bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
QADE: A NOVEL TRUST AND REPUTATION MODEL FOR HANDLING FALSE TRUST VALUES IN E–COMMERCE ENVIRONMENTS WITH SUBJECTIVITY CONSIDERATION
Authors: ZUPANCIC Eva , TRCEK Denis
Published: June 2015

Trust is essential to economic efficiency. Trading partners choose each other and make decisions based on how much they trust one another. The way to assess trust in e-commerce is different from those in brick and mortar businesses, as there are limited indicators available in online environments. One way is to deploy trust and reputation management systems that are based on collecting feedbacks about partners’ transactions. One of the problems within such systems is the presence of unfair ratings. In this paper, an innovative QADE trust model is presented, which assumes the existence of unfairly reported trust assessments. Subjective nature of trust is considered, where differently reported trust values do not necessarily mean false trust values but can also imply differences in dispositions to trust. The method to identify and filter out the presumably false values is defined. In our method, a trust evaluator finds other agents in society that are similar to him, taking into account pairwise similarity of trust values and similarity of agents’ general mindsets. In order to reduce the effect of unfair ratings, the values reported by the non-similar agents are excluded from the trust computation. Simulations have been used to compare the effectiveness of algorithms to decrease the effect of unfair ratings. The simulations have been carried out in environments with varying number of attackers and targeted agents, as well as with different kinds of attackers. The results showed significant improvements of our proposed method. On average 6% to 13% more unfair trust ratings have been detected by our method. Unfair rating effects on trust assessment were reduced with average improvements from 26% to 57% compared to the other most effective filtering methods by Whitby and Teacy.
Is Etanercept 25 mg Once Weekly as Effective as 50 mg at Maintaining Response in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis? A Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Yates Max , Hamilton Louise E. , Elender Frances , Dean Loretta , Doll Helen , MacGregor Alex J. , Thomas Joegi , Gaffney Karl
Published: June 2015

Objective.

To investigate, in a pilot randomized controlled trial, whether etanercept (ETN) 25 mg once weekly is effective at maintaining a clinical response in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who have responded to the standard 50 mg dose.

Methods.

Adults with AS not responding to conventional therapies were prescribed ETN 50 mg once weekly for 6 months. Responders as defined by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) were randomly assigned to taper to 25 mg once weekly or continue on 50 mg and followed for a further 6 months. The primary outcome measure was maintenance of a 50% reduction in the BASDAI or fall in BASDAI by ≥ 2 units and a ≥ 2-unit reduction in BASDAI spinal pain as measured on a 10-point visual analog scale at 6 months postrandomization.

Results.

Of 89 patients assessed for eligibility, 59 were enrolled; 47 (80%) had sufficient clinical response and were eligible for randomization, 24 were assigned to continue receiving ETN 50 mg, and 23 to taper to 25 mg. After 6 months, 20 (83%) of the 50 mg arm maintained clinical response compared with 12 (52%) of the 25 mg arm (a difference of −31%, 95% CI −58% – −5%).

Conclusion.

Although this pilot study demonstrates that treatment with ETN 25 mg was less effective at maintaining treatment response in the stepdown phase, 52% of participants maintained treatment response. Future research should address which patients are suitable for tapering.
Use of Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging to Assess Digital Microvascular Function in Primary Raynaud Phenomenon and Systemic Sclerosis: A Comparison Using the Raynaud Condition Score Diary
Authors: Pauling John D. , Shipley Jacqueline A. , Hart Darren J. , McGrogan Anita , McHugh Neil J.
Published: June 2015

Objective.

Evaluate objective assessment of digital microvascular function using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) in a cross-sectional study of patients with primary Raynaud phenomenon (RP) and systemic sclerosis (SSc), comparing LSCI with both infrared thermography (IRT) and subjective assessment using the Raynaud Condition Score (RCS) diary.

Methods.

Patients with SSc (n = 25) and primary RP (n = 18) underwent simultaneous assessment of digital perfusion using LSCI and IRT with a cold challenge on 2 occasions, 2 weeks apart. The RCS diary was completed between assessments. The relationship between objective and subjective assessments of RP was evaluated. Reproducibility of LSCI/IRT was assessed, along with differences between primary RP and SSc, and the effect of sex.

Results.

There was moderate-to-good correlation between LSCI and IRT (Spearman rho 0.58–0.84, p < 0.01), but poor correlation between objective assessments and the RCS diary (p > 0.05 for all analyses). Reproducibility of IRT and LSCI was moderate at baseline (ICC 0.51–0.63) and immediately following cold challenge (ICC 0.56–0.86), but lower during reperfusion (ICC 0.3–0.7). Neither subjective nor objective assessments differentiated between primary RP and SSc. Men reported lower median daily frequency of RP attacks (0.82 vs 1.93, p = 0.03). Perfusion using LSCI/IRT was higher in men for the majority of assessments.

Conclusion.

