bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modernism, Feminism and the Culture of Boredom
Authors: Pease Allison
Published: September 2012

Bored women populate many of the most celebrated works of British modernist literature. Whether in popular offerings such as Robert Hitchens's The Garden of Allah, the esteemed middlebrow novels of May Sinclair or H. G. Wells, or now-canonized works such as Virginia Woolf's The Voyage Out, women's boredom frequently serves as narrative impetus, antagonist and climax. In this book, Allison Pease explains how the changing meaning of boredom reshapes our understanding of modernist narrative techniques, feminism's struggle to define women as individuals and male modernists' preoccupation with female sexuality. To this end, Pease characterizes boredom as an important category of critique against the constraints of women's lives, arguing that such critique surfaces in modernist fiction in an undeniably gendered way. Engaging with a wide variety of well- and lesser-known modernist writers, Pease's study will appeal especially to researchers and graduates in modernist studies and British literature.
Evolution of enstrophy in shock/homogeneous turbulence interaction
Authors: Sinha Krishnendu
Published: September 2012

Interaction of turbulent fluctuations with a shock wave plays an important role in many high-speed flow applications. This paper studies the amplification of enstrophy, defined as mean-square fluctuating vorticity, in homogeneous isotropic turbulence passing through a normal shock. Linearized Navier–Stokes equations written in a frame of reference attached to the unsteady shock wave are used to derive transport equations for the vorticity components. These are combined to obtain an equation that describes the evolution of enstrophy across a time-averaged shock wave. A budget of the enstrophy equation computed using results from linear interaction analysis and data from direct numerical simulations identifies the dominant physical mechanisms in the flow. Production due to mean flow compression and baroclinic torques are found to be the major contributors to the enstrophy amplification. Closure approximations are proposed for the unclosed correlations in the production and baroclinic source terms. The resulting model equation is integrated to obtain the enstrophy jump across a shock for a range of upstream Mach numbers. The model predictions are compared with linear theory results for varying levels of vortical and entropic fluctuations in the upstream flow. The enstrophy model is then cast in the form of$k$–$\epsilon $equations and used to compute the interaction of homogeneous isotropic turbulence with normal shocks. The results are compared with available data from direct numerical simulations. The equations are further used to propose a model for the amplification of turbulent viscosity across a shock, which is then applied to a canonical shock–boundary layer interaction. It is shown that the current model is a significant improvement over existing models, both for homogeneous isotropic turbulence and in the case of complex high-speed flows with shock waves.
Australian Indigenous Tertiary Studies: A Discussion with Professor David Boud on Experience-Based Learning and the Transformation of University Courses
Authors: Norman Heidi
Published: September 2012

This article critically examines the possibility of using Problem-Based Learning as an approach to teaching and learning and curriculum design in Indigenous studies. This approach emphasises the potential for Experience-Based Learning or Problem-Based Learning as a model that frames the curriculum and pedagogical activities to encourage student engagement with key issues in ways they find meaningful. It takes the form of an interview with Professor David Boud, a well-known scholar in this area.
The Land and the Heroes of Lokris in the Iliad
Authors: Kramer-Hajos Margaretha
Published: September 2012

The presentation of Lokris and the Lokrians in the Iliad is problematic. The entry for Lokris in the Catalogue lists an unusually large number of towns for such a small area, but many of those towns are obscure. Despite the small size of the region of Lokris, it has given the epic not one but two major heroes of very different characters: the Lokrian commander Oilean Aias and Patroklos, Achilles' friend and warrior companion. Although Aias is praised in the Catalogue entry as the greatest of Homeric warriors, elsewhere in the Iliad he is only a second-rank hero and his men, the Lokrians, are relatively insignificant archers. Seeking a resolution of these difficulties, this paper integrates information derived from the text of the Iliad with what is known of the topography and archaeology of Lokris between the Late Mycenaean and Archaic periods. It is concluded that Aias, the more traditional hero, is firmly embedded in Lokris, whereas Patroklos, who appears to be ‘reinvented’ by the poet of the Iliad, has no traditional connection to the land. The contrast between these heroes may reflect the division between the mountainous Epiknemidian and the urban Opountian parts of Lokris. Oilean Aias encapsulates the ancient virtues of the mountain warrior and is linked with Epiknemidian Lokris; Patroklos, with his gentle disposition, is representative of the citizen of the polis and as such is linked to Opous, the capital of Lokris.
Renormalisation and computation II: time cut-off and the Halting Problem
Authors: MANIN YURI I.
Published: September 2012

This is the second instalment in the project initiated in Manin (2012). In the first Part, we argued that both the philosophy and technique of perturbative renormalisation in quantum field theory could be meaningfully transplanted to the theory of computation, and sketched several contexts supporting this view.

