bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two new species of Rhombognathus (Halacaridae, Trombidiformes) from a Mangrove in the northern littoral zone of São Paulo State (Brazil)
Authors: PEPATO ALMIR R. , SILVEIRA PAULO SERGIO AMORIM DA
Published: January 2015

Two species belonging to the algivorous genus Rhombognathus are described from algae associated to mangrove trees. Rhombognathus aribus sp. nov. is similar to R. major Bartsch, 2005, but may be set apart by the lacking of the third pair of dorsal setae on Ocular plates, adjunct setae on Posterior Epimeral plates, absence of ventral setae on basifemura III–IV and presence of ventromedial bipectinate setae on tibiae II of all individuals and on tibiae III of most of them. Rhombognathus picinguabensis sp. nov. shares the leg chaetotaxy and shape of the lateral claws with R. parvulus Viets, 1939. The latter species, however, can be easily separated from the former due the fusion of all dorsal plates in a single dorsal shield.
New species of oribatid mites with auriculate pteromorphs (Acari, Oribatida, Galumnidae) from the Philippines
Authors: ERMILOV SERGEY G. , CORPUZ-RAROS LEONILA
Published: January 2015

Three new species of oribatid mites of the family Galumnidae (Acari, Oribatida), Galumna (Cosmogalumna) vladopesici sp. nov., Carinogalumna philippinensis sp. nov. and Setogalumna luzonica sp. nov., are described from the Philippines. Galumna (Cosmogalumna) vladopesici sp. nov. is most similar morphologically to G. (C.) dongnaiensis Ermilov & Anichkin, 2013, but it differs from the latter by the surface of body, genital and anal plates, and by the number and size of notogastral porose areas. Carinogalumna philippinensis sp. nov. differs from all species of Carinogalumna by the number of notogastral porose areas and structure of lamellar and sublamellar lines. Setogalumna luzonica sp. nov. is most similar morphologically to S. excellens P. Balogh, 1985, but it differs from the latter by the body size, morphology of bothridial setae, anterior notogastral margin and notogastral porose areas Aa, and structure of lamellar and sublamellar lines. The genera Galumna and Carinogalumna are recorded for the first time in Philippines, and the genus Setogalumna in the Oriental region. Identification keys to known species of Galumna (Cosmogalumna) and Setogalumna are given.
A new species of Heilipus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae)
associated with commercial species of Annonaceae in Brazil, and comments on other species of the genus causing damage to avocado trees in Brazil
Authors: VANIN SERGIO ANTONIO , BENÁ DANIELA DE CASSIA
Published: January 2015

Heilipus gibbus sp. nov. (type locality: Brazil, state of São Paulo, Angatuba) is described from 73 specimens. The holotype and three paratypes from the same locality were reared from larvae collected in the basis region, near the ground, of an atemoya tree (a hybrid of the sugar-apple, "pinha" or fruta-do-conde"—Annona squamosa L., and the cherymoya, A. cherimoya (Mill.), Annonaceae). Heilipus gibbus sp. nov. can cause severe injury to commercial Annonaceae, and has been misidentified in the collections and the literature as Heilipus catagraphus Germar, 1834. The new species and H. catagraphus have a very similar color pattern, but can be easily distinguished by the rostrum shape in lateral view, being humped in H. gibbus sp. nov. but evenly arcuate in H. catagraphus. Illustrations of habitus and of male and female genitalia are provided to the new species and for avocado stem boring species of Heilipus which occur in Brazil (H. catagraphus and H. rufipes). Comments are made for H. elegans Guérin, 1844, which record to Brazil is probably based on a misidentification.
A new forest-dwelling Bent-toed Gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus) from Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand
Authors: KUNYA KIRATI , SUMONTHA MONTRI , PANITVONG NONN , DONGKUMFU WUTTIPONG , SIRISAMPHAN THANA , PAUWELS OLIVIER S. G.
Published: January 2015

We describe a new forest-dwelling Cyrtodactylus from Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. Cyrtodactylus inthanon sp. nov. is characterized by a maximum known SVL of 87.3 mm; 18 to 20 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; a continuous series of 34 to 37 enlarged femoro-precloacal scales, including four to six pitted (female) or pore-bearing (male) scales on each femur separated by a diastema from five pitted (females) or pore-bearing (male) precloacal scales; no precloacal groove or depression; transversely enlarged subcaudal scales; and three to five irregular beige dorsal bands between limb insertions. The discovery of a new reptile endemic to Doi Inthanon reinforces the high importance of this mountain in terms of biodiversity conservation.
A New Metric for Indian Monsoon Rainfall Extremes*
Authors: Jun Tackseung , Munasinghe Lalith , Rind David H.
Published: January 2015

