bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acoustic cues to individual identity in the rattle calls of common blackbirds: a potential for individual recognition through multi-syllabic vocalisations emitted in both territorial and alarm contexts
Authors: Couchoux Charline , Dabelsteen Torben
Published: November 2014

Vocal signals convey many types of information, and individually recognizable cues can benefit signallers and receivers, as shown in birdsongs that are used in the contexts of mating and territoriality. Bird calls are typically less complex than songs and thus are likely to convey less information. However, the rattle calls of some species serve a dual function, being emitted as an anti-predator and deterrence signal, and thus may encode information on individual identity. We investigated these questions in the common blackbird (Turdus merula), which emits complex rattle calls in both territorial and alarm contexts. The vocalisations of free-living males were elicited and recorded by playing back songs of unknown males in birds’ territories (territorial context) and also while approaching individuals (predator context). These song-like highly-structured multi-syllabic calls typically had three types of elements. Acoustic and statistical analyses revealed, through elevated repeatability indexes, that most of the acoustic measurements used to describe the complexity of the calls (structural, temporal and frequency parameters) were highly variable, due to inter-individual differences. The size of the call and the characteristics of the starting element only were able to discriminate a high portion of the individual calls. Beyond the very well studied songs of oscines, calls therefore deserve more attention as they also carry a potential for conveying information on individual identity.
The identity of Hyla leucotaenia Burmeister, 1861 (Anura: Hylidae)
Authors: PINHEIRO PAULO D. P. , FAIVOVICH JULIÁN , LANGONE JOSÉ A. , KWET AXEL
Published: November 2014

The German naturalist Carl Hermann Conrad Burmeister (1807–1892) had a prolific scientific career, spanning multiple taxa from diverse insect groups and trilobites to temnospondyls, birds, and extant and fossil mammals (see Berg, 1895). His contributions to anuran taxonomy are concentrated in two books, “Erläuterungen zur Fauna Brasiliensis…” (Burmeister, 1856) and “Reise durch die La Plata-Staaten…” (Burmeister, 1861). The latter is an account of his travels in Argentina and Uruguay from 1857–1860 and includes descriptions of three new species of frogs: Leiuperus nebulosus, Cystignathus mystacinus, and Hyla leucotaenia. While the first two names currently designate valid species, with the combinations Pleurodema nebulosum and Leptodactylus mystacinus respectively, the last name has had a more complex taxonomic history. It involves confusions involving a homonym, its consideration as a junior synonym of Hypsiboas pulchellus (Duméril & Bibron, 1841)—a widely distributed species in eastern Argentina, southeastern Brazil, and Uruguay (Frost, 2014)—and its actual identity corresponding to another widespread species in the same geographic area, with which it has never before been associated: Scinax squalirostris (A. Lutz, 1925). All these issues are discussed in this paper.
Childhood Giftedness, Adolescent Agency
Authors: Mudrak Jiri , Zabrodska Katerina
Published: November 2014

Although considerable research has addressed development from childhood giftedness to adult excellence, subjective perceptions of this development by gifted individuals themselves have remained largely unexplored. This multiple case study examined the ways in which young adults, who in the past had been identified as gifted, made sense of their giftedness based on cues obtained from their social environment and the impact of this sensemaking on their development. Some participants made sense of their giftedness in a way that prevented them from developing a sense of agency in their education: Their sensemaking was based on social control or, conversely, on effortless learning and easy victories they experienced in childhood. The participants who showed the highest level of achievement and motivation in early adulthood perceived themselves as “agents of their learning” and made sense of their extraordinary outcomes as resulting from effortful, proper, and self-directed practice. Our findings indicate that a sense of agency is critical to maintaining gifted-level achievement through adolescence. We have identified some of the social environment factors that can diminish or enhance that sense of agency in high-achieving children.
Synthesis and characterization of photoreactive silica nanoparticles for super-hydrophobic cotton fabrics application
Authors: Liu Baojiang , Wang Lili , Gao Yujie , Tian Taizhou , Min Jie , Yao Jinlong , Xiang Zhonglin , Huang Changgen , Hu Chunyan
Published: November 2014

In this research, a novel method was developed to improve the super-hydrophobic stability of cotton fabrics without affecting the washing ability. The cotton fabrics were treated with hybrid photoreactive silica nanoparticles (denoted as silica-N3) and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane under ultraviolet light. Silica nanoparticles were synthesized by grafting an azido group onto silica and confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Untreated and treated cotton fabrics were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Wettability was investigated by water contact angle (WCA) and water shedding angle (WSA). Moreover, the super-hydrophobic durability of coated cotton fabrics was evaluated by washing tests. The results showed that the treated cotton fabrics exhibited excellent chemical stability and outstanding non-wettability with a WCA of 154.9° for a 5 µL water droplet and a WSA of 8.7° for a 15 µL water droplet. In addition, the super-hydrophobic cotton fabric showed excellent washing durability. After 30 cycles, the contact angle was still larger than 135°.
Pathways to Pain
Authors: Anderson Riana E. , Hussain Saida B. , Wilson Melvin N. , Shaw Daniel S. , Dishion Thomas J. , Williams Joanna Lee
Published: November 2014

