bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-dumping – Containment and Reform
Authors: Bhat T. P.
Published: July 2017

In the global trade policy discussions, the issue of anti-dumping has assumed significance. Many trade experts view that such a practice is trade distruptive. Increasingly, now, the anti-dumping instrument is used to protect non-competitive domestic industries against alleged “unfair trade” practices. It is an easy option for the governments to oblige domestic pressure groups to confirm favours. In the post-WTO era, anti-dumping actions have acquired menacing proportion denying market access achieved through successive GATT/WTO Trade Rounds.

Anti-dumping Agreement is one of the contentious issues negotiated under the Uruguay Round. It achieved mixed results in tightening the rules that govern anti-dumping actions. The gains were introduction of de minimis and sunset review provisions. But loopholes were left in culmination provision, margin of dumping, material injury, cost calculation method, constructed value, initiation standard and termination provision and so on.

The paper attempts to examine the salient features of the current anti-dumping agreement and traces its impact on international trade. It suggests ways and means to reform the rules to address genuine concerns of fair trade under the WTO framework.
Pull Factors for Direct Investment:�A Cross Regional Comparison
Authors: Daniels John D. , Quigley Charles J.
Published: July 2017

Although much attention has focused on direct investment behaviour, there has been little attempt to explain why some countries receive much more than others. This study analyses differences in investment outfiows from the United States of America to different OECD, Latin American, and other lesser developed countries. A few variables explain most of the differences among each group of countries. Their identification, however, depends on the group of countries being considered.
Problems of Validity of Measures Used in Investigating Man—Machine Systems
Authors: McCoy William K.
Published: July 2017

The human engineer, in his role as consultant to system design teams, is confronted with problems of measuring system performance in such a way that various elements of the system can be evaluated. The validity of such measurement techniques is often questioned but little data concerning the validation of such measurement techniques is available.

Analysis of the problems involved in validating measures used in investigating man—machine systems suggest that the concepts of validity as adhered to in modern psychology might not be adequate for use by a human engineer confronted with a system in its development stage. The general approach to system evaluation and the concepts of validity are discussed in terms of the problems involved in determining the validity of measurement schemes commonly used in investigating the properties of a man—machine system.
Modeling the Human Gunner in an Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) Tracking Task
Authors: Phatak Anil V. , Kessler Kenneth M.
Published: July 2017

This paper describes the formulation and validation of a human gunner model suitable for inclusion into a general anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) attrition algorithm. An optimal control theoretic model with modifications appropriate to a simulated AAA tracking task is shown to describe the human gunner's input-output response characteristics. Experimental data from manned AAA simulations are used in formulating and validating the optimal control gunner model. The gunner model incorporates a proportional-integral-derivative (P-I-D) controller structure and includes target trajectory dependent parameters to account for the adaptive characteristics of the human controller. The model formulation is in terms of the tracking error and a sufficient number of its higher order derivatives.
Describing the Human Operator's Internal Model of a Dynamic System
Authors: Jagacinski Richard J. , Miller Richard A.
Published: July 2017

An analysis of phase-plane switching loci was used to infer the human operator's internal model of a dynamic system he was attempting to control. Striking differences were found between the internal model and the actual dynamic system, and the internal model exhibited orderly changes with practice. The difficulties involved in incorporating a non-veridical internal model into optimal control models of the human operator are discussed.
Oculomotor Factors In Visual Perceptual Response Efficiency
Authors: Leisman Gerald
Published: July 2017

The preprogramming of saccadic eye movements is examined by studying the pattern of oculomotor sequences while scanning a visual display. The effects of interference employing a backward masking paradigm on the oculomotor response as well as on position judgment and stimulus identification are examined. Data indicate that the motor programming of an ocular saccade is linked to the perceptual analysis of target position and cannot be set in motion with an impairment in perceptual localization.
Practical Programs, Materials and Techniques
Authors: Bannatyne Alex
Published: July 2017

This month I present a sound practical paper which is concerned with intensive play equipment. Intensive play is a very valuable activity for many kinds of young handicapped children. It helps children develop physically and socially and may even help develop some modest intellectual skills.

However, it is timely to comment on the extensive use of materials by teachers to achieve objectives with children other than those for which the materials were obviously designed.

