bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reducing Misconceptions and False Beliefs in Police and Criminal Psychology
Authors: Aamodt Michael G.
Published: September 2008

Although certainly not alone, the field of police and criminal psychology seems to be an area that is highly susceptible to myths and misinformation. Whether it is the notion that police have higher suicide and divorce rates or that crime rates greatly increase during a full moon, there are many commonly held beliefs that are not supported by scientific evidence. This article discusses research conducted by the author and his students over the past several years to investigate the accuracy of some common beliefs in police and criminal psychology. Four principles are proposed that, if considered, might reduce the level of misinformation in police and criminal psychology. These principles include using primary sources, comparing apples with apples, avoiding the oversimplification of what is being studied, and understanding that in general, human judgment is not a good predictor of behavior.
The Criminal Profiling Illusion
Authors: Snook Brent , Cullen Richard M. , Bennell Craig , Taylor Paul J. , Gendreau Paul
Published: September 2008

There is a belief that criminal profilers can predict a criminal's characteristics from crime scene evidence. In this article, the authors argue that this belief may be an illusion and explain how people may have been misled into believing that criminal profiling (CP) works despite no sound theoretical grounding and no strong empirical support for this possibility. Potentially responsible for this illusory belief is the information that people acquire about CP, which is heavily influenced by anecdotes, repetition of the message that profiling works, the expert profiler label, and a disproportionate emphasis on correct predictions. Also potentially responsible are aspects of information processing such as reasoning errors, creating meaning out of ambiguous information, imitating good ideas, and inferring fact from fiction. The authors conclude that CP should not be used as an investigative tool because it lacks scientific support.
Nonverbal Dominance Versus Verbal Accuracy in Lie Detection
Authors: Vrij Aldert
Published: September 2008

With the exclusion of some specific circumstances, police officers typically pay more attention to nonverbal behavior than verbal behavior when they attempt to detect deceit. One of the reasons for this is that they believe that suspects are less able to control their nonverbal than verbal behavior and, consequently, nonverbal cues to deception are more likely to leak through. The author states that this assumption is not necessarily valid; deception research has revealed that many verbal cues are more diagnostic cues to deceit than nonverbal cues. Paying attention to nonverbal cues results in being less accurate in truth/lie discrimination, particularly when only visual nonverbal cues are taken into account. Also, paying attention to visual nonverbal cues leads to a stronger lie bias (i.e., indicating that someone is lying). The author recommends a change in police practice and argues that for lie detection purposes it may be better to listen carefully to what suspects say.
Confession Evidence
Authors: Kassin Saul M.
Published: September 2008

Confession evidence is powerful but flawed, often in nonintuitive ways. Contradicting widely held beliefs, research reviewed in this article suggests the following: Despite special training in how to conduct interviews, police cannot distinguish better than the layperson whether suspects are lying or telling the truth. Suspects in custody routinely waive their self-protective rights to silence and to counsel—especially if they are innocent. Certain legal but deceptive interrogation tactics increase the risk that innocents will confess to crimes they did not commit. Judges and juries are easily fooled, unable to distinguish between true and false confessions. Appellate courts cannot be expected to reasonably determine whether the error of admitting a coerced confession at trial was harmless or prejudicial.
Hypnosis and the Law
Authors: Wagstaff Graham F.
Published: September 2008

The traditional view of the hypnotized person as someone in a state of automatism, possessed of transcendent powers, is still popular among the general public. This has obvious implications for legal issues concerning possible coercion through hypnosis and the use of hypnosis for interviewing witnesses. However, it is now the opinion of most researchers that hypnosis does not induce a state of automatism, and caution should be exercised when employing hypnotic procedures to facilitate memory. It is concluded that better progress will be made in countering public misconceptions about hypnosis, and in benefiting from research on the applications of hypnotic interviewing procedures, if more effort is made to use concepts and terminology that relate hypnotic phenomena to everyday behavior and experience.
Logic and Research Versus Intuition and Past Practice as Guides to Gathering and Evaluating Eyewitness Evidence
Authors: Turtle John , Want Stephen C.
Published: September 2008

Psychologists have conducted extensive research and devoted substantial thought to the memory, cognition, decision-making, logic, and human interaction components of eyewitness evidence. It is fortunate that much of that work has been formally recognized by law enforcement and the legal community and used as the basis for procedure and policy changes with regard to how eyewitness evidence is collected and evaluated. The authors discuss reasons that some segments of law enforcement, the legal community, and the public resist these research findings (e.g., by seeing psychology's role as a way to discredit eyewitness evidence or being committed to established procedures that have no empirical support). The authors also address gaps between these common misconceptions and what the psychology research perspective has to offer, in an effort to gain even more support for research- and logic-based recommendations concerning eyewitness evidence.
The Present Stage of the Colombian Revolution
Authors: Ocampo José F.
Published: September 2008

