bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The democratic boundary problem and social contract theory
Authors: Verschoor Marco
Published: March 2015

How to demarcate the political units within which democracy will be practiced? Although recent years have witnessed a steadily increasing academic interest in this question concerning the boundary problem in democratic theory, social contract theory’s potential for solving it has largely been ignored. In fact, contract views are premised on the assumption of a given people and so presuppose what requires legitimization: the existence of a demarcated group of individuals materializing, as it were, from nowhere and whose members agree among themselves to establish a political order. In order to fill this gap in social contract theory, a distinction is made between three kinds of contract views: Lockean political voluntarism, contractarianism, and contractualism. Each of these views can be (re)interpreted in such a way that it offers a democratic solution to the boundary problem. Ultimately, however, a Rawlsian interpretation of the contractualist solution is defended.
The public sense of justice in Scandinavia: A study of attitudes towards punishments
Authors: Balvig Flemming , Gunnlaugsson Helgi , Jerre Kristina , Tham Henrik , Kinnunen Aarne
Published: March 2015

Crime policy is increasingly legitimized by reference to the public sense of justice. A research project has therefore been conducted in all five Scandinavian countries in order to examine the public’s views on punishment. These views have been examined by means of simple questions in telephone interviews, by vignettes in postal questionnaires, and by focus groups having seen a film of a mock trial. The results show that, when asked simple questions, the public want stiffer sentences. In their assessments of the vignette crimes, the public demands on average lower prison sentences than judges, and this tendency becomes stronger in the focus group study. The propensities towards punitiveness seem to diminish with more information and increasing proximity to the parties involved.
An analysis of patient safety incident reports describing injuries to staff working in critical care in the North West of England between 2009 and 2013
Authors: Thomas Antony N , Horner Daniel , Taylor Robert J
Published: March 2015

Background

Critical care environments are potentially high-risk areas for staff harm due to procedural demand and increased incidence of delirium/dependence. The principal types of harm and temporal trends have not yet been quantified.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of a multicentre dataset prospectively collected over a five-year period. All patient safety incidents reported to a regional network project were analysed; those recorded as staff harm were extracted, quantified and assessed by thematic analysis to identify key areas of harm, temporal trends and incident rates.

Results

Staff harm accounted for 7% of all reported patient safety incidents over the study period. Incident rates remained static, ranging annually from 2.6 to 3.7 episodes/1000 patient days. Assaults on staff accounted for the highest proportional contribution on thematic analysis, which was a consistent annual finding. Sharps injuries and manual handling incidents were also notable contributions. Temporal trends for each theme remained static over the study period implying limited reduction in staff harm despite implementation of national guidance and local initiatives.

Conclusion

Staff harm is a consistent issue for those working in critical care. Assaults on staff appear to be the highest contributor on thematic analysis. These data imply significant reduction in harm can still be achieved and can be used to design and implement interventional measures.
Comment: What Does Left–Right Autonomic Asymmetry Signify?
Authors: Critchley Hugo D. , Nagai Yoko
Published: March 2015

The situation-dependent lateralization of sympathetic electrodermal arousal during real-life stress (Picard, Fedor, & Ayzenberg, 2016) may challenge a unitary notion of arousal, and call into question the practice of unilateral electrodermal recording, but there are broader implications. Here we consider a potential relationship between stress-induced lateralized shifts in electrodermal activity, and a theory concerning lateralized emotion-induced cardiac arrhythmia.
The Effect of Self–Brand Connection and Self-Construal on Brand Lovers’ Word of Mouth (WOM)
Authors: Kwon Eunjin , Mattila Anna S.
Published: March 2015

This study examines the impact of self-construal on the relationship between self–brand connection and brand lovers’ positive word of mouth (WOM). Our sample was composed of U.S. and Korean consumers who reflected on hospitality brands that they claim to love. The results demonstrate that the effect of self–brand connection on brand lovers’ positive WOM is stronger for consumers with an independent self-construal compared with those with a more interdependent notion of self. Moreover, we show that emotional attachment is a psychological mechanism explaining the effect of self–brand connection on consumer’s WOM. Our findings have several important managerial implications for hospitality operators.
Growing to Trust
Authors: Poulin Michael J. , Haase Claudia M.
Published: March 2015

Across the globe, populations are aging, which presents an unprecedented challenge to individual and societal well-being. We seek to (a) replicate and extend previous work on age-related differences in interpersonal trust and (b) examine associations between trust and well-being across the adult life span. Study 1, a cross-sectional study of 197,888 individuals (aged 14–99) from 83 countries assessed between 1981 and 2007, showed that (a) older versus younger adults showed higher interpersonal trust and (b) higher trust predicted higher well-being, especially for older adults. Study 2, a nationally representative three-wave cohort-sequential longitudinal study (spanning 4 years) of 1,230 individuals in the United States (aged 18–89), showed that (a) interpersonal trust increased longitudinally across age groups and (b) higher trust predicted increases in well-being longitudinally and vice versa. These findings suggest that interpersonal trust may be an important resource for successful development across the life span.
An exploration of opioid medication management for non-malignant pain in primary care
Authors: Song Jia , Foell Jens
Published: March 2015

