bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integration of Triz Into Quality Function Deployment
Authors: Tursch Philipp , Goldmann Christine , Woll Ralf
Published: June 2015

Purpose: The objective of successful companies is the integration of customer requirements in the development process of a new product. Therefore, the Quality Function Deployment method has proven useful several times. The customer requirements often contain contradictions, which are mostly solved by compromises. The aim should be to integrate all customers’ demands and wishes into future products.

Methodology: The theory of inventive problem solving can be applied to eliminate compromises in the product development. The method’s different tools enable a goal-oriented and systematic conflict resolution and may help to uncover trends. This paper displays an approach where individual tools of TRIZ are integrated into the Quality Function Deployment.

Results: The result of this work is the presentation of the resulting benefits from combining the two methods. For this reason, individual tools of TRIZ are used in different points of the QFD process. The paper shows examples of starting points.

Value of paper: In the context of this paper, the benefits from the interaction of QFD and TRIZ are presented. These are particularly evident in the initial phase of project implementation. In this phase the goal of the QFD process is to succeed in translating the voice of the customer for the company and then integrating it into the product development.
Organizational Ambidexterity, Exploration, Exploitation and Firms Innovation Performance
Authors: Popadić Mladenka , Černe Matej , Milohnić Ines
Published: June 2015

Background and Purpose: The construct of organizational ambidexterity (OA) has attracted the growing attention in management research. Previous empirical research has investigated the effect of organisational ambidexterity on performance from various perspectives. This study aims to resolve the contradictory previous research findings on the relationship between organisational ambidexterity and innovation performance. We unpack this construct with combined dimension of ambidexterity, which relates to a combination of high levels of both exploration and exploitation (introduction of products or services that were new to the market and new to the firm).

Methodology: We frame our ambidexterity hypothesis in terms of firm’s innovation orientation. The hypothesis is tested by using Community Innovation Survey (CIS) 2006 micro data at the organizational level in twelve countries. To operationalize an ambidexterity and firms innovation outcome, we used self-reported measures of innovativeness.

Results: To test our hypothesis, we developed a set of models and tested them with multiple hierarchical linear regression analyses. The results indicate that exploration and exploitation are positively related to firm’s innovation performances which supports our assumption that both are complementary. Furthermore, we find that above and over their independent effects, through combining them into a single construct of organizational ambidexterity, this variable remains negatively and significantly related to innovation performance.

Conclusion: These results provides the managers with an idea of when managing trade-offs between exploration and exploitation would be more favorable versus detrimental. For firms with lower organizational ambidexterity, the relationship between exploration-exploitation and the firm’s innovation performance is a more positive one.
Analysis of Online Marketing Management in Czech Republic
Authors: Smutny Zdenek
Published: June 2015

Background and Purpose: Doing business over the Internet has become increasingly competitive for many companies. The aim of this study is to analyse the current state of utilizing online tools, approaches of Czech companies to the management of online marketing activities and to identify weaknesses and opportunities of these activities.

Methodology/Approach: The paper presents empirical research that uses two different approaches in investigation: (1) descriptive quantitative research of current state, based on examination of websites of a sample of 4,584 Czech companies and (2) questionnaire survey among 161 Czech companies which do business via the Internet.

Results: There is a large gap that currently exist between the use of social media and its connection to marketing activities. The competitive level of the use of social media in the Czech Republic is still low compared to the USA companies. The online marketing management (OMM) of the majority of companies rely on individual assessment and do not use any metrics or management methodologies. One of the main problems of OMM is the ever increasing number of tools used in marketing activities as well as low possibility of a broader perspective on the success of cross channel marketing activities.

Conclusion: In the future, it is expected that a large number of Czech companies will increasingly use online tools as social media for their marketing activities. In the context of this development they cannot rely only on individual assessment to manage these activities as they do currently, but they will have to use comprehensive tools or methodologies. Based on this, we can conclude that Czech companies still have enough opportunities for a better use of online tools for marketing purposes.
Activity of phthalocyanine-sensitized TiO2-anatase in photooxidation of sulfite ions
Authors: Galbas Maria , Banaszczyk Agnieszka , Dyrda Gabriela , Szczegot Kszysztof , Słota Rudolf
Published: June 2015

Hybrid catalysts based on the TiO2 matrix impregnated with Nd, Eu and Yb diphthalocyanines proved effective in oxidation of sulfite ions under irradiation with light from the UV-visible range. Micro- and nano-crystalline anatase powders were used in preparation of the photocatalysts, which were applied in the form of a suspension in the water phase. The reaction yield was found to depend on the phthalocyanine sensitizer used and the conditions of TiO2 impregnation. The best results were obtained when micro-anatase impregnated with Yb-diphthalocyanine was used.
Enhanced carbon dioxide separation by polyethersulfone (PES) mixed matrix membranes deposited with clay
Authors: Ismail N.M. , Ismail A.F. , Mustafa A. , Zulhairun A.K. , Nordin N.A.H.M.
Published: June 2015

