bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optically anisotropic media: New approaches to the dielectric function, singular axes, microcavity modes and Raman scattering intensities
Authors: Grundmann Marius , Sturm Chris , Kranert Christian , Richter Steffen , Schmidt‐Grund Rüdiger , Deparis Christianne , Zúñiga‐Pérez Jesús
Published: November 2016

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Six out of seven crystal systems are optically anisotropic and birefringent. We review recent insight that biaxial crystals generally exhibit four singular axes (or exceptional points) which can pairwise degenerate for special cases. Planar anisotropic microcavities are discussed as effectively biaxial systems and we predict exceptional points and demonstrate experimentally partially coalesced eigenstates. Also the general form of the dielectric function of anisotropic crystals based on individual dipole oscillators for phonon and electronic resonance is discussed. The impact of birefringence on Raman scattering intensities has been historically either ignored or modeled incorrectly. A recent theory for uniaxial and biaxial crystals explains experimental Raman scattering intensities for excitation off the principal directions without free parameters, allowing the unambiguous determination of the Raman tensor components. The above points are demonstrated and relevant in particular for the currently technologically important materials GaN, ZnO (uniaxial) and β‐Ga2O3 (biaxial).

Formula for the Raman scattering intensity as a function of incoming and outgoing polarization and the Raman tensor viewed through birefringent crystal (calcite).

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Formula for the Raman scattering intensity as a function of incoming and outgoing polarization and the Raman tensor viewed through birefringent crystal (calcite).
Effects of Educational Technology Applications on Reading Outcomes for Struggling Readers: A Best‐Evidence Synthesis
Authors: Cheung Alan C.K. , Slavin Robert E.
Published: November 2016

This review examines the effectiveness of educational technology applications in improving the reading achievement of struggling readers in elementary schools. The review applies consistent inclusion standards to focus on studies that met high methodological standards. A total of 20 studies based on about 7,000 students in grades 1–6 were included in the final analysis. Findings indicate that educational technology applications produced a positive but small effect on the reading skills of struggling readers (ES = .14) in comparison with “business as usual” methods. Among four types of educational technology applications, small‐group integrated applications such as Read, Write & Type and the Lindamood Phoneme Sequence Program produced the largest effect sizes (ES = .32). These are tutorial educational technology applications that use small‐group interaction tightly integrated with reading curriculum. Supplementary models, such as Jostens and Lexia, had a larger number of studies (N = 12) and a more modest effect size (ES = .18). Comprehensive models, such as READ 180 and ReadAbout (ES = .04) and Fast ForWord (ES = .06), did not produce meaningful positive effect sizes. However, the results of these two categories of programs should be interpreted with extreme caution due to the small number of studies involved. More studies are required to validate the effectiveness of all technology applications. Policy implications are discussed.
Learning About Teachers’ Literacy Instruction From Classroom Observations
Authors: Kelcey Ben , Carlisle Joanne F.
Published: November 2016

The purpose of this study is to contribute to efforts to improve methods for gathering and analyzing data from classroom observations in early literacy. The methodological approach addresses current problems of reliability and validity of classroom observations by taking into account differences in teachers’ uses of instructional actions (e.g., modeling) in specific skill areas (e.g., fluency, reading comprehension). The findings from observations of second‐ and third‐grade teachers’ literacy instruction showed that teachers’ instructional actions differed by literacy skill area and were more consistent within than across skill areas. Furthermore, teachers’ uses of instructional actions in a given skill area were more strongly associated with students’ gains in achievement in that skill area than were teachers’ uses of actions across all skill areas. The approach offers significant improvements in methods to identify features of effective literacy instruction.
Precisely Size‐Tunable Monodisperse Hairy Plasmonic Nanoparticles via Amphiphilic Star‐Like Block Copolymers
Authors: Chen Yihuang , Yoon Young Jun , Pang Xinchang , He Yanjie , Jung Jaehan , Feng Chaowei , Zhang Guangzhao , Lin Zhiqun
Published: November 2016

In situ precision synthesis of monodisperse hairy plasmonic nanoparticles with tailored dimensions and compositions by capitalizing on amphiphilic star‐like diblock copolymers as nanoreactors are reported. Such hairy plasmonic nanoparticles comprise uniform noble metal nanoparticles intimately and perpetually capped by hydrophobic polymer chains (i.e., “hairs”) with even length. Interestingly, amphiphilic star‐like diblock copolymer nanoreactors retain the spherical shape under reaction conditions, and the diameter of the resulting plasmonic nanoparticles and the thickness of polymer chains situated on the surface of the nanoparticle can be readily and precisely tailored. These hairy nanoparticles can be regarded as hard/soft core/shell nanoparticles. Notably, the polymer “hairs” are directly and permanently tethered to the noble metal nanoparticle surface, thereby preventing the aggregation of nanoparticles and rendering their dissolution in nonpolar solvents and the homogeneous distribution in polymer matrices with long‐term stability. This amphiphilic star‐like block copolymer nanoreactor‐based strategy is viable and robust and conceptually enables the design and synthesis of a rich variety of hairy functional nanoparticles with new horizons for fundamental research on self‐assembly and technological applications in plasmonics, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, bioimaging, and biosensors.
A test for second‐order stationarity of time series based on unsystematic sub‐samples
Authors: Cho Haeran
Published: November 2016

