bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of initial moisture content on the anti-swelling efficiency of thermally modified Scots pine sapwood treated in a high-pressure reactor under saturated steam
Authors: Rautkari Lauri , Hill Callum A.S. 
Published: September 2013

Abstract
The effects of initial moisture content (MC) on anti-swelling efficiency (ASE), mass loss (ML), and equilibrium MC (EMC) at 65% relative humidity of thermally modified Scots pine sapwood under saturated steam (TMSA) has been investigated. ML during the TMSA process was higher with the specimens containing moisture before modification compared with initially dry specimens. Surprisingly, the EMC of the modified specimens with initial moisture was higher than that observed with the modified wood that was initially dry before the modification process. Higher initial MC before thermal modification results in a lower ASE.
An inquiry into Chinese learners' English-learning motivational self-images: ENL learner or ELF user?
Authors: Zheng Yongyan 
Published: September 2013

Abstract
This paper reports on findings of a qualitative study that aimed to explore the relevance of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) to English Language Teaching (ELT) practices by closely examining Chinese learners' English learning from the perspective of the L2 Motivational Self System. Three semi-structured interviews were conducted during an academic year to probe into eight Chinese university students' situated experiences of learning and using English in their life context. Qualitative data analysis revealed that the participants tended to construct the Ought-to and Ideal L2 Self around native-speaker norms under the influence of the deeply ingrained native-speaker model in the ELT classroom and the global spread of (native) English cultural products. However, these selfimages turned out to be unrealistic and unattainable as they clashed with the immediate life context the learners were embedded in, and eventually failed to generate sufficient motivational power to foster continued English learning. The findings serve as counter evidence for the assumed importance of promoting a salient self-image as a competent and legitimate ELF user among non-native learners to sustain long-term motivation. Findings call for a re-evaluation of the dominant native-speaker norms, and suggestions are provided on how to relate ELF to the English classroom.
How do “WE” (World Englishes) make sense in ELF communication? Words and their meanings across cultures
Authors: Xu Zhichang , Dinh Thuy Ngoc 
Published: September 2013

Abstract
English has increasingly been used as a lingua franca among speakers of World Englishes (WE), including speakers of English as a first language, and English-knowing bilinguals and multilinguals. In English as a lingua franca (ELF) communication, it remains a question as to how lexical meanings are coconstructed and negotiated by WE speakers when they interact across cultures and varieties of English. In this paper, we shall explore how meanings of certain lexical items are defined by WE speakers, and how these meanings change and vary. We have adopted a “free-response word association task” (Garrett 2010: 452) for data collection, and collected data through interviews from informants across cultures and varieties of English. Our research questions include: (a) Do WE speakers from different cultures share identical meanings of the same English lexical items? (b) How do WE speakers convey lexical meaning and make sense in ELF communication? (c) What are the implications of this research for ELF communication, and English vocabulary teaching? Data analysis shows that (i) it cannot be taken for granted that common English words share identical meanings among WE speakers; (ii) meanings of English words change and vary in accordance with ELF contexts; (iii) WE speakers co-construct and negotiate meanings in ELF communication; and (iv) English learners should be reminded of the fluidity and variation of ELF lexical meaning when they learn English in the classroom.
An inverse problem related to layered elastic plate
Authors: Romanov V. G. , Weng C.-I , Chen T.-C. 
Published: September 2013

Abstract
- An infinite plate consisting elastic isotropic layers of various thickness and elastic properties is considered. It is assumed that a point force is applied normally to a boundary of the plate. An inverse problem of finding parameters of the elastic plate is studied. Under some assumptions it is proved that the displacements vector measured on the boundary of the plate uniquely determines elasticity modules and density of layers as well as their thickness. A procedure of recovering parameters from the data is given.
Explicit identification of a small breast cancer in a mammography
Authors: He S. , Zhang H. , Romanov V. G. 
Published: September 2013

