bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visibility of Laser Beams and Illuminated Delineator as a Function of Fog Density
Authors: Hagiwara Toru , Yagi Mamiko , Seo Takuya
Published: January 2019

In dense fog, adequate visibility of the delineator is important for providing the driver with road geometry cues. A new illuminated delineator that uses laser beams is proposed. Very few data have been published with regard to the visibility of laser beams in fog. However, laser beams can be expected to be highly visible in dense fog because of their high intensity, high energy, and directivity that is both monoclinic and strong. A study was conducted to evaluate the visibility of laser beams in fog. The effectiveness of two types of laser heads and an illuminated delineator containing two 10-W glow lamps was investigated in artificial fog. The dependent variables were luminance at a specific point on the laser beam and estimated brightness. The major independent variables were fog density and illuminance in the observation room. The laser beams were observed as sharp lines of light in dense fog. The visibility of the laser beams in fog had an inverse relationship to that of normal light. In addition, subjects reported that the directivity of the laser beams could effectively indicate the direction of the highway. However, the visibility of the laser beams was strongly affected by the illuminance in the observation room, and care must be taken to prevent drivers from looking directly at redundant laser beams. On the basis of these results, it is concluded that laser beams may be useful lighting sources in dense fog if this safety problem can be overcome.
Controlled-Environment Evaluation of Fluorescent Strong Yellow-Green Pedestrian-Crossing Sign Prototypes
Authors: Dutt Navaneet , Hummer Joseph E. , Clark Kenneth L. , Blakely Steven
Published: January 2019

Fluorescent strong yellow-green (SYG) is one of the most unassigned colors in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). FHWA has recently been considering the SYG color for nonmotorized application in the W11-2 series of signs in MUTCD. A number of field evaluation studies on the impact of these warning signs on conflicts and user preferences have been undertaken. A controlled-environment evaluation of the SYG pedestrian-crossing sign prototypes under five different natural light conditions is presented. Factors that contribute to different driver performance in response to microprismatic fluorescent SYG signs relative to the commonly used enclosed-bead yellow signs are identified. Target value and legibility distance of the prototypes in a simulated driving environment on a pool of test subjects are assessed. A factorial analysis of variance design was used to obtain unbiased estimates of these parameters. The general linear model was used iteratively to eliminate factors that did not affect the model significantly. It was found that SYG pedestrian-crossing prototypes had better performances in terms of their legibility distances than the enclosed-bead prototypes although the target value did not show any difference. The results indicate that use of fluorescent SYG signs is likely to increase driver awareness of warning signs.
Safety Evaluation of Freeway Traffic Management System in Toronto, Canada
Authors: Persaud Bhagwant , Mucsi Kornel , Ugge Alex
Published: January 2019

A reduction in accidents, particularly secondary ones, is often cited as one of the primary benefits of a freeway traffic management system (FTMS) such as that implemented on a segment of Highway 401 in Toronto, Canada. The safety effect of this FTMS was estimated from the parameters of regression models calibrated for the preimplementation period (1989–1990) and the postimplementation period (1991–1992). Separate models were calibrated for express, collector, and conventional divided roadway sections and for rear-end, non-rear-end, and all injury accidents. For rear-end injury accidents, model parameters were estimated for day and night conditions. The aggregate results show a substantial decrease in the expected number of rear-end injury accidents on all three types of roadway following the implementation of the FTMS.
Computerized Office Support for State Highway-Rail Crossing Programs
Authors: Crowley Larry G. , Bowman Brian L. , Colson Cecil
Published: January 2019

State programs in grade crossing safety are an important and successful traffic safety initiative. Their cost-benefit ratios are close to those achieved on all other highway safety projects. Estimates suggest these railroad crossing improvements have contributed to an 88 percent reduction in fatalities and a 62 percent reduction in injuries. While these achievements were obtained through the combined efforts of railroad companies and federal, state, and local governments, the primary responsibility for carrying out the program has fallen upon the states. States have developed individual procedures in identifying and improving high-risk grade crossings. These procedures, which constitute a naturally collaborative process, often lead to long periods of time between the initial identification of high-risk crossings and the physical installation of improvements. Most states either have initiated action or are considering procedural changes to reduce these times. One particularly beneficial action is a status tracking procedure. Described here is a computerized office support system that combines status tracking and reporting capability with the ability to produce system-compiled documents necessary for the functioning of the office. Alabama's Multimodal Office Support System (AlaMOSS), is designed to improve the productivity and effectiveness of Alabama's grade-crossing safety program.
Phase Time Prediction for Traffic-Actuated Intersections
Authors: Lin Pei-Sung , Courage Kenneth G.
Published: January 2019

The Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) provides a methodology in Chapter 9 to estimate the capacity and level of service at a signalized intersection as a function of traffic characteristics and signal timing. At traffic-actuated intersections, the signal timing changes from cycle to cycle in response to traffic demand. An accurate prediction of average phase times and their corresponding cycle length is required to assess the performance of intersections controlled by traffic-actuated signals. The current technique suggested in Appendix II of HCM Chapter 9 for this purpose has not been well accepted. A more comprehensive methodology and a more satisfactory analytical model are described that predict traffic-actuated signal timing for both isolated and coordinated modes with actuated phases. The proposed methodology and model have been verified by simulation augmented by limited field studies. The results are encouraging with respect to their general reliability and their compatibility with the current HCM Chapter 9 structure.
Evaluating Weaving Section Designs Using INTEGRATION
Authors: Stewart J. , Baker M. , Van Aerde M.
Published: January 2019

The current design procedure shown in Calculation 6 of the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) requires an exhaustive analysis of a family of possible solutions. The design is selected on the basis of minimum speeds of weaving and nonweaving vehicles for different levels of service. In this paper the use of the INTEGRATION modeling tool to evaluate the same family of possible solutions is examined. Because INTEGRATION has the ability to determine volumes in addition to speeds, it was used to select the design solution based on the ratio of demand volume to capacity. Both procedures determined that five-lane Type B weaving sections greater than 610 m (2,000 ft) in length would provide level-of-service C for the origin-destination demand pattern found in Example Calculation 6 in Chapter 4 of the HCM. Analysis of the design results also showed that the number of lanes in the core area was the most critical factor in determining weaving section capacity. The length of the core area was also found to have an impact but was less important as core length increased. Finally, the type of weaving section was found to have the least impact on capacity, especially at core areas longer than 305 m (1,000 ft).
Comparison of Planning and Operational Analysis Procedures for Signalized Intersections from the Highway Capacity Manual
Authors: Virkler Mark R. , Gannavaram Shashi , Ramabhadran Anand
Published: January 2019

The 1994 update of the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) includes a planning procedure to estimate the capacity condition of a signalized intersection (Xcm). The planning method results can also be extended to a planning application of the more data-intensive HCM operational procedure to estimate intersection critical flow-to-capacity ratio (Xc) and level of service with only planning-level data. Both the planning procedure and the planning application of the operational procedure involve default adjustment factors and synthesized traffic signal timing (called the “default signal timing”). Data from 166 Missouri intersections were used to determine how well the planning approaches predict operational analysis results. In general, the default signal timings had shorter cycle lengths than the timing plans used at pretimed signals. The shorter cycle lengths led to slightly higher flow-to-capacity ratios, since a higher proportion of each cycle was devoted to lost time. The default signal timings also had more equal flow-to-capacity ratios within critical lane groups. The shorter cycle lengths and more equal flow-to-capacity ratios led to a predicted level of service that was the same or better than that calculated for actual conditions. For the subject intersections, locally calibrated default adjustment factors yielded better predictions of flow-to-capacity ratios and level of service than the HCM defaults. The planning value for Xcm was often less than the actual Xc for operational analysis of actual conditions. This was to be expected since Xcm is based on the maximum allowable cycle length. The HCM planning procedure is expected to receive wide use in a variety of planning and design applications. Calibration of appropriate local default values should improve the accuracy of the planning procedure results.
Analysis of Traffic Operations at All-Way Stop-Controlled Intersections by Simulation
Authors: Kyte Michael , Kittelson Wayne , Zhong Tian Zong , Robinson Bruce , Vandehey Mark
Published: January 2019

All-way stop-controlled (AWSC) intersections are one of the common intersection types in the United States. Although significant research has been completed on signalized intersections and two-way stop-controlled intersections, a limited number of studies have been made of traffic operations at AWSC intersections. In addition, although a general analytical procedure now exists for AWSC intersections, it is not capable of handling the wide variety of conditions typically faced by the practicing traffic engineer. Further, it may not be computationally possible for an analytical model to handle the large number of vehicle interaction combinations that exist at AWSC intersections. This study presents a new AWSC simulation model and some of the results from that simulation. The model was tested against the field data collected during NCHRP Project 3-46, Capacity and Level of Service at Unsignalized Intersections. The model can be used to predict vehicle delay, queue length, and saturation headways, which have shown good correlation with the field data. The simulation model predicted the same level of service for about 66 percent of the cases tested, and for 100 percent of the cases the model predicted level of service within one level difference.
Assessing Heavy Vehicle Impacts on Operation of Rural At-Grade Intersections in Brazil
Authors: Setti José Reynaldo , Demarchi Sergio Henrique
Published: January 2019