In this paper, we introduce a new method for testing the stationarity of time series, where the test statistic is obtained from measuring and maximizing the difference in the second‐order structure over pairs of randomly drawn intervals. The asymptotic normality of the test statistic is established for both Gaussian and a range of non‐Gaussian time series, and a bootstrap procedure is proposed for estimating the variance of the main statistics. Further, we show the consistency of our test under local alternatives. Because of the flexibility inherent in the random, unsystematic sub‐samples used for test statistic construction, the proposed method is able to identify the intervals of significant departure from the stationarity without any dyadic constraints, which is an advantage over other tests employing systematic designs. We demonstrate its good finite sample performance on both simulated and real data, particularly in detecting localized departure from the stationarity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effective restoration of aquatic ecosystems: scaling the barriers
Authors: Friberg Nikolai , Buijse Tom , Carter Caitríona , Hering Daniel , M. Spears Bryan , Verdonschot Piet , Moe Therese Fosholt
Published: November 2016

The focus of ecosystem restoration has recently shifted from pure rehabilitation objectives to both improving ecological functioning and the delivery of ecosystem services. However, these different targets need to be integrated to create a unified, synergistic, and balanced restoration approach. This should be done by combining state‐of‐the‐art knowledge from natural and social sciences to create manageable units of restoration that consider both the temporal and multiple spatial scales of ecosystems, legislative units, and policy agendas. Only by considering these aspects combined can we accomplish more cost‐efficient restoration resulting in resilient ecosystems that provide a wealth of ecosystem services and the possibility for sustainable economic development in the future. We propose a novel conceptual framework that will yield more effective ecosystem restoration: the Operational Restoration Unit. This is based on scale‐dependent restoration actions that can adhere easily to the relevant environmental legislation, encompass the spatial and temporal resilience of aquatic ecosystems, and consider the sum of human pressures acting on water bodies. This opens up possibilities for an effective integration of the restoration agenda into the delivery of major policy objectives of economic growth, regional development, and human security. WIREs Water 2017, 4:e1190. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1190

This article is categorized under:

Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness

Human Water > Water Governance
Reflection of plane waves from rotating pyroelectric half‐space under initial stresses
Authors: Yuan Xiaoguang , Jiang Quan
Published: November 2016

This paper addresses the initial stresses and rotation effects on the wave reflection in the pyroelectric half‐plane using inhomogeneous wave approach. The rotation in the governing pyroelectric equation is characterized by considering the Coriolis and centrifugal accelerations, and the initial stresses are included by modifying the elasticity tensor. A scenario is modelled where a quasi‐longtitudinal wave is incident on free boundary surface, resulting into reflected waves like temperature wave, quasi‐transverse wave, quasi‐longitudianal wave, and surface wave. Attenuation angle, initial stresses, and rotation's impacts on the velocity, attenuation, and energy coefficients of reflected wave are presented.
Response to A Different Vantage Point Commentary: Psychotherapeutic Genetic Counseling, Is it?
Authors: Biesecker Barbara , Austin Jehannine , Caleshu Colleen
Published: November 2016

Whether genetic counseling is a form of psychotherapy is open for debate. Early practicioners in genetic counseling described it as such, and this claim has been replicated in recent publications. This commentary is a rebuttal to the claim that genetic counseling is distinct from psychotherapty. We argue that it is a a form of psychoterapy that aims to help clients manage a health threat that affects their psychological wellbeing, paralleling the goals of psychotherapy.
‘Nobody Told me we Could do This’: Why Fiscal Union is not the Answer to Eurozone Woes
Authors: Drea Eoin
Published: November 2016

The economic and financial crises evident since 2007 have refocused the debate as to the future structure of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). This article looks at the issue from the perspective of economic history and identifies that current proposals for fiscal union are based on an over-reliance on Optimum Currency Area theory and are not realistic in the current political environment. In addition, European fiscal rules have become over-complicated, inefficient and open to widespread manipulation. In the medium term, rather than risk the lessening of political commitment to the EMU through divisive fiscal union proposals, the EU should focus on developing unique governance mechanisms that better reflect the current characteristics of the EMU. In this context, this article proposes four actions to complement existing initiatives such as the Banking Union: (1) simplified EU budgetary rules, (2) the creation of an independent European Fiscal Board to assess and enforce national compliance, (3) a commitment to retaining core national fiscal autonomy with a strict ‘no bailout’ rule, and (4) increased levels of investment through an expanded European Fund for Strategic Investments. Only following the successful completion of these measures should fiscal deepening be discussed at a political level.
Treatment success in neck pain: The added predictive value of psychosocial variables in addition to clinical variables
Authors: Groeneweg Ruud , Haanstra Tsjitske , Bolman Catherine A.W. , Oostendorp Rob A.B. , van Tulder Maurits W. , Ostelo Raymond W.J.G.
Published: November 2016

Background and aims

Identification of psychosocial variables may influence treatment outcome. The objective of this study was to prospectively examine whether psychosocial variables, in addition to clinical variables (pain, functioning, general health, previous neck pain, comorbidity), are predictive factors for treatment outcome (i.e. global perceived effect, functioning and pain) in patients with sub-acute and chronic non-specific neck pain undergoing physical therapy or manual therapy. Psychosocial factors included treatment outcome expectancy and treatment credibility, health locus of control, and fear avoidance beliefs.