Abstract
- A mammography inverse problem for the frequency domain diffusion equation is considered when the cancer region is small. The extrapolated boundary condition is used for the compressed breast and the problem is linearized. Explicit identification formulas are given for two different cases, namely, the case using measurement of one-point reflection and one-point transmission, and the case using measurement of two-point transmission or reflection. Numerical results for the identification of a small cancer ball are presented.
Stable identification of piecewise-constant potentials from fixed-energy phase shifts
Authors: Gutman S. , Ramm A.G. 
Published: September 2013

Abstract
- An identification of a spherically symmetric potential by its phase shifts is an important physical problem. Recent theoretical results assure that such a potential is uniquely defined by a sufficiently large subset of its phase shifts at any one fixed energy level. However, two different potentials can produce almost identical phase shifts. That is, the inverse problem of the identification of a potential from its phase shifts at one energy level k2 is ill-posed, and the reconstruction is unstable. In this paper we introduce a quantitative measure D(k) of this instability. The diameters of minimizing sets D(k) are used to study the change in the stability with the change of k, and the influence of noise on the identification. They are also used in the stopping criterion for the nonlinear minimization method IRRS (Iterative Random Reduced Search). IRRS combines probabilistic global and deterministic local search methods and it is used for the numerical recovery of the potential by the set of its phase shifts. The results of the identification for noiseless as well as noise corrupted data are presented.
Reconstruction of the potential from I-function
Authors: Ramm A. G. 
Published: September 2013

Abstract
- If f(x, k) is the Jost solution and f(k) = f(0, k), then the I-function is I(k) := f(0, k)/f(k). It is proved that I(k) is in one-to-one correspondence with the scattering triple S := {S(k), kj, sj, 1 ≤ j ≤ J} and with the spectral function ρ(λ) of the Sturm-Liouville operator l = −d2/dx2 + q(x) on (0,∞) with the Dirichlet condition at x = 0 and

Analytical methods are given for finding S from I(k) and I(k) from S, and ρ(λ) from I(k) and I(k) from ρ(λ). Since the methods for finding q(x) from S or from ρ(λ) are known, this yields the methods for finding q(x) from I(k).
Ritual and Well-being in the Contemporary Shikoku- Pilgrimage: The “Spectrum of the Sacred”
Authors: Pussel Ryofu 
Published: September 2013

Abstract This article is an ethnographic study of contemporary ritual and well-being in the Buddhist 88-temple-pilgrimage on Shikoku Island, Japan, drawing on some findings of my PhD thesis. It will be shown how rituals are employed by pilgrims to gain this-worldly benefits and well-being, such as happiness, assurances about the future, success, and lives that can be lived free from problems and dangers, which mirror how contemporary pilgrims see their obligations and responsibilities in society. Further in-depth analysis of pilgrimage items and related rituals clarify what pilgrims deem ‘sacred’, and how they respond to this, why and through what experiences and actions they set things as ‘sacred’: ‘spaces’, items, and rituals are regarded as very sacred or more or less sacred. This research finds that there is a ‘sacred’ on a continuum, which it labels as ‘spectrum of the sacred’.
Folk Performing Arts, Community Life, and Well-being: Why shishimai Matters in Toyama, Japan
Authors: Nagao Yoko 
Published: September 2013

Abstract There is a growing awareness in Japan that well-being is closely linked to social relationships. It is often expressed as a call for tsunagari, relationships with a willing mutual involvement. This paper examines what kind of tsunagari can be fostered through folk performing arts which are rooted in a longstanding belief in a sacred beast represented as shishi (lion). The theory of ritualization is employed to approach shishimai (lion dance) as practice which is inextricably connected to the local perception of well-being. The close observation of hamlets carrying out shishimai in Toyama reveals that it reflects the state of a community and of its members, and often generates intimate and integrative social relations. They not only provide useful resources to attain well-being but are also extended to the symbolic and spiritual dimensions.
Bullfighting, Self-Enhancement, and Well-Being in Rural Japan
Authors: Klien Susanne 
Published: September 2013

