bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Extreme Land Surface Heterogeneity on Micrometeorology over Spring Snow Cover
Authors: Mott R. , Schlögl S. , Dirks L. , Lehning M.
Published: August 2017

The melting mountain snow cover in spring typically changes from a continuous snow cover to a mosaic of patches of snow and bare ground, inducing an extreme heterogeneity of the land surface. A comprehensive measurement campaign, the Dischma experiment, was conducted during three entire ablation seasons. The aim of this study was to experimentally investigate the small-scale boundary layer dynamics over a melting snow cover with a gradually decreasing snow cover fraction and the associated heat exchange at the snow surface. This study presents a unique dataset combining eddy covariance measurements at different atmospheric levels with maps of snow surface temperatures and snow cover fractions. The experiments evidence diurnal mountain wind systems driving the diurnal cycle of turbulent sensible heat fluxes over snow and the formation of katabatic flows over long-lasting snow patches strongly affecting the temporal evolution of snow surface temperature patterns. The snow cover distribution is also shown to be of vital importance for the frequency of stable internal boundary layer development over snow. For situations with a clear evidence of stable internal boundary layer development over snow, the data reveal a very shallow atmospheric layer adjacent to the snow cover decoupled from the warm-air advection above. These measurements confirm previous wind tunnel experiments that also evidenced a decoupling of the air adjacent to the snow cover from the warmer air above, especially within topographical depressions and when ambient wind velocities are low. For these situations, in particular, all tested energy balance models strongly overestimated the turbulent sensible heat flux directed toward the snow cover.
A W-Band Radar–Radiometer System for Accurate and Continuous Monitoring of Clouds and Precipitation
Authors: Küchler Nils , Kneifel Stefan , Löhnert Ulrich , Kollias Pavlos , Czekala Harald , Rose Thomas
Published: August 2017

A new 94-GHz frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) Doppler radar–radiometer system [Jülich Observatory for Cloud Evolution (JOYCE) Radar–94 GHz (JOYRAD-94)] is presented that is suitable for long-term continuous observations of cloud and precipitation processes. New features of the system include an optimally beam-matched radar–radiometer; a vertical resolution of up to 5 m with sensitivities down to −62 dBZ at 100-m distance; adjustable measurement configurations within the vertical column to account for different observational requirements; an automatic regulation of the transmitter power to avoid receiver saturation; and a high-powered blowing system that prevents hydrometeors from adhering to the radome. JOYRAD-94 has been calibrated with an uncertainty of 0.5 dB that was assessed by observing a metal sphere in the radar’s far field and by comparing radar reflectivities to a collocated 35-GHz radar. The calibrations of the radar receiver and the radiometric receiver are performed via a two-point calibration with liquid nitrogen. The passive channel at 89 GHz is particularly useful for deriving an estimate of the liquid water path (LWP). The developed retrieval shows that the LWP can be retrieved with an RMS uncertainty (not including potential calibration offsets) of about ±15 g m−2 when constraining the integrated water vapor from an external source with an uncertainty of ±2 kg m−2. Finally, a dealiasing method [dual-radar dealiasing method (DRDM)] for FMCW Doppler spectra is introduced that combines measurements of two collocated radars with different measurement setups. The DRDM ensures high range resolution with a wide unambiguous Doppler velocity range.
Estimation of Eddy Viscosity Profile in the Bottom Ekman Boundary Layer
Authors: Cao An-Zhou , Chen Hui , Fan Wei , He Hai-Lun , Song Jin-Bao , Zhang Ji-Cai
Published: August 2017

Previous studies have shown that strong tidal currents can cause intense turbulent mixing near the seafloor in continental shelf areas. To quantify the turbulent mixing, the eddy viscosity coefficient is generally used. In this study, an estimation scheme is proposed to evaluate the eddy viscosity profile (EVP) in the bottom Ekman boundary layer based on the adjoint method. The estimation scheme is composed of the bottom Ekman boundary layer model and its adjoint model, and a minimization algorithm. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed scheme are validated by a series of twin experiments, where the proposed scheme is compared with three other schemes in previous studies. When large measurement errors exist, the proposed scheme performs better than the three other schemes. When large Ekman balance errors exist, the proposed scheme is better than two of the other schemes. The selection of components of the steady current and tidal constituents also influences the performance of the proposed scheme. Successful estimation of the EVP requires the usage of intense components of the steady current and tidal constituents. With the usage of the intense components, increasing the number of tidal constituents cannot lead to a more accurate estimation of the EVP.
Support for Beauty-Status Exchange Remains Illusory
Authors: McClintock Elizabeth Aura
Published: August 2017

