bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Taxator-tk: precise taxonomic assignment of metagenomes by fast approximation of evolutionary neighborhoods
Authors: Dröge J. , Gregor I. , McHardy A. C.
Published: November 2014

Motivation: Metagenomics characterizes microbial communities by random shotgun sequencing of DNA isolated directly from an environment of interest. An essential step in computational metagenome analysis is taxonomic sequence assignment, which allows identifying the sequenced community members and reconstructing taxonomic bins with sequence data for the individual taxa. For the massive datasets generated by next-generation sequencing technologies, this cannot be performed with de-novo phylogenetic inference methods. We describe an algorithm and the accompanying software, taxator-tk, which performs taxonomic sequence assignment by fast approximate determination of evolutionary neighbors from sequence similarities.

Results:  Taxator-tk was precise in its taxonomic assignment across all ranks and taxa for a range of evolutionary distances and for short as well as for long sequences. In addition to the taxonomic binning of metagenomes, it is well suited for profiling microbial communities from metagenome samples because it identifies bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic community members without being affected by varying primer binding strengths, as in marker gene amplification, or copy number variations of marker genes across different taxa. Taxator-tk has an efficient, parallelized implementation that allows the assignment of 6 Gb of sequence data per day on a standard multiprocessor system with 10 CPU cores and microbial RefSeq as the genomic reference data.

Availability and implementation: Taxator-tk source and binary program files are publicly available at http://algbio.cs.uni-duesseldorf.de/software/.

Contact:  Alice.McHardy@uni-duesseldorf.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Using the Predicted Responses from List Experiments as Explanatory Variables in Regression Models
Authors: Imai Kosuke , Park Bethany , Greene Kenneth F.
Published: November 2014

The list experiment, also known as the item count technique, is becoming increasingly popular as a survey methodology for eliciting truthful responses to sensitive questions. Recently, multivariate regression techniques have been developed to predict the unobserved response to sensitive questions using respondent characteristics. Nevertheless, no method exists for using this predicted response as an explanatory variable in another regression model. We address this gap by first improving the performance of a naive two-step estimator. Despite its simplicity, this improved two-step estimator can only be applied to linear models and is statistically inefficient. We therefore develop a maximum likelihood estimator that is fully efficient and applicable to a wide range of models. We use a simulation study to evaluate the empirical performance of the proposed methods. We also apply them to the Mexico 2012 Panel Study and examine whether vote-buying is associated with increased turnout and candidate approval. The proposed methods are implemented in open-source software.
Glucocorticoid metabolism in the
in ovo
environment modulates exposure to maternal corticosterone in Japanese quail embryos (
Coturnix japonica
)
Authors: Vassallo Brian G. , Paitz Ryan T. , Fasanello Vincent J. , Haussmann Mark F.
Published: November 2014

Maternal effects have gained attention as a method by which mothers may alter the physiological condition and phenotype of their offspring based upon current environmental conditions. The physiological and phenotypic outcomes of glucocorticoid-mediated maternal effects have been extensively studied in a variety of vertebrates; however, the underlying mechanism is currently unclear. Here, we injected tritiated corticosterone into the yolks of freshly laid Japanese quail eggs (
Coturnix japonica
) and traced its movement and metabolism through the
in ovo
development period. We found that corticosterone was extensively conjugated throughout the egg by the end of development, and while minimal corticosterone was detected within the embryo during development, accumulation of a conjugated metabolite in the embryo started to occur on day 6 of development. Because no movement and metabolism of corticosterone occurred in infertile eggs, our findings suggest that embryos are not passive recipients of maternal steroids, but instead appear to possess extensive metabolic capabilities, which may modulate their exposure to maternal steroids.
Oxygen isotope values in bone carbonate and collagen are consistently offset for New World monkeys
Authors: Crowley Brooke Erin
Published: November 2014

Stable oxygen isotopes are increasingly used in ecological research. Here, I present oxygen isotope (δ
18
O) values for bone carbonate and collagen from howler monkeys (
Alouatta palliata
), spider monkeys (
Ateles geoffroyi
) and capuchins (
Cebus capucinus
) from three localities in Costa Rica. There are apparent differences in δ
18
O
carbonate
and δ
18
O
collagen
among species. Monkeys from moist forest have significantly lower isotope values than those from drier localities. Because patterns are similar for both substrates, discrimination (Δ) between δ
18
O
carbonate
and δ
18
O
collagen
is relatively consistent among species and localities (17.6 ± 0.9‰). Although this value is larger than that previously obtained for laboratory rats, consistency among species and localities suggests it can be used to compare δ
18
O
carbonate
and δ
18
O
collagen
for monkeys, and potentially other medium-bodied mammals. Establishing discrimination for oxygen between these substrates for wild monkeys provides a foundation for future environmental and ecological research on modern and ancient organisms.
On integrable conservation laws
Authors: Arsie Alessandro , Lorenzoni Paolo , Moro Antonio
Published: November 2014

