bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical Property Predictions for Short Fiber/Brittle Matrix Composites
Authors: Chen C.Y. , Tucker Charles L.
Published: March 2007

A model is presented which predicts the effects of fiber orientation and matrix microcracking on the monotonic tensile stress-strain curves of composites with short fibers and brittle matrices. A hypothetical composite with aligned fibers is modeled as having elastic constants which decrease with strain in monotonic loading. These properties are measured for a composite with continuous aligned glass fibers in an un saturated polyester matrix by testing various laminates. The results successfully predict the nonlinear stress-strain curves of other lamination sequences. A short fiber com posite with identical composition is fabricated into samples with different fiber orienta tion distributions. The fiber orientation states are characterized using radiographic tracer fibers. The properties of these composites are successfully predicted, though the effects of microcracking are somewhat different, showing a degradation in longitudinal modulus due to fiber end cracks and a more stable transverse modulus due to crack arresting.
Acetal Homopolymer in Water Contact Service
Authors: Sample P.E. , West N.E.
Published: March 2007

Fabricated plastics are becoming increasingly important as components of potable water systems because of cost compared to metals and ease of fabrication and installation. The outstanding physical properties, dimensional stability and metal-like properties of acetal homopolymer suggest that this resin is a useful plumbing material. Acetal homopolymer has been utilized in water applications for nearly 25 years.
Strength Predictions of Injection Molding Compounds
Authors: Templeton P.A.
Published: March 2007

The Modified Rule of Mixtures has been verified to effectively predict the axial tensile strength of glass fiber reinforced injection molding compounds (IMC). Nylon, polypropylene, and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resins were molded with commercially available chopped strand fiberglass for parametric studies. The parameters which influence IMC strength were identified and test methods were developed for param eter measurements. The parameters included in the model are the fiber and resin strengths, their respective volume fractions, fiber orientation coefficient, fiber critical length, aver age fiber length, and a bonding efficiency factor. The fiber volume fraction and the fiber orientation were found to play a predominant role in controlling IMC strength. Even though the fiber critical length and average fiber length both varied between resin systems, the critical length ratio essentially remained constant. The Modified Rule of Mixtures showed a difference of under 2 % between the predicted and experimental values for nylon and PBT. A 15% difference between the predicted and experimental values was detected for polypropylene, which could be accounted for by poorer interfacial bonding and a higher void content. An efficiency factor was introduced into the equation to take these problems into account.
Analysis of Interlaminar Mode II Bending Specimens Using a Higher Order Beam Theory
Authors: Whitney James M.
Published: March 2007

A higher order beam theory is used to analyze two Mode II interlaminar bending specimen geometries. The theory is based on second order displacements in the thickness coordinate and is derived in conjunction with Reissner's variational principle. Homogeneous orthotropic materials are considered. Both the inplane normal stress and the interlaminar shear stress distributions exactly satisfy the equilibrium equations of clas sical theory of elasticity. The resulting field equations are applied to an analysis of the end notch flexure (ENF) specimen and end notch cantilever (ENC) specimen. Numerical results from the present theory are compared to those obtained from finite elements for the end notch flexure specimen. Excellent agreement is obtained.
Analysis of Bolt-Loaded Elliptical Holes in Laminated Composite Joints
Authors: Wang J.T. , Lotts C.G. , Davis D.D.
Published: March 2007

The feasibility of changing the bolt shape from circular to elliptical in order to increase the joint strength was investigated. An analytical method using a cosine series to represent the bearing stress was derived, and a boundary collocation method was used to determine the unknown coefficients of this cosine series. Stresses at the hole edge predicted by the analytical method agreed very well with finite element solutions. Failure analyses of joints in two different laminates were performed, and each laminate exhibited a different joint failure mode. Results demonstrate that the joint strength of both laminates can be improved substantially by changing the bolt shape to elliptical. The joint that failed in a bearing mode showed a greater strength increase compared to the joint that failed in a shearing mode.
Damage Evolution in Creep of SCS-6/Ti-24AI-11Nb Metal-Matrix Composites
Authors: Khobaib M.
Published: March 2007

Titanium aluminide composites reinforced with SiC fibers belong to a family of an emerging class of new materials suited for advanced aerospace structural ap plication. However, these materials are yet to be characterized for elevated temperature mechanical behavior and their failure mechanism. During flight, the structural com ponents of advanced aircraft undergo sustained loading for extended periods of time. These materials must show satisfactory creep resistance before they can be recommended for actual use. This investigation deals with the experimental study of creep behavior of a model SCS-6/Ti-24Al-11Nb composite. The main objective of this study is to understand the damage evolution under sustained load at high temperature in this class of material.