In this second part, we address some of the issues raised in Manin (2012) and develop them further in three contexts: a categorification of the algorithmic computations; time cut-off and anytime algorithms; and, finally, a Hopf algebra renormalisation of the Halting Problem.
Toward a fundamental theorem of quantal measure theory
Authors: SORKIN RAFAEL D.
Published: September 2012

In this paper we address the extension problem for quantal measures of path-integral type, concentrating on two cases: sequential growth of causal sets and a particle moving on the finite lattice ℤn. In both cases, the dynamics can be coded into a vector-valued measure μ on Ω, the space of all histories. Initially, μ is just defined on special subsets of Ω called cylinder events, and we would like to extend it to a larger family of subsets (events) in analogy to the way this is done in the classical theory of stochastic processes. Since quantally μ is generally not of bounded variation, a new method is required. We propose a method that defines the measure of an event by means of a sequence of simpler events that in a suitable sense converges to the event whose measure we are seeking to define. To this end, we introduce canonical sequences approximating certain events, and we propose a measure-based criterion for the convergence of such sequences. Applying the method, we encounter a simple event whose measure is zero classically but non-zero quantally.
Anthropogenic forcing is a plausible explanation for the observed surface specific humidity trends over the Mediterranean area
Authors: Barkhordarian A. , von Storch H. , Zorita E.
Published: September 2012

We investigate whether the observed surface specific humidity (q) trends over the Mediterranean region in the period 1974–2003 are consistent with climate model (CMIP3, CMIP5) simulations of q in response to anthropogenic forcing (Greenhouse gas and sulphate aerosols). The natural (internal) variability is estimated using 6,000‐year of pre‐industrial control simulations. With the exception of winter, the increases in annual and seasonal q over this region are very unlikely (with less than 1%chance) due to natural (internal) variability or natural forcing alone. Using several climate models and ensemble means, we demonstrate that the large‐scale component (spatial‐mean trend) of the anthropogenic forcing is detectable (at 1% level) in the annual and seasonal trends of q (except winter). However, the smaller‐scale component (spatial anomalies about the mean trend) of the anthropogenic signal is detectable only in warm seasons (spring and summer). We further show that the spread of projected trends based on the A1B scenario derived from 13 CMIP3 models encompasses the observed area‐averaged trend in q. This may imply that the observed trends of surface humidity, which is an important factor in human thermal comfort, serves as an illustration of plausible future expected change in the region.
Reduction of tropical land region precipitation variability via transpiration
Authors: Lee Jung‐Eun , Lintner Benjamin R. , Neelin J. David , Jiang Xianan , Gentine Pierre , Boyce C. Kevin , Fisher Joshua B. , Perron J. Taylor , Kubar Terence L. , Lee Jeonghoon , Worden John
Published: September 2012

Tropical rainforests are known to exhibit low intraseasonal precipitation variability compared with oceanic areas with similar mean precipitation in observations and models. In the present study, the potential role of transpiration for this difference in precipitation variability is investigated using the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) atmospheric general circulation model. Comparing model results with and without transpiration shows that in the absence of transpiration, mean precipitation decreases as may be expected. However the incidence of both higher daily total column water and more intense precipitation increases without transpiration; consequently the variability of precipitation increases substantially. These results can be understood in terms of the complex interplay of local near‐surface and remote moist dynamical processes with both local positive (boundary‐layer drying) and large‐scale negative (increased large‐scale convergence) feedbacks when transpiration is disabled in the model. It is also shown that surface turbulent fluxes over tropical rainforests are highly correlated with incoming solar energy but only weakly correlated with wind speed, possibly decoupling land precipitation from large‐scale disturbances like the Madden‐Julian Oscillation.
Seasonal and regional characterization of horizontal stirring in the global ocean
Authors: Hernández‐Carrasco Ismael , López Cristóbal , Hernández‐García Emilio , Turiel Antonio
Published: September 2012

Recent work on Lagrangian descriptors has shown that Lyapunov Exponents can be applied to observed or simulated data to characterize the horizontal stirring and transport properties of the oceanic flow. However, a more detailed analysis of regional dependence and seasonal variability was still lacking. In this paper, we analyze the near‐surface velocity field obtained from the Ocean general circulation model For the Earth Simulator (OFES) using Finite‐Size Lyapunov Exponents (FSLE). We have characterized regional and seasonal variability. Our results show that horizontal stirring, as measured by FSLEs, is seasonally‐varying, with maximum values in Summer time. FSLEs also strongly vary depending on the region: we have first characterized the stirring properties of Northern and Southern Hemispheres, then the main oceanic basins and currents. We have finally studied the relation between averages of FSLE and some Eulerian descriptors such as Eddy Kinetic Energy (EKE) and vorticity (ω) over the different regions.
Circulation on the central Bering Sea shelf, July 2008 to July 2010
Authors: Danielson S. , Weingartner T. , Aagaard K. , Zhang J. , Woodgate R.
Published: September 2012

