bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Note on an Optical Method to Evaluate Fiber Dispersion in Wet-laid Nonwoven Process
Authors: Latifi M. , Tafreshi H. Vahedi , Pourdeyhimi B.
Published: June 2008

A laboratory set-up using an online vision system was designed to observe the dispersion behavior of glass and polyester fibers. The effect of different blend ratios, agitation speed, and dispersion time in dispersing “logs” and formation of “ropes”, was studied. Our results indicate that there is a specific dispersion time period in which optimum fiber dispersion can be achieved. This time was found to be shorter for glass fibers. It was observed that the dispersion behavior of each fiber type has a profound influence on the dispersion of fiber blends. It was also noted that there is an optimum agitation energy which allows the logs to be dispersed while minimizing the rope formation.
Permeability Measurements of Strained Fibrous Networks
Authors: Thibault X. , Bloch J.-F.
Published: June 2008

Textiles are used in many industrial applications. For example, they are used in papermaking. Indeed, during the pressing of paper, felts are used to transport the wet paper web and to recover the water expressed from the wet sheet. To improve this operation, felt permeability has to be characterised. This property does depend on the fiber diameter and the whole structure, which is constituted of a base and a batt. Moreover, the different fibers may be mechanically entangled in order to improve the directional permeabilities. This paper describes the equipment developed to measure water permeability of fibrous media. Next, experimental results of felt samples are presented. The investigation on felt permeability tensor allows improvements in both felt design and process modeling. After a brief introduction, this paper is divided into four parts. The first one focuses on the presentation of the experimental device used for the permeability measurements. The second deals with the description of the experimental protocol. Results and discussion are presented in the third part. Finally, a conclusion will end this paper.
Evaluating Simultaneous Desizing and Bleaching of Greige Cotton Fabric using KMnO4
Authors: Mortazavi S.M. , Ziaie A. , Khayamian T.
Published: June 2008

Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) is used as a powerful oxidizing agent in order to make perform a simultaneous desizing and bleaching process on loomstate cotton fabrics. Experimental results demonstrate that three factors (the concentration of KMnO4, the treatment time and temperature) have notable impacts on the quality of bleached cotton fabric. The effects of these variables are evaluated with regards to whiteness index, tensile strength, residual size and water absorbency. At a constant oxalic acid concentration, the optimized condition is obtained in 3 g/l KMnO4, at 90 °C and 10 min treatment time. The results demonstrate that KMnO4 can be accepted as a multipurpose agent for bleaching loomstate cotton fabrics and has the potential to be used as an alternative method for the simultaneous desizing and bleaching of greige cotton fabric.
Parameters Influencing Dyeability of Cotton Warp at Dip-Dyeing for Jeans
Authors: Gorenšek Marija , Gorjanc Marija , Recelj Petra , Meden Anton
Published: June 2008

The purpose of this research was to determine the influence of temperature, pH, and the addition of sodium oxide silicium oxide (soso) on the dyeability of cotton warp during the process of dip-dyeing. A simulation of the dip-dyeing technique was used. The results show a negligible influence of dip-dyeing bath temperature on the color yield of cotton warp. Lower pH values of dip-dyeing baths cause better dyeability. Addition of soso has a particular influence on the color yield of cotton warp. As a result, the dip-dyeing procedure is shortened when soso is used. The change of color of dip-dyed cotton warp, depending on different pH of the baths and on the addition of soso, was studied using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. XRD showed that the dyeing conditions do not affect the crystallographic form of indigo, which is form B in all cases. On the other hand, SEM revealed the reasons for the observed effects in the differences in the morphology of the indigo crystallites.
Treatment of Raw Cotton Fibers with Cellulases for Nonwoven Fabrics
Authors: Verenich Svetlana , Arumugam Karthik , Shim Eunkyoung , Pourdeyhimi Behnam
Published: June 2008

Enzymatic treatment of fabrics is known to have a negative impact on the fabrics' tensile characteristics. The strength loss problems would be more severe in the case of nonwovens, since cellulase could attack bonded areas of the fabric. To prevent the fabric strength loss, a study was undertaken to treat cotton fibers as opposed to the final fabric. Raw cotton fibers were hydrolyzed with Cellusoft L and endoglucanase without a cellulose— binding domain. Factors such as the reducing end group, fiber length and tenacity were followed throughout the enzymatic hydrolysis. The results showed that if the concentration of Cellusoft L cellulase mixture was minimized to 0.25 % owf, extensive weakening of cotton fibers could be prevented. Endoglucanase demonstrated a moderate reduction in fiber strength; most of the reduction occurred at the beginning of hydrolysis. The concentration of reducing ends was observed to have a maximum for both enzyme solutions. The location of enzymatic attack and changes in surface morphology were monitored by Congo red staining and scanning electron microscope, respectively.
Use of Artificial Neural Networks for Determining the Leveling Action Point at the Auto-leveling Draw Frame
Authors: Farooq Assad , Cherif Chokri
Published: June 2008

