bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS, SOVEREIGNTY AND THE PUBLIC GOOD
Authors: Francioni Francesco
Published: November 2014

In spite of occasional references to the “public interest” or the “public good” in legal instruments on foreign investment and in arbitral practice, effective implementation of the concept remains elusive. This is the case first of all due to the fact that arbitrators are faced with the difficulties inherent in performing the delicate function of a quasi “judicial review” of contested host State’s measures. The second factor relates to the fact that the notion of “public good” that emerges from contemporary arbitral practice is confined to the national public interest of the host State and does not include the general interest of the international community as a whole. This article argues that, given the present state of the international economy, the regime of investment protection has to be reconciled not only with the public interest of the host State but also with the emerging concepts of international common goods, which include the global environment, human rights and the cultural heritage of humanity. Given the lack of global institutions responsible for the management of such common goods, this article advocates a functional approach to the exercise of sovereignty that transcends the traditional principles of territoriality and nationality and entails the obligation of both home and host countries to take into account the effects of their investment policies on the general interest of the international community.
CUSTOMARY LAW IN INVESTMENT REGULATION
Authors: Viñuales Jorge E.
Published: November 2014

This article explores the expression of State sovereignty through customary norms in a regulatory space dominated by investment treaties. It argues that, because most of the actionable concepts expressing sovereignty in international law are general (not specific to a “branch”) andcustomary, misunderstanding the role of customary law in investment regulation amounts to confining sovereignty to a few narrow carve-outs and exceptions in investment treaties. However, customary concepts operate autonomously and in parallel to treaties, unless specifically excluded by the latter. The lex specialis principle does not necessarily command the exclusion in toto of relevant customary rules. The article discusses the work of the Institut de Droit International in this regard and then analyses the investment case law relating to the application of the police powers doctrine, necessity, countermeasures and transnational public policy. It shows that failure to address specifically the articulation of treaty and customary norms even in the event the former apply as lex specialis is subtly eroding, without clear legal grounds,the customary expression of sovereignty in foreign investment disputes.
THE “UNEXPECTED” DEVELOPMENT-FRIENDLY DEFINITION OF INVESTMENT IN THE 2013 RESOLUTION OF THE INSTITUT DE DROIT INTERNATIONAL
Authors: Acconci Pia
Published: November 2014

The importance of the widespread reliance upon direct arbitration, particularly arbitration under the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), and of the practice of “arbitration without privity” is at the root of the search for a definition of investment, as underlined by the 2013 Resolution of the Institut de droit international (IDI). The Resolution refers to a development-friendly definition of investment. This article aims to explain to what extent a definition based upon references to sustainable development would constitute an acceptable specification, albeit a partial one, of the term “development” used in the IDI Resolution, in light of the need of a reconciliation between private and public interests within current international investment law. The article also deals with the issue of whether the ICSID Convention provides for an autonomous definition of investment that cannot be overridden by the terms of a given international investment treaty, and if so, which criteria should be taken into consideration for the purposes of determining whether an investment exists within the meaning of Article 25(1) of the ICSID Convention.
TRANSFER PROVISIONS OF BITS IN TIMES OF FINANCIAL CRISIS
Authors: Luca Anna De
Published: November 2014

This article discusses the provisions on investment-related transfers, which are routinely included in International Investment Agreements (IIAs) and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs). Under these transfer provisions the right of investors to transfer funds related to covered investments is apparently not subject to any explicit limitation. The article discusses the problems connected with the absence in many BITs of explicit derogations to the permitted transfers, and temporary exceptions to such transfers in case of balance of payments or macroeconomic difficulties. After having analysed the scarce case law on the matter, the article highlights the cautious approach, taken (at least until now) by arbitral tribunals in interpreting transfer provisions. Finally the article illustrates the growing trend in the international treaty practice towards the inclusion of transfer provisions, accompanied with safeguard provisions in case of serious balance-of-payments difficulties and external financial difficulties.
THE GURLITT HOARD: AN APPRAISAL OF THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW WITH RESPECT TO NAZI-LOOTED ART
Authors: Chechi Alessandro
Published: November 2014

Two years ago, German authorities conducting a routine tax investigation stumbled on the largest trove of missing artworks since the end of the Second World War. The collection of paintings and drawings was discovered in a Munich apartment owned by Cornelius Gurlitt, the late son of Hildebrand Gurlitt, one of the art dealers approved by the Nazis. It is likely that most of these artworks were plundered from German museums and Jewish collections in the period 1933-1945. The discovery triggered heated debates about the obligations of the German State and the property rights over this art collection. This article looks at the ongoing Gurlitt case from an international law perspective and discusses two different but interrelated issues. First, it traces the genealogy and extrapolates the influence of the international legal instruments that have been adopted to deal with the looting of works of art committed by the Nazis. Second, it examines the available means of dispute settlement that can lead to the “just and fair” solution of Holocaust-related cases in general and the Gurlitt case in particular. The objective of this analysis is to demonstrate that international law plays a key role in addressing and reversing the effects of the Nazi looting.
RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW IN A TIME OF ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRISIS: THE ROLE OF REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE HUNGARIAN AFFAIRE
Authors: Casolari Federico
Published: November 2014

