bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) use a high-frequency short-range biosonar
Authors: Ladegaard Michael , Jensen Frants Havmand , de Freitas Mafalda , Ferreira da Silva Vera Maria , Madsen Peter Teglberg
Published: October 2015

Toothed whales produce echolocation clicks with source parameters related to body size; however, it may be equally important to consider the influence of habitat, as suggested by studies on echolocating bats. A few toothed whale species have fully adapted to river systems, where sonar operation is likely to result in higher clutter and reverberation levels than those experienced by most toothed whales at sea because of the shallow water and dense vegetation. To test the hypothesis that habitat shapes the evolution of toothed whale biosonar parameters by promoting simpler auditory scenes to interpret in acoustically complex habitats, echolocation clicks of wild Amazon river dolphins were recorded using a vertical seven-hydrophone array. We identified 404 on-axis biosonar clicks having a mean SLpp of 190.3±6.1 dB re. 1 µPa, mean SLEFD of 132.1±6.0 dB re. 1 µPa2s, mean Fc of 101.2±10.5 kHz, mean BWRMS of 29.3±4.3 kHz and mean ICI of 35.1±17.9 ms. Piston fit modelling resulted in an estimated half-power beamwidth of 10.2 deg (95% CI: 9.6–10.5 deg) and directivity index of 25.2 dB (95% CI: 24.9–25.7 dB). These results support the hypothesis that river-dwelling toothed whales operate their biosonars at lower amplitude and higher sampling rates than similar-sized marine species without sacrificing high directivity, in order to provide high update rates in acoustically complex habitats and simplify auditory scenes through reduced clutter and reverberation levels. We conclude that habitat, along with body size, is an important evolutionary driver of source parameters in toothed whale biosonars.
Energy Factor in Iran-Turkey Relations
Authors: Kalehsar Omid Shokri
Published: October 2015

This paper outlines the mutually beneficial opportunities for cooperation on energy policy that are likely to emerge between Iran and Turkey. A number of recent developments, in both countries' domestic political situation and beyond, have prompted renewed cooperation in spite of a difficult past. Keeping in mind Iran's important role as an energy producer, and Turkey's ideal geopolitical position as a key conduit to Western markets, convergence on energy policy follows as a logical matter of course for both actors. A qualitative analysis of the perceptions of various key decision-makers will be presented here, using information obtained from interviews, to provide some understanding of the constantly changing relationship between the two countries. These insightful qualitative analyses will be supported by empirical data showing the real economic and political impacts of these various periods of diplomatic warming and cooling. With Western markets seeking a viable alternative to Russian gas exports, and Iranian sanctions likely to be eased gently over the foreseeable period, the possibility of both states achieving their individual energy policy goals may be within reach, and could provide an economic boost to the region as a whole.
Convergence Analysis of Environmental Fiscal Pressure across EU-15 Countries
Authors: Villar Rubio Elena , Rubio Quesada , Manuel José , Molina Moreno Valentín
Published: October 2015

This paper analyses the convergence process of environmental fiscal pressure within the framework of the incipient process of economic globalisation and fiscal harmonisation. On the basis of data obtained from Eurostat for the 1987-2008 period, and taking the first fifteen members of the European Union as a reference, we have applied beta, sigma, and gamma-convergence tools to cross-section data. The results obtained have allowed us to verify the existence of convergence in environmental fiscal pressure, except in Denmark and the Low Countries, whose performance is quite different to the rest of the countries due to their high levels of environmental fiscal pressure.
Influence of Carbon Dioxide on Average Global Temperature during the Phanerozoic Eon
Authors: Pangburn Dan
Published: October 2015

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) has had no significant effect on average global temperature. This deduction employs existing data and the computational mandate that temperature change is in response to the time-integral of the net forcing; not proportionately to the instantaneous value of the net forcing itself. This finding also stongly suggests that Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW) is flawed and climate sensitivity (the increase in average global temperature (AGT) due to doubling of CO2 is not significantly different from zero.
Details of H-Beam-to-RHS Column Joints with through Diaphragm for Progressive Collapse Prevention
Authors: Wang Wei , Qin Xi , Chen Yiyi
Published: October 2015

A partial damage caused by an abnormal load could trigger progressive collapse of high rise buildings which may lead to fatal consequences. To meliorate structural robustness, two types of joint with improved connection details—modified bolted connection and retrofitted bolt-weld connection and their corresponding design methods are proposed on the basis of the conventional RHS column joint with through diaphragm. The numerical results indicate that both the modified bolted connection and the retrofitted bolt-weld connection can enhance the vertical deformation capacity of the beam-column assemblages before the force transmission failure at the bottom of connection region, which is conductive to the development of catenary action by axial force in the beams. For that reason, the beam-column assemblages can provide greater vertical carrying capacity and the two improved connection details can be used in designing and transforming structures against progressive collapse.
Experimental Investigation on Large-scale Slender FRP-Concrete-Steel Double-Skin Tubular Columns Subjected to Eccentric Compression
Authors: Yao J. , Jiang T. , Xu P. , Lu Z.G.
Published: October 2015

