bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indicadores de sustentabilidade em processos de avaliação ambiental estratégica
Authors: Silva Antonio Waldimir Leopoldino da , Selig Paulo Maurício , Morales Aran Bey Tcholakian
Published: December 2012

Os indicadores de sustentabilidade (IdS) são utilizados para demonstrar os efeitos que as intervenções humanas exercem sobre o meio ambiente. Em processos de Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica (AAE), seu emprego tem ocorrido de modo não uniforme e muitas vezes impreciso. Através da Análise de Conteúdo, a pesquisa buscou avaliar a utilização de IdS em vinte e oito relatórios de AAE (referentes a vinte e um países), investigando o enquadramento dos IdS ao triple bottom line e a outros parâmetros predefinidos. Apenas doze (42,8%) relatórios apresentam IdS. Destes, oito associam IdS a objetivos e metas, e nove descrevem a função dos indicadores na AAE, mas apenas quatro referem critérios de seleção e dois mostram a tendência futura dos IdS listados. Verificou-se a utilização de IdS mal formulados, com inadequada apresentação, e/ou indicadores que, em realidade, são objetivos ou metas. O emprego de IdS apresentou deficiências qualitativas e poderá não contribuir com a AAE ou levar a decisões equivocadas.
Comparative study of codes for the seismic design of structures
Authors: Santos S. H. C. , Lima S. S. , Arai A.
Published: December 2012

A general evaluation of some points of the South American seismic codes is presented herein, comparing them among themselves and with the American Standard ASCE/SEI 7/10 and with the European Standard Eurocode 8. The study is focused in design criteria for buildings. The Western border of South America is one of the most seismically active regions of the World. It corresponds to the confluence of the South American and Nazca plates. This region corresponds roughly to the vicinity of the Andes Mountains. This seismicity diminishes in the direction of the comparatively seismically quieter Eastern South American areas. The South American countries located in its Western Border possess standards for seismic design since some decades ago, being the Brazilian Standard for seismic design only recently published. This study is focused in some critical topics: definition of the recurrence periods for establishing the seismic input; definition of the seismic zonation and design ground motion values; definition of the shape of the design response spectra; consideration of soil amplification, soil liquefaction and soil-structure interaction; classification of the structures in different importance levels; definition of the seismic force-resisting systems and respective response modification coefficients; consideration of structural irregularities and definition of the allowable procedures for the seismic analyses. A simple building structure is analyzed considering the criteria of the several standards and obtained results are compared.
Design of compression reinforcement in reinforced concrete membrane
Authors: Silva T. F. , Della Bella J. C.
Published: December 2012

This paper presents a method to design membrane elements of concrete with orthogonal mesh of reinforcement which are subject to compressive stress. Design methods, in general, define how to quantify the reinforcement necessary to support the tension stress and verify if the compression in concrete is within the strength limit. In case the compression in membrane is excessive, it is possible to use reinforcements subject to compression. However, there is not much information in the literature about how to design reinforcement for these cases. For that, this paper presents a procedure which uses the model based on Baumann's [1] criteria. The strength limits used herein are those recommended by CEB [3], however, a model is proposed in which this limit varies according to the tensile strain which occur perpendicular to compression. This resistance model is based on concepts proposed by Vecchio e Collins [2].
Energy absorption of foamed concrete from low-velocity impacts
Authors: Jones M. Roderick , Zheng Li
Published: December 2012

Foamed concrete has existing uses as an energy absorber for large-scale and low-cost applications, such as explosion prevention in mines and military engineering projects and aircraft arresting systems. However, there is little information enumerating the energy absorption characteristics of different foamed concretes; this paper describes a study that determined these using low-velocity impact tests. A range of foamed concretes were tested with plastic densities varying from 500 to 1400 kg/m3, which are typical of those produced commercially. The tests used hemispherical projectiles with a range of masses from 1·2 to 8·4 kg, dropped from a fixed height of 4·7 m. The resulting ‘damage' was measured and related to the impact energy imparted to the test specimen. A classification, using five different failure modes, was established and the mode in which the test specimen neither caused ‘rebound' of the projectile nor itself fractured was selected as representing ‘ideal' energy absorption behaviour. Making the assumption of no energy losses and using the conservation of energy law, the energy absorption capacity of foamed concrete was calculated and was found to vary from 4 to 15 MJ/m3 for different mixes. The optimum energy absorption was noted for the 1000 kg/m3 mix at water to cement (w/c) ratios from 0·6 to 0·7, which allowed a debris field of crushed foamed concrete to form and be pushed into the concrete bubble space ahead of the nose of the projectile, without fracturing.
Optimising reinforcement design in D regions using non-linear finite-element analysis
Authors: Amini Najafian Hamidreza , Vollum Robert L.
Published: December 2012

This paper presents an automated procedure for designing reinforcement in D regions where plane sections do not remain plane after loading. The reinforcement is designed to resist stresses calculated in a non-linear finite-element analysis. The design procedure is implemented into NonOpt, which is a Fortran program that works in conjunction with the finite-element program DIANA. NonOpt gives three alternative methods for optimising the reinforcement design, of which strategy C is the subject of this paper. It finds the minimum weighted sum of the reinforcement ratios in two-dimensional structures such as deep beams subject to design constraints and practical requirements.
World Federation of Engineering Organisations’s compilation of capacity building good practice
Authors: Wall Kevin , Daniel D. Clinton , Sanio Michael R. , Botha David , Cleland Andrew , Negussey Dawit , Lewis Sheryl
Published: December 2012

