bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Australian Byrrhinae (Coleoptera: Byrrhidae) with descriptions of new genera and species
Authors: LAWRENCE JOHN F. , SLIPINSKI ADAM , JÄGER OLAF , PÜTZ ANDREAS
Published: December 2013

The generic classification of the Australian Byrrhinae is revised and the following new genera are described: Notolioon gen. n., Nothochaetes gen. n., Idiothrix gen. n., Akidomorychus gen. n., Brachybyrrhulus gen. n. and Pseudomorychus gen. n. A key is provided for the genera of Australian Byrrhidae. The following new combinations are proposed: Notolioon atronitens (Lea 1920) comb. n., N. bryophagus (Lea 1907) comb. n., N. carissimus (Lea 1907). comb. n., N. dives (Lea 1907) comb. n., N. gemmatus (Lea 1920) comb. n., N. globosus (Wilson 1921) comb. n., N. griffithi (Lea 1907) comb. n., N. maculatipes (Lea 1920) comb. n., N. multicolor (Lea 1907) comb. n., N. nodipennis (Lea 1920) comb. n., N. simplicicornis (Lea 1907) comb. n., N. viridinitens (Lea (1920). comb. n., Nothochaetes fasciculatus (Lea 1920) comb. n., Idiothrix carinaticeps (Lea 1920) comb. n., Akidomorychus comatus (Oke 1932) comb. n., A. polychromus (Lea 1920) comb. n., A. raucus (Blackburn 1891) comb. n., A. venustus (Wilson 1921) comb. n., Brachybyrrhulus discicollis (Lea 1920) comb. n., Pseudomorychus torrensensis (Blackburn 1889) comb. n., P. mixtus (Lea 1907) comb. n. The following new species are described: Notolioon cardamine sp. n., Nothochaetes howensis sp. n. and Brachybyrrhulus malleecola sp. n.
Review of the genus Cidariplura Butler, 1879 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Herminiinae) in Taiwan with descriptions of four new species
Authors: WU SHIPHER , OWADA MAMORU , SHIAO SHIUH-FENG , YEN SHEN-HORN
Published: December 2013

The genus Cidariplura Butler, 1879 from Taiwan is reviewed. A total of seven species are confirmed to occur in this old landbridge island, and four new species are described: C. shanmeii Wu & Owada sp. nov., C. maraho Wu & Owada sp. nov., C. atayal Wu & Owada sp. nov. and C. ilana Wu & Owada sp. nov. The Taiwanese C. bilineata (Wileman & South, 1919) is superficially similar to the Indian and Nepalese C. brevivittalis (Moore, 1867) but their genitalia show distinct differences. Elyra albifascia Hampson 1929 is regarded as a junior synonym of C. brevivittalis (syn. nov.). All diagnostic characteristics of Cidariplura from Taiwan and its adjacent areas are illustrated.
A new dasyurid marsupial from Kroombit Tops, south-east Queensland, Australia: the Silver-headed Antechinus, Antechinus argentus sp. nov. (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae)
Authors: Baker ANDREW M , Mutton THOMAS Y , Hines Harry B
Published: December 2013

Antechinus argentus sp. nov. is currently only known from the plateau at the eastern escarpment of Kroombit Tops National Park, about 400km NNW of Brisbane and 60km SSW of Gladstone, south-east Queensland, Australia. Antechinus flavipes (Waterhouse) is also known from Kroombit Tops NP, 4.5km W of the nearest known population of A. argentus; A. mysticus Baker, Mutton and Van Dyck has yet to be found within Kroombit Tops, but is known from museum specimens taken at Bulburin NP, just 40km ESE, as well as extant populations about 400km to both the south-east and north-west of Kroombit NP. A. argentus can be easily distinguished in the field, having an overall silvery/grey appearance with much paler silver feet and drabber deep greyish-olive rump than A. flavipes, which has distinctive yellow-orange toned feet, rump and tail-base; A. argentus fur is also less coarse than that of A. flavipes. A. argentus has a striking silver-grey head, neck and shoulders, with pale, slightly broken eye-rings, which distinguish it from A. mysticus which has a more subtle greyish-brown head, pale buff dabs of eyeliner and more colourful brownish-yellow rump. Features of the dentary can also be used for identification: A. argentus differs from A. flavipes in having smaller molar teeth, as well as a narrower and smaller skull and from A. mysticus in having on average a narrower snout, smaller skull and dentary lengths and smaller posterior palatal vacuities in the skull. A. argentus is strongly divergent genetically (at mtDNA) from both A. flavipes (9.0–11.2%) and A. mysticus (7.2–7.5%), and forms a very strongly supported clade to the exclusion of all other antechinus species, in both mtDNA and combined (mtDNA and nDNA) phylogenies inferred here. We are yet to make detailed surveys in search of A. argentus from forested areas to the immediate east and north of Kroombit Tops. However, A. mysticus has only been found at these sites in low densities in decades past and not at all in several recent trapping expeditions conducted by the authors. With similar habitat types in close geographic proximity, it is plausible that A. argentus may be found outside Kroombit. Nevertheless, it is striking that from a range of surveys conducted at Kroombit Tops in the last 15 years and intensive surveys by the authors in the last 3 years, totalling more than 5 080 trap nights, just 13 A. argentus have been captured from two sites less than 6 km apart. If this is even close to the true geographic extent of the species, it would possess one of the smallest distributions of an Australian mammal species. With several threats identified, we tentatively recommend that A. argentus be listed as Endangered, pending an exhaustive trapping survey of Kroombit and surrounds.
An integrative appraisal of the diagnosis and distribution of Allobates sumtuosus (Morales, 2002) (Anura, Aromobatidae)
Authors: SIMÕES PEDRO IVO , KAEFER IGOR LUIS , FARIAS IZENI PIRES , LIMA ALBERTINA PIMENTEL
Published: December 2013

