bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acusativo y dativo en la construcción factitiva
Authors: Enghels Renata
Published: August 2013

Most investigations of Romance factitive constructions study the causative verb hacer (‘to make’) and pay little attention to related verbs such as dejar (‘to let’). This article seeks to fill up this gap by contrasting the syntax of positive and negative causation, and particularly focuses on the case marking of the causee. The analysis of a Spanish corpus allows us to examine previous accounts of case marking, namely the hypothesis of incorporation and the related ‘Stratal Uniqueness Law’, and the theory of direct vs. indirect causation. The second part is dedicated to the question whether the cognitive-semantic characteristics of the causation models have any effect on its syntax. Finally, a multifactorial analysis, taking into account the degree of dynamicity of the constituents and the accusative or dative case of the causee, demonstrates that variation of pattern mainly depends on the rich polysemy of the main verbs.
Itération et agglomérats de procès
Authors: Gosselin Laurent
Published: August 2013

Some examples of iterative aspect, especially in French literature, show a highly complex structure : the iteration does not concern a single eventuality, but a combination of eventualities. In order to deal with these facts, we introduce a new category in the grammar of aspect : the cluster of eventualities. Through the analysis of attested examples, we describe the semantic properties of this new entity, which appears useful also for the analysis of some singulative sequences.
O modo verbal em expressões impessoais com o verbo ser
Authors: Vesterinen Rainer
Published: August 2013

The subjunctive mood has frequently been explained in terms of unreality, presupposition, non-assertion and the distinction between new and old information. Although these explanations offer a partial account of the semantics of this mood, it is shown that many occurrences of the subjunctive mood remain unexplained. This being so, the present paper aims at explaining the indicative and subjunctive mood in impersonal expressions with the verb ser from a Cognitive Grammar perspective of linguistic analysis. The analysis shows that the variation between the indicative and subjunctive mood in this grammatical context can be explained in terms of dominion and control. An extension of the analysis further shows that it may account for the occurrence of the subjunctive mood in other grammatical contexts.
La crisis de las ciencias y la existencia novelística en Unamuno
Authors: Andersen Katrine Helene
Published: August 2013

This article aims, on one hand, to show how Miguel de Unamuno through his usage of the novel as a philosophical media evades the crisis of the European sciences and, on the other hand, to define his idea of novelistic existence. Through the example of Niebla it is shown how the novel becomes key in both his epistemological and ontological project since it is both the manifestation of our true being and a media to understanding this being and the world.
Les actes de langage indirects sont-ils tous conventionnels ?
Authors: Ruytenbeek Nicolas
Published: August 2013

This paper focuses on the variety of ways to communicate a directive illocutionary act in modern French. I argue that every type of directive speech act can be regarded as stemming from a convention, be it a linguistic one, for on-record speech acts, or a discursive one, for off-record speech acts. The various acceptations of the “conventionality” applied to on-record indirect speech acts (ISAs) are reconsidered. More specifically, I claim that the distinction, in terms of politeness, between on-record and off-record ISAs does not coincide with the opposition between conventional and non-conventional speech acts. Second, I show that it is necessary to identify two types of conventions or communicative strategies to perform off-record directives. The first consists in referring to a reason to act; the second is evoking the requested action.
On Italian, Ibero-Romance and Romanian imperatives in -i and the fate of Latin final
Authors: Whitehead Benedicte Nielsen
Published: August 2013

It is generally held that Latin word-final, post-tonic -ē yielded *-e in Proto-Romance, even if secure attestations are lacking.However, here it is suggested that a number of forms thought to instantiate analogical replacement of expected *-e with -i are in fact phonologically regular, thus revealing that the real outcome of Lat. -ē was PR *-i.2 The relevant forms are: a small handful of adverbs: It. oggi ‘today’ < hodiē, Rm. azi ‘today’ < hac diē, It./As. tardi ‘late’ < tardē, It. lungi/As. lloñi ‘far’ < longē; the 2sg. imperative of Italian, Old Portuguese and Asturian e-verbs (It. bevi/OPt. bive (with metaphony)/As. bebi ‘drink!’) as well as the Romanian 2sg. imperatives in -i (Rm. vezi ‘see!’ cazi ‘fall!’, etc.). This hypothesis renders superfluous a number of poorly understood analogies needed to explain these forms and sheds new light on the enigmatic Romanian imperative in -i and its hitherto unexplained association with transitivity.
Camino, Base y Manera en español y sueco
Authors: Donoso Alejandra
Published: August 2013