In this essay, José F. Ocampo of the Umversidad Nacional in Bogotá offers a historical and political framework for the articles which follow. Ocampo employs the theory of "new democracy" (sometimes referred to as Marxism-Leninism, or simply Maoism ) to analyze the current situation in Colombia. He presents the analysis of classes in Colombia; the strategy and tactics of the dominant classes; the spontaneous struggles of the oppressed classes; and the rise of a non-revisionist vanguard party of the proletariat.
The Andean Pact and State Capitalism in Colombia
Authors: Fernández Raúl A. , Ocampo José F.
Published: September 2008

This section addresses the nature of two current programs, put forward by their sponsors as "answers" to the problems of industrialization in Latin America. Raúl Fernández, Associate Professor in the Program in Comparative Culture at the University of California, Irvine, with José F. Ocampo, present an analysis of the programs of "regional integration." Using the Andean Pact as a specific instance, or case study, Fernández and Ocampo argue that regional integration is a tool of imperialist domination, and they demonstrate the relationship between imperialist regional integration and the development of state capitalism in Colombia.

Rosemary Galli, who teaches at Johnston College of Redlands University, presents an evaluation of another mechanism of imperialist "development" planning. Basing her study upon her own first hand experience with the United Nations Development System, Professor Galli's case study of the UNDS in Colombia shows the machinery of international development planning and its weaknesses. She concludes with a compelling case for the importance of national leadership in such planning.
El Cafe Y El Movimiento Campesino
Authors:   Asociación Nacional De Usuarios Campesinos
Published: September 2008

This section offers two perspectives on the class struggle in the Colombian countryside. The first is a document of historic importance, by the Asociación Nacional de Usuarios Campesinos (ANUC) of the coffee industry. ANUC is an association where all three major political lines of the Colombian left are represented. At the time this article was first published (June 1972 in Uno en Dos ) ANUC was supported by various organizations, among them the Communist Party, MOIR, and the Trotskyist-oriented Tendencia Socialista. This article analyzes classes in the countryside, sharecropping, and U.S. imperialism in the market for coffee. It also examines the policies of the bourgeoisie with respect to the coffee industry and gives an analysis of the peasant movements. The second article gives a different view of Colombian agriculture, focusing on various aspects of Colombian agriculture. The author, William James, is an Assistant Professor at the State University of New York, Potsdam. He evaluates the role of different forms of the social relations of production in the Colombian countrvside.
Cien Anos De Soledad: History and the Novel
Authors: Taylor Anna Marie
Published: September 2008

In this section Anna Marie Taylor presents an analysis of Gabriel Garcia Márquez' famous book, Cien años de soledad. Garcia Márquez is, without doubt, one of the best-known Colombians in the world today. Not only is he an artist of the highest order, he is a Colombian fully dedicated to revolutionary practice. His leadership in the campaign against the Chilean fascists has taken him around the world; in Colombia he was one of the founders of Alternativa, an independent Marxist magazine, and he is presently editor and a regular contributor. His popularity with the Colombian left has led many to speculate that he may become an electoral candidate for a broad left-coalition in the future. It should be noted, however, that Garcia Márquez has vehemently denied this speculation.

Anna Marie Taylor, who teaches Spanish at the University of Chicago, has done more than the currently fashionable, if socially vacuous, textual "criticism." She places the novel in a socio-historical context, and evaluates its merits on grounds of social and political, as well as textual, coherence.
Coping With Hurricane Katrina: Psychological Distress and Resilience Among African American Evacuees
Authors: Lee Eun-Kyoung Othelia , Ce Shen  , Tran Thanh V.
Published: September 2008

Hurricane Katrina was one of the most devastating natural disasters in the U.S. history. The economic, physical, and psychological damage to survivors of Katrina may ultimately be incalculable. While this natural disaster affected all racial groups, it was low-income African Americans who disproportionately experienced the greatest suffering. This study examines factors related to psychological resilience in the Hurricane Katrina evacuee sample (N = 363) drawn from the Kaiser Washington Post Harvard Poll #2005 WPH020. The structural equation model (SEM) used explains 34% of the total variance on Katrina victims' resilience measured by their perceived sense of recovery. Findings suggest that those evacuees who reported psychological distress as a reaction to the disaster were less likely to report that they would fully recover from the disaster. All three Hurricane Katrina experience-related variables— being insured, home destruction, and human loss—have significant effects on psychological distress, with human loss having the strongest effect. Implications for practice and research are discussed.
Training Psychologists for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in the Raw World
Authors: Friedberg Robert D. , Gorman Angela A. , Beidel Deborah C.
Published: September 2008