We describe the advertisement calls and color in life of Allobates sumtuosus (Morales 2002) based on specimens recorded and collected at its type locality in Reserva Biológica do Rio Trombetas, Brazilian Amazonia. We also improve the species diagnosis by adding information on states of characters frequently used in current Allobates taxonomy. Finally, we analyze genetic distances and the evolutionary relationships between typical A. sumtuosus and other Allobates species distributed in Brazil and along the Guiana Shield region using a fragment of the 16S rDNA mitochondrial gene. Based on this integrative analysis, we propose the synonym of Allobates spumaponens Kok & Ernst 2007 with A. sumtuosus and provide an updated geographic distribution of the species.
The male and larvae of Nigritothrips longistylosus (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) with observations on its biology
Authors: GOLDARAZENA ARTURO
Published: December 2013

The male and larvae of Nigritothrips longistylosus (Priesner) are described for the first time. The life cycle, seasonal abundance, natural enemies and host plant relationships are described. This is the first record of this species from the Iberian Peninsula.
Taxonomic study of Bathygadidae fishes (Gadiformes) from Atlantic Spanish waters combining morphological and molecular approaches
Authors: BAÑÓN RAFAEL , ARRONTE JUAN CARLOS , BARROS-GARCÍA DAVID , VÁZQUEZ-DORADO SANDRA , DE CARLOS ALEJANDRO
Published: December 2013

From 2009 to 2011 eleven specimens belonging to four bathygadid species of the family Bathygadidae were captured in two different locations in the northern waters of Spain. The morphometric measurements and meristic characters of these specimens are given. The specimens were identified as belonging to the genera Gadomus Regan, 1903, and Bathygadus Günther, 1878, including the following species: Gadomus dispar (Vaillant, 1888), Gadomus longifilis (Goode & Bean, 1885), Gadomus arcuatus (Goode & Bean, 1886) and Bathygadus melanobranchus Vaillant, 1888. As a result, a new northern limit of distribution of G. arcuatus from the northeastern Atlantic is reported. The first molecular identification and genetic interrelationships of Bathygadidae species, based on the mitochondrial COI nucleotide sequences -DNA barcodes- is reported. Sequences corresponding to specimens from the same species were identical and the overall mean genetic diversity (uncorrected p-distance) was 0.096 ± 0.008. Based on a morphological and meristic examination of the specimens, as well as on the available literature, an updated key of the members of the family Bathygadidae from the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean is provided.
Description of the male genitalia of Belminus rugulosus Stål and Belminus corredori Galvão & Angulo, and comments on the holotype of Parabelminus yurupucu Lent & Wygodzinsky (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae: Bolboderini)
Authors: Gil-Santana Hélcio R. , GALVÃO CLEBER
Published: December 2013

The male genitalia of Belminus rugulosus Stål and Belminus corredori Galvão & Angulo are described and illustrated for the first time. Comments on the holotype of Parabelminus yurupucu Lent & Wygodzinsky are presented (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae: Bolboderini). A discussion on previous data in the literature on male genitalia of species of Belminus Stål is provided.
The genus Orestias (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae): nomenclatural errors in the assignation of species names
Authors: CRUZ-JOFRÉ FRANCO , VALLADARES MOISÉS A. , VILA IRMA , MÉNDEZ MARCO A.
Published: December 2013

Orestias Valenciennes 1839 is a fish genus of the family Cyprinodontidae Gill, 1865, endemic to the Altiplano in the Andes range. The genus includes 45 species (44 valid and one species inquirenda) according to Eschmeyer & Fong (2013); more than half inhabit the Lake Titicaca basin (23 species). The rest of the species have been described from different Altiplano aquatic systems, from Lake Lacsha in the center of Peru to the Ascotán salt pan in northern Chile (9°S to 22°S) (Lauzanne 1982; Vila 2006; Vila et al. 2011). Due to the high species diversity, the genus Orestias has been used as a study model for speciation processes. Sympatric speciation has been proposed for Lake Titicaca (Baker et al. 2001), and allopatric speciation for the rest of its geographic distribution (Parker & Kornfield 1995).
Policy Effects on Informed Political Engagement
Authors: Kawashima-Ginsberg Kei , Levine Peter
Published: December 2013

