bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adsorption of Hyperbranched Polysiloxysilane Modified with Triethoxy Group onto the Silicon Wafer
Authors: Yamada Yasuko , Hirai Tomoyasu , Kikuchi Ryohei , Hayakawa Teruaki , Kakimoto Masa-Aki
Published: September 2007

Triethoxysilyl functionalized hyperbranched polsiloxysilanes at the focal (FT-HBPSs) and terminal (TT-HBPSs) positions were synthesized to investigate adsorption behavior onto a silicon wafer surface. The surface of the silicon wafer adsorbed with the HBPSs was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), static and dynamic water contact angle measurements. The AFM images indicated the formation size of dot-like structures were approximately 200 nm. The presence of vinyl terminal groups of FT-HBPSs permitted conversion of the surface from a non-polar hydrocarbon to a polar hydroxylated or carboxylated structures. After the polarity was changed, the surface properties were also studied using the above surface analysis techniques. The dynamic contact angle measurement indicated that the silicon wafer surface modified by FT-HBPSs was more hydrophilic in water than TT-HBPS. This behavior can be explained by the difference of connecting points between HBPS and the silicon wafer surface.
Identifying environmental health risks in consumer products: non-governmental organizations and civic epistemologies
Authors: Iles Alastair
Published: September 2007

Chemical politics are increasingly focusing on chemical use in consumer products. Emerging scientific research, including endocrine disrupter studies and body burden surveys, suggests that products are important sources of chemical risks. This article uses the concept of civic epistemology to investigate knowledge production about chemical risks in products. Using the case of phthalates in toys and cosmetics, this article analyzes how environmental health non-governmental organizations are critiquing regulatory science, attempting to change standards of evidence and proof, and introducing data about product use. Briefly comparing developments in the United States and Europe reveals such civic epistemology elements more clearly.
Ambiguous, circular and polysemous: students' definitions of the “balance of nature” metaphor
Authors: Zimmerman Corinne , Cuddington Kim
Published: September 2007

The “balance of nature” metaphor has been used to explain the functioning of natural systems from ancient times and continues to be invoked in popular culture, in spite of controversy regarding its use in the scientific community. We demonstrate that undergraduate students in the United States believe this term is descriptive of real ecological systems, and continue to do so after instruction in ecological science. A content analysis of students' definitions of the “balance of nature” and its causes varied widely with multiple, often contradictory, interpretations. A second survey confirmed that the range of definitions generated by students was representative of the larger educated population. Common responses included population regulation, species interactions, absence of disturbance and Nature. We speculate that the lack of a fixed meaning for the balance of nature term could lead to problems in education, public policy, and the transmission of ecological concepts to the general public.
What do laypersons want to know from scientists? An analysis of a dialogue between scientists and laypersons on the web site Scienzaonline
Authors: Falchetti Elisabetta , Caravita Silvia , Sperduti Alessandra
Published: September 2007

Scienzaonline is an interactive web site developed by the Museum of Zoology of Rome that offers various services. After the site had been online for three years, we examined approximately 800 questions received by the service Expert on line to understand what laypeople's interests in science are and in which life contexts they emerge. The contents of the questions were categorized to reveal the function and the nature of the knowledge that people expect from “experts”. Some kind of actual accomplishment motivates most of the questions, though a considerable number of them have knowledge and understanding as their objective. Information is the main form of expected knowledge and disciplinary knowledge is viewed as the privileged source of it. A relevant percentage of messages reveal the desire to obtain explanations and validations of reported facts, an aid to go beyond factual knowledge. Striving to find answers to “great unanswered questions” emerges as a passionate intellectual endeavor for some people.
Understanding citizen perceptions of science controversy: bridging the ethnographic—survey research divide
Authors: Nisbet Matthew C. , Goidel Robert K.
Published: September 2007

Using the contemporary debate in the United States over embryonic stem cell research as a test case, we outline a theoretical framework that points to the central impact of value predispositions, schema, political knowledge, and forms of mass media use in shaping public perceptions of science. In the process, by proposing an alternative approach to the dominant science literacy model, we address the existing divide between survey-based and ethnographic studies. Analyzing nationally representative survey data collected in the US in the fall of 2003, our findings suggest that value predispositions related to Christian conservatism and social ideology, along with schema related to abortion and reservations about science, serve as primary influences on citizen evaluations of embryonic stem cell research and therapeutic cloning, while our measure of issue-specific political knowledge had no statistically significant impact. In addition, after all controls, attention to newspaper coverage along with various forms of genre-specific entertainment television use have unique influences on citizen evaluations, suggesting that the mass media provide an important part of the social context by which citizens judge controversial science. Other survey results since our data collection in 2003 lend support to our findings. Religious and ideological values appear to filter the influence of information disseminated by scientific institutions. We conclude by discussing future research that connects findings from ethnographic studies with survey-based approaches.
Scrambled eggheads: ambivalent representations of scientists in six Hollywood film comedies from 1961 to 1965
Authors: Terzian Sevan G. , Grunzke Andrew L.
Published: September 2007