We examine the July 2008 to July 2010 circulation over the central Bering Sea shelf using measurements at eight instrumented moorings, hindcast winds and numerical model results. At sub‐tidal time scales, the vertically integrated equations of motion show that the cross‐shelf balance is primarily geostrophic. The along‐shelf balance is also mainly geostrophic, but local accelerations, wind stress and bottom friction account for 10–40% of the momentum balance, depending on season and water depth. The shelf exhibits highly variable flow with small water column average vector mean speeds (<5 cm s−1). Mean/peak speeds in summer (3–6 cm s−1/10–30 cm s−1) are smaller than in winter and fall (6–12 cm s−1/30–70 cm s−1). Low frequency flows (<1/4 cpd) are horizontally coherent over distances exceeding 200 km. Vertical coherence varies seasonally, degrading with the onset of summer stratification. Because effects of heating and freezing are enhanced in shallow waters, warm summers increase the cross‐shelf density gradient and thus enhance northward transport; cold winters with increased ice production and brine rejection increase the (now reversed) cross‐shelf density gradient and enhance southward transport. Although the baroclinic velocity is large enough to influence seasonal transports, wind‐forced Ekman dynamics are primarily responsible for flow variations. The system changes from strong northward flow (with coastal convergence) to strong southward flow (with coastal divergence) for northerly and easterly winds, respectively. Under northerly and northwesterly winds, nutrient‐rich waters flow toward the central shelf from the north and northwest, replacing dilute coastal waters that are carried south and west.
Clear‐sky thermodynamic and radiative anomalies over a sea ice sensitive region of the Arctic
Authors: Sedlar Joseph , Devasthale Abhay
Published: September 2012

Monthly clear‐sky anomalies of atmospheric temperature and water vapor over the East Siberian and Laptev Sea regions of the Arctic for 2003–2010 are examined here. This region experiences significant interannual variations in sea ice concentration and is also where ice loss was most apparent in the record year 2007. Clear‐sky thermodynamic profiles come from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) sensor onboard the Aqua satellite. Associated longwave (LW) and shortwave (SW) radiation‐flux anomalies are estimated through radiative transfer modeling. Anomalies of temperature (±10 K) and water vapor (±1 g kg−1) often positively covary, resulting in distinct signatures in the clear‐sky downwelling LW (LWD) anomalies, occasionally larger than ±10 W m−2around the 2003–2010 climatology. Estimates of mean greenhouse anomalies indicate a shift from negative to positive anomalies midway through the 8‐year record. Sensitivity tests suggest that temperature anomalies are the strongest contributor to both LWD and greenhouse anomalies, relative to water‐vapor anomalies; monthly averaging of column precipitable water yields relatively small anomalies (order 1 mm) that produce a linear response in greenhouse anomalies. Finally the clear‐sky contribution to 2007 monthly ice thickness is estimated. Anomalous clear‐sky radiation retards the total 2007 ice thickness by 0.3 m (15–30% of ice‐thickness climatology), and anomalous LW radiation is most important for preconditioning the ice during the months prior to, and after, the summer melt season. A highly sensitive interaction between cloud fraction, surface albedo and LWD anomalies is found, and we develop a metric for determining clear‐sky anomalous ice melt potential.
Characterization of a 65 kDa NIF in the nuclear matrix of the monocot Allium cepa that interacts with nuclear spectrin‐like proteins
Authors: Pérez‐Munive Clara , Blumenthal Sonal S. D. , de la Espina Susana Moreno Díaz
Published: September 2012

Plant cells have a well organized nucleus and nuclear matrix, but lack orthologues of the main structural components of the metazoan nuclear matrix. Although data is limited, most plant nuclear structural proteins are coiled‐coil proteins, such as the NIFs (nuclear intermediate filaments) in Pisum sativum that cross‐react with anti‐intermediate filament and anti‐lamin antibodies, form filaments 6–12 nm in diameter in vitro, and may play the role of lamins. We have investigated the conservation and features of NIFs in a monocot species, Allium cepa, and compared them with onion lamin‐like proteins. Polyclonal antisera against the pea 65 kDa NIF were used in 1D and 2D Western blots, ICM (imunofluorescence confocal microscopy) and IEM (immunoelectron microscopy). Their presence in the nuclear matrix was analysed by differential extraction of nuclei, and their association with structural spectrin‐like proteins by co‐immunoprecipitation and co‐localization in ICM. NIF is a conserved structural component of the nucleus and its matrix in monocots with Mr and pI values similar to those of pea 65 kDa NIF, which localized to the nuclear envelope, perichromatin domains and foci, and to the nuclear matrix, interacting directly with structural nuclear spectrin‐like proteins. Its similarities with some of the proteins described as onion lamin‐like proteins suggest that they are highly related or perhaps the same proteins.
The Use of Telepractice Technology To Provide Speech and Language Services to Persons Aging With Communication Disorders
Authors: Tindall Lyn
Published: September 2012