Objective and subjective methods provide differing information on microvascular function in RP. There is good convergent validity of LSCI with IRT and acceptable reproducibility of both modalities. Neither subjective nor objective assessments could differentiate between primary RP and SSc. Influence of sex on subjective and objective assessment of RP warrants further evaluation.
Investigation of Complement-activating Pattern Recognition Molecules and Associated Enzymes as Possible Inflammatory Markers in Oligoarticular and Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: Petri Christine , Thiel Steffen , Jensenius Jens Christian , Herlin Troels
Published: June 2015

Objective.

The complement system plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory processes. The lectin pathway of the complement system is activated through the recognition of pathogens by soluble pattern recognition molecules (PRM), i.e., mannan-binding lectin (MBL), collectin-LK, and the ficolins. PRM are reportedly correlated to disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim was to evaluate the pathogenic role of PRM in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods.

We measured MBL, M-ficolin, H-ficolin, MBL-associated serine proteases (MASP) 1, MASP-2, MASP-3, and 2 alternative splice products, MBL-associated protein (MAp) 44 and MAp19, in plasma and synovial fluid (SF) of children with persistent oligoarticular (n = 109 in plasma, n = 38 in SF) and systemic JIA (n = 19 in plasma, n = 11 in SF). The concentrations of the proteins were measured by in-house time-resolved immunofluorometric assays.

Results.

We observed significantly higher levels of M-ficolin, MASP-1, MASP-2, and MASP-3 in plasma and SF from patients with systemic JIA compared with persistent oligoarticular JIA (p < 0.001). In paired samples of plasma and SF from 47 patients with oligoarticular and systemic JIA, we observed higher concentrations in plasma for both subtypes for 7 of the measured proteins while the reverse relationship was observed for MASP-3. M-ficolin and MASP-2 correlated to erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, and platelet count (p < 0.001). M-ficolin was in addition related to the number of active joints and inversely related to hemoglobin levels.

Conclusion.

Our results point to plasma M-ficolin and MASP-2 as inflammatory markers in JIA. The levels of all proteins are higher in plasma than in SF, except for MASP-3, indicating that MASP-3 may be produced locally in joints.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment of Temporomandibular Joint Involvement and Mandibular Growth Following Corticosteroid Injection in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: Lochbühler Nina , Saurenmann Rotraud Katharina , Müller Lukas , Kellenberger Christian Johannes
Published: June 2015

Objective.

To assess whether intraarticular corticosteroid injection (CSI) reduces inflammation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), prevents growth disturbances of the mandibular condyle, and restores normal growth of the mandibular ramus.

Methods.

Retrospective longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation of inflammatory activity, TMJ deformity, and mandibular ramus height in 33 children (23 girls, median age 5.2 yrs) over a median period of 5 years following repetitive CSI to the TMJ.

Results.

Intraarticular location of CSI led to inflammatory grade improvement in 53% at first MRI followup compared to 20% with extraarticular location (p = 0.005), with more improvement of the mean inflammatory grade after intraarticular CSI (p = 0.001). Rate of osseous deformities of the TMJ deteriorated from 51% at study inclusion to 62% at end of observation period, with progression to severe condylar destruction in 26% of joints including 24% with development of intraarticular calcifications/ossifications. Mean short-term growth rates of the mandibular ramus were negative for intraarticular CSI while positive for extraarticular CSI (p = 0.036). Mean longterm mandibular ramus growth rate (0.7 ± 0.8 mm/yr) after CSI was significantly lower than reported normal mean age- and sex-matched growth rate (1.4 ± 0.1 mm/yr, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion.

Despite improving the inflammatory activity as seen on MRI, repetitive CSI to the TMJ does not reach the treatment goals to prevent progressive osseous deformation and to normalize mandibular ramus growth in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
L’imaginaire théologico-politique. Ou de l’obéissance comme source de puissance1
Authors: Maesschalck Marc
Published: June 2015

En analysant les modèles bibliques de l’obéissance mobilisés par Spinoza dans son Tractatus , cet article tente de montrer les limites d’une représentation statique de l’autorité démocratique fondée sur le rapport intellectuel à un lieu vide de la puissance publique. La thèse défendue est qu’une telle représentation manque le rôle de la puissance commune de l’imagination qui permet de modifier les comportements privés suivant les modes de l’autorité collective que sont la justice et la charité. Le rôle du philosophe politique consiste précisément à dissocier dans l’imaginaire de l’obéissance à l’autorité souveraine le pouvoir de modification des comportements privés du seul désir de soumission à un grand sujet.
L’approche contextualiste en morale
Authors: Hunyadi Mark
Published: June 2015

L’approche contextualiste en morale n’est pas un saupoudrage intellectuel. Elle ne représente pas non plus une nouvelle théorie morale. Une dernière erreur consisterait à la considérer comme une réponse conjoncturelle aux excès d’une morale rationnelle des principes. Dix points précis permettent de fonder la pertinence de cette approche qui assure – et c’est le plus important – de rendre la morale à ses acteurs.
L’écologie messianique
Authors: Blesson Mathieu
Published: June 2015

