bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energetic Arousal and Language
Authors: Zajenkowski Marcin
Published: February 2013

Objective:

The author examines the relationship between energetic arousal (EA) and the processing of sentences containing natural-language quantifiers.

Background:

Previous studies and theories have shown that energy may differentially affect various cognitive functions. Recent investigations devoted to quantifiers strongly support the theory that various types of quantifiers involve different cognitive functions in the sentence–picture verification task.

Method:

In the present study, 201 students were presented with a sentence–picture verification task consisting of simple propositions containing a quantifier that referred to the color of a car on display. Color pictures of cars accompanied the propositions. In addition, the level of participants’ EA was measured before and after the verification task.

Results:

It was found that EA and performance on proportional quantifiers (e.g., “More than half of the cars are red”) are in an inverted U-shaped relationship.

Conclusion:

This result may be explained by the fact that proportional sentences engage working memory to a high degree, and previous models of EA–cognition associations have been based on the assumption that tasks that require parallel attentional and memory processes are best performed when energy is moderate.

Application:

The research described in the present article has several applications, as it shows the optimal human conditions for verbal comprehension. For instance, it may be important in workplace design to control the level of arousal experienced by office staff when work is mostly related to the processing of complex texts. Energy level may be influenced by many factors, such as noise, time of day, or thermal conditions.
Marx’s Concept of Man: Alienation, Exploitation and Socialism
Authors: Bakshi Om
Published: February 2013

For long, the feeling has been that Marx views man essentially in terms of his material interests. The publication of Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts, however, has led many to realize that he is keenly interested in developing individual potentialities, realizing ‘human essence’ and nurturing talents. What is interesting, however, is that Marx relies on productive activity, on labour, to give meaning to life. How work in factories, however rationally organized, can be a source of joy and fulfilment is hard to see. It is, therefore, not surprising that when he touches upon these issues in later writings, few though these occasions are, he relies more on intellectual, literary and artistic pursuits than on labour. No matter which activity we pursue, however, we can profitably pursue it, says Marx, only in a communist society. Thus, he attaches great importance to reorganizing the economic aspect of society. But strangely he does not think that bringing about these changes, building a better society, would give meaning to life. In any case, Marx’s plea to develop potentialities, realize ‘human essence’ and foster creativity did not have much relevance for societies characterized by poverty, privation and exploitation that existed in his time. It is, therefore, not surprising that in his later writings he is concerned more about the problems facing society, especially the miserable condition of workers. This leads him to make a careful analysis of the existing reality. Those interested in the study of politics and society today, especially in countries like India, which are facing major problems, need to pay more attention to the approach Marx adopts in his later writings.
The Sociological Turn: Bringing the Domestic Analogy Back In
Authors: Terhalle Maximilian
Published: February 2013

In an exemplary article, Buzan and Albert (2010), two leading scholars of International Relations (IR), employ insights from sociology in order to present their new theory of differentiation. However, they fail to properly theorize the domestic-international analogy in their new theory. In contrast, this essay argues that the supposed dichotomy between the two realms, the domestic and the international, can be collapsed into a synthesis. Essentially, two analytical steps are taken. First, the norms that are to be transposed from the domestic to the international plane are not fixed but reflect a spectrum instead. The second move is to recognize that the first step critically depends on the international political context. If the latter is, as is argued here, strongly influenced by rising powers that have fervently disagreed with Western notions of global governance and thereby, of world society, functional differentiation, advocated by the above authors as the predominant paradigm in today’s international politics, does not seem convincing.
Who wants to forgive and forget? Transitional justice preferences in postwar Burundi
Authors: Samii Cyrus
Published: February 2013

While transitional justice interventions are common in current post-conflict transitions, recent surveys in such settings suggest that public opinions often vary in their levels of support for such policies. Understanding such opinions is crucial for designing post-conflict policies that properly reflect public interests. This study uses original survey data from Burundi to interpret public opinions toward transitional justice policies in a post-civil war context. The data reveal a great deal of wariness among Burundians toward punishing human rights offenders or seeking the truth about the past. Why would large numbers of those entitled to accountability and truth express a preference to ‘forgive and forget’? This question is addressed by focusing on two important features of post-conflict settings – namely (1) uncertainty about the potential for renewed violence and (2) intense competition over how the postwar balance of power should be institutionalized. Findings suggest that the latter feature is indeed crucial: deep partisan motivations associated primarily with ethnicity, and to a lesser extent region, are key determinants of expressed desires to forgive and forget. A reasonable interpretation is that a sense of political gain may compensate for debts owed due to past abuses and induce a preference to avoid the pursuit of truth or punishment lest the political gains somehow be threatened. The conclusion draws out implications for policy and further research.
Planning for Sustainability in Non-democratic Polities: The Case of Masdar City
Authors: Crot Laurence
Published: February 2013