Artificial neural networks with their ability of learning from data have been successfully applied in the textile industry. The leveling action point is one of the important auto-leveling parameters of the drawing frame and strongly influences the quality of the manufactured yarn. This paper reports a method of predicting the leveling action point using artificial neural networks. Various leveling action point affecting variables were selected as inputs for training the artificial neural networks with the aim to optimize the auto-leveling by limiting the leveling action point search range. The Levenberg—Marquardt algorithm is incorporated into the back-propagation to accelerate the training and Bayesian regularization is applied to improve the generalization of the networks. The results obtained are quite promising.
The Effects of Cashmere Attributes on the Efficiency of Dehairing and Dehaired Cashmere Length
Authors: McGregor B.A. , Butler K.L.
Published: June 2008

This study investigated the effects of raw cashmere attributes on the efficiency of dehairing and on dehaired cashmere length. The results show that the following attributes of raw cashmere were associated with more efficient processing and/or the production of longer cashmere: white color; longer raw cashmere; greater fiber curvature; lower vegetable matter; normal length guard hair; absence of visible cotting. Raw cashmere with a higher cashmere content and higher fiber diameter processed less efficiently than raw cashmere with a lower cashmere content and finer fiber diameter. This work identifies the value of using raw cashmere staple length and cashmere fiber curvature measurements, and shows that the variation explained by known attributes on cashmere processing efficiency was high. These results are applicable to cashmere classing, breeding, processing, and the value of the final product.
Estimation of Human Drug Clearance Using Multiexponential Techniques
Authors: Goteti Kosalaram , Brassil Patrick J. , Good Steven S. , Garner C. Edwin
Published: June 2008

A multiexponential allometry (MA) method was developed to predict human drug clearance from preclinical data. Separate data sets containing clearances from human and preclinical species were chosen for the study. Human clearance was estimated using the MA technique according to the equation:CL=aBWb+cBWd, whereCLis clearance in milliliters/minute, anda, b, c, anddare constants derived from preclinical pharmacokinetic data. Simple allometry (SA) gave the poorest prediction using any data set, and the percentage outliers remained larger than MA or monkey liver blood flow within 1.5‐, 2‐, and 3‐fold error. Analysis of compounds common to both data sets suggested that MA could accurately predict human clearances within approximately 10% of 3‐fold error. The analysis also showed that monkey is an important species for scaling, and MA is a better predictor of human clearance when the slope of SA is >0.7.
Factors Associated With the Questions About Behavior Function for Functional Assessment of Low and High Rate Challenging Behaviors in Adults With Intellectual Disability
Authors: Matson Johnny L. , Wilkins Jonathan
Published: June 2008

The assessment of maintaining variables with the goal of developing prosocial intervention plans has become a driving force in the intellectual disabilities (ID) literature. One particularly crucial variable is whether the behavior is low or high rate and whether the challenging behavior is best characterized by self-injury or aggression. Because low rate behaviors present such a challenge to experimental functional analysis, checklist data in the form of the Questions About Behavior Function (QABF) may therefore be particularly useful. The reliability, frequency, and related characteristics of aggression and self-injury of 95 adults with ID were studied. High rate behaviors were reliable, but reliability of QABF functions varied with respect to the challenging behavior assessed. Individual items had higher interrater reliability for aggression compared to self-injury.
Translating an Adolescent Smoking Cessation Program Into Policy and Practice in an Australian Context
Authors: Cross Donna , Hearn Lydia , Hamilton Greg , Resnicow Ken , Hall Marg
Published: June 2008

Although Australia's restrictive tobacco control policies have made it an international leader in reducing smoking prevalence, and only 7% of teens smoke weekly, cessation efforts are still needed among adolescents. Of the campaigns and programs implemented in Australia to reduce this problem among adolescents, most have provided only abstinence messages and few have been effectively evaluated and translated into policy and practice. This article describes the translation of a harm minimization cessation program for teens, the Smoking Cessation for Youth Project (SCYP), derived from an approach developed with adults. In addition, the article describes the unique sociopolitical context of Australia in which the SCYP program was developed and the significant conceptual, contextual, and methodological factors that enabled and limited this program's effective implementation and translation.
Adapting Smoking Cessation Programming to the Bulgarian Context
Authors: Andreeva Valentina A. , Sakuma Kari-Lyn Kobayakawa
Published: June 2008

Tobacco control efforts are among Bulgaria's leading health priorities, although enforcement of policies translated from other regions is challenging due to the high national smoking prevalence, especially among health professionals and school personnel. This article reviews the sociocultural and economic background relevant to health policy change and smoking cessation initiatives. Recommendations are made for effective Bulgarian tobacco control.
Toward an Understanding of and Response to Tobacco Use Among High-Risk Israeli and Palestinian Youth
Authors: Isralowitz Richard , Afifi Mohamed , Sussman Steve
Published: June 2008

