bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Empirical Evaluation of Macro-Prudential Measures in Korea: Focusing on Debt Inflows
Authors: Huh In , An Jiyoun
Published: June 2014

This study empirically evaluates whether Korea's recent macroprudential measures have been effective either in reducing the volume of debt inflows or in altering their composition. Since 2010 Korea sequentially imposed three measures to provide financial market stability: limits on foreign exchange forward positions, the revival of a tax on foreign bond holdings, and a macroprudential levy. Overall, we find that these measures reduced the volume of debt inflows related to debt securities and short-term loans. The results remain constant over the entire sample period, although our findings are results with short-term data sample until December 2012.
Diurnal hawk moth pollination of Melampyrum koreanum (Orobanchaceae) and the origin of this endemic Korean species
Authors: Jo Sangjin , Yi Dong-Keun , Kim Ki-Joong
Published: June 2014

Melampyrum koreanum (Orobanchaceae) was described recently as an endemic species in Korea. This study examined the distribution range, relationship with the host plant, flower developmental pattern, pollinator, pollination mechanism, and seed development of M. koreanum (Orobanchaceae) on the island of Somaemul-do, Korea. M. koreanum is hemiparasitic and a strong candidate for its host plant is Pinus thunbergii, with which it is distributed sympatrically. The flower of M. koreanum represents a typical hawk moth pollination syndrome. Macroglossum pyrrhostictum Butler (Sphingidae, Lepidoptera), a diurnal hawk moth, is the only efficient pollinator. The proboscis length of M. pyrrhostictum and the floral tube length of M. koreanum are well coordinated, and the positions of the anther and stigma of M. koreanum are mechanically conformed to hawk moth pollination. The results suggest that adaptation to the pollinator is the main factor that has affected the evolution of the longer floral tube of M. koreanum compare to other species. Pollinator conservation in the native range of M. koreanum is an important issue for the conservation of endemic plant species, and it is necessary to establish a conservation plan for the host plant, Pinus thunbergii, as well as M. koreanum.
The neotropical flower-living genus Lenkothrips (Thysanoptera, Heterothripidae): three new species and an identification key
Authors: CAVALLERI ADRIANO , MOUND LAURENCE A.
Published: June 2014

Three new species are described in the South American genus of flower-feeding thrips, Lenkothrips De Santis & Sureda: L. mollinediae sp. n. from four species of Mollinedia (Monimiaceae) in Brazil and Ecuador; L. guaraniticus sp. n. and L. kaminskii sp. n. from Malpighiaceae in Brazil. An illustrated key to the five Lenkothrips species now recognized is provided.
The Role of Interactions between Multiscale Circulations on the Observed Zonally Averaged Zonal Wind Variability Associated with the Madden–Julian Oscillation
Authors: Sakaeda Naoko , Roundy Paul E.
Published: June 2014

The mechanisms driving the upper-tropospheric zonal mean intraseasonal zonal wind associated with the Madden–Julian oscillation are examined through budget analysis during boreal winter. To diagnose the role of nonlinear and cross-scale interactions, the wind fields are decomposed into three temporal bands, including the intraseasonal time scale (30–100 days), and periods shorter and longer than the intraseasonal time scales. The intraseasonal zonal mean circulation and its driving mechanisms are first examined based on the leading EOFs of the intraseasonal zonal wind. Consistent with previous studies of intraseasonal atmospheric angular momentum, the upper-troposphere zonal mean intraseasonal zonal wind anomaly begins in the tropics and propagates poleward. Results show that interaction between the background state and intraseasonal-time-scale zonally symmetric and asymmetric circulation helps drive changes in the tropical intraseasonal zonal wind and its poleward propagation. The intraseasonal anomalous circulation also modulates the characteristics of the transient eddies that induce anomalous momentum flux convergence that then helps to accelerate further the intraseasonal zonal wind in the extratropics. Results also suggest that feedbacks between the anomalous intraseasonal circulation and transient eddies have some sensitivity to event-to-event variability of the MJO.
On the Causal Relationship between Poleward Heat Flux and the Equator-to-Pole Temperature Gradient: A Cautionary Tale
Authors: Lee Sukyoung , Yoo Changhyun
Published: June 2014

An increase in the poleward heat or energy transport is often ascribed to a strengthening of the equator-to-pole gradient in temperature or in the top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) net radiation. While this attribution conforms to the well-established flux–gradient relationship, a counterexample is shown here, demonstrating that a forced atmospheric circulation, triggered by enhanced convection over the western tropical Pacific warm pool and suppressed convection over the eastern tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans, can cause the equator-to-pole gradient in the TOA net radiation to increase.
Estimating Sensible and Latent Heat Fluxes Using the Integral Method from in situ Aircraft Measurements
Authors: Knuth Shelley L. , Cassano John J.
Published: June 2014