Telepractice, providing speech and language services at a distance from clients, is becoming another tool clinicians can use to provide services. Relieving the burden of travel may help those aging with a communication disability to access beneficial services. I will present evidence from several studies using telepractice for assessment and treatment of communication disorders. Although researchers have published promising results, future researchers should determine which populations will receive the most benefit from telepractice.
Diagnostics development for quasi-steady-state operation of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator (invited)
Authors: König R. , Baldzuhn J. , Biedermann C. , Burhenn R. , Bozhenkov S. , Cardella A. , Endler M. , Hartfuss H.-J. , Hathiramani D. , Hildebrandt D. , Hirsch M. , Jakubowski M. , Kocsis G. , Kornejev P. , Krychowiak M. , Laqua H. P. , Laux M. , Oosterbeek J. W. , Pasch E. , Richert T. , Schneider W. , Sunn-Pedersen T. , Thomsen H. , Weller A. , Werner A. , Wolf R. , Zhang D. , Zoletnik S.
Published: September 2012

The critical issues in the development of diagnostics, which need to work robust and reliable under quasi-steady state conditions for the discharge durations of 30 min and which cannot be maintained throughout the one week duration of each operation phase of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, are being discussed.
A study of association between fingernail elements and osteoporosis by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Authors: Bahreini Maryam , Hosseinimakarem Zahra , Hassan Tavassoli Seyed
Published: September 2012

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is used to investigate the possible effect of osteoporosis on the elemental composition of fingernails. Also, the ability to classify healthy, osteopenic, and osteoporotic subjects based on their fingernail spectra has been examined. 46 atomic and ionic emission lines belonging to 13 elements, which are dominated by calcium and magnesium, have been identified. Measurements are carried out on fingernail clippings of 99 subjects including 27 healthy, 47 osteopenic, and 25 osteoporotic subjects. The Pearson correlations between spectral intensities of different elements of fingernail and age and bone mineral densities (BMDs) in nail samples are calculated. Correlations between line intensities of some elements such as sodium and potassium, calcium and iron, magnesium and silicon and also between some fingernail elements, BMD, and age are observed. Although some of these correlations are weak, some information about mineral metabolism can be deduced from them. Discrimination between nail samples of healthy, osteopenic, and osteoporotic subjects is shown to be somehow possible by a discriminant function analysis using 46 atomic emission lines of the LIBS spectra as input variables. The results of this study provide some evidences for association between osteoporosis and elemental composition of fingernails measured by LIBS.
Simulated annealing electro-photonic optimization of organic solar cells
Authors: Kirsch Christoph , Mitran Sorin
Published: September 2012

Micro-patterned organic solar cells can exhibit enhanced light absorption properties due to a photonic crystal effect [Tumbleston et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 043305 (2009)]. Here, a three-dimensional model of light absorption and charge carrier transport in micro-patterned materials is presented and applied to the design of organic bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. Rigorous coupled wave analysis is used to simulate the multiple scattering and absorption of light in a layered solar cell device. The non-linearly coupled steady-state electric field and charge transport equations are solved iteratively by a sequence of linear partial differential equations (PDEs). Each linear PDE is discretized by an exponential upwind finite difference scheme, and the preconditioned conjugate gradient method is applied to the resulting algebraic system. The electro-photonic solver is coupled with the simulated annealing optimization algorithm to investigate the effect of micro-patterning upon performance of BHJ solar cells. Starting from the baseline configuration of a cell formed from flat layers of optimal thickness, the optimization algorithm leads to improvements of up to 15% in energy conversion efficiency by patterning both the front and back electrodes with a periodic ridge shape, with conformally coated layers in-between.
Enhancement of coherent energy transport by disorder and temperature in light harvesting processes
Authors: Xiong Shi-Jie , Xiong Ye , Zhao Yang
Published: September 2012

We investigate the influence of static disorder and thermal excitations on excitonic energy transport in the light-harvesting apparatus of photosynthetic systems by solving the Schrödinger equation and taking into account the coherent hoppings of excitons, the rates of exciton creation and annihilation in antennas and reaction centers, and the coupling to thermally excited phonons. The antennas and reaction centers are modeled, respectively, as the sources and drains which provide the channels for creation and annihilation of excitons. Phonon modes below a maximum frequency are coupled to the excitons that are continuously created in the antennas and depleted in the reaction centers, and the phonon population in these modes obeys the Bose-Einstein distribution at a given temperature. It is found that the energy transport is not only robust against the static disorder and the thermal noise, but it can also be enhanced by increasing the randomness and temperature in most parameter regimes. Relevance of our work to the highly efficient energy transport in photosynthetic systems is discussed.
Formation of negative hydrogen ion: Polarization electron capture and nonthermal shielding
Authors: Ki Dae-Han , Jung Young-Dae
Published: September 2012