The American public's longstanding preference for intelligence over intellect informed ambivalent portrayals of American scientists in the postwar era. This essay considers how six popular Hollywood films from a largely neglected genre—comedy—projected ambivalent images of scientists from 1961 to 1965. It argues that scientists were often respected for their intelligence, but were mocked or even feared for their intellect. In the comedic subgenres of the family film and slapstick, scientists who were safely contained at institutions of higher education committed merely social transgressions and became objects of mockery. In the political satire of Dr. Strangelove, however, the direct threat of nuclear annihilation cast the scientist as an object of fear and a real threat to the security of the nation. This discussion of popular comedies thus accounts for an under-studied cultural barometer and powerful medium in the popularization of science.
Experiences of Caregivers and Relatives in Public Nursing Homes
Authors: Häggström Elisabeth , Kihlgren Annica
Published: September 2007

The aim of the present study was, by means of discussion highlighting ethical questions and moral reasonings, to increase understanding of the situations of caregivers and relatives of older persons living in a public nursing home in Sweden. The findings show that these circumstances can be better understood by considering two different perspectives: an individual perspective, which focuses on the direct contact that occurs among older people, caregivers and relatives; and a societal perspective, which focuses on the norms, values, rules and laws that govern a society. Relatives and caregivers thought that the politicians were sending out mixed messages: they were praising caregivers and relatives for their efforts, but at the same time the public health care sector was subjected to significant cutbacks in resources. Both caregivers and relatives were dissatisfied and frustrated with the present situation regarding the care of older persons in public nursing homes.
The Birth of Tragedy in Pediatrics: a Phronetic Conception of Bioethics
Authors: Carnevale Franco A.
Published: September 2007

Accepted standards of parental decisional autonomy and child best interests do not address adequately the complex moral problems involved in the care of critically ill children. A growing body of moral discourse is calling for the recognition of `tragedy' in selected human problems. A tragic dilemma is an irresolvable dilemma with forced terrible alternatives, where even the virtuous agent inescapably emerges with `dirty hands'. The shift in moral framework described here recognizes that the form of conduct called for by tragic dilemmas is the practice of phronesis. The phronetic agent has acquired a capacity to discern good agency in tragic circumstances. This discernment is practiced through the artful creation of moral narratives: stories that convey that which is morally meaningful in a particular situation; that is, stories that are `meaning making'. The phronetic agent addresses tragic dilemmas involving children as a narrator of contextualized temporal embodied human (counter)stories.
Deprivation of Liberty in Psychiatric Hospital Care: the Patient's Perspective
Authors: Kuosmanen Lauri , Hätönen Heli , Malkavaara Heikki , Kylmä Jari , Välimäki Maritta
Published: September 2007

Deprivation of liberty in psychiatric hospitals is common world-wide. The aim of this study was to find out whether patients had experienced deprivation of their liberty during psychiatric hospitalization and to explore their views about it. Patients (n = 51) in two acute psychiatric inpatient wards were interviewed in 2001. They were asked to describe in their own words their experiences of being deprived of their liberty. The data were analysed by inductive content analysis. The types of deprivation of liberty in psychiatric hospital care reported by these patients were: restrictions on leaving the ward and on communication, confiscation of property, and various coercive measures. The patients' experiences of being deprived of their liberty were negative, although some saw the rationale for using these interventions, considering them as part of hospital care.
Unburdening Suffering: Responses of Psychiatrists To Patients' Suicide Deaths
Authors: Talseth Anne-Grethe , Gilje Fredricka
Published: September 2007

The research questions was: 'How do psychiatrists describe their responses to patients' suicidal deaths in the light of a published model of consolation?' The textual data (n = 5) was a subset of a larger (n = 19) study. Thematic analysis showed a main theme, 'unburdening grief', and six themes. Embedded in the results is a story about suffering that reveals that, through ethical reflectiveness, a meaning of suffering can be recreated that unburdens grief and opens up new understandings with and among disciplines. This can help to prepare health professionals to respond to people who suffer because of suicidal death.
Physicians' and Nurses' Preferences in Using Life-Sustaining Treatments
Authors: Carmel Sara , Werner Perla , Ziedenberg Hanna
Published: September 2007