The present study aimed to explore how prescription of opioid medication for chronic non-malignant pain (CNMP) is managed in primary care. We used audit as a research tool, and one general practitioner (GP) practice in West London acted as an exemplar. Of the practice population with CNMP, 1% had repeat prescription of at least 12 months duration for opioid analgesics at the time of data collection. These 1% are on highly controlled opioids. Our study showed the following: (1) long-term opioid prescription appears to follow a fluctuating course as opposed to staying the same; (2) we found that medication reviews were done in most cases (85.7%), but the quality of the process is difficult to assess and ascertain; and (3) we identified two incidences where opioid contract was implemented. In both cases, contracts were used as a last chance warning for patients who were already problematic, suggesting that opioid contracts served as a disciplinary tool rather than a preventative measure. Our findings highlight a need for a more structured and specific review of analgesic medication, and a need for a simple and effective way to identify patients at high risk of developing problematic use, to ensure better monitoring and early presentations.
Radiation dosage in the urolithiasis population: Do we over-radiate our patients?
Authors: Omar Ismail , Finch William , Wynn Mark , Winterbottom Andrew , Wiseman Oliver J
Published: March 2015

Introduction:

There is increasing concern about the amount of radiation that patients with urolithiasis receive. Ensuring patients are exposed to the minimum necessary radiation is imperative. Here we review the radiation dosages that newly diagnosed urolithiasis patients received in the year following their presentation, both those presenting acutely and those referred electively.

Patients and methods:

A retrospective study of 95 treatment-naïve patients (47 acute, 48 elective) referred for management of urolithiasis was undertaken. The analysis included all imaging modalities related to stone disease for both patient groups within one year following presentation. The total effective dose (mSV) in one year was calculated by summing the dose for each individual radiation exposure.

Results:

An average of 5.6 radiological investigations (range 1–14) was carried out for acute patients and 4.57 for elective patients (range 1–11). The mean total effective dose was 14.45 mSV for the acute cases and 12.87 mSV for the elective cases. The maximum radiation dose reached 30.1 mSV in acute patients and 36.51 mSV in elective ones. None of the patients exceeded the maximal annual dose recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) of 50 mSV.

Conclusion:

Management of acute and elective urolithiasis patients can be achieved with acceptable radiation dose exposure. It is extremely important to keep the hazards of radiation in mind whilst managing patients with urolithiasis and clinicians need to remember adherence to the ALARA principle.
Agency and Mental Health
Authors: Hitlin Steven , Erickson Lance D. , Brown J. Scott
Published: March 2015

Building on calls within the health literature for a deeper engagement with the concept of agency, we utilize nationally representative survey data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health ( N = 13,592) to develop an empirical conception of the traditional treatment of health agency focused on two social psychological constructs that build upon current foci on personal control within the stress process model: (1) “subjective vitality” and (2) a forward-looking orientation (“optimism”). We find an interesting paradox: adolescents with higher health-based agency early in the transition to adulthood have significantly higher status attainment (occupational and educational) outcomes, but early mental health advantages disappear over the transition to adulthood. This suggests that while subjective beliefs about health agency put adolescents on trajectories toward higher socioeconomic status, they also set them up for declines in mental health due to unachieved expectations. There seem to be objective upsides and subjective downsides of possessing greater agency in adolescence.
DUSP4-mediated accelerated T-cell senescence in idiopathic CD4 lymphopenia
Authors: Bignon Alexandre , Régent Alexis , Klipfel Laurence , Desnoyer Aude , de la Grange Pierre , Martinez Valérie , Lortholary Olivier , Dalloul Ali , Mouthon Luc , Balabanian Karl
Published: March 2015

Key Points

Transcriptome and functional analyses reveal accelerated T-cell aging in ICL. Dampening of TCR signaling in ICL relies on DUSP4 overexpression.
Fixed points of Suzuki type generalized multivalued mappings in fuzzy metric spaces with applications
Authors: Saleem Naeem , Ali Basit , Abbas Mujahid , Raza Zahid
Published: March 2015

The aim of this paper is to introduce a class of multivalued mappings satisfying a Suzuki type generalized contractive condition in the framework of fuzzy metric spaces and to present fixed point results for such mappings. Some examples are presented to support the results proved herein. As an application, a common fixed point result for a hybrid pair of single and multivalued mappings is obtained. We show the existence and uniqueness of a common bounded solution of functional equations arising in dynamic programming. Our results generalize and extend various results in the existing literature.
Design of Coordination Interaction of Zn(II) Complex with Oligo-Aspartate Peptide to Afford a High-Affinity Tag–Probe Pair
Authors: Fuchida Hirokazu , Tabata Shigekazu , Shindo Naoya , Takashima Ippei , Leng Qiao , Hatsuyama Yuji , Hamachi Itaru , Ojida Akio
Published: March 2015

A complementary recognition pair consisting of a genetically encodable peptide tag and a small molecular probe is a powerful tool to specifically label and manipulate a protein of interest under biological conditions. In this study, we report the redesign of a tag–probe pair comprising an oligo-aspartate peptide tag (such as DDDD) and a binuclear zinc complex. Isothermal-titration calorimetry screening of binding between the series of peptides and zinc complexes revealed that the binding affinity was largely influenced by subtle changes of the ligand structure of the probe. However, the binding was tolerant to differences of the tag peptide sequence. Of those tested, a pair containing a peptide tag (DDAADD) and a binuclear zinc complex possessing 4-chloropyridines (3-2Zn(II)) showed the strongest binding affinity (Ka = 3.88 × 105 M−1), which was about 10-fold larger than the conventional pair of D4-peptide tag (DDDD) and 1-2Zn(II) containing nonsubstituted pyridines (Ka = 3.73 × 104 M−1). The strong binding of this new complementary recognition pair enabled the rapid covalent labeling of a tag-fused maltose binding protein with a fluorescent zinc complex, demonstrating its potential utility in protein analysis.
Debt Relief and Debtor Outcomes: Measuring the Effects of Consumer Bankruptcy Protection
Authors: Dobbie Will , Song Jae
Published: March 2015

