bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic Detection of Early Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Patients with Achalasia: Narrow-Band Imaging versus Lugol's Staining
Authors: Ide Edson , Carneiro Fred Olavo Aragão Andrade , Frazão Mariana Souza Varella , Chaves Dalton Marques , Sallum Rubens Antônio Aissar , de Moura Eduardo Guimarães Hourneaux , Sakai Paulo , Cecconello Ivan , Maluf-Filho Fauze
Published: July 2013

Chromoendoscopy with Lugol's staining remains the gold standard technique for detecting superficial SCC. An alternative technique, such as narrow-band imaging (NBI), for “optical staining” would be desirable, since NBI is a simpler technique and has no known complications. In this study, we compare NBI without magnification and chromoendoscopy with Lugol's staining for detecting high-grade dysplasia and intramucosal esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in patients with achalasia. This was a prospective observational study of 43 patients with achalasia referred to the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit of the Hospital of Clinics, São Paulo, University Medical School, Brazil, from October 2006 to February 2007. Conventional examinations with white light, NBI, and Lugol staining were consecutively performed, and the suspected lesions were mapped, recorded, and sent for biopsy. The results of the three methods were compared regarding sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood value, and negative likelihood value. Of the 43 patients, one was diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and it was detected by all of the methods. NBI technology without magnification has high sensitivity and negative predictive value for detecting superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and it has comparable results with those obtained with Lugol's staining.
Optimal Partial Reconfiguration for Permanent Fault Recovery on SRAM-Based FPGAs in Space Mission
Authors: Zhang Jie , Guan Yong , Mao Chunjing
Published: July 2013

In this paper, we present a technique to maximize the lifetime of SRAM-based FPGAs in space mission. We focus on recovering permanent faults induced by SEE (single-events effect). In our technique, we use a fix-sized fault detection module to detect permanent faults and propose a permanent fault recovery mechanism for fault recovery. By using partial reconfiguration, we develop a system lifetime estimation model to find the optimal partition for designing the module-based fault recovering with the maximum system lifetime. We conduct experiments with a set of real applications including SpaceWire, Wavelet, AC97, MEPG-4, 8086, and Ethernet on Xilinx XUP platforms. The experimental results show our technique can effectively improve the lifetime compared with the previous work.
Flame Retardancy Effects of Graphene Nanoplatelet/Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Membranes on Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites
Authors: Zhuo Dongxian , Wang Rui , Wu Lixin , Guo Yanhua , Ma Lin , Weng Zixiang , Qi Jinyu
Published: July 2013

Carbon nanotube/graphene nanoplatelet (MWCNT/GNP) hybrid membranes with lower liquid permeability and better barrier effect compared to MWCNT membranes were successfully synthesized by vacuum filtering. Their morphologies, water permeability, and pore structures were characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and nitrogen adsorption isotherms. Furthermore, MWCNT/GNP membranes were used to improve the flame retardancy of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, and the influence of weight percentage of GNPs on the permeability and flame retardancy of MWCNT/GNP membranes was systematically investigated. Results show that incorporation of MWCNT/GNP membranes on CFRP composite plates can remarkably improve the flame retardancy of CFRP composites. Specifically, the incorporation of hierarchical MWCNT/GNP membrane with 7.5 wt% of GNP displays a 35% reduction in the peak heat release rate (PHRR) for a CFRP composite plate with the epoxy as matrix and a 11% reduction in PHRR compared with the incorporation of MWCNT membrane only. A synergistic flame retarding mechanism is suggested to be attributed to these results, which includes controlling the pore size and penetrative network structure.
Microbiological Safety Assessment of Fermented Cassava Flour “Lafun” Available in Ogun and Oyo States of Nigeria
Authors: Adebayo-Oyetoro A. O. , Oyewole O. B. , Obadina A. O. , Omemu M. A.
Published: July 2013

The microorganisms involved in the fermentation and spoilage of fermented cassava flour were investigated. The water samples used at the different processing sites were also investigated to determine their safety status. There was predominance ofStaphylococcus aureus,Aspergillusspp., andEscherichia coliin all samples. Coliforms were observed to be present in all of the processing water. In the fermented cassava flour, the total bacterial count ranged between4.9×106 cfu/mL from Eleso, Bakatari, and Oja Odan processing sites and8.10×106 cfu/mL in Eruku processing site. The majority of the microorganisms involved in the spoilage of “lafun” were found to beAspergillus nigerwhich ranged between4.6×105 cfu/mL in Eleso and8.1×105 cfu/mL in Kila. The control sample prepared in the laboratory had a low microbial load compared to samples collected from various sites and markets.
Transperitoneal Calcium Balance in Anuric Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis and Automated Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Authors: Hamada Chieko , Tomino Yasuhiko
Published: July 2013