The aim of this study was to examine physicians' and nurses' preferences regarding the use of life-sustaining treatments (LST) for severely ill elderly patients, and the patient- and social-centered factors that influence them. Physicians and nurses working in Israeli general hospitals completed structured questionnaires referring to their preferences for using LST in three severe health conditions (metastatic cancer, mental illness and being bedridden/incontinent). The participants were also asked about factors influencing these preferences, including patients' wishes, quality of life, religiosity and the current law. Both physicians and nurses indicated that they would use less LST for patients with metastatic cancer than with those suffering from the other two health conditions. Our findings indicate that the attitudes of professionals involved in these processes are influenced not only by the patient's condition but also by their professional orientations and personal values. Open communication among professionals for clarifying the various beliefs, as well as the antecedents of these beliefs, is important for the benefit of professional teams, patients and families.
The Value of Nursing: a Literature Review
Authors: Horton Khim , Tschudin Verena , Forget Armorel
Published: September 2007

This article is part of a wider study entitled Value of Nursing, and contains the literature search from electronic databases. Key words for the search included `values of nursing', `values in nursing', `organisational values' and `professional identity'. Thirty-two primary reports published in English between 2000 and 2006 were identified. The findings highlight the importance of understanding values and their relevance in nursing and how values are constructed. The value of nursing is seen to be influenced by cultural change, globalization, and advancement in technology and medicine. These factors are crucial in providing a more structured and measured view of what nursing is, which will result in greater job satisfaction among nurses, better nurse retention and enhanced patient care within a supportive and harmonious organization. The findings of this review have implications for policy makers in recruitment and retention in determining the global value of nursing.
Ethics in Turkish Nursing Education Programs
Authors: Görgülü Refia Selma , Dinç Leyla
Published: September 2007

This descriptive study investigated the current status of ethics instruction in Turkish nursing education programs. The sample for this study comprised 39 nursing schools, which represented 51% of all nursing schools in Turkey. Data were collected through a postal questionnaire. The results revealed that 18 of these nursing schools incorporated an ethics course into undergraduate and three into graduate level programs. Most of the educators focused on the basic concepts of ethics, deontological theory, ethical principles, ethical problems in health care, patient rights and codes of ethics for nurses. More than half of the educators believed that students' theoretical knowledge of ethics is applied to their clinical experiences. The teaching methods used included discussion in class, lectures, case studies, small group discussion, dramatization and demonstration. Assessment was carried out by means of written essays and written examinations.
Chinese Nurses' Ethical Concerns in a Neurological Ward
Authors: Ping Fen Tang  , Johansson Camilla , Wadensten Barbro , Wenneberg Stig , Ahlström Gerd
Published: September 2007

Our aim was to describe Chinese nurses' experiences of workplace distress and ethical dilemmas on a neurological ward. Qualitative interviews were performed with 20 nurses. On using latent content analysis, themes emerged in four content areas: ethical dilemmas, workplace distress, quality of nursing and managing distress. The ethical dilemmas were: (1) conflicting views on optimal treatment and nursing; (2) treatment choice meeting with financial constraints; and (3) misalignment of nursing responsibilities, competence and available resources. The patients' relatives lacked respect for the nurses' skills. Other dilemmas could be traced to the transition from a planned to a market economy, resulting in an excessive workload and treatment withdrawal for financial reasons. Lack of resources was perceived as an obstacle to proper patient care in addition to hospital organization, decreasing the quality of nursing, and increasing moral and workplace distress. The nurses managed mainly by striving for competence, which gave them hope for the future.
Tailoring Piezoresistive Sensitivity of Multilayer Carbon Nanotube Composite Strain Sensors
Authors: Loh K.J. , Lynch J.P. , Shim B.S. , Kotov N.A.
Published: September 2007

In recent years, carbon nanotubes have been utilized for a variety of applications, including nanoelectronics and various types of sensors. In particular, researchers have sought to take advantage of the superior electrical properties of carbon nanotubes for fabricating novel strain sensors. This article presents a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)-polyelectrolyte (PE) composite thin film strain sensor fabricated with a layer-by-layer (LbL) process. Optimization of bulk SWNT-PE strain sensor properties is achieved by varying various LbL fabrication parameters, followed by characterization of strain-sensing electromechanical responses. A resistor and capacitor (RC)-circuit model is proposed and validated with electrical impedance spectroscopy to fit experimental results and to identify equivalent circuit element parameters sensitive to strain. Experimental results suggest consistent trends between SWNT and PE concentrations to strain sensor sensitivities. Simply by adjusting the weight fraction of SWNT solutions and film thickness, strain sensitivities between 0.1 and 1.8 have been achieved. While SWNT-PE strain sensitivity is lower than some metal-foil strain gauges ($2), the LbL method allows for precise tailoring of the properties (i.e., strain sensitivity, resistivity, among others) of a high-capacity (±10,000 μm m-1) homogeneous multilayer strain sensor.
Modal Synthesis of Flexible Mechanisms for Airfoil Shape Control
Authors: Campanile L.F.
Published: September 2007

