bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Making Difficult Decisions: The Role of Quality of Care in Choosing a Nursing Home
Authors: Pesis-Katz Irena , Phelps Charles E. , Temkin-Greener Helena , Spector William D. , Veazie Peter , Mukamel Dana B.
Published: March 2013

Objectives. We investigated how quality of care affects choosing a nursing home.

Methods. We examined nursing home choice in California, Ohio, New York, and Texas in 2001, a period before the federal Nursing Home Compare report card was published. Thus, consumers were less able to observe clinical quality or clinical quality was masked. We modeled nursing home choice by estimating a conditional multinomial logit model.

Results. In all states, consumers were more likely to choose nursing homes of high hotel services quality but not clinical care quality. Nursing home choice was also significantly associated with shorter distance from prior residence, not-for-profit status, and larger facility size.

Conclusions. In the absence of quality report cards, consumers choose a nursing home on the basis of the quality dimensions that are easy for them to observe, evaluate, and apply to their situation. Future research should focus on identifying the quality information that offers the most value added to consumers.
Challenges facing sanitation-provision partnerships for informal settlements: a South African case study
Authors: Taing L. , Pan S. , Hilligan J. , Spiegel A. , Armitage N. P.
Published: March 2013

The Barcelona Settled Sewerage Pilot Project was established as a collaborative partnership between researchers from the University of Cape Town's Urban Water Management Group, City of Cape Town Water and Sanitation officials and Barcelona Informal Settlement Street Committee members. Its goal is to test collaboratively the viability of a settled sewerage system in an informal settlement (slum), Barcelona, located on a former landfill site. Direct engagement by officials and researchers with beneficiaries is crucial for such a project's success; therefore, a partnership approach was adopted. This also permitted researchers to assist municipal officials, since they faced capacity constraints. It became apparent over the course of the project that the partnership had been poorly set up and that partners' roles and responsibilities required renegotiation. Much literature emphasises the significance of ‘people-centred’ approaches, focusing on the ultimate users, in this instance as ‘owners’ of toilets. However, the study found that, in a South African context, partnerships need to designate the municipality as the responsible owner and managing partner of municipality-funded services. The critical challenges facing such a partnership approach suggest a need to build effective municipality-led and managed partnerships that simultaneously address each partner's needs and constraints.
Sustainability assessment of sanitation options in Vietnam: planning with the future in mind
Authors: Willetts J. , Paddon M. , Nam Nguyen Dinh Giang , Trung Nguyen Hieu , Carrard N.
Published: March 2013

This paper describes a participatory deliberative planning methodology employed in Can Tho, Vietnam to assess sanitation infrastructure options for a new peri-urban area with an expected population of 278,000 people. The study compared four options across a range of scales from centralised to decentralised treatment systems, and also included an innovative resource recovery option with urine collection and reuse in local agriculture. The study was undertaken in close collaboration with the local water utility, a local university, and several city government departments. In the sustainability assessment process key city stakeholders ranked the four options against criteria in five areas: (i) technical and risk, (ii) social and health, (iii) environmental, (iv) economic and financial, (v) city future. Stakeholders were provided with detailed information about each option, including quantitative data such as costs and energy use, and qualitative data against areas such as social acceptability. The assessment made evident the trade-offs between these five areas, and after their prioritisation, stakeholders agreed on the option that combined centralised treatment for the densely populated area to be inhabited earlier, and decentralised treatment for the remaining area. The methodology provided a robust way for stakeholders to engage in informed decision-making on this important planning issue.
A new approach to measure sanitation performance
Authors: Gunawardana I. P. P. , Galagedara L. W.
Published: March 2013

Monitoring sanitation coverage using a more appropriate method will have added benefits in the sanitation sector compared with the tool currently deployed by the Joint Monitoring Programme – the sanitation ladder. Although the present sanitation ladder is a simple and generally accepted tool for monitoring it does not consider the environmental and public health risks associated with some sanitation technologies. This paper uses data gathered from three communities in Sri Lanka to illustrate the shortcomings of the current method compared with a new and more comprehensive methodology developed and known as the sanitation index for monitoring (SIM). Available literature, focus group discussions, questionnaire surveys, and field observations were used to select indicator variables and score levels for the new index. Indicator variables and score levels were defined under two categories to create two sub-indices namely the ‘latrine security and hygiene’ and ‘treatment and disposal’. Twelve combinations of two sub-indices provide the final sanitation index for each community. The new SIM correctly assesses the real situation with regard to performance of a range of sanitation technologies over the full sanitation value chain and has the potential to improve sanitation monitoring worldwide.
Does sense of ownership matter for rural water system sustainability? Evidence from Kenya
Authors: Marks Sara J. , Onda Kyle , Davis Jennifer
Published: March 2013