The relationship between racial discrimination, parental functioning, and child adjustment is not well understood. The goal of the present study was to assess parental reports of discrimination in relation to depression and parenting practices, as well as on subsequent child internalizing and externalizing problems in low-income Black families. Data include a subsample of the Early Steps project, a multisite longitudinal study of financial and behaviorally at-risk families. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze our hypothesized model. Excellent model fit was established after removing externalizing problems from the model. As predicted, indirect associations were found from discrimination to parental depression, parenting, and child internalizing problems; and direct associations were found from discrimination to child internalizing problems. The results are consistent with findings suggesting that discrimination is negatively associated with adult well-being; moreover, contribute to the sparse literature on the effects of discrimination beyond the direct recipient. Finally, that parent discrimination was directly associated with child emotional problems suggests the continued need to address and treat discriminatory practices more generally.
Is Attitude a Key Factor to Consider When Designing Physical Activity Interventions for Black Adolescent Girls
Authors: Williams Wanda M. , Yeo SeonAe
Published: November 2014

Chronic diseases continue to be disproportionately higher in Black women in comparison with other ethnic groups, with physical inactivity being linked to the growing incidences of many of these diseases. The review of the literature indicates that attitude which is shaped by beliefs, self-efficacy, and cultural factors is a key variable in promoting physical activity (PA) in Black adolescent girls. Specific aims of this review were to identify PA interventions designed specifically for adolescent girls, with an emphasis on Black adolescent girls, and to identify what factor promotes PA in this group. The long-term goal is to use the information from this review to design effective PA programs aimed at Black adolescent girls. Physical activity and fitness were improved in four of the interventions in this review that focused on enhanced self-efficacy, goal setting, social support, and measures aimed at changing attitudes. Overall, this review shows that more effective interventions targeting Black adolescent girls are needed that consider the cultural factors (beliefs, self-efficacy, and family dynamics) that shape one’s attitude toward being physically active.
“An Unspoken Level of Comfort”
Authors: Goode-Cross David T. , Grim Karen Ann
Published: November 2014

This study examined 36 Black therapists’ experiences working with Black clients in hospital, school, college, and community counseling settings. Findings of this interpretative phenomenological analysis suggest these therapists most often feel a distinct sense of solidarity with their Black clients, as evidenced by having a better understanding of the context of Black clients’ lives, creating easier and faster therapeutic connections with Black clients, and feeling especially committed to these clients’ well-being. Participants also acknowledged the potential pitfalls and having insufficient boundaries and acknowledged the limitations of their formal training in learning to work with Black clients. How participant responses differed according to years of experience, practice setting, and gender are also explored. This study also suggests implications to increase the quality of training provided to therapist trainees of African descent.
Introduction
Authors: Bonjour Saskia , Kraler Albert
Published: November 2014

“Family migration” and “integration” are intimately related concepts in policy discourses in Europe today. Assumptions about the relation between “family migration” and “integration” play a crucial role in shaping policies. This special issue aims to examine the axis between “family migration,” “policy,” and “integration,” both from a policy perspective, and from the perspective of individuals engaged in family migration. In this introduction, we first discuss scholarly work on family migration policies in Europe, which analyzes how policies and discourses on family migration and integration participate in the politics of belonging. Second, we explore the fragmented and incomplete insights offered by existing research about the actual relation between family migration and migrant integration.
HerbDisc: Towards lifelong robotic object discovery
Authors: Collet Alvaro , Xiong Bo , Gurau Corina , Hebert Martial , Srinivasa Siddhartha S.
Published: November 2014

Our long-term goal is to develop a general solution to the lifelong robotic object discovery (LROD) problem: to discover new objects in the environment while the robot operates, for as long as the robot operates. In this paper, we consider the first step towards LROD: we automatically process the raw data stream of an entire workday of a robotic agent to discover objects. Our key contribution to achieve this goal is to incorporate domain knowledge (robotic metadata) in the discovery process, in addition to visual data. We propose a general graph-based formulation for LROD in which generic domain knowledge is encoded as constraints. To make long-term object discovery feasible, we encode into our formulation the natural constraints and non-visual sensory information in service robotics. A key advantage of our generic formulation is that we can add, modify, or remove sources of domain knowledge dynamically, as they become available or as conditions change. In our experiments, we show that by adding domain knowledge we discover 2.7× more objects and decrease processing time 190 times. With our optimized implementation, HerbDisc, we show for the first time a system that processes a video stream of 6 h 20 min of continuous exploration in cluttered human environments (and over half a million images) in 18 min 34 s, to discover 206 new objects with their 3D models.
Visual mapping for natural gas pipe inspection
Authors: Hansen Peter , Alismail Hatem , Rander Peter , Browning Brett
Published: November 2014

