bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Solar.q_1: A new solar-tracking mechanism based on four-bar linkages
Authors: Quaglia Giuseppe , Maurino Simone Luca
Published: April 2016

This paper describes the early stages of the design process of a 2-DOF parallel mechanism, based on the use of four-bar linkages and intended to move photovoltaic panels in order to perform sun tracking. Primary importance is given to the search for a way to compensate sun–earth’s relative motions with two decoupled rotations of the panel. This leads to devise a kinematic structure characterized by a particular arrangement of the revolute axes. At the same time, the structure itself is designed in order to be slender. Subsequently, the fact that during a day the earth’s revolution around the sun has negligible effects on the apparent trajectory of the sun, if compared to the rotation around the polar axis, leads to choose a control strategy which, also thanks to the said arrangement of axes, employs only 1-DOF for most of the daytime. The tracker which employs this strategy has, theoretically, an energy consumption similar to that of 1-DOF solar trackers but a precision similar to that of 2-DOF ones.
Spindle vibration influencing form error in ultra-precision diamond machining
Authors: Zhang SJ , To S
Published: April 2016

Ultra-precision diamond machining (UPDM) is widely used to manufacture high quality surface within sub-micrometric form error and nanometric surface roughness due to its high efficiency and low cost. However, in a complex UPDM process, many factors affect such sub-micrometric form error. Especially, spindle vibration produces a significant impact upon surface generation, not only influencing nanometric surface roughness, but also affecting sub-micrometric form error. In this study, a five-DOF dynamic model is established for spindle vibration in UPDM. The form error under spindle vibration is discussed with a surface generation model. The results show that (i) axial, radial, and coupled-tilting spindle vibration makes a great contribution to form error; (ii) the coupled-tilting frequencies are influenced by spindle speed; and (iii) the spindle vibration is reproduced at a machined surface to generate regular patterns consequently to cause form error, which is well identified with a focus on axial spindle vibration by face turning in UPDM. Its wavelength is linearly proportional to spindle speed and cutting radius distance, i.e. cutting speed. Significantly, the proposed models provide a possibility to predict surface roughness and form error under spindle vibration.
Target tracking using multiple unmanned aerial vehicles: Graph theoretic nonlinear control approach
Authors: Subbarao K , Ahmed M
Published: April 2016

This paper develops a cooperative controller for multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with application to target tracking. The cooperation between the UAVs is established based on an algebraic graph connection and the target information is provided externally by pinning it into a subset of the network. A backstepping-like technique is employed to design a consensus-based controller for each UAV in order to achieve target tracking in 3-D. The proposed controller computes commanded signals for the speed, flight path angle, and heading angle to track the target. The paper considers both the cases of fixed and dynamically changing communication topologies. It is shown that target tracking is achieved for fixed connection topology, if the graph has a directed spanning tree; and for the dynamically changing topology, if the union of the graphs over finite time intervals has a directed spanning tree. The system’s stability is shown using a Lyapunov function-based approach for these cases. All tracking errors are shown to be bounded as long as the target states and its derivatives up to second order are bounded. Detailed numerical simulations further illustrate the controller performance.
Vibration reduction of helicopter with trailing-edge flaps at various flying conditions
Authors: Kodakkattu SK , Joy ML , Prabhakaran Nair K
Published: April 2016

The aim of this study is to find the optimal torsional stiffness and trailing-edge flap locations of the helicopter rotor blade for minimum vibration and flap control power at flap lengths of 6% and 9% of the rotor-blade length. A three level orthogonal array based response surface method using polynomial functions is used to describe both vibration and flap control power. Pareto points minimizing hub vibration and flap control power are found at flap lengths of 6% and 9% of the rotor length. This study also explores the variation in rotor hub vibration and flap control power with flying conditions such as the advance ratio and the thrust-to-solidity ratio at the optimum design points. This gives a useful improved design with about a 60% decrease in hub vibration with a penalization of increased flap power at the normal flying regime of rotor-craft flight.
Quantifying the regional variations in the mechanical properties of cancellous bone of the tibia using indentation testing and quantitative computed tomographic imaging
Authors: Vijayakumar Vivega , Quenneville Cheryl E
Published: April 2016