This study surveys how Spanish and Swedish speakers convey information about Motion. The point of departure is the typological description about satellite-framed languages (SFL) and verb-framed languages (VFL) which claims that these language groups differ in how they codify Path and Manner. The data consist of 16 oral narratives in Swedish (SFL) and 16 in Spanish (VFL). Based on the assumption that the lexicalization patterns for motion encoding module how speakers of different languages convey information in discourse (Talmy, 2000; Slobin, 1996a), we hypothesize that the Swedes will offer a wider range of descriptions concerning Manner and Path than the Spanish speakers, whereas the latter group will exhibit high-grained descriptions about the Ground or settings where the action takes place. The first hypothesis is confirmed, the second is partially rejected: both groups offer detailed Ground descriptions, though the Swedes express to a greater extent the final destination of motion events. Even more, our findings suggest that the encoding of end states of motion is highly tied to the use of various satellites, which can be combined both with verbs that express a direction and with verbs which do not involve such information. The characteristic syntactic patterns found in satellite-framed languages for information encoding plus the existence of schematic constructions in Swedish might be an explanation for these results.
Estudio y edición de El infierno de Jacinto Alonso Maluenda
Authors: Climent Joan Mahiques
Published: August 2013

The comparison of satirical and burlesque representations of hell allows us to point out some analogies between different works and authors documented in Valencia from 1627 to 1656. Some works of Quevedo printed in this city, as the Sueños and the ballad Los que quisieren saber, seem to have inspired El infierno of Jacinto Alonso Maluenda and the Somni de l’infern of Pere Jacint Morlà. This last author has also written the Pintura de la Torre de Serranos, which identifies allegorically Valencia’s prison as the place of eternal damnation. We examine the literary context of all these testimonies and their relationship with Maluenda’s El infierno, the edition of which is added at the end of this paper.
Why does Gaze Enhance Mimicry? Placing Gaze-Mimicry Effects in Relation to Other Gaze Phenomena
Authors: Wang Yin , Hamilton Antonia F. de C.
Published: August 2013

Eye gaze is a powerful signal, which exerts a mixture of arousal, attentional, and social effects on the observer. We recently found a behavioural interaction between eye contact and mimicry where direct gaze rapidly enhanced mimicry of hand movements). Here, we report two detailed investigations of this effect. In Experiment 1, we compared the effects of “direct gaze”, “averted gaze”, and “gaze to the acting hand” on mimicry and manipulated the sequence of gaze events within a trial. Only direct gaze immediately before the hand action enhanced mimicry. In Experiment 2, we examined the enhancement of mimicry when direct gaze is followed by a “blink” or by “shut eyes”, or by “occluded eyes”. Enhanced mimicry relative to baseline was seen only in the blink condition. Together, these results suggest that ongoing social engagement is necessary for enhanced mimicry. These findings allow us to place the gaze-enhancement effect in the context of other reported gaze phenomena. We suggest that this effect is similar to previously reported audience effects, but is less similar to ostensive cueing effects. This has important implications for our theories of the relationships between social cues and imitation.
Additive Effect of Enterococcus faecium on Enterococcal Bloodstream Infections: A 14-Year Study in a Swiss Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Weisser Maja , Capaul Selja , Dangel Marc , Elzi Luigia , Kuenzli Esther , Frei Reno , Widmer Andreas
Published: August 2013

We investigated whether an increase in enterococcal bloodstream infections (BSIs) depends on the emergence of Enterococcus faecium in an area with low vancomycin-resistant enterococci prevalence. From 1999 to 2012, a linear increase in E. faecium BSI rates (0.009 per 1,000 patient-days per year; P<.001) was noted. Enterococcus faecalis BSI rates remained stable.
Behavioral Intention of Physician Trainees and Medical Students to Practice Hand Hygiene
Authors: Limper Heather M. , Barton Grant , McGinty Michael , Landon Emily , O'Boyle Carol , Reddy Shalini , Weber Stephen G.
Published: August 2013

Physician trainees were surveyed to assess intention to perform hand hygiene (HH). Compared with preclinical medical students (MS), clinical MS and residents reported less confidence that HH prevents carrying home microorganisms (P = .006, P = .003) or protects oneself from antibiotic-resistant microorganisms (P = .01, P = .006). Clinical trainees may need targeted interventions focusing on intention to perform HH.
Does Organic Material on Hospital Surfaces Reduce the Effectiveness of Hypochlorite and UV Radiation for Disinfection of Clostridium difficile?
Authors: Zhang Andrew , Nerandzic Michelle M. , Kundrapu Sirisha , Donskey Curtis J.
Published: August 2013

An organic load of 5%–10% fetal calf serum significantly reduced hypochlorite and UV radiation killing of Clostridium difficile spores, but organic material collected from hospital surfaces did not affect hypochlorite and only modestly affected UV killing of spores. Hypochlorite reduced aerobic microorganisms on unclean surfaces with no wiping.
Implementing a National Program to Reduce Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection: A Quality Improvement Collaboration of State Hospital Associations, Academic Medical Centers, Professional Societies, and Governmental Agencies
Authors: Fakih Mohamad G. , George Christine , Edson Barbara S. , Goeschel Christine A. , Saint Sanjay
Published: August 2013