Extreme monsoon rainfall in India has disastrous consequences, including significant socioeconomic impacts. However, little is known about the overall trends and climate factors associated with extreme rainfall because rainfall greatly varies across India and because few appropriate methods are available to measure extreme rainfall in the context of such heterogeneity. To provide a comprehensive assessment of extreme monsoon rainfall, the authors developed a metric using record rainfall data to measure the changes in the likelihood of extreme high and extreme low rainfall over time; this metric is independent of the characteristics of the underlying rainfall distributions. Hence, the metric is ideally suited to aggregate extreme rainfall information across heterogeneous regions covering India. The authors found that from 1930 to 2013, the likelihood of extreme high and extreme low rainfall increases 2-fold and 4-fold, respectively. These overall trend increases are driven by anomalous increases, particularly in the early 2000s; the likelihood of extreme high and extreme low rainfall increases 5-fold and 18-fold in 2005 and 2002, respectively. These findings imply a broadening of the underlying monsoon rainfall distribution over the past century. The authors also show that the time patterns of the likelihood of extreme rainfall in recent decades are correlated with El Niño–Southern Oscillation, especially when it is in the same phase with the Pacific decadal oscillation and Indian Ocean dipole.
Understanding the Contrast of Australian Springtime Rainfall of 1997 and 2002 in the Frame of Two Flavors of El Niño
Authors: Lim Eun-Pa , Hendon Harry H.
Published: January 2015

This study investigates the causes and predictability of the different springtime rainfall responses over Australia for El Niño in 1997 and 2002. The rainfall deficit over Australia is generally assumed to be linearly related to the strength of El Niño. However, Australia received near-normal springtime rainfall during the record strong El Niño in 1997, whereas it suffered from severe drought, especially in the east, during the weak El Niño of 2002.

Statistical reconstruction of the rainfall anomalies and forecasts produced from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology’s dynamical seasonal forecast system [Predictive Ocean and Atmosphere Model for Australia (POAMA)] demonstrated that the eastward and westward shifts of the maximum SST warming of El Niño contributed to the near-normal and dry responses of Australian spring rainfall in 1997 and 2002, respectively. Hence, the contrasting rainfall responses were largely predictable. However, the dry conditions in 2002 were significantly amplified by the occurrence of the record strength negative phase of the southern annular mode (SAM), which could only be predicted with the use of realistic atmospheric initial conditions in the atmosphere–ocean coupled configuration of POAMA. Therefore, predictability of the severity of the 2002 drought over Australia was strongly constrained by the predictability of the SAM, despite the high predictability of the drier than normal condition of 2002 spring that stems from the anomalous central Pacific warming of 2002 El Niño.
Assimilation of Cloud-Top Temperature and Radar Observations of an Idealized Splitting Supercell Using an Observing System Simulation Experiment
Authors: Kerr Christopher A. , Stensrud David J. , Wang Xuguang
Published: January 2015

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R Series will provide cloud-top observations on the convective scale at roughly the same frequency as Doppler radar observations. To evaluate the potential value of cloud-top temperature observations for data assimilation, an imperfect-model observing system simulation experiment is used. Synthetic cloud-top temperature observations from an idealized splitting supercell created using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model are assimilated along with synthetic radar reflectivity and radial velocity using an ensemble Kalman filter. Observations are assimilated every 5 min for 2.5 h with additive noise used to maintain ensemble spread.

Four experiments are conducted to explore the relative value of cloud-top temperature and radar observations. One experiment only assimilates satellite data, another only assimilates radar data, and two more experiments assimilate both radar and satellite observations, but with the observation types assimilated in different order. Results show a rather weak correlation between cloud-top temperature and horizontal winds, whereas larger correlations are found between cloud-top temperature and microphysics variables. However, the assimilation of cloud-top temperature data alone produces a supercell storm in the ensemble, although the resulting ensemble has much larger spread compared to the ensembles of radar inclusive experiments. The addition of radar observations greatly improves the storm structure and reduces the overprediction of storm extent. Results further show that assimilating cloud-top temperature observations in addition to radar data does not lead to an improved forecast. However, assimilating cloud-top temperature can produce reasonable forecasts for areas lacking radar coverage.
A Composite Perspective of the Extratropical Flow Response to Recurving Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Archambault Heather M. , Keyser Daniel , Bosart Lance F. , Davis Christopher A. , Cordeira Jason M.
Published: January 2015

This study investigates the composite extratropical flow response to recurving western North Pacific tropical cyclones (WNP TCs), and the dependence of this response on the strength of the TC–extratropical flow interaction as defined by the negative potential vorticity advection (PV) by the irrotational wind associated with the TC. The 2.5° NCEP–NCAR reanalysis is used to construct composite analyses of all 1979–2009 recurving WNP TCs and of subsets that undergo strong and weak TC–extratropical flow interactions.