The influence of the nonthermal shielding on the formation of the negative hydrogen ion (H−) by the polarization electron capture are investigated in partially ionized generalized Lorentzian plasmas. The Bohr-Lindhard method has been applied to obtain the negative hydrogen formation radius and cross section as functions of the collision energy, de Broglie wave length, Debye length, impact parameter, and spectral index of the plasma. The result shows that the nonthermal character of the plasma enhances the formation radius of the negative hydrogen, especially, for small Debye radii. It is found that the nonthermal effect increases the formation cross section of the negative hydrogen. It is also found that the maximum position of the formation cross section approaches to the collision center with an increase of the spectral index. In addition, it is found that the formation cross section significantly decreases with an increase of the Debye length, especially, for small spectral indices.
Effects of alloying elements and temperature on the elastic properties of dilute Ni-base superalloys from first-principles calculations
Authors: Shang S. L. , Kim D. E. , Zacherl C. L. , Wang Y. , Du Y. , Liu Z. K.
Published: September 2012

The variation of elastic properties, e.g., elastic constants, bulk modulus, and shear modulus of dilute Ni-base superalloys due to alloying elements (X's) and temperature, has been studied via first-principles calculations. Here, 26 alloying elements are considered: Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hf, Ir, Mn, Mo, Nb, Os, Pd, Pt, Re, Rh, Ru, Sc, Si, Ta, Tc, Ti, V, W, Y, Zn, and Zr. It is found that (i) both the bulk and shear moduli of Ni-X decrease approximately linearly with increasing equilibrium volume, especially within each group of 3d, 4d, or 5d transition-metal alloying elements; (ii) all alloying elements considered herein increase the ratio of bulk to shear modulus (i.e., the ductility) and the elastic anisotropy of the Ni-X alloys; and (iii) the largest decrease of elastic properties of Ni is caused by alloying element Y. It is observed that the change of elastic properties of Ni due to various alloying elements is traceable from the distribution of (magnetization) charge density, for instance the spherical distribution of charge density facilitates shear deformation, resulting in a lower shear-related property. Using a proposed quasistatic approach based on the predicted elasticity-volume-temperature relationship, the isothermal and the isentropic elastic properties are predicted for the dilute Ni-X alloys at finite temperatures, displaying a decreasing trend with respect to temperature for each Ni-X system. Computed elastic properties are in favorable accord with available experimental data.
Electrostatic drift shocks and drift wave instability in inhomogeneous rotating electron-positron-ion plasmas
Authors: Haque Q.
Published: September 2012

The electrostatic drift wave shocks are studied in inhomogeneous rotating e-p-i plasma of the pulsar atmosphere. In this regard, the dissipation due to ion-neutral collisions is considered, which facilitate the formation of shock structures. It is noticed that these structures can move with the velocity of the drift wave which is not possible without considering the rotational effects. Several limiting cases are also discussed. In addition, the drift wave instability is obtained when electrons and positrons could not cancel out the space charge effects along the magnetic field lines in the presence of electron-ion and positron-ion collisions. Further, it is found that this instability is sensitive to rotational frequency of the object. The importance of the results with relevance to astrophysical plasmas is also pointed out.
Shifts of the psychometric function: Distinguishing bias from perceptual effects
Authors: García-Pérez Miguel A. , Alcalá-Quintana Rocío
Published: September 2012

Morgan, Dillenburger, Raphael, and Solomon have shown that observers can use different response strategies when unsure of their answer, and, thus, they can voluntarily shift the location of the psychometric function estimated with the method of single stimuli (MSS; sometimes also referred to as the single-interval, two-alternative method). They wondered whether MSS could distinguish response bias from a true perceptual effect that would also shift the location of the psychometric function. We demonstrate theoretically that the inability to distinguish response bias from perceptual effects is an inherent shortcoming of MSS, although a three-response format including also an “undecided” response option may solve the problem under restrictive assumptions whose validity cannot be tested with MSS data. We also show that a proper two-alternative forced-choice (2AFC) task with the three-response format is free of all these problems so that bias and perceptual effects can easily be separated out. The use of a three-response 2AFC format is essential to eliminate a confound (response bias) in studies of perceptual effects and, hence, to eliminate a threat to the internal validity of research in this area.
The gut chooses faster than the mind: A latency advantage of affective over cognitive decisions
Authors: Saunders Tom S. , Buehner Marc J.
Published: September 2012

Dual-process theories often cite that affective processing occurs more rapidly than cognitive processing. A wide range of evidence seems to support this notion; however, little research exists in the context of decision making. We tested the hypothesis that affective decisions would be performed faster than cognitive decisions. Forty-nine students completed a series of forced-choice tasks involving well-known consumer brands, focusing on either emotionally or cognitively relevant aspects of the products. The results revealed a significant latency advantage for affective processing compared to cognitive processing.
Work‐family conflict and its antecedents among Iranian operating room personnel
Authors: Beigi Mina , Mirkhalilzadeh Ershadi Shiva , Shirmohammadi Melika
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between work‐family conflict and its antecedent variables. The research's dependent variables include work interference with family (WIF) and family interference with work (FIW). Independent variables consist of work‐related (hours spent at work, role conflict, role ambiguity, supervisor support, and work shifts), family‐related (hours spent with family, marital status, spousal employment, number of children, and age of the youngest child), and demographic (gender, age, tenure, and education) variables.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 333 operating room personnel in ten Iranian hospitals completed a survey questionnaire, which consisted of 38 questions administered to participants in the workplace.

