bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WNT antagonists exhibit unique combinatorial antitumor activity with taxanes by potentiating mitotic cell death
Authors: Fischer Marcus M. , Cancilla Belinda , Yeung V. Pete , Cattaruzza Fiore , Chartier Cecile , Murriel Christopher L. , Cain Jennifer , Tam Raymond , Cheng Chieh-Yang , Evans James W. , O’Young Gilbert , Song Xiaomei , Lewicki John , Kapoun Ann M. , Gurney Austin , Yen Wan-Ching , Hoey Timothy
Published: June 2017

WNT antagonism displays marked synergy with taxane chemotherapy and reverses taxane-induced enrichment of cancer stem cells.
A cross–sectional study on the prevalence and associated risk factors for workplace violence against Chinese nurses
Authors: Shi Lei , Zhang Danyang , Zhou Chenyu , Yang Libin , Sun Tao , Hao Tianjun , Peng Xiangwen , Gao Lei , Liu Wenhui , Mu Yi , Han Yuzhen , Fan Lihua
Published: June 2017

Objectives

The purpose of the present study was to explore the characteristics of workplace violence that Chinese nurses at tertiary and county–level hospitals encountered in the 12 months from December 2014 to January 2016, to identify and analyse risk factors for workplace violence, and to establish the basis for future preventive strategies.

Design

A cross–sectional study.

Setting

A total of 44 tertiary hospitals and 90 county–level hospitals in 16 provinces (municipalities or autonomous regions) in China.

Methods

We used stratified random sampling to collect data from December 2014 to January 2016. We distributed 21 360 questionnaires, and 15 970 participants provided valid data (effective response rate=74.77%). We conducted binary logistic regression analyses on the risk factors for workplace violence among the nurses in our sample and analysed the reasons for aggression.

Results

The prevalence of workplace violence was 65.8%; of this, 64.9% was verbal violence, and physical violence and sexual harassment accounted for 11.8% and 3.9%, respectively. Frequent workplace violence occurred primarily in emergency and paediatric departments. Respondents reported that patients’ relatives were the main perpetrators in tertiary and county–level hospitals. Logistic regression analysis showed that respondents’ age, department, years of experience and direct contact with patients were common risk factors at different levels of hospitals.

Conclusions

Workplace violence is frequent in China’s tertiary and county–level hospitals; its occurrence is especially frequent in the emergency and paediatric departments. It is necessary to cope with workplace violence by developing effective control strategies at individual, hospital and national levels.
Effects of a peer support programme for youth social services employees experiencing potentially traumatic events: a protocol for a prospective cohort study
Authors: Guay Stephane , Tremblay Nicole , Goncalves Jane , Bilodeau Henriette , Geoffrion Steve
Published: June 2017

Introduction

The use of peer support programmes to help workers experiencing potentially traumatic events (PTE) has increased in high-risk organisations in the last decades. However, the scientific evidence of its effectiveness is still very limited. This paper aims to describe the protocol of a prospective cohort study that assesses the efficacy of a peer support programme among youth social services employees exposed to a PTE at work on psychological well-being, work functioning and needs of support.

Methods and analysis

This is a mixed-methods prospective study that will examine workers' evolution four times over a 12-month period in Canada. This study involves: (1) quantitative data obtained through self-administrated questionnaires among 222 workers, and (2) qualitative in-depth interviews with a subsample of 45 workers. This study will compare findings from a cohort who received the support of a peer following a PTE (peer support–experimental protocol) as part of the experimental protocol of the Montreal Youth Social Services-University Institute (MYSS-UI), the second group of workers did not ask for the peer support (no peer support-experimental protocol) but was part of MYSS-UI, and the third group received standard organisational support from the Monteregie Youth Social Services (MYSS) (standard organisational protocol).

Ethics and dissemination

The protocol and informed consent form complied with the ethics guidelines of the MYSS-UI. The Research Ethics Board of MYSS-UI and MYSS reviewed and accepted the protocol as required. The results of the study will be published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at research and general public conferences, disseminated via a public report for the institute that funded the project and for all workers. Results of this study will influence decision making regarding intervention policies following PTE and peer support interventions may be expanded throughout the youth social services in Canada and worldwide.
Developing implementation strategies for firearm safety promotion in paediatric primary care for suicide prevention in two large US health systems: a study protocol for a mixed-methods implementation study
Authors: Wolk Courtney Benjamin , Jager-Hyman Shari , Marcus Steven C , Ahmedani Brian K , Zeber John E , Fein Joel A , Brown Gregory K , Lieberman Adina , Beidas Rinad S
Published: June 2017

Introduction

The promotion of safe firearm practices, or firearms means restriction, is a promising but infrequently used suicide prevention strategy in the USA.Safety Checkis an evidence-based practice for improving parental firearm safety behaviour in paediatric primary care. However, providers rarely discuss firearm safety during visits, suggesting the need to better understand barriers and facilitators to promoting this approach. This study, Adolescent Suicide Prevention In Routine clinical Encounters, aims to engender a better understanding of how to implement the three firearm components ofSafety Checkas a suicide prevention strategy in paediatric primary care.

