bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transfer Effectiveness of a Driving Simulator
Authors: Baron Marvin L. , Williges Robert C.
Published: July 2017

Forty student drivers received various amounts of driving simulator and film-only pretraining to determine the transfer effectiveness of open-loop simulation using passive instructors in a driver education program. To measure the effects of previous driving experience, the simulator performance of eight licensed drivers was compared to the student drivers. Early in simulation, licensed drivers exhibited reliably better steering performance than the 6-hr. simulation pretraining students, but the reverse was true late in simulation. Six hr. of pretraining yielded significantly better transfer in terms of overall automobile driving performance on a McGlade Road Test than 3 hr. of pretraining regardless of whether the pretraining included instructional films alone or films used in conjunction with simulators. A component analysis of the first hour of driving performance revealed that the 6-hr. pretraining groups were superior to the 3-hr. group on a procedures dimension. In addition, the film-only pretraining groups were superior to the simulator groups in terms of a steering dimension during the first hour of transfer. Implications of these results are discussed in terms of improving simulators used in driver education.
Women and Strenuous Work
Authors: Wardle Miriam Gayle , Gloss David S.
Published: July 2017

Eight females (mean age 19.6 years) worked on a treadmill for a work day consisting of eight partially counterbalanced 45-minute periods (one of light work, two of moderate work, three of heavy work, and two of very heavy work) followed by a 15-minute rest period. One hundred percent of the light work was completed, 95% of the moderate work, 97.5% of the heavy work, and 92.1% of the very heavy work. The mean output for the day was 277 kcal/h. The energy requirements for each level of work were well within the range established in the literature for each grade. The effect of task order on heart rate was not significant. Correlations between heart rate and energy expenditure were significant. The results of this research indicate that women can work under conditions requiring light to very heavy work.
An Approach to Reading Machine Design
Authors: Allen Jonathan
Published: July 2017

Within two years, both the required algorithmic competence and the necessary integrated circuit technology will have been developed to a point where practical personal reading machines for the blind will be possible. In this paper, the linguistic and phonetic principles needed to convert optically recognized text to speech are discussed, and it is shown how they mirror the human cognitive ability to read aloud. A perspective on the current status and rate of progress of large scale integration technology is then used to show that economical implementations of even complex text-to-speech algorithms can be realized in the short-term future. Finally, a view of important human factors problems requiring attention is given.
A Small Group Independent Living Experiment for the Physically Handicapped
Authors: Rice Don M. , Hinton Harry E. , Conover Donald W.
Published: July 2017

This article describes an experimental attempt to provide family-like housing accommodations for a small group of handicapped persons. It presents an insider's view of the residential facility itself and of some of the factors relating to small group living, resident selection, and staffing.
The Nighttime Legibility of Highway Signs as a Function of Their Luminance Characteristics
Authors: Olson Paul L. , Bernstein Arthur
Published: July 2017

A laboratory study was carried out to define the effects of luminance, contrast, color, and driver visual characteristics on sign legibility distance. At the same time a computer model was developed which could predict the legibility distance of a sign, based on the laboratory data as well as geometric and photometric variables. A field study was then conducted in which legibility distance predicted by the model was compared with legibility distance measured on a number of real and simulated signs using a sample of normal drivers. In general, the predictions were within 10% of the measured legibility distances.

The results indicate that more highly reflective backgrounds permit somewhat greater legibility distances. Perhaps more important, reflectorized backgrounds reduce the effect of changes in viewing conditions, which can be quite substantial in the case of non-reflective backgrounds. The contrast provided by the legend is very important. Luminance contrast requirements are lowest for highly reflective backgrounds and increase as background reflectivity decreases.
Problems of Oedipal Historicism: The Saga of John Chilembwe—the Malawian
Authors: Mtewa Mekki
Published: July 2017

Large numbers are constants; the persons involved variables. The abstraction is more valid than the items on which the abstractions are based: “One person commits suicide for this reason, and another for that reason, but when you have a very large number, the accidental and personal element ceases to be of interest, and what is left is—well, what is left?” The average. But, nobody has the slightest idea what the average really is, for behind the laws of collectivity there is an assumption that the particular instance does not matter: “And the highest meaning turns out to be something that can be got at by taking the average of what is most profoundly senseless.” [Ulrich, in Musil's Man Without Qualities]
The Plural Number of Nouns
Authors: Koutsoudas Andreas
Published: July 2017

A set of rules has been constructed to resolve the ambiguity of the grammatical number of certain Russian nouns. These rules were tested on 2,655 ambiguous nouns taken from a 30,152 word text in the field of physics. By making certain modifications, the validity of the rules was increased to approximately 99%.
A Method of Evaluating Listeners' Transcriptions of Intonation on the Basis of Instrumental Data
Authors: Witting Claes
Published: July 2017