Validating the integrity of pipes is an important task for safe natural gas production and many other operations (e.g. refineries, sewers, etc.). Indeed, there is a growing industry of actuated, actively driven mobile robots that are used to inspect pipes. Many rely on a remote operator to inspect data from a fisheye camera to perform manual inspection and provide no localization or mapping capability. In this work, we introduce a visual odometry-based system using calibrated fisheye imagery and sparse structured lighting to produce high-resolution 3D textured surface models of the inner pipe wall. Our work extends state-of-the-art visual odometry and mapping for fisheye systems to incorporate weak geometric constraints based on prior knowledge of the pipe components into a sparse bundle adjustment framework. These constraints prove essential for obtaining high-accuracy solutions given the limited spatial resolution of the fisheye system and challenging raw imagery. We show that sub-millimeter resolution modeling is viable even in pipes which are 400 mm (16”) in diameter, and that sparse range measurements from a structured lighting solution can be used to avoid the inevitable monocular scale drift. Our results show that practical, high-accuracy pipe mapping from a single fisheye camera is within reach.
Messy, Butch, and Queer
Authors: Snapp Shannon D. , Hoenig Jennifer M. , Fields Amanda , Russell Stephen T.
Published: November 2014

Emerging evidence suggests that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth experience disparate treatment in schools that may result in criminal sanctions. In an effort to understand the pathways that push youth out of schools, we conducted focus groups with youth ( n = 31) from Arizona, California, and Georgia, and we interviewed adult advocates from across the United States ( n = 19). Independent coders used MAXQDA to organize and code data. We found that LGBTQ youth are punished for public displays of affection and violating gender norms. Youth often experience a hostile school climate, may fight to protect themselves, and are frequently blamed for their own victimization. Family rejection and homelessness facilitate entry in the school-to-prison pipeline. Narratives highlight new opportunities to challenge inequity in schools.
Exposure to Family Violence, Perceived Psychological Adjustment of Parents, and the Development of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms Among Palestinian University Students
Authors: Haj-Yahia Muhammad M. , Bargal David
Published: November 2014

The article presents the results of a study on the relationship between exposure to (i.e., witnessing and experiencing) different patterns and types of family violence during childhood, during adolescence, and during young adulthood, on one hand, and adult post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), on the other. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,969 Palestinian students using a self-administered questionnaire. The results reveal that the more the participants witnessed and experienced psychological aggression (PS) and physical violence (PH) in their families of origin, the more they exhibited PTSS. Furthermore, the results indicate that a significant amount of the variance in the participants’ PTSS could be attributed to their exposure to family violence, over and above the amounts of variance that were explained by their sociodemographic characteristics and by their perceptions of their parents’ psychological adjustment. The limitations of the study and implications for future research are discussed.
Intimate Partner Victimization Among College Students With and Without Disabilities
Authors: Scherer Heidi L. , Snyder Jamie A. , Fisher Bonnie S.
Published: November 2014

Prior research indicates that both college students and individuals with disabilities are at an increased risk of experiencing intimate partner victimization (IPV). However, little is known about IPV risk and its relationship to emotional well-being among the intersection of these two populations. Utilizing a sample of approximately 20,000 college students from the American College Health Association’s (ACHA) National College Health Assessment II (NCHA II), this study focuses on this overlooked intersection by examining IPV among college students with disabilities. Multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to estimate the relationship among disability, IPV, and emotional well-being. College students with disabilities were approximately twice as likely to experience IPV than their counterparts without disabilities. Students with mental disabilities and multiple disability types were found to have the greatest likelihood of experiencing IPV. Victims with disabilities were more likely than victims without disabilities to report experiencing depression symptoms, self-harm behavior, and stress. Recommendations for reducing and preventing IPV among a college student population are discussed.
The Prevalence of Potentially Victimizing Events, Poly-Victimization, and Its Association to Sociodemographic Factors
Authors: Aho Nikolas , Gren-Landell Malin , Svedin Carl Göran
Published: November 2014

Studying the extent to which children are exposed to victimizing events is important to fully understand the effect of such exposure in shaping them as adults. The aim of this study was to use self-report by adolescents to measure the prevalence of victimizing events and of poly-victimization. A representative sample of 5,960 students (aged 17) from high schools in Sweden was given the self-administrated version of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ) along with questions concerning gender, birthplace, parents’ birthplace and employment, residence, educational program, and municipality size. The results show that 84.1% (83.0% young men and 85.2% young women) of the students had experienced victimization during their lifetime, and 10.3% were categorized as poly-victims (8.1% young men and 12.5% young women; OR = 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.35, 1.94]). Adolescents living with both parents were at lower risk of any form of victimization for both genders, while females were at higher risk of maltreatment, peer victimization, and, most significantly, sexual victimization. In conclusion, the vast majority of young people have been victimized during their lifetime. A greater awareness of the impact of these victimizing events on children and adolescents is important as a basis for providing a safer milieu and establishing better interventions, especially for those that have been victimized on multiple occasions. The high-exposure group was determined by using ≥10 events as a cutoff. Findings on this group corresponded with findings in other international studies regarding distribution, elevated risk for females, and the possibility of limiting the effects of victimization by modifying living conditions.
‘Introduction’ to ‘Episodic Psychoses’, by Erik Strömgren (1940)
Authors: Schioldann Johan
Published: November 2014