Methods and analysis

The National Institute of Mental Health-funded Mental Health Research Network (MHRN), a consortium of 13 healthcare systems across the USA, affords a unique opportunity to better understand how to implement a firearm safety intervention in paediatric primary care from a system-level perspective. We will collaboratively develop implementation strategies in partnership with MHRN stakeholders. First, we will survey leadership of 82 primary care practices (ie, practices serving children, adolescents and young adults) within two MHRN systems to understand acceptability and use of the three firearm components ofSafety Check(ie, screening, brief counselling around firearm safety and provision of firearm locks). Then, in collaboration with MHRN stakeholders, we will use intervention mapping and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to systematically develop and evaluate a multilevel menu of implementation strategies for promoting firearm safety as a suicide prevention strategy in paediatric primary care.

Ethics and dissemination

Study procedures have been approved by the University of Pennsylvania. Henry Ford Health System and Baylor Scott & White institutional review boards (IRBs) have ceded IRB review to the University of Pennsylvania IRB. Results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
Treatments for gestational diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Farrar Diane , Simmonds Mark , Bryant Maria , Sheldon Trevor A , Tuffnell Derek , Golder Su , Lawlor Debbie A
Published: June 2017

Objective

To investigate the effectiveness of different treatments for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Design

Systematic review, meta-analysis and network meta-analysis.

Methods

Data sources were searched up to July 2016 and included MEDLINE and Embase. Randomised trials comparing treatments for GDM (packages of care (dietary and lifestyle interventions with pharmacological treatments as required), insulin, metformin, glibenclamide (glyburide)) were selected by two authors and double checked for accuracy. Outcomes included large for gestational age, shoulder dystocia, neonatal hypoglycaemia, caesarean section and pre-eclampsia. We pooled data using random-effects meta-analyses and used Bayesian network meta-analysis to compare pharmacological treatments (ie, including treatments not directly compared within a trial).

Results

Forty-two trials were included, the reporting of which was generally poor with unclear or high risk of bias. Packages of care varied in their composition and reduced the risk of most adverse perinatal outcomes compared with routine care (eg, large for gestational age: relative risk0.58 (95% CI 0.49 to 0.68; I2=0%; trials 8; participants 3462). Network meta-analyses suggest that metformin had the highest probability of being the most effective treatment in reducing the risk of most outcomes compared with insulin or glibenclamide.

Conclusions

Evidence shows that packages of care are effective in reducing the risk of most adverse perinatal outcomes. However, trials often include few women, are poorly reported with unclear or high risk of bias and report few outcomes. The contribution of each treatment within the packages of care remains unclear. Large well-designed and well-conducted trials are urgently needed.

Trial registration number

PROSPERO CRD42013004608.
IRTKS is correlated with progression and survival time of patients with gastric cancer
Authors: Huang Li-Yu , Wang Xuefei , Cui Xiao-Fang , Li He , Zhao Junjie , Wu Chong-Chao , Min Lingqiang , Zhou Zhicheng , Wan Lixin , Wang Yu-Ping , Zhang Chao , Gao Wei-Qiang , Sun Yihong , Han Ze-Guang
Published: June 2017

Background and objectives

IRTKS functions as a novel regulator of tumour suppressor p53; however, the role of IRTKS in pathogenesis of gastric cancer is unclear.

Design

We used immunohistochemistry to detect IRTKS levels in 527 human gastric cancer specimens. We generated both IRTKS-deficient and p53-deficient mice to observe survival time of these mice and to isolate mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) for evaluating in vivo tumorigenicity. Co-immunoprecipitation was used to study the interaction among p53, MDM2 and IRTKS, as well as the ubiquitination of p53.

Results

IRTKS was significantly overexpressed in human gastric cancer, which was conversely associated with wild-type p53 expression. Among patients with wild-type p53 (n=206), those with high IRTKS expression (n=141) had a shorter survival time than those with low IRTKS (n=65) (p=0.0153). Heterozygous p53+/− mice with IRTKS deficiency exhibited significantly delayed tumorigenesis and an extended tumour-free survival time. p53+/− MEFs without IRTKS exhibited attenuated in vivo tumorigenicity. IRTKS depletion upregulated p53 and its target genes, such as BAX and p21. Intriguingly, IRTKS overexpression promoted p53 ubiquitination and degradation in MEFs and gastric cancer cells. Under DNA damage conditions, IRTKS was phosphorylated at Ser331 by the activated Chk2 kinase and then dissociated from p53, along with the p53-specific E3 ubiquitin ligase MDM2, resulting in attenuated p53 ubiquitination and degradation.

