bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Half the sum of positive roots, the Coxeter element, and a theorem of Kostant
Authors: Prasad Dipendra
Published: November 2014

Interchanging the character and co-character groups of a torus T over a field k introduces
a contravariant functor T → T
∨.
Interpreting ρ : T(ℂ) → ℂ×, half the sum of positive roots for
T, a maximal torus in a simply connected semi-simple group G (over ℂ) using this duality, we get a co-character
ρ∨ : ℂ× → T
∨(ℂ) for which ρ∨(e
2πi/h
) (h the Coxeter number) is the Coxeter conjugacy class
of the dual group G
∨(ℂ).
This point of view gives a rather transparent proof of a
theorem of Kostant on the character values of irreducible
finite-dimensional representations of G(ℂ) at the Coxeter conjugacy class: the proof amounting to the fact that in G
∨
sc(ℂ), the simply connected cover of G
∨(ℂ), there is a unique
regular conjugacy class whose image in G
∨(ℂ) has order h (which is the Coxeter conjugacy class).
Export Expansion and Economic Growth in Tanzania
Authors: Mah Jai S.
Published: November 2014

This paper reveals the source of rapid economic growth in Tanzania since market reform in the late 1980s. It applies the variance bounds cointegration test to economic growth, investment, exports, and aid inflow. The cointegration test results show that these variables are cointegrated. The error correction model shows that export expansion causes economic growth positively. Meanwhile, economic growth is revealed not to cause export expansion. The results are robust to the measure of economic growth rate. Neither investment nor aid inflow is revealed to be the source of the rapid economic growth of Tanzania.
Suicide risk assessment: searching for true positive
Authors: Podolak Evan
Published: November 2014

Suicide is a major public health problem and the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. Due to low base rates and the numerous comorbid risk factors associated with suicide, accurate prediction is difficult. This is particularly true for adolescents and young adults. In this article, some associated risk factors are discussed in the context of two high-risk populations (young adult prison inmates and young adult veterans) and several recommendations are made for conducting suicide risk assesments. General prescriptions for intervention are also outlined with the goal of reducing overly defensive practice and increasing the likelihood that high-risk individuals will receive effective intervention. Finally, several suggestions for future research are made.
Theory for processing data on the Web
Authors: Martens Wim
Published: November 2014

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) develops a wide range of standards for data processing on the Web. Prominent examples are RDF, SPARQL, XML, XPath, XQuery, and XSLT. Since these standards are widely used, they bring many interesting challenges for researchers. During the development of these standards, the W3C often works under a rather tight time schedule and does not always have all the cards on the table when design decisions need to be made. This is a situation in which research and practice can greatly benefit from each other. The W3C continuously releases drafts of the standards which researchers can investigate. Researchers can inform the W3C of their results and, conversely, the W3C can give the opportunity to immediately incorporate research results into practice.
Public versus Private Market Participants and the Prices Paid for Private Companies
Authors: Covrig Vicentiu , McConaughy Daniel L.
Published: November 2014

This study examines the impact of the market participant on prices paid for private companies in the Pratt’s Stats database. We examine approximately 4,200 transactions over the period of 2000–2011 for companies with sales of $1 million or more. We find that public buyers pay more after controlling for the target’s size, industry, age, estimated growth rate, and profitability, as well as the time of the transaction. We also find that smaller companies and C-corporations sell at higher multiples. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the price paid for a company is related to whether the market participant is private or public. Further, our results provide additional insights to users of the Pratt’s Stats database regarding the characteristics of the transactions in this well-known and often-used database.
‘The understanding prescribes laws to nature’: Spontaneity, Legislation, and Kant’s Transcendental Hylomorphism
Authors: Pollok Konstantin
Published: November 2014

In this paper I argue for the following two related claims. First, a successor version of the scholastic ‘forma-non-afficit’ theorem functions as the key to Kant’s transcendental idealism. Second, drawing on the ‘natural right’ tradition which Kant sees himself being part of, the relation between our cognitive spontaneity and the legislation of the understanding is one of acknowledgment (rather than creation) of the laws of the understanding. This interpretation allows us to make sense of pure concepts and principles of the understanding as the fundamental laws of nature. They rationally constrain our empirical concepts and judgments, and thus warrant the ‘lawfulness in the connection of appearances.’ (Prol, AA 04:§ 36)
Einfluss von Betonzusatzmitteln auf die Energieund CO2-Bilanz von Beton / Influence of superplasticizers on the energy- and CO2 -balance of concrete
Authors: Obrecht J.-M. , Gälli R. , Zimmermann P. , Fallscheer F.
Published: November 2014