For this article, we tested whether and to what extent young people’s rates of informed voting are influenced by laws and policies that regulate the electoral system and by civic education policies. Education policies and state voting laws vary widely and are in rapid flux; their impact is important to understand. Immediately after the 2012 election, a sample of 4,483 youth was surveyed that included at least 75 respondents in each of the 50 states and national oversamples of African Americans and Latinos. Their experiences with civic education and support from their families predicted their informed political participation as young adults, but variations in the existing state policies did not matter. This may suggest that the kinds of policies that states have enacted—such as allowing early voting or requiring one course on government in high school—are not helpful but policies that promote extracurricular participation and discussion of current issues in schools could be much more effective.
College Readiness and College Completion at Broad Access Four-Year Institutions
Authors: Jackson Jacob , Kurlaender Michal
Published: December 2013

Many students arrive at college unprepared to do college-level work, facing a host of college readiness assessments and developmental education coursework. In this article, we examine how a student’s readiness to take college classes upon entry to the university is related to four longer term postsecondary outcomes. We utilize a unique longitudinal dataset of the census of first-time freshmen at the nation’s largest public 4-year state postsecondary system to describe differences by campus and across college majors. In addition we explore the use of one measure that the system does not currently use to determine readiness—high school grade point average—and its relationship with both the existing readiness measure and postsecondary outcomes. Our results indicate that grade point average can be a useful predictor of college success above and beyond the readiness measure.
The State of State College Readiness Policies
Authors: Blume Grant H. , Zumeta William M.
Published: December 2013

Most public policy related to college readiness occurs at the state level, but as with any state-level policy, significant variation exists across the 50 states. To make sense of this variation and advance our empirical knowledge surrounding state college readiness policy, we pose two questions in this study: How do states group together based on their commonalities (or lack thereof) across several college readiness policies? What underlying themes emerge across college readiness policies in the context of variation across states? We find that states cluster around three distinct types of college readiness policy. We also find a significant number of states are best described not by a single college readiness policy but rather by the states’ overall low college readiness policy effort. We review how these findings align with extant research on state-level college readiness policy and discuss possible factors that may drive the variation we observe across states.
Age-adjusted glycated albumin: a more robust parameter to establish glycaemic control in neonatal diabetes mellitus
Authors: Suzuki Shigeru , Koga Masafumi , Niizeki Noriyasu , Furuya Akiko , Matsuo Kumihiro , Tanahashi Yusuke , Azuma Hiroshi
Published: December 2013

Background

We previously reported that glycated albumin (GA) levels increased in an age-dependent manner in infancy. In order to determine whether this phenomenon is true from infancy to adulthood, we investigated the GA levels in non-diabetic subjects of a wide range of age.

Methods

GA levels of 376 non-diabetic subjects [average age, 31.8 ± 23.8 years (4 days–78 years)] were determined. A relationship between GA and logarithmically transformed age [log(age)] was analysed.

Results

GA levels were significantly positively correlated with log(age) [ R = 0.865, P < 0.0001, GA = 1.77 × log(day) + 6.55]. Based on a regression line, we established the formula for adjusting GA levels according to age.

Conclusion

We showed that GA increases with age from infancy to adulthood and that normal GA levels are demonstrated as a simple regression formula with log(age). This formula allowing us to use the adult reference range has the potential for treatment monitoring of diabetic patients regardless of age.
Performance measures rather than self-report measures of functional status predict home care use in community-dwelling older adults
Authors: Brown Cara L. , Finlayson Marcia L.
Published: December 2013

Background.

Occupational therapists frequently assess functional status (FS) to determine the home care (HC) service requirements of older adults. However, it is unclear which type of FS measure is most effective for this purpose.

Purpose.

This study investigated the predictive ability of three measures of FS (a self-report measure of usual behaviour, a self-report measure of capacity, and an observational performance measure—the Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills [PASS]) on formal HC utilization.

Method.

A secondary analysis of 2001 Aging in Manitoba Longitudinal Study (AIM) data was conducted.

Findings.

The odds of receiving HC within the 30-month follow-up period were 1.32 times (or 30%) higher for each increase in the number of dependent tasks based upon a standardized performance measure. The self-report measures did not predict HC utilization.

Implications.

