bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coaxial-coupling traction control for a four-wheel-independent-drive electric vehicle on a complex road
Authors: Zhang Lipeng , Li Liang , Lin Cheng , Wang Chong , Qi Bingnan , Song Jian
Published: June 2014

An independent-wheel-drive electric vehicle has the advantage of better implementation of precise motion and stability control. However, when the vehicle is moving on a road that has complex slopes and various adhesion coefficients and is subjected to the structural limitations of the independent-wheel-drive systems, the driving performance will deteriorate. In order to make full use of the drive torque of every motor to improve the vehicle’s climbing and accelerating abilities, on the basis of the designs of a dual-motor coaxial-coupling independent-wheel-drive system and a sliding-mode controller, a coaxial-coupling traction control system was developed. Simulations on coaxial-coupling traction control for a four-wheel-independent-drive electric vehicle were completed. With the innovative coaxial-coupling equipment, the drive torque can be satisfactorily transferred between the wheels at the two sides of one drive shaft. When one of the driving wheels begins to slip, the torque transmission will increase rapidly, the probability that wheel slipping occurs will be reduced and the vehicle’s driving force can be enhanced. Also, the chatter of the traction control system can be quietened effectively, and the dynamicity and trafficability can be improved. In addition, with the additional yaw moment generated by the torque coupling, the system also has the auxiliary effect of improving the high-velocity lateral stability of the vehicle on a road which has a low adhesion coefficient.
Study of thermal phenomena in the cabin of a passenger vehicle using finite element analysis: human comfort and system performance
Authors: Ji HoSeong , Kim YoonKee , Yang JangSik , Kim KyungChun
Published: June 2014

A numerical simulation is performed to evaluate the thermal comfort of passengers and the performance of a defroster. In this study, a grid system based on a real vehicle and a finite element human model are used with an appropriate time step. The turbulent nature of the flow is modelled using a standard k–ε model according to the logarithmic law of the wall. The complex flow characteristics inside the passenger compartment are shown with simultaneous velocity and temperature fields in several sections of the flow domain. Through a predicted mean vote analysis, the thermal comfort of the passengers is discussed, in particular with respect to the measured location of the seat and the measured position of the passenger. An additional study is conducted on the defrost mode with respect to the defrosting performance which is closely related to passenger safety. The velocity profile at the defrost nozzle is interpolated to the inlet boundary surface node through a defrost duct simulation. The monitored points on the ice boundary indicate the melting time, the phase-change duration, the change in the enthalpy and other useful information.
A reliable multisensor fusion strategy for land vehicle positioning using low-cost sensors
Authors: Li Xu , Chen Wei , Chan Chingyao
Published: June 2014

Many intelligent transportation system applications such as vehicle guidance, assistance driving, and safety alert require accurate, reliable, and continuous vehicle positioning whether in open environments or in Global-Positioning-System-denied environments. The way in which such positioning performance can be achieved using low-cost sensors is the main challenge for land vehicles. This paper proposes a reliable and cost-effective multisensor fusion strategy for real-time vehicle positioning. First, several key-data-preprocessing algorithms are developed to provide more accurate and richer information for subsequent global fusion. They include a sliding-mode observer for eliminating the noise from the wheel velocity, a recursive least-squares algorithm for vehicle attitude estimation and angle compensation, and a vehicle state estimator for estimating the unmeasured lateral vehicle state. Further, an interacting-multiple-model-based fuzzy-decentralized-information-filtering algorithm is developed to realize global fusion. In the implementation of the interacting-multiple-model-based fuzzy-decentralized-information-filtering algorithm, the decentralized-information-filtering algorithm is presented, which can conveniently isolate a Global Positioning System fault and fuse multiple observation sources with different sample rates, and the fuzzy inference module is designed and introduced to adjust model probabilities adaptively to make them more suitable for actual driving situations. Finally, the proposed strategy is evaluated through both simulations and experiments. The results validate the feasibility and the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
The service task implementation in automotive troubleshooting using an ontology-based knowledge support system
Authors: Liang Janus S
Published: June 2014

In the severe and highly competitive international commercial environment, automotive enterprises have made critical efforts in order to provide more additional value services except in their original product development field. A wider scope of knowledge is necessary to build an automotive troubleshooting service system, since inspection, diagnosis, maintenance and service operations are involved in its troubleshooting range. In this study, a methodology for ontology-based knowledge support is generated. Based on this methodology, a prototype of an automotive troubleshooting service system is generated. An industrial application is proposed and its initial results reveal the applicability of the approach and the prototype in practice.
Parametric study of the effects of the design factors on the performance of a heat recovery system obtained from an exhaust gas in a gasoline engine
Authors: Lee Jaemin , Choi Kyungwook , Lee Kihyung , Shin Kyoosik
Published: June 2014