Asymmetric mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) incorporating Cloisite15A (C15A) clay particles were prepared using solvent evaporation and phase inversion with polyethersulfone (PES) as the membrane matrix. C15A loadings varied at 1 wt% and 5 wt%. Membrane morphological and thermal properties were evaluated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Addition of the C15A favorably altered the microscopic structure of membranes from finger-like to homogeneous sponge-like structure as the loading increased. While the amorphous nature of MMMs was retained, the thermal stability was also found to be improved with a slight decrease in glass transition temperature (Tg). PES/C15A1 MMM showed the best gas transport properties, with 37% and 65% improvement in CO2permeance and CO2/CH4selectivity, respectively. Unlike 1 wt%, the loss in selectivity shown by 5 wt% clay loadings suggested that the interphase voids and extent of silicate layers dispersion play a significant role in the overall performance of MMMs.
Confocal X-ray technology based on capillary X-ray optics
Authors: Sun Tianxi , Ding Xunliang
Published: June 2015

Capillary X-ray optics is versatile, and it can be used with synchrotron radiation source, conventional X-ray source, laser-plasma ultrafast X-ray source, and so forth. Recently, the confocal X-ray technology based on capillary X-ray optics has become popular, and it has been widely used in X-ray fluorescence, X-ray absorption fine structure, X-ray diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering, X-ray imaging, and X-ray scattering. This confocal X-ray technology has applications in many fields, including environmental monitoring, food science, life science, chemistry, physics, nanomaterials, nondestructive test, security check, and so on.
The importance of the negative blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) response in the somatosensory cortex
Authors: Klingner Carsten M. , Brodoehl Stefan , Witte Otto W.
Published: June 2015

In recent years, multiple studies have shown task-induced negative blood-oxygenation-level-dependent responses (NBRs) in multiple brain regions in humans and animals. Converging evidence suggests that task-induced NBRs can be interpreted in terms of decreased neuronal activity. However, the vascular and metabolic dynamics and functional importance of the NBR are highly debated. Here, we review studies investigating the origin and functional importance of the NBR, with special attention to the somatosensory cortex.
Regulatory Environment and Firm Performance in EU Telecommunications Services
Authors: Montolio Daniel , Trillas Francesc , Trujillo-Baute Elisa
Published: June 2015

We empirically estimate the effects of regulated access prices and firms’ multinational status on firm performance by using firm, corporate group, and country level information for the European broadband market between 2002 and 2010. Three measures of firm performance are used, namely: market share, revenue and productivity. Special attention is paid to differences in the impact on the performance measures depending on a firm’s position as either a market incumbent or entrant. We find that while access prices have a negative effect on entrants’ market share and revenue, the effect on incumbents’ market share, revenue and productivity is positive. Further, we find that multinational entrants perform better than national entrants in terms of their market share but worse in terms of their revenue and productivity. The opposite is true of incumbent multinationals which perform better than nationals in terms of their revenue and productivity but worse in terms of their market share. This confirms that a firm’s multinational status has a significant impact on its performance, and that this impact differs for incumbents and entrants. Finally, when evaluating the impact of access prices on firm performance at the mean performance of national and multinational firms, we find that the impact of access prices is lower for multinational than for national firms.
The State as “a Consequence of the Curse of Humanity”: The Late Schelling’s Philosophy of Religion and of the State
Authors: Danz Christian
Published: June 2015

This paper analyzes the hitherto neglected political philosophy (Staatsphilosophie) contained in Schelling’s Berlin lectures on the philosophy of mythology and of revelation in the context of the complex and politically charged debates of the German Vormärz period. It will be shown that, in his political philosophy, the Berlin Schelling rejects social contract models of the state and follows conservative theorists who conceive of the state as a collective order that supersedes the individual, while at the same time preserving the freedom of the individual and rejecting religious legitimizations of the state. Schelling’s theory of the state is characterized by its distinctive internal tensions and by its multidimensionality. This complexity of his theory of the state helps to account for the diverse range of receptions and assessments of his political philosophy, both among his contemporaries and by subsequent commentators
Kinetic Analysis of Hot Bromine Atom Reactions in Liquids
Authors: Milman Miriam
Published: June 2015

The yield of organically bound radio-bromine was determined in a wide range of mixtures of benzene, hexane, cyclohexane, tetradecane and bromoform with molecular bromine. The data was analysed by applying the kinetic theory of hot reactions to these liquid systems. After a number of drastic assumptions it was found possible to express the data in terms of two parameters: a) the reactivity integral (/) and b) the collisional energy loss (α).

The validity of the independently obtained parameters (α and I)was checked by the determination - both experimentally and theoretically - of the organic yield of hot reactions in mixtures of bromoform and benzene. The values found for the α’s indicate that moderating collisions with hydrocarbon involve the whole molecule, whereas with halocarbons the collisions have more of an atom-atom character.
Analyse spectrométrique de mélanges 95Zr – 95Nb par scintillation béta et gamma
Authors: Guillon A.
Published: June 2015

On propose une méthode de routine pour doser successivement la somme des activités 95Zr-95Nb par spectrométrie gamma, puis l’activité du 95Zr par spectrométrie béta sur scintillateur plastique. Les activités sont déterminées par comparaison á un mélange étalon dont on connaît l’évolution des deux activités.

Cette méthode nous dispense de l’emploi de sources étalons des radioéléments purs.

On a mesuré la valeur des interférences dues au 95Nb et 95mNb au cours du dosage du 95Zr. La précision et les seuils de détection d’un des éléments dans l’autre sont indiqués.