This paper addresses the pursuit of environmental sustainability by an autocratic, neo-patrimonial regime and examines the implications of such a political environment for sustainable initiatives. The city of Abu Dhabi has recently adopted planning schemes aimed at forging a new path towards urban sustainability. Among these, Masdar City—a flagship development portrayed as ‘the world’s first sustainable city’—has become the paragon of Abu Dhabi’s new urban vision. The findings presented here, however, reveal that on-the-ground implementation has so far failed to live up to Masdar’s initial ambitions. To account for these diminished expectations and the prospects for sustainable urbanisation in Abu Dhabi, the author draws on an analytical framework borrowed from the political science literature on neo-patrimonial societies in the Middle East. The analysis suggests that the social contract between Abu Dhabi’s rulers and the local population constitutes a challenging context for the pursuit of environmental sustainability.
The Incentives of Street-Level Bureaucrats and Inequality in Tax Assessments
Authors: Cohen Nissim , Gershgoren Sagi
Published: February 2013

How do the incentives offered to street-level bureaucrats influence the value of equality in society? To investigate this question, we consider as a case study the incentives offered to tax officials in Israel that encourage them to intimidate ordinary citizens during tax audits and use uncertainty and asymmetry of information for their own benefit. We demonstrate that such practices lead to social injustice and an increase in gaps between income groups. We then offer suggestions at the individual and organizational level for ameliorating these problems.
Oral Glutamine Reduces Radiation Morbidity in Breast Conservation Surgery
Authors: Rubio Isabel , Suva Larry J. , Todorova Valentina , Bhattacharyya Sudeepa , Kaufmann Yihong , Maners Anne , Smith Maureen , Klimberg V. Suzanne
Published: February 2013

This study examined the effect of oral glutamine (Gln) on radiation injury in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. The radiation injury was evaluated using Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scales. Cosmesis was scored. Blood Gln and glutathione (GSH) levels were determined. Serum protein profiling was determined using surface‐enhanced laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (SELDI‐TOF MS). Patients receiving Gln scored significantly better in RTOG score than the patients receiving placebo. Cosmetic scores averaged excellent in the Gln group vs fair to good in the placebo group. Blood Gln and GSH levels were significantly higher in the Gln group vs the placebo group. Serum protein profiling with SELDI‐TOF MS identified a novel Gln‐responsive protein that showed amino acid similarity with myoglobin. These results suggest that Gln is an effective way to reduce radiation morbidity to breast cancer and is associated with the increased expression of a novel serum protein biomarker.
Modeling Interactions in Small Groups
Authors: Heise David R.
Published: February 2013

A new theory of interaction within small groups posits that group members initiate actions when tension mounts between the affective meanings of their situational identities and impressions produced by recent events. Actors choose partners and behaviors so as to reduce the tensions. A computer model based on this theory, incorporating reciprocal exchanges and actions toward the whole group, was used to generate 1,000 interactions in 500 virtual juries. Behaviors of modeled jurors matched the instrumental and expressive content of behaviors among actual jurors during observed deliberations. The system also reproduced sex differences among jurors, both in behavioral content and in levels of participation. Additionally, the system reproduced the domination of small-group interaction by a few active participants. Plausible changes in outcomes resulted when the system was used to analyze groups other than juries. These results indicate that the theory and model can advance research on small-group processes.
Catastrophic Populations and the Fear of the Future: Malthus and the Genealogy of Liberal Economy
Authors: Tellmann Ute
Published: February 2013

This article argues that Foucault’s account of the intersection between population, liberal economy, and biopolitics needs to be reconstructed in light of Malthus’ Essay on the Principle of Population. Taking Malthus into account brings to the fore how deeply the question of population is tied to a colonial hierarchy that differentiates between dangerous ‘savage’ and economic ‘civilized’ life. ‘Savage life’ is depicted as a catastrophic form of life, which uses resources in a non-economic way due to its forgetfulness of the future. The article shows how this notion of ‘savage life’ broadens the concept of liberal economic governmentality. Most importantly, it highlights the role of passions and futurity for liberal governmentality. As the discussion of Malthus’ texts demonstrates, the passions of hope and fear assume a crucial role for engendering futurity in the economic subject. As will be shown, while the more ‘savage life’ is considered to be made governable through fear, the more civilized life is supposed to be allured by hope. The article points out the implication of this analysis for Foucault’s notion of biopolitics in relation to liberal economy.
Negotiating the Inhuman: Bakhtin, Materiality and the Instrumentalization of Climate Change
Authors: Last Angela
Published: February 2013

