bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of resistant and susceptible soybean cultivars on the attraction of egg parasitoids under field conditions
Authors: Michereff M. F. F. , Michereff Filho M. , Blassioli‐Moraes M. C. , Laumann R. A. , Diniz I. R. , Borges M.
Published: July 2014

The association of resistant crop varieties and biological pest control has great potential for pest management, as resistant cultivars may affect herbivore population dynamics by interfering with their biology and search behaviour for host plants. In addition, resistant varieties can also affect the efficiency of natural enemies. The aims of this work were to evaluate the influence of the soybean cultivars Dowling (resistant), IAC 100 (resistant) and Silvânia (susceptible) under field conditions on: (i) the abundance of parasitoids in the Platygastridae family and the stink bug Euschistus heros and (ii) the parasitism of stink bug eggs by these natural enemies. There was no difference between cultivars in stink bug distribution in the field. The parasitoids Telenomus podisi, Trissolcus teretis, Tr. urichi and Tr. brochymenae emerged from the sentinel eggs of E. heros, and T. podisi was the most abundant species observed during the reproductive stage R6. The cultivars Dowling and IAC 100 attracted a higher number of Platygastridae parasitoids, T. podisi and Tr. teretis, and the abundance of these parasitoids during the period from R1 to R7 might have being sufficient to control the stink bug population. These results suggest that the cultivars Dowling and IAC 100 have important attributes that should be taken into account in the implementation and development of new cultivars in breeding programmes that aim to obtain plants more resistant to stink bugs and more attractive to natural enemies.
Prediction Model for Eating Property of Indica Rice
Authors: Lu Lin , Zhu Zhiwei
Published: July 2014

One hundred and five indica rice samples were analyzed by determining head rice yield, chalkiness, protein content, gel consistency and amylose content. Taste scores of rice were obtained by sensory evaluation. Support vector machine (SVM) and K‐nearest neighbors (KNN) models were established with physicochemical properties as attributes. In each linear correlation, amylose content had highest coefficient with taste score, but in the mutual influence, gel consistency showed highest correlation. In SVM model, the accuracy of the training set and testing set were 99.0% and 93.3%, respectively; in KNN model, they were 74.3% and 73.3%, respectively. These results showed that the nonlinear relationship between eating property and physicochemical properties of indica rice was found. It was concluded that SVM, which extracts nonlinear features, can be used to effectively predict the taste class of unknown.

Practical Applications

Support vector machine (SVM) is an effective prediction model used to represent the eating property of indica rice. The model showed that the nonlinear relationship between eating property and physicochemical properties of indica rice. The results of the present study can also serve as a valuable resource to further explore the utilization of the prediction model in sensory evaluation of rice, and expound the relationship between eating property and other properties of rice.
Effect of Okara on Textural, Color and Rheological Properties of Pork Meat Gels
Authors: Chang Tong , Wang Chenjie , Wang Shuilian , Shi Liu , Yang Hong , Cui Min
Published: July 2014

The objective of this study was to investigate effect of okara on the textural, color and rheological properties of pork meat gels. Pork meat gels with okara had better cooking characteristics than those without okara. As okara content increased in pork meat gels, there were significant increases in lightness (L*), hardness, chewiness and breaking force of gels but decreases in cohesiveness, while there was no significant difference found in gel springiness and resilience. Addition of okara also increased storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) of pork batters during the heating. Loss tangent (tan δ) patterns indicated that okara facilitate to hold more water and accelerated the denaturation to form an elastic gel network. Overall, okara can be used as an ingredient to improve the quality of pork‐based products, especially to replace animal fats.

Practical Applications

Results of this investigation could have a potential for developing a novel meat product that contains dietary fiber since a product with better functionality, lower cost and more nutritional benefit is very importance for the meat processing industry.
Norms of the Attitudes Toward Intellectual Disability Questionnaire
Authors: Morin D. , Rivard M. , Boursier C. P. , Crocker A. G. , Caron J.
Published: July 2014

Background

The Attitudes Toward Intellectual Disability Questionnaire (ATTID) has demonstrated good psychometric qualities for measuring the attitudes of different groups of adults in the general population toward intellectual disability (ID). A significant advantage of the ATTID is that it addresses the concept of attitudes using a three‐dimensional model (affective, cognitive and behavioural). To our knowledge, there are no normative data published regarding attitudes toward ID on general population‐based samples.

Methods

The sample of 1605 men and women was stratified to be representative of the general adult population of Quebec. The ATTID was administered by phone interview through an independent survey firm.

Results

Normative data are presented as percentile scores associated with the raw score of the ATTID by gender and age categories. Analysis of the variance yielded significant differences in attitude by gender and age. The directions and the strength of these associations vary according to each of the five factors used to define attitudes.