Conclusion

IRTKS overexpression is negatively correlated with progression and overall survival time of patients with gastric cancer with wild-type p53 through promotion of p53 degradation via the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway.
Platelet count and mean platelet volume predict outcome in adults with Eisenmenger syndrome
Authors: Martin-Garcia Agustin C , Arachchillage Deepa RJ , Kempny Aleksander , Alonso-Gonzalez Rafael , Martin-Garcia Ana , Uebing Anselm , Swan Lorna , Wort Stephen J , Price Laura C , McCabe Colm , Sanchez Pedro Luis , Dimopoulos Konstantinos , Gatzoulis Michael A
Published: June 2017

Objectives

Although a significant proportion of patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease are thrombocytopaenic, its prevalence and clinical significance in adults with Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) is not well studied. Accordingly, we examined the relationship of thrombocytopaenia and mean platelet volume (MPV) to bleeding or thrombotic complications and survival in a contemporary cohort of patients with ES, including patients with Down syndrome.

Methods

Demographics, laboratory and clinical data were analysed from 226 patients with ES under active follow-up over 11 years.

Results

Age at baseline was 34.6±11.4 years and 34.1% were men. Mean platelet count and MPV were 152.6±73.3×109/L and 9.6±1.2 fL, respectively. A strong inverse correlation was found between platelet count and haemoglobin concentration and MPV. During the study, there were 39 deaths, and 21 thrombotic and 43 bleeding events. On univariate Cox regression analysis, patients with a platelet count <100×109/L had a twofold increased mortality (HR 2.10, 95% CI 1.10 to 4.01, p=0.024). Platelet count was not associated with an increased risk of thrombosis. However, there was a threefold increased thrombotic risk with MPV >9.5 fL (HR 3.50, 95% CI 1.28 to 9.54, p=0.015). Patients with either severe secondary erythrocytosis (>220g/L) or anaemia (<130g/L) were at higher risk of thrombotic events (HR 3.93, 95% CI 1.60 to 9.67, p=0.003; and HR 4.75, 95% CI 1.03 to 21.84, p=0.045, respectively).

Conclusions

Thrombocytopaenia significantly increased the risk of mortality in ES. Furthermore, raised MPV, severe secondary erythrocytosis and anaemia, but not platelet count, were associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events in our adult cohort.
Model Predictive Current Control of a Three-Phase T-Type NPC Inverter to Reduce Common Mode Voltage
Authors: Aswani Kumar Eedara , Chandra Sekhar Koritala , Srinivasa Rao Rayapudi
Published: June 2017

This paper presents a reduced control set model predictive control (RCSMPC) method for three-phase T-type neutral-point-clamped (NPC) inverter. The whole control set (WCS) consists of all the 27 switching states of T-type NPC inverter. The reduced control set (RCS) with 19 switching states is formed from WCS by excluding the switching states with common mode voltage (CMV) value higher than one-sixth of input DC voltage [Formula: see text]. With RCS, single-objective model predictive current control method can restrict the CMV peak value to [Formula: see text]. To further reduce the CMV below this threshold, a cost function with the weighted sum of two control targets is formulated in the RCSMPC method. The two control targets of RCSMPC method are CMV mitigation and load current control. The weight for CMV is called bias factor. The RCSMPC method is computationally efficient, as the number of switching states is less than that of WCSMPC. To further reduce the computational burden, CMV values corresponding to all the switching states are calculated offline and stored in memory. Robustness of both the methods is investigated with parameter deviations at different bias factors and reference currents. The proposed method is validated using simulation and experimental results and compared with the existing methods.
As-You-Type Social Aware Search
Authors: Lagrée Paul , Cautis Bogdan , Vahabi Hossein
Published: June 2017

Modern search applications feature real-time as-you-type query search. In its elementary form, the problem consists in retrieving a set of
k
search results, that is, performing a search with a given prefix, and showing the top-ranked results. In this article, we focus on as-you-type keyword search over social media, that is, data published by users who are interconnected through a social network. We adopt a “network-aware” interpretation for information relevance, by which information produced by users who are closer to the user issuing a request is considered more relevant. This query model raises new challenges for effectiveness and efficiency in online search, even when the intent of the user is fully specified, as a complete query given as input in one keystroke. This is mainly because it requires a joint exploration of the social space and traditional IR indexes, such as inverted lists. We describe a memory-efficient and incremental prefix-based retrieval algorithm, which also exhibits an anytime behavior, allowing output of the most likely answer within any chosen runtime limit. We evaluate our approach through extensive experiments for several applications and search scenarios. We consider searching for posts in microblogging (Twitter and Tumblr), for businesses (Yelp), as well as for movies (Amazon) based on reviews. We also conduct a series of experiments comparing our algorithm with baselines using state-of-the-art techniques and measuring the improvements brought by several key optimizations. They show that our solution is effective in answering real-time as-you-type searches over social media.
Graph-Based Fraud Detection in the Face of Camouflage
Authors: Hooi Bryan , Shin Kijung , Song Hyun Ah , Beutel Alex , Shah Neil , Faloutsos Christos
Published: June 2017

Given a bipartite graph of users and the products that they review, or followers and followees, how can we detect fake reviews or follows? Existing fraud detection methods (spectral, etc.) try to identify dense subgraphs of nodes that are sparsely connected to the remaining graph. Fraudsters can evade these methods using
camouflage
, by adding reviews or follows with honest targets so that they look “normal.” Even worse, some fraudsters use
hijacked accounts
from honest users, and then the camouflage is indeed organic.

