purpose of the study is the development and validation of a SYBR Green Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction method using specific primer pairs based on Jug r 1, Jug r 3, and Jug r 4 allergen-coding sequences to improve the sensitivity of Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction techniques for detection of walnut and almond traces in commercial food products and its comparison with ELISA methodology in terms of detection ability. A total of 100 samples were collected from local markets and were analyzed by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and ELISA methods. The results indicated that 16 samples (16%) were found positive in walnut traces and 18 samples (18%) were found positive in almond traces by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction of which Elisa identified 14 samples (14%) positive in walnut traces and 15 samples (15%) positive in almond traces. Among them, 4 samples (25%) that contained walnut traces and 6 samples (33.3%) that contained almond traces had no allergen declaration on their label. The improved accuracy of Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction underlines the importance of this method for allergen detection and quantification in the food industry
Late avulsion of a free flap in a patient with severe psychiatric illness: Establishing a successful salvage strategy
Authors: Schaffer Clara , Hart Andrew , Watfa William , Raffoul Wassim , di Summa Pietro Giovanni
Published: April 2019

Post-traumatic defects of the distal third of the leg often require skipping a few steps of the well-established reconstructive ladder, due to the limited local reliable reconstructive options. In rare cases, the reconstructive plan and flap choice may encounter challenges when the patient has psychiatric illness affecting compliance with postoperative care. We describe a case of a patient with severe intellectual disability and an open fracture of the distal lower limb. After fracture management and debridement of devitalized tissues, the resultant soft tissue defect was covered with a free gracilis flap. On postoperative day 7, the patient ripped out the newly transplanted flap. The flap was too traumatized for salvage, so a contralateral free gracilis muscle flap was used. The patient showed good aesthetic and functional outcomes at a 1-year follow-up. When planning the postoperative management of patients with psychiatric illness, less complex and more robust procedures may be preferred over a long and complex surgical reconstruction requiring good compliance with postoperative care. The medical team should be aware of the risk of postoperative collapse, focus on the prevention of pain, and be wary of drug interactions. Whenever necessary, free tissue transfer should be performed despite potential compliance issues.