It is very important when purchasing materials and programs to insure they are exactly suited to the children with whom you intend to use them. Even more important is the objective or outcome you expect to achieve with the children. All too often teachers expect children to learn fluent reading by having them do lots of block design cards, visual-motor training and/or learning to balance. Block design cards will help the children do block designs efficiently, visual-motor training will train visual-motor coordination, and balancing trains balancing skills. If you wish the children to learn language encoding and decoding, you have to teach them the language, reading, writing and spelling in a very efficient psycholinguistic, multisensory way combined with strong motivation through appropriate reinforcements. The above comments are in no way intended to reflect on the Port-A-Pit equipment, the real value of which is described in the following paper.
Message Uncertainty and Message Reception. II
Authors: Pollack Irwin
Published: July 2017

A previous experiment indicated (1) that the accuracy of message reception is relatively independent of the size of the message ensemble if the number of response alternatives is held constant; and (2) that the accuracy of monitoring performance is independent of the number of irrelevant response alternatives. The present study attempts to determine whether the same generalizations are warranted in the case where the message and response alternatives are randomly chosen from the English language. They are.
The Effect of Interviewer Ambiguity-Specificity and Topical Focus on Interviewee Vocabulary Diversity
Authors: Siegman Aron Wolfe , Pope Benjamin
Published: July 2017

An experimental analogue of the initial interview is used to investigate the effects of interviewer ambiguity-specificity and topical focus, i.e., a low- vs. a high-anxiety arousing topic, on interviewee vocabulary diversity, measured by the type-token ratio. The findings indicate that both interviewer ambiguity and anxiety arousing remarks are associated with high interviewee vocabulary diversity. These results are interpreted in terms of the mediating roles of interviewee uncertainty and drive level. Additionally, interviewees' type-token ratios correlate positively with an index of intelligence and negatively with Eysenck's E-scale.
On Nucleus Component Durations
Authors: Bernard J. R. L-B.
Published: July 2017

Spectrographically derived measurements of the durations of the component sections of 19 different vocalic nuclei in the /h - d/ frame allow an estimation of the roles of linguistic, individual and physiological forces in the division of the nucleus into its on-glide, target, etc. and also a tentative ranking of these forces in the order given. Some observations on nucleus duration are included.
Speech Problems in Cerebral Palsy Children
Authors: Kamalashile Jayalakshmi
Published: July 2017

A total of 110 cerebal palsy children were assessed during a project lasting a year and a half. Analysis of the cases showed that: (i) Quadriplegics are affected more in speech than spastic children: (ii) Delayed speech forms the predominant speech defect: (iii) A one-to-one relationship is observed between the articulatory and vegetative functions: (iv) All the children with normal speech and hearing have average intelligence: (v) The data reveals that males are affected more than females: (vi) Speech problems are unaltered by stereotaxic surgery: (vii) Paraplegic and dystonic patients have a better prognosis than others.
A Word Superiority Effect in a Phonetically Precise Orthography
Authors: Lukatela G. , Lorenc B. , Ognjenović P. , Turvey M.T.
Published: July 2017

Other things being equal, a letter is identified more accurately and rapidly in the context of a word than in the context of a nonword. This word-superiority effect has been demonstrated many times with materials conforming to English orthography. The present experiment, using the probe letter-recognition procedure, demonstrates the effect in the Serbo-Croatian orthography. In that the English and Serbo-Croatian orthographies distinguish markedly in the level at which they systematically reference the spoken language, it appears that the word-superiority effect is not owing to orthographic idiosyncracies. Analysis of the effect in Serbo-Croatian suggests that it is not completely accountable for in terms of interletter probability structure and that word-specific factors may be involved.
The Graeco-Latin (G-L) Instrument: a New Measure of Semantic Complexity in Oral and Written English
Authors: Corson David J.
Published: July 2017

This article introduces a new and much-needed measure of levels of semantic complexity in oral and written English language texts. Reference is made to the research programme within which this Graeco-Latin (G—L) Instrument was developed. Evidence is extracted from that research to validate the claim that the instrument does measure levels of lexical abstraction and overall levels of textual semantic complexity in English. Some limitations and cautions are offered. The operational rules for employing the instrument are detailed.
On The Differences Between Spoken and Written Language
Authors: Akinnaso F. Niyi
Published: July 2017

Drawing on research studies in (socio)linguistics, discourse analysis, and literacy, this paper provides a synthesis of findings about lexical and syntactico-semantic differences between spokken and written language, focusing on empirical research on the English language since the 1920s. The major theoretical and methodological aproaches used in comparative studies of spoken and written language are outlined and their advantages and shortcomings are critically examined. The question of how speech and writing relate to prototypical forms of language and meaning is reexamined in the light of the findings. To avoid basing generalizations about differences between speech and writing uniquely on English, suggestions for future comparative research are offered and discussed.
Repetition and Associative Context Effects in Speech Production
Authors: Shields Lynne W. , Balota David A.
Published: July 2017