La durée totale de l’opération pour un essai en double est inférieure à, 4 heures.
Instrumentelle aktivierungsanalytische Bestimmung des Uran-238 über das Neptunium-239
Authors: Bobleter O.
Published: June 2015

Beim instrumentellen aktivierungsanalytischen Nachweis von Uran wird die Aktivität des gebildeten Neptuniums-239 bestimmt. Es konnte von uns zum ersten Mal im Jahre 1957 gezeigt werden, daß nach einer verhältnismäßig kurzen Abklingzeit die 0,106 MeV-Gammalinie des Neptuniums-239, ohne Störung durch die entstandenen Spaltprodukte, gemessen werden kann.

Die Empfindlichkeit der Methode wurde durch Verlängerung der Bestrahlungszeit und Meßdauer wesentlich erhöht. Bei einem Neutronenfluß von 0,7 · 1012
n/cm2 sec wurden in einer Lösung noch 0,004 /μg Uran quantitativ bestimmt.

Der Einfluß von Mineralbestandteilen auf die Analysenmethode wurde für den Fall der Pechblenden untersucht. Von den zahlreichen Elementen, die in pechblendehaltigen Mineralen vorhanden sind (Ca, Fe, Si, Al, Ni, Co, Ag, Bi, Au, Cu, Zn, Sb und Mo), stört in den zu erwartenden Konzentrationen nur das Gold auf Grund seiner hohen Aktivität und seiner dem Neptunium-239 vergleichbaren Halbwertszeit. An Hand einer südamerikanischen Pechblende konnte gezeigt werden, daß sich bei geringen Konzentrationen von Gold oder bei seiner Abwesenheit diese Uranbestimmung gut durchführen läßt.

Die Selbstabsorption der weichen 0,106 MeV-Gammastrahlung des Neptuniums-239 ist in durchschnittlichen Mineralproben bis 200 mg/cm2 vernachlässigbar.
Notiz zum Zerfall des 77As
Authors: Münzel H. , Schneider TH. , PFENNIG G.
Published: June 2015

Die beim 77As-Zerfall auftretenden γ-Übergänge wurden gemessen. Als koinzident erwiesen sich die Übergänge 240 keV und 275 keV. Im Energiebereich. 240/250 keV muß ein Doppelniveau angenommen werden.
Chemical Effects of the 35Cl (n, ρ) 35S Reaction
Authors: Yoshihara Kenji , Huang Ting-Chia , Ebihara Hiroshi , Shibata Nagao
Published: June 2015

Chemical effects of the 35Cl (n, p)
35S reactions in various alkali chlorides, in hydrazine hydrochloride and in hydroxylamine hydrochloride were investigated. "Protection effects" of carriers, reducing groups and solvents were found to be very important in determinating the chemical fate of radiosulfur. Low valency sulfur species survived even "carrier-free dissolution" of the neutron irradiated hydrazine hydrochloride. The oxidation mechanism of radiosulfur according to KOSKI'S explanation does not fit the present experimental results. The possibility that certain molecules may occur should be considered in the neighborhood of the recoil atom which easily oxidize sulfur. The assumption is discussed that chlorine atoms act as strong "oxidants" at the moment of dissolution.
The Chemical State of Iodine in Tellurium Compounds after Neutron Irradiation
Authors: Kronrád L.
Published: June 2015

The activity distribution of 131J between the iodide-elementary fraction and the iodate-periodate fraction in irradiated tellurium compounds as a function of irradiation lenght was investigated. The change in activity distribution of m J in thermal annealed tellurium dioxide was observed.
Isolation and Identification of 12.4-Minute 133Teg
Authors: Prussin Stanley G.
Published: June 2015

A radiochemical extraction procedure for the separation of tellurium isomers has been used to isolate an activity of 12.45 ± 0.28 minute half-life growing into samples of fission product tellurium. This activity is assigned to the ground state of 133Te as it is shown to arise in the decay of 54-min component present in the fission-product tellurium and to decay to form the 21-h 133I. The gamma-ray spectrum of 133Teg shows prominent photopeaks at 0.307 ± 0.01, 0.406 ± 0.01,1.335 ± 0.01,1.709 ± 0.02, and ≈ 1.85 MeV.
Effets de protection et de sensibilisation dans la décomposition radiolytique du phosphate de tributyle
Authors: Canva Jane , Pagès Monique
Published: June 2015

La dégradation radiolytique du phosphate de tributyle a été mesurée, pour des mélanges binaires variés, à diverses concentrations et en milieu liquide et solide (cristallisé). Ces expériences ont montré qu'en général, en phase liquide, des composés aromatiques protègent ce solvant alors que certains hydrocarbures saturés (hexane, cyclohexane, dodécane) sensibilisent sa décomposition par les rayonnements ionisante.

Ces effets sont attribués à un transfert d'ionisation du phosphate de tributyle aux composés aromatiques et des composés saturés au phosphate.

La protection par les composés aromatiques a lieu également en phase cristallisée mais l'effet de sensibilisation est éliminé par cristallisation. Protection et sensibilisation ne sont pas observées dans le cas de la photolyse (1850 Å) de TBP.