We study normal forms of scalar integrable dispersive (not necessarily Hamiltonian) conservation laws, via the Dubrovin–Zhang perturbative scheme. Our computations support the conjecture that such normal forms are parametrized by infinitely many arbitrary functions that can be identified with the coefficients of the quasi-linear part of the equation. Moreover, in general, we conjecture that two scalar integrable evolutionary partial differential equations having the same quasi-linear part are Miura equivalent. This conjecture is also consistent with the tensorial behaviour of these coefficients under general Miura transformations.
Continuous analogues of matrix factorizations
Authors: Townsend Alex , Trefethen Lloyd N.
Published: November 2014

Analogues of singular value decomposition (SVD), QR, LU and Cholesky factorizations are presented for problems in which the usual discrete matrix is replaced by a ‘quasimatrix’, continuous in one dimension, or a ‘cmatrix’, continuous in both dimensions. Two challenges arise: the generalization of the notions of triangular structure and row and column pivoting to continuous variables (required in all cases except the SVD, and far from obvious), and the convergence of the infinite series that define the cmatrix factorizations. Our generalizations of triangularity and pivoting are based on a new notion of a ‘triangular quasimatrix’. Concerning convergence of the series, we prove theorems asserting convergence provided the functions involved are sufficiently smooth.
Reactive vaccination in the presence of disease hotspots
Authors: Azman Andrew S. , Lessler Justin
Published: November 2014

Reactive vaccination has recently been adopted as an outbreak response tool for cholera and other infectious diseases. Owing to the global shortage of oral cholera vaccine, health officials must quickly decide who and where to distribute limited vaccine. Targeted vaccination in transmission hotspots (i.e. areas with high transmission efficiency) may be a potential approach to efficiently allocate vaccine, however its effectiveness will likely be context-dependent. We compared strategies for allocating vaccine across multiple areas with heterogeneous transmission efficiency. We constructed metapopulation models of a cholera-like disease and compared simulated epidemics where: vaccine is targeted at areas of high or low transmission efficiency, where vaccine is distributed across the population, and where no vaccine is used. We find that connectivity between populations, transmission efficiency, vaccination timing and the amount of vaccine available all shape the performance of different allocation strategies. In highly connected settings (e.g. cities) when vaccinating early in the epidemic, targeting limited vaccine at transmission hotspots is often optimal. Once vaccination is delayed, targeting the hotspot is rarely optimal, and strategies that either spread vaccine between areas or those targeted at non-hotspots will avert more cases. Although hotspots may be an intuitive outbreak control target, we show that, in many situations, the hotspot-epidemic proceeds so fast that hotspot-targeted reactive vaccination will prevent relatively few cases, and vaccination shared across areas where transmission can be sustained is often best.
Parental risk management in relation to offspring defence: bad news for kids
Authors: Mahr Katharina , Riegler Georg , Hoi Herbert
Published: November 2014

Do parents defend their offspring whenever necessary, and do self-sacrificing parents really exist? Studies recognized that parent defence is dynamic, mainly depending on the threat predators pose. In this context, parental risk management should consider the threat to themselves and to their offspring. Consequently, the observed defence should be a composite of both risk components. Surprisingly, no study so far has determined the influence of these two threat components on parental decision rules. In a field experiment, we investigated parental risk taking in relation to the threat posed to themselves and their offspring. To disentangle the two threat components, we examined defence behaviours of parent blue tits
Cyanistes caeruleus
towards three different predators and during different nestling developmental stages. Nest defence strategies in terms of alarm call intensity and nearest predator approach differed between the three predators. Defence intensity was only partly explained by threat level. Most importantly, parental risk management varied in relation to their own, but not offspring risk. Parent defence investment was independent of nestling risk when parents followed a high-risk strategy. However, parents considered nestling as well as parental risk when following a low-risk strategy. Our findings could have general implications for the economy of risk management and decision-making strategies in living beings, including humans.
Nesterenkonia alkaliphila sp. nov., an alkaliphilic, halotolerant actinobacteria isolated from the western Pacific Ocean
Authors: Zhang Gaiyun , Zhang Yubian , Yin Xijie , Wang Shuang
Published: November 2014

A Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, motile and non-spore-forming actinobacteria, designated strain F10T, was isolated from a deep-sea sediment of the western Pacific Ocean. Phylogenetic and phenotypic properties of the organism supported that it belonged to the genus