In September 2009, several Aerosonde unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were flown from McMurdo Station to Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica, with the purpose of collecting three-dimensional measurements of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) overlying a polynya. Temperature, pressure, wind speed, and relative humidity measurements collected by the UAVs were used to calculate sensible and latent heat fluxes (SHF and LHF, respectively) during three flights. Fluxes were calculated over the depth of the ABL using the integral method, in which only measurements of the mean atmospheric state (no transfer coefficients) were used. The initial flux estimates assumed that the observations were Lagrangian. Subsequent fluxes were estimated using a robust and innovative methodology that included modifications to incorporate adiabatic and non-Lagrangian processes as well as the heat content below flight level. The SHF ranged from 12 to 485 W m−2, while the LHF ranged from 56 to 152 W m−2. The importance of properly measuring the variables used to calculate the adiabatic and non-Lagrangian processes is discussed. Uncertainty in the flux estimates is assessed both by varying the calculation methodology and by accounting for observational errors. The SHF proved to be most sensitive to the temperature measurements, while the LHF was most sensitive to relative humidity. All of the flux estimates are sensitive to the depth of the boundary layer over which the values are calculated. This manuscript highlights these sensitivities for future field campaigns to demonstrate the measurements most important for accurate flux estimates.
An Operational Definition of Twice-Exceptional Learners
Authors: Reis Sally M. , Baum Susan M. , Burke Edith
Published: June 2014

In this article, a new definition of twice-exceptional children is proposed. In addition to introducing this new definition, the authors provide a research-based rationale for the definition, offer a clear profile of twice-exceptional youth, and summarize the development of new programs and practices to enable these students to develop their gifts while simultaneously compensating for their deficits.
Alternative Pathways to Talent Development in Music
Authors: Garces-Bacsal Rhoda Myra
Published: June 2014

The narrative of an eminent Filipino singer-songwriter, Noel Cabangon, provides a description of an alternative pathway to musical talent development. Most theories on talent development assume that a young artist would have access to the resources required for one to advance in the domain. The results of multiple in-depth interviews suggested that in the absence of such resources, there is an alternative pathway toward expertise in the musical domain. This pathway involves early exposure to music in the context of daily living, the active role played by the neighborhood and the entire community in nurturing the musical talent, and deliberate practice. The article also explores various motivations (both intrinsic and extrinsic) in developing musical expertise. The implications of the research findings to educators and practitioners are also discussed.
NPM, administrative reforms and public service motivation: improving the dialogue between research agendas
Authors: Bellé Nicola , Ongaro Edoardo
Published: June 2014

This article makes use of the Italian case of administrative reform to investigate the changes in the public service motivation (PSM) of public employees and managers after two decades of new public management (NPM)-inspired reforms. It emerges that NPM reforms may be associated with a reduction of the stock of PSM; however, important qualifications apply. By providing so far entirely unavailable evidence about PSM in both the public and the private/commercial sectors in Italy, the article also contributes the empirical bases for the development of comparative research on the interrelation between trajectories of administrative reform and changes in the drivers of motivation of public servants.

Points for practitioners

Public management reforms may have an effect in terms of accretion or depletion of public service motivation (PSM), in its turn likely to be conducive to improved performance of the public sector. Policymakers should include in the design and evaluation of public sector reforms the potential impacts on the drivers of the motivation of public servants. PSM is also a factor that may be profoundly influential on the dynamics of reform processes, to be systematically considered by reformers in different jurisdictions.
Interpreting Urban Informality in Chegutu, Zimbabwe
Authors: Magure Booker
Published: June 2014

Using data derived from participant observation and stories told by people in Chegutu, Zimbabwe, this paper argues that urbanites who engage in informal economic activities sometimes defend their right to the city through repertoires of quiet encroachment. To that end, findings from this study demonstrate the connection between the micro (Chegutu) and the macro (across Zimbabwe) in relation to the nature of economic activities people carry out in response to the prevailing poor material conditions. The ability of urban subalterns to secure their livelihoods has been dealt a heavy blow by reckless neoliberal economic restructuring and gross economic mismanagement by the political leadership in Zimbabwe. This article complements the growing body of literature on the urban informality by analysing the various ways people sustain their livelihoods in an economy where market-driven production has replaced national capitalism.
The Reliability of Linear Gain Scores as Measures of Student Growth at the Classroom Level in the Presence of Measurement Bias and Student Tracking
Authors: Culpepper Steven Andrew
Published: June 2014