Backgrounds. Calcium (Ca) and bone metabolism in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients show a remarkable difference depending on dialysis modalities. The levels of serum Ca and phosphate (P) in HD patients fluctuate contributing to the intermittent and rapid removal of plasma solute unlike in CAPD. Characteristics of plasma solute transport in automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) patients are resembled with that in HD. The purpose of the present study was to examine the difference of transperitoneal Ca removal between APD and CAPD anuric patients.Subjects and Methods. Twenty-three APD anuric patients were enrolled in this study. Biochemical parameters responsible for transperitoneal Ca removal in 24-hour and 4-hour peritoneal effluents were analyzed on CAPD and APD.Results. Transperitoneal Ca removal on APD was smaller compared with that on CAPD. The Ca removal was related to the ultrafiltration during short-time dwell. Decrease of the Ca removal during NPD induced by short-time dialysate dwell caused negative or small Ca removal in APD patients. The levels of intact PTH were increased at the end of PET.Conclusion. It appears that short-time dwell and frequent dialysate exchanging might suppress the transperitoneal Ca removal in anuric APD patients.
The Variable Origin of the Recurrent Artery of Heubner: An Anatomical and Morphometric Study
Authors: El Falougy Hisham , Selmeciova Petra , Kubikova Eliska , Haviarová Zora
Published: July 2013

The recurrent artery of Heubner (RAH) is the largest vessel of the medial lenticulostriate arteries. It supplies many deep structures, mainly the corpus striatum, the globus pallidus, and the anterior crus of the internal capsule. The aim of the present paper was studying the morphological variations of the RAH and its diameter in relation to different areas of origin. The series contained the records from 183 formalin-fixed adult human brains. The calibrated digital images of the studied brains were evaluated and measured by Image J, which can calculate the number of pixels and convert them to metric measures. The RAH arose most often from the postcommunicating part of the anterior cerebral artery (47.81%). It originated from the precommunicating part of the anterior cerebral artery in 3.55% and at the level of the anterior communicating artery in 43.4% of cases. The RAH was missing in 5.19% and doubled in 6.28% of cases. The mean outer diameter of the RAH was 0.6 mm. The maximal measured diameter was 1.34 mm, and the minimal diameter was 0.19 mm. The awareness of the various anatomical and morphometric variations of the RAH is essential in planning the neurosurgical procedures to avoid unexpected neurological complications.
Seroprevalence of Leptospiral Antibodies in Canine Population in and around Namakkal
Authors: Senthil N. R. , Palanivel K. M. , Rishikesavan R.
Published: July 2013

Leptospirosis is a reemerging and a complex zoonotic bacterial disease, caused by pathogenic serovars ofLeptospira interrogans.A total of 124 sera samples of dogs belonging to different categories like vaccinated, unvaccinated-semiowned, and stray dogs were subjected to sampling. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was conducted by usingLeptospiraculture. Out of 42 vaccinated dogs, 24 (57%) were positive to one or more serovars. Of the 24, 22 (52.3%), 11 (26.19%), 4 (9.5%), 1 (3%), and 2 (4.7%) were positive toicterohaemorrhagiae, canicola, pomona, grippotyphosa,andautumnalis, respectively. Of the 48 unvaccinated semiowned dogs, 10 (28.8%) showed positive agglutination to one or more serovars. Of the 10 samples, 7 (14.5%), 2 (4.1%), 3 (6.2%), 3 (6.2%), and 5 (10.2%) were positive toicterohaemorrhagiae, canicola, pomona, grippotyphosa,andautumnalis,respectively. Among the 34 stray dogs, 12 showed positive agglutination to one or more leptospiral antibodies. Of the 12 samples, 6 (17.6%) showed positive agglutination toicterohaemorrhagiae,2 (5.8%) tocanicola, 5 (14.7%) topomona, 7 (20.5%) togrippotyphosa,and 5 (4.7%) toautumnalis. This study emphasized the changing trends in the epidemiology of leptospirosis with higher prevalence of serovarL. grippotyphosain street dogs.
Retrotransposons Represent the Most Labile Fraction for Genomic Rearrangements in Polyploid Plant Species
Authors: Bento M. , Tomás D. , Viegas W. , Silva M.
Published: July 2013

Understanding how increased genome size and diversity within polyploid genomes impacts plant evolution and breeding continues to be challenging. Although historical studies by McClintock suggested the importance of transposable elements mediated by polyploidisation on genomic changes, data from plant crosses remain scarce. Despite the absence of a conclusive proof regarding autonomous retrotransposon movement in synthetic allopolyploids, the transposition of retrotransposons and their ubiquitous dispersion in all plant species might explain the positive correlation between the genome size of plants and the prevalence of retrotransposons. Here, we address polyploidisation-mediated rearrangements of retrotransposon-associated sequences and discuss a tendency for a preferential restructuring of large ancestral genomes after polyploidisation. A comparative analysis of the frequency of modifications of retrotransposon-associated sequences in synthetic polyploids with marked differences in genome sizes is presented. Such analyses suggest the absence of a significant difference in the rates of rearrangements despite vast dissimilarities in the retrotransposon copy number between species, which emphasises the high plasticity of this genomic feature. See also the sister article focusing on animals by Arkhipova and Rodriguez in this themed issue.
Participation in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Survival After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Authors: Pack Quinn R. , Goel Kashish , Lahr Brian D. , Greason Kevin L. , Squires Ray W. , Lopez-Jimenez Francisco , Zhang Zixin , Thomas Randal J.
Published: July 2013

Background—

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended for all patients after coronary artery bypass surgery, yet little is known about the long-term mortality effects of CR in this population.

