bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Investigation of Flow and Heat Transfer Performance of Nano-Encapsulated Phase Change Material Slurry in Microchannels
Authors: Kuravi Sarada , Kota Krishna M. , Du Jianhua , Chow Louis C.
Published: April 2009

Microchannels are used in applications where large amount of heat is produced. Phase change material (PCM) slurries can be used as a heat transfer fluid in microchannels as they provide increased heat capacity during the melting of phase change material. For the present numerical investigation, performance of a nano-encapsulated phase change material slurry in a manifold microchannel heat sink was analyzed. The slurry was modeled as a bulk fluid with varying specific heat. The temperature field inside the channel wall is solved three dimensionally and is coupled with the three dimensional velocity and temperature fields of the fluid. The model includes the microchannel fin or wall effect, axial conduction along the length of the channel, developing flow of the fluid and not all these features were included in previous numerical investigations. Influence of parameters such as particle concentration, inlet temperature, melting range of the PCM, and heat flux is investigated, and the results are compared with the pure single phase fluid.
Autonomous Thermal Control System for Highly Variable Environments
Authors: Richardson G. A.
Published: April 2009

An autonomous thermal control system has been developed for instruments with steady temperature requirements that are exposed to widely varying environmental conditions. The active thermal control system uses thermo-electric (Peltier) coolers with a programmable power supply, digital temperature sensors, and on-board proportional differential logic to track and predict temperature variations. This system is designed for instruments with large thermal mass and thermally sensitive electronic components that would be effected by variabilities in the local outdoor environment including weather, sunrise, and sunset. Presented are the test results of the design showing the temperature stayed within ±0.125°C during smooth ambient temperature changes (27°C ambient change over 80 min), remained within +0.375/−0.6875°C under a sharp ambient temperature drop (27°C sudden drop), and remained within +0.25/−0.875°C when random variabilities in the ambient were introduced (2–10°C degree variabilities over the time frame of minutes). For the thermal control system and test results presented, it is shown that several calibration and design points must be considered for a large thermal mass system in order to achieve steady thermal control. The system presented is capable of maintaining steady thermal control within the given constraints.
Closed Form Solutions For Mixed Convection With Magnetohydrodynamic Effect in a Vertical Porous Annulus Surrounding an Electric Cable
Authors: Barletta A. , Magyari E. , Lazzari S. , Pop I.
Published: April 2009

Mixed convection Darcy flow in a vertical porous annulus around a straight electric cable is investigated. It is assumed that the flow is fully developed and parallel. Moreover, the Boussinesq approximation is used. The magnetic field with a steady electric current in the cable is radially varying according to the Biot–Savart law. Two flow regimes are investigated. The first is mixed convection with negligible effects of internal heat generation due to Joule heating and viscous dissipation. The second is forced convection with important effects of heat generation. In these two special cases, closed form expressions of the velocity profile and of the temperature profile, as well as of the flow rate and the Nusselt number, are obtained. The main features of these solutions are discussed.
Chebyshev Collocation Spectral Methods for Coupled Radiation and Conduction in a Concentric Spherical Participating Medium
Authors: Li Ben-Wen , Sun Ya-Song , Zhang Da-Wei
Published: April 2009

The Chebyshev collocation spectral method for coupled radiative and conductive heat transfer in concentric spherical participating medium is introduced and formulated. The angular dependence of the problem is discretized by conventional discrete ordinates method, and the space dependence is expressed by Chebyshev polynomial and discretized by collocation spectral method. Due to the exponential convergence of the spectral methods, very high accuracy can be obtained even using a small resolution (i.e., number of collocation points) for present problems. Comparisons between the solutions from Chebyshev collocation spectral–discrete ordinates method (SP-DOM) with available numerical or exact solutions in references indicate that the SP-DOM for the combination of radiation and conduction in concentric spherical participating medium is accurate and efficient.
Non-Newtonian Natural Convection Along a Vertical Flat Plate With Uniform Surface Temperature
Authors: Moulic S. Ghosh , Yao L. S.
Published: April 2009

Natural-convection boundary-layer flow of a non-Newtonian fluid along a heated semi-infinite vertical flat plate with uniform surface temperature has been investigated using a four-parameter modified power-law viscosity model. In this model, there are no physically unrealistic limits of zero or infinite viscosity that are encountered in the boundary-layer formulation for two-parameter Ostwald–de Waele power-law fluids. The leading-edge singularity is removed using a coordinate transformation. The boundary-layer equations are solved by an implicit finite-difference marching technique. Numerical results are presented for the case of a shear-thinning fluid. The results indicate that a similarity solution exists locally in a region near the leading edge of the plate, where the shear rate is not large enough to induce non-Newtonian effects; this similarity solution is identical to the similarity solution for a Newtonian fluid. The size of this region depends on the Prandtl number. Downstream of this region, the solution of the boundary-layer equations is nonsimilar. As the shear rate increases beyond a threshold value, the viscosity of the shear-thinning fluid is reduced. This leads to a decrease in the wall shear stress compared with that for a Newtonian fluid. The reduction in the viscosity accelerates the fluid in the region close to the wall, resulting in an increase in the local heat transfer rate compared with the case of a Newtonian fluid.
Flow and Heat Transfer Over a Stretched Microsurface
Authors: Kiwan Suhil , Al-Nimr M. A.
Published: April 2009