This anniversary Classic Text, the ‘Introduction’ from Strömgren’s ‘Episodic Psychoses’, provides a comprehensive, concise and erudite exposition of the history, nosography and nosology of these conditions. Strömgren traces the origin of this term and concepts back to Magnan’s degeneration psychoses and associated ‘syndromes épisodiques’. Especially inspired by ‘the psychogenic psychosis’ (1916), the seminal work by his mentor, August Wimmer, he convincingly shows that the episodic psychoses constitute an intermediate link between the degeneration psychoses, now an obsolete term, and the psychogenic psychoses, reactive psychoses and brief reactive psychoses, which in their own right have been a bone of contention in international psychiatry for many decades and an obstacle in achieving consensus in international psychiatric classification.
Biomarkers identified from serum proteomic analysis for the differential diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Kazemipour N , Qazizadeh H , Sepehrimanesh M , Salimi S
Published: November 2014

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that involves different organs. Its most important feature is the production of specific autoantibodies against nuclear or cytoplasmic antigens. Proteomic analysis of serum, as one of the most readily available body fluids, can be used as a method for clarifying the pathogenesis of SLE. In this study the serum proteome of 13 patients with SLE was evaluated and compared with seven healthy control participants. A specific kit was used to remove high-abundance proteins. After depletion, the protein expression patterns created by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS were used to identify disease-associated proteins. We found differential expression of 15 protein spots, including seven up-regulated and eight down-regulated proteins in SLE samples, in comparison with healthy participants. These spots were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS and classified into three groups include keratins, apolipoproteins and albumin, and individual proteins such as transthyretin, haptoglobin and prothrombin. These findings can help to clarify the pathophysiology and mechanism of SLE.
Severity of Type 2 Diabetes, Cognitive Function, and Self-Care
Authors: Gatlin Patricia K. , Insel K.C.
Published: November 2014

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with poorer performance on certain measures of cognitive function. However, little is known about the associations among working memory (WM), executive function (EF), and self-care in those with severe T2DM. This investigation explored these relationships among 67 middle-aged and older individuals with T2DM (mean age of 62.9 years). Severity of T2DM was measured with a health status composite (HSC) score from the Diabetes Care Profile, the number of prescribed medications, and the number of comorbid conditions. Cognitive assessments included the Working Memory Index and the Executive Interview 25 (EXIT 25). Self-care was measured using the Self-Care Inventory–Revised (SCI-R) and hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c). WM was significantly correlated with all measures of severity of T2DM (HSC, r = .542, p < . 01; number of comorbidities, r = −.476, p < .01; and number of prescription medications, r = −.344, p < .01). EF was significantly correlated with all measures of severity of T2DM (HSC, r = −.504, p < .01; number of comorbidities, r = .492, p < .01; and number of prescription medications, r = .326, p < .01). The self-care measure HgbA1c was significantly correlated with WM ( r = −.352, p < .01) and EF ( r = .510, p < .01). The EXIT 25 score fully mediated the relationship between severity of T2DM and self-care as measured by HgbA1c (β = .431, p < .001). These findings provide preliminary evidence for the associations among severity of T2DM, WM, EF, and self-care.
Development and validation of an administrative data algorithm to estimate the disease burden and epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Widdifield Jessica , Ivers Noah M , Young Jacqueline , Green Diane , Jaakkimainen Liisa , Butt Debra A. , O’Connor Paul , Hollands Simon , Tu Karen
Published: November 2014

Background:

Few studies have assessed the accuracy of administrative data for identifying multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

Objectives:

To validate administrative data algorithms for MS, and describe the burden and epidemiology over time in Ontario, Canada.

Methods:

We employed a validated search strategy to identify all MS patients within electronic medical records, to identify patients with and without MS (reference standard). We then developed and validated different combinations of administrative data for algorithms. The most accurate algorithm was used to estimate the burden and epidemiology of MS over time.

Results:

The accuracy of the algorithm of one hospitalisation or five physician billings over 2 years provided both high sensitivity (84%) and positive predictive value (86%). Application of this algorithm to provincial data demonstrated an increasing cumulative burden of MS, from 13,326 patients (0.14%) in 2000 to 24,647 patients in 2010 (0.22%). Age-and-sex standardised prevalence increased from 133.9 to 207.3 MS patients per 100,000 persons in the population, from 2000 – 2010. During this same period, age-and-sex-standardised incidence varied from 17.9 to 19.4 patients per 100,000 persons.