Consumer bankruptcy is one of the largest social insurance programs in the United States, but little is known about its impact on debtors. We use 500,000 bankruptcy filings matched to administrative tax and foreclosure data to estimate the impact of Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection on subsequent outcomes. Exploiting the random assignment of bankruptcy filings to judges, we find that Chapter 13 protection increases annual earnings by $5,562, decreases five-year mortality by 1.2 percentage points, and decreases five-year foreclo-sure rates by 19.1 percentage points. These results come primarily from the deterioration of outcomes among dismissed filers, not gains by granted filers. (JEL D14, I12, J22, J31, K35)
Preferences for Flexibility and Randomization under Uncertainty
Authors: Saito Kota
Published: March 2015

An uncertainty-averse agent prefers betting on an event whose probability is known, to betting on an event whose probability is unknown. Such an agent may randomize his choices to eliminate the effects of uncertainty. For what sort of preferences does a randomization eliminate the effects of uncertainty? To answer this question, we investigate an agent's preferences over sets of acts. We axiomatize a utility function, through which we can identify the agent's subjective belief that a randomization eliminates the effects of uncertainty. (JEL D11, D81)
Measuring Uncertainty
Authors: Jurado Kyle , Ludvigson Sydney C. , Ng Serena
Published: March 2015

This paper exploits a data rich environment to provide direct econometric estimates of time-varying macroeconomic uncertainty. Our estimates display significant independent variations from popular uncertainty proxies, suggesting that much of the variation in the proxies is not driven by uncertainty. Quantitatively important uncertainty episodes appear far more infrequently than indicated by popular uncertainty proxies, but when they do occur, they are larger, more persistent, and are more correlated with real activity. Our estimates provide a benchmark to evaluate theories for which uncertainty shocks play a role in business cycles. (JEL C53, D81, E32, G12, G35, L25)
An Efficient Time-Domain Equivalent Source Method for Acoustic Scattering
Authors: Swift S. Hales , Blaisdell Gregory A. , Lyrintzis A. S.
Published: March 2015

The prediction of acoustic scattering from hard surfaces such as the fuselage or deck near an exhausting jet aircraft or rotorcraft is important to attempts at predicting the spatial effects of various engine and nozzle configurations. A time-domain equivalent source method similar to Lee et al.'s method is presented for predicting acoustic scattering using pressure gradient predictions obtained from the G1A formulation. In contrast to Lee's method, the approach proposed here involves using coincident source and control points, leading to improved performance for some geometries. The greatest advantage appears to be for planar surfaces, where interaction between panels is avoided. Validation cases considered include a series of planar segments for analytical validation as well as cases to validate the use of the G1A inputs in connection with the proposed method, and a series of scattering cases using input from an acoustic data surface.
Rudimentary Landing Gear Results at the 2012 BANC-II Airframe Noise Workshop
Authors: Spalart Philippe R. , Wetzel ew A.
Published: March 2015

The results of large-eddy and similar simulations and acoustic propagation calculations provided by six participants for the Rudimentary Landing Gear (RLG) category of the 2012 BANC-II workshop are analyzed and compared with experimental results. The general conclusion is that industrial accuracy remains elusive, and very significant differences exist between methods, so that the field needs more maturity, in addition to computing power. We present both blind comparisons from the workshop, and revised results the participants were invited to provide after having access to the experimental data. We recall that BANC-I and other comparisons indicate good code-to-code and experimental agreement for time-averaged pressures, but not so much for unsteady pressures and forces. Possibly as a result of these differences, the agreement for radiated noise is quite poor in the blind test, with typical differences of over 5 dB for the SPL and for the spectra over the dominant frequency range, and reaching 10 dB towards both ends of the spectra. The collection of numerical results brackets the experimental result. Some differences arise from misunderstandings, which were not corrected. The post-workshop results are much closer to experiment, with differences reduced to about 3 dB for SPL, and for spectra up to a Strouhal number of 15. This is not up to industrial needs, but is very encouraging and close to the accuracy achieved for jet noise. The results are sensitive to the use of solid or permeable surfaces in the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FW-H) equation, and to numerous simulation details such as upwind-biased differencing.
Acoustic Kinematics of Helicopter BVI Noise
Authors: Lowson Martin
Published: March 2015

