bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postoperative Bleeding and Associated Utilization following Tonsillectomy in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Francis David O. , Fonnesbeck Christopher , Sathe Nila , McPheeters Melissa , Krishnaswami Shanthi , Chinnadurai Sivakumar
Published: January 2017

Objective

To assess posttonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH), associated nonoperative readmissions/revisits, and reoperations in children.

Data Sources

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library.

Review Methods

Two investigators independently screened studies against predetermined criteria and extracted key data. Investigators independently assessed study risk of bias and the strength of the evidence of the body of literature. We calculated unadjusted pooled estimates of PTH frequency and conducted a Bayesian meta‐analysis to estimate frequency of primary and secondary PTH and PTH‐associated reoperation and revisits/readmissions by partial and total tonsillectomy and surgical approach.

Results

In meta‐analysis, the frequency of primary and secondary PTH associated with total and partial tonsillectomy was <4% for any technique and with overlapping confidence bounds. Pooled frequencies of PTH were also <5% overall (4.2% for total tonsillectomy, 1.5% for partial tonsillectomy) in comparative studies. Fewer PTH episodes occurred with tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep‐disordered breathing than for throat infection. In meta‐analysis, frequency of PTH‐associated nonoperative revisits/readmission or reoperation ranged from 0.2% to 5.7% for total tonsillectomy and from 0.1% to 3.7% for partial tonsillectomy. At least 4 deaths were reported in case series including 1,778,342 children.

Conclusions

PTH occurred in roughly 4% of tonsillectomies in studies included in this review. Although studies typically did not report bleeding severity or amount, relatively few episodes of PTH necessitated reoperation for hemostasis. Nonetheless, tonsillectomy is not without risk of harm. Frequency of PTH across techniques was similar; thus, we cannot conclude that a given technique is superior.
Comparative Effectiveness of Partial versus Total Tonsillectomy in Children: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sathe Nila , Chinnadurai Sivakumar , McPheeters Melissa , Francis David O.
Published: January 2017

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of partial versus total tonsillectomy in children.

Data Sources

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library from January 1980 to June 2016.

Review Methods

Two investigators independently screened studies and extracted data. Investigators independently assessed risk of bias and strength of evidence of the literature. Heterogeneity precluded quantitative analysis.

Results

In 16 eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs), definitions of “partial” tonsillectomy varied. In addition to comparing partial with total tonsil removal, 11 studies compared surgical techniques (eg, coblation). In studies comparing the same technique, return to normal diet or activity was faster with partial removal (more favorable outcomes in 4 of 4 RCTs). In studies with differing surgical techniques, return to normal diet and activity was faster with partial versus total tonsillectomy (more favorable outcomes in 5 of 6 studies). In 3 of 4 RCTs, partial tonsillectomy was associated with more throat infections than total tonsillectomy. Differences between groups were generally not statistically significant for obstructive symptom persistence, quality of life, or behavioral outcomes. Across all studies, 10 (6%) of roughly 166 children had tonsillar regrowth after partial tonsillectomy.

Conclusions

Data do not allow firm conclusions regarding the comparative benefit of partial versus total removal; however, neither surgical technique nor extent of surgery appears to affect outcomes markedly. Partial tonsillectomy conferred moderate advantages in return to normal diet/activity but was also associated with tonsillar regrowth and symptom recurrence. Effects may be due to confounding given differences in populations and surgical approaches/techniques. Heterogeneity and differences in the operationalization of “partial” tonsillectomy limited comparative analyses.
Clinical Evidence Supporting US Food and Drug Administration Premarket Approval of High‐Risk Otolaryngologic Devices, 2000‐2014
Authors: Rathi Vinay K. , Wang Bo , Ross Joseph S. , Downing Nicholas S. , Kesselheim Aaron S. , Gray Stacey T.
Published: January 2017

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves high‐risk medical devices based on premarket pivotal clinical studies demonstrating reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness and may require postapproval studies (PAS) to further inform benefit‐risk assessment. We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis using publicly available FDA documents to characterize industry‐sponsored pivotal studies and PAS of high‐risk devices used in the treatment of otolaryngologic diseases. Between 2000 and 2014, the FDA approved 23 high‐risk otolaryngologic devices based on 28 pivotal studies. Median enrollment was 118 patients (interquartile range, 67‐181), and median duration of longest primary effectiveness end point follow‐up was 26 weeks (interquartile range, 16‐96). Fewer than half were randomized (n = 13, 46%), blinded (n = 12, 43%), or controlled (n = 10, 36%). The FDA required 23 PASs for 16 devices (70%): almost two‐thirds (n = 15, 65%) monitored long‐term performance, and roughly one‐third (n = 8, 35%) focused on subgroups. Otolaryngologists should be aware of limitations in the strength of premarket evidence when considering the use of newly approved devices.
Submental Ultrasonographic Parameters among Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Bilici Suat , Engin Acioglu , Ozgur Yigit , Ozlem Onerci Celebi , Ahmet Gorkem Yasak , Aytul Hande Yardimci
Published: January 2017

Objective

This study aimed to determine the value of submental ultrasonography (US) parameters for diagnostic workup among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to determine whether there is a correlation between US findings and the severity of OSA.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional analysis.