Methods and Results—

We performed a community-based analysis on residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery between 1996 and 2007. We assessed the association between subsequent outpatient CR attendance and long-term survival. Propensity analysis was performed. Cox proportional hazards regression was then used to assess the association between CR attendance and all-cause mortality adjusted for the propensity to attend CR. We identified 846 eligible patients (age 66±11 years, 76% men, and 96% non-Hispanic whites) who survived at least 6 months after surgery, of whom 582 (69%) attended CR. During a mean (±SD) follow-up of 9.0±3.7 years, the 10-year all-cause Kaplan-Meier mortality rate was 28% (193 deaths). Adjusted for the propensity to attend CR, participation in CR was associated with a 10-year relative risk reduction in all-cause mortality of 46% (hazard ratio, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.40–0.74;
P
<0.001) and a 10-year absolute risk reduction of 12.7% (number needed to treat=8). There was no evidence of a differential effect of CR on mortality with respect to age (≥65 versus <65 years), sex, diabetes, or prior myocardial infarction.

Conclusions—

CR attendance is associated with a significant reduction in 10-year all-cause mortality after coronary artery bypass surgery. Our results strongly support national standards that recommend CR for this patient group.
Relationship of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Diastolic Function With Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in African Americans With Hypertensive Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Peterson Gail E. , de Backer Tine , Contreras Gabriel , Wang Xuelei , Kendrick Cynthia , Greene Tom , Appel Lawrence J. , Randall Otelio S. , Lea Janice , Smogorzewski Miroslaw , Vagaonescu Tudor , Phillips Robert A.
Published: July 2013

African Americans with hypertension are at high risk for adverse outcomes from cardiovascular and renal disease. Patients with stage 3 or greater chronic kidney disease have a high prevalence of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. Our goal was to study prospectively the relationships of LV mass and diastolic function with subsequent cardiovascular and renal outcomes in the African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension cohort study. Of 691 patients enrolled in the cohort, 578 had interpretable echocardiograms and complete relevant clinical data. Exposures were LV hypertrophy and diastolic parameters. Outcomes were cardiovascular events requiring hospitalization or causing death; a renal composite outcome of doubling of serum creatinine or end-stage renal disease (censoring death); and heart failure. We found strong independent relationships between LV hypertrophy and subsequent cardiovascular (hazard ratio, 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.27) events, but not renal outcomes. After adjustment for LV mass and clinical variables, lower systolic tissue Doppler velocities and diastolic parameters reflecting a less compliant LV (shorter deceleration time and abnormal E/A ratio) were significantly (
P
<0.05) associated with future heart failure events. This is the first study to show a strong relationship among LV hypertrophy, diastolic parameters, and adverse cardiac outcomes in African Americans with hypertension and chronic kidney disease. These echocardiographic risk factors may help identify high-risk patients with chronic kidney disease for aggressive therapeutic intervention.
MicroRNA-24 Is a Novel Regulator of Aldosterone and Cortisol Production in the Human Adrenal Cortex
Authors: Robertson Stacy , MacKenzie Scott M. , Alvarez-Madrazo Samantha , Diver Louise A. , Lin Junjun , Stewart Paul M. , Fraser Robert , Connell John M. , Davies Eleanor
Published: July 2013

Dysregulation of aldosterone or cortisol production can predispose to hypertension, as seen in aldosterone-producing adenoma, a form of primary aldosteronism. We investigated the role of microRNA (miRNA) in their production, with particular emphasis on the
CYP11B1
(11β-hydroxylase) and
CYP11B2
(aldosterone synthase) genes, which produce the enzymes responsible for the final stages of cortisol and aldosterone biosynthesis, respectively. Knockdown of Dicer1, a key enzyme in miRNA maturation, significantly altered
CYP11B1
and
CYP11B2
expression in a human adrenocortical cell line. Screening of nondiseased human adrenal and aldosterone-producing adenoma samples yielded reproducible but distinctive miRNA expression signatures for each tissue type, with levels of certain miRNA, including microRNA-24 (miR-24), differing significantly between the 2. Bioinformatic analysis identified putative binding sites for several miRNA, including miR-24, in the 3′ untranslated region of
CYP11B1
and
CYP11B2
mRNAs. In vitro manipulation of miR-24 confirmed its ability to modulate
CYP11B1
and
CYP11B2
expression, as well as cortisol and aldosterone production. This study demonstrates that Dicer-dependent miRNA, including miR-24, can post-transcriptionally regulate expression of the
CYP11B1
and
CYP11B2
genes. Normal adrenal tissue and aldosterone-producing adenoma differ significantly and reproducibly in their miRNA expression profiles, with miR-24 significantly downregulated in the latter. Adrenal miRNA may, therefore, be a novel and valid target for the therapeutic manipulation of corticosteroid biosynthesis.
Knautia dinarica (Caprifoliaceae): taxonomy, typification and update of the Italian distribution
Authors: PERUZZI LORENZO , BARTOLUCCI FABRIZIO , ASTUTI GIOVANNI , BERNARDO LILIANA , CONTI FABIO
Published: July 2013