Abstract This ethnographic study explores bullfighting in Oki and its many functions in contemporary life. It examines how mostly elderly bullfighters differ from other Japanese of their age and how they manage to lead their lives to the fullest, maintaining a high level of physical and mental health. With depictions of both the daily routine and bullfighting events, the paper enquires into the meaning of bullfighting and its related activities for actors involved in it, how bullfighters learn social skills in the stables and the arena, and how bullfighting creates well-being both on an individual and collective level. The hypothesis is that the sense of satisfaction of bullfighters accrues from a balance of activities as discrete individual and social interaction, communication, and intergenerational exchange.
The Happiness of the Family.
Authors: Wulf Christoph 
Published: September 2013

Abstract This German-Japanese ethnographic study shows how important happiness and a satisfying life are for people, as well as how important the family is in this context. In an ethnographic study we examined the Christmas rituals of three families in Germany and the New Year rituals of three families in Japan. The goal of our study was to find out how family members create their well-being and happiness in rituals. In their mise-en-scène and staging of the happiness language and imagination, corporeality and performativity, mimetic processes, rituals, and gestures play an important role. We discovered and also analyzed transcultural elements of family happiness: the sacred foundation of the family, the importance of the communal meal, the role of the exchange of gifts, the function of narratives and memories, and the importance of time for each other to create togetherness.
Genetic and Nongenetic Variation Revealed for the Principal Components of Human Gene Expression
Authors: Goldinger Anita , Henders Anjali K , McRae Allan F , Martin Nicholas G , Gibson Greg , Montgomery Grant W , Visscher Peter M , Powell Joseph E 
Published: September 2013

AbstractPrincipal components analysis has been employed in gene expression studies to correct for population substructure and batch and environmental effects. This method typically involves the removal of variation contained in as many as 50 principal components (PCs), which can constitute a large proportion of total variation present in the data. Each PC, however, can detect many sources of variation, including gene expression networks and genetic variation influencing transcript levels. We demonstrate that PCs generated from gene expression data can simultaneously contain both genetic and nongenetic factors. From heritability estimates we show that all PCs contain a considerable portion of genetic variation while nongenetic artifacts such as batch effects were associated to varying degrees with the first 60 PCs. These PCs demonstrate an enrichment of biological pathways, including core immune function and metabolic pathways. The use of PC correction in two independent data sets resulted in a reduction in the number of cis- and trans-expression QTL detected. Comparisons of PC and linear model correction revealed that PC correction was not as efficient at removing known batch effects and had a higher penalty on genetic variation. Therefore, this study highlights the danger of eliminating biologically relevant data when employing PC correction in gene expression data.
Pleiotropic Effects of a Mitochondrial–Nuclear Incompatibility Depend upon the Accelerating Effect of Temperature inDrosophila
Authors: Hoekstra Luke A , Siddiq Mohammad A , Montooth Kristi L 
Published: September 2013

AbstractInteractions between mitochondrial and nuclear gene products that underlie eukaryotic energy metabolism can cause the fitness effects of mutations in one genome to be conditional on variation in the other genome. In ectotherms, the effects of these interactions are likely to depend upon the thermal environment, because increasing temperature accelerates molecular rates. We find that temperature strongly modifies the pleiotropic phenotypic effects of an incompatible interaction between a Drosophila melanogaster polymorphism in the nuclear-encoded, mitochondrial tyrosyl-transfer (t)RNA synthetase and a D. simulans polymorphism in the mitochondrially encoded tRNATyr. The incompatible mitochondrial–nuclear genotype extends development time, decreases larval survivorship, and reduces pupation height, indicative of decreased energetic performance. These deleterious effects are ameliorated when larvae develop at 16° and exacerbated at warmer temperatures, leading to complete sterility in both sexes at 28°. The incompatible genotype has a normal metabolic rate at 16° but a significantly elevated rate at 25°, consistent with the hypothesis that inefficient energy metabolism extends development in this genotype at warmer temperatures. Furthermore, the incompatibility decreases metabolic plasticity of larvae developed at 16°, indicating that cooler development temperatures do not completely mitigate the deleterious effects of this genetic interaction. Our results suggest that the epistatic fitness effects of metabolic mutations may generally be conditional on the thermal environment. The expression of epistatic interactions in some environments, but not others, weakens the efficacy of selection in removing deleterious epistatic variants from populations and may promote the accumulation of incompatibilities whose fitness effects will depend upon the environment in which hybrids occur.
Impaired-Driving Prevalence Among US High School Students: Associations With Substance Use and Risky Driving Behaviors
Authors: Li Kaigang , Simons-Morton Bruce G. , Hingson Ralph 
Published: September 2013