Conclusion

These norms will provide an essential tool to compare different groups and assess the effectiveness of various public campaigns to encourage more positive attitudes towards persons with ID. These norms would also allow international comparisons.
Reliability and validity of the Leuven Perceptual Organization Screening Test (L‐POST)
Authors: Vancleef Kathleen , Acke Elia , Torfs Katrien , Demeyere Nele , Lafosse Christophe , Humphreys Glyn , Wagemans Johan , de‐Wit Lee
Published: July 2014

Neuropsychological tests of visual perception mostly assess high‐level processes like object recognition. Object recognition, however, relies on distinct mid‐level processes of perceptual organization that are only implicitly tested in classical tests. Furthermore, the psychometric properties of the existing instruments are limited. To fill this gap, the Leuven perceptual organization screening test (L‐POST) was developed, in which a wide range of mid‐level phenomena are measured in 15 subtests. In this study, we evaluated reliability and validity of the L‐POST. Performance on the test is evaluated relative to a norm sample of more than 1,500 healthy control participants. Cronbach's alpha of the norm sample and test–retest correlations for 20 patients provide evidence for adequate reliability of L‐POST performance. The convergent and discriminant validity of the test was assessed in 40 brain‐damaged patients, whose performance on the L‐POST was compared with standard clinical tests of visual perception and other measures of cognitive function. The L‐POST showed high sensitivity to visual dysfunction and decreased performance was specific to visual problems. In conclusion, the L‐POST is a reliable and valid screening test for perceptual organization. It offers a useful online tool for researchers and clinicians to get a broader overview of the mid‐level processes that are preserved or disrupted in a given patient.
Ambivalence About Interpersonal Problems and Traits Predicts Cross‐Situational Variability of Social Behavior
Authors: Erickson Thane M. , Newman Michelle G. , Peterson Jessica , Scarsella Gina
Published: July 2014

Multiple theoretical perspectives suggest that maladjusted personality is characterized by not only distress, but also opposing or “ambivalent” self‐perceptions and behavioral lability across social interactions. However, the degree to which ambivalence about oneself predicts cross‐situational variability in social behavior has not been examined empirically. Using the interpersonal circumplex (IPC) as a nomological framework, the present study investigated the extent to which endorsing opposing or “ambivalent” tendencies on IPC measures predicted variability in social behavior across a range of hypothetical interpersonal scenarios (Part 1; N = 288) and naturalistic social interactions (Part 2; N = 192). Ambivalent responding for interpersonal problems and traits was associated with measures of distress, maladaptive interpersonal tendencies, and greater variability of social behavior across both hypothetical and daily social interactions, though more consistently for interpersonal problems. More conservative tests suggested that ambivalence predicted some indexes of behavioral variability even when accounting for mean levels and squared means of social behaviors, vector length, gender, and depressive symptoms. Results suggest that processes theorized as typifying personality disorder may apply more broadly to personality maladjustment occurring outside of clinical samples.
Dimensions of Legislative Conflict: Coalitions, Obstructionism, and Lawmaking in Multiparty Presidential Regimes
Authors: Hiroi Taeko , Renno Lucio
Published: July 2014

This article addresses central issues in multiparty presidential systems: the functioning of legislative coalitions and the dynamics of legislative conflict. Since electoral competition has elements of both positive‐sum (increase in common support) and zero‐sum (exact division of the support) qualities, lawmaking in coalitional systems presents unique challenges. Using legislative data fromBrazil, we examine how coalition management and unity affect legislative delay and obstructionism. We find, among others, that: (1) coalition management is pivotal for both faster legislative approval and less obstructionism, but its effect depends on coalition size; and (2) cohesive opposition impedes the legislative process.
Immunotherapy trial as diagnostic test in evaluating patients with presumed autoimmune gastrointestinal dysmotility
Authors: Flanagan E. P. , Saito Y. A. , Lennon V. A. , McKeon A. , Fealey R. D. , Szarka L. A. , Murray J. A. , Foxx‐Orenstein A. E. , Fox J. C. , Pittock S. J.
Published: July 2014

Background

Chronic gastrointestinal dysmotility greatly impacts the quality of life. Treatment options are limited and generally symptomatic. Neural autoimmunity is an under‐recognized etiology. We evaluated immunotherapy as an aid to diagnosing autoimmune gastrointestinal dysmotility (AGID).

Methods

Twenty‐three subjects evaluated at the Mayo Clinic for suspected AGID (August 2006–February 2014) fulfilled the following criteria: (1) prominent symptoms of gastrointestinal dysmotility with abnormalities on scintigraphy–manometry; (2) serological evidence or personal/family history of autoimmune disease; (3) treated by immunotherapy on a trial basis, 6–12 weeks (intravenous immune globulin, 16; or methylprednisolone, 5; or both, 2). Response was defined subjectively (symptomatic improvement) and objectively (gastrointestinal scintigraphy/manometry studies).

Key Results

Symptoms at presentation: constipation, 18/23; nausea or vomiting, 18/23; weight loss, 17/23; bloating, 13/23; and early satiety, 4/23. Thirteen patients had personal/family history of autoimmunity. Sixteen had neural autoantibodies and 19 had extra‐intestinal autonomic testing abnormalities. Cancer was detected in three patients. Preimmunotherapy scintigraphy revealed slowed transit (19/21 evaluated; gastric, 11; small bowel, 12; colonic, 11); manometry studies were abnormal in 7/8. Postimmunotherapy, 17 (74%) had improvement (both symptomatic and scintigraphic, five; symptomatic alone, eight; scintigraphic alone, four). Nine responders re‐evaluated had scintigraphic evidence of improvement. The majority of responders who were re‐evaluated had improvement in autonomic testing (six of seven) or manometry (two of two).

