bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“... As Long as Power Relations Exist ... Yes, There are Inequalities…” Social and Educational Inequalities in Greece According to the Views of Female and Male Students of Tertiary Education Institutions
Authors: Kyridis Argyris , Tourtouras Christos , Thanos Theodoros
Published: February 2017

The issue of social and more specifically educational inequalities in Greek society and education seems to concern the Greek society less and less nowadays. Scientific research and the contemporary sociological theory have focused on specific areas of interest of the phenomenon, neglecting the issue in its macro sociological dimension, without, of course, this meaning that the frames and fields of analysis that have emerged are of minor importance. The main question that concerns this research is, if social and educational inequalities are recognized today by the Greek social body and on which fields they focus. Do social and educational inequalities exist in Greece? Are they recognizable and how are they manifested? Our research was carried out with two research tools: a questionnaire which includes two attitude scales (social and educational inequalities) (N=800) and another one which contains a single question, which concerns the expression of opinion about whether the sample considers that there are inequalities in the Greek education system, and the justification of its views (N=800). The questionnaires were answered by female and male students of Greek Universities and Technological Educational Institutes. We chose the university student status in the sample, in order to record attitudes and opinions of young people who are considered “favored” by the education system. The analysis showed that the sample considers that, indeed, there are inequalities in Greek society as well as in Greek education and it is able to recognize a significant range of indications of the phenomenon. It seems that the experienced inequality prevailed against the “favorable” treatment which the system “reserved” in this specific sample.
Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Policy in Indonesia
Authors: Hermanto Bambang , Suryanto S. E.
Published: February 2017

The role of entrepreneurs strongly influences the economic growth of a country. Every country always encourages entrepreneurship so that it could thrive by creating an entrepreneurship ecosystem. The role of entrepreneurship ecosystem will be optimal if the government can create a policy that is in synergy with the other components of the entrepreneurship ecosystem. The method of research used in this study is a qualitative approach with the literature study method. The data were obtained through books, documents, Internet, and other relevant sources. The data that was obtained then analysed using descriptive analysis method by describing the facts, which are then followed by analysis, not merely outlines, but also provides an understanding and explanation. The results of the research showed that the components of the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Indonesia are working. However, their activities are limited to running their respective programs without a comprehensive design. The government needs to play a more dominant role to optimize and synergize each component of the entrepreneurship ecosystem. One of the institutions or particular ministries should establish a policy so that the program to build the entrepreneurship ecosystem does not overlap with each other.
The Impact of Industry Variables on Company`s Performance
Authors: Pulaj Enida
Published: February 2017

Everywhere, in the business world and not only, we speak about the competitiveness. And while talking about this concept, it seems appropriate to explain what the competitiveness is and how it influences the organizational performance. Nowadays, there has been a growing intensity of competition in all business areas and this has resulted in a greater attention to analyze the competitive behavior under environmental dynamics and complexity. The industry is the "arena" where starts and applies every company`s activity. Usually, facing the high level of competition, it is necessary to study all the variables which influence the organization in order to achieve goals such as: the profitability and ensuring organization`s longevity. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between industry forces and organizational performance to test the applicability of Porter`s model explaining the differences in the performance of construction companies. The methodology used is in the function of links between variables that characterize the industry and the realized performance, expressed through overall performance. The primary data collection was conducted through a questionnaire. Besides the demographic characteristics of the sample, the questionnaire as well aims to collect information on a high number of variables. Geographically, the companies participated by completed the questionnaire, were performing their business activity in Vlora region (such as Vlora city, Orikum and Himara), covering areas where construction sectors had the major development, including urban and coastline areas. The processing data collected via questionnaire shows that the construction industry is characterized by a high level of competitiveness and market fragmentation.Through the empirical analysis of competitive forces, the study contributes to the specific orientation that investors and managers should have when they face a high rivalry among companies.
The Effectiveness of a Music and Movement Program for Traditional Dance Teaching on Primary School Students’ Intrinsic Motivation and Self - Reported Patterns of Lesson Participation
Authors: Georgios Lykesas , Aspasia Dania , Maria Koutsouba , Evgenia Nikolaki , Basiliki Tyrovola
Published: February 2017

Research evidence on traditional dance teaching has shown how important it is for primary school education to institute reforms and present new ways of intervention in order to contribute effectively to the overall development of the child's personality. The aim of this research is a) to demonstrate the effectiveness of a music and movement instructional program on traditional dance learning, in terms of primary school students patterns of self-reported positive learning experiences and active lesson participation and b) to examine its impact on students’ internal motivation to play and dance with a more enjoyable and creative mood. During a period of six months 80 students (34 boys and 46 girls) aged between 9-10 years old, took part in the research. They were divided into two groups, the experimental group (N = 40) and control group (N = 40). The experimental group was taught Greek traditional dances according to a Music and Movement teaching model, while the control group was taught the same dances with a direct teaching model. The impact of the two models on students’ motivation to participate actively during the lesson was tested with the use of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI). The results showed that the use of Music and Movement teaching models can have a positive impact on students’ intrinsic motivation and active participation in the course of traditional dance.
The Transformation of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Dance through State Education and Politics in the Ritual of a Rural Greek Community
Authors: Fountzoulas Giorgos K. , Koutsouba Maria I. , Hapsoulas Anastasios , Lantzos Vasilios
Published: February 2017