Our focus is to spot fraudsters in the presence of camouflage or hijacked accounts. We propose FRAUDAR, an algorithm that (a) is camouflage resistant, (b) provides upper bounds on the effectiveness of fraudsters, and (c) is effective in real-world data. Experimental results under various attacks show that FRAUDAR outperforms the top competitor in accuracy of detecting both camouflaged and non-camouflaged fraud. Additionally, in real-world experiments with a Twitter follower--followee graph of 1.47 billion edges, FRAUDAR successfully detected a subgraph of more than 4, 000 detected accounts, of which a majority had tweets showing that they used follower-buying services.
Computational Aesthetic Evaluation of Logos
Authors: Zhang Jiajing , Yu Jinhui , Zhang Kang , Zheng Xianjun Sam , Zhang Junsong
Published: June 2017

Computational aesthetics has become an active research field in recent years, but there have been few attempts in computational aesthetic evaluation of logos. In this article, we restrict our study on black-and-white logos, which are professionally designed for name-brand companies with similar properties, and apply perceptual models of standard design principles in computational aesthetic evaluation of logos. We define a group of metrics to evaluate some aspects in design principles such as balance, contrast, and harmony of logos. We also collect human ratings of balance, contrast, harmony, and aesthetics of 60 logos from 60 volunteers. Statistical linear regression models are trained on this database using a supervised machine-learning method. Experimental results show that our model-evaluated balance, contrast, and harmony have highly significant correlation of over 0.87 with human evaluations on the same dimensions. Finally, we regress human-evaluated aesthetics scores on model-evaluated balance, contrast, and harmony. The resulted regression model of aesthetics can predict human judgments on perceived aesthetics with a high correlation of 0.85. Our work provides a machine-learning-based reference framework for quantitative aesthetic evaluation of graphic design patterns and also the research of exploring the relationship between aesthetic perceptions of human and computational evaluation of design principles extracted from graphic designs.
Improving Performance under Process and Voltage Variations in Near-Threshold Computing Using 3D ICs
Authors: Samal Sandeep Kumar , Chen Guoqing , Lim Sung Kyu
Published: June 2017

Near-threshold computing (NTC) circuits have been shown to offer significant energy efficiency and power benefits but with a huge performance penalty. This performance loss exacerbates if process and voltage variations are considered. In this article, we demonstrate that three-dimensional (3D) IC technology can overcome this limitation. We present a detailed case study with a 28nm commercial-grade core at 0.6V operation optimized with various 3D IC physical design methods. First, our study under the deterministic case shows that 3D IC NTC design outperforms 2D IC NTC by 29.5% in terms of performance at comparable energy. This is significantly higher than the 12.8% performance benefit of 3D IC at nominal voltage supplies due to higher delay sensitivity to input slew at lower voltages. Second, it is well demonstrated that transistor delay is more sensitive to voltage changes at NTC operation. However, our full-chip study reveals that IR drop effect on 2D/3D IC NTC performance is not severe due to the low power consumption and hence lower IR drop values. Third, die-to-die variation impact on full-chip performance is visible in 3D IC NTC designs, but it is not worse compared to 2D IC NTC designs. This is mainly due to the shorter critical path length in 3D IC NTC designs.
DeformWear
Authors: Weigel Martin , Steimle Jürgen
Published: June 2017

Due to their small surfaces, wearable devices make existing techniques for touch input very challenging. This paper proposes deformation input on a tiny and soft surface as an input modality for wearable computing devices. We introduce DeformWear, tiny wearable devices that leverage single-point deformation input on various body locations. Despite the small input surface, DeformWear enables expressive and precise input using high-resolution pressure, shear, and pinch deformations. We present a first set of interaction techniques for tiny deformation-sensitive wearable devices. They enable fluid interaction in a large input space by combining multiple dimensions of deformation. We demonstrate their use in seven application examples, showing DeformWear as a standalone input device and as a companion device for smartwatches, head-mounted displays, or headphones. Results from a user study demonstrate that these tiny devices allow for precise and expressive interactions on many body locations, in standing and walking conditions.
Distributed Rate Allocation in Switch-Based Multiparty Videoconferencing System
Authors: D'aronco Stefano , Mena Sergio , Frossard Pascal
Published: June 2017