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) represents a significant proportion of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The US Department of Health and Human Services issued a plan to reduce HAIs with a target 25% reduction of CAUTI by 2013. Michigan's successful collaborative to reduce unnecessary use of urinary catheters and CAUTI was based on a partnership between diverse hospitals, the state hospital association (SHA), and academic medical centers. Taking the lessons learned from Michigan, we are now spreading this work throughout the 50 states. This national spread leverages the expertise of different groups and organizations for the unified goal of reducing catheter-related harm. The key components of the project are (1) centralized coordination of the effort and dissemination of information to SHAs and hospitals, (2) data collection based on established definitions and approaches, (3) focused guidance on the technical practices that will prevent CAUTI, (4) emphasis on understanding the socioadaptive aspects (both the general, unit-wide issues and CAUTI-specific challenges), and (5) partnering with specialty organizations and governmental agencies who have expertise in the relevant subject area. The work may serve in the future as a model for other large improvement efforts to address other hospital-acquired conditions, such as venous thromboembolism and falls.
Downstream Impact of Urine Cultures Ordered without Indication at Two Acute Care Teaching Hospitals
Authors: Leis Jerome A. , Gold Wayne L. , Daneman Nick , Shojania Kaveh , McGeer Allison
Published: August 2013

Antimicrobial therapy for asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is recommended for pregnant patients and those undergoing genitourinary procedures. In other populations, treatment has not been demonstrated to confer benefit and is associated with adverse drug reactions, selection for infection with increasingly drug-resistant bacteria, and Clostridium difficile infection. We undertook a prospective audit of urine culture ordering practices among medical and surgical inpatients at 2 acute care teaching hospitals to identify the proportion of urine cultures ordered without clinical indication that lead to antimicrobial therapy for ASB.

During August and September 2012, consecutive urine cultures from nonpregnant ward patients were identified within 24 hours of culture ordering. Each patient was interviewed by the study team to determine the presence of urinary tract infection (UTI) using standard surveillance criteria. Non-catheterized patients met clinical indications for UTI if they had fever (temperature >38°C) without another explanation or at least 1 urinary symptom (dysuria, urgency, frequency, costovertebral angle tenderness, or suprapubic pain or tenderness). Catheterized patients met clinical indications for UTI if they had fever, suprapubic pain, or costovertebral angle tenderness. Other reasons for ordering cultures were documented on the basis of care provider interviews before culture results were known. Culture results and antimicrobial prescriptions were documented 72 hours later. The study was approved by the research ethics boards of Mount Sinai Hospital (472 beds) and University Health Network (408 beds; Toronto General Hospital site).
Patients under Contact Precautions Have an Increased Risk of Injuries and Medication Errors A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Karki Surendra , Leder Karin , Cheng Allen C.
Published: August 2013

Contact precautions (CPs) may lead to adverse psychological effects, delays in access to services, and compromises in the quality of care and patient safety. These need to be balanced with the benefits in preventing transmission of resistant microorganisms. In this study, we aimed to quantify the effect of CPs on reported patient safety incidents.

The Alfred hospital is a tertiary referral hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Previous studies have shown that colonization with vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) is endemic in our hospital. Patients found to be colonized with VRE are placed in CPs immediately and during each subsequent admission. At our facility, modified CPs practiced during the study period include isolation in single rooms with a dedicated toilet, use of gloves when entering the room, and gloves and gown if contact with body fluids is anticipated. The hospital has a computerized risk management system where relevant patient safety incidents are reported to facilitate institutional review and response. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using these routinely collected data, comparing the incidence rate of documented adverse events in patients prior and subsequent to initiation of CPs among patients colonized or infected with VRE. Patients with incident VRE detection between January 2009 and October 2010 were included.
Time-Saving Impact of an Algorithm to Identify Potential Surgical Site Infections
Authors: Knepper B. C. , Young H. , Jenkins T. C. , Price C. S.
Published: August 2013

Objective.

To develop and validate a partially automated algorithm to identify surgical site infections (SSIs) using commonly available electronic data to reduce manual chart review.

Design.

Retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing specific surgical procedures over a 4-year period from 2007 through 2010 (algorithm development cohort) or over a 3-month period from January 2011 through March 2011 (algorithm validation cohort).

Setting.

A single academic safety-net hospital in a major metropolitan area.

Patients.

Patients undergoing at least 1 included surgical procedure during the study period.

Methods.

Procedures were identified in the National Healthcare Safety Network; SSIs were identified by manual chart review. Commonly available electronic data, including microbiologic, laboratory, and administrative data, were identified via a clinical data warehouse. Algorithms using combinations of these electronic variables were constructed and assessed for their ability to identify SSIs and reduce chart review.

Results.

The most efficient algorithm identified in the development cohort combined microbiologic data with postoperative procedure and diagnosis codes. This algorithm resulted in 100% sensitivity and 85% specificity. Time savings from the algorithm was almost 600 person-hours of chart review. The algorithm demonstrated similar sensitivity on application to the validation cohort.