A simulation model was used to assess the impacts of trucks on the capacity of rural, at-grade, stop-controlled intersections in Brazil. The major differences between Brazilian and North American vehicles and intersections are discussed and a system for vehicle classification that reflects the characteristics of Brazilian vehicles is proposed. The proposed simulation model assumes that there is an endless queue of vehicles that approaches the intersection from the minor road. Gaps in the major road traffic flow are generated using a displaced exponential distribution. Crossing times and gap acceptance are modeled by logit models fitted for each vehicle category. Heavy vehicle equivalence factors are calculated as the average number of passenger cars that are able to cross the major road during the time required by each truck type to execute the same maneuver. The capacity estimates obtained with the model are similar to values calculated with Siegloch's model, which is the basis for the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) procedure. The equivalence factors estimated for trucks are considerably higher than those suggested in the HCM for most truck categories.
Stochastic Modeling of Shared-Lane Left-Turn Process and Its Effect on Saturation Flow
Authors: Prassas Elena Shenk , McShane William R. , Roess Roger P.
Published: January 2019

A shared-lane left-turn model was constructed to investigate the ways in which left turners are impeded during the saturation flow period at the beginning of the green when queues are present. The model takes into account the subject and opposing approaches and the length of the two queues. It is event based, viewing each headway as a discrete discharge opportunity. The number of “extra” headways required because of the left-turning activity (and related missed or blocked opportunities) is defined as the “excess impedance.” The shape of the excess impedance distribution is studied, as is its mean. Above all, the considerable randomness of the excess impedance was noted, as were its implications. For instance, this randomness would imply that the 15-min saturation flow rate has so much variability that it is primarily a stochastic process, not a fixed number. Further, the randomness due to the left-turn effects generally exceeds that due to the fact that discharge headways are themselves random. The net effect of the randomness is that data requirements for true calibration of models and for selecting one model over another may be too large to be feasible in many, if not most, cases.
Hip Arthroscopic Management Can Improve Osteitis Pubis and Bone Marrow Edema in Competitive Soccer Players With Femoroacetabular Impingement
Authors: Saito Masayoshi , Utsunomiya Hajime , Hatakeyama Akihisa , Nakashima Hirotaka , Nishimura Haruki , Matsuda Dean K. , Sakai Akinori , Uchida Soshi
Published: January 2019

Background:

There is a dearth of knowledge regarding the correlation between femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and osteitis pubis (OP) among symptomatic soccer players.

Purpose:

To elucidate whether arthroscopic FAI correction is effective for young competitive soccer players with FAI combined with OP or perisymphyseal pubic bone marrow edema (BME).

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

A total of 577 consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic FAI correction were retrospectively reviewed with a minimum 2-year follow-up. Competitive soccer players who were professional, college, and high school athletes were included. The authors assessed the modified Harris Hip Score and Nonarthritic Hip Score preoperatively and at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. In addition, players were divided into groups according to radiographic evidence of OP and BME (2 groups each). Clinical outcomes, return to play, and radiographic assessments were compared between groups.

Results:

Twenty-eight hips met the inclusion criteria. The median modified Harris Hip Score significantly improved after hip arthroscopy (81.4, preoperatively; 95.7 at 6 months, P = .0065; 100 at 1 year, P = .0098; 100 at 2 years, P = .013). The median Nonarthritic Hip Score also significantly improved (75.0, preoperatively; 96.3 at 6 months, P = .015; 98.8 at 1 year, P = .0029; 100 at 2 years, P = .015). Furthermore, 92.0% of players returned to play soccer at the same or higher level of competition at a median 5.5 months (range, 4-15 months); 67.8% had radiological confirmation of OP; and 35.7% had pubic BME. The alpha angle was significantly higher in pubic BME group than the no–pubic BME group (64.8° vs 59.2°, P = .027), although there was no significant difference between the OP and no-OP groups. The prevalence of tenderness of the pubic symphysis significantly decreased preoperatively (32.1%) to postoperatively (3.6%). Magnetic resonance imaging findings confirmed that pubic BME disappeared in all players at a median 11 months (range, 6-36) after initial surgery.

Conclusions:

Arthroscopic management for FAI provides favorable clinical outcomes, a high rate of return to sports, and, when present, resolution of pubic BME among competitive soccer players.
Are They Learning or Playing? Students’ Perception Traits and Their Learning Self-Efficacy in a Game-Based Learning Environment
Authors: Lu Yu-Ling , Lien Chi-Jui
Published: January 2019

As game-based learning continues to draw attention, students’ perceptions toward classroom activities are vital in influencing the quality of learning. This study used the social cognitive theory to show the perception traits of learning and playing in game-based environments and for students to identify their self-efficacy toward game-based learning by different trait groups. The game Formosa Hope was used in an experiment with 362 fifth- and sixth-grade students at ages 11 to 12 years as participants. Three perception traits were identified through a two-step cluster analysis: I—strong perceptions of learning and playing, II—moderate perceptions of learning and playing, and III—strong perception of playing but weak perception of learning. This study showed that regardless of trait type, students demonstrated positive self-efficacy, with those with Trait I having significantly higher self-efficacy than those with Traits II and III, indicating that students’ positive perceptions of learning and playing are essential in prompting self-efficacy in game-based learning.
Peacekeeper Fatalities and Force Commitments to UN Operations
Authors: Levin Andrew
Published: January 2019

