bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Non-invasive determination of fecal steroid hormones relating to conservation practice in giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
Authors: Yu Xiao-Jie , Hu De-Fu , Jin Xue-Lin , Ge Xing-Fang , Yang Liang-Liang , Zhao Peng-Peng , Zhang Qiang 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
The endangered giant panda is the flagship species of wildlife conservation, a status that results in heightened attention to their well-being. However, one factor that hinders the ability to monitor this species in the wild is the difficulty to measure relevant physiological parameters which quantify the survival status in conservation research. In this study, we employed a non-invasive sampling method and immunochemical assays to determine if measurement of fecal steroid hormones is a viable option in monitoring the sex ratios and stress levels of a giant panda population. The results indicate that 1) the yearly concentration of fecal testosterone is a possible biomarker for distinguishing gender, and 2) invasive methods of artificial insemination and semen collection as well as parturition, cause an increase in fecal cortisol concentration. This study suggests that the noninvasive sampling of feces can be a practical tool to monitor physiological stress in free-ranging and fenced giant panda populations, and could be useful in the forthcoming giant panda census in determining sex ratios in the wild.
The New Regulation of Abortion in Spain
Authors: Requejo María Teresa 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThe enactment of Law 2/2010 on Sexual and Reproductive Health and on Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy represents a radical change in the regulation of abortion in Spain. The law moves from the medical indication model that has been in place since 1985 (which established certain cases in which abortion was legal) towards a time-limit model that, with some exceptions, allows free abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. Along with the hot debate that this fundamental change has caused, other features of the law have also arisen as a source of conflict, including the regulation of the informed consent of underage women for having an abortion and the rules regarding the conscientious objection by healthcare professionals.
Irregular Immigration Control in Italy and Greece: Strong Fencing and Weak Gate-keeping serving the Labour Market
Authors: Ambrosini Maurizio , Triandafyllidou Anna 
Published: August 2011

AbstractItaly and Greece have been often blamed by their fellow EU Member States for the excessive permeability of their borders, their inability to stop irregular migration, and their inefficient asylum systems. In addition the two countries have weak internal controls, especially as regards the sectors of the labour market where immigrants are usually employed e.g. agriculture, domestic work, tourism and catering. This article seeks to make sense of these fundamentally contradictory policies that characterise Greece’s and Italy’s approach to managing migration. The article starts by outlining the common features of Italian and Greek immigration policies and proposes an analysis of immigration control regimes along two dimensions: their internal (within the country’s territory) or external (at the border or outside the border) character, and their fencing (stopping) vs. gate-keeping (preventing) nature. Section 3 discusses critically the irregular migration inflows in Greece, the policies implemented to address them and their contradictory results. Section 4 reviews the related policies in Italy and casts light to their inconsistencies. In the concluding section, we highlight the possible explanations for these two countries’ lack of direction in immigration management pointing to the opposition between excessively regulated labour markets, large informal economies and strict border controls which however become lax and ineffective once irregular migrants or asylum seekers are within the country.
Fixing, Adjusting, Regulating, Protecting Human Rights - The Shifting Uses of Regularisations in the European Union
Authors: Kraler Albert 
Published: August 2011

AbstractAlmost all Member States in the European Union currently make use, or in the past have made use of some form of regularisation of irregular immigrants, although to greatly varying degrees, in different ways and as a rule only reluctantly. A distinct feature of recent regularisations has been the shift towards a humanitarian justification of regularisation measures. In this context, regularisation has become reframed as an issue of the protection of irregular migrants’ human rights. As a result, regularisation has to some extent also been turned from a political tool in managing migration into an issue of international, European and national human rights law. While a human rights framework indeed offers a powerful rationale and at times compelling reasons why states ought to afford a legal status to irregular migrants, I argue that a human rights based approach must always be complemented by pragmatic considerations, as a human rights based justification of regularisation alone will be insufficient to find adequate responses to the changing presence of irregular migrants in the EU, not all of which can invoke human rights based claims to residence.
Suffer Little Children: Zimbabwean Childhood Literary Representations in the Context of Crisis
Authors: Mangena Tendai 
Published: August 2011