Objectives. We examined the prevalence of impaired driving among US high school students and associations with substance use and risky driving behavior. Methods. We assessed driving while alcohol or drug impaired (DWI) and riding with alcohol- or drug-impaired drivers (RWI) in a nationally representative sample of 11th-grade US high school students (n = 2431). We examined associations with drinking and binge drinking, illicit drug use, risky driving, and demographic factors using multivariate sequential logistic regression analysis. Results. Thirteen percent of 11th-grade students reported DWI at least 1 of the past 30 days, and 24% reported RWI at least once in the past year. Risky driving was positively associated with DWI (odds ratio [OR] = 1.25; P < .001) and RWI (OR = 1.09; P < .05), controlling for binge drinking (DWI: OR = 3.17; P < .01; RWI: OR = 6.12; P < .001) and illicit drug use (DWI: OR = 5.91; P < .001; RWI: OR = 2.29; P = .05). DWI was higher for adolescents who drove after midnight (OR = 15.7), drove while sleepy or drowsy (OR = 8.6), read text messages (OR = 11.8), sent text messages (OR = 5.0), and made cell phone calls (OR = 3.2) while driving. Conclusions. Our findings suggest the need for comprehensive approaches to the prevention of DWI, RWI, and other risky driving behavior.
Effect of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and Voluntary Industry Health Warning Labels on Passage of Mandated Cigarette Warning Labels From 1965 to 2012: Transition Probability and Event History Analyses
Authors: Sanders-Jackson Ashley N. , Song Anna V. , Hiilamo Heikki , Glantz Stanton A. 
Published: September 2013

Objectives. We quantified the pattern and passage rate of cigarette package health warning labels (HWLs), including the effect of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and HWLs voluntarily implemented by tobacco companies. Methods. We used transition probability matrices to describe the pattern of HWL passage and change rate in 4 periods. We used event history analysis to estimate the effect of the FCTC on adoption and to compare that effect between countries with voluntary and mandatory HWLs. Results. The number of HWLs passed during each period accelerated, from a transition rate among countries that changed from 2.42 per year in 1965–1977 to 6.71 in 1977–1984, 8.42 in 1984–2003, and 22.33 in 2003–2012. The FCTC significantly accelerated passage of FCTC-compliant HWLs for countries with initially mandatory policies with a hazard of 1.27 per year (95% confidence interval = 1.11, 1.45), but only marginally increased the hazard for countries that had an industry voluntary HWL of 1.68 per year (95% confidence interval = 0.95, 2.97). Conclusions. Passage of HWLs is accelerating, and the FCTC is associated with further acceleration. Industry voluntary HWLs slowed mandated HWLs.
Traditional Christian Values and Women’s Reproductive Rights in Modern Russia—Is a Consensus Ever Possible?
Authors: Erofeeva Lyubov Vladimirovna 
Published: September 2013

Recently in Russia, abortion rights have been attacked. For decades, Russian women could have an elective abortion up to week 12 of pregnancy; between 12 and 22 weeks, medical or social grounds were required for an abortion. In mid 2011, a group of Parliamentarians teamed up with Russian Orthodox Church activists and announced their desire to ban abortions, and the new version of the health law with restricting amendments was introduced: a mandatory waiting period, physicians’ conscientious objection, and limiting the social indications for late-term abortion. Evidence indicates that restricting legislative changes based on “traditional” values could significantly limit women’s reproductive choices (e.g., access to abortion), a setback to women’s rights to exert control over their bodies and their lives.
The Relationship Between Gun Ownership and Firearm Homicide Rates in the United States, 1981–2010
Authors: Siegel Michael , Ross Craig S. , King Charles 
Published: September 2013