The Standing Committee on Engineering Capacity Building of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations in October 2010 launched the first edition of a guidebook setting out its understanding of the challenges and complexities facing the engineering community regarding capacity and sustainability issues. The guidebook suggests approaches to the building of human resources and capability, and presents a collection of philosophies, programmes, initiatives and good practices collated from the experiences of a range of engineering organisations and engineering professionals.
Upland Rice Growth and Mineral Nutrition as Affected by Cultivars and Sulfur Availability
Authors: Crusciol Carlos Alexandre Costa , Nascente Adriano Stephan , Soratto Rogério Peres , Rosolem Ciro Antonio
Published: December 2012

A better understanding of the differential growth of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars with increasing soil S availability could help improve rice yield under upland conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate root and shoot growth and nutrition of upland traditional and modern rice cultivars as affected by S availability. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3 (rates of S) × 3 (cultivars) factorial with four replications. Low availability of S in the soil reduces root and shoot development and the efficiency of N, P, and S uptake, as well as the concentration and content of these nutrients in rice cultivars. At 0 mg dm−3 of S, rice cultivars prioritize root growth over shoots, and the traditional cultivar does so with greater intensity. Our results suggested that more development of traditional cultivars under low S availability facilitates its adaptation in soils under this condition. On the other hand, the intermediate and modern cultivars are more responsive to S fertilization. Moreover, S fertilization allows significant increases in upland rice growth and must be considered in cropping systems aiming for high yields.
Aesthetic Preferences for Architectural Styles Vary as a Function of Personality
Authors: Cook Richard , Furnham Adrian
Published: December 2012

The present study sought to determine whether aesthetic preferences for architectural styles vary as a function of personality. Participants completed a five-factor inventory as well as rating photographic images of British buildings for both aesthetic appeal and familiarity. The results indicate that personality exerts both direct and indirect influences on preferences. Extraversion was found to be negatively associated with preferences for preferences for High-Tech and Brutalist architectural styles. Similarly, Neuroticism was found to be positively associated with preferences for Victorian Gothic buildings, and negatively associated with preferences for High-Tech buildings. Agreeableness also appears to exert an indirect influence on preferences for Brutalism, mediated by familiarity. Architectural familiarity was found to be highly predictive of preferences for all styles. Limitations and implications are discussed.
Dreams with Sexual Imagery: Gender Differences in Content between Canadians and Italians
Authors: Zanasi M. , DeCicco Teresa L. , Dale Allyson L. , Musolino G. , Wright C.
Published: December 2012

This research extends previous investigations on dreams with sexual imagery while beginning the empirical investigation across cultures and between genders. To extend previous cultural research, sexual dream imagery and frequency between Italian and Canadian men and women were examined. The first study consisted of two samples of 267 dreams (112 male and 155 female) from Trent University, Canada and Tor Vergata University, Italy. The second study consisted of two samples of 100 dreams with sexual content (50 male and 50 female) from Canadian and Italian students. Computer textual analysis of dream content categories revealed that sexual imagery and frequency of sexual dream content was consistent with previous research. New findings were found between the two cultures and across gender. For dreams in general, differences were found between Italian males and Italian females, and, between Italian females and Canadian females. These studies show that both cultural and gender differences are relevant for dreams with sexual imagery. Further investigations are warranted and should be extended to other cultural groups now that the protocol has been established through these studies. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Innovation Motivation, Divergent Thinking, and Creative Story Writing: Convergence and Divergence across the Torrance Tests and Tat
Authors: Joy Stephen P. , Breed Kimberly
Published: December 2012

Undergraduates ( N = 64) completed innovation motivation inventories measuring the need to be different and innovation expectancy, took the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking—Verbal (TTCT-V), and wrote stories in response to eight Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) cards. The TAT stories were rated for creativity by four judges, who achieved a high level of reliability. TTCT-V standard scores correlated significantly with both the need to be different and innovation expectancy. The judged creativity of the TAT stories also correlated significantly with the need to be different. Moderate to strong correlations between TTCT-V scores and TAT-based creativity ratings indicate that the divergent thinking and creative product approaches measure closely related processes.
Bayesian Estimation of the Prevalence of Suicide Risk in Institutionalized Older People
Authors: Magagna Gisella , De La Fuente Emilia I. , Vargas Cristina , Lozano Luis M. , Cabezas José L.
Published: December 2012

The assessment of suicide risk in institutionalized older people has received less attention in comparison with those not institutionalized. The studies carried out show contradictory data on the prevalence of risk in this population group. The current work estimates the prevalence of suicide risk through a Bayesian analysis and studies the risk factors of this behavior in a group of 110 institutionalized older people. A prevalence of 38.4% is obtained, and an association between suicide risk and the factors depression and perception of health. The results indicate to us the necessity for actions directed at decreasing the suicide rate in geriatric homes.
Aspects of Love: The Effect of Mortality Salience and Attachment Style on Romantic Beliefs
Authors: Smith Rebecca , Massey Emma
Published: December 2012