Community sense of ownership for rural water infrastructure is widely cited as a key factor in ensuring sustainable service delivery, but no empirical investigation has evaluated the relationship between sense of ownership and sustainability outcomes. This study examines the association between system sustainability and sense of ownership among households and water committees, using primary data collected throughout 50 rural communities with piped water systems in Kenya. Data sources include in-person interviews with 1,916 households, 312 water committee members and 50 system operators, as well as technical assessments of water systems. Using principal components analysis we create composite measures of system sustainability (infrastructure condition, users' confidence, and ongoing management), and of water committees' and households' sense of ownership for the system. All else held constant, infrastructure condition is positively associated with water committee members' sense of ownership, whereas users' confidence and system management are positively associated with households' sense of ownership. These findings stand in contrast with much of the published literature on rural water planning, which assumes homogeneity of ownership feelings across all members of a community and which suggests a consistent and positive association between households' sense of ownership and sustainability.
Physical Activity in Latinas: Social and Environmental Influences
Authors: Larsen Britta A , Pekmezi Dorothy , Marquez Becky , Benitez Tanya J , Marcus Bess H
Published: March 2013

Latinas are the largest, fastest growing female ethnic minority group in the USA, and also report the lowest levels of physical activity. Following the framework of the social ecological model, this review examines unique social and environmental factors that influence physical activity in Latinas. Research shows that Latinas receive little social support for activity despite having large, close-knit social networks. Interventions incorporating social support components are generally efficacious. Latinas also face many environmental barriers, including crime, heat, traffic, lack of facilities and a fear of immigration enforcement, and there have been few attempts to address environmental barriers in Latino communities. Successful future interventions will need to consider unique social and environmental barriers affecting Latinas, and help Latinas learn to incorporate social networks into physical activity participation.
Falling fuzzy quasi-associative ideals of BCI-algebras
Authors: Jun Young , Song Seok
Published: March 2013

As a generalization of a fuzzy quasi-associative ideal of a BCI-algebra, the
notion of a falling fuzzy quasi-associative ideal of a BCI-algebra is
introduced by using the theory of a falling shadow. Relations between falling
fuzzy ideals and falling fuzzy quasi-associative ideals are given. Conditions
for a falling fuzzy ideal to be a falling fuzzy quasi-associative ideal are
provided.
On completely generalized multi-valued co-variational inequalities involving strongly accretive operators
Authors: Ahmad Rais , Irfan Syed
Published: March 2013

In this paper we consider the completely generalized multi-valued
co-variational inequality problem in Banach spaces and construct an iterative
algorithm. We prove the existence of solutions for our problem involving
strongly accretive operators and convergence of iterative sequences generated
by the algorithm.
An iterative solution to coupled quaternion matrix equations
Authors: Song Caiqin , Chen Guoliang , Zhang Xiangyun
Published: March 2013

This note studies the iterative solution to the coupled quaternion matrix
equations [?pi=1 T1i(Xi), ?pi=1 T2(Xi)... ?pi=1 Tp(Xi)] = [M1, M2,???, Mp],
where Tsi,s = 1, 2,???, p; is a linear operator from Qmi,xni onto Qps?qs,
Ms ? Qps?qs,s = 1, 2,???, p.i = 1, 2,???, p, by making use of a
generalization of the classical complex conjugate graduate iterative algorithm.
Based on the proposed iterative algorithm, the existence conditions of solution to the above
coupled quaternion matrix equations can be determined. When the considered
coupled quaternion matrix equations is consistent, it is proven by using a
real inner product in quaternion space as a tool that a solution can be
obtained within finite iterative steps for any initial quaternion matrices
[X1(0),???,Xp (0)] in the absence of round-off errors and the least
Frobenius norm solution can be derived by choosing a special kind of
initial quaternion matrices. Furthermore, the optimal approximation solution
to a given quaternion matrix can be derived. Finally, a numerical example is
given to show the efficiency of the presented iterative method.
A commutator approach to Buzano’s inequality
Authors: Khosravi Maryam , Drnovsek Roman , Moslehian Mohammad
Published: March 2013

Using a 2?2 matrix trick, an inequality involving commutators of certain Hilbert space operators as an operator version of Buzano?s inequality, which is in turn a generalization of the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, is presented. Also a version of the inequality in the framework of Hilbert C*-modules is stated and a special case in the context of C*-algebras is presented.
A new application of certain generalized power increasing sequences
Authors: Bor Hüseyin , Srivastava H.M. , Sulaiman Waadallah
Published: March 2013

The main object of this paper is to prove two general theorems by using a
two-parameter quasi- f (?,?) -power increasing sequence instead of a
quasi-?-power increasing sequence. The first result (Theorem 2.1) in this
paper covers the case when 0 < ? < 1 and ? = 0. The second main result
(Theorem 2.3) in this paper covers the exceptional case when ? = 1 and ? 5 0.
Each of these theorems also includes several new or known results as their
special cases and consequences.
Find It, Fix It, and Thrive: The Impact of Insisting on Proficiency in Prerequisite Knowledge in Intermediate Accounting
Authors: Sargent Carol Springer
Published: March 2013