AbstractA closer reading of post – independence Zimbabwean short stories shows that childhood is more complex than its traditional conceptions. There are various diverging childhood depictions in literature. is paper explores these divergences, focusing initially on how children are represented as possessing what Muponde and Chihota (2000) call 'taboo shattering instincts in a diseased society'. In societies where there are clear human rights violations, children and other vulnerable groups are the most affected. In this respect, the paper explores various literary representations that deal with how children were affected during the Zimbabwean millennial crisis that was at most characterised by human rights violation. In any given society, at some point, adults are expected to resist forms of oppression; this paper argues that in literature and in society, children may be figures of resistance as well. Short stories to be scrutinised will be selected from the following editions; Not Another Day (2006), No More Plastic Balls: New Voices in the Zimbabwean Short Story (2000), Women Writing Zimbabwe (2008), Writing Still: New Stories from Zimbabwe (2003), Writing Now: More Stories from Zimbabwe and An Elegy for Easterly (2009).
Child Domestic Labour in (Accra) Ghana: A Child and Gender Rights Issue?
Authors: Tetteh Peace 
Published: August 2011

AbstractChild domestic labour is one of the widespread and exploitative forms of child labour in the world today. However, the ubiquity of child/adolescent (domestic) labour, together with the perception that such work-especially in relation to girls is important training for later life, normalises such work and renders it invisible. Child domestic labour is thus, largely feminised as almost 90 percent of the children are girls. Many domestics work for long hours with no rest or remuneration, and are subjected to verbal, physical and in some instances sexual abuse in the households of their employers. The conditions under which many child domestics live and work, undermines and threatens many basic rights of children. is paper highlights the child and gender-based rights that are actually or potentially denied child domestic workers in order to influence policy development and implementation, as well as advocacy for and on behalf of children.
Promoting children's public participation in South Africa: A social systems control perspective
Authors: Mayekiso Thokozile , Gwandure Calvin 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThe paper explores the theoretical application of the social systems control concept derived from Rotter's social learning theory to the promotion of children's public participation in South Africa. The paper describes social systems control concepts and strategies that educators could use to promote children's public participation at individual and institutional levels. The paper argues that if children were empowered through social systems control training programmes, they would be able to know, seek, and articulate children's public participation. It is envisaged that exposure of children to social systems control concepts in the educational system may result in children working for the promotion of children's rights in all social spheres in South Africa. Directions for future research can focus on the need to promote children's public participation through social systems control training programmes.
South African children's voice on school discipline: A case study
Authors: Doubell Hannelie , Geldenhuys Johanna 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThis article draws on material from a case study of a South African school. The abolishment of corporal punishment in 1996 necessitates a shift towards alternative discipline methods. It is argued that discipline in school context would be more successful if learners were given a voice in the process. A mixed method approach was employed to gather data by means of questionnaires from 40 learners. Results showed that although mechanisms were introduced to improve children's rights in South African schools, their participation in the process of school discipline is still limited. Recommendations were formulated in line with the findings.
Effects of Atmospheric Absorption of Incoming Radiation on the Radiation Limit of the Troposphere
Authors: Kurokawa Hiroyuki , Nakamoto Taishi 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
The limit of the planetary radiation (longwave radiation) of a planet with oceans on its surface is determined by various mechanisms called “radiation limits,” which can be classified as the Komabayashi–Ingersoll limit and the radiation limit of the troposphere. The effects of atmospheric absorption of the incoming central star radiation (shortwave radiation) on the radiation limit of the troposphere are investigated. To clarify the effects, simple parameterization of the absorption is performed. Two cases are found using an atmospheric model without a window for the longwave radiation. When the absorption in the upper atmosphere is effective, the radiation limit becomes larger than in the no-absorption case. On the other hand, the radiation limit disappears in the absence of a window for the incoming radiation.
A Satellite Study of the Atmospheric Forcing and Response to Moist Convection over Tropical and Subtropical Oceans
Authors: Masunaga Hirohiko 
Published: August 2011