Setting

Tertiary education hospital.

Subjects and Methods

The study included 147 patients with suspected OSA who underwent submental US to evaluate various parameters following overnight polysomnography. US findings were compared with the apnea‐hypopnea index and other parameters.

Results

All US parameters, except for subcutaneous tissue thickness, were significantly different among patients with OSA. Of note, distance between lingual arteries (DLA), geniohyoid muscle thickness (GMT), and lateral parapharyngeal wall thickness (LPWT) were significantly greater in the patients with severe OSA than those with mild and moderate OSA (P <. 001). GMT had the strongest correlation with OSA (r = 0.419, P <. 001); LPWT and DLA also had high correlation coefficient values (r = 0.343, P <. 001, and r = 0.342, P <. 001, respectively). Stepwise regression analysis showed that GMT (beta = 0.243, P = 0.004), LPWT (beta = 0.236, P = 0.004), and DLA (beta = 0.204, P = 0.008) were the most significant factors for predicting the severity of OSA according to the apnea‐hypopnea index.

Conclusion

Submental US can be used to determine whether there is a correlation between US findings and severity of OSA. GMT could be considered a novel parameter for determining the severity of OSA.
Stock Market Volatility: Roots and Results
Authors: Roy Malay K , Karmakar Madhusudan
Published: January 2017

Based on measurement of stock market volatility for the period 1935 to 1992, Malay K Roy and Madhusudan Karmakar focus on two key issues : a) What is the average level of volatility and whether it has increased in the current period; b) Whether the present trend of share price movement is likely to impair the development process of our economy.
Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation
Authors: Gopalakrishnan C. , Raghuram G.
Published: January 2017

The Chairman of the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation — Mr Kaurani — is reviewing the performance of the corporation, reflecting on the effectiveness of his strategies for improving its performance, and contemplating on further strategies to improve its productivity.

Readers are invited to send their responses on the case to Vikalpa office.
Superior Customer Service and Marketing Excellence: Two Sides of the Same Success Coin
Authors: Parasuraman A.
Published: January 2017

Companies that rely solely on conventional marketing strategies — characterized by a heavy emphasis on aggressive advertising and other promotional activities — will find it more and more difficult to defend, let alone expand, their market turf. Because of the increasing intensity of competition in a number of sectors, a revised corporate-marketing mindset with superior customer service as its core is nec essary for attaining and sustaining market success over the long term. In this perspective piece, Parasuraman discusses the meaning and measurement of service quality, and offers managerial guidelines for delivering superior service by invoking key insights from a multiyear, multi-sector stream of research on cus tomer service. He advances arguments for broadening the scope of marketing to include the delivery of customer service as an integral component and demonstrates that a judicious blending of conventional marketing and su perior customer service is the best recipe for sustained market success.
Service Quality Measurement: The Case of Railway Freight Services
Authors: Shainesh G , Mathur Mukul
Published: January 2017

This article identifies the attributes which customers use to evaluate the quality of railway freight services and develops a comprehensive instrument, RAILQUAL, that can be used by the railways for collecting feedback from customers. This would help them to monitor, control, and improve their service and competitiveness. It can also be used as an evaluation tool for comparing the performance of its zones and divisions.
Initiatives to Invite Private Capital through Public–Private Partnerships in Social Sectors: Some Experiences from the Health Sector
Authors: Bhat Ramesh
Published: January 2017

This paper discusses and analyses the issues and policy options in taking initiatives to invite private capital through public-private partner ships with particular reference to the health sector. Shrinking budgetary support and fiscal problems make it difficult for the state gov ernments to increase their budgetary alloca tions to social sectors like health, education, etc. It is in this context that the paper argues that there is a need to evolve a proper policy which would address the question of publicprivate mix, scope of private-public partner ships, role of subsidies and incentives in promoting these partnerships and so on. The paper points out that there is a need to have explicit, transparent, and adequate mecha nisms which would ensure involvement of all stakeholders in the process.
Effect of Service Quality on Post–Visit Intentions: The Case of a Computer Centre
Authors: Banwet Devinder K , Datta Biplab
Published: January 2017

This paper investigates the quality of services offered to students in an institutional computer centre and measures tangible and intangible aspects of service quality, consumer satisfac tion, and Post–Visit intentions. The effect of service quality on post-visit intentions has been examined in a causal–path framework. The study indicates that service performance gen erally lags behind user's expectations. Im provement in the quality of services increases the level of satisfaction of the user. Tangible aspects of service performance have a stronger direct effect on post–visit intentions than in tangible aspects. Satisfied users intend to revisit the computer centre and advise others to visit it.
Abstracts Indian Management Research
Authors: Sarkar Mitali
Published: January 2017

This section features abstracts of articles covering empirical studies, experiences, ideas, and theories published in Indian and international journals. Sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi, this service is intended to facilitate Indian management research.