Two studies are reported which explore romance as a means of terror management for participants with secure and insecure attachment styles. Mikulincer and Florian (2000) have shown that while mortality salience increases the desire for intimacy in securely attached individuals, the insecurely attached use cultural world views rather than close relationships to cope with fear of death. Study 1 used the romantic belief scale to compare the effects of attachment style and mortality salience on the cultural aspects of close relationships and showed that the only the insecurely attached were more romantic following mortality salience. Study 2 replicated this effect and demonstrated that this difference was not simply due to lower self-esteem in the insecurely attached. The additional inclusion of the Relationship assessment questionnaire failed to provide any evidence that the securely attached were affected by the mortality salience manipulation, even on a more interpersonal measure.
Quality Insights of University Teachers on Dying, Death, and Death Education
Authors: Mak Mui-Hing June
Published: December 2012

One of the main responsibilities of teachers is to help individual students cope with life difficulties such as grief following a death. However, very little research explores teachers' views on death, dying, and how they handle grief and loss in schools. This study aims to explore university teachers' knowledge and attitudes on dying, death, and death education. Fifteen university teachers were recruited using a qualitative method. This study reveals that most teachers' views on death and related issues are largely affected by their death experiences, religious beliefs, professional background, and the mass media. Although they have a general negative response toward death and dying, some teachers begin to affirm their meanings of life and death. Most teachers agree that they do not feel adequate about managing and teaching on life and death issues, so they strongly support including death education in the formal programs in Hong Kong.
Evolution of secondary phases in 0.17C-16Cr-11Mn-0.43N austenitic stainless steel at 800 and 850°C: Thermodynamic modeling of phase equilibria and experimental kinetic studies
Authors: Cicka R. , Bakajová J. , Stefániková M. , Dománková M. , Janovec J.
Published: December 2012

The precipitation of secondary phases was investigated in the
0.17C-16Cr-11Mn-0.43N austenitic stainless steel during annealing at 800 and
850?C for times between 5 min and 100 h. Light microscopy, transmission
electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron
microscopy, and differential thermal analysis were used in experiments.
Thermodynamic calculations were done by the ThermoCalc database software
package. Cr2N and M23C6 were considered to be stable phases at the annealing
temperatures. Cells consisting of alternating Cr2N and austenite lamellae
were observed in the steel microstructure after sufficiently long annealing.
The metastable chi phase was also found in all the annealed samples. After
100 h of annealing the equilibrium sigma started to precipitate. The
thermodynamically predicted M6C was not confirmed experimentally in any of
the annealed samples. DTA analysis showed the initial precipitation stage
was followed by the phase dissolution. For the investigated steel the
computational thermodynamics can be used only for qualitative interpretation
of the experimental results as the measured endothermal peaks were found to
be shifted of about 50 ? 70?C related to the computed results.
Ab initio study of C14 laves phases in Fe-based systems
Authors: Pavlu J. , Sob M.
Published: December 2012

Structural properties and energetics of Fe-based C14 Laves phases at various
compositions (i.e. Fe2Fe, Fe2X, X2Fe, X2X, where X stands for Si, Cr, Mo, W,
Ta) were investigated using the pseudopotential VASP (Vienna Ab initio
Simulation Package) code employing the PAW-PBE (Projector Augmented Wave -
Perdew Burke-Ernzerhof) pseudopotentials. Full relaxation was performed for
all structures studied including the reference states of elemental
constituents and the equilibrium structure parameters as well as bulk moduli
were found. The structure parameters of experimentally found structures were
very well reproduced by our calculations. It was also found that the lattice
parameters and volumes of the unit cell decrease with increasing molar
fraction of iron. Thermodynamic analysis shows that the Fe2X configurations
of Laves phases are more stable than the X2Fe ones. Some of the X2Fe
configurations are even unstable with respect to the weighted average of the
Laves phases of elemental constituents. Our calculations predict the
stability of Fe2Ta. On the other hand, Fe2Mo and Fe2W are slightly unstable
(3.19 and 0.68 kJ.mol-1, respectively) and hypothetical structures Fe2Cr and
Fe2Si are found unstable as well.
Diffusion couple studies of the Ni-Bi-Sn system
Authors: Vassilev G. , Milcheva N. , Record M.C. , Mancheva R.
Published: December 2012