An experiment is reported that addresses the impact of lexical constraint on the production characteristics (mean duration and peak amplitude) of a given target word within a sentence production task. Subjects produced aloud sentences from memory that contained a target word (e.g., cat) that was either a repetition of an earlier word in the sentence (e.g., cat), associatively related to an earlier word in the sentence (e.g., dog), or unrelated to an earlier word in the sentence (e.g., son). The position within the sentence and phonetic environment of the target were equated across conditions. The results indicated that the mean durations for the target word were shorter in the repetition condition, compared to the associatively related condition, which in turn produced shorter production durations compared to the unrelated condition. In addition, the peak amplitude measurements indicated that the repeated condition produced relatively lower peak amplitudes for the target word, compared to the remaining two conditions which did not differ.
Acoustic and Aerodynamic Effects of Interarticulator Timing in Voiceless Consonants
Authors: Löfqvist Anders
Published: July 2017

Interarticulator timing is a mechanism for producing linguistic contrasts that is widely used in different languages. This paper explores acoustic and aerodynamic effects of variations in laryngeal-oral coordination in voiceless consonants. Measurements of voice onset time and interarticulator phasing for individual tokens of stop consonants show weak correlations, indicating that interarticulator timing is only one factor determining voice onset time. Other factors most likely involved are glottal opening, transglottal pressure and air flow, and vocal fold tension. Taken together, these observations suggest that speakers may only have limited control of voice onset time. This could explain why languages do not seem to make fine-grain use of VOT for linguistic contrasts. Measurements of peak and minimum air flow during individual source pulses, obtained by inverse-filtering oral flow, show a pattern of decrease and increase in vowels following voiceless consonants. Subtle differences in the time course of these patterns occur following different consonants, suggesting that interarticulator phasing may be partly responsible for them. Closer examination reveals consistent correlations with interarticulator phasing for one speaker but inconsistent results for another. The results are discussed in terms of speech motor control and controlled variables in speech.
The Emotive Impact of Foreign Intonation: An Experiment in Switching English and Russian Intonation
Authors: Holden Kyril T. , Hogan John T.
Published: July 2017

This study explores subjects' responses in terms of emotion and attitude to native and foreign intonation patterns across four major sentence types. The goal of the experiment was to ascertain whether there would be a significant change in the judgment of a selection of ten emotions and attitudes with a change of intonation, while keeping other phonetic factors constant. Two languages and two groups of native speakers, English and Russian, were chosen for the experiments. The pattern of interactions from the analyses of variance for each of the ten measures indicates that English and Russian speaking subjects show a similar tripartite grouping of nine of the emotions/attitudes into Positive, Negative, and Passive types. One variable, namely SURPRISED, exhibits a different pattern of means between the two language groups. Within each emotion/attitude, sentence types are differentially rated for each level of intonation condition (native or foreign) in both Russian and English experiments. In general, English speakers are found to be more sensitive to foreign intonation. The most significant difference between intonations is recorded by English speakers' judgments of the Negative emotions/attitudes, with Russian intonation consistently rated as more Negative.
Glasshouse construction and environmental control
Authors: Winspear K W , Canham A E
Published: July 2017

Replacement of wood by aluminium alloys as the main structural material for glasshouse construction posed new problems for designers and, in Britain, has resulted in a wide range of different types–-from the single wide span of over 20 m to the 3 m multi-span Venlo. Many environmental factors which influence plant growth in the glasshouse can now be controlled automatically, such as lighting, ventilation and air movement, heating, carbon dioxide enrichment and air humidity.
Technology Transfer in the Tropics
Authors: Uehara Goro
Published: July 2017

It is generally acknowledged that the lot of resource-poor farmers in underdeveloped countries can be improved only by better technology transfer. There is, however, less agreement on how this transfer is to be effected under field conditions. This article reviews a sophisticated modelling system which provides an agricultural decision support system which has the all-important merit of allowing the individual farmer to exercise a choice.
Trends in Premarital Sex in the United States, 1954–2003
Authors: Finer Lawrence B.
Published: July 2017

Objectives.

Policy and programmatic efforts promoting sexual abstinence until marriage have increased, but it is unclear whether establishing such behavior as normative is a realistic public health goal. This study examined the proportion of individuals in various cohorts who had had premarital sex (defined as either having had vaginal intercourse before first marrying or ever having had intercourse and never having married) by various ages.

Methods.

Data from four cycles of the National Survey of Family Growth, 1982–2002, and event history analysis techniques, including Kaplan-Meier life-table procedures and Cox proportional-hazards regression models, were used to examine the incidence of premarital sex by gender and historical cohort.

Results.

Data from the 2002 survey indicate that by age 20, 77% of respondents had had sex, 75% had had premarital sex, and 12% had married; by age 44, 95% of respondents (94% of women, 96% of men, and 97% of those who had ever had sex) had had premarital sex. Even among those who abstained until at least age 20, 81% had had premarital sex by age 44. Among cohorts of women turning 15 between 1964 and 1993, at least 91% had had premarital sex by age 30. Among those turning 15 between 1954 and 1963, 82% had had premarital sex by age 30, and 88% had done so by age 44.

Conclusions.

