bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Politics of Budgeting in Japan: How Much Do Institutions Matter?
Authors: Park Gene
Published: October 2010

In the past decade, the Japanese government has revamped its budget institutions twice. This paper examines how these changes have changed the configuration of power among the actors in the budget process. It also explores the implications of these changes for the management of the nation's finances.
Remedial Agents: Missionary Physicians and the Depopulation of Hawai'i
Authors: Archer Seth
Published: October 2010

This article examines the activities and perspectives of nineteenth-century American missionary physicians in the Hawaiian Islands. The physicians' attitudes toward Hawaiian morbidity and depopulation are viewed in relation to the greater missionary community's role in the political transformation of the island nation. The article argues that missionary physicians monitored and reported on Native Hawaiian depopulation (a result of introduced western diseases) while simultaneously advertising the islands' benefits to American consumptives, imperialists, and others. Mission doctors also failed to respond effectively to the greatest epidemiological crisis Hawai'i had ever faced: a venereal scourge with a resulting blight of Native Hawaiian infertility. As a result of these and other factors, American hegemony in Hawai'i by midcentury was a foregone conclusion.
Nail This To Your Door: A Disputation on the Power, Efficacy, and Indulgent Delusion of Western Scholarship That Neglects the Challenge of Gender and Women's History
Authors: Johnson Susan Lee
Published: October 2010

Scholars of the North American West have not realized the promise of gender and women's history for the field. Many of the best recent books, articles, documentary films, and museum exhibits slight the insights of gender history, except in the inclusion of occasional female actors who are made to parade under the sign of gender. This essay borrows the form of Martin Luther's famous "Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences" (also known as the 95 Theses), which sparked the Reformation, to launch both a critique of contemporary western historiography and a scholarly call to action. It advances 11 Theses that invite scholars to enter the gender historian's version of the kingdom of heaven, where power and privilege are always visible and always interrogated.
Still Walking, Still Brave: Mapping Gender, Race, and Power in U.S. Western History
Authors: Leong Karen J.
Published: October 2010

This essay highlights several interdisciplinary works about gender, race, and power in U.S. western history that utilize analytic tools generated by women's studies and women's history and considers how these recent works are charting new pathways for future research about U.S. western women's history. The theory of intersectionality, articulated by black women's studies, has been particularly useful in addressing the complexity of how gender, race, and power have informed women's lives in the U.S. West. However, several of the scholars producing this exciting work do not identify or locate their work as U.S. western women's history. One reason may be the existence of an "American western history imaginary," an ideological construct that currently dominates the field and scholarship. The essay addresses what is at stake in challenging this imaginary for U.S. western women's history.
Politics, Populism, and Professionalism: Reflections on the Role of the Academic Historian in the Production of Public History
Authors: Dresser Madge
Published: October 2010

This article explores some of the challenges and opportunities facing academic historians involved in large British public history projects and examines how government priorities and the particular ways in which public funds are deployed can affect the critical intellectual content of such projects. To this end it first broadly outlines the context in which British public history has recently developed and then focuses on my own experiences as leader of a British public history project on 1001 years of ethnic minorities in Bristol, England, which was sponsored by the “England's Past for Everyone” initiative.
Just Say “I Don't”: Lack of Concordance Between Teen Report and Biological Measures of Drug Use
Authors: Delaney-Black Virginia , Chiodo Lisa M. , Hannigan John H. , Greenwald Mark K. , Janisse James , Patterson Grace , Huestis Marilyn A. , Ager Joel , Sokol Robert J.
Published: October 2010

BACKGROUND:

Prevalence estimates of illicit drug use by teens are typically generated from confidential or anonymous self-report. While data comparing teen self-report with biological measures are limited, adult studies identify varying degrees of under-reporting.

METHODS:

Hair analyses for cocaine, opiates and marijuana were compared to confidential teen self- and parent-reported teen drug use in a longitudinal cohort of >400 high-risk urban teens and parents.

RESULTS:

Both teens and parents substantially underreported recent teen cocaine and opiate use. However, compared with parents, teens were more likely to deny biomarker-verified cocaine use. Teen specimens (hair) were 52 times more likely to identify cocaine use compared with self-report. Parent hair analyses for cocaine and opiate use were 6.5 times and 5.5 times, respectively, more likely to indicate drug use than were parental self-report. The lack of concordance between self-report and bioassay occurred despite participant's knowledge that a “certificate of confidentiality” protected both teen and adult participants, and that the biological specimens would be tested for drugs.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings confirm prior reports of adult under-reporting of their own drug use while extending our understanding of teen's self-admitted drug use. The lack of concordance between teen self- or parent-reported teen drug use and biomarkers confirm our concerns that both teen- and parent-reported teen drug use is limited, at least for youth in high-risk urban settings. Methods of ascertainment other than self- or parent-report must be considered when health care providers, researchers and public health agencies attempt to estimate teen drug-use prevalence.
Variation in Methods of Predicting Adult Height for Children With Idiopathic Short Stature
Authors: Topor Lisa Swartz , Feldman Henry A. , Bauchner Howard , Cohen Laurie E.
Published: October 2010

OBJECTIVE:

Recombinant human growth hormone (GH) is approved for treatment of children with idiopathic short stature, and endocrinologists often depend on algorithms to predict adult height. Because algorithm performance often is included in treatment decisions, we sought to evaluate agreement among height prediction formulas.