Investigations of Ni-Bi-Sn system were performed in order to inquire the
phase diagram and to assess some diffusion kinetic parameters. For this
purpose diffusion couples consisting of solid nickel (preliminary
electroplated with tin) and liquid Bi-Sn phase were annealed at 370 ?C. Three
compositions (0.8, 0.6 and 0.4 mole fractions Sn) of the Bi-Sn melts were
chosen. Annealing times from 24 to 216 h were applied. The phase and chemical
compositions of the contact zone were determined by means of electron
scanning microscope. It was confirmed that the diffusion layers consist
mainly of Ni3Sn4 but other intermetallic phases grow as well. For the first
time metastable Ni-Sn phases as NiSn and NiSn8 (NiSn9) were observed in
metallurgical alloys (i.e. not in electroplated samples). The existence of a
ternary compound previously reported in the literature was confirmed. More
than one ternary Ni-Bi-Sn compounds might possibly be admitted. A growth
coefficient of (2.29 ? 0.02) x 10-15 m2 s-1 was obtained. It was found that
the apparent activation energy for diffusion layers growth (18 ? 8 kJ mol-1)
is inferior to that one assessed at growth from solid state Bi-Sn mixtures
(88 ? 12 kJ mol-1).
Leaching mechanism of semiconducting minerals a historical note
Authors: Habashi F.
Published: December 2012

mechanism of leaching of semiconducting minerals such as CuS, ZnS, UO2, etc.,
has been the subject of intensive speculation by hydrometallurgy researchers
in the early 1950s who assumed the formation of intermediate surface
complexes that could be neither separated nor identified by physico-chemical
techniques. The electrochemical theory of leaching introduced in the late
1960s resolved this problem by comparing the leaching process to a corrosion
phenomenon similar to the corrosion of metals. A historical summary of these
proposals is presented.
Thermodynamic calculation of phase equilibria in stainless steels
Authors: Klancnik G. , Petrovic Steiner , Medved J.
Published: December 2012

In this paper two examples of thermodynamic investigation of stainless steels
using both, experimental and modeling approach are described. The
ferritic-austenitic duplex stainless steel and austenitic stainless steel
were investigated using thermal analysis. The complex melting behavior was
evident for both alloy systems. Experimentally obtained data were compared
with the results of the thermodynamic calculations using the CALPHAD method.
The equilibrium thermal events were also described by the calculated heat
capacity. In spite of the complexity of both selected real alloy systems a
relative good agreement was obtained between the thermodynamic calculations
and experimental results.
The prescriptions of Vuk Karadzic: A dermatovenerological approach
Authors: Lalevic-Vasic Bosiljka
Published: December 2012

Vuk Karadzic?s estate contains a collection of 136 prescriptions, which were
prescribed to him in the 1810-1862 period due to his health problems. The
paper limits the prescription analysis to dermatovenerology. As there is no
extant diagnosis of Vuk?s illnesses, the inter?pretation of information at
hand should be taken with a slight reserve. The problem is further
complicated by a complex structure of the prescriptions, polypragmasia,
empirical approach to treatment and insufficient pharmacological knowledge of
the time. The medication predomi?nantly consisted of herbal, but also of
animal and chemical substances. Among all the prescriptions, 32 medicaments
were for external use (skin application); 10 of the group were most probably
used for treating changes on the skin. As we found no mention of a skin
disease in Vuk, we think it most likely that the mentioned medicaments were
used for the skin protection of the knee that relied on a stilt for over 50
years, or for treating the traumatic changes resulting from the same reason.
Twenty-two medicaments were applied to the skin for rubefacient effect, which
soothed the deeper, rheumatic and neurotic pains from which Vuk suffered all
his active life. Special emphasis was laid on a group of 11 prescriptions,
among which ten were for internal (peroral) use, and one for external use,
which contained mercury and herbs, known as standard antisyphilitic therapy
of the age. Based on Vuk?s ailments, medical condition of his family and
administration of these medicaments, it is impossible that Vuk was
syphilitic, although certain scholarly sources may voice unconfirmed rumours
of that.
Darinka Nevenic-Grabovac as a researcher of Aelius Lampridius Cerva
Authors: Pokrajac Gordana
Published: December 2012

Classical philologist Darinka Grabovac dedicated the main part of her work to
translat?ing and publishing Ragusean latinists. Besides the opus of Didak Pir
and Rudjer Boskovic, she especially concentrated on the greatest Ragusean
latinist-Ilija Crijevic. Her work includes translations of this poet and also
analyses his theoretical tract. Her poetic works are Rhetoric and poetic in
works of Ilija Crijevic and Aelius Lampridius Cervinus (1463-1520).
Praelectio in explicationem Propertii. In the other group there is epic work
De Epidauro and four ?oratio funebris-es? (to Ivan (Dzivo) Gucetic, Junije
Sorkocevic, Matija Korvin and Pavla Dzamanjic). The studies of Darinka
Grabovac are significant because they express thorough a point of wiev to
Crijevics ?oratio funebris-es? significant persons and their work in the
Republic of Ragusa.
Slozenice u srpskoslovenskom prevodu iz XIV veka rasprave Grigorija Niskog
Authors: Vukovic Jovana
Published: December 2012

nema
Pomeni Dubrovnika u epskoj folklornoj tradiciji
Authors: Petakovic Slavko
Published: December 2012

nema
Leksikon akademskih termina
Authors: Djoric Ana
Published: December 2012

nema
Obtaining Assurance for Financial Statement Audits and Control Audits When Aspects of the Financial Reporting Process Are Outsourced
Authors: Bierstaker James , Chen Long , Christ Margaret H. , Ege Matthew , Mintchik Natalia
Published: December 2012

Businesses increasingly outsource organizational functions that have financial reporting implications, which requires auditors to adjust their risk assessment and audit procedures for this practice. However, PCAOB inspection reports cite deficiencies indicating that external auditors frequently do not perform proper procedures before relying on controls maintained by service organizations. In this paper, we examine the audit implications of clients' use of service organizations. Using the audit risk and control risk models and drawing on the extant research on using the work of others and internal audit outsourcing, we develop a framework that describes how clients' use of service organizations affects financial statement and internal control audits. We propose that three characteristics of outsourcing: the client, the service organization, and the auditor of the service organization affect inherent risk, control risk, and control detection risk for clients who outsource these functions. Based on this model, we develop specific research questions to guide future auditing research. We also use this model to provide insights for future research on external auditors' reliance on outsourced internal audit functions.