This study suggests that standardized performance measures—in particular, the PASS—are more predictive of formal HC use in community-dwelling older adults than self-report measures.
Long-Term Stability of Screening for Behavioral and Emotional Risk
Authors: Dowdy Erin , Nylund-Gibson Karen , Felix Erika D. , Morovati Diane , Carnazzo Katherine W. , Dever Bridget V.
Published: December 2013

The practice of screening students to identify behavioral and emotional risk is gaining momentum, with limited guidance regarding the frequency with which screenings should occur. Screening frequency decisions are influenced by the stability of the constructs assessed and changes in risk status over time. This study investigated the 4-year longitudinal stability of behavioral and emotional risk screening scores among a sample of youth to examine change in risk status over time. Youth ( N = 156) completed a self-report screening measure, the Behavioral and Emotional Screening System, at 1-year intervals in the 8th through 11th grades. Categorical and dimensional stability coefficients, as well as transitions across risk status categories, were analyzed. A latent profile analysis was conducted to determine if there were salient and consistent patterns of screening scores over time. Stability coefficients were moderate to large, with stronger coefficients across shorter time intervals. Latent profile analysis pointed to a three-class solution in which classes were generally consistent with risk categories and stable across time. Results showed that the vast majority of students continued to be classified within the same risk category across time points. Implications for practice and future research needs are discussed.
Combining Scores in Multiple-Criteria Assessment Systems
Authors: McBee Matthew T. , Peters Scott J. , Waterman Craig
Published: December 2013

Best practice in gifted and talented identification procedures involves making decisions on the basis of multiple measures. However, very little research has investigated the impact of different methods of combining multiple measures. This article examines the consequences of the conjunctive (“and”), disjunctive/complementary (“or”), and compensatory (“mean”) models for combining scores from multiple assessments. It considers the impact of rule choice on the size of the student population, the ability heterogeneity of the identified students, and the psychometric performance of such systems. It also uses statistical simulation to examine the performance of the state of Georgia’s mandated and complex multiple-criteria assessment system.
Impact of social-psychiatric services and psychiatric clinics on involuntary admissions
Authors: Emons Barbara , Haussleiter Ida Sybille , Kalthoff Jörg , Schramm Anja , Hoffmann Knut , Jendreyschak Jasmin , Schaub Markus , Armgart Carina , Juckel Georg , Illes Franciska
Published: December 2013

Background:

Germany provides a wide range of highly developed mental health care to its citizens. The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing the voluntariness of admissions to psychiatric hospitals. Especially the impact of demographic factors of the region, characteristics of the psychiatric hospitals and characteristics of the psychosocial services was analyzed.

Method:

A retrospective analysis of hospital admission registers from 13 German adult psychiatric hospitals in 2009 was conducted. Public data on the regional psychiatric accommodation and demographic situation were added. Hospitals were dichotomously divided according to their index of involuntary admissions. Group comparisons were performed between the clinics with low and high involuntary admission indices. Analysis was conducted with clinical, psychiatric provision and demographic data related to inpatients in the Landschaftsverbands Westfalen-Lippe (LWL)-PsychiatryNetwork.

Results:

Especially the range of services provided by the social-psychiatric services in the region such as number of supervised patients and home visits had an influence on the proportion of involuntary admissions to a psychiatric hospital. Some demographic characteristics of the region such as discretionary income showed further influence. Contrary to our expectations, the characteristics of the individual hospital seem to have no influence on the admission rate.

Conclusion:

Social-psychiatric services show a preventive impact on involuntary acute psychiatry interventions. Sociodemographic factors and patient variables play a role with regard to the number of involuntary hospitalizations, whereas characteristics of hospitals seemed to play no role.
A geometry-invariant fracture law for ceramic matrix composites
Authors: Dassios Konstantinos G
Published: December 2013

This paper reports the development of a generalized fracture law that can assess the mechanical behavior of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). The established law differs from conventional bridging laws in that it accounts not only for the bridging effect but also for all major energy dissipation mechanisms including matrix cracking and fiber pull-out. As such, the formulation can be used to directly assess the original, experimentally recorded, fracture behavior of the material in the load-extension domain. The established expression successfully approximated the experimental load versus beam deflection (P-u) curves of a SiC-fiber reinforced glass-ceramic matrix composite tested under the single-edge-notched beam (SENB) configuration. The fracture law was found to be geometry-invariant by comparison with results from tensile specimens with radically different damage zone geometries. A parametric analysis is presented which demonstrates the potential of the model in the a priori prediction of the fracture behavior of hypothetical CMCs with similar fracture characteristics.
Comparative study of carbon fabric reinforced and glass fabric reinforced thin sandwich panels under impact and static loading
Authors: Ugale VB , Singh KK , Mishra NM , Kumar Prashant
Published: December 2013

Glass fabric reinforced thin sandwich panel and carbon fabric reinforced thin sandwich panel of thickness close to 2.5 mm were studied to explore an alternative skin material for the outer body of various machines and appliances. The polyester foam Coremat XM of 2 mm thickness was used as core material in the thin sandwich panels. The panels were fabricated by vacuum bagging process and characterized through two plate tests: (i) low-velocity normal impact loading under a drop weight impact test set up and (ii) transverse static loading of a plate. The damage area, indentation depth and permanent depression over damage area, energy absorption capability, load-deflection relation and failure modes were observed under the test. The impact drop test was simulated by LS-DYNA. The properties of glass fabric reinforced thin sandwich panel and carbon fabric reinforced thin sandwich panel were compared with those of 0.8-mm-thick MS sheet, a widely used skin material for the outer body of various machines and appliances.
Unnotched Izod impact characterization of glass hollow particle/vinyl ester syntactic foams
Authors: Shunmugasamy Vasanth Chakravarthy , Anantharaman Harish , Pinisetty Dinesh , Gupta Nikhil
Published: December 2013