The use of `compliant' or flexible mechanisms constitutes a very promising option for the successful realization of shape-adaptable airfoil structures. Achieving large deformations by exploiting structural flexibility instead of employing conventional mechanisms with moveable parts offers several advantages: absence of backlash and wear, no need for lubrication, reduced noise, smooth geometry changes, a lighter design, and reduced manufacturing costs. As a counterpart, compliant systems are more complex to analyze and design due to their inherent coupled behavior. Established design procedures, developed in the framework of kinematics design, are of limited use for application to shape-adaptable structures due to differences in requirement priorities. This study presents a novel synthesis procedure for compliant shape-adaptable airfoils. Initially devised for the so-called belt-rib airfoils, the procedure can be extended to the general case of compliant airfoils with an external flexible skin (optionally reinforced by frames) and a system of internal stiffeners. After the description of the core synthesis algorithm, which is based on a modal approach, its integration in a global design procedure is discussed. Application to the case of a belt-rib airfoil is then considered. The compliant structure resulting from the procedure combines the characteristic qualities of a compliant system (smooth deformation pattern, absence of moveable parts, low weight) with the low load-dependence of kinematics which is typical of conventional mechanisms.
Is There a “Gender Affinity Effect” in American Politics?
Authors: Dolan Kathleen
Published: September 2007

A common assumption people make about American elections is that women voters will be the most likely source of support for female candidates, a phenomenon referred to as the “gender affinity effect.” Using National Election Study (NES) data from 1990 to 2000, this project expands our understanding of forms that this affinity effect can take by examining two underutilized measures of reactions to candidates: information and candidate affect scores. The author also considers the impact of political party on women's and men's attitudes toward female candidates and examines whether any gender affinity effect in reactions to female candidates is related to people's voting decisions.
WAVE1 and Regulation of Actin Nucleation in Myelination
Authors: Sloane Jacob A. , Vartanian Timothy K.
Published: September 2007

The myelin sheath can be compared to the neuronal growth cone in that the unfurled sheath looks like a giant lamellum. The authors recently tested this hypothesis by examining the importance of WAVE1, a regulator of lamellipodia formation in neurons and other cells, in myelinogenesis. They found that WAVE1 is critical for formation of oligodendrocyte lamellae and myelin sheaths. They review the regulation of WAVE1 and how WAVE1 is transported and localized to lamellipodia. Because they found that some but not all myelination was impaired by knockout of WAVE1 function, they hypothesize that other regulators of actin nucleation help oligodendrocytes produce myelin in parallel with WAVE1 function. Interestingly, they found that oligodendrocyte maturation also is disturbed with WAVE1 knockout and propose that proper localization and transport of signaling molecules relevant to the integrin signaling cascade are disrupted by loss of WAVE1 function. NEUROSCIENTIST 13(5):486—491, 2007. DOI: 10.1177/1073858407299423
A Multifaceted Approach to Neuroscience Outreach: Meeting the Challenges
Authors: Dommett Eleanor J. , Westwell Martin S. , Greenfield Susan A.
Published: September 2007

UK government targets aim for 50% of 18- to 30-year-olds entering higher education; however, with the vast choice of subjects to study available at this level, it is important to help pupils make informed decisions. As part of this process, awareness of newer fields such as neuroscience, which is not on the syllabus for science at school, needs to be promoted. Various challenges face neuroscientists working with visiting school pupils, including the lack of appropriate teaching resources, the culture and language barrier, and the risk of misinterpretation through oversimplification. The authors have designed a workshop to promote neuroscience and related scientific issues with school pupils aged 16 to 18 years. Pupil feedback showed that awareness of options within science increased after the workshop. The workshop also used resources taken from an undergraduate course successfully, demonstrating that appropriate resources are already available. A practical session using human brains was most popular, with all pupils believing it to be thought provoking and interesting. The final session aimed to challenge stereotypes within science, and despite the lowest pupil ratings overall, the majority agreed this aim was met. Pupils reported that the workshop was interesting and that the information about options within science useful. The most impressive outcome was that, although no pupil recorded less inclination to continue in science following the workshop, 46% said that they were more likely to do so. These data confirm the importance of outreach work for pupils' interest and career choice. NEUROSCIENTIST 13(5):447—453, 2007.
The Prefrontal Cortex and Flexible Behavior
Authors: Barbas Helen , Zikopoulos Basilis
Published: September 2007

