bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of an experimental support on the estimation accuracy with artificial neural network
Authors: el Dsoki C. , Tomasella A. , Hanselka H. , Kaufmann H.
Published: June 2012

Wesentlich für die betriebsfeste Auslegung von Bauteilen sind geeignete Methoden und Übertragbarkeitskriterien sowie die Kenntnisse über das zyklische Werkstoffverhalten. Aus diesem Grund werden die zyklischen Werkstoffkennwerte in Abhängigkeit der Produkteigenschaften (Umformgrad, Gefüge, Oberflächenrauhigkeit, Eigenspannungen) und unterschiedlichen Belastungsparametern ermittelt. Da jedoch die Ermittlung der zyklischen Kennwerte mit hohen Versuchsaufwand und Kosten verbunden ist, wird nach Methoden gesucht, diese kostengünstig und schnell zu bestimmen. Ein viel versprechender Ansatz hierfür ist der Einsatz von künstlichen neuronalen Netzen (KNN), da sie in der Lage sind, die Einflüsse aus Fertigungs‐ und Umweltparametern auf die Schwingfestigkeit aus sinnvoll gewählten Eingangsparametern zu generieren. Sie bieten die Möglichkeit, auf erlerntes Wissen zurückzugreifen und somit, auf Basis weniger Versuche ein mehrdimensionales Kennfeld zu erstellen. Durch eine Kombination aus wenigen experimentellen Versuchen und dem künstlich neuronalen Netz kann die Treffsicherheit der Abschätzung erhöht und der erforderliche experimentelle Aufwand reduziert werden.
Chemical analysis of solid residue from liquid and solid fuel combustion: Method development and validation
Authors: Trkmić M. , Ćurković L. , Ašperger D.
Published: June 2012

This paper deals with the development and validation of methods for identifying the composition of solid residue after liquid and solid fuel combustion in thermal power plant furnaces. The methods were developed for energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer analysis. Due to the fuels used, the different composition and the location of creation of solid residue, it was necessary to develop two methods. The first method is used for identifying solid residue composition after fuel oil combustion (Method 1), while the second method is used for identifying solid residue composition after the combustion of solid fuels, i. e. coal (Method 2). Method calibration was performed on sets of 12 (Method 1) and 6 (Method 2) certified reference materials (CRM). CRMs and analysis test samples were prepared in pellet form using hydraulic press. For the purpose of method validation the linearity, accuracy, precision and specificity were determined, and the measurement uncertainty of methods for each analyte separately was assessed. The methods were applied in the analysis of real furnace residue samples.
Rapid manufacturing of plastic aspheric optical lens
Authors: Kuo C.‐C. , Lin Z.‐Y.
Published: June 2012

This paper presents a new process to rapid manufacture the plastic aspheric optical lens. A bridge tooling was developed for fabricating the mold inserts of an aspheric lens using silicone rubber materials. Epoxy‐based composites were used to fabricate mold inserts of an aspheric optical lens. Z‐axis shrinkage error was investigated after plastic injection molding and compensated to the designed aspheric lens. In comparison with conventional method for fabricating a pair of mold inserts of a new plastic lens, a cost reduction of 75.02% and a time saving of 77.78% can be achieved. The deformation improvement percentage is about 92.48%. This technology can be used to compensate the z‐axis deformation efficiently due to shrinkage error of plastics in molding aspheric lens. Aspheric optical lens can be produced rapidly and cost‐effectively.
From soldering embrittlement to red shortness – commonalities and characteristics
Authors: Wittke K. , Scheel W. , Kising M.
Published: June 2012

Der Lötbruch ist als lokale bzw. durchgängige Materialtrennung ein Lötfehler, der die Gewährleistung der Zuverlässigkeit von Lötverbindungen zeitlich stark einschränken kann oder sogar unmöglich macht. Diese Materialtrennung erfolgt in der Regel interkristallin entlang von Korngrenzen oder sogar Subkorngrenzen. Deshalb wird der Lötbruch makroskopisch den Sprödbrüchen im verfahrensbeeinflussten Grundwerkstoff der Lötverbindungen zugeordnet. Der Charakter der Lötbrüche und die Kinetik der Rissbildung ist u. a. mit ähnlichen Materialtrennungen wie z. B. Nebennahtrissen beim Schweißen und Rotbruch beim Umformen vergleichbar. Im vorliegenden Beitrag vergleichen die Autoren diese interkristallinen Materialtrennungen und beschreiben ihre Gemeinsamkeiten und auch Besonderheiten, wobei die Lötverbindungen im Mittelpunkt der Betrachtungen stehen.
Global exact boundary observability for first‐order quasilinear hyperbolic systems of diagonal form
Authors: Yu Lixin
Published: June 2012