METHODS:

We identified 3 commonly used algorithms for height prediction, the Bayley-Pinneau, Roche-Wainer-Thissen, and Khamis-Roche methods. We constructed simulated samples of children with typical distributions of ages, heights, weights, bone ages, and parental heights seen in patients with idiopathic short stature, and we applied the algorithms to the simulated sample to determine whether predicted adult height was <160 cm for boys or <150 cm for girls (<1.2nd height percentiles for adults).

RESULTS:

We found substantial disagreement among algorithms in the proportions of simulated cases with predicted adult heights of <1.2nd percentile, a cutoff value that may influence GH treatment decisions. With the Bayley-Pinneau formula, 43% of boys and 81% of girls had predicted adult heights below this threshold; with the Khamis-Roche method, only 3% of boys and 0.2% of girls had predicted heights of <1.2nd percentile. Roche-Wainer-Thissen predictions were between those values. Overall agreement of the methods was poor (κ = 0.21) for boys and negative for girls.

CONCLUSIONS:

Wide variation exists among formulas used to predict adult heights. Because these algorithms may be used in decisions regarding whether to initiate GH treatment and assessment of the efficacy of GH in research trials, it is important for parents, pediatricians, and investigators to recognize the considerable variation involved in height predictions.
The Effects of Gestational Age and Birth Weight on False-Positive Newborn-Screening Rates
Authors: Slaughter Jonathan L. , Meinzen-Derr Jareen , Rose Susan R. , Leslie Nancy D. , Chandrasekar Ram , Linard Sharon M. , Akinbi Henry T.
Published: October 2010

OBJECTIVE:

Newborn-screening false-positive rates (FPRs) are disproportionately increased in preterm infants. The objective of this study was to determine variation in newborn screening FPRs according to birth weight and gestational age. Our secondary objective was to examine the effect of postnatal age on FPRs in preterm infants.

METHODS:

The Ohio State Newborn Screening Program Database was analyzed to determine the overall and birth weight–specific FPRs for 18 analytes. Data were stratified into birth weight categories (<1000 g, 1000–1499 g, 1500–2499 g, 2500–3999 g, and >4000 g). In addition, to examine the effect of postnatal age on FPRs, we examined the 2 analytes with the highest FPRs, thyrotropin with back-up thyroxine and 17-hydroxyprogesterone, in infants whose gestational age was <32 weeks, determined on the basis of postnatal age at screening.

RESULTS:

Data from 448 766 neonates were reviewed. Infants with very low birth weight (VLBW) comprised 1.9% of the study cohort, but accounted for 18% of false-positive results. For 14 of 18 analytes studied, FPRs increased with decreasing birth weight/gestational age and were significantly increased in infants with VLBW compared with infants who weighed 2500 to 3999 g (P < .001). Thyrotropin/back-up thyroxine and 17-hydroxyprogesterone accounted for 62% of total false-positive results in VLBW infants. When blood specimens were collected at a postnatal age of ≥48 hours in infants born at <32 weeks, a 44% relative reduction in 17-hydroxyprogesterone false-positive results was detected.

CONCLUSIONS:

False-positive newborn-screening rates are disproportionately increased in VLBW infants. FPRs may be reduced by delaying screening of <32 weeks' gestation, preterm infants until 24 to 48 hours' postnatal age.
Trends in the Prevalence of Autism on the Basis of Special Education Data
Authors: Maenner Matthew J. , Durkin Maureen S.
Published: October 2010

OBJECTIVE:

The goal was to determine whether the increasing prevalence of autism, on the basis of educational data, in Wisconsin between 2002 and 2008 was uniform in all school districts or was greatest in districts with lower baseline (2002) prevalence.

METHODS:

Special education counts were obtained for all Wisconsin elementary school districts from 2002 through 2008. The annual prevalence of children being served under the autism category was calculated for each district, districts were grouped into 8 categories (octiles) according to their baseline prevalence, and prevalence trends were plotted according to octile.

RESULTS:

The overall prevalence of use of the autism category in Wisconsin elementary schools increased from 4.9 to 9.0 cases per 1000 children between 2002 and 2008. The magnitude of this increase was not uniform across districts and was inversely associated with baseline prevalence. Prevalence in the lowest octile increased from 0.5 cases per 1000 students in 2002 to 7.0 cases per 1000 students in 2008 (P < .0001), whereas no significant trend was seen for the octile with the highest baseline prevalence (range: 11.2–12.3 cases per 1000 students; P = .11). The highest-octile/lowest-octile prevalence ratio decreased from 24.6 (95% confidence interval: 16.2–37.3) in 2002 to 1.8 (95% confidence interval: 1.6–2.1) in 2008.