The prefrontal cortex in primates guides behavior by selecting relevant stimuli for the task at hand, mediated through excitatory bidirectional pathways with structures associated with sensory processing, memory, and emotions. The prefrontal cortex also has a key role in suppressing irrelevant stimuli through a mechanism that is not well understood. Recent findings indicate that prefrontal pathways interface with laminar-specific neurochemical classes of inhibitory neurons in sensory cortices, terminate extensively in the frontal and sensory sectors of the inhibitory thalamic reticular nucleus, and target the inhibitory intercalated masses of the amygdala. Circuit-based models suggest that prefrontal pathways can select relevant signals and efficiently suppress distractors, in processes that are disrupted in schizophrenia and in other disorders affecting prefrontal cortices. NEUROSCIENTIST 13(5):532—545, 2007. DOI: 10.1177/1073858407301369
Aquaporins: Multiple Roles in the Central Nervous System
Authors: Yool Andrea J.
Published: September 2007

Aquaporins (AQPs) represent a diverse family of membrane proteins found in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The primary aquaporins expressed in the mammalian brain are AQP1, which is densely packed in choroid plexus cells lining the ventricles, and AQP4, which is abundant in astrocytes and concentrated especially in the end-feet structures that surround capillaries throughout the brain and are present in glia limitans structures, notably in osmosensory areas such the supraoptic nucleus. Water movement in brain tissues is carefully regulated from the micro- to macroscopic levels, with aquaporins serving key roles as multifunctional elements of complex signaling assemblies. Intriguing possibilities suggest links for AQP1 in Alzheimer's disease, AQP4 as a target for therapy in brain edema, and a possible contribution of AQP9 in Parkinson's disease. For all the aquaporins, new contributions to physiological functions are likely to continue to be discovered with ongoing work in this rapidly expanding field of research. NEUROSCIENTIST 13(5):470—485, 2007.
Control of a 6-DOF Parallel Manipulator through a Mechatronic Approach
Authors: Rosario J.M. , Dumur D. , Machado J.A.T.
Published: September 2007

This paper shows that a hierarchical architecture, distributing several control actions in growing levels of complexity and using resources of reconfigurable computing, enables one to take into account the ease of future modifications, updates and improvements in robotic applications. An experimental example of a Stewart—Gough platform control (a platform applied as the solution to countless practical problems) is presented using reconfigurable computing. The software and hardware developed are structured in independent blocks. This open architecture implementation allows easy expansion of the system and better adaptation of the platform to its related tasks.
Stability Analysis of Rotating Blade Vibration due to Torsional Excitation
Authors: Al-Nassar Y.N. , Kalyon M. , Pakdemirli M. , Al-Bedoor B.O.
Published: September 2007

This paper presents an approximate analysis of the vibration stability of a rotating blade due to shaft torsional vibration excitation. The governing equation adopted in the study is a Hill's type linear second order ordinary differential equation with multiple harmonically variable coefficient terms. The strained parameters method, a perturbation technique, is utilized in developing the stability transition curves in the plane of parameters related to the rotor speed, the torsional vibration excitation frequency and the blade natural frequency. The stable and unstable regions obtained by perturbations are contrasted to those obtained by numerical stability analysis performed using Floquet theory and an excellent match is observed for small torsional vibration amplitudes. Numerical integration of the original equation at selected points in the predicted stable and unstable regions showed that the predicted behavior of the responses is correct, wherein the unstable regions growing blade vibration is exhibited.
Non-linear Response of a Layered Medium
Authors: Aşik M.Z. , Işbuğa V.
Published: September 2007

The response of a soil medium with a stiff and elastic layer on the top can be captured in a model introduced by Iwan using a calculation procedure introduced by Joyner and Chen. The problem analyzed here is basically the response of horizontal soil layers bounded below by a semi-infinite elastic medium and above by an elastic layer. The medium is shaken by a ground motion assumed to originate at the top of the semi-infinite elastic medium. The aim of the study is to investigate the nonlinear soil-structure interaction problem by considering true nonlinear behavior of the soil under seismic excitations.
A Hamiltonian Formulation and a Direct Numerical Scheme for Fractional Optimal Control Problems
Authors: Agrawal Om P. , Baleanu Dumitru
Published: September 2007

This paper deals with a direct numerical technique for Fractional Optimal Control Problems (FOCPs). In this paper, we formulate the FOCPs in terms of Riemann—Liouville Fractional Derivatives (RLFDs). It is demonstrated that right RLFDs automatically arise in the formulation even when the dynamics of the system is described using left RLFDs only. For numerical computation, the FDs are approximated using the Grunwald—Letnikov definition. This leads to a set of algebraic equations that can be solved using numerical techniques. Two examples, one time-invariant and the other time-variant, are considered to demonstrate the effectiveness of the formulation. Results show that as the order of the derivative approaches an integer value, these formulations lead to solutions for integer order system. The approach requires dividing of the entire time domain into several sub-domains. Further, as the sizes of the sub-domains are reduced, the solutions converge to unique solutions. However, the convergence is slow. A scheme that improves the convergence rate will be considered in a future paper. Other issues to be considered in the future include formulations using other types of derivatives, nonlinear and stochastic fractional optimal controls, existence and uniqueness of the solutions, and the error analysis.
The Two Forms of Fractional Relaxation of Distributed Order
Authors: Mainardi Francesco , Mura Antonio , Gorenflo Rudolf , Stojanović Mirjana
Published: September 2007