Nesterenkonia

. Strain F10T shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.8 % with

Nesterenkonia aethiopica

DSM 17733T, followed by

Nesterenkonia xinjiangensis

YIM 70097T (96.7 %) and

Nesterenkonia alba

CAAS 252T (96.6 %). The organism grew at 4–50 °C, at pH 7.0–12.0 and in the presence of 0–12 % (w/v) NaCl, with optimal growth occurring at 40 °C, at pH 9.0 and in the presence of 1 % (w/v) NaCl. The peptidoglycan type was A4(alpha), l-Lys–Gly–l-Glu. The polar lipid profile of strain F10T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, two unknown glycolipids and two unknown lipids. The isolate contained MK-9 (92 %) and MK-8 (5.8 %) as the major components of the menaquinone system, and anteiso-C17 : 0 (50.9 %) and anteiso-C15 : 0 (29.8 %) as the predominant fatty acids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain F10T was 66.2 mol%. Based on phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses, strain F10T represents a novel species of the genus

Nesterenkonia

for which the name Nesterenkonia alkaliphila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is F10T ( = LMG 28112T = CGMCC 1.12781T = JCM 19766T = MCCC 1A09946T).
Description of Pseudobacteriovorax antillogorgiicola gen. nov., sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from the gorgonian octocoral Antillogorgia elisabethae, belonging to the family Pseudobacteriovoracaceae fam. nov., within the order Bdellovibrionales
Authors: McCauley Erin P. , Haltli Brad , Kerr Russell G.
Published: November 2014

A bacterial strain designated RKEM611Twas isolated from the octocoralAntillogorgia elisabethae, collected off the coast of San Salvador, The Bahamas. The strain is Gram-stain-negative, an obligate aerobe, and pleomorphic. It requires NaCl for growth and exhibits optimal growth at 1–2 % (w/v) NaCl, 30–37 °C and pH 6.0–8.0. The predominant cellular fatty acids are C16 : 1ω5cand C16 : 0; the major respiratory quinone is menaquinone MK-6, and the DNA G+C content is 46.3 mol%. Based on phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, in addition to phenotypic characteristics, RKEM611Trepresents a novel species and genus of a novel family within the orderBdellovibrionales. The namesPseudobacteriovoracaceaefam. nov. andPseudobacteriovorax antillogorgiicolagen., nov., sp., nov. are proposed. Isolate RKEM611T( = NCCB 100521T = LMG 28452T) is the type strain.
A Tale from the Sharp End of the Benefit System
Authors: Jim
Published: November 2014

Jim describes the chaotic administration of Housing and Council Tax Benefit in wealthy South‐East England today. He doesn't detail his feelings and the impact on his aspiration to work again. The Welfare Reform Bill contains absolutely no reform whatsoever on Housing Benefits. How can the Government believe they are tackling disincentives to work where a change of benefit name (not even a month in work) takes eight months to resolve?
Housing and inclusion
Authors: Flanagan Peter , Susan  , Garry  , Jeremy  , Anthony  , Jason
Published: November 2014

Milton Court is a supported housing project run by Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust. Here Peter Flanagan and residents Susan, Garry, Jeremy, Anthony and Jason describe in their own words the projects that have been developed at Milton Court to promote independence and social inclusion and the benefits they have derived from participation in these projects.
Psychological assessment with people with learning disabilities and mental ill‐health
Authors: Dagnan Dave
Published: November 2014

This paper will consider the process of psychological assessment for people with learning disabilities and mental ill‐health. The paper will describe a formulation‐driven approach with reference to a social‐cognitive model of mental ill‐health in people with learning disabilities. I will illustrate this process with a brief case study of an assessment within this model.
How occupational therapists assess adults with learning disabilities
Authors: Dwyer Jo , Reep Judith
Published: November 2014

Occupational therapists are concerned with how people perform across the various daily activities that are important to them. It is recognised within occupational therapy that the presence of illness or disability might affect this performance.In order to assess how a person complete a task and identify what is making it unsatisfying, the occupational therapist will observe the person engaged in familiar activities. The Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) provides a standardised framework within which to make these observations. We have found the AMPS to be useful in assessing the performance of people with learning disabilities generally, as well as in assessing those with additional mental illness.We recognise that occupational therapy assessment plays a useful part in a wider multi‐professional, multi‐agency approach to identifying and managing the needs of people with learning disabilities.
Randomised controlled trials in learning disabilities: a review of participant experiences
Authors: Robotham Daniel , Hassiotis Angela
Published: November 2014

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the bedrock of evidence‐based practice. However, they raise important issues about participant recruitment and the ethics of group allocation. In this article we report relevant literature on how participants with learning disabilities and other stakeholders experience RCTs. Five quantitative studies have been published, one reporting on the views of people with learning disabilities and the remainder on carers' views. Despite the methodological limitations of the studies, carers appear to have a positive experience of RCT participation, and people with learning disabilities are able to understand certain aspects of research methods. We conclude that stakeholders are not hostile to RCTs, but the therapeutic misconception may affect their experiences. Further research is required to investigate interventions that might help promote RCTs in learning disabilities.
A community supervision order for a person with learning disabilities and severe mental health problems
Authors: Hemmings Colin , Akinsola Titi
Published: November 2014