Almost all Americans have sex before marrying. These findings argue for education and interventions that provide the skills and information people need to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases once they become sexually active, regardless of marital status.
Epidemiology Competency Development and Application to Training for Local and Regional Public Health Practitioners
Authors: Baseman Janet G. , Marsden-Haug Nicola , Holt Victoria L. , Stergachis Andy , Goldoft Marcia , Gale James L.
Published: July 2017

In 2002, the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice (NWCPHP) at the University of Washington initiated the Epidemiology Competencies Project, with the goal of developing competency-based epidemiology training for non-epidemiologist public health practitioners in the northwestern United States. An advisory committee consisting of epidemiology faculty and experienced public health practitioners developed the epidemiology competencies. NWCPHP used the competencies to guide the development of in-person trainings, a series of online epidemiology modules, and a Web-based repository of epidemiology teaching materials. The epidemiology competencies provided a framework for collaborative work between NWCPHP and local and regional public health partners to develop trainings that best met the needs of a particular public health organization. Evaluation surveys indicated a high level of satisfaction with the online epidemiology modules developed from the epidemiology competencies. However, measuring the effectiveness of competency-based epidemiology training for expanding epidemiology knowledge and skills of the public health workforce remains a challenge.
Assessment of Applied Epidemiology Competencies among the Virginia Department of Health Workforce
Authors: Patel Ami S. , Powell Timothy A. , Woolard C. Diane
Published: July 2017

Objectives.

Epidemiologists play critical roles in public health. However, until recently, no formal standards existed for epidemiology practice. In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists drafted Competencies for Applied Epidemiologists in Governmental Public Health Agencies (AECs) that provide a foundation for expectations and training programs for three tiers of practice. We characterized the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) epidemiology workforce and assessed its baseline applied epidemiology competency by using these competencies.

Methods.

Epidemiologists representing multiple divisions developed an Internet survey based on the AECs. Staff who met the definition of an epidemiologist were requested to complete the survey. Within eight skill domains, specific competencies were listed. For each competency, frequency and confidence in performing and need for training were measured by using Likert scales. Differences among tier levels were assessed using analysis of variance.

Results.

Eighty-eight people from 10 program areas responded and were included in the analysis. Median epidemiology experience was four years, with 52% having completed formal training. Respondents self-identified as Tier 1/entry-level (38%), Tier 2/mid-level (47%), or Tier 3/senior-level (15%) epidemiologists. Compared with lower tiers, Tier 3 epidemiologists more frequently performed financial or operational planning and management ( p=0.023) and communication activities ( p=0.018) and had higher confidence in assessment and analysis ( p<0.001). Overall, training needs were highest for assessment/analysis and basic public health sciences skills.

Conclusions.

VDH has a robust epidemiology workforce with varying levels of experience. Frequency and confidence in performing competencies varied by tier of practice. VDH plans to use these results and the AECs to target staff training activities.
Do Cigarette Prices Vary by Brand, Neighborhood, and Store Characteristics?
Authors: Toomey Traci L. , Chen Vincent , Forster Jean L. , Van Coevering Pam , Lenk Kathleen M.
Published: July 2017

Objective.

We assessed the price variability of cigarettes by brand, neighborhood characteristics (racial/ethnic and youth composition, number of schools, and number of stores), and store type.

Methods.

Trained research staff purchased three different brands of cigarettes (premium, menthol, and discount—all produced by the same company) at 214 stores in one metropolitan area. We assessed associations between price and neighborhood/store characteristics through multivariate regression, using four price variables as dependent variables—the price of each brand of cigarettes and the mean price across the three brands.

Results.

We found that the price of cigarettes varied by neighborhood and store characteristics, although this variability differed by brand. For the same brand, the maximum price was 1.7 to 1.8 times higher than the lowest price. We found a positive association between the percentage of a neighborhood that was nonwhite and the price of discount and premium cigarettes as well as the overall mean price of cigarettes, but not with the price of the menthol brand. We found a negative association between the percentage of youth in a neighborhood and the price of premium cigarettes as well as the mean price, but not with the price of the other two brands. In addition, we found a greater likelihood of higher discount brand prices at independent vs. chain-operated stores.

Conclusions.

Our findings showed that cigarette prices do vary by brand, the youth and racial/ethnic composition in a neighborhood, and store type, suggesting that the tobacco industry might vary its marketing strategies based on brand as well as neighborhood and store characteristics.
Sun-Seeking Behavior to Increase Cutaneous Vitamin D Synthesis: When Prevention Messages Conflict
Authors: Clipp Sandra L. , Burke Alyce , Hoffman-Bolton Judith , Alani Rhoda , Liégeois Nanette J. , Alberg Anthony J.
Published: July 2017

Objectives.