Vinyl ester matrix syntactic foams filled with hollow glass microspheres are characterized for unnotched Izod impact properties. The study is aimed to analyze the effect of wall thickness and volume fraction of the hollow glass microsphere on the impact properties of syntactic foams. The impact strength of syntactic foams was observed to be lower in comparison to the neat vinyl ester resin. The volume fraction of the hollow glass microspheres was found to have a more pronounced effect on the impact strength than the wall thickness. The energy absorbed until failure decreased with increase in the hollow glass microsphere volume fraction. The observed values decreased by 50–72.2% depending on the hollow glass microsphere volume fraction and wall thickness. The failure feature of syntactic foams under the current testing condition is explained using finite element analysis. The failure initiates from the tensile region, propagates through the specimen and is deflected near the compression region. The microstructural failure features are examined using a scanning electron microscope and matrix cracking, hollow glass microsphere-matrix debonding, and crack deflection by hollow glass microspheres are observed to be the failure features. Since the cracks were deflected around the compression zone, all types of syntactic foams showed tensile failure features, which include prominent matrix fracture and lack of hollow glass microsphere crushing. The understanding of the variation of impact properties with respect to the hollow glass microsphere volume fraction and wall thickness can help in tailoring the properties of syntactic foams.
Synthesis and characterization of low-friction Al-DLC films with high hardness and low stress
Authors: Pu Jibin , Zhang Guangan , Wan Shanhong , Zhang Renhui
Published: December 2013

Al-diamond-like carbon films were successfully deposited by the reactive magnetron sputtering of Al target (>99.9%) in the argon and methane gas mixture atmosphere under selected substrate negative bias with high pulse cycle duty (50%). The microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of the as-prepared Al-diamond-like carbon films were investigated. Results showed that these films were dominated by the typical amorphous structure, and the internal stress of films dramatically decreased while the hardness remained a high level (∼20 GPa) with increasing substrate pulse negative bias. Especially, the Al-diamond-like carbon film fabricated at substrate bias of −500 V displayed a longer wear life and lower friction coefficient due to both itself superior mechanical properties and the formation of continuous and compact graphitized transfer layer, making it a good candidate for solid lubricating film in engineering applications.
Flexural stiffness variations of woven carbon fiber composite/shape memory polymer hybrid layered beams
Authors: Takeda Tomo , Shindo Yasuhide , Narita Fumio
Published: December 2013

This paper studies the flexural stiffness controllability of hybrid layered beams with woven carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite and shape memory polymer layers. The temperature of the shape memory polymer layer was controlled using electrical resistive heating of the woven carbon fiber reinforced polymer layers. Flexure tests were then conducted on the layered cantilever beams, and the temperature dependence of the beam flexural stiffness was examined. A three-dimensional finite element analysis was also performed to predict the flexural response of the layered beams, and a good correlation was observed between the predicted and measured results for the flexural stiffness. In addition, the deformation states in the layered beams were determined numerically and discussed in detail.
Type 1 Diabetes–associated TLR Responsiveness of Oral Epithelial Cells
Authors: Neiva K.G. , Calderon N.L. , Alonso T.R. , Panagakos F. , Wallet S.M.
Published: December 2013

In type 1 diabetes (T1D), a Toll-like receptor (TLR)-hyper-inflammatory monocytic phenotype has been implicated as a mechanism of exacerbated tissue destruction. Other cells of the periodontium, including oral epithelial cells (OECs), express innate immune receptors, including TLRs. To delineate the TLR responses of OECs derived from T1D participants and to determine effects of the anti-inflammatory agent triclosan on the TLR-hyper-inflammatory phenotype, primary human OECs from individuals with T1D and diabetes-free individuals were stimulated with TLR ligands in the presence and/or absence of triclosan. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and micro-RNAs (miRNAs) was evaluated. While the repertoire of TLRs expressed by OECs is similar to that expressed by macrophages (Mϕ), the relative amounts and ratios are significantly different. OECs demonstrate a TLR-response profile similar to that of Mϕ, yet attenuated. OECs have a unique response to P. gingivalis LPS, where miR146a and miR155 play a regulatory role in responsiveness. OECs from T1D participants are TLR-hyper-responsive, due to dysregulated induction of miR146a and miR155, which is abrogated by pre-treatment with triclosan. The aberrant TLR-activation of OECs in T1D has the potential to contribute to excessive soft- and hard-tissue destruction. Importantly, triclosan’s anti-inflammatory property is effective in abrogating TLR-induced OEC hyperactivity.
Hawks, doves, and opportunistic opposition parties
Authors: Williams Laron K
Published: December 2013

