bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Closed-cup Flash Points and Flammability Properties of Selected Chemical Compounds
Authors: Hshieh Tammy T. , Hshieh Fu-Yu
Published: February 2005

The closed-cup flash points of nine organic compounds and 38 organosilicon compounds are measured using a Setaflash closed-cup tester. This study demonstrates that Setaflash closed-cup tester is an effective tool for measuring the flash points of combustible liquids, especially for high-viscosity liquids. The flammability properties of these chemical compounds are determined using a cone calorimeter at a low-incident heat flux of 3 kW/m2. The results show that good correlations can be found between the closed-cup flash point and the time to ignition, the time to peak heat release rate, and the propensity to flashover. There is no good correlation between the closed-cup flash point and the peak heat release rate.
An Investigation of the Effects of Zeolites on the Thermal Degradation and Charring of APP–PER by TGA–XPS
Authors: Wei Ping , Jiang Pingkai , Han Zhidong , Wang Jianqi
Published: February 2005

The effects of zeolites 4A, 13X, mordenite, and ZSM-5 on the thermal degradation and charring of intumescent ammonium polyphosphate (APP)–pentaerythritol (PER) systems were explored by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermal gravimetric analyses (TGA). The weight loss rate of the third main degradation step (corresponding to the maximum degradation rate of APP–PER) was remarkably decreased for all systems with addition of zeolites, especially for the systems with 4A and 13X where the minimal weight loss rate, 0.13%/ C and 0.11%/ C, were found. The residues of APP–PER systems with 4A and 13X at 600 C were 33–35% higher than that of the pure APP–PER system. The XPS–TGA results indicated that zeolites might execute their effects on the thermal degradation of APP–PER by two ways, that is, by catalyzing the esterification reaction between APP and PER at temperatures below 250 C and enhancing the cross-linking and charring by SiO2 and Al2O3 produced by the breakage of zeolites at temperatures above 250 C. Meanwhile, the thermal degradation and charring processes of the APP–PER systems with zeolites were found to be related to the type of the zeolites.
Synthesis of Polyacrylamide Nanogels by Intramolecular Disulfide Cross-linking
Authors: Aliyar Hyder Ali , Hamilton Paul D. , Remsen Edward E. , Ravi Nathan
Published: February 2005

Nondegradable polyamides with protein-like properties were designed and prepared as a copolymeric hydrogel by the free-radical polymerization of acrylamide with a disulfide-containing cross-linking agent, N, N-bisacryloylcystamine. Copolyacrylamides containing pendent thiol groups (BSH) were obtained after reduction of the disulfide bonds in the hydrogel, followed by precipitation in methanol. Ellman's analysis and gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) were used to characterize the copolymer. Redissolution of the copolymer in water at very dilute concentrations, followed by air oxidation under physiological conditions (pH 7.5), resulted in nanoparticles (nanogels). The dilute concentration favored intramolecular disulfide crosslinking in the polymer chain, resulting primarily in a single-chain nanogel. Nanogel formation was confirmed and characterized using GPC, dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy. The size of the nanogels ranged from 20–200nm.
A bogus Benjamin Rush quote: contribution to the history of pharmacracy
Authors: Szasz Thomas
Published: February 2005

Benjamin Rush (1746–1813), the ‘father’ of American psychiatry, is perhaps best known as the inventor of the ‘tranquilizing chair’. In recent decades, political and psychiatric activists have attributed a quotation to him in which he allegedly warned: ‘To restrict the art of healing to one class of men and deny equal privileges to others will constitute the Bastille of medical science.’ The source of this quotation cannot be found, and Rush’s remarks about ‘medical despotism’ are inconsistent with the body of his work. Other examples are cited to illustrate the thesis that false attributions, used to support and advance particular ideological causes, are remarkably resistant to efforts at correction.
The cemetery associated with Leyme Mental Hospital
Authors: Védie Christian
Published: February 2005

A detailed study of a cemetery attached to a provincial psychiatric hospital underscores its resemblance to military and Anglo-Saxon burial grounds. It is a sad reminder of the isolation and abandonment of many patients in French asylums up to the middle of the twentieth century.
Cox’s chair: ‘a moral and a medical mean in the treatment of maniacs’
Authors: Wade Nicholas J. , Norrsell U. , Presly A.
Published: February 2005

Two hundred years ago Joseph Cox published his book on the treatment of insanity. His novel technique was rotating the body in a specially designed chair. Initially modest and later extravagant claims were made for the therapeutic benefit of ‘Cox’s chair’. It was widely adopted in Europe in the first decades of the nineteenth century, but lost favour thereafter. Its benefits have proved to be scientific rather than medical because it was adopted by students of the senses to investigate vertigo; a century later it re-emerged as the Bárány chair for the clinical assessment of vestibular function. The legacy of Cox’s chair, and its related treatment of swinging, are to be found in funfairs throughout the world.
Excerpt from Medicinische Psychologie oder Physiologie der Seele
Authors: Berrios G. E.
Published: February 2005