A parametric study was conducted to determine the optimum operating conditions of a waste heat recovery system obtained from the exhaust gas. An analysis of the Rankine cycle was also performed with respect to the changes in the evaporation pressure and the mass flow rate of the working fluid, which have a significant influence on the performance of a heat recovery system. The analysis conditions in this study were selected on the basis of the mass production of an actual waste heat recovery system attached to a real engine exhaust manifold, and the energy flow obtained from gasoline engines was analysed using the first and second laws of thermodynamics. A model for analysing the heat exchanger was also developed using the experimental data on heat transfer between the actual exhaust gas and the working fluid. Based on this model, a cycle analysis of the waste heat recovery system was conducted through one-dimensional simulation. The optimum operating conditions and waste heat recovery system performance were determined from the analytical results. In addition, the potential of the heat recovery system was evaluated by investigating the brake specific fuel consumption of a gasoline engine equipped with a waste heat recovery system.
Audit of the management of the syphilis outbreak in Herefordshire 2011–2013
Authors: Cox Joanna H , Elliott Enid , Sivaprakasam Venkat , Chima-Okereke Catherine
Published: June 2014

The objective of this audit was to evaluate a localised rural outbreak of syphilis against British Association of Sexual Health and HIV guidelines. Forty-nine cases were identified; 98% were men, and 88% were men who have sex with men (MSM). There was a low incidence of HIV co-infection (18%). All standards regarding monitoring and treatment were met, whereas the standard concerning contact tracing was narrowly missed, highlighting a number of issues and areas for improvement. This audit has highlighted that a proactive approach is necessary to identify cases of syphilis in rural communities. This is due to difficulties in outreach testing and contact tracing in the absence of designated meeting places for MSM.
Backstepping attitude control for hypersonic gliding vehicle based on a robust dynamic inversion approach
Authors: Liu Xiaodong , Zhang Yu , Wang Sen , Huang Wanwei
Published: June 2014

A novel nonlinear attitude control method is proposed for hypersonic gliding vehicle by using a robust dynamic inversion control approach. The special objective of this control scheme is to deal with the parameter perturbations, high uncertainties and strong couplings during the flight of hypersonic gliding vehicle. According to the attitude motion equations of unpowered hypersonic gliding vehicle, a nonlinear model facing to attitude controller design is established. With regard to a class of nonlinear system, a robust dynamic inversion control is proposed and then applied to the hypersonic gliding vehicle attitude control by using backstepping approach. The stability conditions of hypersonic gliding vehicle attitude control system are obtained by means of Lyapunov function method. Simulation results show that the chosen hypersonic gliding vehicle plant using the proposed control scheme possesses better tracking performances, with respect to rapidity, accuracy and stability, compared to another backstepping control scheme based on traditional dynamic inversion control. Furthermore, it also has stronger robustness against system uncertainties.
Johannitius (809–873 AD), a medieval physician, translator and author
Authors: Dalfardi Behnam , Daneshfard Babak , Nezhad Golnoush Sadat Mahmoudi
Published: June 2014

The medieval physician, translator and author Abū Zayd Ḥunayn ibn Isḥāq al-'Ibādī, best known in the West as Johannitius, is considered the best translator of Greek texts, particularly medical writings, into Arabic. He made great inroads in the art of translation in the Islamic world. In addition to his own translations, Johannitius put significant effort into training pupils and passing knowledge about translation to succeeding generations. He was also a great writer, compiling over 100 books on different subjects, especially medical. Among his own works, the illustrious Kitab al-Ashr Maqalat fil-Ayn ( Ten Treatises on the Eye) contains the oldest known illustration of the structure of the eye. It served as the primary source for Galen’s theory of vision and subsequent use by Western scholars.
The experiences of people with dementia and intellectual disabilities with surveillance technologies in residential care
Authors: Niemeijer Alistair R , Depla Marja FIA , Frederiks Brenda JM , Hertogh Cees MPM
Published: June 2014

Background:

Surveillance technology such as tag and tracking systems and video surveillance could increase the freedom of movement and consequently autonomy of clients in long-term residential care settings, but is also perceived as an intrusion on autonomy including privacy.

Objective:

To explore how clients in residential care experience surveillance technology in order to assess how surveillance technology might influence autonomy.

Setting:

Two long-term residential care facilities: a nursing home for people with dementia and a care facility for people with intellectual disabilities.

Methods:

Ethnographic field study.

Ethical considerations:

The boards representing clients and relatives/proxies of the clients were informed of the study and gave their written consent. The clients’ assent was sought through a special information leaflet. At any time clients and/or proxy were given the option to withdraw from the study. The research protocol was also reviewed by a medical ethics committee.

Findings:

Our findings show a pattern of two themes: (1) coping with new spaces which entailed clients: wandering around, getting lost, being triggered, and retreating to new spaces and (2) resisting the surveillance technology measure because clients feel stigmatized, missed the company, and do not like being “watched.”