The article argues that the work of literary theorist Mikhail M. Bakhtin presents a starting point for thinking about the instrumentalization of climate change. Bakhtin’s conceptualization of human–world relationships, encapsulated in the concept of ‘cosmic terror’, places a strong focus on our perception of the ‘inhuman’. Suggesting a link between the perceived alienness and instability of the world and in the exploitation of the resulting fear of change by political and religious forces, Bakhtin asserts that the latter can only be resisted if our desire for a false stability in the world is overcome. The key to this overcoming of fear, for him, lies in recognizing and confronting the worldly relations of the human body. This consciousness represents the beginning of one’s ‘deautomatization’ from following established patterns of reactions to predicted or real changes. In the vein of several theorists and artists of his time who explored similar ‘deautomatization’ strategies – examples include Shklovsky’s ‘ ostranenie’, Brecht’s ‘ Verfremdung’, Artaud’s emotional ‘cruelty’ and Bataille’s ‘base materialism’ – Bakhtin proposes a more playful and widely accessible experimentation to deconstruct our ‘habitual picture of the world’. Experimentation is envisioned to take place across the material and the textual to increase possibilities for action. Through engaging with Bakhtin’s ideas, this article seeks to draw attention to relations between the imagination of the world and political agency, and the need to include these relations in our own experiments with creating climate change awareness.
ERK1/2 activity contributes to gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Zheng Chunning , Jiao Xuelong , Jiang Yingsheng , Sun Shaochuan
Published: February 2013

Objective

To test the hypothesis that chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer is mediated via extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2 overactivity.

Methods

The human pancreatic cancer cell lines BxPC3, PANC-1 and a stably gemcitabine-resistant subline, PANC1GemRes, were treated with combinations of gemcitabine and the ERK1/2 inhibitor, U0126. Phosphorylated (p)ERK1/2 was examined by Western blotting; cell proliferation and apoptosis were quantified. A nude mouse xenograft model was established with each cell line, and the therapeutic efficacy of gemcitabine and U0126 alone or in combination was examined.

Results

Gemcitabine treatment visibly increased pERK1/2 levels in BxPC-3 and PANC-1 cells. PANC-1GemRes constitutively produced high levels of pERK1/2. U0126 treatment reversed the gemcitabine-associated increase in cell proliferation and reduction in apoptosis, in all three cell lines. Combination treatment with U0126 and gemcitabine inhibited tumour growth and promoted apoptosis in xenograft tumours derived from all three cell lines.

Conclusions

ERK1/2 activity may protect pancreatic cancer cells from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. The combined use of an ERK1/2 inhibitor (such as U0126) together with gemcitabine may result in synergistic therapeutic effects at tolerable gemcitabine doses.
Relationship between cerebral microbleeds and cognitive function in lacunar infarct
Authors: Zhang Min , Chen Maogang , Wang Qizhang , Yun Wenwei , Zhang Zhizhong , Yin Qin , Huang Qinsong , Zhu Wusheng
Published: February 2013

Objective

Little is known about the impact of cerebral microbleeds on cognitive function. This study investigated the distribution of cerebral microbleeds and their impact on cognitive function, in patients with lacunar infarct.

Methods

Patients with lacunar infarct were enrolled prospectively. Cerebral microbleeds were classified as absent, mild, moderate or severe, based on magnetic resonance imaging findings. Cognitive function was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) questionnaire, with a total score of <26 indicating cognitive impairment.

Results

Of the 85 patients included in the study, 35 (41.2%) had cerebral microbleeds. They were more frequently observed in mixed and deep brain regions, but rarely in the cerebral lobes. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that presence of cerebral microbleeds (odds ratio [OR] 5.320), duration of education (OR 0.938) and age (OR 1.464) were independent predictors of cognitive impairment. There was a significant correlation between cerebral microbleed severity and MoCA score.

Conclusion

The number and location of cerebral microbleeds were both closely associated with cognitive impairment, in patients with lacunar infarct.
Consolidation therapy is necessary following successful biofeedback treatment for pubertal chronic prostatitis patients: A 3-year follow-up study
Authors: Wang Jun , Qi Lin , Zhang Xiang Yang , Dai Yuan Qing , Li Yuan
Published: February 2013

Objective

To assess long-term effects of biofeedback training on pubertal chronic prostatitis (CP).

Methods

Pubertal CP patients received 12-week intensive biofeedback training and were divided into two groups: group 1 received further monthly training ≥24 (26–36) months; group 2 received further monthly training <24 (13–23) months. National Institutes of Health–CP Symptom Index (NIH–CPSI) scores, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) were recorded monthly.

Results

Total NIH–CPSI scores decreased significantly in group 1 ( n = 10; mean age ± SD 16.5 ± 1.1 years) together with all subdomain scores (pain, urination, life impact). Total NIH–CPSI scores increased significantly in group 2 ( n = 12; mean age ± SD 16.3 ± 1.2 years) at 30 and 36 months, and were significantly different from group 1 at these time points. Urination and life-impact scores increased significantly and Qmax decreased significantly in group 2 at 30 and 36 months. PVR was unchanged in either group.