The convection heat transfer induced by a stretching flat plate has been studied. Similarity conditions are obtained for the boundary layer equations for a flat plate subjected to a power law temperature and velocity variations. It is found that a similarity solution exists only for a linearly stretching plate and only when the plate is isothermal. The analysis shows that three parameters control the flow and heat transfer characteristics of the problem. These parameters are the velocity slip parameter K1, the temperature slip parameter K2, and the Prandtl number. The effect of these parameters on the flow and heat transfer of the problem has been studied and presented. It is found that the slip velocity parameter affect both the flow and heat transfer characteristics of the problem. It is found that the skin friction coefficient decreases with increasing K1 and most of the changes in the skin friction takes place in the range 0<K1<1. A correlation between the skin friction coefficient and K1 and Rex has been found and presented. It is found that cf=23Rex−0.5(K1+0.64)−0.884 for 0<K1<10 with an error of ±0.8%. Other correlations between Nu and K1 and K2 has been found and presented in Eq. 28.
Effects of Bee Venom Treatment on Growth Performance of Young Pigs
Authors: Han Sang Mi , Lee Kwang Gill , Yeo Joo Hong , Hwang Sung Jin , Jang Chul Ho , Chenoweth Peter J. , Pak Sok Cheon
Published: April 2009

This study examined the effect of whole bee venom (BV) as a potential stimulant of the piglet immune system, on growth performance, blood parameters, plasma protein and immune globulin content of serum. Piglets (n = 97) received combinations of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 mg/kg of parenterally administered BV on 4 occasions between birth and Day 30. In the apipuncture group (n = 31), piglets were acupunctured with the worker honeybee. Two acupoints, GV-1 (Jiao-chao) and GV-20 (Bai-hui), were selected for apipuncture. All piglets (n = 128) in the treatment groups were treated 4 times throughout the study period of 60 days. The control piglets received no treatments. Blood was taken via jugular venipuncture on Day 30 after birth. Body weight and survivability were measured, and changes in hematological values were analyzed. Both the BV injection group and apipuncture group increased body weight and survivability by 26.6% and 21.8%, and 7.9% and 6.7% respectively compared to the controls. The numbers of leukocytes, erythrocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes were not influenced by treatments. However, a potential clinical benefit of high dose therapy was seen in increased populations of leukocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes compared with either the apipuncture or control groups. Other blood parameters such as total protein and albumin were not affected by treatment. However, IgG levels were generally higher in treated groups than in the controls. These findings indicate that BV might be useful to stimulate immuno-competence in pig production, possibly via the primary bioactive components of melittin, phospholipase A 2 and apamin. The administration of BV, either via injection or acupuncture, did not make any differences in growth performance of young pigs. These results would be useful for further purification and characterization of immune boosting agents from BV.
In-Chern-Hau-Tang and Genipin Reduces Acute Urinary Bladder Distension Evoked Sympathetic Activation-Induced Hepatic Dysfunction in Rats
Authors: Yen Yun-He , Chen Wang-Chuan , Hayakawa Satoshi , Chien Chiang-Ting
Published: April 2009

Increased norepinephrine production by acute urine retention (AUR) induced sympathetic activation may contribute to acute liver injury (ALI) via the action of hepatic vasoconstriction and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. We evaluated whether In-Chern-Hau-Tang, a hepatoprotective herb medicine, and its major ingredient genipin, may ameliorate norepinephrine-induced liver injury in the rat. We determined the effects of In-Chern-Hau-Tang and genipin on norepinephrine-induced oxidative stress in the Kupffer and endothelial cells and AUR-induced ALI in the rat via a chemiluminescence analyzer, physiologic and biochemical determination and western blot. The results of in vitro study showed that genipin with efficient H2O2and HOCl scavenging activities decreased norepinephrine-enhanced ROS production in the Kupffer cell and endothelial cell cultures. AUR activated hepatic sympathetic nervous activity lead to a hepatic hypoxia/hypoperfusion, and a reduction in bile flow. AUR increased intercellular adhesion molecular 1 (ICAM-1) protein expression, and hepatic ROS production from the activated leukocyte NADPH oxidase activity subsequently leading to plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) elevation. Hepatic sympathetic denervation, or oral pretreatment of In-Chern-Hau-Tang or genipin for 1 week ameliorated the level in AUR-induced hepatic hypoxia/hypoperfusion, and bile stasis. Hepatic denervation, In-Chern-Hau-Yang and genipin inhibited AUR-enhanced hepatic ICAM-1 expression, hepatic ROS production, leukocyte NADPH oxidase activity and plasma AST activity. In conclusion, In-Chern-Hau-Tang along with its active component, genipin, can ameliorate AUR-induced ALI via the alleviation of oxidative stress possibly by the inhibition of sympathetic induced hypoxia/hypoperfusion and leukocyte NADPH oxidase activity.
Water Extract ofGlycyrrhiza uralensisInhibited Enterovirus 71 in a Human Foreskin Fibroblast Cell Line
Authors: Kuo Kung-Kai , Chang Jung-San , Wang Kuo-Chih , Chiang Lien-Chai
Published: April 2009