Findings

Analysis of data revealed that among work‐related variables, the role conflict was positively associated with WIF. Supervisor support and working shifts were also weakly related to WIF. No significant relationships were found between family‐related variables and FIW. Among the demographic variables, only gender influenced FIW in a manner that men experienced more FIW than women.

Originality/value

The research findings contribute to understanding work‐family conflict in a new cultural setting. The empirical evidence of work‐family conflict in Iran, among operating room personnel, shows that experiences and antecedents of work‐family conflict vary among diverse cultures and industries. Models of work‐family conflict may need to be modified to reflect the experiences and antecedents that explain work‐family conflict in cultures similar to that of Iran.
Optimal arrangement of four‐sensor dynamic acoustic array
Authors: Liu Yalei , Gu Xiaohui , Lian Yunmeng , Liu Heng
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the theoretical relationship between the layout of four‐sensor dynamic acoustic array tracking system and systematic observation accuracy, and provide an algorithm to determine the optimal arrangement of four‐sensor acoustic array and an indicator to evaluate acoustic array system measurement accuracy.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present paper, the measurement principle of the four‐sensor dynamic acoustic array tracking system is analyzed, and the system observation model and the conversion relationship between models are established. Subsequently, the optimization algorithm for the four‐sensor dynamic acoustic array is deduced, the theoretical optimal arrangement of the four‐sensor dynamic acoustic array tracking measurement system is obtained based on the optimal position dilution of precision function (PDOPF) of 2D target, and the static experimental study on sound‐source bearing estimation is designed. The theoretical results are compared with the experimental results of the present study.

Findings

The measurement accuracy of the four‐sensor dynamic acoustic array tracking system is largely dependent on the layout of the acoustic sensor. Theoretical studies and experimental results demonstrated that an optimal PDPOF can be used to analyze the rationality of the layout. It can also serve as an indicator for the layout of the four‐sensor dynamic acoustic array tracking system.

Originality/value

The PDOPF value is presented as an indicator for the evaluation of the four‐sensor dynamic acoustic array systematic observation accuracy based on theoretical analysis. The feasibility of the indicator and the rationality of the sensor layout in practical engineering application are verified through experimental studies on sound‐source bearing estimation. The higher the PDOPF value is, the lower the accuracy of the system will be.
Public accounting firms' mix of service revenue and average productivity
Authors: Farag Magdy S. , Elias Rafik Z.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of public accounting firms' mix of service revenue on their average productivity measured by total revenue per partner.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from Public Accounting Report on top public accounting firms by revenue, an OLS regression model is applied by regressing revenue per partner on the percentage of revenue generated from auditing and attest, tax, management consulting, and other services independently.

Findings

Results show that the proportion of auditing and attest service revenue is negatively associated with public accounting firms' productivity. However, the proportion of other services revenue, other than tax and management consulting services, is positively associated with productivity. Additional investigation shows that if public accounting firms provide other services in their mix of services, then tax and management consulting services do not contribute to these public accounting firms' productivity.

Research limitations/implications

Results of this study cannot be generalized beyond the top 100 public accounting firms, and the measurement of revenue per partner ignores the exact number of partners within different service areas.

Practical implications

Although auditing and attest services are considered core services of public accounting firms, they do not increase the productivity of the firm.

Originality/value

This study helps in assessing whether average productivity of public accounting firms is affected by the proportion of a specific type of service in the post‐SOX era.
Shareholder activism in family‐controlled firms in Malaysia
Authors: Sakinah Azizan Siti , Ameer Rashid
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of shareholder activism led by the Minority Shareholder Watchdog Group (MSWG) on the performance of family‐controlled firms in Malaysia from 2005 to 2009.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses event study methodology to calculate abnormal returns for the sample and control firms.

Findings

The paper finds significant positive cumulative abnormal returns of at least 0.5 percent for the targeted family firms, during the event window of [−1, 0] and [0, +1], as a result of MSWG engagement. There is a significant positive cumulative abnormal return of 1 percent for the firms where family control is less than the threshold level of 33 percent. It is interesting to note that MSWG engagements do not have consistent positive impact on the abnormal returns over the years. There are significant differences between the performance of MSWG targeted family‐controlled firms and non‐targeted family‐controlled firms after one year of MSWG intervention.

Research limitations/implications

The results show that MSWG‐led shareholder activism does have an effect on the share returns of the family‐controlled firms. These results imply that family‐controlled firms agree with the MSWG on those matters that improve the bottom‐line results.

