bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Water and Coffee
Authors: Silverstein Barbara A. , Bao Stephen S. , Russell Steven , Stewart Kate
Published: October 2012

Objective:

The aim of this study was to reduce the physical load on coffee-harvesting workers while maintaining productivity.

Background:

Coffee is second to oil in commodity trading. Water is becoming scarce worldwide. The global virtual water footprint for one cup of coffee is 140 liters. Shade-grown coffee is one approach to reducing the water footprint.

Method:

A participatory ergonomics approach was used during two Nicaraguan shade-grown coffee harvesting seasons to reduce the physical load on harvesters with the use of a newly designed bag instead of a basket strapped around the waist.

Results:

Productivity in the mountainous, shade-grown coffee farms was maintained while physical load on the worker was improved somewhat. Among basket users, 84.2% reported pain in at least one body area compared with 78.9% of bag users ( ns). Nonetheless, 74% of participants liked the bag “much better” than the basket. Workers identified ways the bag could be improved further with the use of local materials. These suggestions included (a) reducing the horizontal distance of the bag to reduce reach and (b) having waterproof material on the bag between the worker and the bag to reduce moisture and damage to the berries. There was no difference in productivity between using the bag and using the small basket.

Conclusions:

Workers are extending this partici-patory approach to how to get the harvested coffee cherries down the mountain other than carrying 40-kg bags on their backs. The ultimate goal is to make the coffee-harvesting bag design available to harvesters around the world.
The predictive capability of failure mode concept-based strength conditions for laminates composed of unidirectional laminae under static triaxial stress states
Authors: Cuntze R
Published: October 2012

This paper represents the author’s contribution to the second world-wide failure exercise using his failure mode concept modelling capability. The second world-wide failure exercise deals with the behaviour of isotropic material and unidirectional as well as multidirectional unidirectional laminae-composed laminates subjected to three-dimensional (triaxial) states of stress. Twelve challenging test cases were provided by the organisers and those covered stress–strain curves and failure envelopes under three-dimensional stress states. The application of the new failure mode concept model has extended the three-dimensional modelling by taking into account the effects of hydrostatic pressure and second glass temperature shift factor on the stress–strain curves and failure envelopes. The failure mode concept model was capable of successfully solving the majority of all the problems and a comparison between the predictions and test data is planned to be published in Part B of the second world-wide failure exercise.
Micromechanical-based hybrid mesoscopic 3D approach for non-linear progressive failure analysis of composite structures
Authors: Carrere N , Laurin F , Maire J-F
Published: October 2012

A new micromechanical-based hybrid mesoscopic 3D approach has presented for the prediction of failure under triaxial loadings. The failure criterion is based on physical principles and introduces micromechanical aspects (such as the effect of the local debonding) at the mesoscopic scale. It is capable of distinguishing between various modes of failure (e.g. fibre tension, fibre compression, in-plane and through-thickness interfibre (matrix or fibre/matrix failure modes). The model was successfully implemented to provide predictions of failure envelopes and non-linear stress–strain curves of isotropic, unidirectional and mutli-directional laminates made of glass/epoxy and carbon/epoxy materials and subjected to 3D loadings, including through-thickness stresses.
Material and structural response of polymer-matrix fibre-reinforced composites
Authors: Pinho ST , Darvizeh R , Robinson P , Schuecker C , Camanho PP
Published: October 2012

This paper presents a pressure-dependent three-dimensional constitutive law to predict failure for laminated composites. The nonlinear constitutive response in shear and in the transverse and through-the-thickness directions, which is measured experimentally, is incorporated directly into the model. In addition, secant stiffnesses are dependent on the state of hydrostatic pressure and on the general state of strain. The failure criteria distinguish between matrix failure, fibre kinking and fibre tensile failure. In-situ strengths are used for matrix failure. Propagation of failure takes into consideration the fracture energy associated with each failure mode and, for matrix failure, the accumulation of cracks in the plies. A detailed discussion is undertaken of the mismatch between the available experimental data and the physical properties required to characterise the constitutive response up to final failure. The model is employed to make blind predictions of the triaxial failure envelopes and stress–strain curves of all 12 test cases provided by the organisers of the second World-Wide Failure Exercise.
Graphical modeling and simulation of discrete-event systems with CD++Builder
Authors: Bonaventura Matías , Wainer Gabriel A , Castro Rodrigo
Published: October 2012