The evaluation of teachers’ performance in the classroom is an important application of educational testing and psychometrics. School districts are using gain scores, such as the average difference between pre- and posttest scores, to characterize teacher performance in the classroom. Consequently, additional research is needed to understand factors that affect the reliability of gain scores to ensure reliable teaching evaluations. This article examines a class of linear gain scores (LGS) with a modified common factor model to understand the effect of latent variable characteristics on the reliability of observed gain scores. The analytic results derive an upper bound for the reliability of a class of LGS and compare simple difference scores and residualized scores. The results suggest that simple difference scores tend to be more reliable than residualized gain scores whenever strong invariance is satisfied where latent intercepts and loadings are equal over classrooms. However, residualized gain scores are more similar to the optimal reliability in instances when classrooms differ in latent measurement intercepts and loadings. In addition, in contrast with previous conjectures, the results imply that student tracking artificially inflates LGS reliability. The results in this article serve as a guide for researchers who develop and refine methods for measuring student learning gains and evaluating teachers.
Outcome Indicators for Home Parenteral Nutrition Care
Authors: Dreesen Mira , Pironi Loris , Wanten Geert , Szczepanek Kinga , Foulon Veerle , Willems Ludo , Gillanders Lynn , Joly Francisca , Cuerda Cristina , Van Gossum Andre
Published: June 2014

Background and Aims: Patients receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN) deserve a high‐quality and patient‐centered care. Patient‐centered care can be delivered only if the patient's priorities and concerns are known. Therefore, the aim is to identify the top 3 most important outcome indicators according to patients' perspectives and the differences between several centers, HPN regimen, and HPN experience. Methods: A questionnaire, based on previously developed outcome indicators, was translated into the mother tongue using forward‐backward translation and distributed to adult HPN patients with benign disease in March 2013. To identify differences, a Kruskal‐Wallis or Mann‐Whitney test was performed with GraphPad Prism (significance level <.05) when applicable. Results: Nine centers over 8 countries (300 patients) participated. The top 3 outcome indicators for patients were (1) incidence of catheter‐related infection (CRI), (2) survival, and (3) quality of life (QoL). Between the participating centers, significant differences on rating were found for 5 outcome indicators (catheter obstruction, .015; weight, .002; energy, .010; fear, <.001; and independence, .010). The independence outcome indicator (.050) was considered less important for experienced (>2 years HPN) vs less experienced patients. For this outcome indicator, patients' view also differed significantly based on number of HPN days per week (.0103). Conclusion: A cohort of HPN patients identified incidence of CRI, survival, and QoL as the most important outcome indicators for their care; however, there were significant differences between the participating centers. For one outcome indicator (independence), there were significant differences based on experience and regimen.
Staying Put
Authors: Christensen Angela
Published: June 2014

Throughout the twentieth century, food production in America drastically changed in conjunction with social and historical events. The ramifications of America’s agricultural endeavors are evident in polluted waterways, soils, and air, along with myriad health problems like diabetes and obesity linked to highly processed foods. Over the last three decades, sustainable agriculture, seen in the form of farmers’ markets, organic food, and local food, has swept across America. The desire by an ever-growing population to see food production become more localized and tangible is witnessed in the increasing amount of literature dedicated to the topic of sustainable agriculture. Although critiqued by some as a step backward in the progress of agriculture, sustainable agriculture continues to gain momentum (Beus and Dunlap 1990; Gardner 2002; Vogeler 1981). Drawing on literature, documents, and semi-structured interviews with sustainable farmers in the Western United States, I explore why farmers choose to farm in a sustainable manner and how their philosophies of sustainable farming drive their everyday practices.
Practicing the Art of Dissent
Authors: Ratliff Thomas N. , Hall Lori L.
Published: June 2014

Protest events present portraits of social problems—people, through collective action, send a message to society through their performance of opposition. The purpose of this study is to examine the distribution and diversity of specific activities taking place at protest events in the United States from 2006 to 2009. We empirically examine these activities by drawing on preliminary data from a sample of nearly 2,500 protest events reported in the Los Angeles Times and New York Times. To more clearly understand our contentious repertoire, we build upon coding protocol developed by the Dynamics of Collective Action Project and examine over 60 specific activities utilized by activists. What we show—in addition to the fact that protester actions, while sometimes confrontational, are overwhelmingly nonviolent—is that the majority of all protester activity at protest events during the period under study involves literally symbolic, aesthetic, and sensory qualities. In this article, we present a typology of six broad activity categories and propose directions for future research.
Bite Me! The Twilight Saga, a Fantasy Space of Self-Transformation as Self-Realization
Authors: Jameson Celia , Dane Julia
Published: June 2014

This article seeks to challenge the conventional reading of the Twilight saga as a regressive influence on young women. We argue that by drawing on themes of governmentality and fantasy, it is possible to open up the debate to consider Twilight as a text offering a fantasy space of transcending the limitations of neoliberal subjecthood. In particular, the article focuses on the figure of the vampire Edward Cullen as the carrier of anxieties around the boundaries of the autonomous subject and highlights the ways in which Bella Swan’s desire for transformation to vampire speaks to a specific set of normative neoliberal ideals for young women in the 21 st century.
Impact of home-delivered meal programs on diet and nutrition among older adults
Authors: Zhu Huichen , An Ruopeng
Published: June 2014

Background:

Poor diet quality and insufficient nutrient intake is of particular concern among older adults. The Older Americans Act of 1965 authorizes home-delivered meal services to homebound individuals aged 60 years and older.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to review scientific evidence on the impact of home-delivered meal services on diet and nutrition among recipients.