Finite element models apply material properties using experimentally derived density–modulus equations and computed tomographic image data, yet numerous different equations exist in the literature. The purpose of this study was to experimentally evaluate the distribution of mechanical properties through the proximal tibia and compare with those predicted using existing density–modulus equations. Indentation testing was performed on five cadaveric tibiae, with four slices removed from the proximal epiphysis and metaphysis of each. Elastic modulus and yield strength were identified for each test and grouped into nine transverse regions. These regions were identified on computed tomographic scans, and four density–modulus equations from the literature applied. Errors between measured and predicted modulus were then calculated. Elastic modulus and yield strength varied regionally, with the bone located closest to the joint and in the condyles being strongest and the intercondylar region the weakest. The optimal relationship for predicting modulus varied depending on anatomical region, but generally was best predicted by the Goulet equation. The regions of high strength identified in this study (condyles and proximal regions) can serve as improved sites of attachment for orthopedic devices and should be preserved during surgery, if possible. The substantial regional variations observed herein (almost a threefold change in modulus across different regions) should be incorporated into finite element models and applied using the Goulet density–modulus equation.
Multi-proxy evidence of Holocene climate variability in Volhynia Upland (SE Poland) recorded in spring-fed fen deposits from the Komarów site
Authors: Dobrowolski Radosław , Bałaga Krystyna , Buczek Alicja , Alexandrowicz Witold Paweł , Mazurek Małgorzata , Hałas Stanisław , Piotrowska Natalia
Published: April 2016

Radiocarbon-dated spring-fed fen deposits from the Komarów site (Volhynia Upland, SE Poland) with its multi-proxy data (macrofossils, molluscs, geochemistry, pollen, stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon) enable us (1) to distinguish four main stages of fen evolution, which reflected a distinct variability of water supply conditions and (2) to reconstruct the Holocene humidity–temperature changes. The beginning of peat–tufa deposition took place in a Boreal phase, after a significant cool fluctuation of climate occurring ca. 9.4 ka cal. BP. We suggest that climate was the most important factor conditioning the development of the spring-fed fen. Permafrost degradation, and then wet periods, intensified the activity of ascending springs. The impact of humans was possible since the Neolithic period and increased during the Middle Ages: therefore, the anthropogenic influence could have partially overlapped with the regional tendencies of climate changes. Autogenic development of deposit succession in the studied fen was definitely conditioned by hydrological changes induced by climate. Based on the multi-proxy data, 12 cold events of different ranks were identified. They are also recorded in other Polish and European sites. A record of distinct variability of depositional conditions at ca. 9.4, 8.2, 5.9, 4.6, 2.8, 1.4 and 0.55 ka cal. BP corresponds to quasi-periodical global climate changes in the Holocene named the Bond events. The majority of the cold events recorded in δ13C and δ18O of carbonates can be correlated to the Greenland oxygen isotope curve.
A multiproxy study distinguishes environmental change from diagenetic alteration in the recent sedimentary record of the inner Cadiz Bay (SW Spain)
Authors: Jiménez-Arias Juan L , Mata M Pilar , Corzo Alfonso , Poulton Simon W , März Christian , Sánchez-Bellón Angel , Martínez-López Javier , Casas-Ruiz Melquiades , García-Robledo Emilio , Bohórquez Julio , Papaspyrou Sokratis
Published: April 2016

In this study, we reconstruct the recent environmental evolution of the inner Cadiz Bay using sedimentary records reaching back as far as AD 1700. We report lithological descriptions of the sediments and extensive mineralogical and geochemical analyses. An extraction technique that identifies different Fe phases provides an assessment of diagenetic alteration, which allows an estimation of the original organic matter inputs to the inner Cadiz Bay. Downcore variations in Corg/N ratios, δ13Corg and δ15N are related to changes in organic matter sources and the trophic state of the water column. The downcore records of selected trace metals (e.g. Pb, Zn and Cu) are interpreted to reflect changes in heavy metal pollution in the bay, while records of other elements (e.g. Mn and P) are likely overprinted by diagenetic alteration. Major environmental shifts took place during the 20th century, when the population around Cadiz Bay increased exponentially. Increases in sediment accumulation rates, organic matter inputs and heavy metal contents, in parallel with increases in δ13Corg and δ15N over this period, are interpreted as direct effects of the increasing anthropogenic influence in the area. The results of this study suggest that multiproxy approaches and detailed consideration of diagenetic overprinting are required to reconstruct past environmental conditions from coastal sediments.
Holocene palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Ebro Delta (Western Mediterranean Sea): Evidence for an early construction based on the benthic foraminiferal record
Authors: Cearreta Alejandro , Benito Xavier , Ibáñez Carles , Trobajo Rosa , Giosan Liviu
Published: April 2016

Major Mediterranean deltas began to develop during a period between 8000 and 6000 yr BP when the rate of fluvial sediment input overtook the declining rate of sea-level rise. However, different authors have argued that the Ebro Delta primarily formed during the late Middle Ages as a consequence of increased anthropogenic pressure on its river basin and these arguments are supported by the scarcity of previous geological studies and available radiocarbon dates. To reconstruct the environmental evolution of the Ebro Delta during the Holocene, we used micropalaeontological analysis of continuous boreholes drilled in two different locations (Carlet and Sant Jaume) on the central delta plain. Different lithofacies distributions and associated environments of deposition were defined based on diagnostic foraminiferal assemblages and the application of a palaeowater-depth transfer function. The more landward Carlet sequence shows an older and more proximal progradational delta with a sedimentary record composed of inner bay, lagoonal and beach materials deposited between 7600 and >2000 yr BP under rising sea-level and highstand conditions. This phase was followed by a series of delta plain environments reflected in part by the Carlet deposits that formed before 2000 yr BP. The Sant Jaume borehole is located closer to the present coastline and contains a much younger sequence that accumulated in the last 2.0 ka during the development of three different deltaic lobes under highstand sea-level conditions. The results of this study reinforce the idea that the Ebro Delta dates to the early Holocene, similar to other large Mediterranean deltas.
Managing International Development Projects
Authors: Mishra Pradeep Kumar
Published: April 2016

