bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Undressing Transformative Learning
Authors: Quinn Lisa J. , Sinclair A. John
Published: March 2016

Clothing is an integral part of our lives, yet modes of producing, using, and disposing of apparel have significant impacts on the environment. Our research explored the role transformative learning plays in the transition to more sustainable thinking and actions about clothing to illuminate instrumental learning processes and examine the relationship between instrumental and communicative learning. Using a qualitative case study approach, we gathered data on behaviors and attitudes ( n = 32), and examined in depth the learning participants underwent and the action they took ( n = 17). The data reveal that instrumental and communicative learning outcomes were plentiful, with participants discussing the array of skills, knowledge, and communicative insights they learned. Results indicate that instrumental learning makes action possible by allowing individuals to identify problems and solutions and to develop plans of action. Results also reveal the important interaction among instrumental and communicative learning as an individual seeks to understand an occurrence.
Developmental Diversity in the Academic Language–Learning Experiences of Adult English as a Second or Other Language Learners
Authors: Ouellette-Schramm Jennifer R.
Published: March 2016

Academic language is a challenging yet increasingly important skill for Adult Basic Education/English as a Second or Other Language learners. Related to academic language learning is an adult’s developmental perspective. Developmental perspectives have been shown to vary in adulthood and shape qualitatively distinct ways of reasoning and learning experiences. Using Kegan’s constructive-developmental theory, which derives from Western psychology but has been implemented cross-culturally, this qualitative case study explores the academic language–learning experiences of nine Adult Basic Education/English as a Second or Other Language learners. The data include 18 semistructured qualitative interviews and class observations. Analysis includes the dual lenses of grounded theory and constructive-developmental theory. Findings suggest that developmental perspectives made a qualitative difference in how learners experienced academic language learning. Notably, “instrumental” learners described what looks like struggle, but from their developmental perspectives, represents a logical pathway toward success. Learners transitioning toward “self-authoring” brought unique learning agendas and capacities for self-monitoring.
Clinical Characteristics of Pediatric-Onset and Adult-Onset Multiple Sclerosis in Hispanic Americans
Authors: Langille Megan M. , Islam Talat , Burnett Margaret , Amezcua Lilyana
Published: March 2016

Multiple sclerosis can affect pediatric patients. Our aim was to compare characteristics between pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis and adult-onset multiple sclerosis in Hispanic Americans. This was a cross-sectional analysis of 363 Hispanic American multiple scleroses cases; demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed. A total of 110 Hispanic patients presented with multiple sclerosis before age 18 and 253 as adult multiple sclerosis. The most common presenting symptoms for both was optic neuritis. Polyfocal symptoms, seizures, and cognitive symptoms at presentation were more prevalent in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis ( P ≤ .001). Transverse myelitis was more frequent in adult-onset multiple sclerosis ( P ≤ .001). Using multivariable analysis, pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (adjusted odds ratio, 0.3OR 95% confidence interval 0.16-0.71, P = .004) and being US born (adjusted odds ratio, 0.553, 95% confidence interval 0.3-1.03, P = .006) were less likely to have severe ambulatory disability. Results suggest that pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis and adult-onset multiple sclerosis in Hispanics have differences that could be important for treatment and prognosis.
The Role of Socio-Economic Status in Adoption of Coping Strategies Among Adolescents Against Domestic Violence
Authors: Ahmad Saeed , Ishtiaq Sayyeda Maida , Mustafa Mudasir
Published: March 2016

In the current study, researchers explored different types of coping strategies such as problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and non-constructive coping of adolescents witnessing and experiencing domestic violence. Furthermore, they tried to find out the association of socio-economic status with coping strategies against domestic violence in family sphere. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 210 adolescents of both sexes, aged 13 to 18 years in Hafizabad city using multistage sampling technique. Multivariate analysis was used to find out the association between adolescents’ resistance and resilience strategies against domestic violence. The information was collected through a structured interview schedule. This study revealed that age, gender, parents’ education, and family income were major factors that influenced the adoption of coping strategy among adolescents. Overall, the study suggested that adolescents were being victimized of various forms of domestic violence frequently in Pakistan, which needs to be addressed on immediate basis through policies and programs by integrating the social institutions of family and education. Findings of the study can enable parents to nurture and support the developmental needs of children in their care. It can help youth in defending themselves from extreme violent behavior adopters and preventing them from becoming the perpetrators of the domestic violence.
Attitudes Toward Sexual Violence Survivors: Differences Across Professional Sectors in Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Ferdowsian Hope , Kelly Scott , Burner Mary , Anastario Mike , Gohlke Grace , Mishori Ranit , McHale Thomas , Naimer Karen
Published: March 2016