This paper examines the relation between transcriptions of intonation and information about variation in fundamental frequency obtained from spectrograms. It suggests the necessity for quantizing the latter with respect to time and frequency, having regard to the values for differential thresholds obtained by psychophysical methods and sets out in a preliminary form a procedure for evaluating intonation curves by comparing them with graphs representing suitably quantized physical information. The results of such a comparison for a number of transcriptions made by students of phonetics are presented.
The Elaborated Code: a New Formulation Within a Functional Framework
Authors: Young G.M.
Published: July 2017

Three "modes" of code elaboration were hypothesized to exist within the functional components of the semantic system which are realized through corresponding elements within the lexicogrammar. Principal components analysis of these elements in the monologue speech of a sample of teachers revealed an array of factors interpretable in terms of the hypothesized modes.
Perception of Syntactic Stress in Alaryngeal Speech
Authors: Gandour Jack , Weinberg Bernd , Kosowsky Alice
Published: July 2017

This project was a perceptual investigation of syntactic stress in alaryngeal speech. The ability to signal syntactic stress in American English was assessed by obtaining tape recordings of minimally differentiated noun compound-noun phrase pairs (e.g., GREENhouse vs. green HOUSE) from four normal and 16 laryngectomized speakers using four different types of alaryngeal speech. The recordings of these compounds and phrases were presented to 30 listeners for identification using a two-interval-forced-choice procedure. As expected, the four normal speakers were able to achieve high (96% or above) levels of stress contrast. The compound/phrase stress contrasts were also achieved at a high level of proficiency (93% or above) by all four conventional esophageal speakers, all four tracheoesophageal shunt speakers, all four users of the Western Electric #5 electronic artificial larynx, and two of four users of the Servox electronic artificial larynx. Comparisons were made with the results of similar experiments on intonation, contrastive stress, and lexical stress. The findings highlight the contributions that study of clinical samples may make to questions about speech production and perception.
Closure Duration and Release Burst Amplitude Cues To Stop Consonant Manner and Place of Articulation
Authors: Repp Bruno H.
Published: July 2017

The perception of stop consonants was studied in a constant neutral [s-1] context. Truncated natural [p] , [t], and [k] release bursts at two intensities were preceded by variable silent closure intervals. The bursts, though spectrally distinct, conveyed little specific place information but contributed to the perception of stop manner by reducing the amount of silence required to perceive a stop (relative to a burstless stimulus). Burst amplitude was a cue for both stop manner and place; higher amplitudes favored "t," lower amplitudes favored "p" responses. The silent closure interval, a major stop manner cue, emerged as the primary place cue in this situation: Short intervals led to "t," long ones to "p" responses. All these perceptual effects probably reflect listeners' tacit knowledge of systematic acoustic differences in natural speech.
On The Relation among Speech Errors, Disfluencies, and Self-Repairs
Authors: Postma Albert , Kolk Herman , Povel Dirk-Jan
Published: July 2017

In this study the relationship between speech errors (deviations from a speech plan), disfluencies (interruptions in the execution of a speech plan), and self-repairs (corrections of speech errors) was examined. Two hypotheses were formulated: Either disfluencies are special types of speech errors, or they resemble self-repairs (i.e., they are corrective actions applied to anticipated, internal errors). To test these two hypotheses, patterns of speech errors, disfluencies, and self-repairs were compared in a task in which speakers recited stimulus sentences four times in succession under time pressure. Subjects in one condition were explicitly instructed to pay close attention to accuracy of speaking. in another condition subjects were told that speech accuracy was not important. A much lower speech error rate was found in the higher-accuracy condition, but rates of disfluencies and self-repairs did not differ significantly between the two accuracy conditions. This is regarded as support for the self-repair account of disfluencies. When accuracy of speaking is stressed, speakers tend to avoid and repair speech errors at the cost of reduced speech fluency.
The Processing of Lexically Stressed Syllables in Read and Spontaneous Speech
Authors: McAllister Jan
Published: July 2017

Several writers have suggested that lexically stressed syllables form potential ‘islands of reliability’ in continuous speech. This paper describes experiments which examined the processing of words with stressed and unstressed initial syllables in both read and spontaneous speech. In the first experiment, which focussed on read materials, trisyllabic nouns were presented, gated, in three contextually-defined conditions. Analysis of the responses made by subjects hearing only the initial syllable of the stimuli revealed that stressed initial syllables were markedly more intelligible than their unstressed counterparts, but when hearers were presented with the full stimulus, there were no reliable intelligibility differences. The second and third experiments examined the hypothesis that the intelligibility difference between stressed and unstressed syllables would be greater in spontaneous than in read speech. In Experiment 2, a large number of polysyllabic content words, excised from the speech of 6 speakers, were gated and presented without supporting context. Significant effects were found for version (Read vs. Spontaneous) and stress (Initially Stressed vs. Initially Unstressed) on several dependent variables, but version and stress failed to interact in the predicted manner. Such an interaction was observed, however, in Experiment 3, in which a subset of the materials from Experiment 2 was presented in context. It is proposed that this interaction stemmed from a reduced availability of contextual cues in spontaneous speech, due to the relatively poor intelligibility of the preceding sentence fragment. This explanation found support in Experiment 4. The results are discussed with respect to recent, activation-based theories of word recognition.
Perceptual Evidence Against Internal Structure in American Sign Language Syllables
Authors: Wilbur Ronnie B. , Allen George D.
Published: July 2017