Conclusions.

A partially automated algorithm to identify potential SSIs was highly sensitive and dramatically reduced the amount of manual chart review required of infection control personnel during SSI surveillance.
Dissociation of the H3K36 demethylase Rph1 from chromatin mediates derepression of environmental stress-response genes under genotoxic stress inSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Liang Chung-Yi , Wang Long-Chi , Lo Wan-Sheng
Published: August 2013

Cells respond to environmental signals by altering gene expression through transcription factors. Rph1 is a histone demethylase containing a Jumonji C (JmjC) domain and belongs to the C2H2zinc-finger protein family. Here we investigate the regulatory network of Rph1 in yeast by expression microarray analysis. More than 75% of Rph1-regulated genes showed increased expression in the rph1-deletion mutant, suggesting that Rph1 is mainly a transcriptional repressor. The binding motif 5′-CCCCTWA-3′, which resembles the stress response element, is overrepresented in the promoters of Rph1-repressed genes. A significant proportion of Rph1-regulated genes respond to DNA damage and environmental stress. Rph1 is a labile protein, and Rad53 negatively modulates Rph1 protein level. We find that the JmjN domain is important in maintaining protein stability and the repressive effect of Rph1. Rph1 is directly associated with the promoter region of targeted genes and dissociated from chromatin before transcriptional derepression on DNA damage and oxidative stress. Of interest, the master stress-activated regulator Msn2 also regulates a subset of Rph1-repressed genes under oxidative stress. Our findings confirm the regulatory role of Rph1 as a transcriptional repressor and reveal that Rph1 might be a regulatory node connecting different signaling pathways responding to environmental stresses.
Identifying differentially expressed proteins in two-dimensional electrophoresis experiments: inputs from transcriptomics statistical tools
Authors: Artigaud Sébastien , Gauthier Olivier , Pichereau Vianney
Published: August 2013

Background: Two-dimensional electrophoresis is a crucial method in proteomics that allows the characterization of proteins’ function and expression. This usually implies the identification of proteins that are differentially expressed between two contrasting conditions, for example, healthy versus diseased in human proteomics biomarker discovery and stressful conditions versus control in animal experimentation. The statistical procedures that lead to such identifications are critical steps in the 2-DE analysis workflow. They include a normalization step and a test and probability correction for multiple testing. Statistical issues caused by the high dimensionality of the data and large-scale multiple testing have been a more active topic in transcriptomics than proteomics, especially in microarray analysis. We thus propose to adapt innovative statistical tools developed for microarray analysis and incorporate them in the 2-DE analysis pipeline.

Results: In this article, we evaluate the performance of different normalization procedures, different statistical tests and false discovery rate calculation methods with both real and simulated datasets. We demonstrate that the use of statistical procedures adapted from microarrays lead to notable increase in power as well as a minimization of false-positive discovery rate. More specifically, we obtained the best results in terms of reliability and sensibility when using the ‘moderate t-test’ from Smyth in association with classic false discovery rate from Benjamini and Hochberg.

Availability: The methods discussed are freely available in the ‘prot2D’ open source R-package from Bioconductor (http://www.bioconductor.org//) under the terms of the GNU General Public License (version 2 or later).

Contact: sebastien.artigaud@univ-brest.fr or sebastien.artigaud@gmx.com
Discovering causal pathways linking genomic events to transcriptional states using Tied Diffusion Through Interacting Events (TieDIE)
Authors: Paull Evan O. , Carlin Daniel E. , Niepel Mario , Sorger Peter K. , Haussler David , Stuart Joshua M.
Published: August 2013

Motivation: Identifying the cellular wiring that connects genomic perturbations to transcriptional changes in cancer is essential to gain a mechanistic understanding of disease initiation, progression and ultimately to predict drug response. We have developed a method called Tied Diffusion Through Interacting Events (TieDIE) that uses a network diffusion approach to connect genomic perturbations to gene expression changes characteristic of cancer subtypes. The method computes a subnetwork of protein–protein interactions, predicted transcription factor-to-target connections and curated interactions from literature that connects genomic and transcriptomic perturbations.

Results: Application of TieDIE to The Cancer Genome Atlas and a breast cancer cell line dataset identified key signaling pathways, with examples impinging on MYC activity. Interlinking genes are predicted to correspond to essential components of cancer signaling and may provide a mechanistic explanation of tumor character and suggest subtype-specific drug targets.

Availability: Software is available from the Stuart lab’s wiki: https://sysbiowiki.soe.ucsc.edu/tiedie.

Contact:  jstuart@ucsc.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The code structure of the p53 DNA-binding domain and the prognosis of breast cancer patients
Authors: Sato Keiko , Hara Toshihide , Ohya Masanori
Published: August 2013

Motivation: The tumor-suppressor gene TP53 mutations are diverse in the central region encoding the DNA-binding domain. It has not been clear whether the prognostic significance for survival in breast cancer patients is the same for all types of mutations. Are there specific types of mutations carrying a worse prognosis? To understand the correlation between the mutations in the gene encoding the DNA-binding domain and the prognosis of breast cancer, we studied the code structure of the DNA-binding domain of breast cancer patients by using various artificial codes in information transmission.