Sexual violence survivors who decide to report their assault interact with health care, law enforcement, and legal and judicial professionals. Professionals’ attitudes about sexual violence and survivors play an important role in caring for survivors and in the pursuit of justice. Despite evidence showing the relationship between service provider beliefs and survivor outcomes, relatively little is known about professionals’ beliefs about sexual violence or their attitudes toward sexual violence survivors. Between June 2012 and December 2014, our study examined the beliefs and attitudes of 181 professionals from the health care, legal, and law enforcement sectors in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Rift Valley region of Kenya, areas with a high prevalence of sexual violence. To determine correlates of beliefs and attitudes about sexual violence and sexual violence survivors, multiple logistic regression models were adjusted for demographic and occupational characteristics. Respondents who agreed that survivors got what they deserved (7%) or that survivors should feel ashamed (9%) were the minority, while those who would be willing to care for a family member with a history of sexual violence (94%) were the majority. Profession was significantly associated with beliefs and attitudes about sexual violence and survivors. Law enforcement professionals were more likely than health professionals and lawyers to indicate that survivors should feel ashamed. Our findings suggest a need for interventions that adequately address potentially harmful beliefs and attitudes of some professionals serving sexual violence survivors.
The Association of Domestic Violence and Social Resources With Functioning in an Adult Trauma-Affected Sample Living in Kurdistan, Northern Iraq
Authors: Kane Jeremy C. , Hall Brian J. , Bolton Paul , Murray Laura K. , Mohammed Amin Ahmed Ahmed , Bass Judith K.
Published: March 2016

Domestic violence (DV) and other experienced trauma types increase the risk for impaired functioning. Access to social resources may provide a buffer to existing risks and allow individuals to continue and build functioning. This cross-sectional study investigated the direct effects of DV and access to social resources (perceived social support, social integration, and frequency of social contact), as well as their potential interactive effects, on daily functioning among 894 male and female trauma survivors who attended primary care clinics in Kurdistan, Iraq in 2009 and 2010. Experiencing DV was not associated with functioning for males ( p=.15) or females ( p=.60), suggesting that in the context of a trauma-affected sample, the experience of DV may not significantly increase the risk for functional impairment. Greater amounts of social integration were associated with less functional impairment among males ( p<.01) and females ( p<.05); social integration was associated with less functional impairment among males only ( p<.01); and frequency of social contact was associated with less functional impairment among females only ( p<.05), indicating that the association between social resource type and functioning differed by gender. Social resources had a stronger effect on functioning among men compared to women. Among males who experienced DV, social integration was the only social resource associated with less functional impairment ( p<.01); among male trauma survivors who did not experience DV, social support was the only resource associated with less functional impairment ( p<.01). Further investigation into these associations is warranted to inform intervention strategies for survivors of DV and other traumas in post-conflict settings.
Tested at Last: How DNA Evidence in Untested Rape Kits Can Identify Offenders and Serial Sexual Assaults
Authors: Campbell Rebecca , Feeney Hannah , Pierce Steven J. , Sharma Dhruv B. , Fehler-Cabral Giannina
Published: March 2016

An increasing number of U.S. law enforcement agencies have disclosed that they have large numbers of untested sexual assault kits (SAKs; also called “rape kits”) in police property storage. Whether previously untested SAKs should be tested for DNA evidence has been the subject of considerable public debate. To inform policy and practice regarding rape kit testing, the current study tested a sample of 900 previously unsubmitted SAKs from Detroit, Michigan, and documented the DNA forensic testing outcomes associated with those kits. We assessed how many SAKs yielded DNA profiles eligible for upload into CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), the federal DNA criminal database; how many resulted in a DNA match (termed a “CODIS hit”); and how many of those hits were associated to other sexual assault crimes (i.e., serial sexual assault hits). Overall, there were 259 CODIS hits, 69 of which had DNA matches to another sexual assault case. The potential utility of a DNA profile and CODIS hit may vary depending on whether offender was known or unknown to the victim, so we examined these outcomes separately for SAKs associated with stranger- and non-stranger-perpetrated sexual assaults. We also present six case study examples of how DNA testing and CODIS hits helped identify serial sexual assaults in both stranger and non-stranger sexual assault cases. Implications for rape kit testing policies are discussed.
The Roles of Family Factors and Relationship Dynamics on Dating Violence Victimization and Perpetration Among College Men and Women in Emerging Adulthood
Authors: Paat Yok-Fong , Markham Christine
Published: March 2016