Human infection by enterovirus type 71 (EV71) can cause life-threatening meningo-encephalitis. Currently, there is no effective anti-EV71 therapy available. Since EV71 infection commonly involves skin lesions, we tested our hypothesis that water extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (G. uralensis) could inhibit the cytopathic effects of EV71 in a human foreskin cell line by using an XTT-based method. Our results showed that the water extract of G. uralensis at 3,000 μg/ml has only 30% cytotoxicity on host cells, and furthermore, that the water extract of G. uralensis at 0.1 μg/ml could effectively protect host cells against EV71 infection (p < 0.0001). The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 0.056 μg/ml with a selective index greater than 50,000. The water extract of G. uralensis exerted its effects not only by preventing viral attachment (p < 0.0001), but also by inhibiting the penetration of the virus (p < 0.0001). EV71 infection caused cells to produce significant amounts of IFN-β (p = 0.0003). However, the anti-EV71 activity of the water extract of G. uralensis was not mediated by IFN. In conclusion, the water extract of G. uralensis possesses potent anti-EV71 effects with less cytotoxicity. Its low IC50and high 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) values suggest that it is a promising anti-EV71 agent.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect ofGastrodia elataRhizome in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Authors: Hwang Sun Mi , Lee Yun Jung , Kang Dae Gill , Lee Ho Sub
Published: April 2009

Vascular inflammation is a pivotal factor of a variety of diseases, such as atherosclerosis and tumor progression. The present study was designed to examine the anti-inflammatory effect of ethanol extract of Gastrodia elata rhizome (EGE) in primary cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Pretreatment of cells with EGE attenuated TNF-α-induced increase in expression levels of cell adhesion molecules such as intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin. Real time qRT-PCR also showed that EGE decreased the mRNA expression levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin as well as macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8). In addition, EGE significantly inhibited TNF-α-induced increase in monocyte adhesion of HUVEC in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, EGE significantly inhibited TNF-α-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and p65 NF-κB activation by preventing IκB-α phosphorylation. In conclusion, the present data suggest that EGE could suppress TNF-α-induced vascular inflammatory process via inhibition of oxidative stress and NF-κB activation in HUVEC.
Sini Tang Prevents Depression-Like Behavior in Rats Exposed to Chronic Unpredictable Stress
Authors: Guo Jian-You , Huo Hai-Ru , Li Lan-Fang , Guo Shu-Ying , Jiang Ting-Liang
Published: April 2009

Sini Tang, a Chinese traditional prescription containing three herbs, has been widely used for Yang-deficiency. Recent clinical studies have shown that Sini Tang could treat and improve depression symptoms, but the mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effect of Sini Tang remains unknown. In rats with chronic unpredictable stress (CUS), we examined the effects of Sini Tang on sucrose preference and open field exploratory behavior. The levels of corticosterone level in plasma and corticotropin- releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA expression in hypothalamus were also measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), respectively. Rats subjected to CUS exhibited decreases in sucrose preference and ambulation in the open field test. These were all attenuated by Sini Tang in a dose-dependent manner. Biochemically, Sini Tang also reversed CUS-induced increases in corticosterone in plasma and CRH mRNA in the hypothalamus. The behavioral effects of the Sini Tang were correlated to the biochemical actions. These results suggest that Sini Tang produces an antidepressant-like effect, which appears to involve CRH in the brain.
VENTRICULAR INTERACTION AND CARDIAC PATHOLOGIES IN A THICK SHELL MODEL OF CARDIAC CHAMBER DEFORMATION
Authors: GUERRISI MARIA , TOSCHI NICOLA
Published: April 2009

Ventricular interdependence is an important part of heart function, and hence a key mediator of most pathological consequences of its impairment. It can only be explained by accounting for overall chamber deformation as well as cardiac dimensions and nonlinear material properties. Further, clinically useful interpretation of imaging data about pathological alterations in chamber geometry is hampered by lack of understanding of its significance in cardiac function. A model has been developed which describes the ventricles and septum as portions of ellipsoid shells, allowing structural characterization of diastolic ventricular interaction over arbitrary ranges of chamber pressures and volumes as well as intrathoracic pressures. Chamber configuration is derived as a function of pressure gradients by combining shell element equilibrium equations through static boundary conditions applied at the sulcus. Coupling coefficients between state variables are then calculated by letting the system evolve quasistatically through the solution space. The model is used to simulate a number of cardiac pathologies (constrictive pericarditis, restrictive myocarditis, left/right free wall and septal hypertrophy, left dilatative cardiomyopathy) and quantify their effect on ventricular pressure–pressure coupling as well as diastolic pressure–volume relationships. Results match experimental observations where available. The model can aid in interpreting diagnostic data about chamber geometry in a quantitative manner, and the differential effect of cardiac pathologies with otherwise similar phenomenology on ventricular interaction can serve as a discriminating diagnostic criterion.
DYNAMIC ANALYSIS IN A HARVESTED DIFFERENTIAL-ALGEBRAIC PREY–PREDATOR MODEL
Authors: LIU CHAO , ZHANG QINGLING , ZHANG XUE
Published: April 2009