FRP-Concrete-Steel Double-Skin Tubular Columns (DSTCs) are a new form of hybrid columns which effectively combines the advantages of the constituent materials. A DSTC consists of an outer fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) tube and an inner steel tube with the gap between filled with concrete. This paper presents the first-ever large-scale tests on slender DSTCs subjected to eccentric compression. The major parameters examined include the load eccentricity and the confinement stiffness of the FRP tube. Test results show that slender DSTCs possess good ductility under eccentric compression. Larger load eccentricity results in lower axial load capacity and higher deformability; larger confinement stiffness of the FRP tube results in larger axial load capacity and deformability. The axial strain distribution of a DSTC section subjected to eccentric compression generally conforms to the plane section assumption, but the ultimate axial strain of concrete is increased as a result of eccentric compression.
Phenomenon of Virtual Reality in Theory and Practice of Social Systems Manage
Authors: Ярцева  , YArtsyeva Svyetlana , Зотов  , Zotov V.
Published: October 2015

The authors, who are the experts in anthropogenic systems management technology, revealed the phenomenon of virtual reality from the point of its practical

signifi cance for developing society management strategies. The method of strategic planning regards virtual reality asa theoretical and philosophical basis for

the design and virtualization of economic and mathematical images of the real socio-economic systems in the generated virtual world. Particular attention is

paid to the fundamental properties of socio-economic systems, causing an objective link of their virtual images with the principles of nonlinear dynamics.Using

virtual reality elements is exemplifi ed on “DYN-Prognoz” simulation, targeted at the development of social systems managing strategies. Authors proposed to

use generative virtual reality related by feedback to time continuum with advanced virtual image as a new direction in social and economic forecasting.
Personnel’s Motivation to Self-organize Labor Activity
Authors: Маслов  , Maslov Yevgyeniy , Абакумова  , Abakumova Nadezhda , Нехаев  , Nekhaev A.
Published: October 2015

The article discusses the problem of increase of effi ciency of work of employees on the basis of formation of aspiration to self-organization, self-government and internal motivation. The problem arose owing to unstable environment. Modern management looks for internal mechanisms of regulation of employees’ behavior in the conditions of the changing environment. It is the behavior which is based on self-organization, self-government, internal motivation. Authors attempt to defi ne the “self-organization of work of the personnel” category and its main components. Thus they consider in detail internal motivation of work as one of the main components of self-organization. Specifi c Psychological features of the personality induce, stimulate the worker to high-performance work and activity. In Russia Modern systems of compensation are used for formation of internal motivation. In these systems workers handle clear purposes on achievement of result through the system of indicators; this promotes self-organization of the worker when performing the work. The article off ers the following as conditions for self-organization: selection and development of the employed personnel, control minimization, stimulation of an initiative and innovative off ers, individual motivation and stimulation, development of the system of the improving innovations in the organization.
New Approach to Diagnostics of Personnel Situation
Authors: Артемина  , Artemina K.
Published: October 2015

The article analyzes known approaches to treatment of the concept “personnel situation”; stresses fundamental diff erences of an author’s position; off ers

modernized methodological tools aimed at diagnostics and management of personnel situation and based on understanding a personnel situation as an

indicator of productivity of personnel management off ering main indicators of personnel policy: the number of the personnel, motivation and performance

appraisal, personnel’s perception the of the general values; proposes standard model of diagnostics of a personnel situation in the organization executing

active personnel policy; refl ects results of pilot approbation of the modernized technique on the example of the leading NP “Altai Biopharmaceutical Cluster”

industrial enterprises; carries out the analysis of the results of executives’ interview, draws conclusions on productivity of personnel situation according to the

obtained data.
Innovative Approaches to Management of Personnel Costs
Authors: Гладкова  , Gladkova O.
Published: October 2015

Annotation. In the article current trends and problems of management of costs of the personnel are considered. Relevance of research and choice of its directions are caused by an insuffi cient theoretical readiness and practical realization of questions of justifi cation of effi ciency of personnel costs, connected with formation of the human capital and the worker’s cost. The author reveals the value of a manpower in profi tability potential of a modern company, specifi es the concept of “ personnel costs”, proves the need of investments into the personnel through creation of a cost management system for the purpose of formation of the human capital as non-material asset of the company, formulates the directions of personnel costs optimization and methodological approaches to assessment of their effi ciency.The proposed solutions of the existing theoretical and practical problems of personnel costs management are directed on formation of a nonmaterial asset of the company, its human capital, capable to bring economic benefi ts in current and long term periods.
Welfare and higher education in EU member states – comparative analysis
Authors: Wronowska Gabriela
Published: October 2015

