bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kinetics of Lab Prepared Manganese Oxide Catalyzed Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol in the Liquid Phase
Authors: Saeed Muhammad , Ilyas Mohammad , Siddique Mohsin
Published: April 2015

The oxidation of benzyl alcohol in the liquid phase was studied over manganese oxide catalyst using molecular oxygen as an oxidant. Manganese oxide was prepared by a mechanochemical process in solid state and was characterized by chemical and physical techniques. The catalytic performance of manganese oxide was explored by carrying out the oxidation of benzyl alcohol at 323–373 K temperature and 34–101 kPa partial pressure of oxygen. Benzaldehyde and benzoic acid were identified as the reaction products. Typical batch reactor kinetic data were obtained and fitted to the Langmuir–Hinshelwood, Eley–Rideal, and Mars–van Krevelene models of heterogeneously catalyzed reactions. The Langmuir–Hinshelwood model was found to give a better fit. Adsorption of benzyl alcohol at the surface of the catalyst followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The heat of adsorption for benzyl alcohol was determined as –18.14 kJ mol−1. The adsorption of oxygen followed the Temkin adsorption isotherm. The maximum heat of adsorption for oxygen was –31.12 kJ mol−1. The value of activation energy was 71.18 kJ mol−1, which was apparently free from the influence of the heat of adsorption of both benzyl alcohol and oxygen.
Complementary in‐situ electrochemical ICP‐OES and corrosion studies of hot‐formed zinc alloy coated steel
Authors: Wiesener M. , Schinkinger B. , Grundmeier G.
Published: April 2015

A spectroelectrochemical approach for the fundamental analysis of the cathodic corrosion behavior of hot‐formed zinc alloy coated steel based on the in‐situ combination of inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‐OES) is presented. Complementary to the microscopic information on the alloy dissolution, line‐scans of the free corrosion potential were measured across welding spots with a scanning capillary cell (SCC) to illustrate both the change in the local coating integrity and the ability of the coating to cathodically protect possible defects in the welding spot area. These studies were performed as a function of the holding time during hot‐forming. The results of the coulometric ICP‐OES measurements and the potential line‐scans are in very good agreement and show that in‐situ ICP‐OES provides insight into the dissolution behavior of zinc alloys that goes far beyond standard electrochemical techniques such as coulometry alone. It could be shown that the hot‐forming induced alloying of zinc with iron leads to preferential dissolution of zinc in the initial phase and to a parallel dissolution of iron and zinc in the second phase. For zinc‐nickel alloys the initial preferential zinc dissolution leads to a fast de‐alloying and the dissolution of the nickel rich phase occurs at rather anodic potentials.

The alloying of nickel into zinc coatings leads to an inhibition of the zinc dissolution and hence to a decrease of the cathodic corrosion protection ability. However, the zinc‐nickel coatings are more resistant to evaporation and the defect formation in the welding spot is less significant. It could be shown that under the same conditions an aluminum silicon alloy does not show a significant preferential anodic dissolution hinting at a negligible cathodic protection.
Lipschitz extensions of definable p‐adic functions
Authors: Kuijpers Tristan
Published: April 2015

In this paper, we prove a definable version of Kirszbraun's theorem in a non‐Archimedean setting for definable families of functions in one variable. More precisely, we prove that every definable function , where and , that is λ‐Lipschitz in the first variable, extends to a definable function that is λ‐Lipschitz in the first variable.
The Impact of Consumer Confusion on Nutrition Literacy and Subsequent Dietary Behavior
Authors: Spiteri Cornish Lara , Moraes Caroline
Published: April 2015

This paper examines the impact of consumer confusion on nutrition knowledge, literacy, and dietary behavior. While previous research largely focuses on understanding why consumers might not respond to healthy eating communications, this paper seeks to uncover the various behavioral responses to such campaigns, particularly those that contravene health communication objectives. Using an interpretive methodology, findings suggest that most participants do respond to health communications by striving to eat healthily, but inadequate nutrition information derived from unreliable sources, flawed baseline nutrition knowledge, and poor nutrition literacy hinder participants’ efforts. Inconsistent, incomplete, and contradictory information leaves many participants feeling confused about how to implement healthy eating habits. Further, a lack of ability to differentiate between credible and unreliable sources of nutrition information means that many participants blame their confusion on policymakers, and express frustration and cynicism toward vague and often contradictory communications. This, in turn, increases participants’ reliance on food adverts, product labels, and other commercial sources of ambiguous yet appealing information. The paper's theoretical contribution includes a consumer confusion framework for healthy eating, and policy implications highlight that health campaigns seeking to increase consumer awareness of healthy eating are not enough. Policymakers must become the most credible sources of information about healthy eating, and distinguish themselves from competing and unreliable sources of nutrition information.
An Apple a Day Brings More Apples Your Way: Healthy Samples Prime Healthier Choices
Authors: Tal Aner , Wansink Brian
Published: April 2015