In many cases, dance, as an embodied practice reflects habits, views, relations and juxtaposition and thus constitutes a “vessel” of meanings, is used by the ruling class as a means of enforcement or manipulation, whereas by the people, as a means to resist or express opposition to the policies of the respective ruling class. In such cases, dance stands as a symbol that carries values and meanings, embodies cultural classifications, reflects social relations and diversifications, and defines integration and exclusion. Dance, as “an inalienable structural component” of the “Gaitanaki” ritual in a community of Central Greece, i.e. Skala in the Nafpaktia province, is one of such cases. Thus, the aim of this paper is to study the transformation of dance during the “Gaitanaki” ritual as a result of the manipulation by the ruling class through the Greek formal education in the 20th century. More specifically, the paper investigates the way in which the respective ruling class influenced, manipulated and guided the dance during the ritual and how this contributed to the transformation of its dancing form from the middle of the 20th century until now. For this purpose, ethnographic research was carried out as it applies to the dance research. Data analysis was based on “thick description”, whereas its interpretation on Wright’s (2004) notion of political and politicised culture as this derives from Bourdieu’s (1990) “habitus”. It is proved that national cultural policy promoted through formal education transformed aspects of dance during the ritual as well as its symbolism.
Lean Six Sigma Based Administration Municipal Services versus Current Ones: Measuring the Gap from Civil Servants Perspective
Authors: Zefaj Engelbert
Published: February 2017

The study compares the ideal municipal administrative services based on Lean Six Sigma with the current quality of administrative services provided by municipality, from the perspective of civil servants. Municipal civil servants have been interviewed and their responses have been analyzed. 12 Critical Success Factors (CSFs’) and 36 sub factors have been used for the realization of the research. Statistical methods: Descriptive, Sample t-test, Independent t-test and One Way Anova have been used for the analysis. This research measures the gap, provides statistics and conclusions of the civil servants estimation differences regarding municipal administrative services, civil servants compliance for the identified gap and offers recommendations for administration service improvement in the future.
Involution Fisheries: Post-Study Model of National Program in Integrated Movement at Community Fishermen's Village Development Arungkeke, Jeneponto
Authors: Azis Ferawati , Idris Rabihatun , Agustang Andi
Published: February 2017

In order to achieve a just and prosperous society, the Government in 2007-2010 to implement the construction of the fishing communities disadvantaged, poor, isolated through the National Integrated Village Development Movement with the aim of promoting economic growth and alleviating poverty and improving the infrastructure improvements. The results showed an indication of the vulnerability and poverty can be clearly perceived by the community of Kampung Nelayan Arungkeke, in spite of the physical facts such as the infrastructure is still feasible, but in terms of the fulfillment of daily life for the family members of fishermen have not experienced a prosperous life. It is due, namely: (1) cultural poverty shows the traditions that are not effectively resulting into a consumerist society, there is no future orientation, and there is a paradigm many children a lot of sustenance resulting in continuously increasing population; (2) structural poverty characterized the colonial practices is the strong influence of capitalism, the gap in the sharing system, as well as the uneven distribution of income: (3) approach to social cultural transformation as the impetus to get out of the condition of involution.
The Albanian Taxpayers’ Perception of the Current Tax System and Its Impact on Informal Economy, Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance
Authors: Muceku Hysen , Balliu Teuta
Published: February 2017

Tax revenues constitute the main source of public expenditure financing. The main problem that the public finances in Albania are facing today is the lack of public revenue to the level that the execution of the public spending requires. This is the result of a still high level of informal economy, tax evasion and tax avoidance. The reforms undertaken by the Albanian governments in the past two decades in order to manage the main factors of the informal economy, tax evasion, and tax avoidance have not had the expected results. Poor performance of the fiscal administration agencies has allowed fiscal policies and strategies approved by governments not to be implemented, thus creating a lot of problems and difficulties with an impact on the reduction of the efficiency of the fiscal system. This paper deals with the perception of the Albanian taxpayer for the current tax system in Albania. It also deals with its impact on the informal economy, tax evasion and tax avoidance. It analyses the main factors affecting the informal economy, tax evasion and tax avoidance, and the perception that Albanian taxpayers have for the current fiscal system. A fiscal system must be effective and perceived as fair in order to encourage voluntary payment of taxes thus bringing increased revenue, reduction of informality, tax evasion and tax avoidance. In order to realize this paper we used questionnaires with focused taxpayers, explaining the techniques of collecting, interpreting and analyzing the data. The paper concludes with the main conclusions of how Albanian taxpayers perceive the current tax system. It also provides recommendations for improving the current fiscal system based on the perception of taxpayers.
Passive and Antipassive in a Functional Description of French Reflexive Verbs
Authors: Herslund Michael
Published: February 2017