Originality/value

The authors argue that this is the first study to examine MSWG engagements with family‐controlled firms in Malaysia.
Well‐being and dementia – how can it be achieved?
Authors: Woods Bob
Published: September 2012

Purpose

It is now widely accepted that many people with dementia can report in a consistent and valid way on their quality of life. This review aims to identify modifiable factors associated with quality of life in people with dementia, which can then form the basis for interventions enhancing quality of life.

Design/methodology/approach

The review draws together findings in dementia care on interventions with those on quality of life.

Findings

Cognitive function is not associated with quality of life in people with dementia, although paradoxically, some cognition‐focused approaches do appear to lead to improvements in quality of life. Depression is most consistently associated with lower quality of life. Also important are quality of relationships with carers, staff attitudes, family involvement and avoidance of use of anti‐psychotic medication. Potentially effective interventions are available in relation to each of these factors.

Practical implications

Hope regarding what can be achieved with people with dementia is the attitude most associated with quality of life. This goes beyond person‐centred care values, and emphasises the potential for making a difference that is of value.

Social implications

Achieving social inclusion for people with dementia requires the development of dementia supportive communities, allowing and supporting people with dementia to take part in a wider range of valued activities and roles.

Originality/value

The sense that “nothing can be done” remains prevalent in relation to dementia. This review challenges this assumption, and indicates how living well with dementia can become a reality, not simply an aspiration.
Developing the capacity of researchers for collaborative working
Authors: Kahn Peter , Petichakis Christos , Walsh Lorraine
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The complexities and challenges inherent in research often require collaborative rather than solitary or team‐based forms of working. This paper seeks to open new perspectives onto the nature of collaborative research and onto strategies for developing the capacity of researchers to engage in it.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper outlines a speculative model of collaborative working in higher education that is rooted in critical realist perspectives, using it to ground a conceptual analysis of a stage model of expertise for collaborative working taken from the researcher development framework (RDF) developed in the UK by the organisation Vitae.

Findings

The paper highlights the contribution that theory can make to the practice of researcher development, drawing out the relevance of personal engagement, professional dialogue and collaborative vehicles to support shared practice in pursuit of mutual goals. In this way, it identifies gaps within the stage model that pertain to relational, disciplinary, situational and other elements. The paper articulates insights for the development of the capacity of researchers for collaborative working that prioritise dialogue that is situated within given contexts for research. The analysis draws out implications for the development of collaborative capacity of such notions as corporate agency and collaborative reach.

Originality/value

This paper articulates a novel approach to conceptualising capacity for collaborative research and offers a theoretical critique of a given descriptor taken from Vitae's RDF. As such it assists in developing the scholarly basis for the field of researcher development.
Do Thai parents really know about the sexual risk taking of their children? A qualitative study in Bangkok
Authors: Fongkaew Warunee , Cupp Pamela K. , Miller Brenda A. , Atwood Katherine A. , Chamratrithirong Apichat , Rhucharoenpornpanich Orratai , Rosati Michael J. , Chookhare Warunee , Byrnes Hilary F.
Published: September 2012

This qualitative study explores the perceptions of parents and adolescents toward sexual risk‐taking behaviors. In‐depth interviews were conducted with 30 parents and 30 adolescents (aged 13–14 years) in Bangkok, and were analyzed by using coding and thematic analysis. The results showed that although parents generally believed that Thai teens begin to have sex at an early age and engage in sexual risk‐taking behaviors, they trusted that their teens would follow parental guidance and rules and not engage in sexual activity at this age. Most of the Thai teens reported that their parents were not really aware of their sexual behaviors because of their tendency to keep their sexual stories secret for fear of being scolded, blamed, and punished. The teens also reported that they wanted their parents to listen, give them warmth and more freedom, and be more in touch with their activities. Parents expressed their need for knowledge and skills so that they could help guide their adolescent children to avoid sexual risk‐taking behaviors. A family intervention specifically aimed at empowering Thai urban parents is needed.
INDUS TOWERS: TOWERING AMBITION
Authors: Crainer Stuart
Published: September 2012

Collaborative and with a unique business model, Indus Towers provides a powerful insight into the India‐way of business. Georgina Peters reports.
UNCOMMON SENSE, EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS
Authors: Goddard Jules , Birkinshaw Julian , Eccles Tony
Published: September 2012

Common sense can help a company plod along. But, by developing a distinctive belief system (that is, uncommon sense), companies can soar past their competitors. Jules Goddard, Julian Birkinshaw and Tony Eccles explain their approach.
FACE VALUES: SEAN FITZPATRICK
Authors: Dearlove Des
Published: September 2012