Hermann Lotze (1817–81) is a neglected figure in the history of psychiatry although it has been claimed that his early views were influential, for example, on the young Griesinger. Trained as a physician, psychologist and philosopher he saw better than many the impending epistemological crisis that was to affect disciplines such as psychology and medical psychology as they were being taken over by the natural sciences. The problem he endeavoured to resolve was doubleheaded. On the one hand, Lotze believed that the mechanisms proposed by physiology and other relevant natural sciences were essential to the explanation of human behaviour provided that its meaning and context were respected; on the other, he wanted to do away with mysterious (metaphysical) explanations such as ‘vital force’ which in his time were still popular in biology. The solutions he eventually offered can understandably be seen as a weak compromise and one which satisfied no one. Materialists à outrance such as Vogt, Büchner, Lange and Ribot though he was too ‘metaphysical’; spiritualist philosophers believed that he had surrendered too much to biology. It is likely that Lotze remained, in fact, a metaphysician as can be ascertained by studying his concept of Seele (soul, mind) into which he packed enough furniture to make many believe that he was an idealist thinker. This paper discusses some of these issues and justifies the choice of classic text, namely, Lotze’s illuminating Introduction to his book Medicinische Psychologie oder Physiologie der Seele.
Validation of a Laminated Beam Model of LIPCA Piezoelectric Actuators
Authors: Goo Nam Seo , Haris Andi , Park Hoon Cheol , Yoon Kwang Joon
Published: February 2005

This paper presents the results obtained by using a laminated beam model to predict the displacement of lightweight piezoceramic composite actuators (LIPCA) due to an applied input voltage and an applied transverse load for developmental purposes. The laminated beam model results in two primary design parameters, the actuation coefficient of a laminated beam Culb and the bending stiffness of a laminated beam EIlb The parameter Culb controls maximum displacement when the actuators are subjected to an applied voltage, whereas the parameter EIlb affects the displacement performance when a transverse load is applied to the actuators. The result of the laminated beam model indicates that designing to maximize Culb and EIlb could generate LIPCA-type actuators with larger displacement and higher force. This laminated beam result is validated numerically by using a NASTRAN finite element model result and is also validated experimentally.
On the Phenomenological Modeling of Electrorheological and Magnetorheological Fluid Preyield Behavior
Authors: Gandhi Farhan , Bullough William A.
Published: February 2005

Phenomenological constitutive models for electrorheological and magneto-rheological fluids and devices in the literature have used various approaches for the representation of the preyield regime. These include modeling the preyield regime using an elastic spring, a viscous dashpot, a Kelvin–Voigt solid, a Maxwell fluid, a three-element (Zener) solid, and a three-element fluid. This paper reviews the behavioral attributes associated with each of the above models. Then, considering the physical phenomena prior to the onset of yield, and experimental data in the preyield regime, and comparing with the behavioral attributes exhibited by the various preyield models, it is concluded that the behavior in the preyield regime is solid-like, not fluid-like, and most conveniently represented as a Kelvin–Voigt viscoelastic solid. In particular, over frequency ranges of interest, the storage modulus does not approach zero at low-frequency limits, as a fluid would exhibit. Effectively modeling the preyield behavior as a Maxwell fluid, as has been done in the literature, yielded frequency-dependent system parameters (specifically the preyield viscosity). This is the result of a viscoelastic fluid model attempting to display the viscoelastic solid-like characteristics exhibited by the test data.
Harvesting Energy Using a Thin Unimorph Prestressed Bender: Geometrical Effects
Authors: Mossi Karla , Green Christopher , Ounaies Zoubeida , Hughes Esther
Published: February 2005

Mathematical models and circuitry necessary for optimal energy conversion have been developed for piezoelectric devices because of their ability to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. The piezoelectric device that is the focus of this study is a curved, thin unimorph prestressed bender. This device consists of layers of piezoelectric material, polyimide, and metal bonded at high temperatures. Effects of its layer composition and geometry on energy harvesting and actuation are investigated. Through this investigation, a method for developing empirical relationships is established and it is demonstrated that an actuator can be engineered so that the same energy output could be obtained with different materials by adjusting relevant parameters.
Actuator Placement Optimization and Adaptive Vibration Control of Plate Smart Structures
Authors: Peng Fujun , Ng Alfred , Hu Yan-Ru
Published: February 2005

In this paper, a performance criterion is proposed for the optimization of piezoelectric patch actuator locations on flexible plate structures based on maximizing the controllability grammian. This is followed by the determination of parameters required for actuator location optimization through Structuring Analysis in ANSYS Finite Element Analysis Package. Genetic Algorithm is then used to implement the optimization. Finally, with the actuators bonded on optimized locations, a filtered-x LMS-based multichannel adaptive control is applied to suppress vibration response of the plate. Numerical simulations are performed in suppressing tri-sinusoidal response at three points of the plates. The results show that the developed actuator placement optimization methodology is very effective in searching for the optimal actuator locations that minimize the energy requirement of vibration control. The control algorithm is also demonstrated to be efficient and robust in the smart structure vibration control.
Design Parameter Estimation using a Modified QFD Method to Improve Customer Perception
Authors: Iranmanesh Seyed Hossein , Thomson Vincent , Salimi Mohammad Hossein
Published: February 2005