In this paper, by means of a constructive method based on the theory of the existence and the uniqueness of the C1 solution to the Cauchy problem and the Goursat problem, the global exact boundary observability for the first‐order quasilinear hyperbolic systems of diagonal form with linearly degenerate characteristics is obtained. In the case that the system has no zero characteristics, we realize the two‐sided and one‐sided global exact boundary observability by the boundary observed values and obtain the observability inequality. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Plac1 (placenta‐specific 1) is essential for normal placental and embryonic development
Authors: Jackman Suzanne M. , Kong Xiaoyuan , Fant Michael E.
Published: June 2012

Plac1 is a recently identified, X‐linked gene whose expression is restricted primarily to cells of the trophoblast lineage. It localizes to a chromosomal locus previously implicated in placental growth. We therefore sought to determine if Plac1 is necessary for placental and embryonic development by examining a mutant mouse model. Plac1 ablation resulted in placentomegaly and mild intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). At E16.5, knockout (KO) and heterozygous (Het) placentae of the Plac1‐null allele inherited from the mother (Xm−X) weighed approximately 100% more than wildtype (WT) placentae, whereas the corresponding embryos weighed 7–12% less. Histologically, Plac1 mutants exhibited an expanded spongiotrophoblast layer that invaded the labyrinth. By contrast, Het placentae that inherited the null allele from the father (XXp−) exhibited normal growth and were histologically indistinguishable from WT placentae, consistent with paternal imprinting of Plac1. When examined across gestation, WT and Xm−X placental weights peaked at E16.5 and decreased slightly thereafter. KO placentae (Xm−Xp− and Xm−Y), however, continued to increase in weight after E16.5, consistent with a functional role for the paternal Plac1 allele. Subsequent analysis confirmed that the paternal allele partially escapes complete X‐inactivation and thus contributes to placental growth regulation. Additionally, although male Plac1 KO mice can survive, they exhibit decreased viability as a consequence of events occurring late in gestation or shortly after birth. Thus, Plac1 is a paternally imprinted, X‐linked gene essential for normal placental and embryonic development.Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79: 564‐572, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Doubly selective multiple quantum chemical shift imaging and T1 relaxation time measurement of glutathione (GSH) in the human brain in vivo
Authors: Choi In‐Young , Lee Phil
Published: June 2012

Mapping of a major antioxidant, glutathione (GSH), was achieved in the human brain in vivo using a doubly‐selective multiple quantum filtering based chemical shift imaging (CSI) of GSH at 3 T. Both in vivo and phantom tests in CSI and single voxel measurements were consistent with excellent suppression of overlapping signals from creatine, γ‐Amino butyric acid (GABA) and macromolecules. GSH concentration in the fronto‐parietal region was 1.20 ± 0.16 µmol/g (mean ± SD, n = 7). The longitudinal relaxation time (T1) of GSH in the human brain was 397 ± 44 ms (mean ± SD, n = 5), which was substantially shorter than that of other metabolites. This GSH‐CSI method permits us to address regional differences of GSH in the human brain under conditions where oxidative stress has been implicated, including multiple sclerosis, aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A load balancing strategy for parallel computation of sparse permanents
Authors: Wang Lei , Liang Heng , Bai Fengshan , Huo Yan
Published: June 2012

The research in parallel machine scheduling in combinatorial optimization suggests that the desirable parallel efficiency could be achieved when the jobs are sorted in the non‐increasing order of processing times. In this paper, we find that the time spending for computing the permanent of a sparse matrix by hybrid algorithm is strongly correlated to its permanent value. A strategy is introduced to improve a parallel algorithm for sparse permanent. Methods for approximating permanents, which have been studied extensively, are used to approximate the permanent values of submatrices to decide the processing order of jobs. This gives an improved load balancing method. Numerical results show that the parallel efficiency is improved remarkably for the permanents of fullerene graphs, which are of great interests in nanoscience. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A high‐order ADI finite difference scheme for a 3D reaction‐diffusion equation with neumann boundary condition
Authors: Liao Wenyuan
Published: June 2012

In this article, we extend the fourth‐order compact boundary scheme in Liao et al. (Numer Methods Partial Differential Equations 18 (2002), 340–354) to a 3D problem and then combine it with the fourth‐order compact alternating direction implicit (ADI) method in Gu et al. (J Comput Appl Math 155 (2003), 1–17) to solve the 3D reaction‐diffusion equation with Neumann boundary condition. First, the reaction‐diffusion equation is solved with a compact fourth‐order finite difference method based on the Padé approximation, which is then combined with the ADI method and a fourth‐order compact scheme to approximate the Neumann boundary condition, to obtain fourth order accuracy in space. The accuracy in the temporal dimension is improved to fourth order by applying the Richardson extrapolation technique, although the unconditional stability of the numerical method is proved, and several numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed new algorithm. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013
Nonstandard finite difference schemes for Michaelis–Menten type reaction‐diffusion equations
Authors: Chapwanya Michael , Lubuma Jean M.‐S. , Mickens Ronald E.
Published: June 2012