Methods:

Keyword and reference searches were conducted in Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, PubMed and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria included: study design (randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, pre-post studies, or cross-sectional studies); main outcome (food and nutrient intakes); population (home-delivered meal program participants); country (US); language (articles written in English); and article type (peer-reviewed publications or theses).

Results:

Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, including two randomized controlled trial studies (from the same intervention), one cohort study, two pre-post studies, and three cross-sectional studies. All but two studies found home-delivered meal programs to significantly improve diet quality, increase nutrient intakes, and reduce food insecurity and nutritional risk among participants. Other beneficial outcomes include increased socialization opportunities, improvement in dietary adherence, and higher quality of life.

Conclusions:

Home-delivered meal programs improve diet quality and increase nutrient intakes among participants. These programs are also aligned with the federal cost-containment policy to rebalance long-term care away from nursing homes to home- and community-based services by helping older adults maintain independence and remain in their homes and communities as their health and functioning decline.
Pedometer-facilitated walking intervention shows promising effectiveness for reducing cancer fatigue: a pilot randomized trial
Authors: Mayo Nancy E , Moriello Carolina , Scott Susan C , Dawes Diana , Auais Mohammad , Chasen Martin
Published: June 2014

Objective:

Mechanisms for cancer related fatigue suggest that exercise but “not too much and not too little” could be effective. This study aimed to investigate feasibility and estimate the potential effects of a walking exercise program in people with advanced cancer and fatigue.

Design:

A pilot randomized trial.

Setting:

McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Montreal, Canada.

Subjects:

People with advanced cancer undergoing interdisciplinary assessment and rehabilitation with a fatigue level of 4 to 10 on a visual analogue scale.

Interventions:

An 8-week fatigue-adapted, walking intervention, facilitated using a pedometer (STEPS), and offered at the same time as or after rehabilitation.

Measures:

Measures of fatigue, physical function and well-being were administered at entry, and 8, 16 and 24 weeks. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) estimated the odds of response for people receiving the STEPS program in comparison to the odds of response in the controls (odds ratio, OR).

Results:

Twenty-six persons were randomized to three groups: during rehabilitation, after rehabilitation, and usual care. For the fatigue measures the OR for STEPS offered at any time using an intention-to-treat approach was 3.68 (95%CI: 1.05-12.88); for the physical function measures, the OR was 1.40 (95%CI: 0.41- 4.79) and 2.36 (95%CI: 0.66-8.51) for the well-being measures.

Conclusion:

Fifty percent of eligible people were able to participate. This small trial suggests that a personalized exercise program reduces fatigue and that 100 people are needed in a full strength trial.
Systematic review of the psychometric properties of balance measures for cerebellar ataxia
Authors: Winser Stanley J , Smith Catherine M , Hale Leigh A , Claydon Leica S , Whitney Susan L , Mehta Poonam
Published: June 2014

Objective:

To review systematically the psychometric properties of balance measures for use in people with cerebellar ataxia.

Data sources:

Medline, AMED, CINAHL, Web of Science and EMBASE were searched between 1946 and April 2014.

Review methods:

Two reviewers independently searched data sources. Cerebellar-specific and generic measures of balance were considered. Included studies tested psychometric properties of balance measures in people with cerebellar ataxia of any cause. Quality of reported studies was rated using the Consensus Based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist.

Results:

Twenty-one articles across which 16 measures had been tested were included for review. Using the COSMIN, quality of methodology in studies investigating psychometric properties of generic balance measures ( n=10) was rated predominantly as ‘poor’. Furthermore, responsiveness has not been tested for any generic measures in this population. The quality of studies investigating psychometric properties of balance sub-components of the cerebellar-specific measures ( n=6) ranged from ‘poor’ to ‘excellent’; however, Minimally Clinically Important Difference has not been determined for these cerebellar-specific measures.

Conclusion:

The Posture and Gait (PG) sub-component of the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) demonstrates the most robust psychometric properties with acceptable clinical utility.
What are the factors that influence physical activity participation in adults with knee and hip osteoarthritis? A systematic review of physical activity correlates
Authors: Stubbs Brendon , Hurley Michael , Smith Toby
Published: June 2014

Objective:

To determine the factors associated with physical activity participation in adults with hip or knee osteoarthritis.

