bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning From Preservice Teachers’ Thoughts About Teaching in Urban Schools
Authors: Bauml Michelle , Castro Antonio J. , Field Sherry L. , Morowski Deborah L.
Published: December 2013

Preparing new teachers to work in urban schools has become a priority for many teacher education programs. This study explored 20 preservice teachers’ responses to a scenario about working in an urban school as a beginning teacher. Specific attention was placed on what participants believed were key challenges and concerns. Findings indicated that participants who exhibited interest in urban school teaching and those who did not shared similar concerns about urban teaching. These views suggest specific curricular approaches for teacher educators.
Prayer, Politics, and Power in the Hebrew Bible
Authors: Werline Rodney A.
Published: December 2013

This essay applies current anthropological methods to selected texts in the Hebrew Bible in order to investigate the place of prayer within relationships of power. 1 Power does not simply exist as an ideal, but in the ability of humans to influence the actions of other humans. Ritual theorists have recently argued that, in part, ritual functions as a way that people negotiate, mediate and enact power within these relationships. A reading of prayer texts from the Hebrew Bible from this perspective casts new light on the role of prayer in the micro-politics of everyday life and reveals the way in which biblical authors attempted to tie this to Israel’s larger story.
Preparation and microstructural properties study on cement composites reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Fakhim Babak , Hassani Abolfazl , Rashidi Alimorad , Ghodousi Parviz
Published: December 2013

In this research, multi-walled carbon nanotubes were used to delay the propagation and growth of cracks in cement mortar on the nanoscale. To improve the dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the cement mix a polycarboxylate superplasticizer was used. The mechanical strength of multi-walled carbon nanotubes-cement nanocomposites mix containing 0.1–2% nanotubes by weight (wt) and 0.5% superplasticizer by (wt) was measured and compared with that of cement prepared without multi-walled carbon nanotubes. It was found that the tensile strength of the specimens increased about 70% up to 0.3%, multi-walled carbon nanotubes. With further increase in multi-walled carbon nanotubes, a decrease in tensile strength was observed. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy used to observe the fracture surface of specimens containing 0.3 wt% nanotubes indicated that the multi-walled carbon nanotubes were well dispersed and there were no agglomerates visible in the matrix. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy observation also revealed good bonding between the multi-walled carbon nanotubes and the surrounding cement matrix. In addition, X-ray diffraction data showed the multi-walled carbon nanotubes accelerated the dissolution and growth of the calcium silicate hydrate hydration products compared with the control cement mortar. Mercury intrusion porosimetry test results showed that chemical species could not penetrate the specimens containing 0.1 wt% and 0.3 wt% multi-walled carbon nanotubes as easy as other specimens. Thermogravimetric analysis results indicated that the cement hydration was enhanced in the presence of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
Synthesis and characterization of chitosan-ZnO composite and its antibiofilm activity against aquatic bacteria
Authors: Vaseeharan Baskaralingam , Sivakamavalli Jeyachandran , Thaya Rajagopalan
Published: December 2013

In the present study, chitosan-ZnO composite was synthesized by stirring of chitosan purified from mud crab Scylla serrata shells with zinc chloride and sodium hydroxide. The physicochemical characteristics of chitosan-ZnO composite were studied using UV-Vis spec, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Chitosan-ZnO composite formation was confirmed by the functional groups stretching and bending vibrations in Fourier transform infrared. Scanning electron microscopy results showed the synthesized chitosan-ZnO composite was rod-like structure. X-ray diffraction results represent the hexagonal shape and crystalline size (30–60 nm) of zinc oxide in the chitosan-ZnO composite. Antibacterial activity of chitosan-ZnO composite demonstrated the effective growth control of a Gram-negative Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Gram-positive Bacillus lechiniformis bacteria isolated from aquatic environments. Light microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy also evidenced the antibiofilm activity of chitosan-ZnO composite against the V. parahaemolyticus and B. lechiniformis at the concentration of 40 and 60 µg/ml, respectively.
Democratizing Finance
Authors: Block Fred
Published: December 2013

While financial institutions have not figured prominently in utopian thinking, the democratization of finance is central to any vision of bringing contemporary economies under democratic control. This paper is an initial effort to conceptualize a series of feasible reforms that could incrementally weaken the power of incumbent financial institutions while helping to facilitate economic development that is more egalitarian and sustainable. While the focus is on the US economy, the specific ideas have relevance in other national contexts. The core of the reform idea is to mobilize a combination of governmental supports and grassroots entrepreneurialism to create an expanding network of nonprofit financial institutions that would redirect household savings to finance clean energy, growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, and infrastructure.
Homeland Entitlement
Authors: Singh Shalini , Krakover Shaul
Published: December 2013