Par ailleurs, le cyclooctatétraène s'est révélé être un excellent protecteur, beaucoup plus efficace que tous les composés aromatiques que nous avons étudiés. Quant au cyclohexène, dont le potentiel d'ionisation est identique à celui du benzène, son rôle est protecteur contrairement au cyclohexane, mais son efficacité est faible.
The 127I(n, p) 127mTe; 127I(n, p) 127Te and 127I(n, 2n) 126I Mean Fission Neutron Cross Sections
Authors: De Regge P. , Dams R. , Hoste J.
Published: June 2015

The mean fission neutron cross sections of the 127I(n, p)127mTe; 127I(n, p)127Te and 127I(n, 2n)126I reactions were determined experimentally from the absolute 127mTe, 127Te and 128I activities induced in irradiated potassium iodide. For this purpose a quantitative separation method for tellurium from iodine was developed using liquid-liquid extraction of iodine and precipitation of tellurium by means of hydrazine hydrate. The absolute tellurium activity was measured with a calibrated Geiger-Müller tube whereas the iodine activity was measured by gamma spectrometry.

For the cross sections of the reactions 127I(n, p)127mTe and 127I(n, p)127Te respective values of 11.1 ± 0.2 μbarn and 7.62 ± 0.11 μbarn were obtained. For the cross section of the reaction 127I(n, 2n)126I a value of 0.647 + 0.010 μbarn was found.
Some Chain Yields in the Asymmetric Fission of Thorium-232 Induced by 3 and 14.7 MeV Neutrons
Authors: Lyle S. J. , Martin G. R. , Rahman Md. M.
Published: June 2015

Cumulative chain yields for masses 83, 84, 97, 99, 129, 132, 143 and 145 are reported for fission induced in thorium-232 by 3 MeV neutrons. Yields for 14.7 MeV neutron induced fission for the same masses except 132 and 143 but including 131 were also measured. At each initial excitation energy the number of secondary neutrons emitted by several pairs of complementary fragments was calculated; values from 2.3 to 2.4 (at 3 MeV) and 3.6 to 4.0 (at 14 MeV) in good agreement with average published values were obtained. An assessment of the positions of the light and heavy peak maxima suggests that the latter shifts more than the former towards lower masses with increase in initial excitation energy. Implications of this result are discussed.
A Vida sem princípios, de Henry David Thoreau
Authors: Costa Jaime Becerra
Published: June 2015

A vida sem princípios é um ensaio que reúne as reflexões e críticas recorrentes de Thoreau. Trata-se, também, do único ensaio ao qual Thoreau dedicará atenção continuada durante toda a sua vida. O tema central do ensaio é a relação da economia com a vida e, mais especificamente, o preço que os seres humanos precisam de pagar para criar riqueza. Um conceito já não relacionado com a ideia de saúde, criação de bem-estar, mas com a ideia de consecução de meios e fins materiais. Neste ensaio, Thoreau analisa e critica a nova consideração pós-industrial do trabalho desde uma perspectiva transcendentalista. A procura de Thoreau das coisas autenticamente essenciais para o fim último da vida leva-o a uma reavaliação da noção de trabalho face a uma predominante república que transforma todo cidadão num súbito.DOI  http://dx.doi.org/10.15304/ag.34.2.1861
Sobre la estructura discursiva del texto poético: la lengua visual de Huidobro en "El espejo de agua"
Authors: Jiménez Calderón Francisco
Published: June 2015

Sobre la estructura discursiva del texto poético: la lengua visual de Huidobro en "El espejo de agua"
La travesía femenina en la leyenda de Tristán e Iseo
Authors: Campos García Rojas Axayácatl
Published: June 2015

 

Resumen:

Se analiza el motivo de la travesía femenina en episodios de la leyenda de Tristán e Iseo, concretamente en las versiones hispánicas (1501 y 1534). Se centra en el personaje de Iseo y los simbolismos tradicionales de los elementos que constituyen el motivo: el agua, el mar, la nave, la travesía y la experiencia sexual vivida.

Palabras clave: Iseo, Isolda, travesía, femenino, agua.

Abstract:

This article analyses the motif of feminine crossing of the sea in Hispanic texts of Tristan tradition (1501 and 1534). It focuses on the character of Isolde and it also studies the traditional symbolism of the elements that constitute the motif: water, sea, ship, journey, and sexual experience.

Kew Words: Isolde, travel, woman, water, sea.
National assessment of soil erosion and its spatial patterns in china
Authors: Rao Enming , Xiao Yi , Ouyang Zhiyun , Yu Xinxiao
Published: June 2015

The spatial patterns of soil erosion (SE) are an important part of ecological security patterns and critical to erosion control. We assessed the SE and its spatial distribution in China based on geographic information system (GIS) and spatial data sets using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). The soil erosion area (SEA) and soil erosion amount (SEM) totaled 173.06 million ha and 8.87 billion Mg, respectively, with an average soil erosion rate (SER) of 9.39 Mg·ha
−1
·yr
−1
. Slight erosion dominated from the aspect of SEA, whereas extreme erosion contributed the most in terms of SEM. Spatial heterogeneity in soil erosion was obvious in China, with heavily eroded areas mainly concentrated in the Loess Plateau, the Three Gorges reservoir area, and the hot, dry valley of the Jinsha River. Regionally, the provinces of Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Guizhou, and Guangxi, and the basins of the Yangtze River, Yellow River, and southwestern rivers made a large contribution to the SEA and SEM. Geographically, soil erosion increased, then decreased with increasing slope and elevation. Slopes of 15–25° and 8–15° and elevations of 1000–2000 m were the most seriously eroded. Cropland and grassland ecosystems were major sources of SE, with their SEA and SEM accounting for 64.44% and 77.96% of the total. This study revealed the current situation and spatial characteristics of SE in China on the national scale, which can serve as a scientific basis for regional SE control and decision‐making policy.
Associations Between Sex Hormone Levels and Periodontitis in Men: Results From NHANES III
Authors: Steffens Joao Paulo , Wang Xiaoshan , Starr Jacqueline R. , Spolidorio Luis Carlos , Van Dyke Thomas E. , Kantarci Alpdogan
Published: June 2015

