bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Homogenization of Moisture Diffusing Behavior of Composite Materials with Impermeable or Permeable Fibers — Application to Porous Composite Materials
Authors: Gueribiz D. , Rahmani M. , Jacquemin F. , Fréour S. , Guillen R. , Loucif K.
Published: May 2009

In order to predict the long-term durability of polymer matrix composite materials submitted to humid environments, the moisture diffusion behavior has to be investigated. The knowledge of the effective diffusivity is actually required, for estimating the moisture content of polymer-based fiber-reinforced materials, even when a basic behavior such as Fick's law is assumed to occur. The original contribution of the present work is to provide new analytical solutions for the effective diffusivities from the solving of unit cell problems on representative volume elements by means of several multi-scale approaches. Composite materials with impermeable or permeable fibers are extensively investigated. The proposed approaches are extended to the practical case of composite materials containing realistic voids volume fractions.
Thermogravimetry and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis of Iron Silicon Particle filled Polypropylene
Authors: Kirchberg S. , Ziegmann G.
Published: May 2009

Thermogravimetric and dynamic mechanical behavior of extruded and injection molded polypropylene (PP) samples with additives and varying volume fractions (0, 4.5, 14, 21, and 39 vol%) of soft magnetic iron silicon (FeSi) particles with a mean particle diameter of 58 μm were analyzed. With increasing filler volume fraction, thermogravimetry shows enhanced thermal stability of PP. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was performed at temperatures between 200 and 400 K at discrete vibrating frequencies between 10-1 and 101 Hz. Loss factor tanδ of all examined materials shows typical peaks (α, α' and β) of phase transitions in the crystalline and amorphous polymer structure of PP in this temperature range. Storage modulus E' at 200 K starts at 2283 MPa for PP with additives (stabilizers, antioxidants, lubricants, desactivators, and surface activators) and increases up to 7175 MPa for 39 vol% iron silicon fraction. The activation energy at α—peak reduces with increasing filler volume fractions.
Fiber Orientation Distributions in a Suspension Flow through a Parallel Plate Channel Containing a Cylinder
Authors: Lin Jianzhong  , Ku Xiaoke
Published: May 2009

Lattice Boltzmann method is used to simulate numerically the fiber suspension flow through a parallel plate channel containing a cylinder in the dilute and concentrated regimes (nL2 = 0.125 and 2.0, here n and L are the number density and the length of fiber, respectively). The numerical results of fiber orientation distribution based on a statistical scheme are obtained and consistent qualitatively with the experimental ones. The results showed that the cylinder in the channel results in a change in the fiber orientation distribution downstream of the cylinder along the flow and transverse directions. The influences of the cylinder on the fiber orientation distribution are more significant for the concentrated suspensions than the dilute ones. The initial fiber orientations at inlet have significant and small effects on the fiber orientation distribution upstream and downstream of the cylinder, respectively.
Viscoelastic Characterization and Self-Heating Behavior of a Flexible Matrix Composite Driveshaft
Authors: Shan Y. , Bakis C.E.
Published: May 2009

Flexible matrix composites (FMCs), consisting of high-elongation, low modulus elastomers reinforced with high-stiffness continuous fibers, offer a high degree of elastic tailorability not found in typical structural polymer matrix composites. In the current investigation, the frequency- and time-dependent anisotropic viscoelastic behavior of an FMC material is characterized at the lamina level using a fractional derivative approach. The viscoelastic lamina properties are input to an elasticity model to predict the viscoelastic properties of filament-wound, angle-ply FMC driveshafts. The model is validated with experiments carried out using shafts of various fiber angles under tensile and torsional loadings. A thermal and mechanical analysis of a spinning, misaligned shaft is then carried out to predict self-heating in the shaft. Comparisons of the self-heating behavior with experiments indicate good agreement for several different shaft fiber angles. The models proposed in this investigation can be used to minimize the number of experiments that need to be done to predict the viscoelastic self-heating of FMC shafts as well as other types of composite shafts.
Reconsidering the Relationship between Race and Crime
Authors: Wright Bradley R. Entner , Younts C. Wesley
Published: May 2009

Studies of race and crime have emphasized the effects of social disadvantage and discrimination on increasing crime among African Americans. The authors extend this literature by examining various beliefs and institutions that have developed within African American communities that, in contrast, decrease criminal behavior. A model of cross-canceling, indirect effects between race and crime was developed and tested with data from the National Youth Survey. The results demonstrate that some factors, such as single-parent families, lowered educational attainment, and crime-ridden neighborhoods, increase criminal behavior among African American respondents relative to Whites. However, other factors, such as increased religiosity, strong family ties, and lowered alcohol consumption, decrease crime. These findings highlight the complex effects of race on crime.
Reconsidering the Effect of Self-Control and Delinquent Peers
Authors: Meldrum Ryan C. , Young Jacob T. N. , Weerman Frank M.
Published: May 2009