Tensile creep tests were conducted over the temperature range of 650 to 815°C. All the tests were conducted in laboratory air on specimens fabricated from umdirectional panels. The specimens were loaded with tensile axis parallel to (0) fiber The strain vs. time plot produced a classical creep behavior with three distinct regions. The total creep strain to failure was found to be less than the strain for fiber failure. Evidence of fiber failure was observed as early as in the initial part of the secondary stage.
An Energy Balance Based Approach to the End-Notched Flexure Test
Authors: Laman Scott A. , Vedula M.
Published: March 2007

A novel approach is introduced for calculating the Mode II fracture tough ness, G IIC, determined by the end-notched flexure test. The simple approach is based on an energy balance over the crack surface and therefore inherently takes into account shear deformation and nonlinearities during the test. The G IIC values from the energy balance calculation are compared to those from beam theory, shear deformation beam theory, a method based on the stress intensity factor, and shear deformation plate theory. The results show that the energy balance approach is the most general and consistent in its treatment of the effect of shear deformation on G IIC. Limitations of the other methods of calculation are also discussed.
Knowledge of Senior Center Activities Among the Elderly
Authors: Krout John A.
Published: March 2007

This study of the elderly's knowledge of senior center activities shows that the large majority of the aged are unable to identify specific center programs or activities but center users have greater knowledge than nonusers. Traditional predictor variables explain only a small amount of the variation in knowledge. The sources of knowledge cited by the elderly are restricted to newspapers, family and friends, and (in the case of center users) the center publication.
Alternatives to Institutionalization: Estimates of Need And Feasibility
Authors: Saltz Constance Corley , Palmore Erdman B. , Velez Ramon , Magruder-Habib Kathryn , Uhlig Richard
Published: March 2007

Need for and feasibility of four alternatives to institutionalization of the elderly (home health care, respite care, day hospitals, and day care) are examined in a survey of 98 hospital staff in a university-affiliated VA medical center. The survey revealed 1) the majority were not familiar with the alternatives; 2) most thought the VA should provide three of the alternatives; 3) between 20-30% of the elderly patients would be referred; and 4) a number of problems in program implementation were anticipated. Important considerations in planning and implementing alternative long-term care programs are noted.
The Status of Exercise Programs in Louisiana Senior Centers
Authors: Jones C. Jessie , Warren Barbara L.
Published: March 2007

Physical activities have been successful in the rehabilitative process by tending to reduce or retard chronic conditions. The purpose of this study was to assess the status of exercise programs in senior centers in Louisiana. Data were collected from 58 of the 75 senior centers (77%). Results indicated that almost half of the senior centers did not have exercise programs. The most frequently indicated problems/ barriers preventing centers from implementing effective exercise programs were (1) lack offunds to pay personnel, (2) no qualified person to conduct an exercise program, (3) difficulty in motivating participants, and (4) lack of equipment or available space.
Assessing the Probability of Abuse of the Elderly: Toward Development of a Clinical Screening Instrument
Authors: Hwalek Melanie A. , Sengstock Mary C.
Published: March 2007

Over the years, several investigators and service providers have indicated the need for a tool to screen elderly victims for the possibility of abuse and neglect. We examined over 100 items for their predictive value in discriminating cases of abuse/neglect from comparable cases of elderly persons known not to be victims. Data were collected by nine social/ health agencies on 50 cases of abuse/neglect and 47 control cases. Through a series of discriminant function data reduction analyses, nine items were identified that were 94% accurate in classifying cases into abuse/neglect and control groups. We discuss implications of these findings for future research and program planning.
Determinants of Nutrient Intake of the Elderly
Authors: Akin John S. , Guilkey David K. , Popkin Barry M. , Smith Karen M.
Published: March 2007

We examine the impact of a wide variety of factors on nutrient intake of a nationally representative sample of persons aged 55 and older. We studied individual food consumption data for a sample of 5615 persons obtained over a three-day period in the basic sample of the Nationwide Food Consumption Survey. We used multivariate estimation techniques to examine effects of source of income, program participation, and demographic and personal characteristics. Federal programs, particularly those for the elderly, appear significantly to improve nutrient intake and diet quality. Increases in away-from-home consumption are associated with significantly less calcium and phosphorous intakes. Other demographic and socioeconomic factors have important and statistically significant effects.
Gender Differences of Older Caregivers of Adults with Mental Retardation
Authors: Brubaker Timothy H. , Engelhardt Jean L. , Brubaker Ellie , Lutzer Victoria D.
Published: March 2007

