bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The relations of migrant status and parenting to Chinese adolescents’ adjustment
Authors: Zhang Guangzhen , Eisenberg Nancy , Liang Zongbao , Li Yi , Deng Huihua
Published: February 2016

The main goals of the present study were (a) to compare Chinese migrant and nonmigrant adolescents on mean levels of parenting, positive adjustment, and academic functioning, and to assess whether socioeconomic status (SES) accounted for any obtained differences, (b) to examine whether the relations of SES and migrant status to youths’ positive adjustment were mediated by quality of parenting, and (c) to examine relations of parenting to positive adjustment across time. Three months after adolescents (254 boys and 216 girls; 281 migrant and 189 nonmigrant adolescents; M age = 12.95 years, SD = 0.91 at the first wave) entered middle school (T1), and again one (T2) and two years later (T3), adolescents, parents, and/or teachers reported on parenting, and adolescents’ positive psychological adjustment and school-related social competence, and adolescents’ academic records were obtained from schools. Migrant parents were lower than nonmigrant parents on education and positive parenting (T1, T2, and T3). Migrant adolescents were lower than nonmigrant adolescents on self-reported self-esteem and life satisfaction, academic achievement (T1, T2, and T3) and teacher-reported school-related social competence (T3); they did not differ on most variables when parents’ education was controlled. When taking into account the stability of parenting and adjustment (and including T1 SES and migrant status as predictors of T2 variables), positive parenting predicted school-related social competence and academic achievement across time.
Examining participatory governance in a devolving UK: Insights from national parks policy development in Northern Ireland
Authors: Bell Jonathan PW , Stockdale Aileen
Published: February 2016

This paper provides a contemporary examination of policy making and participatory practice in the context of devolving governance in the UK. The paper takes Northern Ireland as its focus and is particularly timely considering the context of devolved governance, the ongoing transition from conflict to relative peace and the potential for rejuvenating democracy through participatory governance. The paper concentrates on one particular policy process, namely the attempted designation of a national park in the Mournes Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A thematic analysis of qualitative data is drawn upon to analyse the structural factors that framed the policy-making process, in particular the role of power in determining how consultation processes were initiated, designed and undertaken. Using Lukes’ model as an analytical framework, power is shown to manifest at multiple levels within the policy-making process to influence policy outcomes. The paper reveals how the persistence of a top-down approach to policy development combined with a highly parochial political outlook undermined attempts to designate a Mourne National Park. The paper concludes that, given the immaturity of recently devolved government in Northern Ireland, in this instance, the democratising intentions of devolved governance have not been met. This has implications for Northern Ireland’s recent reform of public administration which devolves certain planning powers to local authority level and the management of the internationally significant Mournes landscape.
Learning (not) to predict: Grammatical gender processing in second language acquisition
Authors: Hopp Holger
Published: February 2016

In two experiments, this article investigates the predictive processing of gender agreement in adult second language (L2) acquisition. We test (1) whether instruction on lexical gender can lead to target predictive agreement processing and (2) how variability in lexical gender representations moderates L2 gender agreement processing. In a pretest–posttest design, Experiment 1 trained 34 intermediate first language (L1) English learners of German on gender assignment. After training, the L2 group showed predictive gender processing; yet, performance correlated with accuracy in gender assignment. Experiment 1 suggests that target knowledge of lexical gender in the L2 lexicon is a prerequisite for predictive use of gender agreement in L2 syntax: Non-target gender assignment would lead to partially erroneous gender prediction such that use of gender agreement is costly for the parser and therefore abandoned. To test this account, Experiment 2 investigated predictive processing in 42 German native speakers who have target-like gender assignment and agreement. In a between-group design, one group received target input and the other received filler items with non-target gender assignment. The latter group subsequently stopped using gender agreement predictively in all experimental trials. Hence, L2 problems with gender agreement can be emulated in native processing. Taken together, the experiments suggest that variability of lexical gender assignment affects processing of gender agreement in natives and non-natives. We interpret the findings in the context of current probabilistic theories of implicit learning and processing adaptation.
Phonological substitution errors in L2 ASL sentence processing by hearing M2L2 learners
Authors: Williams Joshua , Newman Sharlene
Published: February 2016

In the present study we aimed to investigate phonological substitution errors made by hearing second language (M2L2) learners of American Sign Language (ASL) during a sentence translation task. Learners saw sentences in ASL that were signed by either a native signer or a M2L2 learner. Learners were to simply translate the sentence from ASL to English. Learners’ responses were analysed for lexical translation errors that were caused by phonological parameter substitutions. Unlike previous related studies, tracking phonological substitution errors during sentence translation allows for the characterization of uncontrolled and naturalistic perception errors. Results indicated that learners made mostly movement errors followed by handshape and location errors. Learners made more movement errors for sentences signed by the M2L2 learner relative to those by the native signer. Additionally, high proficiency learners made more handshape errors than low proficiency learners. Taken together, this pattern of results suggests that late M2L2 learners are poor at perceiving the movement parameter and M2L2 production variability of the movement parameter negatively contributes to perception.
Asymptotically optimal sampling-based kinodynamic planning
Authors: Li Yanbo , Littlefield Zakary , Bekris Kostas E.
Published: February 2016