New Italian populations of Knautia dinarica, formerly known only for Sila (Calabria, Southern Italy), were discovered in Abruzzo (Central Italy) and Basilicata (Southern Italy). In order to correctly classify these populations, a taxonomic study was carried out, including morphological and karyological analyses and the typification of the names Knautia sylvatica var. dinarica and K. arvensis f. silana. We conclude that in Italy only K. dinarica subsp. silana occurs, to be considered as endemic to central-southern Apennines and vicariant of K. dinarica subsp. dinarica, occurring in the Balkan peninsula. Both subspecies can be either diploid (2n = 20) or tetraploid (2n = 40), and are distinguished by the different mean shape of the basal leaves (the ratio length/width is higher in Italian plants).
Regional-Scale Rainy Season Onset Detection: A New Approach Based on Multivariate Analysis
Authors: Boyard-Micheau Joseph , Camberlin Pierre , Philippon Nathalie , Moron Vincent
Published: July 2013

In agroclimatology, the rainy season onset and cessation dates are often defined from a combination of several empirical rainfall thresholds. For example, the onset may be the first wet day of N consecutive days receiving at least P millimeters without a dry spell lasting n days and receiving less than p millimeters in the following C days. These thresholds are parameterized empirically in order to fit the requirements of a given crop and to account for local-scale climatic conditions. Such local-scale agroclimatic definition is rigid because each threshold may not be necessarily transposable to other crops and other climate environments. A new approach is developed to define onset/cessation dates and monitor their interannual variability at the regional scale. This new approach is less sensitive to parameterization and local-scale contingencies but still has some significance at the local scale. The approach considers multiple combinations of rainfall thresholds in a principal component analysis so that a robust signal across space and parameters is extracted. The regional-scale onset/cessation date is unequally influenced by input rainfall parameters used for the definition of the local rainy season onset. It appears that P is a crucial parameter to define onset, C plays a significant role at most stations, and N seems to be of marginal influence.
Assessment of High-Resolution Satellite-Based Rainfall Estimates over the Mediterranean during Heavy Precipitation Events
Authors: Stampoulis Dimitrios , Anagnostou Emmanouil N. , Nikolopoulos Efthymios I.
Published: July 2013

Heavy precipitation events (HPE) can incur significant economic losses as well as losses of lives through catastrophic floods. Evidence of increasing heavy precipitation at continental and global scales clearly emphasizes the need to accurately quantify these phenomena. The current study focuses on the error analysis of two of the main quasi-global, high-resolution satellite products [Climate Prediction Center (CPC) morphing technique (CMORPH) and Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Imagery Using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN)], using rainfall data derived from high-quality weather radar rainfall estimates as a reference. This analysis is based on seven major flood-inducing HPEs that developed over complex terrain areas in northern Italy (Fella and Sessia regions) and southern France (Cevennes–Vivarais region). The storm cases were categorized as convective or stratiform based on their characteristics, including rainfall intensity, duration, and area coverage. The results indicate that precipitation type has an effect on the algorithm's ability to capture rainfall effectively. Convective storm cases exhibited greater rain rate retrieval errors, while low rain rates in stratiform-type systems are not well captured by the satellite algorithms investigated in this study, thus leading to greater missed rainfall volumes. Overall, CMORPH exhibited better error statistics than PERSIANN for the HPEs of this study. Similarities are also shown in the two satellite products' error characteristics for the HPEs that occurred in the same geographical area.
The effects of homogamy in socio-economic background and education on the transition from cohabitation to marriage
Authors: Mäenpää Elina , Jalovaara Marika
Published: July 2013

This study explores the effects of homogamy and heterogamy in socio-economic background and educational level on the marriage rate among cohabitors. Using unique register data and the Cox proportional hazards model, we analyse marriage formation in over 20,000 cohabiting unions in Finland. The large number of observations enables an inspection of the interactive effects in all partner-status combinations. Our results show that homogamy or heterogamy in socio-economic background is of little consequence for the couple’s probability of marrying; homogamy encourages marriage only among cohabitors from farmer families. With regard to education, homogamy increases the marriage rate among cohabitors with a low level of education, but reduces it among the highly educated. Whether educational heterogamy promotes, deters or has no effect on the marriage rate depends on the combination. The results emphasize the importance of a detailed measurement of homogamy and heterogamy when examining the role of group boundaries in union transitions.
An experimental criterion to detect onset of delamination in real time
Authors: Lorriot T , Wargnier H , Wahl J-C , Proust A , Lagunegrand L
Published: July 2013