Differences between male and female caregivers of mentally retarded adults have not previously been examined. This study focuses on differences between a sample of 54 male and 334 female caregivers of adult mentally retarded dependent persons. We examine caregiver characteristics, characteristics of the mentally retarded persons, caregivers'perceived caregiving ability and service planning and satisfaction. The findings suggest that mothers ranked their child's associated disabilities as more severe. Fathers reported higher satisfaction with services and were more concerned about their physical ability to care for their child in the future.
Predictors of Outcome in Nursing Homes
Authors: Palmore Erdman B.
Published: March 2007

To develop predictors of outcome, 22 admission characteristics of 221 consecutive discharges in two nursing homes were analyzed using automatic interaction detector analysis. Length of stay was significantly predicted by level of nursing care and feeding problems in one home, and by similar variables in the other home. Type of discharge was significantly predicted by receiving rehabilitation therapy, toileting problems, being on welfare, and feeding problems in one home, and by similar variables in the other. Results and uses of the findings are discussed in this article.
Family Care of the Elderly: Stress, Appraisal, and Coping
Authors: Long Clara M.
Published: March 2007

Using retrospective survey design, data were collected from 72 family caregivers of cognitively competent, noninstitutionalized elderly family members. A parent-care task list designated the strain encounter, and a visual analogue scale measured stress. The Ways of Coping Index measured emotion- and problem-focused coping behavior. Appraisal was measured by choosing one option from a four-item questionnaire. Findings, after analysis of variance and regression procedures, indicated that caregivers used a combination of problem- and emotion-focused behaviors in coping with parent-care situations classified as strains, particularly when they were appraised as "must be accepted or gotten used to. " Use of emotion-focused coping was somewhat greater as stress increased, and the use of problem-focused coping was greater when the situation was appraised as amenable to some type of action.
The Environmental Context of Poverty Among Older Residents of Economically Endangered Kansas Towns
Authors: Scheidt Rick J. , Norris-Baker Carolyn
Published: March 2007

This article reports results of a field study of the impact of acute and chronic economic stressors on elderly residents of four economically threatened small towns in Kansas. Guided by a conceptual model of environmental stress, risks and benefits associated with everyday life m these towns for older residents are explored for four issues: health risks, the health/housing dialectic, maintaining psychological control, and risks to community identity. Psychological and behavioral strategies employed by older residents as well as communities to deal with changes in these areas are illustrated. It is suggested that community intervention models (e.g., community development, empowerment, triage, or hospice) attempting to stabilize, rejuvenate, or resurrect economically endangered towns must consider a variety of context-specific needs and resources within and between communities. Recommendations for intervention are offeredfor rural practitioners (health professionals, community planners, housing experts) and policymakers.
Sexuality and Aging: The Hammerlock of Myths
Authors: Hodson Diane S. , Skeen Patsy
Published: March 2007

Contrary to the myths accepted by many in Western society, elderly people are highly sexual beings with sexual thoughts and desires that persist into advanced age for most individuals. Unfortunately, the sexual needs of the elderly are often ignored by family members, caregivers, and society in general. This article reviews relevant information concerning sexuality in the elderly including historical myths and current societal attitudes, sexual attitudes and behavior of elders, benefits of sexual expression, particular problems presented by nursing home care, valid alternate sexual outlets, and the need for education. Finally, an implications section for practitioners, policymakers, and families is included.
Older Veteran Mobility: Migrant Characteristics and Use of Ambulatory Care Resources
Authors: Cowper Diane C. , Manheim Larry M. , Kubal Joseph D.
Published: March 2007

This article focuses on the mobility of veterans who are of retirement age. An attempt is made to fit the types of moves realized by older veterans into the typology established in the existing literature. Hypotheses are tested regarding the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of four mobility types. Additionally, the relationship between mobility and ambulatory care use is examined to determine the impact mobile veterans have on their destination resources. The results show that most sociodemographic characteristics associated with mobility types of the general elderly population are also present in the older veteran population. Interstate migrants are less likely to use outpatient services at destination than are other mobility types. Among ambulatory care users, mandatory treatment veterans, veterans who considered Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) locations in their migration decision, veterans who live within 5 miles of a VA facility, and disabled veterans had greater odds of using VA facilities.
On Having a "Significant Other" During the Parent Care Years
Authors: Brody Elaine M. , Litvin Sandra J. , Hoffman Christine , Kleban Morton H.
Published: March 2007

In a study of 520 parent-caring women of different marital statuses, 29% of not-married daughters (separated, divorced, widowed, never married) responded affirmatively to the question "Do you have a special male friend whom you see exclusively?" This group is compared with married daughters and with not-married daughters who did not have such friends. Those without special male friends were the oldest, had the oldest and most disabled parents with whom they most often shared households, and had the fewest helpers in caregiving. Women without a special male relationship were more depressed than married women. Both groups of not-married women had significantly less socioemotional support in caregiving and reported receiving less satisfaction from their family and friendship networks than married women. The results also support findings on the value of emotional support from a confidant.
Service Awareness and Use Among Older North Carolinians
Authors: Mitchell Jim
Published: March 2007