Methods

This study reports a secondary analysis of a primary care-based pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Potential predictors were measured at baseline and outcomes, in 181 patients, at 7 weeks and 26 weeks.

Results

Hierarchical logistic regression models showed that treatment outcome expectancy predicted outcome

Conclusions

Based on the results of this study we conclude that outcome expectancy, in patients with non-specific sub-acute and chronic neck pain, has additional predictive value for treatment success above and beyond clinical and demographic variables.

Implications

Psychological processes, health perceptions and how these factors relate to clinical variables may be important for treatment decision making regarding therapeutic options for individual patients.
Talking Matters Bendigo: Engaging Parents Early to Prevent Long-Term Speech, Language and Communication Needs in Preschool-Aged Children
Authors: Mathisen Bernice , Bennett Susan , Lockett Christine , Beazley Katherine , Howlett Juanita , Charlesworth Melinda , Lees Helen , Read Jaynee
Published: November 2016

This article reports on qualitative research conducted to evaluate parents’ perspectives of their experiences of Talking Matters Bendigo (TMB), a screening programme initiated between health and educational professionals in regional Victoria to improve access to speech pathologists for parents of preschool-aged children with speech, language and communication concerns. Drop-in clinics are conducted in three Bendigo schools monthly. The programme is a collaborative partnership between the Victorian Department of Education and Training, Maternal and Child Health and ‘Off to an Early Start’ (City of Greater Bendigo), Bendigo Health and the disciplines of Speech Pathology and Education at La Trobe University, Bendigo. La Trobe Education (Honours) student researchers interviewed a group of 10 parents attending TMB using face to face interviews and collected data using an online survey after parents attended a session. Thematic analysis of the data was completed and inter-reliability checks were completed by two external La Trobe PhD students to increase reliability and validity. Results indicated parents were satisfied with the information provided by the speech pathologists and they reported that they intended to utilise this new knowledge at home with their children. This study provides preliminary evidence that novel service delivery options such as TMB can be successful in engaging parents early in health literacy so that speech, language and communication problems in preschool-aged children can be identified, managed and even prevented.
Modeling customer preferences using multidimensional network analysis in engineering design
Authors: Wang Mingxian , Chen Wei , Huang Yun , Contractor Noshir S. , Fu Yan
Published: November 2016

Motivated by overcoming the existing utility-based choice modeling approaches, we present a novel conceptual framework of multidimensional network analysis (MNA) for modeling customer preferences in supporting design decisions. In the proposed multidimensional customer–product network (MCPN), customer–product interactions are viewed as a socio-technical system where separate entities of ‘customers’ and ‘products’ are simultaneously modeled as two layers of a network, and multiple types of relations, such as consideration and purchase, product associations, and customer social interactions, are considered. We first introduce a unidimensional network where aggregated customer preferences and product similarities are analyzed to inform designers about the implied product competitions and market segments. We then extend the network to a multidimensional structure where customer social interactions are introduced for evaluating social influence on heterogeneous product preferences. Beyond the traditional descriptive analysis used in network analysis, we employ the exponential random graph model (ERGM) as a unified statistical inference framework to interpret complex preference decisions. Our approach broadens the traditional utility-based logit models by considering dependency among complex customer–product relations, including the similarity of associated products, ‘irrationality’ of customers induced by social influence, nested multichoice decisions, and correlated attributes of customers and products.
Longitudinal Multicenter Analysis of Outcomes After Cessation of Control Measures for Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci
Authors: Lemieux Camille , Gardam Michael , Evans Gerald , John Michael , Suh Kathryn N. , vanWalraven Carl , Vicencio Elisa , Coulby Cameron , Roth Virginia , Hota Susy
Published: November 2016

OBJECTIVE

To assess clinically relevant outcomes after complete cessation of control measures for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental ecological study over 3.5 years.

METHODS

All VRE screening and isolation practices at 4 large academic hospitals in Ontario, Canada, were stopped on July 1, 2012. In total, 618 anonymized abstracted charts of patients with VRE-positive clinical isolates identified between July 1, 2010, and December 31, 2013, were reviewed to determine whether the case was a true VRE infection, a VRE colonization or contaminant, or a true VRE bacteremia. All deaths within 30 days of the last VRE infection were also reviewed to determine whether the death was fully or partially attributable to VRE. All-cause mortality was evaluated over the study period. Generalized estimating equation methods were used to cluster outcome rates within hospitals, and negative binomial models were created for each outcome.