In my article, “Beauty and Status: The Illusion of Exchange in Partner Selection?” (McClintock 2014), I used descriptive statistics, three forms of regression, and six measures of socioeconomic status to examine the “trophy wife” stereotype that women “exchange” their beauty for men’s status. According to the stereotype, such women would partner with comparatively less-attractive men who are comparatively high in socioeconomic status. I found little support for beauty-status exchange, and this limited support lacked robustness. Gullickson critiques my analysis on two grounds, arguing against the difference-based regression models, and proposing a new specification of interaction effects in the log-linear models. However, the difference models conceptualize exchange as defined in the relevant literature, and Gullickson’s modified difference models only replicate my conventional regression models, providing no new evidence for or against beauty-status exchange. Likewise, Gullickson’s proposed log-linear specifications are not only non-hierarchical, they also fail to improve model fit or to support exchange when using alternative measures of status. Indeed, Gullickson focuses on the only measure of status that yields any support for beauty-status exchange. Altogether, Gullickson’s case for beauty-status exchange overlooks the preponderance of contrary evidence and prioritizes statistical significance, attainable only under narrow model specifications, over robustness and model fit.
Copy Rights: The Politics of Copying and Creativity
Authors: Street John , Negus Keith , Behr Adam
Published: August 2017

This article analyses the politics of copyright and copying. Copyright is an increasingly important driver of the modern economy, but this does not exhaust its significance. It matters, we argue, not just for the distribution of rewards and resources in the creative industries, but as a site within which established political concerns – collective and individual interests and identities – are articulated and negotiated and within which notions of ‘originality’, ‘creativity’ and ‘copying’ are politically constituted. Set against the background of the increasing economic value attributed to the creative industries, the impact of digitalisation on them and the European Union’s Digital Single Market strategy, the article reveals how copyright policy and the underlying assumptions about ‘copying’ and ‘creativity’ express (often unexamined) political values and ideologies. Drawing on a close reading of policy statements, official reports, court cases and interviews with stakeholders, we explore the multiple political aspects of copyright, showing how copyright policy operates to privilege particular interests and practices and to acknowledge only specific forms of creative endeavour.
Achieving a Global Mind-set at Home: Student Engagement with Immigrant Children
Authors: Dallinger Carolyn
Published: August 2017

Developing a global mind-set in college students is a goal of many colleges and universities. Most often this goal is met by encouraging students to study abroad. This article explains how a service learning student engagement program at home achieves this goal by pairing Introduction to Sociology students with young immigrant children in a weekly formal mentoring relationship. Research on the program shows that students develop new perspectives about immigrant issues and that students report a reduction of their level of prejudice against immigrants coming from around the globe. Quantitative outcomes assessed on a Likert prejudice scale support service learning participants’ reports of lower prejudice levels than those in a control group. This teaching method has significant implications for providing opportunities to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds to engage in service learning, achieving global mind-sets at home.
Identification of the coal structure and prediction of the fracturability in the No. 8 coal reservoir, Gujiao block, China
Authors: Huang Bo , Qin Yong , Zhang Wanghong , Wang Gang
Published: August 2017

Five boreholes were selected in the Gujiao block, Xishan, Taiyuan, China, as calibration wells to identify the coal structure. The geophysical-log responses of the coal structure in the No. 8 coal reservoir, Gujiao block, were investigated using coal-core logging combined with actual observations in the borehole profile of the coal mine. Natural gamma, density, apparent resistivity, and sonic travel time logs were extracted at 0.15 m intervals from 41 undeformed coal, 29 cataclastic coal, and 48 granulated coal regions. Box plots and Fisher’s maximum separation criterion were used to screen and identify sensitive log responses of the coal structure. The coal structure was identified in 31 boreholes using the available logs in the block, and the layered distribution patterns of the coal structure were discussed. The fracturability of the coal structure was divided into types using cluster analysis based on the thickness ratio of the coal structure and the relationship between the coal structure and its permeability. The results show that sensitive log responses for identifying undeformed coal and cataclastic coal are natural gamma, followed by density and apparent resistivity; log responses for identifying cataclastic coal and granulated coal-mylonitized coal are sonic travel time, apparent resistivity and natural gamma. The sensitive log response data were integrated and coal structure identification models were constructed based on the principle of amplifying the log responses to identify the coal structure in the No. 8 coal reservoir. The reservoir generally contains two or three dirt bands, and the coal structure is divided into several independent layers, with the cataclastic coal and granulated coal-mylonitized coal distributed in the middle of the reservoir. The coal structure was classified into four types and four subtypes through cluster analysis of the boreholes. Under the control of the Malan syncline, type I and type II are developed in the No. 8 coal reservoir in the southern part of the study area and in the east and north wings of the Malan syncline; they have good fracturability. Type III and type IV are mainly present in the No. 8 coal reservoir at the synclinal axis; they have poor fracturability. For type IV dominated by granulated coal, it is difficult to improve the reservoir permeability by fracturing; therefore, other strengthened permeability-improving measures should be considered.
Impact of Timely Treatment Intensification on Glycemic Goal Achievement in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Failing Metformin Monotherapy
Authors: Mahabaleshwarkar Rohan , Templin Megan , Gohs Frank , Mulder Holly , DeSantis Andrea , Ejzykowicz Flavia , Rajpathak Swapnil , Wilkins Nick
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to examine the association between timely treatment intensification (TTI) and glycemic goal achievement in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) failing metformin monotherapy (MM).

