bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction of fabric tension and pressure decay for the development of pressure therapy gloves
Authors: Yu Annie , Yick Kit Lun , Ng Sun Pui , Yip Joanne
Published: November 2012

Pressure garments are commonly used in the treatment of hypertrophic and deformed scars. Pressure monitoring is crucial for effective pressure therapy. A new method is proposed to predict the amount of pressure acting on skin induced by pressure therapy gloves on the basis of hand curvatures extracted from three-dimensional hand images. The non-linear tensile properties of seven types of fabrics with various structures and their tension decay in relation to prolonged usage and reduction factors are examined. By taking into consideration the fabric elongation when the gloves are worn, a total of 36 pressure gloves are tailor-made by using three reduction factors. Based on the fabric tensile behavior, the corresponding glove pressure is predicted by the local strain, fabric tension per unit length and curvature of hand surface. No statistical difference at significance level of 0.05 is found between the predicted glove pressures and the measured values. In the measuring points on the dorsum of the hand, except the metacarpal site, the root mean square error ranges from 0.79 to 1.18 kPa. The investigation confirms that all pressure gloves lose tension and, therefore, pressure delivering ability upon repeated uses. It is also revealed that the pressure measuring positions and their corresponding curvature and geometry changes caused by hand movements and postures are closely associated with interfacial pressure delivered by the glove.
Optimization of automated online fabric inspection by fast Fourier transform (FFT) and cross-correlation
Authors: Malek Abdel Salam , Drean Jean-Yves , Bigue Laurent , Osselin Jean-François
Published: November 2012

Fabric inspection has an importance to prevent the risk of delivering inferior quality product. Until recently, the process was still undertaken offline and manually by humans, which has many drawbacks. The continuous development in computer technology introduces the automated fabric inspection as an effective alternative. In our work, Fast Fourier Transform and Cross-correlation techniques, i.e. linear operations, are first implemented to examine the structure regularity features of the fabric image in the spatial domain. To improve the efficiency of the technique and overcome the problem of detection errors, further thresholding operation is implemented using a level selection filter. Through this filter, the technique is able to detect only the actual or real defects and highlight its exact dimensions. A software package such as Matlab or Scilab is used for this procedure. It is implemented firstly on a simulated plain fabric to determine the most important parameters during the process of defect detection and then to optimize each of them even considering noise. To verify the success of the technique, it is implemented on real plain fabric samples with different colors containing various defects. Several results of the proposed technique for the simulated and real plain fabric structures with the most common defects are presented. Finally, a vision-based fabric inspection prototype that could be accomplished on-loom to inspect the fabric under construction with 100% coverage is proposed.
Wool-derived keratin nanofiber membranes for dynamic adsorption of heavy-metal ions from aqueous solutions
Authors: Aluigi Annalisa , Corbellini Alessandro , Rombaldoni Fabio , Mazzuchetti Giorgio
Published: November 2012

Membranes made of randomly oriented wool-derived keratin nanofibers (∼240 nm mean diameter), were prepared by electrospinning process, and tested for the Cu(II), Ni(II), and Co(II) metal ion removal from aqueous solutions, through dynamic adsorption tests. The Cu(II) ion adsorption was studied from the isotherm and kinetic point of view, both in non-competitive and competitive conditions. As regards the non-competitive condition, the experimental data had a very good fit with both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained from the Langmuir model was about 11 mg/g and the high correlation coefficient of the BET model indicates that the adsorption was a multilayer process. The mean free energy of adsorption, evaluated through the Dubinin–Radushkevich model, was 14.1 kJ/mol, indicating that the adsorption of Cu(II) ions on keratin nanofiber membranes occurred by ion exchange reactions. The process kinetics was evaluated by pseudo-first and pseudo-second order models, the latter showing the highest correlation with the experimental data. The competitive adsorption tests evidenced that the keratin nanofiber membranes maintained a good adsorption capacity for Cu(II) ions and also with the coexistence of Co(II) and Ni(II) metal cations. As regards the selectivity studies, the results showed that the adsorption of metal ions by keratin nanofiber membranes followed the order Cu(II) > Ni(II) > Co(II).
A study on blending polyethylene terephthalate with titanium dioxide particles in melt spinning process parameter optimization
Authors: Kuo Chung-Feng Jeffrey , Tzeng Ren Er , Lan Wei Lun , Peng Kai-Ching
Published: November 2012