The first-order differential equation of exponential relaxation can be generalized by using either the fractional derivative in the Riemann—Liouville (R-L) sense and in the Caputo (C) sense, both of a single order less than 1. The two forms turn out to be equivalent. When, however, we use fractional derivatives of distributed order (between zero and 1), the equivalence is lost, in particular on the asymptotic behaviour of the fundamental solution at small and large times. We give an outline of the theory providing the general form of the solution in terms of an integral of Laplace type over a positive measure depending on the order-distribution. We consider in some detail two cases of fractional relaxation of distribution order: the double-order and the uniformly distributed order discussing the differences between the R-L and C approaches. For all the cases considered we give plots of the solutions for moderate and large times.
Numerical Simulations in Two CPG Models for Bipedal Locomotion
Authors: Pinto Carla M.A.
Published: September 2007

Pinto and Golubitsky proposed a new model for a central pattern generator (CPG) for arm/leg coordination in bipeds, the network arm. arm is derived from a CPG quadruped model (quad) by breaking the symmetry between fore- and hind limbs.

This paper explores numerically some of the solution properties of two general CPG models: arm and a CPG model for leg rhythms in bipeds (which is called leg). It is assumed that the internal dynamics of each cell is modeled by a space-clamped Hodgkin—Huxley equation and the coupling is only through the voltage term. Numerical simulations are done using XPPAUT. Secondary gaits in leg are obtained from bifurcation of the Poincaré map of a primary gait. Examples of secondary gaits are gallop, asymmetric hop, one-legged hop, and skip. In particular, the gallop is obtained by bifurcation from the primary gait two-legged jump. Numerical evidence of this is shown. Numerical simulations are given of periodic solutions in arm identified with arm/leg coordination patterns in bipeds.
Fractional PID Controllers for Industry Application. A Brief Introduction
Authors: Vinagre Blas M. , Monje Concepción A. , Calderón Antonio J. , Suárez José I.
Published: September 2007

In recent years the increasing amount of work related to the application of Fractional Calculus (FC) is remarkable in many areas of science and engineering. In relation to automatic control, the use of Fractional Order Control (FOC) needs, for real applications, to develop methods for controller design and parameter tuning, and efficient strategies for controller implementation. On the other hand, the Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller is currently by far the most widely used form of feedback controller in industrial applications. This paper, after an introduction to FC and FOC, briefly presents methods for fractional PID controller tuning, including auto-tuning, and some software and hardware strategies for efficient implementations of controllers in industrial applications.
On Set-oriented Numerical Methods for Global Analysis of Non-smooth Mechanical Systems
Authors: Neumann Nicolai , Sattel Thomas , Wallaschek Jörg
Published: September 2007

A large number of engineering systems include non-linear or even non-smooth behaviour. During development and optimisation of mechanical systems, a comprehensive dynamical analysis may be essential. Set-oriented Numerical Methods offer a new and efficient approach to global dynamical analysis without the requirement for a detailed a priori knowledge of the system dynamics. This paper shows the basic concepts behind this method and presents its application to a simple model of a vibro-impact device for ultrasonic/sonic drilling. In this drilling device an impacting mass transmits vibrational energy from a piezoelectric actuator as shock waves into a drill stem. Relative global attractors will be derived which show statistical distributions for the occurrence of all possible states. Periodic solutions can be identified parallel to the evaluation of chaotic behaviour. Thus a global understanding of the system performance can be obtained, offering new ways for model verification and system design.
Coupled Frequencies of a Fluid in a Circular Cylindrical Tank with a Membrane on its Upper End and Permanent Axial Loading
Authors: Gavrilova Elena
Published: September 2007

A compressible and inviscid fluid fills a closed circular cylindrical tank. The tank bottom and its side wall are rigid. The whole upper end is covered with a flexible weightless clamped membrane. The tank is under conditions of a specified permanent axial loading. The fluid—structure interaction system obtained is assumed to have small vibrations. Such tanks are used in the aviation industry, so that study of the dynamic behaviour of fluid in tanks is important for their design and reliability assessment. The problem under consideration concerns the determination of the coupled vibrations in this fluid—structure interaction system. The frequency equation is obtained using the Bubnov—Galerkin method. Numerical examples show that with increased axial loading the corresponding first dimensionless frequency of the fluid—structure interaction system also increases.
Little Players, Big Shows
Authors: Dawson Max
Published: September 2007