Success in upper-level accounting courses depends on adequate prerequisite knowledge because the learning process is sequential and hierarchical (Bentz 1975) and because prior learning provides cues for encoding and combining (Sternberg 1984). Building expertise requires a strengthening and organization of links between knowledge and not just a high volume of known facts (Dreyfus and Dreyfus 2005). Since incoming knowledge matters to later learning, this study investigated how enforcing the prerequisites impacted course outcomes in intermediate accounting. The prerequisites were enforced using a proficiency test administered online in a system that also offered tutoring to remedy any learning shortfalls. Students received all-or-nothing credit (100 percent or 0) for mastering adjusting entries and the financial statements. Students proficient in prerequisite skills earned better project and cumulative final exam scores in non-prerequisite areas. Grades in Intermediate II were also better after adding the proficiency test, compared to the two prior terms. The intrigue of these results goes beyond improved student outcomes in Intermediate I and II, because the testing and remedial instruction used an existing tutoring product, requiring no institutional resources or changes to course preparation, instruction, classwork, exams, or the project.
The Impact of Accounting Methods, the Doctrine of Election, and Income Distortion on a Start-Up Election
Authors: Walberg Glenn
Published: March 2013

A taxpayer with an existing business generally can establish return-signing positions to characterize the growth of its business as occurring either through an expansion of the existing business or the start of a new business. The selected character then determines the manner by which the taxpayer recovers costs associated with the growth. This article explores how the taxpayer's initial choice to characterize business growth as an expansion or start-up could become binding on the taxpayer and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under accounting method rules and/or the doctrine of election, which would permit a recharacterization only to avoid income distortion. The article concludes that those tax accounting concepts could unjustifiably make the initial characterization binding, irrespective of its accuracy, due to the difficulty of showing that a particular characterization causes income distortion.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of some novel pyrazolopyrimidines incorporating a benzothiazole ring system
Authors: Azam Mohammed Afzal , Dharanya Loganathan , Mehta Charu Chandrakant , Sachdeva Sumit
Published: March 2013

In the present study, a series of benzothiazol derivatives 3a-l containing pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine moiety at the second position were synthesized and characterized by analytical and spectral data. The compounds were tested for their in vitro antimicrobial activity. Compounds 1-(1,3-benzothiazol-2- yl)-3-methyl-4-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (3a), 1- (1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-4-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[ 3,4-d]pyrimidine (3d) and 1-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)- 3-methyl-4-substituted phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines (3h-j) showed significant inhibitory activity against P. aeruginosa whereas compounds 1-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-4- (2-chlorophenyl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (3b), 2-[1-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin- 4-yl]phenol (3e), 1-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)- 3-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (3h), 4-[1-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyri midin-4-yl]-N,N-dimethylaniline (3j) and 1-(1,3-benzothiazol- 2-yl)-3-methyl-4-[2-phenylvinyl]-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (3k) were found to be active against C. albicans. Some of these synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vivo acute toxicity, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and ulcerogenic actions. The tested compound 4-[1-(1,3-benzothiazol- 2-yl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-yl]-N, N-dimethylaniline (3j) exhibited maximum analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Compounds 1-(1,3-benzothiazol- -2-yl)-3-methyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (3i) and 3j showed a significant gastrointestinal protection compared to the standard drug diclofenac sodium.
Evaluation of degradation kinetics for abamectin in formulations using a stability indicating method
Authors: Awasthi Atul , Razzak Majid , Al-Kassas Raida , Harvey Joanne , Garg Sanjay
Published: March 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate stability characteristics and kinetics behavior of abamectin (ABM) as a 1 % (m/V) topical veterinary solution. During the study, samples stressed at 55 and 70 °C were regularly analyzed for several parameters over 8 weeks on a chromatographic (HPLC) system, using a Prodigy C18, 250 x 4.6 mm, 5-μm, column eluting with 15 : 34 : 51 (V/V/V) water/methanol/ acetonitrile as mobile phase. The HPLC method was validated for precision, accuracy, linearity and specificity, and was found to be stability indicating. The results showed that degradation of ABM followed first-order kinetics and data on loss in kobs (s-1) and half life (t1/2, days) demonstrated ABM showing the maximum stability in glycerol formal. The degradation behavior of ABM varies from solvent to solvent. The effect of added alkali on pH change and loss of ABM was studied and found to be unique for all solvents and very distinct from typical hydrolysis degradation. The present study may serve as a platform to design and develop topical non-aqueous solutions of ABM for veterinary use given no such comprehensive efforts have been published to date on the stability profile of ABM in non-aqueous solvents.
The Equation Describing the Filtration Process with Compressible Sediment Accumulation on a Filter Mesh
Authors: Piecuch Tadeusz , Piekarski Jacek , Malatyńska Grażyna
Published: March 2013

Filtration process is one of the basic and essential processes in technological systems for treatment of municipal, community and industrial wastewater treatment. Filtration process is a subject of numerous published research and theoretical elaborations. This publication concerns theoretical analysis with basic character, and is a verification of theoretical analysis and physical equations describing process of filtration aided with empirical formulas.
Physico-Chemical Parameters Determining the Variability of Actually and Potentially Available Fractions of Heavy Metals in Fluvial Sediments of the Middle Odra River
Authors: Ibragimow Aleksandra , Walna Barbara , Siepak Marcin
Published: March 2013