Given that there is scarcity of evidence on travel/tourism of resident populations, a study was undertaken to explore the perceptions of domestic visitors on being a tourist in their own country. For this purpose, an exploratory qualitative study was conducted into the Israeli sense of “being a tourist” in Israel. Analysis of interview data from Israeli Jewish participants generated two primary themes, namely, homeland entitlement and othering. The emergence of these themes lends to the development of a framework of reference toward furthering our understanding of domestic tourism. The article concludes with suggestions for a future research agenda in domestic tourism.
Segmenting Markets by Bagged Clustering
Authors: Prayag Girish , Disegna Marta , Cohen Scott Allen , Yan Hongliang (Gordon)
Published: December 2013

Market segmentation is ubiquitous in marketing. Hierarchical and nonhierarchical methods are popular for segmenting tourism markets. These methods are not without controversy. In this study, we use bagged clustering on the push and pull factors of Western Europe to segment potential young Chinese travelers. Bagged clustering overcomes some of the limitations of hierarchical and nonhierarchical methods. A sample of 403 travelers revealed the existence of four clusters of potential visitors. The clusters were subsequently profiled on sociodemographics and travel characteristics. The findings suggest a nascent young Chinese independent travel segment that cannot be distinguished on push factors but can be differentiated on perceptions of the current independent travel infrastructure in Western Europe. Managerial implications are offered on marketing and service provision to the young Chinese outbound travel market.
Managing Concealable Stigmas at Work
Authors: Jones Kristen P. , King Eden B.
Published: December 2013

Many employees possess inconspicuous identities that are stigmatized. At work, a context wherein impression management concerns are salient, these individuals face decisions about when, how, and to whom to disclose their concealable stigmas with important consequences for the way individuals experience work. In the following review, we integrate findings from psychological, sociological, and management literatures pertaining to the management of concealable stigmas. We further push the boundaries of this evidence to develop a multilevel model of workplace identity management behavior. That is, we conceptualize identity management as a within- and between-person phenomenon, accounting for the notion that identity management behaviors will vary as a function of the situation but that people will also exhibit identity management behavioral averages, tendencies, and accumulation that facilitate meaningful comparison among employees. Throughout the review, we highlight common themes, clarify inconsistent findings, and call attention to several fruitful areas we see ripe for future research.
Regulatory Forum Opinion Piece*
Authors: Tomlinson Michael J. , Leininger Joel R.
Published: December 2013

The transparency and documentation of the peer review process have been discussed recently. Our position is that transparency is best achieved when peer review is a collaborative process, in which both parties are open-minded but both also realize that the study pathologist retains complete control over the findings (raw data) and over the content of the pathology report. For these reasons, we believe that histopathology raw data should be defined as the observations made by the study pathologist (printed and/or electronic formats) rather than as the tissue slides recommended by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Also, because the study pathologist retains control over the histopathology raw data, any notes or tabulations of findings by the study pathologist and peer review pathologist during the peer review are interim notes and should not be included as an appendix to the pathology report though they may be retained if desired, as currently recommended. Because the histopathology raw data have not been created until completion of the peer review, the performance of a peer review should be documented in the study report, as currently recommended, but that it not be a GLP-compliant process.
Influence of perforating vein surgery in patients with venous ulceration
Authors: van Gent WB , Wittens CHA
Published: December 2013

Objectives

The exact role of perforating vein surgery is still unclear. The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of perforating vein surgery in patients with venous ulceration.

Methods

This study was part of a randomized controlled trial in which conservative and surgical treatment of venous ulceration was compared. It is a secondary analysis of prospectively gathered data. Ninety-seven active leg ulcers were surgically treated with a subfascial endoscopic perforating vein surgery (SEPS) procedure. Concomitant superficial venous incompetence was treated with flush saphenopopliteal ligation and/or saphenofemoral ligation and limited stripping of the great saphenous vein. All patients were also treated with ambulatory compression therapy. Ulcer healing and recurrences are described in detail. To measure the completeness of the SEPS procedure duplex ultrasonography was performed on each patient before and 6 weeks and 12 months after surgery. Also newly formed perforators after surgery were scored and their influence was analyzed.

Results

Analyses were performed on 94 ulcerated legs with a mean follow-up of 29 months. In all treated legs, only 45% all perforators were treated. In 55% one (29%) or more (26%) perforators were missed. Healing was not significantly influenced by the number of remaining incompetent perforating veins, but recurrence was significantly higher in patients who had incomplete SEPS procedure ( p = 0.007 log-rank). New incompetent perforating veins did not affect ulcer healing or recurrence. The plotted location of new perforators did not show a pattern. Deep vein incompetence and treatment of superficial venous incompetence had no significant influence on healing or recurrence rates in a complete or incomplete SEPS procedure.

