bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The functioning and behaviour of biological parents of children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, attending the outpatient department at Weskoppies Hospital, Pretoria
Authors: Sundarlall Ravindra , Van der Westhuizen Debbie , Fletcher Lizelle
Published: May 2016

Background: ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is gradually being acknowledged as a functionally impairing disorder across the lifespan, underscored by heritability. Nonetheless, lack of ADHD (adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) data from South Africa is alarming which could be due to either the unawareness of ADHD symptoms or underutilization of available screening measures. Undiagnosed ADHD may influence family- and working lives unpleasantly. Parenting a child with ADHD may intensify parental stress through functional impairment notwithstanding the diagnosis of ADHD.

Methods: Eighty-one biological parents of children diagnosed with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder were screened using self-reporting measurements. ADHD self-report scale (ASRS-V 1.1) identified either positive or negative subgroups; the Weiss functional impairment rating scale (WFIR-S) for functional impairment and the Jerome driving questionnaire (JDQ) for risk-taking behaviour specifically driving.

 Results: Of the 39 (48%) parents who experienced impairment in all seven areas of functioning, 23 (59%) screened negative for ADHD, while 16 (41%) screened positive. A significant association was found between parents who screened either positive or negative for ADHD and functional impairment across five of the seven individual categories namely family, work, self-concept, life-skills and social functioning.

Conclusion: This study emphasized the high incidence of functional impairment in parents of ADHD children. Although a substantial number of parents screened negative for ADHD, they still reported impairment in functioning; probably due to undiagnosed ADHD with comorbid psychiatric disorders, and/or parental stress due to the complex behaviour of the child. Parents of children diagnosed with ADHD should be screened for functional impairment followed by referral for psychiatric assessment and parent management training to achieve better clinical outcomes.
Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Fingernail Clippings Can Help Differentiate between Postmenopausal Women who Have and Have Not Suffered a Fracture
Authors: Beattie James R. , Cummins Niamh M. , Caraher Clare , O'Driscoll Olive M. , Bansal Aruna T. , Eastell Richard , Ralston Stuart H. , Stone Michael D. , Pearson Gill , Towler Mark R.
Published: May 2016

Raman spectroscopy was applied to nail clippings from 633 postmenopausal British and Irish women, from six clinical sites, of whom 42% had experienced a fragility fracture. The objective was to build a prediction algorithm for fracture using data from four sites (known as the calibration set) and test its performance using data from the other two sites (known as the validation set). Results from the validation set showed that a novel algorithm, combining spectroscopy data with clinical data, provided area under the curve (AUC) of 74% compared to an AUC of 60% from a reduced QFracture score (a clinically accepted risk calculator) and 61% from the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry T-score, which is in current use for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. Raman spectroscopy should be investigated further as a noninvasive tool for the early detection of enhanced risk of fragility fracture.
Lq Norms of Fekete and Related Polynomials
Authors: Günther Christian , Schmidt Kai-Uwe
Published: May 2016

A Littlewood polynomial is a polynomial in ℂ[z] having all of its coefficients in {−1, 1}. There are various old unsolved problems, mostly due to Littlewood and Erdos, that ask for Littlewood polynomials that provide a good approximation to a function that is constant on the complex unit circle, and in particular have small Lq normon the complex unit circle. We consider the Fekete polynomials

where p is an odd prime and (· |p) is the Legendre symbol (so that z-1fp(z) is a Littlewood polynomial). We give explicit and recursive formulas for the limit of the ratio of Lq and L2 norm of fp when q is an even positive integer and p → ∞. To our knowledge, these are the first results that give these limiting values for specific sequences of nontrivial Littlewood polynomials and infinitely many q. Similar results are given for polynomials obtained by cyclically permuting the coefficients of Fekete polynomials and for Littlewood polynomials whose coefficients are obtained from additive characters of finite fields. These results vastly generalise earlier results on the L4 norm of these polynomials.
$p$-адический закон больших чисел
Authors: Zelenov Evgenii Igorevich
Published: May 2016

Изучаются предельные теоремы для суммы независимых случайных величин, принимающих значение в поле $p$-адических чисел. Получены оценки для скорости сходимости по распределению суммы независимых случайных величин со значениями в группе целых $p$-адических чисел.
Библиография: 22 наименования.
Изучение групп Чжоу пересечений квадрик с помощью гомологической проективной двойственности и (якобианов) некоммутативных мотивов
Authors: Bernardara Marcello , Tabuada Goncalo
Published: May 2016