To what extent do peacekeeper fatalities affect states’ contributions to UN operations? While the deaths of peacekeepers are thought to be a factor in states’ decisions to reduce the magnitude of their participation in a mission, not all states respond similarly to peacekeeper fatalities. I hypothesize that democracies and wealthy countries are likely to be more sensitive to peacekeeper deaths than their non-democratic and poorer counterparts. Analyses of UN peacekeeping operations between 1990 and 2011 confirm that peacekeeper fatalities generally have a negative effect upon the size of countries’ contributions to peacekeeping operations, and that wealthy countries are likely to make larger decreases to their contributions than poorer countries. There is less evidence, however, that democracies are more sensitive to peacekeeper fatalities than non-democracies.
Characterization and sliding wear performance of PMMA reinforced with SiO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Martínez-Pérez AI , Vera-Cárdenas EE , Luna-Bárcenas G , Pérez-Robles JF , Mauricio-Sánchez RA
Published: January 2019

The characterization and wear sliding performance of the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) reinforced with hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanoparticles of silicon dioxide (SiO2) was studied. The final polymer matrix was treated in a water bath at a temperature of 100°C for 6 h. Steel balls were used to slide against the surface of PMMA specimens reinforced with SiO2 nanoparticles. Sliding wear tests were carried out in wet sliding conditions applying a drop of distilled water between the specimen and the ball. The tests were carried out up to 9000 cycles at room temperature. A frequency of 5 Hz, a stroke amplitude of 3 mm, and a maximum contact pressure of 1.087 GPa were selected. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectrum, scanning electron microscopy, and microhardness and roughness of the pure PMMA and PMMA/SiO2 were obtained. The coefficient of friction and wear rates were calculated, and the main wear mechanisms found were adhesion wear, plastic deformation, ploughing, and pitting. The results showed that the addition of hydrophobic nanoparticles of SiO2 may be employed to enhance the wear resistance of external automotive parts made of polymeric compound matrix. Finally, the specimens showed a hydrophilic behavior (angular contact < 90°) due to the high polarity of the PMMA matrix and the incorporation of the SiO2 nanoparticles.
Effects of titania on tribological and thermal properties of polymer/graphene nanocomposites
Authors: Uyor UO , Popoola API , Popoola OM , Aigbodion VS
Published: January 2019

In most engineering applications where fluid lubrication is practically impossible such as high temperature environment, solid lubrication becomes an alternative option. Polymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene are often used for solid lubrication due to their ability to provide low friction on interfacial sliding conditions. However, polymeric materials often show low wear resistance, which limits their applications. Therefore, there is need for high wear resistance polymers or polymer composites for such application. In this study, wear resistance of poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) was improved by incorporating hydroxylated titanium dioxide (TD-OH) and functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (fGNPs). The composites were fabricated by solution blending and further processed by melt compounding. Raman and X-ray diffractometer were used to characterize the particles, while morphological study and wear scars on the composite samples were examined using scanning electron microscope. From the results obtained, wear volume (WV) reduced from about 0.6255 mm3 for pure PVDF to 0.2439 mm3 for 3.34 wt% fGNPs composite and further reduced to 0.1473 mm3 with the addition of 10 wt% TD-OH to 3.34 wt% fGNPs composite. These are about 61% and 76% reduction respectively, compared to pure PVDF. It was noted that increase in TD-OH content up to 20 wt% in fGNPs binary composites increased the WV of the ternary composites. This indicates that ceramic nano-fillers at appropriate proportions in polymer/graphene composites can enhance the wear resistance of such composites. On the other hand, the ternary composites showed lower thermal stability compared to the binary composites, which was attributed to low thermal stability product(s) of chemical reaction between fGNPs and TD-OH in the PVDF matrix.
Theoretical and experimental studies on DC conductivity and temperature-dependent AC conductivity of poly(butyl methacrylate)/Nd-TiO2 nanocomposites
Authors: Suhailath K , Ramesan MT
Published: January 2019