Conclusion

In this series a well-performed SEPS procedure lowers the venous ulcer recurrence rate significantly, indicating the clinical importance of incompetent perforating veins in patients with an active venous ulcer.
The rural Big Society and (changing) public service delivery: A case study of Jubilee Park
Authors: Sellick Jessica
Published: December 2013

This article takes up some interesting developments on public services reform in a rural context in England. It considers: (1) current issues in public service delivery in rural areas; (2) the opportunities and barriers around changing delivery models, using the example of community-led asset transfer – Jubilee Park in Lincolnshire; and (3) whether other communities are capable of filling gaps in provision left by public sector service deliverers.
How Do Interaction Experiences Influence Doctoral Students’ Academic Pursuits in Biomedical Research?
Authors: Kong Xiaoqing , Chakraverty Devasmita , Jeffe Donna B. , Andriole Dorothy A. , Wathington Heather D. , Tai Robert H.
Published: December 2013

This exploratory qualitative study investigated how doctoral students reported their personal and professional interaction experiences that they believed might facilitate or impede their academic pursuits in biomedical research. We collected 19 in-depth interviews with doctoral students in biomedical research from eight universities, and we based our qualitative analytic approach on the work of Miles and Huberman. The results indicated that among different sources and types of interaction, academic and emotional interactions from family and teachers in various stages essentially affected students’ persistence in the biomedical science field. In addition, co-mentorship among peers, departmental environment, and volunteer experiences were other essential factors. This study also found related experiences among women and underrepresented minority students that were important to their academic pursuit.
Unsupported or Turned Against
Authors: Relyea Mark , Ullman Sarah E.
Published: December 2013

Social reactions to disclosures of sexual assault have significant effects on women’s postassault outcomes. The Social Reactions Questionnaire measures these reactions (as reported by survivors) and aggregates them into positive and negative scales. However, studies indicate that only some “negative” reactions have a negative valence for survivors, whereas others produce a mixed (positive and negative) valence. The current study compares a one-primary-factor model of negative reactions to a model with two primary factors that we have labeled “turning against” (TA) and “unsupportive acknowledgment” (UA). Results showed that although one primary factor was plausible, two primary factors provided a better fit to the data. To assess the discriminant validity of the two factors, we performed regressions predicting social support, psychological adjustment, and coping behaviors. Analyses supported the hypotheses that reactions of being turned against were related to social withdrawal, increased self-blame, and decreased sexual assertiveness, whereas reactions of UA were related to both adaptive and maladaptive coping. Against predictions, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder were more related to receiving UA than to receiving TA reactions. Implications for interventions and research are discussed. Importantly, almost all women (94%) in our sample received reactions that acknowledged that an assault occurred but failed to provide support, and this lack of support was associated with worse coping than even more hostile reactions such as being blamed or stigmatized. Therefore, there seems a great need for effective programs to train community members to respond to survivors with the kind of emotional and tangible support that promotes better outcomes.
Interaction Between MAOA and FOXP2 in Association With Autism and Verbal Communication in a Korean Population
Authors: Park YoungJoon , Won SeongSik , Nam Min , Chung Joo-Ho , Kwack KyuBum
Published: December 2013

Expression levels of monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), the enzyme that related to monoamine neurotransmitters metabolism such as serotonin, are related to schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. Forkhead box protein P2 (FOXP2), a transcription factor, is associated with abnormal language development and is expressed in several areas of the central nervous system in response to serotonin. For this reason, we undertook interaction analysis between MAOA and FOXP2 in autism spectrum disorder, including testing the verbal communication score of the childhood autism rating scale. In interaction analysis, the FOXP2-TCGC (rs12531289-rs1350135-rs10230087-rs2061183) diplotype and MAOA-TCG (rs6323-rs1801291-rs3027407) haplotype were significantly associated with autism spectrum disorder in males. However, when the interaction term was omitted, neither MAOA nor FOXP2 was associated with autism spectrum disorder or verbal communication. These results indicate that language and speech ability is affected by an interaction between FOXP2 and MAOA, but not by either gene separately.
Selection Pressures on Special Education Teacher Preparation
Authors: Dukes Charles , Darling Sharon M. , Doan Kim
Published: December 2013

In this introduction to the special issue on evolving changes in our field, we have intentionally chosen to use the power of a vastly different metaphor to promote deep reflection. Specifically, we will introduce the notion of selection pressures and its impact on an evolutionary process, illustrating how special education teacher education has changed or evolved. We discuss these changes in the context of the 21st century and contextualize this explanation by representing special education teacher education as an avatar, thereby borrowing from the virtual world. We borrow concepts from natural science and the virtual world to help promote a new understanding of the nature of special education teacher education. Several selection pressures have been identified as affecting and moving forward special education teacher education such as (a) professional development/course delivery, (b) field experiences/mentoring induction, and (c) performance assessment. Each factor is considered with regard to its influence on the evolving nature of the 21st-century special education teacher education.
The Only Way I Can Say This
Authors: Reale Michelle
Published: December 2013