RESULTS

The incidence rate ratio (IRR) for VRE infections was 0.59 and the associatedPvalue was .34. For VRE bacteremias, the IRR was 0.54 andP=.38; for all-cause mortality the IRR was 0.70 andP=.66; and for VRE attributable death, the IRR was 0.35 andP=.49. VRE control measures were not significantly associated with any of the outcomes. Rates of all outcomes appeared to increase during the 18-month period after cessation of VRE control measures, but none reached statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Clinically significant VRE outcomes remain rare. Cessation of all control measures for VRE had no significant attributable adverse clinical impact.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2016;1–7
Axisymmetric jet manipulated using two unsteady minijets
Authors: Yang H. , Zhou Y.
Published: November 2016

The manipulation of a turbulent axisymmetric jet is experimentally investigated based on two unsteady radial minijets. The Reynolds number is 8000. The mass flow rate ratio$C_{m}$of the two minijets to that of the main jet and the ratio$f_{e}/f_{0}^{\prime }$of the excitation frequency$f_{e}$to the preferred-mode frequency$f_{0}^{\prime }$in the natural jet are examined. The decay rate$K$of the jet centreline mean velocity exhibits a strong dependence on$C_{m}$and$f_{e}/f_{0}^{\prime }$and is classified into three distinct categories in terms of required$C_{m}$, achievable enhancement in$K$and flow physics involved. Great effort is made to understand the flow physics associated with the first category of the manipulated jet, under which$K$can be immensely improved with a very small$C_{m}$. Detailed measurements are conducted upstream and downstream of the nozzle exit using hot-wire, flow visualization and particle imaging velocimetry techniques. Whilst strong entrainment is predominant in the injection plane of the minijets, rapid spread occurs in the orthogonal non-injection plane. Three types of coherent structures are identified, i.e. the contorted ring vortex, two pairs of streamwise vortices and mushroom-like counter-rotating structures sequentially ‘tossed’ out radially in the non-injection plane. Their interactions account for the large rise in$K$. The unsteady disturbance of the minijets is found to play a key role in the formation and interaction of these vortices, which are distinct from those formed under the manipulation of steady minijets and other techniques. A conceptual model of the flow structure under manipulation is proposed.
Spilling breakers in shallow water: applications to Favre waves and to the shoaling and breaking of solitary waves
Authors: Gavrilyuk S. L. , Liapidevskii V. Yu. , Chesnokov A. A.
Published: November 2016

A two-layer long-wave approximation of the homogeneous Euler equations for a free-surface flow evolving over mild slopes is derived. The upper layer is turbulent and is described by depth-averaged equations for the layer thickness, average fluid velocity and fluid turbulent energy. The lower layer is almost potential and can be described by Serre–Su–Gardner–Green–Naghdi equations (a second-order shallow water approximation with respect to the parameter $H/L$, where $H$ is a characteristic water depth and $L$ is a characteristic wavelength). A simple model for vertical turbulent mixing is proposed governing the interaction between these layers. Stationary supercritical solutions to this model are first constructed, containing, in particular, a local turbulent subcritical zone at the forward slope of the wave. The non-stationary model was then numerically solved and compared with experimental data for the following two problems. The first one is the study of surface waves resulting from the interaction of a uniform free-surface flow with an immobile wall (the water hammer problem with a free surface). These waves are sometimes called ‘Favre waves’ in homage to Henry Favre and his contribution to the study of this phenomenon. When the Froude number is between 1 and approximately 1.3, an undular bore appears. The characteristics of the leading wave in an undular bore are in good agreement with experimental data by Favre (Ondes de Translation dans les Canaux Découverts, 1935, Dunod) and Treske (J. Hydraul Res., vol. 32 (3), 1994, pp. 355–370). When the Froude number is between 1.3 and 1.4, the transition from an undular bore to a breaking (monotone) bore occurs. The shoaling and breaking of a solitary wave propagating in a long channel (300 m) of mild slope (1/60) was then studied. Good agreement with experimental data by Hsiao et al. (Coast. Engng, vol. 55, 2008, pp. 975–988) for the wave profile evolution was found.
On the rotation of a circular porous particle in 2D simple shear flow with fluid inertia
Authors: Li Chenggong , Ye Mao , Liu Zhongmin
Published: November 2016

We investigate numerically the rotational behaviour of a circular porous particle suspended in a two-dimensional (2D) simple shear flow with fluid inertia at particle shear Reynolds number up to 108. We use the volume-averaged macroscopic momentum equation to formulate the flow field inside and outside the moving porous particle, which is solved by a modified single relaxation time lattice Boltzmann method. The effects of fluid inertia, confinement of the bounding walls, and permeability of the particle are studied. Our two-dimensional simulation results confirm that the permeability has little effect on the rotation of a porous particle in unbounded shear flow without fluid inertia (Masoud, Stone & Shelley, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 733, 2013, R6), but also suggest that the role of permeability cannot be neglected when the confinement effect is significant, or the fluid inertia is not negligible. The fluid inertia and the confined walls have similar effects on the rotation of a porous particle as that on a solid impermeable particle. The angular velocity decays with an increase in fluid inertia, and the confinement effect suppresses the angular velocity to a shear rate ratio below 0.5. A simple scaling argument based on the balance of torque exerted by fluid flows adjacent to the two bounding walls and that due to the flow recirculation can explain our results.
MOOR PARK IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
Authors: Drury Paul , Jeffery Sally , Wrightson David
Published: November 2016