Objectives. We examined the relationship between levels of household firearm ownership, as measured directly and by a proxy—the percentage of suicides committed with a firearm—and age-adjusted firearm homicide rates at the state level.Methods. We conducted a negative binomial regression analysis of panel data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting Systems database on gun ownership and firearm homicide rates across all 50 states during 1981 to 2010. We determined fixed effects for year, accounted for clustering within states with generalized estimating equations, and controlled for potential state-level confounders.Results. Gun ownership was a significant predictor of firearm homicide rates (incidence rate ratio = 1.009; 95% confidence interval = 1.004, 1.014). This model indicated that for each percentage point increase in gun ownership, the firearm homicide rate increased by 0.9%.Conclusions. We observed a robust correlation between higher levels of gun ownership and higher firearm homicide rates. Although we could not determine causation, we found that states with higher rates of gun ownership had disproportionately large numbers of deaths from firearm-related homicides.
The Combined Effects of the Expansion of Primary Health Care and Conditional Cash Transfers on Infant Mortality in Brazil, 1998–2010
Authors: Guanais Frederico C. 
Published: September 2013

Objectives. I examined the combined effects of access to primary care through the Family Health Program (FHP) and conditional cash transfers from the Bolsa Familia Program (BFP) on postneonatal infant mortality (PNIM) in Brazil.Methods. I employed longitudinal ecological analysis using panel data from 4583 Brazilian municipalities from 1998 to 2010, totaling 54 253 observations. I estimated fixed-effects ordinary least squares regressions models with PNIM rate as the dependent variable and FHP, BFP, and their interactions as the main independent variables of interest.Results. The association of higher FHP coverage with lower PNIM became stronger as BFP coverage increased. At the means of all other variables, when BFP coverage was 25%, predicted PNIM was 5.24 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.95, 5.53) for FHP coverage = 0% and 3.54 (95% CI = 2.77, 4.31) for FHP coverage = 100%. When BFP coverage was 60%, predicted PNIM was 4.65 (95% CI = 4.36, 4.94) when FHP coverage = 0% and 1.38 (95% CI = 0.88, 1.89) when FHP coverage = 100%.Conclusions. The effect of the FHP depends on the expansion of the BFP. For impoverished, underserved populations, combining supply- and demand-side interventions may be necessary to improve health outcomes.
Reported Racial Discrimination, Trust in Physicians, and Medication Adherence Among Inner-City African Americans With Hypertension
Authors: Cuffee Yendelela L. , Hargraves J. Lee , Rosal Milagros , Briesacher Becky A. , Schoenthaler Antoinette , Person Sharina , Hullett Sandral , Allison Jeroan 
Published: September 2013

Objectives. We sought to determine if reported racial discrimination was associated with medication nonadherence among African Americans with hypertension and if distrust of physicians was a contributing factor. Methods. Data were obtained from the TRUST project conducted in Birmingham, Alabama, 2006 to 2008. All participants were African Americans diagnosed with hypertension and receiving care at an inner city, safety net setting. Three categories of increasing adherence were defined based on the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Trust in physicians was measured with the Hall General Trust Scale, and discrimination was measured with the Experiences of Discrimination Scale. Associations were quantified by ordinal logistic regression, adjusting for gender, age, education, and income. Results. The analytic sample consisted of 227 African American men and 553 African American women, with a mean age of 53.7 ±9.9 years. Mean discrimination scores decreased monotonically across increasing category of medication adherence (4.1, 3.6, 2.9; P = .025), though the opposite was found for trust scores (36.5, 38.5, 40.8; P < .001). Trust mediated 39% (95% confidence interval = 17%, 100%) of the association between discrimination and medication adherence. Conclusions. Within our sample of inner city African Americans with hypertension, racial discrimination was associated with lower medication adherence, and this association was partially mediated by trust in physicians. Patient, physician and system approaches to increase “earned” trust may enhance existing interventions for promoting medication adherence.