The creation of this poem came about as I attempted to conflate both the predominantly African refugees’ experience in Sicily, those to which things happen, with that of the researcher, the one who watches, waits, and records. Many of the refugees endure seemingly endless and horrendous sea voyages to arrive on the island. One can see the refugees everywhere, in so many different settings, as they attempt to negotiate their new home. One never really belongs. Neither they nor I. The title of the poem is the Italian word for “flag” and is my attempt to show the reality of the new arrivals: they will learn the Italian language and develop additional loyalties, while remaining true to their homeland. The disenfranchised, the forgotten, and the displaced are the predominant themes in my work and if one looks closely, one can see it everywhere. For this poem, I sifted through copious amounts of data and extracted themes, recorded bits of overheard conversation, read “official “ reports of what is being done for the refugees by agencies contracted to do so and then connected them with my own feelings of my work. This is a pastiche or bricolage reflecting the fragmented process of not only recording the daily mental and physical situation of the refugees, but my own insecurities and, sometimes, guilt in doing so. Laurel Richardson has spoken of (lyric) poetry’s ability to “concretize emotions, feelings and moods—the most private kind of feelings—so as to create experience itself to another person.” My aim is to explicate my and the refugees experience(s) in the most truthful and artful way possible.
Cohort Default Rates
Authors: Hillman Nicholas W.
Published: December 2013

This study examines the institutional factors associated with student loan default. When a college has more than 30% of its students default on their loans, then the institution faces federal sanctions that could make them ineligible from participating in the federal student loan program. Using Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data from 2008 ( N = 4,488), and applying logistic regression, this study finds for-profit colleges, those accredited by vocational education programs, and those serving diverse student bodies are most at risk of federal sanctions. It concludes that accreditation reform and improving graduation rates could be long-term solutions to addressing the default problem.
Motivating operatives for suicide missions and conventional terrorist attacks
Authors: Arce Daniel G , Siqueira Kevin
Published: December 2013

We investigate the problem of motivating terrorist operatives for suicide missions and conventional terrorist attacks when operatives have either self-interested or social preferences that are not observable by the terrorist organization. We characterize the screening mechanism for selecting operatives according to their social preferences and determine under what conditions a terrorist group will prefer to utilize suicide versus conventional tactics. For example, when operatives are intrinsically motivated and likely to be represented in the pool of potential recruits, a terrorist organization will be more likely to employ suicide attacks as its sole tactic of choice.
Development of a novel adaptive nonuniform rational basis spline interpolator with limited kinematic error for hexapod machine tools
Authors: Karimi Davoud , Nategh Mohammad J
Published: December 2013

The kinematic nonlinearity of the Stewart platform–based machine tools produces a geometrical error which is shown to have significant value compared to the machining accuracy during the interpolation of non-uniform rational basis spline curves and surfaces, thus needs to be limited during the interpolation. In this study, a fast and sufficiently accurate algorithm is presented to estimate the maximum kinematic error based on the concept of the median osculating circle. Moreover, a weighted search interpolator and an adaptive non-uniform rational basis spline interpolator have been introduced, which are capable of controlling and limiting the feedrate fluctuations and limiting the maximum kinematic error within an interpolation segment. The experimental verification has shown the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Effects of machining parameters and tool geometry on serrated chip formation, specific forces and energies in orthogonal cutting of nickel-based super alloy Inconel 100
Authors: Özel Tuğrul , Ulutan Durul
Published: December 2013

Nickel-based alloys are widely used in applications requiring high strength at elevated temperatures such as in aircraft jet engines. However, nickel-based alloys such as Inconel 100 are still considered difficult-to-machine metal alloys. In this study, specially designed orthogonal cutting tests on Inconel 100 nickel-based alloy have been conducted using WC/Co cutting tool with two varying rake angles, cutting edge radii and at wide ranges of cutting speed and feed. Effects of those parameters on specific forces have been investigated. Serrated and segmented chip formation is observed and the mechanics of segmented chip have been modeled and validated using the experimental test data. Chip microscopic images are utilized in measuring and calculating chip formation angles, shear strain, and shear strain rate in the main shear zone and within the shear bands. It was found that segmentation is highly influenced by machining conditions, and energy distributions calculated with regard to machining parameters reveal that friction dissipation and material separation are significant in machining of Inconel 100 nickel-based alloy.
Vibration and buckling analysis of functionally graded sandwich plates with improved transverse shear stiffness based on the first-order shear deformation theory
Authors: Nguyen Trung-Kien , Vo Thuc P , Thai Huu-Tai
Published: December 2013