Nowadays, the biological resource in the prey–predator ecosystem is commercially harvested and sold with the aim of achieving economic interest. Furthermore, the harvest effort is usually influenced by the variation of economic interest of harvesting. In this paper, a differential–algebraic model is proposed, which is utilized to investigate the dynamical behavior of the prey–predator ecosystem due to the variation of economic interest of harvesting. By discussing the local stability of the proposed model around the interior equilibrium, the instability mechanism of harvested prey–predator ecosystem is studied. With the purpose of stabilizing the proposed model around the interior equilibrium and maintaining the economic interest of harvesting at an ideal level, a feedback controller is designed. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out to demonstrate consistency with the theoretical analysis.
ON THE GOMPERTZ LIMIT OF THE MONOTONIC NEOCLASSICAL GROWTH MODEL
Authors: VADASZ PETER , VADASZ ALISA S.
Published: April 2009

The burden of proof of any theory aiming to represent a physical or biological reality by demonstrating its unifying properties is applied in the present paper in relation to the Neoclassical growth model and its ability to reproduce Gompertz growth. The Neoclassical growth model derived from first biological and physical principles was shown to capture all qualitative features that were revealed experimentally, including the possibility of a Logarithmic Inflection Point (LIP), the possibility of a LAG, concave as well as convex curves on the phase diagram, the Logistic growth as a special case, growth followed by decay, as well as oscillations. In addition, quantitative validation demonstrated its ability to reproduce experimental data in a few tested cases. This paper demonstrates that the Neoclassical growth model can reproduce a Generalized version of Gompertz growth too.
QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF TENSILE STRENGTH COMPONENTS OF HUMAN FEMUR TRABECULAR BONE USING RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS
Authors: ASAITHAMBI MYTHILI , CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH JESU , RAMAKRISHNAN SWAMINATHAN
Published: April 2009

In this work, the primary and secondary tensile strength components of human femur trabecular bone are qualitatively assessed using planar radiographic images and spectral analysis. Normal and abnormal femur trabecular images (N = 40) were recorded using planar radiography following standard image acquisition protocol. From the images, the tensile strength components of the trabeculae are delineated using image processing procedures and are then subjected to Fourier transform. The zero (DC), First (FMOI), and Second Moments of Inertia (SMOI) are the parameters considered and are correlated with presence and absence of mineralization in the image. Results show that the values of moments correlate well with percentage mineralization in normal images when compared to abnormal images for both primary and secondary tensile strength components. Further, no or poor correlations were found for abnormals in all cases. Among all, the values of second moment showed highest correlation in the secondary tensile region. In this paper the objectives, methodology, significance results and the conclusions are presented.
MEDICAL IMAGING AND PROCESSING METHODS FOR CARDIAC FLOW RECONSTRUCTION
Authors: WONG KELVIN K. L. , KELSO RICHARD M. , WORTHLEY S. G. , SANDERS P. , MAZUMDAR J. , ABBOTT D.
Published: April 2009

Intra-cardiac blood flow imaging and visualization is challenging due to the processes involved in generating velocity fields of flow within specific chambers of interest. Visual analysis of cardiac flow or wall deformation is crucial for an accurate examination of the heart.

Cardiac chamber boundary encapsulation is one of the key implementations for region definition. To provide intelligible results describing flow within the human heart, cardiac chamber segmentation is a pre-requisite so that fluid motion information can be presented within a region of interest defined by the chamber boundary. A technique that is used to establish contouring along the cardiac wall is described mathematically. This article also sets the practical foundation for flow vector synthesis and visualization in the cardiac discipline. We have outlined conceptual development and the construction of flow field based on a three-dimensional Cartesian grid that can give a greater insight into the blood dynamics within the heart.