Гипотезы типа гипотезы Бейлинсона-Блоха предсказывают, что группы Чжоу с рациональными коэффициентами малой размерности у пересечения квадрик являются одномерными. Эта гипотеза была доказана А. Отвиновской (A. Otwinowska) в [1]. Используя гомологическую проективную двойственность и недавнюю теорию (якобианов) некоммутативных мотивов, дается другое доказательство этой гипотезы в случае полного пересечения двух квадрик или трех нечетномерных квадрик. Кроме того, доказывается, что в этих случаях единственным нетривиальным алгебраическим якобианом является средний из них. В качестве приложения, опираясь на работы Ч. Виала (C. Vial) [2], [3], описываются рациональные мотивы Чжоу этих полных пересечений и показывается, что для гладких расслоений над базой $S$ малой размерности, слои которых являются такими полными пересечениями, выполняются гипотеза Мюрре (Murre) ($\dim (S)\leq 1$), стандартная гипотеза Гротендика типа Лефшеца ($\dim (S)\leq 2$) и гипотеза Ходжа ($\dim (S)\leq 3$). Библиография: 29 наименований.
О нулях линейных комбинаций L-функций степени два на критической прямой: подход Сельберга
Authors: Rezvyakova Irina Sergeevna
Published: May 2016

В работе детально рассмотрен метод А. Сельберга, который позволяет доказать при некоторых естественных предположениях, что положительная доля нетривиальных нулей линейной комбинации L-функций из класса Сельберга лежит на критической прямой. В качестве примера мы приводим необходимые ингредиенты для доказательства этого результата в случае линейной комбинации L-функций степени два, соответствующих
автоморфным формам.
Библиография: 29 наименований.
К проблеме Фробениуса с тремя аргументами
Authors: Vorob'ev Ivan Stanislavovich
Published: May 2016

В работе теоретически получены асимптотические формулы для средних значений различных характеристик аддитивной полугруппы, порожденной тремя натуральными числами, прежде всего - для количества элементов, не принадлежащих данной полугруппе. Кроме того, проведен численный эксперимент, подтверждающий полученные результаты.
Библиография: 21 название.
Qualitative Methods and Visualizations in the Study of Friendship Networks
Authors: Bellotti Elisa
Published: May 2016

One of the most powerful aspects of social network data is the fact that they can reproduce social relationships in a formal and comparable way. Relational matrices abstract from the hustle and bustle of everyday interaction, and systematise information in terms of presence or absence of ties expressing them in a directed or undirected, binary or valued form. While the formal approach represents an advantage of social network analysis, as it allows bracketing off the idiosyncratic and subjective content of social structures, the mathematization of the complex nature of social relationships has also been criticised for the lack of engagement with the subjective meaning and context of relationships. Such stream of critique has called for an increase of use of qualitative methods in social network research. The first goal of the paper is to address these critiques by rebalancing the argument and showing how social network analysis has always engaged with both formal and contextual aspects of social structures. The paper reviews some theoretical perspectives that discuss and systematise a mixed method approach, and explores the methodological advantages of using network visualizations together with qualitative interviews in the collection, analysis and interpretation of personal networks. The advantages of adopting a mixed method approach are illustrated over some examples of friendship networks of 23 single male and female people collected in Milan, Italy, in 2005. A classic name generator is used to reconstruct their egonets of friends, and the visualization is adopted as the input for in-depth interviews with specific attention devoted to the meaning of friendship relationships, the kind of resources they offer, the conflicts and constrains they entail, and how they have developed and evolved over time. By comparing information obtained respectively with name generators and in-depth interviews, the paper shows how the mix of data improves and specify the understanding of personal networks.
Effectiveness of replacing catalytic converters in LPG-fueled vehicles in Hong Kong
Authors: Lyu Xiaopu , Guo Hai , Simpson Isobel J. , Meinardi Simone , Louie Peter K. K. , Ling Zhenhao , Wang Yu , Liu Ming , Luk Connie W. Y. , Wang Nan , Blake Donald R.
Published: May 2016

Abstract. Many taxis and public buses are powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Hong Kong. With more vehicles using LPG, they have become the major contributor to ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Hong Kong. An intervention program which aimed to reduce the emissions of VOCs and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from LPG-fueled vehicles was implemented by the Hong Kong government in September 2013. Long-term real-time measurements indicated that the program was remarkably effective in reducing LPG-related VOCs, NOx and nitric oxide (NO) in the atmosphere. Receptor modeling results further revealed that propane, propene, i-butane, n-butane and NO in LPG-fueled vehicle exhaust emissions decreased by 40.8 ± 0.1, 45.7 ± 0.2, 35.7 ± 0.1, 47.8 ± 0.1 and 88.6 ± 0.7 %, respectively, during the implementation of the program. In contrast, despite the reduction of VOCs and NOx, O3 following the program increased by 0.40 ± 0.03 ppbv (∼  5.6 %). The LPG-fueled vehicle exhaust was generally destructive to OH and HO2. However, the destruction effect weakened for OH and it even turned to positive contribution to HO2 during the program. These changes led to the increases of OH, HO2 and HO2 ∕ OH ratio, which might explain the positive O3 increment. Analysis of O3–VOCs–NOx sensitivity in ambient air indicated VOC-limited regimes in the O3 formation before and during the program. Moreover, a maximum reduction percentage of NOx (i.e., 69 %) and the lowest reduction ratio of VOCs ∕ NOx (i.e., 1.1) in LPG-fueled vehicle exhaust were determined to give a zero O3 increment. The findings are of great help to future formulation and implementation of control strategies on vehicle emissions in Hong Kong, and could be extended to other regions in China and around the world.
Contribution and pathways of diazotroph-derived nitrogen to zooplankton during the VAHINE mesocosm experiment in the oligotrophic New Caledonia lagoon
Authors: Hunt Brian P. V. , Bonnet Sophie , Berthelot Hugo , Conroy Brandon J. , Foster Rachel A. , Pagano Marc
Published: May 2016