This study blended polyethylene terephthalate and titanium dioxide nano-particles to produce titanium dioxide-containing (TiO2) functional fiber, and discussed its ultimate tensile strength, elongation and modulus of resilience using the Taguchi orthogonal arrays for experiment planning. The main effect analysis and analysis of variance theory were applied to obtain the single attribute optimum parameter, and Data Envelope Analysis and Principle Component Analysis were conducted to determine the combination of the optimum process parameter levels. Finally, the confidence interval was calculated by confirmation test, and a Back-propagation Neural Network was applied to construct the prediction system for melting spinning process parameters. After the learning and training of the network, the prediction error rate of the prediction system was below 5%.
The application of principal component analysis and gray relational method in the optimization of the melt spinning process using the cooling air system
Authors: Kuo Chung-Feng Jeffrey , Syu Sheng-Siang , Lin Chien-Hung , Peng Kai-Ching
Published: November 2012

This study attempted to optimize the manufacturing process of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and titanium dioxide-containing (TiO2) composite fibers. The composite fiber is made by the melt spinning processing method, and has the characteristics of the high strength of PET and the sterilization function of TiO2. To obtain the optimal processing parameters, this study applied the Taguchi method in planning the research experiment, and set one parameter of two levels and seven parameters of three levels using the L18 orthogonal array. The flow equation was used to design a cooling air system for the manufacturing, and the results showed that using one parameter of two levels can give a stable air pressure to cool the fiber to obtain the characteristics of excellent quality. Finally, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) was used to observe the distribution of TiO2 particles in the PET fiber produced in the experiment, in order to verify the experimental effectiveness. This study used principal component analysis combined with the gray relational method to obtain the optimal parameters of the experiment, because the former has the advantage of data simplicity, while the latter can determine the factors influencing power ranking. Confirmation experiments were conducted to test the quality characteristics, and found that the properties of the fiber produced with the optimal parameters showed improvements.
“No One Cares About This Community More Than Us”
Authors: Schultz Katherine , McGinn Kathryn C.
Published: November 2012

In this research, situated in a small urban district with a state-imposed school board, we analyze participation of community members during a three-year effort to improve schools. Through a qualitative analysis of forms of community engagement, this article offers a framework for understanding participation. We present two overlapping continua of participation by community stakeholders in school board meetings. One continuum focuses on who initiates participation, and a second represents the impact of participation. We conclude that decision making by boards is often complex, reflecting public and private moves that include and exclude stakeholders. Ultimately, participation on school boards involves listening, communication, and trust.
The Forms of Capital and the Developed Achievement of Black Males
Authors: Dixon-Román Ezekiel J.
Published: November 2012

This study sought to examine the association of the various forms of capital on the developed achievement of Black males. As one of the richest longitudinal family economic data sets, the Child Development Supplement to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics is used to estimate multilevel growth models of the math and reading achievement of Black males. Results suggest that the family’s permanent income has a large positive effect on the level of both math and reading achievement. Of the practices of social/cultural capital, parental emotional/cognitive stimulation, parents observing the classroom, and parental attendance at school events each had meaningful positive effects on the level of both math and reading achievement.
Ceilings and Floors
Authors: Goertz Gary , Hak Tony , Dul Jan
Published: November 2012

There are situations where the data or the theory suggest or require, respectively, that one estimate the boundary lines that separate regions of observations from regions of no observations. Of particular interest are ceiling or floor lines. For example, many theories use terms such as veto player, constraint, only if, and so on, which suggest ceilings. Ceiling hypotheses have a nonstandard form claiming the probability of Y will be zero for all values of Y greater than the ceiling value of Yc for a given value of X. Conversely, ceiling hypotheses make no specific prediction about the value of Y for a given value of X except that it will be less than the ceiling value. Floors work by guaranteeing minimum levels. The article gives numerous examples of theories that imply ceiling or floor hypotheses and numerous examples of data that fit such hypotheses. The article proposes quantile regression as a means of estimating the boundaries of the no-data zone as well as criteria for evaluating the importance of the boundary variable. These techniques are illustrated for ceiling and floor hypotheses relating gross domestic product/capita and democracy.
Whose Abraham, Which Promise? Genesis 15.6 in Philo’s De Virtutibus and Romans 4
Authors: McFarland Orrey
Published: November 2012

This article creates a dialogue between Philo’s and Paul the Apostle’s interpretations of Gen. 15.6—specifically, their understandings of Abraham’s faith. Both Philo and Paul see Abraham as functioning in a formally analogous way: for example, Abraham’s faith identifies him as a representative or paradigmatic figure for those who follow him. Yet Philo and Paul develop their interpretations in remarkably divergent fashions. Accordingly, this article will seek to discern the hermeneutical fault line that allows two near-contemporary readers of the same text to construe it so differently. As will be demonstrated, Philo reads Abraham’s story as the narrative of Abraham’s becoming virtuous, and thus how one attains virtue is the key to Philo’s hermeneutic; Paul, by contrast, interprets Abraham’s faith from the vantage point of the Christ-event, such that the focus is on the incongruity between God’s gift and the human recipient.
A Bio-Bibliographical Study of James Rendel Harris (1852–1941), Illustrated from his Discovery and Investigation of the ‘Absolutely Unique’ Logion after Matthew 17.26
Authors: North J. Lionel
Published: November 2012