The surviving fabric of the house at Moor Park, near Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, built in 1679–84 for the Duke and Duchess of Monmouth on the site of an older house, is hidden inside the present stone casing by James Thornhill of c 1725. Its design is attributed to Hugh May, and it was constructed by a team of Office of Works craftsmen, many of whom were working with May at Windsor Castle, Berkshire. Analysis of the remaining structure, together with new research into the documentary evidence, has permitted a reconstruction of the roof along with partly conjectural reconstructions of the elevations and of some interior features. The study throws light on the process of commissioning, building and interior finishing of the house, the materials used, the close-knit circle of architects and craftsmen involved and the possible intervention of the clients. It illustrates the originality of the designs and is compared to May’s other works and other houses of the period.
THE HILBERT–SCHMIDT NORM OF A COMPOSITION OPERATOR ON THE BERGMAN SPACE
Authors: YUAN CHENG , ZHOU ZE-HUA
Published: November 2016

We use a generalised Nevanlinna counting function to compute the Hilbert–Schmidt norm of a composition operator on the Bergman space $L_{a}^{2}(\mathbb{D})$ and weighted Bergman spaces $L_{a}^{1}(\text{d}A_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}})$ when $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$ is a nonnegative integer.
A PURELY METRIC PROOF OF THE CARISTI FIXED POINT THEOREM
Authors: KOZLOWSKI WOJCIECH M.
Published: November 2016

In this paper we prove Caristi’s fixed point theorem using only purely metric techniques.
POLYGONAL QUASICONFORMAL MAPPINGS AND CHORD-ARC CURVES
Authors: HUO SHENGJIN , WU SHENGJIAN , GUO HUI
Published: November 2016

In this paper we show that a polygonal quasiconformal mapping always corresponds to a chord-arc curve. Furthermore, we find that the set of curves corresponding to polygonal quasiconformal mappings is path connected in the set of all bounded chord-arc curves.
Factoriality and Type Classification of k-Graph von Neumann Algebras
Authors: Yang Dilian
Published: November 2016

Let be a single vertex k-graph and let be the von Neumann algebra induced from the Gelfand–Naimark–Segal (GNS) representation of a distinguished state ω of its k-graph C*-algebra . In this paper we prove the factoriality of , and furthermore determine its type when either has the little pullback property, or the intrinsic group of has rank 0. The key step to achieving this is to show that the fixed-point algebra of the modular action corresponding to ω has a unique tracial state.
The effects of three total mixed rations with different concentrate to maize silage ratios and different levels of microalgaeChlorella vulgarisonin vitrototal gas, methane and carbon dioxide production
Authors: KHOLIF A. E. , ELGHANDOUR M. M. Y. , SALEM A. Z. M. , BARBABOSA A. , MÁRQUEZ O. , ODONGO N. E.
Published: November 2016

The aim of the current study was to assess the effects of addingChlorella vulgarisalgae at different levels onin vitrogas production (GP) of three total mixed rations (TMR) with different concentrate (C): maize silage (S) ratios (25C : 75S, 50C : 50S, 75C : 25S).Chlorella vulgariswas added at 0, 20, 40 and 80 mg/g dry matter (DM) of the TMR and total gas, methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) production were recorded after 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 and 48 h of incubation in three runs. Increasing concentrate portion in the TMR linearly increased the asymptotic GP and decreased the rate of GP without affecting the lag time. Addition ofC. vulgarisat 20 mg/g DM to the 25C : 75S TMR increased the asymptotic GP, CH4, CO2and GP at 48 h. Addition ofC. vulgaristo the 50C : 50S TMR decreased the asymptotic GP and GP at 48 h. Higher CH4production was observed at 48 h of incubation whenC. vulgariswas included at (per g DM): 20 mg for the 25C : 75S ration, 40 mg for the 50C : 50S ration and 80 mg for the 75C : 25S ration. Inclusion ofC. vulgarislinearly increased CH4production for the 50C : 50S ration and increased CO2production at 10 and 12 h of incubation for the 50C : 50S ration, whereas 20 and 40 mgC. vulgaris/g DM of the 75C : 25S TMR decreased CO2production. The 25C : 75S TMR had the highestin vitroDM disappearance withC. vulgarisaddition.Chlorella vulgarisaddition was more effective with rations high in fibre content than those high in concentrates. It can be concluded that the optimal level ofC. vulgarisaddition was 20 mg/g DM for improved ruminal fermentation of the 25C : 75S TMR.
Option Valuation with Macro-Finance Variables
Authors: Dorion Christian
Published: November 2016