Methods

This study was set at a large integrated health care system in the United States. The study cohort included T2D patients aged 18 to 85 years who were on MM between January 2009 and September 2013 and had an uncontrolled glycated hemoglobin (A1C) reading (≥8%) after at least 3 months of MM (corresponding date was index date). Secondary analyses were performed using A1C <7% as T2D control. TTI was defined as receipt of an add-on therapy within 180 days after the index date. Impact of TTI on glycemic goal achievement was determined using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. Patients were censored at their last A1C reading or health care visit during 2 years after the index date.

Results

The study cohort consisted of 996 patients, ~58% male and ~59% Caucasian, with a mean age of ~54 (±12) years. TTI was observed in 50.2% of the patients. The rate of glycemic goal achievement was higher in patients with TTI compared with patients without TTI (hazards ratio = 1.632, 95% confidence interval = 1.328-2.006). The results for the secondary analyses were largely consistent with the primary findings.

Conclusions

TTI positively affected glycemic goal achievement among T2D patients failing MM and could be a useful strategy to increase the currently low proportion of patients with their T2D controlled in the United States.
Use of Ultrasound for Sizing Tracheoesophageal Puncture Prostheses
Authors: Smith Aaron , Thimmappa Vikrum , Jones Julia , Shires Courtney , Sebelik Merry
Published: August 2017

Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) with voice prosthesis placement is the gold standard voice rehabilitation following total laryngectomy. Ultrasound may be useful to determine tracheoesophageal wall thickness, guiding prosthesis choice. Therefore, 14 patients undergoing total laryngectomy and TEP or prosthesis change with 16‐mHz ultrasound measurement of the posterior tracheal wall were included. Seven patients underwent secondary TEP, 3 primary TEP, and 4 TEP changes. Six patients underwent flap reconstruction, while 8 patients were closed primarily. Average party wall thickness was 9.6 ± 1.7 mm, without a difference (P =. 08) between primary closure (10.3 ± 1.7 mm) and flap reconstruction (8.6 ± 1.4 mm). Change from the hypothesized sizing was noted in 11 patients (79%). Prosthesis size did not correlate with age (–0.19, P =. 51), height (–0.12, P =. 69), weight (0.26, P =. 38), body mass index (0.22, P =. 46), or flap status (–0.48, P =. 079). These data suggest that ultrasound is beneficial in patients with distorted or less predictable anatomy (eg, flap reconstruction) but also important for those patients undergoing primary closure.
Atlas registration for edema-corrected MRI lesion volume in mouse stroke models
Authors: Koch Stefan , Mueller Susanne , Foddis Marco , Bienert Thomas , von Elverfeldt Dominik , Knab Felix , Farr Tracy D , Bernard René , Dopatka Monika , Rex André , Dirnagl Ulrich , Harms Christoph , Boehm-Sturm Philipp
Published: August 2017

Lesion volume measurements with magnetic resonance imaging are widely used to assess outcome in rodent models of stroke. In this study, we improved a mathematical framework to correct lesion size for edema which is based on manual delineation of the lesion and hemispheres. Furthermore, a novel MATLAB toolbox to register mouse brain MR images to the Allen brain atlas is presented. Its capability to calculate edema-corrected lesion size was compared to the manual approach. Automated image registration performed equally well in in a mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion model (Pearson r = 0.976, p = 2.265e-11). Information encapsulated in the registration was used to generate maps of edema induced tissue volume changes. These showed discrepancies to simplified tissue models underlying the manual approach. The presented techniques provide biologically more meaningful, voxel-wise biomarkers of vasogenic edema after stroke.
Anthropocene, Capitalocene and Liberal Cosmopolitan IR: A Response to Burke et al.’s ‘Planet Politics’
Authors: Chandler David , Cudworth Erika , Hobden Stephen
Published: August 2017

This article is a collective response to ‘Planet Politics’ by Anthony Burke et al., which was published in this journal in 2016, and billed as a ‘Manifesto from the End of IR’. We dispute this claim on the basis that rather than breaking from the discipline, the Manifesto provides a problematic global governance agenda which is dangerously authoritarian and deeply depoliticising. We substantiate this analysis in the claim that Burke et al. reproduce an already failed and discredited liberal cosmopolitan framework through the advocacy of managerialism rather than transformation; the top-down coercive approach of international law; and use of abstract modernist political categories. In the closing sections of the article, we discuss the possibility of different approaches, which, taking the Anthropocene as both an epistemological and ontological break with modernist assumptions, could take us beyond IR’s disciplinary confines.
A review of the principles of turbidity measurement
Authors: Kitchener Ben GB , Wainwright John , Parsons Anthony J
Published: August 2017