James Rendel Harris showed a lifelong interest in the medieval MS of the Greek Gospels conventionally numbered 713 and particularly in Mt. 17.25-26. He argued that the saying attributed there to Jesus and addressed to Peter, ‘So you too give as a stranger to them’, was probably part of Tatian’s Diatessaron. Harris’s very considerable and rather arcane scholarship shows some unusual gaps.
Barriers to Success in Parent Training for Young Children With Developmental Delay
Authors: Bagner Daniel M. , Graziano Paulo A.
Published: November 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cumulative risk on dropout and treatment outcome in parent training. Participants were 44 families of young children (mean age of 49.59 months) who presented with elevated externalizing behavior problems and developmental delay or borderline developmental delay. All families were offered to receive Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based, behavioral parent-training intervention, at a hospital-based outpatient clinic. Cumulative risk was calculated as a sum of risk variables, including socioeconomic disadvantage (poverty, low maternal education), family structure (single-parent household), and maternal risk characteristics (minority status, lower intelligence, and parental distress). Families with higher cumulative risk scores, especially those with three or more risks, were more likely to drop out of treatment and display diminished treatment response in child behavior and parenting skills compared with families with lower cumulative risk scores. However, only two individual risk factors (i.e., minority status and family structure) predicted dropout, and one individual risk factor (i.e., maternal education) predicted outcome. These findings suggest that it can be useful to conceptualize risk factors as having a cumulative, in addition to individual, influence on parent-training interventions for children with developmental delay and have significant implications for clinical practice. It is important for clinicians to regularly assess for risk factors, and future research should examine ways in which clinicians can improve retention and outcome of parent training in the presence of multiple risk factors.
The USACE and Post-Katrina New Orleans
Authors: Hatcher Laura J. , Strother Logan , Burnside Randolph , Hughes Donald
Published: November 2012

In this article, we present demolition data to explore the way the patterns of demolition carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) were constituted as a social problem by residents of the Lower Ninth Ward and members of the broader New Orleans community. Through a study of newspaper stories and press interviews about the implementation process, we find evidence of a gap that exists between the interpretation of the demolitions by residents of the Lower Ninth, and the need to carry out disaster clean-up among city officials and the USACE. This gap, we suggest, is constitutive of an implementation problem that may best be dealt with in policymaking processes focused on planning for disasters.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Shared Decision-Making Instrument–Revised
Authors: Bartlett Jacqueline A. , Peterson Jane A.
Published: November 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Shared Decision-Making Inventory–Revised (SDMI-R) to measure four constructs (knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and intent) theoretically defined as vital in discussing the human papillomavirus (HPV) disease and vaccine with clients. The SDMI-R was distributed to a sample ( N = 1,525) of school nurses. Correlational matrixes denoted moderate to strong correlations, indicating adequate internal reliability. Reliability for the total instrument was satisfactory (α = .874) along with Attitude, Self-Efficacy and Intent subscales .828, .917, .891, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis revealed five components that explained 75.96% of the variance.
How does using philosophy and creative thinking enable me to recognise and develop inclusive gifts and talents in my pupils?
Authors: Hurford Ros
Published: November 2012

In this writing it is my intention to show how using philosophy and creative thinking with junior school children has enabled me to identify gifts and talents of which I might otherwise have been unaware and to show the impact this has had on the children concerned in terms of their own awareness of themselves as learners. I will also question where this fits into current policies on gifted and talented education. The article will demonstrate how I have used an action research method based on my own values and embodied professional knowledge in that I have identified and sought to improve an area of concern in my teaching, and in generating my own living theory of how I teach, I have made my ideas available for public scrutiny, therefore testing them for validity against the critical responses of a wider audience (Whitehead and McNiff, 2006: 13). Using notes from my personal journal, sharing video evidence with colleagues and in discussion with the Tuesday Master’s group at Bath University, I intend to comply with Habermas’s (1976) criteria for validity in that what I say will be understandable to another person, understood by him or her and a common understanding reached, enabling me to add my own living theory contribution to the wider body of professional knowledge.
Partial dictation as a measure of EFL listening proficiency: Evidence from confirmatory factor analysis
Authors: Cai Hongwen
Published: November 2012