CONCLUSIONS:

The prevalence of use of the autism special education category in Wisconsin seems to be leveling off in the school districts with the highest prevalence rates, at ∼12 cases per 1000 students, whereas the gap in prevalence between districts overall has narrowed.
Economic Outcomes in Young Adulthood for Extremely Low Birth Weight Survivors
Authors: Goddeeris John H. , Saigal Saroj , Boyle Michael H. , Paneth Nigel , Streiner David L. , Stoskopf Barbara
Published: October 2010

OBJECTIVE:

The goal was to compare educational attainment and labor market outcomes in young adulthood (21–26 years of age) for a Canadian, population-based cohort of 149 extremely low birth weight (ELBW) (<1000 g) survivors and a normal birth weight (NBW) cohort of 133 young adults from the same geographic area who were matched to the ELBW cohort in childhood.

METHODS:

We estimated the effects of ELBW status, according to gender, on continuous outcomes through least-squares regression and those on binary outcomes through logistic regression. We controlled for family background and considered neurosensory impairment and IQ as mediating variables.

RESULTS:

Controlling for family background, ELBW male subjects were less likely to complete high school or to attend a university than were their NBW counterparts, and their educational attainment was reduced by >1 year. Among subjects who were working, weekly earnings were ∼27% lower. ELBW female effects on education were not significant, but ELBW female subjects were less likely than NBWsubjects to be employed or in school and they also seemed to experience lower earnings.

CONCLUSION:

Our findings suggested that ELBW survivors are somewhat less productive as adults, on average, than are subjects born NBW and that effects are not confined to subjects with severe neurosensory impairments. In accord with other studies, however, we found that productivity deficits for most ELBW subjects were not large.
Strong effect of Pd concentration on the soldering reaction between Ni and Sn–Pd alloys
Authors: Ho Cheng En , Gierlotka Wojciech , Lin Sheng Wei
Published: October 2010

The effect of Pd concentration on the soldering reaction between Ni and Sn–xPd alloys (x = 0–0.5 wt%) was investigated in this study. When the Pd concentration was low (x ≤ 0.05 wt%), the predominant reaction product was a layer of Ni3Sn4. In contrast, an additional (Pd,Ni)Sn4 layer deposited over the Ni3Sn4 in the case of above 0.2 wt%. This microstructure evolution significantly weakened the strength of the interface, deteriorating the reliability of solder joints. A Pd–Ni–Sn isotherm simulated by the CALPHAD method was used to rationalize the above transition in the reaction product(s).
Compressive deformation and damage of Mg-based metallic glass interpenetrating phase composite containing 30–70 vol% titanium
Authors: Sun Yu , Zhang Haifeng , Wang Aimin , Fu Huameng , Hu Zhuangqi , Wen Cui'e , Hodgson Peter
Published: October 2010

Mg-based metallic glass interpenetrating phase composites (IPCs) containing 30–70 vol% titanium was fabricated in this study. The effects of reinforced phase volume fraction and interspace on the mechanical properties were investigated systematically. With increasing the volume fraction of titanium, the fracture strength and strain increased up to 1860 MPa and 44%, respectively. The results showed that the critical volume fraction (around 40%) of Ti metal should be required for significantly improving plasticity of IPC. Decreasing the interspace of the titanium phase could lead to enhancement of yield and fracture strength. The deformation behavior and strengthening mechanisms were discussed in detail.
Mid-infrared emissions from Er3+ in Ga2S3–GeS2–Sb2S3 glasses
Authors: Ichikawa Manabu , Ishikawa Yoichi , Wakasugi Takashi , Kadono Kohei
Published: October 2010

Emission properties of Er3+ in Ga2S3–GeS2–Sb2S3 glasses at the mid-infrared region were investigated from the viewpoint of their dependence on the concentration of the active ion and the glass composition. In the Judd–Ofelt analysis, no variation in omega parameters were observed when GeS2 was replaced by Ga2S3, while Ω2 increased as Sb2S3 was replaced by Ga2S3. This is due to the structural similarity and difference between the glass network units, GaS4 and GeS4 tetrahedra, and SbS3 pyramid. Clear mid-infrared emissions were observed at 2750 and 4300 nm assigned to the 4I11/2 → 4I13/2 and 4I9/2 → 4I11/2 transitions, respectively. The lifetime of the initial level of the 4.3 μm emission, 4I9/2, rapidly decreased with the Er3+ concentration because of the cross relaxation of this level, which can take place even at considerably low Er3+ concentration. The cross-relaxation processes were suppressed by the increase in the content of Ga2S3 because the solubility of Er3+ ions in the glasses increases with the Ga2S3 content.
Evolution of microstructure and stress of and associated whisker growth on Sn layers sputter-deposited on Cu substrates
Authors: Sobiech M. , Krüger C. , Welzel U. , Wang J.Y. , Mittemeijer E.J. , Hügel W.
Published: October 2010

