bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic response of thermo-viscoelasticity of three-dimensionally braided composites
Authors: Cai Yongming , Sun Huiyu
Published: May 2013

Dynamic response of thermo-viscoelasticity of 3D braided composites is studied by a numerical method proposed in this article. The strain response of 3D braided composites to alternating stress load at room temperature is obtained by the theoretical derivation and finite element analysis. The complex compliance of 3D braided composites is derived from the creep compliance, and the relationship between the complex compliance and angular frequency is investigated. With the increase of angular frequency, 3D braided composites behave elastically gradually. Based on the equivalent thermal expansion coefficient assumption, the thermal effects on the dynamic viscoelasticity are characterized by the time–temperature equivalent relationship. The dynamic response derived in this article for 3D braided composites with thermal effects agrees well with the finite element analysis. The influence of braiding angles and fiber volume fractions on the steady-state strain response of 3D braided composites is investigated.
Mutiny and nonviolence in the Arab Spring
Authors: Nepstad Sharon Erickson
Published: May 2013

Recent studies of civil resistance indicate that security force defections can heavily influence the outcome of nonviolent uprisings against authoritarian regimes. Yet we know little about why, when, and how mutiny occurs. In this article, I ask: what factors influence the likelihood of military defections during a nonviolent conflict? In reviewing various literatures, I identify ten factors that facilitate or obstruct mutiny. I propose that two of these are particularly influential: (1) whether troops receive economic or political benefits from the regime; and (2) whether troops perceive the regime as fragile, based on the international community’s response to the conflict. Specifically, I argue that troops who receive benefits from a regime are more likely to remain loyal while those who receive no such benefits are more likely to defect. However, even the most underprivileged troops are unlikely to defect if they believe that the state is strong enough to withstand a major civilian uprising. Soldiers’ perception of regime strength is partly shaped by whether outside nations support the opposition, thereby weakening the state, or send troops to reinforce the regime’s control. Using a qualitative comparative method, I illustrate these dynamics through an examination of several Arab Spring uprisings: Egypt, where the military sided with civil resisters; Bahrain, where troops remained loyal to the state; and Syria, where the military split. Then, to encourage more research on this topic, I use these three cases to generate additional hypotheses about defections that others can test against a wider set of cases. I conclude with a discussion of the questions that future researchers should explore and the types of methodological approaches that are needed in this field of study.
Activism and awareness
Authors: Davenport Christian , Trivedi Priyamvada
Published: May 2013

There are a great number of outcomes for activism that are examined in the literature, but we know relatively little about how this behavior influences perceptions of the phenomena being challenged. It is possible that when one challenges some phenomenon, one begins to ‘see’ it more. Alternatively, activism might focus awareness on only certain manifestations of the problem of interest. The type of activism should matter here. We anticipate that only forms of resistance that increase exposure to oppression/oppressors and/or other challengers are likely to increase the number of discriminatory actions identified. Especially important here is nonviolent direct action because of the significant amount of training and interaction among activists that is facilitated by such activities as well as the extensive amount of exposure that nonviolence generally subjects participants to. Utilizing a unique database of 98,316 untouchables (or Dalits) from 1,589 rural villages in Gujarat, India, we find support for our argument. Specifically, Dalits who engaged in nonviolent action which increased either exposure to oppression/oppressors or exposure to other activists but not both, identified a higher number of discriminatory events. In short, some activism does activate some awareness. This has implications for dissident commitment, radicalization, and post-conflict political processes.
Voters versus terrorists: Analyzing the effect of terrorist events on voter turnout
Authors: Robbins Joseph , Hunter Lance , Murray Gregg R
Published: May 2013

Scholars and policymakers commonly assume terrorism is intended to affect a broader audience beyond the physically targeted victims. Informed by scholarship regarding the effects of heuristics and emotion on political cognition and behavior, we evaluate the impact of terrorism on the broader audience of the electorate as manifested by voter turnout. We hypothesize that increased terrorism is associated with increased voter turnout. In particular, we invoke the Affective Intelligence model and its related findings that emotion plays a key role in individuals’ political cognition and behavior. Following this perspective, we argue that terrorist attacks are threatening and novel political events that induce anxiety in the electorate, which, in turn, leads individuals to scrutinize the political environment more closely and to ascribe greater salience to proximate political events. As a result of this increased concern with the political environment and increased salience of upcoming elections, we expect voter turnout to increase. While conventional explanations of turnout are important, they do not capture the effect of emotions despite other well-known relationships, such as attitudinal responses to international political crises (e.g. the rally-around-the-flag effect). Our cross-national analyses, which include 51 democracies and use two geographically and definitionally distinct datasets, indicate that the positive relationship between terrorism and turnout is non-trivial and robust.
Uncovering the Spatial Patterning of Crimes
Authors: Reid Andrew A. , Frank Richard , Iwanski Natalia , Dabbaghian Vahid , Brantingham Patricia
Published: May 2013

Objectives:

The main objective of this study was to see if the characteristics of offenders’ crimes exhibit spatial patterning in crime neutral areas by examining the relationship between simulated travel routes of offenders along the physical road network and the actual locations of their crimes in the same geographic space.