Using data from the International Dating Violence Study, this study examined the roles of early socialization, family social structure, and relationship dynamics factors on physical aggression in dating among U.S. college students in emerging adulthood. The interaction effects between these three domains of interest (early socialization, family social structure, and relationship dynamics) were explored to understand the underlying mechanisms that influenced victimization and perpetration in dating. In general, we found that family and relational variables associated with dating victimization and perpetration were fairly similar. Among the early socialization variables, experience of childhood neglect and having witnessed domestic violence were significantly related to victimization and perpetration. Living in a two-parent household appeared to exert a protective effect, although associations with parental education were not statistically significant. Furthermore, the participants were more likely to experience victimization or impose aggression in dating relationships which were characterized by conflicts, distress, dominance, or psychological aggression. Overall, for the participants who came from a two-parent household, dominance in dating was linked to less violence. When the participants faced higher levels of psychological aggression, adverse early socialization factors were associated with higher levels of dating violence victimization and perpetration. Research and practice implications were discussed.
Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Violence: A Comparison of Antisocial and Family-Only Perpetrators
Authors: Petersson Joakim , Strand Susanne , Selenius Heidi
Published: March 2016

Subtyping male perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) based on their generality of violence could facilitate the difficult task of matching perpetrator subtype with efficient risk management strategies. As such, the aim of the present study was to compare antisocial and family-only male perpetrators of interpersonal violence in terms of (a) demographic and legal characteristics, (b) risk factors for violence, and (c) assessed risk and the importance of specific risk factors for violence. A quantitative design was used in this retrospective register study on data obtained from the Swedish police. Risk assessments performed with the Swedish version of the Brief Spousal Assault Form for the Evaluation of Risk (B-SAFER) and police registers were used. A sample of 657 male alleged IPV perpetrators were classified as antisocial ( n = 341) or family-only ( n = 316) based on their generality of violence. The results showed that the antisocial perpetrators were significantly younger, as well as more psychologically abusive. Antisocial perpetrators also had significantly more present risk factors for IPV, and were assessed with a significantly higher risk for acute and severe or deadly IPV, compared with the family-only perpetrators. The subtypes also evidenced unique risk factors with a significant impact on elevated risk for acute and severe or deadly such violence. Key findings in the present study concerned the subtypes evidencing unique risk factors increasing the risk for acute and severe or deadly IPV. Major implications of this study include the findings of such unique “red flag” risk factors for each subtype. To prevent future IPV, it is vital for the risk assessor to be aware of these red flags when making decisions about risk, as well as risk management strategies.
Individual Differences in 401(k) Plan Allocation Choices
Authors: Schulz Eric R. , Endres Megan , Kolomeitsev Sergei , de Castillo Rebecca Clark
Published: March 2016

Insufficient retirement savings behavior practiced by a significant number of employees underscores the importance of understanding the characteristics of those individuals most likely to choose the default contribution and asset allocation vehicles of an organization. We conducted an experiment of savings behavior involving 217 subjects asked to make choices about allocating 401(k) funds and investing those funds in investment vehicles. Individuals who specified their own allocation amounts invested significantly more money versus those who accepted a default. Psychological and demographic factors also predicted higher investment dollars and higher-risk investment choices. Changes in ambiguity tolerance significantly affected men’s decisions to choose high-risk investments for their 401(k) dollars, but these psychological variables did not affect women’s high-risk investment decisions. We offer implications for future research and practice.
Topology design for integrating and sequencing flows in terminal maneuvering area
Authors: Chida Hidenori , Zuniga Catya , Delahaye Daniel
Published: March 2016

The current overloaded airspace near large airports leads the stakeholders to develop more fundamental means to improve the use of available air capacity in dense traffic areas as terminal maneuvering area. A smart planning of aircraft trajectories and an appropriate designing of route structure can be a solution. Therefore, to analyze the capability of them, this paper proposes a novel approach to deal with the merging and sequencing problem of arrival traffic in terminal maneuvering area, and examines the performance of diverse conflict resolution strategies and different terminal maneuvering area route structure. An evolutionary algorithm is employed to resolve potential conflicts, altering one or more of the following decision variables: routes, speeds, and entrance time to terminal maneuvering area (slot). Two different fitness functions were developed. One aims to minimize potential conflicts and the other one aims to minimize at the same time potential conflicts and delay induced at runway. The performance of different combinations of decision variables, or conflict resolution strategies, is evaluated through a set of arrival aircraft to Grand Canaria airport. Also, four different route structures are tested by using the same set of incoming aircraft. The results showed that the slot and speed change and mix of all change strategies can successfully resolve all conflicts in an efficient manner. The results also suggested that topologies with one main merging point are more efficient than the ones that have two merging points. Finally, a significant abatement of delay was observed when minimizing conflicts and delay while achieving conflict-free solutions.
Experimental and numerical investigation into the wake of a supercritical airfoil in a compressible unsteady flow
Authors: Beheshti Boroumand B , Mani M , Fallahpour N
Published: March 2016