Abstract. In oligotrophic tropical and subtropical oceans, where strong stratification can limit the replenishment of surface nitrate, dinitrogen (N2) fixation by diazotrophs can represent a significant source of nitrogen (N) for primary production. The VAHINE (VAriability of vertical and tropHIc transfer of fixed N2 in the south-wEst Pacific) experiment was designed to examine the fate of diazotroph-derived nitrogen (DDN) in such ecosystems. In austral summer 2013, three large ( ∼  50 m3) in situ mesocosms were deployed for 23 days in the New Caledonia lagoon, an ecosystem that typifies the low-nutrient, low-chlorophyll environment, to stimulate diazotroph production. The zooplankton component of the study aimed to measure the incorporation of DDN into zooplankton biomass, and assess the role of direct diazotroph grazing by zooplankton as a DDN uptake pathway. Inside the mesocosms, the diatom–diazotroph association (DDA) het-1 predominated during days 5–15 while the unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacteria UCYN-C predominated during days 15–23. A Trichodesmium bloom was observed in the lagoon (outside the mesocosms) towards the end of the experiment. The zooplankton community was dominated by copepods (63 % of total abundance) for the duration of the experiment. Using two-source N isotope mixing models we estimated a mean  ∼  28 % contribution of DDN to zooplankton nitrogen biomass at the start of the experiment, indicating that the natural summer peak of N2 fixation in the lagoon was already contributing significantly to the zooplankton. Stimulation of N2 fixation in the mesocosms corresponded with a generally low-level enhancement of DDN contribution to zooplankton nitrogen biomass, but with a peak of  ∼  73 % in mesocosm 1 following the UCYN-C bloom. qPCR analysis targeting four of the common diazotroph groups present in the mesocosms (Trichodesmium, het-1, het-2, UCYN-C) demonstrated that all four were ingested by copepod grazers, and that their abundance in copepod stomachs generally corresponded with their in situ abundance. 15N2 labelled grazing experiments therefore provided evidence for direct ingestion and assimilation of UCYN-C-derived N by the zooplankton, but not for het-1 and Trichodesmium, supporting an important role of secondary pathways of DDN to the zooplankton for the latter groups, i.e. DDN contributions to the dissolved N pool and uptake by nondiazotrophs. This study appears to provide the first evidence of direct UCYN-C grazing by zooplankton, and indicates that UCYN-C-derived N contributes significantly to the zooplankton food web in the New Caledonia lagoon through a combination of direct grazing and secondary pathways.
A new approach for modeling suspended sediment: Evolutionary fuzzy approach
Authors: Kisi Ozgur
Published: May 2016

Abstract. This paper proposes the application of evolutionary fuzzy (EF) approach for prediction of daily suspended sediment concentration (SSC). The EF was improved by the combination of two methods, fuzzy logic and genetic algorithm. The accuracy of EF models is compared with those of the artificial neural network (ANN) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system with fuzzy c-means clustering (ANFIS-FCM). The daily streamflow and suspended sediment data collected from two stations on the Eel River in California, United States are used in the study. Root mean square errors (RMSE), mean absolute errors (MAE) and determination coefficient criteria are used for evaluating the accuracy of the models. The EF is found to be superior to the ANN and ANFIS-FCM in SSC prediction. The relative RMSE and MAE differences between the optimal EF and ANN models were found to be 13–50 % and 15–65 % for the upstream and downstream stations, respectively. Comparison of the optimal EF, ANN and ANFIS-FCM models in estimating peak and total suspended sediments revealed that the EF model provided better accuracy than the ANN and ANFIS-FCM.
Site specific parameterizations of longwave radiation
Authors: Formetta Giuseppe , Bancheri Marialaura , David Olaf , Rigon Riccardo
Published: May 2016

Abstract. In this work ten algorithms for estimating downwelling longwave atmospheric radiation (L↓) and one for upwelling longwave radiation (L↑) are integrated into the hydrological model JGrass-NewAge. The algorithms are tested against energy flux measurements available for twenty-four sites in North America to assess their reliability. These new JGrass-NewAge model components are used i) to evaluate the performances of simplified models (SMs) of L↓ , as presented in literature formulations, and ii) to determine by automatic calibration the site-specific parameter sets for SMs of L↓. For locations where calibration is not possible because of a lack of measured data, we perform a multiple regression using on-site variables, such as mean annual air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, and altitude. The regressions are verified through a leave-one-out cross validation, which also gathers information about the possible errors of estimation. Most of the SMs, when executed with parameters derived from the multiple regressions, give enhanced performances compared to the corresponding literature formulation. A sensitivity analysis is carried out for each SM to understand how small variations of a given parameter influence SM performance. Regarding the L↓ simulations, the Brunt (1932) and Idso (1981) SMs, in their literature formulations, provide the best performances in many of the sites. The site-specific parameter calibration improves SM performances compared to their literature formulations. Specifically, the root mean square error (RMSE) is almost halved and the Kling Gupta efficiency is improved at all sites. The L↑ SM is tested by using three different temperatures (surface soil temperature, air temperature at 2 m elevation, and soil temperature at 4 cm depth) and model performances are then assessed. Results show that the best performances are achieved using the surface soil temperature and the air temperature. Models and regression parameters are available for any use, as specified in the paper.
Folding and necking across the scales: a review of theoretical and experimental results and their applications
Authors: Schmalholz Stefan Markus , Mancktelow Neil
Published: May 2016