Conclusions & Inferences

This proof of principle study illustrates the importance of considering an autoimmune basis for idiopathic gastrointestinal dysmotility and supports the utility of a diagnostic trial of immunotherapy.
Wood nitrogen concentrations in tropical trees: phylogenetic patterns and ecological correlates
Authors: Martin Adam R. , Erickson David L. , Kress W. John , Thomas Sean C.
Published: July 2014

In tropical and temperate trees, wood chemical traits are hypothesized to covary with species' life‐history strategy along a ‘wood economics spectrum’ (WES), but evidence supporting these expected patterns remains scarce. Due to its role in nutrient storage, we hypothesize that wood nitrogen (N) concentration will covary along theWES, being higher in slow‐growing species with high wood density (WD), and lower in fast‐growing species with lowWD.

In order to test this hypothesis we quantified wood N concentrations in 59 Panamanian hardwood species, and used this dataset to examine ecological correlates and phylogenetic patterns of wood N.

WoodNvaried > 14‐fold among species between 0.04 and 0.59%; closely related species were more similar in wood N than expected by chance. WoodNwas positively correlated withWD, and negatively correlated with log‐transformed relative growth rates, although these relationships were relatively weak. We found evidence for co‐evolution between wood N and bothWDand log‐transformed mortality rates.

Our study provides evidence that woodNcovaries with tree life‐history parameters, and that these patterns consistently co‐evolve in tropical hardwoods. These results provide some support for the hypothesizedWES, and suggest that wood is an increasingly important N pool through tropical forest succession.
What is wrong with the tenets underpinning current management of severe traumatic brain injury?
Authors: Chesnut Randall M.
Published: July 2014

The results of a recent randomized controlled trial comparing intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor–based treatment of severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) to management without ICP monitoring prompt this skeptical reconsideration of the scientific foundation underlying current sTBI management. Much of current practice arises from research performed under conditions that are no longer relevant today. The definition of an episode of intracranial hypertension is incomplete, and the application of a fixed, universal ICP treatment threshold is poorly founded. Although intracranial hypertension is a valid indicator of disease severity, it remains to be demonstrated that lowering ICP improves outcome. Furthermore, sTBI has not been categorized on the basis of underlying pathophysiology despite the current capability to do so. Similar concerns also apply to manipulation of cerebral perfusion with respect to maintaining universal thresholds for contrived variables rather than tailoring treatment to monitored processes. As such, there is a failure to either optimize management approaches or minimize associated treatment risks for individual sTBI patients. The clinical and research TBI communities need to reassess many of the sTBI management concepts that are currently considered well established.
The political process in global health and nutrition governance: the G8's 2010 Muskoka Initiative on Maternal, Child, and Newborn Health
Authors: Kirton John , Kulik Julia , Bracht Caroline
Published: July 2014

Why do informal, plurilateral summit institutions such as the Group of Eight (G8) major market democracies succeed in advancing costly public health priorities such as maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH), even when the formal, multilateral United Nations (UN) system fails to meet such goals, when G8 governments afflicted by recession, deficit, and debt seek to cut expenditures, and when the private sector is largely uninvolved, despite the growing popularity of public–private partnerships to meet global health and related nutrition, food, and agriculture needs? Guided by the concert‐equality model of G8 governance, this case study of the G8's 2010 Muskoka Initiative on MNCH traces the process through which that initiative was planned within Canada, internationally prepared through negotiations with Canada's G8 partners, produced at Muskoka by the leaders in June, multiplied in its results by the UN summit in September, and reinforced by the new accountability mechanism put in place. It finds that the Muskoka summit succeeded in mobilizing major money and momentum for MNCH. This was due to the initiative and influence of children‐focused nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), working with committed individuals and agencies within the host Canadian government, as well as supportive public opinion and the help of those in the UN responsible for realizing its Millennium Development Goals. Also relevant were the democratic like‐mindedness of G8 leaders and their African partners, the deference of G8 members to the host's priority, and the need of the G8 to demonstrate its relevance through a division of labor between it and the new Group of Twenty summit. This study shows that G8 summits can succeed in advancing key global health issues without a global shock on the same subject to galvanize agreement and action. It suggests that, when committed, focused NGOs and government officials will lead and the private sector will follow, but that there will be a lag in the implementation needed to obtain the intended results. The need to improve the accompanying accountability mechanisms to improve implementation, thus, remains.
Reliability of primary caregivers reports on lifestyle behaviours of European pre‐school children: the ToyBox‐study
Authors: González‐Gil E. M. , Mouratidou T. , Cardon G. , Androutsos O. , De Bourdeaudhuij I. , Góźdź M. , Usheva N. , Birnbaum J. , Manios Y. , Moreno L. A. ,   ToyBox‐study group
Published: July 2014

