bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Los materiales antifuego en la construcción
Authors: Rodríguez Georges
Published: April 2014

Se tratan en este artículo los efectos y deformaciones que el fuego produce en los diferentes materiales de construcción, tales como el hierro, el hormigón, la piedra, los plásticos, etc., y algunas formas de protegerlos, al menos durante un tiempo mínimo capaz de permitir la llegada del necesario socorro.
Se destacan las ventajas del yeso, sea natural o sintético, en masa, mezclado con arena o armado con fibras minerales, o con vermiculita; asimismo, se señalan las ventajas de mayores recubrimientos de hormigón sobre las armaduras y el empleo de lana minera! obtenida de la escoria de los hornos altos, del amianto-cemento, etc.
Understanding Terrorism
Authors: Eid Mahmoud
Published: April 2014

People all over the globe have become very familiar with the term terrorism due to its common and worldwide occurrence. Terrorism has been committed by states, governments, organizations, groups, and individuals throughout its long history. Despite the large number of definitions by governments, global institutions, academics, politicians, security experts, and journalists, there has been no single universally agreed-upon definition of terrorism so far for a variety of reasons. This chapter critically analyzes discussions and definitions of terrorism in an attempt to contribute to a fair and balanced understanding of terrorism. It discusses how subjectivity has been an obstacle in understanding terrorism due to the pejorative nature of the term. Debates around the highly contentious concept of terrorism in terms of its distinctive nature, motivations, goals, and means in comparison to other forms of violence are discussed, and several definitions of terrorism are analyzed. It is evident that obtaining public attention is the ultimate aim of terrorism in relation to communicating specific messages and both the use of and by the media. While definitions of terrorism struggle to demonstrate exhaustive lists of descriptions, traits, components, conditions, and elements of terrorism, disagreements on these definitional items and features create ambiguities in understanding terrorism. The chapter, then, concludes with discussions on eliminating controversial and subjective definitional items and features to introduce a definition that can help provide an objective understanding of terrorism.
Types of Terrorism
Authors: Martin Gus
Published: April 2014

Terrorist typologies are descriptive classifications explaining the quality of political violence arising from distinct political and social environments. Although many terrorist typologies are accepted without controversy by analysts, some are the subject of definitional debate. Accepted typologies include the following: the new terrorism, state terrorism, dissident terrorism, religious terrorism, ideological terrorism, and international terrorism. Sub-classifications of accepted typologies include nationalist terrorism, ethno-national terrorism, and racial terrorism. In contradistinction to accepted typologies, other classifications are conceptually “cutting-edge” and the subject of definitional debate. These include gender-selective terrorism and criminal terrorism (often referred to as “narco-terrorism”). Nevertheless, there is growing recognition that gender-selective and criminal terrorism are features of the modern global terrorist environment. This chapter identifies and discusses terrorist typologies in the modern era, including the emerging recognition of newly defined typologies.
Media-Related Strategies and “War on Terrorism”
Authors: Marlin Randal
Published: April 2014

Terrorist events are breaking news for the media whose ethical responsibility can be debatable. Tactics of terrorism vary from kidnapping, hostage-taking, hijackings, and others up to mass destruction, including the use of nuclear weapons. Media responses and coverage strategies of such tactics also vary, with some reluctant to provide terrorists with the “oxygen of publicity.” Some striking similarities have appeared recently between the build-up to the war on Iraq begun by U.S. President George W. Bush's administration in 2002, culminating with the start of war in 2003, and the 2012 push by current U.S. President Barack Obama for action to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. In the earlier case, the presumption was established in the public mind, without adequate evidence, that Iraq possessed or was about to possess weapons of mass destruction, and had the will to use them against the United States. In the latter case, the background presumption is that Iran is actively seeking to produce a nuclear weapon, with Israel as a potential target. This claim also lacks solid evidence at the time of writing, but has come to be accepted in some media as an uncontroversial fact. This chapter looks at aspects of how different English and French Canadian newspapers, as examples, covered the push for war on Iraq. It includes reflections on the use of language in reporting on the war itself. The central concern is with the media role in fear-mongering and propaganda for war.
New Terrorism and Media
Authors: Eid Mahmoud
Published: April 2014