Longtemps la science a joué un rôle de remède à ses propres méfaits. Mais à présent, force est de constater qu’elle ne peut plus. L’angoisse est trop forte. Les savants d’aujourd’hui n’ont plus la même assurance que ceux d’hier. Eux-mêmes ne savent plus trop où ils en sont par rapport à il y a un siècle. Trop de catastrophes écologiques ont eu lieu depuis. Il est impossible dans ces conditions de faire comme si tout allait bien. Faire semblant ne rime à rien. Ce qui signifie qu’à partir de maintenant, les réponses sont à chercher ailleurs. Dans la religion par exemple, et plus précisément dans le message véhiculé par l’Église catholique, à condition que ceux qui en ont la charge aient suffisamment anticipé cette nouvelle demande.
Informal Learning as Dialectics of Activity
Authors: Sawchuk Peter H.
Published: June 2015

The concept of informal learning has made an invaluable contribution, in a short time, to overthrowing the hegemony of formalize learning. And, as conceptualizations of informal learning have diversified, they have helped provide the basis for broader conceptualizations. In this chapter, drawing in particular on the work of Bertell Ollman (1993), the author outlines the role of an expansive material dialectical understanding of informal learning, its foundation in a philosophy of internal relations, and four integrated analytic moves that allow researchers to realize the potential for synthesis stemming from the concept of informal learning. Following that is a rationale for the claim that a more expansive material dialectics is most clearly possible in the theory of activity associated with what Stetsenko (2009) refers to as the Vygotskian Project.
How Pre-Service and First-Year Teachers Utilize Informal Learning in a Work Context
Authors: Sedivy-Benton Amy L. , Leland Katina M.
Published: June 2015

Pre-service candidates enroll in teacher preparation programs to learn the knowledge, skills, and abilities that teachers must possess. Throughout their education program, they apply their classroom learning to clinical experiences, those experiences that pre-service candidates have with K-12 students. These clinical experiences provide a hands-on approach to what the day-to-day mechanics will be once they become a teacher of record. Succeeding graduation and receiving a teaching degree, pre-service candidates still have more to learn as they make the transition from pre-service candidate to a novice teacher. This chapter focuses on the informal learning that pre-service candidates and novice teachers receive when they conduct student teaching and become a teacher of record. Background knowledge of the trajectory of learning starting with teacher education programs and ending with the first years of teaching is provided along with issues, controversies, and problems that affect pre-service candidates and novice teachers' competencies to fulfill the duties of teaching.
Informal Learning as Group Meaning-Making
Authors: Ziegler Mary F. , Paulus Trena , Woodside Marianne
Published: June 2015

Very few researchers have considered peer-initiated online communities as sites where informal learning takes place. The goal in this chapter is to expand and enrich the conceptualization of informal learning by positioning it as a group meaning-making process rather than an individual cognitive product. The authors begin the chapter by providing an overview of the opportunities adults have to engage in informal learning through asynchronous conversations in online communities. Then, they summarize current conceptualizations of informal learning and the approaches researchers have used to examine it, noting both their potential and limitations. The authors synthesize the research they have conducted on online learning conversations over the last eight years and present their model of informal learning as a group meaning-making process.
Making Sense of Surrounding Difference
Authors: Starr-Glass David
Published: June 2015

Informal learning is the inevitable consequence of our attempts to make sense of the world in which we live. Sometimes, on critical reconsideration, informal learning is recognized as significant and intentional; sometimes, it is recognized as trivial and inconsequential. Informal learning generally lacks external organization, structure, or support; nevertheless, it is essential in interpreting experience and anticipating outcomes. This chapter considers informal learning generally and, more specifically, the ways in which transnational students studying in Prague learn about other national cultures and negotiate their cultural adaptation. Using the reflective journals of these students, the chapter explores their growing realization of difference and critical incidents in the process of cultural adaptation. The chapter argues that a greater appreciation of informal learning can provide synergistic opportunities for linking it with formal cross-cultural learning in ways that enrich and empower the learner.
Integration of Informal Learning Theory and Practice into the Study of Implementation in Healthcare Contexts
Authors: Walden Patrick R.
Published: June 2015

This chapter provides a workplace learning perspective that acknowledges informal learning with which to understand, research, and successfully foster implementation theory and evidence-based practice into the medical workplace. The methodology used includes literature review and use of case examples from this author's previous work in informal learning in healthcare settings. Specifically, a model of informal learning in medical workplaces is reviewed followed by a discussion of the Active Implementation Framework (Fixsen et al., 2005). Last, informal learning's role in implementing evidence-based practices is explored in light of the models presented. Financial implications of the model are briefly explored.
How a Smiley Face Can Save the World
Authors: Mastria Tony
Published: June 2015

No abstract available.
From Hopelessness to Expectation: An Interview with Christopher Cabaldon, Mayor of West Sacramento
Authors: Jansen Monika
Published: June 2015