The occurrence of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) has been determined in the fluvial sediment samples collected along three transects in the Middle Odra River (western Poland) with a width of 360 m. The total concentrations of the metals were obtained after HNO3 microwave digestion and the available fractions of heavy metals were determined by single extraction procedures using two extractants: 0.01M CaCl2 and 0.05M EDTA. The measurement of physico-chemical parameters was also performed. The determination of total and available fractions of heavy metals, except potential available fractions of Cr, revealed high concentrations of studied elements detected in the sediment samples characterized by high content of coarse and very coarse-grained sand fraction and high content of organic matter. It was found that the concentrations of total and available fractions of metals could increase along with the content of organic matter, Eh values and concentrations of H+. Apart from the above, those concentrations become the lowest, the higher the content of medium grain size fractions is. Furthermore, the amounts of CaCl2 and EDTA extractable metals increase in the sediments samples characterized by the lowest total and available concentrations of heavy metals.
Behavioral Outcomes of Moving from Institutional to Community Living for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: U.S. Studies from 1977 to 2010
Authors: Larson Sheryl , Lakin Charlie , Hill Shannon
Published: March 2013

This article reviews 43 U.S. studies assessing adaptive and challenging behavior outcomes associated with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who moved from institutions to community residential settings. These studies were published between 1977 and 2010. Longitudinal and comparison group studies were selected based on a set of screening criteria. Seven of 11 treatment/comparison group studies reported that people who moved had statistically significant improvements in adaptive behavior skills compared to those who stayed in the institution. The movers in four remaining studies had improvements in adaptive behavior that were not large enough to be statistically significant. Of 27 longitudinal studies, 15 reported statistically significant improvements in adaptive behavior and 5 showed nonsignificant positive change. Only 5 reported decreases in adaptive behavior, including 3 that found statistically significant decreases. Of 26 studies that examined changes in challenging behavior, 8 reported statistically significant changes (5 showing significant improvement in challenging behavior and 3 showing significant worsening of challenging behavior). The consistently positive changes in adaptive behavior skills in studies conducted over the course of 33 years support earlier conclusions that people with IDD gain skills when moving from an institution to a community setting, although they may or may not experience improvements in challenging behavior.
Inclusive Education: What Makes it a Good Education for Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities?
Authors: Downing June E. , Peckham-Hardin Kathryn D.
Published: March 2013

Parents, teachers, and paraeducators at three inclusive schools were interviewed as part of a qualitative study to investigate perceptions regarding a quality educational program for students with moderate–severe disabilities. Instead of looking at schools engaged in a systematic change process from separate to inclusive education for students with severe disabilities, a major premise of this study was that all students, regardless of ability or disability, were educated together in chronologically age appropriate general education classrooms (preschool through 8th grade). The intent of this study was to determine what key stakeholders (parents, teachers, and paraeducators) felt was a good educational program for students with moderate–severe disabilities after an inclusive placement was a given. Fifty-eight participants were interviewed (18 parents, 23 teachers, and 17 paraeducators) representing four preschool children, nine elementary students, and five middle school students all having moderate–severe and multiple disabilities. A constant comparison methodology was used to analyze the data across both age of target child and role of stakeholder. Findings revealed 12 themes that highlighted the benefits of inclusive education for all students, specific components that needed to be in place to ensure a quality education, and typical goals for the future. Implications for the field were discussed.
Excessive Positivism in Person-Centered Planning
Authors: Holburn Steve , Cea Christine D.
Published: March 2013

This paper illustrates the positivistic nature of person-centered planning (PCP) that is evident in the planning methods employed, the way that individuals with disabilities are described, and in portrayal of the outcomes of PCP. However, a confluence of factors can lead to manifestation of excessive positivism that does not serve PCP constructively. Taken to its extreme, positivism can contribute to the development of unrealistic goals, construing failure as success, ignoring dissenting perspectives, and contaminating evaluations of PCP. Excessive positivism is presented as a misapplication of PCP principles rather than an inherent flaw in the design of the approach.
The More Things Change, the More They are the Same: Continuing Concerns with the Special Olympics
Authors: Storey Keith
Published: March 2013

The Special Olympics has been a controversial program for persons with severe disabilities. There have been numerous discussion articles in the literature concerning pros and cons of the Special Olympics, and research has often found negative results concerning the Special Olympics. The purpose of this article is to review and to discuss concerns regarding the Special Olympics as well as to suggest future directions for recreational services for individuals with severe disabilities.
Integral Involvement of Severely Handicapped Students within Regular Public Schools
Authors: Hamre-Nietupski Susan , Nietupski John , Agran Martin
Published: March 2013