This paper addresses the issues related to higher education in selected EU Member States and its contribution to the creation of wealth. Special emphasis was placed on the shape of education policy in selected countries through an analysis of the main indicators characterizing the same. The paper raises a number of questions which are important from the point of view of social policy: these questions relate to the policy of higher education funding and attempts to isolate and identify the relationships between higher education funding and the situation of people with higher education on the labour market. In the first part of this paper, the author presents the phenomenon of welfare by taking into account its measurement, especially those measures that relate to education related elements. Then the author indicates the relationship between education, especially its availability, and the process of wealth creation in the economy. In the empirical part of the paper an analysis is carried out on the basis of available and comparable indicators for selected EU Member States and conclusions are drawn based on the indicators.
Financial issues perceived by youth: preliminary survey for financial literacy evaluation in the Baltics
Authors: Titko Jelena , Lace Natalja , Polajeva Tatjana
Published: October 2015

Financial literacy as a prerequisite of citizens’ financial well-being and, as a consequence, economic security is a hot topic not only in the academic environment, but also among the representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations. One of the most important activities realized by the government in order to enhance citizens’ financial literacy level is the implementation of the National strategy. The first step of this process is an evaluation of a current situation, which, in turn, requires a proper measurement instrument. The current research was aimed at specifying the content and the structure of the instrument, as well as to reveal the differences in perception of financial matters by students from different countries. A set of 12 financial questions was developed to detect perceived importance and complexity of financial literacy components, as well as to get financial literacy self-assessment scores. The questions were disseminated among the Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian students. The obtained results assisted to specify the content and wording of questions to be included into the financial literacy measurement instrument. Besides, revealed differences between students’ perception of financial questions allowed making conclusions about students’ self-confidence that has a great impact on financial literacy level.
Mezzanine as an alternative form of corporate financing
Authors: Czajkowska Agnieszka
Published: October 2015

The main goal of the article is the assessment of mezzanine financing as an innovative form in Poland, which might play a significant role in the dynamically developing companies which can’t obtain sufficient capital from traditional sources in the form of bank credits. Mezzanine may be applied to: financing investment projects, increasing the value of the company, the expansion of businesses through mergers and acquisitions, redemption of shares or the financing of leveraged buyouts. The main methodology used in this article is explanatory research and comparative analysis. The hypothesis assumes that mezzanine financing may become an important alternative source of funding for medium and large sized enterprises in Poland. This article presents the idea of mezzanine financing, its mechanism, structures and comparison to alternative funding, examples of such transactions costs. An important part is indication of types of mezzanine capital and applications in the USA, the UE including Poland as well as comparative analysis of mezzanine advantages and disadvantages.
Impact of institutional factors on economic growth in the United States in the years 1979–2007
Authors: Kuder Dorota
Published: October 2015

The purpose of this article is to isolate and determine the importance of institutional arrangements in shaping the dynamics of the U.S. GDP in the years 1979–2007. The research hypothesis which has been verified here can be summarized as follows: institutions in the U.S. economy have a positive influence on economic growth through a significant impact on improving the business environment. Having regard to the division of the economy into institutional areas: economic system, labor market, financial market, education and R&D, the author selected these institutional factors which indicated that the operation could be important for the process of economic growth in the United States, and then measured the impact in the years 1979–2007. To verify the thesis about the impact of institutions on economic growth the author used one of the most popular tools in this kind of econometric research – the multiple regression analysis. The analysis revealed that during the period of all the analyzed institutional factors it was the proportion of the working population and the degree of unionization that most strongly influenced the economic growth of the United States – an increase in one of these factors was associated with a much more than proportional increase in the rate of the economic growth.
Equal Tails: A Simple Method to Elicit Utility Under Violations of Expected Utility
Authors: Baucells Manel , Villasís Antonio
Published: October 2015

Classical methods to elicit utility are biased because most individuals do not treat probabilities linearly. We propose a simple modification of the classical methods that equates, for all prospects being compared, the range of outcomes. We argue that the modification should work in theory, and test the modification experimentally. Our first experiment confirms that the modified certainty equivalent method reduces the curvature of the S-shaped value function. The second experiment is a novel design that compares the trade-off method with the three classical methods in their original and modified forms. Our equal-tails modification of both the certainty equivalent and the lottery equivalent method produces results consistent with the trade-off method. The lottery equivalent modification is particularly useful to elicit utility points when outcomes are nonquantifiable.
Almost Definite Matrices Revisited
Authors: Sivakumar K. , Meenakshi Ar. , Choudhury Projesh
Published: October 2015

A real matrix A is called as an almost definite matrix if â¨x, Axâ© = 0 â Ax = 0. This notion is revisited. Many basic properties of such matrices are established. Several characterizations for a matrix to be an almost definite matrix are presented. Comparisons of certain properties of almost definite matrices with similar properties for positive definite or positive semidefinite matrices are brought to the fore. Interconnections with matrix classes arising in the theory of linear complementarity problems are discussed briefly.
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Quality Control and Origin Identification of Handmade Manufactured Cigars
Authors: Alvira Fernando C. , Bilmes Gabriel M. , Flores Teresa , Ponce Luis
Published: October 2015