Helicopter blade-vortex interaction (BVI) noise is known as a critical source of noise annoyance from helicopters. A key feature of the noise is that the trace velocities of the sources generated by the BVI process are supersonic, and thus have high radiation efficiency. This further means that noise is generated selectively by only a limited part of the overall interaction. The consequences of this have been studied using a simple cycloidal shed wake model. This allows the whole process to be explicitly described mathematically. The trace velocity can be infinite for both forward and retreating blades. This will generate strong noise radiation in directions which can be simply defined as a function of advance ratio. Analysis shows that many features are functions of rotor disc position only, independent of the number of rotor blades. This offers a helpful simplification. Radiation generates a series of caustics which can be defined by the analysis. Simplified models of the blade-wake interaction show that both the advancing and retreating blade interactions can generate cusps in the noise. Under some conditions these cusps are predicted to continue to the far field in the rotor disc plane, due to a kinematic balance of the change in propagation direction of the basic source vector and the change in the Mach angle of the principal radiation. This gives a two-dimensional decay in sound levels and will give rise to locally intense BVI field. The model also shows areas of the stronger noise fields will be generated in the direction of motion of the interacting blade. A detailed analysis has been undertaken for a four blade rotor at an advance ratio of 0.2. Multiple caustics from successive blade interactions can be identified, some of which have cusps. The analysis shows that the BVI radiation field can have large levels locally and helps to explain why helicopters are often perceived to be noisier than a simple dBA level might suggest. Each part of the rotor disc noise radiation to the far field can be related back to specific positions on the blade and specific parts of the shed wake. This offers the prospect of providing local adjustments to minimize BVI sources under particular conditions. All these results are based on the two dimensional cycloidal model. However it is believed that these effects must be reflected in more complex computer models and in real helicopters.
Modern Infinitesimals and Delta-Function Perturbations of a Contact Discontinuity
Authors: Baty Roy S.
Published: March 2015

This article applies nonstandard analysis — a modern theory of infinitesimals — to study generalized-function perturbations of contact discontinuities in compressible, inviscid fluids. Nonstandard analysis is an area of modern mathematics that studies extensions of the real number system to nonstandard number systems that contain infinitely large and infinitely small numbers. Perturbations of a contact discontinuity are considered that represent one-dimensional analogs of the two-dimensional perturbations observed in the initial evolution of a Richtmyer-Meshkov instability on a density interface. Nonstandard predistributions of the Dirac delta function, d, and its derivatives, δ( n), are applied as the perturbations of a contact discontinuity. The one-dimensional Euler equations are used to model the flow field of a fluid containing a perturbed density interface and generalized solutions are constructed for the perturbed flow field.
Effect of Local Impedance Variation and Non-Linearity on Multiple Tone Attenuation
Authors: Eversman Walter
Published: March 2015

An iterative Finite Element Method (FEM) is introduced for prediction of attenuation in a duct in which acoustic lining impedance depends on local grazing flow Mach number and overall local sound pressure level. A general approach is described with emphasis on the case of a source spectrum that is dominated by several tones, where each is tone specified by its frequency, circumferential mode, and a statistically represented radial mode amplitude distribution. Lining impedance is computed locally by an iterative model imbedded in the FEM propagation code. For propagation in the duct, a rapidly convergent iteration is used in which the defined source spectrum initially determines local lining impedance. In successive iterations the local sound pressure level spectrum on the lining from the previous iteration determines the new local impedance. The iterative model is implemented to assess the attenuation performance of a two degree of freedom lining initially designed with impedance dependent only on the defined source spectrum. The effect of local non-linearity is to reduce realized attenuation in tones targeted in the lining design. In an additional step in the design process, spectrum levels used in the determination of lining parameters to achieve required impedances are adjusted to reflect the reduction of sound pressure level along the lining. This results in a reduction of sensitivity of lining attenuation performance to local non-linearity.
Farassat's Formulations in Marine Propeller Hydroacoustics
Authors: Ianniello Sandro , De Bernardis Enrico
Published: March 2015

The aim of this work is to show the potential of the Acoustic Analogy in the analysis of the underwater noise generated by a marine propeller. In particular, some formulations proposed by Feri Farassat are used to conduct an investigation on an interesting and rather unknown aspect of the problem: The identification of the most significant noise generating mechanisms taking place underwater and related to the propeller. Sample numerical results are presented, that were obtained by coupling an incompressible hydrodynamic code to an acoustic solver based on the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FWH) equation, suitably designed to manage the huge set of data from the hydrodynamic simulation. A surprising outcome is that, contrary to popular belief and regardless of the low blade rotational speed, a reliable hydroacoustic analysis of a marine propeller seems to require the computation of the FWH equation's nonlinear quadrupole sources and cannot leave apart an accurate estimation of the three-dimensional turbulence and vorticity fields.
Angle of Incidence Effects on Far-Field Positive and Negative Phase Blast Parameters
Authors: Rigby Sam E. , Fay Stephen D. , Tyas Andrew , Warren James A. , Clarke Sam D.
Published: March 2015

The blast overpressure acting on a rigid target is known to vary between the normally reflected overpressure and the incident overpressure as a function of the angle between the target and the direction of travel of the blast wave. Literature guidance for determining the exact effects of angle of incidence are unclear, particularly when considering the negative phase. This paper presents the results from a series of well controlled experiments where pressure transducers are used to record the pressure-time history acting on the face of a large, rigid target at various angles of incidence for varying sizes of hemispherical PE4 charge and stand-off distances. The test data demonstrated remarkable repeatability, and excellent agreement with semi-empirical predictions for normally reflected overpressures. The oblique results show that peak overpressure, impulse and duration are highly dependent on angle of incidence for the positive phase, and are invariant of angle of incidence for the negative phase.
Jania verrucosa and Jania crassa (Rhodophyta: Corallinaceae): Typification, nomenclature and taxonomic implications
Authors: Woelkerling William J. , Harvey Adele S. , de Reviers Bruno
Published: March 2015