An improved transverse shear stiffness for vibration and buckling analysis of functionally graded sandwich plates based on the first-order shear deformation theory is proposed in this paper. The transverse shear stress obtained from the in-plane stress and equilibrium equation allows to analytically derive an improved transverse shear stiffness and associated shear correction factor of the functionally graded sandwich plate. Sandwich plates with functionally graded faces and both homogeneous hardcore and softcore are considered. The material property is assumed to be isotropic at each point and vary through the plate thickness according to a power-law distribution of the volume fraction of the constituents. Equations of motion and boundary conditions are derived from Hamilton’s principle. The Navier-type solutions are obtained for simply supported boundary conditions, and exact formulae are proposed and compared with the existing solutions to verify the validity of the developed model. Numerical results are obtained for simply supported functionally graded sandwich plates made of three sets of material combinations of metal and ceramic, Al/Al2O3, Al/SiC and Al/WC to investigate the effects of the power-law index, thickness ratio of layer, material contrast on the shear correction factors, natural frequencies and critical buckling loads as well as load–frequency curves.
Analysis of dynamic behaviour of rotor-bearing system
Authors: Jovanović Janko D , Tomović Radoslav N
Published: December 2013

This paper deals with a non-linear mathematical model for simulation and analysis of a dynamic behaviour of a rotor-bearing system. The model is used for the simulation of plane motion of a centre of rotor’s cross-section which makes the model convenient for the analysis of vibrations generated in a rolling bearing as well as for the analysis of accuracy of the revolution of rotor supported on a rolling bearing. The model takes into account the following quantities: internal radial clearance, external radial load and unbalanced load. Differential equations of a motion are derived using Lagrange’s equations. The contacts between the balls and the rings are considered to be non-linear with a stiffness derived by the Hertzian theory of an elastic contact. The proposed model enables direct determination of local contact deformations which significantly reduces needed computations and CPU time. The results obtained by the model are used to reconstruct phase-space trajectories and Poincaré maps and to calculate the largest Lyapunov exponent in order to establish the stability of rotor-bearing system motion. A computer program is developed based on the mathematical model for the simulation and analysis of a dynamic behaviour of a rotor-bearing system.
Passive suspensions for ride quality improvement of two-axle railway vehicles
Authors: Jiang Jason Zheng , Matamoros-Sanchez Alejandra Z , Zolotas Argyrios , Goodall Roger M , Smith Malcolm C
Published: December 2013

The aim of this paper is to investigate the possibility of improving the ride quality of a two-axle railway vehicle with a single-stage suspension by means of passive suspensions employing an inerter device. The inerter is a mechanical one-port element that is analogous to a capacitor in electrical circuits. The goal is to improve the ride quality in both the vertical and lateral motions in response to track irregularities. Performance benefits for several simple passive suspension layouts are demonstrated and compared with the conventional scheme. The elastic effects of the damper and inerter device are then taken into consideration for practical purposes. The optimum parameter values of the damper, inerter and the parameters representing the elastic effects provide guidance for mechanical design purposes.
Investigating railway track asset management using a Markov analysis
Authors: Prescott Darren , Andrews John
Published: December 2013

A railway track asset management strategy must ensure that the condition of the track stays at an acceptable level, ensuring passenger comfort and safety. The determination of an efficient and effective strategy is a complex problem that requires consideration of the interrelated processes of deterioration, inspection, maintenance and renewal. Railway traffic causes the track’s geometry to deteriorate through time. When the track’s geometry has been assessed and seen to have deteriorated, maintenance is scheduled to restore the track’s geometry using a tamping machine. Tamping involves lifting the track to the required position before inserting vibrating tines into the ballast either side of the sleepers and using them to pack the ballast below. This process causes damage to the ballast, causing a relative acceleration in future track geometry deterioration and decreasing the time between subsequent maintenance interventions.