Empirically supported treatments (EST) hold much promise in relieving psychological distress and dysfunction. However, various obstacles to effective training and clinical practice have truncated dissemination efforts. One such obstacle is the perceived applicability of EST procedures to raw world clinical practice. This article proposes a rubric for supervision that emphasizes case conceptualization, the use of immediacy in session, tolerating negative affect, harvesting open attitudes, cultural responsiveness, and technical proficiency. Several specific training strategies and supervisory processes are recommended.
Mediation of the Negative Effect of Red on Intellectual Performance
Authors: Maier Markus A. , Elliot Andrew J. , Lichtenfeld Stephanie
Published: September 2008

This research examines the hypothesis that an attentional process grounded in avoidance motivation—local relative to global processing—mediates the negative effect of red on intellectual performance. This hypothesis was tested in a series of experiments using two approaches to documenting mediation. Experiment 1 established that the perception of red undermines IQ test performance. Experiments 2a and 2b documented mediation via the experimental causal chain approach, and Experiment 3 documented mediation via the measurement of mediation approach. This represents the first demonstration of a mediational process in the domain of color psychology. A call is made to broaden priming research to include color stimuli.
Student Self-Identity as a Critical Thinker
Authors: Celuch Kevin , Black Gary , Warthan Bradley
Published: September 2008

During the past decade, critical thinking has received increasing recognition in the marketing education literature. However, much of the extant literature emphasizes techniques tied to implementing critical thinking approaches, while questions exist regarding the processes by which students are influenced through participation in critical thinking pedagogies. This study merges attitudes, norms, and self-identity literature as a means of addressing the question of how students come to view themselves as critical thinkers. Specifically, the authors hypothesize that attitude strength should moderate the influence of attitudes on normative beliefs. Normative beliefs, in turn, are posited to mediate the influence of the Attitude × Attitude Strength interaction on student self-identity as a critical thinker. Thus, students with strong and positive attitudes regarding critical thinking will have strong normative beliefs associated with the skill, and these beliefs, in turn, will affect self-identity as a critical thinker. Results, based on a sample of students participating in critical thinking—oriented classes, support these hypotheses. Findings hold implications for academics and future researchers attempting to understand how to effectively leverage critical thinking pedagogies in marketing classes.
Patellar Tendon Strain is Increased at the Site of the Jumper's Knee Lesion during Knee Flexion and Tendon Loading
Authors: Lavagnino Michael , Arnoczky Steven P. , Elvin Niell , Dodds Julie
Published: September 2008

Background

Patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee) is characterized by localized tenderness of the patellar tendon at its origin on the inferior pole of the patella and a characteristic increase in signal intensity on magnetic resonance imaging at this location. However, it is unclear why the lesion typically occurs in this area of the patellar tendon as surface strain gauge studies of the patellar tendon through the range of motion have produced conflicting results.

Hypothesis

The predicted patellar tendon strains that occur as a result of the tendon loads and patella-patellar tendon angles (PPTAs) experienced during a jump landing will be significantly increased in the area of the patellar tendon associated with patellar tendinopathy.

Study Design

Descriptive laboratory study.

Methods

A 2-dimensional, computational, finite element model of the patella-patellar tendon complex was developed using anatomic measurements taken from lateral radiographs of a normal knee. The patella was modeled with plane strain rigid elements, and the patellar tendon was modeled with 8-node plane strain elements with neo-Hookean material properties. A tie constraint was used to join the patellar tendon and patella. Patella-patellar tendon angles corresponding to knee flexion angles between 0° and 60° and patellar tendon strains ranging from 5% to 15% were used as input variables into the computational model. To determine if the location of increased strain predicted by the computational model could produce isolated tendon fascicle damage in that same area, 5 human cadaveric patella-patellar tendon-tibia specimens were loaded under conditions predicted by the model to significantly increase localized tendon strain. Pre- and posttesting ultrasound images of the patella–patellar tendon specimens were obtained to document the location of any injured fascicles.

Results

Localized tendon strain at the classic location of the jumper's knee lesion was found to increase in association with an increase in the magnitude of applied patellar tendon strain and a decrease in the PPTA. The principal stresses and strains predicted by the model for this localized area were tensile and not compressive in nature. Applying the tendon strain conditions and PPTA predicted by the model to significantly increase localized strain resulted in disruption of tendon fascicles in 3 of the 5 cadaveric specimens at the classic location of the patellar tendinopathy lesion.

Conclusion

The localized increase in patellar tendon strain that occurs in response to the application of tendon loads and decreased PPTA could induce microdamage at the classic location of the jumper's knee lesion.

Clinical Relevance

The association of decreasing PPTA with increasing localized tendon strain would implicate the role of knee-joint angle as well as tendon force in the etiopathogenesis of jumper's knee.
Intraoperative Biomechanical Evaluation of Anatomic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using a Navigation System
Authors: Ishibashi Yasuyuki , Tsuda Eiichi , Fukuda Akira , Tsukada Harehiko , Toh Satoshi
Published: September 2008

Background

Recently, more anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions have been developed to improve knee laxity.