This study about the detection of delamination initiation is integrated into a wider project on the definition of a criterion of delamination on composite materials. It must therefore provide experimental data on the behavior of material to allow the formulation of a criterion of edge delamination as accurate as possible. Reliable experimental methods were used to identify the intrinsic parameters of the studied material. One of the most important procedures of this study consists in determining the onset of delamination in real time in order to determine stress level of delamination. Acoustic emission was used for detection of real-time damage initiation, using a location algorithm and specific pattern recognition. After correlation between experimental results and data processing, an acoustic emission signature of a delamination initiation was defined. Almost all experiments can be stopped before failure, in order to characterize damage. Extensive experimental work enabled us to verify the validity, the accuracy and the reliability of real-time delamination acoustic emission criterion.
Manufacturing process and performance of dry carbon fabrics reinforced with rectangular and circular z-pins
Authors: Knaupp Matthias , Scharr Gerhard
Published: July 2013

Composite materials possess high mechanical in-plane properties but suffer from very low out-of-plane properties due to limited inter-laminar strength. Common z-pinning techniques to improve the mechanical properties of composites materials are presented in this paper. Special techniques to reinforce liquid composite molding preforms are explained. A new, low-cost z-pinning method to create high-performance laminates of dry fabrics invented by the author will also be introduced. Mode I double cantilever beam tests are performed to compare rectangular and circular z-pins using the newly described manufacturing process.
Choose Your Own Adventure: Attachment Dynamics in a Simulated Relationship
Authors: Vicary Amanda M. , Fraley R. Chris
Published: July 2013

According to attachment theory, insecure individuals respond to events in their romantic relationships in ways that sometimes can be destructive. The objective of this research was to examine how these responses may accumulate over repeated interactions to influence the quality of the relationship. Across three studies, participants were presented with a “Choose Your Own Adventure” dating story in which they made choices based on their partners' behaviors. In each study we found that attachment styles predicted the kinds of choices participants made at the outset of and throughout the story. Additionally, relationship satisfaction was related to the choices participants made throughout the fictional narrative, even in situations in which the partner's behavior was the same for all participants.
The Effect of Context on the Silver Ceiling: A Role Congruity Perspective on Prejudiced Responses
Authors: Diekman Amanda B. , Hirnisey Leigh
Published: July 2013

Three studies examined role incongruity as a source of age bias in hiring decisions. Building on previous research demonstrating contextual variation in prejudice, the authors predicted that prejudiced responses emerge particularly in contexts where group stereotypes misalign with the requirements of social roles. Findings indicate that (a) older workers are particularly penalized in occupational contexts that are quickly changing, (b) older workers are perceived as less adaptable than younger workers, and (c) the tendency to prefer younger than older workers more for a dynamic than a stable company is mediated by perceptions of adaptability. Finally, adaptability perceptions better predicted hiring bias than did global evaluations of older people and levels of contact with older people. These experiments provide initial evidence that perceived fit to roles is a determinant of contextual variation in prejudiced responses.
Direct and Indirect Intergroup Friendship Effects: Testing the Moderating Role of the Affective-Cognitive Bases of Prejudice
Authors: Paolini Stefania , Hewstone Miles , Cairns Ed
Published: July 2013

Direct friendship with outgroup members and the knowledge of ingroup—outgroup friendships (indirect friendship) can both reduce outgroup prejudice. Three correlational studies (N s = 338, 141, and 798) tested the moderating role of the affective—cognitive bases of prejudice, assessing whether the size of the friendship— prejudice relationship depends on the extent to which emotions (vs. thoughts) are relevant to the prejudiced attitudes at stake. In Study 1, direct friendship effects were larger with outgroups generating stronger affective responding than with outgroups generating stronger cognitive responding, whereas indirect friendship effects were larger with cognitive than with affective outgroups. Study 2 detected a similar pattern but with prejudice basis assessed in terms of individual differences. Study 3 replicated Study 2's indirect friendship—cognitive basis moderation in a context of historically polarized intergroup relations and on two new outcome variables, intergroup trust and negative action tendencies.
Weaving Hierarchies: Production Networks of the Handloom Industry in Colonial Eastern Uttar Pradesh
Authors: Rai Santosh Kumar
Published: July 2013

This article discusses the complex nature of handloom weaving in market relations and the household production in the north Indian region of eastern Uttar Pradesh in the first half of the twentieth century through studying a Muslim weavers’ community known as Julahas. The entire community chain active in the process of handloom production in a micro-region was appropriated in a new relation of commodity production. Therefore, the article focuses on the emergence of capitalist conditions that enabled connections, affiliations, and exclusions in the networked relationships of social communities. In basically a labour-intensive, low-cost household production, the structure of the production process was defined by the need to purchase yarn and pay for living expenses of the weaver and his dependents while the cloth was being woven. The historically unequal connections operated through the social power balance of community and those in families (between husbands and wives, parents and children) found new meanings in bargaining situations of labour markets. A direct involvement with the loom and weaving ensured that the master weaver would directly come from the weaving population and should be Muslim as well. The mechanism of advances and karkhanadar’s/grihasta’s position in the community ensured that weaver/labourer would remain under a constant moral and social pressure to follow the ‘capitalist mode of production.’
The Other Sikhs: Punjabi-Sikhs of Kolkata
Authors: Banerjee Himadri
Published: July 2013