The energy consumption and the C02 emissions during the production of two different concrete mixes with identical concrete properties were compared. The two concrete samples were prepared with and without the addition of a superplasticizer. Less energy was consumed and less C02 was emitted for the case of concrete production including a superplasticizer as compared to the case of concrete production without a superplasticizer. This is due to the fact, that when a superplasticizer is used, less cement is needed to produce concrete with the same properties as those of concrete without superplasticizers. However, the relatively small dijferences in the energy consumption and in the C02 emissions become insignificant, if the entire life cycle of a building is considered. Effects like durability and the need for maintenance are expected to have a much higher influence on the life cycle assessment of concrete buildings.
Oberflächenschutzsysteme für das Erstellen von hochbeständigen Betonkonstruktionen / Protective Coatings of Concrete Structures for High Durability
Authors: Gerdes A. , Wittmann F.H.
Published: November 2014

In practice concrete structures are often exposed to various environmental impacts which determine strongly durability of concrete and concrete structures. Costs of restoration of damaged concrete structures may be extremely high, in some cases higher than demolition and rebuilding. Not only real costs and financial investment for repair measures may be exorbitant, but limited use and negative impacts on the environment have to be taken into consideration too. In this paper a concept to reach sufficient durability is being developed in which technical, ecological and economical requirements are implied. For the realisation of this concept cement-based coatings with particular high resistance against chloride penetration and carbonation play a central role. It will be shown in this contribution that this type of coatings can protect the load bearing structure in an efficient way for a predetermined period. In this way long-term durability of concrete structures and reinforced elements exposed to aggressive environment can be achieved in both an economic and ecologic way.
Verankerung der Stützmauer Entschigtal / Anchorage of the Sustaining Wall Entschigtal
Authors: Schmid M.
Published: November 2014

Structural design and the position of the sustaining wall Entschigtal were at the origin of corrosion of the back layer of reinforcement. A drecrease of the load bearing section was observed in 1995. The assessment of the actual state of the reinforcement turned out to be a complex task in the context of the inspection of the structure. It was the combination of different test methods which finally led to reliable results concerning the extent and the position of corrosion of reinforcement. In order to restore the load bearing capacity for the remaining required service- life consolidation measures werde necessary. Permanent strand anchors have been placed to strengthen the wall.
Historische Bauterrakotta: Entwicklung - Schadensbilder - Konservierungskonzepte / Historical Building Terracotta: Development - Characteristic Damage - Concepts for Conservation
Authors: Wallasch S.
Published: November 2014

The following article would like to acquaint the reader with the research project, entitled „Preservation of North German Terracotta, as exemplified by the castles of Schwerin, Gadebusch and Basedow". This paper gives an overview of the way and the main subjects of our work which is to be dealt with through inter-disciplinary cooperation and contains results of the chemical investigations, in particular ceramic tests and protective material tests. The aim is to identify both the causes and the development of the various types of damage to terracotta, both where their cause is environmental and where it lies in the manufacturing process. The following stage is the problem of on-site conservation. The term „conservation " here does not refer only to the protective material complex but basicaly also to some materials and techniques necessary for conservation, for example adhesive mortars (to fill blistered areas), battering mortars (to secure the transitional areas of intact surfaces and de tio rated surfaces) and technics of desalination. At the same time, attention is directed to the fact that the material classification „building terracotta" includes a very wide range of characteristic properties, so that one cannot speak of terracotta as such.
Endolithic Microorganisms in the Biodeterioration of the Tower of Beiern / Die Rolle endolithischer Mikroorganismen bei der biologischen Zerstörung am Turm von Beiern
Authors: Ascaso C. , Wierzchos J. , Rodrigues J. Delgado , Aires-Barros L. , Henriques F.Μ.A. , Charola Α.E.
Published: November 2014

The Tower of Beiern was colonized by various organisms, ranging from endolithic bacteria to higher plants. The paper focuses on the deterioration that the endolithic microorganisms: bacteria and cyanobacteria, algae and funghi, cause on the compact Lioz limestone. The presence of these microorganisms in the subparallel Assuring characteristic of this stone is illustrated as well as their association with the clay minerals present. Their biogeochemical action results in an increase in surface roughness, subsurface porosity and eventual flaking of the stone surface.
The Masonry of the Tower of Belem and its Repointing / Das Mauerwerk des Turmes von Beiern und das Verfugen
Authors: Henriques F. Μ. A. , Charola A.E. , Aires-Barros L. , Rodrigues J.Delgado
Published: November 2014

The main problem presented by the Tower of Beiern masonry was the high incidence of open joints or joints with poor mortar. This situation had resulted in the infiltration of water into the Tower masonry, particularly on the Ν and W facades. After cleaning and repointing, the presence of this moisture became more evident in dampness stains, which, as the Tower dries out, are disappearing. The paper discusses the laboratory testing carried out for the selection of mortars required both for in-depth filling of joints and voids and for repointing.
Konstruktive Injektion von historischem Mauerwerk mit mineralisch- oder polymergebundenen Mörteln / Structural injection of historical masonry using mineral or polymer based grouts
Authors: Van Gemert D. , Toumbakari E.-E. , Schueremans L.
Published: November 2014