Methods:

A systematic review was conducted including searches of AMED, PsycINFO, CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed and the Cochrane Library from inception until October 2013. Studies presenting quantitative correlates of physical activity in adults with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis were included. Two independent authors conducted the searches, extracted data and completed methodological quality assessment. Correlates were analysed using the summary code approach within the socio-ecological model.

Results:

A total of 170 correlates were identified from 29 publications analysing 8076 individual people with hip or knee osteoarthritis. Methodological quality was generally good. For knee osteoarthritis, factors consistently negatively associated with physical activity (reported more than four studies) were increasing age (number of participants in studies supporting association = 4558), non-white ethnicity ( n = 3232), increased osteoarthritis symptoms ( n = 2374) and female gender ( n = 4816). Greater lower limb function ( n = 1671) and faster gait speed were ( n = 4098) positively associated with physical activity. Social (e.g. support from spouse ( n = 141)) and environment (outdoor temperature ( n = 38)) factors were identified as possible factors that influence physical activity. For hip osteoarthritis, higher body mass index ( n = 99), increased comorbidities ( n = 1021), lower mental health ( n = 189) and unemployment ( n = 65) were negatively associated with physical activity; while better social functioning ( n = 1055) and health-related quality of life were positively associated with physical activity ( n = 34).

Conclusion:

Demographic, physical, social, psychological and environmental factors are all important correlates for physical activity for people with knee or hip osteoarthritis. Clinicians should consider these in clinical practice.
Shame and discipline: The practice and discourse of a “Confucian model” of management in a family firm in China
Authors: Zhao Jianhua
Published: June 2014

At the height of economic globalization since the 1990s, neoliberal capitalism has been declared as the only game in town. Against the spread of the neoliberal capitalism from the West to the rest of the world is a growing trend of various local forms of capitalist practices or “spiritual economies.” Using the framework of global assemblage, this article examines how a “Confucian model” of management is put to practice in a self-acknowledged family firm in eastern Zhejiang, China. While the firm’s “Confucian model” of management contains a neoliberal logic of aiming at creating a more disciplined, ethical, and productive workforce, I argue that it is not an example of neoliberal capitalism. Moreover, I argue that the model is not an application of the earlier concept of Confucian capitalism engendered in other parts of Asia. Instead, it is a unique local assemblage consisting of three overlapping but heterogeneous components.
Prediction of the nonlinear hysteresis loop for fluid-film bearings by numerical continuation
Authors: Sghir Radhouane , Chouchane Mnaouar
Published: June 2014

A nonlinear dynamic model of a short journal bearing is used to predict the steady-state motion of the journal and its successive bifurcations in the neighbourhood of the stability critical speed. Numerical continuation is applied to determine the branch of equilibrium point and its bifurcation into stable or unstable limit cycles. It has been found that the unstable limit cycles undergo a single limit point bifurcation whereas the stable limit cycles undergo two successive limit point bifurcations. Thus, the bi-stability domain, the potential jumping from small to large motion and the hysteresis loop motion are predicted.
Study on the compound shaped-hole structure for the peanut seeding device
Authors: Yang Xianhai , Yang Yuguo
Published: June 2014

The loss factor of peanut seeds during seeding is high due to the serious friction between the seed and the protection panel. Aiming at solving this problem, a new type of lateral cylindrical-shaped hole structure on the vertical cylinder was put forward for the peanut seeding device. To analyze the device, the kinematics and the force bearing models have been constructed for the peanut inside the seed protection area. The explicit formulas of the maximum and the minimum seed protection angles are derived and the range of the actual protection angle is identified to optimize the design. Both the theoretical analyses and the experimental evaluations have shown that the friction damage on the peanut seed by the protection panel has been reduced in a large proportion by the introduced structure. It shows that not only the seeding performance has been improved but also the used material of the protection panel has been saved.
New mechanical variable valve actuation systems for motorcycle engines
Authors: Abagnale Carmelina , Migliaccio Mariano , Pennacchia Ottavio
Published: June 2014