New terrorism has been recently considered a new type of terrorism. The terrorism characteristics that have instigated the introduction of the term stem from the modern evolutions in most aspects of terrorism, such as its organizational structure, financing, recruitment, training, motivations, tactics, reach, targets, and lethality. This chapter reviews discussions surrounding new terrorism, explains its key characteristics and features, and demonstrates the dual role of the media and information technologies. Distinctions from conventional terrorism recognize it as loose, decentralized cell-based networks, using high-intensity weapons, religiously and vaguely motivated, using asymmetrical methods for maximum casualties, and highly skillful in using new media and information technologies. Moreover, the most critical features focus on how the functioning of new terrorism adapts new media technologies, which in turn, contribute to all of its aspects. However, it is concluded that regardless of the label—new or old—attention should be focused on the act and the actors, whether the ways they function utilize the conventional or adapt with the most recent technologies, media, and weapons, and most crucially, recognizing how fast and efficient terrorists are in utilizing the most advanced media and information technologies.
New Media and Terrorism
Authors: Cheong Pauline Hope
Published: April 2014

Beyond the widespread coverage of terrorism-related stories on international news outlets, we are witnessing the swift spread of alternative interpretations of these stories online. These alternative narratives typically involve digital transmediation or the remix, remediation, and viral dissemination of textual, audio, and video material on multiple new and social media platforms. This chapter discusses the role of new(er) media in facilitating the transmediated spread of extremist narratives, rumors, and political parody. Drawing from recent case studies based upon multi-modal analyses of digital texts on social media networks, including blogs, vlogs, Twitter, and Jihadist sites associated with acts of terror in Asia, Middle East, and North America, the chapter illustrates how digital transmediation significantly works oftentimes to construct counter narratives to government counter insurgency operations and mainstream media presentations. In discussing these examples, the chapter demonstrates how the new media points to varied narratives and reifies notions of national security, global politics, terrorism, and the media's role in framing the “War on Terrorism.” Moreover, a critical examination of remix texts and digital mashups of popular artifacts inform a Web 2.0 understanding of how the creative communication practices of online prosumers (hybrid consumers and producers) contest dominant interests in the online ideological battlefield for hearts and minds.
From “Angry Arab” to “Arab Spring”
Authors: Winch Samuel P.
Published: April 2014

The 2011 “Arab Spring” revolutions seemed to turn over a new leaf in Western news depictions of the Middle East, shifting from “angry Arab terrorist” visual stereotypes to stereotypes of youthful Internet-savvy-grassroots protesters demanding reasonable democratic reforms. This chapter examines the photographic reportage of the Associated Press wire service photojournalists during the Arab Spring and the decade that preceded it to determine if a measurable shift in coverage did occur. Just as media depictions of the student protesters involved in the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran shifted the media stereotype of Arab and Persian from Hollywood's vision of oil sheikhs, belly-dancing harem girls, and camel-riding Bedouins to young and angry religious fanatics, the largely secular democratic reforms of the Arab Spring subtly altered media conceptions of the “angry Arab.” This chapter examines media depictions of the visible elements of Middle East unrest—from Libya to Pakistan—in the ten-year period from 2002 through the revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya in 2011. An examination of news photographs during the period shows subtle shifts in the imagery.
Questioning Terrorism/Counterterrorism Rationality
Authors: Zulaika Joseba , Douglass William A.
Published: April 2014

In a post-9/11 world, terrorism has become a central focus around the globe, impacting national and international politics. Therefore, understanding the functioning of terrorism and counterterrorism rationality is necessary for furthering this area of study. In this chapter, the authors' key focus in advocating the deconstruction of terrorism is upon the discourse itself: its premises, beliefs, fears, definitions, rhetorical devices, imaginary constructions of the enemy, the inability to distinguish ritual bluff from actual combat, the logic of taboo, the injunction not to humanize the terrorist other, and moral self-righteousness. It is argued that by undermining its claims to apocalyptic powers and fears, terrorism would lose credibility as an effective rhetorical ploy and bellicose weapon for insurgents and governments alike. Thus, this chapter seeks to answer: Are Americans more secure after Afghanistan and Iraq; are Israelis safer behind the wall? Or are we simply doing exactly what is required to foment “terrorism” and make it ever more menacing?
Questioning Media Responsibility during Terrorism
Authors: Eid Mahmoud
Published: April 2014

The media's dual role during times of terrorism can be as useful as the most effective security and political counterterrorism measures and can be as harmful as exacerbating terrorist events to the worst humanitarian disasters. Media decision-making processes, therefore, are integral to achieving more desired outcomes. This chapter questions the effectiveness of media performance during times of terrorism through the examination of their decision-making processes in terms of rationality and responsibility. The numerous media decisions that are usually made under severe stress during times of terrorism require adherence to both ethical standards and rational thinking. Strategic and goal-directed decision-making that is based on rational choice approach and game theory can help enhance the quality of media decisions. Ethical and socially responsible media performance is fundamental for effective communication. Interweaved, responsible and rational media decision-making are integral to the effectiveness of media decision-making during times of terrorism towards achieving more desired outcomes.
Servant-Leadership with Cultural Dimensions in Cross-Cultural Settings
Authors: Whitfield David
Published: April 2014