Parliamentary regimes offer the unique opportunity for opposition parties to react to foreign policy by proposing no-confidence motions (NCMs). The threat of an NCM bringing down the government may be enough to induce pacific behavior by the executive. Yet, this simplistic characterization neglects the possible electoral motivations of opportunistic opposition parties. I develop a theory that opposition parties respond to involvement in international conflict by proposing NCMs as a tool to influence voters’ opinions with an eye toward the next election. I develop two expectations based on policy disagreement and issue ownership that I use to explain the electorally motivated decision to propose NCMs following conflict. I test these expectations with a dataset of 14 European parliamentary democracies from 1970 to 2001. The empirical evidence suggests that the partisanship of both the government and opposition parties interact to create varying electoral incentives to propose NCMs based on issue ownership. Right-wing opposition parties are more likely to challenge than left-wing parties, and this effect is exacerbated when facing left-wing governments. This study has important implications that underpin a number of theories of the domestic causes of international conflict as well as implications for the study of party strategy.
A new thermocouple technique for the precise measurement of in-plane capillary water flow within fabrics
Authors: Zhu Chunhong , Takatera Masayuki
Published: December 2013

A new method was proposed for the measurement of in-plane capillary water flow within fabrics automatically. The method was based on the use of thermocouples to measure temperature changes as the fabric absorbed water. The wicking length of three different woven fabrics and two knitted fabrics in the warp, weft and 45° bias directions was measured using this technique. The wicking length was found to have a linear relationship with the square root of time, in agreement with the Washburn equation. Comparing the results with the data acquired using the horizontal Byreck method, the thermocouple technique was found to be suitable for the precise measurement of in-plane capillary water flow through fabrics automatically. Moreover, based on this method, the feasibility of estimating the water contents of fabrics from temperature differences generated during the flow process was also investigated. We found that it was possible to estimate the water content of a fabric, provided the moisture level is below the critical water content at equilibrium. This can be used to estimate the water content of fabric when it is worn.
Weft knitted loop geometry of glass and steel fiber fabrics measured with X-ray micro-computer tomography
Authors: Harjkova Galina , Barburski Marcin , Lomov Stepan V. , Kononova Olga , Verpoest Ignaas
Published: December 2013

X-ray micro-computer tomography (micro-CT) provides 3D visualization of internal geometry of a textile without destructing samples. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate usage of the micro-CT technique for structural analysis of weft-knitted fabrics and to propose a data processing technique for reconstruction and visualization of the loop geometry. The method is applied to glass and steel knitted fabrics. It produces a full description of the loop geometry, namely yarn middle line, cross-section areas and orientation along the yarn.
Estimation of fiber system orientation for nonwoven and nanofibrous layers: local approach based on image analysis
Authors: Tunák Maroš , Antoch Jaromír , Kula Jiří , Chvojka Jiří
Published: December 2013

Analysis of textile materials often includes measurement of structural anisotropy or directional orientation of textile object systems. To that purpose, the real-world objects are replaced by their images, which are analyzed, and the results of this analysis are used for decisions about the product(s). Study of the image data allows one to understand the image contents and to perform quantitative and qualitative description of objects of interest. This paper deals in particular with the problem of estimating the main orientation of fiber systems. Firstly, we present a concise survey of the methods suitable for estimating orientation of fiber systems stemming from the image analysis. The methods we consider are based on the two-dimensional discrete Fourier transform combined with the method of moments. Secondly, we suggest abandoning the currently used global, that is, all-at-once, analysis of the whole image, which typically leads to just one estimate of the characteristic of interest, and advise replacing it with a “local analysis”. This means splitting the image into many small, non-overlapping pieces, and estimating the characteristic of interest for each piece separately and independently of the others. As a result we obtain many estimates of the characteristic of interest, one for each sub-window of the original image, and – instead of averaging them to get just one value – we suggest analyzing the distribution of the estimates obtained for the respective sub-images. The proposed approach seems especially appealing when analyzing nonwoven textiles and nanofibrous layers, which may often exhibit quite a large anisotropy of the characteristic of interest.
A UPLC/ESI–MS method for identifying wool, cashmere and yak fibres
Authors: Vineis Claudia , Tonetti Cinzia , Paolella Sara , Pozzo PierDavide , Sforza Stefano
Published: December 2013

A new objective method has been developed for the identification of animal hair fibres, in particular wool, cashmere and yak. Enzymatic digestion of keratin extracted from these fibres and peptide analysis by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray–mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI–MS) allows not only qualitative determination of the presence of fibres derived from these species but also a quantitative assessment of the relative percentages present in blends. Such an analysis will provide reliable objective data about the authenticity of commercial products. The effectiveness of the UPLC/ESI–MS method was assessed by analysing known samples of these fibres and confirmed using unknown wool/cashmere/yak blends, and the results were compared with those obtained by SEM method IWTO 58–00.
Characterization of a PEG-DE cross-linked tubular silk scaffold
Authors: Wei Yali , Sun Dan , Yi Honggen , Wang Jiannan
Published: December 2013