JEL Classifications: M41; M42; L24.
The Election of Auditors in Government: A Study of Politics and the Professional
Authors: Radcliffe Vaughan S.
Published: December 2012

Although in many countries government auditors are appointed, often in an all-party process designed to emphasize a preference and hope for accounting information to be prepared in an independent manner, many such office holders in U.S. state governments are directly elected. This paper examines one such election, which occurred in the State of Ohio in 1994, and uses this case to explore how the electoral process fosters an interaction between the professional claim and political platforms. The paper follows earlier work concerning “special” government audits in using Weber's discussion of formal and substantive rationality to interpret events. The election of government auditors is seen as providing an unusual opportunity to consider the mixture of auditing and politics. The paper provides observations on the proximate operation of professional claims and political dynamics, and discusses these in terms of the roles of government auditing and of accountancy as a profession. Further research is called for into the operation of auditing in public life.
National Heuristic Shift toward Saving Any Form of Tax Rebate
Authors: Spencer Marilyn K. , Chambers Valrie
Published: December 2012

Using surveys for the 2008, 2009 and 2011 federal tax rebates, this study tests whether taxpayers (1) noticed the rebates, and (2) spent, rather than saved, a high percentage of each. Results add further evidence that behavioral economics and mental accounting are relevant in predicting tax rebate behavior. It also indicates that rebates distributed in small amounts in take-home pay accomplish stimulus much more effectively than a lump sum, which is critically important for effective public policy. Many taxpayers did not realize they received the 2009 tax rebate, and those who knew spent a higher average percentage than for the 2008 rebate. The results also indicate the need to control for (shifting) savings heuristics during an economic crisis, because this heuristic apparently did change on a national scale. The national economic crisis—particularly unemployment—was smaller and slower to hit the city sampled in this study than for the nation as a whole. The results with the smaller, localized sample in 2009 clearly indicate the need to control for (shifting) savings heuristics. This concern appears validated by the results of another small, localized sample to measure the saving decisions in response to the 2 percent reduction in social security taxes in 2011. These results are important in increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of tax rebates to address public policy concerns, including economic recovery.

Data Availability: The data are available from the authors upon request.
How the Auditor-Client Relationship Affects the Extent of Value-Added Service Provided to the Client
Authors: Herda David N. , Lavelle James J.
Published: December 2012

This article summarizes our recent study, “Auditor Commitment to Privately Held Clients and its Effect on Value-Added Audit Service” (Herda and Lavelle 2013), which examines how the relationship between individual auditors and their clients affects the extent of value-added services that clients receive. Based on a survey of 204 auditors at two public accounting firms, we find that the auditor-client relationship, measured in terms of the auditor's commitment to the client (i.e., client commitment), develops in response to auditor perceptions of fair treatment and support received from the client. Higher levels of client commitment lead to more value-added services (e.g., management letter comments). The results indicate that auditors' perceptions of client fairness are essential in building strong auditor-client relationships. Stronger relationships yield greater levels of service that go beyond the core audit requirements.
Teaching IFRS in the U.K.: Contrasting Experiences from Both Sides of the University Divide
Authors: Stoner Gregory N. , Sangster Alan
Published: December 2012

This paper discusses the impact of the increased importance of International GAAP (International Financial Reporting Standards [IFRS]) in the U.K. higher education teaching and learning environment. This change was caused by the increased harmonization of accounting standards during the first decade of the 21st century and, in particular, the adoption within the European Union (EU) of IFRS for fully listed companies in 2005 and other listed companies soon after. After outlining the nature and diversity of accounting education and its relationship to the U.K. accounting profession, we discuss the approaches taken in a range of U.K. accounting degree programs and how U.K. faculty and students adapted to the change from U.K. GAAP to IFRS. The U.K. university sector is divided into “old” universities—those formed before 1992, often referred to as the “research universities,” and the “new” universities—those founded in or after 1992, whose main focus is vocational, the “teaching universities.” We conclude that despite various troublesome adjustments in terminology, definitions, and layout, for different reasons the different groups of faculty have generally not had to undergo excessive adjustments in their teaching in order to embed IFRS into their courses. We conclude the paper by acknowledging the limitations of our research and with some indications of lessons for others who face the transition to IFRS in the future.
Linguistic and Psychometric Validation of the Diabetes-Specific Quality-of-Life Scale in U.K. English for Adults With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Cooke Debbie , O’Hara Mary Clare , Beinart Naomi , Heller Simon , La Marca Roberto , Byrne Molly , Mansell Peter , Dinneen Sean F. , Clark Marie , Bond Rod , Speight Jane ,   for the U.K. NIHR DAFNE Study Group
Published: December 2012