After sputter deposition of Sn (layer thickness of 350 nm) on Cu substrates and during subsequent aging at room temperature, Cu and Sn reacted to form the intermetallic phase Cu6Sn5 in the Sn layer at the Cu/Sn interface, which led within a few hours of aging to the development of a compressive stress parallel to the Cu/Sn interface in the Sn layer. One day after aging at room-temperature whisker formation occurred on the surface of the Sn layer. It was shown that whisker growth is associated with long-range Sn diffusion parallel to the Cu/Sn interface. Sn layers of the same thickness sputter deposited on pure Si substrates exhibited throughout the same aging time at room temperature a tensile stress parallel to the Cu/Sn interface (no intermetallic phase formation took place) and whisker formation did not occur. The interrelationship of intermetallic compound formation, stress development, and whisker growth is discussed.
Nanomaterials and structures for the fourth innovation of polymer electrolyte fuel cell
Authors: Pak Chanho , Kang Sangkyun , Choi Yeong Suk , Chang Hyuk
Published: October 2010

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) are drawing attention as energy conversion devices for next generations because of their highly efficient, environmentally benign, and portable features. In the last five decades, three distinguishable innovations were achieved in terms of proton conductive membranes and electrodes: introduction of perfluorinated membranes into PEFCs, adoption of ionomers for electrodes, and increased toughness of membranes by reinforced membranes. The efficiency, cost, and durability achieved from the past three innovations are still not enough to replace competing technologies such as combustion engines. In this review, the authors would elucidate the three different methods based on nanotechnology to overcome the limits: nanoporous carbon-supported catalysts, nanocomposite membranes, and nanostructured membrane electrode assemblies, which will bring the fourth innovation to PEFCs. With the innovation, PEFCs will fulfill the goals of being clean-energy conversion devices in the major applications of stationary, portable, and vehicle markets.
Combinatorial nanocalorimetry
Authors: McCluskey Patrick J. , Vlassak Joost J.
Published: October 2010

The parallel nano-scanning calorimeter (PnSC) is a silicon-based micromachined device for calorimetric measurement of nanoscale materials in a high-throughput methodology. The device contains an array of nanocalorimeters. Each nanocalorimeter consists of a silicon nitride membrane and a tungsten heating element that also serves as a temperature gauge. The small mass of the individual nanocalorimeters enables measurements on samples as small as a few hundred nanograms at heating rates up to 104 K/s. The sensitivity of the device is demonstrated through the analysis of the melting transformation of a 25-nm indium film. To demonstrate the combinatorial capabilities, the device is used to analyze a Ni–Ti–Zr sample library. The as-deposited amorphous samples are crystallized by local heating in a process that lasts just tens of milliseconds. The martensite–austenite transformation in the Ni–Ti–Zr shape memory alloy system is analyzed and the dependence of transformation temperature and specific heat on composition is revealed.
Effects of indenter geometry on indentation-induced densification of soda-lime glass
Authors: Yoshida Satoshi , Sawasato Hiroshi , Sugawara Toru , Miura Yoshinari , Matsuoka Jun
Published: October 2010

Hardness of glass is known to be related to the resistance to permanent deformation. However, the mechanism of permanent deformation of glass under a sharp diamond indenter is not clear yet. One of the deformation modes of oxide glass at room temperature is permanent densification. In this study, the indentation-induced densification of soda-lime glass under diamond indenters was evaluated from the volume recovery of indentation imprint by thermal annealing. The volume change of the indentation imprint by annealing corresponds to the densified volume under the indenter. Using some kinds of diamond indenters, which have different inclined face angles, the ratios of densified volume to the total “lost” volume under the indenters were determined. With an increase in the inclined face angle, the densification contribution decreased and the shear-flow contribution increased. This indenter-shape dependence of densification in glass is discussed in terms of the stress dependence of the deformation mechanisms in glass.
Bipolar Reduction Experiments and the Examination of Middle Archaic Bipolar Technologies in West-Central Illinois
Authors: Bradbury Andrew P.
Published: October 2010

Bipolar reduction has been long recognized as a means of producing flakes from cores. The identification of bipolar debris has implications for assessing the role of bipolar reduction in the organization of lithic technology. Previous work has indicated that the classification of bipolar materials can be difficult. A series of experimental reductions are reported that assist in recognizing bipolar materials from archaeological sites. It is suggested that bipolar technologies are more easily identified at the assemblage level than at the individual flake level. The experimental results are applied to materials recovered from a late Middle Archaic component at 11MG423 in Morgan County, Illinois and indicate a considerable bipolar industry for that site. An examination of other Middle Archaic sites in the region indicates that bipolar industries are represented at a number of sites, though the context of bipolar technology during the Middle Archaic in the region is complex.
Volatiles of Pleurospermum austriacum (L.) Hoffm. (Apiaceae)
Authors: Radulovic Niko , Djordjevic Nevenka , Palic Radosav
Published: October 2010

This work presents the first results of detailed GC and GC-MS analyses of the
volatile constituents from the fresh leaves, fruits and stalks of an
endangered plant species Pleurospermum austriacum (L.) Hoffm. (Apiaceae).
Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons made up ca. 4/5 of the oils obtained in low yield
(0.003-0.086%, w/w). The major volatiles detected were germacrene D (66.5,
62.4 and 49.0 % in fruits, leaves and stalks, respectively), ?-caryophyllene
(3.1-5.7 %), ?-cadinene (3.6-5.0 %) and (E)-?-farnesene (1.0-1.5 %).
Challenges, responses and partnership for achieving sustainable tourism and heritage preservation
Authors: Maksin Marija
Published: October 2010