New nomenclatural and morphological‐anatomical data support the following conclusions: (1) two of the earliest described and most widely reported species of Jania (Rhodophyta: Corallinaceae), J. verrucosa (1816) and J. crassa (1821), should not be treated as heterotypic synonyms; (2) J. verrucosa is a name of uncertain application that is not yet formally typified; and (3) J. crassa is a name supported by a lectotype whose features are consistent with placement in the genus Jania. A specimen incorrectly referred to as the holotype of J. verrucosa consists of an admixture of two geniculate corallines neither of which can be unequivocally linked to the protologue or to a modern published concept of that taxon. The only known material identified as J. verrucosa by Lamouroux is a protologue figure, designated herein as lectotype. Options for dealing further with this uncertain name are briefly considered. A detailed account of the lectotype of J. crassa is provided.
High-Tech Production Market Modeling in Compliance with Consumers’ Needs
Authors: Логвинов  , Logvinov Syergyey , Логвинов  , Logvinov Syergyey
Published: March 2015

Results of marketing research from a system perspective related to high-tech production market are provided. Options of goods made by consumers depending on manufacturing company, goods’ technical characteristics set, and also consumers’ social, personal and psychological characteristics are investigated and simulated with use of artificial neural networks.
Education Quality: Paradoxes, Mistakes, Concepts
Authors: Басовская  , Basovskaya Elena , Басовский  , Basovskiy Leonid
Published: March 2015

Education is the individual private benefit possessing positive outer effects.
Definition of education as public benefit is paradox. A consumer of education as
benefit is the household which member gets the education. Statements that
employers are the consumers of this benefit are wrong. These paradoxes and
mistakes generate inadequacy of the policy in education area. Quality — this is
a value of education for the specific consumer, education’s social value is measured
by its price in the competitive market. Current situation when the category
«education quality» has no standard definition is paradoxical. Education allocates
the consumer with the human capital which is value for him. This human
capital provides an additional income in the form of raised salary. Salary increase
can serve as a simple assessment of education quality. Such education
quality assessment is used by business schools of leading universities. A set of
statements about influence of these or those factors on education quality is
paradox. All these statements are only unconfirmed hypotheses, many of them,
most likely, are wrong. Education quality management is based on unconfirmed,
often wrong hypotheses. Competitive quality management of services
defines that in education it is necessary to refuse from principles of command
and control management style, and to move over to the principle based on a
concept that the center has to coordinate the relations, and to control as little as
possible, but as much as possible create a context which will promote activity
coordination. It is necessary to focus systems on the consumer and pedagogical
personnel, achieving its satisfaction.
Consumers' Environmental Perceptions of Children's Furniture in China
Authors: Wan Minli , Chen Jiao , Toppinen Anne
Published: March 2015

China's rapid economic development has improved people's living standards and has thus raised people's health awareness and environmental consciousness. Today, more and more Chinese parents have realized the growing importance of healthy and eco-friendly products for children's growth. In the past 10 years, the Chinese children's furniture market has developed rapidly, making up 9 percent of the entire furniture market in China in 2011. Because of a lack of research on the analysis of consumers' environmental perceptions of children's furniture in China, a survey in two coastal metropolitan cities of China (Shanghai and Shenzhen) was conducted at the turn of 2012 to 2013. Results indicate that 83 percent of 299 valid respondents chose solid wood as their preferred raw material for children's furniture. From the Chinese consumers' perspective, eco-friendly furniture contains the following key attributes: natural, nonpoisonous, and scentless material; adoption of environmental certification; and verification of legal origin of wood. Furthermore, there is some evidence on the linkage between consumers' lifestyle of health and sustainability and sex (females), location (Shanghai), and income (higher income). Although Chinese consumers still have low brand awareness and their price expectations on solid wood furniture are below current market prices, the market for children's furniture presents a growing high-end segment with business potential for both furniture producers and wood raw material suppliers.
Towards community engagement in the governance of non-profit organisations
Authors: Rossi Gina , Leardini Chiara , Moggi Sara , Campedelli Bettina
Published: March 2015

Nowadays, non-profit organisations (NPOs) face growing pressure to involve the community in their governing boards. Nevertheless, few empirical studies have been conducted on how they selfregulate community engagement in their governance. With the aim of filling the research gap on this topic, this article provides new insights into community engagement in non-profit governance, considering the case of Italian bank foundations (IBFs) in which community representation on the board is required by law, and self-regulation plays a pivotal role in defining mechanisms of engagement. Applying Guo and Musso‘s (2007) framework, a content analysis of IBFs‘ statutes highlights that detailed attention has been paid to formal procedures and descriptive representation mechanisms, while participatory arrangements are lacking. The analysis of the IBFs‘ case reveals additional mechanisms that are useful for better ensuring community representation within governance, and provides new mechanisms that could be considered by regulatory activity in NPOs where the community is on board by law.
Investigation of 2 Models to Set and Evaluate Quality Targets for Hb A1c: Biological Variation and Sigma-Metrics
Authors: Weykamp Cas , John Garry , Gillery Philippe , English Emma , Ji Linong , Lenters-Westra Erna , Little Randie R , Roglic Gojka , Sacks David B , Takei Izumi
Published: March 2015

BACKGROUND

A major objective of the IFCC Task Force on Implementation of HbA1c Standardization is to develop a model to define quality targets for glycated hemoglobin (Hb A1c).

METHODS

Two generic models, biological variation and sigma-metrics, are investigated. We selected variables in the models for Hb A1c and used data of external quality assurance/proficiency testing programs to evaluate the suitability of the models to set and evaluate quality targets within and between laboratories.