OBJECTIVE

To develop a linguistically and psychometrically validated U.K. English (U.K./Ireland) version of the Diabetes-Specific Quality-of-Life Scale (DSQOLS) for adults with type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted independent forward and backward translation of the validated German DSQOLS. An iterative interview study with health professionals (n = 3) and adults with type 1 diabetes (n = 8) established linguistic validity. The DSQOLS was included in three Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE) studies (total N = 1,071). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was undertaken to examine questionnaire structure. Concurrent and discriminant validity, internal consistency, and reliability were assessed.

RESULTS

EFA indicated a six-factor structure for the DSQOLS (social aspects, fear of hypoglycemia, dietary restrictions, physical complaints, anxiety about the future, and daily hassles). High internal consistency reliability was found for these factors and the weighted treatment satisfaction scale (α = 0.85–0.94). All subscales were moderately, positively correlated with the Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality-of-Life (ADDQoL) measure, demonstrating evidence of concurrent validity. Lower DSQOLS subscale scores [indicating impaired quality of life (QoL)] were associated with the presence of diabetes-related complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The DSQOLS captures the impact of detailed aspects of modern type 1 diabetes management (e.g., carbohydrate counting and flexible insulin dose adjustment) that are now routine in many parts of the U.K. and Ireland. The U.K. English version of the DSQOLS offers a valuable tool for assessing the impact of treatment approaches on QoL in adults with type 1 diabetes.
Sex Differences in Renal Responses to Hyperglycemia, l-Arginine, and l-NMMA in Humans With Uncomplicated Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Cherney David Z.I. , Scholey James W. , Sochett Etienne B.
Published: December 2012

OBJECTIVE

Women exhibit exaggerated renal hemodynamic responses to hyperglycemia, which may promote kidney disease progression. Our aim was to determine if increased nitric oxide generation by l-arginine infusion would reverse this deleterious response to clamped hyperglycemia in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Renal function, blood pressure, and plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were measured in 20 men and 15 women with type 1 diabetes mellitus during clamped euglycemia and clamped hyperglycemia. Renal function, blood pressure, and plasma cGMP responses to graded infusions of intravenous l-arginine and NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA) were measured during clamped hyperglycemia.

RESULTS

Subjects were young, normotensive, normoalbuminuric men and women who adhered to a high-sodium, moderate-protein diet. Plasma cGMP levels during euglycemia were generally lower in men compared with women, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) was higher in men. In response to hyperglycemia, cGMP levels did not change in men but did decline in women (Δ−1.10 ± 0.20 vs. Δ+0.05 ± 0.20 pmol/L, between-group effect of hyperglycemia on cGMP; P = 0.012). Hyperglycemia also was associated with an increase in SBP, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (124 ± 6 to 143 ± 7 mL/min/1.73 m2; P = 0.003) and filtration fraction (FF) in women, but these parameters did not change in men. In response to l-arginine during hyperglycemia, the increase in cGMP was exaggerated in women versus men and GFR and FF decreased in women only, back toward baseline values observed during clamped euglycemia. l-NMMA infusion did not exaggerate changes in hemodynamic function in response to hyperglycemia.

CONCLUSIONS

 l-Arginine reversed the renal hemodynamic effects of hyperglycemia in women, suggesting that nitric oxide is an important regulator of sex-dependent vascular responses to hyperglycemia in humans.
Fetuin-A, Type 2 Diabetes, and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Older Adults
Authors: Jensen Majken K. , Bartz Traci M. , Mukamal Kenneth J. , Djoussé Luc , Kizer Jorge R. , Tracy Russell P. , Zieman Susan J. , Rimm Eric B. , Siscovick David S. , Shlipak Michael , Ix Joachim H.
Published: December 2012

OBJECTIVE

Fetuin-A, a hepatic secretory protein that simultaneously inhibits arterial calcification and insulin action, is associated with type 2 diabetes, but its association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is uncertain. Preliminary studies suggest that the association of fetuin-A with CVD might differ among individuals with or without type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a prospective study of 3,810 community-living individuals older than 65 years (511 with type 2 diabetes) and free of CVD in 1992 when fetuin-A levels were measured. Participants were followed-up for incident CVD through June 2008.

RESULTS

Mean age was 75 years, and 61% were women; 1,456 participants had an incident CVD event (248 among individuals with type 2 diabetes). The association of fetuin-A with CVD was modified by type 2 diabetes (P interaction = 0.02). Higher fetuin-A was associated with lower CVD risk among persons without type 2 diabetes [hazard ratio per SD 0.1 g/L higher fetuin-A, 0.93 (95% CI, 0.88–0.99)], whereas a trend in the opposite direction was observed among individuals with type 2 diabetes, although it was not statistically significant [1.07 (0.93–1.22)]. Among individuals without type 2 diabetes, similar effect modification was observed by obesity and insulin resistance. Consistently, higher fetuin-A was associated with lower CVD risk only in the subgroups without obesity or with HOMA-IR below the median [0.91 (0.85–0.97) and 0.87 (0.79–0.95), respectively].