Purpose

The objective of this study is to assess knee kinematics after double-bundle reconstruction with hamstring tendon and after anatomically oriented reconstruction with a patellar tendon using navigation during surgery.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

Eighty knees received double-bundle reconstruction with a hamstring tendon graft, and 45 knees received anatomically oriented reconstruction with a patellar tendon graft. Before reconstruction, knee laxity was measured using a navigation system. After the posterolateral bundle or anteromedial bundle was temporarily fixed during double-bundle reconstruction, knee laxity was measured to assess the function of each bundle. After double-bundle reconstruction or anatomically oriented reconstruction with patellar tendon, knee laxity was measured in the same manner.

Results

Both double-bundle reconstruction and anatomically oriented reconstruction similarly improved knee laxity compared With before reconstruction in all knee flexion angles. Regarding the function of the anteromedial and posterolateral bundles in double-bundle reconstruction, the 2 grafts showed contrasting behavior. The posterolateral bundle restrained tibial displacement mainly in knee extension, whereas the anteromedial bundle restrained it more in the knee flexion position. The posterolateral bundle has a more important role in controlling rotation of the tibia than the anteromedial bundle.

Conclusion

Although the posterolateral bundle has an important role in the extension position, the anteromedial bundle is more important in the flexion position. Therefore, both bundles should be reconstructed to improve knee laxity throughout knee range of motion. Even with single-bundle reconstruction using a patellar tendon, anatomic reconstruction might improve knee laxity similar to double-bundle reconstruction.
Defined Contribution Plans Emerging in the Public Sector
Authors: Holland Joseph H. , Goodman Doug , Stich Bethany
Published: September 2008

This article discusses the history of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The implementation of the act developed an environment for employers, public and private, to transition from defined benefit (DB) retirement plans to defined contribution (DC) retirement plans. This transition has many implications for both employers and employees. The article argues that the transition to DC retirement plans is becoming more prevalent in the public sector and it suggests that the implementation of a workplace financial literacy program can enhance public employees' ability to make better decisions with regard to financial behavior and retirement planning. The article presents a nonexperimental single group pretest/posttest design to investigate the effects of a workplace financial literacy program. The findings suggest that participants are less stressed, more satisfied with their financial situation, less worried about monthly living expenses, and more confident about overcoming financial emergencies.
An In Situ Gel-Forming Heparin-Conjugated PLGA-PEG-PLGA Copolymer
Authors: Lih Eugene , Yoon Ki Joung  , Jin Woo Bae  , Ki Dong Park
Published: September 2008

Novel heparin-conjugated PLGA-PEG-PLGA hydrogels were prepared via Michael-type addition between thiolated heparin and PLGA-PEG-PLGA diacrylate. The thiolated heparin (HP-SH) was conjugated with thiolacid dihydrazide followed by reduction. The structure and the thiol determination of obtained HP-SH were characterized by 1H NMR and the Ellman method. Anticoagulant activity and pK a of the HP-SH were determined by aPTT test and UV absorbance measurement which were 79.3% and 10.5, respectively. The PLGA-PEG-PLGA diacrylate was synthesized by bulk ring-opening polymerization of D,L-lactide (DLLA) and glycolide (GA) with PEG and stannous 2-ethylhexanoate, followed by the acrylation of the terminal groups. HP—SH was then conjugated to PLGA-PEG-PLGA diacrylate by Michael addition. Phase diagrams of the hydrogels were obtained by vial tilting; the release of heparin from the hydrogels exhibited temperature dependent sol—gel transition behavior. These in situ-forming heparin-conjugated hydrogels are novel as injectable and tissue-compatible scaffold formation, thermo-sensitivity, and growth factor binding.
A Polyurethane-Gelatin Hybrid Construct for Manufacturing Implantable Bioartificial Livers
Authors: Wei Xu  , Xiaohong Wang  , Yongnian Yan  , Renji Zhang
Published: September 2008

A novel 3D hybrid construct was developed for liver manufacturing by depositing biodegradable polyurethane (PU) and a naturally derived polymer gelatin simultaneously via a double nozzle rapid prototyping (RP) technique. A grid object was produced by precisely and simultaneously dispersing the PU and gelatin to form 3D constructs with interconnected macro-channels at a low temperature (-28°C). Micro-pores were formed by freeze-drying the constructs. The PU polymer provided mechanical support while gelatin provided accommodation for implant cells. The hydrophilicity of the hybrid constructs was between the pure PU and pure gelatin structures. The interconnected channels allow nutrients and oxygen to be supplied throughout the construct as well as provide space for the attachment of cells. The design and fabrication strategies, used to create complex physical objects directly from computer aided design (CAD) models, represent a promising technique for implantable bioartificial livers. It is anticipated that these PU-gelatin hybrid constructs will serve as a useful model for bioartificial liver manufacturing.
Agreement on Reporting of Physical, Psychological, and Sexual Violence Among White, Black, and Hispanic Couples in the United States
Authors: Caetano Raul , Field Craig , Ramisetty-Mikler Suhasini , Lipsky Sherry
Published: September 2008