We introduce CD++Builder, an open-source environment that aims at providing easy-to-use graphical modeling tools to simplify the construction of models and the execution of simulations of complex Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) models. The architecture and implementation of CD++Builder focuses on providing simple definition and reuse of components, offering easy extensibility to support new features. CD++Builder includes graphical editors for DEVS-coupled models, DEVS-Graphs and C++ atomic models; it provides code templates that are synchronized with their graphical versions, and it greatly simplifies the software installation and update procedures. We show how this environment can be used to build and simulate DEVS models, and we compare the process with previous versions and other simulation tools, showing that CD++Builder can improve model development by creating DEVS models in a completely assisted manner, including advanced graphical interfaces.
Individual Choice and Risk: The Case of Higher Education
Authors: Brynin Malcolm
Published: October 2012

The expansion of higher education raises the risk environment for school-leavers as more occupations become partially graduate with the result that occupational signals are fuzzy. This makes the educational decision more difficult and more risky, especially with more of the cost of higher education being transferred to the individual. After a discussion of the nature of risk, derived from Beck, and of the role of government policy and of economics in obscuring this, the analysis uses simple quantitative techniques, based on British Labour Force Survey data, to demonstrate the increased fuzziness of graduate work. It is also shown that a rising proportion of graduates receive only average pay, thus raising the risks associated with educational investments even further.
A Test of Parenting Strategies
Authors: Henderson Morag
Published: October 2012

The status attainment literature suggests that the educational success of parents determines the educational success of their children (Blau and Duncan, 1967). However, the mechanisms by which families determine a child’s education are imperfectly understood. This article tests Lareau’s (2003) parental typology to identify the association between parenting strategies and educational outcomes achieved using the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE) 2004–2006. The findings suggest that class is not a convincing predictor for parenting style, but that use of concerted cultivation parenting strategies does improve the young person’s chances of achieving five GCSEs grade A*–C. These parenting strategies are also a positive predictor of how much a young person enjoys school, a teacher’s perception of their progress in school, their own perceptions of progress in school, their likelihood to apply to university, and whether they believe they will be accepted if they apply.
Does Affirmative Action Work? Evidence from the Operation of Fair Employment Legislation in Northern Ireland
Authors: Muttarak Raya , Hamill Heather , Heath Anthony , McCrudden Christopher
Published: October 2012

An affirmative action programme, established by the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989, has been an important attempt to ensure ‘fair participation’ in employment for both Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland since 1990. The programme includes detailed monitoring of the community background of employees and requires employers to undertake remedial action where fair participation is not evident. Agreements were concluded between the regulatory agency and many employers specifying what affirmative action measures were required. Based on the annual monitoring returns submitted between 1990 and 2005, this article evaluates the effectiveness of the affirmative action programme in promoting fair employment participation using fixed effects models. The analysis shows that there has been a general shift towards workforce integration in Northern Ireland but the increase of under-represented groups in agreement concerns is greater than in concerns with no agreement. The success of agreements, however, is limited to certain industrial sectors and medium-sized enterprises.
Remembrance Day: A sermon preached in the Chapel of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, 13 November 2011
Authors: Hennegan Alison
Published: October 2012

This sermon, preached on Remembrance Sunday 2011 in the Chapel of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, addresses some of the particular conflicts and paradoxes which war, and the commemoration of it as an act of public, annual national remembrance, pose for Christians and Christianity. It considers the often troubling relationship between the ‘big words’ of Christianity – sacrifice, love, body, blood, glory, redemption, for example – and their connections with, or appropriation by, nation states as powerful tools for military or propagandistic ends. It considers, too, some of the implications of the uncomfortable and painful fact that for many serving men war gave them some of their richest and most valued experience, and asks how we square the circle of acknowledging human courage and self-abnegation without glorifying the conflicts which called them forth.
‘Unreal worlds meeting’? Realism and illusion in ecumenical dialogue
Authors: Avis Paul
Published: October 2012

One aspect of the chilly climate of ecumenism at the present time is the idea that theological dialogue between the major Christian traditions is basically a pointless exercise in self-deception. This article considers this criticism and weighs the extent to which the churches are already united, while being, in some cases, divided where it matters most – at the Lord’s Table. It restates the ‘Faith and Order’ vision of full visible unity as an imperative of the gospel, briefly indicating how it may be pursued with realism and integrity.
Autonomy or communion? The passion of the Episcopal Church
Authors: Doll Peter M.
Published: October 2012

The Episcopal Church in the United States, the first church of the Anglican Communion apart from the Church of England, is torn between two allegiances: one to its historic membership of the Communion and the other to its sharing in an American religious culture of ‘exceptionalism’. This article traces the origin and character of this tension within the current debate over the Anglican Covenant.
Gender-Responsive Drug Court Treatment
Authors: Messina Nena , Calhoun Stacy , Warda Umme
Published: October 2012