Method:

This study introduced a Criminal Movement model (CriMM) that simulates travel patterns of known offenders. Using offenders’ home locations, locations of major attractors (e.g., shopping centers), and variations of Dijkstra’s shortest path algorithm we modeled the routes that offenders are likely to take when traveling from their home to an attractor. We then compare the locations of offenders’ crimes to these paths and analyze their proximity characteristics. This process was carried out using data on 7,807 property offenders from five municipalities in the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) in British Columbia, Canada.

Results:

The results show that a great proportion of crimes tend to be located geographically proximal to the simulated travel paths with a distance decay pattern characterizing the distribution of distance measures. Conclusion: These results lend support to Crime Pattern Theory and the idea that there is an underlying pattern to crimes in crime neutral areas.
Attitudes of String Teachers and Performers Toward Preparation for and Teaching of Private Lessons
Authors: Fredrickson William E. , Geringer John M. , Pope David A.
Published: May 2013

The present study was designed to examine attitudes toward private lesson teaching of a cross-section of string instrument instructors ( N = 1,617). The participant pool was drawn from the membership of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA). Results were similar in many ways to responses in previous studies also involving music faculty and music students. These groups indicated that they liked teaching, liked the challenges of teaching musicians, and believed preparation for teaching is important. Depending on the age of their students, they also enjoyed talking about pedagogical issues with students. Engaging the membership of organizations such as ASTA will be necessary if the profession is to find additional ways to provide educational opportunities for musicians interested in teaching.
Democratical Gentlemen and the Lust for Mastery
Authors: Kapust Daniel J. , Turner Brandon P.
Published: May 2013

Neorepublican treatments of Hobbes argue that his conception of liberty was deliberately developed to counter a revived and Roman-rooted republican theory of liberty. In doing so, Hobbes rejects republican liberty, and, with it, Roman republicanism. We dispute this narrative and argue that rather than rejecting Roman liberty, per se, Hobbes identifies and attacks a language of liberty, Roman in character, often abused by ambitious persons. This is possible because Roman liberty—and, by extension, Hobbes’s relationship to it—is more complex than neorepublican authors have allowed. Drawing on Roman sources, along with Hobbes’s major works, we argue that Hobbes’s theory of liberty owes much to his engagement with Roman sources, and that this theory speaks to the egalitarian elements in his political thought.
What Public-Sector Employers Need to Know About Promotional Practices, Procedures, and Tests in Public Safety Promotional Processes
Authors: Biddle Richard E. , Biddle Daniel A.
Published: May 2013

In June 2009, the Ricci v. DeStefano case was decided by five of the nine U.S. Supreme Court judges. This case impacts public-sector employers by expanding on the rule called a “strong basis in evidence.” Under this rule, a public-sector employer cannot engage in certain activities for the asserted purpose of avoiding or remedying unintentional disparate impact, unless the employer has a “strong basis in evidence” to believe it will be subject to disparate-impact liability. The evidence for this rule must be in place before a public-sector employer takes a race-conscious action to minimize adverse impact. This article critically evaluates the test validity discussion that occurred in the Ricci case; addresses topics relevant to the new rule not covered by the decision, such as the cutoff used, weights used, differentiating requirements of the rank-ordered list, and the rule of three; and describes guidelines for conducting a particular kind of study in an employment context, called a Croson Study, that can be used to gather a “strong basis in evidence.” This article identifies circumstances under which a Croson Study is needed, and how to do it that will allow public-sector employers to evaluate whether they may be justified—using the Supreme Court’s “strong-basis-in-evidence” rule—to institute race-conscious remedies under Title VII.
Human Resource Functioning in an Information Society
Authors: Brock Meagan E. , Buckley M. Ronald
Published: May 2013

This paper explores the state human resources management in an information society. As technology rapidly changes organizations and human resources professionals need to be mindful of the impact that can have on the every day operations in human resources departments. As human resource management is involved in the process of recruitment, selection, and retention of new and current employees, they can play a significant role in maintaining a competitive advantage in the knowledge-based market. Thus, the purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the practical and strategic steps that those in the human resources field can take to facilitate success in this changing economy, as well as to warn against the implications and consequences of failing to meet these important challenges.
Managing and Valuing Diversity
Authors: Ewoh Andrew I. E.
Published: May 2013

