The Effect of Sexual Abuse on Children's Attachment Representations in Chile.

Child sexual abuse is associated with problems in children's emotional development, particularly increased insecurity of attachment. However, few studies have examined its effect on the organization of attachment representations in preschoolers, and the findings of those that have been conducted have not been entirely consistent. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the effect of child sexual abuse on attachment representation quality in a sample of children 3 to 7 years old in Chile. The results indicate child sexual abuse does affect children's attachment representation quality. The attachment narratives of child sexual abuse victims scored significantly higher than nonvictims on the hyperactivity and disorganization dimensions of attachment. These results are discussed in terms of attachment theory, clinical findings on child sexual abuse, and clinical implications.

Averting risk in the face of large losses: Bernoulli vs. Tversky and Kahneman

We experimentally question the assertion of Prospect Theory that people display risk attraction in choices involving high-probability losses. Indeed, our experimental participants tend to avoid fair risks for large (up to ? 90), high-probability (80%) losses. Our research hinges on a novel experimental method designed to alleviate the house-money bias that pervades experiments with real (not hypothetical) loses.Our results vindicate Daniel Bernoulli?s view that risk aversion is the dominant attitude,But, contrary to the Bernoulli-inspired canonical expected utility theory, we do find frequent risk attraction for small amounts of money at stake.In any event, we attempt neither to test expected utility versus nonexpected utility theories, nor to contribute to the important literature that estimates value and weighting functions. The question that we ask is more basic, namely: do people display risk aversion when facing large losses, or large gains? And, at the risk of oversimplifying, our answer is yes.

India in Translation through Hindi Literature. A Plurality of Voices

What role have translations from Hindi literary works played in shaping and transforming our knowledge about India? In this book, renowned scholars, translators and Hindi writers from India, Europe, and the United States offer their approaches to this question. Their articles deal with the political, cultural, and linguistic criteria germane to the selection and translation of Hindi works, the nature of the enduring links between India and Europe, and the reception of translated texts, particularly through the perspective of book history. More personal essays, both on the writing process itself or on the practice of translation, complete the volume and highlight the plurality of voices that are inherent to any translation. As the outcome of an international symposium held at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2008, India in Translation through Hindi Literature engages in the building of critical histories of the encounter between India and the «West», the use and impact of translations in this context, and Hindi literature and culture in connection to English (post)colonial power, literature and culture.

Dissociation between components of spatial memory in rats after recovery from the effects of retrohippocampal lesions

A series of 4 experiments examined the performance of rats with retrohippocampal lesions on a spatial water-maze task. The animals were trained to find and escape onto a hidden platform after swimming in a large pool of opaque water. The platform was invisible and could not be located using olfactory cues. Successful escape performance required the rats to develop strategies of approaching the correct location with reference solely to distal extramaze cues. The lesions encompassed the entire rostro-caudal extent of the lateral and medial entorhinal cortex, and included parts of the pre- and para-subiculum, angular bundle and subiculum. Groups ECR 1 and 2 sustained only partial damage of the subiculum, while Group ECR+S sustained extensive damage. These groups were compared with sham-lesion and unoperated control groups. In Expt 1A, a profound deficit in spatial localisation was found in groups ECR 1 and ECR+S, the rats receiving all training postoperatively. In Expt 1B, these two groups showed hyperactivity in an open-field. In Expt 2, extensive preoperative training caused a transitory saving in performance of the spatial task by group ECR 2, but comparisons with the groups of Expt 1A revealed no sustained improvement, except on one measure of performance in a post-training transfer test. All rats were then given (Expt 3) training on a cueing procedure using a visible platform. The spatial deficit disappeared but, on returning to the normal hidden platform procedure, it reappeared. Nevertheless, a final transfer test, during which the platform was removed from the apparatus, revealed a dissociation between two independent measures of performance: the rats with ECR lesions failed to search for the hidden platform but repeatedly crossed its correct location accurately during traverses of the entire pool. This partial recovery of performance was not (Expt 4) associated with any ability to discriminate between two locations in the pool. The apparently selective recovery of aspects of spatial memory is discussed in relation to O'Keefe and Nadel's (1978) spatial mapping theory of hippocampal function. We propose a modification of the theory in terms of a dissociation between procedural and declarative subcomponents of spatial memory. The declarative component is a flexible access system in which information is stored in a form independent of action. It is permanently lost after the lesion. The procedural component is "unmasked" by the retrohippocampal lesion giving rise to the partial recovery of spatial localisation performance.