Findings indicate that recurving WNP TCs are associated with the amplification of a preexisting Rossby wave train (RWT) that disperses downstream and modifies the large-scale flow pattern over North America. This RWT affects approximately 240° of longitude and persists for approximately 10 days. Recurving TCs associated with strong TC–extratropical flow interactions are associated with a stronger extratropical flow response than those associated with weak TC–extratropical flow interactions. Compared with weak interactions, strong interactions feature a more distinct upstream trough, stronger and broader divergent outflow associated with stronger midlevel frontogenesis and forcing for ascent over and northeast of the TC, and stronger upper-level PV frontogenesis that promotes more pronounced jet streak intensification. During strong interactions, divergent outflow helps anchor and amplify a downstream ridge, thereby amplifying a preexisting RWT from Asia that disperses downstream to North America. In contrast, during weak interactions, divergent outflow weakly amplifies a downstream ridge, such that a RWT briefly amplifies in situ before dissipating over the western-central North Pacific.
The association between use of antidepressants and bone quality using quantitative heel ultrasound
Authors: Rauma Päivi H , Pasco Julie A , Berk Michael , Stuart Amanda L , Koivumaa-Honkanen Heli , Honkanen Risto J , Hodge Jason M , Williams Lana J
Published: January 2015

Objective:

Osteoporosis and depression are major public health problems worldwide. Studies have reported an association between antidepressant use, mainly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and bone mineral density (BMD), but the issue remains unclear.

Methods:

This study examined data collected from 849 Australian men (aged 24–98 years) participating in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study (GOS). Bone quality was determined using quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and included the following parameters: Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation (BUA), Speed of Sound (SOS) and Stiffness Index (SI). Anthropometry, socio-economic status (SES), medication use and lifestyle factors were determined. The cross-sectional associations between bone quality and use of antidepressants were studied using multivariate linear regression adjusted for potential confounders.

Results:

At the time of assessment, 61 (7.2%) men were using antidepressants, of which 44 (72.1%) used SSRIs. Antidepressant use was associated with lower SI ( p = .002), SOS ( p = .010) and BUA ( p = .053). However, body weight was identified as an effect modifier; QUS values were lower for antidepressant users with lower weight (< 90 kg) only.

Conclusions:

Use of antidepressants was associated with lower QUS values for men with low body weights. Thus, the risk of osteoporosis should be taken into account when prescribing antidepressants, in particular among men who are in this weight category.
Osteogenic Responses to Zirconia with Hydroxyapatite Coating by Aerosol Deposition
Authors: Cho Y. , Hong J. , Ryoo H. , Kim D. , Park J. , Han J.
Published: January 2015

Previously, we found that osteogenic responses to zirconia co-doped with niobium oxide (Nb2O5) or tantalum oxide (Ta2O5) are comparable with responses to titanium, which is widely used as a dental implant material. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro osteogenic potential of hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated zirconia by an aerosol deposition method for improved osseointegration. Surface analysis by scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction proved that a thin as-deposited HA film on zirconia showed a shallow, regular, crater-like surface. Deposition of dense and uniform HA films was measured by SEM, and the contact angle test demonstrated improved wettability of the HA-coated surface. Confocal laser scanning microscopy indicated that MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast attachment did not differ notably between the titanium and zirconia surfaces; however, cells on the HA-coated zirconia exhibited a lower proliferation than those on the uncoated zirconia late in the culture. Nevertheless, ALP, alizarin red S staining, and bone marker gene expression analysis indicated good osteogenic responses on HA-coated zirconia. Our results suggest that HA-coating by aerosol deposition improves the quality of surface modification and is favorable to osteogenesis.
Graduate Student Teacher Training
Authors: Blouin David D. , Moss Alison R.
Published: January 2015

Twenty years ago, Pescosolido and Milkie (1995) reported that 50 percent of U.S. and Canadian sociology graduate programs offered formal teacher training. Despite pronouncements that offerings have increased substantially, no similarly thorough and direct investigation has been published since. In this time of dramatic change and increasing scrutiny of higher education, graduate teacher training is arguably more important than ever before. Thus, we seek to provide a new baseline of teacher training in the discipline. Using a 2013 survey of U.S. and Canadian sociology graduate programs ( N = 173), we find that 94 percent involve graduate students in teaching, almost 68 percent provide formal training for graduate student instructors, and 54 percent provide formal training for teaching assistants. We discuss the kinds and frequency of teacher training, as well as the type of graduate programs most likely to offer teacher training, and we provide suggestions for future research.
The Crisis and International Population Movement in Indonesia
Authors: Hugo Graeme
Published: January 2015