No abstracts.
Om semantiske rollers skematik
Authors: Lund Steffen Nordahl
Published: February 2017

This paper focuses on the dynamic interrelationship between semantic roles. On the basis of a minimalistic set of roles: agent, topos, locus, and instrument, inspired by the component grammar outlined by Hanne Korzen, Henning Nølke, Henrik Prebensen and Finn Sørensen, morphological schemes of pos-sible connections between semantic roles in modern French nuclear sentences are proposed within a catastrophe theoretic framework.
Overvejelser i forbindelse med min anmeldelse
Authors: Gudiksen Asgerd
Published: February 2017

No abstract.
Genoptagelse ved hjælp af proformer ved simultantolkning fra tysk
Authors: Dubslaff Friedel
Published: February 2017

No abstract.
The Evolution of Education in Nigeria: How has it Impacted Ordinary Nigerians from Pre-Independence till Present?
Authors: Alase Abayomi
Published: February 2017

This article looked at the maturity of the Nigerian educational system from independence until now.  As a comprehensive and historical review of the educational system/standard in Nigeria, this article examine some of the educational issues/shortcomings confronting the Nigerian people, and their inability to anticipate and strategically plan a course of action to handle the stressors.  Additionally, this article also discussed the effects of globalization and how it has transformed/reshaped the fundamentalism of educational practices in Africa.  As such, the problem with the Nigerian educational system is that it is lacking in many educational areas.  It is recommended that the Nigerian government facilitate the development/construction of new infrastructures.  For any society to grow/function properly, economically, developmentally, and/or fundamentally it needs certain infrastructures in place, i.e., standardized and structurally sound school buildings.
Is there a relation between dental anxiety, fear and general psychological status?
Authors: Talo Yildirim Tuba , Dundar Serkan , Bozoglan Alihan , Karaman Tahir , Dildes Neval , Acun Kaya Filiz , Altintas Eyyup , Oztekin Faruk , Atas Osman , Alan Hilal
Published: February 2017

Background

Dental anxiety is a widespread problem in many populations. This problem can be a barrier to dental care and may lead to poor oral health. Dental anxiety may be related to psychological status.

Aims

The aim of the present study was to assess the levels of dental anxiety, dental fear, Beck Depression, and state-trait anxiety according to age, gender and education level in patients at the periodontology clinic in the Diyarbakır Mouth and Dental Health Center.

Study Design

A total of 231 patients (115 males, 116 females) filled out dental fear scale (DFS), dental anxiety scale (DAS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), state-trait anxiety inventory-state (STAI-S), and state-trait anxiety inventory–trait (STAI-T) questionnaires, and evaluations of DFS, DAS, BDI, STAI-S, and STAI-T were conducted according to age, gender, and education level.

Results

The mean DFS, DAS, BDI, STAI-T, and STAI –S were 45.64, 9.15, 13.16, 38.90, and 40.18, respectively. There was a significant association among DFS, DAS, BDI, STAI-S, and STAI-T (p < 0.05). These surveys scores were significantly higher in females than males (p < 0.05). The results of this study indicated that gender age and education level have important effects on DFS, DAS, BDI, STAI-S, and STAI-T (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Dental anxiety and dental fear were found to be related to psychological status (BDI, STAI-S, and STAI-T) over time. There are some patients with unaddressed psychological distress.
Geodynamic implications for zonal and meridional isotopic patterns across the northern Lau and North Fiji Basins
Authors: Price Allison A. , Jackson Matthew G. , Blichert‐Toft Janne , Kurz Mark D. , Gill Jim , Blusztajn Jerzy , Jenner Frances , Brens Raul , Arculus Richard
Published: February 2017

We present new Sr‐Nd‐Pb‐Hf‐He isotopic data for 65 volcanic samples from the northern Lau and North Fiji Basins. This includes 47 lavas obtained from 40 dredge sites spanning an east‐west transect across the Lau and North Fiji basins, 10 ocean island basalt (OIB)‐type lavas collected from seven Fijian islands, and eight OIB lavas sampled on Rotuma. For the first time, we are able to map clear north‐south and east‐west geochemical gradients in 87Sr/86Sr across the northern Lau and North Fiji Basins: lavas with the most geochemically enriched radiogenic isotopic signatures are located in the northeast Lau Basin, while signatures of geochemical enrichment are diminished to the south and west away from the Samoan hot spot. Based on these geochemical patterns and plate reconstructions of the region, these observations are best explained by the addition of Samoa, Rurutu, and Rarotonga hot spot material over the past 4 Ma. We suggest that underplated Samoan material has been advected into the Lau Basin over the past ∼4 Ma. As the slab migrated west (and toward the Samoan plume) via rollback over time, younger and hotter (and therefore less viscous) underplated Samoan plume material was entrained. Thus, entrainment efficiency of underplated plume material was enhanced, and Samoan plume signatures in the Lau Basin became stronger as the trench approached the Samoan hot spot. The addition of subducted volcanoes from the Cook‐Austral Volcanic Lineament first from the Rarotonga hot spot, then followed by the Rurutu hot spot, contributes to the extreme geochemical signatures observed in the northeast Lau Basin.
East Antarctic ice sheet most vulnerable to Weddell Sea warming
Authors: Golledge N. R. , Levy R. H. , McKay R. M. , Naish T. R.
Published: February 2017