Tobacco is an agricultural product originating in America that is obtained by processing the leaves of various plants of the genus Nicotiana tabacum. It is the inedible product occupying the most plantings in the world, according to a recent report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. It is consumed in various ways, but the most popular form of consumption is, undoubtedly, by smoking cigarettes. A particular segment of the tobacco industry is the manufacturing of handmade cigars, which for some third-world countries is an important source of income. There are different qualities of cigars, and a major problem is the adulteration that occurs, for example, when authentic high-quality leaves are replaced by lower quality leaves. A factor that influences the quality of the cigars is the smoke combustion process, which depends on several factors, particularly the composition of the leaves. We present a simple and quick technique for the quality control and origin identification of handmade cigars that measures the Mg/Ca ratios in the tobacco leaves and wrappers of the cigars using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.
On the Use of Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy and Synthetic Calibration Spectra to Quantify Gas Concentrations in a Fischer-Tropsch Catalyst System
Authors: Ferguson Frank T. , Johnson Natasha M. , Nuth Joseph A.
Published: October 2015

One possible origin of prebiotic organic material is that these compounds were formed via Fischer-Tropsch-type (FTT) reactions of carbon monoxide and hydrogen on silicate and oxide grains in the warm, inner-solar nebula. To investigate this possibility, an experimental system has been built in which the catalytic efficiency of different grain-analog materials can be tested. During such runs, the gas phase above these grain analogs is sampled using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. To provide quantitative estimates of the concentration of these gases, a technique in which high-resolution spectra of the gases are calculated using the High-Resolution Transmission Molecular Absorption (HITRAN) database is used. Next, these spectra are processed via a method that mimics the processes giving rise to the instrumental line shape of the FT-IR spectrometer, including apodization, self-apodization, and broadening due to the finite resolution. The result is a very close match between the measured and computed spectra. This technique was tested using four major gases found in the FTT reactions: carbon monoxide, methane, carbon dioxide, and water. For the ranges typical of the FTT reactions, the carbon monoxide results were found to be accurate to within 5% and the remaining gases accurate to within 10%. These spectra can then be used to generate synthetic calibration data, allowing the rapid computation of the gas concentrations in the FTT experiments.
Una sufrida pervivencia: elementos y motivos míticos en la filosofía griega de la antigüedad
Authors: López Saco Julio
Published: October 2015

Entre otros aspectos de índole histórica, la distinción nomos-physis, operada en el mundo griego arcaico, supuso que las estructuras socio-culturales dejaran de ser intrínsecas al mundo, para ser convencionales e impuestas al orden natural, un hecho que rompió las correlaciones del tradicional discurso mítico (naturaleza-cultura), y empezó a distinguir humanidad y mundo. A pesar de este giro, el mito no desapareció ni fue enteramente superado u olvidado. En tal sentido, la propuesta que se ofrece en este trabajo es la teórica observación del proceder e influencia del mito en aquello que se ha conceptualizado como «filosófico» en la antigüedad helena.
Hayden White y la «emergencia» del humanismo liberal: El contenido de la forma de los Western Civilization courses
Authors: Sanz Loroño Miguel Ángel
Published: October 2015

Este artículo propone una relectura del primer libro publicado por el filósofo e historiador Hayden White, The Emergence of Liberal Humanism (1966). Con ello se pretende alcanzar tres objetivos. El primero consiste en poner en contexto lo dicho por el autor en uno de sus más provocadores artículos, «The Burden of History» (1966). Los límites ideológicos de The Emergence deberían servir para que el lector de White conociese un «White» anterior a Metahistory, mucho menos «modernista» que el que nos ofrece el citado artículo. En relación con lo anterior, se trata de dar cuenta de los procedimientos de la ideología estética que lo configuró como autor, a la sazón, y como veremos, el llamado humanismo liberal, que puede resumirse como la elaboración estética del liberalismo estadounidense posterior a Franklin D. Roosevelt. Y en tercer lugar, se busca ofrecer una lectura formalista que reivindique la importancia en el estudio de la historiografía de lo que el propio White llamó «el contenido de la forma». Los significados ideológicos de las formas narrativas que se emplean en esta obra son un buen ejemplo de la importancia de este enfoque.
Assessment of two prop-2-enamide-based polyelectrolytes as property enhancers in aqueous bentonite mud
Authors: Nagre Robert D. , Zhao Lin , Frimpong Isaac K. , Zhao Qing-Mei
Published: October 2015

Large amounts of hydrocarbons are located in deeper formations where higher temperatures are experienced, hence designing a proper drilling fluid to tolerate such conditions has represented a challenging task for researchers in the field. The current work is focused on evaluating the effectiveness of poly(prop-2-enamide-sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulphonate-ethenyl ethanoate), designated as CP4 and poly(prop-2-enamide-sodium-prop-2-enoate-
Reactivity of palladium nanoparticles supported on a microemulsion-based organogel network in supercritical carbon dioxide‡
Authors: Naoe Kazumitsu , Ando Tatsuya , Kawasaki Kenta , Imai Masanao
Published: October 2015