Electrically conductive nanocomposite system based on poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) with different contents of neodymium-doped titanium dioxide (Nd-TiO2) was prepared by in situ free radical polymerization method. The effect of Nd-TiO2 on the morphology and structural properties of the composites was carried out by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The temperature-dependent AC conductivity and DC electrical conductivity of PBMA/Nd-TiO2 nanocomposites were studied with respect to the different volume fraction of Nd-TiO2 nanoparticles. SEM and XRD patterns revealed the uniform dispersion and structural regularity of nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. The AC conductivity of PBMA and its composites were found to be increased with an increase in temperatures and frequencies. The activation energy and exponential factor were analyzed from AC conductivity and both results indicate the hopping conduction mechanism present in PBMA/Nd-TiO2 nanocomposite, which is responsible for the variation of conductivity with temperature also. The DC conductivity of nanocomposites was higher than pure PBMA and the conductivity increases with increase in the concentration of Nd-TiO2 nanoparticles. Experimental and theoretical investigations based on McCullough, Bueche, Scarisbrick, and Mamunya modeling were carried out to observe the DC conductivity differences induced by the addition of Nd-TiO2 nanoparticles in PBMA matrix. Among the various modeling studied here, Mamunya model shows better agreement with the experimental conductivity.
The Roles of Job-Related Psychosocial Factors and Work Meaningfulness in Promoting Nurses’ Bridge Employment Intentions
Authors: Peng Yisheng , Xu Xiaohong (Violet) , Jex Steve M. , Chen Yiwei
Published: January 2019

This study examined the relationships between preretirement job-related psychosocial factors (i.e., generativity opportunities, workplace incivility, and relational job crafting) and older workers’ bridge employment intentions, as well as the mechanism (i.e., work meaningfulness) underlying these relationships. A sample of 384 nurses who were 50 years old or older was used to test the hypothesized relationships. The results indicated that workplace incivility and relational job crafting, but not generativity opportunities, were significantly and directly related to bridge employment intentions. The associations of workplace incivility and relational job crafting with bridge employment intentions were partially mediated by work meaningfulness, and the relationship between generativity opportunities and bridge employment intentions was fully mediated by work meaningfulness. Implications of these findings and future directions were discussed.
Braking torque distribution for hybrid electric vehicles based on nonlinear disturbance observer
Authors: Zhao Xiuchun , Guo Ge
Published: January 2019

This article develops a two-layer brake control framework for hybrid electric vehicles equipped with both hydraulic and regenerative braking systems. In order to obtain better braking performance and higher regenerative braking efficiency, a cooperative braking control strategy is presented. In the first layer, a simple but robust brake controller is proposed to overcome the uncertainties of road condition and load variation by introducing a nonlinear disturbance observer. The convergence and stability are proved through the Lyapunov theory. In the second layer, a novel braking torque distribution strategy is proposed based on battery state of charge, which can recover more braking energy and improve the health of the battery. By simulation, the braking strategy is proved to be effective under various conditions and it shows a good compromise between the battery state of charge health and the regenerated energy recovery.
Effects of implant orientation and implant material on tibia bone strain, implant–bone micromotion, contact pressure, and wear depth due to total ankle replacement
Authors: Mondal Subrata , Ghosh Rajesh
Published: January 2019

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of implant orientation and implant material on tibia bone strain, implant–bone micromotion, maximum contact pressure, and wear depth at the articulating surface due to total ankle replacement. Three-dimensional finite element models of intact and implanted ankle were developed from computed tomography scan data. Four implanted models were developed having varus and valgus orientations of 5° and 10°, respectively. In order to determine the effect of implant material combination on tibia bone strain, micromotion, contact pressure, and wear depth, three other finite element models were developed having a different material combination of the implant. Dorsiflexion, neutral, and plantarflexion positions were considered as applied loading condition, along with muscle force and ligaments. Implant orientation alters the strain distribution in tibia bone. Strain shielding was found to be less in the case of the optimally positioned implant. Apart from the strain, implant orientation also affects implant–bone micromotion, contact pressure, and wear depth. Implant materials have less influence on tibia bone strain and micromotion. However, wear depth was reduced when ceramic and carbon fibre–reinforced polyetheretherketone material combination was used. Proper orientation of the implant is important to reduce the strain shielding. The present result suggested that ceramic can be used as an alternative to metal and carbon fibre–reinforced polyetheretherketone as an alternative to ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene to reduce wear, which would be beneficial for long-term success and fixation of the implant.
Performance enhancement of model reference adaptive control through normalized Lyapunov design
Authors: Farajzadeh-D Mohammad-G , Hosseini Sani S. K. , Akbarzadeh Alireza
Published: January 2019

Model reference adaptive control is one of the popular methods that simultaneously deals with uncertainties and reduces conservatism. However, it usually suffers from slow convergence and poor tracking at the beginning of the adaptation. On the other hand, attaining fast convergence by increasing the learning rate could cause oscillation in the control response, which results in system instability. Some of the solutions that have been presented so far use prediction error, low-pass filter, or normalizing the control signal. In this article, a novel robust normalized Lyapunov design is proposed for model reference adaptive control to achieve fast convergence and to avoid oscillatory response. In contrast to the other solutions, it uses a new Lyapunov function to guarantee the global asymptotic stability and to prove the robustness of the closed-loop system against bounded uncertainties. The performance of the proposed method is compared with two other model reference adaptive controls using simulations. In addition, an industrial selective compliance assembly robot arm is used for further verification. Results indicate that that the proposed normalized Lyapunov design reduces the tracking error by 62.4% on average; it also has faster convergence and shows robustness against uncertainties such as payload changes.
Tajikistan’s Perspective on Eurasia
Authors: Ikromov Jovid
Published: January 2019