Prior research examining the effect of self-control and delinquent peers on crime suggests that both variables are strong correlates and that controlling for one fails to eliminate the effects of the other. Yet prior research was based on indirect and possibly biased indicators of peer delinquency. Recent research using direct measures of delinquent peers, as reported by respondents' peers themselves, indicates that the relationship between peer delinquency and self-reported delinquency is smaller than when respondents report on their peers' behavior. The present study extends this line of work by examining the effect of self-control on delinquency when controlling for these two measures of delinquent peers. The results indicate that the effect of self-control is greater in magnitude in models using the direct measure of peer delinquency relative to models that rely on the traditional measure of delinquent peers. An interaction between self-control and the direct measure of peer delinquency was also found. Implications for future theory testing are discussed.
Religion and Gender across Europe
Authors: Voicu Mălina
Published: May 2009

European societies have experienced a decrease in the social importance of religious issues. Values and attitudes towards gender roles have also changed in the last decades. In European countries, people have become more egalitarian with respect to the position of women in society. The author tries to identify the relationship between secularization and changes in gender values. As a result of secularization, the individual value system has become fragmented and religious values have lost their coordinating role. The investigation employs cross-national and longitudinal analysis of European Values Survey data (1990, 1999), most of the European countries being included in the study. The results indicate the decreasing impact of traditional religious belief on values related to gender roles during the 1990s in Europe and a common pattern of relationships between gender values and religiosity in most European societies.
Les trois vagues de la sécularisation des consciences en Espagne
Authors: Pérez-Agote Alfonso
Published: May 2009

Le processus de sécularisation des consciences en Espagne a traversé trois périodes. La première remonte au 19ème siècle et se prolonge jusqu'à la guerre civile (1936—1939). Elle va de pair avec le développement d'une série de mouvements modernes qui luttent contre le monopole de la vérité auquel prétend l'Église catholique. La deuxième vague correspond à la généralisation de la société de consommation; elle débute dans les années 1960 et s'étend jusqu'à la fin des années 1980. Au cours de cette étape, on peut observer une perte d'intérêt pour la religion catholique et pour son Église. L'Espagne, pays traditionnellement catholique, devient progressivement un pays de culture catholique et l'Église perd peu à peu sa capacité de contrôler le comportement social. Une troisième période s'amorce dans les années 1990. La majorité des nouvelles générations perd toute relation avec la religion et l'Église catholiques.
De l'affliction à la prédication: quand les souffrants parlent à la communauté
Authors: Monnot Christophe
Published: May 2009

Comment les fidèles confrontés à la souffrance peuvent-ils se présenter à leurs coreligionnaires, dans les milieux charismatiques, où prédomine l'idée du juste béni par le bien-être et la santé? C'est ce que l'auteur a entrepris d'élucider au travers d'une enquête ethnographique dans une communauté évangélique charismatique, à Genève. Il a focalisé son attention sur les témoignages de souffrants prononcés lors d'un même culte—la particularité étant de relever les interactions d'individus s'expliquant à d'autres membres dans un contexte habituel. À vrai dire, ces personnes malades, que les prières de guérison n'ont pu aider efficacement, se trouvent dans une position de légitimation difficile face à leur environnement de croyance. L'auteur montre que, au-delà de leur justification, l'argumentaire implique une explication de la souffrance endurée, laquelle provoque du même coup un renversement de statut des intervenants. De stigmatisées, les personnes souffrantes deviennent des figures charismatiques priant pour les autres membres de la communauté.
The Body between Religion and Spirituality
Authors: Giordan Giuseppe
Published: May 2009

The distinction between religion and spirituality, as it is increasingly understood in the contemporary sociology of religion, has led to a reconsideration of the relation between the individual and his/her own body. In the Christian ambit, and especially in the Catholic sphere, the traditional religious attitude has always been that of emphasizing the dichotomy between soul and body, setting a hierarchy that puts the soul in a position superior to the body's, according to an ascetic approach that, particularly in the Middle Ages, foresaw the “mortification of the body”. In the contemporary spiritualist perspective, body and soul are seen as profoundly united, and the previous dichotomy seems to leave room for a more serene and less conflictual connection with one's body: spirituality relates to the sacred by leaving room for (and deriving from) emotions, feelings, the physical and the sexual, and takes a holistic view of human nature. Such a shift from the religious dimension to the spiritual dimension in the relationship with one's body can be observed not only in popular culture but also within Catholicism itself.
A Market Theory of Religion
Authors: Blasi Anthony J.
Published: May 2009