Palladium (Pd) nanoparticles were prepared using the phase transfer method and coated with alkylamines as stabilizing agents stably dispersed in nonpolar solvents. Spherical Pd nanoparticles with an average diameter of 4 nm and a relatively narrow size distribution were obtained using hexylamine or dodecylamine, and they were successfully incorporated in microemulsion-based gelatin organogel (OG); also, an OG network containing Pd nanoparticles was prepared via drying. For the Mizoroki–Heck cross-coupling reaction of iodobenzene with methyl acrylate in supercritical carbon dioxide, the Pd nanoparticles in the OG network exhibited much higher reactivity than those in powder state. Preparation conditions of OG (e.g., gelatin concentration) affected the apparent reactivity of the supported Pd nanoparticles. The Pd nanoparticles in the OG network with high gelatin concentration were recycled with no appreciable change of reactivity. In contrast, the reactivity of the Pd nanoparticles with low gelatin concentration decreased during recycling.
Plant-derived surfactants as an alternative to synthetic surfactants: surface and antioxidant activities
Authors: Tmáková Lenka , Sekretár Stanislav , Schmidt Štefan
Published: October 2015

Biosurfactants have great advantages as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic surfactants. Surface active properties and antioxidant activity of extracts prepared from
Quality Management Principles and Benefits of their Implementation in Central Banks
Authors: Luburić Radoica
Published: October 2015

This article discusses the principles of quality management and benefits of their implementation in central banks. It is based on new principles of quality management, in particular to: customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision making, and, relationship management. With a view to continuously improving their performance and achieving sustained success, central banks have a realistic opportunity to use these principles in an efficient and effective manner whereby the top management certainly holds the most responsibility. Quality management principles are analysed herein both in their original form and in terms of their implementation in the financial system and its most prominent entity - central bank. The article also incorporates new standard-related terms such as `context` and `risk-based thinking` that significantly strengthen quality management principles and contribute to a more effective and efficient achievement of sustainable success.
Structure of AlN films deposited by magnetron sputtering method
Authors: Nowakowska-Langier K. , Chodun R. , Zdunek K. , Minikayev R. , Nietubyc R.
Published: October 2015

AlN films on a Si substrate were synthesized by magnetron sputtering method. A dual magnetron system operating in AC mode was used in the experiment. Processes of synthesis were carried out in the atmosphere of a mixture of Ar/N2. Morphology and phase structure of the AlN films were investigated at different pressures. Structural characterizations were performed by means of SEM and X-ray diffraction methods. Our results show that the use of magnetron sputtering method in a dual magnetron sputtering system is an effective way to produce AlN layers which are characterized by a good adhesion to the silicon substrate. The morphology of the films is strongly dependent on the Ar/N2 gas mixture pressure. An increase of the mixture pressure is accompanied by a columnar growth of the layers. The films obtained at the pressure below 1 Pa are characterized by finer and compacter structure. The AlN films are characterized by a polycrystalline hexagonal (wurtzite) structure in which the crystallographic orientation depends on the gas mixture pressure.
Study of the spatial distribution of minority carrier diffusion length in epiplanar detector structures
Authors: Piotrowski T. , Węgrzecki M. , Stolarski M. , Krajewski T.
Published: October 2015

One of the key parameters determining detection properties of silicon PIN detector structures (p

The paper presents a method for measuring the spatial distribution of effective carrier diffusion length in silicon detector structures, based on the measurement of photoelectric current of a non-polarised structure illuminated (spot diameter of 250 μm) with monochromatic radiation of two wavelengths λ
Equivalence classes of permutations modulo descents and left-to-right maxima
Authors: Baril Jean-Luc , Petrossian Armen
Published: October 2015

In a recent paper [2], the authors provide enumerating results for equivalence classes of permutations modulo excedances. In this paper we investigate two other equivalence relations based on descents and left-to-right maxima. Enumerating results are presented for permutations, involutions, derangements, cycles and permutations avoiding one pattern of length three.
Evolution of Psychosomatic Diagnosis in DSM. Historical Perspectives and New Development for Internists
Authors: Moldovan Ramona , Radu Mădălina , Băban Adriana , Dumitraşcu D.L.
Published: October 2015

The so-called “Psychosomatic symptoms” represent a real challenge for internists. These have often been described as non-specific, non-organic, functional, dysfunctional or idiopathic. These “diagnostic puzzles” are obviously difficult to treat. Psychosomatic symptoms have been categorized as hysteria, psychogenic, psychosomatic, conversion, somatization and somatoform disorder. It is only when modern classificatory systems such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) were developed that research was stimulated and new clinical developments became much stronger than any other time. The current paper is aimed at briefly presenting the evolution of psychosomatic symptoms in DSM while pointing out the major milestones as well as the benefits and challenges along the way. We discuss the perspectives open with the advent of the 5th edition the DSM-V.
Transformative continuations, (dis)affiliation, and accountability in Japanese interaction
Authors: Haugh Michael , Obana Yasuko
Published: October 2015