This pilot study compared outcomes for 94 women offenders in San Diego County, California, who participated in four drug court programs. Women were randomized to gender-responsive (GR) programs using Helping Women Recover and Beyond Trauma or standard mixed-gender treatment. Data were collected at program entry, during treatment, and approximately 22 months after treatment entry. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results showed that GR participants had better in-treatment performance, more positive perceptions related to their treatment experience, and trends indicating reductions in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology. Both groups improved in their self-reported psychological well-being and reported reductions in drug use ( p < .06) and arrest (a diagnosis of PTSD was the primary predictor of reductions in rearrest, p < .04). Findings show some beneficial effects of adding treatment components oriented toward women’s needs. Significant questions remain, particularly around PTSD and whether it should be targeted to improve substance use outcomes for women.
Creating Burglary Profiles Using Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Fox Bryanna Hahn , Farrington David P.
Published: October 2012

This research creates a new criminal profile for burglary by establishing the link among certain offender traits, past criminal behavior, and crime scene features. Utilizing latent class analysis (LCA) to identify underlying groups within the offender and offense characteristics, the relationship between certain offense styles and the most likely offender may then be established. These offense–offender profiles may be used by police to predict traits of an unknown offender based on information from a crime scene alone. Based on a sample of 405 burglaries committed between 2008 and 2009 in Florida, four criminal history groups, four offender types, and four offense styles were identified using LCA. A significant relationship was found among the offense styles and offender trait types, as well as between the offender trait and criminal history categories. This study serves both theoretical and practical purposes, as the findings have important implications for academia and law enforcement alike.
Fighting Wars or Controlling Crowds? The Case of the Czech Military Forces and the Possible Blurring of Police and Military Functions
Authors: Weiss Tomáš
Published: October 2012

The article explores the reform of the Czech military from the perspective of the possible blurring of police and military functions. The understanding of security has changed in recent years and the European militaries have taken up nontraditional tasks both within and outside Europe. Moreover, the fiscal conditions have provoked further reconsideration of the role of military. The Czech Republic’s armed forces have undergone a number of reforms since 1989. The article focuses on three factors distinguishing the military from the police: territorial scope, use of force, and responsibility before the law. It concludes that although the Czech military has become more flexible, it does not use all its potential in practice, especially domestically. The article suggests that despite the adaptation to the new security environment, the military continues to be distinct from police.
Participants at Your Fingertips
Authors: Johnson Dan R. , Borden Lauren A.
Published: October 2012

The literature suggests students gain important skills when directly involved with faculty in research. However, students at smaller institutions are often faced with limited research opportunities and faculty members are faced with limited participant-pools, funding, and space to perform research. Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) may provide a solution to many of these problems. MTurk provides an online human participant-pool, along with tools to build experiments, and it allows data to be collected quickly and inexpensively. In this study of narrative fiction and empathy, data was collected using the traditional, laboratory-based approach, and on MTurk using identical measures and protocols. Results indicated MTurk data exhibits comparable reliability, gender and ethnicity composition to data collected in the laboratory. Two important differences emerged: MTurk participants were 10 years older, on average, and they demonstrated higher scores on trait measures of empathy and state measures of involvement into the story presented in the study. A brief user’s guide to MTurk is presented that caters to first-time users. Finally, common pitfalls and their solutions are presented with the hope that faculty and students can begin doing research on MTurk immediately.
Using Audacity for Demonstrations of Psychoacoustical Principles
Authors: Ragozzine Frank
Published: October 2012

This article contains both basic and advanced tutorial demonstrations, created with Audacity software, designed to teach psychoacoustical principles to undergraduate students enrolled in courses such as Sensation and Perception. The demonstrations illustrate concepts such as the relationships between physical characteristics of sine waves (e.g., frequency, amplitude, and phase) and perception, the human hearing range, dissonance, complex tones and additive synthesis, perception of the missing fundamental frequency, auditory localization cues, and timbre. The present article also includes discussion of a study evaluating the effectiveness of these demonstrations in teaching psychoacoustical concepts. Specifically, this study revealed a statistically significant benefit of performing these demonstrations over simply experiencing the same phenomena in a lecture setting. Finally, this article offers suggestions for additional demonstrations that instructors may wish to perform.
Windowless Classrooms or a Virtual Window World
Authors: Lassonde Karla A. , Gloth Chelsea A. , Borchert Karissa
Published: October 2012

This study examined the influence of virtual windows, used to simulate windows in a classroom, on attentional tasks. Forty undergraduates took the Trail Making Task (TMT) and Benton’s Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWA) in a classroom with either virtual windows displaying nature scenes, or blind-covered windows. Results on the TMT and COWA revealed that virtual windows had a positive influence on participants’ ability to complete these tasks and that participants were more efficient at the TMT in the virtual window condition compared to the no window condition. These results indicate that virtual windows were not a distraction in the classroom and had a positive effect on performance. Implications for using virtual windows in classrooms without windows are discussed.
Writing-to-Learn Assignments in Introductory Psychology
Authors: Nevid Jeffrey S. , Pastva Amy , McClelland Nate
Published: October 2012