We developed a framework that is able to present both anatomical as well as flow information by overlaying velocity fields over medical images and displaying them in cine-mode. By addressing most of the methods involved from the programming perspective, procedural execution and memory efficiency have been considered. Our implemented system can be used to examine abnormal blood motion behaviour or discover flow phenomena in normal or defective hearts.
SCO-ping Out the Mechanisms Underlying the Etiology of Hydrocephalus
Authors: Huh Michael S. , Todd Matthew A. M. , Picketts David J.
Published: April 2009

The heterogeneous nature of congenital hydrocephalus has hampered our understanding of the molecular basis of this common clinical problem. However, disease gene identification and characterization of multiple transgenic mouse models has highlighted the importance of the subcommissural organ (SCO) and the ventricular ependymal (vel) cells. Here, we review how altered development and function of the SCO and vel cells contributes to hydrocephalus.
Efficient Scheme for Implementing Large Size Signed Multipliers Using Multigranular Embedded DSP Blocks in FPGAs
Authors: Gao Shuli , Al-Khalili Dhamin , Chabini Noureddine
Published: April 2009

Modern FPGAs contain embedded DSP blocks, which can be configured as multipliers with more than one possible size. FPGA‐based designs using these multigranular embedded blocks become more challenging when high speed and reduced area utilization are required. This paper proposes an efficient design methodology for implementing large size signed multipliers using multigranular small embedded blocks. The proposed approach has been implemented and tested targeting Altera′s Stratix II FPGAs with the aid of the Quartus II software tool. The implementations of the multipliers have been carried out for operands with sizes ranging from 40 to 256 bits. Experimental results demonstrated that our design approach has outperformed the standard scheme used by Quartus II tool in terms of speed and area. On average, the delay reduction is about 20.7% and the area saving, in terms of ALUTs, is about 67.6%.
Fabrication and Transport Properties of Manganite‐Polyacrylamide‐Based Composites
Authors: Sandu Viorel , Popa Stelian , Ivan Ion , Plapcianu Carmen , Sandu Elena , Mihailescu Camelia , Doroftei Florica
Published: April 2009

We present the fabrication and transport properties of a series of composites made of La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 and acrylamide‐based copolymers. The most important result is the very narrow transition, of only 27 K, displayed by the peak that appears around the metal‐insulator transition of the composites made with poly(acrylamide‐vinylacetate). Although the amount of polymer is rather low,
different copolymers change drastically the electric transport characteristics.
Intermittent‐Contact Heterodyne Force Microscopy
Authors: Cuberes M. Teresa
Published: April 2009

Heterodyne Force Microscopy opens up a way to monitor nanoscale events with high temporal sensitivity from the quasistatic cantilever mechanical‐diode response taking advantage of the beat effect. Here, a novel heterodyne ultrasonic force method is proposed, in which the cantilever is driven in amplitude‐modulation mode, at its fundamental flexural eigenmode. Ultrasonic vibration in the megahertz range is additionally input at the tip‐sample contact from the cantilever base and from the back of the sample. The ultrasonic frequencies are chosen in such a way that their difference is coincident with the second cantilever eigenmode. In the presence of ultrasound, cantilever vibration at the difference frequency is detected. Similarly as in heterodyne force microscopy, it is expected that the phase response yields information with increased sensitivity due to the beat effect.
Economic Integration and Changes in the Business Cycle in East Asia: Is the Region Decoupling from the Rest of the World?
Authors: Park Yung Chul , Shin Kwanho
Published: April 2009

Countries in East Asia (EA) have made a great deal of progress in integrating their economies since the early 1990s. There has been a sustained increase in intra-regional trade in EA. On finance, however, regional financial integration has been lagging behind trade integration and EA has reached out to global financial markets to effect deeper global integration. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of intra-regional and extra-regional financial integration on changes in the pattern of EA's business cycle since 1990 to see whether there is any ground for “decoupling” of EA from the United States and the EU. On trade relations, the empirical results show that deepening trade integration contributes to more synchronized output movements among EA countries. There is also evidence that financial integration enhances more synchronization of output, but because its impact is not strong, the extra-regional integration does not necessarily dispute the prediction that EA's output movement has become more idiosyncratic than before, and therefore less closely tied with that of the United States.
Asset Price Booms, “Fat Tails,” and Monetary Policy in East Asia
Authors: Gochoco-Bautista Maria Socorro
Published: April 2009

This study provides empirical evidence for the proposition that asset price booms matter because they tend to bring about the worst output, price, and inflation outcomes in the case of eight East Asian countries, namely, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The main findings are: (i) asset price booms in housing and equity markets, especially in housing, significantly lower the conditional mean of real output growth and raise those of the price-level gap and inflation, and also raise the conditional variance of all three variables; and (ii) expected real output and price-level outcomes that are obtained without conditioning on asset price booms, or are obtained conditionally on asset price booms using the normal distribution, both underestimate the risk of the worst outcomes occurring and lead to less pessimistic but misleading inferences. These findings are not premised on the ability of central bankers to be able to identify correctly asset bubbles ex ante. One possible implication for monetary policy is that central bankers ought to be wary about the occurrence of any large increase in asset prices and consider an approach that is ex ante more compatible with risk management.
Global Financial Turmoil: Impact and Challenges for Asia's Financial Systems
Authors: Lee Jong-Wha , Park Cyn-Young
Published: April 2009

