bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AKRs expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes from smokers
Authors: Barrón-Vivanco BS , Rothenberg SJ , Medina-Díaz IM , Robledo-Marenco L , Rojas-García AE , Hernández-Cadena L , Poblete-Naredo I , Elizondo G , Albores A
Published: August 2012

Aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) metabolize a wide range of substrates, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), generating metabolites ( o-quinones) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are capable of initiating and promoting carcinogenesis. Exposure to PAHs, their metabolites, and ROS further increase AKRs isoform expression that may amplify oxidative damage. Human AKR enzymes are highly polymorphic, and allelic variants may contribute to different AKRs expression in individuals. Despite the importance of AKRs in PAHs metabolism, there are no studies that evaluate, in general human populations, the effect of PAHs on AKRs expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of tobacco smoke exposure, and AKR1A1*2 and AKR1C3*2 polymorphisms, on AKR1A1 and AKR1C1–AKR1C3 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in PBLs from smokers. In the smoker group, there is a statistically significant positive association between AKR1A1, AKR1C1, and AKR1C3 mRNA induction and urine cotinine levels in individuals with a body mass index (BMI) less than 25. However, AKR1A1*2 and AKR1C3*2 alleles did not influence AKR1A1 and AKR1C1–AKR1C3 mRNA levels. These results suggest that AKRs induction by PAHs in smokers’ PBLs is associated with BMI; therefore, the role of adipose tissue accumulation in PAHs’ effects needs further investigation.
The Sen in the Neo-Liberal Developmental Programmes of Kerala
Authors: Chathukulam Jos , Thottunkel Alex K
Published: August 2012

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) and Kudumbashree Poverty Alleviation Mission take a different approach to poverty alleviation. When viewed through the lens of capability approach the difference becomes more evident. Both the programmes, through their procedures and outputs, enable the beneficiaries themselves to be the agent of change. People themselves could utilize the opportunities generated by the procedural, output aspect of the programmes to remove their unfreedoms and deprivations to attain their desired functioning for well being. Community development also takes place along with individual development. The convergence of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS and Kudumbashree under the umbrella of the Local Self Government complement each other’s effort in poverty alleviation.
Does the EU LEADER Instrument Support Endogenous Development and New Modes of Governance in Romania?: Experiences from Elaborating an MCDA Based Regional Development Concept
Authors: Marquardt Doris , Wegener Stefan , Möllers Judith
Published: August 2012

The well-known EU LEADER programme aims at using the endogenous potential of rural regions and at improving local governance. Especially since the current funding period doubts are rising about whether the programme actually delivers what it promises. Indeed, translating the LEADER approach is a challenge, not only for new EU member states. This paper looks at the case of post-socialist Romania where the programme is implemented for the first time. Our research questions are (a) in how far an endogenous approach can be practically implemented by local initiatives and (b) how the LEADER implementation contributes to the adoption of new modes of governance. We draw on a case study in which a potential Romanian Local Action Group has been externally supported in elaborating a Regional Development Concept. We observed the participatory decision-making process among local actors, which was facilitated by a Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). MCDA turned out to be instrumental for integrated planning approaches and transparent decision-making with broad public participation. Our results underline that endogenous development and new modes of governance are hampered by provisions of superior administrative bodies due to inadequate translation of the policy instrument’s intervention logic. Reviewing European and national LEADER guidelines seems important for better using the endogenous regional potential and reaching higher positive impact on local governance structures.
Dilution Process of Policy Implementation Strategy: An Analysis of Changes in the Guidelines for Watershed Development Programmes in India
Authors: Mishra Pradeep Kumar
Published: August 2012

Watershed development programme started in India in 1995 with radical institutional reforms. Involving village level committees and voluntary organizations, the programme made way for a new age in people-oriented development interventions. However, during implementation, for more than a decade, the guidelines for implementing the programme were changed, leading to dilution of a few fundamental objectives of watershed development. This paper attempts to understand the changes, its process, actors involved and their interests using the organizational process model. It concludes that the principles of the original guidelines were not accepted wholeheartedly by the bureaucracy. Subsequently, they were changed to revive bureaucratic control and reinforced through various government orders. The paper finally suggests that policy implementation strategy requiring a paradigm shift are only public goals and they are destined to be diluted in favour of bureaucratic control.
The development of the aesthetic experience of music: Preference, emotions, and beauty
Authors: Nieminen Sirke , Istók Eva , Brattico Elvira , Tervaniemi Mari
Published: August 2012