Students completed brief, ungraded writing assignments in several introductory psychology classes across two semesters. The assignments varied across classes with respect to type of assignment (reflective vs. generic writing) and choice of topics (student selected from specified list vs. assigned topics from list). Students performed significantly better on exam questions relating to the content of the writing assignments than to unrelated content. Writing benefits extended across both type of writing assignment and choice of topics. The results suggest that writing-to-learn assignments can bolster learning effects without adding undue burdens on instructors seeking to integrate writing-across-the curriculum objectives, even in larger introductory psychology courses.
Scaffolding
Authors: Anthis Kristine , Adams Lisa
Published: October 2012

The current study examined relationships among online quiz parameters and students’ classroom exam scores. The authors analyzed data from undergraduate courses across four semesters. The results revealed that regardless of the different parameters set for the online quizzes, the number of attempts that students made on quizzes was unrelated to their classroom exam scores, yet the amount of time they spent on quizzes was correlated negatively with their classroom exam scores. The results also revealed that students’ scores on the online quizzes predicted their classroom exam scores, above and beyond the number of attempts, length of time allowed on quizzes, as well as their SAT Reading and SAT Math scores. The implications of these results are discussed subsequently. Future researchers may wish to provide empirical evidence on how not counting all of students’ online quiz scores toward their final grade may influence students’ quiz performance, given the anxiety that time limits can foster.
Time Limits on Tests
Authors: Brothen Thomas
Published: October 2012

Teachers of psychology and their students have been advised to allocate 1 min for each multiple-choice item on tests. Is this a realistic and useful rule? How much time do students actually take to complete multiple-choice tests and how do individual differences and item characteristics affect it? This article reports the results of four studies involving low and high stakes multiple-choice tests delivered online in proctored and unproctored environments. I provide test taking time data so that instructors can make better choices and give better advice to students about allocating time for tests. These results also suggest that students take about the same amount of time to answer multiple-choice questions as did students nearly a century ago.
I Knew-It-All-Along, Just Not on My Own
Authors: Hom Harry L. , Ciaramitaro Maria , Valentine Kathrene D.
Published: October 2012

Do the multiple steps of a math problem increase the likelihood of hindsight bias in students? It is a ubiquitious phenomenon whereby the outcome seems obvious. Students were randomly assigned either to a foresight group, in which they solved the multiple steps of a paired comparison t-test, or a hindsight group, in which they did not solve the steps of the paired comparison t-test but the correct answers were present. They were then asked to make chance and difficulty estimations for each step. Students in the hindsight condition believed they had a greater chance of a correct solution and that it was easier than foresight students. Teachers using the same instructive approach may foster hindsight bias in students and themselves and perhaps, the lecture format as well.
Teaching Clinical Psychology
Authors: Norcross John C. , Karpiak Christie P.
Published: October 2012

As both a subject area and a potential career, clinical psychology fascinates undergraduates. In this article, the authors present four lessons that all psychology students can master: connecting to psychological science, committing to evidence-based practice, adapting treatment to the person, and becoming all that a clinical psychologist can be (in contrast to providing only psychotherapy). These lessons map directly on research directions in the field and refute common misconceptions about clinical psychology. The authors recommend multiple in-class activities and between-class assignments to illuminate these lessons and to engage students in the material.
Detection of electrocardiogram characteristic points using lifting wavelet transform and Hilbert transform
Authors: Li Hongqiang , Wang Xiaofei
Published: October 2012

Automatic extraction of time plane features is extremely important for the diagnosis of cardiac diseases. This paper introduces an effective technique based on a second-generation wavelet transform for the denoising of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. An improved half-soft threshold based on the lifting wavelet is used to overcome the drawbacks of thresholds applied in the classic wavelet. As ECG signals are corrupted by non-stationary noises, after the threshold point of denoising, Hilbert transform and an improved approximate envelope are applied to the ECG signals to enhance the QRS complexes and suppress unwanted P/T waves and noises. A detection algorithm based on the slope threshold is then used for feature detection. The results of simulation demonstrated that the proposed method allows for the detection of the locations of the R peak, P peak, T peak, start and end of the QRS complex, and premature ventricular contraction. The performance of the algorithm was evaluated against the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database, and the numerical results indicated that it could function reliably even under poor signal quality and with long P and T peaks. The R peak detection error rate for tape 105 was only 0.27%.
A Community-Based Participatory Diabetes Prevention and Management Intervention in Rural India Using Community Health Workers
Authors: Balagopal Padmini , Kamalamma N. , Patel Thakor G. , Misra Ranjita , Misra Ranjita , Balagopal Padmini , Patel Thakor G. , Kamalamma N.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a 6-month community-based diabetes prevention and management program in rural Gujarat, India.