Background: Sex hormones are linked to inflammation and bone turnover. The goal of this study is to explore the association between sex hormone levels and periodontitis in men using data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).

Methods: Data from 755 men (aged ≥30 years), including serum levels of testosterone, estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin, and androstenediol glucuronide, were analyzed. Calculated bioavailable testosterone (CBT) and estradiol‐to‐testosterone ratio were calculated. Periodontitis was defined using the latest classification of extent and severity of periodontitis for NHANES data (≥2 interproximal sites with ≥3 mm attachment loss, ≥2 interproximal sites with probing depth [PD] ≥4 mm not on the same tooth, or one site with PD ≥5 mm). Sex hormones were evaluated as categorized and continuous variables. Correlations between the presence and severity of periodontitis and levels of sex hormones were determined and expressed as odds ratios (ORs).

Results: When adjusted for confounding factors, high total testosterone (TT) and CBT levels correlated with both the prevalence (OR [95% confidence interval (CI)], 2.1 [1 to 4.5] and 3.9 [1 to 14.8], respectively) and severity (OR [95% CI], 2.1 [1 to 4.3] and 3.4 [1.2 to 9.8]) of periodontitis. When continuous variables were used, the ORs (95% CIs) for presence and severity of periodontitis were 1.4 (0.6 to 3.3) and 1.5 (0.6 to 3.6) for TT and 1.3 (0.9 to 1.9) and 1.3 (0.9 to 1.8) for CBT, respectively.

Conclusions: These findings are consistent with the existence of an association of periodontitis with sex hormone levels, especially testosterone, in men.
Local Public Health Department Characteristics Associated With Likelihood to Participate in National Accreditation
Authors: Yeager Valerie A. , Ferdinand Alva O. , Beitsch Leslie M. , Menachemi Nir
Published: June 2015

Objectives. We examined factors associated with completing, initiating, or intending to pursue voluntary national accreditation among local health departments (LHDs).

Methods. We examined National Association of County and City Health Officials 2010 and 2013 profile data in a pooled cross-sectional design with bivariate and multivariable regression analyses. We conducted individual multivariable models with interest in accreditation and likely to accredit as outcome variables, comparing changes between 2010 and 2013.

Results. LHDs with formal quality improvement programs are significantly more likely to have initiated or completed the accreditation process (odds ratio [OR] = 7.99; confidence interval [CI] = 1.79, 35.60), to be likely to accredit (OR = 2.41; CI = 1.65, 3.50), or to report an interest in accreditation (OR = 2.32; CI = 1.67, 3.20). Interest was lower among LHDs in 2013 than in 2010 (OR = 0.56; CI = 0.41, 0.77); however, there was no difference regarding being likely to accredit. LHDs with a high number of full-time equivalent employees were more likely to indicate being likely to accredit or interest in accreditation.

Conclusions. Quality improvement may facilitate the accreditation process or be a proxy measure for an unmeasurable LHD attribute that predicts accreditation.
Prevalence of Inadequate Hydration Among US Children and Disparities by Gender and Race/Ethnicity: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009–2012
Authors: Kenney Erica L. , Long Michael W. , Cradock Angie L. , Gortmaker Steven L.
Published: June 2015

Objectives. We evaluated the hydration status of US children and adolescents.

Methods. The sample included 4134 participants aged 6 to 19 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2012. We calculated mean urine osmolality and the proportion with inadequate hydration (urine osmolality > 800 mOsm/kg). We calculated multivariable regression models to estimate the associations between demographic factors, beverage intake, and hydration status.

Results. The prevalence of inadequate hydration was 54.5%. Significantly higher urine osmolality was observed among boys (+92.0 mOsm/kg; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 69.5, 114.6), non-Hispanic Blacks (+67.6 mOsm/kg; 95% CI = 31.5, 103.6), and younger children (+28.5 mOsm/kg; 95% CI = 8.1, 48.9) compared with girls, Whites, and older children, respectively. Boys (OR = 1.76; 95% CI = 1.49, 2.07) and non-Hispanic Blacks (odds ratio [OR] = 1.34; 95% CI = 1.04, 1.74) were also at significantly higher risk for inadequate hydration. An 8-fluid-ounce daily increase in water intake was associated with a significantly lower risk of inadequate hydration (OR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.93, 0.98).