From an early age, children are attracted to the aesthetics of music. Employing a cross-sectional design including school-aged children, the present exploratory study aimed to investigate the effects of age, gender, and music education on three important aspects of the aesthetic experience of music: musical preference, musical emotion recognition, and the use of the aesthetic categories for music. To this aim, we developed an experimental procedure suitable to quantify children’s musical preferences and their judgment of musical emotions and aesthetics. The musical material consisted of three short piano pieces: a piece in major mode, a piece in minor mode, and a free tonal piece. The responses of 78 children were analyzed, whereby the children were assigned to two age groups: 6–7-year-olds (n = 38) and 8–9-year-olds (n = 40). Children preferred the piece in major mode to the one in minor. Except for 6–7-year-olds without music education, children gave the highest happiness ratings for the major piece. Only 8–9-year-olds found the minor piece sadder than the major piece, and the major piece more beautiful than the piece in minor. The ratings of the free tonal piece were mostly indifferent and probably reflect children’s difficulty in judging music that does not yet belong to their short musical history. Taken together, the current data imply that school-aged children are able to make emotional and aesthetic judgments about unfamiliar musical pieces.
Design and testing of an enhanced shape memory actuator elastically compensated by a bistable rocker arm
Authors: Mammano Giovanni Scirè , Dragoni Eugenio
Published: August 2012

This article presents the design, the prototype construction, and the experimental testing of a shape memory actuator implementing the concept of elastic compensation put forward in a previous publication by the authors. A two-shape memory alloy actuator, compensated by a spring-assisted bistable rocker arm, is designed theoretically to provide nearly constant output forces and then it is built and characterized experimentally under laboratory conditions. The test results closely agree with the theoretical predictions and show that for given output force, the compensated actuator produces net strokes from 2.5 to 22 times greater than a twin uncompensated actuator. The stroke improvement increases dramatically with the generated output force. Weaknesses of the compensated design are the heavier average stress sustained by the shape memory alloy springs, which could impair the fatigue life, and a higher response time.
Simulating Poverty and Inequality Dynamics in Developing Countries
Authors: Ansoms An , Geenen Sara
Published: August 2012

This article considers how the simulation game of DEVELOPMENT MONOPOLY provides insight into poverty and inequality dynamics in a development context. It first discusses how the game is rooted in theoretical and conceptual frameworks on poverty and inequality. Subsequently, it reflects on selected playing experiences, with special focus on the aspects of rule crafting, power relations, and game dynamics. Finally, the article assesses the simulation game’s learning effects, based on observations concerning the debriefing phase.
Expect Respect Support Groups
Authors: Ball Barbara , Tharp Andra Teten , Noonan Rita K. , Valle Linda Anne , Hamburger Merle E. , Rosenbluth Barri
Published: August 2012

Expect Respect support groups, a selective prevention strategy, are designed to prevent and reduce dating violence among at-risk middle and high school students. This preliminary, uncontrolled evaluation examined changes in healthy relationship skills and emotionally and physically abusive behaviors in participants’ peer and dating relationships. Self-reports ( N = 144) showed significant increases in healthy relationship skills from baseline to program completion, whereas levels of victimization and perpetration remained unchanged. A subgroup of students who reported baseline levels of victimization and perpetration with means at least one standard deviation above the group mean reported significantly less victimization and perpetration at program completion.
Making Healthy Behaviors the Easy Choice for Employees
Authors: Kahn-Marshall Jennifer L. , Gallant Mary P.
Published: August 2012

As employers look for ways to reduce rising health care costs, worksite health promotion interventions are increasingly being used to improve employee health behaviors. An alternative approach to traditional worksite health promotion programs is the implementation of environmental and/or policy changes to encourage employees to adopt healthier behaviors. This review examines the evidence for the effectiveness of worksite health promotion programs using environmental and/or policy changes either alone or in combination with individually focused health behavior change strategies. A review of the relevant literature, published between 1995 and 2010, identified 27 studies that met all inclusion criteria. Limited evidence was found for the effectiveness of environmental and/or policy changes alone ( n = 11) to change employee behavior, but more promising results were identified with multicomponent interventions ( n = 16). There is a strong need for improvement in the design and evaluation of future health promotion programs focusing solely on environmental and/or policy changes at the worksite.
How Low Is Low? Low Self-Esteem as an Indicator of Internalizing Psychopathology in Adolescence
Authors: Isomaa Rasmus , Väänänen Juha-Matti , Fröjd Sari , Kaltiala-Heino Riittakerttu , Marttunen Mauri
Published: August 2012

Schools are among the most important setting for preventive interventions among adolescents. There are evidence-based intervention programs for adolescents at risk for and with early signs of mental health problems but one demanding task is to detect the ones who are in need of an intervention. The aim of the present study was to analyze associations between self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and social anxiety in order to determine clinically relevant cut-points for male and female adolescents’ self-esteem as measured with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). The participants of the present prospective study, started in 2002-2003, were 2070 adolescents aged 15 years (1,167 girls and 903 boys) at two study sites in Finland who participated at both baseline and 2-year follow-up. Self-esteem was related to depressive symptoms and social anxiety, and the RSES was able to discriminate between cases of depression and social phobia. The present study suggests a cutoff of 25 points to classify low self-esteem in both girls and boys. Low self-esteem may function as an indicator of various forms of internalizing psychopathology. The RSES is worth further examination as a potential screening tool for adolescents in risk of psychopathology.
Retiree Health Benefits as Deferred Compensation
Authors: Marton James , Woodbury Stephen A.
Published: August 2012