CONCLUSIONS

The association of fetuin-A with risk of CVD differs among elderly individuals with and without insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
Associations Between Diabetes, Leanness, and the Risk of Death in the Japanese General Population
Authors: Yano Yuichiro , Kario Kazuomi , Ishikawa Shizukiyo , Ojima Toshiyuki , Gotoh Tadao , Kayaba Kazunori , Tsutsumi Akizumi , Shimada Kazuyuki , Nakamura Yosikazu , Kajii Eiji ,   the JMS Cohort Study Group
Published: December 2012

OBJECTIVE

To examine the BMI-stratified associations between diabetes and the risks of all-cause death, cardiovascular disease (CVD) death, and cancer death.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Using a prospective study with 12 rural Japanese general populations (n = 3,641, mean age, 53.7 years; 33.5% men), we examined the associations between diabetes and the risk of all-cause death, CVD death, and cancer death. We also examined the effects of BMI and age on such associations.

RESULTS

During an average duration of 10.2 years (37,278 person-years), 240 deaths occurred (54 deaths from CVD, 101 from cancer, and 85 from other causes). Cox regression analysis showed leanness (defined as the lowest quartile of entire BMI; mean, 19.5 kg/m2), but not obesity (BMI ≥25 kg/m2), and diabetes were independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR] 1.70 and 1.65, respectively; both P < 0.01.). Stratification with cause-specific deaths showed that leanness and obesity were associated with CVD death (HR 3.77 and 2.94, respectively), whereas diabetes was associated with cancer death (HR 1.87; all P < 0.05). The increased risk of all-cause death in diabetes was substantially higher in lean subjects aged <65 years (HR 3.4) or those aged ≥65 years (HR 4.2), whereas the risk in obese diabetes patients was significant only in subjects aged <65 years (HR 2.32; all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Among the Japanese general population, diabetes confers an increased risk of all-cause death. Particular attention must be paid to the pronounced high mortality in diabetes accompanied with leanness, regardless of age.
Effects of Delayed Auditory Feedback on Speech Kinematics in Fluent Speakers
Authors: Sasisekaran Jayanthi
Published: December 2012

The effects of delayed auditory feedback on behavioral responses and speech kinematics were investigated. Participants were 10 men ( M age = 22.2 yr., SD = 3.7) and 10 women ( M age = 20.5 yr., SD = 2.2). Participants were required to repeat shorter (6 syllables) and longer (11 syllables) non-words in a reading task. Speech errors, lip movement variability, and movement duration of labial trajectories under delayed feedback were compared to effects under gated speech feedback and a control or synchronous auditory feedback condition. Repeated-measures analysis indicated a lower percent of correct productions, higher variability, and slower duration of lip movements in the delayed feedback condition compared to the gated feedback and control conditions. Implications for auditory feedback of movement control in continuous speech and for theories of delayed auditory feedback that attribute a role to movements are discussed.
The Implicit Influence of a Negative Mood on the Subliminal Mere Exposure Effect
Authors: Kawakami Naoaki
Published: December 2012

Despite numerous studies on the mere exposure effect, it is still not clear why it occurs. The present study examined whether a negative mood would enhance or inhibit the effects. Fifty-two participants (30 men, 22 women; M age = 20.5 yr.) were assigned to one of two mood-induction groups (negative and neutral), and were exposed to a photograph 20 times after the mood induction. Thereafter, a single-category Implicit Association Test was conducted to measure their implicit attitudes toward the photograph. There was a significant interaction, with exposed stimuli evaluated more favorably than unexposed stimuli in the neutral condition, but not in the negative condition. This result suggests that a negative mood inhibited the mere exposure effect, implying that people could use their emotional states as cues to evaluate ambiguous objects that they have been repeatedly exposed to.
New Field Test to Track Changes of Flatwater Paddling Performance: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Place Nicolas , Billat Véronique
Published: December 2012

A new test sensitive to changes in training was developed for well-trained flatwater paddlers. The test is easily carried out on open water and is sensitive to changes in the volume of high-intensity paddling sessions that occur during preparation for the international competitive season.
Discrete maximum principle for interior penalty discontinuous Galerkin methods
Authors: Horváth Tamás , Mincsovics Miklós
Published: December 2012

A class of linear elliptic operators has an important qualitative property, the so-called maximum principle. In this paper we investigate how this property can be preserved on the discrete level when an interior penalty discontinuous Galerkin method is applied for the discretization of a 1D elliptic operator. We give mesh conditions for the symmetric and for the incomplete method that establish some connection between the mesh size and the penalty parameter. We then investigate the sharpness of these conditions. The theoretical results are illustrated with numerical examples.
Modification of current-voltage characteristics of planar organic systems by nm-thick copper phthalocyanine or perylene dye interlayer
Authors: Signerski Ryszard , Jarosz Grażyna
Published: December 2012