Results: We indicated that the prognostic significance of all types of mutations in the DNA-binding domain is not the same, and that the DNA-binding domain having a certain code structure is important for estimating the prognosis of breast cancer patients.

Contact:  keiko@is.noda.tus.ac.jp or hara@is.noda.tus.ac.jp
Strong variable linear polarization in the cool active star II Peg
Authors: Rosén L. , Kochukhov O. , Wade G. A.
Published: August 2013

Magnetic fields of cool active stars are currently studied polarimetrically using only circular polarization observations. Including linear polarization in the reconstruction of stellar magnetic fields allows more information about the magnetic field to be extracted and significantly improves the reliability of stellar magnetic field maps. The goal of this study is to initiate systematic observations of active stars in all four Stokes parameters and to identify cool stars for which linear polarization can be detected at a level sufficient for Zeeman–Doppler Imaging (ZDI). Four active RS CVn binaries, II Peg, HR 1099, IM Peg and σ Gem, were observed with the ESPaDOnS spectropolarimeter at the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope during a time period from 2012 February to 2013 January. The least-squares deconvolution procedure was applied to derive mean polarization profiles of all four Stokes parameters. Linear polarization was detected in all four stars in at least one observation. At the same time, II Peg showed an exceptionally strong and highly variable linear polarization signature throughout all observations. This establishes II Peg as the first promising target for ZDI in all four Stokes parameters and suggests the feasibility of such an analysis with existing equipment for at least a few of the most active cool stars.
The investigation of relationship between lubricating oil and refrigerant in refrigerator compressors
Authors: Karaosmanoğlu Filiz , Yüzer Serkan , Kerpiççi Hüsnü , Durak Ertuğrul
Published: August 2013

Purpose

– Refrigerant fraction and mixture viscosity values were determined for various operating conditions of compressors. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this study, an experimental setup that can be used to obtain refrigerant mass fraction and mixture viscosity data is designed and constructed. With the experimental setup, R600a mineral and R134a polyolester compressor lubricant mixtures were examined.

Findings

– This study presents an experimental procedure for obtaining practical results related to refrigerants used in the refrigeration system. Some properties of refrigerant-lubricant mixtures are very important for the design of compressors and performance of the refrigeration cycle.

Originality/value

– The paper is of value in presenting an experimental procedure for obtaining practical results pertaining to the tribological and other properties performance of the refrigerants.
Thermal contact conductance of elastically deforming nominally flat surfaces using fractal geometry
Authors: M. Abuzeida Osama , Alnumanb Nasim
Published: August 2013

Purpose

– This work aims at constructing a continuous mathematical, linear elastic, model for the thermal contact conductance (TCC) of two rough surfaces in contact.

Design/methodology/approach

– The rough surfaces, known to be physical fractal, are modelled using a deterministic Cantor structure. Such structure shows several levels of imperfections and including, therefore, several scales in the constriction of the flux lines. The proposed model will study the effect of the deformation (approach) of the two rough surfaces on the TCC as a function of the remotely applied load.

Findings

– An asymptotic power law, derived using approximate iterative relations, is used to express the area of contact and, consequently, the thermal conductance as a function of the applied load. The model is valid only when the approach of the two surface in contact is of the order of the surface roughness. The results obtained using this model, which admits closed form solution, are displayed graphically for selected values of the system parameters; the fractal surface roughness and various material properties. The obtained results showed good agreement with published experimental results both in trend and the numerical values.

Originality/value

– The model obtained provides further insight into the effect that surface texture has on the heat conductance process. The proposed model could be used to conduct an analytical investigation of the thermal conductance of rough surfaces in contact. This model, although simple (composed of springs), nevertheless works well.
Measurement of oil film thickness for complete stroke length in an unfired I C engine
Authors: A. Bulsara Mukesh , V. Bhatt Dhananjay , N. Mistry Kishore
Published: August 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a measurement technique wherein the film thickness is measured in unfired condition for entire stroke length but without impairing the original condition of piston ring, liner and lubricant, i.e. non-invasively. Film thickness is measured at different speeds up to 500 rpm. The measurements are initially carried out at near zero speed followed by speeds mentioned above. Measurement highlights the combined effect of variation of bore diameter and ring face profile on the film thickness.