Little has been done to bring Israeli and Palestinian people together to address common health problems. Because Jewish and Arab people have been in a declared and/or de facto state of war since the establishment of Israel as a nation in 1948, the possibility of Israelis and Palestinians working together to deal with a mutual problem has been bleak. This article describes efforts to link people together to address tobacco use cessation among Israeli and Palestinian high-risk youth and provides an overview of a current initiative to demonstrate a smoking cessation model, Project EX, which may contribute to the health of those involved and to societal change in the region.
Reflections on International Translation of Evidence-Based Health Behavior Programs
Authors: Sussman Steve , Palinkas Lawrence A.
Published: June 2008

In this concluding article, the authors describe factors that influence the international translation of programs. These include language, control over the translation process, local normative challenges to translation, program adaptation, and globalization. The authors suggest that systematic efforts at language translation, program adaptation partnership, and compromise are general principals needed to surmount these challenges.
Objective ratings of relationship skills across multiple domains as predictors of marital satisfaction trajectories
Authors: Lawrence Erika , Pederson Ashley , Bunde Mali , Barry Robin A. , Brock Rebecca L. , Fazio Emily , Mulryan Lorin , Hunt Sara , Madsen Lisa , Dzankovic Sandra
Published: June 2008

Expanding upon social-learning and vulnerability-stress-adaptation approaches to marriage, the impact of multiple dyadic behaviors on marital satisfaction trajectories was examined in 101 couples. Semi-structured interviews were administered separately to husbands and wives at three months of marriage. Interviewers generated objective ratings for five domains: emotional closeness/intimacy, sexual intimacy/sensuality, interspousal support, decision-making/relational control, and communication/conflict management. Marital satisfaction was assessed four times over three years. Dyadic behaviors were associated with initial levels and rates of change in satisfaction, demonstrating the unique contributions of each relational skill on marital development. For husbands, sexual intimacy was the strongest predictor of change whereas for wives, communication/conflict management was the strongest predictor of change compared to other domains. Theoretical, methodological and clinical implications are discussed.
The contribution of captivity and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder to marital adjustment of Israeli couples
Authors: Dekel Rachel , Enoch Guy , Solomon Zahava
Published: June 2008

This study examined marital adjustment and relations among couples where husbands had been a prisoner-of-war (i.e., POW) and couples where husbands were veterans, but not POWs. The study also examined the relative contribution of the husband's post-traumatic stress disorder (i.e., PTSD) and POW experience to both spouses' marital adjustment. Results from 157 couples (85 former POWs and spouses as well as 72 veterans but not POWs and their spouses as controls) indicated that former POW couples had lower marital adjustment, sexual satisfaction, and self-disclosure, and higher verbal abuse than the control couples. Captivity indirectly influenced the husband's marital adjustment through his PTSD. In turn, PTSD had an indirect effect on both spouses' marital adjustment, fully mediated through marital relations variables.
Determining Why Students Take More Science Than Required in High School
Authors: Robinson Michael , Ochs George T.
Published: June 2008

This study reports the results of a survey of 405 high school students in a school district in the western United States. The data were used to determine why so many students take only the minimal science required for graduation. Key areas addressed included how science is taught; science literacy; science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); science, technology, and society (STS); and who influences students to take science. Results were directed at how to motivate more students to continue science study beyond the required courses and how to improve the prospect of more students choosing STEM majors in higher education. Key conclusions included that no new science courses are needed to increase enrollments, but existing courses need to be taught differently, specifically with more labs and activities that create more interest and relevance for students. Furthermore, students need more awareness of good reasons for taking science. Last, science instruction must improve.
Rates of Part C Eligibility for Young Children Investigated by Child Welfare
Authors: Rosenberg Steven A. , Smith Elliott G.
Published: June 2008

Using data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW), this study examined rates of developmental delays and Part C eligibility for 1,997 children younger than 3 years who were investigated for possible maltreatment by child welfare. Developmental delays that make children eligible for Part C early intervention occurred in 47% of this population. The rates of Part C eligibility for children with substantiated abuse or neglect were not different from those whose maltreatment was not substantiated. Similarly, no differences in eligibility were observed for children in out-of-home placement as compared to those living with parents. No statistically significant differences in rates were associated with differing types of maltreatment.
``Not Everyone Who Needs One Is Going to Get One'': The Influence of Medical Brokering on Patient Candidacy for Total Joint Arthroplasty
Authors: Hudak Pamela L. , Grassau Pamela , Glazier Richard H. , Hawker Gillian , Kreder Hans , Coyte Peter , Mahomed Nizar , Wright James G.
Published: June 2008