Conclusions:

MS patients can be accurately identified from administrative data. Our findings illustrated a rising prevalence of MS over time. MS incidence rates also appear to be rising since 2009.
Knowledge, attitudes, experience and behaviour of frontline health care workers during the early phase of 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, Birmingham, UK
Authors: Edeghere Obaghe , Fowler Tom , Wilson Fay , Caspa Richard , Raichand Smitri , Kara Edna , Janmohamed Rampling Sumi , Olowokure Babatunde
Published: November 2014

Objectives

During the early (‘containment’) phase of the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, when the severity of the pandemic was unclear, health care workers (HCWs) across the UK were deployed to swab and prescribe antiviral drugs to suspected cases. This study describes the knowledge, attitudes, experience and behaviour of frontline HCWs in Birmingham, West Midlands, during this period.

Methods

During June 2009, a 25-item semi-structured questionnaire was used to survey HCWs who undertook defined clinical duties as part of the public health response during the early phase of the pandemic. Participants were clinical staff based in a primary care out-of-hours service provider.

Results

The response rate was 50% ( n = 20). All respondents provided direct clinical care that necessitated prolonged close contact with potentially infectious cases. Knowledge and use of personal protective equipment and infection control procedures was consistently high. However, the main source of infection control advice was local guidance. Uptake of, and attitude towards, vaccination as a preventive measure and antiviral prophylaxis was poor.

Conclusions

HCWs were prepared to provide an essential health care response during the pandemic even when the severity of disease was unclear. However, more needs to be done to change health care workers’ negative attitudes towards taking antivirals and receiving influenza vaccination.
‘Kronic specifically attracts children’: The construction of lay roles in New Zealand media reports on synthetic cannabis
Authors: Barton Josh
Published: November 2014

This paper explores the representations of non-expert ‘lay’ roles in selected media reporting of the 2011 synthetic cannabis debate in New Zealand. It uses a critical discourse analysis to explore these representations, using van Leeuwen’s work on the transitivity of clauses. It identifies a number of roles present in reporting and argues that media reporting denies lay roles agency and limits the space available for their members to give their account of events. Instead lay groups are constructed as the passive recipients of actions by authoritative groups. The one exception to this is the construction of parents who, because of a combination of a moral authority granted to them by being parents, and the media’s alignment to the ‘concerned parent’ position, are granted agency and space to explicate their positions.
Laparoscopic Complete Mesocolic Excision with Central Vascular Ligation in right colon cancer: long-term oncologic outcome between mesocolic and non-mesocolic planes of surgery
Authors: Siani L. M. , Pulica C.
Published: November 2014

Aim:

To analyze our experience in translating the concept of total mesorectal excision to “no-touch” complete removal of an intact mesocolonic envelope (complete mesocolic excision), along with central vascular ligation and apical node dissection, in the surgical treatment of right-sided colonic cancers, comparing “mesocolic” to less radical “non-mesocolic” planes of surgery in respect to quality of the surgical specimen and long-term oncologic outcome.

Method:

A total of 115 patients with right-sided colonic cancers were retrospectively enrolled from 2008 to 2013 and operated on following the intent of minimally invasive complete mesocolic excision with central vascular ligation.

Results:

Morbidity and mortality were 22.6% and 1.7%, respectively. Mesocolic, intramesocolic, and muscularis propria planes of resection were achieved in 65.2%, 21.7%, and 13% of cases, respectively, with significant impact for mesenteric plane of surgery on R0 resection rate (97.3%), circumferential resection margin <1 mm (2.6%), and consequent survival advantage (82.6% at 5 years) when compared to muscularis propria plane of surgery, with R0 resection rate and overall survival falling to 72% and 60%, respectively, and with circumferential resection margin <1 mm raising to 33.3%, all being statistically significant. Stratifying patients for stage of disease, laparoscopic complete mesocolic excision with central vascular ligation significantly impacted survival in patients with stage II, IIIA/B, and in a subgroup of IIIC patients with negative apical nodes.

Conclusion:

In our experience, minimally invasive complete mesocolic excision with central vascular ligation allows for both safety and higher quality of surgical specimens when compared to less radical intramesocolic or muscularis propria planes of “standard” surgery, significantly impacting loco-regional control and thus overall survival.
Action research in a problem avoiding culture using a Buddhist systems methodology
Authors: Shen Chao-Ying , Midgley Gerald
Published: November 2014