Christopher Cabaldon is the mayor of West Sacramento, a small town just over the river from California’s capital city, Sacramento. Mayor Cabaldon received his Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) in 1994 as part of the inaugural class of the program at California State University, Sacramento. He first became mayor of West Sacramento in 1998, and he was the first mayor directly elected by the citizens of West Sacramento in 2004.West Sacramento is growing rapidly. Since 2000, the population has increased by over 50 percent, nearly reaching 50,000 at the time of the 2010 US Census. Changes in West Sacramento have come from the development of Southport, a new master-planned residential neighborhood on the south side of the city, as well as infill development in the center of town and in established neighborhoods. Retail has also moved into West Sacramento where there previously had been very little, anchored by Ikea and Target. In 2000, the River Cats, a minor league baseball team, came to town and moved into a new stadium in West Sacramento.On March 13, Mayor Cabaldon spoke with Monika Jansen of Policy Perspectives over the phone to discuss his MPPA, executive leadership and democracy at the city level, his TEDx Talk from 2014, and his vision for West Sacramento.
Why Washington, DC, Is “One of the Best Places to Live in the World”: An Interview with Tommy Wells, Director of the District Department of the Environment
Authors: Mellen Christine
Published: June 2015

Tommy Wells is the director of the District Department of the Environment (DDOE). He first came to the District in 1983 after receiving his bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota. Wells focused on child welfare issues for over two decades, first at the city’s child protective services agency and then as director of the Consortium for Child Welfare, a coalition of nonprofit organizations advocating for children, youth, and families in the District. During that time he attended law school at night, receiving his degree from the Catholic University of America in 1991.Wells first held elected office in 1995, as a member of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission in Ward 6. Following a stint on the DC State Board of Education, he ran for city council, where he represented Ward 6 for eight years. During his time on the council, Wells sat on the committees responsible for legislation affecting the environment, health, human services, and transportation. In 2014, he ran in the Democratic primary for mayor, finishing third to current mayor Muriel Bowser and then-mayor Vincent Gray.On March 18, Wells spoke with Christine Mellen of Policy Perspectives at his office. Their conversation touched on topics such as the District’s disposable bag fee, energy and the environment, and the District’s streetcar system.
The impact of exchange rate volatility on emerging market exports
Authors: Khosa Johannes , Botha Ilse , Pretorius Marinda
Published: June 2015

Orientation: High exchange rate volatility has implications for business and policy decisions and exchange rate movements are important in debates around trade and trade policies. Research purpose: The purpose of the research was to determine the impact of exchange rate volatility on exports in emerging markets. Motivation for the study: A lack of clarity in literature regarding this relationship increases the risk of improper planning by export organisations as well as implementing suboptimal economic policies. Research design, approach and method: This research analysed the effect of exchange rate volatility on emerging market exports using a sample of nine emerging countries from 1995 to 2010. Panel data analysis was conducted. Volatility was measured by Generalised Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity and conventional standard deviation in order to determine if the instrument of volatility used influenced the nature of the relationship between exchange rate volatility and exports. The Pedroni residual cointegration method was used to test for panel cointegration in order to determine if there was a long-run relationship. Main findings: The results showed that exchange rate volatility had a significant negative effect on the performance of exports, regardless of the measure of volatility used. It was also evident that a long-run relationship did exist. Practical/managerial implications: The study concluded that the policy mix that will reduce exchange rate volatility (such as managed exchange rate regimes) and relatively competitive exchange rates were essential for emerging markets in order to sustain their exports performance. Contribution/value-add: This research provided policy makers of emerging market economies with new evidence pertaining to the relationship between exchange rate volatility and the performance of exports. This research contributed to the existing knowledge on the topic and provides a base for future research on related topics.
Investigating antecedent factors to job performance: Contemporary evidence from government supply management professionals
Authors: Mafini Chengedzai
Published: June 2015

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of transformational leadership, organisational citizenship behaviour and quality of work life on job performance amongst supply management professionals employed by the South African government.Rationale: The depressed job performance of supply management professionals in the South African government presents an impetus to generate new empirical information on the subject in order to find solutions.Methodology: A quantitative survey approach was followed using a sample of 264 supply management professionals employed in the South African government and were based in Gauteng Province. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted to assess psychometric properties of the measurement instrument. Hypotheses were tested using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM).Findings: Transformational leadership had positive and significant relationships with organisational citizenship behaviour and quality of work life. Quality of work life exerted a greater influence of job performance than organisational citizenship behaviour.Value of research: The study provides current evidence of the influence of transformational leadership on organisational citizenship behaviour and quality of work life, as well as the influence of organisational citizenship behaviour and quality of work life on job performance amongst supply management professionals.Conclusion: Transformational leadership has a positive influence on organisational citizenship behaviour and quality of work life amongst supply management professionals in the government. Both organisational citizenship behaviour and quality of work life exerta positive influence on the job performance of supply management professionals in the government. Future studies should be extended to other professional cohorts in both the private and the government sectors.
Assessing the psychometric properties of the revised and abbreviated self-leadership questionnaires
Authors: Nel Petrus , Van Zyl Ebben
Published: June 2015