Conclusion:

Client experiences of surveillance technology appear to entail a certain ambivalence. This is in part due to the variety in surveillance technology devices, with each device bringing its own connotations and experiences. But it also lies in the devices’ presupposition of an ideal user, which is at odds with the actual user who is inherently vulnerable. Surveillance technology can contribute to the autonomy of clients in long-term care, but only if it is set in a truly person-centered approach.
Limits to relational autonomy—The Singaporean experience
Authors: Krishna Lalit Kumar Radha , Watkinson Deborah S , Beng Ng Lee
Published: June 2014

Recognition that the Principle of Respect for Autonomy fails to work in family-centric societies such as Singapore has recently led to the promotion of relational autonomy as a suitable framework within which to place healthcare decision making. However, empirical data, relating to patient and family opinions and the practices of healthcare professionals in Confucian-inspired Singapore, demonstrate clear limitations on the ability of a relational autonomy framework to provide the anticipated compromise between prevailing family decision-making norms and adopted Western led atomistic concepts of autonomy. Evidence suggests that despite a growing infusion of Western influence, there is still little to indicate any major shift to individual decision making, particularly in light of the way society and healthcare are structured. Similarly, the lack of employing a shared decision-making model and data that discredit the notion that the complex psychosocial and cultural factors that affect the decision making may be considered “content neutral” not only prevents the application of relational autonomy but questions the viability of the values behind the Principle of Respect for Autonomy. Taking into account local data and drawing upon a wider concept of personhood that extends beyond prevailing family-centric ideals along with the complex interests that are focused upon the preservation of the unique nature of personhood that arises from the Ring Theory of Personhood, we propose and “operationalize” the employing of an authoritative welfare-based approach, within the confines of best interest decision making, to better meet the current care needs within Singapore.
Evaluation of Gender and Equity Issues Under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan
Authors: Ramachandran Vimala , Chatterjee Prerna Goel
Published: June 2014

In the last 50 years, India has made significant progress in the field of education. Yet, there are huge challenges, especially when it comes to bridging gender and equity gaps in education. In 2001, the Government of India (GOI) had launched Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) with the specific purpose of achieving universal elementary education (UEE). One of the main goals of SSA is to bridge gender and social gaps. Even though the SSA programme is primarily financed by the GOI, three external Development Partners (DP) also contribute funds towards SSA, namely: World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Union (EU). Being a partnership programme, a six monthly review is carried out by the GOI and DP, which is known as the Joint Review Mission (JRM). This desk review was conceptualised with the purpose of doing a thorough review of monitoring and evaluation processes of SSA JRM reports in order to understand how gender and equity goals have been tracked and addressed by the government and donor partners. More specifically, this study also explores how equity and gender have been understood within the SSA framework; whether the SSA JRM mechanism focuses on input indicators, process indicators and/or output indicators; and what are the various gender-related issues that have been flagged in SSA JRM reports and recommendations made over the years?
Nurturing an Alien Pregnancy: Surrogate Mothers, Intended Parents and Disembodied Relationships
Authors: Majumdar Anindita
Published: June 2014

In India where a large number of Indian women, primarily from poor and disadvantaged economic sections, are willing to gestate a pregnancy for an infertile couple in exchange for compensation—the meaning of pregnancy is completely different. Navigating circumstances and relationships are not only strange for Indian surrogates but also for foreign as well as Indian couples who enter into the transnational commercial gestational surrogacy arrangement. Here the notion of risk is seen in the ‘disembodied relationships’ of couples and surrogates trying to nurture an alien pregnancy—alien for the surrogate due to her status as a non-claimant, and alien to the couple because it is housed in the body of another. Experiences culled from interviews with couples, surrogates and their relatives point towards how ‘risk’ is felt and played out in the care and nurturance of the pregnancy.
Women Component Plan at the Village Panchayat Level in Kerala: Does it Live Up to its Promise?
Authors: Nair Nisha Velappan , Moolakkattu John S.
Published: June 2014

This article looks at the performance of the Women Component Plan (WCP) introduced at the local level in Kerala to encourage participatory planning by studying the experience of five village panchayats over a 10 year reference period. There has been a marked difference among projects carried out under the WCP and general sector projects and projects meant for Scheduled Castes in expenditure efficiency. The article also looks at the nature of projects implemented, the extent of participation of women members in their design and execution, and the opinion of elected representatives on the usefulness of the WCP.
Book Review: Srila Roy, Remembering Revolution: Gender, Violence and Subjectivity in India’s Naxalbari Movement
Authors: Parashar Swati
Published: June 2014

Srila Roy, Remembering Revolution: Gender, Violence and Subjectivity in India’s Naxalbari Movement. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2012. 252 pages. ₹ 1200.
Book Review: Barbara Reeves-Ellington, Kathryn Kish Sklar and Connie A. Shemo (Eds), Competing Kingdoms: Women, Mission, Nation and the American Protestant Empire
Authors: Tallie T.J.
Published: June 2014