We compare and investigate the performance of the exact scheme of the Michaelis–Menten (M–M) ordinary differential equation with several new nonstandard finite difference (NSFD) schemes that we construct using Mickens' rules. Furthermore, the exact scheme of the M–M equation is used to design several dynamically consistent NSFD schemes for related reaction‐diffusion equations, advection‐reaction equations, and advection‐reaction‐diffusion equations. Numerical simulations that support the theory and demonstrate computationally the power of NSFD schemes are presented. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013
A numerical solution for advection‐diffusion equation using dual reciprocity method
Authors: Shiva Afshin , Adibi Hojatollah
Published: June 2012

This article describes a numerical method based on the boundary integral equation and dual reciprocity method(DRM) for solving the one‐dimensional advection‐diffusion equations. The concept of DRM is used to convert the domain integral to the boundary that leads to an integration free method. The time derivative is approximated by the time‐stepping method. Numerical results are presented for some problems to demonstrate the usefulness and accuracy of the new approach. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013
Study on the photoinduced electron‐transfer activity of poly(p‐phenylene benzobisoxazole)/carboxylic multiwalled carbon nanotubes composites prepared by in situ polymerization
Authors: Xie Zhong , Liu Xiaoyun , Zhuang Qixin , Chen Yi , Mao Xiaoyang , Han Zhewen
Published: June 2012

This article focused on the synthesis of poly(p‐phenylene benzobisoxazole)/carboxylic multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PBO/MWNT‐COOH) composites through in situ polymerization. The effect of MWNT‐COOH on thermal stability and photophysical properties was investigated thoroughly. Especially an in‐depth study was carried out on the detailed process of energy transfer. Ultraviolet‐visible‐near infrared and fluorescence spectroscopy of composites revealed that MWNT interacted with PBO through strong covalent bonds, which was a significant photoinduced charge‐transfer interaction between the two components. Therefore, compared with PBO, both the thermal stability and PL quantum efficiency of PBO/MWNT‐COOH composites were improved. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Views of British community pharmacists on direct patient reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs)
Authors: Krska Janet
Published: June 2012

Purpose

To survey British community pharmacists’ views and practices concerning direct patient reporting of ADRs.

Methods

Cross‐sectional postal survey of community pharmacists in Britain

Results

Of 1096 questionnaires distributed, 297 usable responses were obtained, (27.1%). Respondents’ estimates of the frequency of patients reporting a suspected ADR to them had a median of 1.0 per month. Almost a fifth of respondents (19.6%) do not specifically ask patients about ADRs, and 38.7% do not encourage patients to report.

Only 18.5% displayed a poster promoting the YC Scheme in their pharmacy, but 57.9% claimed to have patient YCs available. A quarter (24.9%) of respondents considered that ADR reporting should be restricted to health professionals and 14.4% considered that patients were not at all capable of identifying ADRs.

Conclusions

The low response rate and overall results suggest that British community pharmacists may lack interest in and do not promote direct patient reporting. Increased awareness of the benefits and mechanisms of patient reporting may be required to ensure that pharmacists can provide the necessary support to facilitate patient reporting. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and characterization of polyurethanes containing glucose for selective determination of epinephrine in the presence of a high concentration of ascorbic acid
Authors: Paşahan Aziz , Köytepe Süleyman , Cengiz Mahmut Alper , Seçkin Turgay
Published: June 2012

Polyurethane (PU) films were prepared from glucose, ethylene glycol and diphenylmethane diisocyanate and used to construct a novel polymer electrode for the detection of epinephrine (EP) in the presence of a high concentration of ascorbic acid (AA). The NCO:OH molar ratio was kept constant at 1 and the saccharide content was varied. The PUs were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses, with intrinsic viscosity and adhesive properties also being evaluated. The PUs exhibited high glass transition temperature, good thermal stability and good adhesive properties. The incorporation of saccharides into the PU structure resulted in a higher crosslinking density and a higher content of hard segments. Medium‐ to high‐molecular‐weight polymers were obtained, with inherent viscosities near or higher than 0.98–2.14 dL g−1. The solubility of the PUs was much better than that of aromatic PUs. The modified polymer electrodes were then used to determine EP in the presence of a high concentration of AA using differential pulse voltammetry. From the amperometric results for the PU electrode, it is concluded that a PU film containing 5 wt% glucose can be used as a membrane for EP detection in the presence of a large concentration of AA, because of its strong adherence to the electrode surface, easy preparation, chemical stability, selectivity and very high statistical confidence (R = 0.9994). © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Nanocomposite materials based on isosorbide methacrylate/Cloisite 20A
Authors: Mansoori Yaghoub , Hemmati Salar , Eghbali Parvin , Zamanloo Mohammad Reza , Imanzadeh Golamhassan
Published: June 2012