Syllables in spoken languages have been argued to have an internal structure which may cluster the consonants and vowels into subgroups. The most commonly used subgroups are the Onset (initial consonants) and Rhyme (vowel and remaining consonants), with the further possibility of dividing the Rhyme into Nucleus (the vowel and any on- or off-glides) and the Coda (the final consonants). Although linguistic debate continues about the exact formulation of such syllable models, the evidence is clear that listeners identify rhythmic beats at a particular point inside the syllable, namely at the release of the initial consonants into the following linguistically stressed vowels (referred to as the syllable peak, assumed to be part of the Nucleus). To determine whether such loci would be identified for syllables in American Sign Language, deaf native signers, hearing native signers, and hearing subjects unfamiliar with sign language were asked to tap to videotaped signed stimuli. Analysis of the tap locations in signed syllables revealed a relatively flat distribution across the syllable for all three groups and for individual subjects. The absence of syllable peak perception is discussed in relation to the motoric characteristics of sign production.
Evaluation of Public Health Response to Hurricanes Finds North Carolina Better Prepared for Public Health Emergencies
Authors: Davis Mary V. , MacDonald Pia D.M. , Cline J. Steven , Baker Edward L.
Published: July 2017

Reviews of state public health preparedness improvements have been primarily limited to measuring funds expenditures and achievement of cooperative agreement benchmarks. Such reviews fail to assess states' actual capacity for meeting the challenges they may face during an emergency, as evidenced by activities undertaken during the various phases of a disaster. This article examines North Carolina's public health preparedness and response performance during two hurricanes, Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and Hurricane Isabel in 2003, as well as capacity building activities in the intervening years. North Carolina created new infrastructures, enhanced laboratory capacity, and strengthened communications after Hurricane Floyd. These activities facilitated implementation of functional capabilities through effective centralized communication, command and control incident management, and a rapid needs assessment and medical surveillance during Hurricane Isabel. North Carolina continues to implement these capabilities in public health emergencies. Measuring and implementing functional capabilities during exercises or real events facilitates achievement of preparedness performance standards, goals, and objectives.
Strengthening Epidemiologic Competencies among Local Health Professionals in New York: Teaching Evidence-Based Public Health
Authors: Maylahn Christopher , Bohn Cate , Hammer Mark , Waltz Edward C.
Published: July 2017

Starting in 2004, the New York State Department of Health and the University at Albany Prevention Research Center collaboratively developed a course entitled Evidence-Based Public Health for Local Health Practice to strengthen epidemiologic and other competencies of public health professionals in local health departments. This article describes the development of the course and its adaptation to the needs of local public health staff.

The course utilizes didactic sessions, computer labs, and scenario-based exercises to demonstrate the use of data and evidence in the decision-making process. Follow-up surveys found that information and skills that emphasized epidemiologic competencies were likely to be used regularly or occasionally by the majority of participants. Half of the participants said that their agency's use of evidence-based public health practices had increased. Few respondents were trained as epidemiologists, yet most reported they used those skills in the workplace, suggesting a need to strengthen these competencies among non-epidemiologists.
The Complex Web of Health: Relationships among Chronic Conditions, Disability, and Health Services
Authors: Gulley Stephen P. , Rasch Elizabeth K. , Chan Leighton
Published: July 2017

Objectives.

A critical issue in health-care reform concerns how to realign health-care delivery systems to manage medical care services for people with ongoing and costly needs for care. We examined the overlapping health-care needs of two such population groups among the U.S. working-age population (those aged 18–64 years): people with chronic medical conditions and people with disabilities.

Methods.

Using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2002–2004), we examined differences in health status, service use, and access to care among and between working-age adults reporting disabilities and/or one or more chronic conditions. We also analyzed people with three key chronic conditions: arthritis, diabetes, and depression.

Results.

More than half of working-age people with disabilities reported having more than one chronic condition. Among those with activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living limitations, 35% reported four or more chronic conditions at a time. We found considerable variability in access problems and service use depending on how we accounted for the overlap of multiple conditions among people with arthritis, diabetes, and depression. However, disability consistently predicted higher emergency department use, higher hospitalization rates, and greater access problems.

Conclusions.

The overall prevalence of chronic conditions among the U.S. working-age population, coupled with the high concentration of multiple chronic conditions among those with disabilities, underscores the importance of reforming health-care delivery systems to provide person-centered care over time. New policy-relevant measures that transcend diagnosis are required to track the ongoing needs for health services that these populations present.
Surveillance of Traumatic Firefighter Fatalities: An Assessment of Four Systems
Authors: Estes Chris R. , Marsh Suzanne M. , Castillo Dawn N.
Published: July 2017

Objectives.