The process of globalization has created the situation where the expectations of tourists are the same both with respect to the quality of services in all destinations and with respect to the authencity based on local attractions and experiences, which should be unique and different for each destination. The key element in maintaining destination attractiveness is the protection and presentation of natural and cultural heritage and its sustainable utilization for tourism development. The sustainability concept is of equal importance for long-term tourism development, destination competitiveness and heritage protection. The paper deals with the main challenges to achieving sustainable tourism and points to some key responses to them. Participation, cooperation and partnership should be a vital prerequisite for the implementation and performance of sustainable tourism and heritage protection. This attitude has been tested on several examples of good practice in heritage protection and the sustainable development of tourism destinations in Serbia. .
Approach to identification and development of mountain tourism regions and destinations in Serbia with special reference to the Stara Planina mountain
Authors: Milijic Sasa , Maric Igor , Bakic Olgica
Published: October 2010

This paper deals with theoretical-methodological issues of tourism offer planning and regulation of settlements in mountain destinations. The basic determinants of the development of mountain tourist regions destinations in EU countries, in which respectable development results have been achieved, first of all in terms of income, together with appropriately adjusted development and environmental management system, have been emphasized. The ongoing transition and structural processes in Serbia will have an impact on application of these experiences. At the same time, a basis for competitiveness of mountain regions will not be determined only by spatial capacity and geological location, but also by creative-innovative developing environment. Taking into account the spatial-functional criteria and criteria for the development and protection, the possible spatial definition of mountain tourist regions/destinations in Serbia are presented. The justifiability and positioning of tourism development projects are analyzed aiming at uniform regional development, where two segments of demand are of particularly importance, i.e. demand for mountain tourism services and for real estates in mountain centers. Furthermore, holders of tourism offer will be analyzed through a contemporary approach which may be defined as the development and noncommercial and market and commercial one. International criteria which are evaluated while selecting city/mountain destination for Winter Olympic Games are particularly analyzed. Considering experience of countries with higher level of development of mountain regions, the main starting point for positioning projects for sustainable development of tourist destinations are defined by specifying them according to specific local and regional conditions. A rational model for spatial organization of tourism offer is shown on the example of the Stara Planina tourist region.
Parametric curves and surfaces: Mathematica demonstrations as a tool in exploration of architectural form
Authors: Petrusevski Ljiljana , Dabic Milana , Devetakovic Mirjana
Published: October 2010

Through their work in the field of generic explorations, authors of this paper have developed a series of demonstration projects, based on the software package MATHEMATICA, related to the parametric representation of curves and surfaces in space. The main purpose of the demonstrations is exploration of generic potential of curves and surfaces in order to apply it to the process of generating architectural form. The paper presents the developed demonstration projects and their application within the generic explorations of architectural form.
Evaluation criterion and closed-loop control of penetration status during laser-MIG hybrid welding
Authors: Zhang Yongqiang , Wen Peng , Shan Jiguo , Shuang Yuanqing , Chen Wuzhu
Published: October 2010

Laser-MIG hybrid welding is an advanced joining process and is widely applied in various industries. It is important to make sure the plate is fully penetrated with an appropriate weld formation in practical applications. In this paper, 3 kW CO2 laser and pulse MIG machine were used to compose the laser-MIG hybrid welding equipment to make butt weld of stainless steel plates. The penetration status was divided into three types: partial penetration, moderate full penetration, and excessive penetration. The effect of welding parameter and gap width on penetration status was investigated experimentally. The weld root width was detected by real-time vision sensor system and proposed as the criterion for evaluating penetration status in CO2 laser-MIG hybrid welding. The closed-loop control system was established with vision sensor and digital signal processor. Consequently, the weld with consistent “moderate full penetration” was acquired in laser-MIG hybrid butt welding with great variation of gap width by autoadjusting the welding speed or welding current.
Evaluation of the shear bond strength of a composite resin in sound, demineralized and hypermineralized bovine dentin after irradiation with Er:YAG and Nd:YAG lasers, employing a self-etching adhesive system
Authors: Kuwana Andressa Pereira da Silva , Firoozmand Leily Macedo , de Araújo Maria Amélia Maximo
Published: October 2010