This article offers a critical analysis of the role played by regional international organizations (IOs) – in particular the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe, and the European Union (EU) – in coping with the problems that have been affecting the rule of law in the aftermath of the recent economic and financial crises. The intent is to highlight the main shortcomings of the monitoring/enforcement tools designed by these IOs and to assess whether they require further revision. The specific focus will be on the mechanisms put in place in response to the illiberal practices and constitutional reforms adopted in Hungary from 2011 to 2013. This case is instructive in two respects. In the first place, those legal and political developments have been harshly criticized by all the IOs concerned, and so their response makes it possible to see (i) in what way and to what extent they operate in monitoring and protecting the rule of law, (ii) how well they interact in subiecta materia, and (iii) the strengths and weaknesses of their mandate. And, in the second place, the Hungarian question has made it apparent that violations of the rule of law at the national level can easily take on a systemic, structural and multifaceted dimension that rises to the European level – a problem I will be referring to as the “rule-of-law crisis”. This has prompted an overall rethinking of the way the rule of law needs to be enforced, in a debate that has gained momentum within the EU legal order, very recently leading to a proposal (in March 2014) for a new EU framework through which to strengthen the rule of law. Here, the potential impact of this framework will be considered by also taking into account the alternative solutions offered by scholars and stakeholders.
DUAL ATTRIBUTION OF ACTS COMMITTED BY A UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE: AN EMERGING NORM OF CUSTOMARY INTERNATIONAL LAW? THE DUTCH SUPREME COURT’S JUDGMENTS IN NUHANOVIÇ AND MUSTAFIĆ
Authors: Bakker Christine
Published: November 2014

In two cases lodged by victims (or their relatives) of the massacre in Srebrenica in 1995, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands has taken a progressive stance on the interpretation of international law on the responsibility of States and international organizations for wrongful acts. The Supreme Court upheld the earlier decisions of The Hague Court of Appeal, confirming that the Netherlands can be held responsible for the death and injuries of these victims, despite the fact that the Dutch troops employed to protect this enclave were part of a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force. By accepting the possibility of dual attribution of an internationally wrongful act to both the UN and the troop-sending State, it has departed from the restrictive approach adopted in current judicial practice, in particular by the European Court of Human Rights. In this note, the Supreme Court’s judgments are discussed, focusing on (i) the question of dual attribution of an international wrongful act, and (ii) the extraterritorial application of human rights treaties. It concludes that, although the Supreme Court’s reliance on two sets of Draft Articles of the International Law Commission without referring to any State practice is surprising, these judgments should be welcomed as significant precedents, which may contribute to the development of a norm of customary international law. They also constitute an important step towards ensuring access to justice and reparation for the victims of gross human rights violations, such as those committed in Srebrenica.
The Role of Disgust in Priestly Purity Law
Authors: Kazen Thomas
Published: November 2014

Common anthropological and structuralist approaches to Israelite purity law are often problematic. Disgust is a more promising explanation for the diverse impurities reflected in priestly texts. But not all impurities fit into a pattern of disgust equally well. Disgust language also characterizes impurities that ought not to evoke revulsion easily. I have previously suggested a transfer of emotional disgust from obvious triggers to objects that are clearly culture-specific by means of a secondary use of disgust language as value judgment. In the present article I explore this further with the help of cognitive linguistics. Conceptual metaphor theories as well as more elaborate blending models help clarify how disgust intrinsic to certain conceptions of impurity can be extended and transferred to others, which at times bear only slight resemblances. As a result, I suggest that disgust is the most comprehensive explanation for the wide variety of conceptions of impurity found in priestly legislation.
Taxonomic notes in Calyptranthes (Myrciinae; Myrtaceae) in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Rosário Alessandro Silva do , BAUMGRATZ José FERNANDO ANDRADE , SECCO RICARDO DE S.
Published: November 2014

This study is a contribution to the taxonomy of Calyptranthes and to the list of Brazilian species of Myrtaceae. It presents morphological circumscriptions and new records of occurrences for the genus, and proposes a new synonym for C. moaensis Alain. Comments are made on the morphologies of the taxa and identifications of each species are provided, as well as discussions about their taxonomic affinities, geographical distributions, and preferred habitats in the Amazon region. New records include one for the Amazon region and five for Pará State.
HPV Status Determines the Efficacy of Adjuvant Chemotherapy With S-1, an Oral Fluorouracil Prodrug, in Oropharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Wakisaka Naohiro , Yoshida Shinya , Kondo Satoru , Kita Makiko , Endo Kazuhira , Tsuji Akira , Murono Shigeyuki , Muramatsu Masamichi , Yoshizaki Tomokazu
Published: November 2014

Objectives:

A subgroup of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPC) is infected with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). The object of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1, an oral 5-fluorouracil prodrug, on survival of patients with OPC according to HPV status.