Experimental investigations were carried out to study the wake characteristics of a pitching supercritical airfoil at Mach number of 0.6. Flow field inside the wake was measured by a hot-wire anemometry at downstream distances from trailing edge of 0.25 and 0.5 times the chord length. All data were taken at mean incidence angles of 0 and 3°. The amplitudes of oscillation were 1 and 3° while the oscillation frequencies were 3 and 6 Hz. Output signals acquired from sensors were analyzed besides the effects of such parameters as frequency and oscillation amplitude. Moreover, a comprehensive numerical study was carried out for the same airfoil under similar experimental test conditions; then, the results of numerical simulations were analyzed and compared with those of experimental tests. Results of the present research could be summarized as: observation of hysteresis and how it is affected by frequency and amplitude variations, observation of increasing turbulence intensity by root mean square investigation and also increasing signal energy by means of power spectral density diagram for those sensors lied inside the wake, and finally, study of correlation between wake’s interior sensors and exterior ones.
Investigation on metal diaphragm of pulse separation device in dual-pulse solid rocket motor
Authors: Chunguang Wang , Cong Chen , Quanbin Ren , Ke Chen
Published: March 2016

The theories of circular plates with large deflection and fracture mechanics were employed to investigate the calculating formula of stress intensity factor on prefab gap. The relationship of the opening pressure with physical dimensions of hard pulse separation device (PSD) was analyzed to achieve the feasible configuration of metal diaphragm, which could play a very important role in dual-pulse solid rocket motor. Moreover, six specific single-term tests of the metal diaphragm were conducted to validate the computing precision of designing formula. In addition, three kinds of scale experiments, e.g. the bearing test, opening test, and associated test were performed to explore the working characters of hard pulse separation device. The results indicate that the error between the experimental results and designing results is 4.4%, and the method can be applied to design the physical dimensions of metal diaphragm. The performances of bearing ability, sealability, opening and melt of PSD have been demonstrated. The results show that this kind of PSD can satisfy the requirements of dual-pulse solid rocket motor very well.
Prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in a UK genitourinary medicine clinic
Authors: Price Huw , Salimee Sultan , Coelho Dwight
Published: March 2016

National guidelines state that hepatitis B and C testing should be targeted to those with risk factors. However, there is little data to support this recommendation. There is also limited data of viral hepatitis prevalence in attendees at genitourinary medicine clinics. We report the prevalence of hepatitis B infection in an unselected genitourinary medicine population, and hepatitis C directed by risk assessment including all men who have sex with men. Routinely collected clinic data from statutory returns was combined with laboratory test result data. Clinical notes of those testing positive were reviewed to determine risk factors and HIV status. HBsAg was positive in 13 (0.2%) of 6020 patients and hepatitis C Ab/Ag in 12 (1.0%) of 1153. All patients who tested positive for viral hepatitis infection had risk factors that would have prompted testing under national guidelines. Five of the 12 with positive hepatitis C Ab/Ag (0.4% of those tested) tested positive for hepatitis C RNA, indicating current infection. The prevalence of hepatitis B and C were in line with previously published data. Our results do provide support for the basis of targeted testing for viral hepatitis, as stipulated in national guidelines, in that all patients testing positive had risk factors.
Combining CDA and topic modeling: Analyzing discursive connections between Islamophobia and anti-feminism on an online forum
Authors: Törnberg Anton , Törnberg Petter
Published: March 2016

In this article we present an analysis of the discursive connections between Islamophobia and anti-feminism on a large Internet forum. We argue that the incipient shift from traditional media toward user-driven social media brings with it new media dynamics, relocating the (re)production of societal discourses and power structures and thus bringing about new ways in which discursive power is exercised. This clearly motivates the need to critically engage this field. Our research is based on the analysis of a corpus consisting of over 50 million posts, collected from the forum using custom web crawlers. In order to approach this vast material of unstructured text, we suggest a novel methodological synergy combining critical discourse analysis (CDA) and topic modeling – a type of statistical model for the automated categorization of large quantities of texts developed in computer science. By rendering an overview or ‘content map’ of the corpus, topic modeling provides an enriching complement to CDA, aiding discovery and adding analytical rigor.
‘Talk, listen, think’: Discourses of agency and unintentional violence in consent guidance for gay, bisexual and trans men
Authors: de la Ossa Abigaël Candelas
Published: March 2016

Attention to men’s attitudes towards sexual consent and violence has led to sexual consent guidance targeting men specifically. This article examines conflicting notions of consent and the construction of implied readership in a UK corpus of online sexual consent guidance for gay, bisexual and trans men. ‘Positive consent’ discourse presents consent as free, active and able to be withdrawn. ‘Talk, listen, think’ discourse recommends clear and explicit communication about boundaries. I argue that these discourses present gay, bisexual and trans men as effective moral agents, but these conflicting discourses also weaken the message of consent as free and affirmative. I show how synthetic personalization constructs solidarity between the implied reader and an imagined community of gay, bisexual and trans men who share the aim of ending sexual violence, but also constructs solidarity with men who are presented as unintentionally violent. I conclude by suggesting ways to improve consent guidance.
Could edaravone prevent gentamicin ototoxicity? An experimental study
Authors: Turan M , Ciğer E , Arslanoğlu S , Börekci H , Önal K
Published: March 2016

Objectives:

Clinical application of gentamicin may cause nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Our study is the first study to investigate the protective effects of edaravone against the gentamicin-induced ototoxicity. We investigated the protective effect of intraperitoneal (i.p.) edaravone application against gentamicin-induced ototoxicity in guinea pigs.