Barbara Reeves-Ellington, Kathryn Kish Sklar and Connie A. Shemo (Eds), Competing Kingdoms: Women, Mission, Nation and the American Protestant Empire, 1812–1960. Durham: Duke University Press, 2010. 432 pages. $ 94.95 (Hardback); $ 24.95 (Paperback).
The Influence of Organizational Culture on Job Satisfaction of Administrative Employees at a Public Hospital
Authors: Dimitrios Bourntenas , Kastanioti Catherine , Maria Tsouri , Dimitris Niakas
Published: June 2014

The case study aims in outlining the organizational culture that exists at a General Hospital of Larissa in Greece, measuring the satisfaction which the administrative employees of the hospital acquire through their job and correlating these two variables.

The total population of the survey was the 100 administrative employees that work in General Hospital of Larissa. The survey was conducted during May and June 2013. The research tools used were the questionnaires developed by Cameron and Quinn (1999) and Spector (1994).

Regarding the organizational culture, the survey revealed that the dominant culture in a General Hospital of Larissa is the culture of Hierarchy, while the desired culture differs from the derailing one. On the other hand, the participants appear to have low levels of job satisfaction, mainly regarding their satisfaction by their rewards. Finally, the study proved statistically that the organizational culture of General Hospital of Larissa does not seriously influences the job satisfaction of the administrative employees of the hospital.
Empowering Women in India
Authors: Kothari Devendra
Published: June 2014

The article aims at formulating a feminist agenda to empower women living in highly patriarchal and traditional surroundings with several obstacles. The ‘agenda’ is based on the premises that no doubt efficient policing, stringent punishments and legal measures would reduce the incidences of crime against women but these cannot eliminate growing gender inequality in India unless and until the mindset of the society is changed. The article suggests that women-centred reproductive healthcare may alter patriarchal constructs despite strong structural resistance. Ensuring reproductive rights and improving living conditions could be fast track to progress. And this feminist agenda will contribute significantly towards women’s empowerment.
Implementing Motivational Interviewing in an Urban Homeless Population
Authors: Crouch Cathy , Parrish Danielle E.
Published: June 2014

This article describes the experiences of an agency administrator who developed a meaningful and effective collaboration with university researchers to address the needs of her client population. The initial agency–university collaboration process and its benefits are described as well as the efforts required and challenges faced when adopting and implementing motivational interviewing as a primary approach for case management services in a large, urban homeless services program. Finally, additional lessons learned from an administrator’s perspective are provided.
Perioperative Warming in Surgical Patients
Authors: Rowley Brenda , Kerr Marsi , Van Poperin Judy , Everett Cindy , Stommel Manfred , Lehto Rebecca H.
Published: June 2014

The four arm study investigates how use of a preoperative forced-air warming blanket and adjustment of ambient surgical room temperature may contribute to prevention of perioperative hypothermia. Active warming interventions may prevent the drop in core temperature that occur as a result of surgical anesthesia. Core body temperatures from a convenience sample of 220 adult surgical patients were sequentially monitored in the preoperative, intraoperative, and post-anesthesia care units (PACU) while receiving: (a) routine surgical care, (b) application of preoperative forced-air warming blanket, (c) application of preoperative forced-air warming blanket with adjustment of ambient surgical room temperatures, or (d) adjustment of ambient surgical room temperature only. Sample characteristics were evenly distributed among the four groups. There were no statistical differences in PACU core body temperatures. The application of forced-air warming blankets and room temperature adjustment interventions were not more effective than current practice in preventing perioperative hypothermia.
Evaluation of the cold formability of high-strength low-alloy steel plates with the modified Bai–Wierzbicki damage model
Authors: Lian J , Wu J , Münstermann S
Published: June 2014

While strength and toughness properties of construction steels are major mechanical properties with respect to the safety assessment of components, increasingly often requirements are defined on the processing properties of materials, in particular cold formability properties. So far, the cold formability of structural steels is characterized in terms of three-point bending tests, which result in very expensive experimental effort and limited understanding of the material behaviour under various stress states. In this paper, the cold formability of a structural steel S355J2 + N is characterized under various stress states in a laboratory scale by a recently proposed hybrid damage mechanics approach. A damage initiation criterion that considers the influence of stress triaxiality and Lode angle is used to describe the onset of material degradation in a microstructural scale in the approach. Subsequent damage evolution is followed to further quantify the accumulation of damage till the final fracture. A series of laboratory tests is designed to calibrate the model parameters as well as to verify the calibration. Good agreement of experimental and numerical force–displacement responses proves the predicative capability of the model. With the laboratory findings, the industrial scale three-point bending test is simulated to predict the forming limit. In addition, the numerical study reveals that the stress state of the critical element in three-point bending test coincides with plane-strain tension, which results in a simpler method to characterize the bendability to reduce the experimental effort.
School Nurses Race to the Top
Authors: Haffke Louise Marie , Damm Paula , Cross Barbara
Published: June 2014