This analysis explores some of the challenges facing public managers in managing and valuing diversity in the 21st century. It begins with a discussion of the underlying conceptual values on the need for diversity in organizations. This is followed by an examination of different approaches to managing and valuing diversity. As managing a diverse organization is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach, the analysis concludes that every diversity initiative must be in consonance with organizational missions to be successful. That is, it must become integrated into the agency’s overall operating plans and strategies with the aim of creating an institutional environment where every person who is different, in terms of human characteristics, feels not only accepted but also respected and valued.
Explaining Organizational Responses to Workplace Aggression
Authors: Fredericksen Elizabeth D. , McCorkle Suzanne
Published: May 2013

Although scholarship in the area of workplace aggression is beginning to flourish, the varied definitions, assumptions, and methodologies used to describe workplace aggression compound the challenge of formulating practical theory and models to address workplace aggression. While this phenomenon occurs in public, private, and nonprofit organizations, the unique political and legal context of public organizations warrants targeted attention. We propose the organizational Accountability Grid as an umbrella concept to understand how organizations become permissive or disciplined cultures in their responses to workplace aggression. The productive management of workplace aggression is necessary to ensure the accountable pursuit of the public interest.
HRM Practices, Intrinsic Motivators, and Organizational Performance in the Public Sector
Authors: Giauque David , Anderfuhren-Biget Simon , Varone Frédéric
Published: May 2013

This article aims to determine the impact of human resource management (HRM) practices on public service motivation (PSM) and organizational performance. Based on a survey of Swiss cantonal public employees ( N = 3,131), this study shows that several HRM practices may be considered as organizational antecedents of PSM and strong predictors of perceived organizational performance. Fairness, job enrichment, individual appraisal, and professional development are HRM practices that are positively and significantly associated with PSM and perceived organizational performance. Moreover, these results suggest that HRM practices are stronger predictors than either PSM or organizational commitment when explaining the individual perception of organizational performance.
An Empirical Study on Public Service Motivation of the Next Generation Civil Servants in China
Authors: Ko Kilkon , Han Lulu
Published: May 2013

Why do the Chinese university students choose government jobs instead of private companies? Do they have similar job motivations as those who are seeking private sector jobs? Surprisingly, literature on public administration in China has rarely posed this question despite China’s adoption of the civil service system since 1993. Specific examination of public service motivation (PSM) literature also revealed a lack of empirical studies on the public service spirit of potential public sector employees. This article analyzes the differences in job motivations between public and private job seekers using survey data of 329 Chinese university students from the Peking University, Renmin University, Fudan University, and Nankai University. The results suggest that both private and public job seekers commonly rank “stable and promising future,” “high salary,” “chance to exercise leadership,” and “high prestige and social status” as the most important motivators. Notwithstanding the commonality, public job seekers, especially female students, show higher public service spirit than private job seekers.
Government or Business? Identifying Determinants of MPA and MBA Students’ Career Preferences
Authors: van der Wal Zeger , Oosterbaan Anne
Published: May 2013

This article reports on a survey study into provisional career determinants of masters in public administration (MPA) students and masters in business administration (MBA) students ( N = 131) in the Netherlands. The survey measures whether both student groups hold different values, motivations, and sector perceptions and how these, in turn, determine provisional sector choices right before they graduate. Differences between both groups are larger and more classical than current literature and previous studies suggest: MPA students hold public values, have high levels of public service motivation (PSM), positive public sector perceptions and negative private sector perceptions, and opt without exception for a public sector career. For MBA students, the results are completely opposite. Arguably, both groups have a rather nullified image of professional lives in both sectors, reinforced by their respective degree programs. Implications are offered for future debates on public and private sector differences and the relation between attraction and socialization of different people types by both sectors.
The Study of Competency-Based Training and Strategies in the Public Sector
Authors: Wu Jui-Lan
Published: May 2013

In the private and public sectors, competency-based training is a popular method that focuses on improving employees’ knowledge, abilities, skills, and organizational performance. Yet, working in complex organizational environments, training practitioners often neglect certain steps and principles. This article examines competency-based training and strategies in Taiwan’s public sector, from the concept to the critical success factors in competency-based training. It then suggests some practices for training practitioners in the public sector.
Morality and Its Relation to Political Ideology
Authors: Cornwell James F. M. , Higgins E. Tory
Published: May 2013