Partial dictation is a measure of EFL listening proficiency that can be easily constructed, administered, and scored by EFL teachers. However, it is controversial whether this form of test measures lower-order abilities exclusively or involves both lower- and higher-order abilities. In order to answer this question, a study was designed to examine the difference between partial dictation and test forms believed to measure more higher-order abilities. In a series of confirmatory factor analyses, the simplex, second-order, and bi-factor models were fitted to the scores of 367 college-level EFL learners in China in a listening test composed of partial dictation, gap-filling and constructed response tasks. The bi-factor model was identified as the best-fitting and this supports the view that partial dictation measures the same construct as test forms believed to measure more higher-order abilities. Concomitant statistical analyses also showed that the partial dictation tasks were suited to the ability level of the test takers and had high internal consistency.
Measuring authorial voice strength in L2 argumentative writing: The development and validation of an analytic rubric
Authors: Zhao Cecilia Guanfang
Published: November 2012

Although a key concept in various writing textbooks, learning standards, and writing rubrics, voice remains a construct that is only loosely defined in the literature and impressionistically assessed in practice. Few attempts have been made to formally investigate whether and how the strength of an author’s voice in written texts can be reliably measured. Using a mixed-method approach, this study develops and validates an analytic rubric that measures voice strength in second language (L2) argumentative writing. Factor analysis of ratings from six raters on voice strength in a total of 400 TOEFL® iBT writing samples, together with qualitative analysis of four raters’ in-depth think-aloud and interview data, points to an alternative conceptualization of voice that sees authorial voice in written discourse as being realized primarily through the following dimensions: (1) the presence and clarity of ideas in the content; (2) the manner of the presentation of ideas; and (3) the writer and reader presence. Implications of such results for L2 writing instruction and assessment are discussed.
Stochastic differential equation-based exploration algorithm for autonomous indoor 3D exploration with a micro-aerial vehicle
Authors: Shen Shaojie , Michael Nathan , Kumar Vijay
Published: November 2012

In this paper, we propose a stochastic differential equation-based exploration algorithm to enable exploration in three-dimensional indoor environments with a payload-constrained micro-aerial vehicle (MAV). We are able to address computation, memory, and sensor limitations by using a map representation which is dense for the known occupied space but sparse for the free space. We determine regions for further exploration based on the evolution of a stochastic differential equation that simulates the expansion of a system of particles with Newtonian dynamics. The regions of most significant particle expansion correlate to unexplored space. After identifying and processing these regions, the autonomous MAV navigates to these locations to enable fully autonomous exploration. The performance of the approach is demonstrated through numerical simulations and experimental results in single- and multi-floor indoor experiments.
Esuba
Authors: Roe-Sepowitz Dominique E. , Bedard Laura E. , Pate Kerensa N. , Hedberg E. C.
Published: November 2012

This study examined the effects associated with a trauma and abuse-focused psychoeducation group for incarcerated women on decreasing trauma symptoms. A total of 320 women participated in 34 groups in five prisons that followed a manualized intervention. A one-group pretest–posttest design was used to examine changes on 10 Trauma Symptom Inventory subscales (Anxious Arousal, Depression, Anger/Irritability, Intrusive Experiences, Defensive Avoidance, Dissociation, Sexual Concerns, Dysfunctional Sexual Behavior, Impaired Self-Reference, and Tension Reduction Behavior). Analyses indicated significant improvement on all 10 trauma subscales. Small effect sizes were found on all of the subscales. The findings of this study are encouraging and are the first step toward more rigorous evaluation of this pilot program. These findings provide initial support for the use of group psychoeducation intervention to address traumatic stress symptoms with incarcerated women.
Juvenile Delinquency and Psychopathic Traits
Authors: Pechorro Pedro , Gonçalves Rui Abrunhosa , Maroco João , Gama Ana Paula , Neves Saul , Nunes Cristina
Published: November 2012

The objective of the present study was to analyze the role of psychopathic traits in juvenile delinquency. Using a sample of 543 young males from the Juvenile Detention Centers of the Portuguese Ministry of Justice and from schools in the Lisbon region, a group of high psychopathic traits ( n = 281) and a group of low psychopathic traits ( n = 262) were formed based on the Portuguese version of Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD). Results showed that youths with high psychopathic traits start engaging in criminal activities earlier in life, come into contact with the justice system earlier in life, and have higher levels of conduct disorder, behavior problems, and delinquent behaviors as well as lower levels of self-esteem.
Sexual Sadism
Authors: Nitschke Joachim , Mokros Andreas , Osterheider Michael , Marshall William L.
Published: November 2012