This paper describes a Markov model that can be used to investigate the asset management strategy applied to a railway track section. The model predicts the way that the track section’s condition changes with time for a given asset management strategy, which is defined through the specification of a number of model parameters. The model is applied to a track section with a specified maintenance strategy and is used to investigate the track’s performance for that strategy. Parameters corresponding to asset management decisions that relate to inspection, maintenance and renewal are then changed in order to illustrate the effects of the decisions on the track’s life cycle. The Markov model provides a simple yet powerful means of investigating the effects of an asset management strategy on a railway track section.
Resolving operational parameters for a change-step type of maglev propulsion system
Authors: Tseng Wan-Tsun
Published: December 2013

The propulsion principle of the Transrapid maglev train is based on long stator linear synchronous motors. The stator winding in the guideway is divided into multiple segments that are individually switched on or off, with power being supplied to a given segment only as it is passed by the train. In commercial operation the power from substations is connected to the stator segments in one of two ways: change-step connection or three-step connection. Although each type of power supply has its advantages and application scope, the change-step connection is the central topic of interest in this study due to its salient features. When the train’s propulsion system uses this supply mode, the inverter control systems at the power stations must know exactly when the stator current begins to decline and the stator segment that it is supplying is about to change. Therefore, the timings to adjust the stator current are crucial to the operating system of a Transrapid train and should be determined from the dynamic conditions of the train. This paper aims to determine the timings for controlling the stator current. Based on calculated results, it is concluded that changing the power supply between stator sections can be smoothly performed using the proposed propulsion control system.
The use of the PCT index in railway motion sickness incidence evaluation
Authors: Braccesi Claudio , Cianetti Filippo , Scaletta Renzo
Published: December 2013

The aim of this paper is to define an evaluation method to quantify the index of motion sickness incidence (MSI) in railway motion conditions. This index is widely used in the literature to quantify illness symptoms that occur as a result of generic low-frequency motions (kinetosis). In fact, only one standard exists (ISO 2631) and it was defined for general motion and in particular for vertical acceleration motion conditions. No standards have been written that consider the conditions experienced in railway motion. This paper reports an evaluation approach that can be used to examine illness symptoms experienced during rail trips and involves indices and methods well-known in the rail industry. In particular the proposed approach involves the P ct index (EN 12299: Comfort index on curve transition) and some weighting curves for the filtering of accelerometer signals that are also specified in railway regulations (EN 12299, ISO 2631). The proposed method, that is consistent with a theoretical model that has been reported in the literature, allows the MSI index to be obtained as a function of travel time and/or track distance. The model is validated through a comparison with experimental data available in literature and with experimental data recorded for a tilting train during tests performed in Slovenia.
Conditional Automaticity in Response Selection
Authors: Anderson Brian A. , Folk Charles L.
Published: December 2013

One aspect of effective cognitive control is the ability to withhold contextually inappropriate responses. The inhibition of a response can be elicited by a goal-relevant stop signal, which has been characterized as a voluntary cognitive process. Cases in which inhibition is triggered automatically by a stimulus have been reported but are limited to instances in which the withholding of a response is associated with the same stimulus over repeated trials, which reflects the gradual emergence of automaticity through associative learning. Findings such as these suggest that inhibitory control is driven by two dissociable mechanisms, one that is flexible but deliberate and another that is automatic but inflexibly learned. In the present study, we showed that response inhibition can be involuntarily triggered when stimulus-response mapping varies unpredictably, without contributions from associative learning. Our findings demonstrate that automatic response inhibition can be flexibly conditioned on top-down goals, which has broad implications for theories of cognitive control.
Sweeping recommendations regarding effect size and sample size can miss important nuances: A comment on “A comprehensive review of reporting practices in psychological journals”
Authors: Bradley Michael T. , Brand Andrew
Published: December 2013

Statistical significance tests done with low statistical power levels can result in reports of exaggerated effect sizes. Funnel graphs can show these exaggerations for a given area of research by revealing a negative correlation between a study’s sample size on the y-axis and the effect size obtain by the study on the x-axis. A recent paper by Fritz, Scherndl, and Kühberger (2013) recommended that effect sizes should not be reported when there is a negative correlation between sample size and effect size for a given research area. This recommendation fails to consider magnitudes of the negative correlations and thereby misses the opportunity to mitigate effect size exaggerations and approximate more correct effect size estimates. This comment explains both the incorrectness of the recommendation and the approach and calculations necessary to correct effect size estimates.
Historiography in psychology: A note on ignorance
Authors: Robinson Daniel N.
Published: December 2013

A persistent theme in books and essays concerning the history of psychology suggests something amiss in tracing that history to ancient sources. Authoritative writers on the subject reject any intimation of continuity from classical to modern perspectives. Nonetheless, writers of textbooks identify the ancient world of philosophy and science as wellsprings of issues still alive within the discipline. To some, this tendency is attributed to simple ignorance. The controversy here is based on a failure to appreciate the relationship and the differences between continuity and recurrence, as well as an undisciplined application of terms far too protean for the intended purpose.
The cost of care of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the UK: annual direct costs for adult SLE patients with active autoantibody-positive disease
Authors: Khamashta MA , Bruce IN , Gordon C , Isenberg DA , Ateka-Barrutia O , Gayed M , Donatti C , Guillermin A-L , Foo J , Perna A
Published: December 2013

Objectives

The aim of the Systemic LUpus Erythematosus Cost of Care In Europe (LUCIE) study was to evaluate the annual direct medical costs of managing adults with active autoantibody-positive disease on medication for SLE in secondary care. This paper presents the UK analyses only.