Problem avoidance can be an issue in both Eastern and Western cultures, and in some Eastern contexts it can stem from the desire to promote organizational harmony: identifying problems can lead to blame, thereby fracturing harmonious relationships. The authors have developed and applied a Buddhist systems methodology (BSM) to counteract problem avoidance in Taiwanese Buddhist organizations. Unlike many Western action research approaches, which require participants to start by identifying problems or problematic situations, the BSM uses Buddhist concepts that are closely associated with the practice of harmonious living. Thus, it reframes problem exploration as the exercise of Buddhist discipline applied to organizational life, which is likely to be viewed as a co-operative and culturally valued endeavour. In a project with a large non-profit organization, the authors tackled a significant conflict and underlying issues. An evaluation of the project demonstrated that the BSM helped overcome the culture of problem avoidance. While the BSM itself might only be relevant to Buddhist organizations, there is a wider principle at work: when problem avoidance has cultural roots, action researchers could usefully look at how problem exploration might be reframed using a way of thinking that is culturally familiar and highly valued by the participants.
Personalized medicine and genome-based treatments: Why personalized medicine ≠ individualized treatments
Authors: Nicholls SG , Wilson BJ , Castle D , Etchegary H , Carroll JC
Published: November 2014

The sequencing of the human genome and decreasing costs of sequencing technology have led to the notion of ‘personalized medicine’. This has been taken by some authors to indicate that personalized medicine will provide individualized treatments solely based on one’s DNA sequence. We argue this is overly optimistic and misconstrues the notion of personalization. Such interpretations fail to account for economic, policy and structural constraints on the delivery of healthcare. Furthermore, notions of individualization based on genomic data potentially take us down the road of genetic reductionism obscuring the role of environmental factors in disease and ill health. We propose that one should see personalized medicine as a way of using personal genomic information to stratify individuals into subpopulations and suggest that personalized medicine be seen within a broader idea of personalized healthcare, reflecting healthcare that integrates personal genomic data into cultural, environmental and personal contexts.
Testosterone Treatment of Men With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Low Testosterone Levels
Authors: Cherrier M. M. , Anderson K. , Shofer J. , Millard S. , Matsumoto A. M.
Published: November 2014

Introduction:

This study investigated the effects of testosterone (T) treatment on cognition, mood, and quality of life in men with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and low serum T levels.

Methods:

A total of 351 community-dwelling men were screened, and 37 men evidenced both MCI and low T of whom 27 agreed for further screening. Twenty-two met all the study inclusion/exclusion criteria and enrolled in a 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Results:

Total T levels significantly increased in the T treatment group. No significant changes were observed in measures of cognition, mood, or quality of life other than improvement in 1 objective measure of verbal memory ( P < .05) and decreased depression symptoms ( P < .02) in the treatment group.

Conclusions:

Testosterone treatment may modestly improve verbal memory and depression symptoms in men with both MCI and low T.
Validated model-based simulation tool for design optimization of exploding foil initiators
Authors: Ebenhöch Stefan , Nau Siegfried , Häring Ivo
Published: November 2014

Exploding foil initiators (EFIs) are highly suitable for use in inline fuze trains containing only secondary high explosives, mainly due to their insensitivity with respect to electromagnetic disturbances or mechanical stress, their precisely controllable fire characteristics and compact size. During EFI operation various multi-physical phenomena occur, such as high-volt switching, foil explosion, generation and acceleration of the flyer plate, as well as shock wave initiation of the explosive by flyer plate impact. In this work all the physical processes, including their coupling, are modelled using multi-physical models that neither employ complex finite elements computations nor experimentally determined fitting parameters. Implemented in a simulation tool, the complete EFI behaviour is covered, from firing (switching) to explosive initiation. Complementary experiments with test structures are conducted, analysing the electrical behaviour and the resulting flyer velocities of different EFI designs. Comparison with these experiments demonstrates the consistency of the simulations and sufficient accuracy. The validated simulation tool is used to determine all-fire/no-fire criteria, to improve geometries and materials and to analyse parasitic influences in the firing circuit. The paper shows that this model-based approach can be used to assess high reliability and safety either for existing or when developing new EFIs.
Leadership Styles in Multicultural Groups
Authors: Aritz Jolanta , Walker Robyn C.
Published: November 2014

The global economy has created new realities for businesses, and the need for understanding differing communication practices and cultural values is greater than ever, particularly with regard to the surging economies in the East. Working in multicultural work groups is a new workplace reality that has created a greater need to understand how to lead these groups to maximize the quality and effectiveness of multicultural group work. Cultural differences exist regarding the importance and value of leadership. Still, much remains to be understood as to the way in which culture influences leadership and organizational processes. To what extent do cultural forces influence the expectations that individuals have for leaders and their behavior, for instance? What principles of leadership and organizational processes transcend cultures? This article is primarily directed to an American audience and uses a discursive leadership approach to provide a better understanding of how different leadership styles affect group member interaction in multicultural groups involving participants from American and East Asian cultures. Our results demonstrate that differing discursive leadership styles can affect the participation and contribution of members and may affect their feelings of inclusion and satisfaction within the group. Our results also provide evidence that particular styles of and approaches to leadership may not be as successful with all cultural groups.
Looking at Favorable and Unfavorable Superior-Subordinate Relationships Through Dominance and Affiliation Lenses
Authors: McWorthy Lindsay , Henningsen David Dryden
Published: November 2014