Authors desirous of having their publications considered for inclusion in this feature may please send reprints of their articles to Vikalpa Editorial Office.
To Work or Not to Work: Construction of Meaning of Work and Making Work Choices
Authors: Anuradha M V , Srinivas E S , Singhal Manish , Ramnarayan S
Published: January 2017

Meaning of work as explored in this study refers to the function that organizational paid employment serves for people. Is work a means of fulfilling social and economic expectations? Is it a means through which an individual can learn and grow personally? Is it a means of earning a living? Or is it an opportunity for people to express and apply their talents and expertise? In the real world, work could mean all of these together. However, when participants were asked about the meaning of work, their responses indicated the predominance of one meaning at any given time.

The intent of this research was to explore how the predominant meaning of work got constructed before people started working and how that affected their work choices. The research was based on the assumption that meaning of work is a dynamic concept, i.e. the same individual can hold different meanings of work at two different points in time. This assumption in effect also suggests that meaning is not determined by fixed personality characteristics of an individual, but gets constructed through the interaction of the social structures and the personal preferences of people. In order to understand how the meaning of work evolves even before one starts working, a process theory of the construction of meaning of work was developed inductively using the work narratives of 44 public sector bank employees in India.

It was found that work means different things to different people, but for ease of comprehension and for the purpose of analysis, the meaning of work has been categorized under two broad headings — social meaning of work and personal meaning of work. When the main function of work is to fulfill social and economic expectations, the person can be said to hold a social meaning of work. If work is predominantly a means to satisfy personal aspirations and interests, then it holds a personal meaning.

The narratives suggest that when individuals have multiple career or job alternatives to choose from and also possess a clear knowledge of their interests, then their work choices are driven by personal inclinations and work takes on a personal meaning. On the other hand, when the number of job alternatives is limited and an individual does not have insight into one's own interests then social expectations and metaphors related to work influence the meaning of work and work choices. The theoretical and managerial implications of the findings and limitations are also discussed.
Patriarchal Beliefs, Women's Empowerment, and General Well-being
Authors: Rawat Preeti S
Published: January 2017

This paper highlights that depowerment of women is linked to the belief and practice of patriarchy which subjugates women at various levels — political, economic, social, and cultural. Patriarchy is a social and ideological construct which considers men (who are the patriarchs) as superior to women. Patriarchy imposes masculinity and femininity character stereotypes in society which strengthen the iniquitous power relations between men and women. Feminism is an awareness of patriarchal control, exploitation, and oppression at the material and ideological levels of women's labour, fertility and sexuality, in the family, at the place of work, and in the society in general, and conscious action by women and men to transform the present situation. Overcoming the belief and practice of patriarchy is termed as eve empowerment.

This paper distinguishes between eve empowerment and psychological empowerment. While the former (eve empowerment) is contextual in nature, the latter (psychological empowerment) is a motivational construct. If conditions favouring eve empowerment make a woman experience empowerment, then it is termed as psychological empowerment. Both these variables are linked to general well-being, which is defined as a state which allows individuals to realize their abilities, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and make a contribution to their community.

The findings indicate that by countering patriarchy, women experience greater eve empowerment and psychological empowerment. The results also show that education level of women had no impact on eve empowerment. This is the reason why there are depowered women even among the educated middle class and upper classes of the society. This finding has important implication for agencies, institutions and the state that are using education as a medium of change and empowerment. The empowerment at the workplace and at home seems to have a spillover effect as both moderate the relation of eve empowerment and general well-being. Deep level impact on social transformation will take place only when the concept of patriarchy is shaken and conditions supporting eve empowerment are created for women to experience psychological empowerment. The limitation of the study was that it was carried out in a patriarchal society. It should also be compared with a similar survey among the matriarchal societies and from all strata of society to make it more representative. The findings can form the basis for improving affirmative action within the organizations.
Exploring Victims' Experiences of Workplace Bullying: A Grounded Theory Approach
Authors: Ciby Mariam , Raya R P
Published: January 2017

Despite considerable research on workplace bullying, trying to identify causal relationships and measurements of specific constructs, there is a need to draw from the experiences and feelings of the targets of workplace bullying. The current study explores the victims' experiences from an interpretive perspective in the context of Information Technology organizations in India. The qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with the victims of workplace bullying. The analysis using grounded theory approach resulted in a conceptual model, which explains the antecedents, bullying behaviours, consequences, and self-coping methods of the victims.

