Higher Average Levels Research Articles

Dynamic party unity: the US Congress in comparative perspective

Moises Ostrogorski once denounced political parties for burying diverse concerns of pluralistic societies under monolithic electoral options. E.E. Schattschneider celebrated them for the same reason: organizing choice and ‘responsible party government’ amid pluralistic complexity. Comparativists have found both dynamics in European legislatures: most European parties exhibit the high average levels of voting unity that Schattschneider’s theory implies, but also display rather Ostrogorskian cycles of discipline, stifling dissent on divisive issues at election time. We use comparativists’ tools to explore the dynamics and normative quality of party unity in the different terrain of the US Congress. We find similar cycles of unity in roll-call voting, but in the American context – with more loosely organized parties, especially historically but still today – Ostrogorskian stifling of dissent operates against a less Schattschneiderian background. In comparative perspective, Congressional parties muffle divisive issues more effectively than they deliver governance, with tenuous implications for representation.

Shear heating-induced strain localization across the scales

We investigate the dynamics of thermally activated shear localization in power law viscoelastic materials. A two-dimensional (2D) thermomechanical numerical model is applied that uses experimentally derived flow laws for rock. We consider viscous and viscoelastic rheologies and show that the numerical solutions for shear bands are mesh insensitive and energetically conservative. Deformation under long-term tectonic strain rates () yields to shear localization on the scale of kilometres. Although viscous and viscoelastic models exhibit comparable shear zone thickness, the timing of shear localization and stress magnitudes are affected by viscoelasticity. Large values of shear modulus ( Pa) promotes fast stress loading (within strain) and localization ( strain), whereas lower values ( Pa) delays localization ( strain) and reduces the maximum effective stress by a factor two. High stress exponents (up to ) focuses the deformation into narrow shear zones ( m) while maintaining a relatively high average stress level in the material outside the shear zone (stress drop of ). Conversely, Newtonian materials produce broad shear zones ( larger than for ) and exhibit a stronger thermal weakening (stress drops of ). Finally, we evaluate the thickness of shear zones for a wide range of strain rates (from to ) using both numerical models and an analytical scaling law. Our results suggest that thermally activated shear localization may occur from the scale of kilometre down to the nanometre.

A high-voltage, long-pulse generator based on magnetic pulse compressor and Blumlein-type rolled strip pulse forming line

AbstractIn this paper, a new technical scheme of high-voltage, long-pulse generator, mostly based on solid-state power devices, including magnetic pulse compressor, Blumlein-type rolled strip pulse-forming line (RSPFL) and inductive voltage adder (IVA), is proposed and investigated numerically and experimentally. The generator has potential advantages of high average power level, high repetitive rate capability, long lifetime, and long pulse achievability, which meet the requirements of military and industrial application of the pulsed power technology. Specifically, a two-stage magnetic pulse compressor was set up with iron-based amorphous cores. Total compression ratio of the device is approximately 12 and the achieved voltage efficiency is up to 92%. Low impedance, long-duration Blumlein-type RSPFL was established with characteristic impendence and electrical length of 3 Ω and 100 ns, respectively. Mylar film was selected as the solid-state dielectric. Increased by a four-stage IVA, typical quasi-square pulse was obtained with peak current of 2.3 kA and duration over 200 ns. As the resistance of the dummy load was measured to be 60 Ω, the peak voltage was approximately 138 kV. Experiments show reasonable agreement with numerical analysis.

Exploring point-of-care transformation in diabetic care: A quality improvement approach

Objective This quality improvement project evaluated the impact of a point-of-care (POC) HbA1c stat lab intervention and a nurse-assisted expanded visit implemented among patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2D) at a community health center in Houston, TX. Methods This was a before-and-after POC intervention among adult patients who received primary care services between 1 July 2014 and 31 December 2014 (baseline visit) and who had at least one 3-month follow-up visit. Results Three hundred eighty-seven patients were included in the study. The majority were 9%) at baseline, with the highest average levels among Hispanic (10.9%) and black (10.7%) patients. There was a significant difference in the HbA1c level before (mean=10.65, SD=1.9291) and after (mean=9.25, SD=1.8187) intervention. The absolute reduction in the level of HbA1c was 1.4% (t=12.834, p Conclusion There is a distinct advantage in using a stat HbA1c lab when combined with shared POC visits to assist patients with uncontrolled T2D in lowering the HbA1c, improving self-management, and reducing long-term costs.