A partial ordering of knots and links through diagrammatic unknotting

In this paper we de. ne a partial ordering of knots and links using a special property derived from their minimal diagrams. A link K' is called a predecessor of a link K if Cr(K') < Cr(K) and a diagram of K' can be obtained from a minimal diagram D of K by a single crossing change. In such a case, we say that K' < K. We investigate the sets of links that can be obtained by single crossing changes over all minimal diagrams of a given link. We show that these sets are specific for different links and permit partial ordering of all links. Some interesting results are presented and many questions are raised.

Large D gravity and low D strings

We show that in the limit of a large number of dimensions a wide class of nonextremal neutral black holes has a universal near-horizon limit. The limiting geometry is the two-dimensional black hole of string theory with a two-dimensional target space. Its conformal symmetry explains the properties of massless scalars found recently in the large-D limit. For black branes with string charges, the near-horizon geometry is that of the three-dimensional black strings of Horne and Horowitz. The analogies between the α′ expansion in string theory and the large-D expansion in gravity suggest a possible effective string description of the large-D limit of black holes. We comment on applications to several subjects, in particular to the problem of critical collapse.

Laboratory Investigation of Bridge Strip Seal Joint Termination Details, SPR RB08-014, 2016

Bridge expansion joints, if not properly designed, constructed, and maintained, often lead to the deterioration of critical substructure elements. Strip seal expansion joints consisting of a steel extrusion and neoprene gland are one type of expansion joint and are commonly used by the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). Strip seal expansion joints are susceptible to tears and pull outs that allow water, chlorides, and debris to infiltrate the joint, and subsequently the bearings below. One area of the strip seal that is particularly problematic is where it terminates at the interface between the deck and the barrier rail. The Iowa DOT has noted that the initial construction quality of the current strip seal termination detail is not satisfactory, nor ideal, and a need exists for re-evaluation and possibly re-design of this detail. Desirable qualities of a strip seal termination detail provide a seal that is simple and fast to construct, facilitate quick gland removal and installation, and provide a reliable, durable barrier to prevent chloride-contaminated water from reaching the substructure. To meet the objectives of this research project, several strip seal termination details were evaluated in the laboratory. Alternate termination details may not only function better than the current Iowa DOT standard, but are also less complicated to construct, facilitating better quality control. However, uncertainties still exist regarding the long-term effects of using straight-through details, with or without the dogleg, that could not be answered in the laboratory in the short time frame of the research project.

Spatial predictions of land-use transitions and associated threats to biodiversity: the case of forest regrowth in mountain grasslands

Question Can we predict where forest regrowth caused by abandonment of agricultural activities is likely to occur? Can we assess how it may conflict with grassland diversity hotspots? Location Western Swiss Alps (4003210m a.s.l.). Methods We used statistical models to predict the location of land abandonment by farmers that is followed by forest regrowth in semi-natural grasslands of the Western Swiss Alps. Six modelling methods (GAM, GBM, GLM, RF, MDA, MARS) allowing binomial distribution were tested on two successive transitions occurring between three time periods. Models were calibrated using data on land-use change occurring between 1979 and 1992 as response, and environmental, accessibility and socio-economic variables as predictors, and these were validated for their capacity to predict the changes observed from 1992 to 2004. Projected probabilities of land-use change from an ensemble forecast of the six models were combined with a model of plant species richness based on a field inventory, allowing identification of critical grassland areas for the preservation of biodiversity. Results Models calibrated over the first land-use transition period predicted the second transition with reasonable accuracy. Forest regrowth occurs where cultivation costs are high and yield potential is low, i.e. on steeper slopes and at higher elevations. Overlaying species richness with land-use change predictions, we identified priority areas for the management and conservation of biodiversity at intermediate elevations. Conclusions Combining land-use change and biodiversity projections, we propose applied management measures for targeted/identified locations to limit the loss of biodiversity that could otherwise occur through loss of open habitats. The same approach could be applied to other types of land-use changes occurring in other ecosystems.

The hemodynamics of septic shock: a historical perspective.