RESULTS

In the biological variation model, 48% of individual laboratories and none of the 26 instrument groups met the minimum performance criterion. In the sigma-metrics model, with a total allowable error (TAE) set at 5 mmol/mol (0.46% NGSP), 77% of the individual laboratories and 12 of 26 instrument groups met the 2σ criterion.

CONCLUSIONS

The biological variation and sigma-metrics models were demonstrated to be suitable for setting and evaluating quality targets within and between laboratories. The sigma-metrics model is more flexible, as both the TAE and the risk of failure can be adjusted to the situation—for example, requirements related to diagnosis/monitoring or international authorities. With the aim of reaching (inter)national consensus on advice regarding quality targets for Hb A1c, the Task Force suggests the sigma-metrics model as the model of choice, with default values of 5 mmol/mol (0.46%) for TAE and risk levels of 2σ and 4σ for routine laboratories and laboratories performing clinical trials, respectively. These goals should serve as a starting point for discussion with international stakeholders in the field of diabetes.
Neural plasticity and memory: molecular mechanism
Authors: Amtul Zareen , Atta-ur-Rahman
Published: March 2015

Deciphering the cellular and molecular mechanisms of memory has been an important topic encompassing the learning and memory domain besides the neurodegenerative disorders. Synapses accumulate cognitive information from life-lasting alterations of their molecular and structural composition. Current memory storage models identify posttranslational modification imperative for short-term information storage and mRNA translation for long-term information storage. However, the precise account of these modifications has not been summarized at the individual synapse level. Therefore, herein we describe the spatiotemporal reorganization of synaptic plasticity at the dendritic spine level to elucidate the mechanism through which synaptic substructures are remodeled; though at the molecular level, such mechanisms are still quite unclear. It has thus been concluded that the existing mechanisms do not entirely elaborate memory storage processes. Further efforts are therefore encouraged to delineate the mechanism of neuronal connectivity at the chemical level as well, including inter- or intramolecular bonding patterns at the synaptic level, which may be a permissive and vital step of memory storage.
Modelling the effect of gaps and overlaps in automated fibre placement (AFP)-manufactured laminates
Authors: Li Xiangqian , Hallett Stephen R. , Wisnom Michael R.
Published: March 2015

In automated fibre placement (AFP) process, gaps and overlaps parallel to the fibre direction can be introduced between the adjoining tapes. These gaps and overlaps can cause a reduction in strength compared with pristine conditions. Finite element modelling is an effective way to understand how the size and distribution of such gaps and overlaps influences the strength and failure development. Many modelling work showed that out-of-plane waviness and ply thickness variations caused by gaps and overlaps play an important role in inducing the strength knock-down; however, there has been a lack of effective way to explicitly model the ply waviness, which constrained the relevant research. In this work, 3D meshing tools were developed to automatically generate ply-by-ply models with gaps and overlaps. Intra-ply and inter-ply cohesive elements are also automatically inserted in the model to capture the influence of splitting and delamination. Out-of-plane waviness and ply thickness variations caused by gaps and overlaps are automatically modelled. Models with various sizes and distribution of gaps and overlaps were built to predict the reduction of strength as a function of the magnitude and type of the defects. Results of gap and overlap models will be used to guide future experimental characterization of simulated AFP process defects, manufactured by hand layup from pre-preg tape.
Ersatzpotentiale mit verwandtem Eigenwertspektrum in Schrödinger-Gleichungen
Authors: Fues E. , Statz H.
Published: March 2015

Die Frage, weshalb man in manchen Metallen die Valenzelektronen als fast freies Elektronengas behandeln darf, wird aus einem neuen Gesichtspunkt heraus untersucht. Es wird hierbei gezeigt, daß das tiefe und enge Rumpfpotential unter gewissen, genauer abgeleiteten Voraussetzungen kaum einen Einfluß auf das Energiespektrum der Valenzelektronen hat. Es läßt sich ein Ersatzpotential definieren, das die tiefen „Rumpfschläuche“ vermeidet und, in die Schrödinger-Gleichung eingesetzt, trotzdem Eigenfunktionen und Quantenenergien der Valenzelektronen näherungsweise wiedergibt. Vor allem werden idealisierte verwandte Potentialformen einer genaueren und aufschlußreichen Betrachtung unterworfen. Die erwähnte Besonderheit der Metallelektronen erklärt sich durch ein nahezu konstantes Ersatzpotential. Anwendungsmöglichkeiten, besonders auf die Theorie der Oberflächenzustände, werden erwähnt.
Energiebänder und Zwischenbandterme im gestörten Kronig-Potential
Authors: Kockel B.
Published: March 2015

In einem eindimensionalen Kronigschen Potentialverlauf ist das Potential in einer Zelle erhöht oder erniedrigt. Das Auftreten von Zwischenbandtermen und ihre Lage in Abhängigkeit von der Potentialveränderung werden untersucht und daran einige Bemerkungen über die Vorstellung der verbogenen oder schiefliegenden Energiebänder geknüpft.
Zerfall neutraler Mesonen
Authors: Oehme Reinhard
Published: March 2015