Breeding for polledness in Holstein cattle

Currently almost all dairy cattle are dehorned as calf to avoid injuries later in life. A welfare friendly alternative to dehorning is to breed polled cattle. This paper explores the potential to breed for polledness in the Holstein breed, and investigates the genetic merit and relatedness of both polled and horned bulls. In 2009 there were 33 polled bulls available for artificial insemination (AI), two of them being homozygous for polledness. In 2014 more than 150 bulls were available, 31 of them being homozygous. Breeding values for the total merit index (NVI-Dutch Flemish Index) have increased considerably for polled bulls. In 2009 the difference in average Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) for NVI between polled bulls (available for AI) and the top 100 horned AI bulls was 180 points, equivalent to about 18 years of selection at that time. In 2014 the difference was reduced to 149 points, equivalent to about 5 years of (genomic) selection. Genomic selection has made an important contribution to this reduced difference between polled and horned bulls. Polled bulls in 2009 were more inbred (F=0.045) than horned bulls (F=0.037) but less related to cows born at Dutch farms in that year (r=0.070 vs. 0.089). Using optimal contributions and a combination of polled and horned bulls, a next generation of animals can be bred that combines a high genetic merit with a relatively low relatedness and higher frequency of polledness. However, homozygous polled bulls born in 2012–2014 had a relatively high average inbreeding level (F=0.079) and almost all originated from the same two polled founder bulls. This may form a potential risk for lethal alleles showing up with inbreeding. Overall, breeding high genetic merit polled Holstein cows has become a realistic perspective, but care must be taken to avoid high relatedness and inbreeding levels.

Submicron particle concentration and particle size distribution at urban and rural areas in the surroundings of building materials industries in central Spain

Particle number concentrations and size distribution of atmospheric aerosol particles were measured in the range 6560nm by a fast mobility particle sizer in Toledo, Spain, and in the outskirts of nearby small villages within the area of influence of a cement factory, quarries and ceramic industries. Several measurement campaigns have been carried out in different days in Toledo (April, May and July) and one campaign in “Comarca de la Sagra” in July. In each campaign, measurement of 10–15 min has been achieved in several different points. In addition, a campaign of continuous measurements has been carried out in Toledo. The average number concentration in Toledo are consistent with other urban measurements, with lower values during the night–time ranging from 3×103 to 1×104 particles/cm3 and higher average levels during daytime ranging from 5×103 to 4×104 particles/cm3 depending on the measurement site and date. The measurement sites show similar background profiles of the particle size distributions with two clear particle modes centered in the sizes ranges 10–15 and 40–50nm. Road traffic is postulated as the main source of submicron particles, giving lower level of particles during the summer time. Results from continuous measurements have been analyzed. On the other hand, the low total concentrations obtained in the “Comarca de la Sagra” campaign, ranging from 1.5×103 to 3.1×103 particles/cm3 with an average value of 2.3×103 particles/cm3, show a negligible influence of the different building materials industries on the total submicron particle concentration in the surrounding area and in Toledo.

The Effect of the Dispersion of Review Ratings on Evaluations of Hedonic Versus Utilitarian Products

ABSTRACTUsing the information-diagnosticity framework, this study demonstrates that when exposed to highly versus lowly dispersed ratings, consumers evaluate hedonic products more positively than they do utilitarian products. Three experiments offer evidence to support this prediction, by comparing music files and car navigation devices (Experiment 1), fiction books and driver’s license test preparation books (Experiment 2), and two smartphone apps, a comic book and a voice translator (Experiment 3). Compared to lowly dispersed ratings, highly dispersed ratings improve the evaluation of hedonic products by reducing the perceived uncertainty of how accurately one can predict decision outcomes in terms of achieving the decision goals. The proposed effect also emerges as more pronounced when the average ratings are high rather than low. This observation adds refinements to existing reference-dependent models by showing that the pursuit of hedonic goals reverses general preferences for low over high dispersions of ratings at high average levels. Overall, this study offers an explanation for the previously mixed findings on the effect of the dispersion of review ratings by focusing on the notion of preference heterogeneity, which underlies the difference between hedonic and utilitarian products.