This chapter demonstrates how the power of servant-leadership characteristics and nine cultural dimensions offer intercultural leaders increased capacity in cross-cultural workplaces. Servant-leadership characteristics are paired with cultural dimensions based on their corresponding commonalities to provide intercultural leaders potential tools and strategies to successfully ameliorate cultural barriers, to productively navigate cultural differences, and to build an organizational culture of inclusion, collaboration, and participation. The main objective of the chapter is to increase intercultural leader capacity to lead in culturally mixed organizations, be they domestic or international, resulting in minimizing or avoiding institutional or organizational failure.
Servant Leadership Practices in a Volunteer-Led Organization
Authors: Bowers Kristen M.
Published: April 2014

Recent research on the leadership behavior of leaders in a large, volunteer-led community service organization uncovered several leadership practices that are consistent with those of servant leadership. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight volunteer leaders whose scores on the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) indicated they engaged in the five practices of exemplary leadership: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart. During the course of the interviews, evidence of servant leadership behavior emerged. This chapter identifies the specific leadership behavior described, connects these findings to other research on servant leadership, and provides initial conclusions, implications for practice, and possible avenues for further research.
Servant Mentors and Transnational Mentees
Authors: Starr-Glass David
Published: April 2014

Relational connectedness is critical for servant leaders, who aspire to articulate inclusiveness, concern, and citizenship within the enterprise. This chapter argues that relational connectedness and a similar set of values are also critical for successful mentoring. Mentoring is concerned with providing benefit, support, and advancement for the novice who is engaged in the guiding relationship. The chapter considers the dynamics of mentoring transnational students who are distanced culturally, spatially, and experientially from their mentor. Although grounded in a specific mentoring context, the chapter argues that similar relational distance occurs in all mentoring work and suggests that the process of mentoring is made stronger and more effective if it utilizes the tenets of servant leadership. This more relational approach is termed “servant mentoring.” Following an analysis of what servant mentoring might entail, a number of suggestions are made to assist mentors lower interactional distance and to strengthen their mentoring practice.
Ethics and Leadership
Authors: Hartman Nathan S. , Conklin Thomas A.
Published: April 2014

Leadership and ethics continue to be important areas of research. The devastating results of failed leadership in numerous Enron-like situations have ensured that this is the case. This chapter suggests how various leadership approaches and behaviors lead to or develop different types of employee behaviors that impact organizational outcomes. The framework reviews ethical, transformational, and servant leadership, and their relationship to self-regulatory focus. Specifically, promotion-oriented leaders tend to reflect transformational and servant-leadership behaviors and resulting organization cultures, while prevention-oriented leaders match the ethical leadership style and related organization culture. The prevention orientation is a conservative mindset guiding consistent leader and employee behavior, while the promotion orientation provides more opportunity for unique and innovative behaviors.
Enspirited Leadership
Authors: Stilger Bob
Published: April 2014

This chapter examines the relationships between Servant Leadership and what the author describes as enspirited leadership. The author's research into enspirited leadership identifies it as the set of landmarks and principles that support younger leaders around the world who are called to offer their servant leadership in their local communities. Servant leadership is often thought of as a philosophy of leadership. But how do people find the clarity, the courage, and the compassion to practice philosophy? In his research, the author has identified six core landmarks of enspirited leadership that form an ecology that supports servant leadership. He also has identified a core set of values and beliefs that demonstrate a living systems approach to servant leadership.
Measuring Servant Leadership
Authors: Pousa Claudio
Published: April 2014

The concept of Servant Leadership was introduced by Robert Greenleaf in the 1970s, and although in his works there is a very clear picture of servant leadership in philosophical terms, there is not an empirically validated definition of servant leadership. For this reason, numerous scholars worked individually on developing competing frameworks to define servant leadership since the mid-1990s; the result is that, throughout the scientific literature, the construct of servant leadership is defined by an inconsistent set of dimensions and there is still no consensus about an operational definition of the construct. In a similar way, since the end of the 1990s, numerous scholars developed different scales to measure servant leadership, based on different operational definitions. Accordingly, there is not an agreed upon measure of Servant Leadership; a few measures were used in a limited number of studies, and a relatively large number of measures were used in less than two. The chapter presents the most significant and used operational definitions, a detailed description of the development of the different measuring instruments, as well as a reference to some of the studies that used them, and a final section where the advantages and disadvantages of using certain measures are presented.
The Origin of Servant Leadership
Authors: Tran Ben
Published: April 2014