Methods:

Fourteen guinea pigs were divided into two equal groups consisting of a control group and a study group. One-hundred sixty milligrams per kilogram subcutaneous gentamicin and 0.3 mL i.p. saline were applied simultaneously once daily to seven guinea pigs in the control group (group 1). One-hundred sixty milligrams per kilogram gentamicin was applied subcutaneously and 3 mg/kg edaravone was applied intraperitoneally once daily for 7 days simultaneously to seven guinea pigs in the study group (group 2). Following the drug application, auditory brainstem response measurements were performed for the left ear on the 3rd and 7th days.

Results:

Hearing threshold values of the group 1 and group 2 measured in the 3rd day of the study were detected as 57.14 ± 4.88 and 82.86 ± 7.56, respectively. This difference was statistically significant ( p < 0.05). Hearing threshold values of the group 1 and group 2 measured in the 7th day of the study were detected as 87.14 ± 4.88 and 62.86 ± 4.88, respectively. This difference was statistically significant ( p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

A statistically significant difference between the average threshold values of edaravone-administered group 2 and that of group 1 without edaravone was found. These differences show that systemic edaravone administration could diminish ototoxic effects of gentamicin and the severity of the hearing loss.
The mastery of antidotes
Authors: Liu Y , Zhu H , Walline J , Wang M , Xu Q , Li Y , Yu X
Published: March 2016

Aim:

To describe various types of Chinese hospitals’ emergency department (ED) physicians’ knowledge of antidotes and the comparative availability of toxicological treatments at these hospitals.

Methods:

We emailed a written survey to the ED doctors of 900 hospitals in China. The hospitals’ names and addresses were obtained and randomly selected from the 6214 hospitals registered by the Chinese Medical Association. The survey included 23 questions on antidotes to commonly seen poisonings as well as questions on the availability of antidotes and decontamination techniques at each hospital.

Results:

Six hundred and fifty three hospital emergency directors responded to the survey 72.6% response rate). Overall knowledge of antidotes is not high and varied depending on antidote. Physicians in Eastern China, those working in tertiary-level hospitals and those working in hospitals with higher numbers of beds performed significantly better. On average, only 35.6% of the 23 antidotes were available in all reporting hospitals; 54.1% can get these antidotes from nearby hospitals and 42.0% can get them from a local CDC poison control center. However, only 57.3% can get a requested antidote within two hours. Gastric lavage is the most widely used decontamination procedure, and the availability of extracorporeal decontamination techniques is between 67.2% and 79.6% (depending on type).

Conclusion:

Knowledge of specific antidotes correlated significantly with size, type, and region of hospital in China rather than with individual physician characteristics. Significant antidotes remain unavailable or unavailable within 2 h in about half of all hospitals surveyed, although all major acute decontamination treatments and techniques seem quite prevalent.
Vestibular end organ injury induced by middle ear treatment with ferric chloride in rats
Authors: Lee JH , Kim MS , Park BR
Published: March 2016

Sensorineural hearing loss, ataxia, pyramidal signs, and vestibular deficits characterize superficial siderosis of the central nervous system. This study investigated changes in vestibular function, free radical formation, and phosphorylated cJun expression in the vestibular end organs after middle ear treatment with a ferric chloride (FeCl3) solution. A single injection of 70% FeCl3 solution into the unilateral middle ear cavity caused static vestibular symptoms, such as spontaneous nystagmus and head tilt. Asymmetric expression of c-Fos protein was observed in the bilateral vestibular nuclei and prepositus hypoglossal nuclei within 6 h after injection. Histopathologic examinations revealed partial hair cell loss, degeneration of the supporting stroma, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling-positive cells in the neuroepithelial layer of the crista ampullaris in FeCl3-treated animals. 5-(And-6)-chloromethyl-2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, acetyl ester and diaminofluorescein–2 diacetate fluorescence and immunoreactivity for nitrotyrosine increased markedly in the sensory neuroepithelial layer and nerve bundles of the crista ampullaris after 2 h. Strong immunoreactivity for phospho-cJun and cJun was observed in the type I hair cells of the crista ampullaris 120 h after injection. Thus, a single short-term treatment with a high concentration of FeCl3 in the unilateral middle ear cavity can induce activation of intracellular signals for cJun protein and oxidative stress through the formation of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide in vestibular sensory receptors, resulting in vestibular dysfunction. These results suggest that activation of intracellular signals for cJun protein and oxidative stress may be a key component of the pathogenesis of vestibular deficits in patients with superficial siderosis.
Size, Value, and Momentum Effects in Stock Returns: Evidence from India
Authors: Balakrishnan A.
Published: March 2016