Firefighters regularly respond to hazardous situations that put them at risk for fatal occupational injuries. Traumatic occupational fatality surveillance is a foundation for understanding the problem and developing prevention strategies. We assessed four surveillance systems for their utility in characterizing firefighter fatalities and informing prevention measures.

Methods.

We examined three population-based systems (the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and systems maintained by the United States Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association) and one case-based system (data collected through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program). From each system, we selected traumatic fatalities among firefighters for 2003–2006. Then we compared case definitions, methods for case ascertainment, variables collected, and rate calculation methods.

Results.

Overall magnitude of fatalities differed among systems. The population-based systems were effective in characterizing the circumstances of traumatic firefighter fatalities. The case-based surveillance system was effective in formulating detailed prevention recommendations, which could not be made based on the population-based data alone. Methods for estimating risk were disparate and limited fatality rate comparisons between firefighters and other workers.

Conclusions.

The systems included in this study contribute toward a greater understanding of firefighter fatalities. Areas of improvement for these systems should continue to be identified as they are used to direct research and prevention efforts.
Models of Community-Based Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Screening Programs in the U.S. and Their Estimated Outcomes and Costs
Authors: Rein David B. , Lesesne Sarah B. , Smith Bryce D. , Weinbaum Cindy M.
Published: July 2017

Objectives.

Information on the process and method of service delivery is sparse for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) testing, and no systematic study has evaluated the relative effectiveness or cost-effectiveness of different HBsAg screening models. To address this need, we compared five specific community-based screening programs.

Methods.

We funded five HBsAg screening programs to collect information on their design, costs, and outcomes of participants during a six-month observation period. We categorized programs into four types of models. For each model, we calculated the number screened, the number screened as per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, and the cost per screening.

Results.

The models varied by cost per person screened and total number of people screened, but they did not differ meaningfully in the proportion of people screened following CDC recommendations, the proportion of those screened who tested positive, or the proportion of those who newly tested positive.

Conclusions.

Integrating screening into outpatient service settings is the most cost-effective method but may not reach all people needing to be screened. Future research should examine cost-effective methods that expand the reach of screening into communities in outpatient settings.
Colorectal Cancer Screening among American Indians in a Pacific Northwest Tribe: Cowlitz Tribal BRFSS Project, 2009–2010
Authors: Maly Annika G. , Steel Tessa L. , Fu Rongwei , Lieberman David A. , Becker Thomas M.
Published: July 2017

Objectives.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is low among American Indians (AIs). We describe the demographics, health status, prevalence of modifiable CRC risk factors, and use of CRC screening modalities in a Pacific Northwest AI tribe.

Methods.

We conducted a survey among Cowlitz tribal members using a Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) questionnaire. We analyzed demographic, health status, behavioral risk factor, and CRC screening variables. Using the Washington State 2010 BRFSS, we compared tribal members with non-Hispanic white (NHW) people. We used logistic regression to examine factors associated with CRC screening for tribal members.

Results.

A greater proportion of tribal members than NHW people reported living below the federal poverty level (12% vs.7%, p=0.013). A greater proportion of tribal members than NHW people aged ≥50 years had poor self-reported health (27% vs. 16%, p=0.006) and were without health insurance (12% vs. 6%, p=0.004). A greater proportion of tribal members than NHW people had a fecal occult blood test within the past year (20% vs. 13%, p=0.006). Being 60–69 years of age (odds ratio [OR] = 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4, 4.9), ≥70 years of age (OR=2.2, 95% CI 1.1, 4.5), and having a personal health-care provider (OR=3.7, 95% CI 1.4, 9.6) were associated with increased screening adherence in tribal members.

Conclusion.

Data from the Cowlitz Tribal BRFSS demonstrate that members are receiving CRC screening in the same proportions as NHW people despite lower sociodemographic and health status indicators among members. Unique characteristics of the tribe likely contribute to this finding.
South African National Identity: A Research Agenda for Social Psychologists
Authors: Eaton Liberty
Published: July 2017

South African social psychology has largely neglected the topic of national identity. Where the issue has been addressed, the theories applied and questions posed have been limited by the dominant ‘intergroup relations’ paradigm. This paper is an attempt to encourage local social psychologists to take a renewed interest in national identification processes. The paper argues for the intrinsic academic interest, and the practical social importance, of this topic in the South African context. A range of international research is presented, arranged according to a typology of national identity work suggested by Reicher, Hopkins and Condor (1997). Existing research within the Social Cognitive, Social Identity Theory / Self-Categorisation Theory, and discursive traditions, is shown to offer a wealth of ideas for exploration in South Africa. The intention is to stimulate the development of a lively research agenda for the study of South African national identity.
Reaching out to diaspora Chinese in East Africa: Barriers and Bridges
Authors: Gong Wenhui , Nehrbass Kenneth
Published: July 2017

