bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Misunderstanding Savings Growth: Implications for Retirement Savings Behavior
Authors: Mckenzie Craig R.M. , Liersch Michael J.
Published: October 2011

People systematically underestimate exponential growth. This article illustrates this phenomenon, its implications, and some potential interventions in the context of saving for retirement, where savings grow exponentially over long periods of time. Experiment 1 shows that a majority of participants expect savings over 40 years to grow linearly rather than exponentially, leading them to grossly underestimate their account balance at retirement. Experiment 2 demonstrates that this misunderstanding leads to underestimates of the cost of waiting to save, which makes putting off saving more attractive than it should be. Finally, Experiments 3–5 show that highlighting the exponential growth of savings motivates both college students and employees to save more for retirement. Making clear to employees the exponential growth of savings before they make crucial decisions about how much to save may be a simple and effective means of increasing retirement savings.
Fear, Social Projection, and Financial Decision Making
Authors: Lee Chan Jean , Andrade Eduardo B.
Published: October 2011

The number of individual investors who trade stocks online has significantly increased in recent years. Surprisingly, consumer researchers have paid little attention to how emotions influence individual investors’ stock-trading decisions. In a series of three experiments, the authors investigate the impact of incidental fear on the decision to sell in a stock market simulation. The results show that fearful (vs. control) participants sell their stock earlier (Experiments 1–3). This effect, however, is contingent on particular features of the market. Fear leads to early sell-off when parti-pant believe the value of the stock is peer generated but not when they believe the value of the stock is computer generated (Experiment 2). Early sell-off as a result of incidental fear also occurs when participants believe their risk attitude is common in the market but not when they believe their risk attitude is unique (Experiment 3). Social projection—that is, people's tendency to rely on their current state of mind to estimate other people's actions—explains the phenomenon.
Earmarking and Partitioning: Increasing Saving by Low-Income Households
Authors: Soman Dilip , Cheema Amar
Published: October 2011

This research examines the effects of earmarking money on savings by low-income consumers. In particular, the authors test two interventions that are designed to enhance the effects of earmarking: (1) using a visual reminder of the savings goal and (2) dividing the earmarked money into two parts. Consistent with prior research suggesting that partitioning increases self-control, people save more when earmarked money is partitioned into two accounts than when it is pooled into one account. In addition, the presence of the visual reminder increases the savings rate. The authors conclude with implications for consumer welfare and directions for further research.
Using Loan plus Lender Literacy Information to Combat One-Sided Marketing of Debt Consolidation Loans
Authors: Bolton Lisa E. , Bloom Paul N. , Cohen Joel B.
Published: October 2011

The marketing of debt consolidation loans is intended to offer a financial remedy to consumers faced with mounting debt and credit problems and unable to meet their monthly payments. The authors argue that debt consolidation loan marketing overemphasizes the short-term benefits (e.g., lower monthly payments) and downplays the considerable downside of these loans (e.g., longer repayment and more total interest paid). Two experiments demonstrate that a financial literacy intervention combining information about loans and lenders can help consumers understand and respond to debt consolidation loan marketing (whereas a basic financial numeracy intervention does not). Implications for consumers, marketers, public policy makers, and researchers who work in the area of financial literacy are discussed.
Insulin resistance and epigenetic regulation: insights from human studies and prospects for future research
Authors: Sookoian Silvia , Gianotti Tomas Fernández , Burgueño Adriana L. , Pirola Carlos J.
Published: October 2011

In this study, we review the current knowledge and recent insights on the role of epigenetic factors in the development of human insulin resistance (IR)- and metabolic syndrome (MS)-related phenotypes, and attempt to lay a framework to consider IR as a potentially reversible incapacity to control metabolic homeostasis that is strongly influenced by the interplay between external and internal cues. We summarize the evidence on how tissue-specific epigenetic markers participate either by activating or repressing the gene expression programs to modulate IR- and MS-associated traits. Some additional data are provided about how the exploration of DNA methylation markers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells potentially offers appealing information about the impact of epigenetics in the pathogenesis of IR. Clues about the relation between IR and impaired intrauterine growth explained by fetal metabolic programming and epigenetic modifications are shown, including novel findings about the impact of histone modifications. For instance, we observed that specific epigenetic factors in genes associated with mitochondrial biogenesis may be associated with birth weight. Furthermore, some prospective ideas about the functional consequences of genetic variation modulated by allele-specific epigenetic markers and its impact on MS susceptibility are also illustrated. Finally, we summarize the current knowledge of epigenetics as the biological rationale for potential therapeutic intervention in IR and MS.
Use of Vegetable Oils and Animal Oils as Steel Quenchants: A Historical Review—1850-2010
Authors: Simencio Otero Rosa L. , Canale Lauralice C. F. , Totten George E.
Published: October 2011

Vegetable oils and animal oils have been used as quenchants for metals for thousands of years; however, it hasn’t been until relatively recently that their cooling properties have been studied in a thorough, quantitative manner. This review will focus on the published data relating to the use of triglycerides from various animal and vegetable sources to quench-harden steels. Particular focus will be on the traditional selection and use of different vegetable and animal oils for steel hardening applications and the cooling time-temperature behavior of these fluids to characterize their quenching performance. This information has not been previously reviewed in this manner.
Point Load Weight Functions for Semi-Elliptical Cracks in Finite Thickness Plate
Authors: Jin Zhaoyu , Wang Xin
Published: October 2011