Background. Many patients in Ontario, despite being appropriate candidates for total joint arthroplasty (TJA), are not offered surgery. To understand this discrepancy, the authors sought to explore the process by which physicians determine patient candidacy for TJA. Methods. Six focus groups (2 each of orthopedic surgeons, of rheumatologists, and of family physicians) and subsequent in-depth interviews were conducted with 50 practicing clinicians in Ontario. Results. Health care system constraints, including extensive waiting lists, lack of homecare and postoperative support, and, for surgeons, access to operating rooms and resources, are perceived by physicians to routinely influence the ultimate choice of candidates for TJA. Medical brokering, defined as strategies used by physicians in a constrained health system to prioritize patients and to negotiate relationships with other physicians, was an important factor in determining candidacy for TJA. Because individual physicians and surgeons appear to use their own criteria for making these decisions, and because these criteria are modified from time to time in response to specific institutional and system conditions, brokering results in varied decisions about candidacy regardless of patient suitability. Conclusions. Lack of consensus on the necessary patient characteristics for TJA candidacy does not in and of itself account for the discrepancy between the number of patients who are suitable candidates for TJA and those who receive the procedure. Until the process by which health care system constraints affect and complicate the decision-making process around TJA candidacy is more fully explored, patients may not receive appropriate and timely access to this procedure.
The Relationship of the Lateral Cord of the Brachial Plexus to the Coracoid Process during Arthroscopic Coracoid Surgery
Authors: Pan Woei-Jack , Teo Yee-Sze , Chang Haw-Chong , Chong Kian-Chun , Karim Sarina Abdul
Published: June 2008

Background

Arthroscopic coracoid decompression is performed for coracoid impingement and has also been advocated for arthroscopic repair of tears of the subscapularis tendon, placing the lateral cord or the musculocutaneous nerve at risk of injury. The dynamic relationship of the lateral cord to the coracoid while the upper limb is in abduction and traction in the shoulder arthroscopy position is not clear.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dynamic relationship of the lateral cord of the brachial plexus to the coracoid process during varying degrees of upper limb abduction in traction.

Study Design

Descriptive laboratory study.

Methods and Materials

The musculocutaneous nerves of 15 fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders were carefully dissected and identified without mobilization of the nerve. The musculocutaneous nerve was then injected with radiopaque contrast mixed with methylene blue. The contrast would infiltrate retrogradely into the lateral cord, minimizing mobilization of the lateral cord. The specimens were mounted in the lateral decubitus position with 4.5 kg of traction to the forearm and anteroposterior radiographs were taken at 30° and 60° of abduction. The nearest distance of the lateral cord to the coracoid process was measured off the radiographs and the displacement with increase in shoulder abduction was determined.

Results

The mean nearest distance between the lateral cord and the coracoid tip at 30° of shoulder abduction was 26.6 ± 5.2 mm and it moved nearer at 60° of abduction to 23.4 ± 5.1 mm; the difference of 3.2 mm was statistically significant ( P < .0005, 95% confidence interval, 2.5–3.9 mm). The shortest distance measured was 14.4 mm in 1 specimen at 60° of abduction.

Conclusion

The lateral cord moved closer to the coracoid process at 60° than at 30° of abduction under traction during simulated shoulder arthroscopy position using the lateral decubitus position.

Clinical Relevance

The margin of safety for lateral cord injury during arthroscopic surgery around the coracoid process is improved with lower abduction angles in the lateral decubitus position.
Effect of Polyphosphazene on the Properties of Blend of Nylon 6,6/Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polymer
Authors: Bose S. , Mukherjee M. , Rath T. , Das C.K. , Saxena A.K.
Published: June 2008

This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of polyphosphazene elastomer as compatibilizer on the properties of Nylon 6,6/thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer blends. In situ fibrillation of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers develops in the shear flow field in presence of thermoplastic matrix. The addition of polyphosphazene into the blend facilitates the structural development of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer. Polyphosphazene elastomer reacts at the interface resulting in reduction of viscosity, which in turn reduces the droplet size enabling fine dispersion of the Liquid Crystalline Polymer (LCP) fibrils. Thermal stability does not change appreciably, but in case of ternary blend Tg value slightly shifted towards the higher side compared to pure matrix indicating the increase in miscibility in the ternary blends. Morphological study demonstrates the significance of compatibilization in immiscible polymer blends.
Structural Performance of Concrete Confined with Hybrid FRP Composites
Authors: Wu G. , Wu Z.S. , Lu Z.T. , Ando Y.B.
Published: June 2008

External confinement of concrete by means of FRP external wrapping can significantly enhance its strength and ductility and result in a large energy absorption capacity. This paper studies the behavior of concrete cylinders confined with hybrid FRP composites. A total of 35 cylindrical specimens with dimensions of 150mm diameter by 300mm length were tested, which included three plain concrete cylinders as control specimens, 12 concrete cylinders confined with one kind of FRP sheet and 20 specimens confined with hybrid FRP sheets. The experimental parameters include the different types of FRP sheets, the number of layers of FRP sheets and the different kinds of hybridization with two or three types of FRP composites. First, the characteristics of the stress—strain curves of hybrid FRP-confined concrete are described based on previous studies. Then, in order to describe the main mechanical features of hybrid FRP-confined concrete cylinders including stress and strain behavior, some simple models are suggested based on a number of empirical equations determined from mechanical tests. Finally, a multi-linear model is proposed to predict the axial stress—strain model of concrete cylinders confined with hybrid FRP composite. The proposed model closely agrees with the experimental results of the present study.
Simulation and Experimental Study of Vibration Injection Filling Based on Disk-shaped Mold
Authors: Gang Xu  , Qu Jin-Ping , Zhou Jing-Ping
Published: June 2008