In this article, the place of Central Asia, particularly of Tajikistan, in the Eurasian continent has been examined. The slow and confident transfer of engine of the world economy from the West to the East and South increasing the role of the countries located between them. Located between Europe, Russia and South Asia, five Central Asian countries are interested in the development and participation in broader transcontinental trade and transit corridors connecting in all directions. Tajikistan has a unique opportunity to become a hub of trade and transit as it is located at the crossroads of growing ties between South and Central Asia.
Wrongful Adoption: Litigation and Liability
Authors: Kopels Sandra
Published: January 2019

A new type of lawsuit, wrongful adoption, is a growing concern in adoption practice. Social workers and agencies face legal action for failure to disclose medical and other health-related information about children to the parents who adopt them. The author examines the potential impact of nondisclosure of health and background information, the legal theories on which wrongful-adoption cases are brought, and suggests actions agencies and social workers can take to minimize liability in this area.
The Role of the Volunteer in Family-Preservation Services
Authors: Dore Martha Morrison , Harnett Joan M.
Published: January 2019

Preservation of high-risk families and prevention of foster-home placement has become a primary focus of child welfare services. Drawing from current research on the needs of high-risk families and on volunteerism, the authors explore the use of volunteers to help agencies providing family-preservation services meet the dual goals of prevention of abuse and neglect and preserving vulnerable families.
The Helper-Therapy Principle as it Applies to Men who had Absentee Fathers
Authors: Shor Ron
Published: January 2019

Attention has often been focused on helping children of absent fathers without considering their needs in adulthood. The present study focused on volunteer big brothers whose own fathers had been absent in their childhood. It hypothesized that a relationship with a child of similar background could also aid the helper by providing him with the opportunity to reevaluate childhood memories and fill childhood deficits. An instrument was developed to measure the value of these processes to big brothers and applied to big brothers at two agencies. Differences were. found between men whose fathers had been absent and those whose fathers had not. Implications for work in social services with volunteer men who had absentee fathers are discussed.
Becoming Family Centered: Child Welfare's Challenge
Authors: Cole Elizabeth S.
Published: January 2019

The author discusses current challenges to increasing family-centered practice within child welfare agencies. The article focuses on two issues: (1) child welfare's collaboration with early-intervention and family-support services and (2) maintaining family-preservation services despite growing criticism of such services.
Ideological Themes in Family Policy
Authors: Hartman Ann
Published: January 2019

In this exploration of family policy, the author identifies the basic assumptions that shape differing perspectives on such policies. Focus is on the definition of the family, the privileging of certain definitions, the state-family relationship, the valuing or devaluing of the family, and the tension between familism and individualism. The social worker's role in shaping family policy to reflect social work values is examined.
Practice with High-Risk Clients
Authors: Klein Amelia R. , Cnaan Ram A.
Published: January 2019

High-risk clients present a major challenge to the service system and to direct practice. The literature, however, provides us with technologies that are less than effective in working with high-risk clients. Understanding the subjective reality of high-risk clients, advocating for them, and forming a bond with them may enhance practice with this special population. A successful practice model should be based on a combined approach of advocacy/empowerment and primary relationship. Two case studies are provided to illustrate this approach.
Pathological Gambling and the Family: Practice Implications
Authors: Abbott Douglas A. , Cramer Sheran L. , Sherrets Steven D.
Published: January 2019

Pathological gambling is a growing problem in the United States. The authors define and describe the problem as well as review the research literature concerning the personal and family effects of compulsive gambling. General recommendations are offered regarding how this addiction can be understood and managed.
Family Members’ Perceptions of and Attitudes toward Elder Abuse
Authors: Johnson Ida M.
Published: January 2019

The author examines the nature of the relationship between elders and their primary caregivers by comparing their attitudes toward the definition, criminalization, and treatment of elder abuse. Elder abuse was examined through the use of extensive interviews and mailed questionnaires. Data were collected from a random sample of noninstitutionalized elders and their caregivers. Results suggest that the perceptions of the two groups are quite similar; both elders and caregivers tend to define elder abuse in terms of neglect and to support the criminalization of elder abuse.
Implementing JOBS: A View from the Front Line
Authors: Hagen Jan L. , Lurie Irene
Published: January 2019