This paper summarizes the results of the design of new mechanical variable valve actuation systems, developed for high-performance motorcycle engines, at University of Napoli Federico II, Department of Industrial Engineering – Section Mechanics and Energy. After a synthetic recapitulation of the main variable valve-actuation methods and of the main beneficial effects on performance, emissions, and consumptions of the modern automotive engines on which they are currently employed, the paper presents the results of our mechanical variable valve actuation systems, born to be applied on a MotoMorini engine, as required by the company. The paper starts with the description of a first study concerning a very simple system, used just to set up a model to be used for further and more complex activities. The study has been conducted implementing a numerical procedure specifically designed to determine cam profile and kinematic and dynamic characteristics of the whole system, starting from some input data (as described later). The model has been validated against the conventional timing system using kinematic simulations. The work has evolved through three main steps leading to three types of variable valve actuation systems, all mechanical systems (as defined in literature and described later). Results of the numerical procedure verify the validity of the variable valve actuation systems, and particularly, the last one shows a complete performance in terms of lift, duration, and timing variation of valve-lift law. This paper reports results reachable with these simple systems that give good perspectives of use for a new two-wheel vehicle engine.
Time waveform replication for electro-hydraulic shaking table incorporating off-line iterative learning control and modified internal model control
Authors: Tang Yu , Shen Gang , Zhu Zhen-Cai , Li Xiang , Yang Chi-Fu
Published: June 2014

In this article, a combined control strategy incorporating off-line iterative learning control and modified internal model control is proposed for improving the time waveform replication performance of electro-hydraulic shaking table. To reduce the modeling error between the estimated inverse model and the actual system, a modified internal model control strategy is first utilized to cope with the modeling error by back absorbing the nominal model and the inverse controller into a direct through block. Due to the non-minimum phase property of the nominal model estimated by the recursive extended least square algorithm, the zero magnitude error tracking controller is exploited to obtain a stable inverse controller. Then, an off-line iterative learning control strategy involving a real-time feedback controller is conducted on the compensated system to further enhance the replication performance. Therefore, the proposed algorithm combines the merits of modified internal model control and off-line iterative learning control and simplifies the conventional iterative control process by eliminating consecutive computation of Fourier and inverse Fourier transforms. The combined strategy is first programmed in MATLAB/Simulink and then compiled to a real-time personal computer with xPC target technology for implementation. Experiment results demonstrate that a better tracking accuracy and a faster convergence rate are achieved with the proposed algorithm than conventional pure iterative learning controller.
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 rescues the oxidative stress induced by di-N-butylphthalate in testicular Leydig cells
Authors: Shen B , Wang W , Ding L , Sao Y , Huang Y , Shen Z , Zhuo Y , Wei Z , Zhang W
Published: June 2014

Aim:

This study aimed to determine whether nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 antagonized the oxidative stress induced by di- N-butylphthalate (DBP) in testicular Leydig cells.

Methods:

Mouse TM3 testicular Leydig cells were treated with Nrf2 knockdown (KD) or overexpression in the presence and absence of DBP. Oxidative profiles were examined. Nrf2 target antioxidant genes were studied, and the effects of Nrf2 inducer sulphoraphane (SFN) were tested.

Results:

DBP induced intracellular oxidative stress to a similar extent with Nrf2 KD. Expression and protein levels of Nrf2 were increased together with its target genes, namely heme oxygenase 1, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate quinone oxidoreductase 1 and peroxiredoxin 6, following DBP stimulation. Use of SFN not only restored the intracellular oxidative toxicity but also cell proliferation and testosterone secretion in response to DBP.

Conclusion:

Increased Nrf2 activity, for example, by SFN can effectively antagonize the oxidative stress in testicular Leydig cells caused by DBP.
Differences in sun time within the same time zone affect sleep–wake and social rhythms, but not morningness preference: Findings from a Polish–German comparison study
Authors: Jankowski Konrad S. , Vollmer Christian , Linke Magdalena , Randler Christoph
Published: June 2014

Morningness–eveningness describes individual preferences for activity at specified times of the day. The present research aimed to test whether sun time entrains humans and whether this effect is observable in sleep–wake timing, in the timing of social rhythm and in morningness preference. Furthermore, we tested whether different reference points (activity expressed in standard time or in sun time, morningness preference scores) provide concordant results about differences in chronotype according to longitude. University students were tested in two locations (Warsaw, Poland; Heidelberg, Germany) positioned within the same time zone but differing according to longitude, thus daylight appeared earlier in the east (Warsaw) than in the west (Heidelberg). Sampling was scheduled to obtain similar photoperiods and other environmental factors in two locations. Measures consisted of times of day when various activities occurred (e.g. going to bed, waking up, going outdoors) in the seven days prior to data collection, morningness preference, and depressiveness. Varsovians and Heidelbergers did not differ in morningness preference and depressiveness, but Varsovians, compared to Heidelbergers, undertook a number of activities (e.g. wake up, get up, having breakfast, first contact with another person and going outdoors) at an earlier clock time (21–38 min earlier, depending on activity), did not differ in starting and finishing classes/work, and were later in eating lunch and dinner. However, all the activities of Varsovians (except for going outdoors) were positioned later according to sun time reference. Thus, residents from east as compared to those from the west had similar morningness preference, were more morning positioned in many aspects according to standard time, but were later according to sun time. Results indicated university students entrained to sun time to some extent, and morning activities more coupled to sun time.
Whatever happened to the ‘mad, bad’ scientist? Overturning the stereotype
Authors: Haynes Roslynn D.
Published: June 2014