In this article, the vibration injection mold-filling is investigated by combining computer simulation with experiments. The material of the object is high density polyethylene (HDPE). For some of the experiments, a center-gated disk-shaped mold is designed independently using a cooperation with hydraulic pressure dynamic injection machine. The profiles of speed, pressure and temperature field can be obtained during vibration injection mold-filling. The results of the experiments and theories tend to be consistent, showing that the vibration field accelerates melt filling, enhances the properties of the molten fluid and reduces pressure drop during mold-filling, and the shear action impacted by the vibration field heats polymer melt.
Measurement of Dynamic Properties of Composites in Vibration by Means of a Non-contact Mechanism
Authors: Kadioglu Ferhat
Published: June 2008

When dynamic properties of structures in vibration are considered, their elastic modulus and damping properties are emphasized. One of the best ways for true measurement of damping is the use of a beam with free—free end conditions. The aim of this study is to investigate dynamic properties of composites by using the vibrating beam technique. The composite specimens with free—free end conditions were vibrated at their fundamental nodes. An electro-magnetic shaker was used to vibrate the specimens by means of air flow and their responses were taken by means of a microphone, a non-contact mechanism. It has been shown that this technique produces accurate and repeatable results and that this is a reliable method for the dynamic measurements.
Compressive, Chemical Resistance, and Thermal Studies on Kapok/Sisal Fabrics Polyester Composites
Authors: Venkata Reddy G. , Venkata Naidu S. , Shobha Rani T. , Subha M.C.S.
Published: June 2008

The naturally occurring fabrics belonging to the species Ceiba pentandra and Agave Vera Cruz were used as reinforcements in the present study. The unsaturated polyester (UP) resin based kapok/sisal hybrid composites were developed by the hand lay-up technique at room temperature. The variations in mechanical properties such as compression strength and modulus, chemical resistance and thermal characteristics of these composites are evaluated as a function of fabric/fiber content and different volume ratios of fabrics. The addition of a relatively small amount of sisal fiber to kapok reinforced polyester matrix enhancing the compressive properties of the resulting hybrid composites. A significant improvement in compressive properties of these hybrid composites has been observed by the NaOH treatment. Among all the resultant hybrid composites those with fabrics ratio of 1:3 demonstrate improved compressive properties. The chemical resistance of these hybrid composites to different chemical reagents and water was studied.
Analyses of Large Deflections for Logarithmical Bimodulus Cantilever Beams
Authors: Eren Ibrahim
Published: June 2008

In this study, large deflections of non-linear bimodulus cantilever beams that have logarithmical stress—strain relationship have been analyzed when the beam was subjected to a moment at the free end. Effect of stress—strain relationship differences on the vertical and horizontal deflections have been determined for tension and compression. The numerical results, which indicate the affect on the engineering strain and true strain on deflections by means of divergence or convergence, were given in tables.
Effects of Accelerated Freeze—Thaw Cycling on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Wood Flour/PVC Composites
Authors: Tajvidi Mehdi , Haghdan Shayesteh
Published: June 2008

Various formulations of wood flour and rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) composites were prepared and the effects of three accelerated freeze—thaw cycles on their physical and mechanical properties were studied according to ASTM D7031 specification. Beech (Fagus orientalis) wood flour, PVC, maleic anhydride polyethylene (MAPE), and beech veneer were used to produce the composites in a two-step conventional hot press system. A thickness swelling test was carried out as an indicator of physical property. Mechanical characteristics of composites were evaluated after each cycle using three-point flexural tests, and losses in mechanical properties were studied. Results indicated that thickness swelling was not affected by freeze—thaw cycling while significant relationship was observed between PVC content and thickness swelling and with increase in PVC content, maximum thickness swelling decreased. The values of flexural strength (MOR) and modulus (MOE), were significantly affected by PVC content, layer, and freeze—thaw cycling. Layering of the specimens and higher PVC contents improved MOR and MOE while freeze—thaw cycling decreased them at the first cycle. Repeated freeze—thaw cycling did not exhibit a significant effect on the mechanical properties and the effect of the cycles was confined to the first cycle only. Increase of PVC content had positive effect on both physical and mechanical properties.
Numerical Investigation of the Gas Flow Temperature on the Thermoforming and Blow-Molding Processes
Authors: Erchiqui F. , Souli M.
Published: June 2008