Servant leadership suffers from the same limitation as leadership studies in general. Many are now calling for a deeper study of the meaning and application of this emerging subfield of leadership study so that servant leadership could be adapted with open minds and effectively be practiced. A strong foundation must be built to support the emerging structure of servant leader scholarship. The purpose of this chapter is to analyze the origin, the meaning, the role, and the purpose of authentic servant leadership. In so doing 1) the foundation and meaning of leadership is defined and clarified, 2) the role and meaning of follower is defined and clarified, and 3) the role and meaning of management is and clarified. The chapter concludes with an explanation of the intended meaning and purpose of authentic servant leadership. In so doing, this chapter addresses the following common confusing terms in research and misused roles in corporations: leadership, follower, and management.
A Critical Theory Perspective on Program Development
Authors: Brookfield Stephen , Holst John
Published: April 2014

The dominant modes of program planning in the field of adult education are drawn from three intellectual traditions: humanistic psychology, progressivism, and behaviorism. This chapter proposes a model of program planning drawn from a different intellectual framework, the tradition of European critical social theory. Articulated by the Frankfurt School of Social Theory, a critical perspective emphasizes the role of adult education programming in fostering social movements for democratic social change. The chapter specifies the organizing principles and specific goals of a critical theory approach to program development and poses a number of questions that can be asked to determine the success of such an initiative.
Starting with the Learner
Authors: Taylor Jonathan E.
Published: April 2014

The central thesis of this chapter is that in order for effective learning to occur, teachers must facilitate learner engagement, and in order to do so, learning resistance has to be conceptually understood, acknowledged, identified, and addressed as a part of the curriculum for any given class, course, or program. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the literature on learning resistance, identifies three significant disjunctures between the theory and practice of curriculum development and instructional systems design, and analyzes the relationship between learning resistance and that theory-practice gap. The failure to see motivation and learning as an integrated whole, the mass production of curriculum, and the hesitance to teach something that cannot be measured are all discussed in detail, and suggestions are made for mitigating the negative effects of each.
Mentoring in Graduate Education
Authors: Hansman Catherine A.
Published: April 2014

The purpose of this chapter is to examine and analyze the concepts of power, critical reflection, and potential for transformative learning in graduate mentoring models and programs, exploring research and models that reflect these concepts in their program design and “curriculum” for mentoring. The chapter concludes with an analysis of two mentoring models/programs and suggestions for future research and practice in mentoring in higher educational institutions that may lead to transformative learning among mentors and participants in these programs.
Andragogical Curriculum for Equipping Successful Facilitators of Andragogy in Numerous Contexts
Authors: Henschke John A.
Published: April 2014

This chapter addresses a curriculum definition, especially as it relates to preparing teachers to be successful in working with adult learners. The main thrust is to clearly articulate some of the major elements needed to help the art and science of helping adults learn the ideas and practices of that process and be as consistent/congruent as feasible. Reciprocity among empathy, trust, and sensitivity are considered to be crucial in the teaching and learning exchange. Competence and experience in andragogy is important even to the extent of selecting and using various techniques and methods in the learning experience, whether used with learners in higher-order thinking or used with lower-level learners. Techniques the author has found helpful are: mixing a lecture with discussion of questions raised by learners in response to content of the lecture; encouraging and giving learners opportunity to take more responsibility for their learning, thus becoming more self-directed; varying one's approach for accommodating different learning styles each learner possesses; looking at a perspective of learning in various areas/pillars of life – being, knowing, doing, living together, changing, and developing sustainability. A true story is provided illustrating a principle of andragogy – doing in practice the same thing one believes and says.
Hubble's Expanding Universe
Authors: Parker Judith
Published: April 2014

Until Edwin Hubble's discoveries in 1924, astronomers thought that our Milky Way galaxy was the entire universe. Hubble provided a model of a larger universe beyond our galaxy and an expanding universe. Since then, the Hubble telescope has allowed us to view galaxies farther and farther away and introduce ideas beyond our comprehension nearly a century ago. This seems an appropriate model for the expanding universe of learning that is provided by technology. Technology has provided us with an expanding view of our personal and collective adult learning universe. It has provided expanded access to information and increased opportunities for communication. This chapter explores how our learning communities can span our neighborhood, field of interest, and the globe.
Designing Online Curriculum for Adult Learners
Authors: Bierema Laura L.
Published: April 2014

The Digital Age has brought change and automation to almost every aspect of our lives, and learning is no exception. This chapter considers adult learners engaged in online higher education. The purpose of this chapter is to present a framework for designing adult learner-friendly eLearning in higher education settings. What pedagogy is most effective for facilitating eLearning? What emerging trends will influence eLearning? This chapter introduces the challenges of living and learning with technology, considers the impact of technology on teaching and learning, examines the characteristics of online learners and online learning, offers strategies for designing and facilitating eLearning in higher education, and muses about future research directions.
Online Education Programs for Adult Learners in Higher Education
Authors: Wang Victor X. , Storey Valerie A.
Published: April 2014