The discipline of project management has got into new areas over time, but core problems like delay and cost overrun continue to be there. In the international development projects like those related to poverty alleviation, managing projects is much more complex. This article tries to understand the project management practices followed in the implementation of international development projects. Based on the comparative study of four projects—Participatory Approach to Human and Land Development (PAHAL, Rajasthan), Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) watershed projects, Rajasthan District Poverty Initiative Project (DPIP, Rajasthan) and Sujala (Karnataka)—the article finds various problems ranging from interorganizational conflicts, lack of interdepartmental coordination, fund-crunch, frequent changes in implementation guidelines, etc. Delay in progress was invariably found and progress was made through diluting quality. The main reason behind this was the dynamic nature of interventions and rigid project design. By adding a flexible organizational design for managing international development projects, rather than focusing on cost-effective economic structure, the performance can be improved.
Building Effective Institutions—The Biggest Challenge
Authors: Ahlers Theodore , Nellis John
Published: April 2016

This article discusses the importance of institutional capital for future well-being, seeks to assess current institutional performance, and identifies drivers of change and areas for priority action. The thesis of this article is that the economic and political institutions must evolve as much over the next 35 years as they have since the breakup of the Soviet Union, if Vision 2050 is to be realized and sustained. Whether these institutions evolve to the desired level or not, and whether the necessary change comes as a swift, continuous adaptation or as disruptive breaks, depends on many things. The long time required for institutional evolution and the vested interests opposed to institutional change make sustained political commitment essential for successful change. Most important will be the foresight of Central Asia’s leaders and the deepened involvement of the people of Central Asia in the political and economic life of their countries. This article examines how institutions, and intangible capital more generally, generate growth and identify the changes required—over a 35-year horizon—in the asset composition of Central Asian countries to realize Vision 2050. It benchmarks the institutions of Central Asian countries against world averages and comparators in East Asia and Central Europe. Additionally, this article identifies drivers of change that could be leveraged to promote the desired institutional evolution. The final section discusses areas requiring concerted attention if Central Asia’s institutions are to deliver the future to which citizens of the countries aspire.
Creating a Competitive and Innovative Manufacturing and Service Economy
Authors: Linn Johannes
Published: April 2016

This article first considers the current state of diversification of the production and export structure of Central Asian economies. It then explores alternative approaches to the diversification, competitiveness, and innovation transformation challenge. Taking as given the prevailing trends of technological progress at a global level, this article analyzes the relevance of the various overlapping and strategic components of these approaches for the five Central Asian countries, which would allow an effective absorption and adaptation of available technologies and foster a culture of innovation in Central Asia. The key policies common to all the approaches include effective institutions and a favorable business environment for domestic and foreign investors; effective human resource development; strong connectivity nationally and internationally, in terms of transport infrastructure, logistics, and IT access; and the fundamentals of sound macroeconomic policy and a well-developed, resilient financial sector. In addition, this article will consider targeted interventions in support of the development of modern cities, of an internationally competitive innovation system, and of selected manufacturing and service activities.
Individual and contextual determinants of stable volunteering in sport clubs
Authors: Schlesinger Torsten , Nagel Siegfried
Published: April 2016

This article addresses factors that influence voluntary sport club (VSC) members’ loyalty to voluntary engagement. The question asked is an issue of VSC volunteers’ commitment; whether they decide to quit or continue their engagement. A multilevel approach was used that considered both individual characteristics of volunteers and corresponding contextual features of VSCs to analyse members’ voluntary commitment. Different multilevel models were estimated in a sample of 477 volunteers in 26 Swiss and German VSCs. Results indicated that members’ stable voluntary activity is not just an outcome of individual characteristics such as having children belonging to the club, strong identification with their club, positively perceived (collective) solidarity and job satisfaction. In addition to these factors, the findings confirm the significance of the contextual level. Stable volunteering appears to be more probable in rural VSCs and clubs that value conviviality. Surprisingly, the results reveal that specific measures to promote volunteering have no significant effect on voluntary commitment in VSCs.
Antidepressant Use and Recurrent Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Marcum Zachary A. , Perera Subashan , Thorpe Joshua M. , Switzer Galen E. , Castle Nicholas G. , Strotmeyer Elsa S. , Simonsick Eleanor M. , Ayonayon Hilsa N. , Phillips Caroline L. , Rubin Susan , Zucker-Levin Audrey R. , Bauer Douglas C. , Shorr Ronald I. , Kang Yihuang , Gray Shelly L. , Hanlon Joseph T. ,   Health ABC Study
Published: April 2016