The secondary structure and compliance of a novel small caliber (≤6 mm) silk fibroin (SF) tubular scaffold (SFTS) were investigated. Imitating the structure of natural vascular tissue, the SFTS consisted of a silk knit as the medium and a poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEG-DE) cross-linked silk fibroin (SF) membrane as the intimal and adventitial layers, integrated to form a porous tissue. FTIR and XRD results showed that PEG-DE could induce SF molecules to form β-sheets during the cross-linking reaction process, resulting in improved crystallinity. As a result of the silk knit medium the SFTS had excellent mechanical properties. The intimal layer, which is in contact with a continuous flow of blood, must have adequate compliance. The results showed that the intimal layer of the SFTS had good stress-strain resistance when combined with the silk knit medium. When the SFTS was prepared with 6% SF, its axial breaking strength was >62 kPa and breaking elongation could reach about 33%; the circumferential breaking strength was >10 MPa and breaking elongation was >18%. The results of compression testing showed that the radial compression resilience of SFTS reached 94%, which was a significant improvement on commercial artificial blood vessels prepared from Dacron.
Perceived Crime and Violence
Authors: Simpson Penny , Cruz-Milán Oliver , Gressel Justin
Published: December 2013

Many travel destinations across the world have endured sporadic or prolonged violence that significantly impacts their respective region’s tourism-reliant economy. This research addresses the issue of violence and travel by examining talk of violence, perceptions of the worsening of crime, fear at the destination, destination satisfaction, and their effects on return intention within the context of travelers who are very familiar with the destination. Study results, obtained from migrants who had spent many winters in the area that borders on a region that had recently erupted in drug-related violence, found the significant effects, direct or indirect, of all variables. Importantly, fear at the destination was found to subsume satisfaction with the destination, which directly impacts intention to return to the destination.
Seasonal Employees
Authors: McCole Dan
Published: December 2013

High year-to-year retention of seasonal employees can be a source of competitive advantage for tourism organizations. Past studies of seasonal employee retention have examined the issue from the perspective of job satisfaction. However, many tourism jobs have similar responsibilities from organization to organization suggesting another construct might also affect employee retention. The purpose of this study was to examine retention through the lens of employee sense of community (SOC) toward the tourism organization. Significant differences were found in SOC levels between those who returned to work at resorts and those who did not. Moreover, a logistic regression model showed SOC to be a good predictor of retention. Like in previous studies, factors that impact retention appear to be different for first year employees than experienced ones. However, the results suggest that somewhat different approaches for improving retention should be taken than the recommendations from past studies of seasonal employee retention.
Evaluation of heart rhythm coherence feedback training on physiological and psychological variables
Authors: Edwards Stephen D
Published: December 2013

HeartMath refers to a psychophysiological approach dedicated to helping people establish heart-based living and global coherence through heart rate variability training, especially through heart rhythm coherence feedback. This study investigated the influence of emWave2 heart rhythm coherence feedback learning on standardized measures of physiological coherence, sense of coherence, health, mindfulness, and spirituality perceptions, as experienced and evaluated by a small convenience sample of 10 participants. Six women and four men with a mean age of 44.8 years and an age range from 23 to 78 years completed at least five emWave2 biofeedback sessions, with a mean of 10 sessions and a range from 5 to 15 sessions. Quantitative findings indicated significant improvements on all standardized measures. Qualitative findings indicated meaningful experiences and positive evaluations of the workshop. Integrative findings are discussed in relation to previous and future research.
Community College Alumni
Authors: Skari Lisa Ann
Published: December 2013

Due to the decrease in public funding, community colleges are in a position where they need to generate private gifts. Alumni represent the largest untapped pool of prospective donors, and the success of alumni giving at 4-year institutions illustrates the potential that exists for community colleges. To develop effective fundraising strategies, 2-year colleges must understand what affects alumni giving. Guided by social exchange theory, the study develops a predictive model of community college alumni giving, exploring student experiences and demographics. A multistate sample ( N = 7,330) suggests predictors consistent with research conducted at 4-year institutions, with the likelihood of giving related to student experience, age, wealth, and giving to other organizations. Other findings unique to community colleges conclude that alumni with an associate’s degree are twice as likely to give as those who did not, and alumni who gave to their 4-year alma mater were nearly four times more likely to give to their 2-year alma mater. The study provides suggestions for future research on community college alumni donors, and new directions for 2-year college administrators and fundraising professionals.
Fabrication of styrene–acrylonitrile random copolymer nanofiber membranes from N,N-dimethyl formamide by electrospinning
Authors: Senthil T , Anandhan S
Published: December 2013

Ultrafine styrene–acrylonitrile random copolymer (SAN) nanofiber-based membranes were produced from N,N-dimethyl formamide solution by electrospinning. The purpose of this study was to find the optimum values of the electrospinning parameters and the influence of major significant parameters on the electrospun fiber morphology and the average fiber diameter ( Davg) and its standard deviation using design of experiment. A backward elimination model for multiple regression analysis was employed to obtain quantitative interactions among selected electrospinning parameters and the final fiber diameter. The dependence of the Davg and morphology on the critical entanglement concentration was also studied. Morphology of the electrospun nanofiber mats were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Davg of electrospun SAN fibers increased considerably with increasing solution concentration. Fibers with diameters ranging from 40 to 650 nm were obtained. Analysis of variance was utilized to identify the statistically significant parameters ( p < 0.05) and error variance.
Impedance analysis, dielectric relaxation, and electrical conductivity of multi-walled carbon nanotube-reinforced silicon elastomer nanocomposites
Authors: Saji Janita , Khare Ayush , Choudhary RNP , Mahapatra SP
Published: December 2013