We describe how Supervised Discharge (Section 25) of the Mental Health Act 1983 was used to promote mental health care in the community for a man with mild learning disabilities and paranoid schizophrenia who has had repeated relapses and hospital admissions. The new compulsory Community Treatment Order in England and Wales introduced by the Mental Health Act 2007 is explored in comparison with Section 25 Supervised Discharge, which it has now replaced, and compared with similar legislation already introduced in Scotland. The practice implications of the new supervised community treatment orders are discussed.
Assessment of dementia in people with learning disabilities
Authors: Torr Jennifer
Published: November 2014

The dementias are important disorders of ageing which result in cognitive and functional decline, behaviour change, increasing dependency and premature death. Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are at least as prevalent in older people with learning disabilities as in the general population. In addition, people with Down's syndrome have high rates of early onset Alzheimer's disease. Assessment of dementia in people with learning disabilities is confounded by pre‐existing cognitive and functional impairments and high rates of comorbid disorders. This paper discusses assessment of dementia in people with learning disabilities from a clinical perspective, with reference to the current evidence base.
How can older people's mental health services in the UK respond to the escalating prevalence of alcohol misuse among older adults?
Authors: Rakshi Maureen , Wilson Ian , Burrow Simon , Holland Mark
Published: November 2014

Purpose

There is growing statistical and research evidence to suggest that the prevalence of alcohol misuse is increasing among older adults in the UK. This has been an under‐recognised problem, but is now a source of increasing concern for health and social care providers. Older adults with mental health problems have increased vulnerability to problematic alcohol use, and this is likely to have a significant impact on older people's mental health services (OPMHS).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses some of the problems facing OPMHS in relation to increasing alcohol misuse among services users.

Findings

There is also evidence that alcohol misuse in older adults is often poorly identified and untreated within health and social care services including OPMHS. Use of an alcohol‐screening tool as part of a health care assessment is an effective way to improve detection. This paper also reviews the use of alcohol screening tools in the detection of alcohol related illness among older adults with mental health problems and proposes a care pathway for the management of alcohol misuse in OPMHS.

Originality/value

Current evidence indicates that the prevalence of alcohol misuse among older adults is increasing and is likely to rise further due to the reasons discussed in this paper.
Reflections on 10 years of using drug detection dogs in medium secure units
Authors: Hearn Dave
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The use of drug detection (sniffer) dogs in psychiatric settings divides opinion among clinicians and service users alike. This paper provides an overview of the use of these dogs within a Medium Secure Unit (MSU). The approach described seeks to challenge preconceptions and suggests that dog searching should be one component of a wider therapeutic approach to working with patients with co‐existing mental health and substance misuse problems.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reflects on ten years' experience of using drug detection dogs in MSUs.

Findings

A model is presented to promote a more therapeutic and recovery‐orientated use of dogs. This incorporates: using readily accessible dogs; carrying out proactive, rather than reactive, searches; operating in an informal and relaxed manner; being motivated by the information gained rather than the drugs found; responding differently to suppliers/dealers and users; and aiming to build therapeutic relationships with patients.

Practical implications

A scale is presented which categorises the severity of substance misuse within a service. Drug dogs can be used therapeutically on psychiatric wards to promote a drug‐free environment, but this practice should form part of a wider strategy to promote recovery. Investment in proactive searching may produce reductions in substance misuse.

Originality/value

The paper will be of value to clinicians and service/security managers involved in the management of substance misuse on inpatient wards (particularly MSUs) where there is a drive to integrate drug detection dogs within a recovery‐oriented framework.
The Myth of Japanese Buyer‐Supplier Relationships
Authors: Hirakubo Nakato , Kublin Michael , Topol Martin T.
Published: November 2014

This paper examines whether or not the close relationship between buyers and suppliers in the Japanese automotive industry was also the norm in the electronic equipment and office machine industries. The results indicate that it was not. In fact, the level of integration between buyers and suppliers in Japan was even lower than in the U.S. American buyers were more likely than their Japanese counterparts to provide technical, financial, and managerial assistance. American buyers and suppliers were also more likely to participate in joint R&D projects. However, Japanese buyers placed greater emphasis upon trust‐building activities such as developing long‐term relationships, dedicating funds to customized investments, and making frequent face‐to‐face contact. The research findings point to the danger in generalizing about the entire Japanese economy based upon the record of the Japanese automotive keiretsu. At the very least, the Japanese electronic industry does appear to be open to outside suppliers.
Dormitory management and boarding students in China's rural primary schools
Authors: Yue Ai , Shi Yaojiang , Chang Fang , Yang Chu , Wang Huan , YI Hongmei , Luo Renfu , Liu Chengfang , Zhang Linxiu , Yanjey Chu James , Rozelle Scott
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore whether an in-service life teacher training program can improve boarding students’ health, behavior, and academic performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial to measure the effect of life teacher training on student health, behavior, and academic performance among 839 boarding students in ten central primary boarding schools in Shaanxi. And the authors also tried to identify why or why not life teacher training works. Both descriptive and multivariate analysis are used in this paper.