Food samples can prime healthier or less healthy choices. We show this in both field (Study 1) and lab (Studies 2–3) settings. Healthy samples (Studies 1–2) or samples framed as healthy (Study 3) increase healthy purchases of both food products that are similar to the sample (Study 1) and those that are less closely related to it (Study 2–3). The studies advance our knowledge concerning the effects of samples, demonstrating that samples can serve as primes and encourage purchase of a greater number of products that are similar to the sample on dimensions such as healthiness. The findings can be used by retailers, policy bodies, and consumers to nudge consumers toward healthier options.
A Change for the Better? Digital Health Technologies and Changing Food Consumption Behaviors
Authors: Lowe Ben , Fraser Iain , Souza‐Monteiro Diogo M.
Published: April 2015

Much of the existing literature in the area of food and consumer behavior concerns consumer evaluation of individual products. However, obesity and other food‐related health conditions typically occur as a result of poor diets and lifestyle, rather than poor individual product choices. As consumers, we generally have an imperfect understanding of our diet and lifestyle and use heuristics to process complex diet and lifestyle information. Increasingly, as ubiquitous computing applications in the area of food and consumption proliferate a number of questions arise about how consumers are using these technologies to assist them in processing their diet and lifestyle information. This article addresses this juncture by integrating streams of research in food consumption, information processing, and technology adoption to better understand consumer interaction with Digital Health Technologies (DHTs) to assist in information processing. As this represents a relatively new stream of research in an area of growing importance, the article develops a conceptual framework about consumer interaction with DHTs and identifies a number of pertinent questions for future research to examine.
Ground state solution for differential equations with left and right fractional derivatives
Authors: Torres César
Published: April 2015

In this work, we study the existence of positive solutions for a class of fractional differential equation given by

urn:x-wiley:mma:media:mma3426:mma3426-math-0001
where
. Using the mountain pass theorem and comparison argument, we prove that (1) at least has one nontrivial solution. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stress memory polymers
Authors: Hu Jinlian , Kumar Bipin , Narayana Harishkumar
Published: April 2015

Like shape memory polymers, a novel phenomenon of stress memory was shown in which the stress of a material can respond to an external stimulus. This concept was further enlightened by a switch‐spring‐frame model that would eliminate the limitation of existing models which overlooked the stimulus responsive nature of such polymers. The discovery being reported in this article was stemmed from a real case study into shape memory polymer fibers in compression stocking for varicose veins. The breakthrough of stress memory enabled researchers to develop applications needing stimuli‐responsive forces, which can broaden the horizon of such smart polymers in emerging smart products in many multidisciplinary fields such as sensors, stress garments, and massage devices, electronic skins, and artificial muscles. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015, 53, 893–898
Coupling between overall rotational diffusion and domain motions in proteins and its effect on dielectric spectra
Authors: Ryabov Yaroslav
Published: April 2015

In this work, we formulate a closed‐form solution of the model of a semirigid molecule for the case of fluctuating and reorienting molecular electric dipole moment. We illustrate with numeric calculations the impact of protein domain motions on dielectric spectra using the example of the 128 kDa protein dimer of Enzyme I. We demonstrate that the most drastic effect occurs for situations when the characteristic time of protein domain dynamics is comparable to the time of overall molecular rotational diffusion. We suggest that protein domain motions could be a possible explanation for the high‐frequency contribution that accompanies the major relaxation dispersion peak in the dielectric spectra of protein aqueous solutions. We propose that the presented computational methodology could be used for the simultaneous analysis of dielectric spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance data. Proteins 2015; 83:1571–1581. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mobility and the Transiency of Social Spaces: African Merchant Entrepreneurs in China
Authors: Bork‐Hüffer Tabea , Rafflenbeul Birte , Li Zhigang , Kraas Frauke , Xue Desheng
Published: April 2015

This paper investigates how China's heterogeneous African population contributes to shaping new types of social spaces in Chinese cities. We analyse how their different types of collective (primary and corporate) agency work in the creation of transient spaces, that is, translocal and transforming spaces in Guangzhou and Foshan, China. A mixed‐methods research approach was applied to cover the breadth and depth of African merchants' social spaces in both cities. The results indicate that many African merchants are mobile individuals linked across China and across national borders to their home countries and other countries in which they have lived and worked. Whereas other authors have looked into traders' migration pathways via Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Macao to China, our results also stress the importance of previous intermediate stations, particularly in West African states, South Africa, and Dubai. The transiency of the social spaces of Africans is underlined by the high mobility of many of them, including the great inflow of new migrants with trajectories that are often informed by living in or experiencing a variety of other societies, business environments, and living and working conditions. Through their translocal and transnational activities, experiences, and trajectories, African merchants contribute to the emergence of new transient spaces in both cities, as well as to successful business performance, which also benefits the Chinese economy and society. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The growth of AgGaTe2 layers on glass substrates with Ag2Te buffer layer by closed space sublimation method
Authors: Uruno Aya , Usui Ayaka , Takeda Yuji , Inoue Tomohiro , Kobayashi Masakazu
Published: April 2015