In this article, we consider a finite element approach for analysis of the effect of the air flow temperature on the forming of a thin, isotropic, and incompressible thermoplastic membrane. Also, to take into account the enclosed gas volume, responsible for inflation of the thermoplastic membrane, we considered a thermodynamic approach to express external work in terms of a closed volume. The dynamic pressure load is thus deduced from the van der Waals equation of state. The viscoelastic behavior of the K-BKZ model is considered. Numerical validation is performed by comparing the obtained results with the theoretical results for the HDPE grade. Moreover, the effect of the temperature of the gas on the thickness and stress distribution is presented.
Nonlinear Viscoelastic Response of Unidirectional Fiber-Reinforced Composites in Off-Axis Loading
Authors: Falahatgar S.R. , Salehi M. , Aghdam M.M.
Published: June 2008

A three-dimensional micromechanical model based on the assumptions of simplified unit cell method (SUCM) is presented to obtain the closed-form solution for overall behavior of a unidirectional polymer matrix composite. The composite system consists of nonlinear viscoelastic matrix reinforced by transversely isotropic elastic fibers. The Schapery single integral viscoelastic constitutive equation in multiaxial stress state is used to model the nonlinear viscoelastic matrix. The presented analytical formulation is able to predict the effective response of the composite in any combination of normal and shear loading conditions. In particular, the effective creep response of the material in the off-axis loading is investigated. Prediction of the presented analytical model for the creep response of glassy amorphous polymer PMMA material shows good agreement with available experimental data. Furthermore, the predicted overall creep behavior of 10 and 908 off-axis coupons of graphite/epoxy composite demonstrate close agreement with experimental and other numerical results available in the literature. The overall creep-recovery of the graphite/epoxy composite in various off-axis loading conditions for several stress levels is also presented.
A Study on Hardness and Flexural Properties of Kapok/Sisal Composites
Authors: Venkata Reddy G. , Venkata Naidu S. , Shobha Rani T.
Published: June 2008

The natural fiber composites based on kapok/sisal and its hybrid composites with polyester as resin matrix have been prepared and tested for mechanical properties. In this paper hardness and flexural properties of kapok/sisal composites were determined with reference to the fabrics content and varying the volume ratios of fabrics. The maximum strength in the properties determined is observed for the optimum fabric loadings. The effect of alkali treatment of fabrics on polyester composites reinforced with kapok/sisal fabrics was studied. Increasing the sisal fiber content resulted in a reduction in the hardness and flexural properties. The properties were found to increase with alkali treated fabrics used in composite. The properties of kapok/polyester composites are found to be better than those of kapok/sisal polyester composites.
An Untapped Resource
Authors: Shannon Charlene S.
Published: June 2008

Research on youth volunteers has overlooked those between the ages of 8 and 12 (younger youth). As a result, little is known about the volunteer activities, motivations, or barriers of youth this age. This study used semi-structured interviews with 73 younger youth from Boys and Girls Clubs in Atlantic Canada and 7 club executive directors to explore the contributions younger youth can make as volunteers and how their experiences differ from older youth volunteers. The findings indicated that younger youth can engage in a wide range of volunteer activities. They participate because they experience volunteering as fun and enjoy the rewards, both tangible and intangible, associated with volunteering. The most significant barriers are related to perceptions others have related to what younger youth can do as volunteers.
Neurocognitive Impairment in Children Treated for Cancer: How Do We Measure Cognitive Outcomes?
Authors: Gross-King Margaret , Booth-Jones Margaret , Couluris Marisa
Published: June 2008

As the number of childhood cancer survivors grows, more attention on the identification and management of late effects, such as neurocognitive decline, is needed. This study, investigating treatment with central nervous system (CNS) stimulants for cognitive changes related to pediatric cancer treatment, confirmed a common concern. How should neurocognitive decline be measured and followed up after cancer therapy? Multiple pediatric standardized cognitive tests are available, but there is no consensus on an efficient way to measure the most common areas of decline, specifically impaired concentration, memory, and mental processing speed. The authors' report recognized 12 pediatric patients at risk for cognitive dysfunction, of whom 3 tested positive for early neurocognitive deficits using 3 subscales of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—III (WISC-III), which measure working verbal memory (Digit Span), mental processing speed (Symbol Search), and psychomotor speed (Coding). To predict the expected level of performance on WISC-III subscales, the patients' IQ was estimated using the Wide Range Achievement Test—3 reading subtest. Patients were treated with long-acting CNS stimulants and followed up serially using the WISC-III subscales.
Pasta Wars
Authors: Ebner Noam , Winkler Yifat
Published: June 2008

PASTA WARS is a four-party negotiation/conflict simulation, in which participants must decide recurrently whether to adopt a cooperative stance or a competitive strategy toward one another. Participants are formed into four groups, each of which manages a flour mill that is attempting to sell its produce to a single purchaser, the local pasta restaurant, over a series of rounds. Each mill's profitability is dependent not only on its own manufacturing strategy but also on that of the three other mills. In this way, they are subtly placed in an iterated four-way Prisoner's Dilemma, and they must maneuver, in an environment of limited communication, to develop relationships with each other and to build trust as a means of enabling personal and joint gain.
Why Do Governors Issue Vetoes? The Impact of Individual and Institutional Influences
Authors: Klarner Carl E. , Karch Andrew
Published: June 2008