Multiparty videoconferences, or more generally multiparty video calls, are gaining a lot of popularity as they offer a rich communication experience. These applications have, however, large requirements in terms of both network and computational resources and have to deal with sets of heterogenous clients. The multiparty videoconferencing systems are usually either based on expensive central nodes, called Multipoint Control Units (MCU), with transcoding capabilities, or on a peer-to-peer architecture where users cooperate to distribute more efficiently the different video streams. Whereas the first class of systems requires an expensive central hardware, the second one depends completely on the redistribution capacity of the users, which sometimes might neither provide sufficient bandwidth nor be reliable enough. In this work, we propose an alternative solution where we use a central node to distribute the video streams, but at the same time we maintain the hardware complexity and the computational requirements of this node as low as possible, for example, it has no video decoding capabilities. We formulate the rate allocation problem as an optimization problem that aims at maximizing the Quality of Service (QoS) of the videoconference. We propose two different distributed algorithms for solving the optimization problem: the first algorithm is able to find an approximate solution of the problem in a one-shot execution, whereas the second algorithm, based on Lagrangian relaxation, performs iterative updates of the optimization variables in order to gradually increase the value of the objective function. The two algorithms, though being disjointed, nicely complement each other. If executed in sequence, they allow us to achieve both a quick approximate rate reallocation, in case of a sudden change of the system conditions, and a precise refinement of the variables, which avoids problems caused by possible faulty approximate solutions. We have further implemented our solution in a network simulator where we show that our rate allocation algorithm is able to properly optimize users’ QoS. We also illustrate the benefits of our solution in terms of network usage and overall utility when compared to a baseline heuristic method operating on the same system architecture.
User Interface Optimization using Genetic Programming with an Application to Landing Pages
Authors: Salem Paulo
Published: June 2017

The design of user interfaces (UIs), such as World Wide Web pages, usually consists in a human designer mapping one particular problem (e.g., the demands of a customer) to one particular solution (i.e., the UI). In this article, a technology based on Genetic Programming is proposed to automate critical parts of the design process. In this approach, designers are supposed to define basic content elements and ways to combine them, which are then automatically composed and tested with real users by a genetic algorithm in order to find optimized compositions. Such a strategy enables the exploration of large design state-spaces in a systematic manner, hence going beyond traditional A/B testing approaches. In relation to similar techniques also based on genetic algorithms, this system has the advantage of being more general, providing the basis of an overall programmatic UI design workflow, and of calculating the fitness of solutions incrementally. To illustrate and evaluate the approach, an experiment based on the optimization of landing pages is provided. The empirical result obtained, though preliminary, is statistically significant and corroborates the hypothesis that the technique works.
GLP-1/GLP-1R Signaling in Regulation of Adipocyte Differentiation and Lipogenesis
Authors: Chen Jicui , Zhao Huichen , Ma Xiaoli , Zhang Yuchao , Lu Sumei , Wang Yangang , Zong Chen , Qin Dandan , Wang Yuanmei , Yingfeng Yang Yingfeng , Wang Xiangdong , Liu Yuantao
Published: June 2017

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the direct role of liraglutide (LG) in adipogenesis and lipid metabolism. Methods: Lipid accumulation was evaluated by oil red O staining, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed to determine glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R), fatty acid synthase (FASN) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) expression in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, differentiated adipocytes and in adipose tissues from mice. The effects of LG on 3T3-L1 adipogenesis and lipid metabolism were analyzed with qPCR, Western Blotting, oil red O staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF). All measurements were performed at least three times. Results: LG increased the expression of differentiation marker genes and lipid accumulation during preadipocyte differentiation. In differentiated adipocytes, LG decreased FASN expression, and simultaneously led to CREB phosphorylation and ERK1/2 activation which were abolished by a GLP-1R antagonist, exendin (9-39). LG induced-FASN down-regulation was partially reversed by PKA and ERK1/2 inhibitors. Consistent with above in vitro findings, LG treatment significantly reduced FASN expression in visceral adipose tissues of ob/ob mice, and reduced body weight gain. Conclusion: LG promotes preadipocytes differentiation, and inhibits FASN expression in adipocytes. LG induced down-regulation of FASN is at least partially mediated by PKA and MAPK signaling pathways.
Potamonautes nheenae, a new species of freshwater crab from Gabon, Central Africa, with a description of the first known male of Erimetopus brazzae (A. Milne-Edwards, 1886) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa (Brachyura: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae)
Authors: CUMBERLIDGE NEIL
Published: June 2017