In the late 19th century, it was already known that severe infections could be associated with cardiovascular collapse, a fact essentially attributed to cardiac failure. A major experimental work in the rabbit, published by Romberg and Pässler in 1899, shifted attention to disturbed peripheral vascular tone as the mechanism of hypotension in these conditions. In the first half of the 20th century, great progresses were made in the pathophysiologic understanding of hemorrhagic and traumatic shocks, while researchers devoted relatively little attention to septic shock. Progress in the hemodynamic understanding of septic shock resumed with the advent of critical care units. The hyperdynamic state was recognized in the late fifties and early sixties. The present short review ends with landmark studies by Max Harry Weil, demonstrating the importance of venous pooling, and John H. Siegel, which introduced the concept of deficient peripheral utilization of oxygen, inspiring later work on the microvascular disturbances of septic shock.

Evidence of recombination in putative ancient asexuals.

Ancient asexuals have been considered to be a contradiction of the basic tenets of evolutionary theory. Barred from rearranging genetic variation by recombination, their reduced number of gene arrangements is thought to hamper their response to changing environments. For the same reason, it should be difficult for them to avoid the build-up of deleterious mutations. Several groups of taxonomically diverse organisms are thought to be ancient asexuals, although clear evidence for or against the existence of recombination events is scarce. Several methods have recently been developed for predicting recombination events by analyzing aligned sequences of a given region of DNA that all originate from one species. The methods are based on phylogenetic, substitution, and compatibility analyses. Here we present the results of analyses of sequence data from different loci studied in several groups of evolutionarily distant species that are considered to be ancient asexuals, using seven different types of analysis. The groups of organisms were the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomales), Darwinula stevensoni (Darwinuloidea crustacean ostracods) and the bdelloid rotifers (Bdelloidea), which are thought to have been asexual for the last 400, 25-100, and 35-40 Myr, respectively. The seven different analytical methods evaluated the evolutionary relationships among haplotypes, and these methods had previously been shown to be reliable for predicting the occurrence of recombination events. Despite the different degree of genetic variation among the different groups of organisms, at least some evidence for recombination was found in all species groups. In particular, predictions of recombination events in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were frequent. Predictions of recombination were also found for sequence data that have previously been used to infer the absence of recombination in bdelloid rotifers. Although our results have to be taken with some caution because they could signal very ancient recombination events or possibly other genetic variation of nonrecombinant origin, they suggest that some cryptic recombination events may exist in these organisms.

Automated detection of patient-ventilator asynchrony: new tool or new toy?

Although severe patient-ventilator asynchrony is frequent during invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation, diagnosing such asynchronies usually requires the presence at the bedside of an experienced clinician to assess the tracings displayed on the ventilator screen, thus explaining why evaluating patient-ventilator interaction remains a challenge in daily clinical practice. In the previous issue of Critical Care, Sinderby and colleagues present a new automated method to detect, quantify, and display patient-ventilator interaction. In this validation study, the automatic method is as efficient as experts in mechanical ventilation. This promising system could help clinicians extend their knowledge about patient-ventilator interaction and further improve assisted mechanical ventilation.

Kriittiset menestystekijät suorituskyvyn mittaamisen tukena

Suorituskyvyn mittaamiseen on alettu kiinnittää entistä enemmän huomiota, kun julkinen sektori on siirtynyt uusiin palkkausjärjestelmiin. Onnistuneen suorituskyvyn mittauksen taustalla on onnistuminen kriittisten menestystekijöiden määrittämisessä. Kriittisten menestystekijöiden yhdistämistä suorituskyvyn mittaamiseen ei ole kuitenkaan tutkittu kovinkaan paljon. Työssä selvitetään puolustusvoimien materiaalihankkeiden kriittiset menestystekijät. Työssä tarkastellaan kriittisten menestystekijöiden ja suorituskyvyn mittaamisen aikaisempaa tutkimusta ja teoriaa, jota on sovellettu työn empiirisessä osassa. Empiirisen aineiston muodostaa hankehenkilöstölle ja - johdolle suunnattu kysely. Kriittisten menestystekijöidenmäärittämisessä ja suorituskyvyn mittaamisen välistä yhteyttä tutkittaessa on käytetty hyväksi teoriaa, SWOT-analyysia, kyselyn tuloksia ja asiakkaan asiakirjoja. Valitut kriittiset menestystekijät ovat henkilöstö, avoin ympäristö sekä henki, riittävät resurssit, resurssien kustannustehokas käyttö,realistinen ja selkeä tavoite, vaatimustenmäärittelyn onnistuminen, yksityiskohtaiset ja päivitettävät suunnitelmat. Työssä pohditaan myös suorituskyvyn mittaamista hankkeissa ja tuloksena ehdotetaan SAKE- järjestelmän käyttöönottoa. Näkökulmiksi SAKE- järjestelmään ehdotetaan henkilöstöä, laatua, johtoa ja resursseja. Työn pohjalta tulisi käynnistää jatkotyö, jossa materiaalihankkeille luotaisiin varsinainen suorituskyvyn mittaristo.