The authors contend that least restrictive environment involves more than merely placing severely handicapped students in regular schools. In addition to regular school placement, systematic efforts to promote positive interactions between severely handicapped students and their nonhandicapped peers must be made. An array of formal and informal methods for promoting integration, directed toward both school staff and students, are provided to assist teachers of the severely handicapped in systematically integrating their students into the regular school milieu.
Making Progress in the General Curriculum: Rethinking Effective Instructional Practices
Authors: Copeland Susan R. , Cosbey Joanna
Published: March 2013

Research strongly supports including students with extensive support needs in general education settings and providing them access to the general curriculum. Yet, there is limited research indicating how to provide them authentic access to this curriculum. This article explores several instructional approaches to provide access including (a) use of existing general education practices with students with extensive support needs (e.g., inquiry learning), (b) use of evidence-based practices associated with special education settings (e.g., embedded instruction), and (c) use of a response to intervention framework to improve instruction within the general curriculum.
Evaluation of a Multicomponent Intervention Package to Increase Summer Work Experiences for Transition-Age Youth with Severe Disabilities
Authors: Carter Erik W. , Trainor Audrey A. , Ditchman Nicole , Swedeen Beth , Owens Laura
Published: March 2013

Early work experiences have been advocated as an important avenue for equipping youth with disabilities with the skills, attitudes, opportunities, and aspirations needed to transition successfully to meaningful careers after high school. We examined the efficacy and social validity of a multicomponent intervention package—composed of summer-focused planning, community connectors, and employer liaisons—aimed at connecting youth with severe disabilities to summer work experiences. Sixty-seven youth were randomly assigned to intervention and comparison groups from within six diverse high schools. Youth in the intervention group were 3.5 times more likely to have community-based work experiences during the summer and worked more hours per week. Key stakeholders generally perceived the intervention strategies to be acceptable, feasible, and effective. We present a detailed analysis of the summer experiences of youth with severe disabilities and offer recommendations for improving students' access to early work and community experiences as part of comprehensive transition education.
Collaboration between Supported Employment and Human Resource Services: Strategies for Success
Authors: Post Michal , Campbell Camille , Heinz Tom , Kotsonas Lori , Montgomery Joyce , Storey Keith
Published: March 2013

The article presents the benefits of successful collaboration between supported employment agencies and human resource managers when working together to secure employment for individuals with disabilities. Two case studies are presented: One involving a successful collaboration with county human resource managers in negotiating a change in the hiring process and the other discussing the results of a negotiated agreement between the state level WorkAbility Program office and a company's national human resource office. Both cases resulted in the hiring of individuals with disabilities. Also included is a perspective, from a director of human resource services in the private sector, which examines specific Americans With Disabilities Act issues that present barriers to hiring individuals with disability. Suggested strategies supported employment agencies can use for effective collaboration with human resource management are identified.
Use of Restraints, Seclusion, and Aversive Procedures on Students with Disabilities
Authors: Westling David L. , Trader Barbara R. , Smith Cynthia A. , Marshall Denise Stile
Published: March 2013

A survey of a convenience (nonrandom) sample of parents and guardians of children with disabilities was undertaken to document the use of restraints, seclusion, and aversive procedures. A 23-item questionnaire was presented to participants using SurveyMonkey, a Web-based program. Participants were informed of the survey by different advocacy organizations. Within a 2-week period, 1,300 individuals accessed the survey, and 1,293 answered the first question, which asked if their child had been subjected to restraints, seclusion, or aversive procedures; of the 1,293,837 (64.7%) said “yes.” Responses to other questions provided more detail about the nature of the procedures used and associated conditions. Among other findings, the results showed that children with disabilities were often exposed to restraints, seclusion, and aversive procedures; most of the time the parents had not approved of the procedures, and often, the procedures adversely affected the student.
Developing a culture of marginality
Authors: Shneiderman Sara
Published: March 2013

This article examines the complex relationships between marginalized communities, the state, and nonstate actors such as development agencies and social scientists in crafting the classificatory regimes that undergird affirmative action policies. Focusing on the current dynamics of “ethnic restructuring“ amid the broader political process of postconflict “state restructuring“ in Nepal, I suggest that international actors often unwittingly encourage the hardening of ethnic boundaries through development projects that target “marginalized“ populations defined in cultural terms. However, such interventions can also yield unexpected transformations in agentive ethnic consciousness. This ethnographic exploration of current classificatory processes in non-postcolonial Nepal provides an important counterpoint to material from the Indian context, where histories of colonial classification have debatably influenced contemporary categories-and their critique-to a significant extent.
When wolves harm private property
Authors: Sjölander-Lindqvist Annelie , Cinque Serena
Published: March 2013

According to Swedish environmental policy, harm to private property (mainly livestock, farm, and companion animals) caused by attacks from protected large carnivores is compensated by the state. In a case of suspected harm, a formal investigation process to assess the damage and its cause is initiated by the government. Inspections of damage on living private property are carried out by officials authorized by the regional County Administrative Board (CAB). By focusing on judgment in the making of property compensation decisions, this article demonstrates what occurs in frontline policy enactments, when the inspectors (as deliverers of political decisions) collapse organizational requirements and ideas with personal, yet socially and culturally framed commitments. It concludes that organizational decision making is neither fixed nor stable: organizations operate interactively, generating practices that enhance the agency and authority of particular actors in order to facilitate state policy implementation.
Use of (+)-manool in the Synthesis of Natural Products. Part II. Diterpenes and Relatives
Authors: Salazar Franklin J. , Villamizar José E.
Published: March 2013