The phenomenon of sexual sadism was first scientifically described by Richard von Krafft-Ebing in 1999 as a sexual preference disorder that focuses on the infliction of suffering, pain, or humiliation to achieve sexual gratification. The present article reviews the historical development of the term sexual sadism, including the current descriptive nosology of psychiatric classification. Despite clear definitions that specify the sexual objects, duration, and distress necessary for a disorder, evidence for the diagnostic reliability for sexual sadism in the forensic domain is mixed. We argue that the reliance on the patient’s willingness to divulge corresponding violent sexual fantasies is the Achilles’ heel of the diagnosis. In an attempt to improve agreement across diagnosticians, we argue for the use of behavioral indicators. We summarize the extant research on the Severe Sexual Sadism Scale (SESAS), which is a file-based observer rating of pertinent crime-scene actions. We conclude that the analysis of crime-scene behavior, as achieved with the SESAS, can provide a useful complement for the clinical diagnosis in forensic psychiatry and psychology.
Reckoning with ruins
Authors: DeSilvey Caitlin , Edensor Tim
Published: November 2012

Scholarly interest in ruins and derelict spaces has intensified over the last decade. We assess a broad selection of the resulting literature and identify several key themes. We focus on how ruins may be used to critically examine capitalist and state manifestations of power; we consider the way in which ruins may challenge dominant ways of relating to the past; and we look at how ruins may complicate strategies for practically and ontologically ordering space. We speculate about the motivations for this surge of current academic interest, draw out resonances with current trends in geographical thinking, and suggest directions for future research.
Effect of carbon fiber surface chemistry on the interfacial properties of carbon fibers/epoxy resin composites
Authors: Qian Xin , Chen Liqun , Huang Jing , Wang Weixia , Guan Jianmin
Published: November 2012

Polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers were electrochemically oxidized under a wide variety of current densities, and then surface changes in the morphological structures and the chemical compositions were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Finally, the effects of carbon fiber surface chemistry on the interfacial properties of carbon fiber reinforced composites were researched. The results showed that surface contaminants generated during the production process were removed and the relative contents of oxygen and nitrogen elements increased by 322% and 432%, respectively, after the electrochemical oxidation. Increases in the O/C and N/C ratios resulted in the increase in the interlaminar shear strength values of composites. However, much higher O/C and N/C ratios led to decline in the interlaminar shear strength values. Carboxyl groups were responsible for strong interactions between carbon fiber surfaces and the epoxy resin. When the current densities were more than 5 A/m2, the interfacial bonding between carbon fibers and the epoxy resin became weak and the interlaminar shear strength values also decreased.
Tensile and compressive properties of flax-plain weave preform reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: Muralidhar B A
Published: November 2012

In this article, plain weave flax fabric-reinforced epoxy composites are investigated experimentally for their tensile and compressive properties. The effect of number of preform layers and the effect of lay-up architecture on the above-mentioned properties are also studied. The composite laminates were processed by hand lay-up technique using 2 and 4 mm thick spacers and cured under pressure of 3 bar for 2 hour at 50°C, followed by post curing in an oven at 120°C for 1 h. Specimen preparation and testing were carried out as per ASTM standards. Mechanical data obtained showed that the main parameter governing the tensile properties of the woven preform composites was the flax volume fraction parallel to the direction of the tensile axis. However, the proportion of matrix seems to influence the compressive behaviour. Further, with the increase in number of preform layers the compressive properties improve whereas, the tensile behaviour deteriorates across all combinations considered in this study.
Municipal solid waste management in Beijing: characteristics and challenges
Authors: Wang Hao , Wang Chunmei
Published: November 2012

An overview of the municipal solid waste (MSW) management in Beijing, a city with a resident population of about 19.61 million in 2010, is presented in the article. Economic development and population growth have resulted in a MSW generation increase from 2.96 million tons in 2000 to 6.20 million tons in 2007, fluctuating to 6.35 million tons in 2010. The components of MSW over the past decade are characterized by increasing food and paper contents, and a decreasing ash content. The percentage of food waste, the main putrescible component, increased steadily from 45.77% in 2002 to 66.98% in 2010. Combustible materials, such as plastic, paper, textile, wood and food waste, accounted for 94.66% of MSW in 2008. There are 15 landfill sites, 2 incinerators and 2 composting plants in Beijing, with a total designed capacity of 15,380 tons/day in 2010. The main waste disposal technology used in Beijing is landfill, which accounts for 92.27% of the total designed capacity in 2008 and 78.54% in 2009. The designed capacity of the existing disposal plants cannot cope with the actual quantity of waste generation, resulting in overloading and premature closure of landfill sites. Solid waste incineration has been given priority in technology development and financial support over other disposal methods.
Investigating the effectiveness of different tea types from various thyme kinds (Origanum onites, Thymbra spicata and Satureja cuneifolia) on anemia and anticholesterolemic activity
Authors: Akdogan Mehmet , Kisioglu Ahmet Nesimi , Ciris Metin , Koyu Ahmet
Published: November 2012