Job demands, leadership and management styles of the supervisor, and interpersonal conflict emerged as the major antecedents of workplace bullying. The victims' inability to adapt to changes was found as a personality factor that stimulated workplace bullying in the presence of other antecedents. The study reveals that although the victims experienced negative bullying behaviours in their daily life, most of them were unaware of the phenomenon. Some of the new bullying behaviours identified from the current study are taking ownership of others'work without giving due credit, grabbing others' challenging assignments, and repeated borrowing of money without returning.

The victims experienced various negative emotions as the initial reaction to bullying behaviours. As the bullying behaviours prolonged, the participants experienced various personal and work-related consequences. The self-coping mechanisms identified in the study were sharing emotional experiences with friends and family, having an easy-going attitude, voicing the issues, and perceived organizational support (POS). POS was considered to be important for having an influence on employee turnover intention and organizational commitment. Based on the POS, three categories of victims were identified — Leavers, Survivors, and Loyals.

The paper contributes to the body of knowledge as it brings out the experiences and feelings of the targets of workplace bullying. The detailed knowledge of the phenomenon helps the organization to either intervene or prevent the relevant processes. The study suggests that the victims need to be empowered with awareness programmes and organizational support to reduce the effects of workplace bullying.
How does Organizational Justice influence Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment? Explaining with Psychological Capital
Authors: Totawar Abhishek Kumar , Nambudiri Ranjeet
Published: January 2017

‘Looking fair’ is the desired goal of individuals and organizations. Fairness perceptions of organizational actions, by employees, translate into various favourable work outcomes. For instance, perceptions of fairness, defined as organizational justice, significantly influences attitudinal variables as job satisfaction and organizational commitment. However, the existing literature does not offer complete picture of this influence. In other words, the ‘underlying mechanism’ governing the influence of organizational justice on job satisfaction and organizational commitment is not fully understood.

On the basis of extant literature review and arguments grounded in the social exchange theory, and ‘broaden and build’ theory of positive emotions, this study identifies psychological capital (PsyCap) as an explanatory mechanism for the influence of organizational justice on job satisfaction and organizational commitment.

The primary objective of this study was to test a theoretical and structural model that hypothesized mediation of PsyCap in the influence of organizational justice on job satisfaction and organizational commitment.

A survey-based methodology, with standardized scales was used. A pilot study was conducted to test the scale properties. A sample of 440 employees from the Indian service sector industry was drawn. A two-step process of analysis, with AMOS 16, was employed to test the structural model. The scales were assessed and found fit for reliability and validity criteria. Besides examining the significance of indirect effects using the bias-corrected confidence intervals with two-thousand bootstrap samples, the study also applied alternative⁄nested structural equation models to test the mediation hypotheses.

Results are found to be consistent with the stated hypotheses thus confirming the mediation of PsyCap in the influence of organizational justice on job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The findings of this study advance available knowledge on job satisfaction and organizational commitment; and provide impetus to research in this domain by identifying PsyCap as an intervening variable. The study thus extends the application of PsyCap as an organizational variable capable of translating the effect of justice on satisfaction and commitment. It also supports and extends the view of previous researchers that PsyCap is a significant positive organizational behaviour (POB) variable, as it is capable of performance improvement and is open to development.

From a managerial perspective, given the ‘open to control’ nature of PsyCap, it renders a significant tool in the hands of managers to control the satisfaction and commitment of their employees. Moreover, controlling PsyCap is much easier as compared to directly controlling justice perceptions.
Volunteering: The Role of Individual-level Psychological Variables
Authors: Bathini Dharma Raju , Vohra Neharika
Published: January 2017

A broad range of activities are often included in volunteering. The motivations for volunteering are also many-faceted. Volunteers form most of the workforce in India's non-profit sector, which is one of the largest and fastest growing sectors in the world. However, volunteering in India has hardly received any scholarly attention. Applying our understanding based on findings on volunteering has been warned against since volunteering does not even mean the same thing for different people living in different cultures and countries.

This study thus attempts to understand the kind of people who are drawn to volunteering. Specifically, the role of personality traits, values, and self-efficacy beliefs of those who volunteer are explored. Volunteering activities, it is argued, can be of two types — help volunteering, leading to altruism and helping, and involvement volunteering, requiring personal involvement in the community. It is argued that values and self-efficacy beliefs mediate the role of traits in volunteering. A survey was administered to 228 postgraduate students studying in a professional college. Standardized scales for measuring volunteering do not allow the distinction between help and involvement volunteering. Therefore a scale was designed to measure the extent of volunteering based on the context of the college from which the students were sampled. Personality traits, self-efficacy beliefs, and values were measured using standardized scales.