Orientation: Self-leadership is considered to be vital for improved performance in the South African working context. Limited research has been done on the psychometric properties of the Revised and Abbreviated Self-Leadership Questionnaires on a sample of working adults. Research purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Revised (RSLQ) and Abbreviated (ASLQ) versions of the Self-Leadership Questionnaires for a sample of working adults in South Africa. Motivation for the study: Researchers have not previously published psychometric properties of the RSLQ and ASLQ using the original conceptualisation and based on a sample from the South African working context. Research design, approach and method: The RSLQ and ASLQ were administered to a non-probability sample of 405 working adults in South Africa. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to estimate the goodness-of-fit associated with competing conceptualisations of both the Revised and Abbreviated Self-Leadership Questionnaires. Main findings: The authors found acceptable goodness-of-fit for both the RSLQ and ASLQ versions of the Self-Leadership Questionnaires. More specifically, both the composite (representing self-leadership) and calculated scores (representing subscales of self-leadership) indicated acceptable levels of reliability. However, the RSLQ is best conceptualised as consisting of a strong general factor. Practical/managerial implications: The study found that both the RSLQ and the ASLQ have good measurement properties, indicating that these questionnaires can be applied in a variety of settings. Contribution/value-add: Research has indicated the value of investigating the psychometric properties of the Revised and Abbreviated Self-Leadership Questionnaires for a sample of employees in the South African working context. In this study, a bifactor model provided evidence that the RSLQ consists of a strong general factor (i.e. self-leadership). The ASLQ also seem to measure a single dimension that is very reliable. Utilising the ASLQ will save time in research and also when applied in the working context.
Impact Evaluation of an Addiction Intervention Program in a Quebec Prison
Authors: Arseneault Catherine , Alain Marc , Plourde Chantal , Ferland Francine , Blanchette-Martin Nadine , Rousseau Michel
Published: June 2015

Objectives

This study evaluates the effects of a prison-based addiction intervention program. The evaluation is based on a multidimensional data collection that draws a portrait of the respondents’ substance use, and of their psychological/emotional, social, and judicial spheres. It measures the changes, or lack thereof, in substance use; the psychological/emotional, social, and judicial spheres; as well as the post-treatment services used.

Method

A quasi-experimental repeated measures design (0, 6 weeks, and 6 months) was used. Effects of the program were identified by comparing the results obtained by a group of inmates who had participated in the program ( n = 80; experimental group) with those of another group who had received no intervention ( n = 70; control group).

Results

The preliminary results suggested a certain treatment effect related to impulsivity and psychological distress.

Conclusion

Although the preliminary results were promising, the experimental and control groups did not differ significantly when more robust analyses were used.
Translation surfaces and their orbit closures: An introduction for a broad audience
Authors: Wright Alex
Published: June 2015

Translation surfaces can be defined in an elementary way via polygons, and arise naturally in the study of various basic dynamical systems. They can also be defined as differentials on Riemann surfaces, and have moduli spaces called strata that are related to the moduli space of Riemann surfaces. There is a

GL (2, \mathbb R)

action on each stratum, and to solve most problems about a translation surface one must first know the closure of its orbit under this action. Furthermore, these orbit closures are of fundamental interest in their own right, and are now known to be algebraic varieties that parameterize translation surfaces with extraordinary algebro-geometric and flat properties. The study of orbit closures has greatly accelerated in recent years, with an influx of new tools and ideas coming from diverse areas of mathematics.

Many areas of mathematics, from algebraic geometry and number theory, to dynamics and topology, can be brought to bear on this topic, and known examples of orbit closures are interesting from all these points of view.

This survey is an invitation for mathematicians from different backgrounds to become familiar with the subject. Little background knowledge, beyond the definition of a Riemann surface and its cotangent bundle, is assumed, and top priority is given to presenting a view of the subject that is at once accessible and connected to many areas of mathematics.
Bootstrap multiscale analysis and localization for multi-particle continuous Anderson Hamiltonians
Authors: Klein Abel , Nguyen Son T.
Published: June 2015

We extend the bootstrap multiscale analysis developed by Germinet and Klein to the multi-particle continuous Anderson Hamiltonian, obtaining Anderson localization with finite multiplicity of eigenvalues, decay of eigenfunction correlations, and a strong form of dynamical localization. We do not require a covering condition. The initial step for this multiscale analysis, required to hold for energies in a nontrivial interval at the bottom of the spectrum, is verified for multi-particle continuous Anderson Hamiltonians. We also extend the unique continuation principle for spectral projections of Schrödinger operators to arbitrary rectangles, and use it to prove Wegner estimates for multi-particle continuous Anderson Hamiltonians without the requirement of a covering condition.
Groups having complete bipartite divisor graphs for their conjugacy class sizes
Authors: Hafezieh Roghayeh , Spiga Pablo
Published: June 2015

Given a finite group

G

, the
bipartite divisor graph
for its conjugacy class sizes is the bipartite graph with bipartition consisting of the set of conjugacy class sizes of

G\setminus\mathbf Z (G)

(where

\mathbf Z (G)

denotes the centre of

G

) and the set of prime numbers that divide these conjugacy class sizes, and with

\{p,n\}

being an edge if gcd

(p,n)\neq 1

.