Studies of presidential veto use advance two competing theoretical perspectives: the “president-centered” approach and the “presidency-centered” approach. We assess the applicability of these approaches to gubernatorial veto activity. Our analysis of forty-eight states between 1971 and 2002 provides strong support for the institutional perspective and less support for the individual perspective. The governor's formal powers, the partisan alignment of the legislature, and the electoral cycle all contribute to veto activity. The results suggest that conflict between the legislature and the governor is a product of systematic forces and that governors who face similar institutional constraints will behave in similar ways.
Cost Sharing and HEDIS Performance
Authors: Chernew Michael , Gibson Teresa B.
Published: June 2008

Physicians, health plans, and health systems are increasingly evaluated and rewarded based on Health Plan Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) and HEDIS-like performance measures. Concurrently, employers and health plans continue to try to control expenditures by increasing out-of-pocket costs for patients. The authors use fixed-effect logit models to assess how rising copayment rates for physician office visits and prescription drugs affect performance on HEDIS measures. Findings suggest that the increase in copayment rates lowers performance scores, demonstrating the connection between financial aspects of plan design and quality performance, and highlighting the potential weakness of holding plans and providers responsible for performance when payers and benefit plan managers also influence performance. Yet the effects are not consistent across all domains and, in many cases, are relatively modest in magnitude. This may reflect the HEDIS definitions and suggests that more sensitive measures may capture the impact of benefit design changes on performance.
Good Intentions, Unintended Consequences
Authors: Ganapati Sukumar , Frank Howard
Published: June 2008

In this article, we assess the impact of the Adker consent decree, a federal desegregation agreement implemented since 1999. It requires that Miami-Dade County public-housing offers be initially made on the basis of race and that half of the eligible turnover of Section 8 vouchers be given to former or current Black public-housing residents. Although well intentioned, the decree has had unintended consequences. The decree had mixed impact on desegregating public housing; it increased public-housing vacancy; it achieved modest desegregation among Section 8 voucher recipients; and it added considerable costs to the housing agency's operations.
Urban Politics and the Los Angeles School of Urbanism
Authors: Dear Michael , Dahmann Nicholas
Published: June 2008

This polemical article uses Los Angeles as a template to challenge existing theoretical and empirical research traditions in the study of urban politics. The precepts of the “Los Angeles School” exemplify the shift from a modernist to a postmodern urbanism in which altered geographies are redefining the meaning and practice of urban politics. Los Angeles challenges an urban political scholarship that is overly focused on empirical analysis at the expense of theory, too constrained by conventional categories, and divorced from adjacent disciplines with much to contribute to the understanding of contemporary politics, including urban political economy.
The Impact of Flow and Communitas on Enduring Involvement in Extended Service Encounters
Authors: McGinnis Lee Phillip , Gentry James W. , Tao Gao
Published: June 2008

This study explores the comparative effects of two antecedents of enduring involvement in determining whether social versus psychological effects are more important in establishing enduring involvement with an extended service encounter. Specifically, the authors look at the effects of communitas—a social effect—and flow—an individual psychological effect—to determine which has a stronger impact on one's enduring involvement in golf. Self-determination theory argues that flow should be more important than communitas in establishing enduring involvement because of higher levels of volitional control; the findings support this premise. From a practical perspective, these findings should help extended service managers determine which service environments or strategies (e.g., social atmosphere strategies vs. game improvement strategies) to emphasize when trying to establish loyal participants. The moderating effects of gender and participation frequency on the relationships between communitas and enduring involvement and between flow and enduring involvement are also examined.
Service Loyalty
Authors: Xiaoyun Han  , Kwortnik Robert J. , Chunxiao Wang
Published: June 2008

Marketing academics and practitioners generally agree that customer loyalty is vital to business success. There is less agreement on the factors that determine customer loyalty, particularly in service contexts. Research on the determinants of service loyalty has taken three distinct paths: quality/value/satisfaction, relationship quality, and relational benefits. The authors coalesce these paths to derive a model that links dimensions of customer loyalty (cognitive, affective, intention, and behavioral) with a system of determinants. The model is tested with data from varied services (airlines, banks, beauty salons, hospitals, hotels, mobile telephone) and 3,500 customers in China. Results are consistent across contexts and support a multidimensional view of customer loyalty. Key loyalty determinants are customer satisfaction, commitment, service fairness, service quality, trust, and a construct new to service loyalty models—commercial friendship. The research contributes to the literature by providing a more complete, integrated view of customer loyalty and its determinants in services contexts.
The Utilization and Effects of Positive Behavior Support Strategies on an Urban School Playground
Authors: Franzen Kate , Kamps Debra
Published: June 2008