The AgGaTe2 layer growth was performed by the closed space sublimation method on the Mo/glass substrate. The Ag2Te buffer layer was inserted between AgGaTe2 and Mo layers, to improve the quality of grown layers. Crystallographic properties were analyzed by x‐ray diffraction (XRD), and the surface morphologies were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Ag2Te layer grown on the Mo/glass exhibited a membrane filter structure from the SEM observation. XRD spectra of layers grown with and without the buffer layer were compared. The AgGaTe2 layer with the Ag2Te buffer layer exhibited peaks originating from AgGaTe2, and a very strong diffraction peak of 112 was observed. On the other hand, it was cleared that the layer grown without the buffer layer exhibited no strong peaks associated with AgGaTe2, but Ga‐Te compounds. From this, crystallographic properties of the AgGaTe2 layer were drastically improved by the insertion of the Ag2Te buffer layer. Moreover, the surface morphology exhibited a smooth surface when the Ag2Te buffer layer was inserted. The nucleation site density of AgGaTe2 was probably increased since the membrane filter structure exhibited numbers of kinks at the edge. Chemical reaction between Ga and Mo was also eliminated. It was cleared that the insertion of the buffer layer and its surface morphology were an important parameter to grow high quality AgGaTe2 layers. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Ab initio simulations of the structure of thin water layers on defective anatase TiO2(101) surfaces
Authors: Aschauer Ulrich Johannes , Tilocca Antonio , Selloni Annabella
Published: April 2015

Titania–water interfaces are important in various fields of science, from geophysics to photocatalysis and biochemistry. Here, we use ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the structure of thin water overlayers on the (101) surface of TiO2 anatase in the presence of oxidizing defects. For comparison, results of our previous studies of water layers on defect‐free and reduced anatase (101) are also reviewed. On the stoichiometric defect‐free surface‐ordered structures are formed at one and two monolayer coverage, and the order in the first bilayer is largely maintained when a third water layer is adsorbed. By contrast, the vertical and in‐plane ordering of the water layers is strongly perturbed in the presence of both oxidizing and reducing defects. As a result, the structure of the water layer is much more diffuse under these conditions, and frequent exchanges of water molecules between different layers are observed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Social TV Ratings
Authors: Arámburu Mena Priscila , Aceves Osuna Salvador
Published: April 2015

What's behind the measurements?
Is Online Audience Measurement Coming of Age?
Authors: Mareck Manfred
Published: April 2015

On both sides of the Atlantic, a number of critical issues have been identified, and significant efforts have been made by industry associations and research suppliers to find solutions. These concerns are similar in Europe and the US, but there is not always consensus on the best way forward.
What are responders saying behind your back?
Authors: Pettit Annie
Published: April 2015

You know a bad survey when you see one, but even the best attempt to write the best survey ends up with far from perfect results. What do research responders think of the good, bad and ugly surveys that we ask them to participate in every day?
Solvothermal Syntheses, Crystal Structures, and Luminescent Properties of Two Coordination Polymers with Different Interpenetrated Diamond Topology
Authors: Deng Xiaoqi
Published: April 2015

Two coordination polymers, namely, {[Zn(bpea) (bmp)]·H2O}n (1) and {[Ni(bpea)(bimb)]·DMF}n (2) [H2bpea = biphenylethene‐4,4′‐dicarboxylate, bmp = 1,4‐bis(2‐methylimidazol‐3‐ium‐1‐yl)biphenyl and bimb = 1,4‐bis(1‐imidazol‐yl)‐2,5‐dimethyl benzene], were synthesized under solvothermal conditions with mixed organic ligands. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction reveals that complex 1 features a three‐dimensional (3D) structure with a sixfold interpenetrating dia net. Complex 2 shows a 3D fivefold interpenetrating dia topology. Furthermore, the solid state luminescent properties of complexes 1 and 2 were investigated at room temperature.
Syntheses and Crystal Structures of New ReO3‐Type‐Derived Transition Metal Oxide Fluorides
Authors: Nakhal Suliman , Bredow Thomas , Lerch Martin
Published: April 2015

Mixed‐metal oxide fluorides MNb2O3F6 (M = Mg, Zn), MgM2OF8 (M = Ti, Zr), Fe2TiO8F, and TiNb2O5F4 were prepared by treatment of their corresponding oxides with a 1:1 mixture of hydrofluoric acid and HNO3. Crystal structures were investigated by means of X‐ray powder diffraction. The anion distribution of MgZr2OF8 was studied theoretically. MNb2O3F6‐type compounds can be structurally refined in the cubic ReO3 type, MgTi2OF8,and MgZr2OF8 in the cubic NaSbF6 type, Fe2TiOF8 in the rhombohedral VF3 type. All presented oxide fluorides are colorless powders and the metal ions are in the highest formal valence state.
Responses of plant community coverage to simulated warming and nitrogen addition in a desert steppe in Northern China
Authors: Wang Zhen , Li Yuanheng , Hao Xiying , Zhao Mengli , Han Guodong
Published: April 2015