Our research investigated whether promotion concerns with advancement and prevention concerns with security related to moral beliefs and political ideology. Study 1 found that chronic prevention and promotion focus had opposite relations to binding foundation endorsement (as measured by the Moral Foundations Questionnaire), that is, positive for prevention and negative for promotion, and opposite relations to political ideology, that is, more conservative for prevention and more liberal for promotion, and the relation between focus and political ideology was partially mediated by binding foundation endorsement. Study 2 showed that promotion and prevention, even as situationally induced states, can contribute to differences in binding foundation endorsement, with prevention producing stronger endorsement (compared with a control) and promotion producing weaker endorsement.
Dose-related Differences in the Pharmacodynamic and Toxicologic Response to a Novel Hyperglycosylated Analog of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin in Sprague-Dawley Rats with Similarly High Hematocrit
Authors: Andrews Dina A. , Boren Babette M. , Turk James R. , Boyce Rogely W. , He Yudong D. , Hamadeh Hisham K. , Mytych Daniel T. , Barger Troy E. , Salimi-Moosavi Hossein , Sloey Bethlyn , Elliott Steve , McElroy Patricia , Sinclair Angus M. , Shimamoto Grant , Pyrah Ian T. G. , Lightfoot-Dunn Ruth M.
Published: May 2013

We recently reported results that erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA)–related thrombotic toxicities in preclinical species were not solely dependent on a high hematocrit (HCT) but also associated with increased ESA dose level, dose frequency, and dosing duration. In this article, we conclude that sequelae of an increased magnitude of ESA-stimulated erythropoiesis potentially contributed to thrombosis in the highest ESA dose groups. The results were obtained from two investigative studies we conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats administered a low (no thrombotic toxicities) or high (with thrombotic toxicities) dose level of a hyperglycosylated analog of recombinant human erythropoietin (AMG 114), 3 times weekly for up to 9 days or for 1 month. Despite similarly increased HCT at both dose levels, animals in the high-dose group had an increased magnitude of erythropoiesis measured by spleen weights, splenic erythropoiesis, and circulating reticulocytes. Resulting prothrombotic risk factors identified predominantly or uniquely in the high-dose group were higher numbers of immature reticulocytes and nucleated red blood cells in circulation, severe functional iron deficiency, and increased intravascular destruction of iron-deficient reticulocyte/red blood cells. No thrombotic events were detected in rats dosed up to 9 days suggesting a sustained high HCT is a requisite cofactor for development of ESA-related thrombotic toxicities.
Formation of the Peripheral‐Central Transitional Zone in the Postnatal Mouse Cochlear Nerve
Authors: Hu Zhengqing
Published: May 2013

Objectives

Determine the formation of peripheral and central nervous system (CNS and PNS) transitional zone (PCTZ) along the postnatal mouse cochlear nerve.

Study Design

Prospective, basic science.

Setting

Research laboratory.

Subjects and Methods

A novel cryosection model of cochlea‐cochlear nerve‐brainstem was used in this study. The sections were harvested from a total of 45 mice in 9 groups of postnatal‐day‐0 to postnatal‐day‐60 mice (n = 5). Differential interference contrast microscopy and immunofluorescence were used to study the formation of PCTZ along the cochlear nerve of the postnatal mouse.

Results

The CNS tissue extended peripherally along the cochlear nerve from postnatal‐day‐0 to postnatal‐day‐7 and then stably located at the level of the spiral lamina of the basal cochlear turn. The PCTZ reached a mature pattern along the cochlear nerve after postnatal‐day‐7. A long segment of the CNS tissue extended along the cochlear nerve in the postnatal mouse.

Conclusion

In the early postnatal days, the PCTZ extended peripherally toward the cochlea and obtains a mature pattern along the neonatal mouse cochlear nerve.
Living Multiples: How Large-scale Scientific Data-mining Pursues Identity and Differences
Authors: Mackenzie Adrian , McNally Ruth
Published: May 2013

This article responds to two problems confronting social and human sciences: how to relate to digital data, inasmuch as it challenges established social science methods; and how to relate to life sciences, insofar as they produce knowledge that impinges on our own ways of knowing. In a case study of proteomics, we explore how digital devices grapple with large-scale multiples – of molecules, databases, machines and people. We analyse one particular visual device, a cluster-heatmap, produced by scientists by mining data from a large number of experiments on human blood plasma proteins. These proteins make up a myriad multiple whose identity shifts in many ways. Rather than displaying data about proteins, the heatmap constructs a view of the differences and similarities between experiments. We find this attempt to construct a view on many things at once instructive in thinking about multiples more generally. Instead of flattening molecular ‘life itself’, this visual device superimposes layers of digital devices and techniques from a wide variety of disciplines. This layering suggests a different way of relating to the life sciences more generally: rather than what they know, how they know might be of use to social and human sciences when attending to multiplicities.
Quantitative damage-benefit evaluation of drug effects: major discrepancies between the general population, users and experts
Authors: Reynaud Michel , Luquiens Amandine , Aubin Henri-Jean , Talon Céline , Bourgain Catherine
Published: May 2013

Aims:

This study sought to quantify the perceptions of damage and benefit, for users and society, associated with five addictive substances (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine and heroin) and one addictive behavior (gambling), in a large sample representative of the French population. We compared with expert assessments and investigated the effects of substance consumption on these perceptions.