We examine in this article if stock returns show a pattern which indicates certain anomalies predominantly size, value, and momentum effects. We also examine whether asset pricing models capture mean excess returns on portfolios constructed based on size–value and size–momentum factors. We find that average stock returns exhibit patterns that have size, value, and momentum effects. We also show evidence that the empirical results do not fully support asset-pricing models. Capital asset-pricing model (CAPM) does not capture average returns on portfolios. Fama–French three-factor model partly explains average returns on size–value sorted portfolios while Carhart four-factor model captures returns on size–momentum sorted portfolios mainly small size-winner portfolio. Hence, size, value and momentum factors continue to exist in Indian stock market and they are found to be profitable investment strategies which would maximize invested wealth of the investors.
Marketing Mix Influence on Service Brand Equity and Its Dimensions
Authors: Mukherjee Somnath , Shivani Shradha
Published: March 2016

Service sector is growing across the globe including India. Despite the growing importance of the sector and services marketing, there is a paucity of literature in the area in general and branding literature in particular.

This study is carried out in the retail banking sector with loans as the product category. Retail banking sector is increasingly seen as an attractive market segment with opportunities for growth and profits. We have reviewed the service branding literature and it is observed that most of the available brand equity models are for goods. Based on the research gap, a service branding model has been proposed and empirically validated. The model represents service marketing mix influence on certain selected dimensions of brand equity, namely, brand image(s) and perceived service quality and thereby on brand equity. Structural equation modelling is used to test the hierarchical relationship.

The study has established significant relationships among the marketing mix elements and brand equity dimensions. It contributes significantly to the literature on service branding and provides valuable insights to practicing managers.
An Investigation into Consumer Search and Evaluation Behaviour: Effect of Brand Name and Price Perceptions
Authors: Sharma Kavita , Garg Shivani
Published: March 2016

Past researchers extended the conceptualized model of perceived value to include the effects of multiple extrinsic cues used as indicators of quality. The need for replication as well as extending the research findings has, however, been expressed unequivocally by the researchers as it remains to be seen if the existing relationships would hold for consumers hailing from emerging nations. The present study extends the theoretical and empirical evidences regarding the structural relationships of consumers’ perceptions of marketing cues, namely, price and brand name, with the perceptions of quality, risk, sacrifice and value in the Indian context. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) based analysis of questionnaire-based responses of young Indian consumers, the study reports that high price is associated with the presence of better product features, assuming that a good quality product always comes with a high price attached and there is a possible shifting from looking to lower price-product options to alternatives which boast of a favourable brand name indicated by a higher price level. The study holds implications for marketers in regard to brand name positioning as well as planning communication and retail strategies.
Team Resilience: Scale Development and Validation
Authors: Sharma Shikha , Sharma Sanjeev Kumar
Published: March 2016

Resilience is of great importance for teams working in complex and unstable environments. Team resilience is the ability of the teams/groups to bounce back and sustain in the facade of adverse conditions. Research reveals that resilient teams are more likely to be productive, agile and innovative during the turbulent times. However, despite the growing importance of the concept, there is lack of reliable and valid scale to measure team resilience in the literature. Keeping this gap in mind the study aims to design and develop a reliable and valid measure to assess the resilience capacity of the teams. Findings of the study reveal that team resilience is a hierarchical and multidimensional scale comprising of four primary dimensions along with 10 sub-dimensions. Psychometric evaluation and validation has been done using 160 responses from 12 IT companies located in India. The instrument may be used as a diagnostic tool for identifying team resilience capacity and thereby acts as a starting point for increasing team resilience. Moreover, identifying teams with lower resilience scores may assist organizations in tailoring strategies that might improve the teams’ effectiveness.
Efficiency of Microfinance Institutions in India: Are They Reaching the Poorest of the Poor?
Authors: Kaur Prabhjot
Published: March 2016

Microfinance institutions are being criticized for their shift in the objective of serving the poor to the profit-making institutions. Serving the poor is a relatively costlier issue. Thus, microfinance institutions are being blamed for serving the better off clients. The focus of this study is to look at the financial efficiency of microfinance institutions in India and analyse their efficiency to reach women and the poorest of the poor. Application of Data Envelopment Analysis shows, on an average financial efficiency of Indian MFIs is much higher than their social efficiency. However, study does not find evidence for the presence of trade-off between financial and social efficiency.
Book Review: Shuhayl Abidi & Manoj Joshi, The VUCA Company, Mumbai, Jaico Publishing House
Authors: Kumar Ashok
Published: March 2016