This paper presents the application of the weight function method for the calculation of stress intensity factors for surface semi-elliptical cracks in finite thickness plates subjected to arbitrary two-dimensional stress fields. A new general mathematical form of point load weight function has been formulated by taking advantage of the knowledge of a few specific weight functions for two-dimensional planar cracks available in the literature and certain properties of the weight function in general. The existence of the generalized form of the weight function simplifies the determination of a specific weight function for specific crack configurations. The determination of a specific weight function is reduced to the determination of the parameters of the generalized weight function expression. These unknown parameters can be determined from reference stress intensity factor solutions. This method is used to derive the weight functions for semi-elliptical surface cracks in finite thickness plates. The derived weight functions are then validated against stress intensity factor solutions for several linear and non-linear two-dimensional stress distributions. The derived weight functions are particularly useful for the fatigue crack growth analysis of planar surface cracks subjected to fluctuating nonlinear stress fields resulting from surface treatment (shot peening), stress concentration, or welding (residual stress)
Experimental Procedure for the Mechanical Evaluation of Oxide-Carbon Refractories by Strain Measurement
Authors: Muñoz V. , Rohr G. A. , Cavalieri A. L. , Tomba Martinez A. G.
Published: October 2011

Experimental issues regarding the implementation of a methodology for obtaining strain-stress curves at high temperatures and in a controlled atmosphere of oxide-C refractories are presented. These curves give a detailed description of the material’s mechanical behavior that is not attainable using conventional tests. The method to measure the specimen strain by contact extensometry and the system to control the atmosphere by a gas flow are described. As an example, the experimental study of commercial Al2O3-MgO-C refractory bricks used in steel ladles at high temperature (1260 °C) in both air and N2 atmospheres is presented showing the valuable information obtained applying strain-stress measurements.
Total oxidant/antioxidant status in sera of patients with thyroid cancers
Authors: Wang Dong , Feng Jia-Fu , Zeng Ping , Yang Yun-Hong , Luo Jun , Yang Yu-Wei
Published: October 2011

Oxidative stress is considered to be involved in the pathophysiology of all cancers. In order to evaluate the total oxidant/antioxidant status in patients with thyroid cancer and to investigate the relationship between oxidative stress parameters and serum thyroid profiles among thyroid cancer patients and various controls, we determined oxidative status including total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) and calculation of oxidative stress index (OSI) in sera in 82 thyroid cancer patients, 56 benign thyroid disease patients, and 50 healthy controls. It was found that serum TAS levels were significantly lower in patients with thyroid cancer than in controls (P<0.001), while serum TOS levels and OSI values were significantly higher (bothP<0.001) in the cancer patients. No significant correlations were observed between various oxidative stress markers and thyroid profiles in either the thyroid cancer patients or the controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that OSI was the best indicator for distinguishing cancer patients from benign thyroid diseased or healthy controls, followed by TOS and TAS. Risk estimate statistics also indicated that TOS and/or OSI were good risk factors to discriminate patients with thyroid cancer from two controls. These findings suggested that oxidants are increased and antioxidants are decreased in patients with thyroid cancer. OSI may be a more useful oxidative stress biomarker than TAS and TOS for monitoring the clinical status of thyroid cancer patients.
SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Expansion of Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment
Authors: Moon Rachel Y. ,   Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Published: October 2011

Despite a major decrease in the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) since the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its recommendation in 1992 that infants be placed for sleep in a nonprone position, this decline has plateaued in recent years. Concurrently, other causes of sudden unexpected infant death occurring during sleep (sleep-related deaths), including suffocation, asphyxia, and entrapment, and ill-defined or unspecified causes of death have increased in incidence, particularly since the AAP published its last statement on SIDS in 2005. It has become increasingly important to address these other causes of sleep-related infant death. Many of the modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors for SIDS and suffocation are strikingly similar. The AAP, therefore, is expanding its recommendations from being only SIDS-focused to focusing on a safe sleep environment that can reduce the risk of all sleep-related infant deaths including SIDS. The recommendations described in this report include supine positioning, use of a firm sleep surface, breastfeeding, room-sharing without bed-sharing, routine immunization, consideration of a pacifier, and avoidance of soft bedding, overheating, and exposure to tobacco smoke, alcohol, and illicit drugs. The rationale for these recommendations is discussed in detail in this technical report. The recommendations are published in the accompanying “Policy Statement—Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Expansion of Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment,” which is included in this issue (www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2011-2220).
ADHD: Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents
Authors:   Subcommittee on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Steering Committee on Quality Improvement and Management
Published: October 2011

This Clinical Practice Guideline was revised. See https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-2528.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood and can profoundly affect the academic achievement, well-being, and social interactions of children; the American Academy of Pediatrics first published clinical recommendations for the diagnosis and evaluation of ADHD in children in 2000; recommendations for treatment followed in 2001.
Kinetic Monte Carlo Investigation of the Effects of Vacancy Pairing on Oxygen Diffusivity in Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia
Authors: Good Brian S.
Published: October 2011