Turbidity of water due to the presence of suspended sediment is measured and interpreted in a variety of ways, which can lead to the misinterpretation of data. This paper re-examines the physics of light scattering in water, and exposes the extent to which the reporting of turbidity data is inconsistent. It is proposed that the cause of this inconsistency is the fact that the accepted turbidity standards USEPA Method 180.1, ISO 7027 and GLI Method 2 are mutually inconsistent, as these standards give rise to a large number of measurement units that are not based on the optical properties of light absorption and scattering by suspensions in water, but by the arbitrary definition of the degree of turbidity being due to a concentration of formazin or other similar polymer-based calibration standard. It is then proposed that all turbidity-measuring devices should be calibrated with precise optical attenuators such as neutral density filters. Such calibration would allow for the definition of a beam attenuation coefficient for every turbidity-measuring instrument which would be cross-comparable with any other instrument calibrated in the same way. The units for turbidity measurements should be based on attenuation and reported as dB m−1. It is also proposed that a new standard should be drafted according to this attenuation-based method, and this new standard should also define the nomenclature for reporting data collected at any specific scattering angle in terms of an attenuation in dB m−1. The importance of multi-parameter turbidity measurements for the improvement of the quality of turbidity data and the application of parameter-rich data sets to new methods of sediment characterization are discussed. It is suggested that more research into multi-parameter turbidity measurements is needed, as these new methods will facilitate an increase in parity between turbidity and suspended sediment concentration, a relationship that is subjective.
Social capital and idiosyncratic return volatility
Authors: Hasan Mostafa Monzur , Habib Ahsan
Published: August 2017

We examine whether regional social capital has any impact on idiosyncratic return volatility. Using US data, we find that firms headquartered in high social capital counties exhibit significantly lower idiosyncratic return volatility. This effect is more pronounced in the presence of financial reporting quality and corporate social responsibility. When we estimate the direct and indirect effects of social capital, our study reveals that the direct effect of social capital captures around 80% of the total effect. These findings suggest that firm-specific variables do not explain all of a firm’s idiosyncratic return volatility, but regional social capital also plays a role.

JEL classification: G10, G12, G30, M14
Prevalence of Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia in the Northern and Southern Provinces of Rwanda
Authors: Donahue Angel Moira , Berti Peter , Siekmans Kendra , Tugirimana Pierrot Lundimu , Boy Erick
Published: August 2017

Background:

Anemia remains a public health problem in Rwanda, affecting 38% of young children and 17% of reproductive-aged women (Demographic and Health Survey [DHS] 2010). The importance of iron deficiency (ID) as a cause of anemia in Rwanda is not known.

Objective:

We aimed to estimate the prevalence of ID and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among young children and women in 2 provinces of Rwanda.

Methods:

We conducted a cluster randomized survey, selecting 408 rural households each in the Northern and Southern Provinces of Rwanda in 2010. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin <110 g/L in children and <120 g/L in nonpregnant women after correction for altitude. We defined ID as (1) serum transferrin receptor (TfR) >8.3 mg/L or (2) serum ferritin (SF) <12 μg/L in children and <15 μg/L in nonpregnant women after correction for inflammation.

Results:

The prevalence of anemia was 30.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 26.4-35.8) in children (n = 577) and 11.2% (95% CI, 8.4-14.7) in women (n = 595). The prevalence of ID in children was 3.1% (95% CI, 1.8-5.1) as defined by high TfR and 5.9% (95% CI, 4.0-8.4) as defined by low SF. Similarly, 3.0% (95% CI, 1.8-4.8) of women had high TfR and 4.8% (95% CI, 3.2-7.2) had low SF. The prevalence of IDA (low SF with concurrent anemia) ranged from 1.4% (95% CI, 0.5-3.6) among women in the North to 5.6% (95% CI, 3.1-10.0) among children in the South.

Conclusions:

ID is likely not an important contributor to anemia in the Northern and Southern Provinces of Rwanda. This finding warrants further investigation into other causes of anemia.
Contribution of Nutrient Diversity and Food Perceptions to Food and Nutrition Security Among Smallholder Farming Households in Western Kenya: A Case Study
Authors: Ng’endo Mary , Bhagwat Shonil , Keding Gudrun B.
Published: August 2017

Background:

Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region in the world where hunger is prevalent in over one-third of the population, with smallholder farming households, producers of over 80% of Africa’s food, facing both calorie and micronutrient deficiencies. With agricultural systems serving as the main source of all nutrients, little is known about the extent to which agricultural diversity in different seasons can meet macro- and micronutrient needs in rural Africa.

Objective:

Linkages between nutrient diversity and food species were investigated.

Methods:

A case study was conducted in Western Kenya to assess the seasonal nutrient diversity, seasonal nutrient accessibility levels, and food perceptions in 30 smallholder farms, 7 markets, and among 97 focus group discussion participants, respectively. All present food plant and animal species were inventoried and assigned to 1 of the 7 major Food and Agriculture Organization–defined food groups. Based on 2 macronutrients and 5 micronutrients, dendrogram-based nutrient functional diversity metrics were calculated.

