Wave propagation in anisotropic medium due to an oscillatory point source with application to unidirectional composites

The far-field displacements in an infinite transversely isotropic elastic medium subjected to an oscillatory concentrated force are derived. The concepts of velocity surface, slowness surface and wave surface are used to describe the geometry of the wave propagation process. It is shown that the decay of the wave amplitudes depends not only on the distance from the source (as in isotropic media) but also depends on the direction of the point of interest from the source. As an example, the displacement field is computed for a laboratory fabricated unidirectional fiberglass epoxy composite. The solution for the displacements is expressed as an amplitude distribution and is presented in polar diagrams. This analysis has potential usefulness in the acoustic emission (AE) and ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation of composite materials. For example, the transient localized disturbances which are generally associated with AE sources can be modeled via this analysis. In which case, knowledge of the displacement field which arrives at a receiving transducer allows inferences regarding the strength and orientation of the source, and consequently perhaps the degree of damage within the composite

The friendship paradox in scale-free networks

Our friends have more friends than we do. That is the basis of the friendship paradox. In mathematical terms, the mean number of friends of friends is higher than the mean number of friends. In the present study, we analyzed the relationship between the mean degree of vertices (individuals), , and the mean number of friends of friends, , in scale-free networks with degrees ranging from a minimum degree (k_min) to a maximum degree (k_max). We deduced an expression for - for scale-free networks following a power-law distribution with a given scaling parameter (alpha). Based on this expression, we can quantify how the degree distribution of a scale-free network affects the mean number of friends of friends.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

How international nonprofit organizations can use Facebook to build relationships with potential donors and volunteers

The aim of this paper is to investigate and discuss the applications of marketing in the nonprofit sector, among international nonprofit organizations. The paper will focus on the role of Facebook in nonprofit marketing, this study aims to investigate the connection between Facebook engagement and real world behavior – in this case, donation and volunteer activity. The goals of this investigation were accomplished through a mixture of qualitative and quantitative research backed by a thorough literature review. The content of three nonprofit organizations’ Facebook pages was analyzed, and a survey was administered to the followers of these organizations. Findings revealed that a follower’s perceptions of the content shared by the nonprofit organization, as well as his/her relationship with that nonprofit organization, positively influences that follower’s engagement on Facebook in the form of likes, comments and shares. It was also revealed that engagement via Facebook is related to a follower’s real-world donation and volunteer behavior. To achieve success via Facebook and garner donors and volunteers, international nonprofit organizations must therefore focus on sharing interesting and engaging content as well as building relationships with their followers through Relationship Marketing techniques and online interactivity.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Celebrity in the mirror: the role of celebrity endorser in men's grooming communication

Presently men’s grooming is seen as a broad category. The problem comes when the previous research about male consumer behavior have neglected aspects in this subject. The purpose of this investigation is to examine the role of celebrity endorsement in men’s grooming communication to Generation Y. After identifying some gaps in the literature, with regard to this subject, the most important variables were defined in order to develop the investigation and draw conclusions through statistical analysis and validation, about the role celebrity endorsement as source of credibility in men’s grooming communication. According to the design and methodology, this research was sustained through in depth marketing analysis (secondary data), and primary data collection via online questionnaire, whereby 168 male respondents, from Brazil and Portugal, were exposed to some advertisement pieces in order to express their opinion and feelings about the subject under investigation. The findings reveal all the relationships among the variables, suggested by the literature, have occurred, presenting a significant relationship in terms of Source Credibility scale dimensions – attractiveness, trustworthiness and expertise. This investigation aims to contribute to the existing literature with important conclusions about the role of celebrity endorsement and its credibility in men’s grooming advertisement.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Characterization of a rare analphoid supernumerary marker chromosome in mosaic