Reliable assessments of health‐related behaviours are necessary for accurate evaluation on the efficiency of public health interventions. The aim of the current study was to examine the reliability of a self‐administered primary caregivers questionnaire (PCQ) used in the ToyBox‐intervention. The questionnaire consisted of six sections addressing sociodemographic and perinatal factors, water and beverages consumption, physical activity, snacking and sedentary behaviours. Parents/caregivers from six countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Poland and Spain) were asked to complete the questionnaire twice within a 2‐week interval. A total of 93 questionnaires were collected. Test–retest reliability was assessed using intra‐class correlation coefficient (ICC). Reliability of the six questionnaire sections was assessed. A stronger agreement was observed in the questions addressing sociodemographic and perinatal factors as opposed to questions addressing behaviours. Findings showed that 92% of the ToyBox PCQ had a moderate‐to‐excellent test–retest reliability (defined as ICC values from 0.41 to 1) and less than 8% poor test–retest reliability (ICC < 0.40). Out of the total ICC values, 67% showed good‐to‐excellent reliability (ICC from 0.61 to 1). We conclude that the PCQ is a reliable tool to assess sociodemographic characteristics, perinatal factors and lifestyle behaviours of pre‐school children and their families participating in the ToyBox‐intervention.
INTER‐MUNICIPAL COOPERATION AND COSTS: EXPECTATIONS AND EVIDENCE
Authors: BEL GERMÀ , WARNER MILDRED E.
Published: July 2014

Austerity and fiscal crisis make the search for cost‐saving reforms in local government more critical. While cost savings from privatization have frequently proven ephemeral, inter‐municipal cooperation has been a relatively understudied reform. We analyse the literature on cost savings under cooperation and find that savings are dependent on (1) the cost structure of public services, particularly those related to scale and density economies and externalities, (2) the structure of local government (size, metropolitan location, powers granted by the nation or regional state), and (3) the governance framework at the local/regional level where cooperation varies from informal to formal. European studies give more emphasis to cost savings, while US studies focus on coordination concerns arising from the higher degree of devolution in the US local government system.
Pediatric Dermatology: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Prindaville Brea , Antaya Richard J. , Siegfried Elaine C.
Published: July 2014

Up to 30% percent of pediatric primary care visits include a skin‐related problem, and referrals are hampered by appointment wait times among the longest of any pediatric subspecialty. Despite the clear demand for pediatric dermatologists, there has been a long‐standing shortage of providers, leaving dermatology as one of the most underserved pediatric subspecialties. Another consequence of the workforce shortage is the limited opportunity for pediatric dermatology training for residents and postgraduate general pediatricians and dermatologists. This review includes the evolution of the subspecialty from conception through the present, along with obstacles to workforce expansion and potential solutions to improve access to care for children with skin diseases.
Aspirin Therapy in Venous Malformation: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Benefits, Side Effects, and Patient Experiences
Authors: Nguyen Jennifer T. , Koerper Marion A. , Hess Christopher P. , Dowd Christopher F. , Hoffman William Y. , Dickman Meghan , Frieden Ilona J.
Published: July 2014

Venous malformations (VMs) are often painful and may enlarge over time. Chronic coagulopathy is common in VMs and may contribute to phleboliths and potentially to disease progression. Few studies have examined the effects of anticoagulation on VMs and to our knowledge none have examined the use of aspirin therapy. A survey was administered to patients and parents of patients with VMs who attended the University of California at San Francisco Vascular Anomalies Center over a 4‐year period (2008–2012) to whom aspirin had been recommended. They were surveyed regarding whether they were taking aspirin and, if yes, whether aspirin had resulted in any appreciable benefit. Sixty‐five letters were sent to potential subjects: 38 participated and 27 declined to participate or could not be contacted. Twenty‐eight of the 38 had begun aspirin and 22 reported current use. Seventeen reported some benefit, including less aching (n = 2), less shooting pain (n = 15), less fullness and swelling (n = 13), and shrinking of the VM (n = 1). Discontinuation of aspirin was associated with worsening VM symptoms in five of six patients. Side effects were reported in 6 of 28 patients, including five episodes of minor bleeding or excessive bruising and one of nausea and vomiting. This study suggests that aspirin may be a beneficial treatment for VM, with a reduction in pain and soft tissue swelling and an acceptable side‐effect profile, but the retrospective nature of the study and the small size of the cohort limited our conclusions. Larger prospective studies of aspirin for VM using clinical and laboratory outcome measures are needed to confirm these observations.
Against Strong Cognitivism: An Argument from the Particularity of Love
Authors: Jacobson Hilla
Published: July 2014

According to the view we may term “strong cognitivism”, all reasons for action are rooted in normative features that the motivated subject (explicitly or implicitly) takes objects to have independently of her attitudes towards these objects. The main concern of this paper is to argue against strong cognitivism, that is, to establish the view that conative attitudes do provide subjects with reasons for action. The central argument to this effect is a top‐down argument: it proceeds by an analysis of the complex phenomenon of love and derives a conclusion regarding the (motivational and normative) nature of more basic mental phenomena—particular desires. More specifically, its starting point is the crude intuition that the significance conferred by love upon its objects is of a distinctively personal kind—an intuition that is expressed by the apparent non‐substitutability of two similar subjects only one of whom is loved with respect to their importance for the lover. I argue that the initial notion of non‐substitutability can be refined and modified so as to form a real challenge to all versions of strong cognitivism and to establish the existence of attitude‐dependent reasons.
A Quasi‐Planar Model for Gravity‐Capillary Interfacial Waves in Deep Water
Authors: Wang Z. , Vanden‐Broeck J.‐M. , Meng H.
Published: July 2014