Front-line workers fulfill a critical role in the implementation of the Job Opportunity and Basic Skills Training Program (JOBS), a welfare-employment program authorized under the Family Support Act of 1988. This study of front-line workers suggests that workers strongly support the JOBS program and its goals. They have reservations abut the effectiveness of the JOBS program, however, and identified two major barriers to implementation: inadequate funding for education and training services and the lack of available employment opportunities in their local communities.
Preadolescent Suicide: How to Ask and how to Respond
Authors: Jackson Helene , Hess Pegmccartt , Van Dalen Annaclare
Published: January 2019

Studies of preadolescents strongly suggest that the prevalence of depression and suicidal activity among them has been seriously underestimated. The authors review current thinking about preadolescent suicide; discuss its implications for clinicians, supervisors, and agency administrators; and recommend a research agenda to guide and support effective practice with preadolescents at risk for suicide.
Supporting Spousal Caregivers: Exploring the Meaning of Service Use
Authors: O'Connor Deborah L.
Published: January 2019

The stress associated with caring for an impaired elderly family member has been well documented. Spousal caregivers in particular may jeopardize their own health while attempting to meet the demands of caregiving. Formal support services have been developed and are aimed at reducing the stress associated with caregiving. However, simply providing services does not ensure utilization. Research documents the low utilization of services by the elderly, particularly spousal caregivers, but fails to explain it adequately. The author explores the gaps in current understanding of the issues and identifies the subjective meaning associated with service use as an important but overlooked determinant of service utilization. Selected case studies demonstrate the importance of this understanding for effective intervention.
Professional Ethics and Parents as Consumers: How well are we Doing?
Authors: Johnson Harriette C. , Cournoyer David E. , Bond Betsy M.
Published: January 2019

Concerns of parents of children with emotional, behavioral, and cognitive problems with respect to the behavior and attitudes they encounter from professionals coincide with concerns professionals have about their own behavior as set forth in professional codes of ethics. Thirty-four experts on professional ethics evaluated items on a behavioral questionnaire. Parents then used the questionnaire to rate professionals who had worked with the mental health problems of their children. Problem areas identified included informed consent, parent self-determination, and respect and compassion for parents.
A Process Model for Multicultural Social Work Practice
Authors: Dungee-Anderson Delores , Beckett Joyce O.
Published: January 2019

The authors discuss the first three steps of an eight-step communication process model designed to help social workers become effective multicultural practitioners. Introduced are type 1 and type 2 practice errors that cause failed communication and unsuccessful multicultural intervention. The three steps of the model are acknowledge cultural differences, know yourself, and know other cultures. A multicultural case is presented to identify and analyze type 1 and 2 errors in the worker–client relationship and in supervisor–worker interactions.
Interpreting the Data on Father Involvement: Implications for Parenting Programs for Men
Authors: McBride Brent A. , Darragh Johnna
Published: January 2019

The authors examined the relationship between parental attitudes toward and perceptions of father involvement in families according to the degree of paternal participation in child rearing. Subjects consisted of 8 families drawn from a sample of 100 families participating in a longitudinal study of parental involvement. Focus-group interviews were used to collect data regarding high-father-involvement fathers, high-father-involvement mothers, low-father-involvement fathers, and low-father-involvement mothers. Results indicated that different processes may influence men's participation in child rearing in these high- and low-paternal-involvement families.
Understanding Empowerment Practice: Building on Practitioner-Based Knowledge
Authors: Gutiérrez Lorraine M. , Delois Kathryn A. , Glenmaye Linnea
Published: January 2019

The concept of empowerment has become popular within the human service professions, but little agreement about its meaning or dimensions has been displayed. The authors describe an effort to clarify this elusive concept by integrating theory with practitioner perspectives. A focused, multiple-case-study method was used to gather the perspectives of human services workers on empowerment practice in the field. The authors identify areas of convergence and divergence between empowerment theory and practice.
Marital Practice in Social Work
Authors: Kheshgi-Genovese Zareena , Constable Robert T.
Published: January 2019

The authors studied how social workers doing marital practice in family service agencies perceive their practice. The conceptual foundation of marital practice and how it differs from individual and family practice are discussed.
Transition into Motherhood: Pregnant Daughters’ Responses to Their Mothers
Authors: Walzer Susan
Published: January 2019

The author presents pregnant daughters’ reports about how their mothers influenced their own identities as mothers. Analysis of qualitative interview data suggested that mother–daughter relationships served as reference points for daughters’ ideologies about motherhood and were more varied than is often assumed. Daughters’ mixed feelings about their mothers and the role of this ambivalence in their own conceptions of motherhood may reflect the difficulties that mothers have in conforming to idealized images and expectations of motherhood. Clinical implications are discussed.
The Youth Satisfaction Questionnaire: What Kids Think of Services
Authors: Stüntzner-Gibson Denise , Koren Paul E. , Dechillo Neal
Published: January 2019