To serve a significant portion of the student population, adult learners, in the academy in the 21st century, this chapter argues that online education (e-learning) has the potential to open wider the door to greater access and advancement for learners across their life spans than the traditional four walled classroom. Some of the major issues revolving around online education and adult learners, such as policy, access, completion, and equity, are addressed in this chapter. The purpose of this chapter is to identify future technology trends, and then show how we can rely on practice and research to harness the great yet untapped potential of online education to promote online education programs, especially among adult learners. Policy, access, completion, and equity must be well addressed if online adult education is to be employed effectively and efficiently.
Artful Learning
Authors: Lawrence Randee Lipson
Published: April 2014

This chapter begins with a critique of traditional models of curriculum development as overly rigid, fragmented, and disconnected from the true nature of the learner. Holistic learning is described as engaging the mind, body, heart, and spirit of the learner in relationship to the learning environment. Holistic learning is earth-centered, participatory, and inclusive of the cultural context of the learners. These various learning domains and their relationship to curriculum are discussed, including the application of learning from indigenous communities. Several examples of arts-based and creative learning activities are offered along with holistic ways of developing learning objectives and assessing learning.
Impact of Technological Advancement on the Higher Education Curriculum and Program Development
Authors: Scepanovic Snezana , Guerra Vania , Lübcke Maren
Published: April 2014

The current educational structure was created in response to the demands of an industrial society, which, alongside workers, needed an elite of highly educated professionals. The knowledge revolution accelerated this trend: professionals are now not only the people who “have” the knowledge, but they should be also able to find it quickly and efficiently, and have the skills to apply knowledge in new situations, extending the scope of their initial field of expertise. With massive growth of free open educational resources, knowledge became available and accessible to everyone with a simple Internet connection. All these conditions currently call into question the role and operationalization of educational processes in Higher Education, since universities are no longer the one central source of knowledge generation. In this chapter, the authors analyze the current situation in Higher Education, in terms of why a demand for transformation of educational models has been almost entirely unable to generate sustainable changes in curriculum development. Aside from theoretical foundations, the authors also analyze literature and what the practitioners have to say in that respect. The ultimate goal of this chapter is to set the basis for an analytical framework for discussions about the transformative process of Higher Education in order to be able to bring curriculum development a step forward, in a sustainable way.
Expanding the Discourse of Identity in the English Language Arts Curriculum
Authors: Marinaccio Philomena S. , Leichtman Kevin , Hanslip Rohan
Published: April 2014

The English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum in United States (US) schools is failing students from ethnically and economically diverse communities. Standards for ELA have been accused of perpetuating inequality and causing a spiral of marginalization to continue for diverse learners. The current conceptualization of ELA and literacy does not reflect the complex set of diverse social, cultural, and linguistic dynamics inside and outside the classroom that influence the curriculum. Changes in the literacy curriculum need to be made that mirror changes in the world. The present chapter proposes an ELA curriculum that is flexible enough to respond to the socio-cultural synergy between language, identity, and power to combat diverse learner school resistance, misevaluation, and barriers to higher levels of literacy knowledge. There is an urgent need for a curriculum based on a universal and dynamic curriculum that acknowledges the identity and needs of each student. Our theoretical framework is based on the classic works of Piaget and Vygotsky and traces the history of ELA research from the deficit-based theories regarding the oral-literate continuum to the inclusive research design and pedagogy of “new literacies.” Being cognizant of myriad reading and cognitive development theories is needed to guide ELA educators in teaching reading and literacy. We need to go beyond blaming students to transforming and expanding the ELA curriculum through critique and reflection. The ELA curriculum must itself be potentially transformative in that it will embrace diverse learner discourses and identities by integrating rather than assimilating diverse learners into the classroom.
Trace Metal Contents in Muscle Tissues of Inland Fish Species in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka
Authors: Jinadasa BKKK , Subasinghe MM , Thayalan K , Wickramasinghe I , De Silva MSW
Published: April 2014