A dynamical model equation for interfacial gravity‐capillary (GC) waves between two semi‐infinite fluid layers, with a lighter fluid lying above a heavier one, is derived. The model proposed is based on the fourth‐order truncation of the kinetic energy in the Hamiltonian of the full problem, and on weak transverse variations, in the spirit of the Kadomtsev‐Petviashvilli equation. It is well known that for the interfacial GC waves in deep water, there is a critical density ratio where the associated cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equations changes type. Our numerical results reveal that, when the density ratio is below the critical value, the bifurcation diagram of plane solitary waves behaves in a way similar to that of the free‐surface GC waves on deep water. However, the bifurcation mechanism in the vicinity of the minimum of the phase speed is essentially similar to that of free‐surface gravity‐flexural waves on deep water, when the density ratio is in the supercritical regime. Different types of lump solitary waves, which are fully localized in both transverse and longitudinal directions, are also computed using our model equation. Some dynamical experiments are carried out via a marching‐in‐time algorithm.
Leprosy in Brazil and its association with characteristics of municipalities: ecological study, 2009–2011
Authors: R. S. Freitas Lúcia , C. Duarte Elisabeth , P. Garcia Leila
Published: July 2014

Objective

To analyse the ecological association between the demographic and socio‐economic characteristics of the Brazilian municipalities and average leprosy incidence rate in the period 2009–2011.

Methods

An ecological study taking the Brazilian municipalities as its units of analysis. The local empirical Bayes estimation method was used to obtain smoothed incidence rates (SIR) for leprosy. The mean, median, first quartile (Q1) and third quartile (Q3) of the SIR were calculated per 100 000 inhabitants. Hierarchical log‐linear negative binomial regression models were used to estimate the incidence rate ratios (IRR).

Results

In the period 2009–2011, the average SIR of leprosy in Brazil was 20.2 per 100 000 inhabitants, and the median incidence rate among municipalities was 9.1 per 100 000 inhabitants. Significantly higher adjusted IRR were identified for large municipalities (IRR = 1.67) compared to small municipalities, as well as in municipalities with higher illiteracy rates (IRR = 2.15), more urbanised municipalities (IRR = 1.53), those with greater social inequality as per the Gini index (IRR = 1.26), high percentage of households with inadequate sanitation (IRR = 1.63), higher average number of people per room (IRR = 1.41), high proportions of Family Health Programme coverage (IRR = 1.29), high percentage of household contacts investigated (IRR = 2.30) and those with percentage of cases with grade 2 disability considered to be the medium (IRR = 1.26).

Conclusions

In this study, SIR was significantly associated with municipalities with low socio‐economic status. Disease control activities need to be focused on these municipalities, and investments need to be made in improving the population's living conditions.
ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN 38 HORSES WITH SEPTIC ARTHRITIS/TENOSYNOVITIS
Authors: Beccati Francesca , Gialletti Rodolfo , Passamonti Fabrizio , Nannarone Sara , Di Meo Antonio , Pepe Marco
Published: July 2014

Septic arthritis/tenosynovitis in the horse can have life‐threatening consequences. The purpose of this cross‐sectional retrospective study was to describe ultrasound characteristics of septic arthritis/tenosynovitis in a group of horses. Diagnosis of septic arthritis/tenosynovitis was based on historical and clinical findings as well as the results of the synovial fluid analysis and/or positive synovial culture. Ultrasonographic findings recorded were degree of joint/sheath effusion, degree of synovial membrane thickening, echogenicity of the synovial fluid, and presence of hyperechogenic spots and fibrinous loculations. Ultrasonographic findings were tested for dependence on the cause of sepsis, time between admission and beginning of clinical signs, and the white blood cell counts in the synovial fluid. Thirty‐eight horses with confirmed septic arthritis/tenosynovitis of 43 joints/sheaths were included. Degree of effusion was marked in 81.4% of cases, mild in 16.3%, and absent in 2.3%. Synovial thickening was mild in 30.9% of cases and moderate/severe in 69.1%. Synovial fluid was anechogenic in 45.2% of cases and echogenic in 54.8%. Hyperechogenic spots were identified in 32.5% of structures and fibrinous loculations in 64.3%. Relationships between the degree of synovial effusion, degree of the synovial thickening, presence of fibrinous loculations, and the time between admission and beginning of clinical signs were identified, as well as between the presence of fibrinous loculations and the cause of sepsis (P ≤ 0.05). Findings indicated that ultrasonographic findings of septic arthritis/tenosynovitis may vary in horses, and may be influenced by time between admission and beginning of clinical signs.
Nonlinear Dynamics of a High-Dimensional Model of a Rotating Euler–Bernoulli Beam Under the Gravity Load
Authors: Huang J. L. , Zhu W. D.
Published: July 2014