Results:

On-farm and market food species offered all 7 macro- and micronutrients under investigation, regardless of seasonal variation in species numbers. Although there were varying seasonal nutrient accessibility levels in markets, farms were especially effective in readily availing 4 of the 7 nutrients. However, the main food shortage months coincided only with maize shortage, but a diversity of local foods, deemed to be of low cultural and culinary preferences, were available.

Conclusions:

Nutrition education on the importance of a diversity of local foods in meeting dietary needs, thus stimulating the demand side, can contribute to achieving year-round household food security.
Effects of Pedagogical Agents on Students’ Mathematics Performance: A Comparison Between Two Versions
Authors: Bringula Rex P. , Fosgate Ian Clement O. , Garcia Neil Peter R. , Yorobe Josf Luinico M.
Published: August 2017

This experimental study investigated the effects of the use of two versions of a pedagogical agent named personal instructing agent (PIA) on the mathematics performance of students. The first version exhibits synthetic facial expressions while the second version does not exhibit facial expression (i.e., neutral facial expression). Two groups of students with the same levels of prior knowledge in mathematics utilized two different versions of PIA. The first group—the facial group—utilized a PIA that provides textual and facial expressions feedback (happy, sad, surprise, and neutral facial expressions). The second group—the nonfacial group—used the same software except that PIA only exhibited neutral facial expression. The study showed that the mathematics scores of the students in the facial group significantly improved as compared with those who are in the nonfacial group. The posttest scores of the facial group were found significantly higher than those of the nonfacial group. The study showed that PIA that exhibited synthetic facial expressions improved students’ mathematics learning. It is concluded that synthetic facial expressions and textual feedback of pedagogical agent can be utilized to help students learn to solve mathematics problems. Limitations and recommendations are also presented.
Use of Ancillary Tests When Determining Brain Death in Pediatric Patients in the United States
Authors: Lewis Ariane , Adams Nellie , Chopra Arun , Kirschen Matthew P.
Published: August 2017

Although pediatric brain death guidelines stipulate when ancillary testing should be used during brain death determination, little is known about the way these recommendations are implemented in clinical practice. We conducted a survey of pediatric intensivists and neurologists in the United States on the use of ancillary testing. Although most respondents noted they only performed an ancillary test if the clinical examination and apnea test could not be completed, 20% of 195 respondents performed an ancillary test for other reasons, including (1) to convince a family that objected to the brain death determination that a patient is truly dead (n = 21), (2) personal preference (n = 14), and (3) institutional requirement (n = 5). Our findings suggest that pediatricians use ancillary tests for a variety of reasons during brain death determination. Medical societies and governmental regulatory bodies must reinforce the need for homogeneity in practice.
Clinical and Economic Outcomes of Telemedicine Programs in the Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chen Jing , Sun Dalong , Yang Weiming , Liu Mingli , Zhang Shufan , Peng Jinhua , Ren Chuancheng
Published: August 2017

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of telemedicine programs in intensive care unit (Tele-ICU) on ICU or hospital mortality or ICU or hospital length of stay and to summarize available data on implementation cost of Tele-ICU.

Methods:

Controlled trails or observational studies assessing outcomes of interest were identified by searching 7 electronic databases from inception to July 2016 and related journals and conference literatures between 2000 and 2016. Two reviewers independently screened searched records, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. Random-effect models were applied to meta-analyses and sensitivity analysis.

Results:

Nineteen of 1035 records fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The pooled effects demonstrated that Tele-ICU programs were associated with reductions in ICU mortality (15 studies; risk ratio [RR], 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72 to 0.96; P = .01), hospital mortality (13 studies; RR, 0.74; 95% CIs, 0.58 to 0.96; P = .02), and ICU length of stay (9 studies; mean difference [MD], −0.63; 95% CI, −0.28 to 0.17; P = .007). However, there is no significant association between the reduction in hospital length of stay and Tele-ICU programs. Summary data concerning costs suggested approximately US$50 000 to US$100 000 per Tele-ICU bed was required to implement Tele-ICU programs for the first year. Hospital costs of US$2600 reduction to US$5600 increase per patient were estimated using Tele-ICU programs.

Conclusions:

This systematic review and meta-analysis provided limited evidence that Tele-ICU approaches may reduce the ICU and hospital mortality, shorten the ICU length of stay, but have no significant effect in hospital length of stay. Implementation of Tele-ICU programs substantially costs and its long-term cost-effectiveness is still unclear.
An Analysis of the Relationship Between High School Students’ Tendency Toward Violence, Self-Esteem, and Competitive Attitude
Authors: Karayagiz Muslu Gonca , Coşkun Cenk Sibel , Sarlak Deniz
Published: August 2017