AbstractSatellite data are analyzed to explore the thermodynamic evolution of tropical and subtropical atmospheres prior and subsequent to moist convection in order to offer an observational test bed for convective adjustment, which is central to the quasi-equilibrium hypothesis. Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and Aqua satellite measurements are projected onto a composite temporal sequence over an hourly to daily time scale by exploiting the temporal gap between the local satellite overpasses, which changes from one day to another. The atmospheric forcing and response to convection are investigated separately for deep convective and congestus clouds. In the deep tropics, systematic moisture transport from the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) to the free troposphere is evident in association with deep convection. The quick ABL ventilation suggests a swift convective adjustment but is preceded by a steady buildup of ABL moisture, which does not imply continuous adjustment to equilibrium. The evolution of convective available potential energy (CAPE) is controlled not only by the ABL moisture but also largely by a coincident ABL cooling linked with a bipolar anomaly of tropospheric temperature. The ABL moisture and temperature effects together lead to a rapid drop of CAPE for 12 h preceding convection, followed by a restoring phase that emerges as the cool anomaly recovers for a day or two. When moist convection is brought by congestus clouds with no deep convection nearby, CAPE gently increases over a period of 1–2 days until congestus occurs and then declines as slowly, suggestive of no efficient convective adjustment. The subtropical atmosphere shows no sign of convective adjustment whether or not vigorous convection is present.
Asymmetric Induction Arising from Enantiomerically Enriched Carbon-13 Isotopomers and Highly Sensitive Chiral Discrimination by Asymmetric Autocatalysis
Authors: Kawasaki Tsuneomi , Soai Kenso 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
Carbon-isotope chirality generated only by the substitution of carbon-13/carbon-12 can be amplified to enantioenriched 5-pyrimidyl alkanol by asymmetric autocatalysis, in which an extremely low enantiomeric excess (ca. 0.00005% ee) can automultiply during three consecutive reactions to &gt;99.5% ee. Chiral carbon-isotopomers can act as a chiral trigger in the reaction between pyrimidine-5-carbaldehyde and diisopropylzinc to induce a small enantioselectivity in the resulting asymmetric autocatalyst, whose enantiomeric excess can be enhanced significantly by the subsequent asymmetric autocatalysis. Asymmetric autocatalysis has the enormous power to recognize the isotope chirality arising from the small difference between carbon (13C/12C) and hydrogen (D/H) isotopes. The tiny chiral influence in the hydrogen isotopically chiral amino acids such as glycine can be recognized and amplified by asymmetric autocatalysis. Furthermore, asymmetric autocatalysis can be applied to the highly sensitive chiral discrimination of cryptochiral compounds such as saturated quaternary hydrocarbon and isotactic polystyrene. Circularly polarized light, which is considered a possible candidate for the origin of chirality, acts as the chiral initiator in asymmetric autocatalysis, affording highly enantioenriched products with the absolute configuration correlated to the helicity of CPL. In addition, chiral crystals formed from achiral organic compounds can act as chiral initiators of asymmetric autocatalytic amplification of ee to afford enantioenriched (S)- and (R)-5-pyrimidyl alkanols corresponding to the solid-state chirality in chiral crystals.
Tight Approximation Algorithms for Maximum Separable Assignment Problems
Authors: Fleischer Lisa , Goemans Michel X. , Mirrokni Vahab S. , Sviridenko Maxim 
Published: August 2011