The public has long been encouraged to engage in sun-safe practices to minimize exposure to sunlight, the major cause of nonmelanoma skin cancer. More recently, some have advocated unprotected sun exposure to increase cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D as a way to promote health. We assessed the net result of these conflicting messages.

Methods.

In a cross-sectional survey in 2007, questionnaires were mailed to participants of an ongoing cohort study in Washington County, Maryland. The study population consisted of 8,027 adults (55% response rate).

Results.

Thirty percent of respondents were aware that unprotected sun exposure increased endogenous vitamin D levels. Among those who were aware of this benefit, 42% reported going out into the sun to increase vitamin D levels. Sun-seeking to increase vitamin D production did not significantly differ according to self-reported personal history of skin cancer, but was significantly higher among women, older age groups, those with less education, and vitamin D supplement users.

Conclusion.

A substantial proportion of respondents reported sun-seeking behavior expressly to increase endogenous vitamin D levels. The message about sun exposure and vitamin D is reaching the general public; however, this finding poses challenges to skin cancer prevention efforts.
Do People Who Develop AIDS within 12 Months of HIV Diagnosis Delay HIV Testing?
Authors: Schwarcz Sandra K. , Hsu Ling , Chin Chi-Sheng Jennie , Richards T. Anne , Frank Heidi , Wenzel Conrad , Dilley James
Published: July 2017

Objective.

Individuals diagnosed with AIDS within 12 months of HIV diagnosis have been considered “late testers.” Prevalence estimates of late testers have been made using HIV/AIDS surveillance data, and high rates of late testing have been reported. However, studies evaluating this definition have not been conducted. We measured the degree of misclassification of delayed testing based on this surveillance definition of late testing.

Methods.

We used dates of negative HIV tests among people who met this definition of late testing in San Francisco from 2007 to 2008 to reclassify people as “verified non-late testers” if there was a negative HIV test within five years of HIV diagnosis, as “verified late testers” if there were no prior tests or if negative tests were recorded five or more years prior to diagnosis, or as “late-tester status not verified.” We measured misclassification of late-tester status and the prevalence of late testing using the different definitions of late testing.

Results.

Of the 270 people who developed AIDS within 12 months of HIV diagnosis, we found that 89 (33.0%) were verified late testers, 131 (48.5%) were verified non-late testers, and 50 (18.5%) were unverifiable. Using the surveillance definition (individuals who develop AIDS within 12 months of HIV diagnosis), the prevalence of late testing was 26.3%, whereas it was 9.0% when restricted to individuals verified as late testers.

Conclusion.

Defining people who develop AIDS within 12 months of HIV diagnosis without taking into consideration the dates of prior negative HIV tests leads to substantial misclassification of late testing.
Completeness and Timeliness of Electronic vs. Conventional Laboratory Reporting for Communicable Disease Surveillance—Oklahoma, 2011
Authors: Johnson Matthew G. , Williams Jean , Lee Anthony , Bradley Kristy K.
Published: July 2017

Objectives.

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act encourages the meaningful use of certified electronic health record technology. A HITECH-compliant core component is nationwide electronic laboratory reporting (ELR) implementation for communicable disease surveillance. In Oklahoma, laboratories with ≥400 positive tests/year for reportable diseases must use ELR. Of 18 such laboratories, two have adopted ELR. We compared completeness and timeliness of ELR reports from these two laboratories with conventional reports from all other Oklahoma laboratories.

Methods.

We retrospectively reviewed confirmed reportable disease cases for January 1–December 31, 2011, excluding tuberculosis, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, diseases without laboratory diagnoses, and immediately reportable diseases. Probable reportable tickborne disease cases were included. We compared ELR with conventional reporting (i.e., mail, fax, telephone, and Internet). We assessed data completeness based on eight demographic and two laboratory fields in each disease report and timeliness by percentage of cases reported in ≤1 business day.

Results.

Overall, 1,867 reports met the inclusion criteria; 24% of these reports had been submitted by ELR. Data completeness was 90% for ELR and 95% for conventional reporting. Patient addresses accounted for 97% of the missing data fields for ELR reports. Timeliness was 91% for ELR and 87% for conventional reports.

Conclusions.