Conclusions. Future research should explore drivers of gender and racial/ethnic disparities and solutions for improving hydration status.
Comprehensive US Statewide Smoke-Free Indoor Air Legislation and Secondhand Smoke Exposure, Asthma Prevalence, and Related Doctor Visits: 2007–2011
Authors: Lin Hsien-Chang , Park Ji-Yeun , Seo Dong-Chul
Published: June 2015

Objectives. We evaluated the impact of comprehensive statewide smoke-free indoor air laws on secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, asthma prevalence, and asthma-related doctor visits.

Methods. We used the 2007–2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data sets. We employed a paired t test to determine whether comprehensive statewide smoke-free indoor air laws reduced SHS exposure. We performed weighted logistic and Poisson regressions to obtain likelihood of reporting asthma symptoms and incidence rate ratio (IRR) of doctor visits owing to severe asthma symptoms.

Results. After such laws were enacted, people in states with comprehensive smoke-free indoor air laws had a lower level of SHS exposure (P < .01), decreased odds of reporting current asthma symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.51, 0.63), and a decreased frequency of doctor’s visits owing to severe asthma symptoms (IRR = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.69, 0.92) than did their counterparts in fully adjusted models.

Conclusions. Comprehensive statewide smoke-free indoor air laws appear to be effective in reducing SHS exposure and improving asthma outcomes. Regulations requiring smoke-free indoor environments and public areas are beneficial, and smoke-free indoor air laws should be enforced in all states.
Love, Trust, and HIV Risk Among Female Sex Workers and Their Intimate Male Partners
Authors: Syvertsen Jennifer L. , Bazzi Angela Robertson , Martinez Gustavo , Rangel M. Gudelia , Ulibarri Monica D. , Fergus Kirkpatrick B. , Amaro Hortensia , Strathdee Steffanie A.
Published: June 2015

Objectives. We examined correlates of love and trust among female sex workers and their noncommercial male partners along the Mexico–US border.

Methods. From 2011 to 2012, 322 partners in Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, completed assessments of love and trust. Cross-sectional dyadic regression analyses identified associations of relationship characteristics and HIV risk behaviors with love and trust.

Results. Within 161 couples, love and trust scores were moderately high (median 70/95 and 29/40 points, respectively) and correlated with relationship satisfaction. In regression analyses of HIV risk factors, men and women who used methamphetamine reported lower love scores, whereas women who used heroin reported slightly higher love. In an alternate model, men with concurrent sexual partners had lower love scores. For both partners, relationship conflict was associated with lower trust.

Conclusions. Love and trust are associated with relationship quality, sexual risk, and drug use patterns that shape intimate partners’ HIV risk. HIV interventions should consider the emotional quality of sex workers’ intimate relationships.
National and State Treatment Need and Capacity for Opioid Agonist Medication-Assisted Treatment
Authors: Jones Christopher M. , Campopiano Melinda , Baldwin Grant , McCance-Katz Elinore
Published: June 2015

Objectives. We estimated national and state trends in opioid agonist medication-assisted treatment (OA-MAT) need and capacity to identify gaps and inform policy decisions.

Methods. We generated national and state rates of past-year opioid abuse or dependence, maximum potential buprenorphine treatment capacity, number of patients receiving methadone from opioid treatment programs (OTPs), and the percentage of OTPs operating at 80% capacity or more using Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration data.

Results. Nationally, in 2012, the rate of opioid abuse or dependence was 891.8 per 100 000 people aged 12 years or older compared with national rates of maximum potential buprenorphine treatment capacity and patients receiving methadone in OTPs of, respectively, 420.3 and 119.9. Among states and the District of Columbia, 96% had opioid abuse or dependence rates higher than their buprenorphine treatment capacity rates; 37% had a gap of at least 5 per 1000 people. Thirty-eight states (77.6%) reported at least 75% of their OTPs were operating at 80% capacity or more.

Conclusions. Significant gaps between treatment need and capacity exist at the state and national levels. Strategies to increase the number of OA-MAT providers are needed.
Stroke in American Indians and Alaska Natives: A Systematic Review
Authors: Harris Raymond , Nelson Lonnie A. , Muller Clemma , Buchwald Dedra
Published: June 2015

We conducted a systematic review of published studies on stroke epidemiology in American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). We used MeSH terms and strict inclusion criteria to search PubMed, identifying a relevant sample of 57 refereed publications. We report a consensus view in which prevalent stroke is more common, and estimates of cerebrovascular risk factors are higher, among AI/ANs than among other US populations. Like other minority groups, AI/ANs suffer stroke at younger ages than do non-Hispanic Whites. However, data on AI/AN stroke mortality are significantly compromised by racial misclassification and nonrepresentative sampling. Studies correcting for these problems have found that stroke mortality rates among AI/ANs are among the highest of all US racial and ethnic groups. As with Black and non-Hispanic White stroke mortality, AI/AN stroke mortality varies by geographic region, with the highest rates in Alaska and the Northwest and the lowest in the Southwest. Our results underscore the need for a concerted national effort to collect accurate cross-sectional and longitudinal data on stroke in AI/ANs.
Enhancing Syndromic Surveillance With Online Respondent-Driven Detection
Authors: Stein Mart L. , van Steenbergen Jim E. , Buskens Vincent , van der Heijden Peter G. M , Koppeschaar Carl E. , Bengtsson Linus , Thorson Anna , Kretzschmar Mirjam E. E
Published: June 2015

Objectives. We investigated the feasibility of combining an online chain recruitment method (respondent-driven detection) and participatory surveillance panels to collect previously undetected information on infectious diseases via social networks of participants.