The influx of Chinese in East Africa presents churches with an opportunity to engage in cross-cultural evangelism right in their own neighborhoods. East African churches are well equipped to engage in evangelism and discipleship, yet Chinese immigrants in these urban areas are largely overlooked. This qualitative study seeks to understand the barriers and cultural bridges that East African church leaders identify regarding outreach to their Chinese neighbors. While language and cultural distance cause barriers, church leaders say they can bridge the distance with some extra cultural knowledge and the help of mediators. We conclude that church leaders’ understanding of reaching Chinese people is a good start—though incomplete—and can be informed with more exposure to cross-cultural strategies and issues related to contextualizing Christianity within Chinese culture.
Impact of Economics Learning on Risk Preferences and Rationality: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Zhou Zhengyi
Published: July 2017

This study examines whether or not academic experience in economics reduces risk aversion and irrationality. Irrationality was measured by behavioral deviations from Expected Utility Theory (EUT), and adherence to the cognitive limitations described by Prospect Theory (PT). Two survey experiments were administered to economics and non-economics majors at Occidental College to detect risk preferences and exhibition of certainty, framing, reflection and lottery effects as defined in PT. Economics majors were found to have lower risk aversion and different rationality behavior (not always more rational), and these differences were mainly due to self-selection. Economics learning reduced risk aversion and, to a limited degree, irrationality among non-economics students, but not among economics majors. The study also shows that monetary incentives reduced risk aversion, but did not have much impact on rationality.
The Multiplier Effect: A Classroom Exercise
Authors: Mago Shakun D.
Published: July 2017

Lowering taxes and raising government spending are both forms of expansionary fiscal policy. Often students mistakenly believe that their relative impact on GDP is equivalent, i.e. a dollar increase in government expenditure increases GDP by the same amount as a dollar decrease in taxes. This paper describes a classroom exercise that demonstrates a) how both fiscal stimuli create greater aggregate output and b) which fiscal stimulus spending is more effective. In this exercise, six students come to the front of class and act as business owners, the instructor acts as the government with a stimulus plan, and the remaining students are workers/consumers. Going through a sequence of financial decisions of how much to save and spend, students learn how the initial fiscal shock sets off a chain reaction, leading to successive rounds of changes in spending and income. This simple framework can then be used to evaluate the effect of relaxing standard assumptions, and to demonstrate the impact of automatic stabilizers such as taxes and transfer payments. Finally, this exercise can be used to facilitate a discussion on how the theoretical predictions differ from the actual real-world results due to credit liquidity restrictions, unemployment benefits, inflation, and governmental inefficiency.
Tensile Strength and its Scatter of Unidirectional Carbon Fibre Reinforced Composites
Authors: Hamada H. , Oya N. , Yamashita K. , Maekawa Z. -I.
Published: July 2017

Zero (along the fibre direction) and 90 degree (transverse to the fibre direction) tension tests of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) using a great number of specimens were conducted. Tensile properties and their scatter were evaluated by means of the data base. Materials used in this study were seven kinds of carbon fibres and three kinds of epoxy resins. Reinforcing fibre and matrix resin properties strongly affected on 0 and 90 degree properties of CFRP respectively. In 0 degree tension tests, fracture mode of specimen varied in each material, and a relationship between the scatter of strength and the fracture mode existed. From the results of 90 degree tension tests, some differences of interfacial properties between each laminate were also detected. According to some considerations on fracture mechanism in 0 degree tension test, it was deduced that the fracture mode depended on the balance of fibre, matrix and interface properties.
Characterization of Impact Damage Resistance of CF/PEEK and CF/Toughened Epoxy Laminates under Low and High Velocity Impact Tests
Authors: Morita H. , Adachi T. , Tateishi Y. , Matsumot H.
Published: July 2017

In order to use composite materials in aeronautical turbo engines, their resistance to impact damage must be understood. In this work the subperforation flat-wise impact resistance of three kinds of high resistance material systems were evaluated under low and high velocity impact tests. Tested systems were AS4/PEEK (APC-2/AS4, ICI-Fiberite), AS4/PEEK + IL, which consists of APC-2 prepreg and PEEK film inserted between layers as an interleave, and toughened epoxy system T800/#3900 (Toray). To investigate the effects of stacking sequence on resistance, three lay-ups (0/ + 30/0/ -30)s, (0/ + 60/0/ -60)s, and (0/ + 45/90/ -45)s-were tested. A drop weight system was used for the low velocity tests, where the velocity ranged from 1.5 to 3.1 m/s. An air gun system was used for the high velocity tests, where the velocity range was between 50 and 100 m/s. Both velocity impact tests used the same specimens geometries, support structures, impactor head geometries, and incident energy range. The projected damage area was measured with an ultrasonic C-Scan. The relation between damage area (DA) and impact energy (IE) was linear, and the ratio of the DA/IE quantified the impact resistance of each specimen. The value of DA/IE for the high velocity tests was larger than the value for low velocity tests. To estimate the lay-up effect, a stacking parameter,B, which indicates the difference of the inplane stiffness between the adjacent laminae, was proposed. A proportional relation between the DA/IE and the f was obtained. The value of (DA/IE)/3, which was independent of stacking sequence, indicated the impact resistance of the tested material systems for both velocity levels. The ratio of (DA/IE)/3 for the high velocity to the value for the low velocity changed with material systems.
Advanced Composites with Embedded Fiber Optic Sensors for Smart Applications
Authors: El-Sherif M. A. , Radhakrishnan J.
Published: July 2017