Yttria-stabilized zirconia’s high oxygen diffusivity and corresponding high ionic conductivity, and its structural stability over a broad range of temperatures, have made the material of interest for use in a number of applications, for example, as solid electrolytes in fuel cells. At low concentrations, the stabilizing yttria also serves to increase the oxygen diffusivity through the presence of corresponding oxygen vacancies, needed to maintain charge neutrality. At higher yttria concentration, however, diffusivity is impeded by the larger number of relatively high energy migration barriers associated with yttrium cations. In addition, there is evidence that oxygen vacancies preferentially occupy nearest-neighbor sites around either dopant or Zr cations, further affecting vacancy diffusion. We present the results of ab initio calculations that indicate that it is energetically favorable for oxygen vacancies to occupy nearest-neighbor sites adjacent to Y ions, and that the presence of vacancies near either species of cation lowers the migration barriers. Kinetic Monte Carlo results from simulations incorporating this effect are presented and compared with results from simulations in which the effect is not present.
Linear and Nonlinear Thermal Transport in Graphene: Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Qiu Bo , Wang Yan , Ruan Xiulin
Published: October 2011

In this work, we perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the linear thermal transport in suspended graphene and the nonlinear thermal transport phenomena in graphene nanoribbons (GNR). We use spectral energy density analysis to quantitatively address the relative importance of different types of phonon in thermal transport in suspended graphene. Negative differential thermal conductance (NDTC) and thermal rectification in graphene nanoribbons have been studied using nonequilibrium molecular dyanmics simulations. Ballistic transport regime, sufficient temperature nonlinearity and asymmetry are found to be necessary conditions for the onset of these behaviors.
The Business of Fast ALD Equipment for Depositing Alumina Passivation Layers on Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells.
Authors: Vermeer Ad , Gortzen Roger , Poodt P. , Roozeboom F.
Published: October 2011

Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) is a gas phase deposition technique for depositing very high quality thin films with an unsurpassed conformality. The main drawback of ALD however is the very low deposition rate (~ 1 nm/min). Recently, record deposition rates for alumina of up to 1 nm/s were reached using spatial ALD, while maintaining the typical assets regarding film quality as obtained by conventional, slow ALD [1]. This allows for ALD at high throughput numbers.

One interesting application is passivation of crystalline silicon solar cells. Applying a thin alumina layer is reported to increase solar cell efficiency and enables the use of thinner wafers, thus reducing the main cost factor [2]. In this paper we report on the latest progress made by SoLayTec that delivered a working prototype of a system realizing full area single sided deposition of alumina on 156 x 156 mm2, mono- and multi crystalline silicon wafers for solar cell applications. The alumina layers showed excellent passivation. Based on this concept, a high-throughput ALD deposition tool is being developed targeting throughput numbers of up to 3000 wafers/hr. Finally, we report on the process of commercializing this technology.
In vitro anti-inflammatory effects of naturally-occurring compounds from two Lauraceae plants
Authors: Coy-Barrera Ericsson D. , Cuca-Suarez Luis E.
Published: October 2011

The in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of seven known lignans and one dihydrochalcone isolated from the leaves of two Lauraceae species (Pleurothyrium cinereum and Ocotea macrophylla), were evaluated through the inhibition of COX-1, COX-2, 5-LOX and the aggregation of rabbit platelets induced by PAF, AA and ADP. (+)-de-4"-O--methylmagnolin 4 was found to be a potent COX-2/5-LOX dual inhibitor and PAF-antagonist (COX-2 IC50 2.27 µM; 5-LOX IC50 5.05 µM; PAF IC50 2.51 µM). However, all compounds exhibited an activity at different levels, indicating good anti-inflammatory properties to be considered in further structural optimization studies.
Caracterização molecular de acessos de mandioca açucarados e não açucarados
Authors: Vieira Eduardo Alano , Freitas Fialho Josefino de , Faleiro Fábio Gelape , Bellon Graciele , Fonceca Kenia Gracielle da , Carvalho Luiz Joaquim Castelo Branco
Published: October 2011

Acessos de mandioca que armazenam açúcares livres em suas raízes de reserva e não somente amido, como os acessos de mandioca cultivados comercialmente, vêm recebendo destaque atualmente. Esses acessos são popularmente conhecidos como mandiocas açucaradas ou mandiocabas, e evidenciam potencial de uso na produção de álcool combustível. Entretanto, esse germoplasma ainda não foi suficientemente estudado quanto àsua variabilidade genotípica, o que é fundamental para sua conservação e utilização no melhoramento genético. Neste tabalho, objetivou-se caracterizar por meio de marcadores RAPD 14 acessos de mandioca açucarados e não açucarados. Em laboratório, os acessos foram avaliados por meio de 12 iniciadores RAPD. Posteriormente, foi estimada a matriz de dissimilaridade genética entre os acessos, por meio da utilização do complemento do índice de Jaccard. Os iniciadores geraram 131 marcadores RAPD, dos quais 73% foram polimórficos, evidenciando a existência de variabilidade e a eficiência da técnica de RAPD. Os acessos mais similares foram BGMC 1207 e BGMC 1209, ambos açucarados e os menos similares foram o açucarado BGMC 1219 e a cultivar BGMC 436. Os acessos foram divididos em quatro grupos, sendo o primeiro grupo formado pelos 10 acessos açucarados, o segundo grupo formado por dois acessos locais não açucarados, o terceiro e o quarto foram formados pelos acessos melhorados BGMC 753 e BGMC 436. Os resultados obtidos revelaram a existência de elevada variabilidade genética entre os acessos avaliados e diferenciaram os acessos açucarados das cultivares locais não açucaradas e das cultivares comerciais não açucaradas.
Desenvolvimento e produtividade de arroz irrigado em resposta a diferentes doses de fósforo e potássio, em várzea de primeiro ano, no estado de Roraima
Authors: Barberena Diego da Silva , Medeiros Roberto Dantas de , Barbosa Gilvan Ferreira
Published: October 2011