Conclusions

Twelve-week intensive biofeedback training requires lengthy consolidation sessions to achieve long-term success. Further investigation should assess longer intervals between consolidation sessions, for improving patient compliance and outcome.
Pathological Findings in Young and Adult Sheep Following Experimental Infection With 2 Different Doses of Mycobacterium avium Subspecies paratuberculosis
Authors: Delgado L. , Marín J. F. García , Muñoz M. , Benavides J. , Juste R. A. , García-Pariente C. , Fuertes M. , González J. , Ferreras M. C. , Pérez V.
Published: February 2013

Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis ( Map) is assumed to infect young ruminants; however, little is known concerning the possibility of adult animals becoming infected. An experimental infection was conducted to establish the effect of age and doses of Map on susceptibility to paratuberculosis in sheep. Sixteen of twenty-four 1.5-month-old Churra lambs and 23 of 30 adult ewes (from 2–11 years old) were orally challenged with an ovine field strain of Map. Thirteen ewes and 8 lambs were infected with a high dose (HD) and 10 adult sheep and 8 lambs with a low dose (LD) of Map. The remaining animals were unchallenged controls. Animals were euthanized at 110 to 120 and 210 to 220 days postinfection. Histological, bacteriological, and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies were conducted in samples of intestine and related lymphoid tissue (Peyer patches, lymph nodes). Animals were classified according to their lesions. The number of granulomas was counted in 3 tissue sections from each sample. Only the HD groups showed lesions associated with paratuberculosis (92.3% of ewes and 100% of lambs). Adults had lesions characterized by few small demarcated focal granulomas restricted to the lymphoid tissue, whereas granulomas were more numerous and larger, appearing in the lamina propria unrelated to lymphoid tissue, in the lambs. Only HD-infected lambs were positive to culture, whereas nested PCR also detected positive HD ewes and some LD animals. These results suggest that adult sheep can become infected by Map, as seen by the development of lesions, but they are focal and restricted to the lymphoid tissue.
An Evaluation of the HM Prison Service “Thinking Skills Programme” Using Psychometric Assessments
Authors: Gobbett Matthew J. , Sellen Joselyn L.
Published: February 2013

The most widely implemented offending behaviour programme in the United Kingdom was Enhanced Thinking Skills (ETS), a cognitive-behavioural group intervention that aimed to develop participant’s general cognitive skills. A new offending behaviour programme has been developed to replace ETS: the Thinking Skills Programme (TSP). This study reports an evaluation of the effectiveness of TSP using psychometric assessments. Phasing of the two programmes created an opportunity to compare the two programmes consecutively. Forty participants, 20 from each programme, completed a range of psychometric measures to examine cognition, attitudes, and thinking styles. Analysis of pre- and post-programme psychometric results indicated that participants of TSP demonstrated improvements on 14 of the 15 scales, 9 of which were statistically significant. Effect sizes between pre–post results were generally greater for TSP than ETS, demonstrating that TSP had a more positive impact on the thinking styles and attitudes of participants than the ETS programme.
Who Is in Charge of Your Recovery? The Effectiveness of Reality Therapy for Female Drug Offenders in Taiwan
Authors: Law Fang Mei , Guo Gwo Jen
Published: February 2013

This study was designed to fulfill a twofold purpose. First, a 12-session reality therapy drug treatment program to help female drug abusers achieve a better recovery was developed. Second, based on previous research in reality therapy, the Index of Sense of Self-Control in Recovery for Drug Offenders was developed, and the instrument was validated using principal components analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Later, ANCOVA was used to test the effectiveness of the treatment program. The participants were 48 female drug offenders, who were randomly assigned to equal-sized experimental and control groups. The results of the study showed significant differences in the posttest scores for the sense of self-determination and sense of self-control for the members of the two groups.
Central Pontine Myelinolysis Presenting With Tremor in a Child With Celiac Disease
Authors: Sharma Preeti , Sharma Suvasini , Panwar Neha , Mahto Deonath , Kumar Praveen , Kumar Atin , Aneja Satinder
Published: February 2013

A 4-year-old boy presented with a history of tremor for 7 days. He also had recurrent diarrhea for the previous 1 year, and poor weight gain. Magnetic resonance of the brain was suggestive of central pontine myelinolysis. There was no evidence of electrolyte abnormalities. The serum tissue transglutaminase level was markedly elevated, and the duodenal biopsy revealed features of celiac disease. The patient was started on gluten-free diet. The tremor resolved within 3 months. Repeat imaging of the brain done 3 months after starting gluten-free diet showed complete resolution of the lesion. This case highlights the unusual presentation of central pontine myelinosis as tremor in a malnourished child with celiac disease.
Intraabdominal Infections in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Friedrich Ann-Kristin U. , Cahan Mitchell
Published: February 2013

Intraabdominal infections are frequent and dangerous entity in intensive care units. Mortality and morbidity are high, causes are numerous, and treatment options are variable. The intensivist is challenged to recognize and treat intraabdominal infections in a timely fashion to prevent complications and death. Diagnosis of intraabdominal infection is often complicated by confounding underlying disease or masked by overall comorbidity. Current research describes a wide heterogeneity of patient populations, making it difficult to suggest a general treatment regimen and stressing the need of an individualized approach to decision making. Early focus-oriented intervention and antibiotic coverage tailored to the individual patient and hospital is warranted.
Property enhancement of epoxy resin using a combination of amine-terminated butadiene–acrylonitrile copolymer and nanoclay
Authors: Bakar M , Szymańska J
Published: February 2013