This article explores the effects of demographic, need, and access characteristics hypothesized to predict the use of services among 868 noninstitutionalized older adults. The results of a principal components analysis of the self-reported use of an array of services are used to classify services as either senior center or community based. Findings indicate that physically active Black respondents, although they suffer limitations from chronic conditions, are more likely than Whites to use senior center services. With community-based services, however, the propensity for Black elders to use services more than do Whites is accounted for by indicators of the need for and access to services. The conclusions suggest that the dynamics of service use vary depending upon the type of service, and that older adults use services when there is a need, regardless of access barriers. There is no suggestion that the more able elderly use services disproportionately.
A Support Group for People in the Early Stages of Dementia of the Alzheimer Type
Authors: LaBarge Emily , Trtanj Francine
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this report is to describe the process and outcomes of a support group for people in the early stages of dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) from the diagnosed individual's perspective. Additionally, it offers insights and suggestions into effective ways others may develop these groups. The use of group support enabled the exploration of the effects of the illness on the person and an opportunity to share support and coping mechanisms to deal with these effects. The findings describe the participants' subjective difficulties with mentation and language, their emotional responses to the illness, their questions about the illness, the effect of others' comments regarding their condition, and their perceptions of the support group. Infor mation is included about screening, session content, and problems unique to group work with people with DAT so that others may duplicate the program.
Nursing Facility Admission Agreements: An Analysis of Selected Content
Authors: Kisor Anne J.
Published: March 2007

This study employs the method of content analysis to consider the prevalence of required nursing facility admission agreement content. The goal was to assess facilities' compliance with applicable regulations that pertain to nursing home residents' rights to full and accurate information upon admission. Without appropriate information, potential consumers are unaware of the scope of their rights as nursing home residents The study departs from previous research in that it considers the context of recent nursing home reform legislation (OBRA '87) and the degree to which admission agreements reflect important changes in residents' rights requirements. The findings confirm the prevalence of problems and deficiencies in admission agreement language addressed in previous studies and demonstrate the need for improvement in both clarity and accuracy of admission agreement content.
Changes in Attitudes Toward Restraints Among Nursing Home Staff and Residents' Families Following Restraint Reduction
Authors: Ejaz Farida K. , Rose Miriam S. , Jones James A.
Published: March 2007

Changes in attitudes toward using physical restraints, and the benefits of restraint elimination were examined by interviewing 161 staff and 153 family members of residents in four long-term care facilities before and afterformal restraint reduction programs were instituted. The four sites were divided into two groups: one group was composed of two sites that had initiated restraint reduction prior to this study, while the other group initiated restraint reduction as a result of this study. Both groups experienced statistically significant declines in restraint prevalence rates from pre- to posttest. Although both staff and families cited fewer reasons for using restraints from pre- to posttest, staff along with families of previously restrained residents, did not perceive increased benefits to residents or their relatives following restraint reduction. Restraint reduc tion, therefore, could lead to an acceptance of nursing practices that emphasize dignity even without an accompanying perception of improvement in relatives' or residents'daily lives.
A Senior-Centered Model of Intergenerational Programming With Young Children
Authors: Dellmann-Jenkins Mary
Published: March 2007

A multistep model is presented that builds upon documented features of intergenerational program design and evaluation strategies that have resulted in positive outcomes for both older adult and preschool-age participants. This senior-centered model builds upon evidence that intergenerational programs involving these two age groups often fail to recognize the needs and interests of the senior participants and primarily focus on promoting the development of the young children. This model is both timely and needed in light of the growing number of administrators of day care centers interested in providing regular intergenerational exchanges between preschoolers and older adults.
Factors Associated With Formal Service Use by Family Members of Patients With Dementia
Authors: Gill Corinne E. , Hinrichsen Gregory A. , DiGiuseppe Raymond
Published: March 2007

Thes study investigated actual service use by 152 dementia patients and used the Anderson model to examine factors associated with the use of in-home and out-of-home services. On the whole, practical issues tied to patient care were most powerfully related to the use of formal services in patients with relatively advanced dementia. Family caregiver appraisal, coping, and emo tional adjustment were not substantively tied to service use.
Criminal Justice Planning: An Assessment
Authors: Ewing Blair G.
Published: March 2007