A new species of the freshwater crab genus Potamonautes MacLeay, 1838, is described from Ivindo National Park in Sofala Province, Gabon, Central Africa. Potamonautes nheenae n. sp. is morphologically distinct from the other species of this genus found in Gabon and nearby countries in Central Africa, and is most closely related to P. paecilei (A. Milne-Edwards, 1886) from the Lower Congo River basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The new species is recognised by a unique combination of morphological characters of the adult male first gonopod, anterior sternum, mouthparts, and major cheliped. Illustrations of P. nheenae n. sp. are provided and differences with congeners found in Central Africa are discussed. In addition, the male gonopods, pleon, and sternum of the unusual freshwater crab Erimetopus brazzae (A. Milne-Edwards, 1886), are illustrated for the first time since its description in 1886, following the discovery of the first known male specimen of this species in the collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University.
The Effect of Target Surround Density on Visual Search Performance
Authors: Monk Timothy H. , Brown Brian
Published: June 2017

In an earlier study, Brown and Monk (1975) defined the area of display immediately adjacent to the target to be the “target surround”. Using highly specific configurations of nontargets in the target surround, they showed that congested target surrounds act to camouflage the target. The present study tests these results under more general conditions where no specific configurations are enforced. A linear increasing function is found between geometric mean search time and target surround density, using three measures of the latter. The implication of this result to studies of overall nontarget density is discussed.
Motion Relationships in Aircraft Attitude and Guidance Displays: A Flight Experiment
Authors: Roscoe Stanley N. , Williges Robert C.
Published: June 2017

Sixteen nonpilot Naval ROTC students were tested on tasks involving conflicting visual and vestibular cues while flying with each of four basic aircraft attitude presentations (moving horizon, moving airplane, frequency-separated, and kinalog) in a Beechcraft C-45H airplane. Flight-director versions of each display presenting either compensatory or pursuit steering guidance were also compared on a command flight path tracking task involving random heading changes. For all attitude presentations, pursuit tracking was superior to compensatory tracking and the order of merit of the four attitude presentations in flight casts doubt upon the validity of previous simulator experiments. It was concluded that the principle of display frequency separation provides at least equivalent pilot steering performance to that obtained with the conventional moving horizon format, while the anticipatory cues it affords tends to reduce the incidence of control reversals under circumstances of subliminal angular acceleration by providing initial direction-of-motion compatibility.
The Transition of Experienced Pilots to a Frequency-Separated Aircraft Attitude Display
Authors: Beringer Dennis B. , Williges Robert C. , Roscoe Stanley N.
Published: June 2017

Independent groups of eight professional pilots each were given one flight in a Link GAT-2 simulator and one flight in a Beechcraft C-45H using, respectively, the moving horizon, moving airplane, and frequency-separated attitude displays. The flight tasks performed by the subjects included recovery from unknown attitudes, disturbed attitude tracking, and completion of an area navigation course. Data collected in the C-45H aircraft demonstrated superior performance of both the frequency-separated and moving horizon displays when compared to the moving airplane display during unknown attitude recoveries. The frequency-separated display was superior to all others during disturbed attitude tracking. It was concluded that the flight performance of experienced pilots during their initial transition to a frequency-separated flight attitude presentation is at least comparable, and for some tasks superior, to their flight performance with the conventional moving horizon presentation.
Effective Choice in the Prisoner's Dilemma
Authors: Axelrod Robert
Published: June 2017

This is a “primer” on how to play the iterated Prisoner's Dilemma game effectively. Existing research approaches offer the participant limited help in understanding how to cope effectively with such interactions. To gain a deeper understanding of how to be effective in such a partially competitive and partially cooperative environment, a computer tournament was conducted for the iterated Prisoner's Dilemma. Decision rules were submitted by entrants who were recruited primarily from experts in game theory from a variety of disciplines: psychology, political science, economics, sociology, and mathematics. The results of the tournament demonstrate that there are subtle reasons for an individualistic pragmatist to cooperate as long as the other side does, to be somewhat for-giving, and to be optimistic about the other side's responsiveness.
The Conflict and Peace Data Bank (COPDAB) Project
Authors: Azar Edward E.
Published: June 2017

As students of politics and political science, we should and we do care about the events which lead to war, instability, and international tension as well as about events which lead to equitable interdependence, integration, peace, improvement of quality of life, reduction of colonialism, and so on. Because we care about these matters, we try to advance procedures and theories about systematizing our observations and improving our skills of analysis. Recent developments in international relations have tended to (a) emphasize the exploration of more specific problems and testing of hypotheses with quantified data and (b) deemphasized the search for general theories of internation behavior. This trend appears to be undergoing slight modification for many reasons. Events contain useful information which permit a student of foreign policy to use events singularly or in the aggregate to study foreign policy outputs and inputs. A student of international systems uses events singularly or in the aggregate to study patterns, structures, and transformation. This research calls for continuously developing models and operational procedures which analyze these phenomena with faster and better numerical precision. The Conflict and Peace Data Bank Project is the contribution of myself, my students, and my colleagues to this effort.
A Condition on Plausible Inducements
Authors: Fillenbaum Samuel
Published: June 2017