This paper reports experiments on grafting of a new polymerizable monomer onto organophilic montmorillonite. The monomer, 5‐methacryloyloxy‐1,4:36‐D‐anhydrosorbitol (MAS), was synthesized by reacting methacryloyl chloride and isosorbide in the presence of Et3N as base. Then, Cloisite 20A was reacted with vinyltrichlorosilane to replace the edge hydroxyl groups of the clay with a vinyl moiety. Because the reaction liberates HCl, it was performed in the presence of sodium hydrogen carbonate to prevent the exchange of quaternary alkylammonium cations with H+ ions. Only the silanol groups on the edge of the clay react with vinyltrichlorosilane. After the reaction, the product maintained the same basal spacing as the precursor. The radical polymerization of the product with MAS as a vinyl monomer led to chemical grafting of the polymer onto the montmorillonite surface. The homopolymer formed during polymerization was separated from the grafted organoclay by Soxhlet extraction. Chemical grafting of the polymer onto Cloisite 20A was confirmed using infrared spectroscopy. The prepared nanocomposite materials and the grafted nanoparticles were studied using X‐ray diffraction and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Exfoliated nanocomposite was obtained for 1 wt% clay loadings. The nanocomposites were studied using thermogravimetric and dynamic mechanical analyses. Improved thermal properties were observed for nanocomposites with 1–5 wt% clay content. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Molecular dynamics study of gramicidin a in lipid bilayer: Structure and lateral pressure profile
Authors: Saito Hiroaki , Iwayama Masashi , Takagi Hiroyuki , Nishimura Megumi , Miyakawa Takeshi , Kawaguchi Kazutomo , Takasu Masako , Mizukami Taku , Nagao Hidemi
Published: June 2012

The structure and lateral pressure profile of the 1,2‐dimyristoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and 1,2‐distearoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) lipid bilayers in the absence and presence of gramicidin A (GA) are studied by molecular dynamics simulation. Due to the hydrophobic mismatch between the GA and DSPC lipid bilayer, the chain conformation became disordered, and the hydrophobic thickness around the GA largely decreased to fit the length of hydrophobic core region of the GA. The polar headgroup of lipid was found to orient toward the membrane normal as the lipid approaches the GA. The surface tension around the polar headgroup region in the DMPC/GA membrane decreased due to the decrease of electrostatic interactions between the headgroups. The larger lateral pressure in the hydrophobic region of the DSPC/GA membrane causes the reduction of pore radius around the GA channel entrance, suggesting the decrease of ion accessibility to the GA channel entrance. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterisation of protein nanotubes by ToF‐SIMS imaging
Authors: Poleunis Claude , Dupont‐Gillain Christine , Demoustier‐Champagne Sophie , Delcorte Arnaud , Kalaskar Deepak
Published: June 2012

A growing number of nano‐objects such as nanotubes, capsules or beads are being developed for various biological and medical applications. In particular, the use of polymer templates for the synthesis of nanomaterials, using layer‐by‐layer assembly, has become a method of choice due to its simplicity and versatility in shapes and dimensions. However, chemical characterisation of these nano‐objects still remains challenging. Here, we report the use of ToF‐SIMS, especially in the imaging mode, for the characterisation of collagen‐based nano‐ and microtubes deposited on surfaces, with a view to applications in biomaterials science.

The classical univariate or multivariate Principal Component Analysis (PCA) spectral data treatments do not display any significant differences between the nanotubes with different layer sequences (protein‐polymer or polymer‐protein). However, the layer sequences are clearly differentiated by the ToF‐SIMS images acquired at high lateral resolution (0.3 µm), combined with high mass resolution (m/Δm > 5000 @ 29 m/z), because of the complexity of the protein spectral pattern. These results highlight the importance of imaging for chemical analysis of nanoparticles‐coated samples. This study has particular relevance for nanoscale imaging of biointerfaces. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photo‐induced surface transformations of silica nanocomposites
Authors: Gorham Justin M. , Nguyen Tinh , Bernard Coralie , Stanley Debbie , David Holbrook R.
Published: June 2012

The photo‐induced, physicochemical surface transformations to silica nanoparticle (SiNP) ‐ epoxy composites have been investigated. The silica nanocomposites (SiNCs) were prepared using a two‐part epoxy system with a 10% mass fraction of SiNPs and exposed to varying doses of high intensity, ultraviolet (UV) radiation at wavelengths representative of the solar spectrum at sea level (290 nm to 400 nm) under constant temperature and humidity. Visibly apparent physical modifications to the SiNC surface were imaged with scanning electron microscopy. Surface pitting and cracking became more apparent with increased UV exposure. Elemental and surface chemical characterization of the SiNCs was accomplished through X‐ray energy dispersive spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, while attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed changes to the epoxy's structure. During short UV exposures, there was an increase in the epoxy's overall oxidation, which was accompanied by a slight rise in the silicon and oxygen components and a decrease in overall carbon content. The initial carbon components (e.g. aliphatic, aromatic and alcohol/ether functionalities) decreased and more highly oxidized functional groups increased until sufficiently long exposures at which point the surface composition became nearly constant. At long exposure times, the SiNC's silicon concentration increased to form a surface layer composed of approximately 75% silica (by mass). Published 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Resistance Random Access Memory Based on a Thin Film of CdS Nanocrystals Prepared via Colloidal Synthesis
Authors: Ju Yong Chan , Kim Seungwook , Seong Tae‐Geun , Nahm Sahn , Chung Haegeun , Hong Kwon , Kim Woong
Published: June 2012