Background: Few studies have compared the risk of recurrent falls across various antidepressant agents—using detailed dosage and duration data—among community-dwelling older adults, including those who have a history of a fall/fracture. Objective: To examine the association of antidepressant use with recurrent falls, including among those with a history of falls/fractures, in community-dwelling elders. Methods: This was a longitudinal analysis of 2948 participants with data collected via interview at year 1 from the Health, Aging and Body Composition study and followed through year 7 (1997-2004). Any antidepressant medication use was self-reported at years 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 and further categorized as (1) selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), (2) tricyclic antidepressants, and (3) others. Dosage and duration were examined. The outcome was recurrent falls (≥2) in the ensuing 12-month period following each medication data collection. Results: Using multivariable generalized estimating equations models, we observed a 48% greater likelihood of recurrent falls in antidepressant users compared with nonusers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.12-1.96). Increased likelihood was also found among those taking SSRIs (AOR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.15-2.28), with short duration of use (AOR = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.04-2.00), and taking moderate dosages (AOR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.15-2.18), all compared with no antidepressant use. Stratified analysis revealed an increased likelihood among users with a baseline history of falls/fractures compared with nonusers (AOR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.28-2.63). Conclusion: Antidepressant use overall, SSRI use, short duration of use, and moderate dosage were associated with recurrent falls. Those with a history of falls/fractures also had an increased likelihood of recurrent falls.
Coexistence of Multiple Ileal Neuroendocrine Tumors and Idiopathic Myointimal Hyperplasia of Mesenteric Veins: Coincidence or Consequence? Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Guadagno Elia , Del Basso De Caro Marialaura , Del Prete Ester , D’Armiento Francesco Paolo , Campione Severo
Published: April 2016

In the present case, we report the association of multiple ileal neuroendocrine tumors and idiopathic myointimal hyperplasia of the mesenteric veins, 2 rare conditions that could have an etiopathogenetic relationship. Idiopathic myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins implies a near-total obliteration of venular vessels, which can lead to hypoxic disorders. Hypoxia in tumors is associated with increased metastatic potential and resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Herein we speculated on the existence of a relationship between hypoxia and multiple location of neuroendocrine tumors.
New Community Spaces: Regional Governance in the Public Interest in the Greater Toronto Area
Authors: Bramwell Allison , Pierre Jon
Published: April 2016

Editor’s Note: A two-part podcast featuring a discussion by the authors of the Mini-symposium on Urban Governance can be found at http://journals.sagepub.com/page/uar/podcasts

This article examines community-driven forms of institutionalized collaboration at the regional scale. We advance a generic and scalable framework that captures not only participants and incentives but also the structures and processes that shape urban policy objectives. This framework allows us to track implementation and adaptation, and to assess institutional viability, legitimacy, and performance over time. We find that the Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance represents a durable and high-performing place-based alliance of social, economic, and political actors dedicated to regional development strategies that include growth and equity goals. Yet the CivicAction Alliance is not a governing coalition. Elite dominance of the policy agenda, value-based tensions, and weak linkages between elected and civic leaders indicate that governance challenges with important democratic implications remain.
Local Place-Based Collaborative Governance: Comparing State-Centric and Society-Centered Models
Authors: Clarke Susan E.
Published: April 2016

Editor’s Note: A two-part podcast featuring a discussion by the authors of the Mini-symposium on Urban Governance can be found at http://journals.sagepub.com/page/uar/podcasts

The renaissance in place-based, cross-sector local collaboratives in American cities is distinguished by diverse strategies and actors. This exploratory research compares early stages of two collaborative initiatives—one relying on traditional state-centric collaboration models and the other drawing on emergent civil society collaboration models—in Denver, Colorado. The FasTracks initiative is a complex public-sector effort involving multiple jurisdictions, private-sector partners, and civic organizations in developing a regional transit system. The Children’s Corridor, spearheaded by the Piton Foundation, links efforts of local government, multiple nonprofit organizations, and private providers to improve children’s well-being in a targeted area. Although the Children’s Corridor collaboration suffered unanticipated disruptions, the argument here is not that one collaborative strategy is more effective than another. Rather, the resilience of the large-scale FasTracks collaborative—despite high transaction costs, diverse interests, eroding trust—was contingent on “bridging the collaborative divide” with dynamic scaling to accommodate multiple governance challenges.
The Social Psychology of Intergroup Toleration
Authors: Verkuyten Maykel , Yogeeswaran Kumar
Published: April 2016