Palveluhankintojen analysointi ja mittaaminen, case Stora Enso Saimaa Services Oy

Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli luoda Stora Enso Saimaa Services Oy:lle palveluhankintojen suorituskyvyn mittaristo Balanced Scorecardin avulla. Yrityksen palveluhankintakentän kirjavuuden vuoksi työ rajattiin koskemaan vain Etelä-Karjalan Yrityksiltä (= EKY) ostettavia kunnossapitopalveluja. Mittariston muodostamisen lähtökohtana oli hankintatoimen strateginen tavoite, kokonaiskustannusten alentaminen. Tämä tavoite konkretisoituu parhaiten hankintojen elinkaarikustannusten minimoimisena. Työssä käytettiin kvalitatiivista tutkimusmenetelmää. Tutkimuskohdetta analysoitiin tapaustutkimusmenetelmällä. Aineisto kerättiin sisäisille asiakkaille suunnatulla puolistrukturoidulla haastatteluilla, ostajien ajankäytönseurantakyselyllä sekä osallistuvalla havainnoinnilla. Haastatteluja tehtiin 10 ja kyselyjä 6. Palveluhankintojen elinkaarikustannusten ja mittaamisen osalta on tehty tutkimuksia hyvin vähän. EKY-palveluhankintoihin onnistuttiin kuitenkin luomaan tasapainotettu mittaristo palvelujen erityispiirteet huomioiden. EKY-elinkaarikustannusanalysoinnissa keskityttiin palveluhankintojen keskeisiin kustannuskomponentteihin kuten transaktiokustannusteoriaan, hintojen määräytymiseen ja huonon laadun kustannuksiin. Näiden pohjalta kriittisiksi palveluhankintojen menestystekijöiksi nousivat mm. ostajien ajankäytön suuntaaminen strategisiin työtehtäviin, hintojen hallinta sekä toimittajien laadun arviointi. Nämä tekijät muotoiltiin EKY-palveluhankintojen tuloskorttiin ja niihin valittiin hankintatoimen mittausmalleista sopivat suorituskyvyn mittarit. Mittarit jaettiin EKY-palveluhankintoihin määriteltyihin neljään näkökulmaan Balanced Scorecard -prosessin mukaisesti.

Analyzing dynamic intellectual capital: System-based theory and application

This research report presents an application of systems theory to evaluating intellectual capital (IC) as organization's ability for self-renewal. As renewal ability is a dynamic capability of an organization as a whole, rather than a static asset or an atomistic competence of separate individuals within the organization, it needs to be understood systemically. Consequently, renewal ability has to be measured with systemic methods that are based on a thorough conceptual analysis of systemic characteristics of organizations. The aim of this report is to demonstrate the theory and analysis methodology for grasping companies' systemic efficiency and renewal ability. The volume is divided into three parts. The first deals with the theory of organizations as self-renewing systems. In the second part, the principles of quantitative analysis of organizations are laid down. Finally, the detailed mathematics of the renewal indices are presented. We also assert that the indices produced by the analysis are an effective tool for the management and valuation of knowledge-intensive companies.

Washing and Dewatering of Different Starches in Pressure Filters

The main objective of this thesis was togenerate better filtration technologies for effective production of pure starchproducts, and thereby the optimisation of filtration sequences using created models, as well as the synthesis of the theories of different filtration stages, which were suitable for starches. At first, the structure and the characteristics of the different starch grades are introduced and each starch grade is shown to have special characteristics. These are taken as the basis of the understanding of the differences in the behaviour of the different native starch grades and their modifications in pressure filtration. Next, the pressure filtration process is divided into stages, which are filtration, cake washing, compression dewatering and displacement dewatering. Each stage is considered individually in their own chapters. The order of the different suitable combinations of the process stages are studied, as well as the proper durations and pressures of the stages. The principles of the theory of each stageare reviewed, the methods for monitoring the progress of each stage are presented, and finally, the modelling of them is introduced. The experimental results obtained from the different stages of starch filtration tests are given and the suitability of the theories and models to the starch filtration are shown. Finally, the theories and the models are gathered together and shown, that the analysis of the whole starch pressure filtration process can be performed with the software developed.