Models predict considerable spatial variability in the magnitude of future climate change around Antarctica, suggesting that some sectors of the continent may be more affected by these changes than others. Furthermore, the geometry of the bedrock topography underlying the East and West Antarctic ice sheets, together with regional differences in ice thickness, mean that certain ice drainage basins may respond more or less sensitively to environmental forcings. Here we use an ensemble of idealized climates to drive ice‐sheet simulations that explore regional and continental‐scale thresholds, allowing us to identify a hierarchy of catchment vulnerabilities based on differences in long‐term catchment‐averaged ice loss. Considering this hierarchy in the context of recent observations and climate scenarios forecast for 2100 CE, we conclude that the majority of future ice loss from East Antarctica, both this century and over subsequent millennia, will likely come from the Recovery subglacial basin in the eastern Weddell Sea.
Distribution of water masses and meltwater on the continental shelf near the Totten and Moscow University ice shelves
Authors: Silvano Alessandro , Rintoul Stephen R. , Peña‐Molino Beatriz , Williams Guy D.
Published: February 2017

Warm waters flood the continental shelf of the Amundsen and Bellingshausen seas in West Antarctica, driving rapid basal melt of ice shelves. In contrast, waters on the continental shelf in East Antarctica are cooler and ice shelves experience relatively low rates of basal melt. An exception is provided by the Totten and Moscow University ice shelves on the Sabrina Coast, where satellite‐derived basal melt rates are comparable to West Antarctica. Recent oceanographic observations have revealed that relatively warm (∼−0.4°C) modified Circumpolar Deep Water (mCDW) enters the cavity beneath the Totten Ice Shelf through a 1100 m deep trough, delivering sufficient heat to drive rapid basal melt. Here we use observations from a recent summer survey to show that mCDW is widespread on the continental shelf of the Sabrina Coast, forming a warm (up to 0.3°C) and saline (34.5–34.6) bottom layer overlaid by cold (∼freezing point) and fresh (salinity ∼34.3) Winter Water. Dense Shelf Water is not observed. A 1000 deep m trough allows water at −1.3°C to reach the Moscow University ice‐shelf cavity to drive basal melt. Freshening by addition of glacial meltwater is widespread on the southern shelf at depths above 300–400 m, with maximum meltwater concentrations up to 4–5 ml L−1 observed in outflows from the ice‐shelf cavities. Our observations indicate that the ocean properties on the Sabrina Coast more resemble those found on the continental shelf of the Amundsen and Bellingshausen seas than those typical of East Antarctica.
Estimating the distribution of colored dissolved organic matter during the Southern Ocean Gas Exchange Experiment using four‐dimensional variational data assimilation
Authors: Del Castillo C. E. , Dwivedi S. , Haine T. W. N. , Ho D. T.
Published: February 2017

We diagnosed the effect of various physical processes on the distribution of mixed‐layer colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and a sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer during the Southern Ocean Gas Exchange Experiment (SO GasEx). The biochemical upper ocean state estimate uses in situ and satellite biochemical and physical data in the study region, including CDOM (absorption coefficient and spectral slope), SF6, hydrography, and sea level anomaly. Modules for photobleaching of CDOM and surface transport of SF6 were coupled with an ocean circulation model for this purpose. The observed spatial and temporal variations in CDOM were captured by the state estimate without including any new biological source term for CDOM, assuming it to be negligible over the 26 days of the state estimate. Thermocline entrainment and photobleaching acted to diminish the mixed‐layer CDOM with time scales of 18 and 16 days, respectively. Lateral advection of CDOM played a dominant role and increased the mixed‐layer CDOM with a time scale of 12 days, whereas lateral diffusion of CDOM was negligible. A Lagrangian view on the CDOM variability was demonstrated by using the SF6 as a weighting function to integrate the CDOM fields. This and similar data assimilation methods can be used to provide reasonable estimates of optical properties, and other physical parameters over the short‐term duration of a research cruise, and help in the tracking of tracer releases in large‐scale oceanographic experiments, and in oceanographic process studies.
The effect on simulated ocean climate of a parameterization of unbroken wave‐induced mixing incorporated into the k‐epsilon mixing scheme
Authors: Walsh Kevin , Govekar Pallavi , Babanin Alexander V. , Ghantous Malek , Spence Paul , Scoccimarro Enrico
Published: February 2017