The effort to bring about change for the better in the performance of the criminal justice system and to bring about crime reduction has rested on the proposition that comprehensive planning must precede initiatives aimed at these ends. An assessment of the state of comprehensive planning for law enforcement and criminal justice systems since 1965 when the first Federal legislation placed emphasis on this kind of planning, indicates that much progress has been made, but that major barriers exist to effective system-wide planning. The National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals said three years ago that the state comprehensive plans required under the Federal Crime Control Act since 1968 had been narrow in scope, had lacked reliable data and analysis, had not been precise about goals, directions, and strategies, and had not shown evidence of efforts to measure performance through monitoring and evaluation. These deficiencies still exist, though in lesser measure. They appear to be related to the fragmentation which characterizes the management of the criminal justice system, a narrow interpretation of the Crime Control Act and particularly its predecessor legislation by some states, a failure to analyze data, and uncertainty over what planning approaches might be most useful and appropriate for comprehensive, system-wide criminal justice and law enforcement planning. The key to overcoming the deficiencies would appear to be an understanding of the nature of the criminal justice system, and the development of a pragmatic approach to planning. Consensus appears to be developing along these lines, encouraged by the actions of several states which have taken the lead in adopting and incremental list, process-oriented approach to planning, and supported by new LEAA guidelines, the standards and goals program of LEAA, and the development and implementation of supportive mechanisms, in the form of planning, training and technical assistance.
Changing Alienations as Consequences of Imprisonment
Authors: Neal Arthur G. , Snyder Eldon E. , Balogh Joseph K.
Published: March 2007

Concentrating on inmates in a medium security institution, kinds and degrees of alienation were related to the duration of incarceration as well as to the extra-prison variables of race and marital status. In contrast to our a priori expectations, the results indicated that the amount of time in prison was inversely related, at statistically significant levels, to our measures of meaninglessness, powerlessness, normlessness, and social isolation. The implications of race and marital status for differentiating inmate alienations were explored in conjunction with the duration of imprisonment.
Violence and Victimization within a State Prison System
Authors: Fuller Dan A. , Orsagh Thomas
Published: March 2007

The focus of this paper is upon the victim of assault within the North Carolina prison system. This paper provides the first comprehensive quantitative profile of in-prison victimization. The research to be reported was undertaken to answer four questions: (i) What is the assault rate within North Carolina's prisons? (ii) What are the immediate precipitating causes of this assault? (iii) What common characteristics do the victims of assault possess? (iv) What practical policies could be implemented to reduce the level of assault? Three data bases were used. (i) A sample of records of disciplinary hearings; (ii) Interviews with prison supervisors; (iii) Interviews with prison inmates. A synthesis of these data sets permits us to answer the above four questions. Some of the results which are reported are consistent with common expectations. Others are not. In particular, we show that the rate of unprovoked victimization is much lower than is commonly believed.
Disposition Decisions by Juvenile Court Probation Officers and Judges: A Multivariate Analysis
Authors: Sieverdes Christopher M. , Shoemaker Donald J. , Cunningham Orville R.
Published: March 2007

This study involves an examination of the relative impact of legal and extra-legal variables on dispositional outcomes bhi pre-court and court level officials in the juvenile court system. A number of studies have documented variations in case processing by police, probation officers and judges in the Juvenile Court. They reveal that differential criteria influence the disposition decisions of cases seen bY these officials. Results from this studi' demonstrate that legalfactors play a more important role in the official processing of juvenile offenders than extra-legal variables. Screening decisions by probation officers depend primarily on legal aspects of the case and secondarily on physical attributes of the defendant; legal variables and social variables are more salient in judicial level decision-making.
Public Support for the Death Penalty
Authors: Lotz Roy , Regoli Robert M.
Published: March 2007

Over the last decade public support for capital punishment has increased. Yet few empirical studies have attempted theoretically to explain this occurrence. Culling rather diverse literature, the seeds of three plausible explanations have emerged. They have been identified as the Rational, the Systems, and the Traditional Values models.

Data for the project were derived from survey questionnaire responses of 1149 of 1872 persons (63 percent response rate), via a 4-wave mail survey. The sample was drawn from all available telephone directories in Washington State; both adult male and females were surveyed.