This paper examines the unfolding of the U.S. sub-prime-generated turmoil and its potential spillover effects on Asia's emerging financial systems. The sub-prime mortgage mess has revealed key structural weaknesses in the evolution of modern credit markets. Although emerging Asian financial markets have suffered only limited impact thus far, they remain open to further contagion given underlying weaknesses in the region's financial systems. Rapid financial globalization also poses new challenges as the region's largely unsophisticated banking and financial systems strive to keep up with the evolving financial environment. Policy priorities to foster regional financial stability include enhancing transparency and governance, improving risk management, strengthening regulation and supervision, and deepening and broadening financial systems, especially by developing local currency bond markets.
Violent Masculinities as Tropes for School Shooters
Authors: Tonso Karen L.
Published: April 2009

Attacks at Montréal École Polytechnique and Columbine High frame a decade of school shootings and may offer insights into some other rampages. Though times, rationales, and sites of peer-group production differed at these two sites, “school shooter” encoded ways to react in situations where some young men felt unfairly subordinated in society; shooters used deadly violence to assert and reclaim the “rightful” places they felt denied. “School shooter” seemed to borrow from violent masculinities, common socioculturally produced images, or tropes, for acting, implicating not only shooters (who take up extreme versions of these tropes), but also simultaneously everyday sociocultural contexts where violent masculinities are produced, reinforced, and valorized. This article suggests the importance of context to the production of shooters and as such competes with attempts to develop remedies to school shootings grounded in de-contextualized, individualistic approaches that focus only on shooters.
The Columbine Legacy
Authors: Larkin Ralph W.
Published: April 2009

The purpose of this article is to explore how the Columbine shootings on April 20, 1999, influenced subsequent school rampage shootings. First, school rampage shootings are defined to distinguish them from other forms of school violence. Second, post-Columbine shootings and thwarted shootings are examined to determine how they were influenced by Columbine. Unlike prior rampage shooters, Harris and Klebold committed their rampage shooting as an overtly political act in the name of oppressed students victimized by their peers. Numerous post-Columbine rampage shooters referred directly to Columbine as their inspiration; others attempted to supersede the Columbine shootings in body count. In the wake of Columbine, conspiracies to blow up schools and kill their inhabitants by outcast students were uncovered by authorities. School rampage shootings, most of which referred back to Columbine as their inspiration, expanded beyond North America to Europe, Australia, and Argentina; they increased on college campuses and spread to nonschool venues. The Columbine shootings redefined such acts not merely as revenge but as a means of protest of bullying, intimidation, social isolation, and public rituals of humiliation.
Echoes of Columbine
Authors: Fein Albert H. , Isaacson Nancy S.
Published: April 2009

The authors describe how school leaders at seven sites where school shootings occurred engaged in surface and deep acting, two forms of emotion work (Hochschild, 1983, 1990) in response to their understanding about what feelings were appropriate or inappropriate in crisis situations. Data are drawn from three qualitative studies over a 9-year period. Analyses of data regarding emotion work yield four lessons for school crisis leadership: (a) personal definitions of leadership guided responses to the shooting, (b) the extent that the crisis changed leaders' work, (c) the high personal toll paid by leaders, and (d) the change in the sense of what is possible. Ideas about leadership and emotion, including display rules, are culturally bound, which has implications for leadership training, development, and policy changes in schools.
Acculturation Orientations and Social Relations Between Immigrant and Host Community Members in California
Authors: Bourhis Richard Y. , Barrette Geneviève , El-Geledi Shaha , Schmidt Ronald
Published: April 2009

This study, based on the Interactive Acculturation Model, investigates the acculturation orientations of undergraduates attending a multicultural university in Los Angeles County. European Americans ( n = 178), African Americans ( n = 88), Asian immigrants ( n = 165), and Hispanic immigrants ( n = 109) participated in the questionnaire study. Results show that individualism and integrationism are the acculturation orientations preferred by European American, African American, and Asian immigrants. Hispanic immigrants also prefer individualism. Assimilationism, segregationism, and exclusionism are least endorsed by host community members. Immigrants moderately endorse separatism and weakly endorse assimilationism and marginalization. The social psychological profile of each acculturation orientation revealed that integrationism and individualism was associated with harmonious relational outcomes, whereas assimilationism, segregationism, separatism, and exclusionism were associated with problematic and conflictual intergroup relations.
Acculturation of Iranians in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands
Authors: Safdar Saba , Struthers Ward , van Oudenhoven Jan Pieter
Published: April 2009

The present study tested the generalizability of a multidimensional individual difference acculturation (MIDA) model in three cultural contexts. The model includes three predictor variables (Psychosocial Resources, Connectedness, and Hassles), predicting three outcome adaptation variables (In-Group Contact, Out-Group Contact, and Psychophysical Distress). The roles of two dimensions of acculturation attitudes (toward Own Culture Maintenance and New Culture Acquisition) were also included in the model. The model was tested and validated with three samples of Iranian immigrants living in the United States, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The results provided support for the multidimensional model. The relations between each variable in the model are discussed with reference to the demographic variation of the samples and the complexity of societal context.
Causal Attributions About Feminine and Leadership Roles
Authors: Garcia-Retamero Rocio , López-Zafra Esther
Published: April 2009