Design/methodology/approach

– The film thickness is measured with the help of a set of strain gauges. Four strain gauges are mounted on a sufficiently elastic steel strip which is mounted in a simply supported condition. This assembly of strain gauge is mounted on small rectangular bracket. A cutout is made in the piston to accommodate the bracket. A pin bearing a slot of size sufficient enough to accommodate the piston ring on one side is fixed between the piston ring and the strain gauge assembly. This ensures the transfer of the movement of the piston ring on to the strain gauge. The deflection of the strain gauge is pre-calibrated against a sufficiently accurate dial gauge. Hence any radial movement of the piston ring is sensed by the strain gauge assembly. A data logger unit is connected to the strain gauge output to log the data at every crank angle. A rotary encoder is connected to the crank shaft, to have the correlation of the strain gauge output with the crank angle.

Findings

– The technique is capable of measuring oil film thickness for entire stroke at low speeds in unfired engines. The effect of variation in bore diameter on the oil film thickness is significant and hence such measurement can enlighten the path for research to reduce friction. The experimental results of the oil film thickness are in good agreement with predicted values, particularly in the forward stroke (BDC to TDC).

Research limitations/implications

– The methodology is not suitable for fired engines as on date but can be taken up as a future work with necessary modifications. It does not take into consideration the effect of elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication.

Practical implications

– It can be used to measure OFT between piston ring and liner in unfired engines and reciprocating compressors also.

Social implications

– It can help to indentify the areas of research so that the friction between piston ring and liner can be reduced thus increasing efficiency of the engine and reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

Originality/value

– The work presented is a part of PhD work under progress at S V National Institute of Technology, Surat, India. The setup is in the college premises and the experiments are conducted on the same.
Distribution and surface characteristic of transfer film of polyamide composites filled with ZnOw during traction rolling
Authors: Wang Shibo
Published: August 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the distribution and surface characteristic of transfer film of polyamide composites filled with ZnOw during traction rolling.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, the traction rolling tribological behavior of polyamide composites filled with ZnOw was studied with a twin-disc traction rolling tester. The topography of transfer film was observed with a three dimensional profiler. Meantime the thickness of transfer film was measured. The chemistry elements of transfer film were analyzed with EDS and XRD.

Findings

– The results indicated that transfer film of composites patchily covered on the surface of counter disc, the amount of which increased with increasing cycles. The coverage and thickness of pure PA film increased against rolling cycles. However, the thickness of 15 wt.% ZnOw/PA film remained at 6 μm as the coverage rose against rolling cycles. Fe element was found in pure PA transfer film, which existed in Fe0 and FeO for chemical reaction between Fe and atmospheric oxygen. Transfer film of 15 wt.% ZnOw/PA composites included a little Zn and Fe element. Fe element existed as Fe0. Zn element existed as ZnO.

Originality/value

– This paper presented the distribution and surface characteristic of transfer film during traction rolling.
An intelligent integrative assistive system for dyslexic learners
Authors: Mpia Ndombo Daniel , Ojo Sunday , O. Osunmakinde Isaac
Published: August 2013

Purpose

– The objective of this paper is to present a comprehensive literature survey on dyslexic learners and to propose a model for integrated assistive technology of dyslexic learners.

Design/methodology/approach

– The use of the proposed model through real-life scenarios categorized as “phonological, reading and writing scenarios”. We have also surveyed some systems for use with dyslexic learners currently in use and have compared them on the basis of number of barriers, technological innovation, age group and fostering.

Findings

– Dyslexic learners are characterized by slow learning, poor handwriting, poor spelling skills and difficulties in planning, organizing, revising and editing texts; technology plays a major role in the educational environment; it has become crucial in impacting knowledge across the globe; and open research issues and challenges that have to be addressed in the design of the current dyslexic system have been presented in detail.

Research limitations/implications

– Full implementation of the proposed model and its application in developing countries.

Practical implications

– The system improves the phonological awareness, reading and writing skills of dyslexic learners and it provides a solution for children as well as adults with dyslexia.

Social implications

– This survey can be used as a reference guide to understand learning barriers and intelligent systems for dyslexic learners and to promote the use of these in schools for those with learning disabilities who need assistive technologies.

Originality/value

– Development of a newly proposed integrated intelligent assistive system for dyslexic learners; knowledge generation as a reference guide to understand dyslexic learning ability in general and an intelligent assistive dyslexic system in particular; and survey of open research issues and challenges to further research in intelligent dyslexic systems.
Retrenchment and restructuring: family support and children's services reform under the coalition
Authors: Churchill Harriet
Published: August 2013

Purpose

– With the UK Conservative-Liberal Democrat Government reaching its mid-term point, this paper examines its austerity measures and public expenditure reductions in family support and children's services, and its revisions of family support, family intervention, child poverty, child well-being and children's services reform policies in contrast to the former Labour governments.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is informed by policy analysis and research reviews.

Findings

– The analysis focuses on three dimensions of policy change: first, reductions in income support for children and families and central government funding for children's services; second, refocusing child poverty, child well-being and family policies around the Conservative's “Broken Britain” campaign and the Liberal Democrats targeted social mobility initiatives; and finally, broader children's services reforms. The paper recognises some progressive developments but charts the social welfare implications of reduced welfare entitlements for families and the pressures on support services for families from children's services reforms.