Shuhayl Abidi & Manoj Joshi, The VUCA Company, Mumbai, Jaico Publishing House, 2015, 283 pp. ₹350.00 (Paperback). ISBN 9788184956627
Book Review: Eric Schmidt & Jonathan Rosenberg, How Google Works
Authors: Sinha Sudeshna
Published: March 2016

Eric Schmidt & Jonathan Rosenberg, How Google Works, London: John Murray, 2014, 286 pp., Price: ₹.650. ISBN 978-1-444-79246-1
Monitoring Spatial Patterns of Land Surface Temperature and Urban Heat Island for Sustainable Megacity
Authors: Grover Aakriti , Singh RB
Published: March 2016

Land use/cover change has brought major changes on land surface, including urban heat budget, temperature regimes, urban hydrology and others, leading to unsustainable environments. Remote sensing has played an important role in monitoring these changes across the globe, especially where instrumental data is not available for such observations. The study uses Landsat 5 TM remote sensing data (26 October 2010) to monitor spatial patterns of land surface temperature and urban heat island in the city of Mumbai, India. The thermal data was corrected and converted to top of the atmosphere radiance values and further to temperature in degrees Celsius from Kelvin scale using Erdas Imagine 9.2. The study reveals that urban areas have the highest temperature, ranging from 28°C for low built-up density and 34°C for high built-up and high-rise urban areas. Relatively, lower temperature is associated with forests and water bodies. The temperature varies with the vegetation density and depth of water. High vegetation density is related with low temperature (23°C) and low density with high temperature (26°C). Higher temperature (25°C) is recorded for shallow water and lower temperature (21°C) for deep water. The rocky bare surface record temperature, ranges between 26°C and 28°C. The east–west and north–south profile of surface temperature confirm the heat island phenomena in Mumbai. The central and southern parts of the city have the highest temperature (34°C) whereas the city outskirts have lower temperatures (23°C). For megacities to be sustainable, the spatial spread and composition of urban growth needs to be regulated and constantly monitored.
Facilitators and Barriers of Community-Level Quality Improvement for Maternal and Newborn Health in Tanzania
Authors: Tancred Tara , Manzi Fatuma , Schellenberg Joanna , Marchant Tanya
Published: March 2016

A quality improvement intervention for maternal and newborn health was carried out in southern Tanzania at the community level. It sought to improve health-seeking behaviors and uptake of community-level maternal and newborn health practices. A process evaluation populated using data primarily from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with the intervention’s implementers was undertaken in four villages receiving the intervention to evaluate the intervention’s implementation, uncover facilitators and barriers of quality improvement, and highlight contextual factors that might have influenced implementation. Performance implementation scores were used to rank the villages. Identifying higher- and lower-performing villages highlighted key facilitators and barriers of community-level quality improvement related to support from local leaders, motivation through use of local quality improvement data, and regular education around quality improvement and maternal and newborn health. These findings can be taken formatively in the design of similar interventions in the future.
Sexual Harassment in Public Spaces
Authors: Madan Manish , Nalla Mahesh K.
Published: March 2016

In this article, we examine the situational conditions of female sexual victimization in public spaces. Using survey questionnaire methodology, we explore gender differences in perceptions of the occurrence and location of sexual harassment in public spaces as well as the extent to which such behaviors are considered serious. The study’s methodology relies on using multistage cluster and quota sampling technique, where we interviewed nearly 1,387 respondents (both men and women) from the capital city of India, New Delhi. This study finds an overall congruence between perceived likelihood of female sexual harassment victimization and actual self-reported victimization in most public transportation modes, but there is a significant gap between these two indicators for occurrences that take place in certain transportation modes, such as taxis and auto-rickshaws. There are statistically significant gender differences in the seriousness ratings of various behaviors that constitute sexual harassment to women. Policy implications include adoption of a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of sexual harassment in public spaces.
Assessing the cost saving potential of shared product architectures
Authors: Mortensen Niels Henrik , Hansen Christian Lindschou , Løkkegaard Martin , Hvam Lars
Published: March 2016

This article presents a method for calculating cost savings of shared architectures in industrial companies called Architecture Mapping and Evaluation. The main contribution is an operational method to evaluate the cost potential and evaluate the number of product architectures in an industrial company. Experiences from the case company show it is possible to reduce the number of architectures with 60% which leads to significant reduction in direct material and labor costs. This can be achieved without compromising the market offerings of products. Experiences from the case study indicate cost reductions between 0.5% and 2% of turnover. The main implication is that the method provides a quantitative basis for the discussion on whether or not to implement shared product architectures. This means a more fact-based approach is introduced.
Pseudohyperplastic Adenocarcinoma With Foamy Changes in Needle Prostate Biopsy and Prostatectomy
Authors: Arista-Nasr Julian , Barrañon-Martìnez Isidoro , Aguilar-Ayala Elizmara , Bornstein Leticia , Trolle-Silva Alicia , Aleman-Sanchez Claudia Natalia , Martinez-Benitez Braulio
Published: March 2016