A new parameterization of mixing processes in the upper ocean is tested in a ¼° resolution global ocean climate model. The parameterization represents the effect of turbulent mixing by unbroken waves as an additional turbulent shear production term in the k‐epsilon mixing scheme. The results show that the inclusion of this parameterization has a noticeable effect on ocean climate, particularly in regions of high wave activity such as the Southern Ocean. Inclusion of this process also leads to some reduction in the biases of the simulated climate, including mixed layer depth, compared with available observations.
Development and evaluation of a physics‐based windblown dust emission scheme implemented in the CMAQ modeling system
Authors: Foroutan H. , Young J. , Napelenok S. , Ran L. , Appel K. W. , Gilliam R. C. , Pleim J. E.
Published: February 2017

A new windblown dust emission treatment was incorporated in the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system. This new model treatment has been built upon previously developed physics‐based parameterization schemes from the literature. A distinct and novel feature of this scheme, however, is the incorporation of a newly developed dynamic relation for the surface roughness length relevant to small‐scale dust generation processes. Through this implementation, the effect of nonerodible elements on the local flow acceleration, drag partitioning, and surface coverage protection is modeled in a physically based and consistent manner. Careful attention is paid in integrating the new windblown dust treatment in the CMAQ model to ensure that the required input parameters are correctly configured. To test the performance of the new dust module in CMAQ, the entire year 2011 is simulated for the continental United States, with particular emphasis on the southwestern United States (SWUS) where windblown dust concentrations are relatively large. Overall, the model shows good performance with the daily mean bias of soil concentrations fluctuating in the range of ±1 µg m−3 for the entire year. Springtime soil concentrations are in quite good agreement (normalized mean bias of 8.3%) with observations, while moderate to high underestimation of soil concentration is seen in the summertime. The latter is attributed to the issue of representing the convective dust storms in summertime. Evaluations against observations for seven elevated dust events in the SWUS indicate that the new windblown dust treatment is capable of capturing spatial and temporal characteristics of dust outbreaks.
Improvement of the prediction of surface ozone concentration over conterminous U.S. by a computationally efficient second‐order Rosenbrock solver in CAM4‐Chem
Authors: Sun Jian , Fu Joshua S. , Drake John , Lamarque Jean‐Francois , Tilmes Simone , Vitt Francis
Published: February 2017

The global chemistry‐climate model (CAM4‐Chem) overestimates the surface ozone concentration over the conterminous U.S. (CONUS). Reasons for this positive bias include emission, meteorology, chemical mechanism, and solver. In this study, we explore the last possibility by examining the sensitivity to the numerical methods for solving the chemistry equations. A second‐order Rosenbrock (ROS‐2) solver is implemented in CAM4‐Chem to examine its influence on the surface ozone concentration and the computational performance of the chemistry program. Results show that under the same time step size (1800 s), statistically significant reduction of positive bias is achieved by the ROS‐2 solver. The improvement is as large as 5.2 ppb in Eastern U.S. during summer season. The ROS‐2 solver is shown to reduce the positive bias in Europe and Asia as well, indicating the lower surface ozone concentration over the CONUS predicted by the ROS‐2 solver is not a trade‐off consequence with increasing the ozone concentration at other global regions. In addition, by refining the time step size to 180 s, the first‐order implicit solver does not provide statistically significant improvement of surface ozone concentration. It reveals that the better prediction from the ROS‐2 solver is not only due to its accuracy but also due to its suitability for stiff chemistry equations. As an added benefit, the computation cost of the ROS‐2 solver is almost half of first‐order implicit solver. The improved computational efficiency of the ROS‐2 solver is due to the reuse of the Jacobian matrix and lower upper (LU) factorization during its multistage calculation.
Experimental investigation of clogging dynamics in homogeneous porous medium
Authors: Shen Jikang , Ni Rui
Published: February 2017

A 3‐D refractive‐index matching Lagrangian particle tracking (3D‐RIM‐LPT) system was developed to study the filtration and the clogging process inside a homogeneous porous medium. A small subset of particles flowing through the porous medium was dyed and tracked. As this subset was randomly chosen, its dynamics is representative of all the rest. The statistics of particle locations, number, and velocity were obtained as functions of different volumetric concentrations. It is found that in our system the clogging time decays with the particle concentration following a power law relationship. As the concentration increases, there is a transition from depth filtration to cake filtration. At high concentration, more clogged pores lead to frequent flow redirections and more transverse migrations of particles. In addition, the velocity distribution in the transverse direction is symmetrical around zero, and it is slightly more intermittent than the random Gaussian curve due to particle‐particle and particle‐grain interactions. In contrast, as clogging develops, the longitudinal velocity of particles along the mean flow direction peaks near zero because of many trapped particles. But at the same time, the remaining open pores will experience larger pressure and, as a result, particles through those pores tend to have larger longitudinal velocities.
Process connectivity in a naturally prograding river delta
Authors: Sendrowski Alicia , Passalacqua Paola
Published: February 2017