The syntheses of several kind of natural product skeletal including as ring C aromatic diterpenes, labdane, diterpenoid, purines and tricarbocyclic diterpenes from the diterpenoid (+)-manool are described in this review.
Efficient α-chlorination of 2-[(1-oxocyclohex-2-en-2-yl)methyl]-1,3-dicarbonyl Compounds Using Sodium Hypochlorite
Authors: Mhasni Olfa , Rezgui Farhat
Published: March 2013

A rapid and efficient regioselective α-chlorination of a new series of β-dicarbonyl compounds using a commercial solution of sodium hypochlorite in the presence of K2CO3 in THF at 0 °C, is reported. With prolonged reaction times, α-chloro β-keto esters, bearing an acyl moiety, undergo a tandem chlorination–deacylation reaction, affording the corresponding α-chlorinated esters.
A Case Study of Women's Participation in DIY in France: Towards an Increasingly Androgynous and Individualistic French Society?
Authors: Potot Florence
Published: March 2013

Over the past decade, the traditionally masculine pursuit of DIY has attracted an increasing number of female practitioners in France, thus seemingly challenging the long-established gendered division of tasks observed in the domestic sphere. This case study of women's DIY practices in France analyses women's rationale for participation by contrasting agency with economic necessity. Drawing on vertical and horizontal segregation theories, women's participation in DIY is examined as a potential indicator of progress towards greater gender equality in the domestic sphere. Finally, the article argues that women's participation in DIY illustrates the increasing normalisation of an androgynous division of labour already observed in the public sphere. This results from the development of individualistic values that are increasingly challenging the prevalence of gender as a term of reference in the construction of social and individual identity.
Fatty Acid, Flavonol, and Mineral Composition Variability among Seven Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc. Accessions
Authors: Morris John , Wang Ming , Grusak Michael , Tonnis Brandon
Published: March 2013

Horse gram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.] seeds containing high concentrations of fatty acids, flavonols and minerals should provide government, public and private organizations with a nutritious and healthy food for use by malnourished and food deprived people worldwide. Seeds from seven horse gram accessions, geographically adapted to Griffin, GA, USA were analyzed for fatty acid, flavonol, and mineral concentrations using gas chromatography, reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography, and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, respectively. Significant year effects occurred for stearic, oleic, linoleic, arachidic, gadoleic, and lignoceric acids. Oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acid ranged from 8.9%–16.8%, 40.3%–45.6%, and 11.6%–14.3%, respectively, as percent of total fatty acids measured (total oil ranged from 2.32% to 2.87%). Seed concentrations of myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol ranged from 0–36 μg/g DW, 0–27 μg/g DW, and 240–316 μg/g DW, respectively and the only year effect was observed for kaempferol among the horse gram accessions. Year effects were found for Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, and S. Mean concentrations of macrominerals (Ca, K, Mg, P, and S) and microminerals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn) ranged from 1.3–14 mg/g DW, and 1.0–95.0 μg/g DW, respectively. Several correlations were observed among several fatty acids, flavonols, and minerals. The mono-unsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid correlated significantly with linoleic acid (r = −0.64), arachidic acid (r = −0.61), Ca (r = 0.50) and Zn (r = 0.51, all at P < 0.01). The flavonol, myricetin correlated significantly with quercetin (r = 0.92, P < 0.0001), while quercetin correlated with Ca (r = 0.82, P < 0.0001) and kaempferol correlated with Mg (r = 0.61, P < 0.01). Several mineral correlations were found including Fe with K (r = 0.66) and Mg (r = 0.56, both at P < 0.01). These seven horse gram accessions can be used in breeding programs to facilitate the production of superior cultivars with favorable fatty acid profiles, flavonol content, and mineral compositions.
A Converse to a Theorem of Oka and Sakamoto for Complex Line Arrangements
Authors: Williams Kristopher
Published: March 2013

Let C1 and C2 be algebraic plane curves in ℂ 2 such that the curves intersect in d1 · d2 points where d1, d2 are the degrees of the curves respectively. Oka and Sakamoto proved that π1( ℂ 2 \ C1 U C2)) ≅ π1 ( ℂ 2 \ C1) × π1 ( ℂ 2 \ C2) [1]. In this paper we prove the converse of Oka and Sakamoto’s result for line arrangements. Let A1 and A2 be non-empty arrangements of lines in ℂ 2 such that π1 (M(A1 U A2)) ≅ π1 (M(A1)) × π1 (M(A2)) Then, the intersection of A1 and A2 consists of /A1/ · /A2/ points of multiplicity two.
Use of Mixed Micelles for Presentation of Building Blocks in a New Combinatorial Discovery Methodology: Proof-of-Concept Studies
Authors: New Roger , Bansal Gurpal , Bogus Michael , Zajkowska Kasia , Rickelt Steffen , Toth Istvan
Published: March 2013