Findings:

The ranking of substances by the lay public is very divergent from that of experts. The public overestimates damage to users and to society and underestimates the benefit, in comparison with experts, for all substances. Alcohol is the only exception, with damage and benefit perceptions similar to those of experts. Heroin and cocaine are perceived as the two most dangerous substances. The damage of cannabis and alcohol are judged to be equivalent. The three legal substances are associated with the highest overall benefit, although cannabis has the highest perceived benefit for users. Substances with the highest perceived benefit tend to be associated with perception of lower levels of damage. Individuals with an history of substance use have a perception of the damage and the benefit for that substance which is more congruent with experts, including a similar ranking of substances.

Conclusions:

Prevention campaigns focused on perceptions of damage alone have reached their limits. The perception of benefit should be taken into account in early interventions with illegal substance users.
Phenotypic Characteristics of Hydrocephalus in Stillborn Friesian Foals
Authors: Sipma K. D. , Cornillie P. , Saulez M. N. , Stout T. A. E. , Voorhout G. , Back W.
Published: May 2013

Hydrocephalus is uncommon in horses. However, in recent years, it has become clear that the prevalence of hydrocephalus is greater in Friesian horses than in other breeds probably due to their limited gene pool. Before identification of candidate genes that predispose to the development of hydrocephalus in Friesian horses can be pursued, an in-depth, phenotypic, pathological description of the condition in Friesians would be of great benefit. Our study aimed to characterize the morphology of hydrocephalus in Friesian horses, to support further investigation of the genetic background of this condition. Four stillborn Friesian foals with hydrocephalus were examined macroscopically and microscopically and compared with 2 normal stillborn Friesian foals without hydrocephalus. In all clinical cases, tetraventricular and venous dilatations were observed, together with malformation of the petrosal bone and, as a result, narrowing of the jugular foramen. These observations suggest a communicative hydrocephalus with a diminished absorption of cerebrospinal fluid into the systemic circulation at the venous sinuses due to a distorted, nonfunctional jugular foramen. This type of hydrocephalus is also recognized in humans and dogs and has been linked genetically to chondrodysplasia; this has already been recognized in dwarfism, which is another monogenetic defect in Friesian horses.
Headship, Household Burden, and Infant Mortality in Taipei (1906–1944)
Authors: Lin Xingchen ChiaChi
Published: May 2013

The purpose of this article is to explore the connection between household composition and infant mortality in the first half of the twentieth century in Taiwan. The research results claim that illegitimate infants have higher death risk than legitimate infants; that contrary to expectation female infants have mortality rates as high as boys; and that same sex sibling order effects are approximately same among boys and girls. The significance for infant mortality of the sex of household head is the other major finding of this article: female-headed families have higher rates of infant mortality.
Acculturative Stress and Gang Involvement Among Latinos
Authors: Barrett Alice N. , Kuperminc Gabriel P. , Lewis Kelly M.
Published: May 2013

Gang involvement is an increasing issue among Latino youth, yet nuanced research on its potential causes is scarce. Quantitative and qualitative data were used to explore links between acculturative stress and gang involvement among immigrant and U.S.-born Latino middle school students ( N = 199). Regression analyses showed that U.S.-born youths were more likely to be gang-involved if they experienced discrimination stress, but less likely to be gang-involved if experiencing adaptation stress. Neither form of stress predicted gang involvement among immigrant youth; however, several reported economic inequality as a difference between themselves and Americans. Those reporting inequality were more likely to be gang-involved than those who did not. These findings suggest gang involvement may work differently for U.S.-born and immigrant Latinos.
The Meaning of Motherhood
Authors: Salusky Ida
Published: May 2013

This article looks at how a group of marginalized young women, in the Dominican Republic, understand the experience of becoming a mother at an early age. The dominant global discourse on adolescent motherhood problematizes the phenomenon. Methodologically flawed scholarship typically attributes adolescent motherhood to poor economic and education outcomes. Little research exists examining the voices of young mothers themselves. The author aims to fill this gap and contribute a better understanding of how a group of disenfranchised young females narrate the experience of motherhood and its significance using a qualitative research design. Narratives suggest that adolescent motherhood may provide unconditional love, a sense of purpose in life, hope for future financial support and an alternative pathway to adulthood for poor Dominican Haitian adolescent females. Findings contrast with the dominant discourse on teen motherhood, indicating a need for researcher and policy to reexamine the costs and benefits of young motherhood.
Professional Efficacy and Working With Victims of Domestic Violence or Sexual Assault
Authors: Warrener Corinne , Postmus Judy L. , McMahon Sarah
Published: May 2013