Methods. In 2014, volunteers from 2 large panels in the Netherlands were invited to complete a survey focusing on symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections and to invite 4 individuals they had met in the preceding 2 weeks to take part in the study. We compared sociodemographic characteristics among panel participants, individuals who volunteered for our survey, and individuals recruited via respondent-driven detection.

Results. Starting from 1015 panel members, the survey spread through all provinces of the Netherlands and all age groups in 83 days. A total of 433 individuals completed the survey via peer recruitment. Participants who reported symptoms were 6.1% (95% confidence interval = 5.4, 6.9) more likely to invite contact persons than were participants who did not report symptoms. Participants with symptoms invited more symptomatic recruits to take part than did participants without symptoms.

Conclusions. Our findings suggest that online respondent-driven detection can enhance identification of symptomatic patients by making use of individuals’ local social networks.
The GRI Staged Field Experiment
Authors: Holditch S. A. , Robinson B. M. , Whitehead W. S. , Ely J. W.
Published: June 2015

The Gas Research Institute's (GRI) Tight Gas Sands Program has been involved with research on low permeability formations during the past four years. The main focus of the research has been to improve the general understanding of producing tight reservoirs, while a specific focus has been to advance the technology involving hydraulic fracture geometry. The unique aspect of this research is that the laboratories have been actual gas wells completed in the Travis Peak formation in East Texas.

To fully extend the development of technology, GRI has planned four Staged Field Experiments (SFE) from 1986 through 1989. The SFE program provides the opportunity to collect a wealth of data that cannot be obtained from normal cooperative research wells. The purpose of this paper is to summarize all the tests and data collected on the first SFE and to present the available results from the analyses of these data.
Dynamic Etching Tests Aid Fracture Acidizing Treatment Design
Authors: Anderson M. S. , Fredrickson S. E.
Published: June 2015

Satisfactory stimulation of oil and gas bearing formations by "fracture acidizing" is dependent upon development of adequate fracture conductivity in naturally occurring or hydraulically induced fractures. The created fracture conductivity is a result of the action of acid on the exposed fracture face. Some of the kinetic parameters which will influence the resultant conductivity are acid type and strength, reaction temperature, reaction time, and flow regime. These parameters are treatment design variables which can be used to optimize fracture acidizing treatments. Formation characteristics will be equally important, and in many cases, more critical than the kinetic parameters. Some of the formation parameters which will affect the development of fracture conductivity are the mineralogical composition, degree of homogeneity, hardness, and closure stress.

Equipment has been developed to allow realistic laboratory simulation of dynamic etching during the fracture acidizing process. Dynamic etching tests can be used to determine the feasibility of an acid treatment, as well as allowing optimization of the treatment parameters discussed above. Equipment construction allows evaluation of all strengths and forms of acids —e.g. non-gelled, gelled, foamed, emulsified, or chemically retarded — to be evaluated at temperatures up to 375°F, and at closure stress levels up to 12,000 psi. Any type of formation core may be evaluated.

Recent improvements in dynamic etching tests have allowed successful stimulation of difficult to treat formations such as cold dolomites, chalks, formations with low acid solubilities, and uniform carbonates.
From Bean Counters to Bean Growers: Accountants as Data Analysts—A Customer Profitability Example
Authors: Pickard Matthew D. , Cokins Gary
Published: June 2015

Extensive data mining and analytics (DM&A) are increasingly requisite for companies to be competitive in this age of information. This demand, combined with (1) accountants' reputation for understanding and generating quality data, and (2) the increased accessibility of DM&A tools, has created a unique opportunity for accountants to play a larger strategic role in their organization. We argue that accountants should own and drive a larger part of the DM&A that occurs in their organization. To support this vision, we introduce a data mining technique called recursive partitioning. We illustrate how it can be applied to a large customer costing and profit dataset to identify the characteristics that differentiate more and less profitable customers. We discuss how the output of the recursive partitioning algorithm (a binary decision tree) can be used to increase customer profitability and identify future profitable customers. We conclude by suggesting and discussing some of the obstacles and research opportunities that this vision presents to the accounting field.
Mandibular vertical asymmetry in adult orthodontic patients with different vertical growth patterns: A cone beam computed tomography study
Authors: Celik Salih , Celikoglu Mevlut , Buyuk Suleyman K. , Sekerci A. Ercan
Published: June 2015

Objective: 

To evaluate condylar and ramal vertical asymmetry in adult orthodontic patients with different vertical growth patterns and a clinically normal sagittal skeletal pattern using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Materials and Methods: 

The study sample consisted of 101 adult orthodontic patients (48 men and 53 women) divided into three groups according to their vertical growth patterns: high- (33 patients; mean age, 25.06 ± 6.05 years), low- (34 patients; mean age, 24.88 ± 5.22 years), and normal-angle (34 patients; mean age, 24.14 ± 4.26 years) groups. Condylar, ramal, condylar plus ramal height, and index measurements were performed using CBCT images and analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey tests.