Indonesia is the country most affected by the Asian financial crisis which began in mid-1997 and has been the slowest to recover from it. In the present paper the effects of the first two and a half years of the crisis on international population movements influencing Indonesia are discussed. The crisis has increased economic pressures on potential migrant workers in Indonesia and the result has been increased out-movement. In both pre and post-crisis situations this was dominated by women, at least among official migrant workers. The crisis has tightened the labor market in some of Indonesia's main destination countries but the segmentation of the labor market in those countries has limited the impact of the crisis in reducing jobs in those countries. The crisis has created more pressure on undocumented migrants in destination countries but the extent of repatriation, while higher than in the pre-crisis situation, has been limited. The crisis has directly or indirectly affected other international movements influencing Indonesia including expatriate movement to Indonesia and longer-term, south-north migration out of the country. The policy implications of these changes are discussed including the fact that the crisis has led to an increased appreciation of the importance of contract labor migration by government and greater attention being paid to improving the system for migrants themselves and the country as a whole.
Multi-Local Residence, Transnational Networks: Chinese ‘Astronaut’ Families in New Zealand
Authors: Ho Elsie Seckyee
Published: January 2015

This paper uses longitudinal survey data to explore the dynamics of some Hong Kong Chinese families that have settled in New Zealand during the early 1990s. It examines the changes in family structure, settlement and employment experiences as family members adjust to opportunities in both their host country and their former homeland. The data suggest that the stereotype of the ‘astronaut’ family that prevailed in the early 1990s is no longer appropriate. In the new transnational family structure, members are dispersing over several countries, rather than residing continuously in only one place. The policy implications of the research findings for settlement are discussed in the concluding section.
Temporary Migration of Indian ICT Workers to Australia
Authors: Voigt-Graf Carmen , Khoo Siew-Ean
Published: January 2015

This article examines the temporary migration of information and communications technology (ICT) workers from India to Australia under the 457 temporary business entry visa category that was introduced in 1996. The number of Indians arriving in Australia under this visa class has risen more rapidly than that of any major source country, suggesting the competitiveness of Indian ICT workers in the Australian labor market. The article examines the main characteristics of Indian ICT workers migrating temporarily to Australia, analyzes the underlying causes for the considerable increase in numbers and points to some concerns connected to their temporary migration to Australia.
Tongan Immigrants in New Zealand
Authors: ‘Esau Raelyn Lolohea
Published: January 2015

This study sought to shed light on the experiences of Tongan immigrants in New Zealand. Three major areas were explored: the migration decision-making process, socio-economic changes in the host country, and transnational networks with Tonga. With respect to migration decision-making, the nuclear family plays an important role as the final decision-making unit. Family-related reasons, jobs, and study were the typical reasons for migration to New Zealand. Regarding socio-economic changes, the immigrants' income tends to increase as their duration of stay in New Zealand lengthens. Most of them work at blue-collar jobs. Many immigrants who were unmarried at the time of migration married after moving to New Zealand, mostly to other Tongans. The church serves as a critical support system for the immigrants. Tongans tend to prefer permanent residency visas over New Zealand citizenship. Remittances continue to play an important role in immigrants' links to Tonga, as do communication with family members and visits to Tonga. Despite these continuing links with their home country, most of the immigrants do not wish to return to Tonga permanently.
Breaking the Isolation Cycle: The Experience of Muslim Refugee Women in Australia
Authors: Northcote Jeremy , Hancock Peter , Casimiro Suzy
Published: January 2015

Based on the findings of focus groups and key informant interviews, an ‘isolation cycle’ is proposed to conceptualize the interrelated processes that marginalize first generation migrant Muslim refugee women from meaningful participation in Australian society. We hold that both internal ‘ethnic’ factors and external societal factors are jointly involved in perpetuating a cycle of isolation for Muslim refugee women. Hence, we propose that the tendency of social analysts, politicians and media commentators alike to focus on one group over the other as a means of casting ‘blame’ on difficulties surrounding integration is misguided. We conclude that more attention is required by Australian services and government agencies in breaking the isolation cycle through a more sustained, pro-active strategy directed not only at refugee settlers, but Australian society in general.
An Exploratory Study of the Sexual Health Knowledge and Attitudes of Asian Male Student Sojourners in New Zealand
Authors: Omura Saburo , Hills Michael , Ritchie Jane
Published: January 2015

This study looked into the sexual and general health attitudes of Asian male student sojourners in New Zealand. The following issues on sexual and general health were probed: level of awareness, views and perceptions, levels of knowledge, main sources of information, and cultural factors in seeking health information. An Internet-mediated survey was employed to gather data on this sensitive topic. Sixty-six participants from Waikato, Massey, Canterbury, and Otago Universities answered the questionnaire. In addition, key-informant interviews with health providers were conducted to provide additional data. Data from the survey indicated a high level of health awareness concerning both general and sexual health maintenance, but there was cultural reluctance to discuss health issues, especially sexual health. General and sexual health matters were regarded as highly personal and sensitive, which they discussed with close associates. Findings from the study suggest the need for culturally appropriate approaches to improve Asian male students' access to health services.
Migrant Labor NGOs and Trade Unions: A Partnership in Progress?
Authors: Ford Michele
Published: January 2015