The authors describe the development of the Youth Satisfaction Questionnaire (YSQ), a brief self- report measure for children and youth nine years of age and older designed to assess general satisfaction as well as satisfaction with a specific service and activity in which a child is involved. Few previous efforts have been undertaken to assess children's satisfaction. Data from 165 children suggest that the YSQ is a reliable and practical method for assessing children's satisfaction with services.
Cultural complexity and complexity evolution
Authors: Read Dwight , Andersson Claes
Published: January 2019

We review issues stemming from current models regarding the drivers of cultural complexity and cultural evolution. We disagree with the implication of the treadmill model, based on dual-inheritance theory, that population size is the driver of cultural complexity. The treadmill model reduces the evolution of artifact complexity, measured by the number of parts, to the statistical fact that individuals with high skills are more likely to be found in a larger population than in a smaller population. However, for the treadmill model to operate as claimed, implausibly high skill levels must be assumed. Contrary to the treadmill model, the risk hypothesis for the complexity of artifacts relates the number of parts to increased functional efficiency of implements. Empirically, all data on hunter-gatherer artifact complexity support the risk hypothesis and reject the treadmill model. Still, there are conditions under which increased technological complexity relates to increased population size, but the dependency does not occur in the manner expressed in the treadmill model. Instead, it relates to population size when the support system for the technology requires a large population size. If anything, anthropology and ecology suggest that cultural complexity generates high population density rather than the other way around.
International Trade Intensity and Carbon Emissions: A Cross-Country Econometric Analysis
Authors: Heil Mark T. , Selden Thomas M.
Published: January 2019

This article explores the appropriate specification of cross-country econometric analyses of international trade and pollution using data on carbon emissions across 132 countries from 1950 to 1992. A number of prominent studies implicitly rule out pollution shifting across countries by not interacting trade measures with income. Using a more flexible functional form, it is shown in this article that increased trade intensity raises carbon emissions in lower income countries and lowers carbon emissions in upper income countries.
Implementing the Climate Change Regime's Clean Development Mechanism
Authors: Mitchell Ronald B. , Parson Edward A.
Published: January 2019

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Framework Convention on Climate Change seeks to reduce the costs for industrialized states of reducing greenhouse gas emissions while supporting abatement efforts in developing countries. Implementing an effective CDM system (whether under the Kyoto Protocol or any agreement that replaces it) will require recognizing that projects may fail because of intentional nonperformance by participants, the withholding of necessary cooperation by nonparticipants, adverse external events, or any combination of these. Maximizing the benefits to the climate change regime will require establishing project criteria and monitoring procedures that distinguish project-related from participant-related risk. Rather than adopting an exclusively adversarial approach focused on identifying and punishing those causing project failure, effective implementation will benefit from facilitative measures to avert failures before they occur and will reward projects that succeed under adversity. The CDM system's ultimate success also will require progressively evaluating and refining the system as a whole, as well as individual projects.
Brazil and the Politics of the Climate Change Negotiations
Authors: Johnson Ken
Published: January 2019

This article describes Brazil's role in the negotiations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Brazil has a large stake in the climate change issue because some of its national economic, social, and security interests are contingent on the growth of its energy sector and development of the Amazon region. Section one provides an overview of the ongoing climate change negotiations. Section two provides background on Brazil's greenhouse gas emissions, which stem primarily from deforestation of the Amazon. Section three describes Brazil's interests and negotiating positions with respect to three key issues: (a) emissions-reduction responsibilities; (b) protocol mechanisms; and (c) land-use change and forestry. The concluding section will then assess Brazil's contributions in terms of both achieving an accord that will slow global warming and promoting Brazilian national interests.
Toronto Alexithymia Scale–20: Examining 18 Competing Factor Structure Solutions in a U.S. Sample and a Philippines Sample
Authors: Tuliao Antover P. , Klanecky Alicia K. , Landoy Bernice Vania N. , McChargue Dennis E.
Published: January 2019

The Toronto Alexithymia Scale–20 is arguably the most utilized measure of alexithymia. Although a three-factor solution has been found by numerous studies, these findings are not universal. This article examined and compared 18 competing factor structures for the Toronto Alexithymia Scale–20, which included between one and four correlated latent factor structures, common methods models that accounts for negatively worded items, and bifactor models. Although the two-factor bifactor model with a common methods factor had the better model fit compared with the other 17 models examined, it still did not achieve the requisites of a good model fit across all model fit indices. Issues stemmed primarily from the externally oriented thinking factor and the negatively worded items. Post hoc analyses indicated that a two-factor bifactor model with the negatively worded items dropped achieved the requisites of a good model fit and can be treated as a unidimensional measure despite the presence of multidimensionality. Multiple-group analysis indicated that the factor loadings were invariant across U.S. and Philippines samples. After controlling for noninvariance at the item intercept level, the Philippines sample had a higher alexithymia general score compared with the U.S. sample.