Subordinates’ perceptions of the quality of their superiors are considered. Relational framing theory and leader-member exchange theory are utilized to understand forces that influence subordinates’ impressions of their superiors. As hypothesized, results revealed that perceptions of superiors’ quality are influenced by judgments about the activation of the affiliation-disaffiliation frame in the relationship. Contrary to expectations, dominance-submission relevance judgments were unrelated to perceptions of superiors’ quality. The sex of the superior, the sex of the subordinate and Feidler’s Least Preferred Co-worker scale were each found to be unrelated to relational framing. It is concluded that the application of relational framing theory to superior-subordinate relationships can advance our understanding of the superior-subordinate relationship.
Communicating Corporate Brands Through Social Media
Authors: Vernuccio Maria
Published: November 2014

The aim of this study is to identify and interpret the main emerging strategic approaches in communicating a corporate brand through social media (SM). A quantitative content analysis of the SM platforms of 60 major international corporate brands yielded data that were processed by hierarchical cluster analysis. The study identified four clusters, characterized by distinctive approaches in terms of interactivity and openness toward corporate brand building via SM. The findings highlighted that despite encouraging signs of effective use of SM for this purpose, the online corporate communication initiatives of more than a third of all companies are characterized as cautious. Corporate branding strategists are advised to adopt conversational forms of corporate communication, to expand the range of SM used and to involve a broad range of stakeholders in the dialogue. This study adds to the limited body of academic research into the use of SM as part of corporate communication and corporate brand-building strategy.
Communicating Organizational Trust: An Exploration of the Link Between Discourse and Action
Authors: Kodish Slavica
Published: November 2014

Communication has frequently received attention in studies on trust. One question that has remained unanswered is, How is organizational trust communicated? Consistent with the view of organizations as discursive entities, research presented here examines discursive qualities of trust and attempts to provide an understanding of the manner in which organizational trust is communicated. Research presented in this article includes the results of two studies conducted in two different parts of the country: a large metropolitan area in the southeastern United States and a regional center in the south. Findings reveal that against the background of a continuous discursive and interactional flow, trust is communicated as a speech act characterized by the world-to-words direction of fit. Findings have implications for both theory and practice.
Managing Difficult Workplace Conversations
Authors: Bradley Graham L. , Campbell Amanda C.
Published: November 2014

Many conversations involve sending or receiving “bad news.” These conversations are often dreaded, poorly executed, or avoided altogether. Ways need to be found to make them less difficult and more productive. We explored these issues through three methodologically diverse studies. Study 1 comprised in-depth interviews with 24 nurse managers. Interviews shed light on the characteristics of difficult conversations and strategies for making them less awkward and more successful. Study 2 was a survey investigating relationships between six dimensions of supportive communication and participant satisfaction with a difficult superior-subordinate conversation. Study 3 experimentally manipulated two supportive communication behaviors, plus a third variable, face-work. Together, these studies show that successful outcomes from difficult workplace conversations require the parties to balance task and relational goals, with the latter particularly dependent on acts of empathy and face-giving.
GWATCH: a web platform for automated gene association discovery analysis
Authors: Svitin Anton , Malov Sergey , Cherkasov Nikolay , Geerts Paul , Rotkevich Mikhail , Dobrynin Pavel , Shevchenko Andrey , Guan Li , Troyer Jennifer , Hendrickson Sher , Dilks Holli Hutcheson , Oleksyk Taras K , Donfield Sharyne , Gomperts Edward , Jabs Douglas A , Sezgin Efe , Van Natta Mark , Harrigan P Richard , Brumme Zabrina L , O'Brien Stephen J
Published: November 2014

Background:

As genome-wide sequence analyses for complex human disease determinants are expanding, it is increasingly necessary to develop strategies to promote discovery and validation of potential disease-gene associations.

Findings:

Here we present a dynamic web-based platform – GWATCH – that automates and facilitates four steps in genetic epidemiological discovery: 1) Rapid gene association search and discovery analysis of large genome-wide datasets; 2) Expanded visual display of gene associations for genome-wide variants (SNPs, indels, CNVs), including Manhattan plots, 2D and 3D snapshots of any gene region, and a dynamic genome browser illustrating gene association chromosomal regions; 3) Real-time validation/replication of candidate or putative genes suggested from other sources, limiting Bonferroni genome-wide association study (GWAS) penalties; 4) Open data release and sharing by eliminating privacy constraints (The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) Institutional Review Board (IRB), informed consent, The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 etc.) on unabridged results, which allows for open access comparative and meta-analysis.

Conclusions:

Conclusions: GWATCH is suitable for both GWAS and whole genome sequence association datasets. We illustrate the utility of GWATCH with three large genome-wide association studies for HIV-AIDS resistance genes screened in large multicenter cohorts; however, association datasets from any study can be uploaded and analyzed by GWATCH.
Long-term cost effectiveness of ticagrelor in patients with acute coronary syndromes in Thailand
Authors: Yamwong Sukit , Permsuwan Unchalee , Tinmanee Sirana , Sritara Piyamitr
Published: November 2014

Objectives

To evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of ticagrelor and ASA versus generic and branded clopidogrel and ASA in patients with ACS based on a Thai cost database.