This study analyzes the relationship among high school students’ tendencies toward violence, self-esteem, and competitive attitudes. It was conducted in Fethiye, Muğla, between September 2013 and January 2014. The population of the study consisted of 6,531 students from 11 high schools. The participants were determined using stratified random sampling, and the study data were collected from 1,600 students. A personal information form, the Violence Tendency Scale, the Competitive Attitude Scale, and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Scale were used as data collection tools. In this study, the rate of the participants who were exposed to violence was 15.4%. Of them, 46.2% said that one of their family members was violent toward them, while 27.3% said that their teachers had been violent toward them. Of the participants that were exposed to violence, 55.8% reported psychological violence, 27.3% reported physical violence, and 10.8% reported sexual violence. In the study, tendency toward violence is a dependent variable, while competitive attitude and self-esteem are independent variables. Family type, exposure to violence, and demographics are control variables. Age, class, school, family attitude, and exposure to violence are the variables that created significant differences in the tendency for violence. The present study showed that there was an inverse and weak yet significant relationship between the students’ tendencies toward violence and competitiveness ( r = −.169), and a positive and weak relationship between tendency toward violence and self-esteem ( r = .238). Also, there was an inverse and low-level significant relationship between competitiveness and self-esteem ( r = −.121). The variables which affect the tendency toward violence are gender, exposure to violence, competitiveness, age, self-esteem, and extended family type in a descending order regarding their importance. The predictive power of the variables on the tendency toward violence was 16.8%, which is not statistically significant.
Toward a Model of Learning and Transfer: A Review of Instructional Methods and Learning Outcomes in Special Education Teacher Preparation
Authors: Juarez Sara Werner , Purper Cammy
Published: August 2017

In the past decade and a half, measurable outcomes of teacher performance and student achievement have moved to the forefront of education policy. Researchers have identified a gap in special education teacher preparation research and have called for the re-envisioning of current educational models, emphasizing a focus on effective methods in special education teacher preparation. Prior studies and literature reviews have demonstrated a need for experimental research on effective methods that move preservice teachers (PSTs) from knowledge to application. In this article, the authors present a model of learning and transfer based on the How People Learn theoretical framework. Guided by this framework, a review of literature resulted in 12 experimental, quantitative studies of instructional methods delivered primarily within university classroom-based settings, measuring PSTs’ outcomes at increasingly deeper levels of learning and transfer. Findings indicate various instructional methods within university coursework lead to strong, positive learning outcomes for PSTs, with most studies measuring knowledge acquisition and conceptual application of knowledge. Yet, more studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of coursework on teacher candidates’ application for and within classroom settings, as well as students’ outcomes. Implications and future research are discussed.
Effects of a Training Package to Increase Teachers’ Fidelity of Naturalistic Instructional Procedures in Inclusive Preschool Classrooms
Authors: Shepley Collin , Lane Justin D. , Grisham-Brown Jennifer , Spriggs Amy D. , Winstead Olivia
Published: August 2017

Teachers in inclusive preschool classrooms are required to provide supports and instruction to children with and without developmental delays. In addition, teachers are required to use research and evidence-based practices, such as naturistic instructional procedures. Despite a plethora of research on the effectiveness and utility of naturalistic instructional procedures, few studies have examined the training and coaching practices used to prepare teachers to use these procedures. In addition, few studies have examined the extent to which teachers view common training and coaching practices as ecologically valid or naturalistic instructional procedures as socially valid. The authors trained two preschool teachers of inclusive classrooms to use naturalistic instructional procedures within the context of their daily activities. The training package consisted of the most commonly utilized teacher training and coaching practices. Teachers evaluated the social and ecological validity of the training and coaching practices throughout the study. Results indicated that both teachers acquired target naturalistic instructional procedures with concomitant decreases in the number of unrelated task demands presented to children. Teachers reported idiosyncratic differences across social and ecological validity ratings. Implications for future research and teacher training are discussed.
Let’s Talk About Breastfeeding: The Importance of Delivering a Message in a Home Visiting Program
Authors: McGinnis Sandra , Lee Eunju , Kirkland Kristen , Miranda-Julian Claudia , Greene Rose
Published: August 2017

Purpose:

To examine the potential impact of paraprofessional home visitors in promoting breastfeeding initiation and continuation among a high-risk population.

Design:

A secondary analysis of program data from a statewide home visitation program.

Setting:

Thirty-six Healthy Families New York sites across New York State.

Subjects:

A total of 3521 pregnant mothers at risk of poor child health and developmental outcomes.

Intervention:

Home visitors deliver a multifaceted intervention that includes educating high-risk mothers on benefits of breastfeeding, encouraging them to breastfeed and supporting their efforts during prenatal and postnatal periods.

Measures:

Home visitor-reported content and frequency of home visits, participant-reported breastfeeding initiation and duration, and covariates (Kempe Family Stress Index, race and ethnicity, region, nativity, marital status, age, and education).

Analysis:

Logistic regression.

Results:

Breastfeeding initiation increased by 1.5% for each 1-point increase in the percentage of prenatal home visits that included breastfeeding discussions. Breastfeeding continuation during the first 6 months also increased with the percentage of earlier home visits that included breastfeeding discussions. Additionally, if a participant receives 1 more home visit during the third month, her likelihood of breastfeeding at 6 months increases by 11%. Effect sizes varied by months postpartum.