Findings

– The authors find significant improvements in health and behavior. Specifically, compared to boarding students in control schools, 15 percent fewer students in treatment schools reported feeling cold while sleeping at night. The results also showed that student tardiness and misbehaviors after class declined significantly by 18 and 78 percent, respectively. However, the in-service life teacher training program had no measurable impact on boarding students’ BMI-for-age Z-score, number of misbehaviors in class, and academic performance. The analysis suggests that improved communication between life teachers and students might be one mechanism behind these results.

Originality/value

– This is the first empirical work which explored how to improve the welfare of boarding students via their life teachers. Because of the sudden increase in boarding students in rural China, it is almost certain that school personnel lack experience in managing boarding students. As such, one promising approach to improving student outcomes might be in-service training for life teachers.
Is Chinese or American maize price effective for trading and policy-making reference?
Authors: Yan Yunxian , Tian Lu , Zhang Yuejie
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discover an effective maize price for trading and policy-making reference by assessing the price transmission of the US spot and futures maize prices to Chinese counterparts.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors apply a systematic, quantitative method to analyze the integration between US and Chinese maize markets. Based on the residuals of the variables through error correction model, the directed acyclic graph (DAG) among six price variables is conducted. With consideration of the dependence on and direction of six price variables, the variance decomposition of each variable is calculated.

Findings

– This paper shows that the vertical price transmission passes from wholesale price to farm-gate price. The horizontal price transmission ranges from spot price to futures price at the domestic market and from the American spot price to domestic spot price, from the American spot price to domestic futures price and from the American futures price to domestic futures price. The American maize spot and futures prices, and in particular the spot price, have greater effects on domestic maize prices contemporaneously. It also indicates that the American spot price is the leader price in the long run at both maize markets.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes by using the DAG method in this paper. It also contributes by helping policy makers and market participants find the leading prices and offers insight into ways of gaining power of price setting in the maize market.
Hukou's impact on labor occupation segmentation
Authors: Song Jin , Li Shi
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to take occupation opportunity as an indicator to examine the impact of hukou on labor market segmentation in China. It estimates the scale of the impact and identifies the way of the impact. Especially, the paper takes hukou uniform reform as an example and tests whether hukou reforms helped in eliminating labor market segmentation.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data sets this paper adopted are the 2000 Census and 2005 Mini Census data in China. Linear model and Probit model are used in estimating hukou's impact. Oaxaca/Blinder decomposition is used in decomposing the difference in occupation distribution among hukou statuses. DID evaluation method is used in comparing the region with hukou uniform reform and the region without to capture the influence of the reform.

Findings

– The result shows that occupation segmentation based on hukou significantly exists in urban labor market. Hukou uniform reform improved the occupation opportunity of local rural workers but migrating rural workers were somehow crowded out. Migrating urban workers did not benefit from the reform. To conclude these, the reform released employment segmentation between rural and urban workers within the reformed region but strengthened the segmentation between the local residents and outcomers which could influence future labor source and scale in reformed area.

Originality/value

– The paper evaluates the hukou uniform reform's impact on the labor market using an empirical way for the first time and makes concrete policy recommendations based on these findings.
Technical efficiency and metatechnology ratios under varying resource endowment in different production systems
Authors: Mohi Uddin Mohammad , Brümmer Bernhard , Johanes Peters Kurt
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to compare technical efficiency and metatechnology ratios (MTR) in three production systems confronted with different technological and resource endowments in Bangladesh to identify the suitable production systems for increasing productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

– The primary data collected by authors from 180 dairy farmers were sampled and modeled in a stochastic metafrontier framework due to its ability to estimate and compare the efficiency of firms among various groups with possibly different group-specific technologies and heterogeneous production environments.

Findings

– The empirical results show that farms from intensive system were closer to their production frontier than extensive and traditional system. Regarding productivity differences among systems, the MTR is by far highest for intensive, indicating the technological advantage of this system over others two systems. The estimation of farm-specific inefficiency model revealed that farmers’ access to extension and credit services are assumed to be significant determinants in reducing inefficiency.

Practical implications

– This study concludes that the ability of the farmers to increase productivity vary depending on the production systems due to variation in resource endowments and access to various inputs and support services. Thus, improving productivity depends on effective policy design on harmonizing access to resources and delivery of extension and credit services.