Auf Grund allgemeiner Invarianzeigenschaften wird gezeigt, daß die Wahrscheinlichkeit für den Zerfall eines neutralen Mesons mit Spin 0 in Elektron und Positron in der zweiten Ordnung der Feinstrukturkonstanten α exakt verschwindet, d. h. in jeder Näherung bezüglich der Meson-Nukleon-Wechselwirkung. Dasselbe gilt für neutrale Pseudovektormesonen, während für Vektormesonen das Matrixelement niedrigster Ordnung von Null verschieden ist. Diese Auswahlregeln gelten unabhängig von der Masse des neutralen Mesons. Der wahrscheinlichste Zerfallsmechanismus für π°-Mesonen mit Spin 0 ist der Ubergang in γ-Quanten. Vektorielle π°-Mesonen zerfallen vorwiegend in ein Elektron-Positron- Paar. Bei Pseudovektormesonen kann man nicht eindeutig entscheiden, ob der Übergang in ein Paar und ein γ-Quant wahrscheinlicher ist als der in drei Quanten. Weiter wird diskutiert, inwieweit man auf Grund der bisherigen Experimente neutrale Mesonen ausschließen kann, die in Paare oder 3 γ-Quanten zerfallen. Es ergibt sich, daß die Entstehung solcher Teilchen beim Einfang von π--Mesonen in H2 sehr unwahrscheinlich ist, und es wird angegeben, wie man ihre Erzeugung beim Zusammenstoß von Nukleonen nachweisen könnte.
Die Entwicklung einer um, einen Zentralkörper rotierenden Gasmasse
Authors: Lust Reimar
Published: March 2015

Es werden die hydrodynamischen Gleichungen mit turbulenter Reibung für eine um einen Zentralkörper rotierende Gasmasse gelöst unter der Voraussetzung, daß die radiale Geschwindigkeit klein gegenüber dem Absolutbetrag der Geschwindigkeit und daß das Gravitationspotential allein durch den Zentralkörper bestimmt ist. Für den Mischungsweg wird ein Potenzansatz zugrunde gelegt. Die Rechnungen werden für ein zwei- und ein dreidimensionales Modell durchgeführt. Es ergeben sich zwei verschiedene Lösungen: Entweder der Drehimpuls des Zentralkörpers bleibt erhalten und ein Teil der Gasmasse fällt auf den Zentralkörper, während der Rest ins Unendliche entweicht, oder der Zentralkörper gibt Drehimpuls an die Hülle ab, die dann vollständig ins Unendliche wegströmt. Lösungen für gewisse Exponenten des Mischungswegs und für bestimmte Anfangsverteilungen werden angegeben.
Erzeugung von Ultrastrahlung in stellaren elektromagnetischen Feldern
Authors: Schlüter Arnulf
Published: March 2015

Es werden Bedingungen aufgestellt, die erfüllt sein müssen, damit in einem stellaren elektrischen Feld geladene Teilchen Höhenstrahlenergie erhalten können. Das elektrische Feld soll dabei durch Induktion sich ändernder magnetischer Felder entstehen. Oberhalb einer gewissen Teilchendichte, die in einem „ungeordneten“ Falle das 10-6-fache der normalerweise vorhandenen Dichte beträgt, wird die Energie auf so viele Teilchen verteilt, daß keines mehr annähernd Lichtgeschwindigkeit erreicht. Es wird eine Änderung eines von Kiepenheuer vorgeschlagenen Modelles diskutiert, wodurch vielleicht alle Bedingungen erfüllt werden könnten.
Notizen: Eine Frage fiber die Rolle der quadratischen Metrik in der Physik
Authors: F. v.Weizsäcker C.
Published: March 2015

Es wird nach der Möglichkeit einer über Helmholtz und Wey I hinausgehenden Begründung der quadratischen Metrik gefragt, die auch die Metrik des quantenmechanischen Zustandsraums einschließen würde.
Einfache Van de Graaff-Generatoren mit doppelter Bandbeladung
Authors: Flammersfeld A. , Weber G.
Published: March 2015

Die Stromausbeute gewöhnlicher Van de Graaff-Generatoren, d. h. solcher, bei denen keine Bänder aufeinander schleifen, war bisher dadurch begrenzt, daß das Band nur halbseitig beladen werden konnte. Es wird eine neue Beladevorrichtung beschrieben, die doppelseitige Beladung gestattet, d. h. bei der auf beiden Seiten jeder Bandhälfte im Prinzip die volle Durchbruchsfeldstärke erreicht werden kann. Bei zwei ausgeführten Konstruktionen, von denen eine mit einem Potentialsteuersystem für das Hauptfeld ausgestattet ist, konnte die Stromstärke auf das rund 1,7-fache des ursprünglichen Wertes gesteigert werden.
Zur korrespondenzmäßigen Theorie der Spinwellengleichungen
Authors: Haag Rudolf
Published: March 2015

Im 1. Teil der Arbeit wird das Problem der Modellfähigkeit einer quantenphysikalischen Theorie in Zusammenhang gebracht mit dem Begriff der „Verwirklichung“ von Gruppen. Es wird gezeigt, daß in der abstrakten Theorie u. U. Möglichkeiten mit umfaßt werden, die in der Natur nicht verwirklicht sind, während die Angabe eines Modells eine Auswahl unter diesen Möglichkeiten trifft. Die Anwendung dieser Begriffsbildungen wird diskutiert am Beispiel der Spinoperatoren der Elementarteilchen. Der zweite Teil der Arbeit behandelt die höheren Näherungen in dem „feldmechanischen Modell“ der Punktpartikel mit dem Ergebnis: die Korrespondenz zu den von Bhabha u. a. diskutierten Spinwellengleichungen bleibt auch in höheren Näherungen bestehen. Die wachsende Komplikation wirkt sich nur im Masseoperator aus. Das Modell liefert jedoch nur Teilchen mit ganzzahligem Spin und ist daher noch unvollständig.
Über den Ursprung der Einzelspuren mit großer Korndichte von Höhenstrahlteilchen in photographischen Platten
Authors: Garski H.
Published: March 2015