Due to the increased use of advanced composites with complex architecture, demand for innovative characterization techniques has also increased. This paper deals with a sensitive and inexpensive methodology for characterization of stress states in composites using embedded optical fibers. The principle of operation of the developed technique is based on spatial modulation of modal power in multimode fibers. A theoretical model that explains the phenomenon of spatial intensity modulation induced in multimode optical fibers is discussed. Numerical results from the model are verified against experimental results obtained from smart structures fabricated with embedded fiber optic sensors.
Eddy Current, Ultrasonic C-Scan and Scanning Acoustic Microscopy Testing of Delaminated Quasi-Isotropic CFRP Materials: A Case Study
Authors: Gros X. E. , Ogi K. , Takahashi K.
Published: July 2017

This paper presents recent non-destructive testing results obtained from the inspection of delaminated quasi-isotropic carbon fibre reinforced plastic materials. Inspections were carried out using three different non-destructive testing methods; eddy current, ultrasonic C-scan and scanning acoustic microscopy. The results achieved for each method, in terms of delamination detectability, ease of inspection and signal interpretation, are described and their advantages and limitations discussed. Although a correlation of the information gathered with the three methods can be observed, it appears that both eddy current testing and ultrasonic C-scan provide a more complete assessment of the structural integrity of the component than scanning acoustic microscopy.
Mixing Characterization Based on Drag Flow: Phase III—Effect of Kneading Blocks on a Visco-elastic System
Authors: Swann Daniel M. , Bigio David I. , Magnus Frederick L. , Kiehl Christopher
Published: July 2017

Many new product properties are being achieved by blending and alloying homopolymers or copolymers with a variety of additives, rather than by the creation of a new polymer. This paper examines the effect of screw design and operating conditions on the final product properties for the blending of solid filler into a visco-elastic matrix. To accomplish this, a simple screw design is used and the spacing is changed between the kneading blocks. The spacing for the screw profiles varies from 0 mm to 90 mm in increments of 30 mm. The material used is silica mixed into polyisoprene in a 43 mm co-rotating twin screw extruder. The polymer Mooney viscosity is higher in the 30 mm profile than the other profiles. The average molecular weight for the 30 mm tended to be the least for all of the profiles. In addition, the ribbon die on the end of the extruder acted as another mixing element and therefore it also had an effect on both viscosity and the molecular weight when it was taken off. The effect is more pronounced for lower drag flow rates than for higher.
Contemplating case mix
Authors: Costa Andrew P. , Poss Jeffery W. , McKillop Ian
Published: July 2017

Case mix classifications are the frameworks that underlie many healthcare funding schemes, including the so-called activity-based funding. Now more than ever, Canadian healthcare administrators are evaluating case mix-based funding and deciphering how they will influence their organization. Case mix is a topic fraught with technical jargon and largely relegated to government agencies or private industries. This article provides an abridged review of case mix classification as well as its implications for management in healthcare.
Oligopeptides as an Oral Delivery System: I. Aggregation Characteristics and Drug Encapsulation
Authors: Haratake Mamoru , Ottenbrite Raphael M.
Published: July 2017

A series of glutamic acid(E)-phenylalanine(F) oligopeptides were studied as potential oral drug delivery systems for protein and polysaccharide drugs. The aggregation behavior of the tri- and tetrapeptides (pEE(a)F, pEE(y)F, pEE(a)F(y)F) were characterized by light scattering and light microscopy. The tripeptides did not form aggregates up to 0.1 M at pH 2. On the other hand, the tetrapeptide pEE(a)F(y)F formed self-aggregates at relatively low concentrations (11.8 mM). This tetrapeptide also associated preferentially with several drug molecules, such as insulin and bovine serum albumin, below the concentration at which the aggregation occurred. The same concentration of unassociated pEE(a)F(y)F was necessary to achieve aggregation whether the pEE(a)F(y)F was associated with drugs or not. The pEE(a)F(y)F also formed unique spheres in the presence of protein drugs.
Design of Lysosomotropic Macromolecular Prodrug of Doxorubicin Using N-Acetyl-α-1,4-Polygalactosamine as a Targeting Carrier to Hepatoma Tissue
Authors: Ouchi Tatsuro , Tada Masahiro , Matsumoto Mitsuo , Ohya Yuichi , Hasegawa Kaname , Arai Yuichi , Kadowaki Kiyoshi , Akao Santaro , Matsumoto Tatsuji , Suzuki Shigeo , Suzuki Masuko
Published: July 2017