São poucas as pesquisas em Roraima sobre o uso de fósforo e potássio na cultura do arroz irrigado (Oryza sativa L.). Assim, neste trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a resposta do arroz irrigado à aplicação de diferentes doses de fósforo e potássio (0, 50, 100, 200 e 400 kg ha-1 de P2O5 ou K2O) sobre a produtividade de grãos, altura de plantas e componentes de produção em área de primeiro ano de cultivo. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos aos acaso, no esquema de parcelas subdivididas com quatro repetições. Foi feita análise de regressão, por meio da superfície de resposta. O potássio influenciou significativa e positivamente todas as variáveis, exceto a massa de mil grãos, reduzindo-a linearmente, sendo seu efeito o principal responsável pelas produtividades alcançadas. O fósforo influenciou positivamente a massa de mil grãos e a produtividade de grãos. O número de grãos por panícula, a massa de mil grãos e a altura de plantas contribuíram decisivamente para as produtividades atingidas. A maior produtividade encontrada (8.154 kg ha-1 de grãos) ocorreu com uso de 304 kg ha-1 de P2O5 e 228 kg ha-1 de K2O. A máxima eficiência econômica foi obtida com 134 e 158 kg ha-1 de P2O5 e K2O, respectivamente, e produtividade de 7.501 kg ha-1 de grãos, proporcionando lucro líquido de R$ 696,78 ha-1, relação benefício/custo de 1,18 e custo unitário de R$ 0,5271 kg-1 de arroz.
In vitro morphogenesis of Syngonanthus mucugensis Giul: subsp. mucugensis
Authors: Lima-Brito Alone , Resende Sheila Vitória , Lima Carolina Oliveira de Cerqueira , Alvim Bruno Matos , Carneiro Claudia Elena , Santana José Raniere Ferreira de
Published: October 2011

Syngonanthus mucugensis Giul. subsp. mucugensis is an herbaceous plant with significant economic value in the ornamental dry flower business. The restricted occurrence of the municipality Mucugê-BA, Brazil, exclusively associated with extractive exploitation, has considered this species as endangered. The objective of this work was to evaluate the organogenic potential of three different types of S. mucugensis subsp. mucugensis explants to promote the development of an alternative method to the propagation of the genetic resources of this important plant. The morphogenetic capacities of the leaf, stem and root this species was tested using Murashige and Skoog culture medium at half salt concentration and different concentrations of growth of regulators benzylaminopurine - BAP (0.00; 2.22 and 4.44 µM), and naphthalene acetic acid - NAA (0.00; 1.34 and 2.68 µM). The morphoanatomic events that lead to formation of shoots were described. Stems proved to be the best source of explants, showing 58.75% regeneration of shoot by direct organogenesis in the absence of growth regulators, and 32.18 and 47.55% of shoot regeneration by indirect organogenesis in the presence of 2.22 and 4.44 µM BAP, respectively. As for leaves, there was callus formation, but without regenerating shoots. Morphogenesis was not observed when roots were used as explants. The histological analyses showed that shoot regeneration in S. mucugensis subsp. mucugensis occurred both indirectly, by unorganized tissue differentiation, and directly through returning to merismatic activity in differentiated mature cells and preexisting bud proliferation.
Suplementação protéica energética no desempenho de novilhas em pastejo durante a fase de terminação
Authors: Moretti Matheus Henrique , Reis Ricardo Andrade , Casagrande Daniel Rume , Ruggieri Ana Claudia , Oliveira Rodrigo Vidal , Berchielli Telma Teresinha
Published: October 2011