In a study on villagers settled on the outskirts of the Taurus Mountains and whose source of living is thyme, it was revealed that the villagers excessively consumed thyme by adding it to their tea and many of their foods; high incidences of anemia was found among these villagers. In this study, 42 male adult Wistar albino rats weighing 200–250 g were used. The rats were divided to six equal groups as follows: control, cholesterol (Chol), 80 mg/kg Origanum onites Labiatae (OOL), 80 mg/kg Thymbra spicata Labiatae (TSL), 80 mg/kg Satureja cuneifolia Labiatae (SCL), and 160 mg/kg TSL, and each group consisted of seven rats. The control group was fed with normal pellet feed. The Chol group and all the other groups, except for the control group, were fed with 2% cholesterol-containing pellet feed. Physiological serum of 4 ml was given to the control and Chol group, wheile 80 mg/kg of thymes tea was given to the OOL group, TSL group, and SCL group, and 160 mg/kg of thymes tea was given to the TSL group by means of a gavage for 30 days. In the blood samples, the hematologic parameters and the biochemical parameters of serum glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein, albumin, iron (I), total iron-binding capacity, aminotransferase aspartate, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, and oxidized LDL levels were examined. The kidney and liver tissues were examined histopathologically. The results of the study showed that different types of thymes had an antihypercholesterolemic effect. In addition to the anemic effect detected in group TSL and the mild granular degeneration found in the liver of 80 mg/kg SCL group, distinct granular degeneration was observed in 160 mg/kg TSL group.
A Preliminary Analysis of a Strategic Staffing Initiative
Authors: Pulliam Cheryl L. , LaCaria Lynne , Schoeneberger Jason , Algozzine Bob
Published: November 2012

The authors evaluated a reform program known as “Strategic Staffing” in which principals were given increased autonomy to modify the delivery of instruction without compromising academic content. The program’s central feature was reassignment of school leaders and key staff members from settings in which they were successful to schools experiencing deep and chronic levels of low student performance. The authors used a causal-comparative design with schools matched on key demographic variables as well as qualitative analyses of key features of treatment schools. After 1 year of implementation, the authors found that achievement scores and other indicators were not statistically significantly different across turnaround schools. Participating principals reported similar concerns, plans, and challenges to those documented in previous studies. The authors discuss their work in the growing knowledge base addressing turnaround in chronically low-achieving schools.
Moral distress and avoidance behavior in nurses working in critical care and noncritical care units
Authors: De Villers Mary Jo , DeVon Holli A
Published: November 2012

Nurses facing impediments to what they perceive as moral practice may experience moral distress. The purpose of this descriptive, cross-sectional study was to determine similarities and differences in moral distress and avoidance behavior between critical care nurses and non-critical care nurses. Sixty-eight critical care and 28 non-critical care nurses completed the Moral Distress Scale and Impact of Event Scale (IES). There were no differences in moral distress scores ( F = 0.892, p = 0.347) or impact of event scores ( F = 3.80, p = 0.054) between groups after adjusting for age. There was a small positive correlation between moral distress and avoidance behaviors for both the groups. Moral distress is present in both critical care and noncritical care nurses. It is important that nurses are provided with opportunities to cope with this distress and that retention strategies include ways to reduce suffering and mitigate the effects on professional practice.
Ethical difficulties in nursing, educational needs and attitudes about using ethics resources
Authors: Leuter Cinzia , Petrucci Cristina , Mattei Antonella , Tabassi Gianpietro , Lancia Loreto
Published: November 2012

Ethical difficulties arise in healthcare practices. However, despite extensive research findings that demonstrate that most nurses are involved in recurrent ethical problems, institutions are not always able to effectively support nursing care professionals. The limited availability of ethics consultation services and traditional nursing training fails to meet the frequent and strong requests by health workers to support their ethical dilemmas. A questionnaire was administered to 374 nurses attending a specialist training and a lifetime learning programme in Italy. The respondents reported a high frequency of ethically sensitive situations, and they described the poor development of ethics support and a scarcity of ethics training programmes. The results suggest the importance of promoting ethics services that include consultation and ethics training. A need for systematic ethics educational activities was identified for improving the capacity of nurses to manage ethical issues in patient care.
Socioeconomic Inequalities in Global and Relative Self-Rated Health in Laos
Authors: Andersson Magnus , Lundin Andreas
Published: November 2012