Dual-mode supply modulator for CMOS envelope tracking power amplifier integrated circuit

A dual-mode supply modulator is presented for a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor envelope tracking power amplifier (PA) integrated circuit. The proposed supply modulator, based on a hybrid buck converter, has dual Class-AB buffers and dual switches for the linear and switching amplifiers, respectively. For high average output power levels [or high-power mode (HPM)], the supply modulator is controlled to have full sizes for both the buffer and switch to supply peak envelope voltage and high output current to the PA. The supply modulator is reconfigured to have smaller sized Class-AB buffer and switch for low average output power levels (or low-power mode). The smaller sized buffer and switch are used to reduce the quiescent current of the linear amplifier and to maintain high efficiency of the switching amplifier for a lightly loaded condition. For the 16-QAM LTE uplink signal with a channel bandwidth of 5 MHz, the PA with the proposed supply modulator delivered a power-added efficiency of 46.2% at an average output power of 24 dBm for a high power mode, which shows an improvement of 8.0% compared to the stand-alone PA. For a low power mode, the PA with a reconfigured supply modulator has a power-added efficiency of 12% at an output power of 9 dBm, which is a back-off of 15 dB. This is 1.6 and 7.2% higher than that using the supply modulator for the HPM and for the stand-alone PA at the same output power, respectively. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:1338–1343, 2015

Antineoplastic drug contamination in the urine of Canadian healthcare workers.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the urine concentration of non-metabolized cyclophosphamide (CP), a commonly administered antineoplastic drug, among potentially exposed Canadian healthcare workers and to identify factors associated with the drug concentration levels. Participants were asked to provide two sets of 24-h urine samples (at two different sampling events), and the level of CP was quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In addition to demographic information, participants were surveyed regarding their frequency of handling of antineoplastic drugs, safe drug handling training, and known contact with CP on their work shift. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed. A backward stepwise linear mixed effect model was conducted to identify the factors associated with urine concentration levels. We collected 201 urine samples, and 55 % (n = 111) had levels greater than the LOD of 0.05 ng/mL. The mean urinary CP concentration was 0.156 ng/mL, the geometric mean was 0.067 ng/mL, the geometric standard deviation was 3.18, the 75th percentile was 0.129 ng/mL, and the range was <LOD to 2.37 ng/mL. All eight job categories evaluated had some urinary concentrations in excess of the LOD with unit clerks having the highest average level. Workers who worked in the drug administration unit, but were not responsible for administering the drugs to patients, i.e., volunteers, oncologists, ward aides, and dieticians, had the largest proportion of samples exceeding the LOD. We did not find any correlation between the urinary concentration levels and known contact with CP during the work shift. Two factors were found to be significantly associated with urinary CP concentration: (1) Workers who had a duty to handle antineoplastic drugs had higher concentration levels, and (2) workers who had not received safe drug handling training had higher levels of CP in their urine compared with those who had. The presence of non-metabolized CP in urine confirms that, despite the existence of control measures, a broad range of healthcare workers are at risk of exposure to antineoplastic drugs. A review of the effectiveness of interventions to reduce exposure is warranted and should apply to all healthcare workers involved in some capacity with the hospital medication system. This study identified two factors that are related to the urine CP concentration levels which can serve as an impetus for reducing exposure.

Thermal model for nanosecond laser ablation of alumina

A thermal model based on heat-conduction equation and Hertz–Knudsen equation for vaporization has been employed to simulate nanosecond pulsed laser based ablation of alumina. Heat transfer in the laser irradiated target with allowance for phase transitions, provides estimates for temperature distribution within the target and material ejection rate via ablation. Good agreement between calculated and experimentally measured data on mass ablation rate per pulse and its dependence on incident laser fluence from 5 to 22J/cm2, validated our theoretical model. Observed deviation between calculated and experimentally measured ablation rates at high average laser fluence levels was explained by ablation induced progressive degradation of target surface. Absence of abrupt increase in ablation rate with increased laser fluence suggested material ejection largely via normal boiling rather than explosive boiling mechanism. Calculated maximum surface temperature of the target was found to lie well below empirically estimated thermodynamic critical temperature for alumina, corroborating our observations on absence of onset of explosive boiling in alumina target on laser irradiation. Our simulation study enables proper selection of laser fluence, successfully minimizing laser induced target damage, as well as, degradation of micro-structural and mechanical properties of alumina films deposited via pulsed laser ablation.

Increasing English Communicative Competence through Online English Conversation Blended e-Learning

 Abstract—In the field of increasing communicative competence in ESL (English as a Second Language) studies, practice with native speakers of English is ideal, but it is typically impractical for a variety of reasons in a University setting in Japan. However, for some commercial English conversation services have been used successfully by Japanese businesses in preparing staff for working in English speaking environments. This paper outlines the initial results of a university in Nagasaki making use of a similar service as part of an ESL course in a blended e-learning format. The course required students to make appointments with the service staff at times mutually convenient. The service consisted of one 25-minute lesson per one or two days. Initial observations by teaching staff noted increasingly high average levels of communicative competence in the pilot course students, and formal interviews confirmed this. Furthermore, resulting overall English grades were found to correlate closer to time spent conversing in English online than to student initial pre-course scores. A survey of the pilot course students was taken and the results are outlined in the paper. Student feedback uncovered a wide variety of problems ranging from lesson booking logistics, personal teacher preferences, and connection (Skype) problems; however, most comments were very positive regarding how they enjoyed speaking in this blended e-learning environment. Increased motivation and a sense of making progress in being able to communicate better and with increased confidence in English were also commonly cited.