The data offered minimal support for either the Rational or Systems models, and provided better support for the Traditional Values explanation. Because the Traditional Values model was the best supported, it was then subjected to a more systematic analysis by focusing on three of its salient dimensions. These included sexual restraint, orderliness, and discipline. Finally, policy implications of the data were addressed, particularly in light of recent United States Supreme Court decisions.
Clients' Views of Juvenile Justice Personnel: Perceptions of Continuing and Noncontinuing Delinquents in Israel
Authors: Shichor David
Published: March 2007

The perceptions and the attitudes of the "clients" of the juvenile justice system in Israel toward the personnel of the agencies of this system were solicited and analyzed. Generally, juvenile delinquents in Israel expressed favorable perceptions of the probation officers and juvenile court judges, but their perceptions ofpolicemen tended to be negative especially among those who had a more extensive involvement with the juvenile justice system. Those who had more experience with the system tended to have less positive views of these officials than those who had a more limited experience. However, these findings are not so clear-cut that they could either substantiate or negate the existence of the "sense of injustice" claimed by Matza and several other scholars.
Crime, Police, and Deterrence: A Simultaneous Model
Authors: Brown Stephen E.
Published: March 2007

A nonrecursive model of police and crime relationships is tested with data from 382 U.S. cities. The model incorporates the impact ofpolice presence on crime as well as that of crime on citizen demandsfor police. The analysis is crime-specific and reveals afundamental weakness in traditional theories of the deterrent effect of police presence, suggesting that for most offenses, police presence does not have a significant influence on the objective certainty of punishment (measured as police clearance rates). Strong support was foundfor the proposition that crime generates citizen demand for more police, indicating that such demand originates primarily with violent types of crime.
Effect of Antifencing Operations on Encouraging Crime
Authors: Raub Richard A.
Published: March 2007

Assessments of the effect of antifencing operations on encouraging crime have not been found. In an attempt to make an assessment, the Illinois Department f Law Enforcement examined two of its own projects. Comparisions in crimes committed during the operation of the antifencing project were drawn between a period before and during the project and between different geographical areas. Also examined was a report by the U.S. Department of Justice. The results of both analyses suggest that crimes are not influenced by the operation of an antifencing project. The immediate availability of a buyer for stolen property does not encourage additional thefts.
Elderly Felons and Sentencing Severity: Interregional Variations in Leniency and Sentencing Trends
Authors: Champion Dean J.
Published: March 2007

This research examines differences in sentencing severity for 4,848 elderly felons in selected counties in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee, and from a sample of counties in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, for the period from 1970 to 1984. An examination of sentencing trends for elderly offenders disclosed increasing leniency during the period of the investigation in all jurisdictions. Northern jurisdictions, however, were more severe on elderly offenders than were the southern jurisdictions. The proportion of elderly felony offenders in the southern jurisdictions was significantly higher than for northern jurisdictions, and an examination of the possible interaction effects of sentencing severity and social and regional variables yielded significant results.
Mercury removal with powdered activated carbon from flue gases at the Coriano municipal solid waste incineration plant
Authors: Liberti L. , Notarnicola M. , Amicarelli V. , Campanaro V. , Roethel F. , Swanson L.
Published: March 2007

This paper presents the results of five years of mercury removal from flue gases at the Coriano (Italy) municipal solid waste incineration plant using powdered activated carbon (PAC). The results indicate that actual and even more strin gent future European emission limits (0.100 and 0.050 mg Hg/Nm3, respectively) can be affordably met at reasonable investment and operating costs.
A comparison of the convective and diffusive flux of organic contaminants through landfill liner systems
Authors: Brown K.W. , Thomas J.C.
Published: March 2007

In an effort to protect groundwater, waste disposal regulations now require the use of composite liners consisting of com pacted soil overlain with a flexible plastic membrane liner in both hazardous and municipal solid waste landfills in the USA. When properly installed, composite liners decrease the convective flux of leachate flowing through flaws in the plas tic ; however, even if all flaws could be eliminated, organic chemicals will diffuse through the liner system. Although actual field measurements are not available on the flux of contaminants through landfill liners, field measurements of leachate concentrations at some landfills, leak rates at other landfills and laboratory data on diffusion coefficients, allow estimation of the flux so that convective and diffusive trans port can be calculated. Calculations were made to estimate the flux of five organic chemicals through liners of various designs. For the flexible membrane liner alone, the flux of organic chemicals is dominated by diffusion, and transport by convective flux through flaws is one or two orders of magni tude less. For a 100 cm thick clay liner alone, the flux of organic chemicals is dominated by convective flow since the long path length limits diffusive flux. For a composite liner including a flexible membrane over a 100 cm thick clay liner, the flux of organic chemicals is dominated by convective transport since the diffusion path length through the compos ite liner is much greater than that through the flexible mem brane liner (FML) alone. For a typical composite liner in which the FML contains 30 holes/ha -1, the convective flux of organic chemicals is typically two orders of magnitude greater than the diffusive flux. A liner consisting of an FML, or an FML combined with a thin layer of low permeability soil, will allow a much greater flux of contaminants than a composite liner consisting of an FML and a thick layer of low permeabil ity soil.
International report: Development of a hazardous waste management system — the case of Croatia
Authors: Subašié Damir , Kučar-Dragičević Savka , Pekas Sanja Srnec
Published: March 2007