Abstract. Shortening and extension of mechanically-layered ductile rock generates folds and pinch-and-swell structures (also referred to as necks or continuous boudins), which result from mechanical instabilities termed folding and necking, respectively. Folding and necking occur in layered rock because the corresponding mechanical work involved is less than that associated with a homogeneous deformation. The effective viscosity of a layered rock decreases during folding and necking, even when all material parameters remain constant. This mechanical softening due to viscosity decrease is solely the result of fold and pinch-and-swell structure development and is hence termed structural softening (or geometric weakening). Folding and necking occur over the whole range of geological scales, from microscopic up to the size of lithospheric plates. Lithospheric folding and necking are evidence for significant deformation of continental plates, which contradicts the rigid-plate paradigm of plate tectonics. We review here some theoretical and experimental results on folding and necking, including the lithospheric scale, together with a short historical overview of research on folding and necking. We focus on theoretical studies and analytical solutions that provide the best insight into the fundamental parameters controlling folding and necking, although they invariably involve simplifications. To first order, the two essential parameters to quantify folding and necking are the dominant wavelength and the corresponding maximal amplification rate. This review also includes a short overview of experimental studies, a discussion of recent developments involving mainly numerical models, a presentation of some practical applications of theoretical results, and a summary of similarities and differences between folding and necking.
Actuator Cylinder Theory for Multiple Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
Authors: Ning Andrew
Published: May 2016

Abstract. Actuator cylinder theory is an effective approach for analyzing the aerodynamic performance of vertical axis wind turbines at a conceptual design level. Existing actuator cylinder theory can analyze single turbines, but analysis of multiple turbines is often desirable because turbines operate in near proximity within a wind farm. For vertical axis wind turbines, which tend to operate in closer proximity than do horizontal axis turbines, aerodynamic interactions may not be strictly confined to wake interactions. We modified actuator cylinder theory to permit the simultaneous solution of aerodynamic loading for any number of turbines. We also extended the theory to handle thrust coefficients outside of the momentum region, and explicitly defined the additional terms needed for curved or swept blades. It is found that even out of the wake zone, aerodynamic interactions are not negligible at typical separation distances (i.e., 3–6 rotor diameters). If turbines are co-rotating then for the two turbine cases examined in this paper the sum of the total power was effectively constant except within the wake zone. However, if turbines counter-rotate then both beneficial and detrimental changes in power production were observed depending on the relative positions. However, these benefits are on the order of a few percent and unlikely to be advantageous in practice because of wake interference, except for within highly directional wind sites. Limitations of these analyses identified the need for integration with viscous wake models, and potentially with higher-fidelity induced velocity models.
DESENVOLVIMENTO DE UM MODELO CHUVA-VAZÃO VIA TANK MODEL E CALIBRAÇÃO AUTOMÁTICA
Authors: Souza Rodrigues Pereira Tatiane , Almeida dos Santos Kamila , Ferreira da Silva Bruna , Teodomiro Martins Formiga Klebber , Kepler Soares Alexandre
Published: May 2016

RESUMO: Como a precipitação é um fator que afeta diretamente as estimativas de vazão, visou-se neste estudo, avaliar as vazões resultantes da execução de um modelo chuva-vazão baseado em “tanques”, e denominado Tank Model, para duas séries históricas de precipitação na Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Manoel Alves da Natividade, no Estado de Tocantins. Os parâmetros do modelo foram determinados utilizando programação não-linear e evolucionária para intervalos temporais diferentes para as séries de dados (diário e mensal), para fins de comparação dos resultados. Os resultados evidenciaram que as resoluções simuladas para dados mensais se mostraram mais ajustadas às vazões observadas do que as resoluções para dados diários, apontando que vazões diárias não são indicadas para as estimativas de vazões pelo Tank Model. Os conjuntos de parâmetros estimados foram considerados satisfatórios, possibilitando alta eficiência de modelagem. Assim, o estudo pôde contribuir para a geração de séries de vazões sintéticas confiáveis, permitindo simular o comportamento de reservatórios para diversos cenários de uso da água, principalmente em regiões carentes de dados climatológicos representativos ou que apresentam falhas longas nos dados das séries de vazões, o que é muito comum no Brasil. ABSTRACT: As rainfall affects directly estimations of runoff, this study focused on runoff analysis resulting from the application of a rainfall-runoff model based on tanks - Tank Model. To this end two historical series of precipitation on Manoel Alves River Basin, State of Tocantins, Brazil, have been used. The model parameters were obtained by automatic calibration by using two different optimization methods (nonlinear programming and genetic algorithms) as well as two different intervals for time series data (monthly and daily) in order to compare the results. The results have shown that the simulated data for monthly resolutions were more consistent than those ones obtained for daily data when comparing the observed runoff. The study demonstrated that it is not advisable to use daily data for the calculations of streamflow forecasting by Tank Model. The set of estimated parameters was considered satisfactory, which can enable modeling efficiently. The study could contribute to the generation of reliable synthetic discharge series, which can allow simulations of reservoir behavior for various water use scenarios mainly in areas with poor series data (lack of data or long gaps in data discharge series), which is very common in Brazil.
APROVEITAMENTO ENERGÉTICO NO TRÁFEGO: UMA ANÁLISE PARA O CAMPUS UFMG - PAMPULHA
Authors: Resende Carolina Barbosa , Terra Ricardo , Greco Marcelo , Santanna-Greco Jisela Aparecida
Published: May 2016