Nonlinear dynamic responses of an Euler–Bernoulli beam attached to a rotating rigid hub with a constant angular velocity under the gravity load are investigated. The slope angle of the centroid line of the beam is used to describe its motion, and the nonlinear integro-partial differential equation that governs the motion of the rotating hub-beam system is derived using Hamilton's principle. Spatially discretized governing equations are derived using Lagrange's equations based on discretized expressions of kinetic and potential energies of the system, yielding a set of second-order nonlinear ordinary differential equations with combined parametric and forced harmonic excitations due to the gravity load. The incremental harmonic balance (IHB) method is used to solve for periodic responses of a high-dimensional model of the system for which convergence is reached and its period-doubling bifurcations. The multivariable Floquet theory along with the precise Hsu's method is used to investigate the stability of the periodic responses. Phase portraits and bifurcation points obtained from the IHB method agree very well with those from numerical integration.
Numerical Solution of Stiff Multibody Dynamic Systems Based on Kinematic Derivatives
Authors: Milenkovic Paul
Published: July 2014

The Hermite–Obreshkov–Padé (HOP) method of numerical integration is applicable to stiff systems of differential equations, where the linearization has large range of eigenvalues. A practical implementation of HOP requires the ability to determine high-order time derivatives of the system variables. In the case of a constrained multibody dynamical system, the power series solution for the kinematic differential equation is the foundation for an algorithmic differentiation (AD) procedure determining those derivatives. The AD procedure is extended in this paper to determine rates of change in the time derivatives with respect to variation in the position and velocity state variables of the multibody system. The coefficients of this variation form the Jacobian matrix required for Newton–Raphson iteration. That procedure solves the implicit relations for the state variables at the end of each integration time step. The resulting numerical method is applied to the rotation of a dynamically unbalanced constant-velocity (CV) shaft coupling, where the deflection angle of the output shaft is constrained to low levels by springs of high rate and damping.
Control of an Underactuated Three-Link Passive–Active–Active Manipulator Based on Three Stages and Stability Analysis
Authors: Lai Xu-Zhi , Pan Chang-Zhong , Wu Min , Yang Simon X. , Cao Wei-Hua
Published: July 2014

This paper presents a novel three-stage control strategy for the motion control of an underactuated three-link passive–active–active (PAA) manipulator. First, a nonlinear control law is designed to make the angle and angular velocity of the third link convergent to zero. Then, a swing-up control law is designed to increase the system energy and control the posture of the second link. Finally, an integrated method with linear control and nonlinear control is introduced to stabilize the manipulator at the straight-up position. The stability of the control system is guaranteed by Lyapunov theory and LaSalle’s invariance principle. Compared to other approaches, the proposed strategy innovatively introduces a preparatory stage to drive the third link to stretch-out toward the second link in a natural way, which makes the swing-up control easy and quick. Besides, the intergraded method ensures the manipulator moving into the balancing stage smoothly and easily. The effectiveness and efficiency of the control strategy are demonstrated by numerical simulations.
Alloy 617 Creep–Fatigue Damage Evaluation Using Specimens With Strain Redistribution
Authors: Wang Yanli , Sham T.-L. , Jetter Robert I.
Published: July 2014

The simplified model test (SMT) method is an alternate approach to determine the cyclic life at elevated temperature. It is based on the use of creep–fatigue hold time test data from test specimens with elastic follow-up conservatively designed to bound the response of general structural components. In this paper, the previously documented development of the SMT approach and applicable restrictions are reviewed; the design of the Alloy 617 SMT specimen, measurement issues and constraints are presented; initial test results and their application to a prototypic design curve are presented; and further testing and analysis for ASME code incorporation are discussed.
Dynamic Modeling of Robotic Fish With a Base-Actuated Flexible Tail
Authors: Wang Jianxun , McKinley Philip K. , Tan Xiaobo
Published: July 2014

In this paper, we develop a new dynamic model for a robotic fish propelled by a flexible tail actuated at the base. The tail is modeled by multiple rigid segments connected in series through rotational springs and dampers, and the hydrodynamic force on each segment is evaluated using Lighthill's large-amplitude elongated-body theory. For comparison, we also construct a model using linear beam theory to capture the beam dynamics. To assess the accuracy of the models, we conducted experiments with a free-swimming robotic fish. The results show that the two models have almost identical predictions when the tail undergoes small deformation, but only the proposed multisegment model matches the experimental measurement closely for all tail motions, demonstrating its promise in the optimization and control of tail-actuated robotic fish.
Soil salinity alters the sexual responses to elevated CO2and temperature in growth and leaf traits of a dioecious plant
Authors: Li Ling , Duan Baoli , Deng Dongzhou , Tu Weiguo , Zhang Yuanbin
Published: July 2014