I propose a model in which the price of an option is partly determined by macro-finance variables. In an application using an index of current business conditions, the new model outperforms existing benchmarks in fitting underlying asset returns and in pricing options. The model performs particularly well when business conditions are deteriorating. Using the recent financial crisis as an out-of-sample experiment, the new model has option-pricing errors that are 18% below those of a nested 2-component volatility benchmark. Results are robust to using alternative business conditions proxies and comparing to different benchmark models.
Ambiguity Aversion and Underdiversification
Authors: Guidolin Massimo , Liu Hening
Published: November 2016

We examine asset allocation decisions under smooth ambiguity aversion when an investor has a prior degree of belief in the domestic capital asset pricing model (CAPM). Different from a Bayesian approach, the investor separately relies on the conditional distribution of returns and on the posterior over parameters to make decisions, rather than on the predictive distribution of returns that integrates priors and likelihood information. We find that in the perspective of U.S. investors, ambiguity aversion generates strong home bias in equity holdings, regardless of beliefs in the CAPM or risk aversion. Results become stronger under regime-switching investment opportunities.
Does Common Analyst Coverage Explain Excess Comovement?
Authors: Israelsen Ryan D.
Published: November 2016

This article shows that correlated errors in news about fundamentals are an important, rational determinant of excess comovement. Individual analysts’ forecast errors tend to be correlated across stocks. Using a proxy for correlated forecast errors based on analyst coverage, I find that stocks with similar sets of analysts exhibit more excess comovement, controlling for industry and other variables. Exogenous changes in commonality in analyst coverage around i) brokerage firm mergers and ii) additions to an index lead to changes in excess comovement. This information channel explains 10% to 25% of the increase in comovement around additions to the S&P 500 index.
The Determinants and Performance Impact of Outside Board Leadership
Authors: Balsam Steven , Puthenpurackal John , Upadhyay Arun
Published: November 2016

Outside board chairs are more likely in firms that are smaller, have greater stock volatility and research and development intensity, and have a lower proportion of inside directors and less institutional ownership; they are also more likely when chief executive officers have shorter tenure and lower ownership. We also find that the existence of an outside chair is associated with geographical and industry norms. An outside chair is positively associated with firm performance, a finding robust to various estimation methods, including event study and multivariate analyses incorporating controls for endogeneity, as well as market and accounting measures of performance. We note, however, that the relationship between outside chair and firm performance varies with firm characteristics.
Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analysis reveals that hybridization between Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica occurred in China
Authors: ICHIKAWA-SEKI MADOKA , PENG MAO , HAYASHI KEI , SHORIKI TAKUYA , MOHANTA UDAY KUMAR , SHIBAHARA TOSHIYUKI , ITAGAKI TADASHI
Published: November 2016

The well-known pathogens of fasciolosis, Fasciola hepatica (Fh) and Fasciola Gigantica (Fg), possess abundant mature sperms in their seminal vesicles, and thus, they reproduce bisexually. On the other hand, aspermic Fasciola flukes reported from Asian countries, which have no sperm in their seminal vesicles, probably reproduce parthenogenetically. The aim of this study was to reveal the origin of aspermic Fasciola flukes. The nuclear single copy markers, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and DNA polymerase delta, were employed for analysis of Fasciola species from China. The hybrid origin of aspermic Fasciola flukes was strongly suggested by the presence of the Fh/Fg type, which includes DNA fragments of both F. hepatica and F. gigantica. China can be regarded as the cradle of the interspecific hybridization because F. hepatica and F. gigantica were detected in the northern and southern parts of China, respectively, and hybrids flukes were distributed between the habitats of the two species. The Chinese origin was supported by the fact that a larger number of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) haplotypes was detected in Chinese aspermic Fasciola populations than in aspermic populations from the neighbouring countries. Hereafter, ‘aspermic’ Fasciola flukes should be termed as ‘hybrid’ Fasciola flukes.
Resource activation for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, co-morbid symptoms and impaired functioning: a randomized controlled trial in Cambodia
Authors: Steinert C. , Bumke P. J. , Hollekamp R. L. , Larisch A. , Leichsenring F. , Mattheß H. , Sek S. , Sodemann U. , Stingl M. , Ret T. , Vojtová H. , Wöller W. , Kruse J.
Published: November 2016

Background

Mental health morbidity in post-conflict settings is high. Nevertheless, randomized controlled trials of psychotherapy on site are rare. Our aim was to integrate rigorous research procedures into a humanitarian programme and test the efficacy of resource activation (ROTATE) in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), co-morbid symptoms and impaired functioning in Cambodia.

Method

A total of 86 out-patients with PTSD were randomly assigned to five sessions of ROTATE (n= 53) or a 5-week waiting-list control (WLC) condition (n= 33). Treatment was provided by six Cambodian psychologists who had received extensive training in ROTATE. Masked assessments were made before and after therapy.