We describe a new method of combinatorial screening in which building blocks, instead of being linked together chemically, are placed on the surface of nanoparticles. Two- or three-dimensional structures form on the surface of these particles through the close approach of different building blocks, with sufficient flexibility to be able to adapt and interact with putative binding sites in biological systems. The particles assemble without the need for formation of chemical bonds, so libraries comprised of many structures can be prepared rapidly, with large quantities of material available for testing. Screening methods can include solid and solution-phase binding assays, or tissue culture models, for example looking for structures which can change the behaviour of cells in a disease-modifying manner.
Mapping Coral Reef Resilience Indicators Using Field and Remotely Sensed Data
Authors: Knudby Anders , Jupiter Stacy , Roelfsema Chris , Lyons Mitchell , Phinn Stuart
Published: March 2013

In the face of increasing climate-related impacts on coral reefs, the integration of ecosystem resilience into marine conservation planning has become a priority. One strategy, including resilient areas in marine protected area (MPA) networks, relies on information on the spatial distribution of resilience. We assess the ability to model and map six indicators of coral reef resilience—stress-tolerant coral taxa, coral generic diversity, fish herbivore biomass, fish herbivore functional group richness, density of juvenile corals and the cover of live coral and crustose coralline algae. We use high spatial resolution satellite data to derive environmental predictors and use these in random forest models, with field observations, to predict resilience indicator values at unsampled locations. Predictions are compared with those obtained from universal kriging and from a baseline model. Prediction errors are estimated using cross-validation, and the ability to map each resilience indicator is quantified as the percentage reduction in prediction error compared to the baseline model. Results are most promising (percentage reduction = 18.3%) for mapping the cover of live coral and crustose coralline algae and least promising (percentage reduction = 0%) for coral diversity. Our study has demonstrated one approach to map indicators of coral reef resilience. In the context of MPA network planning, the potential to consider reef resilience in addition to habitat and feature representation in decision-support software now exists, allowing planners to integrate aspects of reef resilience in MPA network development.
A Humidity Sensing Organic-Inorganic Composite for Environmental Monitoring
Authors: Ahmad Zubair , Zafar Qayyum , Sulaiman Khaulah , Akram Rizwan , Karimov Khasan
Published: March 2013

In this paper, we present the effect of varying humidity levels on the electrical parameters and the multi frequency response of the electrical parameters of an organic-inorganic composite (PEPC+NiPc+Cu2O)-based humidity sensor. Silver thin films (thickness ~200 nm) were primarily deposited on plasma cleaned glass substrates by the physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique. A pair of rectangular silver electrodes was formed by patterning silver film through standard optical lithography technique. An active layer of organic-inorganic composite for humidity sensing was later spun coated to cover the separation between the silver electrodes. The electrical characterization of the sensor was performed as a function of relative humidity levels and frequency of the AC input signal. The sensor showed reversible changes in its capacitance with variations in humidity level. The maximum sensitivity ~31.6 pF/%RH at 100 Hz in capacitive mode of operation has been attained. The aim of this study was to increase the sensitivity of the previously reported humidity sensors using PEPC and NiPc, which has been successfully achieved.
Changing technologies offer new opportunities in the plant sciences1
Authors: Culley Theresa M.
Published: March 2013

The plant sciences are now facing an unprecedented time in our history in which technology is advancing at a rapid pace, creating a wide variety of novel opportunities for our field. Applications in Plant Sciences is a new source for sharing exciting and innovative applications of new technologies that have the potential to propel plant research forward into the future.
Development and characterization of nine microsatellites for an endangered tree, Pinus wangii (Pinaceae)
Authors: Dou Jing‐Jing , Zhou Ren‐Chao , Tang An‐Jun , Ge Xue‐Jun , Wu Wei
Published: March 2013

• Premise of the study: Pinus wangii is an endemic and endangered species in southwestern China, and microsatellite primers were developed to characterize its genetic diversity and population structure.

• Methods and Results: Using the Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences COntaining repeats (FIASCO) protocol, nine sets of microsatellite primers were developed in P. wangii. One population with 26 individuals of P. wangii, as well as 11 individuals each for two congeneric species, P. taiwanensis and P. squamata, were used to test their polymorphism and transferability. The number of alleles per locus ranged from one to seven with an average of 3.7, and the observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0 to 0.91 and 0 to 0.75, respectively.

• Conclusions: We developed nine sets of polymorphic microsatellite loci that are suitable for investigating genetic diversity and population structure of P. wangii, and these markers may be useful for other Pinus species.
Development and characterization of 37 novel EST‐SSR markers in Pisum sativum (Fabaceae)
Authors: Zhuang Xiaofeng , McPhee Kevin E. , Coram Tristan E. , Peever Tobin L. , Chilvers Martin I.
Published: March 2013

• Premise of the study: Simple sequence repeat markers were developed based on expressed sequence tags (EST‐SSR) and screened for polymorphism among 23 Pisum sativum individuals to assist development and refinement of pea linkage maps. In particular, the SSR markers were developed to assist in mapping of white mold disease resistance quantitative trait loci.