Over the last two decades, the needs and interests of temporary international labor migrants in Southeast Asia have overwhelmingly been the concern of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) rather than trade unions. However, in recent years unions have increasingly been forced to acknowledge that migrant workers are a potentially important trade union constituency. This introduction provides the theoretical framework for a collection of articles which grew out of a project involving academics, trade unionists and migrant labor NGO activists on the extent of union-NGO cooperation on migrant worker issues. It argues that while unions are now much more engaged with both with temporary migrant workers and the NGOs who advocate on their behalf, unions' approaches towards transnationalism and citizenship (and the concomitant issue of legality) — along with entrenched inter-sectoral divisions and prejudices — continue to limit their preparedness and ability to engage fully with issues concerning temporary labor migration.
Migrant Worker Activism in Singapore and Malaysia: Freedom of Association and the Role of the State
Authors: Piper Nicola
Published: January 2015

The political space given to non-governmental organizations to respond to the economic and legal problems experienced by migrant workers is heavily restricted in Malaysia and Singapore. The relative political weakness of their respective civil societies has been the focus of some research, albeit to a lesser extent with specific reference to their labor sectors, raising questions on what this implies for migrant labor activism.

By exploring the differences and similarities across the various organizations involved in migrant worker issues in-country as well as across countries, this paper investigates the role of state authoritarianism in shaping the landscape of migrant labor activism in Malaysia and Singapore. It assesses the pressure non-union civil society organizations can bring to bear on both the state-sponsored and traditional labor movement organizations which have been co-opted by the state to a greater or lesser extent in both Malaysia and Singapore. It is argued that it is in fact migrant labor and the growing political activism, especially transnational activism, which contributes or may contribute to the reinvigoration of labor activism in general by highlighting the many-folded problems of foreign workers.
Tongan Immigrants in Japan
Authors: ‘Esau Raelyn Lolohea
Published: January 2015

Many studies on Tongan immigration have focused on Tongans in New Zealand, Australia and the United States, which are the primary destinations of Tongan migrants. This research note reports the findings of a survey of Tongans in Japan. The small community of Tongans in Japan consists of those who came to Japan as marriage migrants, rugby players and students. The research note sheds light on respondents' migration background, transnational practices and future migration/permanent plans. Of the three groups, marriage migrants tend to view Japan as their home while rugby players and students are more likely to engage in transnational practices.
Trans-Tasman Migration, Transnationalism and Economic Development in Australasia
Authors: Poot Jacques
Published: January 2015

This paper focuses on migration between Australia and New Zealand, which has exhibited a strong, but cyclical, net movement towards Australia since the late 1960s. A long-term historical perspective is taken. Trans-Tasman migration is also compared with inter-island migration within New Zealand. It is argued that differential economic development, driven by forces of globalization, agglomeration and technological change, has been primarily responsible for the long-run changes in the distribution of population across the regions of Australasia. Asynchronous business cycles, demographic dynamics, perceptions, return migration and the high international mobility of New Zealanders (of whom one quarter of those aged 40–64 have lived abroad for a year or longer) are responsible for the short-run fluctuations. However, permanent and long-term migration is only a small fraction of total trans-Tasman population movement. Moreover, trans-Tasman migration has not offset New Zealand's ability to recruit population through immigration. Over the last three decades, the outflow of more than half a million New Zealand citizens has been compensated by a net inflow of three-quarter million citizens from elsewhere. The number of New Zealanders in Australia is expected to continue to grow but the migration flows are becoming increasingly diversified. One-third of the New Zealanders in Australia re-migrates within four years. Future trends will depend on New Zealand's ability to boost productivity growth, the real cost of air travel, retirement migration and the impacts of climate change.
Borderland Dynamics in Mae Sot, Thailand and the Pursuit of the Bangkok Dream and Resettlement
Authors: Kook Lee Sang
Published: January 2015

This article explores how the forces of mobility affect the border society of Mae Sot, Thailand. In particular, it examines two forces generating population movements involving Burmese migrants: the Bangkok Dream, which pushes migrants from the borderland to Bangkok in their search for better opportunities, and refugee resettlement programs, which take refugees from the borderland to other countries. These two processes create massive human migrations across and beyond the border, with Mae Sot serving as a node. The study found that migrations have become part and parcel of societal formation of the border town.
Has Permanent Settlement of Temporary Migrant Workers in Thailand Begun?
Authors: Boonchalaksi Wathinee , Chamratrithirong Aphichat , Huguet Jerrold W.
Published: January 2015

There are currently one million registered and perhaps as many unregistered low-skilled migrant workers in Thailand. Government policies assume that migrants stay only temporarily, however, and make no provision for accompanying family members. Regulations and administrative hurdles discourage the integration of low-skilled migrant workers in Thai society. In spite of government policies and regulations, there is increasing evidence that a significant proportion of migrant workers stay in the country for an extended period and exhibit some degree of integration, as suggested by migration theories. The paper suggests that Thai government policies should be based on a more realistic understanding of migration to the country.
Employment and Life Satisfaction among Female Marriage Migrants in South Korea
Authors: Lee Hye-Kyung
Published: January 2015