Methods:

Among OPC patients of stage III or IV who received definitive treatment from 1998 to 2008, 38 who were confirmed tumor-free after primary treatment were analyzed. Before 2003, none of the patients received S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy (S-1(-)-group); however, all patients who were eligible were administered S-1 (S-1(+)-group) after 2003. The expression of thymidylate synthase (TYMS) involved in 5-FU metabolism was also examined in protein and mRNA levels.

Results:

Although there was a trend to disease-free and overall survival benefit in HPV-negative patients with S-1, it did not achieve statistical significance ( P = .082 and P = .065, respectively). For the HPV-positive patients, the survivals were similar with or without S-1 administration. TYMS-expression in HPV-positive OPC tissues was significantly higher than in HPV-negative ones in both protein and mRNA levels ( P = .0489 and P = .0446, respectively).

Conclusion:

The current study provides a rationale to plan a randomized trial to compare the efficacy of S-1 according to the HPV status in OPCs.
National security risks? Uncertainty, austerity and other logics of risk in the UK government’s National Security Strategy
Authors: Hammerstad Anne , Boas Ingrid
Published: November 2014

Risk scholars within Security Studies have argued that the concept of security has gone through a fundamental transformation away from a threat-based conceptualisation of defence, urgency and exceptionality to one of preparedness, precautions and prevention of future risks, some of which are calculable, others of which are not. This article explores whether and how the concept of security is changing due to this ‘rise of risk’, through a hermeneutically grounded conceptual and discourse analysis of the United Kingdom government’s National Security Strategy (NSS) from 1998 to 2011. We ask how risk-security language is employed in the NSS; what factors motivate such discursive shifts; and what, if any, consequences of these shifts can be discerned in UK national security practices. Our aim is twofold: to better understand shifts in the security understandings and policies of UK authorities; and to contribute to the conceptual debate on the significance of the rise of risk as a component of the concept of security.
The effect of electron beam on the mechanical and thermal properties of hybrid epoxy/clay/TiO2 nanocomposites
Authors: Faeli Mohammad , Kiarostami Vahid , Ahmadi Seyed Javad
Published: November 2014

In this research, the effects of electron beam on the mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy resin/clay/TiO2 nanocomposite were studied. The epoxy/clay/TiO2 nanocomposite was prepared by dispersing clay and TiO2 nanoparticles in epoxy matrix. The dispersion of the clay/TiO2 in the epoxy matrix was characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analyses. The obtained results confirm the structure of exfoliate and intercalate in the prepared samples. Mechanical properties and thermal stability of nanocomposites were studied by tensile test and simultaneous thermo-gravimetric–differential thermal analysis. In order to study electron beam irradiation effects, nanocomposites were exposed to electron beam irradiation in 100, 500, and 1000 kGy doses. The results show that mechanical characteristics and thermal stability of epoxy resin/clay/TiO2 decreased with irradiation.
Enduring Violence: The Postwar Struggles in East-Central Europe, 1917–21
Authors: Böhler Jochen
Published: November 2014

In East-Central Europe, the First World War did not end with the armistices of 1918. In the wake of the Russian Revolution and imperial collapse, armed conflicts of various kinds, sizes, and political motivation dominated the years 1917 to 1922, when former citizens of the major European land empires fought for independence and statehood. These conflicts were not only rooted in pre-war conflicts, and in growing tensions between the awakening national self-consciousness of the indigenous populations on the one hand and the sometimes harsh imperial politics of the nineteenth and early twentieth century on the other. With the imperial armies dissolving, a brutal but in some ways conventional war – occasional and sometimes even large-scale atrocities against civilians notwithstanding – gave way to an outburst of paramilitary violence against civilians. Various warlords in the western territories of former Tsarist Empire used violence as a mere raison d’etre; armies under development – as the Polish army or the Bolshevik Red Guard/Army – lacked discipline, their conscripts being brutalized and inclined to commit atrocities. Ultra-violent milieus such as the European counterrevolutionary militias added to the extraordinary death toll in the region.
Chinese teachers’ perceptions of the roles and functions of school psychological service providers in Beijing
Authors: Wang Cixin , Ni Hong , Ding Yi , Yi Chunli
Published: November 2014