Grassland communities occupy about 25 % of global land area and global warming could alter grassland plant community coverage. A field study was conducted to investigate the impact of soil warming (surface soil temperature increased by 1.3 °C) and nitrogen addition (100 kg N ha−1 year−1) on a desert steppe community in Inner Mongolia, China, from 2006 to 2011. Although there were strong intra‐ and inter‐annual variations, in general, warming had little effect on coverage of the four major species (two cool season C3 species: Convolvulusammannii and Stipa breviflora, and two warm season C4 species: Cleistogenes songorica and Kochia prostrata) over six growing seasons. The C3/C4 coverage ratio consistently decreased with warming, with the decrease being statistically significant for one‐third of sampling dates. Warming caused a reduction (from 27.6 to 25.1 %) in peak season total plant community coverage. N addition did not affect the four main species, four functional groups (perennial grass, perennial forb, shrub and annual‐biennial) or the total plant community over the 6 years, except when precipitation was high (231 mm in 2008). The small reduction in plant community coverage demonstrated the resilience of desert steppe to warming. There could be a shift of C3 to C4 species because of warming, as indicated by the decrease in C3/C4 ratio, but confirmation of this trend requires further study.
Total volume of 3D small patch reefs reflected in aerial photographs can predict total species richness of coral reef damselfish assemblages on a shallow back reef
Authors: Hattori Akihisa , Shibuno Takuro
Published: April 2015

Because fish have a high dispersal ability, an understanding coral reef fish metacommunity structure is vital for effective conservation. Coral reefs provide patchy habitat of various sizes and scales. We examined the species–area relationship (SAR) of damselfish (Pomacentridae) assemblages over 81 environmentally homogenous patch reefs ranging 0.07–45.4 m2 with low coral cover. Patch reefs were located in the shallow back reef (<2.5 m deep) off Ishigaki Island, Japan. Reef area was measured by performing image analysis of enlarged sections of a high‐resolution (>1/2500) color aerial photograph used as a fine‐scale seascape map. To assess the effects of three‐dimensional meso‐scale rugosity on species richness, we assumed that all reefs had a cylindrical shape and examined species by volume (area × height) relationships (SVR). Patch reef volume was a better determinant of species richness than area, and the regression functions of SVR provided better estimates of patch reef species richness. Neither the observed SVRs nor SARs, however, could be explained by a random placement model alone. Our results suggest that several small reefs are likely to have higher species richness than a single large reef of equivalent area in the shallow back reef where large patch reefs are flat. Thus, total patch reef volume (area × height) better reflects meso‐scale rugosity and is a useful indicator of total species richness relative to the total amount of essential habitat in shallow back reefs.
Sedentary behavior, depressed affect, and indicators of mental well‐being in adolescence: Does the screen only matter for girls?
Authors: Suchert Vivien , Hanewinkel Reiner , Isensee Barbara ,   läuft Study Group
Published: April 2015

The study investigated the effects of sedentary behavior (SB) on mental well‐being and examined differences between screen‐based (sSB) and non‐screen‐based sedentary behaviors (nSB) separately by gender. In a total sample of 1296 students (609 girls) aged 12–17 (m = 13.7, SD = 0.67), SB, depressed affect, self‐esteem, physical self‐concept, general self‐efficacy and physical activity were assessed through self‐administered questionnaires. Among girls, lower scores in self‐esteem, physical self‐concept as well as general self‐efficacy were associated with higher sSB but not nSB. Among boys higher levels of sSB related to higher self‐esteem, nSB but not sSB predicted higher scores in depressed affect, and there was a u‐shaped association between sSB and general self‐efficacy. Results replicate the inverse association between SB and mental well‐being, and suggest a distinction between nSB and sSB especially among girls. Additional studies will be necessary to replicate, and further examine mediating mechanisms.
Raising trophy kids: The role of mothers' contingent self‐esteem in maternal promotion of extrinsic goals
Authors: Soenens Bart , Wuyts Dorien , Vansteenkiste Maarten , Mageau Geneviève A. , Brenning Katrijn
Published: April 2015

This study examined the role of mothers' child‐invested contingent self‐esteem, that is, their tendency to hinge their self‐worth on their child's achievements, in maternal promotion of extrinsic goals, as perceived by adolescents. It was also examined whether maternal promotion of extrinsic goals would, in turn, relate to adolescents' Social Dominance Orientation (SDO). Participants were 184 mothers and their adolescent children (66% female). Maternal child‐invested contingent self‐esteem predicted adolescent‐perceived maternal promotion of extrinsic goals, even when taking into account the variance shared between the promotion of extrinsic goals and mothers' use of a controlling parenting style. Maternal child‐invested contingent self‐esteem also moderated associations between mothers' personal pursuit of extrinsic goals and their promotion of those goals, such that the association between mothers' own extrinsic goals and their promotion of those goals was significant only among mothers high on child‐invested contingent self‐esteem. Maternal promotion of extrinsic goals was, in turn, related to adolescent SDO, suggesting that the dynamics examined in this study ultimately relate to adolescents' social and ideological development.
Blocking c‐Met signaling enhances bone morphogenetic protein‐2‐induced osteoblast differentiation
Authors: Shibasaki Seiji , Kitano Sachie , Karasaki Miki , Tsunemi Sachi , Sano Hajime , Iwasaki Tsuyoshi
Published: April 2015