This article highlights the role that aesthetics play in television's current convergence with mobile telephones and portable media players like the iPod. I contend that contemporary television style does not just constitute a response to the demands of technological convergence — it is rather an integral component of that which allows television to merge with new devices in the first place. When we engage with style as a precursor to these developments, important continuities emerge between the aesthetics of the small screen and those of the new smaller screens. These continuities underscore that convergence is at once a technical and aesthetic process that entails the hybridization of hardware and cultural forms.
A Sack in the Sand
Authors: Lister Martin
Published: September 2007

Throughout the 1990s the relationship between culture and technology was sharply focused in a debate about whether digital technologies signalled the death or radical displacement of photography. The case for the cultural continuity of photography centred upon a rejection of a strong form of technological determinism. It is now clear that far from being displaced to the margins of culture, there is now more photography than ever. There have also been dramatic developments: mobile phone manufacturers have put more cameras into people's hands then ever before; the photograph as social document and historical witness persists but in changing ways; photographs circulate globally on an unprecedented scale via electronic image banks. It is clear that such changes and developments do involve new technologies. However, rather than being due to the kind of technological determinism debated earlier, this is because photography has come to exist within a new technological environment. In many recent accounts, `information' and information technology are repeatedly cited as constituting a new and shaping context for photographic practices.

This article offers a conceptual framework for thinking about these changes by relating tendencies in contemporary discussions of photography to another discourse and another set of practices: informatics.
The Impact of Convergence on European Television Policy
Authors: Storsul Tanja , Syvertsen Trine
Published: September 2007

Over the last decade, questions regarding the implications of digitalization and convergence have dominated European media debates. One aspect of the debate has concerned regulation: to what degree would existing regulations have to be modified in order to accommodate digital production and distribution technologies? In this article we examine the arguments for regulatory change from the mid- and late 1990s and show that the actual changes have not been as far-reaching as predicted. We will argue that this reflects a general pattern in media development whereby the forces of stability and continuity are often underestimated and too much emphasis is placed on factors pointing towards change. The article draws on empirical evidence from the European Union, Britain and the Scandinavian countries Norway and Sweden.
Talking Books
Authors: Philips Deborah
Published: September 2007

The talking book offers a case study in the transition of cultural forms into new media. As the technology for recording books has developed from sound recording into the downloading of books from the internet, the encounter between new technologies and literary texts has implications for cultural and literary theory. This article offers an analysis of the talking book, with a particular emphasis on the novel. Although books on tape did arouse some media interest around the 75th anniversary of the production of the first recorded novel, Agatha Christie's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, there has to date been no academic research on the growing phenomenon of books on tape. This article begins by charting a history of the talking book, from the first tape recordings for the Royal National Institute of the Blind to the impact of the MP3 player and the iPod. It makes use of Raymond Williams' work on television and of Stuart Hall and Paul De Gay's case study of the Sony Walkman as offering methodologies for the analysis of new technologies as sites of cultural contest, and develops this work into a study of the recorded book. The article also employs a textual analysis of the catalogues and websites used to promote the talking book as a commodity. The study demonstrates that the talking book, as with other forms of cultural encounters with new technologies, builds on already existing categories of literary and cultural capital.
The role of perceptions of task difficulty in relation to self-perceptions of ability, intrinsic value, attainment value, and performance
Authors: Li Weidong , Lee Amelia , Solmon Melinda
Published: September 2007

This study examined the role of perceptions of task difficulty in relation to self-perceptions of ability, intrinsic value, attainment value, and performance. Seventy-nine 8th graders completed surveys prior to task instruction and after the last practice session. Two days later, they completed a skill test. Participants who perceived the Lunastix task as more difficult were likely to have lower levels of self-perceptions of ability, express lower levels of interest, and obtain lower levels of performance scores on the skill test. Perceptions of task difficulty were negatively predicted by initial self-perceptions of ability. Further, for those who had more experience in obJect manipulation activities and reported higher ratings of their obJect manipulation ability, they were likely to express higher levels of initial self-perceptions of ability. When teaching a novel difficult task, teachers should relate it to other similar activities, provide students practice opportunities, and create a mastery-oriented learning environment.
Teacher feedback and interactions in physical education: Effects of student gender and physical activities
Authors: Nicaise Virginie , Cogérino Geneviève , Fairclough Stuart , Bois Julien , Davis Kathryn
Published: September 2007