Rates of problem behavior at urban elementary school playgrounds are of growing concern. The purpose of this study was to examine how the implementation of a recess intervention within the context of School-wide Positive Behavior Support (SwPBS), a systemwide, team-driven, data-based decision-making continuum of support, affected disruptive student behavior and teacher supervision on the playground in an urban elementary school. Specifically, this study replicated investigations conducted by Lewis and colleagues through teaching recess-related behaviors to students and using group contingencies to reinforce appropriate student behaviors. A multiple baseline design was used to assess the effects of SwPBS on the frequency of five target behaviors. Results indicated decreases in disruptive behaviors across three grade levels and increases in active teacher supervision.
The safety of baclofen in pregnancy: intrathecal therapy in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Dalton Catherine M , Keenan Elizabeth , Jarrett Louise , Buckley Lisa , Stevenson Valerie L
Published: June 2008

Intrathecal baclofen is a GABA-receptor agonist and one of the mainstay treatments of severe spasticity due to multiple sclerosis (MS). The authors report a case on the use of intrathecal baclofen administered using a Medtronic Synchromed II infusion pump. A healthy male infant (2.68 kg, Apgars 9 and 10) was born at 36 weeks gestation by cesarean section, under general anesthetic. This is the fifth reported case of intrathecal baclofen administered during pregnancy and adds to the knowledge that thus far it is relatively safe in pregnancy and may in fact be safer for the infant than oral baclofen. This is the first case report of the use of intrathecal baclofen in pregnancy and MS.
Book and Media Review: A Purchaser's Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: Moving Science Into Coverage
Authors: Olson Sarah J.
Published: June 2008

A Purchaser's Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: Moving Science Into Coverage is a comprehensive tool that assists benefits staff as they design health care benefits, set up coverage guidelines for clinical preventive services with health plans, or negotiate covered services for purchasers of health care. The Purchaser's Guide includes the specific benefit language that should be incorporated into the health benefit, known as the Summary of Plan Description, which describes the coverage of each specific service in contractual terms. This resource is an example of a private organization (the National Business Group on Health) and public health (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) working together to translate research into meaningful practice. The resulting product has the potential to affect many lives throughout the United States by improving the health benefits coverage and the ultimate delivery of clinical preventive services.
Professional Development in Retirement: The Top Rung on the Career Ladder
Authors: Hayden Joanna , Cottrell Randall , Green Lawrence , Ames Evelyn , Ramsey David
Published: June 2008

Retirement means different things to different people. For some, it is the endless summer, for others the freedom to travel down a new career path. For all, it is a time of significant change. Three prominent “retired” health educators share with us their retirement expectations, realities, and advice.
Health Educators' Perceptions of Ethics in Professional Preparation and Practice
Authors: Shive Steven E. , Marks Ray
Published: June 2008

This commentary reflects health educators' views concerning perceptions of the need for increased awareness of the Code of Ethics for the Health Education Profession, improvement in professionals' ability to engage in ethical reflection, and the need for incorporation of ethical considerations into health education practice.
Building Capacity for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Research: The Cardiovascular Health Intervention Research and Translation Network
Authors: Farris Rosanne P. , Pearson Thomas , Fogg Thomas , Bryant Lucinda , Peters Karen , Keyserling Thomas , Fitzpatrick Annette , Neal William
Published: June 2008

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention created the Prevention Research Centers (PRCs) Cardiovascular Health Intervention Research and Translation Network (CHIRTN) in 2005 to develop partnerships and create a research agenda that addresses cardiovascular health promotion. Six participating universities with expertise in heart disease and stroke prevention research collaborate with their PRC partner communities and other partners to (a) conduct demonstration research projects and (b) identify gaps in knowledge and make recommendations for future research to address those gaps. This report describes the structure and current efforts of the CHIRTN. The goal of these efforts is to promote cardiovascular health for Americans, particularly underserved, at-risk populations.
A Hybrid Individual—Zonal Travel Cost Model for Estimating the Consumer Surplus of Golfing in Colorado
Authors: Loomis John , Tadjion Omer , Watson Philip , Wilson Josh , Davies Stephen , Thilmany Dawn
Published: June 2008

Although golf is a popular activity and significant industry, there is little known about the price elasticity of demand for golf, nor the benefits received by the golfers themselves. Using a survey of Colorado golfers at 19 golf courses and a relatively novel hybrid individual observation and zonal travel cost model, the authors find the demand for golf is quite price inelastic with respect to transportation costs (−.433) and green fees (−.115). The typical golfer spends $8 on transportation and $49 on green fees/ carts. The price inelastic demands translate into a consumer surplus of $18.44 per round of golf at Colorado golf courses. The annual net economic value to golfers in Colorado for the 7.8 million rounds of golf is $143.8 million. The authors find a ``U'' shaped quadratic relationship between age and golf demand, such that retirement age golfers take about 30% more trips than middle age golfers.