Data was analysed using PLS-SEM. It was found that agreeableness and extraversion traits, universalism values, and social self-efficacy beliefs were positively correlated with help volunteering. Extraversion trait, stimulation value, and social self-efficacy beliefs were positively correlated with involvement volunteering. Universalism fully mediated the effect of agreeableness on help volunteering. No support was found for the mediation of self-efficacy beliefs on help or involvement volunteering. The study demonstrates the importance of distinguishing between helping and involvement types of volunteering. The reasons and type of people who volunteer to help seem to be different from those who volunteer to get involved in the community or cause.

Further investigation with larger and more diverse sample would help in contributing further to the understanding of volunteers and their motivations. The study has managerial implications mainly in terms of helping selection and retaining of volunteers for various types of activities and in promotion and branding of volunteering events and organizations. Communication for attracting volunteers that require help or involvement may be designed differently for helping kind of activities versus those that require involvement of people.
Effects of Long Term Exposure to Infrasound on Growth, Activity, and Urinary 17-OHCS Levels in Rats
Authors: Shiraishi T. , Miyashita K. , Yamasumi Y. , Kuroda M. , Yoshida Y. , Nishimura K. , Matsumoto K. , Takeda S.
Published: January 2017

To clarify the physiological effects of infrasound, 42 day-old male Wistar rats were exposed to 16Hz infrasound at 120 B for 28 days. We measured body weight, spontaneous running activity, and urinary 17-OHCS levels. The exposure group was exposed to infrasound in the exposure chamber and the control group was housed in the same chamber without exposure. Each group was further subdivided into two subgroups, a sedentary group and an exercise group. The exercise group was housed with a rotating wheel cage adjoining the feed cage. It was found that:

The growth was slower in the exposure group than in the control group. Spontaneous running activity of the exposure group increased significantly from 20 days after the start of infrasound exposure. Urinary 17-OHCS levels increased in 3 days after the start of infrasound exposure.

These results suggested that infrasound acted as a stressor.
The Correlations Between Acoustical Gravity Waves Caused by Solar Eclipse and the Solar Radiation
Authors: Xie Jinlai , Yang Xunren , Li Qitai
Published: January 2017

Can solar eclipses generate AGWs? If so, how are they excited? This is still an open question and a long-standing dispute within academic circles. The annular solar eclipse which traversed the Chinese mainland on September 23rd 1987 afforded a rare and excellent opportunity to study this problem. Vast amounts of data of microbarometric pressure at ground level, radio-sondage, solar radiation and ionospheric probing were obtained from various observation stations. By making use of these abundant data synthetically, an important conclusion has been reached: there is an obvious accord between the period of the solar eclipse, AGW and the fluctuation period of solar direct radiation. All the solar eclipse AGWs in different places come from two different kinds of atmospheric oscillation, i.e., the forced oscillation generated directly by changes in direct solar radiation and the buoyancy oscillation in the local atmosphere above various spots. The former has a longer wave period and a larger amplitude, depending directly upon the radiation change during the solar eclipse; the latter has a shorter period and smaller amplitude, depending upon thermodynamic stability in the local atmosphere during the solar eclipse and the atmospheric moisture condition.
Evaluation of Passenger Comfort in Railway Vehicles
Authors: Cleon Louis-Marie , Lauriks Guido
Published: January 2017

The evaluation of passenger comfort in railway vehicles is very important in railcar development. This article describes the experimental approach undertaken by the International Union of Railways to establish a method for the evaluation of passenger comfort in railway vehicles which has been validated on 800 ordinary passengers.
Free Response of an Array of Mono-Coupled Elements Terminating at General Boundaries
Authors: Bansal A.S.
Published: January 2017

Receptance methods have been used to set up general equations that govern the vibrational response of a finite array of N mono-coupled elements terminating at general boundaries. The equations have been modified to introduce ideal and the frequency dependent boundary conditions offered by semi-infinite periodic arrays attached at its ends. The general theory has been adapted to determine the natural frequencies of some finite 5-span beams on simple supports with their ends having various combinations of ideal and frequency dependent end conditions. Lowest group of natural frequencies of the finite beams having different disorders and different combinations of ideal, elastic and dissipative boundaries have been computed and discussed. The conditions under which the undamped combined systems can behave like spring-mass systems and spring-mass-damper systems have also been identified and explained.
Occupational Exposure to Infrasonic Noise in Poland
Authors: Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska Małgorzata
Published: January 2017

This paper presents the results of infrasonic noise measurements performed at various workplaces in industry and transportation in Poland. The study concerned noise emitted by 124 different types of machinery, appliances and means of transport. The measurements were made under typical conditions of work and with reference to the Polish Standard PN-86/N–01338 and international standards ISO 7196 and ISO 9612. According to PN–86/N–01338, within 1/1 octave bands 8 – 31.5 Hz, acoustic pressures exceeding the admissible levels for (a) workers' health protection were found in 5 (4.0%) cases, (b) proper conditions for performing basic functions in observational dispatcher cabins etc. – in 77 (62.1%) cases; (c) premises for administration, design offices etc. – in 92 (74.2%) cases. The hearing threshold was exceeded by 66.9% of all the machinery under study.
The Characteristics of a Three-State Switchable Damper
Authors: Abd-EI-Tawwab Ali M. , Crotla D.A. , Plummer A.R.
Published: January 2017