Conclusions:

Delivering a breastfeeding message consistently during regular home visits is important for increasing breastfeeding rates. Given that home visiting programs target new mothers least likely to breastfeed, a more consistent focus on breastfeeding in this supportive context may reduce breastfeeding disparities.
Molecular design of some semi-alicyclic polyimides as a route to improve refraction and dielectric properties for liquid crystal display applications
Authors: Barzic Andreea Irina , Albu Raluca Marinica , Ioanid Emil Ghiocel , Hulubei Camelia
Published: August 2017

The study establishes an adequate monomer combination for achieving the best balance of properties required in obtaining polyimide alignment layers for display devices. The molecular design of some aliphatic/aromatic polyimides was performed by using dianhydride monomers with distinct configurations in terms of rigidity, size, and symmetry. The polyimides based on semi-flexible and nonsymmetric dianhydride moieties present lower refractive index and dielectric constant (<3) than those obtained from symmetric and rigid dianhydride units. This determines faster traveling of visible and microwave radiations as required for liquid crystal alignment purposes. The interactions of samples with the N-(4-Methoxybenzylidene)-4-butylaniline, cyanobiphenyl, and 4-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl nematics were assessed. The analyzed polyimides have higher surface tensions than the ones of the liquid crystals, determining a parallel arrangement of the nematic molecules. As the dispersive interactions at the polymer surface are lower, the work of spreading is higher as a result of improved adhesion of liquid crystal with the polyimide alignment layer. The sample containing rigid, symmetric, noncoplanar dianhydride units (PI.4) and the one based on semi-flexible, nonsymmetric dianhydride moieties are the most transparent for visible and microwave radiations, allowing low cohesion interaction at interface with nematics. These aspects recommend the two studied polyimides as candidates for alignment layers.
Cascades of Grace
Authors: Campbell Karen , Henry-Robinson Tessa
Published: August 2017

Cascades of Grace was formed within the United Reformed Church (URC) through Global and Intercultural Ministries to network and empower Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) women in the churches. In the article, two of the founding members describe the formation of the group, and their own experiences in URC and other churches, and in candidating for ministry.
The Emerging Role of PD-1/PD-L1–Targeting Immunotherapy in the Treatment of Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma
Authors: Gwynn Morgan E. , DeRemer David L.
Published: August 2017

Objective: To summarize and evaluate immunotherapy agents targeting programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) recently approved for the treatment of metastatic urothelial carcinomas (UC). Data Sources: A literature review was performed using PubMed (2012 to June 2017), the American Society of Clinical Oncology abstract databases (2012 to June 2017 Annual Meetings/symposia), and the America Association for Cancer Research symposia (2012 to June 2017). A search using clinicaltrials.gov was conducted to identify studies for atezolizumab, avelumab, durvalumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab. Study Selection and Data Extraction: English language phase I to III studies assessing PD-1 and PD-L1 in UC were incorporated. Data Synthesis: Atezolizumab, avelumab, durvalumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab have demonstrated clinical efficacy with tolerable toxicities in patients with metastatic UC with disease progression following platinum-based chemotherapy. Anti–PD-1/PD-L1 therapies may provide overall survival advantage; these are currently being evaluated in ongoing phase 3 studies. Greater objective response rates seem to be observed in PD-L1–positive patients versus PD-L1–negative patients, but methodologies in this assessment differ among clinical trials. The identification of biomarkers that provide greater insight into patients who positively respond to PD-1/PD-L1 therapies are needed. Conclusions: Treatment options for metastatic UC have expanded to include PD-1/PD-L1 therapies. These agents should be strongly considered as second-line therapy over single-agent chemotherapy for patients who fail or progress after platinum-based treatment.
An Experiment in Educational Research-Creation Using Music as Diagram
Authors: Riddle Stewart
Published: August 2017

In response to the call for this special issue to begin our inquiries with concepts rather than methods, the DeleuzeoGuattarian notion of the diagram is taken up in this article as part of a musical experiment with educational inquiry. In doing so, two musical sound creatures are created through the use of music as a molecular and imperceptible image of thought that is different from language and its semiotic modes of representation. This article asks how music might be plugged into the world and what a musical onto-epistemology could produce as a result. Perhaps educational inquiry would open up to new explorations and different configurations, discursive and non-semantic, through music as diagram.
Algorithm-based fault recovery of adaptively refined parallel multilevel grids
Authors: Stals Linda
Published: August 2017