Background. This study examines inequalities in health in Laos. Because perception of health might affect ratings, we used both a global and a relative self-rated health (SRH) question. Methods. The study was based on the fourth Lao Expenditure and Consumption Survey, 2007-2008. The study population consisted of 24 162 individuals 20 years or older. Two single-question measures of SRH were used: a global with no reference point and a relative with age group reference. Results. Significant associations were found with age, sex, illiteracy, ethnicity, remote location, health measures, nutrition, and household poverty. Worse health was reported using SRH questions with reference points by the young rather than the old. Conclusion. In Laos, poor SRH is associated with illiteracy, inaccessibility, Mon-Khmer ethnicity, age, being a woman, and being poor. More factors were found to be associated with global rather than relative SRH.
The Relationship Between Economic Status and Mortality of South Koreans, as It Relates to Average Life Expectancy
Authors: Kim Ji Man , Jo Yong-Sim , Park Eun-Cheol , Cho Woo-Hyun , Choi Jongwon , Chang Hoo-Sun
Published: November 2012

This study investigates the relationship between economic status and mortality of Korean men and women who were under and over the average national life expectancy using Cox’s proportional hazard model to adjust for health status, past medical history, and age. The study subjects come from local applicants of Korean National Health Insurance who had a health examination in 2005. They were enrolled into a follow-up investigation from 2005 to 2011. In individuals younger than the average life expectancy, the mortality of the lowest economic status was 2.48 times higher in men and 2.02 times higher in women than that in the highest economic status. Economic status–mortality association in males older than the average life expectancy was attenuated but not eliminated. However, there is no significant relationship between economic status and mortality for females above the average life expectancy.
Gender Difference in Association Between Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass and Cardiometabolic Abnormalities in Normal-Weight and Obese Adults
Authors: Kim Jaehee
Published: November 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the relationships of appendicular muscle mass (ASM) with insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome (MS) vary by gender or obesity. Data of 10 146 normal-weight and obese men and women aged 19 to 93 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2009 and 2010 were analyzed. In normal-weight men and women, unadjusted odds ratio (OR) of being MS and IR significantly increased with lower ASM/wt. After adjusting for lifestyle factors, these ORs were still significant in normal-weight men but not in women. After controlling for other covariates, lower ASM/wt was related to higher risk for IR but not to MS in obese men. In obese women, relationship of lower ASM/wt with higher risk for MS disappeared after adjusting for covariates. Association between skeletal muscle mass and cardiometabolic abnormalities is dependent on gender and obesity in Korean adults.
Involvement in sport and social connectedness
Authors: Hoye Russell , Nicholson Matthew , Brown Kevin
Published: November 2012

This paper explores the relationship between involvement in sport and non-sport community organisations and social connectedness. Data were collected on types of community involvement, selected demographic variables and social connectedness. The findings support the contention that involvement in sport organisations is associated with increased levels of social connectedness. Sport involvement was found to be a predictor of social connectedness, while involvement in non-sport community organisations was not. The study also found that the tenure and intensity of involvement in organisations were not significantly associated with social connectedness scores.
Voice Climate, Work Outcomes, and the Mediating Role of Psychological Empowerment
Authors: Frazier M. Lance , Fainshmidt Stav
Published: November 2012

The study of voice climate in organizations is a recent introduction to the voice literature and much is still unknown about the outcomes associated with voice climate or the processes by which voice climate influences those outcomes. Drawing from social information processing theory, this study casts psychological empowerment as a cognitive mechanism through which shared voice climate perceptions in work groups are translated into individual work outcomes—voice behavior and customer service performance. Based on a sample of 314 full-time employees in 53 work groups, the results of our study suggest that psychological empowerment fully mediates the relationship between voice climate and customer service performance, and it only partially mediates the relationship between voice climate and voice behavior. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings as well as future research directions are discussed.
On decay and analyticity in viscoelastic solids with voids by means of dissipative coupling
Authors: Muñoz Rivera Jaime E , Pamplona Paulo Xavier , Quintanilla Ramón
Published: November 2012

In this paper we consider three particular systems of the isothermal viscoelasticity with voids. Our main aim is to see how the coupling terms in the dissipative parts can be used to obtain qualitative properties which are not satisfied when the coupling terms are not present.
Torsion of tubes with quasi-polygonal holes using complex variable method
Authors: Bazehhour Benyamin Gholami , Rezaeepazhand Jalil
Published: November 2012

In this paper, torsional analysis of hollow bars with specially shaped non-circular cross-sections is presented. The well-known formulation of the torsion problem in complex variable theory is used to obtain an expression for shear stresses, angle of twist and cross-sectional warping. The most important part of the solution of the torsion problem here is to obtain an appropriate closed-form conformal mapping for specially shaped cross-sections. The obtained mapping is used to achieve a solution for torsion problem of bars with specially shaped hollow cross-section. Finally, the calculated results are compared with the finite-element method solution. The presented solution is capable of accurately predicting the angle of twist, warping, and shear stress in the studied hollow bars.
Geometric aspects of singular dislocations
Authors: Epstein Marcelo , Segev Reuven
Published: November 2012