Methods

A community-based participatory research method was used to plan and tailor the intervention by engaging trained community health workers as change agents to provide lifestyle education, serve as community advocates, and collect data from 1638 rural Indians (81.9% response rate). Ten culturally and linguistically appropriate health education messages were provided in face-to-face individual and group sessions (demonstrations of model meals and cooking techniques).

Results

Mean age was 41.9 ± 15.9 years. Overall point prevalence of diabetes, prediabetes, obesity, and hypertension were 7.2%, 19.3%, 16.7%, and 28%, respectively, with significant differences between the low socioeconomic status (SES) participants (agricultural workers) and the high SES participants (business community) due to differing diet and activity levels. The intervention significantly reduced blood glucose levels by 5.7 and 14.9 mg/dL for individuals with prediabetes and diabetes, respectively, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 8 mm Hg and 4 mm Hg, respectively, in the overall population. Knowledge of diabetes and cardiovascular disease improved by 50% in the high SES group and doubled in the low SES group; general and abdominal obesity also decreased by ≤ 1%. High rates of undiagnosed hypertension (26.1%) were surprising. Among individuals with diabetes, metabolic complications such as diabetic nephropathy and chronic kidney disease were noted.

Conclusions

Through collective engagement of the community, participatory programs can serve as a prototype for future prevention and management efforts, which are rare and underutilized in India.
Jonah in Mark and Matthew: Creation, Covenant, Christ, and the Kingdom of God
Authors: Anderson Joel Edmund
Published: October 2012

This article analyzes how Jonah is incorporated within the Synoptic Gospels, particularly Mark and Matthew. In addition to looking at the well-noted “sign of Jonah” passages Matthew and Luke, as well as at the clear allusion to Jonah found in the Stilling of the Storm episode in all three Synoptic Gospels, we suggest that there is a more over-arching use of Jonah in Mark and Matthew that runs from the Beelzebub controversy in Mark 3:20–35/Matthew 12:22–32 to the Transfiguration in Mark 9:2–32/Matthew 17:1–23. This larger Jonah-theme within Mark and Matthew points not only to the explicit connection between Jonah's three days in the great fish and Jesus' three days in the tomb, but also to the larger issues of Jesus' identity, the nature of the Kingdom, and the mission to the Gentile world.
Millstones, Stumbling Blocks, and Dog Scraps: Children in the Gospels
Authors: Admirand Peter
Published: October 2012

In this article I examine the varied and conflicting instances where children are explicitly mentioned in the Gospels and how the often ambiguous interpretation of the child poses some moral and theological problems today. While this article will seek to flesh out what it means to be a child according to the Gospels, it will also grapple with whether, in fact, childlikeness is a state toward which Christians should even aspire. While the message of humility and serving others are the main themes behind Jesus' radical challenge, the passage is problematic when read today in light of the child abuse scandal and the reality of child soldiers. The simplicity, vulnerability, and helplessness of the child are not the best attributes for most of us—adult or child—to embrace in the context of rampant injustice and abuse.
Memory and the Historical Jesus
Authors: Crook Zeba A.
Published: October 2012

The use of memory theory in the study of the Historical Jesus and the traditions of Jesus contained in the gospels continues to surge in interesting ways. This book brings to our attention technical scientific studies in the psychological and neuro-cognitive analysis of memory, and makes an argument for the general reliability of the synoptic gospels based on these studies.
Gossip in the New Testament
Authors: Daniels John W.
Published: October 2012

Gossip was a vigorous and vital social phenomenon in the biblical world, and especially the New Testament. After assaying how modern research of this oral phenomenon has been brought to bear specifically on the New Testament, texts both describing “gossip in action,” and appraising gossip in the canonical Gospels and the Pauline corpus are examined in order to highlight its role along with other social processes in constituting identity. The aim is to demonstrate how seeing texts through the lens of this peculiar social process provides readers with new and interesting insight into the social world from which the New Testament emerged.
Cataloguing costume designs from the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
Authors: Nero Lorraine M.
Published: October 2012

The paper discusses the approaches to cataloguing carnival costume designs adopted by three institutions in Trinidad and Tobago. These institutions are the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), the Carnival Institute of Trinidad and Tobago (CITT) and the Alma Jordan Library, University of the West Indies. Catalogue records from these institutions were examined to determine the similarities and differences in the approaches as well as to highlight some of the issues encountered in cataloguing costume designs. The research shows that in addition to core elements found in metadata standards there are other data elements that the cataloguers have identified as being important for the documentation process including the relationship of the costume design to other pieces in the performance as well as the cultural context.
Changes and challenges
Authors: Shenton Andrew K.
Published: October 2012