• Methods and Results: Primer pairs were designed for 46 SSRs identified in EST contiguous sequences assembled from a 454 pyrosequenced transcriptome of the pea cultivar, ‘LIFTER’. Thirty‐seven SSR markers amplified PCR products, of which 11 (30%) SSR markers produced polymorphism in 23 individuals, including parents of recombinant inbred lines, with two to four alleles. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0 to 0.43 and from 0.31 to 0.83, respectively.

• Conclusions: These EST‐SSR markers for pea will be useful for refinement of pea linkage maps, and will likely be useful for comparative mapping of pea and as tools for marker‐based pea breeding.
Phylogenetic and microsatellite markers for Tulasnella (Tulasnellaceae) mycorrhizal fungi associated with Australian orchids
Authors: Ruibal Monica P. , Peakall Rod , Smith Leon M. , Linde Celeste C.
Published: March 2013

• Premise of the study: Phylogenetic and microsatellite markers were developed for Tulasnella mycorrhizal fungi to investigate fungal species identity and diversity. These markers will be useful in future studies investigating the phylogenetic relationship of the fungal symbionts, specificity of orchid–mycorrhizal associations, and the role of mycorrhizae in orchid speciation within several orchid genera.

• Methods and Results: We generated partial genome sequences of two Tulasnella symbionts originating from Chiloglottis and Drakaea orchid species with 454 genome sequencing. Cross‐genus transferability across mycorrhizal symbionts associated with multiple genera of Australian orchids (Arthrochilus, Chiloglottis, Drakaea, and Paracaleana) was found for seven phylogenetic loci. Five loci showed cross‐transferability to Tulasnella from other orchid genera, and two to Sebacina. Furthermore, 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed for Tulasnella from Chiloglottis.

• Conclusions: Highly informative markers were obtained, allowing investigation of mycorrhizal diversity of Tulasnellaceae associated with a wide variety of terrestrial orchids in Australia and potentially worldwide.
Intramolecular carbolithiation cascades as a route to a highly strained carbocyclic framework: competition between 5-exo-trig ring closure and proton transfer
Authors: Bailey William F , Fair Justin D
Published: March 2013

The preparation of fairly strained carbocyclic ring systems by intramolecular 5-exo-trig ring closure has been well documented, and the absence of proton transfers that would compromise such cyclizations is a hallmark of this chemistry. In an effort to explore the limitations of this approach to more highly strained systems, the preparation of a stellane (tricyclo[3.3.0.03,7]octane) framework by an intramolecular carbolithiation cascade involving three coupled 5-exo-trig cyclizations of the vinyllithium derived from 2-bromo-4-vinyl-1,6-heptadiene by lithium–bromine exchange was investigated. The cascade does not afford the stellane; rather, the cascade is terminated after two cyclizations by a proton transfer that occurs by an intermolecular process catalyzed by trace amounts of endo-5-methyl-2-methylenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptane present in reaction mixtures as a consequence of inadvertent quenching of an intermediate alkyllithium during prolonged reaction times at room temperature.
Survival and transfer of microorganisms from kitchen sponges to surfaces of stainless steel and polyethylene
Authors: Rossi Eliandra Mirlei , Scapin Diane , Tondo Eduardo César
Published: March 2013

Introduction: Contaminated sponges might lead to cross-contamination in kitchens since they can transfer microorganisms to surfaces where microorganisms can survive for hours or days and contaminate food. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the transfer and the survival of bacteria from kitchen sponges to surfaces of AISI 316 stainless steel and polyethylene. Methodology: Twenty-four sponges were collected from industrial kitchens in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and aseptically split into two equal parts. One part was subjected to enumeration of heterotrophic microorganisms, faecal coliforms, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus and search detection of Salmonella enterica. The other part was rubbed on surfaces of AISI 316 stainless steel (12 sponges) or polyethylene (12 sponges). The transfer and survival of microorganisms was quantified by swab collection and pour-plate method using plate count agar. Results: All sponges were contaminated by heterotrophic microorganisms (average of 6.8 log CFU/sponge) and 83.3% with faecal coliforms (average of 5 log CFU/sponge). None of the sponges were contaminated by S. enterica and/or coagulase-positive Staphylococcus. The average transfer of microorganisms varied between 3.3 and 5.5 log CFU/cm2 for stainless steel and from 3.5 to 5.6 log CFU/cm2 for polyethylene. Although the survival rate decreased over time, more than 1 log CFU/cm2 of heterotrophic microorganisms survived after 24 hours on both surfaces. Conclusions: The sponges used in food services were significantly contaminated and could transfer large amounts of microorganisms to surfaces of AISI 316 stainless steel and polyethylene.