The present work investigates the effect of organomodified nanoclay (ZW1) and butadiene–acrylonitrile copolymer terminated with amine group (ATBN copolymer) on the properties of epoxy resin (EP). The impact strength (IS) and the critical stress intensity factor ( KC) values of EP containing 1% nanoclay increased approximately by 200% and 75%, respectively, in relation to neat EP. Moreover, hybrid composites containing 1% or 2% nanoclay and ATBN showed improved mechanical properties in relation with unmodified EP. The magnification and analysis of the Fourier-transform infrared spectra showed an increase in the peak height of 3338 cm-1 due to polymeric modifier incorporation. This finding might be explained by the reaction between modifier or hardener amine groups and the unreacted part of EP cured at room temperature. Hybrid composite containing 2% Nanobent ZW1 and 5% ATBN exhibited synergistic effect in terms of tensile adhesive strength toward composites with one modifier. Moreover, scanning electron micrographs showed more elongated and leaf-like structure for hybrid compositions, explaining the enhancement of IS and KC values of the tested composites.
Rheological and thermomechanical behaviour of polylactide/hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium–modified layered silicate nanocomposites
Authors: Prakalathan K , Mohanty Smita , Nayak Sanjay K
Published: February 2013

This work is focused on the modification of montmorillonite by hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (HDTMA) as a surfactant by cation exchange reaction. HDTMA-modified layered silicate (HDTMA-MLS) was compounded with polylactide (PLA) by melt extrusion technique for making nanocomposites. These nanocomposites were subjected to morphological, rheological, thermal and mechanical analyses. Variations in mechanical properties, plasticity and thermal stability with the addition of modified nanoclays in PLA were investigated. The presence of HDTMA in clay minerals was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis that shows two absorption bands at 2927 cm−1 and 2860 cm−1 that corresponds to the asymmetric and symmetric stretching vibrations of C–CH2 of alkyl chain, respectively, and the band at about 1470 cm−1 was assigned to the vibration of trimethyl ammonium quaternary group C–N(CH3)3. Melt rheology of virgin PLA and nanocomposites performed by small amplitude oscillation shear measurement. Incorporation of HDTMA-MLS (1–7 wt%) into PLA matrix yields significant improvements in the elastic modulus ( G′) of nanocomposites due to intercalation at high temperature. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy determined that PLA/HDTMA-MLS nanocomposites were intercalated. Nanocomposite prepared using 5 wt% HDTMA-MLS exhibited optimum mechanical performance with an increase in the tensile and flexural modulus and impact strength as compared to virgin PLA, which confirms intercalation morphology. Dynamic mechanical analysis study revealed an increase in the storage modulus ( G′) confirming a strong interaction between the modified clays and PLA. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis showed improved thermal properties. Heat deflection temperature of the matrix also increases in the presence of nanoclays.
Enhancement of thermal stability and degradation kinetics study of poly(vinyl alcohol)/zinc oxide nanoparticles composite
Authors: Abd-Elrahman Mostafa I
Published: February 2013

The thermal degradation behaviors of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and PVA/zinc oxide (ZnO) composite are investigated using differential thermal analysis (DTA). The degradation activation energy ( Ed), frequency factor ( ko) and Avrami exponent ( n) as thermal kinetic parameters are calculated from the DTA results. The calculated values of Ed are 80.94 and 148.58 kJ mol−1 for PVA and PVA/ZnO composite, respectively, indicating the enhancement of the PVA thermal stability as ZnO nanoparticles are filled in PVA matrix. The n values are evaluated from the shape analyses of degradation peaks. From estimated n values, the degradation mechanisms are determined for both the complexes under investigation.
Picturing Generosity
Authors: Wiepking Pamala , van Leeuwen Marco H.D.
Published: February 2013

In this study, we investigate the success of national campaigns for charitable causes in the Netherlands using historical data from archival sources, including newspapers, and the internet. We describe the 102 national campaigns held in the Netherlands between 1951 and 2011, focusing on uniquely Dutch contextual features such as a society organized along vertical pillars and highly formalized collaboration between international aid organizations. We then formulate and test hypotheses concerning possible explanations for the success of national campaigns as a specific type of fundraising campaign. We focus on the effect of campaigns organized for “innocent” victims, versus campaigns organized for victims of man-made disasters, the effect of media coverage on campaigns, campaign frequency, government contributions, and economic conditions. The results show that campaigns for victims of man-made disasters are less successful. Campaigns organized in periods of fewer competing campaigns and campaigns receiving government support are more successful.
Discrete shape modeling for skin model representation
Authors: Zhang Min , Anwer Nabil , Stockinger Andreas , Mathieu Luc , Wartzack Sandro
Published: February 2013