References to market phenomena are common enough in the sociology of religion, but despite the proliferation of systems of concatenate propositions that have been tested with survey and church membership data, little has been done to develop the conceptualization of how a religious market works. Consequently there is a significant lack of correspondence in the literature between the role market phenomena play in economics and the role of market-like counterparts in the religious field. While there may be some point to offering a correction to allegedly market-centered research in the sociology of religion, the intent here instead is to take what insights are to be had from the study of economic phenomena and draw out their implications for inquiry into religion.
From Popular Religion to Practices of Sacralization: Approaches for a Conceptual Discussion
Authors: Martín Eloísa
Published: May 2009

The concept of “popular religion” is among the most frequent to arise in debates on religion in social science. Nevertheless, there is often disagreement on the scope of this concept and its definition, which are the result of an implicit and indiscriminate notion of religion. The author identifies three main groups of works that describe and apply different definitions of popular religion. The first, clearly identified with a Catholic matrix, considers popular religion as the religion of the “people”. The second focuses on the “functions” that popular religion fulfils among the poorest sectors of the population, as a way of dealing with deprivation. The third group suggests the existence of a “different logic” to analyse religious events. Basing herself on the main literature produced in Latin America on the subject, the author proposes a way round the problems raised by coining and discussing the concept of “practices of sacralization”.
Is custody an effective sentencing option for the UK? Evidence from a meta-analysis of existing studies
Authors: Marsh Kevin , Fox Chris , Sarmah Rashmi
Published: May 2009

Prison numbers in the UK are at record levels and continue to rise. The rise in prison numbers has led to a renewed focus on the relative effectiveness of different sentences and in particular the effectiveness of prison when compared to alternative, community-based, sentences. The aim of this research is to test the hypothesis that prisons are an effective means of reducing re-offending in the UK. A review of existing studies identified 91 estimates of the effect on re-offending of prison for adults when compared against alternative sentences and 15 estimates of the effect on re-offending of prisons for juveniles when compared against alternative sentences. A meta-analysis was conducted on the different combinations of intervention and counterfactual information identified in the literature. The analysis suggests that the following alternative sentences for adult offenders reduce re-offending when compared to prison: residential drug treatment, surveillance, surveillance with drug treatment, prison in combination with educational/vocational interventions, prison in combination with behavioural interventions, prison in combination with sex offender treatment, and prison in combination with drug treatment. The analysis also identified the following alternative sentences for juvenile offenders which reduced re-offending when compared with prison: community supervision with victim reparation, and a community programme with aftercare and surveillance. The hypothesis that prisons are an effective means of reducing re-offending in the UK is generally rejected.
How not to assess probation performance: Constructing local reconviction rates
Authors: Hedderman Carol
Published: May 2009

Much of the responsibility for securing reductions in offending and reoffending is being devolved to local statutory services. It follows that robust and timely local measures for assessing reoffending must be created. To this end, for the last three years the National Offender Management Service has produced quarterly reconviction reports for individual probation areas based on `snapshots' (cross-sectional samples) of the supervision caseload. An independent examination of the data for the East Midlands Region reveals that the way cases have been selected and followed-up departs from the conventions employed in all previous (`longitudinal') reconviction studies in England and Wales. In particular, the `crosssectional' or snapshot approach led to the `at risk' period varying from one offender to another; and those on longer sentences stood a much greater than usual chance of appearing in several samples over time. This, together with other problems associated with not following a conventional longitudinal approach, leads to the conclusion that it would be unwise to use the quarterly figures produced thus far to draw conclusions about probation areas' performance.
Electro-acupuncture versus sham electro-acupuncture for auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Jing Cheng  , Gaohua Wang  , Ling Xiao  , Huiling Wang  , Xiaoping Wang  , Chengyan Li
Published: May 2009

Objective: To compare the efficacy of electro-acupuncture with that of sham electro-acupuncture for auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia partially responsive or non-responsive to risperidone.

Design: Patient- and assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Hospital-based practice.

Participants: Schizophrenia patients with auditory hallucinations who are partially responsive or non-responsive to risperidone monotherapy (n = 60).

Interventions: All patients were randomly allocated to a real electro-acupuncture group or a sham electro-acupuncture group and treated for 30 sessions within six weeks.

Main outcome measures: The primary outcome measure was the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales Auditory Hallucination Subscale. Secondary outcomes included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and side-effects. A clinical response was defined as >20% reduction score (from baseline) on the total score of the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales Auditory Hallucination Subscale.