This article examines agreement on reports of male-to-female and female-to-male psychological, physical, and sexual violence among White, Black, and Hispanic couples in the United States. Using a probability sample, separate face-to-face interviews were conducted in respondents' homes with both members of 1,025 intact couples living in the 48 contiguous states. The overall survey response rate was 72%. Results indicate that agreement on each of the three types of violence is low, independent of perpetrator's gender and ethnicity. Kappa coefficients of agreement range from .07 to .48. Higher agreement is obtained for psychological violence, followed by physical and sexual violence. Depending on the type of violence, between 30% (psychological aggression) and 90% (sexual coercion) of events would not have been identified if identification required agreement between partners. Logistic analysis shows that the severity of violence is the only variable that increases the likelihood of agreement across the three types of violence.
Court Compliance as a Predictor of Postadjudication Recidivism for Domestic Violence Offenders
Authors: Kindness Alana , Kim Han , Alder Stephen , Edwards Alison , Parekh Asha , Olson Lenora M.
Published: September 2008

This study evaluated pre- and postadjudication behavior of 220 male defendants convicted of a domestic violence-related offense using court records and police department data. Our goal was the identification of possible predictors for continued criminal behavior that could pose a risk of further harm to victims. Factors identified as significant predictors of defendant recidivism were having two or more court reports of noncompliance with domestic violence treatment, two or more warrants issued by the court for noncompliance, and two or more reports to law enforcement of new criminal activity involving the defendant. Law enforcement reports were the strongest predictor of recidivism, with an odds ratio of 7.7 and confidence interval of 3.0-19.7. These results illustrate the importance of monitoring multiple dimensions of defendant behavior while under court supervision and of communicating information on noncompliance with victims and advocates to assist in safety planning efforts.
Perpetration of Intimate Partner Aggression by Men and Women in the Philippines
Authors: Ansara Donna L. , Hindin Michelle J.
Published: September 2008

This study uses data from the 2002 Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey to examine the prevalence of and factors associated with intimate partner violence perpetration by husbands and wives in Cebu, Philippines. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with wife-only, husband-only, and reciprocal perpetration. About 26% of women reported that either they or their partner perpetrated at least one physically aggressive act during the past year, whereas 22% reported sexual coercion by their husband during their relationship. The most common reason cited for hurting the partner was his or her alcohol use, partner nagging, the wife fighting back, and jealousy. In the regression analysis, the wife's alcohol use and violence between the wife's parents were predictors of all three perpetrator groups. The importance of regular church attendance and husband control and dominance varied for the groups. Research and prevention implications are discussed.
A Decade of Child-Initiated Family Violence
Authors: Walsh Jeffrey A. , Krienert Jessie L.
Published: September 2008

This article examines 11 years (1995-2005) of National Incident Based Reporting System data comparing victim, offender, and incident characteristics for two types of child-initiated family violence: child—parent violence (CPV) and parricide. The objective is to better understand the victim—offender relationship for CPV and parricide and to highlight distinguishing features between the two offenses. This work extends the research and addresses shortcomings in the extant literature. Data analysis consists of chi-square tests and logistic regression. Findings suggest that CPV and parricide are distinct and unique crimes. In short, parricide offenders and victims are both older than CPV offenders and victims, with CPV offenders more likely to be female, more likely to be African American, and less likely to use a weapon than parricide offenders. The study calls for future research and exploration of preliminary support for a family violence escalation hypothesis.
Effects of Offender Motivation, Victim Gender, and Participant Gender on Perceptions of Rape Victims and Offenders
Authors: Mitchell Damon , Angelone D.J. , Kohlberger Brittany , Hirschman Richard
Published: September 2008

The primary purpose of the present study was to examine whether knowledge of the motivation of an offender can influence participant perceptions of victim and perpetrator responsibility for a sexual assault. In addition, the synergistic influence of victim gender and participant gender with offender motivation was explored. Participants were 171 men and women from a small Northeastern college exposed to a stimulus in which a rapist's motivation was varied as either sexual or violent. Participants were more certain that the stimulus described a rape, recommended a longer prison sentence for the offender, and assigned less blame to the victim when exposed to an offender motivated by violence as opposed to an offender motivated by sex. Offender motivation also interacted with participant gender and victim gender on participants' perceptions of victim blame and offender responsibility. The results suggest that an offender's motivation for rape can influence perceptions of the offender's and victim's responsibility for the assault.
The World Wide Web and Multimedia in the 1996 Presidential Election
Authors: Novotny Patrick
Published: September 2008