The global increase in cultural and religious diversity has led to calls for toleration of group differences to achieve intergroup harmony. Although much social-psychological research has examined the nature of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination, and its impact on targets of these biases, little research has examined the nature and impact of toleration for intergroup relations. Toleration does not require that people give up their objections to out-group norms and practices but rather mutual accommodation. Integrating research from various social sciences, we explore the nature of intergroup tolerance including its three components—objection, acceptance, and rejection—while drawing out its implications for future social-psychological research. We then explore some psychological consequences to social groups that are the object of toleration. By doing so, we consider the complex ways in which intergroup tolerance impacts both majority and minority groups and the dynamic interplay of both in pluralistic societies.
Fast event-based epidemiological simulations on national scales
Authors: Bauer Pavol , Engblom Stefan , Widgren Stefan
Published: April 2016

We present a computational modeling framework for data-driven simulations and analysis of infectious disease spread in large populations. For the purpose of efficient simulations, we devise a parallel solution algorithm targeting multi-socket shared-memory architectures. The model integrates infectious dynamics as continuous-time Markov chains and available data such as animal movements or aging are incorporated as externally defined events. To bring out parallelism and accelerate the computations, we decompose the spatial domain and optimize cross-boundary communication using dependency-aware task scheduling. Using registered livestock data at a high spatiotemporal resolution, we demonstrate that our approach not only is resilient to varying model configurations but also scales on all physical cores at realistic workloads. Finally, we show that these very features enable the solution of inverse problems on national scales.
Allostatic Perspectives in Women Veterans With a History of Childhood Sexual Assault
Authors: Groër Maureen Wimberly , Kostas-Polston Elizabeth A. , Dillahunt-Aspillaga Christina , Beckie Theresa M. , Johnson-Mallard Versie , Duffy Allyson , Evans Mary E.
Published: April 2016

Background:

Women veterans have increased reports of sexual victimization compared to women in general, including childhood sexual assault (CSA) before military service, increasing the risk of military sexual trauma. Findings from recent studies reveal negative health effects following a history of CSA. There is a strong relationship between CSA and revictimization in civilian and military life, which may contribute to allostatic load.

Objectives:

(1) To determine the relationship between women veterans’ CSA history and later sexual assault history and (2) to determine the relationships between women veterans’ CSA and primary mediators and secondary and tertiary outcomes of allostasis.

Research design:

Cross-sectional.

Subjects:

Women ( N = 81), 18–70 years old, veterans of the U.S. Armed Services.

Measures:

Participants completed questionnaires and blood and hair samples were collected. Several scales were utilized: Posttraumatic Checklist–Military, Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression Scale, Pain Outcomes Questionnaire–Short Form, Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Profile of Mood States, and an investigator-developed sexual harassment/assault instrument.

Results:

Thirty-three percent of participants reported CSA; of these, 38.5% reported military sexual assault and 70.3% sexual assault during civilian life. Those with CSA had higher cholesterol, triglycerides, perceived stress scores, and greater pain and fatigue than those without CSA. Hair cortisol was marginally lower in women with CSA when PSS was controlled, suggesting a dampened hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis.

Conclusions:

These data suggest that some women veterans with a history of CSA may have increased allostatic load and be at increased risk for a variety of later life illnesses.
Is mobile health all peer pressure? The influence of mass media exposure on the motivation to use mobile health apps
Authors: Kwon Min-Woo , Mun Kwansik , Lee Jin Kyun , McLeod Douglas M , D’Angelo Jonathan
Published: April 2016

In recent years, the spread of mobile communication devices such as smartphones has been markedly rapid. With this technological diffusion, mobile health (mHealth) has become an increasingly important issue. In particular, there is an increasing interest in smartphone apps improving public health. Although there is increased availability of mobile devices and health apps, little is known about motivational factors predicting health app adoption and use. The aim of this study was to identify motivational factors that predict the adoption and use of health apps (i.e. health app engagement). To identify the motivational factors, 391 college students were surveyed and survey questions considered the effects of media exposure to health information, interpersonal communication on health issues, and psychological factors (e.g. attitude, usefulness, peer norm, and self-efficacy) on health app engagement. Our results confirm the effect of attitude ( β = 0.36) and usefulness are ( β = 0.33) on mHealth App usage. Furthermore, we found that age ( β = 0.11) and reading news articles about health ( β = 0.13) predict mHealth App usage. Theoretical and practical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Mortality rates at 10 years are higher in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients with chronic lower extremity peripheral arterial disease
Authors: Mueller Thomas , Hinterreiter Franz , Poelz Werner , Haltmayer Meinhard , Dieplinger Benjamin
Published: April 2016

Patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) have a substantially increased risk for mortality as compared to healthy individuals. We aimed to evaluate the risk for all-cause mortality in PAD patients and in healthy controls during a 10-year follow-up period. Our hypothesis was that the mortality rates at 10 years would differ in diabetic and non-diabetic PAD patients. Our study group consisted of 331 consecutive patients with symptomatic PAD <75 years of age admitted to a tertiary care hospital, including 216 patients without diabetes and 115 with diabetes. Control subjects without atherosclerotic disease were matched to the patients in a 1:1 design by sex, age, and diabetes mellitus status. The outcome measure was all-cause mortality at 10 years. Mortality rates at 10 years were 29% in non-diabetic PAD patients versus 14% in age- and sex-matched non-diabetic controls (risk ratio (RR), 2.31; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.54–3.47; p<0.001), and 58% in diabetic PAD patients versus 19% in age- and sex-matched diabetic controls (RR, 4.06; 95% CI, 2.67–6.18; p<0.001). Further, PAD patients with diabetes had a significantly increased risk for death within 10 years than did the non-diabetic PAD patients (RR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.72–3.66; p<0.001). Diabetes was independently associated with outcome, and was the strongest predictor of death in multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. We conclude that mortality rates at 10 years differ in PAD patients <75 years old with and without diabetes. Our findings suggest that future studies should apply distinct risk assessment strategies in the two PAD subgroups.
Comparing student-selected and teacher-assigned pairs on collaborative writing
Authors: Mozaffari Seyedeh Hamideh
Published: April 2016

Despite the preponderance of theoretical and empirical evidence that suggests the use of pair/group work to promote second language learning, it is still unclear who can best form high performance groups. Should students be allowed to choose their working partners, or should teachers themselves assign students to pairs? This study set out to compare the nature of student-selected and teacher-assigned pairs while they were engaged in collaborative writing. All learner talk was audio recorded, transcribed and analysed for the quantity, type and resolution of language related episodes (LREs) as well as the patterns of dyadic interaction. Furthermore, the study examined the texts produced using both quantitative and qualitative measures. Our findings suggest that the teacher-assigned pairs generated significantly more LREs than the student-selected pairs, while there was no significant difference in the patterns of interaction between the two pairing methods. Meanwhile, the qualitative analysis of learner talk revealed a considerable amount of off-task behavior among the members of student-selected pairs. Moreover, as far as the outcome of pair work (collaborative writing) was concerned, the teacher-assigned pairs noticeably outperformed the student-selected pairs on measures of fluency and accuracy. Also, they produced significantly better texts in terms of organization, grammar and vocabulary.
Artifacts have consequences, not agency
Authors: Hornborg Alf
Published: April 2016

This article challenges the urge within Actor-Network Theory, posthumanism, and the ontological turn in sociology and anthropology to dissolve analytical distinctions between subject and object, society and nature, and human and non-human. It argues that only by acknowledging such distinctions and applying a realist ontology can exploitative and unsustainable global power relations be exposed. The predicament of the Anthropocene should not prompt us to abandon distinctions between society and nature but to refine the analytical framework through which we can distinguish between sentience and non-sentience and between the symbolic and non-symbolic. The incompatibility of posthumanist and Marxist approaches to the Anthropocene and the question of agency derives from ideological differences as well as different methodological proclivities. A central illustration of these differences is the understanding of fetishism, a concept viewed by posthumanists as condescending but by Marxists as emancipatory.
Devolution, not decarceration: The limits of juvenile justice reform in Texas
Authors: Cate Sarah
Published: April 2016

Across the USA, a number of states have been reducing the number of juveniles sent to state-run corrections institutions. Findings from a case study on juvenile justice in Texas indicate that the effort to reduce the number of juveniles sent to large state institutions and to invest in “community-based corrections” has entrenched rather than challenged the role of the justice system in the lives of thousands of juveniles. Texas has cut the number of juveniles sent to state-run facilities, but has bolstered and expanded county probation and county detention, which is where the vast majority of juveniles have always been handled. Youth who continue to be sent to state-run facilities or who are housed in county-run institutions experience a high level of violence and are routinely subjected to solitary confinement. The popularity of deinstitutionalizing juveniles from state-run corrections institutions and increasing programming and control of offenders at the local level are animating the landscape of criminal justice policy across the country. The Texas case suggests that this narrow approach further consolidates the extensive role of the justice system in U.S. society.
Influences of intake ports and pent-roof structures on the flow characteristics of a poppet-valved two-stroke gasoline engine
Authors: Li Zhihua , He Bang-quan , Zhao Hua
Published: April 2016