Sampling-based algorithms are viewed as practical solutions for high-dimensional motion planning. Recent progress has taken advantage of random geometric graph theory to show how asymptotic optimality can also be achieved with these methods. Achieving this desirable property for systems with dynamics requires solving a two-point boundary value problem (BVP) in the state space of the underlying dynamical system. It is difficult, however, if not impractical, to generate a BVP solver for a variety of important dynamical models of robots or physically simulated ones. Thus, an open challenge was whether it was even possible to achieve optimality guarantees when planning for systems without access to a BVP solver. This work resolves the above question and describes how to achieve asymptotic optimality for kinodynamic planning using incremental sampling-based planners by introducing a new rigorous framework. Two new methods, STABLE_SPARSE_RRT (SST) and SST*, result from this analysis, which are asymptotically near-optimal and optimal, respectively. The techniques are shown to converge fast to high-quality paths, while they maintain only a sparse set of samples, which makes them computationally efficient. The good performance of the planners is confirmed by experimental results using dynamical systems benchmarks, as well as physically simulated robots.
On Visual Texture Preference: Can an Ecological Model Explain Why People Like Some Textures More Than Others?
Authors: Stephens Kyle D. , Hoffman Donald D.
Published: February 2016

What visual textures do people like and why? Here, we test whether the ecological valence theory proposed for color preferences can also predict people’s preferences for visual texture. According to the theory, people should like visual textures associated with positive objects or entities and dislike visual textures associated with negative objects or entities. We compare the results for the ecological model with a more traditional texture-preference model based on computational features and find that the ecological model performs reasonably well considering its lower complexity, explaining 63% of the variance in the human preference data.
Is There a Genetic Predisposition to Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear? A Systematic Review
Authors: John Rakesh , Dhillon Mandeep Singh , Sharma Siddhartha , Prabhakar Sharad , Bhandari Mohit
Published: February 2016

Background:

Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are among the most common knee ligament injuries and frequently warrant reconstruction. The etiopathogenesis of these injuries has focused mainly on mechanism of trauma, patient sex, and anatomic factors as predisposing causes. Several genetic factors that could predispose to an ACL tear have recently been reported.

Purpose:

This systematic review summarizes the current evidence for a genetic predisposition to ACL tears. The principal research question was to identify genetic factors, based on the available literature, that could predispose an individual to an ACL tear.

Study Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and HuGE databases were searched; the search was run from the period of inception until June 21, 2015. A secondary search was performed by screening the references of full-text articles obtained and by manually searching selected journals. Articles were screened with prespecified inclusion criteria. The quality of studies included in the review was assessed for risk of bias by 2 reviewers using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Results:

A total of 994 records were identified by the search, out of which 17 studies (16 case-control studies and 1 cross-sectional study) were included in the final review. Two studies observed a familial predisposition to an ACL tear. Fourteen studies looked at specific gene polymorphisms in 20 genes, from which different polymorphisms in 10 genes were positively associated with an ACL tear. In addition to these polymorphisms, 8 haplotypes were associated with ACL tear. One study looked at gene expression analysis.

Conclusion:

Although specific gene polymorphisms and haplotypes have been identified, it is difficult to come to a conclusion on the basis of the existing literature. Several sources of bias have been identified in these studies, and the results cannot be extrapolated to the general population. More studies are needed in larger populations of different ethnicities. Gene-gene interactions and gene expression studies in the future may delineate the exact role of these gene polymorphisms in ACL tears.
Immediate Effects of a Brace on Gait Biomechanics for Predominant Lateral Knee Osteoarthritis and Valgus Malalignment After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Hart Harvi F. , Collins Natalie J. , Ackland David C. , Cowan Sallie M. , Hunt Michael A. , Crossley Kay M.
Published: February 2016

Background:

Lateral knee osteoarthritis is notably common after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). While valgus bracing has been investigated as an intervention for medial knee osteoarthritis (OA), little is known about the effectiveness of varus bracing for lateral knee OA after ACLR.

Purpose:

To determine the immediate effects of a varus unloader knee brace on gait biomechanics in people with lateral knee OA and valgus malalignment after ACLR.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Nineteen participants who had undergone primary ACLR 5 to 20 years previously and had symptomatic and radiographic lateral knee OA as well as valgus malalignment were included. Three-dimensional gait analyses were conducted during walking under 3 test conditions: (1) no brace, (2) unadjusted brace (sagittal plane support with neutral frontal plane adjustment), and (3) adjusted brace (sagittal plane support with varus adjustment). Knee, pelvis, hip, and ankle kinematics and moments data were statistically analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (α = 0.05).