Although early in the transition to ELR compliance in Oklahoma, ELR has already yielded improved timeliness for communicable disease surveillance. However, ELR did not yield more complete reports than conventional reporting. Requiring specific demographic data fields for ELR reports can improve the completeness of ELR.
A Method for Isolating Precipitation from Adsorption in Surfactant Solid Systems
Authors: Celik M.S.
Published: July 2017

The interaction of anionic surfactants with multivalent cations leads to precipitation of the surfactant followed by redissolution of the precipitate. The adsorption of anionic surfactants from aqueous solutions on to various substrates yields adsorption maxima. An investigation has been undertaken to test the contribution of surfactant precipitation/redissolution on the occurrence of these adsorption maxima. A method based on the solids concentration has been developed for the calcite/sodium dodecyl sulphonate system in order to estimate the amount of surfactant precipitated during adsorption.
Estimation and Removal of Chromium Ions from Tannery Wastes Using Zeolite-3A
Authors: Tahir Hajira , Saleem M. , Afzal M. , Ahmad H. , Hussain S.T. , Afzal Jawaad
Published: July 2017

The concentration of potentially toxic chromium metal ions in sediments and liquid waste samples from selected tanneries was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after digestion with nitric acid. The data obtained revealed the presence of elevated levels of chromium metal ions in waste samples relative to the NEQS (National Environmental Quality Standards) require-ments. A new process entitled IERECHROM (Ion Exchange REmoval of CHROMium) has been developed for the removal and separation of chromium ions from sediments using zeolite-3A. The factors affecting chromium ion removal include exchanger concentration, pH, shaking time and temperature. The applicability of the Freundlich. Dubinin–Radushkevich and virial isotherm equations to the system has been examined. The thermodynamic parameters °LH0, °LG0 and °LS0 were calculated using the virial isotherm expression. The results suggest that natural aluminosilicates such as zeolite-3A can be utilised as low-cost ion-exchange and sorbent materials because of their selectivities for the removal of chromium ions and various other heavy metals.
Immersion Heats of Active Carbons in Water and Organic Substances
Authors: Goubkina M.L. , Polyakov N.S. , Tatarinova L.I.
Published: July 2017

The immersion heats of two active carbon (AC) samples in water and organic substances with molecules of different size have been investigated. A molecular sieve effect was established. It has been shown that changes in the immersion heats of the active carbons correspond to pore structure characteristics such as the size distribution of the micropores. The immersion heats of moistened active carbons in liquids have also been investigated, and the heat balance of the process calculated.
Social Choice Theory in 10,000 Meters: Examining Independence and Transitivity in the Ncaa Cross-Country Championships
Authors: Mixon Franklin G. , King Ernest W.
Published: July 2017

A recent study by Hammond (2007) delves into scoring methods in athletic events as a way of illuminating social choice problems. Hammond's study indicates, using data from a girls' high school cross-country meet in Michigan, that the current scoring method for high school cross-country is plagued by two problems related to inconsistency and ambiguity in the results – problems that can be characterized as violations of the principles of independence from irrelevant teams (IIT) and transitivity. Our note supports and extends Hammond's study by examining the results from both the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Division I men's cross-country championships, wherein the types of scoring problems found by Hammond are present. Unlike high school-level cross-country, however, we show that salaries, bonuses, and budgets at the collegiate level can be substantial, so that any inconsistencies and ambiguities in the scoring mechanism can be quite costly for individuals and institutions.
Estimating Rebound Effects in Personal Automotive Transport: Gas Price and the Presence of Hybrids
Authors: Ficano Carlena Cochi , Thompson Patrick
Published: July 2017

Energy conservation gains within the personal vehicle fleet are undermined if drivers respond to declining transportation prices by increasing the quantity of transportation demanded, a phenomenon referred to as “rebound.” In this analysis, we estimate transportation rebound in the U.S. using 2009 vehicle level data from the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS). Results from OLS and IV models indicate that a one percent reduction in driving cost associates with between a 0.56 and a 0.78 percent increase in vehicle miles traveled, with the effect more pronounced in single than multiple vehicle households and among drivers with the lowest driving intensity.
Mold Filling Imbalances in Geometrically Balanced Runner Systems
Authors: Beaumont John P. , Young Jack H. , Jaworski Matthew J.
Published: July 2017

This paper presents the results of a study which reveals a significant shear induced flow imbalance developed in multi-cavity molds which use the most commonly accepted naturally balanced runner designs. The flow imbalance exists in all standard "H" patterned runners with eight or more cavities and results in as much as 95% flow to the inner cavities. This paper also reveals a solution to this imbalance through a means of flipping the melt in the runner. The "melt flipper" in the runner creates a thermal and flow balance to all cavities, thereby improving product quality and productivity.
Biological Effects of Tissue Modulations in Wound Healing
Authors: Fini M. , Morrone G. , Giardino R. , Ferioli G. , Mattioli-Belmonte M. , Amati S. , Tietz C. , Biagini G. , Tappa M. M. , Ricotti G.
Published: July 2017

The reactive and reparative capacity of injured tissue when treated with either Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMFs) or with immunomodulator drugs (Prostaglandin E2 and Thymopentin) was evaluated. A morphological and quantitative evaluation was made of the interactions and the interferences on the structural stages of tissue repair processes. When PEMFs were used the time required for new tissue to completely cover the wound was 26 days after surgery, instead of 30 days for control conditions or for treatment with PGE2 or Thymopentin. PEMFs showed accelerated healing process. Both PGE2 and Thymopentin should be considered, in association with other drugs, in an attempt to strengthen the various immunomodulative phases of the reconstitution of injured tissue.
Preparation of a Dextran-Based Degradable Absorbent Suitable for Wound Healing Applications
Authors: Chakravarthy D. , Smith D. J.
Published: July 2017