In a cross-cultural study, the authors tested whether the leadership role is more congruent with the masculine than the feminine gender role. Participants in Germany and Spain evaluated a male or a female candidate for a leadership position in an industry congruent or incongruent with the candidate's gender role, or in an unspecified industry. In line with the authors' hypotheses, the female candidate was perceived as less qualified for the position, especially when she worked in the incongruent industry. Spanish participants showed more prejudice against the female candidate than did German participants. Furthermore, when German participants predicted that the female candidate would succeed in obtaining the promotion, they made an internal causal attribution to explain this success. Spanish participants, however, sometimes made an external causal attribution. These results are consistent with the role congruity theory.
Acculturation and Parenting Among Turkish Mothers in Australia
Authors: Yagmurlu Bilge , Sanson Ann
Published: April 2009

This study investigated acculturation attitudes of Turkish immigrant mothers in Australia and the associations between their interaction levels with Australian society and their parenting values and behaviors. Turkey is traditionally collectivist, and punishment is more common than verbal reasoning among parents; in Australia, which is predominantly individualistic, normative parenting goals emphasize independence (over obedience) and induction-based discipline (over punishment). Participants included 58 Turkish mothers living in Melbourne. Each had a child attending a child care center located in a generally lower socioeconomic area. Questionnaires were used to assess acculturation attitudes, parenting goals, and child-rearing practices. Findings support the hypothesized relationships between acculturation attitudes and parenting behaviors. Mothers who had a tendency to integrate with Australian society reported higher levels of self-direction goals and inductive reasoning and lower levels of compliance goals and obedience-demanding behavior. Findings are discussed in relation to the functions of child-rearing values and practices in sociocultural context.
Cross-Cultural Differences in the Acceptance of Barnum Profiles Supposedly Derived From Western Versus Chinese Astrology
Authors: Rogers Paul , Soule Janice
Published: April 2009

The present study examines cross-cultural differences in the Barnum effect. At Stage 1 of the study, 287 respondents (comprising 149 Westerners and 138 Chinese nationals) provided birth details and completed a belief-in-astrology questionnaire. At Stage 2 a week later, 258 of these (130 Westerners, 128 Chinese) then completed a second belief-in-astrology questionnaire before receiving a Barnum profile supposedly derived from either Western or Chinese astrology, which they rated for, among other things, perceived accuracy (a) for themselves and (b) for other people in general. Preliminary analysis offered initial support for a universal Barnum effect. However, this disappeared after respondent gender, age, general education, and psychological knowledge were controlled for. Further analyses revealed little support for cross-cultural differences in either astrological beliefs or susceptibility to the Barnum effect, although surprisingly, Chinese nationals who believed in astrology did perceive their own (Barnum) profile to be more accurate for people in general than did Chinese skeptics. Finally, Barnum acceptance was not influenced by the apparent source of profiles. The role these factors play in relation to Barnum susceptibility and methodological limitations of the present study are discussed.
Fairness in Distributive Justice by 3- and 5-Year-Olds Across Seven Cultures
Authors: Rochat Philippe , Dias Maria D. G. , Guo Liping  , Broesch Tanya , Passos-Ferreira Claudia , Winning Ashley , Berg Britt
Published: April 2009

This research investigates 3- and 5-year-olds' relative fairness in distributing small collections of even or odd numbers of more or less desirable candies, either with an adult experimenter or between two dolls. The authors compare more than 200 children from around the world, growing up in seven highly contrasted cultural and economic contexts, from rich and poor urban areas, to small-scale traditional and rural communities. Across cultures, young children tend to optimize their own gain, not showing many signs of self-sacrifice or generosity. Already by 3 years of age, self-optimizing in distributive justice is based on perspective taking and rudiments of mind reading. By 5 years, overall, children tend to show more fairness in sharing. What varies across cultures is the magnitude of young children's self-interest. More fairness (less self-interest) in distributive justice is evident by children growing up in small-scale urban and traditional societies thought to promote more collective values.
High School Reform Implementation
Authors: White-Smith Kimberly A. , White Monica A.
Published: April 2009

This research is a collection of comparative case studies that examine the perspectives of four principals in their 1st year of implementing the High School College Collaborative (HSCC), which works to provide traditionally underserved high school students with the opportunity to receive college credit, possibly an associate of arts degree, concurrently with their high school diploma. In this research, we address the following questions: (a) What are the principals' experiences with implementing HSCC? (b) What are the specific challenges these principals face? and (c) How did the principals negotiate these challenges? This study aims to broaden perspectives on the requirements of school change work, thus increasing both principals' effectiveness and learning opportunities for all students.
Development of efficient numerical heat transfer model coupled with genetic algorithm based optimisation for prediction of process variables in GTA spot welding
Authors: Bag S. , De A.
Published: April 2009