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has recently shown a remarkable increase in some areas in the North Central Province (Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts), Sri Lanka. The consumption of fresh water fish contaminated with trace metals is considered as a possible causal factor for this. The concentration of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and arsenic (As) in the muscle tissues of the five commonly consumed freshwater fish species, Oreochromis spp., Heteropneustes fossilis, Glossogobius giuris, Channa striata and Macrognathus aral were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). This study indicates that toxic metals’ Hg, Cd and Pb were detected in very low concentration in muscle tissues and the recorded values were lower than the maximum permissible level (Hg< 0.5 mg/kg, Pb< 0.2 mg/kg and Cd< 0.05 mg/kg) established in Sri Lanka. The amount of fish that would fulfil the weekly protein requirement of an average child and adult was calculated according to the WHO guidelines. The calculated levels of contamination by Hg, Pb, Cd, As, Cu, Zn, Cr and Fe in the quantity of fish needed to fulfil the protein requirement was lower than the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) value established by WHO, EU and FAO and none of above guidelines not covered the level of Co.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/cjsbs.v42i2.6611 Ceylon Journal of Science (Bio. Sci.) 42(2): 79-86, 2013
Pregnancy and Fetal Loss Reported by Methamphetamine-Using Women
Authors: Brecht Mary-Lynn , Herbeck Diane M.
Published: April 2014

To better understand substance use disorder treatment needs of pregnant and parenting women who use methamphetamine (MA), this paper describes pregnancy histories and fetal losses for women who were treated for MA use (N = 153) with reference to a national sample, and describes their drug use, sexual risk behaviors, and mental health status. MA users reported an average of 4.6 total pregnancies and 2.1 fetal losses, whereas women in a general population survey reported 3.2 and 1.2, respectively. Higher numbers of pregnancies and fetal losses were correlated with specific substance abuse and mental health problems including early sexual abuse and cognitive problems. The combination of MA users’ especially high numbers of pregnancies, fetal losses, and rates of risk behaviors suggest high social and health care costs for this population. Prenatal care may provide a vector through which women can be connected to risk reduction interventions and gender-responsive treatment services addressing substance use and mental health needs.
A concept of an automated function control for ambient aerosol measurements using mobility particle size spectrometers
Authors: Schladitz A. , Merkel M. , Bastian S. , Birmili W. , Weinhold K. , Löschau G. , Wiedensohler A.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. An automated function control unit was developed to regularly check the ambient particle number concentration derived from a mobility particle size spectrometer as well as its zero-point behaviour. The function control allows unattended quality assurance experiments at remote air quality monitoring or research stations under field conditions. The automated function control also has the advantage of being able to get a faster system stability response than the recommended on-site comparisons with reference instruments. The method is based on a comparison of the total particle number concentration measured by a mobility particle size spectrometer and a condensation particle counter while removing diffusive particles smaller than 20 nm in diameter. In practice, the small particles are removed by a set of diffusion screens, as traditionally used in a diffusion battery. Another feature of the automated function control is to check the zero-point behaviour of the ambient aerosol passing through a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. The performance of the function control is illustrated with the aid of a 1-year data set recorded at Annaberg-Buchholz, a station in the Saxon air quality monitoring network. During the period of concern, the total particle number concentration derived from the mobility particle size spectrometer slightly overestimated the particle number concentration recorded by the condensation particle counter by 2 % (grand average). Based on our first year of experience with the function control, we developed tolerance criteria that allow a performance evaluation of a tested mobility particle size spectrometer with respect to the total particle number concentration. We conclude that the automated function control enhances the quality and reliability of unattended long-term particle number size distribution measurements. This will have beneficial effects for intercomparison studies involving different measurement sites, and help provide a higher data accuracy for cohort health and climate research studies.
Reduction of ferrihydrite with adsorbed and coprecipitated organic matter: microbial reduction by Geobacter bremensis vs. abiotic reduction by Na-dithionite
Authors: Eusterhues K. , Hädrich A. , Neidhardt J. , Küsel K. , Keller T. F. , Jandt K. D. , Totsche K. U.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Ferrihydrite (Fh) is a widespread poorly crystalline Fe oxide which becomes easily coated by natural organic matter (OM) in the environment. This mineral-bound OM entirely changes the mineral surface properties and therefore the reactivity of the original mineral. Here, we investigated the reactivity of 2-line Fh, Fh with adsorbed OM and Fh coprecipitated with OM towards microbial and abiotic reduction of Fe(III). As a surrogate for dissolved soil OM we used a water extract of a Podzol forest floor. Fh-OM associations with different OM-loadings were reduced either by Geobacter bremensis or abiotically by Na-dithionite. Both types of experiments showed decreasing initial Fe reduction rates and decreasing degrees of reduction with increasing amounts of mineral-bound OM. At similar OM-loadings, coprecipitated Fhs were more reactive than Fhs with adsorbed OM. The difference can be explained by the smaller crystal size and poor crystallinity of such coprecipitates. At small OM loadings this led to even faster Fe reduction rates than found for pure Fh. The amount of mineral-bound OM also affected the formation of secondary minerals: goethite was only found after reduction of OM-free Fh and siderite was only detected when Fhs with relatively low amounts of mineral-bound OM were reduced. We conclude that direct contact of G. bremensis to the Fe oxide mineral surface was inhibited when blocked by OM. Consequently, mineral-bound OM shall be taken into account besides Fe(II) accumulation as a further widespread mechanism to slow down reductive dissolution.
The patterns and implications of diurnal variations in d-excess of plant water, shallow soil water and air moisture
Authors: Zhao L. , Wang L. , Xiao H. , Cheng G. , Ruan Y. , Zhou M. , Wang F.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Deuterium excess (d-excess) of air moisture is traditionally considered as a conservative tracer of oceanic evaporation conditions. Recent studies challenge this view and emphasize the importance of vegetation activity in controlling the dynamics of air moisture d-excess. However direct field observations supporting the role of vegetation in d-excess variations is not well documented. In this study, we quantified d-excess of air moisture, leaf and xylem water of multiple dominant species as well as shallow soil water (5 and 10 cm) at hourly interval during three extensive field campaigns at two climatically different locations within the Heihe River Basin. The results showed that with the increase of temperature (T) and decrease of relative humidity (RH), the δD-δ18O plots of leaf water, xylem water and shallow soil water deviated gradually from their corresponding local meteoric water line. There were significant differences in d-excess values among different water pools at all the study sites. The most positive d-excess values were found in air moisture (9.3‰) and the most negative d-excess values (−85.6‰) were found in leaf water. The d-excess values of air moisture (dmoisture) and leaf water (dleaf) during the sunny days, and shallow soil water (dsoil) during the first sunny day after rain event showed strong diurnal patterns. There were significantly positive relationships between dleaf and RH and negative relationships between dmoisture and RH. The correlations of dleaf and dmoisture with T were opposite to their relationships with RH. In addition, we found the opposite diurnal variations for dleaf and dmoisture during the sunny day, and for dleaf during the sunny days, and shallow soil water dsoil and dmoisture during the first sunny day after rain event. Significant negative relationships were found between dleaf and dmoisture in all the sites during the sunny day. Our results provide direct evidence that dmoisture of the surface air at continental locations can be significantly altered by local processes, especially plant transpiration during the sunny days. The role of shallow soil water on dmoisture is generally much smaller but could be large at the sunny day right after rainfall events.
Second victims, organizational resilience and the role of hospital administration
Authors: Santomauro Chiara Margherita , Kalkman Cor J , Dekker Sidney
Published: April 2014