Results

PTSD remission rates according to the DSM-IV algorithm of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire were 95.9% in ROTATE and 24.1% in the WLC condition. Thus, patients receiving ROTATE had a significantly higher likelihood of PTSD remission (odds ratio 0.012, 95% confidence interval 0.002–0.071,p< 0.00001). Additionally, levels of anxiety, depression and impaired functioning were significantly reduced compared with the WLC condition (p< 0.00001, between-group effect sizesd= 2.41, 2.26 and 2.54, respectively). No harms were reported.

Conclusions

ROTATE was efficacious in treating Cambodian patients with high symptom levels of PTSD, emotional distress and impaired functioning. ROTATE is a brief, culturally adaptable intervention focusing on stabilization and strengthening resources rather than trauma confrontation. It can be taught to local professionals and paraprofessionals and enhance access to mental health care for patients in need.
Home-ownership and housing wealth of elderly divorcees in ten European countries
Authors: WIND BAREND , DEWILDE CAROLINE
Published: November 2016

Recent research has shown that divorce reduces the likelihood of home-ownership. Even in later life, ever-divorced men and women display lower home-ownership rates than their married counterparts. There is, however, a lack of knowledge about the consequences of divorce for a majority of divorcees: those who remain in home-ownership or move back into home-ownership after an episode in rental housing. This paper investigates the economic costs of divorce by focusing on the housing wealth of ever-divorced home-owners in later life (age 50 and over), against the background of changing welfare and housing regimes. The empirical analysis is based on data from ten European countries that participated in the third and fourth waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE 2007/8 and 2011/2). Our analyses support an association between divorce experience and lower housing wealth holdings for men and women who remain in home-ownership after a divorce, or re-enter home-ownership after a spell in rental housing. This means that a divorce has negative housing consequences for a broader range of individuals than thus far assumed. In countries with a dynamic housing market and a deregulated housing finance system, ever-divorced home-owners are worse off than their married counterparts. In these countries, more elderly individuals with a weaker financial situation are able to remain in or regain access to (mortgaged) home-ownership, but at the cost of lower housing equity. Further research should focus on the implications (e.g. for wellbeing, economic position) of such cross-country variations.
Ageing in a low-density urban city: transportation mobility as a social equity issue
Authors: ADORNO GAIL , FIELDS NOELLE , CRONLEY COURTNEY , PAREKH RUPAL , MAGRUDER KAREN
Published: November 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine older adults' experiences and perspectives regarding transportation mobility. Using a community-based participatory research approach, residents of Arlington, Texas, age 55 and older, participated in individual interviews (N = 15) or one of six focus groups (N = 45) as part of an overall study about ageing well in a large ethnically diverse city in the United States of America. Thematic analysis was conducted using inductive and deductive qualitative methods and social equity as a sensitising concept. Findings indicate that older adults who are transportation-disadvantaged experience limited access to health care, goods and services and are isolated from familiar lifestyle habits and social networks. Access to affordable, adequate transportation is compromised through social and political forces, which marginalise historically disadvantaged populations. Implications for cross-disciplinary practice and future research on sustainable transportation and policy development are discussed within a social justice and social equity framework.
Change and stability in loneliness and friendship after an intervention for older women
Authors: MARTINA CAMILLE M. S. , STEVENS NAN L. , WESTERHOF GERBEN J.
Published: November 2016

In this study we examine patterns of change and stability in loneliness among 108 women who had participated in a friendship enrichment programme during the year after the programme. We distinguished seven groups of participants in which different levels of loneliness significantly declined, remained stable or increased. These were reduced to the following groups: those recovered, significantly improved and not improved. We then examined whether resources such as age, education, partner status, health, initially available friendships and developments in friendships were related to these loneliness patterns. The data were collected using face-to-face semi-structured interviews, a loneliness scale and the personal convoy model. The results indicate that none of the demographic characteristics, nor health, were associated with the patterns of loneliness. Friendship availability and development did differ among the groups. Recovery from loneliness after a year was associated with the presence of a friend in the outer circle of the convoy and having more variation in one's friendships initially and one year later. It was also associated with the presence of a friend in the inner circle and reporting improvement in friendship later. The absence of these qualities initially or subsequently was more characteristic of those whose loneliness was stable or increased. Thus, the maintenance of companionate friendship and the development of intimacy in one's friendships seem advantageous for recovery from loneliness. While this study illustrates that recovery from, and significant reduction of loneliness are possible, we are not yet able to predict who will benefit and who will not benefit from a friendship enrichment programme.
Intergenerational flows of support between parents and adult children in Britain
Authors: EVANDROU MARIA , FALKINGHAM JANE , GOMEZ-LEON MADELIN , VLACHANTONI ATHINA
Published: November 2016

Understanding patterns of intergenerational support is critical within the context of demographic change, such as changing family structures and population ageing. Existing research has focused on intergenerational support at a given time in the individuals' lifecourse, e.g. from adult children towards older parents and vice versa; however, few studies have focused on the dynamic nature of such support. Analysing data from the 1958 National Child Development Study, this paper investigates the extent to which the receipt of parental help earlier in the lifecourse affects the chances of adult children reciprocating with support towards their parents later in life. The findings show that three-quarters of mid-life adults had received some support from their parents earlier in life, and at age 50 more than half were providing care to their parents. Patterns of support received and provided across the lifecourse differ markedly by gender, with sons being more likely to have received help with finances earlier in the lifecourse, and daughters with child care. The results highlight that care provision towards parents was associated with support receipt earlier in life. However, the degree of reciprocity varies according to the type of care provided by children. Such findings have implications for informal care provision by adult children towards future cohorts of older people, and by extension, the organisation of social care.
Interpersonal work context as a possible buffer against age-related stereotyping
Authors: VAN DER HEIJDEN BEATRICE I. J. M.
Published: November 2016