Para estudar o efeito da suplementação da dieta sobre o desempenho de novilhas na fase de terminação mantidas em pastagem de capim-marandu sob lotação intermitente, durante a estação chuvosa, foram utilizadas 20 novilhas cruzadas (¼ Nelore, ¼ Santa Gertrudes, ½ Braunvieh) com peso corporal médio de 300 kg e 22 meses de idade. Os tratamentos constituíram-se de dois tipos de suplementação: sal mineral (SM) ad libtum e suplemento protéico energético (SPE) fornecido a 0,3% do peso corporal (PC) por dia com avaliações realizadas a cada 28 dias, no período entre dezembro de 2006 e março de 2007 Foram avaliados o desempenho animal e as características de carcaça medidas por ultrassom. Observou-se o efeito (P=0,057) da suplementação sobre o ganho de peso dos animais suplementados, 0,700 kg/dia e 0,587 kg/dia dos animais que receberam sal-mineral. Houve efeito da suplementação na área de olho de lombo e profundidade do músculo Gluteus medius. As demais características analisadas pela técnica de ultrassom não diferiram entre si em função da suplementação. A suplementação protéica energética da dieta permite ganhos adicionais, o que reflete em aumento da deposição de músculo de novilhas mantidas em pastagem de capim-marandu durante o período das águas.
Uso da LIPE® como indicador externo na determinação da digestibilidade da proteína e matéria seca de alimentos em frangos de corte
Authors: Vasconcellos Carlos Henrique de Figueiredo , Fontes Dalton de Oliveira , Saliba Eloisa de Oliveira Simões , Veloso José Antônio de Figueiredo , Lara Leonardo José Camargos
Published: October 2011

Realizou-se um ensaio metabólico para avaliar a lignina purificada de eucalipto (LIPE®), como indicador na determinação da digestibilidade da proteína bruta e matéria seca de alimentos para frangos de corte. Os tratamentos corresponderam a uma dieta basal e outras oito dietas contendo os alimentos-teste. Os alimentos foram: milho, milho expandido, farelo de soja, farelo de soja expandido, glúten de milho 22%, glúten de milho 60%, farinha de carne e ossos e farinha de penas e vísceras. Os alimentos protéicos e os com menor teor de proteína substituíram 25 e 40% da dieta basal, respectivamente. Foram utilizados 270 pintos de corte, linhagem Ross, de ambos os sexos, dos 21 aos 31 dias de idade. Utilizou-se um delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso em esquema fatorial 9×3 (rações × métodos), com três repetições. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade (CD) da proteína e da matéria seca e os valores da proteína bruta digestível e da matéria seca digestível de sete das nove dietas, calculados pelos métodos da coleta total de excretas e dos indicadores óxido crômico e LIPE®, foram semelhantes. Com os alimentos-teste, farelo de soja expandido e farinha de penas e vísceras, o uso de óxido crômico resultou em CD e valores de proteína e matéria seca digestível mais altos, quando comparado com o uso da LIPE® e da coleta total de excretas que foram semelhantes entre si. Pode-se considerar que a proteína bruta digestível e matéria seca digestível dos alimentos, calculada pelos três métodos, foram equivalentes. A LIPE® pode ser validada como indicador de digestibilidade da proteína e matéria seca de alimentos para frangos de corte.
Trabalho e depressão: um estudo com profissionais afastados do ambiente laboral
Authors: Cavalheiro Gabriela , Tolfo Suzana da Rosa
Published: October 2011

Trabalho e depressão; como associar tais fenômenos? Se existe uma incidência elevada de casos de depressão na atualidade, ela se manifestará em diferentes graus nos contextos de trabalho, mesmo que autores reiterem a sua centralidade e importância para a construção da subjetividade. Estudos científicos demonstram a depressão como uma das causas mais expressivas de afastamento do trabalho. O artigo apresenta resultados de um estudo que, por meio da análise de documentos, identificou características de trabalhadores afastados por depressão em uma Universidade do Sul do Brasil. Foram analisados 36 casos identificados como de afastados do trabalho com diagnóstico de depressão e relacionados a motivos diversificados, no período de julho a dezembro de 2009. Os resultados confirmam outros estudos, como a predominância de mulheres, representados por 72% dos casos; e, em muitos casos, há ocorrências sucessivas de afastamentos, inicialmente por períodos curtos, e que foram ampliando o tempo de ausência no trabalho.
Agricultural silica harvest: have humans created a new loop in the global silica cycle?
Authors: Vandevenne Floor , Struyf Eric , Clymans Wim , Meire Patrick
Published: October 2011

Silica (Si) is of great concern to agronomists because it has a beneficial effect on plant resistance to various stresses, enabling yield optimization in economically important crop species. Yet biogenic silica (BSi) cycling in soils controls a large part of the Si export fluxes to rivers and oceans. Despite the importance of agricultural‐harvest‐related Si removal, previous studies have not addressed this topic thoroughly. By performing a detailed quantification of agricultural Si export in Western Europe's Scheldt River basin, we show that harvest not only disrupts BSi cycling but also introduces an agricultural Si pathway, with major export Si fluxes as compared with BSi production in climax forest communities and grasslands. Harvesting substantially changes terrestrial Si cycling because reconstitution of BSi to soils in litter fall is prevented. The agricultural Si loop clearly constitutes an important flow of BSi out of terrestrial ecosystems – one that is currently unrecognized in global biogeochemical Si cycling.
Gender Differences in Acknowledgment of Stalking Victimization: Results From the NCVS Stalking Supplement
Authors: Englebrecht Christine M. , Reyns Bradford W.
Published: October 2011