In order to minimize the short-circuiting of the intake charge in a poppet-valved two-stroke engine, a “step structure” on the intake side of the pent-roof was employed to shroud the bulk flow at the upper periphery of the intake valves at low valve lifts. Several intake-port geometries and pent-roof angles were evaluated on their charging and reversed tumble generating abilities using a steady flow test rig built in computational fluid dynamics, among which top-entry ports and relatively small pent-roof angle were selected. The scavenging processes of the two-stroke engine at high load and 3000 r/min condition with different intake valve seat heights were simulated and evaluated. The local flow patterns and composition distribution were also studied. The results show that lowering the intake valve seat height achieves higher delivery ratio and charging efficiency, but marginally better scavenging efficiency and slightly lower trapping efficiency. The scavenging process experiences a slow displacement period due to low flow momentum for the high valve seat cases and flow interaction at the exhaust exits for the low valve seat cases. Reversed tumble is the dominant flow pattern during the scavenging process. The lower the valve seat, the higher the tumble ratio in the early stage and at the end of the scavenging period. For all valve seat configurations, the least scavenged regions are located near the engine head wall and between the intake and the exhaust valves, while the regions rich in fresh charge are located along the major path of the reversed tumble. Low intake valve seat height is effective in increasing the overall in-cylinder air proportion. Further reducing it can result in higher fresh charge proportion below the exhaust valves and near the head wall.
Early Menarche is Associated With Preference for Masculine Male Faces and Younger Preferred Age to Have a First Child
Authors: Batres Carlota , Perrett David I.
Published: April 2016

One developmental factor that is associated with variation in reproductive strategy is pubertal timing. For instance, women who experience earlier menarche have their first pregnancy earlier and prefer more masculinized male voices. Early menarche may also lead to preferences for masculine faces, but no study has shown such a link. We therefore investigated the relationships between pubertal timing, reproductive plans, sexual attitudes and behaviors, and masculinity preferences in nulliparous women aged 18–30 from the United Kingdom ( N = 10,793). We found that women who experienced earlier menarche reported a younger preferred age to have a first child and showed stronger masculinity preferences. This provides evidence that women experiencing early menarche not only have children earlier but notably plan to have children earlier. Additionally, our findings provide evidence that age of menarche influences partner selection, which is instrumental for the implementation of reproductive strategies.
A machine-learning approach for structural damage detection using least square support vector machine based on a new combinational kernel function
Authors: Ghiasi Ramin , Torkzadeh Peyman , Noori Mohammad
Published: April 2016

Health assessment and monitoring of engineered systems have become one of the fastest growing multi-disciplinary research areas over the last two decades. One of the largest concerns in structural health monitoring is how to infer structural conditions from the measurements and the data collected by sensors. The ultimate aim is to detect the structural damages with a high level of certainty and hence to extend the life of structures. In this study, a new strategy for structural damage detection is proposed using least square support vector machines based on a new combinational kernel. Thin plate spline Littlewood–Paley wavelet kernel function introduced in this article is a novel combinational kernel function, which combines thin plate spline radial basis function kernel with local characteristics and a modified Littlewood–Paley wavelet kernel function with global characteristics. During the process of structural damage detection, a social harmony search algorithm optimizes the parameters of least square support vector machine and the thin plate spline Littlewood–Paley wavelet kernel. The results obtained by this method are compared with least square support vector machine based on the other combinational and conventional kernels. These results show that the accuracy of damage detection based on least square support vector machine with thin plate spline Littlewood–Paley wavelet kernel is higher than other methods that utilize conventional kernels under similar conditions. In comparison with other combinational kernels, least square support vector machine with thin plate spline Littlewood–Paley wavelet kernel possesses a better dissemination and learning ability by incorporating the advantages of radial basis function kernel and wavelet kernel functions.
Bullying and inappropriate behaviour among faculty personnel
Authors: Meriläinen Matti , Sinkkonen Hanna-Maija , Puhakka Helena , Käyhkö Katinka
Published: April 2016

This study focuses on the degree, nature and consequences of bullying or inappropriate behaviour among faculty personnel ( n = 303) in a Finnish university. A total of 114 (38%) faculty members answered the email questionnaire. According to the results, 15% of the respondents had experienced bullying; in addition, 45% had experienced inappropriate behaviour. The person behind the bullying or inappropriate behaviour was a member of the teaching personnel ( f = 26), a member of the administration staff ( f = 23), a student ( f = 13) or a member of the research personnel ( f = 8). Bullying or inappropriate behaviour occurred during research work ( f = 21), personnel meetings ( f = 19), interaction situations (10), teaching ( f = 7), counselling ( f = 7) or during leisure time ( f = 1). Factor analysis revealed three dimensions of bullying: exclusion and discrimination, person-related belittlement and professional undermining. These dimensions were consistent with the categories of the consequences of bullying or inappropriate behaviour based on open-ended answers. The consequences of bullying or inappropriate behaviour primarily have an influence at the individual level as affective disorders and as a decrease in professional self-confidence and work performance. These consequences are also temporally and communally linked to a declining working environment and further to a reduction in the profitability of the faculty.
Impact of Islamic Values on the Leadership Style of Muslim Women Academics in Malaysia
Authors: Hamzah Siti Raba’ah , Hamzah Azimi , Othman Jamilah , Devi Sharmila
Published: April 2016

The Problem

The religious background of Muslim women academic leaders in Malaysia guides them in performing demanding roles in managing multiple responsibilities. To date, little is known about the impact of Islamic values on Muslim women leaders in institutions of higher learning, even though Islam is the official religion in Malaysia. In addition, the field of human resource development has done little to explore the leadership style of Muslim women.