Are early retiree health benefits (RHBs) a form of deferred compensation binding workers to an employer? Most employers who offer RHBs offer them only to workers who have ten or more years of tenure and have reached age fifty-five. Accordingly, workers in firms offering RHBs have an incentive to stay with a firm in the years before they attain eligibility for RHBs, and a greater incentive than otherwise to retire thereafter. The authors test for such a pattern of incentives by examining the age-specific relationship between workers’ eligibility for RHBs and retirement. The findings suggest that workers in RHB-offering firms are less likely to retire at ages fifty and fifty-one than similar RHB-ineligible workers. Also, RHB-eligible workers aged sixty and sixty-one are more likely to retire than similar RHB-ineligible workers. These results are consistent with RHBs acting as part of a delayed payment contract of the kind described by Lazear.
Material Immaterialized
Authors: Dankl Kathrina
Published: August 2012

This article looks at elderly individuals, their possessions, and their ties to both space and time.1 How does the material constantly reflect the immaterial? How are everyday rituals and routines anchored and solidified in the built environment? This article is a study in the tradition of ethnographic research, aiming at a better understanding of how designed artifacts form and are formed by the context of their practice. The article explores people-centric values and beliefs inherently embedded in all artifacts. This study concentrates on materiality in a more complex, culturally informed way, in contrast with current trends that provide technological solutions for ageing groups in society. Findings from this study present a multisensual design approach that moves beyond the construct of ageing as a physically based design “problem”; instead, it favors material culture approaches that trace the development and changes in aesthetic and symbolic values throughout the life course. The insight presented is multilayered and includes subtle strategies and design solutions enacted by elderly informants themselves. The article thus shows useful starting points for thinking about design solutions with less emphasis on “technology-first” and much more on “people-first.”
Ni Chicha ni Limoná
Authors: Morgenstern Scott , Polga-Hecimovich John , Siavelis Peter M
Published: August 2012

Chile’s parties have been characterized as ‘European’ in their development and institutionalization, but ‘Latin American’ in their high degree of political localism. Yet the specialized literature has not tested these tendencies nor developed a theory as to how they may coexist. Using the concept of party nationalization, we establish the veracity of the claims in the literature and propose a theory of static and dynamic nationalization development. We show that, as in Western European systems, Chile’s political parties exhibited progressive static nationalization until 1973. Since re-democratization, parties have demonstrated low levels of static nationalization, while the coalitions are highly nationalized. Concurrently, both parties and the coalitions have exhibited low levels of dynamic nationalization like parties throughout Latin America. We argue that these conflicting patterns are due to the interactive effect of functional cleavages and electoral institutions.
Attending to the construct of beliefs in research on religion/spirituality and health: Commentary on ‘Beyond belief’
Authors: Park Crystal L
Published: August 2012

In this commentary, I concur with Cromby that more attention should be given to beliefs in terms of definition, measurement, and investigation, particularly of their development and their relations with aspects of health and well-being. Within the context of religious beliefs, I argue, however, that beliefs should not be considered affect or emotion but rather should be examined in relation to them, and that their development likely arises through myriad sources. I provide an alternative definition of religious beliefs and conclude with suggestions for future research on religious beliefs and health.
Eyewitness identifications are affected by stereotypes about a suspect’s level of perceived stereotypicality
Authors: Osborne Danny , Davies Paul G.
Published: August 2012

Mistaken identifications are the primary cause of wrongful convictions. Though studies have examined when these errors are likely to occur, none have specified whom these errors are most likely to affect. We address this oversight by arguing that the type of crime committed affects whom eyewitnesses misidentify. Study 1 demonstrated that people have stereotypes about a perpetrator’s appearance that vary by the crime committed. Study 2 showed that these stereotypes affect identifications in a stereotype-consistent manner—participants who believed they saw a target accused of a stereotypically Black crime remembered him as being higher on perceived stereotypicality (viz., having more Afrocentric features) than did participants who believed they saw a target accused of a stereotypically White crime. This finding was replicated in Study 3 using a different pair of crimes. These studies demonstrate that the type of crime committed systematically affects whom eyewitnesses mistakenly identify.
The confidence in health care and social services in northern Sweden – a comparison between reindeer-herding Sami and the non-Sami majority population
Authors: Daerga Laila , Sjölander Per , Jacobsson Lars , Edin-Liljegren Anette
Published: August 2012