Research suggests that a significant portion of victims of interpersonal violence do not acknowledge or label their experience as a criminal victimization. Studies exploring unacknowledged victimizations have found that individuals are more likely to acknowledge victimization when the experience meets certain, often stereotypical criteria. This study addressed this issue by integrating literature on victim acknowledgment and stalking victimization to identify correlates of victimization acknowledgment among stalking victims. Data were drawn from the 2006 stalking supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), and the sample included both female and male victims of stalking. Findings revealed support for a “classic stalking script,” which included a reliance on stereotypical types of stalking behavior (i.e., being spied on) that were shown to increase acknowledgment for victims of stalking. Results also described gender based correlates of victimization acknowledgment.
Sexual Violence Victimization Among Female Secondary School Students in Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Bekele Alemayehu Belachew , van Aken Marcel A. G. , Dubas Judith Semon
Published: October 2011

Behavioral, lifestyle, and relationship factors have all been identified as risk factors that increase a woman’s vulnerability to sexual violence victimization. However, it remains unclear which risk factors most strongly increase young women’s vulnerability to sexual violence victimization because most studies only examine a few factors simultaneously. Using a cross-sectional sample of 764 female secondary school students from eastern Ethiopia, multivariate analyses revealed that high-rejection sensitivity, having multiple sexual partners, the frequent watching of pornography, and use of alcohol or other soft drugs (Khat or shisha) are factors associated with higher levels of sexual violence victimization. The overall rates of victimization is high in this group, with 68% of the young women studied having experienced at least one instance of sexual violence victimization. Based on type of sexual perpetration, 52% of the young women were victimized by at least one instance of sexual offence, 56% by sexual assault, 25% by sexual coercion, and 15% by sexual aggression. Qualitative data gathered from interviews of extracurricular club members and school officials and focus group discussion with students were used to further augment and illustrate results from the quantitative data. Several suggestions for intervention are presented in light of these results.
Attitudes Toward Dating Violence Among College Students in Mainland China: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Anderson Jared R. , Chen Wen Chi , Johnson Matthew D. , Lyon Sarah E. , Lee Chih-Yuan Steven , Zheng Fuming , Ratcliffe Gary C. , Peterson F. Ryan
Published: October 2011

This study investigates attitudes toward psychological and physical dating violence among college students in mainland China (n= 245). The results of this study indicate that among our sample of college students in mainland China, men and women were relatively similar in their attitudes toward male perpetrated and female perpetrated physical dating violence and female perpetrated psychological dating violence. As has been found in previous research, men and women in our sample were more accepting of female perpetrated physical and psychological dating violence than male perpetrated physical and psychological dating violence. Finally, among several variables that predicted dating violence attitudes, shame emerged as a potentially important variable to include in future studies on dating violence in Chinese populations.
It Takes a Team
Authors: Budin Wendy C.
Published: October 2011

In this column, the editor of The Journal of Perinatal Education (JPE) compares the need for careful planning, preparation, and coordinated teamwork in preparing for a safe, healthy birth with similar needs necessary for putting together each issue of JPE. The editor also describes the contents of this issue, which offer a broad range of resources, research, and inspiration for childbirth educators in their efforts to promote, support, and protect natural, safe, and healthy birth.
Many Women and Providers Are Unprepared for an Evidence-Based, Educated Conversation About Birth
Authors: Klein Michael C.
Published: October 2011

Findings from recent Canadian studies on the knowledge and beliefs about birth practices among first-time pregnant women and among obstetricians and other birth providers indicate that many women are inadequately informed and many providers deliver non-evidence-based maternity care. Consequently, informed decision making is problematic for pregnant women and their providers. New strategies are needed to inform pregnant women about key procedures and approaches that might be used in birth so they can have an educated, shared discussion with their provider and successfully advocate for their preferred birth experience. In addition, providers can be encouraged to supplement their knowledge with current, evidence-based maternity care practices. To avoid a lack of informed decision making and to ensure that natural, safe, and healthy birth practices are based on current evidence, pregnant women and providers must work together to inform themselves and to add childbirth to the women’s health agenda.
Evoking the Power of Learners
Authors: Hotelling Barbara A.
Published: October 2011

Our mandate, as Lamaze International childbirth educators, is to assist women in making healthy pregnancy, birth, and parenting choices. Being mindful of health promotion theory and using learning tasks and dialogue education to provide information creates a collaborative Lamaze class where the teacher is the facilitator and the learners are accountable for their learning. This column offers Lamaze educators a deeper understanding of adult learners and our roles in their birth education.
Maternal Obesity From All Sides
Authors: Hull Kimmelin , Montgomery Kristen S. , Vireday Pamela , Kendall-Tackett Kathleen
Published: October 2011

This column features excerpts from a recent series of articles from the Lamaze International research blog, Science & Sensibility. The eight-part series examined the issue of maternal obesity from various perspectives, incorporating writings from Kimmelin Hull, a physician assistant, a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, and the community manager of Science & Sensibility; Kristen Montgomery, a nursing professor at the University of North Carolina‐Charlotte; Pamela Vireday, a childbirth educator and blogger; and Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, a health psychologist, lactation consultant, and writer/speaker. The authors of the blog series, titled “Maternal Obesity from All Sides,” reviewed current research about risks associated with maternal obesity as well as the humanistic issues and lived experiences of pregnant women of size.
Early History of the Generalized Continuum Hypothesis: 1878–1938
Authors: Moore Gregory H.
Published: October 2011