The effect of a nm-thick interlayer of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) or perylene dye (MePTCDI) on currentvoltage characteristics of planar organic systems is discussed in this work. The MePTCDI layer in the ITO/MePTCDI/CuPc/Au system strongly reduces reverse dark current by blocking injection of holes from ITOinto CuPc leading to high values of rectification ratio. The CuPc interlayer in the ITO/CuPc/MePTCDI/Ag system causes a strong reduction in electron injection from ITOand reverses a forward polarity. Modification of current-voltage characteristics of illuminated systems with an interlayer of MePTCDI or CuPc is associated with a strong photovoltaic effect. This results from efficient excition dissociation at the CuPc/MePTCDI interface. Saturation current, determined by this process of charge carrier photogeneration, can be observed at particular voltage polarity.
Continuous dehydrochlorination of 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol to epichlorohydrin: process parameters and by-products formation
Authors: Krzyżanowska Anna , Milchert Eugeniusz
Published: December 2012

The influence of pre-reactor and reactor temperatures on the conversion of 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol and the selectivity of its transformation to epichlorohydrin in continuous dehydrochlorination for two modes of the reaction product collection was studied. The dehydrochlorination process and mechanism of diglycidyl ether formation are described.
Identification of carbohydrate isomers in flavonoid glycosides after hydrolysis by hydrophilic interaction chromatography
Authors: Špačková Věra , Pazourek Jiří
Published: December 2012

A method for carbohydrate isomers (saccharide units) identification in flavonoid glycosides after hydrolysis by an HPLC system with two detectors (diode array UV-VIS detector and evaporative light scattering detector) was set up in this work. Experimental procedure was optimized with two types of model glycosides, namely rutin and hesperidin. The model glycosides were hydrolyzed to saccharide units and aglycone parts; the aglycone was characterized by its UV-VIS spectrum and the saccharide unit was identified by its retention time and elution profile (anomeric signals). Acidic and enzymatic hydrolyses were compared in the first step of the method; in acidic hydrolysis, trifluoracetic acid was used, while glucosidase, galactosidase, and hesperidinase were used in enzymatic hydrolysis. A complete enzymatic hydrolysis was achieved with hesperidin and neohesperidin, but not with 3-O-glycosides. The method was applied for the identification of a glycone from a glycoside isolated from Polygonum lapathifolium (Polygonaceae sp.).
David James Foulis
Authors: Greechie Richard
Published: December 2012

This paper is in honour of Dave Foulis’s 80th birthday. A brief account of some of his outstanding academic contributions to the fields of Ordered Structures, Orthostructures, Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, Foundations of Statistics and Operator Theory is present here.
Lattice uniformities on pseudo-D-lattices
Authors: Avallone Anna , Vitolo Paolo
Published: December 2012

Let L be a pseudo-D-lattice. We prove that the lattice uniformities on L which make uniformly continuous the operations of L are uniquely determined by their system of neighbourhoods of 0 and form a distributive lattice.

Moreover we prove that every such uniformity is generated by a family of weakly subadditive [0,+∞]-valued functions on L.
Statistical maps and generalized random walks
Authors: Frič Roman , Papčo Martin
Published: December 2012

We continue our study of statistical maps (equivalently, fuzzy random variables in the sense of Gudder and Bugajski). In the realm of fuzzy probability theory, statistical maps describe the transportation of probability measures on one measurable space into probability measures on another measurable space. We show that for discrete probability spaces each statistical map can be represented via a special matrix the rows of which are probability functions related to conditional probabilities and the columns are related to fuzzy n-partitions of the domain. Discrete statistical maps sending a probability measure p to a probability measure q can be represented via conditional distributions and correspond to joint probabilities on the product. The composition of statistical maps provide a tool to describe and to study generalized random walks and Markov chains.
The structure of norm Clifford algebras
Authors: Keller Hans , Ochsenius Herminia
Published: December 2012

Orthomodular Hilbertian spaces are infinite-dimensional inner product spaces (E, 〈·, ·〉) with the rare property that to every orthogonally closed subspace U ⊆ E there is an orthogonal projection from E onto U. These spaces, discovered about 30 years ago, are constructed over certain non-Archimedeanly valued, complete fields and are endowed with a non-Archimedean norm derived from the inner product. In a previous work [KELLER, H. A.—OCHSENIUS, H.: On the Clifford algebra of orthomodular spaces over Krull valued fields. In: Contemp. Math. 508, Amer. Math. Soc., Providence, RI, 2010, pp. 73–87] we described the construction of a new object, called the norm Clifford algebra C̃(E) associated to E. It can be considered a counterpart of the well-established Clifford algebra of a finite dimensional quadratic space. In contrast to the classical case, C̃(E) allows to represent infinite products of reflections by inner automorphisms. It is a significant step towards a better understanding of the group of isometries, which in infinite dimension is complex and hard to grasp.

In the present paper we are concerned with the inner structure of these new algebras. We first give a canonical representation of the elements, and we prove that C̃ is always central. Then we focus on an outstanding special case in which C̃ is shown to be a division ring. Moreover, in that special case we completely describe the ideals of the corresponding valuation ring $$\mathcal{A}$$. It turns out, rather unexpectedly, that every left-ideal and every right-ideal of $$\mathcal{A}$$ is in fact bilateral.