In course of last few decades, India had witnessed a number of devastating attacks on religious minorities. These raise doubt whether they enjoy ample space in the country. The essay reviews how one of India’s religious minorities, residing in a faraway urban location, communicates with the host society, remembers their past and other home memories. It addresses some of these issues with reference to the twentieth-century Punjabi-Sikhs, migration and settlement in Kolkata and focuses on their complex, many-hued relationships with the city. The article explores their extent of success in maintaining differences with the host society.
Book Review: Identities and Histories: Women’s Writings and Politics in Bengal
Authors: Basu Aparna
Published: July 2013

Sharmistha Dutta Gupta, Identities and Histories: Women’s Writings and Politics in Bengal, Stree, Kolkata, 2010, pp. 294, ₹700
Book Review: Literature, Culture and History in Mughal North India (1550–1800)
Authors: Trivedi Madhu
Published: July 2013

Sandhya Sharma, Literature, Culture and History in Mughal North India (1550–1800), Primus Books, Delhi, 2011, pp 241, ₹1195
A multi-scale correlating model for predicting the mechanical properties of tri-axial braided composites
Authors: Deng Yan , Chen Xiuhua , Wang Hai
Published: July 2013

This paper presents a multi-scale correlating model to simulate the elastic and failure behavior of two-dimensional tri-axial braided composites. Unlike the traditional information-passing multi-scale approaches, the present analytical model enables a two-way coupling of scales through a bottom-up homogenization procedure and a top-down decomposition procedure, based on the continuum mechanics and homogenization method. The main feature of this model is that it not only concurrently obtains the stress/strain fields in multiple scales but also allows the application of constituent-based failure criteria to reveal local failure mode, failure sequence and the resulting failure progression of the composites. Using the multi-scale correlating model, the stiffness and strength of a braided composite are predicted solely from its corresponding constituent properties and braid geometrical parameters, which can be easily obtained. The predicted failure events and the corresponding stiffness degradation are in good agreement with experimental data found in the literature. Parametric studies are also performed to examine the effect of various geometrical parameters such as braid angle, tow undulation and manufacturing-induced defects on the resulting mechanical properties. It is found that micro-structural imperfections play a role in the strength reduction, and the most detrimental factors are the defects of bias tow.
Unbounded Motherhood
Authors: Turner Paaige K. , Norwood Kristen
Published: July 2013

Organizational values demand that working mothers separate the maternal from the professional. Due to the nature of maternity leave in the United States, however, working mothers who are breastfeeding have little choice but to bring motherhood into the workplace. In investigating the ways women navigate this situation, we found that to maintain their reputations as good workers participants practiced bounded motherhood at work, constraining breastfeeding practices to preserve norms of professionalism. However, participants sometimes practiced unbounded motherhood wherein their inter/actions disrupted organizational orders by merging motherhood and work in material ways. This embodiment of a good working mother identity expands the repertoire or action for working mothers and contributes to a re-meaning of the relationship between work and motherhood. This study demonstrates one means for making breastfeeding while working more feasible as well as to how workers’ bodies can be sites of resistance and reinforcement of gendered symbolic orders in organizations.
The constraints on climate change adaptation in a city with a large development deficit: the case of Dar es Salaam
Authors: Kiunsi Robert
Published: July 2013

The city of Dar es Salaam, with a population of more than four million, has no climate change adaptation plan. It also has a very large development deficit and lacks adequate provision for infrastructure and services such as piped water, sewers, drains and solid waste collection. Addressing this deficit (and building the institutional and financial capacity to do so) is also important for building resilience to climate change impacts. Eighty per cent of the city’s population lives in informal settlements, but there is little effective land use management and a number of these settlements are on sites that flood regularly. Climate change impacts include sea level rise, rising temperatures and increased occurrence of extreme weather, including rainstorms and droughts, all of which present challenges to city and municipal governments that are struggling to reduce the development deficit. This paper discusses the measures being taken to address this deficit and where and how these measures can be accompanied by improved disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
Psychosocial Adjustment and Quality of Life of Children After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in South Korea
Authors: Jeong Mi Suk , Choi Ja Yun , Chung Hyang-In Cho , Han Geunhye
Published: July 2013