Methods

A cost-of-illness study was conducted from the perspective of the National Health Service. Health resource utilization data were retrieved over a two-year period from four centres in England and unit cost data were taken from published sources.

Results

At baseline, 86 patients were included, 38 (44.2%) had severe SLE and 48 (55.8%) had non-severe SLE. The mean (SD) SELENA-SLEDAI score was 7.7 (5.7). The mean (SD) annual direct medical cost of was estimated at £3231 (£2333) per patient and was 2.2 times higher in patients with severe SLE compared with patients with non-severe SLE ( p < 0.001). Multivariate model analyses showed that renal disease involvement ( p = 0.0016) and severe flares ( p = 0.0001) were associated with higher annual direct costs.

Conclusions

Improvement of the overall stability of SLE and early intervention to minimize the impact of renal disease may be two approaches to mitigate the long-term direct cost of managing SLE patients in the UK.
Communicating mega-projects in the face of uncertainties: Israeli mass media treatment of the Dead Sea Water Canal
Authors: Fischhendler Itay , Cohen-Blankshtain Galit , Shuali Yoav , Boykoff Max
Published: December 2013

Given the potential for uncertainties to influence mega-projects, this study examines how mega-projects are deliberated in the public arena. The paper traces the strategies used to promote the Dead Sea Water Canal. Findings show that the Dead Sea mega-project was encumbered by ample uncertainties. Treatment of uncertainties in early coverage was dominated by economics and raised primarily by politicians, while more contemporary media discourses have been dominated by ecological uncertainties voiced by environmental non-governmental organizations. This change in uncertainty type is explained by the changing nature of the project and by shifts in societal values over time. The study also reveals that ‘uncertainty reduction’ and to a lesser degree, ‘project cancellation’, are still the strategies most often used to address uncertainties. Statistical analysis indicates that although uncertainties and strategies are significantly correlated, there may be other intervening variables that affect this correlation. This research also therefore contributes to wider and ongoing considerations of uncertainty in the public arena through various media representational practices.
Effects of Service Quality and Salesperson Characteristics on Consumer Trust and Relationship Commitment: An Empirical Study on Insurance Buyers in India
Authors: Panda Tapan K.
Published: December 2013

This research article explores the effect of service quality and salesperson characteristics on consumer trust and relationship commitment among life insurance buyers in India. Earlier research on service quality has revealed five key dimensions that influence levels of consumer satisfaction. This article explores how ‘service quality’ as an independent variable influences consumer’s trust and relationship commitment. Earlier studies have explored organizational shared values on consumer trust and relationship commitment but no study in Indian context reveals how salesperson characteristics affect consumer trust and commitment. In this article the author has conceptualized two models (a) linking service quality with consumer trust and relationship commitment and (b) service quality with salesperson characteristics, consumer trust and commitment to study mediating and direct effects of independent variables on the dependent variables in the context of term life insurance policies in Indian market by applying structural equation modelling. The study identifies the strength and direction of these relationships and has a significant bearing in developing future relationship marketing programmes for insurance marketing companies in India.
Book Review: The State of the Nation
Authors: Jacob Wallace
Published: December 2013

Fali S. Nariman, The State of the Nation, New Delhi: Hay House Publishers (India) Pvt. Ltd., 2013, 416 pp, ₹599, Hardback, ISBN: 9789381431863.
Appreciative Inquiry and Autonomy-Supportive Classes in Business Education
Authors: Conklin Thomas A. , Hartman Nathan S.
Published: December 2013

In this article, we describe 10 separate classroom experiences where an appreciative inquiry (AI) exercise was used for course creation. Post-exercise surveys of students showed that the AI exercise was perceived to be a successful practice. Students indicated putting effort toward reaching their peak learning experience and were satisfied with the course. Because students aided in the design of how the course material would be covered, they were more motivated to participate and thus helped construct an autonomy-supportive classroom. Implications for practice and issues for how collective course construction can foster growth mind-sets and release students’ imaginations toward what was possible in the classroom are discussed.
Preparing High School Instrumental Music Educators to Respond to the Social and Emotional Challenges of Students
Authors: Edgar Scott N.
Published: December 2013