Nowadays, the management of product geometrical variations during the whole product development process is an important issue for companies’ competitiveness. During the design phase, geometric functional requirements and tolerances are derived from the design intent. Furthermore, the manufacturing and measurement stages are two main geometric variations generators according to the two well-known axioms of manufacturing imprecision and measurement uncertainty. GeoSpelling as the basis of the geometrical product specification standard enables a comprehensive modeling framework and an unambiguous language to describe geometric variations covering the overall product lifecycle thanks to a set of concepts and operations based on the fundamental concept of the “Skin Model.” In contrast, only few research studies have focused on the skin model representation and simulation. The skin model as a discrete shape model is the main focus of this work. We investigate here discrete shape and variability modeling fundamentals, Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation techniques and statistical shape analysis methods to represent, simulate, and analyze skin models. By means of a case study based on a cross-shaped sheet metal part, the results of the skin model simulations are shown here, and the performances of the simulations are described.
The analysis of new hydraulic rolling shear servo system dynamic characteristics
Authors: Heyong Han , Qingxue Huang , Jun Wang , Jing Wang
Published: February 2013

The hydraulic rolling shear whose hydraulic system is researched in this article is designed based on the theory of rolling shear. This article builds the transfer function of the unsymmetrical valve controlling unsymmetrical cylinder system and gets the expressions of the flow gain and the flow pressure coefficients and then compares them with the system controlled by symmetric valve. After the theoretical analysis, this article compares the control effects between the unsymmetrical valve and symmetric valve with the simulation software HYVOS. The simulation declares that when the unsymmetrical cylinder is controlled by the unsymmetrical valve, its control voltage is one-third of that controlled by the symmetric valve. Using unsymmetrical valve to control the unsymmetrical cylinder is perfect and meets the demands of the rolling shears as shown by the data collected from the field.
Analysis for the angular deformation of steel plates in a high-frequency induction forming process with a triangle heating technique
Authors: Bae Kang-Yul , Yang Young-Soo , Hyun Chung-Min
Published: February 2013

A triangle heating technique with the use of a heat source of high-frequency induction heating to make a steel plate deformed into a curved shape was modeled and analyzed using the numerical analysis of the finite element method in order to predict the angular deformation of the steel plate formed by the technique. For the analysis of the deformation, heat generation by an electromagnetic field was first analyzed with consideration of the preheat effect, and heat flow using the heat generated from the plate as the heat source was then analyzed. Thermal history of the plate predicted by numerical analysis was compared with that measured in an experiment of triangle heating on a steel plate. Deformations of the plates were then analyzed with changes of heating parameters including heating dimensions and plate thickness. The analyses were also verified with a series of experiments. In order to derive a simplified equation to readily predict deformation from the triangle heating technique, deformations predicted by numerical analyses and measured by the experiments were synthesized in association with the heating parameters using a statistical method of recursion analysis. The equation was verified to be able to predict the deformations conversely and expected to be practically used in the industry to select the heating parameters for the desired shapes of curved plates.
Facial Structure Is Indicative of Explicit Support for Prejudicial Beliefs
Authors: Hehman Eric , Leitner Jordan B. , Deegan Matthew P. , Gaertner Samuel L.
Published: February 2013

We present three studies examining whether male facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) is correlated with racial prejudice and whether observers are sensitive to fWHR when assessing prejudice in other people. Our results indicate that males with a greater fWHR are more likely to explicitly endorse racially prejudicial beliefs, though fWHR was unrelated to implicit bias. Participants evaluated targets with a greater fWHR as more likely to be prejudiced and accurately evaluated the degree to which targets reported prejudicial attitudes. Finally, compared with majority-group members, racial-minority participants reported greater motivation to accurately evaluate prejudice. This motivation mediated the relationship between minority- or majority-group membership and the accuracy of evaluations of prejudice, which indicates that motivation augments sensitivity to fWHR. Together, the results of these three studies demonstrate that fWHR is a reliable indicator of explicitly endorsed racial prejudice and that observers can use fWHR to accurately assess another person’s explicit prejudice.
The Capacity of Audiovisual Integration Is Limited to One Item
Authors: Van der Burg Erik , Awh Edward , Olivers Christian N. L.
Published: February 2013

The human visual attention system is geared toward detecting the most salient and relevant events in an overwhelming stream of information. There has been great interest in measuring how many visual events can be processed at a time, and most of the work has suggested that the limit is three to four. However, attention to a visual stimulus can also be driven by a synchronous auditory event. The present work indicates that a fundamentally different limit applies to audiovisual processing, such that at most only a single audiovisual event can be processed at a time. This limited capacity is not due to a limitation in visual selection; participants were able to process about four visual objects simultaneously. Instead, we propose that audiovisual orienting is subject to a fundamentally different capacity limit than pure visual selection is.
Mollusks as indicators of historical changes in an estuarine-lagoonal system (Cananéia-Iguape, SE Brazil)
Authors: Martínez Sergio , Mahiques Michel M , Burone Leticia
Published: February 2013