Results: Sixty patients were selected for randomized real electro-acupuncture treatment (n = 30) or sham electro-acupuncture treatment (n = 30). Patients in the real electro-acupuncture group experienced greater improvement in the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales Auditory Hallucination Subscale total score, physical characteristics factor score and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale positive symptom score than the sham electro-acupuncture group at both week 4 and week 6. The clinical response rates in the real electro-acupuncture group and sham electro-acupuncture group were 43.3% (n = 30) and 13.3% (n = 30), respectively (χ2 = 6.648, P =0.027). There was no significance between-group difference in side-effects.

Conclusion: Electro-acupuncture might provide improvement in auditory hallucinations and positive symptom for patients with schizophrenia partially responsive or non-responsive to risperidone monotherapy.
Spinning the Market
Authors: Patico Jennifer
Published: May 2009

■ Ethnographies of postsocialist Europe and Eurasia have observed the moral resistance of post-communist communities in the face of an impinging capitalism, highlighting the continuity of such sentiment with both pre-communist and 20th-century ideologies of social justice. This article suggests that, valuable as these accounts have been, together they can leave the false impression that post-Soviet change is a confrontation between two separate, antagonistic forces: a local world of social embeddedness and moral obligation versus an exterior, supercultural, individualistic market logic. To challenge that notion, this article draws upon ethnographic observations in St Petersburg (1998—9, 2003) to treat the so-called `transition to capitalism' as a set of questions and moments of interpretation: junctures when people consider the multiple implications and valences of the practices in which they might engage. Such morally charged performance can have important and cumulative social effects, but cannot be adequately understood in terms of set moral `codes' that work in opposition to the marketplace.
Isolated Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction for Recurrent Patellar Dislocation
Authors: Ronga Mario , Oliva Francesco , Giuseppe Longo Umile , Testa Vittorino , Capasso Giovanni , Maffulli Nicola
Published: May 2009

Background

Several medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction procedures have been proposed to manage recurrent patellar dislocation.

Hypothesis

Reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament using a hamstring graft with a 2 transverse patellar tunnels technique is an effective treatment for recurrent patellar dislocation in patients without any evident predisposing factors.

Study Design

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

Twenty-eight patients with chronic patellar instability without any anatomic predisposing factors, experiencing recurrent unilateral patellar dislocation, were included in the study. Evaluation included the modified Cincinnati and the Kujala scores, anthropometry, plain radiography, and isokinetic dynamometry.

Results

The average follow-up was 3.1 years (range, 2.5-4 years). The mean modified Cincinnati score increased from 52 preoperatively to 89 (P = .001). The mean Kujala scores increased from 45 preoperatively to 83 (P = .03). The muscle volume of the thigh of the operated limb increased with time, but remained less well developed than the nonoperated limb (P = .04). The mean Insall-Salvati index was 1.1 (range, 0.9-1.2) preoperatively and remained within normal range (1.1 [range, 0.9 to 1.2]) (P = .07), at latest follow-up. Significant isokinetic strength differences were found between the operated and the contralateral limbs (.05 < P < .006), even at the latest follow-up. Three patients experienced a new patellar dislocation.

Conclusion

Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction using hamstring tendon passed through a double patellar transverse bony tunnel technique is a safe, reliable management option for recurrent patellar dislocation in patients without any predisposing anatomic factors.
Treating landfill leachate by electrocoagulation
Authors: Contreras Job , Villarroel Mario , Navia Rodrigo , Teutli Margarita
Published: May 2009

The determination of the optimal conditions for using electrocoagulation as a treatment for landfill leachate was carried out using surface response methodology. A central composite design was applied to investigate the effect of four control factors, namely current density, pH, time and fluid conductivity, as well as the interaction among (between) them to get an optimal turbidity removal. The independent variables were each coded at three levels and their values were selected on the basis of preliminary experimental results. The central composite design consisted of 29 experimental points with five replications at the centre point. A second order polynomial model was used for predicting the response. Regression analysis showed that more than 95% of the variation was explained by the model wherein current density with a 60.1% contribution turned out to be the factor with the most significant influence. Analysis of variance showed that time, pH, current density and the interaction time/current density had a significant influence on the turbidity removal, The optimal conditions obtained for the removal of turbidity were time 38.8 min, pH 7.6, current density 109.9 A m—2 and NaCl 2.9 g L— 1. Experimental results showed that for a 96.9% turbidity removal, similar reduction in Al (97.0%) and Fe (99.5%) concentrations; as well as 66% total Kjeldahl nitrogen removal were obtained. Furthermore, the sludge formed exhibited a good floc size, which separated in less than 10 min by classical sedimentation. The results analysis provided evidence of reduction of chemical pollutants, although the electrocoagulated leachate could not satisfy regulations for the maximum Total Kjeldahl nitrogen leachate discharge level to public wastewater collection systems in the town of Freire, Chile.
The challenge of medical waste management: a case study in northwest Iran-Tabriz
Authors: Taghipour Hassan , Mosaferi Mohammad
Published: May 2009