This article presents an integrated approach to optimize cost while respecting the customer perception of a product using a modified Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method. This QFD method helps a design team to determine the effect of various design strategies for customer satisfaction. The new QFD method uses a two-phased approach for finding an optimum design strategy. During the first phase, the design team sets goals for customer perception for each customer attribute and relates them to those of its competitors (benchmarking); then, in the second phase, a goal-based model with a separated, mixed integer structure is used to minimize cost while respecting customer desires. The model defines fixed cost as a major improvement in design solutions such as changing parts, materials, or operational mechanisms. It also defines variable cost as a minor improvement in the current design solution. An illustrative example is given to demonstrate the use of the method, and a sensitivity analysis for budget limitation is shown. The method is applicable to a wide spectrum of design problems where, setting preferences over competitors’ products and respecting budget limitations are the major criteria in the design strategy.
Knowledge Refinement for Engineering Knowledge Management
Authors: Wang Chin-Bin , Chen Yuh-Jen , Chen Yuh-Min , Chu Hui-Chuan
Published: February 2005

Engineering design is a knowledge-intensive process, including conceptual design, detailed design, engineering analysis, assembly design, process design, and performance evaluation. Each of these tasks involves various aspects of knowledge and experience. They are the most valuable sources for capitalizing enterprise knowledge and know-how on building enterprise memory, which may become part of enterprise assets. Therefore, capturing and representing product design information, design intents, and underlining design knowledge for later reuse is the basis of and one of the key tasks in engineering knowledge management.

This study develops an approach for engineering knowledge refinement to facilitate engineering knowledge management. This approach is basically a refinement process that includes the steps of knowledge capture, knowledge representation and storage, and knowledge compilation. This study involves the development of a semantic graph for describing product-related information, design intent and know-how, a tag-based scheme for representing various types of captured product information and engineering knowledge, a case-based representation for a designed entity, and the design of a knowledge compilation model and algorithm.

The objective of this study can be achieved by performing the following tasks: (i) developing an engineering knowledge management framework, (ii) establishing an engineering knowledge refinement process, (iii) developing levels of knowledge representation schemes, and(iv) implementing engineering knowledge refinement mechanisms.
Screening for Antifungal Activity of Some Essential Oils Against Common Spoilage Fungi of Bakery Products
Authors: Guynot M. E. , MarÍn S. , SetÚ L. , Sanchis V. , Ramos A. J.
Published: February 2005

The antifungal effect of 20 essential oils against the most important moulds in terms of spoilage of bakery products ( Eurotiumspp., Aspergillusspp. and Penicilliumspp.) was investigated. Suitable solutions of essential oils were added directly to an agar culture medium (containing 2% wheat flour) to obtain a final concentration in the range between 0 to 1,000 ppm. Antifungal activity was tested at different water activity ( aw) and pH conditions, and the fungal growth was followed by measuring the colony diameter during the incubation period. Only cinnamon leaf, rosemary, thyme, bay and clove essential oils exhibited some antifungal activity against all isolates. The antifungal activity depended on aw and pH levels. In general, a stronger inhibition was observed as the water availability increased, moreover, in some cases at 0.80 aw they favoured fungal growth. The interaction between essential oil concentration and pH depended mainly on the essential oil. Rosemary, thyme and bay were more effective at pH 5, loosing their activity as pH increased, while only cinnamon leaf was more effective near neutrality. These findings strengthen the possibility of using plant essential oils as an alternative to chemicals to preserve bakery products.
An Effective Method for Producing a Nutritive Protein Extract Powder from Shrimp-head Waste
Authors: Mizani M. , Aminlari M. , Khodabandeh M.
Published: February 2005

Enzymatic hydrolysis has been widely applied for production of protein hydrolysate from shrimp waste and for purification of chitin. In the present study, shrimp (P. semisulcatus) head waste was hydrolysed, using a commercial proteolytic enzyme, Alcalase. In order to improve protein extraction efficiency, certain chemicals such as sodium sulphite and Triton x-100 were used along with the enzyme. When Alcalase (12 AU/kg) used alone, the yield of protein extraction was 45.1% and by using Triton x-100 (0.01 g/kg) together with Alcalase, the yield was decreased to 39%, whereas the presence of sodium sulphite (200 mmol/L) with the enzyme or with the enzyme and Triton x-100 increased the level of protein extraction to 62% and 65.1%, respectively. The resulting protein powder contained sufficient amounts of essential amino acids to be used in feed formulations. By precipitating proteins from the resulting protein extract at pH 3.1, the residual sulphite in protein powder was decreased by 97% and thus the powder can be considered suitable for animal and/or aquaculture feed formulations.
Effect of Inulin and Lactulose on Survival of Lactobacillus AcidophilusLA-5 and Bifidobacterium Bifidum BB-02 in Acidophilus-Bifidus Yoghurt
Authors: Özer D. , Akin S. , Özer B.
Published: February 2005