Results:

Compared with walking with no brace, the adjusted brace significantly increased peak knee flexion angle (mean difference [95% CI]: 3.2° [1.3° to 5.0°]) and adduction angle (1.7° [0.8° to 2.6°]) and reduced peak internal rotation angle (−3.0° [−4.0° to −2.0°]). Significant increases in peak knee flexion moment (0.14 N·m/kg [0.06 to 0.20 N·m/kg]), adduction moment (0.10 N·m/kg [0.07 to 0.14 N·m/kg]), and external rotation moment (0.01 N·m/kg [0.00 to 0.02 N·m/kg]) were observed with the adjusted brace. The adjusted brace also reduced peak hip adduction angle (−1.29° [−2.12 to −0.47]) and increased peak hip adduction (0.17 N·m/kg [0.04 to 0.31 N·m/kg]) and external rotation moments (0.09 N·m/kg [0.03 to 0.14 N·m/kg]). There were no significant differences between the adjusted and unadjusted brace conditions, except for knee internal rotation angle, where the adjusted brace produced significantly greater reductions relative to the unadjusted brace (−1.46° [−1.98 to −0.95]).

Conclusion:

Irrespective of frontal plane adjustment, the varus unloader brace produced immediate modulations in sagittal, frontal, and transverse plane joint angles and moments in younger individuals with lateral knee OA and valgus malalignment after ACLR.

Clinical Relevance:

The varus unloader brace may have the potential to mitigate abnormal knee joint mechanics associated with the development and progression of lateral knee OA after ACLR.
A comparison of process-induced residual stresses and distortions in composite structures with different constitutive laws
Authors: Ding Anxin , Li Shuxin , Sun Jiuxiao , Wang Jihui , Zu Lei
Published: February 2016

The popular analytical and numerical models to residual stresses and distortions in composite structures during curing are reviewed with emphases being placed on the numerical models with viscoelastic, path-dependent, CHILE constitutive laws, and corresponding numerical implementation into finite element analyses in this paper. A simple C-section composite part made of AS4/8552 prepreg, which has been investigated previously, was taken as an example to compare the difference in residual stresses and distortions with analytical model and numerical method with different constitutive laws. This paper mainly focuses on the effects of residual stresses generated at the different stages during curing on the finial distortions of composite structures for different constitutive laws, especially for effects of residual stresses generated in the rubbery stage on the final distortions. The results show that there is insignificant difference in the calculated residual stresses and distortions in C-section composite part induced during curing with different constitutive laws except the CHILE(α) law.
Ode to an invisible woman: The story of qualified adults and partners in Ireland
Authors: Murphy Mary P
Published: February 2016

Ireland used the Great Recession as an opportunity to pursue controversial reforms to lone parent social security payments while ignoring a significantly larger group of Irish women, qualified adults, the partners of coupled social welfare claimants. A review of the international literature about partners and recent policy trends is used to contextualise previously unpublished qualitative data capturing the practical experience of Irish partners and recent policy trends in relation to Irish partners. Despite the significant crisis-related rise in numbers of working aged qualified adults in Ireland, we see strong policy inertia in relation to this largely invisible group. The barriers to and lack of urgency for reform can be explained by several factors including fear of political backlash, ambiguous cultural norms about women’s roles, and practical capacity or lack of resources. The present policy architecture offers clear patriarchical dividends for male partners, employers and the policy elite, all of whom benefit from and remain attached to the concept of and the practice of a modified form of wifely labour. Policy avoidance cannot continue indefinitely, as reform of family-based welfare payments is central to resolving key policy problems including high participation rates and addressing child poverty. Options are briefly explored.
Micropatterned fabrication of chitosan-based thermoresponsive membranes for improving cell adhesion and gene expression
Authors: He Xiao-Ling , Zhao Yu-Xin , Ge Li-Li , An Hui-qin , Su Yu , Jin Zhen-Li , Wei Dong-Sheng , Chen Li
Published: February 2016

A simple, rapid, and economical method to fabricate micropatterned thermoresponsive chitosan membranes was developed. Porous polystyrene films were prepared by liquid-induced phase separation. The size of pores on polystyrene films could be regulated by adjusting the composition of coagulation bath and changing the solvent evaporation rate. Subsequently, chitosan-based thermoresponsive membranes with island protrusions were fabricated using porous polystyrene films as templates. The effects of the micropatterns on the behaviors of mouse fibroblast L929 were investigated. The presence of micropatterns altered the cell cycle distribution and enhanced the gene expression of cyclin D1 and integrin β1. The micro-convex surface could promote the adhesion and proliferation of L929 cells. These results provided valuable guidance to design appropriate topographic surfaces for tissue engineering applications.
Pro Bono Psychotherapy With Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Conway Kathlyn Mary
Published: February 2016

This article describes a program called “Connect and Change” in which psychotherapists in private practice offer long-term psychotherapy to women who have experienced intimate partner violence. The program is for women who cannot pay for therapy on their own.
Improving Air Combat Maneuvering Skills Through Self-Study and Simulation-Based Practice
Authors: Petty Mikel D. , Barbosa Salvador E.
Published: February 2016

Background. Although instructor participation is generally thought to improve the effectiveness of simulation-based training, trainees may have time and opportunity to practice skills in simulation when an instructor is not available.