α-1,4-Polygalactosamine (PGA) and N-acetylated α-1,4-polygalactosamine (NAPGA) are chitosan- and chitin-like biodegradable α-1,4-linked polysaccharides, respectively. Radioactivity of 14C-50% N-acetylated PGA injected into hepatomized mice, was found to accumulate more in the liver, kidney, ileum and hepatoma tumor tissues, compared with other organs. To provide a lysosomotropic macromolecular prodrug of doxorubicin (DXR) targeted to hepatoma tumor tissue, DXR was immobilized on water-soluble 6-O-carboxymethyl(CM)-NAPGA by Gly-Phe-Leu-Gly spacer groups (CM-NAPGA/Gly-Phe-Leu-Gly/DXR conjugate). The conjugate showed cathepsin B susceptible DXR release behavior and exhibited remarkable survival effects in mice bearing MH134Y hepatoma implanted by subcutaneous (s.c.) implantation/intravenous (i.v.) injection, compared with free DXR and CM-NAPGA-immobilized DXRs with pentamethylene spacer groups (CM-NAPGA/C5/DXR conjugate).
Effect of endotoxin, dobutamine and dopamine on muscle mitochondrial respiration in vitro
Authors: Porta Francesca , Takala Jukka , Weikert Christian , Kaufmann Priska , Krahenbuhl Stephan , Jakob Stephan M.
Published: July 2017

Introduction: Mitochondrial respiration is impaired during endotoxemia. While catecholamines are frequently used in sepsis, their effects on mitochondrial function are controversial. We assessed effects of dobutamine and dopamine endotoxin on isolated muscle mitochondria.

Materials and Methods : Sternocleidomastoid muscle mitochondria were isolated from six anesthetized pigs. Each sample was divided into six different groups. Three groups were incubated with endotoxin, three with vehicle. After 1 h, dopamine and dobutamine at final concentrations of 100 µM were added to the vehicle and endotoxin groups. After 2 h, state 3 and 4 respiration rates were determined for all mitochondrial complexes. Oxygen consumption was determined with a Clark-type electrode.

Results: Endotoxin increased glutamate-dependent state 4 respiration from 9.3 ± 3.6 to 31.9 ± 9.1 ( P = 0.001) without affecting state 3 respiration. This reduced the efficiency of mitochondrial respiration (RCR; state 3/state 4, 9.9 ± 1.9 versus 3.6 ± 0.6; P < 0.001). The other complexes were unaffected. Catecholamine partially restored the endotoxin-induced increase in complex I state 4 respiration rate (31.9 ± 9.1 versus 17.1 ± 6.4 and 20.1 ± 12.2) after dopamine and dobutamine, respectively ( P = 0.007), and enhanced the ADP:O ratio ( P = 0.033).

Conclusions: Dopamine and dobutamine enhanced the efficiency of mitochondrial respiration after short-term endotoxin exposure.
Seismic Soundoff
Authors: Geary Andrew
Published: July 2017

The following is an excerpt from Episode 16 of SEG's Seismic Soundoff podcast. In this episode, Sven Treitel joins Andrew Geary to discuss signal processing and his decades-long collaboration with Enders Robinson. Treitel has published more than 40 papers and received numerous SEG awards. Listen to the full episode at http://seg.org/podcast .
Acoustic communication in terrestrial and aquatic vertebrates
Authors: Ladich Friedrich , Winkler Hans
Published: July 2017

Sound propagates much faster and over larger distances in water than in air, mainly because of differences in the density of these media. This raises the question of whether terrestrial (land mammals, birds) and (semi-)aquatic animals (frogs, fishes, cetaceans) differ fundamentally in the way they communicate acoustically. Terrestrial vertebrates primarily produce sounds by vibrating vocal tissue (folds) directly in an airflow. This mechanism has been modified in frogs and cetaceans, whereas fishes generate sounds in quite different ways mainly by utilizing the swimbladder or pectoral fins. On land, vertebrates pick up sounds with light tympana, whereas other mechanisms have had to evolve underwater. Furthermore, fishes differ from all other vertebrates by not having an inner ear end organ devoted exclusively to hearing. Comparing acoustic communication within and between aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates reveals that there is no ‘aquatic way’ of sound communication, as compared with a more uniform terrestrial one. Birds and mammals display rich acoustic communication behaviour, which reflects their highly developed cognitive and social capabilities. In contrast, acoustic signaling seems to be the exception in fishes, and is obviously limited to short distances and to substrate-breeding species, whereas all cetaceans communicate acoustically and, because of their predominantly pelagic lifestyle, exploit the benefits of sound propagation in a dense, obstacle-free medium that provides fast and almost lossless signal transmission.
Light oiling of feathers increases flight energy expenditure in a migratory shorebird
Authors: Maggini Ivan , Kennedy Lisa V. , Macmillan Alexander , Elliott Kyle H. , Dean Karen , Guglielmo Christopher G.
Published: July 2017