We demonstrate that resistance random access memory (RRAM) can be fabricated based on CdS‐nanocrystal thin films. A simple drop‐drying of the CdS‐nanocrystal solution leads to the formation of uniform thin films with controlled thickness. RRAMs with a Ag/Al2O3/CdS/Pt structure show bipolar switching behavior, with average values of the set voltage (VSet) and reset voltage (VReset) of 0.15 V and –0.19 V, respectively. The RRAM characteristics are critically influenced by the thickness of the Al2O3 barrier layer, which prevents significant migration of Ag into the CdS layer as revealed by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Interestingly, RRAM without an Al2O3 layer (i.e., Ag/CdS/Pt structure) also shows bipolar switching behavior, but the polarity is opposite to that of RRAM with the Al2O3 layer (i.e., Ag/Al2O3/CdS/Pt structure). The operation of both kinds of devices can be explained by the conventional conductive bridging mechanism. Additionally, we fabricated RRAM devices on Kapton film for potential applications in flexible electronics, and the performance of this RRAM device was comparable to that of RRAMs fabricated on hard silicon substrates. Our results show a new possibility of using chalcogenide nanocrystals for RRAM applications.
“I never thought of it as freezing”: How students answer questions on large‐scale science tests and what they know about science
Authors: Noble Tracy , Suarez Catherine , Rosebery Ann , O'Connor Mary Catherine , Warren Beth , Hudicourt‐Barnes Josiane
Published: June 2012

Education policy in the U.S. in the last two decades has emphasized large‐scale assessment of students, with growing consequences for schools, teachers, and students. Given the high stakes of such tests, it is important to understand the relationships between students' answers to test items and their knowledge and skills in the tested content area. Due to persistent test score gaps, students from historically non‐dominant communities, and their teachers and schools, are differentially affected by the consequences of large‐scale testing. As a result, it is particularly important to understand how students from historically non‐dominant communities interact with test items on large‐scale tests. We report on a study in which we interviewed 36 students about their responses to six multiple‐choice science test items from the Massachusetts state science assessment for fifth grade. The 36 students included 12 students from low‐income households, 12 English Language Learners, and 12 middle‐class native English speakers. We found that for five of the six selected test items, students' descriptions of the science content knowledge they used to answer the test items frequently did not match the content knowledge targeted by the items. In addition, students from low‐income households and English Language Learners were more likely than middle‐class native English speakers to answer incorrectly despite demonstrating knowledge of the targeted science content for the items. We argue that such evidence challenges the expectation that students' answers to individual test items reflect their knowledge of the targeted science content, and that evidence of this kind should be included in investigations of the validity of large‐scale tests. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 49: 778–803, 2012
The internationalization of African firms 1995–2011: Review and implications
Authors: Ibeh Kevin , Wilson Juliette , Chizema Amon
Published: June 2012

This article draws on aggregate evidence from 54 relevant studies to improve understanding of internationalization behavior of African firms. Its major findings include an upward trend in internationalization activities among African firms; a significant level of informal exporting (which indicates a potential for further growth in firm‐level internationalization within Africa); and the importance of managerial and organizational resource factors and formal and informal networks in improving the internationalization behavior of the study firms. Based on the review evidence, the article calls on African governments and supranational institutions to prioritize the provision of more enabling environments (with lower transaction/operational costs) in Africa. It also tasks policy makers to incorporate well‐targeted capacity‐building measures (managerial and organizational) and international networks activation mechanisms as part of their core strategies for improving the participation of African firms in global trade. The article ends with an invitation to the world's corporate giants and investors to demonstrate greater resolve toward confronting Africa's developmental challenge, by unleashing their investment resources on the many and varied opportunities offered by the continent. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Political and institutional impediments to foreign direct investment inflows to sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Cleeve Emmanuel
Published: June 2012

This article analyzes the role of institutional factors and political stability in the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) to sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). It uses cross‐sectional time series data on 40 SSA countries, and an econometric model of 12 institutional (including political risk) variables, after controlling for both traditional and policy variables. Given the role of foreign direct investment in the development process, one of the most important challenges facing Africa is how to attract an improved share of the increasing flow of world FDI. Africa's image as a high‐risk investment region has to be dispelled, as the flow of FDI is highly sensitive to economic and political risks. Fiscal incentives, the most popular instrument for attracting FDI in Africa, have failed to deliver the expected increase in FDI inflows. We believe that what is needed is not only political and macroeconomic stability but also institutional credibility. The objective of this article, therefore, is to investigate the impact of institutional factors and political risk on the inflow of FDI to SSA. The results reveal that institutional factors are important to attract FDI into SSA. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Internationalization of established small manufacturers in a developing economy: A case study of Kenyan SMEs
Authors: Jekanyika Matanda Margaret
Published: June 2012