Sean Fitzpatrick is a legend of international rugby and international sport. He was captain of the New Zealand rugby team, the All Blacks. He played 92 international matches for the All Blacks from 1986 to 1998, including a world record 63 consecutive Test matches and 51 Test matches as captain of New Zealand. He captained the All Blacks in the classic 1995 World Cup Final against South Africa. Fitzpatrick remains closely involved in rugby — as an author, journalist and pundit. He is on the main board of Harlequins RFC and is the co‐founder and director of Front Row Hospitality, which includes the sport‐to‐business leadership company Front Row Leadership — offering consultation, leadership and motivational advice to companies. Des Dearlove talked to him about leadership and life after the All Blacks.
Comparison of Perception of Pregnancy Risk of Nulliparous Women of Advanced Maternal Age and Younger Age
Authors: Bayrampour Hamideh , Heaman Maureen , Duncan Karen A. , Tough Suzanne
Published: September 2012

Introduction: Over the last 3 decades, the proportion of women who have delayed childbearing into their mid 30s and early 40s has been increasing. Because advanced maternal age (AMA) is associated with several adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes, these pregnancies are considered to be “high risk.” Research indicates that pregnancy risk perception is an important factor in pregnant women's health care use and decision making during pregnancy. The objectives of this study were to compare risk perception in pregnant women of AMA (aged 35 years or older) with that of younger women and to explore the relationship between perception of pregnancy risk and selected variables.

Methods: A sample of 159 nulliparous pregnant women (105 aged 20‐29 years and 54 aged 35 years or older) was recruited from a variety of settings in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Women were asked to complete questionnaires to assess perception of pregnancy risk, risk knowledge, pregnancy‐related anxiety, perceived control, health status, and medical risk.

Results: Women of AMA had higher education levels, were more likely to work during pregnancy, and had higher medical risk scores than younger women. Women of AMA perceived higher pregnancy risk for both themselves and their fetuses than did younger women. They rated their risks of cesarean birth, dying during pregnancy, preterm birth, and having a newborn with a birth defect or one needing admission to a neonatal intensive care unit higher than those of younger women. There were no significant differences between the 2 age groups in pregnancy‐related anxiety, knowledge of risk, perceived control, and health status.

Discussion: Women of AMA have a higher perception of pregnancy risk than younger women, regardless of their medical risk. This evidence suggests that incorporating discussions of pregnancy risk into prenatal care visits may assist pregnant women of AMA to make more informed choices, reduce anxiety, and avoid unnecessary interventions.
Implications of genetic heterogeneity in cancer
Authors: Schmitt Michael W. , Prindle Marc J. , Loeb Lawrence A.
Published: September 2012

DNA sequencing studies have established that many cancers contain tens of thousands of clonal mutations throughout their genomes, which is difficult to reconcile with the very low rate of mutation in normal human cells. This observation provides strong evidence for the mutator phenotype hypothesis, which proposes that a genome‐wide elevation in the spontaneous mutation rate is an early step in carcinogenesis. An elevated mutation rate implies that cancers undergo continuous evolution, generating multiple subpopulations of cells that differ from one another in DNA sequence. The extensive heterogeneity in DNA sequence and continual tumor evolution that would occur in the context of a mutator phenotype have important implications for cancer diagnosis and therapy.
Global Health Governance: Analysing China, India and Japan as Global Health Aid Donors
Authors: Florini Ann , Nachiappan Karthik , Pang Tikki , Pilcavage Christine
Published: September 2012

Development assistance is a significant mechanism by which major countries exercise influence in the global health arena. Of the major Asian powers, Japan has long provided significant funding, while China and India have primarily been recipients but are beginning to increase their funding roles. This article examines the amounts, channels, modes, disease allocations and the geographic focuses of their foreign health aid, and delineates the institutional structures that govern the formulation and implementation of foreign health aid policy in each of these countries, to explore what influence China, India, and Japan have and may develop in the global health arena. The article looks in particular at two focal lenses, sovereignty and institutional diversity, to understand what if anything is different from existing approaches to global health governance and what might be expected from these three key Asian nations vis‐à‐vis global health.

Policy Implications

 Japan’s global health leadership transcends its bilateral initiatives. The critical question that emerges now is whether Japan can sustain its will and capacity without clear policy direction from the current government amid domestic turmoil. What is to be done by Japan, and who will do it?

 China and India have not engaged extensively with the global processes as donors. Yet, as recipients they have been open to a wide range of types of actors and relatively relaxed about sovereignty concerns, possibly providing a basis for a similar direction in development assistance for health (DAH) as their programs mature.

 The domestic institutions responsible for external development assistance for health in both China and India would need to be substantially reformed and strengthened for these countries to have the capacity to play leading roles in global health governance in the future.

 China and India increasingly have the capacity to invest greater resources in their own public health systems, which would redress some of the existing imbalances in allocations of global health finance.

 Such domestic investment in domestic health care delivery would enhance India and China’s capacity to assume leadership roles and contribute towards innovations within global health and global health governance and augment their status as responsible and responsive global health stakeholders.