A primer on counterparty valuation adjustments in South Africa

Counterparty valuation adjustment (CVA) risk accounts for losses due to the deterioration in credit quality of derivative counterparties with large credit spreads. Of the losses attributed to counterparty credit risk incurred during the financial crisis of 2008-9 were due to CVA risk; the remaining third were due to actual defaults. Regulatory authorities have acknowledged and included this risk in the new Basel III rules. The capital implications of CVA risk in the South African milieu are explored, as well as the sensitivity of CVA risk components to market variables. Proposed methodologies for calculating changes in CVA are found to be unstable and unreliable at high average spread levels.

Temporal variability in urinary levels of drinking water disinfection byproducts dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid among men

Urinary haloacetic acids (HAAs), such as dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) and trichloroacetic acid (TCAA), have been suggested as potential biomarkers of exposure to drinking water disinfection byproducts (DBPs). However, variable exposure to and the short elimination half-lives of these biomarkers can result in considerable variability in urinary measurements, leading to exposure misclassification. Here we examined the variability of DCAA and TCAA levels in the urine among eleven men who provided urine samples on 8 days over 3 months. The urinary concentrations of DCAA and TCAA were measured by gas chromatography coupled with electron capture detection. We calculated the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) to characterize the within-person and between-person variances and computed the sensitivity and specificity to assess how well single or multiple urine collections accurately determined personal 3-month average DCAA and TCAA levels. The within-person variance was much higher than the between-person variance for all three sample types (spot, first morning, and 24-h urine samples) for DCAA (ICC=0.08–0.37) and TCAA (ICC=0.09–0.23), regardless of the sampling interval. A single-spot urinary sample predicted high (top 33%) 3-month average DCAA and TCAA levels with high specificity (0.79 and 0.78, respectively) but relatively low sensitivity (0.47 and 0.50, respectively). Collecting two or three urine samples from each participant improved the classification. The poor reproducibility of the measured urinary DCAA and TCAA concentrations indicate that a single measurement may not accurately reflect individual long-term exposure. Collection of multiple urine samples from one person is an option for reducing exposure classification errors in studies exploring the effects of DBP exposure on reproductive health.

(In)equality in Education and Economic Development

This paper investigates the relationship between the level and the distribution of education and economic development. We contribute to the literature by introducing an interaction term between the education Gini coefficient and average years of schooling. In a dynamic panel over 55 years and 134 countries we provide, on the one hand, strong evidence that more schooling is good for growth, but the coefficient is variable and substantially declining in the degree of inequality. The aggregate benefit to education thus depends on a country's position in the education distribution. On the other hand, we find a slight transitional increase in education inequality to be beneficial at a very low average level of schooling, but detrimental for growth at a relatively high average level. Allowing for the macroeconomic return to education to be heterogeneous with respect to the degree of inequality is therefore paramount in understanding the relationship between education and development.

A study on (K, Na) NbO3 based multilayer piezoelectric ceramics micro speaker

A flat panel micro speaker was fabricated from (K, Na) NbO3 (KNN)-based multilayer piezoelectric ceramics by a tape casting and cofiring process using Ag-Pd alloys as an inner electrode. The interface between ceramic and electrode was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The acoustic response was characterized by a standard audio test system. We found that the micro speaker with dimensions of 23 × 27 × 0.6 mm3, using three layers of 30 μm thickness KNN-based ceramic, has a high average sound pressure level (SPL) of 87 dB, between 100 Hz–20 kHz under five voltage. This result was even better than that of lead zirconate titanate (PZT)-based ceramics under the same conditions. The experimental results show that the KNN-based multilayer ceramics could be used as lead free piezoelectric micro speakers.

Morpho‐physiological variation of Poa alpina L. genetic resources from the Rhaetian Alps, Italy, grown in two altitude‐contrasting sites

AbstractAlpine bluegrass (Poa alpina L.) is common in mountain areas, where it represents a valuable forage resource and is widely used for ecological restoration of disturbed landscapes. This study assessed the variation of germplasm from the Rhaetian Alps, Italy. Both seed production and morphology were examined for potential use in restoration projects and for conservation and selection purposes of local genetic resources. The effects of the ex situ growing site were also assessed in two altitude‐contrasting sites. Individual populations harboured great phenotypic diversity for all traits, including seed yield, while variation among valleys of origin was less manifest. Noticeable site‐specific population yield responses were observed, suggesting that the environment adopted for seed production may steer the choice of materials to be multiplied. The longer vegetative period in the lowland site, combined with environment‐tailored agronomic practices, contributed to better plant growth, seed yield and survival compared to the mountain site, suggesting that seed production of this Alpine species could be feasible in a lowland environment when adequate inputs were provided. One valley (Valchiavenna) displayed high average levels of seed yield and plant vigour across growing sites, indicating its possible value as a source of germplasm suitable for resowing at high altitude.

Cultural and Demographic Factors Influencing Noise Exposure Estimates From Use of Portable Listening Devices in an Urban Environment

This study examined listening levels and duration of portable listening devices (PLDs) used by people with diversity of ethnicity, education, music genre, and PLD manufacturer. The goal was to estimate participants' PLD noise exposure and identify factors influencing user behavior. This study measured listening levels of 160 adults in 2 New York City locations: (a) a quiet college campus and (b) Union Square, a busy interchange. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding demographics and PLD use. Ordinary least squares regression was used to explore the significance of demographic and behavioral factors. Average listening level was 94.1 dBA, with 99 of 160 (61.9%) and 92 of 159 (57.5%) exceeding daily (L A8hn) and weekly (L Awkn) recommended exposure limit, respectively. African American participants listened at the highest average levels (99.8 dBA). A majority of PLD users exceeded recommended exposure levels. Factors significant for higher exposure were ethnicity and age; factors not significantly associated with exposure were gender, education, location, awareness of possible association between PLD use and noise-induced hearing loss, mode of transportation, device manufacturer, and music genre. Efforts to effect behavior changes to lessen noise-induced hearing loss risk from PLD use should be sensitive to the cultural differences within the targeted population.

An investigation of the relationship between therapist characteristics and alliance in group therapy for individuals with treatment-resistant auditory hallucinations

Background: Alliance is a well-studied construct; however, little research has investigated predictors of alliance in a group context.Aims: This study investigates the relationship between therapist characteristics and group alliance in 65 individuals with schizophrenia receiving outpatient group therapy for treatment-resistant auditory hallucinations.Methods: Raters coded 120 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy or supportive therapy for therapist warmth and friendliness, therapist exploration and negative therapist attitude. Alliance was assessed at week six.Results: Higher average levels of therapist warmth and friendliness and lower average levels of negative therapist attitude in sessions one to five were associated with stronger alliance at week six at the trend level (p < 0.10). Therapist exploration did not predict alliance at week six. Higher negative therapist attitude at treatment engagement was associated with higher post-treatment symptom scores.Conclusions: Our results suggest that therapist attributes but not therapist techniques are associated with client’s perceptions of alliance and that negative therapist behaviors are associated with higher symptom levels at post-treatment. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.

Unravelling the complex structure of forest soil food webs: higher omnivory and more trophic levels

Food web topologies depict the community structure as distributions of feeding interactions across populations. Although the soil ecosystem provides important functions for aboveground ecosystems, data on complex soil food webs is notoriously scarce, most likely due to the difficulty of sampling and characterizing the system. To fill this gap we assembled the complex food webs of 48 forest soil communities. The food webs comprise 89 to 168 taxa and 729 to 3344 feeding interactions. The feeding links were established by combining several molecular methods (stable isotope, fatty acid and molecular gut content analyses) with feeding trials and literature data. First, we addressed whether soil food webs (n = 48) differ significantly from those of other ecosystem types (aquatic and terrestrial aboveground, n = 77) by comparing 22 food web parameters. We found that our soil food webs are characterized by many omnivorous and cannibalistic species, more trophic chains and intraguild‐predation motifs than other food webs and high average and maximum trophic levels. Despite this, we also found that soil food webs have a similar connectance as other ecosystems, but interestingly a higher link density and clustering coefficient. These differences in network structure to other ecosystem types may be a result of ecosystem specific constraints on hunting and feeding characteristics of the species that emerge as network parameters at the food‐web level. In a second analysis of land‐use effects, we found significant but only small differences of soil food web structure between different beech and coniferous forest types, which may be explained by generally strong selection effects of the soil that are independent of human land use. Overall, our study has unravelled some systematic structures of soil food‐webs, which extends our mechanistic understanding how environmental characteristics of the soil ecosystem determine patterns at the community level.

AB0347 Barriers to Achieving Controlled Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Uae

BackgroundAchieving a low DAS28 (disease activity score) of less than 3.2, is a common treatment goal for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). In clinics however, despite efforts, some patients still fail to...