Second victims are practitioners involved in an incident that (potentially) harms or kills somebody else, and for which they feel personally responsible. Professional culture and the psychology of blame (and shame) influence how second victims are viewed and dealt with. This paper reviews the status of second victimhood in healthcare – both its symptomatology and organizational responses. Then it considers the problematic nature of “human error” in healthcare and sets this against the psychological backdrop of healthcare professions, seeking cultural-historical explanations in assumptions of actor autonomy and professional identity. It concludes by drawing links between the psychological resilience of the individual practitioners involved in an incident and the resilience of an organization’s safety culture.
Direct Asymmetric Aldol Reactions Catalyzed by Lipase from Porcine Pancreas
Authors: Zheng Jing , Xie Bang-Hua , Chen Yan-Li , Cao Jian-Fei , Yang Yang , Guan Zhi , He Yan-Hong
Published: April 2014

Porcine pancreas lipase type II (PPL II) exhibited unnatural catalytic activity in direct asymmetric aldol reactions between cyclic ketones and aromatic or heteroaromatic aldehydes in acetonitrile in the presence of phosphate buffer. A wide range of substrates was accepted by the enzyme to afford the corresponding aldol products in low to high yields (10 - 98%), with moderate to excellent enantioselectivities (53 - 94% ee, for anti-isomers) and low to moderate diastereoselectivities (48/52 - 87/13 dr, anti/syn). This methodology expands the application of PPL II, and it might be developed into a potentially valuable method for sustainable organic synthesis.
Electrical characterization of bolus material as phantom for use in electrical impedance and computed tomography fusion imaging
Authors: Grewal Parvind K , Shokoufi Majid , Liu Jeff , Kalpagam Krishnan , Kohli Kirpal S
Published: April 2014