This study used a semi-structured interview with 94 teachers from 92 elementary and secondary schools in Beijing, China, to explore their perceptions of the roles, training, and challenges of school psychological service providers (SPs) as well as teachers’ satisfaction with the services provided by SPs. Results indicated that the SP to student ratio was 1:1360. Only 32 (34.8%) schools had SPs who were certified as mental health counselors or who had degrees in psychology, and 18 (19.6%) schools did not have SPs. Based on teacher report, SPs’ roles mainly focused on services for students (teaching mental health classes, counseling, consultation), with a strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention. About half of the teachers were satisfied with SPs’ work, but others had no contact with SPs or were dissatisfied with their work partially due to SPs’ lack of training and skills. The results suggest a severe shortage of training for SPs in Beijing, China. Other challenges for SPs include low status, lack of training and skills, and work-related stress. The results provide valuable information about school psychology practice in Beijing, China, and important implications for both research and policy making in school psychology in China and other Asian countries.
Variations in Predictors of Marital Satisfaction Across More Religious and Less Religious Regions of the United States
Authors: Olson Jonathan R. , Marshall James P. , Goddard H. Wallace , Schramm David G.
Published: November 2014

Numerous studies have focused on links between religiosity and marital outcomes. Results suggest that various aspects of religiosity predict outcomes such as marital satisfaction and commitment. However, less research has focused on identifying the processes by which these links occur. This study had two primary goals: (a) determine if perceptions of spousal values mediate associations between religiosity and marital satisfaction and (b) examine the degree to which predictors of marital satisfaction differ across different regions of the United States. Data were gathered from 1,513 married individuals living in Arkansas, Utah, and Vermont. Results indicated that religiosity and perceptions of several spousal values were significantly associated with increased marital satisfaction. Findings suggest little evidence of mediating effects of spousal values, but there was significant variation in findings across the three states.
Congenital internal jugular vein aneurysm in an infant: A rare entity
Authors: Awasthy Neeraj , Khandelwal Nidhi , Iyer Krishna S
Published: November 2014

A 1-month old baby boy presented with a mass at the root of the neck. On investigation, a saccular aneurysm arising from the internal jugular vein was diagnosed. The aneurysm was excised after ligating the patent internal jugular vein above and below the origin of the aneurysm. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of a vascular malformation. Vascular malformation of the internal jugular vein, presenting as neck mass, is extremely rare with no case described in neonates. We present one such interesting case.
Field-testing of the ICHD-3 beta/proposed ICD-11 diagnostic criteria for migraine with aura
Authors: Li Dana , Christensen Anne F , Olesen Jes
Published: November 2014

Introduction

In 2013 the International Headache Society published the third International Classification of Headache Disorders beta-version, ICHD-3 beta. Its structure is identical to that of the present proposed version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), although slightly abbreviated to fulfill the needs of ICD-11. In the following, only ICHD-3 beta is mentioned, but findings regarding the validity of ICHD-3 beta categories are equally relevant to the forthcoming ICD-11. Here we field-tested the criteria for 1.2 migraine with aura (MA), 1.2.1 migraine with typical aura (MTA), 1.2.3 hemiplegic migraine, 1.2.2 migraine with brainstem aura, and the alternative criteria A1.2 MA and A1.2.1 MTA.

Methods

Clinical characteristics were systematically and prospectively collected from patients with 1.2.1 MTA, 1.2.4 familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM), 1.2.5 sporadic hemiplegic migraine (SHM) and 1.2.6 basilar-type migraine according to ICHD-2 in a cross-sectional study design. A database of 2464 patients with 1.1 migraine without aura and 1.2 migraine with non-hemiplegic aura and a database of 252 hemiplegic migraine patients (1.2.4 FHM or 1.2.5 SHM) was collected. We used SPSS 20 for Windows 8.0 for the statistical analysis.

Results

All ICHD-2 patients fulfilled ICHD-3 beta criteria for 1.2 MA. The ICHD-3 beta criteria for 1.2.1 MTA were more sensitive than ICHD-2 and ICHD-3 beta alternative criteria; they resulted in fewer probable MA diagnoses. Too many patients fulfilled ICHD-2 and ICHD-3 beta criteria for 1.2.2 migraine with brainstem aura. ICHD-3 beta criteria for 1.2.4 FHM and 1.2.5 SHM both comply with ICHD-2.

Conclusion

The new criteria in ICHD-3 beta/proposed ICD-11 for 1.2 MA, 1.2.1 MTA, 1.2.3.1 FHM and 1.2.3.2 SHM have more desirable properties than ICHD-2 and the ICHD-3 beta alternative criteria. The criteria for 1.2.2 migraine with brainstem aura should be more restrictive.
Association of statin use and risk for severe headache or migraine by serum vitamin D status: A cross-sectional population-based study
Authors: Buettner Catherine , Burstein Rami
Published: November 2014

Objective

The objective of this article is to evaluate whether statin use and vitamin D status is associated with severe headache or migraine in a nationally representative sample.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of US individuals aged ≥40 years for whom information on statin use, serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), and self-reported severe headache or migraine had been collected. We calculated prevalence estimates of headache according to statin and 25(OH)D, and conducted adjusted logistic regression analyses stratified by the median 25(OH)D (≤57 and >57 nmol/l).