Violence against women is a pervasive and widespread problem, but the understanding of how to prepare social workers best for working with survivors is inadequate. One area of focus is professional efficacy, which stems from the literature on self-efficacy. This article focuses on the confidence and comfort that social work students have in working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and identifies the factors that affect professional efficacy among these students. The results indicate that age, professional experience, master of social work education, and training have a positive impact on professional efficacy.
Impact of Poly-Victimization on Mental Health
Authors: Soler Laia , Kirchner Teresa , Paretilla Clàudia , Forns Maria
Published: May 2013

The current study examines the relationship between the total kinds of victimization (TKV) experienced, self-esteem, and internalizing symptoms (IS) and externalizing symptoms (ES). It also explores the mediator and/or moderator role of two self-esteem facets: self-liking (SL) and self-competence (SC). The sample comprised 736 adolescents recruited from eight secondary schools in Catalonia, Spain. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Youth Self Report, and the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire were used to assess self-esteem facets (SL and SC), psychological distress (IS and ES), and the TKV suffered. This article has several innovative features. On one hand, it considers that self-esteem is comprised of two different but related factors: SL and SC. On the other hand, it is the first study to provide evidence for the mediator/moderator role of SL and SC between victimization and psychological symptoms, taking account of the TKV experienced. Results suggest that SL is more relevant to mental health than SC. A low sense of being a worthy social being (SL) is more closely related to both victimization and poor mental health than a low sense of personal efficacy (SC). Moreover, SL seems to partially mediate the relationship between TKV and both IS and ES, whereas SC only acts as a partial mediator for the TKV–IS relationship in girls. At the same time, SL acts as a partial moderator of the TKV–IS relationship in boys. These findings support the importance of self-esteem in buffering the impact of victimization on mental health and may indicate that proper prevention and treatment policies should focus on adolescents’ sense of being a good person, according to their own criteria of worth.
Prevalence and Correlates of Disability in a Late Middle-Aged Population of Women
Authors: Karvonen-Gutierrez Carrie A. , Ylitalo Kelly R.
Published: May 2013

Objective: This study estimates the prevalence of disability among late middle-aged women and identifies important correlates of disability among this population. Method: Disability was assessed among 376 participants of the Michigan Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation cohort at the 2011 follow-up using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Demographic and health measures were related to disability status using logistic regression models (none or mild vs. moderate, severe, or extreme disability). Results: Nearly 25% of women reported moderate to extreme global disability. African American race/ethnicity, economic strain, peripheral neuropathy, and depressive symptomatology were associated with global disability. Obesity, knee osteoarthritis, and hypertension were only associated with disability for the mobility domain (getting around). Discussion: The prevalence of disability is relatively high among this population of late middle-aged women. Efforts to prevent or forestall disability should be extended to include middle-aged populations as they may be most amenable to intervention.
The child who was left behind: ‘Dynamic temporality’ and interpretations of history in transnational adoption
Authors: Yngvesson Barbara
Published: May 2013

This article draws on psychological theory relating to the emergence of self and subjectivity to examine transnational adoptee experiences of their own circulation as children. The article juxtaposes state policies and adoptive parent discourses that standardize adoption as a unidirectional process that requires a clean break from the past, and more complex renditions by the adopted themselves of subjectivity as a temporally dynamic and open-ended process of coming into being. Drawing on narratives of return by adoptees born in Ethiopia, India, and Korea who were adopted by parents in Sweden and the United States, the article suggests that their experiences in the orphanages, hospitals, and families from which they were adopted complicate understandings of what it means to circulate, while opening up standardizing descriptions of family, childhood, and belonging.
Opto(electrical) properties of triphenylamine-based polyazomethine and its blend with [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester
Authors: Iwan Agnieszka , Palewicz Marcin , Chuchmała Andrzej , Sikora Andrzej , Gorecki Lech , Sek Danuta
Published: May 2013

Polyazomethine (OFBF-TPA) based on triphenylamine (TPA) and octafluorobiphenyl (OFBF) moieties was tested as donor–acceptor (D-A) for bulk heterojunction polymeric solar cells. The temperatures of 5% weight loss ( T5%) of the polyazomethine range from 323 to 328°C, depending on the gas used (air and nitrogen). The conductivity of OFBF-TPA was approximately 10−10 S/cm for not annealed sample and at about 10−6 S/cm for the ones annealed at room temperature, as determined by impedance spectroscopy. Surface of the polymer and mixture polymer–[6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) was smooth with the Rms value in the range 0.58–1.95 nm as was detected by the atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique. UV-vis spectrum of the mixture OFBF-TPA-PCBM exhibited higher absorption intensity than the UV-vis spectrum of OFBF-TPA lacking PCBM. The thin solid film of OFBF-TPA and OFBF-TPA-PCBM showed one main absorption band with a maximum peak at 414 and 411 nm, respectively. For the mixture OFBF-TPA-PCBM, the second absorption band at 333 nm was found. No influence of annealing on the absorption properties was observed. The polymer solar cell devices were fabricated by spin coating the blend solution of the OFBF-TPA and PCBM and investigated in dark and under an illumination of 100 mW/cm2, with an AM1.5 G. Electrical behavior of the device indium tin oxide (ITO)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)- poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS)/OFBF-TPA-PCBM/Al was tested by impedance spectroscopy in dark and under illumination. For all measured devices, Nyquist plots were presented. The annealing significantly improved the electrical conductivity of the investigated devices. Electrical and photovoltaic properties of OFBF-TPA were compared with the properties of polyazomethine based on TPA and fluorene moieties (F-TPA).
Retinal Vessel Caliber and Lifelong Neuropsychological Functioning
Authors: Shalev Idan , Moffitt Terrie E. , Wong Tien Y. , Meier Madeline H. , Houts Renate M. , Ding Jie , Cheung Carol Y. , Ikram M. Kamran , Caspi Avshalom , Poulton Richie
Published: May 2013