The effect of supplementation of lactulose and inulin as prebiotics on the growth of L. acidophilusLA-5 and B. bifidumBB-02 in Acidophilus-Bifidus (AB) yoghurt and some quality parameters of the resulting products were studied. Yoghurts produced from milks with added inulin at levels of 0.5% and 1.0%, or with lactulose at levels of 0.25% and 2.5% were compared with classical yoghurt and AB yoghurt (without added prebiotics). The results showed that inulin and lactulose did not affect the growth of yoghurt starter bacteria, but stimulated the growth of B. bifidumBB-02 to a great extent. Lactulose was found to be more effective on the growth of both probiotic strains than inulin. Inulin did not stimulate the growth of L. acidophilusLA-5. The cell counts of B. bifidumBB-02 and L. acidophilusLA-5 were dependent upon concentrations of lactulose and inulin used. No significant (p< 0.05) difference between the samples were observed with regard to the pH and lactic acid values. However, lactulose or inulin added samples had lower acetaldehyde and tyrosine contents than the untreated samples.
Palm Kernel: A Potential Substrate for Rapid Detection of Aflatoxigenic Fungi
Authors: Atanda O. O. , Akpan I. , Rati E. R. , Ozoje M.
Published: February 2005

Palm kernel is a cheap natural resource which is abundantly available in the tropics, parts of Asia and South and Central America. A culture medium was developed by incorporating fresh palm kernel extract for the detection of aflatoxigenic fungi. Aflatoxin positive isolates of Aspergilliexhibited a characteristic blue or blue green fluorescence of agar under long wave UV light against a pink background which was confirmed by thin layer chromatography. As compared to conventional desiccated coconut agar, the fluorescent nature of the medium, the intensity and diffusion of the hot water soluble fluorescent compounds of the fungus was unique on this medium. The optimal pH and temperature conditions of aflatoxin production were 7 and 30 ºC respectively. Additives (synthetic and natural) either had no effect or adversely affected the fluorescence of the medium. Aflatoxin detection was possible within 36h in palm kernel broth compared to 40 h in coconut broth. The optimal time of production of fluorescence was 44 h on palm kernel agar compared to 48 h on the conventional medium. Further tests with isolates from different sources showed that yellow pigmentation, fluorescence and aflatoxins were complementary thus obviating the need for UV light. It is thus possible to presumptively identify aflatoxin positive isolates.
CGMGRAPH/CGMLIB: Implementing and Testing CGM Graph Algorithms on PC Clusters and Shared Memory Machines
Authors: Chan Albert , Dehne Frank , Taylor Ryan
Published: February 2005

In this paper, we present CGMgraph, the first integrated library of parallel graph methods for PC clusters based on Coarse Grained Multicomputer (CGM) algorithms. CGMgraph implements parallel methods for various graph problems. Our implementations of deterministic list ranking, Euler tour, connected components, spanning forest, and bipartite graph detection are, to our knowledge, the first efficient implementations for PC clusters. Our library also includes CGMlib, a library of basic CGM tools such as sorting, prefix sum, one-to-all broadcast, all-to-one gather, h-Relation, all-to-all broadcast, array balancing, and CGM partitioning. Both libraries are available for download at http://www.scs.carleton.ca/~cgm.

In the experimental part of this paper, we demonstrate the performance of our methods on four different architectures: a gigabit connected high performance PC cluster, a smaller PC cluster connected via fast ethernet, a network of workstations, and a shared memory machine. Our experiments show that our library provides good parallel speedup and scalability on all four platforms. The communication overhead is, in most cases, small and does not grow significantly with an increasing number of processors. This is a very important feature of CGM algorithms which makes them very efficient in practice.
Evaluating Dynamic Communicators and One-Sided Operations for Current MPI Libraries
Authors: Gabriel Edgar , Fagg Graham E. , Dongarra Jack J.
Published: February 2005

In this paper we evaluate the current status and performance of several MPI implementations regarding two chapters of the MPI-2 specification. First, we analyze whether the performance using dynamically created communicators is comparable to the approach presented in MPI-1 using a static communicator for different MPI libraries. We then evaluate whether the communication performance of one-sided communication on current machines represents a benefit or a disadvantage to the end-user compared to the more conventional two-sided communication.
Assessing the Scalability of Multiphysics Tools for Modeling Solidification and Melting Processes on Parallel Clusters
Authors: McManus Kevin , Williams Alison , Cross Mark , Croft Nick , Walshaw Chris
Published: February 2005

A comprehensive solution of solidification/melting processes requires the simultaneous representation of free surface fluid flow, heat transfer, phase change, nonlinear solid mechanics and, possibly, electromagnetics together with their interactions, in what is now known as multiphysics simulation. Such simulations are computationally intensive and the implementation of solution strategies for multiphysics calculations must embed their effective parallelization. For some years, together with our collaborators, we have been involved in the development of numerical software tools for multiphysics modeling on parallel cluster systems. This research has involved a combination of algorithmic procedures, parallel strategies and tools, plus the design of a computational modeling software environment and its deployment in a range of real world applications. One output from this research is the three-dimensional parallel multiphysics code, PHYSICA. In this paper we report on an assessment of its parallel scalability on a range of increasingly complex models drawn from actual industrial problems, on three contemporary parallel cluster systems.
Mapping Reflexive Body Techniques: On Body Modification and Maintenance
Authors: Crossley Nick
Published: February 2005