Dielectric relaxation behavior of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-reinforced silicone elastomer nanocomposites has been studied as a function of filler loading in a wide frequency range (10−1–106 Hz). The effect of MWCNT loading on the real and imaginary parts of impedance is distinctly visible. The significant change in the impedance parameters on filler loading is explained on the basis of interfacial polarization in a heterogeneous medium and relaxation dynamics of polymer chains. The electrical modulus formalism has been used to investigate the conductivity and relaxation phenomena of the system. The frequency dependence of ac conductivity is explained using percolation theory. The existence of percolation phenomenon in the composites is discussed on the basis of electrical conductivity and morphology of the composites. The percolation threshold (as studied by electrical conductivity) occurs in the range of 4 phr of MWCNT loading. The scanning electron photomicrographs show agglomeration of the MWCNT above 4 phr concentration and formation of a continuous network structure.
The effect of illicit financial flows on time to reach the fourth Millennium Development Goal in Sub-Saharan Africa: a quantitative analysis
Authors: O'Hare Bernadette , Makuta Innocent , Bar-Zeev Naor , Chiwaula Levison , Cobham Alex
Published: December 2013

Objectives

This paper sets out to estimate the cost of illicit financial flows (IFF) in terms of the amount of time it could take to reach the fourth Millennium Development Goal (MDG) in 34 African countries.

Design

We have calculated the percentage increase in gross domestic product (GDP) if IFFs were curtailed using IFF/GDP ratios. We applied the income (GDP) elasticity of child mortality to the increase in GDP to estimate the reduction in time to reach the fourth MDG in 34 African countries.

Participants

children aged under five years.

Settings

34 countries in SSA.

Main outcome measures

Reduction in time to reach the first indicator of the fourth MDG, under-five mortality rate in the absence of IFF.

Results

We found that in the 34 SSA countries, six countries will achieve their fourth MDG target at the current rates of decline. In the absence of IFF, 16 countries would reach their fourth MDG target by 2015 and there would be large reductions for all other countries.

Conclusions

This drain on development is facilitated by financial secrecy in other jurisdictions. Rich and poor countries alike must stem the haemorrhage of IFF by taking decisive steps towards improving financial transparency.
A Sociology of Treason
Authors: Galis Vasilis , Lee Francis
Published: December 2013

The process of translation has both an excluding and including character. The analysis of actor networks, the process of mobilizing alliances, and constructing networks is a common and worthwhile focus. However, the simultaneous betrayals, dissidences, and controversies are often only implied in network construction stories. We aim to nuance the construction aspect of actor–network theory (ANT) by shining the analytical searchlight elsewhere, where the theoretical tools of ANT have not yet systematically ventured. We argue that we need to understand every process of translation in relation to its simultaneous process of treason, and to add antonyms for Callon’s problematization, intressement, enrollment, and mobilization. This enables us to describe powerlessness not as a state but as a process. Our case focuses on the network building around measures for disabled people in the construction of the Athens Metro, during the period 1991-1993. The discussion highlights the efforts of disability organizations to intervene in the initial construction works of the metro project and the simultaneous actions of the Greek government to exclude disability organizations from the design process and to disrupt the accessibility-metro actor network.
Introduction
Authors: Blume Stuart , Galis Vasilis , Pineda Andrés Valderrama
Published: December 2013

What is the “conventional sense” of disability, and how do the questions addressed in this special issue of Science, Technology, & Human Values ( STHV) differ from those inspired by Donna Haraway and the cyborg? In industrialized societies, the medical profession has authority over the determination of who should count as disabled while “assistive technologies” enable specific kinds of subject positions (in terms of personhood and competencies as well as limits). In this special issue of STHV, the focus of the essays as a whole is on the different enactments of disability, as complexity that simultaneously implicates bodies, gender, sexuality, technology, and politics. The study of disability offers scope for refinement and further articulation of many issues of long-standing concern to science, technology, and society (STS). In addition, we hope they will encourage further reflection on our field’s normative engagement.
Role of the Study Pathologist
Authors: Weber Klaus
Published: December 2013

Toxicologic pathology relies on many disciplines of toxicology and basic sciences and often requires other fields and skills such as biostatistics, study design, guidelines, and knowledge of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) regulations. Pathology is an integrative discipline where specific training and experience are required in order to integrate chemical or biological structures, molecular biology, physiology, and morphology for candidate selection and early development of a test article and to help in the design of appropriate preclinical/toxicology studies. Experience does matter and successful learning is determined by personal behavior; pathologists who not only read slides but research their topics and keep current with the literature are apt to be successful.