Aim. The question of whether complex psychomotor skills, such as air combat maneuvering, can be acquired and improved entirely without instructor assistance through self-study and simulation-based practice is investigated.

Method. The results of an extended sequence of simulated air combat missions flown by a single experimental subject are reported and analyzed. Over a period of eight calendar years the subject flew 2,950 simulated air combat missions organized into 138 campaigns using seven different aircraft types. Throughout the period the subject studied air combat maneuvering in a self-guided, self-study mode and consciously used maneuvers and tactics learned during that study with the intent of improving his performance. However, determining whether the subject’s skills were actually improving over time was confounded by the fact that between some campaigns the subject changed the aircraft type he was flying as well as the aircraft types flown by the opposition, making direct campaign-to-campaign performance comparisons problematic. Consequently, a type-independent measure of performance was developed to normalize for the different aircraft types and allow direct comparison of performance across different aircraft types flown and opposed.

Results. Two different nonparametric statistical tests were applied to the normalized performance measure across all campaigns. A third nonparametric statistical method was applied to victories within each aircraft type. All three showed statistically significant improvement in the subject’s skills over time despite the complete absence of instructor assistance.

Conclusions. Although this case study must be considered anecdotal because it involves only a single experimental subject, it does provide an existence proof that self-guided self-study and simulation-based practice without an instructor can produce improvement in complex psychomotor skills in some learners. In addition, the analytical methods used to normalize for different aircraft types and test for improvement may be useful in similar situations where performance must be compared across time-varying circumstances.
Service Learning as Holistic Values Pedagogy
Authors: Lovat Terence , Clement Neville
Published: February 2016

Recent research findings have led to the conception that values pedagogy connotes a philosophy of learning and principle of curriculum organization with potential to enhance all dimensions of the learning environment. Enhancement includes student responsibility to themselves and others and positive impact on learning outcomes. Allied research demonstrates that a particularly potent feature of such pedagogy is to be found in service learning. The article appraises the research relevant to such claims, including among empirical findings from the Australian Values Education Program.
Giant Cell Tumor of Bone With Pseudosarcomatous Changes Leading to Premature Denosumab Therapy Interruption
Authors: Sanchez-Pareja Andrea , Larousserie Frédérique , Boudabbous Sana , Beaulieu Jean-Yves , Mach Nicolas , Saiji Essia , Rougemont Anne-Laure
Published: February 2016

Denosumab has shown promising results in the management of giant cell tumor of bone, a primary bone tumor with locally aggressive behaviour. We report a case of premature denosumab interruption due to radiological and clinical tumor expansion of a giant cell tumor of the distal ulna. Although denosumab is known to induce tumor regression, with progressive ossification and loss of the characteristic morphology of giant cell tumor of bone, the ulnar tumor specimen showed a moderately to highly cellular proliferation of short spindle-shaped cells, and no osteoclast-like giant cells. There were no abnormal mitotic figures. We considered the surgical specimen as a giant cell tumor of bone with partial regression after prematurely interrupted denosumab treatment. This case illustrates the diagnostic issues of an initially unfavourable evolution raising concern for malignancy, and the difficulties in histological assessment of a partially treated giant cell tumor of bone, that may mimic osteosarcoma.
Targeted Screening With Combined Age- and Morphology-Based Criteria Enriches Detection of Lynch Syndrome in Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Lin Douglas I. , Hecht Jonathan L.
Published: February 2016

Endometrial cancer is associated with Lynch syndrome in 2% to 6% of cases. Adequate screening may prevent of a second cancer and incident cancers in family members via risk-reducing strategies. The goal of the study was to evaluate the detection rate of Lynch syndrome via a targeted screening approach. In 2009, we incorporated targeted Lynch syndrome screening via immunohistochemistry for MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, and MSH6, followed by MLH1 promoter hypermethylation, in select cases of endometrial carcinoma. Criteria for patient selection included (1) all patients <50 years; (2) patients of any age with tumors showing features of microsatellite instability (lower uterine segment–centered tumors, hard to classify carcinomas, increased peritumoral or tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and cases with synchronous ovarian carcinomas); (3) clinician’s request based on family or personal history; and (4) ad hoc retrospective testing based on the established criteria on patients discovered on follow-up visits. By using a targeted screening approach in a 4.5-year period, approximately 2.1% of endometrial cancers (7 of 328) were potentially associated with Lynch syndrome. Therefore, targeted screening with combined age and morphology based criteria enriches detection of Lynch syndrome in endometrial cancer. However, the detection rate is lower than the rates from published series that offer universal screening.
MRI Evaluation of Achilles Tendon Rotation and Sural Nerve Anatomy
Authors: MacMahon Aoife , Deland Jonathan T. , Do Huong , Soukup Dylan S. , Sofka Carolyn M. , Demetracopolous Constantine A. , DeBlis Ryan
Published: February 2016

Background:

Limited-open and percutaneous Achilles tendon (AT) repair techniques have limited visibility, which may result in sural nerve violation and poor tendon targeting. The goal of this study was to assess the in vivo rotation of the AT and its distance to the sural nerve in ruptured and nonruptured ATs to develop guidelines to aid in limited-open and percutaneous repair techniques.