Background and Objectives. The adhesion of dental materials is important for the success of treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the bond strength of a composite resin applied with a self-etching adhesive system in different dentins after irradiation with Er:YAG and Nd:YAG lasers, observing their morphologic pattern using Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM). Materials and Methods. The buccal surface of 72 bovine incisors was worn until exposure of medium depth dentin. The specimens were divided into three groups; GI: normal, GII: demineralized and GIII: hypermineralized dentin. These were also divided into two subgroups; A- irradiated for 30 s with Er:YAG laser in noncontact mode at 40 mJ and 6 Hz and B- irradiated for 30 s with Nd:YAG laser in contact mode at 60 mJ and 10 Hz. The adhesive system Clearfil SE. Bond (Kuraray) and composite resin Tetric Ceram (Vivadent) were applied on the irradiated area by the incremental technique. After storage for 24 h in distilled water at 37 °C, the specimens were submitted to the shear strength test in a universal testing machine (EMIC) at a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/min. Other specimens were made to be analyzed by SEM. Results. The results were statistically analyzed by Analysis of Variance and the Tukey test. Regardless of the type of dentin, the bond strength of specimens irradiated with the Nd:YAG laser (8,94±2,07) was higher compared to specimens irradiated with the Er:YAG laser (7,03±2,47); the highest bond strength was obtained for the group of hypermineralized dentin irradiated with the Nd:YAG laser. The SEM analysis showed that the Er:YAG laser caused opening of tubules and the Nd:YAG laser produced areas of fusion as well as regions of opening of dentinal tubules. Conclusions. The dentin showed different morphological patterns and the laser promote alterations on their surfaces, influencing the bond strength of the composite resin.
Characterisation of den sites of American mink Neovison vison in central Spain
Authors: García Pablo , Arévalo Valentín , Lizana Miguel
Published: October 2010

The American mink Neovison vison is a widely distributed species in Spain, for which important basic ecological data are lacking. We studied mink den site selection in a location in central Spain during the winter of 2008/09 using snow‐tracking and direct observation. Dens were located more frequently in tree roots (51.9%; N = 79) inside emergent vegetation (15.2%) and on human‐created enbankments (15.2%). Human buildings and burrows were scarcely used (< 10%). The logistic regressions we carried out supported that minks used secondary river beds for shelter more often than their availability in the environment should predict. These secondary areas are characterised by their low width and the frequent presence of small streams (of < 1m width). In rough terms, this pattern could be a way of avoiding potential interactions with other animals sharing the same habitat, and also for thermoregulation while resting. On the basis of the wide habitat niche, ecosystem management as a measure of mink control appears to be ineffective.
Ecological aspects of transient killer whales Orcinus orca as predators in southeastern Alaska
Authors: Dahlheim Marilyn E. , White Paula A.
Published: October 2010

In this study we present empirical data on predator numbers, movements and area usage, and predation obtained from tracking transient killer whales Orcinus orca throughout the inland waters of southeastern Alaska, USA. During 1991‐2007, we documented 155 transient killer whales via photo‐identification methodology within the large study area (27,808 km2). Transient killer whales were distributed throughout southeastern Alaska and were present during all seasons, although not all individuals were seen every year. Resighting data suggested that within southeastern Alaska, maternal groups may partition area usage of their environment. By following whales for 1,467 km, we calculated a mean travel speed of 7.2 km/hour with mean daily movements of 134 km ± 88 km/24 hours and ranging within 59‐240 km/24 hours. Photographic matches demonstrated that most of the transient killer whales (86%) identified in southeastern Alaska also utilized British Columbia and Washington State waters. In contrast, photographic matches between whales in southeastern Alaska and whales seen off of California, USA, were rare, suggesting that different transient killer whale stocks occupy these two regions. Transient killer whales preyed upon Dall's porpoise Phocoenoides dalli, Pacific white‐sided dolphins Lagenoryhncus obliquidens, harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena, minke whales Balaenoptera acutorostrata, Steller sea lions Eumetopias jubatus, harbor seals Phoca vitulina and seabirds. Potential prey species that were available, but not targeted, included humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae, elephant seals Mirounga angustirostris and sea otters Enhydra lutris. Prey‐handling techniques varied depending on the prey being targeted with no evidence of prey specialization. During 114 encounters totaling 332.5 hours of direct observations of transient killer whales, we documented 36 predation events for a calculated kill rate of 0.62 prey items/24‐hour period/whale. The data we present in this article provide a foundation of transient killer whale ecology aimed at improving our ability to understand the impact of transient killer whale predation on southeastern Alaska prey populations.
Concentrations of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in physically injured free‐ranging African elephants Loxodonta africana
Authors: Ganswindt André , Münscher Stefanie , Henley Michelle , Palme Rupert , Thompson Peter , Bertschinger Henk
Published: October 2010