River deltas are lowland systems that can display high hydrological connectivity. This connectivity can be structural (morphological connections), functional (control of fluxes), and process connectivity (information flow from system drivers to sinks). In this work, we quantify hydrological process connectivity in Wax Lake Delta, coastal Louisiana, by analyzing couplings among external drivers (discharge, tides, and wind) and water levels recorded at five islands and one channel over summer 2014. We quantify process connections with information theory, a branch of mathematics concerned with the communication of information. We represent process connections as a network; variables serve as network nodes and couplings as network links describing the strength, direction, and time scale of information flow. Comparing process connections at long (105 days) and short (10 days) time scales, we show that tides exhibit daily synchronization with water level, with decreasing strength from downstream to upstream, and that tides transfer information as tides transition from spring to neap. Discharge synchronizes with water level and the time scale of its information transfer compares well to physical travel times through the system, computed with a hydrodynamic model. Information transfer and physical transport show similar spatial patterns, although information transfer time scales are larger than physical travel times. Wind events associated with water level setup lead to increased process connectivity with highly variable information transfer time scales. We discuss the information theory results in the context of the hydrologic behavior of the delta, the role of vegetation as a connector/disconnector on islands, and the applicability of process networks as tools for delta modeling results.
Using SAS functions and high‐resolution isotope data to unravel travel time distributions in headwater catchments
Authors: Benettin Paolo , Soulsby Chris , Birkel Christian , Tetzlaff Doerthe , Botter Gianluca , Rinaldo Andrea
Published: February 2017

We use high‐resolution tracer data from an experimental site to test theoretical approaches that integrate catchment‐scale flow and transport processes in a unified framework centered on selective age sampling by streamflow and evapotranspiration fluxes. Transport processes operating at the catchment scale are reflected in the evolving residence time distribution of the catchment water storage and in the age selection operated by out‐fluxes. Such processes are described here through StorAge Selection (SAS) functions parameterized as power laws of the normalized rank storage. Such functions are computed through appropriate solution of the master equation defining formally the evolution of residence and travel times. By representing the way in which catchment storage generates outflows composed by water of different ages, the main mechanism regulating the tracer composition of runoff is clearly identified and detailed comparison with empirical data sets are possible. Properly calibrated numerical tools provide simulations that convincingly reproduce complex measured signals of daily deuterium content in stream waters during wet and dry periods. Results for the catchment under consideration are consistent with other recent studies indicating a tendency for natural catchments to preferentially release younger available water. The study shows that power law SAS functions prove a powerful tool to explain catchment‐scale transport processes that also has potential in less intensively monitored sites.
Understanding feedbacks between ocean acidification and coral reef metabolism
Authors: Takeshita Yuichiro
Published: February 2017

Biogeochemical feedbacks from benthic metabolism have been hypothesized as a potential mechanism to buffer some effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs. The article in JGR‐Oceans by DeCarlo et al. demonstrates the importance of benthic community health on this feedback from Dongsha Atoll in the South China Sea.
Mentoring as a Mediator or Moderator of the Association between Racial Discrimination and Coping Efficacy in Urban, Low‐Income Latina/o Youth
Authors: Sánchez Bernadette , Mroczkowski Alison L. , Liao Lynn C. , Cooper Adina C. , Rivera Claudio , DuBois David L.
Published: February 2017

The aim of this study was to examine the associations among mentoring relationship quality (i.e., relational and instrumental quality), racial discrimination and coping efficacy with racial discrimination. Three social support models were tested, including the stress buffering, support mobilization, and support deterioration models. Participants were 257 urban, low‐income Latina/o high school students, who completed surveys in both 9th and 10th grades. While controlling for gender and coping efficacy with discrimination in 9th grade, results supported the social support deterioration model. Specifically, there was a significant indirect effect of racial discrimination in 9th grade on coping efficacy in 10th grade through instrumental mentoring quality. As racial discrimination increased, mentoring quality decreased and then coping efficacy decreased. We also found that more racial discrimination in 9th grade was significantly associated with lower coping efficacy in 10th grade, and higher instrumental mentoring quality in 9th grade was significantly associated with higher coping efficacy in 10th grade, while controlling for gender and coping efficacy in 9th grade. Implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Facile preparation of ODPA‐ODA type polyetherimide‐based carbon membranes by chemical crosslinking
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Zhang Bing , Wu Yonghong , Wang Dan , Wang Tonghua
Published: February 2017

A chemical crosslinking protocol was developed to prepare carbon membranes from 3,3′,4,4′‐oxydiphthalic dianhydride‐4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODPA–ODA) type polyetherimide on the support of phenolic resin sheets. The effects of support pretreatment, membrane‐coating methods and crosslinking protocols on the resultant carbon membranes were investigated. The microstructure, functional group evolution, thermal stability, mechanics, morphology, and gas separation performance of samples were characterized by XRD, FTIR, TGA, mechanical testing technique, and gas permeation technique, respectively. Results have shown that the chemical crosslinking is more beneficial than the popular thermal crosslinking protocol to fabricate supported carbon membranes for the advantage of simple preparation process. In addition, spin‐coating is superior to drop‐coating in terms of good membrane formation on the support. Under the preferred preparation conditions of crosslinker ethylene glycol usage at 10 wt % and spin‐coating, supported carbon membranes can be obtained with good hydrogen separation performance. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44889.
Preparation of cardanol based epoxy plasticizer by click chemistry and its action on poly(vinyl chloride)
Authors: Yao Leilei , Chen Qinhui , Xu Wenqin , Ye Zhibin , Shen Zhaodi , Chen Meijin
Published: February 2017

In recent years, the using of reproducible resource and economical and efficient synthesis method has got wide concern. Herein, an environmental‐friendly plasticizer originated from cardanol was synthesized by click chemistry. First, the cardanol sulfide (CS) was obtained by click chemistry reaction between the double bond of the side chain of cardanol and mercaptoethanol. The degree of the click reaction was estimated to reach 84.7% by testing the content of sulfur. Then, the epoxidation of the hydroxyl was performed to get cardanol based epoxy plasticizer (CEP) in the presence of epichlorohydrin. The epoxy value was 0.32. The structure of CS and CEP was confirmed by FT‐IR and NMR techniques. A Haake torque rheometer was used to research the action of CEP on polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Results showed that it possessed favorable plasticization effect and stabilization effect on PVC. CEP had good heat stabilization in PVC, and could decrease the Tg of PVC significantly. Moreover, CEP could increase the tensile strength of PVC when in a small amount, and could increase the plasticity of PVC when in a larger quantity significantly. The characteristics of volatile, migration and solvent extraction of PVC plasticized by CEP is similar to by dioctyl phthalate (DOP). © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44890.
Consolidation by spark plasma sintering (SPS) of polyetheretherketone
Authors: Sébileau Jean‐Charles , Lemonnier Sébastien , Barraud Elodie , Vallat Marie‐France , Carradò Adele , Nardin Michel
Published: February 2017

The present study deals with the consolidation of an ultra‐high performance polymer, the poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK), for structural applications, using the powder metallurgy (PM) way, and more precisely the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) processing. The effects of SPS parameters such as temperature, pressure, and dwell time on density and mechanical properties of PEEK were investigated via a Design of Experiments (DoE). A temperature of 250 °C, a pressure of 40 MPa, and a dwell time of 20 min have been identified as the optimal SPS process parameters. In these conditions, a density of 1.31 g/cm3 was reached and homogeneous mechanical properties in the volume determined by means of compression tests were found with a compressive modulus of 2.75 GPa, a yield strength of 134 MPa, and a maximum compressive strain of 43%. These results are better than those of commercial products obtained by injection molding. The pressure appears to be a significant parameter on PEEK properties and plays positive or negative roles according to the responses of DoE studied. To our knowledge, it is one of the first studies based on the application of the PM techniques for PEEK consolidation showing the possibility to process below its melting point. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44911.
Surface ammonification of the mutual‐irradiated aramid fibers in 1,4‐dichlorobutane for improving interfacial properties with epoxy resin
Authors: Xie Fei , Xing Lixin , Liu Li , Liu Yuguang , Zhong Zhengxiang , Jia Chuyuan , Wang Wei , Wang Caifeng , Zhao Min , Huang Yudong
Published: February 2017

The mutual irradiated aramid fibers in 1,4‐dichlorobutane was ammoniated by ammonia/alcohol solution, in an attempt to improve the interfacial properties between aramid fibers and epoxy matrix. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), dynamic contact angle analysis (DCA), interfacial shear strength (IFSS), and single fiber tensile testing were carried out to investigate the functionalization process of aramid fibers and the interfacial properties of the composites. Experimental results showed that the fiber surface elements content changed obviously as well as the roughness through the radiation and chemical reaction. The surface energy and IFSS of aramid fibers increased distinctly after the ammonification, respectively. The amino groups generated by ammonification enhanced the interfacial adhesion of composites effectively by participating in the epoxy resin curing. Moreover, benefited by the appropriate radiation, the tensile strength of aramid fibers was not affected at all. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44924.
Improving the UV resistance of aromatic poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazole) fiber using the disperse dye modified with octavinyl POSS. Part 2: Fixing form of dye and UV resistance ability
Authors: Mao Yahong , Zheng Xiong , Guan Yu
Published: February 2017