This article discusses the findings of a study of the internationalisation of established small manufacturing firms in Kenya. The findings suggest established SMEs pursued an incremental approach to internationalization, as most established operations in the domestic market before moving to foreign markets. The interviews revealed the internationalization process was mostly driven by firm based‐factors such as managerial orientation, maintaining business reputing, enhancing market share and revenue, technological advancement, and flexibility of operations. Environmental‐based factors such as similarity in foreign and domestic markets, instability, and saturation of domestic markets played a lesser role. The article concludes with a discussion of research and managerial implications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of foreign and local companies in Ghana
Authors: Kuada John , Hinson Robert E.
Published: June 2012

This article reports a comparative study of the key motives underlying corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of foreign and local firms operating in Ghana and the societal as well as business outcomes of these practices. The results show that while the CSR decisions of foreign firms are mainly guided by legal prescriptions, those of their local counterparts are guided mostly by discretionary and social considerations. The socially oriented CSR practices of the local firms are consistent with cultural expectations in Ghana that those with extra resources should support the less privileged members of the society. But the difference in the degree of importance that the two groups of firms attach to discretionary motives for their CSR practices is not statistically significant. The article also discusses the policy, strategy, and research implications of the findings. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Deregulation, competition, and performance measurement of an African airport: The case of Kotoka international airport of Ghana
Authors: Akwei Cynthia , Tsamenyi Mathew , Sa'id Hadiza
Published: June 2012

This article reports on the results of a case study that explores the performance measurement practice in one of the growing airports in Africa‐the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) of Ghana. The article also assesses the performance of the airport from the perspectives of three groups of stakeholders ‐the airlines, passengers, and the community. KIA, like other airports around the world, is facing unprecedented challenges in terms of traffic growth, deregulation and increased commercial focus, the globalization of airline and airport activity, and the need to be environmentally aware. To manage these challenges, there is the need for the airport authorities to be proactive and innovative in their approach to performance measurement. This requires focusing not only on financial performance but also on other measures such as quality of service and environmental performance. Though the airport measures financial and quality of service performance, it does not pay much attention to environmental performance, and this was reflected in the ratings provided by the community. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Non-singlet baryons in less supersymmetric backgrounds
Authors: Giataganas Dimitrios , Lozano Yolanda , Picos Marco , Siampos Konstadinos
Published: June 2012

Abstract

We analyze the holographic description of non-singlet baryons in various backgrounds with reduced supersymmetries and/or confinement. We show that they exist in all AdS5 × Y
5 backgrounds with Y5 an Einstein manifold bearing five form flux, for a number of quarks 5N/8 < k ≤ N , independently on the supersymmetries preserved. This result still holds for γi deformations. In the confining Maldacena-Nuñez background non-singlet baryons also exist, although in this case the interval for the number of quarks is reduced as compared to the conformal case. We generalize these configurations to include a nonvanishing magnetic flux such that a complementary microscopical description can be given in terms of lower dimensional branes expanding into fuzzy baryons. This description is a first step towards exploring the finite ’t Hooft coupling region.
An international survey of patients with tetrahydrobiopterin deficiencies presenting with hyperphenylalaninaemia
Authors: Opladen Thomas , Hoffmann Georg F. , Blau Nenad
Published: June 2012

Objectives

The present study summarizes clinical and biochemical findings, current treatment strategies and follow‐up in patients with tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) deficiencies.

Methods

We analyzed the clinical, biochemical and treatment data of 626 patients with BH4 deficiencies [355 with 6‐pyruvoyl‐tetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS), 217 with dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR), 31 with autosomal recessive GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH), and 23 with pterin‐4a‐carbinolamine dehydratase (PCD) deficiencies] from the BIODEF Database. Patients with autosomal dominant GTPCH and SR deficiencies will not be discussed in detail.

Results

Up to 57 % of neonates with BH4 deficiencies are already clinically symptomatic. During infancy and childhood, the predominant symptoms are muscular hypotonia, mental retardation and age‐dependent movement disorders, including dystonia. The laboratory diagnosis of BH4 deficiency is based on a positive newborn screening (NBS) for phenylketonuria (PKU), characteristic profiles of urinary or dried blood spot pterins (biopterin, neopterin, and primapterin), and the measurement of DHPR activity in blood. Some patients with autosomal recessive GTPCH deficiency and all with sepiapterin reductase deficiency may be diagnosed late due to normal blood phenylalanine in NBS. L‐dopa, 5‐hydroxytryptophan, and BH4 are supplemented in PTPS and GTPCH‐deficient patients, whereas L‐dopa, 5‐hydroxytryptophan, folinic acid and diet are used in DHPR‐deficient patients. Medication doses vary widely among patients, and our understanding of the effects of dopamine agonists and monoamine catabolism inhibitors are limited.