This article aims to do two things. The first of these is to introduce the concept of reflexive body techniques into the debate on body modification/maintenance. The value of the concept in relation to this debate, in part, is that it ensures that we conceive of the body as both a subject and an object, modifier and modified, and that we thereby avoid the trap of conceptualizing modification in dualistic (mind/body or body/society) terms. Second, the article seeks to explore the pattern of distribution of practices of modification (conceived as reflexive body techniques) through society and to reflect upon the potential usefulness of multi-dimensional scaling as a tool for doing this. This aim is related to the first aim as it is argued that the concept of reflexive body techniques serves to identify and anchor practices ofmodification in a way that is amenable to both quantitative and qualitative forms of analysis, as well as theoretical investigation.
Body Projects and the Regulation of Normative Masculinity
Authors: Gill Rosalind , Henwood Karen , McLean Carl
Published: February 2005

Drawing on interviews with 140 young British males, this article explores the ways in which men talk about their own bodies and bodily practices, and those of other men. The specific focus of interest is a variety of body modification practices. We argue, however, that the significance of this analysis extends beyond the topic of body modification. In discussing the appearance of their bodies, the men we interviewed talked less about muscle and skin than about their own selves located within particular social, cultural and moral universes. This article shows that, in talking about seemingly trivial questions such as whether to have one’s nose pierced or join a gym, men are actively engaged in regulating normative masculinity. Our analysis lends support to the claim that the body has become a new (identity) project in high/late/post-modernity, but shows how fraught with difficulties this project is for young men who must simultaneously work on and discipline their bodies while disavowing any (inappropriate) interest in their own appearance. The analysis highlights the pervasive individualism of young men’s discourses, and the absence of alternative ways of making sense of embodied experiences.
Theorizing the Young Woman in the Body
Authors: Frost Liz
Published: February 2005

In this article the author seeks to establish a theoretical framework within which the contemporary concerns about young women’s unhappy and unhealthy relationships with their bodies can be elucidated. Symbolic interactionist theories are considered to explicate the imperative of producing visual identity, and modern interactionist work (Giddens) to consider the consumer capitalist context of this imperative. Post-structural feminist work is interrogated for its robust engagement with the contradictory approaches to the possibility of female agency in relation to ‘doing looks’. The structural tradition is briefly utilized to consider the social position of the young people who increasingly, it is argued, seek identification through appearance. Finally, symbolic interactionist work is returned to for its ability to theorize the intersubjective production and subjective experience of body-hatred.
Autonomic Effects of Expressive Writing in Individuals with Elevated Blood Pressure
Authors: McGuire Kimberly M. Beckwith , Greenberg Melanie A. , Gevirtz Richard
Published: February 2005

We evaluated systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate variability and skin conductance at basline, and 1 and 4 months in 38 participants with elevated blood pressure, randomly assigned to expressive writing or control groups. There was a significant interaction such that the very low frequency wave of heart rate variability increased over time only in controls, suggesting potentially protective buffering in expressive writing. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure also decreased significantly from baseline to 1 month in expressive writing. Consistent with inhibition, Anger-In moderated effects of writing on 4-month DBP. Overall, expressive writing demonstrated short-term autonomic benefits and longer-term moderated effects.
The Effects of Expressive Writing on Pain, Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Koopman Cheryl , Ismailji Tasneem , Holmes Danielle , Classen Catherine C. , Palesh Oxana , Wales Talor
Published: February 2005

This study examined the effects of expressive writing on depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and pain symptoms among women who have survived intimate partner violence (IPV). Forty-seven women completed baseline and four-month follow-up assessments and were randomly assigned to four writing sessions of either expressive writing focused on traumatic life events or writing about a neutral topic. Main effects were not significant for changes in depression, pain or PTSD symptoms. However, among depressed women, those assigned to expressive writing showed a significantly greater drop in depression. For depressed women with IPV histories, expressive writing may lead to reduced depression.
Decreased Depression Up to One Year Following CBSM+ Intervention in Depressed Women with AIDS: The Smart/EST Women’s Project
Authors: Laperriere Arthur , Ironson Gail H. , Antoni Michael H. , Pomm Heidi , Jones Deborah , Ishii Mary , Lydston David , Lawrence Peter , Grossman Alison , Brondolo Elizabeth , Cassells Andrea , Tobin Jonathan N. , Schneiderman Neil , Weiss Stephen M.
Published: February 2005

This prospective multisite Phase III clinical trial (Miami, New York, New Jersey) investigated the long-term (one year) effects of a 10-week group cognitive-behavioral stress management/expressive supportive therapy (CBSM+) intervention on disadvantaged minority women living with AIDS. The CBSM+ intervention consisted of 10-weekly group session of stress management, cognitive-behavioral skill training, relaxation techniques and expressive-supportive therapeutic strategies. The primary study outcome was self-reported depression scores as measured by the BDI. The CBSM+ Group intervention significantly decreased depression scores on the BDI for women following the intervention and maintained the decreased level at one-year follow-up.
Effect of a Brief Cognitive Training Programme in Patients with Long-lasting Back Pain Evaluated as Unfit for Surgery
Authors: Magnussen Liv , Rognsvåg Turid , Tveito Torill H. , Eriksen Hege R.
Published: February 2005