The cluster of myths relating to the pursuit of knowledge has perpetuated the archetype of the alchemist/scientist as sinister, dangerous, possibly mad and threatening to society’s values. Shelley’s Frankenstein provided imagery and a vocabulary universally invoked in relation to scientific discoveries and technological innovation. The reasons for the longevity of this seemingly antiquated, semiotic imagery are discussed. In the twenty-first century, this stereotype has been radically revised, even overturned. Scientists are now rarely objects of fear or mockery. Mathematicians, both real-life and fictional, are discussed here as being representative of scientists now depicted empathically. This article examines possible sociological reasons for this reversal; what the revisionist image suggests about society’s changed attitudes to science; and what might be the substitute fears and sources of horror.
Marketing the Gurkha security package: Colonial histories and neoliberal economies of private security
Authors: Chisholm Amanda
Published: June 2014

This article contributes to the existing critical theory and gender scholarship on private military security companies by examining how the gendered subjectivities of third-country nationals (TCNs) are constituted through the intersections of colonial histories and neoliberal economic practices. Focusing on Gurkha contractors, I ask how it is that both the remuneration and the working conditions of TCNs are inferior to those of their white Western peers within the industry. The article shows that Gurkhas’ working conditions flow from their location on the periphery of global employment markets, a disadvantage that is further inflected by their status as racially underdeveloped subjects. Thus, their material and cultural status within the industry – regardless of the abilities of the individuals in question – is argued to be the outcome of tenacious colonial histories that continue to shape the labour-market opportunities of men from the global South within larger global security governance practices that increasingly feature outsourcing of military labour in operations.
Ethical considerations on the value of patient knowledge in long-term care
Authors: van den Hooff Susanne L , Goossensen Anne
Published: June 2014

Aim:

This study explores experiences of patients suffering from Korsakoff’s syndrome. It contributes to improved reflection on the value of patient knowledge.

Background:

An ethics of care perspective states the importance of moving to patients in their vulnerable state of being, and to figure out patients’ individual needs necessary to provide good care. The information given by patients suffering from Korsakoff’s syndrome might be mistaken, invented and even not true. The value of these patients’ experiences and knowledge had not been researched to date.

Method:

Data from six in-depth interviews were analysed concurrently through the constant comparative method.

Ethical considerations:

The principles of voluntariness, confidentiality and anonymity were respected during the research process.

Findings:

Four important themes within patients’ knowledge emerged: health condition, involuntary admission into the nursing home, the daily routine and interpretation of the caring abilities of healthcare professionals. The findings show that our respondents were able to provide a window into their inner perspective.

Conclusion:

This study deepens our understanding of the value of patient knowledge in situations where patients see the world in a different manner as do healthcare professionals. The conversations revealed personal subjective knowledge which our respondents create and live by. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to discover and affirm the understandings of these patients, and not be prepossessed due to the diagnosis or general nursing home rules. Understanding patients’ unique knowledge through appreciation of the complexity and richness of different views on the situation can assist to give a more humane response to individual needs and pain. Health staff in healthcare institutions are encouraged to evaluate the – unintended – effect of rigidly applied nursing home rules, and the government is challenged to rethink its policy about care, and provide more resources permitting relational care that nurtures the dignity of patients suffering from Korsakoff’s syndrome.
Touchdown polymerase chain reaction detection of polycystic kidney disease and laboratory findings in different cat populations
Authors: Scalon Marcela C. , da Silva Thamiris F. , Aquino Larissa C. , Carneiro Filipe T. , Lima Maíra G. da M. , Lemos Marcelle dos S. , Paludo Giane R.
Published: June 2014

Autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most prevalent inherited genetic disease of cats, predominantly affecting Persian and Persian-related cats. A point mutation (C→A transversion) in exon 29 of the PKD1 gene causes ADPKD, and is the specific molecular target for genetic diagnosis in cats. The current study describes a newly developed touchdown polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect this single point mutation, using 2 primers specific for the mutant allele, adapted from an existing multiplex amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS PCR). Furthermore, correlations between the clinical outcomes of tested animals and the results of the genetic test were investigated. A total of 334 cats were tested, 188 from the Veterinary Hospital of Small Animals at the University of Brasilia, and 146 from an anti-rabies vaccine campaign of the Federal District. A total prevalence of 9% was evident among the samples, with 33% of the Persian cats testing positive, and 7% of the Brazilian long- and shorthaired cats testing positive. Prevalence was not correlated with gender or hemogram. Positive animals exhibited hyperglobulinemia ( P = 0.02). This research demonstrated that the mutation does not only occur in Persian and Persian-related cats, and that a touchdown PCR can be used to diagnose ADPKD.
Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of Bluetongue virus serotype 2 strains isolated in the Americas including a novel strain from the western United States
Authors: Gaudreault Natasha N. , Mayo Christie E. , Jasperson Dane C. , Crossley Beate M. , Breitmeyer Richard E. , Johnson Donna J. , Ostlund Eileen N. , MacLachlan N. James , Wilson William C.
Published: June 2014