The Solution

This paper presents findings and recommendations of a research conducted for the purpose of exploring, understanding, and presenting the impact of Islamic values on the leadership style of Muslim women academics in Malaysia. This inquiry is significant because it’s open the new sight for HRD scholar and practitioners to explore HRD in a leadership, women leadership, religious, and the role of Muslim faith in women academic leaders. It is hoped that the findings of this research will encourage HRD scholars and practitioners to consider integrated dimension to their scholarly thought and practice related to leadership style.

The Stakeholders

The outcomes of this research will be of interest to those women who are currently in leadership roles in academia, as well as those women interested in moving into these roles. It should also be of interest to higher education administrators and, particularly, those within higher education charged with developing leaders. Human resource development scholars and practitioners will also benefit from the contributions of this article to our general understanding of women in leadership roles.
Influences of an Evangelical Christian Worldview on Women’s Leadership Development
Authors: Dahlvig Jolyn E. , Longman Karen A.
Published: April 2016

The Problem

A recent Pew Research Center report noted that 70.6% of U.S. American adults self-identify as Christian; 25.4% identify themselves as Protestant Evangelical. Historically, the worldview of evangelicals has reflected what Gallagher described as a “hierarchically ordered universe.” The implications of this worldview on both individuals and organizational cultures add complexities as women navigate the labyrinth of leadership. Such complexities, related to the implied superiority of maleness, call for a review of research related to the leadership experiences of evangelical women, with implications for professional development programs.

The Solution

Recent research has focused attention on leadership identity development; for women, this process involves addressing “the often fragile process of coming to see oneself, and to be seen by others, as a leader.” Understanding the worldview of evangelicals can be important if the aspirations and abilities of high-potential women are to be fully tapped. Based on previous grounded theory research as reported by Dahlvig and Longman, this article provides a review of the relevant literature, including a model and conceptual framework for leadership development that recognizes the influence of an evangelical worldview on organizational culture and women’s leadership aspirations and experiences of women.

The Stakeholders

As a multidisciplinary field, Human Resource Development benefits from exploring emerging leadership development theories, especially theories that take into consideration context, culture, and worldview. This research can be instructive to HRD professionals and others who may benefit from understanding how worldview shapes individuals’ lived experiences.
Understanding the Experiences of Professional Women Leaders Living and Working in Sweden
Authors: Johnson Elizabeth R. , Tunheim Katherine A.
Published: April 2016

The Problem

Women working across the globe have struggled to achieve positions of leadership while also taking parental leave, accessing affordable child care, and maintaining work–life balance. Alternate models are needed, in particular those relevant to the development and retention of women in the workplace.

The Solution

Scandinavia is leading the world in gender equality (World Economic Forum). Of these progressive Nordic countries, the United Nations Commission has identified Sweden as one of the best countries in the world for women to live and work (World Economic Forum). The purpose of this article is to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of professional women leaders living and working in Sweden.

The Stakeholders

With implications for employee retention and pay equity, this research may be useful for human resource development professionals, leadership developers, and educators. It may also be informative to women across the globe, hoping to learn how other countries treat and support their female and male employees, especially during parental leaves.
The X-ray attenuation and the flexural properties of lead-free coated fabrics
Authors: Aral Nebahat , Nergis F Banu , Candan Cevza
Published: April 2016

In this paper, tungsten, bismuth, tin, and copper powders were used as additives in the fabric coating to obtain lead-free and flexible x-ray shielding material. The X-ray attenuation and the flexural properties of the coated fabrics were investigated considering the medical protection requirements. The results showed that tungsten additives in silicone rubber coating had better attenuation ratios than the samples that contain tungsten–tin, bismuth, and tungsten–copper, at same additive volume ratios. Moreover, the increment of tungsten volume ratios in coating blend resulted in higher shielding performance at same effective thicknesses and the lower silicone rubber amount in coating lead to compose thinner and lighter fabrics for equal protection level. In addition to that, the samples with tungsten–tin, bismuth, and tungsten–copper showed remarkable attenuation properties, and the results were found to be coherent with the theoretical values. The flex resistance and the flexural rigidity of the samples with tungsten content were also investigated. The coated fabrics with different powder loadings and thicknesses showed good resistance against repetitive folding; on the other hand, the results showed that the increment of tungsten amount in the coating resulted in stiffer fabrics.