Methods:

A retrospective review was conducted to identify magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of patients with ruptured and healthy (nonruptured) ATs. AT rotation and distance to the sural nerve in the anterior-posterior (A-P) and medial-lateral (M-L) planes were measured at the level of and proximal to the ankle.

Results:

The AT was externally rotated in both ruptured and nonruptured cohorts. Ruptured ATs showed greater external rotation than nonruptured ATs at the ankle (15.8 ± 16.2 degrees vs 5.9 ± 9.0 degrees, P = .008) but not at 10 cm proximal to the tendon’s insertion (10.9 ± 10.9 degrees vs 6.1 ± 8.4 degrees, P = .139). Proximal AT rotation was negatively correlated with rupture height ( r = −0.477, P = .029). At 4 cm proximal to the AT insertion, the sural nerve was closer anteriorly to and farther laterally from the AT in ruptures than in nonruptures ( P < .001). At 10 cm proximal to the AT insertion, the sural nerve was farther posteriorly and laterally from the AT in ruptures than in nonruptures ( P = .027 and P < .001, respectively).

Conclusion:

We found that the AT was more externally rotated in ruptured than in nonruptured tendons at the ankle and that its distance to the sural nerve differed between the 2 cohorts in the A-P and M-L planes, likely due to increased AT rotation and swelling with ruptures. To minimize sural nerve injury and improve tendon targeting, we suggest an external rotation of 11 degrees at the proximal end of the rupture and 16 degrees at the distal end when using percutaneous and limited-open AT repair devices to try to minimize sural nerve violation and increase tendon capture, which can decrease rates of complication and rerupture.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Vibration analysis of a nano-turbine blade based on Eringen nonlocal elasticity applying the differential quadrature method
Authors: Ghadiri Majid , Shafiei Navvab
Published: February 2016

This study investigates the small-scale effect on the flapwise bending vibrations of a rotating nanoplate that can be the basis of nano-turbine design. The nanoplate is modeled as classical plate theory (CPT) with boundary conditions as the cantilever and propped cantilever. The axial forces are also included in the model as the true spatial variation due to the rotation. Hamilton’s principle is used to derive the governing equation and boundary conditions for the classic plate based on Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity theory and the differential quadrature method is employed to solve the governing equations. The effect of the small-scale parameter, nondimensional angular velocity, nondimensional hub radius, setting angle and different boundary conditions in the first four nondimensional frequencies is discussed. Due to considering rotating effects, results of this study are applicable in nanomachines such as nanomotors and nano-turbines and other nanostructures.
Coronary artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm growth
Authors: Takagi Hisato , Umemoto Takuya ,   for the ALICE (All-Literature Investigation of Cardiovascular Evidence) Group
Published: February 2016

To determine whether coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) growth, we performed a meta-analysis of currently available studies. Databases including MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through October 2015 using PubMed and OVID. Search terms included enlargement, expansion, growth, or progression; rate or rates; and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Studies considered for inclusion met the following criteria: the design was unrestricted; the study population was AAA patients with and without CAD; and outcomes included data regarding AAA growth. For each study, growth rates in both the CAD and non-CAD groups were used to generate standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Of 664 potentially relevant publications screened initially, we identified 20 eligible studies including data on a total of 7238 AAA patients. A pooled analysis of all 20 studies demonstrated a statistically significant association of CAD with slower AAA growth rates (i.e. a significantly negative association of CAD with AAA growth) in the fixed-effect model (SMD, −0.06 [–0.0592]; 95% CI, −0.12 [–0.1157] to −0.00 [–0.0027]; p = 0.04). There was minimal between-study heterogeneity ( p = 0.16) and a statistically non-significant association of CAD with slower AAA growth rates (i.e. a non-significantly negative association of CAD with AAA growth) in the pooled result from random-effects modeling (SMD, −0.06; 95% CI, −0.13 to 0.01; p = 0.12). In conclusion, CAD may be negatively associated with AAA growth.
Exploring the expectations and satisfaction derived from volunteer tourism experiences
Authors: Boluk Karla , Kline Carol , Stroobach Alicia
Published: February 2016