Previous research conducted in both classroom and physical education (PE) settings has examined the impact of student gender on teacher—student interactions. The purpose of this study was to extend this line of research by analysing the influence of student gender and different types of physical activity on the frequency and nature of teacher interaction patterns toward boys and girls. Seventy 10th grade students and their two respective PE teachers were examined during 18 PE lessons. Each teacher was observed nine times in two physical activities (badminton and circuit weight training). Teacher—student interactions were systematically coded with an adapted version of the Coaching Behavior Assessment System (CBAS). Classroom interactions significantly varied on the basis of student gender, type of physical activity and the gender composition of the class and the teacher. The findings from this study suggest that future research should consider that physical activities offered in PE curricula may moderate gender differentiated interaction patterns.
Exploring social and environmental factors affecting adolescents' participation in physical activity
Authors: Dagkas Symeon , Stathi Afroditi
Published: September 2007

This study explores the social factors that influence young people's participation in school and out of school physical activities. Fifty-two 16-year-old adolescents from different socioeconomic backgrounds in one suburban and one inner-city secondary school in the Midlands, UK, participated in group interviews which explored their perceptions about physical activity and the constraints they had experienced. The study suggests that involvement in physical activity is linked with students' social class, home environment and economic status. The level of participation of students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds was limited compared to their higher socioeconomic counterparts. Furthermore, adolescents' `cultural', physical' and `economic' capital were salient factors in their involvement in physical activity settings. This study stresses the need for better and wider provision of structured physical activity in schools in economically deprived areas to compensate for lower participation levels.
Young people's participation in extracurricular physical education: A study of 15—16 year olds in North-West England and North-East Wales
Authors: Smith Andy , Thurston Miranda , Green Ken , Lamb Kevin
Published: September 2007

This paper examines the levels and forms of participation in extracurricular physical education (PE) of a cohort of 1010 15—16 year olds attending seven state schools in north-west England and north-east Wales. The data reveal that extracurricular PE provision in all schools retained a particular focus on competitive team sports alongside a number of recreational partner sports and individualized activities. At the same time, the study confirmed previous findings that young people's reported levels and forms of participation in different sports and physical activities in extracurricular PE varied significantly and differentially according to gender and, to some extent, social class. To this configuration, however, needs to be added the particularity of the schools young people attend. Schools evidently influenced patterns of participation, particularly among 15—16-year-old girls. It seems likely that the medium through which higher rates of female participation are realized —particularly in lower working class areas — is the particular blend of sports and physical activities available in extracurricular provision. In other words, the kind of sports and physical activities a school provides appears to be a critical factor in understanding school-level differences in participation. In this regard, it seems that becoming a Specialist Sports College is prominent among a number of developments which may result in a diversification of extracurricular PE opportunities.
Training physical education teachers to include children with special educational needs: Perspectives from physical education initial teacher training providers
Authors: Vickerman Philip
Published: September 2007

The term inclusion has been subject to extensive debate in terms of its definition, interpretation and delivery in relation to children with special educational needs (SEN) in physical education (PE). This study explores the views and experiences of teacher trainers in their role of preparing secondary PE trainees for the inclusion of children with SEN. The data are analysed on the basis of questionnaire responses from 24 English teacher-training providers and five face-to-face interviews with academic staff responsible for SEN. The study found that while inclusive PE is supported wholeheartedly, there is inconsistency in the amount of time spent addressing this issue and the nature of curricular content. Consequently, teacher trainers need to review their approaches in preparing PE teachers for their work in schools and an eight-step framework is proposed to identify how the philosophy and practice of inclusion might be considered.
The Effect of Fluctuating Illuminance on Visual Sensation in a Small Office
Authors: Kim S.Y. , Kim J.J.
Published: September 2007

The objective of this study was to examine occupants' responses to the visual environment influenced by changing illuminance levels and to determine acceptable tolerance ranges that did not significantly impair visual comfort when automatic dimming control systems were used. This study also investigated whether changing the light levels significantly impaired performance of a reading task given as a surrogate for a productivity test. Annoyance tests were performed under a variety of fluctuating illuminance levels controlled by a direct lighting system in a full-scale mock-up office space. Healthy 19 females and 17 males, whose ages ranged from 20 to 45 years, participated in the tests. The results of this study suggest that the degree of annoyance felt was not entirely relevant to the amount of change in illuminance, but it varied according to the task for which the illuminance was initially set up. The maximum fluctuation of illuminance controlled by automatic dimming control systems would be approximately 40% of the target illuminance in order to avoid any significant visual annoyance for office occupants. Multiple linear prediction models showed that feelings of eye fatigue, distraction, and annoyance were significant contributors to visual comfort under fluctuating lighting conditions. The reading task performance was not significantly influenced by the fluctuation of illuminance under two different task illuminance conditions.