Hydrolytically degradable microspheres were prepared by crosslinkng dextran under alkaline conditions with cyanogen bromide (CNBr). The crosslinking was performed in a water-in-oil type heterophase suspension medium. Dextran Mws of 500,000 and 40,000 were used for the preparations, CNBr:dextran-OH mole ratios ranged from 0.021:1 to 0.21:1. The microspheres absorbed significant quantities of water (20-45 times their own weight), and were shown to degrade in neutral buffer to soluble and non-toxic products. Hydration and degradation behavior varied linearly with the ratios of CNBr to dextran. The physical properties were dependent on the molecular weights of the dextrans used in the preparations. In contrast to epichlorohydrin crosslinked dextran microspheres that are resistant to hydrolysis and only degrade enzymatically, the described microspheres degrade more rapidly by simple hydrolysis of the iminocarbonate bonds that constitute the microspheres. Such degradative properties are ideal in the application of the microspheres as wound filers and as components of wound dressings.
Graft Copolymerization of Methylmethacrylate onto Glutaraldehyde Crosslinked Pericardial Tissue
Authors: Shanteh C. , Rao K. Panduranga
Published: July 2017

Calcification is the principle cause of failure of tissue derived cardiac valves replacement pre-treated with glutaraldehyde. Glutaraldehyde incorporation and crosslinks introduced upon pretreatment creates gaps or void spaces in the bioprosthetic tissue which serve as nucleation sites for calcification. Calcification can be reduced or prevented by filling these spaces with large molecules capable of acting as space fillers. In the present study efforts have been made to introduce space-fillers substantively into fiber matrix by grafting acrylic monomers, namely methylmethacrylate using ceric ammonium nitrate as the initiator system. The percent grafting, graft efficiency and total conversion for monomer to tissue weight ratio were determined. The formation of graft copolymers was confirmed by infrared spectra, determination of nitrogen, hydroxyproline and arginine contents.
The Effect on Wound Healing by a Modified Fibrin Scaffold Delivering Acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF-1)
Authors: Pandit Abhay , Feldman Dale , Listinsky Catherine , Thompson Anthony
Published: July 2017

This project investigated the efficacy of modified fibrin scaffold as a vehicle for acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1). The goal of this study was to justify the use of a modified fibrin scaffold with altered surface roughness and porosity as a drug-delivery matrix, specifically for the delivery of FGF-1. The hypothesis tested was that FGF-1 delivered in an optimal dose through a modified fibrin scaffold would result in a significant increase in angiogenesis, epithelialization, fibroblast, and healing rate, and correspond to a decrease in overall healing time. In vivo testing was conducted in a full-thickness defect model in a rabbit. Four 3 x 3-cm full-thickness defects were created on the dorsum of each of five white New Zealand rabbits. There were four treatments to be investigated: modified fibrin scaffold, modified fibrin/FGF-1 scaffolds, topical FGF-1, and control defects. The regimen of topical dosing of FGF-1 was determined from release kinetic studies using the modified fibrin scaffold. The areas and perimeters of the initial wound and final wounds were obtained from histological slides using an image analysis system. Standard histomorphometric techniques were used to characterize the wound-healing response. In this study, the modified fibrin/FGF-1 scaffold served as a suitable vehicle for FGF-1, providing an enhanced angiogenic and a fibroblastic healing response and, thus, was found to be an effective scaffold.
Modified Nucleic Acid for Systematic Evolution of RNA Ligands by Exponential Enrichment
Authors: Ito Yoshihiro , Teramoto Naozumi , Kawazoe Naoki , Inada Kojiro , Imanishi Yukio
Published: July 2017

Various types of modified nucleic acid were tested for systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) or in vitro evolution. T7 RNA polymerase accepted cytidine triphosphate with a biotinyl group at the N4-position of cytosine, adenosine triphosphate with an aminohexyl group at the N6-position of adenine, and 2T-amino-2′-deoxyuridine triphosphate as substrates for transcription of DNA containing a random sequence. However, uridine triphosphate with a nitroveratryloxy group at the 2′-position and adenosine triphosphate with an aminohexyl group at the 8-position of adenine were not accepted. The transcribed products served as templates for the production of cDNA by reverse transcription. These findings indicate that some modified nucleotides can be applied to the present SELEX protocol.
Synthesis of Novel N-Halamine Biocidal Polymers
Authors: Elrod D. B. , Worley S. D.
Published: July 2017