In this paper we construct infinitely many groups whose bipartite divisor graph for their conjugacy class sizes is the complete bipartite graph

K_{2,5}

, giving a solution to a question of Taeri [15].
Aerosol composition and sources during the Chinese Spring Festival: fireworks, secondary aerosol, and holiday effects
Authors: Jiang Q. , Sun Y. L. , Wang Z. , Yin Y.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Aerosol particles were characterized by an Aerodyne aerosol chemical speciation monitor along with various collocated instruments in Beijing, China, to investigate the role of fireworks (FW) and secondary aerosol in particulate pollution during the Chinese Spring Festival of 2013. Three FW events, exerting significant and short-term impacts on fine particles (PM2.5), were observed on the days of Lunar New Year, Lunar Fifth Day, and Lantern Festival. The FW were shown to have a large impact on non-refractory potassium, chloride, sulfate, and organics in submicron aerosol (PM1), of which FW organics appeared to be emitted mainly in secondary, with its mass spectrum resembling that of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Pollution events (PEs) and clean periods (CPs) alternated routinely throughout the study. Secondary particulate matter (SPM = SOA + sulfate + nitrate + ammonium) dominated the total PM1 mass on average, accounting for 63–82% during nine PEs in this study. The elevated contributions of secondary species during PEs resulted in a higher mass extinction efficiency of PM1 (6.4 m2 g-1) than during CPs (4.4 m2 g-1). The Chinese Spring Festival also provides a unique opportunity to study the impact of reduced anthropogenic emissions on aerosol chemistry in the city. Primary species showed ubiquitous reductions during the holiday period with the largest reduction being in cooking organic aerosol (OA; 69%), in nitrogen monoxide (54%), and in coal combustion OA (28%). Secondary sulfate, however, remained only slightly changed, and the SOA and the total PM2.5 even slightly increased. Our results have significant implications for controlling local primary source emissions during PEs, e.g., cooking and traffic activities. Controlling these factors might have a limited effect on improving air quality in the megacity of Beijing, due to the dominance of SPM from regional transport in aerosol particle composition.
Tropical response to extratropical eastward propagating waves
Authors: Sridharan S. , Sandhya M.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Space–time spectral analysis of ERA-interim winds and temperature at 200 hPa for December 2012–February 2013 shows the presence of eastward propagating waves with period near 18 days in mid-latitude meridional winds at 200 hPa. The 18 day waves of k = 1–2 are dominantly present at latitudes greater than 80°, whereas the waves of k = 3–4 are dominant at 60° of both Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Though the 18 day wave of smaller zonal wavenumbers (k = 1–2) are confined to high latitudes, there is an equatorward propagation of the 18 day wave of k = 4 and 5. The wave amplitude of k = 5 is dominant than that of k = 4 at tropical latitudes. In the Northern Hemisphere (NH), there is a poleward tilt in the phase of the wave of k = 5 at mid-latitudes, as height increases indicating the baroclinic nature of the wave, whereas in the Southern Hemisphere (SH), the wave has barotropic structure as there is no significant phase variation with height. At the NH subtropics, the wave activity is confined to 500–70 hPa with moderate amplitudes. It is reported for the first time that the wave of similar periodicity (18 day) and zonal structure (k = 5) as that of extratropical wave disturbance has been observed in tropical OLR, a proxy for tropical convection. We suggest that the selective response of the tropical wave forcing may be due to the lateral forcing of the eastward propagating extratropical wave of similar periodicity and zonal structure.
Export fluxes in a naturally iron-fertilized area of the Southern Ocean – Part 2: Importance of diatom resting spores and faecal pellets for export
Authors: Rembauville M. , Blain S. , Armand L. , Quéguiner B. , Salter I.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. The biological composition of the material exported to a moored sediment trap located under the winter mixed layer of the naturally fertilized Kerguelen Plateau in the Southern Ocean was studied over an annual cycle. Despite iron availability in spring, the annual particulate organic carbon (POC) export (98.2 mmol m−2) at 289 m was low, but annual biogenic silica export was significant (114 mmol m−2). This feature was related to the abundance of empty diatom cells and the ratio of full to empty cells exerted a first-order control in BSi : POC export stoichiometry of the biological pump. Chaetoceros Hyalochaete spp. and Thalassiosira antarctica resting spores were responsible for more than 60% of the annual POC flux that occurred during two very short export events of < 14 days in spring–summer. Relatively low diatom fluxes were observed over the remainder of the year. Faecal pellet contribution to annual carbon flux was lower (34%) and reached its seasonal maximum in autumn and winter (> 80%). The seasonal progression of faecal pellet types revealed a clear transition from small spherical shapes (small copepods) in spring, to larger cylindrical and ellipsoid shapes in summer (euphausiids and large copepods) and finally to large tabular shapes (salps) in autumn and winter. We propose in this high-biomass, low-export (HBLE) environment that small but highly silicified and fast-sinking resting spores are able to bypass the intense grazing pressure and efficient carbon transfer to higher trophic levels that are responsible for the low fluxes observed the during the remainder of the year. More generally our study also provides a statistical framework linking the ecological succession of diatom and zooplankton communities to the seasonality of carbon and silicon export within an iron-fertilized bloom region in the Southern Ocean.