A laboratory test rig has been designed to test the detailed response properties of a three-state switchable damper as used in advanced suspension systems. The rig allows any displacement input profile to be applied at one end of the damper with the other end fixed. Both force and displacement characteristics were measured and detailed results of hysteresis and switching time delays are presented.
Active Control of the Structural and Acoustic Responses of a Fluid-Loaded Plate; Part II: Feedforward control
Authors: Kessissoglou Nicole J. , Pan Jie
Published: January 2017

Attenuation of the structural and acoustic fields associated with a fluid-loaded plate can be achieved with the application of active control to the vibrating structure. For a heavily fluid-loaded structure, the fluid-structure interaction will significantly affect the wave propagation in the structure, as well as the nature of-the sound radiation from the structure into the fluid field. In this paper, two active control systems are applied to the plate to attenuate the structural and acoustic responses. An active structural acoustic control (ASAC) system is designed using feedforward techniques to attenuate the far-field radiating sound power and local sound pressure. Feedforward control laws are also developed for the minimisation of the plate vibration. Under both heavy and light fluid-loading conditions, the performances of the active control systems are examined by comparing the uncontrolled and controlled sound power, sound pressure and plate vibration. The nature of the fluid-loading on the performance of the control systems is also investigated.
Muscular Response to Sudden Load: A Tool to Evaluate Fatigue
Authors: Wilder D G , Aleksiev A R , Magnusson M L , Pope M H , Spratt K F , Goel V K
Published: January 2017

Sixteen subjects were exposed to fatiguing (vibration) and restorative (walking) interventions to assess their response to sudden loads. Unexpected loads, which people often experience, can lead to high forces in the spine and may be a cause of low irack injury. Erector spinae responses to sudden load were mediated by exposure to vibration and walking. Reaction time was affected by fatigue. Vertical vibration exposure significantly increased the muscle response time. Walking was able to ameliorate that effect. Sudden loads can exacerbate fatigue effects. Walking after driving, reduces the risk to the back due to handling unpredictable loads.
Hydrogen sulfide adsorption by thermally treated cobalt (II)-exchanged NaX zeolite
Authors: Tran Hoai-Lam , Kuo Maw-Suey , Yang Wein-Duo , Huang Yu-Chang
Published: January 2017

The faujasite framework structure and the morphological properties of Co2+-exchanged NaX zeolite were maintained when samples were treated at a temperature ≤600℃, but were distorted at higher temperature. The cobalt (II) exchange and thermal treatment processes significantly improved the H2S adsorption capacity of the NaX zeolite and the highest values were 4.24 mg g−1 for 0.10-CoX-600 and 4.42 mg g−1 for 0.15-CoX-600. Moreover, the first-order adsorption kinetic showed a relatively good fit when applied to the experimental data for the H2S adsorption process.
Influence of the degree of infiltration of modified activated carbons with CuO/ZnO on the separation of NO2 at ambient temperatures
Authors: Sager Uta , Däuber Eckhard , Bathen Dieter , Asbach Christof , Schmidt Frank , Tseng Jo-Chi , Pommerin Andre , Weidenthaler Claudia , Schmidt Wolfgang
Published: January 2017

The reduction of NO2 in air at ambient temperatures with activated carbons can be increased by the infiltration of metal oxide nanoparticles into the sorbents. The NO2 is first adsorbed to the activated carbon and subsequently catalytically reduced to physiologically neutral substances by the metal oxides. The catalytic reduction at ambient temperatures is rather slow. In a former study concerning the application in cabin air filters, it was shown that the modification of activated carbon with 5 wt% CuO/ZnO leads to reduced breakthrough of NO2 and that the adsorbent was able to regenerate between repeated NO2 adsorption cycles. Here we show that the efficiency of the sorbent can be more than doubled by increasing the metal oxide infiltration to 20 wt% whereas a further increase in loading yields no additional improvement, due to a partial transformation of the oxidic compounds.
Adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by adsorbent prepared from paper mill sludge: Kinetics and thermodynamics studies
Authors: Gorzin Fatemeh , Bahri Rasht Abadi MM
Published: January 2017