The purpose of this study was to describe the psychosocial adjustment and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and to examine the relationship of children’s characteristics with psychosocial adjustment and HRQoL in South Korea. Participants were 53 children who survived at least 100 days after HSCT, whose current age ranged from 5 to 17 years and their primary caregivers, mostly mothers. Parents completed the Korean version of Child Behavior Check List and Child Health Questionnaire 50-item parent-report version. Children with HSCT had significantly lower scores on the total scale for behavior problems and on most subscales than a normative sample, t = 2.09 to −4.75, P = .043 to <.001. Compared with the Taiwanese sample, scores in physical and psychosocial QoL (except bodily pain, mental health, and behavior) were significantly lower in children with HSCT, t = −2.91 to −9.84, P =.005 to <.001. Time since HSCT seemed to influence the physical ( F = 8.61, P = .001) and psychosocial QoL ( F = 3.98, P = .025) subscales. Social competence ( r = .48, P = .001) and behavioral problems ( r = −.37, P = .006) were associated with psychosocial QoL but not with physical QoL. After HSCT, children could benefit from psychological support to promote their adaptation to daily life and improve their QoL.
Psychological Violence in the Workplace Among Jordanian Hospital Nurses
Authors: AbuAlRub Raeda Fawzi , Al-Asmar Ali Hasan
Published: July 2013

Purpose: The purposes of the study are to (a) assess the incidence and frequency of psychological violence (verbal abuse) among Jordanian hospital nurses, (b) explore the complaints and the reactions of nurses to such violence, and (c) identify the factors that contribute to workplace violence and the management modalities from the Jordanian nurses’ point of view. Design: A descriptive survey was used to investigate verbal abuse among a convenience sample of 422 Jordanian nurses. The Questionnaire of Workplace Violence, which was developed in 2003 by the International Labor office, International Council of Nurses, World Health Organization, and Public Services International, was used to collect the data. Results: The findings indicated that almost 70% of participants was exposed to verbal abuse in the workplace. Patients’ families were the main perpetrators of these incidents. The contributing factors to psychological violence as perceived by participants were related to administration, staff, patients and their families, workplace setting, and security. The majority of participants indicated that their employers had no polices against psychological workplace violence. Implications: Helpful strategies for reducing psychological violence include implementing security measures, restricting public access, and maintaining adequate staffing.
A Program to Enhance Recruitment and Retention of Disadvantaged and Ethnically Diverse Baccalaureate Nursing Students
Authors: Condon Vaneta M. , Morgan Charlie Jo , Miller Earline W. , Mamier Iris , Zimmerman Grenith J. , Mazhar Wajeeha
Published: July 2013

Purpose: To describe and evaluate the use of a “Success in Learning: Individualized Pathways Program (SLIPP)” to retain and graduate disadvantaged and ethnically diverse nursing students. Design: A summative evaluative design was used with a population of 77 disadvantaged and ethnically diverse students who were accepted into a pre-entrance preparation quarter. The program based on an academic success model, included six pre-entrance classes, academic, social, and financial support, and seven faculty development workshops. Program outcomes were studied using student records, survey results, and interviews. Results: Following the pre-entrance quarter, all 77 students were accepted into the baccalaureate nursing program, 90.9% graduated with either a Bachelor in Science (75.3%) or Associate in Science (15.6%), and 98.6% of the graduates passed the state board registered nursing examination. Discussion: Outcomes are discussed in light of similar programs. Conclusions: Underprepared disadvantaged and ethnically diverse students can successfully become registered nurses. Implications for Education, Practice, and Research: Educators and recruiters for nursing practice should accept/hire culturally diverse students/nurses to expand the ethnic diversity of the nursing workforce to meet the needs of culturally diverse clients. Research is needed to determine the classes/components and length of the pre-entrance preparation program to successfully enhance success.
Translation of Questionnaires Into Arabic in Cross-Cultural Research
Authors: Khalaila Rabia
Published: July 2013

Aims:To describe the translation process of nursing instruments into Arabic and discuss the equivalence issues arising from this process. Method: Review of the literature. Results: The Arabic language is essentially three different languages: Classical Arabic; Modern Standard Arabic ( fuS-Ha or MSA); and colloquial Arabic ( Lahja A’mmeya), which is itself divided into five different regional Arabic dialects. The Arabic fuS-Ha language is the dialect most widely used in the translation of instruments into Arabic. The literature reveals that only a few studies focused on the linguistic issues in the translation of instruments into Arabic. Brislin’s back-translation emerged as the most common method widely used by researchers in studies with Arabic-speaking subjects, but not the perfect one. Conclusion: Linguistic issues in nursing research have not been sufficiently described and discussed in the context of Arabic language and culture. Although there is no standard guideline for instrument translation, the combined translation model is the most recommended procedure to use in cross-cultural research. Linguistic differences between the source culture and the target Arabic culture should be taken into account. Finally, we recommend the use of the fuS-Ha dialect and trilingual translators in the translation of nursing instruments into Arabic.
An Analysis of the Use of the Kellgren and Lawrence Grading System to Evaluate Peritalar Arthritis Following Total Ankle Arthroplasty
Authors: Mayich D. Joshua , Pinsker Ellie , Mayich Michael S. , Mak Walter , Daniels Timothy R.
Published: July 2013

Background:

The Kellgren and Lawrence grading system (KLGS) has been used throughout the literature for the radiographic staging of osteoarthritis (OA) of the peritalar joints. Despite its widespread use, the KLGS has never been validated for use in this clinical circumstance. The purpose of this study was to determine the inter- and intrarater reliability of the KLGS in the assessment of radiographic progression of OA in the peritalar joints following total ankle replacement (TAR).