Using the 2009 national survey for marriage migrants, this paper examines the factors which influence the labor market participation and life satisfaction of female marriage migrants in South Korea. Comparisons are made among marriage migrants by ethnicity or source country and vis-à-vis local Korean women. The results indicate that the ability to engage in employment is hindered by lack of fluency in the Korean language and a demanding care regime for children and/or parent(s)-in-law. The socioeconomic adjustment of marriage migrants vary by ethnicity. Findings indicate that it is not employment per se, but the quality of work that contributes to life satisfaction. Having no children, a good spousal relationship, social networks and wealth also influence life satisfaction.
The Troublesome Gulf: Research on Migration to the Middle East
Authors: Abella Manolo
Published: January 2015

This review of recent research outlines changes in the composition and organization of labor supplies to the Middle East since the 1970s and indicates some effects on both sending and receiving countries. Before the recent Gulf war, Asians increasingly supplanted Arab migrant workers, entering the Gulf labor force through kinship networks, recruitment agencies and project-tied migration. At the national level, this emigration has sometimes led to severe labor shortages, as in Pakistan. Another effect is the impact of remittances on saving and investment behavior. A few detailed studies about countries of origin have provided insights into the push factors of the migration process; however, a major problem limiting research is poor survey and census data. In addition, research is lacking on the conditions of Asian migrant workers in the Middle East, the impact of emigration on demographic trends, and the important link between migration and development.
Some Salient Human Rights in the UN Convention on Migrant Workers
Authors: Penna L. Rao
Published: January 2015

The United Nations, being aware of the exploitation of migrant workers particularly illegal immigrants, has adapted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families 1990. Human rights are grouped in two categories: rights available for all migrant workers including the non-documented (Part III) and rights only for documented workers (Part IV). Many of the rights in Part III are a reaffirmation of existing human rights in other international instruments in the specific context of migrant workers. The ingenuity of the Convention lies in the innovation of a large number of hitherto unknown rights like the right to recourse to consular or diplomatic protection, or the right to transfer funds, the right to information regarding working conditions, the right to equality with nationals in educational, social, and health services, as well as the right to exemptions from import and export duties. This paper examines the scope of some of the important human rights in the Convention. It also evaluates the efficacy of the Convention in safeguarding the migrant workers during armed conflicts such as the 1990 invasion of Kuwait by Iraq.
Propagandista and Deportado: Return to the Motherland, Ca. 1888–1892
Authors: Llanes Ferdinand C.
Published: January 2015

This article links the return of the propagandistas from Spain with the “Calamba Period,” which the author proposes as a critical period in the shift in the aspirations and strategies of the Spain-based propagandistas, the principales and the Filipino people. The parallels in the lives of the propagandistas as exiles in a foreign land, and those of the deportados as exiles in their own land pointed to the need for a more radical agenda. The significance of the “Calamba Period” and the political as well as cultural dimensions of the return to the Motherland are elaborated in the article.
Spatial Patterns of Migration under China's Reform Period
Authors: Cai Fang
Published: January 2015

With the hukou (household registration) system in place since the 1950s, migration in China was limited to officially approved registration changes. Economic changes resulting from the introduction of economic reforms in the late 1970s and changes in the household registration system gave rise to the mobility of rural labor. Initially confined to rural areas, rural labor later expanded to urban migration in response to regional disparities in employment and income. This article presents and analyzes data showing the relationship between spatial patterns of migration and regional disparities.
Transfer of Natalizumab into Breast Milk in a Mother with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Baker Teresa E. , Cooper Shaun D. , Kessler Lacy , Hale Thomas W.
Published: January 2015

Natalizumab (Tysabri) is a recombinant humanized antibody to α4-integrin that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and Crohn disease. This is a case report of a 28-year-old woman with MS who was taking natalizumab (300 mg intravenously infused over 1 hour every 4 weeks) while breastfeeding her 11.5-month-old daughter 3 times a day. Breast milk samples were collected over a 50-day period after the patient’s first drug infusion. The average concentration of natalizumab was 0.93 µg/mL/d, and the relative infant dose was 1.74% of the weight-adjusted maternal dose. Transfer of natalizumab into human milk increased over time and with subsequent injections, with the highest concentration of 2.83 µg/mL at day 50 with a relative infant dose of 5.3%. Because these data suggest continued accumulation of natalizumab in milk, and because we cannot provide an accurate assessment of levels of this drug at 24 weeks (steady state), we are unable to determine safety at this time.
X-ray radiation promotes the metastatic potential of tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells via modulation of biomechanical and cytoskeletal properties
Authors: Zheng Q , Liu Y , Zhou HJ , Du YT , Zhang BP , Zhang J , Miao GY , Liu B , Zhang H
Published: January 2015