Free‐ranging African elephants Loxodonta africana use their front feet frequently during the process of foraging and this could be the reason for the high prevalence of physical injuries to these parts of the body. Although the occurrence of severe lameness caused by foot lesions in adult elephants has already been investigated and the clinical and pathological findings have been reported, the effect of foot injuries on glucocorticoid levels as a potential physiological stress response has not been examined. Given the practical difficulties involved in monitoring unpredictable events in free‐ranging animals, like the occurrence of foot injuries in elephants, it is not surprising that information regarding the endocrine correlates of physical injury is still limited for elephants. In our study we investigated the effects of foot injuries on concentrations of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (GCM), body condition score (BCS) and reproductive behaviour in two GPS/radio‐collared elephant bulls in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. We monitored the bulls aged 40+ (Bull 1) and 30+ (Bull 2) 2‐3 times per week for 13 months starting in June 2007 and frequently collected faecal samples for non‐invasive hormone monitoring. Faecal samples were lyophilised, extracted and assayed with an enzyme immunoassay which detects GCM with a 3α‐hydroxy‐11‐oxo‐structure. Both bulls acquired foot injuries (right‐front), which caused temporary lameness, but the effect of injury on GCM concentration differed between bulls (P < 0.001). In Bull 1 the injury lasted ± 250 days and was associated with an up to four‐fold increase in GCM concentrations (P < 0.001) and his BCS reduced from ‘good‘ to ‘very thin‘ by the end of the injury period. In Bull 2 the injury lasted 65 days and was associated with a smaller increase in GCM concentrations (P = 0.03) together with a reduced loss in condition when compared to Bull 1. Following recovery, the condition of both bulls improved progressively and faecal GCM returned to baseline concentrations. Collectively, the data clearly underlined the value of non‐invasive hormone measurements as a tool to provide information on the level of stress experienced by elephants. Thus, monitoring GCM levels could help improve the assessment of an elephant's state of health.
Disturbance effects of hunting activity in a willow ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus population
Authors: Br⊘seth Henrik , Pedersen Hans Chr.
Published: October 2010

Hunting disturbance may affect individuals in a population by modifying their behaviour and spatial movements, which can lead to changes in home‐range size and habitat use or displacement, for example into refuge areas. To evaluate effects of disturbance by recreational hunting activity, we conducted a study with 87 individually radio‐marked willow ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus, in experimentally hunted and non‐hunted units in central Norway during a four‐year period. Contrary to a common belief among many hunters, i.e. that willow ptarmigan abandon a hunting unit in response to hunting activity, none of the birds left hunted units during the first two weeks of the hunting season in our study. Neither, did hunting affect the size of areas used by the ptarmigan or the distance between locations on consecutive days. In fact, day‐to‐day movements tended to be longer in non‐hunted units than in hunted units. Willow ptarmigan responded to the risk of being shot by increasing their use of habitat with dense forest/scrub cover, which provided secure escape sites where birds were more difficult to locate and to shoot by hunters using pointing dogs. The increased use of cover with secure escape sites found for willow ptarmigan indicates that the catch per unit effort of hunters will vary not only with population density, but also with the amount and distribution of dense forest/shrub habitat in hunted units. Where the site‐specific catch per unit effort of hunters is difficult to predict, we recommend a management scheme of harvests based on allowing a predefined number of hunters to hunt for the whole season and a seasonal bag limit per hunter.
Confidence Intervals for True Scores Using the Skew-Normal Distribution
Authors: García-Pérez Miguel A.
Published: October 2010

A recent comparative analysis of alternative interval estimation approaches and procedures has shown that confidence intervals (CIs) for true raw scores determined with the Score method—which uses the normal approximation to the binomial distribution—have actual coverage probabilities that are closest to their nominal level. It has also recently been shown that the skew-normal distribution yields a better approximation to the binomial distribution than the normal distribution. This article thus evaluates the benefits of using the skew-normal approximation for interval estimation of true scores. Three different CIs for true scores based on the skew-normal approximation are considered, and a simulation study is conducted whose results reveal that none of these skew-normal CIs is more accurate than the conventional Score CI in terms of probability coverage. Thus, skew-normal CIs, which incur a substantial computational cost, do not seem to be an advisable alternative for interval estimation of true scores.
Potential of St John's Wort for the Treatment of Depression: The Economic Perspective
Authors: Solomon Daniela , Ford Emily , Adams Jon , Graves Nicholas
Published: October 2010

The burden of rising health care expenditures has created a demand for information regarding the clinical and economic outcomes associated with complementary and alternative medicines. Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials have found Hypericum perforatum preparations to be superior to placebo and similarly effective as standard antidepressants in the acute treatment of mild to moderate depression. A clear advantage over antidepressants has been demonstrated in terms of the reduced frequency of adverse effects and lower treatment withdrawal rates, low rates of side effects and good compliance, key variables affecting the cost-effectiveness of a given form of therapy. The most important risk associated with use is potential interactions with other drugs, but this may be mitigated by using extracts with low hyperforin content.

As the indirect costs of depression are greater than five times direct treatment costs, given the rising cost of pharmaceutical antidepressants, the comparatively low cost of Hypericum perforatum extract makes it worthy of consideration in the economic evaluation of mild to moderate depression treatments.
Identifying Causes of Performance Issues in Bus Schedule Adherence with Automatic Vehicle Location and Passenger Count Data
Authors: Mandelzys Michael , Hellinga Bruce
Published: October 2010

Automatic vehicle location (AVL) and automatic passenger counting (APC) systems can provide rich archived databases for analysis. Previous work has focused on using AVL–APC data to evaluate system performance using various quantitative performance measures and data visualization methods. Given the large volume of data, there is a benefit to automating the creation of performance measures and data visualizations and “pushing” interesting information to users, rather than requiring users to create the performance measures and figures and sift through them on their own. This paper presents a methodology for identifying bus stops that are not meeting performance standards for schedule adherence and the factors that cause inadequate performance. The methodology is designed to be automated and therefore can be applied efficiently to AVL–APC data for an entire transit network. Use of this proposed method will enable transit agencies to identify service quality issues and their root causes more efficiently.
Subway Productivity, Profitability, and Performance
Authors: Reddy Alla V. , Lu Alex , Wang Ted
Published: October 2010