Methods

A one-year decision tree and a long-term Markov model were constructed to estimate lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). For the first year, data from PLATO (NCT00391872) were used to estimate the rate of cardiovascular events, resource use, and QALYs. For year 2 onwards, clinical effectiveness was estimated conditional on individual health states that occurred during the first year.

Results

In the base-case analysis, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) with ticagrelor was 292,504 ($9,476) and 60,055 ($1,946) THB($)/QALY compared with generic and branded clopidogrel, respectively. The probability of ticagrelor being cost-effective was above 99% at a threshold of 160,000 THB/QALY compared with branded clopidogrel.

Conclusions

This health economic analysis provides cost effectiveness data for ticagrelor compared with both generic and branded clopidogrel in Thailand. Based on this analysis, it appears that ticagrelor is an economically valuable treatment for ACS compared with branded clopidogrel within the Thai context.
Application of molecular imprinted polymer nanoparticles as a selective solid phase extraction for preconcentration and trace determination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in the human urine and different water samples
Authors: Omidi Fariborz , Behbahani Mohammad , Sadeghi Abandansari Hamid , Sedighi Alireza , Shahtaheri Seyed Jamaleddin
Published: November 2014

A molecular-imprinted polymer nanoparticles (MIP-NP) for the selective preconcentration of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is described. It was obtained by precipitation polymerization from methacrylic acid (the functional monomer), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (the cross-linker), 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (the initiator) and 2,4-D (the template molecule) in acetonitrile solution. The MIP-NPs were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, and by scanning electron microscopy. Imprinted 2,4-D molecules were removed from the polymeric structure using acetic acid in methanol (15:85 v/v %) as the eluting solvent. The sorption and desorption process occur within 10 min and 15 min, respectively. The maximum sorbent capacity of the molecular imprinted polymer is 89.2 mg g−1. The relative standard deviation and limit of detection for water samples by introduced selective solid phase extraction were 4.2% and 1.25 μg L−1, and these data for urine samples were 4.7% and 1.80 μg L−1, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of 2,4-D in the urine and different water samples.
Erratum to: Is fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography useful for the thyroid nodules with indeterminate fine needle aspiration biopsy? a meta-analysis of the literature
Authors: Wang Ningjian , Zhai Hualing , Lu Yingli
Published: November 2014

No abstract
Liraglutide Reduces Oxidative Stress And Restores Heme Oxygenase-1 and Ghrelin Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Pilot Study
Authors: Rizzo Manfredi , Abate Nicola , Chandalia Manisha , Rizvi Ali A. , Giglio Rosaria V. , Nikolic Dragana , Marino Gammazza Antonella , Barbagallo Ignazio , Isenovic Esma R. , Banach Maciej , Montalto Giuseppe , Volti Giovanni Li
Published: November 2014

Context:

Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 analog and glucose-lowering agent whose effects on cardiovascular risk markers have not been fully elucidated.

Objective:

We evaluated the effect of liraglutide on markers of oxidative stress, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and plasma ghrelin levels in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Design and Setting:

A prospective pilot study of 2 months' duration has been performed at the Unit of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Prevention at University of Palermo, Italy.

Patients and Intervention(s):

Twenty subjects with T2DM (10 men and 10 women; mean age: 57 ± 13 y) were treated with liraglutide sc (0.6 mg/d for 2 wk, followed by 1.2 mg/d) in addition to metformin (1500 mg/d orally) for 2 months. Patients with liver disorders or renal failure were excluded.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Plasma ghrelin concentrations, oxidative stress markers, and heat-shock proteins, including HO-1 were assessed.

Results:

The addition of liraglutide resulted in a significant decrease in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (8.5 ± 0.4 vs 7.5 ± 0.4%, P < .0001). In addition, plasma ghrelin and glutathione concentrations increased (8.2 ± 4.1 vs 13.6 ± 7.3 pg/ml, P = .0007 and 0.36 ± 0.06 vs 0.44 ± 0.07 nmol/ml, P = .0002, respectively), whereas serum lipid hydroperoxides and HO-1 decreased (0.11 ± 0.05 vs 0.04 ± 0.07 pg/ml, P = .0487 and 7.7 ± 7.7 vs 3.6 ± 1.8 pg/ml, P = .0445, respectively). These changes were not correlated with changes in fasting glycemia or HbA1c.

Conclusions:

In a 2-months prospective pilot study, the addition of liraglutide to metformin resulted in improvement in oxidative stress as well as plasma ghrelin and HO-1 concentrations in patients with T2DM. These findings seemed to be independent of the known effects of liraglutide on glucose metabolism.