We previously demonstrated that blocking hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor/c‐Met signaling inhibited arthritis and articular bone destruction in mouse models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the present study, we investigated the role of c‐Met signaling in osteoblast differentiation using the C2C12 myoblast cell line derived from murine satellite cells and the MC3T3‐E1 murine pre‐osteoblast cell line. Osteoblast differentiation was induced by treatment with bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)‐2 or osteoblast‐inducer reagent in the presence or absence of either HGF antagonist (NK4) or c‐Met inhibitor (SU11274). Osteoblast differentiation was confirmed by Runx2 expression, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin production by the cells. Production of ALP, osteocalcin and HGF was verified by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Runx2 expression was confirmed by reverse transcription‐PCR analysis. The phosphorylation status of ERK1/2, AKT, and Smads was determined by Western blot analysis. Both NK4 and SU11274 enhanced Runx2 expression, and ALP and osteocalcin production but suppressed HGF production in BMP‐2‐stimulated C2C12 cells. SU11274 also enhanced ALP and osteocalcin production in osteoblast‐inducer reagent‐stimulated MC3T3‐E1 cells. SU11274 inhibited ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation in HGF‐stimulated C2C12 cells. This result suggested that ERK and AKT were functional downstream of the c‐Met signaling pathway. However, both mitogen‐activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK) and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) inhibitor suppressed osteocalcin and HGF production in BMP‐2‐stimulated C2C12 cells. Furthermore, SU11274, MEK, and PI3K inhibitor suppressed Smad phosphorylation in BMP‐2‐stimulated C2C12 cells. These results indicate that although the c‐Met‐MEK‐ERK‐Smad and c‐Met‐PI3K‐AKT‐Smad signaling pathways positively regulate osteoblast differentiation, c‐Met signaling negatively regulates osteoblast differentiation, independent of the MEK‐ERK‐Smad and PI3K‐AKT‐Smad pathways. Therefore, blocking c‐Met signaling might serve as a therapeutic strategy for the repair of destructed bone in patients with RA.
Health‐related quality of life among women in rural Bangladesh after surgical repair of obstetric fistula
Authors: Imoto Atsuko , Matsuyama Akiko , Ambauen‐Berger Beatrice , Honda Sumihisa
Published: April 2015

Objective

To identify factors influencing health‐related quality of life (QOL) among women in Bangladesh after successful surgical repair of obstetric fistula.

Methods

In 2012, a cross‐sectional study was conducted of women who had undergone a successful surgical repair of an obstetric fistula at a hospital in northwest Bangladesh between June 2005 and May 2012. Sociodemographic, obstetric, and fistula‐related information was collected by interview. Health‐related QOL was assessed using the 36‐item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36).

Results

A total of 113 women were included. Linear regression analysis showed that discrimination experiences negatively affected four of the eight scales of SF‐36, as well as both the physical and mental component summaries (P < 0.05 for all). Married status had a positive effect on four scales and the mental component summary (P < 0.05 for all). Age inversely affected two scales and the physical component summary (P < 0.01 for all). Internalized stigma negatively influenced two scales (P < 0.05 for both). Not having living children and experiencing two or more previous stillbirths negatively influenced one scale (P < 0.05 for both).

Conclusion

Several factors influence health‐related QOL after obstetric fistula repair; a comprehensive approach is needed to address these issues.
The increasing trend in preterm birth in public hospitals in northern Argentina
Authors: Weaver Emily H. , Gibbons Luz , Belizán José M. , Althabe Fernando
Published: April 2015

Objective

To identify factors associated with the increasing incidence of preterm birth in northern Argentina.

Methods

In an observational study, data were reviewed from a prospective, population‐based registry of pregnancy outcomes in six cities in 2009–2012. The primary outcome was preterm birth (at 20–37 weeks). Bivariate tests and generalized estimating equations were used within a conceptual hierarchical framework to estimate the cluster‐corrected annual trend in odds of preterm birth.

Results

The study reviewed data from 11 433 live births. There were 484 (4.2%) preterm births. The incidence of preterm births increased by 38% between 2009 and 2012, from 37.5 to 51.7 per 1000 live births. Unadjusted risk factors for preterm birth included young or advanced maternal age, normal body mass index, nulliparity, no prenatal care, no vitamins or supplements during pregnancy, multiple gestation, and maternal hypertension or prepartum hemorrhage. The prevalence of many risk factors increased over the study period, but variations in these factors explained less than 1% of the increasing trend in preterm birth.

Conclusion

The incidence of preterm births in six small cities in northern Argentina increased greatly between 2009 and 2012. This trend was unexplained by the risk factors measured. Other factors should be assessed in future studies.
Uterine rupture in Mekelle, northern Ethiopia, between 2009 and 2013
Authors: Berhe Yibrah , Gidey Hagos , Wall L. Lewis
Published: April 2015

Objective

To review cases of uterine rupture at a center in northern Ethiopia.

Methods

In a retrospective chart review, data were assessed for cases of symptomatic uterine rupture treated at Ayder Referral Hospital in Mekelle between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2013.

Results

In the 5‐year study period, there were 5185 deliveries and 47 cases of uterine rupture, giving a rate of one case per 110 deliveries. All patients underwent laparotomy for suspected uterine rupture. Mean parity was 3.6 (range 0–8). The most common predisposing factors were cephalopelvic disproportion (35 [74%] patients), previous cesarean delivery (5 [11%)], and fetal malpresentation (4 [9%]). Hysterectomy was undertaken for 35 (74%) patients; the other 12 (26%) were treated conservatively by simple repair of the rupture. There were 44 (95%) stillbirths and 1 (2%) maternal death.

Conclusion

Uterine rupture remains an important clinical problem in northern Ethiopia. Changes in the cultural preference for home delivery, better transport and referral systems, and improved obstetric training and hospital management of laboring women are needed.
Shape memory alloy (SMA)-based head and neck immobilizer for radiotherapy
Authors: Lee Hyun-Taek , Kim Sung-In , Park Jong Min , Kim Ho-Jin , Song Dae-Seob , Kim Hyung-Il , Wu Hong-Gyun , Ahn Sung-Hoon
Published: April 2015

Head-and-neck cancer is often treated with intensive irradiation focused on the tumor, while delivering the minimum amount of irradiation to normal cells. Since a course of radiotherapy can take 5–6 weeks or more, the repeatability of the patient posture and the fastening method during treatment are important determinants of the success of radiotherapy. Many devices have been developed to minimize positional discrepancies, but all of the commercial devices used in clinical practice are operated manually and require customized fixtures for each patient. This is inefficient and the performance of the fixture device depends on the operator's skill. Therefore, this study developed an automated head-and-neck immobilizer that can be used during radiotherapy and evaluated the positioning reproducibility in a phantom experiment. To eliminate interference caused by the magnetic field from computed tomography hardware, Ni−Ti shape-memory alloy wires were used as the actuating elements of the fixtures. The resulting positional discrepancy was less than 5 mm for all positions, which is acceptable for radiotherapy.

Highlights Prototype of automated head and neck immobilizer for radiotherapy was developed. Ni−Ti shape memory alloy wires were used as the actuating elements of the fixtures. Posture reproducibility was evaluated by measuring geometrical discrepancies of CT images.
Clostridium Difficile Infection in the United States: A National Study Assessing Preventive Practices Used and Perceptions of Practice Evidence
Authors: Saint Sanjay , Fowler Karen E. , Krein Sarah L. , Ratz David , Flanders Scott A. , Dubberke Erik R. , Greene M. Todd
Published: April 2015

We surveyed 571 US hospitals about practices used to prevent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Most hospitals reported regularly using key CDI prevention practices, and perceived their strength of evidence as high. The largest discrepancy between regular use and perceived evidence strength occurred with antimicrobial stewardship programs.

Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(8):969–971
Revising Antinepotism Policies: Should the Private Sector Be More Like the Federal Government?
Authors: Cucina Jeffrey M. , Votraw Lisa
Published: April 2015

It is often said that the federal government needs to be more like the private sector (Brooks, 2013; Campbell, 2011; Harvey, 2012; Miller, 2013; Neal, 2013; Schnurer, 2013). However, after reading Jones and Stout's (2015) summary of private-sector antinepotism policies, we wonder whether the opposite is true when it comes to nepotism and cronyism: Should the private sector be more like the federal government? According to Jones and Stout, many organizations have antinepotism policies that prohibit the employment of the friends and family of current employees. We believe that these policies might go too far, and we propose that the policies used by the federal government could serve as a model for private-sector organizations. We also think that the federal government can shed some light on why organizations want to prohibit nepotism and cronyism.
If We Do Our Job Correctly, Nobody Gets Hurt by Nepotism
Authors: Riggio Ronald E. , Saggi Karan
Published: April 2015

The term nepotism (and even worse, cronyism) carries a negative connotation: favoring a relative (or friend) in an employment situation without considering the individual's suitability for the job. Although there can be obvious benefits associated with hiring kin (e.g., a sense of trust, swift learning of job-relevant content, loyalty, etc.; Bellow, 2003; Jones & Stout, 2015), the term itself implies that nepotism is a bad thing, and organizations often take steps to keep bad things from happening. Jones and Stout (2015) have argued that sweeping antinepotism policies in organizations eliminate the positives associated with hiring via a social connection preference, and such policies can lead to unfair discrimination. As industrial and organizational (I-O) psychologists, however, if we do our job—and by that I mean exemplary and objective screening, hiring, and performance assessment—and if we adequately manage the negative impressions that may reside in the minds of employees regarding nepotism, nobody gets hurt.
Integrating Trustworthiness for a More Nuanced Understanding of Nepotism and Cronyism
Authors: Palmer David K. , Fleig-Palmer Michelle M.
Published: April 2015

Jones and Stout (2015) have recommended that industrial and organizational (I-O) researchers and practitioners take a more nuanced perspective with respect to nepotism and cronyism—recast as social connection preference (SCP)—when relevant I-O decisions (e.g., hiring) are made on the basis of kin or affiliation considerations. Jones and Stout's (2015) arguments have challenged the reflexive view that SCP is always negative and thus the prudent approach is to restrict and, if possible, prohibit it. They call for further research to flesh out our understanding of SCP in organizations, and we suggest that one way to do that is to explicitly incorporate trust theory, that is, the components of trustworthiness, which represent antecedents of trust.
What About the Rest of Us? The Importance of Organizational Culture in Nepotistic Environments
Authors: Biermeier-Hanson Benjamin
Published: April 2015

To date, empirical investigations into whether nepotism, specifically, or social connection preference (SCP), generally, is positive or negative within the realm of organizational scholarship has been limited. Indeed, most of the early discussions in this field on the subject have focused on previous work done outside the organizational area (i.e., Bellow, 2003). A recent Society for Industrial and Organizational PsychologyOrganizational Frontier Seriesbook on the subject has brought some initial attention to the subject by approaching it from multiple domains within the organizational literature (Jones, 2012). Jones and Stout (2015) have highlighted the possible advantages and disadvantages of SCPs and have taken the stand that SCPs might in fact provide more benefits than drawbacks, particularly given that formalized policies may lead to unfair discrimination.
Human Nature, Cooperation, and Organizations
Authors: Colarelli Stephen M.
Published: April 2015

Jones and Stout (2015) have shed much needed light on an organizational reality that industrial and organizational psychologists have unfortunately not paid much attention to: nepotism and cronyism (or what Jones and Stout have called social connection preference; SCP). Jones and Stout (2015) have made a good case (a) that SCP is pervasive, (b) that there are good reasons to believe that policies (and beliefs) against SCP are frequently counterproductive, (c) that SCP involves compelling moral dilemmas, and (d) that there are workable solutions to dealing with these moral dilemmas. I would like to offer a few observations about some additional issues involved in SCP: bias against SCP; SCP and cooperation; and nepotism, altruism, and personnel decisions criteria.
From the Editor
Authors: Murphy Kevin R.
Published: April 2015

Focal articles in Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice present new ideas or different takes on existing ideas and stimulate a conversation in the form of comment articles that extend the arguments in the focal article or that present new ideas stimulated by those focal articles. The two focal articles in this issue stimulated a wide range of reactions and a good deal of constructive input.
Unlike the Cheese, Performance Management Does Not Stand Alone
Authors: Abben Daniel R.
Published: April 2015

In their focal article, Pulakos, Mueller Hanson, Arad, and Moye (2015) have presented a helpful five-step plan for improving the use of performance management (PM) within organizations. As they have pointed out, it is important that an organization's PM system match the organization's values and culture. At the same time, one cannot forget that an organization's PM system should also align with the organization's other human resource (HR) practices. Thus, I suggest that taking time to make sure this alignment happens should be included as a substep under the first step (i.e., plan change) of the model.
Variability in size and age at maturity in the marine scavengerBuccinanops globulosus(Gastropoda: Nassariidae) from Patagonia
Authors: Avaca María Soledad , Martín Pablo , Narvarte Maite
Published: April 2015

Growth rates and size-age at maturity are life history traits that combine in different ways to achieve maximal fitness. The marine scavengerBuccinanops globulosuswas used as a model to explore the variation on female size-age at maturity and reproductive effort among three populations characterized by different growth rates (slow, moderate and rapid). This species constitutes the target of an artisanal fishery in North Patagonia. Here, a suite of different estimators of size-age at maturity derived from gonad histological analysis and the study of females carrying egg capsules were obtained. Data were modelled using a logistic function and the maturity patterns were compared among populations. We found that female size and age at maturity were variable and site-specific. The fastest-growing population showed the lowest reproductive effort. Slow and rapid-growing females mature at different sizes but at the same age whereas moderate-growing females mature both at a different size and age (intermediate size and at earlier age). Thus, results obtained here are difficult to reconcile with a single reaction norm for a single genotype in the studied populations. Growth rate variation is not enough to explain the patterns described here. The information provided could be used for the establishment of fishery management actions, such as minimum landing size.
Jute in the Brahmaputra Valley: The making of flood control in twentieth-century Assam
Authors: SAIKIA ARUPJYOTI
Published: April 2015

Flood protection in the Brahmaputra's floodplains began rather late and was implemented precisely to protect the important commercial crop of jute. To begin with, in the early twentieth century, after a long wait and much speculation, action was finally taken to make the Brahmaputra's floodplains more productive to the British Empire. Soon the commercial production of jute began in the floodplains. This article explains how the Brahmaputra's floodplains were converted into the British empire's eastern-most jute frontier. The article also explains the political economy of flood management in Assam in the second half of the twentieth century. Further, explaining the shifting relations between state, capital, and floodplain, the article shows how these schemes achieved only partial success and at the cost irreversible ecological damage.
Time as Relative
Authors: Corish Denis
Published: April 2015

Philosophical development of Leibniz's view that time is merely earlier–later order is necessary because neither Leibniz nor modern followers sufficiently answered the Newtonian charge that order does not give quantity. Logically, order is transitive, quantity, as in distance, is not. Quantity, as well as order, is naturally assumed in Newton's absolute time, so that to declare the mere relative order sufficient is to have to show how quantity can arise for it. The modern theory of the continuum, perfectly applicable to Newton's absolute, does not show this but assumes quantity. The development given here shows how interval, instant and simultaneity can be logically developed from Leibniz's insight.
THEORETICAL PROPERTIES OF THE WEIGHTED GENERALIZED GAMMA AND RELATED DISTRIBUTIONS
Authors: Priyadarshani Hewa A. , Oluyede Broderick O.
Published: April 2015

A new class of weighted generalized gamma distribution (WGGD) and related distributions are presented. Theoretical properties of the generalized gamma model, WGGD including the hazard function, reverse hazard function, moments, coefficient of variation, coefficient of skewness, coefficient of kurtosis, and entropy measures are derived. The results presented here generalizes the generalized gamma distribution and includes several distributions as special cases. The special cases include generalized gamma, weighted gamma, weighted exponential, weighted Weibull, weighted Rayleigh distributions, and their underlying or parent distributions.
Atom-Probe Tomographic Analyses of Hydrogen Interstitial Atoms in Ultrahigh Purity Niobium
Authors: Kim Yoon-Jun , Seidman David N.
Published: April 2015

Atomic-scale characterization of hydrogen and formation of niobium hydrides, using ultraviolet (wavelength=355 nm) picosecond laser-assisted local-electrode atom-probe tomography, was performed for ultrahigh purity niobium utilizing different laser pulse energies, 10 or 50 pJ/pulse or voltage pulsing. At 50 pJ/pulse, hydrogen atoms migrate onto the 110 and 111 poles as a result of stimulated surface diffusion, whereas they are immobile for <10 pJ/pulse or for voltage pulsing. Accordingly, the highest concentrations of H and NbH were obtained at 50 pJ/pulse. This is attributed to the thermal energy of the laser pulses being transferred to pure niobium specimens. Therefore, we examined the effects of the laser pulse energy being increased systematically from 1 to 20 pJ/pulse and then decreasing it from 20 to 1 pJ/pulse. The concentrations of H, H2, and NbH and the atomic concentration ratios H2/H, NbH/Nb, and Nb3+/Nb2+ were calculated with respect to the systematically changing laser pulse energies. The atomic concentration ratios H2/H and NbH/Nb are greater when decreasing the laser pulse energy than when increasing it, because the higher residual thermal energy after decreasing the laser pulse energy increases the mobility of H atoms by supplying sufficient thermal energy to form H2 or NbH.
Design of a novel dual ports antenna to enhance sensitivity of handheld RFID reader
Authors: Wang Bo , Zhuang Yiqi , Li Xiaoming , Liu Weifeng
Published: April 2015

A compact dual ports antenna with high isolation is proposed for handheld radio frequency identification (RFID) reader which is rarely reported in open literatures. Different with conventional handheld RFID reader antennas with single port, the proposed antenna transmits and receives signal separately. The proposed antenna operating with full duplex mode can enhance effectively sensitivity of reader, since the strong transmitting signal of reader with single port is usually highly coupled with weak receiving backscatter signal of tag. The antenna utilizes E-shaped aperture-coupled patch structure that occupies less volume and provides further space-saving efficiency. The height of the proposed antenna is only 6.8 mm and the volume of that is 80 mm × 80 mm × 6.8 mm, which is easy to integrate in handheld RFID readers. The antenna uses two E-shaped coupling apertures to excite two orthogonal modes for dual-polarized operation. High isolation of around −30 dB is obtained by proper arrangement of the length of coupling apertures and the position of the stubs. The measured results show −10 dB matching band and −25 dB isolation band from 2.32 to 2.6 GHz and from 2.3 to 2.55 GHz, respectively. The antenna is suitable for applications in handheld RFID readers.
Relationship between Achievement Goals and Students’ Self-Reported Personal and Social Responsibility Behaviors
Authors: Agbuga Bulent , Xiang Ping , McBride Ron E.
Published: April 2015

This study utilized the 2x2 achievement goal model (mastery-approach, mastery-avoidance, performance-approach, performance-avoidance goals) to explore the relationships between achievement goals and self-reported personal and social responsibility behaviors in high school physical education settings. Two hundred and twenty one Turkish students completed questionnaires assessing their achievement goals, personal and social responsibility behaviors. Results of the one-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant differences among the four achievement goals,F(3, 660) = 137.05,p< .001, η2= .39. The result also revealed that students were more likely to endorse the mastery-approach goal than three other goals. The simple correlations revealed mastery-approach and performance-approach goals were positively related to students’ self-reported personal (r= .54,p< .001;r= .37,p< .001, respectively) and social responsibility (r= .38,p< .001;r= .22,p< .001, respectively) behaviors. However, hierarchical regression analyses indicated only the mastery-approach goal emerged as the significant positive predictor,b= .52,t(216) = 7.19,p< .001 for personal responsibility behaviors, andb= .41,t(216) = 5.23,p< .001 for social responsibility behaviors. These findings seem to provide convergent evidence that mastery-approach goals are positively related to positive educational outcomes.
Skilful multi-year predictions of tropical trans-basin climate variability
Authors: Chikamoto Yoshimitsu , Timmermann Axel , Luo Jing-Jia , Mochizuki Takashi , Kimoto Masahide , Watanabe Masahiro , Ishii Masayoshi , Xie Shang-Ping , Jin Fei-Fei
Published: April 2015

Tropical Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies influence the atmospheric circulation, impacting climate far beyond the tropics. The predictability of the corresponding atmospheric signals is typically limited to less than 1 year lead time. Here we present observational and modelling evidence for multi-year predictability of coherent trans-basin climate variations that are characterized by a zonal seesaw in tropical sea surface temperature and sea-level pressure between the Pacific and the other two ocean basins. State-of-the-art climate model forecasts initialized from a realistic ocean state show that the low-frequency trans-basin climate variability, which explains part of the El Niño Southern Oscillation flavours, can be predicted up to 3 years ahead, thus exceeding the predictive skill of current tropical climate forecasts for natural variability. This low-frequency variability emerges from the synchronization of ocean anomalies in all basins via global reorganizations of the atmospheric Walker Circulation.