The media in the 1990s is variously described as the interactive media or the so-called multimedia era. Cable television, laptop computers, fiber-optics, direct broadcast satellites, cellular telephones, and facsimile technology is being joined by the latest in interactive television, desktop video conferencing, and cable television modems, all of which bring together the streams of computer-based information of the World Wide Web with the visual images of cable television and broadcast television to create a stream of information into the nation's households and workplaces. The work of political campaigns in the 1990s is tapping into this dizzying array of multimedia. In the 1996 election, the latest in multimedia technologies were evident throughout the election season. This article is a review of the application of these new technologies in political campaign, with particular attention to the use of the World Wide Web in the 1996 presidential election campaign.
Academic Infotecture
Authors: Couples Chris , Luke Timothy W.
Published: September 2008

This article recounts the author's experiences teaching two political theory classes for the Virginia Tech CyberSchool initiative during the summer of 1996 using the World Wide Web as the near-exclusive method of delivery. It documents the planning and implementation processes, taking into specific account the role played in these processes by administrative and technological constraints. The possible roles of Web-based course delivery for large universities are discussed. The article concludes with a consideration of what the authors would change in subsequent iterations of this project as well as what he would not change.
The Paradox of Paperless Classes
Authors: Lackie Paula
Published: September 2008

In just about every field, people are working to cut back resource use while expanding services and productivity. This extends into teaching college courses because many schools are forced to push more students or more content into each class, whereas the ecologically and budget conscious are working to streamline their methods and cut back on their use of resources. One approach at Carleton College has been the use of the campus computer network to create paperless courses. This article is about the method, experience, and pedagogical of some pioneering courses in the social sciences at Carleton College.
Working without commitments: precarious employment and health
Authors: Lewchuk Wayne , Clarke Marlea , de Wolff Alice
Published: September 2008

Using cross-sectional data from a Canadian population-based questionnaire, this article develops a new approach to understanding the impact of less permanent forms of employment on workers' health. It concludes that employment relationships where future employment is uncertain, where individuals are actively searching for new employment and where support is limited are associated with poorer health indicators.
Non-regular employment in Japan: continued and renewed dualities
Authors: Keizer Arjan B.
Published: September 2008

Previous analyses of Japanese employment practices have often focused almost exclusively on regular employment, relegating non-regular employment to a role as employment buffer. However, recent years have seen a rise in non-regular employment which requires a renewed analysis of its role and importance. This article provides such an analysis and presents two major findings. First, it argues that a renewed duality in the labour market indicates important advantages to non-regular employment, not just in terms of flexibility, as suggested by previous interpretations and dual labour market theories, but mostly in terms of costs. However, the importance of this advantage differs between industries. Second, the article discusses the consequences of this duality. It argues particularly that the duality constrains the employment opportunities for women in spite of regulatory changes to strengthen their position. The article concludes with general insights into labour market dualism.
Forms of capital, mixed embeddedness and Somali enterprise
Authors: Ram Monder , Theodorakopoulos Nicholas , Jones Trevor
Published: September 2008

What form is small business activity taking among new migrants in the UK? This question is addressed by examining the case of Somalis in the English city of Leicester.We apply a novel synthesis of the Nee and Sanders' (2001) `forms of capital' model with the `mixed embeddedness' approach (Rath, 2000) to enterprises established by newly arrived immigrant communities, combining agency and structure perspectives. Data are drawn from business-owners (and workers) themselves, rather than community representatives. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were held with 25 business owners and 25 employees/`helpers', supplemented by 3 focus group encounters with different segments of the Somali business population.The findings indicate that a reliance solely on social capital explanations is not sufficient. An adequate understanding of business dynamics requires an appreciation of how Somalis mobilize different forms of capital within a given political, social and economic context.
An exploration of small firm psychological contracts
Authors: Atkinson Carol
Published: September 2008

It is argued here that more sophisticated frameworks of analysis than currently exist are required to support deeper understanding of small firm employment relationships. A psychological contract framework is adopted, presenting data on three small firm case studies and contrasting this with existing perspectives on small firm employment relationships. The degree of heterogeneity demonstrated in employment relationships in the small firm sector leads to the argument that a single typology of `small firm' employment relationships is not possible. While small firms may differ in nature to large firms, there is a range of forces in so heterogeneous a sector that go to create employment relationships and a narrow framework, especially one predicated upon notions of size, will not adequately reflect the complexities of the relationships under consideration. A broader, less deterministic, framework such as the psychological contract supports the development of more nuanced understandings of small firm employment relationships.
Automated Impedance-based Structural Health Monitoring Incorporating Effective Frequency Shift for Compensating Temperature Effects
Authors: Koo Ki-Young , Park Seunghee , Lee Jong-Jae , Yun Chung-Bang
Published: September 2008