This study investigated the metastatic potential of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) cells after X-ray irradiation as well as radiation-induced changes in the biomechanical properties and cytoskeletal structure that are relevant to metastasis. Tca-8113 TSCC cells were X-ray-irradiated at increasing doses (0, 1, 2, or 4 Gy), and 24 h later, migration was evaluated with the wound healing and transwell migration assays, while invasion was assessed with the Matrigel invasion assay. Confocal and atomic force microscopy were used to examine changes in the structure of the actin cytoskeleton and Young’s modulus (cell stiffness), respectively. X-ray radiation induced dose-dependent increases in invasive and migratory potentials of cells relative to unirradiated control cells ( p < 0.05). The Young’s modulus of irradiated cells was decreased by radiation exposure ( p < 0.05), which was accompanied by alterations in the integrity and organization of the cytoskeletal network, as evidenced by a decrease in the signal intensity of actin fibers ( p < 0.05). X-ray irradiation enhanced migration and invasiveness in Tca-8113 TSCC cells by altering their biomechanical properties and the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. A biomechanics-based analysis can provide an additional platform for assessing tumor response to radiation and optimization of cancer therapies.
Statistical interactions and Bayes estimation of log odds in case-control studies
Authors: Satagopan Jaya M , Olson Sara H , Elston Robert C
Published: January 2015

This paper is concerned with the estimation of the logarithm of disease odds (log odds) when evaluating two risk factors, whether or not interactions are present. Statisticians define interaction as a departure from an additive model on a certain scale of measurement of the outcome. Certain interactions, known as removable interactions, may be eliminated by fitting an additive model under an invertible transformation of the outcome. This can potentially provide more precise estimates of log odds than fitting a model with interaction terms. In practice, we may also encounter nonremovable interactions. The model must then include interaction terms, regardless of the choice of the scale of the outcome. However, in practical settings, we do not know at the outset whether an interaction exists, and if so whether it is removable or nonremovable. Rather than trying to decide on significance levels to test for the existence of removable and nonremovable interactions, we develop a Bayes estimator based on a squared error loss function. We demonstrate the favorable bias-variance trade-offs of our approach using simulations, and provide empirical illustrations using data from three published endometrial cancer case-control studies. The methods are implemented in an R program, and available freely at http://www.mskcc.org/biostatistics/~satagopj .
Challenges in evaluating budget support and how to solve them
Authors: Dijkstra Geske , de Kemp Antonie
Published: January 2015

While there are well-tested methods for evaluating projects, it is much more difficult to evaluate budget support with the same rigour. This article outlines the challenges of evaluating budget support. In addition to applying a rigorous counterfactual for assessing impact, we argue that there are three other challenges, mainly caused by the ambiguities in the theory and practice of budget support. We then present a typology of different approaches for evaluating budget support based on two dichotomies: ‘qualitative versus quantitative’ and ‘country case study versus cross-country research’. Discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each, we show that an eclectic combination of the different methods can successfully solve the challenges.
Toward a culturally sensitive conceptualization of resilience: Participatory research with war-affected communities in northern Uganda
Authors: Vindevogel Sofie , Ager Alastair , Schiltz Julie , Broekaert Eric , Derluyn Ilse
Published: January 2015

Resilience research with war-affected populations has long conceptualized resilience as the absence of psychopathology and operationalized it by use of standardized measures. However, literature on resilience increasingly highlights the importance of also including indicators of positively valued functioning as well as contextually sensitive indicators of resilience. This study used a participatory approach to examine the contextual conceptualization of youth resilience in the aftermath of war in northern Uganda, as defined by groups of stakeholders (youths, parents, elders, leaders, teachers) in four communities. The results identify 40 indicators covering a multiplicity of domains of functioning. The rationales behind these indicators were clustered into the broad themes: progress, self-reliance, social connectedness, morality, health, and comfort. The findings suggest that positively and negatively valued aspects of functioning are both key to conceptualizing resilience, and indicate the importance of including contextually distinguished indicators. The findings further point to the role of individual and collective processes in the construction of resilience, and to the need to take into account the contexts wherein resilience is conceptualized and observed. This study generated contextually sensitive indicators of young people’s resilience, which can be used, complementary to existing measures of functioning, to provide a more comprehensive and culturally sensitive view of youths’ resilience in the wake of war adversity.
Featured Article: Deficiency of G-protein coupled receptor 40, a lipid-activated receptor, heightens in vitro- and in vivo-induced murine osteoarthritis
Authors: Monfoulet Laurent-Emmanuel , Philippe Claire , Mercier Sylvie , Coxam Véronique , Wittrant Yohann
Published: January 2015