In the present work, a new low-cost activated carbon was prepared from paper mill sludge in order to remove Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solution. The effects of adsorbent dosage, pH, contact time, metal ion concentrations, and temperature on adsorption efficiency were studied by experimental tests. The maximum equilibrium uptake of Cr(VI) by the adsorbent was 23.18 mg g−1 at optimum pH = 4.0, contact time of 180 min, and temperature of 45℃. Analysis of equilibrium adsorption data in terms of several isotherm models revealed that Langmuir isotherm with respect to Freundlich isotherm indicates better agreement with the experimental data. The kinetics of Cr(VI) adsorption onto activated carbon was described with the pseudo-second-order model which indicates the dominance of chemisorption mechanism. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the Cr(VI) adsorption onto adsorbent was feasible in nature, spontaneous, and endothermic.
Adsorbate—Adsorbate Association in a One-Component Mobile Adsorption Phase on Energetically Homogeneous Adsorbents
Authors: Garbacz J.K. , Kopkowski A.
Published: January 2017

A new description of adsorbate-adsorbate association on energetically homogeneous adsorbents has been presented. Suitable relations have been formulated for the mobile adsorption of a single gas. Experimental adsorption data have been described theoretically by the equations derived. The calculation results demonstrate the good applicability of the proposed idea.
Physicochemical Surface and Catalytic Properties of the Na2O-doped CuO–ZnO/Al2O3 System
Authors: El-Shobaky G.A. , Fagal G.A. , Ahmed A.S. , Mokhtar M.
Published: January 2017

In order to investigate the effect of Na2O doping (0.75–4.5 mol%) on metal oxide-support interactions, the surface and catalytic properties of the CuO–ZnO/Al2O3 system have been studied using XRD, nitrogen adsorption at -196°C and the catalytic oxidation of CO by O2 at 150–200°C. Pure and doped mixed oxide solid samples were prepared via the wet impregnation method using Al(OH)3, NaNO3. Zn(NO3)2 and Cu(NO3)2 solutions, followed by drying and calcination at 600°C and 700°C.The nominal composition of the solids thus prepared was 0.25CuO:0.06ZnO: Al2O3.

The results obtained showed that Na2O doping followed by heating in air at 600°C leads to enhanced crystallization of the CuO crystallites to an extent proportional to the amount of dopant present, while doping followed by heating in air at 700°C hinders the solid–solid interactions between CuO andA12O3, and leads to the production of CuAl2O4. The specific surface area was found to increase progressively as a function of the dopant concentration for the solid calcined at 700°C. The catalytic activity was also found to increase progressively on increasing the amount of dopant added. The maximum increase in the catalytic activity measured at 150, 175 and 200°C over solids calcined at 700°C was 114, 102 and 82%. respectively. The doping process did not modify the mechanism of the catalyzed reaction but rather increased the concentration of catalytically active constituents (surface CuO crystallites) involved in the chemisorption and catalysis of the CO oxidation reaction without affecting their energetic nature.
Adsorption of Typical Organic Pollutants from Wastewater Using Inshas Incinerator Ash
Authors: El-Reefy Sohir , Daifullah Abd. El-Hakim , Gad Hamdi
Published: January 2017

The extent to which the full surface area of Inshas incinerator ash (IIA) is utilized for the adsorption of a solute from aqueous solution in single-component systems and in a two-component system is described. Adsorption isotherms for phenol (P), m-cresol (m-Cr), p-cresol (p-Cr), 4–nitrophenol (4NP) and 2–nitrophenol (2NP) on to IIA have been determined. The data conform to the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models. For the two-component system of phenol and m-cresol in water, it was clear that the driving force for competitive adsorption was mainly the enthalpy change, ΔH. It was also found that such competitive adsorption generally results in the mutual inhibition of the adsorptive capacity of each solute. The feasibility of using IIA for the removal of the aforementioned pollutants from water is discussed.
Surface Characteristics of the Pure and Li2O-doped MoO3/Al2O3 System
Authors: El-Shobaky G.A. , Khalil Kh.A.
Published: January 2017

Two series of MoO3/Al2O3 solids, having the nominal compositions 0.2MoO3: Al2O3 and 0.5MoO3:A12O3, were prepared by impregnating finely powdered Al(OH)3 samples with calculated amounts of ammonium molybdate solutions. The solids thus obtained were dried at 120°C and then calcined in air at temperatures varying between 400°C and 1000°C. The doped samples were prepared by treating Al(OH)3 with LiNO3 solutions prior to impregnation with ammonium molybdate. The dopant concentrations employed were 1.5 and 6.0 mol% Li2O, respectively. The surface characteristics, viz. the specific surface area (SBET), the total pore volume (VP) and the mean pore radius (r) of the various pure and doped solids were measured from nitrogen adsorption isotherms conducted at -196°C. The SBET data measured for different adsorbents calcined at various temperatures enabled the apparent activation energy for sintering (ΔE3) to be determined for all the adsorbents investigated.