Recent developments in injection grouts used for consolidation are proposed. Special compositious have been developed, made out of lime, cement and pozzolan. The stability, the viscosity and the mechanical properties are illustrated. Comparison is made with polymer grouts and with double injections using mineral and polymer grouts consequently. The influence of injections on the load-bearing capacity of the masonry is calculated. Some elements for the judgment of the safety and reliability of masonry structures are pointed out.
Imprägniermittel: Schutz von Betonfassaden in einem nassen Klima / Water Repellents: Protection of Facades of Concrete in a Wet Climate
Authors: Gislason R.S.
Published: November 2014

Water repellents are widely used in Iceland on structures of concrete for the purpose of protecting cracks against water and for reducing the moisture content of the concrete, often as priming imprégnants under paint coatings. The climate is wet, freeze-thaw cycles are frequent and exterior concrete has suffered serious damages in general. A number of experiments involving the various kinds of application of repellents has been carried out, including both laboratory testing and tests in real house situations. The results show the water repellents to be very effective in protecting commonly occurring relatively narrow cracks, but not to be very effective at all in the lowering of the moisture content of concrete exposed to the climate of south-west Iceland.
Quantitative, zerstörungsfreie Feuchtemessung in Baustoffen vor Ort mit der Time Domain Reflectometry / Quantitative, non-destructive moisture measurement in building materials on site by time-domain re ectometry
Authors: Stacheder M. , Grassegger G. , Grüner F.
Published: November 2014

A new commercially available dielectric technique for the non-destructive determination of moisture in building materials based on the principle of 'time-domain reflectometry' (TDR) is presented. TDR measurements on samples of sandstone, brick, concrete and floor cover matched very well with results of conventional moisture measuring methods such as oven-drying or calciumcarbide-technique. The new method showed only a low influence of salt content or surface moisture of the material on the results.
Zementgebundene Beschichtungen zum Schutz und zur Instandsetzung von Stahlbetonbauwerken / Protective and repair layers for concrete structures
Authors: Martinola G.
Published: November 2014

Cement based layers are frequently used during the repair of reinforced concrete structures nowadays. They restore the protection of the reinforcement against the penetration of aggressive substances. Protective coatings can also be applied to new structures in order to improve their durability. This paper discusses a concept for the improvement of durability of existing and new reinforced concrete structures using protective layers. To offer protection and to prevent the transport of harmful substances inside the reinforced concrete structure these layers have to be free from cracks during the planned service life. Under usual conditions such layers are submitted to different phenomena like thermal, hygral and autogenous shrinkage and swelling. These processes create a complex state of eigenstresses inside the system layer-subbase. The tensile stresses can lead to the formation of cracks and delamination of the protective layer after a few years. This paper suggests an approach for correct design of systems of protective as repair layers. For this purpose a numerical model is used in order to determine the time dependent stress distribution and the crack formation due to different loads and boundary conditions. On this basis the requirements for a layer can be formulated ad hoc as a function of the probabilistic properties of each damaged building and the risk of failure can be minimized.
Simulieren der kapillaren Wasseraufnahme von porösen Werkstoffen des Bauwesens / Modelling of the Capillary Water Absorption of Porous Building Materials
Authors: Elsen J. , Barquin F. de
Published: November 2014

Profound knowledge of the moisture transport in porous building materials is essential to understand and to improve their durability. Water flow in these materials is mainly driven by capillary forces and the capillary suction of a porous building material depends on its pore structure. We have designed a statistical model to simulate the capillary water absorption of porous building materials based on invasion percolation rules. A 3D-network with 30x30x100 sites was used and the trapping effect is included. The input for the simulated invasion percolation is a pore size distribution obtained by a stereological analysis of the results of automated image analysis measurements on SEM-BSE-images of polished sections. Pore size distributions of nine different materials have been determined experimentally by SEM and by MIP. The simulated absorption curves agree reasonably well with the experimental absorption curves.
Stucco Marble in the Dukes Chapel in Krzeszów, Poland - Microclimate and Degradation Mechanisms / Stuckmarmor in der Fürstenkapelle in Krzeszów (Grüssau) Polen- Mikroklima und zerstörende Mechanismen
Authors: Kozlowski R. , Wittenburg C. , Zeunert A.
Published: November 2014

The baroque Dukes Chapel in Krzeszów, Poland, contains elaborate stucco marble decorations of great historic value and artistic quality. Cracks and losses appeared in the thin stucco marble layers as a result of layer deformation and detachment from the ground. The glossy polished surface has become locally eroded and rough, and the original material deformed and porous. The damages are located in a non-uniform way; they appear at the base of the walls and high on the vaulted ceilings. A year-long monitoring of air parameters has been conducted inside and outside the chapel. The micro climate of the chapel has been found to be strongly influenced by the outside climate via air exchange with the exterior. The unheated interior undergoes cooling during the winter period and warms up very gradually during the spring and summer. This thermal inertia of the building gives rise to periods of moisture condensation on the walls. Large amounts of magnesium sulphate, which leached out in the past from the dolomitic mortar, are present in the deteriorated decorations of the ceiling. The repeated periods of moisture condensation and evaporation lead to the damaging cyclic crystallization of the salt. Considerable swelling of the stucco marble on humidification is another cause of the deterioration observed. The conservation strategy should restrict the air exchange between the chapel and the exterior and include treatments removing magnesium sulphate from the material.
What to Smooth: Rate of Interest or the Foreign Exchange? Turkish Monetary Policy under Turbulent Times
Authors: Yeldan A. Erinc , Kolsuz Gunes , Unuvar Burcu
Published: November 2014