Es wird über Messungen an den Bahnspuren einzelner Protonen und schwererer Teilchen in photographischen Platten berichtet und gezeigt, daß innerhalb der Versuchsfehler von 20% die Zahl der in der photographischen Schicht zur Ruhe kommenden Teilchen pro cm3 Emulsion und Tag gleich der entsprechenden Zahl von Bahnanfängen verschiedenen Typs ist. Etwa 60% der Teilchen, die in der Schicht enden, sind in Sternen mit mindestens drei Spuren entstanden. Etwa 40% der Teilchen entstehen bei Kernzertrümmerungen, bei denen ein oder zwei ionisierende Teilchen auftreten oder werden bei der Streuung von Neutronen beschleunigt.

Ferner wurde die Winkelverteilung der Bahnenden untersucht. Es zeigt sich eine deutliche Bevorzugung der Vertikalrichtung. Die hier gefundene Winkelverteilung muß mit der Winkelverteilung der in Kernzertrümmerungen emittierten Teilchen und mit der der Protonen, die bei der Streuung von Neutronen beschleunigt werden, identisch sein. Ein direkter Vergleich ist zur Zeit nur in grober Näherung möglich. Soweit experimentelles Material vorliegt, besteht Übereinstimmung.
Der radioaktive Zerfall des 131 Tellur
Authors: Geiger Klaus
Published: March 2015

Tellursäure wird mit thermischen Neutronen bestrahlt und die Aktivität durch eine Szilard-Chalmers-Abtrennung angereichert. Die Halbwertszeit des 131Te bestimmt sich zu (24,8 ± 0,5) min. Eine γ-Strahlung wird neu aufgefunden. Absorptions- und Koinzidenz-Untersuchungen zeigen, daß der β-Zerfall des 131Te komplex ist, und erlauben die Aufstellung eines Zerfallsschemas. Zwei β-Spektren mit den Maximalenergien (1,35±0,1) MeV und (2,0 ±0,1) MeV und dem Intensitätsverhältnis 4:5 werden ausgesandt, außerdem zwei γ-Linien von 0,16 und 0,7 MeV. Das Ergebnis wird mit den Aussagen des Schalenmodells der Atomkerne verglichen.
Die Bestimmung von Relaxationszeiten aus der Rückprallelastizität
Authors: Jenckel E. , Klein E.
Published: March 2015

Es wurde die Rückprallelastizität an den Stoffen Polystyrol und Polymethacrylsäuremethylester (unvernetzt und vernetzt), Polyvinylchlorid und Polyurethan in Abhängigkeit von der Temperatur gemessen, wobei sich ein charakteristisches Maximum der inneren Dämpfung ergibt.

Weiter wird eine theoretische Behandlung der Rückprallelastizität unter Bezug auf eine frühere Arbeit von Klein und Jenckel11 entwickelt. Die Gleichungen für die Rücksprunghöhe verschiedener Kombinationen plastisch-elastischer Zusammenhaltsmechanismen werden abgeleitet.

Die Versuchsergebnisse werden mit Hilfe der Theorie zur Bestimmung der Relaxations-zeiten als Funktion der Temperatur ausgewertet. Schließlich wird eine Methode zur Abschätzung der Verteilungsfunktion der Relaxationszeiten angegeben.
Über die Entmischung von Lösungen des Polymethacrylesters II
Authors: Jenckel E. , Delahaye J.
Published: March 2015

Es wurden die Löslichkeitskurven einer Anzahl von Fraktionen des Polymethacrylsäuremethylesters mit Polymerisationsgraden von 500 bis 30 000 in p-Cymol, n-Propanol und n-Butanol bestimmt.

Es wurden die Koordinaten des kritischen Lösungspunktes thermodynamisch berechnet. Hierbei bewährt sich vorzüglich ein Ansatz für die Mischungsentropie athermischer Lösungen von Miller in Verbindung mit einem quadratischen Ausdruck μχ2
2 für die Lösungswärme und die zusätzliche Entropie der irregulären Lösung, in dem μ = a + β/Τ zu setzen ist.
Über die Erhaltungssätze der Physik II
Authors: Jordan P.
Published: March 2015

Das allgemeine Schema einer speziell-relativistischen doppelt eichinvarianten Theorie wird besprochen.
Verallgemeinerte Ionisationsformel eines Plasmas
Authors: Elwert G.
Published: March 2015

In der theoretischen Astrophysik werden drei Ionisationsgleichungen verwendet, nämlich die Saha-Gleichung, die Ionisationsformel der Gasnebel und die Ionisationsgleichung der Sonnenkorona. Aufgabe der vorliegenden Untersuchung ist es, eine verallgemeinerte Ionisationsformel anzugeben, die die genannten Gleichungen als Sonderfälle enthält. Damit sind auch die Bedingungen, unter denen die einzelnen Formeln gelten, sowie die Übergänge zwischen ihnen zu übersehen.