The results obtained reveal that the SBET value of the pure and doped solids decreased on increasing the calcination temperature in the range 400–1000°C. The decrease was, however, more pronounced when the calcination temperature increased from 500°C to 700°C due to the formation of Al2(MoO4)3. Lithium oxide doping decreased the SBET value of the solid samples investigated and also decreased the activation energy for sintering to an extent proportional to the amount of dopant present. The sintering process for the pure and doped solids proceeds, mainly, via a particle adhesion mechanism.
Current State of Investigations in Surface Chemistry, Adsorption and Ion Exchange in Ukraine
Authors: Tarasevich Yu.I.
Published: January 2017

Studies in surface chemistry, adsorption, ion exchange and the practical application of adsorbents and ion exchangers currently being performed in Institutes of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, Ukrainian universities and institutes for applied studies supervised by the Ukrainian Ministry of Industrial Policy are summarised. The origins, development and current state of these works are reviewed along with their significance for surface science, Ukrainian industry and environmental protection.
The Influence of Phosphate and Sulphate Ions on the Surface Texture of Alumina
Authors: Nohman Ahmed K.H. , Mekhemer Gamal A.H. , Fouad Nasr E. , Khalaf Hussein A.
Published: January 2017

The impact of the addition of phosphate and sulphate salts to aluminas, viz. γ-alumina and dried alumina gel, on their surface textures is described. This has been achieved through an analysis of nitrogen adsorption data for structurally characterised test samples. Modification through impregnation by phosphate and sulphate salts did not result in detectable bulk changes, the structure remaining very similar to that of γ-alumina in all cases. However, as far as the texture was concerned, the addition of both phosphate and sulphate salts resulted in a ca. 15% reduction in the SBET value for γ-alumina due to changes in the porosity. Modified alumina gel exhibited a higher surface area than either pure or modified γ-alumina. Thus, for the purposes of obtaining catalytically important acidified aluminas with higher surface areas, it is recommended that phosphates or sulphates be added to the parent alumina gel prior to calcination.
Smart specialisation strategies and cross-border integration of regional innovation systems: Policy dynamics and challenges for the Upper Rhine
Authors: Muller Emmanuel , Zenker Andrea , Hufnagl Miriam , Héraud Jean-Alain , Schnabl Esther , Makkonen Teemu , Kroll Henning
Published: January 2017

The aim of this paper is to provide insights into the implications of the European Commission’s smart specialisation agenda in a specific, cross-border context. The paper critically reflects on some of the RIS3 (research and innovation strategies for smart specialisation) agenda’s premises by illustrating its practical implementation in the Upper Rhine area (i.e. Alsace in France and Baden-Württemberg in Germany). The first section revisits not only the smart specialisation concept in itself but also discusses it vis-à-vis the thematic of cross-border regional innovation systems and outlines some implications that it may have for the choice of innovation policy instruments. The second section introduces the specific framework of the Upper Rhine area and outlines possible options for the co-ordination of innovation policies on the basis of a yet to be developed, theoretically possible joint RIS3 strategy. The last section brings together these conceptual and applied perspectives on smart specialisation and outlines suggestions for progressive cross-border integration via regional innovation policies.
Debt space: Topologies, ecologies and Ramallah, Palestine
Authors: Harker Christopher
Published: January 2017

Debt is widely conceived as temporal – present consumption bought with future labour. This paper advances conceptualisations of debt by incorporating the active role space plays in creating, maintaining and undermining debt relations. Debts are topological binds – a particular kind of spatial connection, which are entangled with topographic spaces to produce debt ecologies. This argument is developed by tracing the creation, maintenance and/or destruction of spatial connections between different people, communities, institutions and sites in the Palestinian conurbation of Ramallah – Al Bireh. Attending to the spatiality of debt offers a better understanding of debt itself, and extends relational approaches to finance that deploy network imaginaries, which cannot account for topological spacings that fold or dissolve distance and divisions. The extensive range of time-spaces that co-constitute specific debt ecologies also reveal a more-than-economic geography, which in the context of Ramallah enfolds family and geopolitics. These entanglements emerge from a methodological approach that uses ethnography to move beyond statistical representations of debt. Thinking debt topologically also responds to postcolonial concerns about the locatedness of theory.
Creative description: The impact of audio description style on presence in visually impaired audiences
Authors: Walczak Agnieszka , Fryer Louise
Published: January 2017

This article presents a study that tested the impact of audio description (AD) style on dimensions of presence (spatial presence, ecological validity, engagement, and negative effects) in blind and visually impaired audiences. The participants were shown two fragments of a naturalistic drama with two styles of description: ‘standard’ and ‘creative’. While the former followed the principle of objectivity, the latter was an innovative type of AD that included elements of camera work and subjective descriptions of the characters, their actions, and scenes crucial to the plot. The findings show that the emotive AD prompted higher levels of presence for all participants. Overall, the new AD style seemed more natural, especially to participants with recent sight loss. The results suggest that creative scripts may stimulate presence and thus increase the chances of AD users having a more immersive viewing experience.