RESUMO: Devido às dificuldades pela falta de energia, alguns países se viram na posição de procurar novas formas de geração de energia, a fim de evitar a importação e seus preços altos. Com a intenção de captar a energia dissipada pelo tráfego e transformá-la em energia elétrica, os métodos estudados foram os métodos a partir dos geradores eletro-cinéticos. No entanto, cada alternativa é adequada para determinada situação. Características do tráfego, da via e da intensidade irão interferir no método utilizado. Este trabalho conduz um estudo de caso no Campus Pampulha da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) para avaliar a quantidade de energia gerada caso fossem utilizados geradores eletro-cinéticos, mais especificamente o mecanismo cremalheira pinhão dentro do campus. Como resultado mais relevante, a adaptação das lombadas atualmente existentes nas seis portarias do campus UFMG – Pampulha geraria o equivalente a 107.559kWh/mês, o que, no Brasil, seria suficiente para abastecer aproximadamente 660 residências por mês, ou se aproveitado dentro do próprio campus UFMG – Pampulha, seria suficiente para gerar uma economia de energia consumida de 5,4%. A principal contribuição do trabalho é mostrar quantitativamente as reais possibilidades de aproveitamento energético do tráfego, a partir de geradores eletro-cinéticos implementados em lombadas de vias urbanas.

ABSTRACT: Due to the lack of energy, some countries are searching for new technologies to produce electric energy in order to avoid importation taxes and abusive prices. The studied methods are based on electro-kinetic generators; they transform part of the energy dissipated by the traffic into electric energy. More important, each method has an ideal usage scenario, which depends, for instance, on the traffic, road, intensity, among others. The current paper presents a case study performed at UFMG – Pampulha Campus to evaluate how much energy can be generated if the campus direction decide to employ electro-kinetic generators, more specifically the rack pinion mechanism. As the most relevant result, if all speed breakers are modified at the campus entrances to an equipped rack pinion speed breaker, the campus traffic will generate the equivalent of 107,559kWh/month; sufficient energy to support 660 residences per month in Brazil. Moreover, if this energy was used where it is generated, at UFMG – Pampulha campus, then this could provide the equivalent of 5.4% of the energy that the campus demand per month. The main contribution of the present paper is to describe a quantitative study to generate energy from the traffic flow, with the use of electro-kinetic generators installed at speed breakers of urban roads.
IN SITU POLYMERIZATION OF FE3O4/POLYURETHANE NANOCOMPOSITES WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE
Authors: Yao Junru , Hou Chunling , Yu Hailin , Sun Youyi , Gao Li , Liu Yaqing
Published: May 2016

The stable Fe3O4 magnetorheological fluids were first prepared by coprecipitation method without using any surfactants and characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The polyurethane elastomers were further polymerized in the presence of stable Fe3O4 magnetorheological fluids. Furthermore, the effect of Fe3O4 loading on mechanical, magnetic, thermal, electrical, and microwave-absorbing properties of the polyurethane elastomers were systematically investigated. The results indicated that the synthesis process and Fe3O4 loading had great effects on the properties of polyurethane elastomers. A synthesis-based in situ polymerization method using Fe3O4 magnetorheological fluids instead of dry powder could improve the dispersion of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the polyurethane matrix. The Fe3O4/polyurethane nanocomposites showed high mechanical, magnetic, thermal, electrical, and microwave-absorbing properties at a low loading of 2 wt%, and could potentially be used for a wide range of applications.
TOWARD REPLACEMENT OF PETROLEUM OILS BY MODIFIED SOYBEAN OILS IN ELASTOMERS
Authors: Li Jiaxi , Isayev Avraam I. , Ren Xiaofeng , Soucek Mark D.
Published: May 2016