Why do more intelligent people live healthier and longer lives? One possibility is that intelligence tests assess health of the brain, but psychological science has lacked technology to evaluate this hypothesis. Digital retinal imaging, a new, noninvasive method to visualize microcirculation in the eye, may reflect vascular conditions in the brain. We studied the association between retinal vessel caliber and neuropsychological functioning in the representative Dunedin birth cohort. Wider venular caliber was associated with poorer neuropsychological functioning at midlife, independently of potentially confounding factors. This association was not limited to any specific test domain and extended to informants’ reports of cohort members’ cognitive difficulties in everyday life. Moreover, wider venular caliber was associated with lower childhood IQ tested 25 years earlier. The findings indicate that retinal venular caliber may be an indicator of neuropsychological health years before the onset of dementing diseases and suggest that digital retinal imaging may be a useful investigative tool for psychological science.
Improving perceptions of value to teaching and research staff: The next challenge for academic libraries
Authors: Creaser Claire , Spezi Valérie
Published: May 2013

This article investigates the value, and perceptions of value, of academic libraries to teaching and research staff by examining working relationships between libraries and academic departments in universities. Eight case studies were undertaken in the US, the UK and Scandinavia. Primary findings were analysed and triangulated with a series of short surveys to ascertain whether they resonated with other librarians’ experiences. The article offers examples of good practice in the area of partnership building for academic libraries to improve their value to, or perceptions of value by, teaching and research staff, as well as raise their profile and better market their services to this category of users. Those examples may be of interest to fellow library practitioners and researchers interested in exploring further library-faculty interaction and collaboration.
Reflections on the origins of modern accounting
Authors: Lee Thomas A
Published: May 2013

The purpose of this paper is to use an historical lens to assess the prospect for West’s (2003) challenge to accountants that, in order to halt the demise of accountancy as a profession, there is a need for a body of knowledge with sufficient cognitive authority to generate accounting numbers that are functionally fit for use. The paper uses two origins of modern accounting to consider West’s challenge. These are double-entry bookkeeping and accountancy professionalization, both argued to be primary influences on the current state of accounting and the accountancy profession. The historical consequences of both origins are observed as an ambiguous relationship between the accountancy profession and the state, an accounting practice without a coherent and consistent theory, and accounting research that is largely irrelevant to practitioners and standard-setters. The paper concludes that, unless accountants identify and control an authoritative body of accounting knowledge, there is little prospect for halting the demise of accountancy as a professionalized occupation. The paper suggests that an appropriate conduit to identify an authoritative body of knowledge is accounting research and a relevant means to control it is the social closure of accounting education and training programmes.
Reluctant ally: The development of statutory regulation of the accountancy profession in South Africa, 1904–1951
Authors: Verhoef Grietjie
Published: May 2013

Accountants in South Africa established professional organizations to protect and promote the profession in the rapidly growing business environment after the discovery of diamonds and gold in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. This article investigates the development of the statutory regulatory environment of the accounting profession, which gradually emerged alongside the profession’s own structures. The growth of the South African economy created a rising demand for professional accountants, and large numbers of accountants from Britain emigrated to South Africa (or to the former colonies under British control, which later formed the Union of South Africa in 1910). Professional regulation remained a professional concern until the 1951 Act which established the Public Accountants and Auditors Board. The article extends the existing literature on the state–profession nexus by explaining the circumstances leading to proactive intervention of the state and the intersection of the state’s public interest responsibility and the closure attempts of the profession.
“A few good men”: Public sector audit in the Swan River Colony, 1828–1835
Authors: Bunn Michelle , Gilchrist David J
Published: May 2013