Mollusks recovered from three cores taken from the Cananéia-Iguape estuarine-lagoonal system (São Paulo State, Brazil) were studied. The sampled sediments cover a period beginning approximately two centuries ago and end at the present, including a period when the system suffered significant changes of anthropogenic origin – that is, the construction of an artificial channel connecting the lagoon with a nearby river and with the resulting input of fresh water and contaminants generated from mining activity upstream. The mollusk composition reflects these changes. The more abrupt changes in this composition coincide with the opening of the Valo Grande artificial channel in 1852. Another significant but minor change event was verified for around 1977± one year in areas that were not previously affected, perhaps showing the effect of the closing and reopening of the channel.
A 950 yr temperature reconstruction from Duckhole Lake, southern Tasmania, Australia
Authors: Saunders KM , Grosjean M , Hodgson DA
Published: February 2013

A lack of quantitative high resolution paleoclimate data from the Southern Hemisphere limits the ability to examine current trends within the context of long-term natural climate variability. This study presents a temperature reconstruction for southern Tasmania based on analyses of a sediment core from Duckhole Lake (43.365°S, 146.875°E). The relationship between non-destructive whole core scanning reflectance spectroscopy measurements in the visible spectrum (380–730 nm) and the instrumental temperature record (ad 1911–2000) was used to develop a calibration-in-time reflectance spectroscopy-based temperature model. Results showed that a trough in reflectance from 650 to 700 nm, which represents chlorophyll and its derivatives, was significantly correlated to annual mean temperature. A calibration model was developed ( R = 0.56, pauto < 0.05, root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) = 0.21°C, five-year filtered data, calibration period 1911–2000) and applied down-core to reconstruct annual mean temperatures in southern Tasmania over the last c. 950 years. This indicated that temperatures were initially cool c. ad 1050, but steadily increased until the late ad 1100s. After a brief cool period in the ad 1200s, temperatures again increased. Temperatures steadily decreased during the ad 1600s and remained relatively stable until the start of the 20th century when they rapidly decreased, before increasing from ad 1960s onwards. Comparisons with high resolution temperature records from western Tasmania, New Zealand and South America revealed some similarities, but also highlighted differences in temperature variability across the mid-latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. These are likely due to a combination of factors including the spatial variability in climate between and within regions, and differences between records that document seasonal (i.e. warm season/late summer) versus annual temperature variability. This highlights the need for further records from the mid-latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere in order to constrain past natural spatial and seasonal/annual temperature variability in the region, and to accurately identify and attribute changes to natural variability and/or anthropogenic activities.
Holocene development and geomorphic processes at Omnsbreen, southern Norway: Evidence for glacier–permafrost interactions
Authors: Lilleøren Karianne S , Humlum Ole , Nesje Atle , Etzelmüller Bernd
Published: February 2013

Omnsbreen is a small (<0.5 km2) and degrading glacier situated at the regional lower limit of present-day permafrost distribution and glaciation. At present, the existence of Omnsbreen is mainly dependent on wind-borne snow redistributed by the prevailing westerly winter-wind, and lies in an area of marginal permafrost occurrence. During the ‘Little Ice Age’ (LIA) both the glacier and the distribution of permafrost in the area reached their maximum late-Holocene areal extents. The first occurrence of Omnsbreen is recorded in sediment cores retrieved from a proglacial lake and dated at ad 1425, and marks the onset of the local LIA. Reconstruction of the maximum LIA extent by means of geomorphic indicators revealed a size of 7.1 km2, a volume of more than 0.25 km3 and a maximum glacier thickness of 110 m. Since the LIA Omnsbreen has been reduced by more than 90% in area. Omnsbreen retreated rapidly from its LIA maximum, which we suggest was determined by the shape of the glacier, filling up the valley, and hence being unable to accumulate wind-borne snow. Prominent glacier marginal landforms are absent along the maximum LIA extent of Omnsbreen. We propose that the lack of glacier marginal landforms in this case is indicative of a cold glacier margin, and that the landscape evolution in maritime and marginal permafrost regions is characterised as being closely connected with glacial activity.
Cultural Competence Training for Clinical Staff
Authors: Delgado Deborah Ann , Ness Sheryl , Ferguson Kathy , Engstrom Patricia Lorraine , Gannon Theresa M. , Gillett Craig
Published: February 2013

In an environment of changing demographics and health care disparities, it is essential that nurses continue to develop competence in providing care across cultures. This article presents the findings of a pilot project to measure and compare self-reported cultural competence scores before and after participation in one of the core classes of a cultural competence curriculum. Cultural competence of the staff of a patient care unit ( N = 98) was assessed prior to the class, at 3 months, and at 6 months posteducation using the Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competence Among Healthcare Professionals–Revised. The results demonstrated that following an educational intervention the participants self-reported a statistically significant increase ( p = .03) in cultural competence within the category range of cultural awareness. Providing cultural competence education may better equip nurses to care for patients from diverse cultures.
The Matilda Effect in Science Communication
Authors: Knobloch-Westerwick Silvia , Glynn Carroll J. , Huge Michael
Published: February 2013