This study elucidated whether the adverse effect of soil salinity is different between Populus yunnanensis Dode males and females under climate change. We hypothesized that the magnitude and direction of sexual responses to elevated CO2and warming will be modified by soil salinity in dioecious plants. Populus yunnanensis was employed as a model species to study sexual responses in growth, photosynthesis, carbohydrate accumulation, and C and N allocation to elevated CO2and temperature under soil salinity. Cuttings were divided into control and salt groups and were exposed to two CO2regimes (ambient CO2and double ambient CO2) and two temperature regimes (ambient temperature and ambient temperature + 2.2 °C) in growth chambers. Males exhibited a greater down-regulation of the net photosynthesis rate (Anet) than did females at elevated CO2, primarily due to their poorer carbon sink–source balance and lower N availability. In the salt group, unlike in the control group, warming showed a positive effect on the growth of both females and males, and elevated CO2and temperature had a positive synergistic effect on the growth of both sexes. Sexual growth differences under soil salinity were reduced by elevated CO2, temperature, and a combination of both. These results provide evidence for sexually different responses to environmental changes in dioecious plants and support the idea that sex ratios will shift under climate change.
Presence of lakes and wetlands decreases resilience of jack pine ecosystems to late-Holocene climatic changes
Authors: Lynch Elizabeth A. , Calcote Randy , Hotchkiss Sara C. , Tweiten Michael
Published: July 2014

We reconstructed vegetation and fire histories from four sites located on a sandy outwash plain in northwestern Wisconsin (USA) to test whether lakes and wetlands have influenced how vegetation and fire regimes in pine–oak forests responded to late-Holocene climatic changes. Because of positive feedbacks between jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and fire, communities with few fire breaks should be more resilient to changing climatic conditions. Pollen and charcoal from lake-sediment cores were used to reconstruct vegetation changes at 50- to 100-year intervals and forest fire history at decadal time scales for the past 2500 years. The presence of fire breaks affected both fire regimes and the response of vegetation to climatic changes. Areas with more fire breaks had smaller charcoal peaks and the vegetation was more responsive to climate changes. The vegetation in areas with few fire breaks was more resilient, maintaining higher amounts of jack pine and (or) red pine than the more protected sites. We interpret these findings as evidence that positive feedbacks between fire and jack pine forests stabilized vegetation at sites where fire breaks were absent, and that such sites may be relatively resilient to future climate changes, until jack pine is no longer able to regenerate under the regional climatic conditions.
The elastic, electronic and optical properties of RbCaX3 (X = F, Cl) compounds
Authors: Mubarak A. A.
Published: July 2014

The structural, elastic, chemical bonding, electronic and optical properties of the cubic perovskites RbCaX 3 ( X = F , Cl ) compounds are obtained by the full-potential linear augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method based on the density functional theory. The calculated lattice constants and bulk moduli within GGA agree with previous calculations. It is found that the bulk modulus decreases as the lattice constant increases when traversing from F to Cl in RbCaX 3. Both compounds are found to be elastically stable and anisotropy from the analysis of elastic constants. The analysis of Poisson's ratio, Cauchy pressure and Pugh's index ratio indicate that the RbCaF 3 is brittle compound while the RbCaCl 3 is ductile compound. The Debye temperature for the RbCaX 3 compound evaluates from the average sound velocity. Both compounds are found to have the indirect band-gap ( M -Γ) from calculating the band structure. The bonding nature of RbCaX 3 compounds is ionic with a minute covalent bonding. The optical properties are calculated for radiation up to 30 eV. The main peaks of the optical spectra are discussed in terms of the calculated electronic structure. A beneficial optoelectronic and optics technology is predicted from optical spectra.
On properties of commutative Alexander quandles
Authors: Bae Yongju , Choi Seonmi
Published: July 2014

An Alexander quandle Mt is an abelian group M with a quandle operation a * b = ta + (1 - t)b where t is a group automorphism of the abelian group M. In this paper, we will study the commutativity of an Alexander quandle and introduce the relationship between Alexander quandles Mt and M1-t determined by group automorphisms t and 1 - t, respectively.
The Search for Broad Environmental Information and New Product Development Success in Technology-Based SMEs
Authors: Yoo So-Jin , Sawyerr Olukemi
Published: July 2014

In this study we examined the relationships between environmental scanning and information sources on new product development (NPD) success in a sample of 112 Korean technology-based SMEs. We found a significant positive relationship between scanning the task sectors of the environment of customers, competitors and technology on the timeliness and creativity of the NPD process. We also found that external personal sources of customers, competitors and suppliers/distributors and internal sources of employees, company library, etc. had a significant positive relationship with NPD success, while the use of professional sources of information such as lawyers, bankers and trade and industry association members had a negative impact on NPD success. We discuss the findings and their implications.
Climate for Personal Initiative and Radical and Incremental Innovation in Firms: A Validation Study
Authors: Fischer Sebastian , Frese Michael , Mertins Jennifer Clarissa , Hardt Julia Verena , Flock Thomas , Schauder Juri , Schmitz Michael , Wiegel Jette
Published: July 2014