This study presents an impedance-based structural health monitoring (SHM) technique considering temperature effects. The temperature variation results in significant impedance variations, particularly a frequency shift in the impedance, which may lead to erroneous diagnostic results of real structures, such as civil, mechanical, and aerospace structures. In order to minimize the effect of the temperature variation on the impedance measurements, a previously proposed temperature compensation technique based on the cross-correlation between the reference-impedance data and a concurrent impedance data is revisited. In this study, cross-correlation coefficient (CC) after an effective frequency shift (EFS), which is defined as the frequency shift causing two impedance data to have the maximum correlation, is utilized. To promote a practical use of the proposed SHM strategy, an automated continuous monitoring framework using MATLAB® is developed and incorporated with the current hardware system. Validation of the proposed technique is carried out on a lab-sized steel truss bridge member under a temperature varying environment. It has been found that the CC values have shown significant fluctuations due to the temperature variation, even after applying the EFS method. Therefore, an outlier analysis providing the optimal decision limits under the inevitable variations has been carried out for more systematic damage detection. It has been found that the threshold level shall be properly selected considering the daily temperature range and the minimum target damage level for detection. It has been demonstrated that the proposed strategy combining the EFS and the outlier analysis can be effectively used in the automated continuous SHM of critical structural members under temperature variations.
Nonlinear Dynamics of Magnetic Bearing Systems
Authors: Ji J.C. , Hansen Colin H. , Zander Anthony C.
Published: September 2008

Magnetic bearings use magnetic forces to support various machine components. Because of the non-contact nature of this type of suspension, magnetic bearing technology offers a number of significant advantages over conventional bearings, such as rolling element and fluid film bearings. An active magnetic bearing basically consists of an electromagnetic actuator, position sensors, power amplifiers, and a feedback controller. All of these components are characterized by nonlinear behavior and therefore the entire system is inherently nonlinear. However, in simulations of the dynamic behavior of magnetic bearing systems, the nonlinearities are usually neglected to simplify the analysis and only linear models are used. Moreover, many control techniques currently used in magnetic bearing systems are generally designed by ignoring nonlinear effects. The main reason for simplification is the intractability of the complexity of the actual model. In fact, the inherent nonlinear properties of magnetic bearing systems can lead to dynamic behavior of a magnetically suspended rotor that is distinctly different from that predicted using a simple linearized model. Therefore, the nonlinearities should be taken into account. This literature review is focused on the nonlinear dynamics of magnetic bearing systems and it provides background information on analytical methods, nonlinear vibrations resulting from a rotor contacting auxiliary bearings, and other active topics of research involving the nonlinear properties of magnetic bearing systems, such as nonlinear self-sensing magnetic bearings and nonlinear control of magnetic bearings. The review concludes with a brief discussion on current and possible future directions for research on the nonlinear dynamics of magnetic bearing systems.
An Experimental Investigation of Applying Mica2 Motes in Pavement Condition Monitoring
Authors: Pei Jin-Song , Ivey Richard A. , Lin Hungjr , Landrum Aaron R. , Sandburg Colby J. , Ferzli Nadim A. , King Timothy , Zaman Musharraf M. , Refai Hazem H. , Mai Eric C.
Published: September 2008

Pavement maintenance is vital for travel safety, thus detecting dangerous road conditions in a real-time fashion is desirable. Using an off-the-shelf wireless sensor network to detect such conditions at a low cost poses many challenges. In order to meet these challenges, a Mica2 Mote sensor network is adopted in this study to process and transmit data collected from three external analog sensors. Consequentially, several hardware and software interfaces are developed to complete a pavement monitoring system that uses temperature and moisture presence to detect hazardous road conditions. Surge Time Synchronization is explored in this specific application to enable the wireless sensor network to operate in a low power consumption mode. A fairly simplistic pattern classification algorithm is embedded into the motes to create the smart wireless sensing application. A series of outdoor tests are conducted in this study paying special attention to the survivability of fragile analog sensors in harsh roadway conditions. In this regard, a novel solution called the ``Sensor-Road Button''(SRB) is developed and validated experimentally. This is one of several exercises made in this study to enable the application of sensor technologies in intelligent transportation systems (ITS). The size of the wireless sensor network in this study is relatively small, utilizing a total of five motes in order to fully exploit the transmitting range of each mote. Long testing periods (i.e., uninterrupted 12-hour time frames for each period of data collection) add an additional advantage, allowing for the evaluation of the selected wireless sensor network for long-term monitoring using the low power consumption mode under Surge Time Synchronization. Many performance metrics of the adopted small-size, large-interval Mica2 Motes wireless sensor network are revealed in this study through a series of data processing efforts. Results are presented to examine (i) inter-node connectivity and transmitting range, (ii) battery life, (iii) the length of the initial network connection time as affected by methods of setting up tests under practical conditions, (iv) error rate and analysis of different error types (showing the importance of the subsequent data cleansing step), and (v) other network routing properties including the parent time histories for each mote. The results and analysis form a database for future efforts to better understand, appreciate, and improve the performance of Mica2 Motes. This study will thus benefit robust real-world implementation of off-the-shelf sensor network products such as Mica2 Motes in terms of hardware development and data processing.
Ferroelectric Characterization of Single PZT Fibers
Authors: Heiber Juliane , Belloli Alberto , Ermanni Paolo , Clemens Frank
Published: September 2008