Bluetongue is a potentially fatal arboviral disease of domestic and wild ruminants that is characterized by widespread edema and tissue necrosis. Bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes 10, 11, 13, and 17 occur throughout much of the United States, whereas serotype 2 (BTV-2) was previously only detected in the southeastern United States. Since 1998, 10 other BTV serotypes have also been isolated from ruminants in the southeastern United States. In 2010, BTV-2 was identified in California for the first time, and preliminary sequence analysis indicated that the virus isolate was closely related to BTV strains circulating in the southeastern United States. In the current study, the whole genome sequence of the California strain of BTV-2 was compared with those of other BTV-2 strains in the Americas. The results of the analysis suggest co-circulation of genetically distinct viruses in the southeastern United States, and further suggest that the 2010 western isolate is closely related to southeastern strains of BTV. Although it remains uncertain as to how this novel virus was translocated to California, the findings of the current study underscore the need for ongoing surveillance of this economically important livestock disease.
Outbreak of Bluetongue virus serotype 4 in dairy sheep in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: Balaro Mario Felipe Alvarez , dos Santos Lima Michele , Del Fava Claudia , de Oliveira Glenda Ribeiro , Pituco Edviges Maristela , Brandão Felipe Zandonadi
Published: June 2014

In late January 2013, 10 nonpregnant Lacaune dairy ewes raised under extensive husbandry management on a farm in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, presented with the general clinical signs of lethargy, hyporexia, edema of the face, hyperemia of the exposed parts of the skin, mouth lesions, pyrexia, and lameness. Additionally, 2 pregnant ewes died suddenly after the onset of respiratory signs. The complete blood counts and biochemistry analyses showed neutrophilic leukocytosis with monocytosis and reactive lymphocytes, normocytic normochromic anemia and increased aspartate aminotransferase levels. Postmortem examination revealed erosions on the lingual mucosa, bilateral submandibular ganglia infarctions, yellow foamy fluid accumulation in the trachea and bronchial bifurcation, pulmonary congestion, and edema associated with hemorrhagic lesions on the pulmonary artery and heart. The clinical and pathological findings were suggestive of bluetongue. For a molecular and virological diagnosis, tissue samples were analyzed by Bluetongue virus–specific real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and viral isolation was performed in embryonated chicken eggs. For viral typing, positive tissue and egg-isolated samples were analyzed by qRT-PCR using primers and probes specific for the structural VP2 gene in genome segment 2 of all 26 serotypes. There are still no contingency plans for responding to an outbreak of bluetongue disease in Brazil, and this episode emphasizes the need for continuing serological and entomological surveillance programs. Additionally, this report describes the isolation of Bluetongue virus serotype 4 in sheep in the Americas.
Cardiovascular Drug Shortages
Authors: Wiggins Barbara S. , Nappi Jean , Fortier Christopher R. , Taber David J.
Published: June 2014

Objective: To review the literature surrounding the incidence, significance, and management of cardiovascular (CV) drug shortages. Data Sources: A literature search was conducted using all available indexing databases from January 1996 to August 2013, coupled with assessments of the ASHP (American Society of Health System Pharmacists) and Food and Drug Administration Web sites designated to drug shortages. Data were also gathered through a review of listservs discussing this topic. Data Synthesis: CV drug shortages are among the top 5 national drug class shortages that are posing a threat to patient care and public health. When a drug shortage occurs, it requires modifications to prescribing and the method medications are processed by the pharmacy. These necessary yet cumbersome changes can potentially result in less-than-desirable prescribing options and increases in personnel time because of administrative and dispensing obstacles. Any one of these has the potential to increase costs and/or lead to worse outcomes. Several factors have been shown to contribute to these shortages, including manufacturing delays, increased demand, medication discontinuations, and lack of raw materials. In this article, we review 13 of the critical CV drug shortages, describe their role in therapy, discuss the reasons for the shortage, define their impact on patient care, and recommend alternative therapies. Conclusions: CV drug shortages are common and can potentially lead to deleterious patient outcomes. Institutions should develop plans for early identification, management, and resolution to minimize the clinical sequelae associated with drug shortages.