We examine whether organizational climate for personal initiative (PI climate) is conducive to firm innovation in small and medium-sized firms. Employees with PI are self-starting, proactive, and persistent, and a PI climate is characterized by common norms of encouraging PI at the workplace. A climate that fosters PI among employees would enhance the innovation output of firms, since it increases not only proactive thinking about future opportunities and problems but self-starting action as well. This PI climate is distinct from the team climate inventory (TCI, Anderson and West, 1996). We contrast the PI climate measure (Baer and Frese, 2003) with the TCI for predicting radical and incremental innovations in firms. Findings reveal (with 25 firms, N = 82 employees) that PI climate was related to radical innovation, but not incremental innovation. On the other hand, the TCI (unrelated to radical innovation) was related to incremental innovation. Our study results imply that different organizational climates account for the different forms of innovation in firms.
Business Creation in Portugal: A Viewpoint on Data Comparison
Authors: Sarmento Elsa De Morais , Nunes Alcina
Published: July 2014

Portugal has some of the highest business entry rates when compared to other countries, according to Eurostat, Statistics Portugal and the OECD Entrepreneurship Indicators Programme. We look at business creation in Portugal, from 2000 to 2007, by approaching two other complementary data sources, the World Bank Group Entrepreneurship Survey, based on official Portuguese business register's and the universe of active employer enterprises, obtained by applying to the dataset Quadros de Pessoal, the methodology and definitions of the Eurostat/OECD's "Manual on Business Demography Statistics". This allows us to address entrepreneurship indicators comparability issues and exploit complementarities to support entrepreneurship patterns and trends previously identified by other national and international sources. We highlight the importance of considering information other than business registries, in particular when calculating business entry rates. Datasets where economically active units can be identified provide a better proxy for the true level of business creation and activity in Portugal.
SURFACE FRACTAL DIMENSION OF BENTONITE AND ITS APPLICATION IN CALCULATION OF SWELLING DEFORMATION
Authors: XIANG G. S. , XU Y. F. , JIANG H.
Published: July 2014

The correlation between the void ratio of swelled montmorillonite and the vertical overburden pressure can be expressed as [Formula: see text]. The surface fractal dimension D s of five bentonites were estimated from the swelling deformation tests according to this fractal correlation. The reliability of surface fractal dimension obtained from the swelling deformation test was confirmed by nitrogen adsorption test, with identical values of surface fractal dimension obtained from both tests. The surface fractal dimension can also be used to estimate the swelling deformation of bentonite, after calculating the swelling coefficient K from the parameters of diffuse double layer (DDL) model in the osmotic swelling phase. Comparison of the model predictions with a number of experimental results on swelling deformation of both Na dominant and Ca dominant bentonites suggests that the surface fractal model works excellent in the cases tested.
Profitability and Firm Size–Growth Relationship in Construction Companies in Malaysia From 2003 to 2010
Authors: Rasiah Devinaga , Tong David Yoon Kin , Kim Peong Kwee
Published: July 2014

In this study, we intended to examine empirically how a firm's profitability performance would impact its growth process and the inference for Gibrat's Law. The basic study looks at small, medium and large firms' tendency to grow when their internally generated profits are high. The sample is 124 construction companies listed from years 2003 to 2010 at BURSA Malaysia. Data used is secondary data collected from BURSA Malaysia and annual reports. The result indicated that "growth" contributed significantly to profitability in both small and medium-sized construction companies, but was not significant in large companies. Thus, hypothesis two was supported. This study supports Gibrat's Law, showing that size and growth rate are independent.
Characterization of NASICON-type Na solid electrolyte ceramics by impedance spectroscopy
Authors: Kazakevičius E. , Kežionis A. , Žukauskaitė L. , Barré M. , Šalkus T. , Orliukas A.
Published: July 2014

Na solid electrolytes are cheaper than the ones of Li and could be of interest to apply in secondary batteries and gas sensors. In the present work, the NASICON-type Na 1.3 Ti 1.7 Al 0.3( PO 4)3 compound has been synthesized by Pechini method and the phase purity of the compound was confirmed by XRD. Ceramics of the compound were prepared in several different sintering temperatures and the morphology of the samples was examined by SEM. The investigation of the electrical properties was performed in 10 Hz to 3 ⋅ 109 Hz and 300–500 K frequency and temperature ranges by means of impedance spectroscopy. The impedance spectra were analyzed and observed dispersions were related to microstructure of the ceramics.
Oxygen storage-related properties of substituted BaLnMn2O5+δ A-site ordered manganites
Authors: Świerczek Konrad , Klimkowicz Alicja , Niemczyk Anna , Olszewska Anna , Rząsa Tomasz , Molenda Janina , Takasaki Akito
Published: July 2014

In this work, we present results showing modification of the oxygen storage-related properties of perovskite-type oxides based on BaYMn 2 O 5+δ, having A-site layer-type cation order. Y 3+ is the lightest among suitable cations, which allows to obtain such the structural order, and at the same time, it provides the highest theoretical oxygen storage capacity. However, substitution of Y 3+ by Sm 3+ cations may be beneficial, and BaY 0.5 Sm 0.5 Mn 2 O 5+δ material shows enhanced reduction kinetics. Furthermore, partial substitution of Ba 2+ by Sr 2+ increases reversible oxygen storage capacity, but at the same time slows down the reduction speed. In addition, for higher concentration of strontium, it is not possible to obtain single phase materials.