Originality/value

– The paper combines reflections on the aims, achievements and limitations of Labour reforms to family support and children's services with a broader analysis of welfare state retrenchment and restructuring under the Coalition. It places current changes in family support and children's services within the context of the ideological influences on the Coalition's social policies and the primacy of its austerity programme and welfare state reform agendas.
The impact of participation in research on practitioners: a qualitative study among practitioners who delivered interventions in the Helping Children Achieve study
Authors: Marlow Ruth , T. Hunt William , Reville Marie-Claire , Lynes Andrena , Lowe Jade , Ford Tamsin
Published: August 2013

Purpose

– Community-based randomised control trials (RCTs) rely heavily on the involvement and collaboration of statutory and third-sector services and their employees. This paper seeks to explore the experiences of practitioners working within a statutory children and family service setting that delivered additional parenting programmes evaluated by an RCT.

Design/methodology/approach

– Practitioners completed a semi-structured interview about their experiences of the research trial based on a topic guide. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

– Results suggest that the experience of being involved in research was mostly positive for practitioners, but also produced additional stress. The research brought them the experience of being involved with national and international teams; and they valued the additional supervision and training that they received. They spoke about the skills that they developed and how they were able to continue to use these after the research trial had ended.

Originality/value

– Little is known about how services working alongside major research projects experience their involvement and what impact, if any, this has on them. This may be important as it could influence successful recruitment and retention of practitioners during RCTs, and the successful design and execution of other types of evaluation.
Cloud sourcing and innovation: slow train coming?
Authors: Willcocks Leslie P. , Venters Will , Whitley Edgar A.
Published: August 2013

Purpose

Although cloud computing has been heralded as driving the innovation agenda, there is growing evidence that cloud computing is actually a “slow train coming”. The purpose of this paper is to seek to understand the factors that drive and inhibit the adoption of cloud computing, particularly in relation to its use for innovative practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on a composite research base including two detailed surveys and interviews with 56 participants in the cloud supply chain undertaken between 2010 and 2013. The insights from this data are presented in relation to set of antecedents to innovation and a cloud sourcing model of collaborative innovation.

Findings

The paper finds that while some features of cloud computing will hasten the adoption of cloud, and its use for innovative purposes by the enterprise, there are also clear challenges that need to be addressed before cloud can be adopted successfully. Interestingly, the analysis highlights that many of these challenges arise from the technological nature of cloud computing itself.

Research limitations/implications

The research highlights a series of factors that need to be better understood for the maximum benefit from cloud computing to be achieved. Further research is needed to assess the best responses to these challenges.

Practical implications

The research suggests that enterprises need to undertake a number of steps for the full benefits of cloud computing to be achieved. It suggests that collaborative innovation is not necessarily an immediate consequence of adopting cloud computing.

Originality/value

The paper draws on an extensive research base to provide empirically informed analysis of the complexities of adopting cloud computing for innovation.
Strategic outsourcing: a lean tool of healthcare supply chain management
Authors: Machado Guimarães Cristina , Crespo de Carvalho José
Published: August 2013

Purpose

Considering lean thinking inside and beyond the organisation's boundaries, in the extended supply chain, this paper aims to fill a literature gap clearly stating some outsourcing practices as lean practices and establishing a deployment evolution parallel between both practices.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was carried out collecting cases of lean deployment in healthcare, from both scientific and grey literature. Cases were classified according to lean deployment taxonomy in healthcare settings, showing some differences in lean journey stages in 15 countries.

Findings

There is an alignment between SCM thinking in healthcare and lean thinking that places a SCM decision as outsourcing as a lean practice serving not only strategic intent but solving operational efficiency. There is a match between different outsourcing drivers (transactional, strategic and transformational) and lean maturity levels. The main constraint to deployment of both lean and outsourcing practices are cultural differences.

Practical implications

Understanding lean and outsourcing different deployment maturity levels under the national cultural umbrella can open new perspectives to study lean sustainability factors and better outsourcing relationships in healthcare organisations.

Originality/value

This paper presents a merger between the state‐of‐the art of both lean and outsourcing practices in healthcare settings and suggests an outsourcing and lean evolving pathway.
Syntactic versus lexical therapy for anomia in acquired aphasia: differential effects on narrative and conversation
Authors: Herbert Ruth , Gregory Emma , Best Wendy
Published: August 2013

Background

Previous studies of therapy for acquired anomia have treated nouns in isolation. The effect on nouns in connected speech remains unclear. In a recent study in 2012, we used a novel noun syntax therapy and found an increase in the number of determiner plus noun constructions in narrative after therapy.

Aims

Two aims arose from the previous study: to identify the critical ingredient in the noun syntax therapy, specifically whether this is lexical production, or the syntactic context; and to extend the analysis of the effects beyond narrative into conversation.