Conclusions

BH4 deficiencies are a group of treatable pediatric neurotransmitter disorders that are characterized by motor dysfunction, mental retardation, impaired muscle tone, movement disorders and epileptic seizures. Although the outcomes of BH4 deficiencies are highly variable, early diagnosis and treatment result in improved outcomes.
On the multiple existence of semi-positive solutions for a nonlinear Schrödinger system
Authors: Sato Yohei , Wang Zhi-Qiang
Published: June 2012

The paper concerns multiplicity of vector solutions for nonlinear Schrödinger systems, in particular of semi-positive solutions. New variational techniques are developed to study the existence of this type of solutions. Asymptotic behaviors are examined in various parameter regimes including both attractive and repulsive cases.
A comparison of quality of life following spontaneous conception and assisted reproduction
Authors: De Pascalis Leonardo , Agostini Francesca , Monti Fiorella , Paterlini Marcella , Fagandini Piergiuseppina , La Sala Giovanni B.
Published: June 2012

Objective

To compare the levels of and changes in quality of life (QoL) during pregnancy between couples who conceived spontaneously and couples who underwent successful treatment by assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Methods

In a survey at the Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, Reggio Emilia, Italy, between September 11, 2009, and May 25, 2011, 230 individuals (57 ART couples and 58 couples who conceived spontaneously) completed Short‐Form 36 on QoL at 22 and 32 gestational weeks.

Results

Compared with men, women had lower scores in most dimensions of QoL regardless of the method of conception; women also showed a decrease in physical and social QoL during pregnancy that was not evident among men. Compared with non‐ART couples, ART couples had lower physical (especially women) and social QoL; ART couples also showed a decrease in social QoL from the second to the third trimester that was not observed among non‐ART couples.

Conclusion

The results underline the higher burden that pregnancy represents for women on a physical and social level. ART treatment seems to increase the negative impact of pregnancy on QoL in the couple as a whole; early support in adjusting to the realities and demands of pregnancy might prove beneficial for these future parents.
Unbridling the Tongues of Women
Authors: Margarey Susan
Published: June 2012

Catherine Helen Spence was a charismatic public speaker in the late nineteenth century, a time when women were supposed to speak only at their own firesides. In challenging the custom and convention that confined middle-class women to the domestic sphere, she was carving a new path into the world of public politics along which other women would follow, in the first Australian colony to win votes for women.
Yuendumu legacy of a longitudinal growth study in Central Australia
Authors: Brown Tasman , Townsend Grant C. , Pinkerton Sandra K. , Rogers James R.
Published: June 2012

This book provides a comprehensive account of a unique pioneering longitudinal study of human growth that continues to contribute to our knowledge and raise new questions 60 years after it commenced.
Wind‐driven variability of dissolved oxygen below the mixed layer at Station P
Authors: Cummins Patrick F. , Masson Diane
Published: June 2012

Variability of dissolved oxygen below the mixed layer is examined in data from Ocean Weather Station P (145°W, 50°N) in the eastern subarctic Pacific. At depths of 150 to 400 m, O2 variability on isopycnals and heaving of the climatological oxycline both contribute importantly to variability on interannual to decadal time scales. O2 anomalies adjusted for isopycnal variations are shown to be well correlated with results from a stochastic climate model driven by local Ekman pumping over the 54 year period, 1956–2010. This variability is associated with vertical heaving of isopycnals at low frequencies occurring as an integrated response to local wind‐forcing. Long‐term oxygen declines observed below the mixed layer at Station P are due to secular trends on isopycnal surfaces. These declines have been moderated over the 200–400 m depth range by the downward vertical displacement of the oxycline associated with the long‐term deepening of isopycnal surfaces.
Continuous production of nanosized magnetite through low grade burial
Authors: Kars Myriam , Aubourg Charles , Pozzi Jean‐Pierre , Janots Dominik
Published: June 2012

Geological processes, such as burial, can lead to remagnetization in rocks due to neoformed magnetic minerals that have passed a critical volume, called blocking volume. In this study, we designed a heating experiment for claystones obtained from the Paris Basin (France), in the 50–130°C temperature range, in order to simulate <4 km burial remagnetization. At a given temperature, remanence increased rapidly within a couple of days and stabilized afterward. There was a positive relation between the experimental temperature and the obtained remanence. Remanence was determined to be carried equally by stable chemical remanent magnetization and unstable thermo‐viscous remanent magnetization. By assuming that magnetite formed during the experiment, we interpreted the increase of chemical remanent magnetization and the increase of thermo‐viscous remanent magnetization as the continuous growth of the >20 nm and ∼20 nm minerals respectively. This result led us to propose a conceptual model of nucleation‐and‐growth process of magnetite during low grade burial from ∼2 to ∼4 km depth. Ultrafine magnetite (≤20 nm) was predominant over single domain magnetite (>20 nm) for <4 km depth. Transposed to natural conditions, our heating steps experiment suggested that claystone‐type rocks are remagnetized during burial. For temperatures higher than 200°C, the extrapolation of our results indicated that burial remagnetization, due to the chemical remanent magnetization, might be larger than the natural remanent magnetization.
The role of atmospheric internal variability on the tropical instability wave dynamics
Authors: Narapusetty Balachandrudu , Stan Cristiana , Kirtman Ben P. , Schopf Paul S. , Marx Lawrence , Kinter James L.
Published: June 2012