Aims: To investigate the confidence in primary health care, psychiatry and social services among the reindeer-herding Sami and the non-Sami population of northern Sweden. Methods: A semi-randomized, cross-sectional study design comprising 325 reindeer-herding Sami (171 men, 154 women) and a control population of 1,437 non-Sami (684 men, 753 women). A questionnaire on the confidence in primary health care, psychiatry, social services, and work colleagues was distributed to members of reindeer-herding families through the Sami communities and to the control population through the post. The relative risk for poor confidence was analyzed by calculating odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals adjusted for age and level of education. Results: The confidence in primary health care and psychiatry was significantly lower among the reindeer-herding Sami compared with the control group. No differences were found between men and women in the reindeer-herding Sami population. In both the reindeer-herding Sami and the control population, younger people (≤48 years) reported significantly lower confidence in primary health care than older individuals (>48 years). Conclusions: A conceivable reason for the poor confidence in health care organizations reported by the reindeer-herding Sami is that they experience health care staff as poorly informed about reindeer husbandry and Sami culture, resulting in unsuitable or unrealistic treatment suggestions. The findings suggest that the poor confidence constitutes a significant obstacle of the reindeer-herding Sami to fully benefit from public health care services.
Referral from primary to secondary care in Germany: Developing a taxonomy based on cluster analysis
Authors: Hirsch Oliver , Träger Susanne , Bösner Stefan , Ilhan Muazzez , Becker Annette , Baum Erika , Donner-Banzhoff Norbert
Published: August 2012

Aims: Referrals from primary to secondary care may differ regarding motivation and initiative. Previous research on the frequency and variation of referrals has mostly treated referrals as homogeneous. We intended to develop a taxonomy regarding referrals from primary to secondary care in Germany that could support decision making on a macro level. Methods: We analyzed 3,988 referrals by 29 German general practitioners (GPs). GPs were asked to document all referrals during one week; in subsequent audits they stated the reasons and initiative for any referral. We postulated the following five referral types: clinical problem, shared care, administrative, patient initiated and shared cost. The data were analyzed with k-means cluster analysis. Results: We identified three of our five postulated referral types with cluster analytic techniques: shared care, clinical problem, and patient initiated. This solution accounted for 11.7% of total variance. The majority of referrals in German primary care practices were initiated by the GP, or they were part of a shared decision with patients. Conclusions: We suggest a taxonomy of referrals that might offer insights regarding the allocation of resources within the German health system. Referrals might be reduced by improved training of primary care physicians and by giving them more competencies in routine care of chronic patients.
GPs’ prescription routines and cooperation with other healthcare personnel before and after implementation of multidose drug dispensing
Authors: Wekre Liv Johanne , Bakken Kjersti , Garåsen Helge , Grimsmo Anders
Published: August 2012

Background: This study addresses GPs’ attitudes towards multidose drug dispensing before and after implementation and their perceived experience of how multidose drug dispensing affects prescription and communication routines for patients in the home care services. This study contributes to a method triangulation with two other studies on the introduction of multidose drug dispensing in Trondheim. Methods: A controlled before-and-after study carried out in Trondheim (intervention) and Tromsø (control). A questionnaire was distributed to all GPs in the two towns in 2005 with a follow-up questionnaire in 2008. Results: The GPs in Trondheim showed a positive attitude to multidose drug dispensing both before and after the implementation. Increased workload was reported, but still the GPs wanted the system to be continued. Most of the GPs reported a better overview of the patients’ medication and a supposed reduction in medication errors. The GPs’ prescription- and communication routines were changed only for the multidose drug users and not for the other patients in the home care services. Conclusions: The study supports the results presented in two previous publications according to GPs’ positive attitude towards multidose drug dispensing, their better overview of the patients’ medications, and improved cooperation with the pharmacy. This study adds to our understanding of prescription routines among GPs and the use of the medication module in the electronic health record.
LED street lighting: A power quality comparison among street light technologies
Authors: Gil-de-Castro A , Moreno-Munoz A , Larsson A , de la Rosa JJG , Bollen MHJ
Published: August 2012

High-pressure sodium lamps are currently the main lamps used in public lighting. However, the possibility of using high-power light emitting diode (LEDs) for street lighting is growing continuously due to their greater energy efficiency, robustness, long life and light control. The aim of this paper is to study the power quality of high-power lighting networks based on LED and high-pressure sodium lamps. Both electromagnetic and dimmable electronic ballasts, which can dim the lamp output smoothly and uniformly, have been used connected to high-pressure sodium lamps. High-pressure sodium lamps connected to electronic equipment have been tested with different arc power levels using dimming on a 230 V power supply. The study presented in this paper is completely based on measurements, including harmonic currents in the frequency range up to 150 kHz for all the technologies. The main results show a broadband spectrum in LED lamps which confirms other research in ﬂuorescent lamps powered by high-frequency ballasts. Results also indicate a decrease in the harmonic value with increasing harmonic order, and a decrease in the harmonic value at half load (60%) compared with full load (100%). Although total harmonic distortion of the current is lower with high-pressure sodium lamps connected to electronic rather than electromagnetic ballasts, LED lamps achieved the lowest total harmonic distortion of current.
High dynamic range photogrammetry for synchronous luminance and geometry measurement
Authors: Cai H
Published: August 2012