Abstract publicado em: Chromosome Research. 2015;23(Suppl 1):67-8. doi:10.1007/s10577-015-9476-6Analphoid supernumerary marker chromosomes (SMCs) are a rare subclass of SMCs C-band-negative and devoid of alpha-satellite DNA. These marker chromosomes cannot be identified unambiguously by conventional banding techniques alone being necessary to apply molecular cytogenetic methods in favour of a detailed characterization. In this work we report an analphoid SMC involving the terminal long arm of chromosome 7, in 9 years-old boy with several dysmorphic features and severe development delay. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a mosaic karyotype with the presence of an extra SMC, de novo, in 20 % of lymphocytes and 73 % of fibroblast cells. FISH analysis with alpha-satellite probes for all chromosomes, whole chromosome painting probe for chromosome 7, and D7S427 and TelVysion 7q probes, allowed establishing the origin of the SMC as an analphoidmarker resulting of an invdup rearrangement of 7q36-qter region. Affimetrix CytoScan HD microarray analysis, redefined the SMC to arr[hg19] 7q35(143696249-159119707)×2~3, which correspond to a gain of 15.42 Mb and encloses 67 OMIM genes, 16 of which are associated to disease. This result, combined with detailed clinical description, will provide an important means for better genotype-phenotype correlation and a more suitable genetic counselling to the patient and his parents, despite the additional difficulty resulting from being a mosaic (expression varies in different tissues). Analphoid SMCs derived from chromosome 7 are very rare, with only three cases reported so far. With this case we hope contribute to a better understanding of this type of chromosome rearrangements which are difficult for genetic counselling

Linear LL-positive sets and their polar subspaces

In this paper, we define a Banach SNL space to be a Banach space with a certain kind of linear map from it into its dual, and we develop the theory of linear $L$-positive subsets of Banach SNL spaces with Banach SNL dual spaces. We use this theory to give simplified proofs of some recent results of Bauschke, Borwein, Wang and Yao, and also of the classical Brezis-Browder theorem.Comment: 11 pages. Notational changes since version

How gender affects the buying-decision process among consumers of luxury goods

Over the decades, many studies focused on luxury brand consumption and explored the customer perception and motives for purchasing luxury brands. Nevertheless, the role of gender in this context has been neglected. Recently, some researchers have been studying the influence of gender on luxury purchases. However, the subject is not fully explored and the effect of some motivations are still lacking on the studies. The present dissertation is based on previous researches about luxury values, consumer behaviour and gender behavioural differences. The study aimed to contribute to the analysis of whether men and women buy luxury for different reasons, from which the following research questions arise: Does gender have an effect on the purchase of luxury goods? And how does gender affect the buying-decision process among consumers of luxury goods? In order to answer these questions, a documentary analysis was conducted, as well as a face-to-face questionnaire to Portuguese women and men that buy ready-to-wear and/or luxury accessories. Results revealed that different motivations are attributed to each gender; in other words, women and men buy luxury products for different reasons. It was established that women have a higher purchase intention than men and respond more favourably to luxury brands promotional activity. Furthermore, men showed to be motivated by materialistic value, status value and conspicuous value, responding more positively to luxury brands loyalty programs than females. Nevertheless, gender did not show an effect on hedonic value, susceptibility to normative influence and uniqueness value.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Perceptions of secondary school teachers towards school expulsion of pregnant adolescents at Igunga District, Tanzania—a qualitative study

Background:In Tanzania, adolescent pregnancy results in a denial of the girl’s fundamental right to education. School expulsion of pregnant adolescents is a common practice exercised by teachers in this country for decades. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and feelings of secondary school teachers towards this practice. Methods: The study used a qualitative approach comprising focus groups and individual semistructured interviews with a purposive sample of sixteen teachers and nine headmasters (n=25) from nine secondary schools of the rural Igunga district, in Tabora region, Tanzania. Data was collected in March to June 2017 and submitted to thematic analysis. Results: Though most participants were not satisfied with the practice, their role on the expulsion of pregnant students was perceived as mandatory by law and regulations. Main argument in favor was its deterrent effect, yet the review of schools’ registries did not sustain that perception. Stigma and fear of contamination added a relevant contribution to its implementation. Conflicting feelings among teachers were also disclosed. Conclusion: This study was of most value to understand current perceptions and feelings of those who exercise the practice of banning pregnant adolescents from school in Tanzania, while having identified some of the cultural and social believes acting as influential factors in its pervasiveness. International and national human rights organizations should increase their efforts and campaigns in order to strength social awareness of the benefit of females’ education to society as a whole and of adopting policies and practices in support of their equal right to education.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio