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Accessibility
Kinds of Accessibility Selected AbstractsEFFECTS OF ATTRACTIVENESS, OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESSIBILITY TO BURGLARS ON RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY RATES OF URBAN NEIGHBORHOODSCRIMINOLOGY, Issue 3 2003WIM BERNASCO This study assesses the effects of attractiveness, opportunity and accessibility to burglars on the residential burglary rates of urban neighborhoods, combining two complementary lines of investigation that have been following separate tracks in the literature. As a complement to standard measures of attractiveness and opportunity, we introduce and specify a spatial measure of the accessibility of neighborhoods to burglars. Using data on about 25, 000 attempted and completed residential burglaries committed in the period 1996,2001 in the city of The Hague, the Netherlands, we study the variation in burglary rates across its 89 residential neighborhoods. Our results suggest that all three factors, attractiveness, opportunity and accessibility to burglars, pull burglars to their target neighborhoods. [source] Changes in chromatin structure and methylation of the human interleukin-1, gene during monopoiesisIMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Inga Wessels Summary Interleukin-1, (IL-1,) induces the expression of a variety of proteins responsible for acute inflammation and chronic inflammatory diseases. However, the molecular regulation of IL-1, expression in myeloid differentiation has not been elucidated. In this study the chromatin structure of the IL-1, promoter and the impact of methylation on IL-1, expression in monocytic development were examined. The results revealed that the IL-1, promoter was inaccessible in undifferentiated promyeloid HL-60 cells but highly accessible in differentiated monocytic cells which additionally acquired the ability to produce IL-1,. Accessibilities of differentiated cells were comparable to those of primary monocytes. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation did not affect promoter accessibility in promyeloid and monocytic HL-60 cells, demonstrating that the chromatin remodelling of the IL-1, promoter depends on differentiation and not on the transcriptional status of the cell. Demethylation via 5-aza-2,-deoxycytodine led to the induction of IL-1, expression in undifferentiated and differentiated cells, which could be increased after LPS stimulation. Our data indicate that the IL-1, promoter is reorganized into an open poised conformation during monopoiesis being a privilege of mature monocytes but not of the entire myeloid lineage. As a second mechanism, IL-1, expression is regulated by methylation acting independently of the developmental stage of myeloid cells. [source] SVG Linearization and AccessibilityCOMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 4 2002Ivan Herman Abstract The usage of SVG (Scaleable Vector Graphics) creates new possibilities as well as new challenges for theaccessibility of Web sites. This paper presents a metadata vocabulary to describe the information content ofan SVG file geared towards accessibility. When used with a suitable tool, this metadata description can helpin generating a textual ("linear") version of the content, which can be used for users with disabilities or withnon-visual devices. Although this paper concentrates on SVG, i.e. on graphics on the Web, the metadata approach and vocabularypresented below can be applied in relation to other technologies, too. Indeed, accessibility issues have a muchwider significance, and have an effect on areas like CAD, cartography, or information visualization. Hence, theexperiences of the work presented below may also be useful for practitioners in other areas. ACM CSS: I.3.4 Graphics Utilities,Graphics Packages, I.3.6 Methodology and Techniques,Graphics datastructures and data types, Standards, K.4.2 Social Issues,Assistive technologies for persons with disabilities [source] Extent of Nontimber Resource Extraction in Tropical Forests: Accessibility to Game Vertebrates by Hunters in the Amazon BasinCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2003Carlos A. Peres We conducted a basin-wide geographic information system analysis of the nonmotorized accessibility of Amazonian NTFP extraction and estimated the proportion of the Amazon drainage basin within Brazil ( 3.74 million km 2 ) that can be accessed on foot from the nearest navigable river or functional road. We use a long-term series of standardized line-transect vertebrate censuses conducted throughout the region to illustrate the effects of physical accessibility on wildlife densities in terms of hunting pressure as a function of distance from the nearest point of access. Population abundance in large-bodied, prime-target species preferred by game hunters tended to increase at greater distances from the access matrix, whereas small-bodied species ignored by hunters usually showed the reverse trend. In addition, we estimated the proportion of presumably inviolate core areas within nature, extractive, and indigenous reserves of Brazilian Amazonia that are prohibitively remote and unlikely to be overhunted; for instance, only 1.16% of the basin-wide area is strictly protected on paper and is reasonably safe from extractive activities targeted to game vertebrates and other valuable NTFPs. Finally, we discuss the concept of truly undisturbed wildlands in the last major tropical forest regions by distinguishing potentially overharvested areas from those that remain largely or entirely pristine and that maintain viable populations of a full complement of harvest-sensitive species. Resumen: Las actividades de extracción enfocadas en un amplio rango de productos forestales no maderables ( NTFPs ) son omnipresentes en los bosques tropicales. Sin embargo, la extensión de bosques estructuralmente intactos en una determinada región afectada por esta forma de perturbación críptica ha sido escasamente documentada. Realizamos un análisis GIS del acceso no motorizado para la extracción NTFP en el Amazonas y estimamos la proporción de la desembocadura de la cuenca amazónica ( ,3.74 millones de km2 ) a la cual se puede acceder a pie a partir del río navegable o la carretera funcional más cercana. Utilizamos series de censos de vertebrados a largo plazo empleando transectos en línea estandarizados a lo largo de la región para ejemplificar los efectos del acceso físico sobre las densidades de vida silvestre en términos de presión de caza como función de la distancia al punto de acceso más cercano. La abundancia poblacional de especies de cuerpo grande que son blancos preferidos por los cazadores tendió a crecer a mayores distancias de la matriz de acceso, mientras que las especies de cuerpo pequeño ignoradas por los cazadores generalmente muestran la tendencia inversa. Además, estimamos la proporción de áreas medulares presuntamente inviolables dentro de las reservas naturales, extractivas e indígenas del Amazonas brasileño que son prohibitivamente remotas y poco probables de ser sobreexplotadas: por ejemplo, solo el 1.16% del área de la cuenca estrictamente proyectada en papel está razonablemente a salvo de las actividades extractivas de los vertebrados de caza y otras NTFPs valiosas. Finalmente, discutimos el concepto de tierras silvestres verdaderamente no perturbadas en las grandes regiones de bosque tropical restantes diferenciando las áreas potencialmente sobreexplotadas de aquellas que son en su mayor parte o totalmente prístinas y que mantienen poblaciones viables de un complemento total de especies sensibles a la cosecha. [source] Resource Accessibility and Vulnerability in Andhra Pradesh: Caste and Non-Caste InfluencesDEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE, Issue 4 2007Lee Bosher ABSTRACT Coastal Andhra Pradesh in southern India is prone to tropical cyclones. Access to key resources can reduce the vulnerability of the local population to both large-scale disasters, such as cyclones, and to the sort of small-scale crises that affect their everyday lives. This article uses primary fieldwork to present a resource accessibility vulnerability index for over 300 respondents. The index indicates that caste is the key factor in determining who has assets, who can access public facilities, who has political connections and who has supportive social networks. The ,lower' castes (which tend to be the poorest) are marginalized to the extent that they lack access to assets, public facilities and opportunities to improve their plight. However, the research also indicates that the poor and powerless lower castes are able to utilize informal social networks to bolster their resilience, typically by women's participation with CBOs and NGOs. Nevertheless it is doubtful whether this extra social capital counterbalances the overall results which show that , despite decades of counteractions by government , caste remains a dominant variable affecting the vulnerability of the people of coastal Andhra Pradesh to the hazards that they face. [source] ,Seek and ye shall find': antecedents of assimilation and contrast in social comparisonEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 5 2001Thomas Mussweiler Based on a Selective Accessibility (SA) model of comparison consequences, it is suggested that the self-evaluative effects of social comparisons depend on the nature of the hypothesis that is tested as a starting-point of the comparison process. If judges test the hypothesis that they are similar to the standard, then standard-consistent self-knowledge is rendered accessible so that self-evaluations are assimilated towards the standard. If judges test the hypothesis that they are dissimilar from the standard, however, standard-inconsistent self-knowledge is made accessible so that self-evaluations are contrasted away from the standard. These predictions are tested by inducing participants to test for similarity versus dissimilarity to the standard via a procedural priming manipulation. Consistent with the SA model, assimilation occurs if participants are procedurally primed to focus on similarities to the standard, whereas contrast results if they are primed to focus on dissimilarities. These findings suggest that similarity versus dissimilarity testing is a crucial determinant of assimilation versus contrast. It is proposed that distinguishing between these two alternative hypotheses may provide an integrative framework for an understanding of the self-evaluative consequences of social comparisons. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Accessibility and equity of health and social care services: exploring the views and experiences of Bangladeshi carers in South Wales, UKHEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 3 2006HV Tut Cert, Joy Merrell BSc (Hons) Abstract There is a paucity of information regarding the extent and nature of caring provided by minority ethnic communities. The proportion of older people from these communities will dramatically increase in the next 20 years, which will be accompanied by increasing health and social care needs and an increased demand for carers. A qualitative, exploratory study was conducted to identify the health and social care needs of informal carers, who were caring for a dependent adult from a Bangladeshi community in South Wales, UK. This paper focuses on Bangladeshi carers' access to formal support services provided by the statutory, private and voluntary sectors to assist them with their caring responsibilities. The findings are based on data collected using face-to-face, focused interviews with 20 Bangladeshi carers. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit the sample. The data were analysed using thematic content analysis. The dimensions of accessibility and equity of quality of care were drawn upon to aid understanding of the findings. Bangladeshi carers faced a number of barriers in accessing health and social service provision, which impeded uptake of these services. Additionally, there was evidence of inequity in service provision. Recommendations for improving the accessibility of health and social care services are proposed, which may assist in promoting more equitable services for carers from the Bangladeshi community. [source] Accessibility, continuity and appropriateness: key elements in assessing integration of perinatal servicesHEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 5 2003Danielle D'Amour RN PhD Abstract A trend toward the reduction in the length of hospital stays has been widely observed. This increasing shift is particularly evident in perinatal care. A stay of less than 48 hours after delivery has been shown to have no negative effects on the health of either the mother or the baby as long as they receive an adequate follow-up. This implies a close integration between hospital and community health services. The present article addresses the following questions: To what extent are postnatal services accessible to mothers and neonates? Are postnatal services in the community in continuity with those of the hospital? Are the services provided by the appropriate source of care? The authors conducted a telephone survey among 1158 mothers in a large urban area in the province of Quebec, Canada. The results were compared to clinical guidelines widely recognised by professionals. The results show serious discrepancies with these guidelines. The authors found a low accessibility to services: less than half of the mothers received a home visit by a nurse. In terms of continuity of care, less than 10% of the mothers received a follow-up telephone call within the recommended time frame and only 18% benefited from a home visit within the recommended period. Finally, despite guidelines to the contrary, hospitals continue to intervene after discharge. This results in a duplication of services for 44.7% of the new-borns. On the other hand, 40.7% are not seen in the recommended period after hospital discharge at all. These results raise concerns about the integration of services between agencies. Following earlier work, the present authors have grouped explanatory factors under four dimensions: the strategic dimension, particularly leadership; the structural dimension, including the size of the network; the technological dimension, with respect to information transmission system; and the cultural dimension, which concerns the collaboration process and the development of relationships based on trust. [source] Accessibility of Addiction Treatment: Results from a National Survey of Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment OrganizationsHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 3 2003Peter D. Friedmann Objectives This study examined organization-level characteristics associated with the accessibility of outpatient addiction treatment. Methods Program directors and clinical supervisors from a nationally representative panel of outpatient substance abuse treatment units in the United States were surveyed in 1990, 1995, and 2000. Accessibility was measured from clinical supervisors' reports of whether the treatment organization provided "treatment on demand" (an average wait time of 48 hours or less for treatment entry), and of whether the program turned away any patients. Results In multivariable logistic models, provision of "treatment on demand" increased two-fold from 1990 to 2000 (OR, 1.95; 95 percent CI, 1.5 to 2.6), while reports of turning patients away decreased nonsignificantly. Private for-profit units were twice as likely to provide "treatment on demand" (OR, 2.2; 95 percent CI, 1.3 to 3.6), but seven times more likely to turn patients away (OR, 7.4; 95 percent CI, 3.2 to 17.5) than public programs. Conversely, units that served more indigent populations were less likely to provide "treatment on demand" or to turn patients away. Methadone maintenance programs were also less likely to offer "treatment on demand" (OR, .65; 95 percent CI, .42 to .99), but more likely to turn patients away (OR, 2.4; 95 percent CI, 1.4 to 4.3). Conclusions Although the provision of timely addiction treatment appears to have increased throughout the 1990s, accessibility problems persist in programs that care for indigent patients and in methadone maintenance programs. [source] Accessibility and attitudinal barriers encountered by Chinese travellers with physical disabilitiesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, Issue 3 2007Yuhua Bi Abstract The China travel industry is growing rapidly and is expected to grow even more in the next 15 years. Another segment of the population that is increasing is individuals with physical disabilities. China has enacted several laws to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and to make travel more accessible. Although individuals with physical disabilities travel less than those without disabilities, the potential market is expanding. If travellers with physical disabilities encounter few barriers during their travels, they may travel even more in the future. This study examined four tourism industry sectors in China in terms of the accessibility and attitudinal barriers that participants with physical disabilities encountered. The four sectors were transportation, accommodations, eating,drinking establishments and attractions. Furthermore, comparisons were conducted on the participants' functioning level, income and types of mobility assistive devices they used. Results suggested that participants' functioning level was an appropriate indicator of the amount of barriers they encountered while travelling. Conversely, the amount of barriers encountered by the participants was not predicated by their income or the type of devices they used. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Effects of Charismatic Leadership on Followers' Self-Concept AccessibilityJOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 9 2001Jim Paul Shamir, House, and Arthur (1993) suggested that the effects of charismatic leadership on followers' motivation are mediated by the increased salience of collective identities in followers' self-concepts. This study empirically examines the effects of leadership messages on followers' self-concept accessibilities. Charismatic and integrative (combined charismatic and individualized consideration) leadership increased the accessibility of followers' collective self-concepts. Individualized consideration increased the accessibility of followers' private self-concepts. These results support the propositions of the self-concept-based theory of charismatic leadership. Charismatic and integrative leadership messages from a leader resulted in higher follower collective self-concept accessibilities than did routinized messages. This finding underscores the importance of a charismatic leader, even when charismatic messages have become routinized. [source] Effect of Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes on In Vitro Carotene Accessibility in Lactic Acid Fermented Carrot BeverageJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 2 2004V. Díaz ABSTRACT: Carrot purées with different particle size were prepared from fresh carrots using 2 different food processors. The purées were fermented with lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum) with and without addition of cell wall degrading enzymes (Pectinex® Ultra SP-L and CellubrixTM L). The bioaccessibility of carotenes was estimated using an in vitro digestion method. In carrots processed to a particle size <1.5 mm, the in vitro ,-carotene accessibility was 46% and neither fermentation nor addition of cell wall-degrading enzymes had any further effect on the in vitro accessibility. In carrot purées with a coarser particle size, the in vitro ,-carotene accessibility was 18%; that significantly increased by adding high amounts of cellulases or pectinases or a combination of the enzymes either in low or high amounts. The improved accessibility was correlated with reduced particle size of the carrot purée. [source] Psychosocial Stages and the Accessibility of Autobiographical Memories Across the Life CycleJOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 3 2004Martin A. Conway Memories were classified in terms of the psychosocial stages to which their content corresponded. For the majority of memories it was found that age at encoding corresponded to when specific psychosocial stages would have been most likely to have occurred. In a second experiment older adults recalled memories to cues drawn from psychosocial stages and the same pattern of findings was observed. These findings demonstrate that the goals of the self play a major role in both the encoding and accessibility of autobiographical memories, and they also provide support for Erikson's psychosocial theory of development (1950, 1997). [source] Paradoxical Effects of Alcohol Information on Alcohol Outcome ExpectanciesALCOHOLISM, Issue 7 2010Marvin D. Krank Background:, Cognitive associations with alcohol predict both current and future use in youth and young adults. Much cognitive and social cognitive research suggests that exposure to information may have unconscious influences on thinking and behavior. The present study assessed the impact of information statements on the accessibility of alcohol outcome expectancies. Methods:, The 2 studies reported here investigated the effects of exposure to alcohol statements typical of informational approaches to prevention on the accessibility of alcohol outcome expectancies. High school and university students were presented with information statements about the effects of alcohol and other commercial products. The alcohol statements were taken from expectancy questionnaires. Some of these statements were presented as facts and others as myths. The retention of detailed information about these statements was manipulated by (i) divided attention versus focused attention or (ii) immediate versus delayed testing. Accessibility of personal alcohol outcome expectancies was subsequently measured using an open-ended question about the expected effects of alcohol. Results:, Participants reported more alcohol outcomes seen during the information task as personal expectations about the effects of alcohol use than similar unseen items. Paradoxically, myth statements were also more likely to be reported as expectancies than unseen items in all conditions. Additionally, myth statements were generated less often than fact statements only under the condition of immediate testing with strong content processing instructions. Conclusions:, These observations are consistent with findings from cognitive research where familiarity in the absence of explicit memory can have an unconscious influence on performance. In particular, the exposure to these items in an informational format increases accessibility of the seen items even when the participants were told that they were myths. The findings have implications for the development of effective prevention materials. [source] Accessibility for parents of weight management information on the InternetNUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 2 2006Amal OWAIMRIN Abstract Objective:, The aim of the present study was to describe the accessibility, quality and readability of web base content on the Internet for childhood obesity management from a parental viewpoint. As more than 25% of Australian children are overweight or obese, it is likely that parents access the Internet for advice on obesity management for their child. Design:, Links to websites were generated using three search engines and three phrases. The first 10 website links were selected from each of nine searches. Ten aspects of obesity management were identified for the analysis of childhood obesity and related websites. The Fry readability graph was used to assess content readability. Data analysis:, The data were analysed using spss Version 10, Minitab and Microsoft Excel 2000. anova was used to compare clinical criteria between website type. Results:, A total of 90 links were generated with 60 relevant for analysis. In total, 30 were specific to childhood obesity and 47 websites were either obesity-specific or weight-related. Childhood obesity websites were community-based or commercial. Most websites relevant to childhood obesity management came at no cost, in comparison with general weight-related sites. Childhood obesity websites scored generally high on accuracy of content. Overall, website readability was at an undergraduate level. Conclusions:, There appears to be a paucity of accessible information on the Internet related to childhood weight management, which parents could access. Childhood obesity management websites should ideally include clinically approved management guidelines and follow e-health codes of ethical practice. [source] A pilot study of the activity patterns of five elderly persons after a housing adaptationOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2006Bernt Niva Abstract The importance of an accessible home environment for occupational performance has been emphasized in occupational therapy, but knowledge about how accessibility can affect a person's activity patterns is limited. The purpose of this study was to describe the activity patterns of five elderly persons aged between 70 and 84 years and their views about accessibility and usability of their homes before and after a housing adaptation. Two different questionnaires, ,Accessibility in My Home' and the ,Occupational Questionnaire' were used for data collection. Adaptations in the home included: removing thresholds, installing new taps in the bathroom and kitchen and broadening doorways. After the adaptations the five participants reported that they increased their outside activities, reduced naps during the day and slept better at night. The results showed that the participants performed more and new activities when their home environment had become accessible. Activities performed were also perceived as more important after the housing adaptation. There is a need to replicate the study with a larger sample. Further research is needed on the impact of home adaptations on the activity patterns of elderly people. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons. Ltd [source] Changes in accessibility and usability in housing: an exploration of the housing adaptation processOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2005Agneta Fänge Abstract The purpose of a housing adaptation is to enhance daily activities and to improve housing accessibility and usability by removing physical barriers in the home. The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinal changes in housing accessibility among clients receiving grants for housing adaptations. Baseline assessments were administered one month before the housing adaptation, with the first follow-up after two to three months, and the second follow-up after eight to nine months. The Housing Enabler and the Usability in My Home instruments were used to collect data from 131 consecutively enrolled clients living in general housing. Accessibility and usability improved significantly, the number of physical environmental barriers decreased and dependence on mobility devices increased, but at different times along the process. The results indicate the complexity of the housing adaptation process and the need to consider person,environment interactions over time. The methodology seems useful for quality development of assessment, intervention and evaluation processes in housing adaptations performed by occupational therapists. Copyright © 2005 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Time distances and labor market integrationPAPERS IN REGIONAL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2002Börje Johansson Accessibility; regional labor markets; commuting Abstract This article investigates how time distances within and between municipalities determine the spatial extent of local and regional labor markets. As time distances change, the extent of the labor market will also change. Diminishing time distances will bring about increases in labor market size by integrating formerly spatially separate markets. We analyze such processes using accessibility measures derived from a random choice preference function approach. Accessibility is measured in terms of number of jobs, labor supply and supply of service functions. The aim of the work is to illustrate the usefulness of the purpose-specific accessibility measure we introduce. [source] Computer Algebra Algorithms for Control Related Tests of Implicit Dynamic SystemsPROCEEDINGS IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS & MECHANICS, Issue 1 2003Kurt Schlacher This contribution is focused on control related tests for implicit dynamic systems, like accessibility, observability or input to output, input to state linearizability. Since the performance of these tests needs tedious symbolic calculations, computer algebra systems are the ideal tool to cope with this problem. Accessibility and observability are exemplarily used to present a new approach based on Lie groups. It is shown that non accessible or non observable systems admit Lie-groups acting on their solutions such that distinguished parts remain unchanged. This fact allows us to apply this technique, as well as its realization by computer algebra algorithm, to several fundamental problems in control. [source] Arab American Adolescent Perceptions and Experiences with SmokingPUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 3 2003Anahid Kulwicki R.N., D.N.S. Abstract The purpose of this pilot study was to gather information on Arab American adolescent tobacco use behavior. This information was used to modify the Project Toward No Tobacco Use cessation program so that it would reflect the cultural values of Arab American youths. Focus group interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data from 28 Arab American adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18 years. The number of participants in the focus groups ranged from three to eight; four sessions were conducted. A moderator, fluent in Arabic and English, facilitated the group's interactions. Each group addressed five interview questions. Discussions were audiotaped and transcribed with the expressed permission of study participants. Qualitative analysis consisted of careful reading of the transcripts and of the field notes for the purpose of identifying recurring themes around tobacco use. Those that emerged were Being Cool; Being able to "Nshar ma'a al shabab" (hang out with the guys); Present Orientation; Smoking feels good, tastes good, and keeps your mind off trouble; Availability and Accessibility of tobacco; and Barriers to Smoking Cessation Programs. The results of the focus group discussions provided valuable information about the tobacco use perceptions and behaviors of Arab American adolescents and the youths' need for a culturally relevant smoking cessation program. [source] The Impact of Blue Cross Conversions on Accessibility, Affordability, and the Public InterestTHE MILBANK QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2003MARK A. HALL For-profit organization in health care delivery has been a major public policy issue least since at least the 1980s, driven by the growth of for-profit hospital chains and a wave of conversions by nonprofit hospitals. As significant as these events have been, however, they pale in comparison with the potential impact of conversions by Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield plans (which we refer to generically as Blue Cross, abbreviated BC). Because Blue Cross plans are the largest health insurer in almost every state (or substate region where they operate), these conversions could remake the corporate landscape of health care finance. Although BC plans no longer hold the overwhelming market share they enjoyed 50 years ago (when they commanded more than two-thirds of the commercial market; see Blackstone and Fuhr 1998), their share still is considerable. Blue Cross controls at least half the individual market in 33 states and more than a third of the group market in 29 states (Chollet, Kirk, and Chow 2000; McCann 2003). [source] Accessibility of simple gases in disordered carbons: theory and simulationASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 5 2009T. X. Nguyen Abstract We present a review of our recent studies on the accessibility of simple gases (Ar, N2, CH4 and CO2) in disordered microporous carbons using transition state theory (TST) and molecular simulation techniques. A realistic carbon model rather than the slit-pore approximation is utilised, providing more accurate understanding of complex adsorption equilibrium and dynamics behaviour at the molecular level in porous carbons, especially kinetic restriction of adsorbate molecules through highly constricted pore mouths of coals and molecular sieve carbons (MSC). This kinetic restriction leads to a molecular sieving effect which plays a vital role in gas separation using the MSCs. In particular, the realistic carbon model of a saccharose char used in a recent study was obtained by hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulation. The time of adsorption or desorption of the single gas molecule between two neighbouring pores through a highly constricted window of the realistic saccharose char model was determined using TST. Finally, the validation of TST calculated results of adsorption and desorption times against experimental measurements as well as molecular dynamics simulation is also presented in this article. Copyright © 2009 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Water Accessibility to the Binding Cleft as a Major Switching Factor from Entropy-Driven to Enthalpy-Driven Binding of an Alkyl Group by Synthetic ReceptorsCHEMISTRY - AN ASIAN JOURNAL, Issue 5 2010Sayaka Matsumoto Abstract Free energy, enthalpy, and entropy changes in the binding of alkyl pyridines to water-soluble zinc porphyrin receptors with varying accessibility of water to the binding cleft were determined to explain why the driving force of hydrophobic effects is enthalpic in some occasions and entropic in others. Zinc porphyrins bearing four alkyl pillars with terminal solubilizing poly(oxyethylene) (POE) chains of molecular weight of 750 (1), with eight alkyl pillars with terminal solubilizing POE chains of molecular weight of 350 (3), and with eight alkyl pillars with POE of molecular weight of 750 (4) had a binding cleft with decreasing water accessibility in this order as revealed by binding selectivity of imidazole/pyridine. Although all these porphyrins showed that the free energy of binding (,,Go) increases linearly as the alkyl group of the guest is lengthened (,,Go per CH2 was 2.6, 2.8, and 2.6,kJ,mol,1 for 1, 3, and 4, respectively), the origin of the free energy gain was much different. Receptor 1 with the most hydrophilic binding site bound the alkyl group by an enthalpic driving force (4-pentylpyridine favored over 4-methylpyridine by ,,Ho=,16.4,kJ,mol,1), while receptor 4 with the most hydrophobic binding site by an entropic driving force (4-pentylpyridine favored over 4-methylpyridine by ,,So=39.6,J,K,1,mol,1). Receptor 3 showed intermediate behavior: both enthalpic and entropic terms drove the binding of the alkyl group with the enthalpic driving force being dominant. The binding site of the four-pillared receptor (1) is open and accessible to water molecules, and is more hydrophilic than that of the eight-pillared receptor (4). We propose that the alkyl chains of 1 are exposed to water to produce a room to accommodate the guest to result in enthalpy-driven hydrophobic binding, whereas 4 can accommodate the guest without such structural changes to lead to entropy-driven hydrophobic binding. Therefore, accessibility of water or exposure of the binding site to the water phase switches the driving force of hydrophobic effects from an entropic force to an enthalpic force. [source] Accessibility of causal explanations for future positive and negative events in adolescents with anxiety and depressionCLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY (AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THEORY & PRACTICE), Issue 3 2004Lisa J. Kagan Anxious and depressed adults' pessimism about future events has been shown to be underpinned by their ability to think of reasons why future events would or would not happen (see, e.g., Byrne and MacLeod, 1997). This study sought to extend this finding to adolescents by investigating the accessibility of explanations given for future events in adolescents with elevated anxiety and depression scores. A school sample of 11,17 year olds (N = 123) participated. Participants completed self-report measures of anxiety, depression and positive and negative affect. In addition they were given a set of potential future positive and negative events and asked to provide reasons as to why the events would (pro reasons) or would not (con reasons) happen. Anxious participants, relative to controls, generated significantly more pro relative to con reasons for negative events happening and showed a non-significant trend towards the opposite pattern for positive events. Depressed participants showed clear differences from controls in their pattern of accessible explanations for both negative events and positive events. Correlational analysis showed that positive and negative affect had differential relationships to positive and negative cognitions concerning future outcomes. The results suggest that the processes that underlie pessimism in depressed and anxious adults also operate in relatively depressed and anxious adolescents.,Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Effects of Charismatic Leadership on Followers' Self-Concept AccessibilityJOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 9 2001Jim Paul Shamir, House, and Arthur (1993) suggested that the effects of charismatic leadership on followers' motivation are mediated by the increased salience of collective identities in followers' self-concepts. This study empirically examines the effects of leadership messages on followers' self-concept accessibilities. Charismatic and integrative (combined charismatic and individualized consideration) leadership increased the accessibility of followers' collective self-concepts. Individualized consideration increased the accessibility of followers' private self-concepts. These results support the propositions of the self-concept-based theory of charismatic leadership. Charismatic and integrative leadership messages from a leader resulted in higher follower collective self-concept accessibilities than did routinized messages. This finding underscores the importance of a charismatic leader, even when charismatic messages have become routinized. [source] JTruss: A CAD-oriented educational open-source software for static analysis of truss-type structuresCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 4 2008Francesco Romeo Abstract A CAD-oriented software (JTruss) for the static analysis of planar and spatial truss-type structures is presented. Developed for educational purposes, JTruss is part of an open-source project and is characterised by complete accessibility (i.e. platform independent) and high software compatibility. CAD methodologies are employed to implement commands for handling graphic models. A student friendly graphical interface, tailored mainly for structural mechanics introductory courses in engineering and architecture programs, is conceived. Accordingly, the standard sequence involved in the software design, namely pre-processing, processing and post-processing, is implemented aiming to improve the structural behaviour interpretation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 16: 280,288, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20150 [source] Multiresolution Random Accessible Mesh CompressionCOMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 3 2006Junho Kim This paper presents a novel approach for mesh compression, which we call multiresolution random accessible mesh compression. In contrast to previous mesh compression techniques, the approach enables us to progressively decompress an arbitrary portion of a mesh without decoding other non-interesting parts. This simultaneous support of random accessibility and progressiveness is accomplished by adapting selective refinement of a multiresolution mesh to the mesh compression domain. We present a theoretical analysis of our connectivity coding scheme and provide several experimental results. The performance of our coder is about 11 bits for connectivity and 21 bits for geometry with 12-bit quantization, which can be considered reasonably good under the constraint that no fixed neighborhood information can be used for coding to support decompression in a random order. Categories and Subject Descriptors (according to ACM CCS): I.3.5 [Computer Graphics]: Computational Geometry and Object Modeling [source] SVG Linearization and AccessibilityCOMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 4 2002Ivan Herman Abstract The usage of SVG (Scaleable Vector Graphics) creates new possibilities as well as new challenges for theaccessibility of Web sites. This paper presents a metadata vocabulary to describe the information content ofan SVG file geared towards accessibility. When used with a suitable tool, this metadata description can helpin generating a textual ("linear") version of the content, which can be used for users with disabilities or withnon-visual devices. Although this paper concentrates on SVG, i.e. on graphics on the Web, the metadata approach and vocabularypresented below can be applied in relation to other technologies, too. Indeed, accessibility issues have a muchwider significance, and have an effect on areas like CAD, cartography, or information visualization. Hence, theexperiences of the work presented below may also be useful for practitioners in other areas. ACM CSS: I.3.4 Graphics Utilities,Graphics Packages, I.3.6 Methodology and Techniques,Graphics datastructures and data types, Standards, K.4.2 Social Issues,Assistive technologies for persons with disabilities [source] Social Infrastructure Planning: A Location Model and Solution MethodsCOMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 8 2007João F. Bigotte Authorities want to determine where to locate the facilities of a social infrastructure network and what should be the capacity of these facilities. Each user must be assigned to its closest facility and, to be economically viable, each facility must serve at least a pre-specified level of demand. The objective is to maximize the accessibility to facilities (i.e., to minimize the distance traveled by users to reach the facilities). A location model that captures the above features is formulated and different solution methods are tested. Among the methods tested, tabu search and a specialized local search heuristic provided the best solutions. The application of the model is illustrated through a case study involving the location of preschools in the municipality of Miranda do Corvo, Portugal. [source] Guidelines for Systematic Review in Conservation and Environmental ManagementCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006ANDREW S. PULLIN política de la conservación; práctica de la conservación; toma de decisiones; transferencia de conocimiento basado en evidencia Abstract:,An increasing number of applied disciplines are utilizing evidence-based frameworks to review and disseminate the effectiveness of management and policy interventions. The rationale is that increased accessibility of the best available evidence will provide a more efficient and less biased platform for decision making. We argue that there are significant benefits for conservation in using such a framework, but the scientific community needs to undertake and disseminate more systematic reviews before the full benefit can be realized. We devised a set of guidelines for undertaking formalized systematic review, based on a health services model. The guideline stages include planning and conducting a review, including protocol formation, search strategy, data inclusion, data extraction, and analysis. Review dissemination is addressed in terms of current developments and future plans for a Web-based open-access library. By the use of case studies we highlight critical modifications to guidelines for protocol formulation, data-quality assessment, data extraction, and data synthesis for conservation and environmental management. Ecological data presented significant but soluble challenges for the systematic review process, particularly in terms of the quantity, accessibility, and diverse quality of available data. In the field of conservation and environmental management there needs to be further engagement of scientists and practitioners to develop and take ownership of an evidence-based framework. Resumen:,Un mayor número de disciplinas está utilizando marcos de referencia basados en evidencias para revisar y diseminar la efectividad de las intervenciones de gestión y política. El fundamento es que la mayor accesibilidad de la evidencia mejor disponible proporcionará una plataforma de toma de decisiones menos sesgada y más eficiente. Argumentamos que hay beneficios significativos para la conservación al utilizar tal marco de referencia, pero la comunidad científica debe emprender y diseminar revisiones más sistemáticas antes de que se pueda comprender el beneficio completo. Diseñamos un conjunto de directrices para realizar revisiones sistemáticas formales, basado en un modelo de servicios de salud. Las etapas de las directrices incluyen la planificación y conducción de una revisión, incluyendo formación del protocolo, estrategias de búsqueda, inclusión de datos, extracción y análisis de datos. La diseminación de revisiones es abordada en términos del desarrollo actual y los planes futuros para una biblioteca de acceso abierto en la Web. Al utilizar estudios de caso resaltamos modificaciones críticas a las directrices para la formulación del protocolo, evaluación de la calidad de los datos, extracción de datos y síntesis de datos para la gestión ambiental y de conservación. Los datos ecológicos presentaron retos significativos, pero solucionables, para el proceso de revisión sistemática, particularmente en términos de la cantidad, accesibilidad y calidad de los datos disponibles. Se requiere un mayor compromiso de científicos y profesionales de la gestión ambiental y de conservación para desarrollar y apropiarse de un marco de referencia basado en evidencias. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||