This paper explores how the Generalized Continuum Hypothesis (GCH) arose from Cantor's Continuum Hypothesis in the work of Peirce, Jourdain, Hausdorff, Tarski, and how GCH was used up to Gödel's relative consistency result.
Precautionary Policies in Local Government: Green Chemistry and Safer Alternatives
Authors: Raphael Debbie O. , Geiger Chris A.
Published: October 2011

Local governments like the City and County of San Francisco have shouldered the burden of toxic chemicals released into the environment through the substantial costs of health care, environmental cleanup, and infrastructure to purify drinking water, manage wastewater, and manage solid waste. Cities can no longer afford to wait for federal regulation to prevent toxic chemicals from appearing in products used locally. San Francisco's Precautionary Principle Policy calls on the City to act on early warning signs of harm and to use the best available science to identify safer alternatives. Under its umbrella, a wide array of policy tools have been utilized including financial incentives through procurement contracts, certification and promotion of safer business practices, requirements for information disclosure, and bans and restrictions on the sale of products when safer alternatives are readily available. These policies can often become the models for regional, state, and national change.
Businesses and Advocacy Groups Create a Road Map for Safer Chemicals: The Bizngo Principles for Chemicals Policy
Authors: Rossi Mark S. , Thorpe Beverley , Peele Cheri
Published: October 2011

This paper details how businesses and environmental organizations are collaborating to define and implement a visionary agenda for integrating safer chemicals into products, describing the challenges they confront and how they are overcoming those challenges. The framework for this assessment is the Principles for Chemicals Policy developed by the Business-NGO Working Group for Safer Chemicals and Sustainable Materials (BizNGO). The four principles—1) knowing and disclosing chemicals in products, 2) assessing and avoiding hazards, 3) committing to continuous improvement, and 4) supporting public policies and industry standards—while appearing to be straightforward, are, in fact, very complex to implement in practice. Together businesses and environmental organizations are charting a path to safer chemicals by sharing best practices, addressing technical aspects of safer chemicals substitution, and analyzing and supporting public policies that advance the rapid development and diffusion of greener chemicals in the economy.
Clocking in multi-GHz environment
Authors: Oklobdzija Vojin
Published: October 2011

An overview of clocking and design of clocked storage elements is presented. Systematic design of ip-op is explained as well as "time borrowing" and absorption of clock uncertainties. We show how should different clocked storage elements be compared against each other. The issues related to power consumption and low-power design are presented.
Development of a novel humidity sensor with error-compensated measurement system
Authors: Arshak Khalil , Twomey Karen , Heernan Donal
Published: October 2011

This paper documents the creation of a complete PC-Based humidity sensing system, implemented using Lab-VIEW from National Instruments. A novel humidity sensor has been manufactured by thin fflm technology from a combination of In2O3/SiO. Both the humidity sensor and a standard temperature sensor are interfaced to a PC using a front-end signal conditioning circuit. The entire system has been analyzed mathematically and the necessary algorithms for error-compensation have been developed. The resulting measurement system is e?cient, accurate and exible.
Low-voltage, low-power and high gain cmosota using active positive feedback with feed forward and FDCM techniques
Authors: Bouzerara Lyes , Belaroussi Tahar , Amirouche Boualem
Published: October 2011

A low voltage, high dc gain and wideband load compensated cas code operational transconductance amplifier (OTA), using an active positive feedback with feed forward technique and frequency-dependent current mirrors (FDCM), is presented and analyzed. Such techniques stand as a powerful method of gain bandwidth and phase margin enhancements. In this paper, a frequency-dependent current mirror, whose input impedance increases with frequency, is used to form the feed forward path at the input of the current mirror with a feed forward capacitor. By using these techniques, the gain bandwidth product of the amplifier is improved from 115 MHz to 194 MHz, the phase margin is also improved from 85? to 95? and the gain is enhanced from 11 dB to 93 dB. This amplifier operates at 2.5 V power supply voltage drives a capacitive load of 1pF and gives a power dissipation of 7 mW. The predicted performance is verified by simulations using HSPICE tool with 0.8 fim CMOS AMS parameters.
Electromagnetic field of current conductor above semi-conducting half-space
Authors: Velickovic Dragutin , Radulovic Jasna
Published: October 2011

Using Charge Simulation Method the electromagnetic field distribution of the line current conductor above semi-conducting half-space is determined.
A comparative analysis of two gain- and offset-compensated switched-capacitor integrators
Authors: Radev Nikolay , Ivanov Kantcho
Published: October 2011

Two high-performance switched-capacitor (SC) integrators which use different approaches for the compensation of the operational amplifier finite dc gain and offset voltage are considered. Analytical expressions for the gain, phase and offset voltage errors of the Baschirotto-90 integrator are derived and compared with the corresponding errors of the Shafeeu-91 integrator. Both the integrators are used as building blocks of a high-Q band pass SC biquad. The resultant filters are compared in terms of the percent deviations from the ideal case of the central frequency and the quality factor. Subsequently, the slight shift in the frequency response of the biquad with Shafeeu-91 integrator is eliminated by modifying the values of two capacitors .
Impulsschaltungen fur die digitale Kurzzeitmessung
Authors: Nowack Gerd
Published: October 2011