Results: 

There was no statistically significant difference in height measurements between right and left sides in each group, except a slight difference of approximately 0.5 mm for condylar height (CH) in the low-angle group (P < .05). No statistically significant gender differences were found for the values (P > .05). In the high-angle group, the ramal height (RH) and condylar plus ramal height (CH + RH) on both sides were found to be less than those of the low- (P < .001) and normal-angle groups (P < .017 and P > .017, respectively), and the asymmetry index values were slightly higher than those of the low- and normal-angle groups (P > .05).

Conclusions: 

The high-angle group showed statistically significantly smaller values of RH and CH + RH on both sides and statistically insignificantly higher asymmetry index values than the low- and normal-angle groups.
Alexander Feldman. Dramas of the Past on the Twentieth-Century Stage: In History’s Wings
Authors: Witt Mary Ann Frese
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT:

This book seeks to define and analyse a particular twentieth- (and twenty-first-) century dramatic genre, “historiographic metatheatre,” which the author discusses only with relation to plays produced on the London stage.
Alan Read. Theatre in the Expanded Field: Seven Approaches to Performance
Authors: Worthen W.B.
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT:

This book concerns the relationship between performance studies and theatre studies, treated through seven approaches: “Pre-Historical and Archaeological,” “Pastoral and Anthropological,” Theological and Historical,” Digital and Technological,” Psychological and Legal,” “Social and Sensible,” “Tactical and Critical.” Wide-ranging in reference and dynamic in argument: recommended for advanced students and professional scholars.
Mark Taylor-Batty et al. The Theatre of Harold Pinter
Authors: Begley Varun
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT:

A brisk, thorough overview of the Nobel laureate’s career, a welcome contribution to Pinter studies, and an engaging retrospective. Not for readers expecting a focused theoretical argument, but for those who seek a broad literary appreciation of Pinter’s work.
Physiological and Psychological Effects of Viewing a Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa ‘Hayward’) Orchard Landscape in Summer in Japan
Authors: Igarashi Miho , Miwa Masayuki , Ikei Harumi , Song Chorong , Takagaki Michiko , Miyazaki Yoshifumi
Published: June 2015

The physiological and psychological relaxation effects of viewing a kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa ‘Hayward’) orchard landscape were investigated. Seventeen Japanese adult females (46.1 ± 8.2 years) viewed a kiwifruit orchard landscape or a building site (control) for 10 min. The heart rate variability and heart rate were determined. The modified semantic differential method and the short-form Profile of Mood States were used to assess the psychological effects. Compared with viewing the building site, viewing the kiwifruit orchard landscape resulted in a significant increase in the parasympathetic activity, a marginally significant decrease in the heart rate, a significant increase in “comfortable”, “relaxed” and “natural” feelings and a significant improvement in mood states.
ODQ: A Fluid Office Document Query Language
Authors: Liu Xuhong , Li Ning , Shi Yunmei , Hou Xia
Published: June 2015

Fluid office documents, as semi-structured data often represented by Extensible Markup Language (XML) are important parts of Big Data. These office documents have different formats, and their matching Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) depend on developing platform and versions, which causes difficulty in custom development and information retrieval from them. To solve this problem, we have been developing an office document query (ODQ) language which provides a uniform method to retrieve content from documents with different formats and versions. ODQ builds common document model ontology to conceal the format details of documents and provides a uniform operation interface to handle office documents with different formats. The results show that ODQ has advantages in format independence, and can facilitate users in developing documents processing systems with good interoperability.
Ecological Interactions Affecting the Efficacy of Aphidius colemani in Greenhouse Crops
Authors: Prado Sara , Jandricic Sarah , Frank Steven
Published: June 2015

Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a solitary endoparasitoid used for biological control of many economically important pest aphids. Given its widespread use, a vast array of literature on this natural enemy exists. Though often highly effective for aphid suppression, the literature reveals that A. colemani efficacy within greenhouse production systems can be reduced by many stressors, both biotic (plants, aphid hosts, other natural enemies) and abiotic (climate and lighting). For example, effects from 3rd and 4th trophic levels (fungal-based control products, hyperparasitoids) can suddenly decimate A. colemani populations. But, the most chronic negative effects (reduced parasitoid foraging efficiency, fitness) seem to be from stressors at the first trophic level. Negative effects from the 1st trophic level are difficult to mediate since growers are usually constrained to particular plant varieties due to market demands. Major research gaps identified by our review include determining how plants, aphid hosts, and A. colemani interact to affect the net aphid population, and how production conditions such as temperature, humidity and lighting affect both the population growth rate of A. colemani and its target pest. Decades of research have made A. colemani an essential part of biological control programs in greenhouse crops. Future gains in A. colemani efficacy and aphid biological control will require an interdisciplinary, systems approach that considers plant production and climate effects at all trophic levels.
Modeling Permanent Deformations of Superelastic and Shape Memory Materials
Authors: Urbano Marco , Auricchio Ferdinando
Published: June 2015

In this paper we propose a modification of the polycrystalline shape memory alloy constitutive model originally proposed by Souza. By introducing a transformation strain energy with two different hardening coefficients, we are able to take into account the effect of the martensitic transformation of unfavorably oriented grains occurring after the main plateau. By choosing a proper second hardening coefficient, it is possible to reproduce the correct stress strain behavior of the material after the plateau without the need of introducing a much smaller Young modulus for martensite. The proposed modification is introduced in the model comprising permanent deformation effects. Model results for uniaxial stress tests are compared to experimental results showing good agreement.