Results

Among 5938 participants, multivariable-adjusted logistic regression showed that statin use was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of severe headache or migraine (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.46, 0.98, p = 0.04). We found a significant interaction between statin use and 25(OH)D with the prevalence of severe headache or migraine ( p for interaction = 0.005). Among participants who had serum 25(OH)D > 57 nmol/l, statin use was associated with a multivariable-adjusted odds ratio of 0.48 (95% CI 0.32, 0.71, p = 0.001) for having severe headache or migraine. Among those with 25(OH)D ≤ 57 nmol/l, no significant association was observed between statin use and severe headache or migraine.

Conclusion

Statin use in those with higher serum vitamin D levels is significantly associated with lower odds of having severe headache or migraine.
Silk electrogel coatings for titanium dental implants
Authors: Elia Roberto , Michelson Courtney D , Perera Austin L , Harsono Masly , Leisk Gray G , Kugel Gerard , Kaplan David L
Published: November 2014

The aim of this study was to develop biocompatible, biodegradable dental implant coatings capable of withstanding the mechanical stresses imparted during implant placement. Two techniques were developed to deposit uniform silk fibroin protein coatings onto dental implants. Two novel coating techniques were implemented to coat titanium shims, studs, and implants. One technique involved electrodeposition of the silk directly onto the titanium substrates. The second technique consisted of melting electrogels and dispensing the melted gels onto the titanium to form the coatings. Both techniques were tested for coating reproducibility using a stylus profilometer and a dial thickness gauge. The mechanical strength of adhered titanium studs was assessed using a universal mechanical testing machine. Uniform, controllable coatings were obtained from both the electrodeposition and melted electrogel coating techniques, tunable from 35 to 1654 µm thick under the conditions studied, and able to withstand delamination during implantation into implant socket mimics. Mechanical testing revealed that the adhesive strength of electrogel coatings, 0.369 ± 0.09 MPa, rivaled other biologically derived coating systems such as collagen, hydroxyapatite, and chitosan (0.07–4.83 MPa). These novel silk-based techniques offer a unique approach to the deposition of safe, simple, mechanically robust, biocompatible, and degradable implant coatings.
The Effect of an Online Self-Assessment Tool on Nonprofit Board Performance
Authors: Harrison Yvonne D. , Murray Vic
Published: November 2014

This article reports on perceptions of the effectiveness of nonprofit organization boards of directors and changes in governance behavior obtained from the first 1,446 users of a free online board performance self-assessment tool known as the Board Check-Up ( www.boardcheckup.com ), Board Effectiveness Survey Application (BESA). Respondents came from 122 organizations in Canada, the United States, Australia, and other countries. The article describes the conceptual framework for the study and the underlying theory of change on which it is based. It presents findings on the types of governance issues respondents perceived as most problematic in their boards. It also describes changes in governance behavior and practices reported by respondents, who completed an impact assessment some time after the use of the online self-assessment tool. The results provide empirical support for the value of utilizing the online board performance self-assessment application and insights into its impact as a means of making changes in the governance process. Next steps in this international longitudinal research study are discussed.
The bigger the worse? A comparative study of the welfare state and employment commitment
Authors: van der Wel Kjetil A , Halvorsen Knut
Published: November 2014

This article investigates how welfare generosity and active labour market policies relate to employment commitment. As social policy is increasingly directed towards stimulating employment in broader sections of society, this article particularly studies employment commitment among groups with traditionally weaker bonds to the labour market. This is also theoretically interesting because the employment commitment in these groups may be more affected by the welfare context than is the employment commitment of the core work force. A welfare scepticism view predicts that disincentive effects and norm erosion will lead to lower employment commitment in more generous and activating welfare states, while a welfare resources perspective holds the opposite view. Using multilevel data for individuals in 18 European countries, the article finds increasing employment commitment as social spending gets more generous and activating. This was also evident for weaker groups in the labour market, although the effect was less pronounced in some groups.
Research on the multi-disciplinary design method for an integrated automotive steering and suspension system
Authors: Zhao Wanzhong , Wang Chunyan , Zhao Ting , Li Yijun
Published: November 2014