Originality/value

– The empirical analysis of data representing different production endowments by stochastic metafrontier make it possible to identify the efficiency level as well as technology gap, thus, ways to identify the possible policy options reducing those gaps and improving productivity.
Determinants of pork demand by income class in urban western China
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Chen Yongfu , Zheng Zhihao , Si Wei
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of pork consumption in urban western China and the different consumption patterns across income strata with respect to income elasticity and price elasticity of demand.

Design/methodology/approach

– The double-hurdle model is fit to the household data of Sichuan and Xinjiang provinces which is from the National Bureau of Statistics urban household surveys.

Findings

– The paper finds that consumers’ purchasing decisions regarding pork are related to both non-economic and economic factors. The results also indicate large differences among the determinants for decision of how much pork to buy across the three income strata. Low-income households have higher income elasticity than middle-income and high-income households. High-income and middle-income households’ level of pork consumption is more sensitive to pork price. High-income households have greater cross-price elasticity.

Originality/value

– In the previous studies, the non-economic determinants of pork consumption have not been addressed, and neither does the issue of difference pork purchasing behavior across income strata for urban households in western China. So this study uses the double-hurdle model to investigate the determinants of pork consumption in urban western China.
The evaluation of corrosion problems (part 2)
Authors: Wilson C.L.
Published: November 2014

In the first part of this article the general background to the solution of corrosion problems was discussed. In this part an attempt has been made to explain the procedures for collecting information to solve practical problems. This can only be an attempt as there are so many variables involved that it is impossible to cover all the computations to be encountered in practice. However, a general skeleton procedure can be laid down to cover as many instances as possible.
The evaluation of corrosion problems (part 3)
Authors: Wilson C.L.
Published: November 2014

A CORROSION PROBLEM can be considered to be solved correctly when the item under protection has lasted, free of corrosion, for its required useful life. Thus, successful corrosion solutions can only be labelled as such after they have proved themselves. It is because of this that the solving of corrosion problems is more of an art than an applied science. There are, naturally, a number of rules that can be applied, but past experience plays a greater part than any other aspect.
Blast cleaning and zinc rich primers: aids to perfection
Authors: Proudley P.M.
Published: November 2014

Introduction Twenty‐five to thirty years ago in the U.K., it was an accepted fact that the first stage in the cleaning of steel destined for industrial fabrication, and prior to application of surface coatings was to allow it to weather in a stockyard.
Project Training for Graduates
Authors: Chatterton G.
Published: November 2014

Three schemes of engineering project work for graduates are outlined here. Previous articles by Dr Steed (December 1961), and Mr Inglis (January 1962) have discussed undergraduate project
FRETTING CORROSION: AMERICAN SYMPOSIUM
Authors: Campbell W.E. , Herbek E.W. , Strohecker R.F.
Published: November 2014

Fretting corrosion—a surface damage occurring between two closely fitting surfaces subject to slight vibrational movement—has caused trouble in machinery ever since the first closely fitting machined parts were put together. It is something different from ordinary wear or rusting of the usual chemical nature, and it is not always recognised as fretting corrosion by users of equipment in which it occurs. ‘Friction oxidation,’ ‘wear oxidation,’ ‘false brinelling,’ ‘chafing,’ ‘bleeding’ and ‘cocoa’ are some of the names that have been applied to the phenomenon. One of the results of work carried out by the Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory of the D.S.I.R., briefly described in CORROSION TECHNOLOGY, May 1954, is that it is possible to correlate the degree of damage with such variables as total number of oscillations, load or atmospheric humidity. In the United States, too, much work has been done on fretting corrosion and ways of combating it. So that as many as possible could benefit from this research, the American Society for Testing Materials organised a Symposium in which leading experts gave their findings. The Symposium has recently been published as a booklet. Here are shortened versions of two of the papers presented.
LEAD AND LEAD ALLOYS: Corrosion Resistance — Part 2
Authors: Holmes J.F.
Published: November 2014

As this three‐part article illustrates, the versatility of lead in preventing corrosion of other more prone materials seems to have few bounds. This second part considers lead as cable sheathing, piping and in cathodic protection applications. Its use in chemical plant cannot be overlooked and is also covered in this section. As with most other metals, adverse conditions, though relatively rare, can cause serious damage to the metal and whatever it may be protecting.
Passivity and localized corrosion
Authors: Foroulis Exxon Research Z.A.
Published: November 2014

Passivity and localized corrosion is discussed using iron, iron‐chromium, iron‐chromium‐nickel alloys and aluminium as examples. A brief description is given of the prevailing ideas regarding the nature of the passive film and the processes by which its protective properties are lost when breakdown of passivity and localized corrosion occurs.
A Course for Ground Engineers
Authors: Savage W.P.
Published: November 2014