The aim of this paper was to examine the satisfaction of voluntourists derived from various aspects of their trip. Framed within the Existence, Relatedness and Growth Theory, the paper examines volunteers’ motivations, expectations and satisfaction based on their financial and time investment volunteering with Volunteer Eco Students Abroad (VESA), the intereactions they had on the trip, and the extent to which travellers felt as though they contributed to community goals. In 2012, the researchers carried out in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 16 Canadian voluntourists following their time in St. Lucia, South Africa. A thematic analysis was used to interpret the data, resulting in three themes: ‘Evaluating Investment’, ‘Contribution to Community’ and ‘Opportunities and Reaffirmations’; sub-themes were matched with aspects of Existence, Relatedness and Growth Theory. Findings elicited several levels of expectations of voluntourists revealed through their feelings of satisfaction or dissatisfaction. On the lowest level, voluntourists expect adequate food and water whilst volunteering. Informants highlighted the various ways they raised fund for the trip, and this impacted their level of accountability for contributing to the community. Volunteers also expect volunteer organizations to be transparent regarding the use of funds and expressed dissatisfaction when this did not occur. Volunteers anticipated a feeling of connection between the hosts and themselves and were frustrated if they felt more time could have been allotted to working with community residents. Lastly, informants expected the experience to provide an opportunity for self-learning and professional development and overall were satisfied with this element of the trip.
Virtual cultural tourism: Six pillars of VCT using co-creation, value exchange and exchange value
Authors: Wiltshier Peter , Clarke Alan
Published: February 2016

This paper examines antecedents to the successful use of Virtual Cultural Tourism and the ways in which virtual realities can add value to Cultural Tourism offers. Success can be seen to derive from the deeper understanding of consumers’ preferences and motivations to engage with Virtual Cultural Tourism. It is also necessary to see these initiatives from the perspective of multiple stakeholders: the armchair traveller, the frequent flyer and the service provider at destinations. The latter include public sector providers such as park site managers, museum curators, interpretation and information services for tourism as well as the private sector developers.
The Benchmarking Capacity of a General Outcome Measure of Academic Language in Science and Social Studies
Authors: Mooney Paul , Lastrapes Renée E.
Published: February 2016

The amount of research evaluating the technical merits of general outcome measures of science and social studies achievement is growing. This study targeted criterion validity for critical content monitoring. Questions addressed the concurrent criterion validity of alternate presentation formats of critical content monitoring and the measure’s predictive validity. Participants were fifth-grade students ( N = 51) who completed five different forms of critical content monitoring probes as well as oral reading fluency and maze probes over three benchmarking periods. Criterion measures were the science and social studies subtests of the online abbreviated Stanford Achievement Test–10th edition. Concurrent correlation magnitudes for critical content monitoring ranged from .47 to .60. Predictive correlations for fall and winter ranged from .23 to .64. In three of four cases, commonality analyses findings favored critical content monitoring over oral reading fluency and maze as benchmarking choices. Study limitations and benchmark assessment framework implications are discussed.
Detection of wall and neck calcification of unruptured intracranial aneurysms with flat-detector computed tomography
Authors: Kizilkilic Osman , Huseynov Eldeniz , Kandemirli Sedat G , Kocer Naci , Islak Civan
Published: February 2016

Object

Microsurgical clipping is a widely used surgical technique in intracranial aneurysm treatment. It can be difficult in large sized aneurysms, and those with wide necks, thick walls and calcification located in the vicinity of the neck. This study reviewed calcification of the intracranial aneurysm wall and its relation to patient age, gender, location and size of the aneurysm. A possible cut-off value after which the aneurysm calcification rate increases was also investigated to classify patients’ risk factors for microclipping.

Methods

A retrospective review of all unruptured intracranial aneurysms that underwent digital subtraction angiography at a single centre was performed. Flat-detector computed tomography images of the aneurysm were reviewed for aneurysm location, size and calcification. The independent samples t test and χ2 test were used to show the relation between aneurysm wall calcification and patient age, gender, aneurysm localisation and size.

Results

None of the reviewed factors were statistically significantly related to aneurysm calcification except aneurysm size ( P < 0.01). Receiver operating characteristic curves showed aneurysms greater than 10.5 mm could be predicted to be calcified with a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 63%.

Conclusion

In this study, the presence of calcification was related to aneurysm size. Larger aneurysms were more likely to be calcified. Aneurysms greater than 10.5 mm should be further investigated with a modality such as flat-detector computed tomography to show the calcification in detail, especially if microclipping is considered.
A novel method for MCDM and evaluation of manufacturing services using collaborative filtering and IVIF theory
Authors: Zhang Wenyu , Zhang Shixiong , Zhang Shuai , Yu Dejian
Published: February 2016