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of cognitive intervention (information and physical exercise), on patients with long-lasting back pain referred for surgical evaluation at an orthopaedic hospital, but evaluated as unfit for surgery. One hundred and fifty-two patients were randomized to a five days intervention or control. The intervention had no significant effects on pain. At three-month follow-up, the patients in the intervention group used significantly more active strategies to cope with the back pain compared to the control group. This effect seemed to increase over time, being more pronounced at one-year follow-up evaluation.
Evaluation of the UCL Diabetes Self-management Programme (UCL-DSMP): A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Steed Liz , Lankester Jill , Barnard Maria , Earle Ken , Hurel Stephen , Newman Stanton
Published: February 2005

Self-management has been described as the cornerstone of care for diabetes. Many self-management studies are limited by poor methodology and poor descriptions of the intervention. The current study developed a theoretically based self-management programme for patients with type 2 diabetes, which was evaluated via a randomized controlled trial. At immediate post-intervention and three-month follow-up the intervention group showed significant improvement relative to controls on self-management behaviours, quality of life and illness beliefs. A trend towards improved HbA1c was also observed. Documentation in a manual and development of a training programme for facilitators ensures the programme is replicable.
From ‘Safety Nets’ Back to ‘Universal Social Provision’
Authors: Deacon Bob
Published: February 2005

This short article draws upon a number of recent reports from several international organizations to argue the case that, at least at the level of discourse, the tide has turned from the period in the 1990s when a targeted and means tested safety net future for welfare policy especially in the context of development was being constructed. Now even within the World Bank there is some evidence that the case for a universal approach to social welfare provision is again being recognized. This shift suggests that one locus of the struggle for the future of national and international social policy continues to be the international epistemic community of social policy analysts working for and advising international agencies.
The Battle of Future Pensions
Authors: Ervik Rune
Published: February 2005

This article examines the role of concepts and accounting techniques in shaping the debate and policy solutions on pensions. These concepts have been diffused around the world by epistemic communities, attaining global status as a means of describing the future financing burden of public pay-as-you-go (PAYG) pension systems. The World Bank and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have played vital roles in these processes of diffusion. The article aims primarily to expose the importance of these conceptual tools in shaping the policy debate. Second, it accounts for their role as part of the contrasting policy stories that international organizations propagate in the global pension debate. Third, the article explores to what extent these conceptual tools and adhering pension policy stories have been applied and to what extent they have influenced the current pension reform processes in Norway.
Weber’s The Protestant Ethic as Hypothetical Narrative of Original Accumulation
Authors: Breiner Peter
Published: February 2005

In this article, I address the ‘hypothetical’, ‘self-referential’ and ‘constructed’ nature of Weber’s The Protestant Ethic and the ‘Spirit’ of Capitalism. In particular, I argue that complaints of commentators that his account lacks empirical verification are misplaced. Weber’s narrative in The Protestant Ethic does not function as an historical explanation of the origins of capitalism that can be tested against a body of facts. Rather, using the ideal-type, it seeks to give a plausible account of how modern capitalism could have arisen, or, more accurately, how an agent motivated to rationally accumulate capital could have arisen so as to launch as a byproduct of that agent’s activity a system of social relations that can accumulate capital without requiring an entrepreneurial type to move it along. Thus, the deliberately constructed and self-referential nature of Weber’s genetic concepts, especially of the Calvinist ethic and the capitalist ‘spirit’, is a strength, not a weakness of his account. This can be seen if we read this work against two rival generic hypothetical accounts of capital accumulation, those of Adam Smith and marginalism.
Reading Weber’s Patterns of Response to Critics of The Protestant Ethic
Authors: Chalcraft David J.
Published: February 2005

A close concentration on Weber’s replies to Felix Rachfahl (in 1910) and to Werner Sombart (in 1920) shows that whilst Weber seeks to create an ‘interpretative community’ for the reception of the Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (through an appeal to ‘common knowledge’ and ‘expert witnesses’), it is clear that Rachfahl is an outsider. It is also possible to trace developments in Weber’s articulation of his thesis across time relating to the importance of the psychological dimension in accounting for motivations to vocation, the relation between monastic asceticism and ascetic Protestantism, and the utilization of notions of affinity. During the dispute with Rachfahl, Weber utilized not only the notion of affinity but also the notion of a ‘corresponding soul’ created by asceticism for adaptation to the capitalist culture; however, the latter does not reappear in 1920.
Protestant Ethics among Chinese Missionaries, Problems of Indigenization, and the Spirit of Academic Professionalization
Authors: Pfister Lauren
Published: February 2005