IF a test bed is available the test should be preferably carried out on this, where the power given out by the engine may be more easily measured. If, however, this equipment is not available the test must be carried out in the aircraft, but for the test under these conditions a “known” airscrew must be available. This airscrew should not be the one normally used on the aircraft, but one that has been modified (and calibrated) to allow the engine to be run up to its full r.p.m. The reason for this is that the flight airscrew, for aerodynamic reasons, docs not allow the engine to reach its full r.p.m. with the aircraft stationary on the ground, and unless a “test” airscrew is used an engine may be sent into the air with a defect which may only make itself apparent at the higher r.p.m. Pilots should not be asked to take this risk.
Airscrew Body Interference
Authors: Lock C.N.H.
Published: November 2014

THE present paper deals with a semi‐empirical method of using airscrew strip theory to take account of the mutual interference of a body and tractor airscrew. It also contains a brief account of the successive wind tunnel experiments, starting from the original tests of the “family of airscrews,” which have led up to the theory and which provide the evidence for its accuracy over the somewhat limited range which they cover. The majority of the work has been published at intervals extending over the past six years, and I have to thank the Aeronautical Research Committee for permission to include some recent experimental work not yet published.
An American Machine in Europe
Authors: Hardy A.C.
Published: November 2014

AIRCRAFT designers and operators were, lately, given an opportunity of inspecting and testing the flying qualities of the first American transport machine to be seen on this side of the Atlantic. This was the Ford Trimotor all‐metal monoplane, to which attention was called in Major Mayo's article in our Aero Exhibition Critique number.
Airscrew Body Interference
Authors: Lock C.N.H.
Published: November 2014

ASSUMING that the resultant pressure on the nose is zero in the absence of the screw, which is roughly true of a number of shapes, then the resultant P of the pressure over the whole nose with airscrew running may be inserted in the momentum relation in the form
Marking the Modern Air Route
Authors: Toulmin Smith A.K. , Green H.N.
Published: November 2014

TO enable aircraft to compete with other forms of transport, on a commercial basis, it is essential that services should be run during the hours of darkness. With this end in view the development of night flying facilities has received considerable attention in recent years, and it has been conclusively proved that, when multi‐engined machines are flown over an adequately lighted airway, night flying is both safe and reliable. In the United States, where aircraft are extensively used for carrying mails, more than 15,000 miles are flown every night under all conditions of weather.
The Resistance of Engines
Authors: Townend H.C.H.
Published: November 2014

THE work which forms the subject matter of this paper relates to a device for reducing the air resistance of an air‐cooled radial engine. The device is one which can be added to the engine without completely enclosing the cylinders, either singly or collectively, in streamline casings of the conventional type, which usually render the engine inaccessible.
The Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
Authors: Glazebrook R.T.
Published: November 2014

THE Advisory Committee for Aeronautics was appointed on April 30, 1909. The twenty‐one years since that date contain nearly the whole history of flight by men. To quote from Sir Walter Raleigh, “At the beginning of the year 1909 the mystery and craft of flying was still known only to the few. In the two years which followed, it was divulged to the many, and became a public spectacle.” In the previous year, in France, Henri Farman, Delagrange, and Blériot had flown their various machines. For some years previously, the Wrights had been at work in America, and in 1903 had flown in a power‐driven machine. In August, 1908, Wilbur Wright had shown, in France, what might be achieved by the application of scientific investigation and research to the art of flying, and had caused Delagrange, who witnessed his manoeuvres in the air at the Hunandières race‐course, to exclaim, “Eh bien. Nous n'existons pas, nous sommes battus.”
A Course for Ground Engineers
Authors: Sloley R.W.
Published: November 2014

TURN INDICATORS TURN indicators are primarily used to indicate deviations from a straight course. When flying in fog, it is practically impossible to keep to the course by the compass alone, and the turn indicator is of service in enabling the pilot to preserve a straight course without reference to landmarks on the ground. The instrument also gives important information as to whether the aircraft is correctly banked on a turn, as described in the section headed “Cross Level” above.
Altitude Control of Aeroplane Engines
Authors: Pettitt‐Herriot J.
Published: November 2014

WHILE articles have appeared in the technical press from time to time, dealing with the altitude control purely from a design point of view, very little has been written in relation to the construction, testing, and correct method of operation of this important unit, and it is doubtful if many of the present day pilots, mechanics or engine testers have an intimate knowledge of what actually takes place inside the carburettor, when the altitude control is in operation.
Seaplane Hulls and Floats
Authors: Garner H.M. , Coombes L.P.
Published: November 2014

It is usual when carrying out tank tests on seaplane models to include measurements of the change in attitude when pitching moments of different amounts are applied. The measurements are generally made over a range of speeds in the neighbourhood of three‐quarters of the take‐off speed, in the neighbourhood of one‐third of the take‐off speed, and also with the hull or floats at rest. Curves of attitude against speed, with different applied moments, are shown in Fig. 11, for a twin‐float seaplane, and may be regarded as typical.
A Review of the Helium Question
Authors: Teed Major P.L.
Published: November 2014