Flying birds depend on their feathers to undertake most activities, and maintain them in peak condition through periodic molt and frequent preening. Even small exposures to crude oil reduce the integrity of feathers, and could impair flight performance. We trained wild western sandpipers (Calidris mauri) to perform endurance flights in a wind tunnel, and used magnetic resonance body composition analysis to measure energy expenditure after birds were exposed to weathered MC252 crude oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The cost of transport was 0.26±0.04 kJ km−1 in controls, and increased by 22% when the trailing edges of the wing and tail were oiled (<20% of body surface; considered light oiling). Additional crude oil on breast and back feathers (∼30% total surface; moderate oiling) increased the cost of transport by 45% above controls. Oiling tended to decrease flight control, and only half of moderately oiled birds completed the flight test. We then flew birds at a range of speeds to estimate basic kinematic parameters. At low speeds, light and moderately oiled birds had larger wingbeat amplitudes than controls, while moderately oiled birds showed greater wingbeat frequencies across all speeds, and a shift in optimal flight speed towards higher wind speeds. We suggest these changes reflect poorer lift production and increased drag on the wings and body. Oiling will increase the difficulty and energy costs of locomotion for daily and seasonal activities such as foraging, predator evasion, territory defense, courtship, chick provisioning, commuting and long-distance migration. These sub-lethal effects must be considered in oil spill impact assessments.
From the editors
Authors: Kull Kalevi , Lindström Kati , Lotman Mihhail , Maran Timo , Salupere Silvi , Torop Peeter
Published: July 2017

From the editors
Parentheticals and the dialogicity of signs
Authors: Sonnenhauser Barbara
Published: July 2017

The term ‘parenthetical’ is applied to an almost unlimited range of linguistic phenomena, which share but one common feature, namely their being used parenthetically. Parenthetic use is mostly described in terms of embedding an expression into some host sentence. Actually, however, it is anything but clear what it means for an expression to be used parenthetically, from both a syntactic and a semantic point of view.Given that in most, if not all, cases the alleged host sentence can be considered syntactically and semantically complete in itself, it needs to be asked what kind of information the parenthetical contributes to the overall structure. Another issue to be addressed concerns the nature of the relation between parenthetical and host (explanation, question, etc.) and the question what is it that holds them together.Trying to figure out the basic function of parentheticals, the present paper proposes a semiotic analysis of parenthetically used expressions. This semiotic analysis is not intended to replace linguistic approaches, but is meant to elaborate on why parentheticals are so hard to capture linguistically. Taking a dynamic conception of signs and sign processes (in the sense of Peirce, Voloshinov and Bahtin) as starting point, parentheticals are argued to render explicit the inherent dialogicity of signs and utterances. This inherent dialogicity is hardly ever taken into consideration in linguistic analyses, which take the two-dimensional linearity of language as granted.
Mutual understanding and misunderstanding in biological systems mediated by self-representational meaning of organisms
Authors: Kleisner Karel , Markoš Anton
Published: July 2017

Modern biology gives many casuistic descriptions of mutual informational interconnections between organisms. Semiotic and hermeneutic processes in biosphere require a set of “sentient” community of players who optimize their living strategies to be able to stay in game. Perceptible surfaces of the animals, semantic organs, represent a special communicative interface that serves as an organ of self-representation of organic inwardness. This means that the innermost dimensions and potentialities of an organism may enter the senses of other living being when effectively expressed on the outermost surfaces of the former and meaningfully interpreted by the later. Moreover, semantic organs do not exist as objectively describable entities. They are always born via interpretative act and their actual form depends on both the potentialities of body plan of a bearer and the species-specific interpretation of a receiver. As such the semantic organs represent an important part of biological reality and thus deserve to be contextualized within existing comparative vocabulary. Here we argue that the study of the organic self-representation has a key importance for deeper insight into the evolution of communicative coupling among living beings.
Praxis and enunciation: Greimas, heir of Saussure
Authors: Fontanille Jacques
Published: July 2017

Enunciative praxis was defined as comprising all the operations that produce, through assuming the system of narrative deep structures, semiotic configurations sufficiently stabilized to be available for other uses. The practice of enunciation implies an operations chain, organized in collective time, and a capacity for creation and renewal in meaning figures production, under the constraint of cultural conditions.This conception of enunciation is not an invention of Greimassian semiotics in general. It is present already in Saussure, when he describes signs praxis and life of languages. The founding moment of his reasoning is the substitution of substance by action: the sign is not an abstraction obtained by discretization of the substance, the sign is a “class of executions”, a praxeological class.The Greimassian enunciative praxis can be defined as all acts by which discourses are convoked, selected, handled and invented by each particular enunciation. This conception strengthens the relationship with Saussure’s speaking mass, since the praxis in question belongs to no one, and it is not even assignable to a precise linguistic community.Finally, we may propose to analyse enunciation praxis as a sequence of reflection and exploration, which mediates between primary experience and the semiotic object.
Umberto Eco and John Deely: What they shared
Authors: Kull Kalevi
Published: July 2017

Umberto Eco and John Deely: What they shared