An experiment with 243 young communication scholars tested hypotheses derived from role congruity theory regarding impacts of author gender and gender typing of research topics on perceived quality of scientific publications and collaboration interest. Participants rated conference abstracts ostensibly authored by females or males, with author associations rotated. The abstracts fell into research areas perceived as gender-typed or gender-neutral to ascertain impacts from gender typing of topics. Publications from male authors were associated with greater scientific quality, in particular if the topic was male-typed. Collaboration interest was highest for male authors working on male-typed topics. Respondent sex did not influence these patterns.
Bringing Earth Into the Scene of a Primary School
Authors: Lanza Tiziana , Crescimbene Massimo , La Longa Federica , D’Addezio Giuliana
Published: February 2013

Studies have shown that narrative is a valid tool to transmit science in a school context. We explored science theatre to promote earthquake knowledge and risk preparedness by readapting an old legend describing the 1908 Messina earthquake into a script, which was then performed in a primary school. We evaluated the experience designing a questionnaire inspired by the Düss Fairy Tales method and a semistructured questionnaire. Preliminary results strongly encourage science theatre as a means to transfer knowledge and open new opportunities to use this method as an agent of change in behavior before and during an earthquake.
Motivation, Management, and Mastery
Authors: De Santis Joseph P. , Florom-Smith Aubrey , Vermeesch Amber , Barroso Susana , DeLeon Diego A.
Published: February 2013

BACKGROUND: Clients with HIV infection have been conceptualized as a resilient population. Although a few researchers have documented resilience among clients with HIV infection, a theory of resilience in the context of HIV infection has not been developed. The purpose of this study was to describe the process by which resilience occurs for clients in the context of HIV infection. METHOD: Grounded theory methodology was used to sample and analyze data from 15 qualitative interviews with adults with HIV infection. Data were collected until saturation was reached. RESULTS: A theory, motivation, management, and mastery, a description of the process by which resilience occurs in the context of HIV infection, emerged from the data. CONCLUSION: Many clients living with HIV infection are resilient, despite the physical, psychological, and social challenges of this chronic illness. Nursing interventions to promote resilience among clients with HIV infection should be directed toward identification of client motivation factors and disease management strategies that may influence health outcomes of people living with HIV infection.
Short-Term Predictive Validity of the Static-99 and Static-99-R for Indigenous and Nonindigenous Australian Sexual Offenders
Authors: Smallbone Stephen , Rallings Mark
Published: February 2013

Actuarial risk assessment (Static-99 and Static-99-R) scores were obtained for 399 Australian adult sexual offenders who were subsequently released from prison and followed up with searches of police arrest records (mean follow-up period = 29 months; range = 15-53 months). Indigenous offenders ( n = 67; 16.8%) scored significantly higher on both the Static-99 ( M = 4.04 vs. 2.89, p < .001) and Static-99-R ( M = 3.72 vs. 2.22, p < .001), were more than twice as likely to be arrested for sexual offenses (9.0% vs. 4.1%, ns), and were significantly more likely to be arrested for nonsexual violent (28.4% vs. 1.9%, p < .001), any violent (including sexual; 37% vs. 5.9%, p < .001), and any offenses (58.2% vs. 21.6%, p < .001). For the combined groups, predictive accuracy of both instruments was comparable to results reported elsewhere. Predictive accuracy of the Static-99 was similar for indigenous and nonindigenous offenders. The Static-99-R was only marginally predictive of any violent recidivism (AUC = .65, 95% CI = [.52, .79]), and did not predict sexual (AUC = .61, 95% CI = [.45, .77]) or nonsexual violent recidivism (AUC = .65, 95% CI = [.48, .78]), for indigenous offenders. Higher risk scores, indigenous race, and unsupervised release all contributed unique variance to any violent recidivism. Results suggest that the Static-99 may be appropriate for assessing Australian indigenous sexual offenders, but more research is needed to test the validity of the Static-99-R for this population. We conclude that practitioners should consider the potential effects of racial differences and postrelease factors, as well as static risk factors, in their assessments.
Marital and Coparenting Relationships
Authors: Williamson David , Johnston Charlotte
Published: February 2013

Objective: To examine relations between symptoms of ADHD and reports of marital and coparenting functioning. Method: Parents of 8- to 12-year-old boys with ( n = 26) and without ( n =38) ADHD participated. Results: Although mothers of children with ADHD had the highest levels of ADHD symptoms, their symptoms were typically not related to measures of the couples’ functioning, particularly when controlling for family ADHD and comorbidities. Father ADHD symptoms were related to their reports of couple functioning, and fathers’ ADHD symptoms were associated with their negative attributions for their wives’ behavior, even with child and mother ADHD controlled. However, when fathers’ depression and hostility symptoms were controlled, these were more important predictors of the attributions than ADHD symptoms. Conclusion: It is important to consider parental levels of ADHD symptoms in the context of other family members’ symptoms as well as other forms of psychopathology.