The purpose of this multiple instrumental case study was to explore how four high school instrumental music educators assuming the role of facilitative teacher prepared to respond to challenges affecting the social and emotional well-being of their students. The four participant instrumental music educators had a reputation as being caring and having positive professional relationships with their students, represented diverse settings, and had at least 10 years of instrumental music teaching experience. Findings included (a) formative elements leading to the instrumental music educators’ preparation to support included experience, demonstration of care by influential people, parenthood, professional development, and participation in this study and (b) the instrumental music educators experienced challenges associated with providing support, including quantity of challenges, time commitment, and lack of school assistance. Suggestions for teacher educators and in-service professional development are included.
Flexural vibrations of clamped-free rhombic plates with corner stress singularities. Part II: comparison of solutions
Authors: McGee Oliver G
Published: December 2013

An ample review of the published literature of skew (rhombic) plate vibrations in a companion Part I paper serves as a background that motivates the need for accurate solutions incorporating stress singularity-based methodologies for analyzing the titled problem. Such an accurate method is presented in this Part II paper. The prime focus here is that the vibration analysis explicitly considers the bending stress singularities that occur in the two opposite, clamped-free corners with obtuse angles of the rhombic plates. The strength of these singularities increases significantly, as the obtuse angles at the clamped-free corners exceeds 95o. A single-field energy-based Ritz procedure is employed with the dynamical energies derived from classical Kirchhoff thin-plate theory. The normal displacement of the rhombic plate is approximated as a hybrid series of (i) admissible and mathematically complete algebraic polynomials, and (ii) corner functions which account for both the kinematic boundary conditions and the bending stress singularities at the obtuse clamped-free corners. It is surmised from extensive convergence studies that the corner functions accelerate the convergence of upper bounds on the exact solutions, and that these functions are required if accurate solutions are to be obtained for highly skewed plates (including very thin ones incorporating shear deformable plate theories). Accurate non-dimensional frequencies and normalized contours of the vibratory transverse displacement are presented for rhombic plates having a large enough skew angle of 750 (i.e., obtuse angle of 1650), so that a significant influence of clamped-free corner stress singularities may be understood. Given the double symmetry axis of the rhombus domain, accurate solutions for a number of isosceles and right triangular plates (depending on the symmetry axis invoked) with various combinations of clamped, free, and sliding edges are also available from the frequency and mode shape data presented. Frequency data obtained from the present analysis are compared with nearly six decades of previously published data obtained using alternative theoretical plate analyses (including shear deformable ones) and classic experimental bench tests, clearly answering the inquiry of whether the stress singularities at the obtuse clamped-free corners of rhombic plates must be explicitly taken into consideration to obtain accurate three to four significant digit upper bounds on exact clamped-free skew (rhombic) plate vibration solutions reported in this work.
Active control of sound transmission using a hybrid/blind decentralized control approach
Authors: Yuan Ming , Qiu Jinhao , Ji Hongli , Zhou Weiyinuo , Ohayon Roger
Published: December 2013

This paper presents a theoretical and experimental analysis of broadband sound transmission control of an aluminum panel in the frequency range between 30 Hz and 1 kHz. Based on the analysis of characteristics of sensor-actuator pairs, piezoelectric patches bonded on the structure are used as actuators, and collocated accelerometers are used as sensors. Then a hybrid decentralized control law is derived, which has a broad control band and puts more control authority on the most sound radiation effective mode. This control law comprises two parts: one is the direct velocity feedback controller, and the other one, relatively new, is called the negative acceleration feedback (NAF) controller. The control architecture is decentralized, which means each controller works independently. Due to the second-order dynamic property of the NAF controller and the fact that the structure’s frequencies may shift, the Hilbert-Huang method is used for quick and automatic identification of the natural frequency. Finally, open loop and closed loop experiments are presented to support the theoretical analysis. The active control results demonstrate that the panel’s vibration level can be suppressed by 16.7 dB and the broadband sound pressure level could be lowered by more than 7 dB.
ADHD Symptoms Across the Lifespan
Authors: Guldberg-Kjär Taina , Johansson Boo
Published: December 2013

Objective: The aim was to compare different scales capturing ADHD symptoms for older individuals’ self-reports about childhood and current ADHD symptomatology. An additional aim was relating these results to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) ADHD criteria. Method: The 25-item Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) administered in a population-based sample of 1,599 individuals aged 65 to 80. Two subsamples each with 30 individuals were randomly drawn based on their Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) scores, and studied using the Wender Riktad ADHD Symtom Skala (WRASS), interview assessed Barkley Scales, and DSM-IV ADHD criteria. Results: Higher WURS and WRASS scores were related to higher Barkley Childhood and Current Symptoms Scales Scores. Also, reporting more symptoms on these scales was related to meeting DSM-IV criteria for childhood and current ADHD. Conclusion: The results support significant persistence of ADHD symptoms when using different scales designed for the capture of childhood and current ADHD symptomatology. Further studies of ADHD in a lifespan perspective are encouraged.