Some of Weber’s descriptions and evaluations of Protestant groups and their ethos are employed to reveal dimensions of Protestant missionary activities and their contributions in early 20th-century China and Europe. The main focus is on the German missionary Richard Wilhelm (1873–1930). Wilhelm distinguished himself while living in the German colony of Jiāozhōu as an educator and missionary-scholar, specializing in translating ancient Ruist (‘Confucian’) and Daoist scriptures. After the outbreak of World War I, he began to study the Book of Changes, a major factor in his later spiritual pilgrimage. Leaving missionary work in 1920, he was later offered a position as a cultural attaché to the German ambassador, serving two years in Beijing. In 1924 he was made the first lecturer in Chinese at Frankfurt University. During the 1920s Wilhelm passed through a radical spiritual transformation, ultimately adopting a Ruified form of Christianity influenced by Quaker sectarian spirituality. All of these factors are considered in the light of Weber’s thesis about the development and modern demise of the Protestant ethos.
Hard anodic film on AI obtained by preimmersing in ammonium molybdate
Authors: Shih H.-H. , Shih T.-G.
Published: February 2005

The main purpose of this research is to obtain a hard anodic film on aluminium and to study the effects of molybdic oxyhydroxide films on the formation and properties of anodic films. The experiments begin by immersing the A1100 aluminium specimens in ammonium molybdate solution andthen anodising them in a 10 wt-% sulphuric acid solution by dc with 20 V at 20°C. Finally, the specimens are sealed in hot water at ∼95°C. The study proves that a longer immersing time, a higher immersing temperature, a higher concentration of ammonium molybdate and a pH valueof 3 result in a harder anodic film. The molybdic oxyhydroxide film (the preimmersing process) retards the formation of the anodic film, producing a harder anodic film. The SEM images of the anodic film after the preimmersing process show that the pores of the film are closely and regularlydistributed. From the EDS analysis, molybdenum is detected in the anodic films. The preimmersing process decreases the anodic film thickness. However, the anodic film with preimmersing treatment has a maximum microhardness of 601 ± 10 HV(50 g), which is 62% higher than that withoutpreimmersing.
Modelling plasma etching of AI thin films using neural network
Authors: Kim B. , Park K. Y. , Han D.
Published: February 2005

Plasma etching of aluminium thin films is characterised using a neural network. For this, etch experiments were designed by means of a statistical experimental design. Relationships between process parameters and etch rate were captured by a back propagation neural network (BPNN). Thepredicted performance of the BPNN model was optimised as a function of training factors. Model predictions were experimentally validated. Parameter effects were examined under a variety of plasma conditions. Radio frequency (rf) power affected the etch rate in different ways, depending onthe Cl2 flow rate. The etch rate variation with rf power (or Cl2 flow rate) was conspicuous only at higher Cl2 flow rates (or rf power). The noticeable effect of BCl3 flow rate at lower N2 flow rate was attributed to an increased concentrationof bombarding ions.
Slurry erosion resistance of laser clad Fe–Cr–B–Si coatings
Authors: Jiang W. H. , Kovacevic R.
Published: February 2005

The slurry erosion behaviour of laser clad Fe–Cr–B–Si alloy coatings was investigated at impact angles from 30° to 90° with an increment of 15°, and compared with the slurry erosion behaviour of two laser clad carbide coatings and a non-coated substratemade of AISI 4140 steel. The Fe–Cr–B–Si alloy coatings had slurry erosion resistance. Their overall slurry erosion resistance at impact angles from 30° to 90° was higher than both the carbide coatings and steel. The erosion resistance of the Fe–Cr–B–Sialloy coatings was less dependent on slurry impact angle. The Fe–Cr–B–Si alloy coatings consisted of the Fe–Cr solid solution matrix and the second phase Fe2B. The laser beam traverse rate had little effect on the erosion resistance and microstructures ofthe coatings. The liquid nitrogen cooling of the substrate resulted in a structural refinement of the deposited coating and increased the erosion resistance substantially.
Comparison of hot corrosion protection of coatings on IN-738LC
Authors: Khajavi M. R. , Shariat M. H. , Pasha A.
Published: February 2005

A programme was conducted to evaluate the relative corrosion resistance of CoNiCrAlY and chromium modified aluminide on IN738-LC, used for turbine blades. The corrosion experiments were performed in a laboratory tube furnace. The microstructure of the coatings was characterised usingoptical electron microscopy and SEM techniques. The results indicated that at a temperature of 800°C CoNiCrAlY is more protective than a Cr–Al coating.
Yttrium addition effect on isothermal and cyclic high temperature oxidation behaviour of 304 stainless steel
Authors: Riffard F. , Buscail H. , Caudron E. , Cueff R. , Issartel C. , Perrier S.
Published: February 2005

The aim of the present study is to investigate the beneficial influence of an yttrium sol–gel coating on a chromia forming alloy (304 stainless steel), in air, at 1000°C. Thermal cyclic experiments were carried out in order to study the influence of the addition of yttriumon the scale adherence. The yttrium sol–gel coating plays a significant role in enhancing oxidation resistance during isothermal oxidation tests, decreasing specimen weight gain and suppressing the initial transient oxidation stage. Yttrium addition appears to promote silicon segregationat the metal/oxide interface. It is then observed that iron containing oxides are not formed. Under thermal cycling conditions, the addition of yttrium also remarkably improves oxide scale adherence.
Application of simulation technologies in the analysis of granular material behaviour during transport and storage
Authors: Chapelle P , Christakis N , Wang J , Strusevich N , Patel M. K. , Cross M , Abou-Chakra H , Baxter J , Tuzun U
Published: February 2005