Searle's analysis of categorial promises is extended to the case of conditional promises and threats (inducements), and a condition on the pragmatic plausibility of inducements is spelled out in terms of the relation between the value/cost of the act being requested or forbidden and the value/cost of the incentive being offered. Some data comprised of judgments as to the ordinariness/strangeness of a number of different sorts of inducement statements are presented to show that subjects are sensitive to the felicity condition suggested.
Words Written in Kana Are Named Faster Than the Same Words Written in Kanji
Authors: Feldman Laurie B. , Turvey M.T.
Published: June 2017

Two adult Japanese named colors written in Kanji, a logographic orthography, and in Kana, a syllabary. Although colors are more frequently written in the Kanji form and although Kanji are more compact graphic representations of words in general, latency to vocalization was consistently less for the Kana. This superiority is attributed to the closer relation of Kana to phonology and, therefore, to speech. The demonstrated greater facility for naming Kana accords with observations in the literature that very familiar visual configurations are consistently named faster when they conform to a phonographic principle than when they do not.
Developmental Aspects of the Perception of Acoustic Cues in Determining the Voicing Feature of Final Stop Consonants
Authors: Wardrip-Fruin C. , Peach S.
Published: June 2017

The developmental use of vowel duration, final transition and voicing during closure as cues to voicing in final stop consonants were investigated, using 10 three-year-old, 10 six-year-old and 10 adult subjects. The stimuli were alterations of eight stop-vowel-stop words. The presentation of each stimulus item was response contingent. The resulting data supported the ability of adults and children to use both temporal and spectral cues to acoustic/ phonetic distinctions. However, three-year olds relied more on temporal cues, six-year olds relied more on spectral cues, while adults used both spectral and temporal cues in judging the voicing feature of final stop consonants.
Children's Comprehension of Time-Altered Sentences
Authors: Bochner Joseph H.
Published: June 2017

The influence of speech timing on children's auditory processing of sentences was examined with a question-answering comprehension task. Sentences were presented under two conditions, one employing natural speech and the other speech with an electronically-altered temporal pattern. Three types of sentences in each presentation condition were administered to children enrolled in the first, second and third grades. The sentence types consisted of center-embedded (SS) and right-branching (OS) relative clause sentences and conjoined constructions. The main effects of presentation condition, sentence type, and grade level were each significant, as was the three-way interaction. The results are discussed with regard to the interaction among speech timing, sentence structure, and children's age.
Auditory and Visual Influences on Phonemic Restoration
Authors: Trout J.D. , Poser William J.
Published: June 2017

Phonemic restoration was studied using a version of Samuel's (1981a) psychophysical paradigm. We examined the influence of specific acoustic correlates of voicing and place of articulation on phonemic restoration (d') and response bias (Beta). The influence of a higher-level, phonotactic constraint was also examined. All of the stimuli were presented in both auditory-only and auditory-visual conditions, allowing the investigation of potential benefits of vision on phonemic restoration. The results support the predictions of an interactive-activation model, combining both top-down and bottom-up factors. As predicted, voicing and place of articulation significantly affected d': Voiceless stop consonants received greater restoration than voiced stops, and alveolar stops were less restorable than bilabial and velar stops. The phonotactic, top-down constraint affected neither d' nor Beta. Visual information, however, appeared to reduce the bias to report an item as intact.
Phonemic Transformations: Mapping the Illusory Organization of Steady-State Vowel Sequences
Authors: Chalikia Magdalene H. , Warren Richard M.
Published: June 2017

Previous research has shown that listeners presented with repeated sequences of brief steady-state vowels (30–100 msec) experience phonemic transformations (that is, illusory changes in the identity of the constituent speech sounds) and report hearing verbal forms consisting of one or more syllables rather than a succession of vowels. Often the signal is split perceptually into two simultaneous organizations differing in both timbre and phonemic content. The present studies employed sequences of eight 80-msec vowels and mapped the perceptual phonemes to acoustic phones by terminating the repeated sequence at predetermined positions and determining the last speech sound heard in the perceived verbal organization (Experiments 1 and 2). When two simultaneous organizations were heard, they were both mapped (Experiments 2 and 3). It was found that: (1) all listeners reported hearing a polysyllabic verbal organization together with either a noise-like non-linguistic residue or a second verbal organization; (2) the verbal forms heard not only followed the phonotactic rules of English, but also corresponded to syllables actually found in English; (3) when two simultaneous organizations were heard, the primary or more salient one was usually longer; (4) simultaneous organizations had different timbres. Implications concerning the perceptual organization of speech are discussed.
Visions in conflict: The village in the nationalist discourse
Authors: Thakur Manish K.
Published: June 2017

Early colonial scholar-administrators preferred to describe Indian society as a sum total of self-sufficient ‘little republics’-its villages. The view stemmed not from the prevailing constitution of the Indian society but because of the imperatives of consolidating an empire over an alien land. Post-Independence, the caste-view of Indian society overtook the village-view. The village declined in significance as labelling of social groups and recording of genealogies became absolutely central to administration. A look into the nationalists’ points of view, both pre-and post-Independence, shows that the idea of the village varied as per different currents of thought and practice. The perceptions of Gandhi and Ambedkar, for instance, indicate how competing political agendas made a significant impact on the varied idealisations/criticisms of the Indian village. At the same time, all these views helped bring the village into the centre of ideological and political debate.
Changing structure and organisation of agriculture and small farmers in India
Authors: Singh Sukhpal
Published: June 2017