Pseudohyperplastic adenocarcinoma (PHA) with foamy changes is composed of neoplastic glands that show a cytoarchitectural combination of both neoplasms. However, none of the previously reported cases have shown typical areas of foamy or PHA. We report on the clinicopathological characteristics of 5 cases consisting predominantly of pseudohyperplastic and foamy adenocarcinomas. In several histological fields, this neoplasm mimicked hyperplastic nodules or prostatic adenosis because they showed the nodular pattern of the PHA and the inconspicuous cytological atypia of foamy gland carcinoma. Four cases had a Gleason score of 6. In the prostatectomies, the neoplasm was limited to the prostatic gland. The evolution has been favorable in all patients after 3 years of follow-up, on average. The cases reported herein demonstrate that PHA and foamy adenocarcinoma may be associated and occasionally show overlapping histological criteria. The PHA with foamy changes must be distinguished from conventional foamy adenocarcinoma and PHA because it can closely resemble hyperplastic glands mainly in needle prostatic biopsy.
Laramie 2.0
Authors: Teman Eric D.
Published: March 2016

Through autoethnographic poetry, I take the reader on a journey through my experience of moving to Laramie, Wyoming, to become faculty at the University of Wyoming. As a gay male who is still haunted by the 1998 brutal murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, I engage in storytelling: relaying my personal experiences of living in modern-day Laramie, showing the reader my fears, obstacles, and revelations through prose.
To Tell or Not to Tell
Authors: Carretta Carrie M. , Burgess Ann W. , DeMarco Rosanna
Published: March 2016

The underreporting of rape is well known; however, there is less information on women who fail to disclose to anyone. This online study suggests that 24% of 242 women who were non-disclosing compared with those who had disclosed were significantly less likely to seek treatment for emotional injuries. Also, almost two thirds of non-disclosing women believed the abuse was their fault versus 39.1% of women with prior disclosure. Of clinical interest is that regardless of disclosure pattern, there was no significant difference in reports of depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder, and the majority of respondents endorsed support for online counseling over telephone or individual contact.
Victimization and HIV Risks Among Croatian Female Sex Workers
Authors: Štulhofer Aleksandar , Sinković Matija , Božić Jasmina , Baćak Valerio
Published: March 2016

To assess the association between victimization and HIV vulnerability among Croatian female sex workers (FSWs), a survey involving 157 FSWs recruited from Croatia’s two largest urban areas was conducted in 2014. A majority of participants reported direct and indirect victimization, which was found to be significantly associated with condom use at most recent noncommercial sexual intercourse and sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis in the past 12 months. The association between victimization and STI diagnosis was partially mediated by depressiveness and moderated by social support. The buffering role of social support points to the importance of including counseling services in HIV prevention programs in Croatia.
Improving performance using computational compression through memoization: A case study using a railway power consumption simulator
Authors: Calderón Alejandro , García Alberto , García-Carballeira Félix , Carretero Jesús , Fernández Javier
Published: March 2016

The objective of data compression is to avoid redundancy in order to reduce the size of the data to be stored or transmitted. In some scenarios, data compression may help to increase global performance by reducing the amount of data at a competitive cost in terms of global time and energy consumption. We have introduced computational compression as a technique for reducing redundant computation, in other words, to avoid carrying out the same computation with the same input to obtain the same output. In some scenarios, such as simulations, graphic processing, and so on, part of the computation is repeated using the same input in order to obtain the same output, and this computation could have an important cost in terms of global time and energy consumption. We propose applying computational compression by using memoization in order to store the results for future reuse and, in this way, minimize the use of the same costly computation. Although memoization was proposed for sequential applications in the 1980s, and there are some projects that have applied it in very specific domains, we propose a novel, domain-independent way of using it in high-performance applications, as a means of avoiding redundant computation.
Multivariate Models for Normal and Binary Responses in Intervention Studies
Authors: Pituch Keenan A. , Whittaker Tiffany A. , Chang Wanchen
Published: March 2016

Use of multivariate analysis (e.g., multivariate analysis of variance) is common when normally distributed outcomes are collected in intervention research. However, when mixed responses—a set of normal and binary outcomes—are collected, standard multivariate analyses are no longer suitable. While mixed responses are often obtained in intervention studies and analysis models that can simultaneously include such outcomes are available, we found very limited use of these models in intervention research. To encourage greater use of multivariate analysis for mixed outcomes, this article highlights the benefits and describes important features of models that can incorporate a mix of normal and binary outcomes. Models for intervention research are then fit using Mplus and results interpreted using data from an evaluation of the Early Head Start program, a randomized trial designed to improve child outcomes for an at-risk population. The models illustrated estimate treatment effects for mixed responses in standard and multilevel experimental designs.