Precipitated silica- and carbon black (CB)-filled styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) compounds and vulcanizates containing naphthenic oil (NO), soybean oil (SO), and modified soybean oil (MSO) were studied. Gel fraction; crosslink density; bound rubber fraction; curing behavior; and thermal, mechanical, and dynamic properties were compared. Interaction between SO, MSO, and silane coupling agent was also studied. It was shown that the incorporation of SO and MSO had similar effects in both silica- and CB-filled SBR compounds and vulcanizates. SO and MSO were found to consume curatives leading to a lower crosslink density and improved thermal stability of compounds and vulcanizates. In comparison with NO, MSO was found to increase the elongation at break and tensile strength, and the values of tan δ at 10 °C and 60 °C predict an increase of the wet traction performance and the rolling resistance to decrease the modulus and abrasion resistance. After adjusting the recipe, the modulus and abrasion resistance of the silica- and CB-filled SBR/MSO vulcanizates were tremendously increased, and the silica-filled SBR/MSO vulcanizates exhibited a better wet traction performance, a lower rolling resistance, and a better abrasion resistance simultaneously than the silica-filled SBR/NO vulcanizate.
Internal Control Quality and Underinvestment under the Perspective of Corporate Life Cycle
Authors: Liu Yan
Published: May 2016

This study examines the impact of internal control quality on corporate underinvestment from the perspective of dynamic development at different stages of life cycle, based on the sample of Chinese listed companies. I show that: at the growing stage, corporate underinvestment is mainly caused by financing constraints, at the maturity stage and recession stage, corporate underinvestment is caused by financing constraints and different kinds of agency conflicts. I also find that at different stages of life cycle, the impact of internal control quality on underinvestment is different. At the growing stage，the impact of internal control quality on underinvestment is not significant, at the maturity stage, high quality internal control can inhibit underinvestment significantly, at the recession stage, only in non state-owned company, internal control can inhibit underinvestment significantly, in state-owned company, the relationship is not significant.
Measuring the Efficiency of Turkish SMEs: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach
Authors: Buyukkeklik Arzum , Dumlu Harun , Evci Samet
Published: May 2016

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are undertaking significant roles in the development of the economy of Turkey and in the increase of the production and employment encounter with many problems. Financial problems take an important place among them. The resources that could be used by SMEs in meeting the financing needs to be limited require the efficient use of these resources. In this study, the resource activities of SMEs have been studied with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). In analysis short-term liabilities, long-term liabilities and equity values of the enterprises that are quoted continuously on SME Industrial Index within 2011-2014 have been used as input variables; and the sales revenue and net profit values have been used as output variables. The total efficiency values of each decision making unit have been attained with the use of CCR model according to the years, technical efficiency values of them have been attained with the use of BCC model and the scale efficiency values of them have been attained by comparing these values to each other. As a result, it has been determined that those providing resource efficiency are only a few among the enterprises that are proceeded in the BIST SME Industrial Index; and these enterprises could reach their existent sales revenue and net profit numbers with less resources. In this respect it has been revealed that the SMEs that have problems in providing credit and not having strong equity structure are not able to make use of their own resources efficiently.
Fiscal Policy in a Floating Exchange Rate Regime with Consumption Home Bias
Authors: Lai Chung-Fu , Wang Wen-Fang
Published: May 2016

This paper presents New Open Economy Macroeconomics as the analytical framework in attempt to explore the long term effects of fiscal expenditure shocks on various macroeconomic variables (e.g. consumption, output, prices, exchange rate, terms of trade), and tries to explain the role that consumption home bias plays. With theoretical derivation and simulation analysis, we find that in the long-term, an increasing in fiscal spending will cause rise of domestic output, domestic price index and the exchange rate, but it will crowd out domestic private consumption, the relationship between fiscal spending and the terms of trade, which is depending on asymmetry of consumption bias behavior of consumers between countries.
Converting TSX 300 Index to S&P/TSX Composite Index: Effects on the Index’s Capitalization and Performance
Authors: Alam Shamsul , Asem Ebenezer , Shams Shirin
Published: May 2016

In May 2002, the TSX (Toronto Stock Exchange) 300 Index was converted to S&P/TSX Composite Index, increasing the flexibility of stock addition to, and deletion from, the Index. We study whether the increased flexibility enhances the Index’s ability to mimic the Canadian equity market performance and to represent the equity market. Our results show that the S&P/TSX Composite Index captures a higher proportion of the equity market and has a lower tracking error than the TSX 300 Index. This suggests that flexibility in updating the constituents of an index is an important determinant of the index’s ability to represent the underlying market.
Influence Factors Internal and External Factors Motivation and Performance of Employees: Do not Stay Civil Service Policy Unit
Authors: Afandi Pandi , Heri Helwen
Published: May 2016

This research of background that directional and effective use of labor represent key toward the make-up of officer performance so that need to District Police Public Service head to make a manage the members always enthusiastic in working and having positive in executing work.Effort roomates can be a head-to Increase the activity spirit of enthusiasm, that is by giving good motivation and job performance.Intention of this research is to know and Analyzed do internal factors variable, external factor variable and motivation have influenced the which significantly either through partial and Also simultaneously to job performance officer, and Also from internal factors variable, external factor variable and motivation is the which most having an effect on the which to job performance officer.

This research is a survey verification sampling on 200 people from 236 respondend contract employee population of District Police Public Service Riau Province.This research represent research highlighting clarification relation between research variables and test hypotheses have been Formulated Previously roomates.Hereinafter technique intake of sample is used by population technique, where samples taken pursuant to SEM formula for 25 manifest variables using a minimum of 200 samples.Technique Analyzed using descriptive and quantitative analysis by applying the method of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) programe.
Age differences in privacy attitudes, literacy and privacy management on Facebook
Authors: Kezer Murat , Sevi Barış , Cemalcilar Zeynep , Baruh Lemi
Published: May 2016

Privacy has been identified as a hot button issue in literature on Social Network Sites (SNSs). While considerable research has been conducted with teenagers and young adults, scant attention has been paid to differences among adult age groups regarding privacy management behavior. With a multidimensional approach to privacy attitudes, we investigate Facebook use, privacy attitudes, online privacy literacy, disclosure, and privacy protective behavior on Facebook across three adult age groups (18-40, 41-65, and 65+). The sample consisted of an online convenience sample of 518 adult Facebook users. Comparisons suggested that although age groups were comparable in terms of general Internet use and online privacy literacy, younger groups were more likely to use SNSs more frequently, use Facebook for social interaction purposes, and have larger networks. Also, younger adults were more likely to self-disclose and engage in privacy protective behaviors on Facebook. In terms of privacy attitudes, older age groups were more likely to be concerned about privacy of other individuals. In general, all dimensions of privacy attitudes (i.e., belief that privacy is a right, being concerned about one’s privacy, belief that one’s privacy is contingent on others, being concerned about protecting privacy of others) were positively correlated with engagement in privacy protective behavior on Facebook. A mediation model demonstrated that amount of disclosure mediated the relationship between age groups and privacy protective behavior on Facebook. Finally, ANCOVA suggested that the impact of privacy attitudes on privacy protective behavior was stronger among mature adults. Also, unlike older age groups, among young adults, considering privacy as a right or being concerned about privacy of other individuals had no impact on privacy protective behavior.
Why concern regarding privacy differs: The influence of age and (non-)participation on Facebook
Authors: Steijn Wouter M. P. , Schouten Alexander P. , Vedder Anton H.
Published: May 2016

Young people have obtained a reputation for caring less about their privacy due to their self-revealing presence on social media. Although one might easily be inclined to think that young people do not care about their privacy, an explanation for this could be that young people simply have a different idea of what privacy entails. This study aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms that may explain differences in privacy concerns between younger and older people and between users and non-users of social network sites (SNSs). 1.008 users of SNS and 712 non-users participated in the study with a stratified distribution over adolescents, young adults, and adults. The results show that the difference in perceived risk-benefit balance partly mediates the relationship between use or non-use of SNSs and concern. SNS users are less concerned because they perceive more benefits relative to risks. Concern regarding privacy between young and old was mediated by their differences in privacy conceptions. Older individuals were more likely to associate situations related to personal information with privacy. In turn, these individuals reported more concern regarding their privacy.
The Power of Kith and Kin. Empirical Evidence of Kin among Public Administrators, Judges and Notaries in the Czech Republic
Authors: J. Šebek Jiří
Published: May 2016

There is marginal empirical evidence of kin among offcials of the Czech Ministry of Foreign A airs and strong evidence among Czech judges and notaries. The members of the Czech Bar Association serve as a control group for occupational following among lawyers - that is lawyers who have followed in their parents’ careers. The Czech population is a reference group for naturally occurring consanguinity. These findings complement international research in occupational following, which is common in many professions, including civil service and the public administration of law. Occupational following in the bureaucratic offices of a liberal democracy is considered discriminatory, as it provides an unfair advantage and opportunities.
Communication and Credibility in Multilateral Negotiations
Authors: Parízek Michal
Published: May 2016

Multilateral negotiations form the basis of much international cooperation, but the hurdle of reaching agreement often proves insurmountable. One prominent example of such negotiations is the Doha round of trade liberalization talks in the World Trade Organization (WTO). The round has already lasted more than fourteen years but, so far, has fallen short of its original ambition. This article identifies one possible reason why multilateral negotiations such as those of the Doha round face difficulties, namely the dysfunctional communication among states. I contend that a state’s ability to effectively articulate its interests is inhibited when its interests are dispersed across a number of issues under negotiation rather than focused on one or two primary areas. For straight- forward domestic political reasons, a state that pursues multiple interests in negotiations will have difficulty in credibly communicating its position to other participants. This decreases the efficiency of negotiations, creates delays, and may lead to negotiation deadlock. I test this proposition with the use of a newly collected dataset of coded public statements by representatives of WTO member states at the eight ministerial conferences between 1996 and 2011.
Cohesion Policy in the European Union
Authors: Netuková Petra
Published: May 2016

Baun, Michael and Marek, Dan (2014). Cohesion Policy in the European Union. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 272 pages.
Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Organo-Clay Based UHMWPE Nanocomposite Films
Authors: R. Ahmed  , K. Ali Syed
Published: May 2016