Two new water-insoluble polymeric biocides have been synthesized: poly[3-chloro-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-(4'-vinylbenzyl)imidazolidin-4-one] (Poly-p-VBD-Cl) and poly[acrylonitrile-co-(1,3-dichloro-5-methyl-5-(4'-vinylbenzyl)barbituric acid)] (Poly-AN-Barb-Cl). The polymer and copolymer were tested for longevity of the bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Not only did this test reveal significant bactericidal activity by these materials, but also good stability in dry storage. These new biocidal polymers could be used in cartridge filters for the disinfection of recreational and potable water.
In vivo and in vitro trimethadione oxidation activity of the liver from various animal species including mouse, hamster, rat, rabbit, dog, monkey and human
Authors: Tanaka E , Ishikawa A , Horie T
Published: July 2017

Trimethadione (TMO) has the properties required of a probe drug for the evaluation of hepatic drug-oxidizing capacity and, in this study, we have summarized the in vivo and in vitro metabolism of TMO in various animal species including mouse, hamster, rat, rabbit, dog, monkey and human. In the in vivo study, the plasma TMO level was measured after intravenous or oral (human) administration of TMO at a dose of 4 mg/kg to various animal species. The rate of TMO metabolic clearance in these animal species in vivo was in the order mouse > hamster >rat>rabbit>dog>monkey>human. In the in vitro study, species differences were observed in the cytochrome P450 (P450) content and drug-oxidizing enzyme activity. The content of P450 was monkey> mouse>dog>rabbit>hamster>rat>human. On the other hand, TMO N-demethylation was in the order mouse >hamster >rat >rabbit>dog>monkey>human. There was a good correlation between the mean total body clearance of TMO ( in vivo)andthemeanTMON-demethylase activity ( in vitro) (y=1.7×+0.11, r=0.965, P<0.001).

These results show that TMO is a probe agent with metabolic and pharmacokinetic characteristics making it attractive for the in vivo and in vitro characterization of metabolic activity in various animal species.
War Damage, I939-I945, and Post-war Reconstruction in Libraries of the Federal German Republic and England: a comparison
Authors: Brown Eileen
Published: July 2017

This article is an exercise in comparative librarianship, confined to strict geographical limits because of the vastness of the topic. The Federal Republic is studied first. In 1939 Germany had wonderful research libraries and mediocre public libraries; reasons for latter investigated. An account is given of damage suffered and reconstruction measures. Investigation of war damage in English libraries is more difficult owing to lack of published data, but it is clear that the extent of it is much less. Damage was chiefly to public libraries, which lost much valuable material. In reconstruction, less emphasis was placed on rebuilding than on keeping the service unbroken. The conclusion is that, while war damage in English libraries caused setbacks, England had to reconstruct basically along same lines, incorporating improvements. In Federal Republic library systems brought to a standstill, but the end of the war renewed contact with outside world. Reconstruction gave the opportunity of creating a vastly improved public libraiy system and making the most of remaining resources in research libraries by improved organization in inter-library co-operation, staff training and professional associations.
Suicide in Gothenburg
Authors: Nyström Sune , Olsfelt Christer , Eriksson Carl-Gunnar , Andén Tryggve
Published: July 2017

The relative importance of suicide as a cause of death, especially among younger persons, underlines the urgency of preventive measures. This study covers the fatal cases in a Swedish city of 450 000 inhabitants in 1968, 71 men and 30 women. Loneliness is closely associated with suicide, with high rates among divorced and widowed and among the elderly. “Sick-listing” is common in the material during the years preceding the suicide. Incomes are not lower than for the population in general, but half of the men are in debt at the time of death. In the critical phase, care had been given in only few cases. This is valid for psychiatric out-and inpatient care, all medical care leading to “sick-listing”, and for social care. Preventive measures must be encouraged at all levels. The needs of old people must be met, including psychiatric care, early cases must be detected and special care facilities must be created.
Some Aspects Concerning Admittance to and Accommodation in Geriatric Institutions Housing Persons with Varying Degrees of Need for Care
Authors: Mackeprang Bent , Bentzon Michael Weis
Published: July 2017

On the basis of an account of the mortality and changes in the need for care over a 2-year period among independent persons and patients requiring care in De Gamles By, Copenhagen, an assessment is made of the movements of patients and the need for care in a model of a geriatric institution. This model includes both purpose-built residential apartments for independent persons and places for dependent patients requiring nursing care. It is shown that the accommodation for the latter patients rapidly becomes occupied by the independent persons from the residential apartments who subsequently need nursing care. Thus, the places in the nursing section are blocked for the admittance of dependent persons living in the community outside. This situation arises when there are equal numbers of both types of accommodation. Where the number of residential apartments is greater than the number of places in the nursing section the care function must be transferred to the residential apartments, and this is regarded as impracticable.