This paper studies the new monetary stance of the Central Bank of Republic of Turkey (CBRT) during the Great Recession. We note that characteristics of the post-1997 “Great Moderation” revealed interest rate smoothing as a valid policy option for the inflation targeting central banks. Utilizing econometric analysis on a general form of a Taylor Rule, we search for the relative weights of the objective function of the CBRT over Jan 2010–Dec 2013. We find that over the Great Recession, the CBRT’s focus on “interest smoothing” had been maintained; and yet the burden of adjustment fell disproportionately on the foreign exchange markets. Furthermore, weak credibility of the CBRT, lack of a simple policy rule, and noisy policy communications evidence that pre-requisites of the interest rate smoothing are not being fulfilled. Inevitable sharp policy corrections that follow smoothing periods proved insufficient against the voluminous global flows.
The effect of delayed ettringite formation on fine grained aerated concrete mechanical properties
Authors: Lubej Samo , Anžel Ivan , Jelušič Primož , Kosec Ladislav , Ivanič Andrej
Published: November 2014

Delayed ettringite formation (DEF) is a chemical reaction with proven damaging effects on the mechanical properties of hydrated cementitious composite (concrete). Ettringite crystals can cause cracks and the widening of cracks due to pressure on the crack walls caused by the positive volume difference in the reaction. In this paper, we investigated the potential to utilise the positive volume difference in DEF in order to improve the mechanical properties of hydrated fine grained aerated concrete. Fine dispersed crystallisation nuclei, achieved by adding air-entraining agent (AEA) and by short vibration of specimens, are presented as the main requirement for such improvements. Control tests of expansion and mechanical properties were performed on samples of concrete with and without AEA by inducing DEF. The microstructure of fine grained aerated concrete was examined with an optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. We found that the controlled DEF, which is guaranteed by adding AEA and with the formation of uniformly dispersed air bubbles, which are crystallisation sites for ettringite crystals, improves the mechanical properties. The specimens with induced DEF were measured and found to have a 6.8% increase of compressive strength.
New Experimental Insights into the Bromate – 4-Aminophenol Photochemical Oscillations
Authors: Bell Jeffrey G. , Wang Jichang
Published: November 2014

In this research, it was found that following the photo-dissolution of
the intermediate product N-bromo-1,4-benzoquinone-4-imine in the
bromate – 4-aminophenol reaction, removal of illumination may allow
the system to exhibit spontaneous chemical oscillations. This new
observation complements the earlier report that the bromate –
4-aminophenol reaction could only oscillate under continuous
illumination. Our exploration illustrates that the initial
concentrations of bromate, 4-aminophenol and sulfuric acid have great
influence on whether or not the system requires constant illumination
for exhibiting oscillatory behavior. There is indeed an optimal
illumination time interval at which the subsequently un-illuminated
system would exhibit a large number of high frequency oscillations
with or without an induction time period. Similar influences were also
observed in the presence of cerium, in which the system exhibited
sequential oscillations. Being able to respond to light in both
a negative and constructive way makes this oscillatory system an
attractive model for investigating perturbed nonlinear reaction
dynamics.
The Role of Halogens in the Synthesis of Semiconductor Nanocrystals
Authors: Juarez Beatriz H.
Published: November 2014

The presence of halogen compounds in the synthesis of semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) produced by hot injection drastically influence their capping ligand sphere and/or chemical reactivity, allowing for the growth of hybrid systems, including composites combining NCs decorating carbon sp2 surfaces. As a result, the presence of halide anions on the surface of some NCs has proven to have a positive impact on the optical and electrical properties. In this work the effects that halogen co-solvents (including alkylchlorides, bromides, and iodides) induce in the synthesis of rod-like Wurtzite CdSe NCs generated by hot-injection will be reviewed. The proposed mechanism of the reaction as well as a detailed characterization of the capping ligand sphere by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and X-Ray photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) will be discussed. Correlated cyclic voltammetry (CV) and XPS studies have been performed to address the effect of the halide anions on the NCs surface. Finally an example of the effect of the addition of chlorine-containing co-solvents on the synthesis of PbS rock-salt NCs will be shown.
Neuromyelitis Optica: Atypical Clinical and Neuroradiological Presentation
Authors: Splendiani Alessandra , Mariani Silvia , Anselmi Monica , Catalucci Alessia , Di Cesare Ernesto , Gallucci Massimo
Published: November 2014

The extreme variability of clinical and MRI findings in the suspicion of Devic's disease always requires the detection of specific antibodies (AQP4).