Open-source modular solutions for flexural isostasy: gFlex v1.0
Authors: Wickert A. D.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Isostasy is one of the oldest and most widely applied concepts in the geosciences, but the geoscientific community lacks a coherent, easy-to-use tool to simulate flexure of a realistic (i.e. laterally heterogeneous) lithosphere under an arbitrary set of surface loads. Such a model is needed for studies of mountain-building, sedimentary basin formation, glaciation, sea-level change, and other tectonic, geodynamic, and surface processes. Here I present gFlex, an open-source model that can produce analytical and finite difference solutions for lithospheric flexure in one (profile) and two (map view) dimensions. To simulate the flexural isostatic response to an imposed load, it can be used by itself or within GRASS GIS for better integration with field data. gFlex is also a component with the Community Surface Dynamics Modeling System (CSDMS) and Landlab modeling frameworks for coupling with a wide range of Earth-surface-related models, and can be coupled to additional models within Python scripts. As an example of this in-script coupling, I simulate the effects of spatially variable lithospheric thickness on a modeled Iceland ice cap. Finite difference solutions in gFlex can use any of five types of boundary conditions: 0-displacement, 0-slope (i.e. clamped); 0-slope, 0-shear; 0-moment, 0-shear (i.e. broken plate); mirror symmetry; and periodic. Typical calculations with gFlex require ≪ 1s to ~1 min on a personal laptop computer. These characteristics – multiple ways to run the model, multiple solution methods, multiple boundary conditions, and short compute time – make gFlex an effective tool for flexural isostatic modeling across the geosciences.
Promising new baseflow separation and recession analysis methods applied to streamflow at Glendhu Catchment, New Zealand
Authors: Stewart M. K.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Understanding and modelling the relationship between rainfall and runoff has been a driving force in hydrology for many years. Baseflow separation and recession analysis have been two of the main tools for understanding runoff generation in catchments, but there are many different methods for each. The new baseflow separation method presented here (the bump and rise method or BRM) aims to accurately simulate the shape of tracer-determined baseflow or pre-event water. Application of the method by calibrating its parameters, using (a) tracer data or (b) an optimising method, is demonstrated for the Glendhu Catchment, New Zealand. The calibrated BRM algorithm is then applied to the Glendhu streamflow record. The new recession approach advances the thesis that recession analysis of streamflow alone gives misleading information on catchment storage reservoirs because streamflow is a varying mixture of components of very different origins and characteristics (at the simplest level, quickflow and baseflow as identified by the BRM method). Recession analyses of quickflow, baseflow and streamflow show that the steep power-law slopes often observed for streamflow at intermediate flows are artefacts due to mixing and are not representative of catchment reservoirs. Applying baseflow separation before recession analysis could therefore shed new light on water storage reservoirs in catchments and possibly resolve some current problems with recession analysis. Among other things it shows that both quickflow and baseflow reservoirs in the studied catchment have (non-linear) quadratic characteristics.
Seismic vulnerability and risk assessment of Kolkata City, India
Authors: Nath S. K. , Adhikari M. D. , Devaraj N. , Maiti S. K.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. The city of Kolkata is one of the most urbanized and densely populated regions in the world and a major industrial and commercial hub of the eastern and northeastern region of India. In order to classify the seismic risk zones of Kolkata we used seismic hazard exposures on the vulnerability components, namely land use/land cover, population density, building typology, age and height. We microzoned seismic hazard of the city by integrating seismological, geological and geotechnical themes in GIS, which in turn are integrated with the vulnerability components in a logic-tree framework for the estimation of both the socioeconomic and structural risk of the city. In both the risk maps, three broad zones have been demarcated as "severe", "high" and "moderate". There had also been a risk-free zone in the city that is termed as "low". The damage distribution in the city due to the 1934 Bihar–Nepal earthquake of Mw = 8.1 matches satisfactorily well with the demarcated risk regime. The design horizontal seismic coefficients for the city have been worked out for all the fundamental periods that indicate suitability for "A", "B" and "C" type of structures. The cumulative damage probabilities in terms of "none", "slight", "moderate", "extensive" and "complete" have also been assessed for the predominantly four model building types viz. RM2L, RM2M, URML and URMM for each seismic structural risk zone in the city. Both the seismic hazard and risk maps are expected to play vital roles in the earthquake-inflicted disaster mitigation and management of the city of Kolkata.
Chronotopes in education: Conventional and dialogic
Authors: Matusov Eugene
Published: June 2015