As a recently created and still developing country, Croatia is in a relatively early stage if its waste management infrastruc ture development. Main sources, categories and quantities of industrial hazardous waste, as well as the practices and capac ities of existing waste management facilities will be reviewed. Information on the regulatory framework and the enforce ment mechanisms of the country to achieve compliance will also be provided, together with particular obstacles stemming from the local circumstances which are sometimes markedly different to those in most developed countries.
Comparable Worth the Equal Employment Issue of the 1980s
Authors: Doherty Mary Helen , Harriman Ann
Published: March 2007

An issue gaining increased attention today in public personnel salary administration is that of comparable worth. This article discusses relevant legislation and case law, reviews several comparable worth studies, and examines the issue of job evaluation methods — the tool used to compare jobs within occupational groups. The recent U. S. Supreme Court decision in Gunther v. County of Washington illustrates the timely nature of this article.
Structural Vs. Behavioral Change: the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
Authors: Bellone Carl J.
Published: March 2007

The Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA) is an attempt to change the way people behave in person nel management. This article examines four major assumptions about what was wrong with pre- reform personnel management that lead to the CSRA, and the structural changes initiated by the Act to correct these deficiences. It concludes that without a behaviorally-oriented change strategy, these structural reforms are not likely to lead to lasting behavioral change. This failure will result in the law falling short of its goals.
Multilateral Labor Relations in the Public Sector: Citizen Involvement
Authors: Barnum Darold T. , Suntrup Edward L.
Published: March 2007

This article examines institutionalized citizen involvement in the public sector labor relations pro cess, including (1) labor relations referenda, (2) sunshine bargaining, (3) trilateral bargaining, and (4) public hearings. It analyzes labor relations referenda and sunshine bargaining in depth, and gives summary evaluations of all four types of involvement.
Civil Service, Collective Bargaining and Personnel-Related Impediments To Effective State Management: a Comparative Assessment
Authors: Elling Richard C.
Published: March 2007

Based on the responses of managers in ten states, this article examines various personnel-related problems as impediments to effective state management. Substantial proportions of managers in all of the states surveyed viewed as serious problems adequately rewarding employee performance, procedures for hiring personnel required by civil service, disciplining or dismissing incompetent employees, and recruiting and retaining key staff. Interstate variation in the severity of certain personnel-related problems was also evident. While the extent of civil service coverage was positively correlated with particular personnel problems, the relationship between it and personnel-related difficulties was not always strong or consistent. The extent to which a state government's workforce collectively bargained was strongly and positively correlated with the severity of certain personnel problems. But even in states with extensive collective bargaining, only about a fifth of the managers considered various "union" problems to be serious impediments to effective management.
Sick-Time Usage By Management and Professional Employees in the Public Sector
Authors: Garcia Richard L.
Published: March 2007

Absenteeism and its related costs are increasing, yet the causes and consequences are poorly understood. Theories about absenteeism have stemmed primarily from research conducted on blue- collar and clerical workers in the private sector. Very little is known about the absenteeism of public sector managers and professional employees. This study reports research on 644 managers and pro fessionals of a large western U.S. city. Actual sick-time usage was matched against personal, job and attitudinal characteristics of each employee to explore statistical relationships. There are rela tionships between sick-time use and age, sex, race, education, marital status, time with the city and job level of employees. The only hypothesized variables with no relationship were the distance an employee must travel to work and number of children. Furthermore, employees generally felt that rewards work better than penalties. These data may aid managers in establishing policies for coping with this phenomenon.
Gender-Based Wage Gap: The Case of the State Government Budget Analyst
Authors: Willoughby Katherine G.
Published: March 2007

This article examines the wage gap among similarlyemployedmen and women in the central budget offices often state governments in the Southern region of the United States. Results indicate a significant difference in average annual income of men and women employed as budget analysts in these offices. Years of service as an analyst and educational level do contribute to this wage differential as well. Alternatively, results suggest that women employed in top-level budgeting positions in state government can expect to make salaries equal to theirmale counterparts. While representation of women in these positions remains problematic, of those so employed, their salaries are competitive with, or even exceed, those of men similarly employed.
When Managers Don't Plan: Consequences of Nonstrategic Public Personnel Management
Authors: Ospina Sonia
Published: March 2007

What happens when managers do not engage in human resource planning? This question is examined by using a case where managers in a municipal agency respond tactically to a situation that requires strategic considerations. The article describes how managers use ad hoc human resource management practices to attract professional analysts to a bureaucratic environment.
Union-Management Partnership in the U.S. Department of Labor
Authors: Armshaw Jim , Carnevale David , Waltuck Bruce
Published: March 2007