This article presents the results of a descriptive cross-sectional study on medical waste management in Tabriz (Iran's fourth largest city). The study was conducted in 10 of 25 active hospitals of the city in the summer of 2007. The methodology of the present study was based on data collected from hospitals through a checklist, site visits (observation), and quantity analysis by weight. The results indicated that more than 13.59 tonnes day—1 of total medical waste and 4.06 tonnes day—1 of hazardous-infectious medical waste are generated by the active hospitals of the city. Currently, there are no practical instructions, or suitable supervision on different levels of waste management. The health authorities and hospital managers do not accept sufficient responsibility for the medical waste due to financial problems and the lack of awareness regarding the hazards of medical waste. Segregation and minimization of waste are not carried out correctly in any of the hospitals. The use of protective measures by staff and temporary storage areas was not in agreement with standards in 70 and 60% of the hospitals in the present study, respectively. About 50% of the hospitals had been equipped with an incinerator, but all but one (10%) of them had been phased out due to operation and maintenance problems, air pollution, etc. Almost all of the hospitals have a waste management officer, but there is not an effective training programme for the staff. Infectious-hazardous medical waste is mixed with general waste, and it is disposed of in a municipal waste landfill, which is an unsanitary dumpsite. Illegal segregation and recycling of medical waste is carried out at the final disposal site; therefore, there are concerns about environmental pollution and the transmission of infectious diseases. It is proposed that, through the allocation of increased budgets, implementation of integrated segregation, minimization of waste, and creation of a training programme in the hospitals, the quantity of medical waste would be decreased (by about 70.11%). Considering the previous unsuccessful experience of on-site incineration in Tabriz (and in Iran's other large cites), an amendment should be made to Iran's current hazardous waste regulations to have infectious-hazardous waste sent to a central off-site autoclave or incinerator for treatment. The off-site autoclave would have some advantages, such as decreased air pollution. Of course, some health officials oppose this plan. To test this plan and receive the official's approval, a central off-site autoclave can be put into practice as a pilot.
Drivers of sustainable waste management in Asia
Authors: Agamuthu P. , Khidzir K.M. , Hamid Fauziah Shahul
Published: May 2009

Drivers of sustainable waste management are defined as groups of related factors that influence the development (or lack thereof) of industry. There has been no attempt to reasonably list the drivers that influence sustainable waste management in Asia. In this review, four groups of drivers of sustainable waste management, specifically of Asia, are explained. The four groups of drivers consist of three human elements (human, economic and institutional) and the environment as a single driving group. Typically, the first three groups have been very influential, with the environment driver, noticeably, only considered when preceded by other groups of drivers. The interconnectedness of the drivers and neglect of the environment driver is discussed. It is concluded that while the essence of the four groups of drivers can be found all over Asia, each driving group must be investigated in a local context and all information combined to devise sustainable waste management policies or strategies.
Unlocking the resource potential of organic waste: a South African perspective
Authors: Greben Harma A. , Oelofse Suzan H. H.
Published: May 2009

In many countries, especially on the Asian continent, waste is considered a valuable renewable energy resource. At present 40% of waste generated in South Africa comprises organic material which, when digested supplies biogas. The biogas produced can either be used as it is, or it can be delivered as electricity using gas turbines. The electricity generated can be added to the national grid. In light of the increased demand for energy in South Africa, alternative sources of energy are required. When taking the examples of the Asian countries, where anaerobic digestion of waste is applied in rural areas to produce energy for cooking and lighting, it can be hypothesized that this technology could be transferred especially to the rural areas of South Africa. Small-scale anaerobic digestion is presently being implemented by a private company in Ivory Park, South Africa, illustrating that anaerobic digestion in South Africa may be a means of unlocking the energy potential of organic waste. This paper evaluates the requirements for an enabling governance environment to unlock the full potential of organic waste as renewable energy resource.
Determinants of households’ willingness-to-pay for private solid waste management services in Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Rahji M.A.Y. , Oloruntoba Elizabeth O.
Published: May 2009

The study examined the determinants of willingness-to-pay for private solid waste disposal systems by urban households in Ibadan, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 552 households for the study. Data obtained from survey were analysed using a logit model-based contingent valuation. Evidence from the logit model indicated that seven variables had significant influence on the households’ willingness-to-pay. Of these, income and asset owned were positive and significant at P < 0.01 but amount of willingness-to-pay and firm services were negative and significant at P < 0.01. Education and occupation were positive and significant at the P < 0.05 level while age was negative and significant at P < 0.10. The implication is that households have certain socio-economic characteristics, which influence their willingness-to-pay for solid waste disposal. The study recommends government intervention in a variety of forms such as encouraging public—private participation in solid waste disposal, an aggressive environmental clean-up campaign, decentralization of Waste Management Boards and privatization of some aspects of waste management to ameliorate solid waste problems and improve health.
Hospital waste management system — a case study of a south Indian city
Authors: Hanumantha Rao P.
Published: May 2009

It is more than 5 years since the prescribed deadline, 30 December 2002, for all categories of towns covered by the Biomedical Waste Management (BMW) Rules 1998 elapsed. Various reports indicate that the implementation of the BMW Rules is not satisfactory even in the large towns and cities in India. Few studies have looked at the `macro system' of the biomedical waste management in India. In this context the present study describes the role of the important stakeholders who comprise the `macrosystem' namely the pollution control board, common waste management facilities, municipal corporation, state government (Directorate of Medical Education and Health Systems Development Project), professional agencies such as the India Medical Association and non-governmental organizations, in the implementation of BMW rules in a capital city of a state in south India. Brief descriptions of the `micro-system' (i.e. biomedical waste management practices within a hospital) of six hospitals of different types in the study city are also presented.
Treatment of infectious waste: development and testing of an add-on set for used gravity displacement autoclaves
Authors: Stolze René , Kühling Jan-Gerd
Published: May 2009

The safe management of potentially infectious healthcare waste is gaining increasing worldwide importance. In developing countries, simple incinerators are used for the treatment of this type of waste stream. However, as these incinerators produce high emissions and represent the main generators of dioxin and furans in these countries, alternative and cost-effective solutions are needed. As steam treatment systems do not produce persistent organic pollutants, the use of existing (older) medical autoclaves could represent a solution for the treatment of infectious waste. ETLog Health EnviroTech & Logistics, the German-based consulting and engineering company carried out the first research into whether gravity air displacement autoclaves can be used for the safe decontamination of infectious waste. The research showed that it is not possible to decontaminate waste using this type of autoclave. A subsequent research and development phase might, however, make it possible to develop a new process cycle. Tests carried out on the basis of international standards and norms showed that by applying this process cycle and using an add-on set, it is possible to treat healthcare waste using the existing stock of older medical autoclaves. The process cycle and the add-on set developed were tested under existing conditions in Hanoi, Vietnam using the treatment cycle developed for a 13-year-old autoclave. All the parameters for infectious waste decontamination were reached. As modified autoclaves prevent the emission of toxic substances, this approach presents an interim solution, which avoids the impacts on human health and the environment caused by the incineration of healthcare waste.
Factors driving the development of healthcare waste management in the United Kingdom over the past 60 years
Authors: Townend William K. , Cheeseman Christopher , Edgar Jen , Tudor Terry
Published: May 2009

Since the creation of the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom in 1948 there have been significant changes in the way waste materials produced by healthcare facilities have been managed due to a number of environmental, legal and social drivers. This paper reviews the key changes in legislation and healthcare waste management that have occurred in the UK between 1948 and the present time. It investigates reasons for the changes and how the problems associated with healthcare wastes have been addressed. The reaction of the public to offensive disposal practices taking place locally required political action by the UK government and subsequently by the European legislature. The relatively new UK industry of hazardous healthcare waste management has developed rapidly over the past 25 years in response to significant changes in healthcare practices. The growth in knowledge and appreciation of environmental issues has also been fundamental to the development of this industry. Legislation emanating from Europe is now responsible for driving change to UK healthcare waste management. This paper examines the drivers that have caused the healthcare waste management to move forward in the 60 years since the NHS was formed. It demonstrates that the situation has moved from a position where there was no overall strategy to the current situation where there is a strong regulatory framework but still no national strategy. The reasons for this situation are examined and based upon the experience gained; suggestions are made for the benefit of countries with systems for healthcare waste management still in the early stages of development or without any provisions at all.
An overview of arisings and large-scale treatment technologies for healthcare waste in the United Kingdom
Authors: Tudor Terry L. , Townend William K. , Cheeseman Christopher R. , Edgar Jen E.
Published: May 2009

This paper reviews the current generation and management of healthcare waste in the United Kingdom, with a focus on that produced from healthcare provision in the National Health Service. While the current capacities of large-scale off-site treatment systems are adequate, there are a number of logistical factors that must be considered in future. These include variations in arisings from each country and from various regions within each country, the age and location of treatment/disposal facilities, the quantities, types and sources of healthcare waste, and the impact of waste minimization and recycling strategies. Managing UK healthcare waste is a complex issue that requires the correct technologies and capacities to be available. With increasing quantities and costs there is urgent need for future planning, and healthcare waste issues need to be addressed from a UK-wide perspective. Holistic strategies need to incorporate both minimization and segregation, with treatment using a combination of incineration and alternatives treatment technologies. The need for more research and accurate data to provide an evidence-base for future decision-making is highlighted.
“I Never Know From One Day to Another How I Will Feel”: Pain and Uncertainty in Women With Endometriosis
Authors: Denny Elaine
Published: May 2009

Endometriosis is a chronic condition of women in which endometrial tissue is present outside of the uterus. It is characterized by pelvic pain. The aim of this prospective study was to explore women's experience of living with endometriosis. A sample of 30 women was recruited from a dedicated endometriosis clinic. Semistructured interviews were conducted upon recruitment and after one year, these data being supplemented by diary keeping by a volunteer sample. As a storytelling approach was utilized for data collection, narrative analysis was considered most appropriate. The findings are presented using the concept of uncertainty, which has been found in previous research to be a feature of long-term illness. Uncertainty exists around diagnosis, the course of the disease, and the future. It is argued that the way in which the pain of endometriosis is interpreted and managed by women and health professionals is integral to this uncertainty.
Part II—Factors Associated with School Nurse Ratios: Key State Informants' Perceptions
Authors: Maughan Erin
Published: May 2009

This paper is the second of a two-part series examining factors influencing school nurse to pupil staffing ratios. The paper reports data from a qualitative study exploring the social and political factors that potentially influence ratios. Interviews were conducted with 30 key state informants from these states. Content analysis of the data identified common themes. Positive factors reported to influence ratios included: the approach taken to effect change, value placed upon school nurses, local support (from both educators and parents) and community buy-in, fear of litigation, and dynamic leadership. Barriers to improving ratios included: lack of funding and misunderstanding of the role of the school nurse. Philosophical beliefs and state geography were “swing” factors that influenced staffing positively or negatively. This study adds to our knowledge of the factors influencing staffing and highlights important social and political factors that school nurses can target to improve nurse to pupil ratios.
Graduate music education as a site for reconfiguring curriculum development
Authors: Barrett Janet R.
Published: May 2009

Curriculum scholars in music education have identified themes and issues to be addressed in reconceptualizing the music curriculum and moving beyond prescriptive and technical models of curriculum planning. Curriculum development courses designed for novice and experienced teachers enrolled in graduate studies serve as sites in which teachers can examine their assumptions about music teaching and learning, think deeply about the school settings where the curriculum is situated, reflect upon the challenges that face the contemporary music classroom, analyze and interpret curricular models and initiatives that address those challenges, and synthesize these insights to design imaginative and compelling musical experiences for students. Graduate study can serve as a catalyst for teachers' professional development, and a cornerstone for the advancement of curricular discourse in music education.
`That's my piece, that's my signature, and it means more ...': creative identity and the ensemble teacher/ arranger
Authors: Randles Clint
Published: May 2009

This study follows a phenomenological qualitative research tradition. Two K—12 (5—6 years old through 17—18 years old) music teachers were asked to create an arrangement of a musical selection of their choice to be performed by their students. Guidelines were emergent to allow for the construction of meaningful projects that would encourage personal growth and the development of each participant's creative skills. The primary data collection technique was a semi-structured interview. These interviews were conducted at various stages before, during and after music was arranged for performance. Participants' responses were transcribed and examined for patterns, trends and themes. From this data, codes emerged. These codes were sorted and categorized into four themes: (1) teacher ownership of arrangements/compositions; (2) compositional process: manipulation of musical materials; (3) continuing education; (4) culture of creativity: impact of the projects on students. Findings support the literature regarding musician identity. The researcher provides a model of the relationship of role-identities to musician identity, as well as a model of music teacher identity progression.
A Modular Approach to Understanding the Transmission of Technical Knowledge
Authors: Ellen Roy
Published: May 2009

This article identifies a problem relevant to studies of knowledge transmission, namely the simultaneous membership of some element to several cognitive domains. Knowledge loss in one domain may accelerate erosion in another or, alternatively, maintenance of knowledge in one domain may enable retention of knowledge in another. The more complex the domain, the more this overlap is likely to be significant. The basketry knowledge of the Nuaulu of eastern Indonesia is not a single domain and basket-making not a self-contained autonomous set of practices, but rather contingent upon several overlapping domains. Recognizing this provides a more realistic picture of how knowledge transmission works, both in terms of cognition and enskillment. The concept of `basket' is ambiguous in Nuaulu thought and practice, generating overlapping categories of material culture: functional and morphological, scientific and local. Similarly, transmission must be understood in terms of overlapping knowledges of non-mutually exclusive domains.
Unintentional injuries in children of Danish and foreign-born mothers
Authors: Laursen Bjarne , Møller Hanne
Published: May 2009