This study developed high dynamic range photogrammetry for synchronous acquisition of luminance of targets across a scene and their three dimensional coordinates XYZ in the field. The high dynamic range photogrammetry deploys a single digital camera. A Canon Rebel T2i fitted with four Sigma lenses was used and calibrated in a laboratory. Photogrammetric coordinates, transformation equations, two lens radial distortion models, a 3D angular measurement tripod head mounted on a portable platform, and a measurement protocol were developed. The high dynamic range photogrammetry was validated in a laboratory experiment. The average errors of 1.8– 6.2% for luminance mapping seven grey checkers and 12.9–24.3 mm for measuring their XYZ coordinates are deemed acceptable in practice. The high dynamic range photogrammetry would supplement light and geometry measurement and stimulate many applications.
Evaluating discomfort glare from non-uniform electric light sources
Authors: Cai H , Chung T
Published: August 2012

This study tested the appropriateness of unified glare rating (UGR), CIE glare index (CGI), British glare index (BGI), and visual comfort probability (VCP) for evaluating discomfort glare from common non-uniform electric light sources. An experiment was conducted in a windowless room. High dynamic range photogrammetry was used for measuring three non-uniform fluorescent glare sources. The luminance and geometry data were acquired to calculate the glare ratings. The sub-divisibility and additivity of UGR, CGI, BGI, and VCP were tested via numerical method. Their predictability was evaluated using 67 subjects in two sessions. It was found that UGR, CGI, BGI, and VCP all have valid additivity, but only UGR and CGI have valid sub-divisibility. Current formulae of UGR, CGI, BGI and VCP all overestimate the glare sensation from non-uniform sources that young people may feel.
Luminous and power quality analysis of office building light sources
Authors: Albu HC , Halonen L , Tetri E , Pop F , Beu D
Published: August 2012

Important efforts are being made to increase electric energy savings in the field of lighting. Of all the different approaches possible, two are used more frequently than others: The use of lighting control systems and the replacement of old light sources with better ones. One direct effect of the employment of new light sources and light dimming controls is a decrease of the power quality of the electrical network. This paper addresses luminous and power quality measurements of different light sources that are suitable for office buildings. The measurements were performed with and without dimming. In this way, the luminous and the power quality characteristics of the light sources, at different light levels, were established.
Palliation of Dyspnea in pediatrics
Authors: Robinson Walter M
Published: August 2012

Dyspnea is a complex physiologic and psychosocial symptom that is difficult to characterize and measure, but essential to treat, as it has a significant effect on quality of life. Although palliation of dyspnea in the child with chronic illness is an under-researched area, children and their families cannot wait for the research to catch up with their current needs. This article addresses several aspects of dyspnea in pediatrics palliative care, with an eye toward practical suggestions for evaluation and management.
Nonamnestic Presentations of Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Mendez Mario F. , Lee Albert S. , Karve Simantini J. , Shapira Jill S.
Published: August 2012

Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD) beginning before the age of 65 may differ from late-onset AD (LOAD) in clinical course and frequency of nonamnestic presentations. In a 10-year retrospective review, 125 patients with EOAD, diagnosed clinically and verified by functional neuroimaging, were compared with 56 patients with LOAD and further classified depending on predominant cognitive difficulty on presentation. Eighty (64%) of the patients with EOAD had a nonamnestic presentation, compared with only 7 (12.5%) of the patients with LOAD. Compared with LOAD, the patients with EOAD had a shorter duration with lower Mini-Mental State Examination scores. The neuroimaging reports among the patients with EOAD showed more hippocampal atrophy with an amnestic presentation, more left parietal changes with impaired language presentations, and more right parietal and occipital changes with impaired visuospatial presentations. These findings indicate that EOAD differs from LOAD in a more aggressive course and in having predominantly nonamnestic presentations that vary in neuropathological location.
An fMRI Study of Prefrontal Cortical Function in Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Li Chuanming , Zheng Jian , Wang Jian
Published: August 2012

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology has not been used to investigate the frontal lobe function of subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment (SIVCI). In this study 11 healthy elderly controls, 12 patients with subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (SIVCIND), and 12 patients with subcortical ischemic vascular dementia (SIVD) underwent fMRI examination on a SIEMENS Trio 3.0 Tesla scanner during Stroop task performance. Compared to the controls, participants with SIVCIND showed markedly increased activation in prefrontal cortex. By contrast, participants with SIVD exhibited decreased fMRI responses in the regions described above. A close correlation was found between the cognitive score in Montreal Cognitive Assessment test and the activation area of frontal and parietal lobule of patients with SIVD. Our results suggest that the alterations of cortical activation in SIVCI were bidirectional. There is a prefrontal dysfunction in SIVD and a compensation in SIVCIND. These findings might help guide a clinical differentiation among normal controls, SIVCIND, and SIVD.
Firm Size and Corporate Social Performance
Authors: Chang Young K. , Oh Won-Yong , Jung Jae C. , Lee Jeong-Yeon
Published: August 2012

Previous research suggests that large firms are more committed to corporate social performance (CSP), because the society exerts heavier pressure on large firms for socially responsible activities, and firms correspondingly conform to the pressure. This seemingly plausible argument, however, ignores the internal process how the response occurs in firms. In this study, the authors propose that the relationship between firm size and CSP is mediated by outside director representation in the board. The authors tested the mediating effect using a data set of 180 Korean firms and found empirical support for the argument. The result indicates that a firm’s social performance is more directly influenced by internal responses, such as appointing more outside directors in this study, rather than firm size. This study advances the institutional theory perspective in the size–CSP linkage by introducing the mediation internal mechanism.
Sentencing drug offenders under the 2003 Criminal Justice Act: Challenges for the probation service
Authors: Sparrow Paul , McIvor Gill
Published: August 2012

For the most part the 2003 Criminal Justice Act, which came into effect in England and Wales in April 2005, was accepted by the probation service with relatively little opposition. Given the enormity of its impact acquiescence to this degree of change ought to come as something of a surprise. The 2003 Act changed fundamentally the nature of community supervision, it brought to an end the traditional range of non-custodial penalties and replaced them with a single community order to which sentencers could add any of 12 possible requirements. This article considers the impact of the 2003 legislation on one particular offender group – drug misusers. Drug misusing offenders have the potential to pose serious difficulties for probation officers; the habitual nature of drug addiction and a tendency towards an irregular lifestyle make drug misusers particularly susceptible to breach. Under the new legislation courts have significantly fewer options available to them when responding to incidents of offender non-compliance. This article argues that many of the provisions of the 2003 Act together with developments elsewhere in the UK are likely to have impacted disproportionately on those groups whose lifestyles are chaotic and whose routines are incompatible with the terms and conditions of modern day probation practice. It concludes that greater flexibility towards non-compliance, supported by regular and consistent judicial review, would encourage improved rates of compliance and retention in treatment and improved outcomes for offenders.
A seamless partnership? Developing mixed economy interventions in a non-custodial project for women
Authors: Corcoran Mary , Fox Claire
Published: August 2012

The movement towards localism, partnerships and governing ‘networks’ has renewed academic interest in the voluntary sector role in multi-agency work in criminal justice fields. This article argues that strategic partnerships which service systems for managing offenders are organizing into more complex formations which are poised to alter academic understanding of power relationships and roles among partners. Using Adelbart Evers’ (2005) concept of ‘hybridization’, the complexity of service delivery partnerships and the varying interchanges among participating agencies is discussed. The analysis focuses on the start-up and first year of operation of the ‘Chestnut Centre’, a community-based project for diverting women from custody based in a city in the midlands of England. The results are presented as a case study of participants’ reflections on power and legitimacy in the partnership; experiences of collaborative working; approaches towards service users; and perceptions of multi-agency partnerships.
Investigation on high temperature compression behaviour of hydrogenated Ti6Al4V alloy
Authors: Cheng X L , Zhang H , Bai B Z , Fu H G , Guo L
Published: August 2012

Isothermal compression of hydrogenated Ti6Al4V alloy was carried out on a Gleeble-1500D simulation tester at the strain rate 3×10−3 s−1 and high temperatures. Before the isothermal compression, a simplified thermohydrogen processing (THP) was used for Ti6Al4V. Attention was paid to the effect of THP on subsequent compression behaviour. The results show that hydrogen can effectively lower the flow stress and deformation temperature and enhance the strain rate sensitivity index ( m value) for isothermal compression. The increasing amount of β phase and the ultrafine and equiaxial microstructure precipitated between the original α or β laths are the main reasons for the simplified THP to improve the formability of Ti6Al4V.
Effect of rare earth–aluminium additions on the microstructure of a semisolid low carbon Fe–B cast alloy
Authors: Yi D W , Xing J D , Ma S Q , Fu H G , Li Y F , Chen W , Liu Z X
Published: August 2012

The present study investigates the effects of rare earth and aluminium on the microstructures of as cast and heat treated semisolid Fe–B cast alloys. The as cast microstructure of the semisolid modified Fe–B cast alloy consists of the eutectic boride, pearlite and ferrite. Moreover, compared to a net-like distribution of the coarse eutectic borides in the ordinary unmodified alloy, the eutectic boride structures in the semisolid modified alloy are greatly refined and less interconnected. After heat treatment, the phases in the semisolid modified Fe–B cast alloy consist of the boride and martensite. The additions of rare earth and aluminium help to promote the formation of the short rod shaped and round borides in the semisolid Fe–B cast alloy during heat treatment. Compared to the ordinary unmodified alloy, there is no significant change in the boride area fraction but an obvious decrease in average boride area in the semisolid modified alloy.
Segregation and diffusion characterisation in two-stage homogenisation of conventional superalloy
Authors: Miao Z J , Shan A D , Lu J , Song H W
Published: August 2012