NOW that helium is exclusively used in the airships of the United States, whilst its employment in the craft of other Powers has been visualised by Dr. Eckener, it is interesting to examine the history, properties, occurrence, origin, extraction and practical utility of this most remarkable gas, whose discovery is both a romance and a defence, should it be required, of scientific as opposed to industrial research.
The Construction of Aircraft in Steel
Authors: Green Major F.M.
Published: November 2014

THE material used for the construction of the wings of nearly all the aircraft made up to ten years ago was wood, generally silver spruce. Steel tube was sometimes used for the fuselage and tubular steel spars had occasionally been used in the wing structure. While wood un‐doubtedly gave excellent service, it was felt that something more durable and more uniform in its properties was required. Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, Ltd., of which I am chief engineer, began experiments in metal construction in 1917. The first aeroplane made by this firm in which the whole of the structure was of steel was flown in 1918, and production in series began in 1923. Since then very large numbers of aircraft have been constructed chiefly for the British Royal Air Force, both by my own firm and by four other British constructors, who have made similar aircraft under licence. The purpose of this paper is to give some of the reasons which led to the choice of steel, to describe the system of construction used, and to tell of the experience gained in the manufacture and supply of steel aircraft during the last ten years.
Testing Supercharged Engines
Authors: Pettitt‐Herriot J.
Published: November 2014

SUPERCHARGED aero engines are more or less a post‐war invasion into the practical side of aero‐engine design. The problem of power boosting for internal combustion engines, especially aero engines, has for several years engaged the attention of engine designers, with the result that to‐day quite a number of engines are produced with superchargers as an integral part of the standard equipment. Various types of superchargers have been tried, such as the reciprocating pump, Roots Blower, exhaust‐driven turbo compressor, and the gear‐driven centrifugal form of blower. The last‐named is the type most commonly used in this country at the present time.
Engines at the Paris Aero Show
Authors: Bulman Major G.P.
Published: November 2014

THE interest in anticipation offered by an International Aeronautical Exhibition is akin to that inspired by friendly participation in the reunion of a large and normally‐scattered family for some special celebration. One will look to see whether the elder stalwarts continue in full vigour; has that adolescent promise developed into maturity, or was it merely an evanescent brilliance; is new blood coming in, to bo assimilated in the traditions of the breed; or is the general stock slipping back, pot‐bound and sterile of fresh enterprise and foresight? In one's judgment one must be careful, however, to remember that it is a festal occasion, not the routine of life.
Aerodynamics for Engineers
Authors: Piercy N.A.V.
Published: November 2014

(1) Theoretical consideration of aerofoils of limited span led, in Article III, to a need for some assumption as to lift‐grading along the span, to give the span‐grading of circulation. Fig. 1 shows at (a) the experimental distribution of lift along a rectangular aerofoil of 7·6 per cent camber and aspect ratio 6, at an angle of incidence of 6 deg. At (b) elliptic loading is shown, which, from several points of view, may be regarded as ideal for the same lift coefficient. Assumption of the latter form permits of greatly simplified treatment. Even compared with rectangular aerofoil distribution, the assumption gives differences of little importance in many practical calculations, while these are still less with aeroplane wings, owing to the wash‐out usually introduced at their rounded wing‐tips. The following is, therefore, restricted to elliptic loading, but sufficient generality of presentation is preserved to allow, if desired, other forms to be substituted.
Compression‐Ignition Engines
Authors: Pye D.R.
Published: November 2014

I.—Historical IN this first lecture upon the origin and development of the heavy‐oil aero‐engine, to be delivered under the Akroyd‐Stuart foundation, it is appropriate to devote some space to the early history of oil engines generally, for it is certain that the aero‐engine of the future will claim a direct descent from some parent. The early history, moreover, of the heavy‐oil engine is of quite exceptional interest, both technical and personal.
Aerodynamics for Engineers
Authors: Piercy N.A.V.
Published: November 2014

(1) An aircraft in steady, straight‐line motion can have no resultant force or couple acting upon it. This condition is never continuously maintained in flight, and the craft proceeds in a series of oscillations or wide, corrected curves. Continuous adjustment takes place in the direction of its flight through either an inherent stability or a judicious use of the controls by the pilot, but the motion may be regarded mostly without error as steady for purposes of design. Calculations carried out on the basis of steady equilibrium have for objects the determination of optimum lay‐out; the selection of most suitable component parts; the provision of adequate and easeful control; the specification of loading for strength design; and the prediction and testing of performance. In practice, such calculations go hand in hand with others concerned with statical and dynamical stability; with accel‐erated motions; with strength and weight; and with a host of purely practical considerations. Deductions drawn from the principles discussed in this Article may not be decisive in a given case till set in proper perspective. In this connection we note, without straying from our subject matter, that many secondary factors are here neglected, whose effect the engineer has, on occasion, to take carefully into account.