Since most farm operators have been small and marginal farmers in India, growth in the sector was mainly determined by the role of the state-both in capital financing as well as the incentive structures created. Now, however, there is distress among small and marginal farmers, both in agriculturally advanced as well as backward regions, as manifested in farmer suicides. The viability of small holdings is an important issue and promoting agricultural commercialisation and diversification towards high-value crops is one of the means through which this can be achieved.
Violence and women
Authors: Dhar Ruby
Published: June 2017

After World War II, when the United Nations came into being, the focus was on development of the entire world. This was to be achieved through equity and equality, but these were unattainable because of the different ways men and women are treated. This inequality has been addressed at both national and international levels, but the scales have still not tilted in favour of women. The present paper attempts a look at how societies perceive women after three decades of active interventions. Violence against women has been taken as an indicator of the status and empowerment of women. Data on domestic and sexual violence, trafficking of women and girls and violence against women during armed conflict, war and migration shows that despite policies and strategies adopted for empowerment of women, nothing much has changed for the average woman the world over due to social structures, cultural norms and religious practices.
Quality of life in north-eastern India: The totally fuzzy analysis
Authors: Pradhan Rudra P.
Published: June 2017

The paper traces the status of quality of life in India with particular reference to north-eastern states. It proposes a methodology to combine different dimensions of quality of life, such as income, education, health, employment and infrastructure, into Quality of Life Index (QLI) by applying Totally Fuzzy Analysis (TFA). The empirical findings suggest that the status of quality of life is substantially high in Goa, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram. It is quite low in Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Assam. The other states are in the average level of quality of life. Coming to north-east India, the quality of life is substantially high in Mizoram, Sikkim and Nagaland and considerably low in Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Manipur. The position of these states remains unchanged during the last two decades. However between these two groups, the position of the individual state differs from one period to another. The paper at the end confirms that all the dimensions included in the study are very relevant to forecast the quality of life in the Indian economy in general and north-eastern India in particular.
The STAR Project: Enhancing Adolescents' Social Understanding through Video-Based, Multimedia Scenarios
Authors: Goldsworthy Richard C. , Barab Sasha A. , Goldsworthy Elizabeth L.
Published: June 2017

Adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other externalizing disorders are at risk for academic and behavioral problems as a result, in part, of their lack of social competence. One aspect of this population's difficulty in social situations may be attributed to an impaired ability to analyze the social situations of which they are a part, recognize the multiple perspectives or interpretations that individuals may take away from a social situation, and act in a situationally appropriate manner. This study examines a computer game that supports the development of learners' social problem-solving skills. The game package consists of an immersive environment, integrated digital videos of social situations, and embedded questions and instruction. In a controlled, three-group, pre-post experimental design, the prototype performed significantly better than an attention-placebo control and comparably to a therapist-directed group on a transfer measure of problem solving and on one of two engagement measures. No significant differences were found on the Gresham and Elliott Social Skills Rating Scales (SSRS). These results, together with the findings from formative evaluation of the product, led to several recommendations for future work.
Acquisition and Generalization of Purchasing Skills Using a Video Enhanced Computer-Based Instructional Program
Authors: Ayres Kevin M. , Langone John
Published: June 2017

This study evaluated stimulus generalization of purchasing skills learned in a computer simulation across settings. Three elementary school students with moderate intellectual disabilities used a computer-based instruction package to practice purchasing skills and the dollar plus strategy. The instructional package utilized video footage as an anchor for learning activities and a constant time delay procedure to facilitate skill acquisition. Student progress on the computer-based intervention did not generalize to the community setting; however, changes in purchasing behavior in the community setting were observed from baseline to post intervention probes.
Assistive Technology Integration in Special Education Teacher Preparation: Program Coordinators' Perceptions of Current Attainment and Importance
Authors: Michaels Craig A. , McDermott Jennifer
Published: June 2017

This article reports findings from a national survey of special education teacher preparation programs regarding the integration of assistive technology (AT) into curriculum and instruction. Two questions framed this research. The first focused on how AT knowledge, skills, and dispositions are currently integrated (the Current Attainment Level), and the second focused on how AT should ideally be integrated (the Importance). All paired t tests between Current Attainment Level and Importance were statistically significant (p < .01 for factors and p < .001 for individual items) and substantively meaningful (large effect sizes, mostly > .8). Qualitative analysis focused on understanding (a) potential strategies for promoting the integration of AT knowledge, skills, and dispositions, and (b) the barriers to AT integration. The findings have important implications for future practices in special education teacher preparation.