Problems in the preservation of the quality of granular material products are complex and arise from a series of sources during transport and storage. In either designing a new plant or, more likely, analysing problems that give rise to product quality degradation in existing operations, practical measurement and simulation tools and technologies are required to support the process engineer. These technologies are required to help in both identifying the source of such problems and then designing them out. As part of a major research programme on quality in particulate manufacturing computational models have been developed for segregation in silos, degradation in pneumatic conveyors, and the development of caking during storage, which use where possible, micro-mechanical relationships to characterize the behaviour of granular materials. The objective of the work presented here is to demonstrate the use of these computational models of unit processes involved in the analysis of large-scale processes involving the handling of granular materials. This paper presents a set of simulations of a complete large-scale granular materials handling operation, involving the discharge of the materials from a silo, its transport through a dilute-phase pneumatic conveyor, and the material storage in a big bag under varying environmental temperature and humidity conditions. Conclusions are drawn on the capability of the computational models to represent key granular processes, including particle size segregation, degradation, and moisture migration caking.
Fretting fatigue of railway axles—a Review of predictive methods and an outline of a finite element model
Authors: Ekberg A
Published: February 2005

The primary aim of this study is to investigate possibilities and difficulties in a computer-based prediction of fretting fatigue of railway wheel-axle assemblies. The study sets out with a review of predictive models of fretting fatigue with an emphasis on computer-based numerical methods of relevance to wheel-axle assemblies. Based on the review, a finite element (FE)-based numerical framework to predict fretting fatigue of wheel-axle assemblies is outlined. The benefits and drawbacks of the approach are discussed.
North American axle failure experience
Authors: Lonsdale C , Stone D
Published: February 2005

North American railroads are experiencing an increased number of axle failures. The greatest increase has been observed in unit train coal wagons that are operated with 32400 kg axle loads. This level of loading has recently been permitted in service and represents a 10 per cent increase in the formerly permitted level. Failure statistics and the resulting increase in stress are discussed and several solutions are presented.
Zur Labordiagnostik von Entamoeba histolytica-Infektionen. The laboratory diagnosis of Entamoeba histolytica-infections
Authors: Tannich Egbert
Published: February 2005

Zusammenfassung Die klassische Stuhlmikroskopie zum Nachweis intestinaler Protozoen-Infektionen wird mehr und mehr ersetzt durch neue Detektionsverfahren wie Immunfluoreszenz, Antigen-ELISA oder PCR. Dies gilt insbesondere für die Diagnostik von Entamoeba histolytica, da dieser Parasit mikroskopisch nicht von anderen, apathogenen Amöbenspezies wie Entamoeba dispar oder Entamoeba moshkovskii unterschieden werden kann.
Zur Diagnostik der Leishmania-Infektionen. Diagnosis of Leishmania infections
Authors: Schönian Gabriele , Al-Jawabreh Amer , Presber Wolfgang
Published: February 2005

Zusammenfassung Mehr als 20 Leishmanien-Spezies sind für den Menschen pathogen. Leishmaniosen kommen in über 100 Ländern endemisch vor. In den letzten Jahren haben sie in Südeuropa auch eine besondere Bedeutung als Erreger von Koinfektionen mit HIV erlangt. Neben der Einschleppung der Krankheit durch infizierte Personen oder Hunde erscheint auch eine Übertragung des Erregers in Deutschland selbst möglich. Damit gewinnt die Diagnostik von Leishmaniosen an Bedeutung.

Der mikroskopische Nachweis der Erreger in Bioptaten (Ulkusrand, Lymphknoten, Knochenmark, Milz und Leber) ist der Goldstandard. Neben einigen Antigen- und Antikörpernachweisen bei generalisierten Erkrankungen werden immer häufiger PCR-Nachweise eingesetzt. Vorteile der PCR sind ihre hohe Empfindlichkeit und hohe Spezifität wie auch die Tatsache, dass sie eine Speziesoder sogar Subspezies-Diagnose ermöglicht. Auch auf Filterpapier getrocknete Proben oder Giemsa-gefärbte Objektträger sind als Untersuchungsmaterial geeignet.
Immunoassay
Authors: Taylor Richard F.
Published: February 2005

Immunoassay, a diagnostic and measurement method that utilizes antibodies to detect and quantify specific analytes (antigens), is characterized by high analyte specificity, high sensitivity (routinely detecting ng to pg analyte levels), and rapid data output. It is amenable to a variety of formats, from single immunoassays carried out manually, to fully automated instruments capable of performing multiple assays on the same or different analytes. Immunoassay quantification methods are based on immunoprecipitation, such as agglutination assays, or on specific indicator reagents linked to antibody or antigen reagents used in the immunoassay. These include radioisotopes for radioimmunoassay, enzymes for enzyme‐linked immunoassay, fluorophores for fluorescence immunoassay, and chemicals or proteins for chemiluminescent or bioluminescent immunoassay. Immunoassay technology is continuing to evolve and applications have moved beyond traditional clinical settings to industry and the environment. Immunoassays are also serving as the basis for newer measurement technologies including hybrid immunoassay–nucleic acid probe assays, immunobiosensors, and antibody‐based microarrays.