The impact of atmospheric internal variability on tropical instability wave (TIW) activity in the eastern equatorial Pacific is examined. To diagnose the atmospheric internal variability, two simulations were performed with a state‐of‐the‐art coupled general circulation model that uses an eddy permitting ocean component model. Standard coupling procedures are implemented in the control simulation. In the experimental simulation, the so‐called interactive ensemble coupling is used, which systematically reduces the contribution of internal atmospheric dynamics to the air‐sea fluxes of heat, momentum and fresh water. In the eastern equatorial Pacific, the reduction of the atmospheric internal variability leads to an enhancement of the available potential energy and higher exchanges from mean to eddy potential energy. The perturbations in the available potential energy and the eddy potential energy contribute to the enhancement in the TIW activity through the increased eddy kinetic energy. Due to the negative correlation between the atmospheric internal variability and TIW activity, the covariance between the momentum flux at the air‐sea interface and the ocean surface currents as well as heat flux at the air‐sea interface and the sea surface temperatures were nearly conserved west of 120°W between the control and the experimental simulations.
Strokes of upward illumination occurring within a few milliseconds after typical lightning return strokes
Authors: Stolzenburg Maribeth , Marshall Thomas C. , Karunarathne Sumedhe , Karunarathna Nadeeka , Warner Tom A. , Orville Richard E. , Betz Hans‐Dieter
Published: June 2012

Correlated data for natural cloud‐to‐ground lightning flashes were obtained with a high‐speed video camera (54000 frames per second), five stations of electric field change antennas, and a seven‐station VLF/LF LIghtning NETwork (LINET), along with operational lightning and electric field networks at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Four observed flashes at 25–55 km distance had return‐stroke‐like upward illumination (UI) from the ground just after (within 2 ms of) a return stroke (RS), but in a separate channel connection to ground (0.7 to 2.5 km apart). The UI events were visible for short duration (0.5 ms or less) and short length (to 1.7 km altitude or less), and they had slow propagation speed (1.6–2.6 × 107 m s−1) and no apparent connection to the RS channel. In one case, the RS was no longer visible to the ground when the UI began 1.30 ms later, although mid‐level channel was still distinct. In another case, the main RS had dimmed over the 0.52 ms interval before the UI but was still visible. The remaining two cases had the entire length of the prior RS channel no longer visible (for 40 and 240 μs) before the UI began (1.32 and 1.87 ms later). Electric field change data for the UI events resemble those of weak return strokes. These events were not located by the operational ground‐strike and VHF detection systems; all four UI events were detected by LINET as negative ground strokes with small (less than 7 kA) peak current magnitude.
Preparing Graduate Students To Carry Out Their Roles and Responsibilities in a School-Based Setting
Authors: Giess SallyAnn , Schussler Kelly Farquharson , Means Jennifer Walsh , Fitzgerald Mary Dale
Published: June 2012

Today’s school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) serve children across a wide range of communicative disorders and perform duties in a variety of service delivery settings. Student learning outcomes in graduate communication sciences and disorders (CSD) preparation programs must reflect these expanding roles of SLPs as they prepare candidates for practice in the schools. Recognizing this challenge, a committee of SLPs in higher education created the University Outreach Committee (UOC) document. This document puts an ASHA practice policy into action by providing learning outcomes, formative assessments, and artifacts that university academic and clinical faculty can use to prepare graduate CSD students for work in schools.
Student Perspectives of an Interdisciplinary Approach to Clinical Provision and Supervision
Authors: Messersmith Jessica J. , Brouwer Kyle
Published: June 2012

We conducted a survey to investigate student perceptions of an interdisciplinary clinical practicum and to identify beneficial interdisciplinary supervisory practices. Seven speech-language pathology and audiology graduate students participated in an interdisciplinary clinical practicum supervised by 1 speech-language pathology faculty member and 1 audiology faculty member. During this experience, students collaborated with others outside of their department to plan and provide aural habilitation at a university speech and hearing clinic. Students’ responses to Likert-scale and open-ended questions indicated that the interdisciplinary practicum experience enhanced the students’ clinical knowledge and ability to work as a member of an interdisciplinary team. The results of the study provide support for increasing interdisciplinary practicum experiences within graduate clinician training, as well as conducting future research to identify best practices when providing cross-disciplinary supervision.