The nature of the learning resource areas found in Britain’s schools has changed dramatically in the last decade and a half. Traditional libraries, based around a centralized collection of books, are becoming increasingly uncommon and have been replaced in many institutions by more computer-oriented ‘study centres’. These quite different environments have provoked controversy in several quarters and pose a range of challenges to those who manage them. Although some of the emergent issues are far from new and, indeed, have been debated in library circles for decades, others are more particular to study centres. This paper explores in some detail a dozen matters, highlighting dilemmas and, on occasion, possible solutions. The questions posed are fundamental and diverse, relating to such varied aspects as the physical environment itself, the virtual world to which the study centre offers access, the role of traditional materials, the functions of staff responsible for the facility and the purposes for which the area should be used.
Showing the green way
Authors: Sahavirta Harri
Published: October 2012

Vallila Library is a medium sized public library and belongs to the Helsinki City Library. It was the first public institution to seek and receive the EcoCompass environmental label (2011). We created our own environmental strategies and policies, and reviewed such activities as recirculation and recycling. However, we could not decide alone on what kind of greener actions should be adopted; we are not independent actors. It was not always clear what kind of actions should be taken and what to measure. The greatest challenge was nobody had spelled out the concept of ‘green library’: we were forced to view the issue on a broader scale. It seemed that the best option was to show others the road to becoming green(er). Our commitment to environmental responsibility shows that we consider green values to be important. We offer easy access to information on ecological issues and arrange events that focus on environmental issues. We have to tell the world (and decision makers) that libraries are responsible actors and promote environmental sustainability. Commitment to green values may increase environmental sustainability and help libraries to take a new and visible role in changing society.
Library and information science alumni of Kuwait University
Authors: Alqudsi-ghabra Taghreed , Al-Muomen Nujoud
Published: October 2012

This is the first descriptive study that uses the survey method to investigate where alumni of Kuwait University’s Master of Library and Information Science program are working and what different functions they are performing. The survey method was used to collect mainly quantitative data from alumni. Inferences about the graduates’ skills, positions, functions, aspirations and behavior are made from the data collected via the questionnaires. The market is fluid and evolving, and graduates are doing diverse functions that are not typical. Problems that have to do with the profession’s image and expectations are voiced. Implications about professional titles and job salaries as well as suggestions for future planning are discussed in light of survey results.
Low concentration of mercury induces autophagic cell death in rat hepatocytes
Authors: Chatterjee Sarmishtha , Ray Atish , Mukherjee Sandip , Agarwal Soumik , Kundu Rakesh , Bhattacharya Shelley
Published: October 2012

In the present study, we attempted to elucidate the induction of autophagy in rat hepatocytes by a low concentration of mercury. Hepatocytes treated with different doses of mercuric chloride (HgCl2; 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 µM) and at different time intervals (0 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h and 4 h) show autophagic cell death only at 5 µM HgCl2 within 30 min of incubation. At 1 and 2.5 µM HgCl2, no cell death is recorded, while apoptosis is found at 10 µM HgCl2, as evidenced by the activation of caspase 3. Autophagic cell death is confirmed by the presence of monodansylcadaverine (MDC) positive hepatocytes which is found to be highest at 1 h. Atg5-Atg12 covalent-conjugation triggers the autophagic pathway within 30 min of 5 µM HgCl2 treatment and continues till 4 h of incubation. In addition, damage-regulated autophagy modulator (DRAM) expression gradually increases from 30 min to 4 h of treatment with mercury and a corresponding linear decrease in p53 has been observed. It is concluded that a low concentration (5 µM HgCl2) of mercury induces autophagy or nonapoptotic programmed cell death following an Atg5-Atg12 covalent-conjugation pathway, which is modulated by DRAM in a p53-dependent manner.
Characterization of serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) polymorphisms and its association with drug dependence in a Jordanian Arab population
Authors: Al-Eitan Laith Naser , Jaradat Saied Ali , Qin Wenwen , Wildenauer Diah Mutiara B , Wildenauer Dieter DB , Hulse Gary K , Tay Guan K
Published: October 2012