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related degenerative joint disease. To date, its management is focused on symptoms (pain and inflammation). Studies suggest that fatty acids can reduce the expression of inflammatory and catalytic mediators, and improve in vivo joint function. Free fatty acid receptors (FFARs) such as G-protein coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) are proposed as attractive therapeutic targets to counteract inflammation and cartilage degradation observed in OA. This study aims to elucidate the involvement of GPR40 in OA. In this study, we used an in vitro model of OA, and surgically induced OA by ligament transection and partial meniscectomy in wild-type and GPR40 deficient mice. OA phenotype was investigated in vivo by histology and genes expression. We demonstrate that IL-1β-treated GPR40−/− chondrocytes secret more inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide, interleukin-6, prostaglandin E2) and active catabolic enzymes (metalloproteinase-2, -9 [MMP-2, MMP-9]), and show decreased anabolism (glycoaminoglycan) compared to GPR40+/+ cells. In accordance with these results, we show that GPR40−/− mice exhibit an aggravated OA-induced phenotype characterized by higher tidemark exposure, frequency of osteophyte formation and subchondral bone sclerosis. Altogether our results demonstrate that GPR40 deficiency leads to an extended OA phenotype, providing evidence that increasing GPR40 activity, by natural or synthetic ligands, could be a new strategy in the management of OA.
Experiences of Power and Violence in Mexican Men Attending Mutual-Aid Residential Centers for Addiction Treatment
Authors: Lozano-Verduzco Ignacio , Marín-Navarrete Rodrigo , Romero-Mendoza Martha , Tena-Suck Antonio
Published: January 2015

Fundamental elements of hegemonic masculinity such as power and violence are analyzed through characteristics of 12-step programs and philosophy immersed in Mutual-Aid Residential Centers for Addiction Treatment (CRAMAAs). CRAMAAs are a culturally specific form of substance abuse treatment in Mexico that are characterized by control and violence. Fifteen interviews were carried out with men of varied sociodemographic characteristics, and who resided in at least two of these centers. Results identify that power is expressed through drug abuse and leads them to subsequent biopsychosocial degradation. Residency in CRAMAAs is motivated by women, but men do not seek the residency and are usually admitted unwillingly. Power through violence is carried out inside CRAMAAs where men are victims of abuse. From a 12-step philosophy, this violence is believed to lead them to a path of recovery but instead produces feelings of anger and frustration. The implications of these centers on Mexican public health are discussed.
Usefulness of automated feeder-detection software for identification of access routes to small pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms during embolotherapy
Authors: Miyayama Shiro , Yamashiro Masashi , Ogi Takahiro , Kayahashi Masanori , Kawamura Kenji , Yoshida Miki , Terada Takuro , Kosugi Ikuko
Published: January 2015

The mortality rate of patients with ruptured pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms is high; therefore, it is recommended to treat pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms regardless of their size. In small pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms, however, identification of the access route on two-dimensional arteriography is sometimes difficult because of the superimposition of many hypertrophied branches of pancreaticoduodenal arteries on the aneurysm. We report two cases of ruptured pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm embolized successfully with metallic coils, assisted by automated feeder-detection software using cone-beam computed tomography data. This new technology may reduce physicians’ workload during the procedure.
News use of mobile media: A contingency model
Authors: Thorson Esther , Shoenberger Heather , Karaliova Tatsiana , Kim Eunjin (Anna) , Fidler Roger
Published: January 2015

A mobile contingency model is introduced and used to guide hypotheses about how the strength of people’s habits for using an incumbent medium (here, print newspapers), their degree of adoption of a newer medium (mobile devices), and their attitudes about the importance of professional news sources, influence their use of mobile devices for communication functions including entertainment, interpersonal communication, following news, financial transactions, and e-commerce. Secondary analysis of a 2012 U.S. national phone survey is employed. Older respondents use mobile devices less for all functions, including following news, tend to be loyal print subscribers, and highly agree that it is important for news to be produced by professional news sources. However, when the effect of age is controlled, higher levels of education, and to a lesser extent, income, still significantly predict agreement about the importance of professional news sources. The results demonstrate the crucial impact of news attitudes, and are largely supportive of the mobile contingency model. The most important practical implication is that newspaper companies should be targeting their mobile applications not to their subscribers, but rather to nonsubscribers who have adopted mobile devices, are highly educated, and have higher incomes.
Role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in adult patients with Ph-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Dhédin Nathalie , Huynh Anne , Maury Sébastien , Tabrizi Reza , Beldjord Kheira , Asnafi Vahid , Thomas Xavier , Chevallier Patrice , Nguyen Stéphanie , Coiteux Valérie , Bourhis Jean-Henri , Hichri Yosr , Escoffre-Barbe Martine , Reman Oumedaly , Graux Carlos , Chalandon Yves , Blaise Didier , Schanz Urs , Lhéritier Véronique , Cahn Jean-Yves , Dombret Hervé , Ifrah Norbert
Published: January 2015

Key Points

SCT in first complete remission is associated with 69.5% 3-year overall survival in high-risk ALL adult patients treated with intensified pediatric-like protocol. Poor early MRD response is a powerful tool to select patients who may benefit from SCT in first complete remission.