Studies of joint productions have often focused on instances where a recipient anticipates through completions what a speaker might be about to say, or through expansion what that speaker could plausibly go on to say. However, recent work suggests that grammatically fitted continuations may also alter or redirect the projected trajectory of a prior speaker’s turn or utterance. In this paper, building on this prior work, we focus on cases in Japanese interaction where grammatically fitted continuations of one speaker’s turn or utterance by another speaker accomplished through “format tying” (Goodwin and Goodwin 1987) effects some kind of transformation of the action or stance implemented by that prior turn. We term these “transformative continuations,” and propose that while they are invariably disaligning, they may nevertheless implement both affiliative and disaffiliative stances. We propose that an analysis of transformative continuations thus leads us to a consideration of both the degree to which participants may orient to these as (dis)affiliative, as well as the ways in which the respective participants may be held accountable for such instances of joint production.
Reported speech as cultural gloss and directive: socializing norms of speaking and acting in Japanese caregiver–child triadic interaction
Authors: Burdelski Matthew
Published: October 2015

This paper examines reported speech in Japanese caregiver–child triadic interaction. Based on 132 hours of audiovisual recordings of eight two-year-olds in and around the home and neighborhood, it draws upon language socialization and conversation analytic methods in examining how caregivers use third-party reported speech (e.g., She/he says X) in socializing children how to interpret others’ communicative behavior as
Cognitive Sociolinguistic Aspects of Football Chants: The Role of Social and Physical Context in Usage-based Construction Grammar
Authors: Hoffmann Thomas
Published: October 2015

Usage-based approaches to language stress that a speaker’s mental grammar arises from and is shaped by language use and that the resulting mental representations include rich contextual linguistic and non-linguistic information. Yet, despite the fact that sociolinguistic research has pointed out the great importance of social and physical context factors as well as individual styles that speakers draw on to create their linguistic identities in authentic language use, usage-based Construction Grammar approaches have so far not paid enough attention to these phenomena. While the growing field of Cognitive Sociolinguistics has already tried to incorporate a wide variety of sociolinguistic phenomena into their cognitive analyses, most Construction Grammar approaches usually only include sociolinguistic parameters (such as text type, register or dialect) as independent variables in their analyses. In this paper, I argue that such an approach ignores recent sociolinguistic insights into the active stylization of individuals by dynamic linguistic acts of identity. In this paper, I will show the importance of these insights by focussing on English football chants. First, I will illustrate how football chants can be analysed as linguistic constructions that are constrained by complex social and physical context factors. In a next step, I will then argue that the complex social and physical context constraints as well as the potential to function as linguistic acts of identity are not only relevant for these types of constructions, but also need to be taken into account in usage-based Construction Grammar analysis in general.
Economic impediments to a Taliban peace process
Authors: Weir James , Azamy Hekmatullah
Published: October 2015

An important question underlies the potential for a successful peace process in Afghanistan: If political negotiations between the Taliban leadership and the Afghan government succeed, will fighters in the field cease their activities, especially illicit funding practices, and accept government legal authority? Interviews conducted in early 2014—well before the announcement of Mullah Omar’s death or the appearance of Islamic State in the region—indicate that a wide gulf separates the motivations of low-level insurgents from their leadership’s ideological objectives. The rank and file fight for multiple reasons, the most significant of which is the financial advantage of association with the movement. Recent studies of the economics of insurgency describe a crime-insurgency-terror nexus that applies to the contemporary Afghan context, albeit requiring adjustment to account for the distinctive political circumstances and wartime history of Afghanistan. [D74, F51, F52, O53, Z10]
Validación Estructural de la Escala Básica de Empatía (Basic Empathy Scale) Modificada en Adolescentes: un Estudio Preliminar
Authors: Merino-Soto Cesar , Grimaldo-Muchotrigo Mirian
Published: October 2015

Se hizo un estudio preliminar para verificar la estructura de una versión de 9 ítems de la Escala Básica de Empatía (EBE), un instrumento que evalúa la empatía afectiva y cognitiva. Los participantes fueron 135 adolescentes entre 11 y 18 años (M=14, DE=1.4) de educación regular, en una región urbana de Lima Metropolitana. Se usó metodología de ecuaciones estructurales para confirmar la estructura, y la transformación Schmid-Leiman para evaluar el modelo bi-dimensional. Los resultados indican que un modelo oblicuo de dos factores es satisfactorio para los datos, la confiabilidad es superior a .70, y no se justifica la interpretación de un solo puntaje tal como anteriormente se hacía. Se discuten las diferencias en la interpretación de los modelos y la valoración de la metodología factorial.
Las tecnologías de la información en el aprendizaje de la lengua de señas
Authors: Hernandez Suarez Cesar Augusto , Pulido Jose Leonardo , Arias Jorge E.
Published: October 2015

Objetivo Desarrollar de una herramienta tecnológica que permita mejorar el aprendizaje inicial de la lengua de señas en los niños con discapacidad auditiva.