A separable assignment problem (SAP) is defined by a set of bins and a set of items to pack in each bin; a value, fij, for assigning item j to bin i; and a separate packing constraint for each bin—i.e., for each bin, a family of subsets of items that fit in to that bin. The goal is to pack items into bins to maximize the aggregate value. This class of problems includes the maximum generalized assignment problem (GAP)1 and a distributed caching problem (DCP) described in this paper. Given a β-approximation algorithm for finding the highest value packing of a single bin, we give A polynomial-time LP-rounding based ((1 − 1/e)β)-approximation algorithm. A simple polynomial-time local search (β/(β + 1) − ε)-approximation algorithm, for any ε > 0. Therefore, for all examples of SAP that admit an approximation scheme for the single-bin problem, we obtain an LP-based algorithm with (1 − 1/e − ε)-approximation and a local search algorithm with (½ - ε)-approximation guarantee. Furthermore, for cases in which the subproblem admits a fully polynomial approximation scheme (such as for GAP), the LP-based algorithm analysis can be strengthened to give a guarantee of 1 − 1/e. The best previously known approximation algorithm for GAP is a ½-approximation by Shmoys and Tardos and Chekuri and Khanna. Our LP algorithm is based on rounding a new linear programming relaxation, with a provably better integrality gap. To complement these results, we show that SAP and DCP cannot be approximated within a factor better than 1 − 1/e unless NP ⫅ DTIME(nO(log log n)), even if there exists a polynomial-time exact algorithm for the single-bin problem. We extend the (1 − 1/e)-approximation algorithm to a constant-factor approximation algorithms for a nonseparable assignment problem with applications in maximizing revenue for budget-constrained combinatorial auctions and the AdWords assignment problem. We generalize the local search algorithm to yield a ½ - ε approximation algorithm for the maximum k-median problem with hard capacities.
In-Line Monitoring of Particulate, Color, and Water Content in Lubricating Oils to Facilitate Predictive Maintenance, Reduce Wear, and Provide Real Time Alarming
Authors: Canty Thomas M. 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
Imaging techniques for characterizing particle shapes and sizes in lubricating oils can be a valuable tool toward improving the life span and reliability of mechanical equipment. ASTM currently specifies several tests to monitor the condition of lube oil; however, most of these are off-line, lab based tests. Vision based systems are well designed to perform the examination of the lube oil, either in line or off line, as they are the only instrument systems that can determine particle shape, which is a critical parameter in determining the source of wear in a mechanical system. The visual capability allows the user to input his or her knowledge of the process to work in making meaningful analyses. Imaging filters can be applied to the analysis to sort through noise and focus on the important particle information that must be monitored. This paper describes a vision based system used for particle sizing that provides a true two-dimensional size and shape analysis. The paper also discusses the fundamentals of a vision system that allow for accurate and repeatable analysis of a wide range of processes.
Dimensional Analysis and Fractal Modeling of Fatigue Crack Growth
Authors: Carpinteri Alberto , Paggi Marco 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
In the present paper, generalized Paris and Wöhler equations are derived according to dimensional analysis and incomplete similarity concepts. They provide a rational interpretation to a majority of empirical power-law criteria used in fatigue. In particular, they are able to model the effects of the grain size, of the initial crack length, as well as of the size-scale of the tested specimen on the crack growth rate and on the fatigue life. Regarding the important issue of crack-size dependencies of the Paris’ coefficient C and of the fatigue threshold, an independent approach, based on the application of fractal geometry concepts, is proposed to model such an anomalous behavior. As a straightforward consequence of the fractality of the crack surfaces, the fractal approach provides scaling laws fully consistent with those determined from dimensional analysis arguments. The proposed scaling laws are applied to relevant experimental data related to the crack-size and to the structural-size dependencies of the fatigue parameters in metals and in quasi-brittle materials. Finally, paying attention to the limit points defining the range of validity of the classical Wöhler and Paris power-law relationships, correlations between the so-called cyclic or fatigue properties are proposed, giving a rational explanation to the experimental trends observed in the material property charts.
The Healing Power of Art: Is it Just for Patients?
Authors: Logid Janet 
Published: August 2011

To be a caring professional one must learn to care for oneself. This article is an exemplar of one nurse's discovery of the use of music to cope with stress and grief. Living with unresolved grief and cumulative stresses may lead to the inability to experience the joy of nursing and ultimately to burnout. Art in all its forms provides a mechanism to cope with life's challenges and to create an atmosphere of healing.
Epilepsy and Media: Implications for Those Whose Role Is to Educate
Authors: Weatherby-Fell Noelene 
Published: August 2011

A diagnosis of epilepsy is all encompassing. It affects the ability of the individual to be recognized and be considered worthy as a member of society. The continued use of the labels of “disease” and “handicap” evidences the reality of stigma and discrimination that still endures. Resilience is evident in the coping strategies of these individuals daily.Despite concerted campaigns designed to inform and change the attitudes of society, many children are misunderstood and handled inappropriately. Studies today confirm that up to 30% of teachers in some countries still associate epilepsy with insanity. For many, the concept of fear leads to prejudice that flows on to stigma and discrimination. This situation cannot be sustained in contemporary times.Where can we, as a society and a community of learners of knowledge, unlearn the attitudes and behaviors that disable those who are disempowered by virtue of a diagnosis, and then learn to accept and appreciate those with diverse abilities? The answer may be found in our schools—the places long understood and accepted to be venues for learning, for academic knowledge, and for the preparation of the young to take their place as citizens in our world.Teachers are increasingly viewed to be leaders, with accrediting and registering bodies setting their expectations through explicit professional teaching standards. It is vital that teacher preparation both empowers and enables a positive difference, and impacts on the injustices that occur as a result of miscommunication and ignorance.Using a critical social research methodology, this article outlines how a review and interrogation of particular instances, educational policy, critical history, and the media portrayal of epilepsy has informed recommendations for educational policy, teacher education and teacher action, educational curriculum, and the need for broader education and understanding in society.