The segregation behaviour of φ 406 mm IN718 ingot was investigated, and the experimental results indicated that Nb was the most segregated element. Two-stage homogenisation treatment was employed to relieve the extensive microsegregation in the as cast ingot. Historically, it was difficult to characterise the effects of the second stage homogenisation because of the uncertainty in locating the diffusion areas. To solve this problem, a 900°C/1 h treatment (‘Tag’ method) was conducted after homogenisation, which could form δ phase (Nb enriched) to trace the diffusion of Nb. The results revealed that the average composition of δ phase area, quantity of δ phase precipitates and sizes of δ phase precipitates change with the proceeding of homogenisation. Eventually, homogeneous distribution of elements could be achieved by means of two-stage homogenisation treatment (1140°C/60 h+1190°C/30 h).
Fabrication–microstructure–performance relationships of reversible solid oxide fuel cell electrodes–review
Authors: Gamble S
Published: August 2012

A reversible solid oxide fuel cell system can act as an energy storage device by storing energy in the form of hydrogen and heat, buffering intermittent supplies of renewable electricity such as tidal and wave generation. The most widely used electrodes for the cell are lanthanum strontium manganate–yttria stabilised zirconia and Ni–yttria stabilised zirconia. Their microstructure depends on the fabrication techniques, and determines their performance. The concept and efficiency of reversible solid oxide fuel cells are explained, along with cell geometry and microstructure. Electrode fabrication techniques such as screen printing, dip coating and extrusion are compared according to their advantages and disadvantages, and fuel cell system commercialisation is discussed. Modern techniques used to evaluate microstructure such as three-dimensional computer reconstruction from dual beam focused ion beam–scanning electron microscopy or X-ray computed tomography, and computer modelling are compared. Reversible cell electrode performance is measured using alternating current impedance on symmetrical and three electrode cells, and current/voltage curves on whole cells. Fuel cells and electrolysis cells have been studied extensively, but more work needs to be done to achieve a high performance, durable reversible cell and commercialise a system.
Prediction of Young's modulus and Poisson ratio for foamed metals using octahedron model
Authors: Liu P S , Chen G F , Duan C Y
Published: August 2012

The present paper deals with the mathematical–physical expression of Young's modulus and Poisson ratio of foamed metals. As it is known that, Young's modulus and Poisson ratio are two basic mechanical parameters of engineering materials. Foamed metal is a class of excellent engineering materials with dual attributes of structural and functional characteristics; therefore, these two parameters are investigated for these materials, and the relevant mathematical–physical expressions are derived from the ‘octahedron model’ of porous materials in the present paper. The results show that the apparent Young's modulus displays a quite complicated mathematical relationship to porosity of the porous body, and the apparent Poisson ratio is just a characteristic of the material constant almost not relative to porosity of the foamed metal.
Spark plasma sintering and hot compression behaviour of AZ91 Mg alloy
Authors: Straffelini G , Nogueira A P , Muterlle P , Menapace C
Published: August 2012

In the present investigation, the microstructural characterisation of the AZ91 Mg alloy produced by spark plasma sintering (SPS), as well as the evaluation of its hot compression behaviour, has been performed. Based on the differential scanning calorimetry analyses of the starting powders, three SPS cycles are investigated, using temperatures of 400 and 450°C, and at 450°C with previous solubilisation soaking at 420°C. Despite different microstructural and hardness characteristics, the three alloys display similar hot compression behaviour. At 200°C, the formation of an unstable crack, which propagates at 45° with respect to the loading axis, is observed after the occurrence of the peak load. At higher testing temperatures, after reaching the peak stress, the flow stress decreases slowly with increased strain of ∼0·51. Such behaviour corresponds with the observation of an accelerated cracking due to the propagation of decohesions at the interparticle regions. Ultimately, SPS allowed for attainment of high relative density; however, the sintering degree of the materials was quite low.
Study on influence of surface coating during cooling slope rheocasting process
Authors: Wang T M , Xu J , Chen Z N , Zhu J , Li T J
Published: August 2012

The cooling slope process is a simple method to produce feedstock materials for semisolid processing. In this work, the influence of surface coating of the cooling slope on grain morphology was examined. The investigation showed that the coating on the surface of the slope can affect the forming of both the solidification shell and the morphology of α-Al phase. A zebra form coating was proposed and tested, which cannot only reduce the solidification shell but also improve the grain microstructure.
Antibacterial activity of electroless Ni–B coating
Authors: Bülbül F
Published: August 2012