This study deals with the impact of relational demography upon occupational expertise ratings, and possible moderating effects of interpersonal work context factors. The results revealed support for a decrease in supervisor ratings of occupational expertise of their subordinates as an effect of directional age difference (status-incongruence: a situation wherein a supervisor is younger than his or her subordinate). Moreover, it appeared that transformational leadership style could not moderate this effect. Dyadic tenure appeared to strengthen the negative effect of status-incongruence, yet, only in the case of a longer duration of the relationship between employee and supervisor. Both theoretical and practical implications of these outcomes are discussed.
‘The trauma of the cyclone has changed us forever’: self-reliance, vulnerability and resilience among older Australians in cyclone-prone areas
Authors: ASTILL SANDRA , MILLER EVONNE
Published: November 2016

The combination of population ageing and climate change is creating a new threat for many Australian coastal hamlets vulnerable to the impact of tropical cyclones. Increasingly, elderly people are facing future tropical cyclones alone, without support from family and friends, relying instead on already stretched government and authority resources, despite Emergency Management Australia's (EMA) policy expectation that all citizens must be self-reliant. This research explored the future self-reliance and disaster resilience of coastal hamlets through the lens of the Social Cognitive Theory by outlining the findings from focus groups, personal interviews and questionnaires involving participants over 65 years of age, residing in townships previously impacted by Cyclone Larry (in 2006) and Cyclone Yasi (in 2011). Participants recalled a lack of social support following the cyclones, a fear of evacuating their homes, as well as the trauma of recovering from such intense destruction. Respondents were also concerned about the physical, cognitive and financial impacts of ageing on their ability to prepare and recover from future cyclones, frightened that experiences from the past might be repeated in the future, contributing to feelings of isolation, frustration and the loss of community, and a rethinking of ageing in the place of their choice. These considerations impact on the dependence EMA has that all citizens will remain self-reliant when faced with a natural hazard and should be considered when making future policy decisions in relation to more isolated coastal townships.
Formation of double layers and evolution of the distribution functions during ion acceleration driven by a high-intensity short laser pulse normally incident on thin foils
Authors: Shoucri M. , Vidal F. , Matte J-P.
Published: November 2016

We use an Eulerian Vlasov code, which solves the one-dimensional relativistic Vlasov–Maxwell equations for both electrons and ions, to follow in details the evolution of the distribution functions and the mechanism of the formation and evolution of double layers during ion acceleration driven by a high-intensity circularly polarized short laser pulse (12 ω−1 where ω is the laser angular frequency) normally incident on a thin dense foil. We compare three cases with a high-density deuterium plasma target of total thickness 1.767 cω−1 and constant n/ncr = 100, where ncr is the critical density, and where the laser intensity is varied from a situation where the target is opaque to the laser pulse (normalized vector potential or quiver momentum a0 = 80), to a situation where, above a critical laser intensity, a very small fraction of the laser pulse is transmitted through the target (a0 = 90), and finally to a situation where a more important fraction is transmitted through the target (a0 = 100). The dynamics of ion and electron acceleration are quite different in the three cases, and are followed in detail by the Eulerian Vlasov code, which allows an accurate representation of the distribution function. In the intermediate case, the Vlasov code has revealed a remarkably well-developed spiral structure in the phase space of the electron distribution function, which is associated with large sawtooth modulations in the electron density profiles.
Control of fuel target implosion non-uniformity in heavy ion inertial fusion
Authors: Iinuma T. , Karino T. , Kondo S. , Kubo T. , Kato H. , Suzuki T. , Kawata S. , Ogoyski A.I.
Published: November 2016

In inertial fusion, one of scientific issues is to reduce an implosion non-uniformity of a spherical fuel target. The implosion non-uniformity is caused by several factors, including the driver beam illumination non-uniformity, the Rayleigh–Taylor instability (RTI) growth, etc. In this paper, we propose a new control method to reduce the implosion non-uniformity; the oscillating implosion acceleration δg(t) is created by pulsating and dephasing heavy-ion beams (HIBs) in heavy-ion inertial fusion (HIF). The δg(t) would reduce the RTI growth effectively. The original concept of the non-uniformity control in inertial fusion was proposed in [Laser Part. Beams (1993) 11, 757–768]. In this paper, it was found that the pulsating and dephasing HIBs illumination provide successfully the controlled δg(t) and that δg(t) induced by the pulsating HIBs reduces well the implosion non-uniformity. Consequently the pulsating HIBs improve a pellet gain remarkably in HIF.