MRI scans were performed with a high-field MRI scanner (1.5T General Electric Signa Horizon): the MRI protocol of the brain employed axial DP, T2, T1, FLAIR and DWI weighted images (wi) and coronal T2-wi. After intravenous administration of contrast medium axial and sagittal T1-weighted images of the brain were repeated. The spine protocol employed after contrast medium included sagittal T2-wi, T2-wi with fat suppression and T1-wi.

In May 2004, a 64-year-old healthy Caucasian woman began to suffer loss of motor and thermal sensitivity in the left lower limb. MRI showed nonspecific areas of abnormal signal intensity on the deep left frontal and right frontoparietal white matter with no pathological enhancement after contrast medium and a small intramedullary area of altered signal at metameric level C2–C4 with a diagnosis of post-viral transverse myelitis. The patient had two similar episodes years later so the neurologist decided to search for circulating IgG AQP4 with the definitive diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica.

In this case, compared to a clinical presentation of atypical deficit neurological involvement, the neuroradiological results of a progressive diffuse involvement of the white matter were atypical.
Dynamika innowacyjności regionów Unii Europejskiej w latach 1999–2008
Authors: Markowska Małgorzata
Published: November 2014

The study presents approaches to measuring regional innovation and the selection of characteristics facilitating the illustration of this phenomenon at the NUTS 2 level in the EU following dynamic analysis. The research procedure is described, allowing for the classification to be used in the assessment of innovation dynamics. Based on this classification, the results were characterised with a particular emphasis on the territorial distribution of the classes of regions and assigning Polish and capital regions to the obtained classes of innovation dynamics.
Industry-directed training and research programmes: The BMI experience
Authors: De Jongh Pieter J. , Erasmus Cornelius M.
Published: November 2014

Universities are academic institutions with the primary objectives of teaching students a particular academic discipline and for conducting research related to that discipline. Traditionally, very little collaboration existed between universities and industry with respect to training and research in the mathematical sciences. Because of funding pressure, more and more universities are forced to find external sources of income. In this paper, we discuss a framework for designing and implementing career-oriented training programmes and industry-directed research programmes with a statistical science core. This framework was used as the basis for designing and implementing a highly successful training and research programme at North-West University’s Centre for Business Mathematics and Informatics® (Centre for BMI), with the active support of industry partners Absa and SAS Institute. We believe that the lessons learnt from its implementation could form valuable guidelines for other, similar initiatives.
Analysis of failure of flexible geocell-reinforced retaining walls in the centrifuge
Authors: Song F. , Xie Y.-L. , Yang Y.-F. , Yang X.-H.
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACT: Since the 1980s, flexible geocell-reinforced retaining walls have been used more frequently for slope protection as an alternative to conventional retaining structures. The benefits of these geocell structures include light weight, rapid construction, cost-effectiveness, ecological protection and landscape enhancement. However, the deformation mechanisms and failure modes of geocell-reinforced retaining walls are often complicated, thereby restricting their use in engineering practice. The differences in failure behaviour between geocell-reinforced and rigid-facing retaining walls need to be identified. In the present study, a series of centrifuge model tests on retaining walls reinforced by geocells were performed. The tests varied with respect to aspect ratio (the reinforcement length to the height of the wall) and the slope inclination (horizontal to vertical). The experimental results indicate that the critical failure surface is a non-linear shape that passes through the toe of the wall and intersects with the back of the wall. As the aspect ratio decreased, the horizontal distance between the top of the critical failure surface and the wall increased, whereas the location of the critical failure surface intersecting with the wall moved downward. In the case of a smaller inclination angle, the critical failure plane had a compound shape that included part of the backfill material near the top portion of the wall. In the case of a larger inclination angle, the size of the sliding zone was small and the failure was mainly due to sliding of the wall along the slope. The internal displacement distributions in the sliding zone were measured using digital image analysis and indicated that the locations of the maximum lateral face displacement in geocell retaining walls differs from those in conventional rigid retaining walls.
Assessment of EPS block geofoam with internal drainage for sandy slopes subjected to seepage flow
Authors: Akay O. , Özer A.T. , Fox G.A.
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACT: Lightweight expanded polystyrene (EPS) block geofoam (geofoam block) is commonly used as a replacement of the heavy in situ soil during slope remediation in order to reduce driving forces. The design procedure requires the use of permanent drainage systems to alleviate hydrostatic pressures in geofoam block slope systems. In this study, small-scale laboratory lysimeter experiments investigated the behavior of a stabilized sandy slope with a geofoam block slope system experiencing seepage. An internal drainage system was incorporated by grooving dual drainage channels (weep holes) on the top and bottom side of the geofoam blocks. A lysimeter with dimensions of 60 cm height, 20 cm width, and 200 cm length was constructed in the laboratory. Slopes were constructed by compacting sand. The geofoam blocks (2.5 cm height, 5 cm width, and 15 cm length) were placed on the sandy slope face with an angle of 45° in ‘one row' and ‘two rows' configurations. The experiments were conducted under constant water pressure heads (25-, 38-, and 50-cm pressure head boundary conditions) in the water reservoir located at the opposite end of the lysimeter from the geofoam blocks. In general, the lightweight geofoam blocks could not resist earth and hydrostatic pressures under seepage. The back-slope was not self-stable under seepage conditions, and deep-seated global stability failures were observed, except for the remediated slope at the 25- and 38-cm pressure head boundary conditions. The internal drainage system was ineffective at dissipating piezometric pressures at the higher seepage gradients investigated at this lysimeter scale. Numerical slope stability modeling confirmed these observations, predicting a factor of safety below the critical value for global stability in cases where failure was observed. More elaborate geofoam block configurations and/or drainage systems should be used to increase resistance against global stability failure caused by higher seepage gradients.
A flood risk analysis model with topographical inundation and life-loss
Authors: Gouldby Ben , Lhomme Julien , Jamieson Sam R. , Hornby Dave , Laeger Stefan
Published: November 2014