Although numerical heat transfer models based on conduction mode of heat transfer have become a strong basis for the quantitative analysis of fusion welding, they still find limited use in actual design for three primary reasons. First, these traditional models consider a volumetric heat source term, which ironically requires a-priori knowledge of the final weld pool dimensions. Second, the numerical models need confident values of a few parameters, e.g. arc efficiency and arc radius, which are usually uncertain and requires many trial and error simulations to realise their suitable values. Third, these models are rarely attempted for the prediction of possible weld conditions for a requisite or target weld dimensions, which is of paramount interest in design for welding. The present work attempts to circumvent these issues by linking a genetic algorithm (GA) based global optimisation scheme with a finite element based three-dimensional numerical heat transfer model. The numerical model includes a volumetric heat source that adapts itself to the computed weld pool geometry at any instant. The GA module identifies the optimum values of a set of uncertain parameters needed for the reliable modelling calculations and next, identifies the suitable values of the process variables, e.g. weld current, for a target weld dimension. In each case, the GA module guides the numerical model to compute weld dimensions for a given set of inputs, traces the sensitivity of the error in prediction on the inputs being optimised, updates them accordingly and reuses the numerical model to finally obtain their optimised values. The complete integrated model is validated with a number of experimental results in gas tungsten arc spot welding processes.
Effects of surface conditions on resistance spot welding of Mg alloy AZ31
Authors: Liu L. , Zhou S. Q. , Tian Y. H. , Feng J. C. , Jung J. P. , Zhou Y. N.
Published: April 2009

In this work, resistance spot welding of Mg alloy AZ31 sheets was investigated in as received and acid cleaned surface conditions. As received sheets had higher contact resistance which required lower current thresholds for weld initiation and for four root t nugget size (where t is sheet thickness). However, it also led to both serious expulsion and internal defects. The fracture mode of welds in as received sheets was interfacial failure while that of the acid cleaned specimens shifted from interfacial to nugget pullout and exhibited better strength. The acid cleaned sheets also produced less damage on electrode tip faces.
Effect of friction welding condition on joining phenomena and joint strength of friction welded joint between brass and low carbon steel
Authors: Kimura M. , Kasuya K. , Kusaka M. , Kaizu K. , Fuji A.
Published: April 2009

This paper describes the effect of friction welding condition on joining phenomena and joint strength of friction welded joints between copper–zinc alloy (brass) and low carbon steel (LCS). When the joint was made at a friction pressure of 30 MPa with a friction speed of 27·5 s−1, brass transferred to the half radius region of the weld interface on the LCS side. Then, transferred brass extended towards the almost whole weld interface with increasing friction time. The joint efficiency increased with increasing friction time, and then the joint obtained 100% and the brass base metal fracture when the joint was made with a friction time of 4·2 s or longer. However, the fact that all joints had some cracks at the periphery portion of the weld interface was due to a deficiency of transferred brass at the periphery portion on the weld interface of the LCS side. On the other hand, brass transferred to the peripheral region of the weld interface on the LCS side, and then transferred towards the entire weld interface when the joint was made at a friction pressure of 90 MPa with a friction speed of 27·5 s−1. The joint efficiency increased with increasing friction time, and it reached 100% at a friction time of 1·5 s or longer. In addition, all joints fractured from the brass base metal with no cracking at the weld interface. To obtain 100% joint efficiency and the brass base metal fracture with no cracking at the weld interface, the joint should be made with opportune high friction pressure and friction time at which the entire weld interface had the transferred brass.
Effect of friction stir processing tool probe on fabrication of SiC particle reinforced composite on aluminium surface
Authors: Mahmoud E. R. I. , Takahashi M. , Shibayanagi T. , Ikeuchi K.
Published: April 2009

An investigation has been carried out of the effects of tool probe shape and size on the formation of surface composite by uniformly distributing SiC particles into a surface layer of an A1050-H24 aluminium plate through friction stir processing (FSP). Tool probes of three different diameters (3, 5 and 7 mm) and four different shapes (circular with threads, circular without threads, square and triangular) have been used to fabricate the surface layers at rotation speeds of 1500–2250 rev min−1 and a travelling speed of 1·66 mm s−1. The SiC particles were packed into a groove of 3 mm width and 1·5 mm depth cut on the aluminium plate and covered by an aluminium sheet of 2 mm thickness. A rotating tool was plunged into the plate through the cover sheet so that the tip of the probe reached beyond the bottom of the groove. As a result, it was found that the square probe dispersed the SiC particles homogeneously in the nugget zone compared with other probe shapes regardless of the rotation speeds. Furthermore, the distributed particles and also the aluminium matrix grain size became finer by the use of square probe than those of the other shapes. On the other hand, the wear rates of the square and triangular probes were higher than that of circular shape. The worn iron debris from the tool reacted with aluminium matrix and form fine iron aluminides compound dispersed in the nugget zone. The probe size had limited effects on the homogeneity of the SiC particles distribution in the nugget zone; the distribution of SiC particles obtained by triple FSP passes was less homogeneous when the probe size was smaller. Microhardness of the nugget zone was homogeneously increased to a level as high as 60 HV with tool of square probe shape after three passes to be compared with 23 HV of the aluminium matrix beside the nugget zone.