Methods & Procedures

We compared the effects of lexical therapy with those of noun syntax therapy in one individual with aphasia, in a sequential intervention design. We analysed the effects on conversation and on narrative.

Outcomes & Results

There was improved picture naming of treated words after both therapies. Lexical therapy had no impact on narrative and conversation, whereas noun syntax therapy led to more noun production, primarily in the context of determiner plus noun combinations.

Conclusions & Implications

The results support the claim that greater impact on narrative and conversation can be achieved for some people with aphasia by treating nouns in syntactic contexts.
New species of flightless doryctine parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Doryctinae) from Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Belokobylskij Sergey A , Austin Andrew D
Published: August 2013

The Australasian braconid wasp fauna has an apparent high proportion of reduced‐winged and wingless species compared with other regions, although the reasons for this are not particularly clear. In this study, five such new species of Doryctinae, Dendrosotinus (Gildoria) chathamicus sp. nov. (Chatham Is, New Zealand), Neorhaconotus julieae sp. nov. (Australia), Ontsira naumanni sp. nov. (Australia), Spathiomorpha jenningsi sp. nov. (Australia), and Spathius thorpei sp. nov. (New Zealand), are described and illustrated from the region. The first four of these represent the first records of flightless species in their respective genera. Spathius pedestris Wesmael is recorded from the region (New Zealand) for the first time and has undoubtedly been introduced there, having been reared from the common furniture beetle (Anobiidae), Anobium punctatum De Geer. The makeup of the Australasian doryctine fauna and possible reasons for the evolution of flightless species are discussed.
Baseline susceptibility and cross‐resistance in Aphis gossypii Glover (Aphididae: Hemiptera) to phorate and sulfoxaflor
Authors: Herron Grant A , Langfield Brendan J , Bogema Daniel R , Chen Yizhou
Published: August 2013

Susceptible discriminating doses of phorate (0.2 g/L) and sulfoxaflor (0.01 g/L) against cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover were determined by laboratory bioassay where aphids were sprayed with insecticide with the aid of a Potter spray tower. All of the populations tested were susceptible to sulfoxaflor, and only a pirimicarb resistant strain had cross‐resistance to phorate. If phorate is used as a side dressing in Australian cotton for insect control, neither pirimicarb, or any other chemical associated with insensitive acetylcholinesterase type one resistance, should be used as the first foliar spray for any subsequent aphid control.
Low host specificity of beetles associated with fruit falls in lowland tropical rainforest of north‐east Australia
Authors: Grimbacher Peter S , Nichols Cassandra , Wardhaugh Carl W , Stork Nigel E
Published: August 2013

Most host‐specificity studies of tropical rainforest insects have focused on those species feeding on leaves. Apart from the fruit flies, the level of specialisation among fruit‐associated insects is poorly known. The relative contribution to local species richness made by insects feeding or associated with fallen fruits is also unknown. Beetles from fruit falls over a 5‐year period in lowland tropical rainforest at Cape Tribulation, Australia were sampled. A total of 5157 individual beetles of 73 species were sampled from the fruits of 18 different plant species. Only a few species were of frugivorous families, and most species are likely utilising resources associated with the breakdown of the fruits. The size of the fruit fall‐associated beetle assemblage (73 spp) was small compared with the number of species collected during a 4‐year sampling program conducted at the same site prior to the current study using 10 combined Malaise‐Flight Interception Traps (1473 spp, 77 families). The number of beetles and species collected from fruit that were very strongly correlated with the number of times fruit falls from a particular species of plant were sampled. The locally common palm, Normanbya normanbyi, produced fruit throughout the year and supported the largest number of fruit‐associated species. It is suggested that this might be a keystone resource for local fruit fall‐associated insect species. Although most beetle species showed a preference for the fruits of a particular plant species, overall host specificity for beetles was low. This is probably because fruit resources at this site are spatially and temporally patchy. Our results challenge the notion that most insects associated with fruit falls in tropical rainforests are highly host‐specific.
Trans‐Bass Strait speciation and trans‐Pacific dispersal in the Myoporum thrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae)
Authors: Cameron Stephen L , Mound Laurence A
Published: August 2013

Molecular and morphological data indicate that the pest thrips damaging Myoporum species in California and Hawai'i, Klambothrips myopori Mound and Morris, originated in Tasmania, Australia. This trans‐Pacific dispersal presumably resulted from the international horticultural trade in Myoporum species. The data distinguish the pest from K. adelaideae sp.n. that induces leaf deformation on M. insulare along the coast of mainland Australia that is separated by ∼300 km from Tasmania by the Bass Strait. K. myopori is more damaging to its non‐native hosts in California and Hawai'i than to M. insulare in Tasmania, and further research is needed to determine if this is the result of release from its natural enemies. However, in certain areas of California, some Myoporum species are invasive weeds, and K. myopori may be considered an example of an accidental but beneficial introduction in this instance because of its detrimental impact on the plant species.