Quantified models of flood risk that incorporate an explicit representation of the performance of flood defence infrastructure are becoming an increasingly important component of efforts to manage flood risk. The models have been applied to support a wide range of decisions, including long-term strategic planning, assessment of investment needs and shorter-term asset management. The model currently applied in practice by the Environment Agency in England and Wales makes a number of simplifying assumptions to achieve computationally practical run-times. One of these simplifications relates to the volume-based flood-spreading algorithm that is applied. This paper describes the implementation of a new time-based inundation model within the existing risk analysis modelling approach. The new inundation model offers a significant increase in the representation of the physical processes within the flood simulation component of the risk analysis model. It also offers new outputs in terms of estimates of maximum depths and flood velocities. Velocities are known to be an important factor in flood-related fatalities. A simplified method to estimate life-loss has been combined with new output from the improved inundation model to illustrate how estimates of risk to life could be provided.
Employer Practices in Improving Employment Outcomes for People With Disabilities: A Transdisciplinary and Employer-Inclusive Research Approach
Authors: Barrington Linda , Bruyère Susanne M. , Waelder Margaret
Published: November 2014

Objective:Share new knowledge about workplace practices related to employer success in hiring, retaining, and promoting people with disabilities, and promote use of findings to employers and service providers.

Design:A transdisciplinary and multifaceted data gathering approach.

Results:Provides an overview of the research approach taken and the strengths regarding this approach.

Conclusions:The significance of findings for rehabilitation researchers and policy makers focused on improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities, for rehabilitation counselor educators preparing future service providers, and for practicing professionals providing services to individuals with disabilities and consultation to employers regarding disability issues, are presented.
Rehabilitation-Related Research on Disability and Employer Practices Using Individual-Based National and Administrative Data Sets
Authors: Nazarov Zafar E. , Erickson William A. , Bruyère Susanne M.
Published: November 2014

Objective:It is useful to examine workplace factors influencing employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities and the interplay of disability, employment-related, and employer characteristics to inform rehabilitation practice.

Design:A number of large national survey and administrative data sets provide information on employers and can inform this inquiry.

Results:Provides an overview of 9 national survey and administrative data sets that can be used to investigate the impact of employer practices on employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

Conclusions:Provides specific examples of disability and employment research, which can be performed with these data sets and implications for rehabilitation policy, practice, and research.
Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation to Stabilize a Polytrauma Patient During Intramedullary Nailing of a Femoral Fracture
Authors: Chauhan Aakash , Babovic Nikola , Moraca Robert J. , Altman Daniel T.
Published: November 2014

Case:

An eighteen-year-old polytrauma patient sustained multiple nonorthopaedic and orthopaedic injuries, including a closed femoral shaft fracture. She was started on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for respiratory failure. After added resuscitation and stabilization, she underwent intramedullary nailing of the femoral fracture while on ECMO on the third day after the injury. She remained stable throughout the case and recovered after a prolonged hospital course. At the most recent clinical follow-up, she was walking without assistance and had union of the fracture.

Conclusions:

ECMO successfully stabilized and mitigated any potential pulmonary complications during intramedullary nailing of a femoral shaft fracture in an unstable patient with polytrauma.
Measuring the Sense of Security of Children Left Behind in China
Authors: Liao Chuanjing , Hu Yu , Zhang Jinfu
Published: November 2014

Our primary purpose in this study was to determine the structure of sense of security of children left behind in China, and to develop and validate a suitable measure for this. Participants were 1,836 pupils at rural Chinese schools, 100 of whom completed open surveys and semistructured
interviews, 289 of whom completed the preliminary survey, and 1,447 of whom completed the final survey. An exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 5-factor solution, comprising 26 items that explained 56.08% of the variance. A confirmatory factor analysis replicated the initial factor structure,
indicating satisfactory goodness-of-fit and internal consistency. The reliability and validity of the resulting Questionnaire of Sense of Security for Children Left Behind has considerable potential for use in the context of rural China for research about children who have been left behind.
Persuasiveness of Hiv/aids Public Service Announcements as a Function of Argument Quality, Personal Relevance, and Evidence Form
Authors: Zhang Jueman (Mandy) , Chock T. Makana , Chen Gina Masullo , Schweisberger Valarie , Yi Wang
Published: November 2014