The proposed study investigated the effect of organo-clay contents in ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) gel/solution cast films. The organo-clay was loaded in the range of 1 to 5 % (wt. / wt.), based on polymer content, to prepare UHMWPE nanocomposite films. The UHMWPE nanocomposite films were drawn up to 15 times below their melting point. Un-drawn and drawn UHMWPE nanocomposite films were subjected to mechanical and optical characterizations. The enhanced modulus (> 170 % higher than un-drawn films for 5 % organo-clay loadings at draw ratio of 15) and higher force at break (about 150 % higher than un-drawn films) without the loss of inherent optical transparency, even at higher organo-clay loadings, are reported. The findings in this study will broaden the engineering applications of UHMWPE nanocomposite films.
Structuring the Potential Losses from Vandalism; Actions of Insurers Confronted with the Insecurity Resulting from Vandalism
Authors: Guelton Sonia
Published: May 2016

Social disturbances have occurred repeatedly in recent years in several countries. The number of incivilities is important from a social point of view as long as they often concern fragile populations, the poorest, and small shops and businesses. In the meantime, there are concentrated in deprived areas where it is all the most important to prevent exclusion and desertification. The risk connected with vandalism is a risk of social exclusion and economic division for the territories. The article tries to characterize the spatial concentration of crime. It questions the action of insurances in the reduction of spatial discrepancies and social injustice.
Students’ Social and Emotional Competence Promoting Positive Social Relationships and Skills
Authors: Koizumi Reizo , Yamada Yohei
Published: May 2016

The current study examined causal relationships between social and emotional competence and social relationships and skills in the classroom. Participants were 2,410 third- to ninth-grade students and they responded to the scales of social and emotional competence (SEC), self-esteem, and normative behavior. The classroom teachers rated their normative behavior in the classes. The results indicated that perceived SEC has influences on children's actual normative behavior through self-esteem and perceived normative behavior, and that self-esteem partly mediates the cause-and-effect process between perceived SEC and perceived normative behavior. The same causal structure was found among both elementary school students (third to sixth grades) and junior high school students (seventh to ninth grades), with age-related differences in some path coefficients. The findings support that SEC enhancement by social and emotional learning brings positive outcomes in students' perception and social relationships and skills.
Conflicting Voices in HIV/AIDS Education of the South African Youth: School Culture Versus South African Traditional Healers Using Ancestral Worship
Authors: Siwela Miriam , Jansen Cecelia
Published: May 2016

The United Nations Agency of International Development (2013) states that an estimated 24.7 million people are living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 71% of the global total. The 2.9 million are young people aged 15–24 and this generation is living in South Africa. These alarming statistics reveal that various HIV/AIDS prevention strategies have met limited success. The question arises: why? The South African youth face the dilemma that they receive conflicting messages from two opposing sources, each with a strong persuasive pull of its own where HIV/AIDS education is concerned. On one hand, the voice of modern medical science proclaims that the disease is caused by a viral infection that suppresses the victim’s immune response, while on the other hand spiritual voices of African traditional healers offer explanations such as witchcraft or angry ancestors. This article is an attempt to discover whether either or neither of these voices is gaining ground amongst the youth. This article is based on a qualitative phenomenological study conducted at an urban secondary school in Pretoria, South Africa. Empirical findings resulted from the purposive sampling by means of interviews conducted with two focus groups of teachers, three focus groups of grade 12 school learners and one school principal. This was followed by thematic analysis involving the identifying, analysing and reporting patterns (themes) within data. Facts emerging from the research were that conflicting voices are stressful for young people who are subjected to societal pressure to conform and comply with unrealistic expectations. The South African social culture of ancestral worship is very powerful, yet school culture has significant countervailing influence that sheds liberating “light” where gloom of fear, uncertainty and superstition used to prevail. It is critical to note in this regard, for instance, that where HIV/AIDS remedies are concerned, there is no standardised solution for the ‘entire world’ and that a unique situation prevails in the South African social cultural environment where ancestral worship exerts a critically real influence on people’s response to the threat of HIV/AIDS.
Ciudadanía y memoria histórica en la enseñanza de la historia: análisis de la metodología didáctica en un estudio de caso en ESO
Authors: Delgado-Algarra Emilio José , Estepa-Giménez Jesús
Published: May 2016

Mediante un estudio de caso, analizamos cómo se enseña ciudadanía y las dimensiones de la memoria en una clase de Geografía e Historia de 4º de ESO. Para ello, con el apoyo del programa de análisis cualitativo “Atlas ti”, se lleva a cabo una categorización de las informaciones transcritas de la entrevista de concepciones al docente, del registro de audio sobre el desarrollo de las clases, del material curricular utilizado como guía principal en el aula, de los cuestionarios de percepción discente y de la entrevista final de reflexión docente. Con estas cinco fuentes de información se realiza una doble triangulación para contrastar las interpretaciones del docente, el investigador y los estudiantes. El caso de estudio potencia el debate en el aula y da una importancia destacada a la memoria histórica, estableciendo un vínculo intenso entre el recuerdo de terceras personas y la enseñanza de la Historia