Drug dependence is a pattern of repeated self-administration of a drug, which can result in tolerance, withdrawal and compulsive drug-taking behaviour. It has been recently suggested that 5-HTTLPR ( LL/ LS/ SS) variants and rs25531 (A/G) polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene ( SLC6A4) may play a role in drug dependence. The current study aimed to (1) identify allelic, haplotypic and genotypic frequencies of the 5-HTTLPR variants and rs25531 polymorphisms of SLC6A4 gene in drug and nondrug-dependent Jordanian Arab population and (2) determine whether there is an association of these variants in a drug-dependent population from the same area. Jordanian drug male addicts of Arab descent ( n = 192) meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth edition criteria for drug dependence and 230 healthy male controls from an ethnically homogenous Jordanian Arab population were examined. Genotyping was performed using the restriction fragment length polymorphism–polymerase chain reaction-based method to genotype the 5-HTTLPR variants and detect the A/G polymorphism at position rs25531. The biallelic analysis revealed that the frequency of 5-HTTLPR ( LL/ LS/ SS) genotypes was statistically significant different between drug-dependent individuals and controls ( χ2 (2, N = 422), p = 0.04). Drug-dependent subjects had a higher frequency of ‘ L’ allele. However, using the triallelic approach, the estimated frequency of haplotypes ( SA, SG, LA and LG) and phased genotypes ( LA/ LA, LA/ SA, LA/ LG, SA/ SA and SA/ SG) did not show significant association with drug dependence ( χ2 (3, N = 422), p = 0.53 and χ2 (4, N = 422), p = 0.06, respectively). This study suggests a putative role of the 5-HTTLPR for drug dependence in the Jordanian Nationals of Arab ancestry.
Arsenic residue in the products and by-products of chicken and ducks
Authors: Rana Tanmoy , Bera Asit Kumar , Mondal Dipak Kumar , Das Subhashree , Bhattacharya Debasis , Samanta Srikanta , Pan Diganta , Das Subrata Kumar
Published: October 2012

Arsenicosis caused due to drinking of arsenic contaminated ground water is a major environmental health hazard throughout the world. We evaluated the ecotoxicological effect of arsenic on chicken and duck in an arsenic endemic zone. The concentration of arsenic was higher in chicken and duck feed and their by-products than that in the respective samples of control area. Arsenic concentration in the eggs of both chicken and duck was higher than that in the respective samples of control area. Thus, we concluded that arsenic enters into food chain through the intake of contaminated eggs. Furthermore, adverse health effect of arsenic on avian population is due to the alteration in haematobiochemical indices.
Assessment of the Relative Dose‐Response Test as Indicators of Hepatic Vitamin A Stores in Various Stages of Chronic Liver Disease
Authors: Arantes Ferreira Peres Wilza , Villaça Chaves Gabriela , Saraiva Gonçalves José Carlos , Ramalho Andrea , Moraes Coelho Henrique Sergio
Published: October 2012

Hepatic vitamin A stores should be the best early indicator of vitamin A status because more than 90% of total body vitamin A is stored in the liver. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the hepatic vitamin A stores in all stages of chronic liver disease (CLD), including chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). One hundred forty‐four patients (age 55.34 ± 9.38 years) were evaluated in a cross‐sectional study. Vitamin A nutrition status was analyzed by serum retinol levels and relative dose‐response (RDR) method. Patients with cholestasis were excluded from the sample group. Biochemical, clinical, and anthropometric evaluations were performed. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) was detected in 51.4% of all patients. Patients with adequate levels of serum retinol presented adequate liver vitamin A reserves; in contrast, nearly half the patients with low serum retinol levels presented adequate levels of retinol in the liver, although none of the patients with hepatitis had this condition. Therefore, the effectiveness of the RDR method for evaluating vitamin A nutrition status was limited in patients with cirrhosis and HCC, perhaps due to the advanced age of these patients, since those in the chronic hepatitis group, who were younger, responded adequately to the test. Thus, the RDR method should be modified when applied to later stages of CLD, considering the time and dose of retinyl palmitate supplementation, as VAD may be a risk factor for the progression of the disease.
Nanofinishing of freeform surfaces of prosthetic knee joint implant
Authors: Sidpara Ajay M , Jain VK
Published: October 2012

The freeform complex surfaces have become an inevitable part of many components to perform specific functions. Many of these components require nanometer surface roughness to meet specific requirements in their application domain. Therefore, finishing operation as a final operation is necessary for such components. A magnetorheological fluid-based finishing tool is developed for finishing knee joint implant, which has complex freeform surfaces. Different types of magnetorheological fluids and various finishing steps are proposed to reduce finishing time. Surface characteristics of the knee joint implant are studied using a surface roughness measuring instrument and atomic force microscopy before and after finishing. A significant reduction in surface roughness (the best final surface roughness value obtained = 28 nm) is observed on the component after finishing. The surface roughness obtained on different surfaces is well within the values recommended in the ASTM standard for total knee joint prosthesis.
Dynamic experimental investigation on the uplift response of liquid storage tanks under seismic excitations with different characteristics
Authors: Fang Z , Chen ZP , Yan SJ , Cao GW , Wang J
Published: October 2012