We conducted an experiment with a mixed factorial design to examine how HIV/AIDS public service announcements (PSAs) that varied in quality of argument, level of personal relevance, and form of evidence, affected attitude and behavioral intention toward condom use with main and nonmain
partners. Participants were 85 heterosexually active young adults at a northeastern university in the United States. Results showed that argument quality influenced attitude toward condom use regardless of partner type, and level of personal relevance influenced attitude toward condom use
with main partners but not with nonmain partners. There was no difference in attitude or behavioral intention according to whether the evidence was narrative or statistical. The attitudinal effect of personal relevance was more prominent in narrative than in statistical PSAs.
Moderated Mediation Effect by Group Interaction in a Political Work Environment
Authors: Chang Po-Chien , Chien Jui-Ching , Lin Tong-Ming
Published: November 2014

We drew on social exchange and situational strength theoretical perspectives to examine the mechanism through which the political climate influences employee turnover intention. Participants comprised 750 employees working in 56 work groups in Taiwan. The findings demonstrated that
psychological contract breach partially mediated the relationship between political climate and employee turnover intention. In addition, group interaction moderated the indirect effect of political climate on employee turnover intention through psychological contract breach, such that the
mediated effect of political climate was weaker in good group interaction than in poor group interaction.
Customer Dissemination of Negative Word-of-Mouth: Influence of Expected or Unexpected Events
Authors: Tsai Ming-Hone , Liao Chienhao , Hsieh Ren Gih
Published: November 2014

We examined how expected or unexpected costs affect restaurant customers' attitudes toward the dissemination of negative word-of-mouth (WOM) when service failure occurs. A 2 (customer punishment: expected and unexpected) × 3 (relationship type: encounter, pseudo, and intimate)
mixed factorial experimental design was adopted to examine the dissemination of negative WOM. The results indicated that service failure exerted significant and nonsignificant primary effects on expected punishment and relationship type, respectively. A significant interaction was observed
between expected punishment and both encounter and intimate relationship types, but not between expected punishment and the pseudo relationship type. In sum, expected punishment and relationship type influenced negative WOM.
Ten years after Dublin: principal trends in HIV surveillance in the EU/EEA, 2004 to 2013
Authors: Pharris A , Spiteri G , Noori T , Amato-Gauci A J
Published: November 2014

In 2004, the 31 countries of the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) adopted the Dublin Declaration on Partnership to Fight HIV/AIDS in Europe and Central Asia. In 2013, 29,157 persons were diagnosed with HIV in 30 EU/EEA countries (adjusted rate: 6.2/100,000); new diagnoses have increased by 33% since 2004 among men who have sex with men and late diagnosis remains common. Evidence-based prevention measures and efforts towards earlier testing need to be expanded.
Internal carotid artery surgical revascularization in a pediatric patient with Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia
Authors: Westbroek Erick M. , Mukerji Nitin , Kalanithi Paul , Steinberg Gary K.
Published: November 2014

Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia (SIOD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, episodic lymphopenia, renal failure, and cerebrovascular disease secondary to arteriosclerosis and myointimal hyperplasia. In this paper the authors report the first known application of internal carotid artery (ICA) surgical revascularization to relieve a high-grade focal stenosis of the ICA in a pediatric patient, a 6-year-old boy with SIOD. The clinical presentation, imaging features, operative technique, and postoperative course are described and the molecular genetics, pathophysiology, and treatment considerations in SIOD are discussed.
The influence of injecting an epidural contrast agent into the sacral canal on the fluoroscopic visibility of bony landmarks for sacroiliac screw fixation: a feasibility study
Authors: Mendel Thomas , Radetzki Florian , Schwan Stefan , Hofmann Gunther Olaf , Goehre Felix
Published: November 2014

OBJECT

In sacroiliac screw fixation of unstable pelvic injuries in geriatric patients, poor bone quality often obscures important bony landmarks in fluoroscopic images. The authors analyzed the feasibility of injecting a transhiatal contrast agent (CA) into the sacral canal to improve fluoroscopic visualization in the sacral epidural space.

METHODS

Eight fresh cadaveric whole-body specimens from human donors whose mean age at the time of death was 78 years (range 69–87 years) were used. First, to identify bony landmarks without CA enhancement, the authors acquired fluoroscopy images of the native sacral canal, using lateral, inlet, and outlet projections. Through puncture of the sacral hiatus, 8–10 ml of CA was injected into the epidural space. Fluoroscopy images were then acquired in the standard pelvic views to identify the bony landmarks. To assess the effect of the CA enhancement, visibility of the landmarks was assessed before and after CA injection. Each identified landmark was scored as 1, and summative landmark scores of up to 10 were determined for each specimen.