Aims: Unintentional injuries in children of foreign-born mothers were studied and compared with those in children of Danish-born mothers. Methods: A population of 173,504 children living in 32 municipalities in Denmark was followed from 1998 to 2003. Detailed information on childhood unintentional injuries from hospital records was linked to register data on parents’ education, country of origin, income, family type, etc. Poisson regression was used to analyse differences in injury risk between children of different origins. Results: We found 133,649 injuries, of which 15,389 occurred in children of foreign-born mothers. The injury rates in children of Western and non-Western origin were 0.83 (0.70—0.98) times and 0.84 (0.79— 0.90) times that of children of Danish-born mothers, respectively. The difference was largest in children of families with unemployed parents. The injury rate in girls of non-Western origin was 29% lower than in girls of Danish origin, while the rate in boys of non-Western origin was only 5% lower than in boys of Danish origin. This gender difference was particularly pronounced for sports and traffic injuries. Children of non-Western origin had a three-fold higher rate of burns caused by hot water, tea or oil than children of Danish origin. Conclusions: Prevention of injuries in children of non-Western origin should especially focus on scalds from tea, oil, and hot water.
Does a post-take ward round proforma have a positive effect on completeness of documentation and efficiency of information management?
Authors: Wright Daniel N.
Published: May 2009

The post-take ward round (PTWR) involves the assessment of the latest intake of patients into the hospital. At a busy 400-bed city hospital it had been noted that PTWR notes had, in some cases, become overly brief and uninformative. Previous research had shown that proformas can improve the completeness of the records. So a new proforma was designed and introduced. Its impact on completeness of information was assessed by carrying out an audit of PTWR notes both with and without the proforma. The results showed statistically significant improvements in documentation when the proforma was used. They also showed an improvement in areas of efficiency of record management: for example, the proforma reduced the time taken to retrieve information from the notes, and most users said it saved them time recording in the notes and assimilating information and helped them to speed up patient transfers.
Patients' views of a multimedia resource featuring experiences of rheumatoid arthritis: pilot evaluation of www.healthtalkonline.org
Authors: Newman Meredith A. , Ziebland Sue , Barker Karen L.
Published: May 2009

The Internet is used increasingly for health information and patient support. Online health information users gravitate to websites that feature patient experiences. However, experiential accounts may mislead if they are unrepresentative. The quality of experiential websites remains unexplored. Obtaining user feedback online can be problematic. This study explored views of www.dipex.org/arthritis, a website based on, and featuring, clips from interviews about experiences of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Thirty-seven rheumatology outpatients viewed the site and completed a questionnaire. Overall the website appeared relevant and understandable and could be recommended. Comments highlighted the need to update the site regularly with experiences of new treatments; to ensure positive and negative experiences are balanced; and to ensure information is easy to find. The site has since been updated with new experiences and rewritten summaries that present a better balance of experiences. Changes were incorporated in an entire site redesign launched in autumn 2008 as www.healthtalkonline.org.
Creole in Cape Verde
Authors: Carter Katherine , Aulette Judy
Published: May 2009

■ Cape Verde is an island country 450 kilometers off the coast of Senegal, West Africa. Creole is the common language throughout Cape Verde but Portuguese is the official language, the language of its colonizer. Through surveys and interviews, this article reveals the power inequalities that exist among Cape Verdeans because of language use. We particularly explore the perceptions of the significance of speaking Creole in order to fully understand the culture of Cape Verde. As a way to investigate the importance of Creole to Cape Verdean identity, we focus on the use of Creole proverbs and sayings by the women in Cape Verde as they express solidarity, provide support, and show criticism of power structures in the society. Through their use of Creole, Cape Verdeans are preserving their history and local identity as different from their colonizers as well as using the language and the proverbs as ways to challenge the dominant contemporary power structures.
Survival, an Israeli Ju Jutsu school of martial arts
Authors: Cohen Einat Bar-On
Published: May 2009

■ Nationalism is the untenable union of the impersonal, mechanistic, bureaucratic logic of the state and the intimate, emotional, organic logic of the nation. While practicing martial arts, the participants at the Israeli Survival School of Ju Jutsu create a utopian Israeliness, using bits of state-national understandings to form a family-like organicity. At the North Indian school of wrestling described by Joseph Alter, too, an organic utopian nationalism is practiced into existence through meticulous care for the body itself. A comparison between those modes of embodying the national, set in very different cultural and national realities, reveals not only different understandings of the national and of its organic nature, but also different uses of semiotic mechanisms. Whereas the Israeli world of the Survival School is based on representation, the Indian one is constructed from the body and the environment, set in dense connectedness forming this world in and of itself.