A surface deposition treatment like electroless Ni–B deposition, which is a new candidate to use in a wide range of engineering applications owing to many advantages, including low cost and good wear resistance, may improve the antibacterial activity and physical properties of stainless steel biomedical devices. In the present study, the structural and antibacterial properties of electroless Ni–B coatings deposited on AISI 304 stainless steels under different deposition conditions were investigated. Escherichia coli, the most important causative organism for infection, were used as the testing bacteria for in vitro test, including incubation at 37°C and 24 h. X-ray diffraction for crystallographic examination and scanning electron microscopy for morphological analysis were also used. The characterisation results showed that the antibacterial activity of the steel substrates deposited with coatings having especially high NaBH4 concentrations (1·2 g L−1), thus being amorphous, was strongly improved. Furthermore, the bactericidal performance difference of the coatings exhibiting cauliflower-like surface morphology was more obvious than that of the others. Electroless Ni–B surface treatment may be utilised for increasing the lifetime of stainless biomedical devices.
A model for determining initial dislocation-densities associated with martensitic transformations
Authors: Hatem T M , Zikry M A
Published: August 2012

A three-dimensional multiple-slip dislocation-density-based crystal plasticity formulation, and specialised finite element formulations were used to determine the initial dislocation-densities associated with martensitic transformations in steel alloys. The analysis is based on modelling the shear part from the phenomenological theory of martensitic transformation to obtain both the transformation mobile and immobile dislocation-densities. The model was validated with experiments related to the transformation of lath martensite in high-strength low-alloying steels.
Phase transitions in hydroxide perovskites: a Raman spectroscopic study of stottite, FeGe(OH)6, to 21 GPa
Authors: Kleppe A. K. , Welch M. D. , Crichton W. A. , Jephcoat A. P.
Published: August 2012

The effect of pressure on the naturally occurring hydroxide-perovskite stottite, FeGe(OH)6, has been studied in situ by micro-Raman spectroscopy to 21 GPa at 300 K. The ambient spectrum contains six OH-stretching bands in the range 3064 3352 cm–1. The presence of six non-equivalent OH groups is inconsistent with space group P42/n. In view of this inconsistency a new ambient structure determination of stottite from Tsumeb was carried out, but this did not allow the clear rejection of P42/n symmetry. However, a successful refinement was also carried out in space group P2/n, a subgroup of P42/n, which allows for six non-equivalent O atoms. The two refinements are of comparable quality and do not allow a choice to be made based purely on the X-ray data. However, taken with the ambient and 150 K Raman spectra, a good case can be made for stottite having P2/n symmetry at ambient conditions. On this basis, the pressure induced spectroscopic changes are interpreted in terms of a reversible phase transition P2/n ↔ P42/n.
Elasticity and high-pressure structure of arsenoflorencite-(La): insights into the high-pressure behaviour of the alunite supergroup
Authors: Mills S. J. , Nestola F.
Published: August 2012

Arsenoflorencite-(La), ideally LaAl3(AsO4)2(OH)6, was studied at high pressure by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. The unit cell was determined at nine pressures up to 7.471(8) GPa; no evidence of a phase transformation was found in this range. The pressure volume data (refined simultaneously) were fitted to a third-order Birch Murnaghan equation of state which gave V0 = 710.71(8) Å3, KT0 = 106(2) GPa and K' = 9.2(9). These values were confirmed independently from an FE–fE plot. The crystal structure was refined at 1.596, 3.622, 5.749 and 7.471 GPa, the first time this has been done for a member the alunite supergroup. The compressibility of arsenoflorencite-(La) is strongly anisotropic, with βc > βa. The main compression mechanism was found to be governed by the internal angle O3 La O2 of the La polyhedron, where the O2 and O3 atoms move toward the c axis during compression.
The effects of composition upon the high-pressure behaviour of amphiboles: compression of gedrite to 7 GPa and a comparison with anthophyllite and proto-amphibole
Authors: Nestola F. , Pasqual D. , Welch M. D. , Oberti R.
Published: August 2012

A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of a sample of natural gedrite from North Carolina, USA, with the crystal-chemical formula ANa0.47B(Na0.03Mg0.97Fe0.942+Mn0.02Ca0.04)C(Mg3.52Fe0.282+Al1.15Ti0.054+)T(Si6.31Al1.69)O22W(OH)2, up to a maximum pressure of 7 GPa, revealed the following bulk and axial moduli and their pressure derivatives: K0T = 91.2(6) GPa [K0T' = 6.3(2)]; K0T(a) = 60.5(6) GPa [K0T(a)' = 6.1(2)]; K0T(b) = 122.8(2.6) GPa [K0T(b)' = 5.7(8)]; K0T (c) = 119.7(1.5) GPa [K0T(c)' = 5.1(5)]. Gedrite has a much higher bulk modulus than anthophyllite (66 GPa) and proto-amphibole (64 GPa). All of the three axial moduli of gedrite are higher than those of these two other orthoamphiboles. The greater stiffness of gedrite along [100] is due to its high ANa content, which is almost zero in anthophyllite and proto-amphibole. The much greater stiffness parallel to the (100) plane of gedrite compared with the two other amphiboles is probably due to its high CAl content. A comparison is made with published data available for orthorhombic B(Mg, Mn, Fe) and monoclinic BCa amphiboles to identify correlations between crystal-chemistry and compressibility in amphiboles.