RESULTS

The cadaveric specimens were representative of bone structures in the geriatric population. In all specimens, epidural CA injection enhanced the fluoroscopic visualization of the sacral canal and of the S-1 foramina. The enhancement increased the total bony landmark score from 5.9 (range 4–8) without CA injection to 8.1 (range 6–10) after CA injection. Considering only intrasacral landmarks, the score was increased from 1.5 to 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Injection of a transhiatal epidural CA improves fluoroscopic imaging of the sacral canal and of the neural foramina. Hence, this technique could be applied to help the surgeon identify anatomical landmarks during sacroiliac screw fixation in geriatric patients.
Volumetric brain analysis in neurosurgery: Part 1. Particle filter segmentation of brain and cerebrospinal fluid growth dynamics from MRI and CT images
Authors: Mandell Jason G. , Langelaan Jack W. , Webb Andrew G. , Schiff Steven J.
Published: November 2014

OBJECT

Accurate edge tracing segmentation remains an incompletely solved problem in brain image analysis. The authors propose a novel algorithm using a particle filter to follow the boundary of the brain in the style often used in autonomous air and ground vehicle navigation. Their goals were to create a versatile tool to segment brain and fluid in MRI and CT images of the developing brain, lay the foundation for an intelligent automated edge tracker that is modality independent, and segment normative data from MRI that can be applied to both MRI and CT.

METHODS

Simulated MRI data sets were used to train and evaluate the particle filter segmentation algorithm. The method was then applied to produce normative growth curves for children and adolescents from 0 to 18 years of age for brain and fluid from MR images from the National Institutes of Health pediatric database and these data were compared to historical results. The authors further adapted this method for use with CT images of pediatric hydrocephalus and compared the results with hand-segmented data.

RESULTS

Segmentation of simulated MRI data with varied levels of noise (0%–9%) and spatial inhomogeneity (0%–40%) resulted in percent errors ranging from 0.06% to 5.38% for brain volume and 2.45% to 22.3% for fluid volume. The authors used this tool to create normal brain and CSF growth curves from MR images. The calculated growth curves showed excellent consistency with historical data. Additionally, compared with manual segmentation the particle filter accurately segmented brain and fluid volumes from CT scans of 5 pediatric patients with hydrocephalus (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The authors have produced the first normative brain and CSF growth curves for children and adolescents 0–18 years of age. In addition, this study includes the first use of a particle filter as an edge tracker in image segmentation and offers a semiautomatic method to segment both pediatric and adult brain data from MR and CT images. The particle filter has the potential to be further automated toward a clinical rather than research tool with both of these modalities. Because of its modality independence, it has the capability to allow CT to be a more effective diagnostic tool for neurological disorders, a task of substantial importance in emergency settings and in developing countries where CT is often the only available method of brain imaging.
Epigenetica e psiconeuroimmunoendocrinologia: una rivoluzione che integra psicologia e medicina
Authors: Bottaccioli Francesco
Published: November 2014

Vengono ricostruite le principali caratteristiche della rivoluzione in corso nelle scienze della vita, e viene descritta la storia dell'epigenetica e il suo porsi come paradigma alternativo a quello dominante nell'ultimo mezzo secolo imperniato sul "dogma centrale della biologia molecolare". Vengono anche presentate le principali ricerche che legano le influenze ambientali alle modificazioni cellulari epigenetiche. Gli eventi mentali, consci e inconsci, possono tradursi in segnatura epigenetica, e ciò è possibile anche perché la psiconeuroendocrinoimmunologia (PNEI) ha dimostrato che la dimensione psichica comunica con quella biologica, influenzandosi reciprocamente. Da questa rivoluzione emerge una visione complessa dell'individuo e dei microsistemi vitali che spiega in modo non riduzionista sia il livello dell'organismo sia quello del genoma. È il superamento di una visione semplificata e frammentata dell'essere umano che consente di riorientare la ricerca e fondare su nuove basi la cura, integrando medicina e psicologia.
Quale sé viene alla mente? Sé relazionale, sé corporeo, e psiche multipla
Authors: Fissi Stefano
Published: November 2014

Il Sé è la condizione della coscienza, ma esiste un Sé soggettivo o corporeo, un Sé oggettivo e relazionale, e con lo sviluppo si organizzano altri Sé. Il primo indica il nucleo di auto-rappresentazione mesencefalico che è il punto di riferimento dell'esperienza cosciente, e uno dei sistemi operativi-emozionali. Il secondo designa un polo delle rappresentazioni diadiche interattive della relazione infante-caregiver, ovvero dei circuiti di etero- e auto-regolazione omeostatica. La coscienza è una proprietà della rete di un certo numero di circuiti che operano in parallelo in stretta connessione tra loro, ed è data da un nucleo dinamico di loop ricorsivi di rimappatura di una scena sul proprio contesto. Una pluralità di Sé è compatibile con questo modello e con la patologia dei disturbi dissociativi.