During the 2013–2014 school year, the Shaker Heights, Ohio City school district was mandated to change its evaluation process as part of the Race to the Top initiative. Although not required by the federal or state Departments of Education, the Shaker Heights City school district tasked all members of their faculty and staff, including school nurses, to change their evaluation process in an effort to improve students’ performances and outcomes. This article chronicles how the Shaker Heights school nurses modified their evaluation process by adhering to the scopes and standards of school nursing as described by the American Nurses Association and National Association of School Nurses. Their revised evaluation tool could usefully serve as a model for school districts nationwide; it improves student outcomes, increases the professionalism of the school nurse specialty, increases administrative understanding of their role, and increases their accountability as independent health providers in the school.
Assessment of Secondhand Smoke Exposure at School Among U.S. Middle and High School Students
Authors: Olufajo Olubode Ademola , Agaku Israel Terungwa
Published: June 2014

To obtain nationally representative estimates of the prevalence of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure at U.S. schools, we assessed the prevalence and correlates of SHS exposure at school among U.S. middle and high school students using data from the 2011 National Youth Tobacco Survey comprising of 18,866 students spread across all the U.S. states. Overall prevalence of SHS exposure at school was 25.7% (95% CI: [23.6%, 27.8%]). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that having ≥1 smoker friends (adjusted Odds Ratio [a OR] = 2.92; p < .001); being a smoker (a OR = 2.75; p < .001); and being aged 13–16 years, or ≥17 years (vs. 9–12 years) significantly increased the likelihood of SHS exposure. Understanding the health risks of SHS exposure alone did not seem to play a significant role in reducing exposure (a OR = .89; p = .342). These findings show there are significant levels of SHS exposure among students at U.S. middle and high schools, and sustained multipronged efforts are needed to reduce youth SHS exposure.
An investigation on thermoelastic interactions under two-temperature thermoelasticity with two relaxation parameters
Authors: Kumar Roushan , Kumar Anil , Mukhopadhyay Santwana
Published: June 2014

The present work is concerned with the thermoelastic interactions in a linear, homogeneous, unbounded medium with a cylindrical cavity in the context of the theory of two-temperature thermoelasticity with two relaxation parameters. This theory takes into account that heat conduction in deformable bodies depends on two different temperatures: the conductive temperature and the thermodynamic temperature. The surface of the cavity is assumed to be stress free and subjected to a thermal shock. The problem is formulated on the basis of a thermoelastic model with two relaxation parameters proposed by Green and Lindsay and the two-temperature model suggested by Youssef in a unified way in order to make a detailed comparison between the two models by deriving the short-time approximated solutions for fields analytically. The results are also compared with the earlier findings. Significant dissimilarities among different models of thermoelasticity are pointed out. This study highlights a very significant feature of a two-temperature thermoelastic model.
Service Systems
Authors: Chandler Jennifer D. , Lusch Robert F.
Published: June 2014

The proposed framework sheds light on the fundamental role that value propositions play in service systems. Building on service-dominant logic from marketing and structuration theory from sociology, the authors theoretically link three service constructs: value propositions as invitations from actors to one another to engage in service, engagement as alignment of connections and dispositions, and service experience as many-to-many engagement. The proposed framework generates future research directions and theory development regarding the crucial role of value propositions in service systems; ultimately, it contributes to a deeper understanding of markets that is different than that which is guided by the standard neoclassical economics view of markets.
The Effects of Racialized Workplace Discourse on Race-Based Service in Full-Service Restaurants
Authors: Brewster Zachary W. , Rusche Sarah N.
Published: June 2014

Existing studies have found that restaurant servers sometimes deliver service that is informed by their customers’ race. However, we know considerably less about the causes underlying such discriminatory behaviors within the restaurant context. In this study, we advance this literature by analyzing data derived from a survey of restaurant servers (N = 195) to assess the effects of working in a racialized workplace environment, characterized by racist and stereotypical discourse, on servers’ reports of providing race-based service. Our findings reveal a strong statistically significant positive relationship between observing racialized workplace discourse and servers’ self-professed discriminatory behaviors. Furthermore, we find that these effects are not mediated or moderated by servers’ willingness to participate in the discursive spreading of racial stereotypes by discussing their customers’ race with peers. We conclude by identifying suggestions that restaurant leaders might consider to reduce racial discrimination within the restaurant industry.
The effect of random surface topography height on fretting in dry gross slip conditions
Authors: Pawlus Pawel , Michalczewski Remigiusz , Lenart Agnieszka , Dzierwa Andrzej
Published: June 2014