Qualitymanagement programs are on the rise in government. Such plans are intended to improve organi zational effectiveness and the working life of employees. Despite elevated attention paid to such methods, less notice has been devoted to the role of modern unions in such ventures. In the following case study, the authors report on a successful labor managementpartnership improving agency operations and the work experiences of employees throughout the more than 800 regional and field locations of the U.S. Department of Labor.
Human Resource Management's Role in the Future Aging of the Workforce
Authors: Elliott Robert H.
Published: March 2007

This article examines current demographic data on the aging of the workforce and the impact that this aging trend will have on public sector retirement systems, age discrimination laws, and training and development programs. It also discusses the issue of "plateaued" employees and explores potential solutions for managing an aging workforce using traditional personnel processes. Future areas for further research are suggested.
Communicative Planning Theory: A Foucauldian Assessment
Authors: Fischler Raphaël
Published: March 2007

Given the philosophical oppositioin that cxisted between Foucault atnd Habermas, a FotucaulIdian reading of communicative planining theory may yield a very critical assessnient of that body of work. Rather than develop such a critique, this paper shows that there are in fact significant points of agreement between communicative theorists and the French historian of modernity, in particular with respect to the relationship between theory and practice. However, Foucault's work raises important questions about the relationship between theory and history, and it challenges Forester, Healey, and others to situate communicative planniing in its historical context and to assess the dangers that it poses for individuals and for society at large.
Applications of Spreadsheet Optimization Capabilities in Teaching Planning Methods
Authors: Ottensmann John R.
Published: March 2007

The powerful optimization capabilities included in modern electronic spread-sheets, such as the Solver in Excel, provide opportunities for implementing facility location and spatial interaction models in the spreadsheet environment. Such models are used as part of an integrated public facility location assignment in the teaching of planning methods. These spreadsheet applications provide students with the tools for applying the models to realistic planning problems and illustrate the potential for using electronic spread-sheets for implementing sophisticated planning methods.
Ciudad Guayana
Authors: Angotti Thomas
Published: March 2007

Ciudad Guayana in Venezuela is one of the leading examples in the world of a city planned in accordance with the principles of comprehensive rational planning. It was started in the 1960s as a “growth pole” in an isolated part of Venezuela, built around a large steel plant and hydroelectric projects. In the 1990s, the model of planning shifted from centralized to decentralized as a result of the election victories of a radical political party and neoliberal restructuring that weakened central government. The story of this dramatic change contains lessons for planning in the context of the recent wave of expansion in the global economy.
Learning at a Distance
Authors: Godschalk David R. , Lacey Linda
Published: March 2007

How are planning educators responding to the challenges and opportunities of distance education? The authors explore this question through a planning school survey, a case study, and brainstorming about change factors. They find that planning education programs are slow to adopt new technology, except for incorporation of e-mail and Web technology into traditional on-campus courses. Most respondents believe that distance learning will be important, but few distance learning courses are taught. Reported obstacles are extra demands on faculty, lack of compensation for course development, low faculty interest, incompatibility with course content, and inadequate technical support. The case study describes the design and teaching of a successful distance learning course in which student work improved. Four catalysts that could speed adoption of distance learning are (1) generational change, (2) program survival, (3) institutional conformity, and (4) practice demand. The authors conclude that as future-oriented professionals, planners should lead in applying technology to improve planning education.
Covert Planning for Social Transformation in Indonesia
Authors: Beard Victoria A.
Published: March 2007

Public engagement in planning can be viewed as a continuum ranging from local inclusion in synoptic planning schemes devised by the state to participation in grassroots social movements that seek broader social transformation. This continuum is incomplete because it does not elucidate how local people plan for social transformation within highly restrictive political environments where responses to social activism encompass real physical and social harm. The article draws on historical and contemporary analysis of social change in Indonesia and Malaysia together with a case study from Indonesia to demonstrate that social transformation does occur within environments where overt radical action is dangerous. In these circumstances, it takes a more subtle and nuanced form of collective action, here referred to as covert planning.
Clear Signals
Authors: Seltzer Ethan , Ozawa Connie P.
Published: March 2007

Results from an earlier study indicated that senior planners in Oregon and Southwest Washington expect planning graduates to be equipped with strong communicative competencies built on a base of broad analytic skills. This article reports on an extension of that study to a survey of planners in California, Florida, Maryland, and New Jersey and confirms that these earlier findings are not unique to the Pacific Northwest. The challenge for planning educators is to design a core curriculum that responds to the skills and competencies demanded in practice and to adjust teaching practices and policies to recognize and reward the types of personal qualities sought by employers. Planning educators must consider carefully the field’s unique contributions and weave substance and values back into the curriculum.