Disperse Red 60 modified with octavinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) was used to color poly(p‐phenylene‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles) (p‐POD) fiber. The dyed p‐POD fiber was given high UV resistance and excellent color strength (K/S value) simultaneously. And the effects of the UV irradiation time on the K/S values and the strength retention of dyed fiber were investigated. The results indicated that the modified dye (1:3) molecules can easily be adsorbed on fiber surface and diffuse into fiber, whose fixing form on the fiber surface is a semiembedded type. Meanwhile, the surface morphology, the aggregation structure, the thermal property, the color fastness, and anti‐UV durability of the dyed p‐POD fiber were characterized. After UV accelerated aging, the macroscopic and microscopic structures of the dyed p‐POD fiber can well be maintained and the color fastness is also satisfactory. Meanwhile, this method also solves the problem of poor anti‐UV durability of the modified fiber with the previous processes. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44928.
The combination of expandable graphite, organic montmorillonite, and magnesium hydrate as fire‐retardant additives for ethylene–propylene–diene monomer/chloroprene rubber foams
Authors: Ding Zhengmao , Li Yingchun , He Maoyong , Wang Wensheng , Wang Chao
Published: February 2017

The fire retardancy and flame‐retardant mechanism of expandable graphite (EG), organic montmorillonite (OMMT), and magnesium hydrate (MH) in ethylene‐propylene‐diene monomer/chloroprene rubber (EPDM/CR) foams were investigated. The results indicated that the combination of EG and OMMT remarkably improved the fire‐retardant property compared to the control samples, and better fireproof performance was achieved when MH was used as the third coretardant unit. The structure of the obtained EPDM/CR/OMMT composites was characterized by X‐ray diffraction, and the results showed that the composites had an intercalated nanostructure. The limiting oxygen index, vertical burning test, and cone calorimeter test results showed that the LOI values and UL‐94 rating increased while the second peak of the heat release rates (HRR) decreased within the EG/OMMT system. In particular, the second pHRR disappeared when the EG/OMMT/MH system was used as a flame retardant. Moreover, the results of thermogravimetric analysis showed that the combination of EG and OMMT reduced the thermal‐degradation rates and mass‐loss percentages. Furthermore, observation by scanning electron microscopy revealed that EG and OMMT left over after combustion formed a complete, compact, and rigid charred layer with a mosaic structure of expanded graphite embedded in cortical‐honeycomb layers of OMMT. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44929.
Enhanced electroactive β phase in three phase PVDF/CaCO3/nanoclay composites: Effect of micro‐CaCO3 and uniaxial stretching
Authors: Jahan Nusrat , Mighri Frej , Rodrigue Denis , Ajji Abdellah
Published: February 2017

In this study, electroactive polar phase transformation and crystallinity of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)‐based composites, such as PVDF/CaCO3/nanoclay, is explored as a function of micro‐CaCO3 fraction and draw ratio (R) of uniaxial stretching. Composites including PVDF/clay, PVDF/CaCO3 and most importantly PVDF/CaCO3/clay with varying fraction of micro‐CaCO3 were extruded into homogenous and flexible cast films. Characterization via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed the presence of β phase in all the composites incorporated with micro‐CaCO3 and nanoclay either individually (i.e., PVDF/CaCO3 and PVDF/clay films, respectively) or together (i.e., PVDF/CaCO3/nanoclay composites). Interestingly, a gradual but significant improvement in this electroactive phase (β phase) was obtained with successive increment in CaCO3 content into a fixed composition of PVDF and nanoclay (PVDF/CaCO3/clay composites). Further increment in β phase content was obtained via uniaxial stretching to different draw ratios and at a temperature of 90 °C, where for PVDF/CaCO3/clay (especially, 100–35‐3 and 100–40‐3) samples almost no α phase was observed irrespective of R. Conversely, the crystallinity of melt extruded samples decreased gradually all the way with CaCO3 concentration in PVDF/CaCO3/clay composites compared to the neat PVDF while increased gradually with increasing draw ratio. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44940.
The influence of sex and age on prevalence rates of comorbid conditions in autism
Authors: Supekar Kaustubh , Iyer Tara , Menon Vinod
Published: February 2017

Individuals with ASD frequently experience one or more comorbid conditions. Here, we investigate the influence of sex and age—two important, yet understudied factors—on ten common comorbid conditions in ASD, using cross‐sectional data from 4790 individuals with ASD and 1,842,575 individuals without ASD. Epilepsy, ADHD, and CNS/cranial anomalies showed exceptionally large proportions in both male (>19%) and female (>15%), children/adolescents with ASD. Notably, these prevalence rates decreased drastically with age in both males and females. In contrast, the prevalence of schizophrenia increased with age affecting a disproportionately large number of older (≥35 year) adult males (25%), compared to females (7.7%), with ASD. Bowel disorders showed a complex U‐pattern accompanied by changes in sex disparity with age. These results highlight crucial differences between cross‐sectional comorbidity patterns and their interactions with sex and age, which may aid in the development of effective sex‐ and age‐specific diagnostic/treatment strategies for ASD and comorbid conditions. Autism Res 2017, 10: 778–789. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.