Métodos El desarrollo de la presente investigación se realizó a través de tres fases: el levantamiento de requerimientos, el diseño y desarrollo del dispositivo propuesto, y la validación y evaluación del dispositivo. A través del uso de las tecnologías de la información y con el asesoramiento de profesionales en educación especial se logró desarrollar un dispositivo electrónico que facilita el aprendizaje de la lengua de señas en los niños sordos. El cual esta conformado principalmente por una pantalla grafica táctil, un sintetizador de voz y un sistema de reconocimiento de voz. La validación se realizó con los niños sordos del colegio Filadelfia para sordos en Bogotá.

Resultados Se estableció una metodología de aprendizaje que permite mejorar los tiempos de aprendizaje, a través de un prototipo tecnológico de tamaño reducido, portable, liviano y didáctico.

Conclusiones Las pruebas realizadas mostraron la efectividad de este prototipo, logrando reducir en 32 % el tiempo de aprendizaje inicial de la lengua de señas en niños sordos. 

 
Factores de riesgo relacionados con accidentes pediátricos en un hospital infantil de Bogotá
Authors: Hurtado Sierra Daniel Eduardo , Medina Chicue Eliana Maritza , Sarmiento Limas Carlos Arturo , Godoy Javier A.
Published: October 2015

Objetivo Describir los factores de riesgo biofísicos y socioculturales relacionados con la accidentalidad del paciente pediátrico.

Método Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal. Recolección de los datos a través de aplicación de encuestas en forma directa.

Resultados Se analizaron 308 encuestas, diligenciadas entre los meses de febrero a abril del año 2010. Los adolescentes fueron el grupo más afectado (33,5 %), el género masculino registró el mayor número de traumas (64,7 %). El principal tipo de familia fue el nuclear 52 %, el 34,9 % de los pacientes pertenecían al estrato 2 y el 46,6 % se encontraba al cuidado de la madre al momento del accidente. El 84 % de los cuidadores tenían más de 5 años de estudio, el 47 % considero que el sitio más inseguro para un niño es la vía pública y el 76,8 % manifestó nunca haber recibido información sobre prevención de accidentes. El accidente más frecuente fue la caída de altura 54,7 % y el sitio con mayor número de traumas fue el hogar 51 %.

Discusión Las características demográficas y factores socioculturales del presente estudio difieren de los reportes de grandes estudios de lesiones no intencionales. 
Molecular simulation of adhesion property recovery in the cellulose/phenolic adhesive interface: the role of water molecules
Authors: Tam Lik-ho , Lau Denvid
Published: October 2015

Cellulose is one of the most abundant substances in the world, and the major constituent in the wood structure. Phenolic adhesive is largely used in the wood manufacture for gluing the wood panels together. The cellulose/phenolic adhesive interface is a representative of the interface between the wood panels and adhesives in the wood products. As the wood panels and adhesive are sensitive to environmental humidity, the interfacial adhesion of such interface when subjected to a humid environment can be a major factor in the durability of final products. Here, the role of water molecules on the adhesion property of cellulose/phenolic adhesive interface is investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. The simulation results reveal that the adhesion energy between cellulose and phenolic adhesive can be reduced by 86.5% with saturated moisture ingress. Meanwhile, it is demonstrated that the adhesion energy can be recovered after the interface experiences further dry conditioning. The hydrogen bonds between the cellulose and phenolic adhesive are found to account for the strong interfacial adhesion, which can be interrupted in the presence of water molecules and recovered after further dry conditioning. The adhesion property between the wood panels and adhesives is mainly determined by water molecules absorbed at the bilayer interface, which should be considered in a wet condition.
Carlo Branzaglia, Pierfrancesco Pacoda and Alba Solaro (1992) Posse ita/iane: centri sociali, unde rgrowid musicale e cultura giovanile degli anni '90 in Italia
Authors: Mitchell Tony
Published: October 2015

The Italian Posses: SocialCentres, the Musical Underground and Youth Culture in Italy in the '90s), Florence, Editoriale Tosca
A NEW TRADITION
Authors: Hayward Philip
Published: October 2015

The opening article in this issue addresses the emergence of music video production in Papua New Guinea over the last five years and its relation to notions of both national and cultural independence and the representation of tradition.
PACIFIC ISLANDER RADIO AND MUSIC IN AUCKLAND
Authors: Derby Mark , Wilson Helen
Published: October 2015

This paper looks at the emergence of radio broadcasting aimed at the Pacific Island populations. There are now larger populations of people from micro-states like the Cook Islands and Niue (whose I 7 people are New Zealand citizens) in South Auckland there than in their tiny home territories..
Cognitive deficits in post-stroke aphasia
Authors: Bonini Milena V. , Radanovic Márcia
Published: October 2015