This paper describes the tribological effect of surface topography on friction and wear under dry fretting regime of a point contact. Experiments were made using SRV4 ball-on-disc tribotester. 100Cr6 sphere of 64 HRC (Rockwell method, scale C) hardness co-acted with a disc made of 42CrMo4 steel with hardness of 40 HRC. Fretting tests were carried out under dry gross slip conditions. The diameter of ball was 10 mm. During tests, normal load was kept constant at P = 50 N within the contact. Duration of each test was 15 min. Tests were performed in 26 ℃ temperature in the chamber at 39–43% of relative humidity. Displacement amplitude was 0.1 mm (stroke was 0.2 mm) with frequency of 20 Hz. The disc samples had different textures obtained after one process (grinding, vapor blasting, or polishing) and two process (grinding or vapor blasting followed by lapping). During tests, the friction force was monitored as a function of time. Wear of disks and balls was measured after the test using white light interferometer. Surface roughness height of discs, determined by the Sq parameter was in the range: 0.01–4.5 µm. It was found that initial surface roughness height had a significant influence on friction and wear in dry gross slip conditions. For rougher disc surfaces, the friction force in initial test stage and wear of co-acting parts were higher.
Sleep-readiness signals in insomniacs and good sleepers
Authors: Giganti Fiorenza , Guidi Sara , Aboudan Samir , Baiardi Simone , Mondini Susanna , Cirignotta Fabio , Salzarulo Piero
Published: June 2014

Sleep is preceded by physiological and behavioural events that inform the subject that it is time to sleep. Our hypothesis is that insomniacs do not adequately recognize such signals, thus missing the best time to go to bed. Eighty-seven chronic insomniac participants and 76 age-matched good sleeper controls were recruited. Semi-structured interviews focused on three aspects of nocturnal sleep: features, habitual activities and signals that they usually rely on in order to decide their readiness to sleep. The results showed that insomniacs relied more than good sleepers on external signals (time) than on bodily ones to decide to go to sleep.
Long-term simultaneous measurement of indoor concentration of radon and thoron progeny in the dwellings of Una and Hamirpur District of Himachal Pradesh
Authors: Bala Pankaj , Mehra Rohit
Published: June 2014

Long-term simultaneous measurement of indoor concentration of radon and thoron progeny is made using passive alpha track detectors in the dwellings of Una and Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. The preliminary results of these measurements are reported, particularly regarding direct thoron progeny sensor (DTPS) and direct radon progeny sensor (DRPS) being set up in real ﬁeld conditions for the ﬁrst time in Himachal Pradesh. The concentrations of radon and thoron progenies (equilibrium equivalent radon and thoron concentration (EERC/EETC)) were measured for all the seasons of the year. A remarkable ﬁnding is the positive correlation between EERC and EETC (R2 = 0.79 in summer and R2 = 0.81 in winter). A comparison was made with the measurements of EERC/EETC in summer and winter season. The ratio of EETC/EERC was calculated and this agrees with worldwide range. This study contributes to the status of Himachal Pradesh in the mapping of radon in India.
Pre-adolescent concern for the natural environment according to gender
Authors: Saricam Sibel
Published: June 2014

Natural environment and human relationships are very important in creating a healthy society. In particular, recent research focuses on the relationship between child and natural environments. Children’s relationship with the natural environment could vary according to different variables. The gender factor is one of them. The aim of this present study was to determine the concern with regards to the natural environment of pre-adolescent living in Malatya city depending on gender. The study carried out a questionnaire survey that was given to the 6th, 7th and 8th form pupils of different primary schools based on children 11–14 years of age. A simple randomized sampling method was used to choose pre-adolescent who would complete the questionnaire form. The questionnaire that consisted of three sections – ‘personal information’, ‘opinion about nature’ and ‘relationship with nature’ – was given to 206 females, 170 males for a total 376 pre-adolescents. The results showed that the difference about opinion towards nature according to gender is not statistically significant. But the difference in leisure activities and relationship with nature is statically significant.
The home environment of junior high school students in Hyogo, Japan – Associations with asthma, respiratory health and reported allergies
Authors: Takaoka Motoko , Suzuki Kyoko , Norbäck Dan
Published: June 2014