A series of seismic table tests about the large steel cylindrical liquid storage tank models with floating roof were taken in this study. Horizontal and vertical direction seismic excitations were input respectively to the experimental structure system under different working conditions to test and analyze the seismic response behavior. The effects of various factors, such as the liquid surface height, the floating roof, the different wave amplitudes and frequencies, as well as their combined effects on the seismic dynamic response were obtained. The absolute displacement and the uplift response behavior law of the test models were obtained under different conditions. It was concluded that not only uplift value but also the absolute displacement of the tank bottom should be considered. And it should be noticed that a critical input frequency exists during the model response changing with frequency. In addition, important factors in experiment were described systematically in this article, for example, the experimental equipment selection, the experimental method, the tank model design, the laser displacement sensors, the data acquisition, the measurement point layout method, seismic excitation input method and so on. A reliable basis could be provided for theoretical analysis, structural design and computer numerical simulation research through this investigation.
Design of new generation femoral prostheses using functionally graded materials: A finite element analysis
Authors: Oshkour AA , Abu Osman NA , Yau YH , Tarlochan F , Wan Abas WAB
Published: October 2012

This study aimed to develop a three-dimensional finite element model of a functionally graded femoral prosthesis. The model consisted of a femoral prosthesis created from functionally graded materials (FGMs), cement, and femur. The hip prosthesis was composed of FGMs made of titanium alloy, chrome–cobalt, and hydroxyapatite at volume fraction gradient exponents of 0, 1, and 5, respectively. The stress was measured on the femoral prosthesis, cement, and femur. Stress on the neck of the femoral prosthesis was not sensitive to the properties of the constituent material. However, stress on the stem and cement decreased proportionally as the volume fraction gradient exponent of the FGM increased. Meanwhile, stress became uniform on the cement mantle layer. In addition, stress on the femur in the proximal part increased and a high surface area of the femoral part was involved in absorbing the stress. As such, the stress-shielding area decreased. The results obtained in this study are significant in the design and longevity of new prosthetic devices because FGMs offer the potential to achieve stress distribution that more closely resembles that of the natural bone in the femur.
Nanoscale study of cartilage surfaces using atomic force microscopy
Authors: Wang Meiling , Peng Zhongxiao , Watson Jolanta A , Watson Gregory S , Yin Ling
Published: October 2012

Articulating cartilage wear plays an important role in cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis (OA) progression. This study investigated the changes of mechanical properties and surface roughness of sheep cartilages with wear progression at a nanometre scale. Young sheep’s rear legs were subjected to a series of wear tests to generate worn cartilage samples to simulate the OA progression. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to determine the effective indentation modulus and to measure the surface morphology of moist cartilage surfaces. The study has found that the mean effective indentation modulus values of worn cartilages were lower than that of healthy cartilage as the control sample. A medium-to-strong correlation between the effective indentation modulus values and the OA grades has been found. The relation between surface topography and effective indentation modulus values of the cartilage surfaces with OA progression was weakly correlated. The method established in this study can be implemented to investigate the effective indentation modulus values of clinical osteoarthritic cartilages and to assist in the understanding and assessment of OA.
Bayesian point event modeling in spatial and environmental epidemiology
Authors: Lawson Andrew B
Published: October 2012

This paper reviews the current state of point event modeling in spatial epidemiology from a Bayesian perspective. Point event (or case event) data arise when geo-coded addresses of disease events are available. Often, this level of spatial resolution would not be accessible due to medical confidentiality constraints. However, for the examination of small spatial scales, it is important to be capable of examining point process data directly. Models for such data are usually formulated based on point process theory. In addition, special conditioning arguments can lead to simpler Bernoulli likelihoods and logistic spatial models. Goodness-of-fit diagnostics and Bayesian residuals are also considered. Applications within putative health hazard risk assessment, cluster detection, and linkage to environmental risk fields (misalignment) are considered.
I, S, T, and J Grading Techniques for Es, Ns, Fs, and Ps
Authors: Fornaciari Charles J. , Lund Dean Kathy
Published: October 2012

Most instructors at least occasionally experience grading student work as a frustrating, time-consuming task. The Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) instrument can be a powerful self-awareness tool for management educators seeking to enhance their grading techniques. Evidence suggests that many management professors prefer Extraversion (E), Intuition (N), Feeling (F), or Perceiving (P) on the four dichotomies of the MBTI instrument. However, these same preferences often make the grading process cumbersome, because grading can require critical, detail-oriented, and time-constrained responses. Using a key insight from type theory—that individuals can develop the talents consistent with their nonpreferred preference on each dichotomy—this article explores strategies to help those of us with E, N, F, or P preferences develop skills from our MBTI Introversion (I), Sensing (S), Thinking (T), or Judging (J) peers, thus making for a more effective grading process. After discussion of grading “gifts” offered with I, S, T, and J preferences, we share specific techniques and tools honed over many years that have helped improve our grading processes.