The appointment of the Auditor General to undertake public sector audit is the primary instrument used to safeguard public finances in most contemporary Westminster-based democracies. It is axiomatic that the independence of the Auditor General from executive government is a critical element in ensuring the effectiveness of the role, yet this separation is a relatively recent phenomenon. Those responsible for nineteenth century public sector audit in the Australian colonies operated in what would today be considered an unacceptable environment, with little, if any, independence from the executive arm of government. Yet, while several other Australian colonies suffered from the mismanagement of government finances, there is nothing to show that the Swan River Colony experienced much more than clerical errors and minor administrative oversights. In this article, we explore the extent to which satisfactory public financial management in the Swan River Colony occurred as a result of both good financial management systems (in the context of the era) and the appointment of competent and ethical administrators – “a few good men”.
Administrative and accounting practices in the Byzantine Empire
Authors: Baker C Richard
Published: May 2013

There are three primary objectives for this article. The first is to describe the administrative and accounting practices of the Byzantine Empire during the fourth, fifth and sixth centuries CE. A survey of the specialized accounting history journals reveals that there have been no previous studies focusing on the Byzantine Empire, even though this empire was the dominant political, economic and military power in the European world in the early Middle Ages. The second objective is to contribute to the body of accounting history research which seeks to demonstrate that ancient civilizations possessed well developed accounting practices. It is argued that the accounting practices of the Byzantine Empire during the fourth through sixth centuries were sufficiently well developed to serve the administrative needs of a vast empire extending over a territory throughout the Mediterranean world and most of southern Europe. The third objective is to examine whether the concept of “governmentality”, which has been extensively used in accounting history research in recent years, might be applied to research focusing on ancient civilizations such as the Byzantine Empire.
Accounting for eternal glory: Financial statements on temple stelae in nineteenth-century South China
Authors: Wissler Tobias E
Published: May 2013

This study provides a systematic overview of financial statements appearing on nineteenth-century temple stelae (alternatively called steles or stone tablets) culled from ten local collections of stele inscriptions from South China and Taiwan. Furthermore, it presents an analysis of the significance of these stele inscriptions for the study of Chinese accounting history in general, and particularly in respect to the influence of Chinese religion on accounting. Confirming “accounting stagnation” in the late Qing period, the temple stelae provide evidence of the increasing importance of wealth, against the alleged oppositions between trust and written contracts, and religion and money, in late Imperial China. As the impact of Chinese religion on the history of accounting is largely understudied, the final section contains proposals for further research.
The American Institute of Accountants and the professionalization of auditing: The campaign to end temporary audit staff and promote the natural business year, 1923–1960
Authors: Doron Michael E
Published: May 2013

This article examines the efforts of the American Institute of Accountants (AIA) to end audit firms’ reliance on temporary workers through promotion of the Natural Business Year (NBY). It is argued that the NBY campaign demonstrated leadership by the AIA to improve audit practice, in contrast to much of the profession’s history and to much accounting historical research. The article also adds to research on how firms choose a fiscal year-end. Consistent with prior studies, it is found that larger firms are more likely to use a December 31st year-end, and that the reluctance to switch to the NBY has always been based more on habit than empirical evidence.
Universality of Bereavement Life Review for Spirituality and Depression in Bereaved Families
Authors: Ando Michiyo , Sakaguchi Yukihiro , Shiihara Yasufumi , Izuhara Kumi
Published: May 2013

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the Bereavement Life Review on depression and spiritual well-being of bereaved families in a setting that does not specialize in palliative care. The participants were 20 bereaved family members who underwent the Bereavement Life Review over 2 sessions in 2 weeks. Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition scores significantly decreased from 14.4 ± 9.2 to 11.6 ± 7.4 ( t = 2.15, P = .045) and Functional Assessment Chronic Illness Therapy–Spiritual scores increased from 24.3 ± 10.1 to 25.9 ± 11 ( t = −1.0, P = .341) from pre- to postintervention. These results show that the Bereavement Life Review can decrease depression and improve spiritual well-being of bereaved families after the death of a family member in a setting without specialized palliative care. The results also suggest the universality of this therapy.
Effect of a Clinical Pathway on Length of Stay and Cost of Pediatric Inpatient Asthma Admissions
Authors: Sylvester Ann Marie , George Maureen
Published: May 2013

Asthma is the leading cause of pediatric hospital admissions in the United States. In response to the high prevalence of asthma and the variations in care, clinical practice guidelines have been developed and recommend the use of a clinical pathway for inpatient management. This review will examine the effects of a pediatric asthma clinical pathway on inpatient stays, specifically the length of stay (LOS) and cost of inpatient admissions. A literature review was performed to identify original research projects examining the effects of an asthma clinical pathway on inpatient pediatric admissions. Nine studies were found to fit the criteria and are included in this review. These nine studies found consistent evidence that the use of an asthma clinical pathway for inpatient asthma admissions resulted in reduced LOS and cost.