The new era of global cooperation and competition has created challenges for manufacturing enterprises in selecting optimal services and collaboration enterprises. Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) and evaluation has been applied in the domain of manufacturing service to address these issues. This study proposes a novel method for MCDM and evaluation of manufacturing services using collaborative filtering and interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy (IVIF) theory. Quality of service (QoS)-aware collaborative filtering predicts missing QoS values in an IVIF rating matrix that is normalized from initial matrices that employ mixed numerical terms. An interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy weighted arithmetic (IIFWA) aggregation operator derived from IVIF theory is utilized to evaluate and select the optimal service(s) or supplier(s). An illustrative example of manufacturing service evaluation and comparison are provided to validate the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed method.
An error-detecting approach for fault tolerance parallel recomputing with parallel digital terrain analysis
Authors: Miao Shoushuai , Dou Wanfeng , Li Yan
Published: February 2016

In recent years, the research of parallel digital terrain analysis has become a hot spot. Using parallel computing technology to solve data-intensive computing problems has become a new trend in digital terrain analysis (DTA). On the other hand, with the development of hardware technology and new applications, how to ensure the reliability of the results of parallel computing is one of key problems. We can improve the system’s ability to provide the right service by properly adopting fault tolerance technology. A parallel error-detecting approach based on parallel recomputing technology is presented and implemented by the combination of redundant process and multi-threads technology. Adopting a parallel comparison between the results of the process and the ones of its copy process, on the same data block, it can improve the efficiency of fault tolerance parallel recomputing. Furthermore, considering the relationship between the error-detection of the results and the recomputing, a modified scheme is proposed to make them to be executed concurrently. According to the error-detecting analysis of slope algorithm from DTA, it proves the effectiveness of the error-detecting approach based on fault-tolerant recomputing and achieves minor overhead.
Spatial distribution mapping of drinking water fluoride levels in Karnataka, India: fluoride-related health effects
Authors: Chowdhury Chitta R , Shahnawaz Khijmatgar , Kumari Divya , Chowdhury Avidyuti , Bedi Raman , Lynch Edward , Harding Stewart , Grootveld Martin
Published: February 2016

Objectives:

(1) To estimate the concentrations of fluoride in drinking water throughout different zones and districts of the state of Karnataka. (2) To investigate the variation of fluoride concentration in drinking water from different sources, and its relationships to daily temperature and rainfall status in the regional districts. (3) To develop an updated fluoride concentration intensity map of the state of Karnataka, and to evaluate these data in the context of fluoride-related health effects such as fluorosis and their prevalence.

Materials and Methods:

Aqueous standard solutions of 10, 100 and 1,000 ppm fluoride (F−) were prepared with analytical grade Na+/F− and a buffer; TISAB II was incorporated in both calibration standard and analysis solutions in order to remove the potentially interfering effects of trace metal ions. This analysis was performed using an ion-selective electrode (ISE), and mean determination readings for n = 5 samples collected at each Karnataka water source were recorded.

Results:

The F− concentration in drinking water in Karnataka state was found to vary substantially, with the highest mean values recorded being in the north-eastern zone (1.61 ppm), and the lowest in the south-western one (only 0.41 ppm). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated that there were very highly significant ‘between-zone’ and ‘between-districts-within-zones’ sources of variation ( p < 10−5–10−9), results consistent with a substantial spatial variance of water source F− levels within this state.

Conclusions:

The southern part of Karnataka has low levels of F− in its drinking water, and may require fluoridation treatment in order to mitigate for dental caries and further ailments related to fluoride deficiency. However, districts within the north-eastern region have contrastingly high levels of fluoride, an observation which has been linked to dental and skeletal fluorosis. This highlights a major requirement for interventional actions in order to ensure maintenance of the recommended range of fluoride concentrations (0.8–1.5 ppm) in Karnataka’s drinking water sources.
Accuracy of patient-reported range of elbow motion
Authors: Li Martin K-H , Robinson Paul M , van Rensburg Lee
Published: February 2016

Background

Patient-reported outcome meaures (PROMs) not only provide valuable insights into subjective indices of joint health, but also may provide limited objective information about range of motion (ROM). We sought to evaluate the accuracy of patient-reported range of elbow motion compared to measured ROM.

Methods

Sixty clinic patients were recruited, of whom 26 had elbow pathologies and 34 had pathologies other than at the elbow joint. Each patient independently estimated ROM for extension, flexion, pronation and supination before this was measured by a clinician using a universal goniometer, with the mean being the gold standard.

Results

We found that patients’ ROM estimates were significantly different from measured ROM ( p < 0.00001 at 95% confidence interval). There was no statistically significant difference between elbow pathology and non-elbow pathology patients’ estimated ROM.