The assessment of aphasics’ cognitive performance is challenging and such patients are generally excluded from studies that describe cognitive deficits after stroke. We evaluated aphasics’ performance in cognitive tasks compared to non-aphasic subjects. A sample of 47 patients (21 aphasics, 17 non-aphasics with left hemisphere lesions and 9 non-aphasics with right hemisphere lesions) performed cognitive tasks (attention, verbal and visual memory, executive functions, visuospatial skills and praxis). Aphasic patients performed poorer than all non-aphasics in Digit Span (p < 0.001), Clock-Drawing Test (p = 0.006), Verbal memory (p = 0.002), Visual Memory (p < 0.01), Verbal Fluency (p < 0.001), and Gesture Praxis (p < 0.001). Aphasia severity correlated with performance in Trail Making test part B (p = 0.004), Digit Span forward (p < 0.001) and backwards (p = 0.011), and Gesture Praxis (p = 0.002). Aphasia is accompanied by deficits not always easy to be evaluated by cognitive tests due to speech production and motor impairments. Assessment of cognitive functions in aphasics might contribute to optimize therapeutic intervention.
Is a second cycle of immunoglobulin justified in axonal forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Authors: Godoy Daniel Agustin , Rabinstein Alejandro
Published: October 2015

Objective In certain situations, severe forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) show no response or continue to deteriorate after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) infusion. It is unclear what the best treatment option would be in these circumstances.Method This is a case report on patients with severe axonal GBS in whom a second cycle of IVIg was used.Results Three patients on mechanical ventilation who presented axonal variants of GBS, with autonomic dysfunction, bulbar impairment and Erasmus score > 6, showed no improvement after IVIg infusion of 400 mg/kg/d for 5 days. After 6 weeks, we started a second cycle of IVIg using the same doses and regimen as in the previous one. On average, 5 days after the second infusion, all the patients were weaned off mechanical ventilation and showed resolution of their blood pressure and heart rate fluctuations.Conclusions A second cycle of IVIg may be an option for treating severe forms of GBS.
A AVALIAÇÃO DAS APRENDIZAGENS NA FORMAÇÃO INICIAL DE PROFESSORES: DISCURSOS DE PROFESSORES/FORMADORES
Authors: Ferreira Carlos Alberto Alves Soares
Published: October 2015

RESUMO:Na formação inicial de professores do 1º ciclo do ensino básico, o ensino está centrado na aprendizagem e no trabalho autônomos dos futuros professores, e a avaliação das suas aprendizagens teve que se redirecionar nesse sentido. Assim, realizamos um estudo com docentes desses cursos, por meio de entrevistas nas quais afirmaram procurar avaliar os processos de realização de tarefas de aprendizagem dos futuros professores, na tentativa de diagnosticar atempadamente dificuldades e de os levar a ultrapassá-las. No entanto, consideraram que as práticas de avaliação formativa ainda não são as ideais, devido ao elevado número de alunos que cada docente tem, ao número e à diversidade de unidades curriculares que lecionam e, ainda, à falta de tempo para uma ajustada regulação do processo de ensino e de aprendizagem.
EDUCAÇÃO À DISTÂNCIA NO BRASIL: POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS E DEMOCRATIZAÇÃO DO ACESSO AO ENSINO SUPERIOR
Authors: Arruda Eucidio Pimenta , Arruda Durcelina Ereni Pimenta
Published: October 2015

RESUMO:O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a ampliação da Educação à Distância (EaD) nos diferentes contextos das políticas públicas educacionais brasileiras. O artigo promove uma discussão e análise do histórico de políticas públicas de fomento à Educação à Distância (EaD) e de suas implicações para a democratização da educação no Ensino Superior no Brasil. O crescimento exponencial do número de matriculados na EaD justifica a necessidade de se discutir o caráter democrático do acesso, em contraposição a um discurso que prima pelo atendimento quantitativo do Estado quanto à formação da população brasileira em nível superior. Como resultados, as análises realizadas revelaram uma ampliação da oferta de cursos à distância e um movimento de promoção de políticas públicas "emergenciais" em EaD.
A ALFABETIZAÇÃO E SUA RELAÇÃO COM O USO DO COMPUTADOR: O SUPORTE DIGITAL COMO MAIS UM INSTRUMENTO DE ENSINO-APRENDIZAGEM DA ESCRITA
Authors: Glória Julianna Silva , Frade Isabel Cristina Alves da Silva
Published: October 2015

RESUMO:Neste artigo apresentamos dados de pesquisa desenvolvida no programa de Pós-Graduação da FAE/UFMG em que tratamos sobre as implicações de se introduzir o computador como suporte de escrita na fase de alfabetização. Entre as referências estão os estudos sobre os letramentos, como aqueles produzidos por Magda Soares e Brian Street, e sobre a história da leitura e do livro e a história da cultura escrita. Na metodologia adotamos os princípios da pesquisa qualitativa, com proposta de intervenção colaborativa, com a proposição de acompanhar crianças de 6 anos em laboratório de informática de escola pública em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, durante o ano de 2009, em várias situações de atividades de escritura e leitura na tela do computador, tanto na utilização de programas, atividades, jogos, como em atividades com gêneros da esfera digital.