The theory of singular dislocations is placed within the framework of the theory of continuous dislocations using de Rham currents. For a general n-dimensional manifold, an ( n − 1)-current describes a local layering structure and its boundary in the sense of currents represents the structure of the dislocations. Frank’s rules for dislocations follow naturally from the nilpotency of the boundary operator.
On the significance of coherent interface effects for embedded nanoparticles
Authors: Mi Changwen , Kouris Demitris
Published: November 2012

To extend classical micro and nanomechanics of inclusions and inhomogeneities from bulk phase only to interface-featured multi-phase, we formulated a solution procedure for evaluating the significance of interface stress on embedded nanoparticles. The methodology allows, for instance, analytical determination of the influential effects of interface stress on elastic fields of both nanoparticles and matrices within the general framework of continuum theory of bulk and interface elasticity. A thorough curvilinear analysis of a general Euclidean interface is performed with the aid of field theory and applied to facilitate the integration of displacement continuity and traction jump boundary conditions of interface elasticity into the classical formulation of displacement potentials. For illustration purposes, the solution methodology is applied to a spherical nanoparticle embedded in an infinite substrate subjected to most general far-field tension and eigenstrain loads. The developed model extends the solution limit of interface-induced length-scale effects on embedded ellipsoidal nanoparticles to the solution availability of their corresponding classical counterparts, provided that interface material properties are given.
Fiscal Decentralization and Economic Growth in OECD Countries
Authors: Baskaran Thushyanthan , Feld Lars P.
Published: November 2012

We study the effect of fiscal decentralization on economic growth for twenty-three Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries from 1975 to 2008. In order to proxy fiscal decentralization, we use both traditional Government Finance Statistics (GFS)–style measures and new measures that account for the degree of subnational tax autonomy. The regressions with GFS–style measures indicate that fiscal decentralization has a negative but statistically insignificant effect on growth. Regressions with the new measures also result in negative coefficient estimates. However, they are larger in absolute terms and statistically significant. For the empirical literature on fiscal federalism, these results imply that measures of fiscal decentralization that account for subnational tax autonomy should be preferred to traditional GFS-style measures. From a policy perspective, we conclude that policy makers should be aware of the economic trade-offs when pursuing reforms toward more fiscal decentralization.
Structural validation of the abridged Autism Spectrum Quotient–Short Form in a clinical sample of people with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Kuenssberg Renate , Murray Aja L , Booth Tom , McKenzie Karen
Published: November 2012

The primary aim of this article was to provide a structural validation of the 28-item Autism Spectrum Quotient–Short Form questionnaire in a sample of adults with clinically diagnosed autism spectrum disorders ( n = 148). Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the proposed structure, comprising a second-order Social Skills factor subsuming first-order factors of Social Skills, Routine, Switching and Imagination, and a Numbers/Patterns factor showed good acceptable fit to the data ( χ2 = 464.27(345), p < .05; comparative fit index = .91; Tucker Lewis index = .90; root mean squared error of approximation = .048; weighted root mean square residual = 0.98). Summed mean scores for the total sample, and males and females separately, showed no significant differences to previously reported means, with the exception of Numbers/Patterns, for which the current sample reported significantly lower means in both males ( t = 3.37, p < 0.001) and females ( t = 2.33, p < 0.05). The results provide support for both the proposed structure of the AQ-S and the stability of total and subscale mean scores in different samples of participants with autism spectrum disorder diagnoses.
Impacts of Trade Liberalization on Export Performance in Bangladesh: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Hoque Mohammad Monjurul , Yusop Zulkornain
Published: November 2012

In the backdrop of persistent trade deficit, Bangladesh has been extensively liberalizing its trade regime since 1992 in order to achieve higher export performance and GDP growth. However, despite the liberalization, imports are still growing faster than exports, increasing trade deficit. The article empirically examines the impacts of trade liberalization on export performance in Bangladesh, using the ARDL ‘Bounds Test’ approach with annual time series data. Empirical results indicate that trade liberalization is having statistically significant but low impact on aggregate export. Neither capital stock as a technology transfers nor liberalization through reduction and withdrawal of export duties shows a significant impact on export performance. Exports are mostly stimulated by GDP growth. The interaction of liberalization with GDP increases exports a little, hence improving the trade balance. However, the liberalization enhances imports compared to exports hence the trade deficit. Therefore, a combined and consistent policy to promote GDP growth, technology transfers and domestic price stability, including education, infrastructures and backward linkage industries is essential in order to achieve higher export performance in Bangladesh.