Phantoms are widely used in medical imaging to predict image quality prior to clinical imaging. This paper discusses the possible use of bolus material, as a conductivity phantom, for validation and interpretation of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) images. Bolus is commonly used in radiation therapy to mimic tissue. When irradiated, it has radiological characteristics similar to tissue. With increased research interest in CT/EIT fusion imaging there is a need to find a material which has both the absorption coefficient and electrical conductivity similar to biological tissues. In the present study the electrical properties, specifically resistivity, of various commercially available bolus materials were characterized by comparing their frequency response with that of in-vivo connective adipose tissue. It was determined that the resistivity of Gelatin Bolus is similar to in-vivo tissue in the frequency range 10 kHz to 1MHz and therefore has potential to be used in EIT/CT fusion imaging studies.
Ethics Education for Finance Students Following the GFC
Authors: Copp Richard I. , Wong Victor ,   Neilson Journals Publishing
Published: April 2014

University finance curricula have been criticized in the financial press in the wake of the GFC for ignoring the ethical dimensions of financial decision-making in practice. Many practitioners experience moral dilemmas about whether the broader “public interest” objectives of legal or accounting regulation, for example, should at times be sacrificed in favour of fulfilling an inconsistent upper management objective. Moreover, many propositions in finance are both positive and normative. For example, financial maxima and optima can be discussed only for a given distribution of wealth between relevant parties: shareholder wealth can be maximized, but only subject to a “given” constraint determined by the ethical norms of the society in which the firm operates. Assuming students’ sensitivity to ethical issues can be enhanced, ethics should be embedded within finance curricula, together with a final year, capstone course on “Ethical Investing” in the degree.
Urban Noise Modelling in Boka Kotorska Bay
Authors: Nikolić Aleksandar , Nikolić Danilo , Nikolić Emilija , Vujačić Vesna
Published: April 2014

Traffic is the most significant noise source in urban areas. The village of Kamenari in Boka Kotorska Bay is a site where, in a relatively small area, road traffic and sea (ferry) traffic take place at the same time. Due to the specificity of the location, i.e. very rare synergy of sound effects of road and sea traffic in the urban area, as well as the expressed need for assessment of noise level in a simple and quick way, a research was conducted, using empirical methods and statistical analysis methods, which led to the creation of acoustic model for the assessment of equivalent noise level (Leq). The developed model for noise assessment in the Village of Kamenari in Boka Kotorska Bay quite realistically provides data on possible noise levels at the observed site, with very little deviations in relation to empirically obtained values.
The Impact of Employer Attitude to Green Commuting Plans on Reducing Car Driving: A Mixed Method Analysis
Authors: Ding Chuan , Liu Chao , Lin Yaoyu , Wang Yaowu
Published: April 2014

Reducing car trips and promoting green commuting modes are generally considered important solutions to reduce the increase of energy consumption and transportation CO2 emissions. One potential solution for alleviating transportation CO2 emissions has been to identify a role for the employer through green commuter programs. This paper offers an approach to assess the effects of employer attitudes towards green commuting plans on commuter mode choice and the intermediary role car ownership plays in the mode choice decision process. A mixed method which extends the traditional discrete choice model by incorporating latent variables and mediating variables with a structure equation model was used to better understand the commuter mode choice behaviour. The empirical data were selected from Washington-Baltimore Regional Household Travel Survey in 2007-2008, including all the trips from home to workplace during the morning hours. The model parameters were estimated using the simultaneous estimation approach and the integrated model turns out to be superior to the traditional multinomial logit (MNL) model accounting for the impact of employer attitudes towards green commuting. The direct and indirect effects of socio-demographic attributes and employer attitudes towards green commuting were estimated. Through the structural equation modelling with mediating variable, this approach confirmed the intermediary nature of car ownership in the choice process. The results found in this paper provide helpful information for transportation and planning policymakers to test the transportation and planning policies effects and encourage green commuting reducing transportation CO2 emissions.
Ranking of Logistics System Scenarios for Central Business District
Authors: Tadić Snežana Radoman , Zečević Slobodan Marko , Krstić Mladen Dragan
Published: April 2014

This paper presents the procedure for logistics system scenario selection for the central business district (CBD) of the city in the phase of significant urban changes. Scenarios are defined in accordance with the overall logistics concept of the city. Conflicting goals of stakeholders (residents, shippers and receivers, logistics providers and city government) generate a vast number of criteria that need to be included when selecting the scenario for the city area logistics system. Due to limited resources and linguistic assessment of criteria, fuzzy extensions of conventional multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods were used. Fuzzy 'analytical hierarchy process' (FAHP) is applied to determine the relative weights of evaluation criteria, and fuzzy 'technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution' (FTOPSIS) is applied to rank the logistics systems scenarios. This paper contributes to the literature in the field of city logistics (CL), as it applies the integrated FAHP-FTOPSIS method for the evaluation of scenarios, which are also integrated combinations of different CL initiatives. The integrated combined approach proved to be accurate, effective and a systematic tool for the decision support in the process of selecting CBD logistics scenarios.