The dynamic models of an integrated system based on active steering and an active suspension are established; these include a vehicle model, an active steering system model, an active suspension system model, a tyre model and a road input model. The performance evaluation indices of the integrated system are proposed, including the steering road feel, the steering sensitivity and the ride comfort. On the basis of the target cascading theory, an analytical target cascading method is researched. Considering the coupling factors of the integrated system, the optimization model of the integrated system is established with the target cascading method. Then, the parameters are optimized based on a multi-island genetic algorithm, and the optimized results are compared with those of the collaborative optimization method. Thus, a theoretical foundation and technical support for the integration design of the automotive chassis can be provided.
Action-Specific Disruption of Perceptual Confidence
Authors: Fleming Stephen M. , Maniscalco Brian , Ko Yoshiaki , Amendi Namema , Ro Tony , Lau Hakwan
Published: November 2014

Theoretical models of perception assume that confidence is related to the quality or strength of sensory processing. Counter to this intuitive view, we showed in the present research that the motor system also contributes to judgments of perceptual confidence. In two experiments, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to manipulate response-specific representations in the premotor cortex, selectively disrupting postresponse confidence in visual discrimination judgments. Specifically, stimulation of the motor representation associated with the unchosen response reduced confidence in correct responses, thereby reducing metacognitive capacity without changing visual discrimination performance. Effects of TMS on confidence were observed when stimulation was applied both before and after the response occurred, which suggests that confidence depends on late-stage metacognitive processes. These results place constraints on models of perceptual confidence and metacognition by revealing that action-specific information in the premotor cortex contributes to perceptual confidence.
Wells Score and Poor Outcomes Among Adult Patients With Subsegmental Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: Angriman Federico , Ferreyro Bruno L. , Posadas-Martinez María L. , Giunta Diego , Vazquez Fernando J. , Vollmer William M.
Published: November 2014

Introduction:

Since the introduction of computed tomography pulmonary angiography, isolated subsegmental pulmonary embolism has become a commonly recognized clinical problem, but its clinical relevance remains unclear. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the extent to which the simplified Wells score discriminates between patients with varying levels of risk of complications after presenting with subsegmental pulmonary embolism.

Materials and Methods:

Retrospective cohort study. Patients included had subsegmental pulmonary embolism (1 or multiple emboli limited to subsegmental arteries). Primary explanatory variable was the simplified Wells score, categorized as high (>4) or low (≤4). The primary outcome was time to death or new venous thromboembolism. Kaplan-Meier techniques and Cox regression analysis were used to compare the survival experience of patients with high versus low Wells score with and without adjustment for active malignancy, age, Charlson score, previous venous thromboembolism, and previous major surgery in the last 30 days.

Main Results:

Seventy-nine patients with subsegmental pulmonary embolism were included. Patients with a high Wells score had a 4-fold increased risk of the composite outcome (hazard ratio = 4.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.0-8.9, P < .001). Other covariates significantly associated with increased risk in univariate analyses included active malignancy, a low serum albumin, and an increased Charlson score. In multivariate Cox regression analyses adjusting for these other factors, a high Wells score remained significant (hazard ratio 5.5, 95% CI 2.4-12.6, P < .001).

Conclusion:

High Wells score is associated with death or new venous thromboembolism during follow-up among patients with subsegmental pulmonary embolism.

Clinical trial registration:

ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01372514.
The Impact of Aquatic Exercise on Sleep Behaviors in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Oriel Kathryn N. , Kanupka Jennifer Wood , DeLong Kylee S. , Noel Kelsie
Published: November 2014

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if participation in an aquatic exercise program improves sleep in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participants included 8 children. An A-B-A withdrawal design was utilized. Each phase lasted for 4 weeks. The treatment included 60 min of aquatic exercise 2X/week. Phone calls to parents of the participants were made throughout the duration of the study. Parents were asked questions related to sleep latency, nighttime wakenings, and sleep duration. A one way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was utilized to determine if differences existed between phases. Statistically significant difference existed for sleep latency ( p < .001) and sleep duration ( p < .001). These results suggest that participation in aquatic exercise may improve the sleep habits of children with ASD.
Parent Perspectives on Psychotropic Medication Use and Interactions With Prescribing Health Care Providers Among Adolescents and Adults With an Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Lake Johanna K. , Milovanov Alexander , Sawyer Amanda , Lunsky Yona
Published: November 2014

Adolescents and young adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often prescribed psychotropic medications to treat mental health and behavioral issues, and parents of these individuals play a crucial role in overseeing this care. Despite this, little is known about parents’ experiences managing and monitoring their child’s medication treatment, or their experience interacting with prescribing health care providers. To learn more about parents’ perspectives on psychotropic medication use in their adolescent or young adult with ASD, a focus group was conducted with seven mothers whose adolescent or adult child with ASD was prescribed one or more psychotropic medications. Results are summarized according to emergent themes including parent perception of child experience with medication, side effects, medication efficacy, medication monitoring, expertise issues, and service issues. Parents also provided medication recommendations, including a desire for health care providers with greater expertise in ASD, information on medication, and tools for medication monitoring.
Routine kidney variables, glomerular filtration rate and urinary cystatin C in cats with diabetes mellitus, cats with chronic kidney disease and healthy cats
Authors: Paepe Dominique , Ghys Liesbeth FE , Smets Pascale , Lefebvre Hervé P , Croubels Siska , Daminet Sylvie
Published: November 2014

Objectives

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a frequent and serious complication in human diabetic patients, but data are limited in cats. This study was undertaken to assess whether diabetic cats are susceptible to DKD.