Conclusions

There was great disparity between patient-estimated and measured ROM, although estimates of patients with known elbow pathology did not demonstrate any significant difference from their healthy counterparts. These differences may be too great for patient-estimated range of motion to be used as a reliable tool for assessing outcomes.
Internal explosion tests for scaled subsurface magazines
Authors: Ichino Hiroyoshi , Ohno Tomonori , Ishikawa Nobutaka
Published: February 2016

A subsurface magazine is proposed to reduce the debris and the air-blast pressure caused by an accidental explosion. First, 1/20-scale indoor explosion model tests for subsurface magazines were conducted to examine the characteristics of an air-burst and ground shock vibration. It was found from the test results that the peak blast pressure ( P0) for an overburden thickness ( T) of 50 cm was 0.84–0.98 times that for T = 15 cm, and the P0 for a loading density R = 9.0 kg/m3 was 1.09–1.39 times that for R = 4.5 kg/m3. It was also found that the maximum ground shock velocity Vmax for T = 50 cm was 0.57–1.07 times that for T = 15 cm. Second, the P0 was formulated as a function of the scaled distance Z, T, and R. Third, the Vmax was formulated as a function of Z and T. Finally, these formulae were validated using the test data obtained by performing a 1/10-scale field test.
A case of anomalous coronary artery origin: The role of computerised tomography
Authors: John Jeeva , Miller John H , Leslie Stephen J
Published: February 2016

Objective: To illustrate the utility of CT coronary angiography in the assessment of patients with anomalous coronary arteries. Methods: A 65-year-old woman who presented with a clinical history of unstable angina was investigated with both computerised tomography and invasive coronary angiography. Results: Coronary angiography demonstrated aberrant coronary arteries all arising from separate ostia from the right coronary cusp. Computerised tomography coronary angiography was required to confirm the course of the aberrant coronary arteries in relation to other cardiovascular structures. Conclusions: This case illustrates the important role of computerised tomography coronary angiography and that early use might avoid the need for invasive coronary angiography.
Environmental, Behavioral, and Cultural Factors That Influence Healthy Eating in Rural Women of Childbearing Age
Authors: Mabry Julia , Farris Paige E. , Forro Vanessa A. , Findholt Nancy E. , Purnell Jonathan Q. , Davis Melinda M.
Published: February 2016

Despite increasing recognition of the role nutrition plays in the health of current and future generations, many women struggle to eat healthy. We used the PhotoVoice method to engage 10 rural women in identifying perceived barriers and facilitators to healthy eating in their homes and community. They took 354 photographs, selected and wrote captions for 62 images, and explored influential factors through group conversation. Using field notes and participant-generated captions, the research team categorized images into factors at the individual, relational, community/organizational, and societal levels of a socioecological model. Barriers included limited time, exposure to marketing, and the high cost of food. Facilitators included preparing food in advance and support from non-partners; opportunities to hunt, forage, and garden were also facilitators, which may be amplified in this rural environment. Nutritional interventions for rural women of childbearing age should be multi-component and focus on removing barriers at multiple socioecological levels.
CABeRNET: a Cytoscape app for augmented Boolean models of gene regulatory NETworks
Authors: Paroni Andrea , Graudenzi Alex , Caravagna Giulio , Damiani Chiara , Mauri Giancarlo , Antoniotti Marco
Published: February 2016

Background

Dynamical models of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) are highly effective in describing complex biological phenomena and processes, such as cell differentiation and cancer development. Yet, the topological and functional characterization of real GRNs is often still partial and an exhaustive picture of their functioning is missing.

Results

We here introduce CABeRNET, a Cytoscape app for the generation, simulation and analysis of Boolean models of GRNs, specifically focused on their augmentation when a only partial topological and functional characterization of the network is available. By generating large ensembles of networks in which user-defined entities and relations are added to the original core, CABeRNET allows to formulate hypotheses on the missing portions of real networks, as well to investigate their generic properties, in the spirit of complexity science.

Conclusions

CABeRNET offers a series of innovative simulation and modeling functions and tools, including (but not being limited to) the dynamical characterization of the gene activation patterns ruling cell types and differentiation fates, and sophisticated robustness assessments, as in the case of gene knockouts. The integration within the widely used Cytoscape framework for the visualization and analysis of biological networks, makes CABeRNET a new essential instrument for both the bioinformatician and the computational biologist, as well as a computational support for the experimentalist. An example application concerning the analysis of an augmented T-helper cell GRN is provided.
“What Is Historical Poetics?”
Authors: Prins Yopie
Published: February 2016

In posing questions about what is “historical” and what counts as “poetics,” historical poetics cannot separate the practice of reading a poem from the histories and theories of reading that mediate our ideas about poetry. While nineteenth-century verse cultures revolved around reading by generic recognition, a reading of poetry as a form of cognition emerges among later critics like I. A. Richards, who illustrates how a line from Robert Browning is read in the mind’s eye, as if in the present tense. But Browning was already doing a version of historical poetics, in writing “Pan and Luna” as a poem about reading other poems about Pan, among them “A Musical Instrument,” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. In the composition and reception of her poem, we see how Victorian poetry foregrounds its multiple mediations, including the mediation of voice by meter as a musical instrument. The recirculation of her popular poem through citation and recitation, illustration and anthologization, prosody and parody, demonstrates a varied history of thinking through—simultaneously “about” and “in”—verse.