Bakhtin defines chronotope in his literary dialogic theory as the unity of time and space where events occur.  Here, in this conceptual paper, I expand and apply this notion to education, discuss, and illustrate the three major espoused educational chronotopes that I abstracted in my analysis of educational practices around Dialogic Pedagogy. Frist is the Assignment Chronotope based on a type of monologic pedagogy, the most common in conventional, but also in some innovative, schools, focusing on making students arrive at preset curricular endpoints. Second is the Dialogic Provocation Chronotope based on narrowly defined dialogic pedagogy and involving promotion of the students’ responsive critical authorship. Third is the Journey Chronotope focusing on promoting the students’ self-assignments and self-initiated educational journeys that can propel self-generated critical authorship in a targeted practice (or a network of practices). Educational examples, concerns, and consequences of these chronotopes are considered.
Organizational Qualitative Welfare Social by Quality System Audit
Authors: Farahmand Nasser Fegh-hi , Ali Farid Shirin Pour Haji
Published: June 2015

The importance of strategic, long-term policy and organizational qualitative welfare social is very clear to planners. Organizational development managers like to follow a similar and routine organizational development behavioral pattern. The aim of the study was to study about the impact of organizational qualitative welfare social strategy on creating a sustainable competitive advantage in the quality system audit. The current study was based on empirical approach. This article attempts to explain the organizational qualitative welfare social by quality system audit by patterns of thinking. This paper reviews organizational qualitative welfare social and organizational development measurement literature. However, this study concluded that the performance of the organization is highly affected by its organizational qualitative welfare social strategy and developed manager’s creativity. In organizations, where an organizational qualitative welfare social exists, the preparation of the organizational development managers may have been driven by external forces.
O efeito contagiante da produção científico-acadêmica
Authors: Kraemer Lígia L. B.
Published: June 2015

Atual chefe do Departamento de Ciência e Gestão da Informação apresenta o segundo número da AtoZ, destacando - em analogia ao "ponto da virada" de Malcolm Gladwell - o espaço oferecido pela publicação aos jovens pesquisadores.
A View of innovation process in a collaborative perspective
Authors: Zaninelli Thais B.
Published: June 2015

Introdução: A inovação e o processo de desenvolvimento de novos serviços têm mudado nos últimos anos. Atualmente se aceita que este processo ocorre em quatro fases genéricas desde a geração da ideia do novo serviço até sua implantação. Nestas fases, alguns fatores são reconhecidos como importantes e, dada sua complexidade, o processo de desenvolvimento de novos serviços por uma única empresa pode ser facilitado pelo relacionamento com empresas parceiras. A investigação objetivou verificar o grau de influência das redes colaborativas no desempenho do processo de desenvolvimento de novos serviços. Método: estudo exploratório de múltiplos casos e estudo qualitativo. Resultados: alguns fatores são comuns em todo o processo de desenvolvimento de novos serviços. Porém, a relevância destes se altera ao longo das diferentes fases. Conclusão: os fatores de qualidade das redes colaborativas que contribuem para o desempenho do processo podem ser classificados em duas dimensões: a primeira, voltada para as características das parceiras e, a segunda, para as características do relacionamento.
Redes sociais de produção e colaboração tecnológica para o descarte de resíduos de equipamentos elétricos e eletrônicos
Authors: Gigante Luciara Cid , Rigolin Camila Carneiro Dias , Marcelo Júlia Fernandes
Published: June 2015

Introdução: Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo geral mapear e analisar as redes sociais de produção e colaboração tecnológica, em documentos de patentes, relativas às inovações sobre descarte de lixo tecnológico, também chamado de Resíduos de Equipamentos Elétricos e Eletrônicos. O referencial teórico é pertinente ao campo de estudos “Ciência, Tecnologia e Sociedade”. Método: A metodologia baseou-se na aplicação das técnicas relativas à Análise de Redes Sociais, caracterizada pelo mapeamento e mensuração dos fluxos e relações e colaborações entre os inventores das patentes de inovações relativas ao descarte de lixo tecnológico. Resultados: Os resultados apontam a pouca expressividade da colaboração internacional neste domínio, e a liderança da China no que diz respeito ao registro de patentes sobre descarte de Resíduos de Equipamentos Elétricos e Eletrônicos. Conclusão: As possíveis causas da pouca colaboração internacional nesta área de pesquisas tecnológicas derivam da ausência de harmonização legal no campo da propriedade industrial, associada às distâncias geográficas, barreiras linguísticas e altos custos incorridos na colaboração tecnológica transnacional.