Methods

Kidney function was compared between 36 cats with diabetes mellitus (DM), 10 cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and 10 age-matched healthy cats by measuring routine kidney variables (serum creatinine [sCreat], serum urea [sUrea], urine specific gravity [USG], urinary protein:creatinine ratio [UPC]), urinary cystatin C:creatinine ratio and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Urinary cystatin C (uCysC) was measured with a human particle-enhanced nephelometric immunoassay, validated to measure feline cystatin C, in all but two diabetic cats. GFR was evaluated by exo-iohexol clearance in 17 diabetic cats, all cats with CKD and all healthy cats.

Results

Diabetic cats had significantly (mean ± SD) lower sCreat (123 ± 38 vs 243 ± 80 µmol/l), sUrea (11 ± 3 vs 18 ± 7 mmol/l) and urinary cystatin C:creatinine ratio (6 ± 31 vs 173 ± 242 mg/mol), and a significantly higher USG (1.033 ± 0.012 vs 1.018 ± 0.006) and GFR (2.0 ± 0.7 vs 0.8 ± 0.3 ml/min/kg) compared with cats with CKD. Compared with healthy cats, diabetic cats only had significantly lower USG (1.033 ± 0.012 vs 1.046 ± 0.008). Proteinuria (UPC >0.4) was present in 39% of diabetic cats, in 30% of cats with CKD and in none of the healthy cats. However, the UPC did not differ statistically between the three groups.

Conclusions and relevance

Based on evaluation of routine kidney variables, GFR and uCysC as a tubular marker at a single time point, a major impact of feline DM on kidney function could not be demonstrated.
Domestic structures, foreign economic policies and global economic order: Implications from the rise of large emerging economies
Authors: Nölke Andreas , ten Brink Tobias , Claar Simone , May Christian
Published: November 2014

The rise of the large emerging economies of Brazil, India and China can easily be counted among the most important contemporary structural changes in the global political economy. This article attempts to determine whether these countries have a common institutional model for governing their economies and addresses the implications of these commonalities for global economic institutions. The approach consists of three major steps: first, a general ideal type for encompassing capitalism in these large emerging economies is constructed, and dubbed ‘state-permeated market economy’; second, we compare these countries empirically, with regard to the features highlighted by the ideal type and in contrast to other varieties of capitalism; and, finally, we extrapolate some long-term implications for the global economic order, based on the assumption that foreign economic policies will be informed by domestic institutional structures. Based on these three steps, we conclude that a further deepening of the liberal global order is highly unlikely.
‘Singing for the Brain’: A qualitative study exploring the health and well-being benefits of singing for people with dementia and their carers
Authors: Osman Sara Eldirdiry , Tischler Victoria , Schneider Justine
Published: November 2014

Dementia has detrimental effects on cognitive, psychological and behavioural functioning, as well as significant impact on those who provide care. There is a need to find suitable psychosocial interventions to help manage the condition, enhance well-being, and to provide support for caregivers. This study explored the impact of Singing for the Brain™, an intervention based on group singing activities developed by The Alzheimer’s Society for people with dementia and their carers. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with people with dementia and their carers. Ten interviews involving 20 participants were analysed thematically. Social inclusiveness and improvements in relationships, memory and mood were found to be especially important to participants. As well as enjoying the sessions, participants found that attending Singing for the Brain™ helped in accepting and coping with dementia.
Am I My Brother’s Keeper? African American Men’s Health Within the Context of Equity and Policy
Authors: Enyia Okechuku Kelechi , Watkins Yashika J. , Williams Quintin
Published: November 2014

African American men’s health has at times been regarded as irrelevant to the health and well-being of the communities where they are born, grow, live, work, and age. The uniqueness of being male and of African descent calls for a critical examination and deeper understanding of the psycho-socio-historical context in which African American men have lived. There is a critical need for scholarship that better contextualizes African American Male Theory and cultural humility in terms of public health. Furthermore, the focus of much of the social determinants of health and health equity policy literature has been on advocacy, but few researchers have examined why health-related public policies have not been adopted and implemented from a political and theoretical policy analysis perspective. The purpose of this article will be to examine African American men’s health within the context of social determinants of health status, health behavior, and health inequalities—elucidating policy implications for system change and providing recommendations from the vantage point of health equity.
Methods for Sociological Inquiry on Emotion in Educational Settings
Authors: Bellocchi Alberto
Published: November 2014

Sociological approaches to inquiry on emotion in educational settings are growing. Despite a long tradition of research and theory in disciplines such as psychology and sociology, the methods and approaches for naturalistic investigation of emotion are in a developmental phase in educational settings. In this article, recent empirical studies on emotion in educational contexts are canvassed. The discussion focuses on the use of multiple methods within research conducted in high school and university classrooms highlighting recent methodological progress. The methods discussed include facial expression analysis, verbal and nonverbal conduct, and self-report methods. Analyses drawn from different studies, informed by perspectives from microsociology, highlight the strengths and limitations of any one method. The power and limitations of multimethod approaches is discussed.
Researching Emotion in Courts and the Judiciary: A Tale of Two Projects
Authors: Roach Anleu Sharyn , Bergman Blix Stina , Mack Kathy
Published: November 2014

The dominant image of judicial authority is emotional detachment; however, judicial work involves emotion. This presents a challenge for researchers to investigate emotions where they are disavowed. Two projects, one in Australia and another in Sweden, use multiple sociological research methods to study judicial experience, expression, and management of emotion. In both projects, observational research examines judicial officers’ display of emotion in court, while interviews investigate judicial emotional experiences. Surveys in Australia identify emotions judicial officers generally find important in their work; in Sweden, shadowing allows researchers to investigate individual judicial emotion experiences and expression. Evaluating the different methods used demonstrates the limitations and effectiveness of particular research designs, the value of multiple methods and the challenges for researching emotion.
Comment on “Methodological Innovations From the Sociology of Emotions – Methodological Advances”
Authors: Lively Kathryn J.
Published: November 2014

Historically, the sociology of emotion has been relatively long on theory and short on methods. This collection of articles seeks to remedy this by introducing new ways to capture the four factors of emotion, as articulated by Thoits (1989): meaning, expression, label, and physiology. As a group, these studies reify existing dichotomies in the literature—that is, emotional experience versus emotional expression—and seek to reconcile them. Additionally, they all champion the use of mixed methods—either simultaneously or sequentially—adopting some combination of direct or indirect observation, subjective understanding/experience, and physiological change. Using examples drawn for their own research, the authors provide new ways to capture emotion that will carry emotion scholars into the next four decades of research.
GLP-1 receptor agonists: a review of head-to-head clinical studies
Authors: Trujillo Jennifer M. , Nuffer Wesley , Ellis Samuel L.
Published: November 2014

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) are attractive options for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) because they effectively lower A1C and weight while having a low risk of hypoglycemia. The GLP-1 RA class has grown in the last decade with several agents available for use in the US and Europe and several more in development. Since the efficacy and tolerability, dosing frequency, administration requirements, and cost may vary between agents within the class, each agent may offer unique advantages and disadvantages. Through a review of phase III clinical programs for exenatide twice daily, exenatide once weekly, liraglutide, albiglutide, lixisenatide, and dulaglutide, eight head-to-head trials have evaluated the safety and efficacy of GLP-1 RA active comparators. The purpose of this review is to provide an analysis of these trials. The GLP-1 RA head-to-head clinical studies have demonstrated that all GLP-1 RA agents are effective therapeutic options at reducing A1C. However, differences exist in terms of magnitude of effect on A1C and weight as well as frequency and severity of adverse effects.
Emerging policy perspectives on geoengineering: An international comparison
Authors: Huttunen Suvi , Skytén Emmi , Hildén Mikael
Published: November 2014

Geoengineering evokes fears and hopes among the general public, media and scientists. Policy-makers thus face the dilemma of how to respond to this deeply controversial issue. In this paper we examine a wide variety of policy documents from different countries, international organizations and NGOs to gain insights into how geoengineering is perceived at the policy level. We use qualitative content analysis in order to determine specific aspects of framing of geoengineering: concerns and hopes to indicate risk perceptions and action proposals to account for directions in policy development. The policy documents contain a large variety of concerns, hopes and action proposals. Technical and risk-related issues dominate the concerns; the hopes express a wish for new solutions to climate change; and the action proposals emphasize the need for more research. Furthermore, there were clear differences between Anglo-American and German documents, indicating that international policy development on geoengineering will be a difficult task.
Anchoring the experts: Using vignettes to compare party ideology across countries
Authors: Bakker Ryan , Edwards Erica , Jolly Seth , Polk Jonathan , Rovny Jan , Steenbergen Marco
Published: November 2014

Expert surveys are a valuable, commonly used instrument to measure party positions. Some critics question the cross-national comparability of these measures, though, suggesting that experts may lack a common anchor for fundamental concepts such as economic left–right. Using anchoring vignettes in the 2010 Chapel Hill Expert Survey, we examine the extent of cross-national difference in expert ideological placements. We find limited evidence of cross-national differences; on the whole, our findings further establish expert surveys as a rigorous instrument for measuring party positions in a cross-national context.