In a previous work, the authors have presented a comprehensive procedure for the direct characterization of single piezoelectric ceramic fibers in terms of butterfly and polarization loops and blocking force. The ability to investigate single fibers is relevant for optimizing their manufacturing processes, for quality control purposes, and for modeling the response of components and structures. In this study the novel testing procedure is used to characterize commercially available fibers distributed by Advanced Cerametrics Inc., CeraNova Corp., and Smart Material Corp., respectively, and to compare their performance with fibers developed at Empa. Their porosity, grain size and phase composition were investigated to correlate the ferroelectric properties with the microstructure. Fibers supplied by Smart Material Corp. exhibited the best ferroelectric performance, in particular the highest saturation and remnant polarization, the lowest coercive field and the highest P—E loop squareness. The said properties result from a low porosity, a sufficiently large grain size and a phase composition near the morphotropic phase boundary. After removing a surface layer dominated by a rhombohedral phase, Empa fibers developed maximum average free-strains 15% larger than any commercially available fiber. Better control of the sintering atmosphere thus promises to be the key to very high performance fibers.
Novel Characterization Procedure for Single Piezoelectric Fibers
Authors: Belloli Alberto , Heiber Juliane , Clemens Frank , Ermanni Paolo
Published: September 2008

The characterization of the ferroelectric properties of piezoelectric ceramic fibers is paramount for optimizing their manufacturing processes, for quality control purposes, and for modeling the response of components and structures. Until now, fibers were generally characterized by measuring the so-called 1-3 composites, fiber arrays embedded in a polymer matrix. The fiber properties can then be extracted, provided the volume fraction and stiffness of each phase, the fiber piezoelectric charge constant as a function of the electrical field strength, and the matrix permittivity are known. This implies a large amount of time and experimental effort. This article presents a comprehensive procedure for the direct characterization of single piezoelectric ceramic fibers in terms of butterfly and polarization loops, as well as their blocking force. The experimental setup is composed of a waveform generator, a high-voltage amplifier, a dynamic mechanical analyzer, a current/charge measuring circuit, and an oscilloscope. The active circuitry used for reliably collecting the charge generated by a single fiber is presented in full detail. The very good repeatability of the measurements showed the proposed procedure to be robust. The comparison between single fiber measurements and the investigation of 1-3 composites revealed both procedures to be equal, at 99.9%, in determining the average strain and polarization properties. In addition, the single fiber measurement provides an estimation of the variation in fiber properties within a single production batch. This information is essential to understand how to optimize processing routes and build robust devices.
Thermo-electro-mechanical Performance of Piezoelectric Stack Actuators for Fuel Injector Applications
Authors: Senousy M.S. , Li F.X. , Mumford D. , Gadala M. , Rajapakse R.K.N.D.
Published: September 2008

Piezoelectric actuators are increasingly used in fuel injectors due to their quick response, high efficiency, accuracy, and excellent repeatability. Current understanding of their thermo-electro-mechanical performance under dynamic driving conditions appropriate for fuel injection is, however, limited. In this paper, the thermo-electro-mechanical performance of soft Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) stack actuators is experimentally investigated over a temperature range of -30°C to 80°C, under driving electric fields of up to 2.0 kV/mm (using an AC drive method and a biased DC offset), different frequencies, and a constant preload of about 5 MPa. Experimental results show that the dynamic stroke of the actuators increases with the magnitude and frequency of the applied electric field, as well as ambient temperature. The dynamic stroke was also found to increase with decreased driving field rise time, which is equivalent to increasing the driving field frequency. At driving frequencies lower than the resonance frequency of the test apparatus (~500 Hz), the strain-electric field behavior under different temperatures agreed well with previously obtained quasi-static results. The duty cycle was found to have a minimal effect on dynamic stroke but significantly affected the amount of heat generated under high electric field magnitudes and/or frequencies. The temperature increase due to self-heat generation under a continuous AC driving field (100% duty cycle) was very high, and limited the maximum driving field magnitude and/or frequency. Reducing the duty cycle significantly decreased the amount of heat generation.