Associations between home environment factors and respiratory symptoms, and reported allergies among junior high school students in Kobe, Japan ( N = 1048) were investigated in the present study. These were mutually adjusted for age, sex, type of school (private/local) and their significant exposures to the environment. Totally 13.4% of students reported to have doctor's diagnosed asthma, 9.9% had wheeze and 50.1% had attacks of daytime breathlessness during past 12 months, 25.7% of students reported that they had pollen allergy, 8.8% had cat allergy and 6.1% had dog allergy. Totally 29.4% of students were living in a wooden house and during past 12 months, 18% of students reported that their homes had signs of dampness, 38.2% of homes had window condensation in winter and 7.8% of homes had indoor painting. Window condensation was associated with wheeze (odds ratio (OR) = 1.54; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–2.34), daytime breathlessness (OR = 2.02; 95% CI 1.56–2.63), airway infection during past 12 months (OR = 1.66; 95% CI 1.17–2.37), cat allergy (OR = 1.63; 95% CI 1.05–2.54); mould allergy (OR = 1.84; 95%CI 1.08–3.12) and pollen allergy (OR = 1.54; 95% CI 1.15–2.06). Recent indoor painting was associated with daytime breathlessness (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.12–3.00), dog allergy (OR = 2.23; 95% CI 1.02–4.85) and mould allergy (OR = 2.43; 95% CI 1.14–5.17). Living in a wooden house was associated with dog allergy (OR = 2.17; 95% CI 1.18–4.00) and mould allergy (OR = 1.98; 95% CI 1.04–3.76). In conclusion, in Japanese homes, the window condensation in winter, recent indoor painting and living in a wooden house could contribute to the increased risk of respiratory symptoms and allergies for young Japanese school children.
The impact of ecotourism employment on rural household incomes and social welfare in six southern African countries
Authors: Snyman Susan
Published: June 2014

Rural African communities are largely characterised by high levels of unemployment and poverty, low skills levels and a heavy reliance on natural resources. Increasing populations, together with the impacts of climate change, are putting pressure on natural resources and the issue of sustainable land use is becoming critically important. Ecotourism is one possible sustainable land use which can also assist with both local socio-economic development and biodiversity conservation. This paper looks at the impact of ecotourism employment on rural household incomes and overall social welfare in six southern African countries. Extensive socio-economic interview schedules were conducted in camps run by Wilderness Safaris in Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. A total of 385 staff interviews were conducted in 16 high-end ecotourism camps, constituting a majority of the staff in these camps. A further 1400 community interviews were conducted in over 30 rural communities associated with these ecotourism camps. Two types of community members are differentiated in this study: those directly employed in a high-end ecotourism operation (staff) and those not employed in the high-end ecotourism operation (non-staff). For every camp, both groups of respondents were from the same community, living either in or around the protected area where the ecotourism operation was situated; allowing for comparisons between the two groups. The results show that rural households are relying heavily on the market economy, largely in the form of ecotourism, for support and highlight ecotourism employment’s important role in local socio-economic development in remote, rural areas. The results also highlight the importance of formal education, livelihood diversification and other formal employment in these areas. Suggestions for increasing the benefits to local communities are put forward.
Fair Trade Learning: Ethical standards for community-engaged international volunteer tourism
Authors: Hartman Eric , Paris Cody Morris , Blache-Cohen Brandon
Published: June 2014

The purpose of this paper is to articulate a set of ethical standards for international volunteer tourism. The standards are focused on promoting Fair Trade Learning (FTL) principles in the management and operation of volunteer programs. Because of the unique social mission, research, and evaluation capacities of higher education, we propose first applying these principles specifically to international volunteer programs operating at the university–community nexus. These standards have emerged through a collaborative, in-person, and online process during the last 2 years with input by numerous concerned global citizens, international education practitioners and researchers, nongovernmental organization representatives, and community members. The document shared below represents current “best practice” for maximizing the benefits and minimizing the negative impacts of volunteer tourism programs for both host communities and volunteers.
The potential for coffee tourism development in Rwanda – Neither black nor white
Authors: Anbalagan Karthick , Lovelock Brent
Published: June 2014

The potential for tourism development in many African nations remains largely untapped because of a range of destination management and image issues. This is the case for Rwanda, which, despite successful development of gorilla viewing tourism, needs to diversify its tourism offerings in order to grow the industry. Rwanda is a known for its high quality coffee, which contributes substantially to its export earnings. This paper explores the opportunity for synergistic, cross-sectoral development of coffee tourism in Rwanda. We draw upon a case study of a large coffee company in Rwanda, utilising in depth qualitative interviews with coffee and tourism stakeholders, to identify the barriers and facilitators for coffee tourism. Primary concerns lie around the connection of the two separate sectors, coffee and tourism, with issues around governance, and reliance upon the growing and availability of coffee production, which is largely governed by unstable international commodity prices. Rwanda’s destination image, especially the impact of the genocide on perceptions of safety and security, is still being seen as a barrier to further development. Access, seasonality and the logistics of coffee tourism also pose challenges, especially in the rural parts of the country where infrastructural problems are more pronounced: similarly so for accommodation and the provision of skilled hospitality providers. Despite the above, we see coffee tourism as providing poor Rwandan farmers the opportunity to link with wealthy consumers from the north and to take greater control of their product, and add value through developing various tourism activities associated with coffee. Coffee tourism also offers a supplementary attraction for Rwanda’s uni-dimensional (gorilla tourism) product which could increase length of stay and visitor spend.
Tourism in the East African Community (EAC): Challenges, opportunities, and ways forward
Authors: Okello Moses M , Novelli Marina
Published: June 2014