On future extreme scale computers, it is expected that faults will become an increasingly serious problem as the number of individual components grows and failures become more frequent. This is driving the interest in designing algorithms with built-in fault tolerance that can continue to operate and that can replace data even if part of the computation is lost in a failure. For fault-free computations, the use of adaptive refinement techniques in combination with finite element methods is well established. Furthermore, iterative solution techniques that incorporate information about the grid structure, such as the parallel geometric multigrid method, have been shown to be an efficient approach to solving various types of partial different equations. In this article, we present an advanced parallel adaptive multigrid method that uses dynamic data structures to store a nested sequence of meshes and the iteratively evolving solution. After a fail-stop fault, the data residing on the faulty processor will be lost. However, with suitably designed data structures, the neighbouring processors contain enough information so that a consistent mesh can be reconstructed in the faulty domain with the goal of resuming the computation without having to restart from scratch. This recovery is based on a set of carefully designed distributed algorithms that build on the existing parallel adaptive refinement routines, but which must be carefully augmented and extended.
Progression of external and internal carotid artery stenosis is associated with a higher risk of ischemic neurologic events in patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis
Authors: Masoomi Reza , Shah Zubair , Dawn Buddhadeb , Vamanan Karthik , Nanjundappa Aravinda , Gupta Kamal
Published: August 2017

A small percentage of patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS) who are on optimal medical management do go on to develop ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attacks (IS/TIA). Several diagnostic tools have been studied to identify those patients who are at increased risk. However, most of these diagnostic tools are not available for routine clinical use or are resource intensive. We performed a retrospective study to assess the incremental value of external carotid artery stenosis progression (ECASP) along with internal carotid artery stenosis progression (ICASP) in predicting risk of ipsilateral IS/TIA in a cohort of patients with ACAS. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with ACAS who had at least two serial duplex ultrasounds (DUS) at our center. A total of 356 patients (712 carotid arteries) were included in the study (mean age 74.7±9 years, 49.2% male) with a mean follow-up of 60.7±32.7 months. In univariate analysis, concurrent progression of ICA and ECA stenosis on the same side arteries was associated with a very significant increased risk of ipsilateral IS/TIA (14.7% vs 4.6%, p<0.001). Also, multivariable regression analysis showed that concurrent ECA/ICA progression was an independent predictor of IS/TIA (OR=3.6, 95% CI 1.64–7.8; p=0.001). ECASP along with ICASP is significantly associated with increased risk of ipsilateral IS/TIA and provides incremental risk stratification over that provided by ICASP alone. The ECA is routinely evaluated in clinical practice, and it could serve as an additional marker for identifying higher risk patients with ACAS.
‘It’s sometimes hard to tell what patients are playing at’: How healthcare professionals make sense of why patients and families complain about care
Authors: Adams Mary , Maben Jill , Robert Glenn
Published: August 2017

This article draws from sociological and socio-legal studies of dispute between patients and doctors to examine how healthcare professionals made sense of patients’ complaints about healthcare. We analyse 41 discursive interviews with professional healthcare staff working in eight different English National Health Service settings to explore how they made sense of events of complaint and of patients’ (including families’) motives for complaining. We find that for our interviewees, events of patients’ complaining about care were perceived as a breach in fundamental relationships involving patients’ trust or patients’ recognition of their work efforts. We find that interviewees rationalised patients’ motives for complaining in ways that marginalised the content of their concerns. Complaints were most often discussed as coming from patients who were inexpert, distressed or advantage-seeking; accordingly, care professionals hearing their concerns about care positioned themselves as informed decision-makers, empathic listeners or service gate-keepers. We find differences in our interviewees’ rationalisation of patients’ complaining about care to be related to local service contingences rather than to fixed professional differences. We note that it was rare for interviewees to describe complaints raised by patients as grounds for improving the quality of care. Our findings indicate that recent health policy directives promoting a view of complaints as learning opportunities from critical patient/consumers must account for sociological factors that inform both how the agency of patients is envisaged and how professionalism exercised contemporary healthcare work.
Girl Fights and the Online Media Construction of Black Female Violence and Sexuality
Authors: Hitchens Brooklynn K.
Published: August 2017

This article uses content analysis to examine the media construction of violence and sexuality among young Black, White, and Latina women who fight on WorldStarHipHop.com . I explore symbolic themes derived from the construction of violence through physical fighting. Findings suggest overrepresentation of depictions of Black women as perpetrators, specifically with weapon use and amount of physical violence shown. Findings also indicate racial differences in displays of nudity. Yet, these racialized images conflict with existing codes of violence in urban Black communities. This article adds new insight into the critical discourse surrounding urban Black women and new media construction of girl violence.
A comparative analysis of physical education and non-physical education teachers who coach high school sport teams
Authors: Camiré Martin , Rocchi Meredith , Kendellen Kelsey
Published: August 2017

Although high school sport in Canada has traditionally been an extracurricular activity overseen by physical education teachers, recent findings demonstrate how the majority ( n = 1677, 60%) of coaches are in fact non-physical education teachers. The purpose of the present study was to compare physical education and non-physical education teachers who coach high school sport teams. A national sample of 2890 Canadian high school teacher-coaches (males = 1967, 68%) from all 10 provinces and 3 territories responded to an online survey. Significant differences were found between physical education teacher-coaches and non-physical education teacher-coaches in terms of demographic variables, perceived teacher-coach benefits, and perceived coaching efficacy, whereby physical education teacher-coaches tended to have more favorable perceptions. Based on the results, access to coach education should be facilitated, particularly for non-physical education teacher coaches.