Detailed comparative analyses of New York City subways and four Southeast Asian transit systems revealed that Hong Kong's subways are profitable because of high asset productivity resulting from a strategic “prudent commercial” design for high utilization and traffic density. Hong Kong subways also have a land-grant financing framework, a relatively high degree of commercial freedom, and relatively low overhead costs and asset replacement needs. Conversely, Singapore and Taipei, Taiwan, subways are operated by concessioned carriers (akin to New York's historic Interborough Rapid Transit and Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit) and are not profitable when government-provided initial capital construction funds are accounted for at typical government bond interest rates. Infrastructure ownership was separated to attract investors and allow government-controlled carriers to function as quasi-private entities. Network design choices with consequences for density and use explain the higher productivity in Asia. New York's system was not designed for maximum capital and operating cost efficiency or productivity but to provide high coverage and service levels at lower traffic densities in a socially conscious and inclusive approach, whereas the Taiwan and Singapore governments made design decisions and chose governance structures that enabled higher productivity. Asian systems operate more reliably than New York's 100-year-old subway because of modern design parameters, advanced technology, and different legal frameworks and management processes. State-of-good-repair issues that plagued 1970s New York have yet to surface in Asia. Direct comparisons in performance, profitability, and productivity should be avoided unless care is taken to analyze effects of governance, social contexts, design criteria, and reasons for their differences. Nonetheless, comparisons and benchmarking can yield valuable insights for operations improvement under prevailing local constraints.
Influence of Platform Height, Door Width, and Fare Collection on Bus Dwell Time
Authors: Fernández Rodrigo , Zegers Pablo , Weber Gustavo , Tyler Nick
Published: October 2010

Dwell time is the time that a public transport vehicle remains stopped while transferring passengers. Dwell time depends on the number of boarding and alighting passengers plus other characteristics, such as platform height, door width, fare collection method, internal layout of the vehicle, and occupancy of the vehicle. Traditionally, dwell time has been described as a linear function of the number of passengers boarding and alighting. In this paper, results are presented of dwell time parameters obtained from real-scale experiments made at the Pedestrian Accessibility and Movement Environment Laboratory, University College London. Three variables were controlled: platform height (0, 150, and 300 mm), door width (800 and 1,600 mm), and fare collection method (prepayment outside the vehicle and payment with an electronic card at the entrance of the vehicle). For each value of the variables mentioned above, between 15 and 20 runs were recorded on videotape with four cameras and different views. In total, 300 records of boarding and alighting processes were obtained. Some results indicate that door width has more influence than platform height. For example, it was found that a wider door can reduce the average alighting time by almost 40%, regardless of platform height, and can reduce the average boarding time by 20%. However, for the same door width, a lower platform reduces the average alighting time by only 1% to 9%. More results and analysis are reported in this paper.
Features that Affect Variability of Travel Time on Bus Rapid Transit Systems
Authors: Schramm LisaRene , Watkins Kari , Rutherford Scott
Published: October 2010

One of the most difficult aspects of attracting ridership on a bus system is the variability in travel time. Bus rapid transit (BRT) systems have attempted to improve on typical local and express bus systems by adding and enhancing features of the system and thereby improving travel time variability. Typical BRT features such as running way, passing capability, station spacing, use of transit signal priority, frequency of buses, use of level boarding, and the fare collection process have been described as improving reliability or variability in travel time. However, limited analysis has been performed to validate that assertion. This paper discusses which enhanced features of a BRT system will affect variability of travel time between peak hour and non-peak hour. To measure variability in scheduled end-to-end travel times, a ratio of average peak-hour travel time to average non-peak-hour travel time was compared across BRT systems. To determine the significance in the difference between these averages, a permutation test was conducted. Three of the seven considered features had a significant p-value, with a significance level of .05. The features that proved to be most significant were those dealing directly with general purpose traffic of a BRT system. Features connected more closely with the station portion of the BRT system were found to have little significance.
Calculators to Estimate Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Public Transit Vehicles
Authors: Weigel Brent A. , Southworth Frank , Meyer Michael D.
Published: October 2010

This paper reviews calculation tools available for quantifying the greenhouse gas emissions associated with different types of public transit service and the tools’ usefulness in helping a transit agency to reduce its carbon footprint through informed vehicle and fuel procurement decisions. Available calculators fall into two categories: (a) registry- and inventory-based calculators most suitable for standardized voluntary reporting, carbon trading, and regulatory compliance and (b) life-cycle analysis calculators that seek comprehensive coverage of all direct and indirect emissions. Despite significant progress in calculator development, no single calculator contains all information needed by transit agencies to develop a truly comprehensive, life cycle–based accounting of the emissions produced by vehicle fleet operations and for a wide range of vehicle and fuel technology options.