The Economic Road Map and Visions of the East African Community member states (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi) view tourism development not only as a key pillar for national development, but most importantly as a mechanism to alleviate poverty, generate foreign revenue for the government, and contribute to wildlife conservation. With exception of Kenya and Tanzania, which also have a well-developed coastal tourism segment, the remaining East African Community countries are landlocked, with nature and wildlife remaining as the only core tourism assets. Yet, their Economic Road Map and Visions foresee tourism as a key contributor to transforming their economies in the years to come . While this sounds like a honorable aspiration, most tourism revenues have been generated through narrow tourism products, such as wildlife and national parks, based on a few species (i.e. the big five and the mountain gorillas). Other challenges affecting the potential for tourism to flourish include political stability and governance, infrastructure development, service standards, and human capacity just to name a few. In this paper, drawing upon literature and previous research experiences of the authors, an overview on the state of tourism in the East African Community is presented with the aim to assess the main challenges, opportunities, and offer some reflections on possible ways forward for tourism development in the region.
Natural vibration analysis of vertical rectangular plates and stiffened panels in contact with fluid on one side
Authors: Cho Dae Seung , Kim Byung Hee , Vladimir Nikola , Choi Tae Muk
Published: June 2014

This article presents a simple and efficient procedure for the natural vibration analysis of rectangular plates and stiffened panels in contact with fluid on one side. The assumed mode method is applied, where the natural frequencies and mode shapes are obtained by solving an eigenvalue problem of a multi-degree-of-freedom system matrix equation derived by using Lagrange’s equation of motion. The Mindlin thick plate theory is applied for a plate, and in the case of stiffened panels, the effect of framing is taken into account by adding its strain and kinetic energies to the corresponding plate energies. Potential flow theory assumptions are adopted for the fluid, and free surface waves are ignored. The fluid velocity potential is derived from the boundary conditions for the fluid and structure and is utilized for the calculation of added mass using the assumed modes. The applicability and accuracy of the developed procedure are illustrated with several numerical examples using a developed in-house code. A comparison of the results with those obtained by general purpose finite element analysis software is provided, where very good agreement is achieved.
The Miraculous in the New Testament: Current Research and Issues
Authors: Twelftree Graham H.
Published: June 2014

Defining the miraculous, the adequacy of the Western mindset to comprehend human experience, and the ability of the historian to establish the occurrence of a miracle, are issues threaded through study of the miraculous. Current work draws attention to our lack of understanding of the miraculous in the period. So far, research on Jesus has not explained his interest in miracles, their meaning, or how they relate to his other work and self-perception. Also, the nature miracles remain a problem, and a critical study of Jesus remains to be written that takes full account of the evidence of his miracles. More work needs to be done on Paul’s understanding of the miraculous. Further, despite studies on individual stories, insufficient work has been done on the miraculous from the perspective of the Gospel writers. Finally, how far early Christianity can be understood without due regard for the miraculous is open to question.
Characteristics of Cancer Patients Presenting to an Integrative Medicine Practice-Based Research Network
Authors: Edman Joel S. , Roberts Rhonda S. , Dusek Jeffery A. , Dolor Rowena , Wolever Ruth Q. , Abrams Donald I.
Published: June 2014

Objective: To assess psychosocial characteristics, symptoms and reasons for seeking integrative medicine (IM) care in cancer patients presenting to IM clinical practices. Study Design and Methods: A survey of 3940 patients was conducted at 8 IM sites. Patient reported outcome measures were collected and clinicians provided health status data. This analysis compares 353 participants self-identified as cancer patients with the larger noncancer cohort. Results: Mean age of the cancer cohort was 55.0 years. Participants were predominantly white (85.9%), female (76.4%), and well educated (80.5% completed college). For 15.2% of cancer patients, depression scores were consistent with depressive symptoms, and average scores for perceived stress were higher than normal, but neither were significantly different from noncancer patients. The most prevalent comorbid symptoms were chronic pain (39.8%), fatigue (33.5%), and insomnia (23.3%). In the cancer cohort, perceived stress was significantly associated with depression, fatigue, insomnia, pain, and QOL. Cancer patients who chose an IM clinical practice “seeking healthcare settings that address spirituality as an aspect of care” had significantly higher levels of perceived stress, depression, and pain than those not selecting this reason. Conclusions: Demographic characteristics, depression scores, perceived stress scores, and reasons for seeking integrative cancer care were not significantly different between cancer patients and noncancer patients. Perceived stress may be an important indicator of QOL. The association of perceived stress, depression and pain with seeking spirituality suggests that providing IM interventions, such as effective stress management techniques and pastoral or spiritual counseling, may be helpful to patients living with cancer.