Methods:

One hundred twenty pre- and minimum 5-year postoperative weight-bearing lateral radiographs following 60 consecutive cases of TAR were utilized. Each individual film was considered separately for the purposes of this study. Of those films, 93 and 98 were found to have adequate visualization of the subtalar (STJ) and talonavicular (TNJ) joints, respectively. Three qualified reviewers graded the films according to the KLGS on 2 separate occasions, with 1 month separating the 2 readings. The results were analyzed for intra- and interobserver reliability. The degree of agreement was analyzed using the weighted kappa (κw) statistic, Fleiss’s kappa (Fleiss’s κ), and percentage agreement

Results:

Interrater agreements were moderate (κw = 0.37 ± 0.06; Fleiss’s κ = 0.21 ± 0.03) for the STJ to fair (κw = 0.43 ± 0.06; Fleiss’s κ = 0.25 ± 0.03) for the TNJ. Intrarater agreements for the STJ were moderate (mean κw = 0.43 ± 0.07) and moderate for the TNJ as well (mean κw = 0.46 ± 0.07). The reliability of the KLGS, although not originally designed for use in the setting of inflammatory arthropathy, was not notably affected when being used to grade inflammatory versus noninflammatory arthropathy.

Conclusions:

The KLGS is likely not a reliable tool for grading the degree of OA present in the peritalar joints prior to treatment and following TAR for research purposes. Using the KLGS in the setting of inflammatory arthritis versus OA did not produce any notable differences in the observed reliability. It is important to remember this has not been assessed in the clinical environment. Further work is required to determine the optimal method for assessment of peritalar OA.

Level of Evidence:

Level II, prospective comparative study.
A simple first order compensator for brushless direct current drive based position control system
Authors: Ganesh Chandramouleeswaran , Patnaik Sanjib Kumar
Published: July 2013

Brushless direct current (BLDC) motors have advantages viz. high torque per weight, high torque per watt, increased reliability, reduced noise and a longer lifetime. A BLDC motor is an electronically commutated motor. Electronic commutation is sparkless because it does not involve any mechanical commutator and brush. It also eliminates electromagnetic interference. Because of these advantages, BLDC motors can also be used in hazardous environments. They find wide applications in industrial positioning and actuation. The wider usage of BLDC motors demands optimum position control in such applications for high efficiency, accuracy and reliability. A first order compensated BLDC drive is proposed in this paper to achieve effective position control. Simulation results at different loads clearly reveal that the proposed first order compensated BLDC drive system could yield comparable results with a proportional integral derivative controlled BLDC drive system. A proposed first order compensator is designed using analog components and the experimental results of compensated BLDC drive system are obtained to show the usefulness of the compensator for effective position control.
Speed and torque control of permanent magnet synchronous motor using hybrid fuzzy proportional plus integral controller
Authors: NP Ananthamoorthy , K Baskaran
Published: July 2013

This paper presents an improved fuzzy logic controller (FLC) for a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) for high performance industrial drive applications. The performance of the PMSM using proportional plus integral (PI) controllers and general fuzzy controllers are poor under load disturbances and transient conditions. The FLC is developed to have a smaller computational burden which makes it suitable for real time implementation, particularly at constant speed operating conditions. Hybrid control has the advantage of integrating a superiority of two or more control techniques for better control performances. A fuzzy controller offers better speed responses for startup and large speed errors. If the nature of the load torque is varied, the steady state speed error of the PMSM drive with an FLC becomes significant. To enhance the performance of the system, a new control method, hybrid fuzzy PI control and accelerated fuzzy PI control is proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by a simulation based on MATLAB. The proposed hybrid fuzzy controller has good adaptability over load toque variation and can maintain constant speed.
Optimal control of a beam with Kelvin–Voigt damping subject to forced vibrations using a piezoelectric patch actuator
Authors: Kucuk Ismail , Yildirim Kenan , Sadek Ibrahim , Adali Sarp
Published: July 2013

A maximum principle is derived for the optimal control of a beam with Kelvin–Voigt damping subject to an external excitation with the control exercised by means of piezoelectric patch actuators. The objective functional is defined as a weighted quadratic functional of the displacement and velocity which is to be minimized at a given terminal time. A penalty term is also part of the objective functional defined as the control voltage used in the control process. The maximum principle makes use of a Hamiltonian defined in terms of an adjoint variable and the control function. The optimal control problem is expressed as a coupled system of partial differential equations in terms of state, adjoint and control variables subject to boundary, initial and terminal conditions. The solution is obtained by expanding the state and adjoint variables in terms of eigenfunctions and determining the optimal control using the maximum principle. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the applicability and the efficiency of the proposed method.