(nemacki) Bei der "Messung kleiner Grofien" ist die "Messung kurzer Zeiten" technisch weit fortgeschritten. In der schnellen Digitaltechnik geht es dabei meist um Laufzeiten oder Taktperioden im Nano- bzw. Subnanosekunden-bereich. Bei der Realisierung von Massenspektrometern F?r die Weltraum-Teilchenstrahlung wird neben der Energie die Laufzeit zwischen zwei Sensor-folien gemessen. Aus Energie und Geschwindigkeit folgt dann rechnerisch die Massenzahl des Teilchens. Bei dieser Mefianordnung fiihrt ein raumlich kom-pakter Aufbau ebenfalls zu sehr kurzen Mefizeiten. Bei der Verwendung normaler Leveltrigger entstehen systematische Mefi-fehler, wenn die Start- und Stopsignale nicht identisch sind. Dazu kommt noch der Jitterfehler als Folge des Amplituden- Kanalrauschens bei endlichen Im-pulsanstiegszeiten Insbesondere der relativ grofie amplitudenabhangige Walk-fehler kann durch den Einsatz von Constant-Fraction- Triggern (CFT) voll-standig unterdr?ckt werden. Dazu werden Nullspannungsdiskriminatoren ben?tigt. Die bekannten CFT's beruhen auf der Verarbeitung von Spannungs-signalen, deren Bandbreite oft durch die Hohe der Arbeitswiderstande und der parasitaxen Kapazitaten limitiert wird. Unter der Voraussetzung, dafi in modernen mikroelektronischen Aufbauten der kapazitive den induktiven Para-sitareinflufi iibersteigt, ist es sinnvoll, die traditionellen Schaltungen mit Hilfe der Dualitat in Schaltungen umzuwandeln, bei denen die Informationen als Parameter von Stromsignalen auftreten. Es werden CFT's fur Stromsignale sowie Nullstromtriggerschaltungen entworfen, aufgebaut und getestet.
Load modeling in distribution networks
Authors: Korunovic Lidija , Stojanovic Dobrivoje
Published: October 2011

Experimental results of load model parameter determination on a substation middle voltage level are shown in this paper. This substation supplies residential load. The obtained parameters are different from literature data, because they depend on many factors such as climatic, economic and social ones. The measurements are performed for different day intervals and week days during winter. It is pointed out that real and reactive power sensitivities on voltage vary with voltage value. Mean polynomial static characteristics are presented, too. The obtained static characteristics are approximated by an exponential model with constant coefficients in the examined voltage range.
A statistical analysis of two classes of time-frequency representations
Authors: Isar Alexandru , Isar Dorina , Bianu Mirela
Published: October 2011

The aim of this paper is to present a statistical analysis of the continuous linear and bilinear time-frequency representations. Such an analysis can be useful for the estimation of different parameters of not stationary signals corrupted by noise, like the instantaneous frequency or the instantaneous bandwidth. The case of discrete time-frequency representations is also considered. Simulations verify the theoretical results obtained.
Adaptive equalizer with zero-noise constrained LMS algorithm
Authors: Krstajic Bozo , Uskokovic Zdravko , Stankovic Ljubisa
Published: October 2011

This paper introduces a type of zero-noise constrained LMS (ZN-CLMS) algorithm in an adaptive equalizer. It is a particular case of mismatched noise constrained LMS (NCLMS) algorithm. It is also a variant of variable step-size LMS algorithm, where the step-size rule arises naturally from the constraints. We will show here that the adaptive equalizer based on the ZN-CLMS algorithm has favorable performance. Computer simulation results are provided to support the proposed implementation of the ZNCLMS.
Presenting surface colors on computer controlled CRT displays
Authors: Samu Krisztian , Wenzel Klara
Published: October 2011

It is well known that CRT displays have limited color presentation capability. In everyday cases the drawback mainly shows up in the DTP field where the color space of displays does not match the printers' color space thus the color presented on the display does not correspond completely to printed color. In the contrary case the aim is to present painted surface color on a computer display. Due to the narrow color space of CRT displays direct matching of colors that fall outside of the display's color space is impossible based on CIE xyY color system. When transferring surface colors to displays there are tasks for which not only color matching, but also spectral matching is vital. In "display as measuring device" type of tasks such as color deficiency diagnosis with painted tests transferred to computers, enabling maximal correspondence of both parameters is important because color deficiency is caused by spectral degeneration of the sensitivity of the eyes.
Defining a general object model of distributed systems entities in Java
Authors: Jovanovic Nenad , Popovic Ranko , Jovanovic Zoran
Published: October 2011

This paper deals with modeling and simulation of distributed systems in Java programming language. Distributed systems consist of components which communicate and coordinate their actions by passing messages. Components of distributed systems which define some functionality are entities determined with static attributes. The paper presents general model for modeling in Java environment entities distributed systems communicate using message passing protocol. We described a way to present model components and their functional links in a form of an XML document. A model can be executed as an application and (or) an applet. Presented model can be used for modeling heterogeneous systems.